#I hope this makes sense im really bad at explaining

[coffinpal]

If you're not okay with questions feel free to delete this but damn I am intrigued in your redline thingy

1. What kind of turtles are they? Raph seems to be an albino variant of some sort and I know that in the photo thing Leo was suggested to be a hybrid but goddamn I love biology

2. It's very interesting that yall are going with the red masks for all of them approach. Is there any reasoning behind it or just for funsies? In any case it's very unique just like every other aspect of their designs!

3. So like. I love that your Splinter is a lady???? Rat mama ftw???? But how specifically did she get mutated and what the hell is going on between the Hamatos and the Foot Clan bc god I love the drama those guys got going on in tmnt

No pressure if you answer or not!! Love y'all's work and wish y'all a happy February!

You are so sweet! @0ddbugs and I are totally open for questions and we appreciate all the interest and love we've been getting!! 💖

0dd answered this one here

2 and 3.

Rat mama is Tang Shen! The woman who is extremely important to most Hamato Yoshi's but also usually dead in most iterations of tmnt.

We wondered what she would've been like as a mother for them.

2012 made us want this concept even more when they got to meet her.

Shen is the backbone of Redline. We made her story before we even had the boys designed.

Any way the way she was mutated was mentioned by me here.

But basically these two disgruntled scientists were trying to create mutagen for different reasons. They had a very limited supply and decided, drunkenly, to go test it on animals at the college.

Perry and Baxter

Shen was in another room that held a rat when she heard them break in. We had a joke in our first draft for the comic that she left her baton with the rat because she's a martial arts master and felt she needed it more.

When she got to the room with the turtles and the men, the turtles had already been stuck by Perry with his samples of mutagen. Baxter, in self defense, stuck Shen with the only other sample of mutagen he was holding.

Being that the last thing she touched was the rat in the other room, she mutated into one. The turtles were last touched by her (the two had gloves on).

There's some stuff about Baxter and Perry we really dont wanna talk about til we get to it in the comic so it'll have to wait. I'm sorry. :,D

Their red masks are cut from an old scarf that belonged to her late husband, Hamato Yoshi. As they didn't get to meet him, she cut the scarf in fours so they'd all have a gift from him.

Her past is also mostly a secret but to simplify, Splinter and Shredder are bitter exes.

We can't wait to post more Redline, and we have the first comic coming within this month. Thank you!! I hope you have a good February as well!!

[catboyidia]

vashwood hanahaki au where vash refuses to confess not entirely out of fear of wolfwood rejecting him but also because he knows that even if wolfwood reciprocates, there is not a single universe or lifetime where him and wolfwood dont end horribly. it puts him in a spot of potential death due to the flowers or going through the horrific loss of the one person he loves more than anything, and he doesn’t want to feel that pain again, not when hes already felt that grief before.

(i know hanahaki aus aren’t really popular anymore and not many people like them but i feel like it could work for trigun, especially considering i feel like it could be used in a way that doesn’t totally follow the trope since vash is quite literally a plant. would it kill him? i kinda feel like it wouldn’t, but that makes it worse to me because than he’s just stuck forever choking on flowers and petals, constantly having thorns stab at his heart, having stems growing and poking all around his lungs. it would be a constant pain, and if it were to kill him i feel like it would be very slow and agonizing because i feel like it would take the flowers wilting inside him to take him out, he would wilt from the inside out. ive always liked hanahaki but i realize im definitely in the minority with that, but i truely feel like there could be interesting takes on it with the whole vash is literally a plant thing (im aware he’s different from like a flower bush kinda plant but i would personally like to think there has to be some similarities there))

[wishingprince]

Three more repotted babies - and status pics of the original ones.

Hoping everyone turns out okay. The heart succulent was originally buried up to that line in the soil of his tiny pot so I replanted him above that and I’m hoping he ends up a lot happier for it. The tower succulent seemed to be one of the only ones who wasn’t super irritated with the original pot - but his soil was DISGUSTING so I’m happy he’s freed and I hope to see him settle in too. And then the tradescantia’s leaves were starting to spot a little? I was trying to mist it to keep it moist but according to Google I should be keeping the soil moist not the leaves and that’s what’s been spotting her. So no more of that I was being a dummy.

Happy that long red boy seems to be doing good. I mean he survived for a year in a way too small Winco pot because I was an ignorant idiot so I sorta figured he’d be able to handle repotting - he thrives on spite and now he has a lot more than spite going for him.

