#because I wasn't allowed to on mobile

[chef-manardee]

boy i wish i had the patience to go on a rant about language in localized translations, spoken and written, but i simply do not have the patience

i feel like i'm back in college with weebs crying over the fact that english merely exists—

[fideidefenswhore]

Just thought I would address this again because unfortunately, she repeats this claim in her latest book:

"Anne's own mother had lost several babies in infancy and her sister Mary had borne a son with disabilities who Anne would not suffer to be at court."

Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I (2023), Tracy Borman

There is a primary source (not that she cites one...in either...) which alludes to AB 'not suffering [Henry Carey] to be at court' (it's not terribly definitive, however...the actual quote seems speculative, it's hearsay of another speculating that she "might not" suffer him at court, actually), but it certainly doesn't mention or imply any disability, much less disability being the reason he was not wanted at court:

"Finally, I confess the four bills by Mr. Feerne, Mr. Leeke, Mr. Skydmore, and Sir Thos. Mody to be true, and that by such seditious ways I have maliciously slandered the King and Queen and their Council; for which I ask forgiveness of God, king Henry VIII., and queen Anne, and shall continue sorrowful during my life, which stands only in the King's will. "Moreover, Mr. Skydmore dyd show to me yongge Master Care, saying that he was our suffren Lord the Kynge's son by our suffren Lady the Qwyen's syster, whom the Qwyen's grace myght not suffer to be yn the Cowrte."" [John Hale, Vicar of Isleworth, to the Council.] April 1535.

It's also not clear whether it was Mary Stafford or Henry Carey that Hale was referring to when he claimed Skidmore said AB "might not suffer [them] to be in the court". Natalie Grueninger posits that it was the former:

"While most of the rumours circulating were unfounded [...] Hale was right about one thing-- in 1535, Mary Boleyn was not at court with her family." The Final Year of Anne Boleyn, Natalie Grueninger

There's a thread about this claim on TudorQ&A also:

A commenter over at the Anne Boleyn Files blog asked the same question, only referencing Carolly Erickson's Mistress Anne rather than Borman's book. I checked it out and it looks like Borman utilized Erickson's book on this particular subject nearly verbatim, although she did not cite it [...] Mary Carey and her husband did apparently have the wardship of an "idiot" heir; I assume when William Carey died this reverted to the Crown. At around the same time, however, Mary's son Henry became a ward of his aunt, Anne Boleyn. Perhaps Erickson or her researchers may have confused the two separate wardships. It would be interesting to see kb's review of Borman's book; it's clearly directed at a popular audience, and the "mentally challenged" son comment does not inspire confidence, but it has interesting things to say about Elizabeth's familia throughout her life and I would like to see a qualified scholar assess the historical veracity of the work.

So, I was not able to find any clear evidence of Mary having wardship of a disabled person. Weir's biography of Mary Boleyn mentions that "at some point in her widowhood, Mary [...] was granted wardship of one William Bailey", but I was not able to verify this anywhere. Thomas Boleyn was granted wardship of William Strongman in 1529, but again, have found nothing that suggests the ward had any disability. The only wardship of William Carey's I was able to find was that of Thomas Sharpe of Canterbury, who was described as an "idiot", maybe(?) this did revert to Mary, at some point, but no academic biographies of the Boleyns mention this.

Regardless, whether Borman did get her wires crossed on whether or not she was referring to a wardship (certainly not someone Mary had 'borne', if so), this seems egregious, not least because there was a member of the Boleyn family who was disabled and was cared for:

"In September [1535], Thomas [Boleyn] again left court and spent time in Hever, taking care of his mother who was living out her final years [...]

Nicholas Harris Nicolas, Testamenta Vetusta, Vol. II, 465. It was reported that, from 1519 onwards, Margaret [Butler] was unable to take care of herself or her affairs, and so Thomas moved his mother down to Hever, where he could care for her for the rest of her life.

It would seem that William [Stafford] had also petitioned Henry [VIII] for control of Thomas’ lands in Essex but Thomas had made it clear they were to go to his mother and, upon her death, his granddaughter, Elizabeth. This document suggests a far more proactive Mary [Stafford], as they had already taken possession of several properties before this document had been drawn up. Kent Archives." Among the Wolves of Court: The Untold Story of Thomas and George Boleyn, Lauren Mackay

So Anne Boleyn didn't want her nephew Henry Carey at court cause he was supposedly disabled? Just like Gregory, Borman turned a good thing Anne did for her sister into a nasty thing? What evidence does she shows for Henry being disabled, or Anne not wanting him around? And for goodness' sake, isn't it strange that some historians and fiction writers seem to hate Anne (like Borman or Weir) but can't help to end up writing about her, because, let's face it, ANNE BOLEYN SELLS! They must feel so bad for always having to return return to this woman they are so eager to portray as the Worst Human Being Ever.

Literally none, and I'm not even joking. There's no citation, no additional information or details, she doesn't even name this nephew so I don't even know if it's Henry Carey to whom she's referring, or one of the Stafford children (whose existence/survival remains disputed), or even the later Elizabethan priest, George Boleyn, dean of Lichfield, who has been erroneously labeled as the son of Viscount Rochford, George Boleyn(illegitimate at times, by marriage other times), Julia Fox has argued for the likelihood he was some distant Boleyn cousin, and I'm inclined to agree. The claim is dropped into a paragraph about the perils of childbirth to contextualize Anne's own potential fears as if from the sky:

Worse still, Anne's closest female relations had suffered an unfortunate history in this respect. Her mother had lost several babies in infancy and her sister, Mary, had borne a son with mental disabilities whom Anne would not suffer to be at court. But in her favour was the fact that her health was generally considered good, and as one observer remarked, she seemed 'likely enough to bear children.' --Elizabeth's Women, Tracy Borman

So...yeah, if who she meant here was Henry Carey, I have no idea what she's talking about, A, and B, this is the sole* "factoid" she chose to mention about their relationship? Not that she had wardship of him, not that she arranged for him to receive his education from the scholar she patronized, Nicholas Bourbon, alongside Henry Norris (the younger), Henry Dudley, and the son of Nicholas Harvey, her 'strong partisan' and the husband of her great friend, Bridget Wingfield...all signs which point to Carey being in Anne's favour. I have no idea if he was ever at court, but if there's no record of him at court while Anne was queen, does it not seem more plausible to attribute this to A) how brief that time was and/or B) that his mother was banished from court due to the marriage she had made without royal permission?

I just don't...know, with Borman, really? It'd be interesting to have the unedited interview footage from BSR because I was surprised how overall sympathetic she was towards the subject, honestly. And I can't speak to the new book, I haven't read it, but the PR push for it has centered around praise of AB as an individual, as to her character.

For Weir, I mean, she received the deal to do that fictionalized serial on the six Queens of Henry VIII, of course AB had to be included. If I'm being perfectly honest, I feel like everything she has done since Lady in the Tower has had this weird self-animus pushing behind it, guilt over having further popularized a figure she hates so implacably. Her original view ("a total bitch...she alienated so many people that that must be true") has been evident in all her subsequent works and interviews; from claiming in one in 2017 that there exists a letter extant in AB's own handwriting where she orders Lady Shelton to beat her stepdaughter (there isn't), to depicting AB in her latest novel as having been so ugly and "painfully thin" naked that it was an instant boner-killer for her poorest little meow-meow.

*I believe other sections of this book are dedicated to the Careys so hopefully she expands later...I can't remember if she does. So far in my current read she has not mentioned the wardship and it was in 1528 and the book is now in 1533, so....

[bonsubear]

I'm So Hungry I Could Eat Your Ex │ Oliver and Mark Snippet

Very small snippet of Oliver doing the "I'm so hungry I could eat …" trend on Mark

CW: ooc, does not fit anywhere in canon plotline, very short

WC: 1.6k

Oliver was giggling to himself while holding an old, clearly worn-out phone that he had found two weeks ago when he was aimlessly walking around the house.

It was boring to be left alone, and it was only natural that he went snooping around drawers and cupboards in search for something to entertain himself.

That was when he found an old phone that used to belong to someone else in the house, the older model and the scratches that littered the front of the screen clear that it had a previous owner a long time ago.

Though it was his now—not that mom or Mark knew.

They said that he wasn't allowed to have his own phone until he was older and was taught properly about internet safety. Which was stupid, he'd been on the internet before on Mom's phone and it wasn't like it had fists to fight him!

Not that he would lose if it did—he'll so kick its ass.

Using his not-really-brand-new phone, he found the App Store and began downloading a bunch of stuff.

It was mostly mobile games with bright flashy colors and the simplest game mechanics known to man, but he became hooked on them quickly. That was until Oliver became slowly fed up at how each time, he finished a level, a one-minute advertisement would pop up to interrupt his fun.

He associated his phone to simply playing games when no one was around, not really thinking anything more of it.

That was until one of his mobile games advertised TikTok to him, and he was so curious on seeing what it was he downloaded it immediately.

And boy, it was the best thing ever!

Oliver discovered so many funny things and discovered funny people! He followed everyone and anyone that made him laugh, and he actually began gaining some mutuals because of how active he was in every comment section he came across.

His favorite thing right now however was the trend that was going around about people saying they were hungry and calling out the name of the person's friend that they shouldn't know—it was hilarious!

Oliver kicked his feet in the air, the phone close to his nose as he opened up the comment section.

XxsupercoolkidxX 😂😂😂ts so funny i gotta do it 2 my bro

He got a notification that someone replied to him.

bonsubear LOL do it n post it while the trend is still alive !!

XxsupercoolkidxX ok😂😂😂😂

Oliver jumped from the couch, floating in the air with his phone still in hand. He scrunched his brows as he tried to think how to get the funniest reaction from his brother, not really knowing how to find out the names of any of his friends.

Especially one that would get a big reaction out of him.

Eh, he'll figure it out!

He snooped around hard enough to find this thin, black book that was lying around the house. It was stashed inside the corner of a closet, clearly tossed and forgotten about as soon as it hit the wall.

In front of the cover was written in a white marker, Mark Grayson, with the year written next to it.

This belongs to Mark!

Opening it curiously, it was a bunch of photos with words next to it. He had an unimpressed look on his face as he flipped through the pages absentmindedly, not really interested in what the paragraphs had to say.

He came across endless pages of random people posing for a picture, and Oliver pouted as he thought this was boring.

That was until he came across a page that had a picture of a girl with curly hair, the frame around her picture adorned with hearts drawn on. The colors were pink and red, with yellow stars next to it.

Underneath the photo portrait was the name Amber Bennett, and it seemed like Mark really liked her.

“Hehe.” Oliver giggled, a mischievous grin blooming on his face. His lips resembled that of a cat’s smile with how the corner of his lips curled, rounding upward. “Perfect!”

Mark Grayson was sitting at the dinner table, having entered the house through the sliding doors. He was stuffing his face with the dinner that they had last night, heating it up in the microwave moments prior.

He was hungry and tired, practically shoving the food down his throat without swallowing with how empty his stomach was. He had pushed off not eating because of so many things happening for too long, the stomach pains while flying over here actually caused him some trouble.

Oliver flew around the corner, hiding the phone behind his back that was already recording. He had a sly grin on his face, Mark not noticing as he was too preoccupied by filling his stomach.

“Hey Oliver.” He greeted lazily, not sparing a glance as he barely chewed his food.

“Hehe, hi.” Oliver giggled, already unable to suppress his laughter that was bubbling in his throat. He hovered closer to his older brother, shifting the phone in his hand to face his direction. It was slanted, but it still captured Mark eating—completely unaware what was about to happen.

“I’m—pfft—I’m so hungry right now.” The purple-skinned boy snickered, covering his mouth with his free hand.

“There’s still leftovers from last night.” Mark pointed out, still not looking over to the direction of his younger brother that was having difficulty in holding it in. “Go heat it up for lunch, it’s still good.” He commented, stabbing his fork inside a cube of meat and popping it in his mouth.

Oliver shook his head, dismissing what his brother had told him to do. Mark was about to plunge his fork into another piece of meat, Oliver continuing to speak. “No, like, I’m so hungry right now I could eat Amber Bennett.”

CRACK!

Mark hand slipped, the fork going straight through the ceramic bowl that held his food in and impaling itself inside the wooden frame of the dining table. His head whipped to Oliver, his eyes wide and blinking like crazy, processing what his younger brother had just said so casually.

Oliver jumped, startled, letting out a nervous laugh.

“How—what I—how do you know her?!” Mark stuttered, looking at Oliver as if he had grown a new set of arms. He stood up from his seat, the chair getting knocked back and falling on the floor with a thud.

He let out a nervous, but deranged laugh not knowing exactly how to take his brother bringing up the first ever girlfriend he’d ever had. “How do you know her? How—ah—Oliver how do you know who that is?”

“Uh... you never get hungry for some Amber Bennett?” He shrugged. The camera was still filming.

“Wait—well uh, I used to I guess—okay that’s beside the point. Oliver, how do you know who that is?” Mark repeated the question again, walking towards his younger brother. He narrowed his eyes, noticing the phone peeking out of his back that had the flash on.

“Are you filming me? Whose phone is that?”

“It’s mine.”

“You’re not allowed to have your own phone yet! I didn’t get my own phone until I was fourteen!”

Oliver stuck his tongue out, blowing raspberries. “Sucks to be you! I’m mom’s favorite!” He taunted, bringing the phone in front of him to emphasis his point. “Got my own phone and everything.”

Mark scoffed, shaking his head. “I’ve been with mom for 18 years, I’m pretty sure I’m her favorite. Now, give me that phone—how’d you even get that?!”

“No!” Oliver screeched, turning on his heel in the air to run away. “I still have to post this!” He screamed before running out of the room, Mark quick on his trail.

“Post?! You are not old enough for social media!”

“I’m old enough for some Amber Bennett!”

“No, you’re not! Never say that again!”

Oliver burst out laughing, his smile reaching his ears as he landed on the wooden sleek floors just in time before Mark swung his arm in attempt to grab the younger Thraxan hybrid.

