#defendingtheice

[holyemu]

text: ashole 🏒 Emily: fresh off the presses!! Emily: https://www.tiktok.com/@camis..vfx/video/7480556131572600095?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

@defendingtheice

[deputydarling]

who: @defendingtheice where: walk and talk getting coffee

winnie was waiting in the usual spot, the same place she had met ashton for their walk-and-talks for as long as she could remember. when they were kids, it had been a game seeing how far they could make it from one side of carroll to the other before one of them got tired, hungry, distracted, or all three. now, as adults, the route had shortened into something more civilized: a walk to cupcake’s, coffee in hand, catching up on everything they pretended was casual until it wasn’t.

she spotted him before he reached her, and her whole face lit up. “ashton!” winnie called, rising onto her tiptoes as she waved, her curls bouncing with the movement. “hello!” she met him halfway, wrapping him in a hug before he could decide whether he wanted one. that was the thing about winnie. she was very good at giving people affection before they had the chance to be brave about needing it.

pulling back, she looked up at him with a grin. “how are you?” then she paused. the smile softened first, then faded at the edges as she really looked at him. not the public version. not the athlete version. not the version everyone else had been discussing like he was a headline instead of a person.

just ashton.

“probably not good, huh?” she said, quieter now. winnie reached out, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. “coffee’s on me today, okay, kid?” her mouth curved again, warm but not careless. “and before you argue, consider this an official deputy mayoral expense.”

[aggierobshaw]

Aggie -> MVP

Aggie: 📢🎉📢🎉📢🎉📢🎉 @defendingtheice

[aspenreynolds]

Who: @defendingtheice Where: Fairway

"Well, well, well... If it isn't Carroll's very own gold medalist." Aspen purred the words at him in that way she knew so easily got beneath his skin. He was one of her favourite cat toys, and with the utter need for otherwise proper behaviour with her grandfather in town, she'd been a little... pent up. This seemed as safe an outlet as any if she could just keep her barbs catty and her hands to herself.

"Too bad it looks like LA hasn't a very good chance of a cup this year. Shame. All that talent and such a shit team."

[autumnonheels]

Who: @defendingtheice Where: Carroll Campus, Ice Rink

"I've come to make a dona- Oh! Hey! Sorry you didn't win the car." Recognising him right away as she'd gotten closer, despite not remembering his name, it was just luck of the draw that he'd happened to be there the day she had come. "I wonder if you might be just the person I want to talk to."

[joelhawkins]

who: @defendingtheice where: petals floral

Joel’s father hadn’t taught him much about growing up, or about being a man, but there was one lesson that had lodged itself firmly in place: when a lover thought you’d messed up, you apologized with flowers. Whether you meant it or not was irrelevant. Flowers suggested effort. They implied consideration. They said you had gone out of your way, even if all you’d really done was step into a shop and point. The system worked, provided the person you were trying to get back into bed wasn’t allergic.

As Joel stood in the florist, he realized he couldn’t remember whether this particular person was allergic to flowers or not. He decided it was a risk worth taking. Who was allergic to anything these days, anyway? People were always claiming sensitivities—it was probably psychological.

He studied a nearby arrangement, head tilted, expression thoughtful, as though he were making a sincere emotional decision rather than a calculated one. After a moment, he glanced sideways at the other man in the shop, who appeared to be here for equally unclear reasons.

“What does this bouquet say to you?” Joel asked.

[stoneasher]

who: @defendingtheice where: good frequency records

today was the day that good frequency was finally opening, and asher’s restless energy had gone from normal restless to borderline unbearable. he had been moving since sunrise, checking the same things over and over like the shelves might rearrange themselves the second he looked away. the records were organized. the register worked. the mural was finished. finally.

ruth had said she and davin would come by early to help get everything ready, so when asher heard movement near the front door, he expected to see them. instead, he looked up and saw ashton standing outside with pastries and coffee. asher blinked, then hurried over to unlock the door, his surprise breaking into an immediate grin. “hey, dude!” he said, pulling the door open. “what’s going on?”

his gaze dropped to the coffee and pastries, then back to ashton’s face, fondness softening the edge of his opening-day nerves. “opening’s in, like, two hours. you’re early!”

[nananathanb]

text to: Ashtronaut @defendingtheice

Nathan: I rented an RV for our date we leave on the 2nd after your game Nathan: March has to come it's only 2 days you have to convince him Nathan: Also how's it going did we win the Olympics yet!!! Send pics