#The Shandies If You Knew Me

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: The Shandies Share Road Trip Friendly Jam "Day Trip Tuesday"

New Audio: The Shandies Share Road Trip Friendly Jam "Day Trip Tuesday" @theshandies @heygroover @romainpalmieri @DorianPerron

Springfield, MO-based indie duo The Shandies — Natalie Wlodarczyk and Shannon Stine — will be releasing their fourth album, the Jeff Smith-produced If You Knew Me in July. The album’s first single “Day Trip Tuesday” is a breezy pop confection built around glistening synth and a motorik-like groove paired with Wlodarczyk’s and Stine’s ethereal harmonies. While sonically bringing The Go-Go‘s and…

[warnersister]

How the peaky boys react when dating a girl with a praise kink (nsfw) -> headcannon

Goes without saying, nsfw warning

Find the request here, sorry it took so long

Tommy🪖

🪖Tommy had you figured out before you’d figured yourself out.

🪖He knew what was going on in your head before your did.

🪖You were working late one Friday at the Garrison, of course many working men joyously engaging in Friday night drinking and drunkenness while their wives whittled wistfully back home.

🪖You weren’t expecting the Blinders tonight, but of course you’d always find room for the Peaky boys in this establishment, regardless if you were chocker with customers that the bar didn’t really have the capacity for. The door chimed and you spun, peering to see if you had the numbers to accommodate the x amount of customers you had walking through your door.

🪖”Evening boys, meeting or drinks?” You ask, readying yourself to go clean the business Roman that was wordlessly their property. “Just drinks tonight, love” Tommy answered with a small smile and you nod, placing your hands on your hips; balled into fists while you ponder around to find their empty table.

🪖You notice a table of rowdy youngsters occupying the usual Shelby spot and you narrow your eyes at them, internally questioning if you had the inner morals to boot paying customers out of their seats.

🪖”Be a good girl and get us a booth please, sweetheart” Tommy asks, well instructs, as he lights up another cigarette.

🪖He noticed the way your eyes darkened at his request and your lips parted slightly. You nodded. “Of course Tommy, give me a moment lads” you say, heading to the young gentleman to ask them to either head to the open seats at the bar or get gone.

🪖"hiya lads, sorry to bother.” You say as you approach the lot who look at you in question “but I’m afraid we need this booth, happy to serve you up at the bar or I’m sure another will open soon” you wince, apologetically. One scoffs. “Why should we? We’re paying customers?” He asks, beginning to instigate somewhat of an issue, when Tommy swoops in “I believe she asked you nicely” he grunts, and it was almost awe-strucking watching how fast the boys scampered out the door with mediocre apologies.

🪖Thomas wanted to test his small hypothesis again, placing a gentle hand on your lower back “such a good lass to your old Tom, aren’t you?” He hums and he watches as your jaw slackens and you swallow on your own saliva, beginning to stumble around a response. “My pleasure, Tom”

🪖And then a few months later, when he’d taken you out a couple of times you were more widely known as Tommy’s girl than you were your own name.

🪖It was again a Friday evening, usual crowd shuffling to their places and so were the boys.

🪖“evening boys” you smile, handing an older man his shandy as he makes his way back to his missus who was still sipping on her gin.

🪖“evening sweetheart” Tommy smiles, leaning across the bar to peck your lips as the rest of the boys head to their normal spot.

🪖business as usual

🪖you begin pouring their beers automatically, following Tommy to the table with umpteen pints and of course an apple juice for John, whom you’d cut off from alcohol.

🪖“good girl” Tommy applauds as you hand them their drinks, quiet enough that the rest of his rough crowd didn’t hear but loud enough for you to become unsteady on your feet.

🪖you didn’t know when you’d agreed to go home with Tommy. You don’t even remember locking the door to the Garrison. But now he had you buried deep beneath him as he rutted into you and there was nothing you really cared about more right now. If there was a problem you can deal with it when you were finished.

🪖he was trying to coax it out of you. Trying to coax out the fact that you revelled in it when he praised you. And it got him off to see that when other blokes such as Harry called you a ‘good lass’ for a decent shift, you didn’t bat an eyelid.

🪖“Come on love, got one more in you haven’t you?” You shook your head at his question, almost hoping that he’d let you rest after your third. “C’mon sweetheart, don’t you want to be a good girl for your Tommy?” He asks and you nod up at him through dazed eyes. “Hmm?” He asks, holding your jaw still with one hand while the other held him up above you. “Please. Please Tommy. Wanna be good for you” you mumble out, and he smirks - rutting into you at yet again, another relentless pace.

🪖”that’s it. Such a good girl f’me. So so good” he praises as your moans progressively get louder as you mewl beneath him.

🪖and eventually, when you’d both calmed down, he looked at you and smirked “good girl aren’t you?”

🪖”shut up Tom.”

Alfie🧸

🧸Eats that shit up, no crumbs, licks the plate clean.

🧸already kind of babies you, he doesn’t mean too. You’re a few years his younger and as your husband he sees it as his job to protect and provide for you while doting and taking care of you like any good man should.

🧸then one night he comes home a bit late from the bakery, readying to apologise when he’d noticed you’d just finished cooking dinner. “Well here I was all soppy and ready to apologise to you, yeah. And no, my good little girls just gone and made dinner!” He says, almost chuffed. You giggle and plate up the food, sitting across from him as he begins to eat.

🧸”what ‘y doing over there, then?” He scoffs “c’mere.” He instructs as you move to sit in his lap and he relishes in the meal you’d prepared “you’re so good to your old man, aren’t you?” He hums “so so good” he exclaims, only trying to show his appreciation but he noticed your pupils dilate at his words. He brushes it off, nothing major.

🧸later in the evening his sciatica was playing up so you wordlessly left the room to go draw him a bath with some new salts you’d bought from your elderly neighbour whom your husband refused to speak to on account of her being ‘a witch’ as he said.

🧸”oh you are a good’un aren’t you, poppet?” He hums, as he enters the room, allowing you to help him undress and get into the bath, afterwards preparing to make your leave and get him some medicine from the cupboard downstairs.

🧸”and where do you think you’re going?“ he questions, and you raise a brow “to get you some medicine” “I need no such thing. Now get in here w’me.” He grunts and you do as he says, never one to turn down a good relaxing soak in the bath with your husband.

🧸”there you are, good girl aren’t you? Always listening to your old man. What did I do to deserve you. So perfect” he rambled, and doesn’t notice the ever hazing glint in your eye and when he finally looks down at you he narrows his eyes and finally realised what that look was.

🧸his praises got you going.

🧸”tell y’what would make y’old man feel so much better,” he hums and you cock your head ready to help his pain ease “if you be a good girl f’me and give us a distraction” he suggests and you see the smirk unveiling under his beard, as he reaches for your thigh to pull you over his lap and to settle atop of him. “Seeing as you asked so nicely” you mumbled into his shoulder, as you began to rock against him.

🧸”there you go, there’s a good girl” he says as you come undone on top of him and collapse onto his chest, stroking your back gently with one hand and holding you close with the other. “Y’want to move, poppet he asks?” And you shake your head, eyes closed as you recover.

🧸 as soon as his sciatica pain eases up, he was going to abuse that little trick as often as he could.

Arthur🍺

🍺poor baby needs just as much praise as you do. Thinks he’s a shitty partner

🍺but god when he found out it was like finding the fucking Magna Carta.

🍺it was his ticket out of everything. Came home drunk? “I’m so sorry, you’re so good for putting up with me” In a fight? “you’re such a good wife for patching me up” literally anything you’re not agreeing on? “Oh my good girl”

🍺he’d found out when you were already buried beneath his, mewling as he took out his frustrations on you rather than the man he was originally destined to kill that day.

🍺”y’better feel good about y’self.” He grunts “man’s life was saved cause of you, you and this fucking insatiability.” He thrusts and you groan “please” you number “hmm? Feel good? Little saint you are, fuckin’ angel. Stopped me killin’ a man. Wanna get me into heaven do y’angel? Huh? That’s where you’re sending me?” He asks and you groan louder.

🍺”yeah, cause you’re such a good girl aren’t you?” And that’s when you let out the most gluteal pornographic moan that almost stopped his movements, instead it pushes the throttle and sends the both of you over the edge.

🍺”god Id’ve spared hundreds of men if it meant I got to hear that from you”

John🥃

🥃The Shelby family were enjoying an afternoon at the Garrison. Given, it was incredibly backed with gang members and people dissimilar; still the atmosphere was was light and full of laughter.

🥃you’d volunteered for the Saturday shift seeing as Harry needed extra help nowadays seeing as the customer numbers were ever growing.

🥃John was flirting with you, as ever. While you just rolled your eyes at his antics and offered him another drink.

🥃”blimey, I need to drop drinkin’ the hard stuff. I’m seeing an angel!” John feigned surprise, as he took his cap off his head to greet you, plopping it onto your own as he leaned in to kiss your cheek sweetly. “And I’m seeing a man who’s had one too many. I’m cutting you off” you warn, wagging a finger at him. “Well I do like a lady who takes care of her man” he smirks, but was cut off by a voice that altered the atmosphere in the bar.

🥃”I am looking for Thomas Shelby” the voice announced, and you felt uneasy; John’s face darkened as he clearly recognised the man who was a stranger to yourself. You look to the rest of his family who have a similar stature to him on their faces.

🥃”get behind the bar flower” John mumbles to you calmly, “that’s a good girl. Stay down there, sweetheart” he coos as you duck your head out of sight and into the small crawl space under the kegs.

🥃As the conversation continued, John looks over the counter to you discreetly. And your large doe eyes look back, and he could see the trust in them. He leans his hip against the oak bar edge, holding his hand over and motions for you to give him your own. You thread your hand with his, and he strokes the back of your knuckled gently; giving it a squeeze as Harry instructs them to take this out of his pub.

🥃John gives you one last reassuring squeeze of the hand before grabbing an empty beer bottle and heading out the door with his brothers. A few minutes, a couple of shouts and a gun shot the three walked back in as if nothing had happened.

🥃John leans over the bar “y’alright now, good lass” he says as you peer back up and get back up from your seat on the bar. He rests his arms against the wood and grins at you. “Let y’old John reward you f’ being such a good girl, hm?” He raises a brow and honestly expects nothing from his advance.

🥃you look at the clock on the wall and decide Harry could fend for himself for a while. You look at John and wet your lips, leaning down and grabbing his collar to bring him closer to you. “Meet me in the back”

🥃He jumped over the bar.

Bonnie🥊

🥊revels in it without really meaning too.

🥊also uses it to his advantage. He doesn’t mean it, honest.

🥊you were knelt in front of him, sitting back to rest on your ankles as you wrapped his hands for his fight. “You’re so good t’me, thank you angel” he thanks, stroking your jaw with his thumb.

🥊he knew what he was doing to you. Trying to get in your head.

🥊since he’d fallen hard and fast he’d decided that you were it for him. You were his and he was yours and nothing else. Especially when you agreed to live out his gypsy fantasies with him and give up the traditional home you were so accustomed too.

🥊and he was convinced you’d make the best mum.

🥊so this little praise obsession of yours was the perfect way to sway you onto his wavelength.

🥊”you’re gonna be great tonight, Bon” you say, smiling at him comfortingly. “M nervous” he mumbles and you shake your head, holding his hands in yours “it’s gonna be fine, just go out there and do your best. I’ll always be proud of you.” You say and he seems to settle slightly. “Y’d be such a good mother, darling” he tells you, moving some loose hair out of your face and behind your ear.

🥊he notices a slight blush on your cheeks, and decides to pry. “BONNIE; TIME!” His dad shouts through the door and you tap his leg, standing up to give him his good luck kiss. Instead, he slowly walks you back until your back hits the wall, two wrapped hands caging you.

🥊 “hmm, would’y like tha’? A mammy?” He asks and you stare up at him with dazed yet wide eyes. “Oh you’d be such a good mammy. So caring, so sweet. Y’so good t’me imagine how good y’d be to a young’un.” He hums, resting one hand on your waist. “So, so good” he bumps his nose with yours. “Then I’d marry y’a.” He continues “be a good wife too. The best. Such a good girl” he coos and you audibly whine and he smiles.

🥊”y’d like that? Gonna let me make y’a mammy?” He hums, ghosting his lips over yours “BONNIE!” His dad reiterates and Bonnie huffs. “Y’can do whatever Y’want to do to me, bon” you reply hazily and he smiles as you lean up to kiss him deeply, pulling away to lean your forehead on his, hands cradling his face. “After your fight.” You nod and he raises his brows “promise?” You smile back “promise.”

🥊fastest knockout he’d ever done.

Isaiah♟️

♟️uses it against you. Purposefully

♟️defo teases you for it

♟️you’d be at the garrison, having gone accompanying your twin brother Finn and expecting to see your boyfriend there eventually when you weren’t in your usual spot at home.

♟️he’d turned up around half and hour after you had, only looking to get a drink defo not looking for you.

♟️he sees you at the bar, yet by your side was some bloke he didn’t recognise. Some six foot slime ball with his hair slicked back so far it looked like it created a permanent surprised upkeep on his eyebrows. His suit was brand new, Isaiah assumed the tag was still tucked into a pocket somewhere for him to return and scrounge in the morning.

♟️and why were you talking back?

♟️you were drinking something dark, presumably the alcohol Isaiah preferred for you not to have.

♟️had he bought it you?

♟️Isaiah stormed his way over, fully prepared to lay out the man talking to you and throw you over his shoulder and lead you straight out of the pub; but the conversation you were having with the boy stopped you.

♟️”what d’y say love, wanna get out of here?” He asked “and for the fifth time. No. My husband will be here any minute. He’s a blinder y’know?” You scoff “well he ain’t here now, is he?” He asked you when Isaiah sweeper in and pressed his gun to the man’s temple “isn’t he?” He asked, cocking it as the man before you swallowed and visibly began to sweat.

♟️”I suggest you take yourself out of this pub, out of Birmingham and fucking away from my woman.” He grunts, and the man immediately scampers. Then Isaiah looks to you, and the relief decorating your face is immediately apparent.

