#rangers training centre

[hybbart]

Trainer Jimmy

Jimmy is a clumsy young trainer whose family are all much more succesful. He's set out on his journey to beat his older brother, Grian, who is the current champion. He travels alongside his aspiring coordinator sister, Lizzie, and a friendly ranger, Tango.

Absol is his starter, a pokemon that found him because of his immense bad luck and worries about him greatly. Absol is always on his heels watching literally every step he takes to make sure Jimmy doesn't get too badly hurt. He and Jimmy catch (almost with his face) a falling star, inside which they found Absol's megastone.

Oricorio is an energetic bird who has just as much bad luck as Jimmy himself, the two ended up at the bottom of a cave in together in their first encounter. Oricorio isn't an amazing fighter but she loves cheering on and supporting her teammates. She somehow figured out how to perform thunder punch training with Tango's Darumaka.

Feebas was an egg from Scott's Milotic, given to Jimmy as a gift. He can't do much but has big dreams of becoming powerful one day. Usually he is hanging out or training with Lizzie's Wooper, who usually carries him around outside the water. He knows dragon pulse because of his breeding but it takes all of his energy to perform. He likes to chew on Jimmy's hair.

Shuppet was a pokemon born from an abandoned toy. He still has the cowboy hat from the child who abandoned him and Jimmy found him protecting the old house he was left in in hopes the child would come back. Jimmy befriended him by promising to be his deputy. He cries if left out of activities.

Bouffalant was the aggressive leader of an unruly herd terrorizing the local farmers. Jimmy found him injured, however, and discovered his herd was being bullied and pushed out of their own field by an even more aggressive herd of Tauros. Once the situation was dealt with Bouffalant decided to go with Jimmy to become stronger. He likes to headbutt people he likes which usually knocks Jimmy to the ground.

Audino is a nurse when Jimmy met her. She was unsatiafied with sitting in a pokemon centre, though, waiting for pokemon to come to her, and has set out to become a travelling doctor. She usually is the one healing Jimmy and Oricorio's bumps and bruises. She's sweet but very determined and doesn't take backtalk form her patients.

[thatfailedpokemontrainer]

What to do when you've been burnt by a fire type pokemon

A guide of things I wish I knew to do when I was younger, by a tired fire type trainer of 9 years.

Make sure you are out of harms way. If your pokemon did this to you, recall it immediately. There will be time to work on whatever mistake (either by person or pokemon) led to this later, you need to focus on yourself now. If a wild pokemon did this, you need to focus on getting the fuck out of there. Get your pokemon to use flash/roar and get somewhere safe (OUT OF TALL GRASS AT THE VERY LEAST)

Try to stay calm. Take deep breaths in and out while you follow the next few steps, panicking will only make the situation worse for everyone and lead to worse outcomes. I know it's not that simple to just, 'stay calm' but it is extremely important.

Identify what type of burn it is. This will determine your next course of action. Some general rules, if your burn is forming a blister, or is bigger than the size of a pokeball, you need to seek medical attention. Some pokemons fire is more dangerous than others. If you were burnt by a fire/ghost type, please seek immediate medical attention, as their burns are more likely to burn deeper and hurt more.

Go to a pokemon centre if you can. No matter what type of burn this is, it will always be helpful. Not only will they have bathrooms where you can wash out the burn, but the staff there are trained in basic first aid for humans too. However, if they try and direct you to a hospital, LISTEN TO THEM. People working at pokemon centres want you and your pokemon to be safe and healthy, they are on your side. Do not be antagonistic to them.

Call your local rangers. If you're not near a pokemon centre and have a severe burn, or cannot physically walk to one without making the pain worse, I need you to do something for me. Pick up your phone and call that towns/reigons pokemon ranger services. This is not the time to worry about burdening others, it is rangers jobs to help in situations like this. Stay on the phone with the ranger until they have found you. Once they have, ask them to take you to a hospital.

If the burn is minor, flush it out with cold running water for 10-20 minutes. Tap water is the best, but streams will do for anyone who was burnt while out in the forest. I don't care if the burn 'doesn't hurt anymore' keep it under there for the full 10 minutes AT LEAST. This flushes out heat from the burn. If your burn is on your face, a cold cloth can work instead of running water. DOING THIS ASAP AFTER GETTING BURNT CAN MITIGATE THE INJURY, SCARRING AND PAIN. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.

DO NOT FLUSH OUT YOUR BURN WITH WATER TYPE/ICE TYPE MOVES FROM A POKEMON. This will not help at all and you will feel so much worse. Don't do this.

If the burn is not minor, GO TO A HOSPITAL. I do not care if you do not want to, I don't care how fine you feel, getting burns treated as soon as possible can impact how long it hurts for, and how long it heals. Don't be an asshole to yourself and just go to hospital.

Monitor your pain levels in the days following. It is normal for burns to be painful for a while afterwards, but if it is causing you significant distress, you need to talk to your/a doctor about this, and possibly getting better medication to help with this.

Do not put yourself in the same situation again. Now you're all healed up from your burn wounds, maybe you even got a cool scar. But reflect on what happened, and why, and learn from your mistakes. Please.

[luna-moon-26-20]

Foxhole Force Episode Guide

Hi everyone! Since season 1 is finished I thought I'd write an episode guide and add it to the collection of information of the story.

Feel free to share it as many times as you want so we can spread the knowledge about this series and maybe bring new readers to enjoy the AU 🙌🏻

(I think I avoided all major spoilers)

SEASON 1 - LIST OF EPISODES

S1 E1: Call of the Fox (Part 1)

Neil Josten arrives at the City of Palmetto in a last attempt to find his mother alive. After getting attacked by Ravens and saved by mysterious warriors in colorful suits, Neil finds a job at the Foxhole Court, a sports Youth Centre meant to be a safe haven for kids in risky situations.

S1 E2: Call of the Fox (Part 2)

After finding out his coworkers at the Foxhole Court were actually the Power Rangers, Neil gets roped into the team when he merges with the spirit of the Red Fox, becoming the new Red Power Ranger. Despite trying to refuse the responsibility, Neil accepts it and stays in the city long enough to join the battle against the Ravens.

S1 E3: What it takes to be a leader

Neil feels slightly ridiculous and lost when he morphs for the second time after the Ravens find a new target at the beach. When Coach tells him he is supposed to be the leader of the team, he argues that Kevin would be better suited for the job. 

S1 E4: A done deal

Neil has trouble morphing into the Red Ranger and is forced to stay behind while the others go out to fight a new monster and the Ravens. Later, Andrew ropes Neil into a fake training session where he interrogates him. After getting berated by Coach, Neil and Andrew come to an understanding.

S1 E5: Unexpected allies

Neil runs into some trouble searching for his mother. Lieutenant Mureau and a new perfect Raven are sent to destroy the Rangers for their constant interference. They almost succeed but a new and unexpected ally wearing the same outfit as the Rangers prevents it from happening. 

S1 E6: There’s no I in TEAM

The team hits a wall when their dysfunctional dynamic causes a target to get hurt and taken by the Ravens. The Rangers have no idea where the Ravens continue to produce these terrible monsters from but they are strong and difficult to fight, especially because now the Ravens can make them grow as tall as buildings. 

S1 E7: A dead end

The Ravens decide to ruin the team’s Sunday plans when they attack a local school that is holding a science fair at the gym. The Rangers pour themselves into the battle, trying to protect the students and teachers present, and even the Black Ranger makes an appearance to help them. 

S1 E8: Smoke and… mirrors?

The team is unbalanced and fractured but the Youth Centre has to remain open for the kid’s sake and they have a fundraising to host in the middle of which there is a Raven alert. Neil gets trapped and relives some of the trauma from his past. He vows to recruit the Black Ranger into the team.

S1 E9: A fool’s errand

Neil is having an off day in which he keeps butting heads with his coworkers at the Youth Centre. The distance between him and the Red Fox is wider than ever. He sets himself on a mission destined to fail as he tries to recruit the Black Ranger into the team. He and Andrew end the day on pretty unfriendly terms and Neil feels more isolated than ever from the rest of the team.

S1 E10: Neil who? (Part 1)

A Raven alert wakes the team in the middle of the night and they are introduced to Captain Engle, a new perfect Raven stronger and faster than any other they have encountered. The Red Fox is tired and hurt and not even the Black Ranger can help Neil get rid of Mureau.

S1 E11: Neil who? (Part 2)

Alone and unmorphed, Neil faces off against Riko. Riko turns his world upside down by revealing the thing he’s been after and that he believes Neil knows its whereabouts. Later, Andrew helps Neil out of a panic attack but also gives him an ultimatum.  

