#Chicago Cubs Tickets

[thehoppost]

Chicago is a major city located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is the third most populous city in the country, with a population of over 2.7 million people. Known for its iconic skyline, deep dish pizza, and famous sports teams, Chicago is a popular destination for visitors from around the world.

Chicago is a hub for finance, commerce, transportation, and culture. It is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including McDonald's, Boeing, and United Airlines. The city's economy is diverse, with a mix of manufacturing, technology, and service industries.

Chicago is also renowned for its architecture, with iconic buildings such as the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) and the John Hancock Center. The city is home to several world-class museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Science and Industry.

One of the city's most popular attractions is Navy Pier, a 3,300-foot-long pier on Lake Michigan that features an amusement park, restaurants, shops, and a large Ferris wheel. Chicago is also home to several major sports teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears, and Chicago Bulls.

Overall, Chicago is a bustling, dynamic city that offers a wide range of activities and experiences for visitors and residents alike.

[an-ivy-covered-summer]

why do you HATE ME @ chicago cubs ???????

[contentswap]

The Cost of Attending a Chicago Cubs Game

Attending a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field can be an exciting and memorable experience. However, it's important to consider the cost associated with attending a game, including tickets, parking, food, and other expenses. The average cost to attend a Cubs game can vary depending on several factors, such as the opponent, day of the week, seating location, and whether you purchase tickets directly from the team or through secondary market platforms.

Ticket Prices: The cost of Cubs tickets can range significantly depending on the factors mentioned above. On average, ticket prices for a Cubs game can start around $30 for upper-level seats and go up to several hundred dollars for premium seating or high-demand games against popular opponents. It's worth noting that prices for highly anticipated matchups, weekend games, or games during holidays may be higher than the average.

Parking: Parking near Wrigley Field can be limited and expensive. The official Cubs parking lots charge premium rates, usually ranging from $25 to $50, depending on the proximity to the stadium and the demand for parking. However, there are alternative parking options available in the surrounding neighborhoods and nearby parking garages, which may offer more affordable rates, typically ranging from $10 to $30.

Food and Beverages: Food and beverages at Wrigley Field can add to the overall cost of attending a Cubs game. The stadium offers a variety of concession stands and food vendors with options ranging from classic ballpark fare like hot dogs and peanuts to specialty items and local favorites. Prices for food and beverages inside the stadium can vary, with average costs ranging from $5 to $15 per item.

Other Expenses: Additional expenses to consider may include transportation costs to and from the stadium, such as public transportation or rideshare services, as well as any merchandise or souvenirs you may wish to purchase during the game.

Overall, the average cost to attend a Chicago Cubs game can vary depending on your preferences and choices. It is recommended to plan ahead, compare ticket prices from different sources, consider alternative parking options, and budget for food and other potential expenses to ensure an enjoyable experience without breaking the bank.

[tboybuck]

have a little father's day blurb about complicated father-son relationships. 1k. cross posted to ao3

steve's relationship with his parents has been complicated at best his entire life but it's only after he and eddie have an apartment together in chicago that his perception of of the father-son relationship shifts.

for the past decade or so, he's watched eddie's relationship with wayne and ached a little bit. because that's the kind of father-son relationship he wishes he could have had with his dad.

it wasn't always great, especially after his dad realized steve could mostly fend for himself and started leaving him alone more and more often for longer stretches of time. but it wasn't all bad either. his dad used to take him to ball games and he taught him how to ride a bike without the training wheels. he taught him how to change the oil in his beamer and how to bullshit his way through a book report.

mostly, though, he taught steve how to be lonely.

over the past couple of years, steve has slowly been trying to repair that stilted relationship with his old man. the guy isn't going to be around forever, and if nothing else he owes it to steve to leave him with some good memories after he's gone.

father's day has always been a bit of a weird day for steve, because his dad has always kept his feelings close to the vest, so steve's never had any idea how to navigate the day around him.

he thinks about the year he was thirteen; they'd gone to a cubs game together at wrigley and his dad let him have a cup of beer with his hotdog. he thinks of the year he was sixteen, before hawkins turned itself upside down; his dad was out of town at the condo in indy for some work conference the following week and he'd sighed when steve called him to wish him well, thinking there'd been something wrong at home.

this year is going to be different, steve tells himself.

he and eddie have invited both his dad and wayne to their apartment in chicago for dinner, and his dad is going to be here. steve's already bought a card for his dad, and his mom sent him her lasagna recipe, and he splurged for a good bottle of red wine.

hopefully this year will begin to repair the distance between steve and his dad.

steve finds himself hovering over the coffee maker at the kitchen counter, staring off into space while it brews, and eddie startles him a little when he comes up behind him to wrap an arm around his waist and kiss his cheek.

'you good?'

"yeah. little nervous.'

'it'll be fine. i made him laugh at christmas last year. remember?'

steve does remember. it was a good christmas.

it took steve's parents some time to accept steve and eddie as steve and eddie, but it's been so long now that it's not something that the harringtons can just ignore. if they want to be a part of their son's life, they need to get used to eddie. and this past christmas felt like a win - the harringtons had gifted them concert tickets and a fancy toaster oven for their apartment.

that night, after the sunday chores have been done and the laundry has been folded and put away, richard and wayne show up within moments of each other. steve and eddie's beagle mix, ozzy, greets them at the door, his tail thumping against the floor as he resists jumping up to beg their visitors for pets.

dinner goes really well; richard doesn't say anything offensive about their little apartment and eddie doesn't goad him into a discussion about politics. together, the four of them reminisce about steve and eddie's childhoods around the table, their plates overflowing with noodles and red sauce. wayne tells them stories about eddie that steve's never heard before, and richard tells stories that steve had completely forgotten about.

it's giving steve hope, this father's day dinner with his dad and his boyfriend and his boyfriend's uncle-dad.

until steve and richard are at the sink washing up the dinner dishes together, and everything crashes down around them.

'you're still young,' richard says. 'there's still time.'

'for what?'

'for you to come to your senses.'

'dad...'

'no, i mean it. there's always a job waiting for you at my firm. plenty of pretty girls in administrative roles there, too.'

'dad...' steve says again.

'i'm just saying, steven. it's time to stop playing house like this and settle down.'

'i am settled. we have a good life here. i love my job at the school. i love my life. i love eddie.'

'don't you want kids of your own? he can't give you that.'

steve scoffs.

'why would i want kids of my own? i didn't exactly have the best parental role models growing up. i'd fuck a kid up, just like you and mom fucked me up. besides, i have my students. that's plenty for me.'

'we gave you everything, steven.'

'everything except your presence. i needed you guys, especially as a teenager. and you guys just... didn't give a shit. why would i want to keep that cycle going?'

the silence in the kitchen is so loud.

'it's late. you should get going. eddie's got work in the morning.'

richard sighs.

'the offer stands. the firm is always there when you're ready.'

'just go. happy father's day.'

it comes out bitter. snappy. steve doesn't apologize.

richard goes. steve stays in the kitchen and tries not to think about it. he pops open a second bottle of wine - cheap, sweet, white, the kind of wine his father would mock him for drinking if he gave him half a chance.

he feels stupid for thinking his father could change, for thinking it could ever be different. people his dad's age are so stuck in their ways that there's no getting through to them. it's not easy but it's reality.

after wayne leaves, eddie comes into the kitchen to join steve and pour himself a glass of that cheap riesling steve's been working his way through. he doesn't say anything because he doesn't have to. ozzy curls up at steve's feet and the three of them sit together in a comfortable silence. eddie holds steve's hand atop the table.

at least steve isn't lonely anymore.

