#soccer met gala

[stay-dazed]

a simple stray kids guide (for baby stays) ✨

overview: stray kids, or skz for short, is an 8-member korean boy band that debuted on march 25th, 2018 under jype ent. they were formed through a survival show in 2017 with originally 9 members, but one member left the group a year after debut for unknown reasons. there are three subunits to the group: 3racha the rap/producer unit, danceracha the dance unit, and vocalracha the vocal unit. of course, though, all of them do a bit of everything.

stray kids were considered an “experimental group” since the leader of the group was tasked with choosing all the members himself, and coming up with the name, logo, and fandom name of the group. as a group, they produced all their own music as well. they were relatively small for a while but by the time they released their song god’s menu, they were growing in popularity.

now stray kids have had many accomplishments, including: performing at lollapalooza 3 times now, being the first k-pop group invited to the met gala, becoming ambassadors for brands like versace and gucci, winning around 82 awards, and producing an ost for the deadpool movie. they've also recently set a guinness world record for the first ever group to have #1 albums 5 times in a row over the course of only 8 months!

while they are incredibly talented and successful celebrities, they’re also very down to earth, and very connected with their fanbase. they’ve shown openness and vulnerability with their fans by releasing songs with serious topic matters, crying on stage, and talking about their emotions/experiences. personally, they’re the only band i’ve ever seen who feel genuine love for their fanbase.

name: chan bahng

english name: christopher

stage name: bangchan, cb97 in 3racha

age: 26 (october 3rd, 1997)

nationality: australian-korean

languages: english, korean

positions: leader, producer in 3racha, dancer, rapper, vocalist

skzoo: wolfchan

instagram: gnabnahc

basics: chan was born in korea, but moved to australia when he was about 3 or 4 years old. he remained there with his two younger siblings, hannah and lucas, and their cavalier king charles named berry, until he was 13 when he went back to korea to become a k-pop trainee. he trained for about 7 years until he was finally able to debut as stray kids’ leader. chan is very reliable as the leader and dad of the group, but he’s also australian, so he adds to the chaos very well.

fun facts: chan has hypermobile arms and legs, and can turn his hand 360°. he sometimes wears wrist and knee braces due to overextension. chan won many medals in swimming growing up and could’ve gone into that career. along with that, he’s also good in many other sports like soccer and track. chan's hair is naturally curly!

name: minho lee

english name: rhino (yes i’m serious)

stage name: leeknow

age: 25 (october 25th, 1998)

nationality: korean

languages: korean and basic english

positions: lead dancer in danceracha, vocalist, rapper

skzoo: leebit

instagram: t.leeknowsaurus

basics: minho was born and raised in korea as an only child, aside from his cat siblings soonie, doongie, and dori. he moved out of his parents’ home at a fairly young age in order to be closer to his university, where he was said to have studied dance and comp-sci, as well as worked as a waiter for some time. he was called in to train under jype in 2017 and he ended up passing the dance test in only 2 weeks, the shortest period among jype trainees. minho is considered to be a “tsundere” since he’s very blunt, loud, and a bit rough generally, but is very kind and caring inside.

fun facts: minho toured in japan with bts as a backup dancer when he was in highschool. minho has acrophobia, the severe fear of heights, and he cannot swim. minho is well-trained in taekwondo, boxing, and bodyguard martial arts. minho said that the reason he isn’t comfortable showing his abs like some other members do is because he has a scar on his stomach from a surgery he had as a child.

name: changbin seo

english name: lewis

stage name: spearB in 3racha

age: 24 (august 11th, 1999)

nationality: korean

languages: korean and intermediate english

positions: producer in 3racha, main rapper, vocalist, dancer

skzoo: dwaekki

instagram: jutdwae

basics: changbin was born and raised in korea, along with his older sister, in a fairly wealthy family. he originally joined jype as a trainee at age 17 to debut as a vocalist, but was convinced to debut as a rapper by a counselor. unfortunately i don’t know much about changbin’s trainee days, other than he trained for about 2 years, and he was part of 3racha who uploaded their first rap song on soundcloud in 2017. changbin is a pretty silly and loud person, but has been described by his members as someone they can approach and who will notice/remember the smallest things about them.

fun facts: changbin prefers plants as he’s allergic to both cats and dogs. changbin is a blackbelt in taekwondo, and he named his own pecs "jut" and "dwae". changbin has said he would like to own his own gym or be a tattoo artist. changbin is the shortest member at 5 '6. changbin was named the fastest male rapper in the k-pop industry with 11 korean syllables per second, i believe.

name: hyunjin hwang

english name: sam

age: 24 (march 20th, 2000)

nationality: korean

languages: korean and advanced english

positions: dancer in danceracha, vocalist, rapper

skzoo: jiniret

instagram: hynjinnnn

basics: hyunjin was born and raised in korea as an only child, along with his long-haired chihuahua, kkami. he was approached by two k-pop company scouts at a young age, one of which while he was out shopping with his mom. and, of course, he chose jype. he trained as a dancer, and admitted he had hated dancing at first due to the emotional toll it took on him, but now he says dance is like another language he can speak. unlike minho, he attended university online, all during his busy career as an idol. hyunjin is introverted, but very silly and dramatic at the same time.

fun facts: hyunjin has a fear of sudden loud noises, like balloons popping. hyunjin is the tallest member at 5 '11. hyunjin was going to be an interior designer before he became an idol. hyunjin is an artist in multiple forms of media, but he’s most interested in sketching and painting. hyunjin had a live called “counseling center” where he would read his fans’ comments and give them advice/encouragement. hyunjin once broke his hand and now he can't really bend his right pinky finger.

name: jisung han

english name: peter

stage name: han, and j.one in 3racha

age: 24 (september 14th, 2000)

nationality: korean

languages: korean and advanced english

positions: producer in 3racha, rapper, dancer, vocalist

skzoo: han quokka

instagram: _doolsetnet

basics: jisung was born in korea like his older brother. his family moved to malaysia when he was about 8, where they stayed for a while before coming back to korea. his parents weren’t particularly supportive of his desire to become a trainee at first, but they made a deal with him that if he could be accepted into a company before a certain amount of time, they’d let him continue. if not, he’d have to go back to school to get another job. luckily he made it into jype, and became chan’s very first member of choice. like hyunjin, jisung is an introvert, but he’s very loud and energetic at the same time.

fun facts: jisung started learning english in malaysia, which may be why his accent when speaking english is faintly british. jisung has been open with his fans about his struggles with social anxiety and depression. he also supposedly has trypophobia, the fear of clusters of holes, but that isn’t proven. jisung has a bichon frise named bbama. jisung and hyunjin were the real enemies to besties.

name: yongbok lee

english name: felix

age: 24 (september 15th, 2000)

nationality: australian-korean

languages: korean, english, basic french

positions: dancer in danceracha, vocalist, rapper

skzoo: bokkari

instagram: yong.lixx

basics: felix was born and raised in sydney, australia, with his older sister rachel and his younger sister olivia. he was 17 when he moved to korea to become a trainee at jype, where he studied korean at the same time, as his parents didn’t raise him to speak the language very much. it’s been said by chan that he was particularly hard on felix during their time before debut because he saw potential in him, and he wanted him to do his best to succeed. felix is known as the sunshine of the group, for the fact that he’s incredibly sweet and happy.

fun facts: felix debuted his runway model career at a louis vuitton fashion show. felix is a 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo, which he won 63 medals in over the course of 12 years. felix has a very deep voice that doesn’t match his face, and he will occasionally make his own asmr content. felix donates often to children in need, and has even volunteered in laos with unicef. felix is so afraid of scary things, he’s admitted to reading his bible after watching a horror movie. felix cries easily.

name: seungmin kim

english name: sky

age: 24 (september 22nd, 2000)

nationality: korean

languages: korean and advanced english

positions: lead vocalist in vocalracha, dancer, rapper

skzoo: puppym

instagram: miniverse.___

basics: seungmin was born and raised in korea, along with his older sister. he moved to LA as a child for only about 3 months, but that’s where he started his study in english and where he got his english name from a teacher. he trained for one year after winning 2nd place in jype’s 13th open audition, before debuting with stray kids. seungmin is basically an ambivert (it’s not conclusive if he’s introverted or extroverted), and tends to playfully bully his members. he can be pretty random and silly.

fun facts: seungmin wanted to be a baseball player before becoming an idol, and he actually pitched a strike at a game for the second time recently (the first time he was about 9 years old). seungmin was into boxing, although i’m not sure if he is anymore. seungmin and felix have a live called “cat puppy school” where they just mess up recipes constantly. seungmin is the only idol i’ve seen that seems to have autistic traits, from my own autistic prospective. although, i’m not diagnosing him of course!

name: jeongin yang

english name: bobby (i refuse to call anyone under the age of 60 bob)

stage name: i.n

age: 23 (february 8th, 2001)

nationality: korean

languages: korean and intermediate english

positions: vocalist in vocalracha, dancer, rapper, maknae

skzoo: foxi.ny

instagram: i.2.n.8

basics: jeongin was born and raised in busan, korea, along with his older brother who’s in the military, and his little brother yoon. he was a trainee for about 2 years, and was only 17 when they officially debuted. he bonded especially with hyunjin, who basically took him under his wing at the time. jeongin is introverted, but follows his hyungs’ lead into chaos. he’s very clumsy, and he’s known as the spoiled maknae. the “baby bread” of the group.

fun facts: jeongin wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, social worker, or priest before becoming an idol. jeongin has a more nasally voice, so he’s particularly good at the trot singing style. jeongin has claimed he was a naughty child, running away from home and laying down in the middle of stores when he couldn’t get what he wanted. jeongin is incredibly good with fashion, so his members come to him for advice, and he often posts ootd’s on his instagram.

[rhysdarbinizedarby]

Couch surfer in his 30s. Oscar winner in his 40s. Why the whole world wants Taika

**Notes: This is very long post!**

Good Weekend

In his 30s, he was sleeping on couches. By his 40s, he’d directed a Kiwi classic, taken a Marvel movie to billion-dollar success, and won an Oscar. Meet Taika Waititi, king of the oddball – and one of New Zealand’s most original creative exports.

Taika Waititi: “Be a nice person and live a good life. And just don’t be an arsehole.”

The good news? Taika Waititi is still alive. I wasn’t sure. The screen we were speaking through jolted savagely a few minutes ago, with a cacophonous bang and a confused yelp, then radio silence. Now the Kiwi ­ filmmaker is back, grinning like a loon: “I just broke the f---ing table, bro!”

Come again? “I just smashed this f---ing table and glass flew everywhere. It’s one of those old annoying colonial tables. It goes like this – see that?” Waititi says, holding up a folding furniture leg. “I hit the mechanism and it wasn’t locked. Anyway …”

I’m glad he’s fine. The stuff he’s been saying from his London hotel room could incur biblical wrath. We’re talking about his latest project, Next Goal Wins, a movie about the American Samoa soccer team’s quest to score a solitary goal, 10 years after suffering the worst loss in the game’s international history – a 31-0 ­ignominy to Australia – but our chat strays into ­spirituality, then faith, then religion.

“I don’t personally believe in a big guy sitting on a cloud judging everyone, but that’s just me,” Waititi says, deadpan. “Because I’m a grown-up.”

This is the way his interview answers often unfold. Waititi addresses your topic – dogma turns good people bad, he says, yet belief itself is worth lauding – but bookends every response with a conspiratorial nudge, wink, joke or poke. “Regardless of whether it’s some guy living on a cloud, or some other deity that you’ve made up – and they’re all made up – the message across the board is the same, and it’s important: Be a nice person, and live a good life. And just don’t be an arsehole!”

Not being an arsehole seems to have served Waititi, 48, well. Once a national treasure and indie darling (through the quirky tenderness of his breakout New Zealand films Boy in 2010 and Hunt for the Wilderpeople in 2016), Waititi then became a star of both the global box office (through his 2017 entry into the Marvel Universe, Thor: Ragnarok, which grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide) and then the Academy Awards (winning the 2020 best adapted screenplay Oscar for his subversive Holocaust dramedy JoJo Rabbit, in which he played an imaginary Hitler).

Waititi playing Adolf Hitler in the 2019 movie JoJo Rabbit. (Alamy)

A handsome devil with undeniable roguish charm, Waititi also slid seamlessly into style-icon status (attending this year’s Met Gala shirtless, in a floor-length gunmetal-grey Atelier Prabal Gurung wrap coat, with pendulous pearl necklaces), as well as becoming his own brand (releasing an eponymous line of canned ­coffee drinks) and bona fide Hollywood A-lister (he was introduced to his second wife, British singer Rita Ora, by actor Robert Pattinson at a barbecue).

Putting that platform to use, Waititi is an Indigenous pioneer and mentor, too, co-creating the critically acclaimed TV series Reservation Dogs, while co-founding the Piki Films production company, committed to promoting the next generation of storytellers – a mission that might sound all weighty and worthy, yet Waititi’s new wave of First Nations work is never earnest, always mixing hurt with heart and howling humour.

Waititi with wife Rita Ora at the 2023 Met Gala in May. (Getty Images)

Makes sense. Waititi is a byproduct of “the weirdest coupling ever” – his late Maori father from the Te Whanau-a-Apanui tribe was an artist, farmer and “Satan’s Slaves” bikie gang founder, while his Wellington schoolteacher mum descended from Russian Jews, although he’s not devout about her faith. (“No, I don’t practise,” he confirms. “I’m just good at everything, straight away.”)

He’s remained loyally tethered to his ­origin story, too – and to a cadre of creative Kiwi mates, including actors Jemaine Clement and Rhys Darby – never forgetting that not long before the actor/writer/producer/director was an industry maven, he was a penniless painter/photographer/ musician/comedian.

With no set title and no fixed address, he’s seemingly happy to be everything, everywhere (to everyone) all at once. “‘The universe’ is bandied around a lot these days, but I do believe in the kind of connective tissue of the universe, and the energy that – scientifically – we are made up of a bunch of atoms that are bouncing around off each other, and some of the atoms are just squished together a bit tighter than others,” he says, smiling. “We’re all made of the same stardust, and that’s pretty special.”

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We’ve caught Waititi in a somewhat relaxed moment, right before the screen actors’ and media artists’ strike ends. He’s ­sensitive to the struggle but doesn’t deny enjoying the break. “I spent a lot of time thinking about writing, and not writing, and having a nice ­holiday,” he tells Good Weekend. “Honestly, it was a good chance just to recombobulate.”

Waititi, at right, with Hunt for the Wilderpeople actors, from left, Sam Neill, Rhys Darby and Julian Dennison. (Getty Images)

It’s mid-October, and he’s just headed to Paris to watch his beloved All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup. He’s deeply obsessed with the game, and sport in general. “Humans spend all of our time knowing what’s going to happen with our day. There’s no surprises ­any more. We’ve become quite stagnant. And I think that’s why people love sport, because of the air of unpredictability,” he says. “It’s the last great arena entertainment.”

The main filmic touchstone for Next Goal Wins (which premieres in Australian cinemas on New Year’s Day) would be Cool Runnings (1993), the unlikely true story of a Jamaican bobsled team, but Waititi also draws from genre classics such as Any Given Sunday and Rocky, sampling trusted tropes like the musical training montage. (His best one is set to Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears.)

Filming in Hawaii was an uplifting experience for the self-­described Polynesian Jew. “It wasn’t about death, or people being cruel to each other. Thematically, it was this simple idea, of getting a small win, and winning the game wasn’t even their goal – their goal was to get a goal,” he says. “It was a really sweet backbone.”

Waititi understands this because, growing up, he was as much an athlete as a nerd, fooling around with softball and soccer before discovering rugby league, then union. “There’s something about doing exercise when you don’t know you’re doing exercise,” he enthuses. “It’s all about the fun of throwing a ball around and trying to achieve something together.” (Whenever Waititi is in Auckland he joins his mates in a long-running weekend game of touch rugby. “And then throughout the week I work out every day. Obviously. I mean, look at me.”)

