#team huddles with fran!!

[alexias-putellas]

bittersweet // k.mccabe x reader

k.mccabe x reader

based on this request! just a lil katie fic for my fellow katie girls

-

fifteen minutes.

you glanced up at the clock again just to make sure. fifteen minutes left until the end of the match. you were up 2-0 against ireland but they had really started to take control.

aoife mannion had successfully taken the ball from alessia’s feet and booted it down the pitch. it landed by katie and you watched as she took a shot, hannah saving it with relative ease.

as per your agreement, you and katie hadn’t talked in the run up to the game. but your eyes still strayed towards your girlfriend every now and then when the ball wasn’t by you.

with a small shake your head, you got back into the game. after drawing with sweden it was important that all three points went to england to keep the dream of heading to switzerland alive. but it hurt your soul to know that you’d have to crush katie’s dreams to get there.

a sudden roar of the crowd caught your attention and you whirled around in time to see the referee running towards hannah, taking something—two somethings out of her pocket.

you raced down the pitch as leah and some of the other girls talked to the referee but she was not budging on her decision to give hannah a second card for time wasting.

and then it suddenly dawned on you.

there were no subs left. all five had been used. everything seemed to happen in slow motion and before you could even blink, you were being pulled into a huddle.

“i’ll do it,” you blurted out, shocking the defenders stood around you into silence. “rach and fran are at the front, they’re holding it down, they don’t need me. but we do need a solid defence. none of you can go in for hannah and georgia and keira are killing it in the midfield. it has to be me.”

“are you sure?” leah asked you and you nodded, swallowing thickly.

“yeah, yeah, we’ll be fine.”

your teammates quickly patted you on the back, murmuring their good lucks as someone raced over with a spare goalkeeper shirt and gloves.

with a pounding heart, you slipped them both on and made your way into the goal, taking a few deep breaths to calm yourself.

as the game restarted and both teams got going, your heart seemed to sink further and further in your chest. why on earth had you volunteered?

that question flew around your head frantically as denise o’sullivan ran down the wing with the ball and you prayed that the girls could pull it together enough that you wouldn’t have to deal with it.

thankfully, keira was the one to do it but the relief didn’t last long. you pulled at the goalkeeper jersey anxiously as katie made her way over to take the corner, desperately calling for your teammates to cover you.

katie had scored from there before. you played alongside her for arsenal, you knew what she was capable of on the pitch when she really put her mind to it. and there was no doubt in your mind that she’d do anything to put that ball in the back of the net.

with a newfound fire in your stomach, you moved forward as your girlfriend kicked the ball, somehow managing to catch it despite the sea of green and white surrounding you.

not wanting to suffer the same fate as hannah, you quickly threw the ball lucy’s way, turning to shoot a thumbs up to the away crowd behind you. they cheered in response and you let yourself feel proud. ignoring the pull at your heart when you thought about katie.

but you needed to not think of her. you had a job to do. your girls were relying on you. they were what you needed to think about. you pushed any thought of katie to the back of your mind, giving leah a quick thumbs up when she looked over at you.

you glanced up at the clock, eyes widening slightly at how much time had actually passed. there were five minutes left. five more minutes.

at the very last minute you saw the ball flying at you and with every ounce of energy you had left, you jumped up, the ball rebounding off your fingertips to go over the back of the net.

the sounds of the girls and the fans cheering is what you focused on as you hit the ground, breathing deeply as someone helped you up.

“you good?” alex asked and you nodded, smiling as she patted you on the back.

hearing the whistle to end a game had never filled you with more relief and you almost cried with happiness. not only had you won but you had also kept the clean sheet. and as you made your way further onto the pitch, your teammates showed their appreciation with hugs, hair ruffles, and even more back pats.

when the huddle broke slightly, you immediately looked for katie. and when you found her, the happiness quickly turned to guilt upon seeing her crouched on the ground with her head in her hands.

“hey,” beth said softly as she approached you, shrugging her coat off and slipping it onto your shoulders. “it’s going to be okay.”

you nodded although you did not believe her. this was new territory for you and katie. you had never played against each other and you had never before been the reason for katie’s sadness. and whilst you desperately hoped it wouldn’t change your relationship, you had a horrible feeling it would.

as you made your way through the irish players, the anxiety grew bigger in your chest at the thought of seeing katie. when you got to her she hugged you like she did everyone else, squeezing your waist before moving on.

“there she is!” you heard georgia shout before her arms were around your waist and you were hoisted in the air. “england’s saviour!”

for a few minutes you let yourself relax and sink into the arms of your relieved teammates. when the huddle separated, you once again looked for katie, your heart sinking as you realised she was no longer on the pitch. whether she had left of her own accord or had been pulled for an interview, she was gone.

“come on you,” leah wrapped her around your shoulders, pulling you into her side. “it’s gonna be alright you know?”

ᡣ𐭩

arriving back in london was both a shame and a relief. it somehow eased and elevated your anxiety. but your mind was still reeling.

instead of heading over to katie’s like you usually would, you went back to the apartment you and alessia shared, automatically assuming that katie would want her space.

you were halfway through ordering takeout on alessia’s phone when your phone buzzed. you reached over for it, lips pursing as you read the text on the screen.

are you coming over tonight?

“i think you should go,” alessia said as she peeked over your shoulder. you shrugged her away quickly. “she loves you.”

you sighed. “she loves football.”

“she loves you more,” the blonde gave you a pointed look. “so go see her and talk to her. otherwise you will drive yourself insane.”

“fine.”

the drive to katie’s apartment seemed a lot longer than usual. and by the time you’d made it up to the front door, you were half tempted to turn back around and go home.

but you didn’t. deep down you knew that your friends were right. everything would be fine. and you took the open door and the smell of your favourite takeaway to be the first sign of that.

“were you really going to ditch me for less?” katie asked as soon as she heard the door close.

“you did not know that was me,” you scoffed, kicking your shoes off. “anyone could’ve walked in then. you should really lock your door.”

“i unlocked it when i saw your car, genius.”

you mocked her quietly under your breath as you made your way into the kitchen. even though the dynamic between you clearly hadn’t changed, you still lingered nervously in the doorway and played with your fingers.

“so? were you actually going to ditch me for alessia?” katie asked again, turning around with her arms crossed over her chest.

you immediately studied her face. her eyebrows were slightly furrowed but she didn’t look upset. you cleared your throat and looked down at the floor. “i wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me.”

“ah so this is what leah warned me about.”

you opened your mouth, ready to ask what exactly leah had been saying when something hit you in the face. you blinked rapidly, looking down at the tea towel that fell onto your arm. just as you looked up, another one hit you and you quickly flung them both back at katie. “what are you doing?!”

“knocking some sense into you!”

“well can you do that after we’ve eaten? i’m starving and this smells really good.”

katie rolled her eyes but relented, handing you your plate of food. you’d eaten about half of it when she gently kicked your leg. “i’m really proud of you.”

“ugh, don’t start–“

“no, no, you clearly need to hear this so shut up and listen,” she told you, standing up and making her way behind you. you let out a sigh when she plucked the fork from your hand and placed it down before wrapping her arms around you. “i’m not mad at you and i definitely don’t hate you. you stepped up for your team when most people would probably be too scared to and you made some pretty decent saves. does it suck that it was against me? of course. but i love you and i’m proud of you. always.”

“i’d love you a lot more if you’d shut up and let me eat my food,” you muttered, smiling as she pressed a kiss to your head. “you are a pretty good girlfriend though, anyone ever told you that?”

katie grinned. “of course they have.”

“stupid question really wasn’t it?” you rolled your eyes, picking your fork back up as soon as she walked away. before you could load any food up onto it, she picked up a tea towel and twisted it in her hands, cracking it against your thigh. you yelped loudly, glaring at your girlfriend. “ow! what the hell was that for?”

“that was because you doubted my love for you. don’t do it again.”

“yes ma’am.”

#woso imagine #woso fanfics #woso x reader #woso #katie mccabe #katie mccabe x reader #katie mccabe imagine

[trulyhblue]

Baby England (Part Two)

Lionesses x Young! Reader, Leah Williamson x Reader (platonic) Keira Walsh x Reader (platonic), Lucy Bronze x Reader (platonic)

Warnings: fluffy angst, mentions of blood/injury, coarse language.

Masterlist

__________________________

The Euros were flying past, and before you knew it, you were tapping your studs anxiously against the tunnel floor as you awaited the start of the Quarter Finals.

Every other game up until now had been different. You were promised a secure spot on the bench, assured the security of a safety sub during the last third of the game. You didn't receive the special treatment when you played. If anything, you were pushed harder by your opponents’ attempts to spike you out. You were young, younger than most of the women you played with and against, but you were there for a reason.

