#and the nominees for question of the year are...

[chai-berries]

dreams do come true / patri guijarro

a dream is a wish your heart makes. or a wish you make for your humble and talented girlfriend / wc: 1492

She can hear you before she sees you, down the hallway and into the living room, your voice traveling through the apartment, getting louder as you walk to find her.

“Patriii, como se dice “psychic” or whatever Raven Baxter was in “That’s So Raven” in Español, because I need to tell you about the dream I just had! Where are you?”

“In the kitchen!”

Patri’s at the blender, putting together a protein shake to end all protein shakes when you come into the room. You’re still in your sleep clothes while Patri is already in her training joggers, but she thinks you look so sweet, rumpled and warm from sleeping in her bed. However this morning, instead of sleep, you have excitement in your eyes. You head right over to her and wrap your arms around her waist, making Patri laugh.

“Hola, amor. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes,” you say into her shoulders. You stay attached to your girlfriend as she pours the shake into her travel cup and even when she shifts to rinse the blender in the sink. When you still don’t let go of her, she twists her body in your arms. You hum subconsciously when she wraps her arms around you, pressing a kiss onto your temple.

“Sí? And what was your dream you were screaming about?” she asks. You finally let her go when her question is processed in your brain. Your eyes light up again.

“Oh yeah. I had a dream you won the Ballon D’or!”

Patri scoffs.

“Hey! Don’t scoff! Everyone is talking about it. Even at my job, I overhear your name. This could be your year!”

“To win the Ballon D’or?”

“No, to fly to the moon.” You deadpan.

“Sooo funny.”

“You were nominated last year. And you’re gonna win this year. What - Don’t - You - Get?” you simultaneously tap the side of her head to get the point really across.

Patri shrugs. “I’m just being realistic. There’s a lot great players this year —“

“Including you.”

“Including me, sí, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

You roll your eyes at her humble argument.

“Whatever, I’ll tell Alexia and Aitana about how you are talking and they will straighten you out.”

The two older girls do in fact scold Patri for being negative on herself during training later in the day, you having followed through with your threat.

Months later, you go to the awards as Patri’s plus one. Wearing an extremely silky suit that Patri adored on you, only three buttons and a low cut in the front. Patri’s tailored suit fit her so well you actually bit your fist when she showed off her look to you at your apartment. Patri made sure to wear your favorite perfume of hers and you made sure to thank her immensely in the car ride to the venue.

You follow after Patri as she goes through all the steps as one of the nominees. Carpet pictures with the other girls, the show runners, then she takes a few with the other Barcelona players, followed by the Spanish ones. You shadow her with Olga and the other partners, just off to the side of the cameras but in sight of each other.

After all the formal pictures were taken, Patri gestures towards you, wanting to take a picture with just both of you. You try not to show your nerves in front of the cameras as you walk over to her. You couldn’t see any of the people behind them, the lights creating a blinding barrier.

Patri feels your body tense up when she wraps her arm around you.

“Mi Vida,” she whispers. “It’s okay. breathe for me, please.” You follow her instructions and relax enough to look normal for the cameras and crowd. Olga and alexia are getting photographed together next to you and Olga reaches out to briefly squeeze your hand in comfort once you're done. Patri takes a hold of your other, using it to guide you into the auditorium. You find safety in the other Spanish and Barcelona girls again. As everyone settles into seats, you squeeze Patri’s hand in thanks when she lets you go into the aisle first.

The ceremony flows through all the scripts that award ceremonies always do and soon people in clean black attire comes up and asks all the nominees to sit near the front of the stage.

You press a quick good luck kiss to Patri’s lips and sit back down next to the other nominees’ plus ones. Olga grabs your hand and squeezes it. You don’t even realize that you’re following Patri down to the front of the stage with your eyes until Olga squeezes your hand again.

“Vida, you are more nervous about this than Patri is!” she whispers loudly. You and those nearby laugh because it’s true. Ever since the nominations were announced, you had been so sure that she would win because you had a dream about it. It may seem ridiculously to an outsider but to you, it was like a manifestation. You were so proud of Patri and you wanted everyone to know it. You even posted an Instagram pic of you wearing your Patri shirt, with a link to the official Ballon D’or website treated like a cited source.

You don’t have to grip onto Olga’s hand in anticipation for very long. The Ballon D’or montage is playing on the big screen. You see so many familiar faces flashing by. But you had a physical reaction when Patri’s highlights came on.

The presenters, with bright smiles on their faces, went through the list of nominees. You waited impatiently for the end.

“And the winner of the Ballon D’or is…… Patricia Guijarro Gutierrez.”

You’re up clapping before they finish speaking, everyone around you are also up, giving Patri a standing ovation as she climbs the steps and accepts the Ballon trophy. The presenters lead her to the microphone so she can be heard.

“Uh, hello, everyone… I’m going to be honest, I did not believe that I would win this tonight. All my fellow nominees are some of the greatest football players in the world and to even be considered alongside them is an honor. I don’t want to bore you with a big speech, so I’ll go to my Thanks. Thank you to my teams. Being able to play alongside you as a career is more than a dream. You all teach me in so many different ways. Thank you to my friends and family. For putting up with my football obsession all these years. Sorry, not sorry. A special thanks to my partner, because I wouldn’t be here without your support. And I mean that both in general and on this stage. Dreams do come true… Finally, thank you to the fans, to the supporters. To the people who come to the games, watch them at home, and everyone inbetween. We play for ourselves and for you.” Patri finishes. She picks up the trophy and holds it up higher, then speaks again into the microphone. “Thank you. Thank you from my heart, immensely.” She steps back and the presenters help her leave the stage while the crowd is clapping for her again.

You’re not crying but you are supporting goosebumps on your arms from Patri’s speech. It was perfect and so her. Her line about your dream made you giddy. What a subtle line that only a few would understand.

Patri and the other nominees eventually make it back to your original seats. Everyone congratulates Patri on the way back. When Patri stays standing while the others sit, you raise an eye brow in question.

She gestures you to come to her. “Vida, come with me. I still have a few things to do. But I want you there with me.” You hurry to make sure you didn’t drop anything while sitting, side stepping until you’re out of the row. Patri takes your hand. You use your other to squeeze her bicep.

“I am so proud of you! I cannot explain it in any language, so you’re going to have to trust me,” you tell her.

She smiles so sweetly at you. “Thank you, mi Vida.”

She leads you out of the auditorium into the foyer. Right outside are all the media outlets and photographers waiting for Patri to show her Ballon D’or to them.

You kiss the side of her mouth, now very aware of the cameras around you. She pulls you closer to her body and grins at you. You smile back.

Suddenly your remember the line in her speech. “Dreams do come true, eh? Finally believe that I’m a psychic?” You ask.

Patri hums, contemplating. “You might need more proof for the psychic powers but you were definitely right about it.” She wraps her arm over your shoulder.

“You know what? I’ll take it.”

a/n: MY 5TH PATRI FIC!!!! HIIIII GUYS!!!! i love these two so much!!! if anyone wants to hear more about patri and vida lemme know! i have headcanons 👉👈

shoutout to the anon who requested this <3 i love you! thanks for the idea 💗 💗 💗

the rest of my patri x vida fics are here

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Hi!

So, I have a rather indelicate question...

Um.

Yeah, Imma come out and say it.

So!

Hypothetically, would it be debilitating for a male Gallifreyan to get kicked in the groin?

Me? Planning to introduce Rassilon's nuts to the tip of my steel-toed boot? Preposterous! This is just academic curiosity!

Would it be debilitating for a male Gallifreyan to get kicked in the groin?

Ah, this old chestnut. Let's delve into the hypothetical scenario with the utmost academic curiosity!

Medical terms for reproductive anatomy ahead.

🥜 Why is a Kick in the Groin So Painful?

Firstly, let's just ask this. A kick to the groin is extremely painful due to a combination of factors:

Nerve Density: The groin area contains a high concentration of nerves, including the genitofemoral nerve, the pudendal nerve, and the ilioinguinal nerve, which makes it extremely sensitive.

Organ Sensitivity: The testicles are particularly sensitive because they're designed to regulate temperature and are less protected by muscle and bone compared to other organs. The thin layer of skin and connective tissue around the testicles does not offer much cushioning against impact.

Referred Pain: The pain often radiates to the abdomen, lower back, and even up into the inguinal canal, which is why it can be so debilitating. The body's natural response to trauma in this area involves intense pain signals that are transmitted throughout the lower abdomen.

👨‍🔬 Biological Similarities

Time Lords have anatomy that's quite similar to humans in many respects, including their reproductive organs when they regenerate into masculine forms. They basically haven't evolved their reproductive organs for a millennia. This suggests that the physiological response to a kick in the groin would be similar to that of a human male.

Nerve Density: The groin area also has a high concentration of nerves, likely including the same types found in humans, which would make it extremely sensitive.

Sensitivity: Gallifreyan testicles would likely be just as sensitive, if not more. While they lack certain human structures like the prostate, their reproductive anatomy is compatible with humans, with a similar functional design.

Referred Pain: The biological response would probably include the same referred pain, making it quite debilitating. Given their advanced biology, the pain might even be processed more intensely.