[novamariestark]

Kiss Cam

First can I just say ^^^ Damn 😍

Summary: When you and Parker go to the Cubs game, you end up on the Kiss Cam.

Warnings: mention of death.

Word count: 1639

Fandom: NCIS

Pairing: Alden Parker x f!reader

Kiss Cam

Once you got used to Alden being around instead of Gibbs, you began to get to know him. Soon you found out you had things in common, like, you both like the Cubs. You were born in Chicago and your dad always took you to a game when he was on leave. It was your thing. But after he died, you stopped going. It was just too painful to go without your best friend.

Parker had asked you if you wanted to go to a couple of games now but you always declined. Partly because it was your father-daughter bonding activity. But also because you now harboured a large and not very subtle crush on you new boss and being alone with him both excited you and scared the crap out of you. You knew you’d do something stupid and then you’d have to quit.

Everyone on the team knew. In fact, everyone in the building knew. All except Parker. Or at least he didn’t show any indication that he knew.

Jess was the first to notice your longing looks. Then Kasie, then McGee. Torres was the last to notice and he ended up handing Jess, 20 bucks. Over the next few months, they start to notice that the boss may feel the same way. You didn’t believe them. I mean the guy was quite possibly the sexiest guy you’ve ever seen.

Soon they get sick of the two of you just looking at each other all the time when the other isn’t watching. So, Torres and Jess buy you two some tickets to the next Cubs game and they weren’t going to let you say no. McGee told them not to push you but they didn’t listen but then again, they didn’t know the reason you said no.

McGee did. He was there. He was there with you through it all. Your dad came back from a tour and he was hit by a car which put him in a coma. McGee sat with you, in the waiting room, in your father’s room. When you found out your father was brain dead, he was right there with you. He was right there when you had to make the decision to turn off the life support. McGee used all his comp time to stay with you. For so long it was just you and your dad and when you lost him, you lost yourself.

You didn’t leave your house in months, not until McGee decided to drag you out and take you to the one person, he knew always made you smile. Ducky. The guy was like a grandfather to you. You reckon your dad would have like him too, because he was a sucker for a good story and Ducky had plenty of them.

Slowly you began to realise that you still had family and you still had people who cared about you. McGee, Ducky, Abby, Tony, Ziva and Gibbs, who became your secondary parental figure. You almost broke down again when he didn’t return, but when McGee told you about what he said, about Shannon and Kelly and how he was finally at peace, you were happy. Maybe you’d find that one day too.

When Jess and Nick presented the tickets to you both, they claimed that some friends gave them to them and since they weren’t fans, they wanted you to have them so they didn’t go to waste.

“You wanna go?” Parker asked you. You looked over to McGee, your eyes pleading for him to help you, “I take that as a no,” he sighed, moving towards Jess to take the tickets but Jess pulled them out of his reach. His eyebrow furrowed in confusion.

“You both should go. You both like the Cubs, so why not?”

“Jess, she doesn’t wan…”

“I haven’t been to a game since my dad died,” you admitted aloud, your eyes looking at your feet. You sniffled, wiping your eyes trying to compose yourself before raising your head to look at Parker, “It was never because I just didn’t wanna go with you. It was just,” you paused, shrugging as you glanced quickly at McGee then back to his gorgeous hazel eyes, “I-it was something we did together, father-daughter bonding, you know?”

Parker smiled softly, nodding his head. He was glad that you weren’t trying to actively avoid him but seeing you cry made his heart ache, it took all his power not to pull you to him and hold you until the pain numbed, “We can leave if it gets too much,”

You thought about it for a second, looking over at McGee who nodded and mouthed ‘go on’

“okay”

***

It’s the day of the game and you were nervous. Why? Because you had no idea what you were going to wear. Should you wear your jersey and cap or should you wear something to impress the man that you spend most of your time thinking about?

After much internal debate, you decided to go in your jersey. Simply because you argued with yourself so much that you didn’t leave enough time to figure something else out.

A knock sounded at the door and your inner teenager squealed as if this was your first date. Don’t be stupid. You thought to yourself. It’s not a date. No way someone as sexy, beautiful, handsome, hot, gorgeous… okay stop before you get too carried away.

You picked up your purse and headed for the door, you quickly opened it and you were greeted by Parker. In a cubs sweatshirt. Something you never thought you’d find so sexy and yet this man proves you wrong.

He looked up at you, looking at your cap, “You ready to go?”

“Yeah,” you said, grabbing your keys from the bowl you kept beside the door. Something you had to do because at least you knew where they were.

 The car ride was mostly silent, until Parker noticed your leg bouncing up and down. He reminded you that you could leave at any time if it got too much. You reassured him that you were okay, just nervous.

When you got to the Ballpark, as if on autopilot, you went to get a hot dog. You apologize to Parker when you realise what you’d done. He just smiled and told you not to worry about it.

You got to your seats and the game began. At first you felt guilty for having fun but soon when you see Parker enjoying himself and being very enthusiastic, you start to relax and just enjoy the moment. You laughed when the kiss cam came up, remembering when you and your dad appeared one year, on your 12th birthday and he kissed your nose. But then something happened. You and Parker were on the screen.

You try to cover your face as everyone around you cheers. Both you and Alden shake your heads and the cheers turn to boos. The cam finally moves on to others and the game resumes. Then it happens again. Several times.

You rolled your eyes, fed up, “Oh, for fuck sake!” you yell before grabbing Alden’s face, bringing his lips to yours. What were you doing? Although, he’s not pulling away. Cheers erupted but you barely register them. All you can think about is the feeling of his silky smooth lips on yours. His moustache tickling your nose. But your about to get too carried away. You wanted nothing more than to deepen the kiss, to straddle him, to be as close to him as possible. But you were in public, so you reluctantly pull away, blushing. Quickly you turn your attention back to the field as the game resumes, to hide the heat that was coating your usual pale complexion.

“I wonder why they kept coming back to us,” Alden spoke up after about half an hour of silence. He was in shock that you made a move. That you kissed him, on tv, for the world to see. Him. An old man.

You looked at him and shrugged, “Don’t know,” before turning your gaze back to the game.

Yeah, you didn’t know, but there were two people who did.

“Thank you, my good sir,” Nick said as he slipped a hundred bucks to the camera man.

“Think it’ll work?” Jess asked as they both make their way out.

“It was my idea, of course it’s going to work,” Torres cockily replied.

Jess rolled her eyes at him, “I’m amazed you can still fit that big head in the elevator,”

After the game was over, Parker dropped you off back home. He began to apologize about the kiss cam and for being the one they made you kiss. Did he seriously think that you thought kissing him was a bad thing?

You wanted to eliminate those thoughts from his mind, so without the thousands of screaming fans, telling you to kiss. You told yourself. You brought your hand to his face, his beard slightly tickling the palm of your hand and brought his lips down to yours.

This time, it was slow, sweet and private. But now being alone, your self control was slipping away. You brought your other hand to his hair as you deepened the kiss but all too soon he pulled away.

“What are we doing?”

“Kissing,” you shrugged. “You apologized for me having to kiss you on the kiss cam. But it’s something I’ve wanted to do for months,”

“Why me?”

