#venture snowboards

[simpingforheros]

I need more of the Jason Todd wife’s story cause you ATEEEE

Jason Broke What??

Pairing: Jason Todd X Female! Reader

Summary: Dick played stupid games and won stupid prizes, but at least he got to see his sister in law’s ass.

Warning: 18+, NSFW CONTENT, MINORS DO NOT INTERACT, Not Proofread . Female Pronouns and Anatomy, Dirty talk, Degeragtion/Praise, Violence Against Richard Grayson, Smut, Fluff, Comedy, P in V, Illusions to Anal (fem receiving), Voyeurism, Oral (p and a) (fem receiving), Fingering (fem receiving), Implied Heavy Petting, Nonconsensual Peeping Tom, Masturbation, and plot twist.

A/N: Part 3 to Jason’s Girl?? And Jason’s Wife?! . And again, I'm sorry to keep harassing you Pookie, @jjenthusee, but I feel its only right that you be tagged in the conclusion of this trilogy because you started all of this.

A/N: IM BACK, BABES! You miss me? I miss you all. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers during my break to take care of my family. Also if this fic seems rough, I was writing this in my car during break. Also, I know one of my big no-nos is accepting requests for full fanfics but I had an idea and if the masses want to see more of Dick's misery then I wanna feed yall.

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The holidays were everyone’s favorite time of the year. Especially Bruce and Alfred’s. Surprisingly, Bruce developed a love for them later in his adult life due to his years of constantly having to play Santa to his growing hoard of sidekicks. Now with a manor full of teens and children from multiple different backgrounds and cultures, Alfred proposes a family trip to their private ski resort.

Everything was going smoothly. Tim, Bernard, and Stephane were enjoying ice skating along the frozen lake while Duke, Cass, and Damian were skiing down large hills and mountains trying to out do the other. Bruce and Selina were of course mostly confined to their bedroom, only venturing out for a dinner date or to spend time with the family, while Alfred enjoyed taking a break from everyone doing whatever he delighted himself in doing.

Everyone was happy..

Except for Dick. This year was one of the worst for him. Kori started officially dating Roy Harper after some mission she was involved in with the Outlaws and Barbra didn’t want to see him anymore. And to make matters worse, Jason and his wife of a year were all over each other.

Dick couldn’t even do anything without his brother being there, unintentionally rubbing his healthy love life in his face.

Wanted to go skiing? Jason was already there. His large hands were sturdy on (Y/N)'s back as he was showing her as she was balancing on a snowboard. Her curves were highlighted in the snow by her red snowsuit that just so happened to match Jason's black and red suit. Her eyes light up through her snow goggles as she successfully maneuvers around the terrain with Jason's loud praises.

Wanted to go ice skating? The Todds were already there stumbling over each other as Jason's normally composed stance wavers in his ice skates as his blushing wife giggles and helps him slowly adjust to the new feeling of unease. For a viglieante, he certainly didn't skate like one. Dick wasn't exactly fond of witnessing his younger brother purposefully comp a feel of (Y/N)'s perky ass as he 'stumbles' into her.

Even relaxing in the main room of the huge million dollar cabin was impossible as the moment the moon shines bright in the sky or the sun barely kisses their existence, Jason and (Y/N) were so domestically in tune with the room. It was almost like witnessing a Hallmark movie.

The couple would be in the kitchen with Jason preparing a simple soup with her propped up on the counter, ready to taste the soup when he offered her the wooden spoon. A mischievous glint in her eyes as she looked up into his own as she hums at the taste. Dick nearly cringes when he witnesses Jason's sideways smirk as he flexes his hand on her hip.

Sometimes the couple would be sitting on the sofa near the fire. A thick wool blanket wrapped around them as they relaxed into each other. Dick tries not to acknowledge them. Not to recognize the softness of Jason's features as he lazily enjoys his wife's nails lightly scratching his scalp. Not to recognize her plump lips curving deeper as the blanket shifts slightly and Jason's hand caresses her thigh higher than he should. It was especially bad when they would whisper into each other's ears before the pair would hurrily go to their room in a whisper of an excuse of faux exhaustion before giggling as they lock themselves away.

Thankfully, they did those sinful acts of love away from Dick at least. .. Or so he thought.... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It was a skiing accident that started the whole ordeal.

The Bat family had been skiing down the steepest hill they could find out of Stephanie and Damian's petty competition that everyone decided to get involved in. The only members that weren't there were Alfred, who demanded that none of the family ever mention putting him in skiis anywhere near his presence, and the Todds.

Much to Dick's relief, (Y/N) was feeling a bit nauseous and decided to stay behind along with the concerned Red Hood.

Unfortunately, the friendly competition took a turn when Dick accidentally sleds over a rock which caused him to fly off his skis and tumble down the hill. The fiery ache in his arm gave the acrobat a headache as he desperately hoped he didn't break his arm in a lame skiing accident.

"Son of a bitch!" He curses as Bruce skies down to check on him.

"Are you alright?" His adoptive father asks as he carefully helps him up. Dick's eye watering as he jerks his injured arm away from Bruce as he accidentally brushes against it.

Bruce notices the jerk and immediately takes the arm in a gentle grasp as he clinically flexes and prodes at the appendage. Dick nearly cursing as Selina and Damian come down to check on him.

"I don't think its anything too serious," Bruce says as he pulls away. "At worst, you probably have a hairline fracture in it. Alfred would have to check it out just to make sure."

Selina, acting as the pseudo- stepmother figure she was, gently places a hand on Dick's shoulder as she ask, "Do you need me to drop you off at the cabin?"

The eldest son shakes his head before grumbling, "I can make it back on my own. I could use some alone time anyway."

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Unfortunately, Dick doesn't find Alfred when he comes back to the cabin after walking back in the cold snow. Only a note reading,

'I've gone to an event at the main resort tonight. Please contact me through the main resort hotline and I promise to get back to you- Alfred'

"Fucking great..." Dick groans as he decides to just head to bed. His body aches from the trauma of the fall as he drags his feet up the large staircase and up to the main hallway towards the suites bedrooms. It wasn't until a faint but familiar sound that caused the fatigue in him to melt.

The familiar sound of breathlessness that he had only heard one angel sing before. (Y/N)...

As he discreetly walked down the hallway, the melody of whines and moans filled his ears along with the familiar sounds of slurping and squelching.

The cracked door to Pandora's Box calling to him as he hears the whimpers of, "Fuck, baby...."

"Ah not there! Its so embarrassing...."

"Jason, more..."

Dick peers into the door to see something that he wished he could snap a picture of and keep forever just like he did those videos.

Sprawled out on the bed was her in all of her glory. Her skin glowing in perspiration and pleasure as she lays with her cheek pressed against the mattress with her round globes of flesh in the air. Her eyes clouded with tears and desperation as she looks over her shoulder to her lover as her glossy lips whimper.

Jason was only in his tight black boxers as his hand squished the soft flesh of her cheek to the side. His eyes staring back into hers with the same pathetic lust and dominance that he always had as he eats her out from behind. His nose appearing and disappearing in the crack as his tongue plays a cruel game of tag.

His slow, lugritive strokes down to her puffy clit interchange with the rough darting over her pulsing hole before sofly licking up to her puckered hole. His fingers never leaving her neglected as he would hold her pussy open before lazily playing with her clit in between licks.

"Jason, quit being a tease..." She whines before yelping as he roughly pinches her clit. His mouth pulling away from her as she whines.

He begins to slowly tease her folds as he scolds her softly, "I didn't ask for you to be ungrateful."

Her hips jittering to regain some friction before he smacks her ass as he continues. Her whimpers of pain causing Dick's own cock to jump in his pants as he tries to ignore his brother as he kept his eyes on (Y/N). His hand slowly releasing his cock from his ski pants as he continues to watch the scene before him.

"Here I am trying to take care of you after you've been sick all day and all I get in return is some sass." Jason scolds cruelly before he inserts two fingers roughly into her cunt. Her cheeks burning hot under her tear stained skin as her body welcomes him with a sicking squelch as she mumbles.

"I-i'm sorry baby..."

Jason's gaze softens before a mocking look of sympathy appears on his face as he begins to thrust his fingers into her. The slight curve of his hand memorizing her body as he instantly found her G-Spot as she cries in pleasure.

"It's okay, Ma." He coos as he presses open kisses to her shoulders and back as he begins to brutally pound her cunt with his fingers. Her eyes jumping back into her skull as he continues to assault her senses as he says.

"You can't help it that you are sick as a dog in the mornings and then a raging whore at night...Afterall," Jay whispers as his mouth slowly decends back down her body. "Little bit isn't making this easy for you, is she?"

She desperately nods as she tries to roll her hips back to meet his hand as he chuckles at her. "It's alright. I'll take care of you, Baby, but I want you to take care of me too. We are family..."

His mouth instantly attacks her puckered asshole just as she seizes up and orgasms as her eyes roll back into her skull. Her desperate sobs turn into overstimulated whimpers as Jason doesn't let up on her abused holes.

It wasn't until she was still that he raised up and pulled his boxers down. His smirk grew to a shit-eating grin as despite her tired face, she wiggled her hips, ready for him to take her.

"Ass or Cunt?"Jason asks as he jerks his bright angry cock.

Her lips curl in a lazy grin as she says, "Both."

"That's my girl." He says as he lines his tip up with her pussy as he slowly pushes in.

Her whimper along with his groan of relief as his hips slowly meet hers. His upper body bends down to meet her lips in a deep kiss as his hips meet her ass. His hand slides around the plushness of her hip to rest on her lower stomach as he whispers to her mouth.

"Maybe it's not too late to give Little Bit a sibling."

She giggles before she presses another peck to his lips before he rises back up to place his foot adjacent to her knee. Not giving her any more time to adjust, his hips begin to slowly thrust into her quivering body as his hand keeps a tight grip on her asscheek, spreading her open. His cerulean eyes trained on the creamy ring that was slowly developing on the base of his thick cock as he disappears deep inside her.

"Jason..." (Y/N) whimpers as his pace begins to increase.

"God, how is she still so tight?" He groans as his hips begin to snap into hers, his eyes wide as he watches her ass ripple at the growing intensity of his thrusts.

Dick's own hand tries to match the pace as he tries to imagine he was the one fucking her instead of Jason. That he wasn't the one pathetically fucking his fist outside of his brother's room with his other arm possibly fractured.

Her face contorting in pure ecstasy as her manicured nails tear into the comforter. Her wedding rings shining in the low light of the room as Jason's own wedding band disappears in her hair. His grip looks unforgiving as he forces her head deeper into the mattress. His free hand stretching as his thumb circles her ass with light pressure as she cries into the plush bedding.

"Fuck you look so pretty." Jason moans as he slowly fucks his thumb centimeter by centimeter into her ass as gently as he could as his hips abuse her cunt. "I wonder how much prettier you would look with my cum dripping out of his cute little ass and pussy. You think everyone will notice you limping?"

He chuckles as he manages to fill her to the first knuckle as he stops his pace to grind into her, letting the feeling of him invading both of her hole and filling her sink in.

Her hips trembling as she tries to create more friction as her sobful begging wasn't even intelligible as he kept her head down. From the impossibly growing slick on his thighs, it was obvious that her orgasm was coming again and soon as Jason's free hand releases her hair and instead pulls her up flushed against his chest.

Her wanton cries filling the room as she was now exposed for the first time to the room. Her bare breast were littered in dark hickies as Jason's hand comes to paw at her tits. Her arms reaching back as one tangles at the nape of his neck and the other cupping his ass, encouraging him to continue.

"Please..." She begs as trembles in his hold. "Please fuck me...fuck all my holes please. I'm yours to do as you please..."

Jason smiles softly before kissing her cheek. "Good girl...that's my good, sweet little wife..."

His praises never end as his hips begin to snap into her at a brutal pace. Both of their voices became higher in pitch as they began to get lost in each other.

"That's it. Take it. Take it all. It's all for you and you only."

"You're doing so good. No one has such a soft, loving heart and cunt like yours..."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too" She manages to reply back before it hits her.

It was then that she screamed out Jason's name as her coil snapped inside her. Her eyes roll back again as her walls squeeze his cock as he follows her with a rough cry.

Dick quickly covers his mouth as his own orgasm hits him after he managed to not make a mess and not be discovered so far.

The base of Jason's cock is a mess as their releases flow down and drip before the pair calms down with a soft kiss on each other's lips. His cock pulls out of her as he massages her lower stomach gently as he pulls away. His eyes shone in pure admiration and concern.

"You okay?" Jason asks softly as he cups her face.

Her tired eyes staring at his lovingly as she whispers. "Yea...Can I have some water before we go again?"

They both smirk at eachother before Jason pecks her lips as he mumbles. "You're insatiable."

He stands up from the bed as she collapses into the pillow. He pulls on his boxers and heads to the door before Dick even recognizes out of his lust full daze. He didn't have time to react as Jason swings open the door to the pathetic sight before him.

Dick 'Motherfucking' Grayson was peeping into his brother's room. Watching his brother making love to his wife. And jerking off to it.

Before Dick could explain, Jason's face twists in anger as his cold glare indicating that this maybe Nightwing's last day on Earth.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

And like that Dick tries to run away back down the large stair case as Jason chases him to beat his ass. Karma is an ugly bitch because just as the front door was opening, Dick violently twists away from Jason's grasps so hard that he tumbles down the stairs with a large crack and several gasps indicating the end of the vacation.

And that was the story of how Jason broke Dick's arm and little Richard after he caught him being a weirdo.

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A/N: I swear I'm not a Dick Grayson hater, but I think its kind of tradition now to always rip on him in this miniseries. I hope y'all enjoyed it and please comment what you liked and didn't like about this. I swear I'll actually start cleaning out my drafts soon.

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@simpingforheros fanfic. I DO NOT CONDONE OR CONSENT TO MY POSTS OR WORKS BEING PUBLISHED, PLAGERIZED, STOLEN, REBLOGGED, OR COPIED ONTO ANY OTHER WEBSITE OR BLOG.

[stellewriites]

it's cold and it’s almost winter here which means i'm thinking about the 141 boys wrapping up warm while they're on leave back in the uk.

specifically im thinking about how each of them already have statement headwear (except soap), so its easy to imagine what they might swap to; thick beanie for price like we've seen before, ghost probably has a thicker balaclava meant for snowboarding to keep out the chill, and gaz would stay inside in his flat - warm and cosy because why the fuck would he venture out when it's snowing? - his cap firmly still in place on his head, blanket wrapped tight around his shoulders.

soap though? close knit family like his, there's no way he's not been given a handmade hat each year when he visits his gran. and given how naturally johnny mactavish can fall into being a little shit in any given situation, there's not a chance it's not learnt behaviour passed down from generations before, so i think his gran would have fun with her knitting.

which brings me to johnny's hat the year after he shaved in his mohawk:

i think she'll have made the one on the right after he talked a little too fondly about a teammate that kept a skull mask on at all times;

"does he wan' a hat, y'think? it's nae problem, i can make an extra for y'ta take along with ye when you're called off again. still be cold when yer back in a month's time."

"nah, gran, thank ye. the dafty ne'er takes his mask off fer it to be worth yer effort."

"ne'er? he ugly or sum'thin'?"

"wears a big ugly skull on th'front so ah don't think lookin' braw s'his concern."

"hm, tha' so? nae bother then. i'll just knit yers."

[cyborg-franky]

Summer is coming... So what are they planning for you?

