#I just. man. he does this so much he should know better. but it's kyler and he keeps doing it so she deserves a free shot on him. or a few.

[queencvbra]

I think she should have been allowed to deck Kyler in the face at least once, if only because of this shit.

[company-policy-ntmy]

Hey hey hey… CRISPY(aka Kyler) IS BACK! So, we already know why I’m here… AND IT’S BC IT’S DRABBLE TIME! So lately, I’ve been doing fluff and to keep on going, how about your first kiss. Of course with none other than our lovely man: Shigaraki Tomura. Hopefully, this will get some of y’all smiling :-)

Ok, so Shiggy and you have been dating for some time now. It only started because you were brave enough to go to your boss and be like “I like you” or something along those lines. Either way, this relationship started because you took the first step. Now you were hoping that you didn’t need to take the second one. Just a small inkling of hope to have him make the first move to kissing you. Sure, he was a little troubled about touching in general… well unless it’s something he wants to destroy. He just doesn’t want you getting hurt and that’s good and all but man sometimes you wish he could just grab you and sweep you off your feet. You thought maybe you should give him a hint. Which you did and it ended up not getting to him. Either he’s dense as hell or just doesn’t want to kiss you. If the latter was true then that would hurt but you’ll respect him… then you thought a little longer and harder and came down to the decision of giving him space.

It has only been like 2 days of limited contact and Shigaraki is already pissed for the day. Why hasn’t his sweet y/n came to see him yet? Didn’t they want him? They were the one who said they liked him after all. They were all on him, and now where are they? Did they run off? Did Dabi steal them? He better have not! No one could stop him now. Shigaraki was heading to see you even if you didn’t want to see him (we would never mind him coming to us of course)

“Y/N!” Shigaraki saw you and yelled your name. Your body slightly shook with him yelling… It was probably because it was rare to hear him yell. Shigaraki just came storming towards you and loomed over you.

"What can I do for you today?" You tried to play it off cool.

"Why have you been ignoring me?" His raspy voice was harsh and his eyes seemed like they were staring lasers into you. You looked at his neck and you know what he's been doing for the past hour or so.

"You're scratching again… " You can't help but worry.

"Don't change the subject!" He was more assertive now.

"One, I haven't been ignoring you. Two, I can't help but worry about your scratching… I don't want to see you ge-"

"WHY HAVE YOU BEEN GONE THEN!" When he yelled at you it just shook you. He rarely screams… you think it probably because he has very chapped lips that might hurt if he opens them too much. It takes you a minute to recuperate from the yell.

"Like I said I haven't been ignoring you but I am giving you some space… I thought maybe you don't like being smothered by me all the time." This was the half of the truth, you couldn't bring yourself to tell him that you also thought he didn't want to kiss you.

"That isn't all of it, is it?" His words hit bullseye. "Come out with it."

"Did you ever think of kissing me?"

"W-What?!" If he was drinking something right now he might've spit it out. He took some time to come back. "What does that have to do wit-"

"I was giving you space because I thought it was annoying for me to keep hinting at it." You sighed "Maybe I just thought you were repulsed by the idea of kissing… I didn't want to cross any boundaries and it just ended up like this… "

"Does that mean you want to kiss ME?" He looked utterly confused. As if anyone would give any thought to even pressing lips with a crusted man as himself.

"Well, yeah… I mean YOU are my boyfriend." You go on and then all of a sudden you felt yourself get pulled in. Shigaraki had finally got the idea and kissed you. It was timid at first but then it slowly turned into him being like a hungry wolf.

Ok… that's what I have for now 👊😔. Idk this feels kinda ooc- but like then again it's been some time. Well anyways uncle Kyler gots to leave! Bye bby crisps!

[demetriandelibinaryboyfriends]

Hello! So, something that always intrigued me is the concept of “reverse aus,” and I’ve been thinking about that in the context of Cobra Kai for a while now. How do you think it would go down if Demetri was the one to get roped into Cobra Kai? Obviously, I don’t think he would be as into as Eli canonically was (probably due to it becoming a special interest for him), but I’d be curious to hear your take on it. Would Eli end up going to Miyagi-Do like canon Demetri did, or would Demetri and Eli sort of become the new Evil Karate Husbands™️? And possibly, how do you think Demetri and Johnny’s dynamic would go? (I’m just going to awkwardly add that this is cc-tinslebee, coming to you live from my main blog because I don’t think Tumblr let’s sideblogs send asks-)

So this is actually the SECOND ask I’ve gotten about this scenario--Cherry sent in another one!--so I figured I’d give it a stab. Took me a while to work out how I think it would go and how everything would play out different if Demetri and Eli’s roles were reversed, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I tried to make it more interesting than just “Demetri does all the stuff Eli does and Eli does all the stuff Demetri does.”

Also I lowkey LOVE the idea of Evil Karate Husbands and even though that isn’t the direction this particular AU goes in, I might do a divergent spin-off AU to explore that too??? Because man...the thought of Miguel desperately trying to save his two best friends who have fallen to the dark side...*cries*

Fair warning that this AU is gonna get dark as shit--I fully belive things would’ve gotten equally fucked up between them in a role reverse AU, just, ah...in slightly different ways. A lot of this will not be Happy Times later on, much like their canon relationship XD

OKAY TIME FOR PAIN, LET’S GOOOO

Longboi post so be warned!!!

Season 1

After getting his ass handed to him--for trying to stick up for Eli, no less--Demetri was pissed. Why the hell was he paying some guy to beat him up for daining to have a problem with him bullying his best friend? Going home in a rage, he nearly texted Miguel to tell him he was quitting--but something stopped him just before he hit Send.

He remembered the look on Eli’s face just after Kyler shoved him away. He remembered seeing Eli stiffen when Kyler grabbed him by the chin, practically feeling the terror emanate from his friend’s body. He remembered how completely and infuriatingly helpless he felt.

It certainly wasn’t the first time something like that had happened. But maybe if Miguel was onto something--maybe if karate really could protect him and Eli from the bullies--it could be the last.

Mr. Lawrence (or Sensei Lawrence, as he obnoxiously insisted on being called) hardly let up on bullying Eli. Even at Eli’s request not to call him “Lip” and the pleading of his star student Miguel Diaz himself, the man only seemed to crack down harder--in some sort of twisted effort to “toughen Eli up,” Demetri guessed. Demetri defended Eli every single time, not mincing any words mouthing off at Sensei Lawrence. It got Demetri punched in the face, flipped on the mat, saddled with much harder drills than the rest of the class, but he didn’t give a shit. He wasn’t about to let anyone treat Eli like that, no matter what pain he had to endure for it.

Johnny, meanwhile, is immensely annoyed by this obnoxious, sarcastic kid who just can’t stop running his mouth--but working him twice as hard as the rest of the class is proving to be fruitless in shutting him up. But, Johnny’s finding, Demetri constantly antagonizing him doesn’t have to be a hindrance. Anger like that can be weaponized--the more he provokes Demetri, the more he insults and belittles that Eli kid he’s so attached to, the harder Demetri punches. The quicker he moves when he fights. The stronger he kicks. Johnny sometimes comes home after training covered in nasty bruises, almost entirely from sparring Demetri--they’re enough to make Carmen and Rosa Diaz worry he’s getting jumped on the way home.

One day Johnny takes his ribbing of Eli just a little too far, hoping to get an especially vicious reaction out of Demetri. Eli, pushed to the end of his rope, runs out of the dojo, barely holding back tears. Demetri starts to go after him, but Miguel puts a hand on his arm and stops him, saying they can both check up on him later.

When Demetri finds Eli after practice, Eli’s sobbing. “I can’t do this anymore, Deme. No matter what you say to him, he just keeps picking on me. It never stops.” Demetri winces, because Eli isn’t wrong--Sensei Lawrence really hasn’t stopped bullying Eli at all, and while Demetri was busy letting himself get riled up by it, he didn’t actually think to see how it was affecting Eli. “Well, I know it sucks now, and Mr. Lawrence is a huge asshole, but we’re learning to be tough,” Demetri reasons. “We’re learning to be intimidating. A few more months here, and the bullies will never touch us again! Just like Miguel!” And Eli just scowls, uncharacteristically angry for his timid self, and says “Well, it’s not worth it if I have to feel like shit the whole time! If every time I step in here I get everything about me picked apart, over and over again! I’m done with this, Demetri.”

And just like that, Eli is out of the dojo. Demetri can’t help but be disappointed--he’d looked forward to them training together, and seeing Eli become a badass, fearless fighter who could hand Kyler’s ass to him after all those fucked up things he said to Eli. And to make matters worse, Sensei Lawrence doesn’t stop using Eli as fuel to rip out Demetri’s rage long after Eli’s gone. “Oooh, Loudmouth, feeling sad today? Missing Lip the Quitter?” “You keep throwing punches like that, and you could get beat up by that loser with the fucked lip you were so enamored with. Although knowing you, you’d let him win anyways.” And Demetri can’t help but hate the man, but damn, if it doesn’t feel good to land an especially good hit on him, or jab him in the thigh with a powerful kick.

But things aren’t bad--Demetri still has Miguel, and their new friend Aisha. Eli still hangs out with them outside of practice, and indulges Demetri in his ever-increasing ramblings about martial arts, no matter how nervous and uncomfortable karate tends to make Eli. If Demetri likes it that much, maybe he should make an effort to show interest in it. The four of them crash Yasmine’s birthday party, and Demetri even finds himself smooth-talking them into getting alcohol with his newfound confidence. After all, if he can land punches faster than a snake can strike, how difficult can it be to weasel his way into getting a little beer?

Meanwhile Moon, feeling understandably unfulfilled in her popular clique, takes an interest in the Cool New Karate Gang in town, and after apologizing to Aisha at the beach rager, the two strike up a friendship. She comes to hang out with their group more and more, and Eli finds her surprisingly easy to talk to. Moon constantly makes an effort to include him when the others get to wrapped up talking about karate, and he appreciates her kindness and sincerity. It’s odd, really, how easy it is to have a conversation with her, considering how nervous he tends to get around her. But Eli doesn’t think too much about it.

When it comes time for the tournament, Moon and Eli go together to support their friends. Eli finds his gaze flickering back and forth between Moon and Demetri, lingering on each of them longer than he would care to admit--and he can’t quite explain why. Something about Moon’s wide, excited smile, the smell of cherry shampoo in her hair...but also Demetri’s smug, triumphant smirk when he pulls off an especially impressive move, the way his wiry arm muscles ripple when he fights. They’re both just so...captivating.

Demetri, for his part, is ruthless. Much more so than Eli has ever seen him be. He’s always been sarcastic and cynical, but resigned to his fate--at the tournament, Demetri lashes out in vicious ways the old Demetri would never have had the courage to pull off. He talks shit to the other contestants far beyond what’s considered “sportsmanlike”--and Eli can tell he’s not holding back, with the theatrical body language channeling every awful thing he’s saying.

Demetri fights like lightning--he weaves and maneuvers and strikes at breakneck speed, a limber, flashing form hitting all across his opponent’s bodies before they have any idea what’s happening. He dodges hits and jumps aside like he has some cosmic sense of when and where they’re coming. And it scares Eli, seeing a viciousness and relentlessness in Demetri that he’s never encountered before--but somehow, he finds, he just can’t look away.

Season 2

After the tournament, Demetri’s life has never been better. At the summer’s start, he’s still riding the high of the Cobra Kai tournament win. He didn’t take home the trophy, but suffice to say he got much farther than anyone believed a scrawny, lanky nerd ever would, and he is incredibly smug about it. He realizes, at the end of the day, he’s gotten what he always wanted after all--the bullies don’t come near him and Eli at all, and he can rest easy, knowing Eli is finally safe. However, he’s so busy embracing his new skills that at times, he almost forgets that was ever even an issue. His newfound fighting prowess has caught the attention of Yasmine, of all people--maybe someone who can throw kicks that good isn’t as much of a loser as she originally thought.

She finds out after her family’s plans to go to France for the summer fall through, and she finally patches things up with Moon after their fallout at the beach party. Moon can’t stop gushing about how amazing Demetri was at the tournament--both she and her new friend Eli (who Yasmine definitely thinks seems like a weirdo, but hey--maybe if Moon thinks he’s worth her time, he can’t be that much of a loser) were so impressed with him. Interest piqued, Yasmine joins their little but ever-growing group. She finds herself quickly drawn in by Demetri’s ever-growing confidence, intelligence, and surprisingly enjoyable (if somewhat annoying) sense of humor, and before long, the two are dating.

Yasmine and Aisha are...cool. Kind of. Yasmine doesn’t quite apologize, and the two aren’t friends by any stretch of imagination, but they tolerate each other, and Yasmine refrains from making awful comments and picking on Aisha in front of their friends. Aisha, for her part, does her best not to lash out or be mean to Yasmine either, keeping the peace mainly for Demetri’s and Moon’s sakes.

Meanwhile, it would take an idiot not to notice the rather starstruck looks Eli’s been shooting in Moon’s direction. Moon, for her part, is either entirely oblivious or simply doesn’t even think to consider a shy, timid, nerdy kid as a romantic option, even if she does consider him a friend.

Oddly, Demetri finds himself extremely bothered by Eli’s doe-eyed crush on Moon. He really can’t place why--he has a girlfriend already, so it really shouldn’t bug him so much that Eli is finally growing noticably interested in girls too, now that they tend to be in closer proximity. And it’s not even like Moon seems to be at all interested in reciprocating. Maybe, he figures, it’s the fact that Moon never would have even looked their way if it weren’t for the fact that he and Miguel and Aisha were the “Cool Karate Gang.” The same karate gang, of course, that Eli quit. That Eli didn’t have it in him to fully be a part of. And yet here he is, reaping the benefits still.

Interestingly, Yasmine also seems bothered by Eli’s affections for her friend. Demetri feels her stiffen beside him and sees her shooting disapproving looks whenever she catches Eli staring at Moon. Demetri isn’t sure why she seems to take issue with this too--perhaps she thinks Moon is too good for Eli, and her friend deserves better than a shy, awkward nerd.

Something about this mindset very much rubs Demetri the wrong way, but he pushes the feeling aside. Maybe he should count his blessings instead of being so inwardly critical of his girlfriend. After all, not everyone gets to date the hottest girl in school.

The day of Valley Fest arrives, and Yasmine goes to support her boyfriend. Moon and Eli tag along, eager to support their friends as well. Caught up in the thrill of the blaring music, the bright, flashing lights, the audience cheering, Demetri feels a wave of pride as he looks at his little group of friends that came for him, yelling and whooping and jumping up and down. For some reason, he finds his gaze drawn specifically to Eli, wearing a grin bigger than Demetri’s seen in months and eyes absolutely glowing.

Suddenly Demetri feels an overpowering urge to wrap Eli up in this world he’s fallen in love with, immerse him entirely in the karate that’s made Demetri feel so much more happy and free in the past several months. Grinning, he strides forward and reaches down, using the absurd upper body strength he’s built up since he’s started karate to yank Eli up onto the stage. He hands his best friend a wooden board and steps back, racing forward and snapping it in half with a jumping roundhouse kick. For a few seconds, Eli can do nothing but stare at the broken board, something shifting inside of him.

After that, Eli decides maybe it’s time to give karate another go. Something about the way Demetri positively shone onstage--how genuinely happy all of it seemed to make him--makes him thing it can’t be so bad, even if he does get taunted for his lip again.

He stops by the dojo the following week, gathering up every ounce of courage he has to ask that mean blonde man how he goes about joining the dojo again. He’s hoping against hope that maybe, after all these months of teaching students and a tournament win under his belt, the edge of his pathetic cruelty will at least have been taken off.

No such luck. Upon seeing Eli walk into the dojo, Johnny greets him with “Hey, Lip is back! Real world not treat you as nicely as you thought?” The two are, regrettably, completely alone in the dojo. Eli sucks in his breath--Demetri isn’t around, so if anyone is going to defend him, it’ll have to be him himself.

“Could you please not call me that?” His voice shakes as he says it, but nonetheless, he finishes the statement. It occurs to him that not once in his (admittedly brief) stay in Cobra Kai did he simply...request that Sensei Lawrence not call him Lip. Demetri’s approach was always to get angry about it, go off on the sensei about how wrong it was to mock someone’s appearance, but Eli himself had never been the one to make a case for Sensei Lawrence to treat him better.

It hardly helped. Sensei Lawrence just claimed that if he didn’t want him to call him Lip, he shouldn’t have a freaky lip, and then went on to claim whoever did his cleft lip surgery must have done an awful job. Eli attempted to move away from the topic, but Sensei Lawrence didn’t let up. “It’s hard to when it’s right in front of me. Hard to believe Demetri was so willing to defend you like some knight in shining armor or some shit. You’re pathetic.” Having heard enough, Eli storms out, anger overtaking him. How could he have been so stupid, to think this was going to go any better? Why did he think that just because this man had been willing to help Miguel and Demetri (who were normal) become badass meant he would extend the same treatment to the freak with the lip scar?

Eli calls Demetri in tears. “I don’t know how you can train with someone like him,” Eli spits out. “He’s a shit person, Demetri. I--I don’t know what you and Miguel are thinking. It’s like he gets some kind of...I don’t know, sadistic pleasure out of bullying people. He’s not any better than the people he claims he’s trying to help you fight.”

Demetri, to his horror, reacts only with scorn, scoffing and rolling his eyes. “God, all this drama because he was mean about your lip again? Jesus christ, grow a backbone, Eli. I hate to say it, but I think Mr. Lawrence was right--if you can’t even handle someone making some insensitive comments about your scar, how are you going to handle an elbow to the teeth? Or any training more intensive than a slap on the wrist, anyway?”

Eli can do nothing but just stare at him through the screen. Demetri, the one person who he has always been able to count on to not comment on his scar, the one person who has always comforted him or talked him through it when he cried, is brushing him completely off--being an asshole about the one thing Eli was certain he never would be. Why is Demetri, of all people, not taking his side on this?

All Eli knows for sure is that he doesn’t like this new version of Demetri one bit. What happened to the best friend who was always willing to fight for him, no matter what it took? Now, he seems more concerned with looking cool and tough and upkeeping some kind of ridiculous reputation than Eli’s own well-being.

Over the next few days, a rage he didn’t know he even had in him bubbles up inside Eli. He decides if Demetri’s going to play dirty, so is he. And maybe, if Eli plays his cards right, the old Demetri will come back.

Despite his long-standing frustration with the way adults treat him--delicately, condescendingly, like a Thing of Pity--Eli figures he can get some use out of it for once. If this is the only way they’re going to see him regardless, he might as well use it to his advantage. And so he goes crying to his mom, who he knows for a fact other adults talk about being a “valued member of the community” and probably has some influence and some strings she can pull. He bawls to her about how his best friend has turned into an unrecognizable jerk, all because he’s training with a middle-aged man with the mindset of a high school bully who has no issue verbally abusing his students. Sure enough, discussions are had with the Neighborhood Committee, phone calls are placed, and Eli overhears his mother vowing to shut down that degenerate karate place if it’s the last thing she ever does.

