#Strickland I hate you right now

[omg-im-such-a-masochist]

All Night

Summary: This man has been on my mind like nobody’s business and I need to do something about it

Pairing: Swerve Strickland x F!Reader

Warnings: +18, smut, masturbation (female receiving), dom x sub dynamics, edging, adult language.

Tags: @theworldofotps , @writtingrose , @daddyhausen , @melissahausen , @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin , @sophiewolfheart-blog , @sultryfandoms , @new-zealand-chic , @crowleysqueenofhell , @thealliasylum , @legit9thlunaticwarrior , @mjfass , @josiewrites , @seeingstarks , @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch , @whenimakeitshine1234 , @moxkindagirl , @sunshinevirus , @im-just-a-mississippi-girl , @ripleyswhore

A/N: Thank you @theworldofotps for helping me choose the prompts 💕

-> Prompts are in red. And their credit goes to @delusionisaplace

“Are you ready?” He asked, eyes roaming her figure from behind, admiring how the pale blue silk dress laid on her body.

“Almost. Can you help me?” The small sapphire blue flower pendant dangled from the delicate chain draped around her forefinger.

“Of course, Sunshine” Swerve smirked, placing himself behind her. His long fingers covered her hand, softly pulling the necklace away from her grip. He unclasped the gold locket, placing it around her neck and softly securing it at her nape.

Her scent attracted him like a moth to the flame, his soft lips pressed against the side of her neck, above the pulse point. Swerve’s full lips parted as his tongue darted out to leave a wet trail on her skin.

“If you start this we’re going to get late” She sighed deeply, leaning back to rest her head on his shoulder.

She felt the pressure against her skin, along with the warmness of his breath as he spoke with a smirk “I’m not starting anything, I’m just making sure you’re fully ready”

“Oh, I am getting very ready” She teases, half jokingly.

Placing her hand on the back of his head, her fingers toyed with his mint-scented dreads, playing with the soft tips of his hair.

“I’ll fact-check that in a moment, you can be sure of that” Swerve teases back, sucking harder on her neck until her soft moans make him pull back to admire the glistening skin.

“There you go” He gave one last final lick on her pulse point “So everyone knows you're mine”.

“Baby, why did you have to do that right now?” She whined, failing to hide her desire behind the complaint.

“Because I felt like it” Swerve’s left hand pulled up her silk dress and balled up a bunch of fabric at her hips. His free hand sank into her baby blue lace panties, his warm palm covered her mound, long middle and ring finger circling her wet entrance.

“And because you belong to me, heart and soul” His fingers entered her pussy, filling her up in the most delicious way, causing her to moan louder.

“You’re mine, Sunny, aren’t you? So I can claim you whenever I want, no?”

“Yes, Sir”.

“It sounds selfish, but I can't help but want you all to myself. Even right now” His eyes met hers on the mirror reflection “The only thing I can think of is tossing you onto that bed and doing the most nasty things to you”. Swerve’s fingers turned up their pace, relentlessly thrusting in and out of her.

“Baby, please…Fuck” She grunted when his palm pressed down on her clit. “Oh shit, do that. Please, do all of that”

“Oh, I will” He chuckled against her ear, “But not right now”.

Swerve suddenly stepped back, making her instantly miss his fingers and body. The sarcastic grin plastered on his lips only served to make her even more frustrated.

“I hate when you do that! Can’t you show me some mercy before we go?” Her hands caressed his suit-covered chest “You’ve been teasing me all day, I’m not sure if I can take it”

“Of course you can take it, Sunshine” Swerve teased, his devious grin only grew as he placed her hand on top of his clothed erection and earned a small whimper from her lips.

“If you want this cock inside you, you will take everything I’ll put you through. You’ll receive every teasing and every time I edge you on that wedding tonight you’ll put a pretty smile on that face and a soft ‘Thank you, Sir’ will come out from those soft lips, do you understand me?”

“Yes, Sir”

“That’s my good girl, Sunny” Swerve placed a soft kiss on her lips “Are you ready to go now?”

She only nodded in return, making him chuckle “Good, let’s go”.

Swerve stopped by your bedroom door and turned to her with a sinister smile “Lady’s first”.

Her brows frowned in concern as her gaze stopped at his smile, it was her silent warning, Swerve was up to something and she was almost certain it would be something that she would despise.

As she passed by him to reach the stairs, the soft buzzing sound coming from between her thighs paired with her shaky moan made her realize that this was about to be a long, long night for her.

[idontplaytrack]

Hey, if i don't mind can i request a Janis fic where reader gets jealous of her spending too much time with Cady. It can turn into Smut if u want

Thank you!

Talk Too Much

Janis ‘Imi’ike x insecure fem! reader

Warnings: coarse language, self-loathing, smut— fingering, oral(reader receiving)

Cady and Janis get paired up for a project. Reader doesn’t like feeling what she’s feeling and ends up confronting Janis about it.

Turned out way shorter than I thought it would be😔

The Baby Project. This stupid project that has caused Janis to spend too much time with Cady. Way too much. The teacher decided that the best way to pick partners for it were to draw names out of a box. You got stuck with Aaron. Aaron, of all people. While Janis had to partner up with Cady— for two whole weeks. Not that there was anything wrong with him, but for the past week, seeing Janis even talking to anyone but you as much as she has, left a sour taste in your mouth. You hated that Janis' attention was on the redhead so much.

"You know I wouldn't mind if you wanted me to get Cady to switch with you, right?" Aaron has noticed your odd behaviour.

"No, no. If she likes spending time with her that much, go ahead." You scoffed, "Cady's more likeable than I am, anyway." "y/n, what the hell are you talking about?" He squints, still holding the doll in his arm.

"Mrs Strickland said no swaps, and since they seem to be so chummy, I might as well just give up." "Okay, those are two separate things. One, okay, fine we cannot swap partners for the project. Two, Janis freaking loves you. The whole school can tell- everyone sees it. Right now she's just laughing because their fake baby has a weird eye— it's broken, look at it. This school has barely any budget."

You watched them both sat side by side at the back of the class.

"You know her, she will never do anything to hurt you. They're just doing whatever's needed of the project— to pass this class. Talk to Janis about how you're feeling instead of sulking all week like you have been and acting like you're okay when she talks to you."

You wanted to scoff and him again, but he was right. And you just didn’t like that he was right— your mind didn’t like that. What it liked, was fucking things up for you, making you think of the most ridiculous, untrue statements that made you feel like shit.

After this class, was lunch. You walked up to Janis and just put your arm around her waist, “Hi.”

“Hi, baby.” She presses a quick kiss to your cheek.

“I need to talk to you.” You answered.

“Okay.” She says, allowing you to lead her away to somewhere private. You practically dragged her all around school, she tries to keep up with your pace and you eventually locked yourselves in the janitor’s closet. “So…I’ve been a little jealous of you spending more time with Cady.” You started.

Janis looked at you, her brows raised as she smirked, “Jealous? Oh, boy am I glad you can be honest and tell me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means…I’m glad you’re opening up to me. Though, I’m just trying to work properly with her so I can pass the class instead of flunking. i never meant to upset you, I’m sorry about that. How are things with your baby project? Aaron isn’t just making you do everything, is he?”

“Seeing as he has the doll right now, no. He’s been fine to work with- other than you and Damian, he’s probably the next best project partner.” You told her, “See, I know for a fact that you’re just trying to do a good job on the project. It’s not like you’re randomly just spending a bit more time with Cady for no reason. But I just…y’know, think of crap that isn’t true sometimes and make myself feel shitty. It automatically makes me think that you like her better than you like me, you like spending time with her than with me, that you’d fall out of love with me and fall in love with her. God, I talk too much. Just a load of bulls—”

You were rambling.

Janis shook her head, “Don’t ever force yourself to not feel things. Feel those feelings, work through them, let them pass- but don’t shove it down. Talk to me, write it down. Never keep it to yourself. I’m here.”

Her hand rests on your hip as her other hand brushes the hair out of your face. “Kiss me.” You requested breathily. She gave a small shrug and pulled you in to kiss you. Your tongue flicked at her lips in a silent ask for permission. The kiss deepens quickly and turned into a handsy make-out session. You were acting like a touch-starved, needy person. Whining into the kiss when she bit down onto your lip, Janis laughs teasingly.

“Want me to keep going?” She asks cheekily, hand roaming your ass.

“Yes.” You nodded impatiently, “Yes, please. I want you to fuck me and make me feel good.”

“Oh~” Janis teased, running a finger up your side, “Okay, princess. I’ll make you feel good.” Janis slips your leggings off in one swift gesture, hand cupping the mound making you yelp. Janis chuckles, looking down at her hand on your cunt, “God, you’re so wet.” She runs her middle finger up from your entrance to your clit, where it stayed, teasing it in slow circles which left the tiny bundle of nerves yearning for more. You whined, unable to keep your desire unheard. She captures your lips to shut you up as her fingers skilfully spread your lower lips and pushed into your tightness. She groans lowly at the feeling, “Fuck, you feel so good, y/n.”

That compliment gave you butterflies and had you dripping. Janis smirked into the kiss, caressing your cheek with her left hand as her right hand fucked you like there was no tomorrow. She went pretty fast, but it was just the pace you preferred in a quickie situation. You kept whining, the lewd noise began to fill the tiny space. “You want people to hear you, baby?” She purred into your ear, “Want to let them know you’re mine? How good I’m making you feel right now?”

A strained noise gets caught in your throat when her thumb pressed flat against your clit. She gave you no chance to detach your lips from hers, even when you had to cry out. It felt like torture, but it also made you more aroused, grinding against her hand in sync - with its movements.

“Damn. Am I fucking you or are you fucking my hand, baby.” Her teeth tugs on your reddened lip as she asks, allowing herself to see your face.

“I don’t care, just make me come.” You panted, grabbing her face and reconnecting your lips.

“I will, honey.” She promised, adding a third finger which slid inside without resistance. You moaned into her mouth, knees buckling feeling the stretch and her assaulting your inner sensitive spot repeatedly. Letting out a muffled high-pitched whine, your hand fell lazily on her shoulder, nails grazing her clothed upper back. “Fuck.” You whimpered, “Fuck— gonna come— Ah~” That exclamation at the end came out as high-pitched as it could, making Janis give you an almost perverted grin as she slams her fingers into you.

Her hands squeezed your breast as you began clenching around her fingers, breath coming out in short pants. The whining, it doesn’t stop. So do Janis’ fingers and hand, efficiently coaxing an orgasm out of you. You buried your face in her shoulder to muffle your noises while you came, arm around her upper back for support. “Yeah, baby.” She chuckles, pressing a kiss to the crook of your neck, “Such a good girl, aren’t you? Coming for me just like that…I wish you could see how pretty you look right now, y/n.”

Her hands held you on either side as she squatted then kneeled down before you, spreading you open. “What—”

“Cleaning you up, of course.” She stated in a tone completely opposite to her intentions, making you feel the flutter in your core. Janis gently licked you clean, but it quickly went in the opposite direction. Sinfully quickly.

