#dan post boots

[arrowsmithshoes1978]

The Enduring Legacy of Dan Post Boots

Dan Post boots have earned their reputation as a symbol of quality craftsmanship, comfort, and durability in the world of Western footwear. Whether you're a cowboy, a rancher, or someone who simply appreciates fine leather boots, Dan Post offers a perfect blend of rugged strength and refined style. Known for their exceptional attention to detail, these boots have been a trusted name for over half a century, delivering footwear that stands up to the demands of the toughest environments.

Why Choose Dan Post Boots?

When it comes to Western boots, Dan Post has been a leader in the industry, combining traditional methods with modern innovations to create footwear that offers both style and comfort. Here’s why Dan Post boots are the preferred choice for many:

Unmatched Craftsmanship: Dan Post boots are meticulously handcrafted using premium materials like high-quality leather, exotic skins, and durable outsoles. This dedication to craftsmanship ensures that each pair is not only stylish but also long-lasting.

Comfort Technology: One of the standout features of Dan Post boots is their comfort technology. With cushioned insoles, moisture-wicking linings, and flexible outsoles, these boots are designed to keep your feet comfortable throughout the day, no matter the occasion.

Versatile Styles: Whether you’re looking for classic cowboy boots, work boots, or something with a more modern twist, Dan Post boots offer a wide range of styles to suit every need. From sleek, polished designs for formal occasions to rugged boots built for the outdoors, there’s a perfect pair for everyone.

Dan Post Boots: Popular Styles

Dan Post has a wide selection of boots that cater to different tastes and purposes. Some of the most popular styles include:

Classic Cowboy Boots: These iconic boots are what Dan Post is best known for. With their distinct pointed toes, high heels, and tall shafts, these boots exude traditional Western charm. They are perfect for both everyday wear and special occasions like rodeos or country-themed events.

Work Boots: Built to handle the toughest conditions, Dan Post work boots are designed with extra durability and comfort in mind. Whether you're out on the ranch or working in tough conditions, these boots offer support and protection for long hours on your feet.

Exotic Leather Boots: For those who want to add a touch of luxury to their footwear collection, Dan Post also offers boots made from exotic materials like ostrich, alligator, and snake. These boots are not only stylish but are a great conversation starter.

Western Fashion Boots: If you’re looking for boots that offer modern styling with traditional influences, Dan Post’s fashion boots provide the perfect balance. These boots often incorporate subtle design elements and are perfect for pairing with both casual and semi-formal outfits.

Each pair of Dan Post boots is designed to offer a perfect fit and exceptional durability, no matter the style.

The Benefits of Dan Post Boots

There’s a reason why Dan Post boots have become a staple in the world of Western footwear. These boots are much more than a fashion statement—they offer a variety of practical benefits as well:

Durability: Dan Post boots are built to last. Whether you're working in the fields or riding horses, these boots are constructed with strong materials that can withstand the harshest conditions.

Comfort: The inclusion of soft cushioned insoles and moisture-wicking linings ensures that your feet remain comfortable all day long. With features like flexible outsoles and contoured footbeds, Dan Post boots deliver support with every step.

Style: With their elegant designs, exotic leather options, and intricate stitching, Dan Post boots are more than just functional—they’re a fashion statement. They give you the freedom to express your personality while maintaining the rugged appeal of traditional Western footwear.

Versatility: From casual outings to more formal events, Dan Post boots can be styled with a variety of outfits. Pair them with jeans for a laid-back look, or with a Western-style suit for a more refined appearance.

How to Care for Your Dan Post Boots

Taking care of your Dan Post boots ensures they remain in excellent condition for years to come. Follow these steps to keep your boots looking their best:

Clean Regularly: Brush off dirt and debris with a soft brush or cloth. For tougher stains, use a mild soap and warm water solution.

Condition Leather: Apply a leather conditioner to maintain the suppleness and shine of the leather. This is particularly important for keeping the leather soft and preventing cracks.

Store Properly: Always store your boots in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use boot trees to help maintain the shape of the boot and prevent creasing.

Protect from Water: To keep your boots looking their best, apply a water-repellent spray to protect the leather from moisture and stains.

With the right care, your Dan Post boots will continue to serve you well for many years, maintaining both their functionality and appearance.

Where to Buy Dan Post Boots

If you're looking to add a pair of Dan Post boots to your collection, Arrowsmith Shoes offers a curated selection of high-quality options. From work boots to fashion boots, their collection includes a variety of Dan Post styles, ensuring you find the perfect pair for your needs. Visit their website to explore the full range of Dan Post boots and make a purchase that will serve you well for years to come.

Final Thoughts

Dan Post boots embody the spirit of Western heritage with a focus on craftsmanship, comfort, and style. With a variety of styles designed to meet the needs of every individual, Dan Post has earned its place as one of the top brands in Western footwear. Whether you’re looking for rugged work boots, stylish cowboy boots, or exotic leather designs, Dan Post boots offer the perfect combination of durability and elegance. Step into a pair and experience the quality and tradition that Dan Post represents.

[styledbyskyla-shop]

[booteddaily]

Spending the day with Dan. Seems to me I need to spend plenty of time with Dan. 🤎 Today I'll be teaching several classes. Thankfully, they are online so I will be able to keep the spurs on all day. Sometimes, when people are being trained, they need a little bit of redirection and coaching, right? 🤠 Make it a great day, bootmen. 👊

[leathercowboybikerpunk]

[worst-room]

Happy Birthday Dan Smith!

[satireinfo]

I Need a Pair of Boots (Steel-Toed and True)

Lyrics: I Need a Pair of Boots (Steel-Toed and True) Performed by Debbie “Hayride” Harper & The Prairie Songbirds I Need a Pair of Boots (Steel-Toed and True) — DOWNLOAD https://farm.fm/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-Need-a-Pair-of-Boots.mp3 (Verse 1) I ain’t got time for the usual drama, What I need is a good pair of Tony Lama. No need for fancy, no need for flair, Just need a boots, tough but…

[hypewinter]

I got a take on the Danny is Damian's older brother au. He's Damian's brother but he's his adopted brother. So hear me out:

Danny is running away post TUE and he encounters some assassins. For whatever reason they get into a fight and he beats them. This ends up getting back to Ra's who is quite curious about who beat up his most prized assassins effortlessly. After some investigation, he extends an invite for Danny to train under him. On Danny's part, he jumps at the chance to disappear off the face of the earth and have a free place to stay.

Danny ends up being an absolute prodigy. This is him close to being Dan so his morals are much shakier. He doesn't leap at the opportunity to kill, but he's most definitely not above it if need be. Combine that with his ghost powers and personal training by Ra's himself and the guy becomes like the golden standard within the league. So much so to the point where Ra's even names him his heir and adopts him. Though Danny insists he is his adopted grandson and not adopted son.

Flashforward to Damian being born and Ra's obviously wants him to be his new heir. Not that Danny has any problem with this. He's very clearly Ra's favorite considering the things he's allowed to get away with. Like letting targets go, having worldly possessions in his room (TV, gaming console, computer, etc), and even befriending his subordinates (Ra's particularly doesn't like that one but knows Danny will never allow it to become a weakness for him). Even if Danny wasn't the heir, he would still maintain a significant level of authority within the league (again not that he cares about having power as long as there's a roof over his head).

The problem is, Damian can't compete with Danny. After all, who could match up to a highly trained half ghost with dubious morals? Let alone a kid. Too bad Ra's doesn't see it that way. He sees Damian as a failure who will never measure up to Danny. That's why he sends the boy off to live with his father. It's under the excuse that he'll be receiving a different sort of training but in reality, the Demon Head no longer wants anything to do with his biological grandson.

