#gale would probably go back to uni

[alienoresimagines]

Folks, in canon era, if both Bucky and Buck had left the air force after the war, what do we think they'd do for a living ?

[prynnehesters]

i genuinely need to pump this out bcuz i saw a reddit thread abt which bg3 character would be the best college roommate and im like, thinking about the types of roommates they'd be lmaoo

gale

has tara as an esa. sometimes she goes to class w him, other times she's free to wander in the woods or whatever. a lot of neighbors know her

math major

probably works as a tutor/librarian/does some research

goes to bed early

constantly at school

goes out to pub trivia once a month

can cook/hosts dinner parties sometimes, but has some snacks he is weirdly anal about you not touching

if he were to experience being broken up with, it's a week of crying, eating ice cream, and listening to pop divas

snores

wyll

education major

involved w the student council, does a lot of volunteering, coaches kids soccer

goes out to parties every weekend, occasionally gets into trouble

brings back weird people sometimes

wakes up early to go work out (has a consistent schedule)

astarion

prelaw (either polysci, compsci, or theatre major who hates theatre kids)

basically never in the room (comes back after you're asleep/leaves before you wake up)

has a wacky schedule

your stuff disappears (can be money, food, etc)

gets into some shady shit

not fully aware of how loud he is sometimes

will throw a weird party once in a while

halsin

geology major

probably works at a climbing gym

chill af

really good at communication (texts you if he needs something or if you need to expect something from him)

gone most weekends (either home, camping, hiking, or uh, something else)

brings back a lot of people (but always warns you beforehand)

karlach

communications major

probably a student athlete

smokes cigarettes

goes out and parties often

will be your wingman

sometimes sends cryptic texts with lots of emojis

probably a metalhead

shadowheart

very religious (probably changes from Christianity to paganism in university)

has a little shrine in her area that she's protective over

probably brought a lot of stuffed animals

listens to scary music, goes to a lot of underground shows

has a lot of suitors she has to turn down cuz she's waiting till marriage lmao (until she meets the one)

probably has periods where she won't leave the room, but otherwise eh

english major

lae'zel

kinesiology major

strict routine

will criticize you if something's not to her liking or if you don't do something well enough/clean something enough

international student

probably has someone over several times a week

also goes out on weekends (but you never know what she does)

minthara

business major

knows where all the shady shit is

gets involved in shady shit

probably had to bail her out a few times, but she never learns lol

she's probably gonna take over her parents company, nothing really matters to her lol (in college just to party)

talks in her sleep

you basically have to do all chores around the apartment cuz she always claims to be busy

jaheira

biology major

straight forward about expectations, nothing too crazy tbh

probably has a safe that's highly guarded

idk she seems alright. i feel like she has a pretty lenient schedule ngl

minsc

dropped out of uni/in local community college

boo is a service animal

you have to bail him out every weekend cuz he never learns and gets involved in weird shit

[arolesbianism]

Thinking abt reworking Uni a bit. I do love Uni conceptually and as a character, but I've become increasingly uncomfortable with their story in the state that it's in, mostly because of how completely it removes Aris from the equation. I'm hoping to not completely scrap Uni, but I'm going to start brainstorming ways to also include au Aris as an actual character that's involved in au antag stuff instead of just a backstory character for Uni

[thisstableground]

I'm toying with a fic idea where characters go to the seaside in the south of England (probably Brighton or Worthing, leaning on the latter - sorry - because Brighton would have been PACKED in the early 1930s), and I wondered what's the sea like there? Are there any waves on a good day? Not to surf on, obvs, but big/noisy enough to frighten a small child? Or is it mostly calm, almost lake-like?

i’ve never been to worthing, but it’s only about a half hour from brighton by train or car so the sea at least might be similar, but i can’t tell you much about the beaches or anything. there is the benefit that if you write about brighton that means i can give you a whole lot of information about the scenery/history (or i can just go take pictures/video, if you want). also brighton was very gay even back in the 1930s, in fact that’s around when it really started flourishing as the gay capital, so depending which of your chraracters are coming along that might be of interest to them :D brighton would definitely have been much busier though (and still is). worthing’s probably more of a place for a very quiet family holiday, though by the 1930s i think it wasn’t considered the most fashionable of destinations compared to how it was in the early 1800s when it had the prestige of being a popular place for the royals.

anyway, the sea itself around brighton can get pretty rough.  i don’t think we tend to have particularly dangerous riptides compared to other places on the UK coast, though there are sometimes small ones around the groynes and other outcroppings, which would definitely be a concern for weaker swimmers.  the tides current tends to pull along the line of the shore rather than out to sea so that lowers the risk of being swept out, but even so it can still be dangerous on a windy day. one of my uni friends housemates unfortunately drowned in the sea in our third year despite being a very strong swimmer, and i recall other news coverage here and there of people who have been out and lost their lives or i’ve heard the search and rescue helicopters out, so it’s certainly not placid. we do in fact have surfers around the pier sometimes, if the conditions are right.

 it can get pretty dangerous past the shallows because of the way brighton beach is - it’s a rocky beach, and it’s hard to explain but it sort of goes in hills rather than a gradual slope into the sea, so sometimes you can be walking and within a footstep be out of your depth when you were fine before. that can happen even just a couple meters from the shore at high tide, and because the water isn’t particularly clear it’s hard to see your footing - it’s recommended to keep kids away at high tide and wait for low tide to avoid this.

 it can get incredibly choppy when the wind picks up, which might definitely frighten a small child (it’s certainly intimidated me before - i remember one night being out at the seafront clubs during a gale force wind and just looking out at these huge walls of waves in the dark, and having to look away because i was too drunk to contemplate the vast power of the ocean, lmao) but i really wouldn’t recommend the kids swimming or even being close to the water when it’s like that, and they probably wouldn’t want to be anyway because it’s bloody cold on days like that and the wind can be bitter off the sea. the water tends a little cold anyway, so if you’re swimming any time other than the height of summer you’re definitely gonna want a big warm towel and a hot drink. on a calm day though you can swim a ways out or splash in the shallows and the waves will stay pretty low, so it’s fairly safe in good weather as long as everyone’s supervising the kids and being careful.

again, though, this is all just brighton, can’t speak for worthing, except that i think they have sand on their beaches instead of rocks, the posh fucks

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The Nuptial Necessity - Chapter 25

A 12xRose Human AU

Despite an unglamorous job description, Rose loves the work she does with The Thistle Foundation, a charity founded by her best friend’s great-uncle.  It doesn’t hurt that her boss, her friend’s father, is easy on the eyes.  With a great job, wonderful friends and a loving family, life couldn’t be better – except for having someone to share it with.

All of that is threatened, though, when the great-uncle dies – and sets a strange condition for his nephew to inherit, jeopardizing the Foundation and Rose’s future, sparking a chain of events that might just get her everything she dreamed of and more.

