𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄

   /   stubborn managers are actually a curse.  youre right tho i do wonder why the club are keeping him??? bc to go from epl winners to losing to teams like wolves and consistently failing to score is such an OBVIOUS change.  cant see what theyre getting out of keeping him there bc it does NOT seem like he's trying to change much or learn from this game 

@RED-EMPTION // frrrr !! and he refuses to learn and evolve, like-- AGAIN, after bringing Robertson and Chiesa in, and sending Gakpo and Kerkez out, we improved. it's EASY to see where his mistakes are (along with sending defenders in the area only to DIFFICULT our keeper's work instead of letting him do his literal job !!!) he doesn't trust the keeper, he doesn't trust the players, and affects everyone with his poor decision making. literally for much less other managers were sacked (like Maresca, who was doing a great job at Chelsea, guys didn't even wait for him to try something different, just kicked him out!) and why is Slot still there after a FAR WORSE job ????

  /  he literally had the easiest job itw in just copying klopp and he's STILL FAILING.  crazy to see the differences in shots had in that game vs the amount of goals.  CRAZY!!!!

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            The truth about every introvert is that we're pretty confident— *in our heads*! When it came to actually say the things we're thinking about... well, then— that's the issue.
            Listen, he wanted to tell him! He wanted to tell him all about it— the way he daydreamed about him, the way he never left his thoughts... how amazing, and beautiful, and strong, and smart, and funny he is..! But— he also knows it's difficult. That opening up to him like this, could result in pushing him away... and he definitely didn't want it to happen!
            And— wait, was he talking with him?! What was he saying?! That's embarrassing. He got so lost in his thoughts, looking at him, that he was missing his words! "I, uh... the lecture was all right. Professor Friedemann is really nice. I think it was one of our best classes, honestly— good thing I managed to sit far away from Jenna, or I would've missed it," he chuckled awkwardly. "My day was good— better now, though." he sent him a sheepish smile. "How about you? How was your day?"

    tom was stupid for looking back,  for offering a gentle smile back to his roommate.  being interested in the guy you lived with at uni was bad enough,  but actually making a move was even worse.  it was considered a sin!  between anyone!  the worst thing you could do is date your roommate,  because there were so many opportunities for things to go so wrong.  but can't they just kiss a little?  what was wrong with that?  it was the  *feelings*  which made it messy!   (  tom was,  obviously,  just saying this in his head because he'd never say it to jon's face  ) .  "clearly,"  he replied,  amused.  "how was your day?  how did you find the lecture?  i never actually asked,  i just sorta assumed you were listening.  and not talking to jenna."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He chuckled once he noticed he had beaten the other to it. For a moment, he just allowed himself to look at him, feeling some sort of electricity that started from the point where his fingers touched and spread to his entire body... making him blush, slightly— but, hey! He could always hide it under the dimmed lighting of the bar! That, and leaning his head down as if focused on the menu again— even if he had already made his choice. "I don't fall for the same trick twice," he answered jokingly, smiling to his roommate.

   "s'a good point."  he muttered,  smiling at the thought—  they missed out on that with their relationship,  being able to get teased about it by their friends.  it was different for them.  tom was always changing jon's contact name out of paranoia,  there had been recent incidents of homophobia in football which tom heard about and became a little more scared of it all...  he didn't want to linger on it too much.  "pfft.  i love you so much.  you make me so happy."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Although I'd love the text, I'm glad you didn't... or the lads wouldn't stop till they got to see who was it," he laughed; of course, his contact wasn't saved under his name, nor a nickname that people could guess anything out of it. It was saved under 'A.T. Wells' (a reference to H.G. Wells), for the book 'The Wonderful Visit' where the Angel character was named Thomas (hence, Angel Thomas— A.T.! —making it to the top of his contact list!) He's paranoid, all right?! But, also, he needed the contact name to make sense to him! "I have an idea... considering that, seeing you out there also does things to me."

   the mention of the message made the midfielder hide his smile against jon's shoulder,  swaying them from side to side before finally finding his answer.  "i did.  i almost texted you."  he decided to wait until he could actually see his boyfriend,  but that gesture had absolutely melted his heart.  he was just left smiling brightly at the tv,  like an idiot,  counting down the seconds to see jon.  "it was very sweet,  and you looked gorgeous.  stunning.  does something funny to my heart seeing you out there like that,  y'know?"  

   jon was laughing at them!  thomas was sure that if freddie could speak,  he would be outraged by being found adorable,  and that is also something he got from his owner.  "it's not  *suspicious*!  i'm just that good."  he could see the goalkeeper's grin from the corner of his eyes,  and he nudged him with his elbow after the pinch.  when the final whistle went,  thomas was more happy to give his full attention to his boys over the game and its scoreline.  "you suck at sabotage."  he leaned down,  his hand on the back of jon's head to lift him up a little,  all to kiss his boyfriend's forehead fondly.  "mini-you is shit at football." 

