#need to speak to the manager (ask chelsea)

[iinsertblognamee]

body slam

summary ― a guy runs on the field mid-game and does the one thing that set's sam off. he touches you.

pairing ― sam kerr x reader

warning/s ― angst? dickhead, fluff

based off this request

You loved meeting your fans. It was one of your favourite things in the world, people coming to cheer you on - your name on their jersey. After every game, you would go to the stands, talk with fans, take as many photos and sign as many items as you could before you were called back to the changing rooms. And as much as you loved your fans, sometimes they took it too far. 

You were well into the second half of the game by now, neither Chelsea nor Juventus had yet to score any goals and both teams, as well as the fans, were getting tired. You had been sticking to the right side of the field for most of the game, a play you and the trainers had been trying out. The screaming of your name would come and go as you would move from play to play, and although you were heavy in the game, one voice kept standing out to you. 

There was something different, you couldn’t put your finger on it but that particular voice kept you on edge all game. Guro had noticed the distress almost immediately, you brushing it off - not wanting to take hers or your attention off the game at hand. 

The time moved along, minute after minute - still no points on the scoreboard for either team. The calling of your name got more aggressive as the game continued, slowly creating more space between you and the stands as you moved further into the middle. You could hear Emma calling out for you to move back into position but your gut told you to keep as much distance as you could. 

You knew the game was almost over, looking around at the girls as you attempted to catch your breath. Games like this were hard, the team putting in the effort although the scoreboard doesn’t show it. Cheers from the crowd keep you going, although you seem to miss the moment the cheers change - the sound of your name being called coming closer and closer. 

You shift your body to take a look at the voice, a man making his way over to you with his phone out. 

“Y/N I need to speak with you. I’ve been trying to get in contact with you for months” 

He continues to walk towards you, you taking two steps back - almost running into Guro. You look around, the refs looking around although not seeming to make any attempt to create distance between you and the man calling out for you. 

He manages to get close enough to you, his hand reaching out to grab you as Guro pulls you into her. You catch girls from both teams coming in closer, Millie’s voice telling the guy to back off breaks through his rant. 

You remove your gaze from him, looking around for your girlfriend. Sam came into view, a frown on her face. It’s the wrong move, as before you could comprehend what has happened, you feel your head being pulled back - your body following from the force. His grip twists your ponytail as you fall into his chest. 

You hear the yells of team members from both sides, arms going in the air, as multiple people pull you out of his grip - he doesn’t let go easy, you letting out a cry as he tries to hold onto your hair tighter before ultimately letting go. Your heart is beating a million beats per second, your hand on your chest as you feel someone’s hands on your cheeks trying to grasp your attention. 

You manage to focus on the person in front of you, Guro. A frown on her face as you watch her scan over your face and body to look for any injuries. “You okay?” she asks, her hands now on your shoulders. You nod your head in response, not sure what else can be said in the moment as you break your eyes away from Guro and look for Sam once more. 

You catch sight of the man once more, although your attention turns to Sam - and almost in slow motion you watch as she charges up to him, slamming her shoulder and hip into his body and watching as he falls flat on his ass. The cheers of the stands break through your shock, the ref coming up to give Sam a yellow card and you find yourself running over to them - ready to tell the ref off. 

What the hell is wrong with them? 

You manage to catch the end of Sam’s rant with the ref, her arms up in the air as you watch her shake her head and scoff. “-He physically touched one of my players, and you two stood there and let it happen”. 

The refs attempt to argue back but Sam shakes her head once again, walking off as Millie watches past you and towards them to defuse the situation at hand. Sam and you catch each other’s eyes, and within seconds you are in her embrace. Her hands now checking all over to ensure you were okay. You let out a small wince as she grazes over the back of your head where your (loose) ponytail now sat - her lips dropping into a bigger frown. 

“It’s okay, just a little sore” 

It’s not the right thing to say, Sam’s grip on your waist hardening. 

“Shouldn’t have happened love” she mumbles, letting out a controlled breath. Something you had taught her to use whenever she was feeling stressed or frustrated in a game. You bring your hand behind her ear, bringing her closer to you as your foreheads touch.

“I’ll be okay, I have you to nurse me back to health once this game is finished” 

She lets out a small hm in agreement, her eyes closed. You can tell she’s just focusing on the breathing technique and from what you could tell it was working. 

You could feel team members from both sides coming up to you asking you if you were okay, taps on your back. The situation rips through the whole group. Soon enough the refs state that the game is to continue, and although you are physically okay - you choose to sub the rest of the game off. Cheers erupt as you walk off, the rest of your teammates waiting for you, patting you on the back as you grab a side off to the side. 

Soon enough the final whistle blows, and Sam is back in front of you within seconds - water bottle in hand. She practically forces you to take sips, as she suggests seeing a medic (which you refuse). Team members came up to ask if you were okay, some wondering what exactly had happened as they were too far away to catch the scene. You explained multiple times that you were fine, just a small headache and that you didn’t really know what had happened exactly - all that you remember was seeing the guy coming towards you and then him pulling you by your hair. 

Through the madness of team meetings, giving your reports on the incident and convincing Sam you were okay you had managed to make it home. Sam put you on bed rest as she ran around to ensure you had an icepack for your head, water and food on the bedside table and after many times of begging Sam to calm down and join you - you had your girlfriend holding you as she massaged your head. the current TV show two of you were bingeing and playing on the screen in front of you. 

Between the massage, the forehead kisses and Sam’s body heat calming you down, you drifted off to sleep - Sam joining you not long after.

#sam kerr x reader #sam kerr imagines #sam kerr imagine #woso imagine #woso imagines #woso x reader #request

[security-chief-odo]

To Love and be Loved in Return

Roy Kent x Reader

Description: Both you and Roy Kent are in love, but of course neither of you knows your feelings are requited. Who will be the first to spill the beans?

Chapter 1 - World’s Greatest Boss

Word Count: 1k

• • •

You have been working as a coaching assistant for AFC Richmond for the past six months. Though your job technically speaking is to assist the entire coaching staff, in reality, you were hired to manage Roy Kent.

Though he is an excellent coach, he is god awful at things like maintaining a schedule, filing any paperwork in a reasonable time frame, and generally dealing with the public. This is where you come in and make his life (and Rebecca’s) easier.

Your life on the other hand has gotten much harder as a result of this job. You have had a school girl crush on Roy since he was still playing for Chelsea. A crush you had assumed was just superficial and would fade as you got to know him as a coworker and a friend. If only life was ever that easy.

If anything, your crush has just gotten stronger because not only is Roy insanely hot, but he is kind, smart, and surprisingly funny. Perhaps more importantly though, he is sitting in front of your desk, not noticing as you stare at him.

“What do I have to get done this weekend?”

“Well, it’ll be a busy one for you. You need to go pick up your suit from the tailor tomorrow for the gala next weekend.”

He groaned, “I still don’t see why I have to go to that stupid thing.”

“It is quite literally in your job description Roy.” He rolls his eyes at that but lets you continue. “You have a game Tuesday, press conference after that. Do you have your shoes for the gala?”

“I’m not getting new shoes for that shit, I have a pair that’ll do. Do you have my talking points prepped for the press conference?” You hand over a bullet pointed page. “And if we lose?”

“You won’t, but that’s on the printer.” You turn in your chair to grab it but he's up and behind your desk already, skimming over the page.

“What would I do without you?”

“Crash and burn, probably”

He chuckled at that, “Yeah, probably. So I, uh, wanted to ask before, but are you going to the gala?”

“I’m office staff, I’m not sure I’m invited”

“Of course you’re fucking invited.”

“I’ll ask Rebecca about it.”

“No need, you can be my plus one.” You stop dead in your tracks at his words. Of course you want to go to the gala with Roy but there’s no way he means it like that and sitting by his side all night just might be the death of you.

“Oh um, I don’t know”

“Come on, y/n”

“I don’t have anything to wear. My wardrobe isn’t exactly fitting for a gala”

“Then I’ll buy you a dress.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m sure you had some model you were going to bring anyways.”

“I’m not that guy anymore, y/n. And anyways, you deserve to go, you’re part of the team” Right, part of the team. He’s being a good boss. That’s all he was ever doing.

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll give Keeley my credit card and have her pick you up Saturday”

Returning to your emails, you began typing as you continued the conversation. “Anyone ever told you that you’re kind of an amazing boss?”

Right, you only see him as your boss. Nothing more. Probably never will be anything more. He just needed to accept that.“I don’t know that that’s the word the boys would use.”

“Well, maybe you should try buying all of them fancy dresses?”

“You know, that just might do the trick,” a smile threatens to cross his face, “but I don't think they’d look nearly as good.”

“Careful sir, don’t let Isaac hear you say that one.”

That one actually got a laugh out of him. “You’re right. Then I might have to bring him as my date instead–” His eyes widen as soon as the word ‘date’ leaves his mouth and he stumbles out, “not that I’m asking you as my date. I’m not. I just–”

Despite the sinking feeling in your gut, you let him off the hook. “Of course not Roy. I didn’t assume you were.”

“Right. Well. I’ll just leave you to uh, you know, I’ve got a meeting.” He rushed out, nearly slamming your door behind him. As soon as he was out of earshot, he groaned “Fuck.” Roy should have known better than to say anything. You are sweet and beautiful and fucking brilliant and he might have just ruined everything.

You are sitting in your office, having completed Roy’s schedule, you move on to Beard and Nate. There’s no way those meetings will be nearly as painful as your last one. You never thought Roy would return your feelings, but you figured you would at least have to ask before he could reject you.

Roy and you are clearly avoiding each other all day Thursday. He takes his lunch in his car. You don’t even leave your office. You wait until the end of the day to go meet with the assistant coaches about their calendars, hoping that Roy may have left early.

You aren’t quite so lucky and bump into him as you enter the locker room. Of course this knocks your papers out of your hands. You squat down to pick them up.

“Fuck,” he growls, “sorry.”

“It’s ok. I wasn’t exactly looking where I was going either.”

He extends a hand to help you up. Your hand feels nice in his and you both are holding hands for a moment longer than necessary before pulling away.

With nothing left to say, you find yourself looking into his kind eyes before you are interrupted by Nate.

“Oh y/n, I was just about to come grab you for our meeting.”

“Right.” you turn to Roy, “See you tomorrow!”

He waves as he walks away, not for a second noticing where your eyes were as you watched him leave. You follow Nate back into the office for your meetings with the assistant coaches, your thoughts however stay on the head coach.

• • •

Click here for chapter 2!

Let me know if you’re interested in joining my taglist, either for this series or my general taglist. Otherwise, just let me know what you think!

#reader insert #roy kent x reader #roy kent #Roy Kent/reader #idiots in love #ted lasso fic #ted lasso fanfic #ted lasso #afc richmond #to love and be loved in return

[mountttmase]

Hiii, can you please write something based on “Until I found you” Stephen Sanchez song?? Thank you ❤️

Until I Found You

Note - okay but I love this song 😌 thank you so much for sending this to me I hope you like this 🩵 if you haven’t listened to it then please do here. feedback would be very much appreciated like always 💕

Pairing - Mason Mount x Reader

Word count - 4.1k

Warnings - angst and fluff

Mason hadn’t been right for a few weeks now, a far cry from the boy you met a few months back and it’s like you could physically feel him pulling away from you yet you’d barely been together long enough to feel like what it could be like to be in his life properly.

You’d met Mason in a coffee shop after you’d brought the last millionaires shortbread that he also had his eye on and after failing to convince you to sell it to him, he’d somehow managed to trick you into giving him your number. You met him the week after for dinner after texting for the whole week and he’d swept you off your feet from the moment he flashed you his pearly whites.

You knew things hadn’t been great for him at Chelsea, and string of small injuries weren’t helping but you were hoping you could help take his mind off of things and you saw each other as often as you could. He was becoming a shell of himself though, that gorgeous smile of his never seeming to quite reach his eyes anymore and his loud and talkative persona had seemingly vanished. He didn’t seem to want to talk that much, evenings now spent quietly in each others arms where you tried to reassure him with gentle touches and kisses.

He was driving back after a candle lit dinner where he’d been nothing but charming and made you forget about everything you’d been worrying about for weeks, but the drive home was tense and silent and you couldn’t work out why but when he pulled up outside your building rather than his house like you had already agreed you looked at him him confusion.

‘Mase? Why are we here? I thought we staying at yours?’ You asked, turning to look at him but you felt you tummy drop immediately. He wasn’t looking at you but you could see the tears running down his face and he started down at his fingers that sat in his lap.

‘I’m really sorry, y/n’ he whispered, your heart sinking as you knew what was coming next but you were unsure as to why. ‘I don’t think I can do this anymore’

You couldn’t speak, the breath knocked out of you as you took in his words. He was ending things before they’d even really started and you couldn’t figure out why.

‘Did I do something?’ You whispered, wanting some sort of explanation even if it hurt more than anything else ever had and you felt him reach for your hands, gripping them tightly as he turned to face you but you didn’t have the strength to look at him.

‘You haven’t done a single thing, I promise you. It’s all on me’ he told you, his voice sounding pained as he tried to explain his thoughts. ‘I’m not myself at the minute and I can’t be what you deserve right now. You’re so so lovely and kind and beautiful and you should be with someone who can give you the world. I’m not that guy right now’

‘Don’t, Mason’ you sobbed, trying to pull away from him but he wouldn’t let you, grabbing your face gently so you would look at him and the sincerity in his eyes.

‘It’s true, y/n please please listen to me. If I was ready to fall in love with someone then you would be it. I swear on everything I have you are the perfect girl for me, but I can’t be what you deserve right now’

‘Why? I don’t understand’ you whispered

‘I Just think I need time on my own to sort myself out and be a better person. Not just for me but for everyone around me. Including you’ he explained and even though you understood it still hurt like hell. ‘I don’t want you to wait for me though, I don’t know how long this is gonna take and you deserve to be happy, even if it’s not with me’

‘But I… but I thought..’ you tried speaking but the words weren’t coming out, your heart breaking as you slowly came to terms with why he was saying before the sobs wracked through you. You hid your face in your hands and you let everything out in his passenger seat, his arms holding you close to his as you felt his body shake as you both cried out all out pain.

You could hear him sobbing out the words I’m sorry and even though you were hurt beyond belief you knew he needed your comfort. There was no way he’d be able to get home in this state so you took his face in your hands, pressing small kisses to his cheeks and whispering to him that it was okay until he had calmed down.

‘Are you gonna be okay getting back?’ You asked him gently ‘you can come in for a bit if you want? Just to sort yourself out I don’t want you to have an accident on the way home’

‘I’m fine I promise’ he told you, rubbing his eyes to get the to stop watering before he looked up at you again. He looked so incredibly sad and it made you want to cry all over again. ‘I just want you to know, I’m doing this for you, yeah? Cause I care about you and your happiness and I hate feeling like I’m bringing you down’

‘You’re not-‘

‘Please don’t, y/n please. You deserve the world and I haven’t been able to give you that in a while’ he told you, holding your hand again gently as if he was scared that you were going to pull away. ‘I want you to know that you can still trust me yeah? I mean everything I’m saying. This isn’t me trying to fob you off so I can go date half of England. I don’t wanna be with anyone if it’s not gonna be you but I cant be what you need’

‘I understand’ you told him, and you heard him let out a little breath of relief at your words. ‘I know we haven’t said it but I do love you Mason. And if this is what you need to do then I’ll accept it’ you said, eyes on the floor as you heard him gasp in surprise before titling your face up to look at him.

‘I love you, too’ he whispered, fresh tears falling from each of your eyes as the reality of each others words hit you. ‘That’s why I’m doing this. It’s out of love and I know it doesn’t make it any easier. ’

‘I know’ you murmured, reaching down to the floor for your bag so you could make your way out of his car, turning back to him slightly so you could say your final words. ‘If you need me, just call me yeah? I’m here for you even if you don’t think you deserve it’ you told him quietly before reaching for the door handle.

