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cocoaandco · 5 months ago

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Wildflower - George Russell x f!reader [prologue]

You and Delilah have been friends for years. When Delilah finds out the boy she loves has fallen for someone else, she seeks refuge in your arms. Little does she know you are the very reason for her undoing.

PROLOGUE

You smile as you shut the door to your apartment. The warmth that spread through your body was unmatched. In fact, you began to wonder if you had ever felt such a way before. The grin that was plastered on your face failed to dissipate, as if it had been stretched and glued that way.

You touch your cheeks, feeling how warm they were. How rosy they must have been the entire night, an evening where the blushing was endless. It was the middle of August in Melbourne, most nights had you spending countless dollars on the gas bill in order to heat the house. But tonight was different. No, not tonight. Your body was warm. Like you had been wrapped in an electric blanket and fed the best soup made by your Nonna. That just wasn’t true, though.

Your warmth was a direct result of your happiness. It’s crazy how a man you barely know could make you feel things that men you had allowed into your life and trusted in long term relationships had never come close to creating. You close your eyes, press your back against the, now closed door, and slide down. You bring a hand to your mouth, feeling the smile on your lips and pressing them against your palm before giggling.

God, I must look like a teenage girl! The giggling continues as you bring your hands from your mouth and look down at them, seeing that your lip gloss had smudged itself on your palm. You are startled when you hear a low chuckle sound from the other side of the door, before footsteps boom, growing softer as they moved away from the door and down the hallway. Oh my goodness, you thought to yourself, he just heard my fucking giddy laugh.

Springing to your feet, you move away from the doorway in embarrassment, and head to your kitchen. You switch on the kettle and pull out a stool from under your island bench. You sigh as you finally sit down, you must have walked around Church street for hours. As you wait for the kettle to boil, you think back to the past 24 hours and how the string of events followed through as a result.

————

36 hours prior. Thursday 9.30am

“Dan, I really don’t care about the bullshit corporate boxes. If you don’t release more upper ground seating to the public, we’re gonna have half empty stands to answer for!” You exclaim into your phone, gripping it tighter as if that would sway Dan into agreement.

You worked for the MCG, Melbourne’s biggest sporting venue, and had multiple blockbuster AFL matches to plan for that weekend, the biggest being Friday night’s class between Carlton and Essendon. The two teams are historical rivals that always draw large crowds and today was Thursday, the day before. Supporters from around the state were going nuts on every radio station and media outlet spraying the league for its lack of seating for the match. The problem? The large corporations hoarding the seats for businesses and international clients that had no real interest in the match, taking away from die hard fans.

Who has to deal with this problem? Why of course, it’s you. And the fact that you had gotten the train this morning made your venture that much more aggravating as the quiet roads were filled with electric scooters rather than cars. This probably seems like a boring and rather complex issue, so don’t worry, it is not pivotal to your story, Y/N.

“Y/N, listen. We can’t release those seats, we anticipate a large turnout from the upper tiers-”

“You’re telling me 8,000 seats are being put aside for Melbourne Demons supporters for a Bombers v Blues match?”

“Come on, Y/L/N. You know Demons supporters aren’t the only MCC members.”

“No but they make up the majority. I am doing your job- Shit!” All of a sudden something pushes into your back and you are sprung from the pavement and onto the road. You squeeze your eyes shut as you see a single vehicle plummet towards you. A large black car swerves before jolting to a stop just beside where you have fallen on your face.

You press your palms into the road, and push yourself up. You snap your head in the direction of an electric scooter which has zoomed off after screaming a “Sorry!”

“Fucking idiot!” You scream out. “Ugh!” You kneel down and locate your phone which is actually just a scrap of metal as it has been completely squashed by the wheel on the black car.

“Well, I guess thats a ‘no’ from Dan.” You mutter to yourself. Dusting your skirt off, you examine your outfit for any rips or pulls before returning to the sidewalk. You lift your head to notice the black car has not moved. Shrugging you continue to walk and wave off the car to let it know your alright.

Immediately, the rear passenger door swings open and a tall fair headed man hops out before approaching you. “Are you alright there?” He calls.

You laugh at his accent and continue to walk away from him, towards your office. “I’ll be alright mate, don’t worry about me!”

He frowns down and jogs lightly to catch up. “No seriously, are you okay? You were pushed and fell pretty hard.” You shrug.

“Im alive aren’t I?” He raises an eyebrow, “well you didn’t hit me, your car is alright, I’m in one piece.” He walks with you and motions to your hand, holding what was once your functioning phone.

“I’ll get work to get me a new one, it’s not a big deal.” Thats a lie, your work will not get you a new one.

