#(un)healthy competition

[yesican-stop]

(un)Healthy Competition: People and B-Sides

Say hello to DSMPU's hottest new band, THEBENCHBOYS! Whether you prefer your Egg live, scrambled, or undead, you're bound to find something in their debut album, “Fuck Shit Up,” coming this Summer 2024!

[helpicant-stop]

idk i think people who make sally a normal human accountant in modern aus are missing the opportunity to give her a part-time job as the salmon mascot of a fishing company so when wilbur says he fell in love watching her work they all think he means at the bank but he's actually talking about the salmon costume

[astrialuvs]

Headcanons for Akabane Karma as Himself | as a Friend | as a Lover

➻ PAIRING : akabane karma x reader

➻ CONTENT WARNING : my headcanons to these red-haired boy 😗🫶 pt. 2

➻ WORD COUNT : 1119 words

a/n: i'm sorry for the late upload (hehe). idrk when will i post the last..

another a/n: i might uplaod my hcs for gakushuu too (idk when)  😅

He boinks a book at you when he notices you dozing off, even though you invited him for a review at the library.

It was expected that his presence at a study session you had organized would boost your motivation to review more. However, the sheer boredom of you—the library and staleness, with lamps flickering in—created by such a dull background was working against you. However, as you focused on your notes, fatigue set in, and your eyelids began to droop.

On the other side of the table, Karma was partially immersed in his world, playing video games on his phone. He watched you fight against the advancing wave of sleep without your knowledge. His mind, however, was unconventional and quick to find new approaches even in silence, so he selected some method of making you stay awake.

Karma smiled slyly as he picked up a nearby book and figured out its direction before throwing it at you. The book hit softly against your head with a ‘boink.’ The shock hit you suddenly, and you glared at him aggressively.

"Karma, really?" you cried out, massaging the area of your head where the book hit.

He stared at you innocently, as if amazed. He quipped, "Hey! You were drifting off. Just doing my part to keep you alert and focused." His reply made you scoffed.

The unexpected wake-up call worked. The interruption caused by Karma had effectively broken down your sleepiness, which was looming large over you. Even if his approach was a little absurd, your lips curled slightly as you realized that, despite the circumstances, Karma had managed to maintain punctuality and spontaneous stimulation throughout the study.

Who's your rival in academics, sports, or video games, but expect a healthy dose of rivalry.

Under the dim light of Karma's gaming console screen, you and Karma were fighting in a video game. The room was alive with the rhythm of powerful blasts from controllers and the overdrive sound of your playful outcasts.

When the unreal battle appeared on screen, Karma couldn't help but smile knowingly. He teased, "Are you prepared to go down this round?" He touched the control with his fingers.

You countered with a confident smile. "I suppose we will find out. I hope you've been reviewing what you've learned, Karma."

The taunting was competitive, with each of you attempting to manipulate and navigate around the other in the video game. Laughter and occasional shouts of victory or defeat filled the room.

Despite intense competition, you and Karma maintained a tacit understanding. Each of you was respectful of the other's gaming abilities, which elevated the game beyond mere contention. Each action received either a respectful agreement or a quick-witted look, as if to emphasize the importance of jest in this competitive environment where fun was the ultimate goal.

Throughout the game, however, Karma managed to gain a foothold on you in a spectacular manner. He declared triumphantly, "Guess I won this time."

"Very good Karma. But the night is just beginning, and you still have a long way to go towards victory."

Whom you two have your own language and gestures, such as all-knowing smirks and eye signals.

You and Karma were always caught in an unusual act of communication while inside a gathering. A conversation, laughter, and the clinking of glasses filled the room, but the two of you conversed silently.

At that point, a mutual wink or fugitive eye signal was sufficient, as was your own secret code that went beyond written language. Those who were preoccupied with other people's conversations were unaware of the silent little communicative move that occurred between you and Karma, during which a sense of trust and unity developed.

Karma suddenly poured an all-knowing smirk on your face as you two shared that moment when nothing was said and no words were required. This was a language born out of shared experiences, inside jokes, and an unwritten oath that would grow stronger over time.

Whether it was a response to the ongoing conversation, a lighthearted joke, or simply two people having fun together, the smiles and eye movements were enough. It became a testament to your friendship, like a secret code known only to the two of you.

Who flicks your forehead at very random moments, whether at a serious moment, when you are spaced out, or eating.

Sitting in the library among rows of textbooks, which you shared with Karma during serious discussions about upcoming exams. He raised his brow with a mischievous look in his eyes, taking advantage of the opportunity while you were deep in conversation with him.

He suddenly warned you, "Watch out!" before flicking your forehead in an unexpected but friendly gesture.

You blinked in surprise and laughed. "Karma? Come on. I'm trying to concentrate here!"

"Absolutely! Distraction helps keep the mind alert and focused.

* * *

The following week, during a quiet moment in the school courtyard, Karma appeared beside you.

He quipped jokingly, "More deep thinking?" and hit you again on the forehead to emphasize his point.

You smiled childishly and shot at him. "Am I not allowed to get away from your forehead flicks?"

"What's the big deal about that?" he inquired, an enticing smile forming in his eyes.

* * *

With a flick, Karma took advantage of even the most casual lunch you two had together in your school cafeteria, for example, when you were about to bite on your sandwich.

"Karma!" You cried, partly laughing and partly protesting.

"Can't get away from that, it turns normal circumstances into extraordinary ones!"

As a result, Karma's forehead flicks have become an integral part of your daily conversations. These playful actions, whether trying to be serious or comical in nature, made your friendship have good moments between laughs and joy as if knitted on quicksilver.

Whom you share your "teas" and gossips with.

You and Karma were seated in a quiet nook of the local cafe, enjoying gentle conversation while smelling freshly brewed coffee and hearing distant murmurs. In that safe space, the "teas" and gossip flowed freely like threads woven for people's sheer amusement and trust.

How remarkable was it that, facing each other, you leaned forward, eager to share current events, even if they were scandalous. Karma began this exchange with a wink of the eye and in secret, initially sublimating it into a joke.

"All right, it's tea time. What is the most juicy detail about the incriminating rumor you have?"

As a result, the conversation became filled with laughter and animated faces. You would occasionally make comical observations about your classmates, teachers, and other characters in your lives.The teas shared were an entertaining mix of witty retorts, secrets offered and whispered, and bantered conspiracies.