Obviously this turns into quite the complex for Damian. Meanwhile Danny absolutely adores Damian. From the moment he was introduced to the baby he was ecstatic. He'd always wanted to be an older brother. He would constantly be barging into Damian's room to hang out and whenever they'd sparred together, he'd try to let him win. Ra's quickly caught onto that one and put a stop to it immediately though. Basically Danny is Damian's League of Assassins version of Dick. An example of what he's supposed to be that he will always compare himself to (and that also has no idea what personal space is).

Danny loved his little brother so much that he even managed to get a mission to Gotham about a year after Damian had been sent there in order to surprise him with a belated birthday present.

The bats are absolutely shocked with an assassin suddenly charges at Damian and before anyone can react, scoops him into a hug. Damian is screeching bloody murder as he attempts to get Danny to let him go. Danny is just hugging him while saying stuff like "I missed you little brother" and "You've grown so much since I last saw you" all while avoiding knives to the chest.

The bats get shocked x2 because wait.... little brother!? Talia had another child!? And one far older than Damian to boot. Damian is quick to clarify that Danny is adopted while still trying to stab him. Imagine the boy's horror and Danny's delight when he gets invited back to the batcave to speak further.

[yurinaa-world]

Part 2 of reader has been secretly working at a maid cafe please

This time with Dan Heng, Argenti, Ratio and Boothill

#2–"𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓦𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝓘𝓼 𝓜𝔂 𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓭, 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻!"

💫𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈: Dan Heng, Argenti, Veritas Ratio, & Boothill x Gender-Neutral reader

💫𝒮𝓎𝓃𝑜𝓅𝓈𝒾𝓈: Seeing your work at a maid cafe was not what he was expecting

💫𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: Fluff, Might seem like it's female reader, No pronouns though, Spelling Mistakes

💫Part one: 💫"𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝓎 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒹, 𝑀𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇!" (with Sampo, Jing Yuan, Aventurine & Gepard)

💫𝒟𝒶𝓃 𝐻𝑒𝓃𝑔 "𝐼𝓂𝒷𝒾𝒷𝒾𝓉𝑜𝓇 𝐿𝓊𝓃𝒶𝑒"

Gothic Maid—A dark, fitted dress with lace and brocade details, a high collar, and a corset-like waist. Fingerless gloves, thigh-high stockings with buckles, and black ankle boots add an edgy touch. A lace choker and headpiece complete the look—exuding a mysterious, elegant darkness.

An odd maid cafe, but that's what people liked about it. It was like a haunted house, with guests taking their maids in hand, and having to go through a little scare before being seated at their tables. For that reason, it beamed in popularity, everyone wanted to experience such a feeling for themselves outside of the mass amounts of videos that were being posted.

He shouldn’t have gone. He really shouldn’t have. You were his maid, and having your arms wrapped around his arm, while holding him close as you slowly went through the little carrier—it was obvious that there was going to be a jump scare, you were going to yelp and grasp onto him tighter; it wouldn’t help his face from burning up any brighter.

Everything about sharing a service like this with you of all people as his maid, the tension in the air as you press your face into his shoulder to look scared or out humiliated, probably the latter.

The inevitable jump scare came—a shrill scream and a sudden shadow darting out of the corner. You yelped, clutching his arm tighter, your face buried deeper into his shoulder. His face looked like he was burned by the sun hearing you whine into his arm, especially the sight of you wearing your dark-fitted maid dress.

“You’re supposed to protect me, Master!” you whined softly, peeking up at him with wide, mock-pleading eyes, though the redness on your cheeks betrayed your own embarrassment. He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady despite the traitorous pounding in his chest. “Uhh—sorry..” 

Leading him through the corridor and stating him to his table, staring at his flushed expression with a strong gaze, before smiling, catching his flustered tone, and letting out a soft laugh. “You’re enjoying this more than you should, aren’t you, Maaasssttteeeerr.” You stretched out his little title as your customer.

There’s no escape. even though he came to your job he seems more embarrassed.

💫𝒜𝓇𝑔𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾 "𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒦𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎"

Victorian Maid— A high-necked blouse with delicate lace details, paired with a long, flowing black skirt and a white ruffled apron. Lace-trimmed cuffs and a simple bonnet complete the look—offering a refined, modest, and elegant aesthetic.

“Absolutely beautiful!”

“a beautiful maiden like yourself, tirelessly working so my needs may be met, that it too much of me, a knight of beauty to ask of you.” 

You aren't even sure what's happening anymore. One is seeing Argenti at your job and the other is having him fawn over you while you wear this stupid maid outfit, even going as far as to take your hand in his and kiss your knuckles

“Master,” you began, voice low and barely steady, still not wanting to break character—which if you did you would get in so much trouble, “you...shouldn’t,”

He looked up at you with the kind of gaze reserved for someone gazing upon a masterpiece. “Why, where else would a knight go but to the side of a maiden as radiant as the morning sun? To see you here, gracing this establishment with your presence—it is more than I deserve.”

Huh!? That doesn’t even make sense?! 

You can feel your face turn into a sharp pink colour as you pull your hand back gently. You blinked, unsure how to respond. Was he serious right now? You weren’t sure if you wanted to melt into the floor from embarrassment or scream into the nearest cushion.

“You’re making a scene,” you whispered, glancing around. Sure enough, the other patrons were looking, though more out of curiosity and awe than anything malicious.

“Forgive me if I have caused you discomfort. That was never my intention. I merely wished to express my admiration for you, even if it is but a fraction of what you deserve.”

Your breath caught for a moment. There wasn’t an ounce of jest in his words—just a sincerity so profound it left you speechless. “Master, I really should take you to the table, sorry for leaving you standing.”

Get ready to hear compliments for days about your maid outfit.

💫𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒶𝓈 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜 "𝑀𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁𝒾𝑔𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈𝒾𝒶 𝒢𝓊𝒾𝓁𝒹"

Popstar Maid—A bold, sequined cropped top with a pleated, vibrant skirt and lace-trimmed apron. Fishnet stockings, knee-high platform boots, and sparkly bows add flair, with fingerless gloves and a glittery headband completing the look—a flashy, energetic style perfect to keep the spotlight of the guests all on you.

“Such obnoxious colours, it’s a painful sight to look at.”

You felt your cheeks taint into a colour of pink, holding a tray with his ♡ Lovely Heart Latte ♡, you were more embarrassed than the fact, Veritas Ratio, a man with many talents and diplomas to back up with “wise” words, is caught in some maid cafe, the maid cafe your working in, and having you as his sever, you were so unlucky. And! How was he not embarrassed about coming here?!

You feel your cheeks go red in embarrassment as your next words just incriminate you.

“Aw! Master! Your words are so mean!” That sugar-coated tone couldn’t save you from the truth of your feelings. You wanted to drop onto the floor and let it swallow you whole as if you were some insect. “If you don’t like it you can just leave.” you leaned as you placed his drink on the table, whispering those words—so you dont get in trouble with your boss.

“I rather not, this sight of you is once in a lifetime opportunity, only a fool would refuse this sight,” 

Hearing his words just slowly makes you want to die on the inside, please, please, please, just leave already, it’s more humiliating every second his eyes lay on you. “Why don’t you go ahead and sing me a song? Hmm?”

You feel your heart jump at his request… he’s evil! So evil! No sympathy at all for you! Forcing the best smile you could muster from the utter in anger. “Really? Are you sure?” your eye twitched as he propped his chin on his hand, their fingers curling lightly against his cheek as his eyes stared right into yours, without a second doubt in his request.