‘I really am sorry’ he whimpered and you nodded as you looked out the window.

‘I know. I hope you figure things out Mase’ You whispered and fearing you might break down in front of him again you swiftly made your way of his car

He let you go without a fight, sitting in his car until you’d made it inside and once you were in the safety of your own home you finally let your walls come crashing down again. You’d thought you’d finally found him. The elusive one that everyone is always looking for but in the blink of an eye you were alone again

The coming weeks were tough, your emotions were all over the place and whilst you tried to hold it together, you didn’t fully understand what had happened for you to process it properly.

You knew anything to do with Mason would hurt too much to be around at the moment so you unfollowed him on everything as well as most Chelsea related things which stung a bit as you’d come to support them over the last few months but you couldn’t face the thought of seeing him. The only thing you kept was his number as you’d promised that he could text you if he needed to but you were starting to wonder if that was a good idea.

You weren’t quite sure how, but you’d made it to three months without him. You were still crushed about how things had ended but you’d grown to accept it as he felt he couldn’t give you what you deserved and you were partly thankful that he hadn’t dragged you through a relationship he couldn’t fully commit to.

You hadn’t been able to look at another guy though, using the time to also work on yourself a little bit and figure out what you wanted out of a relationship. Unfortunately your mind always came back to Mason and what could of been as he was seemingly the perfect guy for you however you just wished the timing would of been better.

It was a Sunday night and you were sat scrolling through TikTok when your arm got tired and you ended up dropping your phone on your face before it fell off the bed and down the side where you couldn’t reach.

‘Oh shit’ you huffed, rolling over and reaching down to feel for it but it was just out of your grasp. You could just about touch the screen though and your worst fears were suddenly realised when you heard the sound of the phone ringing through the AirPods in your ears. You’d obviously pressed the call button and you had no idea if they’d pick up and no way of ending the call either but you were hoping whoever it was wouldn’t answer.

‘Hello?… y/n? You there?’ You heard Mason say, your blood running cold at the sound of his voice. It had been months since you’d heard it and you hated the way it still gave you butterflies. ‘Y/n? I can hear you breathing’ he laughed and you sat yourself up, coughing quietly before speaking.

‘H-hey, Mason. Sorry I dropped my phone down the side of my bed and I’ve been trying to grab it. I must of called you by accident’

‘That’s okay, don’t apologise’

‘You can hang up if you want, I can’t quite reach it still. Unless you wanna listen to me struggle for another five minutes’ you told him, trying to ease the tension a bit and when you heard him laugh properly you felt your chest tighten at the sound.

‘No, I don’t wanna hang up. I’ve sort of been wanting to talk to you for weeks now but I’ve been too scared to call’ he murmured, making you gulp and you sat up properly. ‘Is that okay?’

‘Um, yeah that’s okay’ you told him but you were freaking out inside. You had only just settled back into life without Mason so to now have him back in your ear was making your tummy churn. ‘H-how have you been?’

‘Yeah not bad, not bad at all. You?’

‘Yeah I’ve been good thanks’

‘Good, I’m glad’ he told you, and you could hear the smile in his voice. A sound that you’d hadn’t heard at all towards the end of your relationship.

Their pair of you carried on chatting lightly, not even paying attention to the time as you still didn’t have your phone to hand. You both seemed to of slipped back into how things were, cracking jokes and laughing as you reminisced about the past but caught each other up on what you’d missed. Your whole soul felt lighter than it had in months listening to him laugh and you wanted nothing more than to see his face so you could watch his eyes light up like they used to. ‘Listen, it’s getting late and I’m conscious of your bed time’ he laughed, trying to make a joke of how much you loved to sleep and you shook your head as you laid down to try and reach your phone again.

‘How late is it? I still don’t have my- ah! Got it’ you cheered as you finally made contact with your phone, pulling it to see it was now gone 11 and you’d been on the phone for the better part of an hour and a half. ‘Oh Jesus I didn’t think it would be that late’

‘I’m sorry’ he laughed before you heard him gulp, getting ready to say something he was nervous about. ‘So listen, I go away with England for a little while in a couple of weeks and I was hoping I could see you beforehand?’

‘Oh…’ you breathed, your heart hammering in your chest at the thought of him wanting to see you and if you could physically handle it.

‘You don’t have to tell me now, just think about it yeah?’

‘Okay’ you whispered

‘Okay’ he laughed and you felt yourself smile too. ‘Just text me or something yeah? I’ll let you go get your beauty sleep but I’m really glad we got to talk today’

‘Me too’ you whispered, feeling your face heat up as you shut your eyes.

‘Good night, y/n’

‘Good night, Mase’

You gave into him quicker than you had meant to, texting him the next afternoon to say you were free to see him one evening next week and he let you know he’d arrange everything and pick you up on Wednesday night so he could take you to dinner. He didn’t give you much more information other than that, and you felt nervous as paced up and down your living room. You were unsure if you were over dressed or underdressed, if he’d like you did your hair now or the colour of your nails but a knock on the door made you stop in your tracks.

You curiosity went over to open it, unsure as to who would want you at this time but you opened it up to reveal Mason looking back at you with the heartwarming smile you fell in love with all those months ago.

‘Hey’ he breathed, his whole face lighting up with a smile that you couldn’t help but mirror. ‘it’s so good to see you’ he told you, and he looked like he really meant it, unsure if he was allowed you pull you in for a hug or not but in the end he just stuffed his hands into his pockets to avoid any awkwardness.

He looked different, a good different. His hair was a bit shorter but his beard was longer and he seemed to be standing taller than he ever had. His skin was glowing and your favourite dimple popped in his cheek as he gave you a genuine smile that made his eyes crinkle.

‘Hey Mason’ you swallowed nervously, unable to look at him properly as the nerves took over you. ‘I didn’t expect you to knock, let me just get my things’ you told him, quickly running off to grab your coat and bag before meeting him by the door again.

‘Sorry, just felt a bit weird texting you I was here, thought I’d be a gentleman and come and get you’ he smiled as you locked your door, scratching the back of his neck before leading you down to his car where he opened your door for you. The last time you were in here he was breaking up with you and the memory hit you like a slap in the face. You gave him a shy smile as you climbed in and you watched him take a few deep breaths as he made his way round to his side. ‘You ready?’ He smiled and you gave your head a nod as he pulled away from the pavement.

‘So where are we going?’ You asked, trying to get a bit of conversation going as you could tell you were both a bit terrified but he looked over with a gentle smile that eased you a little bit.

‘It’s a surprise. I think you’ll like it though’ he winked and you felt your face flush at the gesture. You kept the conversation light, talking about what you’d been up to that day and as soon as he pulled into the car park you knew where you were. The place he’d taken you on your very first date all those months ago.

You didn’t know what to say, and he was out of the door and opening yours before you had time to think about anything else, gently taking his extended hand so he could help you out and you felt the butterflies swarm as your skin touched his for the first time in a long time. He dropped your hand soon after but it founds it’s place on your waist as he guided you inside and he was as charming as ever with the staff as they led you over to your table, pulling your chair out for you and you sent him a grateful smile as he tucked you in before sitting opposite you.

‘Is this okay?’ He asked opening up his menu with a shy smile on his face and your heart raced at how good he looked in the dim lighting.

‘It’s perfect, thank you’ you told him quietly before you both looked over what you wanted.

‘Thank you for agreeing to see me, I know it can’t of been an easy decision so I appreciate you being here’ he told you as soon as your orders had been placed and your waiter had gone.

‘It’s okay’

‘I need you to know though that this isn’t random or just a catch up for us to say goodbye again. I asked you here for a reason and I’d really like it if you could hear me out’ he told you seriously and you could sense the nervousness in his voice. ‘I’m really fucking sorry’ he told you, brown eyes boring into yours. ‘I know you said you understood and everything but it was still a shit thing to do. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing for the both of us’

‘I know you did’ you nodded, reaching over for his hand to offer him some sort of comfort as you could see he was getting upset about everything. His shocked eyes met yours but his beautiful smile melted you as he squeezed your hand in his. ‘Have you been okay?’ You asked

‘I’m better than I was’ he laughed, threading his fingers through yours ‘it was rough at the start I’m not gonna lie, I shut everyone out and just tried to focus on myself but that only worked well for so long. My mum came and knocked some sense into me and I started letting more people in. Everything started slowly falling into place after that.

‘Thats good’ you smiled and he nodded shyly before looking up at you with a loving stare.

‘Yeah, but there’s one piece of the puzzle missing’ he told you quietly but you were interrupted by your food arriving. Mason sent you a quick wink as you both dug in before he started asking what was new with you and if anything had changed over the last few months. You knew the he was trying to ask if you been seeing anyone lately or if you been on a date since that fateful night but you were quite happy letting him sweat about it for a little bit, choosing to talk about everything but that but he seemed happy enough catching up on everything he’d missed.

‘I’ll be honest, I sort of unfollowed everything to do with you’ you laughed and his head fell into his hands in mock disbelief. ‘How are Chelsea doing?

‘We’re getting there’ he laughed ‘took a while to find our rhythm but it happens’ he shrugged and you sent him a sympathetic smile. You both decided when you’d finished eating you weren’t quite ready to say goodbye yet and he convinced you to join him for a drink in the bar, grabbing a small table near the back where he sat next to you on the small sofa. His arm around the back of the seat and you couldn’t help but lean into him. ‘Are you really gonna leave me guessing then?’ He smiled, slightly bringing his arm around you and when you didn’t protest he held you to him properly.

‘Whatever do you mean Mr. Mount?’ You chuckled and he ticked you side playfully.

‘You know what I mean. Please put me out of my misery’ he laughed and you decided to put your big girl pants on and be honest. All the signs he was giving you made you think he wouldn’t brush you off but you still had that little voice in your head holding you back. You pushed passed it though, letting Mason know how you felt.

‘Mase, it’s alway’s been you. And as hard as these last few months have been for me, that hasn’t changed. I haven’t so much as looked at anyone else let alone talked to anyone or dated anyone’ you told him, finally looking up to meet his glossy eyes.

‘I thought I told you not to wait for me’ he smiled and you shrugged gently.

‘I’ve never been one for listening to you’ you whispered but you didn’t have much time to say anything else as he leaned down and pressed his lips to yours.

You couldn’t help but smile, reaching up to cup his jaw as you kissed him back. You kept it gentle, revelling in the feeling of be close to him again and touching your person. He pulled back too soon for your liking, resting his forehead against your as you got your breath back.

‘I’m a fucking idiot’ he whispered, letting out a small laugh as he pulled back to look at you. ‘I was so lost in my own dark thoughts I wasn’t thinking straight. I should’ve never let you go and I promise I never will again’

‘Mase, don’t blame yourself’ you told him, resting your hand on his chest as he kissed your cheek.

‘I meant what I told you that night. If I was ready to fall for someone then it would be you. I already knew I loved you then and when you told me you loved me I knew I didn’t deserve you but I’ve not been able to get you out of my head. You’re all I’ve thought about these past months, praying that by some miracle things would work out but I was too scared to talk to you cause I’d figured you must of moved on by now. And then when you accidentally called me last week I was so close to not answering because I was petrified about what I might find out but I’m so glad you dropped your phone on your face’ he laughed and you patted his chest gently. ‘I knew I’d never fall in love again until I was back with you’ he whispered, kissing you softly as you melted at his words. ‘Let me love you again. Fall with me, I promise I’ll catch you’

You were so overwhelmed but you knew in your heart you wanted him back in your life. Too tongue tied to say anything back to him you reached up and connected your lips once again, hoping you could say everything through the touch of your lips against his rather than words and he seemed to get the idea, kissing you back before pulling back reluctantly.

‘I know I’ve got a lot of making up to do and we can go as slow as you like but can we please get out of here?’ He laughed, kissing your cheek gently as you nodded, letting him help you up before walking back to his car. Just before he opened the door up for you he lightly pressed you against it, holding you by your cheeks as he looked you in the eyes.

‘I’ll never let you go again, y/n. I promise’

#mason mount #mason mount request #mason mount imagine #mason mount fluff #mason mount story #mason mount smut #mason mount concept #mason mount fanfic #mason mount blurb #mason mount x reader #mason mount x y/n #footballer x reader #footballer x y/n

[nicolesainz]

Foolish One (MM7)

A/N: I am back with a short one shot. And it won’t be the happiest of ones I’ve written. Mason’s departure from Chelsea hurt me very much. I was crying for days and I still can’t digest it. I hope nothing but the best for him at Man United. He deserves it.

Warnings: Angst

Mason Mount x Y/N-Chilwell reader

Summary: Ben’s sister is shocked to learn about her crushes departure from the team. She’s not ready to say goodbye. Her brother encourages to speak up to Mason and tell her what she actually feels. How will Mason react?

After what felt like an eternity, I was on time to pick up Ben from training at Cobham. There was so much traffic today, everyone literally storming to the training center for some breaking news that the team is about to reveal.

I get out of the car and ring Ben. It goes to voicemail. I call him a s second time and still the same. What's going on? I stop at the third time, then I move on to texting. I keep spamming him, because I get more worried as minutes go by.

I finally get a reply after all the failed attempts of reaching him. And it was probably the weirdest reply I had evert gotten from my brother.

"Come inside the center, please. Now." If I was next to Ben at the moment, I feel like he would have yelled his answer at me.

I rush to get inside, trying to avoid all the reporters and cameras that are televising the possible news. And why does Ben need me there? What is happening?

I quietly open the door and see half of the squad surrounding the currently blonde haired Mason. The center felt empty as a lot of players had departed from the club earlier this month. A lot of my friends and Ben's teammates weren't there. That still was a shock to me.

I see Ben shushing me once he notices my presence and tells me to listen closely to what Mason is about to say. Mason eyes weirdly Ben but he keeps on going with his speech. By the second I get even more anxious about his reveal.

"I will be unfortunately leaving Chelsea" he says in the lowest manner possible, trying to hide the shame and denial that his voice is filled with.

I start shaking after the words escape his mouth. This feels surreal and like a terrifying nightmare. I want to wake up and have Mason take every single one of those words bad, saying it's just a bad prank.

Reece is in a devastating state, trying to process what he just heard. His best friend was leaving their childhood club. After all those years they wouldn't play along, but against each other.

"Please tell me this is a sick joke" I don't hold back and Mason turns to face me. His teary eyes drop to the floor, unable to look at me. He puts his hand on his mouth, wanting to hold back a sob.

"Which team is it going to be?" my brother barely wants to know. He doesn't care but knowing he may have to play against his friend, breaks his heart, just at the thought.

"Manchester United" Mason doesn't even want to admit that this is actually happening. He will be going to the biggest rivals of Chelsea. He will have to attend Stamford Bridge, not as their player, but a rival. A threat.

I refuse to listen furthermore to that nonsense, so I just ran off from the room and go outside once again. The atmosphere feels very suffocating.

I can hear someone walking behind me trying to catch me from leaving this center and asking someone else to pick up Ben.

"Y/N, hold on, please. Do not leave" Azpilicueta grabs my arm, before I manage to open my car door. I can't resist so I leave the handle and look at him.

"Why is he doing this?" my words come out as a whisper and with my lower lip quivering.

"Because that is how life works. One door closes and another opens. It's the cycle of life." he tries to comfort me with a smile and I instantly feel better. During those years that my brother became a member of the Chelsea squad, I have grown closer with Azpi, even though he is a very low key personality and is completely different to the others, like Kai, Ben, Mason and Reece.

"It hurts Azpi. He said he would stay. What changed his mind? Why was he willing to leave the club?"

"This season has been a big hit for us. Not the best one the team has had. We had to face many obstacles. Many injuries. A lot of players thought that a move would be good for them. Take Jorgi, for example, he is doing better now at Arsenal. Our environment became hostile, even for us the players."