Meanwhile, back at the dojo, Kreese makes an announcement. The elderly, intimidating man has recently teamed up with Johnny to teach--and he gives Demetri the creeps, if he’s honest, but he seems to know his stuff when it comes to karate, so Demetri goes along with this new addition to the sensei roster. However, when Johnny goes off to visit his high school friends and leaves the kids alone with the new Sensei, Demetri can’t help but feel uneasy.

“Now, the dojo’s been getting some concerned phone calls,” Kreese says, arms crossed and expression difficult to read. He doesn’t seem to be angry--if anything, he looks faintly amused. “Parents of the local teenagers are worried. They think Cobra Kai is full of bullies. Think our methods are...abusive, even. They want to shut us down.” Worried murmurs start to echo around the room, but Kreese silences them as he goes on. “Oh, don’t worry. It won’t be a problem. I have my ways of talking people down. We know better, anyhow. They’re just...intimidated by us, because we’ve honed skills here they couldn’t even dream of having. But nonetheless...” Kreese smirks in a way that makes Demetri feels ever-so-slightly unnerved. “If you run into one of your little peers whining to your parents about getting rid of us, well...show them Cobra Kai can’t be messed with so easily.”

And suddenly Demetri’s seething, because he knows exactly who made sure those phone calls got made.

Eli, for all his timidness, is notoriously smart. Demetri knows this intimately. He’d hardly put it past Eli to be this cunning, to manipulate the pitying adults around him to get what he wants.

When the Cobra Kai kids take a trip to the mall later that day, Demetri knows exactly where Eli will be. Every Wednesday, a new issue of Dungeon Lord comes out--they used to go get it together, but since getting into karate, Demetri hasn’t been keeping up. Demetri would figure someone like Eli wouldn’t have the balls to go out in public alone, if not for the fact that he knew how invested Eli was in the current plot.

And so Demetri heads to the comic book store, a group of reluctant Cobra Kai “pledges” in tow. Maybe it’s a bit sadistic, but he likes having someone to be able to boss around--it feels nice to be at the top of the food chain for once. Lord knows it’s the first time that’s happened. And if he isn’t going to milk that tournament win for all it’s worth, then what even is the point?

When Demetri arrives, Eli turns to look at him in confusion. “What are you doing here?” he says, lip curling slightly. “I figured you were too tough for this kind of stuff now.”

Demetri just scoffs and crosses his arms. “Well, Mr. Kreese said the dojo’s been getting some calls from weepy parents concerned we’re bullying their poor kids. Saying our Senseis must be some evil, abusive monsters twisting and corrupting the neighborhood teenagers. So I think you know exactly why I’m here.”

Eli just looks at him with a doe-eyed innocence that makes his blood boil. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Demetri advances on him, eyes flashing. “Don’t bullshit me, Eli. I know you’ve been meddling.”

To his surprise, Eli looks up to meet his gaze evenly, pretense of naiveté completely gone. “And what if I have? I don’t like the influence they’re having on you.”

Well, Demetri doesn’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but he doesn’t like it. “What is it about Cobra Kai that’s got you in such a tiffy, huh? You’re jealous I found a way to fight back and actually protect us? You don’t like that I’m not a pathetic loser you can look down your nose at anymore?”

Eli just looks at him in bewilderment. “Jesus, no, that’s not it at all, dude. Just...do you even hear yourself? You’ve turned into such an asshole since you started all that karate shit. It’s like I don’t even know you anymore. You walk around thinking you’re hot shit and everyone has to bow down to you all because your dojo won some stupid tournament. Well, news flash, Demetri--nobody cares.”

The callous way Eli, of all people, says it can’t help but throw him off. Is that really what his best friend thinks about him now--that he’s just some arrogant prick strutting around flaunting his success?

And then Demetri remembers how he got here--what it was that pushed him to be such a hard-assed fighter in the first place--and he feels a wave of venom coarse through him so powerful that he nearly chokes on it. Before he knows it he’s grabbing Eli by the shoulders and shoving him up against the wall.

“You fucking ungrateful brat,” he spits out, his words poison. “I did it all for you, you know. Everything I did was so that I could finally protect you. And this is how you thank me? After I’ve been getting my ass kicked over and over again so you wouldn’t have to worry about bullies anymore?”

Eli is surprisingly unfazed. “And where was I when you were learning to be such a good protector, Demetri? Getting shit on as a tool to motivate you? Nobody bothering to check how I felt about that? A real good bodyguard you turned out to be.”

“And yet Kyler and his little posse haven’t bothered you once. Who do you think that’s thanks to?”

“Miguel too. You don’t get all the credit. And anyhow, not like it matters when your Senseis would just as soon take the same cheap shots.”

Demetri just curls his lip. “Don’t get mad at me because you were too weak to survive Cobra Kai. Because...what, a middle-aged karate teacher hurt your feelings? I’d like to see how you go about taking a real fist to the jaw.”

Demetri raises a fist as if to demonstrate. Eli flinches, anger and defiance suddenly completely gone as his eyes widen in horror.

“You’d actually hurt me?” he asks softly.

Demetri slowly lowers his fist, realizing the answer as soon as he sees the terrified look in his friend’s eyes.

“Consider this your warning, Eli,” he spits out, with as much venom as he can manage. “Don’t mess around with Cobra Kai, or things are going to get ugly.” He smirks--a little sadistically, he has to admit. “You saw the tournament. Well...you’d better believe that’s the least of what I can do.”

When a downtrodden Eli shows up at Daniel LaRusso’s front door, timidly requesting to learn karate, far be it from Daniel to turn away a new student. Eli’s sob story about how he’s being bullied and threatened by his best friend only makes the new sensei more determined to take him under his wing--Daniel is no stranger to bullying, after all.

The next time Cobra Kai goes on an outing to the mall, Demetri catches Eli in the food court, eating with Samantha LaRusso and that kid whose ass he kicked at the tournament--Robby Keene, was his name? Mr. Lawrence’s kid. This seems...odd. How would Eli have met them?

An unexpected wave of jealousy rips through him. How did shy little Eli manage to make other friends? Let alone with an ex popular girl, of all people. Nonetheless, he figures this might be a good time to make sure his ex-friend isn’t trying to start any more shit with Cobra Kai.

He catches Eli in the deli line, sliding up behind him and purring, “Oh, I hope you haven’t been poking your nose where it doesn’t belong, have you, Eli?”

Eli turns and glares at him with a venom Demetri didn’t know the other boy had in him. “Why, Demetri? Scared your precious Cobra Kai is going to lose all its coolness cred if it gets out how shitty you all are?”

Demetri seethes with anger again, and before he knows it, he’s shoving Eli out of the line and ramming him up against one of the pillars on the edge of the food court. The crowd of eaters around them “Oooooh”s, but Demetri ignores them. He raises a fist again, fully prepared to follow through this time. “I’d watch your mouth, if I were you.”

Eli just curls his lip, more defiant than Demetri’s ever seen him. “You don’t scare me, Demetri. I know who you really are.”

The Cobra Kai pledges start to loom behind them, ready to provide Demetri with backup if needed. Eli notices and scoffs. “Wow, siccing your goons on me too? Way to set up a fair fight, Demetri. You’re so badass.”

Struck by a sudden desire to prove him wrong, Demetri socks Eli in the jaw before he can think better of it. He pauses afterwards, momentarily shaken by what he’s done.

To his dismay, Eli’s horrified shock is short lived before he laughs darkly. “Well, you’re not the only one who knows karate now. I joined Miyagi-Do.”

Demetri just scoffs. Ah yes, a little karate training and Eli, of all people, is going to kick some major ass. “All right then. Let’s see what you got.” He takes a step back, allowing Eli to try and get a hit in.

When the fight breaks out in full force, it’s vicious. Eli throws the first hit, but it’s weak--he’s out of practice since abandoning Cobra Kai. Demetri has him on the ground in seconds, throwing punches and kicks with a speed and rage he had no idea he had. Eli barely has time to get up before he’s getting his ass handed to him.

What Demetri doesn’t count on is Eli’s new dojomates coming to his rescue, getting the smaller boy behind them and executing a near-perfect synchronized fighting routine. Even with his lackeys helping him, Demetri is completely annihilated--nearly unconscious on the food court floor within minutes. The last thing he sees before he passes out is Eli staring down at him, blue eyes wide with horror.

When word of the incident at the mall gets back to Moon, shit hits the fan--to put it lightly. Yasmine is with Moon when she confronts Demetri, but she doesn’t say anything--just stands glaring with her arms crossed while Moon goes off at him. “How could you treat Eli like that? He’s your friend!”

“Not anymore.” Demetri curls his lip. “He joined Miyagi-Do. He’s made it pretty clear where his loyalties lie now, and it’s not with me.”

“Who cares about Miyagi-Do?” She retorts. “He’s still your friend! Our friend! And I don’t like the way you’re bullying him.”

Demetri scoffs. “Don’t you get it? He’s just a pathetic nerd who can’t handle the fact that I’m cooler than him now. All he wants to do is drag me down to his level again, I guarantee it.”

Moon’s gaze is more poisonous than he’s ever seen it. She turns to Yasmine. “Tell him, Yas,” she says, her tone dangerously quiet.

Yasmine sighs. She says--with notable hesitation, Demetri notices--“If you don’t stop bullying Eli, we’re through.”

Thrown off, Demetri laughs harshly. “What do you care? You don’t even like Eli! I see those...disgusted looks you shoot in his direction, when you think we won’t notice.”

Yasmine bites her lip. “That doesn’t matter. Moon is my best friend. If she’s not okay with this whole...thing, then neither am I.”

“You’re not fucking serious. You’re dumping me because your bleeding-hearted friend told you I wasn’t being nice enough to a guy you can’t stand?”

Yasmine pauses, but ultimately stands her ground. “I’m sorry, but if it’s between you and Moon, it’s going to be Moon. So her word goes. So either stop with this whole stupid feud with Eli, or we’re finished.”

“I...” Demetri can only stare at her, shocked. He never could have imagined getting this ultimatum...and yet here he is.

He must have hesitated a second too long, because Moon grabs Yasmine’s arm and starts to pull her away. “I think that’s all the answer we need,” Moon hisses.

“Wait!” he called helplessly after them. Yasmine turns around once as she walks away, but only to spit “It’s over!” over her shoulder. As if for good measure.

Kreese finds Demetri circling a punching bag in the back of the dojo, spinning around it and throwing kicks and punches faster than cobra strikes. Seizing his opportunity, he advances. “What’s wrong, son?”

Demetri turns, tensing. He’s still wary of the man, but to hell with it--it’s not like he has anyone else to talk to. “Fight broke out with Miyagi-Do, and we lost. Pathetic, I know. Please don’t rub it in.”

“Cheer up.” Kreese smirks. “The fight isn’t over until you say it is.”

Demetri just sighs. “No use going in for a rematch. They’re strong. I couldn’t take them again on my own.”

Kreese’s smirk widens. “You’re a smart kid. There are other ways to fight back, you know. You don’t always have to beat them into the ground.”

As he leaves, Demetri lets that sink in.

Well, Demetri is nothing if not tech-savvy. May as well make some use of that Yelp Elite status. He spends hours setting up dozens of sock puppet accounts, programming them to post terrible review after terrible review blasting everything he can think of about Miyagi-Do. The encouragement of violence in youth (Eli had technically punched first, hadn’t he?). The weak, subpar fighting style that broke down as soon as it was challenged by serious fighters. The pretentious, culture-appropriating sensei. Daniel LaRacist indeed.

During the Coyote Creek excursion, Demetri finds himself pitted against Miguel, fighting in the world’s most intense game of what essentially boils down to Capture the Flag. Demetri, about to get the better of Miguel, finds that he can’t help but gloat about his little online attack. Can’t be long before a one-star dojo goes out of business.

When Miguel seems to take issue with it, saying the whole thing is mean-spirited and over the top, Demetri can’t help but scoff. Miyagi-Do has been plenty clear in declaring war--their little battalion at the mall proved that. Demetri wishes Miguel wasn’t still too caught up in pining over Sam LaRusso to realize that.

Miguel, meanwhile, decides this dojo war of sorts is getting out of hand. It turns out Demetri isn’t the only tech-savvy student in Cobra Kai--Miguel designed their website, after all. With a little bit of basic internet coding and some rudimentary hacking, he manages to access the sock puppet accounts Demetri made and take the bad reviews down. He even goes so far as to go over to the Miyagi-Do dojo and personally apologize for how Cobra Kai has been acting, telling Robby Keene that he found out who blasted the bad reviews and took them all down. “We’re not all assholes.”

Come Moon’s end-of-summer party, Demetri is surprised to get an invitation. He hasn’t seen her or Yasmine since they both chewed him out, and Yasmine ended things. But perhaps this is a show of good faith. Maybe Moon wants to be friends again--and maybe that means Yasmine’s come to her senses too, and might be willing to talk things out.

Moon welcomes him when he arrives, previous animosity gone for the moment. “Hey, thank you for inviting me. I’m...sorry,” he starts. “Of how we left things off. I was an ass to you and Yas.” “It’s alright,” Moon replies cheerily. “I invited you because...well, I’m hoping that before school starts, we can stop all the fighting and be friends again.”

His heart sinks as he sees Sam LaRusso lead a stream of kids through the door, Eli trailing at the end, and he realizes exactly what she means. The Miyagi-Dos are here.

He sits forlornly on a couch with Mitch and Aisha, thinking about how much worse this night just got. He brightens, however, when he sees a shock of blonde hair at the door not long after. So Yasmine came after all.

Moon grins in delight, calling over to her. Taking a breath, Demetri stands up and approaches the two girls, determined to smooth things over with them both.

He’s not surprised to see Yasmine make a beeline for Moon, not noticing him for the moment. What he isn’t expecting is for Moon to sweep Yasmine into her arms, kissing her full on the mouth.

Demetri stops in his tracks. The girls turn to him a few seconds later, seeming to notice him for the first time. They look at him expectantly, as though waiting for him to finish walking over to them. Or say something, and not just stand there gawking stupidly.

“Uh...are you two...um...like...uh...” All he can do is shuffle closer and gesture abstractly, not able to find words. Yasmine blushes and looks away, while Moon tucks a hair behind her ear, her smile strained.

“Yeah. It’s new,” she admits, laughing nervously. “We’re, um...”

“Girlfriends?” Yasmine offers, looking up and smiling at Moon with uncharacteristic shyness. Demetri can’t help but bristle--shyness she never showed him.

Well, far be it from him to be judgmental. Even if Yasmine broke his damn heart just now, Moon is still his friend. He gives them a strained smile. “That’s...that’s great! Happy for you two. No shame in uh...trying out something like that.”

Demetri excuses himself and sulks back to the now-empty couch, mind racing as he sits down. Is that why Moon was trying to encourage Yasmine to break up with him? Was it even about Eli at all? Did Moon just want Yasmine for herself? It seemed unlike Moon, but who could say?

And Yasmine...had she always wanted Moon, too? Is that why she seethed every time she saw Eli shooting lovestruck glances at her friend?

...had she even ever liked Demetri at all, or was he just a cover-up for the fact that she was...lesbian? How was someone as feminine and fashionable as Yasmine a lesbian, anyways? All the lesbians Demetri saw on tv cut their hair boyishly short and had about 5 nose rings and walked around in leather jackets and combat boots.

His thoughts are interrupted by the last sweatered boy he wants to see taking a seat at the other side of the couch, glancing nervously at him with darting eyes. What did Eli want? And why was he so nervous? He’d been unduly bold as of late.

“You seen the new Doctor Who trailer?” Eli mutters.

Something about the nonchalant way he says it--like this is the olden days, when Demetri always felt like shit about himself and had no one who tolerated him but Eli--makes Demetri’s blood boil. He scoffs. “I have better things to do than watch nerd crap like that.”

A short silence. “Capaldi regenerated,” Eli offers finally. “I know you weren’t big on 12.”

No more Capaldi? Demetri turns to look at Eli, interest suddenly piqued.

“What’s the new doctor like?” he asks before he can stop himself.

Eli grins. “She’s a badass.”

“She?” Demetri finds himself grinning back. “How progressive of them. Welcome to the 21st century, Doctor Who.”

A sudden giggling catches his attention, and Demetri looks to where Yasmine and Moon are sharing a chair across the room, tangled up in each other’s arms and trading soft kisses like they don’t have a care in the world. He tenses.

Eli seems to sense his discomfort, and sighs. “Hey, I’m sorry, man. If it helps at all, I liked Moon a lot, too.”

Demetri just scoffs. “Yeah, but I guess it doesn’t matter now. They just have to be gay, right?”

Eli gives him a strange look. Demetri shuffles uncomfortably, realizing what he’s probably thinking about. The...incident, 4 years ago. Demetri glares at him, hoping to banish the thought before it arrives. None of that meant anything--they were just dumb kids. Dumb kids doing dumb shit that didn’t matter.

“I don’t know, I mean...if they’re happy together, shouldn’t we just be happy for them?”

Eli reaches out and squeezes his shoulder, and Demetri hesitates. Their special touch. Eli still remembers, even after everything that’s happened.

For a moment he’s overcome with longing, wishing things with Eli could just go back to how they used to be. Back when he knew no matter what hell he went through at school, Eli would always be there to pick him back up again. But then it sinks in what Eli’s really trying to say.

Be happy for them. What a bunch of Miyagi-Do bullshit. Just accept his sad little lot in life, just like he used to do. Go back to nerdy little Eli at the bottom of the food chain, doomed to spend the rest of his youth admiring pretty girls from a vast distance.

He never wants that to be him again.

“Oh, fuck you, Eli,” he spits, grabbing Eli’s hand and yanking it off of his shoulder. Eli freezes, looking like he’s just been slapped.

“What, so I’m supposed to do like you, moping and pining and hoping a pretty girl will look my way if I wish hard enough and just sucking it up when she doesn’t? Well, I’ve had plenty enough of that--I’ve been on the top. And I’m going to be on the top again. But you? You’ll always be pathetic--you and your entire sorry excuse for a dojo.”

He gets up and walks away, bristling with an anger he can’t even fully place anymore.

As Eli watches Demetri go, he realizes he’s finally had enough. Demetri doesn’t want to patch things up? He just wants to keep being an arrogant shithead? Fine. But Eli’s not about to take his prodding and insults anymore.

Eli makes his way over to Moon--still his friend, despite the unreciprocated feelings--and Yasmine, strikes up a conversation with them. Yasmine, he notices, is being notably nicer to him--probably at Moon’s request. They get to talking about sexualities, and Eli accidentally lets a little something slip about Demetri.

When they were 12 years old, they had kissed. It was Eli who suggested they practiced kissing, to get ready for all the girls they would inevitably date. However, a bit of choice wording and it sounded like Demetri had planted one on Eli out of nowhere...and Eli, of course, hadn’t liked it one bit, because he was totally straight. “You can’t tell anyone, though,” he pleaded the girls, big sad eyes every bit as convincing as he had hoped. “Demetri doesn’t want it to get out that he’s...you know. Gay. He’s worried it’ll ruin his reputation.”

Moon nods sincerely, but Eli can tell from the almost imperceptible smirk on Yasmine’s face that she has other plans. If there’s one thing he’s learned about Demetri’s ex over the last few months, it’s that even trying to be a better person, she can’t resist a good bit of juicy gossip.