“Don’t you own a mirror?” you asked him, he laughed and pulled you back into a kiss, this one more needy, more desperate. Tongues colliding, teeth clashing. When you pulled away for air, you let your head fall to rest in the crook of his neck and the next words you said would change your relationship forever.

“Stay”

[A/N] hope you liked it. Sort of inspired by the movie "Set it Up" love Zoey Deutch, she's just so adorable and funny in that.

[questintheskies]

1. CM Punk says people in AEW felt “betrayed” when he visited WWE Raw backstage in May 2023.

2. CM Punk confirms that no one came to pick him up at the airport for AEW All In, didn’t cry about it, calls it irresponsible.

3. CM Punk says he told Tony Khan that “this place [AEW] is a fucking joke, you're a clown”. Then he quit AEW.

4. “I don't like the drama but the truth is the truth. He's not a boss, he's a nice guy. That's a detriment to the company [AEW] but it's not my company." — CM Punk when asked about Tony Khan

5. CM Punk talking about AEW: Says it’s not a real or sustainable business, not about selling tickets, not about drawing money. Having good matches maybe which there’s nothing wrong with. Will always exist as long as Tony Khan keeps pumping money into it.

6. “If you're more than happy with some goof saying you had a 5 star match & the building is a quarter full…then we're not in the same business." — CM Punk

7. CM Punk was a consultant to Tony Khan in AEW, working with 2 contracts. One was a talent contract, the other was the consultant contract.

8. CM Punk believed AEW was an alternative to what WWE was. But 90% of the problems he had or identified about AEW were the very things that made AEW different…

He's happy that AEW exists because it allows wrestlers to make more money, but then also says "guaranteed money kind of ruined pro wrestling. If you had to get paid off the house, things would be a lot different"

9. CM Punk on the infamous Hangman Page promo before DoN.

Says Hangman went off the script, and that he wanted to double leg him and “murder” him on live TV if it wasn't for his professionalism. Says he went to TK and the lawyers to get the situation fixed.

10. CM Punk says nobody in AEW talked to him for 6 months after Brawl Out, he had to sort his tricep surgery by himself. He says the difference between getting injured in both companies is “night and day”

11. “I don’t regret my time there (AEW). Im just brutally honest about some things — And it’s done.

I hope they’re happy, I known I am. I would like to leave it at that. I understand fans and the tribalism, I’m a Blackhawks, I’m a Chicago Cubs fan, so I will always troll and needle White Sox fans, or Blues fans, or Predator’s you know?

But some of the shit was so outlandish, talking about my Dog and all this awful stuff”

12. CM Punk says before joining AEW, he was close to re-joining WWE, even before being on WWE Backstage.

He said they had a handshake deal in place but then it didn’t happen. He says Nick Khan lead the charge even before Khan joined WWE as he was with CAA.

13. CM Punk says stories of him being violent backstage are overblown and not true. (Earlier he admitted to choking a co-worker backstage and wanting to murder Hangman Adam Page for going off script)

14. CM Punk didn't have a non-compete clause after being fired from AEW.

15. Samoa Joe told him to stop acting up at All In Wembley, so he did. Then he turned to Khan and told him, “This place is fucking joke, man. You’re a clown. I quit.” Joe and Jerry Lynn came to his room and got him to do the PPV opening match. He said he was “too fired up” then and now rehashing it, and will probably regret talking about it, but “that’s what happened.”

16. He says he wrestled the match for Joe, referee Paul Turner, Lynn who was the agent on the match, and the fans. But he knew it was his last time wrestling Joe, and in the company.

17. He hasn’t spoken to Khan since backstage at Wembley when he quit. He didn’t do anything to make him fear for his life, as Khan said when announcing Punk’s firing on Dynamite, but Punk sayd “he is who he is.” He believes there was a “concerted effort to try to slander [him] and try to ruin [his] character.”

18. Spreading “rumors and lies and bullshit” was the genesis of all his issues at AEW. He thinks it might have been jealousy or envy, but doesn’t understand why anyone would try to dim the star of the company’s top guy.

19. Punk says his remarks at the post-All In scrum weren’t planned, but when he saw “reporters” there who are friends with other wrestlers and who wrote things about him without checking with him, it set him off. He does say it’s in his “top three CM Punk promos”, though.

20. There was nothing it the scrum that Khan hadn’t heard before. Punk doesn’t think he can talk about what happened afterwards. Confirms he is referring to Brawl Out, but says he “didn’t have to sign an NDA for anything I did wrong.” He has nothing he wanted to hide, but Khan wanted him to sign an NDA — he doesn’t know why.

21. As to why he did agree to come back, “I have a lot of friends there”, and Khan wasn’t going to let him go. Rather than sit at home, he thought he’d try to “get some guys together and have some fun shows.”

22. Asked if there’s anything he’s proud of from his time in AEW, he says he made a lot of friends and got to a lot of “cool shit” — specifically mentioning getting to work with Sting. “I think the positives outweigh the negatives”.

23. He talks about attending an indie show recently and telling someone that what happens there works at that level, as evidenced by it selling out an arcade bar, “but that shit doesn’t fly on national television — I think that’s being proven right now.”

24. He’s proud of the work he did with MJF, and thinks MJF’s future is bright as he’s immensely talented. He wasn’t great when he catered to the “niche internet audience”.

25. Punk doesn’t think he’ll ever bury the hatchet with Colt Cabana. He says Cabana approached him at some point before the All Out ‘22 incident, but he told him he wouldn’t speak to him without a lawyer present.

[sunflower-lilac42]

𑁍 𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳 ; 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𑁍

➪ summary: violet has one mission and one mission only for her trip to chicago, to recreate ferris bueller's day off

➪ warnings: none

➪ word count: 1.3k

➪ file type: au (flowers) fic and insta edit

➪ sunny's notes: guys bsfr i love these two so so much

au masterlist || nhl masterlist || navigation

“I’m outside”

In a matter of seconds Connor was rushing out the doors and knocking on Violet’s car window, “I can’t believe you actually drove all the way to Chicago for me.”

“Well believe it because you are now my new best friend and as my new best friend I’m making you drive because I don’t want to anymore. Just don’t crash because you’re not on my insurance.”

Instead of getting out of the car, Violet gracefully hopped over the middle console in her car to sit in the passenger seat. Connor chuckled, got in the car, and asked her where to drive to.

“I don’t care but all I know is that I have a list of things that I want to do that’s titled ‘Connor and Violet’s Fun and Exciting Time in Chicago’ waiting for us.”

Connor pulled out of the parking spot and started driving towards a parking garage, “I’m assuming you want to walk right?”

“Yes, please. I’ve been sitting for way too long.”

“So, what does this list have in store for us?”

Violet, with no concern for getting pulled over, unbuckled her seat belt and reached into the back to grab her notebook full of random ideas, and opened to the page that was decorated like a scrapbook with her list of activities. 

“Are you ready?”

“No.”

“Too bad. I want to eat deep-dish pizza, authentic deep-dish pizza. I want to go to Navy Pier and just walk around the city in general. I want to take photos of us because we have none,” Violet continued to ramble off a bunch of things she wanted to do and when she got to the end she grinned, “I want to recreate Ferris Bueller. And by that I mean we have to at least go to a Cubs game, holler ‘Swing batter batter’, go to a parade, run through a neighborhood, and look what I got us-'' She once again reached into her bag and pulled something out, “Save Ferris pins!”

