#edit edit: we're so back (the issue was with the video)

[vidduality]

A fan edit for the GLORIOUS EVOLUTION of Viktor (Arcane Season 1 & 2). HOW are these lyrics so perfect? 😭

VIKTOR | JERICHO (REMIX) | ARCANE

UPDATE: This video had to be half muted on YouTube for now in order to keep it public. We are working desperately to be able to resolve & restore the audio, but in the meantime please enjoy this Viktor edit natively here on Tumblr.

UPDATE #2: WE'RE BACK, BABY! Now with an EXTENDED edition! And we finally solved the audio issue. Turns out the filter had a problem with our edit, not the song itself (we'd cut part of the second verse, which was getting it flagged as modifying the OG song). 12 more seconds of glorious evolution!

[mythicalmaven]

Practice makes perfect - Landoscar (ONESHOT)

masterlist

Here is a little extra upload to celebrate me reaching 100 followers! <3 My first Landoscar smut! Couldn't help myself guys! I hope you like it, let me know!

↳pairing: oscar piastri x lando norris ↳word count: 6.4K ↳warnings: smut, 18+ content (MDNI!), handjob (both receiving), oral sex, coming untouched, feelings, fluff, talking about sex, kissing, praising, feelings realization, explicit sexual content, friends to lovers

↳summary: Oscar doesn't now how to seduce a girl & Lando is there to help. Lando is basically offering that Oscar can practice with him, while he teaches him his ways. Whatever they were doing, it wasn't supposed to make Oscar feel the way it did. After all, Lando was only there to help. Yet it evolved their once purely platonic relationship into something deeper.

The first time it happened was race weekend. Oscar lay on the couch in his drivers' room, frustration building as he stared at his phone. With a growl of exasperation, he threw it against the wall, grateful for the indestructible case that protected it.

It took no more than ten seconds before Lando barged into the room, not even bothering to knock. "What the hell happened?"

Oscar groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Nothing, just... I'm so frustrated, man."

Lando raised an eyebrow, taking a seat opposite Oscar. "Frustrated about what?"

Oscar sighed heavily, lifting his head to meet Lando's concerned gaze. "I was scrolling through my feed and stumbled upon this video. Some edited thirst trap of me, saying how hot I am. And it just... it got to me."

Lando frowned. "Why? People think you're hot, that's a good thing, right?"

Oscar huffed, leaning back against the couch. "It is, but it feels like a cruel joke. People can think that way about me, but I can't even get a girl to look at me twice. Meanwhile, you just look at a girl, and she follows you to your bedroom."

Lando chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not as easy as you think, Oscar. But seriously, it shouldn't be that hard for you. What's the issue?"

Oscar ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. "I freeze, Lando. I see a girl, and I can talk to her a little, but when it comes to seducing her, I just... I can't. I get to the point of kissing, but anything more intimate, I freeze up. I'm scared of screwing it up, so I don't even try. But it's driving me insane. I just want to get laid."

Lando's expression softened. "You need to loosen up a bit. Try being sensual, use lingering touches, suggestive words."

Oscar shook his head, looking helpless. "I don't know how to do any of that. I don't know what to say, where to touch. I'm not a virgin; I've had girlfriends before, but one-night stands? I just can't figure it out. I want to be able to seduce someone, to praise her, but I don't know how."

Lando's eyes glinted with a hint of mischief as he leaned closer. "I could help you, teach you a thing or two."

Oscar looked at him, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Lando's smile turned suggestive. "You can practice on me."

Oscar's heart skipped a beat. He hesitated, the idea making his pulse race. "Wouldn't that make things weird? We're teammates."

Lando shrugged. "It's just a way to help a friend out. Nothing more."

Oscar gulped, nerves making his hands tremble. "How are you planning on doing that?"

Lando's smile widened. "I have two ideas. I could show you how I'd seduce a girl and do those things to you, or you could practice on me, and I'll guide you."

The tension in the room thickened as Oscar considered it. The mere idea of Lando touching him that way stirred unexpected arousal within him. Was he even into guys? He'd always found Lando handsome, but he'd never thought of him in that way. He tried to push those thoughts aside.

"Alright," Oscar said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's try it."

Lando's hand moved to Oscar's thigh, squeezing lightly. "We can try both methods, but let's start with a little practice. Pretend I'm someone in a club you're trying to seduce. I'll guide you."

Oscar nodded, his throat dry. Lando's hand crept upwards, inching closer, causing Oscar's breath to hitch. It shouldn't make him feel this way, but it did. Lando's touch was both electrifying and comforting.

"Relax," Lando murmured, his voice low and soothing. "Start with a light touch. Girls like it when you're gentle but confident."

Oscar placed a trembling hand on Lando's arm, trailing his fingers lightly over the fabric of his shirt. The heat of Lando's skin seeped through, making Oscar's pulse quicken.

"Good," Lando said, his eyes darkening with something Oscar couldn't quite place. "Now, try touching my neck. Most girls love that."

Oscar's fingers traced up to Lando's neck, the skin soft and smooth. He could feel Lando's pulse beneath his fingertips, matching the rapid beat of his own heart. He brushed his thumb over the pulse point, and Lando's breath hitched.

"Like this?" Oscar asked, his voice barely audible.

"Exactly," Lando breathed, his eyes half-lidded. "Now, compliment her. Tell her what you like about her."

Oscar's mind raced, struggling to find the right words. "You look... really good," he said, his voice shaky. "I like your eyes."

Lando chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver down Oscar's spine. "Try to sound more confident. Mean it."

Oscar took a deep breath, steadying himself. "You look amazing. Your eyes are captivating."

Lando's hand moved higher up Oscar's thigh, and he bit back a moan. "Better. Then, try kissing her neck. Just lightly."

Oscar hesitated, then leaned in, his lips brushing against Lando's neck. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through him, and he felt Lando's breath catch. He kissed softly, trailing his lips up to Lando's jawline.

"That's it," Lando whispered, his voice rough with arousal. "Keep going."

Oscar's confidence grew with each kiss, his hands exploring Lando's body with increasing boldness. He could feel Lando's arousal mirroring his own, making him bolder. His hand trailed down to Lando's chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart.

Lando's hand moved to Oscar's jeans, palming him gently. Oscar gasped, his hips jerking involuntarily. "How does that feel?" Lando asked, his voice thick with desire.

"Amazing," Oscar managed to say, his voice strained. "It feels really good."

"Tell me what you like," Lando instructed, his hand working Oscar through his jeans.

"I... I like the way you touch me," Oscar said, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "It makes me feel..."

"Feel what?" Lando prompted, his hand squeezing lightly.

"Hot. Aroused," Oscar admitted, a moan escaping his lips. "I like how you look at me, how you make me feel."

Lando smiled, his eyes dark with lust. "Good. Now, let’s take it a step further. Guide my hand, show me what you want."

Oscar's hand trembled as he placed it over Lando's, guiding him to his zipper. The sound of it opening was loud in the quiet room, and Oscar's breath hitched as Lando's hand slipped inside. The warmth and firmness of Lando's hand wrapped around Oscar's hardness, sending a shiver through him.

"Tell me how it feels," Lando whispered, his hand starting to move slowly, teasingly.

"So good," Oscar moaned, his hips bucking into Lando's touch. "It feels so good."

Lando's movements were slow and deliberate, each stroke sending waves of pleasure through Oscar's body. He could feel himself nearing the edge, his control slipping. "Keep talking," Lando urged, his own voice strained with desire.

"You’re so good at this," Oscar managed to say, his voice breaking. "I can’t... I can’t hold back."

"Then don’t," Lando murmured, his lips brushing against Oscar's ear. "Let go, Oscar. I’ve got you."

Oscar bit his lip, trying to hold back the tide of pleasure threatening to overwhelm him. He placed a trembling hand on Lando's wrist, stopping his movements. "Wait," he gasped, his voice hoarse. "Slow down a little, or I’ll come already. I don't want to yet. You need to teach me more."

Lando chuckled softly, a deep, throaty sound that sent a fresh wave of arousal through Oscar. "Alright, let's take it slow." He pulled his hand back slightly, easing the intensity. "While she's touching you like this, you can do things to drive her wild too. Try pulling her hair, kissing her neck, whispering in her ear."

Oscar nodded, his breath coming in short, heavy bursts. He reached up, his fingers tangling in Lando's hair, pulling gently. Lando's sharp intake of breath and the low moan that followed made Oscar's heart race.

"Good," Lando said, his voice rough. "That feels good, Oscar. Keep going."

Oscar's confidence grew with each response from Lando. He leaned in, his lips brushing against Lando's neck, kissing lightly. The feel of Lando's skin under his lips, the taste of salt and musk, was intoxicating. He nibbled gently, earning another moan from Lando.

"You’re doing great," Lando murmured, his own arousal evident. "Now, try whispering something in my ear. Tell me how good I make you feel."

Oscar's breath hitched as he moved closer to Lando's ear. "You make me feel incredible," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I've never felt like this before."

Lando's hand resumed its slow, deliberate movements on Oscar's hardness, drawing out the pleasure with expert precision. "And while you're doing that," Lando said, his voice a seductive purr, "keep touching me. Show me what you want."

Oscar's hand moved down Lando's body, trembling fingers finding the edge of Lando's shirt and slipping underneath, feeling the firm muscles of his abdomen. The sensation was dizzying, his own arousal mirrored in Lando's heavy breathing and darkened eyes.

"Lando," Oscar moaned, his hips bucking into Lando's hand again. "I need... I need more."

Lando's eyes gleamed with a mixture of lust and satisfaction. "Tell me what you need, Oscar. Don't hold back."

"I need you to touch me more," Oscar gasped, his control slipping further with each stroke of Lando's hand. "I need you to make me feel good."

Lando's hand moved with purpose now, each stroke precise and demanding, driving Oscar closer to the edge. Oscar's other hand found its way to Lando's jeans, mirroring Lando's earlier actions, feeling the hardness beneath and squeezing gently.

Lando's groan was deep and resonant, sending a fresh wave of desire through Oscar. "That's it," Lando encouraged, his voice thick. "Touch me like that. Show me what you want."

Oscar's movements became more confident, his hand working Lando's jeans open and slipping inside, finding the heated length of him. The feel of Lando in his hand, the sounds of his pleasure, pushed Oscar closer to the brink.

"Feels so good," Oscar murmured, his own voice raw with need. "You make me feel so good."

Lando's hand sped up, matching the rhythm of Oscar's strokes. The room was filled with the sounds of their heavy breathing, the wet, slick sounds of their arousal. Oscar could feel the tension coiling in his stomach, the pleasure building to an almost unbearable peak.