♟️”oh Isaiah I’m so sorry I tried to get rid of him-” you begin and then your boy begins to smile “your husband?” He asked, raising a brow cockily and you begin to rock back onto your heels “just wanted to get rid of him” you mumble, and he wraps hands around your waist and settles them on the small of your back.

♟️”you’re so good to me, aren’t you doll?” He asks, smirk growing “rejecting other men f’me?” He hums and you nod “y’know good girls get rewarded, don’t you?”

♟️or when you’re not behaving as he’d want you too.

♟️”where d’y think you’re going?“ he asks as you open the door.

♟️”Ada invited me for drinks” “y’not going, not safe. Not w’them Italians crawling round” he instructs, expecting you to shrug off your coat and come join him in the lounge. He turns but hears the door click shut. And when he’d looked, you were gone.

♟️he was fucking fuming, livid, murderous.

♟️and when you’d shown back home at 2 in the morning, hiccuping, he was already stood at the door with his arms crossed.

♟️you smiled “hi Isaiah” you giggled, but he didn’t say anything as he walked you backwards and your back hit the wall. “In what fucking world does a woman not listen to her man?” He asked and you were immediately silenced. “Hmm?” He asks “why did you think you could just go out without me, you know how dangerous it is” he says “well-” “good girls don’t disobey their men, d’they princess” and he noticed how you cowered and sunk into your shell.

♟️he threw you over his shoulder and carried you up the stairs, rutting into you in the bedroom more times than you could count telling you how disappointed in you he was and every time you were close to release, he’d stop and tell you why you didn’t deserve it.

♟️he loved torturing you.

Michael🎱

🎱so belittling with it.

🎱loves to use it against you whenever he can because it always means that he wins

🎱the first time he’d sussed this little predicament of yours out was when you were entertaining him while his brother dealt business with your father deep within the Cotswolds.

🎱you’d served him tea and polite conversation, talking about your purity and how much he idolised you.

🎱”and you’ve no husband?” He asked and he placed his cup on his saucer you and you straightened your posture before responding “no, no husband” you confirm and he is forced to stifle his smirk “well you’d make the perfect wife” he tells you and he notices how you swallow harshly “well that comes appreciated, mister gray” you reply and he narrows his eyes.

🎱and then when you were married and doting on him, he’d always remind you of how he impacted you.

🎱he knew just how to get to you. “Dear, go be a good girl and fix me a drink” and you’d do so. “I’ve got to go to London for the week. Be a good lass and don’t leave the house” and you wouldn’t.

🎱and sometimes he’d take you to family meetings. Personally believing that the women shouldn’t really be at these meetings. But a quick slap to the head from his mother soon sorted him out.

🎱and then he walked in on John shamelessly flirting with you, and he knew full well you weren’t meaningfully engaging with his cousin, it’s what you were taught to do from a young age. But still, you were engaging.

🎱”flirting with my woman, John?” Michael grunted, entering the room to which the former rolled his eyes “just showing her what a real man could give her” he winked at you before swaggering out of the room. “Why did you entertain him?” “I didn’t-” “thought you’d promised to be a good girl for me tonight?” And that shut you right up. The desire to be praised overpowering all.

🎱 “how ‘bout you make it up to me tonight, sweetheart?”

Finn🎞️

🎞️for his whole life, Finn has always been overshadowed by his older brothers. So being able to have so much control over you was so addictively intoxicating that he just loved to abuse his power.

🎞️and he’s at that age in his early twenties when his hormones are heightened and all he wants to do is act like a rabbit in a hutch during mating season.

🎞️and sometimes you weren’t up for it.

🎞️not until he figured you out.

🎞️he’d had you going for three rounds. Overwhelmed from how his brothers had been belittling him all day during business meetings and finally finding a vector to take it out on.

🎞️you’d come undone beneath him, very exhausted from the relentlessness of his actions, when he blurted out “fuck you’re so good at this” as he released inside of you. You mewled and whined, wrapping your legs around his waist. “Again” you mumbled and he raised his brows “you sure?” He asked and you opened his eyes as he recognised how your irises had deepened two shades and smiled giddily “well alright then”

🎞️so whenever he needed something or someone to release his frustrations on all he had to do was stroke your cheek and call you “my good girl” and you were pretty much tearing his clothes off.

🎞️and even sometimes when he’s upset he uses it to tell you just how much he appreciates you. When times are particularly hard and when he just can’t cope with situations; he’d let you hold and cradle him and rock him back and forth while silent tears sunk down his face “you’re so good to me” he’d mumble over and over again in a sleepy voice until he’d fallen asleep in your arms and you’d manoeuvred him into a comfortable position as his arms tightened around you.

Aberama🌞

🌞oh god this man is insatiable.

🌞defo calls you his ‘good girl’ and doesn’t give a fuck who hears it.

🌞likes to shelter you from everything in this horrible world, thinks it’s his job to protect and shadow you from anything. You were just a dainty young thing with no clue, someone had to step up and he decided he was the man for the job.

🌞just loved to take good care of you so those for eyes stayed innocent and undamaged. Bare and pure unlike his that were darkened and locked with such an intricately pessimistic past

🌞one day Thomas Shelby decided to pay a visit to the camp and Aberama had beckoned you over and you did as you were told, he motioned for you to lean closer as you approached him. “Need you to stay out of the way for a while sweetheart, can you do that for me, is that alright? Just until he goes?” He asks with sweet eyes. You smile and nod at him “good girl, off you go” and you were off into the woods to pick some berries for a recipe you had an idea for.

🌞eventually he’d come looking for you, find you deep into a bush trying to reach a berry that you’d just had to have but couldn’t quite get too. He’d stayed back for a while, leant against a tree while he admired you. Until he’d felt the masculine desire to aid his lady. Coming behind you and placing his hands on your waist as he leant to grab the berry for you. You’d gasped but turned to see him, smiling brightly at him. “Thank you” “anything for you” he replied, pecking your lips gently.

🌞”always willing to help my special girl” he says “can always count on you can’t I?” And the grin turns into a gaping expression, wide and heavy eyes looking at him and he’d decided he had to have you right then and there.

🌞he’d hiked the skirt of your dress up to your waist and told you how much he appreciated you as you screwed your eyes shut and threw your head back.

🌞then he’d carried your worn out, sleeping figure bridal-style back to camp with your basket selection of berries resting in his arm as he looked down at you lovingly.

[buckychristwrites]

About You | Day 11 | j.t.

Summary: Your job? Pop culture journalist for The Independent. Your assignment? To write a profile on the cocky footballer that you're publicly feuding with.

Word Count: 4.1k

Warnings: Cussing. Enemies to lovers

A/N: Please let me know what you think! :D

Masterlist | About You Masterlist | Main Blog

You stared at Wembley Stadium.

Wembley Stadium stared back at you.

Your fingers squeezed the steering wheel of your car as your gaze was fixed out the windshield. After nursing the hangover caused by the previous night, the day was a blur. All you could really remember was the severe debate in your mind over whether or not you would be appearing at the AFC Richmond vs Man City match. You ran a hand down your face and sighed.

You have no right to be this upset, you told yourself. He can kiss whoever he wants. Whenever he wants.

But your heart simply wouldn’t accept that as an excuse for the major bruising it had taken. You thought you had felt it. The it you had heard about so much over the years. Falling for Jamie had felt like you had been struck by lightning. Wasn’t that supposed to be what you were looking for? But it wasn’t. Because he didn’t feel the same. Maybe he was just looking for a warm body that night, and it could’ve been Shandy or you or really anyone. And the worst part was, you would’ve fallen for it.

It didn’t explain why he had followed you home. And then it occurred to you. He was worried you would go public with the behaviour in your profile on him. Fingers began to anxiously tap against the steering wheel. You would never do that. Despite his status, he’s allowed to have a random fuck every once in a while. Even if the result is the decimation of your evening as well as your emotional well-being. 

Looking at your watch, you sighed. Though you had gotten to the stadium early, you had waited until the last possible minute to go inside. Then you could talk briefly about absolutely bare minimal things, and in no way speak about the events of the night before, prior to the match starting. In the front seat of your car was the black Tartt cap and his tuxedo jacket. You grabbed both, throwing the cap backwards over your head and the jacket over your shoulder before climbing out of your car. 

Thankful for your press pass, you pushed your way through the crowds and went in the back entrance. The hallways inside were roaring with life, workers and players alike rushing to wherever they needed to be. You, however, were in no rush as you made your way towards the visitor’s changing room. It was one of those terrible moments where the hallways were shorter than you needed them to be. The door was in sight, getting closer and closer with every step. When you were centimetres away, you paused, listening to the voices of the coaches echo from the inside. Deep breath. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. 

The door was surprisingly quiet when you finally let yourself in. The players were silent as they listened to the coaches go over the plan. Instead of crossing the room, you stayed against the wall by the door, pulling out your notepad and beginning your notes. Occasionally, a player would look over and spot you, either sending you a smile or a quick wave. You always returned it, but your eyes refused to move to where the Number 9 fell in your peripheral.

The hairs on the back of your neck stood upward as you wrote.

Please stop staring. 

But he didn’t. You knew he didn’t, even if you averted his eyes at every possible chance. Nausea filled your stomach. You pegged it on the hangover and definitely not the overwhelming feelings that had filled your head and belly. 

The coaches brought everyone on the team into a tight circle, everyone putting in their hands and shouting “Greyhounds!” before throwing their hands in the air. It was this moment that everyone began to speak, and greetings were thrown your way at every turn. 

“You disappeared last night,” Colin noted as he passed by. When you looked at him, he was waggling his eyebrows. “Hopefully for some fun…?” With every possible fibre of your being, you mustered up a smile.

“Just got too drunk,” You said, shaking your head. “Ended up walking home.” The humour left his face, and you saw a few heads turn. 

“You walked home alone?” Sam asked.

“Drunk?” Dani added.

“No, no, I wasn’t alone,” You said. It was this moment that you allowed yourself to look at Jamie. He was looking down as he tied his shoes, but immediately looked up as if he sensed your eyes on him. The eye contact was brief, you turning away rather quickly. “Jamie got me home safe. No funny business.” The jokes that had been loaded up in their heads dissipated, along with the humour on their face. It must’ve been the tone in your voice. 

You dropped your head to write again. It took a moment for you to realise that Sam had taken a step towards you.

“Is everything alright?” He asked in a low tone. “You do not seem yourself today.” You gave him a small smile.

“I’m not myself today,” You admitted to him. “But it’s nothing for you to worry about. I’ll be fine.” You put a hand on his shoulder. “But I’ll be better if you win.” He put his own hand on your shoulder, and you knew immediately that the meaning behind his was different. He gave you a sweet smile before walking away, heading towards the tunnel. You turned, intending to follow him.

“Oi.”

A sigh left your mouth.

When you turned, Jamie was standing beside the bench, his hands behind his back. 

“Can we talk please?”

You turned towards the doorway the rest of the team had disappeared through. It was tempting to just follow them without a word, but you knew you wouldn’t do that. So instead, you turned back to face him.

“I don’t think we have time right now.” In the distance, you could hear the crowds growing louder and louder. Jamie sat down.

“I won’t go out there if we don’t talk right now,” He said, placing his folded hands in his lap. You stared at him through narrowed eyes.

“It won’t be me that you hurt by doing that,” You told him. “It’ll be your team and the fans. Don’t be stupid.” He shook his head.

“They’ve played without me before, they can do it again.” You shrugged.

“Your problem, I guess.” Turning to leave, you were only able to take two steps towards the door before Jamie was on his feet, grabbing your arm.

“Please.” His voice was so sad, it made you turn around. His nostrils were flared, chest heaving. “Just… just give me two minutes. Please.” Your chest was hurting, but you still nodded. His hands were in front of him as he carefully considered his words.

“I don’t understand what happened last night,” He admitted to you, his voice soft. “And I don’t know how to fix it.” He shook his head as he looked up at the ceiling. “Didn’t go at all how I wanted. I had so much I wanted to say to ya.” 

Your mouth was faster than your brain. “Hard to talk to me with your tongue down Shandy’s throat, yeah?” He looked taken aback from your comment, and you immediately closed your eyes. You sounded like a jealous fucking cunt, and you knew it. “That wasn’t fair. I shouldn’t have said that.” But the damage was done, for you could see the anger starting to rise in Jamie’s face.

“Aren’t ya the one who said that this is all just work and it’s none of your business what I do outside of work?” He asked, pointing at you. “Seem to care very much what I was doin’, don’t yeah?” 

“You seem to care a lot for a man who was just trying to get laid,” You retorted. “Did you really care that I got home safely or did you just want to make sure I didn’t publish anything about what you were doing?” He shook his head.

“Still goin’ on about that fuckin’ bullshit, like all I care about is what you put in your fuckin’ story. You must still think pretty fuckin’ low of me.” 

“Then why did you follow me home, Jamie?” You didn’t mean to shout it, but that’s how it came out.

He opened his mouth to respond, but you’ll never know what he was about to say. At that exact moment, the door was thrown open, and in marched Roy with the angriest look you had ever seen on his face. He pointed at Jamie, who’s arms fell to his sides.

“Get your stupid ass out on that pitch… right now,” He said slowly, quietly. Scarily. “Or I’m going to make you wish you had never been born.” Without making sure Jamie listened, he turned and stormed back out again. The both of you quickly followed, you walking a few paces behind Jamie. Everything ached. You wished you were at home, or anywhere else but here, really. You stared at Jamie’s backside as he walked. His shoulders slouched, his head cast downward. All you wanted was for things to go back to how they were. You asking him the silly questions, him making you laugh. Hell, at this point, you’d even be willing to go back to when the two of you hated each other.

Anything felt better than this.

The sun was hot against your skin when the two of you stepped outside. Cheers and chants burst throughout the stadium once Jamie made his entrance. As he entered the pitch to join the team, you made your way to the dugout and took a seat. 

The first half of the match seemed to pass in a blur. You tried to watch the players and pay attention, but your mind kept going elsewhere. All you could think about was everything you wanted to say to Jamie. You knew you weren’t being rational. It wasn’t fair to be so upset with him. And with the regret he has shown for what happened, regardless of whether or not you had the right to be upset about it, it wasn’t okay for you to hold it over him. 

