#iron bull matchup

[jahiera]

more interesting matchups that aren’t the two laddies that we know would get demolished in a heartbeat

for the purposes of the matchup their levels are maxed out in accordance with their in-game leveling. no starting injuries, even terrain, 1v1, they have access to things like health potions and soul coins to make it interesting. horninest matchup edition. reblog and explain your reasoning in the tags to make it interesting

#NO MORE about astarion and gale getting their asses beat #I actually cannot decide either so vote with your hearts or your horniness (no pun intended) #karlach #iron bull

[yes-these-obsessions-are-healthy]

DAI x BG3 matchups I need to see. I’m not good at writing crossovers nor am I clever at all. This is very much non-exhaustive and very much not the end point of these characters’ potential interactions with each other.

Karlach + Sera + Iron Bull

The absolute chaos. The absolute CHAOS. A powerhouse. Putting aside Karlach’s demon heritage aside, she and Iron Bull tossing back tankards and swapping war stories as vets that have been dealt shitty hands but continue to chug along despite it. Karlach and Sera connecting over growing up mainly on the streets and having soft spots for little ragamuffins. Plus they all talk about women’s tits a lot. I feel Sera would find Karlach sexy and funny.

Wyll + Cole

Like Solas and Varric, Wyll would take to Cole because he recognizes Cole’s desire to help others, even if his methods are a bit unorthodox. He would recognize Cole’s soul as gentle and kind, and his efforts to atone for the murders he committed in the Tower as proof of his humanity. He will join the Uncle-Dad Duo and complete the Uncle-Dad Trio. Cole would gravitate toward Wyll’s goodness in turn, and probably tell Wyll that him making a contract wasn’t foolish because in the end he saved a city, and if that was his desire, then he committed no sin in doing so.

Solas + Astarion

The messiest shit can only occur, and my messy bitch self wants to see it. Watch as Solas’s upright and stiff demeanor utterly bores Astarion. Watch as Astarion’s selfishness, penchant for violence, and casual disregard for the well-being of others utterly pisses Solas the fuck off. Watch as Astarion yawns or interrupts Solas’s lectures with a “yes, yes, we get it” or the most dramatic eyeroll and overwrought “ugh”. Watch as Solas and Astarion immediately sniff each other out as liars and schemers from first jump and hold each other at a distance, the tension spiking at random moments early in them knowing each other where the other prods at their falsehoods. Watch as Astarion is dumbfounded by Solas expressing his condolences to Astarion upon learning of Astarion’s enslavement to his master, because how could a man who holds such reproach for him still manage to feel pity? ‘It is not pity, but compassion, which you are at liberty to reject. That is your right as a free man, just as it is my right to feel it.’

In the best case scenario, Astarion calms down eventually, teasing Solas but still treating him like that friend of a friend that you grudgingly admit is useful. I think a part of Astarion would find Solas’s penchant dislike of him funny.

Vivienne + Astarion + Dorian

We are all doomed. The haughtiness will be scarcely contained. Dorian and Astarion are definitely flirting. Fucking? Not sure. But definitely flirting and enjoying killing bad guys, playfully arguing over wine, snickering over Solas’s shabby dress.

Shadowheart + Leliana

Tools forged to serve a religious order? Check. Crisis of faith? Check. Subterfuge preferred? Check.

Lae’zel + Cassandra

Soldiers recognizing soldiers. 🫡 ‘Why are the men around me so annoying.’

Minsc & Boo + Cole

Cole might be able to understand Boo! If not his speech, then his little hamster feelings. Minsc might be wary of Cole for the information that he manages to glean from Minsc’s head, but his unquestioned understanding of Boo would probably smooth that bump in the road, right?

Solas + Gale

A friend remarked that Gale would remind Solas too much of himself (prideful, ambitious) and thus they would not get along. There is that. I think that Gale would get a small smile out of Solas every now and then with his quips, because Solas himself is clearly a fan of banter; Gale would provide more of the energy in the same way Dorian does with his and Solas’s more civil banters. Gale and Solas also both hold a great measure of respect and adoration for magic as a force, an element, a piece of entirety that is beautiful for its own existence. Not simply just what magic can do for them as wielders of magic, but what it is and how it does so much to enhance a person’s understanding and interaction with the world, as precious as sight or sound.

Minthara + Iron Bull

Oh she will have him cowed in a goddamn minute. Oh man. Oh no. ‘Yes ma’am’, ‘no ma’am’.

Minthara + Cassandra

Oh this would be so interesting. Disciplined, serious bulwarks with little time for silly little men—Minthara would share Cassandra’s frustration and lack of amusement with Varric, though Cassandra would consider her suggestions to maim him.

Solas + Halsin + Iron Bull

I see potential here. Iron Bull and Solas already have a dynamic of Iron Bull’s “I have a pretty good idea of who you are, and it’s a liar” toward Solas, while Solas grudgingly respects Iron Bull’s strength and mental acumen in the same way you would respect a very intelligent bear—do not draw attention more than necessary, but stand tall lest it smell fear. Halsin feels like a softer Iron Bull, a mediation between the two. Like Iron Bull, his stature and build belies a thoughtful and sharp mind. Like Solas, he sees everything as connected, feeding into the other as part of a system, and would too feel a sense of loss at magic and mundane being so dramatically split as it is in Thedas—an aberration against what is natural. Also like Iron Bull, he’s frank with his sexuality. I’m certain the two would swap stories over booze. The trio would be arguably the three most mature and experienced in a room in any given situation. Not only that, but Halsin is far more actively in touch with his heart and honest with his feelings than Solas or Iron Bull. The latter two very much care about their loved ones, but with Solas it is under the surface and with Iron Bull it’s mixed up in cultural trappings of romance not being a “thing” in his culture, and thus both struggle with their feelings. Halsin however is very much in touch. There is next to nothing obstructing what his head and heart wants. He listens to his heart and he follows it. Solas and Iron Bull could learn a thing or two from him, tbh

Also I feel like Iron Bull, Halsin, and even Solas have a bit of a brat tamer streak in them so there’s that

Also Astarion would outright reject the notion of drinking Cullen’s blood cuz it smells like battery acid.

#bg3 #DA:I #shadowheart #gale #astarion #wyll #lae’zel #halsin #minthara #solas #vivienne #cassandra #varric #iron bull #dorian #sera #karlach #DAI #minsc

[hellosaysnoxx]

whoaa cool blog hey!!! can i have a south park matchup :-)

im a teen in high school and my style is kind of slightly-alternative??? like a middle schooler would call me emo but also it's just smudged eyeliner and fluffy bleached hair- i dress more like uhh https://pin.it/6yJ99JL that general look

i like the cure and the smiths and radiohead and loser music idk

i'm a dude but also i'm like SO high maintenance- i'll show up to school 15 minutes late with my eyeliner and fake freckles and curled hair. i once dide show uo to school because my hair iron broke and i look stupid with my natural 1a hair its like a bowl cut

i'll show up to 4th period after luncj with an iced coffee and red bull and finish both by the bell- teachers have emailed me about it 😭

my personality is like. hmm

i act really aloof and probably kind of awkward and rude because i dont know how to talk to people

but once you get to know me im actyally like insane like INSANE

i dont shut up i will NEVER shut up i will text you at 1am and be like "do you think it would be good if i put ketchup in macking cheese is that normal"

but despite that i'm surprisingly emotionally intelligent- something i take pride in

i'm very reasonable in conflict and i can separate emotion from logic

plus i'm really good at articulating myself!!! i can communicate well and i' patient with a lot of people

also im kind of a dumbass but i also have a 4.0 gpa and i do competetive classical piano (sterotypical asian kid moment)

HEY ANON!! :P

So first of all, you seem so cool like HAIDBDINDJFBDBBD/pos

Second of all, you didn't add what kind of relationship you wanted, so I'm just going to go with a platonic one (I hope that's okay😭)

Also, I hope you read the rules because I say there that I am not good at South Park matchups, so don't expect me to be a really accurate person😞

Not proof read!! (Usually never is sorry)

Anyway!! You're matchup isssss.....

Kenny Mccormick

He did call you emo once, but that was with Cartman😭

Sometimes, during school, he'll see you be there for like an hour and then leave, and he's wondering what you're doing and why you leave so early, especially in your grade

But then he doesn't really mind, what's his business

When he apologizes for calling you emo, you both get to know each other better

He LOVES your insane personality/p (platonic)

You're like his older sibling, and you'll both cause mischief together sometimes

Also, he doesn't really care if you don't shut up

You both would text random shit during 1am fr💀

*Readers name* - Do you think it would be good if I put ketchup in Mac n cheese is that normal?

Kenny - Put mustard on it too

He's also really happy that you sometimes have your serious moments

Is also happy that you care and is really grateful that you have patience

YOU PLAY PIANO??

"Can you play the among us theme song?"

Would ask you so many things about why you play the piano

He didn't expect it

Will be angry if Cartman comments "Asian kid" to you for playing the piano

He'll see you sometimes in the hallway and chat with you for a while

When he introduces you to Cartman, Kyle and Stan they were scared and thought you kind of seemed cool

But Cartman called you emo and then they left

Kenny was still there, tho and apologized for him💀

He texts you 24/7 and sends the most random sh1t ever

You don't know how he got your number

I think you both would be sending weird shit together, having a silly talk🤩

You collect random stuff? He'll give you random stuff

In the hallways, he gives you a small piece of metal and walks away

Also, your nickname is Crow now

YAY I'M FINALLY DONE AND I HAD MOTIVATION😍

I hope you have a good day/night anon!♡/p

#kenny mccormick #Kenny #kentucky fried chicken #kentucky #💀 #aaaaaa #whoppers #matchups #south park #eric cartman #kyle broflovski #stan marsh #im tired #Good night #nevermind lol

[honeyhellsbells]

Hey! I am here to grovel at your feet and beg for a Dragon Age: Inquisition Matchup. All jokes aside, some bits and pieces about me irl: I am 6'6", and I identify as a ???? who likes men. I am a bit on the chubbier side and I have a birds nest of halfway between curly and wavy hair. I'm a Scorpio Sun, Sag Moon, and Aquarius rising, so basically I'm an emotional eccentric who loves travel. I'm pretty nonconfrontational, but very emotional and passionate. I love singing, writing, and admiring art!