“I would love to do that, but I have never seen Ferris Bueller.”

Violet looked shocked, “You’ve never seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?!” 

Connor shook his head as he pulled into a parking garage, “We are watching that when we get back to my hotel room.”

They wandered around Chicago for a while, trying to decide the best way to complete everything. Violet wasn’t expecting to do everything on her list, of course, she wanted to but it was almost completely unrealistic. But, Connor wanted to do everything on that list. They would get to spend more time together and it would make her happy.

The first night they were there, Connor took her to Navy Pier and took her to Giordanos for deep-dish pizza. She moaned in delight when she tasted the pizza, “Oh my god. This is so good, why didn’t I do this sooner.”

Connor laughed at the girl, eating his piece. They talked about the beginning of Connor’s season, Violet asking him if he was nervous. To which Connor replied with a yes and Violet reassured him that it was alright and that things were going to work out. 

Ever since they met Connor and Violet have been attached to one another. They texted every day, Violet giving him random updates on what she was doing. He would watch every one of her videos with a cheesy smile on his face as she talked about flowers or what she was taking in the upcoming semester.

When Connor figured out that she was going to UofI he was elated that she was only going to be two hours away instead of four. He could only hope that she would want to go to some of his games so he could get her tickets to them. 

When they got back that night, she made him watch Ferris Bueller with her on her laptop as they laid side by side in the hotel bed. Violet pointed out the things that she wanted them to do throughout the movie, also making random comments about the things that reminded her of her brothers. 

The next day, she made him go on the tour boat on the river, gazing at the buildings and reaching out for the water below. Connor watched her happily and joined in at her silly antics as they walked the boat, pushing one another. 

They then went to Water Tower, where Connor bought her a couple of sets of flower legos. She walked out skipping and stopped when she saw the American Girl Doll store, “Con, we have to go there!”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve never had an American Girl Doll before and I just want to look at them, please.” She dragged out the e, Connor giving in easily. 

He let her drag her into the pink store and she looked around in awe. They looked at the recent girl of the year who sat right in front when they walked in and then went to look at all the different sections, stopping at the hockey one. 

She then dragged him downstairs where all the other previous girls of the year were. She practically skipped through the store, “I’ve always wanted Julie.”

“Who’s Julie?”

“She’s one of the dolls from the historical collection. She’s from 1974 and she’s kinda characterized as a hippie but she wears a lot of floral print and decorates with flowers.”

“That seems like you.” He continued to follow her around the store, making a mental reminder of the doll she wanted so he could later buy it for her, before they exited and then went up to one of the sports shops they had, “Hey look Con!”

Connor looked to the wall where there was a jersey with his name on the back, “I gotta get it. Lemme make sure I have enough money in my account.” She whipped out her phone to check the funds in her account, sighing when she realized she had lent Luca and Adam money earlier in the week to buy something. 

“Never mind, let's just go.”

“Wait, come on I’ll buy it for you.”

“No, Con. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking, I’m telling you I am. Plus, I’m a professional hockey player now, I have the money.” Violet slapped him on the chest before walking out of the store, slightly embarrassed. Connor purchased the jersey and handed it to her, “Connor I told you not to.”

“But I wanted to. Honestly.” She smiled and wasted no time throwing the jersey on and walking out of the Water Tower. 

They then walked to the Sears (Willis) Tower just like in the movie and stood on the glass floor, “You have no idea how terrified I am right now.”

“You’re the one that wanted to do this.”

“I know and I am seriously regretting it.”

They then walked down to Billy Goats, a classic restaurant downtown, which Violet loved all so greatly. She got lots of remarks about her jersey, some nice and some mean but they paid no mind to those. After eating, the two of them were tired so they headed back to her hotel to rest and watch something on the TV. 

The next day they just wandered around and took some pictures before going to Wrigley to watch a Cubs game. It was a night game and the Cubs were playing the Nationals. They cheered from their seats and as Connor promised her they yelled, “Hey batter batter batter batter swing batter.” Sitting through all nine innings, or eight and a half technically, they watched as they scored 17 runs, singing “Go Cubs Go” along with the other thousands of Cubs fans in the stadium. 

They ended up checking off all of y/n’s bucket list in four days together and Violet would definitely rank this as her favorite road trip to ever have happened.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪 『 instagram 』

violetsflowers

liked by _connorbedard, adamfantilli, luca.fantilli and 74,221 others

violetsflowers chicago is mighty fine this time a year and i'm so glad i got to have an amazing tour guide as well.

picture tour: first i decorated my mirror with some daisys i found, i made (him) my yogurt bowl, (he) gave me a tiny flower, some pretty chicago sights (and me), i'm a cubs fan now?, ice cream!, the river, and finally i finished reading happy place by emily henry!

new vlog and book video coming soon, my loves :)

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lhughes_06 why didn't i get an invite

↳ violetsflowers you aren't cool enough

username she's so pretty 😩

username she was in chicago and i didn't see her???

username i met her there! she was super nice. the rumor is true! she gives a flower sticker to everyone she meets

↳ violetsflowers it was so fun meeting you :)

_connorbedard you invaded my city?

↳ violetsflowers maybe.... but shush

adamfantilli she's a city girl now 🫢

↳ violetsflowers yessir

『••✎••』

messyviolet

liked by colecaufield, luca.fantilli, markestapa, and 17,698 others

messyviolets save ferris!!!!!!! (i'm convinced all i did was eat there)

view 53 comments

colecaufield she watched it again smh

↳ messyviolets watch it or i'm coming to montreal to hit you this season

↳ colecaufield my plan is working, your turn @/lhughes_06

lhughes_06 violettttttttttttttttttt

↳ messyviolets yes?

↳ lhughes_06 come visit me? 🥺

↳ messyviolets sure

↳ colecaufield you're telling me all i had to do was ask?

_connorbedard chicago girl 🫵🏻

↳ messyviolets chicago boy 🫵🏻

[ardent-heretic]

Went to my first White Sox game in 1977. In Chicago you MUST choose a side. Sox or Cubs. You can’t like both. In the 90’s my friend got a job in their ticket sales department. I went to a ton of games when that happened.

If a friend wanted to go to a game. I’d take them and ask where do you want to sit? Behind home plate? No problem. Front row on their dugout? Say no more? Wanted to try to catch a home run? Pick a section. I got you. Skybox? Invite a few more people and I will hook you up.

The White Sox were a big part of my life.

And now they tied the record for worst team in history. 120 losses. They will have custody of “Worst Team in History” shortly. Angels suck ass too. So it may be two games. But I think the Sox will lose 4-2 tomorrow.

How did they get so bad? It is almost a 20 year story to explain. Ask me over a beer.

But ohh myLanta they suck ass.

Soon as they get the 121st lost. I wash my fucking hands of them. Burn my Paul Konerko jersey. Throw away my 1984 Greg Luzinski signed Card. Rip my Autographed Harold Baines 8X10.

And finally, after waiting decades…

I will be able to watch Robin Ventura charge the mound and get his ass handed to him by Nolan Ryan... And finally laugh about it.

[emeraldzephyr]

Glory Days: A Baseball AU Fic

Part 1 of my Baseball Player Steve Harrington Fic!

Eddie Munson was at the last place he thought he would ever be on a Wednesday afternoon. 