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            The 'resting bitch face' was, definitely, a charm, not a curse! ...Although Jon was really biased to say anything about his boyfriend. It's impossible not to melt over him, about every silly little thing he did or said, okay?! And when he saw Tom wearing *that look*, it only got the keeper to smile and want to kiss him and manage to get a smile from him, too! (And to see the kitten wearing *that face*, it only got the Scouser to chuckle and find it adorable!)
            "Two goals in less than five minutes?! Ref, I'm watching some really suspicious activity, right here!" he said, already grinning for picturing his partner's protests. "Why that sarcastic tone?! We truly did! I don't know what you're on about," he added teasingly, pinching his boyfriend's arm lightly, just to mess with him.

   freddie was cursed with his owner's resting bitch face,  unfortunately,  and the only thing that remotely made him seem encouraging was when it was dinner time.  although tom liked to think he was easier to please than  *that*,  at least,  seeing as he laughed when freddie turned his head away to look at the tv instead of agreeing with jon.  smart cat.  "you need to gather your troops before you do that.  you seem to not be on the same page."  he did a mini celebration when he scored again,  only a few minutes left of the game and he was determined to score as many as he could before that time was up,  and he brushed a hand through jon's hair quickly before the game started up again.  "right,  right.  sure you did."  

   "awww."  he chuckled,  finding jon's silly sentiments very funny and endearing and closing his eyes at the equally as silly kiss.  his perfect boyfriend,  the best goalkeeper in the premier league  *and*  the champions league!  the epitome of defense,  with very good arms and a pretty face,  laying there with little ol' d'angelo.  what a time to be alive!  the idea of this was enough to make him smile stupidly.  "they need knocking down a peg or two,  right?  pleaaase let it be us to do it to them."  he pretended to plead dramatically.  the fact that two rivals were in bed talking about the annoying front-runners of the league was pretty funny,  and it was their perfect secret.

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He couldn't avoid the temptation to ask him where those 'strong feelings' against Olympique came from— as he inwardly supposed it had something to do with the times he had played in France, excited to hear more about it. "If we get a penalty— I'll ask to shoot it, and if I get to do it and score, know that I dedicate it to you when I run to the camera and make a heart shape with my hands," he chuckled, pressing a kiss to the tip of his nose.
            
            He nodded to him in understanding at the whole manager situation, knowing exactly what he meant by choosing to be *optimistic* —running his fingers gently through his hair. "I hope you get them. Someone had to teach them a lesson and show them they haven't yet won the league," he winked at him, playfully. For sure he would be cheering for United, too...
            It could be (another one of) their little secret(s)!

  "is that an away game?  hope you batter 'em.  fuckin' hate that lot."  one of the few times where he'd actively be cheering for liverpool.  listen,  united weren't in the champions league!  so...  as long as liverpool don't actually win the whole thing,  it's fine.  although he does love that tipsy smile on his boyfriend's face when he wins like that.  although the fact that united were only playing in the premier league was a sore point for tom,  seeing as he'd only played the last ten minutes of the fa cup game against brighton.  that was fun.  "we've got arsenal on sunday.  i would really like to beat them on their home ground,  just to shake the league up a bit.  i'm choosing to be...  optimistic about our manager situation.  and the whole ownership shit."  

