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octarineblues · 2 months

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supporting communities & people impacted by the Southport attack and the far-right riots in the UK

here is a list of community fundraisers I found, starting with those aiming to support the Southport community after the appalling attack at a children dance party, to the fundraisers helping those affected by the subsequent racist and Islamophobic far-right/nazi riots

Edited on 5 August to include Middlesbrough fundraisers. Edited on 6 August to correct the link on the Books for Spellow Lane fundraiser, to adjust the name change for the Belfast fundraiser, and to adjust the wording in the second last paragraph.

Southport:

Southport Strong Together Appeal - organised by the community foundation for Merseyside, for those affected by the Southport knife attack

United for Southport families - the funds will be distributed among the nine families of the children who were at the party

Swifties for Southport - a fundraiser for the Alder Hey Children's charity, which supports the victims and the affected families, as well as first responders and clinicians. Extra funds will also support the wider Southport community

Fundraiser for the Southport Mosque - a fundraiser to aid rebuilding or possibly re-locating the Southport Mosque after the damages it suffered during the riots

Rebuilding Windsor Mini Mart - fundraiser to rebuild the locally-owned grocery store that was targeted during the attacks, broken into, and looted

Liverpool:

Fundraiser for the Spellow Hub - the Spellow Hub was broken into, looted and set on fire at night during the riots. The Spellow Hub is a newly created one-of-a-kind (in the UK) institution, which consists of a library as well as a community centre with a mission to help people get education and pathways to work

Books for Spellow Lane - another fundraiser for the library in the Spellow Hub, to replace the books and rebuild the library there edit: included the correct link

Hartlepool:

Fundraiser for the Nasir Mosque - the Nasir Mosque was attacked following Southport riots; this fundraiser is organised by Hartlepool citizens to help the mosque deal with the damages as well as to show appreciation for the role of the mosque in the community. edit: the funds will be also distributed to the local community!

Rebuilding the Farm Shop - the shop was targeted during the riots, and when the owner and his son tried to protect it, they were also violently attacked. The fundraiser is to help fix the damages to the store.

Sunderland:

help rebuild Citizens Advice Sunderland offices after arson - two of the Citizens Advice Sunderland offices were set on fire during the riots, and one of them is completely destroyed.

Hull:

Hull Help for Refugees - a local fundraiser to support the Hull Help for Refugees charity, the donated money will be re-distributed to community members affected by the riots

Fundraiser for Hull Help for Refugees and Welcome House in Hull - collected money will be donated to the two charities

Belfast:

help fix racially motivated damages - originally the fundraiser for the Sahara Shisha Cafe which was targeted by the far right in Belfast during the riots, now a fundraiser for all affected businesses in the area. edited to reflect the change of the name of the fundraiser to avoid any confusion

Middlesbrough:

Supporting residents after the riots - Middlesbrough has suffered so much during the riots, lots of businesses as well as just regular family homes were vandalised, had their windows smashed or even were broken into. This fundraiser wants to distribute the funds between affected people to help them fix the damages, and to generally support the local community. the newest fundraiser, imo potentially the most urgent one

Fundraiser for a Care worker's car which was set on fire - a car belonging to an employee of a care agency was set on fire during the riots while he was on shift at a care home.

If you want to donate locally but there is no fundraiser to support where you live, consider donating to your local charities oriented towards Muslim or PoC communities, or towards anti-racist and refugee organizations! And go support your local Muslim/Arab/Black/Asian/Refugee owned businesses!

If you have any information about other local fundraisers, feel free to add to the post or don't hesitate to let me know and I will add them here! We have seen so much hate in the past few days, we have to stay strong and keep supporting each other!