After arriving in Chicago for the next stop on Corroded Coffin's Raising the Dead tour, their manager, Nancy Wheeler, presented them with suite tickets to the Chicago Cubs game.

"One of the player's brothers is a huge fan" She said as she passed over the envelope, "It would mean a lot to go, and it's good press."

"Nancy," Eddie started, and the rest of the band sighed, preparing for his rant, "We are not sports sorts. In fact, it was those same types that made our lives such hell in school. And yes, that was 10 years ago but I have a very good memory, and even a few scars to remember it by!" 

"Look, it's 3 hours tops, there will be food and drinks in the suite, and if you get pics at the game I bet you sell out the rest of those tickets before the show on Saturday. Chicago loves the Cubs, and Steve Harrington is their golden boy."

Eddie looked to his band members, eyes darting between the three of them.

Gareth shrugged "Might as well, maybe it could be fun."

Eddie frowned, and glared down at Jeff, "Weirdly enough, I kind of like baseball."

Eddie gasped, murmuring traitor under his breath.

Finally, he leveled his gaze to Frank, who gulped before sputtering out, "I mean, free food and drinks is nice." 

" Ugh… .fine!" Eddie snaps, throwing his hands up and flopping down on the couch in the hotel suite," but don't expect me to be happy about it."

Which brings us to the present, where Eddie sits in the cushy Legends suite at Wrigley Field. At least the day was nice, the sky a bright blue with fluffy clouds, a chill breeze just enough to cool the warm rays of the sun.

A bat cracked, and Eddie flinched. He knew there was netting keeping the balls from getting to them but that didn't stop his anxiety from expecting every single one of those fuckers to come flying at his face like some kind of jock powered magic missile. 

“I would say you get used to it, but you really don’t.”

Eddie turned to see a woman with short brown hair and blue eyes seated two seats over. Her long legs were propped up on the seat in front of her, and she wore a white and blue striped jersey with HARRINGTON across the back.

“I mean, I’ve been going to Steve’s games since college and I still flinch every time.” She said, chuckling to herself, “I’m Robin, by the way.”

“Ah, so you must be Harrington’s lucky girl!” Eddie exclaims, sweeping his hands open in a dramatic bow, “Eddie Munson, pleasure to meet you.”

“Eww, no.” Robin clips, “Steve is my very platonic best friend. And roommate, but I am but a humble graduate student and he makes fuck you amounts of money.”

Eddie barks out a laugh at that as the loudspeaker in the stadium crackles to life.

“Batting Number 4, Your Shortstop Steve Harrington!!”

The crowd roars to life, Robin cheering enthusiastically next to him, and Eddie’s jaw drops open as he hears a familiar drum and guitar riff before his own voice shouts through the stadium “I don’t need your crown!!”, the fans echoing his words as the guitar and drums kick into a fast and heavy riff. When Jeff explained the concept of walkout music to him earlier in the game he never expected to hear one of their own songs blasted through the stadium.

“Holy shit!” Gareth shouted, shaking Eddie by the shoulders “Harrington has our song as his walkout music!”

Eddie looks up to the jumbotron screens to see a close up of Harrington as he steps up to the batter's box, a beaming smile on his face as he taps the end of the bat on each shoe before bringing the bat up and squatting slightly to get in batting position, his eyes focused like a laser on the pitcher. 

The first pitch flies in just below the strike zone, the second in the dirt. 

“Ooo, they’re scared of him.” a curly haired man says, plopping into the empty seat between Eddie and Robin.

“Scared of him?” Eddie questions, tilting his head at the new arrival.

He turns towards Eddie and a look of recognition crosses his face, “Holy shit, you’re Eddie Munson! Steve said he was giving you and the band tickets but I didn’t think you’d actually come! I’m Dustin, his little brother!”

Dustin grabs Eddie’s hand, shaking it enthusiastically as Steve fouls off the third pitch.

“They’re scared of him because he’s a damn good player,” Robin fills in, sitting up just enough to make eye contact with Eddie over Dustin’s head.

“Yeah, they don’t want to give him anything he can get ahold of,” Dustin muses as the crack of the bat against the ball rings out through the stadium.

The ball rockets up the middle, cutting between the second base and shortstop and rolling through center field. Steve takes off at a sprint, rounding first base and making it comfortably to second before the ball flies in from the outfield.

“Hell yeah Steve!!” Dustin shouts, with Robin whistling.

* * * * *

Eddie spends the majority of the game talking to Dustin and Robin about a variety of topics. Eddie learns that Dustin is working at a tech company that does…something with radio waves. Honestly Eddie was lost on that one after about three words. He also learns Robin is studying linguistics at the University of Chicago. Eddie talks to them both about his music, their tour, and a few early ideas for songs. 

The group always stops when Steve comes up to bat. It’s endearing how much the pair cares about Steve, contrasting with how little they care about the rest of the game. It honestly surprises Eddie how good of a time he is having. 

Steve’s next two at bats are a sacrifice fly, putting the Cubs on the board but still behind. His second at bat ends in a double play, giving Eddie precious little time to admire the man as he ran the bases. And Eddie was a weak, weak man, and those baseball pants hugged just right. He should honestly know better than to crush on the straight jock, but looking was fine, right?

It was the bottom of the ninth and the Cubs trailed 4-1 when Steve came to bat, bases loaded. After Steve’s walkout music cut off you could hear a pin drop in the stadium. Pitch one was a fastball, rocketing in right down the center of the strike zone. Steve stood completely still, taking the strike. The next, a breaking ball down and left, outside the strike zone. One and one count.

“Holy shit this is stressful,” Eddie said through clenched teeth, twisting the rings on his fingers nervously.

“No kidding,” Robin mumbles, her knee bouncing anxiously as Steve stepped back into the batter’s box.

Pitch three was a fastball that floated just outside of the strike zone, pitch four a curve ball fouled off into the first base stands. The count was even, and it felt as if the stadium itself was holding its breath. 

Pitch five was where the pitcher made a grave error. It flew straight down the center of the strike zone, but Steve was ready for it this time. The ball cracked off the bat, soaring towards right field. The stadium erupted, growing louder and louder the further the ball flew, until it landed in the right field bleachers.

“HOLY SHIT THAT WAS A WALK OFF GRAND SLAM!!” Dustin screamed, as all of them jumped to their feet, shouting and cheering as Steve and his teammates all rounded the bases. 

The entire stadium was whipped into a frenzy, the team included. Steve rounded third base and beamed as his entire team waited for him at home plate, where they instantly swarmed him, multiple coolers of gatorade dunked on his head as the team celebrated. 

Eddie and the Corroded Coffin boys couldn’t help but be swept up in the kinetic atmosphere of the stadium, jumping and cheering. His eyes locked with Gareth’s when the entire stadium began to sing.

“Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey, Chicago, what do you say, The Cubs are gonna win today!”

“They have their own theme song?” Gareth exclaimed, “We gotta do a cover.”

“Wouldn’t be the first!” Jeff shouted over the crowd, slinging an arm around Gareth’s shoulders, “Pantera wrote a song for the Dallas hockey team that they play when goals are scored.”

The crowd continued singing as they all filtered out of the stadium, while the suite that Eddie and the others were in continued their libations. After a few minutes, the door swung open and a chorus of “Steve!” rang out from the box.