“Did I stutter?”

You took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of professionalism you had left. “Of course, Master,” you replied with a smile that was so forced, it could have shattered porcelain. Yet you muttered under your breath, “I’ll sing at your funeral instead.”

“Hmm? Go on, what are you waiting for?”

💫𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓁𝓁 "𝑀𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒢𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓍𝓎 𝑅𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝓈"

Robot Maid—A sleek, metallic silver dress with geometric panelling and LED-lined collar and cuffs that glow softly. A high-tech visor, synthetic gloves, and thigh-high silver boots add a polished touch, with a holographic apron hovering over the skirt—a cool, elegant, and futuristic vibe.

“Lookin’ pretty, looks like we were meant to be, don’t ya think, pretty little robot maid?”

This guy…honestly, you were shocked that no one barged in to arrest him already, watching him be dragged away in handcuffs, to rot in a cell would be a better enjoyment, but instead, it’s Boothill sitting in a booth all alone—probably from persuading the hostess to let him have even though it’s just him.

He sees that annoyed expression on your face. your eyes narrowed to sharp slits, a fiery glare piercing through him, jaw clenching even with a smile on your face, handing clenched at the tray in your hands—holding his water. “I’m surprised you can even afford to be here, Master.” you spit venom in his face; which he doesn’t take your words too seriously.

Boothill chuckled, tipping his hat back and leaning casually against the booth as if he owned the place. “Now, now, darlin’, you wound me. Ain’t no price too high for a view like this, especially yer’ my pretty maid.”

So cocky.

“If you keep running that mouth, you’ll find yourself outside with a free view of the street instead, Master,” you hissed, placing his water on the table with an audible thunk. It was not like anyone was listening too closely to the conversation you both were having, so you could say whatever you liked under the guise of being a mean robot maid. 

"Y'know, where you belong since I doubt you could pay for the meal."

Such a sassy tone, which makes you sound so attractive. 

“Ain’t it the job of a maid to make her Master feel welcome? You sure got a funny way of showin’ it.” 

“Welcome? Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize bothering the staff counted as part of the experience.” he laughed at your words, a slow and giddy sound which just annoyed you, a vain might just pop soon. “You actin’ all high and mighty, I’m gonna pay but I guess I better stick around longer, then. Gotta get my money’s worth with my pretty little maid takin’ care of me.”

“You!..”

“Why complain? Ain’t your job.”

[ectospacecadet]

My new Dan redesign post AGIT. - I wanted to give him eyes more similar to Vlad’s colour just to make it more apparent he was part Danny part Vlad, but since Vlad’s ghost’s drive is obtaining more power so that nobody leaves, there was nobody that Dan cared about enough to have that purpose anymore. So that’s why Vlad’s ghost half’s consciousness basically doesn’t exist anymore, Danny just absorbed his power and his purpose. Making Dan. - His hair is longer and more scruffy, Danny had a mullet in his human half, so I like to think Dan grew it out because he took on the traits of both Danny and Vlad. I also gave him a hair stripe like Vlad’s too. In the beginning he has bags under his eyes due to his weakened state, but over time those will go away. - The green arm and boot rings are designed after chain cuffs, I like to think Dan feels trapped in this new displaced state and is struggling to adjust into this timeline without feeling out of place. Eventually he comes to like the rings and thinks they’re cool, they remind him of an old video game movie.

-

There is a corrupt form I plan on designing where he takes on more traits of his previous timeline’s appearance and further, that only happens when he gets enraged or if he starts to slowly lose himself. Ghosts become less human or, as a halfa, start to lose their powers if they start to lose their purpose. Dan has no purpose after the end of AGIT, he’s gonna need one or he could end up very weak like Danny in the novel, or potentially become more ‘feral’ like the other Ghost creatures as he’s technically… Both? So I feel that at first he’ll be weak, but when he’s in a moment of absolute desperation he’ll just full on blitz out and tear everything apart. Be more malevolent etc until calmed or the threat is removed.

[guywrestlingaddiction]

That Wresting Moment: The Realness in Wrestling - Marky Mark v Dan Donovan (bgeast.com)

Wrestling is real. Someone had to say it and now everyone knows it.  Are the moves real? Is the pain real? When you're a pro wrestling fan, people like to shout at you how fake it all is even though nobody asked.  So whatever those haters have to say, to them I say, it's all real to me.  

Marky Mark v Dan Donovan (bgeast.com)

SPOILER ALERT: I highly recommend viewing this match in its entirety before reading this post.

The Backstory

Two young studs enter the ring looking for some action and soon they are off.  These two head straight to it and take full advantage of this 16 minute match.  Yes, 16 minutes which is normal by pro standards but brief by gay pro wrestling.  

Poor Dan tries to compete with rowdy Marky

Dan the man with a ton to prove

Marky sporting that sexy undeserved confidence that is so damn intoxicating 

The guys are brimming with so much nervous energy that you can feel it. 

The Action

Take this match for what it is - two amateurs in the pro ring for the first time, and I swear you'll enjoy yourself.  Mark's over-the-top machismo grunting and Dan's submissive groaning will all make this worthwhile I promise.

Dan gives it his all and tries to ground the stud but it's only a matter of time before he's out muscled

Dan, exposed and flaying on the mat when here comes Marky with the big boot

Not sure what Dan's trying to prove here but I can't blame him for wanting to straddle sexy Marky

Nor do I know what Marky has planned with this sort of leg lock. But whatever this is, Dan sells like a good jobber.

And well, if you don't like any of that, at least get a kick out of all the times Marky looks directly into the camera with the cocky, 'Could care less' attitude.  Good looking people definitely get a free pass - I could care less about him breaking the forth wall when he gives me that male gaze.  

Marky shows off how much he dominates Dan

The guy could careless if you think this is a technical move okay?

I mean the guy is having a blast and it's infectious.

Oh Mark we forgive you for breaking the forth wall, there's not a whole lot we wouldn't forgive honestly. 

The Moment 

Now, as a kid I would get irritated when people would tell me that pro wrestling wasn't real. They'd point out they were all acting, throwing punches, making larger-than-life gestures, all of it faked for our entertainment, but to all that I'd say flat out that wrestling is real to me.  They'd laugh and walk away thinking I believed in the violence rather than believing in the performance.  You see, cocksure Mark and dominated Dan hurling their testosterone at each other sure brought out something real in me.  Now that's the truth, no matter what the hatters have to say.  

Dan smashing is fist and screeching to the heavens in frustration is real. 

The look of agony on that tight lean body is worth the price of admission. 

The arrogant, confident for no reason Mark totally made me feel real things.

[fannyrosie]

Back in early October, I went to Café Brume dans mes lunettes to have tea with a friend and talk for over two hours of cinema and kissaten, mainly.

It was really rainy and windy that day, so I had to create an outfit that would be weather appropriate. I am glad my friend and I looked like two grandmas from different times (more pictures on my Instagram post).

Outfit rundown Skirt: vintage Ingeborg (Pink House) Jacket: second-hand Innocent World Blouse: vintage Hat: modified second-hand Axes Femme Bag: second-hand Axes Femme Boots: old Sperry Topsider Gloves: vintage Wooden harp brooch: ZackZack Seiffen Shiitake brooch: Design Festa (can't remember the artist) Flowerpot brooch: vintage Earrings: Dracolite Belt: Axes Femme

[system-to-the-madness]

Not Forever - Elrond x Reader

Pairing: tRoP!Elrond x Reader (can be read as any gender, no pronouns used) Genre: fluff Word Count: 1 044 Warnings: mentions of Sauron and death Summary: During the longest night, Elrond and you are on patrol around the refuge A/N: Rather unsurprisingly, tRoP!Elrond was the winner of the poll! Also: This is posting exactly as the sun is setting in my city.