Sometimes you needed to be reminded that.

You were versing the Spanish Team. Contrary to many of your teammates, this was your first time playing them. Of course, you were aware of the individuals that you were playing against. You would be lying if you said you didn't idolize them. The mere idea of standing next to Mapi Leon and Aitana Bonmati was a frightening feeling. It was a bugging sensation filling your stomach. You tried searching the floor for any hope to calm your nerves, but the absence of serenity did nothing in response.

You weren't quite sure why Sarina had decided to put you in the starting eleven, especially in such a critical, knockout stage like today. The Euros were your first major tournament. When you told Leah the news, she wouldn't let you go from a bear-crushing hug until you wrenched her arms off you. She was reeling with excitement at the prospect of you standing alongside her in front of thousands of people. She couldn't contain her elation on the way to Falmer Stadium, and you tried to find the same emotions within yourself but the notion was proven difficult.

Hempo and Alex were giggling in a huddle as the team warmed up together. Leah was running laps with Beth. Rach and Millie were dribbling a ball with Ellen and Fran, and you were left stretching by the drink bottles, deep within your own thoughts.

You could see the Spanish girls across the field, eloping the growing crowd that littered the stands, all while split into groups as they carried out their respective warm-ups. You felt your hamstring tug while you ran you hands down your leg, tugging at your muscles so that they wouldn't tweak in the game.

The more time went by, with physios packing up their kits and subs heading over to the sideline, the more of a nervous wreck you became. You could feel the slight shake in your hands, the flood of adrenaline in your veins. Heart thumping out of your chest, beating in your ears, and bile rising in your throat.

This was your first time starting for your country. You had the impression that this was the one chance you could show not only Sarina, but all the media and fans that doubted your ability to set the tone for the game that you were capable of doing so. You wanted to make the first tackles, and produce opportunities. As a midfielder, you strived to cross the ball into the box for your strikers. Your job was to free the field of potential threats and switch between attacking and defensive plays depending on the style of your opponent.

You wanted everyone to know that you deserved to be in the starting eleven. You worked night and day, all the time, to make your dream come true. This was your life, your career, your journey.

The weight of this fell on your shoulders all at once in the tunnel as the narrow hallway blacked out most of the crowd’s roar. Everyone was in their own bubble, preparing themselves for the difficult match to come. Even as you walked out, eyes plastered on the floor, refusing to meet the eager euphoria of the crowd or anyone around you, the gravity of your situation began to set in.

You felt Leah kiss your forehead when walking past. The blush that painted your cheeks when you shook Mapi’s hand went straight through you. Nothing snapped you out of your haze. The crowd’s thundering booms fell beneath you, a level of determination fueling your insides as the whistle blew.

You ran up and down your line for nearly fifteen minutes before you finally gained possession of the ball. You were loosely marked by Guijarro beforehand, but as soon as the ball hit your feet, your legs were cut out from beneath you, leaving you tumbling face-first into the grass.

You were too high on adrenaline to feel the effects of the fall, but you felt fleeting hands sought your body when seeking to regain balance on your feet. There was a slight pang in your legs, but you quickly shook it off when offered a free kick.

“Should be a card, Ref.” One of your teammates quipped, holding your shoulders and pushing you on your way. The referee must've shooed her off too, since no acclimation changed and play resumed.

Both sides held possession well. You felt your confidence slowly increase at the endless support of the crowd. The flow of play made for excellent progress on your side of the midfield. You had curved a cross from the halfway line over to Hempo, but Ona Batlle had swiped it easily.

Georgia and Keira were absolute beasts, using their infinite knowledge to bound your team closer and closer to the goal. Spain was also moving quicker into your half as the game progressed, and the first half was coming to an end, you finally gained the opportunity to find space to shoot.

You were next to Beth, sprinting along the wing after Leah booted the ball to your end. The crowd boomed around you, your lungs gasping for air, your feet carrying you closer to the goal. Cardona was on you now, trailing your figure in the fleeting moments that felt like a lifetime.

Lauren was motioning for a crossover to her end, where no defenders thought themselves spent near. Paredes and Battle were spotting Ellen and Fran while Beth, Georgia and Keira were all making a worthy endeavour to free themselves.

Your heart raced as the wind whipped against your face, your hair whispering behind you in a tight, yet flimsy ponytail. No defenders were near the blonde. Ona and Paredes were stacking up against Ellen, while Carmona was battling Fran. Lauren was sprinting down the straight, her trajectory heading right into the box. Panos was urging her defenders back, but the communication between the two lines wasnt quick enough for your movements.

You made the move of switching the ball from your right foot to left, engulfing the fervour of the crowd as you did so. Blocking out any hesitancy, you kicked the ball as hard as you could, struggling to both watch your cross and keep straight at the same time. To your surprise, your connection with the ball made a successful thump, curving over the defenders and toward the direction of the blonde, who was almost in the box.

You watched with hope, every bone in your body ceasing up at the chance of scoring.

But before the outcome occurred, you felt your knees fall out, your legs crashing to the ground with a potent smack, leaving you winded and heaving for air. Your face made contact with the grass, your nose just skimming the ground as you made the sharp decision to move your head. For the second time that night, you heard the whistle blows to call the game to halt.

This time, however, you felt the potent emphasis of the strain on your body a lot more.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Lucy’s thick accent came into range from above you, though you couldn't exactly see since your head was firm on the ground. Nothing hurtled incredibly badly, though you couldn't help but wince at the language falling from Lucy’s mouth.

While in a desperate attempt to pull yourself upwards, Keira came crouching beside you.

“Are you alright, Darling?” She asked, soothing a hand on your shoulders. Her eyes, both cautious and caring, bore into yours. You caught sight of Leah tugging Lucy away from the ref and Mapi, who was shown a yellow card.

You glanced up at the big display screens near the top of the stadium, watching in slight horror at the replay of Mapo taking you out from behind after the ball left your feet. It could've been a red card, arguably, but you were just glad you were still okay.

You told Keira so, thanking her when she pulled you up onto your feet. Lauren was watching from the other end, hauling thumps up your way, to which you promptly responded with a disappointed nod. You wished the ref had just left you on the ground because now you were going into the second half nil all.

You tried not to think about what could've been when sauntering back into the changing rooms. You were met with some encouragement. Leah was shouting all sorts of things to the team as they replenished and rejoiced for the next forty-five minutes. Rach and Millie were on either side of you, making an endeavour to be as loud and boisterous as they could in an attempt to rule everyone up. Lauren was by your side, taking prolonged sips from her water, patting you on the back throughout the break.

You watched all the girls intently while you changed your socks, tying your shoes with a double knot before following the rest of the girls out.

Before you jogged over to find your starting position, you felt someone spin you around gently.

“If that happens again,” Lucy spoke, Keira looking equally concerned by your side. “And you feel like it's too much, we want you to tell us.”

“I'm alright,” You reassured. You knew the pair believed you. This didn't soothe them, nonetheless. “I will, though. I promise.”

Before you could escape their prying eyes, Keira pulled you into a hug.

“You doing so well, Darling.” She muttered, patting your head. “Keep doing what you're doing.”

Both sides came out with a new taste of persistence. Everyone on the field was putting in ten times the effort from before. The anticipation from the crowd and determination in each of the girls’ mind combined to push the limits of the game to an all-new high.

Your hopes came crashing down when Spain’s striker, Gonzalez sent the ball through the back of the net. You threw your head back and groaned, moving your hands to cover your face. The celebration from the red rang out, their supporters in the stands properly dedicating their level of support. Your eyes met Leah, who was already marching back to her position. She gave you a civil nod. That was all. You knew she cared more for this than anything. This was the Euros.

That was enough motivation to keep going.

You tried to find more of a defensive end to your play going into the second half. Keira and Georgia were both creating chances down the line so you thought it best to keep the Spanish forwards on their toes by marking them instead of their defence.

Soon enough, Beth, Ellen, and Fran were all subbed off. You were surprised to find yourself still on the pitch. For some reason, your usual fatigue hadn't hit you yet, the endurance of beating your opponents still raw and fresh in your mind.

With Ella, Lessi and Chloe from now on, your assistance as a defensive midfielder was all the more prevalent. You made conscience tackles when needed. You pushed your opponents out of their zones, leaving them high and dry in different spots of the field. You were continuously feeding Chloe the ball from various passes, and even when some of them fell short, you made the effort to run back and do it again.

