#that being said most teams have only 11 games remaining

[the-physicality]

once again pwhl new york drops positions in the standings because they have fewer regulation wins than the other team [in this instance ottawa]

#if there's one thing i'm going to know it's tie breakers #that's the theme of tonight #because really there are no ties #this happened before with boston i believe #pwhl #ny and ottawa have 16 points apiece #montreal [top of the table] has 24 a difference of less than 3 regulation wins #that being said most teams have only 11 games remaining #minnesota has 10 and boston has 12 #thrilled about the 5 game semi final playoff series though

[yuna542]

Connected (OT8 x reader)

Part 10<-

Part 11

Pairing: Jeongin x reader

Genre: Smut, Fluff, Angst

Warnings: 18+, Smut, under 18 DNI!Suggestive Themes, Swearing, pet names, unprotected sex (just don‘t!), bloody nose

Word Count: 5.4k

Note: Sooo. What do you think of this part? Maybe you noticed where I got my inspiration from (M/V. Making off?) Love our baby bread who is not so baby anymore… For real have you seen the 5-Star Trailer? Uffhhgg watched it like 10000000 times

On your first day of your new job as the personal manager of Stray Kids, you didn't expect to be standing in front of the man you made out with last night in a club. But it soon becomes clear that the Stray Kids don't just want you as their manager.

Will this passionate arrangement end your career?

When you took the note off your door in the morning, you wanted to break down and cry on the spot.

But you didn't have time for that. So you stuffed the paper into your pocket and headed off to work.

Only when you got to your office you dared to take the paper out again, and you had to read it at least three times before you understood the words on the yellow background. Your hands shook and despair gripped you as soon as the word 'eviction notice' even came into the corner of your eye.

Although you tried hard to remain calm, you could feel the frantic typing as you entered the number in your phone that was at the bottom of the letter.

After endless beeping, the administration of the building complex you were currently living in finally answered. You had gotten the apartment out of luck via relationships and it was a miracle that it was affordable despite the ideal location for you.

And now you were supposed to move out within a week because the building was going to be demolished.

After several questions, the annoyed administrative worker could only confirm to you what was already on the note anyway. You had to leave your apartment by the end of the week.

With the current rent prices it was impossible to find a halfway affordable apartment within a week and the panic of being homeless until the end of the week spread more and more inside you.

But when there was a knock on your door, you furtively wiped the tears from the corners of your eyes and put on a carefree smile as soon as Chan poked his head into the room:

"Morning, babe. We're about to take off."

You had completely forgotten about that with all the stress. Quickly, you nodded:

"I'll be right there!"

Today was the teaser shoot for the music video.

You had no choice but to put on your professional mask and start working.

As you got into the car with Chan, where the guys were already waiting, you were showered with energetic vibes. They were all looking forward to the first shoot and the energy soon transferred to you as well.

Even though you couldn't completely banish the dark thoughts from your mind, you had to focus on your work when you arrived.

The film crew was getting everything ready while the guys were sent to makeup to change and get ready.

The video would be set in a sports hall and the guys would be playing basketball. There would be some sporty and handsome shots that would surely please the fans.

Han was the first to notice that something was wrong with you.

"You look tired... Are you okay?", he asked as everyone just waited for Chan and Hyunjin's hairstyles to be done.

"Yes all good, Ji. Don't worry about it", you said quickly. Too quickly and that's when the Director began to speak.

He gave the guys instructions on how they would first shoot individually or as couples and then mimic a little basketball game as a team.

You retreated to the bleachers with the film crew and when you had a few free minutes, you looked for possible apartments, but that brought you much closer to a breakdown. You couldn't afford any of them and most of them were way too far away. You would need several hours to get to work and that would not be possible with the strict schedules.

When out of nowhere you felt a hand on your leg, you flinched violently and almost threw your phone off the stand. Jeongin looked at you with wide eyes and raised his hands placatingly.

"Take it easy! It's just me."

Behind him, Felix followed, and they both looked like they could see right into your head.

"Are you guys finished yet?", you asked, trying a half-cheerful smile.

They took you in the middle and Felix didn't hesitate to pull you into his arm.

"We just have to do the group shots. Hyunjin and Changbin are on it right now."

You put your temple against his with a sigh and breathed in his sunny scent.

They all looked really really good with the school uniforms. So the video should have a nostalgic vibe and even you felt transported back to your school days when you saw the typical uniforms. But in the past, the guys at your school had never been as attractive as the ones who were now chasing the ball in the hall.

"Do you want to talk?", he asked, and he stroked your arm reassuringly.

With a quick glance at Jeongin, who gave you a sweet smile, you sighed. So Jeongin had pulled out the secret weapon to elicit the reason for your worries.

You couldn't lie to Felix. He was too kind and bright. It was impossible to hide your feelings from him.

"The building complex I live in is going to be torn down. I have until the end of the week to get out of my apartment“, you explained quietly.

But no one heard you anyway. The song played on and off while the cameramen were busy getting good shots of Hyunjin and Changbin with the basketball.

"This sucks", I.N commented and you had to laugh bitterly.

"I’m sure we‘ll find a solution“, Felix tried to cheer you up, but you could just shake your head.

"I can't afford most of the apartments and it's impossible to find something in that short time."

The guys gave each other meaningful looks, but before Felix could answer, he was called by the director. It was time for the whole group to take group shots.

It was too funny to watch the boys trying to recreate a real game. Han was so afraid of the ball that he kept running around the others, Changbin and Chan tried to shoot at the baskets, while Lee Know and Hyunjin chased each other around the court, screaming at each other.

It took forever for them to get a few scenes halfway done, but they had so much fun doing it that they infected everyone on the staff with their good humor.

You raised your eyes as Hyunjin came up to you with his camera between scenes filming the making off.

"How do you like our godlike basketball skills?", he asked, and Han latched onto his shoulder.

You raised a thumb at the camera and said:

"You guys definitely play like professionals!"

"Why don't I believe you?", laughed Hyunjin, zooming in on Han, who posed with his legs wide for the camera:

"I'm the best player, though."

"Yeah because the rest of us are extremely bad!", Hyunjin shot back and then all you saw behind him was the basketball flying and slamming hard against Jeongin's face.

Hyunjin screamed out, who happened to have the camera right on it, and Chan was already running to the youngest, who was holding his face with both hands and wincing with pain.

Before you got past the stands, the director and the cameramen were already with him and handed him a cloth, which he pressed firmly against his nose.

But it was already too late. Blood ran down his mouth and chin and dripped onto his blue jacket.

"Who threw the ball?", asked Chan sharply, looking at stunned faces. Hyunjin had lowered the camera and Changbin slowly approached.

"That was me", Lee Know came forward, sounding concerned.

He pushed past the Director who was talking at Jeongin, but gradually the white cloth ran out.

"Sorry, Innie... Shit, I didn't mean to throw so hard."

Jeongin squinted his eyes and waved it off with one hand.

"It's okay... Never mind."

You took out more wipes from your bag and handed them to him so he could press them further against his nose.

"Stuff it up your nose until it stops!", said Chan, looking like a father tending to his small child who had fallen off the swing.

Gently, you grabbed him by the arm and said through the commotion around you:

"Come on, Innie! I'll help you clean this up."

Chan nodded curtly at you and when you saw the stressed expression on his face, you wanted to take all the heavy weight off his shoulders, that he carried around all the time.

You sat down together on one of the higher benches of the stands so that the others could continue working undisturbed. You sat down opposite him, both one leg to the left and one leg to the right of the bench.

He still had his head back and tissues stuck up his nose.

"Does it hurt a lot?", you asked cautiously, glancing down the stairs where one member of the team was already joining you.

He shook his head and his voice sounded nasal, due to the blockage in his nose:

"No. It's not that bad."

He was always like that. Just not a burden to anyone and always functioning at full speed.

The director's assistant had reached you by now and handed Jeongin more cloths and a cold pack.

"Should we call a doctor to take a look at the nosebleed?"

You were about to answer in the affirmative, but Jeongin beat you to it.

"No! There's no need for that. It's already stopped bleeding."

Pressing your lips together, you looked at him questioning, but he continued to refuse.

"Maybe the nose is broken", the assistant said, to which Jeongin again shook his head vehemently.

"Y/N can palpate me, but there's nothing broken. I can keep going!"

While the assistant tried to continue talking at him, you moved closer to Jeongin.

"May I?", you asked, and he nodded.

Then you gently ran your fingers over the bridge of his nose. As you did so, his face hovered so close to yours that you inevitably saw his gaze move to your lips and how he suddenly tensed up.

Blood still stained his chin and mouth and a few drops had also landed on his jacket.

Only because of the assistant who was present were you able to tear yourself away from his engaging eyes. Like a fox, he regarded you attentively and with so much intelligence in his expression that you trembled.

"The nose isn't broken. It all feels normal", you said quickly, pulling away before the assistant noticed that crackling energy between you.

By then, there was a call for him as well, and he finally gave up.

"I'll take care of Jeongin!", you assured him, and with that he finally gave in and disappeared.

"Thank you! Really", Jeongin said, clearly relaxing. He grabbed one of your hands and unobtrusively pulled you closer again by it.

"Let me clean your face!", you said, smiling softly and taking out a couple of makeup wipes from your bag that you always carried in case you needed it. He nodded and you began to wipe the blood from his skin with concentration and careful hand movements.

While doing so, you couldn't help but inhale his cologne. He smelled like a heady mix of fresh florals, woody lime and the first rain on a sunny day.

His charisma was more than attractive and when he was that close to you, you became restless. There was something unpredictable about him, behind the politeness, the funny weirdo and the loving nature.

It was the self-confidence that lay dormant in him that regularly blew your mind. Even though he was just a few months older than you.

Bracing yourself with a hand on his shoulder, you tried not to hurt him.

"Y/N?", you heard his soft voice ask, and you felt his heartbeat quicken under your hand.

"Huh?", you hummed busy and that's when you heard Hyunjin standing next to you again, holding the camera on you.

"Since Lee Know tried to kill our Maknae. How are you I.N?"

You looked at the camera and threw away the bloody cloths.

Jeongin raised a thumb to the camera and said:

"It's all good. It's really not as bad as it looks. And Minho's throw was also too bad to really do any damage."

"Should I try it again? Maybe next time you faint", shouted Minho then, and you smirked as you felt Jeongin's knee pressed against yours.

Hyunjin laughed and Minho looked fierce but you both could see the concern in their eyes despite everything. They were family, after all and cared for each other no matter what.

Then Hyunjin was distracted by Felix who was trying to shoot baskets with Chan and went to join them. Jeongin took the scraps of cloth out of his nose and threw it all in the trash by the stairs.

"You should cool that so it doesn't swell any more", you said, already activating the cold pack by bending it.

"Does it look that bad?", he now asked again without the nasal tone.

You shook your head quickly. Once the blood was gone, the minimal swelling on the bridge of his nose didn't seem so bad either.

"No. But we don't know what it will look like tomorrow."

