#tourney of shells ;; round 2

[mlmvoreconfessionals]

Second part of the Smash vore tourney

Part 1 - <Part 2> - Part 3 - Part 4

D.K Y.oshi F.ox B.owser F.alco M.ewtwo S.onic K.ing Dedede L.ucario W.olf W.ii Fit Trainer D.uck Hunt R.idley K. R.ool P.iranha Plant B.anjo

Round 2

With eight contestants left, tensions are getting a bit higher now. There’s less mystery over who is going to have to face against who. D.K keeps glaring at Fox with a toothy grin, while S.onic and Wolf are sizing each other up. L.ucario is doing his best to ignore R.idley opening drooling over him and just barely holding back. B.owser wasn’t so worried, not really noticing that the P.iranha Plant is slurping over its lips as it stares at him, eager to taste K.oopa meat.

Finally, the next bracket is made, and the first two competitors can walk out to begin round 2.

P.iranha Plant v B.owser

B.owser grins as he sees the P.iranha Plant across from him. He was figuring it would give up pretty fast, let its king take the win and move on. So he stomps over, ready to grab it and eat. So he was a bit taken back when it suddenly launched his head forward and took a snap at him, just barely missing his nose.

“Hey, whaddya think you’re doing?!” B.owser demands angrily. “Did you forget who your king is?!” As if to answer him, P.iranha Plant attempts another lunging snap. This one, B.owser had to back away from to avoid. He snarls now, flames leaking out between his lips. This is treason! He’s going to make sure he teaches this plant a lesson.

Fire immediately spews forth from B.owser’s maw, hoping to roast the plant. It doesn’t as the P.iranha Plant begins to spin its leaves like a fan, taking to the sky and blowing the flames back. Its flying in towards B.owser, jaws snapping greedily, and the king has to dodge out of the way to avoid that drooling maw.

As soon as the plant landed again, B.owser charges in and dives into his shell, spinning around rapidly. He manages to sweep the plant up with it, knocking it around until it’s sent flying and crashing to the ground. B.owser pops back out and stands with a laugh. That should teach it!

He grabs the P.iranha Plant by the stem to lift it up. It’s jaws keep trying to snap, wanting nothing more than to devour all that K.oopa meat. B.owser puts a stop to that with a blast of fire that saps more of the plant’s energy out of it.

B.owser would rather this be actual meat than...well, the opposite of that. But at least it got thicker after its last match. So B.owser opens his drooling maw wide, lowering the P.iranha Plant inside pot first. A few wet gulps and slurps sucks it down, its head disappearing past his lips and down the hatch.

“Bleh...” That shouldn’t count as food at all, given that awful taste. B.owser’s guts boil wetly and the plant doesn’t last long in that lava-like tank. Barely a minute later, B.owser hikes up his tail and pushes out a single log. It’s even smaller than the last, with only a flower pot baked into the mess. B.owser can’t feel smug about that! The next meal better be worth it...

With an annoyed huff, B.owser is stomping off, declared the victor.

Fox v D.K

Once the grumbly B.owser was back, Fox and D.K were heading out to the arena. Fox doesn’t really like the way the ape is looking at him at all. But he gives his gut a squeeze, knowing that D.edede had been about the same size and now he’s nothing but fat. He’s sure he can do the same to the gorilla, even as D.K bounces his pecs just to tease the fox.

Both of them have the same strategy as before, with D.K winding up his arm while Fox starts trying to wear him down with shots. All Fox’s strategy does is let D.K prepare himself before he comes charging in. Of course, Fox is fast, and is able to bounce back when the ape comes at him and makes a grab for him.

It becomes a game of cat and mouse, with Fox running and leaping around D.K as the gorilla tries to take shots at him. Between his fiery leaps and illusionary dashes, Fox is usually able to keep just out of D.K’s grasp while laying some cover fire on him any time he gets a chance. All that’s doing is winding D.K up more.

When Fox tries to zip past D.K with another of his illusions, the ape actually saw it coming. D.K turned around the second Fox disappeared, and when he reappeared, large hands slam over his head on either side. It makes fox yelp out and leaves him stunned, giving D.K a chance to punch him with a wound-up arm and send Fox crashing face-first into the floor some distance away.

Fox groans out, trying to pick himself up. His blaster is sitting in front of him and he tries to reach for it. But he’s dragged back with a yelp and lifted off the ground, held by his ankle by D.K. He’s brought face-to-face with D.K, the gorilla grinning wide and toothily. It actually gets a slight whimper out of Fox. Then D.K lifts his free arm, showing off a furry pit to Fox.

Fox’s cry is muffled as he’s shoveled face-first into the ape’s armpit. Fox tries to push away or beat on D.K, but it doesn’t do anything. D.K just starts to push down on Fox and the smaller man begins sinking deeper. Fox kicks and struggles for a little bit, but once he’s up to his stomach, a hard flex from D.K’s arm ends that. His body spasms for a moment before going slack, the gorilla’s muscles growing thicker at the same time. Pushing down on his boots slurps the last of Fox out of sight, and another strong flex reduces his body into muscle mass.

D.K snorts and thumps his chest with a roar. He stomps his feet as he widens his stance and, in one smooth, full log, pushes Fox back out. The mass coils up under the ape, fur and bones poking out of him, the skull dropping first with its jaws still open. One a pair of boots push out and the log is pinched off, the deed is done, and D.K lumbers off smugly as he’s declared the winner.

L.ucario v R.idley

L.ucario winces slightly when D.K returns, his musk even thicker after taking on another meal. His sensitive nose can’t take it. Wolf has the same problem, his laughing over the battle only stopping because he had to cover his nose. D.K at least had a smug grin on his face when he sat down.

L.ucario is happy to get out of the room and out to the field. He’s joined by his opponent, R.idley, the alien creature twitching in anticipation for the match. Both of them are sporting a bit of extra fat from their last matches and they intend to be the one to have more in the end.

R.idley strikes fast by launching in and grabbing L.ucario. The jackal is then slammed into the ground and dragged along until he’s tossed into the air and struck with R.idley’s tail. It makes L.ucario howl out and he comes crashing to the ground soon, reeling in pain. R.idley immediately follows up by launching a volley of fireballs at the P.okemon.

L.ucario takes a hit from a couple before he’s finally able to get up and move out of the way. It’s clear to him that R.idley is trying to exhaust him with unrelenting attacks. L.ucario can feel his aura surging through him, his weakening body causing it to only get stronger. He has to find a balance here--if he takes too many hits, he’ll go down. But if he can do this right, he’ll be able to stop the alien in one shot.

L.ucario tries to rush in, but R.idley is quick to take to the sky and launch himself at the P.okemon like a missile. It sends L.ucario skidding back, just barely able to miss snapping jaws that tried to end him, and he’s hit with R.idley’s tail again right after. The P.okemon staggers slightly, finding exhaustion creeping in already. R.idley senses that weakness as well and launches forward, jaws open wide to devour his opponent.

What R.idley gets instead is a blast of powerful aura right in the mouth from L.ucario’s paw. It makes the alien shriek as he’s suddenly knocked backward and onto the ground. His head is left spinning, all the damage he’d done blasted right back at him with a Force Palm. L.ucario doesn’t give a second to let this opportunity go to waste. He grabs R.idley’s tail and, after a few rubs to his crotch, stuffs it right down his cock.

With a wet slurp, R.idley is dragged along the ground, his tail disappearing rather quickly. With a groan and a shake of his head, R.idley is coming to. He tries to push himself up again, but he’s sucked deeper, his legs folding up against his torso as his ass is now disappearing into the P.okemon’s cock. L.ucario is trying his hardest to keep a stern expression, not wanting to betray the clear pleasure he’s getting from this.

There’s a lot less pleasure on R.idley’s face, as he screeches and claws at the ground, trying to pull himself backwards. But L.ucario’s cock was stronger, still pulling the space pirate deeper despite the resistance. Deep claw marks gouge through the ground, R.idley’s screeches like nails on glass as he sinks in further and further.

L.ucario’s sack bulges out and hangs down more as they’re filled. R.idley’s stomach is already sinking down, his legs and tail now trying to stretch the P.okemon’s sack out. As R.idley sinks in up to his chest, he pivots to trying to slash at L.ucario. Both of his arms are seized by the wrist, L.ucario’s powerful aura shooting shocks through him. It keeps him still enough to let his chest and shoulders sink down. With a final cry, so does his head, and L.ucario finally releases his arms to let those slurp down his cock.

L.ucario shivers slightly and lets out a sigh through his nose. He’s already stroking himself, eyes closed with a tense expression. His nuts are resting on the ground, R.idley thrashing within, the flesh stretched tight around his large form. With a huff, L.ucario flexes his nuts, getting a cry from R.idley as he’s suddenly smashed into a more compact form. L.ucario is once again focusing his aura, using it to end his prey as quickly as possible.

R.idley tries to fight back as best he can, stretching out the P.okemon’s sack with trashing and kicks. But L.ucario clenches each time, forcing R.idley back into a ball. A thick, boiling churn comes from those working nuts, R.idley’s cries replaced with sputters and coughs. Each time L.ucario’s sack clenches, the sharp and clear details of R.idley’s form is looking less defined. Even his powerful body can’t do much against a broiling sack and his useless thrashing grows weaker and weaker.

In only a few clenches, R.idley’s screeching has turned into weak cries. He can barely make the rounding sack bulge with his weak struggles, only getting thick sloshes to come forth. With another clench, even that stops, only some whimpering noises rising over the sounds of bubbling. L.ucario tenses, gritting his teeth and clenching again. R.idley finally goes silent as L.ucario howls, a geyser of cum shooting forth and splattering to the ground.

Everything gets painted white quickly, gallons of seed striking the ground with each rope that fires. Large bones strike the ground as well, R.idley’s skeleton having managed to survive long enough to come back out. Not that it does him any good, as even his skull ends up slamming into the ground, jaws still open wide from his final cry.

The intense orgasm comes to an end soon after that, L.ucario left panting and huffing from the overwhelming feeling. His legs are wobbling slightly but he manages to hold his ground. He feels much better at least, R.idley’s aura giving him a large boost. Not to mention the new merchandise he’s got swinging between his legs, his nuts a bit fatter and cock bigger. L.ucario tries not to blush as he wipes the mess off of himself.