🤕 Pain Management

While a kick to the groin would undoubtedly be painful for a Gallifreyan, they do have some impressive pain management techniques:

Endorphin Production: Gallifreyans can consciously stimulate the production of endorphins, the body's natural pain relievers. This allows them to reduce the intensity of severe pain, but only temporarily.

Nerve Manipulation: They can manipulate their nerves to some extent, controlling blood flow to induce localised numbness.

Drug Intervention: Gallifreyans can use human analgesics (except aspirin), but they generally require higher doses.

🏫 So ...

Yes, a kick in the groin would likely be just as debilitating for a male Gallifreyan as it is for a human male. However, their advanced pain management techniques could help them manage and recover from the pain more effectively. But remember, this is all just a theoretical exercise in curiosity, right? 😏

Related:

💬|👁️💥How can Gallifreyans manage pain/chronic pain?: Overview of natural and medicinal aids to pain.

💬|🍼👽Do Gallifreyans have genitals?: Exploring whether Gallifreyans have genitals like humans.

💬|🍼👽Do Gallifreyans have recreational sex?: Describing potential biological and cultural factors of sex.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[qqueenofhades]

I think its genuinely fascinating how Biden has somehow become the bad vibes sin eater for the party. I'm seeing people who were doing the whole "voting doesn't matter both old men are the same" pivot hard into voting as harm reduction. The anti voting rhetoric has COMPLETELY lost The Youths on tiktok. People suddenly remember the good things the Biden administration has done but don't associate Harris with any of the things they didn't like. In my swing state volunteers are signing up in droves. People feel ENERGIZED, the vibe shift pre and post Biden dropping from the race has just been insane

Y'know, that is a... good way of putting it. It's also why I'm quite sure that Biden has probably been planning it for a while. I don't think he was intending to step down, and didn't want to be forced out at the drop of a hat, but after he realized that the circus was never going to stop until he did, he did the honorable fall-on-his-own-sword thing and definitely, DEFINITELY spent some time choreographing this behind the scenes. Because while the roll-out has been very smooth, it could just as easily (as many of us were expecting) have been a total disaster, and that doesn't happen without SOME planning. It's also entirely possible that the campaign staff flipped from Biden to Harris are superhuman, to come up with a massive online roll-out, new branding, new signs (they had plenty of 'em in Wisconsin yesterday), new everything, but I'm guessing it's a combination of both. Biden has spent his entire political career being underestimated, and after we literally made a meme out of Dark Brandon juking the Republicans out of their shoes, we should definitely give credit where credit is due in how masterfully he pulled it off.

Because we have had eight years defined by the central question of Whether The President Is a God King Who Should Serve For Life (the MAGAts obviously think yes), the sheer idea of a president willingly giving up his power BEFORE he had to is also novel and admirable. It's sad that this is the case, but so be it. The Republicans also got a heaping helping of Be Careful What You Wish For that was undoubtedly brilliant; they've been yelling for years that Biden is old and frail and can't serve and should step down. Biden went "lol okay" and gave it to them, and now they're fucked.

Aside from that, on the most basic level, it's far, far easier to see the actual difference in the parties with Harris as the nominee, just because it shows that one party is willing to make progress and reflect the new demographic reality and social mores of America, and the other one is not. Now to be clear, Biden deserves an incredible amount of credit for coming out of retirement (he was ALREADY 77 years old when he became president and had had decades of a long and respected career in public service behind him) to fight, beat Trump, and deliver an incredibly successful presidency. He held the line against authoritarianism at home and abroad, he rescued the trashed American economy and managed a world-leading recovery from Covid, he stood up for democracy, he spent four years filling the benches with liberal judges to reverse even some of the Trump/McConnell hack job, he finally passed comprehensive infrastructure investment and the Green New Deal under the name of the Inflation Reduction Act -- and so on. Many of these priorities had been languishing for decades or were completely trashed under Trump, and he could not have done so much in just 4 years without all that age, skill, and experience. Hence why all the Ageism!!! was (aside from being a Republican/media smear job) dumb. He's able to do the job because he has had decades to study. Turns out that makes you actually pretty damn good at it.

Yes, Biden could not do as much as he wanted or originally planned, had to deal with MAGA Republicans and Joe Manchin/Kyrsten Sinema sabotaging him the whole time (lololol Manchin, possible possessor of the World's Biggest Ego and with Trump around that's saying something, popping out of obscurity to self-righteously announce he would not be willing to be Kamala's VP. YEAH ASSHOLE. LITERALLY NOBODY ASKED YOU. NOBODY WHATSOEVER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS AT LEAST WE WILL SOON NO LONGER HAVE MANCHIN IN THE SENATE). And yes, Biden made some serious mistakes of his own, because he IS from an older generation and a different style of doing politics/different beliefs that no longer resonate with the younger segments of the electorate. But this old white Catholic guy at the age of almost 80 still managed to be the most progressive president ever, coming in at a moment of incredible domestic and international crisis and getting us safely to the other side, and all cynicism, criticizing, and caveating aside, he deserves an incredible amount of credit for that. I mean that absolutely, and I am very grateful.

As I said, willingly relinquishing that power takes guts, and when Biden saw the writing on the wall that he had to sacrifice himself, he took his time, he didn't jump too early, and he didn't jump too late. On the most basic level, it becomes a hell of a lot easier to make the "both parties are not the same" argument when one is running a (comparatively) young brown woman and the other is still running their loathed felonious old demented orange traitor. Most Americans are not plugged into policy minutiae and details. They look at Biden-Trump, they see two old white guys. When you take one of those old white guys away (who goes in a self-sacrificially heroic manner and in sharp contrast with the coup-happy fascist) and put Kamala Harris in there instead, it generates an obvious jolt. People can see for themselves that there is a real difference that doesn't rely on closely reading news and tracking complex policy, because as noted, most Americans simply don't. The brown first-generation American daughter of brown immigrants is a quantifiably different story from "old white guy career politician," which for better or worse is how Biden was seen, especially the old part. We needed that establishment expertise to beat Trump in 2020; I still think Biden is the only one who could have done it, and as noted, we owe him a great debt for doing so.

However.... 2024 is not 2020, and it is not 2016. There has been this HUGE and unbelievable swing to Kamala because she represents the antithesis of what the last eight years of Trump-induced anger, fear, panic, chaos, and hatred has stirred up. That's why people are so ready to rally around her, just as they were (I daresay) around Obama in 2008, after the exhaustion, chaos, war, and mounting economic misery of Bush. Trump has been out of office for the last four years, but his shadow over the American political landscape has been omnipresent. Now people know that we finally have a real chance at getting rid of him forever, and just as Biden was uniquely positioned to capitalize on that in 2020, so Harris is now. Which is why, however tough it will be, she has a real shot at winning. I can guarantee the Republicans know that, and are shit scared. Because the Black Lady Army of Democracy has indeed arrived in force to Get This Shit Done and I don't know about you, but I found that incalculably comforting:

Yikes! All lined up for Kamala pic.twitter.com/Dt4OCDp7WX

— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) July 24, 2024

This, at the most basic level, is what scares fascists the most, it's exactly what we need now, and what Harris is uniquely positioned to mobilize, along with her gangbusters appeal to young voters:

This is the energy we need. This is what Biden saw and planned for and which he launched us into, and where all that experience and age paid off. This is why people, even people otherwise disengaged, disillusioned, or checked out of the tedious and mind-numbering drudgery and depression of American politics, are responding to it. Because it's easy to understand, it offers hope, and it tells a very simple story that is nonetheless long overdue:

Thanks so much, Joe. Go absolutely waste that orange fucker, Kamala. We got your back.

[facts-i-just-made-up]

Who Will Be Kamala's VP? The Short List:

With today's announcement that Joe Biden will not seek re-election, the first question on the mind of America is who will be Kamala Harris's running mate? Here is FIJMU's shortlist:

Jeff Mackler

Jeff Mackler is a centrist politician who is popular with both parties, lacking any controversial opinions. His 100% tax rate and total dissolution of the military are also popular with pacifists, communists, anarchists, and even many 18th century European philosophers. He may be the safest bet.

John Goodman

Actor John Goodman has played a solid sidekick in The Big Lebowski, Monsters Inc., and Transformers 4: Age of Explosions. He should be a fun action Vice President with a comedic edge, who appeals to republican voters who think his gun-toting conspiracy nut Big Lebowski role is really who he actually is.

Hannah Montana

Hannah Montana's popularity with kids can likely rally younger voters. Though she has not been seen in many years, Vice Presient Harris's meetings with unassuming teenager Miley Stewart have led some to wonder if this might be her comeback tour.

An Adorable Puppy

Though Trump's election despite his criminal, misogynist, and dictatorial boasts shows that pure simple stupid name recognition accounts for 90% of voter preference, that last 10% is entirely about physical appearance and what is prettier than a lovable puppy like the little canine pictured above?

Messmer the Impaler

The most experienced nominee with 75,000 years in politics is of course, Messmer the Impaler from Elden Ring's new DLC expansion. Having slaughtered millions in a brutal crusade of fire, shrouded his lands in shadow, and reigned from a dark room at the top of a monolithic keep, he would also be the most innocent and kindest natured American politician to date.