And from what Eli gathers...two girls dating? No problem, as long as they’re hot and popular. At least creepy guys can fetishize it. But guys liking other guys? Now that...Eli has a feeling that won’t go over well.

As soon as Eli excuses himself, Yasmine gets to work. A few whispers at the snack table when Moon isn’t looking, and news of Demetri’s supposed orientation spread like wildfire.

Demetri, meanwhile, is determined to prove Eli wrong. So what if Yas doesn’t want him anymore (or never did, the mean voice in his head keeps prodding)? He’ll find another hot girl to have on his arm. He’s a top Cobra Kai fighter, after all--it’s not like it’ll be difficult.

He saunters over to a group of girls, leaning up against the wall in what he thinks has to be a very suave way. “Hey ladies,” he says. “Name’s Demetri. I’m sure you’ve heard about me--seasoned Cobra Kai fighter, finalist in the All-Valley tournament. But no need to be intimidated--if any of you beautiful ladies ever need a hand with anything, I’ll--”

“Take it off of the nearest dick to help us out?” one of the girls cuts him off. They all break out in snickers. “No thanks.”

Demetri freezes. Why would they think...?

Then he realizes there’s only one person who could have made them think he was into that sort of thing.

He tenses. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but--”

“We’ve heard all we need to,” another girl says, eyeing him up in disgust. “Not interested in getting it on with someone who’s probably had his cock up another guy’s ass, to be blunt. Gross.” Before Demetri can say another word, the girls are gone, turning and slinking hurriedly off into the crowd.

Every time Demetri tries his luck with another girl, he gets similar rebuffs. And every time, he seethes a little more. Fucking figured--timid little Eli couldn’t take the fact that Demetri had worked up the confidence to win over a girl and he hadn’t, so he had to ruin Demetri’s chances with every other girl so he’d feel better.

Besides, Demetri remembers that day from 4 years ago. He remembers that Eli was just as into...all the stuff they did.

Unfortunately, before Demetri has a chance to go over and confront Eli about the whole business, the cops show up. He’ll just have to wait until school, he figures.

Meanwhile, word gets back to Sam that Miguel showed up at her door, apologizing and promising he took all the bad reviews down--apparently Robby didn’t relay any of this to her. When Miguel admits to Demetri about the drunken kiss, Demetri chuckles, slapping him on the back. “My man! Trying to build up a whole harem here, are we?”

Miguel sighs, looking sullen. “I cheated, dude. That’s shitty.”

And then comes the PA announcement. Tory Nichols is starting shit, and Demetri can’t pretend he’s not intrigued to see where this goes.

As soon as the fight breaks out, Demetri is overcome with adrenaline. He whips through the crowd, spinning and throwing kicks and punches like explosive flashes. All he can think of is Eli, Eli, little Eli...oh, when he finds him, there’s going to be hell to pay.

And it doesn’t take long--of course Eli is the one who tries to pull a teacher in to stop the fight. The fucking wimp.

When Eli makes a run for it, Demetri can’t help but smirk when he leads him straight to the computer lab. How very typical, for someone whose hero is Steve Jobs. He grins, something frighteningly sadistic bubbling up inside of him.

For a second it almost scares him, how badly he wants to drive his foot into Eli’s chest.

“Little Eli Moskowitz!” he taunts, before he can stop himself. “Cowering away in the computer lab, just like the little nerd he is. Can’t hide forever, outer. I know damn well what you told them about me.”

He tries door after door, continuing in a singsong voice as he goes. “Oh dear me, what would they say if they knew you enjoyed it too, Eli? Well, I guess they won’t believe me now. But I know. I know you’re no better than me.”

Ever since they were kids, Demetri has been the speedier one. They used to race across the playground at recess, pretending to be Quicksilver and the Flash, but Demetri always came out ahead. Long, gangly legs tended to do that. So when Eli turns to see Demetri in the doorway, and he makes a run for it, he doesn’t get far.

Demetri grabs Eli around the waist and throws him against the wall, whipping kicks and hits into his stomach and thighs faster than he can block. Demetri hardly notices the bruises forming, or the bleeding cuts.

It’s then that Eli does something Demetri doesn’t expect--flips the script, as it were. As Demetri reaches out to strike again, Eli surges forward and grabs him by the shoulders, flipping him around and pinning him against the wall. Maybe Miyagi-Do specializes in defense, but they still taught him how to throw a good hit or two. He throws defense to the wayside and starts raining punches down on Demetri--sloppy, uncoordinated, but something the “Strike First” Cobra Kai student is entirely unprepared to defend.

When his chest is stinging and his head throbbing, Demetri can’t take anymore. Eli was a lot more...well, powerful than he expected. At his first opportunity, he turns and books it. Maybe this isn’t a fight he can win after all.

Eli doesn’t chase. As angry as he still is at Demetri, he can’t stop thinking about the mars and bruises and cuts that appeared across Demetri’s face and skin as he punched him, mirroring his own, and he feels sick. He can’t hurt Demetri anymore, no matter what Demetri thinks of him now.

Demetri just makes it to the staircase when he sees Miguel motionless on the floor, Robby Keene looking over the railing. Sam LaRusson hovering over him. He runs to Miguel’s side, world crumbling around him.

Turns out he showed mercy, just like Mr. Lawrence always said to. And look where it got him. When John Kreese offers him a place in a new Cobra Kai, determined to make the Miyagi-Dos pay for hurting Miguel, Demetri isn’t about to say no.

In his grief, it seems like the only option.

Season 3

On the first day back at school, Mitch is quick to remind Demetri that there are other girls in the world besides Yasmine. Surely it won’t be too hard to work his charms on some of the freshmen--after all, word about that little incident with Eli when they were 12 can’t have gotten across the entire school, can it?

“Well, hello, ladies!” he purrs to a passing group, leaning against the wall in the most nonchalant way possible. “Welcome to West Valley High. I know freshman year can be intimidating, high school classes and new people and all, but if you ever need help with anything, I’m--”

“--the scrawny little gay kid who ran his pussy ass away from the world’s easiest fight?” one of the girls finishes scornfully. “Yeah, we know.”

As they walk away, he notices one shoot a flirty smile at a passing Eli, surrounded by his squad of Miyagi-Do losers. “Ooooh, you’re famous now, E!” he hears Chris say, and his blood boils all over again.

Ah. So everyone knew about Eli’s little triumph.

Mitch saunters over, and Demetri follows his lead. “Got something to say?!” he snaps.

Demetri’s eyes lock with Eli’s, and he glowers down at him. Eli’s face is tight, expression almost...sad.

Not like he’d expect anything less from that little crybaby.

“Oh, little Eli,” he chides. “I’d like to see you try and hide behind security.”

“I don’t need to,” Eli mutters, not breaking eye contact.

“Everything all right here?”

At the sound of the counselor’s voice, Eli does something unexpectedly bold. He sidles up to Demetri’s side and presses into it, throwing an arm around his shoulder. “No, Counselor Blatt, we’re all friends here!” he says, offering that shy little Eli smile that made every adult in a nearby vicinity go mad with protectiveness.

Eli’s arm is tight around his neck--like a chokehold. But, Demetri notices after a few moments, it’s shaking--the grip almost frantic. Like he’s scared of when he’ll have to let go.

Odd.

Demetri turns, and his and Eli’s eyes lock. He tries to give the shorter boy the most intense, seething glare he can under his forced smile, but Eli returns the look with equal intensity. Demetri jostles his backpack his backpack and thumps him on the chest, feeling an odd compulsion to touch his old friend right back.

Maybe he missed feeling Eli’s body underneath him. But that wasn’t a thought he could afford to spend a lot of brainpower on right now. “Yeah!” he says. Of course we’re still friends! Of course you didn’t fuck up my love life and humiliate me to the entire school because you couldn’t handle the fact that I was getting some and you weren’t!

When the counselor chides them about having somewhere to be, Eli just nods, murmuring, “Yeah, of course, Counselor Blatt. Sorry.”

As Eli pulls away, he pats Demetri’s shoulder a couple times. Small, almost imperceptible, but there.

Demetri can’t tell if it’s serious--if Eli still cares--or if it’s just a cruel mockery of their old touch. He’s not sure he wants to know.

When Demetri runs into Samantha LaRusso in the hospital and she insists she wants to help, he hardly expects a whole fucking fundraiser gleefully using Miguel as their poster child. As though the Miyagi-Dos weren’t the ones who put him in the hospital in the first place. When he catches a glimpse of the carwash while driving Mitch to practice, he decides he’s going to do something about it.

Beating up the kid is an easy fight, getting the money with Mitch and the others a sinch. Maybe at some point he would’ve felt bad for this--pummeling some short kid and then taking his charity money. But all he can think of is Miguel, his best friend, lying in a white gown and hooked up to wires. Because of this kid and his stupid “peaceful” dojo.

Peaceful, Demetri’s ass.

When Demetri walks into the cafeteria the following Monday, he’s not sure what he expects to see at Yasmine and Moon’s table, the place where he would be sitting, under different circumstances--but it definitely is not Eli Moskowitz with his hair dyed bright blue and spiked up. Miyagi-Do blue. Apparently all that coolness cred he felt he got from “scaring” Demetri off in the school brawl has gotten to his head, and he’s playing out his new “badassery” up to 11. He’s showing something to Yasmine and Moon, and they’re smiling and giggling. Yasmine, of all people, is smiling at nerdy little Eli’s antics.

Demetri squints, and sees that Eli’s showing the two girls a comic book--he recognizes the copy. It’s Eli’s limited edition Captain Marvel comic book, signed by Kelly Sue DeConnick herself. Demetri remembers standing in line with him at a con to get it a few years back--he’s pretty protective of the thing.

And now he’s using it to impress girls? Because apparently Yasmine and Moon are into that kind of thing? Oh, but of course Yasmine couldn’t be into nerd shit when DEMETRI was dating her, could she?

And those gooey eyes Moon is giving Eli, her little giggles--Demetri doesn’t like them one bit. What, now Eli’s worth her affections--now that his “nerdiness” is cool? Aren’t she and Yasmine a stupid item, anyways?

Deciding he’s going to put a stop to this, Demetri saunters over, lunch tray clutched so hard his knuckles are turning white. Before the group can react to his presence, Demetri picks up his chocolate milk carton and dumps it all over Eli’s stupid blue hair, making sure to get plenty on the rare comic book in front of him.

“Oh, I hope that wasn’t important, was it Eli?” he taunts, voice thick with mock sympathy. “That sure would be a shame.”

Eli turns to look at him, eyes wide with heartbroken shock. For a moment, the anger doesn’t set in.

“I had to wait in line 5 hours to get that,” he says quietly. “You know that.”

“Sure do.” Demetri smirks. “And it took all of 5 seconds to completely ruin. How tragic.”

Eli tenses, eyes darting around for a couple seconds. Demetri starts to walk away, his point made, when he feels an iron grip on his wrist. He turns to see Eli smirking at him, clutching his arm with more force than he ever thought possible from the once-timid boy.

“Careful there, Demetri,” Eli sneers. “Coming all the way across the cafeteria to bother me when you’ve got your cool Cobra Kai friends to hang out with? People might think you’re a little...obsessed with me.” Yasmine and Moon snicker, and Demetri bristles as he realizes the implication.

“Although I shouldn’t be surprised since you love obsessing over other boys, don’t you?” Eli goes on, like his point isn’t clear enough. “Y’know, I feel bad for Yasmine. I mean, any idiot could tell she used you as a beard, but I had no idea it was a mutual thing.”

Demetri tenses, willing himself not to lose his cool. “Really letting that little victory get to your head, aren’t you, Eli? Honestly, I was going easy on you. Now I know not to next time.”

It’s at that moment that Sam LaRusso decides to show up, sliding up next to Eli and glowering up at Demetri. “There won’t be a next time if I have anything to say about it,” she retorts.

Demetri can’t help but scoff. Of course Sam LaRusso would be all too eager to defend her little pet nerd now, even though she was all too happy to laugh at him with her mean girl friends a year ago. “I’m not scared of you,” he says. “Like you’d start any fight daddy couldn’t bail you out of. Or that doesn’t end with your ex boyfriend getting thrown over a railing because you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself.”

It’s a low blow, but Demetri doesn’t care. It’s hard not to look at this girl and see part of the reason Miguel might never be able to walk again.

Sam LaRusso shoves him just as the godawful counselor is sauntering over, but to hell with it--maybe Demetri could spin this to his advantage.

“She hit me, Counselor Blatt!” he cries out, pointing at Sam. “Attacked and physically assaulted me, completely unprovoked!”

“That’s not true,” Eli mumbles, eyes darting. Flawlessly slipping back into the poor little Eli role in a way that never fails to make Demetri seethe. “It wasn’t unprovoked. He started all this by destroying my limited-edition comic book for no reason.”

Demetri puts on his most convincing remorseful face and sighs. “Look, that was an accident. I just tripped while I was walking and my milk spilled. Anyhow, if your book’s that valuable, you probably shouldn’t bring it into a school cafeteria where people are more than likely going to spill food on it.”

He’d like to see the dumb counselor argue with that.

“Look, I don’t want excuses. I just want you all to respect each other.”

“Oh, absolutely.” Demetri turns to give Eli a forced smile. “Nothing but 100% respect in this environment going forward, I assure you. Sorry if we caused any problems.”

Please, just anything to make her leave.

With one last warning to Sam LaRusso, the counselor is gone. Demetri turns to the two Miyagi-Dos and smirks.

“To hell with respect,” he sneers. “Your lot hardly deserve it.”

It doesn’t surprise Demetri when Eli and his little gang of Miyagi-Do losers decide to start shit in gym class. What he isn’t expecting is for Eli and his stupid blue hair to start running next to him--right after he’s tried and failed to catch Yasmine’s attention after scoring a goal.

He’s been thinking about her all morning--was Eli right about her? Did she only use him as a cover-up?

...would no one ever want to date him for him?

Well, maybe if he won Yasmine back, he could disprove that. If Moon was going to be hanging off of Eli’s arm before too long, chances were her and Yasmine’s relationship’s days were numbered.

Whatever Eli is about to say, Demetri can already tell it’s not going to help.

And it doesn’t. “Wow, Demetri. Few guys are so bad in a relationship that they manage to turn their girlfriend gay. I hope you feel accomplished.”

Demetri balls his fists. “Say that again. I dare you.”

“You really did have a good thing going with her,” Eli sighed, voice laced with condescending pity. “It’s a shame she decided she could do better than some belligerent Cobra Kai douchebag.”

And then suddenly Eli lunges for him and tackles him, knocking him to the ground just as easily as Demetri once did to Eli at the mall.

Not that it ended up mattering all that much--Demetri was able to talk the Cobra Kai’s way out of trouble in the principal’s office, just as he so often could. Nonetheless, it seemed Eli was hardly turning out to be as much of a pushover as he thought.

When Mitch and the guys invited Demetri to go to Golf N Stuff--fuck around for a bit, cause some mayhem--he wasn’t about to say no. The thrill took over, running around, snatching tickets and prizes away, throwing them in the trash--he almost felt as powerful as Kyler must have, all those months ago when he tossed the lesser kids’ backpacks in the garbage. Is this how it felt, to be on top? To have everyone else too scared to mess with you?

Because Demetri loved it.

What he wasn’t counting on was Sam LaRusso and her little posse arriving to confront them in the laser tag arena--including Eli, face hardened and ready to fight.

Things seemed to be going pretty poorly--that was, until Tory Nichols and the backup arrived. That reduced Sam LaRusso to a sniveling mess, and finally it looked like this would be an easy finish.

Demetri found himself only stalling for a second when the way cleared for him to go at Eli. Something about the sudden terror on the other boy’s face made him hesitate, but not for long. Eli threw a weak punch, and Demetri quickly flipped him onto the ground, pulling his arm up behind him.

“No, please, stop, Deme, stop! It’s me!”

Deme...

Eli’s old nickname for him.

Demetri pauses, and suddenly he feels sick. Deme...Eli’s nickname. Eli.

Wasn’t all of this for Eli? To protect Eli?

And now here he was, about to hurt him. The one thing he swore he was going to stop everyone else from doing.

And then comes the goading cries from Tory, Mitch, and the others. Do it! Finish him! He deserves it!

He deserves it.

And then Demetri remembers what happened to Miguel when he didn’t take his chance to finish the fight with Robby Keene. Suddenly Demetri’s running out of the end of a hallway again, seeing Miguel’s motionless body lying on the stairs, and the rage and horror and mind-numbing devastation hit him all over again.

“Demetri, finish him!”

In a split second, Demetri makes his decision. Eli’s arm snaps in half.

All it takes is one terrible, pained scream from Eli for Demetri’s entire world to come crashing down on him. What the fuck did he just do?

He can’t even hear the other Cobras, gleefully congratulating him and sneering at the “pussy” on the floor. All he can hear are Eli’s pained sobs.

He’d seen Eli cry before, but never like this. Never thanks to him.

When everyone congratulates him next practice, Demetri barely hears. He’s just numb. All he can see is Eli, curled up and crying on the dirty cement floor. When Tory tells him she didn’t think he was going to do it, all he can manage out is that Miyagi-Do had it coming for hurting Miguel.

And as if his week can’t get any worse, here come Kyler and his goons sauntering into the dojo like they own the damn place. Demetri does his best to convince Mr. Kreese this is by no means a wise idea, but the sensei will not hear of it.

When Kyler and Brucks realize who he is, it only makes Demetri more livid. “Oh shit, it’s the yogurt backpack kid! Lip’s little friend! I thought he moved away!” When a fighting ring is formed, giving the new recruits a chance to “earn their spot,” Demetri is all too ready for combat.

He’s horrified at how quickly Brucks takes down Mitch, how quickly his friend is ushered out the door. It was bad enough to see Bert go, but this...this is different.

He can’t remember the last time he’s felt more alone.

When Kyler steps forward, looking for an opponent, Demetri volunteers before anyone else can. Mr. Kreese shoots him a surprised look, but he doesn’t care. This fucko has been making his life hell for years--he can already tell this is going to be therapeutic.

Demetri doesn’t hold back. The fight has barely started before Kyler’s had enough. A few fast hits and his lip’s already bloody, and he’s backing away. “No...please stop...”

And suddenly Demetri’s back in the library, on that afternoon that seems like an eternity ago, watching Kyler grip Eli by the throat. Hearing him sneer “who would ever want to kiss THAT shit?” like Eli was the most disgusting thing he’d ever seen. Feeling absolutely powerless, hand clutching the back of a chair as he burned with rage that had nowhere to go.

Well, he wasn’t powerless now.

And before he knows it Demetri has Kyler pinned to the ground, landing punch after punch to his face. Because, he realizes, at the end of the day, who gives a fuck if Eli’s on the other side?

That’s still his Eli, even after everything. The same Eli he stood by for over 10 years, the same Eli who he wished so long that he could protect from everything, the same Eli who felt like he had to constantly hide a tiny red line on his face because his peers collectively decided--for no good reason at all--that it was ugly.

And maybe he couldn’t make those people hurt the way he wanted to then, but right now...well, he could hurt at least one. And that was enough.