"I know. I am so sorry for the season you guys had. I hated seeing Ben coming home being a constant downer and not being able to cheer him up the slightest. I just believed you'd stick together."

"Family members take different paths sometimes. The children leave home in order to evolve and look out for what they have been missing. And parents move on to seek for another source of excitement in life."

"Wait, what do you mean? What about the parents?" I look down at Azpi's hands, holding mine firmly. A few tears fall on the knuckles of my hand and I notice that something is about to happen.

"Please don't" the words gag my throat, get stuck in my throat as I realise what he is about to say.

"I will be going to Spain. I didn't want you to find out through the media. Not from your brother either. No one in the team knows yet. I am so sorry, mi increíble amiga"

I couldn't hold back my tears. A waterfall escaped my eyes and uncontrollable sobs were all I could utter. I was losing all my friends and now what was like a second father to me. Cesar wrapped his arms around me and gave me what was probably our last hug. This was very painful to handle.

"As much as it pains me, I want the best for you. You have been my favourite since day one. Thank you for always being by my side Azpi. I owe you my life. I am going to miss you terribly."

As I lay my head on his shoulder, I open my teary eyes to be faced with a saddened look on Mason's face, a few meters away from me and Cesar. He doesn't want to intervene, so he just waits patiently.

Azpi noticed his presence and gestured with his free hand to come our way. Mason doesn't know what to say on what he is currently seeing in front of his eyes. He knows this is between me and Cesar.

After Azpi made his way back to the center, it was just me and Mason. Mason and me.

"So that is it? You are leaving? For good?"

"I am so sorry, Y/N. I was left with no choice. Chelsea had become my toxic trait. And I hers. It was inevitable." he snips, wiping his nose with the sleeve of his jumper.

"So I won't be able to root for you? Wear your jersey? Chant about your brilliance?" Confessions were about to be made and at this point I didn't care. I had to get them out of my chest.

"Wait? You have my jersey?" he was so shocked by that and honestly I don't know how he hadn't noticed?

"Why do you think I still attended the games even after my brother's injury? Why do you think I travelled to Qatar? Why do you think I call you starboy?"

"What are you implying, Y/N? Because this could either break my heart or bring it back to life."

"I love you Mason. And my brother may think it is a silly crush but I love you. I look back and see all the missed opportunities of wanting to confess this to you, but my priority was to make sure you were alright and my feelings came second. And now it's gone."

"Who told you it's gone? Did you really think Ben willingly wanted you here today? I told him to alert you. I would hate myself if you found out from someone else rather than the man who has been madly obsessed with you from the moment you stepped into Stamford Bridge."

Madly obsessed? Where does this come from? Does Mason actually...

"I know very well you have been attending the games. Even when Ben is away, I always spot your smile in the crowd. It what motivates me. Even in the ten minutes I may play, your brightness is my source of happiness. God, the effort I made to tell you how much I love you but we were never alone and I thought you just saw me as your brother's teammate."

His words shattered my heart and built it back in seconds. It felt like my favourite dream to have Mason confess his love to me. For him to actually notice all my little hints and signs of support and appreciation.

"Then why are you leaving? Why do you let all this slip away from you? Everyone knows what a capable player you are. Can't you..." my voice starts breaking and tears blur my vision once again.

My cheeks dry up because of Mason's jumper. He is currently holding me tighter than anything else, as if I was going to turn into dust soon. The kind of hug I have been wanting him to give me since day one.

"I would love for you to come cheer for me at my games with United. I will give you a ticket for the family box. I don't know what I will do if you're not in the same room as me, your presence giving me strength." he offers to me and as tempting as it sounds, how will I ever tell my brother? how can I attend Chelsea v United games? which side will I support?

"I would really love to, but what about Ben? What if the teams play against? Would I support the man I love or my own blood? Would I even be able to cheer if you scored a goal against Chelsea?" Mason's eyes are bloodshot red and very dark. I hate seeing him hurt like this.

"Even if you give me a short glance, I will know that you support me as well. You don't have to cheer. Just look at me."

Mason's fingers under my chin, force me to look him deeply in the eyes. My heart is beating extremely fast, it may even kill me in the moment. How did we end up like this? confessing to each other the very last day?

In soft movements, his lips come close to mine and I can feel sparks flying as I can finally taste him against me. He is very tender and sweet, cupping my face with both of his soft hands. If I could replace oxygen with Mason's kisses, I would choose that over and over again.

A small moan escapes my lips, and I can feel a smile shaping on his lips, still not removing himself from me, pushing my body deeper onto my car's door. His hands move to hold my waist firmly as he refuses to let me go. I fear that someone may be looking us and especially my brother, but all I can think about right now is how my dream has come true. And my worst nightmare.

"I can't let you go." he mumbles underneath the kiss, his hands roaming all over my body, keeping me in close proximity.

"Don't do this now." I take a breath and stop from kissing him. Why is this happening now? Why did this had to happen now? The day that he is leaving Chelsea for good.

"I need you with me. I can't do this without you." he hold my hands firmly and so tight afraid I may slip away. When in reality, he is the one letting me go. Or, letting go.

"You already are Mason. I will be here for you, but I can't be with you." and with a final kiss, I say my final goodbye to my beloved footballer and sweetest human alive.

#mason mount fanfic #mason mount x reader #mason mount fluff #mason mount #man united

[ouiouibaguettt]

Bluey and Red

Leah Williamson x Lola Hernandez (oc!)

@carinaswife hope that you like

warnings: no one

words: 1k

Masterlist here, leave request if you want

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Lola’s POV:

"I'm sorry" I managed to get out between sobs into Sam and Guro's arms. "I shouldn't have missed, I should have passed to one of you" I repeated.

We had lost to FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the second leg of the Champions Leagues semi-finals. We only needed one goal to equalize. A goal to still believe but I wasted the opportunity. I had the chance to shoot or pass but I missed.

"We don't blame you, you know that, even great players miss shots like yours, the only thing now is to work on them more and not give up, you're an exceptional player Lola, whether it's us or your nationale team, we're very lucky to have you" Guro said to me as he helped me to my feet and accompanied me towards the tunnel.

"Hernandez!" coming from an unknown voice behind. "Yes?", "Congratulations even if you didn't win you can be proud of the team, you can be proud of yourself really you were an incredible opponent" says the only Alexia Putellas. "Thank you, congratulations to you for the victory, and I hope you'll be back on the pitch soon" I said feeling sympathy for her, it had been 10 months since she had set foot on a pitch and I have the same at home.

"Do you want to swap shirts?" she asked. "Yeah sure" I said excitedly even though I was still bitter about the loss but who wouldn't dream of swapping shirts with Alexia Putellas. "Don't worry about your shot, I miss shots like that too, but if you believe in yourself and your body, you'll put them all in" she said, handing me her shirt. "Thank you, that means a lot coming from you" I said, handing her mine in return. "No problem" she smiled at me.

I made my way back to the dressing room with Alexia's shirt in my hands and immediately went to sit in my seat waiting for Emma's speech. When she had finished, I pulled out my phone to see a photo that Leah's mother had sent me.

Mamanda 🤍 The picture was Leah in my Chelsea shirt watching the game on our sofa. Amanda also said to me 'She's waiting for you at home for comfort. You'll come back better. x Amanda'

That message alone makes me feel good, and seeing Leah in a Chelsea shirt is amazing but seeing her in mine is even better, it almost makes me feel better. Speaking of her, she just sent me a message.

My red ❤️ 'I know you're disappointed in the game, and in yourself, but don't be, you led the team all the way, you were amazing in that semi-final, bluey. Know that I love you and I'm waiting for you at home, go home safe. x your red.'

The fact that even thousands of miles away she manages to give me back my confidence means a lot to me coming from her.

//

My red ❤️ 'I've just landed I can't wait to get you home. x your bluey.'

Putting my phone away in my pocket as I saw my suitcase arrive, I headed to pick it up and leave to join Lauren and her brother on their way home.

The drive from the airport to the house was long and quiet. Once I arrived I thanked the James brothers/sisters for the ride, and walked towards the front door which was open with Leah resting against the door frame, she was waving goodbye to Lauren when I reached her and I let go of my suitcase and hugged her.

"I missed you so much red, and I love you too" I said as I replied to her message from the night before. "I missed you too bluey. Come on let's go home before we catch a cold" she says guiding me to the bedroom so I can put my suitcase down and we can go sit on the couch and cuddle.

"I'm proud of you, you know that?" she said, resting her head on my chest and looking into my eyes. "I know red" I tell her. "So stop pulling your head up, you were the best player in the game, you missed your shot? So what? It's not a shot that's going to destroy your career" she says. "But I destroyed our hope of going to the final..." I said, breaking the eye contact. "No, it wasn't YOU who broke it, it was the whole team, do you hear me? So right now our plan is to rest, enjoy our time together and you're going to go and win your last few games even against Arsenal right?" she commanded me. "Yes I hear you captain" I said with a little smile.

//

Leah comforted me as best she could that night, so I had to return the favor. That's why I found myself in the Arsenal Stadium, wearing Leah's shirt, cheering for the Guners.

At the final whistle I managed to get down to comfort Leah, I knew that games like this were close to her heart, and I couldn't help but feel bad for her as she was injured just before the semi-final games.

"I'm sorry red, you should be proud of yourself and the girls, really, you were a great team all the way" I said. "Thank you bluey, I love you." she said with tears forming in her eyes. "I love you too, come on don't cry you'll come back much stronger, Chelsea have a lot to worry about next year" I tried to make her smile, which worked. "I'll wait for you at the car okay?" I said. "Okay, I'll be right there" she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek before joining her team in the locker room.

Once we got back from the stadium, we curled up in bed, exhausted from the crazy game we had seen. "Good night bluey" she said to me. "Good night red" I said, closing my eyes.

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I'm devastated that Arsenal lost tonight, they had a crazy season in the champions league despite the injuries, they deserved to go to the final, but congratulations to wolfsburg 😕

#leah williamson x reader #leah williamon #arsenalwfc #arsenalwfc x reader #woso fanfics #woso soccer #woso x oc #woso #women champions league #champions league #chelsea fcw

[alltoolewis]

Enough for you (part 1) - Mason Mount

I missed you guysssss..... finally logged back into my account after 2 months and began typing & I'm so happy!!!! I am sorry for the absent, uni and my personal life has been a living hell but I am back for now to speak and write to all you lovely lot... which I've just now discovered I now have 2,000 followers! Thank you soooooooo much I really can't believe it

This one isn't the best as I'm a little rusty but I think it's a good opener for a new series I am going to write! Currently it's called 'enough for you' however this might change the more I write of it! The next part will be uploaded tomorrow but for now feel free to fill my inbox with 'hello's' and questions as I missed you all sooooooooo much! Enjoy 💕

Summary- After your dad, frank lampard, gets assigned to manage his old team again and wants you to join him as the head counsellor, your mind fills with dread and flashbacks of a possible reunion with your ex...

“Theres no way…” You whispered, staring at your father in disbelief as he spoke the words that you thought you’d never hear again “Your managing Chelsea… again”.

“Only for the rest of the season, it’s nothing permanent yet” You could hear his own surprise in his voice, as if he too couldn’t believe what he was saying. “But it went awful last time” You gasped “Why would they want you back?”

 “Cheers kiddo, I needed that confidence boost…” rolling his eyes he came closer to you, ruffling your hair slightly before walking pass you towards the kitchen.

“I didn’t mean it like that dad” You sighed, following him “They just treated you so badly last time… is it worth it?” It’s not that you didn’t want your dad to go back into managing his old team, of course you wanted him too! Goosebumps rose on your own arms just thinking about Frank Lampard’s, your dads, big return to Stamford bridge. But the excitement fades away quickly once you the memories of last time flood in your mind.

The headline that he left…

The face he made when he got the call…

The hours and hours he spent preparing to head HR to fight a losing battle…

Seeing the nervousness in your eyes, he wrapped his arms around you “Theres no need to panic, eh? It’s a couple of weeks that’s all… they need me”.

Sighing, you knew that he was right. You didn’t have to live under a rock to know how poor Chelsea was at the minute. “I suppose you couldn’t make them any worst than they are…” You giggled, a smirk on your face as you pulled away from the hug, his laugh echoing across the marble walls of the kitchen “That’s the spirit! Now let’s get a glass of wine to celebrate our return!”

Just as you were about to grab the glasses, you froze “Our return…”

“Yeah, that’s the thing…” Your dad spoke hesitantly “The board had asked if you’d also come back as the head of the wellbeing team. All the players and staff have been going through a rough time and really need a team on site to help… that’s why they need you!”

Working for Chelsea was the first job you had ever gotten when you graduated from university with a counselling degree. It obviously helped that your dad was the manager of the team, however every loved having you around and you loved being there. But when your dad got fired from the team in such a cruel way and the management of the team collapsing, there was no way that you were going to stay… so you left with him… despite everything you were leaving behind… despite leaving him!

“No way dad!” You quickly rejected, placing the glasses back down as you headed back into the living room “I am happy for you, I really am! But I’m not going back!”

“Why not?”

“I have a job!”

“You can leave it” He pushed, causing your eyes to widen “I can’t just leave my job dad! What am I supposed to say, ‘sorry guys I’m going to work with my dad for a few weeks and then I’ll return when they throw us away again’”.

“They never asked you to go” Your dad interjected. It was true, if anything the team wanted you to stay more than Frank!

“They wanted you to leave… so I did too! End of!”

“(y/n) …” Frank spoke hesitantly “This isn’t about Mason, is it?”

You didn’t realise your body could go more into shock than before until he spoke his name. The name that at one point caused your heart to burst into a thousand butterflies, but now makes it shatter into a million shards of glass that was impossible to piece together again…

“No” You spoke just above a whisper, trying to convince not only your dad but yourself. It wasn’t a secret that you were once in love with Chelsea’s number 19… to the public it might have been but to everyone in your life it was clear to see the effect that his presence had on you, and even now almost 2 years later remains on you! You were perfect together, the mix of your existences together had meaning, a love so strong that it could be seen a mile away… that was until he broke your heart.

“Don’t lie to me (y/n)” Frank sighed “Why else wouldn’t you come back?”

“Why do you even care about that?” You exploded, anger tracing in your veins “You hated us together… it was one of the reasons he broke up with me!”

Flashback

“What do you mean you can’t do this anymore?” You breathed out, looking over to him as he placed his hands over his face in anger, sitting on the edge of the sofa. What was supposed to be a night enjoying watching your boyfriend play in one of the toughest tournaments in football, turned into a surprisingly sour one. The second you returned home from the win, Mason turned bitter, his face scrunched together in thought as he refused to acknowledge your presence. “You won Mase… I don’t what is wro-“

“We’re wrong!” he screamed back, standing up from the sofa as he turned to face you “It’s not about the game… It’s about us!”

“Mason I don’t know what you mean?!?” you shouted back, confusion etched in your voice as he huffed “Us, (y/n) … it shouldn’t be happening it can’t happen!”

“We’ve been together for months Mason! Why now?”

“People are going to find out about us and then what? I’m just the player who got in the team cause he’s shagging his managers daughter!”

“Who cares what they say?!” You pushed “Who gives a fuck? I’m happy, your happy… my dad’s okay with it!”

“Oh please!” He laughed sarcastically as you raised your eyebrows in confusion “Your dad hates us together and you know it!” “He did at first but not anymore” You tried to convince him, knowing that it did indeed take your dad awhile to warm to the idea “He accepts us Mason… so what’s this really about because I know what you are saying is full of shit!”

Mason turned back around, not wanting you to see any more of the cracks showing “I’m telling the truth (y/n)!”

“No. Your. Not.” You said, voice getting angrier and angrier “You wouldn’t do this now, you wouldn’t end us over something so simple… so easy to fix! So what is it?”