Van Damme flew for the ball, stopping Man City from scoring once again. The score was 0-0. You stood up from your seat and walked towards the wall to see better. Both teams were playing incredibly hard, the ball just going back and forth between them like it was a tennis match. 

Before you knew it, the whistle blew, and both teams were heading towards their respective changing rooms. 

It took a little bit of internal convincing, but eventually, you made your way to Jamie, who was sat on top of the bench.

“Can I have a minute?” 

He studied your face for a moment before nodding, standing and following you out into the hallway. Taking a look around to make sure no one was coming, you let out a deep breath.

“I’m sorry,” You said, your gaze jumping around the empty hallway as you gathered your thoughts. “My behaviour yesterday and today hasn’t been fair. I can’t explain what happened, but I know you didn’t deserve it.” Your eyes found his again. “I don’t think low of you at all. I’ve really come to enjoy our friendship, and I would hate for us to go backward over something so petty. I hope you can forgive me so we can be friends again.” 

You had been trying to be playful in the apology, but something changed in Jamie’s expression that you couldn’t read. His eyes dropped to the floor and he scratched his head.

“Yeah, yeah,” He mumbled. “Friends.”

You opened your mouth to speak, to question if you had said something wrong, but he immediately turned around and walked back into the changing room. You were left completely dumbfounded. All you wanted to do at this moment was cry. 

“Ahh there she is,” An unfamiliar voice with a familiar accent said. You turned to find an older man with a deeply grey beard slowly walking towards you. He sported Man City blue on his jersey. “The cunt who writes shit about my son.” 

Oh.

“And you must be Jamie’s cunt of a father,” You responded, another instance where your mouth was working faster than your brain. He let out a humourless laugh, raising a finger.

“But his father, all the same.”

You pursed your lips. “You say that as if it should mean something to me.”

“It should,” He said as his eyebrows raised. “Anyone who makes my son look like a twat should be concerned about me.” You nodded, glancing up at the ceiling.

“So what about the times he looked like a twat because of you?” A beat passed. “Which was more often than I made him look like one, I can promise you that.” 

He jerked towards you, suddenly so close that you could smell his aftershave and, dishearteningly, the alcohol on his breath. Maybe it was his voice or the similar facial features, but it gave you a moment of deja vu. The air around him wasn’t as nice as Jamie’s though, and his breath certainly wasn’t a welcome scent, either. 

“Watch yourself, girlie,” He sneered. “I have friends in the lowest of places.” You rolled your eyes, turning to walk away from him, which made him grab your arm and force you to turn back towards him.. “Don’t roll your eyes-“

“What’s goin’ on?” 

The both of you turned to find Roy standing at the door, his eyes fixed on Mr. Tartt’s tight grip on your upper arm. 

Behind him, Jamie appeared. Your heart dropped at the sight of him. You hadn’t wanted him to see James like this. When his eyes landed on his father, his skin turned a crisp white.

“Dad? The fuck are you doin’?” He pushed his way out of the door, taking place next to Roy. 

Roy took a step forward, lowering his voice when he said, “If you don’t take your hand off her, you will no longer have a hand.” The second you were released, Jamie was pulling you away by the back of your shirt. James Tartt’s eyes never left you, even when you were behind his son. 

“Fuckin’ cunt thinks she can say whatever she wants,” He said, pointing at you.

“You watch your fuckin’ mouth, yeah?” Jamie said sternly. James’ eyes met Jamie’s, and he smiled before raising his arms up. 

“Son,” He said to Jamie. The next thing you knew, Jamie was grabbing his father by the scruff of his shirt and dragging him to an empty room across the hall. When the door shut, you turned to Roy.

“Sorry,” You mumbled, running a hand down your face. 

“What the fuck are you sorry for?” He asked you, genuinely. It made you laugh, though the situation wasn’t amusing. 

“I don’t know.” It was true. You didn’t have a single clue. But you still felt sorry. For him, for having to get involved. For yourself, for almost getting in harm's way again. For Jamie, for his father’s relapse.

The two of you went back into the changing room. As the door went to close behind you, the sound of Jamie and his father shouting at each other echoed down the hall. Pausing, you stared at the closed door that he had disappeared through. Jamie’s words weren’t clear through the wall, but his anger definitely was. You turned and allowed the door to close behind you. He deserved his privacy. 

You made your way to the dugout a few minutes before the team did. Clinging to the wall, you kept your head down and tried not to bring any attention to yourself. You could feel the eyes on you as you walked across the grass, but you tried to focus on literally anything else. The dugout felt like a sanctuary when you entered, taking a seat in the corner. Tightening your arms around your torso, you sat with your eyes trained on the ground.

When the crowd began to cheer once more, you knew the teams were returning. They came into view on the pitch, and you were surprised when Roy turned into the dugout, as opposed to the sideline with Nate and Beard, and walked over to you. You watched him slowly sit down in the seat to your left, his eyes focused on the pitch in front of him. He didn’t speak for a while, but you knew he wasn’t there just for a quiet sit.

“I like you,” He admitted, sending shockwaves down your spine. A side eye glance, he sent your way before staring straight again and continuing. “So I’m going to tell you somethin’. Which you better fuckin’ listen to, because I hate tellin’ anyone, anythin’, ever.” You said nothing, instead just waiting anxiously for him to speak again.

“I’ve seen Tartt through more phases than I ever cared to see,” He began. “There was a time where my favourite dreams were the ones where he dropped dead.” He paused, as if he was reminiscing on those times. The whistle blew to resume the game, but Roy didn’t move an inch. “I’m proud of the man he’s become. He’s still a prick, but he’s one worth knowin’. Worth lovin’.” He looked at you. “I see how you look at him when you think no one's watchin’. But I also see how he looks at you.” He leaned in towards you, and you leaned towards him as well. “The only other time I’ve ever seen him stick up to his father was when he insulted the team. The team he loves.” He pulled his face away so quickly, you felt like you had whiplash. “So don’t be fuckin’ stupid.” 

Slapping his palms against his knees, Roy stood and walked away without a second glance. 

You sat frozen for a long time. Everything that led you to this moment seemed to hit you like a train. You thought of the way Jamie’s hand gently held your hip as the two of you danced just the evening before. The way he cradled your head while examining your injured nose with those sad, sad eyes the night of the last match. The way he held the car door open for you at 2 in the morning to take you on an hours-long journey to see the pitch where he learned to love football. All of that led you here, to this moment, where you stared at the ground and accepted the inevitable.

This isn’t just a crush. This is real. 

And he needs to know. Whether he feels the same or not. 

You stood up suddenly, as if you were suddenly able to walk after years of paralyzation.

The game was going strong. Looking at the scoreboard, you saw it was still 0-0. There was still time for Richmond to score.

You didn’t realise you had moved forward until you felt Roy Kent’s prickly glare boring into you. However, it was easy to ignore in this one instance. Your attention was too busy elsewhere. 

Jamie had the ball, dribbling down the pitch. Your hands were squeezed together as you watched. He made it look easy, circling around players and kicking through their legs so quickly that by the time they see it happen, it’s already back in his possession. He was halfway down the pitch when another player slid and kicked his feet from right under him. Jamie went to the ground, and even from where you stood, you could hear him yell out.

“Referee!” Coach Beard shouted, his hand out in Jamie’s direction. The whistle blew and a foul was called. The players helped Jamie to his feet. They all patted his back and gave him words of encouragement. So much distance was between him and the net. His chest rose and fell in a deep breath as the other players waited for him to make his move.

“Come on, Jamie,” You whispered. 

Was it your imagination? Or did he look over at you? It wasn’t, because his eyes lingered for a brief moment before he looked away. 

In a blink, he kicked the ball. It went flying over the heads of all of the players. Your heart was beating so fast that you could hear the pounding in your ears. The ball hit the net, and the stadium erupted into screams. You couldn’t hear anything over the shouting that forced its way up your throat and out of your mouth. Instinctively, you grabbed Roy by the shirt and began to shake him. The surprising part was the fact that he was laughing as you did it. 

“That fuckin’ prick,” He said once you let him go, shaking his head. 

The score was now 1-0. While it would’ve been easy to get confident, your anxiety was still at an all time high. There was still time left in the game for things to go south. 

And with Jamie now with a slight limp, the chances were higher than before of that happening. Watching him was painful, due to the fact that you could see the pain in his face with every step on his right ankle.

“Are you gonna pull him?” You asked Roy. He glanced at you before turning back to Jamie.

“No,” He said decisively, crossing his arms over his chest. “He’ll let us know if he needs to be subbed.” You hated everything about that idea, but didn’t argue. Roy was Jamie’s coach, after all. He would know when to take him out of the game. 

Man City had the ball, dribbling towards Van Damme and Richmond’s goal. The player kicked the ball towards another when Jamie came out of nowhere and intercepted the pass, immediately passing to Sam. You felt lightweight at this moment. Like you were having an out of body experience. The clock was ticking, only minutes away from hitting 90. Sam passed the ball to Richard, who passed to Colin. 

Don’t even need to score, you said to yourself. Just keep the ball away from them. 

Colin dribbled for another few seconds before kicking the ball back to Jamie. He effortlessly manoeuvred around multiple players. One wouldn’t have any idea of his injury now, watching him play. 

He pulled his foot back and kicked it towards the goal. Everyone watched, for a second time, as the ball made its way. The goalkeeper leapt through the air with his hands stretched out. He landed on the ground empty handed as the ball hit the net once more.

The game was over. Richmond won.

Chaos.

You turned to Roy once again, throwing your arms around him in celebration as everyone lost their minds. The players screamed as they ran around the field. They pulled Jamie up, as he had fallen back to the ground after his monumental kick, enveloping him in hugs. Even from the distance, you could see the smile radiating off his face. 

The coaches made their way onto the field, and without thinking, you did the same. It didn’t occur to you for a minute that you shouldn’t be there.

“Jamie!” You called, running in his direction. He spotted you through the crowd of teammates. You smiled widely at him. He broke through the barrier of people, marching his way down the field towards you. His limp was still prevalent. There was a weird look in his eye, one that you couldn’t read. 

“Congratulations!” You said happily as he approached. 

He said nothing, opting instead to grab your face in both of his hands and crash his lips into your own.

Silence.

It was now just you and him.

It felt like fireworks were going off in every part of your body. Your hands went to his biceps, grasping them lightly. The tips of his fingers got tangled in your hair. The stadium did seem to quiet down at the sight of the two of you, and through your closed eyes, you could still make out the flashing of cameras all around you. 

When he pulled away, his chest was breathing heavily in the same way yours was. His eyes searched yours, desperate for you to speak. A sigh fell from your lips, as you gave each of his biceps a squeeze.

“Oh Jamie,” You whispered, so only he could hear you. Your thumbs drew circles on his arms while his thumbs were running up and down your cheeks. You gave him a soft smile. “What have you done?”

[sylvies-chen]

ok started the episode a little late but I just finished it so here’s the weekly recap folks…

TED LASSO 3.04 THOUGHTS:

holy shit this episode was FANTASTIC there was so much going on!! so much goodness!!

roy seeing jamie butt ass naked at 4 am… who had this on their bingo card? anyone? no?

I’m SO glad we got that sassy & ted mess out of the way, I hope ted stops the casual sex and realizes it’s not fulfilling his needs

nate picking up the little lasso figurine and ted still having the picture of him and nate feels like a third act breakup montage of a rom com moment please I feel sick 😭

dani befriending a 108-year-old man just makes so much sense to me. that’s my friendly husband right there !!!!!

OKLAHOMA. motherfucking… OKLAHOMA??? oh my god this is insane I’m foaming at the mouth like the way she laughed at his pun when sassy called them insufferable the way he told her she was better off without rupert the implications of her using a term from his marriage counseling to coax the truth out of him THE WAY SHE INSTANTLY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HIM

it’s also so good because that certainly wasn’t THE long awaited office chat or else they would have made a comment about “same place same time” so that means we have YET ANOTHER office chat coming up and I don’t doubt they’ll bring up “oklahoma” again

nate… ugh, what a guy. lonely is the only word for him. there’s something so sad and pitiable about where he’s at right now, getting all the fame and credit but no support. there is a good person inside him just banging to get out, you can feel it

ooooooof yeah shandy messed up BIG TIME and keeley, babe, it’s not your fault for trying to see the good in people and believing in them!! she’s probably going to have to make the tough call to fire her if she wants to get in jack’s good graces

the team getting angry and violent over seeing nate destroy the believe sign actually made me cry. it’s just beautiful to me, even if they reacted wrong in the context of the game. they’re saying, “we made something good here. we have something beautiful. how dare you defile what is sacred to us, something that has bettered us as people. feel our wrath. feel our hurt.” I love my richmond guys 😭

it’s so wild to me that rebecca dealt with rupert having an affair in a mature and restrained way but she lowkey went maniacal with ted at half time like girlie has range i guess wow 😂

TED’S FIRST ATTEMPT AT CONFRONTATION OH MY GOD FUCKING FINALLY and it went pretty well too!! he flat out admitted he was angry, and did so in a respectful way. the baby steps of growth that we see happening here are beautiful I’m so proud !!

can we get that sports commentator who said he kept predicting things too often to manifest a tedbecca endgame?

[hopefulromances]

Long Time Coming I Chapter Twelve I Haunted

Summary: Being hired as the first female assistant coach in the league was a challenge of it itself. Being a football protigy and University Football Legend was easy enough. Coaching Jamie Tartt was a challenge all on its own.

Word Count: 3K

Warning: Gross ex,West Ham

A/N: Lets learn a little more about readers past eh? Next chapter rlly gets things going I promise!

Prologue One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven

West Ham was a big game. A really big game. A game I think each of us were dreading the game. But for me… it was another one of my secrets.  Matthew Kristal was a forward on West Ham. Had been for years. And he’d been my boyfriend throughout uni. He was much much older than me but he approached me after a game and told me all the things I wanted to hear. I was special, something he’d never seen before, so mature for my age. All the normal bullshit you hear from guys twice your age.

