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#jersey barrier
frogshunnedshadows · 9 months
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After my modest success with the 1/64 scale shipping pallets, I was thinking about what else I could try to make, and settled on a Jersey barrier and an arcade cabinet. Turned out pretty well.
These are the result of hours of work over a couple evenings. Desktop hobby plotter-cut cardstock & 0.4 mm sheet styrene parts. And Tamiya putty, solvent glue, superglue & acrylic paint.
The Jersey barriers were extremely fiddly and difficult to assemble, though if I make more, I think I've figured out a simpler way to do them.
The arcade cabinet was slightly easier, but seems bare without any graphics or colors on it.
I've realized it's very helpful to put a tiny magnet in the base of these things, to hold them to a stick while painting.
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on-it · 2 years
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artistmacposts · 1 year
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Forest Park Blue Line Rebuilding, July 25, 2023
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mephiles-the-jester · 18 days
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billford fankids,,,,they dont have names yet,and also explaining their backstory is convoluted when i type it out,,,so im just putting them on the screen for now because i think theyre neat
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asyourshadowfalls · 2 years
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i've been reading radical suburbs (great quick read, i recommend) and have learned that NJ was really pivotal for sustainable intentional communities. Like from Stelton (an anarchist community!) that survived decades and the motto attributed to them by the author of "Work together, Argue it out, Children are at the center of it all" really fucking vibes with me. And how Milgram finished up his education at Rutgers (which also happens to include the remains of Stelton) so that he could work to build the first integrated community long before laws made it illegal to have "white only" neighborhoods. Idk, i'm just getting a lot more of an appreciation for my home state
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budgetblocks · 13 days
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Hi! Parking curbs, sign bases, bollards, concrete pads, Jersey Barriers and concrete blocks delivered and installed in underground parking lots.
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entrxpv · 4 months
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monstrously depressed like uproot my whole life leave my job lose my spot in school just for a fucking break depressed
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batboyblog · 3 months
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Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #26
July 5-12 2024
The IRS announced it had managed to collect $1 billion in back taxes from high-wealth tax cheats. The program focused on persons with more than $1 million in yearly income who owned more than $250,000 in unpaid taxes. Thanks to money in Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act the IRS is able to undertake more enforcement against rich tax cheats after years of Republicans cutting the agency's budget, which they hope to do again if they win power again.
The Biden administration announced a $244 million dollar investment in the federal government’s registered apprenticeship program. This marks the largest investment in the program's history with grants going out to 52 programs in 32 states. The President is focused on getting well paying blue collar opportunities to people and more people are taking part in the apprenticeship program than ever before. Republican pledge to cut it, even as employers struggle to find qualified workers.
The Department of Transportation announced the largest single project in the department's history, $11 billion dollars in grants for the The Hudson River Tunnel. Part of the $66 billion the Biden Administration has invested in our rail system the tunnel, the most complex Infrastructure project in the nation would link New York and New Jersey by rail under the Hudson. Once finished it's believed it'll impact 20% of the American economy by improving and speeding connection throughout the Northeast.
The Department of Energy announced $1.7 billion to save auto worker's jobs and convert factories to electronic vehicles. The Biden administration will used the money to save or reopen factories in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia and retool them to make electric cars. The project will save 15,000 skilled union worker jobs, and created 2,900 new high-quality jobs.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development reached a settlement with The Appraisal Foundation over racial discrimination. TAF is the organization responsible for setting standards and qualifications for real estate appraisers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics last year found that TAF was 94.7% White and 0.6% Black, making it the least racially diverse of the 800 occupations surveyed. Black and Latino home owners are far more likely to have their houses under valued than whites. Under the settlement with HUD TAF will have to take serious steps to increase diversity and remove structural barriers to diversity.
The Department of Justice disrupted an effort by the Russian government to influence public opinion through AI bots. The DoJ shut down nearly 1,000 twitter accounts that were linked to a Russian Bot farm. The bots used AI technology to not only generate tweets but also AI image faces for profile pictures. The effort seemed focused on boosting support for Russia's war against Ukraine and spread negative stories/impressions about Ukraine.
The Department of Transportation announces $1.5 billion to help local authorities buy made in America buses. 80% of the funding will go toward zero or low-emission technology, a part of the President's goal of reaching zero emissions by 2050. This is part of the $5 billion the DOT has spent over the last 3 years replacing aging buses with new cleaner technology.
President Biden with Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and Finnish President Alexander Stubb signed a new agreement on the arctic. The new trilateral agreement between the 3 NATO partners, known as the ICE Pact, will boost production of ice breaking ships, the 3 plan to build as many as 90 between them in the coming years. The alliance hopes to be a counter weight to China's current dominance in the ice breaker market and help western allies respond to Russia's aggressive push into the arctic waters.
The Department of Transportation announced $1.1 billion for greater rail safety. The program seeks to, where ever possible, eliminate rail crossings, thus removing the dangers and inconvenience to communities divided by rail lines. It will also help update and improve safety measures at rail crossings.
The Department of the Interior announced $120 million to help tribal communities prepare for climate disasters. This funding is part of half a billion dollars the Biden administration has spent to help tribes build climate resilience, which itself is part of a $50 billion dollar effort to build climate resilience across the nation. This funding will help support drought measures, wildland fire mitigation, community-driven relocation, managed retreat, protect-in-place efforts, and ocean and coastal management.
The USDA announced $100 million in additional funds to help feed low income kids over the summer. Known as "SUN Bucks" or "Summer EBT" the new Biden program grants the families of kids who qualify for free meals at school $120 dollars pre-child for groceries. This comes on top of the traditional SUN Meals program which offers school meals to qualifying children over the summer, as well as the new under President Biden SUN Meals To-Go program which is now offering delivery of meals to low-income children in rural areas. This grant is meant to help local governments build up the Infrastructure to support and distribute SUN Bucks. If fully implemented SUN Bucks could help 30 million kids, but many Republican governors have refused the funding.
USAID announced its giving $100 million to the UN World Food Program to deliver urgently needed food assistance in Gaza. This will bring the total humanitarian aid given by the US to the Palestinian people since the war started in October 2023 to $774 million, the single largest donor nation. President Biden at his press conference last night said that Israel and Hamas have agreed in principle to a ceasefire deal that will end the war and release the hostages. US negotiators are working to close the final gaps between the two sides and end the war.
The Senate confirmed Nancy Maldonado to serve as a Judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Maldonado is the 202nd federal Judge appointed by President Biden to be confirmed. She will the first Latino judge to ever serve on the 7th Circuit which covers Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Bonus: At the NATO summit in Washington DC President Biden joined 32 allies in the Ukraine compact. Allies from Japan to Iceland confirmed their support for Ukraine and deepening their commitments to building Ukraine's forces and keeping a free and Democratic Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. World leaders such as British Prime Minster Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, praised President Biden's experience and leadership during the NATO summit
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naranpcc · 1 year
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NARAN Group of Companies, (Eng, Sabah Al-Shammery & Partners Co.) was established in Iraq in the year 1983. Since then, the group has grown into various Engineering and Trading companies which includes construction companies operating in Iraq. In 2003, with the financial support of Engineer Sabah, we established NARAN Precast Concrete Co. within the NARAN Group.
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Our highly skilled and experienced team strives for the highest of standards in both quality and service and is ready to tackle any project, big or small. All projects are assigned a Technical Team in addition to all our staff including management to ensure that you receive personal, prompt, and accurate responses to your project requirements.
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silkentine · 4 months
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All I could think while drawing Nami was, “Wouldn’t you like to know, weatherboy?” And, of course, with Robin I was thinking, “save a horse… 🥵”
Design Notes and other opining below the cut:
For Nami, I wanted to go for a mix of cocky Jersey mafia newbie and surfer boy. I like to think that some of the horrendous outfit choices that Sanji makes (especially in the movies) were actually picked out by Nami. She’s the shopper!!! But yeah, the vibrant swim trunks and graphic tees just scream Nami. I also wanted to put him in a wetsuit/rash guard because I think that’s a sexy look so sue me if you hate it. You cannot argue with me that Nami doesn’t wear swimsuits as clothes.
He’s toned but not as muscular as Robin or Luffy (for example) because he isn’t a front-line fighter, I want him to maintain the same kind of role that Nami has in the animanga. He’s the best navigator in the world!! I couldn’t decide if I wanted to change the violent tendencies that Nami has, but ultimately I think he’d still give the more deserving members of the crew a healthy wallop (although I might portray it more cartoonishly). Boy Piece!Nami still grew up under Arlong’s authority so he spent a lot of his childhood walking on eggshells to protect his village and his brother, Nojiko, so I think he never really got to learn “you’re not supposed to hit people just because they frustrate you” lesson. I gave him a shark-tooth necklace because surely Arlong had a few loose teeth to spare once Luffy took her down. Victory spoils LOL
If he can get the girls to stop wrestling and sit down quietly for a while, he likes to host card games (with betting, of course) or watch the clouds while sipping whatever fruity cocktail Sanji whips up. I believe that Canon!Nami is a total lesbian, and I can’t possibly envision a Nami who doesn’t like women so Boy Piece!Nami is bi. I am, of course, a Namivivi truther and Vivi is also a man in this AU. I don’t hate Sanami within this dynamic though… lots to think about.
Okay!!! All-shipper mindset aside, let’s talk Robin. I gave him long hair because 1) it’s hot and 2) I think it makes him look like Dragon. Yeahhh, I subscribe to the Luffy and Robin are half-siblings theory because I think it’s funny and makes some sense. Crocodile is 100% Luffy’s Mom in this AU and I think Robin knows it LOL
For his outfits, I wanted to lean a bit more Indiana Jones where I could; he’s still primarily cowboy inspired though. For the main look, I went with the Skypeia color palette hehe, I think Robin looks good in yellow. I did some flower-petal shaped color blocking on his chaps because I think it’s cute and subtle. I really love that the powers of the Hana-Hana-no-mi are like… unexpected for a “flower flower” fruit and I think Robin would be more aware that juxtaposition as a guy. You might also be wondering about the gloves and I initially just had it for his cowboy look but I decided to put them on all the outfits up until the events of Enies Lobby. Canon!Robin has a really difficult childhood and I think it’s exacerbated by the fact that she’s a girl on her own. If Robin was a boy, he’d probably have an easier time living on his own but would be a lot less emotionally open. All of these elements combine to make him want that physical barrier between his real hands and the world. Once he can trust that the Strawhats will always be there for him, he’s more willing to be more physically open.
I also think it’d be cute if he was much more of a coffee drinker :3c I see Canon!Robin as a connoisseur who likes a well-brewed espresso but Boy Piece!Robin needs a cup of joe (no matter its quality) every chance he can get. So I drew him with his special #1 ARCHAEOLOGIST mug.
It would make me so happy if you left your thoughts in the tags or replies!! Even if you hate everything about them, I just really like engagement hahaha. I’m thinking girl Usopp is next despite the poll results because she’s on my mind rn (don’t hold me to this, LOL I’m fickle). I’m making these for fun so I just wanna make designs in the order that interests me the most. Check out the tag “girl piece” on my blog to see all the genderbends I have so far. And happy pride!!!