He doesn’t stop until Kyler is practically pulverized and his hands are drenched in blood. After throwing his last punch, he smirks, leaning down to whisper into Kyler’s ear.

“Now who’d want to kiss THAT shit? That’s right, asshole--I remember.”

Demetri kicks Kyler’s limp form as he walks away. He shoots Brucks a glare as he falls back in line--just for good measure.

When Miguel comes back to school, Demetri’s one of the first to greet him at the door. “Cobra Kai’s still going strong! It’s going to be great to have you back!” He’s a little confused as to why Miguel seems so hesitant, but he doesn’t worry too much about it--they can sort through all that later.

Miguel’s certainly taken aback by the clunky cast he sees on Eli’s arm when he runs into him in the hall--but perhaps even moreso by the fact that he has both shamelessly dyed his hair blue and spiked it up in a mohawk and is currently walking the school hallways with Moon on his (unbroken) arm. As it turns out, once word got back to Moon that Yasmine was the one who had shamelessly whispered around the school about Demetri being gay, she had broken things off with her. And, with his new “coolness” upgrade, she’d taken quite a liking to Eli.

Not like she had any way of knowing he’d been planning on Yasmine’s cruel gossip, after all.

But the cast, Miguel quickly learns, has a much darker backstory than anything he could have expected.

He wastes no time confronting Demetri about it in the lunchroom. “I heard what happened with Eli. How could you do that?”

Demetri’s stomach clutches. He scowls, determined not to show his discomfort.

“Wow!” He scoffs. “We go to all the trouble of getting payback on those assholes for getting you thrown over that railing, and this is the thanks we get?”

Miguel shakes his head, horrified. “Dude, who cares what dojo Eli’s in? He’s our friend! And in any case, it’s not his fault what happened to me. What the hell were you thinking?”

I don’t know. I don’t know. Demetri’s face hardens. He can only imagine how angry Mr. Kreese would be with him if he caught him showing any kind of weakness. Any kind of second-guessing.

But he can’t help it. Glimpsing Eli in that cast for the first time...

“Look, the Miyagi-Dos were the ones who picked a fight with us,” Demetri retorts. “We just had to do what we had to so they’d back off and leave us alone. We had to finish the fight.”

Miguel pauses, looking pained. “This isn’t...this isn’t you, Demetri. You’re letting Kreese get in your head. He’s trying to manipulate you, get you to...obsess over revenge so you’ll hurt people. But I know you, and I know you don’t want to. Eli, or anyone else.”

Demetri clenches his fists. “What would you know about how I feel about Eli?”

“Look, I can’t claim I know what’s going on between you two,” Miguel amends. “But you have to believe me--Kreese is dangerous. He’s using you. He doesn’t care about you, Demetri. Just...come to Sensei Lawrence’s new dojo. Please. Things can be like they used to. You don’t have to be in this...this war.”

This gives Demetri pause. “He...made a new dojo?”

Okay, so he’s still not Mr. Lawrence’s biggest fan--the man is an asshole at the best of times. But to be able to train with Miguel again...to be able to be badass without being expected to be some soldier...

He can’t finish speaking before Brucks’s voice rings out through the cafeteria. “Look everyone, Lip’s got a dick in his hand!”

Demetri looks up to see Eli being held by the cast, eyes darting around as the entire cafeteria bursts into laughter. Involuntarily, Demetri bristles.

And there it is again, that feeling of being the helpless kid in the library as Eli’s taunted. And even after all this time...he still hates it.

Miguel turns to him, shaking his head. “So these are your friends now? I thought you were better than that.”

And just like that, Miguel’s gone. Gone from the Cobra Kai table, gone from Demetri’s life.

It makes him wonder if he’s making a huge mistake. But he knows he can’t back out now--not when he’s this far in. Who would even want to take him back? Probably not Miguel and Mr. Lawrence--despite what Miguel said, Demetri knows there’s no way he’s going to forgive him so easily for hurting their other friend. And certainly not Eli.

What makes it even worse is seeing Eli later that day, curled up against some lockers with Moon. Moon is tracing over his cast in colored sharpie, slowly transforming the dick pic into a beautiful landscape and night sky. Eli is bragging about how the arm-breaking didn’t hurt that bad.

Demetri remembers when that soft little smile was reserved only for him, and a pit starts to form in his stomach.

Well, no use bitching. You did this to yourself.

It seems like the world is out to just make Demetri’s existence in Cobra Kai as shitty as possible these days. Mitch and Bert are gone, Miguel isn’t coming back, Brucks is being a royal douchebag like always, and perhaps worst of all, Robby Keene shows up at the dojo. Demetri tries his damndest to appeal to Mr. Kreese about how outrageous this is--this is the kid who paralyzed Miguel in the fucking first place, what’s the point of dojo-wide revenge if they just take in the main culprit like an old buddy? But of course Mr. Kreese spouts some nonsense about how they need all the help they can get for the All-Valley, and sometimes you have to be allies with people you aren’t the biggest fans of, blah blah blah. To make matters worse, Tory--not a friend exactly, but probably the closest thing Demetri’s got to one left--is getting far too chummy with Robby for Demetri’s taste.

Maybe Demetri’s insane, but it seems like more and more ridiculous shit is being handwaved in the name of...what? Winning a karate tournament? Getting revenge for a kid who’s already recovered, and doesn’t even seem to want it?

When word gets back to Cobra Kai that Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang are teaming up, Kreese sends the students on a special mission: Show the other dojos that even with their combined forces, they’re no match for Cobra Kai. It seems like a waste of time to Demetri--why antagonize other dojos just minding their business? It’s not like there was anything worth fighting for in this dumb war anymore, considering Miguel was on his feet again (literally AND figuratively). Nonetheless, Demetri finds he’s itching for a good fight--it’s been way too long since he’s charged into a full-fledged battle.

Maybe this will help him get it out of his system, if nothing else.

When the fight breaks out at the LaRussos, it doesn’t take long for Demetri to be overtaken by the thrill of it. Just like he was at the school fight. Just like he was at the tournament. He’s zipping through the house, landing kicks and punches left and right. And it feels good. With everything having been so awful lately, he can’t remember the last time he’s felt more alive.

And then he lands a fierce kick, and Brucks chest-bumps him. “Hell yeah! kick some ass! Dumb losers never had a chance.”

Brucks. The same kid who laughed when he saw Eli starting to cry about the comments he made on his lip. The same kid claiming Kyler tossing his backpack into a yogurt-filled trash can was “brute.” And now here he was trying to be buddy-buddy with him.

Everything comes crashing down on Demetri at once.

Miguel’s speech, saying Kreese is manipulating him. Saying Kreese doesn’t care about him. Kreese cherry-picking what does and doesn’t count as vengeance--hurting Eli, someone who had nothing to do with Miguel’s fall, does, but teaming up with the kid responsible for said fall apparently does not. Demetri’s friends being booted from Cobra Kai one by one, just for not being strong enough.

The sound of Eli’s screams and sobs in a dark laser tag room.

Miguel was right, wasn’t he? Kreese never cared about getting payback for him. He only cared about starting a war for his own sadistic pleasures.

Demetri hears grunting and whimpering, and he looks up to see two of the other Cobras kneeing Eli in the chest over and over. Pinning him into an arm bar.

“Yo, ‘Mete!” one calls out. “Free shot!”

Eli looks up, gaze full of fear and pain. Bright blue irises glinting with welling tears.

Once upon a time, Demetri made a promise to himself that he would stick with karate, aggravating as it may be, so he would never have to see that look on Eli’s face again. It’s time, he figures, that he finally made good on that.

His face contorts into a snarl, and he runs to Eli. Eli closes his eyes and scrunches his face, bracing for a pain that never comes.

Demetri kicks one Cobra to the wayside and smashes the other into a glass table with perhaps more force and adrenaline than he’s used all night.

When he turns to Eli, the other boy backs away, eyes still wide with terror. Demetri feels sick to his stomach, and the tears come before he can stop them.

“God, Eli, I’m so sorry,” he splutters. “I’m so fucking sorry, for everything. I don’t know what I was thinking, and it was all so fucked up, and--”

“Demetri.”

“--I’ll never hurt you like that again, but if you don’t want anything to do with me now, I totally understand, and--”

“Demetri.”

“--I was so awful to you, and I didn’t listen to you, and I should’ve been there for you, and I’m such a piece of shit friend and--”

“DEMETRI!”

Finally Eli raises his voice enough that Demetri pauses. “...yeah, Eli?”

“Please stop talking. I forgive you. Now are you going to shut up and help me finish this?” He raises a hand, as if to initiate their old handshake. An olive branch.

Demetri grins so wide he thinks his face is going to break, and he grips Eli’s hand like a lifeline. Something to finally pull him out of the darkness. “Yeah.”

They’re a lethal fighting team. Between Demetri landing speedy hits and Eli protecting him and shielding them both with his bulked-up form (where did he get all that muscle? Demetri wonders), they dispatch half the Cobras in minutes. Whatever rush Demetri was feeling fighting when he first got here is nothing compared to fighting with Eli.

When they stop the fight between Tory and Sam, Tory wastes no time voicing her disdain for the ex-Cobras. “You’d better watch your back,” she spits at Demetri, and he feels a chill run through him. Turns out this girl is terrifying when she’s not fighting on your side.

Eli intercepts her as she leaves, staring her down defiantly in a very un-Eli-like manner. “You’d better watch yours,” he growls. “Touch him, and I’ll end you.”

Demetri glances over in surprise. When did Eli get so bold?

Well...he thinks he could grow to like it.

Season 4 (because fuck it)

Demetri is hardly expecting Mr. LaRusso and Mr. Lawrence to forgive him, never mind let him into their new dojo. But life has a lot of pleasant surprises in store for him, it seems, after the shitshow it recently put him through. It’s also possible Eli (and maybe Miguel too) but in a good word for him.

Demetri can’t stop apologizing to Eli. Seemingly every day, he finds a new thing to apologize for. Eli gets aggravated with it before long, having to reassure Demetri at least 50 separate times that he forgives him for everything. Nonetheless, Demetri refuses to stop--because he’ll never stop being sorry.

Or trying to find new ways to make it up to Eli. Going easy on him during sparring. Buying him lunch after practice. Helping him perfect some of the most badass Cobra moves.

Things end between Eli and Moon. Eli can’t fully elaborate on why--he just tells Demetri something didn’t feel quite right. The spark died out, like Demetri’s adrenaline rush slowly seeping away toward the end of a fight. That, and, Demetri gathers, something seems to have been distracting Eli from his girlfriend as of late.

Most likely the approaching, high stakes All-Valley. Karate is Serious Business, as they’ve both embraced now.

Rumor has it Yasmine and Moon are trying again, Yasmine realizing for seemingly the first time how awful she’s really been and making an effort to be better. Moon makes her want to be better--more than Demetri ever did, he realizes. And maybe that’s okay--he and Yasmine probably just weren’t right for each other.

Then one day, after yet another one of Demetri’s long-winded apologies, Eli offers something other than an exasperated. “It’s okay. Seriously.” There’s a pause before Eli quietly says “I’m sorry too.”

“For what?” Demetri blurts out, baffled. Everything Eli’s done has paled in comparison to his own atrocities.

“For outing you,” Eli says simply. “That was fucked. And it wasn’t my place, even if I was mad at you.”

“It’s all right.” Demetri shrugs. “You were right, anyways.”

Eli gives him a strange look. “I was?”

“Yeah, I mean...” Demetri laughs dryly. “I don’t...like girls. I pretended I did, because I felt like I was supposed to. That’s what people expect you to do when you’re a top athlete and all that. But dating Yasmine, chasing other girls, it always felt...empty. Like I was just acting out a role in a play or something. And at the end of the day, I think...” He pauses. “I think I was always looking at you.”

Because the last few months have made him realize something. Training with Eli, teaching Eli how to protect himself, watching Eli step up and defend him from the mistrusting stares and the scornful whispers...

Just how much of the person he’s become is thanks to wanting to protect Eli. The fact that that was always how all this started.

“I love you,” he blurts out, before he can stop himself. “I know I did a shitty job of showing it, and I know you were with Moon and you’re not like that, but I need you to know, and I understand if you don’t feel--”

Eli cuts him off with a fierce kiss, pinning him up against the dojo wall with unexpected aggressiveness.

When Eli pulls away, he’s smiling softly. The same smile he gave Moon in the hall as she drew on his cast--the smile that’s once again all Demetri’s.

“I love you too,” he murmurs. “Why do you think I broke up with Moon? Every time I was with her...I couldn’t stop wishing it was you. She’ll never know me like you do.”

And Kreese had better look out because Miyagi Fang’s next big power couple is a force to be reckoned with--the snarky, frighteningly fast-attacking ex-Cobra, and the buff, blue-mohawked Miyagi-Do with more inner peace than anyone would expect.

SOME RANDOM SIDENOTES ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE PUTTING THIS ALL IN THE TAGS

~I’m sorry if anyone is OOC in this--I know Johnny is kind of a fuck, but he genuinely WAS pretty crappy to Eli at first and who knows if he would’ve treated him any better if he didn’t “flip the script”??? ~Dark/Evil Demetri is so fun but also so awful to write--I hope you like him being an absolute fuck because the Corruption Arc is REAL ~Yes, I DO in fact fully believe Demetri would go on a crazed revenge quest just like Eli/Hawk did out of his grief for Miguel--the boy absolutely loves Miguel and arguably would want vengeance as much as Eli if their roles were swapped!!! Because Demetri cares about Miguel SO FUCKING MUCH even if it’s not as obvious as it is with Eli but that’s a rant for another post ~I included YasMoon because fuck it, I thought it’d be interesting. That and, unlike the Cobra Kai writers, I am not at all afraid of what conservative audiences will say, so I am not afraid to make things as gay as possible. ~There’s a good chance I swapped Kyler and Brucks’ places near the end solely so I could have Demetri beat the fuck out of Kyler because I just really need that ~Yes, even without formally becoming “Hawk,” Eli could learn how to be a conniving manipulative little shit if he wanted to be. Look at some of the shit he pulls with the counselor in canon Season 3!!! Boy sure as hell knows how to play the victim. ~Honestly not sure if being outed as gay is better or worse than being outed as a bed-wetter, but I had to think of something that would pack the same kind of emotional punch. In Eli’s feeble defense, the West Valley High kids don’t seem like the types to be like...especially violent against queer kids (otherwise NO WAY would Moon and Piper have been able to be that open about their relationship), they’d just be assholes about it. So Eli wasn’t putting Demetri in legit danger here so much as just opening him up to a lot of ridicule. Which is still fucked, but hey, I DID warn you this would be kind of fucked up XD ~Maybe short, concise apologies work for Eli, bUT NOT FOR DEMETRI THE RAMBLER ~Dark Demetri chasing Eli through the school like a goddamn serial killer = 10/10 gave myself a big Spook writing ~Yes, Eli does still have (and always had) his “Hawk” traits, even without the formal “transformation.” I just think his “Hawk” side would be a little more subtle and subdued if he were in Miyagi-Do, but it’s still there for sure.

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Reviews: Cobra Kai Seasons 1 +2

(Thanks @knightsweeties​)

So I should mention that I love 80′s movies. And one of my favorite movies of all time is the cliché OG Karate Kid.

With the best mentor character of all time in movies, Mr. Miyagi.

So when Youtube announced a sequel series based off of that iconic movie with the RIVAL being the main character. You bet I was ready to watch it... until I found out you had to pay for it on Youtube red. So naturally I waited until it was Netflix. Then I finally had a chance to watch it (legally)

So now that I have watched the series in its entirety. I have some thoughts on it.

Which you can read below (spoiler warning if you haven't seen the series. I recommend having a watch)

The Plot.

I will say that Season 1 and Season 2 have entirely different feels to them.

To put it briefly

Season 1 takes place with Johnny Lawrence, a guy in his 50′s hitting rock bottom, living paycheck to paycheck as a repair guy, and still stuck in the past.

Everything changes when he ends up inadvertently saving a kid, Miguel. from some bullies using his Cobra Kai karate.

Johnny realizes that he still has a passion for karate, and wants to bring back Cobra Kai, but without the psycho of a teacher involved.

So Johnny becomes the sensei of Miguel and the two’s dynamic is like that of Miyagi and Daniel (the original master and student of Karate kid) but with some hilarious contrasts and snaps that make fun of the movie in a fun way. In a way, the season starts off like Karate kid, but keeps changing one’s expectations of characters.

It even has the last episode ending with a final bout between Johnny’s student Miguel and Daniel (the original Karate kid’s) Pupil, Robby (who also happens to be Johnny’s own son). So the tension between the two are high.

Season 2 takes place AFTER the All valley tournament and Cobra kai is rising. Now with the inclusion of a man long assumed dead coming back, Daniel now trying to get Miyagi do as a real dojo to compete against Cobra kai. Tension starts to build and it seems like a war is brewing, the events culminating in a legit all out brawl on the First day back at school, with an ending that really makes me want a season two.

Season 1 is about preconceptions. Johnny and Daniel’s actions are based on their own preconceived notions, People let the past dictate how things are when that isn't the truth. Daniel automatically assume’s Johnny is up to no good because of his personal dealings with Cobra kai, and Johnny believe’s Daniel is at fault for everything awful that has happened to him, thus resulting in each of them indirectly attacking one another intentionally or unintentionally. They even try to reconcile only for Johnny to find out Daniel was training his son in karate, which Daniel actually didn't know was his kid, but this broke any trust the other have.

Season 2 is about Perspective, Almost everyone acts based on their own views on how things went down in their head. Everyone takes these perspectives as facts and there is no way the other person can be right, until a third party gets involved. And just like in the first season, Johnny and Daniel almost reconcile again, only to their views blinding them to the truth.

___________________

The characters:

I think I will just list off the main ones with their own arcs in the show and tell you all my thoughts on each of them.

Johnny Lawrence: Johnny is best described as a man stuck in the past, both technologically and mentally. He is a jerk, and considering his a**hole step dad and the psycho Karate teacher Kreese, he didn't have good role models on how to be a man. He pretty much screwed up his chances of being a dad to his biological son Robby, and spent half his life drunk and the other half depressed and angry. The day he saved Miguel and reformed Cobra Kai was the day that helped him start turning things around. Miguel became the student that helped bring him back into the modern day, helping him recruit students to his dojo, and even helping him deal with his hang ups regarding his failures with his son robby. Johnny is by no means perfect, but he is trying to be a better person. He is kind of like that out of touch uncle that is ignorant of a lot of things but is slowly getting used to it. He is tough, but he cares. Honestly the best adult character in the series with how hard he tries to actually be better but life just keeps kicking him down.

Miguel Diaz: a young boy who Johnny has been teaching to fight. At the start of the show, he had ZERO confidence, and felt like a nobody new kid in a town. Learning Karate helped give Miguel confidence and allowed him to stand up to the bullies that messed with him. Miguel is a good kid, in fact, he is my favorite Character in the series. In season 1, he was awkward, and unsure of himself. But as the first season went on, he managed to ask out the girl he liked, and even made good friends. Though Miguel started to pick up a lot of similar habits to Johnny from the original Karate kid, albeit directly and indirectly from his sensei. But season 2 quickly shows Johnny doing everything to make sure that doesn't happen. Miguel becomes the most civil of Cobra kai, becoming a more refined fighter and even a better person then any of the other students in either dojo. Thus making the end of season 2 so much more tragic and not even his fault.