“Okay.” Janis chuckles, breath fanning against your heat, “Looks like you’re all I’m having for lunch today.”

“Fuck you.” You grunted, bucking your hips against her face.

She grabs your thighs, “Yeah, go ahead babe. After class, I’m all yours to have tonight. And all weekend.”

————

🏷️ Tag list!

@ashecampos @cheesysoup-arlo @reneeswif3 @ludoesartnstuffs @pda128

[mjfsupremacy]

The hate that Swerve Strickland is getting as more of the IWC begin to realise he is on a trajectory to become AEW champion is racist. There's no other way to put it.

This tweet is the perfect summarisation.

The comments on this are vile, 1) I believe it's because she's a woman, and women aren't allowed to share space in a conversation about wrestling, which is why so many of us (women and gender nonconforming folk) came here. And 2) because this tribalism issue refuses to acknowledge any wrong, especially on the WWE side. (You would think Vince was in the front line of the blm protests the way some of these idiots are talking istg)

Here's the facts, though. AEW are going into their 5th year, and it's obvious to anyone with eyes that we will see a black world champion in the next 2. We are watching Swerve's story grow and evolve in, I think, a very similar way to Hangman's did. (I always veiwed Hangman as the main character of AEW, and this fued has felt like a passing of the torch in some ways, which I love)

Can you honestly name a single time that WWE actively invested in a black world champion? And I'm not talking about the women's division or NXT, I mean, what they willing label 'The most important prize in sports entertainment.' It took 40 years, and it has always come with a caveat. (The only person who comes to mind is Bobby Lashley, and to me, his reign always felt like it happened because of the work he and his faction did rather than any belief WWE had in him.)

Thankfully, I believe they are moving in the right direction, but I don't think they do that without brands like AEW and TNA actively pushing diversity. I also think that WWE higher up don't care about the women division at all and that has given the creative team control and we can see that in the diversity of the talent that is currently dominating the storylines.

This sport has a very deep and dark history of racism in the mainstream, (which is not representative of wrestling at its core) and I think it's up to the AEW brand now to push back and remind everyone who they are and what they believe in. A fear of isolating fans shouldn't even be a thought because the AEW we all fell in love with wouldn't want racists as fans to begin with.

Anyway, follow Lyric on Twitter if ur brave enough to venture to the absolute black hole of an app and call out racism when you see it.

[lover-girl-estxx]

Dad Strickland

*not my gif

| 8 Months Later |

| Sean's POV |

Today is mine and Y/ns gender reveal she was four months pregnant both girls wanted a sister me and Y/n wanted a boy. This time we had everyone we knew here at the house, we were doing the boxing kind I was gonna hold the pads and her with boxing gloves. "Alex (🗿)can't just stand there it's kinda creep" y/n whispered and slightly giggled I looked over at him and mouthed smile and smiled "see fixed" "thank you" she smiled she leaned down more and kissed my temple "are we doing it soon" "you wanna do it right now?" "yeah" "okay come on!".

"hey guys! we're gonna do the reveal!" she said "wheres our kids?" I said they came running up "okay", I helped y/n put the gloves on "thanks peach" "1.2.1.2!" The last one made blue powder go all over my white shirt and her light purple dress she jumped up and down a bit before wrapping her arms around me "I'm so happy!" I said she pecked my lips before raising her hands.

Sage ran off into the house visibly upset "what's up with her?" Y/n asked looking like she was gonna go inside "I got it" I said and rubbed her shoulder "you sure?" I nodded and kissed her head. "Sage honey" I went up the stairs to her room and she was crying on her bed "hey what's wrong?" I asked softly getting down to her level "I don't want a brother" "why not sweetheart?" "I just don't" "sage it's okay you can tell me" I wiped her face ".....you're gonna like him more than me" me and Y/n didn't think that sharing would be a problem they have both always had each other"no I'm not sage, why would you think that? Do I make you feel that way with your sister?" She shook her head and sniffled "no but he's a boy you're gonna like him more" "no I love you all the same I promise...come here," she wrapped her arms around my neck, I rubbed her back "I hate seeing you cry sweetheart," she squeezes me "I love you so much and you having a brother isn't gonna change that or how much I love you okay?" she hiccuped cause she was crying so much and nodded I wiped her face and kissed her forehead "come on we'll get a cupcake" I picked her up she smiled "okay".

"pink or blue?" I asked "blue" I grabbed the blue frosting "thank you" I smiled "Sage come on" Luca her cousin said "I set her down and she ran off with him. "was she okay?" Y/n said coming up to me "she looked like she was crying" "she was....shes worried i'm gonna like the baby more cause it's a boy," I slightly whispered the last part "why does she think that?" Y/n rubbed my shoulder "just a kid thing they just.. it's nothing against you I promise" "k" she wrapped her arms around my waist "I promise Sean" I nodded she leaned up and kissed me "okay thanks" "yeah" she kissed my chin.

| 5 months Pregnant |

| Y/ns POV |

I was rubbing Seans shirtless back "peach?" I said "yeah baby?" "Can you move off me I'm gonna go cook" "no" he wrapped his arm a bit tighter around me "no," I chuckled "I'm hungry" "I'll order something I don't want you to get up the girls our gone it's us time" I smiled "okay order it now i'm hungry" he nodded grabbing his phone. "I wanna talk about like I don't know but I wanna talk" I said sitting up as he laid and towel down and a bag of food "okay" he sat next to me "are you okay?" "yeah what do you mean?" "well I just want to make sure you know the girls are always here since I homeschool them I feel like I don't check up on you enough" I rubbed his cheek "don't worry about me i'll let you know I need you" "promise?" "yeah babe I promise,are you okay? your chasing around twin and your pregnant we a mini ME which is not easy" I chuckled "I'm great," I kissed him "your great I'm great so there's nothing to talk about I guess" I laughed.

| 7 Months |

I had both girls on my sides "was that a kick?!" Sidney put her hand on my bump "yeah!" I smiled and grabbed Sages hand putting it along with Sids, he kicked and the girls squealed Sage pulled it back then laid it back down "wait he's gonna do it again" he did "does it hurt" Sage asked "just a bit not to bad, you guys used to go crazy dad said it was cause you were sparring" they giggled "he needs a sparring partner" Sidney said I giggled "Harley can be his sparring partner" "he's a dog" Sage smiled.

"mmm" I groaned "shh I gotcha" Sean said picking me up I laid my head on his chest. He laid me in the bed "need anything?" he whispered "you" I put my arms out he got in bed next to me I rubbed the back of his head "how was your day?" I asked "good...I thought of a name" "what you didn't like Gino?" I giggled and he laughed "no...I like Colter" "I like that! or we can do Sean Jr" he shook his head "no I don't want to name him after me" "you sure I think your names pretty great" "no Colter?" "we'll do Colter" I smiled "okay thank you" he kissed my head.

| 9 Months |

I was getting the girls ready for they're friends I reached up to grab they're backpacks when my water broke "shit" "what was that?" Sage Asked "go get your dad" Sidney ran to the door frame and yelled "Daddy! Mommy just peed herself" I chuckled "did you?" Sage gave me a grossed look "no your little brothers coming" "really" I nodded "like now on my floor?" "no" I breathed out a breath with a light laugh "hey" Sean said softly putting a hand on my back "hey" I let out a shaky breath "sit" he walked me the girls chair "i'll call Eric" I nodded.

Once Eric came to watch the girls, we could finally leave "he's gonna hurt a lot more?" "why do you say that?" "I can feel it'' "eww you can" "thanks Sean" "well I just mean you can like feel him" "yeah he's inside of me" he laughed a bit "I guess".

he kissed my forehead over and over "your done good job" "hi" I said as they put colter on my chest "oh my gosh your so cute hi" I said "he's got a cone head" Sean said rubbing his head "you hear your dad?" "god he is pretty cute" he pecked my lips and went back to looking at Colter. "you got two sisters they're pretty cool you must have heard them" Sean told Colter bouncing him around the room holding him to his chest, I smiled "Eric said they're gonna be here soon" I said softly "hear that?" he kissed his head.

Sean came in holding both the girls hands Eric not far behind, I sat in bed holding the new Strickland "Hi mommy!" Sage smiled "Hi honey" I smiled back Sean put them in the bed "can he hear me" I giggled at Sidneys question "yeah..Who wants to hold him first?" I asked "I don't trust me yet" Sid said "k Sage you wanna hold him?" "yeah!" "Sean will you put that pillow under her arm?" he nodded and got sage all ready "watch his head okay?" Sean said she nodded as I laid him in her arms, Colt fussed a bit she gasped "its fine rock him a bit" she did and he stopped "he likes you Sage" "can I kiss his head?" "yeah" she kissed his head and he gave a very faint smirk she laughed. "Okay you wanna let Sid hold him?" I said "yeah" Sean got Sid seated how she need to be then moved Colter "hi Colty! he's cute you think I can do his makeup at home" "no not yet he's to young" "yet?" Sean chuckled "yeah daddy we'll give you matching" she looked up at him "can't wait" he laughed rolling his eyes

[synthsays]

Doctober day 25:

*~¤ Café ¤~*

Marty got a job at the coffee "shop", if you could even call it that, in Los Alamos. The so-called shop was really a stand in the corner of the grocery store but Marty liked to call it his shop. For the residents of Los Alamos that were just passing by in the mornings for work, they would get a coffee. Marty would make that coffee. Of course, he himself always hated the stuff, but work was work and he didn't have anything better to do. He had memorized most of the orders, but one he knew by heart.

Doc Brown, A.K.A. Marty's adoptive father and best friend, ordered coffee every morning. Marty took the liberty to tell him how bad it was to have so much caffeine, but Doc usually responded with a simple smile and left. Doc's order was always a black coffee, plain and simple. How he managed to drink it without gagging was an amusement to Marty. But it was his job to serve, so serve he did.

Helen, one of the scientists from the project Marty had befriended, also preferred her coffee in the morning. Marty wondered if she got coffee just to see him. She never got coffee as often as Doc but she still got it frequently. Her order was complex compared to Doc's. She usually ordered coffee with a bottle of milk, cinnamon and two sugars. Not as complex as some orders, but at least some diversity.

Today was chilly, an average fall day, so Marty expected more customers. The first customer of the day was always his favorite, because it was Doc. A simple order was always great to start off the day.

" Hello, Marty," Dr. E. Brown placed a quarter on the counter, " I'll have the usual."

"You got it, Doc." Marty replaced the quarter with a cup of hot coffee. "What are you working on today?" Marty grinned.

" You know I can't tell you, but it's something important."

" You're the doc, Doc. Good luck!" Doc left, leaving the store eerily quiet yet again.