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kachowden · 21 days
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𝙸 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙷𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚢
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| Hockey TeamVarious x Reader
Солнышко (Little Sun)
Yandere x reader (Part 1?)
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An idea I have had for a while now.
So imagine yourself on a team. Except you’re not a player, no.
Actually..you’re technically not on the team because you’re one of a few people who rotates your position. You’re the mascot.
The beloved silly mascot of your team. The logo, the literal image of your hockey team. And you’re damn good too!
You get the crowds roaring, positively pumped-up for the game! And whether your team wins or loses, the highlights are always the silly little mascot who throws popcorn into the crowd or tosses shirts at unsuspecting families.
From time to time during the game you’d make your way onto the ice. Play fight with the team, steal a puck, steal a stick. Toss them to a crowd member. It was always in good fun, and the audience loved it!
And you weren’t just beloved by the fans, oh no no no, you were beloved by the team too.
So much so that at some point, the demand for your specific “mascotting” was so great, the other workers had to find a new career path. Damn shame too, you happened to like them quite a bit. But extra pay right? And it’s hard to deny how flattering it is being the fan favorite.
Of course it didn’t even cross your mind to question these circumstances, nor did you think to question the sudden increasing interactions you had with the team. Publicity, you assumed.
From number 47 dragging you onto the ice for some impromptu lessons. Still in costume might I add. Mid Play.
To number 13 laughing joyfully as he shoved you into the locker room after an intense game, and offered to wash your back for spending so long in such a sweaty suit. You denied him of course, the locker rooms weren’t meant for you! Duh.
You didn’t even question when number 1, the captain and goalie of the team, braced you against a barrier during half time, when your mask had precariously been knocked off by a rowdy fan. Nor did you see the viscous scowls directed at said fan. It was probably just keep your identity safe after all.
The score was 7 to 0 that game, in favour of your team. You weren’t sure what had pumped them up so much but whatever works right?
Course, you did get a puck to the cheek at one point and had to sub out for a bit. The players were non too happy when they discovered a different worker under your special suit. They were in a bad mood for the remainder of the game.
Number 19, who had a pension for bad behavior on the ice, sought you out specifically after the game too.
———-47—————19————1—————13———-
Your shoulders sagged tiredly against the cool wall of the changing room, blessing the AC that pumped through the units. Your jersey stuck sweatily to your skin, and you gasped with a dry mouth before a gloved hand appeared in your vision, a water bottle covered in condensation presented before you like a holy grail.
“You look like shit.” A scratchy voice scolds lightly by your ear, your eyes fluttering to glance at the rugged features of one of the team players settled besides your face, wedged deep into your personal space. The scent of sweat and body spray (axe probably) wafts into your nostrils, causing your nose to scrunch instinctively before you give a lopsided smile.
“Hey Donovan, s’nice to see you. How’s the play been?” You gratefully take the cold bottle from his grasp, finger tips grazing the rough and warm texture of his gloves before meeting the cool plastic of the team merchandise bottle. Your little mascot stared back at you in a 2D style.
“Shitty. You’re supposed to be out there, not some random loser who can’t even get the crowd excited right. Now the teams pissed and it’s your fault.” His words end in a sneer, despite the attentive way his eyes are raking across your figure for injury beyond the welt on your cheek bone. His body near touches yours and causes another wave of sweat to seep into your skin.
With a thoughtful hum and a sip of refreshing water you push yourself from the locker, stepping into the more open air and cooling yourself off, while dark brown eyes watch you beneath a furrowed, displeased brow.
“Your guys’s concern flatters me. It’s nice having such thoughtful co-workers.” Your lips smile thoughtfully, glancing at him from your shoulder.
He looks incredulous, which somehow lands on being the least aggressive expression you’ve ever seen on him.
“Co-workers?” He echoes, like the word is the most foul tasting thing that’s ever touched his tongue. “We’re teammates. Not co-workers.”
You wave your hand dismissively, back turned and unaware of the tall figure that approaches your bubble again from behind. “Well, you and the guys definitely are. Maybe even the ice scrapers, though I’d argue they’re in the same realm as me to be honest. More staff than anything yknow?” Your tone is light, you know what your position is. And of course you’re grateful to be the main mascot, but you’re aware of your replacements that stand idle at the food stands, handing out popcorn between half times.
“I mean I’m just the person in the suit, anyone could play that part. I just hope I could train the next guy that signs up for the position, gotta make sure they do my legacy justice right-“
Big hands, no longer covered by scratchy material grip into your hips, swallowing the skin in raw heat and tugging you backwards. Your feet stumble and trip for less then a second before you’ve collided into a broad chest. The feeling of a hot breath condenses on the back of your neck, covering up your barely escaped laugh and choke.
Hair tickles the side of your forehead, as Donovan leans over your shoulder. His eyes set forward to the opposing wall lockers just like your own, his thumbs rubbing thoughtless shapes into your skin. He exhales, like he’s just spent the last four hours dealing with an ill tempered toddler that he’s finally reached his wits end with.
“You’re stupid.”
Your lips part in offense, ready to defend your intelligence before you’re prematurely silenced by a new hand that joins the mass of limbs, and rests gently across your dry lips.
“Let him finish, Солнышко.”(Solnishko)*
A thick accent reverberates into your ears, your eyes darting up to meet pale blue ones that gaze back at you so sternly. White teeth peer past his lips in what was probably a smile, but looked like a show of dominance with the way his canines sunk into the bottom of his lip.
“Don’t you have a team to manage, Cap?” Donovan snarls, teeth bared with displeasure at his private time with you being interrupted. With his arms circling more around your figure in a loose version of a back hug. You stay trapped between the two behemoths that cease every noise and shift of your joints with careful hands.
Carlson smiles, a thoughtful one that softens at you, his eyes never leaving yours now that he has your full attention, something that raises Donovan’s ire significantly. “I heard our little mascot wasn’t doing to well. I wanted to check up on them. I may have heard your little conversation as well.”
The word “little” always manages to filter into Carlsons sentences. And while one could blame it on English only being his second language, his reputation for being the teams most well spoken member speaks volumes otherwise. No, the real reason would have to be the sheer height he holds above all others. The authority he possesses that seeps into the rink and every room he walks into.
It’s not a simple slip of the tongue. It’s a reminder. That he is above every one he meets. He is the captain, and what he says is absolute.
Even the way he gazes down at you screams this thought, bullying its way into your skull as your brain refuses to acknowledge the sheer possessive, demeaning energy that seeps from his figure into yours, despite the alarm bells it rings through your system.
“It breaks my heart, Солнышко. You should know better.” His thumb curves along your jaw, thoughtful again, and practiced, engulfing your entire chin in what could be a crushing grip. But it isn’t, and it never will be. Not to you anyway. “Have we not shown you how much we adore your support in the rink? Have we been too dismissive of you?” He continues, though the mocking edge is nearly unnoticeable.
Donovan’s breath huffs into the shell of your ear, his figure hunched over you like a protective cloak, eyes still staring daggers at the taller man. “You think the team can we wait for us to…help remind our dear mascot how much we care about them?”
There’s a thoughtful hum, eye contact still unbroken through each word. “I’m sure they’ll be mad they didn’t get to join…but their forms were lacking today. They could use the extra practice.”
Carlson leaned forward, sky like eyes darkening like the sea as his nose hovers mere breathes from your own. “And I’ve heard that teaching in…more intimate settings, can lead to greater success in many fields..”
.
.
.
.
.
“Again.”
“I will not think lowly of my position on the team, I will not think of myself as replaceable, because I am the best-“
“Fucking.”
“….the best fucking mascot in the world. I am irreplaceable. I am the best.”
“Very good. Again.”
“It’s been 30 minutes!”
“Well last time we did 15 and that still wasn’t enough, so now we must double our efforts, Солнышко. Again.”
“Afterwards I’ll buy you one of those pretzels you like. If you want, I guess.”
“…….yeah okay.”
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paigesfuturewifey · 2 months
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authors note! this is my first fic on here and i’m scared cause some of yall writers are SO GOOD ITS INTIMIDATING don’t judge too harshly ill get better i promise also this is short SORRY
“fuck!” you groaned loudly, dribbling the ball once more before bouncing it over to the ref.
this was your second foul of the night, and you were starting to think these refs were good for nothing.
the sound of paige bueckers clapping her hands obnoxiously loud only further heightened your frustration, taking the hem of your jersey and wiping your mouth.
“can’t keep up?” paige brushed her front up against your back as one of her teammates went to take the out-of-bounds ball.
you laughed dryly and turned to her, gesturing up. “look at the scoreboard, bueckers. you’re down by six.” you held your arms up, trying to create a barrier between paige and aaliyah but ended up grunting when paige got the ball, taking a step back and letting the ball fly.
“three.” she corrected the score with a smirk as she ran backwards to get back on defense. you huffed, getting the ball from your teammate and dribbling it down the court.
you looked the court over once, wetting your lips as you visualized the play you wanted to run in your head, the corner of your lips lifting.
paige makes sure to stay in front of you, but you took a jab step, as if she were going to drive forward, but mimicking paige earlier, you took a step back and let the ball fly.
paige jumped up, reaching up to try and block it but it was already gone and swishing through the net, making the crowd erupt in cheers. “can’t keep up?” you re-quoted her, holding up a three in the air as you jogged back to the other side of the court.
this is how the rest of the game remained, the two of you exchanging baskets and throwing insults at each other that only fueled the other more and more. and the fans absolutely ate it up.
somehow, somewhere along the lines, uconn ended up being up by a point with less than a minute left in the fourth, and that left a bitter taste in your mouth.
the timeout was called by Geno, and you made your way over to your teammates.
“bueckers, they’ve been letting l/n handle the ball all game. i need you to start playing hard man-to-man defense on her. we cannot afford to lose this lead, got it?”
“yeah, i gotchu.” paige nodded, squeezing the gatorade bottle into her mouth.
the two teams made their way back onto the court, and like you expected, paige was on your ass like she had been all game.
she was guarding you closely to the point where you could feel her abs press into your arm through her jersey. ignoring the heat that shot through you, this made you smile in amusement, looking over at how close she was in proximity to you.
you pressed your shoulder against her, trying to create space between you two, “nervous?” paige had the audacity to ask, earning a scoff from you.
“i don’t see anything to be nervous over.” you glanced her up and down, waiting for the ref to give your teammate the ball to throw in. “maybe,” you turned your entire body to her, “if you were nika muhl..” you could see how your words caused her to tense slightly, “or azzi fudd,” you whispered, leaning slightly forward to speak in her ear, “or kk arnold.”
paige’s jaw clenched, shaking her head. she couldn’t help the humorless laugh that escaped her lips, giving you credit where it was due. you were playing mind games, and you had her right where you wanted her. “fuck outta here and fuck you.” she muttered lowly.
you smiled sadistically, “do it yourself, bueckers.” you responded in the same low tone, and you watched as paige’s eyes darkened visually.
you smirked.
in the next millisecond, you were passed the ball, and it took paige two seconds slower than it normally would have for her to react. those two seconds was all you needed to dribble the ball down the court, passing it to your teammate who was open at the corner of the court. she let it fly, scoring the three just in time for the buzzer to loudly ring throughout the entire arena.
cheers roared throughout the crowd and you went to celebrate the win with your teammates, exchanging a hug with a few of the members of uconn.
you walked down the line as you high-fived the uconn team, though you noticed paige lingering around a little long. you narrowed your eyes, arching a brow when she spotted you.
when you guys got to each other, she held your hand in place, pulling you slightly away from everyone. “here’s what’s gonna happen next, you listening?” she looked into your eyes, waiting for a response.
all you could do was nod meekly. she nodded at your nod, licking her lips before she leaned into your ear like you’d done earlier. “the next time i see you, it’s gonna be in my hotel room, and you better hope your ready for me, l/n.”
