#I cannot BELIEVE centre is winning

[nayziiz]

One Night in Miami | LN4

Summary: An eventful night with a close friend turns Lando’s world upside down when he’s forced to confront his true feelings about her. As they return to normal, he cannot seem to forget their time together and neither can she. Will they find each other once again?

Pairing: Lando Norris x OC (Renn)

Warnings: Smut, a lot of angst, fluff

Masterlist

Chapter 4 - Austria 2023

The upgrades turned out to be more successful than Lando had anticipated. As the sun set on the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, the paddock buzzed with excitement and disbelief. McLaren's gamble had paid off, and Lando Norris had ended the race in fourth place overall. It was a triumphant return to form, and the atmosphere in the McLaren garage was electric with joy and relief. Renn was there to witness it all, her camera capturing every moment. She had been hired by AlphaTauri that week to photograph Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries for promotional content, but her eyes frequently wandered to Lando. As the race progressed, her heart pounded with every lap he completed, every overtaking manoeuvre he executed with precision and skill.

When the chequered flag waved, signalling the end of the race, the crowd erupted in cheers. Lando had crossed the finish line in fourth place, a result that felt like a victory given the challenges McLaren had faced all season. The team's elation was palpable, and Renn couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for him. As the teams prepared for the podium ceremony, Renn made her way through the throngs of people to find Lando. She spotted him near the McLaren garage, surrounded by his jubilant team. He was beaming, the weight of the season's struggles momentarily lifted from his shoulders. She raised her camera, capturing the pure joy on his face, the moment of triumph that they had both desperately needed.

“Lando!” she called out, lowering her camera. He turned at the sound of her voice, and his smile widened when he saw her.

“Renn!” he shouted back, breaking through the crowd to reach her. Without thinking, he pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her off her feet. “Can you believe it? Fourth place! It feels like a win!”

“I’m so proud of you, Lan. You did it,” she laughed, her arms wrapping around his neck.

He set her down, his eyes shining with happiness.

“I couldn’t have done it without the team. And maybe a little bit of luck,” he replied.

“Don’t be modest,” she teased, poking his chest. “You drove like a champion out there.”

Their moment was interrupted by the McLaren team calling for Lando to join them for a celebration photo. He glanced back at them, then turned to Renn, his expression softening. 

“I’ll see you after?” he wondered.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” she promised.

While Lando joined his team, Renn returned to her work, but her mind kept drifting back to him. She captured shots of Yuki and Nyck, documenting their race day for AlphaTauri, but her heart was with Lando, celebrating his success. She couldn't wait for the day to end so they could share a private moment, away from the crowds and the noise. When the festivities died down and the paddock began to empty, Renn made her way to the McLaren motorhome. Lando had texted her earlier, asking her to meet him there. She walked through the quiet corridors, her anticipation building with every step. She found him in his driver’s room, still in his race suit, his hair damp from the post-race celebrations.

“You made it,” he said, his smile lighting up the room.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” she replied, closing the door behind her.

***

Needless to say, the celebrations of a good result ended up in a local club where the only people they knew were other drivers and their girlfriends. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and the energy was infectious. Lando was the centre of attention, his fourth-place finish giving him a confidence boost that radiated through the room. Renn watched him from across the dance floor, her heart swelling with pride and something deeper, something she was still trying to understand.

As the night wore on, they danced, laughed, and drank, losing themselves in the euphoria of the moment. Lando pulled Renn close, their bodies moving in sync to the beat of the music. The world outside the club ceased to exist; it was just them, the music, and the electric connection between them. The night progressed in a blur of laughter and movement, and before they knew it, things escalated, as had become the norm, to Renn’s hotel room. They stumbled through the door, their hands all over each other, lips locked in a fervent kiss. The urgency of their desire drove them, a familiar rhythm they had come to crave.

Lando kicked the door shut behind him, and they barely made it to the bed before clothes were discarded in a haphazard trail across the room. Renn’s back hit the mattress, and Lando was on top of her, his hands exploring every inch of her body. She arched into his touch, her breath hitching as he kissed his way down her neck.

“God, I’ve missed this,” he murmured against her skin, his voice thick with desire.

“Me too,” she breathed, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him back up to kiss her. 

The intensity of their connection was undeniable, a force that neither of them could resist. Their bodies moved together with a familiarity that only came from countless nights like this. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word spoke of a deeper bond, one that went beyond the physical. They were addicted to each other, drawn together by a need that defied logic or reason.

“Renn,” he groaned, his voice filled with a mix of passion and something more profound. “I need you.”

“I’m here,” she whispered back, her hands roaming over his back, pulling him closer. “I’m always here.”

They lost themselves in each other, their movements becoming more urgent, more desperate. The room was filled with the sounds of their lovemaking, the raw, unfiltered expression of their connection. It was a dance they knew well, a dance that left them both breathless and sated.

When it was over, they lay entwined, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing ragged. Lando pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand tracing idle patterns on her back.

“Lan…” she mumbled as he cuddled her tightly, their bodies still entwined from their passionate night.

“I know, I know. Just a few minutes like this, please, Renn,” he pleaded, his voice a soft murmur in the quiet room.

“Just a few minutes,” she agreed, her hand moving to stroke his hair back as she watched his eyes. They fluttered shut a few times, fighting sleep, and she could see the weariness in his expression.

“I don’t want to go,” he whispered, his voice tinged with a vulnerability that made her heart ache.

“I don’t want you to go either,” she sighed, finally caving to embrace the moment with him. The intimacy of their position, the warmth of his body against hers, felt like a cocoon, sheltering them from the outside world.

“Let’s take a shower together, then I’ll leave, yeah?” Lando suggested, his hand gently tracing the curve of her shoulder.

“Yeah, okay. A shower sounds good,” she looked at him, her eyes softening as she nodded. 

They reluctantly disentangled from each other, their bodies protesting the loss of contact. Lando helped her to her feet, his hands lingering on her waist as they made their way to the bathroom. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the streetlights outside casting gentle shadows across the tiles. Lando turned on the water, adjusting the temperature before guiding her under the warm spray. They stood there for a moment, the water cascading over them, washing away the remnants of the night. Lando’s hands moved with tender care, lathering soap over her skin, his touch reverent and soothing.

“You’re gorgeous, Rennie,” he assured her, his voice filled with genuine affection.

Renn felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. She knew she wasn’t the prettiest girl in the world, with her dull hair, bony elbows, and meaty hips. But hearing Lando's affirmation made her feel beautiful in a way she rarely experienced. He saw more than just the physical aspects that often made her self-conscious; he saw the kindness and compassion within her, the parts of herself she valued the most.

After they had rinsed off, they dried each other with soft towels, the intimacy of the act deepening their bond. Lando wrapped her in a towel, holding her close for a moment longer before stepping back to dry himself. Once they were both dressed in comfortable clothes, they moved back to the bed, sitting side by side. The night had taken on a serene, almost magical quality, and Renn felt a peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Silverstone next week,” Renn stated as she watched Lando put on his sneakers. “You must be excited.”

“As long as the car keeps performing the way it did today, then yes, very excited,” Lando responded, a smile spreading across his face as he glanced at her sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I’ll be in the paddock with Red Bull, but I’ll be cheering for papaya all the way,” she told him, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Why Red Bull of all teams?” Lando grunted, his playful jealousy evident.

“My job, Lan, let’s not forget that I need to work too,” she reminded him. “It’s not like I’m going to be fawning over their drivers.”

“Max always liked you, though,” Lando continued, sitting down next to her on the bed.

“As a friend. I think Kelly would kill me if it was anything else,” Renn replied with a laugh.

“When will you be in McLaren’s motorhome for a change?” Lando countered, his tone more serious.

“When McLaren hires me as their photographer,” she retorted, but then she noticed the sparkle in his eyes. “Don’t you go pulling strings. I’m enjoying just being at the races when I can.”

“Fine,” Lando sighed again, though he couldn’t hide the disappointment in his voice.

“Careful, Norris. Jealousy doesn’t look good on you,” Renn teased, nudging him with her shoulder.

“Can���t be jealous of something I can’t have,” Lando quickly retorted.

Renn studied him, unsure whether he meant a Red Bull seat or her, but she imagined he was talking about her. They were treading on thin ice with their casual friends-with-benefits escapade. She watched him get up and gather his wallet and phone before heading towards the door.

The many weeks of to and fro, leaving shortly after a bout of passion, had left Lando wanting more than just the sex. He wanted her companionship. He wanted the intimacy of cuddles and falling asleep together. Sure, he knew he wasn’t supposed to develop feelings for her, but he always had a soft spot for her. He just didn’t realise it until he had left her alone by herself every single time. It was no longer a question of whether he loved her or not because he did. It was a question of him admitting it to himself and sharing that with her or risking losing her altogether.

“We’re getting together on Thursday for dinner, kind of a tradition. The Quadrant guys and girls will be there too, if you want to come?” Lando asked, his tone hopeful.

“Oh, the dinner Max [Fewtrell] already invited me to?” Renn retorted, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t know if you would want to come, that’s why I’m only asking you now,” Lando attempted to explain, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I’ll see,” she responded, folding her arms over her chest.

Lando nodded, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, and saw himself out, clicking the hotel door shut as he left her room.

Renn stood there for a moment, processing the conversation. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go to the dinner; it was just that everything between them was becoming so much more complicated. She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she tried to push the thoughts away.

------------------------------

Taglist: @fionamiller123 @f1fantasys

[deadgirlwalking91]

new guitarspear fic

'thank you for the venom', chapter one: 'if this is what you want, then fire at will'

Summary

“Is that all it takes to make you moan? You’d be such a freak in the sheets, Lieutenant.”

“Hilarious. Respectfully, Sir, go deep throat a cactus.”

***

Despite working together for years, Adam and Lute can't stand each other.

He thinks she's got a stick up her ass.