The momentum he was going at in the air didn’t transition well when he hit his feet on the ground, his socks causing him to slide across the floor. His eyes widen as he was hurled straight into a wall, crashing inside of it leaving a gaping hole of his silhouette behind.

He let go of the phone he had in his hand, the electronic flying across the floor.

The front door suddenly opened, Debbie holding a bag of takeout that she had bought before coming back home. She looked up, a gasp leaving her lips as she immediately noticed the gaping hole that was inside the wall of the hallway.

Oliver hissed, rubbing his head while he stepped out of the hole.

“Oliver!” Debbie gasped out.

Oliver jumped, looking at his mom. “Uh,” his eyes flickered at the hole in the wall that was obviously shaped like him. He raised a finger, pointing at Mark who was standing behind him, trying to muffle his laughter. “He did it! He pushed me!”

“What?! I did not push him!”

“You so did!”

“I so didn’t! Stop lying!” Mark turned to his mom, pointing at his younger brother. “He has a phone somehow! And he brought up my ex!” 

Debbie looked at the two of them like they were wild, shifting her gaze from Oliver to Mark. She was confused on what was happening, not expecting to be greeted so soon with chaos. “What?”

“What’s an ex! I said Amber Bennett stupid!”

“Stop saying her name—how do you know her?!”

Oliver simply stuck his tongue out, “Amber Bennett! Amber Bennett! Amber Bennett!” He repeated like a mantra, Mark raising his voice as he grabbed a hold of Oliver’s shoulders—shaking him back and forth in an effort to interrogate him.

 Debbie sighed, shaking her head as they continued to bicker loudly.

Oliver I'm so hungry I could eat the fine piece of ass called your older brother aka Mark Grayson !!

also this is just so random whyd i write this

Tag List for All Works: @calicocat-ina-tuxedo

[redheadspark]

Divine

Summary - Azriel and his mate find each other again during alone time

Warnings - SMUT! SMUT SMUT SMUT!! Although a bit mild, there is smut in this, no minors allowed from here on out!

A/N - This is part of the Ocean Eyes Series. A little smut piece for Azriel and the Reader to enjoy together! I hope you like it!

"I don't like how quiet it is,"

"I knew you were going to miss him as soon as we dropped him off with Cassian and Nesta,"

"I wasn't going to say anything and ruin the mood,"

Azriel barked a laugh, walking over to the fireplace to feed fresh logs into the fire, across from the loveseat where you were already sitting. Watching Azriel feed the fire and let the flame rise a bit, bringing warmth into your little home, made you relax all the more as the early evening was getting darker outside. 

Both you and Azriel had the evening to yourself, Alec having a sleepover at The House of Wind with his Uncle Cassian, Aunt Nesta, and Cousin Rose. Rose was big enough for Alec to play with her, thinking she was so fun to run around with and play with for hours on end. Cassian reassured you and Azriel that Alec would have the best time with his relatives, promising to teach him how to sword fight and do flips in the air with his wings.

The latter Azriel shot down real quick, but he was happy to let his son go for the night,

Plus, you can tell Azriel wanted to have some time with you and only you. Since you finally healed all the way through from being near close to death, you were simply trying to go back to a normal life. Though normalcy was not going to be in your life anytime soon because of recent events: Eris was still on the run with no leads as to where he was, Autumn Court's alliance with Night Court was shaky because of Eris. 

With all of this happening, you were worried about Azriel. No one told you, but you caught onto the fact that Azriel had a personal target on Eris. He was too strung out, too tight in his backside and his stance, and there was no sign of him being relaxed anytime soon. You understood why, but you also didn't wish for him to be wound tight like a tot.  Even feeling the bond and how he was not even relaxed for one moment. Stiff, a bit rigid, and you hoped you could find a way to get him to relax and unwind. 

Maybe it was perfect timing that you two were alone at your home.

Azriel stood back up, looking at his handiwork in the fireplace and the roaring fire that was now active. You stayed in your spot on the loveseat, your head slightly cocked to the side as you were looking at your mate with adoration and love in your eyes. For the last week and a few days, Azriel nursed you back to health and made sure all of your needs were met. Applying the ointment to your wound, delivering your food to the bed you were resting in, traveling back and forth between the River House and your cottage to get you books and some of your cross stitching when he noticed you were getting bored. Mor joked that he was becoming more of a wet nurse than a Spymaster. Azriel never cared, he was more focused on helping you get back to health and making sure you were 100% better. 

With a nasty sliver of a scare along your wing, you finally were able to leave River House behind and head home. But even when you did make it home and were given permission to be mobile, thanks to Madja, Azriel still was on edge. Rightfully so, you couldn't tell him to calm down because the threat that almost killed you was still out there somewhere in Prythian.  You weren't simply wanting Azriel to go back to the leisurely being he was before, but you wanted that light back in him.

"You're quite good at that, my love," You teased, seeing that smile on his face and the reflection of the fire dancing along his cheeks and nose. He looked back at you, his silhouette against the orange tint of the fire would look daunting to others. But not to you, not when he was walking back over to you and lowered himself on the loveseat to be shoulder to shoulder with you. His wings touched yours, making him look over at your wigs that were tucked against your backside.  Reachingup, he grazed his finger along the scar that was still fresh. You shivered from the touch, your wing was a pinch more sensitive thanks to the scar.

"It's healing well," Azriel stated, his voice calm as he was looking at the wing with intrigue. You weren't paying attention to your wing and its sensitivity, you were focusing on your mate. Watching his hazel eyes dancing along your wing, the smoothness of his cheeks after a recent shave, even the soft smile he had made you feel at peace. 

"Thanks to Madja, and you," You replied, Azriel's fingers that were hovering over your scars moved away from your wing swiftly. He moved his hand over to rest in his lap, though you were faster, and took his hand in yours to cradle it. Azrielwatched, you simply lacing the fingers together and smiling at him. Maybe it moved him a bit, seeing how relaxed and calm you were with him since you both were alone. You had plenty of things to say to him but had no idea where to start. Azriel must have sensed your quietness, he looked at you in concern as he squeezed your fingers together.

"Sweetheart?" He asked tentatively, he was searching your face as you were looking down at your joined hands. You are overwhelmed in that moment, being able to be back home at your home, healthy, and able to share this moment with your husband and mate. It made you want to cry, but something was holding you back from bringing on tears. Azriel reached over with his spare hand, placing a finger under your chin to gently raise your gaze to him. All you could do was smile, Azriel was about to say something else when you finally spoke.

"I'm happy," You explained to him as he was searching your eyes. You might have sounded odd to say that since you were on the verge of crying, but Azriel said nothing and simply watched you as you kept talking, "I'm happy that I'm here, and I have you to thank,"

Your voice sounded broken, yet you were smiling as if nothing was wrong. Nothing was wrong, you were in good health and you had your family with you. Maybe you were thinking back to that moment when you woke up in River House, in insane pain, and Azriel perched over you like a guardian angel of sorts. 

Even with the pain, the near close to death, seeing Azriel gaze at you with so much devotion and love in his eyes was enough to bring you back again. You thought for a split second in the bed that you were in a dream, or that you died and were now in some kind of afterlife with Azriel waiting for you. 

But he did more than that, he brought you back to reality. 

Azriel gently grazed your cheek with a singular finger, catching the one tear that was about to spill over, and smiled lovingly at you, "You never have to thank me for loving you with all of me,"

He made it seem so light, so simple, even freeing. He rarely expressed his feelings to others, even with you though you two have been together for centuries. It was the very simple moments that were sprinkled with love and gentleness, youloved those moments since they showed an intimate side of Azriel that he rarely brought into light. 

"There was nothing in all of Prythian that would stop me from having you in my life, sweetheart," He explained, thefinger that traced your cheek was now curling around your jaw, his palm against your jawline and the touch alone was a shocking sensation to you as he searched your eyes with his soft smile and his bright eyes, "I've told you this before and I mean it when I say it: You make my life so much better. I can't picture going on in this life without you in it,"

It moved you to hear that from him, even though you've heard it say many times from him during your long span of a relationship and courtship. Even back when you two met so long ago as teenagers, fresh in your adoration and love for one another, Azriel poured out his love for you and was willing to give you his heart. He did, to which you took it delicately in your own hands and swore to never break.

You haven't broken it yet, hundreds of years and a son later.

You leaned up and kissed him, starting it soft and sweet as he leaned into your touch. His fingers still against your jawwere delicate for you to feel while he kissed you back and snuggled a bit closer to him.  Something about kissing Azriel in that moment, alone in your small living room away from the rest of the world, made you feel a like of fire in your belly.You knew this feeling, you've felt it so many times before in the throws of intimacy and passion. 

But this time, it felt so slow and like a crawling passion.  Nothing rushed the pair of you as the kisses continued, your fingers both digging into his hair and the soft shirt that he decided to wear that night. His own hands and fingers were moving as well, the hand along your jaw was still gentle but was holding you in a possessive manner.  His other hand was slowly inching up along your arm, sending you shivers and chills that you felt all along your skin and even under it as well.

It felt like you were young again, young and pent up with these losing feelings for one another as the kisses were slowly evolving and growing. Azriel never strayed in his affection towards you, his body curled over to you while you two were getting impossibly close and still kissing one another. Now it was passionate, that fire in your belly was only growing stronger as you felt Azriel trace your lower lip with his tongue.  Barely a graze along your lip with the very tip of his tongue.

You whimpered, moving without realizing it and you were now straddling him.

Something inside the both of you clicked open, like a tight chest that was locked down for so long and now finally free. Azriel tilts his head up to kiss you soundly and wrap his arms around you softly. Your fingers were in his hair, tugging at him slightly as your head tilted to the side to feel him kiss you deeply. Nothing else was in your mind as Azriel was touching you, kissing you, making you feel so whole and alive again. Even after being with him for centuries and with a very healthy sex life, this time it felt different. It felt deep, It felt complete.

It felt alive. 

His fingers were now under your shirt, pushing up your shirt to be under your armpits to give you a chill along your soft stomach and backside.  You huffed, throwing it off within a second and diving back to kiss Azriel and framing his face in your hands. He smiled against your lips, you feeling his skin skim along your stomach and hips while your fingers were not moving down to the collar of his shirt to give it a gentle tug. Azriel laughed against your mouth as you tugged it again.

"Impatient little thing, are you?" He teased against your lips, though you silenced him with one massive kiss, your own tongue then licking into his mouth. He groaned, you having a small smirk as you were needing to lean back but Azriel was chasing after your lips. But you placed space between yourself and him, a hand on his chest and seeing his dilated eyes watching you like you were prey to him, His chest heaving, his lips plump and dark, and the flushness in his cheeks. He might have looked like a wreck to anyone else.

But to you, he was angelic.

"Who's impatient now?" You challenged back to him.  He grinned, a predatory-like grin etched on his gorgeous face as he then grabbed the collar of his own shirt and yanked it off. You watched as it fell to the ground, Azriel seeing it too as he broke out into a laugh.

"Thank The Cauldron these shirts are Illyrian friendly," He said in a snort, you giggling as well as you saw your shirt crumbled next to his.  Having this small moment to laugh, even when you both were shirtless and in a compromising position, was a sweet reminder of how you two were so in love with one another. The centuries of having one another,and learning from one another, all lead to a fulfilling life. Nothing felt bland or out of place, you still had those butterflies in your chest when you had these moments with him. 

You both took in a breath together, looking at one another with big grins on your faces as Azriel finally dived back in to kiss you. The heat was still there, no throes of passion but still active enough to have Azriel place his hands along your backside to touch your bra and the latches behind it. You were feeling so good all over, the heat was getting bigger in your stomach as you nodded against his lips.

"Please," You said along his lips, Azriel groaning in approval as his fingers were skillfully taking off the bra straps and letting your bra slip to the ground. His hands immediately moved, cupped your breasts as you moaned against his lips and curled into him more. The feel of his calloused palms against your soft skin, you feeling your nipples hardening immediately from his touch, it was a weakness for you that your mate knew far too well.

You could even feel your core reacting to this, shockwaves under your skin were felt like Azriel moved his lips along your lips and then to your jawline and then your neck. You clung onto him with one hand, your other moving down to undo the buttons of his pants. 

"Let's go to our bed…" You felt Azriel hum against your neck, making you shiver from his lips along your sensitive skin. But you shook your head rapidly, not wishing to lose this momentum or this drive that was building.  You popped the one button open skillfully with your fingers, and the sound alone was heard by both of you.

"No," you said hotly, feeling him lean back and look up at you while his hands were still cupping your breasts delicately. You saw that fire in his eyes alone just in the way he was watching you with desire etched all over his face. You took in a long inhale, almost feeling powerful to have the Spymaster himself bend to your will.

So you leaned down, nuzzling his nose against your own and looking at him directly in the eyes.

"I want you, here and now, on this couch," You instructed him.

You've never seen him cave so fast and so willingly.

You both moved elegantly, knowing this dance far too well as you both helped strip each other's clothes off while remaining close to one another. Like magnets, unwilling to be too far apart as you both were now bare and holding onto each other.  In this little home that was your safe space, a space you two built up and kept strong for years on end, your love was blossoming all over again. Feeling his lips descending to your breast, kissing one breast with delicacy and yet with fire while his other hand took care of the other breast with ease. You were too far gone in the lust and sensations of his mouth and hands on you to notice Azriel's own shadows licking along your skin, making the lust come out all the more. You had to give him credit, he knew how to use all his tools to his advantage. 

Moans and sounds of passion filled your little home as Azriel sunk into you, you both holding onto each other so closely as he finally sunk into you.  It always took your breath away, how he both stretched you to your limit and yet made it feel so perfect and so right. So many times in the past you thought how perfect he felt inside of you, snug against your walls and hitting the right spots within you that made you see and feel stars. You felt it again that moment, his cock fitting you so perfectly that you felt like you two were made for one another. It made you speechless for a moment, frozen in his lap as he was watching your reaction. No matter that you couldn't find the words or put together a sentence, you were feeling everything and everywhere. 