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wosofutbolfan · 18 days
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If You Need Me, Call Me
Alexia Putellas x Explorer!R Pt.2 in the 'I Would Climb Every Mountain With You' Universe.
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Hi Guys, Thank you for all the love on the first part in this series. This is part 2 that I didn't expect to write. I have an inability to not write angst. TW: Claustrophobia. Injury. Events are not based on any real life events. Part two of I Would Climb Every Mountain With You. I would recommend you read that first, for some context. But you can do what you want really ;-)
You and Alexia had been together, happily, for a year. And it was happily. Though. ‘Together’ is probably being quite liberal with the word. And. You suppose. ‘Happily’ is also being quite liberal with the word. You loved Alexia. 
And Alexia loved you. 
That was clear to both of you. You admitted it early, before she’d even left UK soil after she’d come back with you from your first meeting. She’d rolled her eyes at you and the nerves on your face as you lay in bed together in your pokey Cumbrian flat, and kissed the words from your lips; ‘well duh, of course you do. And I love you.’ which made you laugh and fall into her lips again. But it wasn’t even 12 hours later that you’d had to separate with her season starting again and her need to be in Spain. Her teammates had teased her relentlessly on her return. How she’d U-Hauled with the Jefa de montaña and ran away to the rainey island she so famously disliked just to spend another day together. She'd rolled her eyes and slapped the back of a few heads but it was true. That is what she had done. She’d been overjoyed when she spotted you in the crowd on the first home game of the season. You’d made the surprise trip to Barcelona at the last minute, employing Ingrid to get a ticket in the friends and family section for you. The smile on the Captain's face as she spotted you could be seen from space. You had winked at her and proudly gestured to your brand new Barcelona jersey, Alexias number proudly splayed across your back. As the game ended, with a convincing win for the home team, she’d made a beeline for you in the stands. Jumping over the barrier and embracing you like you hadn’t seen each other for months (oh how used to that feeling you would become), rather than a couple of weeks. “I thought that you preferred rugby?” she had teased you. “Ah, I do, but no one told me how hot the captain in blue and red was” you’d replied, with a wink. Enjoying the blush you’d created on her face, before it was your turn to blush as Alexias eyes darted to your right and greeted, “Mami! Hola!” and embraced a small women in a shirt matching yours who was definitely standing within hearing distance. Just over her shoulder a carbon-copy of Alexia was lurking, a childlike grin on her face and twinkle in her eyes. “Ah, and this is mi hermana Alba!” she had introduced you. ‘Well, nothing like diving in headfirst’ you thought to yourself, as you were introduced to your apparently-new girlfriend's family, as that's what you had just been introduced as, with a squeeze of your hand and a kiss to the side of your head. The Putellas family embraced you with all the enthusiasm in the world. Alba kept you entertained and asked you a million and one questions as you waited for Alexia to be finished with her media and captain duties. Before you knew it you were at an impromptu meet-the-new-english-girlfriend party at the Putellas residence, sharing food with seemingly everyone who had ever been related to Alexia as well as their next door neighbours. Sharing wine, food, and lots of baby Alexia pictures. So yes. You had both moved fast. Maybe it was the speed which you were going that would soon become your downfall. You were moving a million miles an hour and the warning signs were a blur that you couldn’t quite make out. Of those first 6 months, you were on an exhibition for 4. You had travelled to Patagonia to climb some of the last unclaimed peaks on the planet with the National Geographic Society. They were unreachable by road or even yak. You had to sail to the bottom of South America and then move your way up on foot.  It was arduous, it was treacherous, but you found satisfaction and joy in the difficulty.
You become the first person and only woman to ever summit Orjos del Salado and, as you snapped a picture at the top, all you thought was how excited you were to share your achievement with Alexia. As you’d called her a week later from a dive-bar in a shanty town in central Argentina you could hear the pride and relief in her voice, even through the terrible connection. It was the first time you had been able to contact her in a month.
But you’d gone straight from there to leading some American businessmen through the Amazon on a 3 week river and hiking exploration. It paid handsomely, you’d explained to the disappointed blonde, you couldn’t turn it down.
You returned to Barcelona in time to spend a week together before Alexia left for a two week international camp.  Which was then followed by a week long trip for her to Norway, as part of their group stage champions league campaign.
You’d joined her there, soaking as much time together as possible between her matches and training sessions. Maybe it was then that the cracks had begun to show. As you had woken early to pick her up from her hotel to go for an early morning walk and grab some coffee before her media duties. You had been walking hand in hand in the early morning sunshine. You had been half-way through a story from the day before, where you and Ingrid's mum had gone together to a lake outside of Oslo, when you felt her drop your hand suddenly and took a half step away from you. “Huh?” you looked at her and a look you hadn’t seen before took over her features, “What’s going on Ale?”. “Trust me” was all she’d replied, and then it had become apparent her problem as a swarm of fans suddenly engulfed her, asking for selfies and autographs, which she gave out, graciously. She skillfully extracted herself from the situation before you both continued on your way, but now, you noticed, you were at least a foot further apart and a weird atmosphere had taken over you both. It had been when you were both safely in the cafe that you’d addressed it, “are you ashamed of me?” you asked, unable to mask the hurt in your voice. Hands safely wrapped around your Tea. “No!” she’d replied, aghast, as she pulled your hands from your mug into her own. “mírame cariño” you did, and saw the heartbreaking look in her eyes. “I would never be ashamed of you. Do not think that for one moment.” she said it with such conviction that you couldn’t help but nod. “I am sorry, but it is easier. For you. The media. They will pry into your life. It’s happened before with… partners and… I don’t want that for you. For your family. I love you.” “I won’t hide Ale.” you replied. Firmly. You were a free spirit. It was not in your nature to hide yourself, any part of yourself, for anything or anyone. The thought of it made you claustrophobic. “I know you won’t.” she huffed out a laugh, “I do not want us to hide. I promise. But, maybe, if we do not make their job easy for them? Can we do that?”. The look of desperation on her face broke your heart. “Bueno Ale. Para ti. Yo también te amo.” You’d gone your separate ways from there, you had explorations to complete, she was busy with the team. She’d managed to visit England for a few days when her UCWL matches lined up, and you started to return to Barcelona, rather than Cumbria, as a home base between trips. And that's how it had gone for some time. Your birthday had passed, you’d spent it together in Barcelona, Ale having stolen your trusty-old boots and had them professionally repaired and re-waxed. As she presented them to you, on her balcony with a cute bow on top, your heart expanded in joy. She got you. She knew you didn’t want new-top of the range boots that she definitely could afford. This actually was harder, she’d had to research the dying-art of cobblers in the area. She had to sneak them out of your duffell bag, she must have distracted you every time you went for them as your go-to walking shoes in the week. With all her money and fame. She understood that wasn’t you. You loved what you had. And she got that. As you had turned the boots in your hands, taking in all of the familiarity in all their glory and feeling the waxy leather beneath your fingers she couldn’t read your face. “I hope you don’t mind” she’d taken them gently from your hands and she pulled back the tongue, which showed a piece of jersey sewn into the backing-fabric. Blue and red, with a white AP11 embroidered into it. “It's from my first champions league shirt. I cut a swatch off, and had them sew it in…” she whispered. The moment had been heavy. “I know we don’t get to spend time together like most couples, but this way, I’ll always be with you.” Your throat had burned with the effort to keep your tears at bay, you were unsuccessful when you felt her warm hand cup your face and wipe a tear away,
“I’m sorry, It’s probably way too intrusive and I shouldn’t have taken your stuff, I can ta…” You’d silenced her with a kiss. Intense and hungry. “This is the most thoughtful gift I have ever had. I love you Ale. I love you so much.”  “Good.”... you both take a moment to look into each other's eyes, then you feel a movement as she reaches into her pocket and presents proudly what she’s pulled out, eyes shining with mirth “Then maybe you will consider these laces too, no?” and you burst out laughing whilst you take in the Blaugrana coloured hiking laces. You’ve not got it in you to not agree. But love sometimes isn’t enough. Time passed. You continued your work and she continued hers. Valentines days spent on opposite sides of the globe. You weren’t there when she won the Champions League, instead spending it watching it in a bar in Jordan. She wasn’t there as you returned from reaching an undiscovered island as part of a research crew in the South Pacific, instead being in Munich to film a new Nike ad. When you were together you couldn’t walk the streets of Barcelona hand in hand. You’d kept your promise and she kept hers. You weren’t hidden, but you weren’t showcasing your relationship. When she came to England you had more freedom, the people of Cumbia didn’t know who the Spanish superstar was, they just knew her as your girlfriend. Your fit girlfriend according to the teenage boy who lived next door to your mum. You made it work though, between you. You would send her snaps every time you saw children playing football. Pictures from south pacific islands to the mountain villages of the Himalayas, and every time you would receive the same response; “See, el deporte del mundo, I told you <3” It was a perfect storm. What happened. You’d spent a month in Barcelona, more time that you had been able to spend together in the year you’d been a couple. You’d fallen into a domesticity that you hadn’t experienced before. 
Alexia would train, you would have dinner ready for her. She would wake you up with a cup of Tea from her new kettle she's bought especially for you. You would plan routes and give advice to your online contacts about expeditions they had planned. You would sleep wrapped in each other's arms, Alexia would even let you be the big spoon, very occasionally. 
It felt perfect.  Until one, simple comment.
“Ay, look at you, wifey!” Mapi had exclaimed from her place at the table as you brought in the dinner you had prepared for the group,  you had invited her and Ingrid for a couples night, “who would have thought, “La jefa de la montaña. Tamed!” “Shut up Maria.” Ingrid nudged her girlfriend, with a kind smile she turned to you, “This looks delicious! Thank you” As the group tucked in though, you were distracted. Suddenly, the weight of Alexia's hand on your thigh felt heavy. The walls, too constricting. For you, the heat of Barcelona started to become oppressive. Too predictable. You missed England, you missed not knowing what the weather would be hour by hour. The contact blue skies felt like a false--happiness was being forced on you. The ground at your feet, sun dried, felt harsh compared to the muddy grass you had grown up stomping on. Soft, flexible. The routine started to bore you. You missed the weight of your backpack and the freedom of slinging up your hammock. Alexia hadn’t missed the way you had clammed up, the tenseness in your posture, the way your laugh did not reach your eyes for the rest of that evening. For the weeks following she felt like keeping you was like trying to catch smoke. Like trying to hold sand in her bare hands. She could feel you escape through her fingers for the next few weeks.