She thinks he's an idiot.

When Lute goes behind Adam's back to Sera and proposes they change their training regime for Extermination Day, Adam is hellbent on making her life miserable - until he learns it's in his best interest to work with her, not against her.

The problem is, neither of them counted on unexpected feelings getting in the way of their jobs, which makes things... tense for them.

What happens when one day, they accidentally take things a little too far?

***

Chapter One

Adam & Lute’s Office, Exorcist Training Centre, Heaven

Lute knew she’d messed up this time.

If she had an ordinary boss, she might only cop a slight reprimand for going over his head – an uncomfortable conversation, promises of ‘I’ll never do it again’, waiting for time to pass until the awkwardness of the situation wore off and they could go back to business as usual.

Unfortunately, her boss was far from what most would consider an ordinary angel – both in title and temperament. Which consequently meant his reaction to her undermining him would be… hostile, to say the least.

“I can’t fucking believe you went to Sera without talking to me first!” Adam bellowed, pounding his fist on his desk. Old coffee cups, abandoned paperwork and scattered stationary threatened to spill over the edge, littering the already cluttered floor around his workstation. “Fucking low blow babe, even for a kiss-ass like you.”

Don’t rise to his anger. Keep a cool head. Explain your case.

“Sir,” Lute laced her fingers together and placed them on the surface of her own desk, ready to state her case for taking her proposal directly to the High Seraphim and bypassing her superior. In contrast to her Commander, her own workspace was neatly arranged, not a hint of messiness to be found. She cleared her throat. “I tried to talk to you about this a week ago, and you dismissed me.”

“You haven’t said shit to me.”

‘Yes I have,’ she thought to herself, resisting the urge to retort back and begin a verbal tennis match. She knew she’d win – after all, she was much smarter than Adam, and could hold a sentence without swearing, cursing or a sexual innuendo. Stooping to his level would just escalate the situation further than where it needed to be, and if it got to that level she was certain things would get ugly. Fast.

“I’m positive we have had this conversation, Sir.”

“Nup. We haven’t.”

Lute inhaled slowly and deliberately through her nose, trying to supress her already-rising frustration. He was being particularly petulant today, and she found her patience with him was quickly wearing thin. Squaring her shoulders, she continued. “Sir, we were on our way to the eight o’clock agility training session. I remember it clearly as you were complaining that you had a meeting with Sera later that morning. I thought it would be an opportune moment to mention it to you as it would be fresh in your mind when you met with her.”

Adam snorted and leaned forward onto his elbows; the golden facial expression on the screen of his mask fixed into a jeer. “And you think that was a good time to approach me about one of your lame ideas? I thought you were smarter than that. What’s my first rule of working together, sweetie?”

Don’t throw a knife at him. Don’t threaten to disembowel him – as much as you want to. Stay calm, Lieutenant.

“With all due respect, Sir –” Lute growled, her professional tone wavering. “I hardly think that putting limits on when I can and cannot converse with you is conducive to creating a professional working relationship with you.”

“Firstly, we don’t have a professional working relationship, babe. It’s pretty fucking black and white, actually – I’m your boss, you listen to me. It’s not that difficult a concept to grasp.” Lute opened her mouth in anger to protest, but Adam held up a single finger, signalling for her to wait. Dumb move. That single gesture just fuelled the intense rage that was quickly building inside her.

“Secondly, the rule is don’t talk to me about important shit before nine o’clock. Chances are I won’t remember it because I’ll be half asleep, and I’ll give even less of a fuck about what you’ve got so say because you’ve pissed me off before I've had my morning coffee.”

“I’d rather not talk to you at all,” Lute said through gritted teeth. “But, I unlike you, actually care about Extermination Day, and if we continue how we’re currently track-”

“And I, unlike you,” Adam said mockingly in a high-pitched voice that was supposed to sound like Lute’s, “couldn’t give a shit about how many Sinners we slay next Extermination Day, or whatever the fuck it was that you ran to Sera about. The only thing that matters is that we show our faces in Hell on Extermination Day and slaughter some demon ass. That’s it. Those fuckers are scared shitless of us anyway, so it doesn’t matter how many we kill, we'll always have the upper hand. It’s called working smarter, not harder, babe.”

He cannot be serious right now. Does he not realise that our kill rate is slipping, year on year? How this might affect us long-term? That Sinners might start to fight back once they figure out that we’re starting to let our guard down?

“So what you’re telling me,” Lute started, now barely able to contain her vitriol, “Is that you don’t give a flying f-”

“Exactly.” Adam stood up and smirked down at Lute, the smug look of satisfaction on his mark now too much for Lute to bear.

Fuck you, you arrogant prick.

“Conversation’s over. Get back to actually doing your job, Lieutenant, instead of wasting my time with your insignificant, petty bullshit. Don’t fucking pull a stunt like this again.”

Adam strode towards the door of their shared office, pausing briefly as his hand rested on the door handle, his smirk intensifying. “Oh, one more thing.”

“What?” she snapped, head now in her hands. She couldn’t even physically look at him.

“I’m pretty sure we just established that I’m your superior, so a bit of respect would be nice to hear, Lieutenant.”

“What, sir?” Her hands pulled in frustration at her silvery-white bangs that had fallen into her eyes.

“Be a good girl and finish that overdue paperwork for me, would you? I’ve got more important shit to do. It’d be a good reminder for you of what your job actually entails.”

That’s it.

Lute had tried to play nice. Tried to do the right thing and raise her suggestion in a polite, professional manner. Took an alternative avenue once she realised her attempts at improvement were going nowhere. She’d even attempted to sit calmly through his dressing-down without reacting to his bullshit. But now?

She’d finally snapped.

Agilely leaping over her desk so she was in front of his, she picked up one of the multiple long-forgotten mugs that cluttered the surface and hurled it in his general direction.

Lute hadn’t really expected for it to hit him – the act of picking up the mug and throwing it had been born out of built-up frustration and anger at her imbecile boss, a need to expel some of the hatred that had built up over the course of their most recent conversation. The fact that it had connected with the side of his head and shattered into at least a hundred tiny ceramic pieces?

Just a bonus, really. It was just a damn shame it didn’t leave a mug-sized hole in his head.

‘Good. Hope it fucking hurt.’ She allowed herself a moment of satisfaction, taking in his surprise as he lifted a hand to his head and checked for blood. Time to let him have it.

“If anything,” she hissed in a low, dangerous voice. She was now moving towards Adam, one hand clenched by her side, the other pointed threateningly at his face. “Let me get this one thing through your thick head – though more than anything right now, I’d love to drive my sword between your eyes, carve up your tiny, pathetic excuse for a brain and force feed it back to you raw.”

Adam opened his mouth to respond, his surprise at her tone quickly turning to fury, but she didn’t give him the courtesy. He needed to hear this – graphic acts of violence and all.

“Shut it,” she snarled. “Shut the fuck up and just fucking listen for once, as difficult as that is for you. Because I’m not your fucking secretary. I’m not your assistant. I’m here to do my job – which is to provide training and mentorship to the other Exorcists, because you’re too damn incompetent to do it yourself.” Her normally restrained voice grew louder. “Perhaps if you focused more on doing your job, instead of screw-”

“Geez,” Adam drawled, “You’re a fucking little mouthy cunt, aren’t you?” He gripped the wrist of Lute’s outstretched arm, rage etched all over his mask, which had started glitching ever so slightly. Not a good sign.

Ouch. Lute may be the better aim of the two, and more agile, but Adam was had the upper hand when it came to brute strength. She was positive that his hold on her wrist was going to bruise – that was going to be fun to explain once it was noticed. She continued to stare him down, never daring to break eye contact or even blink. She couldn’t let him think he’d won. Even if he did have her arm in a death grip.

She’d rather fall to the depths of Hell than admit defeat to him.

Rap-rap-rap.

“Adam? Lute?” a soft voice called from behind the door. “Is everything alright? I heard something break just now.”

Sera.

Seizing her moment, Lute yanked her wrist from Adam’s grasp and made towards her desk once again.

“Come in, Your Highness,” she called in an uncharacteristically chirpy voice. “Adam accidentally dropped his coffee mug, and it broke, which is what you must have heard. I was just showing him the best way to clean up the mess.”

Adam shot her a filthy look and stomped back to his desk, muttering incoherently under his breath – though Lute was sure she heard the word bitch at least twice.

The handle clicked, and Sera poked her head through the gap between the door and the frame. She frowned at the scattered ceramic pieces that lay forgotten on the floor.

“Are you two… having a disagreement?” she asked concernedly, her large, almond-shaped eyes noticing the glowering looks the two angels were shooting each other. “I thought I could hear shouting.”

“Yeah, we’re fine Sera,” Adam waved his hand dismissively at Lute. “Lieutenant here was just running some ideas past me for next month’s training plan and got a bit carried away.”

‘As if he hadn’t completely flown off the handle just minutes ago’ Lute thought angrily to herself but feigned a smile and nodded politely. Going toe-to-toe with Adam in private was one thing, but she prided herself on keeping her composure around the Seraphim and other senior angels in Heaven. They didn’t need to know about their little disagreement.

Or the hundreds of disagreements that had occurred before this one. None had been quite this heated, though.

This was the only one that had almostended in violence, though. That was a first.

“Oh, excellent.” Sera moved into the room and shut the door behind herself. “What do you think, Adam? Your Lieutenant has some brilliant ideas, which I personally can’t wait to see executed over the coming months. Her presentation to me was very promising.”

The look on Adam’s face was positively feral now. Lute relished this moment and made a mental note to file this look away in her memory bank – seeing him quietly seethe in the presence of his direct superior, knowing it was in his best interest to keep his cool was something she was going to enjoy. To rile him up further, she propped an elbow on her desk, rested her chin in her hand and shot him a quick, satisfied smirk.

Cop that, asshole.