[wilwheaton]

For some odd reason, moderator Jake Tapper told Trump in the beginning that he didn't need to answer the questions and that he could use the time however he wanted. Trump ran with that, essentially giving a rally speech whenever he had the floor and was unresponsive to the vast majority of the questions. He made faces and insulted Biden to his face, at one point calling him a criminal and a Manchurian candidate. If anyone had said 10 years ago that this would happen at a presidential debate they would have been laughed out of the room. After the debate when most of the country had turned off cable news or gone to bed, CNN aired its fact check. [...] Even had Joe Biden been at the top of his game, he would not have been able to parry all those lies and he shouldn't have been put in the role of being Donald Trump's fact checker. His choice was to either ignore the lies and let them stand so he could use his time to make his own case or spend the entire debate correcting the record. It was not a fair fight. It's obvious that Biden's terrible performance has caused panic among Democrats and liberal pundits and analysts. The calls for him to withdraw are loud and meaningful and it's going to be a very rough period in this campaign whatever happens. For me, this isn't really a question. As long as Donald Trump is on the ballot, I will vote for the Democratic nominee. If it's Biden or someone else, the calculation remains the same. Nothing is worse than another Trump administration and I suspect that at the end of the day Democratic voters will agree with that. So it's still a matter of those undecided voters in swing states, just like it was on Thursday morning.

CNN's debate was no fair fight

CNN, yet again, gave Trump a national stage to vomit an endless stream of unchecked lies, and today, CNN is telling itself and anyone who will listen that the network and its moderators did a great job. That’s just plainly false, and America is paying the price for their failure.

That doesn’t let Biden off the hook. Biden had a terrible night. He was so bad, it’s allowed the political press to completely ignore not just how much Trump lied, but what he lied about: January 6, all his indictments, his Covid response, and on and on. President Biden was a disaster, and his campaign should be at DefCon 1 to try and repair all the damage. I am terrified that his awful performance will obscure his surprisingly good record and leadership in the post-insurrection era, and give the political press an excuse to run with “Biden is old” in the face of Trump’s endless lies, his felony convictions, his pending trials, and all of his criminality. Someone at Salon said that Trump didn’t win, but Biden absolutely lost. I can’t argue with that, even if the facts are all on Biden’s side.

I’ve seen President Biden on TV today, and even last night after the debate, where he didn’t come across as an ancient dude who needs a walker on his way to some Matlock reruns. He looks and sounds like the SOTU Biden we all expected would show up last night. I have no idea why he was so awful for 99% of the debate (the campaign says he has a cold), and I have no idea why the guy who is showing up to speak to supporters today, and who delivered the SOTU didn’t show up last night to save America from Trump, again.

But we have to live with this reality now, and I hope like hell that the Biden campaign, the candidate, and the entire Democratic party apparatus scrambles like fucking crazy to get all hands on deck to fix this, and remind voters that

This isn’t about BIden vs. Trump. This is about America vs. Project 2025.

There will be no second debate where Biden can try to salvage something out of the wreckage of this one. Trump has everything to lose and nothing to gain. Trump will crow about how he won, and declare he has no reason to debate again, and he’s right. Biden had one shot and he absolutely blew it. The moderators did not help, but the campaign had to have known they wouldn’t, and it sure looks like they didn’t prepare Biden for what we all knew was coming. I don’t know how those same people stop the bleeding, and if they can’t, America and the world are in real, real trouble.

But we all have to remember that we have a choice to make in just a few months. Right now, and probably on election day, the choice is between Joe Biden and Democracy, or Donald Trump and Fascism. It’s stark, it’s clear, it’s binary, and I can not believe that it is even a question. I just hope that there are enough voters out there who will understand that we do have a choice. The options suck, but we do have a choice.

Please choose Democracy. Please choose America. Please choose the future world our children will inherit from us.

[bones4thecats]

Hello, can do resquest, Poseidon, Hades, Loki and Thor x Valkyrie reader, who is the mother of all Valkyries, This is what it looks like, https://es.pinterest.com/pin/890657263798502008/

❥· Nurture vs. Nature, Multi-RoR × F! S/O

Characters: Poseidon (🔱), Hades (💀), Loki (🐍), and Thor (🌩️) A/N: This is another favorite of mine. I love this thing so much, and I hope you like it as well, @zinnia1506! ✎ Summary: After the loss of your adoptive son, Zerofuku, you made your thirteen daughters, whom were named after your title of the 13 Valkyrie Sisters. But, after the setting of Ragnarok, your relationship molds over with hatred with your oldest.

┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━☽【❖】☾━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑

Looking at the sky with an empty expression, you took each breath in slowly. You felt empty, incomplete, someone would say. But, in reality, you felt normal. This was your normal.

Each cloud moved by with each passing second. While other Gods and Goddesses would see this as useless, this was the only thing you wanted to do for your pass-time. It was quiet, peaceful.

Small footsteps behind you made your eyes open, there, standing behind you, was the young God you were in charge of watching. "Zero. Do show me, how would you draw that flower?" You asked. The young, child-like god, smiled and grabbed some nearby flowers, using them like crayons on the paper you summoned for him.

"This is how you do it, Lady Valkyrie!" He joyfully said. You watched as he used the flowers to color the pink petals, before searching for a green item for the stem and leaves. As he ran around, your eyes shimmered. For some reason, being around Zerofuku made your life feel more welcoming, open even.

Before you knew it, Zerofuku handed you the paper. You took it in your hands gently and looked over his work. Every detail was there, which surprised you. The way he highlighted the sun's rays hitting the petals to the shadows cast in opposition made your eyes widen slightly.

You breathed out and smiled gently, though it was covered by your mask. Zeroufku felt your mood lighten and he began to shake in happiness himself. "Do you like it?" He asked. "Of course. You did a wondrous job on it, child."

"Thank you!" He replied. "Would you like it back? I'm sure it would be a lovely addition in your home." You said. Zerofuku looked at you and shook his head, pushing the drawing back into your chest. "No. Go ahead and keep it! Besides, you seem to like it more than I do!"

That was when you knew it. You wanted to feel this all the time. So, you began babysitting Zerofuku more and more. But, you regretted the one day you didn't. That was the day he went to Earth and never returned.

Tears fell from your eyes as you sobbed at the same spot as you were that day. You never wanted this feeling again... you needed to find a way around this...

-

🔱 You looked at the aquatic animals swimming around. The blow-fish looked at your finger, following it as you lightly drug it across the glass keeping you separated. Poseidon observed you from behind, his trident on the ground as you observed the fish.

🔱 Poseidon sighed internally and walked up to you, and, once you heard the sound of his weapon, your branch-shaped hair moved slightly, much like the ears of an animal. You turned around and looked into the blue eyes of your husband.

🔱 "What did Zeus do this time?" You asked. He shook his head, "This was not Zeus' doing. Rather, it was your oldest, Brunhilde's." You froze, eyebrows furrowing as you questioned what he meant. After all, Brunhilde didn't speak out against the Gods that often. It was always with you when she did it.

🔱 "She declared Ragnarok. Zeus accepted and is currently scrolling through the nominees for the Gods' Team." He replied, eyes watching the octopus Göll, your youngest, affectionately named Ink. "She opposed the Gods and is fighting for Humanity, isn't she?"

🔱 "Yes." He said. Your eyes went to the floor. This was not something you wanted to happen. For years, you raised those girls to help the Gods. NOT help the humans. The humans that tore your once-beloved son from you.

🔱 "I would like to fight." Poseidon's eyes widened slightly, looking down at you with his grip tightening on his trident. "No. I will not allow it."

🔱 "Poseidon, it is my choice. I'm not fighting for the honor of the others, but for the honor of my son." You said, eyes darkening in anger. "Zeus already asked me to fight in Ragnarok. I will be taking your place. No matter the outcome, the girls will need you. Our boys will need you." He said, motioning to your five sons, Polyphemus, Triton, Orion, Theseus, and Aeolus, running around happily, unaware of the chat between their parents.

🔱 You looked back to the ground, sorrow filling your form. In the action of making your thirteen daughters out of enchanted clay, you wanted to feel the love you felt for Zerofuku, but, Brunhilde threw that away. Like a rag used up.

🔱 Just as Poseidon began walking away to grab your sons to bring inside, you grabbed his loincloth-like fabric around his waist and said, "Please. Just, don't hurt any of the girls." He looked into your eyes, blue into blue, and blinked.

🔱 "Alright." He said, leaning in and kissing your head, in a way to comfort you in this mind-racing time. "The boys and I will be inside soon."

-

💀 Your husband sat beside you in your bedroom. Tears were falling from your eyes silently. That day was horrible. You declared you weren't going to speak to your daughters until Ragnarok was over, saying you needed time to even out your situation during the battle. Hades, your husband, patted your back through everything.

💀 A letter had been delivered by Hermes to you from Brunhilde. In this letter, she declared she, and her sisters -- your other daughters -- would be performing Völundr with their assigned human fighters. You were in distress, you already lost your son, how could you lose your daughters too?!

💀 Hades leaned his head on yours, silently helping you. He could hear the first round of Ragnarok playing in the background on your holographic-television. It was when it was over, that you both heard the announcement of Lü Bu, the first human fighter, dying.

💀 The God of the Underworld's eyes widened in surprise, not at the fact that the human died, but at the fact that one of his step-daughters, that he loved just as much as you did, sacrificed herself for humanity. Were they really that amazing?

