#hope 2025 is kind to us all✨

[nordsea-horizons]

✨✨✨happy new year everyone✨✨✨

[sainz100]

2024 Hungarian GP | x (edited)

[requinoesis]

Happy New Year to you all! 🥂✨

I hope that 2025 will be a kind year for all of us and that we will continue to support each other through the challenges that lie ahead.

I also hope to continue creating more shark art to inspire people, and to try to transform the fear of sharks into fascination! 🦈✨

[kathlare]

hii i love ur fics so much honestly ur writing is amazing. i was just wondering if u could write like a present day smuttier fic w lando and amelie like after the Oscars or after one of her shows or something xx :)

Hii!! First of all, thank you so much for your kind words, it means a lot 🫶🥹 And of course, thank you for the request! I loved the idea, so here’s what you asked for — a little present-day, post-concert Lando and Amelie moment 😏✨ I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think 💕

the stage between us

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: Amelie delivers a sultry performance that takes an unexpected turn when Lando steps in to replace her usual dancer.

Wordcount: 4.6 k

Warnings: smut

full masterlist // request over here!

March 9th, 2025 - London, United Kingdom

Amelie stepped off the stage, the sound of her heels clicking against the O2 Arena's floor as she made her way toward the side. Her heart was still pounding from the last few moments of the show, and she could already hear the faint buzz of anticipation in the air. It was only hours before showtime, and the final touches were being done on soundcheck.

She turned her head, catching sight of Lando, who was perched on the stands, chatting with some members of her crew. She smiled to herself—he looked so out of place in his casual hoodie and jeans, but he was still unmistakably Lando.

She grabbed a water bottle and took a sip, her eyes never leaving him. She loved watching him interact with everyone—he was easygoing, charming, and always managed to make people laugh. But what really made her heart flutter was the way he looked at her when he didn’t think anyone was paying attention.

—How’s my favorite race car driver doing up there?— Amelie called to him, leaning against the sound booth, arms crossed over her chest.

Lando looked down, his lips curling into that lazy smile of his. —You know, just trying to survive the madness.— He waved to a couple of people before making his way down the stands, his eyes never leaving hers.

—You’ve been with here before. Surely, the madness can’t be that bad.—

He rolled his eyes but smiled as he reached her, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her into a quick, lingering kiss. —It’s still tiring, baby, but I’ll survive if it means I get to see you perform every night.—

Amelie smiled, feeling that familiar warmth spread through her at his words. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder as they stood there for a moment, enjoying the quiet before the chaos of the show. It was rare for them to get these little moments, and she was savoring every second of it.

—You’re lucky I’m such a great performer, huh?— she teased, nudging him playfully.

Lando laughed, his hand sliding down to her lower back as he looked down at her. —No, you’re lucky I’m such a great boyfriend. You couldn’t do this without me.—

Amelie tilted her head up, giving him a mischievous look. —Oh, really? I think I’m doing just fine without you, Lan.—

He raised an eyebrow, giving her a mock glare. —You’re lucky I’m too tired to argue right now.—

—Mm, yeah, well, lucky for you, I’m feeling generous.— She smiled up at him before planting a soft kiss on his lips.

Lando grinned, his hand gently squeezing her waist. —Generous, huh? Well, I’ll take it.—

But just as the moment seemed to settle into a peaceful lull, Amelie felt the nagging pull of reality. Tonight was their last night together before he had to fly out to Australia. She had known this for a while, but it still felt like a punch to the gut. Their time together had been so full, and she couldn’t bear the thought of spending even a few days apart, especially with everything they’d been through.

She broke the kiss, pulling away from him just enough to meet his gaze. Her expression softened as she spoke.

—Lan, can you do something for me?— she asked, her voice a little quieter than usual.

Lando glanced down at her, sensing the shift in her tone. —Of course. What’s up?—

Amelie hesitated for a moment, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt. —So... you know the bed chem outro, right?— she asked, her words slightly rushed, like she wasn’t sure how he would react.

Lando raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. —The bed chem outro?— He repeated slowly, looking at her with a slight frown. —You want me to... what, exactly?—

Amelie bit her lip, trying to hide the grin threatening to break through. —You know, the part of the show where Peter comes in with a camcorder, and we move behind the curtains for a more... private moment?—

Lando’s eyes widened, and he shook his head with a chuckle. —No fucking way. Not happening, Ames. I’m not doing that, not tonight.—

Amelie pouted, her bottom lip sticking out in a way that made Lando’s heart skip a beat. She crossed her arms, and for a moment, she just stared at him, an exaggerated look of offense spreading across her face.

—What do you mean, no fucking way?— she huffed, raising an eyebrow. —You're acting like it's such a big deal. It’s part of the damn show. Everyone knows it!—

—But�� I don't know, Ames, it's just a bit… too much. You're, like, famous, and... fuck, people will be watching. I’ll be on the jumbotron, and I’ll look like I don’t know what I’m doing.— He winced just thinking about it.

Amelie rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh. —Fine, you win, I guess I’ll just have to do it alone. I’m sure I’ll manage just fine without you there to help me.— She turned to walk away, but before she could take a full step, she felt Lando’s arm pull her back gently.

—Wait, wait, wait.— His voice was softer, quieter. —Don’t... don't do that. You know I can’t say no to you when you look like that. Fine, I'll do it, but only because it’s our last night, and I’m... I'm not going to leave you hanging like that.—

—C’mon, we need to practice it during soundcheck,— she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the stage.

—Practice?— Lando groaned. —You’re seriously gonna make me do this in front of your entire team?—

—Oh, don’t be shy now, Norris. I’ve seen you do the most ridiculous shit on Twitch for years. This is nothing.—

Lando narrowed his eyes at her. —That’s different. There’s no... implied...— he hesitated, struggling to find the words, —...sexual tension involved.—

Amelie snorted. —Oh, baby, you’re already oozing sexual tension. Trust me.—

Lando flushed a deep shade of red, and Amelie couldn’t help but laugh. God, she loved how easy he was to tease.

As they stepped onto the stage, her crew was already adjusting lighting and sound. Peter, her usual backup dancer, was off to the side, smirking knowingly as Lando reluctantly took his place.

—Peter, show him how it's done,— Amelie called, grinning.

Peter raised the camcorder and moved through the routine with ease, slipping behind the closing curtain with Amelie in a way that made the audience lose their minds every single night. Lando watched, arms crossed, a mixture of amusement and pure panic on his face.

—You’ve got this, baby,— Amelie teased, leaning in close enough for her breath to brush against his neck. —Just pretend it’s... you know... one of those nights in Monaco. No cameras. Just us.—

Lando groaned, covering his face with his hands. —You’re evil, you know that?—

Amelie grinned. —I know.—

They ran through the outro once, twice. By the third time, Lando was starting to get the hang of it

—See? You're a natural,— Amelie teased as they stepped behind the curtain, her body pressed against his as the stage lights dimmed.

Lando let out a breath, shaking his head. —I still feel like an idiot.—

—You look hot as fuck, actually,— she murmured against his jaw, pressing a kiss there before pulling away and walking back onto the stage. —The fans are gonna lose their minds tonight.—

Lando groaned dramatically, trailing after her. —Great. Just what I need. More attention.—

Amelie laughed, reaching for his hand and intertwining their fingers as they walked back toward her crew. Lando's heart softened at how easily she always grounded him, even when he was completely out of his comfort zone.

As they wrapped up soundcheck, Amelie’s band and crew scattered to prepare for the show. Lando lingered by the edge of the stage, watching her talk to her team, her energy electric as always. It was one of the things that made him fall for her in the first place—how effortlessly she commanded a room without even trying.

But beneath the confidence, he knew her. Knew the girl who still sometimes doubted herself. Who still struggled with the pressure, the noise, and the ghosts of her past. And tonight, he could feel her holding on to him a little tighter, knowing that after this, he’d be gone for weeks.

-------------

liked by ameliedaymanupdates, lanmelieshippers, and others

shortnsweetupdate: @ameliedayman pictured onstage in new blue bodysuit with ruffles! #LondonShortnSweet

View all 47,583 comments

f1baby: She’s glowing and thriving, we love to see it 🫶🏼💙 → lanmelieforever: @f1baby literally, she’s in her “I’m dating a McLaren driver” era and it SHOWS.

queenamelie: The outfit. The vocals. The stage presence. Everything about her is perfect.

notafan: She’s so overrated. I don’t get the hype. → ameliefanclub: @notafan girl you’re obsessed, you’re always in her comments 💀

landoslover: She looks unreal in blue omg

checotogoat: The fact she can do this and still pull up to the paddock and be an F1 wag... Mother. → gridprincess: @checotogoat she’s literally the queen of the grid now, everyone else can go home.

fan1: Okay but THIS OUTFIT?! The way she just gets prettier every day, it’s actually unfair. 😩💙 → fan2: @fan1 No bc she looks like a literal princess. The ruffles?? The color?? She ATE.

ameliesfairy: She looks so good, I’m actually SOBBING. The way she gives us a show every night 🫠✨ → lanmelieupdates: @ameliesfairy girl imagine Lando’s reaction when she walked out in THIS. Boy is down bad 😭 → fan3: @lanmelieupdates if he even saw it 😬 where is he tonight?!

hatersunited: She thinks this outfit is gonna make us forget what she did?? Girl bye 💀

norrisnation: Okay but real talk, where IS Lando?? Man hasn’t been spotted all night 😭

f1tea: So… no Lando in the audience tonight? 👀

ameliesbff: People saying Lando isn’t there… babes, he’s probably the one who took half these photos 😭 → landosimp: @ameliesbff EXACTLY, this man is obsessed with her and I love it

-------------

The lights dimmed, and the familiar haunting melody of Bed Chem echoed through the O2 Arena. The audience, already entranced by Amelie's sultry performance, erupted in anticipation as the camcorder effect flickered on the big screen.

But tonight, something was different.

As the male figure stepped onto the stage, camcorder in hand, the crowd expected Peter, her usual dancer. But when the spotlight hit him, the arena practically exploded.

It wasn’t Peter.

It was Lando Norris.

The screams were deafening, a mix of pure shock and absolute chaos as fans realized who had just taken Peter's place. Phones shot up in the air, fans recording the moment like their lives depended on it.

Lando grinned, cheeks flushed, clearly fighting back the nerves that had been eating him alive all day. But the second his eyes met Amelie's, everything else faded away.

He was just... hers.

Amelie smirked as she slowly backed up toward the closing curtain, her hand teasingly sliding up her body as she sang the final lines of the song. Lando followed, the camcorder capturing every sultry movement, every glance she threw his way.

The crowd's reaction was insane, but Amelie barely heard them. All she saw was him.

As the curtains closed behind them, the stage lights dimming until only their shadows could be seen, Lando dropped the camcorder and stepped closer to her.

Amelie’s back pressed against the velvet curtain, her breathing already uneven as Lando’s hands found her waist, pulling her flush against him. The audience could only see their silhouettes, but that made it even worse — they knew exactly what was happening.

The screams intensified as Amelie’s shadow leaned back, her hands slipping into Lando’s curls as he dipped his head to her neck.

—You're really playing the part now, huh?— she whispered against his ear, breathless from the tension.

Lando smirked against her skin, pressing a slow, open-mouthed kiss to the sensitive spot below her jaw.

—Thought I’d give the people a show,— he murmured, voice low and teasing. —But mostly... I just wanted an excuse to touch you like this.—

Amelie felt her knees weaken when Lando’s hands slid down her thighs, guiding her to lie down on the stage floor. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he positioned himself between them.

The crowd lost their absolute minds.

From their perspective, all they could see was Amelie’s silhouette beneath Lando, her legs hooked around him as he hovered over her, his mouth moving down her neck.

Lando's breath was hot against her skin as he whispered:

—You have no idea how much I’m going to miss you, baby. I’ve been spoiled with you all winter.—

Amelie’s heart raced as she felt his hands slowly slide up her thighs, teasingly squeezing as his lips brushed against her collarbone.

—Lando...— she breathed, already dizzy from the way he was touching her, from the fact that they could barely do anything right now.

—Mmm?— Lando hummed, kissing just below her ear. —What’s wrong, baby? I thought this was just acting...—

—You're such a fucking tease.—

Lando chuckled darkly against her skin, pressing his hips against hers just enough to make her gasp.

—You started this. I’m just... committing to the role.—

Amelie let out a soft, frustrated moan, fingers tugging at his curls.