“No, no. I almost ran you over, let me buy you a new one.” You furrow your eyebrows at him before shaking your head with a chuckle.

“Thats really not necessary, I need to get to work so I’ll just-”

“Well then what about a coffee? Tomorrow perhaps?” He quizzed. This brought you to a halt, which also stopped the tall man. You fold your arms over your chest before looking up to his face. This is the first time you’re able to take in his appearance.

He has wide bright blue eyes and fluffy eyebrows. His nose is large and pointed and he has defined cheekbones with a sharp jawline. His lips are full and pink, complimenting his soft cool brown hair. A gorgeously defined man, he does not look British at all. He wears a classically smart casual outfit that looks like it came straight from an R.M Williams catalogue; refined and sleek.

“Who are you?”

“Erm.” He coughs, “my name is George.”

You raise an eyebrow again, more whimsical this time. He really is quite attractive. “Well, George” you emphasise, “I am now well and truly late for work, and have a very busy couple of days, so if you would excuse me-”

“I’m sorry, I just-” he cuts his own sentence off this time, “I feel really bad, when I saw you fall, immediately felt awful for you and then I watched you get up and you looked so lovely, I felt even worse!”

He concludes and you look at him dumbfounded, quite literally with your mouth parted. You pause for a second. “Alright, so you have only checked on how I’m doing,” you pause again to recollect, “because you think I’m attractive and want to ask me out?”

Without hesitation he grins widely and responds “Precisely.”

This is ridiculous! You think to yourself about how completely absurd this is. You quite literally had almost died five minutes ago. But something inside you felt excited, felt warm. And so, the better part of you prevailed and entertained the idea.

“Alright.” You hum, “walk me to work then, George.”

“Uhh.” He turns back to his car which still is stopped in its same position. He motions for the car to go on with his hand and the car slowly pulls away and drives off without hesitation. Weird. “Okay then, where is work?”

“Just up here! About a five minute walk.”

“Only five minutes?” He smirks down at you as you both begin walking. A smile creeps onto your face before you respond.

“Yes, any longer and I may not have a job or a head if my boss has a say.” He laughs at your sadistic remark.

“What is your name?” He asks.

“Y/N.”

“Y/N.” He tests out, “suits you perfectly.”

You smile in response.

“So what do you do for work, Y/N.”

You explain to him your role with the MCG, particularly how your responsibilities are spread across ticketing and media which somehow meshes into one title. He seems impressed with your extensive knowledge of sporting and passion for fan experiences.

He listens to you talk like you are giving the most captivating speech in world. His eyes peer into yours, you feel heard and understood. Not an ounce of judgement clouding his expression. He was so easy to talk to, you never wanted him to leave.

You quickly learn that your suspicions were correct and that George is, in fact, from the UK. As well as the fact that he has never been to an AFL match in his life. It was even more shocking that he had never even heard of the sport.

“What!” You shriek as you arrive out the front of your office, which is actually inside the MCG. “You’re telling me, you’ve never heard of the AFL?”

He laughs at your hysteria and nods “nope!” He pops his ‘P’.

“Oh my gosh, we have to go to a game!” ‘We’? Pull it together, Y/N! “Let’s um- oh shoot!” You look at your watch. It’s almost 10am. You may be hung when you get inside. “Ok, ok. If you’d like, we can hang out tomorrow.”

George’s eyes light up in excitement. “Really?”

“Yes, yes! If you’re keen.” You double guess yourself, of course he wants to hang out you freak. “If you meet me here, tomorrow night at 7.30, I’ll take you to your first AFL match.

He grins widely, “That would be wonderful.”

“Alright, so I’ll see you then?” You confirm, “I really have to go now, I am sorry.”

“Yes, I’ll meet you here.” You begin to walk away from George, backwards. And towards the sliding doors.

“I would give you my number, but I don’t currently have a phone!” You exclaim.

“Don’t worry, Ill see you tomorrow.” He waved.

“Bye George.” You wave before spinning and speeding inside.

You can’t help but peer over your shoulder one last time to see him watching you walk away with a slight smile on his face.

This is absolutely crazy.

————

You sip on the last of your tea, an hour later, cozied up in bed. The memory of yesterday makes you shiver, but in a good way. George was incredible. You had never known a human to be so welcoming and friendly. He was truly lovely.

As you set your tea aside, and push your supporting pillows off the bed, your body begins to drift into a heavy state of tiredness. Just as your eyes begin to droop close you hear a loud knocking on the door.

What the hell?

You slip out of bed and walk out of your bedroom. As you approach the kitchen you grow nervous. Oh my goodness, George must be a serial killer. You shake your head at your ridiculous conspiracy. You look through the peephole to see a familiar face, with tears streaming down it.

