#i wonder why they do it at certain gps

[skitskatdacat63]

I feel so fucking feral over any podium with ticker tape, THE PICTURES ARE SOOOOOO GOOD!!! And like...they shoot the ticker tape during the champagne...so it sticks to everything and everyone 🫠😵‍💫

[norrisainz33]

Southern belle || CL16

☆ summary: charles’ and oscar’s rumored girlfriend is the it girl in country music and with the austin grand prix approaching fans wonder if they’ll finally know who she’s with

☆ pairing: charles leclerc x american!singer!reader

☆ fc & warnings: megan moroney and slightly suggestive - you are responsible for the content you consume

☆ requested: yes!! thank you for this request 🤍

ﾟ. ✿ ୨❤︎୧⠀✿ . ﾟ

ynuser has made a post

liked by sabrinacarpenter, charlesleclerc, oscarpiastri, patriciooward, formula1, arianagrande and 301,356 others

ynuser: huge announcement 🚨 i’m singing the national anthem at the austin grand prix!!! i can’t wait to see y’all there but in the meantime, i’m practicing my driving 🏎️🤍

view all 364 comments

user1: ohhhhhh my god yessss

user2: everyone peep both oscar and charles in the likes…..

user22: begging for new music queen 😭

formula1: quick someone get her seat on the grid

ynuser: put me in coach!

scuderiaferrari: you’re always welcome to join us for the weekend 😉

mclarenf1: or you can join us 🧡

user4: taking note of both ferrari and mclaren being here 💀

user3: MY FAV ARTIST AT MY FIRST GP?! IT DOESNT GET BETTER THAN THIS

patriciooward: see you there princessa

ynuser: can’t wait 🤍

user4: and why do none of yall think they’re together??

sabrinacarpenter: prettiest girl in the world

ynuser: says you,, a literal goddess

user6: y/n/n this is huge!!! i’m so excited for you

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f1gossip: y/n y/l/n dropped a new song today and all signs say these lyrics could be about our very own charles leclerc. she sang this song for the first time today in atlanta while wearing a shirt that says “i 🤍 my situationship.” this comes after rumors of the pairing secretly seeing each other after being photographed together briefly in a miami nightclub. do we think the man who ‘isn’t from where she’s from and feels like home’ is a certain monegasque ferrari driver?

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user1: first of all the shirt is absolutely iconic and i will be buying one exactly like it

user1: second of all i honestly hope she is talking abt charles

user2: idk the fact that the song is called tennessee orange makes me think it could be oscar… didn’t he also get rumored to be with her?

user3: omg it could be oscar!

user1: why would you guys think it’s oscar???

user2: user1 i think it’s because of that video mclaren posted where oscar and lando had to guess the lyrics to songs and one of y/n’s songs was played and oscar sang like the entire thing and lando was like umm??? and oscar turned beat red and said he really liked y/n

user1: ohhhhh my goodness ok i didn’t see that video. begging one of you to do a breakdown of all the info we have for oscar vs charles

user2: i got you , lemme make a twitter thread brb

user14: did y’all consider that this song is truly about a man from tennessee

user3: no! hope this helps!!

user4: ever since she dropped the lore that she loves f1 y’all have been grasping at straws to connect her to a driver fr

user34: do we think she could get him to a rodeo? i’d die to see charles at one

user7: praying with everything that i have that we get an answer abt who she is with at cota

user5: obsessed with this level of delulu from you f1gossip

user8: could you imagine the charles leclerc being your situationship???? i mean wow

ynuser has added to their story

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user1: why is everything you do so hot

user2: i wish i could see if oscar or charles swiped up

_quinnhughes: how about you come visit me next?

ynuser: i have heard vancouver is nice this time of year

charlesleclerc: oh wow

ynuser: 🤭🤭🤭

charlesleclerc: you’re more than welcome to take me for a ride after you’re done there

oscarpiastri: need some pointers on how to do this myself

ynuser: it’s all in the hips osc

oscarpiastri: noted

user12: i’m obsessed with you

user13: ok! cool girls ride mechanical bulls! taking notes 📝

user14: thank you for being so sweet at the bar this evening and taking a picture with us!! you are literally the nicest person in the world 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

ynuser has posted to their story

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user3: IM HERE AND IM READY!! YOU ARE GONNA EAT UP THAT NATIONAL ANTHEM

user6: RAHHHHH AMERICA 🇺🇸 🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸

oscarpiastri: hoping you are my good luck charm y/n

ynuser: wishing you a safe race ossie 🧡

user8: ugh youre in blue you were supposed to be in red or papaya to confirm which boy you’re with

charlesleclerc: i think you’d look amazing in ferrari red

ynuser: you think so?

charlesleclerc: i know so

iamrebeccad: i can’t wait to see you later

ynuser: likewise 🤍

yourbff: you’re living the dream, i miss you bestie

ynuser: i miss you more. please come visit me soon 😭

user13: so excited for you gorgeous girl

f1gossip has made a post

liked by user1, user2, user3, user4, yourbff, user5, user6, and 12,345 others

f1gossip: charles and oscar were stood next to each other during y/n’s rendition of the american national anthem and didn’t even look at each other once during the entire thing. do we think there’s trouble in paradise between the father son pair? could both of them be pining over the same gorgeous american princess?

view all 333 comments

user2: them standing next to each other is diabolical

user8: she IS america’s sweetheart and i just hope whatever boy she’s with is treating her right

user6: the way she was unphased and just pranced right on by them in her little cowgirl boots… iconic

user3: i was praying that she was going to stop and wish one of them good luck

user14: guys have we CONSIDERED that just bc she likes the sport and the drivers know who she is doesn’t necessarily mean she’s with one of them?!

user1: imma hold your hand when i say this

user22: my money is on one of them winning and kissing her in celebration

user33: my money is on them being secretly photographed at an after party

user44: tbh my money is on nothing being confirmed this weekend

user23: you better put some respect on my girls name and at least mention how she NAILED that anthem

charlesleclerc has made a post

liked by scuderiaferrari, landonorris, maxverstappen1, carlossainz55, ynuser, yourbff and 634,910 others

charlesleclerc: thank you austin for a fantastic weekend

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user7: OHHHH MY GOD

user2: i know that’s my girl y/n!!!!!! that’s y/n!!!!! you can’t convince me otherwise!!!

user1: it’s her 😭😭 war is over 😭😭😭

scuderiaferrari: congratulations on a great weekend ❤️

user3: she put him in a cowboy hat i’m screaming

maxverstappen1: 👀

charlesleclerc: 🥰

carlossainz55: who is that in the last photo? surely not you

charlesleclerc: it is me in the last photo!

carlossainz55: your pants are oddly tight there

user16: i love a cl16 podium

ynuser: who’s that cowboy?

charlesleclerc: your cowboy

user2: STOP IT

f1gossip: and y’all didn’t believe me

user73: someone check on oscar

landonorris: lmfao they’re all friends it’s ok

user2: LANDO IS ALWAYS AT THE WCENE OF THE CRIME

user24: prettiest boy on the podium as always

charlesleclerc has posted to his story

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user44: glad she stayed true and is wearing a football shirt and not ferrari merch

maxverstappen1: feeling a little betrayed that i’m finding out with the rest of the world. WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME

charlesleclerc: mate i didn’t tell anyone

maxverstappen1: but i’m not just anyone 😔

yourbff: my beautiful girl - you better be good to her

charlesleclerc: i will be don’t worry!

user2: the confirmation i needed im obsessed with you both

ynuser: will always wear red for you charlie 😘

charlesleclerc: that’s my girl ❤️

user4: who’s this diva

user14: whelp i didn’t see this coming

carlossainz55: get her in a ferrari cap asap! also rebecca says you need to bring her to more races

charlesleclerc: trust me if i had it my way she’d be at all of them

user55: an american princess and a monegasque prince… a perfect match

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ynuser: mama i like him a lot 🤭 (p.s i’ve always looked better in red)

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user6: can the european mind even comprehend texas and college football y/n?

yourbff: well… we’re all about to find out!

user2: brb sobbing this is so cute

landonorris: how did you convince him to put on a cowboy hat???

ynuser: it wasn’t easy that’s for sure

user3: my 2 fav things colliding. y/n and f1 ,,, i used to pray for times like this

charlesleclerc: and i like you a lot

ynuser: 🤭 i’m so glad you do

charlesleclerc: it’s simply impossible not to

user67: mama y papa

user89: i can’t believe you’ve fallen for a vroom vroom that isn’t in nascar

scuderiaferrari: welcome to the family y/n ❤️

ﾟ. ✿ ୨❤︎୧⠀✿ . ﾟ

a/n: thanks for reading!! likes and reblogs appreciated 🫶🏻

ﾟ. ✿ ୨❤︎୧⠀✿ . ﾟ

disclaimer: pictures are not mine and everything i write is fiction

© norrisainz33 || please do not rewrite, translate, or copy any of my works posted here on to any other platform

[puffcap-factory]

When Carpool Jams Gone Awry (Heartsteel Kayn x reader)

Heartsteel!Kayn x gn!reader; fluff, pure fluff, crack.

<Part 2 of "It all started with a missing guitar pick...">

After Ezreal witnessed the certain incident between you and Kayn in the past week, he decided to put matters in his own hands as a wingman and set you two on a quick car trip for just the two of you. I suggest reading the first one first for more context though, but it's completely up to you :)

Words: 2.4k

Notes: Idk why but heartsteel fics smh made me focus on the crack instead of the romance (oops). There’s 3 song references that I used for the fic btw. Oh, and I might try some spicier ones with Kayn though, he has so much potential. Anyways, enjoy the story! :D

•~•~•~•

The passenger seat became a silent observer to the awkwardness between you and Kayn as he settled into the driver's seat. You could practically feel the tension seeping into the air as you clicked on your seatbelt.

It wasn’t like this for the past few days, you thought. But why do you suddenly feel awkward now?

"So… it’s not the usual spot down the street then?" you asked, breaking the uncomfortable quietness.

"Nah, Ezreal mixed things up and ordered from somewhere else," Kayn replied with a grunt. “That prick…” he muttered under his breath, almost too quiet for you to catch. You noticed him setting the GPS of the car for about a 20-minute drive from your place.

Sensing the need to ease the tension, you reached over and turned on the radio, letting the music fill the car. You couldn't help but wonder how you had ended up in this situation.

•~•~•~•

It had been almost a week since that certain incident, yet neither you nor Kayn had mentioned anything about the guitar lesson or the fall. The week had also flown by with various schedules, leaving little time for just the two of you.

Kayn, although you knew that he had been acting like everything’s cool, couldn't hide the subtle changes in his behavior. You could tell by the way he would avoid prolonged eye contact when you talked to him, or felt his gaze when he occasionally stole quick glances at you when you weren’t looking. However, the interactions you had throughout the week with him were never personal; there weren’t many opportunities in the first place.

But tonight, it was Friday night, and the group had planned a barbecue on the rooftop of the dorm's apartment building. Everyone had pitched in to prepare, setting up grills and tables for a fun evening.

As the party kicked off and laughter filled the air, it was around 8 pm when you excused yourself to head back to your room for a bathroom break. On the stairs, you ran into Ezreal, who seemed a bit frantic.

"Hey, y/n! Perfect timing, I need your help," Ezreal said, rushing up the stairs.

"What's up, Ez?"

“So, I ordered these desserts for us,” he paused as he showed you his phone with the orders displayed. “But I accidentally selected ‘pick up’ instead of ‘delivery’! Can you come with me to grab them, pleaaase?” 

"Oh, sure, no problem," you replied casually. It seemed like a simple errand, nothing more. "I'll head to my room first, then meet you in the parking lot, okay?" you added.

“You’re the best!” Ezreal exclaimed, visibly relieved. “Take your time and I’ll be waiting downstairs then!” He headed back towards the rooftop eagerly, leaving you to make your way to your room.

You smiled at his reaction, and brushed off the thought of why he had seemed somewhat agitated for a mere errand, as you headed to the bathroom in your room.