💀 "No... Randgriz... my baby..." You sobbed harder now, tears falling heavily as your hands covered your eyes. Hades' eyes began to water now. Randgriz was one of his favorite step-daughters. He loved the light and love she brought to the Underworld, to his life, and the way that she cared for everyone, no exceptions.

💀 A knock on the door alerted you, but, you made no effort to move. Hades, who wasn't crying nearly as hard as you were, stood up and answered. "Who is it?" He asked.

💀 "Papa?" A little voice said. Looking down, there stood your youngest child, Zagreus. He looked up with tears threatening to fall down his cheeks. "Is Randgriz okay?"

💀 You ran up to Zagreus, and enveloped him in a hug. Zagreus, who was surprisingly smart for a child of his age, hugged you back, understanding what was happening now.

💀 Hades frowned and kneeled in front of your both, wrapped his arms around you two and began to cry. Your sniffs pained him, as did his son's. You made those girls to help with your emotions, to keep your happiness around. Yet, you neglected the thought of losing them like how you did Zerofuku. You protected them for years, and, despite all your effort, you were losing them all over again.

-

🐍 Loki knew your daughters well. He was around, what a human would say 20s, in age when they were sculpted by your hands by enchanted clay. You asked if he could watch over them for years when you were busy, and he did so pretty well. Sometimes, it felt like your daughters were babysitting him though.

🐍 You observed as Loki played with your three children, your daughter, Hel, and your two sons, Fenrir and Jörmungandr. Loki danced around them, Fenrir shapeshifted into his single form; a large wolf, while your other son became his only form; a large serpent. Hel just wrapped her arms around her father's neck as he flew around, playing tag with them.

🐍 "Come on, Dad! You're going to high up!" Fenrir called. Loki merely laughed and told them to try harder in catching him. Jörmungandr looked at you and silently asked for help. You smiled gently and called for your husband, making him freeze and call back to you.

🐍 Just then, your sons tackled Loki, making him yell and fall down to the ground. "Gotcha!" The boy-turned-serpent yelled. You kept a smile up, but it vanished when you heard your husband's name being called from behind you.

🐍 Loki looked up and put his daughter on the ground next to her brothers. "Let me guess, little old me is up next?" He asked Thor, who was tasked by his father, Odin, to retrieve his cousin. "Yes."

🐍 Thor looked at you and nodded back to you after you motioned for him to take your three kids away. They happily jumped with Thor, on their way to sit with their Grandpa and their Uncle. You then looked at Loki and then down at the ground, asking him if he was sure about doing this. "After all," you added, "Poseidon, Heracles, Hajun, Hades, hell, even Susano'o No Mikoto now... what if you're next?"

🐍 "Love. I know you lost five of the girls, but, believe me when I say this: I will make sure I get back to you, and... hopefully keep whatever Valkyrie chosen alive." He said, his hands holding your face as he stares into your eyes.

🐍 "I'll come back." He said. "I love you."

🐍 You smiled and kissed him, he hummed happily before taking your hand and walking with you back to his room to get ready for his round.

-

🌩️ Thor cared for your daughters. He was someone you cared for deeply, and, since he wasn't biologically related to them, it comforted you that he still put effort into acting like a father. Your emotions actually came out with him, and it did make your girls proud when you married Thor and not someone like Zeus.

🌩️ You've been married for years, and for those years, he and you parented Móði and Magni, your twin boys. As you raised your two biological children, Brunhilde began to separate herself from you, leaving you feeling a hole again. And, with no other ideas, you tried to connect with her again, only to be shocked when she told you she didn't want contact again.

🌩️ Odin told you it was most likely due to 'teenage-angst', but, after hearing she proposed Ragnarok, you were heartbroken once again. You looked at her, and, when she eyes connected with yours coldly, you leaned your head onto Thor's shoulder.

🌩️ You stayed with Thor the entire time, only being away from him due to the first round. And, after it was over, you tried talking to Brunhilde, only for her to ask if you were happy with yourself.

🌩️ "What are you talking about, Brunhilde?" You replied. "You know what I'm talking about! Your husband! He just killed your own daughter! How can you pick him over us?!"

🌩️ "I'm not picking him over you, 'Hilde! Do I have to spell it out?! I made you all because I wanted you guys! I wanted children to call my own!" She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. We're nothing but animated clay to you. You were never, and will never be my mother."

🌩️ Your eyes widened in shock as Brunhilde walked away. Shock was all you felt. After everything you gave her; your time, your care, you love, and she just says it was all nothing to you. Your boys just stood beside you, also shocked. You were an excellent mom, they've seen the photos and videos of you raising your girls. Why was she hating you so much?

🌩️ "Fine... have a good rest of the tournament, Brunhilde." You said, walking away with your boys trailing you. Thor, who was watching from behind a nearby pillar, was upset. He saw you care for Brunhilde and your daughters, you just struggled expressing emotions when it comes to loss. How does she not, in her millions of life with you, understand that?

🌩️ "Brunhilde." He said, causing the eldest Valkyrie to turn around and look at her step-father. "What?" She replied. "You've wanted to know why your mother made you, correct?"

🌩️ "Yes."

🌩️ "I think it's time I tell you."

┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━☽【❖】☾━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙

[f1cflcfic]

Won't Say I'm In Love (ft. Lando Norris) - part iii

pairing: lando norris x tennis player!reader (fem!y/n); past carlos alcaraz x tennis player!reader (fem!y/n)

summary: As a general rule, y/n does not date athletes. You've been there, done that - would not recommend. Besides, you definitely don't do love. There's no time in the world for complicated feelings when there's a career Grand Slam to be won. But what if your heart just refuses to listen?

genre: social meda/mixed au, friends to lovers

note: this is RPF and is obviously in no way, shape, or form reflective of real persons

A/N: a little bit late but I got very worried about accidentally jinxing the Aus GP haha, and then when it all worked out I thougth I might as well use some most recent photos ;)

series: part i, part ii, part iv

1st week of March, 2025

[Excerpt Daily Mail] Tennis player Y/N L/N stuns on red carpet and confirms single status

The current #2 on the WTA rankings enjoyed some time off prior to Indian Wells, as she attended an Oscars Pre Party over the weekend. As a newly minted ambassador for the Dior brand, which she's also repping on court, the athlete was sporting a pink custom gown by the fashion house.

After a short-lived relationship with fellow tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, 21, the 26-year old arrived to the party alone. Speaking to journalists on the red carpet, L/N once again emphasised that she likes being single both on and off the court.

"I really think that it's nice to just focus on myself, you have to be kind of selfish if you want to thrive in such an individual sport," she stated.

While she might be done with tennis players, the star has been spotted spending time with F1 drivers Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. However, she made it clear there's no room for romance there. For a segment with E! Entertainment, L/N was asked to rate their charisma and started laughing instead. "Carlos is a smooth operator, and therefore also very much taken. But charisma? Norris? He's an awkward little duckling. No, he's a great and dear friend, though."

Norris might not score points with Y/N L/N, he is hoping to make a bid for the WDC this year. The McLaren team has been looking extremely strong during testing, and with the first GP coming up, all eyes will be on the 25-year old British driver. Perhaps him winning will impress L/N enough to make her change her mind, though he'll have to compete with an Oscar nominee.

"Look, all drivers are charismatic in that they're ambitious and talented and that's attractive. Or at least, it's attractive to me. But I just don't really have silly little crushes. The only celebrity crush I've ever had is Sebastian Stan. So if he's single, tell him he can hit me up."

2nd week of March, 2025

[Excerpt WTA content "Jenga Challenge"] Y/N grabs the first block with determination, lodging it out of the Jenga tower with ease. "What is your favourite song right now?"

"That's a really good question for me, because I love listening to music before my matches. I think currently I've got JADE in my playlist, with Angel of My Dreams."

The next couple of blocks also dislodge quite easily, and Y/N throws a triumphant smile to the camera every time she gets a step closer to victory. Twisting the blocks around, she reveals new questions.

"Do I have a nickname? It depends who you ask, I suppose. Some of my friends just shorten my name."

Someone off camera asks after the 'birdie' nickname. "Oh yeah, so my best friend calls me that because of a golfing incident when we first met. No further comment on that haha. You'll have to ask him."

"What's my favourite sport aside tennis? Can I cheat and name other racket sports? I also think it's different when it comes to watching versus playing other sports. I don't really watch that much sports on tv or anything, but I like going to real games and matches. Like I saw the national football and hockey team, I've gone to see a few basketball matches as well. I'll play golf with friends, but I'm not very good at it."

The tower wobbles with the next block, but it holds on in the end. "That was close! Okay, let's see. This one says - what do you do and eat on your days off? Hmm I'll try and go catch up with friends. My favourite food? Chocolate for sure, but I like to have a lot of my favourite meals as healthy options throughout the week anyways. I've worked it out with my nutritionist."

The next question she gets asked is about her idols. "God, well I think for one Serena Williams of course, and my own coach Kim Clijsters. Then there's the other women in my family. I think my idol right now is my baby niece who reminds me to just always look at the world in wondrous appreciation. And that it's okay to have a good cry when things get overwhelming."

On the last question, the tower falters once, twice, before fully collapsing. "Oh I guess you'll never get to hear the answer to this question, then. What's your favourite on and off court friendship?" Y/N winks at the camera. "I think you know, anyways."