Chapters will be posted on Saturdays and Tuesdays.  Many thanks to my beta, @stupidsatsuma

Rated: Explicit, for eventual smut

@doctorroseprompts

AO3  |  Masterlist

—

Tuesday, cont’d

Malcolm checked his watch once again, leg bouncing anxiously as he waited.  He wasn’t an idiot; it was clear that Rose was upset, but she wouldn’t talk to him.  He also knew that Sarah’s excuse to disappear into the kitchen was just that, and he was absolutely certain that the two of them were huddled somewhere out of sight, talking- probably about him.

Don’t you dare make Rose cry, he silently warned his old friend, narrowed gaze watching the hall to the toilets.  The last thing he wanted was for her to be upset, especially at him.  It always broke his heart to see her in tears, and he hated the idea it would be his fault.

Once the ten minute mark passed he had had enough, and throwing down his napkin, stalked across the small shop and around the corner, only to find an unexpected sight- the two women clinging to each other, sobbing with laughter, Sarah in the middle of gasping out a story he couldn’t quite make out but had Rose howling.

“What the fuck is this?”

Rather than startle them apart his bark had the opposite effect, sending them into fresh gales of laughter.

“What?”

More laughter.

“What?”

Releasing her grasp on Sarah Rose staggered forward to him, practically throwing herself in his arms.  “Oh, I love her,” she wheezed, sagging against him.  “We should have her over for dinner.”

What?  “Sure, if you want,” he said uncertainly, entirely lost on how they’d gotten to this point.  “What happened?”

“She- and I- so we- and then- oh, you had to be there,” Rose sighed, nestling her head against his chest.  “Did you really pose nude for an art class?”

“I needed the money,” he defended himself automatically, wrapping his arms around her and glaring over her head at Sarah, who was watching them with a smirk.  “What have you been telling her?”

“The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” his old friend promised, raising her hands as if in defense.  “Things she needs to know.”

Malcolm harrumphed at that, entirely certain their definitions would be wildly different, hers far more embarrassing for him.  “It’s all lies,” he peered down at Rose.  “Don’t believe a word.”

She grinned up at him, licking her lips.  “You know,” she whispered, “I did study art history in uni, and toyed with being an artist myself.  It seems only fair that you pose nude for me.”

Narrowing his eyes at her, he tilted his head in thought.  “I’ve done some sketches myself, so I’ll make you a deal- you pose for me, I’ll pose for you.”

“Deal,” she didn’t hesitate.  “Oooh, don’t you have a really old car?  Other than Bessie, I mean?”

“We have a 1953 Rolls Royce?”

Her lips curled up.  “You know that scene in Titanic?”

He shivered in delight at the idea, already able to see it playing out in delicious ways.  “Fuck yes.”

And just like that, things between them were fine.

-

Soon enough they were on their way, with tentative plans for Sarah Jane to join them for dinner on Thursday.  Malcolm drove once again, but slower this time, and Rose was all too happy to put her hand in his when he offered it.

“I’m sorry about Sarah,” he said somewhat tentatively.  “If she hurt you, or embarrassed you.”

Having been watching the water on their left, she had to turn her head to face him.  “It’s okay,” she decided after a moment of consideration.  “Yes, in the beginning, it was a bit weird, and I felt left out, but… in the end she was lovely.”  She debated silently about telling him what Sarah Jane had said in regards to Wallace’s ‘plans’, but settled against it.  She could always tell him later, and things just felt too fragile at the moment.  If it wasn’t love for him, she didn’t want to tip her hand – if all he wanted was a bit of fun, to lean into the ‘honeymooners’ idea, well… that was fine.  She’d take what she could get, enjoy the here and now, and worry about the future later.

Malcolm squeezed her hand, raising it to his mouth and pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles.  “I’m sorry,” he repeated.  “It was nice to catch up with her, but that’s no excuse for ignoring you.  Thank you for being so understanding.”

“I was just surprised,” she turned further into him, taking advantage of the bench seat to curl into his side.  “And a little put off by her thinking I was Clara.”

He opened and closed his mouth several times before settling for a shrug.  “There’s too many possible answers to that that would now be weird to say after last night,” he admitted.  “I’m going to leave it alone, but I want you to know I had good comebacks.”

Rose glanced out the windshield, noting they were on a relatively straight patch at the moment with no cars to be seen.  Taking a chance, she moved closer and purred in his ear, “I’m sure you’d have given it to me good.”  To highlight her point, she caught his earlobe gently between her teeth, free hand settling on his lap.

“Holy fuck,” Malcolm gasped, veering sharply in response before getting the car back under control.  By the time he had she was back on her side of the bench, sitting prim and proper and innocent as could be.  “What was that?!”

She just laughed, leaning back against the seat and stretching her legs out in front of her.

-

Malcolm pulled into the driveway faster than necessary, tires squealing slightly as he braked and threw it into park.  Practically jumping out of the car he moved around to Rose’s door to open it for her, helping her down a bit more brusquely than wise- but her half-laugh half-gasp of his name told him he was forgiven.  Leaving the keys in the ignition for the footman to deal with, he hurried her into the house, ignoring her giggled protests.

“What’s the rush?” she laughed, as he guided her expertly through the house, calling on half-forgotten knowledge from misspent summers long past.  “Malcolm.”

“In here.”  Here was a small broom closet under the stairs, just barely big enough for them to stand up in, provided they stayed close.  He backed her against the door, leaning down to hover his lips over hers.  “Rose.”

“Malcolm.”

“Say yes,” he breathed, one hand skimming down her waist to her knee, applying a light pressure there in encouragement.  “Oh, fuck, please say yes.”

She giggled, leaning back against the door, moving her feet apart before raising her knee to hook over his hip.  “We’ll have to be quiet.”

He moved with her, pressing himself against her and groaning, burying his face in her neck to lay wet kisses there.  “That’s not a yes.”  He wanted her, desperately, but more than that he wanted her to want him.

“Ah.”  Rose wrapped her arms around him, bumping her hips up against him once, twice, three times, drawing a wretched moan from him.  “Well, then- yes.”

-

Biting her lip, Rose shifted on the couch, rubbing her thighs together.  She’d finally reached the part in her romance novel where the heroine gave into her desire for the love interest, and it was exceptionally steamy, especially after her own encounter that afternoon in the hall closet.

“Alright?” Malcolm asked, and she peeked over the top of the book to find him watching her.

“Mhmm.”  Putting her book aside, she sat up and turned, sitting flush next to him, hip to hip.  “What’cha doing?”

He gestured down towards the papers scattered on the table.  “Reviewing the paperwork still.  This is about the rents- I don’t want to bore you.”

“Tell me anyway.”

He raised his eyebrow, looking at her skeptically.  “You want to hear about rent and tenants?”

“You said I would be handling some of the management stuff as Lady Gallifrey,” she reminded him.  “I should know about it- I want to know about it.  I want you to teach me.”

“It’s not the most interesting thing in the world.”

She nudged him with her shoulder, grinning.  “Yeah, but it’s funny- many things are infinitely more interesting when told in a sexy Scottish accent.”

“You think my accent’s sexy?”  He sounded genuinely surprised, and she laughed out loud.