Instinctively, you quickly unlock the door and swing it open. “Delilah!” You exclaim.

She quickly moves inside and engulfs you in a hug as she lets out soft sobs. What has happened to your poor friend? More importantly, why was she here and not back at home in London?

————

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yakultii · 1 month ago

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Why sport is not "just sport" - a sociological perspective

The Australian Football League (AFL) holds its annual ANZAC Day match on April 25 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Since its inception in 1995, this event has become a tradition that merges the national commemoration of Australian military service personnel, with a highly anticipated sporting spectacle featuring the historic rivalry between two of the league’s biggest clubs, the Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers (Pacella, 2011, p. 27). While the event regularly attracts sell-out crowds, the observation of the 2024 event was conducted independently, at home, on a laptop via the streaming service Kayo Sports (2024). This stream included opening credits, the match itself, and the post-game ANZAC Day speech. Additionally, the pre-game ANZAC Day ceremony, viewed on the Essendon Football Club website (Essendon Football Club, 2024), is included within the scope of this analysis. This report examines the 2024 AFL ANZAC Day match through three key themes guided by relevant conceptual frameworks. First, it investigates the reproduction of nationalism (Gellner, 1983, p. 1), applying Anderson’s (2020, p. 6-7) concept of imagined communities. Next, it explores the role of mainstream media in mediating sport (Coakley, 2016, p. 560) and constructing meaning through Wenner’s (1998) concept of Mediasport. Finally, it analyses the production of gender, focusing on hegemonic masculinity (Encyclopedia of Gender and Society, 2008, p. 411-412) through the constructivist approach to gender (Giulianotti, 2015, p.222-223). Ultimately, this analysis reveals how the AFL ANZAC Day match serves as a platform for reflecting and reinforcing broader societal constructions and ideologies.

The AFL, particularly through the ANZAC Day event, functions as a site for reproducing nationalism, as defined by Gellner (1983, p.1), and is conceptualised through Anderson’s (2020, p. 6-7) 'imagined communities.’ Historically, the AFL, as a distinctly Australian sport, has shaped national identity by distinguishing post-colonial Australia from its British roots. This unique role has fostered strong emotional attachment among Australians, making the AFL an effective platform for promoting national values, particularly those celebrated on ANZAC Day (Collins, 2018, p. 90-91). According to Gellner (1983, p. 1), nationalism is cultivated when a nation’s identity aligns with the political state, generating national satisfaction when this alignment occurs and anger when disrupted. The AFL ANZAC Day event exemplifies this definition, as it reinforces a national identity aligned with the Australian government’s values, specifically the emphasis on recognising and respecting Australia’s defence service (Department of Veterans’ Affairs, 2024). These state-led values are reflected in the pre-match ceremony (Essendon Football Club, 2024), where the crowd stands in unified silence during the playing of the Last Post. Spectators display solemn expressions as they look on at the soldiers saluting the Australian flags, collectively demonstrating the expected values of respect and national pride. Respect for Australian defence personnel is further reinforced by the event, as the football players, admired as public figures, stand in reverence during the ceremony, serving as role models exemplifying and promoting these national values to the broader community. Collingwood captain Darcy Moore’s post-game speech praises fans’ passion for the occasion and expresses gratitude to all veterans and their families (Kayo Sports, 2024), further reinforcing these values. The enthusiastic applause that followed indicates the audience’s agreement with these national values. This alignment of the event with government-endorsed values supports Gellner’s (1983, p. 1) notion that nationalism is maintained through adherence to state values, with anger resulting from any disruption.