The announcer had declared his victory after that, L.ucario walking from the arena once he’s collected himself.

Wolf v S.onic

L.ucario doesn’t make any eye contact with the others as he gets back and sits down. He’s still blushing a bit over that moment of vulnerability. The viewing room is getting emptier with time, and the last pair of contenders are both impatient at this point. They’re both up and moving before L.ucario has even sat down.

On the field, Wolf and S.onic are both exuding confidence. Naturally, both of them believe they’ll easily come out on top and are eager for a chance to prove it. Wolf smirks, showing off his teeth as he spins his blaster in his paw. “I was hoping I’d get to show up that birdbrain myself, but taking you down will be just as good. Cocky and blue...that’s close enough.”

“You’ll have to keep up with me to do that,” S.onic retorts, stretching out. “Oh wait, F.alco did keep up...and I still dumped him. So, I guess this’ll be even faster.” S.onic curls up and begins to speed along the ground, rocketing for Wolf.

Wolf does try to avoid it by lunging to the side, but he’s not fast enough to get totally out of the way. S.onic catches him in the side and he hits the ground with a growl. S.onic turns fast and comes barreling in to run him down again, but Wolf has enough time to aim his blaster and fire at the spinning speedster.

It’s enough to make S.onic come tumbling to a stop, landing flat on his stomach. He groans and rubs his head as he pushes himself up. Wolf is in front of him, grinning wide, blaster aimed down at S.onic. “This keeping up just fine?”

“Not quite.” S.onic bounces back just as Wolf fires, avoiding the shot. Then he comes flying back in with a homing attack, hitting Wolf in the chest and making the mercenary stumble. More shots fire, but S.onic speeds away from them, only to come in for another homing attack as soon as there’s an opening and knocking Wolf’s blaster away.

With a snarl, Wolf tries meeting S.onic head on instead, slashing with his claws at the next homing attack. It knocks S.onic out of the air, but the force of hitting it knocks Wolf back onto his ass as well. S.onic lands on his feet, and so is able to launch into another homing attack. Wolf, unable to get back to his feet, attempts opening his jaws for the incoming attack.

It’s not enough. Wolf yelps as his head is pulled into the blue blur instead, and the rest of him soon after. By the time S.onic hits the ground, Wolf is gone from sight, and he’s still spinning around. He comes to a screeching halt, standing tall and visible again. A hand rests on his stomach, looking a bit plumper, and a stray belch escapes him. Some gray fur flutters out of his jaws and nothing else. “Not bad. Maybe space food gets a bad rap, I’ve been enjoying it lately!”

A low groan rumbles out of S.onic’s stomach and he winces. “Woof...goes right through me, though.” He squats down, grunting as he pushes. Like F.alco before, Wolf escapes the hedgehog’s bowels all at once, a thick log baked around his skeleton and clothes sliding out onto the ground.

Wolf slides out skull first, his jaws still open wide and an eyepatch connected to the skull. Then the rest follows, his uniform still worn over his bones, slightly tattered and stained. All of it sits half naked in the foul waste. Boots pushed out soon, and S.onic pinched the log off with a content sigh.

He speeds out after they, gone from the room just as the announcer declared his victory. And with it, that was the last of the space-faring mercenaries.

[splatoonpolls]

SPLATOON OC TOURNEY ROUND 2 GROUP 23

Coralie by @raybotonline vs Astra by @scales-in-sweaters

BACKSTORY/PROPAGANDA

Coralie

A 19 year old Inkling girl who is popular on Squitter (Squid Twitter) and really likes the Squid Sisters. She's got a cutesy pastel-goth aesthetic, but underneath that hides a catty and mean demeanor. She also like, has mental health problems or whatever. Barely ever battles but mainly uses Undercover Brella when she does.

Astra

An inkfish nautilus! Their shell is made of crystallized ink that melts and reforms when they transform.

[techgirltourney]

Welcome to the Tech Girl Tourney!

With a whopping 64 gals who are cyborgs, robots, programs, and more this is shaping up to be a fierce and fun competition!

Here are some rules and such before I give you a written list of contenders and their schedules.

RULES.

Play nice with each other. No harassment or bullying of any kind will be tolerated. It’s a silly little competition! Stay silly! Stay kind!

Think to yourself: "is what I'm about to type about my opponent something I'd like to hear about my favorite blorbo or fandom?" If the answer is "no" don't type it. Hype up your blorbo rather than trash-talk the other gal.

Propaganda is welcome and encouraged (so long as you're following rules 1 & 2). If I miss your propaganda don't hesitate to hop in my inbox and point it out to me. I don't always get notifications on this tumblr account for some reason.

HERE BE SPOILERS (potentially). I don't know every fandom in this tournament but given the nature of these sort of characters, spoilers are highly likely for character reveals! By continuing to follow this blog and participate in this tournament you're consenting to seeing spoilers. I would tag them but I genuinely don't know which characters are spoilers and which aren't.

Play nice with me, your friendly neighborhood tournament runner. I am not a professional tournament runner. I am just another person on the internet with feelings. Don't come flying into my inbox to yell at me about things like seeding, or that your specific blorbo didn't get in, or that you think a certain character doesn't count. I will just delete and block messages that I feel are too hostile toward me. I've seen the kinda stuff other poll runners have had to put up with and I don't want to deal with it here. I just want to have fun!

All polls will go up at 12 pm EST and be up for 1 day each except the final poll which will be up for a week.

With that out of the way! Onto the contenders and schedule!

Side A - Group 1 - Round 1 [May 25th]

Motherboard (Cyberchase) vs Synergy (Jem and the Holograms)

Robot Candace (Phineas and Ferb) vs Tima (Metropolis)

Uran (Astro Boy) vs Ohno (Mighty Orbots)

Roll (MegaMan) vs Penny Polendina (RWBY)

Viv Vision (Marvel) vs Jenny Wakeman (MLAATR)

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid) vs Orianna (League of Legends)

Teto Kasane (SynthV) vs Arcee (Transformers)

Robot Girl (Robot Boy) vs Bee (Bee and Puppycat)

Side A - Group 2 - Round 1 [May 27th]

Small Foot (Challenge of the GoBots) vs R. Dorothy Waynewright (The Big O)

Miri (Jetter Mars) vs Accord (Drakengard 3)

Ruru Amour (Hugtto Precure) vs Aigis (Persona 3)

Pixal (Ninjago) vs Ritsu (Assassination Classroom)

Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain) vs Sage (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell) vs Falulu (Pripara)

Cutie Honey (Cutie Honey) vs Renais Shishioh (The King of Braves GaoGaiGar)

Jinmay (SRMTHFG) vs Mimi (Super Paper Mario)

Side B - Group 1 - Round 1 [May 29th]

SHODAN (System Shock) vs Drossel von Flugel (Fireball)

GLaDOS (Portal) vs Aradiabot (Homestuck)

Karen Plankton (Spongebob Squarepants) vs Tex (RvB)

Striker (Suisei no Gargantia) vs Miss Monochrome (Miss Monochrome the Animation)

Naomi Armitage (Arimitage the Third) vs Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa)

Toa Nokama (Bionicle) vs Poppy Pipopapo (Kamen Rider Ex Aid)

Raptor 283 (Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger) vs Cindi Mayweather (Janelle Monae's Metropolis)

Alpha Hatsuseno (Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou) vs Magine (Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger)

Side B - Group 2 - Round 1 [May 31st]

Lal (Star Trek TNG) vs .GIFfany (Gravity Falls)

Megagirl (Starship) vs Hera (Wolf 359)

Monika (DDLC) vs Aelita (Code Lyoko)

Arale Norimaki (Dr. Slump) vs Piper (Robots)

Robecca Steam (Monster High) vs Sari Sumdac (Transformers Animated)

Aya (GLTAS) vs Fey (Welcome to Night Vale)

Orisa (Overwatch) vs Rebecca (Cyberpunk Edgerunners)

Chii (Chobits) vs KOS-MOS (Xenosaga)

Side A - Group 1 - Round 2 [June 2nd]

Motherboard (Cyberchase) vs Robot Candace (Phineas and Ferb)

Uran (Astro Boy) vs Roll (MegaMan)

Jenny Wakeman (MLAATR) vs Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid)

Arcee (Transformers) vs Bee (Bee and Puppycat)

Side A - Group 2 - Round 2 [June 4th]

R. Dorothy Waynewright (The Big O) vs Accord (Drakengard 3)

Aigis (Persona 3) vs Ritsu (Assassination Classroom)

Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain) vs Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)

Cutie Honey (Cutie Honey) vs Jinmay (SRMTHFG)

Side B - Group 1 - Round 2 [June 6th]

SHODAN (System Shock) vs GLaDOS (Portal)

Tex (RvB) vs Striker (Suisei no Gargantia)

Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa) vs Toa Nokama (Bionicle)

Raptor 283 (Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger) vs Magine (Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger)

Side B - Group 2 - Round 2 [June 8th]

.GIFfany (Gravity Falls) vs Hera (Wolf 359)

Aelita (Code Lyoko) vs Piper (Robots)

Robecca Steam (Monster High) vs Fey (Welcome to Night Vale)

Orisa (Overwatch) vs Chii (Chobits)

Side A - Group 1 - Round 3 [June 10th]

Motherboard (Cyberchase) vs Uran (Astro Boy)

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid) vs Bee (Bee and Puppycat)

Side A - Group 2 - Round 3 [June 12th]

R. Dorothy Waynewright (The Big O) vs Aigis (Persona 3)

Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain) vs Cutie Honey (Cutie Honey) Side B - Group 1 - Round 3 [June 14th]

GLaDOS (Portal) vs Tex (RvB)

Toa Nokama (Bionicle) vs Magine (Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger)

Side B - Group 2 - Round 3 [June 16th]

.GIFfany (Gravity Falls) vs Aelita (Code Lyoko)

Robecca Steam (Monster High) vs Orisa (Overwatch)

Side A - Group 1 - Quarterfinals [June 18th]

Motherboard (Cyberchase) vs Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid)

Side A - Group 2 - Quarterfinals [June 20th]

Aigis (Persona 3) vs Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain)

Side B - Group 1 - Quarterfinals [June 22nd]

GLaDOS (Portal) vs Toa Nokama (Bionicle)

Side B - Group 2 - Quarterfinals [June 24th]

.GIFfany (Gravity Falls) vs Robecca Steam (Monster High)

Side A - Semifinals [June 26th]

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid) vs Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain)

Side B - Semifinals [June 28th]

GLaDOS (Portal) vs .GIFfany (Gravity Falls) Finals [June 30th]

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid) vs GLaDOS (Portal)

WINNER

GLaDOS (Portal)

[carnelianwings]

Another shop tourney Sunday, did better this week at 2-2 with Chronojet (we had 13 players this time unlike last week with 10), won against 2 of the stronger players at the shop so that was really nice. Lost one to Gandeeva and another to Bastion Prime (that restand ...) but the real win this week is pulling my third Thasus from my promo pack so I'm now up to 3 copies, so if I don't get my 4th by the end of next month I'd be okay shelling out the money for the last copy - pulling 2 copies this week basically means I've put in ~$60 total for 3 copies thus far, and if I have to shell out another $60 for the last one next month, then at least I averaged ~$36 for 4 copies which is Not The Worst for a staple promo in a meta deck.