You had no idea what Azriel was thinking at that moment, watching up be speechless as he was buried deep inside of you. He was feeling that sensation as well, pure lust and euphoria rolled into one. Nothing else could feel this amazing, this close to heaven or any kind of heaven, and it all came from you.  Your shining eyes, your tender heart, and yourwillingness to love him for all he was and for all his flaws. But the physical love he felt for you heightened all the more.

But seeing you bare, eyes lusted over in bliss and love with your head tilted back and looking up at the ceiling, chest heaving, and your hair cascading down your back, Azriel was in love all over again.

"Mother Above," He said in a breath, almost sounding winded himself from the sight of you. If he were to die in that moment, he would die a happy being and have no shame in it. You opened your eyes, hearing him and looking at you with your breath barely on your lips. He smiled the rare smile that made you think he hung the moon. He uttered one word, a word that he would use to always describe you and his love for you:

"Divine"

From that moment on, you both moved so softly and carefully yet filled with passion and possession simultaneously. Youwere inwardly thankful that your home was tucked away from anyone else, giving you all the privacy to fully enjoy this moment with your mate as he rolled his hips deeply and almost in a feral manner. You were letting him, having the experience know that this wasn't going to be anything typical. Your sex life with Azriel was never typical: it was always driven to ecstasy. Somehow, this time seemed deeper.  Being on the couch in front of a roaring fire, the sounds of bothyourself and Azriel enjoying one another as you rode him carefully with his arms around you, it all felt like an out-of-body experience.

As you were getting close and closer to your peak, you were closing your eyes and leaning against Azriel as you were feeling every sensation: his cock hitting your sweet spot inside of you with every roll of his hips, his hands roaming along your sweaty skin, his lips brushing along your neck. Even hearing him moan and grunt, the pure love and lust he was feeling too while he pleasing you, was making you get closer to the edge as well.  You both were feeding off each other, a tactic you both have done for years and years.

I love you, Cauldron I love you so much. I can feel you….mph….everywhere! You hear in your mind through the bond,that his voice was sounding raw and emotional as you were moving hotly in his ear. You felt wrecked, emotionally and lustfully as you were attempting to connect words to make a thought or two. But he was fucking you so good, drilling into you to the point that you were losing your breath once or twice. 

Right there Az….fuck…right there! Please…please fill me up. You moaned through the bond to him, the rational side was slipping away and something else was taking over. Something that you could only show to your mate when you were in the throws of pleasure. Perhaps you weren't thinking about it too much, but Azriel let out a gutted moan. Something you never heard in a long time, such a long time. It made you open your eyes briefly, looking down at your mate and seeing the wrecked look on his face.  So disheveled, and yet beyond gorgeous to you as he kept rolling his hips over and over to not stop the momentum. 

You knew then that a new side of Azriel took over. 

Say that again! He pleaded in the bond, his eyes slammed shut as you heard his pleading tone in your mind. You were confused at first, not knowing what he was talking about while you were petting his hair and still staying so close to him. He said nothing at first, just grunting with every thrust he was giving, but you were moving your fingers then from your face over to the top of his wings, being dangerously close to running your fingers along the membrane to throw him off.

Say what, baby? You asked him, almost sounding a bit smug about it while you tried to hold back from touching his wing. Just seeing his face alone was enough to make you want to crumble and fall to pieces, your pleasure getting at an all-time high and about to tumble over. But you still had the one last piece of resistance, of control, to hold back until you knew Azriel was going to tumble over with you. 

To…oh fuck….to fill….fill you up. He confessed, having you smile widely in pleasure flowing through you so quickly to take over your entire body. Hearing that from your mate, from a Shadowsinger and feared Illyrian throughout all of Prythian and even beyond, stunned you.  He was putty in your hands, and the way he was shaking and whimpering against your skin, you knew he was close. Beyond close, and all he needed was a push.

With a brush of your fingers along his wing, you whispered against his ear, "Make me fucking full,"

He roared, orgasming and emptying himself into you in such a force that it made you cry out and orgasm as well.

The orgasm alone was enough to make your head swim and your skin crawl in the best way possible. The pleasure alone, mixed in with the lust and love that you had for one another was now filling the room as your body was riding through each moment that felt like a lifetime. Azriel clung onto you as he was shaking, still riding his own high as you felt like you were going through it in slow motion.  From the top of your head to the tip of your toes, it was all there. You felt out of your body for a split second, floating in the air right above your home and embracing the air.

You were floating back down to the ground again, back onto that couch where you felt boneless in the arms of your mate, who was still shaking himself and feeling just as exhausted as you were. Both of your shared labored breaths, you blinking slowly as the white-hot pleasure that once soared through you was now a Luke warm, a soothing warm. Azriel'sscarred but beautiful fingers were dancing along your bare back, his face dug into your neck and sounding breathless and exhausted. Yet you felt a smile along your skin, you grinning as your face was against his head.

"That's….that's a first," You commented in a gasp. Azriel laughed, sounding so light after giving you an earth-shattering orgasm, "Never took you to like something like that, sweetheart,"

"You bring out the side of me that I never knew I had," Azriel confessed, having you giggle in a shy manner as you finally pulled back a bit to look at a blissed-out Azriel. You loved this look, the look of bliss and pure happiness that could only come from something like this. You were feeling it too, the sense of being the only two beings in the world and everything else ceasing to exist. And having Azriel cradle you close in his embrace, almost shielding you from the outside world and keeping this small bubble of bliss intact.

"You know, the last time we were in a position like this….I got pregnant with Alec," You explained to him as you reached down and ruffled his sweaty hair. He lit up a bit from the memory, you thinking about it too that fateful night when you two were in the deep throws of pleasure together in your bed. It was in the same manner too, you being in his lap and cock buried so deep side of it that you felt every moment and the insane pleasure that he experienced. That memory alone was vibrant in your mind, Azriel leaning up and perhaps reading your mind through the bond, you feeling his flicker of joy over and over as he spoke up again.

"Are you suggesting that we have had a repeat of that fateful night?" He asked, almost in a tease as he saw you blush. Youwere about to hide your face from him, moving your eyes away from him. However, he was faster in catching your jaw with his fingers and making sure you were facing him again. You felt the butterflies in your stomach as he kissed you sweetly. This kind of intimacy, this kind of love, it was something others around dream to at least experience once. Youhad it for centuries, years of building it up together and making it as strong as it was. 

As Azriel pulled away from your lips, he still kept his smile and his loving gaze on you as he searched your eyes.

"If we did, then I am all the more happy for It," You whispered, your heart beating out of your chest. You were thinking in the back of your mind that maybe down the road, sooner or later, another little one would be in your family. It was never a topic you or Azriel spoke about, but then again it wasn't closed either. Life with Alec was beyond a blessing, unlocking a part of your heart and soul you never thought you would have in this lifetime. A child that was the perfect mix of you and your mate, was all you've ever wanted and more.  And thinking of another child, another perfect child that you and Azriel would guide in the world.

It was so tempting.

"I think a shower is in order," Azriel hummed, carefully slipping out of you and you shifting a bit uncomfortably. But he moved swiftly, he picked you up bridal style, you laughing as your arms were around his neck and he stood up. You both were naked and yet ecstatic, Azriel carrying you over to the bathroom that was attached to the bedroom as you leaned your head on his shoulder. 

The flickering dream of perhaps another child in your family was still in the back of your mind. 

The End.

Tagged - @valeridarkness @impossibelle @acourtofbatboydreams @prettylittlewrites @fxckmiup @alwayshave-faith

[accidentcache]

um um um um um um um um um um hi um um um can i um have a love song duet with our baby boy touya pweaaaaaaaaaaassssseeee

emergency contact | pierce the veil / dee’s karaoke night

notes: post war / canon adjacent touya. he’s okay with your name being on a lot more of his things now. mentions of seizures, touya being stubborn. (this is more a bittersweet love, but this is still love <3)

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

his suitcase is heavy when it lands on the floor beside him. cat hair scatters on the hardwood at his feet, though the feline is nowhere to be seen. he can't remember the last time he's seen your cat. would he even remember him? would he still curl on his chest like he used to, beg for scraps like touya had always pretended he hated giving him?

the door shuts softly behind you as you step in beside him. the energy is tense-- not the reunion he was thinking he was going to get after coming home from rehab.

of course, the mushy, sappy bullshit happened at the hospital. he hugged you with the arm that wasn't under intense healing, he let you cry tears that he knew he didn't deserve into the ratty t-shirt you had brought him weeks before his official discharge.

he doesn't say much anything else, swallowing a lump that had forcibly formed in his throat. you don't say anything either, but there's a reassuring hand on touya's bicep that allows him the strength to drag his suitcase back to the bedroom.

in the weeks that follow, touya struggles to find his routine now that he's out of rehab and under intense surveillance and medical care. there are good days, and there are bad days. on good days; touya snuggles on the couch beside you, watching whatever crappy television show you decided to put on and eats himself stupid on take-out because he finally has an appetite.

on bad days, he shuts himself out. forgets to take his medication. snaps at you for helping him to the bathroom when he's about to vomit and when he ultimately falls to the floor, he pushes you away.

it's a back and forth. a step forward and two steps back kind of relationship. before the war there wasn't this much tension, but then again touya wasn't trying to relearn mobility in an arm he burned trying to end his family and himself.

on a really bad day, you have to rush him to the emergency room when he starts to tremble violently, throwing up like he can't control what comes out of his body. you're scared-- shaking and crying as you drive, trying to shut out his moans of pain out of your ears. you have to erase how he pleaded your name when the nurses rushed him back, leaving you in the lobby. you weren't on file. he hadn't added you yet.

touya's different after that stint in the hospital. physically, he's gone downhill. he struggles with the treatments. it affects him mentally.

he doesn't know when the switch happens. one day he wakes up next to you-- before your alarm goes off for work. the sun is just barely starting to peek over the horizon, the morning twilight softening the lines of your form under the blanket you had picked out the last time both of you went out together.

he takes his medication and makes coffee, setting out the mug you normally use off to the side for you to fill when you finally woke up.

the day isn't any different. the schedule is still the same, the routine the same as before. touya thinks he must've hallucinated something. he doesn't bring it up to you, nor does he mention anything to his therapist when he goes in for his bi-weekly appointment.

two weeks later, touya suffers from a grand mal seizure. his body almost shuts down on him-- you physically see the color drain from his body. you don't think you'd make it to the hospital in time, and you think the ambulance is running out of time.

when he's loaded onto the stretcher, the paramedics are telling you which hospital to meet them at. you nod through the tears, your body shaking with adrenaline and dread-- when touya's hand wraps around your wrist.

his grip isn't tight, but it's enough to get your attention. it's enough to glue your eyes to his form, even when his aren't even open. his ring finger taps three time on your wrist. he doesn't let go-- he practically hisses when the paramedics try to separate you from him.

they're telling him how only family are allowed, though when they pull him further into the cab of the ambulance he does not let go of your wrist.

touya was never one to think that far into the future. even before the war, especially afterwards. he was in a constant battle with his body, his health, thinking for sure he wouldn't reach 30. he never wanted to tie you down when he knew he wasn't going to get that far in the first place.

one thing he is sure about, is you.

how you’re always there, at the worst of times, and the better of it. how you’re still here. how you have yet to give up on him, even when both of you know he’s nowhere near easy to handle.

and even though that look of pity still flashes in your eyes from time to time, touya has gotten used to it. hell, he’s gotten used to a lot of things he thought he was already used to.

your name is added as an emergency contact to his medical profile before the ambulance reaches the hospital.

© accidentcache do not repost, translate or alter my work without permission. all rights reserved.

[something-about-sunflowers]

ALRIGHT, *cracks knuckles* let's get into that teaser, shall we?

Should I itemize this? I think I'm going to itemize it lmao.

So:

Starting here because this is a baseline for Stede, he's got no neckerchief here. This is likely early in the season, probably the very start.

Man's got a fuckin' ARM.

This is Ed. You can see the bare right arm in both shots.

Red neckerchief. Ed's scrap of silk? Beat to shit if it is, which, he did toss it out to sea so, it would be.

Ed's not wearing the knee brace. Or gloves for that matter. I know the knee brace being an actual mobility aid is unconfirmed canon/fanon but it does make me :(c to see him without it. Either it wasn't actually considered as a mobility aid or he's lost it like he's lost his gloves OR he's going without it because he doesn't care if it hurts.

Closer shot of the neckerchief.

I just wanted to point out all the knives stabbed into the table. Also, those look like bits of paper on the windows, did they keep some of the books to repurpose for window blocking purposes?

THERE HE IS!!!!!!!! Other people have already pointed out the makeup and his ring still on his tie, along with the whip on his hip cjizzy real. He's got a new baldric but I also think his clothes look. Darker? Than in season 1? This is a darker/heavier contrast setting but it carries into other shots of him too I think? Like they're less sun/saltwater faded or something?

Other thing to note: If I have my orientation right, this is to the right of Stede's bed nook and to the left of the library, which means this shelf is the one with the auxiliary wardrobe opening mechanism. Which I bring up because:

This little guy seems to be in the place of the mannequin. Ed kept the auxiliary wardrobe and gothed up the mannequin to justify it still being there.

SO much here. This is, I'm fairly certain, Benjamin Hornigold. This camp he's set up (along with what he's wearing) looks like it was made out of a shipwreck. Ed's barefoot and missing his jacket and gloves, and his shirt's torn up at the sleeves. Definitely where he washed up from his dip in the ocean.

Note the trees and the lighting, that comes up later. Ed shoots here and Ben moves with the shot but it doesn't look like he was actually HIT by it to my eyes.

'Wanted. |Blackbeard| Villainous Pirate. Murderer, thrice over. $400 Reward for the criminal responsible for: theft - brigandry - larceny - arson - tax evasion ➡' Presumably there are more crimes/info on the back, though we see the reverse side in the next cut and it's either blank or all in very small text, I couldn't quite tell.

The poster to the right says 'Port' something which has me wondering Port Royal but that's just the only 'Port' something I know, could def be somewhere else.