3d week of March, 2025

[Excerpt BBC Sport]

Sabalenka defeats L/N in easy sets at WTA Tour

In a somewhat shocking turn of events, Aryna Sabalenka didn't even need 90 minutes to beat Y/N L/N to the BNP Paribas Open trophy. Dropping only 4 games in total, Sabalenka absolutely dominated the match, forcing L/N to continuously having to play catch up.

The defending champion didn't seem to know how to respond to Sabalenka's powerful returns and short volleys, even though their track record of meets speaks in L/N's favour.

The reigning Grand Slam winner later stated that she was just not able to get into her game, and Sabalenka rightly profited off of her lack of focus and concentration. "I just wasn't able to deliver what was needed, and Sabalenka was clearly performing at her best. She deserved to win this one, but I of course hope to turn the tides for Miami."

Both players are set to play the tournament that traditionally kicks off right after Indian Wells, also named the Sunshine Slam. It's one of few stretches of the tennis calendar that sees both male and female players compete at the same courts, outside of the Grand Slams.

L/N previously dated and even competed in the doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, who lost the men's semi-final one day prior. Even though no questions on her previous relationship were allowed at her exit presser, L/N's poor performance casts doubt on whether or not she's struggling with increasing external pressure and her ex' presence. Coach Kim Clijsters responded to reporters questioning L/N's aim of winning all four Grand Slam tournaments in a year. "Red clay has always been her best surface. We're already shifting gears with that in mind, so Miami is more so a way to keep routine and conditioning going. I have no doubt that she's got what it takes to win this, both in terms of physical and mental fitness. But sometimes it seems the media sees it as their responsibility to keep on being as invasive as possible, just to see how much someone can take. It's not your job to test a player's resilience, just because you can."

March 15-16, 2025

♥ likes, comments, reblogs and asks are always very much appreciated - i love chatting! ♥

Next part is available here

Sorry for the extra long wait, but we're back to regular programming now!

taglist (open): @linnygirl09 @julesbog @midnight-and-books @sarx164 @obxstiles @freyathehuntress @vhkdncu2ei8997 @berrnuu @lightdragonrayne @glow-ish @batsratswrites

[biancasaidstfu]

Look I’m not shipping anyone anymore but there is some recent events that certainly raise an eyebrow or two.

The 3 recent papped events;

1. carrot-gate

2. Lukes solo coffee pap

3. Domestic/booger-gate of Luke & A

We’re all shot by the same pap photographer.

Something went down at Yungblud’s between Luke and A, people in attendance in the VIP section saw it happen. A left after Yungblud’s 4 songs, Luke stayed.

Next morning, Nicola’s fan picture at a juice bar is coincidently is just a 4 minute walk from where Luke was paper with his coffee.

The Lover Boy shirt can be taken with a grain of salt, they did send out promo packs Sep/Oct last year with this shirt before it released to the website.

It is suss that events that Luke and A attend, almost always, she leaves first without Luke.

There is also Apprently a video (as of the past 8 hours) of Nicola and Jake from the BAFTAs nominee party which there was some noted some obvious tension and discomfort between the two and even the beloved Jake Dunn fan page on IG will not post out of privacy.

These continued eyebrow raising events keep asking questions - no clear cut relationships.

Things are not always what they seem. Some maybe better actors than others.

I've heard about Antonia leaving events before Luke before.

I also definitely clocked Nicola's juice outing was in the same exact vicinity as Luke's pap walk.

I believe the pic from Cyprus is old and that he was there possibly in October/November last year for probably some business with Antonia's family.

Jake and Nic looked so fucking uncomfortable last night it physically makes me cringe.

It's so fake it's painful. All of it.

[hotvintagepoll]

LAST POLL OF ROUND 6

Propaganda

Ingrid Bergman (Gaslight, Casablanca, Notorious)—A lot of the time hotness in a movie is just about words and framing. "You're the most beautiful person here" [vaseline lens] well I sure hope so because that's who you cast. But when, in Casablanca, they call Ingrid Bergman the most beautiful woman in the world... they were not fucking lying. And such a dynamite actor too!! I'd only seen Casablanca up until last year, and there she's confined to love interest. But in Gaslight she was maybe one of the most incredible actors I've ever seen!!!! Goddddd shes so fucking hot and cool.

Lauren Bacall (To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, Key Largo)—"Just put your lips together...and blow" excuse me ma'am i'm briefly going to turn into a kettle. She's the quintessential Femme Fatale who may betray me in the end but I'd let her it'd be worth it

This is round 6 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Ingrid Bergman:

God, she's fantastic. She's both beautiful and a compelling actor who's more than capable of putting the whole movie on her shoulders if necessary. It's worth noting that while her beauty is conventional, she was seen as refreshingly "natural" with more eyebrows and less makeup than many other leading ladies of the time. She's well known for her role in Casablanca, but in Notorious, Spellbound, (both available on archive.org ) and Gaslight (1944) she shows how immensely capable she is.

I mean...she's Ingrid Bergman. I feel like that should be enough, you know? She's physically beautiful (her eyes!) but watching her is like a transcendent experience. Her voice, her expressions... beautiful woman, beautiful actor.

I'm a gay man but even I understand her appeal. I'll watch any movie she shows up in. Gorgeous woman.

Just try and watch her movies without sighing wistfully, then get back to me!

Choosing 1-3 movies where Bergman was at her hottest was agony because, of course, she was always at her hottest. Not just because she was beautiful but because she was absolutely willing to go up against the bs women in Hollywood were constantly dealing with. When exiled from Hollywood for having an affair with Roberto Rossellini, not only did she refuse to apologize at any point, but she went on to say that Hollywood's films had grown stagnant and boring to her. Though she said she appreciated her time working there, she wanted to try new, different techniques (hence starring in Italian neorealist films, working on stage, and acting under directors like Ingmar Bergman). She was not afraid to chase after her artistic ideals and go outside the box regardless of what society had to say about it. From her first movie to her last she killed it. There's so much more to say about Bergman's career and life, but I've already written five million words so I'll stop at that.

One of the most incredible actors I've ever seen on film. Her facial expressions are so intricate and poignant that I cannot look away. I'm either ace or straight, but damn she made me question that.

SEVEN TIME OSCAR NOMINEE QUEEN. Girl also PULLED, having affairs with famously hot men Gary Cooper and Gregory Peck IN ADDITION to her three marriages...sexy

She has a very natural beauty to her, and she's from Sweden!

She left Hollywood and only became more beautiful. You could drown in her eyes. She can look innocent AND like she's seen it all. She is effortlessly elegant. She's played Joan of Arc (automatically hot) AND was in the movie that coined gaslight as a term. And where would we be without that!

She was known for being a breath of fresh air on the movie scene at the time with her windswept hair, dreamy smile and soulful eyes. I have loved her in every movie I have seen her in - she was just magnetic!

Where do I even start. There's a neighborly quality to this beautiful, talented actress that makes her hotness one of a kind and her looks impossible to forget

With a career spanning five decades, Bergman is often regarded as one of the most influential screen figures in cinematic history. Known for her naturally luminous beauty, Bergman spoke five languages – Swedish, English, German, Italian and French – and acted in each.

She's hot, don't get me wrong, but I've always found her very approachable, like she could easily be a member of my friend group

Where do I even begin with Ingrid Bergman? I fell in love with her with her astounding performance in the 1956 version of Anastasia -- the best Anastasia movie in large part due to her wonderful and touching performance. She's got this amazing, fascinating intensity to her in whatever role she's in. She commits 100%, and she's got this light in whatever she's in that's stunning. She's utterly convincing no matter what she plays, from an amnesiac possible lost princess, from a nun, from a woman taking her revenge on the town that wronged her, to light romantic comedy. She's never missed in any role I've seen her in! Also she became quite the MILF.

Lauren Bacall:

"She is soooo neat. And hot. And everything. That one scene in To Have and Have Not where she says "you know how to whistle don't you? You just put your lips together and blow" altered my brain chemistry during media archaeology class and here we are."

"The VOICE, the SLINK, the EYES. Woof."

"Lauren Bacall was a major lesbian awakening for me. Every picture of her makes it look like she’s about to destroy you physically and emotionally (why is that so hot, I may need help). She had incredible long running chemistry with her husband, Humphrey Bogart, but was an absolute star in her own right. I’ll never be over my crush on her."

"She's got that confident, no-nonsense air about her. She's a boss babe who knows what she wants and gets it DONE. Staunch liberal Democrat her whole life. Campaigned for RFK. From Wikipedia: "In a 2005 interview with Larry King, Bacall described herself as "anti-Republican... A liberal. The L-word". She added that "being a liberal is the best thing on Earth you can be. You are welcoming to everyone when you're a liberal. You do not have a small mind."" Beautiful hair. Beautiful eyes. Beautiful lips. She's just beauty. LISTEN TO HER VOICE. TELL ME THAT'S NOT THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF."

[toriaaniin]

The Cost of Going Underground

What happens when connection becomes the thing that must be hidden?

This was always going to be the most difficult post to write. Not because there isn’t evidence to support it — but because so much of the story we’re telling here exists in the space where public narrative ends and private truth begins.