After a moment, you finally made your way down to the basement level, ready to accompany Ezreal for the dessert pick-up. As you stepped out of the glass door of the parking lot, you spotted Kayn standing near the group’s SUV. He was looking at his phone, one hand in his pocket, seemingly to be waiting for you. He looked up as you approached, quickly pocketing his phone.

“Let’s go,” he said flatly, waiting for you to join him. 

“Wait, you’re the one who’s gonna pick up the ice cream?” You quipped as you went up to him. 

“Yeah, Ezreal claimed he had some ‘urgent tasks’ to handle,” he rolled his eyes, clearly not buying what Ezreal said. 

“Oh well…” you paused, starting to understand why he had seemed unusually excited. “Let’s go then.”

•~•~•~•

And that was how it went. It was clear to you that Ezreal had set up a sneaky scheme for you two. Although you certainly wouldn’t object to spend alone time together with Kayn, you had to admit it was a bit sudden. However, the lack of conversation was starting to bother you more than usual, somehow.

“I got to play a bit further into the song, you know?” you finally began.

“Oh? So, I assume your guitar lessons are going smoothly, hm?” Kayn asked, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he turned his head slightly towards you before facing back to the road.

“Of course,” you smiled to yourself, feeling a bit proud. “I’ve been practicing a bit before bed.”

“Show me later then,” he challenged with a smirk.

“Alright.”

Silence.

Okay, you’re not going to mention the fall, at least not yet. It seemed neither of you wanted to broach that topic. You were racking your brain for another conversation starter when a familiar song started playing in the background.

You couldn't resist vibing with the music, its lively tempo lifting the mood in the car as you started singing. Kayn was clearly enjoying the beat too, nodding along and joining you in singing. It quickly turned into a car karaoke jam.

“Bang bang into the room, I know you want it

Bang bang all over you, I’ll let you have it “

Oh. 

“Back, back seat of my car, I’ll let you have it

Wait a minute let me take you there, ah”

You pretended not to notice anything unusual and kept on singing, letting the beat carry you away. Why were you suddenly realizing the lyrics that didn’t bother you before? Kayn didn’t seem bothered either, at least not now, as he continued singing along. It was almost as if the music had created a little bubble of ease between the two of you, momentarily pushing aside any lingering tension.

The next song, however, shattered that bubble.

Kayn’s voice grew smaller and smaller as the lyrics seemed to get into his head.

“You like it wet and so do I…

…I know you never waste a drip”

You noticed his voice trailing off, but you pressed on, determined not to let the tension settle back in the air. Masking every awkwardness with your solo karaoke session, you threw yourself into the song, trying not to care about the awkward atmosphere.

Oh god, how much longer does this drive take.

You silently prayed for the next song to be less suggestive. Unfortunately, the radio playlist seemed to have other plans.

As soon as the next song played, Kayn went completely still beside you, his face straight, expressionless. The tension between you two became almost suffocating, thick in the air like a heavy fog.

“Push me up against the wall, don’t take it easy…

You like it hard like me, it’s what you need.”

You felt like jumping out of the car to escape the tension that filled the space. It was as if the song had suddenly laid bare all the unspoken tension between you and Kayn. He remained unresponsive as his gaze fixed straight ahead, and you could sense his uneasiness.

“Let’s get naked and explore our inner secrets…”

The words hung in the air, heavy and charged with meaning. Why was this song playing now of all times? You struggled to maintain your composure, but the blush creeping up your cheeks betrayed your cool. It was clear that the mood had shifted, and your confidence to continue singing wavered as your voice grew smaller and smaller. 

Even though the lyrics were etched into your mind, you tried to salvage the situation by nodding along with the beat. Neither of you dared to reach for the radio to change the song, as if both of you were in denial that the lyrics had stirred something between you two. The car was becoming like a pressure cooker, the tension almost tangible between you and him. 

Summoning your courage, you stole a glance at Kayn, whose gaze remained fixed straight ahead, visibly tense. His jaw was clenched, and you couldn't help but admire the view for a moment, before realizing you had stared for too long. He caught your gaze as he glanced to the side briefly.

“What?” he finally said, breaking the silence.

“O-oh, nothing,” you stammered, quickly glancing back to the front, a blush creeping up on your cheeks. “Is the shop still far?”

“No, it’s right there,” he motioned with his head, and you could see the small light panel displaying the logo of the fast food chain store.

Kayn then parked at the open lot, and you both stepped out from the car. Finally, a breath of fresh air, the one that you desperately needed. 

“Wait here, I’ll grab it quick,” Kayn said, taking the lead.

“I think I’ll borrow the bathroom,” you said with an awkward smile. He nodded in acknowledgment as he headed into the shop counter.

You made a straight dash for the bathroom, taking a moment to collect yourself and plan how to handle the rest of the drive back with him. You were sure you wouldn’t survive that same kind of tension again.

•~•~•~•

Meanwhile, Kayn, who had taken the orders, waited in the car. He knew he had been hiding his blush during the whole ride, not expecting the tension to be that intense. He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to clear his head. His mind was busy replaying the events that had led to this awkward situation.

--

“Kayn – aw, come on, I swear it’s a quick drive!” Ezreal pleaded, holding out the car keys.

“Ugh, if it’s a quick drive then why are you asking me?” Kayn groaned in response.

“Because… because…” Ezreal trailed off.

“Hey, I’ll drive. I don’t mind,” K’sante offered from the side. 

“Oh… um,” Ezreal answered reluctantly, glancing at Kayn for a bit before a playful grin appeared on his face. “Alright then, y/n will be waiting down at the carpark,” Ezreal grinned mischievously as he handed the keys to K’sante.

Before K’sante could take them, Kayn snatched the keys from Ezreal’s hands.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

--

Kayn rubbed his forehead, realizing all too well that they had set this up for him. He did want to spend more time with you, but the unexpected set of songs playing on the radio had interrupted his more peaceful set of plans. He then turned on the radio, just to check what song was playing, but immediately turned it off as he heard another set of suggestive lyrics in it. 

Nope, not again.  

He sighed in attempt to ease his own tension, feeling it did not work, he went out from the car. He took a deep breath as he contemplated on what he should do for the rest of the drive as he held his one arm on the car to support his weight, as his head now facing down to the ground.

“Damn it…” he grumbled, his face reddening the more he thought about you.

Meanwhile, you had decided to buy a cone of vanilla ice cream after making up your mind in the bathroom. You figured some sweet treat might help salvage the time.

Just for another 20 minutes, you can do it, y/n.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling, you attempted to calm yourself before heading out of the store. As you made your way to the car, you found Kayn sitting at the metal bars near the parked car, seemingly lost in thought as he faced the other way.

“Uh… sorry to keep you waiting, Kayn,” you said softly, approaching him with your ice cream in hand. Kayn glanced at you briefly but didn't fully turn, still deep in his thoughts. Sensing he wanted to say something, you took a seat next to him on the metal bars, quietly enjoying your ice cream. 

“Hey,” he finally called out, his face still turned away.

“Y- yes?” You were somewhat startled by his sudden tense demeanor, but you waited for him to continue. The sudden tension made your heart begin to beat faster.

He cursed under his breath, rubbing his face with his palm as if trying to shake off his uneasiness. Then, in a mumble, he said, “I’ll just ask this straight.”

“…Are you seeing someone?” His face still away from you, his voice tense.

“No…” you replied softly, a bit taken aback by the question.

He let out an exhale, rubbing the back of his neck as his face started to redden. “Do you… want to go out… with me?” His voice trailed off, barely audible.

Glancing at him, you noticed his face turned away, his ears tinged with pink. A smile crept onto your face.

Without hesitation, you softly placed your hand on his, which was resting on the metal bars.

He immediately turned to face you, his pinkish face now fully visible as you beamed a smile at him. Nodding happily, you conveyed your answer without words. You didn’t care anymore if your face turned as red as a tomato; seeing your reaction, Kayn's bashfulness immediately changed into a cocky smirk.

"Heh," he chuckled, his smirk widening although his blush was still present. "Looks like it’s not that hard to ask you out."

“Huh, what do you mean by that?” you teased, squeezing the hand which held his.

“Argh, your hand is all sticky!” he exclaimed, standing up and trying to shake off the melted ice cream.

“Kayn!” you laughed, feeling the tension dissipate as you both made your way towards the car door, ready to head back. It felt like a weight had been lifted off your hearts. 

You settled in the car seat when Kayn suddenly leaned closer from his seat. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, his fingers hovered near your nose.

“What?” you asked, trying to keep a straight face.

He grinned, his fingers lightly touching the ice cream stain on your nose. “You’re so sloppy,” he teased, before playfully sucking the melted ice cream off his fingers.

You couldn’t help but blush furiously, feeling the heat rush to your cheeks as he chuckled. Kayn's demeanor had definitely lightened up, but the car ride back home was a relentless onslaught of teasing directed at you. With or without music, his remarks kept you on edge, and though you wouldn’t admit it, deep down you were secretly enjoying it. 

Was 20 minutes this short?

•~•~•~•

Meanwhile, back in the dorm, K’sante glanced at his wristwatch, a bemused expression on his face. "Aren’t they kinda late?" he asked, turning to Ezreal.

Ezreal simply grinned, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Let them be," he replied with a knowing smile. "They'll be back with stories, I'm sure."

[itsgrimeytime]

Home is Where the Heart is (Part One) || Farmer!Rick Grimes (TWD) x Teacher!GN!reader AU

AVAILABLE ON AO3

Inspiration: Like Real People Do by Hozier.

Summary: Your life was spinning out of control, you knew that. After a string of particularly shattering events, you decided it was time to start anew. With a little help from one of your Grandma's rentals, you found yourself in the small town of Alexandria. The last thing you expected was your neighbor, Rick Grimes.

TWS: starting over, and identity crisis.

[[A/N: Thanks to @imaginemyfavoritefics for the name idea. The vibes of this are hallmark forward, so expect something rather cheesy. Thanks for reading!! ]]

You weren't running, you rationalized deep in your head -almost as if on instinct. You were an adult, you could deal with adult problems -like relationship issues, you just wanted to... you just needed a break. A breather even. Plus, they needed a teacher -it was practically destiny.

So, why did it feel like you were running?

You hadn't had a serious job in Atlanta, just an assistant, and as much as you loved those kids, you needed to do your job. When it felt like everything was going wrong in the world (and it was-), you still had teaching. It felt like what you were supposed to do, it was a reprieve from... everything else. So, even with a fresh start, you still needed teaching.

The transitions between cities bright against the landscape into more timid more rural areas was something you found somehow conflicting. You'd spent the last few years in the city, busy nights with a constant buzz of noise -cars honking, people talking, street performers... As it got quieter, there were fewer people on the road and the tall buildings turned into trees scrapping the sky; it was all a little surreal.

And it struck you then, you weren't scared -not really. Not scared to uproot everything and start over, it made you wonder bad it had gotten without you knowing.

"Okay," you hummed, turning down a sort of suburban road -houses every little bit, but much farther apart than the tight compression of a culdesac, "-1259, little white house-"

Your Grandma had called you at least 10 times ensuring you'd remembered the address -as if it wasn't written in your GPS. But as it turns out, back on these roads, just off what you assumed to be the town center, Google had no fucking clue where you were. So, perhaps you should thank her, actually.

"1259," you muttered, again -eyes focused out your passenger side, trying to see the addresses, "-little white house-"

And then, someone tapped on your driver's window.

"'Ay, ya need somethin'?"

You spun around in your driver's seat quickly, matching a man's -tall, brunette, brown-eyed. He wore some assortment of a leather vest and seemed to have been busy prior -you could see the dirt dusted under his fingernails and staining his jeans. The second thing you noticed was his tone wasn't friendly.

Maybe he thought you were nosing around in something you shouldn't.

"I, uh, yeah-" you rolled down your window, -briefly wondering how long it had been since you met somebody new, "-I'm trying to get to 1259? It's a uh, little white-"

"No, no," he echoed -interrupting you, less confrontational, "-I kno' the place, got a friend 'at lives near ya. Just follow me."

