#winging IT

[molagboop]

Don't feed bread to birds, kids.

[spookysalem13]

Going with the flow ✨️

[weepinglavenders]

AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF OF WAITING THE MAZE RUNNER SHOES ARE FINISHED💪💪

[ebandgrow]

Winging a caption just beak-ause

[ithinkitscami]

starter for: @aurorabaystarter / choose your location

"I just feel like if they wanted to say something that they would, right?" It was foreign to Camille to hear such things. Why would someone not speak up for themselves? What did that help them gain? It wasn't her business, but how could she not wonder? She looked over to who she was mindlessly talking to with a shrug, "Sorry, I'm just blabbing over here." She needed to.

"What's on your mind?" She had enough of hearing herself that she'd rather hear someone else now.

[sbbarnes]

Hockey Romances. Why?

So I was taken out of work a couple weeks ago due to ~pregnancy stuff~ (mostly just stress, the baby and I are fine) which has left me with a lot of spare time on my hands. And as one does, I have been filling my time reading lgbtq+ romance novels. Because I can.

In this time, I have fallen headfirst into the hockey romance novel subgenre, and I ask myself, as I have done every time I see these books advertised, why? I am not a sports fan. One time, my husband was watching football (European), and a team in red kits was playing against yellow kits, and I started laughing because "it looks like ketchup is playing against mustard". His expression was great, but he hasn't taken me seriously since.

So why is hockey of all things such a draw for the mlm romance subgenre? Especially given the NHL's apparent fear of rainbow tape? Why do I now know what the word "celly" refers to and what an "enforcer" is? Why why why?

Here are my answers:

Extremely organic way to set up some of the most classic romance tropes. Forced proximity? Being on the same team takes care of that. There was only one bed? Shared hotel rooms during away games. Enemies to lovers? Rival teams.

Lots of potential for drama given that players lead very transient lives in terms of the constant possibility of trades. In mlm love stories, even more so given that the NHL is so blatantly homophobic.

Perfect level of fame. Fame and wealth as a draw for a love interest are kind of staples of the genre, and NHL players are famous, sure, but not all of them, and they aren't as famous as football stars (either kind of football). They are still filthy rich, which makes great wish fulfillment. You can have the sexy penthouse and the anonymity.

I would go on to talk about how different roles on the team lend themselves to different tropes (goalie = tightly controlled dude who needs someone to help him cut loose; enforcer = misunderstood fighter with a heart of gold; coach for all your forbidden love/sleeping with the boss desires) but that would very quickly reveal my utter lack of hockey knowledge, so let's not. Instead, here's a quick reclist.

Rachel Reid's Game Changers series. It's a classic in the genre for a reason and it has everything. Forbidden love? Got that, maybe the definitive example. Redemption arc? Got that. Misunderstood bruiser with a heart of gold? Got that. Age difference? Got that. Also really excellent sex scenes, not gonna lie, and satisfying endings throughout - sometimes a happy end will come a little suddenly for me, but these books really delivered, and the nice thing about how romance series are structured is that you get a little peek at what comes after for the couples in the other books.

2. Him, Us and Epic by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. This one surprised me, I don't generally go for first person POVs, but I did enjoy this! Coming-of-age story turned coming out story featuring a budding hockey star and his best friend. Lots of fun.

3. Scoring Chances series by Avon Gale. This series is fun in that it doesn't focus on the NHL, it actually focuses on the minor leagues in the southeast of the US, a place almost no one associates with ice hockey. As such, there's a chance to tell different stories about professional athletes who aren't super rich and famous, which I appreciate a lot. TBH the first pairing wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but I'm glad I kept going because I especially enjoyed the later books, which tackle tough topics (including eating disorders, abuse etc., so content warning for that). These are still romance novels though, so rest assured that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. What I especially appreciate is that these books don't have relationship drama, in that the main couples communicate and work together instead of a third act break-up-make-up!

4. Hockey Ever After series by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James. These are just great. Lots of fun to read, lots of cameos from character in later books, just excellent mood all around. Also features my favorite ever trope (secret relationship, sorry, anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for it I just can't help myself) heavily, which is a win in my book. I especially enjoyed book two, "Scoring Position". Is that because Nico is German and I loved him? Is that because Ryan is my new blorbo? We may never know.

Happy reading and please give me recommendations for more books like these, I'm lowkey obsessed.

[agentsterling]

“what are you doing here?” -- @deafarcher

TO THE RESCUER.

Sterling holstered his gun and pulled out a small knife to cut Barton's restraints. His movements were rushed and he kept looking over his shoulder as he worked at the rough ropes. It was too familiar a sight. This base. This setup. He was eager to get out of there.

"Shhh. Nevermind that. We don't have a lot of time. Do you think you can walk?" He whispered to his captive friend.

Damn, he never thought he would be back here again. Spending 3 months undercover in Hydra at this very base after SHIELD fell had been hard enough for Sterling. Coming back after having turned on them in a rather public and damning way... He hadn't been one to volunteer for field work since his daughters was born but he had been the only agent who knew the layout well enough to slip in and break Barton out. It hardly felt like a choice.

[mmm-cake-nomnomnom-blog]

[critter-casey]

“Winging It” (digital illustration) — CW

[mlobsters]

feeling judged 😔 this has been such a learning experience! working with the most watery white to white has been interesting and educational. I ordered a big tube of opaque white so we'll see how that goes

[cloverwoodss]

:3c

A little rough in some spots but I’m definitely gaining experience doing it.

Love how it’s coming out so far!!

[molagboop]

Noise game.

[juliaroseghost]

Just FYI, I have been posting daily to catch up with my instagram posts so from now on it will be one post a week lol. Sometimes more but I will def post at least once for now, that may change in the future but I just don't want to overwhelm myself by forcing myself to post too often y'know?

Julia out! <3 👻

[weepinglavenders]

This is actually going okay

[unhingedselfships]

Yakuza/RGG/Like A Dragon Player Ask Game

1. How many of the mainline games have you played?

1a. Which one is your favorite?

2. How many of the spinoffs have you played?

2a. Which one is your favorite?

3. Have you gotten to play any of the Japan only releases?

4. Do you have an overall franchise favorite?

5. Any game ideas you'd like to see made?

6. All time favorite character? Elaborate if you want?

7. Any characters you can't stand? Elaborate if you want?

8. Any characters you think are underrated? Elaborate if you want.

9. Any characters you think are overrated? Elaborate if you want.

10. Favorite protagonist based on fighting style?

11. Favorite protagonist based on narrative?

12. Favorite protagonist based on personality?

13. Favorite antagonist based on narrative?

14. Favorite antagonist based on personality?

15. Do you have a favorite canon ship?

16. Do you have a favorite "squint and you can see it" ship?

17. Do you have a favorite "have they ever even met?" ship?

18. Favorite mini game?

19. Most hated mini game?

20. Mini game you thought you'd love and didn't?

21. Mini game you through you'd hate but enjoyed?

22. Favorite karaoke song?

23. Favorite fight?

24. Fight that frustrated you the most?

25. Favorite substory?

26. Least favorite substory?

27. Do you have a favorite line?

28. Any moments that impacted you emotionally?

29. Any moments that made you want to quit?

30. Ten years in the joint made you what?