**

Marty's business always cooled down right after the morning spree hit. After all, who gets coffee at noon? Edna Strickland, that's who. Apparently, the switchboard's team gets a break at noon, along with a couple of the scientist groups. Of course, the next shift took over, but the previous shift had worked through the morning. She usually wasn't willing to take anything less than her predetermined standard. Marty thought she would just have to deal with it.

" Hello, Mrs. Strickland."

She responded by dropping a pair of dimes on the register.

" Large coffee with ⅓ cup of soy milk, 3 sugars, two dashes of cinnamon. And that's dashes not pinches. There's a difference. 2 ice cubes and ¼ cup cream. If you have it, add one-"

Edna continued her obnoxiously long order, which she happened to change every time. Unfortunately for her, Marty had heard about two words and then tuned her out. He was more focused on lunch than whatever she had to say.

" Young man! Are you even listening?"

Marty worked up from his daydream.

" I'm on it!"

After fetching a cup, he poured a black coffee, put four sugars in and added a splash of milk.

" Here you go, ma'am."

The look of disgust on Edna's face was enough to almost make Marty laugh aloud. He didn't, but it was a possibility.

" This is not what I ordered."

Edna pushed the cup back across the countertop.

" Have a nice day now!"

Marty took his chance to go "to the back", which was really just the area right behind a wall. Essentially hiding there, Marty waited.

" I'll file a report on this place, sooner or later." She grumbled as she reluctantly took the coffee back up.

**

The season was now winter. Marty had originally thought he would get customers but now he was reevaluating. He could always count on Doc, but someone came in he wasn't expecting. Helen, out of all people, was the first to order on this cold winter's day.

" Good day, Marty. How have you been?" She pulled down her scarf.

"It's been great! Well, as great as one can be when he’s freezing himself in a store in the middle of New Mexico."

" Oh, it's not that bad. Well, believe it or not, I'm wondering if I could get a coffee."

Helen and Marty both laughed.

" I think I can manage that. What are you ordering today?" Marty held a pencil and pad to jot down whatever she had to say.

" I'll take the usual: milk, cinnamon and two sugars." " Coming right up!"

After Marty prepared the drink, he got an idea. Why not start a habit of leaving notes for each other? Marty didn't need to do so with Doc, but Helen he didn't talk to so much. He quickly scribbled down a " Good luck with the project Helen!" with the previously mentioned pencil and paper, and stuck it between the cup and saucer.

Later, when he went to pick up the cups from the small table positioned in his little "shop", he noticed the paper had been flipped. On the other hand read ' Keep up the coffee, Marty!' with Helen's signature. Marty smiled and stuffed the note into his pocket.

Hours after this interaction, Marty checked the time to see that it was the end of his shift. He hadn't gotten much from today's shift. A couple more, back coffees or the occasional milk with sugar, but besides that, the store was empty. He threw his apron over the counter and pulled on his jacket. He hadn't noticed it had started snowing.

Must've been too caught up in daydreaming.

It was a bad habit, he had to admit. Recently he had caught himself thinking about the past. Or should I say, the future. That was years ago, yet it still hurt to think about it.

Now wasn't the time, though. He had to focus on how to not freeze his eyelids off. That made him think, had he worn enough layers today?

I wonder if they had cold medicine in the 40s…

[wrestlingisfake]

All Out preview

Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page - This is billed as a lights out steel cage match. So a metal frame will be set up around the ring to surround it with chain link fencing. The only way to win the match will be by pinfall or submission--other than that, anything goes. The "lights out" part just refers to an old tradition where they'd briefly turn out the lights to mark the "official" end of the show, and then do an "unsanctioned" match where the promotion responsible for what the wrestlers do to one another. (Also, the match won't count on AEW's win-loss records, so the loser often tries to act like it didn't happen, which makes it hard for this type of match to really settle anything.)

These two began feuding on September 6, 2023. I was going to recap the entire violent history of the feud, but in the end it's real real simple. On October 25, Strickland broke into Page's house, and cut a promo while standing in front of the crib of Page's infant son. Earlier this week, Swerve announced he had achieved his lifelong dream of buying his childhood home, so Page broke into the still-vacant house and set it on fire. They hate each other, folks, they really hate each other!

This will be the fourth time these two have met one-on-one; Swerve currently leads the series at 2-0-1. Page has never been able top beat Strickland, who has never been able to win without interference. Originally Hangman was the babyface and Swerve was obviously the heel, but in February they did a double turn on the premise that Swerve is cool as hell and Page is a sore loser. After that, Strickland enjoyed great success as a world champion while Hangman fell into frustration, obsession, and rage.

So I think we all know these two are going to go fucking sickhouse on each other, right? Like, the Texas death match last year was super epic, and they have to find a way to top that. I was sorry I didn't get to see that one in person, but now they're running it back and I have a ticket and I'm so excited. I haven't even thought about who should win or lose, because I'm too busy wondering if they'll try to use fire during the match. The real winners are the fans sickos!

Bryan Danielson vs. Jack Perry - Perry is challenging for the AEW men's world title, but his AEW TNT championship is not at stake. Danielson vowed to never wrestle again unless he captured the world title on August 25. Now that he has it, he's still planning to retire from full-time competition, but not until he loses the belt. In effect, his career is on the line yet again in this match.

Whoever prevails here will presumably go on to defend against Darby Allin, who has a title shot scheduled for September 25. The x-factor in the world title picture, of course, is Christian Cage, who has a contract for a title shot whenever he chooses. In theory Cage could run in right after this match, sneak-attack the winner, and exercise his contract right then and there. I don't expect that to happen, but the threat of it will be looming for the foreseeable future.

I don't really see Bryan losing the title this quickly, unless his neck is really bad and he needs surgery imminently. And if that was the case, I don't think AEW would pick Perry to get the rub of taking his title and retiring him. It'd be an exciting upset, so I wouldn't mind if it happened. But my prediction is that this just a basic win for Danielson on his way to more competitive challengers.

Will Ospreay vs. PAC - Pac earned a shot at the AEW international title on July 10, but he ended up having to wait for Ospreay to lose the title to MJF and win it back at Wembley Stadium. This whole matchup is about two British guys and how they both came up through the British indies and how Ospreay's British peers said he'd never be as good as Pac. And yet, instead of doing the match in London, we're doing it in a real city, Chicago Hoffman Estates. Hope you limeys enjoy watching this total banger at 2am over smack barm pea wet. I'm sure Ospreay will retain and celebrate with a delicious slice of Lou Malnati's.

MJF vs. Daniel Garcia - On July 3, MJF viciously attacked Garcia with a tombstone piledriver off the middle rope, ending a year-long run as an unlikely but surprisingly effective babyface. Garcia sat out selling terrible injuries until August 25, when he returned to cost Max the win against Ospreay at Wembley. Ospreay won the match by finally using the dreaded "tiger driver '91," which essentially dropped Max on the back of his own neck. So in effect both guys are looking for revenge after sustaining severe (fake!) neck injuries.

It feels like big things are in store for Garcia, and I think he absolutely needs to get at least one with out of this feud. I don't necessarily think the win has to be in this match (although I would like that to happen). Something tells me nothing will be settled here, so my prediction is they'll either brawl until the match is thrown out, or Max will get a cheap win and run for the hills.

Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander - Nightingale is the CMLL women's world champion, but the title is not on the line, apparently because CMLL would not sanction the rules Willow chose. She earned the right to name the stipulations on August 25, and decided on a Chicago street fight. This just means the match can't end by disqualification or count-out, so the wrestlers can brawl all over the place with whatever weapons they can get their hands on.

Kris turned on Willow back in April, which feels like it was so long ago I almost forgot they had ever been friends in the first place. I would be very happy if this would end the feud so both ladies could move on to new business. As for the match, the AEW women's roster appears to relish opportunities to do deathmatch spots, so I'm sure these two will pull out all the stops (although being on the same show as Hangman-Swerve and MJF-Garcia may cast a long shadow over this particular blood feud).

Seems to me the winner should be in line for an AEW title shot, and right now both of the champions are heels, so that seems to favor Willow getting the win.

Mercedes Mone vs. Hikaru Shida - Mone's AEW TBS championship is on the line, but her STRONG women's title is not. Mone's amazonian enforcer Kamille is barred from ringside to prevent her from interfering, which is wrestlespeak for "she will run in anyway while the referee is distracted, or someone else will run in."

Shida has been going through some things lately, where she's frustrated about the recent trajectory of her career. I don't see this leading to a title win here; it feels much more like she's going to snap and turn heel, but not yet. So I'd say chances are real good Mone will retain.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Konosuke Takeshita - This is a four-way match for Okada's AEW continental title. Mark Briscoe is the ROH men's world champion, but his title isn't up for grabs. The first man to score a fall on any opponent will win the match and Okada's gold.

This feels like a cheap way to get all four of these guys on the show. Which is a little strange, since they've been setting up Cassidy vs. Chris Jericho, and I'm surprised they didn't simply book that match here. The action in this match should be hot, but I never expect a satisfying, definitive resolution in a three-way or four-way match. Okada is bound to retain, and since they probably want to protect all his challengers, I bet Jericho's crew will run in to make sure Orange gets pinned.

Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta - The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt) are defending the AEW tag team title. This feels kind of thrown together at the last minute, although it's been thrown together well, since Yuta pinned Nick last night in an eight-man tag match. Claudio and Wheeler are already two of the trios champions, so I don't think a title change makes much sense here. This is probably just a placeholder so the Bucks can retain on their way to a more important feud, maybe against Max Caster and Anthony Bowens.

Max Caster & Anthony Bowens vs. Bronson & Boulder - This is scheduled for the pre-show. I guess this is just meant to be an easy win for the Acclaimed (Caster and Bowens). I mean, I think the Iron Savages are pretty cool, but they're basically jobbers. I'm sure the match will be fun because I'm pretty sure I've seen it already at last five times. The Acclaimed should win.

Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara & Hologram vs. Tony Nese & Ari Daivari & Josh Woods - This is also on the pre-show. Dustin won the ROH trios title a few weeks ago alongside Marshall and Ross Von Erich, and then he won the ROH tag title with Guevara. Now Dustin is doing trios matches with Sammy and Hologram, for some reason, which seems like it should bother the Von Erichs. The Premiere Athletes (Nese, Daivari, and Woods) are a decent little faction but they're mainly used as jobbers to the stars. Hologram is undefeated in AEW and I don't expect that to change tonight.

Juice Robinson & Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn vs. Evil Uno & John Silver & Alex Reynolds - Another trios match on the pre-show. Last night, the Bang Bang Gang (Juice's team) did a backstage segment last night with Cage of Agony, and Dark Order (Uno's team) lost to Dustin/Sammy/Hologram. I don't know how those two things set up this match, of all things. Oh well, I am very into the idea of Juice Robinson and John Silver having a "biggest horny weirdo" contest. I assume the idea is for Cage of Agony to maybe run in or something, but who the hell knows. I really dig both of these teams, but the Bang Bang Gang clearly has to win.