And without another word, he waltzed off in front of you -focusing succinctly on a motorcycle. An old one, by the looks of it, well-maintained though -maybe there's an auto shop around here?

The purr of the engine was loud, even through your rolled-up windows. Something in you had expected heads to pop out of windows -words yelled, so when they didn't... you assumed he was a regular here.

Cranking your car, you slowly cruised to follow him. He seemed to be attentive to you being behind him -driving slow when you were certain it had seen far faster speeds. Maybe even earlier today actually-

You appreciated it, nonetheless.

It was a short journey, a few more turns, and a little bit more driving down roads aimlessly. All things considered though, you were very close to the center of town -where everything was sold and the only stores miles in any direction resided. So, you could work with it.

That being said, where the house was wasn't exactly suburban. There weren't pristine sidewalks and crosswalks, or only little patches of grass here and there. You had a yard -a flourishing yard with trees and flowers and just... open space.

The neighbors were close enough that you could see the house -a surprising sort of light blue paneling, but you could definitely see that their fence far surpassed your own. Their yard seemed almost to last forever, you could even see a barn far back from the back of the house -red, yes, but very worn by the weather, and if you truly listened you could actually hear the shuffle of some livestock.

Okay, so next door to a farm, you told yourself -lightly, -totally can do this.

Without another thought the man pulled off to the side in front of you -making way for you to pull into the driveway. A smooth sort of ease on the bike that made you assume he had years of practice. He certainly looked the part.

You got out of your car, roaming close to him at a comfortable distance (for him or you weren't sure). He didn't seem the type to want strangers close, but then again you weren't really, either.

"Thank you," you started, kind of awkwardly but you were meeting someone new so you let it slide -tone taking a casual sort of amusement, "-I appreciate the help. I know I would've been out there for hours if-"

"Don't sweat it," he echoed -kind of coldly but you didn't know him well enough to assume he meant it that way, "-anythin' else?"

"Uh," you started, "-the Elementary? It's back by the center, right?"

"Yep, can't miss it," he answered, shortly, "-if ya need anythin' else, I'm only a few houses down. Otherwise, people 'round 'ere are pretty friendly."

You smiled -at your very first success, "Okay, thank you, really... uh...?"

"Daryl," he puffed out -making no effort to move from his motorcycle, "-Daryl Dixon."

"Y/N," you offered back, "-Y/N Y/L/N."

And without another word -only a single swift nod of his head, he was gone. It was such a quick exchange that you almost thought for a moment you dreamed it -that you'd somehow gotten the memo of where the house was and he didn't exist at all. Which, to be fair, at the rate your brain was firing could definitely be plausible. You were a mix of something between relentlessly tired from the drive, and insanely stressed because well... You'd just up and moved your whole life for good reason, but still.

"Everythin' alright?"

You blinked and were met with yet another unknown face. Not that you expected to know anyone here -other than maybe a few faces your Grandma had stories of. But this man... you would've known him.

Tall with a head of brunette curls matted in a sort of dirt -the same dusted across his shoulders, you guessed, and encrusted into his fingernails. His eyes were a sort of blue that you considered people write poems about and along his tan jaw was a big bushy beard -something about it was untamed. Like he hadn't cared to brush through it that morning, or maybe just hadn't cared for it for a while. Still, somehow he looked good. Handsome, even.

"Oh, yeah, sorry-" you started -trying to calm the flush of him just waiting while you downright ogled him, "-I just, I got some help finding my new place. Kind of zoned out there, but I'm... I'm fine, really."

He raised an eyebrow, intently, "Ya sure?"

"Yeah, yeah," you softened slightly at the concern his tone held -something in you aching in realizing you hadn’t been concerned over in so long, "-just tired. 'Been a long drive."

"Where'd ya drive from?"

"Atlanta," you answered -far easier than you intended to (there was just something about him-).

"A very long drive," he chuckled -low timber of his voice rattling through your bones (something in you stiffened -not again), "-ya need any help with anythin'? I got some free hands."

"If you're not busy," you countered -exhaustion a distant rattle in the back of your body, ever present.

"Nah," he reassured, blue eyes flickering over you, "-I got stuff 'at can wait. If you don't mind waitin' a minute, I can get my son to help too."

"Well..." you responded, slow and awkward, "-thank you."

"No, really," he echoed, "-ain't a problem. I'm Rick, by the way, Rick Grimes."

You smiled, maybe a bit less of a polite one and more genuine then, "Y/N, Y/N Y/L/N. Do you... Do you live around here?"

Rick laughed -a sort of deep chuckle that mostly felt warm in tone as he roamed towards some of the boxes, "Yeah, I'm uh... I'm actually y'er neighbor."

"Oh," you echoed out, as he seamlessly picked up three -like it was as light as a feather, "-really?"

"Yea'-" he spoke, hoisting up the boxes slightly and you suddenly realized just how snug his t-shirt was, "-blue house, big farm-"

And despite the flatline of your brain then, you still managed to remember the large plot of land right next to yours. The beautiful blue house was his, of course it was-

Handsome, strong, probably married neighbor, you tsked yourself -remembering the mention of a son, -totally can handle this. Totally cool with this.

This trip wasn't to ogle neighbors, it was to care for yourself and start fresh, and further your career-

"You okay?"

"What?" You startled in place, merely jumping actually, "-oh, yeah, just... a lot to do. And even more tomorrow."

He tilted his head slightly, eyes sweeping over you -like he couldn't read you, "Take it day by day, 'sure it'll all work out."

Correction. Handsome, strong, caring, probably married neighbor, you ran through your head -words anything but at your leisure.

God, you were so fucked.

[ghcstao3]

If I were to portray someone unbelievably pathetic and without any hope, would you give me another part of your #anyway mildly supernatural au?

I'll get down on my knees and pray to any god you want.

Just please give me more please.

do not even Fret i would have written more for absolutely nothing in return anyway because i just love writing AUs so much (if you could not already tell)

fun fact this is version 2.0 of what i wanted to write because tumblr didn’t save a draft and i lost everything 🫶 not edited

-

So much and so little time feel like they’ve passed simultaneously as John waits out the rain with Simon—and oddly enough, not once has he seen the bottom of his styrofoam cup of coffee in spite of the plentiful sips he’s certain he’s taken.

In any case.

He and Simon chat aimlessly to fill the minutes, hours, whatever it’s been—something just beyond small talk, though not by much. Not until Simon decides to face John with a rather puzzling question.

“So, then, what brings you here?”

John furrows his brow. “My car broke down,” he says slowly. He can’t help the confusion and tinge of curiosity that melt into his voice, nor can he help wondering why Simon would ask for an answer he already knows.

Yet Simon shakes his head. “No—what brings you here?”

A frown tugs at John’s lips, his eyebrows drawing ever closer. “Dinnae ken.” He shrugs helplessly, tries a different reply, “A road trip?”

Simon hums only as acknowledgment. It’s clear in the way he narrows his eyes and scrutinizes John’s face that it’s still not the answer he’s looking for.

“You’re lost,” Simon concludes.

John scoffs. “Am no’!” He exclaims, frustration laced in his tone as he folds his arms almost defensively across his chest. “I was followin’ a GPS!”

“You are,” Simon insists. “Just not in the way you think.”

With a huff, John drops his arms, instead reaching to curl his fingers back around the still-warm cup of coffee. His frown deepens. “How do you mean?”

Simon tilts his head, gaze ever-analytic. “You’re lucky,” he replies cryptically. “Or unlucky, depending on how you choose to look at it. Not many humans manage to get here.”

Now John is beyond confused. Of course, Simon had been all sorts of vague and avoidant throughout their interactions, but this? John is beginning to think this man might not be all… there.

“Human…?” John swallows. He shifts his weight between weary feet. “Why would I be anything but?”

Simon takes a step away from the counter, rounds past John only to stop at the large window looking out into a small, crumbling lot and the forest beyond the road, all blurred by heavy rain. John realizes with a start that he hadn’t really seen Simon move before that—hadn’t seen deliberate steps, the way he almost glides across the space; graceful, soundless.

It’s almost—dare John say—supernatural.

“Well, you see, Johnny,” Simon says with a mild air of amusement, and John has barely any time to process that Simon knows his name despite it never having been given as he continues, “there’s often a lot more than meets the eye in this world we live in. It just appears you’ve looked in the right place for once.”

“I don’t understand.”

Simon turns back to him, then, the glint in his eyes that same hint of unnatural as his movements. They flash, a glare almost like that of a cat’s in the dark of night.

“I don’t expect you to.”

Simon looks away from John again, a broad figure against the pale grey light that filters inside. John’s heart stutters even as he willingly brings himself closer to Simon.

“The rain will stop soon,” Simon states disinterestedly. It hardly appears like the storm would let up any time soon—the sky is still stained with dark and angry clouds—but Simon says it with such unimpressed, unwavering confidence that John thinks he may as well believe him.

“Will it?” John challenges anyway.

Simon shrugs. “Not unless you don’t want it to.”

John huffs out a quiet laugh. As strange as Simon and everything he’s said is, and as much as John has questioned everything else, he decides he’ll humour the man.

“Maybe just a bit longer, then.”

After all, John hasn’t hated lingering in the store. No harm in indulging in such silly thoughts as controlling the weather.

Simon nods. The corners of his eyes pull upward as if he’s smiling beneath the mask he’s still refused to remove. Briefly, John wonders what other things Simon may be hiding beneath it.

Simon concurs, “Then so it is.”

[sunghoonnsupremacy]

ANTISOCIAL. -l.hs.

previous - now - next

- summary ; when the popular jock starts finding interest in the new girl, hell breaks lose. she eventually gives in and he shows her exactly why he's popular.

- warnings ; eventual smut, rough sex, bondage, degrading, mentions of drugs/alcohol, asshole heeseung.

READ UNDER THE CUT!

smut warning

the day went by in a fast blink, jia thought. she mildly enjoyed her classes but she'd say that's a win since its a totally new environment for her. the girl's mind wondered back to the attractive guy she met earlier. hearing multiple unpleasant rumours about him before her day at the school even started, jia planned to keep her distance but that plan failed the moment she stepped into her literature classroom.

she was currently deciding whether to dress appropriately for a party or to be comfortable. a dress would be nice but she didn't feel like getting slutshamed her first day at arrival.

a mini skirt? tight dress? loose dress? jeans? baggy jeans?

she sighs standing infront her closet door that's wide open.

"I guess a dress will do." she picks out a tight dress thats a bit above her knees, allowing her to bend down without flashing the world. its black and strapless. perfect for the summer. add that with black heels and she'll look like a runway model.

realization hit her like a bus. "where's that paper?" she muttered scrambling around her room looking for the important piece of paper.

"ah there it is!" a smile lightens up her face when she spots it.

she grabs her phone and types in the numbers, immediately texting him.

hey. it's jia.

she was a bit suprised at how fast he texted her back but didn't mind.

- ohhh hey! I was waiting for your text.

yeah i was trying to read the numbers.

- are you sayin' my handwritings messy?

maybe. doesn't matter. so what's the adress?

- 1400 forest lawn drive. see u there 😉

she sighed at his message and puts the adress into the gps, her heels making little to no noise as she walked down the stairs of her apartment and into her car.

the house wasn't far away, just about a ten minute long drive. she stepped out and her eyes wondered around the luxury looking house in awe. "shit he must be rich."

jia arrives at the front door, already seeing people crowding the entrance. she gags in disgust as it is only eight pm and there's couples making out every step she takes.

hence the door being open, she walks in without knocking.

she makes her way through the corridor and into the living room that reeks of alcohol and sweaty bodies. she spots a certain blonde and nods her head at him.

"you made it." heeseung smirks at her, walking over to her. "what, did you think id bail?" jia gives him a sly smile and crosses her arms.

"wouldn't expect that from you... you look really pretty by the way. " he stares at her up and down and doesn't even try to make it discreet.

she can feel arousal pooling around her panties as he looks at her.