Stay safe everyone 💛

#uk riots community fundraising #there is a lot more fundraisers for Southport but these are the major ones #it's difficult to find more local riot damages fundraisers however because those tend to be shared locally only and it hasn't been long #since the riots so i assume more will be created in the next few days #so if you know about any and want to add them here please feel free to drop me a link! It'd be good to have them in one place #tumblr has a decently sized uk community so if this post finds at least one person who learns about a local fundraiser i'd be happy #not that you have to donate locally of course. i encourage eveyrone to donate. you dont even have to be british!#southport #uk #uk riots #england #uk far right #far right extremism #uk news #uk politics #ukpol #racism #islamophobia #nationalism #fundraisers #octarine talks #there are other ways you can support your community through all this and i highly encourage that. i thought about writing about that here #but ultimately this is a fundraiser post and you know your community best - just go talk to people and give your support #or help clean up #or attend the antifacist marches and demos and vigils

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estapa-edwards · 4 months

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ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS - W. SMITH

paring: Will Smith x reader

word count: 3.4k

requested? no

warnings: use of y/n. slight smut? ig.

*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*

The echo of blades slicing through the ice reverberated throughout the rink, mingling with the sharp clatter of pucks against sticks. Boston College's hockey arena was a hub of activity, with the men's and women's teams often sharing practice times. Will Smith, the star forward of the men's team, was in the midst of a grueling drill, his focus unwavering as he maneuvered the puck with skillful precision.

On the other side of the rink, Y/N Leonard was equally absorbed in her practice. As the captain of the women's team, she had a reputation to uphold. Her brother, Ryan Leonard, was a defenseman on the men's team and one of Will's closest friends. Despite their close connection, Y/N and Will's relationship was anything but friendly.

Their rivalry was legendary, a bitter clash of egos and competitive spirits that had brewed over the years. It was an open secret that they couldn't stand each other, always bickering and challenging each other on and off the ice. But beneath the surface of their animosity lay a secret even their closest friends didn't suspect—they were enemies with benefits.

--- --- ---

Their first encounter had been a clash of wills at a party during their freshman year. The backyard of one of the off-campus houses had been transformed into a mini-rink for the night, complete with floodlights and a rowdy audience. Y/N, confident and fierce, had seen Will's cocky grin as he dominated the makeshift rink. Fueled by competitive spirit and maybe a bit too much beer, she had skated up to him and issued a challenge.

"One-on-one, Smith. Unless you're scared to lose to a girl."

Will had laughed, a sound that grated on Y/N's nerves. "You're on, Leonard. Let's see what you've got."

The stakes were high—bragging rights for the rest of the year. The game had been intense, filled with taunts and near-miss goals, ending in a narrow victory for Will. Y/N had been livid, her competitive nature unable to accept defeat gracefully. Their enmity was sealed that night, a rivalry born from mutual respect and a burning desire to prove themselves.

But as the months passed, their rivalry took an unexpected turn. Their heated arguments would often end in moments of undeniable chemistry, and one fateful night after a particularly intense game, their anger had erupted into something else entirely.

--- --- ---

The game against Northeastern had been brutal, leaving both teams exhausted and irritable. The men's and women's teams had played back-to-back games, each fiercely contested and ending in narrow victories. The adrenaline was still pumping through Y/N's veins as she stormed into the locker room, replaying every missed opportunity and close call in her mind.

"Nice game, Leonard," Will's voice echoed through the empty hall, dripping with sarcasm as he followed her inside.

Y/N spun around, her eyes blazing. "What do you want, Smith? Here to gloat?"

Will smirked, stepping closer. "Just thought I'd congratulate you on not choking under pressure. For once."

The tension between them crackled like static electricity. Y/N's anger flared, her fists clenching at her sides. "You're such an asshole."

"Better than being a sore loser," Will shot back, his voice low and dangerous.

The words hung in the air, their breaths coming in short, heated bursts. Without thinking, Y/N closed the distance between them, her anger morphing into something else entirely. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, all the pent-up frustration and desire boiled over.

Y/N grabbed Will's jersey, yanking him down to her level. Their lips crashed together, the kiss fierce and demanding. Will responded instantly, his hands gripping her waist as he backed her against the lockers. The cold metal pressed into her back, a stark contrast to the heat of their kiss.

It was a clash of wills, their tongues battling for dominance as they gave in to the primal urge that had been simmering beneath the surface for months. Will's hands roamed over Y/N's body, his touch igniting a fire within her that she couldn't deny. She tugged at his jersey, needing to feel his skin against hers.

They broke apart briefly, gasping for air. Y/N's eyes were wild, her lips swollen from the intensity of their kiss. "This doesn't mean anything," she panted, her voice trembling with a mix of desire and defiance.

