#Things to Do in Mauritius | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

royallyprincesslilly · 1 year ago

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Title: What We Did In The Dark {4}

Lewis Hamilton x Reader

Warning: Language, 18+ Mature Content, Angst, Small Time Jumps, Preggo Talk, Pregnancy Trope, Talk of Pregnancy Termination

Words: 6.2k

Summary: Neither of you planned any of it. You’d met by chance, and everything that happened after had to have been predestined. Now back to your own life, you find you have a special souvenir from your time in Mauritius and you have a tough decision to make.

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What We Did In The Dark {1}**** | What We Did In The Dark {2}* |

What We Did In The Dark {3} |

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Four: Into The Unknown

-Y/N-

“Ah, Y/N. Welcome back. I am very happy to see you again,” Dr. Olumichi said as she got comfortable in the high rolling stool.

“Are you?”

“Yes of course. I also knew I would see you again,” she added.

“I didn’t even know I would see you again.”

She chuckled, “I’ve been in the business of babies for a long time, and I’ve developed a skill for knowing who will rise to the occasion and who will choose to have more time to get there.”

“It was touch or go there for a week or two,” you admitted.

“But here we are,” Villie finished.

The three of you smiled.

“Right where you were meant to be,” Dr. Olumichi said as she rolled closer.

“This is Villie, my best friend.”

“And babies’ auntie,” Villie filled in.

Dr. Olumichi smiled then shook Villie’s hand. “Nice to meet you Villie. What an interesting name.”

“I promise it’s not short for villian, just to put that out there.

Dr. Olumichi laughed loudly.

“It’s short for Valenza. Here’s my card in case you ever need an attorney who has got your back for your interests and not my own like other attorneys if you know what I mean.”

All your eyes met, and an unspoken understanding sparked between you. She knew just what Villie meant.

“Thank you Villie. All right, so 1st official prenatal appointment. How exciting, yeah?”

You took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah.”

It didn’t sound believable but hey, it was still early.

“Don’t worry. When we get to the main event--,” Dr Olumichi gestured to the sonogram machine. “You’ll be whistling a different tune. Ultrasounds and sonograms are completely different experiences. All right so you are precisely 19 weeks. Welcome to your 5th month. You are practically halfway there.”

“Already? She just started,” Villie chimed in.

“She didn’t. It’s just that she just found out about it because this was a cryptic pregnancy, a definite one especially seeing that they are twins. You’ve gone through the normal time for morning sickness and the drain of energy. The next 2 months are known as the sweet spot of pregnancy, your energy levels out often times you get some energy. It’s known as the most comfortable time before you are too big to move or see your feet. So enjoy this time.”

You nodded and tried to remain present and not panic. As Dr. Olumichi explained what was happening inside of your body with the babies then to your body with you, she went further to explain what you should expect over the next few weeks. As she listed some of the not so cute and fun things to expect your face went from neutral to slightly worried. She immediately noticed and did her best to soothe any worries by offsetting them with more realistic positives.

“You look overwhelmed,” Dr. Olumici said taking a break from information dumping.

You sighed, then took a deep breath. “It’s a lot to take in.”

“I can imagine. However, you are in good hands Y/N. I’ve been doing this a long time and the way I work with my moms to be is in a partnership. You worry about remaining healthy and stress free and taking your vitamins and precautions for your safety and I will handle the rest. I will help ensure that you are ready for what happens in fourish months and immediately after.”

Her smile was warm and her eyes kind and instantly you felt at ease.

“Here at Mom to Be & Baby to Be we are more than just gynecology and obstetrics. I pride myself on this organizations work with really working with mothers and ensuring that they have all the resources and help for this lifetime journey. A more prepared mom is a happier and more successful mom,” Dr. Olumici finished.

“That sounds amazing,” Villie said. “Oh my god, Y/N, she’s amazing.”

You smiled and nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. The remainder of the appointment progressed with Dr. Olumici going over your blood work and levels while explaining any risks that were relevant to you. She then took care with measuring your belly growth as well as the babies inside. When she set up the sonogram machine both you and Villie perked up.

“All right the main event. Another thing to think about is if you want to know the sex of the babies.”

“Of course,” Villie squeaked before you could even process the sentence.

She spun around to look at you then made a “yikes” face. “Yes, right?”

You thought for a minute but just as you were going to say yes you thought about experiencing that moment with Lewis. When you thought that you nearly rolled your eyes into the back of your skull. How in the hell would you experience it with him? He didn’t even know and for all you knew he would probably deny that they were his. You must have remained silent for too long or your face betrayed your conflict because Villie’s hand engulfed yours.

“It’s okay. We don’t have to find out.”

“No um—I was just thinking—yeah we can find out. that would be nice.”

“Are you sure? If you would want to wait for the father or some other time--.”

Villie gasped, “Is that your hang up? That is an option, it could be a good thing to wait for him it could be something to ease the news down.”

You shook your head. “No, no. I want to know.”

“Okay. Then let’s give these movie stars their close up,” Dr. Olumici joked as you grabbed the bottle of gel and stood from her stool.

You watched as she squirted an ample amount of gel onto your protruding belly. It was warmer than you’d expected, and you guessed it had to have been heated. As she approached with the Doppler wand, you tried to calm your rapidly beating heart. You didn’t know if you were excited or nervous. It could have been a mixture of both at this point. You’d accepted your situation, but you didn’t think you’d crossed the threshold of being happy about it.

“Okay, let’s see.”

Your doctor moved the wand over your belly, spreading the gel as she went. The sound in the room amplified and filled making you feel as if you were underwater. Three pairs of eyes were glued to the screen waiting for the first appearance of a little body.

“Hm, there’s aren’t many places they can hide at this stage, but I see they want to play hide and seek.”

Suddenly, empty greyness changed to darker grey imaging and then the room filled with out of sync heartbeats.

“Ah-ha, there they are.”

Villie gasped, covered her mouth, then snapped her head to you.

“There are your babies.”

You gaped at the screen staring at their small bodies and allowing the sound of their hearts to fill you.

“Holy shit. This is real.”

“Oh yeah. This is as real as it gets,” Dr. Olumici said.

She tapped across the keyboard then the image magnified leaving you with a clear image that had now turned from shades of grey and white to amber and honey hues.

“They look wonderful at first glance. Let’s go more in depth though.”

You watched your doctor get a view from every angle imaginable. With each angle change, she tapped across the keyboard freezing the image for a few seconds before moving on. Each new image made your heart slow rather than speed up. It was as if the nerves from before were stilling and dissipating, like before nothing made sense but now everything made sense.

“So as a whole, they look great. They are measuring well. The only thing I see is they are maybe 2 or 3 centimeters off to where I would want them to be, but I will credit you not knowing you were pregnant and the need for some vitamins and a balanced diet. Now that you are aware you are eating for three hopefully they will catch up because in the earlier months is when twins gain their most weight. When the womb becomes cramped, growing becomes tough and uncomfortable. So let’s really aim for 3 full balanced meals and two to three nutritious snacks a day.”

You nodded.

“All right. So—sex?”

“I’m not having any.”

Villie snorted.

“No, no. Do you want to know the sex?”

Biting your bottom lip you thought it over once more. Curiosity was pecking away at you and though Villie was right, if you did tell Lewis about the pregnancy finding out the genders together would be a way to drive it home and or bond over the moment. The debate in your head was annoying because each side of the argument gave good points, however, curiosity won with you each and every time.

“Let’s do it.”

The two other women in the room smiled then focused back onto the screen.

“All right, let’s do it.”

Dr. Olumici took just a few moments and each second that ticked away made your heart pound even harder. This was excitement. When Villie saw a smile on your face she squeezed your hand.

“You’re excited too right? It’s not just me.”

“I’m excited,” you said finally and truly meant it.

“Ha, the easiest inquiry,” Dr. Olumici began with a snort. “These babies are not shy.”

“Wonder where they get that from,” Villie said eying you.

You rolled your eyes and leaned closer to the screen. “What are they?”

“This one on the left is a boy and on the right is his sister.”

Your eyes bugged as an “oof” escaped you. You felt like you’d just gotten a foot to gut but it didn’t hurt.

“What was that!?”

“I just saw it. That would be your daughter asserting herself early with a kick.”

Your jaw dropped. “Oh my god. Really?”

Your doctor nodded as a wave of euphoria washed over you. You remembered this feeling. It was similar to how you felt when you’d gotten the call that a broadcasting channel wanted to pay you to travel officially and put you on every streaming device across the globe. You felt like that but only 100 times better. The kick to the gut came again and again.

“Oh my god.”

“They’re really awake now. Say hello mom.”

You stared at the screen at the two life forms that were growing inside of you with awe and wonderment. You didn’t know they existed a few short weeks ago but now that you knew and had seen and felt them you couldn’t ever imagine going back. You couldn’t believe your situation now. In theory you knew how babies were made and everyone knew that whenever they had sex there was always some chance of one being made but no one ever thought that they would really make one even if they didn’t use protection. Looking back pregnancy was the last thing on your mind that night and now it was the first.