When I say Luke and Nicola went underground, I don’t mean they disappeared. In fact, they’ve been visible: promoting work, attending events, walking carpets, giving interviews. Nicola’s public presence, in particular, has never been stronger. But visibility isn’t the same as connection — and that’s what disappeared. The light, the warmth, the resonance. The shared gaze. The background smiles. The moments that made us believe.

This post is about what it’s cost them to keep that part hidden.

Nicola’s Cost: Dimming Her Light

There’s a contradiction at the heart of Nicola’s public image right now: she’s everywhere, and yet she feels more remote than ever. TV Choice Awards (won), SAG and BAFTA nominated, awards for personal achievements and advocacy endeavours, centre-stage as a featured speaker, brand ambassador partnerships with Kate Spade, Neutrogena, and Olaplex, and appearances as an invited guest at Gucci and Dior fashion shows — and yet the story around her is… quieter. Less electric. More muted.

It didn’t start that way. Nicola came out of the World Tour radiating joy — glowing, grounded, triumphant. Big Mood was launched in the spring and her depiction of Maggie was critically acclaimed, she gained massive industry credibility, started and released new projects. But then something shifted. The narrative around her became less about her, and more about who she was seen with — or wasn’t. First it was/wasn't Luke, then Jake... whose presence lingered like background noise from August until it got suddenly loud in April, first as Nicola’s plus-one at the BAFTA-TV Nominee's Party, then again at Canneseries. It marked a shift. Not in Nicola’s visibility, but in how much of the story was being told through adjacency. A rumble became a roar. And while Nicola has always protected her private life, what made this feel different was just how much attention the background was getting. Not because of her, but in place of her. Canneseries, where she was honoured with the Konbini Commitment Award, barely made a ripple. The focus had shifted away from Nicola herself, and onto who she was, or wasn’t, seen beside.

And the Claddagh? For months, it was her quiet declaration. Then, during award season, it vanished (we know she doesn't wear it to events, but it's missed). Not forever — just from view. Just like the story we believe in.

Nicola has never liked sharing her private life. The fandom once learned that she lived with a partner for two years — a boyfriend the public never knew about. That’s how private she is. Which is why the whispers, the Jake narratives, the adjacent baiting — has felt so contradictory. So unlike her.

But maybe that’s the point. Maybe the real cost for Nicola hasn’t been image. It’s been agency. Instead of living the private life she prefers, she's being buried under speculation and playing along with a narrative that isn't hers.

If her goal is protection — of herself, of her child, of her relationship — then maybe the cost isn’t one she minds paying.

Luke’s Cost: The Reputational Hit

If Nicola’s cost is felt in the silence behind the narrative performance, Luke’s is etched into public perception.

I’ve talked before about the Bad Boyfriend Optics — about how Luke has, in two distinct stretches — from mid-June through July 2024, and again from January 30th to now — appeared beside a woman he won’t publicly claim, performing coldness so convincingly it’s made even longtime fans question who he really is. But that coldness, that calculated distance? It hasn’t clarified. It's confused. It's hurt. And it's invited something darker: backlash.

The Lukola fandom loves Luke, and wants the best for him. We remember the man we saw during the World Tour: vibrant, joyful, connected. We want him celebrated for his work in Season 3, seen for his talent, and paired with opportunities that allow him to shine. And yes, we want to see him with Nicola — not just because of the chemistry, but because of how present, proud, and luminous he seems by her side.

That’s why the optics of this past year have been so difficult to reconcile. Because the man we’re seeing now — stiff beside someone he’s never claimed, disconnected from the warmth that once defined him — doesn’t look like the Luke we remember. That absence, compounded by silence, has created a narrative vacuum. One that Luke has never filled with clarity, and so the worst assumptions take root.

This isn’t about suspicion. It’s about confusion. About the ache of wanting to understand why someone so loved, so admired, would let a version of himself take hold that feels so far from the truth.

The question that always gets asked is: “Why does he take the hit?”

I don’t know.

And yet… he did it anyway. To my mind, that’s the story. That’s the mystery.

Because there is no easy explanation for what we’ve witnessed. Not one that satisfies both logic and compassion. So instead of asking what’s so bad that he’d allow it, maybe we ask: what’s so precious that he’d endure it? What kind of love — or responsibility — makes a man let the world misunderstand him, and say nothing to stop it?

The Weight of Performance

If this past year has been a strategy, then it’s been one built on restraint. A performance of separation so well-rehearsed, it sometimes threatened to become the only reality. And that’s what it’s cost the fandom: clarity, trust, and to some extent, hope.

But maybe the point of camouflage was never to convince us. Maybe it was designed for people outside this corner of the internet — for the press, for the tabloids, for the algorithms. Maybe it was a smokescreen meant to disappear once it had done its job.

And that’s the tension we hold now: wanting the performance to end, but understanding why it might have been necessary.

The reappearance of Antonia hasn’t helped. It's reignited old narratives, invited new backlash, and made the optics worse. If this was damage control, it backfired. If it was obligation, the price may be too high. And if it was strategy — well, it cost Luke more than it ever protected.

What If the Cost Was Worth It?

There are those who say the long game isn’t worth it. That the fallout — professionally and emotionally — is too severe. That what’s been lost — credibility, goodwill, momentum — might never be fully regained.

But maybe that’s because we’re still in it. Because what we’re watching now is a story that hasn’t finished unfolding. Maybe the strategy isn’t failing — maybe it’s just incomplete.

What feels monumental to us in the moment may later prove to be just one chapter in a longer story. We don’t know what plans are quietly being laid, what projects are in motion, or what decisions are being made behind the scenes. We’re not privy to their timeline — professionally or personally. Luke and Nicola may already see this moment as a temporary holding space, not a defining one. A pause between acts. An interval before emergence.

Maybe this is the blip, not the legacy.

And maybe, once the contract ends and the noise subsides, they’ll get to write a different ending. One that doesn’t need to hide behind silence, performance, or camouflage. One that lets them step forward, not as a scandal or a mystery, but as something simple and real.

Because the love never disappeared. It just went underground. And one day, I believe it will rise.

Aaniin Xxx

Postscript: Where We Go From Here

This is the final entry in the Optics Series — at least, officially. But as long as the optics are shifting, the stories tangled, and the questions still humming beneath the surface, there’s always more to explore. I’ve loved the process of reflecting on what’s visible, what’s hidden, and what might be real. So while this is the end of a specific arc, don’t be surprised if more posts appear in the future — tracing new connections, testing old theories, and continuing the work of witnessing whatever rises next.

Thanks for walking this far with me.

P.S. Find a listing of this blog post series along with short summaries of each - including those not yet published - here:

[gwydionmisha]

Musk's DOGE granted access to US Medicare and Medicaid systems

U.S. government officials privately warn Musk’s blitz appears illegal

Urgent Action Item: This is a quiet Coup! Contact your Senators right now, and tell them to block all Trump Nominees in response, particularly Russell Vought.

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

[haveyouseenthismovie-poll]

Here is the poll for what film list we should use next, as discussed in this post. Not all of the suggestions were used, as some suggested lists were either a bit too niche or too repetitive (too many movies of the same genre/type) to fit this blog. I still appreciate everyone who suggested one, though! Below the poll are the links to every list in question.

1001 Films You Must See Before You Die

The American Film Institute's "100 Years... 100 Movies - 10th Anniversary Edition"

IMDb Bottom 250

Rotten Tomatoes "100 Worst Movies of All Time"

Sight and Sound's Greatest Films of All Time 2022

List of Academy Award-nominated Films

Wikipedia's "List of films considered the worst"

Wikipedia's "List of highest-grossing films"

Winners & nominees of the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture

Some of these lists have had a lot of their entries polled already, so if the winner of this poll ends up not lasting us too long then I will switch to the list in second place. Until this poll expires, every poll posted will be a request rather than from any list.

[joeloverture]

here’s the thing i AM gonna talk about it and i AM gonna be pissed about it. historically but especially in a year that’s meant to be ‘diverse’, latinos (among other POCs) were left behind this awards season. tonight, the emmys have four latino nominees. pedro is an important part of that conversation — with the year he’s had, and the background he comes from.

sure, every actor in the categories he’s nominated in deserves their dues and acknowledgement. that’s why they ARE nominated. but seeing pedro being, YET AGAIN, reduced to a tactless horniness joke instead of the performances he’s capable of giving, is so goddamn upsetting.

pedro’s career and talent has been consistently overlooked until now, and the fact that his efforts can be neglected to boost a white man for the hundredth fucking time is just… exhausting. at the end of the day, he’s a caricature to hollywood’s biggest decision makers. they joke about him, don’t take him seriously, ask him the dumbest interview questions even thinkable, and can’t even reward him for his work.

no, 2023 wasn’t the year everyone was horny for pedro pascal — it was the year he blew audiences away with his performance, kindness, and passion. the critics might not be looking, but we are, and that matters infinitely more.

[reality-detective]

Are Supreme Court justices Roberts and Barrett traitors and fighting against Trump?

I’m noticing a pattern.

Are they compromised?

Maybe...

But Trump keeps winning all his cases.

It seems lately that Trump keeps winning by a 5-4 margin.

That means, that either Roberts or Barrett are backing Trump in these decisions.