[ambassadorarlert]

F/O Blog Takeover!

Let your f/o take over your blog and answer questions for 24 hours!

What was your favorite moment thus far today?

What brings you in a good mood?

Describe to a 6-year old what you do in life?

What are 3 words that describe you best?

What always makes you smile?

How do you contribute to a better society?

What are the 3 most important aspects to support your lifestyle?

When you were little, what did you think you were going to be?

What is something you know you do differently than most people?

Is there something you need help with at this moment?

Is there someone I can connect you with?

What are you (un)secretly good at?

What talent do you wish you’d have?

How do you feel about taking risk?

What’s your most (un)healthy habit?

If there is anything you would do differently in your life, what would it be?

Who would you like to have dinner with tonight (could be anyone, dead or alive)?

What genre of book/movie has the most impact on you?

Which music genre do you listen to the most?

What’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever received? From who?

What advice would you give your 20-year old self?

What is one life lesson that you think everyone should know?

What’s your biggest fear that you’ve overcome?

What was the most dangerous situation you’ve been in?

What's the most unbelievable thing that has happened to you?

Where would you live if you had no ties to any specific place?

What was your favorite subject in school?

What was the last book that you read?

What have you never done before?

What time did you wake up this morning?

What was the first thing you did this morning?

What was the best gift you’ve ever received?

When was the last time you said “I love you” to someone other than your partner?

What is your earliest childhood memory?

What did you love doing as a child that you don’t do anymore?

What was your last dream about?

How do you relax yourself when stressed out?

How do you unlock your creativity?

What is your favorite meal of the day?

Where was the last place you’ve visited?

What do you do when you have to wait (e.g. at the doctors)?

Which TV show are you following right now?

How often do you talk to strangers?

What was the last picture you took?

What’s your favorite drink?

If money wasn’t an issue, how would that make your life different?

Have you ever done something competitively?

Who do you ask for advice when you have to make a difficult decision?

What’s your favorite thing you have at home?

What’s your favorite way to travel?

(How'd they do??)

[stargalaxxy]

hahah, let’s sayyyy this story is based on…..

Passed traumatic experience ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´ω`ﾟ)ﾟ｡

☆*:.｡. o *･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･''･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*o .☆

Micheal Afton x Reader

Warning: maybe angst if you squint (￣^￣)ゞ

☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆

It was a Friday night and you had just awoken from a nap. Looking at the time on your clock it was 9:45, you mentally cringed at how long you napped for. Pulling the covers away from your body you stretched, as your feet touched the carpet floor of your room.

Looking over to view your window you noticed you left your window open, it was not out of the ordinary. As fall had made its approach, you were finally getting the sweater weather that you’ve been dreaming about! Humming a sweet tune as you walked to the kitchen for water, you were in such a happy mood nothing could take this away from you.

“Maybe I could invite Micheal for a game or two?” You hummed creating a plan for the night to make it even better. You had always invited Micheal for a game night, as you two would spend all nighters on retro games. And had a (un)healthy amount of competition for street fighter games. You had to admit those times spent together has brought you to develop an embarrassingly large crush on the man. Those nights of when Micheal fell asleep on your shoulder after a long day of working at his father’s restaurant. Has created many sleepless nights for you, as the memory would replay that very moment over and over again.

You have always thought about confessing your feelings, but the weight of rejection always won. You couldn’t help but fear the worse, it would sometime play in the back of your mind creating the worst feelings possible. You sighed as you entered your kitchen, you noticed your cat and smiled at him. “Hi pretty boy~” you cooed, however your cat seemed interested in another thing. “Hmm, what’s wrong honey? You look like you see a ghost” you chuckled as your cat continued to dead eye stare at the wall. Turning on the lights you walk over to where he was perched and look in his direction. Your attention was soon taken as well.

“Hey, (y/n) wassup? Ready for me to kick your butt in street fighter~?” Micheal’s teasing voice came through the other end of your phone, as you pulled on the cord still eyeing the black dot on your wall. Twisting it through your fingers you nervously looked around for a weapon.

“Yeah yeah, uhm, heeyy Micheal, uhm, would you like to come over maybe..” You stuttered as you shooed your cat towards the crawling dot. But you cats interested soon died, “huh, what’s up are you okay?” Micheal’s worried voice would have made your heart fluttered. If it wasn’t already bearing fast from the scattering insect on you wall, “uhm, yeah, I’m fin- ahhh! Get it get it!” You almost through your phone at it when it flew towards the kitchen isle. “Woah! (Y/n)? (Y/n)?” Micheals voice was muffled as you had dropped your phone, in favor of running to the other side of the kitchen. “H-hey, I’m coming over! Just stay put okay!” That’s when Micheal hung up the phone making his way to your house in a hurry.

Micheal arrived knocking on your door as he waited for you to come and let him in. He waited for a few seconds before he heard rushing feet, you had unlocked the door and pulled Micheal inside. “Woah! Hey what’s up? You call me and start freaking out-“ he was cut off by your hush as you pulled him to your kitchen. He saw you looking around as if heads were floating around you, the simplest thing such as a dust bunny made you jump. “Nooo, I lost it!” A groan escaped your lips, “lost what? What’s wrong?” Micheal was loosing his patience from asking the same questions and getting no answer. You stopped and spun to look at him, “the bug!” You pointed to where it was before which now was gone. Micheal could not help but look at you as if you were talking in a foreign language.

“Huh?” As the expression soon turned bored, you nodded your head once again looking around. “It was huge! L-like this big-“ you demonstrated using your fingers, “it flies too! It nearly touched me!” You squirmed as you paced around. “I think it got in through my window-“ you gasp, “do you think it touched my face!?” You patted your cheeks as you whined getting antsy just thinking about it.

You looked to Micheal still giving you the bored expression, he chuckles dryly as he sighs. “Soo, you brought me here too..?” “Kill it!” You finished as you got behind him, hiding behind his form and holding onto his black hoodie. He huffed, as he looked away walking to your kitchen as he looked around you stood there watching him. “So lemme get this straight-“ he began as he lifted objects to find the bug. “You call me acting all scared, had me thinking you were being attacked-“ you jumped making a sound as you saw it on your microwave. As Micheal followed your sight and went towards it, “scaring me almost half to death thinking you were hurt when you left the phone.” His calm voice continued as he slammed his calloused hand down on the bug making you jump. How easy he made of disposing it made you shrink back in embarrassment, as Micheal made his way towards you. Towering over your form as you looked away as he showed you the squished bug in his hand, “over some bug?” You nervously tapped your fingers. “Well, when you put it like that…” “(y/n)” his voice sounded like a parent as you sighed.