Spain must've noticed your team’s constant attacking push since strikers were being replaced for defenders, and roles were beginning to switch amidst the field.

Alex passed you the ball from between Garcia’s legs near the halfway line. You made no reluctance in sprinting down your line, taking no time in peeling the ball to your right in Chloe’s direction. The forward bolted into the centre, finding Lessi behind her. In a swift movement, Alessia found the ball at her feet, connecting a brilliant pass to Tooney.

Everyone on your backline held their breaths, awaiting the pause from Ella as she shot from where she received the ball. It went flying, flying forever, in what felt like a lifetime, before you heard the crowds rising to their feet in Revelation.

You held your arms up high, running towards the closest person, which happened to be Leah, and gripping her tight. She swung you round off the ground, yelling into your ear as the rest of your team celebrated around you.

You were one-all, you thought.

This was it.

When it went to extra time, you were almost certain you were due to be subbed off.

You had never played more than a half before. Going into over ninety minutes on the field, about to play another half hour, was daunting. You were starting to feel the dread of exhaustion pump into you when the extra time started. If you were to stay on until the end, and it was still one-all, it would go to penalties. You had only just made your Senior Debut, anyone would be stupid to think that you would ever oblige willingly to take one.

You stuck by your defensive line for the most part, only ever really leaving your back end of the midfield if you felt there was an opportunity to be given by the other end. You and Alex were pretty much feeding each other the ball if there was nothing else to give. The Spanish girls were growing impatient with it, and their relentless pushing and shoving indicated to the two of you that they were on the last thread.

You finally gave the ball to Millie, who gave it to Leah and returned back to you. For what felt like the hundredth time that game, you ran up your line, lugging the ball cautiously through the midfield. You sent a short pass to Ella, receiving the ball only a moment later. You shot past two of your opponents, glancing up to find none of your forwards free. You waited, fighting for possession for a while, before both Keira and Gee broke free from their markers. You chased them down, booting the ball to Keira.

Keira controlled the ball through the legs of Spain’s centre-back, hauling it along their backline before Gee found a space through the main slipstream. You held your breath, filling the air hitch around you in apprehension. Gee caught the ball, holding it for her side. The world seemed to stop, pause in time. You didn't remember seeing Georgia have a go at shooting, but the screams of the stadium were enough to send you tumbling towards her in a heap of sweat and tears.

You were the first to meet Georgia, jumping onto her back as the rest of your team fought themselves around her. Nothing else mattered to you at that moment, the feeling of absolute euphoria overriding any sort of anxiety you felt beforehand. All the girls were screaming, you were fighting tears. Everything was going your way, and you’d do anything to maintain it.

And that you did.

The rest of the game was defensive for you. You didn't even bother trying to connect any balls with the goal. You were too focused on any coming into your half. Lauren and Keira were subbed off, leaving no more subs available for the game. You played your heart out for the remaining time, counting down the clock for the final whistle.

When it blew, you fell to your knees.

You weren't sure if it was from the utter exhaustion of playing a hundred-and-twenty-minute game or merely because you were going through the realisation of winning. It was a surreal feeling, one you wouldn't shake for days. You stayed on the floor with your hands covering your face, hoping no one would catch the salty tears streaming down your red, tired face.

The Spaniards were all congratulating you by the end. You were quick to shake the apology Mapi Leon sent your way, blushing furiously at any sort of recognition from the defender. You ran into Leah’s arms, letting her ragdoll you around by swayying you back and forth.

“I'm so proud of you, my girl.” She muttered, kissing your forehead.

“Love you, Lee.” You simply replied, gripping her jersey tighter in your hands, relishing the moment with your eyes closed.

You were going to the Semi Finals.

__________________________

lionesses, yourusername (pretend its you)

*liked by keirawalsh, alexgreenwood and 43,256 others.

Lionesses — first full game starting AND player of the match. SAY THANK YOU BABY ENGLAND ❤️

Comments:

leahwilliamson — well deserved, beautiful girl 💗

^ yourusername — love you Lee ❤️

^ user1 — THEY ARE SO CUTE AWWWW

user2 — THANK YOU BABY ENGLAND YOU LITERALLY CARRIED US OMG

^ user3 — nah cause fr she deserved to play every minute of that game.

keirawalsh — our stargirl 💫

* liked by yourusername

georgiastanway — yeah the baby

^ yourusername — you can't call me a baby you're literally a few years older than me

^ Georgiastanway — YEAH THE BABY

arsenalacademy — congrats, baby england ❤️

^ user4 — you better start bidding for ur gurl or else she ain't gonna be yours

^ user5 — fr they think she won't leave but if a club wants to pay she’ll go where the money’s @

^ user6 — she wouldn't leave Leah. Period.

^ user7 — I doubt Leah would care where she goes, as long as shes happy.

ellatoone — lets goooooooooo

arsenalwfc — North London raised ‼️

______________________

soccerdrama

soccerdrama — after an absolute masterclass performance from Y/N L/N for the Lionesses against Spain this week, talks from multiple clubs have spurred.

These include;

- Arsenal

- Aston Villa

- North Carolina University

- Bayern Munich

- Manchester City

Where do you think she'll go?

Comments:

user1 — PLEASE SHE NEEDS TO STAY WITH LEAH ARSENAL ARSENAL ARSENAL

^ user2 — she suits nl so much

user4 — her and hemp are gold together. Would love to see them play for city together.

^ user5 — they've also git LUCY, keira, and Alex. City will be unstoppable with Y/N in it.

User8 — I still think she’ll go to UNC

_____________________________

#arsenal wfc #arsenal #beth mead #chelsea women #lionesses x reader #lionesses #europe #euros #leah williamson x reader #leah williamson #keira walsh #keira walsh x reader #lucy bronze #lucy bronze x reader #woso blurbs #woso x reader #woso community #manchester united #womens super league #world cup #uefa #aston villa #chelsea #millie bright x reader #rachel daly x reader #alessia russo x reader #ella toone #georgia stanway

[wosowrites]

Cool Heart, Hot Headed(Lionesses x Reader)

warnings: ⚠️blood, trash talking⚠️

a/n: also, writing this as chelsea are in the FA cup final… LETS FUCKING GO!!! BLUES UNITE. based off this request here (this seriously flopped)

prompt: during the euros, the swedes are playing incredibly dirty and as the reader tries to brush it off, her teammates are very angry and protective of her

Patience. It was definitely your best quality. Yes, you felt anger and disappointment, as well as rage and pain. But you were always patient.

It did come to a shock to your english teammates when Sweden suddenly had it out for you. But it didn’t surprise them that you were as calm as ever.

The Euros semi final had everyone on edge. This was the moment. This was the chance to bring it home. The lionesses needed this. They needed a major trophy for England. The men sure as well weren’t bringing it anywhere near the airport, let alone home.

So it was your chance to make your country, your people proud.

You walked onto that field behind Mary and Leah, sang your national anthem loudly and proudly.

"You look pale," Leah whispered in your ear. "All good cap. Just kinda scared of Björn. She’s giving me looks that make it seem like she wants to kill me," you said, locking eyes with the Swede, smiling lightly and receiving a scowl in return. "Don’t worry about them. They’re all look no game. Don’t tell Magda I said that," Millie said, having overheard.

You nodded and then took the team picture. The girls huddled up, did a cheer and then you took your position as the CAM.

Right off the bat, the game was nail biting. Any english fans watching at home, or in the stadium, surely felt as though something was going to happen. The swedes were coming in strong. But they weren’t attacking anyone as violently, as hard, and with as much resilience and they did to you.

The first hit you took was in the eighth minute. Fridolina Rolfö came out of nowhere. You were scanning your options from the midfield, no one around you. You were taking small touches to move forward, and then out of nowhere you heard "Man on!" and then felt a strong force hit you from behind. You went flying forwards, falling oto the floor with a loud thump. You groaned loudly, rolling onto your back as you heard the referee blow her whistle.

In your mind, that was a yellow, but Rolfö got let off with a warning. Lucy helped you up, brushing grass off your back as you tried to get dirt of your white kit.

Only two minutes later, you were the victim of another attack. This time by Jakobsson. As you turned with the ball and carried it down the middle, you felt your jersey getting tugged from behind, you tried to keep running but the pull made you stumble and fall awkwardly on your shoulder. Sofias momentum was still going, and she tripped over you, leaving a deep clear mark on your thigh.

You could hear scrambled voices of your teammates yelling at the referee who somehow decided the ball was to be given to Sweden. Fran helped you up gently, and you could see Millie trying to calm down Sarina as she was all worked up.