The white flower succulent - ugh I accidentally dropped him when I was repotting him - I was so worried about not packing him in that I didn’t give him enough support and he tumbled out and according to his leaves he’s now probably in shock and super stressed. I’m gonna leave him alone and see how things go over the next few weeks but ugh I get emotional every time I look at him, I feel so awful that I dropped him and I hope he lives.

Ugh I love them so much. I still need to repot my poor violet and pink panther. Gotta get some soil for them this weekend. Then it’s no more newbies until I can keep these ones thriving for a while.

[simelune]

Welcome to simblr, Mera😃 Can I ask your gif making process? Your gifs come out so smooth with unnoticeable noise, high quality, and long frames. How do achieve that with Tumblrs size limit and quality loss? Thank you

hi, thank you so much! i always find my gifs could be a bit better, so i'm sure there's way better tutorials to follow + a bit simpler and for newer versions of photoshop - so i will link you to a few (one, two, three). with that being said, i can give you some tips that work for me <;3 warning: i ramble a bit and i'm sorry if it's not super helpful TT

personally, i use the built-in recording option with windows 10 gamebar (windows key + g on your keyboard will open it, if it doesn't open try this) and i use photoshop cc 2017! some people use obs studio to record, but it's up to you to figure out which one you like more/which works better for you.

one of the biggest things is resizing your gifs to tumblr's dimensions! that helps a lot with file size AND quality issues when uploading to tumblr. tumblr has gotten better with file size (i believe 10mb is the limit now? they explain a bit here). if you make your gif too small, it will come out pixel-y when posting to tumblr... and if you make it too big, it will look blurry :/

i would like to add, that when i make gifs, i try to make them 'loop'. also, none of my gifs go over 130 frames. if they do, i remove frames or split the single gif into 2. i try to keep most of my gifs 50-90 frames as i noticed usually the file size isn't extreme that way.

i don't convert my gif to a smart object, which is commonplace now, nor do i use the timeline. i use frames and i also sharpen my gifs so they aren't so blurry. i can't find the sharpen i use, but there's a few different sharpening actions listed here. i also add psds to my gifs if needed, mostly to brighten.

your save options are also pretty important! i use this:

but you may need to mess with these settings a bit, mainly 'selective' and 'noise' bc some gifs just look Ass with those.

[theloveinc]

https://at.tumblr.com/theloveinc/709386875263188992/wncg70pa448c

Hello! I am curious about your tags on this post. How do you personally like characterizing embarrassment with Bakugo?

(link but it's just my prev post!)

hey!! thanks so much for asking :D

don't take my word as law, of course, (in general and) because Bakugo is actually a character who i project A LOT on in terms of like... perfectionism, insecurity, self-doubt and shame (kin moment LMFAO)... so most of my characterization comes from the way eye react to embarrassment, both my own and other's, in situations of all different kinds (like romantic ones, or slapstick ones, etc). it's a feeling that i've literally always hated.

but/so, because i lean more on the Bakugo whose personality (in Cee's words) is insecurity based, i think he tries to avoid embarrassment at ALL costs, because embarrassment = defeat and/or therefore, shame.

in my mind, it's related to his journey of going from overconfident + feeling on top of the world, to... realistic and capable of humility, both in terms of his skills AND personality. even if he's at a point where he can confidently (and aggressively) say he's a good hero/lover/friend/etc... there's still (or, there becomes) this desire in him to avoid the potential failure of being too much or doing too much (aka: acting like the same person he was before and during high school)

so i'd say... i like characterizing Bakugo as being shy and hesitant and careful (in a sense) before he's confident that he has you (or whatever thing) FOREVER. like a built-in safety feature to avoid doing something he'd regret, or become embarrassed by his treatment of others... until he knows for sure he'll get the result he wants. it's part of why i think he's such a hard worker, too :')

(and in a non-romantic context, this might be: not talking about a new move w/ his quirk that he hasn't perfected, or saying he's won XYZ when he hasn't yet.)

there's also the similar depiction of him sort of... leaning into the feelings of embarrassment (defeat) for the end reward... but as someone who has always like. despised that kind of shame and exposure... i just don't really see it being something he likes. but it makes sense too as another result of that journey.

i really, REALLY hope this makes sense!

