#Len & Mick Through the Years

[orange-imagines]

what do you think each of the mud dogs' love languages they find themselves most drawn to are? :0

Relationship: Romantic

A/N: I have so many opinions on this! I tried to keep these simple by saying the guys have the same giving and receiving languages, and I don't think it's far off tbf. AND to be clear: these guys love any form of affection, this is just what I imagine their favorites are.

Leonard

Physical touch and acts of service.

Although it's not as common as you may think, Len does have trouble expressing the way he feels through words sometimes, even when it comes to you. He gets easily lost inside his head with all his thoughts and feelings, so he naturally gravitates toward any form of affection that helps bring him down to earth with you. If he's ever having a rough day or needs some reassurance (though he has a hard time voicing when he does), you going out of your way to hold his hand or give him a hug will speak volumes to him. While he may not look like it to others, you know he loves surprise physical affection, and he's actually quite clingy. It's not even something he realizes, he just finds it very natural to enjoy sitting beside you wherever you two go, holding your hand, putting an arm around you, messing with your clothes or fixing your hair, coming up with any excuse to touch you. And when it comes to sitting next to you, he can get pretty bitter if someone else manages to snag a seat beside you while he has to sit in another spot further away. It doesn't help that this is something Mick does constantly (both on purpose and not- the little shit), but nobody's exempt from having Len glare at them the entire interaction because they stole his seat. If he's already had a bad day leading up to that, he may just forgo politeness in its entirety and shove the person out of the way in order to sit next to you, putting an arm around your shoulders and growling if the person tries to speak up. Yeah. He's only a little clingy.

Alternatively, he also enjoys you doing anything to help him with his responsibilities, whether that be chores around the apartment or lending a hand with the planning stage for the Mud Dogs' next heist. The latter can stress him out quite a bit, so if you want to bring him a cup of coffee and help him get his thoughts out by bouncing ideas back and forth, he'll just fall more and more in love with every word you say. You're definitely his preferred planning partner, and he's not afraid to admit it in front of the others.

His favorites moments of domesticity come from the two of you helping each other out with things at home. You washing dishes while he dries them, you cooking something and him stirring the pot for five seconds when you have to step away- any little mundane thing that would be boring if he wasn't doing it with you. He also really likes it if you hug him from behind while he's got his attention on something else, though he's likely to abandon whatever it is and start kissing you in the middle of the kitchen if you do. And that's how you guys have burned dinner on more than one occasion <3

Danny

Words of affirmation and quality time.

C'mon, he rattles off pet names and praises like he was born for it. This guy loves his words. Even after you two get together, he takes every opportunity to talk you up and flirt with you- you could be five years into your relationship and he'd still put in maximum effort to get you to go on dates with him. A good deal of his charm comes from his words, and although the things he says might seem a bit too smooth and rehearsed, you can tell he's not just saying things for the hell of it. He hangs on your every word when he's flirting with you, wanting to see if you like what he's doing or if he should change something up- and he doesn't act like this with anyone else. Once he has his sights set on someone romantically, they've got his full attention, and they and they alone are subjected to all his cheesy pickup lines and tooth aching flattery. Even outside of his flirting, he's very sweet and open with what he thinks about you, so there's nothing to stop him from giving you compliments and praise on the day-to-day, whether it's about how you look, things he likes about your personality/how your mind works/how you interact with him and the others, he's almost always got a kind word to say about you. He will run his mouth nonstop if you let him.

He also finds the time he spends with you very important, especially when it's just the two of you (he loves the boys, but sometimes he just wants quality time with his partner). He loves seeing you come home in the evening and being able to ask you about your day, or when the two of you can sit on the couch together and just unwind in each others' company. He also really appreciates physical affection during moments like this, either getting to trace patterns on your hand or play with your hair. He'd spend the whole night awake if it meant you were laying on his lap and telling him about your day while he ran and hand through your hair and listened to you for hours.

Mickey

Quality time, physical touch, and gift giving.

The thing about Mick is that he almost always wants to be in your space. If you have a bubble and need moments where he isn't right next to you all the time, please tell him and you can work it out, because otherwise he'll practically be in your lap at any given opportunity. He just loves getting to hang out with you and be physically close to you while he does. If you guys are spending some time alone in the apartment (gossiping, eating, almost killing each other over video games) and he gets to lay in your lap, wrap himself around you, or even just hold your arm or hand, he's completely satisfied. It's a routine that makes him feel very safe and loved, and any reassurance that you love him + want to be with him is best given in this form. He appreciates being told both those things, but to him, actions speak louder than words. Especially when he's so used to people saying one thing and doing the opposite- he likes that you can prove you actually want to be with him by...being with him. Yeah, he has pretty low standards sometimes.

Another thing that'll come up throughout your relationship is gift giving. While he isn't a fan of the standard model of this (he doesn't like receiving fancy or expensive gifts, and he isn't likely to give them unless it's something he's stolen), he really, really enjoys finding knick knacks around the Hidden City and bringing them back to you because he thought of you when he saw them. These are always things that have no real value: a figurine of a character you like that he got from the dump, a piece of glass in your favorite color, a cool rock, etc. But they all came about by him actively thinking of you and remembering things you told him about yourself, so they're very sweet! He always has the biggest grin on his face when he hands them over to you, so if you like them, it'll make him even happier. And if you ever want to return the favor by scavenging for something worthless but extremely personal for him, he'll keep it forever and won't let anyone touch it (not even you. He trusts no one but himself with it. That's his prized possession).

[gorogues]

Hi! 👋

So what’s the difference between the comic version Rogues and the Arrowverse Rogues? I haven’t watched any live action stuff about them but I would still like to know the difference between these two. (Backstory and personality-wise, but you can add other stuff if you really want to)

Thank you!!! And have a good day/night :)

Hi! It's been a few years since I've watched those shows, but here's as best as I remember it.

Len: The Snarts had their comics backstory of a violently abusive ex-cop dad, and Len raised Lisa after their father went to prison. As an adult, he tended to work with Mick and Lisa in criminal activities, but was still protective of his sister and he killed their father after dad had risked her life as part of a criminal scheme. He continued in crime, but developed a working relationship with Barry and they eventually came to an agreement in which Len could commit crimes as long as he didn't kill anyone or tell anyone about Barry's identity. He was later recruited into the Legends of Tomorrow and came to relish heroic work, which ultimately led to conflicts with Mick, and Len then sacrificed his life to save the Legends and defeat the Big Bad. He had a lot of similarities to comics Len, although more of an interest in heroism, and had a closer and even flirty relationship with Barry.

Lisa: The Snarts had their comics backstory of a violently abusive ex-cop dad, and Len raised Lisa after their father went to prison. As adults, they worked together in crime and kidnapped Cisco to build weaponry for them, which they used to attack a crime boss and commit general shenanigans. However, Lisa flirted with Cisco and he had a thing for her, and she came to Team Flash for help when she thought Len had been kidnapped. It turned out that Len was on a job with their father because dad had secretly implanted a bomb in Lisa; Team Flash got the bomb out and Len killed their father for the cruelty he'd inflicted on her. After that, she was generally involved in crime with her brother until he joined the Legends of Tomorrow and was killed, but we don't know much about her activities after that. Personality-wise, she was very flirty but extremely tough and a bit of an action junkie, so pretty similar to comics Lisa. No skates or jewel weapons, though.

Mick: He had the most development and most airtime of all the Flarrowverse Rogues, and thus unsurprisingly the biggest character arc. He began as a one-note raging villain, and later received a little more depth but had an in-universe reputation for being stupid, violent, and thoughtless. Even his best pal Len treated him like he was stupid, sometimes quite overtly. Over time we learned that he had a lot of past trauma (his father was a traumatized and abusive Vietnam vet), and he formed bonds with new caring people and was able to show his depth: still grumpy, but intelligent and with surprising interests. He became a successful novelist and basically blossomed into a different person over the course of Legends of Tomorrow. You can see aspects of comics Mick (who has gone through phases of being a one-note raging villain and also been more gently sensitive) in him, but he's radically different in backstory and character portrayal.

Digger: Very different from the comics. He was an ex-special forces operative who became a mercenary and was drafted into the Suicide Squad, but Lyla Michaels tried to liquidate the team in the field and Digger's brain bomb malfunctioned so he didn't die…and then he came after her and anyone associated with her for revenge. He set a bunch of bombs and tried to blow stuff up, but in the end he got killed. He certainly seemed more like an ex-military soldier than a criminal or supervillain, which fit well with his CW backstory but he was nothing like his comics incarnation.

Owen: Very different from the comics. He wore a comics-accurate outfit…but it was Digger's outfit, not Owen's. He was just a villain/criminal who decided to take Digger's mantle after he died, and he worked for the Red Death (a crime boss). He was basically just a skilled asshole, but a smartassed and entertaining one. Also had an interesting friendship with the second Murmur.

Roy Bivolo: He only dealt in negative emotions -- fear and anger -- and was a bit of a psycho who did angsty edgy art and seemed to enjoy hurting people. I liked that the show did a more accurate depiction of his achromatopsia than the comics ever have; he wore dark glasses and his hideout had low lighting to accommodate his vision problems. There was a female Rainbow Raider (Carrie Bates, not another Roy Bivolo) later on who dealt in positive emotions, and she was fun.

Hartley: He was pretty different in that he was a perpetual jerk, even after he'd reformed. He was an engineer at STAR Labs and a protégé of Harrison Wells (who was Eobard Thawne in disguise) but hated Cisco, and when Wells seemingly replaced Hartley with Barry he developed a violent grudge against them all. He mostly used sonic tech rather than musical instruments, and used tech to cope with the damage done to his hearing by the particle accelerator accident. He was pretty cruel as a villain; at one point he sent some metas to destroy a city dam, which could have killed thousands of people. Anyway, he didn't get over the grudge for a long time, though the universe reset itself a couple of times and eventually he got a boyfriend named Roderick who was hurt by a battle between Hartley and the Flash. Team Flash helped save his life, so Hartley more or less let go of the grudge and reformed for Roderick, and later helped Barry when he needed it.