“Yeah,” Adam grumbled, suddenly busying himself with the paperwork on his desk. “They’re good.”

“Well,” Sera clapped her hands together and smiled at Lute, who bowed her head in respect in return. To hear that her proposal was highly regarded by one of the most senior angels in Heaven was praise beyond what she ever expected to receive for her work.

It was certainly more than what her direct boss had ever given her.

“That settles that, then. Lieutenant, if you could please come with me, I’d like to add a couple of things to your training program that I’ve thought of.” Lute nodded and rose from her desk once more, gathering her bag and notes. Noticing that Sera had turned to open the door once more, Adam quickly shot Lute a one-fingered salute to bid her farewell. Lute simply mouthed, “get fucked” in return.

“Oh, Adam, I see you’re working on the monthly training incident report that I asked you to turn in a week ago,” Sera said as he hastily went back to pretending to review his work. “Make sure it’s on my desk by five o’clock, please. I need it for a meeting tomorrow with the other Seraphim.” She turned and glided out the door, Lute only a few footsteps behind – though she took care to accidentally bump Adam’s shoulder with her own as she trailed behind Sera.

“Kiss-ass.”

“Dick.”

Lute closed the door with a little more force than necessary – just for good measure, knowing it would infuriate Adam to no end. Just to rub her victory in a little more. Because, after this round?

The score was Lute – one, Adam – zero.

Laughing to herself, she was sure she could hear Adam cursing her with language colourful enough to paint an entire rainbow as she strolled down the hall to Sera’s office.

Bring it on.

***

The Common Room, Exorcist Training Centre, Heaven

The Training Centre common room was abuzz with idle chatter and echoes of laughter as Lute entered later that morning, determined to continue her work far, far away from Adam. No formal training sessions had been scheduled for that day – the result of his poor timetabling skills, Lute was sure of it.

She would have expected the Exorcists to be using their ‘free’ time to hit the gym, or initiate sparring sessions with one another. Perhaps use the opportunity to enhance their weapon skills or, if they were particularly ambitious, simulation training. Slaying holographic demons was almost as satisfying as the real thing. Just a lot less bloody.

The reality was, on personal development days, the Training Centre turned into a goddamn sorority house. Hundreds of incredibly beautiful women congregated together in the common room, not a helmet or uniform in sight as they lazed about in their casual clothes. Some were huddled together in small groups, hands wrapped around mugs of steaming coffee or tea, giggling at whatever the latest gossip happened to be - usually centred around Adam’s latest squeeze. Others congregated around tables, playing card games (the most popular one lately, Lute had noticed, was an extremely competitive game involving red, green, blue, yellow and black cards that seemed to invoke a lot of shouting and name-calling).

The sight of it all never failed to give Lute a thumping headache. This wasn’t a fucking kindergarten, this was supposed to be work, dammit.

It wasn’t that she was against fun. She knew how to enjoy herself. There was nothing better than cosying up on the couch after a long day at the Training Centre with a hot chocolate, blanket and comforting book. Or an intense, two-hour gym session, sweating her frustrations away – a ritual she religiously undertook every single day, no excuses.

Sometimes, when Lute really wanted to spoil herself, she’d have a bubble bath. Now, that was wild.

Sighing, she located one of the more comfortable, vacant armchairs and slumped into it, allowing her eyes to close for just a moment. Normally she’d redirect the Exorcists to go and use their time more productively but after her earlier verbal sparring match with Adam, she needed a moment to relax before she got stuck into the fresh paperwork Sera had assigned her.

Sera loved paperwork.

Only three more days until I can start to turn this shitshow around.

“You look like hell.”

Lute chuckled softly. Without looking, she knew exactly who had greeted her in such a matter-of-fact way – it was the only person she’d allow to do so without punishment. Opening her eyes, she was graced by the presence of a petite angel perched on the arm of her chair, her soft red, almond-shaped eyes crinkled into a look of concern. She handed Lute a mug of steaming, black coffee which she graciously accepted with a wry smile. This morning’s events called for extra caffeine to get her through the rest of the day.

What an angel.

“Thanks, Vaggie. Rough morning in the office again.”

“Ugh. What did he do this time?”

One of Lute’s favourite things about Vaggie was how she was certain she was the only other Exorcist in the lounge who openly hated Adam as much as she did. Probably because she was one of the only other soldiers who he hadn’t taken to his bed over the years. They both often joked that he was the sole reason Vaggie was a lesbian, that the First Man was so repulsive that he alone caused her to swear off all men.

Lute didn’t have her sexuality as an excuse as to why she’d never slept with him. She just straight up hated him. Plus, it would be highly unprofessional. And he was a cretin.

Did I mention that I hate him?

“He found out I took my proposal to Sera.” Lute took a long sip from the cup, the scalding liquid almost burning her tongue. Perfection. “Then proceeded to lose his shit because he forgot that I’d tried to talk to him about it before I approached her. He thought that I’d undermined him.”

Vaggie rolled her eyes. “Typical. How did it end? Did he threaten to leave you in Cannibal Town next Extermination Day again?”

Speaking of cannibalism, I threatened to feed his own brains to him. That’s normal, right?

“Um, not quite.” Lute began, taking another sip of coffee. “I might have accidentally-on-purpose thrown a mug at his head.”

Also totally normal.

“I’m so proud of you. Did you make him bleed?”

“Sadly not, but there’s always next time.”

Vaggie grinned, clinking her own mug against Lute’s. “I’ll drink to that.”

“Amen. He then called me a mouthy cunt and I’m about ninety percent sure one of us would have caused grievous bodily harm to the other if Sera didn’t walk in at that exact moment. The cherry on top is that she came to tell him we’re going ahead with my plans.” She set her empty mug down on a nearby table and grinned up at Vaggie, who had now crossed her legs and somehow still managed to stay perfectly balanced on the arm of her chair. Tiny little thing, she was. “You should have seen his face, Vaggie. It was glorious. I’m surprised he didn’t self-combust in anger.”

“If only.” Vaggie downed the rest of her drink. “So, if Sera’s approved the plan – congrats, by the way, we need to celebrate - when do you start whipping us into shape?”

“Monday morning. We’re going to announce it in here during the morning address, before we move into the training rooms.” Lute surveyed the Exorcists lounging about. “Don’t know how the girls will take it, though. Can’t say I’ve scheduled too many days like this.”

“It won’t be easy at first,” Vaggie warned. “They’re too used to this kind of freedom.”

“I know, and if Adam undermine-”

“UNO!”

Lute and Vaggie whipped their heads around simultaneously at the sudden high-pitched squeal, Vaggie almost losing her balance and toppling off the armchair in the process. A group of five Exorcists were at a nearby table, playing the colourful card game that seemed to be all the rage.. One was grinning madly as she clutched a single card to her chest.

“What even is that?”

Vaggie’s eyes widened.

“Seriously? You’ve never played Uno? I know you’re a hermit Lute, but come on.”

“No,” Lute admitted, “Who would I play with anyway, besides you?”

“Fair point. But – and I say this with love – I’m worried that you’ve thrown yourself into your work a little too much lately, especially with this new program you’ve created. You need to relax a little.”

“What does it look like I’m doing now?” Lute grumbled. “If I’m not training, working, or exercising, I’m relaxing.”

“Lute,” Vaggie laughed. “I could see how tense you are as soon as you walked in here – and to be honest, you’d be uptight even if you didn’t have a crappy morning. This isn’t chilling out. Relaxing is letting your hair down, getting a drink after training with the girls. Playing cards,” She nodded towards the group of angels, the girl who was holding one card now picking multiple others up from a pile, cursing her friends as they all giggled amongst each other. “Try it, you might enjoy it. It’s actually pretty fun, once you get the hang of it. I absolutely annihilated Scout the other week, she wouldn’t talk to me for three days.”

“Maybe. It’s probably blurring the lines between me being their superior and being their friend, though.”

“Oh yeah,” Vaggie said dryly. “And you don’t think them taking turns being Adam’s flavour of the week blurs any lines, do you?”

Dammit. She’s got a point.

Lute screwed up her nose in disgust.

“That’s different. I’m professional, he’s… not.”

“I’m not saying sleep with them, geez.” Vaggie rolled her eyes and slid into a standing position. “I’m just suggesting maybe try being friendly with the other girls, that’s all.”

“Fine. Once the program’s under way. If they don’t hate me for kicking their asses and making them actually work.”

“You may be a hardass, but nobody’s gonna hate you.” Vaggie held out her hand, motioning for Lute to take it. “Come on. Let’s grab lunch, I’m starving.”

Would it be so bad if I let my guard down… just a little?

Lute took her friend’s hand, allowing herself to be pulled up off the seat. She grimaced slightly at the tenderness in her wrist where Adam had grabbed her – no doubt there’d be a bruise there tomorrow.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Vaggie slung her arm around her friend’s shoulders as they walked towards the cafeteria together. “Buckle up, buttercup. Shit’s about to get interesting.”

***

Chapter Two

[zoriety]

Notes on how the combat gameplay and synergy between Will Grip Sinclair and One Who Grips Faust reflect a relationship of unhappy reliance and control.

So starting from these words from my last post, which outline Sinclair’s relationship with Faust/Kromer as being one of someone so broken by her seizing control of his life that he cannot now do anything but look back to her for assurance!:

His life importantly has become completely stagnant; he is emphasized as being a chick with a broken shell because he cannot progress past this point of total control in his life as the Sinclair we have with us on the bus has done. He’s a version of himself who cannot stand up to her, nor break through the self denial he’s living in to fully accept that he will never be like her, sincerely believing in purging others despite his best attempts - thus he’s completely stuck in limbo.

The Units

The base facts are, all of N Corp Sinclair’s abilities take between 7-15 sanity (he cannot stand what he is doing) with the exception of his guard skill, ‘Enough’, a pause which regains him some

2/3 of his skills have effects that activate on tails hit, so the 'bad' side of the coin  you generally do not want to land for most units - low sanity is rewarded

His passive further encourages keeping sanity low or neutral even whilst winning clashes and defeating units.