“I think everything’s sexy about you – including your accent.  Body.  Mind.  Now come on, teach me.”

“Alright.”  Not looking convinced of her interest, he nonetheless played along, rifling through his paperwork for a moment before pulling out a piece of paper that looked like a summary.  “So, here’s how this works.  The property’s about four thousand acres-”

-

Taking the time to pamper herself before bed, it was the first time Rose really had by herself to consider everything that had happened over the past few days.  From successfully seducing Malcolm on Saturday, arriving in Scotland on Sunday, yesterday’s horseback riding and “riding lessons”, to this afternoon’s outing… it had been a virtual whirlwind, and as the dust metaphorically settled around her as she washed her hair, she found herself standing in a fog, uncertain of the safest path ahead.

That wasn’t strictly true – the safest path ahead was to have her things moved to the other room, stop shagging Malcolm, and wait for the five years to pass.

That wasn’t what she wanted, though.

Okay, what’s relatively safe but let’s us keep having sex?

If she were honest with herself, she wanted it all.  A real marriage, filled with love and laughter and happiness and babies (and sex).  And she wanted it with Malcolm – only Malcolm.  The only problem was, she had no idea what he wanted, and what she might have to sacrifice for them to find a happy compromise.  Realistically, though, she knew what she would be willing to give up – children.  It would hurt, and she would have to live vicariously through Clara, but that was something she’d rather not have with him than have with someone else.

At the end of the day, it came down to love – did he love her as she did him?  She couldn’t tell, and he hadn’t said.  He acted like he did, but that had all started after the Gala, and she couldn’t be certain it wasn’t a function of their bedroom activities.  Did the new intimacy between them free him to show her how he felt, or was he acting that way to keep her in his bed?

She had no idea.

As soon as she was dry she reached for her mobile, texting Clara I need to talk to you.  Picking up the blow dryer, she was almost finished by the time she got a response, but it wasn’t what she wanted.

We’re doing an overnight field trip in a museum, I can’t get away.  Is tomorrow afternoon okay?

Shit.  Biting her lip, Rose shrugged.  What harm could one more night do? she thought pessimistically.  At least if she didn’t confront him, she couldn’t be rejected, and the sex was incredible.  Fine, she replied, let me know the second you’re free.

Once she was ready except for her pajamas, she examined her options with her hands on her hips.  She’d brought two sets in, unable to choose, and all of her ruminating hadn’t helped a lick.  One was a simple cotton nightgown, the same from the night before that he’d seemed to like well enough, while the other was overtly sexy, a red satin lined with lace that screamed fuck me – she’d bought it on sale a few days after Valentine’s Day, after all.

“Rose?  Everything okay?” Malcolm knocked on the door, startling her.  “You’re not upset about Sarah, are you?”

“No, I’m okay,” she called back.  “Just a moment.”

Closing her eyes she reached forward, fingers closing around fabric – satin.

Alright, then.

Pulling it on over her head and smoothing it down, she had to admit she did look good in it.  Skipping the matching knickers, she pulled on the robe that went with it instead, tying it tightly before picking up her discarded options and returning to the bedroom.

“So, Jack arranged for us to go to the distillery tomorrow,” Malcolm said as soon as she opened the door.

“That sounds nice,” she replied, dumping her armful of clothes on top of the dresser to deal with tomorrow.  “Do we get a sample?”

He started to laugh, stopping abruptly when she pulled off the dressing gown and climbed into bed.  “Uh, yep,” he swallowed hard, eyes firmly south of hers.  “Of course.  Samples… samples are good.”  His gaze slowly rose to meet her own, and he looked delightfully punch-drunk at the sight of her.  “Tired?”

She slid down on the mattress, turning to face him and propping herself up on her elbow.  “Nope,” she popped the p, grinning.  “Not yet.  Got any suggestions of things to do that’ll tire me out?”

She shrieked with laughter when he pounced on her just as she’d hoped, fingers digging into her sides as he started a tickle war.

It was fair to say by the end, they’d both won.

Several times.

[everlarkbirthdaygifts]

Happy Birthday, moviefangal!

Today, we wish Happy Birthday to @moviefangal! We hope you’re having a wonderful, wonderful day, and that your cake was absolutely perfect! To keep your party going a little while longer, the lovely @herainab has written a story just for you!

Title: Karaoke Dream

Gift for: moviefangal who requested “That asshole stole my song at karaoke night” with an everlark twist.

Rating: Mature

Happy birthday! Hope your day is wonderful and hopefully you enjoy my spin on this little take on Everlark and their karaoke.

---

“So we’ll meet at the bus at 6 to head off for dinner." Jo, our trip leader, reminds us. "I'll head in and check us all in and meet you where Thom parks the bus.” She gathers her things and jumps off the bus just as Thom our driver pulls up outside the hostel camping site and lets her out.

Thom easily reverses the bus down throughout the hostel camping site, and we stay on the bus as we wait for Jo. The sun was warm out, and she warned us it could take a while to check in, so we sit and wait while Thom makes fast work of unloading the 35 bags from the bus before he gets to work on cleaning the outside and we stay in the aircon waiting for Jo.

"Oh, it's cobblestone." Madge curses as she steps back onto the bus and sits beside me. She literally brought her whole bedroom with her, and she's dragging the suitcase around and cursing every single staircase she sees or Cobblestone Street she has to wheel her bag over.

“I hope we’re not too far away.” She states as we climb out of the bus with Jo’s arrival. She's a packhorse with her backpack on her back, and her camera bag slung over her shoulders.

“It’s flat I think.” I tell her, craning my neck to see what the street is like.

“Thank fuck.”

“I told you that you need to get in with the guys and get them to carry your bag.” I whisper to her. “Use those blue eyes of yours.”

“But I have a boyfriend.”

"Who's an arsehole and dropped out of the trip." I remind her. He didn't give a reason, but he didn't want to go anymore. I'm pretty sure he's fooling around with some 18-year-old girl. “You don’t have to sleep with them, just thank them with a drink or something else.”

“But that gives the wrong impression.”

"You set the boundaries." I tell her. "Besides, I think Gale boy is keen on you. He's always checking you out and gets nervous talking to you.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah right.”

“I’d maybe hang back and see what he does.” I look over my shoulder to see him standing just beside the bus in the shade with a few others “Make sure you grunt and moan a lot and curse the ground as you drag your bag along. He’ll swoop in like a knight in shining armour.”

“I have a boyfriend.”

“Doesn’t mean you have to sleep with him.” She thinks any favour she accepts means she has to sleep with the guy who offers. That’s what her arsehole boyfriend makes her think. She needs rid of him immediately, and I hope 40 days of travelling without him will make her realise that. Will make her realise how beautiful, kind and caring she is and that she deserves the world.

I was glad he dropped out of the trip to give us time to spend together, reminiscing and reconnecting from our high school days. If he were here, it'd be a drag, and she wouldn't be allowed to have any fun or do her own thing.