Citybreak They are planning a long weekend in a city you have always wanted to visit. Nice dinners, taking in the local vibe. Nightlife? Shopping? Museums? Whatever your preference is, they have you covered. Maybe you just want somewhere different to explore and venture around. Looking out your hotel room at night with the skyline of glittering lights! Sanji - Marco - Corazon - Law - Killer - Mihawk - Perona - Boa - Nami - Brook - Robin - Uta

--

Camping The moment summer is around the corner, they get the tent out and make sure it’s ready to go. They are getting into hardcore camping mode. Everything you’d need is all packed and ready. It’s time to have nights out by a lake, maybe fishing or swimming. Campfires and nature are all around you. Thatch - Ace - Sabo - Usopp - Jinbei - Zoro - Luffy --

Beach holiday Sunsets and cocktails, swimming all day, tanning under the sun, building sandcastles together. They can’t wait to feel the sand between their toes and splash you in the water or ensure you have enough sun lotion. Then there is the pier, the view, and the silly games and amusements that line it. Sanji - Marco - Ace - Nami - Jinbei - Franky - Luffy - Robin - Shanks - Crocodile --

Staying at home Both of you are exhausted and just need a rest. You don’t leave your house, and you also don’t lift a finger to work. You both have time to be together, have some movie marathons, catch up on your hobbies, and create creative joint space with one another. You are just decompressing after stress at work. Both of you are ignoring the outside world. Thatch - Deuce - Law - Mihawk - Usopp - Zoro - Robin --

Amusement park holiday They want nothing more than to book a stay at a water park or amusement park. After a long weekend of screaming on the rides, eating junk food, and being scammed at the amusements, they insist on winning you a plush, and in the end, they manage! Walking around the parks until you think your legs might fall off. Taking in the shows and all the entertainment together. Ace - Corazon - Killer - Barto - Sabo - Brook - Franky -Luffy - Buggy - Uta

--

Glamping Wanting to be outside but with class. No sleeping on the ground. They’ve planned a week-long stay at a cabin or a treehouse, maybe a strange-shaped place like a UFO you can sleep in? The calm nights in nature but with a good night's sleep. Also, the hot tub while you listen to the world around you. Thatch - Corazon - Mihawk - Nami - Benn --

Travel to another country It's time to explore another place entirely. They’ve planned this for months, and now it’s time. You both can’t wait to see the sights: the food, the art, the everything. You are immersing yourself in adventures together.  Sanji - Thatch - Deuce - Izou - Law - Doffy - Perona - Sabo - Usopp - Brook - Robin - Shanks - Benn - Crocodile --

Roadtrip Just you and them. The car is packed, the snacks and drinks are loaded in the cooler, and you have a list of things you want to hit on your summer trip. Music, the open road, singing along with one another. Maybe you don’t even have a plan; perhaps you just wing it. Windows down, wind in your hair and being in one another's company. Marco - Ace - Deuce - Kidd - Killer - Sabo - Franky - Zoro - Luffy --

Snowy getaway. Maybe it’s snowboarding and skiing in the cold? Lovely wooden lodges, hot cocoa, and their competitive streak. White snowy scenery and comfy warm sweaters. Log fires and exhausted limbs. Law - Kidd - Ace - Zoro - Robin - Benn --

Resort The best money can buy. Three meals a day, all top-tier with wine, cocktails, and anything you could ask for, brought to your room with the best view in town. A private pool, a private beach area just for you. They have it all planned and want to live in the lap of luxury with you: couples spa day, the works. Sanji - Izou - Doffy - Boa - Nami - Crocodile --

Hotsprings Traditional, calm, relaxing, and good for your soul, it involves just you and your partner chilling out in a beautiful inn with delicious food and birdsong from the garden. This is perfect for you both: taking everything easy at your own pace. Maybe you sit with sake and watch the little animals in the garden. You could cuddle up in the hot spring and feel the world just fade away as you enjoy one another's company in a comfortable silence. Marco - Izou - Law - Killer - Mihawk - Boa - Nami -Jinbei - Zoro - Robin --

Festival Depending on the vibe, you either go camping to a festival with chill vibes or going to fucking party. You guys enjoy the music, so many bands you love. Getting to dance, mosh, sway, whatever to the music together. Getting to camp together as you also meet new people. BBQs, booze, summer vibes for days.

Ace - Kidd - Killer - Perona - Barto - Sabo - Brook - Franky - Uta

[mythicalmisery]

Olympic Hockey AU: GhostxSoap

AO3

Ghost glared at the end of the table from which the obnoxious laughter was emanating. It had been a long week and a half; battling jet lag and enduring the light, but rigid, training schedule imposed on him and his team. The company was just the cherry on top. 

There, resting his foot on the bench at the end of the table was one John “Soap” MacTavish - the pain in Ghost’s ass for the past four years. 

Ghost and Soap had what would be considered a rivalry on a good day. On the bad days, it was a miracle they hadn’t killed each other yet. Their so-called feud wasn’t exactly a secret either, judging by the swarm of press and the number of articles published about them playing on the same team this Olympics. 

Ghost, a formidable center, and the Scot, a relentless defenseman, had clashed repeatedly during their careers. Ghost had lost count of how many times they’d dropped gloves over the years, their altercations often leading to multiple trips to the penalty box and a scolding from their coaches like the children they were. 

Ghost wouldn’t deny it, he acted without any sense when it came to the shorter man. One look at that stupid fucking mohawk and he was seconds away from putting his face through the ice. And to make things better, the other man knew it. Soap would never shut up, always running that mouth until Ghost finally snapped and saw red. It was never a matter of if, only when.

When Ghost had first heard that Soap would be joining the team, he nearly turned down the offer. But the news that John Price would be head coach had changed his mind. His regular season coach had a way of calming the storm, putting him in his place when he was one snarky comment away from ripping the Scot’s head off. If Price was here, he could find a way to manage somehow. He wasn’t going to let that bastard ruin this opportunity for him. 

It was a miracle they somehow managed to get through the preliminaries and quarterfinals without a murder charge. The knockout stage was coming to an end with the semifinals tomorrow meaning they either lose and get a shot at bronze, or win and get to advance to the finals. 

The only way he had made it this far was due to him avoiding Soap like the plague for his own mental sanity. Price had paired Ghost with his regular season teammate Roach to room with, providing somewhat of a semblance of normalcy. Roach was Ghost’s goalie and one of three selected for the Olympic team this year. It helped knowing he had someone in his corner while playing with a bunch of men who were typically his opponents. 

Ghost spent most of his time in the gym or his room, venturing out only to get food. Soap had surprisingly managed to leave him be off the ice, likely because Price had threatened to tear him a new one if he and Ghost couldn’t keep it together. That was until he decided to interrupt his once peaceful dinner. 

The sound of Soap’s laughter echoed through the cafeteria, grating on his nerves like nails on a chalkboard. He was standing around a few of their teammates and that one snowboarder Garrick who always followed him around. 

As Ghost’s glare intensified, he felt Roach’s elbow nudge him in the ribs. 

“Ignore him,” Roach muttered, not even looking up from his meal. “He’s not worth it, so stop getting your panties in a twist and eat your dinner.”

Ghost grunted in response, tearing his gaze away from Soap and focusing on his own plate. God, he was infuriating. He may have been able to give credit where it was due, but that didn’t stop him from always showboating and bragging. Ghost thanked the heavens above that they were in different draft years, he wouldn’t have been able to handle it if Soap had been number one instead. He’d never hear the end of it. 

“Yeah well, tell him to shut the fuck up. Some people are trying to enjoy their meal,” he grumbled out before taking another bite. It was a shock the fork didn’t break with how tight his jaw was clenched. 

With a sudden burst of laughter that had both men’s attention drifting back to the opposite end of the table, Ghost watched as Soap and the Garrick guy portrayed some lewd acts much to everyone’s delight but his own. That’s it. He wasn’t going to sit around for this. 

Roach rolled his eyes as Ghost stood up and gathered his tray, waving off his comment that he’d see him back in their room later tonight. He needed to blow off some steam so he headed straight to the gym reserved for the hockey players. 

Ghost pushed through the doors, basking in the fading sounds of clinking utensils and hum of conversation the further he walked. Further away from him.  

Price may have been clear: they needed to work together if they were going to bring home the gold. But the task seemed impossible when the person you were supposed to rely on was the same one who had spent years making your professional life miserable. 

Ghost pushed through his workout, the rhythmic sound of his feet pounding against the treadmill a steady, grounding force. The gym was practically empty, just how he liked it. He only planned on doing some light cardio, not wanting to get sore before the game tomorrow. 

It hadn’t been thirty minutes before the door clicked open, breaking the solitude. Ghost didn’t bother looking up at first, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave him be. But when the sound of footsteps grew closer, he couldn’t ignore it any longer. He quickly glanced toward the door, his heart sinking in the process.

Of course. 

It had to be Soap. 

The Scot strolled in, a grin already plastered across his face. That cocky, infuriating grin that Ghost knew all too well. Soap’s eyes scanned the room, lighting up as they locked onto Ghost. Fuck. He made a beeline for the treadmill next to Ghost, his every step oozing with that infuriating confidence despite the death glare Ghost was sending his way. 

Ghost’s hands tightened around the treadmill handles, his knuckles turning white as Soap approached. The silent dare hung in the air between them as Ghost took a drink from his water bottle, waiting for the Scot to say something. So much for getting away from him. 

“Fancy seein’ ye here, Simon,” Soap drawled, his voice thick with amusement as he stopped beside Ghost’s treadmill, casually leaning against it like they were old friends. 

Ghost clenched his jaw, forcing himself to keep running, his eyes fixed straight ahead. “Mactavish.”

Soap’s grin widened at the curt reply. “What, no witty comeback? Don’t tell me I’ve finally worn ye out.”

Ghost didn’t respond, his breath coming in controlled, even bursts. Every word out of Soap’s mouth made his muscles twitch with the urge to throw a punch in that stupidly perfect smile, but he kept himself in check. Price’s warnings echoed his mind, he couldn’t afford any slip-ups no matter how much the other man taunted him. 

But Soap was relentless. “Ye know, I was thinkin’… maybe we should work out together. Team bonding, yeah? I promise I won’t make ye look too bad.”

Ghost finally turned his head at that, fixing Soap with a glare that could cut through steel. “I’m not interested. Now fuck off, MacTavish.”

Soap raised his hands in mock surrender, but the playful spark in his eyes never dimmed. “Suit yourself. Just try not to break the treadmill, yeah? Don’t want ye too knackered for the game tomorrow.”

Ghost bit back a retort, instead focusing on the numbers ticking up on the treadmill’s display. Each step felt heavier than the last, the proximity of Soap throwing off his concentration. 

Soap lingered a moment longer, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing, before finally backing off. He moved to the weights, still within Ghost’s line of sight, his movements casual and unhurried. 

Ghost focused on his workout, trying to drown out the sound of Soap’s presence with the steady rhythm of his breathing and the clanking of weights. But the blessed silence between them was short-lived.

“So, what’s got ye in such a hurry?” Soap asked, breaking the quiet as he worked through a set of curls. His tone was casual, but Ghost could hear the genuine curiosity beneath it. “Ye bolted out of the cafeteria like yer arse was on fire.”

Ghost didn’t look over, keep his eyes fixed on the wall in front of him. He almost ignored him, desperate to just finish his workout but he knew the man wouldn’t relent. The silent treatment never worked on Soap. 

“Didn’t feel like sitting around and watching you and that Garrick guy dry hump each other while I ate,” he replied coolly, the words slipping out with a hint of irritation.

Soap’s laughter was instant, a loud, unabashed sound that filled the gym. He set the weights down and leaned against the rack, his grin wide as ever. “Didn’t know ye were such a prude, Ghostie.”

Ghost finally turned his head, leveling Soap with a deadpan stare. “I’m not. It’s just seeing you in those situations that makes me lose my appetite.” 

Soap chuckled, clearly amused by the retort. “Ye wound me Ghostie,” he stated with hands mockingly clasped to his chest. “Well, I can’t say I blame ye for that. But come on, yer actin’ like you’ve never seen a bit of friendly banter before.” 

Ghost shook his head, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “There’s a difference between banter and whatever the hell that was.”

Soap shrugged, still smiling. “Maybe, but at least ye got a free show out of it. Guess ye owe me one for that?”

Ghost let out a huff, slowing down the treadmill as he prepared to end his run. “The only thing I owe ya is a punch to the face if ya don’t leave me the fuck alone.”

Soap raised an eyebrow, that playful glint still in his eyes. “Now, now, no need to get violent, Simon. We’re on the same team, remember?”

Ghost stepped off the treadmill, grabbing a towel to wipe down his face. “I’m trying to forget.”

“Good luck with that, Ghostie,” Soap called out to him, a hint of laughter still in his voice despite being threatened. Everything was always a joke to him. 

Ghost was fucking sick of it. 

Tomorrow’s game was too important. They needed everyone on the ice, not stuck in the penalty box because Soap couldn’t keep his mouth shut or resist starting something. 

Without a word, Ghost walked over to the bench, standing over Soap as he began his reps. Soap’s eyes flicked up at him, curiosity and a hint of unease crossing his face as Ghost loomed above him. 

“Don’t be a shithead tomorrow,” Ghost said flatly, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t ruin it for everyone else. The team needs you on the ice, not the penalty box.”

Soap hesitated for a moment, mid-rep, before managing a smile, though Ghost could see the flicker of nervousness in his eyes. “Was that a compliment, Simon?”

Ghost didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned down, his hands pressing against the bar, adding just enough pressure to make Soap’s muscles strain under the added weight. The bar dipped closer to Soap’s chest, and Ghost watched as the smirk faded slightly from Soap’s face. 

“Like when people call ye a good boy, Johnny?” Ghost murmured, the words slipping out before he even had time to think them through.

The effect was immediate. Soap’s eyes widened in shock, his grip faltering slightly on the bar. For a split second, the ever-confident John MacTavish was at a loss for words. 

Satisfied, Ghost released the bar, stepping back as Soap quickly pushed it up and racked it, his breaths coming faster than before. Ghost didn’t bother sticking around to see the aftermath. He was tired, worn out from the day and from dealing with Soap’s antics. All he wanted was to get some rest and be ready for the game tomorrow. 

As Ghost walked away, he could feel Soap’s eyes burning into his back, the shock still palpable in the air. But Ghost didn’t care. He had said what needed to be said, and for once, he felt like he had the upper hand. 

And that was enough. 

— — —

The locker room was a cacophony of noise and energy, the air thick with the scent of sweat they were all nose blind to. Ghost leaned against the cool metal of his temporary locker, it felt good against his heated skin. He let the noise wash over him as he unlaced and peeled off his skates. The team had pulled off a win by the skin of their teeth, clinching the game 3-2 with a last-minute goal that had the entire bench erupting in cheers. Ghost could still feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins despite his exhausted body.

He was stripped down to his black base layers now, the tight fabric clinging to his sweaty body. The material felt almost suffocating, but he didn’t mind. It was a familiar sensation after a game like that, a strange way of reminding him of the effort he had put in. He could already feel a nasty bruise forming on his side from one particularly rough slam against the glass during the second period. 

As Ghost scanned the room, his gaze landed on Soap’s cubby station across the way. He was standing in front of two seated players, shirtless except for his compression leggings, his body still glistening with sweat. He was in his element, laughing and joking around with that arrogant attitude that only seemed to be enhanced by the recent win. Ghost mentally prepared himself before strolling over there. The other player’s attention suddenly shifted towards him as he stepped up behind the Scot, giving way to his presence. 

Soap turned around, his smile faltering slightly as he found himself face-to-face with Ghost. But the cockiness quickly returned, his smile growing as he straightened up, meeting Ghost’s gaze as head-on as he could manage. 

“What’s this, Ghostie? Come to congratulate me?” Soap’s tone was light and flippant.

Ghost crossed his arms, his expression impassive as he stared down at the man. “Ya played well out there,” he conceded, the words grudging but sincere. It wasn’t easy for Ghost to offer praise, especially to an asshole like Soap, but he couldn’t deny that the man had held his own in the game and given them the last-minute goal they needed. 

Soap’s smirk turned into a full-blown grin. “Aye, I did, didn’t I? Didn’t know you were such a fan of my work.” His eyes gleamed with a teasing edge that Ghost had become familiar with. God, he regretted this already. 

Ghost narrowed his eyes, refusing to rise to the bait. “Let’s not get too carried away MacTavish,” he warned. “Ya still racked up two penalties. Could’ve cost us the game if ya weren’t careful” 

“Minor infractions,” Soap shot back, leaning in just a little closer, his voice dropping an octave. “Nothing we couldn’t handle.”

