#areas v stadiums

[sheerioswifties]

living in a state taylor goes to must be nice 😭 i’m in oregon and she hasn’t been here since 2013 due to our extreme lack of professional sports and stadiums with a capacity higher than 50k

Bestie I've got a whooooleee post I'm gonna be writing on this but!!!! It was actually a 3 hour drive for me for rep tour bc I lived in Vancouver, WA aka across the river from Portland, so basically Portland! I totally get you, I'm sad that she doesn't come to the Moda center anymore and now Ed doesn't either😭 They got too big. Which I'm beyond proud of! But yeah their shows became a lot less accessible. Maybe it's time to rally to get Oregon cities to build a dang stadium already. But yeah I mean this is what I was gonna post about but like part of the reason demand is so high (not to take ANY if the blame from Ticketmaster it's all 100% them) is because of situations like this where one show, Seattle, is the closest for 3-4 states and B.C. so that's a LOT of people gunning for one show. I'm used to having to do long drives so I've totally prepared for possibly having to drive to a California or other show and sleep in the car idk. I didn't get tix, yet- but yeah gosh I feel like both that states should invest more in stadiums obvs it draws tourist revenue (tho maybe Oregon is an oddity in that college football is so big that it brings in enough ppl for that to Corvallis and Eugene maybe that is partially why? Idk also maybe Portland has a bad rep now (hah) and it doesn't have any good enough teams for a stadium but still. They should put in a stadium I'm manifesting) but also stars choosing to bypass smaller arenas for only stadiums I wonder if it actually works out. I'm gonna post on that too.

But yeah I'm right there with you! If I manage to get tickets anywhere it's gonna require travel :/ And yeah that makes the cost of the tickets even higher especially with gas prices aafarsffsgsfsstgs

But anyways I love the PNW, Oregon is awesome so!!!!

[screampied]

MONEY HONEY! — ☆ GOJO SATORU.

➤ popstar!gojo masterlist

headline. fucking your client wasn’t on your bucket list. the famous popstar 'toru' says he can’t perform because of issues he’s having with his voice. but he finds another way to warm up his vocal cords—it involves being between your legs.

word count. 4.2k

warnings. fem! reader, popstar!gojo, pwp, unprotected sex, modern au, he's a whiney brat, overstim, degradation, praise, semi public, impact play, cunnilingus, fingering.

an. lol this was fun 2 write !! ty @osaemu as always for beta'ing

“…nono, you don’t understand. i can’t go out there, i just…can’t—!” gojo mutters, and he’s pacing back and forth. talk about a drama queen. to think you had to deal with this every day, being the infamous satoru gojo’s personal assistant was never an easy task. his attire was…quite enthralling to say the least. gojo was draped up in a sheeny black one-piece with rhinestones attached in a few places, he always had his outfits designed a certain way. not too tight, not too big.

you sat on the sofa, taking a sip of a latte he bought you as a thanks for saving him to deal with the hoards of paparazzi that practically lived outside the stadium back-way entrance.

“satoru, you do this before every show,” you sigh, glancing at him. you couldn’t lie to yourself, he was strikingly handsome. gojo’s hair was a tad bit messy and ruffled. it was a slight v-cut towards his chest to show a bit of skin. his fangirls always went wild over the most minimal things such as that. “you do realize you’re supposed to be performing in front of 10,000 people? canceling right before a show isn’t a good l—”

“i know…i know,” he pouts, and he’s so unserious, you sort of found it hard to believe this was a millionaire pop star who’s such a household name. gojo lets off a loud sigh before walking towards you with a sheepish grin. “these cough drops you’ve been givinʼ me haven’t done shit.”

“really...” you deadpan, casually giving him nothing but a sly eye roll.

gojo sulks and he’s just a few feet apart from you now. “mhm…really,” he says, and the slight rasp in his voice catches your attention. his earpiece was still on, as well with his mic that hung just barely underneath his chin. “i did research though. about other methods that help with heh, um vocal fry..”

you stare up at the popstar, and he’s returning the gaze…as if he was trying to hide the smile that was already forming against his pink lips. you don’t give him an answer and this time, he’s the one to roll his eyes.

“…well since you asked so nicely,” he grumbles, the same pout going against his face before he pulls out his phone. gojo scrolls a thumb down against his bright screen before clearing his throat. “hm, according to this totally accurate article, it says… to fully recover from vocal fry, a guy must uh, receive a special treat within a woman’s—”

you blankly stare at him, already second-guessing his fake response. “just say you want to eat me out, satoru.”

“wha— where’d you get that impression?” he plays dumb, furrowing his eyebrows and cowardly looks around the room. a few seconds go by before he shrugs, speaking quickly, defeated. “….fine i wanna eat you out. hmph.”

you turn your head for a brief moment, hearing the defending roars of the crowd just a few areas down from the dressing room the two of you currently stayed in. “maybe after your show, they're chanting for y—”

“they can wait,” he frowns, and he turns you around, two hands softly holding onto your shoulders. gojo remained with a pout, bottom lip just slightly tucking underneath the top one. “i can’t.”

the both of you grow quiet for a long moment, and gojo seems serious—dramatic, but serious. you and him both exchanged sensual eye contact, and you were so close to gojo that you could practically smell the strong cinnamon scent of his intoxicating cologne. the popstar smooths his lips together before briefly shifting his eyes down at the floor and then back up at you. 

“five minutes…five minutes, that isn't too long is it?” he stammers, and the gaze the two of you made starts to get more and more intense. “i won’t get into too much trouble if it's just five minutes right?”

“you’re insufferable.” you mumble, letting off a soft sigh. “okay, five minutes. if you say this helps with your—vocal whatever.”

not much to your surprise, five minutes turned into half an hour. 

you held back a moan the sudden second you felt gojo’s warm tongue swiftly lap against your drenched folds. he made you wriggle against him, and you maintained a rough grip against the laid-back sofa.

“s-satoru,” you’d whimper out, gasping at how sloppy he was. you were prompt up in such a position to where you were bent over the arm part of the couch, skirt lifted, fishnets just barely pulled down, and the most vulgar expression. “oh my g-goddd, you're gonna make the others outside h-hear.”

“you’ll just have to be a little more quiet, assistant,” he whispers, cool breath fanning against your pussy. perhaps this was unprofessional, no it was very unprofessional. a plethora of following consequences started to race through your mind. “what time is it?”

you moaned, reaching near the wooden half table for his watch and read the time, “um.. quarter past eight.”

“aw man,” he sulks, softly licking the your tender pulsating numb with the very tip of his tongue. with a quick second, he maneuvers circles all over your clit to feel you squirm and jitter against him. “that much time passed? can’t stand rushing…”

as you cling onto the fluffed couch, your black pencil skirt that was just sluggishly raised up and yet, you continued to gnaw the inside of your lip from the feelings of his tongue, entirely sloppy.

the slurps that exited from his mouth had your bottom lip quivering in such desire. you craved more, the way he swirled and curved the length of his tongue throughout your pussy earned umpteen gasps and whines from you. 

“s—satoru,” you’d croak out, and he’s casually taking the time to make out with your folds. languidly, your slick race down his chin, and between breaks to breathe, he'd lap up his tongue before diving back in. “fuck, ‘m gonna cum again, think ‘m gonna cum..”

“wait a little longer, yeah?” he murmurs, grabbing the fat of your ass with two rough hands. you felt bundles of butterflies stir inside your stomach, feeling gojo’s nose swipe against your folds for a few jiffs. “let me eat, haven't had a good meal all fuckin’ day.”

you swallowed, not even facing him but you could practically see the grin stretching across his lips. “and…and who’s fault was that?”

he chuckles, warm breath fanning against your cunt. “okay, you have a point,” and your thighs feel feverish—you’re so hot, and not because of the sudden humidity wafting around the small dressing room.

the popstar lolls out his tongue, humming before you moan, feeling him lick your pussy in a straight direction. “mhm, this is better than anything else though.”

you were about to speak, but all that did was make you let out a shaky whine. the smooth pads of his thumbs graze against both parts of your ass as he continued to eat you out like a starved man. it was as if time stood still, your mouth grew exceedingly dry and your legs felt like they could barely stand up on their own. 

“sa..satoru,” you once more repeated, not knowing how long you could last. simply, his tongue was dangerous—god, it was just the way he moved it in every direction.

he knew where to lick, where to suck, and even nibble. gojo found himself tickling his tongue against your little nub before sucking on it. all to hear you cry out in desperation. cacophonies of whimpers depart from your glossed lips such as, ‘satoru,’ ‘please-please,’ and ‘m gonna c-cum.’

there was no denying, gojo had you an entire stammering mess. you found yourself even questioning how this became, the two of you were never intimate. although, there's always been steamy moments between the two of you. 

for instance, there was a moment where gojo took you with him to the hot springs while he was on tour…which non-surprisingly led to a hot make-out sesh. that was a few months ago, and the two of you decided to not think much of it. of course though, there are always assumptions being made about the two of you—always from the nosy journalists and interviewers. 

each interview, it’d always be questions they’d ask about the precious little assistant that’s essentially attached by the hip to the famous gojo satoru.

“are you and that girl exclusive yet?”

“how long have you two seen each other?”

“please. describe to us. what’s she like in b—”

they’d get more perverted each time. alas, gojo always loathed it whenever the press referred to you as ‘that’ girl.

his jaw would always clench in sheer annoyance. perhaps he didn't have the right to feel that way, but he was somewhat protective over you. it wasn't like you were his bodyguard or anything clearly, but still. he always liked how you treated him just like you’d treat anyone else.

“satoru..” you'd cut him off from his deep thoughts. “your phone keeps beeping.”

“huuuuh?” he grouches, ears perking at the annoying screech of his device. gojo’s thumbs remain against both edges of your ass before he breaks off his lips, a long string of his own saliva running down your slit. “oh, can you hand it to me?”

he's so nonchalant, and with your back still arched, you lightly fling his phone towards him.

he grumbles.

picking up the phone, typing in his twenty one digit passcode of ‘sexymansexyspraycan69’ before with a click, it unlocks. gojo darts his eyes towards his phone and hums at the five messages left from his manager, kento nanami. 

‘Greetings. Where are you? Message me Ass.’

‘ASAP. Autocorrect.’

‘Your fans think your dead.’

‘Don’t tell me you're busy with that assistant of yours again.’

‘When your sales start going low, don't blame me.’

and many more unread, “blah blah yeah yeah,” gojo murmurs, skimming through the loads of unread gray bubbled messages. “nothing important. geez, can't have a single moment to myself.”

you were so close to orgasming and that's when gojo flips you over to face him—you're panting and he flashes you a soft smile, leaning in to kiss your forehead. “aw, waiting for me?” he whispers, bringing a gentle kiss towards the inner corner of your neck. his touch was immensely warm, something you just couldn't describe. “you wanna cum don't you, baby?

“m-mhmm.” was all you could manage out, wrapping your arms around him as he got right between you. gojo continues to trail kisses down your neck before chuckling. 

“use those words, c’mon. don't be shy. i wanna hear ya tell me what you want.”

the way he was such a tease, you couldn't stand him, then again you could. so annoying, gojo’s warmth of his performing outfit brushed against your skin. the perfectly knitted fabric of it dancing against your skin as he inched closer towards you. “tell me how much of a messy girl you wanna be.”

“i—” you started, and he took a moment to stare into your eyes. gojo looked so pretty, smug yes, but pretty. long lashes each time he blinked, fluttering against him. whenever he showcased that well-known cheeky smile of his, his dimples would poke right against his lips. “i-i wanna cum. please, lemme cum, ‘toru..”

“pretty girllll wants to cummmm,” he sings in a  playful melodic tune. again, you couldn't stand him. singing right in the middle of something so intimate. gojo runs a hand down your buttoned-up shirt before chuckling. “hm, i suppose. go ahead, let go fʼr me.”

once you do, immediately your vision turns dizzy. all you saw was a few blotches of white, and it feels so good that the feelings have you biting down on your lip. gojo leans into your neck, whispering sweet nothings against you while giving your ass a soft caress.

“good girl, just let go…yeah,” he purrs, giving your collarbone a gentle suck. you taste so sweet to him. you're addicting, simple as that. like candy he can't get enough of.

gojo satoru had a sweet tooth for you, there was no doubt about it. “fuck, i can just suck on you all day,” he utters in a low voice, and his warm hands part your thighs so he can get a bit more between you. “i need more…fuck the fans, i need you.”

“idiot, don’t say that..” you moan, and he's kissing all down the crevices of your neck again. gojo’s lips against your tender skin gave you chills. even still, you were so hot, from the neck down. it felt amazing, the feeling of him sucking and kissing against your skin to such a point that you're just throbbing. “t-they’re waiting for you.”

“they can keep waiting,” he smiles, leaning down to kiss near your chest, moving the exclusive backstage lanyard pass away with a slight grip. “damn, you don't know how hard i’ve been during rehearsal. i—i think about you, you know?”

you gawk up at him as his body towers over you, his costume glimmers in the light before he starts to peel it off carefully. you were taken by surprise so you mutter, “you…you do?”

“well yeah girl,” he rolls his eyes, such sass in his tone, following with the low rasp that hid underneath his voice. “you drive me crazy in the worst way.”

“the feeling’s mutual, popstar.” you utter, a glint in your eye.

“hmpf. now that i was nice enough to let you cum, you decide to be a brat, huh?” he raises a brow, using two fingers to brush his mic piece aside. 

a coyish grin goes against your lips. “sorry. are you gonna do anything about it?”

“…shut up..” he grumbles, and he does. 

pretty much, you then found yourself on your hands and knees on the couch, feeling gojo caress your ass briefly before meeting the mounds of your skin with a mean spank.

you suck in shortened breath. “ooh,” he says as you moan in unison of the light thwack. “you get off on spanks, huh?” he utters in a grouse, the feeling of his palm kissing against your skin making you continuously pulse. 

“n-no.” you spat. 

“liar,” he matches your snarky tone, and you let off a gasp once you feel him finally rub the tip of his dick against your folds. gojo grows abnormally quiet the minute your slick coats his length freely. “fuckkk,” he sighs, eyes closing for a short second. you teasingly wriggled your ass against him and he spanks you again. “you’re so impatient, wait.”

“do you even know how to fuck?” you slip out, and you held back a giggle. perhaps you shouldn't have said that, your thoughts did speak way more than they should anyway. 

gojo’s eyebrows curl into a furrow, and his voice genuinely sounds offended. “wha—?! of course i  do.”

“just asking.” you tease. 

“just asking,” he mocks your tone, completely butchering it purposely and gojo slowly starts to make his way inside of your tight pussy. he's gradually moving himself in, and you let off a moan before he continues, “yeah. shut the f-fuck up.”

a small grin stretches against your lips, because you hear how gojo stutters whilst sinking inches into you. even while trying to be mean and degrading, he was so close to moaning himself. it was simply adorable. you maintained a mere pristine arch while biting the inside of your cheek once more. 

“you're s-so wet ‘n sloppy,” he huffs out a groan, and the squelches your pussy made against him was simply enticing. for a second, you grew mute once you gave your own body a listen. just the faint sounds of gojo’s jagged breathing, “f-fuck, ‘s good. keep facing that way, just like that. good.”

gojo’s touch against your spine was purely gossamer. 

he was soft, gentle, delicate.

yet the minute he started to create a pace with his rollicked hips, he couldn't contain himself. the way his dick probed throughout your walls, you kissed your teeth in longing—just for him to just hurry.

gojo was always such a tease, the fat plump head of his cock dabbing against your pussy. 

“s-stop playing and just put it in.” you moaned, growing impatient by the mile. 

“heh, you know what they say,” he mumbles, you pulse even more once you feel him slide in about a single inch or two…only to then go right back out. “patience is a virgin.”

“…it’s virtue.”

“that’s what i sai—”

“just fuck me.” you whined. 

gojo giggles, and finally, he starts up his slovenly pace again. he grips onto your hips before sighing. he takes note of the way you progressively suck him in.

you linger over the couch, the fabric of your own pencil skirt just hovering over your waist before gojo starts to sway his hips. 

you had to stop yourself from being so noisy, executives were probably in the other room.

some kind of meeting perhaps occurring, yet here you were, happily entangled with your client. such thick inches he was dumping into you had nearly drooling. gojo’s base was rotund and fat, thwacking and thwacking against you to where you're so dizzy. 

“f-fuck, ‘toru.. ‘s good.” you whined, every few seconds he’d smack your ass to watch your ass jiggle with such recoil. it was one of his favorite moments to witness. as your lips stuck together, your thighs already felt weak and tremulous. 

“damn girl…didn't expect you to s-start throwin’ yourself back again me,” he sibilates, and for a concise moment his head goes back. a groan flies past his glossed pink lips as your ass continued to thrash against him. “you're such a needy girl. tryna…f-fuck me back..”

the way his voice unintentionally got low whenever he was in such a trance had you throbbing, such convulses making you nearly weak in the knees.

to you, the feeling was indescribable. such pools of heat ran between your legs the more his thrusts picked up.

his dick reached every spot, so much so being precise—you felt the curve of his length analyze all throughout your inner walls. it didn't miss a spot, he reached deep and you let off the cutest whimper. “god, r-right there. please, ‘toru. y-your curve, ‘s reaching me deep.”

“you f-flatter me,” he pants, trying to ignore his flusteredness. gojo’s right hand, the hand that had a half-cut open glitter glove that coordinated alongside his outfit ghosts against your ass. his lip quivers from his pace, and the way your pussy just sucks him dry, a few splotches of pre-cum cutely coated against the outer part of your ass. “fuck, dunno how much i can take with you movin’ your ass against me like that…shit, shit.”

“…s-satoru,” you breathed, biting down on your arm to suppress your moans a bit. not before long, he deepens the angle and you feel his sharped hips piston in utter contentment. “fuck, f-fuck. ‘s deep.”

gojo groans, swallowing the nonexistent lump in his throat before he feels himself coming close.

