#I'm sure Lola had to deal with a lot of shit but the fact that Rico's the one Tony snapped and fought means he did something REAL bad

[matt-w-blogging]

Just realized that Copacabana (the song by Barry Manilow) never says Tony's dead.

It says,

There was blood and a single gunshot,

But just who shot who?

&

She lost her love

&

She lost her youth and she lost her Tony

But it never says that it's Rico who shot Tony.

What if she "lost her love" because Tony's in prison for life for second-degree murder?

[aoyama-division]

ARB Birthday Special: Luis Kōkyū

~~ October 25th ~~

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity."

Login Lines:

"...What do you mean I don't have to work today? In case you forget, Wednesday is one of our busiest days. ...No, I didn't schedule or request a day off. ...What? My employees told me to take today off? Why? ...Because... it's my birthday? ...Oh. October 25th. It's that day, already?"

Voice Lines:

*Sighs* "31 years old. I can scarcely believe it. It doesn't feel much different from any other age, to be honest. I know they say you get wiser as you get older, but I don't believe it. My teammates are living proof of that. ...Still, I can't help but feel as if I've gotten better at controlling my temper this past year. Though... that would be a lot easier to do if there weren't so many people out there trying to get a rise out of me."

"My parents didn't even bother to wish me a 'happy birthday'. I'm not even sure if they knew today was my birthday. I can't say I'm surprised, though. They didn't do anything last year. I'd be a fool to expect anything different this year. I stopped my Abuela from getting upset. Like I told her before, their actions aren't a reflection on either her or me. I know she knows that's true, but I can suspect she still doesn't like it."

"Tomi. ...Yeah, thanks, I guess. ...Look, I'm really not in the mood to deal with any of your shit today, okay? So if you just came here to be an ass, then please leave. *Sighs* ...Fine, what did you get me for my birthday this time? What is this? ...An electric lighter? For grilling food? ...Huh. Okay, I'll admit. You've outdone yourself this time. Thanks a lot, Tomi. ...Yeah, I said 'thanks'. Don't let it go to your head. If it gets any bigger, it may explode."

"Hey Karada. ...Thanks. Glad you took the time out to do so. ...Maybe because you did miss your birthday this year? It may have something to do with the fact that you were too busy bugging me about helping you find a gift for Lola this year. ...Yes, it took the better part of the day, remember? ...Right. So, what is it? ...An electric massager? ...Huh. I did say that, didn't I? It completely slipped my mind until now. ...Thanks, Karada. I really appreciate it.

Tomi Lines:

A most joyous and welcome birthday to you, Luis. ...'Thanks'? That's all I get from going out of my way and wishing you a 'happy birthday'? How tasteless. ...Ugh, nice to see your vulgar language is still the same as usual. But fine, if it meets that much to you, I'll cease being a... lesser animal for you. Now would you like my birthday gift to you, or not? ...Good. Now take this."

"The other day I ate some grilled meat at your restaurant, and I could taste the burnt wood on it. So, I had Hino purchase this for you. I hope you use it and make the taste of your food much better. ...I'm glad you think so. ...What's this? You actually 'thanked' me? ...Ugh, your crude way of speaking still does you no favors, my friend."

Karada Lines:

"Happy birthday, Lu! I had to cancel my afternoon lesson with one of my clients to come wish you a happy birthday. ...It's no problem, man! You're one of my best bros! Besides, we have to celebrate birthdays any chance we get. I don't think we celebrated mine this year. ...We didn't?! Why not?! ...Oh right. We needed to find those roses for Lola. Man, I hope she liked them! Thanks for that, by the way."

"Anyway, here's my present, bro! I noticed you been rubbing your arms and necks lately. You mentioned that you've been getting aches and pains, so I got you this massager to help you after a stressful day. ...Glad you like it, bro! And no problem! You deserve it! Hope you enjoy the rest of your day, man!"

[paleontaxi]

Someone asks Jarod to describe his family. How does he answer?

"My dad died a couple years before Lola was born, so he never got to meet her, which is a real shame 'cause she woulda liked him a lot. He was a good dad. Funny, one of the driest sense of humors I've seen on anybody. But his eyes would get a certain way when he told jokes, and I think that'd send me into fits more than the joke itself.

"He taught me how to catch by telling me to get my mitt up and then chucking the ball at me as hard as he could." Jarod chuckles. "I've had people tell me that's 'horrible,' but I don't think it messed me up any, and it goddamn worked! So, I can't fault him for it.