Which is why she wasn’t surprised when she returned from an away trip to Mallorca to see you on the couch. Hands nervously twisting and unable to meet her eye.
“You’re going again, aren't you?” she asked, as she dropped her bag at the door and settled next to you, taking your hands in hers. You nodded.
“I’m sorry Ale. It's just. It's not me.” you’d explained then, how you had been feeling. And she listened. Even though she knew. Of course she already knew.
“It’s okay, carino.” you’d assured you. You’d look up then, “it is?”
“Si, Mi Vida. I would never ask you to change. And only you would be bored of the life of a professional footballer, and you must be the only English person to ever complain about the weather in Barcelona” she’d lightened the mood with her joke, and rolled her eyes good naturedly.
“Where are you going this time?” she’d continued, and she should have known from your pause that this wasn’t the usual goodbye.
“Everest.”
“Everest.”  She’d reperated. Joy in her voice, she knew it was your life’s ambition to climb the world's highest summit. “...and Denali, and Elbrus...” you had continued to name the 7 highest summits on each continent that you would spend the next 18 months climbing, without oxygen, as part of an international exploration. Silence filled the apartment. “I….” “No.” “No?” you asked, shock in your voice. “No, what?” “No, you can’t do that. It's too dangerous.” “But Ale…” “No. No ‘but Ale’. I get it. I have been your partner now for long enough. I understand. But this is too much. No oxygen, so many climbs… there is too much danger. No.” her tone firm. Final. Her Captain's voice. And that had made the walls feel like they were closing in for you. And you responded like a wild animal, backed into a corner, defensive. “I wasn’t asking.” She let out a frustrated groan, hands covering her face. “Carino, please no. Listen to me. Being with you…” a huff again… “it is hard.” “Oh well, I am sorry Alexia, if being with me is such a chore…” you started. “No, stop, you are not letting me speak…” but you had started at that point. “You are not the one who is hidden away, you aren’t one who has had to move countries, to miss her family, your life hasn’t changed! You’ve given up nothing for this relationship.” you hiss out at her, hardly recognising your own voice. You're speaking just to hurt her. To make this easier for both of you. And that final sentence, seems to be what breaks the usually cool and calm exterior of your girlfriend and she stands and points her finger at you. “Nothing! ¡nada! ¿Cómo te atreves?” she spits out at you, the anger in her tone surprises you, you have never heard her speak like this, “I have sat here and waited. For months I have waited. For anything from you. Being with you is not like a long-distance relationship. You go, for months at a time, you go. And you expect me to sit here and wait. And I do. You do not text, you do not call. I understand that you cannot but do not say I have made no sacrifice for this relationship. When you got lost in the Gobi desert for weeks, what do you think I was doing? Sitting here! Jumping out of my skin every time the phone rang in case it was your Mami telling me you had been found dead. I did not play in The Copa De La Reinga final because I was so sick with worry. He hecho sacrificio. mi equipo, mi familia ha hecho sacrificio and I will not let you disrespect me or them and let you say otherwise.” 
Alexia doesn’t lose any of her anger in her tirade. And the silence that settles over the apartment is heavy. She seems to have surprised herself, as her eyes go wide and she opens her mouth again… but you interrupt her. “No Ale. Do not apologise.” you hold your hand up. “I didn’t think. I'm sorry. You are right. I am not good for you.” This is why you didn’t do relationships. You were a bad partner. You needed to be free, outside, exploring. You lived for adventure. It wasn’t fair.
“No! No Carino, that is not what I said!” tears are in her eyes now, and you knew this would be hard, but you didn’t know it would be this hard. “I love you...” “I love you too,” she quickly replies. Neither of you had even been shy with your affirmations to each other. “I love you so much Ale. But I have to go and do this. I have too. It is who I am. It is my dream. It.. It is my world cup.” She huffs out a laugh as she gently nudges herself into your arms, your attempt at speaking in a way she would understand humouring her. “I know.” she replies, sadly, “but I cannot go through that for 18 months mi amor. I cannot.” “And I won’t ask you to, love.” You move a strand of hair from her face as you kiss her lips, gently, there's a finality in it, you open your mouth again but she cuts in. “I can’t say anything that will stop you, can i?” she asks, as you shake your head, sadly. “When do you leave?” You cringe as you confirm her worst thoughts, “tomorrow.” She takes a deep breath and presses her face into your neck. “Can we do one thing before you go?” she asks you. 
Anything. You would give this woman in your arms anything she asked for at that moment. Apart from stay. And that's how you found yourself swinging on your old lightweight hammock. 
Strung up securely in the Putellas back yard. As you lay on your (ex?) girlfriend's chest, as you both looked up at the stars. You chatted into the night, you laughed and you cried. You fumbled under the blankets like horny teenagers. She asked you to promise to contact when you could. And you asked her to not worry, to concentrate on the Olympics and move on from you. You kept it to yourself that there was no way you were moving on from her.  You didn't know she was keeping the same thing to herself as she promised you she would try.
It was the weirdest break up anyone had ever had.
And, 17 months later, as you lay, trapped, entombed in your own coffin of ice,  you were sure that you could still feel the sway of that hammock, feel the heat of that Barcelona evening and hear the cicadas chirping. As the ice pressed all around you, all you could dream of was being back in that back yard in Barcelona, in the arms of Alexia.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Denali. Done. Vinson. Done.
Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Puncak Jaya . Done, Done, Done and Done. You’d faced the heat of Africa, the remoteness of Antarctica, the desolation of Russia. And here you were, finally, on your final summit. Everest. It was somewhat of a dichotomy between the mountaineering community. Everest had become a commercial hub. Have-a-go mountaineers paying big bucks to get a free ride to the highest mountain in the world. But to you, it had always been sacred. You had imagined it, as you climbed hills in the English lakes as a teenager, of one day scaling the iconic mountain. So, why? As you stood on the highest point of earth. After 3 months of acclimatisation. Were you thinking of your ex-girlfriend? Who were you kidding? You knew why. 
Alexia hadn’t been far from your thoughts on any of your summits. Her face popping into your mind at each peak. As you pocketed some rock as had become your tradition you would imagine her face as your hand touched the earth. The same earth she was on, thousands of miles away, probably in lush, manicured grass, kicking a ball around and entertaining thousands. Your group had become your family, and you had grown as close as one. Arguing when tensions got high but snuggling together to share warmth when in survival mode. Joking in bars across the globe and playing so many games of gin rummy that you sure a record had been broken. They teased you relentlessly for the old boots with silly laces you wore on the lower reaches of each summit, before you reached heights that you all had to wear mountaineering boots. Alexia, unknowingly, with you every step of the way. They had even made a game in each country you entered, to help you pick the rudest or funniest postcard to send to Barcelona, snippets of your time you sent to Alexia, keeping the promise you made over a year ago. You could have rang, you know you could. But you didn’t know if you heard her voice you wouldn’t high-tail it to Barcelona. So you sent postcards. It felt old-fashioned. It felt romantic. And you think that really, you liked that she couldn’t reply. It felt anonymous. You took off your snow goggles as you stood at the peak. You had 3 minutes on the highest point on earth without your goggles before you would become snow blind. The sun being about 60% stronger at this elevation. You could see the curvature of the earth.  It reminded you of the curvature of Alexia's shoulders as you held her from behind.
You took in a deep breath of thin air.
Your lung capacity feels like it has doubled since you left Europe.
You have done it. Without oxygen. 7 summits. Your life goal. Complete.
And now. You wanted to go home. 
“Congratulations English Sherpa! You have done it!” Arjan, clamps a heavily gloved hand on your shoulder, his wide smile visible even beneath his snood. Ice hanging from his moustache. He had to shout for you to hear him over the wind. He was a sherpa, he had travelled all around the world with you being one of the experts in the group, he’d affectionately nicknamed you the English Sherpa after he had seen your climbing prowess on your first summit. “We have done nothing yet, my friend. You know you’ve only climbed Everest once you get back down safely” you reply, glee in your voice, fixing your goggles back to your face. “Spoken like a true Sherpa.” he replied, and you both embraced at the top of the world. You didn’t hang around for long. Your entire expedition made it to the top of your final summit and you quickly pictured the moment before making your way down. The biggest risk on Everest is getting stuck in a crowd. It is not as technically difficult as other summits you have done. But without oxygen, a minute can feel like an hour on the highest point on earth. You heard once, it is easier to be saved from the surface of the moon than it is to be saved from the surface of Everest. Luck, however, seemed to be on your side. You had made good progress up, and were making even better progress down. With each step you became more and more gleeful, past 8,000 metres you started to finally feel safer. 7,000 metres, you let the excitement of your achievement settle into your bones. 6,000 metres you let your mind wander to finally going home but why was home seeming more like a sundrenched balcony in Barcelona rather than a green field of England? 5,000 metres, you promised yourself that you would use the satellite phone in your pocket to ring Alexia once you got back to base camp. Tell her you’d done it. Maybe even beg her forgiveness. You were alone on the mountain, ahead of most of your group and low enough now to be unattached to any guidelines, it was a usual affair.  Until it wasn’t.
You felt the ground rumble beneath you. It was barely noticeable. It felt more like the feeling you get when you’re lying in bed and a large truck drives past your house.
But it was enough to instil fear in you as you looked up and saw a wall of moving snow hurtling towards you. It was a slab avalanche, probably caused by the movement of the climbers above, and paired with the lateness of the day, the snow that had fallen and compacted overnight had melted enough to loosen into a wall of ice that was directed your way.
You had about 30 seconds.
You knew to go sideways, do not outrun an avalanche. It's like trying to outrun a cheetah. But this wall of ice looked wide, you ran to your side, moving slowly in the deep snow. As you ran you pulled your goggles back onto your face.
You could feel the earth beneath you falling away as the snow you trod on was unearthed by the vibrations of the snow above.
You ran. You ran for your life, but you knew this wasn’t good. Your training kicked in.
You saw a boulder in front of you and you threw yourself behind it, you created a ball with your body, making sure that you created a hole around your face you would be able to use to breathe. You pulled your ice pole from your back and stuck it into the ground next to you, that would help when you were covered by snow and you didn't know which way was up. Which way you would need to dig. You put one hand in your pocket and pulled the satellite phone in front of your face.
A thunderous rumble. 
And then. 
Silence. Darkness.  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexia didn’t have her phone on at half time. She never paid it any attention - playing or not she was too focussed on the game.
Today, though, she didn’t know why. But she did.
She felt her phone vibrate in the bag at her feet.
And something compelled her to actually make the effort to dig into her bag and pull it out.
The number looked weird. Not a Spanish number, or an English one, she had gotten used to all the +44’s that had rang her over the year spent with you.
She stepped out of the unfamiliar changing room into the impressive corridors of Old Trafford. A post-season friendly. Barcelona Vs Manchester United. The game didn’t mean anything but it was always exciting to check another famous stadium off the list. A sold out crowd and an evening game. Can’t get much better.
She found a disused office room and managed to press accept on the call.
“Hola?”
At first she thought she’d missed it. Nothing on the line responded to her, as she pulled the phone away to check she saw the call had connected… ‘Scammers’ she cursed in her mind, moving to hang up. But just before she did…
“Hola, Ale.” She couldn’t believe it. Your voice. She dropped her weight onto the table behind her and held a hand to her chest that suddenly felt like it was torn in two. Heart beating faster than any 45 minutes of running could cause.
