𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙏.

oh god, the kid's a DAB HAND.

[17goiingunder]

17GOIINGUNDER: the rise and fall of dave talbot. 80s-based fandomless original character. australia’s favourite tennis prodigy who had it all & somehow still let it slip through his fingers. being a wunderkind isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. est. may 2022. also found on @distantsuns & @humanfrailty.

written by c. 21+. gmt. extremely reduced activity until further notice.

[mcflymemes]

CHALLENGERS (2024) PROMPTS *  assorted dialogue, adjust as necessary.

who says i want somebody to be in love with me?

i don't want to fuck you to prove a point.

fuck me because you want to.

are you gonna do it or not?

tastes even better than it looks.

i just told you i missed you.

i really want to kiss you right now, but i'm worried that if i try, you'll think i'm the worst friend in the world.

you know, it hurts me sometimes how little you believe in yourself.

decimate that little bitch.

let's be honest, you gotta feel bad for the kid.

you're not a spring chicken anymore.

dude. he's a pancake. you're gonna flatten him.

how's this feeling?

we're ready for you.

so obviously this isn't the result you wanted today.

you choked.

i don't want you to embarrass yourself.

i'm just a little rusty. it's a confidence thing.

get your fucking confidence back. i can't do it for you.

i'm so sick of you using this as an excuse to have a fucking meltdown.

you said we could watch a movie.

you're evil.

i'm gonna quiz you on it tomorrow.

sir, i don't know who you are.

i don't think we have much more to talk about.

i haven't spoken to you in five years.

i was just taking a little nap.

move, or i'm calling the cops.

you were really something back then, huh?

we always talked about how amazing it would be to win this together.

i'm a crazy person.

any predictions about how that's going to go?

can you do me a favor? can you not, like... demolish me tomorrow?

shut the fuck up.

if it matters to you so much, i can just give it to you.

i need it to look like i really beat you.

don't guilt me with your dying grandmother.

she's the hottest woman i've ever seen.

you were... fucking incredible.

baby, we've got to get going.

i'm not going to that party.

are you that threatened by me?

we can't both just go in there, dicks swinging.

i'd let her fuck me with a racket.

hey, do you smoke?

of course they will remember you.

see, that's your problem. you think you're like an artist or something.

you just want to win because you love it when people tell you how talented you are.

are you on facebook?

i told you tennis was boring.

you just got this crazy look on your face.

are you on a date?

i don't kiss and tell.

why did you want to have dinner with me?

i think you might be the worst friend in the world.

i didn't know you were so concerned about my feelings.

of course you still have a thing for her.

we just had what i'm assuming is the best sex of our lives.

i fucked your brains out?

what do you think you need? a cheerleader? a fuck buddy? a girlfriend?

you're talented, you're charming, and you've got a big dick.

excuse me for inconveniencing you.

don't expect to sleep here tonight.

stop going easy on me.

i'll be whatever you need me to be. i'll fuck off if you want me to.

i need you here, actually.

you're referring to when i declared my love for you.

you're not in love with me anymore?

i've been dreaming about this for five years.

i'm gonna propose something to you, and it's gonna make you angry. it's gonna make you very angry. but you have to hear me out, okay?

i'm finally ready to listen to you.

how dare you fucking ask me that.

do you think it's cute what you're doing? do you think it's funny?

that's the stupidest fucking thing i've ever heard.

i've always wanted you.

you didn't do anything to me. i did it all to myself.

i think i've reached the limit of my willingness to have this conversation with you.

do you understand how embarrassing it is that you're here?

you've never beaten me.

tell me it doesn't matter.

will you just hold me?

i'm not here to fuck you.

i miss watching you play. you were so beautiful.

[17goiingunder]

@playboths

"It's not your year, mate."

Life has a funny way of denying you the one thing that you want so badly, doesn't it? Tennis occupies a very distant second on the list of Dave's priorities these days— with partying being the first one, obviously— but here he still finds himself, in the men's locker room at the US Open. Dave's still at that level where he can easily dispatch the lower-ranked players in the first few rounds if the draw is favorable, but it's been a long while since he was counted among, and able to, challenge the truly elites. (He could, if he cared more. The thing is, he's so obviously past caring.)

"Tough match. That umpire's call was bullshit. Well, there's always next year, right?" He looks up at his fellow ginger. "Or that's what they all say. Trust me, I know how it feels."

[17goiingunder]

@cometsdiner

"Blair."

He lingers in the doorway, the epitome of that fallen star persona that he's seemed to embrace in the last few years (hey, if you can't fight what the press is saying about you, then join them.) He knows this is exactly what gets her to take pity on him, and he relishes that, because some pity is better than the scorn that the world (and Max) gives him.