“Still two more than we needed,” Ghost countered, his tone sharp. “Don’t get all cocky now.”

“Why are ye on my case, Simon?” Soap questioned. “Ye should worry about yerself. Not my fault ye can’t keep yer eyes off me when I’m on the ice. It’s normal to wanna watch the best.” 

There was a beat of silence, the locker room’s noise fading into the background as Ghost locked eyes with Soap. Both men were always on alert around the other, always waiting for the inevitable fight to begin. But before he could figure out what to say, Soap chuckled, breaking the tension. 

Ghost felt that familiar flicker of heat creep up the back of his neck, but he forced himself to stay cool. “Keep dreaming, MacTavish,” he muttered, turning to grab his towel. 

Soap’s laughter trailed after him as they headed to the communal showers, but it wasn’t his usual cocky, grating sound. There was something lighter in it, almost playful. Ghost tried to shake off the unsettling feeling in his gut. He could handle the annoying, antagonistic, egotistical Soap—that was familiar territory. But this version of Soap? This was something new, and Ghost didn’t like it. He didn’t like friendly Soap, being friends with Soap. 

The steam filled the shower area, the hot water soothing Ghost’s sore muscles. He deliberately chose a spot near the wall, hoping for some space, but of course, Soap took the one right next to him. Ghost said nothing, too tired to start an argument.

Yet, as they showered, the tension between them from earlier lingered, and it wasn’t the usual animosity Ghost was accustomed to. It was different, and that unfamiliarity was starting to piss him off so he did what he always did and tried to ignore the other man. 

It didn’t help when his eyes unconsciously glanced over as he turned around, just for a second, catching a glimpse of the water sliding over Soap’s sculpted body. He quickly looked away, telling himself that it was nothing more than a casual look. It was far from the first time he had seen a naked teammate and wouldn’t be his last. While Ghost was in his own head, trying desperately to act nonchalant he didn’t even realize that Soap had been subtly glancing his way as well. 

“Simon, hurry the hell up!” Roach’s voice cut through the sound of the heavy streams, jolting Ghost out of his thoughts. He turned to see Roach standing by the entrance to the showers, towel slung over his shoulder, looking impatient. “Let’s go get food before all the good stuff’s gone.”

Ghost finished rinsing off and turned off the water, grabbing his towel. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” he muttered. Neither man said a word as Ghost padded his way out of the showers. 

As they made their way into the cafeteria, the locker room’s atmosphere had clearly transferred to the dining area. The guys were still riding the high from their win, their voices loud and boisterous as they rehashed the game and talked strategies for the final. 

Ghost and Roach found a quiet table toward the back, both of them content to sit and eat in relative peace. Or at least, that was the plan. 

They’d barely started eating when Soap appeared, dragging Kyle Garrick along with him. Without asking, he plopped down across from Ghost, flashing him that stupid, smug grin. 

“Mind if we join ye?”

Ghost glanced up, a faint frown pulling at his lips. The fucker wouldn’t leave him alone. “You’re already sitting, aren’t ya?”

“Couldn’t stay away from ye, Ghostie,” Soap teased, winking in a way that had Ghost’s grip on his fork tightening slightly.

Roach rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything, digging into his food with a resigned sigh as he already knew how this was gonna end. Gaz, on the other hand, seemed to find the whole situation amusing, shooting Soap a grin as they all settled into a tense silence. 

It didn’t last long.

“So, Simon,” Soap started, leaning forward on his elbows, “Ye ever think about what ye’ll do when we win the gold? Bet ye’ll be all stoic and shit, trying not to smile like always.”

Ghost shot him a sidelong glance. “Ya think we’re guaranteed to win, huh? Thought I told ya not to get cocky.”

Soap’s smile only widened. “Just confident, mate. There’s a difference.”

Gaz chuckled, but before Ghost could respond, Soap’s attention shifted. He turned to his friend, the grin on his face taking on a different quality—one that Ghost could only describe as flirtatious. “Ye guys should really watch Gaz’s half-pipe run from earlier today. Silver in the bag, it was bloody impressive.”

Roach congratulated Gaz while Ghost continued eating his food. He was being a petty asshole right now but he didn’t really care. 

“Must feel good,” Soap continued, leaning closer to Gaz, “knowing you’ve got a medal hanging around yer neck. Hell, maybe I’ll switch sports, see if I can give ye a run for yer money.”

Gaz laughed at that, shaking his head. “Stick to hockey, mate. Don’t think you’ve got the balance for the half-pipe.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Soap said teasingly. “I’ve got pretty good balance for my size.”

Ghost’s chest tightened inexplicably, an odd discomfort settling in his stomach as Soap continued to flirt with Gaz. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why it bothered him, but the longer it went on, the more irritated he felt. He focused on his food, trying to drown out whatever the hell was happening right in front of him. 

“Oh I’m sure your size helps ya out in a lot of things,” Gaz responded. 

That’s it. Ghost finally pushed his plate away, the food suddenly unappetizing. “I’m tired,” he muttered, standing up. “I’m gonna head back to the room,” he said, aimed towards Roach. 

Soap’s teasing expression faltered, confusion flickering in his eyes as he watched Ghost leave. “What’s his problem?” Soap asked, trying to sound indifferent, but there was an edge to his voice that gave him away.

Roach shrugged, completely over their shit. “It’s been a long day, he needs his beauty sleep.”

But Soap wasn’t convinced. Something was off. Was he that upset he sat down at his table, or that he brought Gaz over to the table with him? He wasn’t even trying to piss the man off this time so what the fuck had made him so angry?

— — — 

Ghost was seething. His rage boiled over as he stormed his way back to the locker room for the final intermission. His eyes locked onto Soap, not thinking twice before shoving his way through the crowded hallway. He ignored the shouts of the other men, grabbing Soap by the back of his jersey and slamming him against the wall in one swift motion. 

The impact had Soap wincing, even through all his padding. The bloody nose he received earlier in the game still dripped down his face despite the haphazard tape trying to keep it under control. Another player had high-sticked him which set Soap spiraling the rest of the period. 

“Ya fuckin’ idiot!” Ghost hissed out. 

Soap tried to pull away, but Ghost wasn’t having it. “Ya let them get under your skin and play ya like a fuckin’ fiddle MacTavish!” Ghost’s grip tightened as he cursed out.

Soap, true to form, deflected with his usual attitude, shrugging off Ghost’s words. “What’s yer problem, Simon? I was just —’’

“Just being a fuckin’ liability!” Ghost’s voice rose, his grip on Soap’s jersey tightening. “Ya let them get to ya! They taunted ya, and ya snapped! Then your team paid for it. This isn’t the fuckin’ Soap show, be a team player!”

Soap’s eyes narrowed, that cocky defiance flickering in his gaze turning into his own shade of anger at Ghost’s words. “Team player? That’s rich coming from ye. Where the fuck were ye when I was gettin’ slammed over and over!”

“You’re lucky it wasn’t me slamming ya!” Ghost shouted back in frustration. 

Before Soap could retort to that, Price and Roach rushed over, shoving themselves between the two men. 

“Enough!” Price barked, his tone brooking no argument. “Both of ya, cool it!”

Ghost released Soap with a final shove, his hands trembling with barely suppressed fury. He stalked over to his spot in the locker room, trying to regain some semblance of control. The game was tied 3-3, and the tension was palpable as they had been neck and neck the entire time. Ghost couldn’t believe how reckless Soap had been, letting the other team’s attempts get under his skin.  

While Ghost had been grinding his teeth through the mumbled shit-talking during face-offs, Soap had let his emotions explode on the ice, spending the last five minutes of the period in the penalty box for a major infraction. He was one overzealous body check away from getting pulled from the game entirely. The rest of the team had been forced to scramble, covering for him, only to have the other team score a last-minute goal.

Ghost had seen red since then, his mind a whirlwind of anger and utter confusion. Soap was obnoxious, a showoff sure, but he wasn’t stupid. He was a damn good defenseman, and wouldn’t have made the Olympic team if otherwise. So why the hell was he acting so irrational and childish during the biggest game of his life? He’d be lucky if Price even let him back out on the ice for the final period. 

The locker room was filled with a tense silence, thick enough to cut with a knife. Price stood in the center, his expression dark as he fixed both Ghost and Soap with a glare that could make a lesser man crumble. 

“What the hell was that out there?” Price's voice was low but filled with controlled fury. 

“Ya think this is some backyard brawl?” he continued. “We’re here to win a gold medal, not indulge in petty vendettas!”

“Who do ya think scored the leading goal out there? It’s not my fault they keep targeting me!” Soap interrupted.

“Boy, you better sit down and keep that mouth of yours closed,” Price warned. 

Ghost sat on the bench, his head bowed, seething quietly as Roach placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. But the rage still simmered beneath the surface, a mix of frustration and guilt gnawing at him. He knew Price was right—this wasn’t the time to lose his cool, but damn it, Soap had been reckless. And now, everything hung by a thread.

“Get your heads out of your arses and back in the game,” Price continued, pacing back and forth. “We’ve got one period left. Ya need to focus, not on each other, but on that puck.” 

The rest of the break was spent in silence. Everyone chose to stay quiet as Price went over strategies and the uneasy energy lingered. Ghost did his best to pay attention but he found himself glancing towards Soap every once in a while to make sure he was listening. Thank god the fucker was, otherwise, Ghost would have sacked him right then and there.

As the break ended, the team stood and headed out onto the ice. They were smart enough to give their captain and Soap a wide berth. Ghost felt that tinge of guilt shooting through his body. He never wanted his shit with Soap to get in the way of the other men’s chances. Price didn’t deserve to deal with it either.

The crowd’s roar was a distant hum in Ghost’s ears, his focus narrowing on trying to not spiral. The final period kicked off as the puck hit the ice, and Ghost couldn’t help but keep an eye on Soap throughout. They both hated each other with everything they had, but something shifted as the game went on. 

Ghost noticed that the Scot was actually trying his damnedest to stay cool under the constant attacks. Despite repeated body checks that had him slamming against the glass, Soap didn’t lash out. He gritted his teeth and shook it off, ignoring the taunts thrown his way. 

Something in Ghost cracked at that sight. Soap was trying—really trying—not to let his emotions get the better of him. And for some reason that he couldn’t fathom, it had Ghost angry for him instead of at him. 

During the next face-off, Ghost locked eyes with the one player who had been gunning for Soap all game. Magnussen. He’d recognized the man early on, recalling that he and Soap had once played on the same team a few years ago. Whatever had happened between them was now being laid out on the ice and it was pissing Ghost off. The moment the puck dropped, Ghost charged forward, slamming the guy to the ice with a force that rattled through his own bones.

Soap’s stunned expression was just a flash in Ghost’s peripheral vision before he went right back to the game, pretending like nothing happened. The minutes ticked by, agonizingly slow, and the score remained tied. Roach was a force to be reckoned with, holding the line with a ferocity that had the entire team and crowd rallying behind him. Despite his efforts, Ghost knew his friend. He was getting tired and they needed this to end soon because he wasn’t going to last much longer at this level. 

The buzzer finally blared, signaling the end of the regulation period. 

Fuck.  

The sound echoed through the arena, the only thing Ghost could hear as he skated to the bench. Overtime. This was it. Everything came down to the next twenty minutes or until whoever scored first. 

Price was quick to make his decision. “Ghost, Soap, Brady - you’re up.”

Ghost hesitated, just for a moment, before nodding. It was the right choice on Price’s end, the three of them had been the main scorers for the past week. As Soap skated over to him, his expression was uncharacteristically serious, all traces of his usual attitude gone. It had warning bells going off in Ghost’s head.

“Truce?” Soap asked quietly, extending his forearm out in front of him. He almost had a meekness about him that had Ghost trying to suppress a grin. 

Of all the things he was expecting the man to say, that was not one of them. Ghost stared at it for a moment before raising his own forearm and tapping it against Soap’s. “Truce.”

They took their positions, and from the moment the puck dropped, it was a brutal battle. Neither trio let up, both were determined to leave it all on the ice. The clock ticked down and unlike the previous period, it seemed to fly by. Ghost and Soap moved in sync, pushing each other to the limit, feeding off each other's energy. They played like men possessed.

But the tension spiked again when Magnussen - who had high-sticked Soap earlier -  skated past, whispering insults right in Soap’s ear, ensuring the referees wouldn’t hear. Ghost caught the look in Soap’s eyes, saw the struggle to keep it together, to not snap.

Something swelled in Ghost’s chest—anger, determination, maybe something else he didn’t want to name. 

Two minutes remaining. 

As he gained control of the puck, he faked a charge at the goalie, drawing the defense toward him. In that split second, he saw Soap skating up beside him, in perfect position. Without hesitation, Ghost passed the puck.

One minute remaining. 

Soap didn’t miss a beat. He took the shot, the puck slyly slipping through the goalie’s legs and into the net.

For a moment, the world went silent. All Ghost could hear was the sound of the puck hitting the net, echoing through the rush of blood in his ears. 

They won. They won the fucking gold medal.

The arena exploded in cheers, the sound finally breaking through to Ghost as he turned to face Soap. Their eyes met, and for the first time, there was no animosity between them, just pure, unfiltered elation.

— — — 

The day of the medal ceremony had passed in a whirlwind of celebration and chaos. Ghost had gone through the motions—smiling for the cameras, shaking hands, and enduring the endless rounds of interviews and press events. He even managed a genuine smile or two, knowing his brother and family were watching back home, proud of what he’d accomplished. Soap’s energy and peacocking made up for his lack of excitement anyway. But as the adrenaline wore off and the exhaustion set in, all Ghost wanted was to retreat to his room and disappear for the night.

He had kept his distance from Soap throughout the day, giving the man a wide berth. The last thing he wanted was to ruin the good mood of the team by stirring up their usual shit. They made it through the game without killing each other and even managed to win together, but Ghost wasn’t ready to test how long that truce would actually last. 

He managed to sneak away after the last photo call of the day, grabbing a few snacks from the dining hall as his mind was already focused on packing and getting some much-needed sleep. But as he left the cafeteria doors and stepped into the hallway, something made him slow his pace. Leaning against the corner wall a couple of feet away was Soap, arms crossed, his posture tense. In front of him, one arm outstretched, stood Magnussen, boxing him in against the wall. His body language was too close, too invasive. Ghost’s instincts went on high alert, his body bristled as he assessed the situation. Price would skin them alive if they got in a fight with the other athletes in the village.

The conversation between the two didn’t seem overly hostile, but Soap’s expression was unsettling. The blank stare on his face reminded Ghost too much of the look Soap had worn during the game when he’d been trying to keep it together on the ice. Something about it made Ghost’s skin crawl, that tightness in his chest returning. 

Ghost couldn’t suppress the slight flinch when he felt hands on his shoulders, turning sharply only to see Roach standing behind him. He hadn’t even heard the man approach while being preoccupied with watching Soap like a total creep. 

“Hey, you okay?” Roach asked, a hint of concern in his voice. “We’re grabbing some dinner. You in?”

Ghost shook his head, his gaze drifting back to Soap and Magnussen. “Nah, I’m beat. Think I’ll head up and start packing.”

Roach followed his gaze, his brows furrowing. “What’s Soap doing with that prick?” 

Ghost shrugged, though his stomach still churned with unease. “No idea.”

Roach didn’t press further, giving Ghost a nod before heading back toward the cafeteria. Ghost lingered for a few more seconds before he turned and headed back to his room, missing the brief glance Soap shot his way after noticing the man. If he got into it with Magnussen, that was on Soap and didn’t concern Ghost in the slightest.

Nearly twenty minutes had passed with Ghost in his room, folding the last of his clothes into his bag, when a knock echoed through the quiet space. He sighed, setting down the sweatpants he’d been holding. He hadn’t had any visitors all week, so he could only assume it was Roach. 