"Right," Will agreed, his voice equally breathless. "Just blowing off steam."

Their mouths collided again, more urgent this time. Y/N's hands found the hem of Will's jersey, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside. Her fingers traced the hard planes of his chest, savoring the feel of his muscles tensing under her touch.

Will's hands were equally busy, sliding under her jersey and up her back, pulling her closer. Their bodies pressed together, the heat between them almost unbearable. Y/N's head spun with the intensity of their connection, every nerve ending on fire.

Somehow, they managed to shed the rest of their clothes, their desire too overwhelming to care about the cold or the hard floor beneath them. Will's hands were everywhere, exploring every inch of her skin as if memorizing it. Y/N responded in kind, her nails digging into his back, leaving marks in their wake.

When Will finally entered her, it was like a dam breaking. The sensation was almost too much, a mix of pleasure and pain that left her gasping. They moved together in a frantic rhythm, their bodies finding a natural sync despite their previous animosity.

It was raw, intense, and utterly consuming. Y/N had never felt anything like it, every touch, every thrust sending waves of pleasure coursing through her. She clung to Will, her fingers tangled in his hair, as they reached the peak together.

In the aftermath, they lay tangled on the cold floor, their breaths mingling in the quiet of the locker room. Y/N's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—desire, confusion, and a lingering sense of defiance.

Will broke the silence first, his voice surprisingly gentle. "This changes nothing, you know."

Y/N nodded, her resolve hardening. "I know. We're still enemies."

"Right," he agreed, but there was a hint of something softer in his eyes as he looked at her.

As they dressed in silence, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. They had crossed a line, one that could never be uncrossed.

--- --- ---

Sneaking around had become second nature to them. They'd find isolated corners of the rink or meet in the early hours of the morning when the campus was quiet. Despite their constant bickering, they couldn't deny the magnetic pull between them.

Their secret meetings were a mix of passion and frustration, each encounter leaving them more confused and conflicted. They were enemies, rivals on and off the ice, but in those stolen moments, they were something else entirely.

One night, after a particularly grueling practice, Y/N received a text from Will.

Will: Meet me at the old equipment room. Midnight.

Y/N's heart raced. She knew she should ignore him, and should put an end to this dangerous game they were playing. But something about Will drew her in, and she found herself unable to resist.

The old equipment room was tucked away in a forgotten corner of the arena. It was their sanctuary, a place where they could be together without prying eyes. Y/N slipped inside, her breath visible in the cold air. Will was already there, leaning against a stack of crates.

"You took your time," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Had to make sure no one followed me," Y/N retorted, closing the door behind her.

Will's eyes softened as he approached her. "You know, we don't have to keep doing this."

Y/N sighed, her resolve wavering. "I know. But... I can't stay away."

"Neither can I," Will admitted, pulling her into his arms.

Their kisses were desperate, fueled by the fear of being discovered and the intensity of their hidden emotions.

--- --- ---

As the season progressed, tensions on and off the ice began to mount. Boston College was preparing for a series of critical games that would determine their standings in the league. The pressure was immense, and both the men's and women's teams were feeling the strain.

Y/N and Will's clandestine relationship became increasingly difficult to maintain. The late-night rendezvous and stolen glances were no longer enough. Their teammates began to notice the tension between them, though no one suspected the true nature of their interactions.

One evening, after a particularly grueling practice, Ryan confronted Y/N. "You've been acting weird lately. Is everything okay?"

Y/N hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Just stressed about the games. It's nothing."

Ryan frowned, not entirely convinced. "If you say so. Just remember, you can talk to me about anything."

Y/N forced a smile. "Thanks, Ry."

Later that night, Y/N received a text from Will.

Will: We need to talk. Meet me at the equipment room.

As Y/N made her way down the dimly lit hallways of the arena, her nerves grew. She wasn't sure why she felt so anxious. This was supposed to be just another one of their secret meetings, another chance to lose themselves in the intensity of their connection. But something about Will's message had set her on edge.

She pushed open the door to the old equipment room, her breath hitching as she saw Will standing there, his face shadowed by the dim light. His expression was serious, almost pained, and her heart sank.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Y/N took a tentative step closer, her eyes searching his. "What is it, Will? What's wrong?"

