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accioxreparo · 4 years

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lover of mine // part one: old me

Shout out to the old me and everything you showed me had to fuck it up before I let you get to know me

synopsis: Now that the war is over you finally have a moment breathe. There’s no need to pretend anymore and you hope more than anything that the love of your life can find it in himself to understand what you did.

pairing: George Weasley x Slytherin!reader

warnings: slight angst, mentions of the war

a/n: Wow who knew I had it in me to plan a series? I’m super excited to be working on this because I have had it stuck in my head for ages! Masterlist post to come!

tagging: @the-hufflepuff-of-221B @thoseofgreatambition | shoot me an ask/message to be added!

~~~~~~

{May 2, 1998}

Despite the fact that you came from a pure blood home, you couldn’t remember a single time when your life was easy. You heard it was supposed to be and Merlin you wished it was.

Maybe then you wouldn’t be standing in the rubble of the place you had almost considered home once.

Hogwarts wasn’t a place that had given you much else other than a temporary safe haven. For nine months out of the year you were away from the marble confines of your family’s manor and for that reason alone you loved the school.

It was enough to make you believe that you were safe.

After your sixth year, you were rudely torn away from your childish daydream and thrust into a nightmare. One that had been waiting years for you. One that, try as you might, you couldn’t bury.

So there you stood in the ruins of what used to be a courtyard, staring up into the twilight sky and contemplating if your efforts had changed anything at all. You wanted to believe they did. Needed to believe it. You needed to know that in the end, you did something good even if it was just one thing.

“Do you remember the first time we stood out here?”

You weren’t expecting him. Even after everything there he stood right behind you. Dirt and grime stuck to every part of him and there was a deep red stain on his left arm much like the ones you were sporting that made the fabric of his jacket stick to him. Still, you had never seen anyone look as welcoming as he did right then.

George didn’t wait for your response. He didn’t wait for you to look him in the eyes. He didn’t even wait for any sign of acknowledgment. He was done with waiting. It had gotten him nowhere but here and here wasn’t that great a place at the moment.

“Because I do,” He took slow calculated steps forward but you didn’t move a muscle. Despite the destruction around him, he couldn’t help but smile because the memory he was recalling was one he shared with you. “We were thirteen. It must have been around one am and I came out here to set up a prank. I found you sitting in the water filling the fountain. You told me you wouldn’t tell anyone you saw me as long as I got out of your way because you couldn’t see Vega.”

“It was actually almost three am,” Finally your eyes met his. You could only bear to hold his gaze for a couple seconds. He was looking at you with such relief, such kindness. Kindness you thought you didn’t deserve after everything you had put him through. “I had to explain to you I was looking at the stars. I remember all the ones I pointed out to you that night.”

“I do too.”

They were simple words but they were also a reminder of when life itself was simpler. A small acknowledgment that he hadn’t forgotten you just like you hadn’t forgotten him. A sharp stinging grew behind your eyes, your throat closed up tight, and suddenly your knees were buckling underneath you as a sob tore through you.

George had to move quickly to keep you from collapsing on the floor.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” You echoed the words over and over and over again hoping that maybe that would somehow make up for the devastation around you.

There wasn’t a bone in your body that didn’t regret not being able to do more. You’d never been particularly brave and you wished now more than ever that you were.

Maybe it could be different now.

It had to be.

It was the one thing you were ready for.

The tears stopped trailing down your face only when you had none left to cry. Not once did George unwrap his arms from around you. He didn’t say a word either, simply letting you have your moment.

With a shaky breath, you stood up straight, feeling empty once more. The difference now, though, was the fact that it was a good kind of empty. For the first time in years, you were free to do as you pleased. That was definitely something you had waited a long time for.

But before you could say another word the sound of boots marching across the demolished courtyard surrounded you.

Faster than you could process, a dozen wands were pointed in your direction. Nobody threw a curse, hex, or jinx your way though and you were positive it was only because George Weasley of all people was protectively holding you behind him.

“What is this about?” George held his own wand in his hand and though it twitched at the sight of so many people surrounding the two of you, he didn’t raise it.

The person leading the group you recognized well. You didn’t know his name but you’d seen his face before in a picture stuck to the wall at Malfoy Manor. The word ‘target’ had been scrawled across it in bold red letters.

“Y/N Y/L/N,” The person was staring right past George and at you only. “We’ve been ordered to take you into custody pending a trial in front of the Council of Magical Law and the Wizengamot. Surrender your wand or we will take you in by force.”

A chill ran through your body at those words. They were the last ones you wanted to hear. The ground started swaying underneath your feet and if it wasn’t for George you would have fallen over by now.

“What?” He was the one to express his shock. When he looked at you again he was sure of one thing and one thing only: there was no way he would let anybody take you away from him. Not again. “On what grounds!”

“Serving under Voldemort as a Death Eater,” The person reached forward and yanked your left arm forward, ignoring the threats George shouted his way. He pushed the sleeve of your jacket up to reveal the skull and snake winding around each other. “And many more charges I’m sure.”

“No, you don’t understand!” You pleaded as you tried unsuccessfully to pull your arm away. “I was never on their side! Please just let me explain!”

“Will you just listen!” Never before had George felt so powerless. As much as it pained him to admit, he didn’t stand a chance against a dozen Aurors. “You can’t do this!”

“We have orders from the Minister himself. All suspected and known Death Eaters are to be brought in,” The person spared you one final look before flicking his wand. Your hands were bound together by something you couldn’t see and the more you struggled, the more they tightened. “Your supposed innocence is for the councils to decide.”

You knew better than to fight any longer.

Merlin, George wished you had.

Maybe then he wouldn’t have had to watch helplessly as they dragged you off to who knows where.

It was when you looked back at him with a broken look in your eyes, eyes that at one point held an innocent sparkle brighter than the night sky you were always looking at, that he remembered the promise he had made to you long ago.

He had broken it once before and he’d be damned if he let it happen again. For probably the first time in his life, he knew exactly what he was going to do: he was going to finally help you be free.

And all he had to do was help prove your innocence. How hard could that be?

#ahh okay here we go #it gets more interesting promise lol #hp fanfic #harry potter imagine #harry potter one shot #hp series #harry potter fanfiction series #george weasley x reader #george weasley #george weasley imagine #george weasley x y/n #george weasley fanfiction #slytherin reader #my stuff #c: george weasley #my fics #fic: lover of mine

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brokenjardaantech · 4 years

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a road not taken

Fandom: star trek (2009)

pairing: nero/ayel

summary:

Leya returns from his most recent trial dazed and overwhelmed. It is Ŏ’ŗên's job to comfort his bondmate.

other tags: griefing/mourning, hurt/comfort

ao3 link

Ŏ’ŗên knows something is wrong as soon as his bondmate reappears sitting on the edge of their shared bed. Not because of the silence - that he is used to since the fateful day when his other half miraculously survived the unsurvivable; not because of the frailness - that he is also used to since the day they first met; nor because of the change of the colour of his soulmate’s eyes - that he expects after another trial from beings he is too four-dimensional and mortal to comprehend. But the impenetrable wall he runs into when he taps into their bond - that is something they have not had between them since the day he nearly lost Leya, the price of blocking themselves from each other’s mind too high for them to even try again. Not having access to their bond doesn’t mean that he can’t deduce his bondmate’s emotions from other tells, however, and he knows that right now, the love of his life is overwhelmed with them and therefore is not ready to talk about them yet, so he does what he has learnt from decades of experience that sends his message clearly without resorting to words: press his chest against Leya’s back, wrap his arms around his (painfully thin, boney, narrow) shoulders, and press a kiss with his lips on the pointed tip of his ear.

I’m here for you.

Leya turns his head so that they can exchange a proper kiss with their lips and their fingers. I know. But I’m not ready yet.

One more brush of two fingers against two fingers. A firm squeeze on his waist. I’ll be there whenever you’re ready.

His bondmate pulls away from their embrace and walks away, his skin as pale as the oversized white sleep robe he is wearing, presumably back to the room where his nest is, his own space where he can forget the outside world and rest and think properly. He will be out after a few hours usually.

Usually.

Ŏ’ŗên realises he must take the initiative when the situation doesn’t get better after days of waiting for his bondmate to open up. Whenever the wall between their joined minds wobble, strong waves of sadness washes over the bond, and it is obvious starting from the second day that Leya is not okay at all. Still, he lets him be for a few more days, taking care of their children, tending to the farm, checking on the situation in the rest of the galaxy, while his bondmate hopefully recovers and processes whatever he saw during the trial. On the sixth day he breaches the silence, unwilling to see his other half dwell on his sorrows for any longer: it is not healthy for all of them.

‘Wheaty?’