“think you’re gonna m-milk me dry,” he gasps, jerk after jerk his hips go against you at full throttle. the base of his dick, you hear the pap pap pap noises commence, and it’s so obscene. “shit, think ‘m in love,” and then you grow hot. it’s a long inelegant pause before he adds to his words, “…i-in love with your pussy.”

you were gonna comment something, but you were too fucked dumb to comprehend anything. you’re basically being fucked stupid into the cushioned sofa. the cottony bristles of the fabric went against your skin as your body lurched forward each time. 

splaying at an almost animalistic pace, gojo’s ears, the very tips of them at least grow incredibly hot, you’re making his body heat up, scorching. the way your pussy tightly hugged around him like a vice, he was obsessed.

he just couldn’t get enough. to think this was the first time he’s been this intimate with you—oh, how he could only imagine what it’d be like for a second time, or a third time, or a…

“s-satoru, your phone’s ringing..”

he grunts, glancing down to see the bright-lit screen display, and this time it’s geto. with an eye roll, he ignores it, still gripping your hips, he’s attaining his peak before he lets off a husky groan. “f-fuck, ‘m gonna cum.. can i—?”

“y-yes, jus’ do it, ‘toru,” you spoke, not even letting him finish his sentence—you knew what he was gonna ask though if he could shoot inside. you were so drunk from his dick, thoughts on your mind were straight mush. 

“okay, okay,” he breathes, and even his moans were pretty. figures, gojo was a soprano, so he was bound to sound angelic, even while moaning his head off. it had the perfect pitch to it, such rasp in it, almost breathy. 

you feel gojo’s pelvic bone thrust a bit more at a quickened pace, accelerating just a bit more and his nerves were just going wild. “fuck, f-fuck..” he grunts, and he starts to grow a bit whiney, his sloppy hits against your rear made out to be a tad bit voluntary, rhythm a bit more expedite, and he clenched his jaw. 

once gojo came, it's so much.

thick ropes that seeped right into you. you moan, and he pauses his hips just to watch, feeling himself pouring all inside. velvety ropes of the popstar’s cum fills you up to the brim. you're panting, he's panting, and gojo was in love.

was it love? he didn't know, but his pupils were dilated for sure. 

his breath hitches once he slowly pulls out, watching his own cum slowly spill out between your folds and he lets off a moan. “made me fuck such a mess into you,” he spouts, running a thumb down your slit to watch you cutely jounce against his touch. 

“you ruined my panties.” you whined, turning over to face him—gojo leans in for a kiss, and you return the favor, tasting yourself once more on his lips. the sweetened taste of your own slick that still remained all over his tongue. 

“baby, it's not like you need them,” he rasps, grabbing ahold of you, and he positions you to get on his lap. “besides, i was gonna ask to keep them.”

“why?” you mumble, wrapping your arms around his neck, slipping off a moan at his already sensitive tip hovering against your entrance as you realigned yourself. 

timidly, he runs a hand down his neck. “y’know. for uh…good luck? was gonna keep them in my pocket or something.”

“you're so—”

“shhh.” he hums, interrupting your words for another tender kiss. your tongue slides against his, and he tastes minty.

as his breath collides against yours, you playfully bite down on his lip. gojo grunts, and he’s making your way inside again. gingerly, you sink down against his thick base and he gives your ass a mean squeeze before spanking it once you start to move. 

“oh f-fuck…fuck, forgot how sensitive-” he hiccups, watching with half-lidded eyes at your hips rotating against him in an orderly fashion. you moan from his pleasure, taking a second to swallow before whimpering—softly, you kiss against his neck and he grunts. “you-you make me feel so good, baby.”

gojo’s almost at a lost for words, he’s had his fair share of women, but none could make him feel like this.

besides, he's never had the time. touring day in and day out was a hassle, and intimacy was a straight no due to his overly busy schedule. 

although, whilst the two of you were screwing around, making out and you're riding him cowgirl, that’s right when the wooden creaky door bursts open.

not to anyone’s surprise, it's no one other than gojo’s best friend and bassist, suguru geto.

“you've got to be joking,” he utters with crossed arms, immediately darting his eyes away. “everyone’s been calling you, there's a search party, and—”

geto pauses, tilting his head. “…is that my clothes you're wearing, satoru?”

“suguru…hey man,” gojo gasps, nervous laughter following his tone—you jump in surprise, and he wraps an arm around your waist. “i’m… kinda of busy here.”

“i don't give a fuck,” he grumbles. “by the way. your mic was on the entire time. you moan like a girl more than her.”

gojo’s eyes widen, reaching for the tiny button near the edge of his mic.

indeed, the switch was turned on and he awkwardly laughed, bringing the speaking part up to his lips.

“eheh…hey mic check?” and he could hear himself echo through the ear piece. embarrassing.

despite you still being inside, you just sat there—geto staring away, not even trying to comprehend what was happening before gojo coos out a subtle cheeky, “uh…i didn't know my mic was on. my bad.”

“you're so stupid...” you run a hand against your forehead in disbelief. an entire stadium practically heard the both of you. 

the heels of geto turned before gojo brings a finger against your lips to shush, and he pouts. “sugu wait,”

“what.” he mutters, turning back around. 

“wanna join…? don't think a few more minutes wouldn't hurt…r-right?”

“…….”

[mamaestapa]

Closer|| Joe Burrow x reader

•pairing: Joe Burrow x reader

•summary: After the first pre-season game of the season, Joe helps you become somebody else while you help him get away from himself…

•word count: 4.4k

•warnings: SMUT, inspired by the song Closer by Nine Inch Nails, unprotected p in v sex, rough sex, oral sex (male and female receiving) ,foreplay, hair pulling kink, whipped cream, belly shots, brief blindfolding (inspired by @tigertales9 fic) reader has a belly button piercing (even if you don’t have one, you do for this fic bc it’s so hot), blood, choking, SMUT, this is pure filth (i think it’s so cringe i’m so sorry babes😭)

You were sitting on the couch, scrolling mindlessly through Instagram as you waited for Joe to get back home from Paycor stadium.

Tonight was the first pre-season game of the 2023 season. While Joe wasn't able to play tonight due to his calf strain (and the Bengals not playing starters), you still attended the game to show your support for your boyfriend and his team. The game didn't quite go the way you or the fans had hoped, but you had to remind yourself—It's just pre-season.

During the game, you sat up in the suite with Morgan, Holly, Jess, and some of the other Bengals WAGS. As you sat up in the suite, you split your attention between the game and your phone—scrolling through Instagram and Twitter to try and find a photo or a video of Joe. Since he wasn't playing tonight, you weren't seeing much of him. As soon as you opened Twitter, you came across a video of Joe on the sidelines.

You pressed play, eyes widening as you watched the clip. Joe was wearing a black shirt and shorts with the Bengals logo on both articles of clothing. His right calf was covered with a black sleeve and he had on a bucket hat. In the video he took the hat off, running his fingers through his grown out hair before putting a backwards cap on instead. 

Your heart raced and you crossed your legs as the video came to an end. Joe looked insanely hot on the sidelines in all black wearing a backwards cap. Something about that look had you going absolutely feral and feeling your pulse in other areas.

You shut your phone off and set it down in your lap. You pulled your bottom lip in between your teeth as you looked out onto the field, watching the rest of the game.

You couldn't wait for the game to be over...

So here you are now a couple hours later: sitting on the couch and waiting for Joe to come home. Just as you picked up your phone to check the time, Joe entered the house through the garage. He set his belongings down on the counter, huffing out a loud sigh as he did so. You chuckled to yourself and got up from the couch, walking into the kitchen. A small smile pulled at Joe's lips as he looked at you.

"Hey hot stuff." you greeted as you wrapped your arms around your boyfriend. Joe chuckled and wrapped his arms around you, leaning down to kiss your temple. "Hey yourself."

You hummed and pulled away from Joe, looking into his soft blue eyes. Your eyes scanned Joe's figure, taking in his beautiful eyes, his chiseled jawline, and that stupid backwards cap that had you feeling things you shouldn't be feeling. You brought a hand up to Joe’s head, slightly tipping the cap back which made Joe chuckle.

“What?” you asked coyly, even though you knew exactly what he was going to say to you.

“You have that look on your face.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Joe smirked and snaked his arms back around your waist, capturing your lips in a passionate kiss. You could feel the warmth radiating off of both of your bodies as you stood pressed against each other. Joe leaned in to the side of your head, his voice growing lustful as he spoke into your ear.

“You know exactly what look I’m talking about sweetheart…”

You pulled back from Joe, looking up at him with a slight smirk on your face. You brought your hand back up to the backwards cap on his head.

“You looked so good tonight Joey, in your all black and your backwards cap…” you sighed blissfully, “something about you on the sidelines has me all worked up.” Joe‘s eyes grew dark with lust as he smirked down at you. He gently squeezed your waist as he said, “Well maybe we should do something about that.”

“Maybe we should…” You trailed off. Before you knew it, your lips were smashed against Joe’s as you rushed into the bedroom, taking the cap off of his dark blonde hair and tugging at the hem of his black shirt.

…

Joe hooked his fingers underneath your t-shirt, ripping the black material off your body with ease as he continued to kiss you hungrily, wanting to taste more than just your soft lips. Joe's veiny hands gripped your bare sides as he pushed you up against the wall of his bedroom. His blue eyes grew dark with lust as he gazed down at your breasts sitting perfectly in a red, lace pushup bra. It was Joe's favorite bra of yours. It never failed to grow his arousal even more.

"Much better." Joe smirked as he eyed your perky breasts. He harshly cupped your left breast, digging his digits into the cup as he kissed along your jawline. Your breathing grew shallow as he bit at your skin. You threw your head back at the feeling of his lips, bringing your hands up to his unruly dark blonde waves and tugging at the tips as Joe began to suck harshly at your neck.

"Mmm," you moaned out as Joe's kisses grew sloppier. He pulled his face away from your neck, smirking slyly at you as he toyed with the waistband of your jean shorts. He slipped two fingers into your pants, brushing them up against your clothed core. You gasped as Joe's fingers teased your sensitive clit through the lace, his movements making the wetness between your thighs more apparent. Joe gave you a sultry look with his tongue pressed against the side of his mouth as he pulled his hand out of your shorts. Joe harshly pulled you away from the wall, pushing you down flat onto the bed instead. You let out a breath as excitement swirled through your body. You haven't been this way with Joe in a long time.

Joe ripped your buttoned shorts open with ease, slowly sliding them down your legs before tossing them to the floor next to the bed. His lustful eyes scanned over your body. He looked at your face first taking in those doe eyes and your plump lips. His eyes trailed down to your chest, his heart was racing as he looked at your breasts sitting perfectly in the cups lined with lace. He then trailed his eyes further, a smirk pulling at his lips as he looked at your perfectly pierced belly button and your lace covered core. You were the most beautiful girl he's ever laid his eyes on.

As Joe looked at your figure, an idea came to his mind. Something he's never done before, but something he's wanted to try for a long time. He reached out to the bedside table and grabbed what he was thinking of.

"Put this on..." Joe trailed off, handing you his black headband with the Bengals logo in the middle. You eyed Joe as you took the headband from him, sliding it onto your forehead and wearing it just like he did. Joe shook his head at you and leaned in to grab the headband, pulling it down so your eyes were covered.

"There we go." He whispered huskily, his arousal growing at the sight of you blindfolded by his headband. "What are you doing?" You asked, voice quiet and also slightly confused. Joe has never blindfolded you before.

"You'll see." Joe purred as he trailed a hand down your body. Your core ached and your heart fluttered at the thought of trying something different with Joe. Not only were you excited, but your body was excited, too. You closed your eyes as they were met with darkness from the headband. You couldn't see anything, but you could hear everything going on. Joe grabbed the whipped cream and the bottle of rosé from the bedside table. He took the lid off of the whipped cream, shaking it before taking the lid off and putting it in between his lips. He spit the lid out, the red cap hitting the wall behind the two of you before it fell to the floor.

Joe eyed your breasts as he shook the can of whipped cream in one hand. He reached out for you with his other hand, placing it on your left rib. His long, skilled fingers slowly trailed up your sides, making you shiver at the sensation. Joe unclasped your bra, wetting his lips as he watched the red material fall from your chest, letting your breasts free. Joe pressed the white tip of the whipped cream can. He made a circular motion with the can as he sprayed the cream onto your hard nipples. As soon as he was satisfied with the amount, he threw the can to the side and immediately attached his mouth to the sensitive bud, sucking at the sweet cream that adorned your breasts. His tongue swirled over each of your nipples, making sure to lap up every last bit of the sweet cream.

"Oh Joe," you let out a breathy moan at the feeling of Joe's tongue swirling around your hard nipples. You could feel yourself getting wetter just from him lapping up the whipped cream. Joe chuckled at your reaction as he detached his lips from your right breast. He leaned over and grabbed the bottle of rosé off of the bed and pulled the cap off with a slight pop. You pulled Joe's headband off of your eyes just in time to see him bring the tip of the bottle down to your belly, letting it rest against your skin as he poured the rosé into your belly button. He eyed you as he quickly slurped the rosé as some of the liquid trickled down your sides

"That's new." You said, an amused smile on your face as you watched Joe slurp the rose out of your belly button. Joe's never done belly shots from you either...

Tonight is already proving to be one of those nights where you and Joe help each other become someone else together, not only romantically but sexually, too.

Slurping out all the rosé, Joe bit down on the jewelry adorning your navel. He loved to play with your piercing during sex. Something about the silver diamond jewelry just got him even more excited. You brought your hands down to Joe's hair, running your nails over his scalp as he continued to bite at and play with your navel piercing. You bit your lip and let out a soft whimper as he tugged harshly at the ring while gently cupping your breasts as he did so.

You could feel Joe's chuckle vibrate against your belly. "You like that?" he asked, a teasing smirk on his face as he looked up at you through his lashes. "Mhm..." You trailed off, your response coming out as a blissful moan. It was hard for you to form words right now with the way Joe was teasing you. Joe smirked as he kissed down your belly, his hot breath against the skin of your abdomen making that warmth pool in your belly already. Tonight was supposed to be about you taking care of Joe, but right now, it seemed like Joe was taking care of you instead. Joe stopped his trail of kisses once he got to the waistband of your lace panties. Your eyes widened in disbelief, your heart pounded with excitement, and your pulse was felt in your most intimate area as you watched Joe hook his finger into the waistband of your panties. But his finger wasn't the only thing trying to take your panties off...

Joe lowered his head so that he was now lined up with your clothed core that was practically dripping just from the sight of him. He kept his blue eyes locked on yours as he bit down on the waistband of your red panties. He slowly started to pull the fabric away from your waist. You lifted your legs slightly, giving Joe just enough room to slide pull your panties down your legs with his mouth. You couldn't believe what you were seeing. Not only could you not believe what you were seeing, but you loved what you were seeing. You've never seen Joe act this way before. Something about the hungry look in his eyes as he stared at your aching, dripping womanhood made you feel another level of turned on you've never quite felt before. Joe ripped your panties out of his mouth and threw them off to the side with the pile of other clothes. He lowered his head back down to your dripping core, his tongue instantly lapping at your glistening folds.

"Oh- fuck..."you whimper out as Joe ate you out like a starved man. Joe chuckled against your folds, the vibration sending what felt like an electric shock through your body as it made you jolt. Joe brought his veiny hands up to your thighs, keeping your legs spread open as he buried his tongue into you. He moaned against your core as the taste of your sweet juices hit his taste buds. You tasted like sweet honey...

"You taste so good, Y/n." Joe praised as he took a hand off of your thigh, placing it onto your womanhood and letting his thumb rub circles against your clit as he continued to lap at your soaked core. The feeling of both Joe's tongue and fingers sent you over the edge, turning you into a whimpering and quivering mess in no time. You bucked your hips slightly as Joe's movements quickened. His jaw clenched with each swipe of his tongue and the muscles in his forearm flexed with each stroke of his thumb. Your chest heaved as Joe licked a stripe up your core.

"Fuck Joey, don't stop..."

You brought your hands down to the back of your boyfriends head, gripping the ends of his hair as you pushed him closer to your center. Joe panted against you, feeling your walls clench around his tongue as you grew close to your first orgasm of the night. You let out a whimper as Joe pressed down on your lower belly with his hand. He knew you were getting close from the way the your chest rose and fell, and how your hips were bucking every time his tongue swirled over your clit.

"That's it baby," Joe praised, "Let me taste you."

You let out a few more whimpers, moaning Joe's name in pleasure as you felt the familiar warmth in your lower belly. Soon enough, your chest was heaving as it all came crashing down and you were overcome with complete pleasure and bliss. Joe lapped up your juices with his tongue, pulling his face away from your soaked core. He licked his lips dry, making sure to get every last drop of you into his mouth. Joe smirked as he watched you come down from your orgasmic high, your heaving chest soon going back to its normal rythmuc rising and falling.

"I don't think I've ever seen you cum that hard." He smirked, a sense of pride in his tone as he spoke. "That was hot."

“All because of you.” You replied, still trying to catch your breath and recover from your climax.

Joe pulled you up into a sitting position before crashing his lips onto yours. You wrapped your arms around his neck, trailing your hands down his back as your nails dug into his skin. You could taste yourself on Joe's lips as the two of you shared a passionate kiss. As his toned body was pressed against yours, you could feel Joe's erection poking at your thigh. It was his turn to be taken care of now. You were going to help him get away from himself for a few minutes...

You pulled away from Joe, smirking up at the blonde quarterback as your hand traveled south, brushing over his erection as you spoke, "Your turn, Joey."

Joe bit his lip in anticipation as he watched you slide out from the bed, moving so that you were now directly in front of him. You gave Joe a sultry look as you slowly got down on your knees in front of him. Despite his calf strain keeping him out for several weeks, making him miss another pre-season yet again, Joe felt like the luckiest guy in the world right now. You reached out and palmed Joe through his boxers, making him wince slightly at the feeling of your hand on his manhood.

"May I?" You asked, gesturing to his undergarments. Joe couldn't form words, so he just nodded. He needed you so bad.