"I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"

[17goiingunder]

okay let's get some new threads going so like this post for a plotted starter?

[n0vembrs-a]

head turns sharply, eyes thin and sharp enough to slice. ❝ spell it out, then, ❞ she hisses, and almost mockingly — a thinly veiled threat, and not even one of her own. therein lies the point : whoever's, whatever's WANDERING EARS happen to be lying about do not leave so much as enough air in the room for dave's discomfort. if she'd not known him so long, she suspects she'd think much less of him for it; but the fact of her particular circumstance keeps that respect afloat. angelina is the last person whose intentions he should be prodding at, and not just for his own sake. ❝ do whatever you want, but worry about yourself; your people. ❞ whatever that means to him.

[17goiingunder]

"You're insufferable." He rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh, as his eyes wander up to the ceiling, wondering where the bugs are, and wondering if there's someone out there listening in on their conversation. Dave chooses to keep his words vague. "I just think— we have to get it right." Internally, he thinks to himself that if they fuck up tomorrow, people are going to die. Hell, it might even be his last day on earth and he doesn't have a clue. "It's daunting, that's all."

[17goiingunder]

okay let's get some new threads going so like this post for a plotted starter?

[17goiingunder]

@zeveth cont. from x.

Fear doesn't enter Dave's vocabulary when he steps onto the tennis court, not even when he's facing off against the world number one, not even when the television cameras are trained on his every move, never. But there's a pronounced hesitation to the way he steps onto the soundstage this time, and his smile doesn't quite reach his ears as he's led around by the director, posed and positioned like a mannequin. All the while, Zev's words ring in his ears— you're entertainment— and while he relishes the attention with his showmanship on the court, this is something entirely different.

Still, he thinks he acquits himself well— he's realized nowadays that he's quite good at following directions, when he wants to, and he breathes a massive sigh of relief when the director calls "cut."

"Jesus." He immediately finds himself rushing back to Zev's side, because she's the one person in here he feels he can trust. Everyone else is questionable, at best. "How'd I do?" A pause. "I think I need a dart." Dave starts digging in his comically short-shorts to find his pack of cigarettes.

[17goiingunder]

[tapping mic] hello is this thing still on

[cometsdiner]

“ don't i? ” max scoffs as he shakes his head at such ridiculousness. how many times must he spell out his intentions with this daft fucker? just when will he finally get the picture? “ sex is like a great cup of coffee. luxurious, delicious, adrenalizing. some even get addicted to it . . . but you sure as hell don't need it. not like you need water. ”

max's smile slowly drops into a strong thin line as his eyes pierce right through that thick skull of dave's. he's starting to lose his patience. “ if you want her body, then be a man and take it already. the thing is, blair doesn't much care for 'coffee' every fucking day like you or i. she'd rather drink from a nice flowing river with all its rich loving nutrients. you catch my drift? ”

it's never been about sex. he could give a damn if blair slept around or not, he does it himself after all. he just hates to see her so conflicted, despises the thought that still after all this time and effort he's forced to compete for her affection with a man who's treated her like second best. “ call me what you will, but i'm granting you a kindness. take it or leave it. ”

[17goiingunder]

He stares at Max for what seems like an eternity, as Dave tries to piece together some sensible explanation for what the other man has just said. And he has to admit, he's come up blank. He's suddenly transported almost a decade back in time, when Sophia had expressed her admiration for another man, and Dave had flown into an inexplicable rage at the idea that his wife would look at anyone else. And here's Max, all but offering his wife up to him.

"You're sick," He finally snarls, the best response that he can offer. And it's true, Dave's always known that these royal families have been fucking weirdos. Maybe it's all the inbreeding. "But I suppose that makes sense, that you get off on being cucked." There's an air of viciousness to his tone now, and ever the sportsman, how can he back down from a challenge?

"You're on."

