#sports art review

[regulusrules]

as a national winning athlete, I am fucking dying from the perfect representation of athleticism in Challengers (2024). no one is talking about this because there are more important stuff going on there, but Yeah. It is EXACTLY like that sometimes. You go insane with focused determination to be the best, to win, and sometimes you feel you're naturally talented, and sometimes you feel like nothing at all.

the movie really shows you athletes in different parts of our lives, and makes you able to relate to all three stages. i relate to patrick in him being a natural, and yet I relate to him in being misguided and not knowing what he could actually do with his talent. I relate to Art when i feel second-best in my sport, and how yet I still get glory thrust in my hands. I relate so fucking much to tashi, because yes the game is sometimes a relationship more important to me than any other in my life, because i am haunted by my injuries just like she is, and because of how afraid i'd have to one day lose it because of the recovery. and let me tell you? that positively breaks your fucking spirit if you're an athlete.

it's so uncommon to find proper representation for this, but god this movie went places.

[moregraceful]

having trouble staying silly so made a medium impulse purchase of a slightly higher quality reloadable point and shoot than the one i got a target which had some strange warping i didn't like (like worse than a regular disposable camera, somehow...the shein-ification of target i think) for the roadtrip. i'm so harrowed by losing that entire roll of musty and will smith (shark) that i cannot bring myself to commit to the om-1 so i'm hoping that getting to blow through a roll or two on the roadtrip has promise of enough joy to get me through the next two weeks🥲

[talktaurean2meblog]

AEW Collision 8-21-24

This is just a little write-up on All Elite Wrestling's Saturday show, Collision. It's no surprise that I'm trying to become a better fan of their product and that includes watching more often.

It was a solid show, actually, and a lot of folks said it blew Dynamite out of the water. SHEEH.

We begin the action with a Ring of Honor Tag Team Title Match between the reigning champions (Sammy Guevara & Dustin Rhodes) and Undisputed Era (Mike Bennett and Matt Tavern*)

I don't know the most about either team but Sammy and Dustin got the jump on UE before they were even all the way up the ramp. Let the madness begin! Its a gimmick match, but i didn’t catch the specifics.. maybe the name will come back to me, at some point..

Dustin was, at one point, currently grinding a belt buckle into someone’s face.. Apparently this is Dusty’s old one and it was gifted to him after his passing.

A Buckhouse Brawl? I believe that's what it was? And the last one hasn't been a thing since 2020. I thought that Undisputed Era might get a sneaky win.. that was my initial thought, about this match. This damn crash test dummy Sammy, later on in the match, caught a steel chair to the head… and I'm pretty sure this is the type of straight shot that is outlawed in most promotions. At least.. I thought?

Right after, UE pulled off a nasty doomsday device outside the ring. Sammy's rotation (or over rotation?) had me scared for a second. Dustin went through the table on the outside, and barbed wire was definitely involved, some way. Sammy got to give a running cutter, jumping from the ring and landing on the table that was set up outside. Whew.

Jesus Christ, when will Tony Khan stop this mf from taking all of these over-the-top bumps??? He just fell from a ladder.. We JUST  got back from commercial At this point, Dustin has both men in a vice grip via pliers at the nuts.

Almost everyone is bleeding right now.. Its almost hard to watch… I don't know if that's because I'm not truly a "sicko" or not... Or if it's because it's ACTUALLY over the top. There's a “this is awesome” chant at 13 min into the match. Mike Bennett tried to make a comeback, tried to get a cover on Rhodes, but Guevara breaks up the pin. Dustin is, unbeknownst to me, wrapping barbed wire around his right boot.. Very slowly, i might add. He does this while completely bloodied in the face and kicks mike in a nuts while he’s in the corner…

Sammy is, at the closing moments, at the top of the ladder. He went for a Swanton bomb, I believe, and got the cover over Mike Bennett to retain. The goal of this match seems to have been to put on a crazy opening tag title match but also to get Sammy .. somewhat.. closer to being over/show that Dustin can still go.

2. Conglomeration had a backstage segment, including Mark Briscoe, Kyle O'Reilly, and Hologram, but it was Interrupted by Premiere athletes, I think. We're still learning these names.

3. Evil Uno also has a backstage segment about a future match against Mox, I believe. But tonight, is all about him and Darby Allin. Darby is still on Mox's radar, for some reason, too. Darby walks up.. Talking about a war coming? The prior beatdown on Private Party is referenced also. Darby said he has no plan of laying down and dying… he's a future world champ, he adds.

“Remind me what you can do.. Show me you got that dawg in you”

This was a quick moment of beauty from Darby Allin, towards Evil Uno.

For the Conglomeration's match, we have Mark Briscoe and Kyle O'Reilly (joined by Rocky Romero), and with Hologram. The masked wrestler is on a ten match winning streak, according to commentary. They took on the Premiere Athletes (Tony Neese, Ariya Daivari, and someone else I don’t know?)

Grand Slam is coming up on Wednesday this week!

Apparently, AEW 5 is also coming up and that's where Britt Baker is returning. Mind you, we have not seen hide nor tail of that women since she did what she did in between those ropes against Mercedes Mone at All In at Wembley a few weeks or so ago. But AEW 5 is October the 2nd. Title Tuesday is October 8th?

It was a lot going on, so I didn't have many thoughts. Hologram is insane, in between those ropes, and i mean this honestly. He was playing a little bit of cat and mouse with Tony, and he looked so quick and speedy while doing it. I disassociated for a little bit (ADHD), but Briscoe got the pin and not before some crazy shit from Hologram, attempted interference by Smart Mark Sterling Kyle O doing what he normally does.. The damn thing.

3. We were eventually blessed with a MxM Backstage Segment. I love this shit so much for them…

They stole Max Castor's jacket last week.. And gave it a "makeover". Apparently, next week they’re going to do the Grand Slam Finale and reveal it, a la NYFW. I love them so much.

Bang Bang Gang (with Daddy Ass) did a little promo segment backstage, in response, about twenty or so minutes later.

4. At some point we get Mariah May vs Lady Frost in an Eliminator Match. Not too much to write home about, for this one. Short match, good stuff by Frost, a predictable win for this new "champion".

Lady Frost? Oh yes ma'am, that bob is BOBBING. MM is wasting time blowing kisses at Nigel over on commentary and LF attempted like 3 pins on her as soon as the bell even rang.

No surprise, Mariah May lives to hold that belt around another day.

Around this point, is when my "old lady senses" started tingling, letting me know that it was almost my bedtime. So I did finish the episode, but as a casual watcher. No notes.

What should/promotion should I watch/comment/react on next?