"Lando, I..." Oscar's words were cut off by a moan as Lando's thumb brushed over the sensitive tip of his length, sending him spiraling.

"Let go," Lando whispered, his lips brushing Oscar's ear again. "Come for me, Oscar. I've got you."

With a final, shuddering cry, Oscar let himself go, the pleasure crashing over him in waves, his release spilling over Lando's hand. Lando's own release followed shortly after, his groan of pleasure mingling with Oscar's moans.

They collapsed against each other, their breathing heavy and uneven, the room filled with the aftermath of their shared pleasure.

"See?" Lando said softly, his hand gently stroking Oscar's back. "You just needed to loosen up a bit."

Oscar nodded, still trying to catch his breath. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely audible.

"Anytime," Lando replied, a smile in his voice. "Anytime."

—————⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺—————

The second time it happened was less than a week later. This time they were lounging together in Lando's hotel room, each a ps5 controller in hand, trying to beat each other in a game of Fifa.

Lando nudged Oscar with his own shoulder "Soooo.. Max mentioned that he saw you making out with a girl last night" he started, sending a cheeky wink his way "Have you tried to use your newly achieved skills?"

Oscar sighs. He did, he tried. Did it work? No. Was it because of the reason Lando expected it to fail? Also no. Was he gonna tell Lando to truth? Absolutely not.

"Yeah, I tried. But I froze" this part was true, he did freeze up the minute he was kissing the girl he met in the club, but not for the reason he expected "I just couldn't do it, you know"

Him failing to seduce the girl this time had nothing to do with the initial problem. It had to do with a certain boy with beautiful curls and captivating eyes. In all honesty, he couldn't stop thinking about Lando ever since he helped him out.

Oscar was conflicted with himself, confused about how he felt. He was at war with himself, trying to convince himself that he wasn't into Lando like that. He couldn't be and he shouldn't be. After all, Lando only helped him out to do him a favor, nothing more, nothing less.

Yet thinking about that curly haired boy was exactly why he failed to seduce the girl, or actually, why he pulled back and came up with a lame excuse as to why he had to go.

*flashback*

Oscar stood in the dimly lit club, the bass of the music thrumming through his body. The atmosphere was electric, filled with people dancing, drinking, and losing themselves in the night. He had decided that tonight he was going to put everything Lando had taught him into action. He had found a girl—blonde, beautiful, and more than willing to make out with him in a secluded corner. As they kissed, Oscar tried to remember all the tips Lando had given him: be confident, use lingering touches, whisper seductive words.

To anyone watching, it looked like Oscar was succeeding. His hands moved over her body with practiced ease, his lips tracing along her neck just as Lando had shown him. But inside, Oscar was a mess. Every touch, every kiss felt wrong. He couldn’t stop thinking about Lando. In his mind, it was Lando he was kissing, Lando he was trying to seduce. The girl’s hands were too soft, too feminine, and they did nothing to arouse him. He hated himself for wishing they were Lando’s hands, rougher and more familiar.

He tried to push the thoughts away, focusing on the girl in front of him. His hand tangled in her long blonde locks, a gesture that normally would have excited him. But tonight, it just felt empty. He couldn’t stop thinking about how it wasn’t Lando’s hair slipping through his fingers. Each moment felt like a betrayal, both to the girl and to himself.

They pulled away from the kiss, and Oscar felt a wave of guilt crash over him. Guilt for how he was feeling about Lando and guilt for leading this girl on. He looked into her eyes, trying to muster some genuine enthusiasm, but all he felt was confusion and regret.

“Do you want to go somewhere more private?” she asked, her voice hopeful and soft.

Oscar swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I… I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said, his voice shaky. “I don’t want to do something I’m not sure about.”

The girl looked slightly disappointed, but her expression quickly softened. “It’s okay,” she said kindly. “I appreciate your honesty. More guys should be like you.”

Oscar forced a smile, relieved and yet more guilt-ridden. “It’s really not about you,” he said sincerely. “You’re beautiful, and you deserve to spend the night with someone who really wants it.”

She smiled warmly, her eyes full of understanding. “Thank you for saying that. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

A thought immediately made its appearance: I'm afraid I already did

With a polite nod, they went their separate ways. Oscar watched her disappear into the crowd, feeling the weight of his guilt settle deeper. He felt guilty for misleading her, and even more guilty for his feelings towards Lando. He shouldn’t feel this way. He couldn’t.

As he walked through the club, the sounds and sights fading into the background, Oscar couldn’t help but think about Lando. No matter how much he tried to deny it, he knew the truth. His feelings for Lando were more than just friendly admiration. And that realization terrified him.

*end of flashback*

"It honestly surprises me how one F1's biggest hotshots isn't able to get with a girl" he chuckled, while scoring a goal in Fifa against Oscar's team "I expected girls to just get on their knees for you without you even having to say a word"

Did he just call Oscar hot? He did, didn't he?

Oscar shrugged "I'm not even that attractive tho" he retorted, speaking in all honesty.

Lando rolled his eyes “Yeah right, and I'm six feet tall,” he objected, shaking his head. “Come on, Osc, look in the mirror. You're handsome as fuck. Don't be so insecure.”

Oscar sighed, trying to distract himself by focusing on the game he was playing. “Whatever,” he muttered, still not really believing what Lando said. “I just don’t know what’s wrong with me, you know? I just can’t do it.”

Lando paused the game and turned to face Oscar, his expression softening. “Maybe you just need more practice,” he suggested. “How about another session? I can show you exactly what I would do if you want.”

Oscar's heart skipped a beat. He barely nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Okay,” he said quietly.

Lando scooted closer, their knees touching. “Alright,” he began, his voice low and soothing. “First, let’s start with the basics.” He placed his hand on Oscar’s thigh, his touch lingering. “When you’re with a girl, it’s important to make her feel wanted. Touch her like this.” His fingers traced slow, deliberate circles on Oscar’s thigh.

Oscar’s breath hitched, his body responding to Lando’s touch in ways he hadn’t expected. Lando continued, his voice a seductive whisper. “Now, when you kiss her neck, don’t just peck. Use your tongue, but gently. Like this.” He leaned in, his lips brushing against Oscar’s neck before planting a soft kiss. “Most girls love it when you kiss their neck. It’s sensitive.”

Oscar shivered, his eyes fluttering shut. He tried to imagine he was with a girl, but all he could think about was Lando. “What else?” he asked, his voice shaky.

“Pull her hair, but gently,” Lando instructed, his hand sliding up to Oscar’s hair. He gave a gentle tug, eliciting a soft moan from Oscar. “See? It’s about being in control, but also being tender.”

Oscar’s mind was spinning. He was aroused, confused, and desperate for more. Lando’s touch was driving him wild. “Lando,” he breathed, “I… I can’t…”

Lando smiled softly, his hand reaching up to cup Oscar’s face with a tenderness that made Oscar’s breath hitch. “It’s okay,” Lando murmured, his voice low and reassuring. “You’re doing great.” He leaned in closer, their lips almost touching, the warmth of his breath mingling with Oscar’s. “When you’re ready to kiss her, make it count. The way you use your hands, the way you use your tongue… it can make a world of difference.” His eyes locked with Oscar’s, a glint of mischief and confidence in his gaze. “Can I show you what I mean?”

Oscar, heart racing, could barely manage a whisper. “Yes.”

Lando closed the distance, his lips brushing softly against Oscar’s in a kiss that was both gentle and teasing. The initial contact was light, just a whisper of sensation that sent shivers down Oscar’s spine. Lando’s lips moved with deliberate, slow caresses, exploring the contours of Oscar’s mouth with a finesse that was both sensual and instructive. He traced the shape of Oscar’s lips with his own, occasionally grazing them with the tip of his tongue, sending jolts of warmth and anticipation through Oscar’s body.

Lando’s hand slid behind Oscar’s neck, fingers splayed as he pulled him closer. The intimacy of the touch made Oscar feel like he was floating, his heart pounding so fiercely it felt almost painful. Lando’s tongue danced against Oscar’s in a languid, practiced rhythm, coaxing and teasing with an expert touch. It was a kiss that spoke of patience and precision, drawing out the nuances of every movement, every flutter of the tongue.

When Lando finally pulled back slightly, his lips still hovering near Oscar’s, he met his gaze with a playful glint. “See, the key is to start off gentle, to let the kiss build up. It helps you gauge how she responds, and it makes the moment feel more intense when you decide to deepen it.”

Oscar’s eyes were wide, his breath ragged from the previous kiss. “It felt… incredible.”

Lando’s smile widened as he leaned in again, this time with a more intense purpose. “But you can also kiss her like this.” His lips captured Oscar’s once more, but this time with a fervor that was anything but restrained. The kiss was fiery and unrelenting, every touch of Lando’s tongue bold and demanding. He explored the inside of Oscar’s mouth with an urgent passion, as if trying to consume him with the intensity of the moment.

Oscar’s response was immediate and visceral. He moaned softly into the kiss, the sound muffled but filled with a raw, breathless need. His hands tightened on Lando’s shoulders, his body pressing closer, overwhelmed by the sensation. The kiss was a whirlwind of heat and sensation that left Oscar gasping, his mind momentarily blank as he tried to keep up with the intoxicating rhythm.

When Lando finally pulled away, his eyes were dark with satisfaction. “That’s the kind of kiss that leaves a mark, something she’ll remember. It’s not just about technique—it’s about making her feel every bit of passion you’ve got.”

Oscar was breathless, his lips tingling and his chest rising and falling rapidly. The kiss had left him reeling, his emotions a tangled mess of excitement and confusion. He looked at Lando, still trying to process the overwhelming rush of feelings.

Lando chuckled softly, his thumb brushing across Oscar’s flushed cheek, his lips grazing Oscar’s as he spoke. “Touch me,” he instructed. “It makes it easier for me to show you how to praise a girl"

Oscar hesitated for a moment before his hands started to explore Lando’s body, sliding under his shirt to feel the warmth of his skin. “Your hands feel so good, Osc” he murmured, his voice trembling.

Lando's hand moved to palm Oscar through his jeans, causing him to gasp. “See how good that feels?” Lando whispered. “Tell her that you love the way she's responding to you. Tell her how much you like it.” He pressed his palm more firmly, eliciting a louder moan from Oscar.

“Lando… I need… I can’t…” Oscar stuttered, his body trembling with arousal, still trying to fight against the feelings he developed for his teammate.

Lando smiled, his hand continuing its slow, torturous movements. “You can, Osc. You’re doing amazing. Just let it happen.” He leaned in to kiss Oscar’s neck again, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. “It’s all about making her feel desired, cherished.”

Oscar’s moans grew louder, his body arching into Lando’s touch. “Lando, please… I…”

“Do you want me to stop?” Lando asked, his voice husky.