"could say the same about you, heeseung." she gives him a smile and starts walking away, not giving him a chance to react.

he hurries trying to catch up to her. "let me show you around! you can meet my friends. " she agrees and follows him into what she assumes is a kitchen

a group of teenage boys huddle around the kitchen island, drinking and laughing about something.

heeseung loudly whistles to get their attention. obviously it worked since it quieted down and their eyes turned to the duo.

jia starts to feel uncomfortable so she pinches at his arm. "right, this is jia. she's new" he smirks at them and a guy with beautiful features comes over to them. he holds out his hand as a greeting.

"im sunghoon. nice to meet you pretty. " he winks at her and she giggles before shaking his hand. "yeah yeah anyway." heeseung moves her closer to him, their hands breaking apart. she stumbles a bit but thanks to heeseungs hands on her waist, she just leans into him, sunghoon glaring at him.

"im jay, this is jake and niki. " a guy with a sharp jawline introduces himself and his friends. jia waves at them with a small wave, her smile making them smile too. "do you want a drink?" sunghoon offers with a grin. she nods and takes it from him, silently thanking him.

"okay you guys have fun me and jia are gonna take a walk around." heeseung intervenes their hands and leads her away from the crowd, leading her upstairs.

"where are we going? " she tries to make way of the people sitting on the stairs, following the host.

"a room. it's more secluded. " he winks at her one more time before opening the door to one massive bedroom. she gasps in astonishment at it. he looks at her and smiles at her eyes sparkling.

"hey i know I already told you but, you look beautiful. " he walks over to her with lust in his eyes, and she looks up at him with doe eyes, resulting in him getting even more hard.

he wraps his hands around her waist and brings her closer to him, their bodies touching. the air is thick, and the only thing that can be heard is the muffled music and their heavy breathing.

his hand moves from her waist up to her face, brushing some hair from it. "can i kiss you? " his eyes dart from hers onto her plump lips.

"yeah." she whispers and leans in to kiss him. their lips connect. his urgency to kiss her gets bigger as he tastes her. his hands go back to her waist as they keep kissing eachother.

his slender fingers squeeze her butt, her light moan entering his mouth as he slips his tongue inside hers. "you *kiss* taste *kiss* so good" he tells her, already obsessed.

she pulls away, needing to breathe. their heavy breathing continues as they smile at eachother. he lightly grabs a hold of her waist and whispers into her ear, "will you let me touch you?"

she bites her lip, her panties drenched at this point. "yes please, i need you. " he groans feeling his pants tighten even more at her tone. "ill make you feel good, i promise. " he slowly starts unzipping her dress, leaving her in nothing but her lacy bra and panties. she quickly takes that off too.

"cmon doll, lay down." she obeys and spreads her legs. "you're fucking dripping. is that all for me? " he runs a finger up and down her slit, making her bite her lip to shush her moans. "all for you, heeseung. " she looks at him with lust in her eyes.

his slender finger moves around her clit faster, connecting his tongue with her hole. she can't suppress the moan that comes out when she feels him eating her out while rubbing her clit.

their foreplay ends rather quickly, jia cumming on his tongue will be a moment he'll never forget.

"im dying to be inside you, doll. " there's that nickname that'll always have an effect on her. she fell to her knees, unzipping his zipper as if her life depended on it. he let out a breath of relief when she removed his tight boxers.

his cock sprung up against his abs leaking pre-cum. she licked her lips at the sight. "can i? " she asked for approval. he nodded his lips, desperate for her soft tongue on his dick.

she started kitty licking the tip, him grabbing her hair in a fistful. she continues sucking him as his grip on her hair gets tighter. he can feel himself get closer to his finish as her mouth does wonders.

"shit, I'm about to cum" he moans out in pleasure and she gives him harsher licks. her hand grips at his base and massages up and down.

he lets out a loud moan as he finishes inside of her warm mouth. jia continues sucking to help him ride out his orgasm until it gets over stimulating.

she licks her lips and stares up at him with doe eyes. "was it good?" she asks. "it was amazing doll, thank you."

she stands up and goes back to kissing his plump lips. the two keep making out until he pushes her back onto the bed, making her fall down and spread her legs obediently.

he grabs his dick into his hands and rubs it along her slit. they both moan at the feeling. he looks at her one more time for consent and she nods desperate.

he pushes in the girl moaning underneath him. he stays still for a bit, making sure it doesn't hurt her.

"you can move now ", she says. she breathes in a deep sigh, feeling his full length inside of her hitting all of her spots so easily.

"oh, fuck-" she moans high pitched when he bottoms out. he lets out a deep groan of pleasure at how tight she was.

"shit doll, you're practically sucking me in" his thrusts get faster as her boobs bounce up and down at the movement of his hips.

he manages to find her g spot in under 5 minutes, resulting in her getting even closer to her orgasm.

"heeseung, I think I'm about to finish." she whimpers feeling a coil in her tummy tighten.

"me too doll, don't worry." he continues groaning in a low voice, feeling himself close to his finish as well.

he latches his lips onto hers as they sensually kiss while they finish together at the same time. they moan to each others mouths as they feel euphoria.

he slowly stops thrusting, pulling away from her lips and staring deeply into her eyes. "that was amazing, doll. " she smiles at him, feeling happy and pleased.

"we should get cleaned up", he pulls out of her, making both of them at the empty feeling.

jia nods at him and slowly sits up, feeling numb in her legs. "shit, I can't feel my legs, how am I supposed to get home? " she panicks looking over at him.

"you can stay over, I don't mind, but now let's get you cleaned up, come on. " he picks her up and walks with her to the bathroom.

they take a shower together, kissing a bit more until they fall asleep in each other's arms, like the romantic duo they are.

sorry for how short the smut part is, but it's my first time writing smut, and I'm not experienced, so I hope you enjoy it.!

[solarwynd]

I don't know if you have heard of the popstar academy docuseries on netflix but it's about the group katseye and how they debuted and stuff but anyways. their main goal is for them to find a global group that will essentially carry the company from now on like they want this group to be their next BTS but mostly focusing for success in the US. theres this girl there that was a trainee and she was very talented and had star quality but they weren't as interested in her because they felt she was not "the cool rebellious girl" US fans will love and that got me to think about jungkook and jimin. the tattoos, piercings, muscles, the pr smoking incident, him drinking on lives deleting his instagram vs jimin who only does lives at the company, doesn't even like to talk about alcohol in fans vicinity, timid, tries to keep a clean image, the goody two shoes (said lovingly)

now it makes sense to me as to why they push jk so hard especially in the US. he is much more marketable and what supposedly US fans want in male pop artists. they know that the rugged bad boy sells and jimin isn't that

Yea I did. I’ve been in eyekon business for a day or two now lol. I even started watching the show but I haven’t made it past the first episode. I’m really just privy to the Manon drama, but I have seen screenshots of Bang and his foolishness.

“Cool & rebellious” are interesting buzzwords. Two that I can’t exactly say aren’t popular because it sounds like aespa and blackpink. And kpop stans do love that. But what’s really popular right now is the newjeans aesthetic. Which is exactly what Touch was in “sound” and also why I’m confused on what they’re going for in the group’s image. It sounds like they don’t even know. The only thing for certain is that they wanted a multi ethnic group. I listened to their EP and it doesn’t seem like they’re gonna have a set sound and I don’t think that’s an issue. Their music is nice, most of the songs give real summery coming of age vibes. (I liked tonight I might, im pretty and my way) kinda wish they would’ve stuck with that throughout the album cause debut and touch seem like the odd ones out.

Back to the actual topic, Yes I think that cool and rebellious image has more of an advantage for a male popstar for obvious reasons. Jimin not fitting Hybe’s image has been discussed as a possibility as to one of the reasons he’s not getting pushed before but to actually see they confirmed what their ideal is let’s me know how shallow their vision of a true artist is. You’d think they see the results, hype and intrigue Jimin pulls just being him and see that ideal doesn’t hold that much weight as a standard but w/e ig lmao. JK didn’t even fit that stereotypical “bad boy” mold up until recently imo.

Anyway the way HYBE seems so intent on finding the next BTS and strictly speaking in business terms, I really do wonder how much longer BTS themselves are in this for cause to me, it seems like there’s a clock running and Katseye does not seem like the long term solution to me. I know it wouldn’t be smart to wait until BTS calls it quits to then try to build a new group, but they give new jeans. I believe that they’ll find success somewhere down the line, especially if HYBE starts pushing them. But might fizzle out after some time. Touch seems to be gaining some traction and they are building a fanbase. But if they want BTS level fame, it’s gonna have to be a devout one that actually moves for them and not one built of male gg stans that use them for a twitter layout and move out once they get bored. Fandom>>>GP

[thisisyourprincipalspeaking]

To that other anon re materialists and A24:

A24 is not a CAA owned company, they are an independent private film company that’s known for their creative and unique films.

CAA is a top HW talent agency that often distributes their actors by the bulk to different films. They are likely making deals with companies like A24 for whatever reason.

There has been no confirmation Jeremy Allen white was the first choice casting for this movie. I think there were rumors that were then either debunked through an article or just spread around the grapevine by other blogs with industry knowledge.

There is also no proof CE is 5-6th casting choice for this film or any other film.

It’s fine to critique but I don’t understand the constant downplaying of someone just because you’re mad at them.

Also, principal, I respect your opinions but you do seem to think and agree on narratives about him at times that I don’t think is particularly fair.

These anons are hellbent on claiming he loves attention but all celebs love attention to an extent even the ones people love. He also hasn’t claimed to be more private - it’s always people assuming he says he’s private but he’s not said anything in particular to claim one way or another. He just says he doesn’t live in Hollywood and appears to like the quiet life. I think those are separate things and shouldn’t continuously be misconstrued.

He is a celebrity. Celebrities will always live a different life to some extent than regular people even if they like a quiet life.

Also, there is no hard and fast proof his wife is a N*** sympathizer herself and all that’s there to prove is that she has a friend whose a weirdo on twitter and made some very insensitive jokes about the holocaust and the like, and a TikTok gossip blogger made claims about her grandparents fleeing Germany at a certain time. She wasn’t seen responding to that friend’s disgusting jokes or laughing about it. I think there’s a likelihood she has some thoughts herself because she loves this best friend of hers so much you have to wonder if she agrees with him on most things. But she’s not said it from her mouth so I withhold accusations on her.

While it’s not a great look to have a friend so openly make gross jokes and have another best friend openly mock POC and then pretend they didn’t do anything - the TikTok gossiper was extremely irresponsible in spreading these types of claims without hard and fast proof.

And while I do not like her or her friends - I don’t think it’s fair to make such claims on her even if it’s just allegations from anons.

I think calling her an opportunist and grifter and lazy has more merit - not that I particularly enjoy saying these things about a stranger - but there’s more evidence to support those claims.

Another thing that bothers me is that people hate that he shared stuff about her on IG stories but it was only twice. And yes, maybe they didn’t need to do all that because it was more cringe than cute but some are acting like it was so out of line and how dare they do that.

To me, it’s clear people hate this relationship and his wife and that’s why they are piling on these claims now. If they actually liked her I think we’d be seeing a different reaction.

I’m sorry, because when his costars Dakota and Pedro did daily pap walks on the set of materialists their fans seemed happy to see them out and about even if Pedro’s pap walks were a little too obvious that he was out there for the stunt. He’s at a high in his career right now and he’s leaning into the publicity. But if he wasn’t loved by his fans and the GP it would look cheesy and desperate.

CE was mia for the first half of filming and started getting more photos during that last week. Suddenly it was overkill and the people waiting for him to show up on set for weeks were suddenly mad he was showing up so much with Dakota.

Dakota’s team often gets her out and about and that’s her way of getting hits and analytics. She’s been papped at Glastonbury, papped at her home in Malibu, on the beach with Jeremy Allen white, all since filming ended so I think this is her team’s go to when promoting her without promoting her.

But CE has since more or less disappeared after filming which seems to be his MO.