—You're so lucky I have a show to finish, or I’d actually kill you right now.—

Lando grinned, kissing the corner of her mouth before whispering:

—Don’t worry, love. We’ve got all night after this.—

-------------

liked by lando4champion, ameliemyqueen, and others

shortnsweetupdates: GUYS. During the bed chem outro, Lando was the guy behind the curtain with Amelie... holy f*ck. We're actually living in a fanfic at this point. 🫣💖

View all 109,232 comments

shortnsweetfandom: Omg. Lando literally taking Peter's spot behind the curtain during the bed chem outro?? This is a WHOLE new level of relationship goals 😭💜

f1tea: Wait wait wait... Lando was behind the curtain with her during bed chem??? WHAT. Is this real life??? 💀💀 → speedyboi44: @f1tea literally what i need a better camera angle. i'm obsessed with them

thetruthhurtsfan: Oh, great, now we get to watch them make out behind the curtains. So mature and classy. 🙄 → ameliesswag: @thetruthhurtsfan lol, jealous much? You don't have to watch if you don't wanna. 😂 It's cute tho, let them live.

itsactuallycute: Ok but can we just appreciate how obsessed they are with each other? Like, it's literally adorable 🥺💜 → f1_lover22: @itsactuallycute I KNOW, right? They’re so cute together.

babygirl121: The way they’re always looking for ways to be together? Goals. 😍💖

hearteyesbabe: Look, I can’t even pretend I’m not obsessed with these two. Like, I’m sitting here screaming at my phone. 😍😭 → realfanlovers: @hearteyesbabe Honestly, same. I can’t even focus on the show because of how much I’m losing it over them. 😂

f1dreamer2025: No, like, we ALL KNOW what's going on back there. The shadows gave it away 😏 → racing_fanatics: @f1dreamer2025 Honestly, anyone who says they didn’t know what was happening is lying. 😂 You can feel the tension even from the shadows. → f1dreamer2025: @racing_fanatics exactly!! They wanted us to see. They wanted us to lose our minds tonight. 💀🔥

-------------

The roar of the O2, still echoing faintly in their ears, faded into the quiet hum of the London night as Lando pulled the McLaren Artura into the underground parking of Amelie’s apartment building. Amelie, her hair still slightly tousled from the stage, leaned her head against the cool leather of the seat, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

—That was… insane,— she murmured, a contented smile playing on her lips.

Lando reached over, gently squeezing her hand. —You were incredible, Ames. Absolutely incredible. Honestly, I’m still buzzing.—

They rode the elevator in comfortable silence, the unspoken weight of their impending separation hanging in the air. As they stepped into the penthouse apartment, Benny, the fluffy cream British Shorthair, bounded towards them, meowing a greeting that bordered on demanding. Björn, the grey one, remained perched on the back of the sofa, watching them with a disdainful glare.

—Hey, Benny-bear,— Amelie cooed, scooping the cat into her arms. —Someone missed me, didn’t you?—

—He misses you more than I do, little one,— Lando teased, a playful grin stretching across his face as he watched her fuss over the cat. —Which is saying something, considering I’ve been counting down the seconds until I could get you alone again.—

Amelie rolled her eyes, but a blush crept up her neck. —Oh, shut up, Lan. You’re such a sap.— She put Benny down, who promptly began weaving between Lando’s legs, purring loudly. —Go on, you two, entertain yourselves. I’m going to change.—

She disappeared into her bedroom, the sound of her heels clicking against the hardwood floor fading as the door closed. Lando watched her go, a slow smile spreading across his face. He bent down, scratching Benny behind the ears.

Lando chuckled, watching Benny’s enthusiastic purrs vibrate against his fingers. —You’re a good lad, aren’t you? Just like your mum, always wanting attention.— He glanced towards the closed bedroom door, a familiar warmth spreading through him. —Though, I’m hoping she’ll want my attention tonight.—

He wandered over to the living room, sinking into the plush sofa. Björn, with a theatrical flick of his tail, jumped down and stalked off towards the kitchen, a clear display of feline indifference. Lando grinned, undeterred. He knew Amelie loved the cats, and he loved watching her with them. It was another layer to her, a soft, domestic side that contrasted sharply with the fierce performer he’d just witnessed on stage.

A few minutes later, Amelie emerged from the bedroom, now clad in a silk robe that shimmered in the soft light of the apartment. Her hair, freed from its elaborate styling, cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves. Lando’s breath hitched slightly. She looked effortlessly beautiful, a vision of relaxed elegance.

—Better?— she asked, a slight smile curving her lips as she walked towards him.

Lando’s gaze darkened as it lazily trailed down her figure, taking in the way the silk robe clung to her curves.

—Much better,— he murmured, his voice dropping an octave as she settled beside him on the sofa. —Though, to be honest, I always liked it better on the floor.—

Amelie let out a soft laugh, rolling her eyes, but her body betrayed her — her thighs instinctively pressed together at the way he was looking at her.

—You’re actually insufferable,— she teased, though her voice was softer now.

Lando grinned, inching closer, his hand finding her thigh and squeezing lightly through the thin fabric of the robe.

—And yet, you’re obsessed with me,— he whispered against her ear, his lips brushing her skin just enough to make her shiver.

—Fuck off,— she mumbled, already feeling her body reacting to him.

Lando chuckled darkly, leaning in to press a slow, lingering kiss to her neck. —No, baby. You love when I talk to you like this. Don't you?—

Amelie’s breath hitched as his hand slipped beneath her robe, warm fingers tracing slow circles on her inner thigh.

—Lando...— she breathed, eyes fluttering shut.

—Mmm?— he hummed, lips trailing up to her jaw. —Gonna miss me, aren’t you? Gonna miss having me between your legs for the next four weeks?—

Amelie let out a quiet whimper, her head falling back against the sofa as he kissed down her neck, teeth grazing her skin in a way that made her body burn.

—You’re a complete and utter bastard,— she managed, her voice thick with desire. —And yes, I’m going to miss you. A lot.—

Lando’s grin widened, a predatory gleam in his eyes. —Good. Because I’m going to miss you too, Ames. Especially this.— His hand moved higher, cupping her intimately through the silk. —And this.—

He leaned in, capturing her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. Amelie’s hands found their way to his hair, tugging gently as the kiss grew more intense. The world outside the apartment faded away, leaving only the two of them, the heat of their bodies, the unspoken promises hanging in the air.

The kiss broke, both of them gasping for air. Lando’s eyes, dark with desire, met hers. —Let’s not waste any time, shall we?— he murmured, his voice husky.

Amelie nodded, her eyes mirroring his desire. With a swift movement, he lifted her into his arms, carrying her towards the bedroom. He gently laid her on the bed, his eyes never leaving hers.

He began to slowly undress her, his touch reverent, each caress sending shivers down her spine. The silk robe pooled around her feet, revealing the curves of her body, the soft skin that he knew so well. Amelie watched him, her breath catching in her throat as his eyes traced every inch of her.

—You’re so beautiful, Ames,— he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. —So fucking beautiful.—

He shed his own clothes, his eyes never leaving hers, the anticipation building between them. He knelt on the bed, his hand reaching out to trace the curve of her hip.

—Tell me you want me, baby,— he murmured, his voice low and demanding.

—I want you, Lando,— she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. —God, I want you so much.—

He leaned in, capturing her lips in another searing kiss, his hand moving between her legs, teasing her until she gasped. He moved over her, his body settling between her thighs. Amelie wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, desperate for the feeling of him inside her.

—Ready?— he whispered, his eyes searching hers.

She nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of desire and anticipation. He entered her slowly, stretching her, filling her with his warmth. Amelie gasped, her body arching beneath him.

—Fuck, Lan,— she breathed, her nails digging into his back.

He began to move, slow and deliberate, building the tension between them. Amelie’s moans filled the room, her body moving in sync with his. He increased his pace, the rhythm building, their bodies moving together in a dance as old as time.

—You feel so good, Ames,— he groaned, his voice thick with desire. —So fucking good.—

The room was a symphony of soft moans and whispered curses, the air thick with the scent of arousal. Amelie’s hands gripped Lando’s shoulders, her nails digging into his skin as the pleasure intensified.

—Lando… oh god,— she gasped, her body trembling.

—That’s it, baby,— he murmured, his voice rough.

He shifted, pulling her legs higher, his movements growing more urgent. —Ride me, Ames. Just like this. Show me how much you want me.—

Amelie’s eyes widened, a flicker of surprise mixed with raw desire flashing across her face. This was new, a departure from their usual dynamic, but the command in his voice, the raw intensity in his eyes, sent a thrill through her. Without hesitation, she lifted herself, her body rising and falling against his, the friction igniting a fire within her.

—Fuck, Ames,— Lando groaned, his hands gripping her hips, guiding her movements. —That’s it. Just like that. You’re driving me crazy.—

Amelie’s breath came in ragged gasps, her body moving with a newfound confidence. The control, the power, it was intoxicating. She leaned forward, her lips finding his, her tongue tangling with his as she rode him harder, faster.

—You like this, don’t you?— he whispered against her lips, his voice thick with lust. —You like being in control.—

—Yes,— she breathed, her voice raw with desire. —God, yes.—

—Good girl,— he murmured, his hands tightening on her hips, urging her on. —Ride me, baby. Ride me until you scream my name.—

Amelie’s moans grew louder, her body trembling as she reached the edge. The pleasure was overwhelming, a wave crashing over her, sending shivers down her spine.

—Lando!— she cried out, her body convulsing around him.

He followed her, his own release a guttural groan, his body shuddering as he spilled inside her. They collapsed against each other, their breaths mingling, their bodies still thrumming with the aftershocks of their shared pleasure.

A comfortable silence settled over them, broken only by the soft sounds of their breathing. Lando’s hand traced lazy circles on Amelie’s back, his fingers lingering on the soft skin beneath his touch.

—God, Ames,— he murmured, his voice husky. —You were incredible.—

Amelie smiled against his chest, her heart still pounding in her ears. —You weren’t so bad yourself, Lan,— she teased, her voice soft.

He chuckled, tightening his hold on her. —I’m going to miss this,— he whispered, his voice tinged with regret.

—Me too,— she breathed, her fingers tracing the lines of his chest. —Four weeks is a long time.—

—Too long,— Lando agreed, his voice low. He kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering for a moment. —But we’ll make it. Japan will be here before we know it.—

They lay tangled together, the warmth of their bodies a comforting presence in the quiet room. Eventually, exhaustion claimed them, and they drifted off to sleep, their bodies still intertwined.

Amelie swallowed the lump forming in her throat and forced a shaky smile.

—It doesn’t matter what happens in the race, Lan,— she murmured, her thumb brushing over his lips. —I’ll always be proud of you. Always.—

Lando’s eyes glistened with something she couldn’t quite place as he leaned into her touch, pressing a soft kiss to her palm.

—Fuck, Ames. You’re going to kill me with that.—

Her heart shattered at the sound of his voice, thick with emotion.

—Come here,— she whispered, tugging him down until their foreheads touched.

His breath fanned against her lips as he kissed her, slow and deep, like he was trying to memorize her taste. Amelie whimpered into his mouth, her fingers tangling in his curls, desperate to hold onto him for just a few more seconds.

When he pulled away, her tears had already spilled over, trailing down her cheeks. Lando wiped them away with his thumbs, kissing her once more, this time softer.

—Four weeks. That’s all, baby,— he whispered against her lips. —We’ve survived worse, remember?—

She let out a choked laugh, nodding. —When you broke my heart in 2021, yeah.—

Lando groaned, his head falling against her chest.

—Are you seriously bringing that up right now? Jesus, woman.—

Amelie giggled through her tears, tugging his curls playfully. —You deserve it for leaving me like this.—

He lifted his head, eyes narrowing. —You’re evil. I’m genuinely obsessed with you, and you’re making me suffer on purpose.—

She smirked, brushing her lips against his. —I know. And you love it.—

Lando groaned, his hands gripping her waist.

—You’re fucking unbearable. I swear when I get to Japan, I’m not letting you leave the hotel room for the entire weekend.—

Amelie’s stomach flipped at the thought.

—Promise?— she whispered, eyes darkening.

Lando kissed her again, rough and desperate.

—Promise.—

He finally pulled back, but not before pressing one last lingering kiss to her forehead.

—Go back to sleep, baby. I’ll text you when I land.—

Amelie nodded, her vision blurry as she watched him grab his suitcase and quietly slip out the door. The sound of the lock clicking echoed through the empty apartment, and suddenly, the weight of his absence hit her like a freight train.