He needed to feel your soft lips around him.

He needed to feel your soft hands around him.

He needed to feel you take him deeper, and deeper.

Joe lifted himself from the bed, helping you remove his boxers from his body. Once the boxers were removed from his waist, Joe's impressive erection sprang free. He sat back down on the bed as you prepared to take him. You gazed hungrily at him just like he did at you moments ago when you were the one being pleasured. You bit down on your bottom lip as you placed your manicured hands on Joe's thick, muscular thighs, spreading them apart as you slowly leaned down. Joe closed his eyes as he waited for the feeling of your lips around him, taking him in deeper with each bob of your head. You brought your lips down around the tip of his dick, pulling them off with a pop as your tongue teased his slit, licking the pre-cum off of the red tip. Between the feeling of your warm breath and your tongue toying with his manhood, Joe threw his head back.

"Fuck," he groaned deeply as you slowly took more of him into your mouth. Your lips were sealed around the head of his cock, sucking and licking tentatively at his skin. Joe bit his tongue, holding back the sounds of pleasure as you suck him off. He let out a strangled sound as you took more of him into your mouth. As you started bobbing your head, Joe couldn’t stop himself from bringing his hands up to your hair and pulling you closer to him.

"Fuck, Y/n-," Joe moaned out as you spit on his dick, jerking him off with your lips still around him. Joe hasn't felt this good in weeks. The stress of training camp, dealing with a calf injury, and trying to be ready to go by week one has put a toll on Joe's mind and body. But right now, he wasn't thinking about any of that stuff. All he was thinking about was you and how you make him feel. You make him feel perfect. You always have and you always will.

You bobbed your head rhythmically, making Joe moan in pleasure. "You're doing so good sweetheart," he praised as he noticed the tears in your eyes from his size, "So good."

You could tell Joe was growing closer to his release because every time you bobbed your head you could feel his cock twitch in your mouth. Joe's chest heaved up in down as his face contorted into a look of pleasure. He let out a few grunts as he came undone in your mouth. You brought him into a pure state of bliss, something he hasn't felt in a while. You pulled your mouth off of him and swallowed, giving him a couple minutes to come down and recover from his high.

“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails begins playing…

You stood up from being on your knees, standing in between Joe's legs as you leaned down and crashed your lips onto his. Your mouths moved in perfect sync as you let him taste himself on your lips just like he had done for you. Joe bit down on your bottom lip, making you wince slightly as he drew blood. Joe licked the blood off of your lip before attaching his lips to yours once again. The metallic taste of your blood filling both yours and Joe's mouths as the drops of crimson hit your taste buds. Joe continued to kiss you hungrily, his movements urgent as he gripped your waist with the pads of his fingers. He pushed you down onto the bed, bringing you underneath him as he hovered over you. Joe inched closer to your ear, his hot breath on your neck sending shivers up your spine.

"I'm gonna fuck you till you're screaming my name and shaking so hard you won't be able to walk."

His husky voice and the words he uttered down at you made you bite your lip in anticipation. Joe gently bit down on your earlobe, slightly tugging on it as he brought his head away from your neck. Joe hovered over you with his left arm on the mattress as his right arm played with you. He harshly kneaded your left breast as his thumb and index finger pinched your sensitive, hard nipple. He did the same thing to your right breast as he began to suck relentlessly as your neck, making you moan in pleasure as he marked his territory. Joe wanted everyone to know that your were his, and only his. Joe licked a stripe up your neck, his hot breath hitting your sensitive skin as he whispered huskily into your ear.

"Here we go."

Joe slid his cock into your slick entrance, burying himself deep inside of you. The feeling of his impressive length made your thighs clench and your eyes squeeze shut as you let out a moan. Joe snapped his hips forward, making your hips buck up, matching his rough thrusts. You wrap your legs around Joe, allowing him to thrust harder, faster, deeper.

"God," he groans out as your walls clench around his cock, "You feel so good." His grunts mixed with the sounds of your moans and skin hitting skin.

Joe could feel himself getting away from himself and his thoughts of the game tonight as he fucked you senseless. Each thrust of his hips and groan that escaped his lips had you feeling pleasure in all the right places. Joe buried his face in your neck as you scratched harshly at his back. Joe left sloppy kisses on your neck as he pulled his hips forwards, roughly thrusting into you. In and out. In and out. In and out. Each thrust grew deeper, the tip of Joe's cock hitting your cervix repeatedly made your body jolt with pleasure. You screamed his name as Joe grunted under his breath.

"Fuck," he praised, "You feel so good, so tight."

Joe continued to fuck you senseless, making you feel as if your whole existence was flawed as you laid underneath him. You immediately grew submissive from his touch, seeming to lose every ounce of dominance in your body. The sounds of yours and Joe's moans filled the bedroom, as all you could smell was sweat and sex. After you let out a particularly loud moan, Joe brought his hand up to your neck, wrapping his fingers around it and squeezing you gently. You gasped at the feeling of your lovers hand around your neck as he ruthlessly thrusted himself into you, pushing deeper and deeper.

"Joe," you moaned out as you placed your hand over his that was around your neck, "don't stop."

Joe shook his head and removed his hand from your neck as a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, falling onto his lip. He leaned down and crashed his lips onto yours. You could taste the saltiness of his sweat as his tongue swirled around your own. Your bodies continued to move in a perfect rhythm as you and Joe became panting and moaning messes underneath each others touch. You felt a familiar warmth pool in your lower belly. You were so close.

"I'm so close Joe." You practically whined as Joe picked up the pace of his rough thrusts. Soon enough, your walls were clenching around Joe's cock. The clenching of your slick walls around him made Joe grunt. He could feel every inch of you from the inside, and it felt amazing.

"Fuck," Joe growled, his deep voice making your body jolt in pleasure once again. The sound of him, the feeling of him, and the smell of him made you grow even closer to your orgasm.

Joe could feel your walls clench once again, this time with more force. He knew you were close.

"That's it baby," Joe pleaded, his chest heaving as he panted, "cum for me. I wanna feel you." He continued to pound into you, making sure you felt every single inch of him. The feeling of his large cock filling you up made your legs shake as you moaned in pleasure. You came down harshly on Joe's cock, your hands coming up to his head and tugging at his dark blonde locks as he had you seeing stars. You whimpered out his name as your chest heaved up and down. You were completely blissed out as Joe continued to pump into you. He reached his climax shortly after you, groaning, and gripping onto your thighs as spurts of his hot cum filled your insides.

Joe fucked you so hard that both of you were completely blissed out, not thinking straight and feeling yourselves being brought closer to god. Joe pressed his forehead against yours as you both came down from your highs, chests heaving and bodies sticky with sweat.

“I love you so much.” He breathed out, his hot breath hitting your face as he spoke. “I love you too Joey.” You said, your breathing matching his. Joe pulled out of you and plopped down on the bed next to you, pulling you into his side. You immediately laid your head on his right pec, wrapping your arms around his sticky torso as you laid on him.

“That was amazing.” You said, “I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything except just lay here.” Joe smirked down at you as he gently stroked your bare arm with his fingertips. “Well,” he breathed out, “I think I should wear that backwards hat more often.”

You craned your neck up to look at your boyfriend, chuckling softly at his sly remark.

“I think you should too.” You replied honestly.

You definitely think Joe should wear that backwards cap and all black combo a lot more often. Seeing him in that outfit made you act and feel like somebody else…and you absolutely loved it.

hi loves!!

uhh so this was something different than what i usually write LOL. but i was listening to music and this song came on and i was hit with an idea…so i just had to write something😂

i apologize if this was super cringy or not what you were hoping for/expecting! im kind of shocked i was able to write something like this

i’d appreciate some feedback, but if you don’t want to say anything i completely get it ;)

i’ll be updating daddy issue’s tomorrow, and it’s the complete OPPOSITE of whatever this was lol.

thank you for all of you kind words and support with my writing. you are the best! i love talking with all of you and getting to share my work with you. THANK YOU ALL🤍🤍

tags: @hoodharlow @wickedfun9 @bernelflo @ilovejoeburroww @klips118 @killatravtramp @katelyn102 @theflawedwriter @kristencochefski1125 @schumacherburrow @samanthamark5 @joeys-babe @sinners-98-world @burrowstyles5 @m-1234 @marz22224 @emaanemaa

[kommandonuovidiavoli]

Will we ever find out what happened to penny’s parents? Also, will we find out why penny is seeming 10 years old forever?

These two are related, so I will answer them together and explain the WHOLE situation. Brace yourselves, it's gonna be a ride.

[TW: abuse, manipulation, violence]

This got LONG, oh boy... HUGE thanks to @deyasworld for the proofread, corrections and important addictions!!! This story wouldn't be even half this good if it wasn't for her!!! GIVE HER A HEART IF YOU CAN!!!

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[Now Loading...

K.N.D. Mission

Turning Elders New For Our Revolutionary Exciting Virtue of Eternal Rebellion]

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Penny was a normal girl, who could age normally like any other kid. Her parents disappeared when she was 8, and turned 10 while living with Nigel.

One fateful day in 2015, the city woke up to a pink sky. This alone was pretty unusual, but what made that day so strange from the rest was that everyone in the city had reverted back to being 10 years old!

Everyone except kids younger than 10, —who just remained the same age—, but everyone else: adults, elderly people and teens, were back to being 10 year-old kids! Running around unsupervised.

This strange event unleashed a LOT of confusion and panic. Even worse, people seemed to have completely forgotten about their families and jobs, and went straight to playing around instead of keeping their responsibilities.

Sector V responded immediately by establishing an Emergency Camp at the city’s stadium, where all the unattended children were gathered and taken care of until their parents got back to normal.

At this point of the story, Nigel is the only member of the old Sector V who still lives in the city, and technically also Kuki, —though she had been decommissioned a year prior, when her kid was born and when… Wally disappeared.

Nigel was asked to take over the operation and investigate, but he refused to take the lead. Instead, he chose to follow Penny, who was the standing chief of operations of the current Sector V, and believed she should be the leader of the mission.

Cinzia and Joey were left in charge of the Emergency Camp, helping to take care of the kids. Many kiddified adults managed to keep a cool head and volunteered to help around, which made things easier around the camp. Even though these adults were technically helping the Kids Next Door as kids, they were not made aware of the organization, and the ongoing operation remained a secret to them.

Robbie was left in charge of leading the search for the reckless parents who separated from their small kids, alongside a kiddified Lou, who was very PISSED about the whole situation.

Penny and Nigel kept things under control and maintained communication with the Moonbase, in case something more happened. They discovered a strange barrier surrounding the edges of the city, turning everyone in town into kids. Anyone who entered the city would be turned into a kid, but if a kiddified adult tried to leave the city…, nothing would happen. The KND surrounded the area and made sure no-one else would get in.

Abby and Hoagie lived in another city, where Abby was going to college. She was five months pregnant at the time, and was ABSOLUTELY NOT ALLOWED to enter the city.

After two days of effort, the power source of the barrier was found in Northern Greenland. Nigel and Penny were sent to investigate, while the rest of the crew stayed back to handle anything that could possibly happen.

The source tracked down to an abandoned facility in the middle of nowhere, covered in ice and snow. Once they managed to get in, they found a staircase leading deeper down the icy structure, and they quickly understood that the place was much larger than they initially thought.

Navigating the huge facility was tricky and full of rooms, so they made sure to mark the route they decided to follow.

After some exploration, they wound up in a bright open space. Lights reflected all around the ice, completely illuminating the whole place. It was very quiet, and it seemed to be the last room left to explore in the building.

In the middle of it, there were two kids.

Penny didn’t have a doubt as she ran towards them. Younger or older, she could recognize: Those were her parents.

The kids hugged and cried of joy at the reunion; Penny couldn’t hold back a single tear. After tiresome years of search, the reason she had joined the Kids Next Door had finally been fulfilled. The two kids pat Penny to calm her down and reassure her.

Nigel felt… uneasy. Something felt wrong. And it wasn’t the thought of Penny leaving him for them; it was something more, and it was coming from them.

Penny collected herself and called him over, but the two kids were quick to recognize him as, the legendary, Numbuh 1. The kids stated that they were big fans of his ideals! And cited him as their main inspiration to build the device that turned adults into kids.

So well… They were responsible for the whole mess, adding a reason for Nigel not to trust them, on top of the fact that they had abandoned Penny for all those years..

And from there it got worse. They elaborated their plans, explaining that they planned on turning the entire world into kids so that no-one would turn into a sad, boring, serious adult. “No kid should have to go through that ever again!”; everybody would be able to play and have fun forever! And that’s why they had decided to become kids again, and study how to make the world Adult Free!

This only made Nigel dislike them even more. He pointed out that, even if everyone was a kid, someone would have to take the jobs adults do. They’d still need doctors, and factory workers to produce foods, and even toys!

The kids argued that yes, that was true, but kids would make everything funnier!

Kids were perfectly capable of doing everything on their own, and the KND were the proof of that! Kids didn’t need adults or parents to guide them!

That’s when Penny asked if that was the reason they left her….

… And, in fact, it was. They waited for her to be old enough to “fend for herself” and went on with their research, because, to be honest, parenting wasn’t their thing. Caring for kids was too much work, too complicated, too stressful and depressing. But from now on, they could be like siblings! It would be so much better and way more fun!

Penny’s little heart sunk in pain, and she stepped away from them, crying.

“I don’t want siblings!” She cried, “I want a mom and dad!… I need parents that protect me, and help me when I need them!”

Nigel had had it. He grabbed Penny and pulled her behind him, shielding her, and started yelling at these monsters.

Kids DO need adults! They DO need parents to help them, educate them, take care of them, among many other things! Yes, adults ruled the world, but not ALL of them were bad. There were good adults who wanted to keep kids safe, that’s what the Adult Division is for! These two were just selfish assholes who abandoned their daughter, who are now trying to force their moronic views on the entire world.

The two looked at each other with boredom. “Never meet your heroes….”

Nigel held Penny’s hand and turned to walk away, when suddenly she was yanked from him, and before he could say or do anything, a sharp, burning pain pierced on his left shoulder.

Looking over, he sees the boy holding Penny, and the girl holding a laser gun that was still fuming.

He watched in horror as the two dragged Penny away screaming. He tried to catch up to them, realizing in that moment that he couldn’t use his powers at all, for some reason. The pain was too intense, and he collapsed on the ground.

The all-too familiar solitude of silence had surrounded him once more…, followed by its darkness…

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Nigel found himself lost in the void, floating in its pool of emptiness... All hope was lost for what felt like an eternity, until a warm, familiar voice echoed. It was calling for him, telling him to wake up or he’d be late, “Penny is waiting for you”.

“…. dad?…”

And then he woke up.

He found himself in a hospital bed. Robbie and Joey were standing on one side,… and Abby and Hoagie at the other.

The two explained that they had been informed of the situation, and they traveled along to where the signal came from, and that when they got there, they had found him faint and wounded.

They didn’t think twice about getting him to the city’s hospital, and accidentally got turned into kids. Nigel got startled the moment he noticed, and felt a despairing rage when he realized that, by doing so, Abby had apparently lost her baby…..

Hadn’t those two done enough??! THEY were the cause of all this! THEY chased a childish dream and cost the world Everything! And now they had Penny in their clutches.

Against the doctor’s orders to rest, Nigel got quickly on his feet and ordered a rescue mission for Penny. All KND operatives in the city were called in to join the mission.

The operatives raided the Greenland hideout and found the two mad scientists doing something to Penny, who was trapped in a strange machine.

The two explained that they had discovered how to freeze aging and stay Ten Forever! They revealed that they had gotten Father to give them his Delightfulization formula, and cracked a formula from it to get the results they wanted.

Penny was their first success.

There was a furious fight that got the lab destroyed in the process, but Penny had been rescued. By destroying the machine that powered the barrier, everyone affected went back to normal, and by miracle, Abby’s pregnancy was unharmed and back to normal.

Everyone was back to normal except for Penny’s parents. The process they had used on themselves was different. The KND scientists asked if they should revert them and bring them back to their actual ages, but Nigel refused.

“Let them grow again. I think that’s the worst punishment these two can face.”

Everything was back to normal, but indeed…. Ever since that day, Penny hasn't grown a day older.

Somehow she can’t realize she can’t grow. She has lucid moments where something feels off, and Nigel is always there to help her get through them.

Nigel and Penny’s relationship started as that of a brother and sister, but as time went on, Penny began to consider Nigel as more of a father, as he’d look older and older. In 2019, Nigel adopted Penny officially, and they became father and daughter, filling in for the paternal figure she much needed.

The KND decided to keep her because you don’t let go of a Forever Kid! She wouldn’t be able to become Soopreme Leader though, because it wouldn’t be fair for other kids, but she remains the Sector V leader until she wants out, be it out of the position or out of the organization, —which she wouldn’t even dream of!

KND scientists from all divisions are working non-stop to find a way to reverse the anti-aging process so she can grow normally, and so that she can move on.

[End of Transmission.]

[meazalykov]

redirection V

esmee brugts x reader

last chapter: redirection IV

next chapter: redirection VI

esmee and I arrived at the beach just as the sun hit its peak in the day. luckily the heat wasn’t this intense during the recovery training earlier, or else we would’ve been exhausted. the moist air was filled with the sound of gentle waves. a few children were laughing as they were playing volleyball a few feet away. 

my heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves as i walked alongside esmee, after we grabbed our things from the trunk of my car. she looked stunning with her blue jean shorts and white linen button up. 

i wore an oversized white linen button up too, with matching linen pants. almost matching with my barcelona teammate– and crush. yes, i will finally admit that to myself.

"this place is beautiful– I came here with my mom and brother when they visited here a few weeks ago." esmee said, her eyes sparkling as she looked around. i looked at her with a faint smile as i see the shimmer in her eyes. it's clear that she misses her family just as much as I missed mine. 