[weather-phenomenon]

me when i ignore the signs

[hxlcyon]

people who are into hockey fascinate me on a molecular level

[cwarscars]

MUSIC

Send me “MUSIC” and I’ll pick a song that reminds me of your muse

concorde - sons

We may not know everything But we're still ready to choose You are liars in a row No more patience for those tears We are all fucked with clean shoes You're better off changing that suit If you don't want to be wet When you'll follow the river

( i feel like, despite jae's status as a turk - his upbringing & surroundings growing up in wall market / the slums, kinda suits the general vibe / tone of this song. i chose those lyrics in particular because i just feel like it sorta goes well with his attitude / maybe his outlook? like, i read the above as being sort of disdainful for the 'expectations' of society, but going along with it because 'fuck it, you have to' - i know jae got into the turks but the circumstances would have me imagine it's something he sees as like, a deal with the devil almost? i'm not sure that this makes sense, but i think the song in general suits the tone of a rough upbringing in the slums and the people jae probably grew up alongside )

wild beasts - wanderlust

We're decadent beyond our means, we've a zeal We feel the things they'll never feel They're solemn in their wealth, we're high in our poverty We see the things they never see

Wanderlust With us, the world feels voluptuous I just feel more, with us It's a feeling that I've come to trust

Now that you answer to me I'll tell you how I wanna feel Now that the walls have been broke I'll tell you how I wanna feel

( i chose this one for sort of similar reasons to above but in general, again, i think the vibe fits jae's character quite well or at least i could see suiting his personality / aesthetic. i chose the lyrics above because i think ( again ) it applies to anybody who has had that insight beneath plate / in poverty, where it changes to 'now that you answer to me' - i see that as being when he raises in status to being a turk. further in the song, it says 'don't mistake me for someone who gives a fuck' - i kinda think that suits jae's general attitude toward those who maybe deny him ? )

[thebigqueer]

Your breakup really really reminds me of my first (and only) wlw relationship/breakup everything you're saying hits home a lot. You will get through it but tbh it's so hard to heal and it still grinds my gears when I think about her and how we broke up. Idk if that helps but I understand what you're going though

YEAH MAN ITS TOUGH OUT HERE FR!!! its not my first queer relationship but like something about this is genuilnely the most world-shattering romantic experience ive had cuz we went into this soooo head over heels for each other like we were literally moving SO fast. and at the time i was like is it ok for us to even be moving this fast (probs tmi but we were literally making out shirtless by like 2nd time we even made out) (probs not a big deal to most people but i experienced a LOT of new things with her that id never experienced befoer & the fact that i was so WILLING to do it so fast was what surprised me the most) but then i was like okk whateverrr i really like how fast we're moving. and i was like 'damn if were moving this fast & if im feeling so good it has to end soon right like theres no way life is going to let me just be happy w this' and then i was like 'no elts not think about it' and then what do you know 5 months later she brekas up w me. and neither of us did anything wrong but it was so random??? like i dont understand how one moment shes telling me how excited she is to spend the entire semester with me and then literally 36 hours later tell me shes not feeling an emotional connection but wont even give us the chance to work it out. i know she also broke it off for personal reasons but its like... this was something we could have TRIED to work out you know!!! maybe it wouldnt have worked in the end but literally nothing felt off to me at all & if id known she was feeling this way i wouldve done my best to make things better. the entire breakup was so sudden and honestly im really not mad at her because i know how nerve-wracking it is to be in your first relationship. i think its just that im really dispapointed she gave up on us so easily you know??? didnt even give us a chance to figure it out

[laurzvahll]

“In the ocean washing off my name from your throat.” from The Shrine/An Argument is one of my favorite fleet foxes lyrics ever because i love how you can change the interpretation of it. Like it could mean so many different things to different people n I love it. In the ocean washing off my name from your throat; a fight between two people, their connection unknown. They could be ex lovers, enemies, childhood friends, but none of that matters now as they battle. Like take my name out of your mouth kind of deal. You tried to rake it through the mud and now you suffer the consequences.

Or it could also be like, a sad moment.. The singer knows that somebody they used to know is letting their sorrows go into the sea, washing off their name from their throat, either finally letting go or barely recognizing their unjust treatment that left them absolutely drained and hopeless. Either way just sobbing into the sea

Bahhhh

[sunlightfeeling]

god i forgot how much i liked that cohost hid a lot of metrics…

(much ranting in the tags…)

[jirai-girl]

hiding their identities properly ???

By not hiding their identities properly I'm talking about having "serect accounts they don't want no one to know about" in terms of typing and editing style.