“OK, I’ll hand you out your keys. We’ll meet here at 6 pm to head for dinner. I'll collect the money from those who haven't paid me yet also." Jo says.

She hands the keys out as she reads down the list and everyone starts to move off slowly.

"312, we've got Katniss, Madge, Jacinta and Delly." Jo reads aloud. Delly is up front and grabs the room keys for us, and we head off in the direction of our cabin.

The ground is a little uneven, and our cabin is on the far side of the site. I'm glad for my luggage choice and throw my pack over my shoulders.

“You right, Madge?” I ask her as we start to follow Delly to our cabin.

"Madge, do you want a hand with your suitcase?" Gale asks her, and I smile to myself.

"Oh, you don't have to." She tells him.

"No, it's fine." He smiles at her, and they walk down the street together, Gale managing his own pack, daypack and then Madge’s oversized suitcase over the uneven ground. "We're right next to each other."

I don't wait up for them and continue on my way, listening to the small talk. I can tell Gale likes Madge and I know she is attracted to him but with her relationship status hanging over her she's closed off and cautious at what she says.

“He likes you.” I claim as soon as the door closes.

“Shush.” She says. “He can probably hear you.”

“Oh, stop being a baby.” I tell her, dumping my things on the floor beside the bunk. “Just, don’t be a stick in the mud.” I sigh. “Please just keep having a good time and don’t ever question anything you do. This is your holiday, your energy, your time and your experience. You only get out what you put in and moping around and thinking what Cato is going to think if you do something isn’t worth it.”

“We’ve been together for four years.”

“I know.” I smile at her, wiping the tears from her eyes. “But sometimes change is as good as a holiday. You’re not the same person I graduated high school with, and I can see how much he is eating away at your soul. My aunt wasted 18 years with a deadbeat guy. I don't want you doing the same thing." She nods her head. "Let's have the time of our lives tonight. I hear there's karaoke." I grin.

We work like ants to get ready for our evening. It’s the first big evening we’ve had out in a week, and everyone is keen to get dressed up and make themselves look a little more human and let loose tonight. There's a tag team for the shower, we crowd around the mirror and help each other as we decide on outfits and do our hair.

“What time do we have?” Jacinta asks.

“5:55.” I tell her.

“Shit.” She cusses, reaching for her mascara.

“You look fine.” Delly tells her as she finishes putting her shoes on.

“I look like a mess.”

“You look spectacular.” Madge reiterates. “Don’t stress.” She tells her, handing her a room key. “I’m heading to the bus if anyone else is ready.”

I follow her and quickly check in with Prim, replying to her message.

“So, are you going to get up and sing at karaoke?” She asks me.

I laugh. "You know me."

“You’re amazing, Katniss and after Barcelona, everyone loved you. They’re hanging out for you to sing again.”

“I was pretty drunk in Barcelona.” I laugh.

"You were, but you were great." She smiles “I’ll come up with you if that makes you feel better.”

“I’d love for you to sing with me.” I hug her.

My first job at uni was at a Japanese restaurant that was also popular on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night doubling as a karaoke bar. A lot of the uni students would stumble by on a Tuesday night for cheap Tuesday. They'd get a cheap feed, drinks and would usually stick around for karaoke and nothing was more rewarding than watching drunken uni students sing off key and drunkenly sway together as they sang along to the lyrics.

I have fond memories from my days working as a waitress there, the owners were brilliant, the staff were great to work for, and the customers were always fantastic. I got to the stage of being shift supervisor eventually and in charge of close from Tuesday to Thursday night and the staff would usually stick around after the customers had left to have our own sing-a-long and drinks as we cleaned and packed up.

There I established my go-to karaoke playlist.

We had already done karaoke in Barcelona, and I knew it was time for another song in my top 5 as I couldn’t double up again. I was skipping a few going to song number 5.

Drinks are flowing by the time we settle into dinner. Our group takes up the room, and we are happy with our 12 euro jug cocktails and meals.

“Katniss, are you getting up to sing?” One of the girls yells down the table.

"Hell yeah, she is." Madge claims, slamming a shot down in front of me. "Aren't you Kat?" She says, holding her glass up to toast with mine.

I down the shot, shaking my head at the burn of the vodka. “Hell yeah. You all better stay.”

“We aren’t going anywhere.”

We're pretty close to tipsy by the time we eat our dinner and head into the next room where there is a small group gathered already waiting in anticipation for the karaoke night.

“There’ll probably be another Tribute group and a Career group too.” Jo tells us as she sits down at the table beside me. “So it’s going to be a little crazy.”

“You getting up to sing, Jo?” Thresh asks her.

“I don’t ever turn down an opportunity to sing. Why don’t we go up together?” She suggests.

“Deal.” Thresh tells her, clinking his glass.

“So what are we singing?” Madge asks me.

“Latch.” I tell her. “The Disclosure version.”

She nods in approval and orders another jug for us to drink as the room starts to fill. There's music being played for now, Jo and Thresh getting up to be the first to sing.

We’re on our feet when Thresh and Jo take the stage and the familiar sound of ‘A Thousand Miles’ starts, and we go crazy for them, singing along with them and cheering for them when they finish.

“Let’s go line up.” Madge suggests as the line is starting to grow. “Bring your drink.”

We wait in line, singing and dancing along. We wince when those tone-deaf get up on and sing out of time.

“Man I don’t know if they’re wasted or just terrible karaoke singers.” Madge says to me.

"I'd say a bit of both." I wince at the note being missed. "No, they are just terrible."

“This bring back memories from the karaoke bar?”

I nod, feeling a little sad that I haven't been there for two years now, having since moved on to my career. "I miss it now and then. They were my little family. I miss especially our closing shifts."

“I bet you do.” She smiles. “Oh well, make them proud again tonight.”

"I will."

A blond guy four ahead of us takes the stage by himself. Madge and I chat, showing each other memes on our phone to pass the silence in between the singers.

“Gale is looking at you.” I tell her as casually as I can.

“He is not.”

"In five seconds do a casual sweep of our table, and you'll see." I tell her. "5,4,3,2 and 1."

Madge casually looks up from her phone and scans the room, her eyes quickly going over our group and our table where Gale is focused on her.

“He likes you.” I tell her for the thousandth time.

“He doesn’t.”

“Madge, he does. I wished you give him the time of day cause he’s a nice guy.”

“He doesn’t even live near me.”

“You’re already jumping to….” The familiar tune of Latch begins breaking me from my sentence. “That arsehole stole my karaoke song.” I swing around to the stage to see the culprit. “Fucking arsehole. I was going to sing that song.” I whine, trying to make him out through the stage lights. "For fuck sakes."

“Katniss, it’s fine.” Madge tells me. “We can sing your next song.”

"I don't want to. I wanted to sing this song." I tell her as Blondie sings it. He doesn't butcher it and is on time. "That arsehole stole my song."

“It’s just a song.”

I know I'm overreacting, but this was one of my songs. I've had my heart set on singing this since we left Barcelona last week.

“Come on, we’ll sing Dancing Queen or something.”