James: Mark Hamill reprised his Trickster role from the `90s Flash series, and he was kinda fun but not in a traditional James way. He was definitely a psychopath and a murderous criminal who tried to kill hundreds or thousands of people for laughs, but he had some theatrical panache while doing it.

Axel: He idolized James Jesse and was delighted to learn that James was his father; it turns out that his mother was Prank, James' old sidekick from the `90s Flash series. He's also a psycho who likes killing people, but he too has something of his father's style.

Mark: He and his brother Clyde had been violent bank robbers who worked together before getting meta powers. Clyde became the original Weather Wizard, but he was killed by Joe West and Mark took over the mantle and sought revenge. Mark was generally pretty murder-happy, especially towards Joe and the Flash. He had a kid like in the comics, but ironically she used tech and he had meta powers (so the opposite of pre-Flashpoint continuity), and she was older and tried to kill him for being a crappy dad.

Sam: He was a wannabe gang leader with his girlfriend Rosa (Flarrowverse Top), though he tended to talk over her and eventually she murdered him to take his place. He got his powers when he'd insulted Len and Len had been in the process of killing him when the particle accelerator exploded, but it left Sam trapped in a mirror for a few years until he freed himself. He was vain and showy and could travel through mirrors, but we didn't really see much of him.

Evan: There was a gender-swap, so she was Eva. It was a complicated story, but the gist is that the real Eva was killed in the particle accelerator explosion, and a mirror duplicate of her was created and trapped in a mirror universe. She didn't know she was a duplicate, and was unhappy to be trapped; she dragged Iris into the mirror universe and created a duplicate Iris in the real world. Once Eva escaped the mirror world, she killed her crappy ex-husband but soon learned that she was in fact a duplicate and her whole existence was a lie. She created a ton of mirror duplicates and they tried to destroy Central City, but she was convinced to stop and decided to make the mirror world into a better place for them. As you can tell from these events, she was basically nothing like Evan aside from the name.

Roscoe: There was a gender-swap, so she was Rosa(lind). She was a wannabe gang co-leader with her boyfriend Sam, but he tended to sideline her and eventually she killed him. She didn't spin (except for a gag when Jesse Quick tossed her into the air), and originally she only had vertigo powers. Later she gained empathic powers and quasi-telepathic powers and developed an odd frenemy relationship with Cecile Horton (who was part of Team Flash and had similar powers), which was the only thing I liked about her.

Dr Alchemy: His name was Julian Albert in the show, and he was a work colleague of Barry's who fell under Savitar's control after finding the Philosopher's Stone. Savitar used him as a cult leader granting/restoring powers to people in his Alchemy persona (which he didn't know was happening), but Julian was eventually able to break free from him and joined Team Flash. The team used him to contact Savitar, and as Julian he pursued a relationship with Caitlin and tried to cure her of her Killer Frost persona. There were some similarities to Johns' post-Flash: Rebirth revamp of him, in that he was Barry's bitchy co-worker instead of someone he befriended after Al reformed. The Savitar and cult thing was different, and in the CWverse the Philosopher's Stone was made out of Speed Force or something.

Abra Kadabra: Originally he was a cool criminal from the future with amazing tech that looked like magic (it gets my seal of approval), and then he was brought back in another episode which revealed he was a dude named Philippe who tried to destroy Central City because his family had been erased in Crisis and he was angry. Barry was kind to him and he backed down, and then he got killed while helping the Flash.

Magenta: A nice teen with magnetic powers and mental health issues from an abusive parental figure, so fairly similar to her comics self. She didn't have a romantic history with Wally or any member of Team Flash, and she got her powers from Dr Alchemy.

Lashawn: She was called Shawna, and her backstory was completely different. In the comics she committed crimes only to save her father's life, but in the CW she was an ordinary thief and tried to spring her loser boyfriend from jail with her teleportation powers. She joined Hartley's vengeance squad after a time incarcerated in the Pipeline, but wasn't okay with his plan to destroy the city and she told Iris West about the plan before anyone could be killed. So in that sense she was different from most of the Rogues, and somewhat like her comics self.

Girder: He was completely different. In the Flarrowverse he was a former bully of Barry's, and he was more like Colossus (from the X-Men) than Girder because he could transform from a human into a metal form and even looked like Colossus instead of a rusted junk pile.

Blacksmith: Also completely different. She was an odd woman who liked to reinvent herself with fake names and new personas, and she wanted to be a crime boss like her comics counterpart but wasn't nearly as intelligent or threatening. Her powers were better, though, and I liked her lovers/rivals relationship with Goldface. In the comics she could manipulate and meld metal and flesh, but in the CW she could shape a specific type of metal into projectiles and defensive functions.

Tar Pit: His backstory was completely different, as he was betrayed by a comrade and knocked into a tar pit, leaving him trapped for years underground and seeking revenge on those who wronged him after he was free. Thus, his personality was less cheery than his comics self because what he went through was pretty traumatic. He had a human form and a tar form instead of being a perpetual tar monster.

Double Down: His powers were mostly the same (though tattoo-based), but he was more of a gang enforcer in the Flarrowverse. And there was no cursed deck of cards in his backstory, alas.

Cicada: Totally different. In the CW, the first Cicada was a guy who blamed metahumans for his family's misfortunes and went on a killing spree, and then he was killed and replaced by an insane future version of his metahuman niece who picked up his war and murdered metas.

Murmur: There was a man and a woman who went by that name in the Flarrowverse. Neither spoke English (they both had their mouths sewn shut) so we don't know a ton about them, but they were surprisingly true to the original comics version. The woman used ASL, which gave us more insight into her personality and she was rather witty. I liked her friendship with Owen.

Chillblaine: Not exactly a Rogue, but the Flarrowverse version had a lot more development than his comics counterparts. He was a lot smarter (a former scientist) and liked to walk around shirtless, and he had a redemption arc but then went bad again and then redeemed himself once more. He was in a relationship with Killer Frost when she was killed, which devastated him.

[kitkatt0430]

17, 33, 35, 44, 50 for OTP Asks (coldflash) please

17.) Who's more likely to pull the other in by the waist and kiss them passionately?

Hmmm, this is a tough one. I think it's something they both do, but who does it most?

Barry definitely has a kink for being manhandled and taken care of. He's constantly having to be the hero and on top of things and so having Len take charge, pull him close and demand kisses... it's nice to just give in. He trusts Len whether it's with something small and romantic like this or, uh... other things. ;) So Len enjoys taking advantage of this in order to draw Barry close and kiss him whenever he wants.

Conversely, Len likes that despite being a twig in human form (until his thirties anyway), Barry can still push him around if he wants. Len definitely enjoyed being shoved around by Barry in S2, though he was definitely wishing for a kiss there. So I think his preference is less being pulled in by Barry and more by being shoved against a hard surface and crowded in by Barry, but he does enjoy getting pulled forward, into Barry's arms, and kissed senseless too.

I think, ultimately, Len is more likely to pull Barry into a kiss, but it's definitely something that goes both ways.

33.) Who's the better cook?

Barry. Len's not a lethal chef or anything like that and he enjoys cooking with Barry because it's something he's doing with Barry. But for it's own sake, Len's more of an 'eat what's convenient' type. Whereas Barry is very much a 'shows love through food' type.

Mick supports the relationship in part because he's no longer the only one making sure Len doesn't wind up with scurvy for avoiding his veggies.

35.) Who's more artistic?

Probably Barry. He can sketch really well and I can see him doing the ADHD cycle through various artsy hobbies. (I do this. Best to keep the projects in what are doable chunks for me or something I can put down and pick up again a few months or a year down the line.)

I think Lewis really stunted Len's artistic talents. He strikes me as the kind of father who sees his son taking art classes or home ec and gets super homophobic about it. Len expresses his creative side through his heist plans. He's maybe starting to allow his creativity roll into creating things - starting from learning how to repair and then recreate the Cold Gun to adapting what he learned to create ice grenades and the like. But overall, Barry's much more of the artsy sort.

44.) Who would dance in the kitchen making dinner? Would the other join in or watch from the doorway?

Barry is absolutely the dancer. We see that in canon with him dancing around in the kitchen in his boxers making breakfast. He will dance around and sing to music on the radio/streaming on his phone when he cooks alone - especially if he's cooking something special for Len. Romantic dinner? Barry is extra bouncy while he cooks and sets up a candle lit dinner.

Len won't admit it, but he finds it really charming how Barry romances him and he does try to romance Barry in return. But when Barry's dancing around in the kitchen, he definitely loves to stand back and watch. Just kind of take in that this ridiculous man loves him so much.

50.) who's more likely to do something out of spite?

I'd say initially it's Len. He's used to pushing people away and he expects eventually he'll push Barry away too and gets snippy and spiteful about things. But Barry's stubborn and as Len realizes that it'd take a hell of a lot to run Barry off, he starts to relax and accept that what they have is actually going to last and his tendency to say spiteful things while angry tapers off.

Barry isn't at first because he's had to learn to be very careful with his relationships and choose his battles with Joe. He'd argue to hell and back about his dad's innocence, but he was very afraid of Joe not wanting him anymore so he got in the habit of swallowing down his feelings about things until they boil over. He's a lot more likely to do this when something's triggered his trauma reactions. The first time Len realizes that Barry flipped out over something relatively minor with him and talking it out later reveals it was really because Barry was already on edge over something Team Flash did that triggered him that his team dismissed as inconsequential? Len absolutely reads them the riot act about the way they treat Barry's mental health so dismissively.

I think once Barry's trauma responses start being taken seriously and his boundaries are better respected, the spiteful responses become less likely to show up too. That said, I think maybe he still struggles with it more than Len.

[sophiainspace]

Fanfic ask deal: 13, 17 (please feel free to cite multiple) and 40, please!

13. talk about a writing experience that has pleasantly surprised you.

Doing fanfic sprints in person (with @habibialkaysani ) was really fun! But really, so much about writing in fanfic communities has been brilliant. When you introduce someone to an entire fandom through your fic, or they do that for you. When someone gets so into your fic they offer to beta read it, just when you thought your fandom was dead and you’d never find a beta reader again. (Those are both the excellent briarfairchild.) When you write a multiple year long RP with a friend (who I won’t tag in case they don’t want me to, but that’s been so much fun). When you just make loads of great friends through a fandom (including you Toby!) And many many other great #FandomIsCommunity experiences.