He nodded and closed his eyes as you held the cold pack to the bridge of his nose. A soft hiss escaped him as the cold eased the throbbing in his head, enjoying your gentle touch.

For a while, you just sat there together, enjoying each other's presence. Jeongin could have endured for hours the way your fingers stroked his face and dabbed his nose with the cold pack.

"Does it feel good?", you asked after a while, and that's when he opened his eyes again.

"You have no idea", he murmured, relaxed, and when your eyes met, you noticed the closeness between you.

His thighs were pressed tightly against yours from the outside and you could feel his breathing on your cheek as your face was only a hand's width away from his.

An embarrassed smile flitted across your lips and immediately his eyes were fixed on it. He could just look at you and your knees went weak.

You put your other hand to his cheek to hold his face tightly because you just wanted to touch him while you continued to cool his nose. Slowly he lifted his gaze and your eyes locked together. You got all excited as he licked his lower lip and all the sounds of the shoot faded into the background.

Before you could stop him, he leaned forward and planted a kiss on your mouth. It only lasted a few seconds, yet your heart jumped out of your chest and you stared wide-eyed at him before looking around to see if anyone had watched you.

He too seemed surprised himself and couldn't quite believe he had actually done that without thinking. Looking down at the crew, you breathed a little sigh of relief when you saw that everyone was busy taking videos of Changbin.

Chan and Felix were listening intently to the director and Seungmin's hair was being fixed.

Only Hyunjin looked in your direction and slowly lowered the camera.

He tried not to let notice, but gave you a warning look.

This was too much and too public.

It was just too dangerous and you knew it. It had just happened and you hoped nobody saw it.

"Sorry", he whispered, seeming a bit overwhelmed.

You had to swallow hard and nodded quickly without looking at him.

"You should take off that jacket. Maybe we can get the blood stains out by the sink", you said, hoping that if you just didn't address it, it never would have happened. Together you walked down the bleachers and asked a couple of women from the staff where the nearest sink was. They sent you straight to the hallway and there you found a sink on the wall behind the next corner.

Jeongin slipped out of his jacket and watched you try to wash out the dark stains with water. But it was quite hopeless. The blood had already sunk too deep into the fabric.

"I think that's it for the uniform", Jeongin said, taking the jacket from you to hang it over the edge of the sink.

Just in the white shirt and tie made him look like the main character in a K-drama. His hair fell into his forehead and he shoved his hands into his pants pockets as he looked at you uncertainly. All this time he'd been strangely silent and you couldn't look at him any longer without staring. He looked outrageously handsome with his sleeves rolled up under which the veins on his forearms stood out.

"I'm really sorry about earlier", he finally broke the silence, and when you did look him in the eye now, you realized he was worried about you.

"I didn't mean to attack you like that. You took such care of me and you look so beautiful, I just couldn't control myself and I..."

You had to interrupt him, not being able to stand the way he was torturing himself.

"Innie!"

He looked at you questioningly and stepped from one foot to the other.

"I didn't think it was bad."

"You didn't?", he asked uncertainly, and you immediately wanted to kiss him to exorcise all the self-doubt. He stepped closer until your hands were against his chest and he had to look down at you.

"No. I thought it was really nice, and if there hadn't been so many people there, I would have liked to kiss you too."

A relieved laugh escaped him and he took his hands out of his pockets to brush a strand of hair behind your ear.

"So you want me to kiss you?", he asked softly and you had to smile at his uncertainty. He wanted to make sure you wanted him as much as he wanted you.

"I want you to do so much more than just kiss me“, you replied with an ambiguous undertone and immediately his cheeks turned rosy and he stroked his fingers up your neck to your chin, where he lifted it slightly and placed his lips gently but intensely on yours.

Slowly you opened your lips and returned the kiss. As if in slow motion, he pulled you to his chest and deepened the kiss. He tasted honey-sweet and touched you with so much passion that you melted right against his chest. With your eyes closed, you felt his tongue on your bottom lip before he took it between his teeth and gently pulled on it. Burying your hands in his hair, you pulled him closer so he could slide his tongue into your mouth and set off fireworks in your head.

The kiss lasted an eternity and you never wanted to stop your tongues dancing together.

His fingers stroked down your back and he kissed you so passionately that your body automatically curved into his. His hands went under your skirt, grabbed your ass and pulled you closer to him until your upper body was pressed tightly against his.

You slid your hands under his shirt and stroked his firm stomach, that's when he broke the kiss to gasp into your mouth:

"I'm already dying to take you right now. Don't tempt me, sweetheart."

"I want you... right now", you gasped, and the sizzle between you was about to explode.

"Everyone else is in the other room", he whispered in your ear and kissed your neck.

You knew that, but you also knew how wet you were by now, just at the thought of feeling him inside you.

You took his hand and slid it between your legs. With wide eyes he looked at you, but immediately stroked your covered cunt with two fingers, feeling how soaked your panties already were.

"God... You're so wet", he gasped and began to move his fingers lightly against your core. Your parted lips and your fingers digging into his chest in the process made him completely lose his mind.

He instantly got hard and you felt his cock against your lower abdomen.

"Do you like it when I touch you like that?", he asked, pushing your panties aside to rub your clit directly, eliciting a gasp from you.

"Yes. But I want all of you!“, you whispered, while stroking his bulge over his pants and grinding your hips against his fingers.

Because of the sounds of the shoot behind the wall right next to you, you realised that someone just had to come around the corner to catch you.

"Fuck it…“, he suddenly muttered then and took your hand tightly in his. As he pulled you down the long hallway, you glanced over your shoulder in confusion.

"What are you doing?"

"We're leaving. You have no idea how many naughty fantasies I had about you..."

You giggled and together you ran to the exit, like little kids who had done something wrong and tried to get away with it. You felt transported back to your school days, where you secretly made out with your crush and it evoked the most exciting feeling.

In the garage, he led you to the big car.

"Do you have the key?", you asked in wonder, and when he just opened the door, you glared at him.

"We usually leave the car open. Someone always forgets something. I know it‘s irresponsible but practical.“

He opened the sliding door and let you climb in until he too came in and pulled the door shut behind you.

"This is still pretty public", he mused aloud, but you were already shoving him into the back seat, where he had been sitting between Hyunjin and Han while you had droven here, and climbing onto his lap.

Immediately he pulled you into a kiss again. Only this time he was more impetuous and you could now feel his boner clearly pressed against your cunt. Quickly you took his tie and literally ripped open his shirt to touch each of his abs one by one.

"Take off your panties! Now!", he demanded and he didn't have to tell you twice. Hastily you slipped out of your thong and at the same time Jeongin pulled down his pants and underpants.

"I want you to ride my cock. I need your pussy so bad, jagi!“

He was impatient and directly his hard length jumped out.

"Since when did you start becoming so naughty, maknae ?" you asked teasingly, climbing back onto his lap.

"Since I tasted you."

He ran both hands under your shirt and pulled it over your head. Your bra popped out and immediately he kneaded your breasts and spread kisses on them.

When he pulled back, he looked at you with a grin as you positioned yourself above him and suddenly put his hand around your neck.

With the other, he pressed you down on his length and it felt like he was splitting you into two parts. With the tight grip around your neck, you felt him fill you completely and you couldn't help but moan out loud.

"Fuck... You're gonna crush me", he growled, continuing to guide your hips until he was completely engulfed in you. You were breathing heavily as you tried to adjust to his size and he unclasped your bra and tossed it somewhere to the front of the car.

"Move!", he said and you began to roll your hips against his. His head dropped to his neck and he moaned loudly as you took him as deep as you could. Your fingernails dug into his chest as you were able to use his length the way you wanted and after a few seconds you rode him with faster and faster movements.

He held you by the hips and every gasp and moan you could elicit from him spurred you on even more. While he helped you rock back and forth on his cock, your clit was swollen and aching, begging for more. It didn't take long for your climax to grab you and you came on his dick while moaning his name. But you did not stop. You wanted to satisfy him and you felt him already twitching inside you as you tightened around him.

"God. I'm gonna cum soon, if you continue to take my cock so fucking good", he moaned and kissed your neck and even bit into it lightly, making you gasp his name.

"Come inside me! Fill me up, Innie! Please!"

Your words brought him over the edge and you felt him come and empty deep inside you with a choked gasp. You slowed down and sunk down on his cock.

"Should we stop?", you asked, breathing heavily, while he buried his face in the crook of your neck. In reply buckled his hips into you and began to push you up and down by your hips on his still hard dick.

Your clit was ridiculously sensitive from the first orgasm and you were not sure if you could handle a second one right now.

"Come around my cock again, sweetheart! Then I'm going to fuck you, like you deserve it."

His words turned you on again and you started bouncing on his throbbing cock again. You rolled your hips against his and you could tell Jeongin was holding back from bucking up into you, giving into his greedy desires.

"Shit, you're still so tight", he moaned, staring up at the ceiling, trying to concentrate on not cumming again. You knew that anyone could hear you, even through the doors of the bus, but you were just too drunk on his dick that you could care right now.

Your hands were tightly pressed to his chest, while you worked yourself to your next orgasm, which was already making your whole body tingle.

He didn't meet your gaze, instead, he watched the way his cock disappeared into your stretched hole, admiring the way your juices looked on his member.

"I love hearing you moan like this, angel", he said and guided your hips as you began to lose control due to the high that gripped you for the second time, flooding your entire body with heat. He wasted no time and while you were still working out your orgasm, he started thrusting into your cunt.

"You feel even better than the hyungs had described."

You probably would have blushed at the fact that the boys were talking about you like that, but the youngest of them was penetrating your sore pussy too much for that.

"Innie, oh god... please", you moaned and his gaze finally met yours.

"You like that? Being fucked like this?"

You might've been on top, but you were completely at his mercy by now. You were under his spell since the day you met him, hypnotized by him and his charming smile. He was tantalising you with his dark obsidian eyes. You lived for the lust-driven look in his face and his sweet groans. You bent down and cupped his face, hungrily kissing him. You kissed frantic and heated, desperate to taste each other. He licked his lips as he watched your breasts bounce with every thrust of his hips.

The filthy squelching sounds of him fucking his cum back into you filled the car and he removed his hands from your hips to reach up to cup your breasts, taking one in each hand, squeezing them.

You completely lost the sense of time, but couldn't stop urging each other to the next high. At any moment the shooting could be over and they could come back to the car.

His cock prodded against your cervix. You wondered who taught the boys how to fuck like this. Each of them fucked you in their own way and all of them were gods in this area.

Especially now you were totally addicted to the way Jeongin fucked you.

But finally you were overwhelmed by an orgasm that made you tremble. Your insides seemed to boil and as you tightened around his dick, he also came with a painful grip on your breasts.

Overwhelmed, you worked your highs out for as long as you could before you sank against his chest, breathing heavily. He ran his hand through your hair and pressed a sweet kiss to your temple.

"Was that good?"

You laughed lightly, with your arms wrapped tightly around his neck, still dazed stroking his neck.

"That was amazing, Innie."

He breathed a sigh of relief and stroked your back until your breathing calmed down.

"Move in with us!"

"What?"