so, i would describe myself in one of two ways. i can be incredibly compassionate, i've been the mom friend in all of my friend groups (which i am glad to be!). with the people in my life that i love and hold dearly, i'm always checking in, making sure that they're okay and comfortable, ensuring them that if they need anything they can 100% come to me and i will do all i can. i've been told i'm very easy to talk to, and i create a nice atmosphere. i'm also pretty out there at times, i tend to obsess over random things at random times, i've had months where all i look at in my free time is marine life, months where i am deeply into researching ancient religions, stuff like that. while i am a mom friend, i really open up when that sort of "caretaker" role is reciprocated. i will then open up my more child-like side. when i become comfortable in a cared-for way, i kinda go full mountain dog. a huge cuddly person who just wants to either sleep or goof off.

all that being said, i am a very blunt and sometimes rude person to those who i don't like or when someone messes up. i won't beat around the bush, even if my best friend does something wrong i will flat out tell them. i get very deadpan when i'm talking with someone about boundaries or taking accountability, as those are two huge things for me. my motto is "i won't forgive people who don't think they need to be forgiven." if you don't acknowledge your fuck up, then i will be civil, i will be around you when i have to, but that is it. when it comes to people who are just terrible (bigots mainly) i tend to use my past as a recovered male manipulator (emphasis on recovered i promise i'm not human trash lmao) to get them to spill. i sit back and let them talk themselves into a hole, occassionally cutting in to ask them stuff like "can you elaborate?" "what do you mean by that?" "what makes you think that?" and then as soon as i see an opening call them OUT. i hate liars, i hate bigots, and manipulative people. and because i was all of those things once, they hate me too. i know their games.

okay that is all, i think that defines me pretty well. as i said (at least i think) in the post, i'm huge into singing and listening to music, i love writing prose, and i'm a hopeless romantic who is also trapped in a sarcastic "that was so sweet but i cannot help but laugh at the corniness" body. ----------------------

A good Match Up for you would be… The Iron Bull! This Tal-Vashoth is one with an even more complicated history than most of those that leave the Qun behind. Not having fit into the strict regime he grew up with, his current situation is not much different, just with different insults being hurled at him. To be fair, he does have a rather thick skin and most words (and rocks) thrown at him just bounce off without much off a thought, but as he gets older, he does crave the gentleness and compassion he was so often forsaken in his life before.

When he meets you, his Ben-Hassrath training kicks in automatically, as it does with anybody new in his life, and something just doesn't seem to add up. How you listen to him when being smacked with poles doesn't do it anymore, how you bring him food and water with a smile on your face when you know he didn't have the time yet to take care of himself, it seems so much different from what he is used to.

He keeps you at an arms length for the most time at first, or at least emotionally since he would really miss your form pressed into his side before the fire, leeching off of his warmth while you satisfy your need for physical contact. His young life was filled with manipulation, pain and lies, so anything that seems too good to be true, is suspicious.

For a while he is just fine with your platonic friendship, listening gladly to your sometimes hour long ramblings about whatever obsession has gripped you this time, sometimes even fanning the flame if it is something he is personally invested, but after a while his mild curiosity develops into a genuine interest.

With him and your friends you are always so caring and kind, providing help and comfort whenever someone might feel worse for wear and playing along with all the goofiness that is bound to happen in your close circle. That makes it so much more surprising to watch you once you reach a person of a nastier caliber.

As a former spy, Bull is well versed in sniffing out those with bad or ulterior motives and he is shocked to know that you are as well. Watching you verbally fold the person in front of you in half, he is both mesmerized and maybe a little concerned. Skills like yours don't necessarily come natural and he is curious how you managed to attain them.

His past is as close to an open book as it could be, he never hides even the ugliest parts of who he was and what he used to do, and with becoming his partner, he wishes you would treat your past the same. Like you, he tries not to judge the path someone walked to become the one they are today, of course only if that path led them to become a better person and they are open about it.

With him you can talk about the deeds you deem the most evil, how they made you feel then and now and how you learned to become better because of them and you won't find judgmental words or nasty words coming from him, but a comforting hand on your shoulder and a sense of pride stemming from him. After all, you have learned from your mistakes and that deserves some praise.

The two of you are a force to be reckoned with, mercilessly crushing those who deserve it, comforting those who need it, before cuddling completely entangled with each other, singing songs and reciting love poems in front of the fire like the sappy romantics you are.

I hope you like your Match Up!

#match up #dragon age inquisition #dai #iron bull #the iron bull dai

[comickhan]

Clash for the Castle Series

Book: Beginning of the Beginning

Chapter 1: The Spark Part 1: Give’em A Spectacle

Written by Farrakhan Khaliq

Commentator 1: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s electrifying matchup in the ring! We’ve got Alex Storm, a real heavyweight with a track record that—well, let’s just say, he’s used to being on the other side of this equation.

Commentator 2: That’s right, and squaring off against Storm is none other than Jim Thompson, our lovable underdog who’s about to take on a challenge that even he must be surprised by.

Commentator 1: Storm starts with his usual fervor, charging at Thompson like a bull in a china shop. But hey, maybe he’s just trying to give our friend Jim a little bit of a workout, you know?

Commentator 2: Ah, yes, the “Alex Storm Fitness Regimen,” coming soon to a gym near you. But hold on, Thompson’s showing some impressive resilience here. It’s like watching a squirrel trying to outsmart a grizzly bear.

Commentator 1: I mean, I wouldn’t call Jim the “grizzly bear” of wrestling, but I see where you’re going with that. Storm tries to land a haymaker, but Thompson’s dancing around like a kid avoiding vegetables at dinner time.

Commentator 2: You’ve got to hand it to Thompson, he’s certainly adding a touch of unpredictability to this match. And here we were thinking he was just another piece of meat for Storm to toss around.

Commentator 1: Storm’s taking him to the ropes now, perhaps to show Thompson the best spot to catch his breath. Gotta love that generosity, right?

Commentator 2: Oh, definitely. And look at that reversal! Thompson’s giving Storm a lesson in physics, sending him flying with that dropkick!

Commentator 1: It’s like watching a David and Goliath story, but with a twist. More like David having a really lucky day against a grumpy Goliath.

Commentator 2: Well, luck or not, Thompson’s got Storm down on the mat now, and he’s ascending the turnbuckle. He’s like a squirrel discovering a hidden stash of acorns!

Commentator 1: Ha, yes! The “Acorn Aerial Assault!” And he connects with that flying crossbody! I don’t think anyone saw that coming, least of all Storm!

Commentator 2: The ref’s counting: “One... Two...”

Commentator 1: I don’t know about you, but I can’t look away. Like I’m watching a car crash in slow motion, but with a jobber on top!

Commentator 2: Storm kicks out! He’s alive and kicking—quite literally. I can almost hear his internal monologue: “I can’t believe I’m actually losing to this guy.”

Commentator 1: Thompson’s holding his own here, and Storm’s probably questioning his life choices right now. A true existential crisis, brought to you by our lovable underdog.

Commentator 2: And Thompson goes for that finishing move! He’s giving Storm the chance to practice his floor routine. If only Storm could stick the landing.

Commentator 1: The ref’s going for the count: “One... Two... Three!”

Commentator 2: Unbelievable! Thompson did it! He’s just defeated Alex Storm with a three-count!

Commentator 1: Well, there you have it, folks. A match that’s the equivalent of discovering a unicorn in your backyard. Jim Thompson, the unexpected unicorn of the wrestling world!

Commentator 2: I couldn’t have put it better myself. Thompson wins, Storm loses, and we’re all witnesses to an unfortunately fascinating moment in wrestling history.

*****

In the blink of an eye, the initial seed for what would eventually sprout into a new era was planted. It’s intriguing how an unassuming match, like any other, managed to hold the key to a monumental turning point within the vast tapestry of the wrestling world.

Within a reality where the cheers of the crowd were orchestrated and the victories in the ring were meticulously scripted, the dominant force of the Pro Wrestling Empire (PWE) remained unchallenged. Guiding this empire was Victor Reigns, a figure whose blend of charisma and craftiness allowed him to assert an iron-clad dominion over the wrestling landscape, orchestrating every move with precision and authority.

Yet, within this spectacle’s grandeur, disillusionment brewed. Wrestling’s authenticity had surrendered to profit and sensationalism. Forced cheers and lackluster storylines prevailed. Factions rose and fell like passing days. Titles changed hands casually, devoid of meaning. Wrestlers who once aspired to glory now stood as pawns, manipulated within Reigns’ game.

Amid this manufactured grandeur, a tempest brewed - one that threatened to shatter the illusion. At its core was Alex Storm, a wrestler weary of scripted victories and shallow narratives. Known as “The Rabble Rouser,” he aimed to rekindle wrestling’s essence.

*****

A collective roar erupts as the referee’s hand slaps the mat.

Referee: “One... Two... Three!”

With that final count, the match comes to a close.

As the arena fades into the background, Alex Storm’s face contorts with rage. “Unbelievable!”

Without hesitation, he delivers a powerful kick to the locker, the impact resonating through the room.

“Did you see that? I give my all out there, and they pull this garbage?”

The sound of his fist pounding against the locker punctuates his frustration.

“I’m sick of this rigged nonsense! I train, I fight, and for what? To be treated like a pawn in their stupid game?”

He delivers a forceful punch, his knuckles meeting the locker’s surface with a resounding thud.

Alex Storm shouting: “No more! I won’t let them control my fate any longer.”

Alex vents as his fellow wrestling peers watch from various corners of the locker room.

Wrestler 1 (calling out): “Hey, Storm, calm down! You’re gonna wreck the whole room!”

Wrestler 2 (stepping forward): “Take it easy, man. We all get screwed sometimes.”

Amid the commotion, the locker room door opens, and Marcus Knight, the current GM and now known as “The Legacy,” enters. He strides purposefully, his gaze locking onto Alex’s outburst.

The Legacy (firmly, but calmly): “Alex, let’s get a grip here.”

The other wrestlers collectively nod, their voices blending into a chorus of concern.

Wrestler 3 (trying to reason): “We’re all in this together, man. Losing it won’t change anything.”

Wrestler 4 (with empathy): “I get the frustration, Alex. We all do.”

Alex’s fists slowly unclench as the words of his peers sink in, mingling with Marcus’s calming presence.

The Legacy (softly): “Take a deep breath. Let’s talk.”

Alex hesitates, his emotions still raw, but at least he’s no longer alone in this.

Alex Storm (reluctantly): “Fine.”

The Legacy steps closer, his expression empathetic.