Daniel LaRusso: The original Karate kid. A car dealership owner, and family man. He was living his best life, lovely wife, two good kids, and just enjoying every minute of it, until Cobra Kai came back. We get to see a lot of Daniel from Johnny’s perspective and the reveal is, he was just as much of a jerk as Johnny was back in the day. Even kind of a stuck up a**hole that tries to destroy Cobra kai through underhanded methods like having the landowner raise the rent, or stopping him from entering the All valley tournament. It isn't until he starts training Robby that Daniel starts to act like the man that we expect the main character of Karate Kid to act like.

Amanda LaRusso: Daniel's wife, She is great. She also has the most braincells out of everyone. She calls Daniel out on his crap and without her Daniel probably wouldn't be as good of a character as he is.

Robby Keene: Johnny's street-smart son and Daniel’s karate protege. At the start of the series, Robby is a bad kid, skipping school, drugs, stealing, and running with a bad group of kids. Robby really didn't care about his life choices or his loser father. He did however care about his mother, who was busy trying to have her own fun and neglecting him. it wasn't until he started learning Karate from Daniel, (originally working at the dealership to Spite his dad) did he start to turn things around. Robby hid the fact that he was Johnny’s kid from the LaRusso family and the developments in the first season resulted in a dramatic irony. In season two, his interest in Samantha (Sam), started to cause problems especially near the end of season 2. Robby is also another complex character and he is an amazing Parallel to Miguel. Robby keeps wanting the things that Miguel seemed to get, and always seemed to fall short, much like Daniel and Johnny’s rivalry in the original Karate kid. This has Robby holding back information that he does come clean about later.

Samantha LaRusso: Daniel's daughter. The most experienced Martial artist of the teens since she grew up with it. She is much like the love interest in the series in season 1 and becomes more of her own character in season 2.

Okay, so I am going to flat out say this. She is an awful person. Like at first, she ditches her friend to hang out with the popular crowd, lies to her parents about a hit and run, hides the fact that she is dating Miguel from her parents because his is Cobra Kai. I can forgive some of the things as an honest mistake, and in season 1 I can even look past some of them, since she does do the right thing about standing up to Kyler over his BS But the OTHER STUFF?

Sneaking around with Robby who is living in her house at the time because of a family situation which is a MASSIVE betrayal of trust. Accuses Tory of stealing from her mom, attacks Tory at the roller rank over a shove, ignores Miguel’s apologies and actions to at least try and clear the air only to KISS him when he is in a relationship with another girl. The list goes on. Now context matters, and then there is the whole  situation in episode 9. Now Miguel was drunk and trying to fight robby, (like an idiot who thinks a guy is trying to steal his gf) and it resulted in Sam getting hit, which Miguel was mortified that it happened. But a lot of people are divided on whose fault it is, I really think Miguel shouldn't be throwing punches so in that regard, he was in the wrong. Now unrelated, Sam was in the wrong in pretty much every other situation she was in.

Aisha Robinson: The second student of cobra kai, that went from an insecure nerd to a legit sassy confident bada**. Giving one of the stuck up popular girls the greatest karmic punishment. She is tough and knows her own worth. She is also another voice of reason character in season two.

Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz : And the award for most changed character is Hawk. A quiet kid with a scar from a cleft lip surgery left him the target of vicious bullying. Dimetri was his only friend, until he ‘Flipped the Script.’ Gets a mohawk and a back tattoo after embracing Cobra Kai. He becomes a legit bada**. As the season goes on, he does become more and more Aggro, his confidence now coming off more as arrogance and lashing out. By season 2, he starts taking lessons from Kreese and when his mohawk went Red, the old good Eli was dead. He is the prime example of how dangerous Cobra kai can be when one has bad guidance. Blue Hawk, fun, cool, still figuring out how to be a bada**. Red Hawk, irredeemable prick

Demetri: sarcastic and Neurotic, he saw things in the worst light, a natural whiner that really began his road to development in season 2, his friendship turned bitter rivalry is quite fascinating. Though the GOT references did not age well.

Tory Nichols: Certifiable Bad girl. She joins Cobra Kai and she is easily one of the most interesting characters in the show. She becomes Aisha’s new best friend and immediately butts heads with Sam. She ends up dating Miguel and Sam’s actions result in Tory declaring war on the daughter of Larusso. She is the catalyst of a lot of developments.

John Kreese: The sensei of Johnny, there is a LOT of beef between the two, but Johnny actually saw how broken of a man Kreese was and tried to help him despite their rough past. But Kreese only had one thing on his mind, revenge. The show actually shows how much more conniving and cruel Kreese is, even more then the movie. Kreese has been in wait a LONG time and he wants to crush Miyagi do once and for all.

____________________________

The Action and Acting.

I will say the acting on the part of the characters is pretty good. The dialogue can be a touch hammy at times, but when it involves Johnny, you can tell its genuine. All the characters in the original Karate kid movie really show how connected they are despite it being over 30 years.

The fighting Choreography is also fun and gets even better in season 2.

My favorite fights being Miguel vs Kyler and the boys In Season one episode 5, Miguel vs Robby  Season 1 episode 10, and  Season 2 episode 10 the school brawl.

Honorable mention is the Bar fight in season 2 with the older cobra kai alums.

_________________________________________

Overall:

The show can be a bit much for some people, its crass and its more teens and adults audience, but I highly recommend watching if a fan of Karate kid, or just want something interesting to watch.

I give it a solid 8/10 and I look forward to seeing season 3.

[saiilorstars]

Dare To Forget Me

Ch. 15: I Don’t Know

/ Previous Chapters /

Fandom: Law & Order SVU

Pairing:  Rafael Barba x Original female character

Warnings: Due to the nature of the series’ plots, I do have to rate this as ‘mature’ for constant mentions of rape.

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ` 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Chapter Summary: There seems to be a lot of things Rafael suddenly stops understanding about himself, especially where Montserrat is concerned. For example, why the hell does he care so much if people don't listen to the fact Montserrat doesn't want to celebrate her birthday?

"Montserrat, you better get going!" Kara exclaimed while Montserrat lazily drank the remainder of her orange juice by the kitchen sink. "Don't you have work or something?"

Montserrat drowned the last of her orange juice then dumped the glass into the sink. She turned to her roommate with hands on her hips. "Yes, why are you pushing me so much? Don't tell me you're inviting Sonny over because that's just too early."

Kara deadpanned her for a good minute before responding. "You're just going to be late. You told me you were dealing with a tough case. You shouldn't waste time."

"I won't," Montserrat promised on her way into the hallway. "I'm just going to get changed then go."

Kara started picking up her own breakfast plate and brought into the kitchen. As she was depositing it into the sink, someone knocked on the door. "I got it!" she warned Montserrat before heading for the door. To her surprise, she found Rafael standing on the other side. "Uuh...should I get Montse?"

Rafael quickly shook his head. "No. I thought she'd be at work by now."

Kara rolled her eyes. "That's what I'm saying. She's running so late today!"

Rafael wished she would speak lower. If Montserrat was still in the apartment it meant she could overhear them.

It took Kara a couple seconds to realize that if he hadn't stopped by for Montserrat, it meant he wanted to talk to her. "What do you need from me?" she asked in confusion.

Now Rafael had thought long and hard about talking with Kara. On the one hand, it wasn't any of his business...but on the other hand, he wanted to help Montserrat. And because he was more inclined towards the latter, he was right there. "That surprise party you're doing for Montserrat next month...maybe it's not such a good idea."

Kara made a face that basically told him he was crazy. "Why would you say that?"

"Because…" And there was the trouble, wasn't it? Rafael knew exactly why Montserrat wouldn't want any party because she told him...but he couldn't tell Kara that.

"Oh God," Kara's eyes widened in alarm, "Does she know about it already?"

"No!" Rafael said fast. "I'm just thinking that since Montserrat's not very comfortable with her age she might not like a party."

Kara instantly calmed and even snorted. "Please. She'll like this party just as she liked all the other parties I've thrown for her. It's sort of our little thing. She pretends she doesn't want a party and then I make her a party and all is well with the world."

"I think this one might be the exception," Rafael said bluntly, his hard look making Kara frown.

"Why would you say that?"

Before Rafael could come up with another lie, Montserrat emerged from her bedroom. "I swear to God if that's Sonny already, Kara…!" she came out of the hallway fixing the collar of her blouse, stopping when she saw their guest. "Morning, councilor. I didn't know you knew where I lived."

"Not that hard to figure out when you have Casey around," Rafael briefly glanced at Kara, both silently agreeing not to mention their conversation to Montserrat. "I just wanted to know if you're working things out with your brother now…"

Montserrat made a weird smile but nonetheless nodded her head. "Yeah, um things are better. Since you and Casey blabbed to my Dad he basically threatened to punish us until we talked. Thank you for that, smart-mouth. Did I mention I really hate that mouth of yours?"

Rafael rolled his eyes. "You're welcome."

"I'll be in my room if anyone needs me," Kara backtracked into the hallway for her bedroom, though she was sure neither actually heard her.

"Did you really come all the way here to ask about me and my brother?" Montserrat turned for the living room to get the remainder of her things.

"I was in the neighborhood," Rafael shrugged, eyes still flickering to the hallway. He was sure Kara was planning that party as they spoke.

"Really?" Montserrat clearly didn't believe that for a second.

"Yes, really," Rafael mimicked her tone, flashing her a smile afterwards. "You caught me, though. There was another reason I stopped by."

"And what would that be?" Montserrat picked up her jacket and started slipping her arms into it.

"Your birthday," Rafael watched how she froze for a second then resumed her daily routine. He felt like he needed to do something for her, because he was sure if that party went through and she still didn't want it...it would be chaotic.

"What's there to talk about? It's like a month away and, as I've said before, I'm not celebrating it," Montserrat made a quick show they should leave and only yelled at Kara that she was leaving.

Yet another clue that she didn't want anyone to know about her birthday.

"I understand - halfway anyways - but have you considered your reasons for that?" Rafael followed down the hallway.

"Considered what? It's my birthday, it's my age, it's my decision. I thought you understood the whole 'it's my choice thing'," she sent him a side-glance that left no doubt of where she stood in regards to her birthday. "It's literally your job."

"I'm not being sarcastic here-"

"-and neither am I!"

The two headed out the street.

"It's hardly a thing to get yelled over," Rafael's snap was involuntarily that time. Here he was trying to help but instead he was going to get his head chewed off.

Montserrat took the memo and moved slightly ahead to turn.l and face him. "Sorry. But why do you keep insisting on this? You're not throwing me a party right?" she laughed at the idea.

"I can swear that I am not," Rafael said with a tight smile. "But what about the others? What if they want to give you presents or...celebrate?"

"They won't because only you, Kara - and I imagine Sonny knows now - and I made it pretty clear that I don't want. You all understood and you're not gonna mention it to the rest of the squad, right?"

Once more with a tight smile, Rafael replied, "I will not."

Montserrat smiled cheerfully. "Okay, then we're good. I don't see why we need to keep talking about this...Unless you want to argue with me? But I honestly think it might be a little early for that."

"I'm good," Rafael said since he had no other options at the moment. But you won't be in a month.

~0~

Cameron tyler. The same clueless, rich boy the squad had interrogated last night now turned out to be a possible suspect.

"How the hell did we miss this guy?" Nick, for one, was quite offended the young man had pulled one over them so easily.

Olivia was nearly offended as well, but she was more focused on helping Sarah out. "Cameron Tyler puts himself at the club on Friday night, puts himself in a cab with Sarah, puts himself on her block in Brooklyn."

"Admitting what he can't deny," Fin said the obvious since they had substantial evidence of Cameron with Sarah, including one picture of Cameron holding a drunken - nearly passed out - Sara out in the street.

"But he does deny going up to her apartment," Olivia reminded, irked that it was the only thing they couldn't easily prove.

"Maybe Sarah doesn't remember or doesn't want to admit that it was somebody she knew," Montserrat threw the other alternative out there.

"Either way, we have to tread carefully," Olivia pushed herself off the edge of the conference table. "Cameron Tyler is a smart one. That condolence call? He was trying to get in front of it.

"Because he's a pro," Amanda took a guess.

Sonny purposely hung up his desk phone loudly enough to gather the attention of the rest of the squad. "That was east Hampton P.D. They're not big fans of his." he got up from his desk and move towards the conference table while he explained what he had learned about Cameron Kyler. "A year ago, he was accused of sexual assault by a cater waitress, Celine Dubois. She recanted a week later."

"Recanted?" Nick nearly snorted on the spot. He knew exactly what made that waitress suddenly recant. "How much did that cost?"

"Let's find out," Montserrat got up from her chair to get a head start on the research.

~ 0 ~

One didn't need super powers to know that Celine had been bought out by Cameron to keep quiet on her assault. Still, talking to her didn't lead to much new information. In fact, it sort of brought the squad back to the beginning.

The underground party.

Since Sarah didn't want to speak to any of them, the squad went with the next closest honest informative they could get for their case.

Nicole found herself in the interview room, pouring her guilt to Montserrat and Amanda over giving the watch to Sarah.

"I feel terrible that we gave her the watch, but Sarah was Finally ready to have a good time," Nicole brought a hand to her forehead. "If we hadn't done that...she'd still be on the path of recuperating."

"It's not your fault," Montserrat said for about the third time. "You're not the one who hurt Sarah. But listen, did you know Cameron would be there?"

Even though for Nicole it made no sense bringing in Cameron, she still responded. "No. On a fall weekend, he's usually in the Hamptons."

"Mm, but he knew she'd be there," Amanda said, not so subtly.

"Oh, well... well, he knew we were all going out. I mean, maybe Matthew texted him. I could ask him."

"Matthew, your fiance?"

"Yeah, him and Cameron grew up together. They're best friends."

"Okay, and when did you start working for Cameron?" Montserrat asked, taking note of just how close Cameron was with Sarah;s social group.

"He just hired me this summer. He was a real lifesaver," Nicole said just a bit too relieved. It made the two detectives pause for a second.

"How do you mean?" Amanada finally asked.

"Mm, there was this, uh, party at Cameron's house fourth of July weekend, and I got really wasted and missed my Sunday brunch shift. The restaurant fired me, but Cameron said that he would take care of me," Nicole's missed the concerned looks from the detectives while she went on with her story. "I must have, you know, passed out. Tequila. I'm never touching that again. Uh, I think I fell. I don't know."

"Did you have any injuries?" Montserrat felt like she knew where this was going.

"Uh, sore all over. I, um... I even tore my earlobe," Nicole's hand reached up to her ear as the ghost of the memory resurfaced.

"Was Matthew there?" Amanda felt sick knowing exactly what happened at that party.

"No, he was stuck in California on business, but Cameron found me the next morning, and I was a total mess, but he was great," Nicole smiled so cheerfully, so grateful that it really just made Montserrat and Amanda - as well as those watching behind the one-way glass - want to throw Cameron in jail already. "He gave up a summer Sunday to take me to the doctor."

~ 0 ~

"Look, I know I'm a cop but can I just say I really want to kick Cameron's ass with all my might?" Montserrat didn't bother with the looks of Liv. She knew deep down the Sergeant wished the same.

"Where do I join?" Amanda came to stand beside her, the two almost high-fiving each other.

"It's not going to be easy telling Nicole any of this," Nick's words earned himself a double-take from Olivia.

"She doesn't think that she's a victim. If we tell her, we make her one."

"But if we don't, then we'l never catch Cameron," Fin pointed out. "Plus, she works for this guy. What kind of cops would we be if we let her keep working for her rapist?"

"Not good ones," Sonny went ahead and answered. "Now we can use Sarah to get Cameron to confess because other than her, we have nothing for this case."

"You mean wire her?" Montserrat wondered if Nicole would be up for that after they told her the truth.

"Cameron's guard is still up about Sarah. I mean, he thinks he got away with Nicole, so we get her to wear a wire and maybe we catch him in a lie," Sonny's plan wasn't half bad, and it really was the only thing they could do to get Cameron.

With that, the detectives turned to Olivia with the same expression.

"It's your call, Liv," Fin said, leaving it entirely up to Olivia, much to her dismay.

~ 0 ~

Inside their UC van, Montserrat shifted on her seat while she adjusted the volume of her comms. Even if she wasn't looking, she could feel Olivia's burning stare on their hearing equipment. Even though they had told Nicole what happened to her, and Nicole accepting to wear a wire to talk to Cameron, Olivia still felt like they did more harm than good to Nicole. It was guilt that would subside once they saw Cameron behind bars, but it didn't make it easier right now.

"Cameron just pulled up," Amanda informed the others who were parked near Cameron's apartment. They were to quickly go in to arrest Cameron once they had what they needed.

Olivia moved towards their desk to speak with Nicole one last time before things got started. "You ready, Nicole?"

There was a long minute of silence before Nicole answered with a shaky "yes".

Still, Olivia gave indications for the others to be ready in case of anything.

Cameron had come in with his girlfriend but sent her off to speak with Nicole. His casualness began to fade once Nicole touched base on the Fourth of July party he had. It was the first sign of confirmation for Nicole that he was guilty of her rape.

Instead of stopping her, it made her more determined to get the full confession out of him.

"I'm pregnant," the words left her mouth before she could truly think about it. However, it didn't seem like it would be a mistake considering Cameron's face paled in that minute. It got worse for him when flatout told him it was not by her boyfriend-fiancee. "I think something happened to me at your party.. Did you see any guys with me?"

Cameron's desperate attempt at casualness was revolting. "Uh, yeah, some. I mean, by the time I went to my room, you were pretty sloppy, flirty."

Nicole swallowed the urge to slap him right there and then. She crossed her arms in an attempt to help herself. "And then you just found me the next morning, naked on that lounge chair?"

"Yeah. Yeah, you were passed out cold."

"Okay, well, I guess that I'm gonna need the names of all the guys at your party."

Cameron stiffened. "What? Why?"

"Well, for a DNA test, because one of your friends must have had sex with me while I was passed out, so I'm gonna need their names."

"You don't need their names."

"What do you mean?"

"Look, you were really aggressive with me…."

On the other end of the wire, Amanda snorted and looked at the others. "Did he really just say that?"

"C'mon Nicole," Montserrat hoped the young woman had the restraint to let Cameron keep going. "Afterwards, she can smack him and throw a lamp on him."

"Gonna pretend like I didn't hear that," Olivia warned, but everyone knew she agreed.

"We had sex?" Nicole demanded to know from Cameron. "You and me? We had sex, and you didn't tell me?"

Cameron stuffed his hands inside his pockets and shrugged. "I figured you knew. I thought you were cool with it. Besides, I wore a condom, so I really don't see how-"

"Were there any other guys?"

"No, no, no. Everyone left. It was just us. Maybe this happened at a different party."

Nicole knew she was getting him. " Well, we can do a DNA test, because I need a screening anyway."

Cameron almost gaped on the spot. "You're gonna keep it?"