‘Now I got you in my space I won’t let go of you Got you shackled in my embrace I’m latching on to you’

I look up at the stage again and death glare the song stealer. He has no idea who I am but he’ll be the arsehole who stole my karaoke song.

“Have a nice evening.” I say to the last customers who walk out the door a little tipsy. Thursday karaoke has picked up again with the warmer weather and we’re encountering a lot of work groups coming for dinner and staying to sing and have a laugh.

I've been the shift supervisor for just over six months now, and I love it. I know this place like the back of my hand, I have the confidence to fix any issue, to direct staff and deal with the few complaints we may have. The team repays me with their enthusiasm and attention to detail, and we always have a good night. I think most of them are excited for our close as we have our staff karaoke party.

I lock the door after them and watch my team move around like ants cleaning up the remaining tables, sweeping and mopping the floors and having the back of house tidied. It's just the wait staff, barman and dishwasher remaining, the cooks left when we finished our dinner service at 9.

“What’s your poison of choice tonight?” Peeta asks me from behind the bar.

“Something sweet I think.”

“I don’t know how you drink so much sweet stuff.” He comments, turning his nose up with a big smile. “I can’t do it.”

“We all didn’t grow up in a bakery.” I tease.

“I suppose that’s true.” He laughs. “Do you trust me to make you something?”

“Always. You’ve never let me down.” I smile. “I’m just going to take the money to the office.”

“Do you want to ask the rest of them what they’re having?”

“Sure thing.”

I lock the money in the safe, happy its balanced for the night and lock up the office before checking in on the rest of the staff. The waiter and waitress are helping the dishwasher with the remaining glasses and jugs and also starting on the floors.

I get their orders, bringing them to Peeta who has finished my cocktail and presents it to me on the bar.

“What is it?”

“Try it.”

I take a sip, trying to guess the flavours of this concoction. He liked trying them out on me before he added them to the specials menu the next week.

“Strawberry something?”

“Strawberry mojito.”

“This is nice.” I compliment him. “I could have a few of these.”

“I can drive you home if you want to have a few.” He laughs as he opens the beers and the can of Coke.

“Oh no, we have our exam tomorrow, don’t want to be foggy for that.”

“We’ll be fine.” He reminds me. “You’ve had a great tutor and haven’t fallen behind once.”

“Well, tomorrow might be the day.”

“Then that means I’ve failed you as a student.”

"Well, if you actually tutored me in statistics and not in your impressive movie collection."

“Hey, I didn’t hear any complaints from you.”

I stick my tongue out at him, and he laughs.

I got him the job when we returned last year for the semester. He was in my class, one I had to do to pick up the units for my degree in Environmental Science. So I enrolled in stats and Peeta has been helping me throughout the semester as he was finishing his degree in business management that he was cruising through. We’d partnered together on assignments and become fast friends.

They were in need of a bartender at work and I asked him to come and meet the owner that afternoon, and he started working that evening. He's boosted business, and we're busy every night of the week, especially with the uni students who eat for cheap on a Tuesday night.

The three of them come out from the back, and I take the broom from Brody. "You're up Ben." I tell him, pushing him towards the karaoke machine.

He puts up a small fight but doesn’t complain as he searches for his song and starts singing his go-to of Michael Jackson.

It’s our little routine. We sing. One of us sweeps the front, and the other follows behind with the mop. We dance as we close, we sing, and we laugh.

I sweep the floor, close to the bar singing along to Billie Jean and find myself in Peeta’s arms as we dance, failing the moonwalk and any other dance move we try.

‘Billie Jean is not my lover She's just a girl who claims that I am the one” Peeta sings as he moonwalks around me.

“I think you wished you were Michael Jackson.” I laugh as a sip my drink. He nods, does a spin and crotch grab as he finishes the chorus. “Don’t go too hard.”

Ben finishes, leaving for the night and Amy and Jax take the microphones and start their usual duet.  

“They are so into each other.” I comment as I lean against the bar and Peeta sips his bar.

“Oh, young love.”

“They’re a year younger than us.” I laugh.

"Still, they're cute. It's like they are 14 years old." He says. "They blush and go shy around each other. They’ll get together eventually. I mean, they’re singing High school musical songs together. That’s true love.”

“Stop it. I wish I had someone to sing high school musical with.” I admit.

“Well, we can sing high school musical if you want.”

I turn and smile at him and see him smiling slightly.

“It’s fine. I’ve got my karaoke playlist.”

“So what will it be tonight? Torn, Dancing Queen, Believe, Since you’ve been gone or will you bring out some classic Queen?”

“I’ve got something new.”

“You do?”

"Yep, I think this will go on my list."

“You're branching out. I love it." He smirks as he drinks his beer.

“Thought you would.” I smile.

The two lovebirds finish their song and Peeta pushes me forward. “Time for you to sing, songbird.”

I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling too much like an idiot and try to compose myself before I have to face him. It's a song he got me into recently on our many study and tutoring sessions. It has always happened to be on in the car if he drives me to work and he's made me obsessed. When the music plays I see the smile on his face, and I try not to watch him for too long, or I'll know I'll go red.

“Now I got you in my space I won’t let go of you Got you shackled in my embrace I’m latching on to you”

I end with massive applause like usual and thank them all. Amy and Jax leave as it's nearing 1 am, knowing it's time to head on out as well.

“So, is Latch going to become one of your go to’s now?” He asks me as he shoves his hands into his coat pockets and leads me to his car.

“I think so.” I chuckle. “You think it’s a good karaoke song?”

"Yeah, I do." He smiles. "I really do. I mean, anything you sing you nail, so you don't have to worry about what you choose." He tells me as Ariana Grande comes on in the car.

“Thanks.” I’m thankful it’s dark in the car so he can’t see my reddened cheeks. “I think that’s going to be second on my list.”

“I’ve never met someone with who actually has a karaoke list.” He laughs. “They usually have one song and just stick with it. You have a top 5."

I laugh cause it sounds a little ridiculous. “You forgot my top 5 duet list as well.”

“You have a top 5 duet list? Why haven’t I heard this?”

"Because I only duet when I've found the best duet partner, and I haven't found them just yet."

"Well, I hope for you're sake you do." He smiles. "Or you humour me one night and allow me to join you. If you allow it?"

“I’ll allow it.”

"Can't believe the arsehole stole my song." I mutter as he finishes the song to a wild applause from his group.

Blondie bows, lapping up the attention and jumping down the stairs to be surrounded by his group who hand him his beer.

“Don’t worry about him.” Madge tells me. “Do you want another drink?”

“Sure, thanks.”

She heads off to buy us two drinks while we wait in line, knowing it'll be a while before we can go up. I'm sulking big time over my stolen song and don't know if I want to back out because of it. I'm acting childish, and I know our group will be disappointed if I back down now.

“Let’s sing some Ariana Grande.” I suggest to Madge when she comes back with my drink. I've gotten over my tantrum slightly, and I don't want to put a downer on the evening. Especially Madge's when I told her to lighten up and live a little. I want her enjoying herself tonight, and if I'm not enjoying myself, she'll tap out and go back to the hostel early. “One last time?”