Will took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her stomach twist. "We need to end this, Y/N. We can't keep doing this."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut, leaving her reeling. "What are you talking about? Why?"

Will ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "This... whatever this is, it's messing with our heads. We can't focus on the game, and it's only going to get worse. We need to stop seeing each other. For good."

Y/N felt a surge of confusion and anger. "So that's it? You're just going to walk away?"

"It's not that simple," Will said, his voice strained. "I care about you, Y/N. But this is too much. We're hurting ourselves and our teams. We have to think about what's best for everyone."

Tears welled in Y/N's eyes, her mind racing. "You think ending things will make everything better? What about us?"

Will's expression softened, a flicker of pain crossing his features. "There is no 'us,' Y/N. We're enemies, remember? We can't pretend this is something it's not."

Y/N's anger flared, her heart aching with a mix of hurt and betrayal. "You think I don't know that? But you can't just turn off your feelings like a switch, Will. This isn't just about the game."

"I know," Will whispered, his voice breaking. "But it's the only way."

They stood there in silence, the weight of his words hanging between them. Y/N's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, each one more confusing than the last. She wanted to scream, to fight, to make him see that what they had was real. But the look in his eyes told her that he had already made up his mind.

"Fine," she said, her voice trembling. "If that's what you want."

Will nodded, his expression resigned. "It's for the best."

Without another word, Y/N turned and walked away, her heart heavy with the weight of their decision. She didn't look back, couldn't bear to see the finality in his eyes.

--- --- ---

The days that followed were a painful blur for Y/N. Every time she and Will saw each other, the air between them was thick with unresolved tension. Their once heated banter was replaced by uncomfortable silence and awkward glances. It was clear to everyone around them that something was off.

During practice, Y/N could feel the weight of her teammates' curious eyes on her. They whispered among themselves, speculating about the sudden change in her demeanor. Her game was affected too—her usual precision and focus were marred by hesitation and distraction.

At one point, her coach pulled her aside. "Y/N, your head's not in the game. What's going on?"

"It's nothing, Coach," she lied, forcing a smile. "Just... personal stuff."

The coach gave her a knowing look but didn't press further. "Get it together, Leonard. We need you at your best."

Ryan, however, was not so easily deterred. He had noticed the tension between Y/N and Will and couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had happened. After a particularly tense practice, he cornered her in the locker room.

"Y/N, what's going on with you and Will?" Ryan asked, his voice low but insistent. "You two have been acting weird for days."

Y/N sighed, knowing she couldn't keep lying to him. "Ryan, it's complicated. Can we talk about it later?"

"No," Ryan said firmly. "We talk about it now. You're my sister, and I need to know what's going on."

Y/N took a deep breath, her eyes filling with tears. "Will and I... we were seeing each other. But it's over now."

Ryan's eyes widened in surprise. "You and Will? Why didn't you tell me?"

"We didn't want anyone to know," Y/N admitted. "It was complicated, and we thought we could handle it. But it all fell apart."

Ryan's expression softened, his anger melting into concern. "I'm sorry, Y/N. I had no idea. Are you okay?"

"No," Y/N said, her voice breaking. "I'm not okay. It's been really hard."

Ryan pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "I'm here for you, Y/N. We'll get through this together."

--- --- ---

The tension between Ryan and Will simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over with each passing day. Ryan couldn't shake the anger that burned inside him, the betrayal he felt on behalf of his little sister.

After practice one evening, Ryan approached Will, his expression dark and stormy.

"We need to talk," Ryan said, his voice low but charged with emotion.

Will tensed, bracing himself for the confrontation he had been dreading. He knew he had hurt Y/N, but facing her brother's wrath was a whole new level of guilt.

"Look, Ryan, I know you're angry," Will began, his voice strained. "But you have to understand..."

"Understand what, Will?" Ryan interrupted, his voice rising with frustration. "That you broke my sister's heart?"

Will winced at the accusation, the weight of his actions pressing down on him like a ton of bricks. "I never meant to hurt her, Ryan. I care about her more than anything."

"Then why did you end things?" Ryan demanded, his eyes flashing with anger. "If you care about her, why did you walk away?"