Auckland is where his kids live, too, so he spends as much time there as possible. Waititi met his first wife, producer Chelsea Winstanley, on the set of Boy in 2010, and they had two daughters, Matewa Kiritapu, 8, and his firstborn, Te Kainga O’Te Hinekahu, 11. (The latter is a derivative of his grandmother’s name, but he jokes with American friends that it means “Resurrection of Tupac” or “Mazda RX7″) Waititi and Winstanley split in about 2018, and he married the pop star Ora in 2022.

He offers a novel method for balancing work with parenthood … “Look, you just abandon them, and know that the experience will make them harder individuals later on in life. And it’s their problem,” he says. “I’m going to give them all of the things that they need, and I’m going to leave behind a decent bank ­account for their therapy, and they will be just like me, and the cycle will continue.”

Jokes aside – I think he’s joking – school holidays are always his, and he brings the girls onto the set of every movie he makes. “They know enough not to get in the way or touch anything that looks like it could kill you, and they know to be respectful and quiet when they need to. But they’re just very comfortable around filmmakers, which I’m really happy about, because eventually I hope they will get into the ­industry. One more year,” he laughs, “then they can leave school and come work for Dad.”

Theirs is certainly a different childhood than his. Growing up, he was a product of two worlds. His given names, for instance, were based on his appearance at birth: “Taika David” if he looked Maori (after his Maori grandfather) and “David Taika” if he looked Pakeha (after his white grandfather). His parents split when he was five, so he bounced between his dad’s place in Waihau Bay, where he went by the surname Waititi, and his mum, eight hours drive away in Wellington, where he went by Cohen (the last name on his birth ­certificate and passport).

Waititi was precocious, even charismatic. His mother Robin once told Radio New Zealand that people always wanted to know him, even as an infant: “I’d be on a bus with him, and he was that kind of baby who smiled at people, and next thing you know they’re saying, ‘Can I hold your baby?’ He’s always been a charmer to the public eye.”

He describes himself as a cool, sporty, good-looking nerd, raised on whatever pop culture screened on the two TV channels New Zealand offered in the early 1980s, from M*A*S*H and Taxi to Eddie Murphy and Michael Jackson. He was well-read, too. When punished by his mum, he would likely be forced to analyse a set of William Blake poems.

He puts on a whimpering voice to describe their finances – “We didn’t have much monneeey” – explaining how his mum spent her days in the classroom but also worked in pubs, where he would sit sipping a raspberry lemonade, doodling drawings and writing stories. She took in ­ironing and cleaned houses; he would help out, learning valuable lessons he imparts to his kids. “And to random people who come to my house,” he says. “I’ll say, ‘Here’s a novel idea, wash this dish,’ but people don’t know how to do anything these days.”

“Every single character I’ve ever written has been based on someone I’ve known or met or a story I’ve stolen from someone.” - Taika Waititi

He loved entertaining others, clearly, but also himself, recording little improvised radio plays on a tape deck – his own offbeat versions of ET and Indiana Jones and Star Wars. “Great free stuff where you don’t have any idea what the story is as you’re doing it,” he says. “You’re just sort of making it up and enjoying the ­freedom of playing god in this world where you can make people and characters do whatever you want.”

His other sphere of influence lay in Raukokore, the tiny town where his father lived. Although Boy is not autobiographical, it’s deeply personal insofar as it’s filmed in the house where he grew up, and where he lived a life similar to that portrayed in the story, surrounded by his recurring archetypes: warm grandmothers and worldly kids; staunch, stoic mums; and silly, stunted men. “Every single character I’ve ever written has been based on someone I’ve known or met,” he says, “or a story I’ve stolen from someone.”

He grew to love drawing and painting, obsessed early on with reproducing the Sistine Chapel. During a 2011 TED Talk on creativity, Waititi describes his odd subject matter, from swastikas and fawns to a picture of an old lady going for a walk … upon a sword … with Robocop. “My father was an outsider artist, even though he wouldn’t know what that meant,” Waititi told the audience in Doha. “I love the naive. I love people who can see things through an innocent viewpoint. It’s inspiring.”

After winning Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for JoJo Rabbit in 2020. (Getty Images)

It was an interesting time in New Zealand, too – a coming-of-age decade in which the Maori were rediscovering their culture. His area was poor, “but only ­financially,” he says. “It’s very rich in terms of the ­people and the culture.” He learned kapa haka – the songs, dances and chants performed by competing tribes at cultural events, or to honour people at funerals and graduations – weddings, parties, ­anything. “Man, any excuse,” he explains. “A big part of doing them is to uplift your spirits.”

Photography was a passion, so I ask what he shot. “Just my penis. I sent them to people, but we didn’t have phones, so I would print them out, post them. One of the first dick pics,” he says. Actually, his lens was trained on regular people. He watches us still – in airports, ­restaurants. “Other times late at night, from a tree. Whatever it takes to get the story. You know that.”

He went to the Wellington state school Onslow College and did plays like Androcles and the Lion, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Crucible. His crew of arty students eventually ended up on stage at Bats Theatre in the city, where they would perform haphazard comedy shows for years.

“Taika was always rebellious and wild in his comedy, which I loved,” says his high school mate Jackie van Beek, who became a longtime collaborator, including working with Waititi on a Tourism New Zealand campaign this year. “I remember he went through a phase of turning up in bars around town wearing wigs, and you’d try and sit down and have a drink with him but he’d be doing some weird character that would invariably turn up in some show down the track.”

He met more like-minded peers at Victoria University, including Jemaine Clement (who’d later become co-creator of Flight of the Conchords). During a 2019 chat with actor Elijah Wood, Waititi ­describes he and Clement clocking one another from opposite sides of the library one day: a pair of Maoris experiencing hate at first sight, based on a mutual suspicion of cultural appropriation. (Clement was wearing a traditional tapa cloth Samoan shirt, and Waititi was like: “This motherf---er’s not Samoan.” Meanwhile, Waititi was wearing a Rastafarian beanie, and Clement was like, “This ­motherf---er’s not Jamaican.”)

With Jemaine Clement in 2014. (Getty Images)

But they eventually bonded over Blackadder and Fawlty Towers, and especially Kenny Everett, and did comedy shows together everywhere from Edinburgh to Melbourne. Waititi was almost itinerant, spending months at a time busking, or living in a commune in Berlin. He acted in a few small films, and then – while playing a stripper on a bad TV show – realised he wanted to try life behind the camera. “I became tired of being told what to do and ordered around,” he told Wellington’s Dominion Post in 2004. “I remember sitting around in the green room in my G-string ­thinking, ‘Why am I doing this? Just helping someone else to realise their dream.’ ”

He did two strong short films, then directed his first feature – Eagle vs Shark (2007) – when he was 32. He brought his mates along (Clement, starring with Waititi’s then-girlfriend Loren Horsley), setting something of a pattern in his career: hiring friends instead of constantly navigating new working relationships. “If you look at things I’m doing,” he tells me, “there’s ­always a few common denominators.”

Sam Neill says Waititi is the exemplar of a new New Zealand humour. “The basis of it is this: we’re just a little bit crap at things.”

This gang of collaborators shares a common Kiwi vibe, too, which his longtime friend, actor Rhys Darby, once coined “the comedy of the mundane”. Their new TV show, Our Flag Means Death, for example, leans heavily into the mundanity of pirate life – what happens on those long days at sea when the crew aren’t unsheathing swords from scabbards or burying treasure.

Waititi plays pirate captain Blackbeard, centre, in Our Flag Means Death, with Rhys Darby, left, and Rory Kinnear. (Google Images)

Sam Neill, who first met Waititi when starring in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, says Waititi is the exemplar of a new New Zealand humour. “And I think the basis of it is this,” says Neill. “We’re just a little bit crap at things, and that in itself is funny.” After all, Neill asks, what is What We Do in The Shadows (2014) if not a film (then later a TV show) about a bunch of vampires who are pretty crap at being vampires, ­living in a pretty crappy house, not quite getting busted by crappy local cops? “New Zealand often gets named as the least corrupt country in the world, and I think it’s just that we would be pretty crap at being corrupt,” Neill says. “We don’t have the capacity for it.”

Waititi’s whimsy also spurns the dominant on-screen oeuvre of his homeland – the so-called “cinema of ­unease” exemplified by the brutality of Once Were Warriors (1994) and the emotional peril of The Piano (1993). Waititi still explores pathos and pain, but through laughter and weirdness. “Taika feels to me like an ­antidote to that dark aspect, and a gift somehow,” Neill says. “And I’m grateful for that.”

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Something happened to Taika Waititi when he was about 11 – something he doesn’t go into with Good Weekend, but which he considered a betrayal by the adults in his life. He ­mentioned it only recently – not the ­moment itself, but the lesson he learnt: “That you cannot and must not rely on grown-ups to help you – you’re basically in the world alone, and you’re gonna die alone, and you’ve just gotta make it all for yourself,” he told Irish podcast host James Brown. “I basically never forgave people in positions of responsibility.”

What does that mean in his work? First, his finest films tend to reflect the clarity of mind possessed by children, and the unseen worlds they create – fantasies conjured up as a way to understand or overcome. (His mum once summed up the main ­message of Boy: “The ­unconditional love you get from your children, and how many of us waste that, and don’t know what we’ve got.”)

Second, he’s suited to movie-making – “Russian roulette with art” – because he’s drawn to disruptive force and chaos. And that in turn produces creative defiance: allowing him to reinvigorate the Marvel Universe by making superheroes fallible, or tell a Holocaust story by making fun of Hitler. “Whenever I have to deal with someone who’s a boss, or in charge, I challenge them,” he told Brown, “and I really do take whatever they say with a pinch of salt.”

It’s no surprise then that Waititi was comfortable leaping from independent films to the vast complexity of Hollywood blockbusters. He loves the challenge of coordinating a thousand interlocking parts, requiring an army of experts in vocations as diverse as construction, sound, art, performance and logistics. “I delegate a lot,” he says, “and share the load with a lot of people.”

“This is a cool concept, being able to ­afford whatever I want, as opposed to sleeping on couches until I was 35.” - Taika Waititi

But the buck stops with him. Time magazine named Waititi one of its Most Influential 100 People of 2022. “You can tell that a film was made by Taika Waititi the same way you can tell a piece was painted by Picasso,” wrote Sacha Baron Cohen. Compassionate but comic. Satirical but watchable. Rockstar but auteur. “Actually, sorry, but this guy’s really starting to piss me off,” Cohen concluded. “Can someone else write this piece?”

Directing Chris Hemsworth in 2017 in Thor: Ragnarok, which grossed more than $1.3 billion at the box office. (Alamy)

I’m curious to know how he stays grounded amid such adulation. Coming into the game late, he says, helped immensely. After all, Waititi was 40 by the time he left New Zealand to do Thor: Ragnarok. “If you let things go to your head, then it means you’ve struggled to find out who you are,” he says. “But I’ve always felt very comfortable with who I am.” Hollywood access and acclaim – and the pay cheques – don’t erase memories of poverty, either. “It’s more like, ‘Oh, this is a cool concept, being able to ­afford whatever I want, as opposed to sleeping on couches until I was 35.’ ” Small towns and strong tribes keep him in check, too. “You know you can’t piss around and be a fool, because you’re going to embarrass your family,” he says. “Hasn’t stopped me, though.”

Sam Neill says there was never any doubt Waititi would be able to steer a major movie with energy and imagination. “It’s no accident that the whole world wants Taika,” he says. “But his seductiveness comes with its own dangers. You can spread yourself a bit thin. The temptation will be to do more, more, more. That’ll be interesting to watch.”

Indeed, I find myself vicariously stressed out over the list of potential projects in Waititi’s future. A Roald Dahl animated series for Netflix. An Apple TV show based on the 1981 film Time Bandits. A sequel to What We Do In The Shadows. A reboot of Flash Gordon. A gonzo horror comedy, The Auteur, starring Jude Law. Adapting a cult graphic novel, The Incal, as a feature. A streaming series based on the novel Interior Chinatown. A film based on a Kazuo Ishiguro bestseller. Plus bringing to life the wildly popular Akira comic books. Oh, and for good measure, a new instalment of Star Wars, which he’s already warned the world will be … different.

“It’s going to change things,” he told Good Morning America. “It’s going to change what you guys know and expect.”

Did I say I was stressed for Waititi? I meant physically sick.

“Well…” he qualifies, “some of those things I’m just producing, so I come up with an idea or someone comes to me with an idea, and I shape how ‘it’s this kind of show’ and ‘here’s how we can get it made.’ It’s easier for me to have a part in those things and feel like I’ve had a meaningful role in the creative process, but also not having to do what I’ve always done, which is trying to control everything.”

In the 2014 mockumentary horror film What We Do in the Shadows, which he co-directed with Jemaine Clement. (Alamy)

What about moving away from the niche New Zealand settings he represented so well in his early work? How does he stay connected to his roots? “I think you just need to know where you’re from,” he says, “and just don’t forget that.”

They certainly haven’t forgotten him.

Jasmin McSweeney sits in her office at the New Zealand Film Commission in Wellington, surrounded by promotional posters Waititi signed for her two decades ago, when she was tasked with promoting his nascent talent. Now the organisation’s marketing chief, she talks to me after visiting the heart of thriving “Wellywood”, overseeing the traditional karakia prayer on the set of a new movie starring Geoffrey Rush.

Waititi isn’t the first great Kiwi filmmaker – dual Oscar-winner Jane Campion and blockbuster king Peter Jackson come to mind – yet his particular ascendance, she says, has spurred unparalleled enthusiasm. “Taika gave everyone here confidence. He always says, ‘Don’t sit around waiting for people to say, you can do this.’ Just do it, because he just did it. That’s the Taika effect.”

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

Taika David Waititi is known for wearing everything from technicolour dreamcoats to pineapple print rompers, and today he’s wearing a roomy teal and white Isabel Marant jumper. The mohair garment has the same wispy frizz as his hair, which curls like a wave of grey steel wool, and connects with a shorn salty beard.

A stylish silver fox, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he suddenly announced he was launching a fashion label. He’s definitely a commercial animal, to the point of directing television commercials for Coke and Amazon, along with a fabulous 2023 spot for Belvedere vodka starring Daniel Craig. He also joined forces with a beverage company in Finland (where “taika” means “magic”) to release his coffee drinks. Announcing the partnership on social media, he flagged that he would be doing more of this kind of stuff, too (“Soz not soz”).

Waititi has long been sick of reverent portrayals of Indigenous people talking to spirits.

There’s substance behind the swank. Fashion is a creative outlet but he’s also bought sewing machines in the past with the intention of designing and making clothes, and comes from a family of tailors. “I learnt how to sew a button on when I was very young,” he says. “I learnt how to fix holes or patches in your clothes, and darn things.”

And while he gallivants around the globe watching Wimbledon or modelling for Hermès at New York Fashion Week, all that glamour belies a depth of purpose, particularly when it comes to Indigenous representation.

There’s a moment in his new movie where a Samoan player realises that their Dutch coach, played by Michael Fassbender, is emotionally struggling, and he offers a lament for white people: “They need us.” I can’t help but think Waititi meant something more by that line – maybe that First Nations people have ­wisdom to offer if others will just listen?

“Weeelllll, a little bit …” he says – but from his intonation, and what he says next, I’m dead wrong. Waititi has long been sick of reverent ­portrayals of Indigenous people talking to kehua (spirits), or riding a ghost waka (phantom canoe), or playing a flute on a mountain. “Always the boring characters,” he says. “They’ve got no real contemporary relationship with the world, because they’re always living in the past in their spiritual ways.”