(Also, just for fun:

Here's how much abouts Ed's capture would be worth now.)

Wider pic than it needs to be but I didn't wanna cut out Olu lol. ANYWAY. Neckerchief again. Also the back of the poster, see what I mean about it either being blank or very tiny?

Babygirl. . . But also that Bride Ed figure kinda slays. Little bralette with the midriff showing, I see you Babygirl. When will he be allowed to just rest and do silly little crafts WITHOUT heartbreak looming over him?

Well. Four is not nine. So. There's that. The other five could be used or out of frame though, of course.

OH. He's back to his fingerless gloves! They might actually be different from his original ones though, they look different at the wrist to me, not quite sure though.

The BOYS!!!! Frenchie looks like he's having a GREAT time. Considering he suggested they turn the hostage into a table and complained about the Republic of Pirates being a bit gentrified I'd say this is more in line with what he's used to in piracy. I 100% buy he was going along with Stede's way because he knew it was an easy ride compared to real piracy. This wouldn't necessarily be a return to form for him but definitely something he's more used to? And he gets to be kitty :3c

And FANG!!! Look at him showing a bit more skin!! Good for him!!

Everybody say 'Thank You David Jenkins'. Right now. Look at this Mad Max shit. Fuckin' Imperator Jimenez right there. LOVE that tye added the 'beard' after the 'fuck's wrong with your face?' bit in 1x10. Full 'it looked weird on you but I slay' energy.

Jim

Izzy

Fang

Near as I can tell at least. I can't make out if Frenchie is in the shot and I'm pretty positive Ed isn't cause he stayed by the cake when they charged in.

Man, yknow I know we were all kinda clowning on it a bit at the end of 1x10 but this look really is so JARRING. Like, in the dark it's menacing but in the light? It's unhinged and that reads as more dangerous imo.

Also just for comparison's sake the pre-Ed-ified version of the bride figure. He really did full on customize that thing lol.

I DON'T THINK ANNE KISSED STEDE HERE. It feels out of character of the show to pull the 'It's fine if a woman does it to a man' kind of thing with regard to unwanted kissing. This is the frame the scene starts on in the trailer. She's leaning back from him and isn't nearly close enough to his mouth to say for certain that's where she was coming from. My money is on her leaning in to whisper something into his ear, maybe under the guise of it being an advance/intended kiss, which would also explain the annoyed look when she's interrupted. She either got ACTUALLY interrupted or it's part of the act. Stede doesn't look nearly as uncomfortable as he would be if she'd kissed him or tried to, he looks confused.

Izzy going for his sword when this guy tries to get the drop on Stede. He either is starting to care or he knows how much Ed needs him alive.

Also, this is the other potential source of Stede's neckerchief. Mr, Knife right here has a red one and Stede doesn't have it in this scene. I do think this one is a little less distressed than the one Stede has though so it could just be coincidence.

See? No neckerchief. He DOES have a sword at his hip tho! So this, I think, is after Izzy's started training him.

Also, he actually looks really good in red lol.

Baby. He's definitely missing the ring in this shot. It sits higher than the baldric is covering. I want to give him a little kissie on his ouchie and then let him have a nap, he needs that.

The pants match the coat. Also, black shirt. Stede is kinda slaying ngl.

Still missing her head :(c. Isn't that bad luck?

Maybe yall didn't hear me properly with the Jim pic. I'll repeat:

EVERYBODY SAY 'THANK YOU DAVID JENKINS'.

I can't get over how Stede's just standing there politely with his arms behind his back lmfao.

Also, Izzy's got his right leg up, he's putting his weight on his left. . . 'foot'.

I SAID EVERYBODY SAY-

I know tits and all but also. The belly. I would like to. Bite.

*ahem*

ANYWAY. On the left (our left) side of the barrel you can see the tip of his right boot so he's def got that leg off the ground. Perhaps someone is trying to relearn their footwork? Now that they've got a different balance than they're used to? And perhaps a difference in sensory input in the leg he's standing on? Possibly?

This is the same beach Ed was on when he did the fuckin' RAD takedown of the other officer but it definitely looks like different times of day. Having both in the teaser is def meant to be a red herring. He doesn't have the neckerchief in this shot either.

Bra för honom. (Is how google translate tells me you say 'Good for him' in Swedish.)

Is Jackie's hair the same here as it is in the VF pic with Ed? Or like, similar enough to be a 'later in the day after some Fun™ messing it up a bit'?

Roach!!! Fully sleeveless now, added a belt, got some flowers tied to the strings/straps of his apron. Looks like he's having fun lighting that cannon lol. Pretty sure this is the same scene as that one leaked photo of him dancing with Fang and Izzy's green screen sock. He had the flowers in that, right?

[Ran out of allowed images, please hold]

[verstappentime]

wrote this for @sf-25's birthday, i think it's ready to see the world! charles and max have an announcement at an f1 event. they're cheeky about it. <3

Red Bull and Ferrari are getting along. Fred indulges Max. He'd allowed him into their mobile home at Monaco last year, tugged him out of sight by the back of his fireproofs and told him he could go see Charles, but only to calm him down, and only for five minutes. GP will step aside on the grid so Charles can come and tell him to be safe before the race. Everyone's happy to use pictures of them entering the paddock holding hands for marketing. F1's Royal Couple, or whatever people call them.

Still, it isn't enough to let Max and Charles arrive together. No one's letting Max hitch a ride in a LaFerrari.

He's already done his red carpet walk. He's answered all the questions about the little jeweled bulls on each of his cuffs, the matching blue pocket square, all the little details Charles had picked. He's said he's excited to see the car, even though that's a lie, because it's the same as every year. He's picked Franco as his guess for world champion. He hasn't paid attention to a single second of it. He's waiting.

Charles was supposed to arrive five minutes after Max. Maybe that's all it's been – he's trying not to check his phone out here and look like an asshole – or maybe Charles is late, or his car has crashed on the way, or he's had to go back for his wallet because he's Charles–

A hand squeezes the soft part of Max's shoulder. Once. Twice.

He turns, and breathes.

Charles looks incredible. His suit is simple, the usual Ferrari, sharp in black; it's not what Max is looking at, or cares about. It's just that he wasn't here before, and now he is.

"Hey," he says, and breaks into a grin. "You look very handsome tonight, Max Verstappen."

Max has no say in whether he smiles back or not. "Hi." He presses a kiss to Charles's cheek. Steals just one second to breathe him in. A few cameras flash. It will be like that, tonight. Even more so in a minute. "You want to do this?"

Charles's eyes flicker for just a second, and then he nods.

Max takes Charles's left hand in his right. While they walk, he touches the ring with his thumb, idly. He likes the shape of it. He likes the weight of it. He likes knowing how much money he spent on Charles.

The first person to stop them is Laura.

"Hey, you two," she says, and offers the microphone to Charles first.

Max brings their hands to his lips, pressing a kiss to Charles's knuckles, and lets go. Charles takes the microphone. Laura is staring at Max.

"Charles," she says. She always says his name the French way. The way Max had first heard it. "Is this a new ring?"

Charles laughs. He turns the microphone around in his hand, watching the diamond. "Yes, it is," he says, "She is very pretty, no?"

"Absolutely gorgeous," she confirms. "Any chance it came from this man here?"

Max slips his arm around Charles's waist. He rubs his thumb in little circles on his back. It's a chilly night, but he's still warm from the car. "Ah, yeah," Max says. "It was his big gift."

"No holiday or anything," Charles says. "It's all this world champion money."

Laura rolls her eyes. "Is there an announcement you would like to make?"

"Mm, no," Max says, titling his head at Charles, exaggerating. "Was there, baby?"

"I don't think so," Charles agrees. They can't stop smiling at each other. Max is starting to flush. It makes him feel exposed, knowing what other people must see.

They're both waiting for the other to make a move. But it was Max who said I love you first; Max who asked Charles to marry him. So it has to be Max.

"Oh," he says, and nudges Charles. "It will be a summer wedding, I think."

[hivemuthur]

Maybe this is gonna be a strange ask, but how do you think Viktor would be like, if he existed in the real world? Do you have any headcanons for real world Viktor, some adaptations of canon Arcane lore…? I’m new here, and I know you have stories set in modern times, but I kinda want to know your understanding of him first (so I get everything when I check those out).

Hi Anon! This is a very fun ask, thank you! And if you are new here, welcome! Got very long, so under the cut:

So, since in Arcane we see Viktor in around his 30s mostly and he is said to have an eastern-European accent (specifically Czech per Harry), first and foremost I HC him as a Czech millennial. And those facts matter to me in terms of his character building, because here the generations of millennials and gen-X overlap due to the existence of Soviet Block. What it means culturally: most of the western trends and technology were introduced to Eastern Europe throughout the 90s and 00s. The way his situation is presented in Arcane makes me believe that a character such as him wouldn't be coming from an imperial country. If we put him in his 30s now, he also wouldn't remember communism, but would be the last generation affected by it through his elders and the slow shift in the general system.

It's perfectly valid that he would still be disabled. As I favour femoral rotation for his disability, it's very likely that when he was born it wasn't spotted and treated properly, leading to him using a mobility aid throughout his life. I do believe that with medicine advancement in 00s, it would be possible for him to avoid wearing the back brace OR fully reverse the need for it due to the last few years rise in awareness about physiotherapy. When it comes to his lung disease: it wasn't very common in Europe to have areas so heavily polluted for him to have definitely developed it, but! If I were to give him one, it would be squamous cell lung cancer, which can affect anyone with proper genetic predisposal or weak immunity only after a short exposure to for example asbestos. I admit, I tend not to, because I really don't want him to die :c So, for me, he grew up in some small city in Czechia :x

As for what he is like: definitely a nerd. I can see him finishing biochem or maths/physics profile in highschool and then following it through to university (unis here are state, so education is free, you just have to pass the exams). Throughout school I can imagine him attending after-hours extracurriculars such as chemistry classes or programming classes where kids could play computer games on ZX-Spectrum in the last 30 minutes (and given how long those games would load it's not a lot of game time okay). I can see him programming his own games and being able to make an early radio receiver using a crystal detector. He would construct toys too. And maybe break toys to make new ones.

I think he would follow through with STEM/engineering but with an idealistic purpose. Oddly, I don't think he would become a physician (I'm a med person, so I'm allowed to say this) - I believe a lot of physicians are ego-driven (this is not necessarily a bad thing). There is no ego in anything Viktor is doing throughout the show: he doesn't attempt to steal Jayce's research, he wants to see it through, because it could change the world for the better. So he doesn't let Jayce drown. He's not interested in being the face of it. The ambition lies within the goal, not within the recognition.

Moreover, I think he would act from within deep philosophical understanding of life, which would lead to him reading a lot of books on different subjects. I can see him reading fantasy, sci-fi as well as people like Deleuze and Jorge Luis Borges and connecting all those dots. When it comes to relationships, I think he would be more open to those in modern era, especially when we erase the seizing fear of death coming from his health deteriorating. Still, hard to get through to or to be found by his person, but entirely more possible than in Arcane universe.

From smaller things, I think he would still be a workaholic. I think he would love animals, because it's impossible for someone so kind to not love them. I think he would feel alienated by the world and have difficulty taking pleasure from spending time with large groups of people simply because of his intelligence and the ability to think systemically. Which is why once someone who he gets on with appears, he would keep this person very close, no matter if it's friendship or romantic relationship.

In general, I think Viktor would grow up to be a very well-read, intelligent, kind and ambitious man that would struggle against the system his whole life. I think he feels a lot and deeply but doesn't show it so often, it would be visible in his work.

Okie, I think these are the most important aspects of his character in modern era for me. I hope I passed the test and now you can enjoy my modern Viktor blabber in fics!

[thearcanetooth]

[prefacing by stating that i have no knowledge of league/the arcane characters' preceding, league-relevant lore, so please excuse any lapse in information that is canon in the league-verse] now take a shot every time i said league]

i would just like to say that i absolutely love the implication that if things were different — if viktor wasn't terminally ill and didn’t have a life-long disability — THIS is what his combat style would be.

a perfected fusion of gymnastics, parkour, acrobatics, various martial arts and figthing techniques for close-quarter combat.

of course, viktor in his mortal human form couldn't have fought in the war or partaken in any of the piltovian-zaunite altercations. his ‘glorious evolution’ however allowed him to transcend form, escape the fatal clutches of mortality and human disposition. become.

the sheer cuntiness of the mannequin-viktor aside, i LOVE the implication that this is viktor's conceptualisation of what the intersection between human and perfection would look like.

and tell me why the first thing that comes to mind when i think of this is red room trained assassin/espionage operative. which is perfect because i can totally see him as a ballet dancer too.

and in this alternate reality wherein viktor is essentially a widow, i can totally imagine him using one of the runestones to enhance his dexterity, agility, mobility, speed, power — you name it.

more so, i can imagine jayce engineering some kind of bodysuit for him [green and gold for obvious reasons], fitted with/powered by the stone(s). something similar to the upgraded panther habit shuri engineers for t’challa — absorbing energy for later redistribution, near-indestructible in the face of explosions and gunfire, materialising on command, regenerative, feather-light and silent, perfectly tailored for movement and agility.

[ranticore]

Are female kobolds intrinsically from a higher cast from birth, or do they have the same social status as their male counterparts- just with the ability to socially climb if a priestess has a dream or someone appoints them? Both in Holly'w and Kettle's societies, i'd love to hear the differences between those groups on that, if any

i think these two asks are asking more or less the same thing or similar enough that i can just meld it into one post.

first of all i want to avoid the words 'harem' or 'caste' when describing these fictional societies, they are not applicable here

the two colonies (holly's and kettle's) are different but have the same sort of attitude towards male kobolds which isn't a 1:1 reverse sexism. male kobolds are seen as somewhat inferior due to being impermanent. they're a deviation from a base state which is parthenogenetic. they aren't allowed to forget that they'll be the first to go if anything happens to the colony and that the overarching society, the colony as it has persisted for centuries, is not made for them. they're tourists in their own colony, not residents. you can have fun with them, but they're fair-weather friends, so don't get invested.