Eddie may as well have looked right at the sun with as bright as Harrington was beaming as both Dustin and Robin threw their arms around his shoulders, both speaking lightning fast at him in their excitement. His eyes darted between the two of them, trying to keep up with the separate streams of conversations, when his eyes finally settled between the two of them on Eddie, Gareth, Jeff, and Frank.

“You must be Corroded Coffin!” He greeted, slipping between Robin and Dustin and walking over to shake hands, “I’m really glad you could make it, Dusty and I are both big fans.”

“Gotta say,” Eddie started as he shook Steve’s hand, “I didn’t expect a pretty boy jock like yourself to be a metal fan.”

Steve flushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck, “Yeah, well Dustin was the one who got me into it in all honesty. That plus a smidge of teenage rebellion was the right combination I guess. Plus, it makes great workout music.”

A woman’s head popped into the door as the group chatted, “Steve, we have a presser in 5.”

“Guess that’s my cue,” he said, thumbing over his shoulder at the door, “If you don’t have plans after the game, we are doing a barbecue at my place.”

The Corroded Coffin boys all looked between each other, Jeff nodding enthusiastically. Frank shrugged, and Gareth smiled mischievously at Eddie. He didn’t like that look one bit.

“I guess we can swing by,” Eddie said, eyebrows knitted together in confusion at Gareth’s expression, then turning to smile at Steve.

“Great!” Steve beamed, clapping Eddie on the shoulder, “Robin can give you the details.”

Steve walked up to Nancy just before leaving, giving her a hug and lifting her slightly off her toes.

“It was good to see you Nance Pants,” he grinned, “See you at the barbecue!”

"Nance Pants?" The band choruses in unison.

"We are NOT talking about it."

[gadawg-404]

“Navigate the buoys and set it up,” Jimmy Buffett said.

There was a lyrical lift to his voice over the phone decades ago that said he was smiling. Or maybe I just heard that. The singer and actor Bill Murray bought a sliver of the Miami Marlins, then a minor-league baseball team, and the floated idea was to have a young sportswriter sit with them at a game in Key West. Me.

Buffett died Friday night and the obituaries naturally center on the tropical lifestyle of songs that made you want to sail off to the Keys. “Margaritaville”. “A Pirate Looks at Forty”. “Changes in Latitude/Changes in Attitude”.

But Buffett also was a South Florida sports fan in a way that also expressed his fundamental irreverence, passionate search for fun and over the years could leave you snorting in your tropical drink.

His appearances were regular, his glimpses anecdotal. There was a rumor he bought a 5 percent stake in the minor-league Marlins in 1989 when I called his Key West office. His assistant asked how I heard. I didn’t want to tell how.

“Ah, you heard it on the Coconut Telegraph,” said the assistant, Sunshine Smith. Life imitated lyrics.

Buffett came on the phone and explained his interest: “I’ve been a baseball nut for years and thought it would be fun. I like the fact it’s a non-polluting industry with no tall buildings.”

That kind of verbal dexterity was welcome in a sports world often lacking in its fundamental function of fun. The minor-league Marlins didn’t work with the planned split of games Key West and the Mark Light Stadium. But that didn’t matter. He took his swing.

Buffett’s perpetual irreverence was never mistaken for lack of passion, as any Miami Heat fan remembers. He was a Heat season-ticket holder for years who showed up to games in a trademark tan and philosophically flowery shirt. He was a friend of the team. He joined team president Pat Riley in singing, “Heard it through the Grapevine” at a charity event. He partied on New Year’s Eve with Heat owner Micky Arison. He could be seen watching a game with Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino in 2005 or playing the steel drums during a timeout at the 2013 NBA Finals.

Buffett regularly was a real fan, too, as best represented in a 2001 game against the then-hated New York Knicks. Referee Joe Forte stopped the game in the fourth quarter, called security and pointed for them to remove someone.

It was Buffett.

“He was using profanity,” Forte said afterward. “There was a little boy sitting next to him and a lady sitting by him. He used some words he knows he shouldn’t have used so I asked security to move him to another location. We don’t have to take that kind of thing.”

Riley, then the coach, motioned Forte over to him after Buffett walked up the stairs to a higher-level seat.

“Do you know who that is?” Riley asked the referee, who said he didn’t know. Forte still didn’t know when Riley said it was Jimmy Buffett.

“Do you mean to tell me you’ve never been a ‘Parrothead,’ in your life?’’ Riley said, referring to the nickname of Buffett fans. Riley then said of Forte, “He thought I was insulting him and wanted to give me a technical for calling him a Parrothead.’ ”

For years, it was a wonderfully South Florida subplot to sports scene. The Knicks had Spike Lee. Buffett was ours. All ours. Or so we thought until the Marlins — the major-league Marlins by this time — showed up for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series in Chicago in 2003.

There was Buffett in a No. 22 Chicago jersey, the same as Cubs starter Mark Prior. Our Jimmy was theirs. He stretched out of the press box in the seventh inning to sing, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”

As a South Florida columnist, I couldn’t allow this to happen without questioning him. I waited in the hallway outside the small booth he sang. When he came out, I asked him, “Jimmy, how could you do this to South Florida?”

He laughed, as he should have and said, “I’ve been a Cubs fan for 32 years.”

So, he really was like many South Florida fans. He had allegiances rooted elsewhere. Buffett also said that night he let Marlins have the rights to his minor-league team’s nickname for free.

“As a gift, I gave it to them, let them have it,” he said.

Buffett came to fewer sports events as the years moved on. The last time I saw him was on a Key West stage in January. The idea of going to a minor-league game with him in Key West was long forgotten, just as that team was.

But as the world mourned a musician Saturday, South Florida also lost a sports fan. He was irreverent and tropically tanned but genuinely passionate as any son of a son of a Heat fan should remember.

Author

Dave Hyde | Sports Columnist

Dave Hyde is Sports Columnist for the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

[thehoppost]

Here are the 7 best Chicago arenas and stadiums:

Wrigley Field: Home of the Chicago Cubs, this historic stadium is one of the most iconic sports venues in the country.

United Center: Home to both the Chicago Bulls (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), the United Center is a state-of-the-art arena that also hosts concerts and other events.

Guaranteed Rate Field: Home of the Chicago White Sox, this modern stadium is located on the city's south side and offers great views of the skyline.

Soldier Field: Home of the NFL's Chicago Bears, this stadium is located right on the lakefront and has a unique design that incorporates elements of the city's history and architecture.

Wintrust Arena: This recently-built arena in the South Loop is home to the WNBA's Chicago Sky and DePaul University basketball, and also hosts concerts and other events.

SeatGeek Stadium: Located in the suburb of Bridgeview, this outdoor stadium is home to the Chicago Red Stars (women's professional soccer) and has hosted other events such as concerts and rugby matches.

Allstate Arena: Located in the suburb of Rosemont, this indoor arena is home to the Chicago Wolves (AHL hockey) and hosts a variety of concerts and other events throughout the year.

[nancypullen]

Hit 'Em Where They Ain't, Boys

Over the years I've expressed my love for the sport of baseball. Love it. I've always had a favorite team to watch...the Fairbanks Goldpanners, the Nashville Sounds, and always, always the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are on my television right now battling with Chicago. They're up by one run in the second inning and I'm cheering them on. Apologies to my favorite diehard Cubs fan, Dina. All of that explains why I couldn't be more excited to share that we have tickets to see the Braves play the Nationals in D.C. on June 9th! An afternoon game in June, what's better than that? Nuttin'! We'll cross the bridge and catch the Metro which will drop us right at the stadium. No fighting traffic or looking for parking, hooray! I can't wait! As I've also mentioned a few hundred times I love the 1988 movie, Bull Durham. Baseball, steamy romance, big laughs, great music - what else do you need?