"What did you do to them? they’re going at you hard!" Fran joked. "I don’t know. But it’s okay. It’s fine," you answered calmly, walking towards Elle and Leah who were having a pretty angry talk with the ref.

"Girls! It’s okay. It’s fine. Let’s keep going," you said.

Swedens free kick resulted in nothing, and then you kept moving.

In the thirtieth minute, you were awarded a corner. You took your spot in the box, at the back post, and prepared yourself. The second the ball came in, you tried to jump up, but you felt a hand pushing you. Quicker than you knew it, you had fallen into the net pretty aggressively, your body crashing against the netting.

Zecira Musovic had caught the ball, and looked at you strangely as you struggled to get your cleats undone from the net. "She fucking pushed her! Yes you fucking did. Yes you did," Keira yelled, addressing the ref and then Hannah Glas.

"Keira!" you whispered harshly in her ear, making her turn to look at you and put her arms on your forearms. Most of your team was surrounding you now. "I am okay. Can we play this game please. Let’s go girls," you said sternly. "Y/n… this is getting unsafe," Leah said, concern in her voice. "I don’t care."

For once, you got away with the last word, walking off from the girls as they shared looks of worry.

At the end of the first half, your kit was a mess. There were more brown and green patches than white ones. Your face was dirty and your England kit was absolutely grimey. As you lifted the corner of your shirt, one of the only clean parts, to wipe off dirt from your cheek, you realized how scratched and bruise your stomach was.

You were quick to drop your shirt, hoping no teammates or cameras had picked up on your state.

The second you exited the pitch, Sarina had her arm around you. "You’re a fighter. You know that? I don’t know how you’re not loosing your shit out there," your coach said to you, squeezing your shoulder. "Loosing my shit won’t help anyone. It won’t help us win," you said simply. "That mentality, that’s gonna get us that cup. You hear me?" She said, keeping a hold of you as you both walked into the changing room. The second you walked in, the girls were all talking over each other with worry.

"I’ll kill them!"

"Are you okay?"

"How are you not screaming right now?"

"I don’t know how you’re so patient."

"Are you bruised? Cut? Bloody?"

"I am fine! But I won’t be fine if we don’t win this. So let’s win it," you said, sitting down next to Mary who gave you a quick kiss on the forehead.

Sarina went over what we were doing well, and what we weren’t, as you changed your kit into a clean one. You threw the dirty one away and then put your cleats back on as you had chosen to change socks too.

The girls and Sarina left the changing room, leaving you and Leah behind. She had given you a look that said "stay back."

"Listen to me, y/n/n. If you feel unsafe on that field for a second. You tell me, and Sarina will sub you off. Your safety is more important than a trophy. And this team is full of brilliant players, you’re irreplaceable… but what i’m saying is your spot can be… filled in if needed," your captain said. "Leah… we both know how bad you want that trophy," you said to her as you walked out of the room. "Yeah. I do. But I don’t want it enough to sacrifice you for it," Leah said.

"I won’t die, Lee. Let’s play," you said.

You jogged onto the field with her, the stadium erupting at the sight of their skipper and co-skipper.

Sweden seemed to have slowed down a little, on their attack on you, that is. The game was still very much packed with action. They left you along for a solid 30 minutes, which you were immensely grateful for.

But with the 75 minute, came what felt like the 75th foul on you.

Everyone lost their shit.

All, but you.

Everything about Asllani’s tackle was dirty. They way she didn’t even touch the ball. The way foot was way off the ground and her studs were pointed upwards. The way that went she connected with you, and you fell sideways with a scream, she made no attempt to stop her slide, choosing instead to let her studs graze all the way up the side of your leg.

Magda Ericsson had been the only sane Swede on the pitch, rushing toward her midfielder and grabbing her under the arms to pull her off you. She told her off in swedish before trying to check on you. But your team was having nothing of it. Millie gently told the swedish captain, and her club teammate, to back off so she didn’t get yelled at by the lionesses

Your eyes were teary due to the pain of it all. Your leg lay bloody on the turf, the crimson mess of it all starting to trickle down the sides of your thighs. You couldn’t really register the whole thing, but you could see the referee pointing at Asllani and giving her a yellow. But you also saw Leah get one, and Lucy, and then Keira. What were they saying to get them into that mess? "Tell them to stop before we have to play with a man down," you let out to Georgia who was kneeling beside you.

The medics were quick to soak up the blood, revealing a series of cuts made by the studs, but nothing too too serious. "I can keep playing, right?" you asked the medics. "No!" Leah said at the same time as all the other girls let out scattered cries of "no way" and "nuh uh".

"Guys. It’s a cut. It’s fine. I’m sure it was an acc-" you started saying. "No! No it was not an accident. You are too patient at this point, y/n. You need to protect yourself. But if you won’t, I will. You’re going off," Leah said with a sternness you hadn’t seen before.

You held eye contact with her for a while, the air tense. "No. Thirty pounds. Thirty pounds says i’ll score. Don’t take me off, don’t let Sarina sit me on the bench when I can make a difference for this team," you said, standing up, so determined to prove you could stay on the acknowledge the pain you should have been in.

"Fine. Thirty pounds," Leah said.

And then you were playing again, your leg bandaged up, your body in pain, and your mind set. You were everywhere on the pitch. Defending, attacking, demanding a goal. Everyone was shocked, shocked to see you so agressive after being pushed around so much. It just went to show that all your pain and annoyance was fueled into football.

Twenty minutes later, in 90+5, Leah because thirty pounds poorer.

A corner taken by Leah had gotten cleared away by a header, and came straight to you in your position from the outside of the box.

You didn’t think twice. You waited till the ball was perfectly low, and then hit it on the volley. The power on the shot made the ball spin, and it went straight into the goal, hitting the roof of the net.

You screamed loudly, running towards the corner flag, your team chasing after you, and jumping into Ellen’s arms. "LETS FUCKING GO. LETS FUCKING GO!" you screamed at full force.

Ellen let you down and your teammates took turn grabbing your face and kissing your forehead in excitement. The subs were all celebrating around you, and as you ran back to your position, you pumped your first in the air, making the fans screams double somehow.

When the final whistle blew, you cried. Partly of joy, but mostly of pure agony.

Your teammates helped you off the floor, basically carrying you around the field in their arms, making you laugh. But the second you were inside, you let out a shaky cry. Of relief, yes, but of pain. "It’ll be okay. You were amazing, and you’ll be all fixed for Wembley," Leah said, handing you thirty pounds and winking.

#woso fic #woso imagine #woso x reader #woso #leah williamson #chelsea fcw #arsenal fcw #lionesses #euro 2022 #engwnt #swewnt

[ahkaahshi]

your lil hc yessss I can imagine him waking you up in the middle of the night cause he can't sleep and he just asks you to play with his hair I would literally just die of happiness it would melt me

ahhh I feel the URGE to write a lil piece abt this so you can find it below bc it’s what he DESERVES 😤

truly spur of the moment content: sakusa kiyoomi x gn reader

drifting between consciousness and unconsciousness in the middle of the night, you can barely feel a gentle pressure on your shoulder in the moments before you’re about to doze off once more. a quiet murmur of curiosity leaves your mouth in a slow exhale as you flop onto your back and rub your eyes. “what is it, kiyoomi? I thought you were asleep,” you wonder, your words slurring from exhaustion.

“can’t sleep,” is your bed partner’s clearly spoken response, as if his brain hadn’t been allowed the opportunity to rest for more than a minute. in the shards of moonlight spilling into the room from the nearby window, you can see a look of irritation and defeat on his features as his dark gaze contemplates you with what appears to be longing. it’s unusual to see him this needy. if anything, you’re usually the one waking him up in the middle of the night for any number of reasons.

your hand instinctively reaches out toward him and your arms open up to welcome him into them. he accepts your silent invitation, sliding his tall form across the mattress so he can rest his head on your chest and wrap his arms around you. his warmth melts into yours as he pulls your body flush against his, as if you’ll disappear the instant he lets go.

“everything okay, babe?” you ask and brush his slightly disheveled curls away from his forehead so you can plant a kiss against his skin. the way you card your fingers through the sea of black waves atop his head is practically instinct at this point--slowly transforming into a habit after noticing that it seemed to have a calming effect on your boyfriend.

“mhm,” he mumbles, “but could you just keep doing that? it feels nice.”

“of course.”

as you continue running your fingers through his soft strands of hair, you slowly notice his weight grow heavier against you. the sensation of his eyelashes tickling the exposed skin near your collarbone when they flutter shut brings a small smile to your face, since his breathing soon steadies moments later. pressing another kiss to his forehead, you nestle your face near his and close your own eyes so you can join him in a peaceful slumber.