[araremonaka]

dont be scared monaka, make the fans cry, make them suffer. show us what ANGST you can come up with

Sorry its really bad lol

Im very much not a writer and Im just generally better at drawing out more happy stuff

So that one line about Vicky (The one about how he thought she wasnt real) got me thinking his memories of that era is probably so hazy and warped. At least for me personally a lot of my memories from that age are mushed together and really blurry. Like I remember stuff about people but it’s more like a feeling and I wouldn’t be able to give details does that make sense??? And I feel like after so many years of being separated and told Timmy doesnt know him it would just feel like they are strangers now, but also at the same time its a attachment that he just cant let go of because there is so many happy feelings associated with him.

Ghhggjhaj Im not good at explaining ideas (or drawing them out…) I have so Im really hoping my explanation makes sense

Anyway sorry I took so long I had to really really think about it cause angst and longish comics aren’t my strong suit :}}

[junityy]

🕸 — stay.

pairing. spider-man!jake x fem!reader genre. fluff, slight angst, slightly suggestive?? wc. 2k warnings. for context, this is the #infamous scene in the amazing spiderman 1 when peter shows up hurt at gwens window!! and yes im including the lizard LMAO and jake is kinda down Bad note. THIS TURNED OUT SO LONG.... and also NOT how i wanted but erm well.. spiderman jake is truly all i can think about so i hope you enjoy!!!

You were just finishing up your chemistry homework when Jake leaned against your window frame outside, and lightly knocked against your window. By now, this had become a routine-like thing, so you didn't even flinch.

The first time he did that, though, you felt slightly creeped out before letting him in regardless - because, after all, you do live on the 21st floor. The second time he did that, you started getting used to it. After all, your boyfriend just so turned out to be Spider-man. It was just something you'd get used to sooner rather than later.

Turning around and telling him, “Come in.”, you could already feel your lips form into a smile like that of a little kid's. Jake does as you said and opens the window, slowly climbing inside while you quickly save your homework document in the meantime.

“So, big guy, what was saving New York like today?” you joke before turning around to look at him. Though, once you see Jake holding onto your armchair for stability, your smile fades as quickly as it appeared and you get up when your eyes scan his body - three major scratches across his chest, along with other small wounds across his face (though these are a given by now). But also- scratches? No, it looks more like someone tried to slice him up with.. you don't even know what. Knives? This big? You can only imagine how he got these.

“Different, for sure.” he replies in a joking manner (even though there is no smile), and you can hear just a tiny bit of the pain he must be in in his voice.

“Jake?” you end up whispering as you walk towards him, and he simply lets himself fall onto your armchair before you sit down beside him.

“Seems that reptiles aren't my biggest fans.” he jokes; now smiling as he lets his head fall back while trying to catch his breath. In the meantime, you can't help but scan his wounds up close and - it's safe to say, someone (or something) possibly did try to slice him up from the looks of it.

“Reptiles?” you repeat, the confusion in your voice being very easy to identify; something Jake had already seen coming though, so that is far from surprising.

Before speaking up to elaborate further, he lifts his head again to look at you up close, then explains; “Remember that thing on the bridge yesterday? The thing that was ‘bigger’ than a human.. Well, turns out it's actually some kind of giant, mutant lizard. And it's living in the sewers, apparently.”

“A what?” raising your eyebrows in shock immediately, you can't help but blink in utter confusion a few times - at least before your eyes find their way back to his chest, and some dots start to connect by themselves. Well, his wounds make a little sense now at least. Still, neither of you could deny that ‘giant mutant lizard’ doesn't sound absolutely insane - so naturally, it takes you a second to process and.. imagine what that fight must've looked like just now.

“You're..” you frown; making eye contact with your boyfriend again after breaking it shortly. Jake on the other hand can't seem to even think about taking his eyes off of you. As per usual. “You're telling me you're fighting.. giant lizards?” you simply add. You're also certain that no matter how you would've worded this, it would sound equally just as crazy.

But, well.. your boyfriend IS Spider-man after all. So really, nothing should probably surprise you anymore. If you had to guess, things would, most likely, only get crazier from here on.

“Yeah. Well, they suck.” Jake scoffs, followed by another smile on his face, but he quickly groans in pain right after; your eyes still fixated on his wounds. It’s not like he'll die of them, so you try telling yourself to stop being so dramatic, but still.. it's a sight you'd rather not get too used to.

You hate seeing him like this. Usually, you're pretty used to seeing him with small or at least smaller wounds by now, but this? This is.. low-key crazy. You keep telling yourself that he is literally Spider-man, and that there's.. kinda no way to avoid getting hurt, yet all you hope for is to see him in one piece every single time. And it seems that the longer he keeps doing what he's doing, the chances of seeing him at all keep getting slimmer. Which is something that truly keeps you up at night, easily causing goosebumps all over your body.