Cold starlight glittered overhead, covered partially by the bare branches of old trees. It was only early afternoon, but the longest night of the year had already begun shortly past noon. 

Turning your head, you spied your companion stepping through the fallen leaves, carrying a pouch with provision over his shoulder. It wasn't much, since you were only patrolling the lands surrounding the new settlement that had been built as refuge for the elves of Eregion. Trying to block out the anger that patrols had become a necessity now, the rage at the mindless destruction of peace and beauty for power, you called for Elrond, who closed the last meters between you.

"It seems quiet in the south for now," he told you. "What about the east?"

"Nothing," you replied, "but the stars have come out."

Elrond followed the line you indicated with a reach of your hand and leant his head back to look at the sky above.

Instead of turning your eyes the same direction, you watched him. His hair had grown longer since the battle, and now fell in soft locks almost down to his shoulders, shifting as he moved his head to get a better look at the stars. Their light sparkled in his eyes, and for a moment the burden of grief and responsibility fell off his shoulders. It seemed like a lightness returned to him, an upwards tucking of the corners of his mouth, one you had not seen in several moons upon his face. It made your heart beat harder, and you barely were able to resist the urge to brush away a curl of his hair that had caught on his cheek. 

As if he had felt your eyes on him, he turned to look at you. The forest was dark, safe for the stars above, but still you could make out that his expression grew ever softer as he took you in. Your breaths condensed as white clouds between your faces while he considered your form, wrapped in the warmest coat you had found, feet tightly tucked into some light, but warm boots, bow thrown over your shoulder, quiver with arrows on your back and a sword strapped to your hip.

"You're cold," he observed, a frown creasing his brow, and he stepped forward, placing his hands at your upper arms and rubbing gently. It was a strangely intimate gesture, one like he had often shared with you recently, but you did not find it in you to refuse his approach. His hands were warm in the winter night, and his touch filled with familiarity and light, that pushed back against the darkness that had begun to spread over the lands even before the sun had reached the highest point of the shortest day.

"The winter feels colder this year," you finally answered, praying that Elrond would not mind the way you had lent into his touch. But he yet had to draw away, so you told yourself not to mind.

"It's Sauron's darkness that draws the warmth out of all that is good in this world," Elrond answered, his voice having taken the heavy tone he often struck recently. "I cannot even feel the warmth in the ground anymore. It is frozen in more ways than the winter would allow."

You knew what he was talking about. Even when the ground was frozen solid, there were always the lingering traces of life, the roots of trees that roped through the earth, young acorns and other seeds, waiting for spring warmth before starting to grow their first leaves, bugs and worms or even rabbits. But none of that life was there now, only cold, frozen, dead soil.

“I love the stars, but this cold makes me think this night will last forever,” you admitted guiltily. “It no longer carries the comfort it once did. It’s distant now, and dangerous.”

“It is not the night’s darkness that carries the danger, but Sauron’s,” Elrond answered. “But this night, just like all the others before, shall pass.” Carefully he moved one of his hands from your shoulder up to your cheek, his warmth sending a shiver down your spine, his smooth skin gentle against yours. “Even the darkest night will end and when the stars’ light fades by sunbeams, our hearts will be filled with hope once more.” 

You inhaled deeply, the icy air, the scent of fallen leaves and the warmth of Elrond’s hand at your cheek before you looked up at him.

“It seems impossible,” you denied. “Like I’m suffocating in the dark.”

“You won’t, I won’t let you,” Elrond promised, taking a step closer and resting his forehead against yours. He was warm and alive, and it felt like golden light was bleeding from his touch into your heart, lifting the darkness that had wrapped around it. “We will face this night together and welcome the sun again. And we will hold onto each other and defeat whatever darkness lingers in this world. I will not let you despair; this I promise you.”

Tightly closing your eyes at his words, you inhaled shakily and nodded. “I promise, too,” you replied and even though your answer was simple, you knew Elrond understood how important the words’ meaning was.

For a few more moments he held you there, forehead to forehead, breath condensing to mist between your bodies, but eventually he drew back.

“Let’s have some of the Lembas and the fruit,” he suggested, rubbing his thumb over your cheek as if to rub life back into your skin, or to chase away the heat that had begun rising at the proximity, you could not be sure. 

Settling down on the frozen ground, leaning against a fallen tree, Elrond unpacked the provisions, handing you some of them before scooting so close that eventually his side was pressed against yours. With a reassuring smile he wrapped his cloak around the two of you, warmth beginning to chase out the cold and as you rested your head against his shoulder, feeling him lean his cheek against your hair, both of you watching the stars slowly move over the sky while eating the sweet, dried fruit, you suddenly felt as if Elrond was right; the night would not last forever.

[sophsstarsxm]

I wrote to you

1950s AU you father forced you to leave Ellie. Now a month before your wedding you stand at her door step.

Content: Homophobia, use of Y/n, story takes place a little after ww2, lmk if i missed anything!!

so inspired by the notebook.

wc: 681

Masterlist here!!!

It had been two years since you’ve seen Ellie. Ever since your father found out that you and Ellie had been more than just “best friends” he sent you away to the Hamptons and made you spend every day volunteering at the local church for three months, that was until you met Dan. Daniel had served time in the war and was persistent on taking you out to dinner. You liked Dan but something was missing, he wasn’t her. Your father was more than pleased to hear about Daniel and even more pleased to hear about his inheritance you and him will be getting once he marries. Now you’re laying in bed, in the middle of the night. It’s a month before the big wedding but you just can’t shake the awful feeling you have. You should be happy, I mean your father is getting what he wants and will finally look you in the eyes again, and you do love Dan so what’s up? what is keeping you from being completely happy? It’s Ellie. it’s always been Ellie. As you lay awake you wonder how she’s doing now, how Joel is, if she still works as a millworker. Somehow, you remembering ellie at 12am, a month before your wedding has led you to drive back down to South Carolina the next morning, and right to Ellie’s front porch. You stood there frozen, not knowing whether to knock or just cower back to your car and drive back to the Hamptons to marry your fiancé. You didn’t have to make a choice as you heard a familiar voice behind you. “y/n?” you spin around to see Ellie covered in dirt wearing a white wife beater and jeans with those boots that used to trail mud everywhere and drive you crazy. “Ellie.” you said, unsure of how to explain why you’re at her door. “This was stupid, i shouldn’t have come” you panicked, stomping your pink little heels down the porch steps and to your car. “hold on now, wait a minute.” Ellie stepped in front of you. “You mean to say you drove all the way down here to say this was stupid and leave?” you stood there, dumbfounded. You weren’t sure how to respond so you just stood there, tail between your legs. Ellie took a few steps towards you “i don’t hear from you for two years and you just come down here out of the blue?” Ellie says. You furrow your brows “I didn’t write to you because you didn’t write to me, Ellie” You said, voice strong but your eyes said something different by the way tears were threatening to spill from them. “i wrote to you, everyday, for a year” Ellie said, holding eye contact. She wrote to you? You had checked your mailbox every morning, even on Sundays when the post office was closed and still nothing. Ellie had noticed your fragile state and asked you to sit down on the porch steps to talk, and you did. you talked about how mad your father was when he found out, how you had to leave without saying goodbye. You talked about Daniel and showed Ellie the shinny large diamond on your left hand. But most of all, you told her why you came back, and why she’s been plaguing you the most these past nights. “Wow you, uh, you really got your life planned out huh?” Ellie said. The corner of your lips twist up but not at her comment rather more on hearing her speak “Yeah, i do” Ellie stared at you for a moment, her hand playing with her pinky finger like she usually does when she’s nervous. Suddenly she dropped her fingers and pulled you in for a hug. “i’m proud” was all she said. Her touch brought a sense of familiarity and clarity that dug inside you, woven deep into your heart and the skin of your soul. You didn’t know it then that she would consume your every waking hour again and you’ll let her.