"Well, I really haven't thought about that. I don't know what else to do, 'cause Matthew, he'll leave me."

"Matthew doesn't have to know. I'll take care of this. Of you. Not just for the procedure, but the stress of it. This never happened."

Nicole pushed further, because it was right at the tip of his tongue. "What never happened? I was too drunk to know. I had bruises. My earlobe was torn."

Nicole felt her skin crawl when Cameron grabbed her arm. "Shh. It's okay. I'll take care of all of this. I'll wire money into your account-"

Nicole shook his hand off her. "Do you think that if you pay me, I am not gonna tell people that you took advantage of me?"

Cameron raised an eyebrow, looking almost offended she was accusing him. "Hey. It wasn't like that. You were all over me."

"I was passed out cold!"

"Did Sarah put you up to this?"

"No!"

"Does anybody else know?" Cameron inched forwards, making Nicole step back.

"No. Of course not!"

Cameron just barely grazed her arm when his front door was forced open. "Cameron Tyler! Police!" Finn's voice echoed in the living room as he lead the way inside. "We have a warrant for your house, your phone, your computer - and did we mention you're under arrest?"

Before Cameron knew it, Nick had cuffed his hands to his back. "I want my lawyer right now!"

"A little late for that," Sonny gave the nod for Nick to start dragging Cameron out.

~ 0 ~

Being the bearer of good news felt good - at least that's what Montserrat kept repeating to herself in order to lift her spirits. Whilst they'd interrogated Cameron - until they had concrete evidence of rape - she'd gotten a call from Casey with some plans for the night she wasn't particularly looking forwards to. Sonny mentioned to her she was looking pretty down despite the win they had that day.

"Just personal problems, Carisi," she mumbled and led the way into Rafael's office. Sonny knew that when she went to last names it was for a upsetting.

Together they presented their fine work for their ADA and hoped to get his confirmation that they could call it a done case.

"But Sarah's still not talking?" Rafael managed to point out their one flaw in the case. The two detectives slumped their shoulders. At the sight, and knowing exactly what he'd done, Rafael smirked. "You did well. And we don't need Sarah's cooperation with everything you've got. It's a done case, detectives."

"Hm, so Amanda was wrong? There's actually something that makes you happy, Barba," Sonny was met with a deadpanning look from the ADA.

"You mean besides the coffee?" Casey's sudden input to the conversation made them glance at the doorway. The ginger ADA stood with a proud smirk on her face. "And sometimes not even that."

If Rafael was deadpanning before, he was glaring now. "Let's not go down this road, Casey."

"Oh, calm down," Casey waved a hand at him and walked further inside. "I just came to collect my cousin. You ready?"

Montserrat barely shrugged her shoulders. "Sure, I guess."

It was clear as day that whatever they had going on, Montserrat didn't want any part in it. Still, Casey tried to act as if she didn't notice.

"Gael and Damian are coming to pick us up in five. You said you didn't want to change, but I-"

"I'm good how I am. Let's get it over with," Montserrat walked towards the door, almost pushing Casey in the process of her quick pace.

"You don't need a minute to freshen-"

"NO! Let's go!" Montserrat practically shouted before leaving, not even looking back to see the reactions of the others. She met Kara just outside the building, looking far too cheery for this night.

"Hey, why the face?" Kara asked as soon as she saw Montserrat's glare still lingering on her face. "It's your early birthday dinner-"

"-I know-" Montserrat tried to say but Kara was so clueless that she just went on without noticing Montserrat's clear intent of shooting the dinner down.

Casey had tight lips and that was only out of courtesy and understanding for her cousin, otherwise the lawyer side of her would've taken over. "Okay," she said quietly and looked at the two men with her.

"Should someone go see if she's okay?" Sonny asked while Rafael just stared at Casey. He was examining. "I fear for Kara."

"She'll be okay," Casey said fast. "You're relieved, detective."

Sonny playfully rolled his eyes. "If I get my head chewed off in the morning by her, I'm coming back for you."

"You know where to find me," Casey made a motion for her office.

Sonny bid goodbye to her and Rafael then walked out. He had half a mind to go check on Montserrat but he thought maybe he'd just anger her even more. He'd noticed on the way here how quiet and reserved Montserrat had gotten, and he just couldn't figure out why. Hopefully he'd learn soon.

"Family or friend plans?" Rafael suddenly asked Casey, startling the ginger out of her thoughts. If she'd been more alert, she would've noticed he was still examining her.

"Both," Casey turned to his desk. "Kara and Damian are like family, so…"

Rafael have a nod but he wasn't quite convinced it was just that. "And yet Montserrat doesn't seem too happy about your plans."

"It's just dinner-"

"-don't belittle my intelligence, Casey," Rafael flatout scolded her.

"I'm not lying! It's a birthday dinner!" Casey exclaimed then suddenly realized she didn't have to explain herself to him. Of course by that point it was too late to stop talking. "Gael and Damian are going away on a business seminar and they don't know if they'll be back by next month."

Once again it was the birthday topic had returned.

Rafael pushed himself up from his seat and gave Casey that sideways tilted stare that said he knew there was more. "Montserrat explicitly told me she did not want to celebrate her birthday at all. she doesn't want any mention of it to anyone who doesn't know. So…" he started moving around his desk, very watchful of Casey's subtle shifts on her feet, "... If Gael, Damian and Kara are so intent on making birthday celebrations it's because they don't know that Montserrat doesn't want to celebrate her birthday. She never told them anything. But you know," he leaned against the front of his desk, arms crossed and with a full-fledged smirk on his face. "Or else you wouldn't be giving me that look right now that's basically telling me to shut up. Did I get it...or did I get?"

Casey rolled her eyes. "This whole confident thing you carry with you is kind of annoying sometimes. And when I say 'sometimes', I really mean it's annoying all the time."

"So I'm right," Rafael's response only irritated her even more. "You know-" he pointed at her, "-why Montserrat doesn't want to celebrate her birthday. She told you."

"And she told you nothing so this conversation shouldn't even be happening," Casey warned him to stop before he crossed a boundary.

"But I'm not asking any questions about it, am I?" Rafael pointed out and made no attempt to get even a clue from her. "I know all about boundaries - it's part of my job. So believe me when I tell you that I have no intention of sneaking around trying to figure out what Montserrat is hiding because it's none of my business."

Casey looked him over with newfound curiosity. "If that's not your intention then why are we here? In fact…" she took a few steps towards him, "...why bring this up? If you don't care, which I've seen when it's real, why are we discussing this?"

Oh, now she'd gotten silence. That was rare.

"You're a confident smartass so what the hell are you doing?"

Casey made a very good point, but if Rafael was honest, he wasn't sure of the answer. He didn't know. He just knew that it irked him seeing people try to force something on Montserrat when she made it so clear that she didn't want it. Perhaps it was similar to his job, but it didn't satisfy him.

He just didn't know.

[voidendron]

The Outside: Chapter 60

Series Ask Blog: @asktheoutside

((  Dialogue-heavy chapter. Not much happens, mostly explanations, and I could not for the life of me get this chapter to cooperate so I’m not happy with this one. :/ ))

Chapter 60: Video Call Chapter Warnings: Mention of Murder & Medication, Background Ego Shipping Characters: Chase Brody, Sophie Brody, Marvin the Magnificent, Jackieboy Man POV: Chase Brody

April 8, 2031, 9:21 AM Los Angeles, California

“Dad! Jackie’s calling!”

Thudding footsteps down the stairs had Chase jumping. He counted each step in his head and grimaced when one was missed to about send Sophie sprawling at the bottom. She had the laptop that she shared with her dad and brother in her hands. It was open, the screen lit up with a video call waiting to be answered.

“Oh! I bet that’s Marv.” Video calls with the laptop in front of him were easier for him right now than trying to hold a phone up to his ear.

Taking the laptop, Chase brought one leg up underneath himself and leaned against Sophie a little when she curled against his side.

“No staring, okay?” He waited for her to nod. Kyler had talked with Marv just the other day, but Chase was only just realizing Sophie hadn’t seen him since the accident. “Okay. Keep your voice down, too. He’s on meds right now, so he’s tired and loud noises make his head hurt.”

Chase tilted the screen so the webcam could get both of them, then answered the call. There was a soft smile on his lips. “Hey, Marv. What’s up?”

The magician tried to smile back, but he could only manage a small one when the gesture pulled at the angry marks marring his cheeks. “Friggin’ bored.” He offered a small laugh after his words. It was such a tired sound. Soft.

“You should be restin’.”

“Mph. All I’ve done is sleep.” He brought up his uninjured hand to rub at one eye. He was leaning back against the headboard of the bed he and Jackie shared while they stayed with their creator. There was a pillow propped behind him, and rustling from somewhere off-camera. Probably Jackie doing something in the room.

From the corner of his eye, Chase watched Sophie. She was scanning Marvin’s face with her brows scrunched. She pressed her lips together, then, “…Does it hurt?”

Marvin shook his head at that. “No.” He lifted his hand again; went to run it through his hair. Chase winced sympathetically when the magician seemed to startle himself when short bristles met his fingertips instead of the fringe he was used to. His hair had had to be buzzed off, and it would take time for it to regrow. “I’m on painkillers. Leavin’ me fff—freakin’ groggy, though.”

Chase managed a laugh at that. “Well, you’re supposed to be sleepin’, man. Your meds’re just doin’ their job.” He shifted farther back into the cushions. “You been able to stand, yet?”

“He can’t stand?” Sophie was quiet, but Chase hushed her. Told her Marvin would answer.

The magician’s gaze cut to the side. “…No. I’ve gotta start PT soon, though. Right now, ah…” Marvin shifted. He grabbed the laptop with his good hand and turned it to face a wheelchair near the bed. It was cheap and heavy-looking. “I’ve gotta use that right now.” The camera blurred when the device was shifted again. It sounded as though it was on something plastic. A lap desk, probably. Chase doubted the other would want the laptop actually in his lap to agitate his wounds. “Since I’ve got one hand I can’t use, I’m kinda stuck with Jackie pushin’ me around if I want outta bed. I can stand for a little bit if I brace myself on somethin’, though!”

Chase forced a grin at that. He should be happy. That meant progress. But it was progress he shouldn’t have had to make in the first place. Marvin never should have been injured like that.

“How long’s it gonna take to recover?” Sophie had her head tilted. She was trying not to stare at the marks across the older Septic’s face. Chase could see when she’d catch herself doing it and flick her eyes back to Marvin’s.

“Um…” Marvin rubbed at his eyes. “Jackie? Do you remember what my nurse said?” The rustling that had faded to background noise stopped and Jackie moved partially into frame. He was holding a pair of socks. Laundry. That must have been what he was doing.

The hero rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. “It could take months. Even after he can walk, he’ll probably be stuck with a cane for at least a few years. And, ah… We don’t know how much mobility he’ll get back in his hand.”

Marvin unconsciously reached for his damaged hand and rapped his fingers around the bandages. “They said I was really lucky my entire hand didn’t need amputated. The fire effed it up pretty bad.”

Sophie’s brows were scrunched again. Chase wrapped an arm around her; held her close against his side. “What were you even doing..?” she asked.

“Sophe…”

“Chase. She’s fine. It’s all right.” Marvin shifted. Pulled the blanket up on his chest, then reached to adjust the laptop screen again when Jackie stepped out of frame to continue folding laundry. “I was trying to track Schneep. Y’know how my hand phases through the card? His was set on fire while I was doin’ that. My hand got it bad ‘cause it was actually in the card. The fire just kinda…spread, from there.”

“Why would he do that?”

That was…something Chase wanted to know, too. Marvin had said Schneep seemed…panicked, almost, when he realized the magician was Tracking him. Why would he be? It had been…oh, god. Over four months? He felt his stomach twist at that. How had it been four months already? Who knew what Schneep had already been through and who he might be with.

“We don’t know why,” Marvin shook his head and swallowed. Then, a little grin came back. “But. I’ve got an approximate location and know what he looks like. I can either wait until my strength’s back to recreate the apparition my magic showed me, or like…I dunno. Give Jacques a description, maybe? Have him draw it out?”

Chase made a face at that. Jacques was an asshole. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of the artist working with Marvin while the older Septic was in the shape he was. “Be best to wait for you! Probably more accurate than having to describe how he looks.”

At his side, Sophie nudged him. “Can I tell Marv?”

Chase knew exactly what she was talking about. And—oh, god. Nooo. She did the puppy eyes better than him! “…Okay. All right.” He ruffled her hair; grinning at the annoyed huff to leave her when it messed up her braid.

“We’re gonna start public school soon!”

The father’s heart clenched. Letting them go through with that was…tough. That would be a long time away from them. It would be every weekday during the schoolyear for, well, years.

Marvin’s smile put him a little more at ease about it, though. “Excited, huh?”

“Yeah!” Sophie’s excitement was contagious. Maybe it was just that Chase could Feel it permeated off her in waves that had him relaxing. Maybe it was the big grin on her face or the tone of her voice. He really wasn’t sure what to pin it on, but it was contagious nonetheless. “I’ve gotta go to a different school than Ky and Yan, though. That’ll be so weird!”

“Oh, yeah? What grades you gonna be in?”

“Well, I’ve gotta be in sixth! So I’ll go to an elementary school, I guess. And Ky and Yan will be in tenth, so they’re high schoolers!”

Marvin fixed his gaze on Chase, then. “You’re gonna send Yan to public school?”

“Yeah. I mean, he’s mellowed out a lot over the years, man! And we’ve gone over rules and—”

Laughter. Marvin was laughing. He sounded so goddamn tired when he did, but he was laughing. If that wasn’t a good sign, Chase didn’t know what was. “Chase. Yan’s older than you. Doesn’t that seem weird to you?”

“Yeah, yeah. But he looks Ky’s age out here, so we could actually get in a lot of trouble if he doesn’t go to school or get homeschooled.”

“’Sides!” Sophie chirped, “Yan wants to go!”

“It’ll make college or a career easier for him if he does, too. And if you wanna go by creation dates, we should all be teens. Are any of us even twenty by human time?” That was…an interesting thought. Time passed differently between the Outside and Figmental Plane. Years in there were probably months, weeks, or even days Outside depending on what area of the Plane they were in.

“…I guess not. Dark’s probably closest, but. Yeah. Guess you have a point.” He rubbed at his eyes again. Chase couldn’t help but notice how careful Marv was not to pull at the burns from his melted mask. “Oh. Uh. How’s Oliver? Bim told us what happened.”

“He’s fine. The Googles couldn’t afford all the parts to fix his leg, so he says he can’t feel it, but he’s movin’ around fine.”

“Investigators are looking for a suspect, though…” Sophie muttered. Her eyes drifted to the television. It was turned off, but Chase knew she was imagining the news report. Jim’s poker face as he went over the report had been flawless despite the fact he’d known exactly who the murderer was.

Chase’s arm tightened around her reassuringly. “They won’t figure him out.”

“’Course they won’t! He can’t leave fingerprints, and you really think it’ll occur to detectives that the oil at the scene’s actually blood? He’ll be safe.” He yawned, then. Jackie chuckled in the background.

“Marv? You should get some more rest. We’ve got plenty’a time to talk.”

A little nod. “Yeah. Okay. Talk to you soon.”

“Bye, Marv!” Sophie bounced a little as she said it, earning a wince from Chase when she elbowed him in the ribs.

The magician’s smile brightened a little. “Bye, Sophe. Give your dad a hug for me!”

And with that, the call ended.

[fanpov-blog]

Pre-Draft NFL 2019-2020 Mock Season

Regular Season

32. Arizona Cardinals   3-13

The Cardinals finished last season at 3-13 as well, and to be honest, I don't see it getting much better quite yet. I do believe the team will draft Kyler Murray at #1 overall, and I also believe that they should. While I think it is the right decision, that doesn't mean I see it translating to more wins. No matter how good Kyler is, or even if Josh Rosen gets another chance this year, there is still just about the same amount of talent as last year and a new coach once again. As a fan of the Cardinals I hope this isn't the case, but this is what seems right to me.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers   4-12

​Tampa Bay was not good last year aside from the few Fitzmagic games that had the whole NFL world in awe. Their run game is awful, and their best asset was their pass catchers who they lost a couple of this offseason. Jameis Winston hasn't proven to anyone yet that he can be a winning QB, and without a run game, a shaky defense and o-line, and with fewer receivers than last year, I don't see a very promising year unless Bruce Arians has some magic for the city of Tampa Bay. ​

30.  New York Giants    4-12

Odell is gone. Olivier Vernon is gone. Landon Collins is gone. But they still have Eli! Don't get me wrong, Saquon is one of the best players in the entire league, and I love Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate, but on paper the team got worse than it was last year, and last year was already pretty bad. Maybe getting rid of these players will prove to be addition by subtraction, but until they prove that to me and the rest of the world, I don't see much out of the Giants this season.

29. Washington Redskins    4-12

I think most football fans like Case Keenum, but we also know that there usually isn't much success that follows him wherever he goes. He had one great year on a great Minnesota team, but we all saw what he does on an average team, or even a bad team. There just aren't many names that stick out to you on this Redskins team as difference makers or game changers, and Adrian Peterson can't keep up the pace... can he? Whether Case is leading the charge, or a rookie from the draft, the defense doesn't look dominate enough to win games alone, and the team just doesn't have enough offensive weapons to put up points. Disapointing season for the skins, but brighter days could be ahead.

28. Miami Dolphins     5-11

The Dolphins seem to just keep letting their fans down. Year after year they do less than everyone is expecting. Ryan Tannehill was supposed to turn that all around, but we all see how that worked out. But hey, they have some Fitzmagic now! That's gonna be clutch for the first 3 weeks of the season, and for a crazy win against the New England Patriots as usual. They just always seem to do worse than you'd think, and they didn't really get any better, so since many people would expect them to maybe be a .500 team, I'm guessing they'll end up a few games under.

27. Detroit Lions     5-11

​Detroit really needs to consider a makeover. There have been a few good years with Matthew Stafford, but those are in the past, and they honestly weren't even that great once it got past the regular season any other year. They need to accept that where they are now isn't going to get them anywhere. Kerryon Johnson was a pleasant surprise last year, but that didn't translate much to the wins column, and Stafford doesn't have as many weapons as he needs to be successful. Seems to me like another down year for the team down in Detroit.

26. Carolina Panthers    5-11

Cam is scaring me. With Newton healthy, you can scratch that 5-11 off and put a 10-6, but without him healthy, a 5-11 might be really generous. Christian McCaffrey really impressed a lot of people last year, and there was a few flashes from young receivers, but other than that, there wasn't much there to make me think that they can function without their superstar QB. They need Cam, plain and simple.

25. Cincinnati Bengals    6-10

There's some great talent on this team, but there is one common issue every year. AJ Green is a great receiver, arguably one of the best in the entire NFL, but he cannot stay healthy. His running mate Tyler Boyd proved he can be one of the best number 2 WRs in the league, and a breakout year from Joe Mixon solidified him as one of the AFCs top backs. All of this, but the man behind center always seems to choke. Sorry Bengals fans, but Andy Dalton is not a franchise QB. I don't care about any statistics about the team with and without him or anything like that, he just doesn't win games and I have no reason to believe that this will end in 2019-2020.