A scene from Next Goal Wins, filmed earlier this year. (Alamy)

He’s part of a vanguard consciously poking fun at those stereotypes. Another is the Navajo writer and director Billy Luther, who met Waititi at Sundance Film Festival back in 2003, along with Reservation Dogs co-creator Sterlin Harjo. “We were this group of outsiders trying to make films, when nobody was really biting,” says Luther. “It was a different time. The really cool thing about it now is we’re all working. We persevered. We didn’t give up. We slept on each other’s couches and hung out. It’s like family.”

Waititi has power now, and is known for using Indigenous interns wherever possible (“because there weren’t those opportunities when I was growing up”), making important introductions, offering feedback on scripts, and lending his name to projects through executive producer credits, too, which he did for Luther’s new feature film, Frybread Face and Me (2023).

He called Luther back from the set of Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) to offer advice on working with child actors – “Don’t box them into the characters you’ve ­created,” he said, “let them naturally figure it out on their own” – but it’s definitely harder to get Waititi on the phone these days. “He’s a little bitch,” Luther says, laughing. “Nah, there’s nothing like him. He’s a genius. You just knew he was going to be something. I just knew it. He’s my brother.“

I’ve been asked to explicitly avoid political questions in this interview, probably because Waititi tends to back so many causes, from child poverty and teenage suicide to a campaign protesting offshore gas and oil exploration near his tribal lands. But it’s hard to ignore his recent Instagram post, sharing a viral video about the Voice to Parliament referendum starring Indigenous Aussie rapper Adam Briggs. After all, we speak only two days after the proposal is defeated. “Yeah, sad to say but, Australia, you really shat the bed on that one,” Waititi says, pausing. “But go see my movie!”

About that movie – the early reviews aren’t great. IndieWire called it a misfire, too wrapped in its quirks to develop its arcs, with Waititi’s directorial voice drowning out his characters, while The Guardian called it “a shoddily made and strikingly unfunny attempt to tell an interesting story in an uninteresting way”. I want to know how he moves past that kind of criticism. “For a start, I never read reviews,” he says, concerned only with the opinion of people who paid for admission, never professional appraisals. “It’s not important to me. I know I’m good at what I do.”

Criticism that Indigenous concepts weren’t sufficiently explained in Next Goal Wins gets his back up a little, though. The film’s protagonist, Jaiyah Saelua, the first transgender football player in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match, is fa’afafine – an American Samoan identifier for someone with fluid genders – but there wasn’t much exposition of this concept in the film. “That’s not my job,” Waititi says. “It’s not a movie where I have to explain every facet of Samoan culture to an audience. Our job is to retain our culture, and present a story that’s inherently Polynesian, and if you don’t like it, you can go and watch any number of those other movies out there, 99 per cent of which are terrible.”

*notes: (there is video clip in the article)

Waititi sounds momentarily cranky, but he’s mostly unflappable and hilarious. He’s the kind of guy who prefers “Correctumundo bro!” to “Yes”. When our video connection is too laggy, he plays up to it by periodically pretending to be frozen, sitting perfectly still, mouth open, his big shifting eyeballs the only giveaway.

He’s at his best on set. Saelua sat next to him in Honolulu while filming the joyous soccer sequences. “He’s so chill. He just let the actors do their thing, giving them creative freedom, barely interjecting unless it was something important. His style matches the vibe of the Pacific people. We’re a very funny people. We like to laugh. He just fit perfectly.”

People do seem to love working alongside him, citing his ability to make productions fresh and unpredictable and funny. Chris Hemsworth once said that Waititi’s favourite gag is to “forget” that his microphone is switched on, so he can go on a pantomime rant for all to hear – usually about his disastrous Australian lead actor – only to “remember” that he’s wired and the whole crew is listening.

“I wouldn’t know about that, because I don’t listen to what other people say about anything – I’ve told you this,” Waititi says. “I just try to have fun when there’s time to have fun. And when you do that, and you bring people together, they’re more willing to go the extra mile for you, and they’re more willing to believe in the thing that you’re trying to do.”

Yes, he plays music between takes, and dances out of his director’s chair, but it’s really all about relaxing amid the immense pressure and intense privilege of making movies. “Do you know how hard it is just to get anything financed or green-lit, then getting a crew, ­getting producers to put all the pieces together, and then making it to set?” Waititi asks. “It’s a real gift, even to be working, and I feel like I have to remind ­people of that: enjoy this moment.”

Source: The Age

By: Konrad Marshall (December 1, 2023)

[paddockletters]

between goals and hearts | jude bellingham ft. pedri gonzalez

Part 1 | Part 2

pairing: pedri gonzalez x reader; jude bellingham x reader

summary: Elena navigates the complexities of her heart amidst her work for a prominent football team. As her friendship with Pedri deepens and a new player, Jude, enters her life, she finds herself caught between loyalty and newfound feelings.

warnings: none

author's note: I'm back with a new story and hopefully, my first serie. I hope you liked it! And if you want me to tag you en the part 2, let me know 👀

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets of Madrid. In the heart of the city, where soccer chants echoed through narrow alleys, lived a girl named Elena. Her life revolved around two things: her job as a community manager for a prominent football team and the complicated dance of her heart.

Elena had known Pedri since they were kids. They met during a summer soccer camp, their shared passion for the game forging an unbreakable bond. As they grew older, their friendship deepened. Pedri's laughter was her refuge, and his unwavering support kept her grounded. But there was something more—a lingering tension that neither dared to address.

Then came Jude—a whirlwind of charisma and talent. He'd arrived in Madrid a year ago, signing with the team. Elena's first encounter with him was at a charity event. She'd been tasked with coordinating player appearances, and there he was: tall, with eyes that held secrets and a smile that could melt glaciers. Jude's charm was magnetic, pulling her into his orbit.

Elena had been working around the clock to ensure the charity event for Real Madrid was a flawless success. As the community manager, her responsibilities included coordinating the players' schedules, managing media coverage, and overseeing the event logistics. The charity gala, aimed at raising funds for underprivileged children in Madrid, was the kind of project that fueled her passion for making a difference through her work.

The grand ballroom of the Hotel Ritz was buzzing with anticipation, elegantly decorated with banners of the club and adorned with dazzling lights that set the perfect backdrop for the evening. As guests arrived in their finest attire, the air filled with a mix of excitement and the soft melodies of a string quartet playing in the corner.

Elena was in the midst of checking in guests when she noticed Jude, the team's recent transfer and a rising star, entering the venue. Known for his swift moves on the field and his charismatic presence off it, Jude carried with him an aura of both confidence and accessibility. Elena had seen him in team meetings and during practice sessions but had never interacted with him directly.

As Jude approached, Elena straightened her posture, smoothing down her black dress, and prepared to give him the usual briefing she gave all the players.

“Good evening, Jude,” she greeted him with a professional smile.

“Thank you for being here tonight. Your presence means a lot to the children we’re supporting.”

Jude returned her smile, his eyes briefly scanning the name tag pinned to her blazer.

“Elena, right? I’ve heard about the incredible work you’ve been putting into this event. It looks fantastic.”

Taken aback by his acknowledgment, Elena felt a warm flush of pride.

“Thank you, Jude. I’m glad you think so. There’s a photo session scheduled for you in about ten minutes, and then you're free to enjoy the evening until the auction starts. I can take you to the media area whenever you’re ready.”

“Actually, I’d appreciate a quick tour of the place if you don’t mind,” Jude suggested, his tone casual yet genuinely interested.

“I’m still getting used to these events, and it would be great to have an expert guide.”

Elena nodded, pleasantly surprised by his request. As they walked through the venue, she pointed out the different sections: the silent auction tables laden with memorabilia, the dining area with its meticulously arranged tables, and the small stage where testimonials and speeches would be held later in the evening.

Throughout the tour, they engaged in light conversation. Jude was curious about the organization’s work, asking insightful questions that showed his interest in more than just the surface details. Elena, in turn, was impressed by his genuine concern for the cause and his easygoing nature, making her job as a coordinator much easier.

“What made you decide to get involved in charity work?” Jude asked as they paused by the display of children’s artwork, part of the auction items for the evening.

Elena smiled, her eyes lighting up as she spoke.

“I’ve always believed in using whatever platform we have to make a difference. Working with Real Madrid gives me the opportunity to reach out and help on a larger scale. Every little bit counts, right?”

Jude nodded, his expression thoughtful.

“Absolutely. It’s refreshing to see someone so dedicated to these causes. Makes me want to get involved more too.”

As they concluded the tour, Jude thanked her for the insights.

“I hope I’ll get to work more directly with you on future projects, Elena. It’s been enlightening.”

Elena felt a flutter of excitement at the prospect.

“I’d like that, Jude. Enjoy the evening, and let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

Watching him blend back into the crowd, Elena couldn't help but feel that this charity event had just taken on an even more significant meaning. Not only was she helping a cause close to her heart, but she had also made a connection that might extend beyond just professional boundaries.

They became friends, she and Jude. Late-night conversations over tapas turned into shared secrets. He listened when she spoke about her dreams, her fears, and the ache in her heart. Jude was caring, attentive, and dangerously easy to fall for.

The friendship between Elena and Jude had blossomed effortlessly in the weeks following the charity event. They found themselves seeking each other's company more frequently, sharing lunches, coffee breaks, and the occasional dinner after work. It was during one of these dinners that their conversation drifted from light-hearted banter to more personal and flirtatious exchanges. They laughed easily, the air charged with an unspoken attraction that was becoming harder to ignore.

Elena sipped her wine, her gaze on Jude.

“Why did you become a footballer?”

He leaned back, his eyes tracing the constellations.

“For the rush—the adrenaline of the game. But also because it’s a language everyone understands. On the field, we’re equals.”

She smiled. “And off the field?”

Jude’s fingers brushed hers. “Off the field, I want to understand you.”

As they talked, the night unfolded like a story. Jude shared tales of his childhood, the winding streets of his hometown, and the way the sea smelled after a storm. Elena listened, captivated by his words. She told him about her love for job, everything.

They laughed, their laughter mingling with the soft music playing in the background. Jude’s eyes held a warmth that made Elena’s heart flutter. She wondered if he felt it too—the unspoken connection that pulled them together.

When dessert arrived—a decadent chocolate mousse—Jude leaned closer.

“Elena,” he said, “do you believe in fate?”

She traced the rim of her wine glass.

“I think sometimes the universe conspires to bring people together.”

He chuckled. “Well, then maybe it conspired to bring us here tonight.”

The night stretched into dawn, and they walked along the rooftop’s edge, fingers brushing. Jude pointed out constellations, weaving stories about mythical heroes and lost loves. Elena leaned against the railing, the city below a tapestry of lights.

“Tell me,” she said, “what’s your favorite memory?”

Jude hesitated, then looked at her with an intensity that stole her breath.

“This one,” he whispered. “Right now.”

One evening, after another enjoyable outing, Elena met up with her friend Sofia at their favorite café. The place was cozy, with soft music playing in the background, creating the perfect atmosphere for confessions.

"You seem different, Elena, lighter somehow. What's going on?" Sofia prodded with a knowing smile as they settled into their seats.

Elena bit her lip, her heart fluttering at the mention of Jude. "Well, I've been spending more time with Jude lately. He's... there's just something about him. We connect so easily, and he makes me laugh."

Sofia's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Oh, sounds like someone has a crush! But isn't there something about Pedri? Last time we talked, you were unsure about him."

Elena sighed, her excitement dimming slightly. "Yes, I still think about Pedri sometimes. We’ve been friends for a long time, and there's always been this 'what if' hanging over us. But with Jude, it feels different, more... intense."

Laughing, Sofia nudged her playfully.

"Why don't you see where things go with Jude? Life’s too short for 'what ifs.' Besides, a little romance might clear up those doubts about Pedri."

Encouraged by Sofia's words, Elena agreed to go on another date with Jude. They chose a romantic restaurant overlooking the city, where the lights twinkled like distant stars. The night was filled with laughter and shared stories, and as they walked through the plaza afterwards, their hands brushed together. Jude took her hand in his, and the touch sent a thrill up her spine.

Stopping under the soft glow of a street lamp, Jude looked into her eyes, his gaze intense. "Elena, I've been wanting to do this for a while now," he murmured, leaning closer.

The world seemed to hold its breath as their lips met in a tentative kiss that quickly deepened. The kiss was a promise, filled with all the pent-up longing they had felt. As they pulled apart, the air between them crackled with sexual tension, both aware of the electricity that surged with that simple touch.

Elena's heart raced as Jude gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The night felt endless, and the possibilities limitless. Yet, in the back of her mind, a shadow lingered—the thought of Pedri and the unresolved feelings there. But for now, she was caught up in the moment, under the spell of the budding romance with Jude.

The evening ended with a sweet goodbye, leaving Elena to walk back to her apartment under the starlit sky, her mind a whirl of emotions. She felt exhilarated and terrified all at once, wondering if she had started something that could either blossom beautifully or leave her caught between two worlds.

As she lay in bed later that night, Elena couldn't help but replay the kiss in her mind, the warmth of Jude's lips on hers still lingering. The joy of the moment was palpable, but so were the doubts about what this meant for her friendship with Pedri. She knew she would have to face her feelings head-on, but for tonight, the memory of Jude's kiss brought a smile to her face, and she allowed herself to drift into sleep, wrapped in the sweet possibility of new love.

[imavillainok]

Sae Itoshi x Reader

Masterlist / Menu

ー ♡꒱・！Tags！ : itoshi sae, female reader, oneshot

Pairing [ Itoshi Sae x Fem reader ]

ー ♡꒱・！Summary！ : A famous midfielder and a famous artist met at a charity event. Their paths crossed as they both approached a striking art exhibit displayed for the event. Sae, feeling somewhat bored at the event, found himself entranced by the artwork. It was there that he noticed you, who was also taking in the stunning pieces. Your eyes briefly met, and you offered a warm smile.

In the heart of Barcelona, a lavish charity gala was taking place under the night sky. Sae Itoshi, the charismatic pro soccer player, enjoyed a rare evening off from his grueling training schedule and was invited as a guest of honor to this elegant event.

Meanwhile, you, the internet celebrity and artist, were in Spain for an art exhibition. With thousands of followers, you were known for your stunning and beautiful paintings, which had earned you an invitation to this charity event while in Barcelona.

As the gala unfolded, the glittering lights and the exquisite ambiance set the stage for a serendipitous encounter. Sae, donned in his impeccable black suit, stood near the entrance, observing the crowd with curiosity and perhaps a touch of nervousness. On the other side of the room, you, dressed in a breathtaking evening gown, were introducing yourself to fellow charity supporters.

Your paths crossed as you both approached a striking art exhibit displayed for the event. Sae, feeling somewhat bored at the event, found himself entranced by the artwork. It was there that he noticed you, who was also taking in the stunning pieces. Your eyes briefly met, and you offered a warm smile.

Sae, known for his occasional arrogance and bluntness, wouldn't typically initiate contact if someone caught his eye. However, you decided to approach him, wearing that captivating smile of yours, which, as Sae knew, had the power to melt the ice within any man's heart. But it seemed Sae was an exception. He did, however, admire the way the fabric of your dress highlighted your figure and the captivating colors that adorned it. Sae cleared his throat.

"Good evening, Itoshi Sae, the famous Japanese midfielder, are you?" you asked, your tone tinged with excitement.

Your voice carried a hint of starstruck awe, and Sae was well accustomed to admirers, but your genuine interest intrigued him. Sae stared at you. He didn't say anything, but his look implied an "..of course, who else?"

You were taken aback by his rudeness. "My name is Y/N, and my friend is a huge fan of yours," you said, extending your hand for a handshake.

Sae was slightly surprised by your forwardness. Most of the girls who approached him for autographs or pictures seemed like nervous wrecks. Yet, here stood a confident, striking lady who introduced herself without hesitation. Sae slowly took your hand and gave it a gentle shake, his signature serious expression as he studied you from head to toe.

You turned your attention back to the artworks in the display and asked, "Are you here to check out the art displayed here?"

Sae finally spoke. "Yeah, I am. I hadn't planned on being here tonight since I usually like to rest on my off days."