Should I start doing the whole show? Or just break down a match or two? We've got some goooooood shows on the horizon, folks.

[blacknightsthings]

[restlittleplum]

I yet again had the chance to read an ARC from Mari Loyal of her new book Shutout. I'll post a full review down below if you are interested! I also posted an abridged version on my IG as well.

Commissions | Etsy | Website | Store | IG | Tumblr | X

Shutout by Mari Loyal

5/5

I absolutely loved this book. It is the final of this amazing hockey romance trilogy, and the most satisfying of them all.

We follow Liv, the youngest sister of Luz and Aran, who's been in love with her best friend since they were kids, and Brooklyn who very suddenly falls for his best friend unbeknownst to each other.

Character writing is amazing as always; their feelings and motivations feel so real and believable. The way their friendship slowly evolves is so beautiful. I cried at least twice while reading this because some of the angst felt a little too relatable. I've loved that throughout these books, there's something in the all of the characters that I can relate to which speaks a lot towards how good the writing is.

After finishing this trilogy, Mari Loyal is on my "Instant Buy" list, which currently holds only 2 of my favorite authors. She's a master of balancing angst and humor through her writing that keeps readers hooked. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I absolutely highly recommend picking up this trilogy if you love a good college sports romance, closed-door but with some slight steam, and need something to escape the weekend.

[jcmarchi]

Open Roads | New Gameplay Today

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/open-roads-new-gameplay-today/

Open Roads | New Gameplay Today

We’re taking a road trip! Open Roads comes from an internal team, dubbed The Open Roads Team, within Fullbright (Gone Home, Tacoma) and tells a tale of a teenage girl and her mother embarking on a road trip to solve a tantalizing family mystery. The narrative adventure sports a unique mixed media art direction and the studio’s trademark narrative-focused design. Join Marcus Stewart and Kyle Hilliard as they show off a slice of this long-awaited journey.

[embedded content]

Head over to Game Informer’s YouTube channel for more previews, reviews, and discussions of new and upcoming games. Watch other episodes of New Gameplay Today right here.

[twenty-words-or-less]

Bloodsport

Summary: Follows US Army captain and ninjutsi practicioner Frank Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) as he takes part in a martial arts competition named Kumite in Hong Kong.

Physically impressive if ultimately mindless entry in JCVD canon. Also very gay. And more than a touch racist. Apparently typical for Cannon.

Rating: 2.25/5

Photo credit: Maxim

[stoneyocean]

Stoneyocean.com

[fandom]

It's been a thirsty week on ye olde tumblr dot com

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Deadpool & Wolverine is about as gay as it gets without kissing—though some of you are convinced they did, in fact, have relations in that car. For Jujutsu Kaisen fans, some fears were apparently confirmed, and you are all feeling many feelings about that. The Book of Bill was released last week to much acclaim here on Tumblr, and you all keep on proving you really do love a sexyman, whatever shape he might take. And the ongoing sports in Paris continue to give you all much to yell and art about (shout out to all the art of the air pistol podium icons). This is Tumblr’s Week in Review.

Olympics

Artists on Tumblr

Gravity Falls: The Book of Bill

Deadpool & Wolverine

House of the Dragon

Dungeon Meshi

Bill Cipher | Gravity Falls

Interview With The Vampire

Batman | the DC universe

Jujutsu Kaisen

Palestine

Logan Howlett | the Marvel universe

Poolverine | Logan Howlett & Wade Wilson, the Marvel universe

Billford | Bill Cipher & Stanford Pines, Gravity Falls

Wade Wilson | the Marvel universe

US Politics

Jason Todd | the DC universe

Baldur's Gate 3

Hugh Jackman

Laios Touden | Dungeon Meshi

[retrogameconnect]

Watch here!

Did this EA Sports title endorsed by the most famous golfer in the world hit it right on the green or fly off into the rough?

If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "like" and subscribe to our channel.

Contact us:

Dan Mastriani https://twitter.com/NewtypeCola www.youtube.com/GaijinD

Ian Butterfield https://twitter.com/iangbutterfield www.youtube.com/PinkZeppelin98

Official tumblr: http://retrogameconnect.tumblr.com/ Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/RetroGameCnct Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Retrogameconnect

[hongjoongsslvt]

ITS YOU -CHOI SAN (MDNI)

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Click here for Part-2(Smut)

WC: 1.6k

Pairing: Roommate San X Roommate Reader Genre:University AU, childhood close friemds to lovers, Common best friends, Wooyoung and Yeosang, Reader is taller than San

Warnings: fem! Bodied reader, mild cursing, suggestive, reader is referred as kitten, MDNI

That's all i can think about ≽^•༚•^≼

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I have everything I wanted, university's top student in academics, enviously good at both physical and E-sports, basically you name it and I am either too good at it to be called a beginner or I have already learnt about it in my life more than anything I had my childhood best friend and rival who is equally good at stuff.

For as long as I can remember, San and I have been together. We went to the same middle school, high school, and university, so it made sense for us to move into the apartment together. But I had a big problem because of this rooming together.

I've had a major crush on Choi San for a long time. I've had it since we first met, but I made the decision to keep it a secret and carry it into death out of concern that if I ever made a move on him, I would lose our friendship.

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

"Ayo Mate! Hurry up! I'm eager to test out this new mouse and write a review". In our shared game room, I yell while reclined in my comfortable gaming chair.

We have saved up enough money to furnish a comfortable apartment with the newest gaming equipment thanks to our accomplishments in hackathons, martial arts competitions, and streaming.

"Dude-c'mere and help me get this!" He seemed to be shouting, but it was barely audible. I moved out of the room to assist him with whatever it was, and as I did, I noticed that the man was in the storage room. He was wearing gray satin pajamas with the top two buttons undone, exposing his muscular pecs, a face mask, and a head band on. He was also tiptoeing to get his new keyboard, which was high on the shelf. "So adorable," I thought.

He jolted forward as I inadvertently brushed my breasts against him as I walked behind him and tiptoed to grab the keyboard. For a brief minute, I swear it felt amazing not having to wear a bra because the dark-colored, slightly baggy pajamas I was wearing nicely covered up my breasts. However, I chose to act like nothing had occurred.

"Having a Giantess in the dungeon is mad handy!" He patted my shoulder in appreciation and said, "Let's review your mouse and keyboard before he leaves the room like a cat jumping."

Yes, I am taller than my crush, but it doesn't really worry me because my 180 cm height got me hired as a model for several local magazines, which helped me be paid for new electronics and gaming accessories. However, I doubt San, who prides himself on being powerful, domineering, and manly, will ever consider dating a woman who is taller than him.