“I CHEATED OKAY!” he shouted back, causing your heart to stop. “Your lying…” You mumbled, shaking your head as you refused to let the tears go “Your lying… you’d ne-never do th-that to me… with who?”

“Does it matter?” He sighed, pulling his hair as he glanced over to what once was your happy figure, but is now destroyed. “Yes it does…” You whispered, a tear ruining down your cheek against your will “of course it does, so with who?”

“Just a girl at the club” he spoke with no emotion “I got drunk, she was there, it happened”

“Why?”

“Why what?” He tutted “Why did I fuck her? Like I just said, we got drunk she was there, you wasn’t it’s that easy-“

“No… not that” You stopped him, not wanting to hear anymore “Why wasn’t I good enough for you?”

Your words caused him to freeze as he stopped his pacing, and for a moment you could of sworn you seen the cracks to yet another lie but of course it was hidden quicker than it was seen “You know what they say… the game is the game, and sometimes your just not good enough to play!”

His words caused your body to tense up like you just got a million paper cuts, you wanted to push him… to fight him… to prove that the crack you seen was a lie, a doubt… but why would you, when the man you loved, the man you thought was your haven, just told you that you weren’t good enough.

Without another word, you nodded, walking past him to collect your belongings. Only once you were past him did you let the tears run…

“Mason?” You whispered, needing to say one more thing to him before you left

“Yes…” You didn’t look at him when he replied but you knew he was crying… but why?

“Thank you for letting me play the game with you…” and with that you left… one of you hoping to see the other one again while the other one prayed.

End of flashback

 A shiver ran down your back as you remembered the horrid memory, but it was brushed off as your dad began to speak again “I didn’t hate you together!” He protested, sitting beside you on the couch “Did I hate the idea of my oldest child falling in love? Yes. Did I hate the idea that one of my best players was seeing my daughter behind my back? Of course.”

“dad…” You tried to stop him, but he obviously ignored you.

“But did I hate seeing my daughter so happy? No.” tears streamed down your face as he spoke the truthful words “I know it hurt you. The hiding… the breakup… the secrecy. But that’s what love is, and deep down I know he really did love you.”

“Then why did break up with me then?” you sniffled “If he really loved me that much then why?”

“That’s something we’ll never know unless you speak to him.”

Of course you didn’t tell your dad he cheated on you, although after the reveal you couldn’t stand to even look at him, your love overpowered the hatred of ruining his relationship with your dad and his chances of remaining in the first team.

“I’m not seeing him dad… no matter what I’m not facing him again” Your body went into reject mode at the idea of just seeing him, nevermind having a vulnerable conversation with him. “I’m not asking you too honey, he can be booked in with someone else and you’ll have your own office… but please come back with me? I need you”.

 ‘I need you’

The three words that held so much but little meaning. The three words that you held onto so tightly for so many years. The three words that you can never refuse.

“Fine…” You sighed, as your dads’ arms wrapped around you once more in celebration. “Thank you… thank you… thank you! The teams going to be so happy…”

“You don’t have to thank me, I’d do anything for you and you know that” You chuckled, getting off the couch to collect the glasses you put down a lifetime ago “but dad?”

“Yes?”

“You make sure Mason Mount stays the hell away from me!”

#mason mount #mason mount imagine #mason mount blurb #mason mount imagines #mason mount one shot #mason mount story #mason mount fun #englanf #england #chelsea #football imagine #football #football blurb

[canirove]

I don’t like you, Mason Mount | Chapter 12

Previous chapter | Next chapter

Masterlist

“Dani, there is someone at the door asking for you.”

“Me?”

“Yep” my sister says.

“Who?”

“You have to go and see for yourself.”

“I don’t like the way that sounds, Monica.”

“Just go, auntie. Please” Lola says next to her.

“Ok, then” I sigh, putting away the book I was reading. “But I swear, if this is a trap…”

“Hello, Daniela.”

“No. No, no, no.”

“Just listen to him.”

“Please, auntie” Lola pouts.

“I hate you all. All of you” I say, pointing first at Lola, then at my sister and then… Then at Mason.

“We’ll leave you alone” Monica says, she and Lola disappearing into the kitchen.

“Speak.”

“I’ve broken up with my girlfriend.”

“Yeah, sure” I snort.

“I have. And I am going to make it official. Right now” he says, taking his phone from his pocket and starting to type something.

“What… What are you doing?”

“Making it official” he says, showing me his phone. “Will this story be enough, or do I need to also make a post and tweet about it?”

“I… I think that’ll be enough.”

“Good. It is live now.”

“Do you want me to congratulate you for it or something? It was just posting a story, anyone can do it.”

“Yeah” he chuckles. “Anyway, that was all. Enjoy the summer, Daniela.”

“Are you… are you leaving?”

“I have training session in an hour, this weekend is our last game. You guys are invited if you want to come.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Still. I’ve reserved tickets for your family, they can go if they want.”

“Thank you, Mason” I mutter.

“Goodbye, Daniela.”

“Bye.”

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

“Dani, where are you going?”

“To the beach. It looks like the sunset today will be breathtaking.”

“You are so lame” Monica laughs.

“It isn’t lame” my dad says. “Your mum and I loved watching the sunset together. We actually shared our first kiss watching the sunset back home.”

“Aww, dad. You had never told us that story.”

“You never asked” he shrugs.

“Now I want to know more” I say.

“I’ll tell you all the details later while we have dinner. What do you say?”

“That sounds like a plan. Dani?” my sister asks me.

“Yeah, sure. I won’t be gone for too long, I promise.”

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

“Maybe I am a bit lame” I laugh to myself while I take another photo of the sunset.

This was the first time I had managed to walk down to the beach since we had arrived in Portugal for our holidays. Going there made me think of what happened the previous year. Of Mason. And I was here to disconnect, not to keep thinking about him.

After his visit to show me that this time it was real, that he had broken up with his girlfriend, we hadn’t seen each other again. And I hadn’t heard from him either. He had gone silent on Instagram, probably to focus on the few games he had left with Chelsea and the national team, and avoid all the drama his ex was creating online. She kept doing Instagram lives answering fans questions, saying that she still loved him and that if they had broken up, it was because of a third person. Had Mason told her about me?

“That’s a beautiful sunset, isn’t it?”

“It was until you showed up” I manage to say, my heart beating so fast I fear it may break my chest.

“Glad to know mean Daniela still is with us.”

“You are my favourite victim, Mason. I can’t help it” I shrug, turning around to look at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m on holidays with my family. They loved this place last year.”

“And here at the beach? Did my sister tell you I was coming?”

“What? No, no. I’ve actually been coming here every day expecting to see you” he says with a shy smile, his dimple showing. Dear God, I had miss it so much.

“You… You have?”

“Yeah, I have. Which is something lame to do, not taking photos of the sunset.”

“It is a bit lame, yes” I chuckle.

“But I wanted to see you again. To talk with you.”

“About what? I’m pretty sure we have already said everything that is to be said.”

“We haven’t. Or at least, I haven’t. Because in case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve fallen in love with you. I seriously don’t know how or even why, especially keeping in mind that since the moment we met you’ve only been a mean bitch to me” he laughs. “But it has happened. I’m in love with you, Daniela. I love you.”

“Mason, I…”

“I know I’ve hurt you and that it probably is too late. That you’ve moved on. But I had to say it. I needed to say it aloud to someone who wasn’t Dec or my siblings. I needed to tell you.”

“Wait, everyone knows?”

“Yeah…” he says, scratching the back of his head. “I’ve apparently been a miserable shit for the past few months, they were worried about me, and I had to tell them. Anyway, that was all. I just wanted you to know, and I understand if now you don’t want to see me again.”

“I…” I’m frozen in place. I don’t know what to do. What to say. He is in love with me. He loves me. Mason… he loves me.

“Goodbye, Daniela” he says, starting to walk away.

“Wait, what?” I say, watching him leave. “Mason… Mason!” I call. But he doesn’t listen, he just keeps walking. “Mason… Mason Tony Mount!”

“You know my full name? That’s new” he says, still walking.

“Bloody hell…” I murmur. “Mason, can you please wait!” I say, running towards him. “Mason, I love you!”

“You what?” he says, suddenly stopping and making me crash against his back. “You... what are you doing down there?”

“I don’t know, I just fancied sitting down on the sand for a bit.”

“You did?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course I didn’t, you idiot. I fell when I crashed against you. Are you gonna help me get up or not?”

“Yeah, yeah” he says, offering me his hand. The moment I’m up, he grabs me by the waist, pulling me closer to him. “What were you saying before you almost broke my back in half?”

“Before I did what? Who is the one who ended up on the floor?” I say, my eyes fixed on the way my hands are resting on his chest.

“Ok, fine. It was my fault. But what did you say?”

“I can’t remember.”

“Dani…”

“Don’t call me that, you haven’t earned it. Yet.”

“Yet? Does that mean that I am close to it?”

“Maybe” I shrug.

“Interesting… But are you going to repeat what you said earlier or not?” he says, pulling me a bit closer to him.

“I… I said…”

“Yes…”

“I love you” I whisper, my eyes still fixed on my fingers.

“I didn’t hear you” he says, moving one of his hands to my chin, making me look at him. He is trying really hard not to smile, and as always, I get distracted by his dimple.

“Have I ever told you that I am obsessed with that dimple on your left cheek?”

“That is very cute, but my dimple isn’t what we were talking about.”

“I…”

“You what” he says, lifting my chin a bit more, forcing me to look him in the eyes. This time I can’t escape, I can’t stop looking at them. Since when does he have such beautiful eyes?

“I love you, Mason.”

“Finally” he smiles, leaning forward and kissing me while the sun sets behind us.

#mason mount #mason mount fanfic #mason mount imagine #football fanfic #football imagine

[pensat-i-fet]

The best assistant (Rúben Dias x Reader)

**Very shocking, I know. But the gorgeous coat and my lovely anons inspired me to write a little imagine once again ❤️ short but sweet this time. Enjoy!**

Word count: 798

Masterlist

Wattpad

It was the FA cup weekend again, and you had been sent to the Etihad to cover the City-Chelsea match for the BBC. You always loved the cup because instead of just doing post-match interviews, you also got to be on presenter duty.

Being in Manchester also meant you got to see your boyfriend Rúben after the match. And probably before and during since he was injured and wouldn't be with the rest of the squad during warm-ups.

The bad thing about today was that you forgot to check the weather forecast. Again.

So here you were in Manchester wearing a not thick enough jacket. Very cute jacket but…it was not going to keep you warm at all.

You kept on jumping, trying not to look too ridiculous, and rubbing your arms to warm yourself up a bit. The last thing you needed was chattering teeth while speaking on TV. 

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Rúben signing autographs and taking photos with some fans. When he was done, he spotted you and moved to where you were standing after noticing you still weren’t on air.

“Hi”, he said, hugging you and kissing your cheek.

“Hi. Done attending your adoring fans?”

“No, don’t worry. I still have time for you”.

You rolled your eyes when another shiver made you hug yourself. It really was cold today. 

When you looked up at Rúben, you saw him frowning.

“Why do you never wear something weather appropriate?”, he said, shaking his head.

“I didn’t realise it was going to be so cold. But it’s fine. We’ll be indoors during the match. It’s just a couple of minutes of suffering”.

“I could ask the team for a coat for you or something”, he suggested.

“I can’t wear any team’s clothes. But maybe I could hide inside your coat. Why is it so big?”

“Oversize coats are trendy!”

“Whatever you say. Now go, we need to start working”.

With another kiss, he left to join the team on the bench. And you, somehow, managed to do the pre-match presenting without turning blue. 

                                       **

It was an easy win for City. And you were happy to be able to go to the press area to do the post-match interviews. The heating was on and very much appreciated by your cold body. When you got back inside after half-time, your hands were so cold it almost hurt to move your fingers. Thankfully one of your colleagues had a spare pair of gloves, so at least that was sorted.

After your interviews, it was time to wait for one of your colleagues to interview the Chelsea players before you could do the final bit of presenting. You thought about staying inside the tunnel for as long as you could and it was there you found Rúben again.

“What are you doing here?”, you asked, curious. You expected him to be in the dressing room celebrating with his teammates.

“Making sure you’re still alive”.

“Well, barely”, you finally admitted.

Rúben then opened his coat and brought you closer to him so you could also be covered by it.

“See? I told you it was too big”, you joked, but also hugged him tighter, enjoying the warmth of the coat and of his body.

“I need to buy them two sizes bigger for all the times when you forget to bring one”.

“Maybe I should hire you as my assistant”.

“I would be the best assistant”, he said, proudly.

“I have no doubts about that”.

But then it was time for you two to separate and for you to finish work.

“Take the coat”, said Rúben while you were walking back to the pitch.

"It's just five minutes. I'll be fine and I don’t want you to get cold".

"If it's just five minutes, I'll be fine too", he shrugged, moving away from the camera.

Rúben took off the coat and put it on your shoulders, leaving quickly when he saw the looks he was getting from the tv crew.

You then realised how big it actually was. I mean, if it looked oversize on him…but managed to make it look decent by rolling the sleeves up a bit and using the hair clip you always carried with you, for when you had to put your hair up, on the back to make it look smaller.

                                        **

“Thank you very much for joining us today and we’ll see you tomorrow for the Oxford-Arsenal tie. Until then, take care”.

“Perfect”, said the producer. “Now we go to the pub to let the beers warm us up a bit, right?”

“You go have fun, guys”, you said. “I have to return this coat”.

“Right. We all know what that’s code for”, laughed one of your cameramen, winking at you.

#ruben dias #ruben dias imagine #ruben dias one shot #ruben dias x reader #ruben dias fanfic #ruben dias fanfiction #ruben dias fluff #footballer imagine #footballer one shot #footballer x reader #footballer fanfiction #foootballer fanfic #footballer fluff #ruben dias au #footballer au

[love-bokumono-fics]

Fresh Crops! December 18 - December 31, 2023

That last of 2023's newest fics and chapter updates for Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons on AO3!

Her Voice Within - by syavwits; Complete, 7/7, 15k

Rating: Not Rated; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M Fandoms: Back To Nature Relationship: Claire the Farmer/Gray; Characters: Claire the Farmer, Pete the Farmer, Gray, Rick, Kai, Cliff, Doctor | Trent, Mary the Librarian | Marie, Karen, Popuri, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Elli | Elly, Manna, Duke, Doug | Dudley, Old Ellen, May | Mei, Stu | Yu, Zack, Won | Huang, Anna, Basil the Writer, Saibara, Harris, Gotz | Gotts, Kano, Louis the Entomologist | Chuu, Greg, Barley | Mugi, Aja | Adge Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Romantic Soulmates, Soul-Searching, Mystery, Mute Protagonist, Found Family Summary: It's not that Claire can't talk, she sometimes speaks yes, but only when she really put all her energies to do it. Then there's Gray, the stoic guy with the famous resting b*tch face, he doesn't want anything to do with anyone, everyone, even the new girl although she's… cute. While Pete tries to save his farm, he also confides in Claire and asks her help to search for his unknown childhood friend, his first love, who apparently is one of the girls in Mineral town?!? Will Claire manage to find Pete's long-lost Best friend? Will Claire find what she truly desires in her second chance at life?

Cooking Lessons Part II - by blushroomx; Complete, 1/1, 3.5k

Rating: Not Rated; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/F Fandom: A Wonderful Life Relationship: Flora / Vesta; Characters: Flora, Vesta Additional Tags: Fluff and Angst Summary: The sequel to "Cooking Lessons", Flora's POV.