The remainder of the appointment went by in a blur. You went through everything related to the pregnancy and your concerns and fears with Dr. Olumici then made a detailed calendar of appointments and check-ins. By the time you left 3 hours had passed and you were equipped with every kind of tool known to pregnant women support known to the mental health field plus one auntie-godmother who was just as equally on cloud nine as you were.

~~~~~~~~

Now sitting in a corner booth at Cheesecake Factory you were fully indulging your craving for cheesecake with not one but three slices of your faves while staring haplessly at the sonogram pictures of your babies.

“You look so in love,” Villie said.

You looked across at her with a wide smile.

“Cheesecake and a belly full of cute babies. How can I not be?”

She chuckled then sighed. “They are cute. Totally unfair to the rest of society, I mean you see the gene pool. I saw some resemblance in the forehead area.”

You snorted. “You know you not right.”

Villie laughed then took a sip of her drink. “I kid. I kid.”

You sighed then put a large forkful of cheesecake into your mouth. “Think this counts as a balanced meal?”

“No, Y/N, but I think it definitely counts as 1 of 3 nutritional snacks.”

You smiled wide. “I love you.”

“Happy wife, happy life,” Villie teased.

Just then her phone rang drawing both of your attention to it. The smile on her face told you just who it was.

“Go ahead.”

“Hello?”

She sounded like a lovesick freshman who was so under the spell of her paramour that everything and everyone else ceased to exist. ‘When you saw her twirl a thick strip of dark curls around her finger you scoffed. Must be nice, you thought before your mind went back to all those weeks ago when you’d felt anything close to what she felt.

The memory of Lewis’ hand brushing against your cheek sparked a heat inside of you that gently simmered until the memory of his thick thumb slid across your bottom lip. That slow, simmering heat kindled into a mild inferno. The more you remembered from your night together, the hotter you became. Thankfully, before you could fall deep into this dangerous desire you still felt when you thought about him, you felt Villie’s hand on your arm.

Her eyes were boring into you. “Are you all right? Is it—,” she asked dropping her eyes to your stomach.

“No, no. I’m fine. Sorry. I just—zoned out.”

Villie nodded and then brought the phone back to her ear. “Call me when you land. Okay. Bye.”

When she dropped her phone back into her purse, she looked at you.

“Miles come into town?”

Villie nodded but she didn’t make eye contact with you.

“So y’all have a date tonight?”

“Not quite.”

“It’s okay Villie, we don’t have to hang out every night. I will be fine alone. Honestly, I’m not alone anymore,” you said cradling your newly popped bump.

“No, I um—I told him I wanted you to meet him.”

Your eyes bugged then. “You did what? When?”

“Tonight?”

“Yeah. I really want to know what you think of him before things go any further.”

“Villie—.”

“I know. I promise I didn’t bring it up to back you into a corner or anything. I was actually planning for it to happen before you told me about the pregnancy. I’m sorry.”

You took a deep breath and tried not to freak out.

“Don’t apologize. I get it. It’s fine, it’s what we do.”

“So, it’s okay?”

“Yeah. We’ll do a late dinner.”

Villie jumped out of her seat and onto you, throwing her arms around your neck, “Thank you, Y/N. I swear I will take your lead about the pregnancy.”

You smiled and tried to hide the rising panic you felt. Your once hectic but simple life had now turned into a damn episode of Jane the Virgin.

~~~~~~~~~

-That Night-

Though you’d tried to find ways to get out of the dinner you found yourself sitting beside Villie in a cab on your way to Island Gardens restaurant. You could feel Villie’s excitement rolling off of her, but you could tell she was also nervous. She knew you would not be shy about assessing him and letting her know what you thought of him.

You were notorious for being picky about the men she entertained. You always had been ever since the douche from college who had the audacity to ghost her after knocking her up. You refused to let another asshole slip through the ranks especially knowing how much of a catch your best friend was. Any man who intended to even step a pinky toe into her personal space had to pass the test. You didn’t give half a shit if it meant you were called too picky. All it meant was any man better rise to the fucking occasion.

You dropped your hand to Villie’s knee hoping to steady her leg that had not stopped shaking since you’d gotten in the car.

“It’s okay Villie. Calm down.”

She took a deep breath then slowly released it. “What if you don’t like him?”

“V, if he has passed your wards, then I am sure he’ll appease me.”

She snorted then dropped her head to your shoulder. “You’ll like him.”

She sounded as if she were trying to convince herself more than you and you couldn’t help but laugh. You hadn’t seen her like this in a long, long time. It was too cute. By the time the car rolled up to the front of the restaurant, she’d calmed down some, but your nerves were rising. It had taken an hour to find something that hid your belly. Then it took another hour to find something that not only hid your belly but didn’t make you look bloated. The dress you wore now was something you hadn’t worn in a long time, but it did the trick—mostly. You still felt as if it drew attention to your midsection and other parts of your body that were new thanks to baby 1 and baby 2.

“Reservation?”

Then hostess smiled widely showcasing her perfectly straightened teeth and corner dimples.

“We’re meeting someone here,” Villie managed to get out.

“Okay, sure thing. Name please?”

Villie leaned closer and spoke lowly. “Miles.”

The hostess looked at her then you and smiled softly as she tapped the letters into the keyboard.

“Got them. Thea will take you to your table. Have a good night.”

Villie smiled, looped her arm with yours again then walked off behind a gorgeous woman who was tall enough to be a model and so svelte you felt envious because you were so far from svelte now and had no hope of being that way again for many more months.

“Follow me, ladies.”

You pushed the thoughts out of your head and brought yourself back to the moment. When you heard Villie release a small gasp you knew she’d spotted Miles. Seconds later she’d let go of your arm and was in his. You watched as they kissed as if they hadn’t seen each other in months when you were sure it was merely weeks. You thanked the seater then waited for them to finish. However, when they should have finished, his hand slid down to cup her ass. Villie giggled then which triggered his sort of giggle. Part of you felt so happy for her but the other part cringed a little.

“Mm. Oh. Baby,” Villie began turning to you. “Officially meet my best friend in the entire world, Y/N. Bestie this is Miles.”

He had to have been 7 feet tall. Even with you in heels, he was still towering over you. You approached him and shook his outstretched hand, but he pulled you toward him and kissed both your cheeks like some rich cosmopolitan. You were so taken off guard that you didn’t realize the hand you had shaken seconds before was nudged between your bodies and pressing against your burgeoning belly.

Oh shit, you thought as you tried to act normal and not panic because you knew it would bring more unwanted attention. You put distance between you and smiled.

“It’s nice to officially meet you Miles.”

“You too. Valenza talks about you all the time. I feel like I know you personally already.”

You giggled and looked at Villie who was staring at this man like he hung the stars each and every night in the sky. You could not believe the whole switch in her. You’d never seen her like this with someone.

“Same,” you replied with a smile.

The three of you moved to the table and as you got situated you watched how Miles pulled out her seat, made sure she sat down first, then proceeded to make sure she was comfortable. Then he hurried over to catch your seat before you pulled it out for yourself. You thanked him as you sat then watched as he whispered something to Villie that made her lean to kiss his cheek. It was then you knew that by the end of the night, you’d vomit from all this sweetness.

Most guys that Villie had you meet treated the meeting as something casual or something that didn’t mean anything. They cracked weird pedo jokes, freely groped her, and showcased some questionable behaviors that anyone would think were weird. Some even went above and beyond with their efforts to impress you. Some told completely unrealistic stories and flat-out lies that were obvious lies but expected you to swallow them as facts. Rarely did you meet anyone who tried to impress you naturally.

Throughout appetizers, Miles treated Villie like a queen. He fed her food off his plate, made sure her wine glass was never empty, occasionally nudged her, which spoke of an inside joke that she understood. The thing that made you warm a little towards him was how he looked at her when she wasn’t looking at him. He looked at her the way your grandfather looked at your grandmother—full of awe and wonder.

As you moved on to main courses, every time Villie laughed his eyes lit up like Christmas morning. It was adorable. When he began asking you about yourself you gathered he was unlike other men she’d dated. As you told him about your job, hobbies, and stories about Villie that both of you experienced he genuinely looked entertained and interested.

However, it was when his questions about you got more detailed did you know that he was really serious about her. Any man who took the time to get to know his girl’s best friend understood simplistic reasoning and the simplistic reasoning was that this was a test, and the best friend is the end all be all. If she approved then not only would she not be a problem for him, but she would become his ally.

After dinner, which Miles paid for, the three of you made moves to go to another venue but you’d seen enough. You pulled Villie into a hug.

“He’s great. Be happy.”

Her smile was so bright that you had to cringe away from her.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. My only caution is maybe to stay away from deep penetrative positions because his height says you will die.”

Villie screeched loudly then laughed so loud that everyone that was nearby stared.

“Oh my god! Y/N!”

You laughed.

“My mama ain’t raise no bitch!”

You snorted, shook your head then nodded because you knew this caution fell on deaf ears.

“What’s so funny over here?”

“Nothing. I’m going to head out,” you replied.

“So soon? You sure you don’t want to hang? I heard of this cool exhibit tonight,” Miles began.

“No, no, it’s all good. I’m actually a little tired. It’s been a long day.”

“Oh. Okay. It was really good to meet you officially and I’m glad you’re doing better and feeling better.”

“Yeah. Thank you so much for understanding again. I swear I will never rearend you again.”

The two of you chuckled.

“Hey, what are you doing this weekend?”

“Um—uh--.”

“I’m not trying to be weird or anything I swear.”

“Not trying to set up some best friend threesome?”

Miles snorted. “God no. Valenza is—more than enough,” he said staring at her.

From the look they exchanged you knew just what they would be doing the rest of the night.

“And—I don’t think threesomes are recommended in your—condition.”

Your eyes widened as Miles motioned to your stomach. He could tell?

“You can—wait—you—what do you know?”

Miles looked to Villie then you then back to Villie. “Uh—that you’re—pregnant. I’m not judging it’s cool. I mean you can barely tell but I hugged you and then you weren’t drinking or anything so--.”

You looked at Villie who also looked ready to panic.

It’s no big deal. I promise. Congratulations to you. What I meant was that this weekend is the Miami Grand Prix, and I can get you guys in for the VIP experience.”

You felt like you’d heard that from somewhere but for the life of you, you couldn’t figure out where or what it was. Maybe it was because it had taken him moments to guess you were pregnant then 2 hours tops to confirm it. The blank look on your face must have been the dead giveaway for him because he chuckled a little.

“Are you a fan?”

“Fan? Oh—yeah totally. That sounds cool,” you said hoping to steer the conversation away from you being pregnant.

“Cool. So tomorrow starts the weekend. You and Valenza can come together, meet up there?”

“Sure.”

Just then your Lyft pulled up and you hugged Villie once more then waved to Miles before you got in. While the car pulled off you waved to them both then leaned back once they were out of sight.

“Oh my god!”