Will struggled to find the right words, his guilt and remorse threatening to choke him. "It's complicated, Ryan. We were hurting each other, and I thought it was for the best."

"For the best?" Ryan scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think breaking her heart was for the best?"

Will shook his head, his own frustration mounting. "I don't know, okay? I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting her."

"Protecting her?" Ryan repeated, his incredulity turning to rage. "From what, exactly? From you?"

The accusation hit Will like a punch to the gut, leaving him reeling with guilt and shame. He had thought he was doing what was best for Y/N, but now he saw the pain he had caused, the damage he had inflicted on the woman he cared about more than anything.

"I screwed up, okay?" Will admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I never should have let things get this far. I never should have hurt her."

Ryan's anger softened, replaced by a flicker of sympathy. "You hurt her, Will. But you can still fix it. You can still make things right."

Will nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "I will. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right with Y/N."

Ryan studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You better, Will.”

With that, Ryan turned and walked away, leaving Will alone with his thoughts and his guilt.

--- --- ---

After yet another practice filled with tense interactions and awkward silences, Will knew he couldn't continue to avoid confronting Y/N. He needed to talk to her, to try to make things right between them, even if it meant facing her anger head-on.

As the rest of the team filed out of the locker room, Will lingered behind, waiting for the opportune moment to approach Y/N. When the room finally emptied, he took a deep breath and approached her, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Y/N, can we talk?" Will asked, his voice tentative.

Y/N's expression hardened, her eyes flashing with anger. "I don't have anything to say to you, Will."

Will swallowed nervously, steeling himself for the confrontation that was about to unfold. "Please, just hear me out. I know I messed up, but I want to make things right."

Y/N crossed her arms over her chest, her expression skeptical. "And how do you plan on doing that?"

Will took a step closer, his eyes pleading. "By talking. By listening. By being honest with each other."

Y/N scoffed, her anger boiling over. "Honest? Like you were honest with me when you ended things out of nowhere?"

Will winced at the accusation, the guilt washing over him like a tidal wave. "I know I hurt you, Y/N. I never meant to. I was just... scared. Scared of what we were becoming, of how much I cared about you."

Y/N's anger softened slightly, replaced by a flicker of hurt. "So you decided to end things without even talking to me about it?"

"I know it was a mistake," Will admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I was wrong to push you away like that. I should have talked to you, tried to work through our issues together."

Y/N's walls began to crumble, her anger giving way to vulnerability. "I miss you, Will. I miss us."

Will reached out tentatively, his hand brushing against hers. "I miss you too, Y/N. More than you'll ever know."

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of their emotions hanging between them like a heavy fog. Then, slowly, hesitantly, Y/N stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Will and burying her face in his chest.

"I'm sorry," Will whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Y/N."

Y/N nodded, her own tears mingling with his. "I forgive you, Will. But we have a lot of work to do if we're going to make this right."

Will nodded, his heart lighter than it had been in weeks. "I know. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

--- --- ---

A few months had passed, and the day had finally arrived—the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. As Will stood before the crowd gathered at the press conference, a sense of pride and accomplishment washed over him.

Surrounded by his teammates, coaches, and family, Will signed the three-year entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks, officially beginning the next chapter of his hockey career.

But amidst the excitement and celebration, there was one person who stood out above all others—Y/N.

She stood by Will's side throughout the entire press conference, her hand clasped tightly in his, her eyes filled with pride and love.

As Will put pen to paper, signing his name on the dotted line, Y/N couldn't help but feel a swell of emotion. She had watched him overcome countless obstacles and setbacks, always pushing himself to be the best player he could be.

And now, as he embarked on this new journey with the San Jose Sharks, she knew that she would be there every step of the way, cheering him on from the sidelines, supporting him through the highs and lows of professional hockey.

As the cameras flashed and the reporters clamored for interviews, Y/N squeezed Will's hand, a silent promise passing between them. No matter where this new chapter took them, they would face it together, hand in hand, hearts intertwined.

this is all over the place oh well.

#will smith hockey #will smith #hockey imagine #boston college #hockey #nhl x reader #san jose sharks #sharks

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