The Legacy: “We’re not just a bunch of wrestlers, Alex. We’re a team, and we’re with you on this.”

Alex Storm (laced with sarcasm): “Oh, ‘we,’ huh? Last time I checked, you’re the general manager! That means you work for the system! You were a great wrestler, now you’re just a suit!”

With a smirk of disgust, Alex chuckles bitterly before continuing.

Alex Storm (still sarcastically): “We? Don’t make me laugh.”

He spits at the ground, his frustration undeterred as he turns to make his way to the showers.

Filled with apprehension and unease, Jim Thompson cautiously enters the locker room. The room’s atmosphere immediately shifts to a hushed silence as Alex’s gaze locks onto Thompson. Trembling with fear, Thompson’s voice quivers as he tries to speak.

Jim Thompson (nervously): “Look, man, I...”

Before Thompson can finish his sentence, Alex delivers a harsh slap across his face. Thompson stumbles back, colliding with a locker and instinctively shielding his face. The locker room is enveloped in a heavy silence. Marcus Knight, known as The Legacy, addresses Alex.

The Legacy (sharply): “Alex! What the hell?”

Taking a deep breath, Alex turns to face Legacy before shifting his attention back to Jim Thompson. With a pained expression, Thompson flinches in response. Alex takes a step closer, extending his hand towards Thompson.

Alex, with his hand still extended, locks eyes with Thompson. Thompson hesitantly reaches out, and their hands meet in an uneasy handshake. Alex uses the gesture to help Thompson back to his feet.

Alex Storm (reassuringly): “It’s not your fault, kid. With that said, welcome to the PWE.”

Alex scans the room, addressing everyone present with his determined gaze.

Alex Storm (with resolve): “They want a spectacle? Fine. I’ll give them a spectacle they’ll never forget. The Rebellion starts now.”

He clenches his fists. His determination unwavering as he envisions a new path ahead, a path that promises to challenge the status quo and rewrite the rules of the wrestling world.

#wrestling #wrestling stories #action #drama

[handsomeamoeba]

Get Ready: It's the Dragon Age Companions & Advisors Showdown

Hello Dragon Age friends, fans, family, and assorted darkspawn. What you see here before you is a single-elimination bracket of 64 companions & advisors across all the games and DLC.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to watch this space (follow either this blog or the tag #da companion bracket) and cast your votes on the daily polls. Four matchups daily starting tomorrow, March 10th.

Get ready to vote for your favs, or just vote against the ones you hate!

Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Tell everyone because I can't afford to blaze this.

Links to individual matches under cut.

I had to clear out the old matches because the post was crashing the editor.

ROUND 4

Day 15: Dorian v Varric | Josephine v Fenris | Barkspawn v Aveline | Iron Bull v Isabela

SEMIFINALS

Day 16: Varric v Josephine | Barkspawn v Iron Bull

#dragon age #dao #da2 #dai #da companion bracket

[edelgoth]

hihiii! I was wondering if it was possible to get a matchup for FE:3H or DA:I (male characters pls!!)? i'm an ESFJ!! i'm shy around people i'm new to but, with my small group of friends i'm usually quite loud/laugh ALOT, crack a ton of jokes. i'm told i look intimidating at first because of my height but actually i'm just a big ol'teddy bear! i often look out for my friends and help them out if they're down- the mom friend! but add a magarita glass in my hand.

(2) i often underestimate my strength as well by a TON because whenever i playfully slap my friends on the back they tell me i have the strength of 10 men FJDSK my hobbies include drawing, occasionally rollerblading and exercising! :} sorry if this ask was long and thank u!!! have a lovely day !!!!

HI THIS IS AWFULLY LATE I’M SO SO SORRY 

oh your description made me laugh~ i dub thee margarita mum 

so for fire emblem three houses, i match you with…

raphael!!

mum friend and dad friend,,, match made in heaven,,, my PARENTS,,,

you may be tall but raphael’s probably taller, so you guys would have this incredible aesthetic of “accidentally intimidating but actually the biggest softies you’ll ever meet” going 

you’re shy around new people, but that’s not going to be a problem with raphael. he’s just so gregarious that i think you guys would hit it off very quickly!! 

everyone can always hear you guys because you’re constantly laughing together. everyone’s accustomed to the sound, and honestly? it’s kind of comforting to hear 

no seriously, you’re always cracking jokes,,, you have so many inside jokes that sometimes it feels like you’ve got your own language

cuddliest couple around,,, raphael honestly looks so nice to cuddle with, and you described yourself as a teddy bear, so,,, 

you’re both the sort to look out for people when they’re down, and you think you guys would be absolute angels. you adopt half the monastery and you’re always checking in with them, making sure they’re eating well and that they’re feeling okay please adopt me

i feel like raphael would probably be impressed by your strength, and would always be encouraging you to come and train with him; finding out you like to exercise would probably seal the deal for him 

even when you’re not training yourself, he likes it when you’re there; it helps motivate him to work harder, and he’ll constantly be grinning at you whenever he does anything impressive 

okay just bc of the “strength of ten men” line, i can imagine him always challenging you to arm wrestles. it becomes a tradition for you guys; whenever you finish a training session together, it’s TIME TO WRESTLE 

oh you bet he’s a big fan of all your hobbies. that drawing you’ve done? this is amazing! watching you rollerblade? that was incredible! (i hope you read that in his voice bc i certainly did)

i just love this pairing so much,,, i hope you love my boy because you two would be incredible together,,, 

alternative matchups

sylvain: i think the fact that you don’t seem to take life too seriously would be surprisingly charming to sylvain. while he plays off that he doesn’t care about anything, he does, and there are undertones that hint at him being very bitter about life. having you around would help lift his spirits a bit, i think? and you’re both the sorts to look out for your friends! i feel like you might miss it when he flirts with you a first? i don’t quite know why but that’s the vibe i get, and i think that has great comedic potential. 

lorenz: i feel like you’d be a very surprising pair; you’d be able to bring lorenz down a peg, and show him that there are things to enjoy about life outside of being noble. you seem very affable and i think that’d help break through lorenz’s pretenses, and whoops he’s fallen in love with you now,,, i just think you guys would have such a funny, endearing dynamic

idk how old you are and he’s married but i think you and alois would get along really well,,, my emotional support parents,,, 

dragon age matchup under the cut!

and for dragon age inquisition, i match you with… 

iron bull!!

OH BOY i love this concept,,, you’re also my new parents now 

again, bull is a big boy, so you’d have that same “we look super intimidating but we’re actually the coolest, most caring people you’ll ever run into” vibe going 

bull is less overtly caring than you, but i think you’d help to bring that side out of him. like, you guys’d be helping out more subtly? i don’t know if that makes sense, but i think you guys would always be helping out in “sneaky” ways

bull has a tougher exterior, and it’s one he’s honed and worked on for quite a while. but, he does genuinely care a lot about the people in his life, and i think he’d always be coming up with ways of letting you know he loves you (without having to say it) 

look,,, the man probably names his weapon after you. he says it’s a joke, and that it’s to tease you, but come on,,,

on that note,,, bull is going to tease the hell out of you. i hope you’re ready for that. he’s very clever and perceptive, so be on your toes! 

you both like to laugh, and that’s something else you’d bond over! you’d always have a joke for each other, and you can bet on the chargers getting involved. it becomes a competition. you must out-joke each other. krem has a tally. 

OH MY GOODNESS you become the second mum of the chargers (bull is their first, of course),,, they all love you,,, you’re always checking in with them and sharing a drink down at the tavern,,, they love you and bull together and they always let you know you’re welcome,,, 

i think bull’d also be impressed by your strength, and honestly? he’d always be challenging you to a friendly fight. like always. it usually ends up in a tie. he tries to mix up the weapon of choice to throw you off but it never works. unstoppable force meets immovable object. a match made in heaven. 

bull is less openly affectionate, but i think he’d get quite cuddly later in the night. he’s actually super clingy when he’s asleep (it’s one of the things you actually tease him for)

oh you are absolutely a power couple, on the battlefield and off. you’ve both got the strength of ten men, after all

you’d be such a great pair,,, my other parents,,, 

alternative matchups

varric: my reasons for matching you with varric would be very similar to those listed for bull. i just think you two would have a lot of fun together!! i think your dynamic would be quite similar as well, but varric is more likely to engage you in wordplay than swordplay. you’d be the funniest couple around, and everyone loves hanging out with you because you always have the best jokes and stories. also you’re both mum friends, so you’re constantly looking after Everyone. 

blackwall: i think you’d have a nice balance!! blackwall definitely enjoys some levity and banter, but i think he tends to hold back a bit. i think he’d be quite comfortable around you, and you’d get to see more of that light-hearted, playful blackwall! i like this concept Very Much 

#matchups #dragon age matchups #fire emblem matchups #iron bull matchup #raphael matchup #i'm sorry margarita mum #i've been so busy i hope you see this T-T

[icestarphoenix]

What are your Texas headcanons (I think he was my favorite of your team spirit drawings honestly)?

Well you're in luck, I've been adding general headcanons that pop up in my head into a doc, and I have a few Texas ones!

Texas Headcanons

Texas’s State Spirit is red and takes the form of an aura around him. Defined bull horns and ears are also present on his head as well as a wispy tail created by the aura. [#C82711]

I kept his eyes blue and gave him red rings instead as he’d be a big swatch of red otherwise and the blue contrast would let you quickly find his face.

In a more neutral emotional state, the aura only reaches from the top of his head to his hip, where his tail is formed.

When emotionally intense, Texas’ Spirit will envelop his whole body and can start showing more of a minotaur’s silhouette.

The vibe I wanted for his Spirit is big, strong, and intimidating.

I have his height as 6′ 5″. He is only beaten out by Alaska who stands at a monstrous 6′ 10″.

His eyes have light blue rings in them to make his gaze more intense. They can shrink or expand depending on how focused he is on something. Also “bullseye” imagery.

Texas has a bunch of big, golden, over the top, him-themed belt buckles that he likes to show off, rotating which ones he wears each day. He has one from Cavender’s, but most of them are custom made (mainly by Arkansas for a price).

He likes to open carry revolvers to protect himself and exercise his rights, but ironically he’d be able to do more damage more quickly with just his bare hands.

Texas is claustrophobic. (Credit to @demmetexas for this one) He doesn’t like to show weakness, but he fidgets around a lot on elevators and is the first one to get himself out of there. Texas always tries to play it off though.