You dropped your head into your hands and proceeded to panic the entire ride home.

~~~~~~~

-The Next Day-

You took another sip from your café cup which held a large pomegranate tea. You were already missing caffeine and everything it brought to your life. Not only were you up not long after the sun came up but you were also dressed and already on the move.

“Are you as tired as I am?”

You took a sip from your cup then sighed.

“I am, but I think we’re tired for different reasons—me tossing and turning and growing two humans, you tossing and turning getting your back, cervix ovaries and soul blown out like a circus acrobat.”

Villie snorted then cackled. The driver glanced into the rearview mirror for a moment then looked back to the road.

“Oh my god. Look don’t judge me. I’m just trying to keep up with you,” she teased.

You rolled your eyes. “Ha-ha-ha!”

Another sip of tea filled you and you groaned wishing it was a large macchiato with an extra shot of espresso.

“Also, hello he sent you a chauffeured car?”

Villie smiled widely then twirled your hair.

“My baby knows how to take care of me,” Villie added.

“My baby? Damn, that was quick. I take it y’all got labels now?”

“We labeled up! That’s my man, he my boo.”

You smiled then nudged her. “I’m happy for you Villie. He seems like a good guy, and I love the way he treats you.”

“Thank you. I’m happy,” she said.

You smiled and looked back at the road. The car zipped by a billboard with the same words Miles said last night, “Miami Grand Prix”. Again something nagged at your brain, something like recognition but it wasn’t quite recognition. It felt like something was blocking the part of your brain responsible for your memory of what it meant.

Ten or so minutes later the car pulled up then stopped.

“We’ve arrived, ma’am.”

After thanking the driver, you and Villie got out and then marveled at the sea of people bustling around. As you joined them and walked toward an entrance you took notice of several people dressed wearing Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull items. You knew those brands.

“Villie, what exactly is the Miami Grand Prix? I swear it sounds familiar, but I can’t remember why or how.”

The look on Villie’s face was one of confusion. “I don’t know. I thought you knew.”

“Did you Google?”

“Girl my hands have been kinda busy for the last 12 hours.”

You cringed and shook your head. It was then you saw Miles standing just ahead.

“Hey! You guys made it.”

He hugged Villie then kissed her while babying her as if he hadn’t seen her less than 12 hours ago. You silently prayed this was not what you were in store for all day.

“You guys ready?”

“Yes!”

You had no idea where she’d found this burst of energy when she was half asleep moments ago in the car. The three of you walked on and with every step you took more and more things pointed to what this really was. When a woman passed by wearing a shirt with Lewis’ face you stopped in your tracks.

“Everything okay?”

“Um—this is Miami Grand Prix, racing—F1, right?”

“Yeah.”

Villie’s eyes widened then as it hit her as well. Miles looked at her then back to you and his confusion was evident.

“Is something wrong?”

“Uh--.”

You tried to come up with a reason to leave, or something to say to cover what was really wrong.

“No, no. Nothing is wrong.”

“Okay. Come on, the VIP experience includes paddock access with Mercedes,” he said as he walked on.

Holy shit, you thought. This was bad. This was very, very bad. Seeing no way out that wouldn’t lead to you having to confess you were carrying the babies of the man whose paddock you were on your way to, you proceeded to follow Miles. Every so often Villie looked back at you asking you with her eyes if you were all right. You’d spoken nonverbally long enough to easily pass your panicked message, “Help”.

Just as you were about to pull out your phone and fake a work emergency Miles stopped. “Welcome to the Mercedes paddock. Now Lewis isn’t here right now he’s already getting into his car but after I can get you and introduction if you’re down.”

You and Villie again exchanged quick looks before Miles continued to show you around and introduce you around. After almost twenty minutes you found yourself sitting in front of a TV with the race about to start. That was when Villie shimmied up to you.

“What do we do?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been trying to figure it out,” you whispered back.

“I can come up with an excuse for us to leave.”

“Wouldn’t that be weird? I said I was a fan. Would a fan really get up and leave a VIP experience or a once in a lifetime experience?”

“Hell yeah they would if the VIP experience is with their secret babies’ daddy,” Villie aggressively whispered back.

You chewed your bottom lip even more intently. Then the start of events sound rang out and everyone brought their attention to the largest television in the room. Within seconds, the race began, then cars sped off. You watched in somewhat awe as the controlled chaos of a start turned into the cars forming a neat traffic line. This was your first in-person race. You’d seen a few on TV and watched a lot of recap highlights but this was your first in-person one and the atmosphere was intense. You couldn’t look away from the screen or move a muscle because it was that interesting.

Before you knew it, 20 laps had gone by, and with each lap, the lead changed and when the lead changed so did the line-up. On the 6th lap, Lewis made a swift cut-off and overtook Red Bull for the number 1 spot. Then in the 19th lap, the first collision happened that barely missed Lewis. That had you on your feet so quickly that you nearly lost your balance.

Now you were standing with your hands on your stomach because as soon as the excitement picked up so did the activity in your belly. It was as if they knew their father was once again racing toward greatness. Just when everyone in the Mercedes room was beginning to relax, Red Bull attempted another overtake. The fender of the Red Bull car clipped the bumper of Lewis’ car which sent his car slanting sideways and skidding. Everyone in the room gasped, some even cursed at the brazenness of the Red Bull driver.

However, with the loss of control of his back wheels, Lewis’ car otherwise remained in complete control. He didn’t swerve wildly or burn out, he kept his lead and even managed to block any further attempts to steal his lead. Thinking of the sheer skill that took had your jaw dropped and both your hands cradling your babies—his babies.

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”

Miles’ voice boomed around the room when Lewis not only straightened out but inched further into a lead.

“Wow,” you marveled as a wave of intense attraction washed over you.

You wanted to do nothing more than to throw yourself on him and lick his neck no matter how sweaty it was and that was just the beginning of all you wanted to do to him. The raw force of that wave bowled you off of your feet and back into your seat. Fuck, you thought. This was not good. You thought you’d moved past this and had gotten it out of your system. You thought that one night was more than enough for you, that you’d lived out every wanton desire and urge. Feeling the heat spread through you now told you that was more than likely not the case.

Two hours later as Lewis screeded to a stop after securing P1 the entire Mercedes room was filled with celebration. The man you’d spent the last two hours talking with patted you on the back then went in for a high five. “I think you might be his good luck charm.”

“Ha! I think now. He just happens to be the GOAT,” you countered.

He chuckled. “I have to have him meet you. I think you two would hit it off. I know everyone around here would love to see him settled.”

Your eyes bugged but as you were about to speak, someone else did.

“That’s Toto for you. He and Suzie are steadily trying to marry him off,” a dark-skinned man the exact replica of Lewis said. "I don't mind, at least maybe I will get some grandchildren soon," he finished.

“Hahaha, Anthony my man,” Toto said with a chuckle.

The two men shook hands as you watched on with wide eyes. You’d seen pictures of Lewis’ father plenty of times. When they stood side by side the resemblance was really uncanny. The only difference was their skin tone, otherwise, Lewis was the spitting image of him.

“What a good race today,” Anthony said.

“I agree. I was just telling Y/N that she might be Lewis’s good luck charm. Miami hasn’t trusted him this well in a while,” Toto added.

Anthony Hamilton looked at you and smiled so warmly you couldn’t help but smile back.

“Y/N. Are you--.”

“No, no. I am no one. My best friend happens to be dating his best friend so here I am. Sort of like a 3rd wheel,” you blabbered.

“We all start from somewhere,” Toto slid in making Anthony snort.

“Well I can tell from your eyes that you’re a kind person. My son could use as many kind people around him as he can get. This business is fickle and cold.”

You caught the chill in his voice and from the look on Toto’s face both men were in a nonverbal agreement.

“Fickle and cold, huh. That’s good. At least you know where you stand with people. I’d take that over fake kindness and hidden agendas. Let a snake be a snake in the open. If I see the snakes in front of me I know my moves ahead of time. I’m sure Lew—your son is the same way. Prepare for war in secret and in the open but kill em’ in silence with kindness and skill which gives proven results.”

The two men glanced at each other then back to you with expressions you weren’t sure how to place.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No. It’s just you sounded like Lewis there. He says prepare in the open but move in silence,” Anthony informed.

You shrugged, “Eh, mine is better.

Again both men laughed.

“You’re right Toto, I think they would hit it off.”

“See. They complement each other.”

This was too freaky for you, so you quickly changed the subject. “Uh, it was a good race. So much so I’m wiped.”

You stretched your arms as you fake yawned. You watched Anthony’s eyes dip to your midsection but before he could speak you pulled your long cardigan together. “Congratulations to you Mr. Hamilton and team Mercedes. I’m going to go on and get out of here.”

Slipping past the two men who attempted to protest your departure, you shimmied up to Villie and slyly told her you were leaving. She didn’t try to stop you at all. She knew the risk that this was. It wasn’t that you didn’t want Lewis to know that you were pregnant, you just didn’t want right now to be when he found out. You knew what it felt like to be blindsided by this news and right here and now would definitely blindside him. Plus, you weren’t 100% ready to see him again after your night together, especially with you still being attracted to him. That was a recipe for disaster—it all was.

So you slipped away with no one being the wiser. The only pair of eyes that followed you as you left was Anthony Hamilton’s and his brow said that he was more than curious as to why.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TagList:

@chaneajoyyy @caramara3 @valkryienymph @babyflowa07 @est1887 @halfrican-heat @mauvecherie-writes @nunya7394 @lovebittenbyevans @gardenwonders2 @sweetlikecoffy @dillie60 @ olabelle757 @ophiaedits @kenequa @triton08 @skyesthebomb @shipatheart @keytodespair @xsweetdellzx @labella420 @coldmuffinbanditshoe @ak329 @shar74nett @youremysuperstar @whore-like-behaviour @sonjashuterbugjohnson

@alookintohersoul @asiaaisa77 @jd-now-jq @naturalthrone22 @mrsbarnes-rogers @beyourownkindofbeautiful @beccacupcakesxo @toni9 @wonderlandfandomkingdom @partypoison00 @queenoftheworldisdead @doublesidedscoobysnacks @sophiealiice @richonne4life @coffeebooksandfandom @siempremamita @raveviolet @dumbchick @amennariee @briellableu @leebabe444 @31miw-inkpsycho

@rororo06 @disaster-rose @bugngiz @yourwonderbelle @queenbetter @melaninhawtie @bekindbecoolbeyou @heartfullofgolden @idkiwantchocolatee @missuniee @avngrsfangirl @a-highly-opinionated-mess @19jammmy @nunya7394 @eltima02 @motheroffae @luckydiorxoxo

@majx00 @bbhyuneee @queenanababy @ravenqueen27 @multi-fandom5 @xsweetdellzx @bqueensweet @misswolff @g-l-o-b-e-w-h-o-r-e @blveeeeeee @majx00 @rowansshit @tian-monique @venusesworld @motheroffae @gg-trini @notyouraveragemochii @viennakarma