“Hey.” Jake quietly says, simply to bring you back to reality once he notices you're lost in thoughts, and the next thing you feel is his hand on your cheek, softly cupping it.

Once you're actually back, you properly reconnect the eye contact you so love with him again. “What is it?” he questions not too long after, barely whispering while trying to read your expression. You, on the other hand, just remain silent; swallowing, before taking a sharp breath.

“Take this off, I'll take care of it.” pretty much avoiding the question, you point to his suit instead (or at least the upper part of it) - since, every time Jake has come here, you took care of him and his injuries. And today was gonna be no different.

While he makes sure the city is okay, you need to make sure he's okay. And vice versa, Jake has to make sure you're okay, by coming back to you every time like promised. New York could be safe for all he wants - only seeing your face every time makes him feel truly safe and sound.

And so again, he does as you say; moving to sit on the floor while leaning against your bed, he watches you do your little magic in silence. Silence, awe, admiration - it's all the same when it comes to you, really. He doesn't even deserve you, Jake thinks to himself. Like he does everyday.

Your ‘little magic’ though, simply includes disinfecting his wounds first; a process the both of you have gotten used to by now.

Once he's rolled down his suit a little, you begin to carefully pat his chest with the tissue again and again, so careful as if he'd break if you made one wrong move. Which.. seems sort of funny. You're patching up the Spider-man after all.

Jake, in the meantime, can't seem to take his eyes off of you again, so he simply doesn't. Instead, he watches your every move like his life depends on it. The look in your eyes has changed. You've gone quiet. Like, awfully quiet.

“Y/N.” he tries again after just a moment - after you clearly avoided his question the first time. When you look up just the tiniest bit, you're immediately met with his eyes on you already in no time. Oh. His eyes. “What is it?” he repeats, hoping to get you to talk this time.

Looking at him, it takes you a few moments to even form a somewhat coherent thought. Sometimes you wish you could just stop time and stay like this. With him, here. Forever.

Sure, being Spider-man's girlfriend had its perks - like Jake taking you with him to swing around New York together. Surely.. an original experience! But it also meant praying he'd come home to you every time there was trouble in the city.

“I'm just scared for you, is all.” you sigh quietly, tilting your head a tiny bit. For just a moment, silence enters, and it feels like you're falling in love with him all over again. You're just glad he's here.

“You won't lose me.” Jake assures you in the softest tone possible and immediately brings his hand back to your cheek, only to bring your face closer to his. Close enough to place a kiss on your lips, a reassuring one. A kiss that, as you both know, says something words wish they could truly encapsulate. Breaking the kiss for a short, simple “I promise.”, he immediately reconnects your lips again like he'd suffocate if he didn't.

What starts as a lovely, reassuring kiss, quickly seems to turn into something much more intimate when you feel Jake rest his other hand on your waist only to pull you as close as possible; to feel your body right against his.

Spider-man might have impressive healing abilities that are above those of the average person, but Jake felt as if having you near him was already enough healing.

“I love you.” he breathes into the kiss, and quickly tries to catch his breath when you do the same for a second. Your faces still dangerously close, all you seem to be able to get out is a “I love you too.” that sounds very out of breath, like you were the one fighting a giant mutant lizard just before.

Bringing your hand up to rest on the side of his neck, Jake can't help but sigh when he backs off a tiny bit, only so he can get a good look at you. God, you're beautiful he thinks to himself. Basically looking at you the same way he did when he first told you he loved you, he automatically moves the few strands of hair out of your face; tucking them behind your ear, while his eyes simply shine with admiration. But mostly love.

“I just love you, Y/N.” your boyfriend repeats while shaking his head slightly, and sounding completely hopeless as if he just accepted that he is, indeed, hopelessly in love with you. Though, that was more or less the case anyway.. it still is, actually. Watching his eyes go back and forth between your eyes and lips, Jake speaks up again in a low voice, “You won't lose me.”. However this time, it's a promise rather than a reassurance.

Your eyes lighting up with pure love at his words and the look in his eyes, you can't seem to hide the way your lips are forming into another tiny smile - so you decide to just let them speak by placing them on his once again.

It's like your lips were perfectly made for each other, especially when Jake tilts his head a tiny bit more to deepen the kiss - his hand still on your neck, and if it were to go after him, he'd never remove it again. It's like you were perfectly made for each other.