Roderick Strong & Matt Taven & Mike Bennett vs. Dante Martin & Darius Martin & Action Andretti vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty & The Beast Mortos - Still another trios match on the pre-show. I don't mind showcasing the depth of the trios division, although that depth would be more convincing if Mortos wasn't randomly paired up with Shane Taylor Promotions. This is a three-way trios match, so I'm not even sure how many people can be in the ring at any given time, or how tags work, because it'll probably break down very quickly into a lot of fun flippy spots and dives. They've been repackaging Top Flight (Dante and Darius) and their friends with a passenger airline crew gimmick, which is somehow not as cringe as it sounds. So I'm kinda leaning towards Top Flight's team to get the win, but I suppose one of the heel teams could steal a pin too.

[maypearlss]

𝐨𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 : 𝐝𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

my #1 fear is that duke becomes the babygirl of tni!, because trust me guys, save it for logan and tommy. anyways, i both love and hate duke? he's super fun to write... and he's the worst. but he has his moments... but he sucks. the duality of blond men. i'm very curious to see what you guys will think of him! let's go!

despite duke's vicious presence on stage, his name has been synonymous with charisma from the moment he first walked in front of a crowd and dedicated overconsumption's hit song "red hot lovergirl" to his girlfriend, nona. fierce, charismatic, confident: that's duke strickland. or, at least, duke strickland as the world knows him. those around him know a much different story.

duke's devil-may-care attitude is, by and large, a mask meant to cover his insecurity. nobody really knows the cause of it—by all accounts, duke's wealthy, rock 'n' roll life is as easy of a ride as it possibly can be—but nevertheless, it's obvious to anyone who considers themselves close to him. it's no big deal; most people are insecure in some way. and, as everyone knows, duke is a nice guy. harmless.

isn't he?

𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ⋆｡°✩

full name: duke alexander strickland

age: 22 (1985)–tbd

birthday: february 18th

pronouns: he/him

sexuality: heterosexual

ethnicity: white american

occupation: lead singer and guitarist for overconsumption

love interest(s): none

likes: nona, performing, attention, cheeseburgers with fries (with mustard, no ketchup), gaslighting may

dislikes: may, his siblings, open-toe shoes, being ignored, cats

height: 6'1

build: muscular, broad-shouldered

hair: long, wild, blond

skin: light, suntanned, with soft freckles

eyes: bright turquoise

noticeable features: a faint scar running vertically down his right cheek

𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ⋆｡°✩

⋆ you could be mine - guns n' roses

⋆ i wanna be your man - l.a. guns

⋆ love gun - kiss

⋆ too fast for love - mötley crüe

⋆ kickstart my heart - mötley crüe

⋆ all in the name of - mötley crüe

⋆ detroit rock city - kiss

⋆ live wire - mötley crüe

⋆ it's so easy - guns n' roses

⋆ any way you slice it - kiss

⋆ wild side - mötley crüe

⋆ locomotive (complicity) - guns n' roses

⋆ bitch is back - l.a. guns

⋆ king of the mountain - kiss

𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 ⋆｡°✩

he's one of the middle children out of six and he routinely pretends that all five of his siblings do not exist, especially his oldest sister, barbi

he had red hair in my initial design for him before I decided on may having red hair instead

he hates being cold but he's cold 90% of every day

his nickname in my brain has been "duke dickhead" for as long as he's been a character

he was originally way more of a one-dimensional mustache-twirling "look at me, i'm so bad, let me evil laugh now" antagonist, but i think he's much more fun and interesting to write the way he is now

his arc is probably the one I'm the most excited to write

yeah, that's duke! he's such a problem :D my favorite thing about this post is that now that it's done, i can work on the posts for tommy my love <3 also, feel free to yell at me in the comments to actually work on plotting this, because my brain hasn't been braining recently and i need it LMAO

[yourimagines]

Can u do sean strickland x reader where reader is mad at him because hes always grumpy and bad tempered so he starts being really really cheerful and you can complete the rest thank u so much

Yess I will, thank you for your request I hope you like this one

Happiness

* English is not my first language I apologise

* Gif is not mine

* Triggers: swearing, fluff

Y/N POV

I was watching a tv show when Sean come back from the gym. “Hey! How was it at the gym?” He throws his bag down on the ground and sits down in his lounge chair. “Fine.” He pulls back the chair and closes his eyes. “Okay, do you want some cake? I made one this morning.” “No I’m fine.” He said in a monotone voice. I nodded even he couldn’t see me doing that. I looked back at the tv as the people on the tv started to yell. I laughed as one of them got hit in the face. “She crazy.” I said with a laugh to the tv. “What are you even watching?” Sean had his eyes opened and look dead serious. “Temptation island.” He shook his head. “What a bullshit.” He closed his eyes again. “It is but it’s fun tho.” I looked back and laughed when the all started to fight. I heard Sean moving his chair back right up. “Can’t even take a small nap here.” He mumbled and stood up. “Where you going?” “Away from here.” He picked up his bag and walked upstairs, probably to our bedroom. I rolled my eyes and looked back at the tv. “Bye Sean.” I quietly said to myself while grabbing a piece of my home made cake.

I heard Sean walking down the stairs. I was watching a baking video for a chocolate filled cake. He looks at the tv and walks into the kitchen without saying anything. I heard him opening the fridge and grabbing a drink. I heard him closing the fridge and walks into the living room. He sits down in his chair and places his drink on the side table. “What are we watching?” He said with some irritation in his voice. “How to make a cake filled with chocolate.” He nods and grabs his phone, starts to entertain himself on there. “I can put it off if you want.” He shakes his head. “No watch what you want.” “You sure, I don’t mind.” He sighs out loudly. “Woman I don’t care about the stupid shit you watch, just stop bugging me.” He went with his hand over his head, looking irritated at me. I nodded and stopped the video. ��You know what Sean, I’m done for now with your attitude. You know it would be so easier to just smile for once at me instead of looking like a dark cloud filled with hate. I’m done with your whole depressing mood.” I stood up and walked away, grabbing my keys and left the house. ‘I can’t deal with his shit right now.’ I stepped into the car and went to the grocery store, ready to get those ingredients for the chocolate cake.

I came back home a hour later and walked in with some groceries. Sean appeared and smiles at me. “Hey baby, let me help you.” I was surprised as he took the bags from me. I followed him into the kitchen. “I see your going for that chocolate cake.” He was acting a bit to much, almost in a mocking way. “Yeah for tomorrow.” “Tomorrow why not tonight. I know you like to bake.” He was unpacking the groceries and putted them away. “Sean what are you doing?” “I’m unpacking the groceries.” “That not what I mean.” I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows. “Are you trying to mock me or something because it looks like it.” He stops and looks at me. “I’m not mocking you, I’m trying to be more cheerful.” “It not working.” He sighs and mumbles something to himself. “Sean, let’s forget about it yeah, just stop doing this because it’s not honestly.” I grabbed the groceries from him and placed them away. He stands there watching me. I moved around the kitchen and he silently leaves.

I was cooking us some pasta for dinner as he joins me the kitchen. I was listening to some music from the 60s. “You look absolutely beautiful.” He said as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind. I giggled as he kissed softly my neck. “Let’s dance.” He said against my shoulder. “Dance?” “Yes darling, dance with me.” He was softly swaying us back and forth. I leaned back against his chest as he hummed along to the song. Both totally enjoying each other’s presence. I looked up at him and he smiles at me. “Let me help you darling.” He moves away and helps me around the kitchen. “Sean you want to taste the sauce?” He nods and joins next to me. “Careful the spoon is hot.” He carefully taste the sauce and teased me a bit by licking the spoon afterwards. “Okay we all ready know what you can do what that tongue.” I took the spoon away from him as he laughs. “Can’t help it baby.” I snorted at his comment and shook my head. “Don’t act innocent here now. You loved it.” “I didn’t disagree with you.” He scoops me up and placed a kiss on my cheek. “Sean, please don’t let me fall.” I grabbed his shoulders firmly. “Darling I would never let you fall.” He carefully placed me back on my two feet. “Thank you.” I kissed his cheek and turned back to the stove. I felt him behind me, softly hugging me. “Do you forgive me darling for me being absolutely an asshole to you.” I pretend to think. “Hmm. Maybe.” I felt him smiling against my shoulder. “Maybe? What can I do to make that maybe a yes.” He placed a trail of kisses on my shoulder. “Don’t be an asshole to me.” “Check.” “And rub my feet while we are watching the next episode of temptation island.” He chuckles against my shoulder. “Then you’re not mad at me anymore?” “Then I’m not mad anymore at you.” I moved the sauce to the pasta. “Okay deal.” I smiled down at the stove. “Okay.” I said back at him. “Can I still help you here in the kitchen?” “Yes, you can grab the plates. The food is ready.”

We both lay down on the sofa. I had my feet laying in his lap while I was looking at the tv. He was rubbing them like he promised. “What a bitch.” He said while looking a the tv. “I know she’s so annoying.” He was secretly invested in the show. “Why are they not punching her.” “They already did that in the last episode.” “Do it again.” I giggled as he made a fake bitch clap in the air. “Like that?” “Yes full force. Smack that smirk of here face.” I giggled at him as he starts to laugh. “Stupidest people of the world are there.” He pointed at the tv. “Yes but it is entertaining tho.” He started to rubbed my feet again. “True, stupid people are always entertaining to watch.” I smiled at him as he smiles back at me. “Do you forgive me.” I nodded and crawled back to him. He reached his arms out and pulls me in. “I do, I’m sorry I was mad at you.. You just killed my whole vibe and stuff.” “I know I’m sorry as well. I’m not so good in this but I try to smile more.” I kissed his lips. “We are in this together.” He pulls me closer and kissed the top of my nose. “We are.” We both heard some yelling on the tv and both looked back at the tv. “She’s getting hit again.” “Move I can’t see.” He slightly pushed me away. I giggled and lay my head against his shoulder. “You like this shit too. Just admit it.” He huffed. “Maybe but it still bullshit tho.” I smiled at the screen. “I knew it.” I said while he rolled his eyes at me. “Just watch the damn show.”

[istumpysk]

Operation Stumpy Re-Read

ADWD: The Lost Lord (Jon Connington I) [Chapter 24]

Warning, more fAegon vs. Aegon VI analysis to come.

Had they lost Haldon as they had Tyrion Lannister? Could the Volantenes have taken him? I should have sent Duckfield with him. Haldon alone could not be trusted; he had proved that in Selhorys when he let the dwarf escape.

x

I should have gone myself. After Selhorys, he had found it difficult to put the same trust in Haldon as previously. He let the dwarf beguile him with that glib tongue of his. Let him wander off into a whorehouse alone while he lingered like a mooncalf in the square.

Imagine tanking your own credibility so Tyrion can get laid.