As usual, full match breakdown behind the cut!

First round: Second vs Chronojet mirror:

This one actually went pretty well because I "lost" dice roll and got to go second. Did the usual (G1 Mikani or Swirler) + Gigi G1 rush combo, and kept the pressure on the whole fight. My opponent easily could've G2 gamed me (and I would've done the same back to him) but he decided to say to hell with that and just gave me first Stride on my Turn 3. Went into Faterider, pushed and built up hand with my G1 Mikani/Swirler/Gigi draw engine, went into Faterider again on Turn 4 to push to 5, then did Nextage Turn 5 for game. Overall a clean game and a great start to this tourney.

Second round: First vs Zorga (Masques):

I won dice roll (when I didn't want to) but alas, it is what it is. Mulliganed into Mikani-Gigi, rushed on my G2 turn (more like when would I not rush so I can go into Faterider multi-attack when my opponent is high on damage). Had the PG for the Blue Zorga Alchemagic for triple drive, and had just enough hand to guard the rest. Went into my first Faterider turn, bot deck a Roaming Prison Dragon, opponent PGs Faterider, but I mega-sack on the checks - crit-(red) OT-crit - and I put everything onto the Upstream I'd Time Leaped with Faterider, and my opponent dies to the first swing. This was actually the same guy who played Prison last week, and one of the better players at the shop (imho) and I keep losing to him so beating him this week (even if it was with drive check highroll) felt like an accomplishment. Also actually felt prepared when I went into this fight because Zorga was one of those decks I'd studied up on via Dear Days (just to get the basic idea of how the deck worked and what orders are generally played).

Third round: First vs Gandeeva:

Not much to say here beyond Gandeeva Did Gandeeva Things. I ended up Soul Charging both of my extra copies of Chronojet so I couldn't go into Nextage and had to rely on multiattack to push damage/win, and pretty much lost to Gandeeva's innate scaling in the end. Also drew OT into hand but I forgot to play it on my first Faterider turn, but I ended up needing that 50k shield because, y'know. Gandeeva.

Fourth round: First vs Bastion Prime:

This one started out not that great - didn't get Gigi in my opening hand - and I think I tunneled too hard on putting my OT back into deck when I didn't have Upstream on hand to tutor out Gigi for draw (I had 4 Soul by that point so I really should've Time Leaped one of my G1s for an Upstream). Ended up with not enough cards on hand for his first Prime turn, and lost to rear guard restand. It's something I'll have to keep in mind for my next tournament.

[halidomhappenings]

MAGIC: SONYA VS ANNETTE

ANNA: “Our first magic match of the day is about to unfold! Both of these talented magicians will be performing with wind magic today, a skill they both specialize in. No matter who wins, with such mastery of their craft spellcasting is surely a breeze. Shall we begin? If Sonya could please take the stage!”

EMM: “Unlike most of our other magic matches, these two are casting the same exact elements. This means we’ll really get to examine technique and craft of each spell!”

CHROM: “Valentia vs Fodlan it seems. Sonya is an incredibly experienced and powerful mage, but then Annette did get top marks at the School of Sorcery before getting accepted into Garreg Mach. Will such a high technique be able to overcome one with more years and opportunies to develop her skill?”

SONYA

First Spell: 19 (4pts)

Sonya’s clearly been preparing for the semi finals-- Her first cast is expertly recited, tome aglow and floating in her hand. As the winds kick up in speed around the crowd, a puffy, fluffy little cloud raises from the book and takes the form of a tiny dancer. The dancer-cloud skips and dances in the wind, following the breeze in a joyful little bout before coming to a stop just before those closest to the stage.

Second Spell: NAT 1

FAVOR BONUS: 6 (2pts)

Perhaps the dancer-cloud ought to have been saved for her finale? Such an involved spell is already very taxing on Sonya, but she’s determined to take it a step farther and conjure up a partner for a pas de deux. While they manage a few steps, she cannot keep both clouds dancing for long and the newer of the two loses its distinct form. 

Third Spell: 9 (2pts)

Fourth Spell: 18 (4pts)

Coral BONUS Spell: 15 (3pts)

Score: 3.2

CHROM: “As expected, Sonya opens today’s magic bracket with a strong start, 0.7 points above the average... I did get my maths right, I’m hoping. I don’t need a lecture from Miriel.”

EMM: “Awww... I love the little cloud dolls!”

ANNETTE

First Spell: 6 (2pts)

Second Spell: 12 (3pts)

Third Spell: 3 (1pt)

FAVOR BONUS: 12 (3pts)

Annette has had a pretty slow start this go-around, but she doesn’t let it get to her and focuses on her next cast. She calls the wind together into a glittering ball that spins round and round in her hands, willing the magic to take on a greenish hue so that the spell will be visible. From there, the orb of wind raises into the air and spreads. Slowly, gently... The illuminated breeze sweeps through the crowd as though it’s the gentle touch of a friend, but it loses its hue before it can reach the back row.

Fourth Spell: 9 (2pts)

Fifth Spell: 15 (3pts)

Holding her finger up as though it’s a conductor’s baton, Annette renders her magic visible once more-- It’s taken on a hue somewhere between blue and green this time. The gust of wind follows Annette’s finger, rippling and twirling as though it’s a ribbon, and the resulting arrangement is a representation of simple sheet music. Musically inclined members of the audience might pick up that Annette hummed the tune she represented in her magic...

Coral BONUS Spell: 12 (3pts)

Score: 3.2

TIE BREAKER:

Sonya:  18  ;  Annette: 13

CHROM: “Talk about tense! In the end however, it seems experience does win out, but just barely. I wonder how powerful Annette will be once she reaches Sonya’s stage?”

EMM: “What a close match! Annette, even though you didn’t make it any further, your spells were absolutely wonderful! Keep at it!”

SONYA WINS!

[summerscramble-event]

    SUMMER SCRAMBLE 2018 VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY            ROUND 2 --- PRELIMINARIES.

RECENT MATCHES ➝ ROUND 1:

Bracket 01 : Laslow’s Deliverance v The Chromrades                          ➝ The Chromrades takes the victory.

Bracket 02: Serve’s Up! v Sugar ‘n Spike                         ➝ Sugar ‘n Spike takes the victory.

Bracket 03: Fit to Serve v White and Gold                         ➝ White and Gold advance.

Bracket 04: REBELations v. Solar Spectaculars                         ➝ Solar Spectaculars take the win.

UPCOMING MATCHES  ➝ ROUND 2:

Bracket 02: Sugar ‘n Spike v Fate’s Blade                       ➝ Match start at 3:00 PM EST / 9:00 PM ( 21:00 ) CET

Bracket 04: Solar Spectaculars v Shell We Dance                       ➝ Match start at 3:30 PM EST / 9:30 PM ( 21:30 ) CET

Bracket 01: The Chromrades v Voll-Flame                      ➝ Match start at 4:00 PM EST / 10:00 PM ( 22:00 ) CET

Bracket 03: White and Gold v Fated Rally                      ➝ Match start at 4:30 PM EST / 10:30 PM ( 22:30 ) CET

ROUND INTERMISSION . . . START.

                                                             STAY TUNED . . . . 

[mon-blanchetts]

There was something certain, final, about the thought of letting go—except it really never was as simple as that, after all. Jon is desperate to find meaning in one of Sansa’s mysterious possessions, even at the expense of his own peace of mind.

My contribution to Round 2 of the Jonsa Gift Exchange for the lovely @aknightfornawt!

Sansa sleeps constantly.

It didn’t bother him earlier on, when she was newly-arrived from wherever she escaped from, exhaustion painting her features, her blue eyes as worn out as the rough spun cloak she wore. No, Jon wasn’t worried then, like he’s worried now; he can’t shake the idea that she’s desperate to lose herself in sweet dreams than face the reality that stretches before her when she’s awake, but in such thoughts lay a darker apprehension: what is she trying to forget?  

For all his worries, Jon envies her, if he’s to be honest with himself. It takes a couple drops of Milk of the Poppy to quell his mind long enough that he can sleep through the night without the ghosts creeping towards him, but there are days when the dreams are so real, so vivid, he wonders if they’re images wrought from his mind or something or other he’s forgotten. They come and go, his memories, like the ravens in the maester’s rookery, sometimes carrying grave news, sometimes nothing at all.

Her handmaiden comes back to him with the same news day in and day out, of her mistress sleeping through most of the day, unless a visitor comes knocking. It’s disheartening to hear, and he knows he can’t let her go on like this. A part of him wants to let her escape, let her bury her head in the sand until she comes out of her own accord, but the uncertainty that she’ll eventually come around is too real to ignore now.