I sighed as I entered the room and saw two familiar faces: Kang Yeosang and Jung Wooyoung, our lads next door. The first had jet black hair, a gorgeous birthmark at the corner of his eye, and a deep, honey voice. The other had brilliant red hair and laughed like a witch.

"Wasssap Female Titan!" Wooyoung said as he got off my gaming chair to dab me up while yeosang nodded and gave me a fist bump and wacked the red haired boy. At the start of the year, the four of us really clicked because they were both excellent game designers. We are currently working together to design and build an independent game.

As I posted the schedule for the weekend in our group chat, I added, "Let's hit the library and the gym after the stream ends." We all four gathered together and began to stream information on products and collaborations, with Wooyoung constantly dropping spoilers and Yeosang and San, as always, delighting viewers with their distinct brand of deadpan humor. and San's sporadic, for reasons I'm not interested in knowing, staring.

By the time we finished streaming, it was close to 5 o'clock, and Wooyoung and Yeosang had to leave me and San alone since they had to pass our study session at the library and attend a significant lecture. It was expected since they both frequently went to seminars to get ideas for their game designs.

As I go into my own room to change and get ready for the night, I playfully tell him, "You better choose your outfit quickly before I barge in and break your kneecaps." We unintentionally became identical in black tank tops and sweatpants, but it didn't bother either of us. Even though I was dressed the same, I felt quite different. His large biceps, slim waist, and broad shoulders were all well-represented by the attire.

I got the other person to laugh as I flexed my biceps, triceps, and lats in front of a mirror, saying, "Oh boy, look at my guns and wings," hoping to release some of the tension building up inside of me. I had the perfect amount of muscle and curves to my body, luckily.

"Bet" he said, flexing his muscles and standing directly in front of me. God, he looks so ethereal and Greek god coded that I've temporarily lost my ability to process things. The doorbell ringing was one of them. San moved back to confront the person at the door, forgetting that I was right behind him. I again felt him brush against my breasts accidently, jerking and acting as if he hadn't touched before continuing.

We have done whatever we had planned for the day, without much convos outside the work, and without knowing a week has already passed already, with the tormenting "accidental" brushing against my breasts and ass, cooking food, cleaning room, doing laundry and other chores despite it being my turn to do. All these felt as if he had some hidden intentions behind them, but i decided to play it dumb till he comes out clear.

I made the decision this Sunday to give Wooyoung a call and tell him about my predicament making it the perfect time as Yeosang had piano lessons to attend and San was preoccupied with grocery shopping.

"HE'S 100% INTO YOU TITAN, TRUST ME" Wooyoung screams making me instantly whack his head.

"What was that for?" Wooyoung snarled and rubbed his head as I struck him. "Do you really suppose San rubs against every girl's ass and tits, remaining courteous and refusing to accept confessions?"-" I could almost see his wolfy, naughty smirk as he was ready to continue when his phone went off. wondering why he did this.

"Titan! Do you have anything sexy to wear? I realize I sound strange but trust me eh?" His hands are already enthusiastically going through my clothes in the closet mid way of the question.

"I don't think I do?" I said "Mate, why all of a sudden?"

He was too preoccupied digging through my closet to respond. A few minutes later, his witchy chuckle took me completely by surprise.

"BITCH- YOU NEVER TOLD YOU OWNED A BUNNY COSTUME?" he screamed, making me go deaf almost.

"It's not that I'm insecure about my height; it's just that I've never tried stuff like that," I remarked, leaning onto the door. "I got that as a gift from a stupid friend of mine," I said.

"let me cook" He said.

After what seemed like an eternity, he made me wear a costume of a bunny, but with cat ears in place of the bunny ears. He also lightly styled my hair, applied smeared lipstick, and made me wear Yeosang's fishnet tights. Upon seeing my progress, Wooyoung seemed happy and led me into the living room, where the lights were dimmed a bit.

"Damn! dude, i thought you were flatboard-" Wooyoung was about to start talking when an obviously irate San stormed into the home, dropped groceries at the door, and came right toward us. I swear, in my twenty years of living, I have never seen San look so upset.

"Too bad, Mate!, too late" Wooyoung said as he gave San's shoulder a pat before leaving the our house.

"San-"

"Is it true that you are sending semi nudes to mr.Lee?" He inquired, obviously furious

I was so perplexed for a moment that I just stood there.

"Yeosang said that Wooyoung was helping you take pics"

Now that it was all coming together, it was clear to me why they were rushing to a lecture on Sunday in the first place—they never go to seminars on Sundays!

"I love you, It have always been you and only you,I loved you since the moment we met in the school"San said in a voice that seemed shattered."Why Mr.Lee? is it because he is taller and much more appealing than me, because he is caring and kind?, I swear atleast I never thought height was a thing to be considered to love a person"

My mind went blank listening to those words, is it for real? or am i tweaking? this must definitely be a dream, there's no way San loves me, but soon i was brought back to reality from my thoughts by the sudden hug.

"Dude, that's why you were fucking brushing against my breasts and ass the entire past week, coz you thought imma date Mr.Lee?" I questioned him "Bitch, no shit my nips were crazy sensitive"

He replied, his tone falling several octaves as he crept nearer and eye-fucked me till I hit the wall. "It's your fault for being irresistibly cute and sexy." He grabbed my neck, held me to the wall, and bent me slightly so he could plant a kiss.

"Kitten you are merely 4 to 5 cm taller, that doesn't mean that i can't lift you up, bend you over and fuck you senseless"

Oh boy, I hope i will make it out alive by tomorrow morning.

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let me know if you want part two(Smut)~ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ

Re blogs are appreciated

DO NOT REPOST OR PLAGIARISE

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[lunawagner]

Couples of Linkon High School

Freshmen: Rafayel x MC

MC is the class president, with Rafayel as her deputy. He calls out, "Miss Class President!" throughout the day.

MC has good grades, —not the top student, but definitely in the top ten.

Of course, Rafayel draws and doodles during classes. But his grades are not bad either thanks to his drive to outperform his possible rivals in love.

His notebooks are filled with sketches of MC.

MC teaches math to Rafayel and Rafayel teaches English to MC.

They are both bad at physics and spend class time drawing short comics together. However, if nobody listens and the teacher seems down, they would listen and nod along even though they don't understand a word.

The chemistry teacher is unsure if they like or fear Rafayel.

Overall, teachers love them 'cause they treat their teachers as real people and genuinely care about them.

Sometimes they lock their pinky fingers under the desk and keep them that way until the class is over, even though they both get a bit embarrassed.

Rafayel is determined not to kiss her on the lips until both become adults.

Their music teacher is Rafayel's aunt. MC loves her classes and is learning to play piano. Rafayel always complains but still can play at least one decent piece on every instrument you have in the music room.