Trump has four solid justices that he can count on.

Thomas

Alito

Gorsuch

Kavanaugh

Doesn’t that beg the question?

If BOTH Roberts and Barrett are compromised, then why don’t they BOTH side with the liberal justices to block Trump?

Why does one of them keep giving Trump the win?

What’s really going on?

It’s almost as if Roberts and Barrett are taking turns siding with the liberals.

But why?

These recent cases have a similar theme.

The constitutional powers of the president and separation of powers.

I have a theory and it might explain what’s happening.

I don’t know if Roberts or Barrett are compromised.

Maybe Trump is way more in control than people realize?

This is a real war...

The rules change in war and a president has far more power than most Americans know.

Especially when the president is fighting against an insurgency that is controlled by foreigners and is embedded within our own government.

What if Trump is really directing a play?

What if Trump ALREADY knows he is going to win these cases?

Do you think that Trump didn’t know that the enemy would go judge shopping around the country and sue to try and stop everything he’s doing?

I think he welcomed this fight because he wants to do everything by the BOOK. Trump wants the constitution and the rule of law restored and the only way to do that is to SHOW the American people that the highest court in the land is backing him.

I have said for years now, that Trump flipped the courts for a reason and that he was going to use the Supreme Court to restore the constitution/rule of law and set precedents as safeguards for the future.

If Roberts and Barrett are compromised, doesn’t Trump have the power to leverage them to do his bidding?

I believe Trump leveraged people and has used them to help us win this war?

Pushed through all of Trump’s judicial nominees in record time.

Lindsey Graham: 👇

Singlehandedly saved Kavanaugh’s nomination when he went on a tirade against the Dems and their lies.

Hunter’s laptop with all the unencrypted evidence that was abandoned on purpose, allowed Hunter to cut a deal and gave leverage over his father. Everything Biden did, helped destroy the democrat party and flipped democrats to vote for Trump. Biden even sabotaged Kamala’s campaign.

So why couldn’t Trump leverage BOTH Roberts and Barrett if they are compromised?

If they are corrupt, then the threat of prison is a powerful motivator.

But why do they seem to be taking turns in siding against Trump?

Here’s my theory. 👇

I think Trump knew the left would go all in to fight Trump in the courts.

I think Trump always wanted this fight in order to restore the constitution and rule of law.

One of the most important parts of the military strategy to remove an insurgency, is to restore the peoples faith in government institutions.

The more Trump wins at the Supreme Court, the more people will trust the courts.

Maybe Roberts and Barrett are taking turns because this is all coordinated in order to give the democrats the impression that they “might win.”

Trump wants them to keep suing so that he can keep setting precedent and transforming our government.

And think about it.

If the democrats thought they had no chance at winning in the courts because they’re losing decisions by 6-3, they would change tactics and the only alternative would be violence and a last attempt at a civil war. 🤔

- Edward Snowden

[the-offside-rule]

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) - Dorada

Requested: no

Prompt: Jude couldn't make it to the Ballon D'or, but Y/n brought it to him

Warnings: none

The night sparkled in Paris. Photographers flashed their cameras, calling Y/n's name, hoping for a radiant shot of the footballer nominated for the Women's Ballon d'Or. She was flawless for the cameras, dressed in a shimmering dark blue gown. As the interviews began, she felt the familiar weight of Jude's absence. Real Madrid's sudden boycott meant he couldn’t be by her side tonight. She kept her head up, flashing that confident smile she’d mastered over the years. One of the reporters stepped forward with a curious look. "Y/n, tonight's a big night, and we all know you’d hoped to share it with Jude. Is there any reason he couldn't make it tonight?"

"You get to interview a Ballon D'or nominee and thats the question you ask?" She chuckled, earning an approved laugh from her captain, Alexia beside her. Y/n took a deep breath and gave her rehearsed response. "It’s just a decision that’s out of my hands. It isn’t the time to focus on that. I'm here to talk about my football, about my season, and if all goes well, hopefully my first Ballon D'or." Her voice remained calm, her smile unwavering, though inside she felt a pang.

As she moved along the red carpet, she caught whispers of fans and reporters speculating. There were murmurs about a breakup, suggestions that the long distance between Barcelona and Madrid had driven a wedge. She could feel the weight of it but chose to brush it off. Tonight, she was here for her dream. Jude would understand.

Finally, it was time. The ballroom filled with anticipation as the names were called, leading up to the grand announcement. "And this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or goes to-" The pause ate away at her. It felt like forever. Who won? Who won? "Y/n Y/l/n, FC Barcelona!" A mix of shock and joy washed over her. The room exploded with applause, her teammates standing and cheering as Y/n made her way to the stage, trying to process the enormity of the moment. She turned to smile, holding back the tears and simply trying to think of what to do, what to say. Her hand was shaking as she accepted the golden trophy, its weight somehow grounding her. She barely registered the applause as she stood before the room, her teammates cheering her on, her eyes welling up slightly as she approached the stand. She was handed her trophy, the one trophy she was missing.

She stepped up to the microphone, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. Gripping the golden trophy, Y/n began her speech. "Wow, um, I didn’t expect so many people to be here." The crowd laughed as she calmed herself down. "Alexia and Aitana make this look so easy." Another laugh. She finally felt calmer. "I've been thinking on what I would say all week if I won this prestigious award and honestly, all the practiced speeches are just-" She waved her hands. "Gone. They're gone." She smoothed out her dress and placed the ball onto the stand. "Firstly, I would like to thank my club, my coaches, and to the girls who make every match something I look forward to. You guys make every training, every game, every win and every loss worth it and I am so happy to be alongside each and every one of you. It is truly an honour." The room.erupted into claps as Y/n thought of what to say next.

"To my family back home, who believed in me from the beginning. To the culers who watch us at home, to the culers who follow us around the globe, I dedicate this to you. Thank you for making my jersey sales so high." The room laughed once again as she found a new confidence in herself. She took a moment, gathering her thoughts. And then, with a gentle smile, she continued. "And to the silly little boy I met all those years ago in Dortmund, thank you for cheering me on tonight from Madrid. I love you, and I am so sad you couldn’t make it. I know you would be taking photos of me for my instagram, so maybe it's the thought that counts." She waited for the crowd to quieten once more so she could deliver the most important part in her opinion.

"And finally, to all the little girls out there watching. To the little girl who will one day stand up here and win this award, don't you ever give up! Keep going, and enjoy the journey. Visca el Barça!" She smiled, raising the trophy and wiping her tears away as she walked down back towards her teammates. The crowd cheered, and Y/N stepped off the stage, her heart a mix of pride and longing. She knew Jude was watching, and she couldn't wait to tell him everything.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

As the celebrations continued, her phone buzzed. It was a video notification. Opening it, she saw Jude's mom had posted a clip on Instagram. The video showed Jude’s face lighting up as her name was announced, pride etched all over his expression. He cheered loudly as she walked up the steps. "That’s my girl!" Y/n laughed, her heart feeling warmer than it had all evening. She wanted nothing more than to see him. Turning to her good friend, Laia from Atlético Madrid, she pulled her aside. "Laia, would you mind if I joined your flight back to Madrid?" She asked, biting her lip. Laia grinned, immediately understanding. "Of course! You want to see your boy, right?" Y/n nodded, a bit shy. "Yeah… I need to be there. Tonight wouldn't feel complete otherwise."

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

It was late when she arrived, but the city lights twinkled as her cab rolled through familiar streets. Thank God she had brought Jude's hoodie with her to Paris or she would have froze to death. She carried the golden Ballon d'Or and her luggage up to Jude's door. She barely had time to knock before the door opened. She had messaged Denise that she was coming sos he could surprise Jude, so she was happy to see her boyfriend's mum at the door to open it. "Comgratulations, darling." She whispered, hugging Y/n gently. "Thank you so much!" Y/n replied, before the pair walked in and up the stairs to Jude's room.

She sat down on his bed, still holding her trophy in one hand. Her other reached up to his cheek to caress his face. He stirred, his eyes flickering open. "Babe?" Jude whispered,his eyes now fully open. "Did someone order a Ballon d'Or?" She said with a grin. Jude laughed, pulling her into his arms, hugging her as if he’d never let go. "I did! Took long enough to arrive, though." He teased, eyeing the trophy she carried.

"I am so sorry I wasn't there. I wanted to be there. You know that, right? That I hated not being there?" She sighed softly. "I know. I wanted you there, but I understand why you couldn’t be." He wrapped an arm around her, his voice warm with affection. "You deserved every moment up there. It was all you." She looked at him, her gaze soft. "Not all me. It was partly you, too, Jude. You’ve been with me through everything, even if we’re miles apart."

Jude chuckled, shaking his head. "A whole Ballon d'Or winner, calling me a ‘silly little boy’ on live TV." He laughed, nudging her playfully. She grinned. "Well, it's the truth. The boy who used to kick balls at me during training just to get my attention." He pulled back, beaming as he looked down at her. He shook his head with a grin. "Look where that got me." He murmured, leaning over to kiss her forehead. They both laughed, the months of long distance and tonight’s worries melting away. She handed him the trophy, watching as he held it with reverence. "It’s lighter than I thought it would be." He murmured, grinning. "Oh, really?" She challenged. "I didn’t think you’d get to hold one just yet." She winked playfully, knowing that her banter would fire him up. "That was far." Jude said, looking towards his mum who was laughing by the doorway.