“M’sorry, I really didn’t wanna make you worry. I guess seeing bugs still get to me, even as an adult..” you looked down apologetically, Micheal shrugs his shoulders. “I’m not mad at you being scared, I’m mad at how worry I got, I guess..”

You tilted your head. “What do you mean?” Micheal was now nervous, “I guess when I heard you so scared on the phone.. I really thought that, I was gonna loose you” Micheals voice began to waver as he continued swallowing the lump in his throat. “I guess, I don’t know, the idea of you getting hurt, scares me. I only have you, and I can’t afford to loose you too” hearing ‘you too’ finally struck as to why Micheal seemed on edge when going through his rant. His brother and sister, you held yourself really feeling awful for making him worry. “Micheal, I had no idea, I’m so sorr-“ Micheal shook his head, “naw, don’t worry about it. You didn’t know your fears are valid, even over tiny bugs~” Micheal, grinned teasingly as he showed you the bloody corpse of the bug on his hand. “Eww~ haha-” you laugh having a hold on Micheals wrist to stop him from moving closer. “S-still, I’m gonna work hard on this so I don’t worry you anymore” Micheal smiles, as he wraps his arm around you. “I’ll need to help then, you’re gonna need a knight to save you after all~” his teasing nature hasn’t changed much. It never failed to make you smile, “hah, sure~” you push him away as you stood close together.

The moment felt to similar to your romance shows, where the characters kiss. Was this that moment? Was Micheal gonna kiss you? Should you kiss him? Should you confess? What do should I do??

“Eh!”

Just then you were staring at the twitching antenna of the dead bug, as scream escaped your lips as you jumped back. Laughter erupted from Micheal as he almost fell over laughing, having to hold himself.

“Holy hell! Haha! I’m sorry babe haha!” Micheals laughter made you huff. “Hey jerk! What happened to, my fears being valid!” You huffed hitting his broad shoulder. “I know I know!” He looked up his laughter finally coming to a close, “but hell, your face love!” Never mind he was going in for a round two…

You huff crossing your arms, “oh, doll, I know you love me~” he looks up to you, a chuckle coming out, his eyes squinted as a smirk played on his lips as he admired your pouted face.

“Yeah, maybe..”

☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆

Micheal my beloveddd _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):

I kinda made him a teasing jerk in this haha, but I like it sooo <3

☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆

[queering-ecology]

History of Sexuality and Ecology: Un/Naturalizing the Queer

Scientia Sexualis is the modern discourse on sexuality that locates sexual desires and behaviors within the domain of science and medicine. The rise of this coincided with the rise of evolutionary thought as well as new sexological thoughts.

Foucault’s The History of Sexuality, Volume 1 (1978) is a heavily called upon resource to discuss the regulation of sexuality in modern times; “evolutionary thought is supported by modern understandings of sex as an internal and essential category and also by notions of natural sexuality from which nonreproductive sexualities are understood as deviant” (7). Foucault has argued that the category of ‘homosexual’ was created during this period, in which sex became to be understood not as a set of acts but a state of internal being (a question of one’s nature)—or the naturalizing of sexuality. Modern medical institutions moved from regulation of sexual acts to an organization and treatment of sexual identities (8). No longer is sexuality something that is done, but something that you are—and could be linked to some basic biological fault.

Some thinkers of the time offered up environmental causes for the sudden rise in homosexual degeneracy, and emasculation caused by industrialization and urbanization; homosexuality was a congenital disease and a threat to the evolution of the human species. “Competing physiognomic theories vied for prominence at the time, using what now appears to be utterly arbitrary selection of physical traits to form ‘groups’ of degenerates, whose physical peculiarities were taken as obvious indicators of their perversion”(9) wherein the cause could be caused by environmental or social decline/error. The editors, and other theorist have made the connection to scientific racism, wherein different ‘races’ were created as part of a colonial project (sex plays a role in both scientific racism and colonialism).

 Heterosexuality became understood as the natural state of being, associated as it is with reproduction. This of course means that scientists who witnessed same sex (potentially) erotic behaviors were often perplexed and struggled to fit it into the theory of sexual selection. Nonreproductive sex could be about establishing social relations, dominance, submission, reciprocity, competition and a struggle for survival, anything except pleasure and desire.   

“To many biologists and ethologists, the problems presented by nonreproductive sexual behavior have to do mainly with how it thwarts, disturbs, or, in the best light, merely supplements heterosexual reproduction” (154)(10).

Returning to the idea of same-sex behavior and dysfunctional sexual biology being considered an environmental concern, the idea is that if the ability of a species to survive is tied to reproductive fitness, then ‘healthy’ environments are those in which heterosexual activity is seen to be thriving. An example is where ecologists were convinced the widespread female homoerotic behavior among seagulls in a particular location was evidence of an environmental catastrophe (Silverstone 2000). But it turns out that the “world is full of lesbian gulls” (11).

“The assumption that gender dimorphic heterosexuality is the only natural sexual form is clearly not an appropriate benchmark for ecological research” (11).

[saltygilmores]

Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls, Season 2, Episode 17, "Dead Uncles and Vegetables", Part 2

Read part 1 here and all other episodes here. Luke is giving Lorelai the run down on the Life and Death of Uncle Louie, which is terribly un important. Think it's funny that he doesn't tell Lorelai about the existence of his family members until there's a crisis like his uncle croaking. Lorelai didn't know he had a sister or nephew until Jess was practically on his doorstep. Frankly, the life story of Liz Danes is infinitely more fascinating than Dead Louie's. I have to make a small correction: in the previous post, I stated that Teach Me Tonight was the next episode, but there's actually another wonderful, glorious, absolutely pointless filler episode next. That one where Richard helps Rory with a project for the Chilton business fair and Madelyn invents the Amazon Alexa a full 12 years before Amazon does but Rory sidelines her invention because no one at Chilton knows how to build a robot.

I can't think of a more gruesome place to spend the afterlife. If I happened to die in The Hollow, I would come back and haunt you. I'm gonna haunt you so hard, Lorelai Gilmore. You, Dean. Boom, haunted.

A little healthy competition for Taylor Doose. Just a warmup before Walmart eventually moves in and flattens both markets.