You looked at him questioningly, and he knew he didn't have the right or the power to decide that, but he wanted to. You were worth it.

"We have a spare room in the new apartment. Right now it's just for storage, but you could have it."

"JYP wouldn't allow that."

"Why not? Before it takes you hours to get to work because your apartment is far away, it would be a solution. Besides, it would make our job extremely easier."

You couldn't say anything more in response, as the two of you heard muffled voices from outside, peering through the darkened windows.

"Shit! They're coming back!"

Quickly you jumped off his lap and slipped into your underpants and skirt. You felt the mixture of your juices and his cum making a mess in your panties, but you had no choice. You couldn't find your bra, and yet you saw that Chan and Seungmin had almost reached the bus.

Jeongin had already pulled his pants back up and was buttoning his shirt.

There was no more time, so you put on your shirt without a bra and just dropped into the seat next to Jeongin when the sliding door opened.

Chan poked his head in first and when he spotted you, he turned to the others.

"They're here! I told you they went ahead."

One by one, everyone got in and sat down. The driver wasn't here yet, so they looked at you curiously. Jeongin's hair was a mess and his cheeks were flushed. You probably didn't look any better.

"Where were you guys?", asked Lee Know, turning around in his seat to face you.

"Y/N was helping me with that bloody nose you gave me!", he said and Lee Know raised his hands defensively.

"Hey I already apologized!"

"We tried to save the jacket, but it was for nothing", you tried to explain your absence, but it was obvious that no one believed you.

Han had his hands clasped under his chin and was looking at you with a knowing grin, and it would only be seconds before he would say something dumb.

"You certainly had to comfort him", Changbin said then with a laugh, and Jeongin immediately stared at his shoes in embarrassment.

Then Seungmin suddenly bent down and pulled something out from under his seat. Startled, you stared at your red lace bra in his hand, which he now held up.

"Did any of you lose this? Because it's not mine."

"I usually wear black lace underwear", Chan replied, clearly enjoying the whole thing. Quickly, you jumped up and snatched your bra from Seungmin's hands.

Just in time, as the driver boarded and announced the start.

With your head burning, you stuffed the bra into your pocket, feeling the entertained looks of the others on Jeongin and you. On the way back, they continued to tease you for quite a while, but that's when Jeongin started:

"What if Y/N moves in with us?"

Immediately there was confused silence. So you explained your situation to them and that's when Chan said:

"We could ask. Maybe that's really a good idea."

"Would you really want to live with us?", Felix asked over the others and now they all looked at you attentively.

Briefly you looked down at your hands and then answered:

"I think so. Yes. It would make my job a lot easier if I didn't always have to go back and forth between the dorm, work, and my apartment. Plus, I think it could be fun."

"Don't get too excited. Living with 3Racha is like living with three wild animals", Hyunjin said, making you smile and took a punch in the side from Changbin.

Back at JYP Entertainment, you were up to your neck in work, but the idea of living with Stray Kids solidified in your thoughts and you kind of liked the idea.

->Part 12

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© Sky-yuna — 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝.

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#stray kids #stray kids fanfiction #stray kids imagines #stray kids x reader #bang chan x reader #changbin #fanfic #skz fluff #stray kids smut #bang chan #skz jeongin #jeongin #skz #skz i.n #i.n scenarios #i.n x y/n #i.n fluff #ot8 #skz ot8 #ot8 x reader #stray kids ot8 #ot8 x you #hyunjin x reader #skz lee know #felix skz #skz felix #skz fanfic #skz x y/n #skz bang chan #skz x reader

[tarttheart]

DESIGNATED DRIVER - JAMIE TARTT x YOU

summary: you spend a night out before Jamie picks you up and takes you home.

word count: 800+

warnings: language, alcohol consumption

It was Friday night. One of your good friends from work was leaving which could only mean it was going to be a long fucking night out on the town.

You messaged Jamie to let him know you would be home late and not to wait up because lord alone knew what time you would actually be done.

Jamie: text when you’re done yeh? I’ll come get ya

You: don’t worry about it, I’ll take a taxi.

You smiled and pocketed your phone appreciating the thought but not wanting to trouble your boyfriend who was going to be up at 4am to start his daily workout.

It was the third bar of the night and you were about nine drinks deep and making merry with your workmates. Everyone laughed at the odd tales another colleague’s girlfriend brought to the table and reminisced about all the crazy nights they had had prior to this one.

One more stop, one more stop. It was your last drink of the night and you watched on as the group played darts. It had been a long one and you were tired. What you would give to teleport home and snuggle up to Jamie. You smiled at the thought although you knew the last thing you wanted to do was wake him when you got into bed that night. Poor thing definitely needed his beauty sleep.

Jamie: surely you’re done soon?

You: go to sleep babe, I’ll be heading home soon.

Jamie: don’t move a fucking muscle, I’ll be there soon.

You supported one of your managers in his quest to stay upright while the rest of the group finished their game of darts before everyone made their way to the nearby kebab shop. While you were hungry, a kebab just did not seem appealing. There was no way you would feel comfortable taking a messy kebab into Jamie’s expensive car. Even though you knew he would tolerate it for you, you were also well aware that it would hurt his soul if you got anything dirty.

You stood with the group as everyone took their time finishing their kebabs on the side of the road.

“What are you waiting for?” One of them asked as you stood without any food and had made no effort to hail down a taxi yet.

“My boyfriend is coming to pick me.”

“Ooooooh,” one of your friends teased.

You blushed. While it was common knowledge that you had a boyfriend, his identity remained a mystery to most. He never joined the merriment given his strict workout regimen and you never brought it up because the last thing you wanted it to sound like was bragging. Yes, most of your mates were guys and they were not going to ask to be hooked up with a soccer player but it still was not something you were going to openly advertise.

“That’s a sick car,” one of the guys commented as the flashy car you know so well made its way down the street.

“Well, that’s my ride,” you said as casually as you could while waving Jamie down to the surprise of the group.

“Holy fucking shit,” another colleague swore, “is that Jamie Tartt?”

You got in and gave Jamie a little peck before waving your final goodbye to some of the shocked faces. You felt bad that one of your best friends from work was going to have to field the questions but not enough to dwell on it.

“Do you work with any girls?” Jamie asked and you knew it came from a place of curiosity and not jealousy. Okay, maybe a little bit of jealousy.

“I do, they’ve already left.”

“Right, right. Drank them under the table, did yeh? How much have you had to drink, love?”

You slowly counted up the rounds in your head before responding with a sheepish “11”.

Jamie shook his head and laughed. Your alcohol tolerance was one of those things that surprised most people and while you were slightly embarrassed by its implications, you were also proud of being able to hold your own in a male-dominated team. Being able to drink your weight in alcohol meant you had been quickly accepted as one of the team and it made a chunk of your job so much easier when you were able to become friendly with most of your colleagues over a pint or ten. Whether that was fair or not was debatable but you felt lucky to benefit from it.

Jamie grabbed the bottle of water in his console and forced it into your hands.

“Drink up, we don’t want you too hungover tomorrow.”

You nodded and took a big swig of water, enjoying how refreshing the plain beverage was after a night of alcohol.

“Missed you tonight,” you admitted.

Sure, it was fun having a big night out with good friends but it did not always measure up to cuddling with Jamie on the couch after dinner while you watched some TV.

“I missed you too, love,” he said, looking over with a smile as you watched him lovingly.

“Can’t wait to cuddle when we get home.”

“Me too.”

#jamie tartt fanfiction #jamie tartt #jamie tartt x you #jamie tartt x reader #jamie tartt x ofc #jamie tartt x y/n

[myx-on-earth]

Content Warning: Landfall Game's April Fools Triumph

For the Content!

It would seem that an April Fools joke of a game has resulted in overnight indie success. Landfall Games, a beloved indie game studio, has a yearly April Fools tradition they call “Landfall Day”, where their devs put together essentially a parody of whatever game is popular at the time. They’ve parodied everything from DayZ to battle royales (Twice, with Totally Accurate Battlegrounds and Knightfall), and this year it would seem it’s Lethal Company’s turn.

Lethal Company is a game known for silly co-op shenanigans that seem to instantly translate into YouTube content- and Content Warning takes that idea and turns it up to 11, making being an influencer a part of the game mechanics. You and a group of friends take a diving bell to “The Old World”, a spooky map filled with monsters and traps entirely for the sake of internet entertainment value. With a single camera and 90 seconds of film, your group has to make the spookiest, funniest video possible- because your only source of income is Spooktube, and that revenue doesn’t come easily.

It's such a brilliant parody of both the horror genre Lethal Company tapped into and the loop of content creation in the internet age that it, somehow, wraps around to being an excellent game in of itself, though Landfall is no stranger to finding gold through satire. Previously, their first battle royale parody (Totally Accurate Battlegrounds, a riff on PUBG) found some success, enough that Landfall turned it into a full venture. It’s not as popular nowadays, but it IS legitimately good- and Content Warning seems to be turning out the same way with its initial popularity and engaging premise.

Typical Content Warning video result, featuring myself, @thatpocketninja, @squiddskipp, and a third friend who requested to remain anonymous

In the space of video game development, April Fools seems to be not so much a “joke” day, but a day that allows ideas to be thrown around that might not otherwise have been considered, which can lead to majorly creative leaps of faith. With examples like the Yakuza series’ pivot to turn-based combat, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon’s continued success in the midst of a floundering Ubisoft, and even Lilith Walther’s upcoming definitely-not-Bloodborne Kart (now known as Nightmare Kart), the idea of “joke turned legitimate gamedev venture” isn’t exactly new.

I actually had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Hanna Fogelberg (@thebirdmountain on Twitter), Landfall's Head of Community, who provided some insight into Content Warning’s development and the overwhelming response in the interview below.

1. What's it like to go to bed seeing some success, then waking up to find your joke game is a viral hit? Did you expect this at all, given the surprising amount of polish it has?

"We couldn't sleep to tell you the truth! Even if the team said good night at about 2am we kept texting the player numbers to each other throughout the night, we were very wired! We always knew there was the potential of the game going really well, there's something about the design and shareability of the videos you make that we knew could hit it big but it's still surprising it went THIS well."

2. How long did it take to develop Content Warning?

"Content Warning was made in about six weeks of active game development, but the idea came to us back in December!"

3. What were your main inspirations for the game? (Beyond Lethal Company, of course)

“Lethal Company and similar games were an obvious reference for the gameplay loop, we love that game! That said, what was most interesting to us was the core of the game - the filming and video creation. We were inspired by YouTubers and influencer culture, there's something interesting in people risking life and limb for content that we wanted to play off of. 

Other than that, the vibes of The Older World were inspired by Junji Ito and a specific H.R Giger painting while The Over World references the Swedish children's book Pettson och Findus.”

4. How experienced was the dev team?

“We're pretty experienced, the Landfall team has been making games for over 10 years with previous releases being Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, Stick Fight: The Game, Clustertruck and Rounds to mention a few.”