Jude laughed, feigning shock. "You just wait. You give me a year." His gaze softened, and he ran a thumb over her cheek. "I’m so proud of you, though. You deserved every bit of that." Pulling her close, Jude took out his phone. "Okay, one last thing. Let’s get a picture. Just so we can recreate it when I win mine." She rolled her eyes, leaning in and making sure to show the shiny trophy. They snapped a quick selfie: Y/n in Jude’s hoodie, cuddled up with the Ballon d'Or shining between them. She gave a goofy grin while he kissed her temple, pride and love written all over his face.

As he posted the photo, the caption silencing those who whispered all evening.

Finally got to celebrate my girl, the Ballon d'Or winner, up close

"That long-distance stuff?" He murmured. "We’ll make it work. No one’s stopping us."

[reneeslvt]

How Stupid.

A Regina George x Masc!Fem!Reader fic

Summary: Reader and Regina are oddly drawn to eachother on the night of the Spring Fling, leading to some events that might change their lives

Warnings: Vomiting/Nausea, Mild Language, Implied Emotional Distress, Complicated/Emotionally Charged Interactions, Questionable Power Dynamics, Toxic Behaviour, Unresolved Romantic Tension

1.6k words

(Notes: kind of nervous, this is my first ever fic I’ve posted! if you read this, thank you so much! I hope you love this as much as I do.)

======================================

The Spring Fling was the highlight of the year for most students at your school. Not because of the dance itself or the snack table, everyone obsessed over the crowning of Spring Fling king and queen. Months before, nominees are announced then a few weeks later voting opens and the school turns into a hostile environment.. Cool, right?

You had never really cared for the Spring Fling that much anyways, you found the lights were too bright and it smelt of body odor, cologne, and hairspray. But when your stupid garage band was asked by the music teacher, Ms. Daniels, to play at the dance, suddenly you had a reason to care—a tiny, annoying reason wrapped in the promise of a fifteen minute set and a free pizza from the teachers lounge.

So there you were, clammy hands gripping your drumsticks ever so tightly. Backstage with your band mates, in the middle of a conversation that you weren’t included in. As the drummer you were a little more secluded from the rest of the band, you played more to the back of the stage since you needed the room to fit all of the parts to it. After all, you chose the drums because you liked being alone. So you didn’t mind being secluded from the conversation.

Your thoughts were interrupted by the loud feedback of the microphone. Tap tap tap you heard, most likely from one of the teachers.

Ms. Daniel’s cleared her throat, pulling a small piece of paper out of her back pocket. “Tonight we have a treat for you, please welcome North Shores very own.. Pure Valley!” She exclaimed, overly excited for no reason. Only a few cheers came from the audience, you were sure it was sarcasm.

You then walked out with the rest of your band, sitting behind your drum kit. The lead singer, Claudia, began to ramble on about what you were performing and why. The band proceeded to play their rendition of “Come As You Are” by Nirvana and “Scar Tissue” by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

As you were playing your drums you caught eye of Regina in the crowd, donning her famous “I don’t care” look as her friends Gretchen and Karen stood beside her, their dresses lavender, while Regina’s was a shiny dress and greenish-blue. You didn’t understand why they let her rip them apart, after all you didn’t understand many things about Regina George. Like why everyone was scared of her, or why she never let anyone else sit at her lunch table, or why she was just so rude all of the time.

Distraction caught up and you hit the snare drum on accident. You internally face palmed yourself for letting someone you hated so much distract you and take up space in your head! She must’ve noticed because she seemed to have chuckled to herself while looking at you. Shit, of course she’s getting a kick out of this. She’s always loved to aggravate people.

After what seemed like an eternity, your set finally wrapped up. You walked off the stage dripping sweat from the intense, bright, headache inducing stage lights. Thankfully there were face cloths backstage. In all honesty you played great, but you couldn’t stop thinking about how stupid you were to let Regina distract you.

Anger boiled within you, so you chose to excuse yourself to the teachers lounge for something to eat.

You entered the empty school hallway, your echoing footsteps only further triggering your headache. All you could focus on was your inner turmoil and how hungry you were. When you turned the corner you were met with an open door to the teachers lounge.

You spotted some food on a table. A Pizza Hut box with a huge grease stain on the top. You opened the box, taking a slice of the cheese pizza inside. It was cold, and had a weird texture going down your throat. You helped yourself to a water bottle from the staff fridge to help wash it down. After you finished your pizza, you sat down in a fold up chair.

A little bit after you finished that piece of pizza, you felt something brewing in you stomach. Then, you felt nauseous. Jesus Christ.. it was getting bad now. Were you going to.. oh no!

You sprinted through the hallways while holding back your puke and trying to find the nearest bathroom. Once you found one, you pounced into the nearest stall and..

Once you finished throwing up, you felt more coming right as you heard the door open. Letting it come up uncontrollably, panting softly afterward. You then turned around to see Regina. Great timing.

“Holy shit, are you okay?” She asked. Although she seemed genuinely concerned for you, she looked amused at the situation. “Like oh my god dude.”

You sighed, rubbing your temples. “Yeah.. I just ate something bad.” A groan escaped your lips. Rustling came from Regina, then she handed you a Gravol. You swallowed the pill without water. “Thanks.” You sighed.

She leaned on the frame of the stall, her arms crossed. She looked insanely bored, just leave you thought, but she was here for a reason.

“I didn’t know you played the drums.” Her voice startled you, your head continuing to pound.

You sighed, putting your head in your hands. “Yeah, it’s just a side hobby type-thing.” Shrugging, you couldn’t care for a conversation, your main focus was getting home.

A moment of silence passed between you two, the only sound was the sound of your breathing.

Regina’s eyes scanned you slowly, like she was trying to figure something out. “You don’t really seem like the band type,” she said, her voice lighter this time, almost teasing.

You cracked a weak smile. “Thanks, I think.”

“No, I mean—” she paused, clearly trying to choose her words. “You’re just… quiet. I didn’t expect you to be up there, doing that.”

You shrugged, slumping back against the stall wall. “It’s easier when you’re behind something. Nobody really looks at the drummer anyway.”

She tilted her head. “I did.”

You looked up at her. She was still wearing that unreadable expression—half boredom, half something else. Curiosity, maybe.

“You don’t actually seem that sick,” she added, squinting a little. “Is this like, performance anxiety? Or do you just really hate school dances?”

You scoffed, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand. “Can it not be both?”

Regina smiled faintly, then pulled a mini bottle of hand sanitizer from her clutch and handed it to you. Of course she had hand sanitizer. “You’re kind of weird,” she said matter-of-factly.

She squeezed some into your hands, with you rubbing them together. You gave her a tired look. “And you’re kind of still here.”

She didn’t respond right away, just leaned further into the doorframe, playing with one of her rings. The mood had shifted—it wasn’t exactly friendly, but it wasn’t sharp either.

Then, finally, she asked, “Do you need a ride home?”

You shrugged, “Sure.. that’d be great.” Getting up and walking out with her to her car in the parking lot.

Once you were outside, you immediately spotted her Orange Jeep. She unlocked the doors, the car beeping twice, echoing through the foggy environment. You climbed into the passenger seat, leaning your head against the window, the coolness helping your head.

Regina hopped in a few seconds after you, turning the ignition on and the car coming alive. The soft hum of the engine was sleep-inducing, but it felt wrong to fall asleep in her car—so your forced your eyes open.

She looked over at you, chuckling to herself, you looked over at her. “What’s so funny?” You asked tiredly. “You look like shit, like actual dogshit that was stepped on and—“

“Okay, I get it.” You cut her off, as she pulled out of the parking lot. Regina had a problem with insults, she didn’t know when to stop.

She sighed, “Sorry.”

“What did you say?” You leaned closer to her, “Did I just hear Regina George say sorry? And it was a very sincere apology.”

Regina laughed, “Don’t get used to it, okay?”

======================================

You were had already fell asleep when she pulled up to your house, and you didn’t know how long you had been stopped there until she woke you up.

She shook you gently, “(Y/N), (Y/N), wake up.”

Rubbing your eyes, you groaned and stretched. “We’re already here?”

“Yeah, get up dude.” She asked, sounding slightly annoyed with you already. Your presence might’ve been draining enough for her that she unbuckled your seatbelt for you.

Her car doors unlocked. You grabbed the door handle, but her hand placed on yours stopped you from opening the door. You looked up at Regina, her eyes boring into yours.

“Wait-“ She said, basically pleading.

She leaned in slightly to you.. what is happening? You thought, internally panicking.

Your faces got closer, and you couldn’t stop yourself wanting to feel what her lips felt like.

But why? You absolutely despised Regina! Why were you in her car? Why were you having a normal conversation? Why do you want to kiss her!

It was going to happen, but the sound of a car passing infront of you startled Regina and made her hesitate.

“I think you should go now.” Regina remarked, looking a bit disgusted. Maybe with herself? But how could you know, she never opens up.

You swallowed, nodding in agreement with her. “Yeah, I agree.” You conceded, stepping out of the car. Running up to your door with tears welling in your eyes. While you heard Regina’s car speeding off.

How stupid.

======================================

Part 2?