Anderson’s (2020, p. 6-7) concept of 'imagined communities' offers further insight into how the AFL ANZAC Day match fosters a sense of national identity. Anderson posits that members of a nation perceive themselves as part of a political community, connected by imagined ties despite not knowing each other personally. This imagined connection is evident in the event as spectators, players, and viewers alike embody a sense of shared purpose and unity during the rituals of the pre-match ceremony. The crowd’s collective behaviour, marked by intentional attendance and respectful silence, reflects their shared identity as Australians. By aligning themselves with government values, individuals perceive themselves as part of the national identity, reinforcing Anderson’s notion of imagined communities. However, Anderson also argues that imagined communities have inherent finite boundaries that define who belongs and who is excluded (2020, p. 7). Yuval-Davis expands on this with the 'politics of belonging,' which emphasises that inclusion and exclusion within a nation occur through ‘bordering,’ where symbolic boundaries define who fits into the nation’s identity and who does not (Agergaard & Lenneis, 2021, p. 1973). The AFL ANZAC Day event establishes a sense of belonging for fans, players, and veterans through their collective respectful behaviour and values when engaging in the pre-match ceremony, while, simultaneously enforcing symbolic boundaries that exclude those who do not align with its rituals or values. This may include Indigenous Australians, who may view ANZAC Day as a symbol of colonial violence rather than national unity (Due, 2008). Their absence from the event, whether by choice or exclusion, highlights how the event can perpetuate a narrow and dominant narrative of Australian identity. This reinforces the exclusionary aspects of nationalism, as the event fails to account for diverse perspectives within the nation, particularly those of marginalised groups. Therefore, the AFL ANZAC Day event demonstrates how sport not only reproduces nationalism but also shapes broader social constructs of national identity. While the event fosters national unity and aligns public values with government ideals, it also perpetuates social inequalities by reinforcing symbolic boundaries that exclude alternative narratives. This dynamic underscores the need to critically examine how sporting events shape both national identity and social dynamics, as they play a role in influencing broader notions of belonging within Australian society.

The AFL ANZAC Day match offers a lens to explore the role of mainstream media in sport, particularly through the concepts of mediatisation and Mediasport (Coakley, 2016, p. 560; Wenner, 1998). Sport is mediated when it is re-presented to audiences through selective imagery and narratives, creating symbolic meanings akin to those in Hollywood action films (Coakley, 2016, pp. 561-562). The Kayo Sports (2024) broadcast of the ANZAC Day match exemplifies this process, as the event's narrative is deliberately shaped through specific media choices. For instance, dramatic music alongside the animated opening credits sets an anticipatory tone, framing the event as more than just a game, presenting it as a national spectacle embedded with a plot and cultural significance. Visuals of military planes flying over the stadium pre-game symbolise the event’s military connection, reinforcing its alignment with national values. Shots of fans waving scarves and cheering passionately foster a sense of communal excitement, encouraging viewers to feel a shared sense of unity and anticipation. Post-game interviews with players and the ANZAC Day speech further reinforce the event's core narrative, emphasising national pride and commemorative ANZAC themes. These media techniques shape public perception, presenting the match as more than just a sporting event and imbuing it with broader cultural and national meaning.

While mediatisation constructs the narrative of the event, Wenner’s (1998) concept of Mediasport explains how media communication conveys and adds meaning to these narratives. Mediasport frames sporting events through narratives that often reflect dominant ideologies, aligning with the interests of powerful media owners (Coakley, 2016, p. 404). This influence extends to the social values communicated during the match. For instance, commentary during the match repeatedly referred to the day as a “big honour” for players, reinforcing national values and contributing to the reproduction of national identity. Through this narrative, the media shapes how viewers interpret the event, aligning public values with broader societal ideals of nationalism. However, Mediasport’s role extends beyond promoting national values; it strategically leverages these values to engage audiences as loyal consumers, driving profit and reflecting the dynamics of late capitalism (Wenner, 1998, p. 17-18). The relationship between social values and commercialisation is mutually reinforcing, as viewers internalise both national ideals and commercial messages (Wenner, 1998, p. 17). Despite strict regulations that limit commercial exploitation of ANZAC Day (Pacella, 2011, p. 27), media and the AFL generate revenue through alternative avenues. The emotional mediatisation of the event draws in viewers, creating opportunities for profit through sponsorships. Advertising is seamlessly integrated into the broadcast, with commentators drawing attention to logos, such as when a player "lands right on the Toyota logo." Corporations like McDonald's, Ray White, and Rebel Sport also position advertisements along the boundary lines, ensuring visibility in most mediated shots. High media viewership translates into greater engagement with advertisements, benefiting both sponsors and media corporations (Wenner, 1998, p. 39). Ultimately, the media’s role in the AFL ANZAC Day match illustrates how sport operates through powerful corporations as both a tool for reinforcing social values and generating profit. As viewers engage with the match, they absorb both national values and commercial messages, illustrating how Mediasport not only shapes societal values but also drives capitalist gain. This underscores the importance of critically engaging with sports media to uncover how narratives are constructed, revealing broader power dynamics within society.