He was being his usual blunt self, but you were aware of that. Sae's serious demeanor only seemed to intensify.

Sae locked eyes with you, and his curiosity was piqued for a moment. It felt as though there was a connection as you both gazed at the painting that resembled blood. Sae could've sworn he saw something in your eyes for a brief instant.

Then, he spoke again, his voice carrying a touch of sincerity, which was quite surprising coming from him. It was as if he was the one trying to impress you, caught off guard for a moment. "Do your eyes appreciate dark and violent subjects?"

He was genuinely interested in your response.

"I do," you replied.

Sae's attention was now completely fixated on you. "I do as well. Maybe that's why I enjoyed this particular image so much."

His usual serious tone softened slightly as he spoke. It felt like you were having a conversation, and it was strangely pleasant. Sae felt a bit nervous yet intrigued by the mysterious you. He wondered why he was this interested. He couldn't quite understand why he was so captivated.

Your enthusiasm caught his attention, and you quickly turned to him. "Really? You like this piece? Why????"

Sae's interest grew even more when he saw your excitement. He wondered why he desired to see you smile. He had never felt this way before. Your smile seemed like the most beautiful thing in the room, and it suddenly felt warmer.

Sae continued to gaze at you, waiting for you to speak again. He actually wanted you to talk more, to learn more about you.

"I am the artist of this piece," you answered.

Sae felt both shocked and excited. You were the artist behind this captivating artwork that had grabbed his attention. He couldn't take his eyes off you.

You pointed to the corner of the painting. "It says my name."

Sae felt even more foolish now. He hadn't bothered to look at the name of the artist, completely captivated by your beauty and energy.

"I just didn't see it before… This is the best piece here," he admitted, finally taking his eyes off you for a moment to check the artist's name - "Y/N."

Then Sae locked his eyes onto you again.

"Thank you!" you replied genuinely.

Sae noticed your genuine gratitude, and it was another beautiful sight to him. He didn't know what else to say, but he wanted to continue the conversation with you. He was eager to speak with you more.

In his usual blunt tone, Sae inquired, "Do you plan on creating more artwork like this?"

You considered for a moment. "Hmm, maybe… it depends. I made this to support the charity. It will be up for auction later."

Sae's interest immediately peaked when he heard about the upcoming auction. He now had the perfect excuse to spend more time with you, who was steadily capturing his heart, as his interest shifted from the artwork alone to you and your creations.

Sae, in his calm and straightforward manner, said, "How can I make sure that I get this piece?"

You chuckled, a bright and happy expression on your face.

Sae's interest in you grew even more as he saw your smile. He found himself wondering why he wanted to see you smile so badly, a feeling he had never experienced before. Your smile seemed to be the most captivating thing, and the room grew warmer.

Sae still couldn't take his eyes off you, waiting for you to speak again. He truly desired more of you.

"Bid the highest , I guess." you replied.

So, he spoke again, his usual cold tone present. "In that case, I'm going to bid the highest."

As you said your farewells and began to walk towards the main hall of the gala, where the auction would take place, Sae couldn't help but notice you. You were truly something, and he had a plan in mind.

Sae made his decision, and his plan was clear: he would secure that art piece.

[onceuponaoneshotfanfic]

Something There (Chapter 12)

6.8k words

Roy Kent x Reader

Warnings: Language, fluff, references to smutty things, absolute fluffy fluff

Series Masterlist

A/N: This has... taken a while, lol. Honestly, I've been struggling with how to end this, mostly because I don't want to say goodbye to Roy and Bucky! But, all good (or at least halfway decent) things must come to an end. (Plus, I already know there'll be some blurbs featuring these two!) I hope you enjoy, and thanks for coming along for the ride ❤️

“What would you say is your greatest accomplishment?”

Roy nodded towards me and smirked. “Can I answer for her?”

Another “Manager Monday”. Apparently, people liked seeing Roy and me sitting together and answering questions. According to Keeley, the internet referred to us as the “Mum and Dad” of Nelson Road. It was weird and a little flattering, if I was being honest. And, frankly, getting to goof around and not-so-subtly flirt with Roy on camera during work hours was a pretty good deal.

“No, you cannot,” Keeley chuckled. “Go on then, greatest accomplishment.”

“Winning my Olympic Gold Medal,” I answered, elbowing Roy when I heard his good-natured snicker. “It was something my grandpa and I talked about for as long as I can remember. And he did come see me win it. After that, whenever he introduced me to people, it was always, ‘This is my granddaughter. She’s an Olympian.’” I smiled at the memory before turning to Roy. “What’s yours? That year you led the league in red cards?”

Roy’s smile had my heart doing somersaults. “You fucking know it.”

With lots of laughter and poor attempts to hide our flirting, we got through a couple more soccer-related questions before Keeley broached the topic we both knew she was dying to get to.

“So, the internet has been debating between two couple names for you two,” she announced mischievously. “‘Boy’ and ‘Rocky’. Which do you prefer?”

Roy rolled his eyes. “Keeley,” he growled, as I snorted, “We’re not answering that.”

While we were more than happy to let our friends at Nelson Road know about our relationship and annoy them with our PDA, we had agreed not to make any big public show of things- at least not until the season ended. We were enough of a distraction when we were just a few blurry photos the night of the gala; we didn’t want to take away any more media attention from the club, not when our teams were on the verge of something great.

Keeley rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine. But once you two go public, you know better get used to those questions, alright? Because you guys are really fucking cute, and the internet loves you already.”

“We are pretty cute, I’ll give you that,” I chuckled, taking Roy’s hand and smiling at the grumpy coach- my grumpy coach.

In return, he leaned over and pecked my lips gently. “That better not fucking end up online,” he warned Keeley, thick eyebrows raised threateningly.

“We’d break the internet with that little kiss,” she teased, winking at me. “Better be nice to me, or I’m leaking that clip.”

“Careful,” Roy replied with a nod in my direction, affection sparkling in his eyes. “I heard this one’s got a mean right hook.”

~

Roy leaned on the doorframe, enjoying the view. Who would’ve thought that just watching someone put on makeup would make him so fucking happy?

But seeing her standing in front of his bathroom sink and applying that red lipstick had his heart skipping a couple beats. He liked this domestic thing, the sleepovers and the driving to work together and the making dinner and… everything. He wanted more of it, he realized. He wanted more of her. The word was on the tip of his tongue, the word that had been floating around in his head since they got together, since the gala if he was being honest. Maybe even before that, he didn't fucking know. But it was too soon, he knew. Things were already going fast enough and, although she was diving in headfirst just as hard, Roy was still worried about scaring her off.

Her playful eyes met his in the mirror. “Can I help you, Kent?” she teased.

He shrugged and pushed himself off the doorframe so he could stroll over casually. “Just admiring the view.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a slow kiss to her cheek. “I like when you wear that color.” Another kiss to her temple. “Especially when it ends up on my neck,” he hummed.

“Fuck off,” she chuckled, elbowing him gently. “Come on, let me finish getting ready. Otherwise, you’re going to be late to your game, Coach.”

“Fine,” he growled. “But after the match?”

She whirled around and grabbed his face gently, her eyes bright. “After the match, I promise my lipstick will be all over your neck.” She pressed her body close to his. “And maybe some other particular places.” Her red lips formed that smirk he loved, the one he couldn’t believe he used to find annoying. “But only if you win.”

Roy grinned, eyebrows raised at her appealing offer. “Well, lucky for me I’m the manager of a winning team.”

“That is lucky,” she purred, nudging her nose against his. “Now then, can I go put on my new Greyhounds kit?”

His grin widened. “You got a fucking Greyhounds kit?”

She shrugged. “Of course. I’m part of Richmond. I like the fellas. And I’m pretty obsessed with their pain in the ass manager.” She smiled. “It’s about time I start rocking some Greyhound gear.”

Roy’s heart was soaring. He loved wearing her name and number on his back, even if it made their relationship obvious to anyone who was paying even an ounce of attention. And he’d be lying his ass off if he said he hadn’t pictured what she’d look like wearing his name on a kit. Granted, some of those pictures in his head were in his bed rather than at a match, but still. What a fucking dream come true.

“Alright,” he sighed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Hurry up then, Coach.”

Roy probably would have skipped to the living room if it weren’t for this shit knee. With no one around, he didn’t bother hiding his stupid grin, the one he found himself wearing quite often these days. The internet had gone a bit wild with images of him wearing her name on his Whippets kit; he could only imagine the silly little fan edits and TikToks that would surely follow this match.

“What d’you think?”

Roy’s old man heart nearly stopped in his chest. The bright red and blue material hugged her figure perfectly, tempting him to rip it off of her and forget all about his match. The little Greyhound logo settled beautifully over her heart, just like the Whippets manager had weaseled her way into his. He was officially obsessed with the picture in front of him, he decided.

“Fucking perfect,” he hummed. He twirled his finger in a circle, eyebrows raised. He just needed to see one more thing. “Give us a spin, then.”

Her grin widened as she turned around, something mischievous in her eyes. Roy sat up a little straighter, unashamed to be so obviously excited to see-

“Does that fucking say Tartt?” he spat, pure disgust smeared across his bearded face.

Her laughter rang in his ears, almost magical enough to make him forget about this absolute betrayal. He narrowed his eyes at her as she turned back around, shameless amusement on her face. “What’s the matter, Roy?” she teased as she made her way over to where he slumped on the couch. “Don’t you think I look good?”

He reached out and tugged her onto his lap, doing his best to keep his stern expression. “I think,” he growled against her shoulder, pawing at the material, “that you need to take that fucking thing off.”

With a giggle, she grabbed his wrist and looked at his watch, reminding Roy of the night of the gala- their very first night. “Ah, no time to change, I’m afraid.” She pressed a gentle kiss to his temple, careful not to leave any lipstick on his face. “Let’s go, Kent.”

Still grumbling and growling, Roy allowed himself to be pulled off the couch and dragged out of the house. When she wasn’t looking, he shook his head and smiled softly at her. Even with such a stupid name on her back, Roy still thought that seeing her in a Greyhounds kit was his new favorite sight.

He just couldn’t wait to rip the damn thing off of her.

~

“Let’s fucking go, Greyhounds!” I screeched, ignoring the way Keeley covered her ears.

After everything that had happened this season, both on and off the field, it was hard to believe it was coming to an end. Tonight, the Greyhounds were only one victory away winning the Premier League. And, after weeks of wearing Jamie’s name and other players’ names on my back just to mess with Roy (and the internet), I was proudly wearing his name and our number on my Greyhounds sweatshirt.

Keeley leaned close and held out her phone. “You’re already trending,” she teased, showing off a blurry photo of Roy and me entering the stadium, with me wearing Roy’s name and my signature red lipstick as I smiled up at the Greyhound manager. “And so is this.” There was Jamie Tartt, entering the stadium, wearing a fanny pack and, as usual, a hat. Unlike usual, this hat didn’t say “ICON”; instead, it proudly proclaimed “ROCKY”.

I rolled my eyes as the guys took their places on the field. “Is that a reference to that stupid ‘couple name’ thing?” I groaned. “Because you’re all supposed to be helping us keep quiet, you know.”

The sly way Keeley narrowed her eyes had me almost squirming. “Yeah. Because the way you two act during Manager Mondays and wearing each other’s kits is really discreet.” Suddenly, her suspicious expression turned somber, giving me a new urge to fidget. “How’s it all going by the way? You and him? The two of you seem pretty damn happy these days.”

“We are,��� I assured her, not bothering to stop my wide smile from filling my face. “He’s… well, you know how he is.” I gave a soft chuckle as I looked down to the pitch and watched Roy lean over to say something to Coach Beard. Perfect, I decided. That was how Roy was; perfect. From the way he stood during games, shoulders squared and all business, to the way he always stole a quick kiss when our paths crossed at work, to the way his strong hands tenderly adored me in bed, to the lazy afternoons on his couch, to the phone calls and texts that flooded my phone whenever we were apart, to the way he made me laugh and smile in between all those moments. Roy Kent was fucking perfect. “He’s Roy.”

Keeley’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. “I do know how he is,” she said carefully. The little clearing of her throat had me turning my eyes to her. Her eyebrows knitted together, as if she thought I would slug her at any moment. “And I hope this isn’t totally inappropriate, but we were talking last week- and he was saying he’s so fucking happy,” she quickly added, probably seeing my slowly raising eyebrows. “He’s just worried about being… clingy?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at how completely apprehensive my friend looked. “Oh, Roy’s clingy as fuck,” I said. “But I like it.” I shrugged, my eyes returning to the gruff man on the pitch that had weaseled his way into my heart. “I… I’m clingy too,” I admitted. “I think that’s why we work, actually. We’re both pretty intense people, we both do everything at full speed, you know? So, one person’s idea of ‘too clingy’ is my idea of ‘absolutely fucking perfect’.”

The smile on Keeley’s face was filled with joy and a bit of relief. “I’m so happy to hear that,” she said, grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers. “Really. He deserves the best and you-” She smacked a kiss to my cheek. “-are the fucking best, babes.”

~

The tips of Roy’s fingers tingled as he stared down Jamie, who was making a mad dash towards their opponent’s goal. There were only moments left before stoppage time ended in a tie and the match inevitably went to extra time, which had been a dangerous place for the Greyhounds all season long. If Jamie couldn’t beat both the clock and goalkeeper, it felt like their season would end in defeat. And Roy couldn’t have that. Not this season. Not when everything seemed to be ending so well, on and off the pitch.

Only one defender stood between Jamie and the goal. Roy held his breath as he watched Jamie move this way and that, doing a maneuver he knew Tartt hadn’t learned from any of the coaches on the pitch; he’d learned this particular move from the Whippets. And he’d apparently learned it well, because suddenly Jamie was in front of the goal, kicking the ball and-

“JAMIE TARTT SCORES!”

Less than a moment later, the familiar sound of the referee’s whistle had all of Nelson Road in pure pandemonium. Roy sprinted onto the field, not caring about his stupid knee, and was instantly swallowed by the swarm of blue that was his team. He grabbed and hugged whoever was close by, not caring to see anything other than their wide eyes and wider smiles. He wondered ever so briefly if anything in his career would ever live up to this moment; he knew nothing before ever had. And, if he was being quite honest, he could live with this being the happiest moment of his career.

He was hugging Jamie tight, mumbling something about being fucking proud of the prick, when he heard some of his players call his name in teasing voices. He knew those tones; he’d been hearing them a lot lately, caused by one thing- well, one person- every fucking time.

Sure enough, when Roy glanced over his shoulder, the sight made his smile grow.

There she was, clad in her Greyhounds sweater, running at him. He knew she’d regret this run in the morning- they’d probably spend the whole next day icing ankles and knees- but she didn’t look like she cared. In fact, she looked like she didn’t care about anything other than Roy.

She threw herself into his arms and let him envelop her in a tight hug, one far too tight for two platonic managers to share.

“I’m proud of you,” she huffed into the crook of his neck. “So fucking proud, Roy.”

He released her slightly so she could gaze up at him, her eyes full of adoration and joy. Deep in his chest, Roy held a hope that she would stare at him like this for the rest of their lives. “Fucking come here,” he murmured, his hands leaving her hips to cup her face.

At some point over the season, Roy had lost count of how many times he’d kissed this woman. There were some kisses that were irrevocably stamped on his heart- their first kiss while sitting on his couch listening to Sam Cooke, the kiss in the rain after he’d given her the Team USA football, the sweet kiss they’d shared after he asked her to be his girlfriend- but this was probably his favorite so far. It was soft and slow, and it made the roar of the crowd go silent in Roy’s mind. He knew there was no going back from this; there would be photos of this kiss in the papers, and he’d definitely be asked about it in the post-match press conference. They’d once again be the subject of rumors and speculation, with Twitter users trying to put together a timeline and reanalyzing every little interaction they’d had over these last few months. It was going to be pure fucking hell.