He finds him on the deck at the back of the house overlooking seemingly-endless hills of different kinds of fruit and blue wheat, the setting sun ruining the world in a fiery hue that he cannot help but find nostalgic; it reminds him of the days in their academy years where they spent their free time sitting in the grass at the waterfront as their eyes were fixed on the glistening sea. They didn’t realise that they were in love back then; they do now.

There is no response from his bondmate and neither does he expect one, although Leya does clutch the large stuffed toy Ŏ’ŗên gifted him all those years ago closer towards his chest and does not protest when Ŏ’ŗên scooped him up so that he can sit on his lap instead. A kiss on the tip of his ear, a nuzzle against his neck where his scent is the strongest, a firm squeeze around his waist. He deflates.

‘Did you pass?’ is the first question asked. Always start from the simplest, most mundane things.

‘Pending,’ is Leya’s response, a low murmur that would have been lost to the breeze brushing their skin had both of them not been Vulcanoids. ‘I try not to think about it too much.’

‘How?’

‘I broke a rule.’

‘What rule?’

‘Non-interference.’

‘What were you supposed to do?’

‘I -’ his voice wobbles. ‘We were supposed to observe our counterparts in three different parallel universes and report back.’

‘Which three did you choose?’

‘The first one was easy enough. I checked on us in the mirror universe.’

‘How are they?’

‘Doing well. They have secured victory over the Empire with the help of my cousin’s counterpart. Their child will grow up in peace.’

‘That’s good to hear. How about the second one?’

His bondmate doesn’t answer immediately and instead wiggles in his lap until he is completely plastered against him with the stuffed toy squished between their chests. ‘The ones my cousin killed. The ones who started all this. The ones who never got to go home.’

He tightens his arms around him. Among all the choices he could make… ‘What about them?’

‘You and your sister were not related in any means and were bondmates. You were going to have a child until a supernova destroyed ch’Rihan. I was your second-in-command on a mining vessel. We were captured by the Klingons not long after we came into this timeline and spent two and a half decades on a penal colony. We escaped in the end but… you know how it went.’

And he does. Starfleet used their newest starship to defeat the terrorist who committed genocide on the Vulcan people, the Captain, the hero behind the Narada’s neutralisation too humble to want their name announced to the general public - at least, that is the official story that is taught in both the Federation and the Republic. In reality, though… ‘Was it what you expected to see?’

‘My cousin did not lie to me, if that is what you are asking.’ He buries his face in the crook of his neck. ‘It did not make it any easier. Do you wish to know?’

‘Please.’

‘That version of us never bonded properly, but the link is there. My cousin killed me first right in front of your eyes and exploited the pain it caused the other you, made you beg for the mercy of death. They… They were happy - overjoyed, even - to help.’

‘Do you think it’s a good thing?’

A shake of his head. ‘Killing our counterparts is the only way to save the galaxy from endless war. My cousin might have done the right thing then, but it was also one of their major steps towards…’ his grip on his shirt tightens, ‘whatever they are right now. Call me a coward or soft-hearted if you wish to, but I do think my cousin was being needlessly cruel. They had the choice of eliminating the threat and moving on or continuing to dwell on it; they chose the latter, they chose to bring even more pain and suffering to the galaxy.’ A deep breath. ‘They became the very thing they had sworn to destroy.’

They let themselves drift for a while. His bondmate has allowed the wall to crumble on its own some time during their talk, and they both bask in the bond between them, Leya drifting between his usual sensitive senses and a light doze, Ŏ’ŗên witnessing the first hint of stars in the sky as the sun descends further and further down the horizon and hearing the faint rustle of their children turning in their sleep from within the house. He will have to wake them up soon, he thinks, but for now his focus is solely on his bondmate.

A sharp pain from the other side of the bond jolts him from his thoughts, the emotion both familiar and distant - familiar because it is not something one can let go of easily, distant because he has not experienced it for a long time. The pain of mourning. Leya is trembling in his arms and the shoulder he is leaning on is wet.

He is crying.

Ŏ’ŗên pushes a wave meant to comfort through their bond hoping to at least calm his bondmate down, but all it does this time is make the sadness return in even stronger waves, and he would have shed a few tears had he had human ancestry like Leya. He receives flashes of images and bursts of sensations, all of them too blurry and short for him to distinguish anything of use; he has to ease himself from his bondmate’s mind to preserve his sanity.

‘I’m sorry,’ Leya says as he leans away and furiously rubs his knuckles against his face in an attempt to wipe his tears off. Ŏ’ŗên brushes his hands away and does it for him, his fingers brushing against his bondmate’s qui’lari to initiate a shallow meld and dragging him away from whatever vision that is plaguing him. ‘I screwed it all up - I lost control of myself -’

Ŏ’ŗên shushes him. ‘What did you do?’

‘I -’ an exhale. ‘The last timeline I visited. It was the closest to the one we’re living in,’ Ŏ’ŗên can feel him clinging onto their bond, grounding Leya against whatever he is reminded of. His eyes are wide. ‘Until I died.’

With so many brushes with death, Ŏ’ŗên isn’t surprised that his bondmate’s counterpart in a parallel universe wasn’t as lucky. ‘What happened?’

Leya shivers from a non-existent cold as Ŏ’ŗên feels age-old memories resurface from the depths of his bondmates mind, one of snow-capped, looming mountains and wind strong enough to rattle entire houses: whatever he encountered during his trial, it made Leya think of his childhood. ‘In that universe,’ he swallows, ‘my cousin never came to take me away. I died cold and starving never to have left the valley.’

Ŏ’ŗên senses that there is some more going on, therefore he merely rubs his bondmate’s thigh through the thin fabric of his sleeping robe.

‘Our counterparts in that universe… They were like us. T’hy’la. Two halves of the same soul. The other you never got to meet me, but he knew that something was missing. There was a giant gap in his mind where the other me should be, and it only grew wider with each passing year.

‘No one believed him when he told the others that there was a void in his mind, that the void was causing him endless pain and confusion. He spent years searching for whatever he could to lessen the pain knowing that he probably would never be able to uproot the ache - writing, serving the Republic, lovers whom he had thought were the shape of the missing pieces - but he got… disappointed, I suppose, and eventually he seemed to have given up. That was when he finally found someone who would perform a mind meld with him, and it was also after this meld that he was told that he had a bondmate, one who had died long before they met. He learnt that the wound would never heal; he would have to live the rest of his life always yearning for someone who no longer exists.’

Ŏ’ŗên holds him closer. ‘What a terrible thing to learn about.’

Leya wipes his eyes. ‘It was a relief for him, though,’ he places his hand on Ŏ’ŗên’s on his thigh, their fingers hooking together in a chaste kiss automatically and not letting go. ‘I guess… That was what made him accept the truth. As much as a closure he was allowed to have. He mourned the other me even though they never met each other, spent his days thinking of “what-if”s and drowning himself in imaginary scenarios where he could be happy with a bondmate with their katra so intertwined that others have difficulties distinguishing the two from each other, let himself feel the loss properly without anyone telling him that his pain wasn’t real. I watched him become a happier man.’ A deep breath. A shudder. ‘Then I watched him make preparations.’

‘What preparations?’

‘To…’ his grip on Ŏ’ŗên’s hand is almost painful. Leya’s side of the bond twists in turmoil. ‘To join the other me. At least, that was what he was thinking of when he wrote his final letter to his family and friends. I - I watched him inject himself with a hypospray and lie down in his bed for sleep just like any other day. He looked so relieved even though he’s so lonely that I - I -’ He heaves. The first sob breaks out from his throat, a high-pitched sound followed by a cascade of tears that goes straight into Ŏ’ŗên’s hears like a dagger, and his hands get slapped away when he tries to help. ‘I couldn’t, Ŏ’ŗên, I couldn’t let him go like this. No one deserves to die alone. I knew it was against the rules, but I - I made myself known.’ A particularly furious wipe, ‘Stepped into that universe with a corporeal form and went through the door to where the other you was. He - he thought I was his bondmate, here to take him away to where they could live together happily ever after.’ His voice breaks, and Ŏ’ŗên gently pats his back as Leya coughs and chokes on his own tears. ‘Please don’t be angry with me.’

Is that why his love is feeling so conflicted? That he broke a rule to comfort a dying man? ‘Never, my love, you know it,’ Ŏ’ŗên promises.

Leya calms down by a slight bit after that and a deep breath. But this time, instead of talking, he intertwines their fingers together on both hands and brings their foreheads together, initiating a meld that, to Ŏ’ŗên, feels as real as any other reality, the background of a setting sun disappearing alongside the endless rows of crops, the contrast between the chill of the evening and his bondmate’s body heat gone and replaced by the feeling of being in a strangely familiar body, and he knows that Leya is sharing his memories with him, that he is experiencing what is before his eyes right now in the way his soulmate did. His vision is blurry with tears - something he, as a full Vulcanoid, would never do in real life, but he can still distinguish the vague, faded outline of scattered pieces of furniture marking that only one person lives in there and they rarely, if at all, bring guests to their home. His legs, tired from pushing his newfound powers to their limits and awkwardly thin and knobbly like puberty never quite left him, creaks with each step forward towards the thick curtains framing a bed too narrow for two. There is an empty hypospray on the bedside table. He feels himself lift his hand and part the curtain, and, in a flow of plain fabric, he is no longer Leya, no longer experiencing the memory as Leya himself, and instead is standing with his back against the wall next to the bedside table, watching his bondmate stand very still and quiet and stare at the figure on the bed, a stray tear escaping the socket of his eye and dripping onto equally plain sheets.

Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s eyes catch the figure watching over him. His lips tremble as if he wants to speak, but in the end only a small, choked sound rises from his throat. ‘Love?’ he breathes.

Leya slowly sits down on the bed and holds Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s hand, his insignificant weight barely making a dip in the mattress. ‘I’m here,’ he says, and he presses a kiss on the back of Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s (oh so bony and thin) hand, tears straining translucent skin wet and leaving tracks on his face. Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s lips twitch. ‘I’m here to take you away. We’ll be together.’

‘I -’ Other-Ŏ’ŗên swallows. ‘You must think lowly of me, wasting my life -’

Leya places a finger on Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s lips to silence him. ‘I do not wish to see you in pain,’ his voice trembles slightly. He intertwines his and Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s fingers together, an intimate gesture only reserved for the closest of lovers, but Ŏ’ŗên finds himself feeling… nothing at all, really, apart from his heart aching and threatening to burst at the same time from the scene before him and his affection towards his bondmate. ‘Sleep now, love,’ he hears his bondmate say to his counterpart before pressing a kiss with his lips onto Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s brow, and he knows that Leya is copying him then: this is how Ŏ’ŗên puts him to sleep when he has trouble doing so by himself. ‘I will be here when you wake up,’ he breathes into Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s skin. ‘Sleep well.’

A small smile appears on Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s face as his eyes slip shut. A few more shallow breaths.

Stillness comes right after.

Leya pulls his hand away from Other-Ŏ’ŗên’s slack fingers and slowly turns his overflowing eyes towards his actual bondmate, and the memory dissolves into a fog quickly blown away to bring both of them back to the deck, the hills of crops, the setting sun. It is at this moment that Ŏ’ŗên realises that he is holding his bondmate’s hands uncomfortably tight in his grip, so he lets go and cups Leya’s cheeks instead, his thumb wiping his tears away. ‘My Wheaty,’ he says, finally understanding what happened. So this is why the pain feels so familiar. ‘No one deserves to die alone. In the last moments of my counterpart’s life, you gave him hope, gave him peace. He died knowing that he was loved and his t’hy’la will be with him forever.’

‘But Ŏ’ŗên, what if there is no other side?’ Leya’s hands fly to his face. ‘Elements, what if the other side is not what I promised him to be? What will the other you become? What if -’ his chest heaves - ‘What if the other me isn’t there when I promised that he will never be alone again? I would have given a man hope and - and shattered it! All because I couldn’t control myself!’

He is trembling and breathing heavily by the last word, angry tears rolling down his already-puffy eyes, and Ŏ’ŗên knows that he has to do something to remedy what can spiral off into an uncontrollable outburst. Sliding his arms underneath his bondmate’s thighs, he hoists him up without any warning, Leya wrapping his knobbly limbs around his torso instinctively and holding on for dear life with his face buried in Ŏ’ŗên’s shoulder, and he takes them both indoors back into their shared bedroom and throws his bondmate onto the pile of blankets and pillows which absorbs all the impact and makes Leya sink into it instead of letting him bounce. Before he can react, Ŏ’ŗên slams himself on top of his bondmate with his arms at Leya’s eye level so that he is the only thing Leya can see, smell, feel. A long, deep breath, and Leya places his hand on Ŏ’ŗên’s chest to signify that he is ready, rolling them over so that he is lying half on top of Ŏ’ŗên with his head on his chest.

Ŏ’ŗên kisses the top of his bondmate’s head. ‘My counterpart died in peace. You did what you could to relieve his pain and gave him peace when he was near his end, and that’s…’ he trails off.

‘All that matters,’ Leya finishes for him, and his voice breaks as his face scrunches up. He buries his face in the crook of Ŏ’ŗên’s neck, tears staining skin wet and soaking fabric, but Ŏ’ŗên can sense from their bond that his bondmate is feeling much better now, the sharp pain fading into a dull throbbing that will likely continue for some time before Leya finds himself distracted by other matters - that is how he dealt with grief before, and Ŏ’ŗên doubts that it will change this time.

He had no one, Leya’s voice suddenly echoes in his mind. He had cut off his family a long time ago. They couldn’t stand the thought of not being able to help with his pain, and he loved them so much that he couldn’t bear to let them know he gave up his life for a long-dead person he had never met. He will be remembered by the void he created in his family and friends’ life, not for who he really was.

But we do, Ŏ’ŗên replies. We remember him.

But what if I forget? It is inevitable given my position between this universe and the extra-dimensional world. One day I will process knowledge too much for my brain to handle, and I will be forced to discard some of it. Memories of our children. Of your counterpart. Of us growing up together. Of you. I might forget them one day and…

You won’t.

But -

You are mortal, Wheaty, Leya, my love, Ŏ’ŗên gives his shoulders a squeeze. ‘There will be a finite end for you and me. I promise.’

It is an empty one, he knows. He is not the one who can jump across universes unscathed. He is not the one who can live in between dimensions. He is not the one alive only because he is bounded to a higher dimension. Elements, he doesn’t even believe in an afterlife in the sense that there is a new world for him to explore and live in after he leaves this world, but he knows, from what Leya told him many times before, that every single person, every single act, every single change - all of them leave a unique imprint in the universe waiting for the right person to discover and learn from. Maybe this is enough to leave a mark in the unending river of spacetime. Maybe they will tell their children about it, someday, when they grow up and start to develop their own powers. Maybe they will join their counterparts afterwards, who knows? It’s not like he can look into the future.

Thank you.

Oops. Didn’t mean for you to hear that.

In any case.

Kaiidth.

And look at what it made me into.

What, the most wonderful bondmate a Rihannsu can ask for?

Leya thumps his fist lightly on Ŏ’ŗên’s shoulder. You are insufferable.

I love you.

Leya sighs as fondness bleeds through the bond. And I you.

Their minds suddenly become much busier and conscious. Their children are awake.

Dinner? Ŏ’ŗên asks everyone.

The cascade of sleepy yes’s brings a smile to his face.

------------

i wrote this mostly to kick myself to finally spitting out this ficverse, so if anyone is interested in more of it please do let me know. i’ll write more.

#nero #ayel #star trek xi #nero x ayel #nero/ayel #romulan #romulans #rihannsu #star trek #kelvin timeline

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lovelovetangle · 5 years

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The 12 Days of Love Tangle

To show some love for Love Tangle and our little community, I thought it would be fun to host a low-stress holiday celebration. Beginning on December 25-26, I’ll be posting and reblogging content featuring the characters in each “day” up until January 5-6...but I need your help!

I am looking for fan fic, art, etc. about the characters or settings to showcase during this event. You can make the subject anything you like with little restriction and you don’t have to have each character featured in a category, but if you’re looking for a prompt, we’ve got the upcoming holidays right here as well as the days themselves!

On the FIRST day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...a room in Lilac Court for free

featuring:

Nathaniel Chrysler

Joshua Cooper

Angelo de Ponte

Lucas

the SECOND day...two lawsuits pending

Nolan Zarek, Jr.

Ike Barnes

the THIRD day...three fashion shows

Joy Olivier

Oliver Cowell

Lumiere Rousseau

the FOURTH day...four exploring lads

Alexey Morozoff

Rami Zaza

Cornelius Cruz

the FIFTH day...five Kaleido leopards

Timo Salminen

Paul Morgan

Moses Jackson

Julia Darwin

Kaleido Leopards

the SIXTH day...six athletes competing

Miguel Hernandez

Yangzi Sun

Yamato Uzuki

the SEVENTH day...seven puzzle pieces

Maxim Morozoff

Mame

Shiba

the EIGHTH day...eight grumpy bastards

Earl Olsen

Silvan Glanzschmidt

the NINTH day...nine soft bois musing

Ryan Gray

Naoki Hozumi

Carlo Mazza

Wylder Kelly

the TENTH day...ten uncles scheming

Henrik Kaled

Carter Harris

Ivy Attwood

William Moss

the ELEVENTH day...eleven o’clock news

Andrea Lee

Dean Price

Lex Caraballo

Jonas Klukas

the TWELFTH day...twelve entertainers

Cody Gray

Celina Winter

Valentin Blom

You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you’d like, but I want to spread the love for this amazing game even if we’re not certain of Solmare’s direction with it in the coming new year.