He opened the door with a roll of his eyes. “How the fuck did ya lose your keycard again?”

But it wasn’t Roach standing there. It was Soap, grinning like he hadn’t a care in the world. But Ghost wasn’t impressed. Something ugly and unsettling was bubbling up inside him instead. Soap was acting all causal after just having a conversation with the man who had been trying to put him in the hospital for a week.

Ghost narrowed his eyes, his voice low and edged with something dark. “What do you want?”

“Well, aren’t ye a ray of sunshine tonight,” Soap quipped, leaning casually against the doorframe. “The lads are headin’ out to celebrate, thought I’d invite our resident shut-in to join the fun.”

Ghost’s jaw tightened. “Not interested,” he replied curtly, turning back towards his room.

Soap’s grin faltered, confusion flickering across his face. “Oi, what’s with the attitude? I thought we were good now, or at least better. What’s got ye all pissy?”

Ghost didn’t look back as he continued folding the clothes he had tossed on the bed. “I’m fine.”

Soap wasn’t buying it. He stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. “The fuck ye are. Yer pissed about something. Yer practically vibratin’ with it.”

“Drop it, Soap,” Ghost warned, his voice dangerous.

But Soap, being Soap, couldn’t let it go. He stepped up right next to Ghost nearly suffocating the man. “Nah, I’m not leavin’ until ye tell me what crawled up yer arse. We just won the bloody gold, mate! Why the fuck are ye being a little bitch?”

Ghost’s patience snapped. In one fluid motion, he turned and grabbed Soap by the throat, shoving him hard against the wall. Soap’s eyes widened, but he didn’t resist. He stared at Ghost with a mix of surprise and something else he didn’t want to acknowledge for his own sanity. 

“Ya need to learn when to quit, MacTavish,” Ghost hissed, squeezing Soap’s throat for emphasis. “And maybe ya should think twice before cozying up to the man who’s been gunning for ya all week. Have some fuckin’ self-respect.” 

Soap blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Who? Magnussen? What are ye—” he paused, realization dawning on him. A slow smile spread across his face, despite the situation. “Oh, I see what’s goin’ on here.”

“Enlighten me,” Ghost growled. His anger only intensifying at the sight of Soap’s smug grin. 

Soap chuckled, the sound strained but amused. “Magnussen and I… we used to fool around back when we were on the same team, and that’s putting it lightly. Didn’t end well since he was under the impression exclusivity only applied to me. I told him to fuck off and he made my life a livin’ hell after that. Guess they were right when they said don’t shag yer coworkers.”

Ghost’s grip loosened slightly, mind reeling at the admission. “And what’s that got to do with me? I don’t care where ya stick your prick.”

Soap’s voice softened, his tone flippant as he shrugged. “He’s been makin’ comments all week, never could get over the fact I left him. Likes to tell me how my ‘new boyfriend’ —” he said the word with a mocking lilt, “— couldn’t satisfy me like he used to.”

Ghost felt a flush of heat rise to his face, and he told himself it was just the anger, nothing more. “So, what? He thinks I’m your new boy toy or whatever? Why the hell would he think that?”

Soap’s smile grew, a teasing glint in his eyes. ‘Ye know, I’ve always been into the ones that play hard to get and our rivalry isn’t exactly private. And let’s face it, yer not as subtle as ye think, Ghostie. I can see where he connected the dots.” 

Ghost’s eyes narrowed. “What the fuck are ya talkin’ about?”

Soap’s grin widened. “It didn’t click right away but now I can see it. I think ye do care where my prick ends up. You’ve been actin’ like a right jealous bastard for the past week.  First with Gaz, and now with Magnussen. Why don’t ye just admit it?” 

“Admit what?” Ghost demanded, his heart pounding in his chest. His pitiful attempt of denial was pointless against the Scot.  

Soap leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “That ye want to fuck me so bad it makes ye look stupid.”

Ghost’s breath caught in his chest. His grip on Soap’s throat tightened, but the man didn’t flinch, his eyes locked on Ghost’s, daring him to respond. 

“You’re fuckin’ insane, MacTavish.”

He shrugged once more as he attempted to pull away and take a step toward the door. “Guess I’ll go see what Magnussen is doin’ since I’m so wro—”

But Soap didn’t get to finish his sentence. Before he could think it through, before he could talk himself out of it, Ghost’s lips crashed against Soap’s in a rough, bruising kiss. It was more anger than anything else, a raw, violent need to shut Soap up, to wipe that smirk off his face. 

But as their mouths moved together, it became something else. The tension that had been simmering between them for so long ignited, exploding into a fire neither of them could control. Ghost’s hand slid up from Soap’s throat to cup the back of his head, fingers tangling in his stupid mohawk as he deepened the kiss, pouring all his frustration, all his confusion, into it.

Soap responded with just as much intensity, his hands gripping Ghost’s sides, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them. The kiss was a battle for dominance, neither willing to back down, neither willing to let the other have the last word. 

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard. Hot and ragged on one another’s skin. Ghost’s eyes were dark, pupils blown and filled with a storm of emotions he wasn’t ready to face, but one thing was clear—there was no way they could come back from this. No way to uncross the line they just plummeted over head first. 

“Still think I’m insane?” Soap whispered, his voice hoarse. The teasing edge to his words remained despite the breathlessness.

Ghost’s response was a low growl as he pulled Soap back in, kissing him again, harder this time. He didn’t shy away when he felt Soap’s wandering hands, slowly inching their way down to the waistband of his joggers. His own hands had fallen to rest upon Soap’s hips at some point, occasionally lifting to splay up and down his abs. Relishing in the shivers it caused as he needed to touch every inch of the man’s skin. 

He hissed as he felt Soap grip him through his boxers and grind his palm. He was slightly pent up; spending a week sleeping five feet away from Roach hadn’t left him many options to take care of himself. Part of him wanted to take it slow, ease into it, and give each other time to adjust. But when Soap let a low moan escape his throat after touching him, it took every ounce of fleeting self-control Ghost had to not throw him on the bed and take him right then. 

That moan pissed Ghost off while turning him on altogether; every little feeling he felt toward Soap was conflicted with an opposing emotion. He wanted him so badly while wanting to put his face through the wall for making him want him that badly. What the fuck were they doing?

“Fuck,” Ghost groaned out, a mix of annoyance and desperation coating his voice. He loathed how out of control he felt at that moment, especially when it was John fuckin’ MacTavish who had the advantage. He pushed off of Soap’s chest giving himself some room to breathe, his lungs burning at the sudden intake of oxygen. Soap saw what must have been a flash of uncertainty in his eyes as he interrupted Ghost’s inner turmoil.

“Don’t tell me yer getting cold feet now? I can leave if ye want. Walk out that door and leave ye all alone to wank one out as ye think of me,” he goaded, leaning up to whisper directly in Ghost’s ear. “Or do ye wanna get out of yer head and be a good boy for me so I can take care of ye?” 

Ghost swallowed at that, even though all the moisture in his mouth had evaporated in a second. His lips parted to reply, but it was as if his brain had gone offline; he couldn’t string a sentence together to save his life. The glare he had trained on Soap didn’t deter him from what he wanted though. 

He grabbed the two pant strings of Ghost’s joggers and pulled him in where their foreheads now rested against each other. Ghost couldn’t help but shake his head, a whispered, “I hate you,” was all he could manage in the end. 

Soap grinned as his hand dove under Ghost’s waistband once again, only this time he included the boxers. “I know.”

Soap’s touch felt like a brand upon his skin. Ghost’s hips reflexively jerked back, but the man’s tight grip kept him in place. The slight burn of friction caused by dry skin was a welcome one. He started to slowly jerk him off, picking up the pace every few movements just to slow back down again. The bastard always keeping Ghost on edge while making sure he wasn’t able to cross it. He almost let a moan slip out when Soap leaned in and started sucking right on his pulse point. The repercussions of letting Soap mark up his neck were so far from his mind as he focused on the way the man flicked his wrist. 

Soap’s mouth moved in an upward pattern, eventually kissing his way back up to meet Ghost’s lips once again. He must have deemed Ghost ready as he pulled back, his gaze burning into Ghost’s skull as he searched for any uncertainty. With only desire remaining, Soap slid his thumbs under the waistband of Ghost’s pants and underwear, pulling them with him as he fell to his knees. 

He had that devilish look in his eyes as he leaned forward with no hesitation. He licked a stripe from the base to the tip of Ghost’s cock, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Ghost couldn’t contain the full body tremble as Soap’s tongue swirled his head once before he took the entirety of him down in one go. 

“Fuck, Johnny,” he hissed out.

Soap responded with a smirk as he pulled back, giving a few pumps before returning to his mouth. 

Ghost watched as Soap moved his head back and forth, taking him impossibly deeper each time. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with his hands. It felt too intimate to rest them on Soap’s head despite his dick currently halfway down the man’s throat. He settled on leaning them against the wall, the position completely blocking Soap in and angling himself even further till the other man gagged. That was a sound he could get used to. 

Ghost took in the man kneeling before him. Had he always felt like this? He never thought his emotions surpassed hatred when it came to Soap. But now that he was actually looking at him and he wasn’t running his mouth, he couldn’t deny anymore that there was something else there no matter how fucked up it was. It might have always been there. 

His gaze drifted to the bridge of Soap’s nose where it repeatedly brushed against his pelvis. The wound was still red and fresh where he had been hit by Magnussen. Ghost scowled the longer he stared. That ugly feeling inside him reared up again at the thought of that fucker making him bleed. Hell, maybe Soap was right. Maybe Ghost was jealous and his head was too far up his own ass to see it. 

He hadn’t even registered that his anger had escaped from inside his mind until he heard Soap — more like felt — groan around his cock. His eyes focused and he realized his hand had unconsciously moved to the man’s hair, gripping his mohawk tightly as he ground Soap’s face closer to deepthroat him. Of course he liked his hair pulled. No sane person would willingly choose that haircut unless the sole purpose was to bring attention to it like a neon sign that said ‘PULL ME.’

Ghost picked up his pace as he gave in and let his anger wash over him. What once was a blowjob had now turned into Ghost flat-out face-fucking Soap. Each slam of his hips had Soap choking on a gag, his hands desperately finding purchase on Ghost’s thighs. His throat reflexively swallowed around the tip of Ghost’s cock, the constriction having him see stars. 

The force of his thrusts had managed to jostle the medical tape on Soap’s nose at some point. The wound reopened as streams of hot blood ran down his face, mixing with the spit on his chin and dripping onto the floor between his knees.

The way he looked like a fucking painting right then had Ghost entranced. His eyes watery and blissed out just from getting his throat fucked, face flushed from the lack of oxygen and strain, and now the lower half of his face was streaked in red. Ghost could feel his own cock twitch where it rested on Soap’s tongue as he watched one particular drop run down and land where he and Soap’s lips met.

Fuck me.

He practically growled as he pulled out of Soap’s throat, using the other man’s surprise as a window to grab ahold of him and throw him on the bed. He opted for Roach’s as his own was currently covered in clothes and his suitcase. What the man didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. 

Ghost climbed on top of Soap, one hand splayed beside his head while the other pinned him to the mattress by his mohawk. Their combined weight pushed the limits of the fragile cardboard bed struggling to hold them up. Before Soap could make some smart-ass remark he leaned forward to take his mouth again in a feral kiss. He pulled the man’s lower lip between his teeth and bit down until his tongue was flooded with the taste of metal. 

He swallowed Soap’s curses and moans the same as he did his blood. His own fucked up attempt to wash away what was left behind by Magnussen with his own claim. If anyone was making John MacTavish bleed, it was going to be him alone. 

Ghost moved from Soap’s lips to the edge of his jawline, making his way down his neck while leaving behind a trail of bloody prints in his wake. While Soap was lost in the haze of pleasure, Ghost took the opportunity to slide his hand under the man’s shirt and pull it off. Soap gasped as he moved from his neck to his chest, paying extra attention to each nipple as he ran his tongue over them before dragging them between his teeth. Ghost wanted to leave his mark upon the man’s skin, and make sure he was reminded of this for weeks to come.

He hooked his fingers in Soap’s waistband, lifting the man’s lower half up as he pulled them off in one glide. He sat back to admire the man splayed out before him. Soap’s chest was slightly heaving as Ghost’s eyes danced across every inch of his skin, narrowing in on his newly exposed jockstrap straining against his hard cock. 

“Ya always wear that, ya slag?” he asked before leaning down to hover over the man. 

“Never had any complaints before,” Soap stated casually while looking into Ghost’s eyes, fully aware of the button he pushed.

Ghost’s jaw clenched as he dipped down to speak directly in his ear, “You should pick your words more wisely, Johnny.” 

That was all the warning he gave before he gripped onto the strap wrapped around Soap’s hip with both hands and pulled. The resounding tear of elastic in the otherwise quiet room was deafening. Ghost tossed the sad lump of fabric to the floor as Soap looked at him with bewilderment. 

“Yer buyin’ me a new fuckin’ pair ye bastard,” was all he said before grabbing the back of Ghost’s neck and pulling him into a heated kiss. Ghost greedily swallowed Soap’s moan as he took him in hand and started pumping him at a quick pace. He was still rock-hard himself and knew he wasn’t going to be able to hold out much longer. But there was something so addicting about making the man under him fall apart with nothing but his hand that had Ghost chasing that rush and ignoring his own needs. 

He wanted to ruin Johnny. Ruin him for anyone that came after, and the memory of anyone who came before. That cloud of possessive need fogging up his brain had him missing the words leaving Soap’s mouth when he pulled away. 

“What?”

“I said lube, where’s yer lube?” Soap repeated breathlessly.

 Shit. “I don’t have any.”

Soap raised himself onto his elbows at that. “What do ye mean ye don’t have any?”

“I didn’t bring any. Some of us actually came here to do a job and not shag half the village,” Ghost pointedly stated.

“Oh my god, yer such a fuckin’ prude,” he groaned out in frustration.

“The bloody hell I am, your dick is literally in my hand right now.”

Ghost wasn’t expecting Soap to laugh at that. Their usual banter had the familiar flame of irritation flaring up inside him. God did he want to wipe that stupid smile off his face. The mineral oil he used to prevent his blades from rusting sitting in his gear bag probably wasn’t skin-safe. 

He panned to Roach’s toiletry bag sitting on the floor by his bed. That thought didn’t last long; there was no way he was about to risk his life using the man’s ridiculously priced moisturizer he had special ordered each month as makeshift lube. He was out of options and Soap’s incessant whining to hurry up was really starting to piss him off. Spit it was. He was lucky he was even giving the man that much. 

Soap let out a less than dignified yelp as Ghost suddenly flipped him over, stuffing a pillow beneath his hips and stomach. He maneuvered the man like a rag doll until he was in the position he wanted. He harshly slapped Soap’s ass when he tried to sit back up. It was as if every fiber of the Scot’s being was wired to be difficult and not follow orders. 

“Lay the fuck down, MacTavish,” Ghost warned. 

That was all the grace he was willing to give before his hands fell on Soap’s ass, thumbs spreading him open before he brought his face closer and dove in. He held on tightly as Soap bucked his hips forward, trying to escape Ghost’s invading mouth and tongue. The man only managed to get a few inches before Ghost pulled him back down once again, his hands tangling in the sheets as he cursed out. 

His moans were half-muffled as his face rubbed into Roach’s pillow. The once pristine white cotton now stained blood red and damp where he bit into it. Ghost wasn’t giving him a second of reprieve. Soap’s senses were overwhelmed by either the mouth at his rear or the hands that had moved back to his front to fondle and tease once again. 

Soap turned his head to the side to make sure Ghost heard him after one particular movement of his tongue almost had him losing it. “Fuck, Simon… I’m ready. I’m not gonnae last much longer so get the fuck in me,” he groaned out. 

If Ghost was a stronger man, he would’ve kept going just for the sake of torturing Soap and making him beg more. But in the end, he wasn’t a stronger man. Far from it. He needed in the Scot just as much as he wanted it. For once, the two were on the same page. 