"it is, and awe that sounds nice." I replied, trying to keep my voice steady as we stepped on the hot sand. luckily i am wearing my birkenstock sandals but the sand still hits the top of my feet.

we found a quiet spot not too far from the parking areas and set up our beach chairs. we laid down towels and unpacked a small cooler (thanks to esmee) filled with drinks and snacks. 

the beach wasn't too crowded, thankfully, giving us a sense of privacy. we haven’t been in barcelona for too long, but many femeni fans have recognized us outside of the stadium before. 

after setting up, we were able to lay down on our beach chairs. the sun hit the front of my body and i felt relaxed. 

esmee reclined on her chair, her black sunglasses perched on her nose. she appeared relaxed but I had a feeling that she was just as nervous as I was. 

i couldn't help but steal glances at her as she closed her eyes from the bright sun. the sunlight danced on her hair, which was unbraided since she took her braids out in her apartment.

i recline my chair and turned my head to the side, covering my eyes with my hands due to the sun. at first, i grabbed a cold water bottle from the cooler before  trying to subtly peek at esmee, who seemed to be dozing off.

suddenly, she giggled, startling me. "why are you staring at me?" she asked, a playful tone in her voice. she raised her sunglasses to her forehead as she could fully see me without the shade. 

my eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat, and my mind fumbled for an excuse. "i... i was just, um, making sure you were comfortable," I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush as I looked away towards the water.

she smiled, her eyes still closed. "you're sweet," she said softly, making my heart flutter even more.

after soaking up the sun for a while, i figured it was time for a swim. "do you want to go in the water?" i asked, standing up and removing my white linen button up and pants to reveal my red bikini. 

i felt a bit self-conscious but was unaware of esmee's gaze lingering on my body. she didn’t speak as her brown eyes checked me out.

"sure," she replied after my head turned from looking out to the water to facing her. 

i smiled at her before pulling away and spotted the sunscreen poking out of one of our tote bags. “esmee!! I just realized that we forgot to put on sunscreen!” 

my hands reached for the can of sunscreen out of the bag. esmee watched me as i sprayed my body all around the front of myself with sunscreen. 

the dutch girl notices me struggling to spray sunscreen on my back. i didn’t ask for help, but esmee stands up and pulls off her shorts and button-up– revealing her navy blue swimsuit—  before she grabs the can away from my hands gently. 

“here i’ll help you.” she offers. i held my hair up from my back as she sprayed the back of my body. i couldn’t help but feel a nervous tingle in my stomach. 

esmee gave the can of sunscreen back to me and I returned the offer for her. 

after we were finished, we walked down to the water together– slowly due to the sinking sand below our feet.  the cool waves started lapping at our feet, i felt a growing sense of ease. 

“the water is cold!” i held my waist as we walked further into the water. esmee didn’t respond verbally, but she did nod her head in agreement. 

after a few minutes of our bodies getting used to the slightly cool water– we started to swim around enjoying the refreshing sea. the playful atmosphere that followed eased our shyness, and for a while, i forgot about my nerves.

at some point, esmee splashed me with the water, and in retaliation, I lunged onto her body, causing us both to fall into the water, laughing uncontrollably after we came up from the water.

“esmee what the heck!” i laughed, unaware that my legs wrapped around her waist. i don’t think she is aware that she is holding onto my legs as well. 

“i’m sorry I couldn’t help it!!” she laughs. my legs unwrap around her waist before we (silently) agreed to head out of the water. 

after tanning for a few hours– the evening came, and we decided to grab dinner at a nearby beachside café. we found a cozy spot with a view of the ocean that we just swam in. 

“you know– i’m starting to like it here.” I talked to esmee. we got onto the topic about moving to barcelona after transferring from our childhood clubs a month ago. 

“you hated it here?” esmee’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. 

“oh no! i never did– its just—- i’ve never been here before. it was hard getting used to this place– but the team is making it so much easier for me,” i responded. 

“ohh that makes sense. i got used to it here after a week or so, i grew up coming to barcelona with my uncle and brother–they’re barcelona fans– so i was already familiar with things here.” esmee spoke. i took a sip of my water as i looked at her with a faint smile. 

“that sounds fun. america isn’t really close to here, and my family always chose mexico, costa rica, or jamaica for their summer vacations– so i’ve never been to europe until now.” i frown. esmee’s eyes widened as i said the last part. 

“no way?! not even for international breaks?” esmee asked. 

“no, the only european team i played a friendly against was germany– and they came to miami to play us.” i shrugged my shoulders at the memory. 

even though i wasn’t called up to the world cup by vlatko for the world cup, he still gave me the opportunity to represent the uswnt multiple times. my first cap was against australia in november 2021, the same game I scored my first goal for my country. 

I have a thing for scoring in my debuts...

“well, during the champions league competition we will all show you around new places and you can even come to the netherlands at some point with me, i’ll be happy to show you around.” esmee smiled. 

“i’ll take you up on those offers, thank you es.” i joked around before thanking her.

as we finished our meal, i had to drive esmee home. the ride was quiet with her aux playing throughout. esmee was on her phone but i’ve managed to take a stolen glances towards her. 

“i had a really great time today," i said as i put the car ignition in park. esmee looked at my hands before looking at me with a smile. my voice was soft but sincere.

"me too, i needed some time away from the pitch and my apartment" she replied, smiling at me as we both giggled at her relatable comment.

“thats true, if you’re ever bored. please text me to hang out, i’ll probably be bored in my apartment too.” i smiled. 

“what about berry and maca?” esmee said. i placed my hands into my lap before turning my body to face hers in the passenger seat. 

“they’d love your company.” i smiled as i looked into her eyes. she looks away from me and smiles before looking out the window to her apartment for a few seconds. 

observing her actions– i wondered if she felt the same way as i did for her. 

remembering what (almost) happened in my apartment earlier– i suddenly had the courage to be bolder when she looks back at me. we didn’t say anything for a few seconds. all i heard and felt was my heart beating in my chest. 

without thinking, my body leaned over the car’s console and i kissed her on the cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin against my lips. 

her eyes widened in surprise, a smile spreading across her face as i pulled away. at first, she didn’t say anything, which scared me. 

she looked at me before i felt both of her hands grab my right. 

"we should do this again, y/n" she said, her voice just as soft.

"definitely," I nodded, my heart racing.

we shared a lingering look before she stepped out of the car. i got out of the car to help her get her things from my trunk. she insisted that i didn’t need to help her bring her things to her apartment– but i still did. she waved me goodbye as she drove away, but something inside of me wished we were at the stage where i didn’t have to leave. 

next chapter: redirection VI

<3

[racingliners]

Euro 2020 pics Part 2!

So as mentioned in the prev post, I had six different shifts across six of the eight matches Wembley hosted (ngl I got so lucky with my shift selection).

MD1 - Group Stage: England v Scotland

My first shift was for ingress (event organiser terminology for the spectators arriving at the stadium) at Scotland v England which... was an experience. Not gonna lie I was really relieved when it was announced that there was going to be a limit on spectators as part of the covid protocols bc I don't think I would have survived dealing with 90,000 Scotland and England fans at once 😭

(Also the irony of me being half-English/half-Scottish and getting Scotland v England as my first shift... the football gods clearly love me.)

I was fully expecting the journey to the stadium to be awful but bc I have to be there hours before kick-off it was fine, though I still saw some Scotland fans on the tube and they clocked my uniform and asked me about what I was doing and wished me luck for the day which was actually really sweet.

For my first shift manicure I did my nails a pastel lime green to match the accent colours on my uniform, going super super neutral (as volunteers representing UEFA we had to be neutral anyway, but for me even more so).

Genuinely I don't think I had ever seen so many people wearing kilts on one place (a couple of people were in formal highland dress, the rest were just in football shits, kilts and trainers, sadly there wasn't many bagpipes where I was)

The one thing I remember from the day was that were my group was stationed towards the back of the stadium was so windy. It was literally early June and I was having to do star jumps to keep myself warm (either I took my hoodie as a just in case or my Sister-in-Law told me to take it, either way I was so glad I had it on under my raincoat)

As I wasn't on shift for egress (the bit where everyone leaves the stadium) I left just after kick-off with my packed lunch dinner and hot footed it back to my relatives place to avoid any carnage, pretty sure I was the only person in the whole city thrilled with a 0-0 draw dvhsjdvhdfjzhj

MD2 - Group Stage: Czech Republic v England

Besties for my second shift I came prepared. I had so much stuff in my backpack it was a good thing I was on shift for both Ingress and Egress as I struggled to fit my food bag into it before going home.

This shift was really fun as it was pretty minimal stakes, England were pretty much guaranteed to be through into the knockout stages so the spectators were mostly fine. For this shift I was based on Wembley way so I spent 90% of the time taking pictures of people with the stadium in the background. For my nails I went with a bright orange (it's my favourite colour so I had to fit it in at some point)

We were all stood down just before kick-off and were sent to the volunteer centre to have our meal, which was a sandwich, packet of crisps, fruit, chocolate, and at either this match or the next one we got some hot soup as well. The eating area was literally in the middle of Wembley arena (as in the bit where the concerts happen), which was wild but with social distancing they needed plenty of space. It was actually quite fun getting to decompress and chat with everyone.

Egress was super simple, just smiling and waving goodbye but some of us had light sticks which led to a bunch of us pretending we were in Star Wars, naturally. (I had a criminal amount of fun, sadly I had to hand the light stick back before I left).

MD3 - Round of 16: Italy v Austria

So for this shift I got given a megaphone :D

It was so much fun, obviously I used it for Serious and Official Volunteering Messages, but I did have a bit of fun by saying Buona Sera to any Italian fans which... their costumes were so good. We had Mario and Luigi and some people dressed up as pizza slices. They brough such a great vibe and were just living their best lives and were really nice to all of us. The entrance I was posted at was at the Italian end so there wasn't that many Austria fans, but I did see one lady wearing a really pretty dirndl which I complemented her on.

This match started the recurring theme all of us had of "please don't go to extra time I want to get home before midnight"... none of them listened which was very rude and bc I was a bit weary of travelling round London super late at night I asked to leave early since my London based fam live on the other side of the city to Wembley and I got back safely!

For this match I did my nails bright pink, and if you ever want a good picture of your manicure take pictures on the tube bc the lighting will never let you down (especially if they're shimmery of sparkly)

[controlledchaosetc]

Weakness - Cyberpunk 2077 Fanfic

After making herself permanently a traitor of the NUSA, V needs to protect the person she loves while grappling with that fact that she can't explain why she just gave up the best chance at a future.

Fic picks up right at the end of Phantom Liberty with "Betray Reed" and "Free Songbird" ending.

5000 words, Fem V POV, V/Judy, hurt/comfort

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

All V could feel was numb. She was alone; Johnny was done with the fireworks. No more cocky persona. No more quips, or jokes, or verbal jabs at the ghost of the rockerboy that could help her divert from growing, gnawing ache inside. Tears threatened to roll down her face that she hadn’t registered.

It wasn’t until the distant roar of the rocket boosters were replaced with the whirring of helicopter rotors that V returned back to herself. Quickly, she wiped the tears away. Songbird might be safe up there in the stars, but she still wasn’t, and she sure as shit couldn’t stop now.

She groaned as she stood. Boosters helped mask the pain, but everything hurt. Aftershocks from the Blackwell echoed in her head, pinging into the Relic and shooting spikes of pain across her eyes. Her body was riddled with bruises from where bullets had bounced from her subdermal armor and holes where she hadn’t been so lucky. Her body begged for rest, doubly so as a Relic malfunction sent a wave of weakness across it. V stumbled, grabbing onto the back of the chair.

She couldn’t have an attack here. She needed a way out.

Her escape route wasn’t obvious. The launchpads were small islands connected to the Space Port complex by monorail, but the train would be easily intercepted. The observer tower she was in was too obvious; she’d be found easily. There was only one thing she could do when left with no other option: improvise.

Glass that could withstand the concussive force of a spaceship from the outside was shattered by well-placed grenades from within. Looping her monowire around a beam, she jumped down. As the spool ran out, the force of the leap sliced through the steel, cushioning her fall slightly. Her reinforced tendons performed the rest of the work, but her foot had landed awkwardly. Fire radiated from her ankle. For as chromed up as she was, the few wholly biological parts of her remaining still managed to make their appearance.

She welcomed it, however. A reminder there was still part of her in there. That this city hadn’t taken that part of her yet. Maybe So Mi thought the same after the stadium.

She frantically scanned the area for options. The only way back to Night City was through the water, but she wasn't in any state for swimming. However, it didn’t mean she couldn’t trick the FIA into thinking so. A service hatch sat closed in the wall, near where the concrete pad ended and the Pacific Ocean began. A place to hide.

“Maybe- no, it HAS to work.”

She limped towards the edge of the launchpad. Another malfunction caused her legs to lock up, sending her tumbling to the ground.

“No. No no no no no no.”

She steadied herself and her breathing, crawling back onto her feet and reaching the ledge. The hatch was about 10 feet away. The howl of AV engines approached while V hastily threw off her shoes beside her. She only had about 30 seconds before they’d spot her. She tore off her jacket, and let it drop into the water below. As she hacked open the hatch with ease, she reviewed the plan in the head. She knew if she simply walked over to it, her footprints would most likely be seen, and her misdirection would be for naught. And so, she faced towards the ledge, squatted down, and tightened her chest, steeling herself for the pain to come. 

She lept, not forward into the ocean, but sideways towards the service hatch. Spinning in the air, she faced the vent, and with the last of her strength, kicked in the air once more to rocket her body inside. Her shoulder slammed into the metal paneling hard, and, with a small pop, dislocated as she slid deeper in. Fighting the urge to cry out, she quickly closed the hatch and activated her optical camo as she heard the AVs touch down.

With her one good arm, she pulled herself around a corner and fully out of sight. She could hear the muffled shouting of orders from soldiers just over the squealing engines. 

Her attention turned towards her shoulder. It couldn’t stay like this for long. She peeled off a bloodstained sock, balled it up, and bit down. Grabbing her bicep, she shoved her arm back into place and immediately injected yet another booster, her groan muffled by the sock. V was about to spit it out when she heard footsteps outside.

“OVER HERE,” the voice of a soldier called out.

 Immediately, she froze. She wished that she could stop the beating of her heart so everything could be still. More footfalls followed. Flashlight beams bounced erratically on the walls of the vent.

“She’s in the water!”

Just as V began to relax, a familiar feminine voice spoke.

 “Goddammit,” President Myers said. “If she’s in the water, we’ll scan for her when we delta. In the meantime, fan out and search for her. She’s tricked us before, I won’t let her do it again.”

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck” is all V could think. She began pushing herself further down the vent when another malfunction hit. Her whole body spasmed; the only thing stopping her from involuntarily shouting out was the makeshift gag in her mouth. She couldn’t move. Her entire body was frozen as all muscles tried to contract at once. The wires within her executing a faulty program threatened to tear her apart. She was utterly helpless.

Another voice spoke up, “Madam President, Orbital Air reinforcements are inbound. We don’t have much time.”

Myers sighed. A pause hung in the air.

“Fine. We’ll find her eventually. She can’t hide forever. Everyone, move-”

The Relic malfunctioned a final time, and darkness fell.

V’s head pounded when she awoke. What was more important, however, was that she was awake, and she was still in the vent. She laid there, collecting herself and simply recovering. Finally, she pushed herself up and crawled towards the exit. Sunlight flowed through the bars; it was nearly 11am. She waited briefly if anyone was walking around but detected nothing. She climbed out, nearly forgetting her ankle until pain radiated from it. It was horribly swollen and hurt like a bitch, but diagnostic scans showed it wasn’t broken: a small consolation.

She still couldn’t take the monorail. It’d lead her right to the arms of Orbital Air, and she wasn’t that much of a gonk. The water it was then.

The repetitive movement of swimming helped her focus on something, anything outside of the shitstorm that followed her and only ever increased in size. Swimming meant she wasn’t putting pressure on her ankle, which was nice. The water itself was tinged with a slight oily rainbow finish. Couldn’t damage herself more, she supposed. Water probably wasn't toxic enough to need watersuits like the tunnels, or the lake where her and Judy had their first date. 

“Oh god, Judy.”

The last time she talked to Judy was before the Hanson operation. Before everything went to shit, when she dared to imagine what their life could be like once Reed had his contacts develop the cure. Lying in bed together, they had spoken of future plans and adventures, the places they’d travel to with the Aldecaldos. Hubris. It’d ended with the promise that Judy would see her in a couple days max. It’d now been six.

She had laid low after the stadium, waiting for Songbird’s call. She hadn’t risked contact with anyone, not Rogue, not Panam, not even Judy. Judy was the only one who she’d told anything about what happened in Dogtown, but all she knew was that she was backing Reed in the plot against Hanson. She knew nothing else: not where V was, not where Songbird was, not even why V betrayed Reed. Judy was of no use to the NUSA, FIA, or Myers. Or so she hoped. That’s all that she could hope for in those days that lasted an eternity. 

But now, with Reed dead, So Mi gone, and Myers empty handed, the game was changed. V wasn’t good at playing it, but she knew it all the same. In Myers’ eyes, Judy had changed from a person with knowledge to a pawn to be captured. 

How could she be such a gonk? She had the perfect solution, and she threw it away. She had the cure in her hands and gave it up. Now, she’s an enemy of the NUSA, and a personal enemy of the president. Everyone around her, everyone she’s come to care about and love, was in danger. And it’s all her fault. Judy might have already been taken, even before killing Reed.

Tears began to well up in her eyes, but she immediately pushed it down. She couldn’t break down. Not when Judy was in danger. She couldn’t show weakness.

V swam even faster.

After cleaning up in a bar bathroom, a change of clothes, and klepping a car, she sat in front of Lizzie’s bar. Judy was most likely at work, so it was a solid place to start. She’d wrapped her ankle as best she could, and boosted for a countless time. She could walk again, but it still ached. Scanning the crowd, she checked everyone who came and went. She didn’t find anything, although she didn’t know what she expected. FIA agents were able to cover their identities even better than she coulda. If someone was in the bar watching for her arrival, she wouldn’t be able to tell through her tech. Whether an obsession or a crutch, she’d always used tech or netrunning skills to get the upper hand. Having to rely on just her intuition uneased her. 