“¿eres realmente tú?”
“Yes, It’s me Ale.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes and even after everything she felt just the same as she did when she stepped out of that minibus nearly 3 years ago and first set eyes on you.
“Are you okay carino? Did you do it?”  she asked, breathlessly. “I did it, love.” was the response. In her pride at your accomplishment she missed how you hadn’t addressed her first question.
“Nunca tuve ninguna duda, I am so relieved to hear from you. The line is so quiet, are you still there?”
“Si…” a pause which Alexia attributes to the poor connection, “It must be the signal.” she notices you move on, quickly, “Can… can you just talk to me?”. Alexia smiles despite herself, you used to always ask her to talk you to sleep when your mind was whirring, completing your greatest accomplishment must be in that category and she can imagine you fidgeting in pent up adrenaline.
“I can amor, I have a few minutes. I am in Manchester. We are at half time at Old Trafford.”
“Old Trafford, hey?” she hears you laugh, “Finally, a football ground I’ve heard of.” She's missed your teasing lilt.
“Si, even you. It is raining. Why is it always raining here? I imagine you have better weather even at your camp.” Alexia jokes, innocently. The laugh you let out feels a little… forced? But she lets it go.
“I had lunch with your Mami today. We are only an hour or so away from yours, why did you never tell me we were so close?” Again, that laugh that she loves so much, but it felt more tired that she’d heard it before, more muffled. Though. She supposed, you must be exhausted.
“Because then, my love, you would have made us go and watch football matches and I much preferred to spend our time together in my bed.”
“Ah, Si, I remember, you did.” she responds, blushing and not missing a beat. 
“Your Mami is doing well. She is in the stands….” “Tell her I love her, Ale.” you cut in. There's a desperate edge to your voice that sends shivers down Alexia's spine. She stands, “I will. Of course I will. Carino, are you okay?” she realises now, you never answered her first question. “I stood on the top of Everest today, Ale.” you reply. You haven’t answered her question. She opens her mouth to ask it again but you continue, “I stood on the top of Everest and all I could think of was you.” Your words force her to sit again, her spare hand to her mouth, keeping in a muffled sob. “Don’t you think that's insane? That today, Ale. You were in Manchester and someone. On top of the world. The highest point on this Earth. The highest person on this planet. Only about 4 spacemen floating around above me. Had only you in their mind? I think that means you’ve been to the top of the world, Ale. En la cima del mundo conmigo. You were there with me, every step.” You sound drunk, she wouldn’t blame you, thin air for months it wouldn’t take more than half a pint to see you off, the thought of your ramblings makes her smile despite herself, she knows she shouldn’t, but she leans into it. “Everyone here talks like you….” she pauses, “In Manchester. Only me and Ona can understand them. With your flat vowels. It made me think of you more today. Miss you more than normal today. And now you call.” There's a knock on the office door, “Ale, Vamos!” half time has ended. She has never wanted to play football less than right now. “Because we’re soulmates” your voice definitely had a slur to it now, “and I miss you too. I’ll always miss you, my Ale.” you always got soppier when you drank. “You won’t miss me for long, Carino. You will be home soon. I don’t care if you decide that it's England or Spain. Whichever. I will be there. Si?... We will be together soon. We can sort all this out.” “Hopefully, n..to..oo soon.” she struggles to hear you, the connection starting to fail. “Pardon? Amor?” another knock at the door. She feels like she's being pulled in half as she presses the phone closer to her ear. “Amor. I have to go. Well done, Estoy tan orgullosa de ti. Call me when you can.” “I love you, Ale…” “I lo…” beep beep beep. The call drops before she has a chance to respond. —-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You feel pain all over your body. You had never felt pain like it. It was like every sinew in your body was screaming out in pain. You opened your eyes and immediately closed them again. Blinding white. You heard voices. Alarmed voices. 
Shouting voices. “HERE, HERE!!!” You felt yourself being moved. It made the pain worse. You tried to tell them to stop. 
Your throat couldn't make a sound. And then all you knew was black. 
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More darkness. You felt something covering your face. Your body being stripped. Water. Boiling water. It burned. You were submerged. “No no no no no no…” was all you could try to vocalise. A calming hand in your hair. “It is lukewarm water, we are trying to bring your body temperature up…” 
No, no. They were lying. The voice was lying. You thrashed. A pain in your arm. A needle? Darkness took you again. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “There is no chance, Arjan.” “Bu….” “No. You are an experienced Sherpa. You are letting yourself get lost. There is no chance. She is too far gone. Air evac is the only way. No Nepalese pilot will fly at this altitude. We need to make her comfortable…” —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You felt yourself being moved.
Less painful this time.
You felt wind on your face.
This wasn’t natural wind.
The sound of blades. Air moving unnaturally. Choppily.
Your face is covered again. 
The wind gets louder. More mechanical. You feel yourself being lifted up. “You’ve some friends in high places, English Sherpa.” you hear whispered to you, a hand on your forehead. Arjan? Your friend is speaking to you. You feel less alone. You try to open your eyes but the effort feels herculean. And then nothingness. —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This time, when you wake up. You stay awake. You’re in an unfamiliar room. It’s obvious it's a hospital room. But you’re alone. You look around and see yourself wired up to all sorts of machines. But that's it. You try to move to sit up but your shoulder screams in protest. You take stock of your body. You feel a bandage wrapped around your head. Your head is banging now you think about it. Your right arm is completely immobile. Your arm wrapped across your chest and hand completely covered by bandages. You try to wiggle your fingers but. Nothing. God. You hope they’re still there. Before you had too long to spiral the door burst open and you were faced with a smiling, familiar face. “Arjan!” you try to exclaim, voice rough from underuse. “She’s awake. My friend!” his sun-soaked face suits his smile. His bushy eyebrows make his eyes almost invisible as he crinkles them in joy. Arjan settles next to you and fills you in on everything you were present for, but missed out on account of being buried alive or completely unconscious. Your choice to hide behind the boulder had been the first thing to save your life. It had protected you from being swept away by the avalanche and was easier to locate. Before you had called Alexia you had contacted base camp. But your GPS had been knocked off so all they knew was that you were alive. And where you told them you had last been. You’d lost consciousness fairley quickly. Brain starved of oxygen in the small air pocket you had created. Hypothermia had set in slowly.
Your hand had been left exposed after using the phone, and you remember wiggling your fingers, seeing them slowly turn black as they succumbed to frostbite. It had taken 3 days to find you. Luckily, you had been the only person caught up in the snow. You remember, now, coming in and out of consciousness. You even recall a bad spell of seeing Alexias face in the boulder your head rested against and talking to it. Maybe you’d keep that you yourself. Bit embarrassing really. Your legs were pinned down by snow. You had used your last piece of strength to thrust your ice pole upwards. You'd chosen the direction based on the way your tears fell. That was the second thing that had saved your life. Arjan had spotted the pole in the ice field. Days after everyone else had given up on ever finding you. You’d been dragged to base camp and they started to treat hypothermia. You were more than halfway to dead. You resembled a corpse. Arjan had told you he'd never seen anyone literally blue. “Pulled it off tho, my friend” he’d tried to joke. “Of course, always” you’d winked back in reply. You'd have no chance of survival whilst still on the mountain. The air was still too thin and your were suffering from hypoxia. Problem was, the air was too thin for an air evacuation and. Well. As you knew. It was easier to be saved from the surface of the moon than it was to be saved from the surface of Everest. The third thing that had saved you. Was Alexia. “You have someone who’s gone to the moon and back for you, my friend.” Once she’d found out you had gone missing she had gone to the UK embassy in London to start a search and rescue campaign. When they hadn’t moved quickly enough she had involved the Spanish government. She’d used her resources and status to launch a media campaign which had pressured both governments. She’d flown to Kathmandu herself and was trying to hire a plane to Lukla when you’d been found. Then her attention turned to locating a pilot crazy enough to fly at such an altitude. Turns out anyone was crazy enough for the right price. And many, many euros later, the highest ever search flight took off from the surface of Everest, with you on board. “She’s a force to be reckoned with, your girl.”
He told you, as he reached to the ground below you, “...and you’ll be happy to hear, I saved your precious boots” he dumped your familiar old tattered boots at the bottom of your bed.
“And some stuff from your tent. But I had to hike it out so I left some of the smellier clothes.” he joked, as you thanked him, he really was a good man. “... Wait… hike it out? How long have I been here?” “You’ve been unconscious for a week my friend. I always told you you were lazy.” You took a moment to take stock. A week. Well. That meant that even if Alexia had been in Kathmandu, she was a million miles away now. The door opens again and you’re too lost in your own thoughts to give any care to the nurse whos been coming in every now and again checking charts whilst you and Arjan chatted. “Ah here she is. La Reina herself!” You turned your head quickly and took in the face that had been the last image in your mind every night, and the first every morning, since the day you had parted. “Ale…” you breathed. Here. She was here. In Kathmandu. In the same room as you. 
She looked as beautiful as ever, hair flowing over her shoulders, blonder than the last time you had seen her. She had gained muscle and her features had sharpened. But everything else was the same. Her smell invaded your senses. That smell that mosquitoes loved so much. You got it. Her eyes were sharp, and directed firmly at you. They looked tired. She held a sense of exhaustion. You wanted her to fall into your arms, but she stood at the door, and you couldn't open them to welcome her in. The moment was heavy and Arjan broke the silence and stood… “I’ll leave you both to it. See you around English Sherpa.” and with a squeeze of your foot he was gone. Leaving you both in a heavy silence. “Thank You Ale.” you said, breaking the silence.