#team huddles with fran!! #spur of the moment hq content #sakusa kiyoomi x reader #sakusa x reader #long live the sakusa supremacy agenda #I just had to do it!! #how could I not when you inspired me??? #fran writes hq!!

[theroleofimagination]

Dan, Jordan and Fran join the huddle

Arsenal WFC vs Slavia Praha, 31st October 2019

My photos, please do not repost without credit

#think jordan was just being rested #great to see dan with the team #they were all really happy when they joined the huddle #fran is sooo tall! #danielle carter #jordan nobbs #fran stenson #vivianne miedema #beth mead #danielle van de donk #jen beattie #pauline peyraud magnin #viki schnaderbeck #etc #apologies for the blurriness of the last pics #arsenal wfc #bloody love this team #uwcl round of 16 #my photos #think that's all of the best ones - action shots didn't come out so well in the light

[glimmerofawesome]

Anyone got access to this and agree to share it🙏theathletic(.)com/2563591/2021/05/03/how-melanie-leupolzs-dirty-work-allowed-pernille-harder-to-take-chelsea-into-champions-league-final/

How Melanie Leupolz’s dirty work allowed Pernille Harder to take Chelsea into Champions League final

Shortly after full-time, an overwhelmed Emma Hayes confessed she wasn’t even sure what the scoreline was.

It was 4-1, which sounds like a convincing, comprehensive victory over an obviously inferior side. In reality, Chelsea’s win over Bayern Munich, securing a 5-3 aggregate victory, was anything but.

Chelsea spent stoppage time desperately defending their penalty box, throwing bodies on the line to prevent a Bayern goal that would have taken the German side through on away goals.

Champions League semi-finals tend to be like this: tight, tense, tactical, then decided through absolutely crazy moments. The decisive incident could have been Sarah Zadrazil’s astonishing long-range strike. It could have been when Chelsea midfielder Melanie Leupolz nearly scored a 40-yard own goal for her former side. In the end, it was when Fran Kirby was given the freedom to dribble in behind an absent defence and convert into an empty net after Bayern goalkeeper Laura Benkarth had gone upfront for a late set piece.

Chelsea, though, were deserved winners over the two legs. They enjoyed moments of fortune, with Leupolz’s fluked header in the first leg and Ji So-yun’s scruffy rebound from her blocked free kick in the second game. But they were superior to Bayern in terms of their pressing and getting the ball into their dangerous attackers. The most dangerous of all, Pernille Harder, scored the crucial goal — Chelsea’s third.

Harder’s first season in English football has been good rather than great, but she’s often stepped up at the biggest moments against the best opponents. She won the home meeting with Arsenal almost single-handedly. Here, she was constantly probing, constantly drifting into space, constantly making runs. In part, that’s because Chelsea’s system allowed her to.

Hayes’ team selection was unusual. She omitted regular left-back Jonna Andersson, whose positioning has been somewhat suspect in recent weeks, and instead played Niamh Charles. Just ahead of Charles, Hayes went for the solid option of Leupolz — a regular, dependable central midfielder — in an unfamiliar left-sided role, with the Chelsea manager perhaps conscious of the threat of Bayern right-back Hanna Glas, who assisted the opener and scored the winner last week.

That was only on paper, though. This system looked different at various points. At times, it was a simple 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1. At others, it was a diamond with Harder behind Sam Kerr and Kirby spreading wide into the channels. Or it could be a 4-3-3 with Harder moving to the left and Leupolz narrowing her position alongside Ji and Sophie Ingle, whose ball-winning ability was crucial in midfield, having deputised last week at the back in the absence of captain Magdalena Eriksson.

Eriksson was superb on her return, but the key to this side is Harder. She has the authority to shout at Leupolz and tell her to tuck inside when she wants to move wide. Leupolz’s movements were usually sandwiched by looking over her shoulder to check Harder’s positioning. Here’s a good example — the ball is in the centre circle, but Leupolz is checking the position of Harder over on the far side before she makes a forward run.

In the second half, when Leupolz came deep to drag Bayern defenders up the pitch, Harder exploited that space and stormed into a crossing position.

Both moved from Germany to join Chelsea last summer; Harder from Wolfsburg, Leupolz from Bayern. They have overcome their former sides in successive rounds, and were a pivotal double act here.

Leupolz wasn’t at her best, but she wasn’t in the side to perform at her best. She was playing to do a job for the team — more specifically, to do a job for Harder. On one occasion, Hayes shouted to Harder and ordered her to hold width on the left, since left-sided centre-back Eriksson had found herself with no passing options down the near side with Harder and Leupolz in the middle.

It was interesting, of course, that it was Harder rather than Leupolz told to cover the left, showing the side’s flexibility. But overall, Hayes has found the right balance between team structure and individual freedom, and Harder is a player who justifies freedom.

It’s worth remembering that Harder was, in some quarters, considered an expensive luxury when she was signed for a world-record fee last summer. Chelsea didn’t truly need her. Last season’s PFA player of the year Bethany England is now merely a substitute. But in matches such as these, Harder comes into her own. She understands space better than anyone else. She uses her body to hold off defenders expertly. Her speed, perhaps not as obvious as that of Kirby and Kerr because she’s not regularly sprinting into 40 yards of space, is also crucial.

Harder’s goal was an unusual near-post header from Jess Carter’s drifted free kick from the right flank. It was a simple header — how was she left completely unmarked? — but owed much to her excellent sudden movement from deep, and her acceleration to get across the near post quickly.

Fittingly, it also depended on a sneaky off-the-ball block from Leupolz, and that was how Harder was left completely unmarked. Harder started her run from deep, exploiting the fact Bayern defending in one solid line. Leupolz came back from an offside position to perform her crafty move. As she was throughout this game, Leupolz was doing the dirty work and making movements to allow Harder into dangerous positions.

There was also a telling scene just after that crucial goal, with Chelsea’s outfielders celebrating in a huddle together, with the exception of one player — Harder, who had broken away from the others and was briefly celebrating solo. That image defined Harder’s role in this Chelsea: very much part of the team, but also allowed to do her own thing.

#Anonymous

[stab-the-son-of-a]

Whumpers Only

I wish I could explain how this got away from me but I have no words. Not quite a caretaker, so, sorry anon, but here you go.

CW: Brief drug and alcohol mention

The itemized call history that crossed Detective Vance’s desk is deceptively extensive and several pages thick, despite being only for a few months’ span of time. Forensics still have their hands all over the cell phone itself, and the detective has a few choice words they could say about the forensic team’s work ethic, but they’re not in the practice of layering their insults in honey. Their bread and butter is to to dig and root around for information, like some sort of truffle pig, and their tongue is regularly knotted. The detective finds themself quite defective when it comes to spinning the same pleasant, nuanced banter, certainly not enough to keep up with the man down in forensics with the sugar sweet smile.

So, itemized call list it is. It took the detective an obscene amount of time to cross reference the numbers against every possible database and to confirm the pattern to the suspect's behaviors and narrow down which numbers are legitimate. Most of all, which of these numbers matches the spurious rumor of a hotline.

A ‘whump’ hotline. There are many, many similar mentions in certain circles and apparently coded messages sent through various forms of advertising, and yet, this is the closest Jesse has come to interacting with that sphere. They’re not sure, but they think that might be why they still can’t bring themself to finish dialing.

The information has always been there, readily accessed in the same sort of way drugs and alcohol are accessible - a thinly veiled barrier, a little social based pressure to avoid or partake depending on the circles. For years, Jesse has been a teetotaler and avoided whump content in any respect, and kept that influence from their life.

It’s odd to abandon that part of their life, that internal badge of never having indulged.

It’s for a case, however, so they finally stop their waffling and dial.

Not long after, on the second ring, someone picks up. “Hello and thank you for calling 1-877-WHMP-NOW, the whump specialist hotline.” The person on the other end, an operator of some sort, offers a friendly greeting.

Off balanced by just how cordial the other person sounds, Jesse hesitates a moment to collect themself. They just have to pretend to want to be a whumper. That couldn't be too hard. “Um…” they mumble, then clear their throat. “Um, hi, I... want to learn to whump. My name is-”

“Oh. Excuse me, I’ll have to place you on hold while a representative finishes with another client.”

The cheery hold music is far more underwhelming than anything else and Jesse frowns at the phone, as if it’s the device’s fault, before sighing and settling on their couch, one leg tossed over the arm while they wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Eventually they start mirroring the words of the automated voice recording, interjecting with their own commentary in the brief pauses between statements.

“All our lines are busy at the moment.”