S1 E12: A Swift exchange

As he recovers from his injuries, Neil is faced with the deadline Andrew has set. Kevin starts acting weird: violent and angry. He begins to transform into a Raven, injuring Andrew in his attempt to escape and save everyone from himself. 

S1 E13: Between a rock and a hard place 

Neil and Andrew, on a quest to find the truth behind the Ravens and Neil’s family, go to the library together. But the building collapses on them leaving them trapped underneath. With nothing else to do but wait, they play a long round of their truth for truth game. 

S1 E14: How to kill two birds with no stone at all

The City of Palmetto is more dangerous than ever when the Ravens decide to change their modus operandi. Neil starts doubting their protectors’ role and asks about a cure for Ravens no one believes exists. Discouraged, he goes into battle hesitating until it becomes clear that it is either kill or be killed. He discovers some coincidences about Kevin’s past.

S1 E15: The Red Fox

The team runs into an energy source so powerful the monitors at the Command Centre go crazy with alarms. In a desperate attempt to stop the Ravens from getting it, Neil touches the source and the amount of energy affects him in unimaginable ways. Scared and injured, he follows his instincts towards Andrew who is the only one who knows how to handle him. 

S1 E16: A quiet state of mind

Neil has to spend an entire day without his Fox. Alone and at the verge of constant panic, he is too happy to spend the day with Andrew in Columbia as a distraction. Neil becomes aware of a certain way in which he is starting to think about the blond. The Rangers respond to an alert in which Matt singlehandedly deals with the monster.

S1 E17: All for the game

An alert brings the team face to face with a monster that traps them in another dimension to play a deathly game of exy. With the way the Black Ranger plays and fights, Neil starts to suspect Andrew might be the Back Ranger. He confronts Andrew on the roof and the night takes an unexpected turn.

S1 E18: Don’t ask for the truth

Neil lives a couple of weeks in pure bliss as he and Andrew delve more into the new nature of their relationship. However, the appearance of a woman from Andrew’s past changes the course of their day into one of tense emotional reactions and a complete emotional withdrawal from Andrew.   

S1 E19: Black Danger (Part 1)

After two long weeks of absence, Andrew finally comes back to the Centre. After a panic attack from Neil because he doesn’t want to fail his duties again, the team faces Muldani on the beach. The Youth Centre is attacked by Riko and all his perfect Ravens. Andrew gets hurt and Abby declares he is trapped inside his own mind.

S1 E20: Black Danger (Part 2)

Neil ventures into Andrew’s mind to try and bring the blond back from wherever he is trapped inside. Going through Andrew’s memories, Neil is faced with several sides of the blond that leave him unsteady and worried. He gets some unexpected help during his quest to find Andrew.

[louisupdates]

MY FOOTBALL

The One Direction star has two principal loves: Ronaldinho and James Coppinger

FOUR FOUR TWO, MARCH 2023 (by PAUL WILKES)

Which was the first match that you ever went to?

I actually got into football quite late, when I started playing at around 11. There were a few Manchester United fans in the family, so the first match I ever went to was an unbelievable first game: the FA Cup fifth round tie against Arsenal in February 2003 - the match when Sir Alex Ferguson kicked the boot and hit David Beckham! My best memories come from Doncaster, who are the only club I support now. We had a fantastic League Cup run in 2005 - we beat Manchester City on penalties, then beat Aston Villa 3-0 and lost to Arsenal on penalties in the quarter-finals. That was my first real low as a football fan. I can remember walking back home absolutely gutted.

Who was your childhood hero and did you ever meet them?

James Coppinger is my club hero - he played at every level and really played for the badge. Everyone in Donny loves him and he’s a great bloke too. After I got into One Direction, I was lucky to meet him and played alongside him a couple of times in charity games. As a fan growing up watching him, that was amazing l. The best person I’ve ever met in football was Pele. I met him about four or five years ago and it was incredible - he had all these stories and we spoke for ages. He was lovely.

What has been your finest moment playing football?

I played in Soccer Aid and Ronaldinho tried to nutmeg me. I was all over his shirt, giving him no respect, and I just managed to nick the ball off him! There's a sick picture that I've seen of it.

The other moment was when I was about 15. I started as a centre-back, but didn’t grow any taller so moved across to right-back, and scored the only Sunday League goal I ever scored. I’ll never forget it.

What do you like most about going to the match?

The whole atmosphere, that magic. When you have those experiences as a young lad, there’s an element of nostalgia each time you go into a football stadium.

Which players do you admire even though they’ve never played for your club?

As some of my family supported Manchester United, I was never allowed to like Thierry Henry, but those grudge matches against Arsenal were amazing. He was a serious player.

Where’s the best place you’ve ever watched a game?

The Bernabeu - it was Neymar’s first ever Clasico for Barcelona against Real Madrid, which is pretty special. It’s one of the bucket list fixtures to go to. When I was young, Doncaster signed me as a reserve player and I went to a pre-season training camp in Portugal. As a supporter of the club, that’s not something you’re normally privy to, so watching how the squad trained and prepared was fascinating.

A few years ago, you filmed a music video with Bebe Rexha on the pitch at Keepmoat Stadium. What was that like?

It was really important for me and my career. The reason I’m sat here today is because of Doncaster - it’s played a huge role. It’s who I am as a person and it’s what I write songs about. The fact that we were able to film the video at the Keepmoat, where I’ve spent many days and evenings, made it so special. It felt appropriate.

What’s your favourite football book?

It’s not a book, but FourFourTwo! I used to subscribe when I was younger. I’m not a big reader otherwise. I should be, but I’m not.

What’s been your worst experience at a game?

I was playing in a charity match at Celtic Park. I got the ball and turned to my right, then Gobby Agbonkhor come through the back of me and I tore my medial ligament. A combination of the impact and me being very unfit meant I ended up throwing up all over Celtic's stodium, which I know will please a lot of Rangers supporters.

Have any footballers been to a gig?

Paul Pogba came to a One Direction show once, that's the one that stands out - he was really sound. I won’t lie, I don’t think many footballers listen to One Direction songs.

What’s the strangest place you’ve ever met a footballer?

I was in this bar in South America and, purely by chance, Bryan Robson was there with a few friends. He was a bit drunk. We went straight over and he was nice, but it was one of those times where you think, “What is he doing here?!” [Laughs]

What’s the greatest goal you’ve ever seen live?

I was at Zlatan Ibrahimovic's debut for the LA Galaxy, because I spend some time over in Los Angeles. The LAFC keeper launched the ball upfield and it was cleared back to Zlatan about forty yards out. He watched it bounce and then smashed it over the keeper’s head - an unbelievable goal. I love him - I like a bit of s**thousery in my footballers, and he's always had that.

Who’s your current favourite player?

The obvious answer is Erling Haaland, because any fan seeing him rack up the goals this season has been totally in awe. Even if you support Manchester United, you watch him and think he's superb. But for me, Jude Bellingham. I’m so excited by Jude - he's been in brilliant form this season, even before the World Cup.

If you could drop yourself into your all-time five-a-side team, who would you be playing next to?

Well, I play at the back, so I want me and Rio Ferdinand. I'd pick Edwin van der Sar, he was a top keeper in his day, then in midfield I'd have Ronaldinho - I grew up loving his football. Up front, I'll go for Cristiano Ronaldo.

What’s the most important piece of memorabilia that you have?

I had a Doncaster home shirt as a kid that I associate with growing up. A few years ago, I bought the same shirt in my current size - it's special to me, and when I met Pele I asked him to sign it. That was the pinnacle.

[Thanks to TeamLouisMedia for the HD photo.]

links to fourfourtwouk’s posts about Louis on Twitter and Instagram

[that-one-enby-ranger]

Mentor

Day 6 of the Ranger Gathering - Mentor

The arrow thudded into the target on the other side of the field, slightly to the left of the centre. Halt let out a curse. Pritchard whistled.

“That’s not the type of language I would expect from a young prince.”

Halt glared at him and Pritchard looked back innocently. Halt dropped the glare, realising it wouldn’t affect his mentor in the slightest. 

“What did I do wrong?” he asked.

“You released too soon,” Pritchard explained, serious all of a sudden. “You get too excited and tend to rush into the shot, which makes it go off course. It doesn’t seem like much of a difference, but trust me, when you’re up against an enemy and you literally have to shoot to save your life, then it can make a huge difference. It can sometimes be fatal.”

“If I was aiming for their chest and went slightly off course wouldn’t it still hit them in the chest, just not exactly in the middle.” Halt asked and Prtichard pursed his lips.

“If your enemy was standing still then probably,” he replied, “But realistically someone would be charging at you, or running away from you, so there would be a lot of movement involved. That’s when the accuracy of a shot matters the most.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?” Halt asked, a little frustrated. “If I go too fast it goes off course, if I go too slow then I’m dead. You shoot fast all the time and it's perfect.”