Are female kobolds intrinsically from a higher class from birth - no, there are female kobolds in every class, they just tend to be over-represented in leadership and in legacy bloodlines because they can trace an unbroken lineage and accumulate generational resources and wealth. they have the privilege of never being seen as entirely disposable, no matter their status. but, realistically, for scavengers and those living outside the warrens, everyone's in the same meat grinder.

social mobility is rare and works differently in different colonies. for holly, he was allowed a chance to jump to a high social class. any red-black kobolds are also fast-tracked to working directly with the dragon, regardless of sex, and this can be a very privileged if strenuous position. the mother-of-matriarchs is also not an inherited role - the reigning matriarch selects a kobold who has a track record of never having birthed a son. once a mother-of-matriarchs has provided the colony with a daughter who survives infancy, she is allowed to retire into a cushy life in the warrens and a new mother-of-matriarchs is chosen. the matriarch herself is guaranteed to have only sons because of her proximity to the dragon's heat, and yes her sons do get put in as consorts for a new baby matriarch to ensure at least some continuation of the matriarchal bloodline, though only if they're considered a suitable fit for one of the 6 consort roles. if their new baby matriarch dies, these failsons are just kicked out into the warrens where they usually end up in normal social roles like labourer or artisan.

in kettle's case, she was selected because her colours were the best match to those in the high priestess's vision. i think i'd have to make a separate post about the social structures of this colony because it's several centuries older than holly's and far more developed. but kettle faced classist barriers to becoming a priestess - she received a lot of pushback from the other junior priestesses who felt they were being mocked by a scavenger's inclusion in their ranks. when it came time for her to interpret her own visions and select a candidate consort, even thinking about picking another scavenger was social suicide and confirming all the worst stereotypes about her, but she went ahead with it because she knew lucky would die on his own (he was very badly injured at the time of her own selection and she was forced to leave him then, and that was eating away at her 24/7. she had to confirm with her own eyes that he was even alive before she dared to select him as a candidate).

lucky himself faced less scrutiny than kettle did, because he was barely a person from the get-go and wasn't considered to have any agency whatsoever (which he did not. he is, at best, a professional sperm donor). but he was considered a reflection on her, and she was not brave enough or secure enough in her role to pick him from the candidate pool to be her own consort, so she basically dragged him to the enclave against his will and stranded him there without much support. as a junior priestess she could only pick two boytoys and couldn't have exclusive rights over either of them, had to share with another junior priestess. with increasing seniority, a priestess is allowed to have exclusive rights over one consort, then two, and so on. she picked two randos she didn't know or care much for, and then proceeded to neglect them while being a terrible busybody around the priestesses who'd picked lucky.

[starscream-is-my-wife]

Ok so your 'Megatron as the 2nd in command to Starscream' idea has brainblasted me /pos.

Does Starscream allow anyone else to wield Megatron or is that his privilege alone?

Does Megatron know that Starscream is only helping the lower castes as a side thing but believes that, no matter his motivations, Starscream is ultimately doing good or does Megatron genuinely think that Starscream is invested in this conflict as a way of creating equity?

Are the other members of Decepticon high command actually loyal to Starscream?

Thanks for giving me the chance to yap about this!

I think that in the beginning Starscream wouldn't care too much about who's shooting him as long as they are victorious but Megatron only trusts Starscream to be the one pulling the trigger.

As time goes on, Megatron got more comfortable letting Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Soundwave shoot him but Starscream had realized how powerful of a weapon Megatron is and how much he enjoyed being the only one that Megatron allowed to wield him. He got more possessive but Megatron enjoys how much Starscream cherishes(?) him

I think the second question depends on the backstory a bit, Megatron didn't know much about the world before Starscream other then he's just a thing to be used by the elites, and his altmode being a gun really limited his mobility. I did think about some possibilities of what he did beforehand:

1. He was a miner or worker (I don't think he would be so easily pacified if he was a gladiator and could fight himself) whose altform was pretty useless because always held back to not be used to hurt anyone, he mostly kept his head down and worked until Starscream came around and took over. Megatron was so awed that someone had thought about bots like him and took the first chance he got to present himself to Starscream and show him his real strength as a weapon

("new ruler the workers are demanding for rights! We must send forces to squash this before it gets out of hand!" "Why would I do that lol" "new ruler please! If those low caste get what they want then our economy will crash!" "Listen I'm leaving in 3 days, so I order that you give them what they want now and YOU can deal with the political and economic ramifications! If you succeed I'll send someone later when you did all of the work to take credit, if not, well, you're to blame for everything.")

Or

2. Gunformers are quite rare, and no one wanted to reformat to be one especially if they weren't a triple changer. He ended up being sold to be the weapon of the police to keep the lower caste in check, no matter how much he tried to hold back he was still a powerful gun and was forced to execute innocent mechs. The chief had him trapped in his alt mode due to his... disobedience and dunked him in energon every once in a while to keep him alive. But they would forget that he was a cybertronian so he would just lay there in a locker, unmoving, starving, until someone used him and noticed that his shots were weaker, then they would dunk him in energon to use more. Megatron was starting to grow numb to it all, his hatred for the elites bleed into everything else, why did the mechs rebel? If they didn't then maybe he wouldn't be used against them.

It wasn't until Starscream came along and none of the police could hit him, his trine, or any of the seekers, they were too fast. The police chief who wielded him managed to get a lucky shot on one of Starscreams null rays. Annoyed, Starscream turned his target to the chief and landed a shot on him. The chief dropped Megatron at the feet of a Starscream who landed in his root mode, Starscream decided to shoot the pest with his own weapon, as payback for destroying one of his expensive null rays.

Megatron, realizing that he was being pointed towards the mech that has caused him so much pain, stopped holding back for the first time ever when Starscream pulled the trigger. The blast that fired turned everyone's vision white and caused an explosion that left a big crater where the chief was, body instantly vaporized. Starscream (and Megatron) didn't expect the blast to be so strong and the pair got flung back from the force. Starscream stunned, hit the ground with the gun still in his hand. He looked at it before strapping it in his cockpit seat and transforming to join the fight again.

Megatron felt every swoop and roll Starscream did, like watching an elegent dancer preform before they come to sweep you off your feet, he was still trapped in his alt mode but flying through the air as Starscream won the battle, he finally felt something, freedom.

After Starscream took the territory over, got the resources he wanted, allowed the lower caste to move up or whatever, he then looked more into this strange gun he picked up. It was different then all of the other guns that the police used? There's a machine in the basement that traps bots in their alt mode? Ohhhh.

In both of those options Megatrons self worth is pretty low and being with Starscream is better then anything he ever had in his life (at least at the start), but in the first one he's probably going to be alot more pushy about helping the lower caste and bicker more in general, and is probably more in line of the first option you said

I dont think either Megatron would fully believe the second one unless Starscream actually does want to make his equality his main goal, but the second Megatron can definitely dilude himself into thinking it! If he does accept that equality is only a secondary thing for Starscream, I want him to be like "might as well dedicate my entire being to Starscream because thats the only part of my identity that I feel is real".

There's just so many possibilities like how hard Starscream pushes to keep Megatron dependent on him, if they have a fallout how big would it be, if they ever have a healthy mutual respect, if Megatrons infatuation ever dies down, or if they just reflect themselves in the cartoon where they just bicker with each other but don't do anything to permanently change their positions. Although Megatron wouldn't declare himself leader he just. Does. The autobots are confused on who's actually the leader they don't question it anymore. (At the end of the day it's always Starscream)

As for everyone else in the high command, his trine are loyal, the rumors why Thundercracker and Skywarp aren't co leader, SIC, or TIC are blown out of proportion, they aren't secretly against Starscream, they like to enjoy all of the benefits of high command with no paperwork, probably the only bots other then Megatron that are strongly loyal to Starscream. Soundwave is still TIC, and competent at it, he doesn't mind that Starscream is leader but he wouldn't fight Megatron if he ever does want to take over, he still reports on any other traitors though. Would actually push for Megatron to take over if Starscream seriously hurts his cassettes. Shockwave and Starscream are on good terms but he does recognize that Megatron would also be a pretty good leader if he were to take over, I dunno about any other high command cause they change alot but if they liked Megatron normally then they *really* want him to take over, otherwise they're pretty indifferent, the lower rank you go the more popular Megatron is, hes even growing on some of the seekers who are still pretty loyal to Starscream.

Ngl I'm still pondering on what version I like the most, feel free to take any ideas!

[drarryspecificrecsdaily]

2024.10.11

Complete fics posted on AO3 this day

1. The Banned Pasta by @hoko-onchi-writes [T, 1k]

“Draco keeps cooking for me. Weird, right?” “Well, not really,” Ron says, “because you’ve been dating for the past year. Haven’t you?” [...]

2. Come, Sweet Death by EvilDime [E, 27k]

When Draco's ancestor passed on the mantle of Death to him, he failed to mention that the Deathly Hallows had at long last found a Master.

3. I Can Hear Your Smile in the Dark by Ace_Phoenix [E, 2k]

Draco wasn't the biggest fan of Muggle things, but when Harry insisted that he get a mobile phone so they could always contact each other, Draco relented. The first time they call, things take a turn neither of them could object to.

4. Nostalgia Can Be a Turn On by Devious_Muffin [M, 1k]

Harry doesn't understand why Draco would keep his old Hogwarts robes, and Draco has fun explaining it.

5. Raising Hell! by @wolfpants [E, 21k]

Harry and Draco are sent undercover as a married couple to investigate a dodgy Muggle love cult. Something evil is lurking in Glastonbury… but to get to it, the reluctant partners must be initiated first. And this is, after all, a love cult…

---

Fest/Exchange

1. At a Glance by Anonymous [G, 2k]

Stripped of his magic, Draco has settled nicely into the muggle world. He goes to university, has muggle roommates, and enjoys his afternoons drinking coffee in the local café. That is until Harry so happens to pass by the café window. ★ 2024 H/D Muggle Fair | @hd-fan-fair

2. But Don't Miss by Anonymous [M, 15k]

After a mysterious attempt on Draco's life, Harry reluctantly allows Draco to stay with him until the culprit is caught. Draco's insistent questions about Harry's muggle flat, and Harry in general, push Harry to the edge, and then over it. ★ 2024 H/D Muggle Fair | @hd-fan-fair

[centrally-unplanned]

Japanese website Forest Page is shutting down ~today, a tragic loss of "Heisei otaku memories", as so many are calling it. Launched in 2003, Forest Page was a "Geocities for mobile", a site that hosted user-created websites and gave them tools to allow non-coders to make them. In practice, it became one of the premiere places for fanfiction in Japan, with the stories hosted on author-created sites.

It wasn't quite the Fanfic.net of Japan, as for one the Japanese fandom just never centralized quite the way the 2000's western one did, instead being spread out over a half dozen or so sites. But additionally, it wasn't initially popular for fanfic so much as cell phone fanfiction, because in 2000's Japan the "cell phone novel" was a specific thing. These websites were being made for flip phones, not smartphones, and not only would people read them on those phones, they would often write them. None of that was very conducive to the creation and consumption of a "traditional" novel; so starting in the 2000's Japanese writers started making stories fit for the medium, namely:

Very short

A huge focus on dialogue and inner thoughts, with no/minimal description or scene detail

Using a limited POV of a specific character

Often employing the medium-as-message, like using emojis, structuring the story as IM's or emails, etc.

Also they all had huge gaps between lines, I'm not really sure what that is about:

Probably for readability on the phone given the small screen size? But it was absolutely part of the genre. A few of these novels actually made it big, got movie adaptations, people wrote articles about the "cultural phenomenon", it was the 2000's so Hiroki Azuma had a take on it of course, and so on. It slotted neatly into the vibe of the time of technology changing culture, paralleling discourse around otaku in the same era.

In fanfic those trends met up, and anyone familiar with fanfiction probably read that list of traits of the cellphone novel and thought "oh, this is perfect for fanfiction". Skipping out on description? I don't need it, I know what they look like already. Focus on conversation and POV? Perfect for shipping fics. Short lengths? Yeah, we are shortcutting to the good stuff, that is the point. Mirroring trends in the west, Forest Page's userbase was ~95% female, and the most common content on the site was romantic or edgy-dramatic stories in the franchises you'd expect. The closure page linked above actually summarizes the site's history by year, and lists the biggest fandoms:

Which is exactly what I would expect from a female otaku fanfiction website. Congrats to Pirates of the Caribbean for making it though, freeaboo's represent.

I do think the fact that the site was a website hoster as opposed to a fic hoster did align with the way the Japanese fandom was more "creator focused" and embraced the media mix more. There were "fic circles" a la doujin circles who made their own pages, people would make fanart, fan video games, and so own to host alongside it, and all of it was centralized to the creator; it made following them-as-a-person just a little bit easier. Most websites were simple text, but others did have the full Geocities experience:

Something that was somewhat common were basic visual novel concepts where the reader could make choices, or even insert their own name so they would be the "MC" of the story:

(Dream novels are in fact their own thing in Japan) My understanding is the site was quite popular through the 2000's and into the 2010's, though over time the "cellphone novel" as a concept fizzled out. People got smartphones, more people got PCs, and the constraints didn't make sense anymore - you can read ebooks and normal websites on your phone now after all. You can probably draw a line between these kind of stories and the webfiction/light novel boom of the late 2000's/2010's, something that was equally born on the internet, that streamlines the novel to "shortcut to the good stuff" but without the need to fit on a flip phone's screen. Though I will admit my own understanding of their histories shows them more as two sides of the same "youth demand for new literature" coin.

In 2017 Forest Page launched Forest Page Plus, a new service fully optimized for the smartphone era; but it did not transfer over all the old content, starting the clock ticking on the original Forest Page. My understanding is that in June they announced Forest Page was officially closing down; and from what I have gathered from reminiscing writers on twitter, they did not provide any easy, one-touch way to save any of the content, so people are archiving Wayback Machine links or sharing tips on how screenshot-save stories (I think the rub is they gave people a way to transfer content to FP+, but most don't want to do that, as places like Twitter & Pixiv are the content kings of this era).