17. what is your favorite line you’ve ever written?

Oh god, choosing one line would require wading through 84 (count ‘em) fics, and that’s just the ones that are on AO3. But I was just re-reading I Wanna Grow Old With You, and I did enjoy this part (Len, after little Nora West-Allen runs off while he’s babysitting for her, while Team Flash are being a bit too blasé about this):

Frost raises an eyebrow. “Someone’s testy.”

That does it. The thin elastic of Len’s patience snaps almost audibly in half. His smile remains in place, but he imagines it turning rather chilly, as he hears his voice drop into Captain Cold’s signature drawl. “Surprisingly enough, I am, in fact, a little irate. Seeing as how I’ve lost a speedster’s daughter. You remember speedsters, Frost? They’re the ones with so much power they can run you into the middle of a black hole and leave you there, but they mostly don’t, because a surprising number of them are dumb as gnats and so boringly lawful good they make Mother Teresa look like an asshole. And do you know what the only thing worse than losing Barry Allen’s daughter is, Frost?”

Frost is looking at him with uncharacteristically nervous eyes. “What?”

He stretches his smile into something he hopes is even more ominous. “Losing Iris West’s daughter.”

Frost’s wide eyes dart down to her phone, her hands scrolling frantically across a map. “I’ll find her.”

“Thank you.”

40. best piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten.

Also really hard to choose one, as people in fandom can be such great commenters. But I’ll always love the comments on my angst best of all. On ‘Goggles Mick’ (from my peak angst era) briarfairchild wrote “oh Mick, oh Mick! *crawls away sobbing* (but in a good way)” and truly that was my aim in writing it. Also on Gehenna, Sablehaven wrote “-soft gasp- oh the things this fic does to me..” which I treasure. I also get some *very* sweet comments on my neurodivergent fics that give me life! <3

[littlecrow-rogue]

Trough the Lens: A Mötley Crüe fanfiction - Chapter One

Hi!

So the other day I made a post aboute writing a Mötley Crüe Nikki Sixx x OC fanfiction.

I did it!

I am bit nerves posting it cause english is not my first language so this was a bit hard, and even tho I asked some help from Google and transolaters to fix my grammer mistakes probobly there are still some mistakes left or wrong usage of words. But I hope it's still enjoyable.

If you read this have fun and let me know if you think and if you'd like a second chapter for it.

XoX - V

Chapter 1: "The Beginning"

The band members of Mötley Crüe sat huddled around a cluttered table in Nikki's flat, the air thick with anticipation and the remnants of their brainstorming session. Empty beer bottles mingled with scattered papers, evidence of their search for the perfect promotional plan and a testament to the chaos of their creative minds.

Tommy tapped his fingers impatiently against the table, his dark eyes darting restlessly around the room in search for inspiration. The weight of their first gig hung heavy in the air, a silent reminder of the task at hand.

Suddenly, Nikki's voice shattered the silence, cutting through the haze of uncertainty that had settled over them.

"Alright, guys, time to get down to business," he declared, his tone commanding attention.

Vince lounged back with a smirk, tossing out a suggestion that earned a mixture of amusement and disdain

"A little spray-painted graffiti on the side of Sunset Boulevard could drum up some serious buzz”

Nikki shook his head with a wry smile.

"As much as I appreciate the guerrilla marketing approach, we need something more polished," he said, running a hand through his tousled hair as he leaned forward, his gaze fixed on his bandmates.

Mick nodded in agreement.

Nikki arched an eyebrow, his gaze locking onto Tommy’s with a curious intensity.

"Do you have any ideas, Tommy?"

A mischievous grin spread across Tommy's face as he leaned back in his chair, confidence radiating from every pore.

"Actually, I do," he declared, capturing the attention of his bandmates.

"My sister, Katie, she's a photographer. She could help us make some flyres with some killer shoots."

The mention of Tommy's sister piqued the band's interest. They had heard stories about Katie Lee, Tommy mentioned her a lot, but none of them had ever met her.

Mick, ever the pragmatist, cut to the heart of the matter with a single question.

"Is she any good?" he asked, his skepticism evident in his gravelly voice.

Tommy's response was immediate.

"She's incredible," he declared, his voice brimming with pride.

"She's been working as a photographer in downtown LA for the past two years, but she has been obsessed with photography since we were kids. Trust me, guys, she's the real deal. "

Vince grinned.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go pay Katie a visit and see if she can work her magic for us."

As their car glided to a halt in front of SutterLux Studios, the first thing that caught their eyes was the imposing sign, polished to a mirror like perfection, a testament to the studio's prestige as it boldly announced its name to the world. It stood as a beacon of elegance amidst the bustling cityscape, its modern architecture a symphony of clean lines and sleek facades that mesmerized passersbys. Every detail, from the smooth curvature of the walls to the precise symmetry of the windows, spoke of craftsmanship and artistry that left an indelible impression on all who saw it. Surrounding the entrance, a meticulously curated garden, a lush oasis of greenery, provided a tranquility to the building's exterior.

As they stepped out of their car, the band's rock and roll style clashed brilliantly with the polished surroundings. Leather jackets, ripped jeans, and a smattering of tattoos made for a striking contrast against the backdrop of elegance.

Stepping into the studio, they were greeted by a receptionist girl seated at a marble-topped desk, her workspace packed with notepads and notebooks in neat order wich spoke volumes about her attention to detail. With a shy smile playing on her lips, she chirped a warm welcome, while her eyes scaned the group of men before her.

"Welcome to SutterLux! What can I help you?” her voice was light and airy.

Tommy leaned casually against the desk, flashing his trademark grin as he addressed her.

"Hey there, we're here to see Katie Lee. Is she available?" he inquired, his voice laced with confidence.

The receptionist's bashfulness only added to her charm as she inquired about their appointment, her eyes flitting towards the calendar as she searched for any openings.

"I'm her brother, and I just want to talk to her if she's free," Tommy explained with a nonchalant shrug, his charm evident in every word.

Recognition flickerd on the receptionist's face as she realized who Tommy was

"Oh, you're Katie's brother Tommy? She's mentioned you," she remarked, her shy tone melting into a warm, friendly demeanor.

"Let me see if she's available. Please take a seat. I'll be right back."

With a graceful gesture towards the plush black sofas on the other side, she disappeared into the depths of the studio, leaving the band members alone in the lobby. The air crackled with anticipation as Vince, Mick, and Nikki exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to expect when they finally met Katie Lee.

As the receptionist girl reappeared with Katie by her side, the room seemed to brighten with her presence. Her fiery red hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall of flames, framing her face with an aura of vibrant energy. Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous sparkle, and every step she took radiated confidence.

"Tommy!" Katie exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine delight as she enveloped her brother in a tight hug.

"What are you doing here?"

Tommy returned the hug with equal enthusiasm, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

"We came to see you, sis," he replied, pulling back to gaze at her with fondness.

"Who’s we?” she asked couriously as her gaze shifted to the other men standing behind Tommy, her smile widening at the sight of them.

"Nikki, Vince, and Mick," Tommy introduced, gesturing to each member of the band in turn. "Guys, this is my sister, Katie."

The band members exchanged greetings with Katie, their admiration for her evident in their eyes. Her easygoing demeanor and magnetic charm left an impression on each of them, drawing them in with her infectious energy.

"Do you have a little time to spare for us sis?” Tommy asked eagerly.

"I hope so.” Katie replied with a grin.

"Sam, when's my next client scheduled to arrive?" Katie turned to the receptionist girl, who quickly returned to her desk.

Sam scanned the schedule and checked the clock on the wall before responding,

"You've got about an hour and twenty minutes until your next appointment."

Katie nodded thoughtfully.

"Great. In that case, why don't we head over to that coffee shop down the street? We can grab a table and chat," she suggested, turning back to the band with a warm smile.

"Sounds like a plan," Tommy cheered, his excitement matching hers as they left the building.

As Katie and the band strolled down the bustling streets of downtown LA, the city pulsed with an electrifying vitality and amidst the vibrant chaos, they sought refuge at a quaint corner table in a cozy café, where the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped them like a warm embrace.

After placing their orders, Nikki leaned forward, his piercing blue eyes fixed on Katie.

"So, Katie, Tommy's been singing your praises as a kickass photographer," his voice as smooth as silk. "We're on the hunt for someone with your skills to help us make a splash with our upcoming gig."

Katie nodded, her interest piqued.

"I'm all ears," she replied, leaning back in her chair.

Tommy, unable to contain his excitement, leaned forward eagerly.

"We've headlining at the Starwood Club next month," he announced, a grin spreading across his face. "But we're not just looking to play; we want to rock the joint!"

"And to light up that stage, we need some badass posters, flyers, and all that jazz, something that draws  a lot of people in" Vince chimed in, his voice hyped.

Katie soaked up their vibe, a glint of excitement dancing in her eyes.

"Consider it done" she declared, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"But first could guys maybe show some of your music for me? Just to get a better image of Mötley Crüe.”

The band exchanged looks, a smirk playing on their lips.

"We'll crank up the amps and give you a taste," Tommy promised, a grin spreading across his face.

"You just got a backstage pass to our sonic circus," Nikki added, a playful twinkle in his eye.

"Why don't we invite you to my place? We've got a rehearsal space set up there, so you can experience what we're all about."

Katie's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"That sounds perfect," she exclaimed, a radiant smile gracing her lips.

"Then it's settled," Mick declared with a decisive nod. "We'll make our way to Nikki's place once we're done here."

With the first part of their plan solidified, the band and Katie lingered over their drinks, their conversation flowing with easy.

As the time drew near for Katie's next appointment, the group decided to escort her back to work. Upon the arrival, Katie vanished into the studio to finish her job for the day.

As the band settled into the reception hall, time seemed to stretch out before them, each minute feeling like an eternity as they waited with for Katie's return.

At long last, the door creaked open, and Katie emerged with a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

"Sorry for the wait, guys," Katie apologized, her voice carrying a note of excitement as she joined the band.

"I'm ready to roll now."