#lewis hamilton #lewis hamilton fanfiction #lewis hamilton fanfic #lewis hamilton blurb #lewis hamilton imagine #lewis hamilton x reader #lewis hamilton x black reader #what we did in the dark series

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mohntilyet · 1 month ago

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same anon, do not apologize about taking an excuse to rant because it was a very enjoyable read 👍 especially because i share similar frustration regarding the lack of lore on rivain and even less lore on the lords as a faction. My very first rook was a lord and it was honestly kind of a miserable playthrough roleplaying wise 😭 i think i only got like five faction related dialogue options throughout the ENTIRE game!!! That combined with rook acting like they dont know anything about their own factions or even their own nation was absolutely maddening… anyway whoops sorry for my own little rant

RIGHT.... you do not have to apologise either anon i am right there with you. the map surrounding rivain being so nothing is just insult to injury when 1) like you said, almost no dialogue choices, 2) jack all content because i was running around for 70 hours hoping to find decor related to them/finding none because there IS none/absolutely nothing in the lighthouse being customised as a result and 3) they have decided the only thing you get to say about being a lord is repeating their catchphrase like this shit is scooby doo

the art book also has some pages on the lords that gave me mixed feelings lol spread that i scanned under the cut

i really thought that they would lean into the "mix and match" thing especially because even when i was designing my rook pre release, i was trying to incorporate elements of this! i was looking at duncan's armor to try and patch together something that reflected rivain! but when the game comes out it's just. orientalist. and there's a bull on my crotch. even though the art book discusses this idea of the lords having patchwork armor that they've stolen or put together because they're so diverse. there's a few designs in here that i would have loved to see in the game with the more piratey longcoats and hats, and if they were going to draw inspiration i wish they'd looked more at mauritius and south india (kerala, tamil nadu) instead of . i'm not actually sure what the fuck they were doing here. my first thought when i saw the jewelry and design in game had been indigenous south american? but ofc the longer i looked the more i leaned away from that initial judgement and the more i got confused, and what little we know of rivain is obviously inspired by south asia (asha's maiden name being bahadur, bharv, hari, etc. but there's also mateo?) so i think it is the tried and true method white people looove to do where they mishmash cultures into one place and then get defensive when poc say "we aren't interchangable like that"

visually i think veilguard is so so successful in most cases with that consideration of shape language, colors, etc (though sometimes i think it goes too far. let the crows wear black again) but rivain/the lords is one of the weaker ones because i wish there was something specifically rivaini that tied it all together. like if dragons are found here (presumably. taash has a reputation as a dragon hunter. they would need to hunt dragons in rivain) then maybe scale armor as an identifier. or if rivain is known for pearl farming then it features more in their armor. or if the climate is hotter, so the fabric they wear would be linen and would actually cover more of their skin to avoid sunburn! or if they wear lots of blue, is that because they're a producer of that dye? just worldbuilding things like this completely ignored to make their main thing 'lots of gold and it should be revealing' and be weirdly racist/orientalist in the process.

#however i guess they did give me the chance to kill the templars involved in the dairsmund circle #or their. demons?#i think it is also a bit cool that these templars turned ironically into demons #lords of fortune #rivain #and re: mishmash thing. like i do think there's ways to do this #antiva as a concept makes me laugh. sure you can combine the romance languages (uh minus france) into one place i guess #and creating hybrid cultures while worldbuilding is not a new thing at all #but with these things every fucking fantasy writer in the world seems to make it racist on .'accident'#because they are always fucking doing shit with underrepresented AND already misrepresented cultures #and writers reveal their obvious biases. the qun has already been talked about by smarter people than me #and rivain's writing was already a bit like. hmm. and now it is also one of the latest victims. looolll.#not sure if this is vg critical. i am getting bitchy. its something i care about tho i am not brown for nothing #veilguard spoilers #answered #anonymous #ONCE AGAIN ANON. I MUST APOLOGISE FOR HOW THIS REPLY GOT AWAY FROM ME <3 #BUT U HAVE OPENED THE PANDORAS BOX I HAVE BEEN TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT #BECAUSE I KNOW ANYTHING I MAKE UP ABOUT RIVAIN COULD BE CRUELLY TAKEN AWAY FROM ME!!!

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dollishmehrayan · 26 days ago

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GET TO KNOW ME Q & A BY DOLLISH ── .✦

a/n: this is just mundane facts about me for hitting 500 followers under ONE MONTH!? So yeah this is a post! <3

Hii! So tysm for 500 followers so let me greet myself to you!, my name is rayan/rayaan (pronounced ri-yaan) and you can call me riri or dollish and my pronouns are she/her (I’m biologically a girl so it’s she and her for me always please don’t misgender me) so here are some fun questions I thought to answer!!! (I’ll be editing in questions you guys ask <3) ── .✦

ᥫ᭡ ASKED QUESTIONS ── .✦

1. ‘How did you get the name dollish’ - I got the name dollish actually when I was about 2-3 years old because i was slightly chubby and my neighbors always called me a “porcelain doll” and how I acted doll-like until they named me “dollish” because it was childish + doll combined and 80% of the ppl irl call me dollish

2. ‘Where have you learned writing? Like where have you learned writing.’ - I learned writing like as in being a writer because originally I wanted to be a actual author and illustrator (still do) and I had a BIG passion for writing ever since I was a kid and was learning sight words even though English is not my first language!

3. ‘Why do you not write smut or n$fw?? I see other writers doing it fine.’ - I personally when it comes to topics such as smut I don’t feel comfortable with in general because personally it’s very hard for me to get romantically attached and smut makes me uncomfortable and I also somewhat despise it so much because I hate reducing a character to sexual appeal and etc.

4. ‘how do you easily write like headcannons so fast and release like 3-2 headcannons a day?’ - I actually just type fast secondly I’m a very creative person tbh and I always eat a lot before I write and I also have like posts on like the queue thing too! Matter of fact I’m not that active on tumblr tbh but yeah

5. ‘What socials do you have??’ - I only have tiktok for now (I also have other a lot of socials but those are personal for now) but I’m thinking of making a twitter to like promote this tumblr account but twitter Lowkey scares me so I’d rather not have that audience.

ᥫ᭡ COMMON QUESTIONS ── .✦

What's your favorite way to spend a weekend? - I personally love going out with my friends to restaurants and very cool places I also love traveling I already have been to (excluding us states because I’ve been to a lot), Japan, South Korea, bali, Portugal, nederlands, france, Belgium, uk, china, india, Norway (like 5 times) and Spain, Egypt, Germany, Maldives, Mauritius, and etc

What's a book that you'd recommend? - the book is almost TOO good I might have to gatekeep for now😞 (jk tbh I don’t read much but I can answer this but with comics!)

Are you a morning person or a night owl? - night owl defo

What's your dream job? - either a fashion designer or author or a actress

Do you have any pets? - yes! Two cats, both are Siamese cats named ren and irene!

What's your favorite type of cuisine? - too hard to choose, I’d take any food tbh I’m not a picky eater

Do you have any siblings? - yes!

there anything you dislike in your writing life? - yes! I don’t like people who copy my work or write off a lot and secondly I think as in pet peeves about becoming a fan fic writer is when you get complex requests like “write what if batboys and they’re s/o were (really long and complex and so fanon blah blah)!” Like genuinely I love it but I can’t be doing all that.

Do you have any pet peeves? - I don’t like being told off or put on the spot + plus I really hate attention seekers and narcissists too and I think also like for some reason someone watching something with me pisses me off for no reason especially if they lean over to watch my phone when it’s really no problem 😭

What was your dream job as a child? - I wanted to be an author + illustrator too so bad but also I wanted to become a pediatrician because my parents tried to force me as that too

If you could have dinner with anyone, who's one person you'd go with? - for some reason chlöe Bailey no questions asked, SHE’S FUNNY OMG or maybe like you know one of my moots 💕

Do you have a favorite childhood memory? - I sadly for some reason don’t remember my childhood that much (I think it’s best that way) but I remember watching the Wonder Woman movie as a child and like BECOMING THE BIGGEST fan girl of dc comics and also like omg I loved it so much too and maybe also like hyperfixating on themyscira as a child and trying to find out about amazons and themyscira

What's your love language? - okay so like when I give I love to give like words of affirmation and when like I receive I LOVEEE gifts like generally I love gifts so muchhh

What are two things still on your bucket list? - I think sky diving, I had the chance once in LA but I couldn’t literally because of my like fear of heights too!

What’s your biggest fear - um definitely like spiders or like secretly being hated too but also I have. DEADLY fear of spiders I feel like I can’t breath looking at them I just hate them so muchh

Do you currently live in the same place where you were born? - nope!

#── .✦ dollish’s talk session #q&a #batboys #batboys x reader #dollishmehrayan

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satgurutravelae · 8 days ago

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Top 5 Unmissable Activities to Do in Mauritius

Mauritius, a gem in the Indian Ocean, offers stunning landscapes, rich culture, and thrilling adventures. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, water sports lover, or history buff, Mauritius has endless experiences waiting for you. Here are the top 5 activities in Mauritius that you shouldn’t miss during your trip.

1. Relax on the Best Beaches in Mauritius

Mauritius boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Picture yourself unwinding on soft, white sands as crystal-clear waters lap at your feet. These beaches are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. For adventure seekers, activities like jet skiing, parasailing, and kite surfing offer a thrilling experience. No visit to Mauritius is complete without soaking up the sun and enjoying the vibrant marine life along the shoreline.

When booking a Mauritius Holiday Package from Dubai, consider tailoring your itinerary to include a visit to these stunning beaches for a truly tropical experience.

2. Go Hiking in Black River Gorges National Park

One of the top things to do in Mauritius for nature lovers is hiking in Black River Gorges National Park. This lush paradise is home to scenic trails, rare wildlife, and stunning waterfalls. Whether you’re trekking to the highest peak or taking a leisurely hike to Alexandra Falls, the park offers breathtaking views and an unforgettable adventure.

3. Explore Coral Reefs at Blue Bay Marine Park