[booteddaily]

Dan is joining me for the day. Corporate life returns. There is a definite chill in the air. Leather weather is soon upon us. 🖤 These Dan Post boots are a love 'em or hate 'em pair. I'm going to focus on the love part. 😉 You all make it a great day, bootmen.

[leathercowboybikerpunk]

[caesium-55]

—everything is orange. [ ii ]

pairing: lando norris x kpop idol! reader

summary: a racecar driver who needed a fake girlfriend to dispel rumors and a kpop idol who needed publicity for her song. somewhere in between orange cars and orange sunsets, stands something they're afraid of naming.

warning/s: graphic description of blood and gore, body insecurity, lando might be a lil ooc

masterlist.

God bless Jinnie Jo and her overly prepared self because you thought you’d die when you got attacked by the damn shellfish allergy in the car on the way to the hotel. It's fortunate that Jinnie happens to carry around your allergy meds. You dry-swallow the tablets without hesitation, uttering your thanks to Jinnie.

“Song Dan-ssi gave me a list of your allergy meds before we left,” Jinnie tells you. Warmth floods your chest. Manager-nim may be in another country but he never fails to take care of you. You're definitely going to buy something for Manager-nim when you return to Seoul. A jacket perhaps?

The first thing you do the moment you enter your hotel room is kick your boots off, take a warm shower, and reunite with the love of your life—the bed. The mattress swallows you whole and you let out a content sigh as you allow your body to sink in it. Not even ten minutes later, you grab your bag, which you have haphazardly thrown on the bed, take out your phone, and open the X app. You type Lando’s name in the search box.

username1: i am disgusted by the people who still support lando norris like yall really support a man who got a girl pregnant and refusing to take responsibility? i just know mclaren is lying when they said he's not the father

username2: justice for the girl that lando norris got pregnant! he should be kicked out of mclaren!

username3: that girl lucky bc her baby daddy is THE lando norris. she should tell us how he fucks in great detail

You cringe. Your fingers tap the three buttons at the upper right corner and without hesitation, pressing report. You continue to scroll down the tweets, reading them one by one as the clock ticks.

username4: what lie will mclaren tell again to protect little lando norris?

Your phone pings. A notification bar appears on the upper portion of your phone screen. You have received a message. You stop reading the tweet and open your messages app.

unknown number: hey

unknown number: this is lando

unknown number: your boyfriend?

unknown number: the fake one

You immediately save his number in your contacts. You name him Lando Norris.

you: hey there

you: do i just call you lando or

lando: you can call me baby

You snigger at his flirting attempt. Ten points for trying, Lando Norris.

you: okay baby

lando: 😳

lando: okay

lando: we agreed on hard launching each other in socmed right?

you: yah

lando: i kinda don't have a picture of you?

lando: pr told me to ask you if you can send me one

lando: i’ll send you one too

you: i have an idea

you: put me on your story

lando: yeah im planning to do exactly that

lando: have you been listening to what we talked about earlier in the meeting?

you: then delete it after a few mins

lando: wait why

you: make it look like you did it on accident

Your first mistake in your first PR relationship with another idol is that you immediately hard-launched each other on Instagram after Dispatch released his pictures kissing a guy in a bar. People got skeptical and most of them called out your relationship as a PR stunt. They called you a cover up, which you were, but they weren't supposed to know that.

You're not going to make the same mistake twice.

lando: and this will work?

you: let's not shake the confidence i have

lando: 😂

you: people are already expecting mclaren to set a pr stunt so you can gain the public’s hearts back

you: u have to make yourself look like you never needed a pr stunt in the first place, that you’re not trying to win the public back

you: people will catch up if you suddenly post that you have a girlfriend in the middle of your hot issue

you: netizens are quickwitted theyre not as dumb as most of us think

You hope you're explaining it well. You're trying to make your point as clear as possible but it's hard. You forgot the other English words you’ve learned.

lando: okay i get ur point

lando: i’ll do what u want

lando: someone has to tell pr what u planned though

lando: it's not going to be me

Fuck the PR. You're not going to tell them and let them have a field day tomorrow. That's what they get for expecting you to sign that stupid first contract they made.

You open your camera app and take a quick selfie.

No. Your nose looks too big at that angle.

Again.

Now, your forehead looks like an airport.

Again.

Your teeth are showing. The coffee stains are visible.

Again.

Again.

Again.

you: *sent a photo*

lando: i

lando: help me with the caption? my braincells flew off

you: idk not good at captions

you: just say hello loml or smth

This is the story you want to tell:

You met Lando a year after you departed from ORACLE in Australia.

You have a mutual friend—named Tori Allen—who introduced you to one another. Tori Allen does not exist. She's just the fictional side character of your love story.

You started out as friends. Lando is freshly out from a breakup and you’re just trying to live a quiet life after your fall from grace.

You talked for months because of your mutual interest in cars. Eventually, you started going on casual dates.

You asked Lando to keep it secret. He said yes in respect to you. HAN Entertainment already released a press statement regarding your mental health status after the 2021 incident so the public would assume that this was the reason why.

The relationship turned serious three months before Lando’s scandal.

Lando never got the girl pregnant. He never touched that girl. He was loyal to you.

Jinnie almost breaks down the door the next morning. You open it before she can do so. She angrily stomps inside your room and you close the door behind her. Her face is red, her expression taut.

“It's seven,” your eyebrows crease together. You make a quick glance at the phone in your hand. 7:22, the clock in your lockscreen projects. “You told me we are supposed to meet at twelve.”

“McLaren PR called me up,” Jinnie informs you. You’re beginning to get an idea where this conversation is going. “You didn't do what we agreed on.”

“And what did we agree on?” you cross your arms over your chest. You flutter your eyelashes innocently at her.

“That you’re going to choose photos to post on each of your accounts and let PR handle the captions. Norris posted something immediately without PR checking it and deleted it!”

“Did he tell you that it was my idea?”

“No, but I know that it was and it turns out I’m right. You just confirmed it.”

“Did it work?” you question.

“I can't with you!” she throws her hands up in the air, frustrated. “We are supposed to follow orders!”

“No,” you say. “You are supposed to follow orders. That's what Yoon PD-nim told you. He told me to do what I believed was best.”