5. How does this experience compare to the last semi-viral success Landfall had with a Landfall Day game? (TABG)

“This game outdid TABG in player numbers several times over! So it's hard to compare, this is by far our most viral hit to date.” 6. Any plans for the future of the game? Or just basic bug fixes and some more content? 

“We will see! Currently, we're focusing on fixing bigger bugs and other issues but we already have some new content planned. We're kind of playing it by ear at this point, it all depends on how things go in the coming weeks.”

Some may attribute Content Warning’s success to multiple factors- the 24 hour free period, how it riffs on Lethal Company and the tropes it already employs, or even that it was “designed to go viral”- but you can’t deny that, even as an iterative piece, it still manages to find its own identity and already seems to have captured the content creation hearts of everyone who gives it a chance. Games like this, that aren’t reliant on micro transactions and are buoyed by the PEOPLE you play with, rather than the money that one must spend on it, are the hope- and, hopefully, the future- of the video games industry. You can find Content Warning (No longer free, but still very cheap!) at the link below: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2881650/Content_Warning/

#indie games #gaming #journalism #landfall #content warning game #honestly a legitimately fantastic game #i will be absolutely playing more #better than lethal company??!?!!?!?! jk 2 legends can exist

[magickcandie]

Auston Matthews x Fem!Reader

It had been months that Y/N L/N broke up with Mitch Marner. Now that you were no longer with Mitch, others on the team wanted to try to shoot their shot with you. Specifically, Auston Matthews. 

You were always around the team because you were always with Mitch. You came to practices, you traveled with them, went to dinners, play video games with them, practically on the team except for the fact you didn’t play hockey. Well, you did, but weren’t on a team. The Leafs loved being around you. 

Auston invited you as his date for All Star Invitational. Mitch and Freddie were going as well. You didn’t know Mitch was. Not yet. 

You were walking around with Auston on a rest day. You insisted walking to find somewhere to find a snack. You didn’t know what you wanted yet but you enjoyed the company. 

“So what is All Star?” You asked Auston, hooking elbows with him. “I mean this is your second time, right?”

“Hmm, it’s kinda hard to explain.” 

You nodded. “Well I wanna know, so try your best,” you said. You looked at shop names overhead, wondering what sounded appealing. 

“It’s an exhibition game. Not only do we play, there’s these mini games built into it. It’s during the season and there is 4 teams to represent Pacific, Central, Metropolitan, and Atlantic. Each team has 11 people. Um, me, Freddie and-”

“Good, keep that thought, we’re getting Ice Cream.”

(not my gif) He smiled at you, almost confused, then followed you inside the shop. You each got the ice cream you wanted then kept walking. 

“You were saying who was going?” You stirred your ice cream, melting it down. A subconscious habit you picked up from being with Mitch. 

“Oh.” He shrugged, pretending like he forgot. “Me, Freddie, and uh, Mitch.” 

You looked up and Auston. No expression or emotion on your face. “Didn’t think to tell me before? I mean, I don’t really care… now, but it would’ve been helpful.” You shoved a spoonful of soupy ice cream in your mouth. 

“You’re not mad or anything?” He looked at you. 

You shrugged. “Why would I be mad? We’re adults, Papi,” you said calmly, touching his hand. “Mitch and I broke up a long time ago.” You shrugged then took a bite from your ice cream. “Doesn’t really bother me none. Besides, I’m there to be with you. Probably say hi to be polite but you know, it’s not gonna be something big.” 

“You’re definitely something Y/N.” He tossed an arm around you then both of you continued to walk. 

The trip was one of the best moments of your life. For a lot of the media, you didn’t go. 

It was nothing personal to Auston or Freddie or even Mitch. You had family that lived in Vegas so when you suddenly fly out, you had to set aside time. 

Although you finally decided to show. You got dressed in your favorite and most professional clothes then got ready to sit in the audience to watch the interview. 

Before Auston got on stage, he called you over. You excused yourself from your seat to go over. 

“Hey, have fun.” You smiled nervously. “I don’t know what to say before an interview.” 

Auston grinned at you. “Hey, thanks for coming Y/N. It’s been great having you out here.” He took your hand. 

“It’s fun! Love to-” 

It was sudden and sweet when Auston, out of no where, gave you a quick peck on the lips. He looked up at the center of the stage then back to you. 

“Uh, I gotta go. See ya?” 

You were speechless so you just nodded. 

(not my gif) Both of you were unaware Mitch saw. He was listening to the question, which was about Auston, and instantly his eyes went searching for him in the crowd. Mitch didn’t know you were coming to All Star, but when he saw you talking to Auston, he wished you hadn’t. 

He thought of a response to the question and was about to respond when he saw Auston kiss you. Mitch tried to remain serious and show no emotion but a frown showed on his face. No one thought different of it. 

Mitch didn’t say anything when Auston walked past him. Quickly his eyes darted back to you and he saw you walking his way just as the interviews were walking off. 

You saw him. It was silent before you made your way to the bench. “Hey, Mitch. Um… this is cool. You did good… to make it here. I know you play well so uh… I’m proud.” You tried not to sound forced but it was your first time talking to Mitch after the break up. 

(not my gif) He blinked a nod. “Thanks, Y/N.” He looked to Auston then to the table. 

You hated how to conversation ended. You had much more to say. As did Mitch. However neither of you knew how to bring it up so you both just waved and you went to go sit down. 

#auston matthews x reader #auston matthews #toronto maple leafs #female reader

[hollow-knight-stats]

Charm Builds - What Playstyles were Used?

In the poll, one of the questions provided was: “What is your usual playstyle, with respect to charms?” Players were asked to classify their playstyle in a few categories of charm builds, through which we identified specific gameplay strategies employed by them. The most popular category was tied between nail builds, which focus on dealing damage with the nail, and hybrid builds, which was named “Combo nail-spell build” in the poll; this build does not have a preference between dealing damage with the nail or with spells. Both builds had 78 players (35.3%) each, and combined, they constituted 70.6% of all players. The next most popular given category was the heal build, centered around optimizing heals and healing windows, and this was listed as the preferred build of a total of 17 respondents (7.7% of our sample). Tank build was preferred by only 11 people (5.0%), while just 9 people (4.1%) reported using a spell build. Collectively, they made up 193 people of our sample of 221 players.

And what of the remaining players?

We understand that trying to classify charm builds is ultimately an open response question since there is no one way to name a specific charm build, and there are many more strategies used by people than a small team of people could come up with. While we provided options, we gave respondents the option to type in their own answers in the event that they felt their builds did not match any of the five we offered, or if they wished to elaborate on their answers. There were 26 players who did not choose any of the five given categories, corresponding to 11.8% of the sample of 221. This is a significant number that demonstrates there are alternatives that weren’t previously considered.

A significant portion of the remaining players opted to blend heal builds with other previously listed builds, and another marked portion blended nail builds with other builds; some listed a specific mixture of a nail and heal build. There were also other charm builds that did not build on the five offered selections, a noteworthy example being the summons build, which outsources dealing damage to summons granted by the Glowing Womb, Weaversong, and Grimmchild charms; as one respondent said, it is the “send the children in to fight instead” build. Elements of tank builds were also fairly popular among these respondents. Some other respondents prioritized movement, with charms like Dashmaster for extra speed and Thorns of Agony for crowd control. This all shows that more than one strategy can be found in one particular build, and that there is a great variety of charm builds.

Beyond that, a small but significant portion of respondents noted that they used more than one build listed, preferring to change their charms to suit the boss or situation. Others noted that they had no specific strategy; as another respondent put it, “m8 i just see a charm and go “ooga booga that seems somewhat helpful”.” Many players may feel similarly, which is what led us to look deeper into the charm trends in different contexts of the game: combat and exploration.

More results to come!

#hollow knight #results #demographics #gameplay #charm poll #charms #art

[diana-bookfairchild]

@fluffbruary Day 16

“Finally!” Zack called dramatically, collapsing on Ivy, who shook him off with a disgruntled warning not to bother the driver. “That one was hard!”

Carmen spun the box containing the La Peregrina Pearl in her hand. “Mmm, not particularly. For one of the most famous jewels in the world, security was sadly lacking.”

“Only for you, Red,” laughed Player onscreen. “I’d say a hundred guards plus the no-oxygen room, not to mention the thumbprint and iris scanner would be enough for anyone else. Be careful with that,” he added. “It bid for more than 11 million dollars, you know.”

Carmen clicked her tongue. “It’s a good thing Countess Cleo will not be getting her hands on it then.”

“She would certainly love this,” Shadowsan agreed. “We must be careful for a while. The only thing the Countess treasures more than her jewels and clothes is revenge.”

“They’ll never get us, Carm’s too good,” Ivy scoffed. “Bro, if you elbow me one more time, I’m tossing you off this ship.”

“Chill, Ives,” Zack drawled. “Player, any idea what our next mission is?”

Player had his thinking face on, clearly having switched the screen to go through the hard drive. “Honestly, it’s a wait-and-see game at this point. They’ve been trying to switch up their missions and agents recently.”

“Probably because they know boss will come and get them,” Zack said. “And her suuuuper awesome crew. Hi-yah!” He did a terrible imitation of a kung fu chop. “Sensei, when will my training continue?”

“When you’ve displayed any aptitude for the martial arts,” Shadowsan retorted dryly. “In the meantime – or for the rest of your life, seeing as that seems more likely – I would suggest remaining the get-away driver.”

“The get-away sailor this time,” Ivy commented. “And it’s me, and not him! Ha.”

“Want me to make you a little paper captain’s hat sis?” Zack chuckled.

“I’ll smash it over your head, bro.”

“It might be a good thing to have a break between this and the next caper,” Carmen was telling Player as Zack and Ivy continued their argument and Shadowsan continued to bemoan all the life choices that led him to witness it, “We could have some rest. And you could pay attention in school. And do your homework. And go to sleep on time, for once.”

“You sound like my mom,” Player complained, leaning back with his hands behind his head. The tension always in his voice when he guided them on missions – responsible for his team, his family – bled out as he enjoyed a conversation with his best friend. “Besides. I have absolutely no doubt that you’ll find a way to get into trouble even without any capers. I’ll need to stay up late anyway!”

“Don’t sound so happy about that,” Carmen chided. “Seriously, Player, you need to learn to take better care of yourself. Have you eaten today?”

Player waved a plate of noodles and fork mockingly at the camera.

“Something other than that breathtakingly unhealthy stuff?”

“The unhealthy stuff’s what’s tasty, boss,” Zack chimed in. “I don’t get how you don’t like junk food.”

“I grew up on VILE Island,” Carmen replied amusedly. “Not much time for junk there unless it’s valuable or evil.”

“Coach Brunt set a very specific diet for Carmen growing up,” Shadowsan nodded. “I remember Dr. Bellum contributed – most probably why you were allowed any sweets at all.”

“Weird to think of that huge Coach being a mom,” Ivy commented.

“Carm doesn’t need any moms,” Zack snickered. “She’s got Player.”

“Player’s clearly the mom friend,” Carmen agreed.

Player made an outraged noise. “I’m the mom friend? Red, remind me who was just nagging me about bedtime and food like I’m in preschool?”