So like…what is it? When others do it it’s fine and normal but whenever he does something it’s over the top and desperate and screaming for attention?

Do you see how hypocritical these claims are? I don’t agree with this and I don’t think it’s uncalled for to defend my opinion. I just don’t like piling on someone when they’re down, even if everyone else is doing it. I don’t think getting some pap walks, posting some cringe IG stories, or having articles put warrants this much hate.

I’ll agree it’s not normal for him and so this relationship having this much press when pretty much nobody really asked for it is weird. But that’s why we ask the critical questions. Why is it weird? Why are they doing it like this now? There is almost always a reason or more.

thank you anon, and i agree that hate-watching and trash-gossiping are mostly a waste of energy. but to each their own and some struggle more than others to move on. i appreciate that you respect my opinions but i'm unsure why my agreeing with an anon automatically makes that reflective of my full opinion? i can agree or disagree with anyone and not adopt their sentiment as my own; i simply understand where that anon is coming from. ce does love attention, and i believe at some point i also brough up that all celebs do especially when it comes to their work. ce has stated he likes his privacy, enjoys the anonymity of being outside of los angeles in several interviews. notably in the sma interview with people when he talked about how "there are some things that are just for you and the people closest to you" and before in many interviews when explaining his hesitancy to accept the role as steve rogers because he said he knew if it went well then he would lose the ability to go to the grocery unbothered. so while he doesn't always use those exact words, it is what he insinuates. i'm not going to debate what is and isn't "said from her mouth" because here's the long and the short of it: if you go into a room and sit down at a table with 9 racist, antisemitic, fat shaming, elitist bigots then there are now 10 racist, antisemitic, fat shaming, elitist bigots at that table. if you do not want to be considered one of "them" then it's your responsibility to get up from that table and sit somewhere-the-hell-else.

if you have been following this fandom for any length of time, you'd know that the dislike of the relationship started at the beginning and the "piling on of these claims" are not new. regarding the pap walks from filming, i don't recall anyone complaining about those so you must follow different blogs with a more critical take. some were surprised to be getting so much content after such a long drought but everyone was excited and grateful from what i saw. i follow neither dakota nor pedro so i have no idea how many times they were papped or what their fandoms reactions were. it still seems like you're missing the forest for the trees here, anon. you are welcome to your opinions just like everyone else. what i won't do in this space is talk in circles about someone's unsubstantiated opinion. there are a few anons who want to defend and coddle chris as if he has no autonomy, like he is not a full grown man, and as if he is completely innocent in this charade. his choosing her as his wife shows that either he was full of bologna the whole time he was preaching equality and love, showcasing as a feminist and an ally. or it shows he was willing to let that particular system of beliefs be flushed down the drain without any remorse. do you see how hypocritical this is?

i will continue to hold him accountable for misleading all the women, poc, and minorities he was able to pull into his fandom all these years. if that's not something folks can handle, scroll by this blog because it won't be for you.

[amuhav]

Get to Know Me - Sims Style

tagged by @dandylion240 (if anyone else did too I’m sorry, I’m not seeming to get notifs for tags rn???)

tagging @keibea​ because we need more TS3 rep in tag games like this tbh.

What’s your favorite Sims death?

Old age. Because it means my sim actually made it that far and I just love seeing their life play out. Some of the more quirky, simsy ones are great though. Death by Jellybean or Cowplant come to mind lol.

Alpha CC or MaxisMatch?

I... really don’t like the TS4 MM aesthetic 😅 I really don’t like the clay hair look for my own sims, though think some people do wonderful things with it, and I do like certain Maxis Mix styles, good skin details with clay hair, certain stylised MM styles etc. but the default TS4 clay look is literally why I never moved over to TS4 in the first place, and it took too long for the Alpha scene to really take off in the beginning, so by the time there was enough CC for me to feel I would ever want to jump in, it felt too overwhelming to even try moving to essentially a new medium.

For TS3... I also am not a huge fan of the straight “MM” look either, though I think the distinction is less prominent as it is in TS4. You can easily make most “MM” stuff fit in an “alpha” game simply because they aren’t usually full-on clay the way TS4 MM is, they’re just not quite as detailed as full “alpha” CC. Whereas the other way around isn’t quite as true, intricately detailed alpha stuff might look out of place if most of your other content is vanilla or MM. So I think as well as preferring the aesthetic, I like the flexibility a more “alpha” leaning style can bring.

Do you cheat your sims weight?

Storywise, characters are obviously whatever size I make them lol. 

Uh. I don’t know about weight, because I don’t think any of my sims have put on a lot of weight during gameplay. I have definitely cheated muscle levels though. Traumatic flashbacks to Loch suddenly getting BULKED whilst I was letting him run free during Riv’s BC. Absolutely not you little twink.

Do you move objects?

For gameplay, I used to try to minimise doing so just cos it breaks so much routing and stuff. Now I don’t play so I go nuts with MOO. Who needs working doors or stairs or beds anyway?

Favourite Mod?

So many mods for TS3 are kinda essential to even be able to run the game lol, like almost the entire NRAAS suite. I think I’ll have to go with the Remove Stencil mod though, cos being able to undo EA’s weird obsession with shiny clothes by removing the specular is honestly so lifechanging LOL. no more shiny wool jumpers or oil slick jeans 🥰

First Expansion/Game Pack/Stuff Pack?

My first TS3 expansion was Ambitions, because I skipped World Adventures, in fact, I think it was one of the last expansions I bought lol. 

Believe it or not, I do actually own one EP, one GP, and one SP for TS4 lmao, back when I thought maybe, just MAYBE. the game might get better, and I was still trying so damn fuckin hard to force myself to enjoy the actual gameplay. So I have Get to Work, but don’t even ask me what the other two are because I haven’t a fuckin’ clueeeee. 

Do you pronounce live mode like aLIVE or LIVing?

...It just occurred to me maybe it is meant to be “LIV” mode because it’s... like. Living mode. Like, Alive Mode doesn’t make sense. But my brain won’t accept it. doesn’t sound right. Always been “LIVE” mod to me lol.

Who’s your favourite sim that you’ve made?

Oh, jeez. Uhhh, I can’t *really* claim most of my current legacy sims because I didn’t make them, they were born in-game, even if I have tweaked the hell out of them in recent years. So if we’re going for physical appearance, I wanna say actually maybe Sylvie for my TS3 sims? She took so long to get just right, especially because TS3 doesn’t really do curvier sims quite as well as TS4, especially not without a fuck ton of sliders, and I had a really specific look to her face in mind that took forever to get right, had to blend her a custom skin etc. But I am finally super happy with her cute lil sassy round face 🥰 Close runners up are probably Qu or Edge.

God, I’m gonna get so fucking shot for this but here goes. Physically, my fave TS4 sims I’ve made are actually both of Tay’s brothers, Ethryon and Ailos, and also probably father, Qariel. I think because I had a little more experience with using TS4 CAS by the time I got to them, more sliders, more skin details, just generally a fuck ton more CAS CC by then, and more time to tweak them etc. As much as Tay will always be my favourite sim OVERALL... yeah. plznoonekillmebye

Have you made a simself?

Ye. I used to update her like. all the timeee too, whenever I got a new haircut etc. And, ofc, Havoc was my alter ego so she’s like. simself adjacent lol.

Which is your favorite EA hair color?

God I hate EA’s hair colours in TS3. their blondes are so yellow, the highlights don’t blend well etc. always make my own. TS4 hair colours make me want to actually die, but then again, I hate the clay hair and cartoony colours of vanilla TS4 anyway, so.

Favourite EA hair?

Favourite life stage?

Young Adult, with Teens a close second. You can do the most with the YA age, but the chaos of teenage years are real fun too lol.

Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay?

I literally can’t play lmao. I have too much CC in TS3 for it to run well enough to play, and TS4... is it even possible to play TS4? joking joking... mostly. I’m in it for the story.

Are you a CC creator?

No. Never. I do not have a CC page I abandoned whatsoever no idea what you’re talking about goodbye. 💀

Do you have any Simblr friends or a Sim Squad?

RBSB represent. 

No I hate everyone equally.

@lazysunjade and @thesimperiuscurse have no choice but to be talked at by me every day. I’m inescapable. 

Do you have any sims merch?

I actually had the TS3 Collectors edition that came with the Plumbob USB and I was devastated when it got broken. Like legitimately heart broken lol. 

Miss her so much I just want her back

Do you have a YouTube for sims?

Ew.

How has your “Sims style” changed throughout your years of playing?

I used to try so hard to stick to whatever gameplay threw at me, following the actual legacy rules, not editing sims etc, all to the detriment of my actual enjoyment of storytelling. Now I care maybe a little too much about how posts look that I get into a rut of not posting oops bye 💀

What’s your origin id?

Probably the same as my username here lol, but I avoid origin at all costs so couldn’t tell you for sure tbh.

Who’s your favorite CC creator?

Oh, way too many to choose. For sims 3 CAS stuff, the still active converters like @rollo-rolls, @vmsims23, @simtanico etc. for build and clutter stuff @kerriganhouse, and @martassimsbookcc for conversions. Honestly, I’m kinda out of the loop atm, but there’s just way too many good creators.

How long have you had simblr?

uh. since 2015, I think? let’s not dwell on it 💀

How do you edit your pictures?

Dunno how to answer this? Photoshop, I guess lol? 

What expansion/ gamepack is your favorite?

It used to be pets, cos I loved having animals in the game. Now I always forget they exist oop lol. Probably Supernatural. 

[oediex]

I meant to make a post on this yesterday, because 14 June is World Blood Donor Day!

As per Wikipedia, World Blood Donor Day "is celebrated on the birthday anniversary of Karl Landsteiner on June 14, 1868. Landsteiner was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the ABO blood group system."

This year was the 20th time World Blood Donor Day was celebrated!

I've been donating since I was 18, starting with blood, then plasma, and I now donate blood platelets and plasma on the regular (like every 2-4 weeks). I've often wondered why I love it so much and I think it's because it's one of the most purely ethical things you can do. To give a piece of your own body and not expect anything in return.

"Transfusion of blood and blood products helps and save millions of lives every year. It can help patients who suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care. Access to safe and sufficient blood and blood products can help reduce rates of death and disability due to severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth." (Wikipedia again, my emphasis)

The only way to assure an adequate and safe supply is by regular donations by voluntary unpaid blood donors. Unfortunately, in many countries, adequate life-saving blood supplies are still dependent on family and paid donors.

If you are someone who donates blood on the regular, thank you!

If you haven't in a while, check in with your local blood drive event or local blood donation centre to see if you can book a session. Make sure to check whether you are allowed to donate blood, because certain restriction apply to ensure the safety of the blood supply.

If you have never donated blood, but would like to try, check with your local blood drive event or local blood donation centre. Tell them it's your first time, and they will guide you through it. They will check with you to see whether you're allowed to donate. Be honest about your personal and medical history, to ensure the safety of the blood supply. If you don't like needles but you think you might want to try it, the needle part of donating blood should only take about 10, maximum 15 minutes. Just look away, I used to when I first started donating. Close your eyes, play a game on your phone, read a book, call a friend, or go with a friend and chat away. If at any point you start feeling unwell or are experiencing pain, do not hesitate to make this known! (I usually just raise my hand in the air.) (My other hand obviously, the one attached to the arm I'm not donating with, haha.) The medical professionals know what they're doing and they will help you.

If you are not able or not allowed to donate blood (unfortunately, in most countries there are still restrictions, such as those for homosexual men, that bar people from donating who really want to and would be safe to), thank you for wanting to. Spread awareness about the importance of donating blood. Perhaps you have a friend or family member who would really like to donate, but is apprehensive. Check with the donation centre if it's okay if you accompany them and sit with them while they donate.

Keep in mind that donating blood might have an effect on your iron levels, so it's usually a good idea to supplement right before and after. They will often be able to give you some supplements for free at the event or centre where you're donating. It's a small price to pay for saving people's lives. If you have concerns about this, speak with the doctor present at the event/centre, and/or with your GP.