Pritchard regarded the boy in front of him. “That’s true,” he agreed, “but I’ve had years of practice. You’ve only had about half a year. For that short amount of time, I would say your accuracy is better than most. It takes a lot of training to be able to shoot fast and accurately, nobody gets it right the first time. I certainly didn’t. Start off taking slow calculated shots and then when you can shoot at the target better, that’s when we can start working on speed, then combine the two together. Plus,” he added, “I don’t get it perfect every time. Nobody does. You’d have to be a god to do that.”

Halt still looked a bit sulky about the shot, but at least not as much as before. He was impatient, Pritchard had discovered a while ago, wanting to get things done quickly and accurately. Pritchard just had to get Halt to take things more slowly. It was a hard habit to break out of, harder depending on how stubborn the person was, and Halt was an annoyingly stubborn person, but Pritchard was convinced that the boy could do it. Eventually. 

“Try another shot,” Pritchard said, “but this time take your time.” Halt did what he was told and silently took another arrow from the quiver at his waist. He laid it on the string, pulled it back, and judged the shot. Slowly and carefully, trying not to snatch at the string, he released the arrow. It slammed straight into the middle of the target. A perfect shot.

“Well done boy!” Pritchard said, ruffling Halt’s hair, but Halt pushed his hand away.

“Don’t touch me!” He snapped, “And don’t call me boy.” 

Pritchard laughed and moved his hand back to his side. “Sorry kid,” he said, “I forgot.”

Halt glared at him angrily for a couple more seconds before turning back towards the target. He was proud of himself, even if it was only one arrow.

“Try another one,” Pritchard said, and Halt pulled out another arrow and repeated the process of nocking and releasing it, once again taking his time. The arrow landed in the centre of the target again. Another perfect shot.

“Good job,” Pritchard praised. “Do another one and try to keep this pace.” Halt nodded and did another. And another. And then another five. All of them got into the centre apart from one that got off centre when Halt released too fast.

Overall they were pretty good shots.

“I think that's enough for today,” Pritchard said as Halt hit one more almost perfect shot. Halt lowered his bow and looked at his mentor curiously. 

“What are we going to do now?”

Pritchard thought for a couple seconds. “How would you feel about a history lesson on Araluen?”

Can't be bothered to edit this shit so I won't, I'm just leaving it up to spell check. Once again for the mood board thing, I couldn't think of anything else to add so I put a nice bird. You're welcome. Hope you liked it, I should be doing school work right now but I'm not because I can't be bothered to and we have a reliever so I can get away with it. Yippee.

[honourablejester]

Tagged by @theoutcastrogue to press shuffle on my general listening playlist 10 times and relate the results. Thanks!  

I don’t have spotify or what have you, I usually listen to music on youtube on my laptop. But I’ve got a couple of playlists I’ve made, and if I shake them a bit, what comes out is:

Konya Wa Hurricane, Kinuko Omori/’Priss & the Replicants’. (It’s the opening song for the Bubblegum Crisis OVA series, the cyberpunk anime series of the 80s. In universe, it’s a song by one of the main characters and her band, aptly named Priss and the Replicants, which I love).

Sin City, Meredith Brooks. (I’m pretty sure this was from/for a Nic Cage movie, let me look this up, yes, Snake Eyes. But it’s a good noir sort of a song. “Change the names to protect the guilty, you’ll never leave Sin City … where you are king”).

Short Change Hero, The Heavy. (I’m 90% sure I first heard this song on a TF2 machinima, but it’s such a cool vibe for a post-apocalyptic western sort of deal. “This ain’t no place for no hero, this ain’t no place for better man. This ain’t no place for no hero to call home.”)

Power of the Night, Terrence Mann/’Johnny Steel’. (I’m starting to realise I have a lot of songs from various soundtracks on my lists. This one is from Critters, supposedly from the in-universe rockstar the alien hunters take the shape of. It’s a pretty sweet rock song though, and I do love Terrence Mann).

Keep the Streets Empty For Me, Fever Ray. (An eerie, drifting track that I think is about urban emptiness. Great thing to listen to at 4am on a thin night).

Labirynt, Zbigniew Preisner. (Again, if you want something drifting and eerie and vaguely unsettling. I cannot for the life of me remember how I stumbled across this, but it’s beautiful).

Spanish Train, Chris de Burgh. (Spanish Train & Other Stories was one of the tapes that always came on car journeys when we were kids. Chris de Burgh is one of the things from my childhood that really stuck. I love his story songs. Spanish Train is a fabulous little folk tale about god and the devil playing poker for the souls of a damned train).

Splitting the Atom, Massive Attack. (I found this because of the video, because the video is wild. A slow pan through a fractured black glass city to find the bizarre source of destruction at the centre. But the song itself is also great, a slow, dark, threatening rhythm. I also like their song Angel, and it’s also on my playlist).

Fancy, Reba McEntire. (I do not, as a general rule, listen to much country music, but I do like a few by Reba McEntire. This one is dark, about a girl whose mother sells her into prostitution because they desperately need money, and the woman the girl became coming back later after she’s made a life for herself to forgive her for it).

Starlight Brigade, TWRP. (This one was, again, because of the video, but it’s such a fantastic video. If they made a whole damn show of this, a-la Galaxy Rangers, or an animated music video move a-la Daft Punk’s/Leiji Matsumoto’s Interstella 5555, I would absolutely watch it. And the song itself is a fantastic synthy cheerful unabashed sci-fi cheese, and I love it).

I'm too scrambled for tagging right now, but anyone who wants to showcase their weird music choices, feel free to blame me!

[fruit-salad-ship]

Thanks discord, this wouldn’t leave me alone.

Have some fluff. I nicknamed this ‘a decent proposal’ as a joke but it kind of works.

For the hundredth time since the trio returned from their wonderful holiday, sunned and relaxed, Plum had demanded a fight. Peach being tolerant to her demands, and use to the usual crowd asking to brawl with her, just took it as another little claw at being an irritation. They fought, normally verbally but for months the ranger had taken loss after loss. Not once did the professor throw a punch or act offensively, it was all swift footwork and defence. She refused to raise a hand to her companion. No matter how much she baited her. A benefit to hisui perhaps, she had become far more patient and calm. The taunts from her opponent did not get under her skin, and there was no want in her to take this seriously, she joked about for every battle, and even went as far as to teach Plum some moves as they threw hands, to at least use the time wisely, and help her companion gain some skills. There wasn’t any way in hell that she’d be beaten by someone so small and unassuming, and so this felt fine to do.

And so, like clockwork, the two met after work hours, when all was calm and quiet on the island, grey turning up to sit at the sides and cheer them on, unable to take a side. Most of the time he just enjoyed the time they spent together. He had however, secretly been training plum, and quietly found great joy when she got a tiny step closer to winning. You see, the ranger had a plan. The egotistical woman she battled would get cocky, lazy, she fell into patterns only when she didn’t take you seriously, and so each time they fought, the ranger would take note, developing the perfect counter, the best way to down the giant without getting caught up in it herself. When peach worked, fought the Pokemon 10X her size, and won, she observed. It was weight transfers, pressure points, clever misdirects and the use of an opponents powers against them. She watched. She waited. She learnt.

The two went about their volatile dance, a mocking professor and plum, feigning frustration, leading her opponent to believe she didn’t have a cool collected head on her shoulders, and just as predicted, peach got lazy. Hit after hit she either took the impact, or redirected, footwork anticipated. She plants a foot and feels it get swiped out from under her while her weights off centre. For the first time against the ranger, Peach falls. Grey looks up from his phone, realising the plan had come to fruition, suddenly more invested. He too is aware of the plan Plum has, one she’s brewed for months, since peach had returned from Hisui and been open and honest with them. That moment sealed the trios fate, and set plum’s scheme in motion.

Before there was time to even register that her lazy approach had been foiled, the larger woman was caught in a painful lock, little hands managing to pull her in such a way that the pressure of her own movements hurt. A knee held one limb, plums entire form having to work overtime to stop her just pushing free. To Peach this was admirable, she’d underestimated her opponent, and at no one’s fault but her own, she had found herself in a predicament. Part of her couldn’t help but smile, this was an impressive feat. Through a laugh she relaxed her body, stopped fighting it, her opponent not cracking for a second.

“Congrats you little runt, you win.” The sharp grin as she looked back as far as she could to the ranger, face pressed into the floor stopping her from freely moving. She could hear the exhaustion of plum, the heavy breathing, the shake in her grip that refused to quit, the weight of her entire body pressed into the knee on the larger woman’s back. Peach however felt fine, hardly broke a sweat, could have worked hard to avoid this, but got lazy and after so long, and so many attempts to win, being put on her ass countless times, perhaps it was ok to let plum have this one. The grip loosened, weight on her reduced, and she was able to sit up on her elbows, looking back more, finally turning to face the victor. She looked exhausted, a sight that softened the professor as she got more comfortable, cross legged now, head leant on her hand as she quietly waited.