24. Denver Broncos      6-10

The biggest weakness for the Denver Broncos is that they are in a great division. The Chargers and Chiefs are two 12-4 teams from last year, and the Raiders went balls to the wall on offseason moves. I'm afraid Joe Flacco won't be much better than Case Keenum, and with no other notable changes, it's safe to assume they will be right about where they were last year at 6-10.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars    6-10

Aside from late season and post-season heroics on a great team, Nick Foles hasn't proved to be a very good QB in the league in any other situation when he was away from the Eagles. Leonard Founette proved to many that he isn't capable of staying on the field, and the Jags are yet to improve their below average receiving core. Their defense is still great like it was just a couple of years ago, but with their offense forcing them on to the field 2 times as often, they're bound to struggle.

22. Oakland Raiders    6-10

The Raiders have went ALL IN this offseason. Move after move after move and they do look a lot better. Unfortunately for them they are in arguably the best division in football and this is going to thrown away a lot of wins from their record. This is one team that could completely prove my predictions wrong, but a lot of big names going to one team does not always mean great success right away. Also depending on the draft, this could either be very underwhelming or a great success.

21. San Fransisco 49ers    6-10

San Fransisco had it rough last year. They looked like they could be the team to surprise everyone with Jimmy G and Jerrick McKinnon coming into town, but two early injuries took both of them out for the season. Finishing second to last this past season was a disappointment, but there were some positive takeaways. The run game stayed solid with backups in the game, and TE George Kittle had one of the greatest seasons of all time at his position. They picked up Tevin Coleman and he will be paired with McKinnon for a dynamic backfield behind Jimmy Garappolo. This is another team that could blow past my prediction, but having the Rams and Seahawks to compete with will make it tough to have a great comeback season.

20.  Buffalo Bills      7-9

Josh Allen honestly had a surprising rookie year. Looking at the stats, nothing stands out that much, but he was on one of the worst teams in the league and was viewed as a raw prospect who would take a few years. Being forced to start early on he led his team to a 6-10 finish, 5 of those wins coming in games he played. His ability running the ball was very surprising, and rookie WR Robert Foster showed flashes of playmaking ability. Now they brought in veteran receivers Cole Beasley and John Brown to help out even more, as well as indestructible RB Frank Gore. All of these pieces surrounding Josh Allen to go with a defense that could be in the top half of the league, this could be another step for the Bills to climb their way to the top of the league in the future. 

For the rest, visit fanpointofview.com

[powerranks]

Ortonary Gentlemen Power Rankings, Week 1

We back.

1. WAP (Chris “ashamed to admit this but I had no idea you moved to Modesto until you turned on the webcam for the draft” Gatzow) (1-0)

If Big Ben is good for 20+ a week, we’re all in big trouble. Plenty of RB depth, plenty of WR depth (even without Deebo), Waller will probably be ok. Yet again, Chris should teach a fucking class on how to draft. Is this finally his year? We’ll see. Nobody that hasn’t won one deserves one more than Chris, who seems to put together bonkers ass teams every single year. 

2. KYLER INSTINCT (Alex “Would be a terrible NFL GM” Ahn) (1-0)

The best set of runningbacks Orton has probably ever seen, although it was aided a ton by the Mack injury. Alex has 4 guys who would probably walk into anyone else’s lineup, and it’s insane. Kyler looks like the real deal. The Ravens defense is always somehow 50% better when you roster them. However, will those receivers and tight ends hold up all year? I’m thinking you’ll get more down weeks than up weeks from those guys, but it might not matter with the rest of the roster. You’d probably be lower if not for a lucky injury to Conner, I can’t not factor that in.

3. I Won’t Bang Your Wife (Anthony “prepared less than all of us and destroyed week 1″ Mendola) (1-0)

We all questioned Anthony drafting who he drafted and when he drafted them, but this is why he does it! I view my team and Anthony’s pretty similarly, but he has significantly more depth than I do. Losing bell might be a blessing in disguise, since Bell might suck this year even if he played. You have a set starting lineup outside of your flex (but plenty of options for it), and I like those teams in which there isn’t much uncertainty. The only reason you aren’t higher is Ertz’ uncertain situation. He scored but did almost nothing outside of that, and seems to be arguing with management and may even be traded. Rodgers being Rodgers would give you a really valuable trade chip.

4. Billy Crammed (David “Trash Julian Edelman takes apparently” Chinchilla) (1-0)

Definition of a glass cannon. Arguably the best starting lineup in the league, with absolutely ZERO depth behind the starters. Part of that is drafting my own handcuffs (which look like a good move, Edmonds and Mattison looked good W1) but when AP is my only non-handcuff cover at RB and Anthony Miller is my only current cover at WR, That’s not great. We all know depending on Will Fuller is a fool’s errand. Golladay can’t come back sooner. Ridley breaking out might make up for Hurst not being as good as we may have thought.

5. Praters Gonna Prate (Jack “strangely absent so far” Cleek) (0-1)

Was James Conner staying healthy away from having a pretty impressive win/week. I’m personally very high on Ryan (will be throwing all fuckin game every game), Gurley (receiving option on that same offense), Mixon (once Burrow figures it out), Davante (Literally Jesus Christ) and Jared Cook might be the #1 receiver on that team until Thomas is back. The Conner injury is a BUMMER, but you may have found a diamond in the rough with Robinson, and I like the depth behind McLaurin.

6. Odell and the Poopers (Alec “Almost Married” Bernstein) (0-1)

So I might also be one of the luckiest people from week 1, because Alec’s team legitimately had 3 touchdown passes that they dropped (like in their hands, in the end zone) and Mayfield wildly overthrew OBJ on what should have been a pretty long TD if I’m not mistaken. The top end talent on this team is kind of crazy (Deshaun, Jacobs, Julio) and could score 90 by themselves on a weekly basis. The problem is the rest of the team needs to probably step up a bit more than they have. Sutton coming back will make his life a lot easier, but if OBJ and Robinson keep beefing with their teams Alec might be hard pressed for a solid flex. I’d also be...mildly concerned about the RB2 spot. Singletary might be in a full on committee where Moss gets the valuable touches. 

7. Pain (Dylan “Loser Pick’em Loser #1″ Jessop) (0-1)

Josh Allen is wild. Truly wild. I think his rushing floor will be enough to make him super viable, but oh man the rest of the roster didn’t have a great showing outside of Henry, and you probably didn’t get his floor since the game was close. The Chargers seemed hell bent on using Ekeler as a primary runner (when he’s devastating as a receiver) and your receivers had a BAD day. I do think you wildly underperformed (and still got to 115ish) but I just wish there were a few more encouraging signs. Moore, Hilton, Allen, and Chark all had an underwhelming day in one form of another, and RoJo (currently your flex) might not have too much life left as a useful player. Joshua Kelley SZN.

8. Baker’s Dozen (Scott “Beshoy week 1 nemesis” Felgenhauer) (1-0)

Losing your first round pick is never a good thing, and even though you won I think you’re going to struggle through a few weeks. Ingram might be losing his job, David Johnson has a really bad matchup (he looked REALLY good though!!!), and the receivers are ROUGH without Thomas (although Evans coming back could fix a lot). I think you’ll need Lamar and Andrews to continuously have monster weeks for you to have a chance, but that might not be the worst bet to make. Everyone who plays you has to withstand 50 from Lamar and Andrews every week. 

9. The Shoydemic (Beshoy “Loser Pick’em Loser #2″ Halim) (0-1)

Lowest scorer, oof. I believe in Miles Sanders as much as anyone, so him coming back will definitely boost this quite a bit as the season goes on. Hines looks like a potential league winner. I think you’d be much higher if you didn’t have a ton of bad matchups (Barkley and Engram can’t possibly do worse) and injuries (Sanders). Brady looked better for fantasy than he did in real life, which is all that matters to you. I actually do like your team but for the sake of the power rankings I can’t ignore the awful week. I also can’t ignore the fact that...you have NO receivers outside of Cooper and Godwin? Beshoy what the hell man? Godwin has a concussion lol

10. Who’s your daddy (Tony “Texas” Mendola) (0-1)

Our trade was fair but looks a little worse for you in hindsight. Lindsay got hurt and Gallup looked uninvolved. However, Mahomes/Clyde is a crazy good top 2, and Montgomery will only get better as the season goes along despite a pretty slow start. Juju looked better than advertised, but the rest of the receiving corps was ROUGH. I think drafting more receivers/RB’s would have looked a lot better in hindsight as opposed to the three QB’s. This is probably a little harsh, but I like the roster as a whole the least here. Unproven RBs, and receivers who were all seen as risks prior to the year. 

PICKS:

LOCK OF THE WEEK:

ALEC over Scott

UPSET OF THE WEEK:

DYLAN over Alex

OTHER PICKS:

DAVID over Jack

ANTHONY over Tony

CHRIS over Beshoy

[demetriandelibinaryboyfriends]

Thanks for replying! Could you possibly link the rp blog? I love your headcanons! What do the Cobras and Miyagi-Dos think of them? I like to think one of the characters in canon came up with their ship name, who do you think it was?- Cherry

But of course, Cherry!!! Those headcanons were so fun to write :D It’s honestly one of my favorite headcanon/ask posts that I’ve done, I think. I love thinking about how Johnny would react to Hawk and Demetri dating XD And writing that paragraph about how I think Demetri and Eli met was honestly the most fun ride haha

@sipping--snowflakes runs a Demetri RPG blog I think, it’s @binarybrother1! Idk if it’s still active, you’ll have to hit them up about that. I also think @hawkxatxheart​ RPs as Hawk and ships the binary boyfriends, if you want to hit them up too!

Aight screw it, Imma do the most complete analysis I can XD

Miguel ships it SO hard XD Like Miguel is a very smart and intuitive person who seems pretty good at picking up on emotions and such (he was able to almost instantly call bullshit on Kreese’s war stories, IIRC), so I’m almost certain that he picked up that there were Some Kinda Vibes going on with those two from day fucking one. But obviously he doesn’t wanna outright say anything, especially not at a school where kids will get bullied for literally ANYTHING and something like kids being gay for each other could legit put a target on both their backs if it got out. So he lets these boys figure shit out on their own time but is also like “...yeah, they’ll realize it eventually, I’m sure.” XD And you dun best believe he just went “ohhhhh my godddddd” when they fell out and developed a super intense rivalry because he’s like guys??? Do you NOT realize being that obsessed with fucking with each other...kinda means you’re obsessed WITH each other??? Even though you both have other friends now??? Doesn’t seem like normal best friend behavior :/ But of course our boy doesn’t want to interfere unless it gets really bad--and he’s got his own issues to deal with, anyhow. I imagine after the dojos join and Demetri and Eli start dating after a while, Miguel is just like “FUCKING FINALLY!!! Sam pay up, you owe me 20 bucks!!!” He’s so happy they finally dragged their heads out of their asses and realized they loved each other, because man, you can bet your ass Miguel knew they did from the get-go.

Sam I think I’ve touched on a fair bit in my other posts so I won’t get into a whole big long thing, but she’s...certainly leery of them dating at first, mainly because she remembers Demetri’s issues with Eli are what pushed him to join Miyagi-Do in the first place, and she witnessed him breaking Dem’s arm so she’s pretty...not crazy about Eli XD But Miguel and Demetri both vouch for Eli a LOT, and reassure Sam over and over that he’s a good guy at heart and just let Kreese get in his head and fell victim to his brainwashing for a while. Sam comes around to the idea after a while, and she can see how happy he makes Demetri and ultimately trusts Demetri to be smart enough to not date someone who’s going to treat him badly. Then eventually she and Eli bond over what a fuck Kyler is (he bullied Sam too, don’t forget!!! And they DATED, so the thing he did with the blowjob rumors was a HUGE violation of the pretty intimate trust you have with a partner) and after that she is VERY on board with him and Demetri dating XD

Chris is...Not A Fan, to put it lightly XD Like he saw firsthand how much of a fuck Hawk was to him and Mitch when they first joined Cobra Kai and how he basically hazed them both for funsies because he let the tournament win get to his head. And hell, HE was one of the ones who got sicced on Demetri in the mall and tried to get Hawk to back down, and SAW that he wouldn’t. And when Hawk was about to go after Demetri at Moon’s party, Chris was the first Miyagi-Do to step in and protect him. And, of course, he saw Hawk break Demetri’s arm, too. So he’s no stranger to the antagonism Hawk has always had for Demetri in particular, and doesn’t trust that it’s completely gone. However, Chris is a pretty down-to-earth and reasonable dude, so with a LOT of vouching from Demetri, I can see him coming around eventually. Also if he was willing to give Mitch a second chance, ain’t no reason he can’t do the same for Hawk. And Mitch would probably vouch for Hawk too, after he and Chris became friends again--after all, Mitch DID end up becoming pretty good friends with Hawk after all the hazing stuff. So ultimately Chris ends up being at least civil with Hawk, but he sometimes glares at him when no one’s looking like “I’ve got my eye on you, you’d better not hurt my bro or there’s gonna be hell to pay”

Mitch is fairly indifferent, I think, although he DOES find the irony of Hawk now being head-over-heels smitten with the same dude he sent him to beat up in the mall and the same dude who told everyone Hawk wets the bed to be IMMENSELY hilarious. He loves to tease Hawk about it, like “Man, what would you have done a year ago if you’d known you’re now regularly making out with that shrimpy little nerd???” and Hawk is like “oh my god shut UP” but then he turns away and smirks because the joke is on Mitch--he TOTALLY still liked Demetri through All That Mess Last Year, he just...had a very poor way of processing it XD

I imagine Bert kinda looks up to Hawk as an older brother figure (there’s a snippet I’ve seen some gifs of of Hawk teaching him how to block and it’s actually really cute--huge Big Bro/Little Bro Energy) and probably also admires Demetri quite a bit for trying to protect him and Nate during the Christmas party fight, so he’s definitely on board!!! His two honorary big brothers dating--he’s thrilled!!! Nate not so much, since you dun best believe he still remembers Hawk and his goons “kicking the fucking shit out of him” XD Nonetheless, Nate probably also has a soft spot for Demetri for trying to protect him, so with lots of vouching from Demetri (and Bert too, once he and Nate are friends again), he eventually comes around to the idea of Hawk and Demetri dating.

ON TO THE SECOND QUESTION, FINALLY!

I actually think Aisha is the one who comes up with their ship name!!! XD Allow me to elaborate--so at some point Aisha comes back (because fuck it, I miss her), either to join the new merged dojo or just to visit, because ain’t no one telling me she didn’t keep in touch with at least SAM and visit occasionally if she was still in the city or general area. So she walks into the dojo to go see Sam and her other friends and start catching up with everyone, and--oh, Sam and Miguel are in the same weird, combined karate dojo now that isn’t Miyagi-Do OR Cobra Kai??? Super wack, but okay. Then she sees Demetri and Hawk holding hands and her eyes get really wide and she’s like “Wait, you two are DATING now??? That’s...kind of gross :/”

And Demetri and Hawk just freeze up for a hot sec because is Aisha of all people about to be judgmental??? But then she immediately follows up with “Well, aren’t you the binary brothers? I don’t know if I can get behind incest, guys.” And Hawk just breaks out snickering and is like “Shit, man, she’s right. We should probably update that.” And Demetri’s like “NO WAIT I GOT THIS” and then he just goes “dEmEtRi aNd eLi, BiNaRy BoYfRiEnDs” complete with the super cringey robot arm and Eli is like “Oh my GOD I am GOING to kill you” as the entire dojo proceeds to Lose Their Shit.

Also you dun best believe that literally every picture Aisha takes with Hawk and Demetri after they all start hanging out again (because I WANT THEM TO, FIGHT ME) is captioned things like “Chillin’ with the binary boyfriends!” “Eating tacos with the binary boyfriends!” “Doing karate with the binary boyfriends!” and before too long she refuses to refer to Demetri and Eli as anything else XD

Also yes I know Moon was also there during the Binary Brothers scene but she most likely wouldn’t be cheeky and tease them about it later. Aisha absolutely WOULD.

[thesportssoundoff]

A 2019 NFL Mock Draft To Kill Some Time

Joey

April 8th, 2019

1) Arizona Cardinals select QB Kyler Murray, University of Oklahoma There's two likely outcomes to consider at this point. The first is that Kyler Murray winds up in Arizona with Josh Rosen getting moved somewhere (and honestly, a 1st round QB with three years left on an affordable deal should not require much arm wringing to jettison) and the second is some team moves up to #1 to take him here. Either way, he's the guy right now.

2) San Francisco 49ers select DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State University I feel pretty confident in the first five picks or so but the most confident I am as of right now is in San Francisco picking Nick Bosa. Nick Bosa plus Dee Ford on the outside with Arik Armstead, Deforrest Buckner and Solomon Thomas rotating on the inside? That's a tremendous defensive line. Also don't get caught up in 3-4 vs 4-3 or who plays where; remember these teams play in the nickel close to 60% of their defensive snaps. Plenty of room to get rushers on the field.

3) New York Jets select Edge Josh Allen, University of Kentucky The Jets are spending like a team that believes it's ready to take the next step with a young QB which is probably want you want to do when you have a cheap quarterback. Allen to the Jets is one of those heavily whispered rumors in the Tri-State area that grows louder by the day.

4) Oakland Raiders select DL Quinnen Williams, University of Alabama Arguably the top player in the draft being there at 4? Good fit for a team that traded away a top flight pass rusher and then spent the next four months opining about their lack of a pass rush. Williams + Hurst could create a tremendous interior presence for the Raiders.

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select LB Devin White, Louisiana State University More defense! The Bucs and Devin White rumor started around the combine and the loss of Kwon Alexander does little to shake those feelings off. White is the best linebacker in the draft and it's worth remembering that there's a bit of a linebacker renaissance going on in the NFL with guys like Leighton Vander Esch, Darius Leonard, Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds and Fred Warner all having tremendous seasons as rookies.

6) New York Giants select DL Ed Oliver, University of Houston Ed Oliver didn't quite have the big time top pick season people thought he'd have with some injuries and a blow up with head coach Major Applewhite weighing down the end of the year. That said, he's still a freakishly athletic and highly productive undertackle prospect who can flip just about any defensive line. He could play end in a 3-4 but again. a lot of nickel defense for pro teams. Oliver would eat on 3rd downs and the Aaron Donald comparisons are NOT entirely off the mark.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars select OT Jawaan Taylor, University of Florida Tom Coughlin is an old school guy who does old school type stuff. They just spent a lot of money on a QB who is not exactly renown for his mobility and they still have Leonard Fournette on their roster. It'll be an OL or DL, just pick which one you prefer.

8) Detroit Lions select DE Rashaan Gary, University of Michigan Here's the pick I struggle with the most. Gary's a superb athlete who lacked any sort of consistent production at Michigan. I think the Lions, like most of the teams in the top 10, are aiming to repair their pass rush and so Gary walks into the door with Tre Flowers creating a unique DL front.