We dated for years. Actually, until very recently. When I told him I was looking at taking a job at Richmond, he changed. He told me not to, that I should just let him take care of me. Obviously, I’d told him that he was bullshit. I left him after that, and I hadn’t seen him since. He’d texted me several times offering advice or telling me how sorry he was. But thanks to the family I’d found at Richmond, specifically Keeley Jones, I didn’t feel the need to text him back.

But now I’d be face to face with him again. And that’s ignoring the feud with Nate and Rupert that was hanging over everyone’s head. I listened to Roy and Beard squabble over what strategy to do against West Ham. I knew it didn’t matter either way. We’d end up doing whatever Zava wanted, probably a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. Anything to get him in position to score.

As I watched them uninterested, my phone buzzed on the table. I flipped my phone over and saw a text from an unknown number.

            Hey, hope you’re doing well. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend.

I scrolled up but didn’t see any past messages from this person. Luckily the person followed up quickly.

            It’s Matt, btw, got a new phone.

God fucking damnnit. Of course, he was texting me now. I looked around, making sure I wasn’t needed before grabbing my phone and rushing out of the room. I sent Keeley a text to see if she’d be coming by the club later, which she was.

            “Fuck me,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

A commotion from the locker room caught my attention. I shoved my phone in my pocket and decided that whatever was going on in there was the perfect distraction.

            “Oi, what’s going on in here?” I demanded as I walked into the room.

            “Isaac’s tried to kill me is what’s going on,” Jamie exclaimed, backing away from his captain.

            “Guys I think someone ripped this in half,” Bumbercatch’s comment caused me to look over at the wall. In his hand was half of the believe sign, the other half still up on the wall. My eyes widened as I walked over to his side.

            “What the hell…” I murmured, taking the piece of the sign from him. It was just a sign, I tried to tell myself. It’s just a sign it doesn’t mean anything. I looked at the boys who started to crowd around us. “Well, just fix it, alright?”

I shoved the sign back into Bumbercatch’s chest before leaving the room. Suddenly it as very hard to breath. But what if was a real sign. Like an actual sign. I mean what are the chances that Matthew texts me and then just a few minutes later the Believe sign falls.

…

I recount the events to Keeley as she arrived at the club. I told her about the sign and Zava and the intensity about the game but hadn’t had the chance to bring up Matt quite yet when we arrived at the locker room.

            “But the sign fell, Keeley,” I whined, following her. “Wait, why are we going in here?”

            “Oh! I’m visiting Shandy, she’s filming a promo for Bantr!” Keeley told me.

I racked my head trying to remember who Shandy was. “She’s the one who threaten to run around the pitch with her top off, yeah?”

            “Well, it was more of a suggestion than a threat.”

            “It was definitely a threat.”

We entered the room just as Dani was finishing up his segment. Keeley greeted Shandy as my eyes flited around the room. It was weird seeing it all done up for filming. The boys were excited to do this filming but.I think they had a secret bet going to see who could say the most ridiculous pick up line.

            “You don’t know who I am, but I’m looking for someone who likes short walks on the beach so we can spend more time, you know…”

God that was terrible, I chuckled as they called cut. As Van Damme walked out, Jamie was up next. Fuck, I forgot he had to do this. It was the club’s single guys and Jamie was, to the masses, single.

            “He’s so fucking hot,” Shandy’s compliment sent a ping of jealousy through me. “What’s his story.”

            “Jamie?” Keeley replied. “Oh, he’s so cocky.”

All three of us stared at the monitor as Jamie had hair and make-up work on him. He was smiling kindly and making chat with the makeup artist. 

            “But I guess you have to be at this level,” Keeley continued, finding herself smiling at him. “But he only thinks about himself.”

I shook my head absentmindedly as I watched him. No, he didn’t. Jamie was kind and funny, and always checking in on me when we were together.

            “At least, he used to. But he’s not accountable for his actions and what they do to others.”

Again, I shook my head silently. It was crazy. The different side of Jamie that I’d seen as his girlfriend. A side that no one else got to see. It was all mine.

            “Except he is getting better at making apologies. Still… he only thinks with his dick.”

Finally, Jamie looked over at us and I could tell he saw me. I refused to look up over the monitor as a cheeky smile came over his lips. I bit my lip, trying to hard not to have any kind of reaction.

            “And yet, I don’t think he’s seen anyone in ages.”

I couldn’t help it anymore; I looked up over the monitor and saw Jamie staring right at me. I chewed on my cheek, trying to stave off the blush. He sent me a wink before turning back to the make-up artist.

            “I just wanna know if I can bang him, babe.”

Fuck, I forgot Shandy was even there. I frowned and looked over at her, a heat in my eyes I wasn’t used to. So this was jealousy was like. I was really willing to risk it all if she made any moves towards Jamie.

            “Oh. I don’t know,” Keeley answered. I still hadn’t taken my eyes of Shandy, watching as she stared hungrily at Jamie. “You should probably as him, it’s his dick.”

I ran  my tongue along the space between my teeth and bottom lip, trying desperately not to say anything.

            “Alright, I should probably be getting going,” I announced, deciding that this was too much for me.

            “Wait, didn’t you have something you wanted to-“

            “Nope, I’ll see you later Keels.”

I turn around before she can say anything else, not really wanting to stay in that room any longer than I had to. I realized that there was only one person I wanted to talk to about this Matt situation, and he was currently sitting in the locker room getting his make-up done for a dating app commercial.

…

Jamie and I sat in is backyard. He had these lounging chairs set up in his backyard where we could sit together while I caught up on work or read. He had a hand running up and down my leg as he read The Beautiful and Damned.

I looked over at him as he read peacefully. I was hesitant to talk to him, worried about what he would say or how he would react or what it would do to us to bring up Matt. I’d managed to make it two whole years without even thinking about him but with one little text his control over my life was back.

            “Remember how you asked why I stopped playing football?”

Jamie glanced up from his book over at me. “What?”

            “Do you know Matt Kristal?”

Jamie furrowed his eyebrows and put down his book, shrugging. “He’s on West Ham, yeah? One of their defenders?”

I nodded, looking down at my chair, picking at a piece of plastic that was sticking out. “He and I dated for a while when I was in uni.”

Jamie’s face should be in a museum. It was a mixture of curiosity, confusion, and was that… jealousy? He turned to look at my fully, his eyes looking far too serious.

            “What? Really?” He asked. “Isn’t he like… nearly 40?”

            “Yup.” I nodded, still not able to really face Jamie. “He came to watch me play in uni. Told me all those nice things like… you’re talented and mature and whatever.” I shook my head remember the first time I met him. “Anyways, we dated for about… 3 years?”

            “Fuck off,” Jamie scoffed, putting the book to the side.

            “I wish I were joking but he… he was quite the charismatic person,” I told him solemnly.  “Anyways, when it came time for me to graduate… I told him I wanted to play professionally and he… he told me I shouldn’t. That there was no glory in women’s football.” I scrunched my nose. “So, he lined up a job as West Ham’s kitman and I worked there until… until I saw the job at Richmond.” I moved my head side to side, considering all my words. “And he told me not to take it.” I laughed humorlessly. “Told me I’d be making a mistake. Well, he broke up with me after that. Told me I would crash and burn along with all of Richmond. Then I’d come running back to him.”

I stared at that piece of plastic I was picking, chewing the skin off my lip. I hadn’t talked about Matt with anyone since I came to Richmond. That time in my life was filed away, along with my father. But the people at Richmond had a way of opening me up like no one else.

            “What a cocksleeve.” Jamie’s response drew a laugh from me. “I mean really. What a mingin’ asstawt. Got a right cop on, don’t he.” With every ridiculous insult I found myself laughing harder and harder. Despite the tension leaving my chest slowly, I still found myself unable to look at me. That is until Jamie’s hand slide down to mind, preventing me from tearing up the chair. “Hey, look at me.”

I pursed my lips and forced my head to turn to face him. He had an eyebrow raised at me as he smirked. “Your better for it without him. He was holding you back ‘cause he knew you were better than him. Kristal… I mean he’s been on West Ham for a decade now… barely made a mark on the league.”

            “Well, he’s no Jamie Tartt, that’s for sure,” I commented, smiling.

            “Hey, I’m serious,” Jamie sat up and pulled me, so our legs were slotted with each other. I was caught off guard by his serious demeanor. “You’re better than him. I promise.”

It wasn’t like Jamie to ignore a compliment. My mouth opened slightly as a breath of disbelief came out of my mouth. Both of his hands rested on my knees, rubbing soft comforting circles into them. I blinked repeatedly, shaking my head. I was getting off topic.

            “I just… I wanted to let you know that he texted me about seeing me this weekend.”

            “HA! Like that’s gonna happen,” Jamie laughed, shaking his head.

            “Yeah, no it won’t but… I just wanted to let you know,” I shrugged. “And I know there’s a lot riding on this game so I don’t mean to add to that but I-“

            “No, thank you for telling me. Now I know who to score on the most.” He reached over and grabbed my waist, hoisting me up before laying down with me on top of him. “You wanna have sex?”

I would never get used to that. But I merely answered his question by leaning down to kiss Jamie into the chair. I felt lighter. Knowing I had gotten it off my chest. Even if it did nothing, I had Jamie’s support and that was enough for me.

…

The game was a mess. The first half was bad enough but after the half… it was like an entirely new team. They were angry, something about Beard and Roy showing them a video, I wasn’t paying attention. I was too busy avoiding Matt like the plague. But luckily for me, he seemed to get the hint and didn’t approach me at all. That was, until after the game.

I was leaving the locker room to head towards the bus when he finally caught up to me.

            “(Y/N)!”

I heard his voice before I saw him. But when I did, I wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t changed at all. He looked the exact same as he had those years ago when I’d walked out of his house with him screaming at me that I would be nothing without him. I let him catch up to me.

            “Some match, eh?” Matt chuckled, a cruel smirk on his face. I didn’t respond, not wanting to say something I regret. “Hey, why don’t we get a drink or something? Catch up, for old times’ sake?”

            “I’m good.” I shut him down quickly. I knew what that meant. It meant that he would take me out, get me tipsy then convince me to have sex with him and there was no way that was happening.

He frowned at me. That same disappointed frown I’d gotten all too used to when we were together. “Look (Y/N), I don’t want to try anything I just want to-“

            “Is there something you wanted to say, or can I get back to my team?” Again, I really don’t want to hear what he has to say. I don’t really want to hear his sorry apology or whatever manipulation tactic he could draw up.

            “I just wanted to say sorry, okay?” He pulled his most genuine face that he could, but I just shook my head. Nonetheless, he persisted. “I was a dick, and you were right. You’ve done great at Richmond but listen… you could do better. I bet I could get Rupert to hire you here… at West Ham.”

Jamie emerged from the locker room, walking towards the bus with his head low. He was pissed. Pissed at the game, pissed at Zava, pissed at Nate. The whole game had gone wrong so fast. If only he’d made that goal in the first half but, of course, he whiffed it, leaving room for Zava to take some glory.

When he walked down the hall, he immediately spied (Y/N) talking with Matt. Now he was pissed at that. He could tell she was uncomfortable. Body science. The way she griped her bag and frowned at him as he chatted at her. He needed to get her out of there and fast but without drawing suspicion. He glanced around to see who else was there. Colin was exiting the locker room just at that moment, busy on his phone.

            “Oi, Colin.” He nodded over to where (Y/N) and Matt were talking.  “Why’s (Y/N) talking to Matt Kristal?”

Colin looked over where he was pointing, and his eyes darkened. Just as he thought, (Y/N) probably told Colin about her past.

            “Fuck if I know, give me a second.” And Colin was off going to interrupt them.

Jamie tried to walk off slowly, watching as Colin approached her. He put an arm around her, taking Matt’s attention off of her. (Y/N)’s face immediately flooded with relief with Colin arrived. Jamie felt better knowing that Colin was there to support her. He wasn’t sure what they were talking about but all he wanted was to get home and be with (Y/N) somewhere they could be together.

…

When Jamie arrived home (Y/N) was already there. She was standing, seemingly stuck in her own brain staring at the wall. Jamie frowned and walked up to her, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing her cheek. She gasped and jumped, finally broken from her trance.

            “Fuck me!” She shouted, relaxing back into Jamie. “You scared me.”

            “Sorry, love,” He mused against her cheek. “Just finally glad to be able to hold you.” She smiled though it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “What was he talking to you about?”

            “Who?”

            “Kritsal?”

            “You saw that?”

            “Course! Who do you think sent Colin over?” Jamie snickered, pulling away from her and walking over to the kitchen. “Do you want some tea?”

            “Wait, wait, wait,” she followed Jamie as he began taking out the kettle. “You saw Max talking to me and didn’t come over to intervene?”

Jamie shrugged, taking out two mugs. “I’m making you tea. And yeah, I figured Colin knew more about the situation and he did so, crisis avoided.” The look she gave Jamie was almost heartbreakingly beautiful. There was so much love and passion in her eyes that is shocked Jamie a little bit. “What… did I do something wrong?”

            “Oh, Jamie.” She pulled him down by his neck and kissed him. Jamie let out a noise of shock before quickly setting down the mugs so he could wrap his arms around her. He held her close. While he was strong enough not to intervene earlier, he wanted her to know that he had her back and that she was his.

Just as much as he was hers.

Tag List: Taglist:@heletsmelovehim @higherthanheroes @ajax-petropolus-wife @oxxolovemelikeyoudooxxo @optimisticsandwichgladiator @kno-way-home @sleepy-time @wigglegiggle @skewedcherries @respondingtoshowerthoughts-blog @snubug @rana030 @ems-alexandra @jaymum

[t-305tv]

Can you do one where there is couple competition and Beck enders him and Jade there thinking they are going to win but in the end they loose badly because beck literally knows nothing about jade and Tori and Andre win as they got entered accidentally. Beck and Jade get into a fight cuz they lost (mostly beck is screaming at jade while Jade just makes shandy comments about beck knowing nothing about her and him treating her like shit then say that André knows her better than beck and beck and André know jade for the same amount of time and that hell even Tori knows Jade better than Beck and Tori knows Jade less than Beck.) Ends with Jade forcing tori to go on a date as Jade lies to tori to come and keep her company since she doesn't want anyone cool to see her like this. pls.