You open X. Lando’s name is at the top of the trending list. You press his name and read through the tweets that appeared.

username5: LANDO NORRIS WHAT IS THIS BEHAVIOR

username6: EVERYONE HERE ARE THE RECEIPTS *screenshot*

username7: is this what you call the freudian slip lol

username8: I AM NOT CRAZY GUYS LANDO ACCIDENTALLY STORIED HIS GF IN HIS PUBLIC ACC

username9: he deleted it so quick too 😭 im sure the man panicked

username10: HE CHEATED ON HIS GF AND GOT A GIRL PREGNANT??!?

username11: for all we know he didn't even bang that girl 🤷 his girlfriend’s pretty hot he’s definitely not cheating on her

username10: men cheat on their pretty wives and girlfriends all the time

username12: not lando norris that man’s in love LOVE can u see his caption

username13: the caption??? lando’s pretty smooth with his words

username14: he’s taking smooth operator lessons from carlos

username15: im crazy but what if this is just a pr stunt 🤔

username16: girl he won't delete the story in a panic if it's a pr stunt

username17: he was definitely going to post it in his priv and made a mistake 😭

username18: very lando of him

username17: he stronger than me bc if my girlfriend was that pretty, her face will be flooding my instagram

username19: ignore lando, his girl tho 😳

username20: he called her loml omgggg

username21: booo luisa’s prettier

username22: fok off and move on

username23: lando can you fight? meet me at the kfc parking lot and let's fight

username24: probably not but he can run you over with his car

username25: i swear ive seen that girl before i just cant pinpoint where

username26: IT'S [NAME] EX MEMBER OF ORACLE WE HAVENT SEEN HER SINCE 2021

username27: so he bagged a kpop girlie??? lando got game dayummm

username28: isn't [name] an illegal street racer? that's why she got kicked out of the group right?

username29: an f1 racer and a street racer couple 😳 omg what in booktok is this

username30: she's not a streetracer she only watched the street race

username28: she told you that herself?

username30: her company did

username31: THEY CANT BE DATING OMG LANDO YOU CAN DO BETTER SHE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE A WAG

username32: and u think ur better than her?

“It's working,” you state. You turn to Jinnie, raising your phone in the air and waving it. A smug smirk spreads to your lips. “It's working.”

Nobody is doubting the relationship like the time with Minhyung. This is a good start. Now, onto the next part.

“So are we really going to keep having lunch dates until your race?” you poke the shrimp on the plate with your fork. You're having pasta again. In the same place, too. It sucks but you swallow the food and smile as if you’re enjoying the meal.

For today's outfit, Jinnie chose a Valentino Garavani black midi dress paired with Jimmy Choo Antia leather sandals. Lando matched your outfit with a black silk button up and off-white pants. You’re both playing the “looking like a couple” card well.

“I believe so,” Lando says. You mentally count the days of the calendar in your head. The FP1 is scheduled to begin in two days. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask….”

“Hm?”

“The team didn't scold you a lot, did they?”

“They didn’t,” you give him a tight smile. Did he worry? For you? That's very sweet of him. “Why would they? My plan went great.”

Lando nods, “It did. You’re good at this.”

You smile at his compliment, shrugging a shoulder. I’m supposed to be good at this. I have no other choice.

“Let's show them our story,” you say. “Show, not tell. People are more inclined to believe actions rather than words. Show them the story we want them to know and we don't answer their questions early so we can keep the attention and the curiosity on us. Once the timing is right, you answer their questions, one by one. This is risky because if we don't act right, we’re done….”

You set the fork down and finally stop terrorizing the poor shrimp. It's completely obliterated now.

“But I believe we can act right,” honesty bleeds through your words. “You're lovable and you already act like a sweet boyfriend without trying.”

Lando purses his lips and averts his gaze. You see pink dusting his cheeks.

“I try.”

“Nice try,” your words come out dry. You give him a thumbs-up. “Also, I’m full.”

“You only ate half your plate,” Lando points out.

“The portion is too big. I’m a light eater.”

HAN Entertainment is partly to blame for that. You got accustomed to their extreme diets and small meal portions that you cannot even eat more than a small bowl of rice.

“Do you not like the food?” he asks, concerned.

You don’t answer the question. Instead, you lace your fingers together and rest your chin on them, leaning slightly forward.

“I have another plan. Wanna hear it?”

You still don't like having attention to yourself. The feeling of having eyes watching your every move, waiting for you to make a mistake still terrifies you. But attention, the right kind especially, is a weapon. You need a weapon to fight this war. A war to build your career again.

“Keep them on their toes,” the instructor of your PR training class once said. “Give them what they want piece by piece, just enough to keep them wanting more, but never give them everything.”

Until now, you still abide by her teachings. God bless Kim Gaon-ssi and her big brain, wherever she is now. She resigned from HAN entertainment a year ago.

It's been a few days since Lando pulled that stunt in his Instagram story and yet, the attention you're receiving from the fans is not simmering down. You didn't expect anyone to be this involved or curious about a driver's love life but here everyone was.

You wake up at seven and then proceed to spend an hour on your phone while lying in bed to push all the sleepiness away from your system. You leave your bed at nine, change out of your sleeping wear, perform a whole morning ritual inside the bathroom, and by eleven, you send Jinnie a message to get brunch and invite her to eat together inside the privacy of your hotel room. She arrives after fifteen minutes with hotel service food. You eat until twelve thirty and after eating, you begin to get ready.

The free practice session is at 5:30 PM. You can afford a bit more time to get ready so you shower again. It took you nearly two hours. In the meantime, Jinnie prepares your clothes.

You mentally thank the heavens when you see trousers neatly folded on your bed. If Jinnie forces you to wear dresses again, you’re going to lose it. You're conscious of how big your thighs look. You don't even have a thigh gap. Big thighs, small ankles, and muscular calves. They're just a few of your numerous bodily insecurities.

Jinnie pairs the Moon Choi black back pocket trousers with a Dior Toile de Jouy Sauvage silk top. For the shoes, she chooses a pair of white Fila chunky sneakers. She helps you apply your makeup and fix your hair. To finish the look, you grab your black cross body bag, smart watch, sunglasses, and a black ball cap.

Jinnie snatches the ball cap from your hands and replaces it with a McLaren ball cap. A tacky orange with the number four. You raise your brow at her. She gives you a pointed look, a look that says: don’t even try to protest. You sigh, resigned, and pull it onto your head.

She scans your appearance, dragging her coal eyes from the top of your head to your toes. She huffs, satisfied.

“You look perfect.”

Perfect is the goal.

Jinnie drives you to the race venue. She drops you off at the parking lot. She's not happy with it. Jinnie wanted to come. You told her no. You can handle this little act alone. You don’t see an ex-idol with a manager, do you?

The moment you exit the car, you slip on your mask. Figuratively and literally. You tip your ball cap upwards to scan your surroundings, searching for the way in. You carry your phone in your right hand and your paddock pass in the left. Lando gave it to you during dinner yesterday.

A racing event is crowded with people. That's a given. Perhaps not as crowded as a concert but still crowded nonetheless. A stage will not separate you from the people nor a barricade. Unfortunately. You have no bodyguard, no manager, no HAN Entertainment staff.

You're not here as ORACLE’s [Name] but as Lando Norris’ girlfriend.

Your feet lead you to a path where there are less people. You message Lando that you’ve arrived. He replies in a matter of seconds.

lando: ill come and get you

lando: wait for me

You remove your cap, fix your hair, before pulling the cap on. You spot a man with a Nikon DSLR standing a good distance. He is wearing a cord around his neck. The word MEDIA is printed in bold white letters. Your lips curl a little underneath your face mask.

It is show time.

During your trainee years, acting classes are mandatory. You know the basics. You're confident that you're good at acting. If you weren't, the company wouldn't have pushed you to act in two dramas as a side character during your rookie years. You received a reward for your performances, too.

To look lost, you have to keep glancing around you as if you’re contemplating which way to go. You have to look unsure of your actions. Hesitant. You have to constantly look at your phone as if you’re reading directions in it or texting someone to tell you where you should be going. You have to scratch your nape a few times to express nervousness. You're in a place you don’t know, it’s natural to be nervous.

Someone is bound to approach you and help you. When they do, you remove the cap but not the mask and then hope they know who you are. When they don't, well…. that's a problem for future you. You haven't thought that far.

“Hi, excuse me, do you need help?”