“And here at Whump Corp or whatever these moments last a lifetime,” Jesse snorts as they try yet again to find another position on the couch. Their curly hair serves little by way of cushioning from the carpet as they sit upside down. The phone sits a few inches away from their head, speakerphone enabled, and Jesse crosses their hands over their stomach and their ankles behind the back of the couch.

Undeterred, because of course, the message continues, “Please remain patient. Your time is very important to us. We will be with you momentarily.”

“Momentarily means for a short period,” Jesse corrects under their breath. It’s a small pet peeve, something that normally wouldn’t have drawn their attention either, but as they hear the same spiel for the dozenth time, it’s like getting the last final small pebble thrown in their face- just enough to burst the dam. "Not in a short period of time."

“We are currently experiencing greater than usual call volume. Continue to hold the line, and you will be connected as soon as possible.”

“How many people can there even be calling at 11am on a Tuesday?” Gravity draws Jesse’s blood into their head until the pressure and dizziness build uncomfortably. They roll off the couch and root around in their mini fridge for a drink. At this volume, they can hear the same three bar hold music repeat yet again, despite the distance. Cracking the seal on their iced tea, Jesse settles cross legged beside the cellphone. “Don’t whump on company time, guys, jeez.”

“Just a moment please, the next available team member will be there for you shortly.”

Letting out a drawn out groan, Jesse lies back and stares up at the ceiling. It’s been hours. “Starting to think I’m waiting for the next available team member to be born.”

Click. Jesse bolts upright, fumbling with the phone and nearly yeeting it across the room in their haste.

“All of our employees are currently busy assisting other clients,” the new voice announces. The faint static and electric tone warns Jesse that they’ve simply stumbled into another robot. “Your call and phone number has just been noted and a representative will call you back as soon as possible. We thank you for your understanding.”

“What?” That doesn’t make any sense. Jesse runs a hand through their curls, only to freeze as the line goes dead. “What?! No! I did not just sit through hours of happy fun time hold music just to get hung up on by a robot!”

Except that’s exactly what just happened.

They stare down at their screen in acute betrayal. What now? Try again? Their number is now in a whump call center database of some sort.

-

Half an hour after the call disconnected, Jesse still hasn’t moved from their position. Their mind is a blur as they try to figure out what it is they really ended up doing- if they would have to explain themself and the call to anyone- their family, friends, service provider, work. They don’t even know if anyone will know, let alone if they will care.

The house is absolutely silent, the muted television still playing in the background as they’d forgotten to turn it off or to return the volume.

Silent until the phone rings. Shock and no small amount of recklessness has Jesse answering the unknown number.

“Hello, and thank you for holding!” It’s the operator from before- Jesse recognizes the faint impediment or accent that sharpens the glottal sound of their h’s.

“I wouldn’t call that holding,” Jesse grumbles.

Either not hearing them, or not addressing their commentary, the operator continues, “At this time, I'd like to let you know that this call may be recorded for quality assurance and training purposes. Please answer the following survey questions.”

“I’ve been on hold for hours and you want me to perform a survey? About what? I haven’t even gotten helped!”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, friend. Were you highly satisfied with your service experience?”

Bewildered, Jesse cries, “No!”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Did you receive the result you needed from your service interaction?”

“What interaction?!” Are they in the Twilight Zone? Are they still speaking English? Did they have a stroke and now they’re mumbling incoherently? What sort of madness was this, an elaborate prank?

“Thank you for your response. Did you receive friendly service?”

“I didn’t get any service! Rude would have been preferable!”

“Your feedback has been noted.”

Jesse groans again and scrubs their face.

“Was our service timely and convenient?”

“Not on your life!”

“Thank you for your responses. Now, would you recommend our service to others?”

They can feel their head pulsing and pounding, a twitch behind their temple and their eyebrow jumping, but as soon as they hang up, their blood pressure begins to lower with a rush of relief.

Their iced tea now room temperature and bitter, Jesse takes a few more sips and leans against the couch, resting their neck against the cushion. “What a disaster,” they sigh.

After a few seconds of blissful silence, their phone goes off again. Swiping the decline button with a vicious smirk, they return to enjoying what more of their day they can.

Said enjoyment ends with another call, and another.

“Fine! Hello?”

“I’m sorry, it seems we were disconnected. Please finish providing your feedback so we can improve our services.”

“My feedback is that this was an exercise is madness! You kept me on hold for over two hours, but you’ve repeatedly called me for a stupid survey when before you couldn’t give me the time of day!”

“I’ve very sorry you were not satisfied with the level of response and attentiveness. You are welcome to try calling again tomorrow-”

“Absolutely no-”

“As I was saying, Mx. Vance, you may call the hotline again tomorrow during regular business hours. Thank you for completing the survey and for calling 1-877-WHMP-NOW. Have a whumpderful day!”

“A pun?” Jesse tosses their phone to the couch and storms off to the bathroom to wash the rage and boiling heat from their face. “All that for a stupid pun?!”

-

Over at the call center, Gladys and Fran sit huddled around the phone, Gladys actually sitting on the desk and perched precariously on the edge. The speaker button still flashes from the abrupt disconnection.

“Did you hear them?” Gladys roars with laughter, holding her aching ribs. It took everything in her willpower and then some to keep quiet, both while listening to the detective while they were on hold, but especially while Fran spoke with them. Now free, she lets loose, uncaring of who else hears her. “Oh God, oh man, I’m gonna bust a rib. Babe, you’re the best.”

“I’m actually proud of that pun. Like, really proud.” Fran takes out their pen and quickly scribbles that one down.

“Uhhh, Fran, I’m pretty sure Craig in finance already-”

They raise up one finger imperiously and continue to write. “Let me have my moment, Glady-girl. Just this once.”

Smiling, she rolls her eyes and slides off the desk. “Since you gave me the best lunch break surprise ever, want to head down to the cafe?”

Fran takes a final quick look at their work space, how messy and disorganized it is now that it’s no longer Gladys’s chair, considers the amount of time left in their shift and how long this high of a well played prank might last, and wheels back from their desk. “Lead the way!”

“Oh, no, you’re my hero,” she insists, dramatically bowing to allow them to go ahead of her. The angle is perfect for a quick peck on the cheek before they make their way down the corridors.

#wcc series #wcc fran #wcc gladys #wcc detective jesse vance #alcohol mention #drug mention #anonymous #kissing cw

[fancybelieverdinosaur]

well, it’s a thing with all chelsea couples, i guess. i think they all make it a point to avoid being touchy with each other during celebs, huddles, etc. just look at maren and fran. i even have a theory that you can tell who among the team are a couple by looking for those that consistently don’t hug each other as much as they hug their other teammates. 😂

Maren and Fran have had some very cute hugs to celebrate goals😍😍 and same with Jess and AKB. I dont know if there are more couples in Chelsea team😅

[itslaurenmae]

What is this sudden influx of "Cabin in the Woods" reblogs? Did you just see it for the first time? Second time? Umpteenth time? Your take on things must be had, lest the old ones wipe it away.

I am SO GLAD... so BLESSED to receive this ask. This turned into a full-on essay, sooooo buckle up and read on. (TL;DR I rewatched Cabin in the Woods and forgot how much I loved it, sooo yes, you're gonna see a lot of it on my dash) - SPOILERS AHEAD

I rewatched Cabin in the Woods for the second time on Saturday night and DEAR GOD. I’m gonna have NO CHILL while responding to this because I’ve been thinking about it for a day and a half already. 

First of all, I should probably state for the record that I am a longtime Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. I wasn’t allowed to watch the show when it was airing on television (thanks to my very strict evangelical conservative upbringing) - I found Buffy in my early twenties and fell in love. The subversion of tropes, the excellent character writing hand-in-hand with narrative arcs that actually make sense... it really is one of the greatest shows that’s ever been on TV. Yes, I will fight you about it. I haven’t watched everything Joss Whedon has ever touched, but I also really loved Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog and Angel, so I am not a stranger to the Whedonverse.

Cabin in the Woods is the first horror movie I remember watching and genuinely enjoying. Loren and I had decided that, with my being deprived of Halloween traditions (thanks to that upbringing), we wanted to start a new tradition of watching a horror movie on Halloween night. This was back in 2013. Our first daughter was only a few months old. 

I’d seen maaaaybe two other actual horror films before CitW - but I’d long been a fan of books, tv shows, and other mediums in the paranormal family (because that was okay, because it was spiritual - thanks again, upbringing). I think a friend from college had recommended it to us - and once I'd seen it had Joss Whedon as a writer and producer, I knew I'd probably like it. So, we put our daughter to bed, snuggled up, turned off all the lights, and watched our very first Halloween horror movie.