Although, she did have something she could use. She reached up to feel her face. The FIA might be able to identify their technology through Space Port security, but an ordinary agent might not. It was worth a shot.

She looked in the mirror as her face and body morphed to Aurore Cassel. There was a slight bit of excitement when she had used the faceplate the first time that briefly overruled the sickness she felt from their murders. All she could think now was of Aurore’s real ruined face, shot by Alex, lifeless on the ground. Maybe that’s where things changed. No matter now, there were more important matters to focus on. She exited the car and walked with the strut Aurore carried as she entered the bar.

Sitting at the bar after ordering a bourbon, she turned to speak to the bartender.

“Excuse me, monsieur, is Judy Alveraz working today by chance?” she spoke in a thick French accent.

He regarded her wearily. “Who’s askin’?”

She chuckled musically. “Well let’s just say I have something that may pique her interest. I am a developer of virtu technology, and a little birdy has told me that this one has been experimenting with BD’s herself. She may have an interest in a small business collaboration.” V smiled as she swirled the caramel liquid.

“I can check and see if she’s interested. Dunno she’s even in though,” he said, and began to leave.

“Wait!”

The man stopped, a look of annoyance pastered on his face.

“A small message for her. To convince her that this is the real deal.”

She grabbed a napkin, gestured for a pen, and began to write: “It’s V. Won’t look like me but it is. Just trust me. Be ready to leave.” She folded the message, and before the bartender could take it, she pulled it away.

“Ah ah ah! No peeking! Business between ladies must be respected,” she said with a wink. Only then did she hand him the napkin, and he walked away towards the back in a huff. 

V downed the remaining bourbon. She didn’t even know if she was here. She just had to wait and hope.

Johnny appeared in her vision and sat beside her.

“So Aurore,” speaking the name in an exaggerated French accent, “what’s the plan if she’s even here?”

“I don’t know, maybe leave? Delta the fuck out to the Aldecaldos?”

“And who’s to say the NUSA isn’t watching them too?”

“Militech hasn't found them yet, and they’re basically NUSA. They’re safe.”

“For now.”

“Thanks a lot, Johnny.”

“No problem.”

He disappeared once more with a mime of a drink. Alone again, she began slightly rocking on the stool. She could use another drink. Or several. No one was watching her, at least from what she could tell.

In what felt like an hour but was only 5 minutes, the bartender returned with Judy in tow. A wave of relief crashed through V’s body. 

“Myers didn’t have her yet.”

She could tell that Judy was heavily guarded, inspecting every part of her. She hesitantly sat down beside her and asked, “So, what’s this deal you have for me?”

V couldn’t know if anyone was listening, so it was safest to keep up the act.

“I was thinking we could talk about this on a little drive around town. I know a cute little tea shop we could chat at, mon cheri.”

“I’d much prefer to stay here, thank you very much,” Judy replied as she nudged herself further away. V could see the distrust in her eyes, and anger too that V wasn’t being straight with her. She needed to convince her.

“I see. Well, I came here, see, because I heard you are the first to successfully scroll two BD actors simultaneously, no?”

Judy’s expression softened.

“And it wasn’t even for that erotic thrill either, no no, but a swim through Laguna Bend. A shame if I am to be frank.” Even as V said the last line, her own eyes begged for Judy to trust her.

Judy sat for a second, and hardened once more. “Someone could have told you that. How am I supposed to trust that you’re-”. Judy stopped herself. “That you’re here with… new virtu tech and not the same old junk.”

V paused, thinking hard about what she could say.

“I have something that even your abuela would love.”

Judy’s disposition changed entirely. “You know, a drive does sound good.”

They both stood up, slightly hurriedly, and walked towards the exit. V could tell Judy was staring at her, now out of fascination. V jumped into the car, starting it as Judy closed her door.

“What the fuck V? It’s been almost a week, I thought you were dead!”

“I’m sorry, ok?” the voice shifting between Aurore and V as she turned off the mask.

“You’re sorry? What… what even is this? Who was that… person? You? How the fuck… what the fuck happened?”

V began to drive. “I don’t know where to start, really.”

“Well start somewhere? I thought this was all figured out, you said it would be a couple days.”

“I know that’s what I said, I was wrong. Things… changed.”

“Yeah, sure as shit things changed.”

“I betrayed Reed.”

Judy looked shocked. “You… what?”

“I betrayed him. I just… I couldn’t.” V was driving even faster now. 

“Couldn’t? Couldn’t what? Listen, I know I had a problem with you working for the NUSA, they’re like any other corpo, chew you up and spit you out when you’re not useful. You said it yourself though, V. Songbird betrayed Reed, Hanson, even Myers. She couldn’t be trusted. And yet you… what, sided with her?”

“I- I don’t… I killed Reed.” V gripped the wheel hard enough that she could feel it mold and crack under her fingers. She made a hard turn to start driving them out of town.

“V… qué has hecho…” Judy lamented as she slumped into her seat.

“What have you done,” her deck translated.

V could feel the tears beginning to return. She couldn’t explain why she did it, it didn’t make sense to her either. Why did it feel so terrible? She couldn’t show weakness though. No weakness. The world would eat her if she did.

“What happened, V?”

She looked up at the rearview mirror, and recognized the car behind her as the same one from several turns ago, its metallic gray finish catching her eye. She blinked the tears away, stating, “Hold on, we have a tail.”

V slammed the gas pedal, the car responding instantaneously and exploding through a red light. The car behind replied in kind, speeding forward and nearly avoided T-boning a truck. She watched as the passenger took a gun out while the car itself revealed installed turrets when the front bumper cover retracted. 

“GET DOWN!” she ordered, as she yanked the steering wheel to the right and hurtled down an alleyway, narrowly avoiding the barrage of bullets as the turrets began to fire. The game of cat and mouse continued down several more roads, with V occasionally firing back. However, V turned onto a new road and realized they were pinned. A straightaway with no turns off of it and concrete barriers on either side. 

“Fuck!”

The gray car began to line up behind them, ready to send another barrage of bullets through the car and into both of them.

Time to improvise.

She swerved and slammed on the brakes, causing the trailing car to race ahead. Its brakes squealed as it tried to change course as well, but V wasn’t focused on continuing the chase. She began to netrun, attacking the car’s internal systems. The ICE on the car was thick, confirming that this was indeed FIA. She’d broken through thicker though. The car was beginning to turn around to face them once more. She could vaguely hear the turrets begin to wind up and Judy begin to shout as she punched through the remaining layer and flipped the engine into a bomb. Before another shot was fired, the gray car exploded into an inferno.

“Ha HA, see you in hell chooms!” V whooped as she hit the gas and drove as quickly as she could out of town.

The remaining car ride was relatively silent. They stopped briefly to klep another car in case the previous one had been tagged, making sure to stay out of camera sight as they did so. They reached the Aldecaldo camp, and while V unbuckled and readied to leave, Judy grabbed her arm.

“Did you get the cure, V?”

She froze. She couldn’t even look at Judy as she muttered, “...No. I didn’t.”

“V, tell me, what happened?” she said firmly.

Her mouth felt dry.

“Songbird… So Mi… she played us all. The neural matrix… it was a one-time use…” “Shit… V-,” Judy whispered.

“She passed out on the train after telling me this. I was angry and upset, I wanted to scream at her, but I… I picked her up and took her to the shuttle.”

She still wasn’t looking at Judy, but she could already tell the look of confusion Judy had. She couldn’t bear to see her face.

“Reed somehow got on before us and demanded I hand over Songbird. He even said I could have the matrix if I did. But I… I couldn’t… I couldn’t let them have her… he gave me no choice and I shot him, and I put Songbird on the shuttle… She has it.”

Judy had let go of her arm.

“V… What the fuck, V? She betrayed you, she told that to your face, and you… you still helped her? After all that, after she jerked you around, spit on your face, and took you for a gonk. You had it V, you had the cure, and now you’re- what, an enemy of the state? Wanted for high treason? Why… why the fuck didn’t you take it?”

She could tell Judy was trying to understand, to argue on her behalf somehow, but a gonk move is a gonk move, and Judy couldn’t sugarcoat that.

It was too much. It was all too much. She was right. She’s ruined her life, or what little of her life remained. She was wanted until Myers had her head. She’d given up the best chance she’d have to live so far just for someone that betrayed her. All the heartache, all the struggle, all of the times she’d put her life on the line just for a chance at a little longer, all for nothing. In all likelihood, she was going to die, whether because there was no cure, or the only way to get it was a suicide mission, or she’d have to sell her soul to Arasaka. She would never be able to enjoy freedom with Judy.

When V was a young boy, she learned an important lesson. On the streets of Heywood, she watched as a teenager wept after taking a beating. She saw as those around him jeered, calling him a pussy, a coward, a weakling bitch. From doing small errands, she saw those who got respect where those that never weakened when shit hit the fan. The hard motherfuckers who never let their tough demeanor drop. Only a few times did she witness frailty in thought-to-be private moments, but never when shit needed to be done. Your peers, and more importantly, fixers, could never think you’d go soft in the most dire moments. So she didn’t. For decades, V refused to cry. Not when her hope that Atlanta would finally be the place she’d hit it big failed spectacularly and she came crawling back to Night City. Not when she discovered the Relic would kill her and she was slowly losing herself. Not even when Jackie died. There was always more shit that needed to be dealt with, so she could never stop. She could never show weakness. Even after so much growth, even after abandoning her lifelong dream to become a legend of Night City, she hadn’t abandoned that. 

But now, for the first time in 20 years, V cried. She did more than cry. She started to wail as the dam she had built crumbled. She couldn’t do it anymore. She’d lost so much, she’d lost so many, she stood to lose so much more.

Judy had climbed over the center console and was holding her. Gently. So gently. 

Was this what it meant to be weak? 

It felt so nice.

She vaguely registered Panem who had jogged over with Mitch but had slowed and reversed course after looking through the windshield. 

The tears continued to stream down her cheeks, and she was struggling to breathe through the shuddering sobs. She reached up to hold Judy’s arm as well. She tried to catch her breath to speak, and after several failed attempts, choked out:

“They took my face, Judy. I let them take my face.”

She continued to sob.

She was finally beginning to calm down. Her breathing was slowing, and the tears weren’t flowing as hard.

“How about we move to the back, ok?” Judy suggested, running a hand through V’s hair.

V could only nod as they both exited and re-entered the car.

“Sorry, my leg was falling asleep,” she tried to joke, letting out a half-hearted laugh.

V wiped her nose. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t need to be sorry, I, uh…” she trailed off. “How… how are you feeling?”

V stared at the patterns of the pleather seat. “...Not good.”

They sat in silence a while longer.

Judy spoke up again. “What… what do you mean they took your face?”

V was slow to answer, but she could see how patient Judy was, the kindness in her eyes. “It’s how I was that French woman you were speaking to at Lizzie’s. It’s a faceplate- disguises you, makes you look, sound, and act like them. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now… I’ve let them take so much of me. I don’t know how much you’re touching is me and how much isn’t.”

Judy’s reply was instant: “Does it matter? It’s all you.”

“Yeah… yeah I guess,” V paused briefly. “I always wanted implants, ever since I was a little kid. I was fascinated with them and was so excited to get chipped. It’s less that I ever got implants and more… When things started to get more dangerous, I thought I needed to return the favor, I guess. Put in more and more chrome to turn into a weapon no one can hurt, even as I stopped wanting to be that. Part of me wonders if I’ll always be that now. That I’ve ridden the edge and gone over.”

“V, listen to me,” Judy said as she grabbed her hand. “You are whatever you want to be. Just because you have weapons doesn’t mean you have to use them. After this is all over, you never have to take another life.

Judy raised her other hand to her face, and gently wiped away the tears with her thumb.

“Even with all that chrome, you will always be soft to me.”

Judy calling her soft so lovingly struck a chord in her. She began to cry again, softly and sheepishly. This is the most vulnerable she’d been with anyone in years, other than the encounter at Clouds.

“You will always be you, I’ll make sure of that,” she said gently. “We’ll figure that out together.”

They sat there in silence again, with Judy’s thumb continuing to stroke her face.

“I think I know why I helped So Mi.”

Judy shifted, taking her hand away from her face. “Go ahead.”

“It was before things had even started, really. We had planned to kidnap the Cassels to make the deal with Hanson. It’s gonk now to think, but I really thought we were letting them live. But when I left the trunk, Alex and Reed had zeroed them immediately. When I demanded why, he said that they were career criminals, and that nothing of value was really lost, and I… I felt sick. That could’ve been me. And that- I’ve done that to so many others. And I was about to be the person they killed. He did it so methodically. It’s like… if we weren’t having to work together here, I saw what he would think of me. I saw what he would think of Songbird. I saw that he was too loyal to the NUSA, a soldier through and through. Songbird would never be free, and I might not be either.”

V continued, “I hated her. I still hate her for what she did. She could’ve just told me before all this. She gave me so much hope and… crushed it. But something I didn’t realize then that I do now is that… she didn’t have to tell me. She could’ve let me believe that I was saving myself by saving her, and I would’ve killed Reed without question. She would’ve won. I think in that moment, when she told me, she wanted to just… just die. She couldn’t live with herself anymore. I think I recognized that, subconsciously, and I pitied her. In front of me was a woman who had backstabbed everyone she could so that she could finally crawl out from under Myers’ boot… for the chance to break out of her cage. I could see myself in her, if I was left with no other option, and I had everything and everyone I ever valued stripped from me. I think… I think I was that. Or almost was. After Konpeki. I… I still had… have options. Worse ones, probably, but other chances. She didn’t. I don’t… I… I couldn’t take that from her.”

V began to tear up again. “I had the killing blow. She was helpless. Reed was offering me back my life on a silver platter. And for the first time, I couldn’t take someone’s future for my own…” she ended with a half smile. “I was weak.” 

Judy looked at her for a few seconds, hesitantly starting, “I… I don’t know if you did the right thing. But… what I do know is what you did certainly wasn’t weak. That takes a level of grace I think only you have. I don’t think I woulda been able to do that.”

“I think you’re sellin’ yourself short.”

“I dunno, I am a pretty stone cold bitch.”

They both giggled, and V reached out to hold her other hand.

“After I left your room, but before the mission, I met with Alex at her bar. We drank and talked about what we’d be doing if things were normal.”

Judy raised an eyebrow. “What’d you say?”

“I thought about it for a while, and I said… I think I’d be dead. If it wasn’t Konpeki, it would’ve been something else. The pace I was going at… I would’ve burned up. Or been shot on the side of the road. I don’t think I would’ve changed. The Relic, Johnny, all of this… this second chance is what I needed, in a weird way. A wake-up call. I wouldn’t have met you, or have… any of this. Even if, in the end, this is borrowed time… I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Judy leaned forward and kissed her. It was a slow, deep kiss, and just as gentle as before. V leaned in, ready to return her tenderness.

They separated briefly.

“I love you, Judy.”

“I love you too, mi calabacita.”

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

I finished Phantom Liberty a few days ago, and the ending of letting Songbird live ate my brain. The ending was WAY too nonchalant for literally making yourself a traitor of a country and personally pissing off the fucking president, which is why I took it upon myself to get what I wanted. Literally wrote this over the span of two days like a woman possessed.

[7-takes]

stratford! - 16/272

yo what's poppin, back for another tube station eheheh this time we're going east, the furthest east in london i've gone so far actually stratford was actually way cooler than i was expecting, both the station and the area i wanted to come here to see the art (check the website here), part of a 3 piece series (the others being at notting hill gate and bethnal green)

the station itself is huge, with over 16 platforms (i can't remember exactly how many) since it has so many connections

also WESTFIELD (time to be a slave to capitalism amirite) i like this one more than the one at shepherd's bush, this one is smaller but i think it has cooler vibes, it also has street food so you can't go wrong

the surrounding area also had loads of (tall) flat buildings which led to some very nice photo ops, as well as queen's park (the west ham stadium, which strangely isnt very close to west ham) which google maps shows as deceptively green (it's mostly pavement) but i still really liked it

things opening soon (ish): -v&a museum (opening 2025) -city bouldering (tbc) imma have to come back to visit these, along with just walking around, the area is so nice omg might actually be my new fav area of london ngl (sorry battersea) (idk if its better than canary wharf tho, imma have to come back)

ive run out of things to say, check my photos pls (here and here) see ya next time!

[elvenbeard]

AAHHH!!! I *finally* got to play a little more Phantom Liberty today öahjsdföasklfasfhdfs

First I wanted to riot slightly cause GoG didn't find my install anymore (but rescanning folders did the trick).

Man OH MAN. I'm really just rambling about how fucking cool this game is below the cut, but beware of spoilers!!

"How the fuck do I keep ending up in these situations..."

I played all the way up to meeting Reed and agreeing to work with him back in the President's hideout. This was also the point up until I'd seen the gameplay at Phantom Liberty Tour back in August, but I also saw a loooot of new stuff o.o The demo back then started at entering the Stadium (when V walks through that area with cyberarms hanging from the ceiling) - stopped at meeting Myers in the crashed plane - continued at arriving at the hideout with her and then ended, as I said, with shaking hands with Reed.

SO. The whole "how do we get the president to the hideout" sequence was completely new to me AND MAAAN. That Chimera fight was so good like?? The whole setup and everything, I didn't expect such a big and epic boss fight so early on in the expansion at all, really sets the tone I guess xD First V gets his face bashed in by the President, then gets his ribs broken by this thing, things can only get better from here on. That whole section gave me such Bioshock vibes actually like... the Art Deco architecture the "amazing city that turned out so awful" vibes, it's impeccable, and I love it so so much. Really gotta take some time to properly explore everything (and now I gotta wait for Reed to call me back so, best opportunity).