He leaned back on his knees, lining himself up slowly. Soap didn’t let him get far enough into the preparation to add his fingers, but he was the one who claimed he was ready. If it hurt, that was on him and Ghost would gladly remind the cocky bastard of the fact. 

With a deep breath to try and gather some semblance of control, Ghost started to press forward using only a mix of spit and blood, precum, and a prayer to pave his way. He couldn’t contain the strained, “Fuckin’ hell, Johnny,” as the man’s tight heat engulfing Ghost’s cock made it nearly impossible to enter. “Relax before ya snap my prick in half,” he scolded. 

“If I could I would, It’d go a lot faster using it as a dildo than whatever the hell pace yer goin’ at,” he quipped back. 

Ghost glared at the small portion of the man’s face he could see resting on the pillow. He was such a fucking asshole, Ghost didn’t know if this was even worth it anymore. Yes, it was. 

He held onto Soap’s hips as he retreated the few inches he had managed to trek. Fuckin’ asshole. He slammed into the man in one harsh thrust, sheathing himself entirely despite the resistance. 

“Motherfu—!” Soap’s scream was quickly snuffed out as Ghost shoved his face into the pillow. He leaned down till his body draped over Soap’s, heavy and slick with sweat. “Ah ah, we have neighbors, Johnny,” he whispered in his ear before licking up the shell and biting down hard when he reached the top. Soap tried to flinch away from the sting, but the way he clamped down on Ghost’s dick gave him away. 

Ghost pulled back, leaving a trail of hickeys and bite marks down Soap’s neck and back in his wake. It was his own fault for having such a large canvas to work with, practically begging to be marked up. He returned to moving in and out of Soap, each thrust easier than the last. He had to reprimand him with a few slaps to his ass whenever a particular moan got too loud. It was only partly an excuse, he was actually worried about the paper-thin walls and that one of his teammates would complain to Price, or even worse— tell the whole team he had a ‘special visitor.’

Soap managed to lift himself up on shaky arms and knees, deciding he was no longer a passive member in this ordeal. He placed one arm on Ghost’s hip, the other sliding behind his neck and gripping onto the sweat-slicked hair. The new position had Ghost angling himself upwards, reaching further and deeper. He tried to stifle his own moans and grunts by latching onto Soap’s newly accessible throat, attacking it as he pounded into the man. 

“Quiet, MacTavish,” he groaned into his ear after one particularly harsh thrust had Soap crying out.

Soap leaned back, arching his back impossibly more as he rested his head on Ghost’s shoulder. The new angle had him pounding into that bundle of nerves inside the man repeatedly. Soap responded by cursing Ghost’s name so loudly that it practically reverberated through the whole village. He had to of done it on purpose just to piss him off. And it worked. 

Ghost grunted as he slammed into the man at a punishing pace. “Do ya ever shut the fuck up?” He didn’t give him much time to respond as he momentarily paused to lean over and grab something off the shared dresser between the two beds. Soap was off balance and overwhelmed, he didn’t quite register what Ghost was doing before something was being shoved in his mouth. It took him a second to figure out what it was. It was thin and slippery like silk, pulled tight where Ghost gripped it at the back of his head, keeping his tongue flat in his mouth so he couldn’t speak properly. 

Ghost just grinned as he continued to fuck the man below him, ignoring his muffled shouts and attempts at cursing him out when he realized what he was gagging him with. 

His gold medal dangled back and forth between Soap’s shoulder blades as the neck strap finally shut the man up.

The small victory wore off quickly, replaced by short breaths and electricity shooting up his spine in warning. He was getting close. It was a miracle he had even lasted this long. By the way Soap squeezed him every time he hit his prostate and let out a punched-out moan, he wasn’t too far behind himself. Ghost let the one hand that was gripping the medal keep them balanced as he reached around and started jerking Soap off with his other. His pace didn’t falter as he chased both of their releases. Sweat dripped down his nose and landed in the small space between them, right on the bloody marks he left trailing down Soap’s spine. The sight alone almost had him tipping over the edge, picking up speed right before disaster struck.

A slight crack was all the warning they got before the bed gave way and sent them tumbling to the floor. They both groaned at the impact, Soap more so as he bore the brunt of the fall. He should have stopped and made sure the man was okay, but that stubborn and selfish need inside him had him picking his movements back up without so much as a stutter. 

It only took a few more thrusts before that burning feeling deep in his stomach returned. He switched to a slow and deep rather than fast and shallow rhythm before ultimately falling over the edge. His hips stuttered as he pumped into Soap slowly, basking in the way the man had a death grip on him while practically milking him dry. 

When the fuzziness in his brain slowly retreated, he glanced down to where he was still inside the man. He took his time pulling out, unabashedly watching his own spend drip out of Soap. His returning moans had Ghost snapping out of his own reverie. He flipped the man over and resumed a quick pace as he jerked him off, giving extra attention to the head using his wrist. 

“Hand or mouth?,” he asked before ripping the now spit-soaked and blood-stained ribbon out of Soap’s mouth. 

“Mouth, fuckin’ mouth,” he breathed out.

Ghost didn’t hesitate, shimmying down the collapsed bed till his face hovered over Soap’s painfully hard dick. It only took about three strategic swallows before Soap was cursing and following him over the edge. His whole body trembled with the force of his orgasm. His massive thighs nearly crushed Ghost’s skull where he remained between them to swallow down all that Soap had to offer. It was only when the bastard swatted his face away from the overstimulation did he decide to pull off and attack his lips instead. 

When the exhaustion finally won out, Ghost rolled over to lay next to him. Shoulders touching as they both desperately sucked air into their heaving chests. He internally winced as he registered the amount of bodily fluids that covered them where they lay. Ghost had never felt so disgusting but so blissful at the same time in his life. 

The blissful silence didn’t last long as Soap turned to look at Ghost, that stupid shit-eating grin plastered onto his face. “Next time, don’t forget the lube.”

“Next time?” Ghost questioned with a raise of a dark blond brow. 

The Scot’s responding smile had him looking like a psychopath while covered in blood. “Ye didn’t think ye were gettin’ away without me havin’ a turn with yer arse now did ye?” he replied with a kiss to Ghost’s nose. 

Before Ghost could crush any of Soap’s hope that was going to happen anytime soon, their heads both flicked to the deafening whir of an electric gear unlocking the room door. They both sat up, desperately clinging to the massacred white sheet draped across their lap. 

It was as if they were two deers in the headlights as Roach stood in the threshold, sliding his keycard back into his pocket before freezing mid-step when he finally looked up. Neither of them dared to say anything as the man scanned over what was once his bed, now crumpled onto the floor along with his blood-stained sheets. If Soap wasn’t sitting up, Ghost wouldn’t put it past Roach to conclude he had finally snapped and murdered the man once and for all. When he scanned over their naked bodies, that’s when the final nail went into the coffin. They were so dead. 

“What the ever-loving fuck is wrong with you two!?”

[twistedblunderhand]

How often do the characters leave NRC?

Ik the game is focused on the school, but I feel like at least some of them would have a life outside of school

HEARTSLABYUL

Duce- it was mentioned he left to the beach to let things out before, so obviously he leaves the campus sometimes. Since he’s trying to be an honor student I can’t imagine he’d go out too much for fun, but he will to clear his head or with his friends

Ace- he’d get way to pent up if he was in the school all the time. He definitely goes out occasionally and invites the first years

Cater- All. The. Time. Both as a way to distract himself and also to keep up with the outside world.

Trey- occasionally, but mainly to get ingredients or things to decorate for unbirthday parties. And once a month he gets bulk dental supplies

Riddle- other than mandatory vaccinations, probably not. Especially early game. As he grows he might go out with Trey and Cater from time to time. But never on his own

SAVANACLAW

Jack- he leaves now and then, but not too often. During the winters he goes home for some weekends to spend time with his family and snowboard at his favorite places

Ruggie- iirc it’s mentioned he has multiple jobs. If he leaves more often than not it’s to work or find work. That and to go to a local donut shop

Leona-he can canonically drive, and also is 20. He’s not spending all his time at NRC. He’s got friends outside he meets with once or twice a week and drives Ruggie to his jobs if he can’t get the twst version of an Uber

OCTAVINELLE

Jade- he’s apart of the mountain appreciation club, so he probably goes hiking at least three times a week. He might go into a nearby town if Azul asks him to, but I can’t imagine he leaves too often

Floyd- probably joins Jade on some of his hikes and also goes into town when Azul asks. He also travels to the beach/ocean whenever he’s feeling homesick

Azul- he rarely leaves school, and if he does it’s to check up on business opportunities

SCARABIA

kalim- all the time. He takes people out, he explores the areas close by, he single handedly pays the bills for the local party barn with all of the supplies he gets. Out of anyone in the music club I think he tries to get a bunch of gigs for them, but he rarely follows through

Jamil- usually if he’s out it’s to drag kalim back to school. He’s just too busy that he doesn’t really have time for himself, especially early game. Eventually I like to think he gets out of working for kalim, and so he has a lot more time on his hands he’s not used to having. Then, he’d probably go out sometimes to go to coffee shops alone and finds a dance studio where he can destress

POMEFIORE

Epel- under Vil’s eye, probably not. Might be forced to go to ulta once or twice or on little “field trips” to learn. Mainly performances and shows

Rook- probably leaves to hunt once in a while or to go to performances or follow a target.

Vil- as mentioned before, he takes Epel on little trips to educate him, but also to study/learn from other performances himself. Also, if he has a roll obviously he’ll go to do that too

IGNIHYDE

Ortho- usually follows his brother so doesn’t stray far from campus

Idia- dude he doesn’t leave his room. No way he leaves campus on his own free will

DIASOMNIA

Silver- I don’t think he’d stray too too far from malleus so I don’t see him leaving campus much

Sebek- I feel like he wouldn’t leave campus too much to stay near Malleus or Lilia

Lilia- he goes out every week at least once. He has friends outside of school and loves to learn about the area/culture outside and near school

Malleus- mainly stays on campus because of his social awkwardness/anxiety. If he finds there’s an abandoned place outside of school he’ll probably venture there once in a while

STAFF

Just as a general thing, they all probably go out and meet up and talk about life once every two months

Crowley- asshole gets out every night instead of working. He skips work and will be out during his office hours. Like he should have a life outside of work, but he doesn’t do shit at his job

Crewel- he volunteers at the dog shelter and doesn’t live on campus.

Trein- he has a three kids, so yeah. After school he leaves to go home and probably has family dinners every Friday night at local restaurants

Sam- for sure. He has lots of clients outside of the school store and needs to get his stock from somewhere, but also he has tons of friends and doesn’t live at the school

[ontheticktick]

Deadpool & Wolverine AU Starter for @oozeyboozey

"Damn it! Son of a bitch! Fuck! Motherfucker! Our world is FUCKED!"

Wade threw the shovel that had been in his hands out of the grave of one James "Logan" Howlett. The merc climbed out of the hole he had spent way too fucking long digging, and begun to pull the adamantium skeletal remains. He released a frustrated growl as he begun to drag it over towards a nearby log.

"This would go quicker with HELP!" He pointed out to his plus one on this little venture. Or was he her plus one? The British motherfucker hadn't really made it clear in his little jaunt of exposition. Either way, Anya hadn't elected to help dig.

"Look..." he sat the skeleton in a sitting position between himself and Anya, "I’m not a man of science, but he seems incredibly passed away." He reached out to pet the knee of the deceased Wolverine. "But it’s good to see him! I gotta be honest, I’ve always wanted to ride with this guy. Logan. Me an' him, getting into a Deadpool and Wolverine. Just fucking shit up. Can you imagine the fun? The chaos? The residuals?" He sighed wistfully. "But noooo...No, no, no, no. Ugh...he had to get all noble and die FOR REAL. God damn it! We could really use his help right now."

The TVA agents arrived just in time to be at peak asshole level, likely intending on adding injury to the insult of being completely fucking DOOMED.

"WAIT! I’m warning you! We're not alone!

"Wade Winston Wilson and Anastasia Winnifred Barnes! You’re under arrest by the Time Variance Authority. Too many crimes to list, come out! Last chance! Throw out your weapons and come out peacefully!"

"We're not gonna give you our weapons! But we promise not to use them..." He moved to begin picking apart the skeleton he'd dug up. Looking to Anya, he spoke. "There are 206 bones in the human body. 207 if I’m watching Gossip Girl." He reached out to hand Anya a piece of the remains as well. "Here we go, Commie Mommy, just like ol' times...MAXIMUM EFFORT."

A Note for the Audience, From Captain Deadpool:

To be clear, I’m not proud of any of this. Anya might be though. She always took pride in her work...when we were TOGETHER. Thanks to a knock-off Grimace with a BALL SACK for a chin, though, half of her whole family vanished...and I couldn't measure up to be enough to help. Where was I? Oh yeah. I'm not proud of any of this. Not that you're going to see any of it unless you go see my new movie in theaters, but Anya won't be in that one, so just...PRETEND that she is, maybe. I could teach you how to pretend she's there. I've gotten real good at it in the last couple years. All of this though...The wanton violence, the whiff of necrophilia, it isn’t who I am, it isn’t who I wanna be. Who I wanna be? Well, to help you understand that, I gotta take you back. Before my little joy ride I took through space and time, to the day that changed everything...

His birthday was filled with his friends and loved ones...all 9 of them. He had been mingling with the guests, when he happened upon his roommate. Blind Al seemed a little jittery.

"Want to do some cocaine?"

"Hey!" The merc insisted, "cocaine is the one thing that Feige said is off-limits."

"What about Bolivian marching powder?"

"They know all the slang terms. They have a list."

"Even snowboarding?" Wade nodded.

"Even disco dust."

"White girl interrupted?" Blind Al's brows furrowed.

"Even Boris bump," Wade affirmed sadly.

"Poker show?"

"I wouldn’t even try powdered donuts."

The woman tried one last-ditch effort. "Do you want to build a snowman?"

Devastated as he looked to Althea, his shoulders fell. "YES...but I CAN'T." With that, he got up from the chair that he had been sitting in and retreated from the woman that was essentially his live-in mother, heading over to the snack table...and coincidentally, over to where Anya stood. He was honestly shocked that she had even wanted to attend his birthday party. His best guess as to a motive was PITY. His heart ached and his throat felt tight as he got closer to her, until he was standing beside her. Gathering up all of his nerve, he spoke.

"Thanks for comin'," Wade told her genuinely, if not a little stiffly from his rampant anxiety. "How's uh...how's work? You still traveling to exotic, distant lands? Meeting exciting, unusual people and killing them?"

[dearweirdme]

Isn't it interesting that TK who frequently hang out in their free time outside work - bowling, snowboarding, recording/sharing music, Paradise hotel, movie premiere ( quoting instances where we have proof ) aren't prime choice for any type of subunit since years. Be it music or documentary or travel vlog or any damn official content!!! BAFFLING

Do you think it's because Tae probably does not have that great of a relationship with his label? We did see him pitching friendcation with wooga but barely see him in any fun content with other members. Compare that to jm who does innumerable dance challenges, jkk travel show, that album exchange with moni, Suga concert etc to cite a few. Don't you see a stark absence of Tae?

Curious to know everyone's thoughts. Does Tae say no to subunit content or is it not even pitched to him. His solo ventures have mostly been his own thing or wooga or the 95z dance group. Gives an impression that he might not be as in touch with other members comparatively. Only exception being jk because he mentions him a lot on lives and the hang outs but even then no TK fun official content 🤔

Hi anon!

Oddly, I’m not sure in which tone to read your ask. I’m gonna treat it as sincere, but I have to say I strongly dislike the narrative that leans to Tae not being close to BTS members.. let’s call it my trigger.

I think this ask needs to be balanced out a bit, because it’s not as if Tae hasn’t had any subunits.. he obviously has. He hasn’t had one with Jk and yes that is odd to me.. because fandom has been screaming for it. Their voices work together, it will be a huge success.. so yeah.. I blame the lack of it sofar on the Taekook of it all. I am hopeful that we’ll be getting one in the future though.. I think after enlistment perhaps more things will be possible.