No words came out of Plum for a moment, still catching her breath, contemplating.

Grey across the room was shocked, she finally did it, finally won a fight, his hand fumbled something in his pocket as he returned his phone, waiting, breath hitched in his lungs.

“Well? Last time you won, by cheating might I add, you asked for something filthy. What’s the request this time?” Her mocking tone and clear calmness to losing was a change, she’d grown a lot, was more impressed with her companions grit, than angry that she’d lost. A notable difference.

“Uh-“ her eyes darted to Grey, his nod of ‘you’ve got this’ comforting, it grounded her, he always did. Peach tracked where she was looking, smiling to the big man, he was grinning, no doubt because of the win and loss that just occurred. “say yes.” Peach reset her gaze on the ranger, focusing on the simple ring in her hand, held out to her. She cocked her head and took it, turning it over in her hand.

“say yes to what? You haven’t given me…anything to…” for someone so smart, and so sharp, she really could be so incredibly stupid sometimes. She shot a gaze up from the item in her grasp, plums face a combination of determined ambition and worry, not a smile, not a frown, brow crunched, not saying a word where she sat on her knees, only just having caught her breath from the fight. Grey watched, seeing the other professor look to him, not sure what to do, as if to look for his confirmation? Support? Help? He too pulled a similar ring from his pocket, grinning with it in his hand. The dots connected, peach seeing this was planned, and suddenly all the months of fighting plum felt kind of dumb. She was just having some fun but this was so much more to them both the entire time.

Plum readied her argument, she’d prepared the fight, not only the physical one, but the emotional one that felt inevitable. Any second now she’d have to bring up all the moments they’d shared, how far their companionship had gone from enemies, to this, something irreplaceable.

She had discussed this with grey, and he had told her what happened when he brought up the prospect of engagement, or even just official commitment, but it was many years ago now, and peach was a different person, someone cold and deceptive. They both knew her now, her true name, her life, how she was raised, what she’d done. There was no more hiding, and it felt like since that moment, things had been the best they’d even been, something none of them wanted to give up or lose. So much so, plum wanted to take matters into her own hands. It was hard to read, but plum could see the other woman thinking hard, the way she scrunched her nose a little a clear tell. She use to think it an angry action but it was a pensive one.

“That’s a…huh…” Stumped, eyeing the simple band in her hand, knowing if she looked at plum, even for a second, she couldn’t think straight, would cave to her without giving it some genuine thought. They deserved an honest answer. After a moment, the ranger opened her mouth to try to find the right words that’d convince her, finally seeing the woman sitting ahead of her look up. “That’s a reasonable request.”

She blinked, hard, not certain of how she got away without having to argue this.

“what?” She wasn’t sure wether to laugh or cry, watching peach don the ring, one of several on her hands. Grey was already on his feet, speedily heading towards them, shocked at the amount his beloved partner had grown, and how they could do something proper about it finally. His big tight grasp bundled them up, and only then did it truly sink in for the smallest of the trio. It was only when they were free to pull back from the tight embrace that both the bigger members noticed plums tears, laughing at her attempts to wipe them away without success.

“you’re such a baby.” A loving, teasing sentiment as peach planted a big kiss on the rangers nose, holding her face to squish it gently.

Grey carried the little victor home on his back, a quite success to the days events, hand in hand with peach, able to feel the new addition to the collection on her hand.

[aquadestinyswriting]

WIP Series: Destiny's New Servants- Fangthane's Folly Edition

This is a masterpost of all the writing to do with the Destiny's New Servants campaign from Meredith's perspective as well as the side stories of things that happened 'offscreen'.

Genres- High Fantasy, drama, angst, new adult

Themes-  Corruption and abuse of power, Religious schisms and the politics involved, crisis of faith, racism and xenophobia, classism, growing up, good and evil, family (both biological and found)

Synopsis:  Fangthane has stood as the shining beacon of dwarven-kind upon Titan for millenia, but the aftermath of the Demon Wars ten years ago has left the city-state with wounds that have only barely begun to heal. Unfortunately, there are those both within and without that would see the mountain crumble. Relations with the city-state of Toreguarde have been fraught since the Drakemari Empire became involved in its construction, but things have been more or less amicable until recently. With the rise of the dread Necromancer, Darkhide, problems both old and new are threatening to ignite a war that Fangthane can barely cope with.

In the midst of all of this, a young cleric of Moradin must attempt to navigate the lies and treachery of her own people to uncover the truth at the centre of all this madness. Whether anyone wishes to listen to said truth… well that’s another matter entirely.

Main Characters

Meredith Gruksdottir: The young cleric in question. Sent to Toreguarde to permanently seal up the Hellmouth under the wizard's tower, now she needs to sort out fact from fiction before a schism tears her people apart.

Jotunn Ragnarsson: The High Priest of Moradin in Fangthane, who is trying to seek out the evil that has taken root within the mountain. All the while, navigating the delicate politics involved in preventing his people from going to war against Toreguarde.

Yoruk Copperheart: Meredith’s fiancé. He has recently returned from overseas, only to find things have gone horribly wrong in his absence.

Ionah Copperheart: Yoruk’s mother. Seeking to gain power by any means necessary.

Skarld Firetome: Recently elected Archlector. Has his own agenda, contradictory to the religion he claims to follow

Garl Grimbeard: Recently elected High Inquisitor. A slimy sort who, like Firetome, has his own agenda very much contradictory to the religion he claims to follow. Has a massive grudge against Meredith and her friends.

Side Characters

Elowyn O'Toreguarde: One of Meredith's travelling companions, and her closest friend and confidant. Started out as a rogue-trained officer of the Toreguarde Watch, has since been ordained as a paladin by the Powers That Be.

Aurianna Aurum Filiae: Elowyn's paladin mount. A young gold dragon that typically disguises herself as a small, golden kitten.

Felix Parker-Tinker: Another of Meredith's travelling companions. A gnome sorceror who likes to make undergarments after discovering a talent for it. Is extremely happy-go-lucky and never seems to get angry. This unnerves people.

Darius Wesker: Human sorceror, aged 16 years old, or thereabouts. Is basically Merri and Elowyn's baby brother during the time that he travels with them.

Quentin Goldenrose: Elf ranger with a cougar as an animal companion to start with. Is the party's tracker and scout. Loyal and steadfast, he likes to tease Meredith quite a bit.

Enezeage: Half Orc monk. Isn't too much taller than Felix and is broader than he is tall. The muscle of the group. He doesn't say much, but he lets his fists do most of the talking for him.

Olin Starhammer: High Priest of the Temple of Moradin in Toreguardde. Is basically Merri's honourary granddad.

Stories (in roughly chronological order)

The Adventure Begins

Fight or Flight AO3

An Unusual Discussion AO3

Puzzle of the Heart AO3

A Promise Kept AO3

How to Resurrect a God AO3

A Little Chat AO3

The Darkhide Arc

Slipping of the Mask AO3

Cracking the Anvil AO3

On The Edge AO3

The Hand That Wields AO3

Broken Soul AO3

Letting Go AO3

Fangthane's Folly

A Hero's Respite AO3

Where Secrets Lie AO3

Splitting the Anvil AO3

Keeping Faith AO3

Truth's Embers AO3

Fire Hollowed Souls AO3

Eye of the Storm AO3

An Solas as Gràdhaiche

The Anvil's Fall

The Anvil's Fall AO3

Trapped in the Dark AO3

Bitter Truths, Sweet Lies AO3

The End Game

Hell and Back AO3

End Game AO3/How it Ends AO3

A Long Overdue Conversation AO3

Tag list (dm for +/-): @druidx

[aoicourier]

December 3rd, 2281

Well, today went great.

We did another security sweep of the Dam this morning. Once again, I didn't spot anything suspicious.

President Kimball of the New California Republic arrived exactly on schedule, his vertibird soaring in and landing lightly on the roof of the visitor's centre. He was a handsome man in the most well-fitting suit I've ever seen. He was escorted to the stage by a squad of rangers. I barely paid attention to his speech, something about the NCR carrying the torchlight of freedom across the wasteland. I was too busy scanning the nearby rocks for any sign of Legion assassins to take it in.

I should have been looking the other way.

Just as Kimball was presenting Private Watson with his medal, a single gunshot rang out, echoing across the Dam. The President… well, to say his head exploded like a melon wouldn't be inaccurate. As his lifeless body slumped to the stage, everyone else hit the deck, waiting for a second shot. It never came. The assassin had already fled. When I investigated the tower the shot had come from, I found a dead NCR sniper at the base. His throat had been cut. The assassin must have infiltrated the tower, killed the sniper, used his rifle to take out the President, and then vanished, probably deep into the power plants underneath the Dam where there were a hundred places to hide.