I saw that thing under the tarp and was like "oh yeah, later on in the story this is gonna come back to bite me in the ass" - only that in this case "later" was "five minutes later" not "10 story missions later" as I anticipated XD

Also, I gotta say, I really don't trust Myers or Songbird much at this point with their intentions. I mentioned this previously... how convenient for Songbird to know to contact V via the Relic, but how the hell did she know about it in the first place, that he had it, where he was at, etc.? And then, in the Space Force One Wreck there was the shard with the answer! They knew about the Konpeki heist and two involved mercs through an informant potentially working at Arasaka. Yet, when I then deliberately chose a dialogue later on where V was like "yeah, I got Arasaka's Relic stuck in my head" Myers was all "oh, what really! how peculiar!". And maybe she really didn't know and I'm reading too much into it, but I'm really not liking her vibes atm at all XD (as a character though she's so cool, not at all how I'd picture a typical NUSA president, and I get the impression she doesn't really like the role all that much - I wanna read up on her background lore as soon as I'm done playing XD). AND. The shard on the plane specifically mentions Johnny on the Relic AND I'M CALLING IT NOW like I called it before, I BET they're really after Johnny's engram to do some experimenting with it for some fucked up Militech scheme. And in return V gets to live or some crap. URGH. I hope I'm wrong but I said it before "Phantom Liberty" (if you read it as in "a ghost that was freed" or "no real freedom") screams to me that this all boils down to something happening to Johnny in a messed up way in the end in exchange for V's life. Analogue to the Devil ending, but instead of Arasaka you have Militech/NUSA (if I'm wrong, please don't spoiler it to me, and if I'm right or close, please don't spoiler it either XD I wanna see just how far off I am myself XDD)

Songbird being MIA is hmmm... Not quite suspicious, but I'm wondering if she is still alive or maybe also doomed to be a construct now, but I'm really not sure. It would be kinda disappointing, I'd like to meet her in person still and am excited to see what she is gaining in all of this. I like the tragic "gifted criminal kid turned government asset" trope a lot and I'm curious to see how her story develops.

I'm also loving all the lifepath specific dialogues so much, I'm actually learning something new now and then about what Vince's Arasaka job was actually truly like at the core!

Also Myers roasting him for not having had a high enough security clearance to know about Reed xDD So rude! But I'm so so so curious how Ex-Arasaka agent with occasional homesickness to the corporate world and FIA-Sleeper agent with a big Arasaka-grudge are gonna work together o.o

I feel like, they're either really gonna see eye-to-eye very much or will continue to clash over and over and V is gonna come out as the loser at the end of this xD But currently, me as the player I'm trusting no one, and Vince as being caught up in all of this tries to play nice and be on everyone's good side but behind the scenes does not trust any of them one bit either xD It's really more a one hand washes the other kinda deal for him with no long-term obligations.

I'm also LOVING Johnny in all of this so far like... Vince and he don't get along that well most of the time for a variety of reasons. And so far, even though I got the Sun ending as my canon (as of right now), I feel like Vince acted more out of desperation than real trust or anything in going down that path and not any other. So I think Phantom Liberty *might* be the storyline that has been missing for me personally so far to really legitimize to myself that Vince would trust Johnny enough to let him take over his body for that last mission or go on a suicide run through Arasaka Tower with him. They are really seeing eye to eye on a lot of the stuff that's going on, both paranoid and suspicious, both not liking to swear any oaths or work for the FIA or anything like that. Bonding over their shared dislike for all the secrecy and scheming xD

Speaking of timelines, I found an ingame date for the 16th of June about an meeting Myers was to attend and another meeting scheduled for June 18th - sounding like the 16th is already passed at this point and the plane crash probably happening on the 16th or 17th or something like this... which completely throws my previously established timeline overboard :D But also stretches the canonical timeline a bit, if my assumptions are right, which would be nice and a lot more realistic than "like, a month, for all of that to happen". (For reference, in my timeline for Vince without PL I put the last quest on June 9th).

But that's only speculation ofc!

Then I also had my first vehicle gig for Muamar and omggg I loved this little convo with him so fucking much?? Like, this really built up his character so nicely, and the whole car stealing scheme would also be super down Vince's alley XD

And this exchange I LOVED sm:

Vince, car nerd surpreme, offering to fix the Cap's car, and Muamar's response: certain things I don't do halfway -> my clothes, my cut, my cars. Vince 100% seconds that sentiment XDD Like, so far I have to admit Muamar never really grabbed me that much as a character and I felt like he and Vince probably didn't have much in common. I was wrong XD

I also wanted to pay Mr. Hands a visit in his funky pyramid, but he wouldn't let me in yet. I'm so looking foward to finally playing his gigs now :D And seeing what else Dogtown has to offer in terms of stories and side jobs :o

Others mentioned it already, but I'm loving this place's design so so much... it feels like a different city altogether, the style of the buildings and everything is so unique and it's such a biiiig sprawling place o.o

And a random little thing I noticed, there's a lot of little cinematic moments now (the contextual removal of the HUD for conversations for example is such a good new feature). And occasionally the camera will automatically pan to interesting events or V's optics zoom in automatically - it was a bit weird the first time it happened but I really like it in a way? I noticed it during the part of rescuing Myers where you had to sneak past the huge Barghest drone (also such a good good moment, I'm loving all the stealth, parkour, and whatnot, the level design is *so good* hhhhh).

And finally, when I decided "okay, I'm gonna go to bed now" and was just about to close the game... I got a text message from Kerry I didn't know yet :DDD

(the fucking emojis with noses, Kerry pls, your age is really showing)

Like... I did not expect new texts from the LIs, and yeah, this got me really excited xD (and yeh I obviously had to read all the different outcomes and there *are* some differences depending on what you text back. I love it sm). AND. Then I called him. And there's new conversations about the events of PL too??? Hello?

Man I wish there was something like that for the other missions but obviously, with how late-game Kerry's romance is that sadly doesn't make much sense. So this is also something that made me tremendously happy (and also adds some new depth and bits and pieces to Kerry's character, which I'm always so here for XD). Exicted to see if there's more to talk about with him as the expansion progresses - I doubt it, but I'm ready to be surprised, maybe also by the other main NPCs that you're not in a relationship with.

That one V will definitely bear in mind for whatever is to come. Hhhhh I'm so excited!!

[blueeyeswhitegarden]

Day 24: Extra Prompt 2) Guest Appearance: @arcvmonth

I honestly don't have much of anything positive to say about the Arc V manga. The most honest praise I could give it is that the artwork is nice, but that is pretty surface level at best. Plus, I never finished reading it. I read the chapters as they were being released monthly and I did that well after the anime wrapped up. I don't remember when I dropped it exactly, but I'm pretty sure that I read about three or four volumes worth of chapters. For a lot of reasons, I really didn't like it. I don't want to rain on people's fun for those who do like the manga by focusing on my issues with it. Plus, I'd feel like a hypocrite for doing that with the manga when I didn't want to do that for the anime.

So instead I'll go through this extra prompt. I kind of like the idea of Carly being in the Synchro Dimension. I thought about her taking Melissa Claire's role, but even in an alternate universe, it would be hard to picture Carly as an MC trying to excite the crowd for the next duel when she's well known for being a clumsy and awkward person. I think that she could be working under Melissa Claire as an assistant, trying to work her way up the ladder to become a journalist. She would be part of the Tops, but on the lower end of that scale. She'd have enough to survive with this job, but she wouldn't be up with the high and mighty rich people.

She would eventually be allowed to get a quick interview with Jack after the end of the first round of the Friendship Cup since Melissa is too busy trying to get more scoops from the remaining duelists. It would be interesting if they could fall in love even in this universe. A big reason why they fell in love during 5D's was because Carly could pick up on the feelings Jack was trying to hide and he opened up more to her as a result. But Arc V Jack doesn't have the emotional baggage that 5D's Jack did. Not to mention Carly wouldn't die this time either. Jack already cared about Carly before then since he was trying to keep her away from the Dark Signers to keep her safe, but worrying about her safety after the Arcadia Movement was destroyed clearly intensified his feelings for Carly.

Carly would be of course nervous to talk to Jack, going through the usual questions he's used to hearing from countless other interviews, but unlike other reporters, she would be able to pick up on how distant and sad he looked while answering her. Carly would then ask Jack a new question:

“Why do you look so sad when watching the duels though?”

Jack would be caught off guard by her bluntness and that would make Carly nervous in turn, but he would quickly answer back. He wants to find new horizons and evolve in his duels. He wants someone to thrill him in a way he hasn't felt in ages. He wants someone's passion to match his own in order to go past his limits. He has not felt that kind of joy from watching other people duel in ages. Carly was determined to publish this interview, but she was so shocked from seeing this more vulnerable part of Jack that she decided against it. She didn't want to ruin Jack's image, even if he wanted to be more honest with her. Jack hadn't felt comfortable opening up to anyone before like that, so he was still happy to meet with Carly. He keeps an eye out for her during the rest of the Friendship Cup, sending a note to Melissa Clair's team to praise Carly for her work.

Carly would be in the stadium during the riots, but she would be trying to record whatever she could. She would be watching Yuya vs. Jack like the rest of the City and would be even happier to see that Jack got what he wanted in that match. She could appear once the dimensions started to merge together since other characters from different dimensions were appearing in Academia. Carly would be understandably panicked and start to fall off a building. Jack would have been riding through the area on his D-Wheel, looking for Yuya with Gongenzaka and Sawatari when he heard her scream. Jack would arrive just in time to save her, but she would be tossed through another portal during Jack and Gongenzaka's match against Zarc.

I don't think that they'd be able to talk again until after the finale. Carly would do another interview with Jack, asking about how it was being with the Lancers, fighting Zarc and his plans for the future. Jack still wouldn't admit that he is part of the Lancers, but he would recount his efforts to help them stop the Dimensional War. Jack still wants to keep dueling with passion and wants to find more opponents to push him to his limits. Carly is still aiming to being a high profile reporter and to her surprise, Jack encourages her to keep on her path as well. They do feel a connection with each other and over time, they do develop romantic feelings for each other. The notion that these two would still fall in love with each other even in a different universe is just really sweet to me.

[moonrver]

Speaking of tunnels, have you been to that place in Liverpool where it’s just like a backstreet in a residential area, but then you enter it via a yard and it’s just a bunch of tunnels some dude dug out for apparently no reason and you can go in them? I went a few years ago so this is from memory and I’m not selling it very well sksksks but they ended up dumping rubbish there and when they excavated them again, at the end they show you some cool tat from a bygone age that they found in the waste 👍🏼 good fun cheap day out, if you like tunnels!

I actually never have! But I've heard about it! I think they do raves there? 😅😅 But maybe I'll go in future. I know that area of the city is v run down but is getting spruced up a bit (we'll see if it gets gentrified...) bc of Everton's new stadium so maybe more people will begin to learn about it and more will go on there!

[neyxmessi]

Seriously asking you about that iconic hug neymessi CA2021 final.. I just saw that clip of ney, messi, & lea had a friendly chat after the game on the stadium's vestibule area. Im curious, are ney's fans/the brazillian ppl not accusing ney for acted too soft/too nice toward the argies who just beat his country (even played so rough toward ney ---everyone seemed like had a part in tackling ney, even leo himself)??

If the rivality between 2 countries is that tensed, I cant help but wonder how brazil people see this 'friendship' between ney & messi

I ask this because in comparison with mbappe who seemed so upset/so sad on final, ((but then again he and hakimi also had a friendly chat after france v marocco game)).

I hope you understand the point of my question lol

TiA if you answer this :)

Oh yea! I heard there was a lot of controversy regarding how Neymar acted after losing to Argentina (being so friendly with Leo and Paredes after). Especially because of the fact that it was literally held in Brazil too.

There was a divide though between the Brazilian fans who were mad at Neymar for seeming to be so happy after losing, but on the other hand, I also saw so many people talk about how precious Neymar and Leo’s friendship is, and that the whole point of soccer/football is that despite being rivals, at the end of the day they can come together and be friends and enjoy the sport.

I’m pretty sure Neymar had to clarify that he was still very upset that he lost, but the fact that he lost to Leo (his friend and who he considers to be “the best in the world”) helped to alleviate some of that pain.

[echantedtoon]

A Champion Time For The Heart Ch21 Battle Gym Leader Piers

(The song Sung by Piers is Pokemon Sword and Shield -Vs. Piers - With Lyrics By Man On The Internet. Link to the song is below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cNwY-1hNPQ0)

It sure was nice of Piers to sign the small card Gloria presented. You were sure it made her day having one of her favorite gym leaders give her an autograph like when Raihan took a picture with her. It more than made up for the trouble Team Yell caused you all in the past and tonight. Especially when Piers ordered(more like asked politely-) one of his groupies to show you all the way to the hotel, which actually wasn't that far at all. In fact it was just one or two buildings down from the stadium itself. Once in there you were all amazed at how abandoned it really was. The inside of the two story building was just covered in dust and cobwebs could be seen in every corner you all looked. This town really was abandoned wasn't it? The lady rockstar wannabe directed the four of you up the stairs before leaving, and you all followed her directions. It felt just like exploring an abandoned building almost. At least there was plenty of rooms when you got up there finally. Hey. You'd finally be able to have your own room for once instead of having to bunk with Gloria this time. You all quickly picked a room of your own, leaving your things on the dusty bed and you decided to take a quick look around as you waited for Gloria to get her challenger's uniform. The room was like any other hotel room you've been in just more....dusty. But at least the window wasn't cracked and when you checked, the electricity was still on in the building when you flicked on the light switch, and the water was working in the bathroom sink. Your drizzlie made himself at home by flopping himself down onto the mattress along with your things and sighing. Guess he wasn't going to stick around to watch Gloria's fight with you. Slowly turning you slowly made your way over towards the door. By the time you got out to the hallway where your friends were waiting for you, Gloria had gotten fully into uniform and was excited as a toddler getting ice cream.

"Y/N!," she greeted you as you walked towards her and the other two waiting for you, "Are ye ready ta watch me wallop this guy?"

You nodded. "Yeah. Let's get going."

With a nod from the group you all took off back towards the stairs, back out of the building, and back down the street towards the still lit but now silent stadium ahead of you all. When you all eventually rounded the corner back into the open gym. Only to find Piers still standing in the same spot seemingly waiting for you all to come back. Silently standing there with his eyes closed and head leaned back, but he opened his eyes slowly and turned his head to you all slower as you all waltzed in. The huge crowd of Team Yell plus a few pokemon you hadn't noticed before were now behind the metal gate peering out at you all from the safety of being behind it. Except for one, and you recognized him as the one dude you encountered back after climbing the wall He stood there arms crossed as Gloria went ahead and walked to her place on the other side of the gym leaving enough room between her and Piers who lazily watched her from where he stood. The Team Yell grunt standing off to the side between the two of them arms crossed before he spoke.

"I am Joshua and the referee for the glorious Spikemuth Gym Stadium and it's mighty Gym Leader Piers!!," he cried out before throwing an arm out towards Piers who still remained unmoved even as the grunts behind the fenced in areas cheered out for him. "The battle for the almighty dark type gym badge shall commence between our glorious leader and the gym challenger who made it all this way and proved herself worthy of standin' before 'em!!" He held up a hand high holding up four fingers. "The upcoming match will have four rounds! Each havin' just one pokemon per round! If the challenger wins three or more rounds they shall succeed in winnin' the badge but if not they lose! If they somehow end up within a tie it will be up to the gym leader to decided if they win or lose! The rules are simple!" He pointed straight at them. "If either person's pokemon are unable to battle at any point then the victory goes to the other person! If the person's pokemon becomes out of bounds then they also lose the match! Dynamaxin' and cheatin' are forbidden! If yer caught then it's an immediate failure and ban from the gym! Any questions!?" No one answered him and he nodded. "If that's the case then-..." He paused blinking towards you and the boys. Before pointing a hand at you all out of bounds. "OI!! You lot! Behind the safety mesh! Gym rules!!" He jabbed a thumb towards a gate within the metal fencing. "Any spectators that aren't the challenger or ref goes behind there or they leave the gym!"

The boys blinked before looking at you and you nodded. After all it was the gym's rules, and you had better do it for your own safety....Plus you didn't want to miss Gloria's battle against this guy. You had a feeling it was going to get interesting. Walking over to the gate, one of the grunts opened it for you all, letting the three of you in alongside the large crowd of others setting yourselves in the front right against the wire mesh as the gate was swung back shut and secured. Joshua giving a nod.

"ALRIGHT!! Battlers! Ready your first pokemon! The First Battle between the gym challenger and Gym Leader Piers shall now!!" He swung up a hand! "BEGIN!!"

In an instant Gloria held up a pokeball and threw it. It a flash of light Gloria's roselia took stage with a cry of it's own and she took a stance as Piers....Piers.....Just...Stood there? You all waited and watched as the silence dragged on as Piers still...just stood there as still as a rock glancing between Gloria and the roselia before him. Before inhaling and leaning his head back again, letting out a slow audible sigh. You rose a brow and exchanged a look with Hop who shrugged and stood in silence along with the rest of team yell. Until he FINALLY moved. Moving his head back into place and reaching his other hand to brush his shoulder.

"Now then..."....WHAM!! You flinched when a loud audible sound of something being slammed down echoed throughout the gym and possibly the entire abandoned town. Which turned out to be from the fact that Piers had taken the Mic stand he was still holding throughout this entire encounter and SLAMMED it down in front of him. And your eyes widened as his expression had changed to one of delight and determination!! Not a face you were expecting on a man who looked so tired, he could've passed out even if an earthquake happened. "I'm the Gym Leader of Spikemuth, Piers, the dark type user!!" He announced loudly!! "You wanna challenge me even though you know you'll lose?! Then this song's for you, Foolish Trainer!!" Without breaking eye contact with Gloria he pointed off towards Team Yell with one hand. "HIT IT!!" Somewhere from the crowded area you were in a speaker was turned on and you swiped your head towards it wide eyed! NO. WAY. He wasn't ACTUALLY going to sing while he battled Gloria was he. "Get ready for a mosh pit with me and my party!! SPIKEMUTH IT'S TIME TO ROCK!!" THE. CROWD. C H E E R E D!!!  Piers adorning a wide smile smirk as Gloria..now rose a brow slightly confused when he still took out no pokemon. "Here's a number I had saved just for this! You lot in the stands better cheer me on!"