The art teacher is Thomas. He and Rafayel always argue as Rafayel doesn’t want his art to be just another mass product produced for exhibitions and competitions

MC grew up in a government institution. Although she doesn't remember, she met Rafayel when he was placed there after losing his parents. His relatives quickly took him in, but MC looked out for him, saving him from the bigger kids who tried to bully him. Eventually, they became friends.

MC is tomboy-ish and can't process her emotions properly.

MC's fashion sense is minimal, so Rafayel goes to shopping with her on weekends. Thanks to that they have some matching couple clothes.

Sophomores: Xavier x MC

They have average grades but excel in sports, making them the school's hidden assets in tournaments.

The school coach would love to have them join every team if he could.

Xavier is popular among other boys and has a considerable number of fans.

They nap together during lunch breaks.

They are members of the literature club and student librarians. So they regularly visit the library to read books or organize shelves and help others.

Literature teacher loves them.

Xavier tends to sleep through STEM classes, so MC shares her notes with him later in exchange for snacks or chocolate milk.

When Xavier gets bored during lectures or breaks, he secretly plays with MC's hair.

Despite skipping classes for extracurricular activities, they absorb information quickly, allowing them to pull all-nighters before exams and still perform well.

Some boys claim they got beaten up in the dark when they went down to the basement. Everyone's suspicious of Sylus, but it’s actually Xavier who’s taking care of anyone who messes with MC.

They hang out with a large friend group that includes Tara, Jenna, Jeremiah, and Bella.

Tara enjoys styling MC’s and Bella’s hair with cute hairpins to see how Xavier and Jeremiah will react.

Xavier wears one of MC's hair ties as a bracelet, believing it brings him luck.

They use all of their stationery together, so their pencils and erasers frequently end up in each other’s pencil cases.

MC's dad is a police officer and her mom is a nurse. Xavier's parents are both politicians.

Xavier doesn't get along with his own father but they are on good terms with MC's dad. They play board games, go fishing, or jog on weekends. MC doesn't have the foggiest idea of how it happened.

Juniors: Zayne x MC

Zayne is the top student and MC is right behind him in second place.

People often think MC is just an airhead who gets good grades just because she’s dating Zayne.

But while she is cheerful and active, she’s also super diligent. She pays attention in class, reviews her notes, and makes new ones before exams to make sure she’s on top of things.

She doesn't want to fall behind Zayne and secretly worries about how he would react in case she fails and gets bad grades.

All the teachers are fond of them with some even treating them like their own kids.

MC’s family trusts Zayne more than they trust her, so they’re quicker to say yes to events if they know Zayne will be there with her.

MC has a cute habit of drawing little hearts on the random pages of Zayne's textbooks. Once Zayne noticed it, he started drawing jasmine flowers on hers.

They tend to avoid skinship at school, except for the times MC is sick. During those times, Zayne stays close to her all day, ensuring she is hydrated and consuming warm drinks. He hugs MC and lets her rest on his chest, and he holds her hand during classes.

Seniors: Sylus x MC

One word: Trouble

But no they're not your typical troublemaker brats. They are also top-notch in nearly every class, so teachers don't know what to do with them.

At first, they were pretty low-key about their relationship, keeping it a secret. But once they went public, they became all about PDA with Sylus' hand always around MC's waist whenever they managed to take a break from holding hands.

Science teachers would love to exempt Sylus from taking their classes so that he can never ever set foot in their labs.

Chemistry, physics, and biology teachers change their way when they see Sylus in corridors, lest he ask them about things that would lead to a global catastrophe.

The music teacher gets goosebumps whenever they see Sylus.

Most of the girls don't like MC and there is always gossip and slander surrounding her. But for some, she is like a protective big sis.

MC and Sylus's families have been business partners since the time of MC's grandma.

Sylus' family makes huge donations to the school, so the administration is unusually lenient with him.

They play truant regularly. For what? Nobody knows.

It’s hard for others to actually mess with MC. But, when they do, Luke and Kieran are quick to pull pranks on them even before MC or Sylus can react.

Luke and Kieran look so similar that teachers often can’t figure out who’s at fault. Their innocent expressions after causing trouble don’t make things any easier.

Sylus and MC are chosen school representatives. They are intimidating and cunning so it is easier for them to negotiate with and win over teachers and the local student union.

People come to them with problems to be solved. MC is willing to help them without any immediate material return but Sylus always turns it into a business deal with specific terms.

MC doesn't have many close friends, but she occasionally lunches with the MCs of Xavier, Zayne, and Rafayel.

[restlittleplum]

I got to read Overtime by Mari Loyal as an ARC so I will post my review down below! It is a closed-door college sports romance featuring a Tall, Dark and Handsome Latino MMC and an Adorably Awkward plus-size beauty FMC! Read below for my full review!

Commissions | Etsy | Website | Store | IG | X

I received an ARC of this book but this review is entirely voluntary.

I absolutely adored this book even more than the first (and I loved the first). Our FMC is an awkward/adorable plus-size epitome of sunshine, and our MMC is a ginormous Latino heart-of-gold/silent-type grumpy. He needs a secret tutor, and she needs help writing her very own hockey romance. Shenanigans thus ensue!

I am once again blown away by the writing from this author for this to only be her second book. It's funny, heartwarming, angsty, and there is such a unique flow to the writing style to keeps you wanting more. Even on my second read, I couldn't find many, if any, typos whatsoever so this is professionally edited.

The banter between the characters had me cackling at 3am because obviously I couldn't put it down. The way their relationship transforms is so beautiful and touching.

I believe there are some minor trigger warnings at the start of the book but just in case: There are some fatphobic remarks to the FMC from side characters that are intended to be malicious to help establish other character relationships (friends, enemies, that kind of thing), and NEVER from our MMC. There is a strained Mother/Daughter relationship, and PCOS representation. This ends in an HEA of course, and everything is resolved beautifully. This is a closed-door romance, so nothing explicit, but there is some innuendo and sensuality.

Again, I had an absolute blast reading this, and cannot wait to get the last in the trilogy! If you love a good college sports romance, give this a try!

[divine-donna]

burnt out passions

because i watched the red shoes and this idea just popped into my head.

tashi duncan they can never make me hate you. i am a tashi duncan defender until i die. (sorry art)

character: tashi duncan

context: stanford. 2007 - 2008.

you and tashi understood one thing: passion was everything.

your lives revolved around your passions. for her, it was the sport of tennis. and for you, it was the dance of ballet.

your step-father was quite rich, bringing you and your parental figure out of poverty. it was through him that you started going to tennis matches. and you were a fan of tashi duncan.

she was meant to be a star. she was meant to go far. she was meant to have that grand slam career title that most, if not all, tennis players envied.

you always admired her from afar. but when you walked into class on your first day of class in your freshman year, you were not expecting to see tashi duncan.

the class was your typical writing 101 class, the kind that was meant to prepare students on research and how to write. within the class were workshops. after all, part of making a good essay was to proofread and have everything peer reviewed.