But thankfully, his own personal heaven was in his arms.

When they parted, she wore a wide grin, the kind that made his heart skip a beat. “Congrats on the win, Coach,” she chuckled as she ruffled his hair. “Can’t believe you guys beat us to it.” She kissed his lips effortlessly, as if she kissed him on the pitch every day. “Whatever happened to ladies first?”

Roy shook his head and tightened his grip on her. “Just means the Whippets get to be the grand finale.”

“Grand finale,” she repeated, giving his jacket a tug to pull him back to herself. “I like the sound of that, Kent.”

Roy could’ve stayed on that pitch forever, holding her and kissing her, finally able to show everyone how he felt about her and how she miraculously felt about him. The feeling of winning the whole fucking thing, and having his girl in his arms, and hearing his team shout and celebrate, it was intoxicating as hell.

But, as Keeley reminded him with a giggle, there was pomp and circumstance to get through.

His whole body shook with excitement as he stood by Rebecca’s side and received the trophy. In the smiling crowd, he locked gazes with those familiar eyes. Could his smile get any bigger? he wondered. Surely that would be the morning headline: Richmond’s Roy Kent finally knows how to smile. And damn, if it wasn’t something he wanted to keep doing.

Once things began to die down on the pitch, Keeley began herding him towards the press conference he still had to do before celebrating with the team. He kept an arm wrapped around the Whippet’s manager as he finally made his way through the halls, to the familiar door that led to the press room. He paused in front of it, thinking about all the less-than-stellar moments he’d had in there. Announcing his retirement. Watching Jamie have a meltdown. Throwing a chair at George fucking Willows after being asked about Keeley. Being asked intrusive questions about his love life and the drama of this season. Some crappy things happened in that room, he admitted to himself.

But today? Today he walked in with his head held high; for the first time in a long time, Roy Kent felt nothing but good about himself and his life. His team was officially the best in the Premier League, and he had the girl of his dreams to kiss after the match. He allowed himself a smile as he settled in front of the cameras, enjoying the surprise on the reporters’ faces when they caught sight of his expression. In the back of the room, Keeley gave him a thumbs up before wrapping her arm around the Whippets’ manager, who shot him a wink that had his stupid grin widening.

Yeah. This might be the best fucking day of his whole fucking life.

The clamoring began before he even sat down. Roy rolled his eyes, albeit good-naturedly for once, and pointed to a familiar face, a reporter he didn’t fully hate. “Yeah?”

“Coach Kent, how does it feel to lead the Greyhounds to do the impossible?”

Roy leaned into his seat, determined to at least look relaxed. “Feels fucking great,” he said. “And I’m going to ignore that ‘impossible’ thing.” He smirked at the tittering from the reporters. “Because honestly, this team is fucking incredible. And anyone who thought this was ‘impossible’ for those lads hasn’t been paying attention.” After answering a few questions about the season and the match, he could see the journalists beginning to get restless. It was clear what they would be asking next. He pointed to another raised hand. “You.”

“A certain coach had an… interesting way of congratulating you,” the reporter asked in a timid voice. “Anything to say about that?”

For a moment, he glanced to the back of the room. Not to Keeley, like he usually did during these things, but to the pair of eyes that gazed back with a beautiful mixture of adoration and teasing. Another wink encouraged him to lean forward on his elbows and ignore the heat rising in his cheeks. “There’s a lot I can say about that,” he chuckled. “But, all I will say is this-” He looked directly at those bright eyes. “-I’m fucking mad about that woman. She seems to think I’m alright, which is nice. And she continues to be one of the most impressive managers I’ve had the honor of watching on the pitch. And I am looking forward to seeing her and the Whippets kick some serious ass next weekend.”

More questions were hurled at him, mostly excited and kind ones, but Roy didn’t really hear them. He was too focused on trying not to simply sit and stare at that pretty face that smiled at him and made him feel like he’d won more than the Premier League.

~

I pulled my dark blue blazer on and turned to get a good look at myself in the mirror. Dark blue blazer, white blouse, best jeans, hair up in a ponytail, red lipstick applied, necklace my grandfather had given me around my neck. This was it, I decided. This was the outfit of a Women’s Super League-winning coach.

“You look fucking amazing.” A pair of strong arms wrapped around me as a scruffy kiss smacked my cheek. “Like a fucking winner.” Roy smirked at me in the mirror. He looked damn good in his white Whippets kit, the number six on his back and something that kind of looked like love in his eyes. If my entire season wasn’t on the line, I’d be debating ripping off that jersey and throwing Roy onto the bed. “Gonna wear your gold medal?” he teased.

With an eyeroll, I slipped out of his grasp and sat on my bed. “Just toss me my sneakers, Kent.”

Roy raised an eyebrow as he moved towards my familiar Converse that sat perfectly next to the closet. “Wow, I get to touch the Match Day shoes? What an honor.”

“Yeah,” I chuckled as I took the shoes from him and tugged them on. “I’m hoping your luck from last weekend rubs off on me and the Whippets.” I knew that underneath my joking tone, he could hear my nerves. Roy always seemed to know what was going on beneath the surface.

Sure enough, he sat down next to me and took my hand. “Oi.” His voice was as soft as his gaze. “You’re going to be fucking brilliant.” He kissed my forehead. “Your team is incredible. You are incredible. You’re Coach Bucky. World Cup winner, Olympic champion, NWSL Coach of the Year.” He shook his head as he rattled off my résumé with a smile on his face. “You’ve fucking got this.”

“I know.”

He raised his thick eyebrows at me expectantly. “But?”

“But…” I sighed heavily and let my head fall against his shoulder. “There’s just so much pressure,” I murmured. “It’s our first season. And with all of my personal drama…” I closed my eyes. “I have to win. I have to show that I’m a fucking winner. If I don’t, I’ll forever be that slutty American who slept with Roy freaking Kent.”

He gave me a light shove. “Oi, I thought you liked sleeping with Roy Kent.”

“Roy,” I huffed. “I’m being serious. I need to win today. I have to prove that I deserve to be taken seriously. Everything I’ve built this year is on the line. If we don’t do this, I don’t know-”

“Babe.” Roy shifted and lifted my legs until they draped over his lap. His arms felt like a warm blanket as they wrapped around my waist and tugged me close. “You don’t have to prove shit to anyone. You’re lightyears better at this job than I am-” A snort slipped out of my nose. “-and everyone knows it, no matter what happens today. You are brilliant and accomplished. And if it’s not this year, it’ll be next year.” He gave me a squeeze. “But I believe in you. Your team believes in you. Rebecca and Keeley and all the Greyhounds believe in you. Fuck what anyone else says.” He kissed my forehead, lingering for a moment. “You can always just punch them anyways.”

Fucking Roy, making me laugh and forget my anxiety. As I smiled through my nerves and kissed his mouth, probably smudging my lipstick, all I could think was how badly I wanted him to make me laugh for the rest of my fucking life.

~

The feeling of pride in Roy’s chest was unlike anything he’d ever felt in his life. The energy of the stadium vibrated through his whole body, and he couldn’t help the lump in his throat when he saw how absolutely packed the place was. He walked confidently into the owners’ box holding Phoebe’s hand tight. He smiled down at his bouncing niece, with her bright eyes and her own Bucky kit. She was talking a million miles a minute, reminding him of Keeley, chattering all about how well she knew the Whippets would do and asking if Roy was really going to take her onto the pitch after the match if the Whippets won. Her yammering only stopped so she could give Keeley a hug and take her seat next to the blonde.

“Ready to see your girl in action?” Keeley teased over Phoebe’s head as Roy took his seat.

His broad smile would have been enough of an answer. “She’s gonna be so fucking brilliant,” Roy laughed. “I can fucking feel it.” He narrowed his eyes at Phoebe’s expectant face. “Add it to my tab,” he grumbled.

To his surprise, Phoebe shook her head. “You get a free pass today, Uncle Roy,” she informed him earnestly. “It’s a very big day for Bucky and you’re probably very stressed.” She nodded, her demeanor comically matter of fact. “So, I’ll let it slide. Just for today.”

“Thanks, Pheebs,” he chuckled, kissing the top of her head. He nodded to Rebecca as she took her spot on Keeley’s other side. “Boss,” he greeted with a salute.

“Coach Kent,” she replied, a sparkle in her eye as she saluted back. “Beautiful night for a game, hmm?” Despite her calm tone, Roy could see the way her fingers drummed on her lap nervously.

He smirked at her. “Ready to be the owner of two winning teams?”

She shook her head, holding back a laugh. “Not thinking about it,” she announced firmly. “I am just going to enjoy the match, cheer for our girls, and feel proud of them no matter what.”

Keeley, Roy, and Pheobe all just stared at her until a smile broke out across her face.

“Alright, yes, I’m fucking ready!” She turned her attention to the field, where the Whippets were beginning to line up. “Let’s go, Whippets!”

The quartet were joined in the box by Beard and Nate and Jamie, who looked quite comfortable wearing Kira Malone’s name on his back. There were deafening cheers all around as the Whippets were introduced. Roy’s whole body felt warm as he bellowed their names; even without being head over heels for their manager, Roy would feel beyond proud of these women. He’d watched them work all season long, through sweat and injuries and fatigue and the harsh media. And they’d done it all with smiles on their faces and their heads held high. They were impressive and inspiring, and Roy already knew they would win that trophy.

And they had ninety minutes to do it.

After the players were introduced, the Whippets’ coaches stepped forward to shake hands with the opposing coaching staff.  Of course, every eye in the owners’ box turned to Roy with mischievous smirks on their faces.

Not that Roy noticed. He was too busy jumping to his feet so he could cup his hands around his mouth and bellow, “Let’s fucking go, Buck!”

With that colossal voice of his, no one was surprised to see the manager look up in their direction. Her red-lipped smile was clear as day, and they all oohed teasingly when they saw her blow a kiss up towards them.

“Obviously that was for me,” Jamie joked, turning around and winking at his manager.

“Fuck off,” Roy chuckled as he resumed his seat. He gave the striker a light shove before turning his attention back to the pitch. Fuck, how was he supposed to focus on the match that was starting when she was down there, looking strong and confident and powerful- not to mention gorgeous. His heart hammered in his chest as he watched her in her element, shouting excitedly at her team and reaching out for Luke’s hand every now and then. Some part of him wanted to watch her forever; the other part of him couldn’t wait for the ninety minutes to end so he could wrap his arms around her and celebrate her victory.

A stray piece of popcorn smacked him in the temple and diverted his attention.

Keeley shot him that shit-eating grin and tossed a fresh piece of popcorn into her mouth. “You’re drooling, Roy-o.”

He narrowed his eyes at her and reached over Phoebe’s lap to steal a handful of Keeley’s popcorn. “Yeah, yeah,” was all he could manage. He smiled down at Pheobe, whose attention was rapt with the match in front of her. “Having fun?” he asked loudly, amused to find that her trance was just as intense as the one he’d just been in.

All the little blonde could do was nod, mouth slightly agape, as she watched the Whippets score their first goal of the match. The entire stadium was on their feet, deafening with their shouts and cheers as the players embraced. But of course, the only thing Roy could see was their manager and the way she looked up at the owners’ box, right at him.

~

Lucas was holding my hand so tight he was going to cause permanent damage to my blood circulation. Not that I cared; we had succeeded in keeping the game tied 2-2 all through stoppage time, and now Amanada Camacho had managed to secure a penalty kick. With my free hand, I gripped my necklace tightly, as if the little gold charm would somehow direct Amanda’s kick into the right direction.

The forward made her move, running towards the ball, and gave a powerful kick-

That sailed perfectly into the corner of the goal, out of the goalie’s reach.

In unison, Lucas and I let out sharp screams and crashed into each other’s arms, trading kisses on cheeks and foreheads. When the referee blew her whistle, we sprinted onto the field, greeting our mob of Whippets in a pile of hugs that evolved into a mountain of players and staff tumbling over each other. It was loud and chaotic- and beautiful. Somewhere in the reveling, tears had formed in my eyes, but they didn’t fall until I found myself face to face with Rebecca’s glowing smile and own teary eyes.

“Well done,” she said simply, wrapping me in a tight hug. “Well fucking done.”

I melted into her embrace- fuck, how was this woman so perfect that even her hugs were the best?- and finally let the tears fall. “Thank you for believing in me,” was all I could manage.

She shook her head. “That’s just the Richmond way,” she chuckled as Keeley approached us.

The blonde wrapped us both into a group hug, chattering about how brilliant the girls had been, how brilliant I had been, how we were going to have the biggest celebration ever once we left the stadium, how I’d better have brought a change of clothes like she’d instructed me so we could party properly.

But her excitement was drowned out by my beating heart when I caught sight of a pair of beautiful brown eyes sparkling at me.

“Kent!” I shrieked, breaking free of my bosses’ warm embraces. I sprinted towards him, this time under stadium lights and falling confetti rather than pouring rain, and launched myself into his arms. He caught me with ease, lifting me and letting me wrap my legs around him. With a couple of first place finishes under our belts, we were finally free to be as publicly insufferable as we wanted- which I planned on taking full advantage of. I figured a dramatic kiss on the pitch was a good start, and Roy seemed to agree as he attached his lips to mine hungrily.

“So. Fucking,” he huffed into my mouth between kisses, “Proud.” He held me tighter, pressing my chest harshly to his. “You’re amazing.”

I finally removed myself from the kiss so I could bury my burning hot face in his shoulder. He let me plant my feet back on the ground, but kept his arms firmly around me. “Roy,” I murmured, realizing I had something important to tell him. “I-”

“Bucky!” Phoebe jumped onto my back, nearly knocking me over.

“Pheebs!” I laughed, turning away from Roy so I could hug his niece. “I’m so glad you came,” I gushed. “Your team wins a championship next, right?” When I glanced up at Roy over Phoebe’s head, he was already gazing at me, something soft on his face. He’d been doing that a lot lately, I realized as I returned his smile. This gentle stare that held something significant, something I felt sure one of us would break down and say soon. Something I’d wanted to say since I first ran out in the rain to him.

But I didn’t have time to think about that. Not when my team was calling for me to join them to be crowned the Women’s League champions and hoist the trophy in the air and beam with pride as cameras flashed in our faces.

I was still beaming as I held Roy’s hand in the club the Greyhounds and Whippets took over to celebrate both of our victories; Rebecca was something of a blubbering mess as she took the microphone early in the night and thanked both clubs for their hard work, thanked our coaching staffs for surviving the wild ride that had been our season (Beard raised his eyebrows in our direction, clearly remembering being frustrated enough to lock us in a shed), and above all thanked Keeley for being her partner in the adventure of establishing what she knew would be a great legacy of women’s football in Richmond.

By the time Rebecca finished and called me up to make my own speech, I was close to joining Rebecca in her tears; unfortunately, I knew I wouldn’t look as graceful as she did once my waterworks began flowing. So instead, I focused on smiling as I kissed her cheek and took the accepted the microphone from her.

“How’re we feeling, Richmond?” I was answered with cheers and shouts from our teams and their loved ones. “I’ll try to keep this brief so we can get back to partying- although my Whippets probably already know I’m not as capable of brevity as the Greyhounds say Coach Kent is.” The mere mention of Roy’s name provoked catcalls and wolf whistles from both squads. “Calm down,” I laughed, shaking my head when I caught Roy’s not-really-annoyed eyeroll aimed at Jamie. “I just want to say thank you,” I continued once the commotion subsided. “Thank you to the Whippets, for all of your incredible work and dedication. I think we made it clear to the Women’s Super League and all of England that W.F.C. Richmond has arrived.” Cheers again filled the club, as well as my heart. “Thank you to our fearless leaders Keeley and Rebecca, for believing in us every step of the way.” Keeley’s little bow alongside Rebecca’s refined wave had me giggling into the microphone. “A special thanks to our dear Greyhounds. It was an adjustment learning to work together-” Coach Beard’s exaggerated groan could be heard loudly over everyone else’s teasing hums. “-but we managed.” I shot Roy a wink that was returned with a blown kiss. “And, personally, more than anyone else I have to thank my right-hand man.” My eyes found Lucas’s. “Luke,” I sighed. “You formed me into the player I was so proud to be. You mentored me into the coach I’ve become. You were insane enough to follow me here for this adventure, you held my hand during every scary moment and picked me up every time I fell. We came here for greatness-” I shrugged, gesturing to the assembled group of champion athletes. “- and I think we fucking found it.” Both teams hollered in agreement, but still managed to hear my last few words: “Richmond on three! One, two, three-”

“RICHMOND!”