[themculibrary]

Pepper/Rhodey/Tony Masterlist

all i want is to be your harbor (ao3) - starkly G, 1k

Summary: Rhodey and Pepper both had a bad day, so Tony does his best to turn it around for them with a date night in.

Alphas Initiative (ao3) - YukiRiikus_Reading_Room peggy/bucky, clint/steve, steve/bucky, pepper/rhodey/tony E, 10k

Summary: Steve's had a crush on the most popular Alpha at his university for as long as he can remember. But when Clint starts paying attention to him, Steve can't help but wonder if it's really love, or if it's just because he's an unknotted Omega...

Dates, Lies, and a Trip to Rome (ao3) - misura T, 3k

Summary: In which Tony thinks it would be a great idea to get Pepper and Rhodey to date. Except for the part where he thinks it's actually a terrible idea.

Do You Know What Today Is? (ao3) - Not Applicable (not_applicable) E, 3k

Summary: or, 5 Times The Avengers Thought Tony Or Pepper Was Cheating With Rhodey, and 1 Time When Steve Got It Right.

Tony seems none-the-wiser to all the flirting between his girlfriend and his best friend. Or at least that's what the team thinks.

each pond with its blazing lilies (ao3) - Tieleen G, 2k

Summary: Pepper coughs and sits up, raises an absent hand to brush at her cheek where she may well now have a paragraph of legalese stamped backwards in transferred ink. "Morning, JARVIS," she says. "I'm sorry, my alarm usually sounds a little different."

finders, keepers (ao3) - starkly G, 1k

Summary: The problem with dating two people instead of one is that you have to deal with twice the amount of clothes being stolen.

national treasure (ao3) - imposterhuman G, 1k

Summary: “I’m pretty sure we were supposed to go left there,” Pepper said with her nose buried in the map, which Tony was fairly certain she was holding upside down.

Rhodey grunted where he was clearing their path of spiderwebs and other icky things (Tony and Pepper had both screamed loud enough to wake the dead the first time they’d walked into a massive spider web, so Rhodey had been unanimously elected the clearer of paths. Funnily enough, he had not gotten a vote). “The GPS says to go straight.”

“Why, exactly, do we have both a GPS and a paper map?” Tony asked, as if either of his partners were going to answer him. “The map is over a century old, right? And what did you set the GPS to to find hidden treasure that exists only in stories? Does no one else see the problem here? And we were supposed to go right.”

Recovery (ao3) - Jaune_Chat E, 41k

Summary: After Tony is forcibly turned into an omega, he has to discover who he is now, who he can trust, and how to learn to live with his pack.

Recovery Protocol (ao3) - westiec M, 1k

Summary: “In my defense,” Tony says tiredly, “I did warn you both this could happen.”

“When you said metabolizing Extremis would involve ‘hormonal fluctuation, volatile emotions, and intense cravings,’ I didn’t realize you meant…” Pepper trails off, gesturing with hands that are only slightly glowing at the fingertips at the three of them sprawled across the mess of the oversized bed.

Dealing with the Extremis in Pepper's system comes with some interesting side effects, but a little stay-cation might be just what she, Rhodey, and Tony need.

second honeymoon (ao3) - starkly G, 1k

Summary: “We’re never too old to enjoy ourselves,” Tony says. “Hence the second honeymoon.”

“I think it’s just called an anniversary,” Rhodey replies, though he smiles at last, setting his hands on Tony’s hips.

“Nope, second honeymoon. Because you weren’t there for our first one.”

Sudden and Silent in its Arrival (ao3) - PheonixFalls E, 24k

Summary: 22 1/2 hours of drive time, 1,461 miles of increasingly icy roads, and Los Angeles still isn't far enough back in Pepper's rearview mirror. But when her car breaks down just over the South Dakota state line, she meets a pair of men who give her a reason to stop running.

tony has a type (ao3) - graveltotempo N/R, 3k

Summary: In a universe in which James Rhodes is Iron Man and Tony Stark is his mostly stay at home husband (and Pepper Potts' trophy boyfriend), Tony finds out that Rhodey's team includes a hot tall blonde and a short handsome genius.

So he does the most obvious thing a petty and bitchy househusband such as himself would do.

He throws a dinner party.

we wished upon parallel lines (ao3) - sabinelagrande T, 1k

Summary: There's something always missing, something that can't be found.

What Good Is The Moonlight (ao3) - circ_bamboo M, 7k

Summary: On his thirteenth birthday, Tony Stark wakes up with a name on his chest and a name on his shoulder.

Fortunately, so do Rhodey and Pepper.

[alpaca-clouds]

I am just realizing how fucking broken the healthcare system is. I am right now teaching myself to read CT scans. Why? Well, one doctor saw something on a CT scan that would proof my suspicion of why I am sick. The two doctors looking at it in the hospital did not see it. And of course, hospital doctors just... do not have a lot of time to look at those fucking scans.

Now I am looking at those things. And... I am not only finding the one "knot" that the first doctor saw, but two more. That are smaller. But that are there.

And I am feeling painfully reminded of the first time I broke a bone. I was 11.

Doctor: "Oh, you were lucky. There is no break."

Me: "That looks like a comminuted fracture though."

Doctor: *gets out his glasses* "... ... You are right."

(And if you are wondering why 11yo me knew the word comminuted fracture: I read all the books on medicine my mother owned. Which were quite a few...)

Like, I do get it. I do get that doctors do not have a lot of time, and that a lot of CT analysis is already done with the help of AI, which is not always good at certain things, especially when it comes to rare conditions. But how is it, that I - someone with a ton of medical conditions, partly due to birth defects - have diagnosed myself correctly about as often as the doctors did?

Especially because I get that this is just not a thing that most people can do. I am autistic. That means, I can read a couple of papers on a medical topic in an hour. And looking at images is fairly easy for me, because I am really good at recognizing patterns. But this isn't how this is supposed to work.

I mean, I now spent two weeks in the hospital and what did it get me? They found a few more symptoms, got no diagnosis, no plan of treatment. Instead I got several autistic meltdowns, because hospitals are a shitty environment for autistic people and my doctor is a fucking ableistic bitch.

So, basically on Monday I will go to my GP, who knows that I am able to read medical data, tell him my conclusion, will hopefully get the medication that both a friend (who studies pharmacy) and I have decided I need, and hopefully get better. While also having cost the medical system tenthousands of Euros.

Yeah, great.

[wndaswife]

I’m the anon from @/wandanatsversion and you and your other same group of mutuals here on tumblr seriously proved our point lmao. If we’re terfs so be it. Pls just remember, there are tons of wlw people that are NOT on social media that do agree with us. This is coming from someone who is a person of color and has people think that I go by they/them but don’t. It’s the fact that you guys started bashing us for having our own opinions and going stalking through wandanatsversion’s likes that began this whole “drama” in the marvel wlw fandom. I swear, idk what’s with this fandom that has a new drama in every week 😭

As someone who was like I said very liberal but is moderate that agrees on certain points on each side (dems/repubs), you and the others seriously need to understand that just cause someone disagree with your damn views, does not mean you have to harass the person at all and it’s funny that you mention why I had to be anon. It’s cause people in this circle likes to not only harass, but dox, or block our accounts from reading your guys fics. And I’m not gonna waste my time making a huge ass account just to read some writing.

Seriously, I wonder how you guys act irl because having this type of mindset in the professional world is just not gonna cut it.

Oh and let’s not forget how some of you guys even bullied a couple of authors here for writing shit that’s now apparently okay because you guys chose it’s okay to write about (GP).

All you guys are hypocrites it’s mind blowing lmao.

Have a good day 😄

yeah idc im still gonna suck some girl’s dick n enjoy myself…. does that scare u….. lesbians sucking cock…. ooooooohhhh you’re getting very scared oooooo im gonna give a girl a handjob ooooooo

[idkwhatimdoinghere1655]

|2|The Sound of Rain - Pierre Gasly|

<word count - 3103>

Disappointment - You'll Get Used To It

I was stood in hospitality, talking to Will and Etta, Leone being nowhere in sight. I didn't want to ask about it, knowing that Etta would make fun of me for it. She did mention that she hadn't spoken to her last night, so I hope she was alright when she got back in her apartment. 

I pretended like I didn't stand outside of her door, replaying our entire interaction over in my head. 

But, something in me really wanted her to be here, I wanted her to see what I did for a living. Even if they made fun of me, it would be worth it if it gave me answers as to where she was. "Do you guys know if Leone is coming today?" I asked, trying to sound as cool and nonchalant as possible. "I'm guessing you hit it off last night?" Etta smirked, putting her hands on her hips.

"She was nice, I was just wondering since she said she might come," I explained, fumbling over my words slightly. "Oooh, seems like Pierre has a little crush on our Leo," Will teased, winking at me. One, I've only just met her. Two, I wouldn't call it a crush, just a rather fond liking after our first meeting. 

"I was just wondering, don't get yourselves too excited." I tried to play it off, but I don't think it worked on them. "Well, we'll let you go and get ready for the race, or whatever it is you do," Etta started, "And we'll send Leone your way if we see her!" she exclaimed, dragging Will off towards their seats. 

I don't know why I felt disheartened that she wasn't here, she didn't say she was coming and she didn't have to. I guess I just wanted to see her. 

I didn't have to go to the garages for a little while, so I decided to prepare myself for the race ahead. 

--

The next morning, I woke up and started getting ready for the GP. It was still very hot outside, so I opted for a pair of denim shorts and a nice flowy blouse. For some reason, I was really nervous to go see Pierre again and watch him race. I don't know whether it was seeing him or watching him do one of the most dangerous sports on the planet.

I knew Etta and Will were already there, so I texted them while I was in the taxi.

Etts ❤ last seen: 2 hours ago

You: Hey Etts. I'm on my way now, where abouts will you be?

Etts ❤ : Hey babes! I'll come and meet you at the entrance? Boy do I have some stuff to tell you!

You: Like what? seen

You: Etta???? seen

You: Ettttttsssss. Tell meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! seen

You: I hate you :(

Etts ❤ : I love you too 💕😘

Unfortunately for me, Etta clearly wasn't budging. The taxi ride to Silverstone wasn't too bad, but it was nice to get some fresh air when I stepped out of the car. I showed the people at the doors my ticket and saw Etta stood by the ladies toilets. 

"So, what is it you wanted to tell me?" I asked, desperate for an answer. 

"A certain French snack was asking where you were," she chimed, nudging me in the ribs like she always did. I didn't say anything, I just looked at my feet and kept walking, "You two didn't do anything, did you? Oh tell me-"

"No! Etta, we did not do anything," I exclaimed, whacking her in the arm. After a lot of the same questions and me telling her the same information about fifty times, we arrived at our seats with Will. 

The drivers were currently doing what Will said was called, 'the formation lap' to warm up their tyres. All of them got positioned in their grid spots, and the tension could be cut with a knife.  The start would determine the way the race ended, obviously. 

All of the red lights went out, and they were off. Will pointed out Pierre's car every time he shot past, but I wasn't able to see him. My heart leapt into my mouth every time someone rounded a corner, terrified they were going to crash, which they obviously didn't. 

Thankfully, Will was telling me what was going on throughout the race, but I still didn't really understand. I enjoyed watching, though. 

In the end, Pierre finished in 7th place, which was really good. Will and Etta told me that we were allowed to go and see Pierre, which made me excited and nervous all at the same time. I wanted to congratulate him on his great placing.

I was dragged through crowds and crowds of fans, some looking disappointed with the outcome of the race, others looking ecstatic. Some donned the striking scarlet of Ferrari, others wearing driver's numbers in support. I even spotted some fellow Gasly fans with the number 10 on their tops and hats. 

Eventually, I saw a very sweaty looking Pierre leant against a wall with his arms crossed, talking with one of his engineers. He looked absolutely great. It was just like the first photo that Etta had shown me. His suit was rolled down to his waist and his fireproofs clung to his arms and chest. His hair was also extremely ruffled and his face was slightly reddened. 