“Do you think you might add something to this tunic?” he asks her one afternoon, after her handmaiden informs her that he’s here to see her. Sansa has only ventured out of her room a handful of times, always with her sworn shield shadowing her, sometimes even with Arya, who is just as perplexed about her sister’s condition as he is. Familiarity should have coaxed her out of this shell she hides in, but it has not; Jon hopes that maybe a familiar activity will prove more fruitful. A small design, he explains, perhaps a direwolf, if she’s willing to stitch one, just over his heart. “Here, I think,” he says tapping his left breastbone with a finger. Her eyes linger at the spot he gestured to, her face unreadable. Jon can make out the girl he remembers in her reserved manner, but the haunted look in her gaze is proof that she is no such thing.

If she wonders why he’s asking her, or if she suspects his motives, Sansa doesn’t voice them. Hope flutters in his chest when she nods wordlessly; Jon tries to hide his eagerness from her as he unlatches the buckles at his shoulders, shrugging out of his worn tunic before setting it gently in her lap as she beckons him to. She traces a long finger over the garment, as it mapping out what she might do; his hope rises just a little more, until his eyes catch sight of something vibrant near her hand, a familiar piece that makes his hear deflate, but he doesn’t know why—not in its entirety, at least.

The first time he noticed the ribbon tied around her wrist, Jon mistook it for blood; it set him off in a panic, until he realized what it was. He doesn’t know where it comes from, and she never mentions it. They don’t mention a lot of things, and it and makes them even more foreign to one another. Oddly enough, it is something Sansa would have done, in some distant, convoluted past—she had tied a ribbon to her direwolf’s collar, he remembers. He can’t recall what the color had been, but he knows it wasn’t red, knows that it wasn’t like the background of the Lannister’s sigil. Jon would like to believe she wears the ribbon as tribute to her lost familiar, but he knows it’s not, though he’s never asked. Instead, he watches her silently while she begins work his tunic, the only sound between them the snap from the fire. He’s only touched her once, when he wrapped his arms around her to welcome her home, and her own response had been slow, hesitant. She wanted to come home so badly, but now that she was here, it was like she didn’t know what came after. Did any of them?

There is no redemption for either of them, no chance of rebirth through water or flames; all they can do is push on, hoping they don’t stumble any more than they did while seeking this point in time. They’ve all suffered enough, and now, at least for the time being, they have each other.

Maybe he’s wrong to assume her dreams are sweet, though; for all he knows, they are ladened with the graves of hundreds and the blood of those she can’t forget. Maybe Sansa doesn’t know how to. 

*******

Tell me what happened to her.

Sansa will not talk, but he hopes her sworn shield will. Brienne of Tarth is grand, capable, and beyond anything he’s known in a woman south of the Wall, her loyalty unshakable.

“There isn’t much I can tell you,” is her answer, eyes fixed on the landscape that stretches out before them. “Of course, there are plenty of stories, but…”

“But there’s only a grain of truth to them,” he finishes, crestfallen. The winds are harsh this morn, eager to topple something, someone, but he has stopped expecting anything less. “I want to help her, my lady. Can I do that if I feel like I’m wandering in the dark?”

His companion pauses. “It might not be your place to help her,” she tells him. His stare must be overbearing enough, because she turns her head to look at him. “We all have our own weight to bear, no matter the good intentions of others, but not everyone is looking for someone to lift their burden. She probably isn’t the person you remember, but she never will be, again.”

“I know that,” he insists. “But she can’t exist the way she’s been existing.” He desperately wants to believe that, even though he’s far more level-headed. Pain dulls, eventually; fear dissipates. It’s harder for him to believe, when he watches her, Sansa, she who looks but never sees. Her state of mind, her demeanor, it all leaves him feeling helpless, as if someone’s tied his arms to his sides and he can’t do anything. Jon has watched her wandering the castle with no real intention, like she’s drifting, a leaf in the wind with no destination in mind. So often he wants to talk to her, yet everything he thinks to voice sounds hollow, meaningless.

“This goes without saying, but too much expectation can lead to disappointment.”

Was he expecting too much, though? Was it wrong, selfish of him, to hope for something better for her?

Jon doesn’t respond to Lady Brienne, if only because he doesn’t trust himself to speak further, not while his mind is preoccupied.

What is the red ribbon about?

It’s possible she doesn’t know, of course; Sansa might have been wearing it long before her sworn shield found her, but there’s no doubt in his mind that Brienne has her own theories. And yet, Jon can’t bear to ask her in any direct terms; his tongue grows heavy in his mouth, his throat clogged with some questionable emotion he can’t explain. He wants to know, but he doesn’t. 

*******

Jon is not the only one preoccupied with the red ribbon. Her grey gowns make it hard to conceal; many times she’s unaware that it’s coming apart until just the last minute, so it trails after her, like a leash with no master holding onto the other end. The thought is unsettling to him, but he represses his worries. What harm can a piece of ribbon do?

“She doesn’t even take it off when she bathes,” Arya points out, shaking her head. She’s been speaking with the servants, who, it turns out, have more romantic notions surrounding the ribbon. “They think some handsome lord gave it to her in a tourney before he died in the Long Night, and she wears it as a tribute to the man she’ll never have.”

It isn’t a far-off notion, had Sansa been the girl she was before she went south; there’s a tragic ring to it, but it’s still easy for him to swallow, if he could. “Is that what they think?”

Arya shrugs. “The younger ones, yes. I’ve heard a few others, though—some are wilder than the last.”

“Have you ever asked her?”

“Yes.”

He grips the handle of his tankard with anticipation. “What has she told you?”

Arya studies him for a moment, but he knows how eager he must look for answers. Just like the servants in their household, Jon has his own thoughts about the ribbon; to him, Sansa’s closed off behavior is inextricably tied to the ribbon she holds so dear to her. He’s full of tales, like everyone else around him, but he can’t make any of them fit to his liking.

“She won’t tell me anything,” she divulges. Arya finishes the last of her ale, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “You know, maybe there’s nothing to that thing. She could just be wearing it because she really, really likes it.”

“Do you actually believe that?”

She smirks. “No, I don’t. People do like stories though, don’t they? What a disappointment it would be, finding out that there is none.”

Jon doesn’t know if the ribbon bothers Arya the way it bothers him; whenever he thinks of Sansa he remembers the thin piece of fabric, about how much it reminds him of blood, a rivulet of crimson that keeps him awake at night. 

******* 

It’s only a little while after dinner when her handmaiden comes to him with a panicked look in her eyes to tell him about a row between two sisters that grows worse by the moment. They are still too different for each other’s liking, Arya and Sansa; the handmaiden’s news strikes enough fear in him to worry.  

Jon can hear voices echoing against the stone walls as he quickens his steps, but Arya is already marching out just as he arrives, her face hard, eyes burning with anger, frustration; his own eyes are probably deceiving him, but he thinks she might break into tears.

“What’s happened? What have you two done?”

Arya glares at him. Jon realizes just how much like Ned he sounds—or is it Catelyn?

“Oh, piss off,” she hisses, before storming off towards the stairs, leaving him amidst a sea of confusion and curiosity. Jon calls out to her, but his efforts are useless. The heavy, oaken door to Sansa’s room is wide open, but silence is the only thing that drifts through. Did one of her outbursts go too far?

Jon walks in without a second thought, looking for signs of conflict, of violence. To his dismay, he finds it: an upturned chair, lying carelessly on the floor. It reminds him of a corpse, one of thousands, if not more, that littered the snowy grounds he once fought on. He swallows, trying to force the images away. Not now.

Sansa is sitting on the floor, right in front of the fire that burns in the hearth; if he didn’t know any better, he would have thought her a statue, oddly placed in the middle of the room. Still, if he thought he would have better luck with her than he did with Arya, he’s wrong. Sansa does not respond when he says her name, nor does she take her eyes off the fire burning in the hearth. This sister does not tell him to bugger off, at least, until Jon realizes there’s no consolation there; in Sansa’s eyes, it’s like he’s not even in the room. She hasn’t tried to run off, though, so he joins her on the cold, stone floor, hoping that might stir something within her. He glances at the upturned chair again. The air is still heavy with tension, but there is a measure of sadness that he can discern, too.

“Did she hurt you?” he asks, studying the profile of her pale face, her hair. He nearly misses it while he’s inspecting her, pale skin laid bare to him. Naked.

It all comes together now. Jon shoots a glance at the fire, but there’s nothing to see but dancing flames, wooden logs disintegrating. It would have melted long ago, the ribbon, a thin, tired piece like that. He can recall too well her reaction when Arya once tried pulling it off, how Sansa had gasped and yanked her hand towards her, affronted, scared, like she would break at the seams if it came undone. The ribbon is certainly gone now, forever destroyed, but the tears and heartache he was expecting do not come.

Sansa does not cry. Her eyes remain locked on the fire, mesmerized, but there is no other reaction. Jon barely knew how to behave around her when she was younger, has been struggling with her presence since she came back home, but this…it casts a different light, one he can’t shy away from. There is something in himself here: broken like glass, emptied out—puzzles with missing pieces to them, but he makes do by shoving them together where he can, damn the consequences. He sees the horror and the spite and the sadness, and suddenly he wants to flee in desperation. He won’t, though. He can’t.

It’s on the tip of his tongue, to ask her if she’ll be all right, but he knows there isn’t any point. So he just sits there, a silent comfort, because it’s all he can be. 

*******

The transformation is slow, like a melting candle, but it’s there for him and everyone to see, the way she unravels.   

******* 

He finds her a new ribbon in the winter town—a blue one this time, and not just because it was the only color available. Then again, he’s not looking to replace what was lost to her in the fire; Sansa’s come out so much better since then, a tinge more animated than she’s ever been, but from time to time he catches her studying her right wrist pensively, like she knows that something used to be there but she can’t remember what. He holds his breath each time, fearful that she’ll fall back into the same abyss she managed to rise out of, but when Sansa let’s her arm drop and lifts her head, hope comes rushing back. No, he thinks, studying the ribbon he’s gotten for her; it’s not about reminding her of what she once was, but what she’s been strong enough to come out of, what she possesses within her that continues to grow and thrive.  

When he presents it to her, together with a plate of lemon cakes—a generous supply of fruit arrived from the south only a few days ago, thanks in part to his aunt’s generosity—he’s surprised by the nervousness he can’t shake off, unsure of her reaction. She might hate it, the ribbon and the cakes, because he’s making assumptions again about who she was and who she is, but he’s desperate for her to be happy.