Austin and Texas’ situation is actually considered abnormal by personification standards. A big city, especially a capital, almost always has their own body. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just rare. Texas is the only state like this, where he still shares his mind and body with his capital city.

He sees himself as the best and strongest fighter of the fifty states, however, the threat of California’s potential still lingers in the back of his mind. Texas often underestimates people because he usually isn’t physically challenged by anything.

New York had been able to beat him by using dirty tactics and taking advantage of their height difference. When Texas criticized New York for not fighting fair, the latter simply said that the matchup was never fair in the first place. York was just evening the odds in his perspective.

Unlike California, Texas has excellent control of his strength because he simply uses it more often. If they physically fought, it would be more even as a contest of raw power vs. technical skill.

Despite the fact that Texas sees himself as a self-sufficient lone wolf, he really can’t handle being completely alone. Austin may cause him a lot of annoyance as a headmate, but Texas will quickly crack without his company.

On the spectrum of how much a personification likes having other people around, Texas is on the far side of the spectrum of really needing people’s company.

He starts getting anxious when he hasn’t heard Austin’s voice in a while.

Texas talks to himself a lot in private, not even as a conversation with Austin. He likes hearing his own voice.

Texas can snort like a bull when he gets angry. He also tends to paw the ground with his boot before charging to fight someone.

#replies! #welcome to the table #welcome to the statehouse #ben brainard #wttt #wttsh #wttt texas #headcanons

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Magia Record 4 | Uchitama 3 - 5 | Eizouken 5 | Iruma-kun 17 - 18 | BnHA 76 - 79 | ID: Invaded 5 - 7

Magia Record 4

There’s a fish behind Iroha. Also, I was confused about the ketchup cake thing Jenn mentiond in one of her posts until I saw it here.(On a related note, ketchup cake seems to really exist…but only in Canada.)

Ah! Tsuruno. I’ve heard of her from reading around about this mobage.

The coding of the episode went funny again…

I feel like despite this being everything Madoka was, this seems to have lost some of the charm somehow. I’ve been reading that others are having similar experiences, though. Update: I think I know why now…although there are magical girl events fuelling the entire thing, the show is currently more bent on being a CGDCT. That’s why I’m not so happy with it…I dunno about others, though.

I suspected Séance Shrine was Mizuna Shrine…I mean, it was right behind Iroha and co.

Who was that blonde girl…?

I thought I just saw face-stealing aliens swoop in (i.e. someone didn’t bother drawing in the girls’ faces). I thought that was just a Bones thing exclusive to BSD.

“Olibe oil” (sic). Also, there are creepy blue (green?) figures walking the aisles…

I notice Iroha needed an extra bounce to get over the gate.

What’s that orange marking on the girls’ faces…? Update: Reading the wiki reveals it’s the Witch’s Kiss, or something similar to it.

Uchitama 3

Well, it says “chome” but gets translated to “street”…which is a bit weird. A chome is a city district, which functions much like a street but isn’t the same.

I just realised the title card has a dog’s face on it. Maybe next time it’ll be a cat’s face…

Oh my gosh, it’s a Yu-Gi-Oh duel! Teenager-ness…(?) What is that (LOL)?! *squints at screen* Oh, chuunibyou. That makes sense.

They even materialised the (Gon’s) chair! (LOL)

At least this matchup isn’t Bull vs. Momo…thank goodness(!)

I seriously love how much skin they make Bull show…(LOL…?)

Well, if the race to the top is exciting then the race to the bottom should be humiliating, no? That’s how these things work.

LOL, just seeing a badass dude that’s meant to represent a wolf howling like one is hilarious. (But seriously, are any of these neighbourhood dogs a Bad Enough Dude, to paraphrase an old game meme?)

Don’t Naruto run, Pochi! It’s dangerous!

Ahhhhhhh, so that’s why people call Pochi “Shiro” and feed him tofu…

The video got encoded funny again…

Uchitama 4

This is like Wakasa all over again…

The “My Name is Gon” title is a reference to “I Am a Cat” (Wahagai wa Neko de Aru). It actually doesn’t have the word for “name” in there, which is a bit weird…Update: It’s about the day-to-day introspection and life of a cat and the wagahai suggests the cat thinks rather highly of himself, so I’d assume the former (applied to a dog of course), if not both of those things to be part of this.

The fact that Gon doesn’t move his mouth while telling us weird things (such as how Bull’s sweater reminds him of an old lady in Osaka) is hilarious. It’s almost like a play with Gon as narrator.

See? That titlecard has a different dog’s face now! (I believe it’s Kuro’s, actually.)

This series is actually really informative about cats and dogs!

The Detective Conan parody cat is pretty interesting in regards to how the series wants to play with the human/animal dichotomy.

Now the titlecard has a cat’s face.

This song is so energetic! The banners are pretty funny too – I mean, “trying to get a ripped body” is impossible for a dog, right?

Yyyyyyyyup, Ume is singing this song (Sanchome no Hoshi* or The Star of 3rd District*)! I’m being spoilt!

Eizouken 5

Iron Giant…I thought the name sounded familiar. Turns out it’s a Brad Bird-directed movie.

This episode is very Scott...LOL.

I like how they showed the back of the guy to correspond with the back of the robot.

Iruma 17

Gap = sukima, as you might know from a post I made re: Mairimashita! Iruma-kun puns.

“Yes, boss!” in English.

Why do people being questioned  at a koban always have katsudhum? (Hataraku Maousama reference)

Ooh, this long-haired demon from the Game or New Magic battler is hot!!!

That's the 1st time Acchan and Bakemi appear...

I'd assume the ga in Gabuko means gakkou (school).

Now it's ki su ma...(instead of sukima)

Iruma 18

Aw, Kiriwo's so cute...

...and he's now a sadist. (Good job, me...I don't like sadists much.)

The cyclops girl's name is Dosanko, huh?

Hanabi are "fire flowers" (translating somewhat literally), which is why they "bloom" in the translation.

Update: Oh, I accidentally skipped ep. 17. I was wondering how Sabro got to hold up Comecome's stall…

BnHA 76

I’m not sure how the subbers got “Go entropy! Plus Chaos!”, although it might have something to do with Saikou da! (which I made out from listening to the audio).

Okay, now you can hear them say “Plus Chaos”.

Note Overhaul’s eyecatch background is purple, which contrasts Deku’s green. By the way, the eyecatch says that Overhaul belongs to the Shie Hassaikai and not the League…the guy’s always been picky about not being associated with the League.

The one time I turn the volume off, I don’t need it (LOL).

Dame da is closer to “It’s useless” or “You’re useless” than “Naughty girl”, subbers.

The coronavirus has taught me that masks make people seem less human, especially those with weird mouths like Overhaul’s plague doctor/bird one.

BnHA 77

In one of the Discord servers where Mudamaid appears, I decided to take Chronostasis. Why? He isn’t that bad-looking when he hasn’t got his mask on, to be real with you.

Froppy uses “senpai”, not Tamaki’s hero name.

I believe Tamaki calls Tsuyu “Kero-chan”, hence “Miss Ribbit”.

I wanna cry…I know Nighteye won’t see All Might again until All Might himself dies…(and this is because I’ve read the manga – thanks Viz and Shonen Jump for doing that!)

Shigaraki makes me beg the question…where do those hands of his come from??? Update: Ewwwwwwwww, those hands come from individuals affected by Tomura’s Quirk! (I think that’s a spoiler though…)

I almost got to the point of crying. I mean, I knew it would happen, but seeing it animated…makes it worse, y’know??? (Also, I accidentally might’ve stuck my finger in my eye when I was trying to wipe away tears, so either way, I teared up.)

BnHA 78

Huh? This OP is awfully cheerful after Nighteye’s death…I think it’s called Star Maker? Update: Star Marker by Kana Boon.

Well, you do realise I don’t know about anything after this point…all over again. So your surprise will be mine too.

LOL , it’s a Titan! (Apparently – according to the wiki pages I read – Gigantomachia is based on the Titans of lore, so…that’s true in more than one sense when you take into account Attack on Titan.)

The birbs are so cute!

That was just a few solid minutes of recap. Not as bad as Detective Conan where they frontend it, but still bad.

Hmm? I thought I saw black hair on Kurogiri…?

“He’s a walking disaster.” – That’s what I’d say about Bakugou, LOL.

Shouto “Daddy Issues” Todoroki taking the stage again…not that I mind, but…isn’t this Midoriya’s story?

I think I saw a Funko Pop All Might in the ED…?

You can see someone with a red wing Quirk. Based on what I’ve read around, that guy is Hawks.

Deku’s shirt at the end says “sheets”, not “shirt” (it’s missing a small ya).

BnHA 79

“…and I like udon better!” - *facepalm* That’s not how you make friends, Yoarashi.

Gang Orca’s like the Gordon Ramsay of heroes…with much less swearing.

*laughs behind hands as kids spill out the door* Welp, this is going to be real good.

This blonde kid is basically Monoma ver. 2!!! I hate him already!!!

Oh…that’s surprisingly strategic, Bakugou…*shows image of kid being dangled by a rope* Uh…or maybe not.

Who’s this guy with the bolo tie, anyway…?

Uchitama 5

I seriously thought this cat was Nora…(Sakura)

Does “big sister” refer to Lilly or another cat…?

Oh, I was wondering why Sakura didn’t have a cat tail…turns out she’s a pig. (Huh. It reminds me of a kinder version of the Africa Salaryman mixer joke.)

I like how open the series is in regards to interspecies love. Then again,…bestiality is an absolute no-no in my books, so maybe not.

Is it just me, or is there a slight bruise around Nora’s left eye…?

It’s like a Boueibu reunion! Shirai and Ume at the baths! Yay~!

There’s something absolutely silly about seeing anime boys hide in cupboards like cats. It puts a stupid smile on my face, like Eizouken does.

“I told you to get in the bath already!” – Gaddammit, Koma!

How do Gon’s glasses not fog up in the bath? (MST3K mantra required)

Oh, Nora does have a bruise around his eye! What’s it from, though?

Way to upsell Koma’s services, Kuro. (partially sarcastic…?)

“Can I say we’re having a doggone good time?” – Remind me to check what that sounds like in Japanese later. Update: Kuro says something that sounds lik izoizo in the line beforehand and then matches it in this line. In order to match the puns, there’s a pun in the English translation too.

ID: Invaded 5

Matsuoka’s glasses thing reminds me of Kanamori (Eizouken)…

“hole experience” – Is that a pun…?