"you have a great voice."

your paper was dumped in front of you. there were barely any corrections on it. just a lot of underlining and side notes. looking up, you saw the woman that was tashi duncan.

"thanks." you hand her paper over to her.

tashi flips through it. she sees a lot of doodles on her paper that express your annotations through speech and thought bubbles.

"i also thought your voice was great. your passion for tennis really comes through. although i think having seen you play enhanced the reading experience."

"so...you've seen me play?" she crosses her arms over her chest.

"my step-father loves tennis."

"fun. i learned some new things in your paper. you really like ballet?"

"ideally i'd like to be professional. but who knows how stable that is." in comparison to being a famous tennis player. "which is why i'm here. to get a degree in...something."

tashi glances down. you're wearing red shoes. "so...do you wear red because of the movie you mentioned?"

"maybe. it's been a thing since i was a kid."

a small smile begins to curl on her face. "you wanna get lunch?"

"so you do ballet? do your feet ever hurt?"

"all the time." your feet hurt just thinking about dancing again. "i can't imagine my life without ballet."

"i can relate to that." she lifts her cup up and you gently tap your own against hers.

"you should come to the show. we're having one near the end of the semester."

"so soon? we just got here."

"i need to train. keep my muscles flexible and ready."

"you should try tennis. you might actually be really good at it." ballet took a ton of control and coordination. tennis would be a perfect sport for you. or, at least, a decent fit.

"i tried. i'm terrible at hitting balls with a racket."

"who said you had to be good?"

"i would like to think that if i'm playing with tashi duncan...at least i should be mediocre."

you became one of tashi's favorite people to hang out with. and you were also her favorite gym partner. your schedules just lined up perfectly.

every time you guys went to work out, you would lead the stretches beforehand.

sometimes, you guys would visit the dance studio and you would teach her some basic moves. when your finger tips grazed her arm, she would shudder. you were careful when touching her and asked her all the time if you could hold her waist.

"you don't need to ask (y/n)! we're friends." tashi has that soft look in her eyes. she always looked at you with those eyes.

"still!" you say. "don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"you won't! you could never."

you took a deep breath when she said that, trying to ignore the heat beginning to swirl in your body. your body so close to hers. her smile. her smooth skin. her voice. and her smelled.

she always smelled divine.

tashi never knew ballet could be so intense.

she came with art to the show, holding a bouquet of flowers. you had been working hard and she wanted to make sure your efforts were acknowledged and received by her.

you moved with such precision and fluidity. she swore you turned into a blur.

your body was nimble. and that outfit...well, she could see your body. she had a boyfriend. but you were right there and a lot more present than patrick, who was currently on tour.

she has to push the thoughts aside, not noticing the fact that art sees the way she looks at you.

"you were fucking amazing!"

you were surprised when you feel just how hard she hugs you. she squeezes almost a little too tight.

and yet, you accept it. you lean into it and savor her touch.

"thanks for coming tashi. i saw you in the crowd."

finally, tashi lets you go. she takes the flowers from art. you could feel your face heat up. "t-tashi...you didn't have to."

"nonsense!" she playfully hits your arm. "you worked hard. remember that breakdown you had?" a small laugh leaves you when thinking about it.

it happened at the dance studio in the gym. you guys were stretching and all the emotions from midterms, finals projects, and your upcoming lead role came crashing down.

"you deserve it. you were amazing. if you're not hired when you get out of college..." she shakes her head. but she cannot stop grinning.

you bought flowers for tashi. it was the first game of the season. her and art have been training for this. and you were excited to see her play not as a spectator, but as her friend!

earlier during the week, you had convened with art to try to pick out which bought to get her and exactly how big.

when you got there though, it was just art. you were expecting to see another white boy. and you sit on art's right. "so...what happened to patrick?"

you wanted to see for yourself who tashi duncan's boyfriend was. who exactly managed to bag tashi duncan? you wanted to meet him. not that you were jealous...

but you were.

art leans back in the seat. "he's not coming. him and tashi had a fight."

you frown and continue holding the flowers. "...he sounds like an ass."

"tell me about it."

when tashi tore her acl on the court, you swore you could feel the pain in your own leg. a sort of phantom feeling.

you were frozen, trying to determine if what you saw truly happened.

art was quicker than you, rushing down and even jumping over the net.

you're walking to the infirmary room when you can hear the argument.

"out! out!"

"listen-" says the guy with messy dark hair. he looks disheveled. and like shit.

"patrick get the fuck out of here!"

you've never heard art yell. ever. he never even raised his voice.

patrick seems defeated and he abides by them, leaving. his eyes meet yours. "nice flowers." he notices the card attached to a string.

For the best tennis player I know: TASHI ♡

"have fun. now's your chance too. but you should know. art's restless."

you clench your jaw and walk past him. art was right. he was an ass.

tashi glances at the door when your head pops in. she doesn't say anything, but her shoulders slouch a little bit. you take it as a sign to come in and walk over to her side.

she looks at the flowers and at the card attached to the string. "i don't deserve those."

"if anyone deserves flowers...it's you." you could feel your eyes tearing up. you feel her pain. you understand her frustration. and most importantly, you feel her devastation.

tashi takes the flowers from your hands, her fingers touching your own. she takes a deep breath and inhales their scent. it was nice. you chose a good bouquet.

little did you know that it was the death of her career. and you had brought flowers to her funeral.

your next role was a challenging one. it had you straining your legs every day while you trained, trying to get your tempo right. nothing seemed to work though.

the stress of midterms also didn't help. you had a lot of work on your plate. many papers, almost too many exams. you didn't sleep much. you couldn't sleep.

tashi felt some guilt towards you helping her. you were taking time out of your own day to get her back into shape.

you were her cheerleader. you believed that she could heal and return to the court. you helped her with her exercises, woke up early to go to her room and help her stretch.

her frustration continued to boil over when she couldn't do the things she wanted to do.

not only was she a failure, but she was also letting you down.

"are you disappointed in me?"

you look at her as you stretch her leg for her. it was bent beneath you and you're careful when adding the pressure. she's staring up at the ceiling.

it was still dark outside.

"i could never be disappointed in you."

"don't bullshit me (y/n)."

"i mean it tashi. i could never be disappointed in you." she looks at you. there are tears threatening to spill.