As of tomorrow I would bet the large majority of the content will be gone; quite sad given both the quantity of stories there and how many got sometimes millions of readers. I am sure most of the biggest stories are archived at least, but particularly the early stuff was a very ephemeral genre, one that doesn't make sense to revisit once you aren't a 16 year old teen writing and reading fics on a flip phone in between classes. Which means another legion of the ghosts of the Wired is being born today. May we pour one out for a fellow online community that lived and died!

[seb-boo]

Sebastian Vettel Interview with Tages-Anzeiger [2025-03-09] English Translation ↴

[It's Tuesday lunchtime. Excited pupils stream out of a school in the Zurich Unterland. They have just had a visit from four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. The German, who has lived in Switzerland since 2007 and in the canton of Thurgau since 2009, attracted attention in the last few years of his career by suddenly talking about environmental issues, such as the importance of biodiversity, or collecting litter in the grandstands after race weekends.

This Tuesday, the 37-year-old and Andreas Fehr debated the topic of the circular economy with four classes. Fehr is the owner of a fashion label and the topic was sustainability in the clothing industry. Vettel spoke about the possibilities of more environmentally friendly mobility. Afterwards, the former racing driver took time for a personal discussion.]

Sebastian Vettel, are you driven by a guilty conscience?

That was perhaps the case at the beginning of my involvement, when I thought: Oh, I've been racing and flying around the world for so many years, that wasn't good! Now it's much more optimism that drives me.

What do you mean?

When people talk about the climate crisis, many things are very, very bad, the outlook is devastating, the mood is doomsday. Children see their future as correspondingly bleak. It's important to me that we talk about solutions. There are a lot of people who have great ideas. Like in the textile industry, where there are so many approaches to greater sustainability. Today's children are much more perceptive and have a greater awareness of these issues. I had no idea about it when I was young. Of course I knew that you don't just throw things away, but I didn't know anything about the meaning behind it.

How environmentally conscious are you?

I am in a position of luxury. I have the time to deal with these issues and also the opportunity to afford alternatives. Fast fashion is advertised, it's tempting to buy two or three T-shirts at once. Our aim is to show that they don't last long and that someone is paying the price - the planet, the environment, the people in the production chain. It all starts with awareness. If you are aware of things, you can change things. I want to raise this awareness in the children.

You were a racing driver, you jetted around the world. Can you erase this huge ecological footprint?

I could by buying the relevant certificates. I did that before I retired in 2022. But that raises questions: does that really balance the books? There are many great projects that are perhaps not implemented so well. Planting trees is a great tool. But are the right trees being planted? In the right location? Are they being cared for? Will the tree still be standing in five years' time? Receiving such a certificate eases the conscience, but it is often worth taking a closer look. Even ticking a box when you fly is not enough. It is therefore very difficult to completely eradicate my footprint.

Where is it particularly large?

Flying accounts for the largest share. It's like other global sports. The fact that I then drove a car in circles and burned gasoline is no longer so important.

And today you are campaigning for environmental issues: are you a hypocrite?

I have to put up with this accusation. And yes: I am the biggest hypocrite there is when I talk about environmental issues and at the same time leave such a big footprint. I flew around the world for years - and not economy, but business or first class. But do I have to feel bad about it? We won't solve the problem with shame, but rather by confronting it and looking for solutions. We are all hypocrites because we also enjoy things that we know are not so good. Do we have to go on vacation to Thailand? No. But it's also incredibly beautiful there. We shouldn't ban travel, but offer technological options that allow us to do the same things as before - only more sustainably.

You and your family are often on the road in a camper.

Yes, we pitch up at the campsite and are a normal camper family. When I'm recognized, some people are amazed, but after the first beer together that's over.

How much did your childhood influence you in this respect?

Very much, we spent weekend after weekend on the road in our camper van, which was really great. Camping is also about memories and experiences that I want my children to have.

You have two daughters, who are 9 and 11, and a five-year-old son: do you feel you have missed out on parts of your childhood because of your career?

After I retired, I realized that I was on the road a lot more than I meant to be. When I was still fully involved, I thought: I'll be back home soon, just a few days and then I'll be back. When I stepped back, I realized that I had slept away more than at home. I'm enjoying having a completely different everyday life now.

Are you happy in your role as a father?

It's nice that I have time. I can also look back on a very rich childhood of my own, in which I was able to spend a lot of time with my parents and siblings. This time together is the most beautiful thing that my parents gave me - and I now live that too. Even if I don't travel from kart track to kart track with my children like we did back then.

Why not?

It hasn't turned out that way yet.

Does racing even have a future and a raison d'être?

That is a very good question. While interest in Formula 1 is constantly growing in America, people in countries like Germany are questioning whether it still fits in with the times. If Formula 1 doesn't move fast enough and find answers to important questions, it runs the risk of social pressure becoming so great that a ban will be discussed.

What questions does Formula 1 need to ask itself?

How are the cars refueled? How does the whole circus get from A to B? Hundreds of thousands of people travel to the races: How do they get there, how do they travel home, what do they consume on site, what food and drink is on offer anyway? There are a lot of issues involved. I would certainly find it a great pity if Formula 1 were to disappear.

Why is that?

There are many people who appreciate the sport on the one hand, but also the culture behind it on the other. It's a piece of history and cultural heritage, especially in Germany, where the automotive industry is very big and has a long history. You can't simply erase that. So Formula 1 basically has a right to exist. But in terms of vehicles and technology, it has to move on.

Formula 1 cars already have highly efficient hybrid engines, and from 2026 they will also be running on synthetic fuel.

Yes, thanks to this fuel, CO₂-neutral driving is possible. But synthetic fuel is not a panacea. The major drawback is the high electricity consumption during production, regardless of whether petrol, diesel or kerosene is being produced. The process is inefficient - while the electricity would actually be needed everywhere else, for example for heating buildings. Synthetic fuels are a bridging technology for forms of mobility for which we do not yet have any other solutions, such as shipping or air travel. There are no electric or hydrogen-powered container ships or airplanes yet.

And what about private transportation?

The electric car is much more efficient and has a higher degree of efficiency than a combustion engine. However, it is not fair to ask people to buy electric cars, as they are even more expensive than combustion engines. They need to become cheaper - the range also needs to increase and the network needs to be better developed.

The reality is this: There are 1.3 billion cars with combustion engines on the road around the world.

And for them, synthetic fuel makes sense as a transition. But if we think ahead, 30, 40 years into the future, it is important that the rich countries set the pace, set a good example and make the transition to electromobility.

What does your personal fleet look like?

It's not yet purely electric because I want to keep my VW bus, which runs on diesel. I also have an electric Porsche - okay, a Porsche - but also an electric Nissan.

You live in the country in Europe with the best developed public transport system. How often can you be found on the train?

I travel by public transport very often. Zurich is the perfect example of how it makes no sense to travel around a city by car. And that's a key: if the offer is there and public transport beats the car in terms of attractiveness, people are more likely to switch. In general, Switzerland is the model country, you can get to the most remote villages by post bus, the connections are great and the timetable is perfectly timed. Public transport has to be a real alternative everywhere, then people will change their minds.

Was it the same for you?

I was influenced by motor sports in my childhood and counted the days until I could get my driver's license. It was still important to my grandfather that his car had a star on it, our generation also drove other brands, and today's children often have completely different priorities anyway. So walls come tumbling down and new things emerge. The future can also be better than the present. If there is less traffic in cities, more electric cars, more public transport, that is better for everyone.

When you're on trains and buses, aren't you constantly recognized and harassed?

Of course I get recognized sometimes, but I appreciate the fact that the Swiss are very discreet. It's very different in Germany or other countries.

Is that one of the reasons why you moved to Switzerland in 2007?

That's the main reason why I want to stay here. I feel very comfortable. The initial spark was that I was a test driver at Sauber - even though I then quickly switched to Toro Rosso. I liked it here. And of course there were also tax advantages. But I would also have those in the place where many of my ex-colleagues live.

You're talking about Monaco. Why don't you live on the Côte d'Azur?

Switzerland is incredibly beautiful, a paradise. Monaco is certainly also beautiful and a bit warmer, but living in such a concrete jungle wouldn't be for me. I need space, mountains and nature.

Michael Schumacher has also lived in Switzerland for years. You always looked up to him.

He's the hero of my childhood and, in my opinion, the greatest Formula 1 driver in history, even if statistically speaking it's Lewis (Hamilton).

Since his skiing accident in 2013, Schumacher has been cared for at home in Gland, Vaud. You still have contact with the family through his son Mick, how important is that to you?

I get on well with Mick and we keep in touch, even though I no longer race and he no longer has a cockpit in Formula 1. That is important to me.

Michael's brother Ralf Schumacher recently made headlines because he came out as gay. That is …

… a taboo. Just like in many other sports. If we look at the statistics, many tennis and football players would have to be homosexual. But it's still very difficult to come out and be accepted in sport.

Why is that the case?

Let's take football: if a player comes out and then has to bend down for the ball before a throw-in, for example, there are bound to be many in the stands who burst out laughing. That's why role models who have the courage to come out are so important. I don't know if I could speak openly about it myself. That's why we should appreciate it when someone does.

How was Schumacher's coming out received in the motorsport scene?

Good, actually. But of course, motorsport is still a world where old white men have a petrol party. Some things are taboo for many. Lewis has already broken down many walls as the first black Formula 1 driver. He brought up the subject of racism and other things that were suddenly being talked about. I came into Formula 1 at the same time as him, I remember there were a lot of bad comments about him.

For example?

Because of his skin color, that he had no place here. In the meantime, he has not only shown through his performance that they were completely wrong. We need people like him. We used to be told not to talk about certain topics - money, love, sex, religion. Today, we've come a long way, and that's a good thing.

You are committed to the concerns of the LGBTQ community. Why is that?

People fight very hard in sport and do everything they can to win. But it should be fair. And that's what it's all about for me: fairness, fair treatment of all people, no matter who they love and who they are. Sometimes we take a step backwards in this development, such as with the election of Donald Trump as US president. Such decisions are usually made at the expense of people who do not fit into society's image. Drawing attention to this and giving these people a voice is extremely important.

You spoke earlier about your former home country of Germany: can you still be seen there at all?

Why is that?

Because you are campaigning for a speed limit on highways.

*smiles* In this discussion, freedom is often confused with habit. I live in Switzerland, where there is a speed limit. Does that make us less free here? Or do Germans immediately feel deprived of their freedom when they cross the border into Switzerland or France? But I am aware that driving without a speed limit is sacred for many Germans.

You have been able to let off steam on the racetrack all your life. What do you miss now that you can no longer do that?

I miss a lot, especially the competition. Or getting a result straight after a performance and knowing where you stand. The sport, the thrill. But I've also gained a lot and have more time for other topics and interests. I see it more as a trade-off than a loss.

[captain-n-crunchies]

Suki Pookie! 💕

Katsuki Bakugo x Bimbo reader

Katsuki Bakugo... a blond baddie with explosion powers and a itty bitty waist, with an attitude of a firecrack time 10000 nobody in Katsuki life thought he'll EVER find someone to love, to cherish, to care for for years to come... until you y/n!

Fresh from America and glowing brown skin showing off your latest hero designs you became U.A's hero design in training student. Moving from America to Japan wasn't easy with clothes and clothes packed in boxes tou couldn't move a giant leopard print high heel chair into that small ass dorm?? But a very talkie green haired boy, a girl with the face of Kirby with a bob and, a boy who refers to him as class president soon helps you move in and your designer life has been perfect!

// Firstly how did this glamorized girl with such beautiful hair and eyes ever came to romanticized a bad attitude having boy like Katsuki? Well after moving in and getting a internship you had got the first task of your career: Design 3 hero suits and sumbit them to the respective heros. Sounds easy looking at each new fist year you saw your very first guinea pigs; Ida, Monoma, and Bakugo. Ida was perfect after seeing his quick and grabbing some help from the tech teams you made a beautiful looking robot suit perfect for mobility, then Monoma has a copying quirk but has more of a regal asshole type behavior with some time periods research and grabbing his input you created him a very fine suit. Then Bakugo and as you remeber he was an pain in the ass...

FIRSTLY, he already had an design in mind which was terrible, the gauntlets were nice but it didn't have any practicality with how big they were, then the outfit was giving him enough arm area for him to move very restrictive like he wearing velcro, then he had the nerve to add a mask which is never cute on ANYTHING. Telling him his faults was like talking to a argumentative wall he wouldn't just listen but, after three long nights of making specialized gaulets, finding a cloth that would help him produce more sweat, and a mask design you made him hero costume which he didn't say he liked nor disliked. After your first task you fix up any things like Deku bunny ear thing which was totally a werid kink you think he has... and Momo having trouble with zippers, and bakugo came to you alot more when it came to updating his suit with miniscule things like a button.

So, after like literally months of him just coming g to me and making work more than I should we finally exchange numbers and instagrams! He doesn't have many follwers nor does he post but it's ok my page had enough room and after a few videos of us hanging out and posting my followers made us a ship name! It was sooo cute but he just scoff and said it wouldn't happen, such a liar.

Now headcanons!!

☆ So firstly it took months almost your whole first year to even get Suki poo to ever think of you in a non-friendly manner, like Izuku he just saw you as a friend maybe even a best friend until Mina and Kirishima told him every time you and him would talk hell talk more softer with you

" Doesn't mean anything pinky shes a fucking crybaby"

" Duh! You care about her feelings omg! KIRI ITS LIKE A SLOWBURN"

" Yeah bro! Talking to a girl nicely is very manly and- hey! Where he's going!"