To share your posts or creations for the event, feel free to shoot me a message, reply to this post, or tag #12 Days Of Love Tangle. Please reblog this if you can to reach any other fans of the game! Thanks you guys all for yet another wonderful year.

#love tangle #12 days of love tangle #shall we date love tangle #shall we date #swd love tangle #swd #community events #instead of kaleido leopards I almost put calls to HR considering the characters involved

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pwrestlingxpress · 6 years

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Best of the Super Juniors 25: Participants and Predictions

Down below are the 16 participants who will be competing in the 25th annual Best of the Super Juniors Round Robin tournament, with the winner (considering he’s not the champion) to receive an shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in Osaka-Jo Hall on June 9, 2018. Before we reveal the participants, here’s who’s not returning this year and why some of these participants are not competing. If I don’t give out an explanation, that means I don’t know why they’re not competing this year:

Jushin Thunder Liger: Has stated 2017 would be his last one and intends to hold on to his promise

Ricochet: Signed with the WWE in early 2018 and is now a part of their NXT roster as he has entered a feud with “Velveteen Dream” Patrick Clark

Taichi (Suzuki-gun): Moved up to the Heavyweight Division at The New Beginning in Osaka by challenging Tetsuya Naito to a match at the 46 Anniversary Show where he lost to the LIJ leader.

Taka Michinoku (Suzuki-gun)

Volodar Jr. (CMLL)

Now, let’s take a look at those who are participating in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors:

A Block Participants (Pictured from right to left):

Will Ospreay (Chaos): Reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion competing at his third straight Best of the Super Juniors (2016 winner)

Tiger Mask IV: 17th straight Best of the Super Juniors and the only one to ever win back-to-back Best of the Super Juniors (He won the event in 2004 and in 2005).

ACH (Independents): Second straight Best of the Super Juniors

Flip Gordon (Being the Elite/Ring of Honor): Best of the Super Juniors Debut

Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Suzuki-gun): 1/2 of the reigning IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions (with El Desperado), Second straight Best of the Super Juniors

Yoh Komatsu (Roppongi 3K/Chaos): Second Best of the Super Juniors (Competed only once in 2015)

BUSHI (Los Ingobernables de Japon): Sixth Best of the Super Juniors (First competed in 2012, Missed the 2015 event due to injury)

Taiji Ishimori (Bullet Club): Second Best of the Super Juniors (Competed only once in 2010 where he was one of the two winners of his block that year)

B Block Participants (Pictured from left to Right)

KUSHIDA: Ninth straight Best of the Super Juniors (2015 and 2017 Winner as well as the 2014 Finalist)

Ryusuke Taguchi: 15th Best of the Super Juniors (2012 Winner, 2011 and 2016 Finalist)

Chris Sabin (MC Machine Guns/Ring of Honor): Best of the Super Juniors Debut

Dragon Lee (CMLL): Second straight Best of the Super Juniors

El Desperado (Suzuki-gun): 1/2 of the reigning IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions (with Yoshinobu Kanemaru). Third Best of the Super Juniors (Did not compete in 2015 and 2016 due to stable excursion in Pro Wrestling Noah)

Sho Tanaka (Roppongi 3K/Chaos): Best of the Super Juniors Debut

Hiromu Takahashi (Los Ingobernables de Japon): Fourth Best of the Super Juniors (Did not compete in 2015 and 2016 due to excursion in CMLL and Ring of Honor)

Marty Scurll (Being the Elite/Bullet Club/Ring of Honor): 1/3 of the reigning NEVER Open-weight six man Tag Team Champions (with Matt and Nick Jackson), second straight Best of the Super Juniors

Now with the participants intact, here’s who I believe will be in the finals for 2018 and while I have the A-Block winner intact, I’ve yet to decide the B-Block winner. Here you go:

After he laid Will Ospreay flat back on May 4th, I knew that Taiji Ishimori would win the A-Block because he is simply one of the best high-flyers as well as one of the best technical wrestlers I’ve ever seen. In his lone Best of the Super Juniors event back in 2010, he finished first in his block and along with Ryusuke Taguchi (B-Block runner up), Kota Ibushi (A-Block winner), and Prince Devitt nka Finn Balor (A-Block runner up) was able to advance to what was at the time called the “Final Four” of the Best of the Super Juniors but ultimately lost to Devitt in the semi-finals of that tournament in fast-pace time I might add. I think now he’ll have a easier path to reaching the finals simply because the only competition in his block is Will Ospreay and I don’t really think any will stand to his level. That, and the winner automatically advances to the finals, not having to worry about going to a semi-final type match.

Predicting the B-Block winner was really complex because it has three of my favorites there (Chris Sabin, Marty Scurll, and Hiromu Takahashi) but I feel Chis Sabin will not advance so that leaves it down to Marty Scurll and Hiromu Takahashi. Both are slated to face each other on May 19th and pending on who wins that night in my opinion could win the block. However, I’m leaving this decision to Chris Sabin since he’s one of my favorites as well. With Marty slated to face Sabin first, I’m thinking that whoever beats Chris Sabin is my pick to win the B-Block. But if both defeat him, I really can’t predict it so it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top of the B-Block.

Best of the Super Juniors 25 presented by Fire Pro Wrestling World begins on May 18th at 5:30 AM Eastern (6:30 PM local) on NJPW World with the Block finals taking place on June 3rd and the finals taking place on June 4th. Before I go, down are the matches that I’m anticipating the most at the tournament this year. Enjoy the best New Japan has to offer this summer starting off with Best of the Super Juniors 25.

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seriouslyblacklikemysoul · 7 years

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Meant - James Potter x Reader (Lily Evans x Reader)

Request: Hey! Can you write an imagine in which the marauders help one of them (it's your choice who) to get a date with the reader and she thinks that they are just making fun, until she realise what's going on and a lil shook because they're so blind; she tells them "dude, i'm gay" and they are all like "oh now is obvious" Warnings: My English, language (it’s me, lol) and um… idk. Kind of hurting James and Lily dating a girl? I don’t know guys =) Gifs aren’t mine. Credits to their original owners. Word Count~ 1.5k MASTERLIST Pending Requests So you liked girls. Big deal! Guess what? Girls could like girls just like boys. You were more than okay with that. You had accepted that fact when you were very little- everyone was asking you if you liked that boy with the baby blue eyes or the other one with the dark hair when you really just liked the fierce little girl with the untamed hair and the piercing eyes. However, you kept quiet. You were afraid that your parents wouldn’t take it very well, but most importantly that your girl friends would think that you were hitting on them. Once you were accepted into Hogwarts, you were definitely sure that you liked girls. It was safe to say that a certain red-haired Muggle-born had your attention. She was kind and very sweet from the first encounter. Her beautiful green eyes were twinkling with excitement. Over the course of years, you finally came out to your parents. It was the summer before your sixth year and you couldn’t keep it a secret any longer (and frankly, you didn’t want to). You were never a coward and you didn’t believe that your sexual orientation was problematic. Love was love, no matter what. Your parents freaked out, in the beginning, but they quickly reassured you that they didn’t care who you love as long as you were happy. You could see that they were hesitant but it was going to be alright. Things got really confusing once the school year began. From day one, you became the center of the Marauders’ attention- which was disturbing. You were acquittances, not exactly friends but you would still talk and share a laugh with them. However, things got a bit different this year. You had established a very strong friendship with Lily and Marlene; Alice and her almost ethereal existence; Mary and her too sweet smile. The five of you were really close-until you realized that you were a bit in love with Lily-just like James. You did believe that at some point she would cave into his ridiculous flirt- the boy was so extra. The only other problem was that you hadn’t told them- well, not all of them, that was- that you liked girls in fear that they would stop talking to you-oh, and the fact that you were about 99 percent certain that Lily liked guys. Other than that… great. Something strange must have happened because James wasn’t fawning over Lily (or Lily-pad, as he called her and infuriated her). He was glancing at you over and over again. You thought that he just played it cool and tried to be seen as a bit more laid back. Maybe he even did it to make Lily jealous. Well, that wasn’t working because Lily didn’t even glance at his direction. She couldn’t care less – at least that was what her demeanor was implying. You caught James looking at you more times than you could count. Maybe he was just joking- yeah, that must be it. You never told anyone about your preferences but you had never dated a guy before… so, it could be pretty obvious- especially if someone was paying attention. You really couldn’t believe that they hadn’t learned about you and Marlene. It was more of a one (okay, five) time thing. Marlene was a bit drunk the first time that she leaned and kissed you-you pulled away because she had just broken up with Sirius and she was a mess. She apologized and didn’t mention the incident for about two months- until she just walked into the dorm (thankfully, you were the only one there) and just pinned you down, kissing you feverishly. She wanted to know why she was drawn to you. Well, she did find out- she was bisexual. You told her about your secret too. It didn’t last because you both wanted other people- she was still in love with Sirius and you well… you were crushing very, very badly on Lily-again. It had been almost a month after you had returned to Hogwarts and in that month, you would always come face to face with James. It was like, he was exactly where you were. Was he following you? Nah… right?! You started questioning that once he started flirting with you. You found it hilarious – you did reassure Lily that you didn’t like him; you gave her heads up, as a ‘friend’. She seemed relieved and your heart was beating faster until Potter interrupted. “Hello, love. You look extraordinarily beautiful today. Are you tired, though?” he told you ‘seductively’. As if. He was good-looking, yes but you weren’t attracted to him. You took a moment to realize what he had said. “Um, thanks? And no, why?” you asked curiously as you furrowed your eyebrows. He just shrugged as he plopped down next to you. “Because you were wide awake in my dreams, doll” he said casually as your brows shot up and you almost snorted. You wanted to answer something to that but you couldn’t find the proper words. Something between ‘shut up’ and ‘I like Lily, back off’. But you stayed silent as you gave Lily an apologizing look-she just scoffed. Great. ‘Thank you, Potter’ you thought bitterly.