“Jake.” you mumble into the kiss, yet keep it going because his lips feel a little too good moving against yours. Although you don't wanna let go, you (sadly) do end up breaking the kiss - which causes Jake to immediately look at you as you're gathering your thoughts one by one.

“I need to ask you a favour. It'll sound really selfish, though.” you begin quietly, only to receive a promising nod from his side, waiting for you to continue curiously while his eyes go back and forth between your eyes and lips again. Swallowing, you carefully ask, “You know I love that you're Spider-man, but can you just be Jake for tonight and stay?” Yeah, you were right about it sounding kinda selfish. Jesus.

But, like, it's true, and you couldn't really figure out a better way to word it. I mean, obviously you love that he's Spider-man - literally who wouldn't? But it's true that you love Jake Sim more. Even if just a tiny bit, which is why you want, - or need, actually - him with you tonight. Just Jake. Just the two of you.

“It doesn't sound selfish.” is the first thing he says in response, slightly shaking his head for further assurance. You're not only glad about it, but you feel your heartbeat increase rapidly when you see yet another smile form on his face, which (thank god), he doesn't even try to hide as it's getting too big. “Actually,” he lightly scoffs, biting on his lip as you watch him do so (it drives you nuts every time).

“I was hoping you'd say that, princess.” is the last thing he says before pulling you in for a kiss much, much more intimate than the ones before.

taglist @tyunni @geombyu @jaeyunverse @yjwfav @sieuneo @beombisou @neos127

[maxlarens]

ok so i had an idea for the rb photographer fic if you're up for it

first of all im like in love w ur fics i love em all

and nextly, listen to this..

charles isn't single but manwhore carlos probably is?

he flirts w our photographer and makes max jealous?? roped in by danny ofc to get them together?? what do you think??

anyway have a great day! <33333

UM OKAY THANK YOU! max x rbphotographer!reader are literally everything to me and i am SOO thrilled to have gotten this request. very in character for daniel to get everyone involved in scheming even tho max has told him not to😭 love it so much😇😇 hope u enjoy and i am SOOOO sorry this took so long xx

MV: tonight (i wish i was your boy)

pairing(s): max verstappen x redbull photographer!reader

word count: 1.9k+

Max likes to think he’s not a jealous person.

Max likes to think that— but it doesn’t mean it’s true. Daniel would and has, argued that Max is an abnormally jealous person. In the sense that Max doesn’t like to share. Doesn’t like other people playing with his toys. Not that he thinks of you (or Daniel) as his toy— that’s absurd. He’s a jealous person, not some territorial asshole with an anger problem. (Okay, sometimes he has an anger problem. He’s been working on it. It hardly crops up anymore, but he’s not territorial).

He is, again, bad at sharing, and also uniquely used to getting what he wants.

It’s not because he’s got a crush on you. Despite what Daniel would like to assume. It’s just that you’re meant to be his friend. You’re here with him, because of him. He’s meant to be able to hover around you all night, getting carried away as he tries to explain something meaningless while you give him that half-grin that you don’t even realise you’re doing most of the time. He’s the one who’s supposed to be putting his hand on your back, and leaning in to ask if you’d like another drink—

Not Carlos.

Definitely not Carlos.

(Well, at least it’s not Charles).

Instead, Max is standing next to an overeager Lando at the DJ deck, gripping his drink so hard that he’s mildly concerned the glass will shatter to pieces in his hand. Actually, that’s not such a bad idea to get your attention. Maybe if that happens you’ll stop looking at Carlos Sainz Jr with big googly eyes and you’ll come nurse his hand or whatever it is you’re supposed to do in pathetic little fantasies like the one he’s entertaining. You’re not really the nursing type though, you’re more prone to start freaking out and calling everyone on the Red Bull team to tell them that Max has irreparably damaged his hand.

Max stops entertaining that particular fantasy.

Daniel’s not here, he’s gone home to Australia for a few weeks and skipped out on this weird little grid (+ friends) party that Charles is throwing. This is good and this is bad for Max. On one hand Daniel is not here to rib him about his half-admitted crush on you, on the other hand Daniel is not here to distract him from his half-admitted crush on you. There’s Lando of course, who can be just as good in the distraction department, but it’s not quite the same. 

Lando doesn’t quite know about the raging crush, which is probably for the better. He’s been around when Lando’s tried to set up Oscar before and that was an absolute unmitigated disaster.

“Hey man,” speaking of Oscar, “You good?”