+.+.+

Daenerys Targaryen remained a world away, and Tyrion Lannister … well, he could be most anywhere. If the gods were good, Lannister's severed head was halfway back to King's Landing by now, but more like the dwarf was hale and whole and somewhere close, stinking drunk and plotting some new infamy.

I love Jon Connington?

+.+.+

"Where in the seven hells is Haldon?" Griff complained to Lady Lemore. "How long should it take to buy three horses?"

He starts calling himself Jon Connington after the Golden Company decide to take Westeros.

What's funny about that is if you hop on over to asearchoficeandfire, you'll see he almost exclusively refers to himself as Jon Connington (full name) in his own internal monologue. Who does that? Lol.

+.+.+

Griff had no patience for this quibbling. He was sick of hiding, sick of waiting, sick of caution. I do not have time enough for caution.

Almost like he's terminal or something.

+.+.+

"If Harry Strickland means him ill, hiding him on the Shy Maid will not protect him. Strickland has ten thousand swords at his command. We have Duck. Aegon is all that could be wanted in a prince. They need to see that, Strickland and the rest. These are his own men."

"His because they're bought and paid for. Ten thousand armed strangers, plus hangers-on and camp followers. All it takes is one to bring us all to ruin. If Hugor's head was worth a lord's honors, how much will Cersei Lannister pay for the rightful heir to the Iron Throne? You do not know these men, my lord. It has been a dozen years since you last rode with the Golden Company, and your old friend is dead."

I could be wrong, but if Lemore was a descendent of House Blackfyre, I'm not sure she'd be this concerned over the Golden Company's loyalty.

+.+.+

Whatever their sires or their grandsires might have been back in Westeros before their exile, the men of the Golden Company were sellswords now, and no sellsword could be trusted.

After the last chapter, I desperately want this to be a nod to Daario.

+.+.+

Last night he'd dreamt of Stoney Sept again. Alone, with sword in hand, he ran from house to house, smashing down doors, racing up stairs, leaping from roof to roof, as his ears rang to the sound of distant bells. Deep bronze booms and silver chiming pounded through his skull, a maddening cacophony of noise that grew ever louder until it seemed as if his head would explode.

Seventeen years had come and gone since the Battle of the Bells, yet the sound of bells ringing still tied a knot in his guts.

Imagine how much therapy the survivors of King's Landing will need.

+.+.+

Others might claim that the realm was lost when Prince Rhaegar fell to Robert's warhammer on the Trident, but the Battle of the Trident would never have been fought if the griffin had only slain the stag there in Stoney Sept.

Why is that?

Are Jon Arryn, Ned Stark, Hoster Tully, and Stannis Baratheon going home after Robert dies? The rebellion was not about crowning Robert.

+.+.+

The bells tolled for all of us that day. For Aerys and his queen, for Elia of Dorne and her little daughter, for every true man and honest woman in the Seven Kingdoms. And for my silver prince.

I hate Jon Connington.

+.+.+

"Illyrio could not have been expected to know that the girl would choose to remain at Slaver's Bay."

"No more than he knew that the Beggar King would die young, or that Khal Drogo would follow him into the grave. Very little of what the fat man has anticipated has come to pass." Griff slapped the hilt of his longsword with a gloved hand. "I have danced to the fat man's pipes for years, Lemore. What has it availed us? The prince is a man grown. His time is—"

Lots of frustration directed at Illyrio in this chapter. Not sure where it's going.

No more than he knew that the Beggar King would die young, or that Khal Drogo would follow him into the grave.

I don't understand. We'll talk about it later.

+.+.+

He had grown fond of Lemore, but that did not mean he required her approval. Her task had been to instruct the prince in the doctrines of the Faith, and she had done that. No amount of prayer would put him on the Iron Throne, however. That was Griff's task. He had failed Prince Rhaegar once. He would not fail his son, not whilst life remained in his body.

When he says stuff like that, I lean towards Cersei holding King's Landing.

+.+.+

The brothel keeper had insisted that the little man had been carried off at swordpoint, but Griff was still not sure he believed that. The Imp was clever enough to have conspired in his own escape. This drunken captor that the whores spoke of could have been some henchman in his hire. I share the blame. After the dwarf put himself between Aegon and the stone man, I let down my guard. I should have slit his throat the first time I laid eyes on him.

I love Jon Connington?

Jon Connington wishing Tyrion was dead (twice!) is how you know Tyrion Lannister and his queen are going to become a big problem for Jon Connington.

+.+.+

The prince wore sword and dagger, black boots polished to a high sheen, a black cloak lined with blood-red silk. With his hair washed and cut and freshly dyed a deep, dark blue, his eyes looked blue as well. At his throat he wore three huge square-cut rubies on a chain of black iron, a gift from Magister Illyrio. Red and black. Dragon colors. That was good.

That's considered fAegon evidence.

He's wearing a ruby around his throat like glamorized Melisandre. Of course it's also a very Targaryen thing to do.

+.+.+

Griff would be glad to go back to his own true colors too, though his once red hair had gone to grey. 

Unreliable narrator. . . George R. R. Martin?

Though his hair was as blue as his son's, he had red roots and redder eyebrows. - Tyrion III, ADWD

+.+.+

"I like the sound of that. My army." A smile flashed across his face, then vanished. "Are they, though? They're sellswords. Yollo warned me to trust no one."

[...]

"Not every man is what he seems, and a prince especially has good cause to be wary … but go too far down that road, and the mistrust can poison you, make you sour and fearful." King Aerys was one such. By the end, even Rhaegar saw that plain enough. 

+.+.+

They found the Golden Company beside the river as the sun was lowering in the west. It was a camp that even Arthur Dayne might have approved of—compact, orderly, defensible. A deep ditch had been dug around it, with sharpened stakes inside. The tents stood in rows, with broad avenues between them. The latrines had been placed beside the river, so the current would wash away the wastes. The horse lines were to the north, and beyond them, two dozen elephants grazed beside the water, pulling up reeds with their trunks. Griff glanced at the great grey beasts with approval. There is not a warhorse in all of Westeros that will stand against them.

You might be forgetting a special type of horse.

+.+.+

Tall battle standards of cloth-of-gold flapped atop lofty poles along the perimeters of the camp. 

Similar language:

A cloth dragon swayed on poles amidst a cheering crowd. - Daenerys IV, ACOK

Sorry, I'm still convinced it's her own banners.

+.+.+

The men of the Golden Company were outside their tents, dicing, drinking, and swatting away flies. Griff wondered how many of them knew who he was. Few enough. Twelve years is a long time.

That's considered fAegon evidence, but I'm not sure why.

Aegon was likely born in 282, he's currently 18 years old. The Sack of King's Landing was 283.

Aegon's first 5 years after the Sack are unaccounted for, but we can assume he was with Illyrio. That's not terribly suspicious. We already know they spent time together, he knows the kid's favourite candy.

+.+.+

So far as most of them were concerned, Connington had drunk himself to death in Lys after being driven from the company in disgrace for stealing from the war chest. The shame of the lie still stuck in his craw, but Varys had insisted it was necessary. "We want no songs about the gallant exile," the eunuch had tittered, in that mincing voice of his. "Those who die heroic deaths are long remembered, thieves and drunks and cravens soon forgotten."

What does a eunuch know of a man's honor? Griff had gone along with the Spider's scheme for the boy's sake, but that did not mean he liked it any better. Let me live long enough to see the boy sit the Iron Throne, and Varys will pay for that slight and so much more. Then we'll see who's soon forgotten.

Wait, what? Why is he that spiteful towards Varys? Varys is the only reason Aegon could sit the Iron Throne with Jon Connington by his side.

Maybe he blames Varys for Aerys turning on him.

+.+.+

All the skulls were grinning, even Bittersteel's on the tall pike in the center. What does he have to grin about? He died defeated and alone, a broken man in an alien land. On his deathbed, Ser Aegor Rivers had famously commanded his men to boil the flesh from his skull, dip it in gold, and carry it before them when they crossed the sea to retake Westeros. His successors had followed his example.

Better than being a rock.

He's in love with Rhaegar, I'm supposed to make fun of him.

+.+.+

Some of the sellsword captains bore bastard names, as Flowers did: Rivers, Hill, Stone. Others claimed names that had once loomed large in the histories of the Seven Kingdoms; Griff counted two Strongs, three Peakes, a Mudd, a Mandrake, a Lothston, a pair of Coles. Not all were genuine, he knew. In the free companies, a man could call himself whatever he chose. 

That's considered fAegon evidence.

+.+.+

The spymaster was new to Griff, a Lyseni named Lysono Maar, with lilac eyes and white-gold hair and lips that would have been the envy of a whore. 

That's considered fAegon evidence.

+.+.+

Ghosts and liars, Griff thought, as he surveyed their faces. Revenants from forgotten wars, lost causes, failed rebellions, a brotherhood of the failed and the fallen, the disgraced and the disinherited. This is my army. This is our best hope.

He turned to Harry Strickland.

Homeless Harry looked little like a warrior. Portly, with a big round head, mild grey eyes, and thinning hair that he brushed sideways to conceal a bald spot, Strickland sat in a camp chair soaking his feet in a tub of salt water. "You will pardon me if I do not rise," he said by way of greeting. "Our march was wearisome, and my toes are prone to blisters. It is a curse."

It is a mark of weakness. You sound like an old woman. The Stricklands had been part of the Golden Company since its founding, Harry's great-grandsire having lost his lands when he rose with the Black Dragon during the first Blackfyre Rebellion. "Gold for four generations," Harry would boast, as if four generations of exile and defeat were something to take pride in.

[...]

Strickland beckoned to his squire. "Watkyn, wine for our friends."

"Thank you, but no," said Griff. "We will drink water."

This is like being in Stannis Baratheon's head.

+.+.+

Does he know? Griff wondered. How much did Myles tell him? Varys had been adamant about the need for secrecy. The plans that he and Illyrio had made with Blackheart had been known to them alone. The rest of the company had been left ignorant. What they did not know they could not let slip.

That time was done, though. "No man could have asked for a worthier son," Griff said, "but the lad is not of my blood, and his name is not Griff. My lords, I give you Aegon Targaryen, firstborn son of Rhaegar, Prince of Dragonstone, by Princess Elia of Dorne … soon, with your help, to be Aegon, the Sixth of His Name, King of Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms."

Silence greeted his announcement. Someone cleared his throat. One of the Coles refilled his wine cup from the flagon. Gorys Edoryen played with one of his corkscrew ringlets and murmured something in a tongue Griff did not know. Laswell Peake coughed, Mandrake and Lothston exchanged a glance. They know, Griff realized then. They have known all along. He turned to look at Harry Strickland. "When did you tell them?"

The captain-general wriggled his blistered toes in his footbath. "When we reached the river. The company was restless, with good reason. We walked away from an easy campaign in the Disputed Lands, and for what? So we could swelter in this god-awful heat watching our coins melt away and our blades go to rust whilst I turn away rich contracts?"

Well, that was a little underwhelming. Let's hope that's not a sign of things to come.