“Hell yeah.” She states as we clink our glasses together and drink.

It's our time to shine, and we step up on stage, grabbing our mics and putting in our request. Our group cheers us on, and I smile over at Madge as we get ready to sing.

I feel the music, enjoying the moment and the fact I'm standing up in some Florence bar singing in front of close to a hundred strangers.

Majority of the crowd dance and sing with each other, swaying to the beat and letting the alcohol do the talking.

A body emerges from the crowd. It's blondie the song stealer who makes it his mission to see who is singing this tune. A familiar song. A song that brings up memories of what seems like a lifetime ago.

“So one last time I need to be the one who takes you home One more time I promise after that, I'll let you go”

I see who the song stealer is and I’m shocked. It all makes sense now.

“Baby I don't care if you got her in your heart All I really care is you wake up in my arms One last time I need to be the one who takes you home”

I stuff up the lyrics, lose my timing and am thankful for Madge who keeps up the pace. I match her, keep the pace and try to not think of the moment we last saw each other. That Saturday night in the car park behind the restaurant. That moment after graduation. The end of our uni chapter and the start of the rest of our lives.

We were going different ways, new careers and experiences to live. He was going back to his hometown to work in his parents' bakery while he painted and decorated the cakes. I had a local government job. We were living on opposite ends of the state. Separated by distance and long stretches of highway. We broke our promise to each other and we both knew our goodbye in the car park was goodbye.

I can feel the knot of anticipation in my stomach. I can feel his hands on my body. The feel of his lips on my own. My heartbeat pounding inside my chest. I can still feel the wetness of his tears that I wiped them away.

I can’t abandon ship just yet, despite the emotions taking over my body. I do my best to pull my composure together and finish the song without doing something stupid like cry.

I turn to Madge for the ending and sing it, focusing on her.

“One last time I need to be the one who takes you home”

“What the hell?” Madge asks me as she takes my hand and we head down the stairs of the stage.

"I don't know, but I need a bathroom."

“Come on.”

She sneaks me off to the ladies room away from him.

“Have I seen a ghost?” I ask her as I sit on the toilet seat.

“No.” Madge tells me.

"He stole my karaoke song." I say to Madge. She doesn't know of the significance of my karaoke list or how it was Peeta that introduced me to this song. "I mean, it's not my song, but he stole it from me. He knew."

"I don't think he knew you were here, Kat. I think it was just a coincidence.” She says to me through the stall. “Did you know he was travelling?”

"I did, but I didn't think he was here in Italy the same time as me. I thought he was doing his own thing and bumming around."

"He's a Career." Madge laughs.

"I can't believe he went travelling with the Careers when he could have been a tribute." I laugh. "Bloody Careers." It was a running joke among our group, especially when we ran into the Careers. There was a slight rivalry between the two travelling groups, and the Careers had a reputation compared to the tribute travellers.

I wash my hands, check my hair and makeup and inhale a deep breath.

“Time to face the music.” I exhale as Madge stands beside me.

“Let’s go.”

I hesitate for a moment but follow Madge out of the ladies towards the party. I scan the room for Peeta but am pulled around the corner and against the wall.

Peeta stands in front of me, just staring at me unsure if he’s seen a ghost or not.

“Katniss, you alright?” Madge asks me.

"I'm fine. I'll catch you later." I tell her, and she walks off to join our group. A few who watch with curious eyes at the blond stranger that's pushed me against a wall and standing inches away from my body.

“I wasn’t sure if it was you up there.” He finally gets out. “I thought someone must have spiked my drink or I was hallucinating.” He breathes out. “Am I dreaming?”

“No, you’re not.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question.” He smiles, biting his lip to stop the smile from growing too wide. He's like a schoolboy. A nervous schoolboy. The same nervous schoolboy that stood before me almost two years ago and poured out his heart to me. But I try not to think of that and instead focus on getting up him. “You arsehole, you stole my karaoke song.” I say, hitting his chest.

"In my defence, I didn't think you'd be here."

“You knew that was one of my songs.”

“And it’s been my song since we left each other.” He admits shyly to me with a tear escaping his eye.

I feel my heartbeat pick up as I stand in front of him. I can feel his pain, and despite the façade of him lapping up the attention, it hurts him to sing this song.

“How drunk are you?” I ask him.

“I picked the Disclosure version for a reason.” He tells me. “I’d be a ball of tears if I sang the acoustic version.”

“You’re still an arsehole for singing that song.”

“I’m sorry.” He smiles and chuckles slightly. “How can I make it up to you?”

“I think I should be asking you that question.”

He shakes his head. “Life happened, it was neither of our faults. I mean, I should have tried harder. I was scared. Scared of it not working and having a broken heart.”

“But isn’t having a broken heart count for something? Count for having a go?” I put to him.

“I’ve missed you so much, Katniss.” He tells me. “Come on, I owe you a drink.”

He buys us both a drink, and we stand off to the side where it’s a little quieter than at the tables in front of the stage.

Flashbacks from our last moments together fill my mind. The rain pouring. The bass of music coming from some club nearby. Roaming hands. Discarded clothes. Bare bodies. The leather of the backseat. Ragged breathing. Moans of pleasure.

His hand rests on my hip, his thumb drawing circles, reminiscent of that night. I can’t hold back the feelings for too much longer. I want him in my arms. Want him to cover my body with his own. Feel his lips on my own lips.

“Katniss, I should have tried harder. But you’ve been worth the wait. I made a pact with myself that when I returned home from this trip that I was going to throw all my cards on the table and see if you wanted to try dating. I’d have found a way to make it work. I’d relocate if it meant being with you.” He tells me. “If you’d allow it?”

“You still stole my karaoke song.” I tell him with a smirk.

"Well, I didn't know…"

“Shut up.”

“What?”

“Just shut up and kiss me.”

I lean up on my tiptoes, tired of playing games and initiate what I want. I've never been one to make the first move, but he is frustrating with nervous talking. I place my lips on his firmly, shutting him up.

“Oh.” He says swallowing the lump in his throat.

“Just kiss me.” I demand. “There’s time for talking later.”

He gets the idea and kisses me back, pushing me against the wall with his body pressing tightly against mine, as we get lost in the kiss. The feel of each other after two years.

“I’ve missed you so much.” I murmur against his lips.

“Me too.” He murmurs back as his lips trail across my cheek and my jaw.

I can hear our names being cheered from the tables in between karaoke songs and Peeta holds his middle finger up to them, which gets a round of applause and more cheering. I bury my face into his neck, and he just holds me in his arms.

“I do have one problem.” I whisper.

“And what is that?”

“You’re a Career.” I laugh as I appear from his neck.

“Guilty.” He admits, holding his hands up in the air. “Sorry, I was just following my mate.”

“I’ll let you off for now.” I warn him.

“I’m glad.” He smiles and leans his forehead against mine. “Am I still the arsehole who stole your karaoke song?”