Beck confidently smiled at Jade as they walked into the competition room for Karaoke Club's annual Couple's Competition. They had been dating for years, he knew Jade better than anyone. There was no way they could lose.

Beck and Jade were sure they had this couple's competition in the bag. After years of dating, they knew each other inside and out. But little did Beck know that Jade had been keeping a secret - she wasn't as well versed in his interests as he thought.

The first round was a questionnaire - each couple had to answer questions about their partner. Beck shrugged, this would be easy. But as the host read off question after question about Jade's favorite things, dreams, and history, Beck froze. He realized with horror he didn't actually know the answers. He glanced at Jade helplessly, but she just glared in response.

The host reads the first question: "What is your partner's favorite movie genre?"

Beck hesitates, forgetting if Jade prefers dark dramas or horror films the most. "Uh, something artsy?"

Jade glares daggers at him.

Meanwhile, Tori excitedly shouts "Musicals!" at the same time Andre answers "Musicals". They high five, already gaining points.

Next question: "What food does your partner hate the most?"

Beck racks his brain but draws a blank. "Uh, salads?"

Jade rolls her eyes so hard it looks painful.

Andre barely lets the host finish before answering "Coconut" at the same exact moment Tori says "Coconut!". They laugh, clearly in sync.

The host reads "What is the name of your partner's childhood stuffed animal?"

Beck's face falls, he has no idea. "Pony...no, Teddy? Hmm..."

Jade lets out an exasperated sigh.

Without missing a beat, Tori and Andre simultaneously respond to the easy question for them: "Mr. Purple!"

It's clear to the audience which couple actually knows each other, as Beck and Jade's answers continue to be way off mark. Their friends Tori and Andre are in perfect rhythm, cementing their victory with every perfectly aligned response.

For the next part of the competition, the host announces it's time for the couples to show their chemistry. Each pair must participate in a classic Newlywed Game-style question round.

Beck gulps nervously as the host reads the first question: "Who initiated your first kiss?"

He wracks his brain trying to remember, but in a panic blurts out "Me!" Jade's furious retort of "No it wasn't, idiot!" confirms he was wrong.

Meanwhile, Tori grins at Andre as they simultaneously tap their chins, remembering fondly. "It was when we were  cast as leads in play ," they chorus together accurately.

The next question doesn't fare much better for Beck and Jade: "What is your partner's dream vacation spot?"

Beck stammers, "Uh, Paris?"

Rolling her eyes, Jade growls "No, you moron."

Andre smiles knowingly at Tori. "Japan to see the cherry blossoms," they say as one, beaming at their own right answer.

It's clear Beck doesn't stand a chance at this game. While Tori and Andre keep acing question after question, perfectly in sync, Beck and Jade can barely manage a single right response between them. They have no chemistry left - just resentment. Andre and Tori will easily snatch the victory.

For the final round, thehost announces it's time for the couples to serenade each other. Beck internally panics - he has no song prepared to express how he truly feels about Jade. 

On the spot, he launches into a cheesy rendition of "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Ashley. Jade scoffs at his generic choice and obviously false claims of deep understanding in the lyrics. 

When it's Tori and Andre's turn, they share a smile. Andre begins to beatbox a familiar rhythm as Tori's warm voice fills the room with their original song "Tell Me That You Love Me". 

The lyrics tell the story of their friendship turned romance, inside jokes woven in that have the audience laughing and awing. It's a heartfelt personal anthem only they could sing for each other. 

When they finish, the crowd erupts into the loudest applause of the night. It's clear Tori and Andre have taken home the grand prize through talent, trust and true intimacy.

Beck tries to catch Jade's eyes, but she's already turned away, no longer interested in what he has to say. Their relationship faces an uncertain future after this failure to understand each other. In the end, Tori and Andre proved to be the ultimate victors.

The tension in the room was palpable as the couple competition drew to a close. Beck and Jade had entered the contest with high hopes, confident in their ability to prove that they were the ultimate power couple. But as the final scores were tallied, it became painfully clear that their confidence had been sorely misplaced.

"And the winners are... Andre and Tori!" the announcer declared, as the crowd erupted into cheers.

Beck's jaw dropped in disbelief, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the victorious couple. "This is impossible," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

Beside him, Jade folded her arms across her chest, her expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Face it, Beck. We lost fair and square," she remarked, her tone laced with sarcasm.

As the applause for Tori and Andre dies down, Beck turns to Jade, anger and embarrassment taking over his frustration bubbling over into anger. "This is all your fault!" he exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger in her direction.

Jade raises an eyebrow. "My fault? You're the one who knew nothing about me."

"I'm your boyfriend, you should be an open book!" Beck shoots back.

Jade laughs bitterly. "Boyfriend? Please. You treat me like crap and don't even bother to learn a single thing in the years we've been together."

Beck scoffs. "That's not true, I know you better than anyone."

At that, Jade sees red. "Are you kidding? Andre there has known me just as long but he can rattle off my favorite color without even trying."

"And even little Miss Perfect Tori over there knows me better than you do. And she's only known me half as long as you," Jade spits venomously.

Beck is at a loss for words. Deep down, he knows she's right.

Jade fixes him with a cold glare. "Why don't you go be 'boyfriend of the year' to one of your mindless drones who'll worship you no questions asked. We're done."

She storms away, leaving Beck alone with nothing but the sinking realisation that he never truly knew the girl he called his girlfriend at all.

"That can't be true," Beck insisted stubbornly. "There's no way Tori and Andre know Jade better than I do."

Jade snorted derisively. "Wanna bet? Ask them anything, I guarantee they'll know the answers."

She strode over to where Tori and Andre were celebrating their win. "Hey Vega, Andre, prove to Beck here that you know me better."

Andre smiled confidently. "Lay it on us man, we got this."

Beck racked his brain for a question even he should know. "Okay, what's Jade's least favorite class?"

"Math," Tori answered immediately.

Jade nodded in confirmation. Beck looked unsure.

"Middle name?" Andre challenged.

"Alexis," Tori and Andre said together.

Beck frowned, not knowing that one.

"First concert she ever went to?" Tori prompted.

"The Scissors Sisters," Andre replied smoothly.

Jade smirked, further proving their point. Beck was floundering.

"Alright fine, you two clearly know pointless details about Jade better than I do," Beck admitted grudgingly. "But that doesn't prove you understand her or our relationship."

Jade glared at him coldly. "They understand me better than you ever did. Now leave me alone."

Defeated, Beck could only watch as Jade walked away with Tori and Andre, realizing he'd truly lost her for good.

They said that Jade clearly is uncomfortable on how friendly beck is with out girls and how he never sees to care about her or her feelings or even listening to Jade when she says what she doesnt like or when beck lets girls be all over him and never shuts them down by telling them he has a girlfriend.

As Beck watched Jade walk off with Tori and Andre, hurt and anger welled up inside him.

"This is ridiculous," he protested. "I've always been a great boyfriend. So what if I'm friendly with other girls?"

Andre gave him a pitying look. "Man, come on. We've all seen how you flirt and let other girls hang all over you. Even when Jade's right there, looking uncomfortable."

Tori nodded in agreement. "And you never listen when Jade tells you something makes her uncomfortable. Like when Christy was all over you at that party after Jade asked you not to invite her."

Hearing this, Jade's cold stare seemed to pierce right through Beck.

"See, they notice things you never do," she said harshly. "You've never cared about my feelings. Just parading me around as your trophy girlfriend while getting cozy with every other girl."

Beck was stunned, realizing maybe he hadn't been the best boyfriend after all.

"And it's not like you ever bother shutting other girls down by mentioning your so called 'girlfriend,'" Jade continued bitterly.

Her words sunk in heavily. Beck hung his head in shame - she was right. He'd been blind to how his actions hurt Jade while Andre and Tori paid attention.

"I - I never realized…" he said weakly. But the damage was done. Jade had finally had enough of his careless behavior.

She turned and walked away without another word, leaving Beck alone with the heavy truth - he'd lost her for good because he'd never truly cared enough to see things from her point of view.

After walking away from Beck, Jade was furious and upset. She didn't want to go home yet where she might run into her parents fighting again.

She called Tori. "Vega, get over here now. We're going out and you're coming with me."

"Um, why?" Tori asked hesitantly.

"Does it matter? Just get your perky butt over here in 10 minutes or I'm leaving without you," Jade snapped before hanging up.

True to her word, Jade pulled up in her car exactly 10 minutes later. Tori got in warily, wondering what she'd been roped into.

To her surprise, Jade drove them to the nicest restaurant in town. "You're paying, by the way," Jade informed her as they walked in.

Over dinner, Tori finally got up the courage to ask what was going on. Jade sighed heavily.

"Look, I just…I can't let anyone from school see me all sad over Beck. So you're my cover - no one will question the ice queen if she's out with little miss sunshine."

Tori's face softened with understanding. She reached out to give Jade's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm here for you, no judgment. Let's just have a good girls' night, okay?"

Jade let out a small smile, grateful Tori had come without question to keep her company in her moment of weakness. Maybe they were more alike than she'd admit - and both needed each other more than they knew.

[laiqualaurelote]

Follow up question from your Ted/Trent one: would you elaborate on your S3 disappointment? Thanks for letting me pick your fascinating, insightful, brilliant brain!

You're very kind. My disappointments with S3 are manifold but I will try to sum them up here.

There was a pervasive wrongness to much of this season that had not previously been present, unlike in S1 and much of S2, where radical kindness was a driving force and storylines would seem to be heading towards a predictable trope, then be surprisingly and pleasingly subverted. Several S3 plotlines were handled in a way that left an unpleasant taste in the mouth, without any catharsis attached. The truly baffling Shandy storyline is a prime example of this. I thought at first that this was part of a wider plan (the dark forest, so to speak, from which we would eventually emerge) and defended the show to friends as such, but weeks went by and it became clear that a show that had once been meticulously, lovingly plotted in every detail had devolved into a haphazard mess.

Story arcs came and went with no perceptible purpose. The show promised Important Social Commentary (the attacks on Sam's restaurant, Keeley's sex video leaking) then failed to revisit these issues once the episodes in question were over. Plot points were hinted at, then never brought up again (Higgins broaches the subject of firing Ted to Rebecca; this is never returned to.)

The characterisation was a mass of unfulfilled potential. Why make the reason for Sam not being chosen for the Nigerian national team Edwin Akufo's cartoonish grudge, and not his S2E3 calling out of government corruption, which would have made far more sense narratively and given Toheeb Jimoh far more to work with? Why tell us repeatedly that Keeley is a PR genius, then fail to have her take charge of her own PR crisis? Instead of Shandy proving to be a bad hire, surely a better way to show Keeley learning to be a good leader would have been for her to integrate Shandy and Barbara's diverse skill sets and attitudes into a functional workplace dynamic. Why not show the most key milestones of Nate's reformation, especially his confrontation with Rupert when he quit West Ham? for that matter, why give the moment of a West Ham coach standing up to Rupert for ethical reasons not to Nate, but to George Cartrick? I think we were robbed of a truly meaty Nate villain-and-back arc.

The season finale was a mess. Ted barely seemed present. I'm not a Tedbecca shipper, but even to me the fakeout at the beginning seemed unnecessarily cruel (and a waste of time in a season where so many things were not adequately explored or given closure). The truly bizarre choices in the final montage, especially Beard's Stonehenge wedding with a conspicuously absent Ted, were the final straw. That Ted needed to return to Henry was, for me, without question, but the way it was handled was deeply questionable.

What bothers me a great deal is the lack of change. Characters either regressed (Roy and Jamie re: Keeley, Ted re: Michelle) or had no agency in major crises inflicted upon them. The opening and closing close-up shots are meant to be of the character that changes most over the course of the season. This holds true for Rebecca in S1, and Nate in S2, but not Ted in S3. What changes for Ted is circumstance: he is in London, leaving his son; then he is in Kansas, back with his son. He himself, however, is not shown to be changed to a degree significant enough to close the show on.

This is not to say it was all bad. There are things I love very much about S3: Roy and Trent's surprise dynamic; Nate/Jade; the Hey Jude scene; the strings exercise; Beard's Jean Valjean backstory; the entirety of Sunflowers, a near-perfect episode that deserved the Emmy writing nomination that was mystifyingly given to So Long, Farewell. It is only that we were asked to believe that the showrunners knew what they were doing in delivering us the final season of a three-season arc, and we did, and that belief was not rewarded. Therein lies my disappointment.

[blossom--of--snow]

Merry Christmas @lolcat76! Have some sickeningly happy Shandy <3

St. Joseph’s newly renovated reception hall was full at 7:30 on Sharon Raydor’s wedding night. Sharon and her bridesmaids had spent the previous night stringing twinkle lights, drinking wine coolers, and creating the reception playlist to replace the DJ who had the audacity to cancel the week before the wedding. By the time the vows were sealed with a kiss, bunches of baby’s breath peeked out of the vases on every table, lights sparkled in rows across the room, and place cards assigned everyone to their proper place.

Andy Flynn and Sharon Raydor deserved nothing less than to celebrate their nuptials in style.

As tradition demanded, husband and wife graced the dance floor first. The cream colored pleated skirt of Sharon’s reception dress fluttered against her knees every time she took a step, and Andy’s eyes devoured the skin peeking beneath the lacy top. “Any regrets so far?” Sharon teased, inching one side of her v-neck to cover more of her tasteful cleavage. She giggled when Andy tugged her off balance only to catch her in time for the first step.

“None.” Andy’s breath warmed the skin behind Sharon’s ear, validating her decision to pin her hair up.

After nuzzling Andy’s neck, Sharon eased back far enough to show him how happy she was. An hour and half and counting, and she couldn’t stop smiling. Just when she thought she could give her cheeks a rest, he would kiss her hand, or feed her cake, or pick “Unchained Melody” for their first dance and let her lead.

“We did it,” Sharon said, draping her arm farther around his neck. Tearing her eyes away from Andy’s giddy smile, Sharon scanned the room full of family. “And everyone’s here.”