Though you can keep Will Grip Sinclair balanced, he as a unit is going to always be running the risk during trickier fights of hitting that -45 sanity, becoming ego corrupted and wiping allies it’s always fucking Gregor out

COMPARE Faust: 

On killing a foe, her execution recovers all allies for 10 Sanity.

When she marks a target with gaze, the one to defeat it regains sanity, with further bonus of fanaticism if also N Corp.

You can already tell I’m going to say she keeps him in check statistically, but the final kicker is really her passive.

Her whistles - the little command sound she makes to round up the N Corp troops. With her sanity heal effecting the specific allies with the least SP, the chances are almost certain that it will be Will Grip Sinclair.

When her whistle passive is audibly activated, Sinclair responds with a strained sounding laugh - all but confirmed within his uptie story to be a false laugh/smile he makes while pretending he finds the violence and extremist ideology of N Corp enjoyable. (This is something Faust herself fully knows he does not, and finds his attempts mildly amusing.)

These two units are designed to work together perfectly.

Sinclair rapidly loses his sanity, and Kromer/Faust restores it for him.

It reflects their relationship in this way: Sinclair is prevented from fully losing his mind under the brunt of what his life has become, yet is living a nightmare, taking part in terrible actions he cannot bear to face the consequences of nor his feelings for, while besides him Kromer/Faust whistles and cajoles him back into centre when he falters.

Naturally we can use these units with others, it’s a team building game, but these particular units are so suited to work together that it becomes the obvious choice.

I keep being impressed by the way plot and character so cleverly effects the statistics and gameplay within project moon games, and these units have been the highlight for me so far. It’s especially when you hear that little combination of Faust’s whistle call and Sinclair’s responding, uneasy laugh, I think it really highlights the fact that Will Grip Sinclair as a unit is in the exact same place as his character is; a suspended in a state of miserable, powerless limbo

[theficpusher]

gotta catch 'em all. | nr | 957 harry takes louis on a pokemon adventure he won't forget.

Gotta Catch 'Em All by punchmelarry | G | 2259 Louis and Harry are distracted by Pokemon Go, just like everyone else. Louis can't believe how little Harry knows about Pokemon, and Harry can't believe how pretty Louis is.

You Teach Me (And I'll Teach You) by teaandtumblr | G | 3615 Zayn is a librarian who takes pride in the Pokemon Gym that is his workplace. That is, until a certain someone starts making a habit of winning it off him every damn day.

Give Me All Of Your Pokèballs by WritingProseAnythingGoes | T | 5309 "What do you mean by 'my house is on a PokeStop'? No, you cannot come in. I don't know who you are. Now please get off my property." Louis bit his lip in frustration. This dude's house was the closest PokeStop he could find and he wouldn't let him even stand close enough to get more balls. "C'mon, please? I can show you how to play too, you'd like it, especially because your house is dead center with the only PokeStop for miles." Louis begged. The guy narrowed his eyes to slits, scrutinizing Louis closely. "How do I know you aren't gonna murder me or some shit?" Louis sighed plaintively. "Seriously, dude, just let me stand in your living room for ten minutes. I won't even move, I'll just stand there, but I swear to God I'm not gonna murder you. Please." or, a short fic where Louis and Harry fall in love because Pokemon Go is a thing.

Of Thunder and Lightning [series] by gmartini | T | 5598 More than just the Pokémon spark up the battlefield when Niall Squared end up in the Pokemon League Championship match.

Take Me To Your Heart by dinosaursmate | E | 6112 Harry blinked at him for a second, and shit, they made eye contact. “Never gonna give, never gonna give…” the man sang, pointing at Harry to sing the next line. “Come on, curly!” Harry wasn’t sure whether or not to indulge him. He just wanted to go back to sleep, but he knew from experience that sometimes, ignoring lively drunks did not make the problem go away. “Give you up.” Harry replied, before laying his head back against the window and closing his eyes. “Yeah!” The man cried, and to Harry’s despair he sat down next to him. “Had a good night?” “I’ve been working.” Harry mumbled, eyes still closed. “Oh. I’ve got a few days off at the moment, so just been out with my mates. I’m Louis, by the way.” --- London Night Bus AU where all Harry wants to do is sleep, but he has a drunk man singing at him.

here's to never growing up by weddingbells | M | 8195 Every year a ship leaves for Slateport City, Hoenn, carrying excited trainers and Pokémon ready for a new world. Louis Tomlinson hopes to be one of them. He just didn't expect the adventure to start as soon as he gets on that ship, but it does.

pokémon au [series] by dearmrsawyer | G | 22177 Harry gets a part-time job at the Pewter City Pokemon Centre to earn some money for his travels and Louis could not be less thrilled. A Pokemon AU featuring OT5 friendship, the ethics of Pokemon training, and a few possible extra-terrestrials.

Just Me, Him, and the Sun and Moon by SadaVeniren | M | 45502 Alola!! You have formally been chosen to participate in the FIRST EVER Pokemon World Championship Tournament. We have not made this selection lightly and have weighed your many years as a master pokemon trainer and pokemon friend in our decision to extend this offer to you! We hope that you will accept our offer and join us at the Hano Grand Resort on Akala Island! The tournament will take place starting on May 15, but we request that you join us on May 13 to partake in an opening ceremony. The tournament will last two weeks, and accommodations will be provided for you and your pokemon, but transportation to the island will not (so bring a flying type!) We hope you join us!! Professor Kukui --- AKA a gratuitous Pokemon AU featuring farmer!harry, professor!louis, paradise, pokemon battles, love, and the fate of the world

[troloyunu]

Sorry if you've answered this somewhere before, but do you have any advice for improving/practicing art?

I am not sure if I am the best person to be giving advice on this matter as there are a lot of aspects of my art that are lacking, but here are some tips that have worked for me personally that I think worth are trying!

This got kinda long so. Under the cut!

First, this is always important, and I know people are sick of hearing this but it's true: practice, practice, practice! Observing things is very important for art but you actually have to try your hand again and again in order to have a result that is to your liking when it comes to art. Please just try to draw as much as you can. You have a pen in your hand? Scribble something. This will also improve your linework.

Do NOT be afraid to use references. It is highly unlikely that you will just happen to be able to draw something you have never drawn before without a reference. If you can't find any refs, take your own pictures. (I do this a lot when it comes to drawing hands)

Most of the time we have these conceptions of how things look especially when it comes to anatomy but humans are all sooo vastly different so I believe it is important to broaden your vision by using diverse references

Don't be afraid to draw bad. Seriously. If a piece you just made sucks, don't beat yourself up about it. It is geniunely not that serious. Take a break and come back to it, if it is still not to your liking and you cannot improve it; it is okay to delete that drawing and try something else. You'll get it, I promise. Just keep practicing.

Most of the time I find that it helps A LOT to draw something I am obsessed with. When I am learning anatomy, I don't just always draw some random people's pics I found on the internet, I will sometimes make that drawing into a character/ship I love

Do redraws from your old art! It is so motivating and fun to see how you have improved and changed as an artist :3

I know it is not healthy to rely solely on validation, but it does help a lot! If you are part of a community, esp one with a lot of artists, don't hesitate to show them your work! You can also draw your friends' ocs and such if you want to, it really is a win win situation because you will be drawing something you want to draw and your friend will be so happy that you took the time to draw their character. I loved gifting people little doodles when I was part of an oc centred fandom :D

Also, since we are talking about validation, validate YOURSELF please. Imagine yourself 2 years, 5 years, 10 years whatever ago. How would you have felt if you saw your drawings today? You would have been so impressed! So take the time to appreciate your own work.

If there are any artists you adore, don't hesitate to try to redraw their drawings, or maybe just some aspects of their style that you love. If you do a redraw, it is advised that you do not post it as your own idea, but if the artist is ok with you posting it with credit, then you can do that too! :D

That being said, keep in mind that you don't have to post EVERYTHING you draw! I used to do that which put a lot of pressure onto me since I would get so upset whenever a drawing turned out bad, but when you realize that you can just not post it, that lifts a lot of tension.

Take care of yourselfff!!! Take care of your arm, your wrist, your back. I think there is this program that makes you take breaks every x minute which is called EyeLeo, you can install that or something similar. But please do take care of your health.

Sometimes breaks are needed. If nothing you draw looks right and you don't feel any joy in drawing, do take up another hobby for some time. Let yourself miss drawing.

Play around with styles and colors and lineweights, see what you like the best. I used to always get so upset that I didnt have a set style, my drawings vary a lot throughout each piece. But now I just keep it cool and don't think about it too much. Don't force yourself!

Also for me a part of drawing I ALWAYS look forward to when drawing canon characters is giving them alternate outfits I save on pinterest. I enjoy so much searching which outfits a character might wear. Maybe you can try this? I know drawing the same outfit over and over again for a character gets old.

Honestly being obsessed with something helps a lot with improving. Like a character or a pairing or whatever. Because you will just REALLY want to draw something for this thing you love, and you will just keep on doing and doing it. Really helpful

But 99.9% of the time, the thing you imagine will not translate completely identical to the canvas/paper. And that's OKAY! That means that you have a great imagination and you will try to get a satisfactory result. It just means more practicing. When you get an idea that you want to draw but don't feel like your skills are enough for, draw them anyway! That way you can see a lot more clearly what you need to work on. And do work on those things.

I think for reference images just find nude reference pictures of real life people. The drawing pose references we see on here or on pinterest with simple shapes ARE very convenient when you just wanna quickly draw something, but if your goal is to learn anatomy, then using a pic of an actual human is ideal.

Remember that art is supposed to be FUN. So do have fun. Experiment!!!