She curled into his side of the bed, pulling his hoodie from the night before over her head and inhaling the faint scent of his cologne that still lingered on the fabric.

Benny hopped onto the bed, curling against her chest, purring softly as if he knew her heart was breaking.

—Four weeks, baby boy,— Amelie whispered, stroking the cat’s fur as tears streamed down her face. —I can survive four weeks... right?—

Benny meowed softly in response, pressing his little head against her.

She let out a shaky breath, her chest aching with longing.

Four weeks felt like an eternity.

But for him... she’d wait forever.

[cheritzteam]

[MM] Spring Love Blooms🌷 Romantic Date with Him! 2025 Yoosung★ Birthday Event

Hello, this is Cheritz.

The warm feeling of spring has arrived this March. 🌹

As the cold season🌬️ passes by, fresh leaves☘️ have begun to appear one by one on the streets.

It's the perfect season to enjoy a date💗 with your loved one and celebrate🍰 someone special's birthday.

And around this time every year, there's a ✨special birthday boy✨. Can you guess who it is?

That's right! It's Yoosung★'s birthday!

He seems to be busier than usual ahead of his special day🎈.

Please check the details below~ 😉

< ① Yoosung's Birthday Commemorative Date!? >

When spring comes, what kind of date would you like to go on with your loved one? 🚶‍♂️🌸

A picnic in the park on a perfect spring day? 🍙

Or perhaps a cafe date with sweet desserts after a stroll in the pleasant spring breeze? ☕🍰

The members have also shared their dream spring dates.

(What each one dreams of is a secret...)

We're curious about what your perfect spring date looks like too! 💕

March's mini-game event prepared with the expectation of a special date!

Through the mini-game, you can not only simulate a date with him but also peek into his true feelings 🎶

We're so curious about what results you'll get!

🎮 Play the mini-game now : https://interacty.me/projects/MM_YS_EN

🔍 Curious about Cheritz's results? : https://tinyurl.com/2yacbo2w

[Revealing a little behind the scenes...]

He's working hard for a spring date...

If you're curious about him 🧐, keep an eye on https://tinyurl.com/2yapmhls 😎

< ② #Happy_Birthday_Yoosung >

A bonus hashtag event is also prepared to celebrate Yoosung's birthday!

Please celebrate his birthday using the hashtag #Happy_Birthday_Yoosung,

and don't miss the chance to win 50 hourglasses⌛(15 winners) through a random drawing♥

Event Period : March 10 (Mon) ~ March 19 (Wed) KST

Winner Announcement : March 20 (Thu) KST

< ③ In-game Login Event >

Enjoy the game with Yoosung's birthday commemorative title image by logging in during the event period below 🎉

Plus, Yoosung's birthday login rewards! Be sure to collect all the benefits 🎁

Title Image Period :  March 10 (Mon) ~ March 19 (Wed), 2025 KST

Yoosung’s Birthday Celebration Login Reward :  March 11 (Tue) ~ March 16 (Sun), 2025 KST

Finally, during the period below, Cheritz Market will offer a 20% discount on Yoosung★ Birthday Commemorative Pillow Talk Cushion [Yoosung★] and RFA Gag T-shirt [Yoosung★]. 

If you've been hesitating to make a purchase, why not take this opportunity? ( ♪˶´・‎ᴗ・ `˶ ♪)

Cheritz Market Discount Period : March 11 (Tue) 2:00 PM ~ March 17 (Mon) 2:00 PM KST

That's all for our March news!

We hope your March is filled with happy moments, just as warm as the spring breeze.

Please continue to show your love for Mystic Messenger 🎀

Thank you!

Sincerely, Cheritz.

[raygirlramblings]

✨MERRAY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL✨

Honestly, it’s been a long and busy year for all of us, and for fandom it’s been no different. Between board games and plushies and Ubisoft consistently holding the fans at arms length, I think we just need a moment of calm at the end of the year.

I like to think Rayman and friends threw a big Christmas Eve party, all the songs and drinks and games. A merry time was had by all, but as the party goers collapsed into cushions and under blankets a special kind of magical calm settled on the scene. Only one reveller remained awake to catch sight of a shooting star racing across the cold sky, casting its light into the untouched snow and silent trees 🌲

I hope you like this piece, and I hope to see all of you Rayfans on the other side of 2025. Next year is a BIG year for our favourite bean. It’s the year of his big 30!!! Can you believe it?! I’m excited. But for now, a little soft nighttime calm is what we all deserve. Much love and big hugs to you all. I hope you are spending your holiday surrounded by the people and things you love 🥰

[poemnic-tarot]

✨🌸Who are you becoming?🌸✨

This is a Timeless Pick a Card but you can use this as Who you are becoming in 2025

(Disclaimer: This is a general reading please only take what resonate. For entertainment purposes only)

☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️ You Are Loved ☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️

Pile 1: The hermit🌤️☀️ Dawn

Dragons Oracle card - 24. Freedom: Breaking the chains

Who are you becoming Pile 1 is more independent.

You are not afraid to be alone anymore, cause you know that you never are. Spirit and your Guardian Angles are alway with you. In the past if you had a hard time spending time by yourself, doing thing on your own, for example, going to a cafe by yourself. You are transforming into someone that wait for nobody. If you want to watch a movie and can't find anyone to go with, you will find that you have no problem doing things on your own anymore.Which make you dangerous cause you really don't need people. Being in solitude used to feel isolating but not anymore. Now, it feels like Freedom. Like you have broken past chains and shackles of expectation and the standard that been put on you either from others or yourself. You have healed your attachment wounds.You are no longer conforming to what's is conventional or normal, you are becoming someone who is/will choose their own path. Going your own way used to feel scary but you are becoming someone who will feel relieved when you finally choose it. You have realise that there is no right or wrong way to go about life and everyone has their own unique path, it is time you focus on yours.

You have break free from a limited mindset, options, or even environment. Now the world seem endless and expansive but also connected to you more than ever. If you used to have social anxiety in public, now you might find yourself being the one striking a conversation with a stranger!

Who you are becoming is more You, as you shed and let go of expectation of others, societies and layers and layers of falsehood in the name of self protection. You don't need the mask anymore cause you know you are safe to be WHO YOU ARE. Now, you are free to do whatever you want, where ever you want to go, without having to consider others. You might have been too considerate in the past regarding your own life, so it is time to balance it out. For example, if you were a person okay with whatever choice your friends chooses, there's no more of that. You now know what you want to experience, in fact, you have alway know what kind of experience you want to have, but in the past you might've been too scare to do it alone or you were waiting for others to go with you. But no more, you are finally not afraid to go on your own. Solo traveling might be your plan in the near future. You are becoming someone who bath and appreciate in your own company, knowing that your own company is enough. Knowing that even if you don't have anyone right now, you will alway have YOU.

Signs: Aquarius, White stag, Watermelon, Yellow birds, White Castle, 99, 24, 69 , Fog, Blue, Bear cub, Germany

Poem: Blue Or Red by @cant-find-my-name Feeling lost but I know I am guided I don't hold the map I followed the Stars The constellation showed me the path Only I can see I choose to go my own way And the journey is lonely and vicious Many times, I've thought to maybe stop And let the conventional normalcy Control me Like everyone else Being different made you a target Everyone chooses blue But I said Red Now they can all see My choice in all it's glory They all went for ordinary But I decided to create my own Fate

Song: When The Darkness Comes by Colbie Caillat

I'll be here waiting Hoping, praying that This light will guide you home When you're feeling lost I'll leave my love Hidden in the sun For when the darkness comes

Now the door is open The world I knew is broken There's no return Now my heart is not scared Just knowing that you're out there Watching me

Aesthetic : Your energy feels like A DAWN but the light has not yet come through. A misty, foggy morning where the view is limited, but now and then the fog lifted and you can see the horizon, the view ahead and it look like hope and anticipation. And it feels like some thing or someone is coming to meet you. Suddenly, appeared out of that fog and materialised in front of your eyes, a silhouette of a person. You hold your breath as you watch the person walked toward you, all around you is silent, you can even hear the dew drop on leaves. Shadow still roam but it feel distance cause not long now, it will be wash out by the light.

It reminds me of a scene where Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, walking through the fog coming to meet Elizabeth, but instead of Mr Darcy, the person walking is who you are becoming, walking towards the you now, walking to meet you, to declare their love and promises to take care of you.

☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️ You Are Loved ☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️

Pile 2:The Hanged man🌹🥂Skyflower

Dragons Oracle Card - 22. Rebirth: Giving yourself a second chance

Who are you becoming Pile 2 is Surrendering/ Letting go

You realised that it's okay not to have all the answer.You are finally okay with not knowing your next step or where to go. If you were a person who like to plan ahead or have a 5 years plan. Pile 2 you are becoming a person who doesn't have that and is alright with it. Having a plan doesn't mean it's bad, sometime we do need a plan but, I think you want to try something new. To become something or someone you have never been before. Which is living in the present and is okay with the Unknown.

The best decision is made in the present and you are finally in the present enough to make the decision. In the past, you might have made decision for the future and it used to soothed you something to look forward to, for example, booking your next vacation, but lately, it might have feel restricted and binds you and it feels like it does not leave room for you to go with the feeling at the present. When the time of the booking come, you find yourself not in the mood but you have to go cause you booked it. So you are becoming someone who goes with the flow, taking it day by day.Maybe you used to be obsessed with the future,needing to know every details about things you want to do but, you realised it had taken the fun out of the experience and now you lean toward surprises. You want to be surprise by life. You don't even want to be right you want to be taken aback, like in a good way. For example, you don't know where to go for your next vacation yet and instead you want to go with your urges.Throw the dice and see where it will land. The mystery used to scare you but now it's exhilarating.

Maybe in the past or in childhood you might have hold back a lot because of circumstances, saved the best for last kind of type. but you are becoming someone who will eat their most favourited thing on the plate first, maybe even eat dessert before meal because why not?. If the old way haven't work or give you that satisfaction why not try a different way? You are becoming someone who is willing to try a different way. Let go of the old way of doing things, that alway been done before and surrender to the calling of the moment. That quote, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. You realise that if you want different result you have to try a different ways. And you are finally willing to, you have healed your control issues. The outcome does not matter to you, in fact, you don't want to know, you want it to surprises you.

It is not easy to let go and try again but you are becoming some one who is willing to and chance it to see where your whims will lead you. The best story you read is alway the one that you can't predict so the best kind of life is the one where you can't quite predict either. The unknown used to scare you and in the past you have prepared preventative and steps to counter the unexpected, but now?, you are becoming someone who welcome it.

Signs: Pisces, Aries, Sagittarius, Sleeping Beauty, Snowboard, Snow, Firework, Vines of roses, 22, 13, Bird of paradise, The Alps mountain

Poems : Fireworks by @cant-find-my-name And I'm getting up from a hard fall You don't know what it's like to be At the bottom Because you alway stayed in the middle What goes up must come down What's down must shoot up And like Fireworks I'm shooting high There will be Exploding lights A grand finale Of what I'm capable of People will witness My Magnificent They can't miss it or undervalue it As it will shine Glorious like the sun Encompassing everyone

Songs : Spin The Wheel by Arcane and League of Legends

Go spin the wheel and see where it lands Join in the circus, stay for a dance, and Right when the war quiets down, ya strike up the band Keep marching on, my friends And do what you can

Wait 'til your brothers and your sisters, see where you been And if you loved the journey more than the end, go ahead Just turn that hourglass around and count to ten This ain't goodbye no more Nah, it just began

Aesthetic: You feel like unexpected fireworks, in the middle of the night quiet and unassuming. The slient is expected but then BOOM!, Bam!, goes the fires work out of no where. The sound caught you off guard but the light caught your eyes and you cannot look away. Whatever you were doing at that moment, you have to drop it and stared, transfixed on the Blooming of flowers/light in the sky. Your energy is mesmerising to other in a way of unexpectedness. The person watching doesn't want it to end, they want it to go on forever.

But all good things come to an end, you left an Unforgettable impression and people cannot denied the impact you have on their lives. Life changing impact. One moment you're here and the next, you're gone. Like a mirage or a wake up call from the Divines. Life is like going through darkness and then, an explosion of lights, you can't believe your eyes. Your energy is what people been waiting for their whole life, to witness, to feel, to BE. YOU ARE Becoming the Skyflower. The energy that awaken people to be in the moment, where ever they are in life, no one can miss when the fireworks goes off in the sky, but if people move too fast, or not pay enough attention, they might miss you altogether Pile 2. And it’s hard to come across your energy again.

☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️ You Are Loved ☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️

Pile 3: The Empress🪷🌱 Saviour

Dragons Oracle card -16. Destruction: Releasing Your Anger

Pile 3 who are you becoming is a Saint

Have you ever heard of that quote? You have to go through war in order to get peace. Or when a good man go to war?, or people don't know how much violent it took to be this soft. I'm not sure how it goes but, you are becoming someone people are hesitant to mess with. You have been through a lot Pile 3, my sympathies. People, circumstances, life has put you through a ringer but, who you are becoming is surprisingly not jaded. You are becoming ZEN. 'The Way of Zen' a book by Alans Watt is highly recommended here.

A lot of situation might have tested your patient, tested your demons, tested your self -worth. You might have gone through injustice, heartbreak and inequality, betrayal in someway, a lot actually. To the point of ridiculousness. You might have a victim mentality in the past, why me?, why did it have to alway be me?. You might have thought that you were unlucky as well. But who you are becoming is so beautiful. I'm seeing a lotus flower finally rising from the mud and blooming. You got passed the mud and layers of dirt, now, it is finally time to blossom into who you really are. I feel like who you are becoming is your Justice.

In the past, people might have tested your characters, baited you, tried to rile you up, persuaded you into doing things you will regret because they could not believe that you're this pure, this good. No matter what anyone told you Pile 3, you are pure, innocent and just a good person. All your anger and resentment is justified. Again that quote comes to mind, When good man goes to war, I don't know what the original context is but, in this context of the reading, something must have happened or someone must have done something so irrevocably bad that it got the most peaceful, the most kind person to take action. Which is YOU. I feel like it's not who you are becoming, it's more like, you have already become someone who is friends with their demons, most people are afraid of themselves without even knowing but,You have no fears. You have tamed a wild beast inside you and if someone come along poking your inner beast, they will quickly learn why it is not wise to wake a sleeping dragon.

Your masculine and feminine energy seem quite balance which is rare. You got the empress but you are someone who can be both nurturing but also protective of yourself at the same time. Divine Balance of energy, you can both defence and attack, you can play both roles. Maybe in the past people underestimated you and thought you are too soft, too sweet to hit back or stand up for yourself but not anymore. It's remind me of a character, Mel from Arcane, she is the wolf and the rabbit. You can be the prey and predator depending on the circumstances. You're not the victim of life anymore, you're a Multiplayers avatar. If this situation need a saviour you'll be one, if a villain is needed, you're not afraid to take on that role. If a Saint is called upon, Here you are. You have become a multifacets characters beyond the human limit and now a lot of darkness or energy will think twice before trying something.

It's not that you're becoming a target, it just natural for people to shoot down someone whose powerful. You are becoming someone who is so powerful, but it's not in a way that's obvious, it's in a way that, pardon my french, if you fuck around you'll find out how powerful Pile 3 is.

“Demons run when a good man goes to war Night will fall and drown the sun When a good man goes to war Friendship dies and true love lies Night will fall and the dark will rise When a good man goes to war Demons run, but count the cost The battle's won, but the child is lost”

― Steven Moffat

Signs: Camellia flowers, Lotus, Sun, Stature, Mary, red or purple roses, Griffin, Dragons, Red and orange, 33, 77

Poem : You Are Willing by @cant-find-my-name There's something special about you Do you know the Divine picked you? Your light is so bright Especially when you are surrounded by Darkness Your skin glow Like the gentle sunset kiss Your eyes shined throughout The Infinite knowledge of the universe It's never a hard decision for you To alway choose love You came here to serve You came here to stop the spreading of hate Of reigning illusion You know you have the will To create fate Of the earth and bring it To a higher position You have a God gift power To shift dimension You came to blessed Those who are willing You volunteered to lead The one that is open to heaven

Song : ZEN BY JENNIE

I tell 'em, "Down, now" On that energy, yes I am what you think about me Cross me, please I'ma keep it Z, Zen Presence, bless Money can't buy sixth sense

Aesthetic: You give the vibes of Gods/Goddesses. Something to be admired, worship, prayed to. Not to be cross or even look into your eyes. Bow your head and not accessible to just anyone, only the chosen people can be in your presence.Something sacred. The energy is like a shrine, a stature in the forest, claimed be nature, vines and flowers grown all over it but when you stumbled upon it you cannot helped but admire the beauty of the stature. It's feel ancient, old, and depending on how people appoarch you or the intentions, they either get bless or curse by it.

Picture a scene, a person went hiking but they got lost. it's getting dark and the sun is setting, they are tired and desperate to go home. They have been walking forever and suddenly, they fell down. They are about to give up but something made them look up and when they did, there you are. A lost shrine in the middle of a clearing, the last ray of sun light reflecting on the stature. The hiker couldn't believe their eyes. They got up and decided to pray to this beautiful stature in the middle of no where, and what do you know, they got rescue not long after. That is your vibes Pile 3. You give off saviour vibes when you want to, it's depend on the other person really on how you'll be.

☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️ You Are Loved ☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️

Pile 4: 7 of Wands💫🏆Winner

Dragons Oracle card -7. Effort: Conquering your demons

Pile 4 who you are becoming is a defender

Defender of your rights, your ideas, your innocence, yourself. If you had a hard time standing up for yourself before, who you are becoming is someone who won't hesitate to speak up and share your opinion. You will speak up when you have something to say,for example, asking more questions at interview. The person you are becoming is someone who ask a lot of questions, another example is, in a classroom if you don't understand something you won't hesitate to ask the teacher to explain again, mainly because you are eager to learn and want to get it correct.

You have no problem exercising your boundary, telling people "you are crossing one of my boundary right now", No means no. And it's not just with other people, it seem you are firm with yourself as well. Maybe in the past you were quite lenient and letting yourself get away with procrastination but not anymore. You will keep yourself accountable. I keep getting inner dialogue with this pile, maybe you do this a lot with yourself. Like giving yourself pep talk when nervous. "you can do this, we said we're going for a run let's go and do this’ keeping to your own promises.

Words of affirmation might be your love language, if not it would be beneficial to you a lot by hyping yourself up everyday in the mirror. Tell yourself you can do this, whatever your goal is. Tell yourself you are beautiful and lovable.Those positive affirmations will help fight the other negative voices. The only voice that you should listen to the most is your own, and your own voice will be full of love, praise and encouragement, not judgment or harshness. Pile 4 you might have internalised what others say to you and mistaken it for your own voice but who you are becoming is more discerning to who you're going to listen to from now on.

However, at the start it will feels like climbing a hill and whenever you're speaking up, your voice might feel like it's getting lost in the wind. But you are also becoming someone who’s not easily backing down. Someone who is persistent. It's like when someone ask you, what you did say?, in the past you might go ,never mind, but now, you have no problem repeating loud and clear about your opinion. You have been working on your throat chakra and it is paying off.

As well you are becoming someone who is perseverance, determined, and not easily giving up.Your tolererance towards achieving your goals is becoming master level. So if you want to learn a new skills or enter a course you have no problem finishing them. Sticking through to them. For example, you downloaded a new editing software and it's something you're never use before, but you want to start creating beautiful video. You are becoming someone whose is determine to learn and master the skills and get the result that you want. it's like you're not settling, you have a vision in mind and you will achieving it no matter what obstacle coming your way.

Unstoppable is the word, it also remind me of the chariot energy. You won't stop until you get the result you're looking for Pile 4. Whatever it is your efforts will pay off. if you haven't seen it, the result will come in the near future 7 weeks. For example, you will get the grade you aim for in a test, your studying will not be in vain. Your videos will turn out like you vision it, those long night watching tutorials videos on how to edit will pay off. I want to reassure you that your efforts will definitely pay off, it’s 2 plus 2 equal 4, straightforward equations, effort equal result. There will be no other variables to offset your result. You will make sure of it. It's giving athlete vibes, preparing to enter a competition. Have you ever heard of a natural born leader Pile 4?. You are a natural born WINNER. You are born to win.

Signs: Red, Red Dragons, Henry, Victoria, nail and hammer, cupid, fire, 777, 77, 17, gold medal, running track, Olympic

Poems : Rightful Seat by @cant-find-my-name It is not the one that the most gifted That win It's the one that fight the hardest The one that never give up You think you are special But you lack consistentcy The secret sauce is Hard work is key Victory is never guarantee Unless you fight until the very end If you think you got it handled From the start Then don't be surprise If you didn't win Cause table can be turned And the throne will not just be given It is a place you need to earn

Songs : Gods by New Jean

(’ey) This is what you came for Blood on the game ball Everybody dropping like rainfall (‘uh’) This is your moment Eyes on the pulpit, kid (I) think Church just opened

And they’re singing your praises la-la-la Screaming your name out la-la-loud One more step, you’re Immortal now, ‘cause

Aesthetic: it's giving a track runner participating in an Olympic vibes. You are so foucs on your goal but you are not naive to the journey cause you have trained yourself for it. In fact, you are confident and excited to put all your preparation, what you trained for, to the test. This time it's not a training session, your energy gives ‘this is the real deal’ vibes. This is a competition where there are winners and losers.

You are crunching down, ready, set, waiting to hear the bang of the gun. The voices of the crowd is muffled, you can only hear your own heart beat so loud, beating in anticipation. You are in position, and Bang!💥 it's go time. Your body shot forward reflectively without thinking cause you had done this a hundred times before. Your head is empty, your eye forward in front of you, you are in the ZONE. You have been running, you ran and you ran and when there's an obstacle in front of you, you jumped over it with no hesitation.

In your peripheral vision, you notice another runner next to you trying to catch up or trying to distract you, but you pay them no mind. The real competition is within yourself.Your breath is becoming quicker, it's getting harder to breathe, but suddenly coming into view is a red tapes in front of you. The sight alone pushes you to use the last of your energy to cross that line, even though for a while the road ahead seems to stretch on forever, never ending. But now you can see the end and victory is yours. From the moment you were born into this earth, you've won.

☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️ You Are Loved ☀️ 🍉 ☁️ 🌤️

Check out @cant-find-my-name for more of my Original poetry or Follow my IG PoemNic🪲

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Thank you so much for being here🧡

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[vettelsvee]

lewis hamilton + lawyer + enemies to lovers for city of stars au

LET'S CALL IT A CASE CLOSED | Lewis Hamilton Lawyer AU

Part of City of Stars Universe game (active until May 14th so join us!) Read until the very end to find out if you guessed right Lewis' plot 🔮 Become a beta reader of City of Stars F1 AU Universe 🏎️🏁✨

⋆ PAIRING: Lawyer!Lewis Hamilton x Lawyer Female!Reader ⋆ SUMMARY: Daniel Ricciardo, famous actor, gets involved in too much trouble. Lewis Hamilton, his lawyer, needs to help him... but you're the main problem and what will be making him difficult to win the case ↳ REQUESTED: Yes! Thanks for requesting and hope you like it anon 💖 ⋆ WARNINGS: Mentions of drugs, alcohol, public arguments and fights. A few of undercover spoilers from my upcoming F1 AU Universe, City of Stars hehe ⋆ WORD COUNT: 2647 ⋆ VEE'S NOTES: It's been a long time but I'm finally back! Honestly, I procrastinated today everything I had uni related just to write and post this, so I hope you liked it! Also, let's call it a celebration for Lewis' first ever Ferrari win (I don't mind it's a sprint race you guys). Hope you're all doing great and better than I am, as well as I hope you like this a lot (and please take part in the City of Stars game!) <3 ↳ TALK TO ME! | FORMULA 1 MASTERLIST

© VETTELSVEE (2025). please, do not steal, copy or translate my works. thanks for reading!

If there was one thing Lewis Hamilton was proud of, it was the lawyer he had become.  

Years of studying, effort, and above all, sacrifice, losing more than one relationship along the way for "spending too much time studying" or "never leaving the courtroom", had led him to where he was now.  

After several years working in London, the city that had shaped him as a lawyer, he decided to leave it all behind and move abroad, settling in Geneva, Switzerland. It was the city that had earned him the reputation he had fought so hard for, the one he had dreamed of, whether he admitted it or not.  

He had lost more than he ever imagined when he first decided to study law. But did he regret any of it?  

Not the slightest.  

Lewis was used to high-stakes cases, the kind that kept him up at night not just because of the endless hours of work they required, but because the sheer adrenaline coursing through him wouldn't allow sleep to take over. Cases that were more about strategy than law were his specialty, the ones he thrived on. But this one? This one was proving more difficult than he would have liked.  