Dive into the wonders of the ocean at Blue Bay Marine Park, one of the best places for snorkeling in Mauritius. The calm, shallow waters make it ideal for beginners and experienced divers alike. Swim among vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, and even sea turtles. This protected marine park offers a glimpse of the rich underwater ecosystem that makes Mauritius so unique.

4. Visit the Seven Coloured Earths in Chamarel

The Seven Coloured Earths of Chamarel is one of the most iconic attractions in Mauritius. This natural phenomenon features dunes in hues of red, violet, green, and blue, created by volcanic activity and mineral-rich soil. Just a short walk away, you’ll find Chamarel Waterfall, adding to the area's scenic charm. These sights are perfect for photography and offer a tranquil escape into Mauritius’ geological wonders.

5. Wander Through the Famous Botanical Garden

Discover the island's lush flora at the Mauritius Botanical Garden, one of the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere. Marvel at giant water lilies, rare palm trees, and exotic plants as you stroll through its serene pathways. A visit here offers a peaceful retreat and a chance to experience the unique biodiversity of Mauritius, making it a must-see attraction.

Plan Your Mauritius Holiday from Dubai

From stunning beaches to lush parks and marine adventures, Mauritius offers something for everyone. By booking a Mauritius Holiday Package from Dubai, you can create a personalized itinerary that includes these top attractions. Many packages allow tailoring to match your preferences, ensuring your vacation is as unique and memorable as Mauritius itself.

Start planning your dream getaway today, and let the island’s magic leave you with memories to cherish forever!

#Mauritius Holiday Package from Dubai #Things to Do in Mauritius #Top Attractions in Mauritius #Best Beaches in Mauritius #Snorkeling in Mauritius #Hiking in Mauritius #Mauritius Travel Guide #Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths #Black River Gorges National Park #Mauritius Activities for Tourists

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lurking-latinist · 10 months ago

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I just keep thinking about that conversation near the end of The Mauritius Command that's just like:

Stephen: so you're a mental health specialist right?

McAdam: insofar as such a thing exists here in the 1800s, yes

Stephen: so do you ever get patients with depression?

McAdam: yeah

Stephen: what generally happens to them?

McAdam: well eventually they die like everybody else

Stephen:

McAdam: also sometimes they can do drugs about it

Stephen (who is already doing drugs about it): oh. okay thank you

#It just haunts me #the sort of exchange you only get to write if you have been SO good at making up weird guys #aubreyad #aubrey-maturin

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mountttmase · 2 years ago

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A Night To Forget

Note - would love to hear what you guys think 💙

Pairing - Mason Mount x Reader

Word count - 4.3k

Warnings - angst and fluff

End of the season meant only one thing to you, and that was having Mason around more than you’d had before. You’d been together just under 8 months and you were used to his routine of being here there and everywhere so you were excited to have him around as much as you could.

The first week of the break he’d whisked you off to Mauritius for a romantic getaway. It was the first proper holiday you’d had together and it was absolute bliss. The trip confirmed in your head that Mason was it for you and you couldn’t wait to get home and properly start your lives together.

Due to train strikes back home, you’d agreed to move in with him for a few weeks once you were back so you could still see him, whilst working from his house as you now had no way to get to your office. Mason seemed more excited than you’d ever seen him before, telling you it was a test run before he’d ask you to fully move in with him soon.

You’d be there for two weeks in total, before the two of you were off again on another break with his whole family. The thought of it terrified you, having not spent that much time around them in such close proximity before but Mason reassured you that it would be fine and they loved you like he did.

‘So I thought you could work in here?’ Mason announced, opening the door to his study. It was spacious, with a big desk and a window that looked out onto his drive. The opposite wall was also completely glass meaning you didn’t feel shut out or locked away. ‘Since I can see in I can check you’re actually working’ he winked, hugging you from behind and kissing your cheek. ‘What do you think?’

‘It’s perfect, Mase. Thank you. Are you sure it’s alright?’

‘Of course it is, I’m barely ever in her so you might as well make use of it’ he told you, spinning you around gently before placing a loving kiss on your lips. ‘You don’t have to stay in here though, if you wanna work wherever you’re comfortable that’s fine with me’

‘Yeah?’

‘Of course. mi casa es su casa’ he chuckled and you buried your head in his chest at his goofiness. ‘I mean it, do whatever you feel comfortable with’

‘Thank you, Mason’

‘Wanna give me a proper thank you upstairs?’ He murmured, wiggling his eyebrows whilst ticking your sides and you couldn’t help but give into him.

You weren’t nervous at all about taking this new step with Mason, getting to do life with him everyday and be with him as much as you could. Mason was your best friend above anything else and he made life seem like being together was one big sleep over. If only the outside stresses weren’t getting to you as much as they were then you might of been able to enjoy it a bit more.

You had a week and a half to prepare for the most important presentation of your life and being around Mason wasn’t as easy as you thought it would be. He didn’t have as many plans as you thought he did so if he wasn’t on Xbox, he was constantly checking in to see if you needed anything or showering you with kisses and cuddles.

You didn’t mind at first, thankful for the distractions but as the deadline loomed you were becoming increasingly stressed. You didn’t want to make Mason feel bad though, having opened up his home to you, so you tried to hide the tension inside in hopes you’d be out the other side soon. You knew it was just your workload and the pressure of being away with his family soon making you implode but you didn’t want to upset Mason in any way.

For a change of scenery, you were working in the living room, your laptop propped up on the arm of the sofa and you were so focused you didn’t even realise Mason was in the same room as you until you felt his head flop into your lap. You felt frustration bubble up instantly and you took a breath before he started speaking.

‘What you working on, gorgeous?’

‘I’ve got a big presentation to give in a few days, I’m just putting the power point together’ you told him and you knew you sounded a little short with him but you had no time to think about that right now, not when you were finally on a roll and didn’t want to be interrupted.

‘What’s it about?’

You didn’t have time to go into it and you were becoming increasingly infuriated with him. You knew he meant well but you felt strangled by his constant presence at the most inconvenient times.

‘I’ll tell you later Mase, I need to run I’ve got a call in a minute’ you lied, pushing his head out of your lap gently and scurrying off back upstairs for you fake call. On the off chance he might follow you, you quickly called your colleague for a catch up and not two minutes into the call you saw mason passing by the study, waving at you to catch your attention. You pointed at the headset to let him know you were talking and he hit his head lightly as if to make out he’d forgotten before walking out of your sight.

That’s how the next few days carried on, you trying to work and Mason being a distraction. As soon as he saw you he was all over you, smothering you in kisses that you’d usually love but at the moment you needed a break from him and his antics.

The day before your presentation you nerves were at an all time high. You were a bit behind where you wanted to be but thankfully for you, Mason had been out all day at a shoot so you’d had some time to catch up. It was around half four when you heard the front door open and you tensed up immediately.

‘Hello baby’ you heard him bellow down the hall ‘you upstairs?’

‘In here’ you called meekly, and you soon heard him walking into the living room where you were in a similar position to a few days before.

‘Hey you’ he smiled as soon as he saw you, leaning over the back of the sofa to give you a quick kiss on the cheek.

‘Hey’ you breathed, not wanting to loose focus but you knew you sounded cold.

‘Still working away?’

‘Yep’

‘You almost done? It’s tomorrow morning right?’ He asked and you just nodded, highlighting the last section of text you needed to copy over onto the last slide. ‘Well I hope you’re not worried about it, I know you’ll be fine’ he told you, and you could hear his voice coming back closer to you. ‘Are you listening to me’ he joked, grabbing your shoulders as if to give you a massage however it caused your hand to slip and the section of text you’d highlighted to disappear.

‘Oh for fucks sake, Mase’ you shouted, and his hands were off you in an instant.

‘What? What’s wrong?’

‘You jogged my arm and that whole slides been deleted now’ you huffed, furiously pressing buttons to try and get it back but nothing seemed to be working. ‘Why do you have to keep touching me all the time?’ you shouted, standing up and catching sight of him standing there looking timid and shocked.

‘I didn’t mean it. I just-‘

‘No Mason, you’ve just added another half hours work onto my already massive pile. I swear I can’t get five minutes peace from you at the moment, you’re suffocating me’ you yelled, cutting him off before storming into the kitchen and out the way of him, afraid of what else you might say.

He didn’t try and follow you, and moments later you heard the front door shut. Your head fell into your hands, instantly regretting the way you’d spoken to him. You groaned before running to the door to stop him, but you were too late, his car already turning off the drive and out of your sight. You ran inside to send him a quick text, apologising and asking him to let you know where he was going. You waited five minutes for a reply but when it never came you shuffled off back to your laptop so you could rewrite the whole section you’d deleted.

Your focus was off the whole time, feeling worse and worse as the minutes went on about how you’d spoken to Mason, but you knew you had to finish this first. Hoping to give Mason enough time to cool down and come back to you. After another hour and a half you were finally finished, happy with what you’d produced before you saved it and shut your laptop down.

Mason still wasn’t home, and you pulled out your phone only to see he’d made no attempts to get in contact with you. It didn’t even look like he’d read your text so you bit the bullet and called him. The phone rung until you managed to get through to voicemail but you decided against leaving one.

Your mind was reeling with options of where he might be, but you had no idea. In the end you sent a quick text to Ben in hopes he would be there, but when he replied saying he hadn’t seen him you felt deflated. You thought it would be best to leave him for a little while longer but your mind was constantly thinking of where he was.

You made a quick dinner, making sure to save some for Mason and then took a shower before getting ready for bed. Mason was still ignoring you and the sadness you were feeling in your belly was becoming overwhelming. You tried to call him again, but it went through to answerphone. You decided to leave one this time, hoping you could convince him to talk to you.

‘Hi Mase, it’s me. Can you please let me know you’re alright? I’m going out of my mind worrying here. Please just text me or come home. I don’t want us go to bed upset… can you please just talk to me. I’m really sorry, Mase.’ You sniffed before hanging the phone up, tears now cascading down your face as you struggled to keep your sobs at bay.