Things like that had continued to happen for over a month. You really thought he was joking after a while, so you joked back. “Hello there, dollface. Slept well?” he greeted you. You smiled warmly as you took a sip of your black tea. “Good morning, handsome. Well, it could have been better” you cooed and winked at him. You saw the small movement under the table- Sirius and James high five. And it hit you. He wasn’t joking. You suddenly stiffened as you felt Lily’s eyes burning holes. Was she mad became she liked him and he was flirting with you or because she liked you and… oh, no. The day was really tough. Lily refused to talk to you and James wouldn’t leave you alone. You had enough. You were currently in the common room – it was the end of this horrifying day and it was late. You had just sat down by the fire when the Marauders came in and they (Sirius and James, really) were all over you. Again. Lily came down as well because she wanted to apologize but she froze once he saw James a little too close to you for her liking. ‘Just my luck’ you thought. “So, babydoll…” James began and you rolled your eyes to the pet name. Lily was a tad mad. Why did he get to call you that? “Wanna go out with me? On a date?” he finally breathed out, not so sure of himself anymore. You were thrown off. It was one thing to joke around and even flirt- that was okay with you- and it was completely another to ask you out. You didn’t know whether to laugh or take him seriously. You decided to ease the rejection. “That’s what you’ve been doing almost three months now?” you asked all of them. They nodded excitedly- if they only knew. “We were trying to get Prongs here, a date with you. You just seemed like you could hit it off together�� Sirius answered overly hyperactive. You had to tell them- but Lily was there. Screw it. “Um, guys. I’m gay” you sheepishly told them. They were shocked, to say the least. As was Lily. She couldn’t believe that she hadn’t made a move… “Well, that makes sense now” Remus said kindly and offered you a warm smile that you returned. If someone knew how it felt to be an outcast, that was him. He liked you, no matter your orientation. As a friend, of course. “Wait, you mean… you like girls?” James asked as his cheeks were pink. You nodded, not trusting your voice enough to use it. “That’s hot” Sirius commented and you snorted. Of course. “I’m sorry James. You look like a nice guy, though” you tried to smooth the pain. He stared at you for a second but before he could answer, Lily found the courage to do what she wanted to for quite some time. She walked right over you and gave you a playful look- you thought you might faint. “So… about that date? You and me? Hogsmeade, this weekend?” she asked you, trying not to blush and failing miserably. You couldn’t help but to actually stop thinking. Did she just ask you out? You blinked a couple of times before smiling and whispering a soft ‘I would love to’. “COME ON” James cried in agony and betrayal, because really, the two girls he liked, had a date with each other. Even Remus laughed at his friend. Lily slipped her hand in your and intertwined your fingers together. You knew that you should be laughing as well, but your heart was hammering in your chest. It was playing a happy sequence as you were staring into her green eyes – and for once, they were looking at you the exact way you wanted them to.

Tags: @orionsirivsblack @kapolisradomthoughts @nadinissavage

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dhr-ao3 · 1 year

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Three Months Left

Three Months Left https://ift.tt/6ILuQrO by allofthelights11 Words: 6320, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Series: Part 2 of Five Months Until Summer Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/M Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy Relationships: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger & Draco Malfoy Additional Tags: POV Draco Malfoy, Porn With Plot, Porn with Feelings, Pending Trouble, Fluff and Smut, Shameless Smut, Smut, Exploration, Sex, Praise Kink, Foot Fetish, Hogwarts Sixth Year, Sex Expert Draco Malfoy, Dominance, Hermione Granger Learns Something, Draco catches feelings, Proper Use of Draco Malfoy, Sex God Draco, Sexual Content, Oral Sex, Semi-Public Sex, Stress Relief, Watch Your Feelings, dramione - Freeform, Possessive Draco Malfoy, Jealous Draco Malfoy, Dangerous Draco Malfoy, sexploration, Library Shenanigans, Hogwarts Library via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/hv7qQ4k July 24, 2023 at 06:36AM

#IFTTT #Dramione #Draco x Hermione

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asfeedin · 4 years

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Arsenal can forget Champions League, PSG president’s TV negotiations, Chelsea’s Kepa conundrum

Welcome to ESPN’s Insider Notebook, featuring contributions from our reporters across the continent. In this edition, Arsenal fans excited about getting Champions League football through the back door are dealt a reality check, PSG’s president is negotiating with himself, Chelsea have a Kepa conundrum and there’s an esports battle brewing …

Jump to: PSG president negotiates with himself | Kepa conundrum | Lockdown in Malaga | Spain and Italy’s eSports beef

Arsenal in the Champions League? Forget it

We’ve heard many weird and wonderful ideas appear about how to resolve issues if the coronavirus crisis means domestic seasons across Europe cannot be completed. But sorry, Arsenal fans, don’t get excited. Unless you finish in the top four, you won’t be playing in the Champions League next season, whenever that will be.

One of the whispers out of Tuesday’s UEFA video conference, held with all 55 national associations, was that European places could be decided purely on UEFA’s club coefficient, a system that ranks clubs based on their European performance alone over a five-year period.

In such a scenario, England‘s Champions League spots go to Liverpool, Manchester United … and ninth-placed Arsenal. Tottenham Hotspur, who are eighth in the league, would take Manchester City‘s place, due to City’s ban for financial fair play violations (pending an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, of course).

Leicester City and Chelsea, who sit third and fourth in the Premier League table respectively, would be dumped into the Europa League with Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Sheffield United would be denied their first-ever European campaign in a cruel twist following a fine season back in the big time.

Arsenal won’t be able to find a backdoor route into the Champions League next season. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

But that misfortune is nothing compared to Belgium, where Club Brugge sit 15 points clear at the top and are to be crowned champions; they are ranked only fourth by UEFA’s coefficient, so would merit only a place in the Europa League third-qualifying round.

In Spain, sixth-placed Atletico Madrid would take the place of Real Sociedad; Atalanta and Inter would lose out to AS Roma and Napoli in Italy; Lyon and AS Monaco would take places off Marseille and Stade Rennes, who have never played in the Champions League, in France.

In Germany, RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach would be replaced by Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke. AZ Alkmaar, who are only second to Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie, would lose their place to PSV Eindhoven.

But wait! All of this just isn’t going to happen. It’s pie in the sky. It was the suggestion of one league representative, and while it might get traction in places, sources have told ESPN that UEFA is adamant sporting achievement should govern who plays in Europe. It’s up to the leagues to suggest a formula and UEFA will offer guidelines. This may be made official when the executive committee meets on Thursday.

All of which is why UEFA is so against the idea of null-and-voiding seasons, preferring instead that leagues are played to a conclusion or places awarded on merit.

These stories give great headlines, but rarely stand up to scrutiny. It is not that the idea has not been floated and could not be used in very specific cases. But for an association in full as a blanket rule? Not a chance. — Dale Johnson

– Stream new episodes of ESPN FC Monday-Friday on ESPN+ – Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+

PSG president negotiates with … himself?

• When does the transfer window reopen? • Karlsen: Possible coronavirus impact • Best ever transfers: 100-51 | 50-1 • This summer’s top free agents • January transfer grades • Latest completed major transfers

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is negotiating on behalf of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs with TV rights holders, so that the final installments for the 2019-20 season can be paid. The rights holders in France are Canal+ and BeIn Sport, whose supremo is … yep, you’ve guessed it: Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

So the Paris boss is basically in talks with himself. The motto does say that if you want something done, do it yourself, but this is pushing it. Al-Khelaifi has been put forward by the other Ligue 1 presidents, and Canal+ also thought it was a good idea that he was part of the negotiations.