Never ask a woman her age.

Hmm…”maidenly innocence”…

Why do some people believe “never mind” is one word???

I just noticed there’s a differently coloured bar on the title card…maybe that’s how far into the episode you should be. Also, is this well a pun on “falling for you”?

I noticed the blood had a weird texture to it. Also, I noticed the woman had heterochromia bfore it was pointed out she’s not real.

I have a theory. See, John(nie) Walker is an alcohol (sake) brand, right? This is Sakaido (as opposed to Anaido, who’s the Perforator and ana = hole). It’s the same character, so (I suspect) Sakaido’s crime has to do with alcohol…

Hmm…this ain’t gonna pass the Bechdel test after all…

Oh! Post-credits segment! Keep watching.

ID: Invaded 6

“Matsuoka was injured” – Er, he still has the knife in him…?

Ohhhhhh…this has gotta be Hondomachi!

I predict Hondomachi and Sakaido are going to go head-to-head someday. Update: Or those two vs. Johnnie Walker.

There was a cut-off footprint…

Isn’t it possible for a person to kill someone without knowing their name?

*cries* Sakaido! I’ve never seen you so emotional before…!

ID: Invaded 7

So Narihisago did look like Sakaido at one point…when his daughter was murdered.

The thing that reads cognition particles has “Back ground. Rad. Lev.” on the bottom of its screen.

I don’t have the sound on right now, so I dunno what Matsuoka was reacting to specifically…(aside from the guy owning up to whatever was done.)

Interestingly, Katsuyama has the character for “win” in his name. However, this is the only link I’ve found between the serial killers and their names.

There’s a character which appears in both the word for “martial arts” and one of the (dead) professional fighters – Takehiko Fujita. It means stuff like “war” and “military power”.

Oh! There’s a bar on the titlecard and this one is up to 900 of 1200…I wonder what that means? Is that an indication of time, perhaps? Also in the bottom left, “CAM 025”.

Miyo Hijiriido?! Oh my gosh! This is new, indeed!

Okay, so the characters for Miyo look like this: 聖井戸 御代 The first character in “Miyo” is the same one that denotes “go” in goryoushin (formal way to denote “parents”) and similar words in keigo. The characters which aren’t “well” (water well) are the character for “saint/holy” and “age” (as in the period of time, alternatively “generation”), aside from the one I’ve already discussed. Therefore, I’d suggest Miyo is actually “the great detective [who ushers in a new] age” or “the great detective [of the current] age”. Update: Apparently Miyo means “age of a ruler”, as in the period of their reign (specifically referring to the emperor if it needs to be). I’ve heard there’s specific words in the Japanese language used only to refer to the imperial family…this is probably one of them. That specific name combo (as “odai”) is also a very polite way to refer to spare change, although that doesn’t seem very useful to know.

What’s that thing on Tamotsu’s wrist…? (A watch? Wouldn’t that be illegal in a prison like this?)

Interestingly, all other killers wear white. Narihisago is the only one in black (or brown…or whatever colour that is).

What would Miyo need a key for? The key to the mystery, or a physical key?

I don’t think you can see Narihisago’s face in any of the pics he has of Muku or his wife.

Ooh…Sakaido’s pretty ripped. (Me likey…not that I would like a killer…)

Why is Sakaido…or I should say Narihisago…dead in his own imagination, huh?

Hmm…Miyo wears a black singlet or sleeveless top of some sort under that cape...poncho…Holmes cosplay thing. She still has a gun in her detective form, too.

Notably, no detective wears a skirt in this world…*sigh* So much for Nancy Drew and Miss Marple…

Muku has smiley faces on her hair decs.

Does that mean you’ve met the real Muku…? (I think this is Momoki speaking about Muku.) Update: It might be Habutae, actually. I never really got a grasp on the names of the peanut gallery.

Hondomachi’s never seen the cockpit in real life, right?

Well-ception! (It’s a bit of a joke that when there’s something in something, I call it [X]ception as a homage to Inception.)

Table flip! That meme hasn’t been around for a while, come to think of it…

I find it interesting that they point to the circles of the roof when talking about pi. As you know, the circle and pi are related.

Hmm? I don’t remember seing the quote “Let us try to make this world a better place” in this episode…

#simulcast commentary #uchi tama?! uchi no tama shirimasen ka? #uchitama?! have you seen my tama? #keep your hands off eizouken! #Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu Na! #Boku no Hero Academia #My Hero Academia #ID: Invaded #mairimashita! iruma kun #Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun #Magia Record #Chesarka watches ID: Invaded #Chesarka watches MI-k #Chesarka watches BnHA #Chesarka watches Uchitama #Chesarka watches Magia Record #Chesarka watches Eizouken

[honeymoonwriting]

hi!! i'm the da anon. i'm so dumb ahaha i forgot to mention that i'm a bi girl!! sorry about that

Don't worry, honey! From Origins I ship you with...

💜: Morrigan

The saying of opposites attract is very true in this case. She is drawn in by your compassion and kindness that you have for others, might even be a little jealous. She enjoys having long, educated talks with you and will ask your opinions on various topics, and she'll ask about your writing as well. Morrigan does have a weak and soft spot for certain people and over time you become someone she truly treasures.

❤: The Ironbull

He is always watching you. In an observing kind of way and makes mental notes of how well you listen to people. He can see that you are a bright and loving person so after this conclusion he decides to talk to you. If you're in a bad mood, he will try to distract you by asking a question about history or will pepper you in affectionate words. The Iron Bull is a protector and lover by nature and will worship you for as long as he lives.

|| Sorry, this is late btw! I hope you enjoyed this.

|| Matchups are closed!

#anon #answered

[thecollegefootballguy]

2019 Top Games of the Week: Week 4

Oh baby now we’re talking. Conference play is here to save us. The non-con part of the year was alright, but the meat of the schedule is upon us! We have multiple ranked matchups and a top ten game to top it all off. Rejoice! College football is in full swing!

The Top Ten Games of the Week

10. #16 Oregon 2-1 (0-0) at Stanford 1-2 (0-1) (Saturday 9/21)

I’m not very sure about this one. This one could be just a beatdown if Stanford is as bad as they’ve looked in the past two weeks. But there’s probably a bit more upset potential than some of the other games I was considering for the last slot. I’m not sold on Oregon just yet. The Ducks could start off PAC-12 play with a feel good win here, and absolutely bury the reeling Cardinal, virtually guaranteeing the North mainstay their first losing season in a decade.

9. SMU 3-0 (0-0) at #25 TCU 2-0 (0-0) (Saturday 9/21)

The Iron Skillet game has a lot more riding on it than usual. SMU hasn’t looked this good in years, so the Mustangs are hoping to knock off their old Southwest rivals for the first time since their upset in 2011. TCU is looking to take advantage of a wide open race for the #2 spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. Obviously a win here would bode well for the Horned Frogs’ chances.

8. #23 California 3-0 (1-0) at Ole Miss 2-1 (1-0) (Saturday 9/21)

The very rare PAC-SEC game gets the nod into the top 10 games of the week. Nobody quite knows how good Cal is. The Bears’ shocking upset of conference favorite Washington has thrown the conference into chaos. A win here would further propel Cal’s case as a rising star in the conference. Ole Miss has proven it is still fighting for bowl eligibility with their win over Arkansas. The Rebels need a victory here to keep the path open.

7. #15 UCF 3-0 (0-0) at Pittsburgh 1-2 (0-1) (Saturday 9/21)

UCF only has a few hurdles to clear to have another undefeated regular season. If they were any other team, I wouldn’t consider this a big deal, even though it’s a P5 opponent on the road. But this is Pitt, who always seem to ruin somebody’s season. They didn’t do it to Penn State, so the Knights might be facing a bigger fight than they expected.

6. #22 Washington 2-1 (0-1) at BYU 2-1 (Saturday 9/21)

Well this has suddenly become a pretty interesting game. Washington looks all kinds of mortal and is going into a hornet’s nest in Provo. BYU has taken two P5 scalps in two weeks, with wins over both Tennessee and USC. Now, the Cougars have the opportunity to take out a second ranked PAC-12 opponent in a row and make a huge statement. What would it mean for them as a non-P5 independent? I couldn’t tell you.

5. Oklahoma State 3-0 (0-0) at #12 Texas 2-1 (0-0) (Saturday 9/21)

Uh oh. It’s Oklahoma State, the infernal albatross slung over Texas’ neck. The Cowboys have won four in a row and seven of nine against the Longhorns. If UT wants to prove that they’re a serious contender for the Big 12 race, they really should win this game. The Horns got to the Big 12 Championship despite losing last year, but that’s not any kind of guarantee this time around.

4. #10 Utah 3-0 (0-0) at USC 2-1 (1-0) (Friday 9/20)

Yeah, I know Arizona State just got ranked, but likely as not this game will probably decide the PAC-12 South. The Utes should be favored here, but USC has the talent to compete if they can pull everything together.

3. #8 Auburn 3-0 (0-0) at #17 Texas A&M 2-1 (0-0) (Saturday 9/21)

Now here we go with the ranked matches. Auburn is all the way in the top ten thanks to their win over Oregon. I’m not sure I trust the Tigers to actually be that good, and this game will go a long way to showing us just how good Auburn is (and A&M for that matter). The Aggies weren’t embarrassed by Clemson, so I would assume they’re the favorites here, especially with the game at home. The SEC West race begins here.

2. #11 Michigan 2-0 (0-0) at #13 Wisconsin 2-0 (0-0) (Saturday 9/21)

The Big Ten is treating us to a juicy cross-division matchup real early on. Michigan and Wisconsin are both tailing Ohio State as contenders for the conference championship. The Wolverines have looked pretty stale so far in their two games, but the Badgers have easily handled their opponents. I expect this one to be a full out slug fest.

1. #7 Notre Dame 2-0 at #3 Georgia 3-0 (1-0) (Saturday 9/21)

Well, we’re still in September, so another non-conference game takes the #1 spot. Notre Dame travels to Athens to face a formidable Georgia team that is itching to get back to the College Football Playoff. The Irish want to avenge their poor showing in the final four from last season. This one is definitely the game to watch as two bona-fides square off.