After all Arjan told you, you owed her your life. She didn't respond. But her eyes had moved from your face and were now directed at the boots still on your bed. As battered as ever, Blaugrana laces snapped and re-tied in several places, swatch still visible on the tongue. Maybe you thought that your meeting would be a bit more romantic, not as…tense? She stroked one of the boots gently with her finger, seemingly lost in a trance. “Ale…?” “You have a habit of not telling me important things.” Whatever you expected it wasnt that. “Qué?” “That you speak Spanish, how you feel, I don’t know… that your trapped in a fucking avalanche.” you’d seen her angry before, you’d seen that anger directed at you, but this felt worse. It was directed through you. She kept her distance when all you wanted to do was hold her close. “How could you do that? How could you let us speak knowing that you were about to freeze to death and just chat to me, like it was a normal Sunday afternoon?” “I…I didn’t want to worry you…” you croaked out, you felt like a school child who was being told off by the head teacher. And you deserved it, you supposed. “I will always worry about you, por el amor de dios!!” She started to pace around the bottom of your bed, your eyes moving like they were taking in a tennis match watching her wear the ground down. “...and to think I finished that game. I slept that night at your flat. Happy, finally feeling like I almost had you back. Your mami took me home. And then, the next morning, I walked into the kitchen. And there she was, crying at the table. She could hardly tell me what had happened. And then it all fell into place. You’d called me when you thought you were already in your grave, didn’t you?” All you could do was nod, arms desperate to dry the tears tracking down her face. “I’m glad to see you.” you let out. Unsure of what else to say. “You won’t be. I am so, so angry at you.” “I know you are bu…” 
“No, you did your speaking on that Mountain. Now you listen” Her tears are dry now and the anger is back in her face. “I have sorted a medical flight. We leave tonight. We’re going back to Barcelona. I don’t care if you want to go back to that rainey island or not. It’s not your choice, it's mine. You almost froze to death, you need the sun. The warm. You will come with me every day to the doctors at the club. They will monitor you. Your family will come to visit. You will go to a therapist. You will take your medication. You will not ignore your medication because you think its better to treat yourself with whatever crushed bug or mashed-up leaves you think is better….” She stops for breath. “That was one time…” you mumbled, referring back to the time you insisted that a crushed cucumber was better than antiseptic cream to treat a bee sting. “Nope. You are still listening.” She stopped you, firmly again, but you felt her eyes softening as she took you in, “... and when we get home and you get better, we will talk. We will decide where we are building our life together, but that is one non-negotiable. It will be together. Okay?” She seems to be finished. And she's moved closer to you, close enough for you to reach out and grab her hand with your good one. You nod, and pull her hand to cup your face. “I just have one question.” you ask, seeking permission to speak. She nods as she strokes your face, tired and burnt from over-exposure. “Are these fingers still attached?” you ask, shaking your injured arm at her, “they’re kind of important for my plans, if you know what I mean” you wiggle your eyebrows suggestively. Her laugh makes you think maybe you did die on that mountain, because surely, here, with her, you’re in heaven. “Te amo, idiota” —-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You awoke surrounded by soft sheets and sleep-warm pillows. Your once-injured arm tweaked in pain slightly as you stretched out. You had physio later this afternoon, you thought to yourself, you had better mention it. You rolled out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen, still covered in blankets, bed hair resembling a yeti. You almost tripped up over your rucksack which was laying in the hall. Where it had been since your return to Barcelona, months ago. You hadn’t been ready to unpack it quite yet. You could hear Alexia on the phone out on the balcony, and you gestured the international, ‘want a drink’ sign to her, which she shook her head at. You shrugged. God, sometimes she was so Spanish. A good Brit would never let a hot kettle go to waste. It had been months of reconnection, Alexia finally letting go of her anger as soon as you entered the flat. She broke down in your arms that first night, simultaneously telling you how angry she was at you and how much she loved you at the same time. How she had never been as scared in her life. You just dealt with it by pressing kisses into her hairline.
She'd made you sit in the sun of the balcony every chance she got. Morning, Noon and Night. Moving you around to chase the rays. Insisting that you needed the warmth and vitamins of the sun to recover. The image of you pale, cold and frozen in the hospital in Nepal seared into her mind. When Mapi and Ingrid visited Mapi teased you, and had taken to calling you Bagheera. She said you resembled her cat, chasing the sun to lounge in at every occasion. She quickly stopped when Alexia slapped the back of her head. You no longer had to hide your relationship. Alexia had blown the doors off that as she went to the media in order to get the resources to save you. The feeling of claustrophobia that had made you flee from Barcelona had gone. You knew what being trapped really felt like now. And how you ever thought the love of your life and a shared life in this sun-drenched city was suffocating. Well. That was a different person to who you were now. Yeah, you would always love the outdoors. But you had an anchor now. Something that made you maybe not scale that next peak, and instead be excited to share a recipe with. Maybe not stay on the trail for an extra week, and instead pick out a good film to settle down to. Your mum was over the moon. She’d been a regular visitor. You thought she’d be upset, when you decided to stay in Spain instead of going back to England but she seemed offended by the idea. “That girl saved your life you stupid woman, of course will stay here with her.” Alexia didn’t accept it so easily. She was worried you would feel trapped again, that she wasn’t compromising. She would rather move with you than lose you. “Ale. Barna is your life.” you had replied, simply, “...and you are mine.” “It is not!” she had refused, aghast at the suggestion until you said, “United will have me, so will City, my agent has checked, I would even go to the Championship and play for Newcastle, I look great in black!” “Ale, you literally have a floor tile tattooed on your back. We’re staying here.” you said, deadpan. And she couldn’t say much to that. So, much to the despair of every football fan in England. She signed a new contract with Barcelona not two weeks ago. Maybe it was how settled you felt this morning, as the kettle boiled. The soreness in your muscles after the night you spent together in bed, which must be why your shoulder was straining now. Maybe you'd keep that away from the physio. Though, maybe he’d be happy to hear that your fingers were definitely fully recovered. Not as happy as Alexia was though, you'd bet. But something about this morning made you brave enough to finally open that rucksack in the hallway. As you zipped it open your fingers caught on a single piece of cardboard. A postcard. You flipped it over as arms encircled your waist and gentle lips kissed your shoulder. “Carino?” she asked, looking at the postcard in your hands. “I never got to give you this.” you whispered, as you held the postcard over your shoulder, she let you go as she turned it in her hands. She let out a barking laugh as she moved towards the fridge where 6 other postcards sat proudly, waiting for their 7th to complete the set. A woman in a bikini, sat on a yak wearing a cowboy hat, the imposing structure of Everest in the background. A speech bubble coming out of her mouth ‘I’ve seen bigger’. Alexia rolled her eyes at you as she stuck it to the fridge with a magnet showing the message you wrote all those months ago.
“Ale, I’m here. 
One more summit and I’ll be on my way back to you. For good. How can I say it in your language? ‘It’s coming home’. 
fin. 
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enwoso · 1 month
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A lovie request where she has a terrible fan encounter maybe she’s watching the game with her uncle Luca and when they try to get down to alessia at the end lovie gets shoved and falls over and is being crowded and she’s so scared and calling out for someone to help her but the fans are more excited because Leah/ alessia are signing things at the barrier
BACK OFF — alessia russo x child!reader
just a little something something to say thank you for 800 followers!!! i love and appreciate you all so much. forehead kisses for you all xoxo
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grumpy masterlist
game day was always busy day for you but always a fun day nevertheless.
you would always travel to the stadium with your mummy and then you would find either your uncle luca or nonna depending on who was coming to watch. then you could enjoy the match in the stands and it also gave alessia the chance to do her full pre-match prep without the worry of you being around.
always cheering for your mummy with your jersey on and her number on your back, you being the loudest one there. screaming louder than anyone when your mummy scored. always being your mummy's number one fan.
the match had now ended against sweden and now all you wanted was to see your mummy, but alessia was doing her rounds around the pitch. stopping and signing shirts and posters as well as taking photo for fans at the barrier. along with the rest of the lionesses.
alessia's name being called out in all direction. you though for this game where sat in the friends and family box at the top of wembley. your mummy looking like a small figure on the pitch.
you had been patiently waiting at the stairs that would take you all the way down to the barrier and to your mummy but you were being told to wait by your uncle luca. and you were bored of waiting.
“we go on now luca?” you asked with a sweet smile as he hummed looking down towards the queues at the barriers all with people pushing and shoving to get the the front. luca obviously not wanting to take you down their if it wasn’t safe.
“just give it a couple minutes then we can go, okay?” luca said as he took another glance down the bottom as a little huff came from you. you just wanted to see your mummy.
this is why games at the smaller grounds were your favourite, you didn’t have to wait for people to scatter as your mummy would be straight over lifting you over the barrier and into the warmth of her arms. you on your own little excited ramble about the game you’d just watched.
you were beginning to get really impatient, if there was one thing you didn’t like and that was waiting.
“we go now” you asked again dragging your words out as a small sigh came from luca as he nodded slightly.
“yes, but slowly there’s still a lot of people down there!” he pointed to the many fans holding shirts and banners in extended arms as well as screaming your mummy’s name.
you replied with a small okay, jumping out your seat with your teddy wrapped under your arms as you were finally allowed to begin to walk down the steps.
you started off slowly but with each step you picked up the pace knowing your were getting closer to seeing your mummy. “tiny, slow down…” luca trailed off but it was no use you were to far in front now.
alessia had spotted you making your way down the steps, your little excited wave as you got closer to her. but alessia made the silly mistake of waving back drawing some unwanted attention your way as you were mere inches from the barrier.
"oh my god it's alessia daughter!"
"can she sign this for me!"
"can i get a photo with her!"
fans started to crowd around your small frame as you got a little scared at all the unknown faces now looking at you, you a lot smaller so you had no one to hide behind as alessia tried her best to get as close to you seeing the crowds around you.
the fans starting to get a little bit more pushy invading your personal space as you began to get more and more overwhelmed.
fans were pushing you, trying to get closer to you but also the barrier as alessia was getting closer. "luca" you whined but it was no use as you didn’t know where he was so he wasn’t able to stop the few hundred fans pushing your small figure around.
"help" you whined a little louder, as the crowds around you got smaller. men in bright yellow jackets pushing them away and yelling for the unknown faces to ‘back off’ in a deep and scary voice as you were scooped into your mummy’s arms.
your mummy pulling you tightly into her chest as small sniffles came from you. you still being a little overwhelmed from the interaction.
"it's okay lovie, mummy's got you" alessia cooed as you sunk into the safety of her arms, the fans shouting her name as she said a quick few words to her brother, luca nodding at her words before she quickly waved to the fans.
walking back into the centre of the pitch, it was a little quieter. you calming down as alessia kissed the top of your head. "you okay now lovie? what happened?" your mummy asked as you frowned.
"people shouting my name and your name! and then they start pushing me" you said with a sad smile and tears still prominent in your eyes as alessia nodded as she began to explain how some fans just wanted things to be signed and that they probably didn't mean to push you.
"me no like fans" you huffed with crossed arms and a frown on your face. a small laugh coming from alessia with a knowing hum as she placed a kiss to your cheek walking towards her teammates.
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wileys-russo · 7 months
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caught on camera II a.putellas x sister!reader
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caught on camera II a.putellas x sister!reader
"where are you going? the field is that way hermana." your sister grabbed your wrist as you started to head in the opposite direction. "good job alba! so smart." you cooed like you would to a dog, patting her condescendingly on the head.
"i am going to the bathroom! relajarse." you rolled your eyes and pulled your arm free. "tell mami." you nodded to the older woman who had practically sprinted down to the barrier already, embracing your eldest sister proudly after another big win.
"tell mami." alba mocked with a roll of her eyes, turning on heel and heading away as you did the same, watching cautiously that she was not paying attention as you turned and started to head toward the away section instead.
pulling out your phone you grinned at the influx of messages, slipping it into your pocket and ignoring the wary gazes of the oppositions fans who had long begun filing out of the stadium given their teams crushing 6-0 loss in the el classico.
"hola culer!" you looked up meeting familiar eyes and rounded up the stairs making a beeline for the brunette who sat waiting for you with a smirk. "hola madridista."
"alba! where is pequeña?" alexia frowned noticing your absence as the teams family and friends all stood littered around the field, her younger sister shrugging and going back to her conversation with some of her teammates.
"mami?" alexia questioned the older woman. "in the bathroom alexia, she is fine." her mother chuckled at the persistence, alexia humming and turning around hearing a sharp bark of laughter right behind her.