On April 5, BeIn, like Canal+, refused to transfer the money to the league for the latest instalments of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 rights, totalling €155 million. They have another payment due on June 5. The negotiations continue, and Al-Khelaifi is asking for French football to be less selfish. He is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. — Julien Laurens

Chelsea in Kepa conundrum

Chelsea are struggling to drum up interest in goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, sources have told ESPN. Manager Frank Lampard is open to selling the Spain international after dropping him for six games in January and February.

Intermediaries have been gauging interest from some of Europe’s leading clubs, but there seems to be very little appetite to take the 25-year-old off Chelsea’s hands. Kepa arrived from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6 million in 2018 and has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2025.

Chelsea face a dilemma about how to move forward with their goalkeeper situation. No. 2 Willy Caballero is set to leave at the end of the season, and the club are exploring the option of signing another senior goalkeeper to compete with Kepa. — Rob Dawson

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1:33

Sid Lowe dives into the proposed protocols for team training and the potential timetable for La Liga’s return.

Spending lockdown in Malaga’s stadium

Spain’s strict coronavirus lockdown has not been a problem for the Perales family, who have Malaga’s La Rosaleda stadium as their backyard.

Andres Perales, who is 83, lives in a house alongside the 30,000-capacity arena with the youngest of his seven children, Andy. Andres worked for the club for almost 50 years in various roles — from team bus driver, to gardener, to janitor and even masseur — and has lived on site since 1989.

“This is my life. I spent my youth here at La Rosaleda,” Andres told La Sexta TV. “It’s a real shame to see it empty like this. I’ve seen it full, with people coming and going … and now like this it’s really sad.”

Despite retiring a decade ago, Andres continues to live rent-free in a three-bedroom home accessed via the stadium’s Gate 18, which bears his name in recognition of his years of service.

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“I can’t complain,” Andy, who is 43 and also a club employee, told El Pais. “After lunch I go for a walk on the training pitch, and if I feel like it I go to the first-team gym. I don’t go into the stadium too often, I’ve seen it enough.”

Andy and two of his sisters were even involved in disinfecting the stadium last month, donning protective gear to ensure La Rosaleda’s offices, locker rooms, turnstiles and concourses were free of COVID-19.

“It was like cleaning the house, on a larger scale!” he told the club’s website. — Alex Kirkland

Esports beef as Spain left stunned with Italy crying foul play

Sources have told ESPN that Spain were stunned by Italy’s comments following the cancellation of the FIFA eNations StayAndPlay Cup.

FIFA organised the virtual tournament to help spread a positive message during the enforced lockdown in Europe due to the coronavirus pandemic, with participants made up of one international footballer and an esports star as a pairing from each country.

Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and a host of other guests every day as football plots a path through the coronavirus crisis. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only).

Spain and Italy were drawn in the same group of the StayAndPlay Cup, alongside Portugal and Malta. However, while most teams selected an international player and professional esports star as their two representatives, Spain chose YouTuber “DjMaRiiO” with esports player Jaime “Gravesen” Alvarez.

Italy cited this as one of the reasons for the cancellations, with Alessio Romagnoli, the Azzurri‘s representative, also criticising the move.

But the Spanish FA have been left baffled as they claim FIFA informed them they could select an influencer; DjMaRiiO, Spain’s biggest FIFA YouTuber with six million subscribers, falls into that category.

And you thought only real football could bring such drama and aggro! — Rodrigo Faez

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junker-town · 5 years

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The Calais Campbell trade is the Jaguars’ white flag (and the Ravens’ gain)

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Jacksonville is embracing its rebuild for 2020. It won’t be pretty to watch.

The Jaguars rebuild is on.

It started in the middle of the 2019 season when the club traded Jalen Ramsey to the Rams. It continued when the club shipped A.J. Bouye to the Broncos on March 3. It jumped into overdrive Sunday when Calais Campbell, a Pro Bowler in five of the past six seasons, was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for the minimal cost of a fifth-round draft choice.

The move makes Jacksonville’s 2020 intention unmistakable. Two-plus years after scraping the surface of Super Bowl 52, the Jags are demoing the house they built and tearing through the finished basement in an attempt to pour a new foundation. These were the Pro Bowlers and All-Pros from Jacksonville’s 2017 run to the AFC Championship Game:

Calais Campbell

Jalen Ramsey

A.J. Bouye

Telvin Smith

Yannick Ngakoue

Malik Jackson

With the exception of Campbell, none of these players were older than 27 years old that fall. This was a group that looked built to last. Instead, this is who remains on the roster at the precipice of the 2020 offseason:

Ngakoue, who has made it clear he’d prefer to be somewhere else and is likely to be traded after being retained by the franchise tag this spring

end of list.

Trading away Campbell wasn’t just a business transaction, it was a message. The veteran defensive end was the unquestioned leader of the Jaguar locker room the past three seasons. Sunday’s move closes the door on that era (and the lingering final hope that 2017 team was still salvageable). It creates a vacuum that will either allow another young veteran to step up or leave the team rudderless in the near future.

The unfortunate part is that this sell-off hasn’t created the kind of salary cap space that would facilitate a quick turnaround. Even with Campbell headed north, the Jaguars would have only around $31 million in cap space to play with this offseason. Clearing out the last piece of 2017’s Pro Bowl puzzle and dealing Ngakoue would push that to nearly $50 million. That’s a decent chunk of cash, but not even a top 15 number among NFL franchises this offseason.

But there’s a good chance Jacksonville has no real interest in spending in hopes of a 2020 revival. The team just dealt away one of the most effective players from a defense that ranked 29th in the NFL in overall efficiency, per Football Outsiders’ DVOA. Its offense, rarely a strong point this past decade, rated 24th-best in that same metric. No one’s quite sure who the starting quarterback will be — the expensive free agent signing who went 0-4 in his Jaguars debut before being benched (Nick Foles), or the sixth-round rookie who replaced him and was steadily figured out by evolving secondaries as the season went on (Gardner Minshew).

It makes sense to wait. This year’s cap hell could give way to more than $100 million in spending room in 2021. Foles’ disastrous contract can be cut loose to save more than $14.3 million in cap space (through $12.5m would remain as dead money. It’s a bad deal!). The Jags could use their pending spot at the top of next year’s draft order to target his replacement — Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence could be the balm in Gilead for a team that’s been wandering the desert for so, so long.

The team’s biggest young bright spot, edge rusher Josh Allen, just wrapped up a strong rookie season and will be under team contract at a bargain price for, at a minimum, the next three seasons. Other foundational pieces like Myles Jack, D.J. Chark, and (maybe) Taven Bryan are all under contract post-2021. They can wait — as long as the team doesn’t alienate them like it did with Ramsey.

There are reasons to be concerned the club could bungle all this. General manager Dave Caldwell was hired in 2013. In his seven seasons on the job he’s seen one trip to the postseason and six years with six wins or fewer. He couldn’t capitalize on that 2017 momentum ...should he be trusted with another do-over when it comes to rebuilding the Jags? If the club is committed to a fresh start up and down the roster, should that also apply to the front office — especially after former VP Tom Coughlin’s ouster?

Jacksonville’s offseason isn’t about setting the table for 2020. The Jaguars are effectively letting the chips fall where they may on the upcoming season. Instead, they’re set to follow the Dolphins lead and get a head start in the race up 2021’s draft order. Given the team’s struggles the past two seasons, it looks like the right decision.

What does this mean for the Ravens?

Baltimore came into 2020 needing to boost a pass rush that ranked 19th in the NFL in sack rate last season. In the past week, the club locked breakout star Matthew Judon (9.5 sacks, 33 QB hits) in for the season with the franchise tag and acquired Campbell (6.5 sacks, 25 QB hits). Together, they had only six fewer quarterback hits than either the Raiders or Dolphins did as a team in 2019.

The true cost of the Campbell deal won’t be evident until the club finalizes its reported contract extension with the aging pass rusher. So far, it’s an absolute bargain. Consider the last trade Jacksonville made:

The Broncos shipped out a fourth-round pick to free A.J. Bouye, who was one of the NFL’s least effective starting cornerbacks (9.8 yards per target and a 106.1 passer rating allowed), from the Jaguars. The Ravens got Campbell, at age 33 but coming off a season in which he ranked eighth in the NFL in quarterback hits, in exchange for a fifth-rounder they’d originally acquired by trading away their backup kicker.

Pretty good!

There are concerns about Campbell’s play as he enters his mid-30s. That’s reasonable. His sack numbers declined in each of the years that followed his 14.5-sack breakthrough in 2017. Per SIS, however, his hit and hurry rates both hit four-year highs last season. Is it possible he’s lost a step in his 30s? Yep! But the former Jag’s 2019 was proof he’s still capable of altering plays even if he’s not putting up big sack numbers.

Campbell is much more than his on-field numbers, too. He’s a locker room leader who was the NFL’s 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year. He brings value in the pass rush and in the community. Over the course of his 12-year NFL career, he has been a constant positive force.