You left your phone on the side before getting under the covers, although you were wide awake with nerves about tomorrow and worry for Mason. You’d been sat in your thoughts for just over ten minutes when you saw your phone light up besides you. You grabbed it as quickly as you could and your heart began to race as you saw a text had come through from Mason.

I’m fine, don’t worry. I’ll be home soon

As much as the text settled you, it also made you sad. There was no kiss on the end like usual and the use of the word soon was no use to you as that could be anytime. You still also didn’t know where he was but at least you had something. You quickly replied, telling him you’d see him soon but you never received anything back.

You settled down again, your eyes shutting so you could relax for when he got home, but you’d fallen asleep before that happened. You tossed and turned all night, drifting in and out of consciousness and constantly checking the time. When it got to 2am and he still wasn’t in bed you chanced a look outside to find his car was back and parked up so he was obviously home, he just hadn’t made it up to bed yet.

You let out a relived sigh, debating on weather to go and find him but in the end you got back into bed knowing he would be in soon.

The next thing you knew, your alarm was ringing in your ear after what felt like two seconds of sleep. You sighed, reaching over to turn it off, thinking you must of set it for the wrong time. When it showed it was time for you to get up you sat in confusion for a few seconds, looking to your side to see Masons side still untouched and the sadness washed over you again.

You didn’t have time to think about that right now, getting ready for work for your presentation in half an hour as you’d have to look presentable from the waist up.

Once you were ready, you got comfortable in the study and opened everything up so you were prepared to start. You were just greeting everyone as they joined the call when you saw the door to the guest room across the hall open and Mason appear.

His hair was a mess, the creases from the pillow pressed into his cheek and you’d never seen him look so sad. Your eyes met for a brief second before he looked away and walked in the direction of the stairs. You wanted to jump out of your chair and run after him but the sound of your boss calling your name bought you back to reality.

‘Hi sorry, yeah I’m ready to go whenever everyone else is’ you smiled, putting on a brave face to get through the next hour and a half.

Twenty minutes in you heard the front door go and Masons car start. You heart sunk and you stuttered over your words as you willed the tears to stay in your eyes. You recovered quickly and carried on talking but Masons sad face was at the forefront of your mind for the next hour and a bit whilst you gave your presentation. When you were done and all the questions were over, everyone thanked you and left the call, leaving just yourself and your boss on the phone.

‘Good work y/n, you really nailed that’ he smiled at you, and you felt relief wash over you that it was now over. ‘Have the rest of the day off, I think you deserve it’ he told you and after a quick chat, you were closing your laptop and relaxing into the chair.

Reaching for your phone, you flipped it over to see Mason had sent you message two hours ago when he’d left the house.

I’ll be home around 3. Good luck today x

You eyes filled with fresh tears as you read over his message, seeing you had just under three hours until he was home. Now with work finished, you got changed into something a bit more comfortable before tidying all your things away.

You thought it might be nice to make Mason his favourite dinner as a treat and to apologise so you headed to the kitchen and began chopping everything you needed whilst rehearsing what you wanted to say to him and praying that he would forgive you.

Once everything was prepared, you took a seat on the sofa, hoping to distract yourself a little bit before he got home. The tiredness took over you instantly and your lack of sleep from the night before meant you were suddenly passed out, only waking up when you felt someone’s cold fingertips on your forehead.

Your eyes snapped awake, looking straight into Masons. Your breath caught in your throat as you sat up and he took the seat next to you, unsure of what day it was and what was going on.

‘What time is it?’ You asked him quietly and he looked down to his hands as he spoke.

‘Just after three’ he murmured and you nodded at him. ‘Shouldn’t you still be working?’

‘Got given the afternoon off’

‘Did it go alright this morning?’ He asked, finally looking at you and the sadness’s in his face broke your heart all over again. You felt your eyes glaze over as you nodded, scared your voice might fail you if you tried to speak. He gave you a half smile ‘told you it’d be fine’ he whispered and you dropped your head as the tears spilled from your eyes.

‘I’m so sorry Mase’ you stuttered, covering your face with your hands to hide your tears. You heard him sigh besides you before he gently wrapped his arms around your body, pulling you into his chest.

‘It’s okay’

‘It’s not, I didn’t mean it’

‘It’s fine if you did’

‘No I didn’t I promise. I’ve just been so stressed about that bloody presentation, and then thinking about next week with your family. I know it’ll be fine but it’s a lot of pressure. I just shut down and didn’t know how to handle it’ you hiccuped, and he rubbed his hand up and down your back soothingly. ‘But that’s not an excuse to speak to you like I did, I’m so sorry, Mase. I’d hate for you to think that I actually think that about you’

‘No, you were right’ he sighed and you went to interrupt but he shook his head to stop you. ‘You were working and I should of left you too it. I don’t know I just love having you around and I guess I got so excited you were here I just wanted to be with you all the time but I should of respected that you were working and given you some space’

‘I don’t want you to think I don’t want you around though. Or that I don’t like you touching me cause I do.’

‘I don’t think that’

‘Are you sure?

‘Positive’ he smiled and you rested your head in his neck, breathing in his scent as you’d missed him. ‘It’s a big step you know? Spending all this time together. There’s bound to be teething problems but I know next time there’s an issue we can sort it out a lot better. I know I’m a lot sometimes and I find it hard to keep my hands off you but I should of respected your boundaries. And I shouldn’t of just left yesterday and not come back. I know I can be stubborn.’

‘I hurt you Mase, I understand why you went’

‘I know but I should of at least let you know where I was, that wasn’t very mature of me’

‘Where did you go?’ You asked, lifting your head so you could look at him. He blushed a little bit and looked away before telling you.

‘I was at Bens’ he admitted and you gave him playful scowl. ‘I told him not to tell you I was there’

‘Mason…’

‘I know, I know’ he groaned, pulling you a little bit closer and he burrowed his head in your shoulder.

‘What about today?’

‘I was at the gym, thought a run and some time to think would be good’ he explained ‘I’m sorry, I realise how childish it was now. And if you’d of done the same I would of hunted you down and dragged you back’ he teased ‘I wasn’t thinking straight and I see how stupid I was now’

‘I thought I’d lost you, when you didn’t come home. I hated being here without you, I was worried sick’

‘No matter what happens, I’ll always come back to you’ he whispered pressing his lips to your forehead. ‘I promise’

‘You wait till I see Ben next, he’s gonna get a earful’

‘Don’t be mad at him, it’s may fault’ he told you, kissing your shoulder gently, and you smiled at the little bit of contact.

‘Have I ruined my chances of me moving in now’ you laughed, wiping your eyes and he chuckled next to you.

‘Not at all, forgetting the last 24 hours, I’ve loved having you here’ he smiled, tucking your hair behind your ear and smiling at you softly. ‘I love waking up next to you, I love getting to fall asleep with you every night, I love how you keep me in check and look after me. It’s normal to have an argument here or there and considering this is our first I think we’re doing okay’ he reassured you, and you felt yourself settle at his words. ‘You do still wanna move in with me right?’

‘Of course’ you laughed, linking your fingers through his as you both smiled.

‘Well how about after we get back from holiday we start moving your stuff in?

‘You want me here that soon?’

‘I’ve wanted you here for months. One little tiff isn’t gonna change that. If you wanna wait then we can but I’m ready to start our life together’ he proclaimed ‘If anything, yesterday just made me want you here more in a weird way. Once I’d figured my shit out earlier, I couldn’t wait to come home cause I knew you’d be here’ he smiled and you couldn’t help but smile back.

‘Can I ask one more thing?’ You murmured, and he nodded at you with slightly furrowed brows as he was unsure what you were about to say. ‘Why didn’t you come to bed last night?’ Your voice slightly shakey as you dropped your head. ‘I know things weren’t great but I hated going to sleep without you’

You heard him sigh as he tugged you a little closer, resting his head on top of yours as his arms circled you again. ‘I was going to, I came up to check on you when I got in but you were sound asleep and I didn’t want to disturb you. I know how important this morning was to you and I’d already messed it up so I thought it best if I just keep away for a little bit longer’ he told you and you nodded into his neck. ‘I promise you, tonight I’m not going anywhere’ he whispered and you pulled back to look at him, both your faces softening as you saw how apologetic the other was. ‘Can I kiss you now? It should be illegal to go this long without your lips on mine’ he joked and you laughed whilst nodding your head.

His hands gently cupped your jaw and he wasted no time before pressing his lips to yours. He kept it soft, slowly caressing his lips against yours as he tried to show you how much he missed you. He pulled back earlier than you’d of liked and he giggled at your pout as he pressed his forehead against yours.

‘Love you’ he whispered and you felt your whole body erupt in goosebumps, feeling just as special now as when he told you the first time.

‘Love you too’ you said back before kissing him again, a bit more forceful this time and you felt him hum into your mouth.

‘What’s for dinner?’ He asked with a cheeky smile when the two of you finally pulled away. You rolled your eyes in mock annoyance as you crossed your arms in a huff.

‘Well I was planning on making your favourite but now I know you made Ben lie for you I might make you eat what I saved you yesterday’

‘You saved me a dinner yesterday?’ He laughed, uncrossing your arms so he could pull you in to him. ‘You’re so bloody cute’ he whispered, kissing your cheek.

‘I didn’t want you coming home hungry’ you pouted as he kissed all over your face. You couldn’t deny you were loving all the attention he was showering you with, having missed his touch for the past day.

‘How about, I make dinner and after that I’ll run you a nice bath? It’s been a tense few days and you deserve some time to yourself’

‘I’ve been by myself for the last day, Mase’ you laughed, standing from the sofa and pulling him up with you. ‘I’ve prepped most of dinner so we can finish it off together then maybe we can have a bath together? You can tell me all about your mysterious adventure that you’ve been on’ you teased as his hands circled you waist.

‘Sounds good’ he laughed whilst kissing your temple. ‘Maybe you can tell me all about your presentation too, you never did tell me what it was about’ he teased making you nestle into him. ‘But in future, if I’m being too much, please just tell me to piss off. I promise I won’t be offended’

‘I will. And if I shut off and start being a big meanie, just tell me to relax. I get all up in my head about these things and I don’t realise how awful I’m being until it’s too late’

‘You weren’t too awful’ he winked ‘I’m kind of glad this happened, at least we know we need to communicate a bit better and we can work on that. Plus we’ve got all next week to relax and make up for lost time’ he told you with a playful pinch of your bum.