"i think i found her amiga and she is not in the bathroom." mapi sung out and grinned wolfishly, alexia frowning at the defender who nodded upwards and pointed her hand, alexia's eyes following her outstretched finger.
and sure enough there you were not in the bathroom, but rather on the jumbo screen as the cameras panned the audience, locked in on the away zone where you sat practically in the lap of a tall brunette wearing a real madrid jersey.
"who is that!" alexia spat out in shock as you leaned in and pressed your lips sweetly to the strangers, grinning and whispering something in her ear as the two of you were far too caught up in one another to clock you were on screen.
"this is too good." alba overheard and also followed her sisters gaze, lips curling upward as she scrambled for her phone and snapping a picture she wasted no time texting it to you.
"joder." you breathed out as your eyes flickered downward to your phone on your knee which pinged with a new message. "whats wrong amor?" your girlfriend questioned with a concerned frown as you handed her the phone, chancing a look downward and wincing as your eyes locked with your sisters.
alba was looking more than amused, cheshire like grin plastered on her lips as she drew her finger across her throat repeatedly and you paled as she pointed to your eldest sister who indeed looked ready to murder you.
"oh no." your girlfriend mumbled and you glanced back at her to catch her gaze facing downward at her cousin who also looked ready to kill, misa's fists clenched by her side as she glared up at the two of you having seen it herself on the jumbo screen.
"do you think its better or worse if we run?" you winced, moving off of her as she squeezed your hand. "worse, definitely worse cariño." your girlfriend sighed as you broke apart, you heading down towards your sister as sofía headed off toward her cousin.
you were overly cautious with your steps, hovering by the barrier as alexia remained unmoving, arms crossed and eyes burning a hole right in your head. "ven aquí!" the blonde ordered angrily pointing in front of her as you sighed and hopped over the barrier.
"mami!" you called out gaining the older womans attention, shooting to her side and playing the baby card, mumbling in her ear and hiding behind her as alexia scoffed and mapi sent you a somewhat proud grin over her shoulder.
"alexia! leave your sister be." eli warned sternly as you peeked over the top of her head and clung tightly onto her, refusing to make a move any closer to your eldest sister who continued to angrily gesture for you to go to her.
however your luck could only last for so long as eli was called by a few of the other girls parents for a group photo, tugging her hand free of your grip with a roll of her eyes as she strode off.
now defenseless you turned to face your sisters who were still a few feet away, giving them a charming smile as mapi stood behind them now drawing her finger over her throat with a shake of her head as ingrid shoved her with a frown.
"hermana's! why don't we just all talk about this like grown ups?" you suggested, starting to back up as they both advanced toward you. "sí nena, like grown ups. so come here and we will talk then." alexia spoke, dangerously calm but still continuing on toward you.
"we can talk from here, space is good. people need space!" you gestured to the rapidly disappearing gap between the three of you. you stumbled as suddenly you backed up right into a body, strong hands steadying you as you sighed in relief.
though as you looked and realized who had hands on you, your face paled.
"hola misa." you smiled nervously, your girlfriend hovering behind her with a guilty grimace. "hola chica." the keeper spoke, tone steely and glare unwavering as you managed to tug her hands off you and step back.
backing up even further now with all three girls still advancing, alexia's gaze strayed toward your girlfriend whose eyes widened seeing the obvious anger in them as both of you moved a little closer to one another.
you liked to think you knew each other quite well after nearly six months of being with one another, so when you and the brunette shared a look, you both knew exactly what the other was thinking without a single word needing to be said.
"vamos!" you leapt over the barrier as she did the same, misa lunging for your ankle as alexia tried to grab at your girlfriend but both of you managed to get up and over the barrier without being caught.
"didn't we say this was worse?" sofía laughed a little as you joined hands and sprinted up the stairs not chancing a look back as you made a beeline for the first exit in sight.
"sí,but this way we can at least have one last dinner together before we are both murdered." you grinned, the two of you mumbling apologies as you bumped into people as you sprinted through the stadium and headed for the exit, ignoring the warning yells from security to slow down.
~
"you are sure you don't want me to stay over preciosa?" sofía questioned softly, hand interlocked with hers over the middle console of her car as she parked out the front of your building.
"no cari. if i know my sisters the moment the sun is up they will be knocking my door down with a million questions." you chuckled with a roll of your eyes.
"do you really want to stay over or do you just want to avoid your cousin?" you teased with a smile, the taller girl pushing your head affectionately before leaning in to press a gentle kiss against your lips.
"i'll call you tomorrow?" she questioned as you slipped out of her car, resting your forearms on the open window with a nod, stretching your neck to peck her lips a few more times.
she waited until she could see you were safely inside your building before taking off, your chest heaving a little as you hurried up the few flights of stairs between you and the promise of a hot shower and bed.
however as you unlocked your front door, it would seem that was not in the cards for you just yet.
you hummed the last song which had been playing on the radio in the car as you kicked off your shoes and dropped your keys in the bowl by the door, but turning around you let out a scream and nearly fell over.
"hola hermanita." alexia spoke calmly, sat facing the front door on an armchair as alba was sprawled lazily across your sofa behind her. "a la mierda! did you break in to my apartment loca?" you accused with a scowl.
"not breaking and entering if you have keys chiqui." alba smiled holding up her hand, twirling a ring of keys around on her finger. "you stole mami's spare key?" you narrowed your eyes with a scoff, slowly starting to walk toward your room.
"no we have our own." alexia answered honestly as your eyes widened. "i did not okay that!" you huffed glaring at both of them who seemed unfazed.
"well then if you have keys idiotas, let yourselves out." you rolled your eyes and made a break for your room, but you weren't fast enough as strong arms wrapped around you and held you back.
"joder ale get off!" you groaned trying to break free, landing a kick on alba's shin who swore at you and smacked the back of your head as alexia shoved you down into the armchair she'd previously been sitting in.
"no no pequeña you wanted to talk like grown ups, so lets talk like grown ups!" alexia announced, pushing you back down as you tried to stand, giving up with a defeated sigh and glaring at both your older sisters stood in front of you.
"really?" your eyes narrowed in disbelief as alba flicked on the reading lamp and pointed it at you. "what is this, an interrogation?" you mocked, crossing your legs under you to get more comfortable.
"i don't have to tell either of you idiotas anything." you huffed stubbornly, wincing as alba moved the lamp to flash right in your eye. "watch your mouth." alexia warned, forever stern which only made you roll your eyes again, another pet hate of hers.
"we let you enjoy your little dinner at hectors pequeña, time to start talking." alexia's words had your eyes widening. "you are still tracking my phone? mami made you promise to delete that stupid app!" you growled with a glare.
"don't know why you're laughing idiota, she tracks yours too." you huffed at alba wiping the grin right off her face. "ale!" the girl pushed your sister who waved her off mumbling about it not being the time.
"who is she?" alexia asked firmly, eyes burning protectively as you stayed quiet, frowning a little in confusion as alexia nodded and alba walked off for a moment.
"really? that won't work alexia i am not five anymore." you scoffed as alba returned with a small very scruffy bear in her hands, something alexia herself had given you the day you were born.
however it was also used by her as a means of getting any and all information out of you that she could when you were much younger, which was normally after alba had stolen something from her, hidden a secret or snuck out.
"pequeña. tell me!" a fourteen year old alexia warned sternly, towering over a four year old you sat on the edge of her bed clutching at the bear which never seemed to leave your side. "don't know!" you lied, your eldest sisters eyes narrowing, you always were a terrible liar.
"yes you do. where is she?" alexia asked again, patience thinning as you shrugged. "i know you do pequeña because you are always hiding by the doors listening to everyone when you are not supposed to. do you want me to tell mami you are lying?" alexia raised an eyebrow as you stayed silent and she sighed.
"fine. if you will not tell me then mr bear can go for a swim in the toilet." alexia shrugged, easily grabbing it from you and turning as you leapt off the bed and latched onto her leg.
"alba's at the park!" you revealed, holding your arms out for the bear which alexia kept captive in her grip. "and she took my ball with her, sí? the special blue one." alexia asked as you nodded instantly and alexia scoffed.
picking you up and giving you back the bear she yelled out for your mami who was in the kitchen. "ale! do not be so rough with your sister." eli warned as alexia placed you to sit down on the counter, again snatching the bear away from you.
"mami she won't give it back!" you whined as alexia pushed your hands away where they reached for the bear. "alexia give it back to her." eli sighed tiredly, stirring lunch on the stove.
"tell her what you just told me chiqui and you can have mr bear back." alexia promised as you frowned and she raised an eyebrow daring you not to do as she asked.
"alexia said she would make mr bear swim in the toilet." you parroted as your older sister winced, eli flicking her with the tea towel she had in hand. "alexia putellas segura just because you are older does not mean you get to pick on your sisters! you know better than that." the older woman warned, grabbing the bear from her hand and placing it back in yours.
"not that! the other part about alba sneaking out." alexia groaned, rubbing her hip where the towel had connected. "alba is in her room." eli frowned as alexia shook her head. "no. but she is supposed to be because she is grounded!" alexia reminded.
"tell me where your sister is please hija." eli asked softly, brushing your hair from your face. "at the park, snuck out her window." you hugged the bear tightly, legs swinging a little where they were unable to touch the ground.
"and she stole my ball! the one from the barça final that papi got for me." alexia added on with a frown as eli sighed again, moving past her toward your other sisters room.
unfortunately for alba she had never had the best luck or timing, so to be caught climbing through her window again right as her door swung open wasn't all that surprising.
"you told on me again? you're such a baby!" alba's head popped out of her doorway, her eyes narrowing as alexia stepped protectively in front of you, your hand gripping her t-shirt as eli pulled her back into the room to keep yelling.
"hey. wanna watch a movie pequeña?" alexia turned around, picking you up again and heading for the sofa. "not mad at me anymore?" you questioned with a small frown making your older sister smile and kiss your cheek.
"no i'm not mad at you hermanita, i'm mad at alba. you might eavesdrop but at least you don't steal!" she tickled your stomach making you grin as she collapsed into the lounge and sat you on her lap.
"here's your stupid ball!" alexia's hand snapped up to catch the small ball hauled at her before alba's door slammed shut again, eli warning her not to do it again unless she'd like to add another week onto the grounding she was already facing from cutting off a small lock of alexia's hair last week.
you of course knew she only did it because alexia hadn't allowed alba to hang out with her and her friends and locked her out of her room, but neither of your sisters had caught you eavesdropping that time.
"no? okay." alexia shrugged as your other sister grabbed a pair of scissors from her pocket and raised an eyebrow. "you wouldn't." you called their bluff with narrowed eyes, crossing your arms. "but do you want to risk that pequeña?" alba smirked as your jaw clenched and she held the scissors up to one of the bears arms.
all three of you locked in a staring contest alexia's lips curled into a smug smile seeing the internal battle evident on your face as alba slowly started to close the scissors.
"fine! she's misa's cousin, her name is sofía." you gave in as they both knew you would, sharing a smug look which made your blood boil. "how long have you been seeing her?" alexia questioned, scissors still held up to the small bear.
"six months. we met at the world cup, she was there with misa's whole family." you answered honestly as both older girls eyes widened. "six months! you've kept this a secret for six months?" you caught the bear which alba tossed at you.