Restraint - by MidnightArrow; Complete, 1/1, 4k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: A Wonderful Life, DS Cute Relationship: Celia| Cecilia / Marlin | Matthew / Pony; Characters: Marlin | Matthew, Celia | Cecilia Additional Tags: Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Tragic Romance Summary: Cecilia studied the area where his fingers met her wrist. The farmer's face flashed through her mind. She thought of the long afternoons they spent analyzing Matthew's stray touches and unexpected smiles, the farmer gushing over his every move. She thought of Matthew beaming at the end of the aisle on his wedding day. She thought that she couldn't love Matthew if he went any further.

We're Friends - by dicelady20; Complete, 1/1, <1k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, Kill la Kill Characters: Matoi Ryuuko, Gray Additional Tags: POV Third Person, Double Drabble, One Shot, Friendship, Gray, ryuuko Summary: This drabble is an aftermath of an incident, where Gray (Harvest Moon) saves Ryuko (Kill la Kill). Now she returns the favor and drags him to a closed mini-mart.

Rainbow Curry - by Anonymous; Complete, 1/1, 2k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Multi Fandoms: Grand Bazaar Characters: Hansel, Gretel, Daisy, Ivan, Freya Summary: Oliver sold Anita's peculiar grass collection, and now she's upset because she needed them for the rainbow curry she always prepares during the holidays. Oliver ventures into the city with Daisy and Ivan to find new ones for her.

Sex for Christmas - by Daryls_Favourite; Complete, 1/1, 1.5k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: A Wonderful Life Relationship: Daryl /reader; Characters: Daryl, Reader Additional Tags: Sex, Fucking, Oral Sex, its just a mature one shot x reader, Unprotected Sex Summary: It’s Christmas time in the valley, and this more demanding reader-chan is gonna get what she wants

Out of Reach - by MidnightArrow; WIP, 5/11, 2.6k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Fandoms: Sunshine Islands, Island of Happiness Relationships: Chelsea/Vaughn | Waltz, Sabrina | Sefiina/Vaughn | Valts, Chelsea/Mark, Mark/Sabrina | Sefiina; Characters: Vaughn | Waltz, Chelsea, Mark, Sabrina Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Romance, Friends to Lovers Summary: "What's it like to be in love?" Chelsea and Vaughn share a bittersweet moment in the meadow that slowly unravels their friendship. Will something new take its place?

Live a little, love a lot - by IslandsOfAvalon; Complete, 1/1, 7.5k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: F/M, Gen Fandoms: Trio of Towns Relationship: Female Farmer/Wayne; Characters: Wayne, Female Farmer, Original Female Character(s), Ludus, Ethan, Yuzuki, Lisette, Siluka, Stephanie Additional Tags: Stephanie doesn't speak but I mention her enough that she counts, and a good few others who're mentioned but don't speak!, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Rodeo, That's right folks this is a Rodeo AU, I call it "the Trio Rodeo", Fluff, Country & Western, Rodeo Competitions, Cowboys & Cowgirls, Alternate Universe - Western, Horses, Horse Racing, I spent so long doing research for this please let it pay off, I sneaked in a little bit of Lisette x Ludus because I'm soft, Dancing, Love at First Sight, because he is and I will repeat a dork, Not Beta Read, no beta we die like my crops the second the season changes, I spent way too many hours listening to country music while writing this Summary: There used to be magic in their world, once upon a time, and it’s widely accepted that magic is still very much present even if humans no longer have the ability to use it. Wayne blames magic on the way Hinata falls off his horse, boldly wrestles a steer to the ground as fast as he can manage while the animal struggles valiantly against his hold, and somehow makes it away completely unscathed.

Twice Shy - by JillOfAllTrades__x; WIP, 1/2, 6.7k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: A Wonderful Life Relationships: Molly/Matthew, Mark/Cecilia mentioned; Characters: Muffy | Molly, Marlin | Matthew Additional Tags: Unrequited Love, Hurt/Comfort, Heartbreak, Drunken Confessions, Christmas Party Summary: Last Winter Forgotten Valley bore witness to Mark and Cecilia’s nuptials, leaving two residents reeling from the ceremony. A year later, Rock’s impulsive Secret Santa holiday party gifts them the potential for closure.

Home For The Holidays - by TheBeckster; Complete, 1/1, 2k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Gen Fandom: Grand Bazaar Character: Lloyd Additional Tags: Ranch Story Secret Santa 2023, cozy vibes, coming home, home is where people love you Summary: After a long time away from Zephyr Town, Lloyd returns just before Starry Night.

deja vu - by FountainOfDreams, pinkfrogsndaylilies; WIP, 2/?, 3.4k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M Fandoms: Animal Parade, Tree of Tranquility Relationships: Angela the Farmer & Kevin the Farmer, Candace/Kevin the Farmer, Angela the Farmer/Chase, Everyone & Everyone; Characters: Angela the Farmer, Kevin the Farmer, Hamilton, Gill, Chase, Candace, Wizard Gale, Witch Vivi, Harvest Goddess Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Cross-Posted on Wattpad, Sibling Bonding, Past Lives, Alternate Universe, Crossover, kind of, Evil Plans, replaying the games and felt motivated to repost this, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Tags Are Hard, Slow To Update, Older Sister Angela the Farmer, Brother-Sister Relationships, Chatty Cain, being revamped as we speak Summary: Siblings Angela and Kevin move to Castanet, a faraway island in the middle of nowhere, to start their new lives on a farm. Their days passed peacefully, everything the same as the last; wake up, water the plants, care for the animals, give Chase his marmalade, visit the town, repeat. It was all very...familiar. One day, a strange small fairy showed up in their kitchen in the middle of the night looking anxious, and scared? Something wasn't right about this town, and Angela and Kevin now feel obliged to get to the bottom of it.

The Princess and the Carpenter - by SymphonicFantasia; Complete, 50/50, 7.5k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: Magical Melody, Save the Homeland, Hero of Leaf Valley Relationship: Dia/Kurt | Hayato; Characters: Dia, Kurt Summary: They weren't so different from one another although others may not think so. Just because she was a "princess" didn't mean that the carpenter didn't belong with her. It just took a bit of chiseling to see who they really were deep down. And even then, they would only show those halves to one another.

#fresh crop monday #harvest moon #story of seasons #friends of mineral town #back to nature #a wonderful life #trio of towns #hm ds cute #grand bazaar #island of happiness #sunshine islands #animal parade #tree of tranquility #magical melody #save the homeland #hero of leave valley

[cant-get-no-worse]

I loved reading your post about Neymar leaving barca. Can you please write about Messi too. I'm also kinda new to the inside story's of football so would really like to know about it.

Making a culer ramble about LM10 leaving Barcelona

Anyways LET'S GO BOYS, buckle the seatbelts and set up the parachutes cause this one's messy (cue faint laughter) too.

Context : so Leo Messi was signed at 13 yo at FCB, and is therefore considered a La Masia (club's academy) product, such as the likes of Iniesta, Xavi (current coach), Piqué, Puyol, etc, and more recently Gavi, Fati, etc. He did his whole club career there, from 2000 (with the Junior team) till 2021; was widely seen as a one-club man who'd end his career there, at the club of his life. Despite this though, everything wasn't all unicorns and pink sparkles and his relationship with the club wavered several times, and hard.

There were first rumors about a departure in 2014, but the death of Tito Vilanova (Barca assistant/coach and close to Leo) changed that (common version is that Tito asked him to stay at the club, Leo obliged). A year later in 2015, very strong movements about him possibly moving to Chelsea after rumored failing relationship with then coach Luis Enrique. Everything kind of calmed down until Neymar's departure in 2017; Leo was one of several players who entered in a sort of cold war with the board for failing to find a proper replacement for Neymar. A bit of calm again, until in August 2020, small bombshell: Messi's side sent a burofax (the trolling on twitter was funny asf ngl) expressing his desire to part ways with the club. By then, under the presidency of Bartomeu, the club was a clear mess in and off the pitch and getting out of one of its worst seasons ever (2019 - 2020). Ensued a very public back and forth argument between Messi's side and the club (about which ex players and ex managers also expressed their opinions, somehow), at the end of which Messi eventually refused to take the matter to court (« I would never go to court against the club of my life » alright, let me indulge in that quote a bit, a girl needs some soothing).

So he started the 2020 - 2021 season to go til the end of his contract, which was to end on July 1st, 2021. Didn't deter him from openly speaking against the club, though, the guy was pissed off and made it known (criticizing the way Luis Suarez, FCB striker since 2014 and close friend of Leo, was shamefully let go from the club: « at this stage nothing surprises me any more [about the club] »). The season finished in May 2021, and by that time, despite very mediocre results, it's said he'd changed his mind and wanted to stay at the club, wanted to sign a contract extension. On July 1st, contract expired, he becomes a free agent (meaning any club can sign him) in the middle of the Copa America he's playing with Argentina.

Now, ensue one of the most messy couple of weeks ever. We don't really know what happened because several versions were given: it's all image/media manipulation on who fucked who, who's at fault, who tried, etc. Basically, it's Laporta v. Messi's side. I would direct you to this twitter thread that gives the player's version. Broken down simply, everything seemed to have been agreed for a renewal; Leo spend the 2021 Copa America (DALE CAMPEON) persuaded that it was just a matter of days/weeks until he'd sign the renewal. Until, very suddenly, on August 5th, Laporta called it all off and said the deal wouldn't go through; FCB wouldn't renew Messi.

Of the reasons that were invoked, the crucial point remains the obvious financial struggles the club was going through (had been for long time, it was kind of the tipping point). Messi's wages were declared too expensive and endangering for the club, despite Messi reportedly agreeing to a 50% or 75% - versions vary - wages cut (something no other player in the dressing room agreed to); Laporta said he was putting the club's safety above all else. So, by early August 2021, Messi was left with no club, his agent/father having rejected multiple times multiple offers (such as City's) in July, thinking a new deal was to be concluded shortly with FCB.

BOOM. Do you hear that? That's oil money, babe. Enter our dear trashcan of a club, PSG. PSG's sporting director, Leonardo, had left the door ajar for Jorge Messi, just in case: that's were Jorge went, for lack of other options, when Laporta called the FCB deal off at the ending month of the summer transfer window. There were strong links for Messi to go to PSG: the French locker room comprised several close Argentine friends & teammates with whom he'd just won the Copa America (Paredes, Di Maria) and another close friend in Neymar, who'd never stopped dreaming about playing with Leo again and was all too eager to make Leo come to PSG. These guys pushed for him to come to the club; it assured him some familiarity amidst what was a career & life earthquake - change of club, of league, of country. PSG immediately facilitated everything, and in a matter of days, the deal was concluded. (Upon which our very own Brazilian 222M transfer posted Instagram stories of him watching Neymar/Messi edits on Youtube to celebrate Leo's coming. I got no words. Istg we should disect the man's brains.)

The infamous press conf given by Leo was reportedly rushed by Laporta's side, who wanted to get accross Laporta's version of what had happened as quickly and controlled as possible.

Messi's departure broke several links: commercially wise, important sponsors withdrew from the club and from La Liga. Personally wise, his friendship with Piqué (it's said Piqué, friend dating all the way back to the La Masia days, was the one who told Laporta getting Messi off would help the club's finances), which Messi took as a treason (they still don't talk to this day). Messi's relationship with Laporta took a hit too, I mean, like, was completely broken as well. That's partly why until a few months ago it seemed impossible for him to come back, with a relationship to a club's president as severed as theirs was/is. The overnight U turn of Laporta deprived Messi from having options (City, were his ex manager Pep Guardiola is) and forced him to chose under the pressure of time, the fact that if Laporta had decided to make the older players in the locker room take a wage cut as well, with the amount of revenue Messi generates for the club, he could have stayed, the cold media war over which version was the truth, the press conference, etc.

It's messy as fuck. But unlike Neymar's departure, it's not coming from the player, but rather a player evicted from the club (with reason or not; I'm not judging, just stating), so it's less of asking from where/why the decision comes from, and more why/was it necessary to.

In conclusion :

That's it for the Messi saga (shiver - for now..). Stay tuned etc. Hope I cleared a bit up! ❤️

#anon ask #fc barcelona #messi #can you tell i love doing those

[alexbkrieger13]

"It's sad to see how few players have raised their voices against the World Cup," says Magda Eriksson. International with the Swedish national team and one of Chelsea's biggest stars. Eriksson tries to recall co-workers who have been openly critical of the World Cup in Qatar. "In Germany, good enough. Norway went out to play a qualifying match with a shirt that claimed to respect human rights, but they haven't qualified for the World Cup. I'm proud of Sweden because the pressure from the fans and the clubs he managed to prevent the men's team from going on a training stay in Qatar," he recalls. "In England I have seen some players who admit they are not comfortable with the World Cup, but with a small mouth. Gareth Southgate, the selector, he said he thought it was bad how people are treated in Qatar but then let it slip that the workers who have been exploited in the stadiums want the World Cup to take place," she adds. "I, as a homosexual woman, do not feel welcome in Qatar. Why should I go there? If this is the most global sport, the World Cup should be held in a place where everyone is welcome," she adds. "We already know that it is a men's World Cup and that, therefore, it is up to women to be protagonists when play our World Cup. But it is no longer a question of waiting for a woman to be the director of the tournament or run the media. It's about hoping that the tournament is held in a place where the woman isn't sent to prison for adultery or doesn't need her father's permission to do everything." Eriksson has read a lot on the subject in recent months. "I was critical of the tournament right from the start, but I wanted to get to know the differences between the countries. To see that there are countries where, of course, things are even worse. But we have expert reports that show that women in Qatar are asked for their father's permission to get married, to go study abroad, to get jobs... If a divorce occurs, the children will always go with the father, obviously. Very few women have been able to reach public positions. There is a culture of masculinity from time to time, which reduces the role of women in the World Cup to the singers who will perform at the opening," she complains. The most prominent name of a woman in the World Cup is surely that of the British architect born in Baghdad Zaha Hadid,

"I expected more from the players. I'm disappointed with the Swedish players. I didn't expect them all to step forward, but a little more criticism, yes. Maybe it's because we women footballers are more critical, since always they ask us questions about our rights and we've learned to be brave when we speak up," she says. The Australian men's national team did issue a statement calling on Qatar to improve human rights. German player Joshua Kimmich said: "I don't like playing in a country where you can be sent to prison for being gay, where women don't have the same rights. It's a shame." Kimmich, however, will go to play the tournament to defend a German team that has been one of the few that has openly positioned itself against a World Cup in Qatar.

"I don't like playing in a country where you can be sent to prison for being gay, where women don't have the same rights. It's a shame"

JOSHUA KIMMICH-Player from Germany

According to Qatari laws, women must obtain the permission of their husbands or fathers to marry, regardless of age or previous marital status, as polygamy exists. Qatari law allows men to marry up to four wives, without requiring the permission of any of them. Once a woman is married, she will be considered "disobedient" if she does not obtain her husband's permission before working or traveling abroad. She is also considered disobedient by law if she refuses to have sex without a medical certificate, for example. Also, women cannot be primary guardians of their sons or daughters at any time. They have no authority to make independent decisions regarding their children's documents, business, or travel. In fact, in the case of a marriage where the father dies of illness, custody of the children will be given to the state, rather than to the mother, as a single woman is not allowed to be in charge of the creatures Unlike other countries in the area, women in Qatar have been allowed to drive for years. They can also vote in elections in which there are no political parties and only the representatives of a chamber with little power and the presence of few women are elected.

#magdalena eriksson #chelsea fcw #swewnt #world cup #swewnt article

[macybeckham7]

Grid Kids

Gisela #1

Gisela Hamilton aka the Flower Fairy. Any Formula One fan would remember having the little girl run around the paddock and gifting flower treats to whoever she thought needed some extra luck. The guys would wear their flower crown with pride and they was bickering between them who was her favourite. She wouldn't outright say it but she adored her Uncle Seb, and the Schumacher's.

As she grew up she loved racing but she never saw herself doing that, and she definitely felt the pressure. Out of her and her siblings, she grew to hate the cameras. Sebastian was the one who taught her the important of nature and to look after Earth. She was 6 when she helped him tidy up Silverstone after the weekend of a sold out GP. He introduced her to bees and taught her how important they were, especially to her flowers.