Unless Campbell signs a long-term extension with oodles of guaranteed money then falls off a production cliff, it’s tough to see this as anything but a win for the Ravens. Or anything but a notice of surrender for the Jaguars. But hey, at least Jacksonville got something in return for Campbell before he could leave in free agency next spring.

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dramioneasks · 7 years

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Hi! i absolutely love this blog. it is literally make saving grace, especially for the boring summer time. i'm a particularly picky reader though and i feel like i've read every story for me that's out there. i very much like the way columbrina writes theodore in her fics, and i only read long fics. can you recommend any fics with theodore in them or any good complete long newer fics? thank you so much!!

I found these for you:

Ride or Die by olivieblake - M, 29 chapters - The Death Eaters are an outlaw motorcycle club run by Tom Riddle, a notoriously ruthless leader who works the brotherhood into high stakes criminal activity after the death of their previous president. Draco Malfoy is heir to the throne, but his life abruptly changes when fate lands him in the hands of a young doctor. Dramione, muggle AU.

Accidental Proposal by CJRed - M, 36 chapters - Hermione finds out that she is really a Nott, and there are so many rules to being a Pureblood, too bad Draco Malfoy seems to have forgotten one of the most important rules of all! Hermione/Draco. Theo and Hermione are siblings. Ignores epilogue and off canon in some other places as well. Set in 8th year. Language, Fluff, and Lemons.

Marked by olivieblake - M, 39 chapters - Two dead. Three missing. The Order is down a leader and another innocent takes the Mark. Where is the Chosen One, and who killed Draco Malfoy? Dramione, sequel to “Clean,” book II in “This World or Any Other” series.

Savior by Ares.Granger - M, 26 chapters - Shortly after the events of 5th year, Hermione gets shocking news from her parents- she’s a pureblood! How does the world change when Gryffindor’s Golden Girl is discovered to be the sister of a Slytherin? Well, Draco Malfoy’s summer decidedly improves. Begins summer before sixth year, roughly a week after Hogwarts ends. AU, 6th year, pureblood!Hermione, rated M for language.

Relationship Status: Pending by Craft Rose - M, 57 chapters - Hermione Granger is edging thirty, accident prone and haplessly single. One night, she decides it would be humourous (and hilariously masochistic) to timeline her failed relationships in a memoir. From losing her v-card in a broom closet, to hooking up in a public loo, to ruining her best friend’s wedding - she’s done it all. (UNDERGOING REVISION 05/08/2015)

You can also check out the tag under Tags > Characters > Theodore Nott.

@shirlynmerlin

#anonymous #theo

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winterolympicssports2018-blog · 7 years

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Former Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins plans to sign 3-year, $84M deal with Minnesota Vikings on Thursday

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Former Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins plans to sign 3-year, $84M deal with Minnesota Vikings on Thursday

Former Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins plans to sign a three-year, fully guaranteed $84 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, sources tell ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The landmark deal will make Cousins the highest-paid quarterback in the league.

“No final decisions have been made,” Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, said Tuesday. “The plan is to visit Minnesota first. That’s all we can say right now.”

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin tweeted that Cousins is a “hero” to other young players for getting a fully guaranteed contract.

Kirk Cousins is a hero for all the young players that will follow after him. Now we need more players to bet on themselves until fully guaranteed contracts are the norm and not the exception.

— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) March 13, 2018

With a stingy defense and elite skill players, the Vikings hope they solved their QB dilemma as they try to capitalize on their championship window.

GM Mike Maccagnan is 0-for-2 drafting QBs with Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. He’d better get it right in April because his job is riding on it.

The biggest free-agency domino has fallen. Our panel of experts predict what the pending Kirk Cousins deal means for the Vikings in 2018 — including record — plus where it leaves them in the playoff picture.

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Cousins, 29, has been one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks since becoming Washington’s full-time starter three years ago. During that time, he has ranked fourth in passing yards, sixth in passer rating, seventh in Total QBR and eighth in touchdown passes.

In 2017, Cousins topped the 4,000-yard mark for the third straight season. He finished with 4,093 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions — and a Total QBR of 52.3, his lowest as the full-time starter.

The 2012 fourth-round pick went from the backup to Robert Griffin III — starting nine games in his first three seasons — to a productive starter during his time in Washington. In 2015, his first year as the starter, he helped lead the Redskins to the NFC East title by throwing 23 touchdowns to three interceptions over the final 10 games — starting with the “You like that?!” comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He finished that season with 29 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a franchise-record 4,166 yards.

Kirk Cousins. Jimmy Graham. Andrew Norwell. This class is already wild. Here’s everything to know.

• Latest notable signings, trades » • Barnwell’s free agency & trade grades » • Adam Schefter’s news and notes » • Signings, analysis for all 32 teams » •Ranking top 100 NFL free agents » • Are Vikings NFC fav with Cousins? » • Fantasy impact of key deals, moves »

After that season, Washington and Cousins couldn’t agree on a long-term deal, so the team placed the franchise tag on him. Cousins responded by again breaking the franchise record with 4,917 passing yards to go along with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and a Pro Bowl berth. But Washington missed the playoffs by losing their regular-season finale at home to the New York Giants.

That led to yet another franchise tag, as Cousins told the Redskins he wasn’t ready to commit long term and wanted to gauge the direction of the franchise. It was clear by season’s end in 2017 that both sides wanted to avoid another one-year tag. Rather than negotiate a final time with Cousins, Washington traded for Alex Smith on Jan. 30, agreeing to a four-year extension with the veteran.

Cousins heads to Minnesota, where the Vikings are coming off a 13-3 regular season with an appearance in the NFC title game. Last year’s starter, Case Keenum, the quarterback who stepped in for an injured Sam Bradford early in the 2017 season, is expected to sign with the Denver Broncos when free agency officially opens Wednesday afternoon.

Along with Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater is also a free agent after spending eight weeks as the Vikings’ No. 2 quarterback. He was deactivated for the playoffs in favor of Bradford.

Cousins inherits a roster built around the league’s top-ranked defense and a plethora of weapons on offense. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs return for another season in which they’ll vie to be the NFL’s top receiving duo. The backfield also could become one of the league’s best behind the return of Dalvin Cook, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and Latavius Murray.

Cousins’ potential signing with Vikings moved Minnesota’s Super Bowl LIII odds from 16-1 to 12-1 (tied with Green Bay for fourth best) at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

New England is the favorite at 5-1, with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia next at 7-1.

ESPN Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.