"...i'm afraid my only skill is hitting a ball with a racket." and that without it, she was nothing. you didn't need her to voice it. you could see it in her eyes, in her posture, in her demeanor.

"no. it is not. you're tashi motherfucking duncan. you're smart, you're gorgeous, and you're ambitious. you can write! you're great at organizing! you give awesome advice! and most importantly, you get shit done. if anything tries to stop you, you find a way around it. and you see to it that you have a way to participate."

her heart skips a beat.

"you're kissing my ass." a smile cracks on her face.

you wanted to tell her that you loved her. it threatened to spill from your tongue.

"i would love to."

tashi laughs, covering her face with her hands. she takes the opportunity to wipe away her tears as you pull her leg back into a resting position.

"today's dress rehearsal, right?" she sits up as you stand and grab some of the bottles of gatorade you put in her fridge to keep cold.

"yeah. you don't have to come if you're not up for it."

tashi gently rubs her knee before looking up at you. "i could use the time to rest."

"is art coming?"

tashi purses her lips. "art and i...aren't really talking anymore..."

you frown. "i'm sorry to hear that." you decide not to ask or push it. but part of you felt elated that he was gone. it always felt like a crowd with you and tashi. and art.

while working out and practicing earlier, you decided to ignore the throbbing pain in your hip. when tashi asks if you want to come with her for a break, you tell her that you wanted to keep training. you were close to nailing it.

you were perhaps overconfident when it came time to dress rehearsal.

at the climax of the shower, the music surging, your heart beating, your costume flaring out, you hear a loud pop. and when you land, you hear another pop.

it seemed that fate decided to fuck with you that night.

the pain in your right side was nearly unbearable.

tashi recognized that cry of pain. she heard it when she went to bed, when she reflected upon her life at night. she rises out of her seat, getting over to the stage as fast as possible.

you overexerted yourself, tearing your achilles and your labrum. at the very least, it would take you out of your role currently. at the worst, it would inhibit your movements for the rest of your life.

tashi was with you the whole time. you could only stare blankly at the x-rays.

without knowing, you're leaning towards her. until your head is against her body. she puts an arm around you, keeping you close in silent understanding.

you heard a knock at your door. ever since your injury, you had barely come out of your room, only for class and to eat to spend your dining dollars.

you groan, sitting up and carefully getting off the bed. you use your crutches and open the door. "tashi...it's late..."

tashi holds a bag of snacks and drinks. "you look like shit."

"that's because i feel like shit."

you guys were kind of matching. her in her brace and you in your splint.

you move aside to let her in and she closes the door for you. "i bought all your favorites." she says, putting the drinks into the fridge to keep them cold. she sets the bag of snacks down on your desk.

tashi watches you go back to your bed and set your crutches aside. you try your best to get onto the bed using your upper body strength, but your arms were failing you.

she walks over and gently lifts you up at your thighs while you push yourself up with your arms. it works, and you're able to sit on the mattress topped by a mattress topper.

"can't even...get on my fucking bed!" you grit your teeth. and you didn't have the strength to adjust the height of your bed either.

tashi frowns. "there's no shame in needing help." you showed her that.

"i know. i just..." you lick your lips, looking at her. "i wish i took that break. i wouldn't be in this position if i did." you sniffle.

tashi's eyes glance down at your lips before going back up. "i spend too much time worrying about the what ifs."

"i shouldn't. it's...stupid."

there's a comfortable silence between the two of you. you look at tashi. the way her hair frames her face. her big brown eyes. her lips that you desperately wanted to taste. she was still gorgeous even dressed down in her stanford sweater and athletic shorts.

she leans forward, her kiss soft and gentle.

your hand goes to rest on her neck, kissing her back.

tashi kisses you harder, her mouth moving in hungry motions. you match her pace, kissing her with just as much hunger.

you let her push you down onto the mattress so she could be on top. her hands begin to trail down your body, finding the end of your sweater. she slides her hand beneath, feeling your cool skin.

you pull away, your breathing heavy. "are you sure?" you didn't understand why tashi duncan would want to kiss you of all people. even if you wanted to kiss her.

"i'm sure." she kisses you again and you moan against her lips, letting her tongue slide past your lips and dance with your tongue.

[jcmarchi]

Nine Sols, A Hand-Drawn Action Game By The Makers Of Detention, Arrives In May

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/nine-sols-a-hand-drawn-action-game-by-the-makers-of-detention-arrives-in-may/

Nine Sols, A Hand-Drawn Action Game By The Makers Of Detention, Arrives In May

Red Candle Games made its name developing psychological horror titles such as Detention and Devotion, but its third game, Nine Sols, sees the studio veer into the action genre. First revealed in 2021, the Sekiro-inspired title is coming on May 29.

Nine Sols sports a hand-drawn art direction and an aesthetic that blends sci-fi, cyberpunk, Eastern mythology (the legend of Hou Yi in particular), and Taoism. Players control a cat-like warrior named Yi, who is awakened after years of slumber in New Kunlun, a city for humans created by nine god-like rulers. New Kunlun may appear to be a utopia, but a secret surrounds it as Yi embarks on a vengeful quest to take down all nine rulers. 

[embedded content]

The 2D Metroidvania features fast-paced combat and a parry system directly inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In addition to a sword, Yi is armed with a divine bow and uses Taoist talismans to make enemies explode. A sprawling, interconnected map features numerous NPCs to assist, secrets, and challenging boss battles. 

Nine Sols is coming to PC via Steam (it also has a demo). You can learn more about Nine Sols’ creation and the history of Red Candle Games by reading our studio profile.

[stellar-constellations]

"In you, my heart resides"

Andrew Graves x Fem! Reader

Wordcount: 2,600+ words

Warnings: Kisses (?). A little angsty, but a happy ending.

Synopsis: Andrew's had feelings for you for years now. Now that you're moving away, he wants to confess his feelings before you're gone forever.

        Andrew Graves was always top of the class, you’ve known that ever since elementary. Honestly, you probably wouldn’t of even known who he was if it wasn’t for who his sister was. 

        You’ve always managed to look right past Andrew. He was quiet and focused on his studies instead of talking with others during class. You wouldn’t know who he was if it wasn’t for his teachers' constant praise of his grades throughout the years (and the rumors of Ashley and him). 

        But that’s all Andrew was: a background character in your modern day life. Whether you had friends or not, you kept to yourself too. Maybe that’s why you never bothered approaching him. Approaching him would’ve broke that repetitive routine you had, and you didn’t want that. You were content on walking where others run, going with the flow until you reach the river bank. 