Her family were all supportive, when she turned 11 she was invited to the Chelsea Flower Show and she got to choose who was the winner. She loved looking around, seeing their passion, and learning about new plants and flowers. She went to University, and after three years she had got a job at a Botantical Garden. And brought her own shop, and become a florist.

G looked up when she heard the bell ring and saw Cairo and Azalea walking in. They all kissed each other with Lea handing her a white chocolate mocha, which was her favourite.

'How are you feeling about the big opening?' Cairo asks as he noses at what his younger sister was doing.

'I'm nervous, and excited' she says.

'You've worked hard, everyone is going to be excited' Lea says. 'You belong here'

'For a while I thought you would be the one outshining me on the F1 track, so I am glad you realised flowers are your biggest passion' Cairo jokes.

Growing up, everyone thought Gisela was going to be the one to follow in her fathers footsteps. She was pretty mean in a Go-Kart but that was the thing that made her grow out of love with it. She didn't want to be a nepo driver.

'Can you help, with the boxes out?' she explains, with the two nodding and making their way behind the desk.

The bell rings making the Hamilton trio stop bickering and reminiscing, they smile when they see Jacob walk in his leather jacket, wanting to look like a bad boy.

'You managed to find it' Lea jokes knowing he could get lost anywhere.

'Ha ha' he said dryly as he hugs G. 'Do I get a tour?' he asks, she nods and takes his hand and walks him around.

It was a big area, with loads of different plants and flowers. The walls were decorated with photos and memories of her childhood. Jacob smiling softly at the photo of her G gifting a bouquet to Max as he won his second championship. A photo of her stood in the middle of the field of sunflowers. There was a big double door to a garden of flowers which she grew ready to be picked and ready to buy.

'You have done a good job' he smiles.

She gently rubs her thumb over the petal of the flower. 'Thank you, I feel like I am free and don't feel any pressure to make anyone proud' she speaks honestly. 'I hope you feel that soon' she says as she picks up the flower and hands it over to him.

He gently smells it and looks at her. 'I have stopped trying to make him or anyone happy, I don't think I can whatever I do' he mutters.

She gently squeezes his shoulder.

.......

The event was in full speed, Gisela stood with a champagne glass in her hand, there was some journalist scattered around, and then there was her family and chosen family. Lewis was sat beside Sebastian and Michael as they caught up, Michael was now the Ferrari principal, he had just been announced. But they all learnt about it a week prior and they all went round for dinner. Azalea was sat on Jules’ lap as he bickered with Jacob. She didn’t understand what they’re issue with each other. Properly because they were too alike. Cairo was holding his phone and moving it around, with Adelaide sat on the screen. They were her family, who she always found comfort in. And didn’t feel any pressure to be this ‘perfect’ girl who everyone thought she was. These people raised her, she shared a bath with most of them. She would sneak in alot of their beds at midnight after a nightmare. Sebastian and Michael would pick her up when something happened and Jules and Jacob would go over to the guy who broke your heart to rough them up a bit.

'I am will the champ this season, last season I let you past but not this time' Lea said confidently and flicking Jules' nose.

'I don't know, I am backing Jacob, and I have already gave him a lucky charm' G says as she sits beside Jules. They all 'Ooo' in a teasing fashion with G winking at him.

'Traitor' Lewis jokes.

‘The Hamilton reign is over’ Jules says sticking his tongue at his on, off girlfriend.

‘I don’t know, those Hamilton’s are a force to reckon with especially now they are teammates’ Michael smiles.

No one noticed but G did how her sister stiffens and her smiles falls off her face. As she starts to play with Jules hair.

'Can we have one night not talking about F1' she suggests.

They all nod, Michael standing up and pulling her to her feet too. He gets the rooms attention. 'Looking around the room, it shows how loved you are. I think I echo what everyone is feeling. But I am beyond proud of the women you have grown up as. Heres to Gisela and The Flower Fairy, to loads of success' he says.

Everyone lifts their glasses up and say in unison 'To Gisela and The Flower Fairy!'

------

Gisela's car pulls up infront of the family home, both of her siblings cars were already parked up. Lewis always liked to meet up with the Hamilton trio (mainly Lea and Cairo) to remind them that they were siblings before hand. The season had started, so it had been two weeks since she had seen them properly. Only really seen them when they poked their heads into view when she spoke to dad. She takes the bouquet of flowers and jumps out, her mum and Angela were the first two to welcome her. She walks into the kitchen were the others were already. Lewis pecks her on the cheek and hands her a coffee which she was grateful for.

'Sorry I am late, but I bet none even realised' she mocks, which gains an eyeroll from Cairo.

'You are so bloody dramatic' with Azalea mocking 'Who are you again?' which makes her younger sister aim an apple at her head. Lucky for her, her F1 reactions are top tier.

They start to talk about the start of the F1 session, hearing that Jules is on another level.

'Should we cut the season short and just give it to him?' G jokes. 'Dad whose side was you on when Cairo took Lea out?' she asks.

'I didn't!' he cuts in. 'If you rewatch you see her turn into me' he argues his case as Azalea makes a hand puppet with her hand.

Lewis looks at his daughter with a 'thank you for that' look.

'I reckon they are working together now they are sleeping together' she giggles into her coffee.

'How are you and Jules?' Lewis asks. 'We are good' she says, she looks at Cairo. 'Cairo is dating Addy'

'Where is she now?' Lewis asks.

'Um' he looks at his phone. 'She is in Australia' long distance is harder than expected' he explains.

'She's a good kid' Lewis nods.

Gisela looks at her brother, she knew that they both had a thing for each other for a while, it wasn't until Cairo won his first World Championship when he drunkenly confessed his love for the Aussie beauty. Azalea and G both cheering from the other side of the room. The whole of the summer they lived in each others pockets, their second family all travelling around Europe. They got the front seat seeing them fall more in love with one another, she didn't think anyone could have a beautiful love story like her parents but she believed they were a close second.

Lea lets out a groan when G walks into her bathroom.

‘What was the emergency?’ she asks as she sits on the side.

Her older sister looks at her and points at her face. ‘I have a photoshoot and my brows are fucked and my skin is disgusting’ she frowns.

She was playing in the garden with the English Bulldog when she got a text and she instantly ran upstairs to her. She thought maybe it was something more of an emergency.

‘What’s the shoot for?’

‘Forbes or something, I have an interview too’ she sighs. ‘So they’ll just be like how does it feel like you are the shit Hamilton, how does it feel that you always get overshadowed, what do you bring to the table!’

‘You’re not the shit one’ she argues, which just gets a groan from her.

‘Ever since we were little and running around the paddock, everyone only looked at you and Cairo. Oh and here comes the other one’ she frowns. She bite her lip to try and stop her giggle because her voices and impressions are the best.

She gets down and wraps her arms around her middle. ‘That’s on them, not you’ She kisses her cheek and suggests that they have a pamper night to get her ready for the shoot.

‘Can I join?’ Cairo peeked his head through. ‘I have the same shoot tomorrow’

Lea groans and storms out, G gives him a shrug and chases after her.

‘What did I do?’ he calls after them.

#grid kids #lewis hamilton imagines #max verstappen imagines #charles leclerc imagines #daniel ricciardo imagines

[welcometophu]

The Meaning of Home: Chapter 34

The Meaning of Home Chapter 34

Tags for all Welcome to PHU novels will be available at the PHU tag list on Pillowfort. This list is under construction as of Sept. 5, 2021.

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It’s been several days, and Pawel has yet to decide what he wants to do about Chelsea’s request to take Emma and Conor into the Dreamscape. They don’t need to answer right away; Chelsea is trying to ensure that she and Del can successfully bring people in and leave with them again. Pawel is thankful to know that every effort is being made to make sure it’ll be safe, but he still doesn’t like to think about his child entering the Dreamscape.

So he doesn’t think about it. There’s no point in discussing it with Leo and Colt yet. He simply throws himself into everything else, enjoying the summer with the kids. Camp is exhausting enough that Conor begs off going to watch the teen class on Thursday, but Pawel finds himself bringing Nevaeh, Liz, and Hannah along with Duke. The girls throw themselves into class, and at the end, Pawel shows them how to tie their brand new white belts, so that next time they can wear uniforms and match the class.

“Ice cream?” Nevaeh asks as she slides her feet into flip-flops. 

“I’ll treat,” Liz offers. “I’m saving so I’ve got spending money for fall semester, but I budgeted some of my summer job money for having fun.”

“I can cover it, and yes, ice cream sounds fine.” Pawel waves at Duke, who is still on the floor with Lucas. When Pawel manages to catch his eye, Duke pats Lucas on the shoulder, then flies over, settling on the ground to pull on his shoes.

“I’m still treating Nevaeh.” A warm flush tints Liz’s cheeks.

Nevaeh slips her arm around Liz’s and she leans in, guiding them both to the door. “It’s a date,” she says cheerfully.

“It’s always like this now,” Hannah mumbles. The words are dry, but she’s smiling as she watches them go, her gaze fond. Hannah doesn’t let them get far before she dashes out the door after them, calling for them to wait up.

They’re cute. It’s that light, easy affection that teenagers have, flush with the energy of new love. He’s seen it hundreds of times on campus, and he enjoys seeing that brightness in Nevaeh’s eyes. He wonders if she’s told Colt and Leo yet.

Duke scuffs his sneakers against the carpet, shooting Pawel a grin when the noise catches his attention. Duke holds his right hand in a fist, moving it in front of his mouth as if it were an ice cream cone. Pawel might not be familiar with the sign, but it seems easy to interpret.

“The girls have gone ahead, but yes, we’ll walk down for ice cream,” he agrees. “It’s probably busy.” Once they’re outside, he can spot the girls far ahead of them, moving at a swift clip. Nevaeh and Liz are holding hands now, and Hannah walks on Liz’s other side, gesturing as she speaks.

Duke touches Pawel’s shoulder. When Pawel looks over, Duke signs something too quickly for him to catch.

“I’m not fluent in ASL,” Pawel replies quietly. “Although it’s obvious you are, even though you haven’t said much about it before. I’m not going to be able to understand what you’re telling me.”

Duke scrubs his hands through the air, which Pawel interprets as his protest not mattering. As he starts to sign, his expression is closed off. Strangely silent compared to the videos Pawel’s been watching to try to learn how to better communicate. When Pawel starts to speak, Duke stops mid-sign and holds a finger up in front of Pawel’s lips.

Fine, he can stay silent and not interrupt.

They move slowly down the sidewalk, Pawel’s attention on the movement of Duke’s hands, trying to pick out words. He catches fly, and punch, and kick. He thinks he catches car several times, and then he just gives up. He can’t follow the narrative, and he’s not sure Duke wants him to. 

“This is the first time you’re talking about it,” Pawel says. Duke’s hands stutter mid-air, and he returns to the story as Pawel watches.

Duke is fourteen years old, and he’s been with Colt and Leo for just over a year. They all know that something traumatic happened, and that both of Duke’s parents are dead. Duke was the only survivor. Investigators had no more information than that, and Duke hasn’t said a word.

Until now.

Pawel wishes he’d thought to take a video, but he suspects that if brought out his camera, Duke would stop. Duke seems to want it this way: him speaking to someone who has no idea what he says. So as they move slowly towards the ice cream shop, Pawel focuses intently on the movements Duke makes, as he can gain some information from the story being told.

When Duke finishes, he stands there, his hands in loose fists, and his eyes closed as he pauses mid-step. He exhales, grinning when he opens his eyes.

“Yeah, I didn’t understand a thing,” Pawel admits. “There was a car. You flew. That’s about it. And you already told me that back when you started here for taekwondo. Still.” He pauses a moment to make sure Duke is listening. “Thank you for telling me. For trusting me. Do you think you’ll ever—” He isn’t sure how to ask this in a sensitive way. “I’m not saying this because you have to. I’d just like to know, and it’s okay if the answer is no. Do you think you’ll ever speak again?”

Duke shakes his head slowly, signing a clear, “No.”

“That’s fine. Do you… we could find you a therapist,” Pawel suggests. “If you want someone to talk to who isn’t part of your extremely large extended family. Do you think you might be interested in that?” At Duke’s slow, wry smile and nod, he adds, “So, we should—”

He cuts off at another, “No,” from Duke.

“You want me to talk to Colt and Leo for you?” 

Duke nods, signing, “Please.”

“I can do that,” Pawel agrees and Duke flashes a grin at him before dashing down the sidewalk to catch up to where Liz and Nevaeh have claimed one of the picnic tables. 

Hannah is already in line outside the window, and Pawel joins her. Together they get ice cream for everyone—Hannah knows all their orders, but Pawel refuses to let her pay for any of it. When they carry it back, Duke is doing something on his phone, while Liz and Nevaeh sit with their heads bent close together and fingers tangled on the table between them.

Pawel coughs and they break apart, Liz’s cheeks brightly flushed. “You’re fine,” he says, handing a cone to Duke while Hannah distributes the ones she holds.

“Disgustingly cute,” Hannah mutters again, before taking a bite out of her ice cream.

The girls start chattering as they eat, and Duke is focused on his phone. Pawel takes the time to tap out a quick message to Colt and Leo. I’ve got something to talk to you about when I get home.

Sounds serious, Colt replies. Are you proposing?

If it’s about Liz and Nevaeh, she talked to us the other night, Leo says.

Pawel glances at the girls. That was one thing, yes. They’re currently talking about another sleepover this weekend. I’m not the parent here, so I figured you two really needed to know.

Who says you’re not the parent?

I think at this point you have almost as much say in their lives as we do, and Nevaeh at least listens to you more.

Colt’s and Leo’s replies roll in on top of each other. Pawel isn’t sure how to feel as he looks at the words, takes them in. He exhales in a huff.

“We totally need to get going.” Hannah pushes back from the table, crumpling up her napkin and dabbing chocolate ice cream from her face. “We promised Mom we wouldn’t have the car out too late.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe.” Liz presses a light kiss to Nevaeh’s lips.

Duke signs something quickly, and when Pawel motions, he does it again, slightly slower.

“I think I saw home in there somewhere,” Pawel replies.

Duke points down the street, where Liz and Hannah are heading back to their car, which is parked near Pawel’s.

“Yeah, we should probably get back, too. I want to talk to Dad and Papa about the weekend. Papa said something about maybe Liz and Hannah could stay with us, but like, where the hell would we put them?” Nevaeh spreads her hands and shrugs. “Like. I guess we could sleep in the playroom, but that floor isn’t comfortable unless we put out air mattresses or something, and then someone will just run through too early in the morning. It’s so much better sleeping at Liz and Hannah’s house, even if their parents are kind of weird about things.” She lowers her voice. “We haven’t told them Liz and I are going out because they try really hard to be supportive, but they kind of fail sometimes. We’re not sure they’ll understand.”

Pawel has no idea what Duke is signing—it’s like a damn’s broken loose, and now the expressions as he signs are becoming more fluid—but he suspects it’s sarcastic. “You should definitely talk to Leo and Colt,” Pawel says, and Duke signs an emphatic, “Yes,” in agreement.

They are both quiet in the car, so Pawel turns up the radio, smiling as Nevaeh sings along to a Phoenix Rising song. He barely manages to park in the driveway before she’s out of the car, racing towards the house and calling for Leo and Colt. Duke just shrugs and follows her in, dumping his gear in the entryway before heading back to his room and closing the door.

“I didn’t say no.” Leo sits with Colt in the living room, Nevaeh standing over them both, hands on her hips and looking down. “I said we need to think about it, and we should probably talk to her parents—”

“You can’t, that’s what I’m trying to say! They don’t know she likes girls! They’re still dealing with her being a girl.” Nevaeh throws her hands up. “Do you want to get her in trouble? I swear, like, we aren’t going to do anything. It’s her and me and Hannah, just like it’s always been. I’m going to kiss her, probably.”