“Red, did you just get knifed? Where did she get you? Are you sitting down? Did you take the knife out? How much is it bleeding? Do you know how to clean it? You know the rate of people dying of knife wounds in Canada is 0.49 in a hundred thousand people? And you’re like that with someone who’s been trained all her life to deal with things like knife wounds,” Carmen imitated Player’s concerned fussing teasingly.

“You got stabbed!” Player cried indignantly. “That’s different!”

“You’re like that every time someone’s hurt, Player,” Ivy said. “Also, I don’t get how the stats help.”

“Yeah, what’s with that? D’you reckon knowing how many people die of that particular thing will help us recover from it?" Zack asked, puzzled.

Player flushed. Carmen knew perfectly well he ranted without thinking when he panicked, and that solid hard statistics was his favourite thing to recite. “It’s better than your typical habits, Zack,” she saved him from answering.

“Anything’s better than lil’ bro eating his feelings,” Ivy mocked.

“Ow, that hurts, Ives,” Zack said, sniffing exaggeratedly. “More than VILE’s ego after boss kicked their ass for the thousandth time, I’m sure.”

“Nothing could sting more than that,” Shadowsan smirked, for once joining in on the joking.

“Not to mention the rubbing of salt in the wound when we make the return of the goods public and donate the money to charity,” Carmen added lazily, putting her legs up on the couch, keeping an eye on the surroundings. The boat was still rather in the open, and she didn’t need Devineaux and ACME interfering with a successful caper.

“Speaking of which, we need to decide on whom you’re going to be giving the Pearl to, Red,” Player said, stretching his hands forward and typing. “On this one you’ve liberated. . . . Drumroll, please. . .” Zack and Ivy obliged. “Eight-hundred thousand euros from VILE!”

“Woohoo!” Zack and Ivy cheered, and even Shadowsan cracked a smile. Zack began beatboxing, and Ivy began to sing. “The best thief - in the world? Yeah, it’s Carmen Sandiego. Where in the world is – Carmen Sandiego? Where - will she go next – no one ever—”

“So, any ideas?” Player asked over the music and Shadowsan’s annoyed grumblings.

“Jules, obviously, for the Pearl,” Carmen said, leaning closer to the monitor in order to see her friend better. “And just pick a few non-profits from the list, Player. Though preferably an orphanage, for this loot.” Her face darkened and she turned away.

“Hey. Not your fault, Red. You can’t save everyone,” Player consoled gently, referring to the orphan who had gotten killed by VILE simply for being a bystander.

“No, but it would be nice to save someone,” she replied with unusual bitterness.

“You do. You save loads of people,” Player said insistently. “Think of how many people this money will help. Think of how many trees whose oxygen you’ve saved by making sure Tigress won’t be speaking for a week at least!”

That got a smile. “Fair enough.”

Player watched her carefully, even as he quickly arranged for the wire transfers. She seemed okay, but he’d have to keep an eye out. “I’ll book a flight to wherever Juuuules is,” Player extended the name teasingly. “You do realize you’re the only who calls her that?”

“It suits her,” Carmen said nonchalantly. 

“Yeah, and you’ve got a crush,” Player said delightedly. “Black Sheep’s got a crush! Carmen’s got a crush!”

Carmen reached out and tapped the screen, mock threateningly. “Quit it, Player, or I’ll tell Zack all about your antics at the gaming tournament at age eight.”

Player mimed zipping his mouth. “Shut up. Got it.” He couldn’t resist another jab though. “You know you always drop whatever you’re doing to go see her, even on capers?”

“Are we talking about Julia Argent?” Zack said bluntly.

“And Carmen being very obviously smitten with her?” Shadowsan added. Carmen glared at him in betrayal.

“No, we’re discussing how the lot of you are interfering traitors, who are blighting my very good day,” she drawled. Her eyes caught on another boat. “And speaking of blights. . .”

Player caught on, tapping a key, eyes sharpening. “Well that’s a vile blight on the landscape.”

“It is quite a landscape isn’t it?” Shadowsan said, getting up and readying himself. “A perfect spot for taking down more agents.”

“Awesome!” Zack said, tumbling to his feet. “Time for our training to continue, Sensei!”

“Not the time, bro!”

Carmen slipped the Pearl into her pocket, zipping it tightly shut, before taking a flying leap from her boat to the other one, taking two out with a roundhouse kick.

“Grunts!” Ivy called. “Couldn’t send any of the better agents, could you? Haven’t seen the goat for a while.” She blindly swung a club and somehow managed to take one down. “Ha! There’s one!”

Shadowsan efficiently thinned the crowd. “And mine’s six.”

Carmen ducked the blow from the sword, before using a maneuver Coach Brunt had once taught her and managing to knock the owner out with it. “And there’s the last.”

Zack pouted. “I didn’t get a single one.”

“Aw, Zack,” Player said in the intercom. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t either.”

“Hear that, Zack? You’re being compared to a kid sitting a whole continent away.” Ivy laughed under her breath, swinging an arm around her brother’s shoulder as they climbed back on their own boat.

“I believe this calls for a toast.” Shadowsan proclaimed.

“So it does,” Carmen agreed. “Player. ACME?”

“On its way,” he said in satisfaction. “Good day’s work, team.”

“I think this calls for some alcohol,” Ivy said. “Tada! This one’s supposed to be the best around here. Get the glasses, I want to taste it.”

“Cool, sis,” Zack grinned, opening the cupboard to produce the glasses. “Good thing you’re not here Player.”

Player knew he shouldn’t take the bait. He knew.

“Why?” He said anyway.

“’Cause a little guy like you couldn’t drink, and then you’d be all left out!” Zack said melodramatically. “It’d be really sad.”

“Carmen!” Player said in agitation.

Carmen laughed, watching her family bicker.

“Far from VILE Island, is it not?” Shadowsan asked quietly, sipping from his own glass.

“Quite a bit,” she agreed, taking her own glass and holding it in a toast to her best friend who was still angrily ranting at Zack. “And I couldn’t be gladder for it.”

#fluffbruary #fluffbruary 2023 #carmen sandiego #team red #ivy carmen sandiego #zack carmen sandiego #player carmen sandiego #shadowsan #carmen sandiego netflix #carmen sandeigo 2019 #carmen x julia #fanfiction #fanfic #fluff #found family

[themattress]

Unpopular Opinion Re:Pokemon

So, after a long time and a lot of hard work, we finally have the scripts to the legendary lost Best Wishes anime two-parter, “Team Rocket VS. Team Plasma!”  We’ve got the whole story.

I wish the 3/11 disaster had never happened...mostly because so many people would still be alive today and so much damage to Japan would not exist, but also because these episodes could have aired. And I wish the staff’s original plan for the overarching story for Best Wishes based on the Black/White games could have come to pass, as it would have been amazing.

However, in the end these wishes are hollow Ideals, and we have to face the harsh Truth. And part of this Truth is that Game Freak passed on doing a Gray version in favor of doing Black 2/White 2, which means the staff’s plan was going to be scuttled regardless of whether the 3/11 disaster transpired or not. They would’ve done Episode N and just placed Reshiram putting a halt to N’s coronation in the present day rather than two years prior. So that’s why....

....I’m kind of, sort of glad that “Team Rocket VS. Team Plasma!” never aired.

Don’t get me wrong! The executives in Japan not allowing the full episodes to be released in any capacity in favor of remaining Lost Media just because their events no longer line up with subsequent canon is stupid. They have lots of grown-up viewers who understand the facts and still won’t mind...heck, probably lots of kids as well! However, the episodes not being broadcast and being relegated to a nebulous space in Japanese canon ended up working to the series’ advantage when Tomioka and the other writers were freed up to recycle elements from them. Most specifically, in the Operation Tempest two-parter, which is honestly an even better pair of episodes than “Team Rocket VS. Team Plasma!” and I just have a hard time imagining them in any form other than the one they’re in now. If not for what transpired with “Team Rocket VS. Team Plasma!”, we might have never been blessed with this scene:

Pikachu using a giant Electro Ball on a nuclear space rock just doesn’t hit the same way that him using it on Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket whom Ash had never faced up until now and whom had always doubted Pikachu’s abilities when Jessie, James and Meowth talked them up. Pikachu doing it to save not only the entire Unova region but also Meloetta, a character that we’ve come to love and care about, is also far more dramatically satisfying.

Really, I’m more sore about how the show’s third year turned out due to Junichi Masuda’s Gen VI-related meddling (since it really should have been something more like this) than I am about “Team Rocket VS. Team Plasma!” and the intended arc it was setting up. As great as it would have been to see, it just wasn’t in the cards and, unlike said Gen VI-related meddling with the third year, I don’t believe that Best Wishes suffered all that much from its removal.

Tl;dr - I’m honestly kind of cool with this as all we have now.

#Pokemon #Best Wishes #Team Rocket vs. Team Plasma #Operation Tempest #Unpopular Opinions #Analysis #Comparison #What Could Have Been #Executive Incompetence #Anti-Junichi Masuda

[saveourskinship]

15 Questions/15 People

Rules: answer these 15 questions and tag 15 people

Unrules: I don’t actually know 15 people. So I’m not gonna do that. I also might not actually answer the questions but just ramble instead.

Thanks for the tag @akorah  I’m procrastinating so this is perfect.

1. Are you named after anyone? Names are so weird, aren’t they? We don’t get to pick them and they just hang around for the entirety of your life and if you decide you want to change it for any reason there is so much PAPERWORK. I am partially named after someone who no longer knows who I am or even who they are half the time. 2. When was the last time you cried? Today because I accidentally created a painting spirit by being too in love with someone and then had to abandon said love to hunt the painting spirit down (it kept putting people into comas). The spirit trapped me and my love in a mirage and tried to burn us alive but my love saved me but he remained stuck inside the mirage for three whole years. We finally reunited at the Festival of Lanterns and it was beautiful. Tears of Themis is wild y’all. 

3. Do you have kids? No, I live in a tiny apartment. If I ever own a cottage though, I will buy a couple to eat the brambles around my hedge-witch lawn.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot? I used sarcasm to type that question. So no, of course not.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people? If their eyes match their expression. Followed by where their centre of gravity is.

6. What’s your eye colour? Line 1, Verse 2 of Christmas Day by Dido.

7. Scary movies or happy endings? Is this boiling down to Marlon Wayans versus Damon Wayans Jr? I’ve definitely seen Scary Movie’s more often but have been thinking I should give Happy Endings another go.

8. Any special talents? I can put my leg behind my head and can glide down a flight of stairs absolutely beautifully. Not at the same time though.

9. Where were you born? In a hospital room with ten very disappointed training doctors who all thought I was going to be what they called an ‘abnormal’ birth. They were rather put out I came out ‘normal’. If they’d just waited twenty or so years...

10. What are your hobbies? Writing, reading, board games, video games, tabletop rpgs, assassinations, lying to people on the internet about how dangerous I am.

11. Do you have any pets? There is a cat which resides in my house but I live in fear she will get offended if I call her a pet. 