Love Miss Patty. Back at the Inn, Michel notices the 9 rooms that Lorelai reserved for Luke but there is no credit card on file to pay for said rooms. What's that sound? Could it be the sound of Lorelai Gilmore’s gross financial irresponsibility? Could it be that Lorelai just gifted Luke 9 free hotel rooms with no way to make that money back for the Inn?

Ha!

To bring everyone up to speed on the low stakes drama currently under way: Sookie is planning her wedding, and after a fateful soup tasting, Emily has wormed her way in to the wedding planning. Lorelai is predictably miffed. I fear that a day without a Miffed Lorelai would throw the Earth off it's axis.

For at least the second time in so many weeks, Lorelai has just up and left work in the middle of the day to help Luke do something and no one tries to stop her, on top of that she is leaving her real job to go work another job filling in for Luke.

Lorelai Gilmore is an HR rep’s nightmare. Meanwhile at the diner: the war for small town economic dominance rages on between Taylor and the gentle farmer's market hippie, while Lorelai works behind the counter and Rory....

WHHHAAAAA???! First Rory paid for her food, now she's working.... a job??!

Gross. Kirk just ordered lunch, Lorelai is about to bring Luke a turkey burger, and another customer asked Lorelai if they were still serving breakfast, so are we to assume it’s like, around 11am? And Rory is not in school. My word! She pulled a Jess and skipped school to work! It's even funnier when you think about how Luke is basically nobody to Rory at this point but some dick her mom is quietly chasing and her mother pulls her out of school to wait tables at his restaurant. (before anyone says "maybe it's a weekend", Rory was in her Chilton uniform just moments ago). Taylor, observing Miss Patty across the street at the farmer's market: "Since when does Patty eat so much fruit?" This is the woman who told 15 year old Rory that plums were better than sex.

Taylor is quaking in his cardigan, he knows deep down that at any moment his power and stranglehold over Stars Hollow could be usurped in a blink. Hippie: My market is so busy I don't have time to take a break and eat a meal. Taylor: A well groomed businessman with a good staff can afford to take a break now and again. Kirk:

The exquisitely timed, deadpan delivery of this line delighted me #TomatosSign #KirkMayBeATouchNeurodivergent

In other Low Stakes Drama, Lorelai has gone upstairs to bring Luke his lunch. He informs Lorelai that none of his relatives are coming to Dead Louie’s funeral, and they both pretend to be sad about it. Jess is nowhere to be found, so I guess unlike Rory, he’s at school, not jerking off for once.

Luke laments the lame excuses that his no good relatives gave for skipping Dead Louie’s funeral, like “I can’t miss work.”

If only they had the generous “Leave work in the middle of a shift to go help the diner guy” PTO package that the Independence Inn provides to Lorelai.

Luke begins the ol’ “name and shame the family members who have stood me up” and to no one’s fucking surprise Liz is among the funeral skippers who isn’t answering his calls (and at the same time isn’t seizing this opportunity to visit her own son and brother).

Oh Liz Danes you are SO getting haunted.

Now this just throws more Confusion Dressing onto the Dead Uncles and Vegetables Salad. On top of the "Rory gets pulled out school to chase her mom's Dick Goals", Jess also isn’t at school, and Luke says he’s…playing basketball. Ha ha ha. From the fantastical imagination of one Miss AmyShermanPalladino, who bought us “Dean likes/knows how to read”, comes its thrilling sequel, “Jess plays sports!"

Okay. Okay. Nothing is as creative or fantastically fictional as “Dean being literate”. And that being said, I could see Jess shooting hoops, I guess? Like maybe he spent time at the parks and playgrounds of New York City to blow off a little steam. Maybe it’s not a terribly ridiculous notion.

Anyhow, much like “I was playing football with my friends” ala the big fat lie in Swan Song, Rory just accepts this statement without question and then calls him a "little punk". Why? The hell did he do? First ya'll are mad he's causing "mischief" and now he's found a wholesome activity to keep him occupied and off the mean streets of Stars Hollow and you're still mad.

That brown shirt looked fucking stellar on him and he had to go and ruin it with a poofy lifejacket. 2000's fashion, man. I love how there is clearly nothing for Jess to do plotwise so they made up this z-plot where Rory keeps getting mad at him for taking time off from work, as if it matters to her, and as if he doesn’t have the most solid work ethic in Stars Hollow and shouldn’t be allowed take a break and play his little basketball game if he wants.

The low stakes drama continues: Jackson shows up at the diner and is not pleased about the intrusion on his wedding…by his fiancée’s coworker’s mother, of all people. I’m sure he had a lot of questions for Sookie about that.

Poor Jess. I'm sure he tried so hard to hold onto that fleeting moment of bliss today, a brief time when he was free, playing basketball, by himself most likely, skipping school, no one bothering him, then Rory shows up and drags him back to work/home for some reason and then Luke forces him to go to a town meeting, He never even got any time to jerk off. I don't understand why Luke goes to these things. Clearly any time there is a meeting he is there not of his own free will, so what are the terrifying consequences for staying home?

Here sits a defeated man. Taylor: You're late Lorelai, I banged this meeting in a half hour ago. Lorelai: Ooh, dirty. Miss Patty's reaction:

Dirty old bat. I love her.

Das a good question.

Tell me again why he should care about The Town? Why should anyone care about The Town? Fuck Stars Hollow.

The many faces of Milo. What a cutiemuffin gumdrop. Ah the famous scene where many claim to see Milo mouthing "I love you" at Alexis across the seats, to me it just looks like he's chewing his lip. The way he is looking at her is incredibly precious and adoring nonetheless. Lord, I think I just popped an ovary. Ow. Camp I Love You, Camp Lip Chewer, I respect you both, now let's just meet in the middle where we can all agree Dean Forrester sucks. To be continued.

[starryeyedadmirer]

Louis and Harry had always enjoyed competing with one another. Ever since they met, back in the summer of 2018, their friends and family have known them to be the one couple in the room that was always at odds — constantly trying to best one another in any way that they can, simply for the sake of having some harmless fun.

   Everything they did together had to be a contest, held in order to determine which of the two men was the better lover. It didn't matter what time of day it happened to be, where they were, or what they were doing... not even the earliest hours of the morning were sacred. Something so simple as waking each other up was considered a petty act of war, waged by the first partner to stir up.