My mistake had been assuming the NCR could defend themselves. I'd been too busy watching the rocks to babysit their trained snipers.

We didn't stick around to deal with the fallout. I predict that the Legion will already be planning their attack on the Dam, to take advantage of the confusion caused by Kimball's death. We need to be ready. Leaving the Dam behind, we marched down the road towards El Dorado. If Boone had anything to say about the President of his former Republic being assassinated, he kept it to himself. By the time we got to the substation Yes Man had told me about, the NCR troops there were already talking about it. Radios all across the country must have been relaying the news of Kimball's death.

This substation was where the NCR redirected the power they generated in the Mojave back home to California and the other states controlled by the NCR. The troops there were on edge, no doubt because of the assassination, and I was warned not to enter. The safeties on their weapons were off. I stepped out of sight and changed into the ranger uniform, hat and sunglasses I'd stashed in my bag in case a situation like this arose. Then, after night fell and a heavy rain had began to fall, I walked inside the station, keeping my head low. It only took me a few moments to locate the terminal and place Yes Man's override chip inside it. Then I walked out, into the night, into the rain. As far as I know, nobody saw me.

We hiked to the trading post where I'd first met Veronica, just up the hill, and that's where I'm writing this. I would press on towards New Vegas, but the roads are too dangerous after dark.

The next few days are going to decide the future of the Mojave for decades to come. I just hope there's a place for me in it.

[rpking99]

Out of curiosity, both because can't remember enough of the OG show, and maybe if its different in the comics, what training did the rangers do in Ernie's bar? It wasn't just karate or anything like that was it?

Honestly, while Ernie's juice bar was a... well... juice bar, it was also a multi purpose rec centre.

Jason taught karate classes. But they also had regular gym equipment like punching bags and tredmils

Kimberly practiced her gymnastics via a balance beam and some other stuff like a spring board

They had an open area where Zack practiced his dance when he wasn't training with Jason, Tommy or Trini

And Trini practiced... I belive it was tai kwan do. Was definatly a more 'calm' martial arts than what Jason and Tommy did, at least.

Did get used for stuff like that less and less as the MMPR/Zeo/Turbo era went on though. And more focused on the random events Ernie would set up there or just the bar area where you could order smoothies or food

[bsaka7]

Mikel Arteta at Rangers and his title-clinching penalty: 'He pulled rank on everyone' - Jordan Campbell

As the go-karts whizzed around the chicane, each player was treated to the usual jeers and taunts from their Rangers team-mates waiting to race. Karting had become a regular team-building exercise for Rangers in the 1990s, but there was one unusual sight on this afternoon in 2002 that caused the rest of the squad to double-take.

“Mikel Arteta was driving one-handed. We couldn’t believe it,” laughs former Rangers full-back Maurice Ross.

“We gave him pelters at the time but, if we’re talking about coolness and being in control, then that was Mikel in a nutshell.”

His unassuming persona made an immediate impression, but fast forward to May 25 the following year and Arteta faces the most intense scrutiny of those qualities imaginable.

Heading into the final day of the 2002-03 season, Rangers and Celtic are neck and neck. Level on 94 points and inseparable on goal difference, the only column that differs is that Rangers have scored 95 and Celtic have scored 94.

It is a minor advantage, but with 92 minutes on the clock, Rangers 5-1 up at Ibrox against Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic 4-0 up at Rugby Park, that was still the only difference. A last-gasp goal for Celtic would see the helicopter carrying the trophy turn west to Kilmarnock.

Cue a 93rd-minute penalty to Rangers. All eyes are now on who would dare to be the hero.

Twenty-year-old Arteta. He casually strokes the ball into the bottom right corner, sending goalkeeper Derek Stillie the wrong way, and produces the most iconic of images with his celebration.

Shaking both of his hands wildly above his head, fingers splayed like a raptor, he sprinted towards the jubilant fans at the Copland Road end. He pulled down his shirt from the badge and threw a fist pump like an uppercut before being swarmed. Rangers were champions of Scotland for the 50th time.

“My brother-in-law gave me a picture of that moment and enlarged it. I’ve got it in a frame in my house. I can still hear the noise through it now,” his then-manager Alex McLeish tells The Athletic.

The mystery? How the baby-faced Spaniard, mostly seen and not heard, ended up with the ball in his arms.

He was in a team of big names including Lorenzo Amoruso, Arthur Numan, Barry Ferguson, Claudio Caniggia, Shota Arveladze, Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols. Only Caniggia and Mols were not on the pitch at that moment and even their replacements, 29-year-old Neil McCann and Scotland striker Steven Thompson, may have had cause to claim the ball.

Granted, Ferguson had missed two in one game against Dundee the month earlier, which saw Arteta take the third penalty and score, but under such pressure, it would have been natural to revert to authority.

“He pulled rank on everybody. Ronald must have said, ‘Let him take it, he’ll bury it’,” adds McLeish.

“Who, me?” asks De Boer. “No, he just took the ball. That says something about his personality.”

“No one argued. There was a confidence in him within our team. We had no doubt he was going to score,” adds Australian centre-back Craig Moore.

Within a year of joining from Barcelona, Arteta had earned the trust of his seniors and cemented his place in Rangers folklore.

How Rangers managed to lure him to Glasgow surprised even those who brokered the deal, but how his time in Scotland was limited to just two seasons — and a tale of two halves — is a source of frustration for some ex-team-mates.

(Second photo) Arteta (right) chats to Emerson (left), Nuno Capucho and Michael Mols in training (Photo: Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)

His move only came about due to Rangers being drawn to face Paris Saint-Germain in the third round of the UEFA Cup in November 2001, which saw manager Dick Advocaat request a report from chief scout Ewan Chester. He went to watch PSG twice, away from home in freezing conditions, and returned with the message to look past the glamorous names. ‘Young Arteta is their most influential player’, his report read.

After two legs, in which Arteta delivered an outstanding performance at Ibrox, Rangers went through on penalties. It was a huge feat but when McLeish took over the next month, the talk was still about the boy with jet-black hair and blushed cheeks who had strolled around the pitch as if he owned it.

“He was so mature. You could immediately see he came from that Barcelona background. I thought, ‘Who is that guy?’,” De Boer tells The Athletic.

McLeish knew he had to use his finite resources wisely come the summer and so he sought counsel from two wise heads. His assistant Andy Watson provided a glowing review but McLeish sighed when he read his defined position was a holding midfielder.

“I knew right away that would be a problem as we had a phenomenal player of our own making in Barry Ferguson,” McLeish says.

“Could the two of them play together? Andy thought not. He said he was a nice footballer and never really got troubled in the game but it would probably be difficult for him in Scotland.

“So I got Ronald in the office and asked if he thought he could play in different positions. He said he could play anywhere and that he would be a tremendous signing.”

PSG had first refusal on him but Rangers splashed £6million on Arteta. They had finished the previous season strongly by winning both domestic cups, but Celtic had won back-to-back leagues.

There was not a huge influx of players to wrestle back the title, though. Kevin Muscat on a free was the only other signing. All the eggs had been placed in Arteta’s basket.

So when the Spaniard scored six minutes into his first Old Firm derby, a fixture that can define players good or bad, a few sighs will have been let out in the boardroom. “It’s as if you’re in a washing machine at a thousand miles per hour,” Arteta poetically described in 2019, after choosing it as the most ferocious derby he had played in.

(Third photo) McLeish (left) with Nuno Capucho and Arteta in training (Photo: Nick Ponty/SNS Group via Getty Images)

“I try to dictate play, but in that game, you can’t. Don’t even bother. It doesn’t stop. One touch, bam! Next touch, boof! Tackle, shot, corner, we go again! It’s nuts.”

McLeish’s assistant, Jan Wouters, had been a key figure in convincing Arteta he would fit in despite telling him to get ready for 90 minutes of being chased.

“He played his own game with one and two touches,” he says. “Sometimes, you don’t need words to see how important a player can be on the pitch. He took the lead by showing, ‘This is how we want to play, the combination play’.

“It’s a gift. You can learn but only if you have the talent for it. Players around him could see he was a fantastic player and that made it easy to accept if he said something.

“Players were physical with him but he could be mean if needed, too, don’t forget that. He would be tricky with it so no one noticed it.”

His own team-mates wanted to test his mettle and see if he was ready for the cauldron of Scottish football.

“He was quite slight, so in his first session I tried to go in and nick the ball from him,” says former full-back Maurice Ross.

“But he had this ability like a basketball player where they show it with one hand and then shift it to the other side of their body so you can’t see it or get round him. That was when you realised just how strong his legs were.