I'm not sure whether I should be questioning how Harry Strickland knew.

+.+.+

"In Meereen." Strickland beckoned to his squire. "Watkyn, a towel. This water's growing cool, and my toes have wrinkled up like raisins. No, not that towel, the soft one."

[...]

Harry winced as his squire toweled his feet. "Gentle with the toes. Think of them as thin-skinned grapes, lad. You want to dry them without crushing them. Pat, do not scrub. Yes, like that."

I've fallen in love with the diva because he irritates Jon Connington.

+.+.+

We came to raise up a king and queen who would lead us home to Westeros, but this Targaryen girl seems more intent on planting olive trees than in reclaiming her father's throne. 

She's confused. Daario will straighten her out. The trees will burn.

+.+.+

"How much will they avail her when all these armies close about her city like a fist?"

Tristan Rivers drummed his fingers on his knee. "All the more reason that we must reach her quickly, I say. If Daenerys will not come to us, we must go to Daenerys."

People who argue the Golden Company would never support a Targaryen are so weird.

We need the girl. We need the marriage. If Daenerys accepts our princeling and takes him for her consort, the Seven Kingdoms will do the same. 

They're trying to seat Daenerys upon the throne. Daenerys of House Targaryen. Aegon would be her consort. Hello?

+.+.+

Homeless Harry Strickland paused with his blistered foot in hand. "Let me remind you, it was Myles Toyne who put his seal to this secret pact, not me. I would honor his agreement if I could, but how? It seems plain to me that the Targaryen girl is never coming west. Westeros was her father's kingdom. Meereen is hers. If she can break the Yunkai'i, she'll be Queen of Slaver's Bay. If not, she'll die long before we could hope to reach her."

George is doing everything he can to confuse me right now.

The secret pact was between Myles Toyne, Connington, Illyrio, and Varys. Yes? Yes.

They planned to crown Aegon VI Targaryen. Daenerys was never part of this pact. Yes? Yes.

+.+.+

And then Prince Aegon spoke. "Then put your hopes on me," he said. "Daenerys is Prince Rhaegar's sister, but I am Rhaegar's son. I am the only dragon that you need."

Griff put a black-gloved hand upon Prince Aegon's shoulder. "Spoken boldly," he said, "but think what you are saying."

"I have," the lad insisted. "Why should I go running to my aunt as if I were a beggar? My claim is better than her own. Let her come to me … in Westeros."

Tyrion's words.

'Good morrow to you, Auntie. I am your nephew, Aegon, returned from the dead. I've been hiding on a poleboat all my life, but now I've washed the blue dye from my hair and I'd like a dragon, please … and oh, did I mention, my claim to the Iron Throne is stronger than your own?' - Tyrion VI, ADWD

Basically everything that's going to happen is Tyrion's fault.

+.+.+

The captain-general looked as if someone had slapped his face. "Has the sun curdled your brains, Flowers? We need the girl. We need the marriage. If Daenerys accepts our princeling and takes him for her consort, the Seven Kingdoms will do the same. Without her, the lords will only mock his claim and brand him a fraud and a pretender. And how do you propose to get to Westeros? You heard Lysono. There are no ships to be had."

Let the debates begin!

I think I know what Daenerys will believe.

+.+.+

"By now the lion surely has the dragon's scent," said one of the Coles, "but Cersei's attentions will be fixed upon Meereen and this other queen. She knows nothing of our prince. Once we land and raise our banners, many and more will flock to join us."

lmfao.

Not entirely sure of the timeline, but I'm going to pretend she's preoccupied with Bronn at the moment.

+.+.+

"The first Aegon took Westeros without eunuchs," said Lysono Maar. "Why shouldn't the sixth Aegon do the same?"

"The plan—"

"Which plan?" said Tristan Rivers. "The fat man's plan? The one that changes every time the moon turns? First Viserys Targaryen was to join us with fifty thousand Dothraki screamers at his back. Then the Beggar King was dead, and it was to be the sister, a pliable young child queen who was on her way to Pentos with three new-hatched dragons. Instead the girl turns up on Slaver's Bay and leaves a string of burning cities in her wake, and the fat man decides we should meet her by Volantis. Now that plan is in ruins as well.

Okay, let's talk about this. This was the plan?

Illyrio brokers a marriage between Daenerys and Khal Drogo, so Viserys can unite the Dothraki and Golden Company? And then what? Viserys steps aside, and lets Aegon be king? You can't be serious.

Illyrio's actions in AGOT don't make a ton of sense once you know Aegon is alive (No judgment, he was still figuring out the story), but there were better ways of fixing it I think.

+.+.+

Griff had heard enough of the captain-general's cowardice. "We will not be alone. Dorne will join us, must join us. Prince Aegon is Elia's son as well as Rhaegar's."

"That's so," the boy said, "and who is there left in Westeros to oppose us? A woman."

Oops.

Rest in peace, Aegon VI Targaryen. Opposed by a woman.

+.+.+

"A Lannister woman," insisted the captain-general. "The bitch will have the Kingslayer at her side, count on that, and they will have all the wealth of Casterly Rock behind them. And Illyrio says this boy king is betrothed to the Tyrell girl, which means we must face the power of Highgarden as well."

The bitch will have the Kingslayer at her side. They've hit a rough patch.

They will have all the wealth of Casterly Rock behind them. How much is that?

And Illyrio says this boy king is betrothed to the Tyrell girl, which means we must face the power of Highgarden as well. Yeah, about that.

+.+.+

Laswell Peake rapped his knuckles on the table. "Even after a century, some of us still have friends in the Reach. The power of Highgarden may not be what Mace Tyrell imagines."

I'm not currently prepared to tell you who the friends will be.

All I know is Randyll Tarly is getting his ass lit up, and Mathis Rowan is tired of lions.

+.+.+

Rivers was smiling in approval. Others traded thoughtful looks. Then Peake said, "I would sooner die in Westeros than on the demon road," and Marq Mandrake chuckled and responded, "Me, I'd sooner live, win lands and some great castle," and Franklyn Flowers slapped his sword hilt and said, "So long as I can kill some Fossoways, I'm for it."

Perhaps let's exclude House Fossoway from the friends list.

+.+.+

This is a side of Aegon I never saw before. It was not the prudent course, but he was tired of prudence, sick of secrets, weary of waiting. 

Almost like he's terminal or something.

+.+.+

Win or lose, he would see Griffin's Roost again before he died, and be buried in the tomb beside his father's.

Would you settle for being ash in the wind?

+.+.+

The road ahead was full of perils, he knew, but what of it? All men must die. All he asked was time. He had waited so long, surely the gods would grant him a few more years, enough time to see the boy he'd called a son seated on the Iron Throne. To reclaim his lands, his name, his honor. To still the bells that rang so loudly in his dreams whenever he closed his eyes to sleep.

"surely the gods" = it's not going to happen.

+.+.+

Alone in the tent, as the gold and scarlet rays of the setting sun shone through the open flap, Jon Connington shrugged off his wolfskin cloak, slipped his mail shirt off over his head, settled on a camp stool, and peeled the glove from his right hand. The nail on his middle finger had turned as black as jet, he saw, and the grey had crept up almost to the first knuckle. The tip of his ring finger had begun to darken too, and when he touched it with the point of his dagger, he felt nothing.

Death, he knew, but slow. I still have time. A year. Two years. Five. Some stone men live for ten. Time enough to cross the sea, to see Griffin's Roost again. To end the Usurper's line for good and all, and put Rhaegar's son upon the Iron Throne.

Then Lord Jon Connington could die content.

I know it's his sword hand, but it's not like stone fingers will serve him any better. Chop, chop.

To end the Usurper's line for good and all

I'm sorry, is that Jon Connington daydreaming about killing children? Tsk, tsk.

Lord Jon Connington will not die content.

Final thoughts:

It's like having Jorah Mormont's POV, only he's in love with Rhaegar.

-> return to menu <-

[paperstorm]

okay that was really creepy right now. 💀 i went on ao3 for my daily bedtime fanfiction dose and while the page loaded i was thinking about asking you if you have anything new to share about missing moments since you said you'd get back into it after your carlos/iris fic and the ao3 tarlos page opens and boom there it is. a new missing moment. just like that. just what i needed to make this day good. andie, as paul strickland would say, you are a golden god. (tbh i don't know what that means but context wise i am guessing it is something very good) btw i love how you just drop your fics without big announcements. i mean i also love when people say they post a new fic on a specific date and one can mark it in their calendars and make a countdown but with you i just go on ao3 on a random wednesday and get slapped in the face with a new masterpiece and i can't say i hate it. anyways if you excuse me i got a fic to read and i hope you have a great day! 🧡

I am IN YOUR WALLS!! These made me laugh 😂 and listen when I write another multi chapter AU I will definitely tease a posting date and hope people will get excited but missing moments are just little snacks. They arent dinner or dessert they’re that little cube of cheese you have at 4pm to tide you over

[a-lucha-brother]

All the fallout from Dynasty

Well, don't call me a booker but I got 9/11 predictions correct for Dynasty, even so far as calling the finish to the Jericho match (it's almost like we've done this a thousand times before right?)

Had to kill my cat though cause Willow won and EVERYONE hated it.

I'll also be massively impressed of everyone came out of this ppv injury free, particularly Pac and Willow cause they both took some insane bumps.

I'm confused by the finish to the International match cause like, what do we do now? With Strong and Kyle, like, it's just dead in the water now since Roddy won clean. Well I know what they're doing, they're moving onto some weird annex of Wardlow "but this isn't the Pinnacle" storyline - hopefully leading to a singles push again? Please? Super cool to see Cole moving around again, but I promise you he's still not ready to wrestle yet, he may not need the chair but that doesn't mean he's fully healed either. Get ready for some mind numbing promos for the next month or so.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA would you Adam and Eve it! I was right ALL ALONG brother! Whilst everyone was running around crying over Punk and the All In footage like the easy bait you all are, I was here saying they were doing this to get Jack Perry back into AEW with nuclear heat and WOULD YOU KNOW IT WOOO that's exactly what happened!! HOW BOUT IT!!

I hope we really, and I mean REALLY run wild with this and make the Elite a massive dominant heel faction (perhaps feuding with the House of Black?). Legit, have Okada win the International title as well (maybe unify both belts as the "Worldwide Title"? Don't call me a booker) and have the Bucks w/ Jack win the Trios titles. Obviously there's no women in The Elite. Personally I'd love to see Anna Jay and maybe even Deonna Purazzo getting in on that and winning both women's titles. Legitimately leaving the TNT and world titles up for grabs or staying where they are.

Imagine Cope, Strickland the HOB teaming to fight The Elite in Stadium Stampede.

DON'T CALL ME A BOOKER

[justinssportscorner]

Noah Dowe and Pete Tsipis at MMFA:

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Sean Strickland recently described being transgender as a “mental fucking illness.” Now, right-wing media is cheering him on, joining a larger trend of right-wing media platforming UFC fighters and figures who spread hateful rhetoric and conspiracy theories.