Daniel Ricciardo, one of Hollywood’s most renowned actors, had turned his life into a disaster. Wild nights, substance use, and questionable company had drawn attention, but it was the public altercations with paparazzi and even a few fans that had truly damaged his reputation.  

The media had already judged and condemned him. And while the upcoming trial had been kept as private as possible, everyone knew exactly when and where the Australian actor would stand before the court, perhaps to be saved by his trusted lawyer, Mr. Hamilton, as many already speculated.  

Lewis, however, cared little for the headlines. He couldn't care less about the relentless criticism for taking on such a controversial, high-profile case with little chance of walking away unscathed.  

What truly bothered him was the woman sitting across from him in the courtroom: Y/N Y/L/N.  

You were brilliant, ruthless, and willing to win at any cost, no matter what it took. While Hamilton had won most of his trials, the few he had lost had been against you. Your rivalry was legendary; even judges and courtroom regulars were familiar with your dynamic: pure, unfiltered hatred, and nothing more.  

"You look like you've been up all night, Hamilton," you remarked, your voice smooth yet laced with that infuriatingly smug tone. "I hope you’re not planning on making this easy for me, like you always do. It would be such a shame to see you fall so easily." 

"You’re not getting away with anything, and you know it, Y/L/N."

You smirked in satisfaction, leaning back into your seat before turning your attention back to your client’s defense, one of the paparazzi, and the one who had suffered the worst of it. Yet, despite your focus, you couldn't help but steal a few glances at Lewis whenever he was deep in the case files. Unfortunately for you, one of those times, he caught you in the act.  

To your surprise, though, he said nothing. Not until the trial began.  

Two hours later, the courtroom erupted into a theatrical spectacle, as expected from a case of such media frenzy. Stepping outside for air had barely been an option. The press swarmed the courthouse, desperate to capture any moment that could make them enough money to never work again. Even Ricciardo’s arrival had been a disaster; he had to sneak in, and once inside, you had almost been ambushed yourself, accompanied by a chorus of shouts and insults from those who had already condemned him.  

The battlefield had been set long before the trial had even begun, and despite facing worse cases in the past, neither you nor Lewis felt particularly confident.  

When Lewis started presenting flimsy arguments about Ricciardo’s alleged drug use—insisting he hadn't consumed any at the party, nor had he been excessively drunk—and claiming the attacks on the press were nothing more than social media manipulation, it was your turn to present your case.  

You always maintained a sense of ease, carrying the unwavering confidence that you had already won before even setting foot in the courtroom. Your ability to remain composed in moments like these was both infuriating and, to some, downright inspiring. The key wasn’t just to win: it was to make your opponent doubt themselves.  

Today, however, things felt different.  

Your legs trembled as you stood, and as you began to speak, the nervous fidgeting with your hands became painfully obvious. Lewis noticed, of course he did. And, as expected, he used it to his advantage, keeping his gaze locked on you, unsettling you even more.  

"Your Honor," you began, taking a quick breath before continuing, "this case is not what the media or social networks want the public to see. I believe in facts, and there is overwhelming evidence that cannot be ignored. Mr. Ricciardo has not only been involved in incidents related to excessive drug and alcohol use, but also in acts of physical violence against individuals who were simply doing their jobs."

Lewis clenched his jaw. He held his tongue at first, but he couldn't stop himself. He wasn’t going to lose another case, not to you. He stood abruptly, his eyes locking onto yours.  

"Ladies and gentlemen," he started, his voice sharp, almost venomous, "we are not here to entertain or speculate, as Ms. Y/L/N seems to believe. We are here to present facts. The so-called evidence the opposing side has presented is, at best, weak. And if anything, this trial has only proven how the media has painted Mr. Ricciardo as a criminal before the truth has even been brought to light."

The room fell into an eerie silence as you exchanged words, your arguments clashing like poisoned daggers, not just in an effort to win the case, but to defeat each other.  

It had become personal. Too personal. And the inconclusive trial verdict was proof of that.  

In the days that followed, your rivalry only escalated, if that was even possible. Every glance exchanged in the courtroom grew sharper, every objection felt like a personal challenge. Neither of you backed down. The tension between you two had become so unbearable that you were even threatened with case reassignment, to be replaced by lawyers who were, in the court’s words, "more professional than the both of you."

Tired and, let’s be honest, afraid that the legal career you had worked so hard to build was slipping away, you decided to call Lewis at the very least, to try and put things in order.

When he saw your name light up on his phone screen, he had no desire to answer. But a small, nagging fear that it might be something important, something crucial to tipping the scales in his favor and winning the case, made him take a deep breath before picking up.

"Y/L/N."

"I need to talk to you." Your voice was calm. Too calm, in fact. It was a stark contrast to the one he was used to, and that alone unsettled him. "About the case, of course."

"What about the case?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. "Are we finally going to agree on something?"

You had no idea how to respond to that. The silence that followed was uncomfortable, enough to put the Brit on edge.

"I'm not sure anymore, to be honest." You exhaled slowly, struggling to find the right words. "The more I look at this case, the more I wonder if we’re just playing a game. Is this really about justice, or just about how much attention it gets? About what winning means for either of us?"

Lewis remained silent for a moment. He hadn’t expected your call in the first place, but what he expected even less was hearing that. Hearing you doubt yourself.

"I don’t play games, Y/L/N," he finally said, his voice firm, authoritative. "I don’t lose. Not in court, not in anything."

"I never said you were playing." You corrected yourself, your tone measured. "I just think… maybe you should ask yourself if this case really matters to you. It’s not about Daniel anymore, is it? It’s about proving something. To yourself. To me."

The truth in your words hit harder than he’d like to admit.

Because deep down, you were right. Taking this case had never been just about defending Daniel. At least, not entirely. If there hadn’t been a fortune involved, would he even be here?

No.

Now, it was personal. A way to be close to you. A way to prove himself to you.

A desperate attempt to make you see him as something more than just a rival. To make you realize he was someone worth fighting for, not just against.

"Why the hell do you care?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every time we've faced each other, you’ve won. So why the hell does sentimentality matter to you now?"

A long, heavy pause stretched between you.

For a second, he thought you had hung up. But then, your voice came through soft, trembling.

"I don’t know." You hesitated, as if saying it out loud made it all the more real. "Maybe I’m just tired of being what everyone expects me to be. I’m tired of being the villain."

Of being your villain.

Of you seeing me as nothing more than an opponent, when all I’ve ever done is try to be the best at my job.

But you couldn’t say that. You wouldn’t allow yourself to be that vulnerable with him.

Lewis didn’t say anything else either. Instead, he ended the call. And in that silence, he realized something… Something neither of you were ready to admit.

At least, not yet.

The next day, the trial reached its boiling point. The media frenzy had escalated, and the pressure was mounting from both sides. Daniel, exhausted by it all, was ready to end it, even if it meant things wouldn’t go in his favor.

By the time closing arguments began, the tension between you and Lewis was unbearable.

"Your Honor, this case has been nothing but a web of lies and excuses," you said, your voice cold, authoritative. "Mr. Ricciardo must be found guilty of every charge brought against him. And it’s time for his fans, his family, and even his legal team—" you paused, looking directly at Lewis, "to stop covering up the damage he has caused. Not just to others, but to himself. Dragging this on will only make things worse. His career is already in ruins. Let’s not pretend otherwise."

The weight of your words hung in the air.

Lewis met your gaze, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if you were speaking in a language only the two of you understood.

He was about to respond, but before he could, the judge called for a recess.

As you both stepped outside, Lewis exchanged a few words with Daniel just as you did with Mark, the only photographer who had dared to press charges. But eventually, you found yourselves alone in the hallway, the weight of the case pressing down on both of you.

"I never wanted this to get personal," Lewis admitted, breaking the silence. His voice was soft, calm. It was the first time you’d ever heard him sound like that.

"But it did," you replied simply. "From the very beginning, it always has."

You studied him, searching for what he wasn’t saying because if there was one thing you knew about Lewis Hamilton, it was that his words always held truth.

But right now, with you, that wasn’t the case.

"I know." You nodded. "But that doesn’t change anything. At least, not yet."

As the trial neared its conclusion, the outcome remained uncertain. The jury deliberated for hours, longer than either of you had anticipated, before finally delivering their verdict.

Daniel Ricciardo was acquitted on all charges, provided he paid 500,000 francs in damages to the photographer.

It wasn’t the victory either of you had expected.

Outside the courthouse, Lewis stood, staring at his phone, feeling the weight of the case lift, but not the pressure in his chest.

There was still something unresolved.

You walked down the courthouse steps, stopping beside him. Your presence was as cold as ever. You didn’t speak right away, instead crossing your arms and alternating your gaze between the journalists still hovering nearby and Lewis, who was engrossed in a conversation on his phone.

A conversation with an Amelie and with a Sebastian, a name you knew all too well.

"You won. You must be happy now," you remarked calmly.

"I didn’t win," he replied in a low voice, somewhat disappointed. "At least, not fairly. You know Ricciardo has a lot of influence as an actor, and..."

You simply watched him, your gaze filled with a tenderness you had never allowed yourself before, letting him speak.

"I didn’t win either, so I guess we’ll just have to take what we can get."

For the first time, there were no grudges between you. No rivalry. At that moment, you were simply two professionals who had done their best, caught in a media storm so overwhelming that you weren’t sure how to turn the page now that the Ricciardo case had come to an end.

But if there was one thing you were both fully aware of, it was that more than needing closure, you longed for it.

"You know, I think you’re right," Lewis said suddenly, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "And I think our colleagues might be right, too. You know what they say…"

"What do you mean?" You turned to face him, your expression as unreadable as his.

"That it was never just about the cases we were up against each other in," Hamilton murmured, almost embarrassed.

"It never was, and I think you know that just as well as I do."

For a moment, he didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at you. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Maybe we always knew, and we just refused to admit it. But… what are we going to do about it?"

You lowered your gaze, considering the endless possibilities, until he pulled you from your thoughts.

"Let me take you to have dinner."

The words caught you completely off guard. For the first time, Lewis saw you hesitate—and he took it as a small victory, one he couldn’t deny he was proud of.

"Dinner… as in a date?" you asked, raising an eyebrow. Your voice told him there was something more there. Something, luckily, different from rejection.

"Call it whatever you want," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets, clearly nervous. "I just think it’s about time we had the conversation we keep avoiding… without trying to kill each other in the process."

"So that’s your strategy now? Take me to dinner and hope I suddenly start liking you?" You let out a laugh, shaking your head.

"I don’t need you to like me. I just need you to admit that you’re curious about me."

Lewis took a step closer. Instinctively, you found yourself leaning in as well. Then, despite your best efforts to resist, you smiled.

"Fine," you said, feigning indifference. "One dinner. And don’t get any ideas. This changes nothing between us, Hamilton."

"I wouldn’t dream of it, Y/L/N."

As he walked away, already pulling out his phone to book the best restaurant in town, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something you both had been searching for far longer than you had ever dared to admit.

And for the first time, neither of you minded losing to the other.

I'm sad to announce that you didn't get it right, anon, and Lewis won't be a lawyer in City of Stars Universe! But no worries: keep trying please! ✨

Also, if you like my content, and would like to support me, you can do it here <3 Thank you so much for reading until the very end! <3

[bookie-bookdust]

Helpful (but Aggressive) Guide to the new Hogwarts Legacy PC Mod Update✨

I have been seeing NOTHING BUT COMPLAINING about this damn update and no one actually trying to help each other. So I'm going to do my damn best here to give you a little intro into this new update. Because instead of leaning into the standard toxic consumerism bullshit of fandom, why don't we actually try to be nice to each other?? And the fucking modders who put all this time and effort into making this for us?!?!!?!?!? Special thanks to @anomalyaly because we were up last night trying to figure this out LOL. These screenshots are hers and mine!

PART ONE: Why is my game crashing?

You need to delete your old Nexus ~mod folder from the game files. Throw it in the trash, cut and past it somewhere in your documents, idc. Just get it out of there. The pathway to find it is:

2. Steam senses your bad attitude and don't like it idk. I'm not IT. Turn it off and back on again.

NOTE: Once you start up the game and get it working, you can bring back compatible mods from Nexus. You just need to create a new folder to put them in. It can't be the original one. If your game crashes after that, then you have an incompatible mod in there. You'll have to go down the list until you narrow down which one it is - typically will be a face mod, hair mod, jewelry, or a mod that already exists in the new mod store thing. Yeet it.