Max frowns and then half turns to look at Oscar who’s now hovering next to Lando with a fruity little drink in hand, “Yeah mate,” he answers, confused.

Oscar gets this weird little micro expression on his face that Max wouldn’t usually take any note of— his forehead creases, he raises a disbelieving eyebrow— but the skepticism grates at Max a little, leaves him wondering.

“Why?”, he caves.

Oscar shakes his head, shrugs, “You're kind of staring down Carlos."

Max's mouth falls open, just a little. He is not. His eyes flit to Lando unconsciously for confirmation before he has a chance to defend himself against what are frankly untrue allegations from Oscar. But Lando is already shrugging, making a face that says he has been.

Fuck. Max frowns. And doesn't say anything.

Better to stay quiet and look moody than to admit anything to these two. Total menaces. Well, no that's Lando. Oscar might be helpful. Still, Max isn't going to admit anything. Daniel and apparently Charles knowing about it is more than enough.

Their hushed conversation behind him fades into the background as Max turns again to look at you and Carlos— and alright he gets it now. There's definitely a different kind of set to his jaw, a scowl on his lips as he watches Carlos put his hand on your shoulder.

There is something in his gut. Something sick. The feeling he gets when he's on track and the car starts sliding, the wheels locking up. When hears the va-rum of a car go by, sees something that isn't wide open space in front of him. Something like panic starts to climb up his throat. He knows he shouldn't be this bothered by you and another person, but he can't get rid of this voice in the back of his head that says you might like Carlos more than him. That you might stop hanging around Max, texting him at all hours of the day with photos of your food or random questions, waiting for him in the garage after sessions and not just because you've got to take pictures of him, and going out for food on 'friend dates' as you've taken to calling them.

If you and Carlos... okay no, Max doesn't even want to think about it.

He starts walking over, trying to smooth his face into something less intimidating as he goes. He turns it into a strained, mouth-closed smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He directs it at Carlos.

There's a glint in Carlos' eyes that Max doesn't like the look of.

"Hi Max," he says, flashing his white teeth, he gestures to you, "I was just getting to know your lovely friend here."

Alright. Max understands instantly. This has Daniel's name written all fucking over it. Max's fake smile falls, turning into a flat look that he levels at Carlos. He's trying not to scowl because he doesn't want you to catch on to anything, but it's not easy. His phone is burning a hole in his pocket, he doesn't care if it's the middle of the night in Australia right now, he's itching to call Danny and ask him what the fuck he is thinking pulling something like this from 14,000 kilometers away?

"Mm," Max hums, unimpressed, unable to fake pleasantries even for your sake, "Great."

You look at him, eyebrows raised a little incredulously at his tone. There's slight amusement there too, he thinks, as he returns your look. You squint a little, as if to say, don't give me that look, Max Verstappen. He can feel himself smiling, the corner of his mouth lifting with ease even though the object of his anger still has his stupid hand on your shoulder.

He can't help himself when he reaches for your elbow, asks, "D'you wanna get a drink?"

You bite down on the edge of your smile, "Sure, Maxie."

You turn and say something to Carlos that he doesn't listen to. Partly because he doesn't care, partly because the sound of you saying Maxie is playing on a loop in his head, like it always does whenever you use the nickname. Which is more often than not. God, he loves it. Maxie Maxie Maxie. It sounds so syrupy sweet coming from your mouth. Smothered in affection. You're the only person, bar his mum and sister that he lets use it. Daniel sometimes, but Daniel would say it regardless, the menace that he is.

"Max," you say, hand on his bicep, thumb smoothing back and forth there, "Where'd you go?"

Max blinks. Carlos is gone now.

"Hm, no, nowhere," you frown, so he says, "Just a bit tired."

This seems to satisfy you. You slip an arm into the crook of his, linking them together as you tug him to the bar. You order him a G&T and yourself a glass of wine before the two of you head out onto the balcony where it's far quieter. Less people, less chatter. Max prefers it like this, with no one there to get in the way of your attention on him, his on you. He thinks you prefer it too.

He hopes you do at least.

You sip your wine, Max’s eyes linger on the line of your neck, the way your fingers curl around the glass, how your eyes glitter in the early afternoon sun.

“What was that earlier?”, you gesture inside, raising your eyebrows again, “With Carlos?”

Max laughs nervously without meaning to, “Uh, what do you mean?”

The ‘something sick’ is back in his gut again. He hopes you buy his nonchalance, but doesn’t feel confident you will. You know him too well. That’s his fault.