With a renewed sense of anticipation, Katie and the band made their way to Nikki's car, the excitement practically crackling in the air around them. As they headed to the Sunset Strip, Katie couldn't suppress the thrill bubbling within her, eager to delve deeper into the realm of rock 'n' roll.

Arriving at Nikki's apartment building, Katie was greeted by a surge of excitement at the thought finally getting to know the band wich her brother was part of.

As Mötley Crüe and Katie entered Nikki's flat, they were greeted by a space that perfectly encapsulated the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. Posters of iconi musicans adorned the walls, while instruments were scattered haphazardly around the room. Amplifiers hummed softly in the background, hinting at the music that was created within these walls.

The furniture was a mix of vintage pieces and modern comforts, giving the space a lived-in yet stylish vibe. A plush couch sat against one wall, its cushions worn from years of use, while a sleek bar area beckoned from the corner, stocked with an impressive array of spirits.

Nikki led the group into the room with a grin, gesturing for them to make themselves at home. "Welcome to my humble abode, where the magic happens" he said, a twinkle in his eye turning to Katie

"Make yourself comfortable."

As Katie and the rest of the band settled in, Nikki made his way to the fridge, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Alright, folks, what'll it be?" he called out, opening the fridge door to reveal an assortment of beverages.

"Beer, wine, whiskey? You name it, I've got it."

The band members exchanged glances, a collective smirk crossing their faces.

"Surprise us, Nikki," Vince replied, a playful edge to his voice.

Nikki chuckled as he retrieved a selection of drinks from the fridge, passing them out to the group with a flourish. As the band settled in with their drinks, Nikki turned to Katie with a grin.

"Are you ready for your private show, Katie?" he asked, his eyes alight with anticipation.

Katie's face broke into a wide smile.

"Absolutely," she replied, excitement coursing through her veins as she leand back comfortably in the couch, drink in hand. With a casual ease, she propped her legs up on the coffee table, fixing her gaze on the band with eager anticipation.

With that the band took their place on the stage, wich was the other side of Nikki’s living room, and launched into their first song. The music was filling the room with its raw energy. Katie's eyes danced with delight as she listened, completely captivated by the electrifying performance unfolding before her.

Song after song, Mötley Crüe poured their hearts and souls into their music, each note resonating with passion and intensity. Katie couldn't help but be swept away by the sheer talent and charisma of the band, her appreciation for their music growing with each passing moment.

As the final chords faded into silence, Tommy and Nikki took their seats on either side of Katie, their faces flushed with exhilaration. Vince and Mick settled into the armchairs surrounding the coffee table, their expressions mirroring the sense of accomplishment that filled the room.

"So, Katie, what did you think?" Nikki asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Katie's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she took a sip of her drink, considering her response.

"I loved it," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

"Each song had its own unique energy"

With the mood buoyed by Katie's praise, she launched into her ideas for the flyers and posters, drawing inspiration from the music she had just heard.

The band members listened intently, nodding in agreement as Katie outlined her vision for the promotional materials.

"I love it," Vince exclaimed, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"It sounds like you really understand our vibe and what we're all about."

Katie smiled, feeling a surge of pride at the band's reaction.

 "I'm glad you think so," she replied.

"I can't wait to get started and see what we can create together."

As the excitement of their collaboration filled the room, Katie and the band members of Mötley Crüe quickly settled on a date for the photoshoot.

"How about Saturday, two days from now?" Katie suggested, her eyes alight with enthusiasm.

The band members exchanged eager nods, they couldn’t wait to see Katie's vision come to life. "Sounds good to us," Nikki replied, a grin spreading across his face.

"We'll make sure we're ready to rock and roll."

With the date set and plans in motion, the group toasted to their upcoming photoshoot, excitement buzzing in the air. As they continued to chat and laugh late into the evening, Katie couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the creative journey that lay ahead.

As the evening wore on and the excitement of their collaboration began to wind down, the band members of Mötley Crüe started to make their exit.

Vince, with a mischievous glint in his eye, rose from his seat, his voice laced with playful banter.

"Alright folks, see you on Saturday. I'm off to see my girl" he declared, his announcement met with teasing cheers from the rest of the group.

Shortly there after, Mick followed suit, offering a nod of farewell before vanishing into the nocturnal embrace of the city.

Tommy glanced at his watch, realizing it was time to pick up his new flame.

"I better get going, my date is waiting" he said, flashing a grin at the others.

"New girl?” Katie asked quirosly.

"We will see” he answered with a huge smile still plaster on his face

"But before I head out, Nikki, do you mind taking Katie home?"

 "I'd be happy to make sure she gets home safely." Nikki nodded in agreement, a warm smile on his face.

Katie smiled gratefully

"Thank you, Nikki," she said

"I appreciate it."

With goodbyes exchanged Tommy dissapiered and soon after Nikki and Katie made their way down from the flat to Nikki's car, the cool night air greating them as they stepped out side. They exchanged casual banter as they walked, their laughter echoing off the surrounding buildings.

 "So, Nikki, where did you and my brother crossed paths?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Nikki's gaze drifted to the road ahead, a nostalgic smile gracing his lips as he recounted the story.

"Well, it was after I had a falling out with my former band's singer and decided to quit London," he began, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

"I was feeling pretty lost and unsure of what to do next."

He paused for a moment, lost in thought, before continuing.

"I found myself sitting in a diner, flipping through the ads of musicians looking to join a band," he explained.

"That's when Tommy walked up to me out of the blue."

A smile tugged at the corners of Nikki's lips as he recalled the memory.

"He was this cocky guy with wild hair and an even wilder personality," he said.

 "I remember him saying he had my poster on his bedroom wall” he laughed and Katie started giggeling next to him.

"And then he just seated himself infront of me and started twireling his drum sticks and as they say the rest is histroy”

Katie glanced over at Nikki, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"It's amazing how things just seem to fall into place sometimes," she remarked, her voice filled with admiration.

"It's like the universe has a way of bringing people together when they need it."

Nikki nodded in agreement, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Yeah, it's funny how life works out like that," he replied, his voice tinged with reflection. "Sometimes the most unexpected encounters can change the course of your life in ways you never imagined."

They fell into a comfortable rhythm of conversation, sharing stories and laughter as they made their way through the city streets. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Katie's apartment building, the glow of the streetlights casting a warm halo around them.

As Nikki pulled up to the curb, he turned to Katie with a smile.

"Well, here we are," he said, his tone lighthearted.

"Thanks for the company, Katie. I had a great time tonight."

Katie returned his smile, a sense of warmth and gratitude filling her chest.

"Thank you for the ride, Nikki," she replied, her voice sincere.

With a final wave goodbye, Katie stepped out of the car and watched as Nikki drove off into the night. As she made her way up to her apartment, a sense of contentment washed over her, grateful for the unexpected connection she had formed with Nikki and the band.

[leatafandom]

Count On It

Fandom/Ship: the Flash (Arrowverse), DC Comics - Lisa Snart & Leonard Snart, Lisa Snart & Leonard Snart & Mick Rory

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 1,778

Warnings and Tags:  jailbreak, Sibling Bonding, Sibling Love, Big brother Leonard, Family, Protective Leonard Snart, Leonard & Lisa Snart Sibling Feels, Young Lisa Snart, Young Leonard Snart, Young Mick Rory, Pre-Particle Accelerator Explosion (The Flash TV 2014), Past Abuse, Past Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Lewis Snart Being an Asshole, Character Study, ice skating Lisa

Summary: Her first solo job doesn't go quite the way Lisa hopes, but she always counts on her brother.

Author Note: As always, I've blended background from the comics and the T.V. show. Inspired by @fanficocean prompt: "Jail can’t stop me." Happy Reading!

Read, Count on It, Rated Teen, in full below or on my Ao3.

*note, this story (and all of my others) on Ao3 is locked for registered Ao3 users.

Count on It

The life that had shaped her had been filled with sadness and cruelty. The moments during Lewis' ill begotten heists and prison time had been the slim makings of her childhood. Lewis had never been kind, but their house had held onto its warmth. However, when their mother grew sick and died when Lisa was still in middle school, the Snart household froze over.

Lewis only gave them pain instead of all the love and basic needs he should have. Their father left them with little to eat, to wear, and barely kept the lights and heat on between his prison time and ill begotten heists. Len did his best to provide for them, but Lisa had always seen the stress on her older brother's face, seen the bruises, and heard his bitten back grunts through the walls. Her brother's sacrifice and Lewis' drunken furies had hardened her, made her a survivor, and her need to stay close to her brother and fit into his world more dire.

The one joy that had been hers and hers alone throughout it all had been ice skating. Lisa could always be found on the ice throughout her youth, even after her mother died. Leonard had made sure to fund it, not that he ever told her. The time spent away from their house of beatings and crime, and the freedom she felt gliding over the ice, had been what she lived for.

It had been her dream to skate professionally, but when her brother went to juvie and her father broke her ankles for talking back to him, the dream died. Lisa held the loss close to her heart, and the anger that kept it burning for decades. With the realization that her dream would never come to pass, she felt her childhood wither and leave her.

It wasn't hard to pick a new career plan, she had watched her grandfather work, her father's mistakes, and her brother's triumphs. Throughout her childhood years, she had tagged along with her brother and his group, watching them and learning from the background where Len made her stay. Now she couldn't bare to stay there any longer, wanting to learn and prove herself helpful to the brother who had always stayed by her side.

"Teach me," she said, sitting down next to Len as he cleaned a gun.

"Teach you what, Lis?"

"Everything," the teenager answered with a determined nod of her head. She looked over the plans he was running through for his next bank robbery. "For real, this time, not like when we were kids."

At her words, he paused and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "You want to learn what I do?" He studied her for a moment, putting his gun and cleaner down. "The… family business."

The brunette nodded. "I am family," she started, shrugging her shoulders as she looked at him. "What else am I gonna do, Lenny?" She asked, watching the flash of failure shadow his eyes before he started to give a run-down of the operation.

They never talked about it, how much Len had hoped she would be the one to break the cycle. Lisa held that close to her too, alongside her dead dream, even when she picked her first safe in under a minute, and pride filed his chilly gaze. Lisa knew Len wished everything could have been different, that a dream of his had died and been buried beside hers. They stayed within them both, holding tight to the smallest part of them and Lisa wept for them both, mourned their lost dreams, in silent solitude even after her brother's team welcomed her into their ranks.