[cometsdiner]

maxwell releases a long exhale so that thick hazy grey clouds of smoke drift from pursed lips over to where dave is presumed to be fuming red with anger amidst that beautifully cold silence. the blonde's expression remains completely unfazed, like a supermodel's effortless resting bitch face as he awaits an answer. yet the last thing he expects is for his dear friend to bite off more than he can chew.

a hearty laugh bellows aloud, throwing his head back and echoing his natural deep and maniacally evil excitement to the ceiling. “ i'd love to watch you try. by all means, take your shot. let's just hope it's not too late now, hm? you're not exactly the same knight in shining tennis shorts that she used to fawn over. ”

a brow soon raises with curiosity while that same old devilish smirk crawls back upon his face. nothing like a bit of trouble to make things interesting. “ how about we take a bet and put this tired debate to rest? my darling blair and i have some boring gala tonight. swing by, seduce her, and i'll grant you a wish. whatever you like, i could care less. but if you fail . . . ”

[17goiingunder]

At first, Dave isn't exactly sure how to respond. After all, most men would lose their shit at the implicit threat to the sanctity of their marriage, and that was the sort of reaction he was prepared for. Violence is always the answer in Dave's world, despite all the high-society trimmings and the bullshit dressing-up. The thing about Max that gets under his skin is how he manages to say EXACTLY the thing to wind Dave up.

"You're a psycho." He finally snarls, his expression a mixture of disgust and confusion. He's not saying he's some angel, but he can't understand how Blair's gone for this blond motherfucker. (It was a tale as old as time, wasn't it? Dave assumed that she was the safe option, that she'd always be around, until she suddenly wasn't and his marriage was on the rocks.)

"You don't really mean that."

[cometsdiner]

“ dave, you really have to work on your mindset, ” he begins with a little sigh and leans in closer. suddenly his tone has taken a softer air, like a trusted friend giving advice. except for the painfully obvious fact that his would–be concern is merely veiled patronization. “ if you view everything as such a problem then you'll never give yourself room to heal. ”

“ it's not your fault, mon ami. these things happen. pussy, money . . . they come and go. why don't you find something else to busy yourself with? ” max suggests while digging through his blazer pocket to whip out a cigarette of his own, lighting it and waving his hands around oh so casually. “ like a hobby. personally, i quite enjoy observing trainwrecks on my downtime. ”

[17goiingunder]

He's silent for a moment — never really a good sign, given how chatty Dave usually is — before he considers dropping the bomb. This has devolved into a mud-slinging match, as it always does, but no one's better at this than the youngest of eight siblings, he'll have Max know.

He puts out the cigarette calmly in the ashtray perced on the table. "Yeah? What do you advise? Shagging your wife, for a start?" Wouldn't be the first time he's done that to someone's wife. "God only knows it's been on the cards for YEARS AND FUCKING YEARS."

[cometsdiner]

a smirk curls from ear to ear, stretching as wide as a cheshire cat at the other's outright ridicule. such insults might offend others, but maxwell? oh no, he thrives on dave's resentment. it is so amusing, so precious to experience just how easily he could dig underneath that man's skin without so much as lifting a pinky finger. now here they are, dave serving his delicious hate on a silver platter for max to swallow right up. this'll be fun.

“ i'd like to believe it's my own personal charm, but i'm biased. perhaps we should call my beautiful wife and ask her opinion? ” max chuckles rich and velvety, as if pouring an expensive red wine off his lips. “ not that it matters much. i have everything, and everyone, i want. don't you? ”

[17goiingunder]

"You see, the PROBLEM with you is that you get off on this, don't you?" And it took him all of thirty fucking seconds to bring up Blair, like a stick to beat Dave with. He's not exactly in the best frame of mind: he, like everyone else in the tennis world, has seen the pictures of his ex-wife Sophia and his biggest rival Tommy Dvorak splashed all over the tabloids. That feels personal. And here Dave is, sitting across the table from this spoiled Belgian brat, snarling like a caged bulldog.

"I guess money can't buy you security and happiness after all." His hatred for Max is personal in a way— having never forgotten his rough upbringing, he has a special hatred for the wealthy and privileged, despite all his success.

[zeveth]

A laugh leaps from her chest before she can stop it, distinctly genuine. Her shoulders fall and she shakes her head, grinning to herself at both the memory and at Dave's almost charmingly irrepressible ego.

"Exactly the same as it is today," she teases, throwing him a smirk. "Vain. Arrogant. Self-obsessed." She elbows him gently in the side, smile failing slightly. "But also... you were lost in a strange new world. One that was angling to close its fist around your throat and never let go. You were so-- young... so gullible."

One by one, she opens the fingers of a hand she had balled up over the rail, as if slowly letting something go. "You're not that person anymore. I don't know what got into me. I guess I didn't want to see you eaten up, at least not so quickly. I was in such a-- a lonely place, and you talked to me like I was, uh. Human. I guess."

[17goiingunder]

"Vain. Arrogant. Self-obsessed." He repeats, an amused smirk now firmly planted on his face. "I think that could describe every teenager, couldn't it?" He still doesn't look at Zev. Now he's staring up at the sky. "I was so young. I think I was, what, eighteen? Just turned eighteen. It's all a blur when I look back at it."