PART TWO: I'm not going to teach you how to add the new in-game mods and start the game. I'm not your mom. It's pretty intuitive honestly.

PART THREE: Where the fuck are the clothing mods I just added????

An excellent question, my new charge. You need to go to GladRags to get them. You're going to have to long rest at least three days for them to show up in his store. For me, it took five times lol. This is kind of annoying, but it needs to be immersive to the game I guess so oh well. I don't think we'll die from it.

See all those red exclamation points? That was my fault. I loaded a wizard clothing mod into a witch save. So if you see that, you loaded something you shouldn't have.

PART FOUR: HOW DO I CHANGE MY UGLY ASS HAIR?

Easy peasy lemon squeezy. You're going to go to that hairstyle lady in Hogsmeade I'm too lazy to look up the name of. That bitch charges you for the new hairstyles but you can download unlimited money cheats so whatever.

Don't mind my face lol. I was having a BP makeup glitch LOL

PART THIRTY-SEVEN: How do I change my makeup?

This part sucks. RIGHT NOW as of 1/31/2025, you have to be in the main character design screen at the beginning of the damn game. BUT BUT BUT - if you mod back in the BP character editor, you can do it anywhere. My hope is a new mod will replace this so the game works more smoothly.

Those white spaces? They're the new in-game mods for hair and makeup. Well, most of them. I think some are just random blank spaces lol.

Part Six: Where are my unlocked spells and unlimited plants and shit?

Two reasons they're not showing up:

If you just added this mod and you load your game in the middle of the mission, you need to finish the mission first.

You probably have something incompatible (a nexus mod) that isn't playing nice. Yeet it.

After getting everything squared away, I look fucking great. You are not doomed to a potato face🥔. I FUCKING PROMISE YOU ON SOLOMON'S LIFE.

Truly guys, once you work out the kinks in this update, it's really. fucking. nice.

Before I reinstalled the nexus mods, the game was running so smoothly and the graphics were beautiful. I loaded in 20 mods all at once, and the game handled them just fine. After reloading the nexus mods it was a bit clunky, but of course it would be.

I know change is scary. Also for those who spent time creating/commissioning mods that are no longer compatible, they have the biggest right to be freaking out. BUT BUT BUT we all fucking know the old mods AND SO MANY MORE will be back soon. People are working their asses off in the background converting things right now.

I want to put some things into perspective for you:

We have not had a real update in two years (no, photo mode doesn't count). This is literally the best kind of update we could ever ask for. We are not dependent on the devs for updates with this. In the launch event they were speaking as if you can create your own quests; there are audio mods....think about it guys. Endless protentional. (The only things that aren't going to make it are if you have weird ass like engorgio penis mods because there's no way they're approving those for public use hahahaha)

The devs reached out to people in the community to ask for feedback and to collaborate. THEY CARE ABOUT THE FANDOM. Consider what that may mean for the sequel??? We might not be forced to stomach Hogwarts Legacy 2: Dumbledore's Jorts. They're listening (but they're not going to listen if you're fucking rude and stupid).

You guys shitting on this update very vocally here, on twitter, and on tiktok are forgetting that people in your community helped create it and can SEE YOU. STOP IT. Whine in private!!!!!! Also because I knowww I have to specify because someone is going to take everything personally, I don't mean posts making funny jokes about the updates and just being like ahhhh wtf is going on I'm so lost and whatnot. Like please guys, read the room. I'm referring to nasty comments.

So yes, I'm here with a positive review of the update, and an insanely aggressive reminder to calm the fuck down and go touch some grass. The old mods will be back soon. This update makes using them so much easier. Also, THE POOR CONSOLE PLAYERS DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYTHING YET SOOOOOOOO

I WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY QUESTIONS OR CRITICISM SO STFU. THANKS FOR READING THIS LONG ASS POST IF YOU'RE STILL HERE. OKAAAY BYEEeeEE.

[putschki1969]

2025/04/10 Blog post by Wakana おしゃべりガーデン第20回目‼️〜今日はヨットなLittle Danceの日です〜

❗This is Fan Club EXCLUSIVE content❗ ❗PERSONAL USE ONLY❗ ❗Do NOT SHARE on other sites❗ ❗Join her FAN CLUB! Check out my detailed TUTORIAL ❗

Talk Garden Vol.#20‼️〜April 10 Is "Little Dance" Day〜

Episode 20 of my podcast "Wakana's Talk Garden" has been uploaded! ︎🎉🎉 This time, it unexpectedly became an episode filled with lots of singing😂 Today, my concert "Wakana Spring Live 2025 ~Little Dance~" is being held so I hope that everyone who is coming to the live will listen to the podcast afterwards while remembering all the special moments from today's performance. For those who couldn't make it (😢), I hope that this episode will at least somehow make you feel like you are experiencing a live performance😊

Thank you so much for your love letters💌 filled with so many thoughts and feelings from everyone😭✨ I'm really really happy hear that everyone is listening to my music passionately and with all kinds of feelings in mind😭✨ The number of messages was the highest ever, and it was hard to choose which ones to read in the episode but believe when I say that I was screaming with joy😭✨And I read each and every one of your letters😊♡ Thank you so much‼ ︎ Now I really want to do another singing episode like this😂

Please wait for the day when my singing will be featured in an episode again🎤

So, the next talk theme was decided based on a letter from one of you! Next time, it will be [Everyone's Memories of Medical Checkups]! ＼(^o^)／ I also had one last month, lots of things happened😂I want to talk about it soon😂 I'm looking forward to hearing your interesting and fun stories, as well as some serious ones!!

Anyway, today is April 10th, the day of my live performance, so I'm both excited and nervous while writing this post!! ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ It's frustrating that I can't tell you anything yet, but everyone, please wait a little while longer~!! 😆

Some photos from the final rehearsal 📸 So many motivated faces＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ Also, a few of my better but slightly blurry jump photos📸 Why does she always take jump photos?... Because I think I can create something interesting and fun! *laughs*. There's no particular reason😂 I feel romantic in dynamic photos😊 Finally, my Y-pose! There's no particular reason for this either😂 I'm naturally flexible, so I can still do this even though I'm not trying at all😊It's strange😊 That's the only reason😂 I'll keep doing it as long as I can!

Sorry for the short post this time😅💦 I'll be writing about the live soon, so please wait for it〜😄 That's it for today! Until next time〜☆( *'▽'*)/

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

Wakana’s Talk Garden #20

❗This is Fan Club EXCLUSIVE content❗ ❗PERSONAL USE ONLY❗ ❗Do NOT SHARE on other sites❗ ❗Join her FAN CLUB! Check out my detailed TUTORIAL ❗

Episode #20 »»—— CLICK ME 🎁 CLICK ME ——«« ・Share your favourite Wakana song!

♪Orange - Flag - Hard Rain - Asu wo Yume Mite Utau - Shirushi♪

For next month’s episode which is scheduled to air on May 10th, there is the following talk theme: ・Everyone's Memories of Medical Checkups

The submission deadline is 04/30.

Wakana Spring Live 2025 ~Little Dance~

Tweet by Wakana | Instagram post + post 2 by Wakana

[Title] 『Wakana Spring Live 2025 ～Little Dance～』 [Date/Time] April 10, 2025 Open 17:45 / Start 18:30 [Venue] Hulic Hall Tokyo [Performers] Vocals: Wakana Music Director/Keyboard: Takebe Satoshi Drums: Tsuruya Tomoo Bass: Hamasaki Kenta Guitar: Ueda Koji Manipulator: Maeda Yugo

Setlist 1. Butterfly Dream 2. Yureru Haru 3. Hard Rain 4. Orange 5. Rapa Nui 6. KEMONO 7. Mononoke Hime (Ghibli cover) 8. Sekai no Yakusoku (Ghibli cover) 9. Haru wa Kogane no Yume no Naka (Kalafina cover) 10. believe (Kalafina cover) 11. Hirari Hirari 12. 442 13. Tsubasa 14. Flag 15. where 16. Happy Hello Day En. 1. Asu wo Yume Mite Utau En. 2. Ato Hitotsu

『Wakana Classics 2025』 Announced

During today's concert it was revealed that Wakana's annual acoustic live will once again be held this year! Further details will be revealed at a later date (Source)

[Tile] "Wakana Classics 2025" [Date] December 18th [Venue] Hama-rikyu Asahi Hall (Music Hall) [Performers] Vocals: Wakana Music Director/Piano: Sin (Hashimoto Shin) Violin: Yanagihara Yuya Cello: Yuki Takahiro

[lightaflametoburnmethrough]

Suddenly dropping in with another lengthy post because I want to ramble about something before the year ends and it just so happens that I finished My Happy Marriage (私の幸せな結婚) recently which was so ✨GOOD✨

✨GOOD✨ as in the romance is actually well-written. It doesn’t just portray a couple in a way that revives your belief in love, it also gives respect to the characters within that relationship, too.

This is what advanced romance looks like, imo.

Not about the chase, not about the fluff, not about the angst, not about idealizations beyond our reach (although there are plenty of moments of those)…

It’s simply about a couple doing their best to navigate through a life they’ve chosen to spend together.

So warning for spoilers cuz no cut.

That’s right, no cut because it’s almost 2025 and we all have to raise and lock this in as an example to follow (cuz most people’s standards have been absolutely abysmal of late) 😤

The premise isn’t anything extraordinary. It’s very much like any Cinderella tale you’ve ever heard of where the heroine suffered abuse throughout her life at the hands of her toxic family. Then she meets Prince Charming, things change for the better, happily ever after happens, we pack up and go home.

Except it’s not quite like that for Miyo. Our heroine does not enter her engagement in a sparkling kimono with her beauty and virtue ready to dazzle her fiancé into falling head over heels in love with her. No, she comes into another house with the air of someone who has already been thoroughly defeated. So deeply broken by all the trauma she experienced growing up, Miyo has no hope for happiness despite the fact that she’s no longer living under the same roof as those who used to torment her every single day.

She is resigned to the thought that she can be disposed of at any time, even by her new husband-to-be, because she doesn’t have the bearing that a daughter of a reputable clan should have. Nor does she possess any Gift that noble families are looking for in a bride for the sake of continuing their bloodline (there is a supernatural element but it’s a narrative-supporting aspect, not the main focus).

Miyo has nothing but her old raggedy clothes, skills she acquired as a servant at her old home and mental scars that were never given the chance to heal.

She is no princess, no Cinderella or Ella. She is a pitiful pile of cinders, a poor young woman with nobody to rely on in this world.

And Kudou Kiyoka, her fiancé, is no Prince Charming either despite certainly having the looks of one.

Even for a military officer, he’s gained a reputation for being very strict, cold and harsh outside his job. However, before meeting Miyo, all his previous fiancées were only in it for the wealth and status attached to his family name so it’s no surprise why he’s so distrustful of Miyo at first.

But once he realizes that she’s not there to “poison” him, he quickly backpedals his initial behavior towards her. What’s remarkable is that he apologizes the very same day for his callous attitude rather than taking a long period of time to admit he was wrong because of some stupid pride.

And if that already tells you a lot about what kind of character he is, then what he does next for the remaining episodes will floor you.

Kiyoka soon deduces that there must be a reason why Miyo acts the way she does, why she has such crippling low self-esteem. He investigates her background and discovers how the Saimori family had been treating her this entire time ever since the death of her birth mother, causing him to feel anger on Miyo’s behalf. But he wisely chooses to keep that information to himself because he understands how much Miyo has been hurt already and doesn’t want to add more to her pain by revisiting her past.

He doesn’t force a confrontation from her. Instead, he does his best to help Miyo put distance away from anything related to her maiden clan. He buys her new clothes and accessories befitting of a person of her status, takes her out on dates when he has days off, tells her that she doesn’t have to constantly apologize for everything and encourages her to smile more.

Meanwhile, he confronts the Saimori family himself so that Miyo never has to. He lambasts her parents for their horrible abuse of Miyo and essentially cuts them off for it.

“You threw your own daughter away like trash, what right do you have to get any benefits from this marriage?”

Kiyoka wants everyone to know that Miyo is his fiancée now, that she is part of his family and he will do whatever it takes to protect her. Something her own blood relations should’ve done but failed to do.

But he also doesn’t leave without allowing room for possible amends. He demands that the Saimori family apologize to Miyo but he doesn’t use his powers or superior position to intimidate them into giving one because it would be meaningless if it wasn’t sincere.