“No, just… slow down a bit,” Oscar pleaded. “I don’t want to come in my pants like a fucking teenager”

Lando chuckled softly, his hand slowing its movements. “Alright, we can take our time.” He guided Oscar’s hand to his own crotch. “Touch me now, Oscar. Show me what you’ve learned.”

Oscar’s hand trembled as he began to touch Lando through his jeans. The sounds Lando made in response sent shivers down Oscar’s spine. “You’re doing great,” Lando praised, his voice breathless. “Tell her how much you want her.”

Oscar tried to form coherent sentences, but all that came out were stuttered words and moans. “You feel… so good, Lando. I want… I need…”

Lando took Oscar’s hands and gently slid them under the hem of his shirt, guiding them to his back. “Feel my back with your fingers, Osc,” he murmured, his voice a blend of encouragement and intimacy. “I love it when someone touches my back like that. It’s like a spark of connection, you know?” He paused, a hint of color rising to his cheeks as he realized his slip. With a sheepish grin, he added, “Uh, but yeah, you can definitely use the same touch on her too.”

Oscar’s fingers glided over Lando’s back, tracing the firm muscles beneath his shirt. As he explored, a smile spread across his face, touched by the unexpected intimacy of the moment. He couldn’t help but let out a soft, appreciative moan, both from the sensation and Lando’s accidental confession.

His eyes met Lando’s with a mix of gratitude and playfulness. “You know,” Oscar said, his voice warm and sincere, “you deserve to enjoy this as much as I do. After all, you’re the one helping me figure all this out.”

He continued his gentle exploration, his touch lingering as he enjoyed the closeness and the subtle shift in their dynamic. The connection between them felt deeper, a shared understanding making the moment all the more special.

Lando’s hand slipped into Oscar’s boxers, his touch deliberate and confident as he wrapped around him firmly. The sensation of Lando’s warm fingers gripping him sent shivers through Oscar’s body, heightening the intensity of his pleasure.

“You’re so vocal, Oscar,” Lando said, his voice a low purr of satisfaction. “That’s good. Girls love hearing how much they’re pleasing you.” He began to move his hand with a slow, deliberate rhythm, each stroke methodical and teasing. He varied the pressure, alternating between light caresses and firmer grips, making sure to focus on every sensitive area with precision "Do you like having my hands on you? Tell me how it feels, Osc"

Oscar’s breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, his body trembling with each calculated stroke. “Feels… amazing,” he managed to gasp out, his voice trembling. “So good…”

Lando’s other hand moved up to tangle gently in Oscar’s hair, his fingers brushing softly against his scalp as he pulled him closer. “You’re so beautiful like this,” he murmured, his voice husky with admiration. “So responsive. It’s hot, Oscar.”

The praise and the careful, attentive touch only heightened Oscar’s sensations. His moans grew louder, each one escaping his lips in a desperate, breathless rush. Lando’s hand moved with a practiced rhythm, his strokes growing increasingly intense as he built Oscar closer to the edge. He varied the speed, sometimes dragging his fingers slowly and deliberately, and other times quickening the pace just enough to drive Oscar wild.

Oscar’s entire body was on fire, every nerve ending heightened by Lando’s touch. His hands gripped the edge of the bed, knuckles white, as he struggled to hold onto his composure. The waves of pleasure were cresting higher, leaving him gasping for breath.

“Lando…” Oscar managed to whimper, his voice breaking with the overwhelming sensation. “I’m… I’m so close…”

Lando’s fingers tightened ever so slightly, his strokes becoming more focused and deliberate, drawing out the tension with a teasing, almost sadistic precision. “I know, baby. Almost, just a little longer,” Lando coaxed softly, the endearment slipping from his lips before he realized it.

Oscar’s head fell back, his moans escalating as he neared the peak. The build-up was relentless, every touch and caress pushing him closer until he was on the brink, unable to hold back any longer. “I-I can’t, Lan…”

“You can, Osc. I know you can,” Lando said firmly, his voice both encouraging and commanding. He continued his movements with a deliberate rhythm, his touch skillful and unwavering. The combination of gentle and intense strokes, along with the steady pressure of his hand, kept Oscar right on the edge of his climax.

Lando’s eyes were focused on Oscar, watching every shiver, every trembling gasp as he worked to drive him to the brink. He maintained a steady pace, every movement calculated to heighten the pleasure. “Feel it, Osc. You’re so close.”

Oscar’s body was taut with anticipation, each stroke and caress amplifying the intensity of his pleasure. His moans grew more urgent, more desperate, as he fought to hold on for just a little longer. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his body shaking uncontrollably.

Lando, feeling the culmination of their shared moment, pressed his lips fiercely against Oscar’s, capturing him in a heated, passionate kiss. The kiss was fervent and consuming, Lando’s tongue dancing with Oscar’s as he continued to stroke him.

Oscar’s moans vibrated against Lando’s lips, the overwhelming pleasure and the heat of the kiss combining into a heady mix. Lando’s kiss was insistent and greedy, a way of anchoring their shared experience in a moment of pure, unrestrained intimacy.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Oscar’s body convulsed in a powerful release, a shuddering climax that left him breathless and weak.

"F-fuck, Lando" he moaned as the waves of pleasure hit him, his moans were muffled but intense, his head falling back in ecstasy. His release spilling over Lando’s hand. He collapsed against Lando, panting and trembling, while Lando continued to stroke him gently, prolonging the lingering aftershocks of his orgasm.

Once Oscar had regained his senses, he looked at Lando with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment. “Do you want me to help you out?” he asked, his voice still shaky.

Lando smiled, shaking his head. “I- Euh-" he stuttered a little, confident Lando norris, at loss for words "I-I already came,” he confessed, glancing down at the wet patch on his jeans. “You were so hot, I couldn’t hold back"

Oscar felt a strange sense of satisfaction and relief. He leaned in and kissed Lando softly, their lips lingering for a moment. “Fucking hell, that's so hot"

—————⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺—————

The third time it happened was during the race weekend in Miami. It started out innocent. The two of them texting the night before race day, before evolving into more after Lando claimed his maiden win.

*Flashback*

Oscar was laying in his hotel bed, his phone in his hands as he texted his teammate. Nerves pooling in his stomach, afraid to text Lando what he was planning on.

Oscar: I think I've figured out why I always fail to get a girl

Lando: 👀

Oscar: I think I might be into guys.

Lando: Well, I'm surprised you didn't figure that out sooner😂

Oscar: What's that supposed to mean?

Lando: Osc, you wouldn't have been able to get your dick up when I touched you, if you weren't into guys. Lando: And you most certainly wouldn't have spilled all over my hands, twice🤭

Oscar: Whoops🫠

Lando: Don't worry about it too much, Osc. There's nothing wrong with being into guys

Oscar: Don't get me wrong, I like girls, I really do. Oscar: But I think I prefer guys when it comes to one night stands🫣

Lando: Hey, that makes two of us then. Lando: Although I must admit that I prefer guys in general

*end of flashback*

Lando had done it; he’d actually won the race. The pride and elation surged through Oscar as he watched Lando on the top step of the podium, the victory sparkling in every corner of the grandstand. The sight of Lando, tears streaming down his face and a look of sheer relief, was a moment of pure emotion. Oscar’s heart swelled with pride and joy, mirroring Lando’s tears as he felt the victory was as much his as it was Lando’s.

After Lando had finished all his obligatory duties, Oscar awaited him in the driver’s room, sitting on the couch with barely contained anticipation.

The door finally opened, and Lando walked in, his racing suit hanging low on his waist, the fireproofs clinging to his body, drenched in champagne, his emotions visibly overwhelming him. He was surprised to see Oscar there, his gaze meeting Oscar's as he closed the door behind him. “Hi,” Lando murmured, the grin on his face as wide as it had been on the podium.

Oscar sprang from the couch and hurled himself into Lando’s arms, his voice a whisper of fervent pride as he buried his face in Lando’s neck. “I’m so proud of you, Lan,” he murmured, his hands wrapping around Lando’s waist, feeling the damp fabric of the fireproofs.

Lando smiled, pulling Oscar closer, his arms encircling him tightly. “I finally did it, Osc. I finally did it,” he whispered back, the joy in his voice palpable.

Oscar reluctantly pulled away from the embrace, his eyes filled with a mix of mischief and desire. He guided Lando backwards until his back hit the closed door, trapping him between the door and Oscar’s body. With a purposeful, suggestive look, Oscar lowered himself to his knees, his eyes sparkling with a cheeky grin. “Can I?” he asked, his hands sliding to the hem of Lando’s race suit that hung low on his hips. “I wanna make you feel good. You deserve it.”

Lando’s eyebrows shot up, a mix of surprise and curiosity crossing his face. “Is this because you figured out you're into guys? Do you want me to teach you how to give a blowjob, just in case you need it in the club next time?” His voice held a small pang of hurt, a hint of insecurity clouding his expression.

Oscar looked confused for a moment. “What are you talking about?”

Lando explained, “I realized we only focused on how to please a girl last time, so I assumed you wanted to do this for that reason.”

Oscar stood up, cupping Lando’s cheeks with a sincere gaze. “Lan, can we please stop pretending that us being intimate is just about teaching me how to seduce someone else? We both know it stopped serving that purpose the moment you made me cum for the first time.” He rested his forehead against Lando’s, his voice soft but firm. “I don’t want you to teach me how to please someone else. I want you to teach me how to please you.”

Lando, his heart pounding, grabbed Oscar by the collar of his fireproofs and pulled him into a searing kiss. The kiss was intense, a wild torrent of emotions and need that surged between them. Lando’s lips crashed against Oscar’s with a fervor that spoke of their shared passion and connection. Their hands roamed over each other’s bodies, exploring and grasping, the heat between them building rapidly.

Oscar’s hands slid up Lando’s chest, feeling the taut muscles beneath the damp fireproofs. He pulled Lando’s suit down around his ankles, his movements slow and deliberate, savoring the anticipation and the intimate closeness. As he looked up at Lando, his voice was a hushed plea. “Please, let me make you feel good.”

Oscar, his hands steady but his heart racing, looked up at Lando with a mix of excitement and apprehension. “Can you guide me? Tell me what you like and how to do it right? I've never done this before”

Lando’s eyes softened with affection, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “Of course,” he replied, his voice husky with desire. “I’d love nothing more.” His hand gently cupped the back of Oscar’s head, guiding him with a tender touch.

Oscar’s hands continued their slow exploration, his fingers brushing against Lando’s exposed skin. Lando’s breathing quickened as Oscar’s lips made contact with him, the initial touch gentle and exploratory.

“Start slow,” Lando instructed softly, his voice a blend of encouragement and need. “Use your lips to explore first. Pay attention to how I respond. Feel what makes me shiver or moan.”