As for fun content with Tae.. I mean.. there has been?! Tae went to Inkigayo with Jk which was in official content. Jm went with him at his fanmeet and Jm came to visit him during his performance. He went to visit Hobi at an mv shoot earlier on. Him and Jk were obviously going to Yoongi’s show together which was in the official content. Aside from that, it is clear that he meets the others outside of official content.. so I absolutely have no doubt that he’s a full, close, equal member of their group. We should never ignore that it’s very possible that members themselves choose what to do as well. Tae not having a collab with a member in his album imo is very much because he wanted to do his songs by himself. Some members might choose to work with a bandmember, but others might enjoy the chance to do something different for a change.

You can’t expect every member to have the same kind of content. Tae’s show with Wooga was perfect for him, but no other member would have been able to do it. I think Jin would also have been great at Jinny’s Kitchen, but it was also perfect for Tae. Tae chose to incorporate army in his promo.. which is also something I loved from him.. but which other members didn’t do. They can only do so much, especially last year.. with members being on a tight timetable.

Also.. I’m still holding out hope for a Tae appearance in the travel show!

I agree that Tkk content has been slim.. obviously.. and for me the reason is that Tae and Jk are likely in a relationship and have therefore not been allowed to do much together. I don’t think the company didn’t allow him to do stuff with other members and I don’t think Tae isn’t as close with the other members as well.

[prof-olive]

Welcome to Gaia! (Part II)

(cws: none!) (word count: 1500)

The steps leading up to the cable car station hadn't been quite as arduous to climb as they seemed. In fact, you'd barely broken a sweat when you stepped up to the attendant at the counter, who took your change and boasted a gentle smile as she handed over your ticket. But by the time the swaying carriage had scaled the upper side of the mountain, passing by spectacular views of the smaller peaks and tiny dots of villages peppering the viridian valleys between, you felt the Butterfree in your stomach twist into knots instead as you stepped off the platform and felt frost crunching under your heels. 

From the station, the laboratory could be spotted just up the hill, barely a few minutes’ walk away down the packed-dirt path. It was a short, squat building that had been built into the mountain itself, with a few hedges and flowers surrounding the front lawn that were oddly healthy for such cold weather. Being so early, few other residents hung around the area–save for a couple small groups of eager skiers and snowboarders, who hustled down the branching trails to head for a spot on the slopes further down. A couple pokémon joined them, a Glalie and Froslass in particular, and by the orange bands adorning their arms and horns respectively, it seemed they were tasked with mountain safety or something of the like–odd choices for such intensive responsibilities, but you were in no position to judge, now were you? 

Instead, you turned your attention forward and headed up the incline towards the laboratory, your heart thudding against your ribcage with each and every step. You tugged your coat tighter around you as the wind picked up, yet as you reached the peak of the slope, a sudden warmth basked over you like it exuded from an enormous heater. 

There, curled up in a mound of snow just inches from the front door, was a Hydreigon massive enough to weaken your knees at the mere sight of it. The heat emanating from its snoring nostrils had melted the better part of snow and frost around it, yet even so you froze, and stopped in your tracks with your eyes locked on to the sleeping giant. Then, as if sensing your presence, the dragon-type pokemon cracked open the slit of its black-sclera eye; its red pupil narrowed in your direction, and just as the thought of sprinting back to the cable car crossed your mind, the behemoth sighed and nuzzled back into the comfort of its makeshift nest. It had no intent to bother you, and that was enough of a blessing for you to scurry down the last few feet of path and throw yourself through the huge, heavy pine door of the laboratory. 

“Oh!” A voice piped up at the slam of the door behind you–a quick glance around proved similar surroundings as what you'd seen from the introductory video, primarily shelves and tables of novels and scattered papers peppered by lab equipment–and from around a shelf stacked with cluttered books, the green-haired head of professor Olive poked out and smiled at the sight of a new trainer. “Oh, look at you! Whose fresh face is this?” She cooed, dusting herself off and hurrying to greet you, all while knocking over a stack or two of books on her way. As soon as she stood before you, her cool hands clamped both of yours as she shook each one excitedly. “You must be my new protégé!” 

“Protégé?” You echoed, though she paid little mind to it as she turned around and headed for her desk on the opposite side. An Ambipom swung on the lights overhead as you ventured further into the lab, its violet fur bristling as it regarded you with eager curiosity. 

“Come in, come in! Get warm–have a cup of tea!” She waved you in, though with another step you nearly tripped over a sarcophagus nudged awkwardly into your path, the feet jutting out from where it had been propped up against the wall. As you passed your eyes over it, the gold-inlaid face slowly spread into an unsettling grin, and the sudden flashing of red eyes as it opened them made you jump and hurry to catch up with the professor. You clung to her sleeve when the Ambipom dropped with a thud on an end table to sniff you, but she just laughed, and gently shooed away her curious pokémon to keep from bothering you–all save for her Skitty, who mewed adorably as it hopped up on Olive's desk chair and dropped a small card in her palm. The cuddly pokémon nuzzled her hand before hopping up on her shoulder as she took her seat, the card laid out next to her as she tapped away on her computer. A little lost, you plopped yourself down in a worn, old vinyl chair across from her, shyly peering about at the lab until she finally swivelled around with a big smile. 

“All done!” She handed over your shiny new trainer card, complete with your date of birth, the photo you submitted in your initial email, and a few other details you could puzzle over later. Two steaming cups of tea appeared on her desk as if by magic, though with a glance over your shoulder you spotted only the glowing eyes of the Cofagrigus watching you from afar–you took the tea, but only hoped nothing sinister had made its way into it. “So, who's your pick?” Olive asked with excitement, already blowing off the steam from her own cup. 

“My–my pick?” Your head cocked as you tried to recall what she meant, though the three pokeballs she produced from her labcoat pockets instantly jogged your memory. Your partner! In the flurry of activity to get here and get all your stuff moved in, it had somehow slipped your mind. “O-Oh, um…what are my choices, again?”

“Nervous, huh?” The professor chuckled. “It's okay! I was the same way–couldn't make up my mind, so I went out and caught my own!” She scratched Skitty's head for the creature to start purring, before it hopped off her lap and trotted away into the disorganized chaos of the lab. It honestly looked more like half lab, half library rather than a traditional pokémon professor's research facility. But then again, professor Olive wasn't exactly a normal professor. “You can choose from Eevee, Goomy, or Ralts!” 

Still, you looked over the pokeballs in the green-haired woman's hands, wondering which would be best for you. You didn't know your battling style yet, and you weren't even sure what kind of pokémon you even liked, or were compatible with. You sat and pondered, and pondered, and eventually she must've gotten fed up or her arms were just getting tired–because Olive suddenly reached over and tugged open the flap of your bag, and let the three balls tumble into it before she zipped it shut. 

“Here, how about this–take all three for now, and try ‘em out! Whichever ones don't fit, just bring them back to the lab.” She patted your bag as the pokeballs jostled within, the pokémon no doubt sensing a shift inside as they were passed from hand to hand. 

“A-Are you sure?” 

“Of course!” She answered cheerily. “I believe in you. If you have questions, you can just ask!” As she said so, her Rotom phone flung itself out of her breast pocket–turning itself sideways, it activated its own radar until it pinged, and your own phone buzzed in your pocket as your profile was registered in her contacts. She plucked it out of midair and tucked it back into her labcoat, the Rotom within humming contently as it no doubt enjoyed being pressed to the professor's warm chest. “Just shoot me a text or ring me! You can contact me anytime.” The way she winked as she said so stirred something in your gut, but it came and went in an instant, and soon the professor was innocently standing from her seat and ushering you towards the front door. “Now, it's about time you got out on your adventure! I already loaded the pokédex program on to your trainer card, so you can just insert it into your phone to get started!” 

With that, and one last cheerful greeting as the professor escorted you safely back to the cable car, she waved as you descended back down the mountain until she, and her lab, were swallowed up by mist in your rearview. As the car swayed gently in the breeze, curiosity eventually got the better of you and you opened up your bag, peering down at the three, glowing pokeballs nestled inside. Eevee, Goomy, or Ralts. Whatever you picked would likely dictate the course of your life going forward, and determine how you grew into the trainer you had wanted to be since you were a teenager. 

So the question remained: who will you pick? 

[sbhqevents]

READY FOR SOME FUN IN THE SNOW? ❄️⛸️

Embrace the magic of winter activities in Jackson Hole, with skiing, snowboarding and cozy sleigh rides. With slope-side access and customized activities, experience Jackson Hole’s winter wonderland, where every snow-covered adventure awaits. Here are some fun things to do while you enjoy your snow day!

Be sure to tag all your snow day-related posts with #sunsetjacksonhole + #sunsetsnowday!

Ski & Snowboard At Your Leisure

Enjoy slope-side access directly outside our Resort’s door, with 13 lifts and 4,139 feet (1,261.6 metres) from the valley floor to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. Seamless service awaits, with an on-site fully equipped basecamp from which to embark on your winter adventures. The Ski Concierge is happy to arrange all aspects of equipment rental, as well as tuning, valet, storage and in-room boot fittings.

Enjoy a Peaceful Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride

Don’t forget your camera as this hour-long ride takes you face-to-face with the animals of the National Elk Refuge. Venture across the Refuge to the sounds of snow crunching beneath the horses’ feet, encountering sights that can only be found in this unique setting.

Glide Across The Ice-Skating Rink

Open daily from mid-December: Family-friendly outdoor ice skating is available at Teton Village. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies in the warming hut before taking another lap around. Skates are available for rental on-site.

[thesamsaraholidays]

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[stargazer-sims]

Journal Entry #49 (part four)

previously - Journal Entry #49 (part three)

Victor

When I'd finished recounting the events of my visit with Dr. Ishida, I looked to see if Yuri was still awake. He'd let go of my fingers at some point, and I thought maybe he'd fallen asleep. He hadn't. It appeared as though he'd been hanging onto every word.

I smiled at him. "You doing okay?"

"You're going to look cute with glasses," he said.

"That was your take-away piece?"

The corners of his mouth quirked upward, and I got the impression that he'd be laughing if he had the strength for it. "No, I got everything. Reading, going to university, snowboarding. But, that doesn't change the fact that I think you'll be cute with glasses."

"I'm pretty excited," I said. “I can’t wait to find out how much my reading’s gonna improve. Like, maybe it’s really true that I’m not stupid after all.”

“You’re not stupid,” he said. “Don’t I keep telling you that?”

“Now we can find out for sure.”

“You need to discover it for yourself before you fully believe it, don’t you? I think I can understand that.”

“As soon as I get my glasses, I’m going to read the hardest book I can find,” I said.

Yuri gave me an indulgent look. “Of course you are. I wouldn’t have expected otherwise.”

“Know what I’m going to do after that? I’m going to ask Ellie to send me a couple of her old books from nursing school, and I’m gonna see if I can read those. You know, because… reasons.”

“You’re still wavering between physical therapy and nursing, then?”

“Yeah, but you know one of the big reasons why I was struggling to choose is because I didn’t think I could do all the reading for nursing. I’m still really interested in physical therapy, but I think I’d do better as a nurse. I’m thinking licensed practical nursing, ‘cause it’s more hands-on.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you’d be an amazing nurse,” Yuri said.

“You’d know,” I acknowledged. “You’re probably in the best position to know, actually.”

"Well, now you’ve got to figure out what you really want to do. You obviously can’t stay in Japan to train and compete, and go to university in Canada at the same time."

“Yeah, and there's the haunted house. Depending on what happens, we may or may not end up buying it.”

"Yes, the haunted house," he echoed. "I think we have a lot to talk about."

"When you're feeling better," I said. "I want to figure everything out as soon as we can, but none of it is so urgent that it can't wait a few weeks. I mean, it's still up in the air whether or not I'll be able to compete again anyway. I won't know that until I see Dr. Sato again and have all my scans and stuff."

"Do you really want to compete again?"

"I didn't want to stop,” I said.

"So, I should ignore what you said before?" he asked.

"When? If I said it when I was in the hospital, just assume you can't rely on any of it. Unless I said I love you. That's totally true."

""You're the light of my world. You know that, don't you?" he said. "I know I can always rely on you loving me."

"Just like I know you love me,” I said.

"I do," he said. "Very much. More than anything."

We can decide what to do once we have more information."

"That's reasonable," he said. He was quiet for several seconds, but then he ventured, "There is something we have to talk about now, though."

"If you're feeling well enough, we can."

"If I were feeling well, it'd be a moot point."

I chewed my lower lip, slightly worried about what he might say next. "What's up?"

"Dr. Kasongo and Dr. Shibazaki both think I'm going to need home care."

I remembered that Dr. Shibazaki was the one who'd seen Yuri when his parents and I brought him to the emergency department, and she's still following up with his care. The other doctor, Espérance Kasongo, is Yuri's gastroenterologist. She's the one who's most closely monitoring him, and the one primarily responsble for his care while he's here.

I nodded. "Dr. Kasongo told me."

"What did you say to her? Did you agree?"

"I told her I'd have to wait until I could talk about it with you," I said. "I can't make that decision for you as long as you're capable of making it for yourself. If you want to know what I really think, though, I do agree with her."

The expression on his face was one of betrayal. "You do?"

"I don't like the idea," I said. "If we had a choice, I'd say no because obviously I'd be looking after you myself, but that's not an option right now 'cause I still need help too."

"But, our parents and Uncle Kaz—"

"Mom and Julian have to go home, and I assume Uncle Kaz does as well, so that’ll just leave your parents. We can't expect them to do everything. You know your dad's not going to be able to stay away from the office for too much longer. Plus, he and your mom still have Yuki to look after, and they'll be busy getting ready for the baby, too."

"Kinai," he said. "That's what they're calling him. The baby."

"Your mom says they're going to court to ask a judge to give them full custody of him," I said.

"I think it's a terrible idea, but Papa seems pleased about it."

"They want to adopt him eventually."

"I'm staying out of it," he declared. "I want as little to do with that whole situation as possible."

"Because you don't like babies?"

"Because I don't like Hana," he stated. "She's going to cause as much trouble as she can, and all her nonsense is going to take our parents' time and attention away from me and Yuki. Besides, being anywhere near Hana is stressful. I don't need that."

"No, you don't," I agreed.

He sighed. "I wish you could look after me at home. Then we wouldn't have to worry about asking my parents or anyone else."

"Me too, but you know I need both arms for that."

"I know. It's just... I don't want home care. I don't want some stranger touching me and... and doing intimate things for me."

"People are doing that here," I pointed out.

"I don't like them doing it here, either," Yuri said. "But, our home is my safe place. I don't—"

His voice hitched and he stopped speaking, and then quickly pressed a hand to his mouth to stifle the whimper that was trying to escape.

"It'll be okay," I said.

He stared at me, eyes wide, as if I'd said something truly horrifying. Behind his hand, his voice was barely audible as he insisted, "No... it won't."

I opened my mouth and drew in a breath to say something in reply, but quickly closed it again when I saw tears in his eyes. He was full-on sobbing within seconds, and his attempt to hold it back became a wasted effort.

Yuri crying that way was a sight so rare that it scared me a little, and it quickly occurred to me that he wasn't just being stubborn and wanting his own way when it came to the home care issue. He was absolutely terrified.

I didn't know what to do. My elation of only minutes before was completely gone, and I was beginning to feel useless and overwhelmed again. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I reached out to stroke his forearm. My cast was probably bumping his poor little arm in a less than comfortable way, but I couldn't sit there and do nothing. I couldn't not try to soothe him.

I wanted to tell him everything would be fine, that the home care nurse wouldn't harm him, that nothing bad would happen, but even though that was surely all true, I didn't know if Yuri was in any state to believe it at the moment.

I tried to imagine myself in his position; sick, scared, physically tiny and too weak to defend himself from anyone who might try to do something to him. Add all that to the fact that he's generally touch-averse and also very particular about his hygiene and personal care habits, and the idea of having a stranger come into our home to tend to him suddenly seemed like an invitation to disaster.