I fell in Love. 

It was funny? And subversive? And I was scared in a good way? 

I had no idea what was going on in the very beginning, but as this tale unspooled itself on our flatscreen, I knew I Loved this movie.

From that day forward, anytime anyone asked me what my favorite horror movie was, I said Cabin in the Woods. 

I said that for seven years.

Somehow, seven years of my life went by? We had another baby? We moved houses? I left jobs and got a new job and Loren moved school sites and wow... somehow it was 2020. We watched lots of horror movies, and not just on Halloween anymore (take that, upbringing!!). We're huge fans of a YouTube channel called Dead Meat, and specifically, a series they do called the Kill Count. 

Every Friday, James A. Janisse and his team release a new video counting down the kills in a horror movie. And when I saw at the end of 2019 that he was going to do one for Cabin in the Woods, I was SO EXCITED.

It had been YEARS since I'd seen it, but I remembered that I Loved it. And yes, I'm using Love with a capital L. I Love this movie. 

Loren and I watched the Kill Count the day it was released. I remembered most of the kills, and I definitely remembered that ending. It made me so happy to watch something about that movie again.

Some time goes by. 

Covid-19 happens. We all get told to shelter in place. 

We log in to Hulu one night after the kids are down to watch Letterkenny, and I see that Cabin in the Woods is streaming. I was SO HAPPY to see it there.

Some more time goes by.

We finished watching Letterkenny. 

We can't pick another show to watch together. So I suggest we watch Cabin in the Woods. 

That was Saturday.

I forgot how much I Love this movie.

I forgot how much I Love Fran Kranz’s character, Marty.

I forgot about how much I Love the look of relief on Kristen Connolly’s character, Dana's, face when Marty shows up at the dock where she's about to be clobbered to death. She thought he was already dead, but no, he's alive. And he clocks Matty Buckner with his giant bong and they run like hell back to the house. 

I forgot that Marty figured out that the whole thing was rigged against them. 

I forgot they break into the elevator to confront The Organization about killing their friends.

I FORGOT ABOUT THE VERY TENDER HUGGING FROM BEHIND IN THAT SCARY AS HELL, MASTERFULLY DONE ELEVATOR SCENE.

I forgot about the very painful and earnest exchange of apologies between Marty and Dana at the end, after they decide they’re gonna let the Ancient Ones rise.

I forgot about the way they scoot to be near each other as the building is coming down. 

I forgot about the way they put their heads together, shivering, as they huddle for some semblance of safety and comfort as the world is ending. 

It's so HUMAN - that last scene between Marty and Dana. And you get this feeling that, if they survived this, they'd maybe have a shot at something good together.

Basically, I forgot how much I Loved this movie.

And it all came back to me on Saturday night.

It's good writing. It's good acting. It's just good.

Something A LOT of media just isn't anymore.

Character writing. Overall narrative. Subversions on the genre. An ending that is tragic and shocking but still MAKES SENSE.

Watching this movie reminded me of the kinds of characters and stories I love. And it had been a long time since I'd watched something I Loved. 

Especially after watching a very popular franchise I love shit the bed last year, I've been feeling very uninspired and unimpressed by most popular media. 

Most shows or movies I've watched from the last decade just feel... soulless. They don't make me feel things. 

They don't affect me. They're numb, they have no heart. They kinda pass the time but they don’t move me.

The characters don't feel real. 

They don't make understandable, human decisions. 

It all feels really stilted. 

And that’s because the writing is bad.

I think most actors out there are doing their best, but there's just been a deluge of seriously shitty writing, and people aren't discriminating enough to either notice or care, or stop spending their money on things that are frankly, poorly crafted cash grabs. 

I don't want to point fingers and name names (because a. that’s been done already, and b. Whedon's not getting off scot-free here, he's one of the men behind one of the biggest franchises of the late 2000s and 2010s) - but somewhere in the last seven years, a lot of soul just died in the writing of American TV and movies. 

But not this movie. 

This movie is real, and it's human, and it's funny and subversive and tonally resonant and I Love it.

So yes, the deluge of content is here because I remembered I Loved this movie.

I Love Marty and Dana and their very human clinging to each other in that crumbling building. 

I Love those scenes in the elevator, I Love the tragedy of sacrificing young people to appease a nameless evil, I Love the way Marty and Dana choose each other over all the rest of humanity, I Love the humor and the wrongness of it all being engineered in an office. 

It's just Good, and I’ve really missed Good Shit. 

So yes, I’m gonna post the hell out of The Cabin in the Woods (2011) on this blog for however long I see fit. Bless you, @iowastubborn, for gracing my inbox with this ask. It’s the first thing I’ve written in MONTHS and it felt good to write about something I Love.

If you need me, you can probably find me in the marty x dana tag at 3am anytime in the foreseeable future.

#iowastubborn #ask #answered #lauren talks #the cabin in the woods #an essay no one wanted #so yes i'm gonna post the hell out of citw on this blog for however long I see fit #bless you tylor for this ask #it's the first thing i've written in MONTHS #blood cw #spoilers? #spoilers

[easyrider64]

“HUMP DAY”

Day 3

Our original objective for the day was Nurenberg - which as the crow flies is approx 65km. Very doable. However - as our night #1 table buddy cyclist told us as well as Uri who rented us the bikes....the cycle trail was anything but a straight line. By our calculation even the most direct route (and there are three to choose from) was 85+ km with hilly sections.  

So we had a team huddle - do we take the trains to Ansbach ( about a third of the way) or do we gut it out and go for it?  Alessandro was very keen to do the entire leg by bike and Steve and I agreed after plotting out the shortest route.

The plan: get an early start and not rush.  Most problems on long rides occur when you set yourself a too ambitious goal and needlessly chase the end goal losing focus on what your current reality. You may recall my penultimate day on ride # 1 when I pushed too hard and "blew up" 30 miles before San Fran. (fortunately rule # 2 kicked in and somebody was there to help me when I hit rock bottom and get me to Pedaluma). So perhaps this is ride-life lesson # 4? - in life the journey is often just as important if not more than the destination.

So - setting out early (8:30) on a beautiful but crisp (10 degree) morning we headed due west on the most direct cycle path. Quickly we realized why we had been advised to think about going part way by train.  As we were no longer following the path of a river we hit some significant hills and the going was tough (even getting off and having to push our bikes at one stage).

By our first town objective - which was less than 20 km away - we had already taken over an hour and a half.  At this rate it would be dark before we reached Nurenberg!  Fortunately the hero of the week Alessandro, came to the rescue.  He had done a search of the elevation change for the day and assured us that at about 30kms the trail would be flat all the way to our destination.  

Stopping in a small town "Brauerai Gasthaus" there was a brewery that doubles up as a hotel (gotta love who the Germans think). At around 10 30 - Alessandro suggested a rest and a " sneaky pint".  Sure enough the owner came out and without batting an eyelid bought a small bottle for us to share (full disclosure I wasn't "feeling it" today so I passed. 

 Shortly thereafter we headed out and as advertised the terrain became flat and we started to follow yet again a path of the Donau river snaking it's way to Nuremberg.  Stopping off in a small town, tired and hungry, we couldn't find any decent eateries that served beer.  It's a common occurrence on long rides - when you are tired and hungry making decisions and coming to consensus seems overly difficult.  Yet again Alessandro saved the day - he found a local pizzeria where we dined on bruschetta and salad (and perhaps another "sneaky pint" ) for my trail mates.

 We pushed on eventually reaching the outskirts of Nurenberg around 3pm. It's a city of over 500,000 people and much larger than anticipated.  Using his sidekick Siri, Alessandro yet again navigated us expertly to our Airb&b location arriving just before 4pm. Finding it overly cramped for 3 males after a long day I opted for a hotel expertly located by Maria just a few blocks away - after showering we met up for yet another hearty German style dinner (is there a national aversion to veggies and salad is this country?? ) After this many days in country we could usually recite the menu before even entering a restaurant ("would you like sauerkraut or fries with your snitzel and sauerkraut?" OMG). 

A long but rewarding day - 90+ kms covered with hilly sections. Quite the achievement!

Sneaky Pint

Pit Stop

[biofunmy]

How Big Bird and friends shaped children’s TV

CLOSE

On the heels of “Sesame Street”’s 50 Anniversary, the show’s loveable characters talk about their favorite celebrity guests. (Nov. 4) AP

NEW YORK – TV’s most famous block is turning the big 5-0. 