The AFL ANZAC Day match serves as a site for the production of gender, specifically reflecting hegemonic masculinity (Encyclopedia of Gender and Society, 2008, p. 411-412) through a constructivist approach (Giulianotti, 2015, p. 222-223). Hegemonic masculinity encompasses dominant norms and behaviours that define the "ideal" man, emphasising traits like strength, competitiveness, and control. These traits are socially constructed and sustained within contexts like sports, where they are not only accepted but celebrated, reinforcing male dominance (Encyclopedia of Gender and Society, 2008, p. 411-412). During the AFL ANZAC Day match, displays of hegemonic masculinity were evident through aggressive behaviours and physical interactions. Players frequently engaged in pushing and shoving, even after play had stopped, with such actions tolerated and normalised by commentators and umpires, indicating that aggression is an accepted form of masculinity in sport. Goal celebrations were celebrated by teammates through physical contact, like high-fives and head-scruffs, instead of more intimate gestures like hugs. Smiles after scoring were fleeting, replaced quickly by stoic expressions, underscoring emotional restraint as a masculine ideal. Multiple players were seen to play through injuries, hobbling but still competing, highlighting endurance and resilience as core masculine traits. The uniformly muscular physiques of the players further reinforced ideals of physical strength associated with hegemonic masculinity.

From a constructivist approach, gender is not an innate trait, but a social process performed through actions and interactions, that is, not something individuals are, but rather something individuals do (Giulianotti, 2015, p. 223-224). The sport itself is a gendered institution but also a site of gender performance. Therefore, merely participating in the men’s AFL league is an act of 'doing gender,' as the league itself represents a system of gender classification (Giulianotti, 2015, p. 223). Playing AFL aligns with culturally specific masculine norms, emphasising physicality, competitiveness, aggression, and emotional restraint. This aligns with Butler's post-feminist constructivist theory of gender performativity, which posits that gender is constructed through repeated performances rather than a fixed characteristic (Giulianotti, 2015, p. 222). In the AFL, players’ behaviours, such as aggressive play, pain endurance, and stoic demeanours, actively display and reproduce hegemonic masculinity, making gender evident in each action. This performance of masculinity is not only central to the match but is also symbolically tied to the ANZAC tradition. Hegemonic masculine traits such as strength, endurance, and stoicism reflect the values associated with ANZAC soldiers, reinforcing a connection between masculine ideals and the ANZAC spirit (Pacella, 2011, p. 26). This intertwines the sporting event with the national commemoration, aligning hegemonic masculinity with national identity. As widely admired public figures in Australia, AFL players exemplify societal standards for the 'ideal man,' reinforcing a narrow version of masculinity that prioritises toughness and resilience. This shapes broader cultural ideals of what it means to be a 'real man' in Australian society while limiting the acceptance of alternative masculinities. The media’s portrayal of these athletes as role models amplifies these norms, reducing the visibility of diverse masculinities and marginalising non-hegemonic expressions of gender. Thus, the AFL ANZAC Day match illustrates how sport functions as a powerful site for the social construction and performance of gender, linking masculine ideals with national identity and, through media representation, shaping broader societal expectations of masculinity.

In conclusion, this analysis of the 2024 AFL ANZAC Day match reveals that the event functions as a multifaceted platform for reinforcing broader societal constructions and ideologies. Finding, it reproduces nationalism by aligning pre-match rituals with state- endorsed values, fostering a sense of imagined community among spectators (Anderson, 2020, p. 6-7). This unity is not without exclusions, as the event’s symbolic boundaries may marginalise groups like Indigenous Australians, whose perspectives on ANZAC Day may differ (Due, 2008), reflecting broader societal dynamics. The media’s framing of the match further amplifies this nationalism, not only reinforcing national identity but also integrating commercial interests (Wenner, 1998, p. 17-18), reflecting broader capitalist social structures. The match also acts as a site for producing gender norms, with hegemonic masculinity displayed through player behaviours, media narratives, and the gendered nature of the AFL (Encyclopedia of Gender and Society, 2008, p. 411-412; Giulianotti, 2015, p. 223). These performances align with ANZAC ideals, reinforcing a narrow conception of masculinity that is intertwined with national identity while limiting the visibility of diverse masculinities in broader society. Limitations of this study include the observational method, as the match was not attended in person, potentially limiting the depth of understanding regarding audience perceptions and responses. Watching the event remotely and after it occurred restricted insights into the stadium atmosphere and real-time interactions. Future research could incorporate interviews with spectators, players, and media personnel to explore personal interpretations of nationalism and masculinity. Comparative studies of other AFL events could help determine if similar ideological patterns exist beyond ANZAC Day, offering a broader perspective on sport’s role in shaping Australian identity. Additionally, examining Indigenous Australians' relationship with the AFL ANZAC Day event could provide crucial insights into diverse national experiences. Overall, this report demonstrates how the AFL ANZAC Day match not only reflects but actively shapes national values, media narratives, and gender norms, underscoring sport’s impact on broader societal issues.

#yakultii bad essays #well this one is. report actually #deleted reference list due to space but lemme kno if u wanna read any citations i can provide lol

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