12. What sports do you play/have you played? That is a very long list and I don’t find it terribly fascinating. I would like to invent a sport, but... owning a team is weird, too, isn’t it? Like, owning people who run and jump and get concussions for you? You take their best years and they earn you money? It’s all very crossroads/brimstone vibes, huh. But if I HAD to invent a sport, I think I would combine the Running Man name-tag rip off game with handball except you have to play in bare feet tand the scoring area is covered in acupuncture mats (the goalies are allowed shoes).

13. How tall are you? 1 cat and 78 dice ranging from d4 to d20 in varying sizes. I tried doing dice only but the cat wasn’t having it.

14. Favourite subject in school? This does not specify which school so it’s a toss up between Look After The Penguin Chicks from pirmary and Sex and Sensuality from university. 

15. Dream job? The job I have most often in my dreams is being a pirate captain but my boat only sails through wheat fields. The hull (for whatever reason) is made out of sponge cake so stale is has turned rock hard, however whenever I try to sail my ship in water, the sponge cake softens and my ship begins breaking apart.

Tagging @they-call-me-megs 

[rabbitcruiser]

National Swimming Pool Day 

National Swimming Pool Day falls on July 11 each year and is not just a celebration of swimming pools but also of all the paraphernalia that accompanies pools, such as pool toys, accessories, and swimwear. Think back to your favorite pool memories, and make today worthy of adding to your memory bank. What makes the perfect pool day? Is it the chance to show off that summer bod, looking fabulous in the latest swimwear designs, or maybe the fact that you love the exercise that swimming provides? Or perhaps you love poolside barbeques and the very thought of it gets your mouth watering. Whatever the reason, we are sure glad that someone long ago thought of the concept of a swimming pool, which makes summer a lot more enjoyable (and the heat more bearable) altogether.

History of National Swimming Pool Day

While there is no clear intimation of when National Swimming Pool Day was first founded or observed, we can track the origin of the swimming pool itself. Some sources trace the first swimming pool-like structure all the way back to 3000 B.C. in Mohenjo-Daro (in modern-day Pakistan), where a 40 by 23-foot pool was discovered, lined with bricks and covered with a tar-like sealant. Years later, the Romans built artificial pools in which to conduct military exercises, nautical games, and athletic training. The Roman emperors would often have private pools with fish in them, hence one of the Latin words for ‘pool’ is ‘piscina,’ meaning ‘fish pond.’ A rich Roman lord and patron of the arts, Gaius Maecenas, is said to have built the first heated swimming pool in 100 B.C.

By the mid-1800s, swimming pools gained popularity in Britain, with the earliest indoor pools with diving boards being built in 1837. The Maidstone Swimming Club, founded in 1844 in Maidstone, Kent, is one of the oldest surviving swimming clubs in Britain. The idea behind its formation was to teach people to swim and therefore survive drowning — following a spate of drownings that happened in the rivers in the area. The oldest known swimming pool in the U.S. is called Underwood Pool, located in Belmont, Massachusetts. It was only after World War II that home swimming pools became popular in America, and Hollywood movie stars’ luxury homes with pools made this an all the more desirable symbol of status. Nowadays, the U.S. has more than 10.4 million home pools, though New Zealand holds the record for most swimming pools per capita. And here we thought they only had a lot of sheep!

National Swimming Pool Day timeline

3000 B.C .First Swimming Pool is Invented

Mohenjo-Daro is the site where the oldest swimming pool is discovered.

100 B.C. First Heated Pool is Built

Gaius Maecenas, a Roman lord, builds the first heated pool.

1844 Maidstone Swimming Club is Formed

The Maidstone Swimming Club in Kent, England, is formed, the first of its kind.

1906 Swimming Pools on the Ocean

The swimming pool goes out to sea on White Star Line’s ocean liner, Adriatic.

National Swimming Pool Day FAQs

When should I open my pool?

You should open your pool when the temperature is consistently above 70 degrees during the day. This helps prevent algae from growing, keeps pollen from collecting in the water, and doesn’t cost much more than opening later in the spring.

Can I be a competitive swimmer?

Joining a swim club or community swim team offers regular practice, supervised instruction, and opportunities to compete against other athletes. Olympic-level swimmers generally train five hours a day for three days a week and then two to three hours daily for the remaining four days each week.

What temperature can you swim in a pool?

According to the World Health Organization, water temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit are generally comfortable and safe for those engaging in moderate physical activity in a pool.

How to Celebrate National Swimming Pool Day

Take a dip

Opt for a luxury pool experience

Visit a water park

This one was obvious. What better way can there possibly be to celebrate National Swimming Pool Day than diving right into the cool waters of your nearest pool?

If an ordinary pool day doesn’t quite cut it for you, there are many luxurious options for you to celebrate this holiday in style. How about a staycation at an exotic spa, paying a visit to hot springs, or looking up the most fabulous five-star hotel pools to pay a pretty penny to take a dip in (this will be great for your Instagram, too).

A fun day out for the whole gang, visit a water park near you or plan a road trip to some of the more famous ones. There’s no doubt this will be an enjoyable excursion for everyone, young and old! Whether you seek thrills by zipping down water slides or prefer just lazing in a tube and gently drift around, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

5 Kinds Of Pools You’ll Want To Take A Dip In

Infinity pools

Jacuzzis/hot tubs

Rockpools

Grotto pools

Hot springs

Giving the illusion that there’s no water’s edge, these pools are usually located near stunning views.

Small in size, these can be very relaxing and are often used for hydrotherapy too.

Also known as tide pools, there are natural pools by the sea that exist as pools during low tide.

Often hidden and only accessible from the water, they also usually have a waterfall feature.

Produced by geothermally heated groundwater, these pools contain minerals and can be amazing for a soak.

Why We Love National Swimming Pool Day

Swimming is universal

Many different types of pools

Pool days are fun

It is a truth universally acknowledged that swimming is a favorite summertime activity all over the world, therefore, knowing that people all over are swimming, too, makes it all the more an enjoyable pastime.

The myriad forms that pools can take are exciting to learn about, and (hopefully) experience. There may be some pools you want to visit that are even on your bucket list.

Source

#National Swimming Pool Day #NationalSwimmingPoolDay #11 July #Mojácar #Calpe #Spain #architecture #original photography #travel #vacation #USA #SIXTY Hotel Miami Beach #Daytona Beach #Florida #Loews Miami Beach Hotel #Bellagio - Las Vegas Luxury Resort & Casino #Key West #Nevada #MS Allure of the Seas #cruise ship #night shot #daylight #reflection #Atlantic Ocean

[sakura-otome]

Alright, since Utakata no Uchronia is finally being released and I'm gonna be picking up my reservation at Stella Worth tomorrow, let's go through the main and also side characters and talk about which ones I would totally smash

For those of you who don't know Broccoli, the company that produced Jack Jeanne, has come out with a new otome game as of 4/11.

The writing team is basically the exact same team as the one that worked on Piofiore, including the artist RiRi

I'm genuinely so hype for this game. I never ever ever reserve the special edition for a game, but I'm confident this will be a masterpiece like Piofiore. The character designs are all great, the voice actors are top notch A-listers, and they even used live 2D to animate all the sprites! Which has never been done in an otome game before.

This game also has a free trial, which let's you play through the common route, so I definitely encourage anyone who's interested and able to read Japanese to go ahead and play it.

Anyways, let's get to the main cast!

Okay first and foremost, our lovely protagonist ~ ❤️❤️

Her default name is Hinagiku, which is so darn cute!

I don't play games if I don't like the MC's design, but she passes with flying colors. I love white hair, her outfit is fantastic, and I don't find her personality grating. She's actually quite fun!

1000% SMASH

Next is Yashiro

VA: Kobayashi Chiaki

He's clearly the main hero. Putting aside plot stuff and other predictions, his big thing is being quite mysterious. Though he's very friendly, due to his amnesia at the story, we know basically nothing about him. From what I could glean from the info on the site and character PVs, I'm definitely sensing self hatred and angst, and also he's much bolder than I would have expected!

SMASH

Next is Tobari

VA: Okamoto Nobuhiko

So far, he's the one I'm most looking forward to. He's the face of the red light district, and is very dependable despite his age. I really adore the deep kindness that seems to underly his tough exterior, and the voice samples give me the picture of a someone who won't reach out to the MC because of his role, and what it would do to her if he were to take that chance. It doesn't matter if she wants it, it would lead to her unhappiness —

Listen I could go on. But to summarize.

Here's the thing about me. I'm always craving a specific kind of angst. I love when one party rejects the other, not because the feelings aren't mutual, but because they have to choose to live by their principles in some way. And I feel that Tobari is the most likely to scratch this itch.

1 MILLION PERCENT SMASH

Next up is Awayuki

VA: Saito Soma

He is basically the MC's personal butler/guardian. They've been by each other's sides since they were children, and he was one of the few that remained after the fire that destroyed her home and killed her parents when she was 8.

I certainly don't dislike this dynamic, but it's not necessarily my biggest thing. The notes said that the theme for his route was "attachment" or "obsession", from the both if them, which is intriguing to me because MC doesn't seem intense to me in that way, but we'll have to see!

SMASH

Next is Yori

VA: Eguchi Takuya

He's an officer in the militia Kurozuru, and is outright stated in his bio to have quite the nasty personality.

Tbh he pisses me off too much for me to make a fair assessment of him. He's perfectly physically attractive but I cant get past the urge to strangle him Homer Simpson style.

I'm looking forward to his route only insofar as I hope he gets put in his goddamn place.

PASS

Next up, Tsuyukusa

VA: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

He's a skilled craftsman and a childhood friend to the MC.

He has the biggest, fattest, most obvious crush on the MC right out the gate, and it's honestly the cutest thing ever.

I'm honestly shocked this girl hasn't noticed, he barely hides it. Bitch is cute but hella dense.i honestly feel bad for him at this point.

He's really giving me cat energy. Real meow meow catboy energy if you will. Anyway

SMASH

Moving onto side characters! Woo!

Tsuwabuki

VA: Azakami Yōhei

So apparently he's Yori's older brother who also works in Kurozuru. From what I've seen of this guy, he's genuinely one of the nicest people ever, and I cannot believe he is related to Tori in any capacity. A mystery how he turned out so well-adjusted while Yori is an unapologetic dickhead. Would love to see a side story with him.

SMASH

This is Aijiro

VA: Toya Kikunosuke

Works for Yori. Hates his boss but is one of the few actually capable of working with him. Personally, not my type, design or personality wise.

PASS

Next up, Karatachi

VA: Fukuyama Jun

The head of Kurozuro. Is known to be quite eccentric and difficult to work with.

Listen, out of everyone in this game, he's the one I would personally jump in an alley. OBSESSED.

SMASH SMASH SMASH SMA–

Moving on, Shioji

VA: Yoshimura Kazuhiro

He's Tobari's right hand man, and also sort of "older brother". He's friendly and charming but I'm not particularly struck by him or his design.