"yes. and this should tell you exactly why i didn't tell you!" you scoffed, both of them, alexia in particular, ridicously overprotective when it came to your dating life, something which caused nothing but arguments with the three of you.
"she's twenty three? she is too old for you!" alba showed her phone to alexia who fixed you with a murderous glare. "you're stalking her instagram? seriously?" you groaned as your head thumped back against the armchair.
"i'm twenty! which means i can date whoever i want and it is none of either of your businesses. so stay out of it and stay out of my life before i shut you both out completely!" you warned standing up to your feet.
"privacy is a luxury and not one that you get as the baby of the family pequeña. and if you think we're bad? wait till we tell mami!" alba threatened as alexia hummed her agreement, attention focused on alba's phone as she no doubt stalked every digital footprint she could find for your girlfriend.
"mami already knows puta. she's met sofía plenty of times!" it was your turn to smile smugly as that gained alexia's attention back and she handed alba the phone. "mami knows?" alexia's eyes narrowed as you nodded.
"sí. and she likes her! now don't you have a girlfriend of your own to get home to ale instead of pestering me about mine?" you rolled your eyes, disappearing to use the bathroom and return your bear to its rightful position in your room, making a quick phone call as you did.
"-yes amor. i will leave right now i promise, i'll be home soon." you smiled as alexia hung up her phone, once more looking ready to murder you. "you called olga? you are a rat!" your eldest sister growled as you shrugged.
"now since you have keys, please see yourselves out!" you waved toward your door, neither of them moving as you collapsed into the lounge.
"this is not over hermanita." alexia warned as you waved her off and grabbed the remote from the coffee table, hearing her call out that she loved you making your eyes roll as your door closed.
"hey!" you frowned as the remote was snatched from your hand before you could click a single button. "get out." you groaned, trying to shrug off alba who sat down next to you, leaning her whole body weight into you and slinging an arm over your shoulders.
"didn't alexia leave?" you sighed as alba browsed through the tv trying to find something to watch. "she did, but i'm staying. sister sleepover!" alba squealed and pinched your cheeks again as you shoved her off.
"do i have a choice?" "no alexia drove me here chiqui so you're stuck with me, lucky you!"
"i wish i was an only child." you grumbled as your sister finally shuffled away and gave you some space, her legs swinging to sit in your lap as she settled for a love island re-run.
"all the secret girlfriends you could have nena and you choose a real madrid suppporter. you are a disgrace to blaugrana!"
~
"amor do you want one egg or two?" you called out, your girlfriend calling back two from the living room where she was curled up watching a movie as you cooked breakfast.
having just taken them off the stove you jumped a little in surprise as your phone began to ring, though seeing it was only alexia you rolled your eyes and let it ring out.
an avid fan of calling to ask the most simple question which could have just been a text, nine in the morning was too early for all of that as you plated up the rest of the food and tucked your phone into your back pocket.
"if you spill a single drop of this on my lounge you're not getting anything for at least three weeks sof." you warned very carefully handing the taller girl a plate who grinned.
"princesa last time you made that threat you lasted two days before you gave in." sofía teased, pressing a few grateful kisses to your cheek as you sat down beside her.
you hadn't even lifted your fork to your mouth before your phone rang again and you put your plate down with a sigh, pushing your hips up and grabbing it out from your back pocket you frowned seeing this time it was olga.
assuming it must be something serious you clicked accept, walking out of the room and sending your girlfriend a reassuring look before you did, concern written on her face as she watched you go.
"hola? olga? está todo bien?" you asked worriedly, sitting on the edge of your bed. "hola hermana, todo va bien." your sister spoke as you sighed a little in relief but then that quickly turned to annoyance.
"why are you calling me from your girlfriends phone ale?" you accused with a roll of your eyes. "because you did not answer me and i need to talk to you!" your sister answered as again you sighed and told her to get on with it.
"i need to meet sofía." your eldest sister spoke somewhat sternly, though there was the sound of a smack and mumbling before she cleared her throat.
"i would like to meet your girlfriend please nena." alexia corrected and a smile settled on your lips already picturing olga sat beside her trying to coach her through this, much more in touch with her emotional intelligence and empathy than your sister was.
"no." you tested her reaction, hearing her huff in annoyance and more mumbling in the background. "i do not have bad intentions pequeña. alba and mami both said she makes you happy, i would like to see that too por favor." alexia spoke a little coldly though you knew there was no real malice in her tone.
you'd not exactly had much choice in your older sister meeting your girlfriend, alba having caught wind that sofía was coming over with you to your family home for a dinner just with eli she'd cancelled plans with her own friends and 'dropped in for a visit'.
though with strict warning from eli to behave she did for the most part, taking sofía aside only for a moment when you'd used the bathroom to warn her about what would happen should she ever choose to hurt you.
which was not dissimilar to the speech you were given from misa when you'd finally fronted up to meeting her after the runaway after the el classico.
now it was just alexia left who had been pressuring you ever since about wanting to meet your girlfriend, however with threats her main source of communication you'd held firm in keeping as much about your love life hidden away from her as you could.
"i would like to get lunch today if you are both free, so i can meet her properly." alexia spoke a little softer now as you glanced over to your girlfriend whose eyes were now glued back to the tv as everything seemed okay with you.
"only if olga comes." you heard a snicker of laughter in the background at that as alexia sighed deeply. "yes, olga will be there. so you will come?" she questioned as now you sighed.
"sí. text me when and where, and we will be there."
~
"hey. cariño it will be fine!" you smiled at the way your girlfriends knee bounced nervously, eyes darting about as you parked up a few shops down from the cafe where alexia had asked you to meet.
"i know." sofía exhaled quietly as your hand rested on her knee to still its bouncing. "we're in public mi cielo, she cannot kill you with witnesses." you teased to try and ease the mood a little more achieving a smile on the taller girls face.
"vamos amor, sooner we get there the sooner we leave." you patted her leg and cut off the engine as your girlfriend nodded. "plus, pretty sure i promised you whatever you want once we get back if you came." you smiled suggestively.
"mm you did, i won't forget that preciosa." sofía grinned, leaning over to kiss you softly before the two of you left the car, walking hand in hand as you already spotted the back of your sisters head.
"hola pequeña." olga saw you before alexia did, standing to pull you into a hug and kiss your cheek as sofía hovered just behind you, clearly unsure what to do. moving to hug your sister you saw olga step forward to greet your girlfriend with a kind smile.
naturally you didn't push her to hug alexia, though you saw something flicker in your eldest sisters eyes when sofía pulled your chair out for you before sitting down herself.
"ale, stop it." you warned as the eldest putellas's hazel eyes narrowed in on your girlfriend, clearly sizing her up as you grabbed her hand beneath the table and squeezed gently.
"sofía, alexia. alexia, sofía." you introduced the two as your girlfriend smiled nervously and alexia hummed. though you didn't miss olga drive an elbow into her side, sending her a firm look as you hid your smile at the subtle gesture.
"i like your eh...tattoos." alexia started awkwardly, nodding to your girlfriends arms where several inked pieces of art were scattered. "gracias. you are a very good footballer and captain, misa speaks very highly of you." sofía complimented sincerely.
"how is she?" alexia asked as her eyes never left the younger girl across from her. "still licking her wounds from the loss, but good." a small smile settled on your sisters lips at that answer.
"and when we play them again, you would wear a barça jersey if my sister asked you to?" alexia questioned, holding up a hand to silence your protest before you could make them.
"i love your sister but i also love my cousin, so i would have to say no." the brunette answered honestly as you gave her hand a gentle squeeze beneath the table again.
"good, family is important." alexia nodded her approval at the answer and you watched your girlfriends shoulders sag a little in relief.
"which is why if you so much as harm one hair on my baby sisters head you will find yourself in a world of pain chica, and there would not be a corner of the world you could hide from me, i promise you that." alexia spoke casually as both yours and olga's eyes widened.
"alexia!" you both hissed in disapproval, your foot lashing out to kick her shin as olga again dug her elbow into her side. "what? i promised i would be nice, that was a very nice warning no?" alexia defended herself with a huff.
the waitress interrupted before anyone else could speak, dropping down some menu's and advising you ordered inside at the counter.
a momentary silence lapsed as you glanced up to see your sister and her girlfriend staring at one another, clearly communicating something as you chuckled quietly and leant your head on your own girlfriends shoulder.
"what are you thinking amor?" you questioned as she pointed to a few things she was tossing up between. "if i get the pasta and you get the chicken, go halves?" you suggested as she nodded happily, pecking your lips on reflex but clearly shrinking under your sisters gaze.
though catching olga's eyes she rolled them and nudged alexia, motioning her to focus on the menu as you smiled.
"vale amiga, lets go order." olga spoke a minute later, addressing your girlfriend who stood and followed after her into the cafe leaving you alone with your sister. "you didn't have to threaten her, alba already did that!" you rolled your eyes as she only smiled.
"yes i did, i am scarier than alba." alexia shrugged as you shook your head. "more unhinged maybe." you mumbled though if your sister heard she chose not to mention it.
"i like her." alexia spoke after a moment as surprise flashed across your face. "you are happy pequeña, and so long as she treats you right that is all i ever want. you would not have kept this a secret if you weren't." the blonde spoke softer now, smiling sincerely.
"i also wouldn't have kept it a secret if you and alba weren't so overprotective and crazy." you warned making the older girl chuckle. "you're the baby of the family pequeña, thats our job." alexia shrugged shamelessly.
"now when is she coming over to mami's to watch all the home videos we have of you?" "don't you dare."
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eregyrn-falls-art · 3 months
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It's June 15th and you know what that means!
Happy 12th anniversary to Gravity Falls
and
Happy birthday to Stan and Ford!
Last year for the occasion, I completed a simple comic about the two of them venturing in to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey in search of the Jersey Devil; whom they found (see the comic here). I'd originally meant that sequence to have two additional pics -- wanting to start it off with them paddling across Glass Shard bay and through the salt marshes to where the pine barrens would begin, and then having a pic of them pulling the canoe up on the river bank to start off on their mission. But, I didn't get those done, obviously.
I still wanted to do that first pic, though; so this year I pulled out the idea and completed it. (I also wanted to do a sort of update of a 2018 piece I did of the two of them canoeing.)
I've talked before about my headcanon that Glass Shard Beach (their hometown) is likely a barrier island, with a wide bay between it and the mainland... even though I also headcanon the town as being in the northern end of the Jersey shore, where there aren't so many wide bays. (Well, that's what makes it a headcanon.) This notion is based on the scenes in the show with them on the swings, with the Stan o' War docked nearby; and with the sun depicted as setting over the water. In New Jersey, if the sun is going to set over water, a bay has to be involved. I've depicted Glass Shard Beach as having a bay before, both in this piece for the 10 Years Later zine, and this piece for their birthday in 2022.
For this one, I looked at a ton of photos of people canoeing; and for the setting, I gathered a lot of photos of the Mullica River estruary and the Great Bay, which has the salt-marsh channels I was envisioning. (Admittedly, my headcanons for Glass Shard Beach are heavily influenced by the Long Beach Island area, where I grew up.)
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