In a flash of dark smoke and a toss from Piers. Finally....FINALLY!! A pokemon of his was sent out, and as you expected it was indeed a dark type. A scrafty in fact. Oh. So both he and Marnie had one. The sibling's connection went deeper.

"Everyone cheer on my pokemon! Let's do it, Scrafty! Intimidate the opponent!!" You weren't sure what happened. Because from what you could barely see with all the movement from the crowd and hear from between the cheers and music, you saw Gloria's roselia suddenly dawn a face of terror. ...And you weren't happy about that either. The poor thing was probably still tuckered out from her battle back with Marnie. "Pretty lights don't shine so bright down here!!~ Neon fades 'til only dark remains!~" Your eyes in an instant snapped to Piers as he actually...really...DID start freaking SINGING!!!  "Hear that sound?~ The cry of the underground in the shadows of your darkest day!~"

"ROSELIA USE QUICK ATTACK AND STUN SPORE!!" Now while you couldn't hear Gloria over the noise, she was still giving orders. The frightened pokemon stalled a bit but soon shook itself out of-

"TACKLE IT!!" In a move so fast you didn't think was possible, the grass type soon found itself taken down from his quick attack a lot faster and easier when the scrafty using it's powerful legs launched itself at it, and with it's arms wrapped around it upon impact, sent them both spinning a few times. "To survive You have to get me-an!~ To keep Spikemuth alive I step onto the scene!~ Piers is the king!~" Around and around before they landed on their sides with scrafty's arms tightly wrapped around the poor thrashing grass type. "USE PAYBACK!!" Gloria shouted something you couldn't hear, in fact you could only hear Piers because of his microphone. But the roselia tried harder to get away before a dark energy surrounded itself and the scrafty pinning it to the ground. Before it enveloped them both and with a cry from the grass type, the darkness enveloped them both as it let off it's payback move. ......And just like that the poor roselia went limp as it fainted from it's battles for the day.

"MATCH ONE OVER!!," Joshua shouted pointing at Piers. "Gym Challenger's roselia has fainted!! So obviously the victory goes to our fantastic Piers!!"

"Didn't really think you'd get past me on the first try did ya?," Piers asked body and hair moving along constantly to the beat as Gloria returned her poor roselia and he did the same with his scrafty. The same smile on his face.

"BATTLERS GET YER SECOND POKEMON READY FOR THE SECOND MATCH!! READY!?.......ROCK OUT!!"

In an instant Gloria present her second pokemon to the crowd. Her lucky Corvinknight with roared out it's own call being summoned out....Uh oh. You didn't think this was a good idea either. You weren't sure how drained corvinight had been from the blow of drain punches it received earlier, but with the small space, it surely couldn't have a lot of mobility either. Piers must've noticed too because he chuckled his deep voice into the mic.

"Let's 'ave a lil bit of fun shall we? Everyone out there sayin' I'm a great gym leader?," he hummed side eyeing the cheering team and simultaneously holding up another green pokeball. "I suppose we'll find that out once n' for all. Time to meet another member of my crew!" He threw it and a moment later a very TALL pokemon appeared!! Why this thing must've been a whole foot and a half taller than Piers while the corvinight still towered over it! It...It...It looked like a cross between a badger and human. It roared out throwing it's arms back as it hit the stadium's floor. "Face the proud high roar of my obstagoon! USE SHADOW CLAW!!"

"HONE CLAWS!!" The slashes of bright lights making you blink didn't protect the poor birdbrain. Nor did it stop it from crying out from the direct HIT the obstagoon gave to it's chest with incredible speed and accuracy, as it's clawed hands grew with a dark black color and SLASHED.

"KEEP USING SHADOW CLAW!!" And then it was like deja vu all over AGAIN with the corvkinight crying out as it took repeated blow after blow of the obstagoon taking full advantage of the limited access of space it had like Marnie and her toxicroak. COME ON GLORIA!! YOU COULD DO IT!! Was your thoughts. "Dominate!~ Intimidate!~ Kick you down!~ Seal your fate!~ Contrary to popular belief, if you look underneath!~ There's nothin' special about me!~ I'm just tryin' my best to sort through this mess!~ Leave behind some kind of legacy!~ 'Cause the fire's fadin' fast!~ And this season is the last!~ Seen the best!~ Now try the rest 'fore we fade to memory!~ See once I had a dream!~ And now I got my team!~ And we're here to test yours!~ So don't disappoint me.~"

"PIN IT DOWN!!" There was a VERY loud slamming sound that caught everyone off guard and even Piers's microphone let out a noise from the shaking as the corviknight SLAMMED itself down on top of the obstagoon who let out a loud whine similar to a startled dog getting kicked. Piers only blinked caught off guard by the giant bird pinning the obstagoon under one of its legs. "SLAM IT DOWN!!" With the obstagoon at it's mercy, the corviknight lifted it's leg up only to absolutely slam it down back onto the ground with the pokemon in it's iron grip.

"OBSTA-"

"BRAVE BIRD!!" With a roar and WHOOSH of the corviknight's wings a ball of bright fire like energy surrounding him like a ball of fire before something shot out at the obstagoon. It was so bright you had to turn your head from the sheer brightness from it, when you did end up looking back...The corviknght shook itself out, made a small noise from it's throat, and then side stepped off of the fainted obstagoon as it laid there.

Joshua immediately held up a hand to Gloria. "Gym Challenger's Corviknight has defeated the mighty Obstagoon!....*sigh* Therefore they win the second round fight!" There was cheers none the less from the crowd as Piers returned his pokemon freed from the corviknight's grip...but oddly enough Gloria kept Corviknight standing right there as it shook itself out and narrowed it's eyes out at Piers. What was she planning? "It seems the challenger is risking herself by keeping her pokemon! No matter. Anyways!! THIRD ROUND MATCH READY TO ROCK OUT!!" More cheers came from the crowd especially and you looked over at Piers. His face a mixture of the same narrowed eyed look Gloria gave back to him and slowly held up another green dark ball. Half way mark. Here we go! "GET YOUR POKEMON READY TO PARTY!! GO!!"

This time only Piers sent out a different pokemon and this one.....Looked like some kind of GIANT squid!! "Malamar's gonna mess you all up with it's Contrary Ability!!" Piers shouted suddenly leaning back and throwing his arm out. Earning a lot more cheers from the crowd. "MALAMAR USE PSYCHO CUT!! Remember what I said before?" He asked Gloria with a raised brow." Hehe. After all-" The squid.....thingy made a noise before one of his large tentacle like arms raised back and with a fast swing neon purple lights slashed through the air and right towards the still sitting corviknight as it...did nothing. Even as it cried out at it making contact and Piers pointed back at her. "Pretty lights don't shine so bright down here!~ Neon fades 'til only dark remains!~ Hear that sound?~ The cry of the underground in the shadows of your darkest day!~ To survive you have to get ME-AN!~ To keep Spikemuth alive I step onto the scene!~ Piers is the king!~ MALAMAR USE FOUL PLAY!!"

"COUNTER THAT WITH STEEL WING!!" The malamar surrounded itself in red-black darkness before SHOOTING itself like a bullet towards the corviknight who roared out flaring it's wings out once again only this time they lit up a bright white-silver color you had to close your eyes from for a moment. And a loud collision sound of some kind happened.

"For a bra-a-a-awl!~ Give your a-a-alllll!~ Proud high roar!~ SCREAM for more!~ This world sucker punches all who haven't had a fall!~ It let's you know that pride will come before!~ And the culture's toxic too!~ Seeks conformity of you!~ Leaves you by the wayside when you can't give more!~" You opened your eyes back up and blinked back, you saw the malamar unhurt and Gloria's corviknight still standing there but looking even more tired. "I don't do encores. Got it? Not songs...Not moves...Not pokemon! MALAMAR!! USE PSYBEAM-"

You weren't sure what order Gloria ordered her corviknight to take, your head reeling from the onslot of sound booming around you so you didn't have time to hear it. But with a ROAR from the bird pokemon it flung it's wings open, and with one loud WHOOSH sound it flew up into the air as a psybeam left the malamar before it. But it was too late for the dark type. Because with another whoosh noise the corviknight took the position of an eagle reaching it's claws out for a helpless mouse as it launched itself right towards it. And Pier's eyes widened. With a loud noise akin to a car smashing into a lamp post, the corviknight took the malamar down within it's grasp roaring out. Wind gushing out making Piers shield his face with his arm and look away as his hair whipped around him wildly. "TOSS IT!!" With terror in those electric blue eyes. Piers. DUCKED!! With a cry of panic, his malamar went FLYING over his head and with a crash noise slammed into the far wall above the stage. Before slowly falling onto it itself, and there it laid for a long moment as everyone stared.....and it made a noise. Not unconscious as it slowly moved a bit-

"Malamar's out of bounds!" Joshua once again pointed towards Gloria who stood there proudly at her handy work as Piers and everyone else slowly turned to her as well. "Therefore third round Victory goes ta the challenger!"

"ALL RIGHT GLORY!!!," Hop cheered out right next to you and you jumped a bit forgetting he was even there for a bit.

"ALRIGHT SCRUBS!! THE FINAL MATCH BETWEEN GYM LEADER AND GYM CHALLENGER SHALL BEGIN!!" More cheers, more groaning from you. And despite all of this the speaker still blasted the same music. "BUT WILL THE CHALLENGER WIN OR WILL A TIE ENSUE IS THE QUESTION!! THE BATTLE SHALL DECIDE!! BOTH MAY GET THEIR FINAL POKEMON READY!" You watched in silence as Gloria returned her Corviknight. Good choice. The big guy was strong but it'd be too much on him to put him through another battle when he's so tired. But this was it. The final match between Piers and Gloria. "AT THE READY!! GO!!"

And it began. The two threw out their final pokemon and out they came. Gloria's raboot came out in a bright light and a puff of smoke later, Pier's Skuntank appeared. Looking like some kind of Skunk with a bad hairdo that happened to be it's tail. "Everyone's gonna stink, but who cares! Go skuntank!!" Piers shouted throwing a hand out. "Use your sucker punch and toxic!" In an instant the skunk thing hissed shaking itself like a cat before the tip of it's tail parted and a bright purple pink light bubbled from it's tail before shooting out at the raboot.

"DODGE IT!!" Raboot easily dodged the skuntank's toxic attack- WITH A SQUEAK OF FRIGHT!! The raboot barely jumped back in time as the skuntank with speed you couldn't possibly have seen it coming as it delivered a sucker punch to the ground where the raboot was just standing.

"AFTER IT!! USE BITE TO LOCK ONTO YOUR TARGET!!" With a fearful face and panicked squeaks leaving it, the raboot began running around the field with the skuntank literally a few inches behind him accurately turning and twisting and somehow keeping up speed and tight turns the raboot was taking. Mouth open with fangs exposed snapping at it's heels. "Sorry gym challenger..." Piers smiled back proudly. "But the fire's burnin' bright!~ I can see some hope tonight!~ 'Cause you stand above the rest and you're the best in memory!~ See once I had a dream!~ And now I've got my team!~ And we're here to test yours!~ SO DON'T DISAPPOINT ME!!~" With a soft THUNK sound Piers KICKED the stand up into the air and gave a twirl in the air. Slamming the mic back down and somehow not falling over when he pointed back towards Gloria as the crowd CHEERED!!...Maybe that's why he didn't hear her order raboot to lead the skuntank towards the edge of the gym's boundary lines. "Pretty lights don't shine so bright down here!~ Neon fades 'til only dark remains!~" The skuntank didn't notice too focused on following Piers's orders of trapping the bunny pokemon in his powerful jaws. "Hear that sound?~ The cry of the underground in the shadows of your darkest day!~ To survive!~ You have to get mean!~ To keep Spikemuth alive I step onto the scene!~" They were right at the boundary line when the raboot did something you hadn't ever seen it do before! Jump backwards!! ....Doesn't mean it had a graceful landing tho. It smacked onto the hard gym ground upon landing right after YEETING itself backwards with just as much height and speed as it would a forward or side jump. Leaving the skuntank to run right out of the in bounds markings! "PIERS IS THE KI-I-I-ING-

"M A T C H O V E R!!" You instantly cringed when the sounds of a mic screech blasted through the air causing a spike of pain throughout your head as Piers instantly snapped his head over to Joshua who had yelled out rather loudly holding his hand up in a 'halt' sign. After a second or two, someone somewhere cut the music off again. "Skuntank has been lead out of bounds!" He threw his hand over to Gloria who looked proud of herself as her poor raboot laid there like his life flashed before his eyes. "Therefore the Gym Challenger has succeeded n' winnin' three of the four matches! Declarin' 'er the victor of the gym battle against Piers!!"

"YEAH GLORIA!!," Hop called from his spot next to you and you sighed leaning your head back onto the fence-

Another mic screech pierced the air as Piers with a face of defeat looked up towards the ceiling before falling to his knees still holding the mic stand. "......Me an' my team gave it our best." His head leaned up as his eyes closed as cool metal from the stand met his forehead. .........With a heavy sigh Piers let out a couple chuckles. "Let's meet up for a battle again sometime.." Well that was a bit of a dramatic way to take a defeat. Definitely not the worst, but a bit dramatic. You watched as the small skuntank trotted over to it's still kneeled master as it looked ....guilty at the way it's trainer was just sitting there on his knees head pressed against the stand. Was...Was Piers so guilty about letting everyone down he'd have such a reaction like this after a simple defeat? The skuntank gave Piers's leg a small nudge and it took a good moment for him to react too. Slowly letting go of the stand to pat its head, not even looking up. "I'm....glad we were able ta battle. Seems like my pokemon feel the same way."

That guilty feeling from before crept up onto your conscious as you watched him along with the rest of everyone silently. Had what you said made him feel more guilty? You hadn't meant to do so. Piers was just trying his best for a town that other than Team Yell, had up and abandoned him. Making him feel as if he was at fault for not getting them to stay. Not being enough. Not...Not being good enough. You knew that feeling cuz you HAVE had that feeling with your mother pestering you to help her with bills with your summer and after school jobs, and studying away any free time you had. It WASN'T your fault. It WASN'T his fault! It WASN'T anyone's fault!! It was just....out of your control. Like somehow getting teleported here wasn't your fault at all either. You were just doing the same thing Piers was doing. Struggling to set things right.

"YEAH PIERS!!" Hop and Victor jumped as your arm hit the fencing as you tried to get his attention! Gloria raising a brow and looking to you bewildered as you smiled and shouted out to him! "PIERS WAS AMAZING!! DID YOU SEE HOW WELL HE BATTLED!?" You shot a smile to Gloria. "Tell him Glory! Tell him how you felt about your battle!"

Gloria.....blinked at you confused for a moment but then smiled too and looked at Piers who still stayed in the same position from before. "Ta be honest I thought it was really fun!" Piers paused in his motions of petting the skuntank. "Ever heard of the phrase 'dinner 'n a show'? Well it was like that instead I got ta have two shows! 'M a big fan of your music! So gettin' ta hear ya sing while battlin' me was SUPER FUN!!"

"And isn't that the most important part of pokemon battles, Piers?" You asked him and his head ever so slightly tilted in your direction. "Pokemon battles aren't about winning. Sure it's fun and good to win. That's how you move up in the challenge and gym ranks and it proves your strong..But being strong isn't everything and it doesn't automatically make you a good trainer. Anyone can be strong, but it's a special kind of someone who can make sure the person he battles have a good time! And you're the first gym leader I've met so far that's got my heart pumping!! Who else sings while they battle and gives everyone a smile on their face!?" He slowly looked up to you. A surprised expression painted across his face as he met your smile. And you smiled wider. "EVERYONE ENJOYS YOUR SMILES!! AM I RIGHT?!"

"OI!! YEAH SHE'S RIGHT!!" Someone shouted. "PIERS IS THE KING!! PIERS IS THE KING!!" The entirety of Team joined in and soon the entire group was cheering for Piers as he slowly...slowly turned his head to look at everyone else. "PIERS IS THE KING!! PIERS IS THE KING!!".....Before slowly looking back to you and your smile. "PIERS IS THE KING!!"

He stayed like that for the longest moment just staring at you as everyone cheered out....before he looked away and inhaled. You still had a hopeful smile on your face when he slowly rose to his feet and let go of the mic stand he was so adamantly hanging onto. His gaze going back to Gloria who seemed equally happy for him even as he approached. ....Hoo boy. If you thought him towering over you was crazy, then Gloria looked like a miniature poodle next to a great dane when compared to the tall man stopping in front of her.

"....I enjoyed our battle. I'm sure however many gyms ya got left will have a hard time facin' off against such a strong fan." He held a hand out and...and Gloria slowly reached out to shake it. "Here's your dark badge." Gloria stared wide eyed in wonder as Piers reached into a pocket in his tiny jacket and pulled out a shiny bronze badge with his other hand presenting it to her.

She stared between him and it for a moment before taking it and smiling wider than she ever had in her life. "Oh my Arceus!...THANK YE SO MUCH!!"

...Piers made a motion with his other hand and Gloria blinked confused when the ref walked over with some kind of cloth in his hands which Piers took from him. "Here's a uniform, too. I've actually been thinkin' about just sellin' them at my concerts."

"That was awesome Gloria!!" As Gloria marveled at the suit and took it from him, Hop was already making his way out throwing the gate open and with the biggest smile on his face. Followed by Victor and you slowly as you smiled. You didn't notice Piers glancing at you for a moment before looking back to Gloria. Reaching a hand up to fiddle with his choker. "You did great out there!"

"Good job," Victor agreed with him.

"Aw. Thanks ye guys! But m' sure Hop's gonna do a better job tomorrow then I ever could."

"My little sis Marnie's gonna challenge me next I bet," Piers mumbled looking away and you turned to him blinking.