During a pre-match press conference on January 18, Sean Strickland launched into an anti-trans rant after a reporter asked him about his history of bigoted anti-LGBTQ comments. Strickland described being transgender as “a mental fucking illness” and called the reporter asking the question “an infection” and “the enemy.” [Bloody Elbow, 1/20/24]

Strickland has a well-documented history of making bigoted and sexist remarks. The former UFC champion has said that “society should never accept” trans people, that “the collective man group” needs to “elect somebody who is gonna put women back in the kitchen,” and that he would have “failed as a man” if he reared a gay son. [Twitter/X, 12/27/21, 10/26/23, 6/28/23] 

UFC President Dana White defended Strickland at the post-match press conference, saying, “If you get your feelings hurt that bad, you probably shouldn’t ask." He also said the fighter was “baited in that question.” Asked if he gives “a long leash” to fighters to say what they want, White responded, “I don’t fucking tell any other human being what to say, what to think. … Free speech, brother. People can say whatever they want and believe whatever they want.” [MMAJunkie, 1/21/24]

Right-wing media rush to the defense of UFC fighter Sean Strickland's bigoted anti-LGBTQ+ remarks.

[sydsaint]

Below you will find my run-down and thoughts on the AEW All-In card. Before you read, I'd just like to remind everyone that these are MY opinions. If you don't like or agree with them then that's fine. But I don't want to see anyone give me hate or anything negative for what I'm about to say. If you disagree with something that's fine with me. And if you'd like to discuss said difference of opinions in a polite manner then please feel free to reply or DM me with your opposed opinions. I'm always down to talk about wrestling with other people. Thank you for your time, now let's proceeded with the run-down.

ZERO HOUR -

(Adamjf v Aussie Open)

MAX AND ADAM BEAT AUSSIE OPEN!! THE BOYFRIENDS ARE TAG CHAMPS

The whole match was great.

Max hitting the kangaroo kick and just the general shenanigans were a great way to prelude to main event of All-In.

Adam getting to be his goofy self was wonderful.

Mark and Kyle looked great as always. They are a great tag team.

Good match 7/10⭐

(Jack Perry V HOOK)

Another zero hour banger

That limo spot into the windshield was great

Jack is so dramatic, truly Christians child

HOOK looked phenomenal as always

Jack having the belt for a bit was cool, but I'm glad that Tyler got it back

I'm looking forward to seeing what Jack does next with this heel solo run

Great match! 8/10⭐

Main Card-

(CM Punk V Samoa Joe)

The Punk pop was insane. Cult of Personality is ingrained in my brain

Punk in his slutty little trunks was ❤️

Joe also looked fine as hell 😩

Match was good for what it was

I really don't care for the whole separate title that Punk has but eh

That spot where Joe slammed Punk into the bottom of the announce table was great

Plus the classic Joe walk-away spot was good

Punk supporting Trans rights with that girl in the crowd after the match was wonderful king shit

Joe should have won in my opinion but eh

Good opener match 6/10⭐

(Golden Elite V Bullet Club Gold and Konosuke Takeshita)

Juice Robinson is a little gremlin and I love him for it

Jay looked fire in the white tho 🥵

Heel Konosuke is gonna be the death of me tbh.

Ken, Adam, and Kota also looked great

Jay activated no-sell Ibushi with those chops which delighted me

Ken hit a nasty knee at one point

Juice was on some gremlin shit the whole time as he should be

Takeshita looked phenomenal the whole match I'm loving his heel run

Great match! 7/10⭐

(Best Friends with Eddie Kingston and Penta V Blackpool Combat Club with Santana and Ortiz)

Eddie being on-sight with Claudio was great

Yuta was being an evil little gremlin and I love him

Santana and Ortiz looked great and I can't wait to see them back in tag action

Jon was being mean as usual. Great stuff

Penta scared the fuck outta me when he got taken out only for him to come back all evil and hitting one hell of a ladder spot

All the chaos was great

That ending with Jon and Eddie all covered in blood next to one another. Truly two divorced husbands trying to salvage their marriage 🥺🥺

Stadium Stampede was so fun! 9/10⭐

(Young Bucks V FTR)

Kinda a lackluster match for me tbh

Matt and Nick looked great in yellow

Dax Harwood is eww

We love Cash tho

The action was pretty good tho

Bucks should have won!!

Okay match overall 6/10⭐

(Jericho v Ospreay)

Will was looking mad good

They made me listen to a live Judas performance which was ew

Props to Jericho for still cooking in the ring tho. He hit some good spots

Will was way better tho. That mfer was hitting some wild moves in the ring

Truly the Aerial Assassin

The pop for Will was so nice to hear. Tony Khan better sign him when he's done in New Japan

Plus Jericho lost so yay!

Solid match. Good spots. 7/10⭐

(Darby Allin and Sting V Swerve Strickland and Christian Cage)

Coffin matches are always fun

Joker Sting was dope AF

Darby hit that coffin drop into the coffin TWICE!!! The madman

Poor Nick Wayne got bullied again. Tony Khan leave that little boy alone!

DILF CHRISTIAN LOOKING GOOD 😍

Swerve Strickland is also mad fine 🥵.

The ending with Darby hitting the coffin drop while Swerve was in there was great

Sting you are old. Please stop making me worry about you in every match with all the insane shit you do

Great match! 8/10⭐

(Hikaru Shida V Saraya V Toni Storm V Britt Baker)

All the ladies were looking good 😍 (minus Saraya cuz no)

The disrespect of letting that despicable women Saraya not only come out to we will rock you when Emi is RIGHT THERE and letting her win??? Tony Khan will pay for his crimes.

Toni, Britt, and Shida all we're great in the match.

Saraya can't wrestle for shit and her and her racist, sexist, transphobic boyfriend are disgusting. Tony Khan you can do better

I feel bad for Shida because Tony basically used her as a placeholder for two weeks and she deserves so much more than that.

Worst match of the night but still okay I guess 🫠 4/10⭐

(The Acclaimed ✂️ V House of Black)

Casters rap was 🔥🔥 as usual

Bowens looked so happy to have Daddy Ass back

The whole place scissoring was great

HOB looked great in white. Especially my queen Julia Hart

The action was great and Billy looked good

The Acclaimed winning and the speech after was great. I'm so glad that Billy isn't retiring like we all thought

Great match! New champs! 8/10⭐

(MJF V Adam Cole)

THE DRAMA!

THE CINEMA!

Oh my gosh that match was so good

The draw had me out of my seat!!

Then Max gave Adam five more minutes this time!

Roddy came out but Adam ultimately decided that he'd rather have Max as a friend. My heart 😭

This match was so dramatic and I was eating it up lemme tell you

Adam's Panama Sunrise is a thing of beauty tbh

I can't wait to see what's next for these two boyfriends now that they're tag champs

Match of the night! 10/10⭐

Overall- Great PPV 9/10 rating ⭐

[bornforastorm]

perry 3 and/or perry 4.5 for the wip game asks pls 🙏

😈😈😈

perry 3:

“What is it with Ruthie?” 

Pete quirks an eyebrow through a column of smoke. “What d’ya mean?” 

“I mean... you spent New Years with me. Shouldn’t you have been home at midnight to kiss your wife?”

Pete shrugs like it didn’t occur to him. 

Perry continues: “She puts up with you being out all the time, through the night... cheating on her all the time—“

“Hey,” Pete objects, sitting forward. “I wouldn’t call it that.” 

Now it’s Perry’s turn to raise an eyebrow, or both, as high as he can get them. “What do you call it then? The coat check girls and cigarette girls?” 

Pete lets out a frustrated huff and slumps back. “Aw, that’s just fooling around. That’s nothing.” 

“Does Ruthie think it’s nothing?” 

“Shut up about Ruthie, huh? She gets it. She’s fine.”

She gets it. Gets what? 

Before Perry can ask, Pete answers: “Ruthie knows I’m not going anywhere. I’m not gonna run off on her and leave her destitute. So the rest of it doesn’t matter so much. We have an understanding.”

“That you can fuck around if you want, as long as you pay the child support? You don’t have to be married for that arrangement.” 

Pete throws up his hands. 

“Christ, Perry!” Quickly enough, the scandalized look subsides, and Pete shakes his head. “It’s more than that.” 

Perry decides not to press on what the more could be. His marriage wasn’t like that. There wasn’t some implicit trust, if that’s what Pete’s saying. His ex always asked where he’d been when he’d been out all night, always checked his collars for lipstick, always begrudged him when he came in at two with Pete at his heels. 

“Does... Ruth like me?” 

He expects Pete to laugh at him. He wants him to. It’s a laughable question. But his ex didn’t like Pete, just like how E.B. doesn’t much like Pete. E.B. thinks Pete is disreputable, at best. His ex thought Pete was slimy, thought he was dirty, thought the business he brought Perry into was for perverts and peepers, and always hated him for pulling Perry away from farming or clerking in E.B.s office. Away from something respectable.

No, he just had to go be a private dick with Pete Strickland, mister bad influence himself. 

Pete leans forward and reaches to put a hand on Perry’s knee. “Perry, she loves you.” He smiles, crinkling up one half of his face. Perry wonders how true that is. “If she didn’t, I’d divorce her.”

“On what grounds?” 

Laughing warmly, Pete says, “Irreconcilable differences.” 

“I still don’t get it,” Perry says. He just can’t figure it out and it’s sticking in his brain. “I don’t… I mean, why would— why don’t you—“

“What’re you asking me here, Perry?” Pete’s hand is still on his knee and he’s still smiling. The smile falters only a little as he says, “you asking if I would leave my wife and run away with you?” 

When Perry doesn’t answer right away, Pete’s smile falters the rest of the way. But his hand doesn't move. 

“Well?” Pete asks. “Are you?” 

perry 4.5: Sifting through documents turns into drinking whiskey and smoking cigarettes at two in the morning. They trade stories of other wasted nights spent combing through too much paper.

“You saw that house,” Pete says, referring to Perry’s farmhouse, filled to the ceiling with disclosure material from the Dodson case. “It was a shitshow. Spent hours going through it with Della.”

“And what did you find?” 

“Jack shit,” Pete laughs. “Perry barely even asked.” 

“How is Mason?” Ham asks, not thinking much about it. It’s the time to ask, is all, now that he’s come up. “I’ve noticed you visit him.”

“Sure I do.” Pete stiffly taps the ash off his cigarette and looks at him in a sharply appraising way he hadn’t been a moment before. “Do you?”

Ham smiles. “I don’t. I should.” 

“He’s okay,” Pete says, loosening up. Hamilton’s friendly question has been accepted as just that. “It ain’t exactly easy… He hasn’t been in before.”

“You have, I take it?” Pete nods. “For what? If I may ask.”

Pete smiles that playful, slightly smug smile of his. 