Sansa stares at the lemon cakes he holds before her, pink lips slightly ajar. For a moment he’s sure he’s done wrong, is desperate to drop the platter and disappear, no better with women now than he was then. But when she lifts her eyes to look into his, blue like the ocean but bright like stars, Jon thinks that maybe, maybe, things will be all right.

“There’s something else I want to give you,” he begins, watching her carefully as she finishes a second lemon cake. He’s still hesitant about his offering, not sure if he’s making it all worse, despite his own persuasions. Nothing on her face strikes him as worrisome, though; he’ll just have to takes his chances, instinct driving him forward. He pulls out the blue strand from one of his pockets, holding it out towards her with an outstretched hand, one end of the ribbon dangling off the edge of his palm.

“I know it’s not the same color,” he mentions, in response to her silence, “but, I…I thought you would like it. I thought perhaps you might put it in your hair.” Even if she chooses to tie it around her wrist again, at least it won’t remind him of blood.

When she reaches forward to take the ribbon from his hand, her fingers are as cool as the piece of fabric he wants her to have. Sansa studies it like it might be a rare jewel, rubbing the ribbon between her digits. Goose pimples rise at the back of his neck and arms; what would it feel like, fingers like hers against his skin?

His heart deflates when she hands the ribbon back to him. Jon stares at it before fixing his gaze on her face. He realizes, a beat later, that she’s smiling nervously.

“I want you to keep it.”

Before he can say anything, Sansa reaches for his hand. Captivated, Jon watches as she wraps it around his wrist—it doesn’t go around as many times it would have on hers—before finishing it with a knot.

“I want you to wear it,” she insists.

“Forever?”

“It will wear out by then.”

A smile breaks out on his face. The ribbon looks ridiculous on him, a touch too soft against his dark linen and leather, but he knows he can’t deny Sansa anything.

“It’ll be up to you to find me another ribbon when that happens,” he warns, touching the fabric with his other hand.

Her smile is genuine. “I’ll tie it in your hair, next time.” 

*******

He keeps the ribbon on, just like she asks him to, pairing it with the tunics she has fashioned for him, all of them embroidered with a direwolf over his heart. Sansa smiles when she catches sight of it; even more engrossing is the way she reaches for his wrist, as if wanting to revel in the smoothness of it. Someday he hopes she’ll be emboldened enough to take his hand; if she does, he hopes she’ll never want to let go.

Jon doesn’t know the story behind the red ribbon, but he knows the story behind this one, and maybe that’s fine. 

******* 

One day, he thinks, after he strips them both of their clothes, he’ll lay Sansa on her bed and wrap the ribbon loosely around her neck, so that the ends dangle in the valley of her breasts. And he’ll kiss her there, he’ll press his mouth against each and every one of her scars, before he’ll make her forget where they are and what they’ve done. It would take them the rest of their lives to heal, but fools they would be, if they didn’t try.

 *******

AN: So Round 2 of the Jonsa Gift Exchange was “Milestones,” but my recipient didn’t want grand milestones or fluff; I decided that the hope of moving on and letting go, rather than a big epiphany, could work. I hope it’s okay?

Some parts of this story bears resemblance to “i dream a highway back to you,” so I’m pointing this out now to avoid plagiarism.

Finally, the title from “Border Crosser” by Trails and Ways.

[splatoonpolls]

SPLATOON OC TOURNEY BATCH 1 ROUND 2 BATTLE 4

BTW I highly recommenced also checking out the propaganda section before voting!

Pixxy by @gloogapropaganda vs Skittles by @mothlight-hours

PROPAGANDA

PIXXY

Pickle (Pixxy) C. Pickles | 25 | She/Here | Ace | ASD

Believes she's an inkling but is actually a cuttlefish

tad shorter than Pearl

favorite brands are Rockenberg, Forge, and Annaki

favorite music is hard rock and anything else loud and heavy

favorite idol is Pearl; looks up to her as a role model

wants to be in a band but doesn't know piss all about music

semi-pro ranked player, especially Clam Blitz

would kill for Judd but would DIE for Lil Judd

lets Lil Judd nibble her hair

blows all money at Hotlantis and the shell out machine; usually broke

from Inkopolis but lives in a dumpy flat in Splatsville; loiters in Inkopolis often

flirts and talks to Grizz through the radio not realizing it's prerecorded (or that he's a bear)

basically if Tenta Missiles were a person

SKITTLES

just hanging out. My goofy goober. Runs a comedy troupe that performs during turf wars. A sort of in joke in my friend group.

[newstwitter-blog]

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/09/washington-post-georgetown-has-nowhere-left-to-hide-from-the-hard-questions-to-come-2/

Washington Post: Georgetown has nowhere left to hide from the hard questions to come

NEW YORK — For a moment here, there was sizzle, and if you closed your eyes it could have been Madison Square Garden on a Saturday night in March, circa 1985. The closed eyes would have had the added benefit of shielding you from the brand of basketball Georgetown and St. John’s displayed for much of Wednesday night, sure. But at least there was actual, old-school Big East intensity.

In that minute or so, when Georgetown guard L.J. Peak drove to the hoop and was fouled by St. John’s reserve Amar Alibegovic — a tad hard but nothing terribly abnormal — Madison Square Garden pulsed. When Chris Mullin, the St. John’s legend who is now its coach, had to be separated from his counterpart at Georgetown, John Thompson III, tension rippled through the building, a quality that had been utterly lacking in what — let’s be honest — was a game between the eighth and ninth seeds in the Big East tournament, shells of what they once were.

Whew, it was fun while it lasted. But in the end, when Georgetown’s last-second putback attempt trickled off the rim, it was just a cloud of dust that obscured — well, the cloud that hangs over the Georgetown program and won’t go away.

[St. John’s tops Georgetown, 74-73, in Big East tournament]

St. John’s beat Georgetown in the first round of the Big East tournament, 74-73. Georgetown’s season is over, its second losing campaign in a row done at 14-18, with six straight losses to finish. And now . . .

What? Who can even answer that question?

What is the state of a proud program, in some semblance of shambles, with its first back-to-back losing seasons in more than four decades?

“After a loss like that, right now, I don’t think is the time to do that,” Thompson III said.

So, then, when is?

“I’m not sure,” Thompson said. “Not tonight.”

[Virginia tops Pittsburgh, 75-63, in ACC tournament]

Then it’s left to others, and all we can do is call this what it is: the worst Georgetown season since 1971-72, the 3-23 debacle that ended the career of John Magee as coach and ushered in nothing short of an icon in John Thompson Jr. Losing seasons since generally served as precursors to change: 1998-99, when Thompson turned the program over to longtime assistant Craig Esherick midseason, and the 2003-04 train wreck, when Esherick’s Hoyas lost their last nine games and Esherick was replaced by his old boss’s son.

But then Thompson III went 15-18 last year, so what we have here isn’t a blip but a trend. At a normal program, the time to start figuring out who might be the next coach would have come weeks ago. Overtures would have been made, information gathered, and a list of qualified, viable candidates assembled.

But you know where this is going: This is not a normal program, not even close. You only needed to look just past Thompson, as he paced the Garden sideline Wednesday night, to see why: His pops, sitting right behind the Georgetown bench, his son’s bench.

[Empty seats to begin Big Ten tourney at Verizon Center]

Coaching transitions can be awkward, particularly at legacy programs. North Carolina had a hard time, you might recall, moving on from Dean Smith, turning first to his assistant Bill Guthridge, then eventually to alum Matt Doherty for three turbulent seasons, before landing on Roy Williams. The first three UCLA coaches after John Wooden lasted two seasons apiece, the next one three, the next one four.

Likewise, Georgetown is both blessed and cursed by what it once was, which of course, in the view of fans, is what it still should be. It can still roll out the greats that remind everyone around the program of the glory days, all those years ago.

Why, there’s Allen Iverson seated on the baseline.

“I just think it’s crazy,” Iverson said of the idea Thompson could be replaced as coach. “I mean, it’s personal with me anyway because I got love for him. And I know he’s a great coach. I mean, three Big East championships. I just think it’s unfair.

“And I think my little guys, these little guys on the team, got to be accountable for what’s going on. They got to make it happen on the floor.”

Those little guys, though, don’t have any more opportunities, not this year at least. And their best players followed Thompson’s lead in preferring not to discuss the state of the program. Junior guard L.J. Peak, who nearly willed the Hoyas to a win in the second half, described the year thusly: “A fun rodeo with my brothers.”

[Virginia Tech gets past Wake Forest, 99-90, in ACC tournament]

But at some point, the bronco has to be busted. There must be smooth-riding stability. The program has known almost nothing but that for four decades, and Thompson’s résumé still shows Georgetown’s only Final Four appearance since 1985, still shows eight trips to the NCAA tournament in 13 years, still shows those three Big East regular season titles to which Iverson referred.

But now, it also shows a combined record of 13-25 against Big East opponents (including the tourney) over the past two years. The fan base has more than fissures.

“I know what type of coach he is,” Iverson said. “I know what type of brain he has. I talk to him a lot about basketball. He knows what he’s talking about. He knows how to utilize his personnel. I think everything will be all right. This thing will blow over.”

It won’t blow over, though, until there is some big-picture, critical self-assessment on Thompson’s part. He needs that, of course, for the inner workings of his program. But he needs it, too, for the Hoyas public. There were no chants of “Fire Thompson!” on Wednesday night at the Garden, a difference from recent Georgetown games. But those voices aren’t going to go away in the offseason.

“Later on tonight, tomorrow, I don’t know when, I’ll sit back and assess the season and all that,” Thompson said.

It will be interesting to hear that assessment, assuming we’re privy to it. There were moments Wednesday night when we were reminded what a Georgetown game in the Big East tournament could feel like. It would be great to hear a plan to bring back those moments with regularity and relevance.