Oscar nodded, taking his time to follow Lando’s guidance. His lips brushed softly against Lando's thigh, his kisses light and teasing. Each touch was deliberate, a tender exploration that drew a soft gasp from Lando. He then slowly to the head of Lando's erection between his lip, the gentle pressure of Oscar’s mouth was met with a deep, approving sigh from Lando.

As Oscar continued, his confidence grew with every positive reaction from Lando. He varied his technique, experimenting with different pressures and movements. “You’re doing so well,” Lando murmured, his voice thick with appreciation. “Just like that… so good…”

Oscar’s nerves began to melt away under the weight of Lando’s praise. He took in every word, using it to guide his actions. Lando’s breath became ragged, his hands gripping Oscar’s shoulders gently but firmly as he guided him through the rhythm.

“Try using your tongue more,” Lando suggested, his voice strained with pleasure. “Circle it slowly, and then flick it lightly. I'll love how that feels” He demonstrated with his own movements, showing Oscar how to add variety and depth to the experience.

Oscar followed Lando’s instructions with dedication, his tongue tracing delicate patterns that elicited more shivers and moans. Each new technique he tried was met with further encouragement from Lando. “That’s perfect,” Lando gasped, his voice breaking slightly. “Just like that… keep going…”

The intensity of the moment built gradually, with Lando’s reactions guiding Oscar’s pace. The pleasure between them was palpable, a growing heat that enveloped them both. Oscar’s arousal grew alongside Lando’s, each stroke and touch fueling his desire to give Lando the best experience possible.

At one point, Oscar pulled back slightly, his breath warm against Lando’s skin. “You taste incredible,” he said, his voice hushed with awe and desire. The admission was honest and heartfelt.

Lando’s eyes widened in surprise, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. “You can’t say things like that,” he murmured, his breath hitching with the intensity of his arousal. “Unless you want me to cum right here and now.”

Oscar’s determination only intensified with Lando’s comment. He leaned in closer, his mouth working with renewed vigor. The prospect of making Lando lose control spurred him on, his movements becoming more confident and focused.

The build-up continued, each touch and every movement Oscar made with his tongue driving Lando closer to the edge. Oscar’s dedication was unwavering, his hands and mouth working in harmony with Lando’s guidance. The room was filled with the sounds of their shared pleasure, Lando’s moans growing louder and more urgent.

As Lando neared his climax, he tried to gently pull Oscar away, his voice breathless and strained. “Osc, I’m close… You don’t have to…”

Oscar, however, was undeterred. He pressed on, his determination only growing stronger. “No, I want this,” he said, his voice filled with fervent desire. “I want you right here"

Lando, overwhelmed by the sensation and Oscar’s unwavering resolve, finally reached his peak. His body tensed and shuddered as he came, the intensity of the moment making his breath come in ragged gasps. Oscar continued to pleasure him, working Lando all the way through his orgasm.

Afterward, Oscar rose from his knees, his face flushed with both exertion and satisfaction. He captured Lando’s lips in a searing, passionate kiss, the taste of Lando mingling with his own excitement. Their kiss was a fiery connection, filled with all the love and desire that had built up between them.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other’s, both panting heavily. Lando’s eyes were filled with a mix of adoration and vulnerability. “God, I’m so in love with you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Oscar’s smile was radiant, his eyes glistening with affection. “I’m in love with you too, Lan.”

Their words hung in the air, a testament to the depth of their feelings and the intense connection they had just shared.

—————⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺—————

[gonnadafturpunk]

Rejection.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”- C. S. Lewis

┍━━━━━»•» «•«━┑

tfa! optimus x teen! senior! reader.

rejection fucking sucks dude. I hate getting those rejection letters. I really do. But honestly, I can't help but appreciate and be thankful for the schools I've gotten into. However, something about this is grief is only letting me cope through writing it. Share it with me, yeah?

┕━»•» «•«━━━━━┙︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ - Not Edited

Look at you... A college-bound senior, getting ready to take on whatever comes your way.

You've made it thus far...what can stop you now? The challenges are getting good grades, staying on top of things, and doing well on every test. You stayed up most nights, studying or doing homework. You've skipped out on days at the base or to hang with the rest of your friends on days or weeks before tests.

You may have messed around years before, but this year, this is your senior year. No room for mistakes, no room for too much error.

You've impressed yourself and others with such determination to get good grades on everything.

If you were being honest with yourself, that really wasn't the hard part. The hard part was the fact that you had to apply to colleges, get the right documents in, and ask for recommendation letters.

The stress took and is still taking over the majority of your whole life.

If you didn't think the weekends were getting more like weekdays before, then you definitely are now. You could barely catch a break and if you ever did it was so hard to get back into the grind of things. As time went on, you found you had little interest in doing things you enjoyed before. You looked at your video games differently, you could barely stay entertained for a whole movie, and your homework wasn't getting any more interesting.

One day, you were sitting in base, telling Sari about the dangers that are ahead of her in the years coming, but when two bots came in just as you were talking about how you found no interest in things anymore, she couldn't stop but just stare back at you while staring at the bots behind her, working on something.

You honestly didn't care about talking in front of the bots about your problems though. You didn't think they'd care that much about the situation.

Sari couldn't get the look of worry off of her little face as she stared between you and the bots. You didn't care much about it until she got up and left as soon as Bumblebee came.

You sigh and lay back on the couch, looking to the side, hearing thumps behind you.

"We are no strangers to losing interest in what we may use to enjoy due to excessive stress, but that does not mean you can't try," Ratchet says crossing his arms. "It is always nice to have a hobby or something to distract you," Optimus chimes in, his deep voice making you finally look back. You sigh.

"Also we're here, it doesn't hurt to talk to others during times of struggle," He adds.

Ratchet then walks off, leaving Optimus and you behind.

"My communication issues suck, but not only that but it's hard for me to try to communicate my teenage feelings to a 8-year-old and alien robots who have little to no knowledge of what I could be going through in here," You point at your head.

"Yes, we may not know, but at least you know you have a support system," he says quietly. "You were talking to Sari earlier, yes?" he asks rhetorically.

You close your eyes, shaking your head, putting it down. "Yeah Optimus, thank you," you mumble. "It's just hard, plus not only do I have to stay on top of grades, but I'm really nervous about being accepted to these schools," you say, hands motioning how you feel.

You look up at him again. "I'm scared of getting rejected..denied..worse," I say mumbling again.

Optimus looked at you, living in his own stress and despair, it's not easy seeing such a young human like you stress like he does. Everyone has their own responsibilities, but it gets to a point. He doesn't want you to be scared of rejection, he wants you to accept it, to learn from it, to push you through it. He remembers how he was, getting kicked out of the academy, he felt rejected and denied. He was still trying to recover. He wants you to understand that it's okay to make mistakes, to make tough decisions, or to be okay with a school denying you. It didn't define who he was (partially) so it shouldn't defy you.

"I understand your fear, I was there once, I had the pain of being denied, of being rejected almost," He went on, sitting next to you. "You have to understand that rejection and failure make us stronger people," He finishes, looking at you. "Don't be afraid to be sad, but don't let it take over your whole life. It's one moment out of many successes you're yet to have." He smiles at you. You smile back, finding some peace in what he had spoken to you. Maybe he found peace in his own words too.

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

This is Jinx: my brother found her after she was abandoned at a local park, but he scooped her up and brought her home; she has a neurological disorder that impairs her ability to walk properly, and thanks to a birth defect, she doesn't have any teeth

In addition to the neurological disorder and the dental defect, Jinx also has some minor deformities in one of her eyes, her tail is kinked, she's a runt, and she apparently had a botched spay procedure at some point in her life. She's mostly just heart-stoppingly adorable, though.

Here is a video of her trying to be ferocious:

My brother brought her home about three years ago, after he found her sitting in the parking lot of a local park. When he first approached her, she tried to run away, but she immediately fell over and then struggled to get back up again. My brother just assumed that she was injured, so he scooped her up and carried her back home.

When we took her to the vet, we learned that she wasn't injured, but that her balance issues are likely the result of a disorder known as cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), which is sometimes referred to as "wobbly cat syndrome." It's a developmental disorder in which the cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls movement and balance) fails to develop properly in utero. The disorder affects her ability to stand, walk, jump, etc.

Cats with CH can have mild, moderate, or severe disabilities, but Jinx's impairments are on the mild/moderate side of that scale -- she can walk, but she is very uncoordinated, and she frequently staggers, sways, or tips over, especially when she's startled or in distress. She then has a lot of trouble regaining control of her limbs and getting back up again, which sort of makes her look like a "fainting goat." It's hard for her to keep her head steady, so she repeatedly "bops" her nose against anything that she's trying to sniff or eat.

The bobbing motion means that she is a very messy eater, and that issue is made even worse by the fact that she doesn't have any teeth and she generally forgets to close her mouth. Her toothlessness is the result of another congenital defect known as oligodontia, meaning that her teeth failed to develop, aside from a couple of tiny, mishapen "toothlets" near the front of her mouth.

She also seems to have had a botched spay procedure at some point, because there's evidence that another vet attempted to spay her (and she has the scar to prove it) but she still goes into heat at erratic intervals, and it seems to cause her much more distress than you'd normally see in a healthy cat. Our veterinarian suspects that the person who performed her surgery accidentally left behind some of the ovarian tissue, thereby wreaking havoc on her hormones.

Given the circumstances, we're pretty sure that someone deliberately abandoned her. The lot in which she was found is located in the middle of a very large park, and it's surrounded by several acres of pine forest, densely packed thickets, thorns, tall grass, and muddy terrain. Given her mobility issues, there's no way that she could have traversed all of those obstacles on her own, especially not without getting at least a little bit disheveled and dirty, but her fur was still clean and well-groomed when we found her...which means that someone must have driven her there and then left.

She's an absolute sweetheart, though. She has some peculiar habits, but she is still incredibly affectionate. She literally comes running to greet me every time I open my bedroom door, and she does the same thing with my brother.

She always sleeps next to my Dad at night, too, and as soon as he goes to bed, she follows him in and says "goodnight" to him by snuggling up to his neck, kneading his shoulder, and kissing his face (tho her kisses are kind of messy, because the toothlessness means that she drools a lot and almost always leaves her mouth hanging open).

Edit: Jinx was diagnosed with CH, but there's a possibility that her symptoms are the result of a congenital vestibular dysfunction instead, because both disorders are known to cause issues with balance, movement, and posture, but she has some symptoms that are more closely associated with CH, and others that are more closely associated with vestibular disorders. CH is still the likelier culprit, tho.