At least he had the excuse of youth then. What does Dave have left to hide behind now? "No, I'm just old and jaded now, aren't I?" He plays it off like a joke, but there's an element of truth in it. Zev's unexpected confession snaps him back to reality, though. "Of course. I could see you were the only real fucker in that cesspit of fakery and appearances. It wasn't hard to tell."

[poohsources]

🐝  *  ―  𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑮𝑺 𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑴 𝑻𝑯𝑬 80𝑺 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺.

❛  i want to know what love is, i want you to show me.  ❜ ❛  don't stop believin', holding on to that feeling.  ❜ ❛  if you fall, i will catch you.  ❜ ❛  and we can build this dream together, standing strong forever, nothing's gonna stop us now.  ❜ ❛  i'll stop the world and melt with you.  ❜ ❛  some will win, some will lose.  ❜ ❛  hold me now, it's hard for me to say i'm sorry. i just want you to stay.  ❜ ❛  i'm sorry, but i'm just thinking of the right words to say.  ❜ ❛  every time you go away, you take a piece of me with you.  ❜ ❛  cause i'm your lady and you are my man.  ❜ ❛  hello, is it me you're looking for?  ❜ ❛  how can i just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace?  ❜ ❛  don't go for second best.  ❜ ❛  don't forget me when i'm gone.  ❜ ❛  you're the best around, nothing's ever gonna keep you down.  ❜ ❛  oh, can't you see, you belong to me?  ❜ ❛  you're the meaning in my life, you're the inspiration.  ❜ ❛  life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone.  ❜ ❛  is there something i should know?  ❜ ❛  once upon a time, i was falling in love. now i'm only falling apart.  ❜ ❛  i've got the brains, you've got the looks.  ❜ ❛  welcome to your life, there's no turning back.  ❜ ❛  i'll be there for you, these five words i swear to you.  ❜ ❛  i want to break free from your lies.  ❜ ❛  i'll be gone in a day or two.  ❜ ❛  i should've walked away.  ❜ ❛  no matter what your friends might say, we'll find a way.  ❜ ❛  it's such a shame our friendship had to end.  ❜ ❛  this is the time to remember, 'cause it will not last forever.  ❜ ❛  close your eyes, give me your hand, darling.  ❜ ❛  it's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark.  ❜ ❛  it doesn't matter who's wrong or right.  ❜ ❛  who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?  ❜ ❛  you live for the fight when that's all that you've got.  ❜ ❛  don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive.  ❜ ❛  do i stand in your way or am i the best thing you've had?  ❜ ❛  i wanna dance with somebody, i wanna feel the heat with somebody.  ❜ ❛  do you wanna feel how it feels?  ❜ ❛  i don't know where you're going and i don't know why, but listen to your heart.  ❜ ❛  love's the only thing that keeps me here, you're the reason that i'm hanging on.  ❜

[17goiingunder]

@cometsdiner

"Hey, just curious, mate— is all that fuckin' smugness a Belgian thing or just a you-specific thing?" Dave takes a puff of his cigarette before continuing: "'Cause it's really fuckin' arsey."

[cometsdiner]

“ of course! wouldn't miss that one for the world. ” a devious little snicker slips out at how proud he still holds onto that victory, knowing full well how deep the professional and seemingly personal rivalry runs. “ at this rate, your enemies ought to start kissing their careers goodbye. i hope you're taking care of yourself, you know i worry about you. ” gently a hand reaches up to caress his cheek, cupping along the man's perfectly sculpted jawline. even if she was the one pulling dangerous, nearly life–ending stunts at every chance she gets, there's no stopping her nurturing heart.

“ really?! you'd want me there with you? ” rouge lips are left agape in shock, eyes wide as a newborn doe at his suggestion. they've been bestfriends for god knows how long, yet she can hardly recall a time they spent together lasting longer than a few days at best. that's the price you pay for success. “ i'd love to. wherever you go, i'll happily follow . . . i've never surfed before though— ”

[17goiingunder]

"You don't need to worry about me." The concern and affection in Blair's statement goes unnoticed by Dave, all wrapped up in his youthful exuberance, his thrill at talking about his victories. "We're just two blokes hittin' a ball back and forth." When you put it that way, all the pomp and circumstance of his career seems trivial.

"Of course. Aussie summers are the best." He'd be mad to stay in cold, rainy Europe for the winter. "It makes me feel... I dunno, like a real person for a bit." That is, if he ignores the media frenzy, the hangers-on, all the stuff that didn't exist before the Australian Open.

"You'll love it." Dave looks down at Blair and smiles. "I can't wait."