Also I would say like, when I was more of a beginner and tried to do fullbody drawings and such, it never looked good and I was quite discouraged but things started improving when I started to individually focus on things like eyes, noses, lips etc and then trying a more general approach with fullbodies. Might not be the same for everyone though!

I think that's all I can think about for now. Sorry if this is not that useful, but yeah! I would say the most important thing is to just practice honestly :D Go ahead, have fun, draw something! I wish you the best <3

[wilcze-kudly]

I know this is a Beifong blog, and you don't have all the answers, but...Whatever happened to Sokka, Suki, Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai? Why haven't we ever see them in ATLOK (Avatar: The Legend Of Korra)?

Sokka

Well um, Sokka's dead for sure. We know he died before tlok, Katara mentions this in the first episode. The statue commemorating him also seems to be rather recent, as it is part of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Centre, which was built by Varrick, I think. The fandom consensus is that he died in 158 AG, at the hands of the Red Lotus while defending baby Korra. However I couldn't find any canon confirmation of this other than hints.

We know he was a Conucilman in Republic City for a while, and later in life became known as Chief of the Southern Water tribe. My personal headcanon is that Katara was Chief until Aang died. After the death of the love of her life, I imagine Katara would withdraw more and share or hand over this particular responsibility to Sokka. I have more headcanons but this is meant to be objective soo..

Suki

I've seen a lot of rumours on Suki having died young, however, I cannot find anything confirming or denying those. From what we know, she went on to lead the Kyoshi warriors, she also acted as Zuko's bodyguard.

My personal theory is that Suki eventually left the bodyguarding duties to Ty Lee and continued to travel, spreading Kyoshi's magnificanet bisexual teachings.

She appears to still be with Sokka at least up until 124 AG, so... just into her fourties if I'm doing the math right. I do find it hard to believe her and Sokka wouldn't have children, though her serving in the Fire Nation and him spending a lot of time in Republic City may explain why they hasn't settled down yet. I do have headcanons (*cough* Baatar Sr *cough*)

Aang also tell Tenzin that Suki had "skills Sokka could only dream of" so... our underrated queen stays winning.

Azula

Azula, Azula... We have no idea what happened to Azula. My hopes are that she will get her redemption in some way or another, but she is not mentioned in tlok or any other media that I've found.

So... let me dream. I've always adored the theory that Azula eventually became the Bhanti Shaman we see in tlok. Now, there are rough edges to this theory and I don't actually believe it, however it makes me happy.

There are certain surface level similarities in appearance, but seeing Azula gain enlightenment and a sense of peace in an old age means a lot to me. I could ramble about this headcanon all day. Feel free to ask me about it.

Ty Lee

We don't know much about Ty Lee other than her still being an active Kyoshi warrior in 124 AG. My assumption is that sh was a member of the organisation in some form to her death/ or till tlok. If she were, I'd imagine her organising whatever Kyoshi Warriors there are in the Fire Nation. I could also see her being an aunt figure to Izumi and still acting as a defender to the Firelord in some capacity.

We have no explicit mention of her death, so she could be alive and kicking, doing backflips at the tender age of 80 something, hey I believe in her.

Mai

While Mai and Zuko did break up in the comics, I can see them getting back together later in life. She deserves to be firelady, and I think she'd be damn good at it too. Something about the girl who was always told to be quiet and obedient becoming queen makes me all guddy inside. Besides, the similarities between Michi (Mai's mom), Mai herself and Izumi are undeniable. Jawline as sharp as one of those throwing knives, goddamn.

Whew! This took more than an hour of research and typing (mainly cause I'm slow as fuck and need to check my sources every 10 secs) so I hope you enjoyed, anon! While yes, I am a Beifong blog and asks about the Beifongs, particularly Suyin's children will always make me super giddy, I enjoy all asks. Sorry for injecting my personal headcanons and biases, but I did my best to be objective!

[daphneyoumustmakehaste]

I have nowhere else to spew my politics garbage so I'm choosing tumblr as you do. Focusing on America and Britain here because that is what I know best and its what I study.

It is so so aggravating whenever I see people (specifically left wingers or left-centrists such as democrats and Labour voters) discourage people from voting third parties/candidates. A few years ago, I would have been foaming at the mouth at this statement. I remember a couple years back (when I was literally like…14) I posted on here encouraging people to vote Biden because “no one wants Trump”. But now I’m older, and Biden has been exposed as the decaying, wicked old man that he is (but my opinion on Biden is neither here nor there and has little to do with the point I want to make, so if you Biden lovers can just shut up and block me if this makes you mad please x) I’ve come to realise that voting for third candidates is an essential part of democracy.

Almost the same argument is used whenever left-wingers say they want to vote for third parties. “You’re going to divide the left. We need to get [Republicans/Conservatives] out of power. Please vote for [Democrats/Labour].” And I do agree. That voting for third parties and candidates will have consequences in dividing the left. However, voters DO NOT OWE their votes to left parties purely because they are “left wing”. Just because a candidate is “the better option” does not mean you owe them your vote.

Over the past couple of decades, I think a mindset has formed of “no matter what this party does, I’m going to vote for them because i don’t like the other option.” You don’t think politicians know this is a popular mindset? This allows them to say and do and vote for whatever they want with minimal repercussions. Just in 2024 alone, Joe Biden has become increasingly more defensive over Israel despite MANY of his 2020 voters opposing this. And fair enough. If that is what Joe Biden believes in, then I think he should freely express it. But if voters don’t want to vote for him on account of that, you cannot guilt trip them into voting for him because Donald Trump is an awful option (which he is, and obviously I don’t want him to become president, but it’s a sacrifice I think people should be willing to accept).

Sir Keir Starmer has moved the Labour Party to more centre ground ever since he came into power in 2020. Again, that’s fine. He should do what he thinks is best for the party. But if voters don’t want to vote for him on account of that, you cannot guilt trip them into voting for Labour because “conservatives are worse.”

I think America are in a much more vulnerable position than the UK. Conservatives have little to no chance at winning the next election, and I think Sunak knows this (despite what he might say). Trump stands a very good chance, and I think this is account of the split that’s originated on the left. That isn’t the voters fault. I think it can partly be attributed to Biden dividing the left, and I think it can also be attributed to the way politics works. Biden was never a strong candidate, even in 2020. The main thing he had going for him was “better than Trump.” But unfortunately, Trump is back for another round, Biden is running again, and we’re in the same position we were last year (history really does repeat itself).

I do think it’s a difficult argument and there is no one way to go about it. Like I said above; I do not want Donald Trump to become President again. I do not wish for another five years of tory rule. But I also don’t want to forget everything bad Biden has done, and I don’t want to forget the shitty, bootlicking things Starmer’s Labour has said.

At the end of the day, the message here is that voters should VOTE FOR WHO THEY WANT. If you want to vote for Biden or Labour because you don’t want the alternative in power, go ahead. The whole point of voting is to strengthen democracy. By “forcing” people to vote for “the better option, even if they’re not the best.” Instead of looking down on the people who choose not to vote for them, maybe you should look upwards and ask why those in power are not doing everything they can to attract and keep voters.

[batsplat]

29/6 - valentino

11/7 - marc

both 'pecco doesn't have to prove that he earned those titles by beating the marc marquez' and 'pecco should embrace the challenge of testing himself against the marc marquez' are takes I fundamentally agree with, but of course there's still something fun about how it's basically mind games by proxy from these two. neither of them are wrong! but the contrast is still pleasing. it stems from their fundamentally oppositional relationships wrt pecco, where valentino functions as The Mentor and marc functions as The Rival. valentino is emphasising pecco's existing status in the sport by offering a reminder of the world championships he already has, in order to minimise the importance of next year's battle and the pressure on his protege. marc is emphasising the status imbalance between himself and pecco by offering a reminder of how marc has more titles than pecco, in order to heighten the importance of next year's battle and increase the pressure on his rival. the two statements end up mirroring each other quite nicely, right?

you see it in how valentino positions the battle as something that's been hyped as the press, as something that's more illusory than 'real', versus marc implicitly challenging pecco by saying pecco should surely be seeking to challenge him. valentino will not go so far as to suggest pecco will beat marc - all he's saying is the outcome does not reflect on the fact that pecco WAS already the strongest (past tense). valentino's removed from the action, he can't make any promises on behalf of another rider, he deliberately refrains from placing more pressure on pecco by engaging in any way with his chances of winning next year... whereas marc very much argue his own case, saying that he believes he will win at least one more title (which would most likely involve beating pecco). valentino says pecco doesn't need this challenge, whereas marc suggests pecco should want it. and more than that - what marc is saying the challenge isn't just facing marc on the same bike, it's the fact that pecco's team decided to put him there. that they invited marc into pecco's house. marc speaks of all that pecco has to lose, while valentino speaks of all that pecco cannot have taken away from him

I don't want to read too much into the phrasing here since I'm aware the translation may be imperfect... but valentino both explicitly ("he will have a very uncomfortable teammate") AND implicitly "[pecco] has everything he needs to keep up with [marc]") acknowledges just how big a challenge this will be. uncomfortable - not just because marc is hard to beat but because he is a bastard of a teammate. keep up - not even beat, because just matching marc isn't going to be easy. and marc isn't being shy either about how hard defeating him will be for pecco, pointing out they will be on equal machinery for the first time, that marc still has more titles, that pecco still hasn't shown he has what it takes to match marc under those circumstnaces. still, marc is coming for pecco because right now pecco's on top of the mountain - pecco is the one with the results, the momentum, the "mental stability" (jorge martin girl stand up)