‘It one was night Mase’ you laughed as he nuzzled his face into your hair. ‘Plus your family will be around’

‘Doesn’t mean I won’t be on you 24/7’ he laughed, slowly letting go of you and walking into the kitchen to start dinner. You stood for a second, letting out a big sigh of relief that you’d managed to talk out your issues and were now back on track. You saw his head pop back to look at you, his hand extended for you to take as he nodded over you the kitchen. ‘Come on you, don’t think you’re getting out of making my dinner that easy’ he quipped and you laughed as you took his hand, feeling happier than you had for days.

#mason mount #mason mount imagine #mason mount fanfic #mason mount blurb #mason mount x y/n #mason mount x reader #footballer x reader #footballer x y/n

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bomberqueen17 · 3 months ago

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Liveblogging the Aubreyad: Book 4, Mauritius Command, pt 2

ok so we left off with our heroes wandering around the indian ocean doing far too much with too little. Jack is In Charge and depressed about it but good at it, Stephen is pining for the dodo birds but rather grouchily doing extremely effective intelligence things out of pure hatred of Bonaparte, and the cast of supporting characters includes Lord Clonfert who is one-sidedly obsessed with Jack who barely knows he's alive, and Clonfert's doctor McAdam who keeps making unpleasantly keen observations about things and then passing out drunk. And of course Admiral Bertie, remotely in charge of everything from his station at Cape Town, who is just in this to figure out how much prize-money he can wring out of Lucky Jack's remaining luck which turns out largely to be that the guy's just a lot smarter than he looks, not that anyone seems aware of this least of all the guy himself.

But into all of this there will come an important ray of sunshine. Yes. Our favorite supporting character will soon be here.

So news reaches Cape Town from two directions. Firstly they finally get letters from home, but Sophie never dates her letters and hasn't learned to put them in waterproof envelopes, so Jack gets a stack of melted-together, mildewed, largely-illegible updates that he has to enlist Stephen to help him decipher, and they don't have much luck. She is apparently surprisingly well, underlined three times, but between the two of them even with all Stephen's code-breaking expertise they cannot work out just why anyone should be surprised about this. They also hear that Iphegenia and Magicienne are meant to join the squadron, sent via Sumatra.

But secondly they get news from out in the Indian Ocean that the remaining three French frigates have caused a bunch of fucking havoc and have captured yet more valuable British Indiamen-- the Windham is one that will come up again later-- and the HMS Victor, a sloop, along with the Portuguese Minerva, of 52 guns, now repurposed as the French Minerve. So the odds are once again in the French favor, and hurricane season is bearing down upon them.

Jack shifts his pennant back to the Boadicea, as the Raisonnable cannot endure the hurricanes, and off they go, back out to sea.

They encounter HMS Magicienne, who under Captain Curtis has managed to retake the Indiaman Windham but was not able to take the French Venus, Windham's former captor.

Stephen has a collection of gold to use as bribes, and pamphlets to put ashore for propaganda to turn the locals into supporters of the British. He accidentally tips the chest over and Jack has to help him pick it up.

“God help us," cried Jack, gazing at the mass of gold coins lying in a deep curve along the leeward side of the cabin. "What is this?" "It is technically known as money," said Stephen. "And was you to help me pick it up, instead of leering upon it with a stunned concupiscence more worthy of Danae than a king's officer, we might conceivably save some few pieces before they all slip through the cracks in the floor. Come, come, bear a hand, there.”

These go into a series of little bags which the sturdy, sure-footed Bonden is to carry ashore in a specially-made jacket all lined with pockets, as they sensibly determined that Stephen would absolutely drown himself if so weighed-down.

Boadicea, Magicienne, Nereiede now under Clonfert, and Sirius still under Pym, and Otter now under Clonfert's former lieutenant Tompkinson-- all fall to blockading Port-Louis, the capital of Mauritius, while Stephen goes with Grappler, a brig they took from the French when they took St. Paul (now under the command of a young man named Dent), to escort the retaken Indiaman Windham to La Reunion. (Jack had hoped by sending Corbett away he'd relieve the tension since Clonfert and he were on bad terms, but now Clonfert has managed to get on bad terms somehow with the easygoing Pym, to Jack's annoyance.)

Stephen returns with information, and sets out again almost immediately in Nereide, as Clonfert has a local pilot and knows the waters, and the ship draws a shallow draft. Stephen find Clonfert not very good company, but wins his favor by flattering him that his mysterious psychosomatic gut pains are truly impressively painful.

The blockade continues apace, the subversive pamphleteering likewise, and Stephen also manages to get ashore at Rodriguez with enough help from Keating's soldiers that he can excavate the bones he had longed to look for, the remains of a long-extinct dodo-like bird called the solitaire.

The tedium is eventually resolved by a hurricane, which the British squadron puts to sea to ride out, and does, but not without damage. They have to come back to refit at Cape Town, and the Admiral gives Jack very little support in dealing with the corrupt, slow-moving, greedy dockyard; Jack has to personally bribe them, left and right, with money he has to borrow for the purpose. And to cap all, his bosun has stolen so much from the ship that Jack really should court-martial him-- all the petty officers steal a little, it's a perquisite of their various ranks, but too much is too much-- but the simple fact is, there isn't anyone else who can do his job, and so Jack has to let him continue.

Iphegenia turns up, captained by a reasonable young fellow named Lambert, enterprising enough to have his statements of condition all drawn up, ready to go-- 36-gun 18-lb frigate, escorting fourteen transports full of soldiers, so that Rodriguez is sufficiently reinforced-- 1500 soldiers fewer than he'd asked for but Lt. Col. Keating is enterprising enough that he believes he can make it work, so they resolve to set about La Reunion with what they've got.

Clonfert had been competitively driving his ship to be done refitting first, but alas, he is disappointed-- Iphegenia and Magicienne are immediately ready to sail, but Nereide needs 36 hours yet. He also is weirdly competitive in conversation with Jack at various dinners, and Jack is mostly just confused and tries to avoid arguing.

They get to Rodriguez eventually, and Stephen slips away from the conferences of the various commanders and captains once he's given all the advice he feels appropriate-- he wants to go look for more solitaire bones. As he walks, someone else accosts him, calling out from behind him, and he tries to pretend he doesn't hear and walks faster, but his pursuer has longer legs and in fact is--

TOM PULLINGS

you didn't know he'd be in this book did you!!! I was delighted. He has taken the unglamorous but bill-paying job of commanding a transport, rather a career dead-end for a Navy lieutenant but a respectable position nonetheless. He is commanding the unlovely, squat Groper, of no very great sailing qualities but with an amazingly shallow draft, and is his usual cheerful self, delighted to see Stephen. Stephen, wasting no time, promises to honor him with a visit but first in the immediate moment could Tom spare him a sturdy sailor or two of fair average understanding who knows how to wield a shovel? and so while the soldiers are all loading onto the transports, Stephen and a pair of Gropers continue excavating solitaire bones for a precious few more hours.

The squadron sets out before nightfall; a big concern is that La Reunion has heavy surf on the windward side of the island, and the strategy dictates that they land troops on both leeward and windward. Both Keating and Jack are in positions of greater authority than they've ever held before, making decisions about operations the like of which they have not commanded before, and they are nervous but determined, and most importantly the two of them get along very well.

They split up, and the Boadicea is with the transports on the windward side of the island. At first the surf is minimal, but the weather worsens and the surf picks up. Jack moves up the timeline and they go in early to land their troops for fear of it worsening, but it is already severe, and the first few boats manage to get their men ashore but only by dashing against the beach, destroying the boats, and even that is causing some fatalities among the landing parties. (The first landing party was the detachment of seamen, commanded by Clonfert, who proceeds to stand on the battlements waving his sword and being extremely conspicuous throughout the rest of this, though he does no further useful things at this juncture.)

The only thing for it is to make a breakwater, and that involves sacrificing a larger ship. The Groper has a shallow draft; Jack orders Pullings to sail it in, anchor it at the last moment, and ground it on the beach in such a way that it will block the surf. Pullings does this with great promptness and accuracy, and they get a fair number of boats ashore intact, but then the anchor cable snaps and the Groper, her bows already irrevocably stove in, is hurled up onto the beach and shattered entirely.

They can't land the rest of the troops, nor can they get ashore to convey commands, and Keating is at a loss for how to proceed. After giving him a little time, Jack sort of gently steps in and says they can do no more here and must go around the other side to support the assault on the leeward side, and Keating gratefully accepts the support. A volunteer among the soldiers swims ashore to convey these orders, and they sail away.

Stephen goes ashore, and goes to parley with the French, many of whom he already knows and has already been speaking with. Keating gets the rest of his men ashore, sets up the assault beautifully, and has derived a really textbook plan of action that will gain them the island in three to four days' time.

But Stephen comes back with a surrender, to Keating's great disappointment. It has worked; they have the island, and that includes taking all the shipping in St Paul harbor as prizes. Pullings is told to go take his pick as a replacement for Groper, and winds up with a schooner that was formerly a privateer.

Jack, Keating, and the others resolve that now that they have La Reunion they must take Mauritius immediately, must scrape together all that they have and get the rest of the thing done before more orders can come from on high to slow them down, and importantly before the French can do anything about any of it. It will be tricky, but they do have enough ships, enough men, and most importantly they know what they're doing.

La Reunion has two ports-- one is Port-Louis, and the other is called Ile de la Passe or Port Southeast. Jack decides that they should assault Ile de la Passe first, and it's a tricky one with a narrow passage you have to navigate through in order to get to the harbor. The passage is defended by a battery, and since he has Clonfert with his local pilot's knowledge, Jack decides they should be detached to do this, and he should leave it up to them. Part of leadership is letting your underlings have independence.

Stephen goes with Clonfert so he can go ashore and propagandize. But the Nereiedes don't know about Stephen's foibles, and so they let him fall in when he's trying to come aboard, and he is only rescued because one of the local men loading the ship jumps in after him. So Stephen spends the whole transit to Mauritius sick in bed, recovering. Clonfert is kind to him and sits with him and is a completely different person in private, sweet and conciliatory and remarkably kind, and changes dramatically whenever there's a different audience.