When I first came here and moved in with him in his small rented house in Wakabamori, he'd barely let me touch him. The most we could do in the beginning was hold hands or hug briefly, and it'd taken time for him to understand that I wasn't going to hurt him. Ironically, it was when he hadn't been feeling well that he sought physical affection from me for the first time. He'd wandered into my room in the middle of the night and crawled into bed with me, wanting me to hold him. Even then, I didn't hold him too close, and he told me later how much he appreciated that I'd known what to do.

What I hadn't known at the time, and only learned after he felt safe enough to reveal it to me, was that his unwillingness to be touched wasn't due only to his general aversion to physical contact. He'd been traumatized by his former partner's abuse of him, and he'd never truly gotten past it.

And it seems he still hasn't, I thought.

Being hesitant or uneasy or just plain obstinate was one thing, but this...? Yuri's fear was on a totally different level. I'd literally never seen him this emotionally vulnerable, and the worst part for me was that I didn't know how to help him.

"We'll think of something," I said quietly. "We'll make sure your safe place is still safe."

I hoped my promise didn't sound hollow and empty. I didn't want him to feel scared and unsafe in the place that had become a refuge for him, but i also realized we needed support. There had to be a way to make both those things happen.

The problem was, I couldn't think of anything. I was exhausted, and my head was starting to ache, and everything I'd already experienced during the day suddenly felt like... too much.

After what seemed like much longer than it was in reality, Yuri regained some composure. He sniffled, tears mostly subsided at last, and rubbed at his eyes. "I need to lie down."

I nodded, and fumbled with the bed remote until I got it where he wanted it. "Good?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'm sorry for being so much trouble."

"You're no trouble," I assured him. "You need to stop worrying about that, if you can."

"But—"

"If I thought you were too much trouble, would I be here?"

"I suppose not." He wiped his eyes again. "Why does everything have to be so difficult?"

"I don't know, love," I said. "We've survived all our worst days so far, though, and we'll get through this too."

"I don't want any more bad days."

"Me either, but we don't get to decide that."

"I know." He sighed shakily. "I really am sorry."

"For what?"

"You're tired. I can see it," he said. "I didn't mean to burden you with one more thing."

"It's okay," I said. "You were right. We had to talk about it, or at least bring up the subject. But, listen... we don't have to discuss it any more right now. Let me work on it. Maybe there's a solution."

"Okay," he said. Then, after a pause, "I'm glad it went well with Dr. Ishida. I... I didn't mean to kill your mood."

"Don't worry about it. I'm still happy. Just kinda... out of energy, I guess. Today's been a lot."

"Maybe you need a nap."

I didn't fail to catch the not-so-subtle hint, but climbing onto the bed without the use of my arms and also avoiding his IV line would've been next to impossible. "I can nap later, but don't let me stop you if you need one."

"You'll be here when I wake up?"

"Either I will or your parents will," I said. "Sakura's coming over this evening, so Mom's going to come pick me up around five-thirty."

"Oh."

"If you need me to stay, I'll ask Sakura to come another night."

"No," he said. "I'll be fine if my parents are here. It's just... I'll miss you."

"Every moment we're not together, I miss you," I told him.

"Me too," he said. "But, I suppose we have to be reasonable about it. You can go at five-thirty, but if I'm still asleep, wake me up before you leave, please. I want to be awake for my goodbye kiss."

"You don't want me to kiss you while you're sleeping, like in a fairytale or something?"

"My knight in shining armour," he said.

"My prince," I replied, and we both smiled. "I'll wake you up before I leave, but you gotta remember where you are. No saying anything naughty like you do when I wake you up with a kiss at home. You don't want to embarrass me in front of your parents, do you?"

"I don't say naughty things."

"Oh? You think telling me to take my clothes off and get back in bed with you isn't naughty?"

"It isn't," he said, somehow managing to sound completely affronted. "Skin-to-skin contact is very therapeutic and beneficial."

"I guess that includes hands and lips?"

"Mm-hmm," was his soft reply.

"Go to sleep," I said.

He closed his eyes obediently. "Victor?"

"Yeah?"

"We're going to be okay, aren't we?"

I leaned down to kiss him lightly on the forehead. "We're together. There's nothing we can't face together, right?"

"Right."

"I don't know what’s gonna happen, but I'll be with you no matter what. For better or worse, in sickness and health, just like we promised, remember?”

“Just like we promised,” he repeated. "I'm glad you found me. You changed my life. I'm a better person because of you."

"You were an amazing person before I ever came along," I told him. "You think I'd give my whole heart to somebody who wasn't exceptional?"

He didn't answer, but his little smile was enough.

I honestly don't know what's going to happen, but in that moment I told myself it'd all be fine. I wanted to believe it. I still want to believe it, in fact, to the point where I keep repeating it like a mantra in my head. Everything will be fine.

Yuri once told me that a happy outcome doesn't have to be a perfect outcome; all that's needed is for you to be satisfied with it. Time and again, I've seen that he's not wrong. Nothing ever goes exactly the way I envision it, but I'm still happy.

And I guess if that's the standard we're measuring by, everything really will be fine.

[tvitr]

So...

How did Grusha get into Pokémon training anyway?

I don't think there's actually a canon reason in the game so fuck it, have my headcanon.

(Also consider this a part one because man oh man did this get long and unwieldy)

Tl;dr he actually has friends and they're the ones who got him into it. Kind of.

More specifically, he has a group of friends he goes snowboarding with. He's known all of them since his pre-pro days, basically since they were all children, and though none of them ever reached the same heights he did in terms of their own respective careers, they've all just... stuck by each other.

Naturally, following his accident and subsequent retirement, Grusha was obviously... a bit upset. He'd still venture out onto the slopes every day to at least get some form of social interaction, but it was clear that he just... wasn't himself. He was quiet, less enthusiastic, seemingly always lost inside his own thoughts, and most worryingly, no longer confident in his abilities. His friends obviously knew why he'd changed, but as a bunch of emotionally stunted jocks who probably thought they'd all catch The Gay if they ever so much as thought about talking about their feelings, none of them were really equipped to engage in any meaningful or deep conversation with him. Not now, at least.

So, they did the next best thing they could think of; buying him a Pokéball. "You're the only one out of all of us who doesn't have a Pokémon," they told him,

He dismissed their concerns, obviously, telling them that he was fine (he wasn't) and that they were overreacting (they weren't), that only middle aged people stuck in jobs they hate and don't exercise get depression (wrong, also foreshadowing). He appreciated the gesture, sure, but he definitely wasn't going to ever need a Pokéball as he had no intention of using it.

Plus he wasn't entirely on board with the idea of abducting and attempting to tame a random wild animal anyway.

He puts the Pokéball in his coat pocket and forgets about it eventually, until one day he's returning home from another listless day on the slopes when he notices a Cetoddle following him. It's cute, and he stops to play with and talk to it, but knows it'll probably either lose interest in him eventually, or will stop following him once he descends to a lower, warmer altitude.

But it doesn't.

It follows him all the way home.

It seems uncomfortable with the balmy Medali heat, though despite him reassuring it it's okay to leave, and that he'll be back out on the mountain tomorrow, it still follows him to his flat. Part of him wonders if it's even a wild Pokémon at all. Though he knows Cetoddle are an exceptionally curious and friendly species, he's never seen one venture this far down the mountain.

He lets it into his flat.

It perks up once it enters, possibly due to the cool tiled floor offering it some respite from the evening heat, though it still seems tired and worn out. Grusha then realises he doesn't have the slightest idea on how to take care of one of these things.

He spends most of the evening on his phone, browsing various forums and websites on Cetoddle care, all the while the Cetoddle in question dozes peacefully next to him. He strokes it with his free hand, eventually coming to the conclusion that so long as he brings it to the mountain each day to graze in its natural habitat, he should be fine to feed it whatever. He gets up to check the fridge.

He remembers the Pokéball.

Cetoddle looks up at him curiously as he finally pulls it out of his coat pocket. He fumbles with it, almost dropping it in fright as it opens and pulls Cetoddle inside. It twitches.

It clicks.

A bit more fumbling and he releases it again, quietly vowing to only use the Pokéball to transport his new pal to and from the mountain to avoid it overheating like it did earlier. Sure it might require him to rearrange some of his furniture to make it easier for Cetoddle to move around his flat, but he's still not sold on the idea of keeping it in its ball 24/7. Plus, it is extremely cute. It feels stupid to admit it, but his heart does feel a little lighter just by looking at its bright smile.

He names the Cetoddle Persik, as per family tradition. Persik accompanies him to the slopes the next day; he is of course, lightly ribbed by his co-boarders for finally giving in and catching a Pokémon (despite his insistence that Persik literally followed him home), but they quickly warm to their new teammate. Despite all of them having Pokémon, they rarely battle, preferring to let them roam or chase them as they carve their way down the mountain.

That is, until, one day.

Grusha didn't know where the group came from or what their damage was, but they were all on skis, which was enough to make him dislike them from the offset. Coupled with the fact said group on skis were hogging his group's favourite slope, and he could tell this wasn't going to end well.

The skiers challenge his group to a Pokémon battle, their apparent leader singling Grusha out for a one-on-one battle. He tries to explain that he's no battler, he doesn't even know what moves his Pokémon has, but it's to no avail.

Of course, he loses. Spectacularly.

He feels a strong pang of guilt as he recalls Persik into the safety of his Pokéball, though that guilt is quickly swept away by anger as the skier returns to his herd, gloating loudly that he'd just taken out the great Grusha Ibáñez with hilarious ease. Grusha has a good mind to bend down, pack a hard snowball and peg it straight up the back of the skier's stupid head.

But he doesn't.

Just as quickly as his guilt gave way to anger, his anger gives way to something else.

Determination.

For the first time since his retirement, he feels a familiar spark ignite deep within. It's the same spark that drove him for years back in his glory days, it's his drive, his passion, it's...

It's like his old life returning to him, just in a different form.

He heads straight to the nearest Pokémon Centre, first healing Persik and then stocking up on Pokéballs, potions, antifreeze, everything he assumes a rookie trainer will need. That skier seemed to know how to battle competently after all. He'd need a lot of practice if he wanted to have a hope in Hell's chance of beating him. As well as more Pokémon. He couldn't bring himself to battle with Persik again.

He throws himself head first into learning how to battle; gregariously reading every book, magazine and website he can find about Pokémon battling, studying different forms and techniques he can apply to his own developing style, how to use each Pokémon he's been able to catch and train so far to its full potential. Admittedly his team stays quite small, still in part due to his reservations about catching wild animals unless they seem like they want to be caught, however eventually his team expands to include a Cubchoo (Arbuz), Snom (Klubnika) and a Sneasel (Yezhevika). He trains them all relentlessly, and to eventual evolution (even shedding a few tears when Klubnika evolved that one frigid night), getting to a point where sparring with his fellow snowboarding pals is no longer satisfying. They'd agree with him as well; though obviously it's great to see Grusha finally enthusiastic about something again, there's only so much getting their asses kicked repeatedly that they can handle.

He decides it's finally time to track down that skier again.

[checkthefeed]

[ Idiosyncrasies | Stu Innes Full Part 2023 ]

The title “Idiosyncrasies” to me represents all the weird little things we each do when filming, that readjustment of your pants as you drop, that final board line you pat on the takeoff, or that “right here” that you say as you drop to try convince yourself that this try is „the one“ and in some way different to the last 50 tries. I love these weird and wonderful routines and quirks we all have - that only increase in the stressful and often scary situations we put ourselves in when filming.

I’ve always admired the older videos where riders had jump and rail shots in their part so this 2022/23 season I set out wanting to make a part that showcased both these sides to snowboarding that I love and have put a lot of effort into. We didn’t have a heap of snow in Austria this season or any real budget for this project but I’m happy to show you this video that hopefully captures the fun of going out and venturing outside the park and trying to film with your friends.

The powder shots in this video were filmed entirely in the wonderful Zillertal Valley in Austria which I now call home. The rail shots were squeezed in during a CTF team trip to the US and one last April dash to an Austrian classic spot.

I want to thank everyone involved!

Filming: Jonathan Israelstam (@johnson_vis) Johnny Hancheck Jacco Bos Fin Bremner Euan Rogers Pawel Marzelowski

Editing: Jacco Bos Not only did Jacco make this edit, he did it off my semi corrupted first draft project to allow me the creative input I wanted.

All my sponsors for keeping me stocked up with the best gear: Slash Snowboards Bro! Clothing Check The Feed The Snowboard Asylum Union Bindings Melon Optics Adidas Terrex

Everyone I filmed with: We didn’t always have the same crew but every spot we went to had great vibes of everyone supporting each other and loving snowboarding. Even build days were super fun, just being out there in the beautiful mountains chatting nonsense with you friends is amazing.

Fin Bremner Johnny Hancheck Patrick Fankhauser (Guest appearance Front 7 tail) Jon Marrion Euan Rodgers Marcin Pospiech Pawel Marzelowski

Music: Timber Timber - Black Water

[unikittybigbrightworldau]

Citizens of Ice Cream Land

Now, we’re venturing out into all my fanmade lands! Here are the citizens of Ice Cream Land.

Ice Cream Land is ruled by King Dairycone and Queen Snowcorn, who are hybrids of German shepherds and ice unicorns like their kids. Dairycone is benevolent and caring, and he almost never gets angry. However, he’s known for having an easily breakable heart. Queen Snowcorn doesn’t talk often, and she’s very timid like Crystalline and Germafrost. They’re both as quiet and relaxed as life in their kingdom typically is. They’re sensitive to loud noises, and they can get overstimulated pretty quickly. Things have lately been hard for them due to Crystalline’s sudden passing. They’re especially worried for Germafrost, since he seemed to take it the hardest and suddenly disappeared.

Prince Neapolitan is Germafrost’s younger brother. He’s a huge night owl, so he often has trouble waking up in the morning. It sorta bugs out his parents, since they’re also rather punctual and try to get him to bed on time. He can be quite dramatic, and he speaks with much emphasis. He’s also pretty assertive. He likes to go outside the castle and hang out with people, such as Floela, whom is a close friend of his. He is an enthusiast for mythical beings and creatures, and he attends an annual mythical creature convention. He emphasizes with Germafrost’s feelings over losing Crystalline, so he wants to be a shoulder his brother can lean on. Neapolitan has his own vehicle, which is a snowmobile. He sounds like Zim, or Kaos from the Skylanders series. 

Princess Crystalline was Germafrost’s older sister. She was very sweet, as well as shy like him. As timid and soft-spoken as she was, she was also super encouraging, and she was better at talking to others than Germafrost. The two of them were very close. She joined Germafrost in his games of soccer, or as Gelatarians call it, chip-ball. She encouraged him to follow his love for it, which is why he loves it so much. Once, a team of ice harvesters came to visit Ice Cream Land, and Crystalline befriended one of them. While she and Germafrost were out together one day, a falling pillar from an unsteady building crushed her. She succumbed to her injuries soon after.

Dawn and Jamison are Piano's parents. In Ice Cream Land, the living desserts' names usually come from what flavor they are, or what dessert they are. Dawn, a wedding cake-flavored ice cream creature, is one of the rare instances where that isn't the case. She's brainy, theoretical and passionate, but she gets upset when things don't work out the way she wants. She's super into physics, calculus, math, dessert chemistry, and computers. She desperately hoped that Piano would be her lab partner, but she learned to respect what her daughter wanted to do. Jamison is a longtime concert pianist, which inspired Piano's name. He has played in piano bars, nightclubs, restaurants and big hotels. He is kind and fatherly towards others.

Floela is a hybrid of a sled dog and a snowy owl. She has an open mind and is very free-spirited. She is a huge sweetheart who's super forgiving. She looks past everyone's negative qualities. She has a bad sense of direction, and she's also kind of insecure. She's allergic to pollen. Floela and Neapolitan are very good friends, and they attend the mythical creatures convention together. Floela is also a huge lover of butterflies, and she's got some feeders for them built on her home. She lives on an ice floe in Milkshake Lake.