He looked up and spotted us three walking towards him, a huge smile forming on his face. He pushed himself off of the wall he was leaning on and made his way over to us. "Hey, Leone. Glad you could make it," Pierre said, stopping in front of us.

--

I was tired, very tired, after that race. I was quite happy with my position as well, which is always a good thing. I was talking to Masamitsu about how the car was running and small things that could be done just to push it up to maybe a P5 finish, when I saw Will and Etta walking towards me. 

From where I was, I didn't spot that Leone was behind them until she walked around the front of them. A massive grin crawled across my lips, absolutely elated to see her. She looked stunning, as well. I couldn't see her green eyes due to her sunglasses, but her lips were also smiling and her chocolate hair bounced behind her as she walked. 

"Hey, Leone. Glad you could make it," I said, approaching them and standing in front of them. I was trying to contain the joy I felt for her presence. "I'm glad I could be here! Congratulations, you did great," she said wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me into an embrace.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging her back and inhaling the scent of her shampoo. I didn't have a clue what the smell actually was, but it was comforting. "I didn't have a clue what was happening, but it was brilliant," she whispered in my ear, making me laugh. 

When we came out of the hug, Etta and Will were nowhere to be seen. "Guys, do you-" she started to ask, turning to face her friends, only to find that they weren't there. "Oh shit," she muttered, clearly flustered with the lack of people around us. 

"Do you want to go and get a drink?" I asked, hoping to break the ice a bit. 

"Yeah, sure," she nodded, following me into hospitality. I had gotten her a lemonade and myself a coke to try and get my energy up. We were sat there, in silence, when she suddenly blurted out, "Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight, to celebrate?" 

She didn't look at me, she just looked at the table and picked at her fingernails. "Yeah, that sounds nice," I confirmed, smiling at her, "Are we inviting Etta and Will as well?" I teased, knowing that she meant just us.

"Uh, yeah, sure. If you want-" 

"Leone, I'm messing with you. Just us," I laughed, watching as she blushed and giggled. She didn't have to say anything else, I could tell she was relieved that I was joking. "Do you want me to pick you up from yours or do you want to meet somewhere?" I asked.

"It would probably be easier for you to pick me up, because the place we're going to is quite hard to find based off of postcode and directions," she explained.

"Alright, I'll pick you up at six thirty?" 

"That sounds good. Don't over dress or anything, it's quite a casual place," she told me, finishing her lemonade and standing from her chair. "I'm going to find Etta and Will so I can say goodbye, I need time to get ready,"

"You'll look great no matter what, Leo," I flirted, loving watching her blush and smile. 

"Thank you," she giggled like a schoolgirl, waving me goodbye as she walked away. 

--

I found Will and Etta, waiting for me at the exit. "You ready to go?" Etta asked me, looking at my pinkened cheeks. "Yes, I need to get back,"

"Any reason why?" Will toyed.

"I'm going out for dinner with Pierre tonight," I rushed, hoping they wouldn't tease me for it. I started walking towards the door to try and encourage some haste in them.

"Oh are you now?" Etta joked, raising her eyebrows. 

"Yes, and I need to get ready, so can we go?" I pushed, not wanting their jokes right now. They both just laughed at my impatience and drove me back to my apartment. Etta insisted that she stayed with me and helped me pick my outfit, and there was no way of talking her out of it. 

In the end, I let her curl my hair and do my makeup, but I made sure it was minimal. I also let her pick my outfit, which was way too much at first. It was one of my old skin-tight, short dresses that I wore back in the day when we went clubbing.

I told her no, and she settled for a flowy, knee length green dress that I like a lot more. She was acting like my mum, making sure I looked perfect as soon as Pierre knocked on the door of my apartment. 

I opened the door to see him stood there, in a nice pair of jeans and a shirt, with a light jacket over the top. "I'm a bit early sorry," he said as I let him step inside the apartment. 

"No, it's alright. You ready to go?" I asked. 

"Yeah, whenever you are," he said, spotting Etta in the corner. 

"You treat her well, Gasly!" she shrieked, wrapping her cardigan around her shoulders. 

"I will, don't worry," he joked back. 

"Goodbye, Mum," I groaned, pushing Pierre out of the door and into the corridor. "Where are you parked?" I asked, walking along the long hallway to the stairs.

"Just out the front. You look incredible, by the way," he complimented, looking at me. His ability to make me blush so easily was scary.

We had arrived at Fredrickson's Pizza at around half past six since Pierre had picked me up early. This was the first restaurant I had ever come to when I first came to England and I was eighteen and broke. It was really nice food and the price was great.

I had never brought anyone here, not even Etta because I didn't think she'd like it. It was a very small place and the decorations were old and tacky, but it was great to me. 

As you could probably tell by the name, it wasn't owned by an Italian family. It was owned by a guy called Jim, who was the first person I had ever talked to when I arrived in England. I came to the restaurant pretty much every week just to see him. 

As I stepped foot in the place that had given me comfort so many times, I became nervous that Pierre wouldn't like it. Maybe he would find it cheap and dingy and think I was like that. 

But, my fears were quickly washed away when he looked around and sat down at our table. "This place is so cool!" He exclaimed, picking up the menu and scanning it quickly. 

"You think?"

"Yeah, it's great in here. Do you bring Etta sometimes?"

"No, I don't. It's not really her kind of place. You are actually the first person I've brought here," I confessed. "I'm honoured," he said, picking his menu up and selecting what he wanted. 

We had been eating dinner and just talking about life and the rest, when Pierre asked me if I wanted to go to the GP next week. "If you're free next Sunday, I'd love for you to come to the 70th anniversary GP. I can get you VIP seats if you are,"

"I would love to go, but on one condition," I instructed, placing my knife and fork down on the sides of my plate. "And what would that be," he responded, adopting the suave businessman role very well. "I would like to request your telephone number,"

"I think that could be arranged," he said, trying not to crack and break the façade, "I would also like to know where that confidence came from," he laughed.

"I don't know, I would just like the details for my VIP Silverstone package," I said, trying to give him the hint that I wanted to see him again and talk to him. "Of course, how could I forget,"

--

I had met Pierre earlier in hospitality, and we were sat relaxing before the race. I spotted some reporters around, taking pictures, pointing at us and talking. I didn't really mind, shrugging it off as people just gossiping.

--

The race didn't really go as planned. I started in P7 and ended up in P11. All of my frustration and disappointment disappeared when I saw a smiling Leo break through the crowd and throw her arms around my neck. Again, I inhaled the sweet smell of her shampoo and felt instantly comforted. "You did so good!" she exclaimed, leaving her arms around my neck for a minute before pulling them away.

"Not as good as I would've wanted, but it's better now you're here," I explained, letting my arm rest across her shoulders as we walked. "How about we do a celebratory breakfast tomorrow? I can't do dinner tonight and I'm going home tomorrow night, so I have time for breakfast,"

"Where do you want to go?" she asked, looping her arm around my back.

"It is a surprise. I'll pick you up at eight and we can head to a tea room that is one of my favourites," I smirked, watching her pout as she looked up at me. The way her nose scrunched up as she scowled was honestly the cutest thing I have ever seen. "Can you not tell me?" she begged, pushing herself further into my side.

"No, it's a surprise," I enforced as she playfully hit me in the chest. Leo groaned, causing me to just laugh at her impatience. 

--

I was sat across from Pierre at the most beautiful little tea room in the world, tucking into my pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. Apparently, the afternoon tea here was to die for, but we were too early to order it. Pierre said he'd bring me back to try it, which I really looked forward to.

"Sorry, excuse me? Can we get the bill, please?" Pierre flagged down one of the waitresses after we had finished our meals. He had had a typical English breakfast, with a traditional cup of tea. "Of course," she chirped, scurrying towards the till to count up what we owed.

She batted her eyelashes at him flirtily. Well, that's what it looked like to me. When I saw her, I felt this uncomfortable tightness in my chest. Was this jealousy? I thought, before flicking it away. I wasn't jealous, I had no right to be. 

I turned to the back of my chair and fished through my bag for my purse. "What are you doing?" Pierre asked, resting his elbows on the table and placing his head on his hands. "Getting my purse. We're celebrating your brilliant result, so it's only fair that I buy you breakfast," I reasoned, sliding my card out of its holder. 

"Well, I'm not letting you. I invited you here, so that means I pay," Pierre countered, taking his card out of his wallet. "I invited you to dinner last night, but you still paid. Think of this as me repaying the favour,"

"Leo, we aren't doing that. If I want to treat you to breakfast, dinner or whatever, then I will," he said, cockily. "What if I want to treat you?" I asked, pouting at him.

"You are treating me by simply being here, ma chérie," Pierre complimented me, making the butterflies in my stomach come to life. He knew what he was doing, I could tell by the smirk on his face. "Now I have made you blush like a tomato, allow me to pay the bill."

I didn't even bother trying to protest, I just let him pay the bill. We made our way to the outside of the café and stood on the pavement. "I'm going to miss you when you're away," I said.

"I'll miss you too. I want you to call me every day, alright? Doesn't matter the time zone," he said, taking my hands in his. "Don't worry, I will."

"Even though I have only known you for a week or so, I really enjoy spending time with you," he said, moving his hands to my waist as I moved my arms to wrap around his neck. He slowly leaned in, our noses touching before our lips connected. It was soft, tender and made me feel absolutely incredible. 

"Come to Spa and Monza with me," he started. Before I could reply, he carried on, "We can spend a week in Belgium and a week in Italy, just the two of us. I get it, it's soon and you have your job to sort out-"

"I don't really have a real job, anyway," I said to him, letting our foreheads rest together.

"You're coming?"

"Évidemment," I smiled, kissing him again. I felt him smiling against my lips and I was so happy I could explode. I was going to get to spend two whole weeks in some of the most beautiful places in Europe, with one of the most beautiful men in the world. 

He wasn't just beautiful in his face, though. He had such a wonderful personality and a talent for making people smile. He was also one of the most charming people I had ever met and never failed to make me blush profusely or set a flame in my heart alight.   

A/N - As you can probably tell, I can't write slow burn and that is why this story is only 22 chapters long. I thought I'd treat you to an extra chapter as well :)

|masterlist|

[myjunkisyuzuruhanyu]

Why is Yuzuru's 4 Grand Prix Final title not emphasized enough? To me, winning Grand Prix Final is harder than winning World Championships since skaters have to be successful on previous 2 competitions, too. Whereas for World Championships, if they are on form that week, they win. If not, they are unlucky enough to lose despite their high potential. Maybe I simplified the World Championships too much, but that's what I perceived. Yuzuru has won 2 world championships, but when he lost he was not inferior to Javier Fernandez. He was still the best male skater who unfortunately lost a precious title. I wonder why Grand Prix Final is not as valuable as World Championships.

I think in Yuzu's case the 4 GPF titles are not emphasized often because he has other titles with more worth like 2 Olympic Gold medals! You will always see him introduced as two time Olympic Champion, also seldomly as two time World champion. Yuzu's two Olympic titles are so special and he is only the 2nd men to ever achieve it and that more than 50 years later, that this will always be the emphasize when ppl talk about Yuzu's achievements.

In general however GPF titles and medals don't hold the same value as Olympic medals and world titles.

The order of value is as follows:

Olympic Gold (and then every other Olympic medal too) > World Gold medals > GPF Gold > European Gold > 4CC Gold > junior world titles

If someone has only GPF medals but no world or Olympic medals, the skater will be introduced as GPF medalist. Ppl will always emphasize the biggest victories and while I completely agree that 4 GPF Gold medals are a great achievement and should get more praise, it's not the way this sport and its ppl value those medals. Don't get me wrong a GPF title is a big senior title, but not if you won the Olympics twice like Yuzu.