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seriouslyblacklikemysoul · 7 years

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Per Aspera, ad Astra -Sirius Black x Remus Lupin [ Wolfstar]

Request: Hello! My heart has stopped since the moment I saw Ben and Andrew together and I am craving wolfstar now. Could you write anything, anything at all for Wolfstar? Please please? ❤ Warnings: My English, wolfstar? Pic isn’t mine- credits @lupeymoony Word Count: 1538 MASTERLIST Pending Requests

It was a bit different between the two of them. They were friends but not exactly. It wasn’t the type of friendship that James and Sirius held, or Remus and Lily. It was a tad more. They knew it. They felt it deep in their bones. It had started in such a subtle way that no one could have guessed that it would end up like it did. They started to notice things about each other, things that not even best friends know. Remus had taken notice of how Sirius’ eyes would twinkle with passion and mischief. Sirius was loud and that very fact would be misinterpreted as passion. However, Remus could tell. Sirius was passionate about few things- the night sky, his ideas, and his friends. What Remus didn’t know- or didn’t believe possible- was that he was the center of Sirius’ passionate attention. Remus knew- he just knew- when Sirius was pretending to be okay but he really wasn’t. He let it slide many times but when his ‘friend’ was trying to play off the fact that he got disowned, Remus had enough. He could see the pain in his eyes, he could almost touch the grief, he felt his sadness and he could tell that Sirius was a mess. When he tried to talk to him, Sirius pushed him away-he had never regretted something as much as that. Sirius, on the other hand, was the first to notice and put two and two together- how Remus would come up with a lame excuse to avoid them on a full moon, on every full moon. It wasn’t so difficult to figure it out. Besides, it was Remus and Sirius always noticed. When he told him that he knew, Remus tried to tell him that he was a monster and that it would be okay if he didn’t want someone like him as a friend. In all honesty, Remus was brokenhearted because well… Sirius wasn’t only a friend. But what Sirius did, left him speechless. He hugged him for a brief second- because Sirius couldn’t handle it. It was weird for him in the beginning. He didn’t know why he would notice that Remus was warmer or that his eyes were a bit greener than usual when he was looking at him. He didn’t know why but he wished that it was the same reason as the one that made his heart skip a beat every time he would even think about him. It was strange. He didn’t feel like that about James and he was his brother. ‘Maybe, that’s why’ the voice inside his head told him bitterly. He didn’t want to admit it because he was already a disgrace to his family and even if disagreed with their points of view- no, that wasn’t the reason. It was one thing to fall in love with your best friend and another to fall in love with your guy best friend. But soon, he would realize he didn’t care one bit. Because love was love, no matter what. It was after a really bad full moon that he just couldn’t handle it. They had all became animagi in order to help Remus and even if he thought it would be reckless, he was low-key proud of them. It was their sixth year and Sirius’ feelings had only grown for the werewolf. And he was perfectly okay with that-just a bit sad because he thought that Remus would never like him like that. But that was okay as well. He wanted him to be happy whether it was with him or not. Whatever it took to make him happy- he deserved so much more. This time, however, it wasn’t just another full moon. It was a blood moon, as Remus had told them, and he insisted that they had to stay out of it. Yelling and swearing were nothing in front of the anger boiling inside of them. It wasn’t anger, though. If Remus wanted to be honest with himself, he would have to admit that he wouldn’t be able to handle if he hurt Sirius. He had come to terms with his feelings. He was in love- no. He loved him. He loved the way he smiled and not smirked, the way he would always lean toward him and make him blush, the way he ran a hand through his hair and avert his gaze like he was flustered. But Remus knew that he could never have Sirius. Or at least, he thought he knew. Today was an exceptionally awful day. He hadn’t let his friends tag along because he was afraid that he would be the one hurting them. But now, he was covered in his blood, alone and feeling remorse. He had made it to the hospital wing and he was supposed to be sleeping but the only thing he could do was keep thinking about a pair of gray eyes. He shouldn’t have been so harsh. What if he didn’t get to see them again? His abstract thoughts were disturbed by a low gasp. He would recognize that breathy voice anywhere. Sirius was in the hospital wing as well. Why was he there? Was he worried about him? It was an hour before dawn. There was a dim light illuminating the room. Remus was the only one laying there. His soft characteristics and his messy, sand-colored hair, his scars and his eyes. Everything about him was beautiful to Sirius. When he saw Remus covered in blood, his heart squeezed in pain. Remus was hurt and he hadn’t been there. But, the scene before him was terrifyingly beautiful- like an ancient Greek tragedy. There he was, laying on the bed, the light dancing around him being all breathtaking but he was there because he was hurt. Sirius saw some of the new scars- they were nasty and he flinched. Not because he didn’t like them- honestly, they were a bit of a turn on- but because he knew how painful must had been. Before he could realize that his feet were caring him, he was next to Remus. Remus was looking anywhere but him. He felt awful and venerable. He knew that if Sirius was to say a thing- anything- he would probably spill his other secret. How he longed to kiss those soft, full and plump lips of his, to trace his tattoos with his fingertips, to tug his hair, to hug him knowing he was his. He just kept avoiding his gray eyes, instead. “Rem” Sirius whispered. There was something more than just concern in his voice, but Remus chose to ignore it. “Moony” he said and this time it came out angrier. He finally gave in. “What, Sirius?” he snapped and bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t want to sound abrupt. Sirius kept his silver eyes on Remus’ face. How could someone suffer that much and be that strong? He was hesitant- what could he answer? ‘ Hey, I just wanted to make sure you- my best friend and the guy I am in love with- were alright’? Of course, not. But then again… those big, judgy, caramel eyes, those pink lips, his Adam’s apple- everything was making his inhibitions fade away, melt. Remus was rather surprised. Sirius hadn’t answered, he just kept looking at him, causing him to shift slightly under his intense gaze. ‘Screw it’ Sirius thought and did something he craved since day one. He leaned down and pressed his lips against Remus’. He was tentative, giving Remus time to pull back but when he didn’t, their lips locked together. It was like time had stopped and the only things moving were their lips. Sirius could taste the blood and the chocolate on Remus’ lips while Remus could taste the bitter smoke of Sirius’ cigarettes and mint. Surprisingly enough, it was Remus who brought his hands and cupped Sirius’ face, fingers trailing his sharp jawline while slowly moving to his dark locks; it was Remus who bit Sirius’ bottom lip and slid his tongue inside his mouth. Sirius was lost somewhere between bliss, euphoria and anticipation. It was the first that mattered and frankly, the only one he ever wanted. Once the pulled apart, they were both breathing heavily and their cheeks were pink. Both of them were trying to come up with an excuse to justify what they had just done until they locked eyes with each other and truly saw for the first time. “I didn’t know you felt like that” Remus whispered softly like he was afraid that if he talked any louder, Sirius would vanish. “I didn’t know you felt like that” Sirius echoed, emphasizing his words. Remus thought it was now or never. “I’ve been in love with you for quite a while now” he finally admitted, causing Sirius to freeze and to slowly smile with relief and- Sirius crashed his lips to Remus’. This time, nothing was hesitant. Sirius let his hands roam Remus’ body, taking in every little scar on his shoulders, his back, his torso… Their hearts were beating incredibly loudly, as Sirius confessed in a small voice, before his lips were on Remus’ neck: “I love you, Rem”

Tags: @orionsirivsblack @kapolisradomthoughts @nadinissavage

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robertbryantblog · 5 years

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Is Host Unreachable

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thegloober · 6 years

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The Hockey News’ 2018-19 Season Preview: New York Rangers

Henrik Lundqvist remains, but the Rangers could look vastly different by season’s end as they head towards a draft-and-develop rebuild.

The Hockey News’ 2018-19 Season Preview series dives into off-season transactions, best- and worst-case scenarios and one burning question for each team in reverse order of Stanley Cup odds.

Stanley Cup odds: 80-1

Key Additions: Adam McQuaid, D; Fredrik Claesson, D; Dustin Tokarski, G

Key Departures: David Desharnais, C; Ondrej Pavelec, G; Paul Carey, C; Ryan Sproul, D

BEST-CASE SCENARIO Not much is expected of the Rangers, as GM Jeff Gorton preps the franchise for a future built on the draft, rather than free agency. But we’ve seen rebuilding teams surprise in recent years, and New York has the foundation to make some noise. Despite the loss of Ryan McDonagh, the blueline still has a nice mix of veterans (Marc Staal), puck-movers (Brady Skjei) and veteran puck-movers (Kevin Shattenkirk).

Up front, the Rangers can hurt teams with their depth. There is no one star to key in on, but instead a sturdy cohort led by Mats Zuccarello, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Behind them are tiers of youngsters, from Vladislav Namestnikov, Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich to rookies Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil. They may not have a 65-point player this season, but if everybody contributes and most of the top-nine can hit 40, the Rangers won’t be a doormat.

In new coach David Quinn, the Rangers have brought in a communicator who knows how to shepherd young talent thanks to his days at Boston University. Handling the crease duties as always is Henrik Lundqvist, who is coming off a poor year but can still steal games.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO The Kings is toast, long live The King. Lundqvist posted his worst goals-against average last season (2.98) and it’s doubtful he’s going to find the fountain of youth at 36. Without that stability, the Rangers find themselves in a big hole. The team’s best offensive players are in the “potential” range and the established scorers are basically in a waiting room until the trade deadline: Kevin Hayes signed a one-year contract in the summer that makes him trade bait, while Zuccarello is also a pending UFA who would attract a nice return. The defense is a shadow of what it used to be.

In the here and now, that means a lot of losing. As good a coaching prospect as Quinn is, recent history has shown many first-year bench bosses need a season before their systems take hold (Jared Bednar in Colorado is a perfect example), which means a lot of pain in Year 1. Long term, this is not a problem: New York is not expected to contend this year and accruing more high-end prospects is the name of the game. Should the team really bottom out, they’d have a decent shot at Jack Hughes, the dynamic center and top prospect in the 2019 draft. His game would look great on Broadway.

BURNING QUESTION Are we witnessing the decline of Lundqvist in New York? From his debut campaign in 2005-06 all the way through to his age 33 season in 2015-16, Lundqvist, it could be argued, was the best and most consistent goaltender in the world. Across a decade-long span to begin his career, Lundqvist finished no lower than sixth in Vezina Trophy voting, winning the award once and landing himself on two end-of-season all-star squads. He fell out of the Vezina race three seasons back, however, and his combined numbers over the past two campaigns aren’t all that impressive. To wit, among the 31 goaltenders to have played at least 82 games over the past two seasons, Lundqvist’s .913 SP ties him for 20th, his 2.87 GAA is fourth-worst and once heralded as a game-stealer, he’s only posted four blankings in his past 120 games.

What suggests Lundqvist could be in for another difficult year is that the defense in front of him isn’t going to be able to provide him the type of insulation he’s grown accustomed to. The evidence of that was present last season, when the Rangers had the second-worst shots against per game total, and the blueline simply doesn’t have the wealth of talent necessary to keep playing heading in the right direction.

If any veteran keeper could laugh in the face of age-based decline, it’s Lundqvist, but the outlook isn’t awfully positive with the season on the horizon.

THE HOCKEY NEWS’ PREDICTION: 7th in the Metropolitan Division. Glimmers of hope are to be expected, but the Rangers are heading for the Eastern Conference basement. The early stages of a rebuild are always the most trying.