Kevin Costner. Need I say more?

I could relate to Annie Savoy. I mean, not because she's leggy and gorgeous, I'm neither, but her love of the game and commitment to the season. I used to have her opening (PG) monologue memorized.

I believe in the Church of Baseball. I've tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. (sigh) But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology.

You see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never borin' - which makes it like sex. There's never been a ballplayer slept with me who didn't have the best year of his career. Makin' love is like hittin' a baseball. You just gotta relax and concentrate. Besides, I'd never sleep with a player hittin' under .250, unless he had a lot of RBIs or was a great glove man up the middle.

You see, there's a certain amount of life wisdom I give these boys. I can expand their minds. Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him. And the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. Of course, a guy'll listen to anything if he thinks it's foreplay. I make them feel confident, and they make me feel safe - and pretty. Of course, what I give them lasts a lifetime. What they give me lasts 142 games. Sometimes it seems like a bad trade, but bad trades are part of baseball. I mean, who can forget Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas, for God's sake? It's a long season and you gotta trust it. I've tried 'em all, I really have. And the only church that truly feeds the soul - day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.

I agree, Annie. Which is why I made this shirt to wear to the game.

I need to look good while I yell at the ump and call balls and strikes. I know they appreciate my help. Trying to decide which earrings to wear, of course the big earrings appeal to me.

I'll probably just wear the beaded hoops on the far left. Ponytail, hoops in Braves colors, and a Church of Baseball tee. If that doesn't spell crazy fan I don't know what does. Whoohoo, let's go, Braves! I don't want to hear a word about my craziness. It's fun to have something to look forward to - and if there's a rainout I may cry.

Alright, that's enough silliness from me for one night. I don't expect you to share my passion for baseball or my love of Bull Durham. I do hope that you can share a bit of my excitement for something fun on the horizon. When we don't have things to look forward to, life becomes drudgery. It doesn't have to be anything big - for me it can be a trip to a garden center or a shopping trip with my sister. Life needs to be sprinkled with occasional treats. So send good juju out to the universe for fair weather on June 9th, then tune in to the Braves game. I'll be the wackadoodle in the red shirt (that should narrow it down). Sending out heaps of love tonight, take what you need and pass it on. Stay safe, stay well. XOXO, Nancy P.S. Go watch Bull Durham. You're welcome.

[mhaccunoval]

beloveddddd [gently cups your face in my hands] tell me about CIFL <3

HI BELOVED <333

your ticket of admission is a kiss on the forehead <3 as i try to remember what developments have been made since i last talked about it on here...

mmm!!! one that's been haunting me lately (i probably won't actually get around to writing it so i'll share it here): i've been thinking about. well it's an intersection of inspiration from mawce by everybody's worried about owen and a troubled mind by noah kahan but. 22/23 year old maggie (pre-transition donny) going to eli (pre-transition ellie)'s college town— based on the a troubled mind lyrics 'i took a bus out to the city where you live / eaves dropped on strangers' conversations with their kids / in hopes that maybe they'd say something relevant / to ease my worried head'— while in a Weird Headspace (even a manic episode, but more on That later). doesn't get a whole hell of a lot out of it, other than more of The Weird Headspace, especially if (he) sees someone who looks vaguely like eli and/or gets spooked by any deep water around (another point to be elaborated). while somewhat Dissociated in the headspace, makes (his) way down to boston, then to new york, has a mini break in a new york hotel room including shaving (his) head. DOES, then, get home safely and shows up at the hurleys' door— the specificity of new york being important because the shaving of the head leads to (his) hat era and the hat (he) got first says NY on it. marian, god bless her, is a bit shocked at first but. she loves (him) like her own so she fixes the rough/uneven patches of hair, makes sure (he's) well-fed/comfortable, defends (him) when Joseph gets a bit prickly about the whole situation (I HAD ACTUAL DIALOGUE BUT I FORGOR; anyway, i'll elaborate on the prickle AS WELL). lets M— who does want to temporarily go by M since part of the break is gender shit— vent where (he) needs to. and. the part i'm gnawing on the most is, in the morning M's like 'hi annie...' and marian's like 'hi peach :)' because!!! dat baby's a fuzzy little peach right now!!! and. and. joseph, coming to made Some acceptance with the situation, puts a ballcap of his on M's head, probably a chicago cubs cap or something...

ELABORATION 1.) usage of 'manic episode' as i always do, i use the phrasing with careful consideration just because. i know it's not verbage to just throw around. and i use it apprehensively here just because i STILL have not determined whether donny is more bipolar or BPD, but i AM leaning BPD more so. probably in part because of pieces of him that are so very me. but i am also NOT ruling out the possibility just because in some scenes in my head, i can see things that could be a manic or could be a depressive episode. POINT BEING I'M STILL DOING MY RESEARCH AND I'M DOING MY RESEARCH AT ALL, I SWEAR.

ELABORATION 2.) fear of deep water something i really need to do is note all the music inspired lore, particularly the noah kahan inspired stuff. ANYHOW. noah's song fear of water inspired the lore that donny's scared of deep dark water, like any dark parts of lake michigan and for sure the ocean. the other side of the coin (because of course it's a coin) being that ellie was a swimmer in middle school / high school after getting over her own fear of water (inspired by 'you used to be scared of the water / you're safe by the side of your father' from glue myself shut). –– E2a.) naturally, there's a scene in my head related to all of this. in The Awkward Period after ellie moves back— another point for elaboration— what really ends the tension, besides hashing it out, is ellie making him face that fear of the water. not quite fear immersion with, like, going into the depths of the ocean, but taking a dunk in the lake, even against donny's better judgment. and grumbling about it just because it doesn't FULLY reduce the anxiety (just staves it) but he also can't fully complain because if following her word means he's regained some of ellie's trust and bond, then by god he'll do it

ELABORATION 3.) joseph prickliness it prickles me to forget the dialogue i had BUT the main subtext behind it is. prior to donny's transition, he's seen like a daughter to both of the hurley parents, so in some part joseph's always prickly about that, not because he doesn't Want a daughter but because he doesn't know how to have one (not that he knows much about having a son or a kid in general, between him & annie having ellie young-er AND his personality). and it's something he admits to ellie after She's transitioned, saying that he Still doesn't know how to have a daughter. BUT at least he's made an effort in both cases and continues to make an effort for his Blood daughter