   women's football was so different!  tom would watch as many games as he could,  and the amount of them with girlfriend's watching the game or showing their support made him weirdly teary-eyed sometimes.  he was glad it was different for them,  and he wouldn't wish his situation on any of them,  but he supposed these things just happened in different ways.  everything would change when people found out,  but tom still craved a bit of normalcy with his partner.  he still wanted to tell people someday,  so they could go out for dinner and have a normal partnership without people being shocked by it every time.  but it'd be fucking terrifying,  and it wouldn't be easy at all.  tom looked at some of his teammates sometimes and knew they'd probably turn against him someday,  but that didn't change the way he treated them.  he still wanted them to truly enjoy playing for these team,  whether he was afraid of their inevitable hatred or not.  
            "well,  i have loads of 'em."  he replied with confidence,  taking jon's glass and getting them both another wine as he gestured to the lights.  "gonna put the glasses over here.  where'd you want some'a the lights to go?  get your interior design hat on."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He understood that... and knew exactly where he was coming from. He supposed no football club was, truly, accepting... except women's football! Felt like paradise on Earth, to be able to practice the sport you love --and love who you love! --without all men's toxicity around! The fans would hate them, the media would hate them, their teammates and beloved clubs would hate them... he knew that. The reason why he would always remind Tom it was his choice, after retirement, if he wanted or not to make this public... to make *them* public. All the things they accomplished for their clubs would suddenly no matter anymore, and all that would matter is the conspiracy theories. 'Did he miss this goal because he had to shoot a penalty against his boyfriend?' or 'Did he let this ball in, because it would favour his boyfriend's club?'
            Unfortunately... they would be never truly free. Except, perhaps, when they were very old and this was made public... perhaps society as a whole, hopefully, will be more accepting then! ...Good goddess. He didn't know if that sentence made him an optimist or pessimist...
            "Wonderful," he grinned, then got up after his partner. "That... sounds like a really good idea, too!" he admitted with a chuckle, totally down for another drink.

   tom knew he'd play for as long as he could,  and he'd know in the moment what point it would be for him to leave.  of course he wanted to spend forever with manchester united,  but he couldn't say what the future held.  maybe he'd go to a lower team to spend his last few years before retirement,  maybe he'd retire as soon as manchester united suggested they want him gone,  who knows!  he didn't know if he wanted to work behind the scenes at the club,  he wasn't sure if he wanted to do punditry or commentary,  but immediately after retirement he knew he just wanted to spend his time with his partner.  that was what he was looking forward to.  the club might not even invite him back when they find out about his,  uhhh,,  gayness.  they weren't overly accepting,  in all honesty,  and that fact hurt sometimes.  "uh-huh.  all for you,  love.  c'mon,  let's put some lights up now.  i can get us another drink while we're up?"  

@RED-EMPTION // I'm pretty sure I answered this rp yesterday, yet it seems Wattpad deleted the reply ?? I'm gonna redo it before going to work, hold on <33333

   "but i've always been stuck doing office work to cover for everyone else.  and,  look!  the first time i stand up for myself,  here you are!"  it was a prize worth fighting for,  thomas thought earnestly,  even if it was all bound to be a hell of a fight.  pun not intended.  he smiled,  resting his head back to look up at the sky as the sun started setting,  and it was only after a moment did he find the courage to look at jon for a second.  "it's beautiful,  isn't it?  better than i remember,  every time."  
            
              /   i just know jon and i would queen out in a bar on cocktails and that's the gay+lesbian connection 
            tom following that one family closely to the point where he knows a weird collection of things about humanity.  he'll put mentos in a bottle of coke as a prank and find it hilarious but wont know what any film Ever is. and jon just gets baffled by his selection of information bc it's part of his charm 

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He looked at him in the most endearing of the ways, before moving their locked hands back up to press a kiss to his knuckles. "Don't feel embarrassed, love. I was human before, although it's been a few centuries... you weren't, you've always been a beautiful, fluffy angel," he grinned to him. "There's indeed a first time for everything, worry not... you're in good bad hands," he smirked mischievously once more, before his eyes softened up, making it clear how much he adored him and would, indeed, do everything in his power for this angel!
            
            
            // HAHHAAAH he would be a sweetheart to you <3333
            AND TOMMM, OMGGG. I LOVE HIM !!! xxxx Jon (and I !!!) would fall for all those over done pick up lines, bc he's so cute (': HAHHAAH

   "*me*?  bad influence?  you're crazy."  when they were in this state,  private and close together,  tom could honestly say that he just felt like a ball of pure joy and brightness.  he had a positivity that was rather unlike him,  a calmness and vulnerability.  it was all in their silly little smiles,  those  *kisses*  (  god,  he was in love!!  )  and it was worth it for the way jon looked at him.  "that's just how much i love you.  and whatever you're imagining,  it's like ten times more than that.  and then infinity more than  *that*."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "A bad influence recognizes another," he retorted playfully, biting his bottom lip. He pressed a few kisses on Tom's neck and cheek, then leaned back slightly to look at him. "You make me melt more than our ice cream..." he joked, brushing his fingers through his hair, gently.