“It was normal to be roughed up. No one was given special treatment. Billy Dodds’ wife used to stay behind the training ground and one day she said, ‘What the hell was happening in training today with the noise?’. That was just Scotland boys vs the rest of the world. It was like a cup final most days, it was mental.”

Arteta’s ability won him respect instantly, but his team-mates speak of a player who appeared to be acutely aware of the hierarchy he had entered.

“He hardly spoke apart from the few he got close to as he was a quiet boy… but he had this stare,” says Ross.

“That can lead to people thinking, ‘Oh, he’s a bit mysterious, a bit deep, a bit aloof, maybe he doesn’t want to talk to us’. But he just didn’t get involved in the extra stuff and I admired him for that. It wasn’t bravado or forced, it was just this calm authority. He just knew he was the mustard.”

Arteta was friends with Argentinian winger Claudio Caniggia as they could speak in Spanish, and Georgian defender Zurab Khizanishvili says he and his wife often went for dinner with Arteta’s now-wife Lorena Bernal at popular Glasgow haunts O Sole Mio and Il Pavone.

They were both young and adjusting to the pressure and spotlight.

“At Rangers, you have to win every game. All I ever heard before a game in the dressing room was ‘three points’. Alex McLeish would say, ‘I don’t care how, I just need three points’, even if it was against Man United,” says Khizanishvili.

The person who got to know him best, though, was De Boer. Having spent a season at Barcelona in 1999 before joining Rangers, he felt duty-bound to make sure Arteta settled in Scotland.

“I had the father-son role,” says De Boer.

“Me and my wife took him everywhere with his girlfriend and got on really well, so I took him under my wing. He was a great son. Humble and always wanted to listen and learn.

“You saw some moments where you could see him maybe thinking, ‘What am I doing here?’. But there were other times I thought, ‘Jesus, he’s really stepping up now and doesn’t give in’.”

De Boer describes a little “shoulder rubbing” with Ferguson over who was seen as the main catalyst in possession, but Ross says their egos worked “silently in the background” to propel each other.

It was an interesting jigsaw as Ferguson was ‘Mr Rangers’, the heartbeat of the team who constantly demanded the ball incessantly and represented everything the club stood for in a city where symbolism is king.

“In the first season, we deployed Mikel on the left with the freedom to come inside and interact with Barry while supporting the front men,” says McLeish.

“It worked absolutely amazingly for us. Barry ran the show and Arteta was the playmaker coming in on his right foot. He was a revelation. If he had played central midfielder for us he would have been kicked all over the place.

(Fourth photo) Ferguson (second right) and Arteta learned to work together in midfield (Photo: Matthew Ashton/EMPICS via Getty Images)

“The game was tougher then — referees let you get away with a bit more. Celtic were a big strong team, so it may have been a bit too much in a defensive midfield role. We played him in the right position for that moment.”

Rangers won a domestic treble and Arteta played 35 times, scored five goals and looked every bit the superstar they were hoping he would be. But De Boer maintains that it still wasn’t the optimal solution.

“People said he couldn’t stand the physical part of the game, but I told people to give him time as I only learned what football really was at 20. He was a raw diamond, we just had to polish him,” says the Dutchman.

“In the beginning, it should have been 60 per cent Ferguson to demand the game and Mikel 40 per cent, but as his level progressed, by the end it should have been 60 per cent Mikel the playmaker as he had more skills.

“Barry was a tremendous player box to box but the real artistry was Mikel. They wanted to give Ferguson that role but that was a mistake in my eyes.”

Come the second season, that was a moot point. Arteta was now in a very different team.

It was widely appreciated that Rangers were looking to raise funds, but McLeish had half of his team gutted. Ferguson and Amoruso were sold to Blackburn Rovers, McCann moved to Southampton, Caniggia went to Qatar and Numan retired.

Half the senior starters exited and Rangers spent less than £1million on refreshing the squad as Sir David Murray attempted to cut the wage bill amid rising debts. Arteta even came out publicly to deny claims from Rangers executives that he had asked to go back to Spain.

“I was worried beforehand about the crowd’s reaction, but I love these fans,” Arteta said in August 2003 after a starring performance against Kilmarnock.

“I never said I would like to leave here in the first place. I only ever said that one day I would like to go back to Spain and it’s normal to want to return home sometime. But I am in no hurry. It would be impossible to leave now.”

He remained and took up the mantle from Ferguson at the heart of midfield, but Rangers were a shadow of the team from the previous season. They finished 17 points adrift of Celtic, losing all four league derbies, and failed to reach either of the domestic cup finals.

“This was his chance to play central midfield but I was playing a young cultured player who hadn’t been through the wars and learned to cope himself,” says McLeish.

“We put him to the forefront. Him and Stevie Hughes (a 22-year-old academy player) played in the middle of the park against Manchester United in the Champions League. They got a wee lesson that night against Roy Keane and Scholes but they were valuable.

“He was hugely respectful at all times. We gave him the perfect solution in the first season and a not-so-perfect one in the second season with a depleted squad. He didn’t quite have the shoulders to lean on.”

Arteta left for home at the end of his second season, moving to Real Sociedad for a fee below what Rangers paid for him. It was a crime that Rangers didn’t retain a player of his ability for longer — as De Boer believes they could have if the club had made him feel more important — or at least capitalise on that talent by making a profit.

The official line at the time was that he was homesick, but it was a curt goodbye for a young player who delivered the classiest of debut seasons. Had he stayed for longer, Arteta would have been held in the same esteem as many less talented foreign players are, but as Craig Moore knew after his first few sessions, this was a boy destined for the top.

This article is part of a series on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta which will be published during the international break. The next feature is scheduled for Monday.

Artwork: Sam Richardson, using Getty Images

[rangersfc-1872]

📝 Rangers have confirmed today that Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Borna Barišić, Kemar Roofe and Jon McLaughlin have left the club upon the expiry of their contracts.

Rangers FC statement:

"With a combined 23 seasons at the club, all five players have represented Rangers with commitment and dedication over a number of years.

They were all part of the squad that guided Rangers to the UEFA Europa League final in Seville, with Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe lifting the league title with the club in 2020/21.

All five leave as Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup winners with Rangers in recent years.

Everyone at Ibrox and Rangers’ Training Centre thank the departing players for their time at the club and wish them all the very best for their future careers."

All the best Ryan, John, Borna, Kemar and Jon 💙

[raymondshields]

Every now and then I get the major urge to up and leave and abscond to the Pokémon world, but not as myself - not as an Absol - but as a trainer with my fiance and best friends. Specifically the scene in the Mewtwo movie when the trainers are all at the Pokémon Centre trying to figure out how to get to the island, and the train scene in Giratina when they get directions from the pretty lady with the double chin.

I don't even enjoy battling that much in Platinum and Yet I'm just like "hee hoo want to cross Hoenn on foot with my pack family and have Adventures :)" like tf. If I'm going back to the Pokémon world I'm gonna do it as myself, as an Absol, and probably unionize the partners of Ranger HQ in Almia because I know how to do that now.

And Yet.

[softquietsteadylove]

Hello. What if Gil is flying on the back of dragonite to check the field and when dragonite sees Thena he joyfully and carelessly rushes to her forgetting that Gil is on his back. When dragonite suddenly stops on the ground beside Thena Gil looses his grip and falls pretty hard on his back and even loses consciousness for a few minutes?

Would be a little hurt comfort for Thenamesh Pokémon AU

Gil groaned, turning over in bed. He reached out for the closest comfort, finding something soft to bury his nose against. He smiled to himself, "Thena."

"Ursa?"

"Hm?" Gil hummed with a sigh. It was rare for him to wake up with a headache, and his back was killing him. He tightened his arms around what he thought was Thena. Although he wasn't smelling mountain air and her clover-honey shampoo. It smelled like razz berries and whatever laundry detergent she used. "Thena?"

"Ur," the little cub poked Gil in the head again, "sa. Ursa!"

Gil blinked, fully woken up by the claw poking his cheek just gently enough not to draw blood. He looked around him, finding Teddiursa seated on the pillow next to him. Thena had never been next to him, it was their little bear cub.

That was only a little disappointing.

"What happened?" Gil asked as he rolled onto his back to stare up at his ceiling. Except it wasn't his ceiling, it was Thena's. He looked over at the edge of the bed where Dragonite was resting his chin with a remorseful look on his face. "Do I wanna know?"

Dragonite let out a long, drawn out sigh before explaining the situation. They had been on patrol when they had spotted Thena on the ground waving to them. Dragonite, in his own words(?), described how he had nose dived to meet her, somewhat forgetting that Gil wasn't actually strapped into his harness, rather holding onto it lightly. In his excitement, Dragonite hadn't cushioned the landing and all but tossed Gil down to the ground at a pretty intense velocity.