In a blur of cheers and hugs and kisses, I finally found myself back in Roy’s embrace, accepting the chaste kiss he pressed to my lips.

“Wanna sneak off for a moment?” he hummed in my ear. “After that, I need to give you a proper kiss. And if I do that here, I think Beard might actually be fucking ill.”

I leaned into his touch. “Can’t have that,” I teased back.

We wandered away from the bar, ignoring the eyerolls from our friends when they caught sight of our lovesick expressions. We had warned them early on; they were going to miss the days of our screaming matches and insults. These days, instead of walking in on arguments, they walked in on make out sessions. Jamie had more than a few times accused us of trying to make him go blind. Even Keeley grimaced when I asked if she wanted to continue Manager Mondays next season, clearly regretting asking us to be more affectionate once we were public.

All season everyone bitched at us about getting along. We were only giving the people what they wanted.

Roy clearly knew what he wanted when he found a dark, isolated corner where he could press my back against a column that hid us from view. His mouth melded with mine as his hands lazily stroked up and down my sides. I sighed against his kiss and snaked my arms around his neck, pulling him flush against me. My mind was filled with thoughts of the weeks ahead of us; sure, we’d have a shit ton of press, but once the circus was over, this was all I wanted to worry about. We’d floated the idea of going on some fabulous vacation together, turning our phones off and isolating ourselves in a little bubble of sex and food and laughter. I’d told Roy we could settle plans once the seasons were ended, which he had seemed thrilled about. Or at least as thrilled as Roy could manage. But as I kissed him harshly and melted in his arms, I briefly considered that spending our entire break locked in his house with nothing but takeout, movies, and his bed sounded just as good as whatever destination he had in mind.

Still, we’d worked hard and gone through a lot; we deserved a damn vacation.

“You’re fucking incredible,” he mumbled as he began to wander down my neck. “Seeing you on the pitch today… and up there with your speech…” He groaned softly and pressed a slow kiss to my collarbone. “Don’t think I’ve ever loved you more than I do right now.”

My grip on him tightened as my body tensed up. Not bothering to hide my wide smile, I tugged at him until his face was inches away from mine. “You love me?”

His smile was sloppy and bashful, my favorite sight. “Fucking ’course I do,” he murmured as he brushed some hair out of my face. “You’re something special, you know that? I think I’ve loved you since that moment in the shed at the fucking retreat, hearing you say we were both going to win the whole fucking thing. Called it ‘fairy tale shit’.” He touched his nose to mine. “This right here, this is some fairy tale shit.”

“It is,” I breathed before closing the space between your mouths, pulling Roy into a tender kiss. Before I could deepen it into something a bit harsher, he pulled back, eyebrow quirked playfully. “What?” I chuckled.

“I love you,” he whispered, raising both eyebrows now.

I nodded, trying to hide the grin that was growing on my face. “So I heard.”

He rolled his eyes and took my face in his hands. “Anything you care to say to me, Coach Buck?”

He knew. Of course he fucking knew. He knew from the way I kissed him and the way I looked at him and the way I held him close whenever I could. He knew from the way we made love at night and made breakfast together in the morning. He knew from the way our fingertips brushed when we passed each other at work. He knew from the million little things we shared every day.

But sometimes, a fella needs to hear the words.

“Fine,” I huffed, all faux exasperation as I tugged his face back towards mine. “I guess I love you too.”

Taglist: @optimisticsandwichgladiator@reading-blogs@callmecasey81@ladygrey03@puckyou-forpuckssake@royalestrellas@shineforever19@rae4725@burnafter-reading@her-fandom-sanctum@infinetlyforgotten@giggling-sewer-ginger@whataloadofmalarkey@agentstarkid@kingleahhh@tortilla-maria1@geekgirl1996@amatswimming@meg-ro@spicyraccoonlordking@spaghetti-dad187@needlesthreadandbuttons@elissaaa@imsoluckyeverythingworksoutforme@reverieisaway@djskakakaksjsj-blog@thatonedogwithablog@allthetroubleiveseen@sunderland-6@netflix-addict@paranormal-is-my-life@jill2629-blog@itsbuzzfeedbitch@pretzelactivist@amieinghigh@kashee-h@beingalive1@mythicalbinicorn@needyomega@kno-way-home@janalustare@sssatorus@its-a-rich-mans-world@confessionsofatotaldramaslut@hesitant-alien33@katie-sheep-111@bonesbonesetc@seacactusplant@thebookwormlife @dreamscape22 @rae4725@timelordhunterandmysterysolver@littleesilvia@anonurs@itswhateveripromise@chewymoustachio @gcidrvsh @katdahlali @ohwauwdoritos @lemoonandlestars @perfectwhispersvoid@seatbacksandtraytables@kingleahhh@maackiimoo @isuspectitwasthenargles @bannsshheeebiittcchhhh @charkachow @gcstnml @queen-of-the-downtown-scene

[slimthicksonnett]

Silent Night (Rose Lavelle)

"Suprise" and Happy Holidays. Inbox is open as always.

Word Count: 2,360

Warnings: None

------

For the first time in years, December felt normal. There was no December camp, no COVID, no friends halfway across the world, everyone was home.

“Y/N! Are you ready?” Standing in the doorway, paper wrapped boxes in hand and a beanie that was far too big for her head, was your best friend and roommate Rose Lavelle.

Smiling gently at the older girl, you nodded back as you finished buckling your heels. The OL Reign girls were hosting their annual Christmas gala and it was possibly the only thing Rose had talked about for weeks. Not wanting to delay the excited girl, you joined her at the door where she swung her free arm carelessly over your shoulder and pulled you into her.

Even attached, the two of you moved in perfect sync around the apartment to gather the last of the things you needed before you left. Cookies? Check. Gifts? Check. Keys? Check. Extra jacket for when Rose inevitably gets cold after claiming it wasn’t cold enough for her to need a jacket? Also check. You both made your way to the car in silence, not detaching until you stepped away to open the passenger door of the car for Rose. When you opened the door to get in your own seat, you were completely unsurprised to see Rose had already reached across the center console to start the car for you and was now fiddling with the knobs on the radio.

That’s just kind of how it went with the two of you most of the time. Comfortable silence and nonverbal communication was part of a practiced routine ever since you’d started living with each other at the beginning of the season. Nowadays, it was almost as if the two of you were simply extensions of one another. After getting on the road, you let your right hand fall from the steering wheel and onto the center console the midfielder had previously leaned over. Responding almost instinctively, the pale girl placed her own hand beside yours and linked your pinkies together. 

Arriving at the venue in downtown Seattle a short time later, Rose let out an impressed whistle at the sight of the building. Laughing softly, you hurried to park the car before jogging around to open her door.

Again, it was just instinct.

And it was definitely just instinct that the two of you walked into the fancy event space holding hands.

Entering the room, Rose again let out a low whistle as she took everything in. This time it wasn’t met with your laugh but by the cheers of your teammates who noticed your arrival. 

“Looks like the party is finally here!” Bethany Balcer hollered, crossing the room to greet Rose with a hug that forced your hand away from hers.

“Well we were required to be here.” Rose joked dryly as she pulled away from the blonde who just rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, and you know Rose would never miss an opportunity to dress up.” You teased, stepping forward to meet the young player with a hug of your own. To your side you could hear Rose scoff at the little jab.

“Right, and you just happened to have a brand new dress hidden away for the occasion because you don’t enjoy dressing up?” Bethany countered, bringing a heat to your cheeks.

You could feel the eyes of people around the room taking in your new outfit at the comment, most sparing a quick glance and flashing you a smile in approval. But on your right, you could feel a particular pair of bright eyes lingering on you that suddenly made you feel very exposed despite the floor length coverage of the dark evening gown. 

“I never said I wasn’t guilty either! Now, do you guys want these gifts or not?” Turning to look at Rose, her eyes snapped up to meet yours for a moment before she rolled them in amusement at your threat.

“Not with that attitude!” Someone shouted but they were quickly interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Yes we do! Big girls just got paid bank from the boys' win so I will take my US Soccer funded present, please and thank you!” Nikki Stanton chimed in, causing the entire room to bust out in a mixture of laughs and cheers of agreement.

“Presents go under the big tree, any treats go to the lady in white!” Megan Rapinoe responded, the veteran moving around the space like a whirlwind. Which honestly should have been expected, seeing as helping plan this gala was kind of her favorite thing. 

Laughing along with your team, you moved towards the kitchen area where you were greeted with the sight of Sue Bird wearing what seemed to be an all white suit. Realizing then that it was her fiancee that Pinoe has been referring to as the lady in white, you couldn’t help but burst out laughing. 

The musical sound garnered the attention of the remaining girls who hadn’t spotted your arrival, leading to another round of cheers as they came to grab you away from Rose who now seemed to be responsible for putting the presents under the tree. 

Falling into a familiar rhythm, you found yourself working with ease while making comfortable conversation with your teammates and friends. Lu was in the middle of telling you about how cute King and Fishlock looked setting up the Christmas tree this year when the familiar sound of bickering caught your attention. Flashing you a knowing smile, Lu promised to finish the conversation later and let you go with grace to figure out the source of the fighting.

The culprits were of course your little gaggle of junior goalkeepers.

“Now why can I hear you two arguing all the way from the kitchen?” You sassed, placing your hands on your hips as you raised an accusatory eyebrow.

Laurel was naturally the first to protest.

“We’re not arguing! We’re just having a disagreement because little Miss Tarheel over here doesn’t know how to work electronics!” The secondary keeper pointed at Claudia accusingly, earning an offended gasp from the other girl.

“Me?! You’re the one that broke it! How are you mad that I can’t fix what you broke?” Claudia protested as you rolled your eyes at their skirmish.

“Alright dumb and dumber, let me see.” Sighing, you waved the two out of the way so you could inspect the damage on what you could only assume was the controls for the venue's sound system.

The damage it seemed was not possibly something that could have been Laurel’s fault. The panel appeared to have been completely fried. A blast during a power outage maybe? Regardless, the thing was toast.

“Ivory you didn’t break it, Dickey you’re right that there’s no fixing it. We’ll figure something else out.” Satisfied with your work, you walked away from the perplexed duo and back out to the open space where much of the team was mingling.

You weren’t out there for more than two minutes before a familiar presence was behind you, leaning up to try and rest her chin on your shoulder.

“So, I heard the speakers are no good?” She asks, carelessly wrapping her arms around your waist in a way that had you relaxing more than you’d like to admit.

Humming in casual response, you swayed the two of you from side to side to your own imaginary song.

“Absolutely fried, it’ll be fine. Everything else is perfect!” You answered, leaning your head into hers and actively ignoring the sideways glances some of the people passing by spared you both. It was most teammates plus ones, as the team themselves had grown annoyingly accustomed to the two of you being so close.

“I was really looking forward to karaoke though.” And you could hear the pout in Rose’s voice before you even looked over your shoulder. 

If there was one thing you were a sucker for? It was Rose’s pout and her puppy dog eyes. Honestly you think she could have Wilma Jean beat for those big sad eyes sometimes.

“What did you want to sing?” Formulating a potential plan in your mind to remove the pout, you mentally ran through every Christmas appropriate song you knew.

“Mmmm, just like Christmas carols? Maybe Silent Night or something?” 

And well, you hadn’t planned on exposing yourself like this. But hey, it’s Rose.

“Well come on then.” With a sigh, you unlaced yourself from her and held out your hand. The midfielder looked at you in confusion.

“Trust me?” You prompted, and a flash of what was almost hurt immediately crossed Rose’s face.

“Always!” The older girl responded defensively.

“Then come on.” Rose gave you her hand willingly, following you blindly as you pulled her across the space, weaving between teammates who watched with partial interest in the shenanigans. 

When you finally came to a stop, you were standing in front of what had first caught your eye when you’d entered the space. Sat slightly to the side, facing into the large room, was an old mahogany grand piano. You’d initially guessed that the Steinway was an antique and left it alone, but after having heard Balcer try her hand at it while you were in the kitchen you realized that it was seemingly fully functional. That is, if the right person were to play it. 

With familiar ease, you moved to open the piano's top and pulled the lid prop up to keep it open. Looking down, you couldn’t help but take a moment to marvel at the preservation of the soundboard within. Feeling yourself slip into that familiar headspace, you crossed over and took your seat at the bench. Delicately, you pulled back your dress and placed a stiletto clad foot carefully on one of the pedals. Marveling at the difference in pressure required, you moved across each pedal before carefully settling on the damper.

Looking away from the beautiful piano, you were met with the equally as beautiful sight of Rose Lavelle intently watching you. There was a mix of both wonder and curiosity on her face as she watched you take on the peacefully tense form she only ever saw from you on the field. Outside of this little staring contest, teammates had started to drift closer after hearing your cautionary tapping of the keys and seeing you prop open the top. 

Breaking the silence, you tapped a singular key gently. The note resonated throughout the space and gained the attention of anyone who wasn’t previously listening.

“C Major?” You asked softly, still looking at Rose.

The pale girl could only bring herself to nod as you tapped her starting note again. 

Confirmation received, you took a deep breath and let your body begin to move in the familiar waltz of the Christmas classic. 

Taking your typical artistic liberty, and also giving Rose time to actually prepare, you improvised for about six measures. Holding a solid base with your left, your right hand danced across the keys. Apart from the ringing notes, the room was silent as they Thwatched in awe.

Comfortable now, you let yourself look up at Rose who you had to admit looked the picture of her namesake in her scarlet velvet dress. Still playing you carefully nodded your head, switching to a gentle lead in which, in no surprise to you, Rose followed perfectly.

Silent night, Holy night. All is calm, all is bright.

As with everything else you did, the two of you worked together seamlessly. Each note aligned and Rose knew exactly when to sustain a note to let you add some flourish. 

The room was captivated. If you looked, you would’ve seen the phones recording the moment. The look of motherly love on Megan and Sue’s faces. The tears falling down Sofia’s cheeks as Alana hugged her. The way Quinn pulled their partner in just a little closer. How Tziarra and Jess were already planning how to get you both to perform at their wedding.

But at that moment, it was just the music. Well, the music and Rose. Which was interesting. As many concerts as you’d played and performers you’d accompanied, you’d never felt this sort of partnership with a singer. While of course you always did your job to follow, it felt like Rose was actually letting you lead. Maybe she really did always trust you.

When the song concluded, you were torn from your trances by the applause.

“Holy SHIT, Y/N! I didn’t know you could do that!” It was Huitema of all people who shouted that out, quickly echoed by others.

“What can I say, I’m good with my hands.” You joked, getting a combination of eyerolls and laughter in return. 

“No but seriously, why did you never play for us before?” Lu pushed, looking at you with a gentleness that only a veteran like her could hold.

“I didn’t ever intend to, it’s just not something I do much publicly anymore.” Shrugging, you began to study the ivory under your fingertips instead of your friends' faces. 

“So why now?” Alana joined in, earning a grin from you.

Thank God, an easy question.

“Because Rose wanted to sing Christmas carols and the speakers were broken,” You pause to look at the guilty looking goalkeepers in the corner “but Rose gets whatever Rose wants.” 

You said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Because to you? It was. 

Laurel made her opinion on this known but fake gagging at the sweetness and the look you shot her that time was much more of a glare than a glance.