"That was kinda sweet." Everyone looked up or turned around at the sudden new voice and the teenage girl standing there stared back with the same calm expression and electric blue eyes as Piers. The smallest of faint smiles making the corner of her mouth rise. "Perhaps I should've hurried up on the scoldin' I gave the guys to see the whole battle between my rival n' brother."

"So you were watchin', Sis?," Piers asked non other than Marnie standing there on the end of the gym looking back at him. He looked down with that sad-bored look and sighed shaking his head. "You won't learn anythin' from seein' me lose."

"I was watchin' YOUR battle, Bro. It's how I learned to battle an' all that," she insisted walking in and over to her brother.

"...That right?," he asked cracking an eye open at her footsteps. "That reminds me. Marnie, there's somethin' I wanted to tell you." Eyes fully wide open now, he gestured his other hand to the ground. "I want you to take over the gym here in Spikemuth as it's Gym Leader."

Everyone either gasped or looked in shock at Piers as the sudden words left his mouth but you only blinked. Oh right! In the game Marnie was one of the three rivals of the player (or in this case Gloria) and after the game's main story takes over for her brother as the new Spikemuth gym leader. So it wasn't really too much of a surprise would ask this of her now.

"Yeah. I know," Marnie confirmed and that took Piers aback a bit blinking at her. "You'd planned to retire after the Champion Cup, right?" She shook her head a bit. "I think you've become a great gym leader even if you don't dynamax your pokemon." She insisted and Piers once again looked....almost lost as he stared at her and just...blinked. "I love you, but my answer is a big fat NO. I mean, when I end up becomin' Champion, I won't be able to be a gym leader."

After a moment more of staring Piers hummed. "Good point. In that case, let your big bro see if you have the skill to be Champion."

"WHAT!?" Hop frowned and threw his arms out between them. "How come Vic and I gotta wait til tomorrow to battle?"

"Hop," you grabbed his shoulder with a small frown, "Let's calm down and let Mr. Piers have this ok? It's probably been a while since he's seen his little sister and it would be the right thing to let them catch up and have a moment to not worry about anything else. Alright? Besides he can't just battle four people in one day." You glanced out the window at the storm clouds gathered outside more, and how dark it was getting too. Around sundown if you had to guess. "He'd get too worn out. That can't be good for him and his pokemon. Besides, tomorrow is just one night away."

"Yeah...," he mumbled arms slumping to his sides, "But it's been so long since I had an official gym battle."

"I get you're really excited." You shook his shoulder to make him look at you for a moment, "But besides what I said earlier being true, as a possibly future champion you have to take others' feelings into account too. And besides if Piers tires himself out now he won't be able to put on a really awesome show just for you or Victor like he did for Gloria! Both of you need to be at your strongest before battling don't you think?

...Eventually Hop smiled. "You're right, Y/n. I wouldn't want to miss a chance at gettin' an awesome performance like Glory did!"

"Hey Gloria." Gloria blinked and looked over to Marnie. "Thanks for havin' an amazin' pokemon battle with my brother. It's my turn next. So clear off for a bit, 'k?"

...Gloria blinked for a moment. "OH! Uh right! We should bugger off for now huh?"

You nodded. "Yeah. It's getting late, and those storm clouds don't look very nice. We'd better get back to our hotel before it downpours." With your good arm you slowly herded the three teens out of the stadium after a moment. "C'mon guys. Say thank you to Mr. Piers n' let's get going."

With small thanks from you and your group, the four of you began to exit the stadium with smiles on your faces as the three fonded over the battle that you all just witnessed and the things Piers had gifted Gloria. All you had to do was to wait for Hop and Victor to battle him and then it'll just be one step further to home.

[georgia-stanway]

Your Hatters tags on the archive post were so cool! There’s definitely a project for someone to use the National Media Museum photo archives to write more people that aren’t white cis men back into English football history

Yes!! Particularly if it could be done in combination with oral history. Honestly i find the social history of football absolutely fascinating. I'm going to yell about it below the read more because honestly i just think it's so important that when football is being increasingly controlled by money which is concentrated in a small number of clubs that people remember the importance of community and communities to football (and that those communities has always included women and minorities)

My grandad is very much more invested in social side of football than the sport itself so most of his stories have very little to do with actual football and are far more focused on people. He talks about the rover's player who lived up the road or his dad having the sports paper sent down from Wigan and sending them info on a Yeovil player they were interested in. Even when they are a bit more football focused it's his dad's adventures in getting tickets to the famous Yeovil vs Sunderland match in 1949 and the back up goalie who was forced to play and barely played again. I feel so much closer to my grandad since getting into football because we have something to talk about and bond over and it's really really lovely.

And then you have the geographic (and subsequently demographic) aspect. I've never been more aware of my locality since getting into football: my family's migrational history (both that 3/4 of my grandparents aren't English and the only familial connection with football i have is through my English grandfather but also movement within England), the difference in culture between the west country and the rest of England (i.e the preference for rugby over football which kind of reflects the relationship between wales and the west country and the greater presence of like celtic culture in the area even if it's not actually linked) and just being from my side of Bristol because the rivalry here is geographic. Nicknames are often reflective of local culture, industry and history (Bristol rovers are the pirates for example but we're also known as the gas because our old stadium was right by a gasworks and the smell carried into the stadium.) I'd be fascinated to know why there are comparatively so many west country clubs called the robins, whether it's a coincidence or what.

But you've also got things like Spurs' Jewish connection. i think it would be quite difficult to detangle spurs from a (particularly social) history of the Jewish community in North London and of course vice versa you can't talk about the history of spurs without talking about the Jewish community in north london. I'm sure football would feature very heavily in the history of many other communities as well, I think Arsenal have had a large Black following for example. Just the fact that football is a working class sport and even today the majority of footballers come from a working class background. Then you also have, particularly across europe, political and class aspects in rivalries like Barça v real madrid and celtic v rangers. Even things like Manchester vs Liverpool has it's own history that goes beyond yet very much includes football.

It's one of the reasons i hate trophy logic and debates on whose a big club and man city has no history because while it's obviously a competitive sport and there is a conversation to be had about money and sportswashing, a club doesn't have to be big or traditionally successful to have history and value and importance and yes success. And i don't think that community and big clubs are incompatible and while I would encourage all football fans to engage with their local clubs, i think the whole support your local thing is overly simplistic to say the least (particularly when employed by prem fans) and doesn't actually address the issue people want it to which is that particularly big clubs are pricing out fans both local and not

If you could gather people's stories and memories of football you can create such a rich tapestry of football culture and history but even just having proof that people who have had their own history and relationship with football erased and banished allows space for these things to be discussed and acknowledged

[sketchyonlooker]

((Intermezzo for Bonz vs Bakura! The original post is made by Rayne and is linked It’s a really really fun read, and you’ll likely need it for the full picture later on cause of Shadow Game Shenanigans!))

< 

A streamed video has been uploaded with commentary on the side.

Gravestones as far as the eye could see in the twilight. No people were in the area, just a still quiet that was occasionally interrupted by the faint rustling of  wind.

>

I’mYourDaddy (v): You know, this doesn’t look like a place where strong duelists would be at.

BlueEyesBlondeDragon (v): That’s what I kept telling you all. We should’ve had sketchy wait at the designated area, so we don’t potentially miss the Battle City Finals. Instead, we’re out here in the middle-of-nowhere graveyard because of a stupid flier that said “strong duelists here?” you serious?

I’mYourDaddy (v): Chill lol. DMGBeloved is already there keeping an eye out at Domino Stadium and will let us know if duelists start coming and entering. Speaking of, any activity? @/DMGBeloved

DMGBeloved (v): Not really. Not unless you count some bodyguard guy looking like he’s about to have a nervous breakdown.

I’mYourDaddy (v): See! We’re golden!

Capu4Life (v): KAIBA SENT FROWNY MASK GUY FALLING TO HIS DEATH. AND SMILEY – SORRY I MEAN MARIK 2.0 DID SOMETHING TO JOEY THAT MADE BOTH KAIBA AND YUGI TAKE A HELICOPTER TO GO SAVE HIM.

ExodiaTheBaffledOne (v): Yeah yeah we know. You’ve repeated that like 200 times.

Capu4Life (v): That’s because people are ignoring the elephant in the room. It’s like you’re all in collective denial or something. And that’s boring.

CardGamesSon (v): Well to be fair Frowny Mask had a parachute and was just knocked out when sketchy found him after taking the elevator.

BlueEyesBlondeDragon (v): And then shoved the pointy end of Frowny’s duel disk into his nose several times before robbing him of said Duel Disk. Like they did all those other times. You know sketchy, you have a problem.    

Capu4Life (v): Oh yeah @/sketchyonlooker. How generic looking are you? There were like police and an ambulance outside, and you just waltzed out of the building right in front of them? After an explosion happened? And no one asked questions?

I’mYourDaddy (v): I’m actually curious about that too. Where are you keeping all those Duel Disks? They aren’t exactly inconspicuous. And you have what? Four now? One from that “squashed like a bug” guy, Marik 1.0, Marik 2.0, and then Frowny Mask.

 <

The view of the graveyard was interrupted briefly by a view of a pair of legs with folded Duel Disks attached to them.

A moment later, the viewpoint shifted to reveal an additional Duel Disk around each arm.

>

I’mYourDaddy (v): …Why do I pay taxes again?

Capu4Life (v):  lol u pay taxes. Anyway what do you think is going on with Kaiba and the rest? Or Marik 2.0’s claims of “I’ve been waiting to fight for a thousand years” or “I’ve assessed both your decks through the eyes of my rare hunters.” Or the best one yet “Revenge of the tomb guaaardians” oo oOOO oO oO OOO

BlueEyesBlondeDragon (v): Marik’s Middle School syndrome aside. I just want to say that I was the one who suggested sketchy chase the helicopter. But apparently robbing Marik 2.0 of his Duel Disk after he was done being a “puppet” was more important.

DMGBeloved (v): To be fair, that helicopter flew away pretty fast. The only way Sketchy was getting on was if they hung onto the landing gear.

Capu4Life (v): I’m starting to think BEBD really wants that 20 to life prison lifestyle.

BlueEyesBlondeDragon (v): Shut up. But honestly sketchy you should take more initiative as a streamer. There were so many lost opportunities because you just don’t pay attention. 

BlueEyesBlondeDragon (v): You should focus on what you think your audience’s interests are! Focus on people’s faces when big things happen. Take extreme close-ups. Catch their faces in the moment of their defeat – of their life points reaching zero!

CardGamesSon (v): Did Sketchy notice something?

<

The viewpoint turned suddenly as if something caught its attention – and then suddenly dashed forward. The scenery rapidly changed as gravestones, trees, and offerings were run past.

The wisps of fog that were present grew thicker and thicker as more and more distance was covered.

And before long, the fog obscured more than the darkness did - to the point where even sketchy's hands couldn't be seen anymore.

Just an endless fog with the cameraman lost in the middle.

>

[leftistfeminista]

REPORT ON THE STATUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHILE 

Findings of “on the spot” Observations in the Republic of Chile July 22 – August 2, 1974

CHAPTER V

DETENTION FACILITIES AND TESTIMONY OF PRISONERS

TORTURES

          1.          One of the most important tasks accomplished by the Commission was to visit a number of detention facilities to examine the conditions under which persons deprived of liberty were kept, and to conduct interviews with a large number of such persons. Some of these interviews were tape recorded.

          Transcribed or summarized below are the notes prepared by the Commission members in charge of these visits, with the assistance of Executive Secretary Dr. Reque and Drs. Gómez and Holzman.

          2.          Before the Commission reached Santiago—in some cases the day before—a number of transfers of groups of detainees or prisoners took place. Thus, for example, prisoners on Dawson Island had first been transferred to various detention facilities in Santiago and then to Ritoque, north of Valparaiso. “Tejas Verdes,” which had been identified in a number of denunciations as a place where torture took place, was already empty as was “Cerro Chena” and “Chile Stadium.” In other cases, the Commission was informed that its visit had caused considerable improvement in the treatment of prisoners.

          3.          In most cases, names of persons interrogated have been omitted, either at their express request or because the Commission does not have written authorization to proceed otherwise. Information that might make possible easy identification of the declarants has also been omitted. This information is on file at the Commission.

          4.          It should be noted that individual situations have been mentioned further on to show the general situation prevailing with regard to those detained for political reasons. Mention of these situations and statements that have been gathered or formulated concerning them does not in any way constitute prejudgment of the individual cases that are now in process before the Commission as a consequence of the formal denunciations received.

          5.          Finally, it should be repeated that everything said in this chapter reflects the verifications made, or the complaints received, by the Commission during its visit to the particular facilities, and therefore, does not in any way, exclude the possibility that circumstances may have changed since the visits.

A.     “Tres Álamos” Detention Facility

          6.          This facility was visited on the morning of July 26 by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission, Drs. Jiménez de Aréchaga and Dunshee de Abranches, who were accompanied by Dr. Holzman, a Commission staff member.

          7.          “Tres Álamos” is in a suburb of Santiago which is made up of very modest houses. It is a country estate containing the remains of former vineyards. The property is approximately one or two hectares in area and contains buildings, some of them two stories high, that belong, according to what the Commission was told, to a religious congregation. All of the work needed to guarantee the security of the detention facilities, such as walls, barbed wire, etc., have been completed.

          Aside from the central buildings, which comprise the offices of higher level personnel, kitchens and other general services, there are three longitudinal buildings, made up of adjoining rooms whose doors lead to an open corridor, as do the bathrooms and toilets. The larger room at the end of the corridor appears to be intended for common use by the prisoners in the particular building.

          Each of these buildings has an exit onto a yard, used for recreation.

          8.          The first building visited was occupied by around 30 women. We first noted the interior installations and determined that each room contained between two and four beds, leaving little free space. There were some magazines on the beds, and clippings from magazines were attached to the walls. A crib in one room indicated the presence of a child a few months old. Toilets and baths appeared to be suitably clean. We did not determine whether hot water was available in the showers, and the prisoners later denied that there was any.

          In the common room, we noted some ten sewing machines which, the staff of the facility informed us, were used by the prisoners to sew items they sold for their own profit.

          Prisoners who were interested in talking with the Commission's representatives were asked to go out into the yard or garden. All of them, without exception, went there. One group surrounded Dr. Abranches and the other surrounded Dr. Jiménez de Aréchaga, who was assisted by Dr. Holzman operating a tape recorder.

          It was thus possible to talk with almost all of the prisoners and to tape record what most of them said.

          9.          Serious violations of the right to personal integrity were denounced to us. According to the denunciations, the torture, abuse and cruel and inhuman treatment were not applied in Tres Álamos, but rather in other facilities to which the prisoners were periodically transferred for interrogation.

          We could see the degree of intense emotional disturbance of the overwhelming majority of the prisoners. Many of them could not hold back convulsive weeping and related their experiences without containing their indignation, even though they could easily be overheard by the authorities of the establishment and by Colonel Espinoza, who was a few meters away. Others were to emotionally disturbed to make any statement.

          According to the prisoners' statements, some of them were less than 18 years old.

          10.          In general, the most serious charges made by these prisoners against those who interrogated them away from “Tres Álamos” are the following:

          a)          Every kind of sexual aggression, including the commission of such aberrant acts as successive rape by several individuals, etc.;

          b)          The use of electric current, applied to the most sensitive areas of the body, successively or simultaneously;

          c)          Beatings and torture in the presence of their husbands or companions;

          d)          Threats against their parents, children, husbands, or other persons closely related to them;

          e)          The use of drugs of the “pentothal” type, to inhibit any physical or psychological resistance to sexual aggression or during the interrogations.

          Many of the prisoners stated that they were suffering, as a consequence of the events denounced, serious injuries to their genital organs and intense psychological disturbances. We heard about such as these: “I want to die! I can't stand it any longer,” or: “Have a committee of independent psychiatrists come to examine us! They will be able to verify that we are crazy or psychologically destroyed!”.

          Most of the statements were recorded.

          11.          The prisoners also stated that:

          a)          What the director of the establishment and the physician had previously indicated to the effect that they were supplied meat, fish, eggs and fresh vegetables was absolutely false. Their food—they stated—consisted basically of lentils and peas or beans. The lack of variety in their diet, they added, was causing them serious disorders;

          b)          There was not hot water in the showers, contrary to what the authorities asserted;

          c)          The sewing machines had arrived at the establishment only two days before the Commission's visit, and had not been used by the prisoners;

          d)          One of the prisoners, in an advanced state of pregnancy, said she needed treatment that could not be given in “Tres Álamos”.

          It was only at the conclusion of the visit that a woman, who was better dressed than the others, appeared and stated to the Commission Chairman in an almost confidential manner, clearly avoiding being heard by the prisoners, that she had always been treated in a gentlemanly way and that life in the facility was comfortable.

          12.          According to the prisoners' statements, no accusation of any kind had been brought against them, and many of them had not been interrogated by any other authority than the police. They all denied having committed any crime whatever or that they had been specifically accused of having committed any crime whatever.

          13.          The second building housed only men, and their number was easily equal to the number of women detained in the other wing.

          They were of various social and cultural levels, and of varied philosophical and political beliefs. Among them were lawyers, engineers, electronic specialists, dentists, professors, etc., as well as manual laborers.

          Only two or three of them were observed to be reticent to communicate with the Commission members. The others gladly accepted doing so and thanked us for coming. In general, they asked to be heard separately from the group, because they believed that there were some individuals among them who were instructed to spy on them.

          14.          One of the first questions the Commission asked the director of the establishment when it arrived was whether any minor was detained there. This question was asked because actually information had been received that there were minors of one or the other sex detained there. We have already indicated that some of the women said they were 16 or 17 years old. While we were speaking with the detained men, we were informed that ten minutes before our arrival a minor, Chacaltana, had been removed from the yard and transferred to the upper floor of the central building. The Chairman of the Commission immediately contacted the Director of the establishment and asked him to order the minor, Chacaltana, to be taken to the offices on the lower floor to be interrogated at the end of the visit. The Director then admitted that the minor was indeed there, and gave an unclear explanation to the effect that he expected an order at any time o release him.