PASS

[ksplay88terdepan]

Robert Lewandowski inspired a resurgent Barcelona to a 3-0 triumph at Atletico Madrid on Sunday to keep their faint La Liga title hopes alive.

Lewandowski set up goals for Joao Felix and Fermin Lopez either side of striking himself to pull Barcelona second, eight points behind leaders Real Madrid.

The Catalans, who returned to the Champions League quarterfinals this week after four years, became the first team to beat Atletico at the Metropolitano stadium this season.

Barcelona were the last team to win at Atletico in the top flight too, in January 2023, with Diego Simeone's team going 25 matches without defeat in between.

They crumbled against Xavi Hernandez's side, who now have five consecutive wins over Atletico and are unbeaten in 10 matches since the coach said he would leave at the end of the season.

Barcelona moved two points clear of third-placed Girona, while Atletico are now fifth, after Athletic Bilbao moved above them on Saturday.

"I'll push the (players) more than ever," Xavi told DAZN, refusing to throw in the towel on Barcelona's title defense.

"And now that I'm leaving, even more so — we will try to improve and compete for La Liga and the Champions League, the two most important trophies." Atletico played 120 minutes on Wednesday against Inter Milan in Europe and although Barcelona saw off Napoli a day before, it was Simeone's side who started sharper.

Pablo Barrios spurned a good early chance and 17-year-old starlet Pau Cubarsi blocked Alvaro Morata's effort.

However, Barcelona took the lead against the run of play after 38 minutes.

Ilkay Gundogan glided forward from midfield and found Lewandowski, who squared for on-loan forward Felix to turn home against his parent club.

The Portuguese striker scored the only goal when the teams met in December and again proved a thorn in Atletico's side while being whistled by home fans throughout.

Xavi was dismissed before the break for dissent but his team kicked on regardless in the second half.

Simeone sent on Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay, searching for more spark in the final third.

Lewandowski quickly doubled Barcelona's lead with a lethal finish, after Rodrigo de Paul gave the ball away in a dangerous area.

Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a superb save to deny Marcos Llorente but Atletico were starting to tire after their midweek exploits.

Lopez headed home Barca's third after Lewandowski set him up with an inch-perfect cross, with the veteran Polish striker offering one of his best performances for the club.

The goal capped a superb week for Lopez, who also scored in the win over Napoli.

"We're believing until the end, (now we're in) second place, trying to cut the points gap and fight for La Liga," Lopez told DAZN.

Atletico's Nahuel Molina was sent off for bringing down Vitor Roque late on as Barcelona saw out their impressive win, keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet in the league.

"They were superior, they put away their first chances for goals," Simeone told DAZN.

"We'll keep pushing for fourth place, it will be difficult, tricky, that's normal … we have to keep improving, a lot." Earlier Almeria ended a miserable streak by earning their first La Liga win of the season, edging Las Palmas 1-0.

The Andalusian side went 31 league games without victory stretching back to May last season, but Leo Baptistao's 14th-minute goal snapped their terrible run in coach Pepe Mel's first match in charge.

Despite winning on the road, Mel's side are still 20th and 14 points from safety with nine matches remaining.

Almeria's 31-match run is the longest winless streak in the division's history, but they are now level with Sporting Gijon's lowest-ever points tally from 1997-98.

"Winning today means a liberation (for the team) … winning three points and changing the dynamic," said Mel.

Victory ensured Almeria will not tally fewer points than Derby County's 11 in the Premier League in 2007-08, which is the lowest total across Europe's top leagues since teams started earning three points for a win.

[trashheappro]

Sad boys.

Ch: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6

Sides: 1, 2, 2.5, 3

Sequel: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14.5, 15, 16

Alt-Sequel: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Gaea was easy to blend in to. So many skinsuits shedding their flesh for machine. When he wore the clothes Crypto got for him, hardly anyone bother to look at him. Hell, he wasn’t even the tallest person he’s seen around. There were a shocking number of skinsuits with leg augments, arm augments, face augments, every augment. Surprisingly, he looked more human than some of the planet’s residents. But they still had flesh somewhere, while there wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t metal.

At the moment, he and Mila’s primary base of operations was on a Syndicate owned hotel. Of course, it was one of those fancy ones, ones that Revenant was well acquainted with due to the nature of his previous line of work. Mila was set up in one of the rooms on the higher floors. He went up to check on how far she’s gotten every couple of days. They had been on Gaea for a little more than two weeks now, but all they’ve been able to gather was that Crypto was somewhere on this planet. And even that was something Mila had to tell him.

Revenant watched her as code and forums flashed across her screen, going through them at a pace that he had only ever seen Crypto achieve. Was that a hacker thing or a sibling thing, he wondered.

“Any updates?” Mila asked.

“No,” he said. He never did.

“Hm.” She turned back towards her mass of screens and continued to type.

Revenant hated that. Hated that tired look in her eyes, that exasperated way she hummed. She was disappointed at his results. He was too. He was supposed to be better at this. Or maybe Crypto was just that good.

“I might have a lead. Talk of an up and coming hacker is circling my channels,” she said. “I’ll see how good they are.” She didn’t sound so hopeful. For as often as he’s been coming up empty, every whisper Mila caught ear of amounted to nothing. Any potential physical discovery of Crypto was left to her ground team while she scoured the web for her brother. The only advantage he had was that he didn’t need to eat or sleep.

It wasn’t uncommon for hackers to test each other’s defenses, but none of these hackers were up to snuff. Mila said that it would be difficult to hack a defense Crypto put up, but every lead she found was easily broken through. None of them could possibly be her brother. Revenant believed that at least.

Sure, they were in a pseudo competition, but both of them wanted to find Crypto, so both of them shared their information. Well, Mila did most of the sharing. It was really the only reason he stuck around. She was his best chance at finding Crypto. And that admission made his plating crawl. Revenant wouldn’t share anything if he actually found something substantial.

She sighed and turned to him. Her eyes seemed the tiniest bit more awake when she looked at him. “Every time I see you in clothes, I’m shocked at how much my brother’s sense of style improved.”

Revenant was wearing a long black hooded cardigan, a fluffy olive-green scarf, white shirt, and black joggers. The girl really didn’t believe that he could go out and shop for himself? Not that he did, but he could if he wanted to. He had to wear ‘people’ clothes, he was too recognizable without them and it wouldn’t do to alert a fugitive that there are people in his area looking for him, assuming Crypto didn’t already know.

Knowing Crypto, he probably knew Revenant and Mila were here looking for him. He knew Revenant was here looking for him. He had to. And yet, he remained hidden. Chose to stay away from Revenant. Chose to leave him. It hurt in a way a gunshot never did.

“He still looks like a dork to me though,” Mila said. “Like in the games, he looks cool at first glance, but why is he wearing a vest that’s being held together by one string?”

Crypto did have some strange fashion choices at times. But Revenant didn’t think it was his place to say what good fashion was, he didn’t wear clothes after all.

“You should have seen him before,” she smiled. “Giant nerd. Dressing like a part time IT worker.”

The girl knew Crypto in such a different way than he did. She had seen a side of him he didn’t. That infuriated him. Crypto was his. All of him was his. And yet. Yet. This woman existed. Calling him a name Revenant didn’t know, referring to a time when he was a different man than one Revenant knew.

Revenant didn’t like it. He didn’t like her.

At Revenant’s silence, she sighed and rubbed her neck. “Is there something else you needed or are you going to just keep glaring at me?”

“I don’t like you,” he said.

“Noooo,” she drawled sarcastically. “I couldn’t tell.” She watched him. “Can I ask why?”

“Your existence is bothersome.”

Her eyes narrowed on him. “I’m the only one helping you find him.”

He didn’t like the way she was looking at him. It was the same sort of way Crypto looked at him when he first joined the Games. Less smug taunting, but curious and prying in a way he didn’t like. Must be a sibling thing.

“He might not even be on this planet,” Revenant said.

“He is.”

“And how would you know? Neither of us has caught a scent of him since coming here,” he snapped.

“He’s here,” she insisted. “He has to be.”

“You’re guessing,” Revenant hissed. “You’re wasting my time on a guess.”

“Like you can do better?” she snapped. “You didn’t even know this was his home planet!”

“He wouldn’t run back here just for the sentimentality.” Crypto didn’t seem the type for sentimentality. Didn’t seem the type to run back to the past just because he liked it. Didn’t seem the type to run back to him. Or maybe Revenant just wasn’t important enough to run back to.

“I’m not saying that! Logically this is the best place for him to run to,” she said. “He blends in, he knows the city, he has people here. You might not like this idea, but you don’t know him like I do.”

Revenant scoffed at her. “That should be my line. You said it yourself, he’s changed in the three years he thought you were dead.”

“As true as that is, you still can’t beat me, not if it’s finding Tae.”

“I won’t lose to a skinsuit like you,” he spat with venom. “Crypto belongs to me.”

Mila frowned. “What will you do with Crypto if you win?” she asked. “When I win, I want us to live comfortably, happy, together as a family. Somewhere nice,” she smiled to herself. “That’s all I want. That’s all I ever wanted for us. I’d even let you come along if you wanted to. I think Tae would like that.”

Revenant snarled. The idea of losing to her, of losing Crypto to her left a disgusting taste in his mouth.

She scoffed, tired. “I’m doing this for him. You’re doing this for you. If you win, what will you do for him? What can you do for him?” she asked.

What will he do after this? Go back to the games? Crypto wouldn’t be allowed to, they couldn’t continue their little game. The Syndicate said they would give him the technology to… play with Crypto, but that couldn’t go on forever despite how much he might like that, Crypto’s mind might not be able to handle that. What- What could he do for Crypto? He had been so focused on finding him that he hadn’t thought much about it.

He had no answer for her. He stayed silent.

“I see,” Mila said. “Then I have to win.” The conviction in her eyes almost had him believing in her too. She sat and turned back to her computer. “If that’s all, leave. I have work to do.”

Revenant hated this woman. If she weren’t Crypto’s sister, he’d skewer her like the rest of the Syndicate trash that got on his nerves. He didn’t want to hurt Crypto, at least, not in that way. He might do it anyway; maybe Crypto wouldn’t care, maybe he’d be pissed enough to come after him.

He walked out the door without sparing a glance behind him. Why did she have to win? She’s just as selfish. Her dream wasn’t Crypto’s, if it was, he wouldn’t have left. And- and what was his dream for them if he won? He hadn’t thought about it. He just- he just wanted to be with Crypto again.

But wasn’t that what she wanted too?

What could he give Crypto that she couldn’t? She held the promise of comfort, stability that- that he just couldn’t. All he was, all he could ever be, was a killing machine. Would Crypto really choose him over her? Crypto, who most enjoyed their quiet moments pressed together watching something or silently sharing space as they worked on their own things, wouldn’t choose Revenant over his family. Choose a killer over domesticity.

But the thought of being without Crypto hurt.

The thought of him choosing anyone else hurt. But he had nothing to offer Crypto to choose him. Sure, he had chosen to be with him during his time at the games, but that was in enemy territory, with Revenant being a possible ally. Of course, he would choose Revenant then. But now?

Crypto left him.