No wonder his back hurt so much.

"Aw, it's okay, buddy," Gil smiled at his poor partner pokemon, who was whining at him with tears in its eyes. He patted the dragon type on the snoot, "I know you didn't mean to."

"He hasn't left your side."

Gil didn't exactly jump up out of bed, but he rolled his head to look at Thena as she walked in. She was clearly done with training for the day, dressed in cozy and casual home clothes as she walked in with a glass of water and some pills.

"I could barely get him to stop crying for the first hour," Thena smiled, letting Dragonite lean his head against her stomach for comfort. She petted its head between its antennae. "Had to move my bed so he could fit next to it.

Now that she mentioned it, it was oddly off centre from the rest of the room, Gil realised. But that made sense--her bedroom wasn't designed to house a fully grown Dragonite in addition to her queen sized bed.

Dragonite looked up at her with watery eyes until she kissed the tip of his nose to comfort him.

She sat beside Gil, bending one knee as she leaned over him. "Take these, it'll help with at least some of the pain."

"Thanks," he murmured, accepting the pills and tossing them back right away. He raised the glass of water to his lips. Thena's hand was at the back of his head, raising it up just enough to swallow. "How long have I...?"

"Dragonite brought you back to the house a few hours ago," Thena said softly, tucking some hair behind her ear. "I already called the ranger centre and explained the situation. They said you're fine to stay the night here and report back in the morning if you're feeling up to it."

"Right," Gil sighed. He felt like he was cashing an awful lot of sick days in the past few months.

"Stop worrying about it."

Gil opened his eyes again, finding Thena leaning over into his line of view. Arceus, she was beautiful.

"You work longer and harder than anyone there, Gil," Thena asserted, not willing to accept any argument on whether or not he should return to work. "You need to rest."

"Okay, okay," he chuckled. He looked over to find Teddiursa mimicking her stern expression, his little paws crossed at him. Gil poked him in the tummy, immediately breaking his serious facade. "What did you two get up to today?"

Thena picked up Teddiursa and placed him delicately on top of Gil's chest. "You tell him all about it. I'm just going to get another blanket."

Gil watched her go, wanting to open his mouth and ask her to come lie down with him. But he kept quiet, shifting his attention to their little cub as he started going through what had brought them out to the valley in the first place.

Dragonite watched on from the side of the bed, still worriedly keeping an eye on his dear ranger. He looked up with a smile as Thena came back, throwing the largest blanket she had over his back for him, as well as giving him another kiss on the horn.

"Um," Gil spoke up from his spot in the centre of her bed, "he gets one and I don't?"

"What do you think this is?--the pokemon centre?" Thena teased him right back, although she was already on her way to throwing another blanket over him, despite him already being snuggled under her duvet.

Teddiursa wiggled his way out from under the extra blanket. "Ursa!"

"Sorry, buddy, go on," Gil chuckled, still listening to Teddi even though his eyes were on Thena. She drifted away from the bed again and he cleared his throat (loudly).

Thena turned back to him, wondering what he needed. He held out his hand and flexed his fingers at her. "What?"

He repeated the motion behind Teddiursa's back. His eyes held hers as she came back to him until he could hold her hand in his. He even laced their fingers together for good measure.

"What do you need, Gil?" she asked gently, ready to do whatever it took to make him feel better.

He pulled at her hand, Teddiursa chattering on underscoring their silent conversation. She shook her head but he pulled again, "please?"

Thena sighed. How could she say no to him when he was looking at her like that? "Gil."

"I'll sleep much better," he promised her, which they both knew was Tauros-shit.

Thena rolled her eyes at him but let him pull her onto her own bed with him. She settled on top of her covers and duvet, although Gil and Teddiursa both fixed the extra blanket so it was over her as well.

"Teddi?"

"Yes, sweetheart, go on," Thena smiled, even though the cub pokemon was describing the day they had passed together. She would know everything he was about to say, but she wasn't about to interrupt her little sweetie-poffin.

Gil let his head roll to the side so he could look at Thena next to him. Teddiursa was still talking excitedly, but Gil focused on the feeling of rubbing his thumb against the softness of Thena's skin.

Thena kept her eyes on him as he drifted off to sleep in record time. She wasn't entirely sure what had prompted him to ask her to lie down with him, but she obviously wasn't good at saying no to him.

"Ursa?"

"Yes, he's asleep," she whispered to Teddi as she pulled the covers up higher over their ranger. She looked at him, and then at Dragonite, "did either of you mention...?"

Both pokemon shook their heads, though.

Thena had been lying next to Gil up until about 15 minutes before he woke up. She hadn't intended on telling him, though, so she didn't know how he had somehow known to ask her to do it again.

[dreamings-free]

interview with Louis in the March issue of FourFourTwo magazine 2/2/23

full text under the cut..

by Paul Wilkes

Which was the first match that you ever went to?

I actually got into football quite late, when I started playing at around 11. There were a few Manchester United fans in the family, so the first match I ever went to was an unbelievable first game: the FA Cup fifth round tie against Arsenal in February 2003 – the match when Sir Alex Ferguson kicked the boot and hit David Beckham! My best memories come from Doncaster, who are the only club I support now. We had a fantastic League Cup run in 2005 – we beat Manchester City on penalties, then beat Aston Villa 3-0 and lost to Arsenal on penalties in the quarter-finals. That was my first real low as a football fan. I can remember walking back home absolutely gutted.

Who was your childhood hero and did you ever meet them?

James Coppinger is my club hero – he played at every level and really played for the badge. Everyone in Donny loves him and he’s a great bloke, too. After I got into One Direction, I was lucky to meet him and play alongside him a couple of times in charity games. As a fan growing up watching him, that was amazing. The best person I’ve ever met in football was Pele. I met him about four or five years ago and it was incredible – he had all these stories and we spoke for ages. He was lovely.

What’s been your finest moment playing football?

I played in Soccer Aid and Ronaldinho tried to nutmeg me. I was all over his shirt, giving him no respect, and I just managed to nick the ball off him! There’s a sick picture that I’ve seen of it [right]. The other moment was when I was about 15. I started as a centre-back, but didn’t grow any taller so moved across to right-back and scored the only Sunday League goal I ever scored. I’ll never forget it.

What do you like most about going to the match?

The whole atmosphere, that magic. When you have those experiences as a young lad, there’s an element of nostalgia each time you go inside a football stadium.

Which player do you admire even though they’ve never played for your club?

As some of my family supported Manchester United, I was never allowed to like Thierry Henry, but those grudge matches against Arsenal were amazing. He was a serious player.

Where’s the best place you’ve ever watched a game?

The Bernabeu – it was Neymar’s first ever Clasico for Barcelona against Real Madrid, which was pretty special. It’s one of the bucket list fixtures to go to. When I was young, Doncaster signed me as a reserve player and I went to a pre-season training camp in Portugal. As a supporter of the club, that’s not something you’re normally privy to, so watching how the squad trained and prepared was fascinating.

A few years ago, you filmed a music video with Bebe Rexha on the pitch at the Keepmoat Stadium. What was that like?

It was really important for me in my career. The reason I’m sat here today is because of Doncaster – it’s played a huge role. It’s who I am as a person and it’s what I write songs about. The fact we were able to film the video at the Keepmoat, where I’ve spent many days and evenings, made it so special. It felt appropriate.

What’s your favourite football book?

It’s not a book, but Fourfourtwo! I used to subscribe when I was younger. I’m not a big reader otherwise. I should be, but I’m not.

What’s been your worst experience at a game?

I was playing in a charity match at Celtic Park. I got the ball and turned to my right, then Gabby Agbonlahor came through the back of me and I tore my medial ligament. A combination of the impact and me being very unfit meant I ended up throwing up all over Celtic’s stadium, which I know will please a lot of Rangers supporters.

Have any footballers been to a gig?

Paul Pogba came to a One Direction show once, that’s the one that stands out – he was really sound. I won’t lie, I don’t think many footballers listen to One Direction songs.

Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever met a footballer?

I was in this bar somewhere in South America and, purely by chance, Bryan Robson was there with a few friends. He was a bit drunk. We went straight over and he was nice, but it was one of those times where you think, ‘What is he doing here?!’ [Laughs]

What’s the greatest goal you’ve ever seen live?

I was at Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s debut for LA Galaxy, because I spend some time over in Los Angeles. The LAFC keeper launched the ball upfield and it was cleared back to Zlatan about 40 yards out. He watched it bounce and then smashed it over the keeper’s head, an unbelievable goal. I love him – I like a bit of s**thousery in my footballers, and he’s always had that.

Who’s your current favourite player?