-

5 Group of 5 Games of the Week

5. Temple 2-0 (0-0) at Buffalo 1-2 (0-0) (Saturday 9/21)

Ok Temple, you just beat ranked Maryland, now what’s gonna happen? It would be really cool to see the Owls throw their hat into the ring for the AAC East race and a win here will help keep the momentum going. Buffalo looks a bit depleted after winning the MAC East last year, but the Bull are gonna put up a fight.

4. Utah State 1-1 (0-0) at San Diego State 3-0 (0-0) (Saturday 9/21)

With the Mountain West looking like the toughest of the G5 conferences, the middle of the pack is going to be a bloodbath. Utah State had a very strong season in 2018 and the Aggies saw a bit of the wind taken out of their sales after barely losing to a surprisingly good Wake Forest. San Diego State has raced out to a 3-0 start which included a win over UCLA in the Rose Bowl. The Aztecs once again are sporting one of the best scoring defenses in the country. It’s better than watching your average ACC game I’ll tell you that.

3. Appalachian State 2-0 (0-0) at North Carolina 2-1 (1-0) (Saturday 9/21)

Two of the three best teams in the state of North Carolina will do battle on Saturday. Appalachian State has survived losing Scott Satterfield through two games, and again look like the Sun Belt’s best team by a mile. The Tar Heels have started strong, but a win over the upstarts out West will help further establish UNC as a team on the rise.

2. Houston 1-2 (0-0) at Tulane 2-1 (0-0) (Thursday 9/19)

Houston aren’t the world-beaters they want to be right now, and Tulane has the makings of a real dark horse challenger. The AAC West may end up being a couple teams chasing after Memphis, but for now things are wide open.

1. Air Force 2-0 (0-0) at #20 Boise State 3-0 (0-0) (Friday 9/20)

Boise State faces their first conference challenge in Air Force. The Falcons just knocked off Colorado in Boulder, so this game could be a real deciding factor for the Mountain Division.

-

FCS Games of the Week

3. #14 Central Arkansas 3-0 (1-0) at Hawaii 2-1 (0-0)

We’ve still got some FBS-FCS upset alert games.

2. #5 Towson 3-0 (1-0) at #18 Villanova 3-0 (0-0)

An important CAA conference game? It must just be another average week in the FCS. Towson suprised everybody last week with a commanding win at Maine. The Tigers now have to get a second straight road win over a ranked opponent.

1. #4 UC Davis 2-1 (0-0) at #1 North Dakota State 3-0 (0-0)

The FCS always gives us top notch non-conference scheduling, and this will probably be the best non-con game of them all. Until the Playoff of course. Davis and NDSU were Quarterfinalists last season and will once against jockey for position here.

#college football #Oregon Ducks #Stanford Cardinal #SMU Mustangs #TCU Horned Frogs #California Golden Bears #Ole Miss Rebels #UCF Knights #Pittsburgh Panthers #Washington Huskies #BYU Cougars #Oklahoma State Cowboys #Texas Longhorns #Utah Utes #USC Trojans #Auburn Tigers #Texas A&M Aggies #Michigan Wolverines #Wisconsin Badgers #Notre Dame Fighting Irish #Georgia Bulldogs #Temple Owls #Buffalo Bulls #Utah State Aggies #San Diego State Aztecs #Appalachian State Mountaineers #North Carolina Tar Heels #Houston Cougars #Tulane Green Wave #Air Force Falcons

[junker-town]

The Bucks might have the best bench in the NBA, too

The Bucks are pretty great even without Giannis on the floor.

Why the Bucks can rest Giannis Antetokounmpo so much and still dominate.

The driving force behind the best team in the NBA is Giannis Antetokounmpo, a landslide favorite to win his second straight MVP award who’s dominating at an unprecedented velocity that defies comprehension.

The Milwaukee Bucks have spent at least the past 18 months accumulating pieces specifically designed to support him, within a system that was conceived to channel Antetokounmpo’s relentless aggression in some of the most effective ways basketball has ever seen.

But the ongoing subplot that distinguishes Milwaukee from every other contender takes place when Giannis and fellow All-Star Khris Middleton are not in the game. There’s an ironic duality at play: the Bucks are perceived as top heavy, but they also have the best bench in the league, with a net rating that’s more than double what it was last season.

Mike Budenholzer strategically deploys lineups that don’t feature Antetokounmpo or Middleton early and often; they’re outscoring opponents by 3.4 points per 100 possessions—a margin on par with the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. Somehow, their effective field goal percentage goes up, with an offensive and defensive rating that hovers near the top 10. It’s almost like if Quentin Tarentino cut 45 minutes of Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio’s screen time from Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood and still got 10 Oscar nominations.

What’s happening is far from common, especially during a season defined by excellent dynamic duos that most coaches are forced to stagger. The Los Angeles Lakers are the only other contender holding their head above water when their two best players aren’t on the court, but the difference between the two teams is that L.A. doesn’t go out of its way to sit Anthony Davis and LeBron James at the same time, and has spent half as many non-garbage time possessions without both on the floor. Their success is a small-sample size byproduct of minutes that include games when one of Davis or LeBron did not play at all, with some three-point luck sprinkled on top.

Elsewhere:

—The Los Angeles Clippers are, despite having two Sixth Man of the Year candidates, exactly average when Paul George and Kawhi Leonard aren’t in the game.

—The Houston Rockets are bad when Russell Westbrook and James Harden sit.

—The Utah Jazz are anemic without Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

—The Philadelphia 76ers fall apart without Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

—The Denver Nuggets can’t score or defend without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

The surprising component here is, being that every role player was installed to revolve around Giannis, one might expect them to float out of orbit when he and Middleton rest. Those two demand double teams and the type of attention garnered by a select few around the league. Instead, the Bucks finesse their way through possessions with the same “protect the basket and don’t foul” defensive identity that then kickstarts an unselfish offensive ecosystem. Opposing teams that are relieved to see Giannis and Middleton on the bench are dead before they knew what hit them.

“Our lineup is so crazy,” Bucks wing Sterling Brown told SB Nation. “I feel like we’ve got the deepest roster in the league.”

Most of the characters are recognizable. Kyle Korver, Robin Lopez, George Hill, and Ersan Ilyasova are well established veterans who know what they’re doing and couldn’t care less about individual accolades. But there’s an additional spunky boost provided by Donte DiVincenzo, Brown, and Pat Connaughton that adds a necessary energy to both sides of the ball. At the very end of the bench sit D.J. Wilson and Dragan Bender, two young, skilled, and versatile bigs who slide into Milwaukee’s scheme when injuries call upon them to do so.

It’s funny: These players were targeted by Milwaukee’s braintrust because they complement Giannis (and, to a lesser degree, Middleton). They all do, but have arguably been even more prolific without him. It’s almost a happy accident. When Giannis is on the bench, Brown, DiVincenzo, Korver, Robin Lopez, and Ilyasova all see their True Shooting percentage spike. Hill’s falls from 69.9 with Giannis to a still-impossibly-awesome 66.5 without him.

(Sidebar: Hill is averaging more points per shot attempt than every other guard who’s played at least 300 minutes this season, and a literal coin flip can determine whether his one pull-up three per game will go in. He’s a fireball who deserves Sixth Man of the Year consideration and may even be Milwaukee’s third-best player in this year’s playoffs. Incredible season so far by him.)

It’s a San Antonio Spurs-ian philosophy that’s built on trust. Budenholzer believes in everyone on his roster, and puts his money where his mouth is by letting them all play together as a standard part of his rotation. According to PBPStats.com, the Bucks are fifth in the percentage of their possessions with zero starters on the floor, despite the fact that they obliterate the other team when all five or even four starters are in the game.

“I thought when we were in Atlanta that was one of Bud’s big strengths,” Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, who spent three years on Budenholzer’s staff, said. “He had no qualms, whether a guy was resting or guys were out, that those other guys, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, A) they were ready to play, B) he trusted them and gave them opportunities. You see what he does with Giannis and those first guys. If they’re up 15, most coaches will say ‘Man I gotta keep my best players in.’ I think Bud says ‘No, I trust those guys. I trust the whole roster.’”

There are many benefits that spring from not having to keep at least one All-Star on the court at all times. Avoiding overexertion is a big one. Giannis is averaging a team-high 30.6 minutes per game while Middleton is at 28.4.

“Obviously it lets their main guys take care of their bodies more, and thinking about the long term and what’s down the line, so I’m obviously in agreement with that philosophy,” Atkinson said. “It’s not always possible depending on the roster you have, but it’s really an intelligent way to approach utilizing your roster and he does it better than anyone.”

Another perk is how it lets the Bucks bumrush opposing bench units with more talent than they’re meant to handle. Lately, a good example of that occurs near the start of the second quarter, when each team typically mixes an equal balance of starters and reserves. (Eg. Sometimes a star will be on the court with four bench players.)

But Milwaukee has instead rolled out its starting five—with Korver instead of Wes Matthews—and let them feast on second units. It’s unfair, and partially explains why the Bucks are the best second-quarter team in the league.

Not all of the lineups that don’t have Middleton or Giannis are void the other three starters, but most are. And in them, everyone can shoot. All are capable defenders. They work together with constant body and ball movement that coalesces with a splash of clever interplay that never stops leveraging the gravity that was originally acquired to make Giannis’ life easier.

It’s a lean, polychromatic attack that hits from all sides. Plug a hole and water starts gushing even harder from somewhere else on the wall.

“I think within the motion and the different things we do offensively, they’re kind of developing a bit of a deeper understanding, awareness of each other, and little nuances that they either do on their own or, hopefully, we’re helping them a little bit,” Budenholzer said. “They’ve been good.”

Korver, in particular, must be accounted for at all times; as he flutters across the floor, his movement is tracked on every single possession, to the benefit of all four teammates. Watch how Jordan Clarkson takes himself out of this play defending a simple pick-and-roll between Hill and Lopez because he’s mirroring Korver. Then, once Lopez goes into his spin move, Collin Sexton suddenly remembers about Connaughton in the corner. Offense is spacing and spacing is offense.

They love running Korver off stagger screens, where he’ll start in the corner then race to the top of the arc for a catch-and-shoot dagger.

Even when it’s not the tightest offensive execution, Korver’s gravity causes defenses to freak out. And help defenders know their own man is a spot-up threat just standing still on the perimeter, so nobody knows when it’s OK to rotate off.

The first objective in most possessions is to work the ball side to side and force the defense to flatten itself out.