[jjmorelikeotp]

This. This is the kind of batshit insanity I'm talking about. Y'all have serious mental issues and while this isn't your FAULT, it is still your PROBLEM. YOU have to solve it. YOU have to take responsibility for the feelings you're feeling and maybe self reflect a little and learn to regulate them like a normal human being because the amount of comments I saw under Hannah Bahng's picture WHICH IS ABOUT HER DROPPING HER MATCHA LATTE WITH A PINK STRAW saying something about Minsung is SO CONCERNING it makes me sick.

The level of literal insanity of people.

If larry stylinson was a thing it would be even worse than what it was back then and it was already a catastrophy, and I say that as someone who shipped them, I admit that. I was a young teenager and they were cute, but even at the time I UNLIKE other people had basic human decency to a) leave other people out of this shit and b) not be delusional or bother THEM with it. Or their girlfriends. Or anyone. c) realize that they don't know me and I don't know them, respect their privacy and not take this shit so batshit serious or invade any of their lives. The list goes on.

HOW can people do this. HOW boring and miserable must your life be if you live in a fantasy world in your head SO much that you cannot separate your...idk? Wishes? Fantasies? From what the people you emotionally depend on WHICH YOU ALSO DO NOT KNOW PERSONALLY? Do you not LEARN basic manners or behavior? Hannah is a real human being, just like Minho and Jisung are.

No matter how many posts or Videos you see or fanfics you read or edits you make, you have NO right to make any assumptions about anything in their life, let alone write bullshit like this.

And OF COURSE it's always the accounts who hide behind some idol's picture who they're also obsessed with.

This is not your fantasy world.

You can ship idols, i get it, some have chemistry. Yes you can wonder if there is something actually going on, that's a natural human behavior to analyze or wanting to understand relationships of other people - but REFLECT YOUR OWN FUCKING EMOTIONS AND THINK BEFORE YOU ACT.

It is NOT serious. Even people who are online a lot do NOT think of these people this way just because they make a funny tweet about it that says they "are going insane" or "want what they have" or "ask for one chance". It is a JOKE.

The internet is NOT REAL LIFE .

Idols are TRAINED PROFESSIONALS who perform and have STAGE personas. Interactions are fanservice. Even if they aren't - YOU DON'T KNOW THEM. YOU DON'T GET TO ACT LIKE YOU INTERACT WITH THEM ON A FRIENDSHIP BASIS JUST BECAUSE YOU FOLLOW THEM ONLINE. YOU DON'T GET TO SAY WHAT YOU "KNOW" ABOUT THEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T.

You watch videos and go to their concerts. You are a customer.

Your desire to have a relationship like theirs or someone who treats you like a kdrama boyfriend is a YOU problem. Stop supporting this "delulu is the solulu" shit just because some rare examples marry their celebrity crushes. Even for them it's nothing like they imagined you can be damn fucking sure of that.

Stop faking ai videos of idols kissing you or each other or ANYONE. Stop reposting rumors and taking everything so damn serious while being dramatic. Stop faking those texts. You never got a text from your idol and I AM SO SORRY TO HURT YOUR FEELINGS but you never WILL.

If I can do that and think like that even as an account who has some otps who are real people then mayyybe you should check your own way of thinking. let me make something very clear, because I'm getting the vibe that we're not all on the same page on this : I ship idols as FRIENDS. hot friends with great chemistry who have a lot of soulmate capabilty and would make an amazing couple. I consume content too. BUT I REALIZE AND AKNOWLEDGE THE DISTANCE THAT IS BETWEEN THEM, AND ME.

EVERYTHING I THINK, I THINK. It has NOTHING to do with them. If I make a comment about them being married, that is a JOKE. I CAN ASSURE YOU 80 and hopefully MUCH MORE THAN THAT percent of us are JOKING. could there be something? Yeah maybe. We DONT KNOW. and it is NONE 🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣 OF OUR BUSINESS.

Fanfiction is a great way to express yourself, but the people who inspire you should be your MUSES. a fictional avatar created by writers to live in a story that is also very much NOT a representation of the actual human being that is being portrayed. Think of that person as an actor playing a role in a movie they wrote the script for, playing a CHARACTER.

NOT REPRESENTING THE REAL PERSON OR REALITY IN GENERAL.

Some of y'all have lost any kind of filter and ability to separate reality from fantasy and fiction. And if your life is like that and you feel like you have to escape reality to deal with it, PLEASE get help. I'm so serious. Many people joke about this online but some who read those jokes don't realize this is such a big issue.

You are projecting part of your problem onto a real person that should not be affected by it.

And there are many reasons for that - capitalism, the media, the companies who keep feeding into these delusions and parasocial relationships, but most of all, things can only be sold when people buy. You are part of the chain and that is not your fault but it is your problem. And that makes it your responsibility to solve it.

It's getting out of hand.

Get inspired. Have a little crush, fine. Be obsessed with some bad for a while.

They can be very important to you I get it. I've been there. I'd love to tell some of them that they helped me through tough times as well.

But that is MY wish. Not THEIR responsibility.

"They are famous and it's their fault if this happens."

It is not a famous person's responsibility to feed into your delusions wtf? This became such a common thought lately...and it's also a marketing strategy. "They themselves talk about their relationship!! They ship themselves!!"

No, THEY actually know each other, spend time together that does NOT happen on a screen, WITHOUT their stage personas activated or the filter or media training they all have. They actually talk about their real relationships because they HAVE one with one another. Yes people even have connections.

Now imagine if you did NOT over interpret every bit or every small cut in a video of them holding hands or touching each other.

"I would NEVER touch a friend like THAT" and then it's a back hug. I'm sorry YOU never had a friendship like that. I have. I WOULD, in fact, touch my friends like that. I would write songs for my friends. I would also make dirty jokes. Dance together even when we're nor dating. Cuddle. Sleep in the same bed. That's just a healthy friendship. (It can be, it does not have to be this way to be healthy.)

Lonely people obsess over celebrities to make up for the lack of social contact they have. There are studies on this. Look it up.

And the entertainment industry knows this and uses it daily.

Don't use them to built a parasocial relationship to escape your actual problems in life.

That kpop idol as well as your comfort character as well as your otp should NOT be your only source of happiness or part of your escaping mechanism. Y'all just don't wanna stop being delusional. Ground yourself and put that phone away. Exercise. They are part of your entertainment in life, THEY ARE NOT PART OF YOUR ACTUAL LIFE. BIG DIFFERENCE.

[soleysims]

AND! we're back with the usual program of my favorite sim character at the moment. I thought I'd make another magazine issue. I wanted to have like an interview video of her photoshoot. But editing is one thing I'm still learning to do. But once I tackle that. Its over for you guys. lol. In this issue, Dawn talks about her breakup (because that's all everyone wants to ask her about). As she vaguely answers the reason why her and her long time boyfriend finally called it quits. and how she basically comes from old money. And how when people found out that her dad owned IMG modeling agency, they called her a talentless w****. "I never said I didn't come from money, I just didn't want to brag about it." At some point she was sad about it. But then quickly got over it. "Life is too short, to let what un important people say about you on the internet get to you." Anyways this as always was so much fun to make. I love doing this so much. Simple happiness makes the world go round. Love, Soley.

[saltydkdan]

Sorry, if you already got this question before but in your honest opinion, which friendlocke was your favorite?

It's pretty hard, because I do enjoy all of them... BUT

I think the second one was probably my favorite if we're speaking overall. The first playthrough (Emerald) will always have a special place in my heart, but it was a glorified test run of a concept that I had no idea would actually work. Season 2 (Black) allowed us to be way more confident, and expand every aspect.

And despite all the issues with streaming and editing which eventually allowed me to discover that I DO INDEED get overstimulated sometimes-

Season 2 just really allowed me to hardcore flex my improv and editing muscles in a way that previous projects just didn't. And while it was stressful at points, I felt so driven in every other instance!

Somehow recording a semi well put together shitpost roleplay for 5 hours at a time, as well as editing and creating numerous custom assets for every other scene, is something I'm still actively impressed by. Usually I cringe at previous stuff, but the edits especially on these I still like to brag about.

Like damn, I just need to pat myself on the back, I really did that. The custom sprites even had shading based on the time of day in game so they don't look out of place. It took hours upon hours, but I'm still so proud of the work I did in this season (as well as all seasons, but Season 2 had a lot of these sorts of edits in particular).

Not to mention that Friendlocke Season 2 was such a MASSIVE collaboration and one of the biggest I had ever worked on to that point. The list of credits in the description legit hit the character limit. Something that had never happened to me before that point!

So many musicians, editors, artists, voice actors, and other folks got involved. Even though it was stressful I wouldn't have redone those videos in any other way. It came out so much more amazing than I ever could have concieved!

I can't believe that all this had started from me wanting to do my own spin on a Pokemon Nuzlocke of all things, and what I thought was a silly idea that wouldn't work haha.

Anyway sorry for the gushing and dumping, was just nice to reminisce about this stuff in such a positive and self reflecting sort of way, thanks for the ask!

[irrepressible-domovoy]

If anyone is able, please help a queer, disabled household pay our bills? (Ko-fi link)

The world is very hard for us while two out of the three of us are waiting for disability and any help would be appreciated. (It also turns out, I'm a DEI hire, so there's that)

I have been planning on streaming video games on twitch on Saturday nights at 7pm EST. We will be starting on February 1st and a poll has decided that we will start with Persona 5 Royal.

I am also working on recording myself reading banned books, so if you're interested in that, let me know! I also write fanfiction and am willing to write for prompts!

I'm hoping building community will help makes things easier in the next four years, so here's a start.

Edit (April 29, 2025)

My bosses have only been giving me one day a week so I am bringing home less than half of my rent, (my portion is $400/month) which obviously isn't enough for rent or anything else I need.

My sisters and I are fighting tooth and nail to stay afloat, but at this point we can't.

My disabilities are also getting worse every day and I'm to the point where I can't hardly get out of bed most days. I did have a phone call with the disability office again, but I probably won't hear back for another six months at least and even then I may not be approved.

If there is any way you can, any help is appreciated. Even just sharing this post is helpful. We're desperately trying to make it until I can get disability.

I have a caseworker now who is helping us get food stamps and trying to find us a place to stay just so we can get out of this rat trap, but we still need help.

EDITED ADDITION

So, it looks like my ESA has some health issues that will take constant care to address and money will be even tighter.

Her previous owners apparently fed her things that were very bad for her and ruined her stomach, so now she needs special food. (She's just like me!) We are also pretty sure she has asthma so we will have to get her medicine to help her breathe.

We know exactly what she needs and are working to get it as soon as possible, but we will have to continuously keep up on those medications and food.

Her name is Holly and she would deeply appreciate any love and support you could send our way.