You perk up. Orange fills your view. A group of four girls have approached you and they all wear twinning McLaren merch. You can see that three of them sport the number four in their shirts, Lando’s race number. You involuntarily swallow.

There was a case once where a rookie actress got beaten up by her idol boyfriend’s fans promptly after the release of their dating news. Fans can be so jealous to the point of violence. It's a toxic fan culture. That's why so many Kpop idols resort to keeping their relationships private and secret. You hope you won’t get beaten up.

But also, given that they’re McLaren and Lando fans, there is a high possibility that they’ll recognize you. Which is exactly what you wanted. So you push that stupid fear aside and keep the show going.

“Hi, uh,” you remove your cap and lower your face mask until it's bunched up below your nose. “I’m kind of…lost? Do you know the way to the, uh…”

You forget what it's called. McLaren garage? You don't remember the exact word Lando used. You're still not confident that you know the difference between a paddock, a garage, and a livery.

“Wait, I know you!”

You purposely widen your eyes.

“You’re Lando’s girlfriend!”

You smile sheepishly, scratching your cheek with your finger.

The girls break out into loud and high-pitched squeals. Their voices are so shrill that you cannot help but wince. You motion for them to quiet down. Inwardly, you want them to keep being loud. Loud enough to warrant the attention of the photographer, your target.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, we absolutely have to take a selfie!”

You barely understand her rapid spitfire of words until she takes out her phone. Panic instantly swells within you.

This is not the plan. You only wanted one person to take the necessary picture. Not this.

You hastily slap your hand over the lower half of your face. You stagger backwards and stumble against a sturdy wall. Your hands fly out to your sides as you feel yourself lose your balance. Two hands grip your shoulders and you hear a surprised woah! from behind you. You lift your head.

It's not a wall. It's Lando.

His beautiful, beautiful eyes gaze down at you. The colors look lighter under the sun. His thick brows are furrowed together, his forehead creasing.

Lando spins you around so you're face-to-face with his hard chest. You squint at the multiple logos printed on the long-sleeves he’s wearing. Is this what he wears when he races? He swiftly takes the McLaren ball cap off your hand and puts it on your head. His hand remains tenderly flat on your shoulder blade, the other lays on your cheek as if he's trying to cover your face. You tug your face mask up and rub your throat.

“Hi,” Lando greets the girls sweetly. This causes the eruption of another wave of high-pitched squeals. “I’m sorry but do you mind if we keep the cameras away? Our relationship isn't out and as much as possible, we’d like to keep it that way. Can we respect my girl’s privacy please?”

He sounds exactly like a male lead in a romance Kdrama. You know it's fake, that the both of you are playing roles, but his words and the way he delivers them so effortlessly makes you momentarily doubt if he's really acting. It causes a butterfly to flutter in your stomach and your pulse to steadily accelerate. His hands are large and warm and for a moment, it makes you wonder if this is what security feels like. If this is what it feels like to be loved.

Then, you get reminded that it is all an act.

How can actors not fall in love with their co-actors when acting can feel this real at times?

“Thank you,” you hear Lando say. You miss the previous parts of the conversation because of the thoughts that invaded your mind.

“You look so cute together, oh my god. I’m going to die,” the fangirl adds. Lando’s chest vibrates as he chuckles, the sound deep and warm.

“We need to go, sorry. Enjoy the race today.”

He taps his thumb against your shoulder blade and he starts walking, his hands not detaching themselves from your skin. You keep your head low as Lando guides you away. In your peripheral vision, you see the photographer’s camera pointed towards the two of you. A self-satisfied smirk plays on your lips.

“How did I do?” Lando asks the moment he removes his helmet. He is sporting a bright grin, so bright that you're sure it’s going to make the sun envious, as his fingers comb through his damp curly hair. A few stray strands are stuck on his sweaty forehead. You feel the urge to sweep them aside for him.

You search through your mental thesaurus for the synonyms of the word amazing and have chosen: “Impressive.”

Light beads of sweat trickle down his face and neck. A McLaren staff member comes and hands him a towel to wipe them off. Lando thanks her and she leaves. He thrusts the towel towards you. You blink in confusion.

“Will you do the honors?”

“Can't you do it yourself?”

“But you have to play the part of a sweet girlfriend, am I right or am I right?” You roll your eyes at his cheekiness, rising to a stand. You place the McLaren jacket in your hands on your chair. Lando handed it to you before he climbed into the car. You don't know the reason behind his action. Nevertheless, you held the jacket for him.

You take the towel from his hands, your fingers grazing with his. Lando’s smile threatens to split in half as he puts his hands behind his back, parts his legs a little, and then bends down so you won't have a difficult time wiping his sweat for him. You're not that much shorter than him and your height difference is perfectly reasonable and comfortable but you're still grateful that he's doing this for you.

You don't wipe his sweat. Instead, you pat them out. Patting is gentle on skin. The towel will simply absorb the sweat on his skin. Rubbing the skin can lead to skin irritation and inflammation. Lando’s eyes flutter close at your actions and you swear you see him leaning against your hand.

“You raced good today,” you praise him.

You have zero idea on what happened in the past hour. The cars went around in circles. Then, they time their laps. They’re not even racing each other. You thought they would.

In all honesty, you think the entire thing is a bore. The street races you went to when you were a teen were more fun. A minimum of three drivers gets injured every race and it's highly likely someone ends up dead, which is your messed-up definition of the word fun.

You’re more interested in the special guest who decided to grace the track with its great reptile presence. A dinosaur. Kidding, it's just a lizard. It looks like it was surveying the scene and strategizing a great dinosaur invasion.

Lando's chest swells, “Well, I have to impress my girl.”

He opens his eyes and they meet yours. They're twinkling with mirth.

“Color me impressed then.” Despite your words, your tone is unimpressed.

He smiles impossibly wider, now showing his full set of pearly white teeth. He bites his bottom lip. You stop patting his sweat and lower your hand to the side.

“You don't have any more races tonight?” you question. Lando straightens.

“Later at 9 PM.”

“That's quite late.”

“It is?” Lando’s head tilts to the side a little. “Do you sleep early?”

You hardly sleep at all. You have a hard time maintaining regular human sleeping and waking hours. Like the other half of the world population.

“That's not it,” you shake your head. “I kind of just expected that the next practice session would be tomorrow morning.”

“Singapore usually holds night races. Track temperatures are low and the organizers can broadcast the race during peak viewing hours in European time,” Lando explains. “And they hold two practice races a day because it only lasts an hour.”

“That makes sense.”

“Are you hungry?” Lando questions, smoothly redirecting the conversation to food.

“I could eat.” You're not particularly hungry. You're not full either.

“I know a good place that sells these amazing wraps.”

Wraps sound enticing. You can't remember the last time you've eaten one.

“Lead the way.”