The most frustrating part about defending this is how the Bucks audible in a split-second to a different variation. It’s a game of cat-and-mouse the defense rarely wins:

As a whole, they constantly move with a precise volatility that can’t really be game-planned to stop. Here, right before Ilyasova split cuts for a layup, Kemba Walker thinks he needs to switch onto Connaughton, while Rob Williams is (perhaps a bit too) worried about Lopez on the opposite wing.

Look how confused everyone on the Chicago Bulls is before Connaughton puts back Korver’s miss. It’s as if nobody else was in the gym:

They. Never. Stop. Moving.

On defense, Milwaukee’s bench executes the same principles followed by the starters. They protect the paint by dramatically sagging off non-shooters who insist on standing behind the three-point line. How they guard the pick-and-roll is technically matchup dependent, but against a vast majority of tandems they’ll drop the big and fight over the screen. That thought process also applies to dribble hand-offs.

Here’s Zach LaVine curling into one, mistakenly thinking Dragan Bender will be occupied by Cristiano Felicio’s roll. He drives into a crowd instead of kicking it out to Kris Dunn, who’s shooting 27.8 percent from the right wing this season, and is purposefully left all alone.

The Bucks are still way better when Giannis and/or Middleton are on the floor, but it’s frankly bizarre how often these all-bench units cut deficits and extend leads as consistently as they have. Stuff like this isn’t supposed to happen, and their unexpected success is a humongous boon for a team that ostensibly doesn’t even need it.

Everybody wants to be the Spurs. Once upon a time, Budenholzer’s Hawks were the closest thing, even getting dubbed “Spurs East” back when they rolled through their conference in the middle of the decade. But the way these Bucks look and play and sacrifice and support their best player is the most kindred reproduction seen since Tim Duncan retired. It’s a tried and true formula Budenholzer witnessed first hand.

As undeniably critical as Giannis and Middleton are to the Bucks winning their first championship in 50 years, getting across-the-board buy in from everybody on the roster is what’s turned them into a prohibitive favorite. The best team might not only have the NBA’s best player, but also its best bench. That’s petrifying.

[honeyhellsbells]

Hey hun! Could i get a match up for dragon age inquisition?

Me, myself, and i:

Im 4'11, im a Taurus and yes we all absolutely love food, my self included. Im quick witted and love a good debate on things. Im altruistic and pay no mind to wanting things in return when helping someone. Im very helpful and open minded and i do tend to ask alot of questions and am very curious. My friends descibe me as scary because my tone comes off as agressive and my rbf does not help my case. Im chill and hardly get angry yet it is easy to annoy me and get a reaction. I also tend to match the energy if those around me and im very emotionally distant. Im also pretty flamboyant and love to have a good kaugh with friends woth food and drinks. I also live for the simple things in life like morning coffee and/or getting lost in your favorite song. Even the random noises people maoing when trying to make a decision. I as well have adhd, ptsd, severe depression and anxiety.

Appearance:

Im 4'11. I have shoulder length brown hair and hazel eyes. I typically wear bussiness attire but recently ive taken to crop tops and high wasted jeans. And as well as graphic tees. I alsp have an hour glass figure.

Thanks love so so much and i hope you have a fantastic day:) :) :)

I think a good Match Up for you would be...

The Iron Bull!

He often likes others to think of him as a simple man, thinking of nothing but women, fighting and where he can fill his tankard next.

But the reality is much different. He always sees more than others, hears whispered secrets and notices the cracks in the masks of the people around him.

So your general demeanor, which might be intimidating to others, intrigues him a lot. Your tone matches your face, abrasive and maybe a little dismissive, but your actions show the literal opposite.

Helping those who are in need, never expecting to be re-payed when you do, catching even the witty dwarf Varric off guard with the lighthearted jabs you throw at him and spending hours pestering Solas with questions that no one else would have the patience to listen to, the more he learns of you, the more of an enigma you seem.

And when he first talks to you in the tavern over a tankard of your favorite beverage, he is even more surprised once he experiences you up close. Nothing about you seems to make sense to him, every facet of your personality seeming to contrast each other and he soon is hooked on trying to decipher you.

He can spend hours answering and asking questions about you and your life, watching in amusement as you sweetly help another member of the Inquisition with a problem only to sass someone who hit the wrong nerve.

But his most favorite moments had to be the simple ones, just sitting together, listening to the din of the tavern in the evening while sharing a drink, or watching the sun rise as you sat by the ramparts, bundled in blankets with steaming coffee cups in your hands.

The Iron Bull knew many than most, but in the end, you might just be his favorite riddle, and if he never ended up figuring it out completely, he was quite alright with that.

I hope you like your Match Up!

#matchup #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dai #the iron bull #iron bull #iron bull dai

[egyptbra6-blog]

Keys to the Game: Bulls vs Nuggets (10.31.18)

The Chicago Bulls and Denver Nuggets tip-off against one another this evening for the first time this season. The two will meet again in the Mile High City after the start of the New Year on January 17th.

The Nuggets come to town sitting atop of the Northwest Division sporting a 5-1 record. They took down the New Orleans Pelicans in Denver on Monday, 116-111. Former Michigan State All-American Gary Harris led the way with 23 points on eight-of-16 shooting. Harris' backcourt mate, Jamal Murray, also put 23 points on the board against the Pels, while veteran forward Paul Millsap chipped in 18 to go along with eight rebounds. Starting center Nikola Jokic also got into the fun with 12 points and 10 assists to post his fifth double-double in six games this season.

The Bulls, on the other hand, return to the United Center hoping to scrub some of the stink off a horrendous 149-124 thrashing at the hands of the two-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Chicago fell behind early and never made it a contest, trailing 44-28 at the end of the opening stanza and then 92-50 at halftime. Dubs sniper Klay Thompson broke teammate Steph Curry's NBA record of 13 3-pointers in a single game with 14 splashes of his own, finishing with 52 points in just 27 minutes of play. Thompson hadn't scored more than 19 at any time coming into the contest and had connected on just five-of-36 from behind the arc. The only semi-bright spots for Chicago on the night was the continued torching of the twine by guard Zach LaVine and the impressive outside touch of backup Antonio Blakeney, each of whom posted 21 points, as well as rookie center Wendell Carter Jr.'s 18 points and seven rebounds.

After finishing near the bottom of the league in defense last year, Denver looks to have turned the page through the first six games this season as they enter tonight ranked near the top in several categories: They are third in in the NBA in steals (10.3), third in overall defensive rating (101.4), fifth in average points allowed (105.2), sixth in overall rebounding (42) and eighth in opponent 3-point shooting (.333). And much like the Bulls, their roster is stocked with young players as the average age of the team is 24.6 compared to Chicago's average of 24.5.

One of a number of important keys to beating the Nuggets this evening will be Chicago's ability to wrestle control of the paint, as Denver does most of their (offensive) damage down low, averaging of 59 points per game inside the key, good for third in the league. The good news for the Bulls, at least so far this season, has been the team's ability to keep opponents in check under the iron, as they are fourth best in that category, allowing foes just 42.6 points per night under the hoop.

Denver's offense was rather spotty other night against New Orleans, so look for them to come out of the gates fast and strong in an attempt to rebuild their confidence. Defensively, Chicago will need to do a terrific job of effectively communicating with one another, calling out screens and keeping track of coverages. Besides shutting down the paint the Bulls will also have to pay close attention to the 3-point arc and aggressively look to run shooters off the bend. There were far too many instances the other night against Golden State where Thompson, Curry and Kevin Durant were allowed to set their feet and shoot uncontested shots from behind the arc.

So far this year the Bulls have the league's worst defensive rating and are giving up the third highest average of points per game. Opponents are also shooting an unacceptable 38.2% from three against them, which is an area where the Nuggets have been struggling this season, shooting under 30% as a team. Chicago simply can't allow Denver the chance to launch uncontested jumpers from anywhere on the floor, especially so with regards to Gary Harris, without paying some sort of price.

Offensively, the Bulls need to consistently spread out in order to open up the middle of the floor and draw Denver's defense away from the paint and to the perimeter. It is also vital the Bulls freely share the ball with each other, making sure everyone gets involved in the action. They cannot afford to allow the offense to breakdown into a series of one-on-one matchups. For it to run smoothly the ball has to crisply jump from player-to-player and from side-to-side, making the Nuggets continually shift and expend extra energy.

Lastly the Bulls have to come out of the gates in aggressive fashion, taking advantage of every opportunity to attack the rim by driving the ball deep into the paint.

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/gameday/keys-game-bulls-vs-nuggets-103118

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

[edelgoth]

fe3h & da matchup

@thegoodwitcher hello!! sorry this took me so long to get to. i hope you like them, and sorry for getting a bit carried away!! i’ve put them under a read more because they got a bit long

okay, for dragon age, i match you with...

alistair!!

i think alistair would flourish with a partner like you!! 

alistair is desperate to be loved and understood, and not only are you compassionate, caring and intuitive, but you also love making people feel loved; that’d be so, so important to him

and he’s going to try and return that energy as best he can; alistair isn’t someone to hold back when it comes to expressing his adoration for someone, so you’ll never have to guess how he’s feeling

you sound like the sort of person who’d be very open with your loved ones, and that would be the key strength in your relationship; there’s a trust and support to it that you both need 

also, i think you might be able to help him be a bit more,,, mindful?? alistair’s very loving, but i think he can struggle with extending empathy to certain other people sometimes (see: any of his conversations with morrigan slkdj). being with you might help him learn to be a bit more,,, understanding of people he doesn’t quite understand at first 

your sense of humour is also quite similar to his!! wit, puns, and dad jokes? that’s alistair to a t (although the jury’s still out on whether or not he can truly be counted as witty)

you both love making people laugh, and i think that’d be a big staple in your relationship; the two of you are just always laughing, all the time. the rest of your travelling troupe almost find it annoying, if it wasn’t kind of endearing 

it may take you two a little while to really hit it off, since your shyness may not collide all that well with his talkativeness. but, i think his persistence (and the power of propinquity) would end up with the two of you becoming friends -- and then whoops guess you’re in love now?? 

although, i think alistair will be a bit of a mess when it comes to your numb periods, simply because he doesn’t know what’s going on and he wants to help, he just doesn’t know how

but he’s a fast learner, and once he knows what the best course of action is, you can bet he’s going to learn to shut his mouth, or give you space, or whatever else you might want or need

and sure, he might get a bit annoying during those times, but i also have the feeling he’d still be able to make you laugh?? 