Andy spun her a few times, because he knew she loved to see her skirt twirl, but pulled her back before too long. “Yeah, we know how to throw a party, huh?”

Sharon scoffed. “I’ve only had one drink and not quite all of one dance. The party’s just getting started.”

Glancing at the bridal party’s long table, Andy rolled his eyes. “Tell that to Provenza. Three glasses of champagne, and he’s practically under the table.”

“Ah-ah,” Sharon said, fingers covering Andy’s lips. “No grumbling today, remember? This is our day to be blissfully and disgustingly happy.”

Andy kissed her fingertips. “You make me this happy every day,” he murmured.

Oh, this man. Sharon stopped smiling for long enough to hum and kiss him, in front of everyone, because she could. They could make out for the rest of the night, right here on the dance floor, and no one could say a word. Today gave them license to show their entire little world how much they looked forward to spending the rest of their lives together.

“You’re so hot when you multitask,” Andy breathed against her lips when he realized Sharon hadn’t missed a step. 

Sharon laughed wickedly as Andy lowered her into a deep dip, prompting claps and whistles from their guests. “Then you’ll love my plans for this evening.”

Growling, Andy pulled Sharon upright, their noses inches apart. Sharon’s smile softened his intent, and they only exchanged an Eskimo kiss. Sharon smoothed her hands up Andy’s lapels and around his neck, coaxing him closer as the dance ended[R1] . Their guests’ applause broke them apart, and as planned, their children swept them up next. Ricky and Nicole each grabbed a parent, leaving Rusty and Emily to open the dance floor for the rest of the party. Before long, most of the bridal party was dedicated to embarrassing themselves by dancing to songs that only the older half knew.

By the next dance, husband and wife were reunited on the dance floor. Looking around at a room packed with friends and family, Sharon was relieved to see her happiness reflected on so many faces. Even Sanchez bore a grin, but since he chose Chief Johnson as his dance partner, he couldn’t hide his amusement. Cathy Tao kept far away from her husband, whose dance moves were frightening even before alcohol. Andrea, whose inhibitions were too strong to be conquered by pesky emotions, enjoyed herself on the sidelines with Fritz and a hefty slice of cake. Amy and Wes huddled in a corner with Elliott, trying to avoid dance partners. Andy’s grandchildren—Sharon’s step grandchildren—chased each other around the reception hall.

“Hey.” Andy squeezed Sharon’s waist. “You okay?”

Sharon’s smile could have lit all of Los Angeles. “I’m perfect. Everything is perfect. I’ve never been so happy.” She shook her head incredulously. “How did we get so lucky?”

“Hey, we worked hard for this,” Andy said, only half teasing. “Everything we’ve endured, everything we’ve given up, everything we’ve suffered—and we ended up here.”

Here, swaying in the arms of the love of her life, surrounded by everyone they love. Leaning forward, Sharon rested her forehead against her husband’s. “I’d do it all again, to be here with you.”

In the midst of a crowded dance floor, Andy Flynn kissed his wife breathless.

[miramis248]

My Au - Updating, Introducing OC'S and plot divergence

Heh

Hey, how ya'll doing? It's been a while... My work schedule is unforgiving at the moment 🙃

So, i've been working on my Au for the past few weeks whenever I had the opportunity. It is inspired by multiple fanfictions that I've read, and here's how it's going so far:

Jake Sully

When Jake arrived, he was taken aback by how things were being run at Hells gate, lower Ranked workers were being overworked and underpaid, he also heard through the grape vine that many were being threatened and blackmailed into silence by superiors and SEC-OPS about shandy stuff that had been happening, such as the deviation of funds from the mining safety regulation programs towards more poaching equipment, weapons and bigger equipment for intensive mining, as well as lining the pockets of superior assets to the company, he was less than pleased, but what strengthen his resolve was watching how the scientists were being treated by Selfridge, he hates the guy, especially after the accident...

When Jake was in the Avatar for the first time, he had a "seizure", at least that's what the science guys told him, and his human body went into a comatose, almost dead like state, while his mind was stuck in the Avatar, most likely permanently...Selfridge immediately goes into self-preservation mode and tries to make excuses, half-assed apologies, and then just straight-up blames Jake

"You read the contract. You knew the risks. This is all on you."

Now Jake reeeeeeeally wants to screw this guy over, and hopefully find a way to help the other workers and scientists along the way as well, so he starts hatching a plan, he talks to Grace and promises her he'll help them "get out" if they want to, he's leaving, but that doesn't mean he'll leave them high and dry, Grace and the other scientists are apprehensive of the idea, but decide to give Jake a set of Comns for safety and updates on how well his plan will work out.

He stays for around 3 months, getting a feel for his new body, working out, preparing himself...a few days before leaving, Trudy came to him with a serious request. She overhead him speaking to Max and Grace and needed help for a friend. She promised to keep his escape plans a secret.

Trudy took him to a room, there he finds Paz Socorro, an exhauted looking woman, who begs for him to help her, she has an health condition that only seems to be getting worse and she has another problem, Spider...

Spider is born a hybrid, the first human baby on pandora, born with a kuro and faded stripes along his body, covered in light freckles with the cutest little nose and pointy ears, Jake is as shocked as he is smitten by the little guy...how that happened...Paz saw the fruit growing outside, and her cravings got the best of her, they supposedly weren't dangerous for humans... Paz tells him that she might not survive because the human resources and insurance assholes that work for Selfridge keep making excuses as not to help pay for the surgery or having it at all on base, Paz has a heart condition discovered during her pregnancy, without proper help she will get sicker and most likely die, but they rather take their chances and send her back to earth even though she could also die in cryo and Spider would be left parentless, she's also worried about her son, selfridge knows about Spiders "condition" and she scared of what might happen to him.

She begs Jake to take her son, he can breath pandoran air, so he'll be fine, Jake is a bit worried about this decision but Paz tells him this might be the only way to keep her baby safe, he can't say no to that little face,so he accepts and is surprised when Paz pull out official papers

(Paz "His father is a dangerous man, he refused to sign the birth certificate, but I need to be sure he can't get him through any loopholes"

Jake "You're...adoption papers!? Paz, are you sure? Isn't it better to make me like a babysitter guardian guy or whatever? I mean we just met, and you asking me to take your kid, you dont know me!..."

Paz "No, this needs to be ironclad, I need this to be official. He will never get his hands on my baby boy, and I KNOW enough Sully, I know you offered others help to get out, so here i am accepting on the behalf of my son"

Jake "Ok!...ok, just...Jesus..."

Paz "i might not see either of you again...with the way things are going for me..."

Jake "I will take care of him...i promise you this, this kid is gonna be the happiest little guy"

Paz "You better you dumbass, or my spirit will haunt your blue ass")

(SPIDER DESERVES ALL THE LOVE, HE IS BABY)

And so, with the help of Truddy, Jake steals a bunch of supplies, including weapons and ammo, Grace helps cover up for him during their trip to look for samples. From there, with little Spider hidden in his backpack, he slowly shys away into the forest where he starts their new journey...

Still working out how he'll end up stumbling into Omatikaya territory...

So far, I've also been working on some of my Human OC'S that will be relevant to the AU, like the Viperwolf Hunters, we now also have

Maya Aguillar

Maya is an Avatar Driver, she worked in the labs, delved into Bioengineering, making prosthetics for both human nd na'vi alike, along with other medical devices built with Unobtainium, her search was defunded however because Harding's poaching was more profitable and she didn't exactly have the power to protest this decision, with her research on hold, she was then given the job of outside maintenance on her base(she only met Harding and Mercer once when she arrived, she she was tranfered to a lab a bit far out from the main base), Maya was sick and tired of all the excuses for not being able to fund her research, the mistreatment by higher ups and just the overall work conditions, when news of Jake Sullys escape and disappearance got out, aswell as learning that many others started leaving too, including some old friends, she made a risky decision and bounced, she had knowledge of a long abandoned mobile link inside a mountains wall far way, she took a jeep, hid her avatar in it and waited for nightfall, then she was gone... But that just the beginning because what she didn't realise is that the mobile link is very close to the Aranahe Clan, who didn't take long to notice their new neighbour...

(Had the time to doodle her)

John Maverick

Basically, it's a cowboy that came to Pandora, and now drives an Avatar.

Veterinary, big and small port animals, Pandoran Fauna and Flora enthusiast/expert, he was on animal care in a projet to study Pandoran animals, had to restrain himself from finding and strangling both Harding and Mercer after seeing the conditions in which the animals were being kept...he found a way to leave, as a human first, then busting open the gates on the back of an angstik he named Bluebell (like the cow he raised back home has a kid, his best friend), middle fingers up for the cameras with more than 15 heads of Catle and three funny and charismatic Pa'li that love to nip his ears... this man disapears, he finds a place(thank god thes people just abandon mobile links everywhere) where he can safely use the link unit, now he roams the plains with his herd of animals, he keeps them happy and safe, totally decked out in Cowboy fashion, hat and all (I imagine this man looping a rope on one of the bulls because they panic or something, throws himself on top of them rodeo style, lets them tire out and then just spends time sitting there calming this huge creature down with pats on their back and treats till the convince them to join the herd again) he's living his best life...in Zeswa lands...guess he thought the kites where just pretty decorations...(still working on drawing him)

That's it for now, but I'm still working in these OC'S, I'll don't more indept backgrounds for them later on.

There's also my concept of humans adapting to Pandora with Eywa's help. Basically, the Great Mother is loving and mischievous, and she'll use her children to guide these humans who long for a new life, for example, my take on humans being able to breath and eat and LIVE on Pandora will be because she'll use her Atokirina, or maybe animals to guide humans to flowers, moss or fungi, that when exposed to without a mask, changes their biology. Maybe they fall and break their mask and breath in spores or polen, maybe the animal suddenly pulls the mask from their face(A human guided by this nice, cute Syaksyuk getting their mask ripped of and face shoved into a flower) and then boom, they breath and eat from Pandora with no trouble!

Eywa will take to making humans See and learn, but also learn from them and adapt, so that everyone is happy 😊

There, that my Au so far, see ya'll later!

[lunar-years]

Okay other misc. thoughts about 3x07

can't believe our luck at getting a perfect hour of television two weeks running!! wow wow wow like there wasn't a single bad moment??? I was grinning like an idiot at my tv screen the entire time??? I fucking love this silly little soccer show ????

in hindsight changing the name from Ola's to the Strings That Bind Us was so deeply unserious I am rolling

The Sam plot was everything and more. Toheeb's rent was DUE. the man came to ACT. and boy did he deliver!!

I appreciated that Sam didn't let Simi's type of anger/wording define his own. he was still furious, but he was furious in a way that was true to himself and his own philosophies (that said I absolutely thought, when he typed "than a world class b--," he was about to type "bitch" not bigot hvsbfjjdsv)

his dad was EVERYTHING. I am obsessed! I am so so glad we got to meet him!

that said and not to make everything about Jamie (this plot was not about him but there's still a sad parallel I'm thinking about); the contrast of Sam having a breakdown in the locker room and then having his dad there to hug him and tell him it was going to be okay. versus Jamie's locker room breakdown caused by his dad where no one knew what to say and everyone stood around (before Roy stepped up.) Yeah. That was a bit of a gut-punch.

speaking of meeting people's families: I am obsessed with Nate's. I love that we found out he has a sister!! and they are clearly very close great siblings! I love that we met his niece! I enjoyed indirectly seeing a different side of his father via the map story, and his sister's comment about how Nate is just like his father surely was loaded. I could unpack that family dynamic for days but it was SO GOOD.

Nate spending a whole evening putting together that box to present to Jade! I audibly gasped when it fell in the street! But Nate did not let it deter him. oh no! He asked her out anyway! He didn't spit in that goddamn mirror! He took a risk!!! I am honestly so freaking proud of that man.

The Jack/Keeley stuff was yikesy. definitely love bombing. To me last episode's Rebecca plot was all about Rebecca learning to trust her gut instincts again and regain faith in herself, so you know what, if she is getting ~off~ vibes about Jack, I am with her all the way. It felt like they were definitely sprinkling the seeds for the means to a quick end for them. Sigh.

i love Rebecca/Keeley friendship it is truly one of my favorite female tv friendships in years. they are brilliant, they enchant me, etc.

based off of next episode's description and title things will definitely be blowing up for Keeley & Keeley/Jack. I just can't decide if it's going to be Shandy or Barbara who's going to plant the bomb. Ugh. Maybe they will team up and be horrible together.

Jamie in that dressing room....no thoughts to say about it just that I AM SO DAMN PROUD OF MY BOY

Trent Crimm the nerdy little man you are he is the BEST addition to the series regulars holy shit

this episode was genuinely really funny and probably my favorite jokes of the season it was all around so good

THE BOYS COMING TOGETHER AND CLEANING UP SAM'S RESTAURANT. I AM CRYING REAL ACTUAL ALLIGATOR-SIZED TEARS.

perfect episode was perfect.