All his words and actions are full of emotion for his fiancée but at the same time, they’re carefully thought out for what’s best for her sake as well.

Kiyoka wants justice for Miyo…but more than that, he wants her to heal and receive the happiness she deserves so he would never subject her to anything that could undermine that.

The way Kiyoka treats Miyo with such gentleness and understanding, gives great attention to her needs, doesn’t judge her for her circumstances and goes to many lengths to make sure she’s always in a safe environment, repeatedly reassuring her that she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore…

It fills my heart with…I want to say joy but I don’t think that word is enough to describe it.

I think there’s also an immense sense of relief and satisifaction mixed in as well. Because wow, FINALLY. An author who doesn’t only know how to write a good couple as a couple (and not a ship) but also knows how to properly address the topics of trauma and depression and not just mess with it before blowing it up for drama.

It shows through Kiyoka’s character and it’s exactly what makes him an effective love interest.

After all, when Miyo was thrust into this engagement, she was in no state to be a proper wife because the one who needed help and support was her.

And Kiyoka answered to that. He has a solid head on his shoulders, can balance his work and his home life and doesn’t dismiss feelings but doesn’t let them control him either. He is a person who is capable, who can be trusted to carry both their weights when his partner doesn’t have the strength to stand on her own.

“I know you’ve been through a lot but it’s okay now. I will take care of you so don’t hesitate to rely on me.”

And thanks to all his efforts, Miyo was able to become strong enough to escape the cage storehouse where her old, weak self was mentally trapped in.

Yea, her emotional scars will never fade because for a survivor, it’s impossible to forget those awful memories. She will still have her moments of doubts, fear and insecurities.

But the most important thing is that she knows she can overcome them now because she has someone she can fully trust by her side to help her get through them.

It’s amazing, watching Miyo transform from “I’m no good at anything so nothing matters” to “I want to improve, I want to get better” and believing she can.

She started taking lessons on how to be a lady because she wants to be a suitable match for her fiancé who’s done so much for her. She wants to be worthy of the love he’s shown her.

She learned to say “no” at the most pivotal moment because all her life, her evil stepmother and half-sister kept taking away the things that were important to her. But when they tried to force her to cancel her engagement to Kiyoka, she adamantly refused because the joy, comfort and security she found with him is too valuable to ever give up.

“I don’t want to lose this. I want to be his wife. I want to stay with him and be able to find happiness together.”

It’s no wonder Kiyoka is so taken with her, softened his heart and changed for her and will come running whenever he hears Miyo’s in trouble. He’s been through many engagements, each ending in failure because none of those marriage candidates wanted an actual marriage with him.

But Miyo…Miyo is genuine.

Just like how Kiyoka was willing to brush aside the ashes to reveal the beautiful her, Miyo melted through that icy exterior others only could see to cherish the real and incredibly warm him beyond it.

That’s why they work so great as a couple. They bring out the best in each other and their relationship is based on the people they respectively are, not the extras that come with.

Of course, even good couples are not immune to obstacles but during the one “fight” they had so far in the anime, you can tell that these two argue and get angry out of concern for each other.

Not because they’re not living up to expectations but because “I’m worried about you! Can’t you see that?”

For a pair who seem almost idyllic as them (it’s all the frequent flower imagery and yea I love it lol), communication is difficult as it is for anybody else. Miyo’s anxiety about needing to measure up resurfaced and Kiyoka misspoke, which made her cry and caused him to start having second thoughts if Miyo would truly be happy with him.

But none of that ever came close to ruining how they feel about each other. They still wanted to be together.

When Miyo’s maternal family came to claim her, Kiyoka loudly resisted giving up his fiancée (“Over my dead body, she’s my wife!”). Not even losing a duel and being forced to separate from Miyo could stop him from wanting to see her again so that he can try to reconcile her.

And whenever someone spoke badly of Kiyoka, trying to widen the rift that formed between them, Miyo would always be the first to defend him (“Don’t say that about my husband!”). The longer they were apart, the more she realized she had to return because she also didn’t want to be anywhere but with him.

Everybody who approached Kiyoka or Miyo wanted something out of them, whether it be Kiyoka’s high standing in society or Miyo’s suddenly emerging super rare power.

But for them, they just wanted each other.

“I chose you because only you can make me feel this way. No one else can take the special place I have for you in my heart.”

The reason why I call this “advanced romance” is because it’s a romance that explores the relationship after the couple get together.

Granted, it may not be considered normal from a modern perspective since it’s about an arranged marriage set in the Taishō era. But it still checks off a lot of the major points behind the idea of an established relationship, which is less common than narratives that emphasize the development before a pair of lovers become official.

Pre-relationship is fine and all, depending on what kind of story it is, but there’s a big difference in how both types present love. (Most? Some?) Pre-relationships make it seem like the hardest thing to do is confess and have your feelings reciprocated.

*shakes head* Uh-uh. Sorry, it ain’t. 🙂‍↔️

It’s keeping the relationship that is.

Because let’s be real here. Love is overrated.

It takes a lot of work and commitment for two people to stay together. Real love isn’t a shoujo fairytale where you’re set once the final chapter is done and sent to be published.

As a couple, you’re going to face so many challenges, some that will push you both to your limits where you might even consider breaking up. You will have fights, you will have disagreements because you are two separate individuals, after all. None of that “my better half” or “my (significant other) knows me better than I know myself” bullshit. You are two separate persons with your own respective personalities and ways of thinking, figuring out how to walk the same path together.

And even if you try your best not to get into any complications, life will laugh “aha, you thought, you dumb bitch” in your face and make things difficult for you anyway.

You’ll ask yourself repeatedly “Is this worth it? Am I making the right choice for us?” just like Miyo and Kiyoka did in episode 10.

The answer then is how much you’re willing to work for it.

To be honest, I don’t think there really is a right or wrong choice when you come to that crossroad because people aren’t omniscient so they have no way of knowing the absolute. They can only try their best to not let things end up in the worst state possible.

But if you love someone and treasure them as much as Miyo and Kiyoka love and cherish each other and want to be the best version of yourself that you can be when you’re with them…then it’s no longer an issue of being afraid of those hardships that come with the relationship.

You’d be afraid of the regret you’d feel when you look back and say “ah, I wish I stayed and tried”.

They (Miyo and Kiyoka 👆👆) are still trying. They’re so happy together but they are still doing whatever it takes to make it work between them and that’s what makes them a good couple.

Not ideal but good.

Good is doable, good is not impossible.

Good is what we need to be 👍

Alright, I’m done yapping but looking back through this post, I realized I also came a very far way from how I watched romance 20 years ago (lol my age is showing 😝).

And honestly, I’m happy for it. I’m glad that I grew older and matured a little and that my values evolved with time. I now understand why a lot of things in anime and manga no longer appeal to me (not as much as before, anyway) but on the other hand, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the series and characrers that I do manage to find resonance with.

My Happy Marriage is one of those.

So I highly recommend it if you’re looking for the same thing.

Second season is going to air in a week (January 6, don’t miss it 😉) so if you haven’t already, marathon the first season and the OVA.

That’s all, wishing everyone ✨GOOD✨ fortune ahead. See you in the new year! 👋😊

[ofmdrecaps]

01/05-08/2025 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; OFMD Recaps on Mastodon; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Samba Schutte; Wee John Wednesdays/Kristian Nairn; Rachel House; Dominic Burgess; Kristen Johnston; Hugo Pierre Martin; Aotearoa Treaty Principles Bill Submissions; Articles; AdoptOurCrew: Call To Action; LettersToSeaForSeason3; Fan Spotlight: Jax/North FL OFMD Cosplay/ Fandom Meet Up; Love Notes/Resources;

== OFMD Recaps on Mastodon! ==

Some awesome news! The absolute sweetest person alive, Lowrah (https://gaypirates.club/@lowrah) has been kind (and brave) enough to join my team and create an OFMD Recaps for Mastodon! She has offered to help crosspost the recaps over to Mastodon (blorbo.social) and manage that which I appreciate so much because I am completely inept at that site! She's also the one helping me with all the alt text (that I am behind at updating tumblr with sorry!) so please send her some massive love if you see her around because she is helping me out so much right now! One thing to note -- Since she's on the other side of the world for me, the recaps cross-posted there will be a bit delayed, so please bare with us :) Thank you so much Laura for all your help! You can check it out here!

Source: OFMD Recaps Mastodon

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

= David Jenkins =

David's giving us some interesting updates on the eve of the first cancellation of S2.

Source: David Jenkins bsky

= Rhys Darby =

Rhys was in Auckland recording the first Cryptid Factor show of 2025! For all of you Cryptid Factor fans out there, he's also finally gotten to come in contact with the Sir Ed YETI Expedition backpack!

Source: The Cryptid Factor's IG

= Taika Waititi =

The Golden Globes celebrations were this past weekend and Taika was everywhere!

Source: Loop Mag

Source: Instagram

Source: VasJMorgan's Instagram

= Samba Schutte =

"14 years in LA today✨ Arrived on Ethiopian Christmas with one suitcase and 5 guiding steps I had come up with in my hut while staying in a remote Kenyan village, for my future self who would eventually make it to Hollywood. Hope you’re proud Past Samba🫶"

Source: Samba's Instagram

= Kristian Nairn and Nathan Foad =

Some great news! Wee John Wednesday is back on Wednesday the 15th! This news also has some clown potential, so please clown responsibly everyone!

Source: Adopt Our Crew Bsky

Kristian is also going to be attending MegaConLive in Dublin on January 18-19, 2025! Get your tickets at megaconlive.com!

Source: MegaConlive Instagram

= Rachel House =

Rachel House was out with friends looking badass!

Source: Maria Lewis IG

= Dominic Burgess =

Dominic is back from the UK and posted some great "Beef" pics from Skeleton Crew. He fits the Star Wars Vibe so well!

Source: Dominic's bsky

Dominic and several of our other cast members live in California so a lot of folks are being affected by the fires. I'll try to post what I can about safety/news but for now, looks like Dominic and family are prepared.

Source: Dominic's Bsky

= Kristen Johnston =

Our "The Widow Evelyn" is now on Bluesky too! Special thanks to @jilliansauers for catching her!

Source: Kristen Johnston's bsky

= Hugo Pierre Martin =

Our friend and crewmate Hugo Pierre Martin is on Bluesky now! HPM's Bluesky

Source: HPM's Bluesky

= Aotearoa Treaty Principles Bill Submissions =

Now, I generally try to keep "politics" out of the recaps because this is meant to be a positive space for the fans-- but I do know that A LOT of our cast and crew are affected by this bill personally so I do want to throw this in there. It looks like you don't actually have to be a resident of Aotearoa to submit your feelings on the bill. Here is helpful linktree with things you can say and how to submit that I tracked down via a post Rachel House reposted.

Source: NZGreenParty

== Articles ==

Thank you @adoptourcrew! You are article maniacs! So many in so little time! Thank you for always sharing!

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Bsky

== Call To Action From AOC ==

January 9, 2024 marks the first cancellation of S2 of our beloved Show. Our fan-crew, @adoptourcrew has asked that you help support our show by: 1. Taking Action 2. Sharing your love 3. Showing your pride. In short-- sign a petition, share something about the show, tell the world how it affected you! If you can get the #OurFlagMeansDeath, #SaveOFMD and #AdoptOurCrew in there, that's great too! Show all the new and seasoned fans how much you love the show!

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Bsky

== Letters To Sea For Season 3 ==

The Letters to Sea for Season 3 campaign that was being spearheaded by the darling Molly, aka aproperpirate, is finally coming to fruition! Tomorrow is the day the letters should be arriving! Molly had a special message to share re the letting writing campaign!

Source: AProperPirate's Bluesky

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Jax/North FL OFMD Cosplay/ Fandom Meet Up =

Florida crew! One of the Truly Docked members @ladymekaella is hosting a little get together in Jacksonville on Jan 19! Wanna join in? Follow them on facebook! Deets below!