☆ After that Suki started to think about his glittery friend a lot more, thinking about how kissing her would feel is your favorite snack place his favorite only because he like you getting those panda chocolate biscuit things? Does he find Choco cat kinda of cute because you said he's smart like him? His mind is always racing and eveytime you own your pretty mouth he just wants to bite your face off! In a cute way

☆ So when you two cuties do start to date its a very thick line of what pda he allow firstly no kissing or making out in public like your almost pro heros your reputation is always valuable, secondly no wrid ass nicknames ( the first time you called him Suki babes was infront of bakusquad and he almost exploded Sero from the face if the earth, he blushs and held your hand while he yelled at them so win-lose) and thrid, NO SAPPY LOVE STORIES TO HIS MOM: it just not cool for his bad boy persona.

☆ But Suki really chill beside a few bumb arguments when you feel like he thinks your stupid you two always make up example:

" You think I'm dumb huh!? I got a A+ in color theory!"

" What does that do in real life baby? Make sure the fashion police doesn't giveme ticket for wearing orange in winter?"

" THAT! AND the fact without color theory you in the summer wouldn't produce enough sweat for your firecrack special thingy!

" And your not bumb because only MY smart baby would know that"

So really he explains himself alot better to you because your very intoned emotionally.

☆ Suki really into petnames despite earlier setting he loves the sappy nicknames like suki babes, pookie, sukiies and anything over the top because it apart of your nature! He loves how you text with various emotions because he texts pretty bland and he loves cuddles alot even when it's hot he likes holding you. It really stems from the fact nobody but his friends couldn't truly give him a hug and his mom and dad the only one who really can get to him so having a partner really pushed his clingy nature up to 100000.9% He likes your American accent on some words in Japanese despite him speaking English clearly in an accent he likes to mock a southern accent if your from the south.

☆ Now onto the kinda of sad part, Suki can't really hear himself loudly because his explosion are pretty loud his hearing declines more and more, and you figured it out when you called for his name loudly from a room away and he never came til you had to closely come up to him so as his personal design you made hearing aids for him and his suit which helped a lot during missions. But once you told him about his hearing he got it check out, he had the hearing of a old man practically and out of that outcme he listens to your voice alot more just incase he won't hear it again

" And I told her I didn't have any diamonds but I had rhinestones and- are you even listening suki?"

"Mhm just like hearing yer voice, so didn't she take the diamonds"

" Oh! Well she didn't and then she asked again two days later! Like girl you know well you can rhinestones insted!"

☆ Anyways back to a little more happiness Suki bookie loves to cook for you since as your beastie he saw you had a terrible sweet tooth and you didn't always eat a healthy plate so every date he makes you a nice and hearty bowl of food and makes you eat it all, from healthy grains to irons and potassium, breakfast and dinner even he ruined your ice cream and made ypugurt bars! Which were good but still where is the artificial flavor On days he does training you like to make him bento box's Sanrio or his favorite TV show themed and he always keeps the little notes you put in his locker in a safe place incase he get a little lonely

☆ Suki when you first started dating was very quite, almost never really talking because he took relationship advice from his friends and he felt like his aggressive behavior would scare you until you sit him down and talk about his distance hell be more inclined to leave you alone making the relationship strain. SPEAKING OF FRIENDS, you are an official member of bakusquad your co-captain, first Lady, even the best member because he just proclaims you as such no matter what your always with bakusquad doing dumb shit (you usually record it) or despite his attitude towars him are with deku and his friends which he doesntlike how close you and shots got over a kid show but hey... ( he watched the show and he got so instred he has a tiny merchant area in his dorm)

☆ Katsuki parents are fashion designers so he knows a little bit about fashion wven though his first hero design wasn't great ge had a solid frame so any fashion dilemma you have is solved with him, he does not sugarcoat though if that shit is ulgy he says it with he FULL chest

" Ok! So what about denim skirt, green top and purple hate with a scarf-"

" Okay Demi Lovato "

..." ..Hoe don't play with me"

Like he doesn't even play with your hair either he's the only one who can look like a bum but you? HIS beautiful golden curly/loc baddie girlfriend in sweats when its a cute halter top you can wear? Even on days where you want to be a bump he makes you atleast accessorize a bit.

☆ lastly Suki is just your pintrest boyfriend, as I mentioned he doesn't really post only pics of you and repost of him and you and from your page to his people thought he was a stan page but no no that's is Katsuki Bakugo supporting HIS girl. Did I mention he's so possive whe he got kidnapped he was scared it would happen to you, he always his an eye on you and since you like to wander off hes always close behind to point he's your shadow and you couldn't want anything more; somebody flirts with you? BOOM 💣 He already scared them off and now your getting a pretzel, somebody dms you? BOOM 🔥 He got that blocked and reported and foe some reason banned from any shopping mall.

Overall suki pookie bear Bakugo is perfect and even though I personally didn't like him at one point I would date him simply for the hell of it!

[magics-neptunes-things]

Jealousy or caring?

Hi guys :)

After the results of the survey, this is the story you have choosen. I may write the others too though.

Summary : This one talk about jalousy and everything who can come out of it, whether it’s little cute reconciliations or a little more complicated repercussions.

TW : Jealousy, discomfort with her feelings, a little angst.

Enjoy!

______________________________________________________________

Looking at your sleepy girlfriend, you gently raise your hand to caress her face. Your gesture is gentle and delicate, afraid to wake her up. Alexia’s moments of rest are so rare these days that you do everything you can to make them as restful as possible.

You loved everything about her, even her jealousy. Or, as she prefers to call it, her caring. As the days, weeks, months and even years went, you realize that Alexia's jealousy caring has different colors.

********

Losing has never been easy for anyone. But you must admitted that on your side, you are perhaps less accustomed than some of your fellow teammates. You’ve been playing at FC Barcelona for a few years now and the few times you’ve lost have traumatized you. Perhaps because it often happened in the finals, you must admit that disappointment is always up to the hopes and efforts that have been made to get there.

Your national team is a little less successful than your club though. You are of Norwegian origin and even though you qualified for the last World Cup, you are having a little trouble earning points for the next Cup. After another loss, you find yourself in the last place in the ranking and the bitterness that reigned in the locker room after your defeat is still well anchored in you.

You're actually lying on your bed of the hotel room that you share with Ingrid Engen, your bestie, who also plays in Barcelona. You’ve both been staring at the ceiling without saying a word, unable to sketch the slightest gesture. You are lying in a V-shape on the same bed, the legs of the brunette on yours. You’re playing the game in your head again and again and the things you could have done otherwise to allow your team to win. And you know that it’s the same kind of things that also turn in Ingrid’s head.

You only get out of your lethargy when you feels your mobile phone vibrate in the pocket of your jogging, making you jump. You startle Ingrid at the same time and she throws you a glare while you roll your eyes, wriggling on the bed to extract your phone. Looking at the screen, you smile when you see that it's your girlfriend. You pick up and wait patiently for the few seconds necessary for the Facetime call to connect.

The black screen gives way to Alexia’s face and your heart tightens when you remember that she's thousands miles away from you. Even if Ingrid is your best friend, you’d rather be lying in the same bed as Alexia.

"Holà Bebita" makes you affectionately the latina and you smile tenderly.

"Hi."

"How are you feeling?"

You pout and shrug. Always lying on your back on your bed and your blond hair in halo around your head, you are not sure of the effect, but never mind. You don’t answer with words, but that’s enough for Alexia to understand what you mean. She can’t stand to lose, too.

"For what it’s worth, you played very well."

"Not good enough apparently"

You grumble, but you’ve seen a few comments from frustrated fans who feel like you should have found situations to get the ball in the net a second time. Your equalizer wasn't enough to save your team and a few minutes before the end of the match the opposing team scored the goal of the victory.

Alexia frowns when you say that and you already know the words she will say. They are always the same when a teammate takes the team’s defeat on her back. However, this doesn't seem to apply to her, she's the first to declare herself guilty during a defeat.

"Hey I forbid you to say that. If you hadn’t done your best, you wouldn’t be that exhausted. How’s Ingrid?"

Preferring not to answer and focusing on her question, you turn your head towards your best friend. She's Alexia's friend too after all. The brunette imitates you a few seconds later and your lack of common energy ends up amusing yourself. So it's with a slight smile that you bring your attention to the screen and Alexia.

"She's laying down on my bed and didn’t even have the courage to get fully dressed after her shower."

"Perdóna me?"

You hoped to tease Alexia’s jealousy, but it's finally Mapi’s face that appears on the screen, her eyebrows frowning. You are surprised to see her, Alexia didn't inform you that she was in her company, but not entirely astonished. If Ingrid is your best friend, Mapi is definitely Alexia’s. This allows the four of you to have great moments together, even if Alexia and you are less likely to party than the other two.

"Y/N why is my girlfriend not answering her phone and naked on your bed?!"

"Holà Maria" you laugh.

"Mapi give me my phone back!" your hear Alexia in the background and some noise make you realize that she's really trying to take it back.

This chaos makes you smile and ends up shaking Ingrid from her lethargy. She rolls on her stomach to also watch the screen of your phone. Even if for the moment you have a breathtaking view of the ceiling of Alexia’s living room, then some fingers, then a black background and finally Alexia’s face again, with Mapi pouting in the background.

"Hi darling" Ingrid smiles when she sees her girlfriend. "My phone battery was discharged, I call you as soon as it comes back on."

You laugh when you see Mapi's face but Ingrid slaps you on the head and you frown.

"Hey" you whined, rubbing your head with your hand, as Ingrid gets up from bed to check her phone.

It actually had to come back on since you lost time to look at the ceiling and when she unplugs it from the cable, you look at your screen again. When the brunette informs you that she will call Mapi, you decide to plug in your headphones so you can focus on the conversation you have with Alexia. And besides, your roommate is doing the same. Rolling on your side, face on the wall, you look at your perfect lady.

"I miss you so much"

The confession you make to the blonde isn’t surprising, even if you are not physically demonstrative in public, you are very often together. Alexia actually has more things to do outside of trainings than you do, but you have at least all your evening together.

"I miss you too" Alexia replies before hesitating to continue "… but Ingrid was really not naked, huh?"

********

Alexia's jealousy, excuse-me, caring, wasn't always cute and nice actually. At the beginning of your relationship, you decided not to tell the fans. Partly because you didn’t want to deal with the reactions it would cause, but also because you wanted to be sure it would be a serious relationship. To be perfectly honest, you already knew on your side that this was the case but you didn't want to put too much pressure on Alexia, believing that she already had enough things to manage like this.

Her insecurities have always surprised you, even if she never really talked about it. She never accused you of anything and you know perfectly well that she never searched in your phone either for example. But the fear that sometimes colors her eyes when she sees you talking to another girl surprised you so much the first time that you told yourself that you were imagining things. Spoiler, you weren't.

You also remember perfectly well the time when you were looking for an enveloppe with pictures of your childhood in your apartment, making a mess in your living room. "I’m sure Anna put it in there" you mumbled, head down in a drawer.

"Who is Anna?"

The question was thrown as lightly as if Alexia had asked you the weather for the next day. But when you turned around, her face seemed too smooth and the fact that she looked away very suspicious. Again, there were no accusations in her behavior or tone of voice.

"My cousin? Who came last week?"

"Oh."

And with that, Alexia had moved on to another subject after a few seconds. You felt her relief and you saw how her whole body suddenly relaxed. It was always like that with the blonde. She has never been in the habit of talking about her emotions and even if she shows you that she loves you and cares about you, she is not the type of person to make you long love declarations. But you love her this way.

********

Because of all this, the first time her jealousy really took over her, you were taken by surprise.

It was during a casual match with a team in the middle of the ranking. You were easily winning and the match took place in a rather good general atmosphere, the visitors being rather respectful of the game.

This didn't prevent a bad tackle from an opposing player on you, more clumsy than voluntary, throwing you to the ground with a stabbing pain in the tibia. This pain made you stay a few seconds on the floor during which you resumed your breathing. The player in question quickly leaned over you to apologize, making sure nothing serious happened to you. You didn’t even calculate her hand on your shoulder, but you willingly accepted the helping hand that Alexia held out to help you up, taking you away from the other girl.

"I'm ok" you simply reassured her, taking her suspicious look as an interest on her part for your leg.

Well, you still think she was worried about that too. But, head in your game, you went back to your position and you didn’t think about this incident again.

When the referee whistled the famous three shots, you stayed on the pitch for several minutes to chat with your teammates and go sign some jerseys and take some pictures. After examining your tibia, you saw that a bruise has starting to form and the medical team asked you not to wait too much before going to put at least a little ice on it.

So you apologized to the fans and walked into the hallway leading to the locker room. It was at this moment that the player of the opposing team came after you, calling you by your first name. Surprised, you turned around and smiled at her when she made sure once again that you were okay.

You showed her your tibia to reassure her and with that you started to discuss a bit about the game. She ended up asking for a jersey swap and after a few seconds of hesitation, you agreed. It was at this very moment that Alexia made her appearance and the timing could probably not be worse.

Even if you had nothing to reproach yourself, she nevertheless found herself facing the image of her girlfriend only dressed in her shorts and a sports bra, facing another girl wearing her jersey. All of this with a few laughs that reflected on the walls of the corridor and the hand of the opponent placed on your arm to thank you.

The moment you met her gaze, you knew the situation was going to be complicated. Alexia were frozen a few feet from you, but you perfectly saw her jaw contract and the muscles of her hands tense.

You naturally ran after her when she turned around and it took you the whole way to the locker room for her to at least agree to look at you. And you had to take her face in your two hands since saying her name repeatedly, asking her to listen to you seemed to have no effect.

"Ale, Baby, look at me"

You had to put yourself on tiptoes to have your eyes at her level and finally really have her attention. The way she pushed your hands back into that corridor and walk with a quick step while shaking her head and not even looking at you gave you the impression that she was only there physically.

You never raised your voice, feeling that it would only make things worse. And you were right. Alexia’s eyes cut off your breathing and for once it wasn’t in the right way. The anger she had felt a few moments ago seemed to have deserted her mood, replaced by distress and insecurity.

You were alone in the locker room but you knew there were risks that it would not last. And Alexia would never want to be seen in this state of emotions by anyone. So, ignoring your bruise, you informed her you were taking her home. You left her no choice and she didn't protest, which may seem surprising coming from Alexia, but you were relieved to see that she was not trying to run away from you anymore.