“Rose gets whatever Rose wants?” It was Rose this time, who had turned to look at you. Her eyes reflecting depths of tenderness melded with what might have been surprise.

“Whatever Rose wants.” You confirmed, smiling a little guiltily at the admission that the words held if anyone really looked for them.

“Anything?” Rose pushed further, and you just laughed.

“Anything, Rose.” And the pale girls flushed as scarlet as her dress.

Her only response was a shy smile and a soft whisper.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

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

[the-empress-7]

I'm not really a follower of the Blake/Ryan stuff either, but I've always thought she was overrated regarding her fashion. She had a couple of good Met Gala dresses, so what? The rest of them were nothing special. But I am surprised that she went the Barbie direction on this promo tour--why not lean into the "serious actress" theme? Seems like a missed opportunity or maybe that she knows the film is bad?

I think her husband is getting a little too full of himself at this point. There was dialogue in the first 2 Deadpool movies that made me laugh, but I think I'm done with him. I was planning to watch his football/soccer club docu series but I've lost interest after this mess.

When I think of her memorable fashion moments, that one Empire State Building dress from the Met Gala is the only one that comes to mind.

What fascinates me is her delusion that she was on the same level as Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Barbie combined. Don’t get me wrong, the movie has performed well but that’s not because of Blake. The book that the movie is based off of has sold over 8 million copies. People would have gone to watch the movie regardless of who had been cast as the lead actress.

[maochira]

Masterlist: Yoichi Isagi

Full masterlist

Big brother!Isagi finds out you date Kaiser (scenario)

Big brother!Isagi with a toddler sibling (headcanons)

Isagi's train seat breaks (headcanons)

Big brother!Isagi with parents who work a lot (headcanons)

Isagi's little sibling meets his Blue Lock friends (scenario)

Pro player!Isagi sees his younger sibling in his jersey (scenario)

Isagi, Rin and Bachira as parents (writing event headcanons)

Big brother!Isagi meets your ex in Blue Lock (headcanons)

Single father!Isagi (headcanons)

Isagi x creepy/scary!reader (headcanons)

Cuddles with big brother!Isagi (headcanons)

Isagi x short!reader (headcanons)

Isagi with a chaotic best friend (headcanons)

Isagi with a younger sibling who plays volleyball (headcanons)

Isagi with an s/o who loves reading (drabble)

Isagi x ice skater!reader (drabble)

Seeing his s/o at the met gala (headcanons)

Picking up curse words from big brother!Isagi (headcanons)

More big brother!Isagi (headcanons)

The better world is the haze around the two of us. (writing event oneshot)

Big brother!Isagi with a celebrity sibling (headcanons)

Isagi accidentally hits on lesbian!reader (drabble)

Isagi gets jealous when you spend time with Kaiser (headcanons)

Isagi helps with your derealization (drabble)

Isagi has a crush on you (headcanons)

Gifting him a song-lyric photobook (scenario)

You mess up flirting with him (scenario)

Isagi sees your s/h scars for the first time (drabble)

Isagi with an s/o who's oblivious to their flirting (headcanons)

You ignore boyfriend!Isagi (scenario)

Isagi introduces you to his parents (drabble)

Isagi and Ness as your parents (headcanons)

Isagi with an s/o who spaces out often (headcanons)

Isagi meets Ego's sibling!reader (oneshot)

You third wheel big brother!Barou's date with Isagi (scenario)

Isagi with a neurodivergent s/o who can't hold eye contact (drabble)

Isagi has a crush on oblivious soccer genius!reader (drabble)

Cuddling with Isagi (drabble)

You make plushies of yourself and Isagi (scenario)

Best friend!Isagi with lesbian!best friend!reader who's too afraid to come out to everyone (headcanons)

Adoring your scars (drabble)

Isagi and lesbian!reader in Blue Lock (drabble)

Isagi sees his little sibling in his old jersey (headcanons)

Reader comes out as transmasc (headcanons)

Psst. Isagi has some more appearances in the Neo Egoist League assistant series

[stanleyl]

every decision made by Tom after tcr has been wrong. If he took a break he should have taken it and not come back as Spider-Man. A proper break and come back with something thats respected. I can’t help but feel like he is black listed but not in the “he did something bad kinda way” but in the don’t make a movie with him he is bad news kind of way. Looking back now, He has promoted zendaya all of 2024 more than himself or his projects. She is at a fashion show, he is posting about her being at a fashion show. He posted more for her movies, met gala etc. now I’m like ok maybe we should listen to him. Maybe he just wants to be her boyfriend, you know. Like how about you go to one Tom or meet director talk to people. That’s how things are done in the business that is your profession. He kind of has isolated himself from creatives it looks like. He only hangs out with friends or soccer players.. This week has given me insane clarity. I just cannot believe that he teased a secret shoot and it was for Spider-Man. And I know we have all been saying this but if he was to take a break and focus on creating a family fine but no, you are doing Spider-Man and then your girlfriend is not on break so you will be seen around on set with her and other leading men you wish your career was like. I’m sorry her being extremely visible doesn’t help He posted more for her movies, met gala etc. now I’m like ok maybe we should listen to him. Maybe he just wants to be her boyfriend, you know the“focus on family” talk. I do think he is shortsighted because in a few years he will be uncomfortable and insecure on her sets and feel unwelcome. And idc what anyone says, I’m sure he feels insecure about this but has done anything to remedy his situation. And publicity is everything! Every white boy of the month got their big break because of twitter and TikTok hype idc what anyone says. I’m frustrated like all of you. I look at Sydney Sweeney who had two bad movies come out back to back but that girl keeps going is making more movies and brand etc. if there is a false rumor about her it’s nipped in the bud by her publicist etc. I cannot help but feel Spider-Man is the last thing he will do. I’m tired also. What do you think

I think you're being a bit too dramatic, no offense, lol. The only 'decision' he made after TCR – that we know about – was R&J, and for the past 3 years, we have no clue what his next projects are outside of Marvel. The one project we do know about, the biopic, seems to be going nowhere ;(.

The secrecy around his career, combined with how poorly his team has handled his public image (just look at the Francesca casting situation or how they did nothing in terms of damage control regarding the play's critical reception), is mind-boggling. Sure, they’re doing what he tells them to, but none of it is working in his favor. It’s crazy that no one is stepping in to fix this.

Also, he’s a rich man with solid industry connections. He’s not some clueless idiot with no options. Whether prestigious directors are actually interested in working with him is a different story. And whether the roles he’s being offered match what he’s looking for is another thing to consider.

His last 5 projects outside the MCU (Chaos Walking, Cherry, Uncharted, TCR and R&J) have generated buzz? Yeah, but mostly for the wrong reasons, and fans need to stop pretending that this is okay, lol. And keeping things this secretive when the feedback isn’t great is a huge misstep, imo. The general public will definitely watch him in other movies – I completely believe he can put butts in seats without an IP movie – but rn are people outside his fanbase really 'waiting' for the next Tom Holland movie (not Spider-Man)? So, this isn’t just bad marketing, it’s sending the wrong message to audiences because so far, he’s barely promoted himself as an actor. So most people will think the secret projects/shoot is either Spider-Man related or something tied to his relationship (Meanwhile, she acknowledges their relationship but knows how to separate that from her public image and draw attention to her work, which is exactly how it should be).

[old-lorarri]

hey love id like to request ─ lost cause . . . ❨ send me a description of yourself + a fandom and gender preference, and i’ll ship you with a character. ❩ for your 4k celebration. (for formula one) congrats on how quickly you've been growing! its amazing! <3 <3

hopefully i wont ramble on too much (:

i am an american girl in university/college. i go to a large college in the south, but i plan on moving to los angeles when i graduate, which is where i'm from. i am currently studying journalism and screenwriting. i do an internship in LA during the summer for the latter. i love sports, and writing. in the future i hope to write many movies and attend many sports events. my dream events to attend (in general not just sport) are the oscars (who doesnt) the met gala, and for sporting: el clasico in spain, as i am a major soccer fan, and the singapore grand prix. i like to convince myself im very fashionable, but as a student i dont have the budget for that yet. i still dress well, usually cool sneakers baggy pants and tight tops because im semi basic.

for appearence, i consider myself decently attractive because confidence is very important, and if you think you're ugly, you will be. i have high cheekbones, an unmentionable nose, plump lips, blue eyes, with pretty light eyebrows. i am also a proud member of the lewis hamilton forehead squad, and i do like it, most of the time. my hair is medium brown, which either makes me look very pale, or slightly tan (white girl problems ik).

my personality (the most important thing i believe) is pretty good! i try my hardest to be kind, and nice. im well read, working on being well spoken, and i think im a pretty good person. i like reading, and like learning, but not stem. i actually hate stem. im funny in an honest way (aka i dont know when im funny but when people laugh i try to keep it up), but im not a fan of changing the way i act around people. around authority figures i tend to tone it down a bit and be more respectful, but most of the time im just respectful in general. i try to help people, and im working on not being a people pleaser, which i think is a problem a lot of people deal with.

a few fun facts because for some reason i enjoy talking about myself a lot. i speak french and english. i want to live by the sea in the future. im learning spanish and portuguese. i have a fraternal twin sister. i love pets so much. i enjoy architecture, and im afraid of the deep sea but like beaches.

hopefully this isnt annoying, and i realize i sound totally self centered here, and have come to the realization that tone doesn't show over type :(

CARLOS SAINZ

the two of you have a house in la

carlos is def your muse for a lot of your movies

and takes your to a lot of sports events

all of his races you have VIP passes

and you and him are regualrs at real Madrid games

is your date to the met and the oscar

you two got wild after singapore is you know what I mean

you two are def on the paddock best dressed list

loves that you are lerning spanish

def teahces it to you

gets along with your twin

and always makes sure not to take his boat to far out cuz he knows about your fear of deep water

[uswnt5]

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0WrF_wIQLi/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Aww it looks like T&C took one of the grassroot soccer people they met in Zambia and talked on stage with at the gala to the Arsenal game. It looks like she’s in the same seating area as Tobin’s story.

super cool

[sionisjaune]

sionisjaune's fic masterlist

ao3 | writing tag | fic rec tag

★ on ao3

a better love deserving of - Lewis/Toto, Dubious Consent, Rough Sex, 3k, rated E

historia abscondita - Mick/Nico, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Enemies to Lovers, 30k, rated E

says he’s gonna teach me just what fast is - Mick/Lewis/Nico, 15k, rated E

days of oblivion - Lewis/Nico, Alternate Universe - Doctor Who Fusion, 6k, rated T

a whole lot for me to settle - Seb/Christian, girl!Seb, Non-Linear Narrative, 2k, rated E

the slimy moonlit riverbed canopied with devastated clouds - Lewis/Nico, Spanish GP 2023, 6k, rated E

the movie called planet of love - Lewis/Nico, Hungarian GP 2023, 7k, rated E

the stairs in lamplight - Lewis/Nico, British GP 2024, 5k, rated E

on golden sands (part 1 of heist AU) - Seb/Lewis/Nico, Ocean's 11 AU, 6k, rated T

the ships that go sailing (part 2 of heist AU) - Seb/Lewis/Nico, Ocean's 11 AU, 12k, rated E

those who miss each other - Seb/Charles, travel influencer Charles, 8k, rated E

soul as sweet as blood-red jam - Lando/Carlos, mafia AU, 2k, rated E

feedback on low latency - Max/Daniel, internalized homophobia, 12k incomplete, tentatively rated E

soft rock star - Nico/Lewis, infidelity, 1.5k, rated E

★ for the f1 kinkmeme

want you to be my girl - Lewis/Nico, genderswap, fisting, 3k, rated E

your other one evaporate - Seb/Nico, genderswap, Nico is the princess of Monaco, 4k, rated E

for freedom and for pleasure - Lewis/Bono, d/s dynamics, Ferrari angst, 4k, rated E

send vibrations - Lewis/Bono and Lewis/Nico, 3k, rated E you take it, i dish it - Seb/Lewis/Nico, girl!Seb, 5k, rated E i think you like it, laughed when you came down - Nico/Jenson, girl!Nico, 3k, rated E got a mood about me but no one to love me - Seb/Christian, girl!Seb, 2k, rated E

★ tumblr fic

George/Alex sex shop meet cute

A Charles/Damiano scrap

Mick/Nico fantasy AU

fucked up brocedes hunger games au

Post-Met Gala 2016 Nico/Lewis with background Lewis/Miles

STEMcedes (Nico/Lewis)

Part 2 (a prequel)

Problematic sebcedes polyamory

Part 2 (aftermath of the failed threesome)

Part 3 (hospital room visit)

Girl!Nico/Jenson ballet AU (background Nico/Lewis)

Mick/Nico corporate AU

Mick/Lewis getting together (implied Seb/Mick/Lewis)

Space opera princess cake

Part 2 (Jenson arrives for the wedding)

Part 3 (the pre-wedding party)

The brocedes movie screenplay

Seb/Nico but they're girls on a high school soccer team

Nico is a street racer (and does a lot of cocaine) and Lewis is an F1 driver (the street racing cokehead nico tag contains related thoughts)

Part 2 (now with 100% more sex)

Part 3 (feat. Jenson Button)

Part 4 (Nico crashes)

Part 5 (more crash aftermath)

Part 6 (a quiet moment)

Part 7 (carseat makeouts)

Part 8 (a conversation)

Part 9 (platonic princess cake)

Part 10 (a reunion)

Nico/Lewis phone call after Interlagos 2022

Part 2: Spain 2023

Lewis is a journalist and Seb is an F1 driver

The original Carlos/Lando mafia drabble

Nico/Lewis high school AU (featuring Jenson)

Nico/Lewis subtle psychic powers AU

Max/Daniel Captive Prince AU

★ prompt fic

Smut dialogue prompts

PWP prompts

Trope mash up prompts

Breakup prompts

Kiss prompts

Finish the sentence prompts

Setting prompts

Holiday gift ficlets

Dialogue prompts

[diatr1bes]

⠀⠀⠀ ◜   ♱   : 𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘   𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑   sits   down   with   entrepreneur   and   art   collector,   dante   valmont,   to   wire   him   up   and   to   gain   some   more   insight   on   the   british   heir   . . .     

"   we're   going   to   be   taking   a   lie   detector   test   today.   you   will   be   hooked   up   to   the   machine,   and   we   will   ask   you   a   series   of   questions   -   whether   you   tell   the   truth   or   lie   is   up   to   you,   but   the   test   will   be   able   to   snitch   out   any   lies.   "

a   grin   spreads   across   his   lips,   "   brilliant.   "

"   to   start,   what   is   your   first   name   and   what   city   are   we   in   ?   "

"  my   name   is   dante   and   we're   in   new   york.   although,   it's   looking   a   bit   like   london   with   it's   bleak   weather   out   there,   isn't   it   ?   "

"   thank   you.   how   are   you   feeling   today   ?   "

"   fine,   really.   yeah.   " ( that's a lie. ) " oh christ, that actually works ? yeah, well, had a rough sleep last night. " ( also questionable. ) dante simply shrugs.

"  understandable.  how  about  an  easier  one  -  what's  your  favourite  colour  ?   "

"   it   changes   all   the   time.   i'll   go   with   blue,   dark   ocean   blue.   "

"   and   your   favourite   film   genre   ?   "

"   a   good  thriller.   "

"  let's  see  -  what  is   one  thing   you  wouldn't  be  found   without   ?   "

"   besides  my  phone  ?  i'd   say   my   lighter.   always  comes  in   handy.   "

"   keeping  it  light,  what's  your  drink  of  choice   ?   "

"   i've   always  enjoyed   a  good  old   fashioned.   don't  mind   the   occasionally  g&t   every  now  and  then.   "

"   which   of   the   following   have   you   attended,   and   would   you   attend  ?   "

the  ballet.  the  met  gala.  the  horse  track.  the  race  track.  a  yacht  party.  the  opera.  the  orchestra.  a  broadway  show.  a  shakespeare  production.  a  concert.  a  comedian.  an  (  american  )  football  game.  a  soccer  /  football  game.  ( " the superior football game. " ) a  documentary  film.  a  film  premiere.  a  polo  game.  art  museum.  wine  tastings.  nyc  sightseeing  tour.  celebrity  sightseeing  tours.  haunted  tours.  charity  galas.  fashion  shows.  fashion  week.  disneyworld  /  disneyland.  a  basketball  game.  a  hockey  game.  a  baseball  game.  a  boxing  match.  a  cricket  match.  the  golf  course.  the  olympics.  