        As life has it for you, Andrew just kept showing up in the background. Every year he’d be in your classes. You’d see him walking to school a few blocks down from you. You’d see him in class, a blank expression that made you wonder if he studied hard at home or if he was just naturally gifted. You’d see him walking home from school. He just seemed to pop into your everyday life.

        As luck would have you, you’re even seated in front of him this school year. You’re not sure if the seating chart is permanent, but you don’t find yourself complaining about it. 

        To nobody’s surprise—especially yours—Andrew is praised yet again on his latest test scores. You can’t help but turn your head to see your classmate’s reaction, but he doesn’t seem too celebratory or surprised; sporting a neutral expression as he reviewed the teachers written praises. 

        It almost frustrated you how nonchalant he was. Maybe it was because you were an overachiever, or maybe you just despised the competition, but you just had to know.

        “Hey. Andrew, right?” you questioned, turning yourself to look at him.

        His bright electric green eyes met yours, a look teetering the line of confusion. 

        You had broke the routine. 

        “Yeah?” he acknowledged. 

        His eyes were big, portraying innocence of a child, because that’s what you both were. Children. Children who worried about grades and sleepovers and Halloween discounted candy on November 1st. 

        “Can I see your paper?” you questioned, your hand resting on his desk, already expecting him to say yes. “I just want to see your work for one of the problems—to see how it’s supposed to be done.” 

        “Oh… Sure…” he spoke, handing you the paper without hesitation. 

        You held the paper in your hands, looking over his work. It was some philosophical question for Language Arts, but he aced all the questions, even getting some extra points for creativity as he challenged the author’s logic and provided explanations why to his stance. It was impressive that a child could come up with this.

        You noted how he barely had any erased marks on his paper, just showing how smart he was. His pencil writing was smooth, and it wasn’t bad, extremely legible for a child of your age—you wondered if he practiced that too or not.

        “Hey, how do you do it?” you finally asked. 

        “Do what?” he questioned, not quite catching on.

        “How do you do all of this?” you questioned, not that it cleared the fog much.

        It was almost as if you were asking how his life was, and was it different from yours? Did his life break the routine yours had?

        “How do you excel in your academics?” you finally asked, getting to the point.        

        He had to pause and think, resting his elbows on his desk as he leaned his weight on them, moving closer to you as he mulled over the question.

        “I don’t know… I guess I just read a lot of Zeno of Citium.” He smiled.

        Is it bad you know what he was talking about?

        “Founder of Stoicism.” You spoke, returning his smile. “Everything around us is a web of cause and effect… ‘Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.’ It’s pretty neat stuff.” 

        “You know him?” he questioned, surprised.

        “Yeah. His teachings… they really know how to get to you.” You chuckled. “But, that doesn’t explain how you excel in math, and history, and science, and everything really.” 

        “I just listen a lot, I guess…” he shrugged. 

        “Well, you must be pretty observant then.” You hummed, handing him back his paper. 

        “Thanks… (Y/N), right?” he questioned, placing his paper absentmindedly to the side, refusing to break eye contact or conversation with you. 

        “Scratch that. You are observant.” You chuckled.

        “Must be born with it or something.” He smiled. 

        “It’s a good skill to have.” You hummed. “Don’t lose that.” 

        The conversation ended before he could reply, the teacher walked to the middle of the classroom and spoke about their next topic. 

        The damage was already done; the conversation had broken the routine. Suddenly, Andrew didn’t seem much like a background character anymore—and neither did you in his life.

        You found yourself talking with him more over the years, but only as classmates. Your conversations remained strictly for schooling and academies, creating a new rountine for the two of you. 

        Why routines? Well, everything had rhythm. The trees danced with the wind, and you danced with Andrew; an endless tango of curiosity, silently asking if you perhaps knew each other, whether in this life or another. A routine is practically a dance. You memorize the rhythm until you mindlessly follow it on muscle reflex—like a graceful ballerina would. 

        But the more you danced, the more moves and steps were added in, complicating your performance as you went on. You weren’t friends, but you weren’t classmates either. You were unknown, no official label between you two as you danced around each other, hesitant of what the other thought of the other. 

        You danced around each other, for there was no better partner but him. He seemed to know all the same moves as you, and he perfectly mingled his own into your dance routine; improving and ultimately perfecting the dance only you two can complete with each other. 

        “Nursing, huh?” Andrew spoke, leaning back in the booth.

        The tea shop was crowded today, people walking in and out during the peak of lunch hour. Andrew was never a fan of coffee, there was never a perfect blend, it was always either too sweet or too bitter. 

        But you matched all his tastes. You weren’t too sweet or too bitter. You were relaxing, simple, and even, in a sense, nostalgic. There wasn’t a tea blend that could match your perfection, but he dealt with it.

        “So you’re going away?” he questioned, though you both knew the answer.

        “Yeah.” You nodded. “I mean, it’s not like there’s any good colleges here in this city.” You chuckled, although it wasn’t funny in the slightest. 

        You were leaving him, after all this time. Who would do your special dance with him now? Who would stick to the routine you both share? 

        “Well, that sucks…” Andrew admitted with a sigh. “So, when are you leaving?” 

        “I got a flight for this weekend.” You answered. “This is probably the last time we’ll see each other…” You spoke, although the information was anything but celebratory. 

        You didn’t really expect to be leaving so quick, but the process happened so fast, and you got accepted faster than you expected, so it was practically a fact dropped on the both of you around the same tome. 

        The moment was bittersweet. Andrew should be celebrating, you’re going to further your education and climb the tree of life, each branch a new opportunity and path all for you to experience—but Andrew will be left behind on the ground. 

        “So, this is it?” he questioned, a tone of sadness in his voice, his eyes ignored yours as he decided the sticky tabletop was better to look at.

        “Hey, we’ll still see each other.” You smiled, albeit a sad one. “It’ll just be less often. But I’ll still visit.” 

        “Right…” He sighed, leaning back into the booth’s cushioning as he thought. “Can… I just see you one last time? Before you leave?”  he spoke, his tone almost pleading.

        “Sure…” You gave in. “When would you like to meet?” 

        “Tonight?” he suggested.

        “Tonight?” you repeated back, a bit perplexed. “Why tonight?” 

        “Just… please?” he sighed. 

        “Well… sure. But just as long as it’s not too late at night.” (Y/N) sighed.

        “Yeah, that works for me.” Andrew nodded. “So, I’ll see you tonight at seven? I’ll stop by.”

        “Alright.” You agreed, finishing your drink and throwing the cup in the trashcan. “I’ll see you later then. Bye, Andrew.” You waved, watching as he waved back, before you disappeared out the doors and around the corner. 