[shopwitchvamp]

Update: Things are a little off this week

So I wanted to give ya'll an update and let you know why there's not been a restock preview yet for tomorrow's drop. :[ After I got back from my trip, my baby dog has been having a very rough time with a bad skin issue (we're now pretty sure it's contact dermatitis from her groomer using a new shampoo). We've been in and out of the vet, having to keep a close eye on her at all times because she keeps scratching the irritated area & making it bleed (it's between her shoulder blades so the issue is scratching with her back paws, a cone or whatever else can't stop this) even after we got her some lidocaine spray. So far it's just been getting worse and spreading, but now that we suspect it was the new shampoo we're getting her bathed again today with a medicated sensitive shampoo in the hopes that it'll get rid of whatever chemical has been causing the irritation and allow her skin to start healing up. But no surprise with all that, I've been having a hard time focusing on anything else other than trying to take care of her. So just a heads up that my partner and I are both struggling a bit to have any spoons left right now to keep up with the shop. Here's some shop updates so everyone can know what to expect: -The next batch of ready-to-ship orders will head out tomorrow. These got put off earlier in the week because of needing to suddenly take Jolene to the vet, and at the time we weren't at all thinking about the post office being closed today for Juneteenth. So we'll pack them today and take them tomorrow. -There will still be a restock, but it will be a very limited selection. My priority is still to release Ascension and Efflorescense ready-to-ship tomorrow. Originally I wanted to have some more items go up along with them, but with everything that's been going on I just haven't gotten any of that organized in time. The only thing I know I can add for sure is that we got the reprinted, correct Queen of Wands Reversed Crop Tops in the mail recently. So I can at least restock those now. -This week's tarot video is definitely at risk of being dropped from my schedule. I feel pretty bad about missing a week less than a month in to doing them, but I also have to realize that it's incredibly inconsequential to get those out "on time". Since so much other stuff has been backlogged into needing to be done today/tomorrow, I literally may not have enough daylight in order to film a video for this week. Much less the time and brainpower to edit it :[ Thanks for understanding, and hopefully things will be back to normal shortly!

[black-arcana]

ARCH ENEMY Announces Fall 2025 European Tour With AMORPHIS, ELUVEITIE And GATECREEPER

Swedish/Canadian/American extreme metal titans ARCH ENEMY have announced the "European Blood Dynasty 2025 Tour". Support on the trek, which will kick off on October 10 in Stuttgart, Germany and conclude on December 15 in Düsseldorf, Germany, will come from AMORPHIS, ELUVEITIE and GATECREEPER.

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, November 27 at 10 a.m. CET via www.archenemy.live.

ARCH ENEMY says: "We can't wait to see you again!"

"European Blood Dynasty 2025 Tour" dates:

Oct. 10 - Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart, DE Oct. 11 - Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt am Main, DE Oct. 12 - Zenith, Munich, DE Oct. 14 - Barba Negra, Budapest, HU Oct. 15 - Gasometer, Vienna, AT Oct. 17 - Columbiahalle, Berlin, DE Oct. 18 - Sportovni Hala Fortuna, Prague, CZ Oct. 19 - PreZero Arena Gliwice, Gliwice, PL Oct. 21 - The Hall, Zurich, CH Oct. 22 - Alcatraz, Milan, IT Oct. 23 - Radiant Bellevue, Lyon, FR Oct. 25 - Vistalegre, Madrid, ES Oct. 27 - Zenith, Paris, FR Oct. 28 - AFAS Live, Amsterdam, NL Oct. 30 - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK Oct. 31 - O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK Dec. 01 - Eventim Apollo, London, UK Dec. 03 - Rockhal, Esch sur Alzette, LU Dec. 04 - Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, BE Dec. 05 - Haus Auensee, Leipzig, DE Dec. 07 - Partille Arena, Gothenburg, SE Dec. 08 - Annexet, Stockholm, SE Dec. 10 - Ice Hall, Helsinki, FI Dec. 12 - Sentrum Scene, Oslo, NO Dec. 13 - Poolen, Copenhagen, DK Dec. 14 - Swiss Life Hall, Hannover, DE Dec. 15 - Mitsubishi Electric Hall, Düsseldorf, DE

ARCH ENEMY's twelfth studio album, "Blood Dynasty", will arrive on March 28, 2025 via Century Media Records.

ARCH ENEMY's 2024 European co-headline tour, "Rising From The North", with IN FLAMES, wrapped up on November 5 in Helsinki, Finland.

ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott stated about "Blood Dynasty": "This new album pushes the boundaries of what we've done before — it's everything you've come to expect from this band, and then some! We can't wait for you to hear it and feel the energy we've poured into every track. Welcome to the 'Blood Dynasty'!"

Next to the limited deluxe editions that feature two exclusive bonus tracks, fans can direct their attention to the limited liquid blood vinyl that is exclusively available in the band stores and limited to 666 copies.

Issued in July 2024, the "Dream Stealer" single marked ARCH ENEMY's first new music since the release of the "Deceivers" album, which came out in August 2022.

"Dream Stealer" was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The accompanying music video was directed and produced by Patric Ullaeus.

Three months ago, Amott told Pulp Magazine about "Dream Stealer" and ARCH ENEMY's plans for new music: "We've been staying busy for sure and are really focused on writing and recording new stuff in between the touring we're doing. I'm kind of always coming up with new musical and lyrical ideas though — I just keep going as it's what I enjoy doing anyway. Making music is a natural process, and it's pretty much a daily thing, so it can be hard to pinpoint exactly when everything was conceived. I do, however, actually remember that the initial seed for 'Dream Stealer' was written during a songwriting session I did with Daniel [Erlandsson, drums] in Los Angeles, California, two years ago, and then it's been rearranged and updated a lot till it reached its final state that you're now hearing."

Asked if it was a conscious decision to go back to the "classic ARCH ENEMY" direction and approach with "Dream Stealer", Amott said: "I've seen some seriously great feedback from the fans, and that's always very encouraging, of course. Personally, I don't know if I’d necessarily say 'Dream Stealer' is a throwback to the sound of the past, but I get what they mean — the song has the energy and speed that is very exciting and infectious. Maybe there is a hint of vintage ARCH ENEMY in there, and why not? I'm looking forward to playing it live on stage — I think it is going to be intense as hell."

ARCH ENEMY played its first concert with new guitarist Joey Concepcion on April 24, 2024 at Musinsa Garage in Seoul, South Korea. The show was part of ARCH ENEMY's 2024 Asian tour.

Last December, ARCH ENEMY announced that it had "amicably" parted ways with longtime guitarist Jeff Loomis.

Jeff, who was the main songwriter in his previous group, NEVERMORE, joined ARCH ENEMY in late 2014, but was not involved in the writing for the latter act's last two albums, 2017's "Will To Power" and the aforementioned "Deceivers".

ARCH ENEMY is:

Alissa White-Gluz - Vocals Michael Amott - Guitar Joey Concepcion - Guitar Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass Daniel Erlandsson - Drums

Photo credit: Katja Kuhl

[hiskillingjar]

Could you maybe elaborate on Strade forcemascing you? Because the thought of him calling you his boy did... things to me

alrightttt you absolute perverts, let's fucking do this i guess. we're doing actual forcemasc too, not the lame tboy poetry kind

2100+ words, fem mc (for now), faggot isn’t a slur, she’s a sister to me (but cw for slurs i guess and also drug use).

"Why do you even have these?" 

You poked at one of the little red bottles on Strade's desk as he worked on something new for his website, recognising the shape, colour scheme and font choice almost instantly from your days of partying with the GSA committee in college. You couldn't resist a little scoff as you looked up at him, raising a brow.

"Aren't you a little old for poppers?"

Distracted from his work (albeit just momentarily), Strade looked up with a surprised look on his face, letting out a huffed laugh as he turned his attention from the computer and onto you.

"You know what poppers are?" He asked, raising a brow. "That's a surprise. I figured that you wouldn't...not many know about them anymore. Not without looking it up, at least."

"Come on, I'm not an idiot," You replied, rolling your eyes as you leaned against the side of the desk, peering at the silent video auto-playing on his screen, as grisly as ever. No doubt you'd have to get on an edit for it, soon, and distribute it to his growing audience. The longer you did it, the more you didn’t mind doing it. "And, I mean, I had a lot of gay friends in college, too. It's, like, super trendy now, way more than it used to be."

"Hah, nice to hear that it's still a thing with the younger generations then." He chuckled, resting his arm on the desk and letting his cheek loll down lazily against his fist. "I'm surprised a pretty, young lady like yourself knows all about them, though" Strade then leaned forward and picked up one of the bottles, tapping the top of it playfully. "Usually this kind of thing would be reserved for fags like me."

You rolled your eyes again when he called you a 'young lady' (though the age difference between you was becoming less of an issue the more times he spoke of it, and only caused more and more of a stirring in your core) before sitting up on the desk top and spreading your legs a little, your shorts riding up your thighs and clinging tight.

Oh yeah?" You tilted your head, your tone a little teasing. "Wanna share any fun stories?"

Strade's eyes flitted from the little bottle and back to you, spanning up your spread thighs (lingering on the tight gusset for maybe a second too long to be innocent) and to your face, his own smirking and smug. 

"You tell me yours, I'll tell you mine." 

"Well, I've had a lot of experiences," You replied with a casual shrug, as he rolled his chair in front of you and placed his hands on either side of your hips, his knees pressing up against your calves, pinning you in place. You found that you didn’t mind it so much, though. "You're going to have to be more specific."

"Hmmm..." He hummed, as if deep in thought, and his gaze flickered from your eyes, down to your mouth, then to your chest (you weren't wearing a bra either and you were sure your top was a little too small and clinging for you) as he thought about your answer. "Well...tell me anything you think I'd be surprised by." His gaze came up again to meet yours, a knowing smile on his lips. "Something you've never told anyone."

"Hm...I've had a threesome?" You suggested, resting your palms behind you as you leaned back on the desk, smiling coyly.

"A threesome?" He repeated with a slightly impressed look. "With a guy and a girl, or two guys...or two girls?" 

"Two guys," You replied with a little titter, knowing why he was asking about the latter (like the dirty old man he was). "My housemate is-" You hesitated, wondering how you should speak about your past life…you probably should have been more upset about considering it a past life, but you were far from sorrow at this point. "Well...he was bi and had a long-term boyfriend, but he wanted to...you know, get a girl involved. Remember what he was missing, or some shit." 

"Mmm, I bet," He hummed again, moving his hands up and down your calves. You couldn’t remember the last time you shaved your legs, but Strade never made you feel bad about that. "...And, what, you decided to volunteer yourself as tribute?" He continued with a grin. "Kind of slutty, kind of hot, fraulein. Did you have fun?"