"   oooh,   we're   jumpin'   into   something   a   bit   heavier   now.   what   is   the   one   thing   you   want   to   achieve   in   life   ?   "

"   very   profound   of   you   vanity   fair.   i'd   want   to   be   able   to   go   further,   invest   more   into   the   future   of   art.   expand   and   better   what   my   father   did   before.   "   (   there's   a   suspicious   glance   thrown   by   the   operator.   )

"   who   knows   what   the   fates   ​​​​​​​have   ​​​​​​​in   ​​​​​​​store.   ​​​​​​​how   do   you   feel   about   reputation.com   ?   it's   ​​​​​​​all   ​​​​​​​anyone   ​​​​​​​seems   ​​​​​​​to   be   ​​​​​​​talking   about   lately.   "

"   everyone   loves   a   bit   of   a   chinwag,   don't   they   ?   especially   when   gossip's   involved.   it's   depressing   when   you   think   about   it. "

"   everyone   is   entitled   to   their   own   opinion,   i   guess.   what's   the   weirdest   /   craziest   headline   you've   read   about   yourself   there   ?   "

"   once   i   read   a   rumour   i   was   some   long   lost   brother   to   harry   and   william   from   some   american   website.   dunno   what   it   is,   maybe   the   accent   ?   i'm not   that   big   on   horse   racin'   like   they   are,   i've   got   enough   family   as   it   is.  "

"   what's   something   you   are   currently   working   on   ?   "

"   well,   we're   workin'   on   developing   a   new   arts   school   on   the   west   side   in   my   father's   name.   workin'   on   new,   exciting   stuff   that   i   can't   quite   talk   about   i'm   afraid.   " 

"   i'll   look   forward   to   it.   one   last   official   question   -   and   it's   an   easier   one.   cats   or   dogs  ?   "

"   cats.   " ( that's a lie. ) " just wanted to see if it's still workin'. "

"   personally,   i'm   a   dog   fan   anyday.   anything   else   you'd   like   to   add   ?   "

"   didn't   ask.   my   team   will   get   in   touch   'bout   reviewing   all   this   back.   cheers.   " 

"   well,   thank   you   so   much   for   joining   us   today   ​​​​​​​-   can't   ​​​​​​​wait  ​​​​​​​ to   ​​​​​​​have   ​​​​​​​you  ​​​​​​​ back  ​​​​​​​ with  ​​​​​​​ us   soon.   "

[buriedself]

"  we're  going  to  be  taking  a  lie  detector  test  today.  you  will  be  hooked  up  to  the  machine,  and  we  will  ask  you  a  series  of  questions  -  whether  you  tell  the  truth  or  lie  is  up  to  you,  but  the  test  wil  be  able  to  snitch  out  any  lies."

a wide smile, the type that leaves their eyes glittering.     "     right, yup, i've seen like so many of these.  i just can't believe i'm here on this side of it.  wow are the studio lights always this hot  ?     "

"  to  start,  what  is  your  first  name  and  what  city  are  we  in  ?  "

"     my dad named me abeke, but my mom gave me the name james.  they're both my first names.  most people call me james.  oh shoot, that's a lie.  most people actually call me jem, short for james, which is kinda silly because why shorten a name that's five letters long in the first place  ?  i digress.  we're in new york.     "

"  thank  you.  how  are  you  feeling  today  ?  "

"     nervous, oh god i'm so nervous.  i think i'm getting a stomach ache.  can i get some water  ?  you know what, it's fine, i can wait until we're done here.     "     clears their throat, squares off shoulders.  on top of the table, their fingers tap out a meaningless beat.     "     nervous.  final answer.     "

"  understandable.  how  about  an  easier  one  -  what's  your  favourite  colour  ?  "

"     how is this any easier  ?  i'm not good at making choices.  it took me more time to settle on the title for my latest release than it was to actually write the book.  um.  uh.     "     the interviewer is wearing floral.  that doesn't really help.  they  can't see past the interviewer anyway — are the lights always this blinding  ?     "     i don't... really have one.  rainbow  ?  is that a cop out  ?     "

"  and  your  favourite  film  genre ?  "

"     not a genre, but my favorite type of movies are adaptions of books.  doesn't matter what kind, i just love to see what made it in and what didn't.     "     cue nervous giggle.  they're not supposed to share the news they got about their book possibly getting an adaption for the big screen, and god is it hard to keep their mouth shut.

"  let's  see  -  what  is  one  thing  you  wouldn't  be  found  without ?  "

"     oh  !  that's a really easy one.     "     they dig into the pockets of their jacket and pull out a small notebook and a pen.     "     i feel like this is super obvious.  i'm a writer, i write, i always have something running through my mind.  actually, do you mind a second  ?  no one zoom into what i'm writing.     "     jem ducks their head and shields their journal with one arm as they scrawl onto a blank page for a minute.     "     okay, sorry, done  !  let's keep going.     "

"  keeping  it  light,  what's  your  drink  of  choice  ?  "

"     water  ?  i don't drink, honest.     "

"  that's  a lie.  "

"     redbull.  i'msorrymompleasedon'tkillme.     "

"  which  of  the  following  have  you  attended,  and  would  you  attend ?  "

bold  what's  been  attended,  italicize  what  would  attend  /  attend  again.

the  ballet.  the  met  gala.  the  horse  track.  the  race  track.  a  yacht  party.  the  opera.  the  orchestra.  a  broadway  show.  a  shakespeare  production.  a  concert.  a  comedian.  an  (  american  )  football  game.  a  soccer  /  football  game.  a  documentary  film.  a  film  premiere.  a  polo  game.  art  museum.  wine  tastings.  nyc  sightseeing  tour.  celebrity  sightseeing  tours.  haunted  tours.  charity  galas.  fashion  shows.  fashion  week.  disneyworld  /  disneyland.  a  basketball  game.  a  hockey  game.  a  baseball  game.  a  boxing  match.  a  cricket  match.  the  golf  course.  the  olympics.  

"  oooh,  we're  jumping  into  something  a  bit  heavier  now.  what  is  the  one  thing  you  want  to  achieve  in  life  ?  "

"     i'm already on the best sellers list, which is nuts on it's own, but if i'm allowed to dream a little... i'd love adaptions for my books.  and this one's definitely a stretch, but god, imagine me with a pulitzer.     "

"  who  knows  what  the  fates  have  in  store.  ​​​​​​​how  do  you  feel  about  reputation.com ?  it's  ​​​​​​​all  ​​​​​​​anyone  ​​​​​​​seems  ​​​​​​​to  be  ​​​​​​​talking  about  lately.  "

jem blinks.  tilts their head.     "     i've been on a little bit of a social media hiatus.     "

"  ...  "

"     fine.  sorry to my publisher.  i have definitely been on my phone.  but i still don't really know what reputation.com is  ?  i don't think i'm relevant enough to be on a gossip site...     "

"  everyone  is  entitled  to  their  own  opinion,  i  guess.  what's  the  weirdest  /  craziest  headline  you've  read  about  yourself  there  ?  "

"     booktok's giving me ulcers, okay  ?  saw something online about how i'm apparently writing a romance book last year  ?  i don't write romance.  any romantic vibes in any of my novels are completely unintentional but i support anyone who thinks lukas, zora, and jingyi should be a throuple.     "

"  what's  something  you  are  currently  working  on  ?  "

"     i think my publisher will have my head if i say anything specific.  i'm writing  !  i'm always writing.  right now i'm obviously working on the f&s sequel, but i also have two secret projects on the back burner that i'm really excited to share.     "

"  i'll  look  forward  to  it.  one  last  official  question  -  and  it's  an  easier  one.  cats  or  dogs ?  "

"     cats  !   i have one.  her name is cat the second.  i had a cat named cat when i was a kid.     "

"  personally,  i'm  a  dog  fan  anyday.  anything  else  you'd  like  to  add ?  "

"     yes  !  i'm still really nervous.  i don't know how actors and muscians do this all day.  seriously, good for you guys.  i'm not built for this, but i had a really good time, thank you for having me  !     "

"  well,  thank  you  so  much  for  joining  us  today  ​​​​​​​-  can't  ​​​​​​​wait  ​​​​​​​to  ​​​​​​​have  ​​​​​​​you  ​​​​​​​back  ​​​​​​​with  ​​​​​​​us  soon."

[mrlondonboy]

🔍 Harry Griffin Jr Takes a Lie Detector Test

"  we're  going  to  be  taking  a  lie  detector  test  today.  you  will  be  hooked  up  to  the  machine,  and  we  will  ask  you  a  series  of  questions  -  whether  you  tell  the  truth  or  lie  is  up  to  you,  but  the  test  will  be  able  to  snitch  out  any  lies."

" Seem simple enough."

"  to  start,  what  is  your  first  name  and  what  city  are  we  in  ?  "

"Harold. Or Harry. And we are in the amazing New York City."

"  thank  you.  how  are  you  feeling  today  ?  "

"Just peachy. Had my morning beagle and coffee. I'm content."

"  understandable.  how  about  an  easier  one  -  what's  your  favourite  colour  ?  "

"It's been blue forever. But like a darker blue. I don't know the name, but let's just say dark blue."

"  and  your  favourite  film  genre ?  "

Harry lets out an airy chuckle. "Most people would say Superhero movies, with my track record but I want to make the record straight I do enjoy a good horror thriller."

"  let's  see  -  what  is  one  thing  you  wouldn't  be  found  without ?  "

"It is too "basic"- is that the term?" Harry laughs trying to understand these new terms being tossed around. "My phone. I'm always on it. Text, random Google searches during the day."

"  keeping  it  light,  what's  your  drink  of  choice  ?  "

"Whiskey on the rocks." "That's a lie." "Okay, okay. You got me. I'm kinda of a fruity drink kind of guy. Long Island Ice Tea is up there.

"  which  of  the  following  have  you  attended,  and  would  you  attend ?  "

bold  what's  been  attended,  italicize  what  would  attend  /  attend  again.

the  ballet.  the  met  gala.  the  horse  track.  the  race  track.  a  yacht  party.  the  opera.  the  orchestra.  a  broadway  show.  a  shakespeare  production.  a  concert.  a  comedian.  an  (  american  )  football  game.  a  soccer  /  football  game.  a  documentary  film.  a  film  premiere.  a  polo  game.  art  museum.  wine  tastings.  nyc  sightseeing  tour.  celebrity  sightseeing  tours.  haunted  tours.  charity  galas.  fashion  shows.  fashion  week.  disneyworld  /  disneyland.  a  basketball  game.  a  hockey  game.  a  baseball  game.  a  boxing  match.  a  cricket  match.  the  golf  course.  the  olympics.  

"  oooh,  we're  jumping  into  something  a  bit  heavier  now.  what  is  the  one  thing  you  want  to  achieve  in  life  ?  "

"Not to keep in the footsteps of dear old Dad, but maybe finally get that Oscar. Not necessarily in the acting career but one of my films I produce getting some attention. Outside of my name."

"  who  knows  what  the  fates  ​​​​​​​have  ​​​​​​​in  ​​​​​​​store.  ​​​​​​​how  do  you  feel  about  reputation.com ?  it's  ​​​​​​​all  ​​​​​​​anyone  ​​​​​​​seems  ​​​​​​​to  be  ​​​​​​​talking  about  lately."

"I've heard of it. It's a website. I've seen dozen of these in the past couple of years now. My name is always circulating in these outlets. Ever since I've shown my face to the public. I do have to admit this one knows where to get their information."

"  everyone  is  entitled  to  their  own  opinion,  i  guess.  what's  the  weirdest  /  craziest  headline  you've  read  about  yourself  there  ?  "

"Oh, man. A recent one I saw that actually made me laugh, that I had signed on to this trip to space that other celebrities were going. As much as I wish that was true, I didn't make the cut. - I know!" Harry reacted to the gasps behind the cameras. "I'd kill to go to space."

"  what's  something  you  are  currently  working  on  ?  "

"A few projects here and there. Mostly producing. So sorry to disappoint any fans of mine that want another Superman movie any time soon."

"  i'll  look  forward  to  it.  one  last  official  question  -  and  it's  an  easier  one.  cats  or  dogs ?  "

"Thanks. They are some projects that are close to my heart. Oh dogs 100%. I have a Collie, Quinn." Harry was quick to pull out his phone with his free hand. "This is the little guy."

"  personally,  i'm  a  dog  fan  anyday.  anything  else  you'd  like  to  add ?  "

"That this was fun. Only got one beep out of it. Gotta say that's a win."

"  well,  thank  you  so  much  for  joining  us  today  ​​​​​​​-  can't  ​​​​​​​wait  ​​​​​​​to  ​​​​​​​have  ​​​​​​​you  ​​​​​​​back  ​​​​​​​with  ​​​​​​​us  soon."

[onceuponaoneshotfanfic]

What are you headcanons about your favorite OC?

Also, are they headcanons if you made up the OC?

Are they headcanons if it's my character? Maybe?? Either way, enjoy my random thoughts about Bucky & Roy because I'm so obsessed with them. (Some of these things are actually going to end up being blurbs once the main series ends, so spoilers for Something There I guess?)

Bucky is a huge baseball fan and gets Roy to watch with her; he throws popcorn or whatever he's holding at the screen whenever her ex is playing.

Her parents, especially her mom, don't always understand how deep her love of soccer is, but they definitely support her and are proud of her. They even ended friendships with people who made snide comments about the gala photos.

Bucky becomes Roy's co-coach for Phoebe's team. She initially volunteers to be his assistant coach, but Roy refused to ever call her his "assistant".

Roy remembers which journalists were cruel to Bucky and ignores them at press conferences. The ones who stood up for her, on the other hand, always get their questions answered and are even offered exclusive interviews. (Once, the cruel journalists all found tacks on their chairs. No one could prove Roy did it, but Nate and Beard thought it was strange that their office was suddenly out of tacks.)

They attend every match they can to cheer each other on. Roy has been known to fly out immediately after Greyhound games to go see Bucky coach the Whippets in an away game.

The Greyhounds have a running tally of how many times each player has walked in on the managers making out around the Dog Track. (Dani is in the lead because he's bad at knocking, although Will has had more incidents than anyone else at Nelson Road.)

As soon as they become official, Ted and Rebecca insist on a double date. Roy definitely moans and groans about the idea, but it quickly becomes a monthly occurrence for the two couples.

When Bucky moves in, the first thing Roy does is set up a display for her Olympic Gold Medal. Eventually, they set up a display for all of their football medals and trophies; Roy makes sure that medal is front and center.

Speaking of the medal, Roy constantly brags about it. "Have you met my girlfriend? She's a fucking Olympic champion" becomes his new catchphrase. Bucky finds it incredibly flattering.

Whenever the US and England play, they get super competitive about it. (And when they start having kids? There's actual screaming matches over which kit the Kent kids wear. They do find a good compromise: when it's the men playing, the kids wear England. When it's the women, they wear the US.)

Speaking of kids, Roy and Buck constantly fight over their kids calling it "football" or "soccer"; all of Richmond has gotten involved in this one.

(I've got lots of thoughts about Roy and Bucky's little family tbh.)

Bucky keeps her name, and Roy is incredibly diligent about correcting people who call her "Mrs. Kent". In fact, Roy's the only person who can do that, and he only calls her that when he's feeling particularly romantic.

I've got like a million more thoughts about these two, they're my everything 😭❤️