        Andrew stared at his tea sullenly, before taking a sip. The blend tasted even worse now.         .         .        

        Andrew had spent the rest of the day writing in his notebook, before tearing a paper out and restarting. Why was it so hard to write about his feelings whenever he genuinely wanted to? Maybe it was because he knew he was just going to say them anyways, so it doesn’t feel as private and secretive to where you can write to your heart’s content. It had to be perfect. 

        He looked at his phone for the third time as he stood in front of her door. He was fifteen minutes early, if you don’t count the extra minutes he’s spent overthinking in front of her home.

        Finally, he gathers the courage and just knocks on your door. The sound made him mentally cringe and consider ducking in the nearby bushes like a child playing Ding Dong Ditch. 

        It didn’t take long for you to answer the door as you were expecting his visit. You wore some casual loungewear, greeting him with a smile.

        “Hey. Come in.” You spoke, opening the door wider for him to walk through.

        “Thanks.” He smiled nervously, walking into your home as your closed the door.

        He’s seen her home many times before, so he knows the layout, yet he can’t help looking everywhere except your face. He sat down on her couch, his foot tapping against the floor nervously.

        “So, is there anything you want to do?” you questioned.

        Andrew was the one who asked to see you, so you’ll let him decide what he wants to do. Besides, he looks a bit nervous, so you’ll let him guide the conversation—maybe you’ll find out if something is wrong if you lets him talk.

        “Look, I’ll make this quick in case you want me gone…” Andrew sighed, placing his hands together nervously, before deeming the position as potentially unserious or disrespectful.

        He stood up from the couch, walking over and grabbing your hands, before bringing his gaze to your eyes.

        “(Y/N), I’ve watched you from afar throughout the years.” He started. 

        “I’ve tried for so long to distance myself from you,”

        “But without you, my heart splits into two.”

        “I wish to stand by your side without fear.”

        “Please, at least for a minute, lend me your ear.”

        He took a deep breath, gulping down an air of confidence, before letting out his nerves. 

        “I want to be the one for you, even if for a day.”

        “Because you make my heart race and my problems decay.”

        “I don’t want to hide these feelings anymore.”

        “I want to explore these feelings with you more.”        

        “You entered my life like a serendipity,”

        “And now, I just want to love you for all eternity.”

        “I’ve never seen crystals as pretty as your eyes.”

        “In you, my heart resides.”

        His hands shook as they held your own, but he kept his grip strong, confident in his actions. His eyes stayed on yours, noticing how pretty you looked even if you were in loungewear. He couldn’t help but think you were always pretty, no flaws attached; unlike him.

        “When I look at you, I see nothing but opportunity.”

        “I see a future with you,”

        “From one life to the next.”

        “I can try all I want,”

        “But my love for you can’t be expressed in words.”

        “These years of feelings I’ve had pent up, can’t simply be explained in a minute poem.”

        “Please, let me cherish you as my lover,”

        “Because without you, I can’t ever see myself with another.”

        He took another breath, his nerves feeling even worse now that he had to wait for an answer. 

        There was a moment of silence between the two—he practically felt his heart snap in half.

        “Sorry… I know it’s bad. You’d think I’d be able to write a poem since I read so much of them…” he chuckled nervously, trying to break the tension as his hands let go over yours. “I-I’ll go now, I’m so—“

        “Andrew, wait!” you exclaimed, your hands reaching out for his, holding them tighter than he had earlier, before you engulfed him in a hug. “Sorry, I was just processing the fact that you like me back.” 

        “Like me back?” he repeated, surprised, before his arms wrapped around your body, pulling you close. “You’ve liked me? Like, genuinely?” 

        “Yeah, dummy!” you smiled. “And I liked your poem. It was perfect! Really, nobody has ever written a poem for me before…” 

        “No… It was pretty crappy…” he chuckled, bashful. 

        “Hey, I’m serious…” you spoke. “It was sweet, I really felt it from the heart. Even if it was bad, I still wouldn’t of minded. I mean, you even memorized it into your head to tell me!” 

        “Ah… yeah… I was pretty damn nervous…” he laughed, pulling away from your arms to pull out a piece of paper. “I practiced in the mirror all day after writing it, but I was so damn nervous I’d forget the lines that I wrote it down on a piece of paper.”

        “Really?” you smiled, accepting the paper as he handed it to you.

        It barely had any eraser marks on it, as if he had thought about what to say to you for weeks to months—perhaps years. Funny, his handwriting hadn’t changed much since elementary.

        “Can I keep this?” you questioned, looking up at him.

        “You really wanna keep that piece of scrap?” Andrew questioned, surprised.

        “Well this ‘piece of scrap’ happened to be the reason we’re together.” You chuckled. 

        “Hey, I did the talking, the paper—“ he paused, his mouth hanging open. “T-together?”

        “Yeah, we’re together now, dummy. You confessed your feelings; I confessed mine.” You smiled. “Unless, you don’t want to be together?” 

        “No, no! I do!” Andrew spoke quickly. “It’s just, literally five seconds ago I was thinking of running down the street, and now I’m here with you… dating you now…” he smiled widely, almost as if he couldn’t believe it. “I can say that, right? We’re dating?” 

        “Yes, we’re dating. You’re my boyfriend.” You laughed.

        “Thank God. Honestly, if you didn’t accept my feelings, I think I would’ve walked into oncoming traffic.” He let out a sigh of relief. 

        “Well, I’m glad I accepted it too…” you smiled, before said smile turned into a smirk. “So… ‘years’ you said, eh?” you smiled cheekily.

        “Shut up.” He scoffed, rolling his eyes playfully.

        “Well, I think I owe you something since you’ve been waiting around that long.” You hummed, placing your hands on his cheeks, before leaning in and kissing his lips.

        It was a simple, short and sweet kiss, but Andrew thought he just won the lottery or at least saw heaven for those three seconds. You pulled away, before laughing at the loopy smile on his lips, his eyes saying everything for you—this man was hopelessly enamored with you.

        “Hey, you came all this way over. Do you wanna stay the night?” you offered.

        “Definitely.” Andrew agreed quickly, before pulling you back for another kiss.

        Spending more time with you? He’d be a fool to reject that. 

Ah, I really wish I had the poetic skills of Edgar Allan Poe. I'm not a good poet, though I really wish I was because I would love to do an old romance trope of royalty and a peasant and... oh, that's a interesting idea... I'll definitely be saving that for later.

Anyways, this is one short fluffy fic I've been working on. I figured Andrew needed some wholesome love in his life, (not that it was much sappiness on reader's part... but hey, the next fic definitely will!) Hopefully you guys stay around for the second fluffy fic, after that I'll go right back to writing Star Patient!