“Wanna guess?”

Ham smiles right back. He could guess, he supposes. What would it be for Pete Strickland? Public indecency? Criminal mischief? Drunk and disorderly conduct? Could be any of those. Could even be draft dodging, depending on how far back you want to guess, though Ham thinks that one is less likely than the others.

“Let’s see…” Ham puts on a show of thinking. Pete chuckles as he leans to refill their glasses. Ham doesn’t have to guess, in the end. “Assaulting an officer of the law. Three months.”

Pete snorts and points a finger. “You looked me up.”

“It would have been irresponsible not to–” Ham clinks their glasses together. “I entrusted you with the guidance of my young investigators. I had to know what kind of hands they were in.” 

“And you decided a cop hater would be just fine?”

“I did.”

Pete eyes him. His smile goes sly. Ham likes that look on him. Conspiratorial. 

Slowly, Pete says, “E.B. used to call me a degenerate.” 

This piques Ham’s interest, though he hopes it doesn’t show too much. “Did he?”

“He did.”

“For punching cops?”

“No.”

He doesn’t explain any further. Ham hums. Possibly good old E.B. would have called Hamilton a degenerate too, if he’d known him better. What is it about Pete Strickland that E.B. so objected to? As far as Ham is concerned, Pete is a perfectly decent, upright citizen. He has a house, a wife, children. So he’s a little crass– but what some would call crass, Hamilton thinks of as bold. Unapologetic, unafraid, unashamed. Hamilton wonders what that’s like. It seems like a marvelous way to be.

“Degenerate is not the word I would use.” 

Pete waggles his eyebrows and lifts his glass in a little mock toast. “Well, boss, you don’t know me very well yet, do you?” 

[lover-girl-estxx]

Really

(s33 R27) r fighter ufc 297

"I'm Nina and I'm here with-" "Y/n Y/l/n" "the woman featherweight champ of the world...why don't you say that? if I was the champion of the world I would tell everyone" she laughed "I don't know i'll start saying it more" "thank you or i'll tell everyone for you" I laughed. "milk or cereal first?" "cereal for sure! has anyone said milk?" she shook her head "no" "that's crazy" she looked at me making me laugh and her too. "if you could date one UFC fighter who would it be?" she asked I blushed "I'm not gonna say" "come on" she smiled "he's on the card that's all i'm saying" "no no now you have to tell me" I sighed "don't release this part till after the fights" "promise" "um okay.....Sean" "Strickland?!" I smiled "yeah" I laughed "he's like crazy you know?" "I know but I kinda like it," she laughed me too "this is gonna be everywhere" I sighed.

I was standing by the stage ready to go on for the press conference "y/n right?" I turn around to see Sean "yeah!," I smiled "Sean" he smiled back "good luck on your fight" "likewise! I know your probably not to happy about having a female co main event but it'll make your fight even better" I chuckled "no I don't mind you put on good fights" "thank you! your fights are great I can't wait to watch" I smiled.

"question for Y/n, how do you feel about Sean and the comments he made about female fighting?" I grabbed the mic "I don't mind," I shrugged "I think it's true I'll never fight as good Sean or any male fighter so I don't have a problem with what he said" "thank you see u guys are the only people with a problem". "where you from?" he whispered "I live in Vegas" "we'll have to train sometime" I nodded "sounds great" I smiled and lightly blushed.

| Week later |

"Y/n we're almost there you ready?" Nina asked through the phone "yeah I got all my snowboard shit" "okay!"

I put my stuff in the back of her truck I hopped in the front seat with Nina driving and her boyfriend in the back "hi!" I smiled and hugged her. Halfway there Nina says "oh I forgot I invited someone" "who's" I took a sip of my monster "Sean!" "Sean?! please tell me you mean o'melly even tho I hate him" "no Strickland" I sighed "really I didn't even do my makeup" "its fine he most likely didn't see the video" "your joking it's everywhere" I put my head in my hands blushing covering my face. I got on my phone going to the video on her page "he put laughing till i'm crying emoji, he thinks it's funny" "no he jus-" "don't bring it up please" "I won't promise" "thanks".

She walked over and hugged Sean as I got all my snowboarding stuff "Y/n!" he said "hi" I gave a slight smile he gave me a side hug "good fight!" "thank you, you too" I blushed "you still have your belt so you did better" "no no you won for sure" "thanks".

I was doing alright while snowboarding not very good, Sean and Nina were doing pretty good. "i'm going to the baby hills" I told the camera "no no come here" Sean said coming next to me putting a hand out for me which I took "thanks". "just start going" he said "i'm gonna fall and get cold again" I laughed he chuckled "I'll catch you I'm right here" "okay". I was doing great while holding on to Sean, we went over a rock Sean fell on his back pulling me down with him "Sean!" he groaned while I laughed "I still got caught you" took me a while in the snow but I finally got up then put a hand out for him "come on," I tried help him up "you have to help me a bit" we laughed he got up putting his hands on my back mine on his biceps "I got us both wet" "I can't do the big kid one" he laughed "i'll go the the baby one with you".

I did a jump "you see that!" I yelled "yeah!", "i'm tired" I sighed sitting down "me too" he sat next to me in the little cafe at the snowboarding place. Nina and her boyfriend joined "you back to training yet?" he asked me "no i'm taking a bit of a break, you?" "same yeah". "you know Y/n I saw something Nina posted on her page" I sighed "you did?" "yeah you'd date me out of all the UFC fighters" I sighed "yep" he nodded "give me your number then" I smiled "give me your phone" he smiled and threw me his phone.

[brimmingwithautism]

AEW DYNAMITE 7/12/23

Thank you Jasffy, you insane bastard, for already giffing their entrance.

Wanted to put my thoughts on the night in writing, but in short: MJF and Adam Cole are the funniest duo in the company right now, Nick Wayne and Swerve Strickland stuck gold for a third time together, and Kenny Omega gets back together with his boyfriend

- Great showing from Komander, especially in the beginning of the match

- First Match: Komander V Jericho. 3 stars

-  Had a good spot upside down on the turnbuckle which transitioned into a hurricanrana

- great sell from Komander for Jericho forearm

- I am being sports entertained

- insane double power bomb from Jericho - he’s making ambitious spots but he makes em well

- lot of energy in second half of match- very good back and forth between the two. Komander is a well of energy throughout the entire thing

- the catch into the walls of Jericho was a great finish, and I loved that he did entire match alone. great showing from him

- HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: Komander's rope walk into shooting star press pin - in a better world you would have won off that king

Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy VS Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara. 4 1/2 stars

- Tension between Garcia and Guevara in the intros is setting up a fun storyline there for the eventual JAS implosion

- fantastic fake out arm drag from 🍊 in the beginning, nice energy to start

- get spun darby. Second time in like a month he's been absolutely rotated

- handshake!! between Darby and Sammy. darby saw Jack Perry turned heel and immediately started turning Sammy into the biggest ol babyface

- looooooong vertical suplex with Sammy and darby fucking christ. men invent complex rituals to touch the skin of other men, etc

-  get walled darby

- 🍊 and Garcia are so good together, same with darby and Sammy. all around strong chemistry between the four men.

-  excellent stun dog to stunner to ddt - incredible and fluid sequence from 🍊 to darby and back to 🍊

- Beach break? more like back break. let my man take a rest week because 🍊 is falling apart

- I know Garcia and Sammy have to advance for their eventual big break from the JAS, but I still hate the match ended in outside interference. At lease Swerve is a fun heel.

- TWO HANDSHAKES between Sammy and Darby. the baby has been faced

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Darby audibly going “SHIT!” right before Swerve jumps in to kick his face off 

MJF & Adam Cole VS Bill Bill & Brian Cage. 3 and 1/4 stars

- their combined entrance is sill the best thing in aew right now

- MATCHING SHIRTS

- it's a wrestling match, Michael, how many push-ups can there be? Seven?

- max has some good theatrics but not a lot of good spots so far. feels so much more performance based than the other matches tonight

- Adam Cole always has THE BEST anger face tho

- LET MJF BITE MORE OPPONENTS! HE DESERVES IT!

- nice three part joke setup for the full body slam on big bill. Again, the three part joke set-up makes the match feel like a skit

- love Cole using mjf tactics as their partnership goes on

- cute chemistry in the promo too. can't wait to see the whole thing explode

- HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: Brian Cage picking up MJF and Adam Cole at the same time to do a backwards toss. Insane machinery 

RUBY SOHO VS SKYE BLUE. 3 stars

- my kingdom for a good women's wrestling match on dynamite

- nice series of kicks from Skye to start things out - her legs are i n s a n e 

- Good idea to kick Ruby’s crew for this one - Skye is already such an underdog going into it that the Outcasts would just get rid of any potential tension

- Ruby is cute when she's sadistic and I should be allowed to say it. I’m not super behind her in-ring style but she really does know how to tear someone apart

- Impressed at skye's showing, and I’m glad they let her do a big second win comeback even with two “shattered” knees

- still not long enough. Tony Khan your days are numbered

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: Ruby’s pin on Skye was hot and I should be allowed to say it.

Nick Wayne VS Swerve Strickland. 4 1/2 stars

- good flinch moment to start the match. I had my doubts Nick would be able to put up any presence with Swerve in the ring (I have a bias) but doing a fake-out punch on Swerve in the corner was a great opening moment 

- you can tell these guys have wrestled with each other before - just the way they so fluidly transition between pinning and striking shows they know how the other moves. God bless the Seattle wrestling community

- great striking/miss combo between the two. poetry in motion

- insane fisherman suplex from nick considering he’s even skinnier than Hook

- picturesque hurricanrana between nick and swerve off the apron

- Nick's mama VS prince Nana book it Tony

- nice hang off the apron to neckbreaker from swerve

- Darby comes out to support him at the entrance ramp but I need him all the way down ringside. You gotta be this kid’s Sting, Darby. Making you the mentor in a new relationship would be such a good storyline for him

- amazing counter from swerve for the next hurricanrana that Nick tried - excellent way to show that this kid is good but he’s inexperienced in a real match, and can get caught out doing the same thing

- this match fucks severely. even got the crowd to shout this is awesome

- Nick lost, but it’s one of the greatest introduction matches for a wrestler I’ve seen. I know why they signed the kid and I honestly agree. AEW likes younger talent (Hook, Julia Hart) and so far the company seems to be good at nurturing them and letting them grow. High hopes from this showing.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: - REVERSE HURRICANRANA TO Wayne's world cutter from Nick on the turnbuckle. fantastic coordination between the two of them

Overall I thought the wrestling in this match was pretty good, but then immediately overshadowed by the GOLDEN ELITE. IBUSHI COMING BACK BABY. Excited for that and in disbelief he finally showed up to hang out with Kenny and it wasn’t even PPV. Mein Gott.

What were your thoughts on the episode? Who do you think will win the Owen Hart cup or the blind tag team tournament? (hint, it probably won’t be Daniel Garcia)