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[tyleroakley-obsessed]

Brace yourselves, Memphis. This weekend is the big one. The one spring weekend every year when there are a million events and a Grizz playoffs home game. I don’t know how or why it happens – maybe it’s just Memphis magic – but it’s always a great time and also completely crazy. My advice: embrace the crazy, drink water, and Here are five things you won’t want to miss – plus plenty more. Photo via @whitneydfinch. Tag your pics #ilovememphis to be featured! 1. Africa in April, Robert Church Park, all weekend, free, all ages Celebrate this year’s honored African country, The Republic of Togo, with five days of fun in Robert Church Park during Africa in April. During the festival, the park will be packed with vendors, food, cultural activities, a parade, live music, and workshops on diversity, entrepreneurship, and health and wellness. 2. Southern Hot Wing Festival, Mississippi River Park, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., $15 online / $20 at the gate, all ages Cooking teams compete for $5000 in prize money for the best hot wings in Memphis, and most teams will give out samples for a $1 or $2 donation to Ronald McDonald House. Expect live music, a wing eating contest, a cornhole tourney, and more. Buy tickets online ahead of time and save $5. 3. V&E Greenline Art Walk, V&E Greenline, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., free, all ages Local artists and vendors will line the V&E Greenline in Midtown for the 6th annual V&E Art Walk. In addition to dozens of local artist booths, the festival will have food vendors, kids’ activities, live music and a silent auction. If you’ve never been there, the V&E Greenline is an unpaved trail that starts at Cleveland and North Parkway and runs to Rhodes College. 4. Grizzlies v. Spurs, FedExForum, Saturday, prices vary, all ages/kid-friendly Y’all, I need FedExForum to be packed out on Saturday night for Game 4 of Round 1 of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. 5. Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival, Wagner Place, Sunday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., free, all ages The annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival is the city’s largest, at least by amount of crawfish: during the single day festival, they’ll serve 15,000 pounds. There will also be live music, a gumbo cooking contest, and all manner of crawfish-related activities. Bring a lawn chair and set up camp along the trolley tracks while you eat. Proceeds from the festival benefit Porter-Leath. This year, they celebrate their 25th year. Even more: – Madison Avenue Park Opening, Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., free, all ages Downtown’s new pocket park celebrates its opening day with a lineup of performances, vendors, and food all day long, rain or shine. Read more about the park here. – Record Store Day, Shangri-La Records, Saturday, all day, free, all ages Great deals on music all morning, then live (free!) music all afternoon, starting at 2 p.m. and finishing up in time for you to walk over to the Lucero Block Party. – Cooper Young Community Farmers Market Crawfish Boil, First Congo Parking Lot, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., free entry, all ages/kid-friendly It’s time for the 4th annual CYCFM! Enjoy local beer, crawfish, and other food for sale, plus live music from The Three Kings. – Memphis Veg Fest, Levitt Shell, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., free, all ages/kid-friendly Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or just want to feel better about what you eat, this fest is for you. Expect food, demos, and speakers. – Lucero Family Block Party, Minglewood Hall, Saturday, 2 p.m. – ’til, $20 – $30, all ages This is one serious throwdown. (It’s pretty ok for kids early on, though.) If you’re a fan of Lucero (or their openers Son Volt, Sons of Mudboy, or William Matheny) you need to get your tickets right away. – Memphis Brewfest, AutoZone Park, Saturday, 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., $45 gen. admission/$100 VIP, 21 and up Try a whole bunch of beer at the ballpark at the 8th annual Memphis Brewfest. Benefits the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy – River Series, Harbor Town Amphitheater, Sunday, doors at 3 p.m., $5, all ages/kid-friendly These concerts are a fun way for grownups to enjoy great music and beer in a place where the little ones are welcome. Click here for the lineup. Proceeds benefit The Maria Montessori School. Are you a home owner in Memphis, with a broken garage door? Call ASAP garage door today at 901-461-0385 or checkout http://ift.tt/1B5z3Pc

http://ilovememphisblog.com/2017/04/5-things-to-do-this-weekend-421-423/

[madpicks]

New Post has been published on https://www.madpicks.com/sports/14-super-important-things-watch-sports-weekend/

14 super important things to watch in sports this weekend

What to know, watch, and read this weekend to be your best sports self.

Yo, welcome to the weekend, fellow sports fan. You made it, and you can spend two glorious days watching sports on your couch in just your underwear if that’s what you’re into. Here’s what you need to know, what you can watch, and what you should read if you want to get your sports on.

WHAT TO WATCH

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

1. Women’s NCAA Basketball: South Carolina vs. Stanford, Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

2. Women’s NCAA Basketball: UConn vs. Mississippi State, Friday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

We need to talk about the UConn women, who haven’t lost a game in 10 million years. Okay, not quite, but they have won 111 straight.

Both of these games feature a No. 1 seed vs. a No. 2 seed, so they’re bound to be full of action. Will UConn finally lose? Probably not, but stranger things have happened. This is, after all, Mar— *gets run over by a bus*

3. National Championship Game (TBD), Sunday, 6 p.m., ESPN

My money is on UConn not only getting here, but winning it all.

4. Men’s NCAA basketball: Oregon vs. North Carolina, Saturday, 8:49 p.m. on CBS

This game marks the ninth Final Four appearance for North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, who says the darnedest things. Oregon has stepped up since their star player, Chris Boucher, tore his ACL and missed the tournament. The Ducks upset the No. 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite Eight on their way to the Final Four.

UNC vs. Oregon: Who are you taking? pic.twitter.com/mlmwrPWRwL

— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 27, 2017

5. Men’s NCAA basketball: Gonzaga vs South Carolina, Saturday, 6:09 p.m. on CBS

Gonzaga finally made it to the Final Four this year, so the Zags are no longer the winningest team in college basketball history to never make the tourney semifinals. It’s South Carolina’s first time in the semis, too (cheered on by Darius Rucker the whole time). The Gamecocks have had a wildly improbable run. The No. 7-seed has upset top team after top team to make it this far.

Gonzaga vs. South Carolina: Who are you taking? pic.twitter.com/BJWT5X3pkM

— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 27, 2017

(The men’s NCAA Championship game is on Monday, at a time yet to be decided.)

6. BASEBALL IS BACK! Hell yeah, baseball!

On Sunday we’ve got: Yankees @ Rays is the first game (1:10 ET) and that’s Masahiro Tanaka pitching against Chris Archer. Giants @ Diamondbacks is the second (4:10 ET) and it’s Madison Bumgarner vs. Zack Greinke. Cubs @ Cardinals is the late game (8:35 ET) and it’s Jon Lester vs. Carlos Martinez.

7. Miami Open Finals: Joanna Konta vs. Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki is back in the finals of a fairly big tournament, you guys! After being hurt for the better half of the 2016 season, the Dane seems to be making a comeback. She’ll face Joanna Konta, who beat Venus Williams in the semis to get this far. The men’s final should also be a great match; G.O.A.T. Roger Federer will face upstart Nick Kyrgios in the semis Friday night, and the winner of that match will play either Rafa Nadal or Fabio Fognini.

8. Wrestlemania!!!!! On PPV and the WWE Network, Sunday, April 2 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

A Kickoff Show will air on the WWE Network before, starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. There are some hugely dramatic matches on the card this year featuring the WWE’s biggest stars, from the Undertaker, to John Cena, to Charlotte Flair, to Triple H. Let the ladder smashing, ropes-crashing, totally bizarre, and incredible games begin.

9. NBA: Last Rockets vs. Warriors game of the year, Friday, 10:30 p.m. on RTSW, ESPN, CSBA

This is a possible Western Conference Finals preview.

10. NBA: Thunder vs. Spurs Friday, 8 p.m. on ESPN

Thunder-Spurs games are always good.

11. NBA: Wizards vs. Warriors Sunday, 8 p.m. on CSMA, CSBA

John Wall vs. Steph Curry probably won’t disappoint.

12. NBA: Pacers vs. Cavaliers Sunday, 6 p.m. on FSOH, FSIN

We get to watch Lance Stephenson vs. LeBron James!

(Not sure why you should watch the no good, very bad Knicks play the very good Celtics, but that’s a thing that is happening. “Jazz vs. Spurs is kinda interesting,” says our NBA editor Mike Prada, “but still pretty zzzzz.”)

13. Premier League: Arsenal vs. Man. City, Sunday, 11 a.m., NBCSN and Telemundo

These are two of the best teams in the Premier League. Arsenal, however, has been playing poorly lately.

“If they lose, they’re in very deep shit,” says our soccer editor, Kevin McCauley. “You have to finish top four to get to UEFA Champions League, and if they lose, they’re not gonna do it. So they’d lose hella money and their best players would ask to leave. But, if Arsenal wins, they’ll give a contract extension to the Jeff Fisher of soccer and everyone’s gonna be pissed. So it’s a lose-lose and it’s funny.”

14. Shell Houston Open Round 3 on Saturday, Round 4 on Sunday, both 3-6 p.m. on NBC

This tournament isn’t a huge deal, but it is a fun way to get back on your golf-watching game ahead of (dun dun dun) THE MASTERS! Which could, if you want it to, take up most of next weekend.

WHAT TO READ

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Jon Bois on how there is no future of baseball.

Grant Brisbee on why baseball games are so damn long now.

Whitney Medworth will make you feel unaccomplished.

Ricky O’Donnell on Michael Porter Jr., a high school player who has the whole basketball world in his hands.

Tom Ziller on Isaiah Thomas’ future with the Celtics.

Molly Podlesny on the meme you never knew you needed.

Zito Madu on that stupid Ronaldo sculptor.

Me, Charlotte Wilder, on why it’s harder to screw up baseball than you think it is (also, PSA: baseball hair is important).

Lyndsey D’arcangelo on women’s basketball fans for Teen Vogue.

Bill Barnwell on which NFL teams have the most and least draft capital for ESPN.

Michael Baumann on Mike Trout for The Ringer.

Adele Jackson-Gibson on black athletes and hair for Excelle Sports.

Claire McNear on the Raiders moving to Las Vegas for The Ringer.

Patrick Redford on the most powerful man in chess for Deadspin.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s face got all busted up when someone made a bust of Ronaldo’s face.

The Oakland Raiders are moving to freakin’ VEGAS, BABY!!!!! And fans are pissed about it.

In NBA land, the Knicks got mathematically eliminated from the playoff race (shocker), Steph Curry played well three times in nine days, which was something the NBA’s golden (state) boy hasn’t done recently. Russell Westbrook hit a game-winner, and James Johnson dunked Marcus Morris all the way to Pluto and back.