You sigh, “I mean the dick measuring contest, Maxie.”

Maxie. Maxie.

Then he finally registers your words around the loop of your voice in his head, he guffaws, almost choking on his drink, “The dick measuring contest!?”

“Yes,” you hiss, leaning forward on your stool, “Yes, Max. I’m not an idiot, you were getting territorial.”

Max blinks. Max feels red creeping up his neck. Max feels butterflies and maybe a chainsaw in his stomach.

“Wha—”, he tries again, “I—”

His mouth doesn’t appear to be working. Maybe because he’s not sure what on earth he’s supposed to say. What do you even mean? Are you trying to say that you know he was jealous of Carlos? That you know he has feelings for you? Or are you just referencing the fact that he’s weirdly territorial of his friends sometimes? What is he supposed to say in response to any of it? He can’t figure it out for the life of him.

Then you’re blushing you’re blushing and you’re saying, “You don’t have to worry, Max. You’re my favourite person here.”

Okay, alright, what the fuck does that mean? God. Max hates this. If you were any other girl he’d have asked you out literally years ago. But because you’re you and you’re his best friend besides Daniel, he can’t ask you out. He has to smother his feelings into something platonic because he cannot bear the idea of losing you.

Despite his better judgment telling him not to, Max asks, “Really?”

You hum, “Really, really.”

It happens in slow motion, it must. Or at least that’s how Max replays it in his head every night before he goes to sleep. You reach forward and put your hand over his, fingers on his wrist, thumb drawing a pattern on his upturned palm.

Then you say, in a way that he can’t figure out for the life of him, “Love you, Maxie.”

Chills run down the length of his spine, that chainsaw starts up again in his stomach. Love you, Maxie. He feels sick— like he might word vomit the entirety of his feelings for you right there and then. Instead, he forces himself to smile. Closed-mouth, eyes crinkled.

“Mm, yeah, love you,” he says back, his voice cracking as he tries to make it sound normal and platonic and not wracked with nerves.

You smile, warm, beaming and showing your teeth, like he’s made your day infinitely better by just saying those words. As if you’ve not just made his stomach churn and his heart take leaps and bounds in his chest. As if he’s not going to think about the way you’d said it every second of every day. As if he won’t dream of you saying it in every other context imaginable.

You pat his hand twice, then pull it back to take hold of your drink again. Smiling as if you’ve not ruined him for anyone else for good.

[etherealspacejelly]

Some of my opinions, in no particular order

golf courses should be abolished. mini golf can stay. actual golf? no. golf courses take up so much water to maintain their grass, grass which, btw, is a monoculture and bad for wildlife. the area that golf courses take up could be used for affordable housing, or natural areas left to grow with wild native plants that are better for the insect populations. but nooo, we gotta use all this land so that stuck up rich people can play the most boring game ever invented. bullshit.

the police should be abolished. i would settle for defunding but really they just need to go.

children are people, treat them as such. kids have thoughts and feelings that are just as real and valid as yours.

on a similar vein, you are allowed to not want children, but that doesn't give you a free pass to hate kids or be mean to kids. they didnt ask to be here, be kind.

there should be a maximum wage. after a certain point, there is no amount of labour you could possibly do to Earn that much money. your workers earned that money, and you are stealing it from them.

there is a difference between millionaires and billionaires. when i say eat the rich im not talking about actors and musicians, im talking about people who are directly responsible for poverty, hunger, suffering, and homelessness around the world. people who hoard obscene amounts of wealth that No One could ever hope to spend in an entire lifetime and simply watch while minimum wage workers struggle to put food on the table and the elderly freeze in their homes.

sex ed should start in primary school, at an age-appropriate level. if kids are old enough to ask questions about sex, they are old enough to learn about it in a safe environment. they should be taught correct anatomical names for body parts (penis, vulva, vagina, etc.).

there should be more research into autism and ADHD in adults, this shit doesn't just go away when you grow up.

diagnostic criteria for disabilities, disorders, and mental health conditions should be written by people who have or have had these conditions. how is someone supposed to know if they have autism, for example, if the symptoms are written from the perspective of someone who has never experienced it?? doesn't make any fucking sense.

hostile architecture should be illegal. unhoused people deserve a place to sleep. or better yet, give them houses. there are literal studies done that prove that housing people saves the government money in the long run, so why aren't we doing that? make it make sense

edit: updated to add more clarity to the golf thing. didn't explain that one well enough and left some people confused