The obvious answer is Erling Haaland, because any fan seeing him rack up the goals this season has been totally in awe. Even if you support Manchester United, you watch him and think he’s superb. But for me, Jude Bellingham. I’m so excited by Jude – he’s been in brilliant form this season, even before the World Cup.

If you could drop yourself into your all-time five-a-side team, who would you be playing next to?

Well, I play at the back, so I want me and Rio Ferdinand. I’d pick Edwin van der Sar, he was a top keeper in his day, then in midfield I’d have Ronaldinho – I grew up loving his football. Up front, I’ll go for Cristiano Ronaldo.

What’s the most important piece of memorabilia that you have?

I had a Doncaster home shirt as a kid that I associate with growing up. A few years ago, I bought the same shirt in my current size – it’s special to me, and when I met Pele I asked him to sign it. That was the pinnacle.

Louis Tomlinson’s solo album, ‘Faith In The Future’, is available to buy now.

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 11/9

MARIAH CAREY HAS DEFROSTED. WE REPEAT, MARIAH CAREY HAS DEFROSTED. MAY GOD HELP US ALL. 

Two Graves #1 -  Genevieve Valentine, Ming Doyle, & Annie Wu 

Emilia and the man with the veil of smoke have set out for the ocean in a stolen truck. There's a bloody handprint on his neck. She's beginning to worry it's hers. Death and the Maiden go on a road trip. Nobody gets out alive.

Killchella #1 -  Mario Candelaria & Serg Acuna

A group of friends drive up from Los Angeles to attend an ultra-trendy music festival in the Coachella Valley desert. They soon face a bloody night of terror when a reclusive pop star making her big return after five years recruits her most fanatical devotees to assist in a massive human sacrifice ritual.

Mr. Easta #1 -  Kit Wallis

The gloriously demented mind of Kit Wallis brings the galactic adventures of the third best assassin in the universe to Scout Comics! Incredible, kinetically charged artwork blasts the blood, mayhem and quirky humor directly through your brain like a high-caliber bullet. In this issue, it's Elvis night at an interstellar backwater bar, but with all due respect to the King, that doesn't stop Mr. Easta. With the help of Frank, his teleportation parasite, who can also transform into any handheld weapon imaginable, it's business as usual.

It’s Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth GN -  Zoe Thorogood

Cartoonist ZOE THOROGOOD records six months of her own life as it falls apart in a desperate attempt to put it back together again in the only way she knows how. IT'S LONELY AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH is an intimate metanarrative that looks into the life of a selfish artist who must create for her own survival.

A poignant, slice-of-life-style story perfect for fans of Adrian Tomine's The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist.

Gospel #1 (of 5) - Will Morris & Ver

When opportunity refuses to knock for restless hero Matilde, the devil comes knocking instead. Thrust into action by the hellish arrival, Matilde and storyteller Pitt will quest for answers - answers that threaten to tear them apart and trigger the toughest question of all: "Who am I?" Inspired by the work of Hayao Miyazaki and set in the chaos of King Henry VIII's reign, GOSPEL is a thrilling fantasy adventure that questions the truth behind the stories we tell.

Heavenly Demon Reborn! GN Vol 1 -  O'Emperor & Gom-Guk

In an ancient world where martial artists reign supreme, Unseong can only watch as his master is brutally beaten to death after a false accusation of practicing forbidden demonic arts. Even after a valiant fight, he fails to kill those responsible and faces his own end. But fate has other plans... Instead of taking his last breath, he awakens as a child, training to be an elite soldier of a demonic sect. Now Unseong must embrace the demonic arts and harness power in his ultimate quest for revenge.

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! GN Vol 1 -  Negi Haruba

Attention kaiju and sentai fans! From the creator of The Quintessential Quintuplets comes a new "anti-ranger" action-comedy that'll make you root for the alien invaders! Thirteen years ago, an evil army of mysterious alien monsters invaded the Earth, but the great protectors of mankind-the Divine Dragon Rangers-show up to stop them! To this day, the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance as the fierce struggle continues to unfold! ...Or does it? In truth, the evil aliens were subjugated within the first year, and they've now become nothing more than clowns forced to act out their continuous defeat every week for the entertainment of the masses. They're not real villains, being forced to crank out a monster a week for the Rangers to crush. But one of the aliens has had enough. Something has to change! He'll rebel against the strongest might of the Dragon Rangers and destroy them all from the inside!

Traveling To Mars #1 -  Mark Russell & Roberto Meli

Traveling to Mars tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for this unlikely mission for one simple reason: he is terminally ill and therefore has no expectation of returning. Roy is joined on his mission to Mars by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of god. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization as well, Roy has ample time to think about where things went wrong for both of them and what it means to be a dying god.

Specs #1 (of 4) -  David M. Booher, Chris Shehan & Skylar Patridge

In this mysterious new series from writer David M. Booher (Canto, All-New Firefly) and artist Chris Shehan (House of Slaughter), what happens when a couple of misfit teens mail-order a pair of X-ray glasses, and realize they've received much more than they bargained for? But all Kenny and Ted want is to not feel like outcasts in their small Ohio town. Their world is turned upside down when the Magic Specs they receive unlock a world of possibilities. Their wishes start out innocent enough, but when they wish that their bully would disappear... things take a cursed turn, with far darker consequences than they thought possible...

Avante Guard Yumeko GN -  Shuzo Oshimi

From Shuzo Oshimi, the creator of Blood on the Tracks, The Flowers of Evil, and Happiness. I just want to see it! High schooler Yumeko is your ordinary high school girl except she's obsessed with seeing the male body part in real life. Determined, Yumeko decides to join the art club at school.

All Your Racial Problems Will Soon End HC -  Dr. Charles Johnson

Before Charles Johnson found fame as a novelist and won the National Book Award for Middle Passage in 1991, he was a cartoonist, and a very good one. Taught via mail correspondence course by the comics editor Lawrence Lariar, mentored by the New Yorker cartoonist Charles Barsotti, and inspired by the call of poet Amiri Baraka to celebrate and depict Black life in America, Johnson crafted some of the fiercest and funniest cartoons of the twentieth century. This collection brings together work from across his career: college newspaper gags, selections from his books Black Humor and Half-Past Nation Time, his unpublished manuscript Lumps in the Melting Pot, and uncollected pieces.

Billionaire Island: Cult Of Dogs #1 (of 6) -  Mark Russell & Steve Pugh

The long-awaited return of the "series that's simultaneously infuriating and hysterically funny in its indictment of not just the 1%, but of the people-and the economic system-that enable them" (Comics Beat). The year is 2046, two years after Billionaire Island fell-taking the world's economy with it. Only one man-er, dog-can save us now. But where is Business Dog?

The Knight & The Lady Of Play One-Shot -  Jonathan Luna

JONATHAN LUNA (THE PHALANX, 20XX: TRANSPORT) returns with another one-shot, illustrated in graphite! After a war with demons, knight Signore Vincenzo is traveling home to his wife in Italy. In a swamp, he comes across a mysteriously hypnotic woman, Motta, who tempts him to stay with her.  

Tokyo Aliens GN Vol 1 -  Naoe

This thrilling sci-fi fantasy series welcomes you to Japan, a top ten destination for extraterrestrials looking for refuge, relaxation, a good time, or just to raise a little hell! Shiny new high school first-year Akira is as ordinary as they come. He's awkward, has terrible grades, and loves manga. In fact, the only thing that really sets him apart from his peers is his staunch determination to follow in his late father's footsteps as a police officer. But fate has its own plans for Akira. After witnessing a ferocious battle unfold between two strangers with unusual powers on the train-one of whom looks a lot like the tall, dark, and handsome kid in his grade-he finds himself kidnapped...by none other than an alien!

Lord Of The Jungle #1 -  Dan Jurgens, Benito Gallego & Gary Frank

At long last, the Lord of the Jungle returns to comics! One of the most famous and recognizable characters in the history of fiction is back, starting with an adventure that returns us to the days before his birth, as well as a time later in life, when a past wrong must be made right, no matter what manner of beast or obstacle stands in Tarzan's way. From acclaimed writer Dan Jurgens (Superman, Spider-Man, Thor, Booster Gold, Justice League and so many more) comes a tale that wraps the familiar with something brand new. With epic art by Tarzan newspaper artist Benito Gallego, this is sure to be a book that delivers for Tarzan fans both old and new!

Lastman Book 1 -  Balak, Michael Sanlaville, & Bastien Vives

Adrian Velba has trained all year to fight in the Valley of the Kings' legendary tournament. However, despite his ambition, he has no chance of winning. Not only is his partner unable to compete, but at 12 years old, Adrian is the longest of longshots. That is, until a mysterious, powerful stranger enters town, offering to join forces with Adrian. But who is Richard Aldana? And why in a world of magic does he rely solely on his fists?