*Clears throat* ONCE AGAIN, BASEBALL IS BACK!!!! Here’s our season preview. It’s dope. Please read it.

Jay Cutler’s wife Kristin Cavalieri posted a picture of her husband’s butt on Instagram.

OK, I think that’s everything.

IF NONE OF THIS INTERESTS YOU

Take a hike. No, seriously. It’s getting nicer out. Hikes are sports. Sports are good for you.

[halidomhappenings]

CLAWS: KIRAN v. GRIMA

ANNA: “Welcome back to the the Clash of Claws! Yesterday, both of our opponents triumphed over divine dragons. ... At least, I’m pretty sure they were both divine dragons. Today, our Summoner Kiran of Askr will face off against the Fell Dragon Grima. Whoever wins will be moving onto the finals with Caspar! ... Suddenly, I’m very worried about him.”  

EMM: “I feel a bit biased with this match...”

CHROM: “I feel like most of the audience will agree with us, however.”

Kiran First Strike: 17

Grima Defense: 7

Whlie the Fell Dragon is certainly the larger of the two, Kiran is determined, and makes a strong start. The match begins, and Kiran gives a powerful swoop of their wings, rushing forward to full-body slam into Grima’s side, scoring a point.

Grima First Strike: 12

Kiran Defense: 12

Grima lets out a roar and tries to strike back, swinging their long tail around, but Kiran skillfully catches it in their mouth, effectively blocking the hit.

Kiran: 1 Grima: 0

CHROM: “Alright, a promising start. Hopefully, we’ll have a more satisfying ending this time.”

Kiran Second Strike: 14

SNAIL Disadvantage: NAT 1

Grima Defense: 11

Gima Bonus Strike: 6

Kiran Defense: 18

Kiran lets go of Grima and flies upwards, preparing for an opportune angle to dive. When they try to move, though, Grima turns around, coming face to face with them. Grima opens her gaping, toothy maw and lets out a horrific screech that frightens Kiran for a moment and makes them fly back in quick retreat.

Grima Second Strike: 11

Kiran Defense: 7

Grima gives chase, though, and whips her tail back around. She slams it into Kiran’s side, sending the smaller dragon heading towards the ground. Kiran rebounds before they crash, though, wincing a bit as they do.

Kiran: 1 Grima: 1

EMM: “Ouch, that looked like a hard blow... Don’t give up, Kiran!”

Kiran Third Strike: 17

Grima Defense: 18

Kiran lets out a roar of their own and flies back towards Grima. They bare their claws, ready to strike, but at the last moment, Grima dodges out of the way by diving down towards the sand.

Grima Third Strike: 5

Kiran Defense: 3

LION’S PAW Bonus: 7

Trying to bite at Kiran’s feet from below, Grima snaps her jaws threateningly. But Kiran dodges out of the way, narrowly avoiding another hit.

Kiran: 1 Grima: 1

CHROM: “They remain neck and neck at- wait. What’s little Lucina holding in the audience? WHO GAVE HER A GRIMA FLAG-”

Kiran Fourth Strike: 18

Grima Defense: 6

Having the high ground now, Kiran lets themself drop hard from above, claws out and catching Grima’s shoulder with a hard hit.

Grima Fourth Strike: NAT 1

Kiran Defense: 5

Kiran Bonus Strike: 6

Grima Defense: 17

Grima screeches in pain and fury when Kiran strikes her. She flails, trying to strike out, but missing badly as she does, momentarily showing Kiran a weak spot. Kiran, however, doesn’t get a chance to strike again thanks to Grima’s wild, whiplash movements.

Kiran: 2 Grima: 1

EMM: “Kiran has the lead, but can they keep it? There’s one round left, and anything is still possible.”

Kiran Fifth Strike: 11

Grima Defense: 18

Kiran makes one last attempt to hit Grima. They fly towards the fell beast, jaws open to bite, but Grima winds her long body around them like a snake, avoiding the attack.

Grima Fifth Strike: 14

Kiran Defense: 7

Grima then uses this opening to wrap herself completely around Kiran, squeezing them and throwing them to the sandy beach again. 

Kiran: 2 Grima: 2

TIE BREAKER:

Kiran: 5  ;  Grima: 19 With Kiran slightly dazed on the shore, Grima takes the opportunity to tip the odds in her favor by landing back down upon Kiran, pinning them to the ground and getting the last point.

EMM: “Oh my... That last hit must have really hurt. Well done, Kiran, you fought so well! But... it looks like Grima is the winner. Again.”

CHROM: “Well my side hurts again, and now I need to go and explain to Lucina why she shouldn’t take flags from strangers.”

GRIMA WINS!

[junker-town]

13 super important things to watch in sports this weekend

What to know, watch, and read this weekend to be your best sports self.

Yo, welcome to the weekend, fellow sports fan. You made it, and you can spend two glorious days watching sports on your couch in just your underwear if that’s what you’re into. Here’s what you need to know, what you can watch, and what you should read if you want to get your sports on.

WHAT TO WATCH

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

1. Women’s NCAA Basketball: South Carolina vs. Stanford, Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

2. Women’s NCAA Basketball: UConn vs. Mississippi State, Friday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

We need to talk about the UConn women, who haven’t lost a game in ten million years. Okay, not quite, but they have won 111 straight.

Both of these games feature a No. 1 seed vs. a No. 2 seed, so they’re bound to be full of action. Will UConn finally lose? Probably not, but stranger things have happened. This is, after all, Mar— *gets run over by a bus*

3. National Championship Game (TBD), Sunday, 6 p.m., ESPN

My money is on UConn not only getting here, but winning it all.

4. Men’s NCAA basketball: Oregon vs. North Carolina, Saturday, 8:49 PM on CBS

This game marks the ninth Final Four appearance for North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, who says the darnedest things. Oregon has stepped up since their star player, Chris Boucher, tore his ACL and missed the tournament. The Ducks upset the No. 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite Eight on their way to the Final Four.

UNC vs. Oregon: Who are you taking? http://pic.twitter.com/mlmwrPWRwL

— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 27, 2017

5. Men’s NCAA basketball: Gonzaga vs South Carolina, Saturday, 6:09 PM on CBS

Gonzaga finally made it to the Final Four this year, so the Zags are no longer the winningest team in college basketball history to never make the tourney semifinals. It’s South Carolina’s first time in the semis, too (cheered on by Darius Rucker the whole time). The Gamecocks have had a wildly improbable run. The No. 7-seed has upset top team after top team to make it this far.

Gonzaga vs. South Carolina: Who are you taking? http://pic.twitter.com/BJWT5X3pkM

— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 27, 2017

(The men’s NCAA Championship game is on Monday, at a time yet to be decided.)

6. Miami Open Finals: Joanna Konta vs. Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki is back in the finals of a fairly big tournament, you guys! After being hurt for the better half of the 2016 season, the Dane seems to be making a comeback. She’ll face Joanna Konta, who beat Venus Williams in the semis to get this far. The men’s final should also be a great match; G.O.A.T. Roger Federer will face upstart Nick Kyrgios in the semis Friday night, and the winner of that match will play either Rafa Nadal or Fabio Fognini.

7. Wrestlemania!!!!! On PPV and the WWE Network, Sunday, April 2 at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.

A Kickoff Show will air on the WWE Network before, starting at 5 PM ET/2 PM PT. There are some hugely dramatic matches on the card this year featuring the WWE’s biggest stars, from the Undertaker, to John Cena, to Charlotte Flair, to Triple H. Let the ladder smashing, ropes-crashing, totally bizarre, and incredible games begin.

8. NBA: Last Rockets vs. Warriors game of the year, Friday, 10:30 PM on RTSW, ESPN, CSBA

This is a possible Western Conference Finals preview.

9. NBA: Thunder vs. Spurs Friday, 8:00 PM on ESPN

Thunder-Spurs games are always good.

10. NBA: Wizards vs. Warriors Sunday, 8:00 PM on CSMA, CSBA

John Wall vs. Steph Curry probably won’t disappoint.

11. NBA: Pacers vs. Cavaliers Sunday, 6:00 PM on FSOH, FSIN

We get to watch Lance Stephenson vs. LeBron James!

(Not sure why you should watch the no good, very bad Knicks play the very good Celtics, but that’s a thing that is happening. “Jazz vs. Spurs is kinda interesting,” says our NBA editor Mike Prada, “but still pretty zzzzz.”)

12. Premier League: Arsenal vs. Man. City, Sunday, 11:00 a.m., NBCSN and Telemundo

These are two of the best teams in the Premier League. Arsenal, however, has been playing poorly lately.

“If they lose, they're in very deep shit,” says our soccer editor, Kevin McCauley. “You have to finish top 4 to get to UEFA Champions League, and if they lose, they're not gonna do it. So they'd lose hella money and their best players would ask to leave. But, if Arsenal wins, they'll give a contract extension to the Jeff Fisher of soccer and everyone's gonna be pissed. So it's a lose-lose and it's funny.”

13. Shell Houston Open round 3 on Saturday, Round 4 on Sunday, both 3-6 p.m. on NBC

This tournament isn’t a huge deal, but it is a fun way to get back on your golf-watching game ahead of (dun dun dun) THE MASTERS! Which could, if you want it to, take up most of next weekend.

WHAT TO READ

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

ON SB NATION

Jon Bois on how there is no future of baseball.

Grant Brisbee on why baseball games are so damn long now.

Whitney Medworth will make you feel unaccomplished.

Ricky O’Donnell on Michael Porter Jr., a high school player who has the whole basketball world in his hands.

Tom Ziller on Isaiah Thomas’ future with the Celtics.

Molly Podlesny on the meme you never knew you needed.

Zito Madu on that stupid Ronaldo sculptor.

Me, Charlotte Wilder, on why it’s harder to screw up baseball than you think it is (also, PSA: baseball hair is important).

OFF SB NATION

Lyndsey Darcangelo on women’s basketball fans for Teen Vogue.

Bill Barnwell on which NFL teams have the most and least draft capital for ESPN.

Michael Baumann on Mike Trout for The Ringer.