                        —😴😴😴—

By some miraculous stroke of luck, Louis was the first of the two lovers to open his eyes and arise from the comforts of their mattress, after having a fulfilling, restful night's slumber. His body still heavy with sleep as he rested his back against the crooked headboard, he couldn't help but to celebrate his serendipitous head-start. Somehow, he was going to rub it in Harry's face... in a way that would be unforgettable for either man, and establish his superiority... and, luckily, it didn't take him long to come up with the perfect power-move.

As the rays of sunshine streamed in through the window on the far side of the bedroom, Louis contemplated the mischievous plan that had formed in his mind. Should he go through with it, and disturb Harry's rest? Wake his sleeping beauty from his slumber, and suffer the consequences of his impulsive decision for the rest of the day — by way of Harry's irritability — just to satisfy his competitive spirit, and claim his victory. Should he let Harry sleep, and wait to brag? He wrestled with the idea for only a few minutes, but after weighing both options briefly, it took him practically no time to reach a resolution. This morning, he decided, was the perfect morning for a little bit of healthy boasting.

A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he looked around and observed the stillness of the room. It was so peaceful... too peaceful. If he was going to make a move, he was going to have to do it without making a sound.

With the stealth of a sly snake, Louis slipped underneath the covers and slithered his way down to Harry's hips — his heart racing. The spring-mattress moaned and sighed as he shifted his weight to climb over Harry, and straddled his partner's resting form... but the sleeping beauty's slumber remained un-disturbed. A relieved chuckle rumbling in Louis's chest, he slowly lowered his chin onto Harry's belly — admiring the gentle rise and fall of his tattoos, as he held his own breath — and prepared to claim his victory.

    Burrowed beneath the heavy comforter, he ever-so-softly extended his tongue, and gently probed Harry's gorgeous, unprotected navel.

A tingling sensation coursed through him as he began to explore the rugged terrain of his boyfriend's belly button. His tongue traced a tight circle around the deep hole, teasing the rubbery rim of skin, and causing Harry to stir in his sleep. Louis couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, knowing that Harry would awaken to the strange sensation of his slimy tongue against his tummy... a sensation that he wouldn't soon forget.

    Becoming increasingly more aggressive with every stroke of his tongue, Louis forcefully plunged himself down into the deepest parts of the crater, and continued to dig until he struck a nodule of solid flesh. He could taste all of the grody sweat and dirt that had taken hold down there... the buildup of years and years of neglect. It was the most bitter thing that his tastebuds had ever encountered... and, after coming in contact with his saliva, it smelled even worse than it tasted.

The strong aroma of curdled cheese and soggy, dead skin carried out a foul assault on Louis's nostrils, as if it were fighting back against his petty plot... but, determined to wake Harry up, he pressed on.

                        —😴😴😴—

    As if sensing Louis's touch, Harry gradually started to awaken. One after the other, his legs began to twitch... and then, his arms... and, finally, his abdomen. Though his body was somewhat active, he struggled to open his eyes — still submerged in the sunken daze of sleep. Expressions of confusion and pleasure washed over his face as he tried to identify the source of the odd sensation that was radiating throughout his body. Was it a product of his dreams, or was it real?

    Weirdly aroused by Louis's unexpected display of dominance, Harry's eyes widened, showing a range of bewilderment and ecstasy. A confused smile rose across his lips as he peered under the covers and met Louis's assertive gaze. With a lazy, delicate touch, Harry reached beneath the sheets, and ran his fingers through Louis's hair — holding his head down. His breathing deepened as he surrendered to the sensuality of the moment... submitting to Louis's advance, without uttering a single word.

                        —😴😴😴—

    Though his initial plan had been to establish himself as the day's champion, and rub it in his partner's face, Louis found himself captivated by the intensity of Harry's pleasure. He couldn't help but to dig deeper and deeper as the sound of Harry's moaning flooded his ears — further enveloping his tongue in the thick sweat and dirt. It was as if time stood still around them... like they were the only to people in the world, connected as one.

[newsnigeria]

Africa is Not a Country: The West tries to Woo African Union to Joining G20-member countries

The aging G20-member countries have agreed to grant the status of Permanent Member to the African Union! AU will have the same status as the EU. Decision to be announced September 9-10. Interesting times. Remember that after the BRICS Summit in South Africa that saw the bloc expand officially from just a bloc of 5 nations to now a bloc of 11 powerful nations, with arguably dozens more countries on the waitlist to join, the Russian, Brazilian, and Indian presidents have all been very vocal about the need for G20 to give Africans a permanent status at the “club.” Talks got to a point that some even suggested observer status to start with. That too didn’t fly with G20. They were adamant because of course, Africans were slaves and mere colonies of most of the countries in G20. That’s why at the founding of the UN in 1945, only four African countries were present - Egypt which already had its independence in 1922, Ethiopia which was never colonized, Liberia which was also nobody’s colony and South Africa which was under the colonial Apartheid regime. Interestingly, other than Liberia, a much smaller and weaker country (compared to the rest), the other three African countries that were present at the founding of the UN have now become parts of the BRICS alliance, which bears a huge significance. The topic for another day. So, as you can see, none of the colonized nations in AFRICA, which by the way, make up over 90% of the countries on the continent, were present at the 1945 event in San Francisco, because they were not regarded as nations. So it’s easy to now understand the mindset of these dominant G20 forces: How can a slave sit at the table with his masters for meals or talks? Inconceivable right? But what changed all of a sudden?! Well, everything! The moment it dawned on the colonial West that Africans now had a potential alternative to their Unipolar hegemonic order of institutional and generational slavery, they reluctantly began to rethink some of their utterly condescending positions and conclusions about AFRICA/Africans. If it wasn’t for the aggressive emergence of the multipolar world today, I can tell you for free that even the so-called “observer status” for AU wouldn’t even be discussed. Why is it that right after BRICS went from just BRICS to BRICS +6 with almost immediate consolidation efforts, G20 suddenly realized it was time to bring their African “slaves” to the table where big boys dined and wined? The West has lost every shred of respect and dignity they had left on the continent. Africans have seen the nakedness & wretchedness of their hypocrisy - preaching one thing & doing another. In the past, their shenanigans were easily shrouded in secrecy. Not anymore. They’re throwing caution to the winds left right and center and the big masquerade is after all, human. That’s what desperation can do. That’s the good side of healthy competition - it brings monopoly to its knees and feeds its arrogance to the vultures. That’s why Africans would hear of a coup and rather than shrivel with angst, they explode with joy and celebrate. Because, as far as they’re concerned, any coup that removes a Western stooge from power in favor of populist, people-centered ideals, is democratic! Such coups are now being hailed as liberation movements across AFRICA. What do you expect when you lie to the people that Democracy was the government of the people by the people for the people, but you turn around and strip them of the right to question, repudiate, hire, or fire the same government - just because in reality, you colonial west own these fake “African democracies?!” Thank God it’s finally Africa’s time. The long walk to freedom has begun. We are not delusional and won’t expect it to be over in one day. But we are confident that we will get there, sooner than later. With these little victories from the Sahel, the rest of AFRICA will be free and the heavens won’t fall. Viva Mother AFRICA! Read the full article