I don't know. I'm really fond of how pecco has ended up being positioned between the two of them. pecco's unique narrative role is such that if anything, the marc/valentino axis is de-emphasised. it still matters, but it's very much the hypotenuse. this isn't just a continuation of an old feud, it's not just two legacies facing off or the title race or any of that - because it's pecco's legacy that's being litigated as much as anything else. pecco's primary objective is not protecting valentino's title count, and valentino's advisory role is centred around pecco's objectives rather than his own... his desires and hopes in that capacity are subservient to pecco's. marc isn't there primarily to match/overtake valentino, he's there to beat the current king in his own castle and to win titles for himself. they mirror each other and oppose each other... but ultimately, it's still pecco who currently sits at the centre of that triangle. he's the one who the other two are primarily focused on. quite a unique position, especially for a rider who has been so publicly wrestled with how he compares to those particular legends of the sport. quite the task ahead of him. quite the challenge

[sourcreammachine]

ok so imagine if u had this situation

people in the green area would like to cross the river - there are plentiful crossings in the cbd and a few further downstream, but there’s a wide stretch of nothing bar inconvenient commuter rail tunnels

you could just build a standard road bridge connecting the arterials on either side - but that’s a very very bad idea. arterial motor traffic will be attracted and clog the lower-traffic areas. it’s incompatible. a mere pedestrian bridge would be awful value for money - the river is too wide and we need to plug in alternative modes of transport. not everyone is gna want to walk the long-ish length of this bridge

so, let’s build, for example, a modern-style tram system, running down the middle of the boulevardes

it would be pretty easy to make a modern-style tram and pedestrian/cycle bridge. from the middle of the boulevarde, the segregated tramway can turn and leave the road, or even elevate or descend if that tickles your fancy, becoming rails that motors simply cannot go on, preventing them from accessing the bridge. easy as pie

but i’m becoming sceptical of the uniformity of modern-style lightrail tram systems - they’re incredible, they’re worth it, they’re valuable, but their size and cost may be hampering their deployment. i believe smaller, lesser, more classical tram systems are invaluable in complementing the heavier trams - they could be cheaper, they could be deployed far more rapidly, and require far less manipulation of existing infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure, complementing the heavier systems fantastically. essentially - i’m talking busses but plugged in, trolleys 2. for my hypotheticals from here on out, assume the light tram i’m talking about behaves as a trolleybus

so… it’s far harder to segregate a bus per se than a heavy modern tram. they’re designed for the surface streets, where the cars go. all you can really do is put up a sign saying cars are banned, and prosecute the tits off anyone who tries it. one of the only examples of a bus-only bridge i can find is in Perþ, WA - i’m pretty sure i’ve got mutuals out there so feel free to tell me if i’m wrong

this bridge actually crosses a huge freeway intersection - this main road here is feeding into a horrible major freeway brutally smashing its way through the city centre-ish to cross the swan river. those bus lanes, a backbone of these neighbourhoods, need to connect to roads on the other side of the freeway, so, bus-only bridge. motor traffic can happily go elsewhere, with the integrated rapid-transit bus system shaving minutes off its journey times. a win-win under the so-so circumstances of this freeway’s insufferable existence

but… in my scenario, in an incredibly traffic-dense downtown in an area with few connections, with the motors being required to go a far longer way around than other modes - there being a massive, open route to the bridge is just asking to be chanced

if the tramline is in the centre of the boulevarde, it has to turn and cross the busy motor traffic lanes to reach the segregated tramway to the bridge. beyond extremely tight bollards, a lot of red paint, a fucking massive sign, ANPR with heavy fines, and a fucking raisable barrier if it’s needed - how can unauthorised motor traffic be prevented from using the bridge?

it’s easy with heavy trams, that’re hybrids with lightrail. motor traffic simply cannot go on lightrail tracks. without that benefit, if trams were road creatures only, how can a bridge be totally shut off from a thronging mass of motorists fucking desperate to use it?

[mariacallous]

I wrote about the results of the English local elections for the Spectator today, and looked at how Labour was defying some of the cliches about centre-left parties.

The left assumes that their leaders will betray the noble cause because they are evil or weak and allow themselves to be corrupted by capitalism.  Their moral failings lead them to abandon left-wing policies. 

In their own way Conservatives agree. Even when they are defeated at the polls, they want to believe they have won the battle of ideas. Centre-left parties will abandon radical policies when they learn the hard way that Margaret Thatcher was right when she said that the “facts of life are conservative”.

But that’s not what is happening with Keir Starmer’s Labour party, as I explain below….

Labour people are used to defeat. Before every election they wonder if the Tories will defy expectations. Real votes are not the same as opinion polls, after all, they say. 

And yet ever since Boris Johnson broke his own lockdown rules, disastrous performances for the Tories in opinion polls have been replicated by disastrous results in real elections. We are only beginning to grasp the consequences of an inevitable Tory defeat.

Not all the results of the 2024 local elections are in by any means, but come on now. At the time of writing, Labour has taken the Blackpool South parliamentary seat. Conservative support collapsed by 32 per cent. 

This was not a one off. As the unstoppable electoral stats machine, Rob Ford, professor of politics at Manchester University points out, Tony Blair achieved four swings of 20 points or more from the Conservatives when he was opposition leader. Starmer has now achieved five – including four of the five largest swings ever recorded in British political history.

Barring divine intervention by a Tory god, Labour will win the next election. And that knowledge is making Labour more left-wing than many Westminster correspondents acknowledge. 

The gains of the Green party in the local elections and Muslim boycotts of Labour candidates because of the party’s pro-Israel stance may not have had a great impact this time round. But it is easy for any clear-sighted Labour politician to see how left anti-Labour forces might build in the future.

As a result, Starmer is not following the Tony Blair playbook of appeasing conservative opinion, or at least he is not following it to the letter. Here are a few examples of his thinking that deserved more notice than they received.

Last week, the New Statesman reported a political rumour that Labour would carry on with the government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to the corrupt, militarist and quasi-dictatorial Rwandan state, which have outraged liberal opinion. ‘We cannot just come in, tear it up and have nothing to put in its place,’ an anonymous adviser told the magazine. 

All the criticism shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock have poured on the waste of public money Rwanda has prompted was to be forgotten, apparently. 

The only template modern Labour leaders have for winning an election is the punitive strategy of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in 1997, and it seemed they would follow it again in 2024. Readers old enough to remember the 1990s will recall an arms race on crime and asylum policies, as Michael Howard and Tony Blair outbid each other with gimmicky authoritarian stunts.

Today, the Blairite model of refusing to allow Labour to be outflanked on the right would have mandated accepting deportations to Africa. Nothing of the sort happened, however. Keir Starmer thought it worth his while to personally crush the story. ‘I don’t think it will work, I know we have to stop the boats and I want to get going with our plan on day one,’ he said. ‘What I’m not going to do is flog a dead horse.’

The Greens, the SNP, and whatever Corbynite movement emerges after the next election would all use a U-turn on Rwanda to attack Labour, and you can see the political damage that would flow from changing course. 

But to highlight the political threat is to miss a wider point. Most Labour politicians are not ‘desiccated calculating machines’ to use Nye Bevan’s putdown of Hugh Gaitskell. They do not just weigh electoral consequences. They believe the Rwanda policy is a cruel stunt, as does Keir Starmer. That is why it will die with this government.

We are moving into a new Britain where the old calculations do not apply. Ever since the Brexit referendum of 2016, all who criticised right-wing populism were dismissed as elitist fools who did not understand the beliefs of ordinary, honest people. Now that right-wing populism has failed so utterly it is no longer even popular, new concerns will dominate. The attitudes of renters, young home buyers, Muslims, and the supposed out-of-touch progressives will matter.

Another episode from earlier this week made my point for me. The��Financial Times claimed that Labour was about to unveil a weakened package of workers’ rights. Its promises to deliver higher sick pay, end employers’ use of  ‘fire and rehire’, and reverse anti-strike legislation would be watered down or forgotten, apparently

The story tallied with the easy, fashionable view that Starmer’s Labour will say and do anything to win, and with Margaret Thatcher’s rather complacent Tory assumption that ‘the facts of life are conservative,’ and Labour must follow conservative policies when it is in power.

Starmer blew both assumptions away. He categorically denied the FT story saying, ‘We will not be watering down the New Deal for Working People’.

The biggest test for Labour is yet to come. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has gone into full Liz Truss mode and has pushed forward unfunded cuts to National Insurance. On the one hand, Hunt and Sunak, have been politically naïve: by saying they want to abolish NI they have allowed Labour to engage in the populism of the left and claim that the Conservatives are threatening the state pension.

But eventually Labour will have to declare whether it will accept the huge spending cuts Hunt’s uncosted proposals will necessitate. In 1997, Gordon Brown accepted the incredibly tight fiscal programme Ken Clarke left him. Better to do that, he reasoned, than allow the Tories to hang the ‘tax raiser’ label around Labour’s neck in the general election campaign.

Do not be shocked if shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to do the same. Instead she may well point out that Hunt is trying to play a trick and say that she will not go along with the charade, and nor should the voters.

If you look ahead to 2025, you can see a Labour government under attack from the left by the Greens and Corbynistas, from Scottish nationalists in the SNP and English nationalists in the Conservative party. To hold the centre ground, it must treat all its opponents with equal seriousness.

The idea that it will only make concession to conservatives, that it will give ground to them on asylum, human rights, workers’ rights, public spending, and indeed Brexit, because Labour has no other choice is a delusion born of the long years of Conservative rule, which I can say with certainty, are now over.

[elite-amarys]

△ what are your full feelings on the juliana situation?

5/10

I admittedly am deeply conflicted. Every time someone external to the club has attempted to help, things have gotten much worse. That said, while she is external to the club, she is clearly at the centre of everything that has gone wrong with Kieran. I do not know whether to try and push her away or welcome her in. I fear doing the former will solidify me as being someone irrelevant and uncaring in her eyes.