   "*so*  hot."   he exaggerated to really reiterate what he'd originally said,  because jon should know that he found everything about him to be very attractive.  especially his sense of humour!  and,  as soon as he gave up on their little joke,  tom followed quickly,  and reciprocated that hug just as tightly.  "you're a bad influence."  

   "i certainly don't,"  he laughed at the idea,  cupping jon's face properly for the first time with a more gentle touch than the one that followed his suspicions earlier,  holding him for a few moments before leaning in to kiss his lips again.  a shorter kiss this time,  a lingering peck full of fond emotions that he was holding onto and the dam just wouldn't stop flooding.  "you just inspire this sort of talk out of me.  i've never talked like this a day in my life,  i swear!  it's  *your*  fault."  he teased him with bright eyes,  letting himself believe for a moment that they were in some harmless fairy tale.  like it was no big deal that they were hiding away,  their laughs echoing against the walls and feeling so much more louder just to their ears.  this could be a story like that,  it  *felt*  like that,  and thomas was sure to see a part of jon in every face he'd ever see again.  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "You have a talent for poetry, too, darling," he whispered to him, sending him a private, light-hearted and completely smitten, kind of smile. He thought there was no 'return' to the way they were before, because they had that kind of *impact* in each other's lives that did change them, forever. It was crazy to think that a person you've just met could have that kind of power, but it was undeniable fact that they had. He had never fallen instantly in love with someone before, either, and in other circumstances, he would never see the person again because his duty was to follow the Queen and warrant her safety... he had never met someone who had turned his world upside down with a mere look of their eyes, though, so for Tom... it was all worth it. Every sacrifice... if love wasn't good enough reason, well— then society was composed of a bunch of hypocritical people, for they kept saying love justified it all, and was the *only* reason why life was worth living!

   "i have no idea how i can convince myself to be the same person i was before i met you."  his eyes closed at the kiss to his forehead,  falling headfirst into every affectionate touch and letting himself be engulfed by it.  he was swimming in the warmth of a man he barely knew,  yet he felt so comforted by it—  he wanted to know everything about him,  and would ask for more details in their letters,  he imagined.  he'd never fallen so fast for someone before,  but perhaps the fact that their time was under constraints factored into how he was behaving.  in any other case,  he might play a little hard to get.  but this was forbidden,  he couldn't afford to pretend to push him away because this man may truly do just that.  for their own safety.  but thomas didn't want safety.  "i will.  i'll spend hours staring at the moon just to see your reflection amongst the stars."  

  tom didn't need jon to brush it off and be all humble about it,  because it was true whether he admitted it or not!  there was a reason he solidified his place in the number one spot at liverpool so quickly and got called up by england,  he was  incredible.  he knew when to take charge of his box,  he knew when to claim and when to head to his line.  and,  listen,  he was also the most attractive of the goalkeepers and that also worked in his favour.  "pfft.  whatever."  he couldn't help his little chuckle as he,  obviously,  would deny that claim too.  but he wasn't gonna go out on a limb and say he was a bad midfielder—  god,  he'd been  *there*.  he knew he'd improved,  but not that much!  "totally better when we win,  though.  not just the result itself,  but it means i get to pamper you a bit.  hense the wine."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Please," he blushed. His boyfriend is too kind! He is far from even making it to the top 15 between the twenty first choice keepers, in his opinion... just definitely better than Everton's keeper (ha!) so position 19th was already good enough for him (the rivalry speaks loud here!)
            "It means a lot to me... coming from the best midfielder in the Premier League," he said, winking charmingly at his boyfriend— who was bound to, just like him, protest the compliment inwardly, he knew him all too well... he meant it, though! No one battled in the midfield the way Tom did, his little lion... he loves him, a lot. "I love you, too, darling," he voiced out his thoughts, pressing a kiss to his hand. "It's a pleasure playing against you, always, no matter the result."

  "that's cute.  i'm proud of you,  too.  no one else i'd rather go up against than the best goalkeeper in the premier league."  he said earnestly,  because it didn't take a genius to know that.  although,  tom would make a further argument and say he was the best in the  *world*.  that was also true!  "yeah.  i know it's worth it.  i love you.  and i love playing against you,  win or lose."