The ride was quiet and it was a relief when you arrived in the safety of your apartment. That said, you didn’t really know what to do with your girlfriend, suddenly turned into a mute wall, looking at nothing. So you made the decision to sit her on your couch and kneel in front of her, between her legs. The fact that you are both still in football outfits added to the strangeness of the scene.

"Ale?"

Her gaze rests on you and the emotions that were previously there was added the fact that she seems lost. You put your hands on her lap and you look at her for a long time, not really knowing what to say. But you end up choosing what you think is most important.

"I know what you saw and that it may have seemed inappropriate, but I swear there was nothing. She just apologized and asked me to swap our jerseys"

You feel her gaze scan you and you let her do it, leaving her the time she needs. She finally nods, but you’d like her to talk to you, explain what’s going on in her head. Except she seems incapable of it for the moment.

"Come on, let’s take a shower."

You hope that the hot water will allow Alexia to relax and gather her ideas and you let her enter the shower first. Until she finishes, you unpack your bags and you decide to make her a cup of tea. Even if you are not English, your mom had this habit when someone was not well and you took the same way.

To give her as much privacy as possible, you left some spare clothes and you wait patiently on your sofa for her to come out of the bathroom. Looking at your phone, you realize that your hurry departure surprised some of your teammates and you don’t wait to answer them that everything is fine and that you are together. You can already imagine the kind of gritty scenario that Mapi will put herself in the head.

When your girl had finished, it was your turn and you hurry to go back to her as soon as possible. Despite her silence, you’re afraid you won’t find her when you get out of there. But no, except instead of being on your couch, she’s sitting on the foot of your bed. She plays nervously with her fingers and looks up at you as you slowly enter the room.

"I'm sorry"

You don’t see why she apologizes, but you decide not to ask her a question right now. Instead, you climb in the bed behind her and pull her against you, reversing your bed habits. Usually, it’s you in the role of the little spoon. But this time, she willingly nestles against you and you gently rock her, leaning against the head of the bed.

"Can we talk about it?"

She nods again, but remains silent. Looking for a way to start the conversation, you realize that you feel her heart beating against your skin, testifying to the strength of her emotions.

"Ale, you know I would never do that, right? Cheating in any way. I care too much about you to risk losing you. I only look at you."

Alexia obviously heard you, but you realize she seems to be grappling with words. She never has problems finding the ones that are necessary to motivate her teams or to reassure others, it seems to be another thing to find those to express her emotions. This isn't surprising, once again the number of people to whom she opened must be counted on the fingers of one hand.

"Ok, let me try to help you. How did you feel when you came into this hallway?"

"I wanted to rip her head off."

Well, that was rude but clear. You find yourself trying not to laugh.

"Something else?" you asked, hiding your smile in her hair.

You couldn't do it for long though, since a few seconds later Alexia gets up to sit and face you.

"I know you would never do anything like that, but that doesn’t stop me from fearing losing you. If I told you that I trust you, but I don’t trust others, would you understand the difference?"

You nod and replace a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I don't care about the others, though"

"I know I'm beeing stupid b..."

You interrupt her by placing a finger on her lips, making her look up at you for the first time since she spoke again.

"Don't. You're not stupid because you feels emotions Alexia. You're an human, not a robot"

"I don't know what to do with all this emotions" she mumble.

"Talking to me can help?"

You try a smile and she gives you a smirk back. That's a beginning right? You take her again against you and she half sit on your lap, her face against your shoulder. The silence is this time more relaxing and you feel Alexia relax in your arms.

"Thanks for getting me out of there before the others saw me like that."

"Always here for you, Love."

********

But Alexia can be possessive too.

As time passed, she learned to deal with her frustrations differently. When a girl has looked at you for too long for her taste at a party for example, it isn't uncommon that you find yourself the next day with scattered hickeys all over your body. Your bond has continued to grow and your understanding to evolve to the point that you can understand each other only in a few seconds, without even having to speak.

This connection has obviously been noticed by almost everyone, but there are only two people who can brag about knowing Alexia perhaps better than you. Alba, her little sister, but especially Eli, her mother. This one is grateful to you for regularly bringing her eldest daughter home, apart from the weekly diner organized at home. At first, you refused to accompany Alexia, preferring to let her spend time alone with her mother and sister. But, when your girlfriend informed you that her mother was about to sulk you permanently, you ended up going every week.

"Here you are at last!" Eli said the first time you went back.

You laughed and gave her a hug before you went to greet Alba. If Alexia quickly dragged you into the family lounge to watch their usual series, Eli eventually commandeered your help in the kitchen. Laying a kiss on Alexia’s head who hums and smile at you, you obviously agreed and found yourself peeling carrots with your mother-in-law.

You expected remonstrance from what you told Alexia, but instead you find yourself facing Eli’s inquisitive gaze.

"You swear to tell me nothing but the truth?"

"Uh… yeah?"

You are intrigued but also a little worried. You don't see what you could have hidden from her, but she has the same effect on you as when you have to pass the security gate of the customs at the airport.

"It’s been weeks since you were seen here. I thought you and Alexia broke up and she didn’t have the courage to tell me."

"Oh… no, everything is fine between us" you assured her by turning your attention to your carrots.

"Really? You’re not pretending to be always together so you don’t worry me?"

"Promised"

You smiled at her and after a few seconds scanning the blue of your eyes, she responded to your smile. Realizing that Alexia has the same way of looking through your eyes amuses you a lot.

"Why would you worry anyway?" you ask, frowning. "Alexia could find someone else in a snap of the fingers."

Eli snorts and you turn your attention to her.

"Maybe she could, but I sincerely doubt that she will find someone as good for her as you are. She hadn’t been with anyone for a long time before you came from your freezing Norway. I was genuinely afraid that she would never find someone good enough for her. I never asked you if you want children or getting married like I know Alexia want to, because I know that the bond you both have will take you where you have to be."

What could you have said to that? Nothing. So you cut those damn carrots, lost in your thoughts. You are obviously convinced that Alexia is made for you, otherwise you would never have been with her for so long. But you never claimed you were made for her in return.

After the carrots, you attacked another kind of vegetables, always in silence. Hearing your mother-in-law talk to you about marriage and children is rather peculiar, you never really touched the subject with Alexia. You obviously noticed the way she behaves with children and it makes your heart melt every time. You know she’ll make a good mom when her turn comes, but you don’t know if she wants to have that with you. You don’t even live together right now, after almost a year of dating. Even if you are more at her home than at yours.

"What have you done to my girlfriend?"

Not seeing you coming back to her, Alexia ended up leaving her couch to come see what’s happening in the kitchen. She knows you well enough to realize that you are lost in your thoughts and not necessarily light things. But by your side, Eli gathers the vegetables in a pan to start cooking them.

"Nothing, we were just talking mija."

The look Alexia gives you is uncertain and you give her a small smile that you hope reassuring. (It’s not). Eli sends you back to the living room and you follow your girlfriend to finish the current episode. At the end, Alba decrees that she has a call to make and Alexia takes you with her to the garden. Her fingers are tangled with yours and you looked up at the sky that darkens when she draws you against her. You let her do it and you find yourself facing her, her hand coming on your cheek. This gesture intrigues you, not that Alexia isn't tender with you, but you wonder what is behind her head.

"Are you ok?"

"I am"

You answer and, taking advantage of your proximity, you kiss her softly on her lips. A few seconds later you pass your arms around her neck to extend the kiss, enjoying of this sweat moment during which you get lost in all of her. But Alexia, determined to know more, finally backs down to plunge her gaze into yours.

"Talking to my mother about things you don’t want to talk to me about now?"

Alexia has arched an eyebrow and looks amused, but you know perfectly well that behind this light air, there is a real concern. You laugh gently though, taking the time to kiss her again before answering her.

"Do you want children?"

"I… What?"

"Living with me? Getting married?"

"Y/N - "

"Maybe get a brother or a sister for Nala?"

"A pomeranian?"

You laugh slightly but shake your head gently. Without releasing your hands around her neck, you back your face a few centimeters to have a better view of her.

"Have you ever thought about a future together, you and me?"

Alexia bites her lip and slightly tilts her head to the side while looking at you. The length of time it takes him to answer you creates a knot in your stomach and you detach this time your hands around her neck. You’re trying to pull back a little more, but Alexia’s arms around your waist are holding you back.

"Don’t take this the wrong way, okay?"

Well that’s a bad start. You only frown for answer and look forward to the rest.

"The first time I saw you, I knew. I knew you would be the one I wanted to live with. I want everything you just described, even though the second dog didn’t come to my mind."

You smirk and arch an eyebrow. As she spoke, you felt your stomach relax and your heart rate drop. But you don’t interrupt her, having learned over time that if you wanted to know more about her deep thoughts, you have to let her talk.

"You were more than patient with me, you knew how to get to know me and understand me better than anyone else. I fell in love with you the very moment you walked into the gym, half hiding behind Ingrid."

The scene is still fresh in your memory and you laugh softly remembering it. You were impressed, more than ever, to be faced with world-class players.

"I know my jealousy is sometimes difficult to deal with, but I really love you more than anything. And I don’t even want to imagine my life without you."

You find yourself without words, for once in the role of the one who is unable to find the right terms to mean what she thinks. You are not used to receiving such statements from your girlfriend, the latina preferring to cover you with attentions and gifts.

So you just pass your arms around her neck and kiss her with everything you have. This kiss is passionate and intense, it makes you completely forget the place where you are currently. Alexia tightened you impossibly close to her and the blonde took the opportunity of a moan from you to slip her tongue between your lips. Both lost in your embrace, you only take a few seconds between each kiss to catch your breath before starting again.

You can’t tell how long you’ve been kissing here, but you’re still grateful that it’s Alba who surprised you rather than your mother-in-law.

"Oh wow, I’m going to have to wash my eyes with bleach" she exclaims as she puts her hands on her eyes. "Diner is ready"

With that, she goes back inside and you laugh slowly before putting your attention back on Alexia. With a smirk, she kiss lightly your neck while whispering "We will resume this conversation later".

********

Over the years, Alexia’s jealousy has continued to punctuate your life. But she always kept a healthy jealousy, never accusing you of anything.

There was for example the time when you went out to a restaurant during your summer vacation. No one seemed to recognize you, allowing Alexia to feel particularly relaxed and comfortable with your physical proximity. You were surprised at the beginning of the stay when she takes your hand in her when you strolled around town or when she joined you on the same deck chair to enjoy a sunbath while cuddling.

The restaurant you booked that night was highly recommended by Ona and Lucy, who had come to the same place some time before. You failed to swallow your gum when you saw Alexia come out of the bathroom after putting on a red dress that showed nothing more than necessary but that made her breathtaking. More than usual.

And she may swear you’re the prettiest of the two, but you don’t believe it for a second. You must restrain yourself so much from letting your eyes slide over her body, in places that only you have the honor of knowing at your fingertips, that you don't realize Alexia’s growing annoyance towards your server.

It's true that he perhaps insists a little too much to know if everything is fine and that he has a strong tendency to talk to only you. It's only when you notice that Alexia’s jaw is a little too tense that you realize that something is wrong. You gently place your hand on hers and caress her skin with your thumb.

"What is it, Bonita?"

"Nothing, don’t worry."

She smiles bravely at you and since she doesn’t want to talk about it, you don’t insist. Instead, you draw her hand to your lips to lay tender kisses. The smile coming back on your girlfriend’s face, you leave this information aside until the end of the meal. After dessert, you forbid Alexia to spend any penny and pay the bill. When the waiter gives you the receipt of your payment, you slip it in your bag without thinking about it for a single second.

After a walk hand in hand, you return to your suite, secretly in a hurry to get rid of your high heels. In truth, you are so in a hurry that you decide to remove them just out of the elevator, highly amusing Alexia.

"Where’s the room card Bebita?" she asks smiling.

"In my bag"

You hand it to her and sigh of relief as you feel your feet breathe again.

"Maybe I will be able to still play football after all" you grumble as Alexia searches your purse for a few seconds, giggling about what you just said.

The sweat sound stop rather abruptly though, making you raise your eyes on her. She was livid. Regaining your seriousness, you take a few steps in her direction and you question her at the same time when she resumes speaking.

"Ale?"

"What is it?"

You frown as you look at the piece of paper she holds in her hand, realizing that this is the receipt you had slip into your purse when leaving the restaurant.

"The restaurant's bill?" you answer, not understanding what was going on.

"No. This."

Despite her calm voice, you see her hand shaking as she approaches the paper from your face. And there you see. The waiter thought it clever to write his phone number in hand, accompanied by a small annotation. "I finish at 0h, call me ;) " Your face drop and you raise your eyes on Alexia again, feeling a wave of panic going through you.

"I'm not... I didn’t see that he wrote that, I never would have taken it! Alexia I swear."

You were scared, really. Alexia had never been as relaxed as she was on this trip and had never behaved the same way with you outside the four walls of your shared apartment. You were terrified that it would make her step back or worse, that she would think that you might be interested in him somehow.

But you soon realize that if she’s angry, it’s clearly not against you. Furiously opening the door of your room thanks to the magnetic card she finally found, Alexia enters like a furious. And you follow her on tiptoe, dropping your shoes next to the door that closes behind you.

"Alexia?"

"Who the hell does he think he is?" Alexia roars, making you wide-eyes. "Wasn’t it visible enough that we were on a date? I’ve practically been drooling over you all night and if your eyes could undress me I wouldn’t be wearing my dress anymore."

Laughing may not be a good idea right now, but your girlfriend’s phrasing still amuses you a lot. You bite your lower lip to avoid to do it and grab her by the arm to prevent it from spinning like a propeller in your room. Drawing her against you, you pass your arms around her waist, unable to access her shoulders. If you got rid of your high heels, this is not the case for Alexia although she is only five centimeters taller than you without it.

"We don't care about him. I’m only yours, Alexia, for as long as you want me."

"Don’t say that kind of thing where you’re gonna get stuck with me for the rest of your life" she grunts against your hair.

"Can’t wait."