If Revenant were in a better state of mind, he’d be out looking for Crypto, not aimlessly wandering the streets. But he wasn’t. He wasn’t even registering the people passing him by. Sloppy. But he couldn’t bring himself to care.

Why did Crypto leave him? He could have asked Revenant to leave with him, but he didn’t. He said goodbye. He left. He left and didn’t leave a trace Revenant could follow. He didn’t want to be followed. He didn’t want Revenant. He left him. The wires in his core boiled hot. What right did he have to leave? To give Revenant a taste of what could be and taking it all away?

He slammed his fist into a brick wall, busting though into the kitchen on the other side. He got looks, but he didn’t care.

Not having Crypto, not having his presence to make him feel… alive, reminded him how little he felt before they met. How empty he was. Without purpose. No. With only one purpose. The only purpose that made him feel something. To kill. And he craved it. Craved it now more than ever. And who was he to deny instinct.

Time to hunt.

He took to the roofs. Any skinsuit would do. He just wanted to feel their blood running through his hands and their screams singing in his ears. He casually walked along the ledge, peering down at the streets down below him. There was one that stood out to him. An Asian male. Pretty, but not as pretty as Crypto. He had augments too around his eyes, but not in the right place. The synthetic skin on his neck wasn’t the right pattern nor the right shade of gray. His skin was paler as well, practically blinding with how pale he was. He wasn’t Crypto, but he would do.

He continued to follow the skinsuit until the streets became narrower, the neon lights became brighter and yet more of the signs flickered, broken. They were getting into the seedier parts of town, he’d have to snatch him quick before he got to where he was heading.

He dropped down behind him, landing with hardly a sound. He shoved the kid into an alley and muffled his yelp with his hand. He struggled; they always do. The only one who didn’t was Crypto. He liked it when they struggled, but it wasn’t the goading he had gotten so used to. The fear in this man’s eyes weren’t the cocksure ones he wanted.

This man wasn’t Crypto, but the blood on his hands would make him feel something other than longing. He wanted to take this slow. Savor it. He placed a hand against the man’s rib cage and pressed his thumb down until he felt a rib crack. The man screamed, the metal hand doing very little to muffle it. He whimpered and panted, and tears were falling from his face.

It wasn’t anything like Crypto’s.

He closed his eyes and just listened to the whimpers and pants, trying to imagine Crypto there instead. It didn’t work. The man was useless to him. His hand turned stiffened into a knife, poised to go through the man’s stomach. He hesitated. He didn’t want to dirty his clothes. His last gift from Crypto. He held the man’s face in his hands instead; he’d snap his neck.

A quiet low noise made itself known to him. He paused and listened closely; droned out the man yelling expletives at him, ignored the kicks he got to his legs. It was music. Slow, low, sounded like blues or funk or something like that. Something about it intrigued him.

He dropped the man and followed the sound. The man didn’t hesitate to run, Revenant couldn’t find it in him to care. He walked out of the alley way and found right next to him was the entrance to a bar. There was a band playing inside it, that slow, low, bass heavy music. He closed his eyes and felt every note of the bass beating low against his gut.

Revenant stayed there, leaning up against the entrance of the bar listening to the music. He didn’t know what about it drew him. Didn’t know why the urge to kill wasn’t as bad as before. He was still pissed at Crypto. Still pissed he left.

He wondered why Crypto made him… feel things. Wondered why he left him. Why he left him alone. Revenant slid down against the wall and sat on the floor, in the mouth of the alley. Fuck. Why did Crypto leave him alone? He was so alone.

Revenant sat there and closed his eyes as he listened to the low thrum of music, letting the beat of the bass settle in his core.

#cryprev #crypto/revenant #trashtexts #5+1 tsundere

[thetoxicgamer]

Overrated? KangKang admits to making huge blunder as EDG depart VALORANT Champions

Two Chinese teams entered the VALORANT Champions playoffs bracket with the intention of showcasing their region's strength against the top teams from the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific. However, EDward Gaming remained China's sole remaining chance for this season after BiliBili's departure on August 18. Sadly, EDG fell short in a lower bracket round and was eliminated by LOUD. EDG's star player, KangKang, accepts full responsibility. Lauded for his exceptional mechanical skills in VALORANT, EDG’s Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang—popularly known as KangKang—has played a huge part in EDG’s success so far. His caliber with the game’s priciest weapon is uncanny and leaves viewers in awe. Unfortunately, like most duelist mains, he often struggles to remain calm, costing EDG a couple of crucial rounds in a do-or-die series. In the post-match press conference following the LOUD vs. EDG lower bracket round two matchup on Aug. 20, KangKang admitted to being excessively aggressive and overtrusting himself in certain scenarios. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ecuBB-Z-4 “I feel like I didn’t really do well in certain things. Most of the reason why we lost today is on me,” he said. “Hopefully, next time, I can correct my bad habits step-by-step. Sometimes, I play too aggressively and over-trust myself.” Later in the interview, upon being referred to as “one of the best duelists in the world,” KangKang said he feels he’s overrated at the moment. Considering how massively entertaining he has been since Masters Tokyo, it’s disheartening to hear KangKang call himself overrated. The 19-year-old is outlandish with the Operator and even pulled off multi-kill rounds against LOUD yesterday—exactly what he’s known for. Where he went wrong was his execution, and avoiding it could have led EDG to yet another glorious victory against the 2022 VALORANT Champions winners. As a defender, KangKang tried creeping into incredibly dangerous territories of the decider Haven map, that too with the Operator, and there was no cover or utility from his team’s side. It worked a couple of times, but he mostly ended up giving LOUD some crucial opening kills. A burning example of KangKang’s overheating can be extracted from the decider game’s 24th round—a map point for LOUD, and everything’s at stake for EDG at 11. With the Operator in his hand, KangKang proceeded to push through Haven’s C Main, possibly with the intention of finding an opening kill. It was a huge gamble, considering it was LOUD’s match point, and EDG was on the way to making a commendable comeback. The worst happened, and KangKang ended up getting picked off by Saadhak, who was waiting near C Lobby with perfect crosshair placement. Then again, KangKang’s not the only one who made mistakes in yesterday’s match. EDG’s nobody and Haodong made considerable miscalculations as well, so blaming the entire series’ outcome on just KangKang doesn’t seem fair. Smoggy and CHICHOO did their best, but it’s a team game, after all. Maybe, it’s also a lesson for us for our daily VALORANT ranked games. Having lost the series 1-2, EDG are no longer a VALORANT Champions contender in the 2023 season, while LOUD are now up for a high-stakes battle against Fnatic in the lower round three on Aug. 24. Read the full article

[ledenews]

#Basketball #Benhowlett #d2 #Hilltoppers #jimcrutchfield #mensbasketball #nationaltitle #WestLiberty

[pucketthede]

Green Energy: Technology That Is Good For The Home And The Earth

They are often excited about the transformative potential of technology. 에볼루션카지노 are worth bleeding for. UM-D and CSP are conference opponents, and this match up is an always entertaining clash between rival schools who have met in the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Championship each of the past four seasons. find more information to Air UM-Duluth vs. New Life Academy of Woodbury, PACT Charter School (in Ramsey, MN, north of Anoka/Coon Rapids), St.Agnes (in St.Paul), St.Bernard's (in St.Paul), West Lutheran (in Plymouth), and the Concordia Academy/Bethany Academy (in Bloomington) pairing. St.Agnes and St.Bernard's have been the most competitive schools in this bunch. The Jaguars have a good shot at being competitive in this section, just as they have been in Section 5A since joining Class A in for the 2001 football season. After being tied at 30-all at halftime, the Jaguars outscored the Blackjacks 32-16 in the second half. The Blackjacks dipped below .500 to sit at 2-3 overall. You’ll want to focus well and visualize practically nothing while taking part in the overall game. On Friday night, the Jaguars girls basketball team travels to Rockford for their 2nd Central Minnesota Conference game of the season. The Jaguars boys basketball team improved to 4-1 overall.

They are 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the CMC. Luckily there are a variety of ways to get around these inherent problems in order to keep your vases looking beautiful and clean. The banquet was completed by about 6:15, leaving ample time for anyone there to make it to the high school athletic complex for the football playoff game. For fans who can't make it down to Rockford for the girls basketball game, be sure to take in Christmas in Belgrade on Friday night. With that established little remains to be said about the importance of having such a format to make use of. Technology-use mediation is an effective mechanism not only at the initial point of a technology's implementation but also and particularly during the ongoing use of that technology by users. It can be for those these above reasons that solar power is now more famous daily and a great number of making the effort to install solar technology absorption systems inside their homes and gardens. Or a flower can be as intricate as a blooming red rose. Data were gathered in 1969 through published sources, and interviews with founders and industry experts, for 250 high-technology firms founded in the San Francisco Peninsula during the 1960s. Follow-up studies--using questionnaires, interviews, and data from the California Secretary of State--were conducted in 1973 and 1976. Findings indicate that the number of discontinued firms rose from 4.8% in 1969 to 24.4% in 1973 and 29.2% in 1976. This rate of discontinuace was lower than that found for non-technical firms in other studies.

However, this research has been conducted primarily in environments in which adoption was voluntary. The Jaguars wrestling team will host two events this week, Tuesday and Thursday nights. Tuesday night's match will be an exciting match for area volleyball fans who can view that channel on cable. More details on their banquet will be published in next week's local newspapers. 에볼루션게이밍 is a section from an e-mail I received from Dave McClurg (D-Mac) tonight, explaining this week's broadcasts of Jaguars Volleyball. Glenwood's Magic 107.1 FM was also there, as Dave McClurg was interviewing individual players on the varsity team for this week's "Meet the Jaguars" edition. 1-ranked team in Division II. Hansen is a starting middle blocker for the No.-17 Division II ranked Bulldogs (20-7 overall, 11-4 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference). The Bulldogs football team went 2-8 the first year before going 8-2 in 2008. They fell 42-16 to Royalton in the Section 4A semi-finals last October. I'll post some information from that tonight, as well as a couple photos from the team drills. The school district will be able to accommodate giving educational time in the morning hours, as well as giving students and staff members a chance to attend state tournament action in St.Paul on Thursday and Friday.

The Mainstreeters are currently 7-0 after defeating Foley on Thursday night. He informed me on the basic school schedule for Thursday and Friday. This public/private school all-sports pairing began in 2007-2008 season. Last summer, their school boards agreed to continue the pairing for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Classes will be dismissed at 11:00am, at which time lunch will be served to the student body in both the elementary and high school. I am excited to see where they will take it. You may just want to take a few programs and be given a certificate in this field. A few of my paintings land there also. Another big change is the inclusion of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in Class A, also members of Section 4A. The Falcons, a Class AA power in football this entire decade (2001 Class AA state champions), have suffered from open-enrollment losses over the past few years to bring this change about. You might remember that Melton suffered a stroke in 2011. I am happy to report I hear he is doing well.

#카지노사이트 #안전한 카지노사이트 #에볼루션카지노 #카지노사이트 주소 #카지노사이트 추천