ELABORATION 4.) The Awkward Period the awkward period is ALSO music inspired but it's more a conglomerate than anything. like the major components are two song inspired scenes i'll explain in a second but. the general notion with The Awkward Period is that it's a span of a couple months after ellie gets back where things are, well, Awkward. she's trying to handle her grief and readjust to being back home (after four years in vermont, four years in philadelphia) with whatever weird grudge she doesn't understand being held by donny as a cherry on top. and donny's still sifting through said grudge, still compartmentalizing his anger. so it's a lot of tension filled stares and cutting words for a minute –– E4a.) the major component is the Funeral stuff inspired by orange juice... which is particularly the first/last verse with the placing of the setting as a party. in my head it's the wake, everyone choosing to drown their sorrows are drinking, cue joseph & ellie in the kitchen, with donny walking in; the tension is thick as donny and ellie look at each other, and ellie, out of sheer politeness, wants to suggest that there's stuff to mix a drink with. only for joseph to interject that there's orange juice in the fridge for non-alcoholic drinking, which confuses ellie slightly but only because she doesn't know that donny's the lyric of 'and i haven't drank in six months / on the dot'. which does irk donny a bit more in stewing since that means his sobriety is yet Another piece of information that's been withheld from her / that she doesn't know and therefore another piece of him that she hasn't known –– E4b.) the other major component is the hashing out scene. which also has some orange juice inspiration but is mainly homesick (and even a hint of new perspective)... so Given homesick, it's set like two months after the funeral, donny coming over to the hurley (now just joseph's) residence to Try to make some amends, at least lure ellie out to talk some, in the VERY least go on a walk. tries to talk a bit, though superficially, about things she's missed while away, but that sours quickly. sours quickly because it easily falters into orange juice's talking of waiting so long for a homecoming that there wasn't a thought to ask where they had gone (but now asking Why they had gone). and more importantly into the fact of '[doesn't ellie] find it strange that [she] just went ahead and carried on? ... the last time [donny] drank [he] was face down passed out there in [her parents'] yard / are [they] all just crows to [her] now? / are [they] all just pulling [her] down?' WHICH. is where it turns into a hashing out because ellie bites back with the fact that her heart and her soul, more importantly her life, have changed— even the city had changed, but Somehow donny had not. and all of this continues the awkwardness and tension since now they've rubbed salt into each other's wounds, as much as they needed to hear what the other had to say (as general fact And for communication's sake)

because of being on my orange juice insanity, i'm thinking about 'you didn't put those bones in the ground' in relation to how it's worked into the story. and i forgot about 'now i'm third in the line-up to your lord and your savior'... BUT I'VE ALREADY SAID TOO MUCH IN ONE SITTING AS IS (and i haven't even touched other parts of the stick season album, like northern attitude and all my love, or anything else noah-turned-inspiration)... but do tell me if you want more insanity <3 i am willing and able to offer <3

[opspro2005]

Holy hell....$700 million American dollars. I gave up caring about pro-sports when the NBA went pro-blm and pro-slavery, the NFL when they went pro-blm and anti-American, and MLB when they went pro-blm, pro-gender mutilation for kids (looking at you Detroit Tigers among others), and this is coming from a lifelong fan that even has Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears tattoos. That said, this contract is a team-killer and is going to be a huge albatross hanging over the Dodgers starting in about year 4. Shohei seems like a decent guy, but he's 29, coming off his 2nd Tommy-John surgery, and is limited to DH duty next year. That said, good for him, the man's getting paid. As a staunch Capitalist I fully support anyone getting what they can. Enjoy the increase in ticket prices, and the inflated cost of ballpark food Dodgers fans. Much like the rest of your failed state, you're getting exactly what you wanted.

[p-finch]

About the Finch Twins: (tw: mentions of addiction & alcoholism)

Although not the first Finch children, Stephanie and Shawn happily complete the mighty and makeshift Finch family. Born two years after their older sister, June, Steph and Shawn were born on a truly lovely day in August. The two leos entered the world exactly one minute and twenty-five seconds apart. Stephanie first and then Shawn. Though Steph likes to joke that the only reason that happened was because Shawn pushed her. The twins were the result of Percy’s first marriage with a woman named Symone, a long time business partner of his from Paris. They were in love at first and eventually they realized that while the love was deep, they weren’t as in love as they could be. But they held off on officially divorcing until the kids were 13 and still very much enjoyed their marriage and their life together. To this day they remain extremely close and Symone has been a huge part in helping to raise not only the twins but June as well. Percy is certain Symone likes Mollie more than she likes him most days anyway. 

Despite growing up with what was basically two mothers and one father (the twins like to refer to Mollie as their bonus mom) they have always felt the deep love that all children deserve. They grew up close, always following their oldest sister around, always living it up at one of their father’s events. They were happy and curious kids. 

Stephanie has always been a go getter. Unlike her twin, if she says she’ll do something then she will. If she says she wants something then she will do anything she can to get it. She’s always been a fairly confident individual and when her own sports career didn’t pan out, she became interested in the business side of things. She wants to be a sports agent one day, helping athletes, primarily women, make good money and get even better deals. She can often be found court side at a Chicago Sky or Bulls game since she’s especially interested in basketball but the Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks and Red Stars still get a lot of her love. Especially since her father still has season tickets for the Cubs. Whenever she’s out and about, she’s likely to have at least one of her siblings with her if not both. She’s currently pursuing her Masters in Sports Management. Though the Finch twins spent a lot of time traveling, they primarily grew up in Rosewood and went to Rosewood Academy. Steph went to Columbia for undergrad and has returned to Ravenwood for her graduate program. She’s also a happily practicing lesbian who has not had a solid relationship since her sophomore year of college! Similar to her father who is now in the process of his third divorce.

Shawn is all about the planning and terrible at the execution. While his sister was busy making her whole life plan, Shawn was busy living in the moment. He’s always been more interested in fun and partying than a career which explains why he’s graduating almost two years later than he was supposed to. Shawn’s addiction began in high school when he was spending a lot of time going to Rosewood parties, New York parties, any fashion show after party he could sneak into. Drugs and alcohol were a constant for him and at first it was manageable, until it wasn’t. His sisters tried to intervene but it just led him to being more secretive until he woke up in the hospital one morning during his senior year of high school, his moms and father and siblings standing around. Since then he’s been to rehab twice and it was through his second rehab program that was out of state where he started to explore carpentry and specifically woodworking and furniture making. It became his outlet and when he finally returned home it started to become a hobby that soon turned into a side gig and small Etsy shop. As of today, Shawn has been sober for 11 months and has been planning to try to find a safe way to celebrate his upcoming year celebration of sobriety. He already knows his sisters are probably planning something. (They are.) It’s the longest stretch of time he’s been sober since high school. He's currently trying to finish up his bachelor's degree after being on leave for almost two years from school. Also still a devoutly practicing bisexual.

Both of the twins currently live at home in their family’s house in Rosewood. 

[ao3feed-stevebucky]

Before Chicago (a Four Minute Window interlude)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/OK7FNZf

by smlm

Speranza gave us her blessing to expand her Four Minute Window series. I'm a bit intimidated to have them back in New York. Will leave that to better writers.

I'll stick closer to my home base.

So here's the scoop; the guys frequently mull the merits of the Windy City (Chicago), and rooting for the Cubs. I won't insult die hard baseball fans by having them actually watch a game at Wrigley Field, but there IS a 4-day series this coming April, 20-23, where the Cubs take on the Dodgers at home. Steve bought nosebleed tickets as a wedding anniversary gift for Bucky.

Meanwhile they've sent Shop Cat to hang with Liho in Bed-Stuy, and George and Gracie are living it up with Tony Bark and Morgan in the Tower. Natasha's set them up in a safe house in northwest Indiana, from whence they'll toddle off to their games.

But for today, April 19, they'll head east, to South Bend, Indiana, just for the hell of it! (And they're in the Studebaker, which was repaired by the Bagrov brothers, while suffering through Dmitri's nonstop harangue about the wonders of hockey over baseball.)

Words: 1742, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Captain America - All Media Types, Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Captain America (Movies), Captain America (Comics)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers

Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/OK7FNZf