“Assuredly,” Pawel says. “They’re adorable.”

“Fine. I’m totally going to kiss her, but I swear we aren’t going to do anything you wouldn’t approve of. Hannah’s right there. We, like, totally have a chaperone.” She ends with a huff, crossing her arms. “Friday night at her house. Saturday we can stay here and do a long movie night with all the kids upstairs. You guys can even go out if you want on Saturday.”

“I think she’s bribing us,” Colt says.

“Is it working?” Pawel asks. “Conor attempts to bribe me sometimes, but it’s usually with something he should be doing anyway, like completing his homework without arguing about it. That never works.”

“We’re going to talk about it, and we’ll let you know tomorrow morning,” Leo says firmly. “I promise. And we won’t be unreasonable, but you have to accept that sometimes we need some time to adjust to the new things in this whole parenting gig. First semi-serious relationship is definitely new.”

“You were young once,” Nevaeh mutters. “Don’t you remember what it was like to want to hang out with your person?”

“Yes,” they all say in unison, and after a startled moment, Nevaeh laughs.

“Fine. I’ll wait until tomorrow morning.” She crosses her arms, lower lip stuck out in a pout that makes her seem younger than she is. “But this is highly unfair and makes it seem like you don’t trust me.”

“We haven’t said no yet,” Leo points out. “And if you want us to get to a point where we’re ready to say yes, you’ll wrangle the kids tonight while we head upstairs to talk.”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Colt murmurs after Nevaeh leaves. He comes to his feet as Leo pulls him up, and Pawel slides in closer to both of them, winding his arms around them in a group hug.

“Talk first,” Pawel says. “I’ve got a few things I’ve saved up. We should get through them all.”

“Any of it have to do with Chelsea reappearing, and Conor freezing her out?” Colt asks.

“Upstairs.” Pawel’s pretty sure there is nowhere they can go in the house and be absolutely certain there are no prying ears, but the bedroom is the best they’ll get. “Come on.”

As they pass by the kitchen, there’s a clatter and a rat races out, dragging a bag of donuts, while a larger rodent chases it. Jennie’s voice rises cheerfully from within the pantry, “It’s okay! I saved the cookies!”

“I’ll go shopping again tomorrow,” Pawel says softly, as Leo laughs. He’s only been twice already this week.

As soon as they are upstairs with the door closed, Colt strips off his shirt and sits down on the edge of the bed to yank off his socks. He glances up. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to get ready for bed, too. C’mon, let’s at least get comfortable while we’re being serious.” When Pawel hesitates, Colt’s brow furrows. “Whatever you want to talk to us about, it can’t be worse than discussing whether our teenager daughter can have sleepovers with her girlfriend.”

Oh, Pawel is pretty sure it can. He’ll start with the easy one.

“Duke talked to me today.” He yanks his sweaty t-shirt over his head so he doesn’t have to see the way they look at him until it’s off. “Not—not speaking out loud. But he’s fluent in ASL, and I get the feeling he’s known it since before he came to you, or else he’s been learning really fast.” Which makes things tick over in Pawel’s head and he muses, “I’m not sure if he’s mute because of the accident, or if it’s something else. I’m beginning to get the feeling that it’s not trauma related.”

“Pawel.” Leo rests his hands on Pawel’s shoulders, nudging him closer to the bed. Colt reaches out and pulls him down so he sits between them both on the edge. “What did Duke say?”

“I don’t know,” Pawel admits. “He’s fluent in ASL, but I’m not. Are either of you?”

They both shake their heads. “Not any more than I’ve picked up since we learned he knew something,” Colt admits. “I’m good at ‘come to dinner’ and ‘stop yelling at your siblings’ and ‘I love you’ but that’s about it.”

“Unsurprisingly, I’ve picked up taekwondo terms,” Pawel says. “There was something about a car, and flying, which is what he’d said before. Punching. Kicking. The trauma is definitely related to a car accident, and he definitely fought his way out. Or. That’s what I’m getting out of it. The thing is, he offered this. He didn’t want me to interrupt, and I’m pretty sure he’s fine that I didn’t understand more than a few words of what he said. So I asked after if he’d be interested in seeing a therapist.” He looks between them. “He said yes.”

“I’ve got resources,” Colt says quickly. “We have plenty of resources, specifically for Talented kids in trouble, but we can find a therapist fluent in ASL.”

“There are some people at the station who might have references, too,” Leo suggests. He slides an arm behind Pawel’s back, pulling him close and kissing his forehead. “You’ve gotten further than we have. Thank you for that.”

“Eh, it’s all taekwondo.” Pawel’s certain that without that shared interest to bridge the distance between them, Duke would have remained as silent as he had been all along. “Besides. That’s the good news. The rest is… well, there’s good. But it’s not all good.”

Colt stops moving where his hand was sliding over Pawel’s thigh. “I was just getting ready to celebrate, too.” He leans his head on his shoulder, knocking into him gently. “Hit us. What now?”

“Chelsea,” Leo says.

“Chelsea,” Pawel confirms. “She thinks she’s found Emma’s parents living in the Dreamscape. I know you have questions, just… give me a minute here to explain. There are people who live there. Mostly people who got sucked in because of an Emergent Dreamwalker, but some of them are born there. People from… all over, which is a much weirder thing than you even know. She didn’t see Emma’s parents directly, but she heard of a couple—recently arrived, for whatever that’s worth in a place where time is built out of Dreams—that fit the right description. They’re Weather Witches, but he’s a Dreamwalker, too. She doesn’t know if they don’t remember home, or don’t know how to get there. They might have forgotten everything, even Emma.”

“What do we do?”

Direct and to the point. Leo’s a problem-solver, and Pawel appreciates that. “Chelsea says she wants to bring Conor and Emma into the Dreamscape to go get them back. She thinks I should come along with them as a guardian, and there’s—there’s something she’s not telling me about why she wants Conor and me there. She says it’s because Conor would keep Emma grounded, and Conor also has something to return for with Alan. But that’s not everything.”

“I think we should go with them,” Colt says. His words press into the skin of Pawel’s shoulder, his fingers tight on his thigh. “I don’t know what’s involved, but Emma will be safer if we’re all there. And we can carry them out bodily if we have to.”

“We’re not taking the kids into the Dreamscape,” Leo says.

“I meant us. The adults.”

“No.” The word comes out in a rush as Pawel shakes his head. He pushes off from the bed, standing so he can pace away. He shoves his fingers into his hair, pushing it back from his face as he turns to look at them. “The Dreamscape is dangerous. We can’t all go and leave the rest of the kids here alone. Chelsea was gone for weeks. This could take five minutes, or it could take months.” He leaves out the part where it might not work at all. “I’m not even sure I’m on board with the idea of Conor and Emma going in. But she thinks that if they have forgotten who they are, seeing Emma might spark that memory.”

“We’ll have better strength in numbers,” Colt protests. “You say it can fuck with your head. Fine. The more of us there are, the more likely one of us will be fine, right? I’m pragmatic. I’ll haul you back.”

“Pawel’s right. We can’t risk that.” Leo pats the bed, and Pawel takes slow steps towards them. As he crawls onto the bed, they both bear him backwards until they lie together, legs tangled.

“You will,” Pawel realizes, speaking the thoughts aloud as he works through them. “Haul me back. If Alan is an anchor for Conor, you two would be mine. I don’t want to leave you behind.”

“I’ll find something for you to take with you to remind you,” Colt mumbles, burying his face against Pawel’s chest. “We just got you back. We are not losing you again.”

“I think we need to talk to Emma,” Leo says. His fingers card through Pawel’s hair, soft and soothing. “I’m sure I know what she’s going to say, but I think she also needs to know. She’s just a kid, but—I don’t want to keep this from her.”

“She and Conor are glued to each other,” Colt points out.

“That was Chelsea’s reasoning.” Pawel’s phone is in his pocket, but he can’t reach it, tangled up as he is. “You get the kids to come up here. I need to let my dad know I’m not coming home.”

“I’ll get them. You two get dressed again.” Leo heads out through the playroom, and the rumble of his voice comes from somewhere just beyond the door. Pawel hears thundering steps on the inner stairs.

Colt pulls a shirt on, his expression still sour. “I want more information,” he says quietly. “I want to know from Chelsea exactly what’s involved, and I want to meet that other girl you mentioned.”

“I’ll get them all to come here.” Pawel dashes off a quick text to his dad, then finds a clean shirt for the evening. His phone buzzes quickly.

Perfect timing. Don’t worry about it. I’m all fine here and enjoying my peace and quiet.

At least Dad’s doing well.

The door clicks open, Conor and Emma coming in with Leo behind them. The children hold hands tightly, their expressions drawn and serious. “Leo said it’s about my parents,” Emma whispers.

“It’s about your parents,” Pawel confirms.

Leo herds the kids onto the bed. Emma wraps her arms around a pillow, hugging it close to her chest. Conor leans his shoulder into her, nudging her until she leans against him. She worries at her lower lip and stares silently at Pawel.

“This is because of Chelsea,” Conor says. “Right?”

“It’s not—she didn’t do anything other than try to find them,” Pawel says. “She’s not to blame. But the way she was gone for weeks—that part might be important.”

“Chelsea thinks she’s found your parents living in the Dreamscape,” Leo explains, his voice low and even. “She thinks you should go with her into the Dreamscape to help bring them back, because she also thinks that they may not remember you.”

“Or themselves.”

Leo glances at Pawel. “Chelsea specifically asked for you, Conor, and Pawel to go with her, is that right?”

Pawel nods.

“I think you should choose the adult, or adults, you’d most want to have with you,” Colt adds. “We’ll figure it out, and no one is sending you into a dangerous situation alone.”

“The Dreamscape is dangerous?” Emma’s voice is small. She picks at a thread on the pillowcase.

“The Dreamscape is why she wasn’t my mother,” Conor says. There’s a sharp bite to his words, but he ends on a sigh, resigned. “It’s why Dad disappeared. It’s why your parents disappeared. So yeah. It’s dangerous.”

“I have to wonder if those are coincidences or evidence,” Colt murmurs.

“And you think that maybe, if I go with her to get them, we can bring them home?” A soft hiccup, and tears well at the corners of her eyes. “I want to go get them. I want my parents. I like… I like being here. I like you. But I want my Mom and Dad.”

Leo holds his arms open, and Emma dives in close, burrowing her face against his chest as he holds her. Pawel looks over at Conor, patting the bed, then lifting an arm to invite his son to do the same. “Are we going to get stuck in the Dreamscape?” Conor whispers.

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Pawel replies. “Remember. Chelsea and I both disappeared, but we also both came back. And we’ll have Del with us. We’ll be able to do this and rescue Emma’s parents and return quickly.”

He’s lying. He has no idea how long it will take. But he does know that nothing is going to keep him in the Dreamscape. He will keep Del on course, and he will make it back to the real world. He’s not sure how, yet, but he will.

“There are a lot of arrangements to be made,” Leo says quietly, rubbing a hand over Emma’s back. “Pawel knows more than we do, and Colt and I don’t want to agree to anything without a full understanding. We haven’t met Del. We want to know how this will work, and how Del and Chelsea plan to guarantee bringing you out safely when it’s done.”

“But they’re safe for now?” Emma asks.

“They’re safe for now.” Pawel is at least certain of that. “There are people who live in the Dreamscape, and your parents are safe with them.”

Emma sniffles and rubs a hand across her face. “Okay. Tell me when we’re going to go. We should go before school starts again. Or before we move. And I don’t want to miss the field trip to the caverns next week.” There’s a wobble in her voice, like she’s trying to keep some control over the situation.

“I don’t think it’ll be that fast,” Leo assures her. “We’re not going to just arrange this without you knowing what’s going on. It’s scary, but I think it’ll be better if you know.”

“Okay.” Emma wiggles out of his embrace, and slides off the bed, grabbing Conor’s hand to pull him with her. “We’re going to go watch a movie now.”

“We could call Alan and talk to him,” Conor points out.

Emma nods solemnly. “Okay, let’s do that.”

Colt gets up to follow them to the door, closing it carefully behind them. “The whole house will know in five minutes,” he predicts.

“I’m taking my kid to the Dreamscape.” It’s a real thing, now that he’s talked to Leo and Colt. Now that they’ve brought the kids into the decision-making process. “I’m taking your kid to the Dreamscape.”

“Our kids,” Leo says, pulling Pawel down to lie next to him on the bed. 

Pawel could point out that the whole issue is that Emma isn’t theirs. She has to be returned, and he wants to do that. He wants to give her back her parents, and erase that bit of tragedy from her life.

When Colt slides in close on his other side, Pawel is wedged between them. Colt presses kisses to the nape of his neck. “Just promise. Whatever it takes, you will come back to us. All of you.”

“I promise.” Pawel isn’t going to give this up. Now they just need a good plan.

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[soccerdailyuk]

De Zerbi willing to sell Moises Caicedo to Chelsea but on one condition

De Zerbi willing to sell Moises Caicedo to Chelsea but on one condition Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has expressed his desire to make a swap deal with Chelsea, proposing the transfer of Levi Colwill in exchange for Moises Caicedo.  The potential deal was mentioned in a press conference and reported by the Evening Standard. Chelsea has been showing keen interest in signing Moises Caicedo during this summer transfer window.  However, their attempts to secure the Ecuadorian midfielder for a price lower than Brighton's valuation have been unsuccessful so far. Recently, it came to light, as reported by the Independent, that Brighton turned down a second bid from Chelsea, which was approximately £70m for Caicedo.  Meanwhile, Brighton's own £30m offer for Levi Colwill was rejected by Chelsea. Colwill had an impressive loan spell with Brighton last season, making him an attractive prospect for the Seagulls. Here’s what De Zerbi said while talking about both the players and offering a swap deal to Chelsea (h/t Evening Standard): “There are two questions. Not only about Caicedo, also about Colwill, and maybe it can be . “I would like to play with Caicedo and Colwill together but at the moment I can only speak about Caicedo as Colwill is not one of my players.” Brighton's stance in the transfer market has proven to be challenging to navigate, making it difficult for Chelsea to achieve their desired objectives of retaining Levi Colwill and acquiring Moises Caicedo. It seems unlikely that both transactions will occur during this summer transfer window. For the possibility of making these moves a reality, Chelsea will need to meet Brighton's asking price for Caicedo and be willing to pay the required amount to finalize the deal. Given that Wesley Fofana is facing a long-term injury, Chelsea cannot offer a combination of cash and Colwill in the hope of persuading Brighton to accept the offer for the midfielder.  The situation leaves Chelsea with limited options to satisfy Brighton's demands and secure the players they are interested in this transfer window. Indeed, Levi Colwill has emerged as a promising young talent at Chelsea and is considered an excellent defender with a bright future at Stamford Bridge.  At just 20 years old, he has already shown his potential to become one of the top players in his position with the right training and regular playing time.  It's understandable that Chelsea would be hesitant to part ways with such a talented prospect. On the other hand, Moises Caicedo's arrival could significantly strengthen Chelsea's midfield, especially with the departures they have experienced during the summer.  The Ecuadorian midfielder is highly regarded for his quality and skills, which would be a valuable addition to Chelsea's squad. Finding a way to secure the Caicedo deal without sacrificing a promising talent like Colwill would be the ideal scenario for Chelsea.  The club's management, led by Todd Boehly and others, will need to negotiate skillfully with Brighton to reach an agreement that satisfies both parties and allows Chelsea to bolster their midfield without giving up a potential star in Colwill.  Striking the right balance in the transfer market is always a challenge, but it's essential to maintain a strong squad for the future while also addressing immediate needs. De Zerbi willing to sell Moises Caicedo to Chelsea but on one condition Read the full article

[hardynwa]