This Sunday marks half a century since “Sesame Street” aired its first episode on public television on November 10, 1969. The landmark educational children’s series introduced the world to beloved Muppet characters, including Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, and helped pave the way for inclusion, diversity and learning onscreen. 

“‘Sesame Street’ is proof that the show with top ratings or sensation-of-the-moment status is not necessarily the one that has the most lasting impact,” says TV historian Tim Brooks. “Because of its brilliant design and clearly defined audience of children in their formative years, it has probably had a greater positive impact on generations of young viewers than any show on television over the last 50 years.” 

“Sesame” celebrates the milestone Saturday with “Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration” on HBO (7 EST/PST), its home since 2015. Hosted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the celebrity- and music-filled event features appearances by Whoopi Goldberg, Sterling K. Brown and Patti LaBelle, as well as legendary puppeteers Caroll Spinney (the original Big Bird) and Fran Brill (the since-retired voice and performer behind Zoe and Prairie Dawn). 

More: ‘Sesame Street’ tackles parental addiction crisis in a way kids can understand

For the special, which airs on PBS stations Nov. 17, it “was important to nod to our history with just the right amount of nostalgia, but recognize that we’re a current show with something modern and dynamic,” says executive producer Ben Lehmann. “The ’50th’ special is the perfect encapsulation of that.”

Honoring the past is also central to a “Sesame” episode airing later this season, which starts November 16 on HBO (9 a.m. EST/PST). Shot last winter on the series’ homey soundstage in Queens, “The Treasure of Yucky Mama” follows cuddly red monster Elmo and his fairy companion Abby Cadabby as they team up with the garbage can-dwelling Oscar, who searches fordecades-old relics belonging to his great grandma, the similarly grouchy Yucky Mama. 

“Fifty? That is so old,” Elmo exclaims, letting out his signature laugh before huddling over a weathered map of Sesame Street, dated 1969. Following clues as they hunt for treasure, the furry trio visits sites of former neighborhood haunts such as the Fix-It Shop, which was replaced by the Laundromat in 2008. 

“Boy, I remember how Yucky Mama used to love to come here to stare at all the busted junk in the window,” Oscar bemoans. “Now look at it: People come here to make dirty clothes clean!”

Abby Cadabby, left, Charlie (Violet Tinnirello), Nina (Suki Lopez), Oscar the Grouch and Elmo in “The Treasure of Yucky Mama.” (Photo: Courtesy of Sesame Workshop)

As the characters scurry from location to location, puppeteers glide below them on small rolling platforms just out of camera’s view: hoisting the puppets high above their heads, and trying not to bump into each other as they excitedly speak in the Muppets’ high-pitched voices.

Even when they’re not filming, the puppeteers stay in character. Abby, performed by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, “walks” over to two young visitors between takes and greets them with hugs, cheerfully asking their names and ages. Elmo, played by Ryan Dillon since 2013, mimes lifting weights as he waits for cameras to roll, quipping, “We’re working on our core today.” 

“It looks deceptively easy to do what we do, but we’re really doing half a dozen things at once,” says longtime puppeteer Matt Vogel, who plays both Big Bird and Count von Count. “We have to make that puppet look and feel real to the audience, whether they are adults or children. And that means that we are actors from the elbow up. We embody these little pieces of foam and felt with real human characteristics.”

Muppets from the cast of “Sesame Street,” from left: Cookie Monster, Prairie Dawn, Big Bird, Ernie, Elmo, Bert, Oscar the Grouch and Grover, in a photo taken in 1999. (Photo: RICHARD TERMINE, CTW)

The characters’ zany personalities and lovability are part of why Vogel believes the series has endured.  

“It’s this unique blend of characters, sensibility, music, humor and humanity,” Vogel says. “All of those things rolled up together in this little package – this little street, this community – is what is so important about ‘Sesame Street’ and keeps viewers connected with the show.” 

The series, which moves to WarnerMedia’s HBO Max streaming service next year (episodes will continue to air later on PBS) has also broken new ground for kids’ TV. In recent years, it’s introduced human and puppet characters dealing with homelessness, foster care and autism. It furthers a mission of inclusiveness started by producers Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, who created the program with the help of Muppets visionary Jim Henson. 

” ‘Sesame Street’ (premiered) in ’69, the year of both Woodstock and the moon landing, and carried on the optimism of the ’60s,” says Ron Simon, curator of television and radio at the Paley Center for Media. “It was certainly an offshoot of the civil rights movement, and brought together a multicultural cast and creative team.” 

More: ‘Sesame Street’ introduces Karli, a Muppet in foster care

Sonia Manzano, who retired in 2015 after playing Fix-It Shop owner Maria for 44 years, says she rarely saw people of color on TV before the show premiered in 1969. 

“At that time, when you saw a Latin person on television, you always waited for the taco joke,” Manzano says. “But not on ‘Sesame Street’: We were worried about child care and education, just like any other American family.”

“We still teach numbers and letters, but our primary focus is on the emotional and social development of the child,” Vogel adds. “The audience sees themselves in these characters, and ‘Sesame Street’ can address these really important issues.” 

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[ahkaahshi]

Hey, Fran! Hope you're having a good day. I can't wait to read about papa Atsumu😭 What do you think Atsumu and other haikyuu boiz would want their child/ren to inherit from their s.o?

hello! my day’s going okay thanks for asking :) hope you’re doing well too! this fic has literally been sitting in my drafts for months I can’t believe I forgot about it 😂 the question is so cool I’d love to answer it! but of course the answer varies on the s/o too so I'll try my best!

here’s what I think are the traits that atsumu + some of the other hq guys would want their kid/s to inherit from their s/o!

atsumu: their moderation. he doesn’t want his kids to lose sight of their goals and give up, but he also realizes that overworking them is not a good idea. therefore, he hopes that his kids inherit his s/o’s ability to stay steady without going overboard. rest is an important part of the process!

kita: their spontaneity. while he finds comfort in his routines, he hopes that maybe his kid/s have a bit of a more carefree and wild streak in them, since he admires that in his s/o to an extent. at the end of the day he wants his kids to have order and consistency in their lives, but not for them to feel shackled by it or like they can’t make mistakes/be spontaneous because of it

oikawa: their humility. he wants his kids to have faith in themselves bc they’ve been imbued with awesome genes! but he also hopes that his s/o’s humility keeps them from getting overinflated egos (read as: there can only be one diva in the household and it’s tooru). also doesn’t want his kids getting head butted by iwa’s kids (but that’s inevitable)

iwaizumi: their compassion. he wants his kids to have really solid friendships as they grow up and show love/kindness towards others, since that’s a trait he looks for in his s/o. BUT he will def turn a blind eye when one of them head butts oikawa’s kid for saying some stupid shit tho. like father like child (and that applies to both him and oikawa)

bokuto: their calmness. of course he and his kids are gonna get rowdy and excited easily, given his own nature, but he hopes they have better control over their mood swings than he does and inherit his s/o’s gentler nature. plus, he doesn’t want them bouncing off the walls all night long when it’s finally time for bed 😂

ushijima: their emotional intelligence. that’s one of the things he really appreciates about his s/o, so he hopes his kids will naturally have a better understanding of social situations and building healthy relationships--like the one he has with his dad :) on a slightly unrelated note I can totally see toshi being that dad who’s outside with his kid and some of their friends, teaching them how to play volleyball or just hangin out to make sure they stay safe 🥺

#team huddles with fran!! #u asked and I wrote u an essay #miya atsumu #kita shinsuke #oikawa tooru #iwaizumi hajime #bokuto koutarou #ushijima wakatoshi #haikyuu x reader #fran writes hq!!

[glimmerofawesome]

One ring to rule, I mean one captain Magda to rule them all lol. On a more serious note there are more leaders in the team than just current or former captains. Jonna, Fran and Drew for example. Jonna used to work as a teacher at a high school for 13-15 youths. In her old club the players coached local girls teams regularly. It requires leadership skills to handle a bunch of teenagers and kids! Fran and Drew are club icons. Fran shows with example and Drew is the water carrier of club culture.

I didn’t know that little tidbit about Jonna, that’s very cool!  For some reason that’s not surprising to hear about her, even if she’s a bit more quiet. I can see her doing that.

Yeah even with the multiple captains on the team, you can tell that many other on the team feel free speaking up  It’s not just Magda speaking in the huddle or on the field.  You tend to see several of them talking back and forth during the course of the game or during breaks.  Even a few heated moments between each other. 

I think part of it comes from the types of players that Emma’s recruits, but then also the players themselves being willing to be open and honest.  Which has created an environment where everyone, even new players feel like they can speak and lead.  I think a few new players have even said that in the past.

#Anonymous