“Yes.”

“Can I make it up to you with some gelato? I happen to know a place with the best gelato. It’s Nigella Lawson approved.”

“Well then, it must be good.” I smile. “Let me just tell my friend.”

“So, it went well with the arsehole who stole your karaoke song?” Madge laughs as I embrace her.

“Well, so far. He’s taking me for gelato.” I tell her. “Will you be right?”

"Yeah, I think everyone will be out for a while yet." She smiles. "And Gale promised to take me home when I was ready."

“Look after her.” I tell Gale.

“I will.”

“Promise me. She’s my best friend.”

“I pinkie promise.”

I smile at him and then at Madge. “I’ll message you when I’m heading home.”

She embraces me one last time. “Go, enjoy your gelato date with blondie the arsehole who stole your karaoke song.”

I smirk at her, grab my bag and say goodbye to my trip leader before I find Peeta and take his hand in mine.

…

Three years later

“I think I knew from that moment they left the bar together that I should start preparing my speech. I mean, they were making out against a wall and then left for gelato. I mean, what type of guy makes out with a girl for ten minutes then takes her out for gelato? Especially a 23-year-old male?” She laughs as she speaks to the room. “I knew that when she messaged me on her way back to the hostel at 6 am that it went well and that she didn't hate the arsehole who stole her karaoke song. She advises me there was no funny business that night. It is still up for discussion. Especially since she didn't show up at the hostel until that morning.” She laughs. “But we are here today, celebrating the marriage of them both so it must have gone very well." She laughs and turns to us, wiping the tears from her cheek. "I'm going to ruin my beautiful makeup." She laughs. I see the sparkle of the diamond on her ring finger and smile, cuddling up to Peeta even more. "That night, both of our lives changed. I mean not changed, the next chapter of our lives began. We thought those six weeks away was our life-changing experience, but it was those moments within our trip that started the next stage of our lives. Thank you for inviting me on that trip. It's a trip I'll cherish right until we're old and grey and surrounded by our grandchildren who ask how we met their grandfathers.” She smiles through the tears. “To my best friend, Katniss, may you’re life be filled with many great moments to come with the fellow who stole your karaoke song.” She laughs. “Cheers.”

I embrace Madge, kissing her cheek and thanking her.

"I now call Katniss and Peeta up who have a few words they'd like to say." Finnick calls for us.

I was stepping out of my comfort zone and speaking in front of everyone gathered here today. The room was made up with the close friends from our trips three years ago who we've stayed in contact with and many we've used to crash on their couches as we've done our travelling the last couple of years.

"Wow, this is fucking nerve-racking," I admit to everyone in the audience. "Sorry kids, Aunty Katniss didn't say a naughty word."

“She’s just a little drunk.” Peeta tells them all with a cheeky grin. His nieces and nephews sit front and centre with their mothers and laugh at me. I'm not drunk. Just my nervousness has gotten the better of me.

“Aunt Katniss.” Patrick exclaims, rolling his eyes. “Not again.”

This breaks the tension, and I’m silently thanking Peeta’s 9-year old nephew for helping us. "Thanks Pat." I wink at him. "Peeta and I would like to thank everyone for joining us tonight. We're fortunate to have so many people in our lives, and we're very grateful for you all making the effort and travelling far and wide to be here with us today. We both made some wonderful friends three years ago and its proof with you all being here today. Despite half of you being Careers." I laugh, taking a dig at Peeta.

“What Katniss means is that she’s just jealous she wasn’t a career.”

"Oh no, Tribute for life. Am I right?" I jab, getting a rise from my trip mates. "It's just a shame you weren't a tribute because we could have been a tribute love story.”

“Or a Career love story.” He shrugs. “Jokes and travel companies aside, we’re proof that both companies can get along and find love after putting our differences aside.” He smiles at me. “As most of you know, we met in Uni taking a stats class. Katniss who is hopeless with numbers begged me to be her tutor, and that began our story. Nothing too romantic just the typical boy meets girl at uni love story.” He laughs. "She got me a job at the Japanese restaurant where we usually ended our shifts with a round of karaoke. She had never sung in front of me, in those few months of studying together. The first time she did sing, I knew I was a goner. I swear the birds fell silent and that’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

I blush slightly and quickly find where I’m up to on the speech. He has gone off the speech. "Where am I up too?"

“Here.” He points.

“Yes. Right. We parted ways when uni finished. Our careers and lives were going in different directions. But three years ago, in a Florence restaurant, this guy was on my radar as the arsehole that stole my karaoke song, and I was going to hunt him during the night and maybe throw a beer over him. That was until he came out of the crowd and I realised who exactly it was. It wasn’t some arsehole; it was Peeta, Peeta who rated every song choice, who cheered for me every time I sang. The boy who introduced me to that very song so knew I couldn't be mad at him for too long. And I wasn't. It was like no time or distance had passed, and we were those two 21-year-olds working late at the Japanese restaurant who would laugh, sing and dance with each other." I say smiling.

“So in honour of our fabulous relationship and because we knew this wouldn’t be a party without some karaoke. Katniss and I will be singing the first song we sang together. This song came about hitting shuffle on the machine, and this is the song it came up with." He laughs. "So please enjoy a compilation of our relationship in film reel while we embarrassingly sing our duet song.”

His brother makes fast work of setting it all up with him ready to hit play on the instrumental version of our duet song and playing the video slideshow he made for us.

“You ready?” He asks me, lowering the microphone away from his mouth and squeezing my hand.

I nod with a wide smile. “Let’s do this.”

“Would you dance if I asked you to dance? Or would you run and never look back? Would you cry if you saw me crying? And would you save my soul tonight?”

We sing to our guests who cheer for us. There's a little bit of a medley within the song of our karaoke hits from Dancing Queen, to Disney classics, 90's rock, some recent pop songs, Elvis, 80's pop and then more of Hero before it fades into Under Pressure for a few beats before it turns more upbeat into the 90's tune of Ice Ice Baby.

“Yo, Katniss, let’s kick it.” Peeta sings pointing at me. He smiles widely because he knows we have pulled off the announcement.

“Our first baby. We’re announcing our first baby Our first baby We’re announcing our first baby’ We sing, Peeta caressing my stomach as our recent ultrasound picture appears at the end of the slideshow with the caption

‘Our karaoke duet is turning into a trio in early October'

 We watch the reaction of our friends and family and Peeta whispers in my ear, with his arm around quickly before our family and friends surround us.

"Bet you're glad I'm the arsehole who stole your karaoke song?"

"Every day." I smile up at him and kiss the corner of his mouth just as I'm pulled into an embrace by my family.

[theuniversitychallengereview]

UC 51.12 - Dundee vs Royal Northern College of Music

There’s something autumnal to me about University Challenge. I know that it starts in Summer, then runs through Autumn, Winter and into Spring too, but there is something in the intrinsic vibe of the show that screams layered clothing and falling leaves. I don’t know if this is true, but the way I remember both the Starter for Ten book and film is that they are mostly set in Autumn. That’s probably not right, but it feels right to me. And whenever I think about those things I am reminded of one particular route I used to take from my flat to Uni and back, in the cold and often wet, lit only by streetlights. 