She carried so much with her, but most importantly, she carried the bond she had with her brother. Throughout the pain of her childhood, the loss of her dream, and the start of a life of crime, there was always Lenny.

Whenever it was overwhelming, whether it was the physical pain of her body after Lewis or the pain of not making friends as a child, there was always Lenny. He was the foundation of the house that would be Lisa, the support beams that held her broken pieces together with care, and the glass she could see herself through with the most clarity.

She wasn't sure who she would be without him telling her she could do anything, and wasn't sure she wanted to know the woman she would be without the confidence and fight that he encouraged in her. Despite how much Lewis tried to tell her how worthless she was, Len had taught her how strong she was, that she could take whatever she wanted and make the best of it. It's what she did, and so when he refused to let her run her own heist, she decided to take what she wanted on her own. She would prove that she was ready, just like she had for everything else that was hers, and damn the consequences.

Even after their fight and the forementioned consequences of failure, she didn't doubt her brother. After her arraignment and transfer, she was sure that Len would come for her.

"Ugh, don't you have another one?" She said, glaring at the guard that walked her to her cell and then at the woman already within it.

"Get in."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I don't bite… much," the redhead teased as the guard pushed Lisa into the cell.

Lisa's eyes roamed the small cell, frowning at the small space and the freestanding plumbing. Another groan left her, as Enigma laid out on one of the beds once more, wondering how long her brother would make her wait.

For hours, Lisa paced the cell, shifting in her uncomfortable prison garb.

"Would you sit the fuck down, little girl?"

"Shut up before I make you, Iggy." Lisa glared at the woman, continuing to pace but clenching her fists ready to knock her teeth out. "I won't be here long, so kept your trap closed."

"Oh yeah," Enigma's lip curled, crossing her arms with a sarcastic laugh, reclining back against the wall. "You got a good lawyer or something?"

"I got a good brother."

"Ha! What's he gonna do?" She laughed more. "Bust you out?"

"My brother's coming," Lisa said, continuing her loop around the small cell like a caged tigress waiting for her chance to be free. "Count on it."

The redhead's lip curled into a sneer at the sureness in Lisa's voice, her gaze narrowing on the brunette. Her frustration at not being broken out yet was more than apparent in her glare.

Lisa didn't stop pacing, much to Enigma's ire, watching the guards and keeping track of their schedule and the time. It wasn't long after lights out that she heard it, the echoing sounds of chaos within the prison. She slowed her pacing, trying to see down the hall as lights began to flicker, and red warning lights flashed on.

Lisa stopped in her tracks, head tilting at the faint sound of the liquid nitrogen bombs hissing against the outer wall beneath all the chaos. Her body turned towards the sound, eyes roving over the wall and breathing out a chilled breath as cold bloomed and weakened the concrete. Lisa moved quickly back from the cold that radiated from the weakening wall, covering her eyes and ducking her head when a loud thump sounded followed by crumbling concrete. The wall tumbled, cracking and crumbling down at the second pound from the outside.

"What the fuck?!" Enigma cried as the wall came crumbling down, heavy cinder block frozen and weak.

"Hey, big brother."

"Hello, little sister," Len drawled on the other side of where the cell wall used to be. "Come along," his eyes briefly flickering to Enigma before looking at Lisa through the dust. "Let's put an end to your solo days."

"Please, jail can't stop me," she said, taking her gun from her brother as she skipped over the frozen bricks. "I'll try again."

"It should slow you down," Len snarked as she walked past him, he raised his gun, taking aim at the guards he couldn't avoid, making sure no one could follow them.

"What," Lisa glanced to him, seeing the fire that had started on the far side of the prison and the riots that had ensued all for her. "You gonna stop busting me out?"

"No, but-"

"Then what, Lenny?" She pushed, aiming low and stopping guards in their tracks as they ran back out the way Len had entered. "I got pinched, it happens."

"It happened because you, once again, had no plan, Lis."

"I had a plan, it went to shit!" She defended as they ran through the hole Len had made through the closest outer walls.

"You needed my help."

"You said no, and I can pull a heist on my own."

"Clearly," he said nodding towards the building full of gunfire, screams, and fire as he covered the guards on the right while Lisa handled those on their left, keeping them back before he checked his watch.

"That's not fair, Lenny," she argued, glaring at him as they made their way to Mick and their running car.

"My dear little sister," Leonard gritted out, climbing into the passenger's side quickly. His head turned as Lisa slammed the back door shut behind her and Mick took off. When he looked at her and saw her hurt look, he corralled his anger with a sigh. "All I am trying to say is be careful."

Lisa's glare evaporated at her brother's concern as Mick aimed his own weapon out the driver's side window, shooting those putting up barricades before they could complete them. She shook her head, looking around them at the chaos her brother and Mick had brought just to get her. A smile filled her lips as the prison burned and the sounds of rioting and escaping prisoners filled the air.

"Thanks for picking me up."

"Always."

Mick nodded in agreement as Len handed her a bag of clothes to change into before getting more comfortable in his seat. Her smile didn't fade at the offered clothing, even as she looked through the horrid choices they had grabbed at random from her room. Despite her smile, she couldn't help but complain, just to tease them and get her brother's eyes rolling, knowing that Len would take all of it and stay. She knew it as well as she knew that Mick would laugh and join her in trying to get a reaction from the serious man she could always count on to have her back.

[silverview]

I love your tlw thoughts sm!! :D

I'm on like my sixth rewatch currently and I've been curious about how Chas seems to handle the "Mick" situation and I was wondering if you had any thoughts on that in particular?

aahh thank you so much!! ❤️❤️ that's such a good question! i will say as much as i have to say about it (very incoherent i'm afraid) + then would be VERY curious to hear your thoughts on the matter as well

it makes sense to me that chas doesn't react to the mick thing straight away. well, he tries to deny/avoid it, appropriately enough. he internalises the stress of it to avoid making it joe's problem. not necessarily the right or smart thing to do, but i genuinely think he is trying to be kind & generous by trying to ignore it. when he finally brings it up, it's reluctant �� apologetic, even. he only mentions it because he can't help it anymore. i think he dislikes being (or seeing himself as) the sort of person who always has to say what he's thinking. and he feels bad for bringing down the weekend.

so, focusing specifically on the confrontation scene, as it turns out i have a lot of feelings about that (i mean how could i not, it's such a good scene). it's serving an important purpose wrt chas's characterisation and, because it's a very well-written episode, it's all in service of making the final twist more painful

firstly: "i don't mind. it's just that we normally tell each other when we're flirting with someone, and we laugh about it." just to make sure you know it's not the texting someone else that bothers him, it's the possibility that joe could be keeping a secret from him. because oh how very OPEN and TRUTHFUL they usually are with each other! how they always tell each other everything!

secondly, when he finally works up the courage to confront joe about it, he is .... i want to say gentle about it. he's not angry, he doesn't even speak loud enough for joe to hear him. he's sad, vulnerable, apologetic & clearly ready to forgive; all he wants is the truth. he confesses his own kiss with another guy, even though he could easily have gotten away with not saying anything, which i think is particularly significant for once again underlining the value he's placing on honesty & openness. and he instantly accepts the explanation joe gives him with no evidence. } all of which to say:

essentially what we're seeing here is chas reaching a character development apex. literally in that confrontation scene i think we see the culmination of his personal journey over the past nine (or eighteen, or forty-eight) years, where he has finally become the sort of person who will handle this situation in this specific way. (draw a parallel with reaching the penultimate/"depression" stage of grief, where it falls in the episode.) in a different context, it might be something to celebrate. on the positive side, he is no longer the angry person he was 18 years ago! he no longer lashes out! he has learned compassion and is willing to take responsibility for his own mistakes! and to look at it through a darker lens: joe has finally finished manipulating him into the perfect victim! narratively this scene is the end of the road for chas, there's nowhere else he has left to go except his finale

when he finds out mick is a woman, he says: "i've never been so happy." :) that's how you know the end is nigh of course. the betrayal isn't brutal enough unless it comes at the exact moment of maximum contentment, trust, and love. essentially the whole mick ordeal is there to test his trust in joe, to make sure it's finally 1000% solid and ready to be exploded

– by that i mean the script put it there to test him as a narrative device, but i suspect it was also an in-universe test/game. you're telling me joe has maintained this elaborate deception for years, and now suddenly he's leaving his phone lying around? he was doing it on purpose, to set chas up for the "worry -> relief & Peak Happiness -> ultimate betrayal" pipeline. absolute mad lad. someone capable of that has got to be INCREDIBLE in bed. makes you wonder what other little games he set up to torment chas over the years

[ummick]

Mick Schumacher On Fashion, Le Mans and Fronting Tommy Hilfiger's New Campaign

It's a big year for sports, as the Paris Olympics near, tennis champs prep for Wimbledon, and the Euros inch closer. In the midst of it all Tommy Hilfiger is getting in on the action with the release of an International Games collection. Refashioning timeless icons for the new generation, the collection is a modern interpretation of the brand's 1996 capsule collection released to celebrate the Olympics arriving in Atlanta, reworking track-ready styles including archival varsity jackets, rugby jerseys and basketball vests in Tommy's signature red, white and blue. Speaking on the new collection, Hilfiger says: "The sporting calendar sets the cultural pulse for the year, and 2024's shaping up to be amazing. We're building on our legacy of working with pioneers in sport and reimagining timeless American icons through an archival lens." To front the campaign, the US house has turned to the global sporting stage to curate a team of athletes who embody the brand's spirit, including All-Pro NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs, college basketball guard Deja Kelly, star of the all-Japan skateboarding association Aori Nishimura, and Formula 1 driver and current member of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, Mick Schumacher. Ahead of the collection drop, in the conversation below we speak to Schumacher about his first memories of Tommy Hilfiger, his personal style, and prepping for Le Mans.