Mikel Obi laughs off idea of Graham Potter managing Chelsea under Roman Abramovich

John Obi Mikel has laughed at the idea of Graham Potter in charge of Chelsea during the Roman Abramovich era. The former Nigeria international and Chelsea midfielder played for the Blues from 2006-07 to 2015-16, playing under some of the club's most charismatic managers in his decade-long spell. Chelsea parted ways with Potter after a 31-game spell in charge having taken over from Thomas Tuchel last September. Speaking to Dubai Eye radio station, Mikel said he felt Potter had been given enough time in charge of the team, saying the club made the right decision in the end. 'When you look at that, was he given enough time?' he asked. 'I think so. I think where you look at where the club is now, what is it, 11th in the table? 'So when you look at it, I think he's been given enough time. If it was the Roman Abramovich era…' He added: 'So was he given enough time? I think the club made the right decision.' Mikel went on to suggest that the club might have been 'too big' for him to manage. 'Was the club too big for him to manage? Maybe. Because when I look at him sometimes on the touchline he doesn't really know what to do. 'He's not communicating to the players, he doesn't tell them what to do on the pitch.' Asked whether or not he enjoyed having a manager who was vocal on the touchline, Mikel responded: 'I like a manager who is always motivated, who wants to… who is passionate on the touchline. 'When they scream at you, they are telling you what to do. Sometimes players need a kick up the backside, to wake up. With Graham, I wasn't seeing that.' However, he added that he saw similar shortcomings in Lampard's managerial style during his first stint with the club, which ended in January 2021. 'Also with Frank, I wasn't seeing that. I hope now he's back, he will be more of a Klopp or Pep , we see this managers who are always emotional, it's like they want to be on the pitch. I want to see that with Frank when he comes back.' Potter himself faced such accusations while he was at the helm, not least following the club's draw with West Ham in mid-February. Defending himself from accusations that he was not passionate or angry enough to be a success in the job, Potter cited his own record in climbing from the ninth tier of English football to managing one of the country's true giants as evidence of such. 'If you think that you can start a coaching career in the ninth tier of English football in the Northern Counties Division One and get to this point now as the Chelsea coach in the Champions League without getting angry or being nice then I suggest you don't know anything about anything,' he said. 'I want to be careful not to get into discussion through the media. Of course I get angry, I am a human being. It's just that I choose to conduct myself the way I think is the right way to conduct myself on the side. 'The same media are talking about me being angry and then running stories about problems with referees at grassroots football and they don't see the connection. 'That's not to say we don't all lose our temper because we do. It's an emotional thing but also I have a responsibility to myself, to Chelsea and to the game to act in the way I think is the right way for me, not for anyone else but for me.' Read the full article

[tmisaccidentreportbook]

MAG022, Colony

Case #0161203, Martin Blackwood Release date: June 9, 2016 First listen: 16th October, walk into work. 

And so we get Martin. I have a tag on my main tumblr, that I employ when I am feeling particularly vulnerable and am feeling a kinship with a character. It is ‘i take my comfort character’s face in my hands and say ‘you and I. we’re going to bleed together.’… 90% of it is Martin. I have a lot of feelings about this man.

- He is our first archival assistant we hear directly from.

- The first line we get from Martin is ‘I just want to make a statement about what happened to me.’ To me this echoes a sentiment that grows in the Archivist through seasons 2 and 3. That of refusing to die a mystery, to fade into the obscurity that clouded Gertrude’s death. Martin wants to tell someone, even if it’s just the tape recorder, even if it’s an (suspected) inanimate object, but it will listen and not judge. I don’t know if he expected Jon to stay and listen or not.

- The pause after asking Jon to speak for his soundness of mind. Now is not the time Jonathon. The probably hurt.

- This is our first ‘hot off the press’ statement, not our first ‘recorded on the same day it was brought to the Institute’ that was MAG013, but this helps us tighten up the in universe timeline a little.

- Feels appropriate that this was all kicked off by Martin following up on statement MAG016, a statement of The Web. The pulling of strings to set everything rolling to lead to the invasion of the Institute and to start the dominoes falling, and it all comes from the Mother of Puppets; the beginning of preparing Jonathon for The Watcher’s Crown, the loss of Sasha in the confusion, the discovery of Gertrude. As Carlos had said, ‘Can you be haunted by the ghost of a spider that destroyed your childhood?’ Appears so yes.

- I think there’s also something about Martin being in this situation and being in danger on the Archivist’s orders. Yes, he had a job to do, but Jon was the one that sent him out into the field like that and I wonder if this will be the start of the guilt of endangering and hurting others that will compound within the Archivist, if it hasn’t already taken root in the form of guilt over the fate of the bully who went to meet Mr Spider.

- ‘I like spiders.’ And so the premise of web!martin first hatched. I very much agree that Martin was forever destined for The Lonely, but the touch of The Web about him was always a wonderful feature. I don’t know if I am wording this correctly or accurately, but the two Entities do compliment each other nicely. If I find myself in the grip of The Lonely and people are caring about me or interacting with me, there’s a part of me wondering how I’ve managed to trick them into it. That voice has gotten smaller in past years, but it used to have very good projection. I think the premise of web!martin has an interesting discussion about survival and being brought up in certain emotional environments attached to it.

- Bless you Martin for describing the commute. Still not 100% where the Magnus Institute is, it’s in Chelsea on the north side of the river, I’d imagine it’s on the eastern end of Chelsea to be closer to the site of Millbank Prison, although the tunnels mean it could be anywhere. But if we assume Martin jumped onto the Central and District line at Sloane Square and changed to the Northern line at Embankment, he’d then take the High Barnet route to Archway.

- ‘I didn’t want to come back to you without due diligence, though – I’ve learned that lesson...’ Jonathan, what have you done? What have you done to cultivate this sort of desperation to please in Martin, who, crush on you aside, has an already compromised understanding of self worth and worthiness in general? Do we need to have words?

- ‘...a worm of some sort.’ I don’t think we ever get a definition of what type of worm these are exactly. And it’s interesting that ‘worm’ keeps getting used when so often if something’s burrowing into rotting flesh it’s typically maggots; flies in a larval form. But seeing as these worms hunt down a victim and aren’t hatched out on a food source… I really don’t want to research but the natural scientist in me is edging towards the keyboard… I’m going to regret this.

- Yeah I regret this. Ok, I’ve gotten a little more insight into the use of ‘worms’ because it look like it can and does get used interchangeably with maggots, even within a species naming convention. Must confess, I was thinking ‘worms’ in terms of ‘annelids’ but then that excludes all sorts of phylum of parasitic worms and sea worms and I hate taxonomy with a burning passion. I understand we need a system of categorisation, but I don’t think anything we come up with is ideal for purpose because nature don’t work like that. Carl Linnaeus, you tried your best, I still want to shake you.

- Ok, back on track. But looking around, I reckon these worms could be the larvae of screwworm flies, a blowfly species that lay their eggs in open wounds and yes, it’s flesh eating. Mainly attacks animals and livestock in particular. Can and will parasitise humans. Martin even says, when he first saw it, he mistook it for a screw. There are two types of screwworm flies: Old World, Chrysomya bezziana, and New World, Cochliomyia hominivorax. I can’t remember if Jane Prentiss mentions anything about travel in her statement and Old World would make more geographical sense, but hominivorax means ‘man-eater’, they lay nearly 8 times the eggs as their cousins and have a significantly higher body count.

- The body does look segmented and screw like and they do look a little charred, like they’ve been held over a candle flame and the smoke has just blackened them.

- I’m not gonna link articles or photos in case you folks accidentality click links when you don’t mean to. You want more information on these creatures that cast aspersions on if there is a loving God, you go looking. Good luck.

- But of course, these things are falling out of a monster sustained by the fear of infection and rot, so who the fuck knows…

- Now, a basement window isn’t going to be big, it is unlikely it is going to be anything other than something you have to effectively post yourself through, but at the phrase ‘I’m not exactly the smallest guy in the world’, the fandom decided that Martin is large. He’s tall, he’s broad, he’s stout. he’s plus sized, he’s fat. And I think this is damn sexy of you all.  As a fat person myself, thank you. I have loved looking at all the different depictions of Martin in the fan art and he looks so good. There was a part of me that was very worried because so often in media, ‘fat’ is short hand for ‘unattractive, undesirable, lazy, stupid etc etc’ all the negative things. And while Jon does rant and rave about Martin’s supposed incompetence, although the examples that are given seem to be perceived failures after considerable efforts in the face of impossible tasks, (you gave him the name ‘Angela’ and the 60km² London Borough of Bexley and you were expecting a fucking miracle my guy!), his shortcomings are never attributed to his size.

- ‘…so I take a bit of a tumble onto the basement floor. Luckily I get away without hurting myself and start to have a quick look around…’ looks back at my opening blurb on MAG003 Yeeeeah I’m gonna have to write that thing on the Magnus Archives presenting self-neglect in the line of duty.

- ‘…the place had a really bad ‘feeling’ to it.’ Animal hind brain, kicking in once again. ‘…this musty smell, and the air was dusty and thick.’ Once again, the more ‘animal’ senses coming to the fore to highlight danger before the ‘rational’ brain can recognise it. And I think it’s a fascinating device and trait because if you listen to that instinct every time, odds are you’ll be ok. You may look like a bit of an idiot, but you’ll be ok. You only have to ignore it once, and you are very much not ok.

- ‘… but I didn’t like the way my… shadow moved.’ See the uncanny valley shit, heed the uncanny valley shit.

- Unfortunately, whatever charm he had with old ladies in Bexley doesn’t apply in Islington.

- ‘...slightly more co-operative after I lied to him...’ Ok, seeing more fuel for the web!martin fire now. I’m seeing it now; Jon compels, Tim flirts, Sasha perseveres, Martin lies.

- The landlord seems ‘genuinely surprised to hear about the death’ which seems a mite sus, considering although Carlos was looking to move, me was found dead at the Boothby Road address, after neighbours had complained about the smell. The clean up too, having to remove a body encased in web, surely would have registered with the landlord, unless perhaps, he’d recently take on the property.

- ‘…I was worried I hadn’t really done enough investigation for you.’ Martin… oh Martin, darling. I think both of us need some help understanding ‘work/life balance’ and ‘duty to the job’ don’t we. Also, I doubt this will be covered by paid overtime or time back in lieu, trust me on this. ‘…but… I mean… it’s my job, isn’t it?’ Oh dear.

- ‘…what looked like a human figure.’ Once again, vague bumping up the creep. - ‘She was facing away from me, apparently staring at the corner of the wall.’ Thank you, Blair Witch Project…

- The description of ‘the cough’, yikes. Yikes, Martin, put the poet’s pen away, I don’t need it right now.

- A man finds a strange woman in a darkened deserted room, she drops the overcoat, revealing a red dress. Out of context, it’s… well, I find it unnerving, might be due the aceness, but I can see how that can read as the start of an illicit liaison, a little Mrs Robinson in The Graduate. Which makes it all the more stomach churning when you consider the context of The Corruption is so often wrapped up in looking for love and unhealthy forms of connection. Adding what we know about Martin, that he is a young gay man, yeah, this makes my skin crawl in not just the obvious ways. More than likely, this line of thinking is more and insight into my perception of the world and probably not something Jonny was going for but, thems the brakes.

- The description Martin gives of the Flesh Hive is really evocative and weird, because you’d expect a decaying corpse to be just that; you’d expect to hear about fetid and rotting flesh, blood still wet in the wounds as the body broke down. But as she’s described as ‘grey’, ‘honeycombed’, ‘like a wasp’s nest’, it’s clear she’s dry and empty.

- Martin’s life, soul, very existence is in peril, and all he can think to do is get his phone out to capture evidence so his boss will believe him… Archivist, when I say be gentle and careful with this man, I FUCKING MEAN IT.

- I’ve done a little wiki look at Stockwell, London where Martin lives. Affectionately known as Little Portugal, but also has a significant population of Caribbean and West African heritage. The area has a lot of social housing, and we learn that Martin does come from a low socio-economic back ground, constantly worrying about money and supporting himself and his mother.

- ‘Oh god, maybe I’d left her to die.’ Martin, you are too good for this world and that kinda thinking is going to get you dead.

- Knocking. The knocking at the door. It’s something seen in horror quiet a bit, the idea that the threat asks for permission to enter and you are the one that seals you fate by allowing it, unwittingly or not. There’s the tradition that vampires need to be invited into a building after all. There’s a flavour of Poe’s The Telltale Heart to it too.

- This really is a siege situation. No only physically trapped, but no electricity. No way of contacting anyone on the outside, no distractions, just him and his thoughts and his fear and the knocking. For 13 days. I mean, they used to use sleep deprivation in witch trials as a form of torture. And there’s something terrible about this being Martin’s own home, the turning of sanctuary to prison.

- I appreciate the word choice of ‘she called herself to be a practising witch’. I’m reading that as the definition of ‘practising witch’ is one she is establishing and not a generally held one, not one tarnishing other people who would consider themselves practising witches. Does that make sense? Just makes her feel like the outlier rather than the norm.

- 1. Thank God, for his own sake, that Martin does not appear to live with his mother, and 2. did any of Martin’s neighbours notice?

- ‘What’s that Martin? You feel unsafe in your own home. Come stay at the archives in my personal bolt hole, you will be safe.’ Ok Jon… ok.

- Prentiss must think she’s so fucking funny; ‘stomach problems’, ‘it might be a parasite’. Ma’am take that Alien’s Xenomorph shit and get out.

- ‘Keep him. We have had our fun.’ Oh, the use of the plural. The loss of the self… Lovely…

- Ok, what is ‘the Archivist’s crimson fate’ exactly? Because a lot of the Magnus Archives colour scheme is green, so what is the crimson fate? Is The Flesh Hive talking about themselves, seeing as Jane Prentiss is still in the ragged red dress? Seems very self-aggrandising if that is the case. Does the Flesh Hive know of other Entities movements? The red of the Nikola Orsinov’s ringmaster’s coat? The title lights do go red in MAG119 when The Stranger makes their play.  Is there anything else I’ve missed? The hunters storming the Institute at the end of Season 4? Jared Hopworth? Leitner’s murder? These all seem a little more tenuous.

In hindsight, I think I may have found something that had me associating with Martin so strongly from almost the beginning. While was share a lot of traits in common which I will no doubt discuss, we also share an experience. 2020 was the year of COVID 19, of isolation and lockdowns. But it wasn’t our only pandemic, we also had Bird Flu. I work with birds and at the time I was a keeper in a captive collection of waterfowl, an at risk group, see as it is most commonly carried by migratory geese and swans returning from the Arctic circle to winter in Europe. About a month after hearing this episode for the first time, we had a case, we had a death, and I was the one who found patient zero. My life flipped overnight; I was contacted by health agencies for monitoring, government agencies descended on us, the site was closed to the public with the smallest of skeleton crews to keep the place running, and I had to move on site to do my job and take care of the birds I am responsible for. The levels of biosecurity we needed to observe skyrocketed. We had security on the perimeter, I had to go through a sign in check point if I wanted to leave. All the while, we lived in constant dread that the government officials were going to turn around and demand that we cull everything under our care, as they had done when they first turned up before they truly understood what we are; a captive collection and a wildlife reserve, not a farm. And we’d been able to shout them down once but we didn’t know if we’d be lucky a second time. There would have been nothing we could have done, except possibly physically fight them and I considered it. It was a terrifying and exhausting few months. And looking back, sitting on a bed that wasn’t mine, with no distinction between home and work any more, and constant reminders of the threats we were facing, I think Martin and I could have commiserated over that winter.  

Supplemental: I don’t have the dates to hand so I don’t know how the timelines shake out, but I’ve just remembered, Mr Alexander J Newall went through something similar too! Asbestos flat!

#The Corruption #MAG022 #the magnus archives