You laughed at the idea of 'volunteering yourself' for such a situation, but shrugged your shoulders again, taking in a slow breath as his hands roamed up your hips and to the waistband of your shorts, feeling where they dug into you and marked your skin with pink indentations. 

"Yeah, it was a lot of fun." You nodded, letting out a soft sigh as he eased his hands past the waistband of your shorts and took a firm grip on your hips, calloused skin on skin. "We got high on Rush," You nodded back to the little red and yellow bottles. "And...yeah, had a good time."

"Right..." His smirk curved into a salacious grin as his hands slid from your hips and round to your ass, pulling you further up the desk and closer to him, your legs spreading completely on either side of the computer chair to give him room to slot between. You should have felt more vulnerable…you should have. "And why do you think they were interested in you, of all people?"

"I-I don't know..." You mumbled, taking in an unsteady breath as he continued to grope and knead at your flesh and leaned in closer between your spread legs. "Close proximity, maybe…I was down for whatever, too, that was probably pretty convincing, too..."

"Hmph...you know," He tilted his head, giving your ass another firm grope. "Maybe the reason you were pulled into that threesome was because you're so... boyish, you know?"

"Boyish?" You repeated, giving him a questioning look as he groped you, forcing your body to sit up straight in a squeaking flinch. "I'm not...I'm not that boyish."

"Oh really? You think not?" He asked innocently, feigning surprise as he took advantage of the little jump and worked on dragging your shorts down your thighs. "I mean...come on now, have you looked at yourself? You couldn't pass as a girl if you tried..." He shrugged casually despite the filthy subtext behind his words, his lips curling into a teasing smile.

You said nothing to that, and your face flushed a bright hue of red as you tried to look to the side and appear as aloof and distant as you should have been.

His words were playful for the time being, his tone more teasing than anything else, but his teasing nature did nothing to stop him as he pulled your shorts past your knees and sat up in his seat to pull you closer and place a whisper of a kiss on your neck.

"You know…if I wasn’t looking at you really closely, I could almost be fooled into thinking you were a boy. Maybe that’s what you should be, instead…you’re a little too filthy to be a girl, after all."

You let out an unsteady breath as he kissed and licked and nipped at your neck, pressing your thighs together to stop yourself from trembling as he tossed your shorts to the side.

His kisses and nips became more and more drawn out and teasing as he dragged his thick tongue against your bare neck, stimulating each nerve and making you shiver and tremble and tighten up against him. As he did this, his strong hands (calloused, scarred, masculine) slid up your legs so that he could force your thighs apart and spread you open completely, despite the tightness in your body. 

Keeping one hand on your knee, the other started to trace small circles along the inside of your thighs, his fingers starting to move higher and higher to the wetness that lay between them.

"Ahhnn..." You groaned, pressing yourself closer to him, your legs tightening on either side of his body as his fingers breached your entrance without even a degree of resistance.

His lips never lost the momentum they had, kissing and nipping and biting from your neck down to the edge of your collarbone, but eventually, he decided to stop entirely, instead bringing his mouth back up to your ear as his fingers kept delving deep inside of you, his calloused thumb rubbing against the blooming bud of your clit and making you tense even more.

"You wanna know why I think those boys got you involved?" He asked softly, his words hot against your sensitive skin.

"W-Why?" You stammered, trembling a little more, biting your lip as he dragged his fingers against your insides.

"Because they saw you as one of them. A boy. A faggot, no less." His voice dipped down into a low whisper that always got your heart racing. They had a playful tone now, as if he were joking, but when he reached down with his free hand to grope and squeeze his cock through his khakis, you had a sense that he wasn’t joking or trying to tease you.

He was enjoying this.

"I mean, you are one, aren't you?" He then asked, his golden eyes flitting up to meet yours. “That’s why you take poppers, and spread your legs the moment a guy is rough with you, hm? Am I right? Come on...say it." 

"Nooo..." You pleaded softly, your fluttering eyes rolling back into your skull as his fingers delved deeper, your breathing even heavier as your chest rose up and down forcefully. “No, noooo, no no I’m not…ah-I-I’m a girl, I’m a girl…”

"Ah, come on…ust say it. It'll be fun.” He chuckled, continuing his cruel assault on your clit as he continued to stimulate himself, despite the barrier between his hand and his cock. “I won't judge. But it'd be nice to know the truth, for us to share some truth, too. To know you better…" He then tilted his head for a quick moment of consideration. “And maybe I’ll fuck you like the faggot you are, if you do…”

"Hmmmph, please..." You pleaded with an erratic nod of your head, biting your lip. “Please fuck me, please…”

"Say it, and I'll keep going." He then said, his voice taking a tone of stern authority (that made your cunt tighten around his fingers), as he leaned up close to your neck again, forcing you down against the desk, his dark gaze almost piercing. "Say you're one of us...one of the boys..."

"Hahh...I'm...I'm a boy," You murmured airily, mindlessly, feeling a little light-headed as you did so, watching as he deftly unbuckled his belt with one hand and kept working on himself. "Mmph, I’m a boy, I’m a boy…I-I'm a faggot..."

"Mmm, good boy…my boy.” He praised with a truly lecherous look of pure delight in his golden eyes. “Did that feel good to finally admit to me?" He then asked, as he slid his fingers out of you (wiping them off on his trousers), and pressed his body down against yours as he forced your back flat onto the desk. "Was that so hard?"

"Yes...hah, it felt good, yeah..." You slurred with a nervous smile, pressing closer to him as you felt the head of his cock graze over your cunt and tease you even more. “Mmph, please…”

“Ah,” He let out a little sigh as he slowly slid inside of you, just a flicker of pleasure showing on his face as he pressed into the wet warmth of your cunt. “Well…I did promise to fuck you like a faggot if you admitted it to me…and I do tend to keep my promises.”

As he slid completely inside of you (so deep, he could have impaled you) and took a moment to adjust himself to the tight grip of cunt and your legs tensing up on either side of his body, he reached to the side of the desk for one of the bottles of Rush and brought the plastic cap to his mouth, twisting it open with his teeth.

“Raise your head for me, mein herr.” 

His voice was a low and fond murmur after he spat out the plastic cap and brought the bottle to your nostril, pressing the other shut with his thumb and forcing you to inhale the fumes from the bottle as he fucked you deep.

“Take it like a man.”

[jamlessjj]

Hey team (I say as I make prolonged eye contact with my U2 mutuals) so while I was on a road trip a few weeks ago I chanced upon a record store that had an absolute treasure trove of old magazines and managed to find these gems. Would you all like me to post some scans of the articles and/or covers? Here is a list of what's pictured. If any of these strike your fancy, lemme know:

U2's Propaganda, Issue 15, Winter 1991/2: A special edition that focuses on the release and making of Achtung Baby. Its contents are very campy design-wise with a cool arts and crafts type of vibe. Lots of photos from the late 80s and early 90s, at least half of which I hadn't seen before. Contents include an Achtung Baby scrapbook, an article detailing the making of "The Fly" music video, and an article about the process behind designing the Achtung Baby album cover.

U2's Propaganda, Issue 16, Spring 1992: A pretty text-heavy issue with a well-rounded bunch of articles in terms of topics. The entire first half of the issue is dedicated to coverage of preparation for the Zoo TV tour, focuses on the band as well as artists and others involved in various aspects of the tour. This article's look is giving "graphic design is my passion" in the best way possible. There's also an interview with Brain Eno, an article on the spoof tribute band "The Joshua Trio," and a report on the Negativland thing that happened.

U2's Propaganda, Issue 17, Winter 1992/3: Its cover story, "Sixty Nine Things You May Not Have Known About Life in the Zoo," is a rapid-fire and visually immersive list of happenings from the Zoo TV tour. Big photos of the band and the staging, including some of Bono in the foregone but never forgotten red version of The Fly costume. This issue also focuses on fan content, with a mailbag section and some stuff about various fanzines.

Rolling Stone, Issue 761, May 29, 1997: Pop-era U2 on the cover, looking extra cool. The article is titled "The Wizards of Pop." I haven't read all the way through this article, but this is the premise we're given: "Who are those men behind the curtain? It's Bono! The Edge! Adam Clayton! Larry Mullen Jr.! On the eve of their supergiant '97 world tour, U2 reveal the heart inside their consumer-nightmare machine." A couple of neat photos, too.

Rolling Stone, Issue 986, November 3, 2005: Bono on the cover, and a suuuuuper long interview with him, like, including photos, this thing is about 16 pages long with a teeny tiny font size. I've only skimmed the text but the whole thing seems to have a relatively down-to-earth vibe, which the photographs compliment well. Pretty biographical, based on what I've seen it vaguely reminds me of Bono's Surrender. Found this quote while skimming and I like it a lot: "I've always had these melodies in my head. If I'm beside a piano, I put my finger on a key. I hear a rhyme."

Rolling Stone, Issue 1074, March 19, 2009: U2 on the cover, shot in a way that seems to call back to their cover on the aforementioned 1997 issue. Published around the release of No Line on the Horizon, this is definitely more of a journalism piece as far as I can tell, rather than an interview piece. I like how this article is laid out visually. Focuses on the process of creating and recording NLOTH, and includes some photos of the band working on the album. Also, eyeliner Bono. Dude absolutely dominates one of the pages.

Spin, Volume 4 Number 10, January 1989: A brooding and melancholic Bono on the cover. I enjoy the cover's visual and emotional drama, and its mythical quality definitely goes hand in hand with the corresponding article. After getting past three ads for a multitude of cigarette brands, including one with a pop-up fish holding up a supposedly irresistible offer for a pack of Salems, you'll find an article titled, "Hating U2," with the premise, "U2 set out to become the biggest band in the world. Now they're fighting to avoid being crushed by their own myth." The magazine's overall minimalistic look matches well with how U2 was publicly perceived at the time. Again, haven't read the article in depth, but I think it's the one I look forward to reading to most. Seems to deliver a considerate/compassionate and entertaining look at celebrity, and the tensions between fame and music making, all in relation to Rattle and Hum. Includes some photos that when viewed in the article's context, totally showcase a tension between the mythicism of celebrity and ordinary personhood. Three out of the four photos were new to me.

I'm sure digital versions exist for some of these articles already. I at least know you can find some past Rolling Stone articles and interviews online. But still, I think there's something to be said about the original physical versions with all the photos, design choices, and whatnot. As a younger person, I find these physical copies especially valuable, as they're like primary sources that allow me to better connect with a time I didn't get to live through personally.

I'll probably have lots more to say about each of these at some point in the future, but in the meantime, I'd be happy to post scans if anyone so desires!