[way2pretty4this]

How To Get Un-Stuck

Awhile ago I found myself feeling stuck, not eating well, working out, or studying. I know I'm not the only person who's ever felt this way and as someone who is still working on getting out of this place I thought I'd share some of my tips on how to get un-stuck.

There are two ways you can go about this situation. You can pamper yourself until you feel like you have things under control enough to get better, or you can face it head on and directly address the problems. Both of these methods work and are equally valid, it just depends on who you are. One thing you do need to understand is that taking a "rest day" and eating junk while watching movies is NOT going to help you, you are just continuing down the same path with a different excuse.

Start with a shower. This can act as a reset button, cleanse your body, wash your hair, shave if you'd like. Then do some skincare. You don't need a 32 step routine, just some face wash and moisturizer. Put on a cute outfit and begin your day. Personally I find breakfast hard, I don't know what to eat and I'm not usually hungry in the mornings. This is okay, but skipping meals is not. Even if all you eat is an apple, you need to eat something in the mornings. This is what gives you energy to continue your day and be your best self. If you're having trouble coming up with a breakfast you like or that has nutritional value, you can always go buy a breakfast sandwich. Bacon, egg, and cheese has never disappointed me. Eating "healthy" can be hard and having a good mindset when it comes to food can be challenging. So you can ignore all those "what I eat in a day" videos and the weight loss tips because they are never accurate or real. My tip would be to make sure your meal has at least one vegetable or fruit, one source of protein, and one thing you like to eat. As you go through your day try to be mindful of when you're slipping back into your old habits. Stop yourself and ask whether or not this is going to help you become your dream self. If the answer is no then don't do it.

Lastly, exercise. This can be hard for people who don't already play a sport or regularly workout. I've grown up through competitive sports so I always have something to fall back on when I go through rough patches, however I know this isn't the same for everyone and not everyone is able to go to the gym or start playing a sport. I would say that running is a really good habit to get into. As I'm coming out of a hard time in my life I've picked up running. I think it's a great intro to fitness because you can do it by yourself, with friends, outside, in the gym, and at any time. It can be hard to start weight training or working out in the gym due to social anxiety, busy schedules, fear of being judged, etc. This is why I suggest running, you can do it outside and at your own pace. Just download a running app to keep track of your distance and speed and you'll find yourself wanting to get better in no time.

Of course starting any of these things is challenging and it's perfectly okay to fall back into your old lifestyle from time to time, but the the goal is to build a new one. I know you can do it, and I believe in you.

♡ Good luck! ♡

[ao3feed-tedlasso]

The A Team

by providing_leverage

Doctor Sharon gives the team some homework, which results in Jan Maas being smug, Sam fretting, Jamie having a slight breakdown, Isaac being the group Mom, bullying Richard, and a(n un)healthy amount of competition. Not necessarily in that order.

Words: 2140, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Ted Lasso (TV)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Jamie Tartt, Sam Obisanya, Dani Rojas (Ted Lasso), Isaac McAdoo, Colin Hughes, Jan Maas, Moe Bumbercatch, Richard Montlaur, Roy Kent, Dr. Sharon Fieldstone

Relationships: Sam Obisanya & Jamie Tartt, AFC Richmond Players & Jamie Tartt

Additional Tags: Ah how to tag this, Autistic Jamie Tartt, ADHD Dani Rojas, I'm not tagging everyone with autism that would take forever, RAADS-R Autism Test, set during the theoretical s4

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/47792686

[yesican-stop]

(un)Healthy Competition: Not Everything is as It Seems

[helpicant-stop]

genuinely ive played competitive edge so many times that i hit the maximum amount of replays and made a whole new account just to replay it again. mental illness tbh

[flownwrong]

Ten Characters, Ten Fandoms, Ten (haha no) Tags

more tag games! I was tagged by @prince-of-elsinore forever ago and just got around to it. thanks elsi!

1. gerri kellman, succession

stone cold bitch, smartest person in the room, crazy hot lady, probably the single most entertaining character for me to watch in the whole show. what can i say, she's just neat.

2. tim gutterson, justified

he don't miss MY HEART! deadpan, competent, and secretly a disaster. what more to want in a character. i love this boi, not one boring second on the screen.

3. harry du bois, disco elysium

no gifs for this one, but there's something wonderful about a character who's both been wrecked by life and poor choices to the point he completely lost sight of meaning or purpose AND is put in a clean slate position when he can experience the world and very intense events around him with childlike wonder. the way i played him was an (un)healthy combo of falling into old patterns and choosing to turn to light and open himself to it whenever he can, and he turned out to be an extremely cathartic vessel in this story and in my own processing.

4. charlie kelly, it's always sunny in philadelphia

my favourite rat boy. i appreciated how despite being the pinnacle of insanity he is also one who delivered most of the poignant, truly emotional points in the whole show for me. probably my favourite actor/part combo too. gj both charlies

5. casca, berserk

if we take the pre-eclipse arcs, she is actually one of my favourite women to be written by a man. a surprisingly deep figure that swerves away from cliches every time she approaches them, making choices when nobody expects her to choose for herself. "nobody lies their way into a body with this many scars," indeed.

6. jocelyn carter, person of interest

the counterweight of mundane in an otherwise very not mundane setting, a display of being a human with boundaries and restricted possibilities among people who move and operate on an entirely different plane, an overall bulldozer of human perseverance in the face of something incomprehensible. she's an all around good egg.

7. misato katsuragi, neon genesis evangelion

[claps misato on the back] this girl can fit so much trauma in her. her unique place in the story of cracking facades all around resonated most with me, layers and layers revealed and stripped off her persona to the point where there's a very real, struggling and lost core left that has to step up and take responsibility or perish. even as everything falls apart around her, she commits to moving further and further, and i loved watching it.