Ella Joyce: "What was it like working with Tommy Hilfiger? Do you have personal memories of the brand?" Mick: "It was great! Not only is it exciting to wear Tommy and to have attended the NYFW show with all the exceptional details, but to be a part of the campaign and the bigger brand story is just incredible. A personal memory for me is when the brand worked with Ferrari back in the day, before their current partnership with the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team. My dad used to bring back so much kit and, honestly, I was just running around as the best-dressed kid in school!" EJ: "How does the campaign resonate with you?" Mick: "I really believe Tommy was able to create something that brings both sport and style to the table. I'm sporty, I love to do my workouts and be active outdoors, and to be able to do that fashionably is so important. I was so happy to be part of this campaign with other athletes, too. It was amazing to get to know them better and see how their sport and personalities impact their individual styles." EJ: "Off the track, how would you describe your personal style?" Mick: "I think the best word would be 'changeable.' I love to experiment and try new things with my style. I think you can see this across my social media, but I would probably look different if you saw me on the street two days in a row. From a classic look to a more casual or baggy streetwear look, I love the creativity that comes with personal style. It's so fun."

EJ: "You're currently competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. How's it going? What's coming up next for you?" Mick: "Yes, we just had our first race in Qatar, a ten-hour race! It was the first time I had to be on for that amount of time while learning and experiencing that type of race, but it was an interesting run. We learned a lot as a team. One of the cars even scored points, so it proves that we're on pace and the project is moving in the right direction, especially as everyone is gearing up for Le Mans." EJ: "Do you have any pre-race rituals?" Mick: "I don't, actually. It depends on how I'm feeling in the moment. If I'm nervous or stressed, or whatever it is, I'll always try to adapt to what's happening. Maybe one day I'm nervous so I have to work on calming down, and another day I'm too calm so I have to pump myself up. It all depends on the day."

EJ: "You're photographed alongside a host of other athletes for the campaign. How do you think your generation of athletes compares to generations which have come before?" Mick: "I think we are really different to athletes from the previous generation. Of course, social media and phones have made an impact, but it's also because we're so precise about what we're doing. We have strict training and a solid laid-out plan in front of us on how to achieve our desired results. We have so much research and information which leads our way, while back in the day it was more experimental." EJ: "America and collegiate heritage heavily inspire Tommy Hilfiger. Is there a specific place which inspires you?" Mick: "The racetrack. I've always been a part of it, from doing laps in a car to just being on the track. In terms of style, I've always been interested in fashion, most likely inspired by my dad at a young age; however, my girlfriend is heavily involved in the fashion world, so it's helpful when I need to know what looks good and what doesn't. Inspiration is all around, so it depends on where I look!"

[hawkstincan]

For the ship/don't ship ask: coldflash coldwave leo/ray (his Ray, not Mick's Ray. What is their ship name?)

Ship It

coldflash

What made you ship it?

I can’t even remember if I started watching the show or read a coldflash fic first. that’s just a new level of not cooperating, jeez brain. anyway. i got obsessed with them. i never had an otp before coldflash. but for the first couple of years in fandom i could read nothing but coldflash. it was coldflash or nothing. they tick all my ship boxes. age difference? yep. tried to kill each other? yep (well Barry wanted to put Len in jail, but still counts xD). have fascinating chemistry on screen? yep. cheerful vs emotionally constipated? yep.

2. What are your favorite things about the ship?

their core values are quite similar: they do anything for their loved ones. Len just loves less people than Barry. i love their dynamics. Len goes on and on about what a bad guy he is… and yet he helps out, makes deal and then decides to play a hero on a time travelling spaceship. he’s dramatic, he’s ruthless, he can be evil when he wants to… but with Barry he often seems just playful. they kinda clicked in my brain. and there are lots of tropes i adore in coldflash fics. like they shouldn’t work together, but against all odds they do. honestly some scenes in the show are just so charged!

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

i don’t think i have one? so far everything i thought or saw about them was quite popular among shippers.

coldwave

huh, kinda a secret third option? i like it as a ship, but i can’t say i really ship it. i always struggle not to put Barry in the middle when i think about them.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

they are a package deal. doesn't matter if they are lovers or brothers, they are a package deal. and they have vibes of an old married couple.

2. Why don’t you ship it?

Barry Allen. yeah. just. i’m not as obsessed as i was… but coldflash is my otp. my brain puts coldflash everywhere until stated otherwise (doesn't always helps). i don’t really ship Len with anyone other than Barry. and if Barry with someone else i headcanon that he and Len are close.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

nope. i like this ship through the eyes of the shippers. the view is quite amazing. i really wish i could fully enjoy it.

coldray (leo/ray)

What made you ship it?

i’m weak and they are adorable. these two deserve to be alive and happy together!

2. What are your favorite things about the ship?

well, I haven't engaged with the ship much. which i hope to change in the future.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

nope. i didn’t think of them enough to form any opinions. yet.

[starry-eyed-extraterrestrial]

So I said I had a one shot in mind for if Nikki didn't make his usual Mick birthday tweet, and it's already quite late so I don't think it's happening (late in America anyway, over here it's already seven am the next day) so here's that angst fic I promised.

It's six thirty when Mick finally decides to open twitter. He's just had cake with Seriana that she made herself along with his favourite kind of pasta and earlier that same day they'd gone out on a bit of a nature walk together, no real words shared between them just comfortable silence and the enjoyment of each other's company. And now, with his love in the kitchen washing the dishes,it was time to look through all the birthday wishes he'd gotten on social media today and thank everyone for taking time out of their day to think about him and congratulate him on becoming even more ancient then he already was.

He squints his eyes then adjusts his glasses on his face and pulls his iPad off the dining room table and closer to his face to actually be able to read what the people said. Shit, he probably needed to renew his glasses soon and get a stronger lens. Besides that little annoyance, the birthday wishes make him very happy and he can't help the smile that slips onto his face at the sheer amount of people who care about an old fossil like him.

After looking through most of the messages and posts Mick gets his keyboard out and ready to make a tweet of his own. He types the message out using two fingers and posts it right away.

“Thank you everybody for the happy birthday luv. Also many many thank you's for liking my solo stuff as well. 

Peace and love back to all of you👽”

He feels so glad in this moment and leans back in his chair to  just take a second to appreciate everything he has and everything he's accomplished.

The easy smile is wiped from his face however when a tiny intrusive thought slips into his mind. He looks down at his tablet again. Should he look…

No, it was stupid Nikki would have tagged him like he does every year when he wishes him happy birthday and since he didn't see Nikki's post between any of the other birthday posts and messages he knows he's not getting one this year. Or likely any year after this with how pissed Nikki is at him.

Mick and Nikki are the same in a lot of ways, but in one place they differ. Mick gets over things quickly and Nikki may forgive but he never forgets. So it's safe to say that the years of Nikki's annual birthday posts for him are just lost to time forever. 

That thought makes him.. uncomfortable is the only way he can describe it, not sad exactly, he'd known what he was getting himself into with the lawsuit in the first place,he just feels kinda weird about the whole situation. 

Does this mean he shouldn't wish him a happy birthday this year either- would it be weird now? Would his birthday wish to Nikki feel more like a birthday wish from a stranger to him? Mick contemplates this, but not for very long as he pulls his tablet closer to his face again.

Just to be safe, Mick searches Nikki's name in the spacebar, he's typing a lot slower then he usually would, he knows that it's because he doesn't want to see. Doesn't want to confirm that their relationship is so frayed that Nikki can't even wish him happy birthday online, nevermind to his face by FaceTiming him for a minute.

He doesn't want to know that he and Nikki will most likely never be close again and that their relationship will most likely never return to even a quarter of what it was, even if they did make up. He and Nikki would become like Tommy and Vince, the two of them best friends at some point only to years later only really speak to each other for business reasons and in interviews to save face in public. He didn't want that for him and Nikki, but if it had to be so then…he supposes it has to be so. He's certainly not gonna go crawling back to Nikki and apologise for something he's not even in the wrong for.

When Mick finally opens Nikki's page, he's not surprised to see no mention of him and he suddenly feels very stupid for thinking that there would be any message waiting for him at all. He's suing them for Christ sake, Nikki's hardly gonna jump at the chance to even think about him let alone wish him a happy birthday. 

Mick decides that that's enough internet for him for one day. He sets the tablet down on the table and suddenly feels quite out of sorts. He then feels two warm arms wrap around his shoulders.

“Hey baby, what's wrong?” Seriana whispered in his ear, making chills go up his spine. He feels better almost instantly.

“Nothing now that you're here” he says and he knows it's cheesy and he can feel serianna roll her eyes in amusement at his half joke.

The rest of the night Mick doesn't even think about it. Why should he?There's nothing he can physically do to change the outcome he just received, it's his own fault that it's like this anyway, so why complain really. 

But later that night when he's in bed and midnight rolled around, he was up staring at the ceiling, letting the knowledge that he and Nikki weren't friends anymore sink in and when it does all he can think about is how he probably shouldn't send a birthday wish to Nikki on his birthday. 

He knows Nikki doesn't like it when strangers get his number and message him.

[bluedalahorse]

Still thinking about Erik and Linda in that post I just reblogged, and how they show up in fic.

One thing I’m thinking about, is how I’ve never fretted over whether or not to add a tag for imperfect Linda, but I’m currently fretting about whether to add a tag for imperfect Erik, or what tags I should add to give people a heads up about him. I don’t know what that says about our collective response to those two characters, or say, how we view mothers vs older brothers and the roles they should play.

The other thing things brings up for me is how important (but how untalked about by fandom) point of view is in fanfic. I’m guessing most fanfic is written from Wilhelm’s point of view, when it isn’t written from Simon’s. From Wilhelm’s point of view, as long as we’re pre-s3, Erik is going to be a supportive older brother, the person who weathered life as a kid royal alongside him. Meanwhile, Linda is going to seem warm and kind to him, compared to Kristina. Wilhelm doesn’t have to live with Linda every day, so he might have a rosier view of her than he would otherwise.

As someone who generally writes from the POVs of Sara and August, however, Linda and Erik occupy much different spaces in their brain. Sara sees Linda as someone who didn’t leave Micke fast enough, who is constantly putting Sara’s little brother in a position to parent Sara and limit her independence. Of course Sara is going to resent that! And if I’m writing Linda in a fic from Sara’s POV, of course those traits are going to be framed through a different lens than if Wille were the POV character. In this canon divergence I’m writing, where Sara Eriksson (age 16 and playing hooky from her public school classes) shows up on Hillerska’s campus one day… well, of course Erik is going to interact with a working class girl very differently than he would members of his immediate family. And Sara’s not going to have the warm connection with him that Wilhelm does. To her, he is a face on the news, and not even a face she thinks is particularly cute.