1/19/2025 11am - 2pm, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

Source: Truly Docked Instagram

== Love Notes / Resources ==

Hey Lovelies, I know 01/09/25 is going to be a very mixed feeling kind of day for everyone. It's the anniversary of the first time S2 was cancelled. It's going to bring up a lot of sad feelings, and you should absolutely sit with those feelings and embrace them. It was a rough time for all of us. There's no shame in feeling that grief again. I know I didn't show it much, but I cried so many times. Seriously, like SO MANY TIMES. My parents asked me if someone whacked me in the face with a shovel (which, thanks folks, I feel so pretty) but it was true-- I was devastated. It was a slow burn for me too because I wanted so very much to keep up hope. Seeing you all really push for the show helped keep me going-- and helped me learn more about how to cope with that kind of grief (and it was grief for so many of us because the show meant so very much-- and changed some of us at our core). No matter how tomorrow makes you feel though, I do want to remind you what came of it. This beautiful community rallied together and did some absolutely AMAZING things this past year (I wish I hadn't been sick this past two weeks cause I wanted to get you some stats). From billboards, to faxing, and calling in to Max, and Netflix, and Amazon, and Apple TV, to raising a SHIT TON of money for SO MANY charities-- to making beautiful works of art and fiction-- to making our cast and crew (not just the actors) feel loved and impactful-- this cancellation brought SO MANY OF US TOGETHER. People stepped out of their comfort zones-- talked to people they didn't know, reached out to streaming platforms and learned to use their voices in ways they'd never done before. We all built our own little communities within the fandom, bit by bit-- and those little communities have spread so much love, and kindness, and made life worth living for so many of us. It's been almost a year for my recaps too-- those officially started on Jan 13th, once again, because of the cancellation, and because of the camaraderie of the crew and all the support we all gave each other. Jan 9 is probably a tough day for most of us, but it's also the catalyst for so many wonderful things, and I'm so very grateful for it in a way. I've gotten to know so many of you, gotten to experience your joy, and participate in your struggles, and vice versa. I've met so many people from all over the world I'd never have once dreamt I could meet-- and I know SO MANY of you have too. This fandom is one of a kind-- and this special show and it's cancellation brought us together. I am still in full clown mode at all times, and I believe S3 is an inevitability, it's just a matter of when-- but no matter when it happens, I'm grateful we got this past year together, and all that came with it. So thank you lovelies. Thank you for being a huge part of my life, and turning it in a much better direction I could ever have thought possible given where I was. Lean on each other tomorrow, okay? We got through this past year together, and we'll get through whatever happens going forward, as a crew. Take care of yourself lovelies, drink some water, and get some sleep. Love you <3

= Resources =

Outside of the fandom in my day job, I work for a company that works with 211's and non profits, and so resources are really important to me. I have a lot I'm aware of, but if anyone has more they'd like to share around, please let me know! I'm happy to spread the word to help people get support they need right now!

For those of you in California or who know some folks who are-- please be sure to download the Watch Duty App, it keeps track and notifies you of nearby fires in real time.

In addition here's some additional info on go bags if you are in the evacuation areas:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brown Issues (@brownissues)

Source: Brown Issues Instagram

Also looks like Airbnb will be pairing up with LA 211 to offer shelter for those evacuated from the Palisades fire. You can visit www.211la.org for more information.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Drew Droege (@drew_droege)

Source: Drew Doege's Instagram

As I hear more resources I'll try to share more in the recaps/on socials. I hope you all are staying safe out there!

[josefiendelphine]

🎉✨ Starting 2025 with Positive Vibes! ✨🎉

Let’s take a moment to celebrate something truly special @give-me-your-t33th, the incredible winner of the Sims Snap Showdown! 🏆 Her creativity and passion shined through, and as the champion, she’s brought us a fantastic idea to kick off the new year: a Musical Legacy Challenge! 🎭🎶

This legacy is a celebration of storytelling, self-discovery, and embracing life’s ups and downs, all inspired by some of the most iconic musicals: 🎤 Heathers – The drama, the style, the social intrigue! 🏛️ Hamilton – Ambition, history, and legacy in the making. 🌈 Falsettos – Family, love, and the beautiful messiness of it all. 📚 Something Rotten – Creative struggles and sibling dynamics. 🤖 Be More Chill – Self-discovery and learning to love your authentic self.

This challenge is more than just gameplay—it’s a journey filled with positivity, lessons in acceptance, and the joy of creating stories that resonate. It’s the perfect way to start 2025, a year I want to dedicate to embracing love, kindness, and spreading good vibes. 💖

Whether you’re a Sims player, a musical fan, or someone looking to infuse your days with creativity and fun, this challenge is for you! Each generation in the legacy is inspired by the themes and emotions of these incredible musicals, bringing their magic into our Sims’ lives.

So let’s dive into this exciting new chapter together! Whether you join the challenge or follow along, I hope this inspires you to start 2025 with a heart full of positivity and excitement for the stories ahead.

Here’s to a year filled with love, creativity, and unforgettable memories. Let’s make 2025 the best one yet! 🌟

[dayreaming-insomniac]

✨☺ What it Would be Like to...

Show Them Physical Affection☺✨

(JOHNNY DEPP + HIS CHARACTERS VER.)

•~✂~• Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands, 1990):

He would probably flinch a bit at first due to the sudden contact. But then he'd just stare at you (or down at you if you're shorter) with those big puppy dog eyes. He'd probably think something like “...Me...?”! He's very innocent so you know he's going to be very happy to finally figure out someone truly loves and cares about him (Besides Ms. Mother-Figure Peg!❤)

•~🍫~• Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2005):

He'd probably flinch at first and give you a face of disgust, one that SCREAMS “Ew, back away you germ infested individual” like how he feels around kids, and people who chew gum. (I headcanon his face would look like the face at the end of the GIF lol). He would possibly warm up to you and give you a very tiny pat on the back for a second along with a nervous smile and awkward chuckle.

•~💉~• Ichabod Crane (Sleepy Hollow, 1991):

He would provably widen his eyes, mouth dropping, BUT! only for a COUPLE of seconds. I feel like he would hug you and give off a simple kind smile while doing it. He would just simply clear his throat afterwards. Just hope while you're hugging him that he doesn't have one of his...FLASHBACKS...

•~☕~• Mad Hatter/Tarrant Hightopp (Alice in Wonderland 2010/Through the Looking Glass 2016):

I feel like he would be so happy. He would probably giggle and hug back immediately. I feel like he never really got any affection when he was younger. Afterwards he would look up at you with those big eyes and smile widely.

•~🔪~• Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 2007)

Good luck trying to hug him, even if you're really good friends. He'll just slit your throat and make you into a pie. But POSSIBLY he won't if you're his significant other. Let's be honest, after all that happened to him, he needs comfort, even if he won't admit it.

•~⚓~• Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean, 2003):

Personally I feel like he would freeze then widen his eyes, but then just simply give you a smug smirk, like his moods just change completely. He would say something that would probably be hilarious, probably like “guess you want it to work between us huh mate?”

•~💕~• Johnny Depp:

I feel like he's such a huge hugger!! Especially when it comes to Lily-Rose Depp. He seems to like that type of affection and comfort considering he probably didn't get that with uhh *ahem* specific person that was in his life not to long ago.

I worked really hard on this hehe! More will come soon so dw. I LOVE writing so more (hopefully better/longer stuff) will be posted in the future. Thanks! (p.s Edward Scissorhands is my favorite so I worked a lil harder on him rather than the others so sorry if any of them are out of character.)

DO NOT COPY, PASTE, PLAGIARIZE, OR TRANSLATE MY WORK PLEASE. THANK YOU~!

~ MiKY00_ (daydreaming-insomniac) 4/14/2025

[cheritzteam]

[MM] A man who will give strength to our tired coordinator! ! ZEN's Birthday Event in April 2025

Hello, this is Cheritz.

These days, we can truly feel the peak of spring through lighter clothing and blooming flowers. 🌼

Somehow spring seems to stay shorter than other seasons, doesn't it?

It's a wonderful time for outdoor activities, and various festivals are happening everywhere! 🎡✨

Especially when looking at the 🌸cherry blossom festivals🌸 that can only be enjoyed in spring, am I the only one wishing that this year's spring would last a bit longer?

And in this perfect weather that seems almost like a lie, a protagonist with settings more unbelievable than lies is celebrating his birthday. 😉

Dear coordinator, you haven't forgotten, have you?

ZEN's birthday is back! 🎉

Following last year, ZEN will spend another busy birthday this year!

I wonder what kind of day he'll have this year? 🤔

Please check the notice below for more details~ 😉

< ① #Happy_Birthday_ZEN >

A man who's working through his schedule on his birthday due to circumstances he can't talk about(?)! 😂

Following last year, somehow he's spending the busiest day of the year on his birthday again.

What happened to his plans to spend the whole day with you, coordinator?

If you're curious about his story 🧐 please check out https://tinyurl.com/2yapmhls 😎

A bonus hashtag event has been prepared to celebrate ZEN's birthday!

Please celebrate his birthday using the hashtag #Happy_Birthday_ZEN,

And don't miss out on the 50 hourglasses⌛(for 15 winners) we're giving away through a drawing♥

Event Period : March 27 (Thu) - April 6 (Sun) KST

Winner Announcement : April 17 (Thu) KST

< ② In-game Login Event >

We've prepared special login rewards to celebrate ZEN's birthday and April Fool's Day! 🎁✨

Don't miss out and make sure to collect your ZEN’s Birthday & April Fool's Day Commemorative Login Rewards by logging in during the event period! 😊🎉

ZEN’s Birthday Celebration & April Fool's Day Login Reward : March 30 (Sun) - April 2 (Wed), 2025 KST

Finally, during the period below, Cheritz Market will offer a 20% discount on ZEN Birthday Commemorative Pillow Talk Cushion [ZEN] and RFA Gag T-shirt [ZEN]. 

If you've been hesitating to make a purchase, why not take this opportunity? ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )

Cheritz Market Discount Period : March 31 (Mon) 2 PM - April 7 (Mon) 2 PM KST

That's all for our April news!

We hope your April is filled with exciting moments and new beginnings alongside the warm spring energy! 💖

And continue to enjoy your time with Mystic Messenger! 🎀

Thank you!

Sincerely, Cheritz.

[whinlatter]

Hello 👋

I've been re-reading the last 4 chapters of Beasts (as a Xmas treat I guess 🤭) and here's some details I've picked and loved :

- Cho entering Sirius' room at Grimmauld to get a change of clothes from Ginny and stepping into Harry and Ginny's intimacy - I'm picturing clothes on the floor and those eggcups on the mantelpiece

- Neville sending his friend some bulbs to plant in Hagrid's garden 🥹🤧🤧🤧

- Ron helping Mrs Granger unpacking and keeping an eye on her, whithout telling anyone he's doing so, just because he's a generous and caring man 🙏- those little labels he put on the photo !

I hope you still have some time to write and I can't wait to read more from you. You've got a very special gift, making us dive into the world you've created with such complex and endearing characters.

Do you have any future plan for Ginny and her inquiry?

Cheers ✨

mate! i really hope you are well and 2025 is being good to you, even in the dark global days... i am obsessed with you re-reading and pulling these out, pleased as punch about it (these are all the little moments and details that are most fun to add into chapters - plot, blegh, eggcups, slay - so makes my day to have them noticed. your kind words mean the world, honestly, as do the very very kind words other people have left the old inbox in the past few weeks, all of which are very much appreciated.

please be assured i have many plans for ginny and her inquiry. i'm in a weird position rn where i'm writing more than ever (o lawd she writin), churning out stuff i think is some of my best shit (fr) and thinking about beasts constantly as i try to rework these next few chapters about ginny's war (am having to write chunks of them together for complicated reasons - mostly to keep track of plot threads, but also because the next chapters are all in the past, so it requires me to write with the canon narrative/timeline, which takes ages if you are as forgetful as me and have to keep going and checking canon/calendars constantly). i am very aware that i am quiet on socials/not posting chapters yet and causing annoyance and frustration, which i feel very badly about. it will always be weird to have people ask if you have abandoned a fic you work on a little bit every day (life would be easier if the ideas for the fic would leave me alone, believe me). candidly, i have found guilt for taking more time with writing to be a real demotivator: equally i have tried not to be on tumblr too much (as people tend to get mad when i am posting on tumblr but not posting chapters), but then feeling less connected to the source material when i'm not having regularly engagement with fandom. so am trying to remember this is my hobby too and it's supposed to be fun and a source of joy, because that approach is a much deeper font of motivation and inspiration than guilt (who knew). the main thing is no-one need worry about official hiatus or abandonment - i am just taking my time and enjoying doing so, especially as i turn a corner and feel i'm writing my way out of a sticky patch. and unusually for me, i think i will be proud of the stuff i put out when i do put it out, and hope people will get a lot out of it when i do. loads of love!