9) Buffalo Bills select TE TJ Hockenson, University of Iowa I bet this pick dances for a QB. Either way kudos, credit and plaudits to Buffalo for trying to give Josh Allen the help necessary to succeed. They grabbed a few smaller quick-ish twitch slot types in Cole Beasley and John Brown who can help their QB and they have a gluttony of old aging RBs who are at least reliable. Even Tyler Kroft as a massive overpay has some sensibilities. TJ Hockenson is a stand out tight end who can do it all be it blocking or receiving. He'll make the Bills offense better and help Josh Allen.

10) Denver Broncos select QB Drew Lock, University of Missouri On paper I'd be shocked if either Lock or Haskins hits THIS number but no trades and outside of New York, there's no real immediate option from 2 to 8 on a QB. John Elway has been tagged to Drew Lock since January and so I doubt Joe Flacco changes anything in that regard.

11) Cincinnati Bengals select QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State University My guess is that the Jets and Bengals will have a chit chat about a pick swap. The Ohio State guy playing ball in Cinci seems way too easy to peg if he falls this far or via a move up. Perfect situation for Haskins to sit, learn and develop behind a still kinda competent Andy Dalton.

12) Green Bay Packers select DE-OLB Montez Sweat, Mississippi State University Green Bay's draft last year focused primarily on its defense and they had some hits in their secondary. Perhaps the arrival of Montez Sweat would help complete that defensive turnaround. Again there's a lot of great EDGE talent here.

13) Miami Dolphins select DE Brian Burns, Florida State University This is the final defensive end I feel really confident with and Miami, about to embark on a long rebuild, can at least feel confident in snagging a great athletic edge.

14) Atlanta Falcons select CB Greedy Williams, Louisiana State University The Falcons could use defensive help but let's discuss the law of diminishing returns real quick; does it make sense to take the fourth of fifth best defensive end or the top corner or safety? Think this is the better value and while you can debate Greedy Williams vs Byron Murphy, I think a corner might be a better fit here.

15) Washington Redskins select WR DK Metcalf, Ole Miss I personally find Metcalf to be overhyped (I'd take N'Keal Harry and Hakeem Butler above him) but Washington needs wide outs who can do a thing or two. Metcalf and Doctson would make for a tremendous 1-2 combination and you could do worse at 15 overall than a WR with Metcalf's high upside.

16) Carolina Panthers select OT Andre Dillard, Washington State University The Panthers OL was RAVAGED by injury up and down the line all year. Andre Dillard is a freakishly athletic player who can play either tackle spot and would be a key protector for Cam Newton.

17) New York Giants select QB Daniel Jones, University of Duke If the Giants don't go QB at 6, I can't see how they don't go QB at 17. Daniel Jones to the Giants is going to be a trendy trendy pick going forward with the David Cutcliffe ties and the Manning Academy talk.

18) Minnesota Vikings select OC Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State The Vikings added Josh Kline which is a help but the interior could still use some work. Garrett Bradbury is the best interior OL in the draft in my estimation so this is a tremendous get for a team in dire need of figuring out its offense going forward.

19) Tennessee Titans select TE Noah Fant, University of Iowa The Titans can choose an edge rusher, another WR, more OL help and etc etc etc. I think Noah Fant can pretty much become the top receiving option for Marcus Mariota without much of a challenge and in due time. A great athlete who was sort of hamstrung by the requirement of Iowa's offense and their chemical dependency on blocking tight ends.

20) The Pittsburgh Steelers select LB Devin Bush, University of Michigan This is probably the tail end of Bush's value but I really didn't see a spot earlier than this where he is a perfect fit. The Ryan Shazier replacement if one can view it under such coarse terms.

21) Seattle Seahawks select FS Nasir Adderly, University of Delaware The continued rebuilding of Seattle's secondary moves forward with Nasir Adderly. Small school guy or not, Adderly is a versatile chess piece by which any defense would be happy to have him.

22) Baltimore Ravens select OL Cody Ford, University of Oklahoma The Ravens could grab an edge, they could grab a WR but I like Cody Ford. He's arguably the best value I've got available and would do wonders for what the Ravens are aiming to build on offense. He could play inside or outside for the Ravens offense.

23) Houston Texans select OT Jonah Williams, University of Alabama The slide of Williams from top 5 player to late first rounder is a touch confounding but the Texans won't mind. They've got some guys at tackle already but Julie'n Davenport was awful and Seantrel Henderson is struggling to stay healthy. Williams gives you an improved tackle option.

24) Oakland Raiders select LB Blake Cashman, University of Minnesota A big time combine riser, Blake Cashman gives the Raiders a somewhat undersized freakishly athletic linebacker. The Raiders are trying to rebuild their defense with draft picks.

25) Philadelphia Eagles select RB Josh Jacobs, University of Alabama Josh Jacobs has ultra limited production at Alabama but that's actually a good thing for a running back. He's got Leveon Bell type traits and the Eagles could use more help as Carson Wentz tries to get back to 2017 levels.

26) Indianapolis Colts select DT Christian Wilkins, University of Clemson The best member of the Clemson DL who is a mature team leader type. Would immediately step in as as a key part of this defensive line and it's worth remembering that Matt Eberflus spent the past four years learning under Rod Marinelli and what he values in defensive line help. It's not the BIGGEST guys but the guys who have the athleticism to play 3 and the size to play 1.

27) Oakland Raiders select DE Clellin Ferrell, University of Clemson The Raiders can't take a WR at pick 27. There's a subtle rule you can't use a pick to replace the dude you traded to get the pick. Ferrell fits here and now the Raiders have a genuinely great young DL with Hurst, Ferrell and Williams.

28) San Diego Chargers select WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa State University I know it's a bit loaded up at the WR spot for the Chargers but they have a young defense, a tremendous QB on the back nine of his career, Mike Williams still trying to find himself, Keenan Allen as a stud guy and you add Butler, another big bodied vertical threat? Seems like a winning formula to me.

29) Kansas City Chiefs select CB Deandre Baker, University of Georgia The secondary was the bugaboo for the Chiefs last year and while it could be argued that injuries didn't help, talent overall is needed. Baker fits the spot.

30) Green Bay Packers select S Taylor Rapp, University of Washington Safeties and corners are likely to be all over the place on the back end of the draft. The Ha Ha Clinton Dix trade opened up a spot in the secondary and Taylor Rapp feels like a perfect fit for what the Packers need. Rapp is good enough in coverage and a tremendous box safety who is instinctive and quicker than fast. Don't let the pro day talk you out of the player.

31) Los Angeles Rams select CB Byron Murphy, University of Washington Corners and safeties. Byron Murphy is a tremendous corner prospect who would provide a long term answer to the CB spot for the Rams with Aquib Talib likely on his last legs and Marcus Peters the sort of dude who burns out his welcome eventually.

32) New England Patriots select WR AJ Brown, Ole Miss A real perfect fit for New England. AJ Brown can play all three key WR spots, he's polished as all hell, he's got the open field ability to be more than just a fun slot guy and Tom Brady would probably embrace him as a new go to. I just don't see an easy fit at tight end to replace Gronk.

[junker-town]

Larry Fitzgerald’s return for a 17th season is an endorsement for Kyler Murray

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Fitz is coming back for 2020, which says good things about his young QB.

Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction will have to wait until at least 2025. The Cardinals wide receiver announced he’s coming back to the gridiron next fall.

He’s back. Details ➡️ https://t.co/bwQtusjk81 pic.twitter.com/egtKcewKwh

— Arizona Cardinals ⋈ (@AZCardinals) January 15, 2020

Fitzgerald will return for his 17th season as a pro, and that’s great news for a rising offense that needs a steady leader to guide its young stars. It’s also a sign that he believes 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray can help him wrap up a legendary career on a high note.

Fitzgerald isn’t the perennial All-Pro he used to be, but the 37-year-old remains a valuable contributor and mentor both on and off the field. He had nothing but good things to say about his rookie quarterback in 2019, at one point calling him the “ultimate weapon” and praising his leadership in the huddle.

“I’ve never seen a quarterback come in so quickly and be able to command an offense,” Fitzgerald told former teammate Kurt Warner during last year’s preseason. “I mean, from Day 1, he’s out there checking the different plays, sliding the line, different protections, getting us in screens when blitzes are coming. His understanding of the offense is crazy.

The past five months have proven that wasn’t just lip service. Murray and Fitzgerald formed an instant connection that helped ease the Heisman winner’s transition to the NFL. Their first two games together saw the veteran receiver spring for 13 catches and 217 receiving yards — his first back-to-back 100+ yard performances since September 2015.

That pace didn’t stand — Fitzgerald didn’t have more than 71 yards in a single game over the rest of the season — but the connection between the 16-year veteran and his debutant QB remained strong. Fitzgerald went on to lead the Cardinals in total targets, receptions, and receiving yards. He also shared the team lead in receiving touchdowns. His 7.4 yards per target were his best since Arizona’s 2015 run to the NFC Championship Game.

What does this mean for the Cardinals?

While the exact reason for his return wasn’t mentioned in the Cardinals’ official release, you have to imagine it’s tied to the ongoing improvement from his rising QB. Here’s how Murray grew over the course of his first NFL season.

While those aren’t great numbers, Murray’s improvement was clear. It’s also important to note this all came behind an offensive line that allowed him to be sacked a league-high 48 times. It also came against the backdrop of new head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s modified Air Raid offense and an inexperienced wideout corps in which 26-year-old Damiere Byrd and 24-year-old Pharoh Cooper were the team’s most seasoned veterans behind Fitzgerald.

That doesn’t mean Arizona’s receivers group wasn’t loaded with talent — there was just much more potential than production waiting in the Cardinals’ wings.

Christian Kirk saw his usage rise in his second year as a pro, and 2020 may be the time the WR1 torch is officially passed down from Fitzgerald to his young ward. Though his efficiency numbers dropped alongside Murray in 2019 — his yards per target fell from 8.7 as a rookie to 6.6 — Kirk remains a dangerous weapon Kingsbury’s been able to deploy from all over his lineup. That includes out of the backfield where he had 10 carries for 93 yards last season.

Behind him sits the 2019 draft haul. Kingsbury brought three different talented wideouts to Glendale last spring, though none of them panned out as rookies. Second-round speedster Andy Isabella was a legend at UMass (102 catches as a senior), but made just nine catches in 15 games last fall. Sixth-rounder KeeSean Johnson was the team’s most productive first-year wideout, but still caught only 21 of his 42 targets.

6’5 Hakeem Butler brought first round talent to Iowa State, then fell to the fourth round of the 2019 Draft. He reportedly struggled to pick up the Cardinals’ offense before being placed on injured reserve in a wasted year, but could still turn the corner with another season of practices under his belt.

Fitzgerald’s return means another year of mentorship for this explosive group of high potential targets. That’s like adding an extra coach to Kingsbury’s staff — one who knows the Cardinals’ organization better than almost any man alive. That group will also have some help out of the backfield.

David Johnson, should he ever return to his 2016 form, was briefly one of the league’s best pass-catching running backs. Kenyan Drake, rescued from the Dolphins last year, had 28 catches in eight games out of the backfield with Arizona. If the club can re-sign Drake, who thrived in the desert in 2019 and may be eager for a return, this Cardinal defense could be sneakily good.

This year’s draft and free agency should bring more help as well — especially at tight end, where Arizona got little production (though Maxx Williams’ recent contract extension suggests the team expects big things from him). Fitzgerald’s return leaves approximately $56 million in spending room under the 2020 salary cap, which should help bring much-needed veteran talent to a young team.

Any upcoming moves will help Murray’s growth, but nothing may make his 2020 better than another year with a sure-handed Hall of Famer hauling in passes downfield. Fitzgerald is a rising tide that can lift every ship in the Cardinals’ offense. Now he’s trusting Kingsbury and Murray to do right by him and help him send out his career, whether that’s in 2020 or beyond, on a high note.

[auburnfamilynews]

The Tigers hosted a rising junior camp on Friday night and a high school camp on Saturday resulting in four new offers and more names to put on the board.

It happens every year. A player that no one knows much about or has really paid much attention to shows up to camp and blows the doors off the place. Last year, it was Jordyn Peters who put up eye popping numbers, leading to an offer and eventually signing with the Tigers. This year, it looks like it might be 2* TE Michael Parker. Parker entered this past Saturday with four D1 offers from Miami (OH), South Alabama, UCF, and USF. However, after being impossible to cover, posting a 4.64 40 yard dash, a 10 ft 3 inch broad jump and a 32.2 inch vertical all at the size of 6’6” 230 lbs, he left the camp with an Auburn offer in hand.

It sounds like his recruitment is still in the early stages and with an Auburn offer now you have to expect other teams will try and get in on the Huntsville native. However, at this time there might only be one real threat and it’s the usual one: Alabama. Both of Parker’s brothers are currently walk ons at Alabama. If the Tide were to offer you have to think it might be tough for him to turn down. Outside of Bama though, with Parker being an instate kid and Auburn the first SEC team to offer, you have to think the Tigers are currently in the driver’s seat.

Parker wasn’t the only player to post a standout performance Saturday though the other star is a name you should recognize. 3* WR Shedrick Jackson seems to get better at every event or camp he shows up at. If there were any doubts Jackson was only a priority because of his uncle, he removed them with his performance this past Saturday. Jackson won every 1v1 rep, posted a 4.37(!!!) hand timed 40 yard dash, a 10 ft 11 inch broad jump and a 40 inch vertical leap. The 6’2” 205 lb wideout is expected to be a top receiving target for the Hoover Bucs this fall and has become one of Auburn’s top WR targets on the trail. The buzz is Jackson could have a commitment video out at any time. It feels like he’s been on commit watch forever but it does sound like his recruitment might soon be ending and it’s hard to see him wearing anything but orange and blue in 2018.

I also wanted to make a note of a player who did not need to camp but showed up anyway and got the work in. 3* OL Kameron Stutts has been committed since A-Day and doesn’t need to show the coaches anything more. However, Stutts decided to make the trip and work with Herb Hand this past Saturday because “there's still people that want to come over here and try and beat me out”. More than 40 times or broad jumps, that attitude right there is what will make a player successful at the next level. I have said before that I think Stutts is extremely underrated and a steal for this staff. Seeing his comments and taking a weekend to go to a camp he doesn’t have to go to so he can get some reps in with his future position coach, well that reaffirms my suspicion that AU is getting something special with this young man. Can’t wait until he’s on the Plains.

Tiger Night Offers

Before Jackson and Parker’s standout performances Saturday, Auburn hosted a rising junior camp this past Friday night dubbed “Tiger Night”. Right before the event started, the 2019 recruiting class hashtag was revealed, something I know readers on here have been dying to know:

It's official #MAUL19 http://pic.twitter.com/BQ9GPXmktn

— Stefan T. Schmidt (@StefanSchmidtAU) June 16, 2017

I am hoping Gus Malzahn is here 20 years just so I can see what animal related hashtag we are down to at that point....

Hashtags aside, there were some top 2019 and beyond targets on campus with three players earning offers. AuburnUndercover’s Keith Niebuhr had a free thread with some info on targets that showed up to the event. The biggest name on that list is 4* TE Ryland Goede. It’s already shaping up to be a hotly contested AU/UGA battle with Clemson lurking. He’s a massive kid as a rising junior at 6’7” 235 lbs with elite hands, great strength and some decent mobility. He won’t be scoring many 60+ yd TDs at the next level but he’s a guy that can dominate the middle of the field and be a tough player to defend in the redzone.

Another name I wanted to highlight from the list of players in that thread is RB Kenneth Bothwell Jr. He’s former teammates with 4* RB Alaric Williams and I am incredibly impressed with his tape. He’s a guy with great vision paired with outstanding strength and the ability to get north and south quickly. He lacks the top end speed to pull away in the open field at the next level but he strikes me as a perfect fit for a RB in our system. He was also on campus for A-Day I believe so file that name away. He might end up a top AU RB target in the 2019 class which is absolutely loaded with running backs.

As for the three offers, the Tigers extended two to 2019 prospects and one to a 2020. First there is WR George Pickens. Pickens is a 6’5” 190 lb WR out of Hoover. The big man is expected to play a large part in Hoover’s passing offense this fall. Auburn is hard after his teammate Shedrick Jackson but after an outstanding performance Friday night, the Tigers extended an offer to the big wideout as well.

IM GRATEFUL AND BLESSED TO RECEIVE AN OFFER FROM AUBURN UNIVERSITY ‼️ http://pic.twitter.com/k1wstyfCOn

— George Pickens Ⓜ️ (@geo_Thagoat) June 17, 2017

Pickens says that Auburn is his favorite offer as of now. But, there is a long way to go in his recruitment with plenty more offers coming his way. More than likely, we will see another AU/BAMA battle over a 6’5” instate WR next season.

The second offer was to OT Howard Allen Jr, who happens to be Jeff Holland’s cousin. Allen already held a South Carolina offer but after an impressive performance Friday, he left with an Auburn one as well.

Extremely excited to announce that I've received an offer from Auburn Tigers #WarEagle http://pic.twitter.com/rGKD6u5X7J

— Howard Allen ❗️✨❗️ (@_4fkl_) June 17, 2017

This kid is already one of my favorite OT prospects in the 2019 class. He’s 6’5” 266 lbs with great feet and excellent power. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is an early contributor wherever he signs. You have to think with that family connection there that the Tigers will be a competitor for the Jacksonville native.

Finally, there is 2020 DE prospect Andy Boykin. Boykin plays at Troup County in Lagrange, GA who is absolutely loaded with 2019 and 2020 prospects. The Tigers are also after his 2019 teammate 4* LB King Mwikuta and 2020 WR Kobe Hudson. I could not find much film on Boykin so it is hard to give an amateur scouting report; however, he already holds 8 offers with half coming from SEC teams. I feel pretty confident in saying this kid can play.

Other News

It was the weekend of tight ends (insert inappropriate joke here) for Auburn as they hosted numerous targets. One of the more intriguing visitors arrived Sunday in recent Arkansas decommit 4* TE Luke Ford. Right now the Tide appear to be his top team but AU looks like they have positioned themselves to make this a battle.

Auburn has emerged as a top candidate for 4* CB Kyler McMichael who had said he was going to hold off on committing this summer. However, it turns out he does have a decision made and will commit tomorrow. I don’t think chances are good for Auburn right now and he will probably end up at one of Alabama, Georgia or Clemson. No matter where he commits though I expect Auburn to keep up their pursuit.

Three top AU targets dropped top lists this week. First, there was 3* CB Juanyeh Thomas who made it official that he has a top 3 of Auburn, Florida and Georgia Tech. Then later, 5* WR Justyn Ross tweeted his top 5 of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Florida State. Finally, while writing this article Thursday morning, 4* DT Coynis Miller announced his top 5 of Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Louisville and Oregon. All three are top priorities.

Some good news and bad news for Auburn when it comes to 4* LB Michael Harris. The good news is Harris left Columbus uncommitted. The bad news is it still sounds like the Buckeyes are far and away his top school and he’s willing to wait. I still think AU’s chances are good here especially if the Buckeyes nab 4* K'Vaughan Pope. It’s a bit ridiculous how good this Ohio State recruiting class is going to be... As for Harris, this recruitment might take some time as the Buckeyes sort out their linebacker board.

War Eagle!!!

from College and Magnolia http://bit.ly/2sWjgoi via IFTTT