Adele Jackson-Gibson on black athletes and hair for Excelle Sports.

Claire McNear on the Raiders moving to Las Vegas for The Ringer.

Patrick Redford on the most powerful man in chess for Deadspin.

5 news items to catch up on in the event that you, like, did your job or something rather than read the sports internet all week like we do here at SB Nation

Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images

1. Cristiano Ronaldo’s face got all busted up when someone made a bust of Ronaldo’s face.

2. The Oakland Raiders are moving to freakin’ VEGAS, BABY!!!!! And fans are pissed about it.

3. In NBA land, the Knicks got mathematically eliminated from the playoff race (shocker), Steph Curry played well three times in nine days, which was something the NBA’s golden (state) boy hasn’t done recently. Russell Westbrook hit a game-winner, and James Johnson dunked Marcus Morris all the way to Pluto and back.

4. BASEBALL COMES BACK ON MONDAY!!!! Here’s our season preview. It’s dope. Please read it.

5. Jay Cutler’s wife Kristin Cavalieri posted a picture of her husband’s butt on Instagram.

Okay, I think that’s everything.

IF NONE OF THIS INTERESTS YOU

Take a hike. No, seriously. It’s getting nicer out. Hikes are sports. Sports are good for you.

[summerscramble-event]

   SUMMER SCRAMBLE 2018 VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY          ROUND 2 — END.

RECENT MATCHES ➝ ROUND 2:

Bracket 01 : Voll-Flame v The Chromrades                        ➝ Voll-Flame marches on.

Bracket 02: Fate’s Blade v Sugar ‘n Spike                        ➝ Sugar ‘n Spike takes the victory once again.

Bracket 03: Fated Rally v White and Gold                        ➝ Fated Rally takes the bracket to move on.

Bracket 04: Shell We Dance v. Solar Spectaculars                        ➝ Solar Spectaculars take another win to advance!

UPCOMING MATCHES  ➝ SEMI - FINALS:

Bracket 01: Sugar ‘n Spike v Voll-Flame                      ➝ Match start at 12:00 PM EST / 6:00 PM ( 18:00 ) CET

Bracket 02: Solar Spectaculars v Fated Rally                      ➝ Match start at 1:00 PM EST / 7:00 PM (19:00 ) CET

PRELIMINARIES … END.

                                             TO BE CONTINUED ....

[splatoonpolls]

SPLATOON OC TOURNEY ROUND 2 BATTLE 10

Keen Eye For All That Glitters, Hand of the Storm Surge (or Surge for short) by Shadowlugia711 @shadowlugia711 vs Coralie “Coral” Gill by @salt-pile

PROPAGANDA/BACKSTORY

surge

A Salmonid Snatcher, who is notorious for bringing back many eggs safely from battle. It is also an avid collector and horder of shiny objects, filling it's home with all sorts of trinkets. Some are "borrowed," others stolen, and still more bartered for.

This is Surge! (Full Salmonid name - "Keen Eye For All That Glitters, Hand of the Storm Surge") It is a Snatcher known for being great at retrieving Golden Eggs, but it has a penchant for taking just about anything shiny. Its home is filled with all sorts of trinkets and scraps, collected from all sorts of places including Runs, scrapheaps, and just about anywhere where stuff isn't nailed down. Surge isn't just a kleptomaniac though, and enjoys art. The various sheets of metal its obtained are etched with designs it carved itself. Driftwood is similarly whittled into small statuettes. The Horroboros tattoo circling its arm and shoulder was done by another Salmonid, but Surge drew up the design itself. If you like little guys with a penchant for mischief and that make art out of abandoned bits and bobs, you should vote for Surge!

coral

Grew up in a small harbor town roughly an hour south of Inkopolis with her mom (a historian/archaeologist who commutes to Inkopolis twice a month for her job), her dad (a salvager), and her younger sister (who I will be getting to in a different submission). When she moved to Inkopolis, she was too shy to directly interact with most people and too engulfed in her studies to listen any music besides Wet Floor. Once she joined the New Squidbeak Splatoon, however, Marie encouraged her to be more open to other people (and introduced her to other music artists, so that Coral wasn’t stuck listening to the same 3 songs over and over). After saving the Great Zapfish and Callie, she was far more bubbly and even offered up the idea of having Agent 8 live with her once Cap’n Cuttlefish, Agent 3, and Agent 8 returned from their mission in the Deepsea Metro. As what she’s doing in the events of Splatoon 3, she’s attending college in Splatsville to pursue a career in the medical field, working shifts at Grizzco for income (she used to tolerate working there due to the good pay, but she resents it after finding out just how shady her boss really was), and playing Turf Wars with her friends and younger sister when she has free time.

- Arrived to Inkopolis Square as a shy, nerdy, and uncultured cephalopod. - Approached Marie to ask her if she was lost, ended up lured into Octo Canyon to retrieve the Great Zapfish (and also Callie). - Coral began to come out of her shell a bit more as she completed more missions as Agent 4. - Views Callie and Marie as the older sisters she never had. - Becomes the New Squidbeak Splatoon’s Medic shortly before the events of Splatoon 3. - Is Nixie’s older sister (and is the sister who was convinced to move to Splatsville with her). - Mained the Foil Flingza Roller, the Kensa Splattershot, and the Krak-On Splat Roller. - Other weapons she has used include: the Jet Squelcher, the regular Splat Roller, and the Custom Splattershot Jr. -Goes to college during the events of Splatoon 3 to pursue a career as a physician. - Didn’t mind working for Grizzco until the events of Splatoon 3. Now she only is working there for an income until she is out of college.

[halidomhappenings]

SWORDS: JOSEPHINE v. FELIX

ANNA: “Welcome back to the semi finals! Our second sword match of the day pits two tournament newcomers against each other... Countess Josephine of Rigel will face off against Felix Hugo Fraldarius of Faerghus! She may look dainty, but it seems even Rigel’s noblewomen are as tough as any soldier and not to be underestimated! If Felix hopes to advance to the finals, he’ll have to play his cards right.”

EMM: “This young Sir Felix seems to be quite the fierce competitor, but so is the Countess. Of our new comers, I’m not sure who might take the win. Any predictions, Chrom?”

CHROM: “Hmm. If you’d asked me a few days ago, I’d say Felix given he reminds us of a certain someone. Josephine did surprise us however, so I’m hesitant to place my money on either of them.”

Josephine First Strike: 6

Felix Defense: 14

Josephine brings her sword arm round in an elegant curve, before moving to strike at Felix’s side. However, Fraldarius’ heir seems less keen on putting on a show and retaliates immediately, smacking her blade to the side with his own.

Felix First Strike: 11

Josephine Defense: NAT 20

Josephine Bonus Strike: 8

Felix Defense: 14

WIth equal ferocity, Felix closes the distances with an uppercut. Too bad Josephine sees this coming: she twists her sword to face directly down, and crosses her body with it, pushing Felix’s blade out of the way. She then attempts her own uppercut, but with a circular motion to bring his blade high, the Garegg Mach student blocks it in return.

Josephine: 0 Felix: 0

EMM: “Ah, a stalemate for the first round. They seem to be sizing each other up, though.”

Josephine Second Strike: 5

Felix Defense: 12

Josephine next attempts an overhead strike, and Felix raises his blade just above his hairline, slightly tilted upwards to block.

Felix Second Strike: 15

Josephine Defense: 6

From there, Felix suddenly flings his blade to the side, forcing Josephine’s out as well. He pulls his sword back and steps forwards into a lunge, tagging the side of her waist.

Josephine: 0 Felix: 1

CHROM: “First point to Felix! We’ve still got plenty of time to go, so there’s no guarantee that he’ll win it all.”

Josephine Third Strike: 9

Felix Defense: 17

Stepping into a diagonal lunge, Josephine adds a curvature to her attack, making it take longer but more difficult to block. Rather than attempting to do just that, Felix steps back, avoiding the blade entirely.

Felix Third Strike: 19

Josephine Defense: NAT 1

FAVOR BONUS: 5

Josephine trips forward, having put too much momentum into her curved attack. She just manages to recover before tripping up entirely, but as she raises her back, it hits against Felix’ blade that was pushed forward. Unfortunately for her, it counts as a point.

Josephine: 0 Felix: 2

EMM: “Felix seems to be stealing his way to the top, but the Countess might have trouble keeping up.”

Josephine Fourth Strike: 11

Felix Defense: 11

Frustrated with leaning into a conceded point, Josephine charges. She gets in close, and Felix is barely able to raise his sword in time to block. She attempts to push against him to force at least the tip onto his person, but the blue lion is reluctant to allow her.

Felix Fourth Strike: NAT 1

FAVOR BONUS: 6

Josephine Defense: 5

Felix is struggling to remove his opponent from his personal space, and eyes dart looking for somewhere to strike. He is too close. He steps back, barely avoiding Josephine’s blade, before stepping back in, sliding his sword against hers as the sound ripples through the air, eventually cutting into her shoulder.

Josephine: 0 Felix: 3

CHROM: “Three to zero... Josephine’s going to need near enough a perfect hit or two, or a good counterattack.”

Josephine Fifth Strike: 7

Felix Defense: 12

Josephine extends her arm in an attempt to take advantage of Felix’s close quarters strategy, but unfortunately the limb is too long, and she can’t get at a good angle to strike.

Felix Fifth Strike: 14

Josephine Defense: 3

Felix steps out with his left, twist his hips and is now behind his opponent, making it easy for him to tag her back.

Josephine: 0 Felix: 4

Josephine CORAL Bonus Strike: 3

Felix Defense: 11

Knowing it’s the end, Josephine swings round in a desperate attempt to at least get a single point. However, Felix catches the gap in the blade’s guard, pulls and disarms.

Felix CORAL Bonus Strike: 9

Josephine Defense: 7

Right as time is about to be called, Felix whips his blade to the side to remove Josephine’s and gets a final point against her chest.

Josephine: 0 Felix: 5

EMM: “Bravo, Sir Felix! I think I can see Lon’qu cheering somewhere... do they know each other, or just admire the craft?”

CHROM: “A perfect wipe. Have we had one yet this tourney? Sorry Josephine - we’re getting the long lost twins in the final.”

FELIX WINS!