8. david ward, i am in eskew

not much of a character at all, but a magnificent device to explore the feelings of total alienation, detachment and otherness both through his place in reality and his place in unreality. he doesn't fit in either but he makes important choices in the face of the latter, patching up holes in himself even if he can't ever get whole again. a kind of alice in wonderland but horror experience.

9. francis crozier, the terror

very high on my list of extremely flawed characters you come to love not because they get rid of the flaws but because they learn to shed them in the face of harrowing experiences to uplift and help others. does not help at all that he's portrayed by king jarred harris who embodies this development perfectly. a++

10. sidney freedman, m*a*s*h

i forced myself to not cheat by picking hawkeye, but then it was no competition because sidney is by far the rarest kind of character i get to see. like how often do you get a psychiatrist/therapist on screen that doesn't cringe you out and oddly resonates with how you wish to see healing and help represented, all that despite being from a 50 year old show and using methods of its time? there's so little stigma or distance to be found around sidney, and so much acceptance and belief in people he tries to help. i want to carry this with me in my work if my becoming a therapist plan pans out.

i am Not Sure anyone in my circle escaped this, but in case someone did, i would love to see @blueniverse42's, @thegoodthebadandtheart's, @andreydaddanos's and @harpernovakaine lists!

[gwendolyn-of-loxley]

N7month Day 2: Arcade

    Hearing gunfire ring out in the stadium, Urdnot Wrex couldn’t help but smile wide as he walked into the arena lobby.  At the moment, the combat field was occupied by a group of asari commandos on shore leave; they’d managed to secure a position against simulated geth troops.  The old krogan made no effort to hide his disapproval, huffing in disappointment.  Sure, such tactics would have been effective against the synthetics of a few years ago, but the Armax simulations were constantly updated, and soon they were going to be overrun by the newer pyro units if they didn’t take at least some focus off of ranged combat.  Oh well.  They had to learn somehow. 

    Strolling up to a kiosk, Wrex quickly validated his member’s ticket that Shepard had gifted him not long ago.  While the forces of Tuchanka needed leadership, Wrex had led companies of troops long enough to prioritize a clear mind and a healthy body, so he’d decided to stick around for a few days after the whole clone business had been taken care of.  It’d be nice to practice with some of the simulated weapons that weren’t always available to him out on the frontline.  That N7 Typhoon (courtesy of Shepard’s pass privileges) was looking delightfully heavy. 

    Before he could head down to the locker rooms, a very familiar crest passed through his periphery, and he couldn’t help but notice the young ‘un.  Grunt had done excellently in Clan Urdnot ever since his rites, and his rescue of the rachni queen was no small feat.  Most krogan didn’t see action like that across centuries, especially not so young.  

    Wrex wanted to say hello.  

    Fortunately, Grunt saw the elder as he approached.  The battlemaster-to-be was still a bit jittery when surprised, a development that had formed after he’d encountered indoctrinated rachni young.  Wrex couldn’t exactly blame him.  In fact, it occurred to the clan-head that such an instinct would serve Grunt well if honed properly.  A lot of adult krogan had gotten themselves killed while under the delusion that centuries of natural body armor made them invincible.  It did not.  

    “Grunt,” he opened.  “A pleasant surprise.  Are you watching, or waiting to try the arena?”

    “I’m watching,” Grunt said.  He turned away from Wrex, but continued to speak.  “For now.  I wanted to get a feel for the different fields before I got myself a place in line.  If people are watching, I want them to know what Urdnot can really do.”

    Trying not to stare, Wrex was impressed.  There were not many occasions when Grunt expressed something resembling humility.  It gave him an idea.  

    “Well, you know what they say about statistics,” Wrex said.  A smug smile found its way on his lips.  “You’ve got to have a big enough sample size.”  

    Grunt turned back to look at him.  After a moment of processing his elder’s words, the krogan laughed, low and deep, a melody full of mischief.  

    The pair had decided to enact their display of murderous enthusiasm on the “Wingman” map; neither had too much experience on the arena floor, and it was the most frequently used map in the set, being freely available to both casual players and professional athletes.  They’d spent about a half-hour watching matches, memorizing potential spawn points and discussing cover options.  Grunt had attempted to call dibs on the Claymore shotgun, with Wrex attempting to pull superior rank as his clan leader.  In the end, they’d decided to make a competition out of it, seeing who could get more kills with the same gun.  

    When the speakers chimed, the two Tuchankan sons rushed forward with incredible zeal.

    The first batch of enemies spawned to the left of their starting point, down on the lower level of the setup.  Grunt rushed straight for them, vaulting over the rail of the balcony to close the distance between the two.  Wrex couldn’t help but shake his head, hearing the runt roar as he charged.  The leader of clan Urdnot strode forward, approaching the ramp, seconds from intercepting one of the simulated Reaper husks.  With a casual hipfire of his Claymore, Wrex’s lips curled into a satisfied smile while mass-propelled rounds ripped through hostile data.  The sound of his approach drew the attention of some of the enemies who had been focused on Grunt, and Wrex planted his feet, happily gunning down the crowd of human husks that tried to rush him.  The high-powered shot cut them down with ease, giving Wrex a moment of relaxation while Grunt wrestled the marauder he’d rushed to the ground.  The youthful krogan managed to get a shot off, looking up at his smug clan leader with obvious frustration.  Wrex shrugged, the announcer notifying them that the round had ended.  

    By the time the next round started, the pair had replaced their thermal clips, now set against each other.  With the next wave spawning back onto the upper level, the krogan duo found themselves backtracking.  Wrex hated backtracking; there was always a feeling that no matter where you turned, the enemy had somehow gotten behind you.  It was a problem for both hardened veterans as well as rookies, though some were able to shrug it off.  “Some,” apparently, included Grunt, who continued to rush forward, but did so at a more cautious pace.  Marauder after marauder fell to boom after boom, their shields thinner than upper-atmosphere compared to the stopping power of the Claymore.  Wrex huffed, swallowing his anxiety for the sake of a higher killcount.  