McAdam resents how close Stephen and Clonfert have grown, and is rude to Stephen. He also, while drunk, is offensive about Irish Catholics, and on my first readthrough of the book I had to put it down at the point where he starts singing Croppies Lie Down, and could only come back when I'd calmed down a little myself. (I also had assumed McAdam knew Stephen was Catholic, but in the next paragraph Stephen realizes that he in fact does not suspect it.)

Stephen, stung beyond self-control, makes a fling about McAdam's drunkenness and McAdam responds with a fling about Stephen's use of laudanum. But McAdam can't remember the conversation the next day, and is mildly sheepish because he knows they argued but can't remember why.

The rest of the ships are blockading Port-Louis, but Nereiede takes the battery by Ile de la Passe, and then Clonfert spends some time amusing himself by dashing around doing various things ashore, and Stephen gets a lot of propagandizing done, and also manages to get himself a pillow stuffed with dodo feathers, to his great joy.

The French turn up at Ile de la Passe, and the Nereide is reasonably well-prepared but the shore battery is all scattered and apparently has made no plans for this. But I have grown too busy to continue this in a timely fashion so I'm going to divide it here, and I will come back in part 3 to tell you of what ensues!

#liveblogging the aubreyad #patrick o'brian #stephen maturin #TOM PULLINGS #the mauritius command

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mariacallous · 4 months ago

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On Wednesday, the Department of Justice indicted two employees of RT, formerly Russia Today, a Russian state-run media outlet, for covertly shoveling millions of dollars at MAGA influencers happy to do Russia’s bidding.

This has led to the delightful specter of high-profile rightwing commentators loudly insisting they were too stupid to know that Russian money was behind the wildly exorbitant sums they received for producing content.

While watching Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson scramble is hilarious, the indictment is no joke.

Indeed, it confirms that Russia continues to manipulate American politics via willing right-wingers — the exact thing Trumpers have long insisted isn’t happening.

Russian propaganda through MAGA mouthpieces

The indictment names Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, aka Kostya, and Elena Afanasyeva, aka Lena, as the RT employees who laundered close to $10 million through foreign shell companies, ultimately raining all that money down on an unnamed American media company, US Company-1, who then passed it along to unnamed commentators 1-6.

Though unnamed, the company and several commentators are easily discernible to anyone paying attention to the rightwing media grift. The company is most definitely Tenet Media, and its founders are most definitely Lauren Chen, who was also at BlazeTV until the indictment dropped and they fired her, and her husband, Liam Donovan.

And the commentators? Tenet’s ridiculous website describes them as “heterodox commentators” and “creators who question institutions that believe themselves to be above questioning.” That would be Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern, Matt Christiansen, and Tayler Hansen.

Kostya and Lena are charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Anyone acting as an agent of a foreign country must register with the attorney general if they are engaged in certain activities, such as politics, on behalf of a foreign country. This ensures the American public doesn’t fall victim to covert foreign influence. The key here is the covert part. There’s no prohibition on publications from foreign governments overtly and transparently attempting to shape American opinion. The idea is just that Americans have the right to know.

Kostya and Lena are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, as the $10 million they gave to Tenet was sent through a truly staggering maze of shell entities in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. They also lied about what the money being sent to Tenet was for, with the indictment noting that the wire transfers to Tenet often referred to the purchase of electronics rather than paying for media services. The indictment alleges that all that shuffling around of money was done with the intent to violate FARA.

Make FARA Violations Great Again

FARA has been on the books since 1938, but had only been enforced seven times up until 2016. What changed in 2016? Trump. Nothing more, nothing less.

Numerous Trumpworld denizens violated the law by failing to register. Trump’s onetime campaign manager, Paul Manafort, pleaded guilty to failing to register as an agent of the Ukrainian government back when Ukraine was controlled by pro-Russian then-president Viktor Yanukovych. Trump’s first national security advisor, Michael Flynn, admitted to taking hundreds of thousands of dollars to work on behalf of Turkey’s government but did not register. Flynn has also taken RT money to the tune of $45,000.

Elliott Broidy, a major Trump fundraiser and the former deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee, pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Malaysia and China, taking millions to covertly lobby the Trump administration on behalf of those countries. Trump, of course, pardoned all three. And earlier this year, the DOJ indicted Barry Bennett and Douglas Watts, both of whom worked on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, for their failure to register and disclose they were lobbying on behalf of Qatar.

Media companies are exempt from registering if they’re organized under the laws of any US jurisdiction, are at least 80 percent owned by US citizens, are run by US citizens, and are not “owned, directed, supervised, controlled, subsidized, or financed by any foreign principal or agent.”

So, if Tenet had been genuinely financed and controlled by Chen and Donovan, there would be no problem here, even if they had some relationship with RT. The issue is that it appears Tenet was wholly financed by RT in secret, Chen and Donovan knew it, and the RT employees got to shape coverage.

What was in it for the Russians? Rants like the below one from Pool about how “one of the greatest enemies of our nation right now is Ukraine … we should rescind all funding and financing, pull out all military support, and we should apologize to Russia.” (Video via @DrewPavlou on twitter.)

Besides the fact that laundering pro-Russian, anti-Ukraine content in secret through willing American talking heads allowed Russia to pretend that sentiment was homegrown, RT had another reason for going through Tenet: RT itself was dropped by American cable distributors, banned in Europe, and RT America went out of business in March 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The indictment explains that both Chen and Donovan worked directly for RT before this, with Chen having a contract between her unnamed Canadian company and ANO TV-Novosti, RT’s parent organization, and Donovan working directly for RT. Chen incorporated Tenet around January 19, 2022, right as Russia was massing troops on the border of Ukraine. It wasn’t until December 2022 that Chen began negotiating with an entirely fictitious person, Eduard Grigoriann, about launching a new YouTube channel.

And now we arrive at the part where all of these right-wingers can only get out from under these allegations by claiming they are very dumb.

Dave Rubin and Tim Pool made a fortune from Russia

From the details in the indictment, it’s impossible Chen and Donovan didn’t know their money was coming from Russia via shady means.

First, the Russians, through the imaginary Grigoriann and two other unnamed nonexistent personas, sent Chen a proposed contract run through a Hungarian shell entity as the purported client, a company that had no publicly available website. Later, one of the unnamed personas asked Chen to submit an invoice through a Czech shell company, which at least had a website, albeit one where it ostensibly sold auto parts. Chen later signed another contract sent to her by one of the Russian personas that was an agreement not with Grigoriann, not with the Hungarian shell company, and not with the Czech shell company, but instead with a UK shell entity with no website.

The indictment makes clear that despite all the shell companies, Chen and Donovan knew their money was coming from the Russians. They also knew that the Russians ran the show, with messages asking the Russians about hiring a producer and the Russian persona approving the hire. Kostya was also presented to Tenet as an outside editor, allowing him to monitor internal communications and edit Tenet content without disclosing he worked for RT.

Chen then solicited Commentator-1 — Dave Rubin — and Commentator-2 — Tim Pool— to work for the imaginary Eduard Grigoriann, drawing from a shortlist of candidates sent by one of the Russian personas. However, both Rubin and Pool demanded a lot of money. The indictment alleges Rubin wanted close to $5 million per year to create content for Tenet, and Pool wanted “100k per weekly episode to make it worth his while.” Chen warned the Russian persona that it would not be profitable to employ either of them, but the persona responded that they would love to move forward. In other words, Chen knew full well that their backers were willing to throw large sums at right-wingers with no hope of achieving a profitable return, a move that would be very odd for an actual business.

For a brief moment, it looked like Rubin might have been smart enough not to work for a completely unknown entity with cash to burn. The indictment shows that he inquired more than once about who Eduard Grigoriann was and wanted to know about the company and who he would be working with. However, he did not need much convincing, as there was no particularly robust effort to make Grigoriann’s existence believable.

The Russians created a one-page profile, reproduced in the indictment, with Grigoriann’s alleged career highlights. The profile refers to Grigoriann’s time at an unnamed bank, one which has no record of ever employing him. Additionally, a Google search turned up no results at all for that name in conjunction with the bank, despite the profile saying Grigoriann had high-level private banking and investment roles.

Despite this shoddiness, Rubin’s only concern was that the profile used the term “social justice,” which he had a problem with because they were trying to create a conservative network.

Rubin ultimately agreed to a monthly fee of $400,000 and a $100,000 signing bonus to produce four videos weekly. Pool got $100,000 per video. Both Rubin and Pool, along with Benny Johnson, are now saying that they are the real victims here and that they were deceived. They’re getting help pushing that talking point from the likes of Marco Rubio, who went on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show last night and dismissed the indictment’s revelations about rightwing influencers.

“We're talking about preexisting political opinions in the United States,” Rubio said. “They legitimately believe in the views they're espousing. They were victims." (Watch below.)

But buying that requires believing that at no point did Pool, Johnson, and the others think it odd that a small Tennessee company could pay them six figures per video. Rubin, meanwhile, is apparently able to be convinced of someone’s existence with a one-page fake profile and no other data.

In conjunction with this, the DOJ sanctioned several Russian individuals and entities, and Putin has already howled that Russia’s response will make “everyone shudder.” It’s all part of the DOJ’s fight against election interference and an open acknowledgment that the Kremlin favors a Trump win. It’s a more aggressive approach, thankfully, than Obama took in 2016, and will hopefully lead us to a better election result this time around.

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