Assuming she does make it to challenge Kieran (and believe me, I intend on pushing that skill as hard as I can) what I am most worried about is not the outcome but her attitude in battle itself. She is constantly described as someone who steamrolls through battles. That, to me, does not sound like someone who puts appropriate care and respect to the science of battling. Win or lose, if she treats this battle with Kieran with disrespect or glibness it will not give it the closure it needs. Carmine seems to like and trust her, which gives me some comfort. But I cannot help but continue to worry nonetheless.

I would like to impress on anyone reading this that no matter where you fall on the issue, it is not acceptable to send harassment or hate. It is not her fault Drayton proposed breaking the rules for her, it is not her fault Kieran accepted, and it is not her fault she was temporarily placed in the wrong rank.

[alexbkrieger13]

Sweden's unknown WC tournament: "On life and death"

 Sweden's World Cup premiere here in New Zealand is played on Sunday.

At least the one in football, because already on Monday another championship started at the Swedish base: the Cornhole WC.

- It really is life and death, it seems, says Kosovare Asllani.

In the building where the dining room is combined with the living room, there are ping-pong tables, hanging TV screens and there is a cornhole.

- That is an important part. If we are to be here all the way, it will be 40-45 days. We've also talked about how it's not just what we do on the field, but what culture we want off the field, says football psychology advisor Rasmus Liljeblad.

It was he who recently introduced cornhole in the national team and it has quickly become popular. It's a fairly simple game where you have to throw bags on a board.

You get one point if the bag lands on the board and three if it goes down the hole.

Taken very seriously

While waiting for the soccer World Cup to start, the group stage in the Cornhole World Cup has started, with Liljeblad as the tournament organizer.

- I think it's perfect here. There will also be a small audience. We had maybe 20-25-30 spectators at a match. It will be a gathering point that I think is incredibly important for us.

And this is taken very seriously.

When Magdalena Eriksson talks about it, she weighs her hands at about the same height in front of her face and says that it is almost as important as the impending football championship, with a twinkle in her eye.

"Then we wouldn't have deserved to be included"

Eriksson forms a team with Fridolina Rolfö, but they have had a tough start. The centre-back says they got off to a bad start but a necessary win against the physios.

- If we had lost it, I think we would have withdrawn from the tournament. Then we wouldn't have deserved to be included.

When Rebecka Blomqvist is asked how things are going for her and teammate Jennifer Falk, she doesn't even want to reveal who they recently lost to.

- It was a real bummer. We'll take them in the final later, I think, she says.

- We probably ended up in the heat group, I think, says Jennifer Falk.

Really excited

It is group B that she paints as that. A group that also includes Kosovar Asllani .

- If you had met her, it would have been incredibly heated, says Magdalena Eriksson.

- We are competitive people, you cannot take part in any game without inciting or wanting to win. Of course it gets a little heated, says Asllani himself and continues:

- Even if you meet leaders, or materialists...

Some incite, others send more subtle psychs.

But according to Magdalena Eriksson, who is in group A, the biggest cheerleaders are not in the tournament.

- If Filippa Angeldahl and Nathalie Björn had been there, they would have been. Now they won the last tournament, so they don't want to come in and do worse.

Competitions good for the group

This is not the first time that the national team has competitions on the side. In France in 2019, for example, "Exploding Kitten" was played and the psychologist believes that this has an important effect on the group.

- You get a sense of togetherness and that you spend time together. If you start a match, people gather there.

In hotels, it is not always possible to get to the large open spaces that Sweden has at its base here in Upper Hutt, half an hour north of Wellington.

- Then you eat and then you go up to your rooms. There is a feeling that you are very isolated. Although it isn't. This still gives this bonus, you feel it becomes like a family.

There is also not much going on around the Swedish base, so all kinds of activities are important to cure the boredom.

Stepping into a major championship also means a lot of pressure, so having something to think about other than football sometimes looks blue and yellow as a key if you want to go far.

- It's a bit of a switch on, switch off. I think it's so damn important to be able to do. That once we're connected, we're connected, but you also need to relax in between, says Asllani.

Expect a full house at the final

The group stage, where there are two groups with seven teams in each, ends before Sweden steps into the World Cup on Sunday. It is up to the teams themselves to find match times. Then the playoffs await before match two.

For Jonna Andersson and Elin Rubensson, the first goal is to progress from the group stage, then anything can happen. There may even be talk of lay-in matches.

- So we can hope that we get a simple opposition there. We'll see. I already think that the final picture tree is drawn so that we will see how we will do before the last two group stage matches, Andersson says with a smile.

The tournament organizer Liljeblad expects several audience matches once the playoffs start and hopes for a full crowd for the final.

- WE still have a lot of days between match 1 and match 2. So taking the playoffs in between is the plan right now. But it shouldn't bother.

[mephinomaly]

[TL] Lady-killer in the Midst of Good Fortune/Chapter 5

Rei: …Now then. It would be best if I get some material for the next recording, so I’ll be joining you for a short while, HiMERU-kun.

HiMERU: ...Sure?

Rei: Don’t you think it’ll make me a better host if I get to see HiMERU-kun’s good fortune?

If nothing happens, then nothing happens. If we spend a day together we might be able to get something good for the next episode.

HiMERU: —Fumu. A superb idea, one that HiMERU cannot refuse.

Kaoru: Sorry HiMERU-kun~. Rei-kun’s overbearing.

I think this guy has a secret ulterior motive because he doesn’t want keep experiencing bad luck.

Rei: Now, now, why would you say that? I don’t think to do things like that.

Kaoru: You very much do.

HiMERU: Fufu. Even more pushy… No, there’s someone in HiMERU’s unit who uses sly and aggressive tactics that he loathes.

Though, HiMERU isn’t interested in that.

Kaoru: Ah. right. Power of persuasion, hm?

HiMERU: Quite. HiMERU wonders what that person would do if they found out about HiMERU’s good fortune…

If they heard the rumours, HiMERU has no idea where they’d be dragged to.

So HiMERU can avoid a crisis, he will be heading into town. Feel free to tag along if you’d like.

Rei: Kukuku. Well if you insist, I’ll accompany you ♪

Kaoru: Uhuh. Since we’ve been hanging out already, I gotta see how this unfolds.

I won’t be annoying, so can I come with?

HiMERU: Sure. HiMERU won’t be much entertainment, but please do as you wish.

(—You’ve “gotta see how this unfolds.” HiMERU doesn’t know how lucky he is, nor does he believe he will receive any…)

(—What is this?)

(The moment HiMERU steps into the shopping mall… he thinks, what’s the noise coming from above him?, and it's streamers and confetti…)

(And you can even hear fanfare and party poppers from all directions.)

(What the hell did HiMERU do? Or rather, what the hell’s happening to HiMERU…?)

Rei: Oh my...what a passionate reception. This is my first time seeing something like this ♪

Kaoru: Me too me too. It’s crazy that five million people have visited here, right? ♪

Rei: Well, what’s more, it’s crazy that HiMERU-kun was the five millionth visitor.

HiMERU: …Uh, excuse me, are you the general manager of this mall?

You want to give HiMERU a bouquet and a momento? Ah, thank you…

Rei: Even if you’re not bewildered, you should give more of a uwaa ☆ reaction. Like, you’re the five millionth visitor?!

HiMERU: If HiMERU is honest, he’s more confused by the general public's applause and celebration. Isn’t HiMERU being obnoxious?

Kaoru: You can’t help but be the centre of attention in this sort of situation. Look, the general managers bringing you a memento.

HiMERU: (—HiMERU can’t ignore this all, so he’ll take the gifts and leave quickly.)

…(Takes the memento.)

—Thank you very much. HiMERU hopes this shopping mall flourishes.

He will be sure to visit again.

Rei: HiMERU-kun, what are you going to buy from this shop?

HiMERU: Socks. It’s been especially cold as of late, so HiMERU is preparing with two more pairs of winter clothing.

Kaoru: Ah, I like that brand too. It’s good that it has both a nice design and functionality ♪

HiMERU: Yes, HiMERU agrees.

—Ah, excuse me. HiMERU will pay electronically.

Rei: …Hm? What was that sound?

HiMERU: HiMERU’s phone. “Full refund! You’ve won big!”...?

Kaoru: Isn’t that the electronic payment campaign? It's pretty cool that you can win a full refund.

The most I’ve got back was 5%. Seems that today HiMERU-kun’s lucky after all, hm?

HiMERU: ...

Rei: …Umu. HiMERU-kun’s doing well for himself.

Unbelievable, he won the special prize after only a few goes.

HiMERU: …Sigh.

(Just why. Why do these weird things keep happening…?)

next

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[kimium]

I was tagged by @m34gs in this post HERE! Thanks for the tag, friend! Took me a moment to figure out how to do this. Anyways, I'm done, so let's talk about this!

Anime with a Favourite Opening/Ending Song:

While this was a touch choice, and almost went to Attack on Titan, I picked Jujutsu Kaisen because it's one of the rare anime when I love all the openings. If I had to pick a favourite opening it's a tie between VIVID VICE and Specialz.

Anime you recommend others watch:

Without a shadow of a doubt I recommend Anohana to everyone. It's a coming of age story centred around a difficult topic, yet there are light moments. However, it's an anime that always makes me cry, so be prepared to not just watch a coming of age story but also an emotional character dive.

Anime that shares a genre with the centre anime:

It would have been easy to pick another adventure/fantasy/sci-fi anime and call it a day, but I think I did well picking Sabikui Bisco. The anime is set in a post apocalyptic wasteland. There is awe and wonder outside of the city but also danger. Government cannot be trusted and medicine/scientific advancement is a key element to the story, which are all elements that FMA has.

Anime that shares Eng. VA with touching square:

Laura Bailey who voices Lust in FMA also voices Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket! Actually, Fruits Basket and FMA have many English VA overlaps, but Laura is the one I first thought of!

Favourite Anime of All Time:

Fullmetal Alchemist is my favourite manga of all time, so I had to go with the 2009 remake. While the 2003 anime still holds a nostalgic place in my heart, nothing compares to the manga's story to me.