    By the time his thick krogan legs brought him to the fray, he’d managed to give the “wippersnapper” (human word, but he liked it) enough of a head start to catch up to him.  Again, he was impressed; the kid worked fast.  In fact, Wrex was so impressed that he didn’t notice the brute sneaking around to his side.  Air shot out of his four longs as the thing used its massive claw to swipe him into the railing of the upper level.  Not one to be distracted by a surprise attack, Wrex let the railing take some of his weight, promptly raising his shotgun and firing.  The virtual skull burst open before the digital corpse discorporated, and the wave pulled to a close.  Thunderous laughter came from the younger Urdnot, drawing a glare from the crimson krogan.

    Stretching their necks and rolling their shoulders, the duo readied themselves for the final wave of adversaries.  Charging down the main stairwell, the krogan were met by a squad of marauders and a trio of brutes.  Grinning at the prospect of the impending carnage, Wrex employed one of his stimulant packs, delighting at the sensation of feeling 300 years younger.  With the brutes taking their sweet time, the marauders were dropped fairly quickly, blue swirls of holographic feedback lighting up against the screen-born sunset of the arena.  It would have been fairly trivial to outlast the brutes if a terrible scream hadn’t filled the air.  

    Wrex ducked behind a corner as a burst of blue light soared across the field, colliding with Grunt and dropping him to the ground.  The chilling visage of a banshee hissed at the krogan contestants, floating in the air with a menacing form of biotic power.  Seeing that Grunt was still getting up off the ground (standing up was not the strong-suit of the krogan), the wicked simulacrum charged the young Urdnot.  

    Realistically, Wrex knew there was no danger.  It was a game, and while the hardlight nature of the simulation could rough someone up, it would be truly impressive to kill someone, especially a krogan.  But Wrex didn’t really care, because in a real fight, you don’t hesitate to help your clan.  You don’t hesitate to throw out the competition when the galaxy is at stake.  

    Before the banshee could reach Grunt, a shot rang through the air, a smoking Executioner pistol in Wrex’s hand.  The banshee dissolved before it could hit the ground. 

    “That one doesn’t count,” Grunt said, standing to his feet.  “Different weapon.”

    “Yeah, yeah, you’re welcome, Junior.  Now help me kill these things.”

    Turning his attention to the brutes, Grunt loaded another round from his thermal clip and stalked forward.  The brute closest to him growled, preparing to pounce, but recoiled in pain when Wrex threw out a biotic carnage charge, lighting it in a burst of flame.  After downing it with another shotgun blast, Grunt dropped his gun, letting it clatter to the ground.  Reaching behind his back, he pulled out a pair of grenades, tossing them underneath the second brute, detonating into its chest.  Wrex fired off another round from the Executioner pistol, finishing off the combatant, and threw it off to his side.  Together, the krogan let out their own roars, charging the final brute, hands empty and bare.  

    It didn’t stand a chance.  

[thedilucharem]

A Collection of Headcanons - Sparring Edition! (Part 1 of 2)

Overview of the Win-Lose Ratio

Zhongli - 1:0 (read: one to zero)

Childe - 5:3 (wins more than he loses by a large margin)

Diluc - 8:7 (wins more than he loses by not as much of a margin)

Beidou - 1:1 (wins and loses a proportionally equal amount)

Arataki Itto - 2:3 (loses more than he wins by a large margin)

More under the cut!

Zhongli

There was one incident where the other four did try to fight him all at once, but after they couldn't get up by themselves, Zhongli simply told them that it wasn't fair to begin with.

Not because it was four-to-one, but because it would have to be about fifty-to-one for them to have a chance.

Naturally, that ratio is 1-0.

So Zhongli doesn't spar for the simple reason of the fact that even if he went easy on them, he'd beat them all anyway.

"As much as I would enjoy throwing myself at you all and taking delight in your bodies scattering like chaff in the wind, I am freshly retired. I would much rather enjoy the pleasant calm and peace of mind that comes with drinking a cup of osmanthus tea instead."

Childe

Childe treats the spars like a competition as well as opportunities to push himself, and as such he unsurprisingly has the broadest win-lose ratio among everyone else.

A definitive part about his fighting style is that he loves being up close and personal with whoever he's fighting for the thrill of it. Melee most certainly suits him best in that regard.

He enjoys testing himself by using all the weapons he's mastered over the years against his sparring partners.

Sometimes he'll be using just a polearm and on other days, he'll be dual-wielding blades while also throwing projectiles at his opponents.

He treats his wins and losses as improvement and critique so that he can ultimately become better, often implementing them mid-spar to test them out.

Beidou

Beidou is usually the one asking for spars. She can't afford to lose her edge given her profession and it helps that she finds it fun and refreshing.

While Beidou may not be as specialized as her companions and her (assumed) injured eye is some semblance of a disadvantage, she makes up for it with hardened experience and practical application.

She is the first reason why using Visions is banned because apparently, her full-counter does damage beyond the person on the receiving end doing five seconds of airtime.

I think her fighting style is based on hard and heavy hits that are meant to end the fight quickly, as the disadvantage of being blind on one side would become noticeable after a minute or two.

She uses the spars with them as a way to try and figure out how to properly compensate for her eye, as just swinging a big sword around in a limited radius can only do so much.

Diluc

Diluc treats these spars as transactional first, but it very quickly becomes one of his favorite things to do with the others as he considers himself fairly good at it.

His fighting style is versatile as he has demonstrated, agility, strength, and adaptability in the past, but the claymore that he wields would serve as cumbersome against some opponents.

As he has seen a lot more in his life than most others and does vigilantism on the side, he would have a healthy amount of training as well as experience, influencing how he fights them specifically.

Dare I say, he gets a little too into it sometimes, which is why he is the second reason why the use of Visions in the spars as he and everyone in the vicinity had a tendency to burst into flame.

Every loss and concession in his mind's eye is a lesson to be learned and then properly executed on whatever vagabond is on his to-hit list on his nights of patrol.

Arataki Itto

When I say that this dude has the potential to match up with them and even excel them in some instances, I am deadly serious; it'll just take him a little while to get there.

His fighting style is very much 'I hit it until it stops moving' with a combination of 'I'll power my way through it until I collapse' and it works about 60% of the time.

When it comes to more experienced, specialized, and disciplined opponents, though, that 60% becomes a 5%.

His strength is a boon when it comes to critical weaknesses and flaws in his approach, but like I stated before, raw and brute force can only do so much.

His goal is relatively simple: beat all of them soundly and without room for any compromise or debate. If he can do that, he'll be the best, and goddamn it, he is the best (in his mind at least).

Part 2