[heyheymarrymearchie]

i rewatched the new ted lasso episode as soon as i finished it, and i took notes so here we go:

my thoughts on s3e3, in chronological order

COLIN GAY REVEAL! i'm glad my roommate was gone tonight because oh my god i had such an extreme reaction. i knew (hoped) this would happen, yet somehow i was still shocked that they actually did it this soon? like, as soon as they showed him in the first shot i immediately knew we were gonna get the reveal and i went feral to say the least

the way he says his mantra when he gets in the car, i'm sobbing

colin being a shit driver and the intro song starting and stopping-- i won't lie i had myself a little giggle

TRENT'S FRUITY LITTLE OUTFIT

trent liking princess diaries (because of his daughter?) is wonderful

oh my god i'm straight for jamie tartt

everyone's reactions to zava holding higgins

higgins is definitely gonna have drama with shandy, but like, in the same way he did with beard and jane

dani's hair looking GLORIOUS today

i wanted to like tish and then she had to go and be a fucking bitch (rebecca was being super rude and condescending though too i'm not gonna ignore that)

when shandy says to say something shocking in their interviews AND YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY SEE THE GEARS TURNING IN COLIN'S HEAD

beards smirk when he's talking to jamie just gets to me it's so cute

JAMIE'S RIGHT THOUGH?? like my mom always says, pride comes before the fall, and zava's fall is definitely imminent

chris the commentator has always been an underrated character

poor ted, obviously we all knew michelle was gonna have a new man, but their therapist?? that's fucking insane 

ted having a mini panic attack for zava's first game is definitely an omen

ted immediately stalking his ex's new bf? so relatable. (if you follow me you know i have an issue lol)

oh god it's gonna be a slow burn with keeley and roy, isn't it

as happy as i am about the boyfriend reveal for colin, i feel like i'm getting some red flags from this guy?? idk, nothing in particular but something just seems off (but hopefully i'm proven wrong!)

jamie and roy's eye contact after zava stole the goal--

the shot of jamie from above when he sees zava's tattoo I'M OBSESSED WITH THIS KID

colin introducing michael as his 'pal' makes me want to cry

keeley's little hair bow?? yes please

JAMIE'S EARRINGS???? i'm deceased

as someone who used to think it was pre-madonna, Thank You Roy

ROY AND JAMIE ALLIANCE!! the former best-guys-on-the-team are gonna take down the current best-guy-on-the-team

the restaurant scene made me realize how desperate i am for sam and rebecca to get back together

i nearly screamed when we got the shot of trent from the trailer where he adjusts his coat and all (yknow the bit i'm talking about)

trent can either be a hero or a dick here and i'm actually so scared about that cliffhanger 

i'm a MAJOR trent crimm girlie so obviously i want him to be super slay, and hopefully we'll get the whole gay mentor thing for colin that we've all been talking about. but as someone with really bad anxiety, i'm preparing for the fucking worst. i cannot handle this!!

[invisibleraven]

"I have tickets for that band you like. Want to go with me?" / Peterpatter

If there was one thing Reggie knew he was good at, it was trivia. His brain was full of useless knowledge and facts. Alex told him he should go on Jeopardy and sweep the whole thing, Ken Jennings style, but Reggie just waved him off. "I'd never get the hang of answering everything as a question."

So instead Reggie saved it for trivia nights at local bars, with Luke, Bobby, and Alex helping when they could, but mostly reaping the benefits of cheap beer and half price wings. Plus whenever they won, which they did often, they got a small cash prize-most of which went towards their demo savings.

"See this is why you should go on Jeopardy Reg," Luke joked. "Promote Sunset Curve on air and earn us enough to do a full demo."

"Or at least enough to get us enough to afford Green Day tickets," Bobby added.

The boys all sighed in unison at that. Green Day was the band that first made them decide to try their hand at the whole rockstar thing in the first place. Luke especially idolized Billie Joe and they had all tried desperately to get tickets. But they had sold out fast, and with the insane cost, none of them could justify the price when they had rent to pay and food to eat.

"Maybe one day," Reggie mused, sending a look at the despondent Luke. Reggie had tried hardest to get tickets for them, as it had been their dream to see the band together. And well, Reggie secretly wanted to use them as a way to finally ask Luke out. A prefect first date really, never to be topped. To be all "I have tickets for that band you like. Want to go with me?"

Yeah right, like that lame line would work.

But still, he could dream right?

Then... maybe it was fate, maybe the universe was listening, but the local radio station had two tickets for the concert up for grabs, just days beforehand. Tickets you could win by calling in and answering a trivia question.

Reggie frantically grabbed his phone, dialling the number, and scowling when he got the busy signal. Tried again, and again, and again. Finally a dial tone!

"KJPR, are you calling regarding the Green Day tickets?"

"Yes!" Reggie exclaimed. "Yes I am!"

"Alrighty, you're on the air with Shandy and Dave! What's your name sport?"

"Reggie."

"Well then Reggie, you ready for the question?"

"Hit me."

"Okay Reggie, what was Green Day's original band name and the name of their original pre Tre Cool drummer?" the host asked.

Reggie's mind went blank for a second. God, he knew this! He took a deep breath. He could do this. For Luke. "They were originally called Sweet Children, and their drummer was Al Sobrante."

"Correct!"

Reggie could hear obnoxious noises from the radio control booth, but that word, Correct, was all that was ringing in his ears. He was sure he screamed and thanked them, barely processing being handed over to a producer to collect his details.

All he knew was that he now had the most prized possession he needed. He just needed to ask Luke...without pissing off Alex and Bobby.

"Hey Reg, heard you on the radio this morning!" Alex exclaimed, clapping him on the back as he entered the studio later that day. "Almost as good as Jeopardy my man!"

"So who you gonna take?" Bobby demanded.

Crap. Reggie looked at them both, then to the doorway, where Luke was standing, looking hopeful. Then back to Alex and Bobby, who were giving him wide, knowing smirks. "Ummm...'

"It's cool man," Bobby said. "You two have fun."

"Yeah, me and Bobbers understand-but only if you bring us back shirts," Alex added.

"Deal," Reggie replied, breathing out a sigh of relief. "Luke, you free Saturday?"

"Really? You mean it?" Luke asked, coming over to embrace Reggie as he nodded. "Yes yes yes!"

And then Luke captured Reggie's mouth in an enthusiastic kiss, all teeth and tongue, and Reggie barely noticed Alex and Bobby leaving them as he gentled it. Guess he didn't need to bother asking Luke if it was a date or not. Especially after they tumbled to the couch and didn't get up for nearly twenty minutes, too consumed with kissing.

It turned out to not be their first date though-that was Friday night; pizza and the arcade, and even more kissing. But Green Day proved to be a pretty good second date.

And an even greater story when they met the band a few years later at some awards ceremony. Where Luke got to flash their new engagement rings and tell Billie Joe himself how the band brought them together, and landed him the love of his life.

Reggie thought the credit really belonged to him knowing Al Sobrante's name, but there was no way he was saying that-especially not in front of Green Day.

But he totally invited them to the wedding. And grinned when they agreed to come-and through the awesome jam session that was their reception.

Guess that useless trivia packing his brain was good for something after all.

[divinemissem13]

Now it's your turn. Let's go with Sharon as well.

Oh good, now instead of commenting on your post, I get to rant on my own 😂 😍

How I feel about this character: I love her. I love the cold, snarky, closed-off Sharon from The Closer, and I love the warm, funny, maternal Sharon from Major Crimes. She is tough and intelligent and a total boss bitch in the best sense of the word. Plus, she has mermaid hair and looks incredible in a pantsuit. (And have you seen her with a bean bag rifle? I mean, really).

All the people I ship romantically with this character: This may come as a shock to anyone following me here but... I'm a big Brenda/Sharon shipper 🤣. I wholeheartedly believe that if they had met in a less antagonistic setting, they could have been friends, at least... and that having a female friend would have given each of them a nice sense of balance. Sharon eventually (in MC) gets Rusty to crack her wide open, but for Brenda, Sharon is the closest thing she gets to a friend who won't let her get away with shit but isn't condescending about it (eventually) and I think she really needed that... oops this is supposed to be about Sharon, not Brenda.... Also a fan of Shandy, Sharon/Andrea, and I do find Sharon/Fritz intriguing and think they fit better than Brenda/Fritz (speaking of which, I am not opposed to reading a Brenda/Fritz/Sharon fic every now and again...)

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Rusty. He is responsible for most of the drastic changes to Sharon's character in MC (which, as I've said, I'm a fan of), and I think that their relationship is so beautiful and complex. I also love Sharon and Provenza - both when they are being antagonistic and also when they secretly kind of get mushy and supportive of each other.

My unpopular opinion about this character: Probably that I like MC Sharon just as much as TC Sharon 🤷‍♀️ .

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: We are going to ignore that thing that didn't happen and I will instead say I wish we knew more about Sharon's relationships outside of the LAPD. I love episodes where she is going toe to toe with Jack and would have liked to see more of that, but also, what happened to her parents? Is she an only child? Where did she grow up? Go to school? You can't tell me that she had no social structure of any kind in place before MC, so who are her friends?? But I guess that's what fanfic is for 😁

[xxdumbblondexx]

---Additional Learning Support---

5 - Only if I get to push you Infront of a car.

Master List --- Next --- Previous

You arrive at the pub to be greeted by a dark haired guy, standing behind the bar chatting and laughing with patrons. It’s lively and warm inside and still, you feel unexpectedly nervous.

He smiled at you, before stepping closer, one eye covered by his long hair. “Are you here for the interview?”

“Yep.” You almost chocked on the words in your throat.

“Well our boss has already spoken to your dad and said we’ll give you a trial period.” “And that means?”

“It means you start today. We’ll train you for two weeks and then depending on your performance and your opinion, you can properly start working.”

“Yeah, still not understanding any of it.” He laughed, almost like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. It twigged on your last nerve and you wondered if you could even quit this early on.

“Come on in, I'll introduce you to everyone.” he kicked the door of the bar open, before creating a grand gesture of welcoming you in.

……

The shift was somehow more fun than you thought it would be. You get to know most of the servers there and even learn their names.

They also seemed to all go to your school and all knew your brother which seemed like it would backfire massively. But as soon as you provided them with ammo, you were all besties. Or so you’d like to think.

As you stood in the kitchen, shining cutlery, Kaeya, the first guy you met, stood with you.

“Alright, pop quiz. If I ask for a larger top it is…”

“A pint of larger with a little bit of lemonade in the top.”

“Good, and a shandy?”

“Ale or larger, half filled with lemonade.” “Good!” He grinned, even clapping his hands a little.

You had learned to tolerate him and his teasing. Anyway, with older siblings, you were used to teasing. It was endearing in the most annoying way possible.

“[name]!” Called a person from the kitchen door. You turned to find Amber, another barmaid stood there with a burning grin. “There's a guy here for you. Said he was gonna meet you.”

And you completely forgot about that. For fuck sake.

You left the kitchen to find Heizou sitting at the bar with the hood of his jumper up and texting on his phone.

You felt unnaturally anxious as you stepped closer, like you’d swallowed a rock that now clogged up your throat. But it was too late to run away as his eyes shot to you and an overly confident smile met his lips.

“That uniform looks good on you.” Was the first thing he said.

“Gross. Can I have my id card?”

Something about his gaze made your skin crawl and palms sweat. It wasn’t intense or anything, yet still made your chest tighten.

Maybe it was something to do with not having many boys in your life apart from those genetically related to you. Childe had a talent for scaring away any guys that looked your way and he definitely put it into practice countless times.

But strangely enough, part of you wished he would now, even when you hated when he did.

“Nah, not yet. You said you’d have a drink with me.” He stuck his hands in his hoodie pockets as he reclined over the bar stool.

“No, I said that sounded like hell. Anyway, even if I wanted, neither of us could get served.”

But just as that sentence left your lips, Lisa— another barmaid —placed two pint glasses onto the bar.

“Here you go, cuties.” She grinned before stepping back to serve someone else.

“You were saying?” The tease in his voice made you want to make him wear that drink he nonchalantly took a sip of.

Instead a sigh left your lips as you threw yourself into the bar stool next to him.

“Fine but only one. My parents want me home.”

“Want me to walk you back?” His suggestion only made your heart more tense as you scoffed out a breath.

“Only if I get to push you in front of a car on the way.”

The smile was back on his face. It was a Cheshire Cat like grin that mocked you from its place on his lips.

“You can try.”

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

Hiyaaa,

Working as a bar maid is quite a fun job, ngl. I have such a love hate relationship with my job. Being there until 1 am on some nights is definitely a hate. As well as not being able to close early when its dead since my boss doesn't want to upset the regulars. But i do like the regulars, their all so nice and one of them always calls me their grand daughter soooo.

If your wondering what's a larger and what's a ale, in layman's terms (My terms since idk what the difference in depth) larger is the carbonated bear such as Fosters or Heineken meanwhile Ale's aren't usually, such as Courage or Hobgoblin.

Remember to have your say [HERE]

Thanks for reading x

[jamietxrtt]

episode three. SO MUCH IS HAPPENING.

GAY COLIN GAU GCCOLIN GAY COLIN CAY GOLK.NNNZNSFKDJNDSFJSDFNSEMFKJSF

THEY KISSED!!!! THEY KISSED ONSCREEN!!!! i knew we were gonna get gay colin from the filming spoilers but OH MY GOD. AN ACTUAL QUEER KISS. ON SCREEN. IN TEDLASSO. ASHDHASDFHDFSSMGHKJWRBGKRWGWREGNWR

so curious about who his boyfriend is??? why is he casually flying to dubai??

also the first time i watched this i mistook it for being jamie’s house and i was like HOLD ON HANG ON A MINUTE HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD THE FUCKING PHONE

he looks so nervous when walking from the door to the car like he’s trying to hide from anybody else around but. babe you think they won’t notice your bright orange lamborghini??? like i think you have to be more worried about getting caught when ur IN the car not out of it

THE INTRO FAKEOUT ALSKJFLSDJGRKGJERG

“if my maths” roy nods “are correct” roy shakes his head. i think bc it’s supposed to be plural? i’m american idk

also!! roy encouraging ted with that little nod was actually really cute and sweet!!

OHHHHHHH ROY SAID COLIN’S A CHAMELEON. OHHHHHHH. see the first time i watched this i heard “colin’s a comedian” and i was like huh this must be some football terminology i don’t know. you call someone who’s a really versatile player a comedian? hm that’s a funny name. well football is wacky!

in s2 jamie calls roy a “grumpy old twat” and ted says “now i agree with the grumpy part, but those other two i take issue with.” now in s3 roy calls jamie a “fragile little bitch” and ted just says “yep that’s what i meant, thanks roy”. part of a pattern of ted defending roy but not defending jamie in the same circumstances-- which is honestly fair, i get why he’d like roy better, but it’s an interesting pattern to notice

ted calling higgins “higgie bear” :)

“fuck yeah, princess diaries!” reminds me of beard in s1 “fuck yeah, the gershwins!”

jamie literally physically getting pushed out by zava aww

also “come on, hurry up and get dressed, we don’t want to keep our newest teammate waiting!” smash cut directly to everyone being kept waiting by said teammate

ted referencing richmond VA made me laugh bc that’s the first thing i always think of when i hear richmond lmao

HEHEHEHEHE KEELEY CLEARLY HAS A BIT OF A CRUSH ON ZAVA. her sticking her hand straight out with the little “hii!!!!!” girl can’t get over those hot famous footballers can she

and SHANDY’s into him too. everyone is stunned by zava

except, it seems, rebecca… right after zava says “you are the glue” to higgins, she gets this look on her face like she’s realizing something… it made me think back to last episode, where she talked about how rupert had the ability to make you feel special, like you were chosen just because he deigned to talk to you, and how that made you addicted to his attention. i think she’s now seeing that zava’s doing the exact same thing-- he knows exactly what to say to make everyone charmed, to make everyone feel special. to make his approval the most important thing you could get. i think that’s why rebecca is one of the few who’s immune to his charm-- she’s had plenty of practice resisting that kind of manipulation.