From the plot, pacing, character arcs and design, and art direction I truly believe Fullmetal Alchemist is a near perfectly written and produced series from Hiromu Arakawa.

Anime that shares Japanese VA with touching square:

Paku Romi who voices Edward Elric in the Japanese version of FMA also voices Hitsugaya Toshiro in Bleach.

Shares a Similar MC Energy with centre square:

The obvious comparison is Senku and Edward are both genius scientists who did the impossible (Senku with his counting and Edward with human transmutation), however there are other traits the two share. Both have a bit of a mischievous side and both can be singularly focused on their scientific goals. Finally, both are hopeful in the face of peril and use their wits and scientific knowledge to win in the end.

Also, as an extra fun fact the English VA for Senku is Aaron Dismuke who voiced Alfonse Elric in the original 2003 FMA anime.

An Anime you read/have the manga of:

I've been reading My Hero Academia (or BNHA) for years. While I don't own it, I read it on the Shonen Jump app. It's a series I'm also enjoying the anime adaptation.

A series with your favourite ship/ship dynamic:

Soukoku (or Dazai/Chuuya from Bungou Stray Dogs) is both my favourite ship in the series and also my favourite ship dynamic.

My favourite part about Soukoku as a ship is the underlying loyalty and trust the two have in one another. Despite everything: their personality clash, their first meeting, Dazai betraying the Port Mafia, they still care for one another. In their own weird ways, yes, but care none the less. How else can the series explain the convoluted schemes in both Dead Apple and in Season 5? That's some "we're two halves of the same whole" level of trust there. They're not even being subtle.

I tag: @a-little-harmed-shinra, @someobscurereference, @shreedle, and @memoryoflife.

[degozarumyu]

watched ep88!!!! yipe ^-^ time to post my silly disjointed reactions and interpretations of the silly card game show

first of all i just wanna say kuaidul using the 'perfected' version of the deck and yuudias using the 'prototype' one makes me insane

brb gotta go brainrot over the thought of transamu prime, which is made to look like kuaidul and is his 'perfected' version, representing his desire to take over yuudias' existence as the creator's perfect creation/favourite child.............. grgfhjregjgfdhs

(although he was held in higher regard by the creator than he realised bc otherwise why would he make yuudias look so similar to him?? like he made kuai first and then all the other different looking ones like el zwiwi but in the end said reject modernity return to kuaidul!!!!!!!! *vibrates so hard I explode*)

sorry this is just derailing into kuaidul rambling again i unfortunately cannot go 4 seconds without thinking about him </3

can't believe zaion didn't choose that outfit himself I'm heartbroken 😔 (although he kept it on after he stopped being controlled so that counts for something lol) the darkness yassified him...

looking at his outfit now tho u can really see the similarities to velgearian fashion (esp kuaidul) huh.......... he has the crossed belts, the weird almost-corset kinda thing, the turtleneck with the line down the middle and idk what to call it but the thing that goes over his shoulders creates the shape of that stood up collar and pauldrons that yuudi/kuai have + the long boots... idk its probably a coincidence but I like it :3

btw i don't understand the scene where yuuna's like 'stop staring at me 😡' bc he. wasn't staring at her?? I think???? his reaction was silly and cute so yippee but i don't get it does anyone else............. is it just meant to be a 'lol she happens to be standing directly in front of him and is self-centred so he assumes he's staring at her' joke or what idk

speaking of that scene its funny that while he shakes his head yuuhi's eye colour changes back and forth... i like collecting animation errors lol

(one of my favourites is this one where they gave him white pants bc I think it makes him look very knightly)

anyways we got zaion and luge in the same frame again multiple times this ep zailuge nation wins again 💪💪

I loved everyone backseat dueling as well lol so silly

THE RETURN OF HIS SELF-NARRATION WOOOOOOOOO

cucumber :)

the sillies................. :]

i love this running gag <3

anyways fun ep, supporting cast involvement my beloved <3 excited for the next one :D

gn!! 💕

[fumblingmusings]

does Evelyn or any of your female characters ever struggle with their appearance? especially with the ever-changing beauty standards, "ideal weight", etc.

Ohhhh! That's such a good question! I never really thought about it before, but you are right! See I'm the loser who's like 'everyone is beautiful in their own way~' which I know can be distinctively unhelpful at times in the real world...

But it's interesting for nations, because I love discussions about if they are actually beautiful, or if some genuinely are butt ugly (but in what way if you catch my drift, because then it risks crossing over into tying moral purity with beauty, which is such a lazy trope and a dangerous one too I think). There will also be instances of those with chronic illnesses or injuries which will affect their opinion of themselves, and society's view of them too. I think gender again comes in here. Especially in nations, where female nations are rarer. Gender and beauty standards are sort of inextricably entangled.

I think most nations are, at the very least, interesting to look at. If such a thing is possible without leering like a creep. Plus, as you say, with the changing attitudes to beauty, someone like a female England would be considered somewhat unattractive for most of her history, except for certain periods like the late Victorian/early Edwardian, the 20s (minus the bob), the 60s (mod fashion) and 90s (the horridly names heroin chic comes to mind).

It's tricky though, right? Are they so old that human standards no longer affect them? Or are they so painfully human in this regard where the need to be physically attractive is still something they want? To be wanted? Or is that too vulnerable? Maybe it's more pragmatic, that to be considered beautiful allows them to buy into Beauty = Goodness and therefore give them some kind of leverage since, as female nations, they will lack political power that most of their male counterparts have without a second thought etc etc...

The trap of a misogynistic and patriarchal system is you either play by the rules (and get punished for it), or you reject the rules and go your own path... and get punished for it. So the girls cannot win. I can imagine they all, after so long start to develop really twisted views of their own bodies.

To run through each girl, New Zealand's is twisted up in colonial white understandings of beauty which is juxtaposed with the Māori, so then how do you marry those two up? Should she? Then in South East Asia I can imagine Vietnam worked super hard at this. To train herself out of worrying about the tone of her skin, and how her hair should behave, or if she has too many muscles and isn't 'soft' enough. She will rock up in a t-shirt and shorts, and that's enough. She's more than enough. Moving further north, Taiwan elects to go with being cute over being beautiful because those are parameters that she can control. Cute could be considered a female driven standard. I may be mis-remembering, but there's several trends in East Asian fashion (the Japanese Lolita comes to mind) which are born around being as visually unappealing to men, but as visually appealing to women as possible. I think Taiwan may take that approach.

Zipping over to Europe...

The fact the Belgium is literally described as being plain by Hima (which... okay) means to me she that, if she doesn't stand out against a crowd, she learned how to be the centre of attention through her personality and charm. She dresses practically and plainly maybe because she is not interested in being the centre of attention. She believes her personality and her relations will carry her through. Czechia slams right into tomboyishness, perhaps thinking of how she is surrounded by boys, ergo, she has to be one of the boys to get through it. And maybe she's totally fine with that? Maybe her gender and perception of self is really fluid and she is whatever she fancies being at that moment. But not to the point where being called cute by Slovakia doesn't completely throws her for a loop still. Though that may be just from never being on the receiving end of a compliment rather than it jarring with her presentation and perception of self... could be both?

And of course Hungary has her own gender and self perception journey and I can imagine she had a wild time of it when the realisation of what was going on actually hit. I don't know what I think a cis character realising they're cis and being totally fine about it at the end of the day would look like but... well that's Hungary. She seems very content with herself. I like to think it was not just a simple conversation and all is well. I like to think there was a lot of conversations and thinking and testing the waters until she got where she is today.

For a long time, the European standard was high forehead, long neck, small shoulders, small waist but noticeable stomach and hips. Pear shaped? Them birthing hips. Then, in addition, the 'usual' for Western Northern Europe (which is still in effect in many places) is blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. Red hair is bad, freckles are bad. All the Atlantic Archipelago nations have freckles. But I think maybe say Ireland gets the body shape but England gets the colouration (until she starts to turn grey - English Roses require pink noses cheeks and ears and she's half blue at points so...) but neither sister checks each box in turn.

Evelyn has always been small - short and skinny even in her "good" years, but she, for most of the fic, is positively skeletal. Sunken big eyes, small mouth, and a sharp nose and ears. I had a comment telling me I missed the bird comparisons (Eva Avis) but yeah, she's a small robin bird. Territorial to boot. Like, Arthur has increasingly over the years been depicted as incredibly fey and scrawny. I was lazy and did the same with the female!

In the fic, Evelyn is desperate to be wanted. If she can't be a romantic partner for someone, if she can't be desired in that way, she'll take the other route, that of motherhood, which is a role that doesn't take your worth from your appearance. I didn't really talk about how she views herself - if she thinks she is pretty or beautiful or if she's ugly or if it never really crosses her mind at all - but I think maybe it's her lack of health that is what eats at her. So she sticks to what she knows. She wears beautiful dresses when she needs to because she likes beautiful things, but also restricts in what materials she goes for to prove a point to no-one except herself. Otherwise loose and comfy is what she goes for. She doesn't like people touching her hair, and she never cuts it for reasons that I have not yet decided on. She likes to wear pearls because they're a metaphor for empire in the fic and the fact that to have a pearl is to murder the creature that gave you such beauty and the reason she never wears them around Ludwig is because she can't hold leverage over him no wait

Anyway. I think maybe most nations, as time passes, as they grow slowly, as they retain wounds and scars from damage to their land and bodies... health is what becomes the most important. For most of history, flushed cheeks and ears, bright eyes, shining hair and clean teeth are signs of beauty. Health, I think matters most. Which is why when nations are struggling, especially the female ones, it can get quite difficult for them. As I said at the start, it is an easy but lazy trope to tie health with value and beauty, especially in the centuries where a person's value was determined by their usefulness, but that doesn't stop people for believing it over the millennia. You have to take a cleaver to it, separate them into distinct spheres.