August, meanwhile, has a complicated as fuck relationship with Erik. In light of season 3, a lot of fans ask how August went from being bullied by Erik and the third years to being friends with Erik and the third years. For the sake of fic writing and also understanding the show, I tend to see this less as a linear timeline where first year August went from Bullied to Accepted and more that all of these things were happening at once, because that does happen IRL in some relationships. In some ways Erik is August’s lifeline—the only family August has at school, and what’s more, August has convinced himself that other people only pay attention to him because Erik makes them include him sometimes. Meanwhile, however, Erik is putting August through a lot of bullying/hazing/torment with the intention of like, “oh, this is how we train you up as an acceptable upper class man.” Erik sees himself as doing the right thing because the men in his life have done this for him, and August sees it as care because it’s what his father did for him before he died but also… it’s stifling August and killing him. He’s in denial about it because confronting the fact that this is hurting him, and acknowledging that Erik is hurting him this way, makes August worried that he’d be completely alone. And he already feels alone in his grief.

Anyway. I really enjoy writing the mix of yearning and resentment that comes with that, even if it’s emotionally difficult.

In conclusion, a lot of the positive vs negative characterization of certain characters comes down to POV and I think that’s why we should talk about POV in fanfiction more. (Because it really is just. So delicious.)

[orange-imagines]

hey heyyyy, you got any takes on what Leonard would be like in a romantic relationship? :eyesemoji:

Relationship: Romantic

A/N: YESSIR right away sir o7

Congrats! You and Len finally finished your five-year-long romantically charged pining phase! What next?

Personally, I don't think Leonard's been in a committed relationship before. He's had dates and people who have struck his fancy in the past, but he had a lot more walls up back then and, in general, is someone who needs others to really take the time to get to know him. He doesn't hit it off with anyone right away, he doesn't believe in love at first sight, and he doesn't like people who try to pester him to be his friend or push him to let his guard down when he isn't ready. He likes you because you understand that, and you've put in the time and effort to respect his boundaries and go at the pace he's comfortable with. Patience is a virtue that he really respects, especially when it comes from you.

He's still a relatively slow mover after you two get together, but now he has bursts of impulsiveness that will catch you off guard whenever they happen. Your first kiss happened completely out of the blue when he just felt the urge to kiss you. He said the L word for the first time in the back of the van after a successful heist- right behind Mick and Dan. He can get embarrassed and stumble over his words sometimes, sure, but when something really matters to him he says it outright and without shame, and anyone who wants to make fun of him can deal with their head being put through a wall.

He's a protective partner. Not in the way that he gets into it with anyone who looks at you wrong- he's good at ignoring people who bother him and he trusts you to handle yourself and let him know if you need him to back you up. He'll hold your bag or jacket if you want to go tell someone off and watch you fondly the whole time, but if someone tries to mess with you and you're not in the mood, Len's not afraid to knock their teeth out then and there, no hesitation. He doesn't care who they are: anyone who tries to start on you is immediately on his shit list. He doesn't care about the consequences.

You get to see Leonard at his softest and gentlest, more than anyone else. It's something that he's used to struggling with, but he has such an easy time letting his guard down around you in a way that he can't explain. It feels weird for him not to talk to you about what's on his mind and tell you everything that's going on with him and the boys at the moment. He really like getting to lay back with his head in your lap while he talks to you- and, yes, he'll even let you play with his hair while he does. It's seeped with hairspray and other products, but once you get through all that it's very soft and well taken care of, especially if you get to it before he's had time to puff it up for the day. He might grumble, but he loves the feeling of your hands in his hair so please keep at it.

Speaking of hair, he really likes doing yours. He can occupy himself for hours just sitting beside you and shaking your hair out, running his fingers through it, putting it in several different styles while you do your own thing. He'll give you some attitude if you move a lot ("Just sit still! You're messing me up!") but his face is cute when he concentrates, especially when he's holding bobby pins or hair ties between his teeth.

He thinks he's hot shit but he's so easy to tease sometimes. Give him an "aw, you like holding my hand?" or "you like spending time with me? That's sweet" and watch him go "whatever!" and get all warm in the face. Be prepared for retribution in the future, though. He's still a cocky little shitty who likes to fluster you when the opportunity arises.

He loves gossiping with you. Please bitch and complain to him, it's literally his love language. He gets so much joy out of hearing you rant about work drama/shitty friends + family/random incidents that bothered you throughout the day. He'll be doing the same thing himself because he's a closet drama queen, and he can go back and forth with you for hours about his pet peeves and people who annoy him. He just loves being a little hater with you.

He usually calls you by your name or some variation of "babe". He's not great at sappy pet names, but if you use any on him you'll see it have an instant effect: him averting you gaze with a red face, fighting back a smile, muttering "you're so cheesy". He loves it though, don't let him fool you.

He hums and mumbles through song lyrics absentmindedly while he works, so you get your own private show whenever you help him with his plans. If you recognize what he's singing, feel free to harmonize with him- he likely won't even realize it until he wraps up his tune. He finds this habit of his funny, if not a bit embarrassing (compliment him on his voice afterward, I dare you).

Honestly, not a whole lot changes when you guys get together- apart from the obvious romantic affection. For the most part he just acts like your best friend. You're someone he doesn't have to worry about putting up a front around because he knows you know him better than that. He puts a huge amount of trust in you, which makes him feel squishy and vulnerable, but he's found himself liking it a lot more than he ever thought he would. And he loves you for that.

[gorogues]

Where do you think the Rogues are on the DC Morality Scale? Are they Like Red Hood, John Constantine or Starfire? Could you elaborate?

Unfortunately the Rogues run the gamut of morality, so this is a challenging question to answer! We've got Hartley, who grew so much over time that he even became a hero, people like Mick and James who've gone through periods of reform and genuine goodness but also moments of being a real bastard at times, guys like Len who have a strong moral code but no interest in regularly doing good…and guys who are deeply selfish and mean and would only do a good deed if there was something in it for them. Mark was planning to cut open his son to discover the secrets of his powers, although at least he eventually thought better of it and developed ambivalent feelings about the kid (he claimed he didn't care about Josh, and yet clearly did when the baby was killed by Inertia). But that's not a man with much of a moral code. Marco -- the version of him since the New 52 began -- seems to have a stronger moral centre, but he's been so loosely developed that it's hard to know what he thinks about most things.

The question is also complicated by the fact that some have really changed over time: as we discussed the other day, Evan started out with firm moral principles but has become steadily worse under different writers, and Roscoe has basically been two different people pre-death and post-death. I'm not going to say he was an amazing person before death because he had a moment of weapons-grade assholery once he realized he was dying, but generally he was easy-going and not cruel. That definitely changed after he died. And as also discussed recently, Lisa was regularly a spiteful asshole back in the day but since the New 52 began has become the 'nice' Rogue with a strong moral centre (though she does get pushed into rage occasionally). So this is very much a period-specific question.

If you're talking about the Rogues as a group -- let's say the Johns-era Rogues -- they're probably similar to Constantine in the sense that they're often deeply selfish but at least some of them will do the right thing when necessary. And the thing about that era is that Johns gave them an extremely strong leader who rarely brooked dissent, so even if Mark or Evan didn't give a shit about a particular good deed, they'd still go along with it because the boss thought it was necessary. This effect doesn't necessarily happen in eras when the Rogues are more loosely organized, so one guy might really care about an injustice but the others don't and thus they don't help out. I'm sure that's a big reason Hartley and James left and Mick would periodically strike out on his own; they probably felt that the jerks were dragging them down. But even during loosely organized eras the Rogues didn't always act like monsters, because for the most part they aren't monsters. Literally all of them, including the 'nice' Rogues, have done at least one truly heinous thing in their ~60-year history, but for the most part that isn't who they are.

So overall, I'd compare them to Constantine, but some of them are more like his benevolent moments and some are more like his dick moments. And some in the modern era are notably more malevolent than he. Modern Hartley has some similarities to Starfire's unerring sense of good, though in the distant past he could be a huge jerk sometimes. None have ever been all-good or all-bad, so it can be difficult to compare them to other characters who aren't similarly morally grey…that's what makes your comparison to Constantine very apt.

[kitkatt0430]

I am already intrigued by Hartley/Barry/Cisco with the same shitty ex (Eobard) mention

So I'll have to take my time to workshop this some, but the event isn't until July 14th so I've got plenty of time to shine this idea up. But.

AU-land here, where Professor Thawne works at CCU. Or did. He's being fired after a grad student - Barry - came forward to admit that he'd been taken advantage of by the Professor and now lots of current and former students are coming out of woodwork because Thawne threatened their grades if they didn't sleep with them or etcetera.

There'd be some establishing flashbacks as they all had very different experiences with Eobard. He wooed Hartley then stole his research and ruined Hartley's relationship with his parents by outing him to them. While he was in the screwing Hartley over stage of things, he took up with Cisco who was able to get out of the relationship before things went sour and was only really aware in retrospect that it was a very toxic and power imbalanced relationship for him and that Eobard probably pitted him against Hartley deliberately so as to prevent them from realizing how he was using them. Barry was not directly one of Eobard's students but quickly realized he was being used for a.) his research and b.) as revenge on his parents for his mom snubbing Eobard when they were much younger... well...

So they all meet on campus, Barry's worried that this could affect the PhD he's about to finish up, Hartley and Cisco are reluctantly apologizing to each other and admitting they've got more in common with each other than they realized... and both vowing to make sure that Barry gets his degree since he was the first one out of so many who was brave enough to speak out about what was going on. And the three of them wind up at the campus coffee house just talking until a ridiculous hour of the morning when one of them jokes about this being what a nice first date really ought to be like. And...

They're like... why not? Why not have this be their first date? Why not go on more dates, to see if they work as a trio.

Fast forward to Eobard catching sight of them a year later and realizing they're on a date. His three most hated exes. And they're just kind of like 'ah, thanks, if you hadn't been a shitty, toxic influence on our lives then we never would have found such a healthy relationship with each other afterwards.'