"He had dreams that I would be a doctor, told me I was too smart to not go off to college. I think I disappointed him by not doing it, but then I started my own business, and he seemed proud of that. So, all's well that ends well.

"Not a day goes by when I don't wish I had a little more time with him."

A smile spreads across his face. "My mother was an interesting case. Lola never believed any of the stories I told about her grandma. She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that this wonderful, happy-go-lucky, endlessly patient woman once had a temper like no other, which I think is where I get mine. Can't hold it against her, though; she always had a good reason for it. And it's not like she hit me or anything, just rightfully yelled at me for being a fucking moron when I screwed up.

"And she couldn't cook for shit. Every Friday, she'd get takeout, and she'd dress it up on the table like she made it herself. Dad 'n' I knew better, but we pretended not to.

"But for all of her rage and inedible meals she made me sit through, she was good. She helped me out a lot when Marian left me, with Lola, with my... feelings. I kept her up well past her bedtime a lot in those early years. I never doubted that she really loved me or that I could lean on her when I needed to.

"And like I said, she was great with Lola, sugar sweet. That girl could never do any wrong in her grandma's eyes. Mom spoiled her even worse than I did. I'd try to tell her she couldn't have something, and she'd flash those big green eyes at grandma, and then I'd turn around and she'd have the damn thing in her hands.

"She passed when Lola was about thirteen, and we both took it pretty hard, as I'm sure you can imagine. I didn't even have anybody to call at 2AM about it. She was that person, you know? Come to think of it, Lola started really acting out some months to a year after that, and I wonder if some part of it wasn't that... that was her way of dealing with it, by getting involved in something big and important. But I'll never know for sure."

"I wish she told me more, you know -- Lola. It was me and her for so long, and sometimes my mom, but mostly her and me." His voice breaks, and he shakes his head before pressing his hand over his eyes. "She was my best friend, my everything, my entire world. I tried so hard to make her see that -- I tried so hard."

He sucks in a breath and raises his head again, trying to blink away the tears that have gathered in the corners of his eyes. "She was so impassioned, so lively, not the kind of girl who runs off on a suicide mission. That wasn't Lola. She had clear goals and all of the smarts and drive and resources to achieve them. It doesn't make sense why she'd--" He cuts himself off to swallow the lump in his throat. "It doesn't fucking make sense. She had big ambitions, but not Brigade ambitions, not like that, it--" He looks down at the ground and pauses for anotehr moment, longer this time. "...I don't know."

"And now, I've got no one. I'm the only one left. Now, when I go, that's it -- bloodline over, no more of any of us. I'm not gonna have anyone to miss me like I miss them." With that final thought, he shatters and collapses into inconsolable sobbing.

[the-necessary-unnecessary]

I'm so confused, which player went where and what is going on?! I'm losing my mind a little with all of this

haha yeah a lot of shit went down yesterday. Not sure if you’re referring to an exact player in all of this or a general overview of what happened so I’ll just make a highlights reel of things

WSL: you can find the full list of transfers, renewals and people leaving clubs here. The main things that happened yesterday though were that Birmingham City announced the double exit of Lucy Staniforth and Chloe Arthur, leaving both the club and myself in a pretty desolate state but one could see it coming and I’m glad for them. Then Chloe Kelly’s departure, another absolute pillar in Everton’s success this year, was announced after she rejected a new contract.

For these where they are going hasn’t been announced yet. But rumours have it that Lucy Stan will be moving up north (either Manchester or Everton) whilst Chloe Arthur will be coming to London. As for Chloe Kelly well she’ll been linked with a lot of clubs, both top 3 and ones below so who knows where she’ll end up going - probably one where she’ll be paid better and be more likely to win trophies.

Division 1 (France): Biggest news was that Sarah Bouhaddi (who had literally already filmed and posted an exit video from the club) and dzsenifer marozsan may have taken a U-turn and just signed another multi-year deal with Lyon. On top of that Lola Gallardo signing for Lyon also was all but confirmed by the fact that she was in Lyon with her agent yesterday. This could leave Atleti withough goalies for the CL and also means there could be three world class gks at Lyon next year if Bouhaddi does end up staying in the end.

In other French news, Fleury racked up yet another international star in the form of Julia Spetsmark which poses the question: where the heck are they getting all this money and resources from that are attracting all these players?? And Alana Cook renewed her contract with PSG for 3 more years, which poses another set of questions about whether she’ll end up deciding to make up her mind and play for the US or for England