There is something about the cosiness of a night in front of the TV when outside is dark and blowing a gale. A cup of tea and a quiz programme in a blanket. That many of the contestants still dress in thick knitwear even under the hot studio lights might help add to the illusion of an everlasting Autumn too, but when it gets to this part of the series I always feel like we have now entered into true University Challenge season. 

Anyway, pop the kettle on and grab your warmest turtleneck; here’s your first starter for ten…

Only one member of the Dundee team is wearing any sort of knitwear, Russell with a sweater vest, but it has strawberries on - distinctly a Summer Fruit - so my theory appears to be in tatters. RMCM have one jumper too, and are making only their second appearance on the Challenge of the Paxman era. Dundee are making their first, though they did win the title back in 1983. 

Aiming to replicate that feat, Philip gets the Scots off to a good start with Mint, and they take two from the first set of bonuses. Spurrel recognises the film Parasite purely from the directors name and the year of release, but they only manage one bonus on screenwriting siblings, missing out on Christopher Nolan, which, to me, is sacrilege. 

Wills has a go for RNCM on the next starter, but all he succeeds in doing is pushing them below zero, allowing Spurrel to swoop in for his second in a row. Going into the first picture round the scores were a satisfying (though not for RNCM) 55 to -5. 

Stonier increases the lead for Dundee with Oklahoma City and they take two bonuses on cities which have NBA basketball teams (cards on the table, I wrote this bit then realised I couldn’t remember if I’d actually heard Paxman say this, but all of the answers are indeed cities which have NBA basketball teams, so I’m going to leave it in, regardless of what I find out when I go back and rewatch this section. Yep, so that totally isn’t the link, its just pure coincidence, so when I was telling them off for going with Nashville instead of Memphis it was actually me who was being silly).

Both sides looked flummoxed by the next starter question, until a hail Mary guess from Wills, which turns out to be right, and are back in the black. Carew takes the next for the musicians as well - they’re on a roll! - and they are given a very tough bonus set on Polish football. Even with the clues they’re given, which make it less of a football question per se, its still a difficult set. 

The roll is ended by Spurrel, and Dundee stretch their lead again. But having got a taste for starter questions, Carew isn’t keen to let them get out of sight, and comes in with a very early buzz on a music question - still an impressive buzz even from a musician. The actual music starter is on TV theme songs, and Carew gets this one too, with Stranger Things. They close to within thirty points courtesy of Twin Peaks and Bladerunner. This is very quickly cut to five as Carew obliterates a bonus set on video games released in 1991. Paxman says ‘who would have thought that time wasted could be so useful’, and Chrisp, quite correctly, rolls her eyes at this. 

She takes the lead for RNCM with the next starter, knowing that ‘The Boy Who Lived’ was the title of the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a question I would have loved the chance to answer. RNCM look absolutely delighted to be in front, and are all grinning their heads off. But there are still bonus questions to be answered, and they don’t manage any of them. To be fair, one of the answers is Peterhead, a tiny town just north of Aberdeen, which I’d be amazed anyone outside of Scotland would even have heard of.

Thus, the lead switches back to Dundee quickly, as Spurrel is once again quickest on the buzzer. Again, this doesn’t last long, and RNCM storm back ahead with the second picture starter. They almost slip up and give The Night Watchman instead of the Night Manager for one of the bonuses, but Chrisp is stopped at the last minute from making the costly mistake. 

Stonier hits back to tie the game with another starter, but Dundee can’t get any bonuses, and the scores remain at 115 apiece. The ping pong nature of the game is ended now, as Stonier gets a second in a row, but the bonus-work is abysmal once again, and they are only ten clear. Spurrel makes this twenty, and finally they take a five pointer! And another! They are thirty points ahead with only a few minutes remaining. 

Robarts makes this twenty, but RNCM will have to be quick if they want to get anything out of this. Fifteen… Ten… Gong…

Final Score: Dundee 145 - 135 Royal Northern College of Music

A good game that, between two really lovely teams. Dundee will probably need to up their game on the bonuses if they want to go beyond the second round though. And RNCM are currently tied with UCL and Emmanuel, Cambridge as the second placed high-scoring losers. If the two losers from the next two episodes score fewer than 135 points then they’ll all go through to the play-offs, but if one or more teams score more than 135 then I’m not sure what will happen. 

Personally, I’d give the place to the team who achieved their score against the highest scoring winning team (i.e 135 plays 200 would be better than 135 plays 150), but UCL and Emmanuel were both beaten with 140 so I don’t know what would happen if it came down to that. I guess we’ll find out soon...

[reggies-rambles]

A bit of change- 23rd of July

Only a short one today. Not that this is meant to be a daily thing, but hey, got to develop those good habits of getting stuff done. Which reminds me, I must en-devour to get some photos done for comparison purposes. 

Anyway, I swapped Reggie’s bit out for the double jointed egg butt. He wasn’t sure what to think about it, he was much more mouthy than normal, but that is to be expected. I do think that took his concentration away from what we were actually trying to do, but gotta give him a little leeway. Plus weather was absolutely abysmal so it probably wasn’t the best day to play gear swap. Eh whatever, gotta be able to be sensible rain, hail or gale so might as well start now. 

He was a bit reluctant to take the bit to begin with, I suspect because it wouldn’t feel as ‘solid’ in his mouth. There is a lot more give in the egg butt compared to the full cheek, which is what we want. He did eventually settle into it so that was good. I think once he’s been ridden in it a few more times he’ll prefer it and his erratic chewing will settle down. 

I was a bit more organised today too, so hopefully a couple more rides and I can have something resembling half decent position. My timing was a little off in the ‘hold-push’ exercise from yesterday and my hands wanted to do all kinds of crazy things when I wasn’t paying attention to them.Something to add to the million mile list. It is very hard to remember soft elbows when pony wants to go like a llama but alas it must be done -.- Who woulda thought horse riding took actually physical and mental effort? :P

Reg did give me some half decent trot work again today. Not nearly as good as yesterday, but still there was marked improvement in how he was travelling. I think if I kept on him a bit longer and my timing was a bit better I could have gotten the quality of trot I had yesterday or at least gotten pretty dang close.It was good to see that he does understand the concept, so it doesn’t bother me if it isn’t perfect every ride; especially when most if it probably has to do with me lol He still had a lovely free-moving trot and the hind would come under and his back was soft and swinging, but there wasn’t quite as much freedom through his shoulder and neck. Again, if I’d stuck with it and gotten him concentrating and on the aids a bit better I suspect he would have come round again, but I was pressed for time and he gave it a pretty dang good go on each rein. Can’t complain as long as he gives it a go. He actually got sweaty, even though he wasn’t ridden for very long, so he was definitely trying hard :) Day off tomorrow and then back to uni, so will see what the weather does. Hopefully it will be alright on Tuesday and we can give it another crack.