Eobard - *life ruined, steaming with rage, blaming these three in particular for rallying the rest and Barry especially for being the first domino*

Hartley/Barry/Cisco - *too busy being happy together to give Eobard the time of day*

Admittedly, there's room for a canon AU in there too as an alternative take on the prompt. But I feel like a non-canon AU gives more breathing space for having Eobard date and break up with all three of them separately before they all meet up with the intention of destroying his reputation beyond repair.

I'm eying several other prompts on there going oh this one's a good Westhallen prompt (Love triangle? No!) or thinking how I've never written Len/Mick/Sara before but the criminal 4 criminal 4 criminal one could be fun for them, there are several I'm kinda going 'hmmmm, Barrisco???'... and I haven't done Oliver/Felicity/Dig since Telephone, but the friend group goes through trauma prompt does seem very them...

So I'll see what I write between now and July and maybe I'll hit a few of these. :D

[arandomaquarius]

“Concussive Sound” Pt. 1

TW: Implied Car Accident, Injury, Vomit (brief but it’s there), Panic Attack, Concussions, Swearing/Cursing, Not Proofread

Summary: Piper gets a concussion. That’s it. That’s the summary :/

Characters: Captain Cold, Heatwave, Trickster I, Mirror Master I, Captain Boomerang I, Pied Piper

A/N: this does not follow any canon. Some characters may be ooc, please be nice this is my first time writing these characters. Constructive criticism is welcome. P.s. I am aware this is exaggerated hearing loss from a concussion. I just wanted to write Piper with a concussion based loosely on my experience but I’ve been meaning to write his reaction to suddenly losing his hearing for an amount of time. I decided to kill two birds with one stone :/

~Text under the cut~

“Why can’t we travel by mirrors again?” Sam complains for about the fifth time today. Piper rolls his eyes from where he’s sat in the back.

“Because, Sam, it’s not that far, and traveling by mirror makes the rest of us sick. Now shut up,” Len snaps from the passenger seat. “Take a left here and continue ‘til ya get to a four-way intersection,” he adds, directing Mick where to go.

Beside Piper sits JJ, who’s currently turned around in his seat to annoy Digger with puppets. Digger and Sam are purposely put in the very back, where they can’t bother Len (mostly).

“C’mon Sammy, cheer up!” James mocks in a high-pitched voice while animatedly moving a Trickster hand puppet in Sam’s face.

Sam shoves the puppet harshly, causing a saddened squeak to come from the mini Trickster. It deflates in on itself, and James pouts at the brunette. “Well, ya don’t gotta be so rude!” He huffs and cradles the puppet to his face.

Len turns around angrily, “Jesse! Turn around, put your damn seatbelt on, and shut your trap!”

James slinks down in his seat sullenly, arms crossed and face scrunched up as he sticks his tongue out. He looks like the epitome of a five-year-old pouting.

“Someone’s not very good at keeping their cool,” he mutters under his breath.

Again, Piper rolls his eyes at his companions’ antics, this time with a repressed smile. He pulls out his phone and switches the song to something else. No one complains. They don’t complain because they all know they’d have to fight Piper. If Piper is in the vehicle, he chooses the music, end of story.

He stashes his phone back in his hoodie pocket as “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone plays through the car speakers.

They’re stopped at the four-way intersection by a flashing red light. Mick looks both ways before going to turn left.

There’s a loud sound coming towards them before the world jerks and whirls around. The sounds of breaking glass, airbags activating, and screaming surround Piper. His head slams against the door.

.

.

.

Piper shrugs the hand off his shoulder. It returns and continues to lightly hit him. He shrugs it off a few more times before realizing it won’t go away.

Piper huffs and squints his eyes open. Light immediately assaults him, and he winces noiselessly as he shuts his eyes again. He pushes himself up from his leaning position against the door.

Everything hurts: his head; his eyes; his sides. Only his ears didn't hurt, strangely.

Carefully, Piper squints his eyes open. He has to open them more to see the figure trying to get his attention. It was James, sky-blue eyes wide and hair disheveled.

His mouth is moving quickly, but no sound is coming out. Piper’s brows furrow in confusion. He opens his mouth to speak to James and ask what he is saying.

No sound comes out.

Piper worriedly swallows and tries again.

Still no sound.

Piper brings a hand to his throat and tries to speak. It takes a few futile attempts, but he can feel the vibrations through his throat indicating that he is making noise.

But he can’t hear it.

Piper locks eyes with James, seeing his own panic reflected in those blue eyes. Piper reaches up to his ears. There’s nothing to indicate they bled.

It’s getting difficult to breathe now. The world feels like it’s spinning again, and Piper’s head throbs painfully. Everything is too bright. Everything is too silent.

The van feels like it’s closing in on him, and he presses his hands against the seats to steady himself.

Piper looks around for the door handle. He fumbles with it and falls out of the SUV. Piper pulls himself up and almost falls over when he stands. He shakes his head to clear the nausea away.

Piper looks around dazedly. There’s bright lights of emergency service vehicles. Piper shields his eyes with his arm and steps back.

There’s a man in front of him (when did he get there?). He’s wearing dark blue (like a police officer) and teal gloves. His mouth is moving, not as fast as James’ was, but Piper still can’t tell what he’s saying.

The world sways and the man becomes distant, despite not moving.

Piper’s surrounded by bricks. The nausea returns full force when Piper meets the concrete ground.

His body shakes as he empties his stomach on the alleyway floor. Black spots dance in his vision as he lays on the filthy ground.

Piper’s mind feels fuzzy. His limbs feel like lead. Even breathing hurts.

He can’t even remember how he got here, wherever “here” was. What had happened before? He vaguely remembers the car ride with the Rogues.

The Rogues.

He left them. They’re going to be pissed at him for managing to get himself in this position. Especially Len; for a man going by the alias “Captain Cold” he isn’t cold-hearted. In fact, he’s quite the opposite at times.

The world is soothingly dark, and without noise, it’s easy to slip into unconsciousness.

.

.

.

Piper isn’t sure what wakes him. He does know that he’s in a different place than he was. Instead of cold concrete, there’s a worn and squishy surface underneath him. It seems familiar, but opening his eyes feels like too much of an effort.

So instead, Piper does what he normally does: he listens. But there are no sounds to listen to. Not even his own breathing and heartbeat can be heard.

It’s such a long forgotten feeling, waking up to silence. He feels disconnected from reality, like he’s in some kind of surreal dream. Like he is underwater and floating in nothingness all at the same time. It makes his skin crawl.

Begrudgingly, Piper opens his eyes. He’s pleasantly surprised when darkness greets him instead of searing light. In the dim light, Piper recognizes where he is: the Rogues’ safehouse.

He was here this morning- or at least, he was here before he left with the others. Before the car ride.

Piper carefully sits up. He’s on the only mattress in the building, covered with a fleece blanket. He is still wearing his civvies.

He throws the blanket off and goes to stand. He wobbles, but he doesn’t fall. His body aches horrendously, but he doesn’t want to be alone, so he forces himself to search the warehouse for someone.

Piper spots light coming from under a door. He quietly (at least, he thinks he’s being quiet; it’s kinda hard to tell when you can’t exactly hear) pads over to the door. Immediately, he has to resist the instinct to tilt his head to hear what’s happening on the other side.

He takes a deep breath before turning the handle and opening the door.

Regret is the first thing Piper feels when bright lights cause him to shield his face from their attack. The second is large hands guiding him to a chair.

Warily, he unshields his face and forces himself to look at whichever Rogue is in front of him. He’s surprised to see more than one crowding around him.

Len, Sam, James, and Mick are all standing around Piper. He assumes Mick is the one who guided him to a sitting position, as he is the closest and has a steadying hand on Piper’s arm.

Before he can think to ask questions, a light is shining in his eyes. He goes to look away only to have someone firmly grasp his jaw. As quickly as the light appeared, it leaves.

Piper has to blink a few times to be able to see properly again. The hand on his jaw is snapping in front of him, and Piper follows its motions. The snapping stops and Len crouches down to Piper’s eye level.

Len speaks. Or, at least, his mouth is moving, and Piper just has to assume that Len is, in fact, speaking at him.

Piper squints at Len’s moving lips. It makes his head hurt too much and he gives up before he can play the guessing game of lip-reading.

He slumps in the chair, tired and confused. It must be some sort of signal to the others, because they back up.

He couldn’t hear. He had lost his hearing.

[thisismeracing]

I’m so sorry about how long this was…didn’t realize until after I finished typing it all out😅

So I’ve only been in the fandom for a little over a year (but I hyper fixated, and may have had to look into alllll the drivers before I picked the ones I like); so to my knowledge Mick is super low key about everything that’s not racing. He’s said in an interview that he’s actually gotten shyer the older he’s gotten and he noticed the biggest shift was when he was in F2. But over all I think the whole Schumi family is pretty private; and I think growing up but that environment let go how close he keeps everything to his chest.

As for Charles…I love the boy don’t get me wrong, but the more I know about him the more I question. He’s alway, always been a big deal. Always been in the media and it seems like he’s always been a homie hopper. Like his 1st public relationship was with G, lasted about 3-4 years and then they broke up, couple months later he’s dating Char (there’s been speculation that the girls were BFFs but it’s never been confirmed that they were anything other than friends). Same thing with Char, date 3-4 years, break up and then new relationship with one of her friends a couple months later.And they all look very similar. I feel like Charles is one of those guys that’s a serial monogamist; but I don’t think he’s going to end up settling down for more than a couple years until he retires. I don’t think it really helps that he’s always been “il Predestinato” either.

A serial monogamist, I- oop HAHAHAH I get ur point, nonny. I think maybe he just likes the whole dynamic of a relationship, I have friends like this, and it's pretty common tbh (or maybe, he just doesn’t really like the hook-up thing and goes for the serious side of the road), I dunno. But let’s not forget that it must be harder to keep a relationship with the constant traveling and racing schedule.

I think Charles is v human. Dating someone for four years then starting a new relationship then ending it and starting another is the most common thing in the world, but as you pointed out people see him as “il predestinato” so everything he does goes through judgmental lens.