“how did the damage control go?” “oh it was a mess, but he was adorable” ALSKJFLKSDJF SAME SHANDY

everyone keeps having very interesting reactions to shandy. keeley says “we work together” and they’re still like ??? and then she says “and we’re old friends” and they’re like oh NOW it makes sense. both higgins did it and later the boys when she’s talking to them about the interview stuff. and possibly rebecca did something similar last episode but i can’t remember. i think it’s meant to show how they don’t really think she’s super professional so they need an extra bit of explanation for WHY she’s working with keeley? i wonder if that will become a point of tension between them. “you keep telling everyone i’m your friend like you needed some excuse to hire me, like i’m not good enough just on my own, so you have to explain why i’m here. do you actually think i’m capable of this or are you just pitying me? why did you offer me the job if you don’t actually think i’m capable of doing this?”

my first reaction when zava walked into the locker room: “ah, so zava is jesus”

i like the bit where he keeps standing in front of ted ASKJFLKSJF i found that funny

calling the kitman “the most important person in the room” interesting contrast to s1 jamie and the rest of the guys who always tormented the kitman. zava is self absorbed and possibly insidious but in a very different way

also when he gestures to jamie like he thinks jamie is the kitman and roy sees it and smiles ASLDFJLKSJ ROY. also jamie’s look after zava points at him like “bitch?” and the way he looks to roy like “can you believe this shit?”

“i too worked as a ballboy when i was eleven years old” “i’m… twenty five” see this is a perfect example of the insidiousness of zava!! he’s claiming to appreciate will but infantilizes and disrespects him in the process… it’s a very “aww, aren’t you adorable” kind of smug demeaning attitude… but done through the cover of appreciating him, so it still looks like he’s a good guy

the joke of him letting out the breath and everyone else running out of air ASLKFJLKDSJFLKDSJFLSDKFj as a singer i appreciate that joke so much…. like how much fkn lung capacity do you HAVE

ted looking to roy to talk to zava ALKSDJFLKDSJFLSDKJFSDLJFDSLJF and then roy’s “you’re the fucking coach!!”

all the boys in the back peering into the coaches office ASKDJFLSDKJFLSK

i never understand any of the jokes in this show AKLSJFLSKFJSLD i’m so unknowledgeable about pop culture the references always fly right over my head

hi this is just to remind everyone that hannah waddingham is an excellent actor. every time i see one of her face journeys they’re just so immaculate. her reaction shots are always SO GOOD. you can always clearly see exactly what she’s thinking but without it being hammy or over the top. she’s perfect at it

“because your mother was a skeptic” lmaooo, you can see how much rebecca LOVES being told that she’s more like her mother than she thought she was aSLDKFSDLKFJS

like i realize that tish is a scam artist but i also kind of love her for the aesthetic alone. i would kill to live in this house

as SOON as tish said “there’s thunder and lightning” i immediately thought “you deserve someone who makes you feel like you’ve been struck by fucking lightning”

“you’re drenched and you’re upside down but you’re safe” it’ll be scary and you’ll be turned around but it’s okay, love is worth it, you’re safe

i thought the “you’re going to be a mother” thing was gonna pull rebecca back but i’m proud of her for recognizing it as the control/scam tactic it is. identifying the thing your client cares about most (tish talks to deborah once a month so she’d probably know that rebecca has always wanted kids, or otherwise it’s not a hard thing to guess would be a sore subject given the rupert drama, and the fact that rupert now has a kid with someone besides her, is public knowledge), whether it be kids, a dead loved one, money, fate, etc, and using that as leverage to get them to stay, thereby giving them false hope about something genuinely important to them-- like say, communicating with a dead loved one-- and setting them up to be crushed just so you can get them to stay and keep paying you.

however i’m still unclear on how much the show wants us to be on tish’s side bc later the green matchbox thing comes true so?????

shandy confronting roy about the breakup AHHHHH girl i know you’re trying to help by defending keeley but you are putting her in a SO MUCH MORE AWKWARD POSITIONNNN

keeley has spent the whole season so far trying to paste a fake smile on top of a situation she feels is spiraling out of her control :(

beard’s little HEHEHEHEHEHE after he tricks ted about the wordle ASKLDJFLKDSJFDSLK I LOVE HIM

also you can tell how long s3 was in production because they made this when wordle was still the big craze lololol

when jamie says “i think we’ve got a good thing going here, and zava’s already fucking it all up!” roy gives an interesting look. i took it to mean “i agree but i don’t like the fact that i agree with fucking jamie”

“thanks for hearing me out” “thanks for speaking your mind! please continue to do so!” reminds me of ted in s2 to sam “you are a leader on this team. i want you to speak your mind.”

“i weren’t being ironic, i was being hypocritical” jamie corrects people on language twice in this ep (later he corrects roy with prima donna vs pre-madonna), which is interesting because of his historical difficulties with language (nail in the ashes, instant caramel, etc). i wonder if he’s been trying to pay more attention to that? or if this is supposed to say that jamie has been smarter than everyone thought all along and he’s just been playing dumb? (like how when beard asks him “isn’t that a bit ironic?” he says “...i dunno” as if he’s too thick to get what beard means when he says ironic. but then later when he says “i wasn’t being ironic, i was being hypocritical,” it both shows that he DID understand what beard meant, and also that he’s smart enough to correctly label the interaction himself. so then why didn’t he just say that earlier, why did he pretend like he didn’t get what beard meant by ironic? maybe this is supposed to say that he was pretending in the past, too. …or maybe i’m reading too much into this bc i love him lololol)

also the fact that jamie was freely able to admit he was being hypocritical!! like he understands that he was the same way in s1, but when he was the same way (it’s all about me, just give me the ball and i’ll win all the games for us, you all are just my backup dancers) it was seen as a huge problem and a red flag and a detrimental effect on the locker room. and now when zava does the same thing it’s okay? like jamie understands that he was the same way, but he also understands that the way he was was WRONG. so why is it not still wrong when zava does it?

“now remember, this 4-5-1 is not about dropping back. it’s about getting fucking service into the box for zava” and the fact that they have penalties: zava, free kicks: zava, corners: zava, is all verrrrry interesting. because jamie in s1 was the same way! “Look, our whole offense right now is all give-and-go. Give the ball to Jamie and everyone else can go to hell.” which is literally now the strategy they have with zava!!! but when that was the case with jamie, it was seen as a HUUUGE PROBLEM that needed to change! why is it fine when it’s zava in that place instead?

isaac asking colin if he was alright is very very sweet. i love a good captain and friend <3

also written on the board “make this match your match-terpiece” i love teddd that’s so cute

and then zava breaking up the hand circle to make them put their hands on HIM and HE takes the richmond on three instead of the captain…… mmmmm don’t like it

when jamie lingers behind and gives ted that “told ya so” look AKLSJDFLKSDFJ. remind me of when sam did the same thing in s2 when jamie first came back

also i can’t tell what beard says right after that so if anyone else can make it out pls lmk

“i can’t remember michelle’s cell phone number.” “OHHHH.”

that trump impression was so painful. but i think it was supposed to be

also he calls her “michelle keller” which is very interesting, i don’t think we’ve ever learned her maiden name, bc ted still has her in his phone as “michelle lasso”

the look on jake’s face when he realizes it’s ted. he’s just like “and that’s when i knew i fucked up”

“dr jacobs?” “yeah, uh, you can just call me jake!” ASLKFDJSLKDJFSKD YEAH I’LL BET BUDDY u are so getting your license revoked

and then him begging michelle to take the phone and that whispered “it’s ted” and then it’s MICHELLE’S turn to go “and that’s when i knew i fucked up”

laurel pointed this out to me but henry picking jamie’s number for his soccer team is so cuteeeee

i do like michelle and jake’s little mouthed conversation “i’m sorry” “no, i’m sorry”

ted listening over the phone to jake saying “come on, bud. you ever seen a subaru…” and you can tell his heart is just breaking bc it should be HIM driving henry to his soccer game

when zava told jamie “get open, i will find you” i genuinely thought that meant he was going to pass to jamie and was trying to win jamie over too by giving him chances to score. but obviously not. he was just fucking with his head a think.

also did he slap jamie’s ass????????

ted on the verge of another panic attack :(((((((

and just as a jamie stan i really hate how zava’s halfway line goal kinda shows up jamie’s amazing penalty goal from last season but that’s just me being biased ALSJDFLKDSJFKD

dani on zava’s back is so cuteeee

YESSSS I LOVE A MONTAGE

jamie walking into them meditating and then walking right back out asKLFDJSLFJSKJFSASLKDFJSLKDJF that was so funny

also love how the whiteboard in that scene just says “OM”

saw someone comparing zava to a mini cult leader and yeah tbh true

ted facebook stalking his ex’s new man while drinking alone in his apartment :( ted baby no this is not the way

rebecca’s “what the fuck am i doing?” look when she catches herself looking for the green matchbook SKLJFLKSJF

colin texting his boyf in the locker room that’s risky man, anyone could look over ur shoulder

fucking zava stealing jamie’s first goal of the season makes me so mad. again this is just bc i’m a jamie stan. but still

aaaand roy definitely notices when zava steals that goal and doesn’t look too enthused about it. again i think he’s kind of agreeing with jamie that zava is not cool but doesn’t want to admit that he’s agreeing with jamie. (i think this is all leadup to him offering to train jamie later on, like he wants jamie to best zava too)

again allow me to be a jamie stan for a minute: them winning for the first time at man U…. an AWAY GAME at man u…….. so IN MANCHESTER….. and zava scored a hat trick, meaning nobody else scored….. so jamie didn’t score….. while in manchester….. do u see where i’m going with this

RUPERT BEX BABY

dani mimicking zava with the snapping is very very cute

DANI MADE ZAVA A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET… SO CUTE

colin and his boyf (michael?) being “wingman” for each other…. mmm not a bad cover story! interesting that they had that so rehearsed, wonder how often they use that line

beard ordering “a single and a double…. a triple….” just like ted did back in the gala ep HAHAHA

beard and jane continue to make me uncomfortable

roy noticing jamie sitting alone and going to talk to him is actually really sweet….

JAMIE EARRINGS??? I DIDN’T REALIZE HE HAD HIS EARS PIERCED

also jamie forever with the icon branded stuff ALSKFJSLKFJSDLKFJ

“god’s gift to people who have everything” very interesting to me that jamie phrases it like this, because…. doesn’t he also kinda have everything????? he’s mega stupid rich. what does he mean by “everything”?

“you used to be the best. now you’re not. it happens.” roy knows this from experience, jamie. the same thing happened to him. also i like his little nod on this line. he’s genuinely trying to be supportive. it’s very sweet :) i like roy trying to give jamie some guidance, i think it’s very sweet

also jamie “you thought i was the best?” hehehe he cares what roy thinks… roy’s always gonna be his childhood hero from his poster <3

roy’s “but only if you fuckin’ mean it” to jamie is the same thing he said to phoebe’s soccer team last season hehe

“yeah, she’s great, i love how not shy she is” and rebecca is immediately like OPE BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT ALSKFJLKSDJFSD

keeley and rebecca looking at sam, then roy, then jamie…. you ever have a nightmare where all your exes are in the same room? keeley and rebecca live in that every day ALSDKFJDSLKFJDSLJFSDLKF

the two of them realizing “wow, we truly are both in the most awkward of situations here” is very funny ASKLDJFLKSDJFSD

wtf was that thing about avocados about? where did zava get avocados from? i don’t get this interaction what is it trying to say

noticed a little continuity error lol. when sam is receiving the matchboxes you can see beard and jane behind him just sitting and talking but then in the very next shot they’re making out and she shoved him away lol

MIND UR OWN BUSINESS TRENT. MIND UR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS.

man. SO MUCH happened this ep. these 50 minute episodes are gonna kill me

[aveys6]

ted lasso 3.05 favorite parts in no particular order of scenes or adoration!!! + things i did not like

jade coming around :)

not sure what did it, maybe the defense of the restaurant (him finally being real with someone of status), but im glad because they could make a beautiful and healthy couple

trent being present for one of ted's famous talks

trent making odd noises 😭

gay mug

ted swearing during his speech, being intense with his movements towards his heart, head, and sternum, ripping up the sign PUTTING IT ON THE BENCH AND LEAVING IT THERE

ted playing roblox with his son

rebecca needing keeley :(

me and my dad not knowing whether she got good news or bad news from her doctor (aka hannah waddingham is a god at facial expressions)

shite in nining armor

rebecca not being surprised that higgins believes in psychics 💀

keeley appreciating her employees :)

a heckler being singled out.... i have a feeling i know what that's gonna be about but if i'm wrong im interested to see what they do with that

things i did not like!

in my experience it is not that easy to avoid an impending panic attack, especially for someone who isn't used to practicing coping mechanisms.

for the sake of pacing i totally understand why the sequence was so quick and i appreciate ted's self-soothing tactics and his growth

shandy's outburst. it felt similar to edwin akufo's. did not like. her character is like that, yeah, but why are they writing in comic relief temper tantrums?

please please please talk to me about shandy if you have any opposing thoughts! i want to hear your views as to why you valued her character or her involvement in the show! lmk!

bosses hooking up with their employees! im just not a fan of the power imbalance!

i hope keeley and jack have their fun, i know they'll steer from that storyline anyway. and although we knew keeley was bi it was nice to see anyway

that's it for now! talk to me about ted lasso!