[multifandumbmeg]

Gonna say something a little controversial here, but the edits/takes that Yoongi's character is abusive in a gay relationship with Jungkook's character don't sit right with me. If you're as chronically deep in the HYYH story as I am, you know from the Notes that Yoongi's thoughts (note that I am always referring to the characters from here on out) don't fit with abuser mentality and he actually attempts to isolate himself as much as possible to avoid hurting people- especially Jungkook- because it's his deepest fear.

If you have only seen the videos, reading them as being an explicit romantic relationship is possible (as in we're only seeing parts of their story, but we don't have any solid proof because they never state outright that they're dating/use romantic endearments/kiss etc), but the much stronger argument is for homosexual/homoromantic subtext. Korea still isn't super gay friendly and it certainly wasn't in 2015. I fully believe the gay subtext for that relationship was PUT THERE by the original creators of those music videos, but Hybe/bighit was too afraid to openly canonize a gay relationship, let alone with the faces of their biggest band which has no out members, they slightly backed off in later additions.

All this to say, the subtext for gay feelings is there, but I don't think we're taking it far enough. What if it's not just subtext for us, the viewers to surmise, what if it's subtext for them, the characters?

If we reinterpret their story to be about two young men who either don't know or are just coming to grips with the fact that they are in love with another man in a homophobic society, Yoongi's actions start to make a lot more sense, don't they?

Yoongi's mom committed suicide when he was young and blamed him for the ruination of his life, but he was closer to her. He is extremely distant and deeply uncomfortable around his father. He paints getting kicked out after getting expelled as an inevitability. Jungkook's dad left him, and now he's got a stepfather that doesn't give him the time of day except to occasionally criticize him, and he and Jungkook's mom only care about his stepbrother. In short, both have some pretty serious daddy issues that would already put them on the fringes of society as far as growing up male. They don't have a father figure to raise and shepherd them through adolescence. Yoongi's very strict, cold, masculine father also screams closet gay experience to me.

So you have two boys with a lot of guilt and inner turmoil to begin with, then they meet each other and are devastated to find a kindred soul for the first time. Especially Yoongi. Because Yoongi wasn't prepared for this. He's already given up on life. He was prepared to just coast through high school unattached and even after he makes friends with the bts boys, he keeps a huge distance from the rest emotionally. He never lets his feelings show, only takes care of them in subtle ways, and no one knows anything about him- Jin doesn't even realize this til a good ways into Save Me. Yoongi is the most suicidal by a mile. Jin can't figure out how to save him because while the others have bad days where they get hurt or hurt themselves, Yoongi can and will kill himself any time anywhere. He's not having a bad day, he's having a bad life. And they're all suffering long term, but a major part of the story is Jin realizing that something happened to Yoongi long ago that broke him, something he can't rewind and fix. The only way to save him is by giving him a reason to care, something to do. But how can he do that if Yoongi never let anyone in?

That's when he realizes it has to be Jungkook. Because Jungkook forced his way in. Jungkook adores Yoongi, and that's exactly what scares him. Yoongi is terrified of Jungkook's love. There is no other word for it. That's why he gets drunk and lashes out. He lashes out at all of them, but he tries to avoid or push Jungkook away the most because he knows Jungkook loves him- how can he not? When the boy follows him everywhere and looks at him with those wide adoring eyes and smiles that sweet little smile and is obsessively drawn to pianos just to chase the high of hearing Yoongi play again. Hell, when Yoongi finds him two years after getting expelled, Jungkook's still playing Yoongi's song from memory. He knows.

But he feels responsible for every bad thing that happens to Jungkook. And he's already too far gone in his misery to keep himself afloat, much less save Jungkook from following in his footsteps. So he just keeps trying to flee and extricate himself from Jungkook's embrace. They fight. But they can't fight like lovers, because they technically aren't. So they fight like friends, which feels wrong. Too intimate.

Then there's the motel scene.

They fight, Yoongi leaves with Jungkook's shirt-or maybe it's one that they shared- Yoongi strokes the empty pillow beside him in a bed for two mournfully. And then he kills himself. The Notes takes it farther and confirms this was all about Jungkook, about his guilt for lashing out. He doesn't call anyone for attention. He doesn't drag Jungkook back in by asking for help or apologizing while he threatens to do it. He just thinks, 'I am the problem. I'm rotten to the core. I have to save him from me.'

Subtext. No break up, but they were in love. They both knew it, but they were both scared. Many gay people I know had toxic 'friendships' before they came out. That's what I think Yoongi's violence was. Not an abuser who does what he wants and thinks it's justified and he should get away with it, but a terrified closeted boy with the lifelong ingrained message that he destroys everything he touches. Too scared to even speak the words of what's 'wrong' with him, let alone act on them, taint somebody else's life. Korean society- and I'm sorry to be the one to report this if you weren't aware- but it speaks of homosexuality as a disease invented and brought in from the west. And that's exactly how hyyh yoongi behaves- like he's a poison. A virus. A necrotic plague destroying all in its wake. A leper that must be quarantined.

I love you. I'm terrified. I'll ruin you. I'm broken in more ways than one.

[campaign-spotlight]

On Location at Vulpine Taproom (Part 2) [S4T1]

In this week's Streetlight, we're back on location at Vulpine Taproom in Seattle asking people about their characters and campaigns! We hear about liches with day jobs, wild magic druids, and the downsides of digital dice.

We're very grateful to Vulpine Taproom for letting us record at their game night! We talked with so many people in one evening that we ended up breaking it up into two episodes. The first episode aired towards the end of last season - go give it a listen. 

Thanks to Margaret, Shawn, Brandon, Chris, and Andrew for featuring in this week's episode! Margaret and Shawn mention a ton of TTRPG systems in our conversation:

Here's a review of Champions 4th Edition, which Margaret and Shawn repeatedly refer to as the Big Blue Book. Here's a brief contemporary review of the system from a 1988 issue of Computers and Video Games. 

This is the Ars Magica system they discuss.

Here's a 2005 review of the Serenity system they discuss. If you weren't around for Firefly and Serenity, the reverence might seem a little disorienting. The entire rulebook is also available on Internet Archive.

Here's the concept for Mage: the Ascension.

We talk briefly about Lancer and Jake mentions last season's interview with Tyler.

Here's the synopsis of the book Shawn is working on based on the steampunk campaign he ran. The illustrations here are really incredible.

Here's a lot more of the art Shawn has worked on professionally.

Throughout our conversation, Margaret and Shawn were showing us pieces of physical art. All of these were extremely cool! Here's some of Shawn's art:

Thanks to Goblin Society Games for supporting this week’s episode! Go check out their website and take a look at Mukrag’s Compendium of Curios, the HELBINE setting, and all the other cool games and supplements they make. Through July 23, if you purchase Goblin Society Games products on DriveThruRPG, they'll donate 10% of the proceeds to Partners in Health.

If you like the music on the show, go check out more of Reilly's music.

Follow us wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. You can also get episodes right from the source at our RSS feed. If you enjoy Campaign Spotlight, consider subscribing to our Patreon or supporting us on Ko-Fi. For more on the show, including links to all our social media, visit our website.     

[blamemma]

i feel like the daniel fandom (in general not you) has a specific issue with interacting with daniel how he is now in the PRESENT. ppl are living in the past (both highs and lows: when he was winning, or mclaren gloom) or in the future (getting ahead of ourselves and the narrative of the rbr seat) and twisting themselves in knots to justify stuff that if you just take it for what it is in the now, is just fine as it is. i get it's hard with all the noise but it's a recipe to never be happy if we're always looking ahead or behind ya know?

no comments no edits no take backs this is it and this is exactly how i feel. sometimes people just need to go watch the video of daniel signing in his car pre race abu dhabi 2022 and remind themselves of where we were and where we are now because vcarb is great. he’s appreciated, he’s listened to, and he’s taken seriously over there. that’s alllllllll i wanted over the mclaren period. there will always be a hope for more but god this is so good and i think sometimes people forget to appreciate the here and now!!

[dollarbin]

Shakey Sundays #46:

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Part 4

It takes some serious guts to be Neil Young. Who else out there is willing to roll the dice on their make or break second record with a zero-overdubs, unrehearsed and unmanly acoustic weeper, a 3 chord, 9 minute ramble, or a smoking hot rock single that's mixed to celebrate its backing vocals over the lead?

And who else is willing to leave untouched a bandmate's mid-song, instantly shame-faced, vocal eruption that's akin to a hot, wet fart in church?

How else can you describe what must be Danny Whitten, pictured above, interrupting Neil's slow strutting regrets with a muppet-level exhortation at the 2:45 mark?

I have no idea what Whitten is hollering here. Maybe he's asking his lady friend for vittles: "All right Missy, cook it!" Or maybe he feels like it's time to hand out a few long lost Dr Pepper competitors to his white brethren. "All white, Mr Pibbs!"

Either way, the moment is akin to me rocking a speedo at your wedding, or Animal interrupting Ricky Gervais' favorite Muppet song.

Where else can you find anything quite so musically dubious? There's J Mascis's YOU! chants (not to mention the song's garbage-bin-level-muppet video) on his otherwise splendid cover of Just Like Heaven,

and the opening mudslide of Dylan's harmonica at the 3:50 mark of You're A Big Girl Now.

Sure, the Bobster eventually rescues his solo and Mascus, I guess, successfully prevents any of us from thinking that he straightforwardly admires Robert Smith, but all these moments leave you scratching your head: why didn't the artist try another take, or just edit that bit out, or get a little advice on how not to suck?

I imagine Young and his screw-you-world producer David Briggs got plenty of guidance from record label types here and everywhere about how not to suck. But they made a career out of ignoring all such advice. And thank goodness: we love him Shakey, not slick.

Happily, the album cut is not Neil's last word on The Losing End. Indeed, it took Whitten's death, Ben Keith's ghostly slide guitar and the Tonight's The Night tour for Young to finally mine the song's rich core.

"Light that pipe!" Neil calls out here, in place of Whitten's incomprehensible screech. I have no doubt everyone on stage and in the audience at that point had already done so, repeatedly.

No version of The Losing End has any business lasting six minutes. It's a lovely, but simple, song. But I wish Neil would unearth and issue an hour long Santa Monica Flyers rehearsal of the piece, complete with false starts, chortles and light up sessions, especially given the vibe we're getting of Shakey's forthcoming record. I trust Woody Guthrie's heirs are getting royalties for Neil's just released, enjoyably-silly-but-still-pretty-bad, This Land Is Your Land ripoff:

P.S. My famous brother, as usual, has theories. He thinks Whitten's call out is: "alright Neilsy — pick it!" Neil, thankfully, doesn't comply with this directive: he does not pick his nose. Rather, he offers up a very tasty little guitar solo.

What do you all think of my brother's theory? I declare it BORING, and, probably, correct.