on a different note, he’d love your writing and your drawings!! he’d always tease you by asking you to write about or draw him; and if you decline, he’s going to get very playfully dramatic 

but he’s your biggest fan, and cherishes any such creative work you show or give him

it’s only a small detail, but i think alistair would share your interest in the occult!! he seems like an occasional hobbyist (the main evidence i have for this is that some of his gifts include rune stones!!), but he’d enjoy learning more from you  

he also has an interest in history!! so, you’d have a lot of interesting conversations about that (the two of you can help patch up each other’s gaps in knowledge, and share info with someone who loves it as much as you do!!)

in a more modern setting, he’d definitely enjoy video games, and i can see him getting playfully competitive about them (although, i think he wouldn’t be half as good at them as he’d claim to be)

side note: your mbti types are quite similar!! i think he’s an enfp, so you’d be able to bounce off each other quite well, and you’d have a good understanding of how each other’s minds work 

this is so delightful and now i’m emotional,,, can you tell i love alistair? because i really love alistair

alternate matches

fenris: fenris is very different to alistair as a character, but i think you’d still work!! once again, he’d flourish with a partner who was empathetic, caring and intuitive. he needs someone to be patient with him, to be gentle yet understanding. also, fenris?? quite witty. there’d be less laughs than with alistair, but i think there would be a surprising amount of levity to this relationship. i think he’d also find your interests fascinating; he’s got a bit of a curious streak, and i think he’d have a surprising amount of questions for you. he may have a harder time during your more reclusive episodes, though, since he seems prone to the same thing; it means he’d understand your mindset, but it could cause the occasional problem every now and then. but, overall, i think you’d be an excellent couple!! 

iron bull: bull is sort of a middle ground between the two, in a way?? kind of. sort of. not really. with bull, i think your empathy and compassion could prompt him to look at the world slightly differently, and to prioritize things that he never used to. but, you’d have a very playful, light-hearted relationship?? iron bull loves to laugh, and you’d be able to connect over that. the main reason i didn’t choose him as your main match is because i think he wouldn’t be the greatest when you were numb; well-meaning, yes, but a bit of a disaster. also the most likely to snap back, imo. he’d be more likely to try and push you out of your comfort zone, and he’s not as sensitive as the other two, but i think you’d be a surprisingly compatible couple!! 

for fire emblem: three houses, i match you with... 

ashe!!

another precious boy,,, another one that i adore,,, 

you share some very important qualities; namely, being compassionate, empathetic, and caring!! 

i think that means you’d have similar values?? which is something that’d be super important to ashe, and would form a good foundation to your relationship!!

i also think it means you’d understand each other very well, which’d help the two of you feel very comfortable with one another 

two caring people in a relationship is just a very precious concept?? you’d always know that someone has your back, and you two just seem like the sort to always do nice things for each other unprompted?? we stan 

i think ashe would also be the type of person who enjoys making people feel loved (a la my point above), and he’d just be such a good, attentive partner?? basically, i think he matches you really well

also, i think it means you guys would be so delightful to your friends?? everyone loves you two together, and they really love having you two around 

ashe enjoys a good pun, so i think he’d love your sense of humour!! you can always find something to laugh about (even if his jokes are terrible)

ashe is quiet, but he’s not shy; so i think he might have an easier time getting to know you, because he knows how to be respectful and take it slow

he’d understand your agoraphobia and your shyness, and he’s not really the type to try and push you out of your comfort zone (he may try and talk through things with you, but he’s not going to force you into anything you were uncomfortable with)

ashe is very attentive, so i think he’d be able to adapt to (and even predict) when you go into one of your numb states

he’ll know when you need him to be there and when you just want to be left alone, while doing his best to look after you in a way that works for you in that moment 

he has a very peaceful, inoffensive type of personality, so i feel like he might not annoy you when you were in one of those states?? i don’t know if that makes much sense ahaha but i just think that he’s so easy to get along with 

also, he loves your writing!! he loves to read your work, and he’s always so excited about what you’re working on (and he always wants to read more!!)

he also loves haring you talk about your interests, and he’s always very engaged; he tries to ask you questions, and he makes a genuine effort to listen well. i think he’d surprise you by bringing up stuff that you’d told him about months ago, showing you just how much he cares

and sure, he lives in a medieval fantasy world, but i feel like in a modern au, that’d be one of his favourite settings to read about!! 

also, side note, you’d have a nice visual difference, with your dark hair and deep eyes, and his more soft, gentle colour palette. not much to say about it, i just think you’d look lovely together

your relationship would just be super wholesome and i love it so much?? bless 

alternate matches

dimitri: i think you two would get along quite well!! dimitri would love a partner who was empathetic and caring, and i feel like he’d really appreciate the fact that you love making people laugh. the main reason i chose ashe over him is because i think ashe would be a better balance during your more reclusive, numb states. dimitri would be able to understand those mindsets more, and he’s also quite caring and attentive, but he may be,,, less sure of how to respond and react?? i chose ashe over him mainly based on my gut instinct, but he’d still be a great fit!! 

ignatz: you and ignatz have a few similarities, and i think that would beget a nice understanding between the two of you. you remind me a bit of marianne, and i think ignatz’ c & b supports with her are just precious. he’d be a great support for you, i think, and you share a love for creating art!! he’d also enjoy listening to you talk about your interests. the main reason i didn’t choose him as your main match comes down to humour; i just don’t see ignatz being as playful or humorous as the other two. i still think he’d be good, though!! the other two are just a bit better 

also you and alois would get on so well. literally the best of friends 

#matchups #alistair matchup #ashe matchup

[eternalemporium]

ETS 1/19/2019 Deck Trials

After failing to craft a suitable competitive Azindel deck in my January 2019 quest for Masters rank, decided to try a half-dozen ETS Tournament deck lists and give them each a 20 game trial. At the time I lifted these lists, I had no knowledge of how these decks performed -- I saw the deck list share on the Eternal Discord and on a free moment Saturday morning, imported some deck lists. There were several more that I didn't have the cards for but would have liked to try -- like, for instance, Camato's "Chainbrei" Martyr's Chain build.

As I finished this account here, went & looked up the ETS records for the players piloting these decks. None of them were in the top 8, though Grimfan finished at #14 with a very formidable 5-2 mark. The 2 decks that performed best for me did not win a single match in last Saturday's tournament. At the end of each deck report log section, I appended the originating tournament player & record.

Listed below are the 6 decks I piloted, with my 20 game record included in the heading.

BBG Vara Mask, 9-11

Actually, went 10-11 with this, as forgot to change decks in deck selection screen when wishing to switch over to Kerasaurs deck.

It is a variation of a deck I tinkered with but problem was I'd also been unsuccessfully brewing with a similar Azindel TJS build and for first half-dozen games, confused Display of Knowledge with Display of Vision :(

Deck can be a little tricky to pilot and I think Mask of Torment is overshadowed by Martyr's Chains and Pit of Lenkekta. Those decks outvalued this one and I didn't have enough relic removal or have it in timely spots.

MarvinTheImp, 1-2

Kerasaurs, 11-9

The most polarized deck of the lot here -- games finished quickly, even more quickly than aggro decks I've played in past. 42 Units, 3 Spells (Xenan Initiation) and 30 Power. I either smashed opponent by turn 6 or a poor draw doomed me. One memorable game, opponent plopped down Rolant, the Iron Fist for which the only answer in the deck was in Market cards Purify & Passage of Eons. And of course, no merchant in hand nor did one surface in subsequent draws.

Deck was also weak to Deadly units. Especially when in combo with Killer.

Grimfan, 5-2

Moment of Memes, 6-14

I admit that this deck no doubt suffered from a lot of operator error. But, still, I seemed to struggle amassing power, maybe not so much ramping into power, but drawing influence requirements. When deck clicked, it was beautiful, but too often I just was holding the wrong mix of cards in my hand. Also, it didn't help that during this run I ran into a big pocket of opponents brandishing aggro decks. Even worse, I think I drew Calderan Cracle in only a handful of games.

1CHEETAH1, 0-4

Kerendon Reanimator, 13-7

This seemed to be the strongest of the 6 decks here -- I believe I started out 11-1 with it. It just overpowered opponents, and Grasping at Shadows (even without Vara, Fate-Touched) bringing back Tavrod or Vara, Vengeance Seeker was too mcuh for opponents. And Sabotage from Back-Alley Delinquent (or Regent's Tomb, which was a popular Market swap for me) dented opponent gameplan. Then I ran into some bad draws and a bunch of Harsh Rule decks that seemed to trump this.

Balthyde, 0-3

Vara 1;2, 9-11

Turn 5: play Grasping at Shadows and then delight in the board being field with Vara, Fate-Touched, pulling Azindel, Revealed, with Vara Vengeance-Seeker and even another merchant or Black-Sky Harbinger. Once, I had Vara, Fate-Touched pull another Vara Fate-Touched and it filled my whole board and opponent quickly hit Concede. But that was predicated on Sporefolk, Nocturnal Observer, Chairman's Contract in earlier turns and getting these powerful units in the Void pool. Otherwise, deck could struggle.

gozuuu, 2-3

Auralian Bull, 13-7

The deck that I finally reached Masters rank with. Had a good mix of fattie units & removal spells. All of the games with it seemed close, only really got flattened by Harsh Rule decks. Just looking at list, doesn't seem spectacular and way less powerful than the Kerendon Reanimator deck that also posted a 13-7 run.

JockeD, 0-2

Conclusion

The cumulative win percentage mark for these experiments wasn't exactly stellar -- 61-59, a rather mediocre 50.8% clip. It gets a little better if I take a mulligan on the definintely abysmal Moment of Memes deck run (55%).

The 120 games, with the exception of the final game, all happened in Diamond ranks as I advanced into Masters rank on the penultimate matchup.

I do not think there has been a more varied meta landscape than I experienced in these deck trial experiments -- I believe I faced the most varied gamut, at least at Diamond rank level, than I can ever recall. Aggro decks in Rakano, Skycrag and Stonescar flavors, Grenadins, Kennadins, Sentinels, "Big Relic" (Martyr's Chains, Pit of Lenetka) decks, Hooru flyers, Haunted Highway, Big Xenan, Wisp Xenan, Howling Peaks, Mono Time, etc. Even players experimenting with cards like Factory Quota. Perhaps because the meta is still in a post-patch honeymoon period. But I like it when meta is such that you never know what you're going to queue into.

Now let me get back to crafting that competitive Azindel deck. Or maybe I'll try my luck with Sentinels.