Coco is a chocolate ice cream who’s known for being very chipper. She is serene, soft, and often filled with bliss. She is sensitive to bright and flashing lights. She’s quite fond of jazzy elevator music. She runs a cozy restaurant in Gelato Village called Bliss, where she sells hot chocolate and cheese bites. 

Bananilla is a mix of banana and vanilla ice cream. She's a tranquil, laid-back person who's easy to talk to. She enjoys snowboarding along the ice cream scoop hills. She's quite observational as well. She's another friend of Neapolitan's who likes to play outside in the snow with him.

Randall, or Randy, is another rare case of not being named after your flavor/dessert. His flavor of ice cream is bubblegum. He also doesn’t have a lot to say because he’s usually got a wad of gum in his mouth. Because of this, he’s got a really strong set of jaws. He’s a bubbly fellow who’s bubbly in a peaceful, breezy sort of way.

Marshscotch is a combination of a marshmallow and a butterscotch square. He's squishy, bouncy and loves to climb things. It doesn't matter how high he goes so long as there's ground below his feet. He doesn't like being picked up. He and Neapolitan are also friends, and they've gone bobsledding together.

Mintfoot is a mint chocolate chip ice cream. His state of mind is as cool as the breeze. He doesn't let anything in life bring him down, and he lives his life in the best way he can. He's a friend of Germafrost's and likes to play chip-ball with him.

Toffee Chip is a vanilla ice cream with a bunch of toffee chips on his head. He's clever and good at coming up with plans. Other people see him as one of the smartest people they know. He's pretty slow, though. Even though he wasn't named Toffee Chip when he was born, it's his name, and he loves it.

Cottonette is a cotton candy ice cream. She's airy, charming and whimsical. Like many Gelatarians, she loves puppets and ventriloquism. She was part of the Young Puppeteers' Society in school. Despite how she might appear, when we first see her, she mentions that she's 31.

Sprinklehead is the closest thing Ice Cream Land has to someone who'd be comfortable living in the Unikingdom. He's a strawberry ice cream who's decorated with a bunch of sprinkles. He's energetic, colorful and adaptable, but he's got a breaking point, too (or a melting point, as he'd say).

Dough is an ice cream sandwich. He can get irritated and scornful when he's overwhelmed, or when someone disturbs the peace. He can be joking, but he's not always aware of when the joke is taken too far. He shovels snow for folks in his area.

Caramella is a caramel square. She's a serious confection; she tends to take things rather literally. Often times, she feels the need to correct people. She likes to keep things practical and factual, but she knows how to loosen up and have fun.

Wafflecone is, as his name would imply, a waffle cone. He doesn't like it when there are too many things happening and prefers to live an easy life. He's got an imaginative mind. He loves to make toys for people of all ages, and he works in his cousin's toy store.

Judge Fudge is a fudge square and a judge. It has walnuts baked into it. It hears proceedings in Ice Cream Land's courthouse. It's known for its problem-solving skills, its readiness, and its aversion to frivolity. It carries out the laws that the king and queen create and tries its best to keep things comfortable and cozy. And yes, its gavel is a popsicle.

Browncake is a mix of cake batter and brownie batter ice cream. It's courteous and enthusiastic about having a good time, but like most people in the kingdom, it doesn't like to be loud or get too crazy. It's a playful sweet who likes to bounce about in Sorbet Fields. It also keeps its fellow Gelatarians safe from sickness, since it gives them medicines for spoiling, discoloring, graininess, freeze burn and more. Browncake will often tell people what it prefers to be called, as that fluctuates for it day to day.

Olivia is another ice cream who isn't named after their flavor. Her flavor is peanut butter. She is also friends with Neapolitan. Olivia isn't that emotional or expressive, but that doesn't mean she's not happy. She's just in a perpetual state of calm. She's quite tough like a nut, and she shows a sense of determination. She enjoys playing ice hockey.

Sunday is an ice cream sundae who works in the palace. She looked after Germafrost and his siblings whenever their parents were busy. She washes towels, blankets and the laundry. She is intelligent, speaks her mind and has a good heart. She sometimes can be feisty. She can also repair furniture and fix holes in the walls.

Iceberry is a snow cone who is part of the Ice Cream Bowl Palace Guard, who keep Ice Cream Land and its inhabitants out of danger. His weapon of choice is a spear, the head of which is an ice cream cone. He spent much of his time outside as a kid, so he likes to be outdoors. He's spirited and colorful. Sometimes, though, he mistakes certain harmless things for danger, such as raves (which aren't commonplace in Ice Cream Land).

The Milkman is a cow with lots of thick fur. He's generous and calm to other people, and he radiates a huge sense of sweetness. Milk flows through streams and brooks throughout Ice Cream Land, and The Milkman harvests it from them. Then, he filters all the bad stuff from it and delivers it to people across the kingdom in large buckets.

[hughcarling]

Surfing sugar in Japan '25

Some friends who ski/ snowboard said they appreciated the write up I did of our experience there a couple of years ago. Plus anyone who I see regularly knows how much I love to talk about it...sorry.

Anyway, we ventured a bit deeper into Hokkaido (the north island) this time around so I thought I’d share an update on what we found. 

The snow in Japan really is mind blowing.  Basically it’s nearly always snowing. We’ve been there for 3/4 weeks now and it’s snowed most of the time, every single day. Even when it’s sunny, (not often) it’s still snowing. We’re more sure how this is possible, but there it is. And the snow is lighter than sugar. It’s heavenly.

We went on the 27th December, and it’s definitely busier and more expensive than Feb half-term. This kind of forced us down the route of not just going back to Niseko, the mega resort, which was a good thing. 

To mitigate this situation we stayed in Otaru, 30 minutes from the big city of Sapporo. It’s a coastal town famous for glass blowing, music boxes, and the best fish in Japan. There were some big hotels that have some skiers like us staying there but it’s absolutely not a resort town. 

Around Otaru there are 8/9 mini resorts within 45 minutes drive. We went to 3 of them - mostly the ‘biggest’ Kiroro, but also Sapporo Teine and Sapporo Kokusai. Niseko is an hour and a half away. 

The drives could be pretty intense as it would always be snowing, sometimes really blizzarding hard and the road would also be caked in snow. At one point I could literally see about 5 yards ahead for 15/20 minutes and had to drive at about 20mph. 

Kiroro was our favourite of these three resorts. It gets 18 metres of snow a year. By way of comparison, Tignes gets 6. By the end of December it had already got nearly 5 metres. However, frustratingly this wasn’t enough snow for the resort to open the side country gates/ tree runs. I heard a rumour of the pernicious impact of a big Club Med hotel, focusing heavily on safety vs off piste adventures. I definitely had to play it safe as was with the kids but dropped briefly into one designated ‘tree run area’ and the snow was up to my chest. Bliss. There were basically very few people there. We got a 40cm of fresh snow overnight on New Years Day and did 7 pure powder runs in about an hour and a half literally without queuing for a lift once. On the final day there was another foot of fresh snow and we went down one long powder caked black run and saw only one other person. If the side country had been open this could have been my favourite resort ever. Will just have to go back and see…

Sapporo Kokusai was tiny but we had a great day there. Cheeky tree runs off piste that were super deep and completely untracked but the trees were a bit dense. The Japanese love a warning sign with ‘Keep Out’ in big letters. Sometimes for pretty innocent terrain. So it’s a bit hard to know which to take seriously and which not to, especially when going into the trees with children. This does mean a guide would be very helpful to quickly acclimatise.

Sapporo Teine was a bit of a disappointment. On the plus side, you get insane views of the city of Sapporo and the Sea of Japan. which you are just above. It’s also a fair bit steeper than the other resorts, which generally are flatter than your average French Alp. On the downside the sea winds had iced up some of posted and the tree runs weren’t really ready yet. Maybe just wrong day/time of year though as the terrain looked good. 

We ended up going back to Niseko three times in four days after that as the snow was absolutely banging, tree runs are just incredible and everything is so easy to access. It’s a proper resort town and way more crowded but to be honest there is still just so much good snow to go around, it barely matters. Also it does make life a little bit easier than when you’re one of the say, 5% of westerners on the hill. And there’s tons of good places to eat. 

The food in Hokkaido is amazing. Our hotel restaurant looked fairly inconspicuous but my god the fish and meat was good. And the breakfasts….most days I had 7 courses. We ate dinner there nearly every night as the kids were knackered and didn’t want to go anywhere. Which did slightly undermine the upside of being in a ‘real Japanese town’. But the snow crab sashimi and wagyu beef from the grill helped me get over that.

A post ski onsen would be amazing but annoyingly, even in the outdoor ones, you have to be naked and in my case, surrounded solely, by naked Japanese men. Call me a prude but that kind of killed my onsen vibe.

We had expected an Alpine NYE party there with fireworks etc. from stuff we’d read online but actually there was bugger all going on. The only thing to do we found was a shrine that open at 11pm. I discovered afterwards that Niseko did have a fireworks display but I didn’t mention that to the kids. 

Japan is now actually quite cheap for most things. Adult lift passes were between 35 and 50 quid a day. In the US they can now easily be 200 at Christmas. Apparently if you stay in February, you can be in a 5 star hotel in Sapporo for 50 quid a night. Though I think that is a bit of a trek from the best mountains. Once you’re there, it’s now cheaper or at least on a par to the European resorts I’ve been too. We went shopping in Uniqlo, partly out of brand loyalty, but mainly because you could buy really well made t-shirts for £7, jeans for £15 and super warm jackets for £50. Madness. I stuffed my snowboard bag with shopping. 

In 2030, they are going to open a Bullet train from Tokyo to Sapporo (via Miseko) which would be the way to do it. Getting another flight to Hokkaido (the snowier North Island) after 14 hours flying to Tokyo is a lot. And this time we had to wait hours for one.

I’d expected this trip to be much more challenging to navigate as we were definitely more off the beaten track. But armed with the words for thank you  ‘Arigato gozaimasu’, arms, and Google Translate, we got by easily. And everyone was very friendly, helpful and of course, extremely courteous! 

Anyway, I hope that was of some interest to someone. I’m 9 hours into the flight home and my head hurts. In summary, I freaking love snowboarding in Japan. I think now is a the perfect time to go. It’s affordable in a way it never has been before and with snow conditions elsewhere getting less and less reliable, it’s only going to get busier. So go! As I mentioned, literally always happy to talk about it, so if you’re curious, do get in touch. 

[jacobkorenblum0]

Redefining Winter Sports: How a Toronto Ski Resort Became a Premier Destination

Winter in Toronto is often associated with chilly temperatures and snowy landscapes, but for those who love winter sports, it offers much more than just picturesque scenery. One particular ski resort in Toronto has revolutionized the winter sports experience, drawing locals and visitors searching for adventure on the slopes. Through a commitment to innovation, top-tier facilities, and an emphasis on guest satisfaction, this resort has redefined skiing and snowboarding, making it one of the most sought-after winter destinations in the region.

Bringing the Slopes Closer to the City

In the past, Toronto residents had to travel long distances to experience quality ski slopes, often venturing to resorts further north. This ski resort has eliminated that inconvenience by offering a high-end skiing experience near the city. Its easy accessibility makes it a top choice for families, beginners, and seasoned athletes. The resort has transformed the local winter sports scene by providing a well-maintained facility just a short drive from Toronto’s bustling urban environment.

State-of-the-Art Slopes and Facilities

One key reason behind the resort’s growing reputation is its dedication to maintaining world-class slopes. Equipped with expertly groomed trails, modern ski lifts, and high-quality rental gear, the resort ensures an optimal experience for every guest. Whether visitors step onto the snow for the first time or tackle advanced runs, the resort accommodates all skill levels with various trails designed for different experiences.

The resort has invested in advanced snowmaking technology to counteract unpredictable snowfall, ensuring excellent skiing conditions throughout the season. This system allows visitors to enjoy fresh powder even when nature does not cooperate, extending the ski season and making the resort a reliable choice for winter enthusiasts.

Catering to Snowboarders and Freestyle Skiers

Skiing is not the only attraction at this Toronto resort. Thanks to the resort's carefully designed terrain park, snowboarders and freestyle skiers have found a home here. Complete with ramps, rails, and halfpipes, the park offers an exciting challenge for those looking to refine their tricks or enjoy a different side of winter sports. The resort's terrain park fosters a dynamic and inclusive community, from beginners experimenting with small jumps to professionals perfecting complex moves.

Frequent competitions and freestyle events held at the resort bring together skilled athletes from across Canada, showcasing their abilities and contributing to the resort’s reputation as a hub for top-tier winter sports. These events encourage a sense of camaraderie among participants and spectators alike, making the resort a lively and engaging destination.

Ski and Snowboard Lessons for All Ages

The resort's emphasis on education and skill development is a significant highlight. Professional instructors offer lessons tailored to different experience levels, ensuring children and adults feel confident and comfortable on the slopes. Group lessons provide a social and interactive way to learn, while private coaching allows individuals to focus on specific techniques and skills at their own pace.

The resort offers unique programs combining fun and structured learning for younger children eager to try skiing or snowboarding. These programs emphasize safety and fundamental techniques, allowing kids to develop a strong foundation while enjoying their winter adventure. With a team of skilled and patient instructors, the resort makes winter sports accessible and enjoyable.

Luxury and Comfort Beyond the Slopes

The resort experience extends beyond the slopes, offering a range of amenities for relaxation and enjoyment. From cozy lodges with rustic charm to high-end dining options, the resort creates an atmosphere that enhances the overall visit. Guests can unwind by a warm fireplace, sip hot cocoa, or indulge in gourmet meals from talented chefs.

The resort features spa services, hot tubs, and wellness centers for relaxing after skiing or snowboarding. These facilities offer the perfect way to soothe tired muscles and rejuvenate before another day of adventure. The combination of outdoor excitement and indoor luxury makes the resort an all-encompassing winter retreat.

The après-ski culture at the resort is also vibrant, with live music, social gatherings, and specialty drinks adding to the lively atmosphere. Whether guests want to dance the night away or enjoy a quiet evening by the fire, the resort offers a variety of options to suit different preferences.

Commitment to Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility

In an era where environmental conservation is more important than ever, the resort has taken significant steps toward sustainability. By implementing energy-efficient snowmaking systems and waste reduction programs, it works to minimize its environmental impact while maintaining top-tier skiing conditions. Eco-friendly operational practices ensure that visitors can enjoy their winter adventures while supporting responsible tourism.

The resort collaborates with conservation organizations to promote awareness and protect local wildlife. Guests are encouraged to participate in sustainability initiatives, such as recycling programs and eco-conscious trail use, fostering a shared commitment to preserving the region's natural beauty. These efforts make the resort a forward-thinking and responsible leader in winter tourism.

A Year-Round Destination for Outdoor Enthusiasts

While the resort shines during winter, it also offers exciting activities throughout the year. Visitors return in the summer to explore hiking trails, mountain biking courses, and other outdoor adventures. This versatility has transformed the resort into a year-round destination, attracting those who love nature and adventure regardless of the season.

The resort's ability to offer engaging experiences beyond winter has helped build a loyal customer base, ensuring its continued success. Whether skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer, guests can expect the same high standards of service and hospitality that make the resort a standout destination.

The Future of Winter Sports in Toronto

With its unwavering dedication to quality, innovation, and sustainability, this Toronto ski resort has significantly elevated the winter sports experience. By offering top-notch facilities, expert instruction, and an inviting atmosphere, it has become a premier destination for winter enthusiasts. As more people discover the joy of skiing and snowboarding close to home, the resort is set to continue shaping the future of winter recreation in the region.

Whether you’re a first-time skier or an experienced athlete, this resort offers a unique and exhilarating escape into the magic of winter. Its ability to blend adventure, relaxation, and environmental responsibility ensures that it remains a beloved destination for years. As winter sports grow in popularity, this resort is a testament to how passion and innovation can redefine an entire industry.