You're right that you need to be good in two competitions to qualify for the GPF, which isn't easy at all, but in the end it's dependent on a lot of factors (forms of the day of competition, the skaters you have to face, which vary a lot in how difficult it can get to achieve a certain placement for example look at GP Sheffied 2022 against NHK 2022 etc)

You could argue with the form or bad luck about every competition. A competition is a competition and in the end the best of two days combined wins, no matter if GPF or Worlds/Olympics. A competition essentially isn't about who is the best skater in theory, but who can deliver the best on the days of competition and what his rivals on the same days do. Imo for example at Worlds 2016 Yuzu was inferior to Javi in this particular competition, because Yuzu wasn't able to deliver what he is capable of (no matter the reasons like injury) and Javi did deliver. I think it's a matter of perspective, being "the best skater" is not a title you can get (unless you count the sh*t ISU awards) and though I would fight tooth and nails against anyone who claims someone else than Yuzu is the best in the world, it's still anyone's right to have a different perspective because it's not a hard fact. (I don't know how one could argue about Yuzu being not the best but saying this objectively)

In the end I think anyone can have their own opinion about which competitions are harder and titles harder to achieve. If you ask skaters from Japan or Russia which is the hardest competition of the season, they would say their Nationals even those titles have the lowest value internationally, but it determines if you even get a chance to become a World/ 4CC/ European or Olympic champion.

[paddockpr]

Hey, something has been bugging me, and im wondering what the pr perspective is. What on earth is the pr strategy for most of the teams when they decided to publicly state that they hate the idea of Andretti joining? It just comes off as whinning to me

Hey anon, thanks for the question!

What you are seeing here has a lot to do with how teams use or attempt to use their PR positioning. This is also a major example of why PR is so important, which is that you can leverage it for things that go beyond brand image and go into the very nature of profit in sports. I will briefly touch on the PR of F1 for context and then talk about why teams may be behaving this way.

F1 PR

When it comes to F1 there is one thing that is paramount to understanding its business model, which is how exclusive it is, Even if they accept the Andretti bid that is part of the appeal. F1 sells itself as exclusive and luxurious.

Where other motorsports are also expensive and highly exclusive, they may present themselves as somewhat rough and tumble, with a lot of emphasis on ideas of grit and being "hardcore" so to speak. You see it a lot when fans of one motorsport weigh in on which motorsport is the best one in terms of skill and the likes by weighing in on racecraft related skills like endurance, frequency of collision and strategy. The other thing to understand is the luxury aspect and the monetary value of that.

I touched on the association with certain groups on the Charles essay, what with the Monaco GP, and things like high profile guests etc come into it, but another element of that is that luxury in sports also is the means through which teams justify the high price tag to participate in the sport as a fan.

You can also see this in things like the culture around attending Wimbledon (a similar feel to the Monaco GP) or Equestrian Dressage and so on. And whilst generally sports merchandise is expernsive regardless of the sport, and the fans that frequent these sporting events live are not the average fan (hence the importance of things like viewership and social media engagement which are less cost prohibitive than for example going to a La Liga final or the Superbowl in person and has not just merch and tickets, but food, hotels, transport and so on but that is another essay entirely). F1 is a whole other ball park of that.

F1 sells that its luxury and exclusivity is a necessity. If you look at most sports, a big part of sports journalism is about growing the game, even ones considered to be the domain of the rich like tennis. And when teams sell to audiences they are selling their merchandise, yes, but they are also selling the rare opportunity, perhaps the only one to invest in being a participant.

F1 tracks are predominantly in the middle of nowhere and are already logistically difficult to go to, there is emphasis on the heritage of the sport and most of the sponsors outside of gambling companies are also for people who make a lot of money.

Think about the response to a potential Porsche-RBR team versus RBR-Ford, or about the Mercedes team uniform and merch being Tommy Hilfiger. The luxury and prstige with a high price point is part and parcel of how F1 makes its money.

If you participate in the sport outside of social media and TV, the cheapest parts of participation (like a standard issue team cap or a lanyard) are pricier even compared to other motorsports like NASCAR. I remember last year the special pride collection from NASCAR was cheaper than any standard issue F1 merch. And this is actually where (at least I think haha) Andretti comes in.

The Andretti Animosity

Andretti comes from the American (although American motorsports is extremely popular outside the US but once again, another essay) cultural understanding of motorsports which is more laid back, more easily accessible and is understood to be cost prohibitive but not to fans. American motorsports have a host of accessibility issues both in person and through things like TV, and like most sports the fans that can afford to attend are the minority, the kind of pricing around F1 for fans would be considered to be outrageous.

Yes in those spaces F1 is also seen as this high price point product, but if IndyCar for example were to sell at the price point of F1 it wouldn't fly. For F1 with some of the cheaper tickets being (at least when I looked it up) 2000 USD when its expensive to spend 200 USD at IndyCar, the amount that F1 fans pay to attend is steep. And then F1 says, yes but there is only 20 drivers and 10 teams with some of the most expensive engineering in the world and therein lies the disgruntlement re 11th teams and the idea of how much dilution fees should be.

They likely are not refusing Andretti because they think its beneficial PR wise, they are trying to leverage the PR that they have because they perceive any 11th team as a threat to exorbitant pricing and sky high profits. They are also attempting to close the door on further pushes for more teams. As you may have seen people already brought up Haas and that is what they don't want, precedence to add more teams. So from a PR perspective how may you leverage that?

The main things to consider are as follows:

American audiences are viewed as desirable as a profitable group to sell F1 to

The prices and nature of access that American audiences associate with motorsports that they are already familiar with is far cheaper than F1

American audiences would likely invest more with a team that is not just American owned or driven, but feels culturally American

So you as a team see that there is money to be made, in an audience that does not need to be convinced that motorsports can be interesting, but these audiences are not satisfied by your arguments that they should be open to such high price points, their local taxpayers footing the bill to host F1 races, and an audience of non American fans that hold contempt (for both valid and invalid reasons) for anything that they consider "too American".

So, either you let a team, especially an American one like Andretti in, you tell American fans that you have someone truly American for them to root for. You know Andretti already, and now you can support him in the exclusive big leagues. It is more expensive than you are used to, but its a global stage, an exclusive one, imagine being able to support your team every weekend.

To you and me, that is a sweet deal, especially since the bid includes General Motors and the F1 factory being US based. And its so likely that the profits really go into overdrive as a result, and so the other teams don't lose a piece of the pie as the pie gets bigger. If you are familiar with american fan culture with teams then you already know this, but the sports merchandise industry is worth billions, its not loose change, if American fans invest in the sport the numbers are sky high.

But then again, a more Americanized F1 also means other exorbitant prices are pushed to come down, and they don't want fans, American or otherwise to expect to participate in the fandom of the sport, they want fans to pay the high price tag and not challenge it. These record profit and viewership years with a noted larger American audience involved them paying up, but as the entirety of motorsports experiences something of a renaissance, fans are less enthused about the price tag, and every continent (yes, every single continent) has other more viable motorsports options for fans.

Yes its not necessarily the same kind of glamor and prestige as F1, but a lot of what people love in one motorsports, can be found in another. And, with lockdowns gone in most places, audiences are not at home likely spending more, and so to them what went up, must come down. So what do F1 and F1 teams do instead? Try to spin PR in a way that persuades audiences that there is something remarkable that they are paying for.

Andretti brings more profit yes, but he also brings people who do not necessarily view F1 as this novel thing in the way that fans who came in 2020-2021 do. As a result, you may get them to pay a little more, but not thousands more, especially for what (based on the last COTA and Miami race fan experiences depict on social media) seems to them to be a mediocre at best fan experience. So now what you are seeing is an attempt to leverage PR to say that fans ARE paying for something, exclusivity and the best of the best. And its not just about convincing American fans either.

How often are European fans told that they are paying for the exclusivity, history and prestige of F1? How often do European fans speak of being priced out of F1? Sometimes this is attributed to the pursuit of American audiences by fans but thats a clever PR slight of hand which moves discussion away from why F1 is several times more expensive for fans than whatever their local motorsport competitions are, and instead tells them that they need to protect F1 and its exclusivity as fans from the sinister forces that will Americanize the sport, despite the fact that Americans are also priced out, and in the case of Las Vegas, have been negatively impacted by the presence of F1. Lets circle back to Andretti.

There are two things about Andretti that makes the attempt to leverage PR seem strange. Manufactures backing, and a motorsports experience. Incidentally, motorsport experience is part of how Haas found itself in the sport, but the manufacturing backer is a big one. Now there is a lot of money to be made if he gets in, potentially record profits, but how willing will people be to pay how much they have since at least 2022?

From a financial perspective, the prices were always going to need to come down and F1, Liberty Media and Teams should have prepared for that, alas, corporations tend to hope for exponential growth and now what we as audiences view as the logical move is like pulling teeth and there is talk of how high the dilution fee should be to compensate teams for loss in revenue. And that is where, from a PR perspective, I presume this is all coming from.

Teams kick about, talk of an 11th team as a sort of manifestation of this hidden threat to the sport, fans want proof that Andretti isn't going to ruin and Americanize the sport and apply more pressure on the sport to make sure F1 protects its roots, dilution fee is negotiated very high as a result and when its announced, fans debate if its too much or too little, Andretti pays up and expresses that he is happy to and tells the American audiences that want to support his team how it was so worth it to pay x money because F1 is worthy of it, fans that want to support Andretti/a culturally American team begrudgingly take his word for it and pay up for merch or GP tickets or whatever, European fans are assured that the sport will not be dictated by Americans and continue to support it, and then the exponential growth continues.

Of course the locals especially in places where the race track is not far from their homes, where they work etc, still are not happy, and for obvious reasons, residents tend to dislike it when taxpayers foot the bill for sporting events, safety issues and more, but based on the reporting around building the Las Vegas GP, and also what has occurred in the various places F1 has raced in over the years and even historically, how F1 impacts locals does not seem to be a priority in stakeholder analysis, but rather is an afterthought.

So yeah, as usual with F1 its really about the money, and what they think will maximize it. So they will keep up this PR song and dance about exclusivity and luxury as necessity, media will keep contextualizing how exclusive it is, everyone will mention how much Andretti and other interested people paid to go ober their bids because its so exclusive, and then Andretti with General Motors and Cadillac will pay up, parrot these same ideas about being in the most exclusive sport ever, and maybe even do interviews.

Then teams will either welcome them publicly for meeting the stringent standards of the sport and emphasizing how necessary the whole thing was, or ignore the entry to reinforce that they were only logically concerned, media will put out pieces about who Andretti is and maybe even F1 primers for new fans, American broadcasters will be talking about the new American team in the most exclusive sport whilst European broadcasters talk about how if the sport was going to have another team and how now American audiences can enjoy a team in the most exclusive sport, and then similiarly to Haas, people will for the most part stop debating. That is of course until someone says something, or a team leaves, or people or corporations want to come in.

On the flipside, if Andretti doesn't get in, teams will be like "we said that this is an expensive exclusive sport and not everyone can join", Audiences won't like that for the most part, because to most Andretti makes sense for F1 regardless of if you want Andretti specifically or not, and probably won't buy it, especially since audiences are already not very moved either way by Stefano Domenicalli speaking about F1, but it may very well alienate large portions of American (and also Non European in general) audiences especially if they like other motorports.

Already because of the nature of fandom in F1, other motorsports fans don't have a great impression of being engaged in the free ways like social media, so if you want them to now be paying fans be it for a cable package or merch or GP tickets, having a new team that is neither European own nor European funded is one of very few means to persuade people to want to participate in the fanfare of F1 regardless.

And for European fans it will be difficult to tell them that rejecting the Andretti bid is not strange, because for the most part, he doesn't have the PR image of someone who would rock the boat too much in F1, and the fact that his teams do well in other motorsports also creates interest as it is not a given that he will be a back marker.

But ultimately, regardless of what happens from here on out, most teams are publicly against it because of money, and they are hoping that the PR built up so far can be leveraged to defend how the money is made, and also ensures that should they negotiate with Andretti re dilution fee, it will not look good if he or the manufacturers he is teaming with publicly state that they think its too high. You will also probably have noted that drivers don't tend to strongly oppose a new team and tend to be in favor of a new team, or indifferent and that adds another dimension to the song and dance but once again, another essay, for another day.

Thanks for the ask, sorry its so long haha.