You chew on your beef wrap slowly as your eyes focus on the screen of your phone. The voices of the sports announcers live broadcasting the ongoing race fill Lando’s driver room. After buying the wrap, he brought you to his driver room so you can enjoy the privacy as you ate. You appreciate the thoughtfulness. You don't think you can eat outside. So many people can see you.

username33: LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS I AM GOING FERAL

username34: HOLUP LANDO'S GIRL WAS IN THE PADDOCK??? ON THE DAY I DECIDED NOT TO GO?? EVJSNSVSISKS

username35: girlie was hiding 😭 she deliberately went through the back of the paddock so no one can see her going to the garage

username36: my friends and i met her today! she looks like she's lost and as fellow mclaren fans, we went to help her and she was so sweet omg and so so shy too. we tried to take a pic with her but lando arrived and told us to respect his girl’s space

username36: and i quote “do you mind if we keep the cameras away? our relationship isn't out and we’d like to keep it that way. can we respect my girl’s privacy please” WHEN I TELL YOU I MELTED ON THE SPOT

username37: girl he really said that???

username38: i’m her friend and yes he really said that 😭

username39: little lando norris is not so little anymore

username37: pls tell me you backed off immediately

username38: we did!! we kinda feel bad now that we discovered she's been battling anxiety since 2021 and that she doesn't like having photos of her taken

username40: NO BECAUSE THE WAY LANDO IS SO PROTECTIVE OF HER?? THE WAY HE SPUN HER AROUND AND PULLED HER TO HIS CHEST?? THE PROTECTIVE HAND ON HER BACK?? HIM COVERING HER FACE?? WE ALL KNOW [NAME] HASN'T BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE SINCE 2021 BC OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AFTER HER SCANDAL AND LANDO REALLY TRIED TO PROTECT HER

username41: bae i think you forgot that he's also the reason why [name] is gaining attention again bc he accidentally storied her in his insta

username40: that's why i said tried bestie

username42: i cant believe im crying over this LANDO NORRIS U BETTER TREAT OUR GIRL [NAME] RIGHT

username43: im waiting for @hanentertainmentofficial to say smth

username44: girlie’s career flopped and now she's leeching off lando’s money smh 🙄

username45: bestie she never needed his money she’s already rich from being an idol

username44: correction ex kpop idol, her money’s probably already running out

username45: bestie she's still richer than you while you're 14 (your bio says your 14) and still living with your parents

username46: AND THAT'S VERY SLAY OF HER,, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A RICH MAN TO LOOK AT YOU

username47: that girl who claimed that lando is her baby daddy is suspiciously quiet rn

You turn your phone off and toss it inside your cross body bag. A sigh flies past your lips as you lean against the back of the couch, setting your unfinished wrap down. Your eyes flutter close. They're beginning to sting. Too much reading.

Sleep latches its claws on you and you allow it to take you.

You stand in darkness, allowing the deafening silence to swallow you whole. Suddenly, a thousand eyes appear. Unblinking. Bloodshot. They're bulging out of their sockets. In unison, the eyeballs move and lock on your figure. Judging. Judging. Judging. Your body trembles at the weight of a thousand gazes. You can’t breathe. You can't speak.

Please stop looking at me.

Please.

I’m begging you.

Stop.

The eyes slowly became bigger and bigger. Then, they disappear. You let out a shaky exhale. You turn around and the world becomes a blinding white.

Cameras. Thousands. No, millions of them. The loud clicking noise fills your ears. Your hands stretch in front of you, trying to cover your face and your body from them. You can only squeeze your eyes shut.

Silence.

The scene changes.

You register the feeling of sand getting stuck in between your toes. Your eyes slowly flutter open. The overcast skyline and the rising tides, the telltale ingredients of a brewing storm over the horizon, can be spectated from the shore. You recognize this place. This was a place you swore you're never going to step foot again.

Jeju.

You hear your mother’s gentle voice whisper your name behind you, causing goosebumps rise on your skin and your entire body to stiffen. It's not the name you own now, but the name you were born with, the name she gave you, the name you lost when you moved to Seoul.

She calls your name again. Again. Again. And again. You ignore every single one.

She stops.

You slowly turn around and you see your mother standing there, a few steps away, barefoot like you and wearing a dress. You remember this dress. She wore it when she was pregnant with you. She keeps the photo in her wallet.

No Eun Ha looks as beautiful as she was in your childhood memories. You greatly resemble her. The eyes most especially. That's why looking at mirrors feels more like a punishment to you more than anything else.

The word “Eomma” rots inside your mouth.

Your Eomma smiles at you. It's empty, her smile. When she smiles, they never reach her eyes. That's the way it has always been. For a second, you consider apologizing.

Eomma, I’m sorry that you have to raise a child you didn’t want. I’m sorry for stealing the light in your eyes.

You don't grow the courage to say it out loud.

No Eun Ha remains smiling. You notice that the edges of her lips curl higher and higher until the smile begins to look unsettling and sinister. Then you see the skin on her cheek tear apart as her smile grows and grows. Blood drips down slowly to her neck and stains the top part of her dress. She opens her mouth into an inhumane size and you see a thousand razor-sharp teeth lining up inside it. Everything is a gory red.

You scream in absolute terror.

She says your name again, her voice this time is not as gentle as you remember.

You wake up screaming and in cold sweat. You fall from your bed and onto the floor on all fours and begin vomiting your guts out. Nothing comes up. Only saliva. You break into pathetic sobs on the floor. Terror is a familiar feeling but you will never ever get used to it.

You don't know how many hours have passed. The floor used to feel cool against your skin but now, it's never been warmer. You still don't possess the strength to leave the floor. Your body feels as if it's being anchored down giant stones.

You're exhausted. You’ve done nothing but you feel exhausted.

You want to run.

You want to run away from this pain and exhaustion.

You need a life where you're no longer exhausted.

Desperately.

A sudden shriek interrupts the silence that wraps the air. A woman's. You don't even flinch. You know it’s just Jinnie. She's the only one who has access to another keycard of your hotel room.

When Lando’s panicking face comes into view, you are shocked. So shocked that you involuntarily raise your arms and accidentally hit him below his jaw. He stumbles backwards, not expecting the blow. He let out a pained groan, hand clutching the area you hit. You quickly rise to your feet, a thousand apologies already on the tip of your tongue. This action, however, triggers a wave of vertigo. Your vision blackens temporarily, your knees giving out at your own weight. Reflexively, you grab hold of the nearest thing beside you, the mattress to soften your fall, before your shaking knees meet the floor.

“[Name]!” Lando’s voice is so loud, you flinch.

When your vision returns, his face is the first thing you see.

“Good morning,” your voice is flat and rough.

Lando hisses and his large hands cradle your cheeks. You're suddenly made aware of how large his hands are. They can cover your entire face with how big they are.

“You're pale,” his voice wobbles. “Shit.”

You want to pass out again. His hands feel so, so comfortable and so, so warm that you want to sleep with this feeling.

“Hey, hey, don't close your eyes. [Name]—” Lando hands move swiftly. One second he’s holding your face. The next second he’s lifting you up in his arms. “Jinnie, call an ambulance!”

The word “ambulance” causes you to wake up. Like really wake up.

Oh, shit.

You struggle in Lando’s arms, “Andwae! No ambulance!”

You pry yourself away from Lando, hopping down to the floor, but the man doesn't retract his hands completely. He still holds onto your forearms to support you as you try to stand.

“No. Just no. I’m fine.”

“[Name]!” Jinnie scolds. She's finally functioning again. She froze in shock when she saw you earlier.

“I’m fine!” you shout. “I’m fine! Really!”

When you get caught that you're weak, you retaliate.

You grit your teeth and clench your jaw.

“I’m. Fine.”

They don’t believe you. You can see it in their eyes. However, they're not going to argue with you. You know they won't.

“I’m going to shower,” you announce. Lando’s grip on your forearm tightens just as you pivot your heels to head to the bathroom.

“I think it's best if you stay today.”

“We all agreed that I’m going to be in the paddock from the practice sessions until the race night.”

“I’ll tell the PR team that you won't go today.”

Your brows furrow.

“Just… Rest for today, okay?”

You turn quiet. Hesitantly, you nod.

“Thanks.”

He turns to Jinnie and tells her, “Take care of her for me. I’ll visit after the qualifying.”

And like that, Lando Norris leaves the hotel room.