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whatsonmedia · 4 months ago

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5 Summer Deals in London: Festivals, Food & Fashion!

London sizzles with summer deals! This guide features 3 events for festival-goers, foodies & fashionistas. Save 50% on Latino Life in the Park (£15), enjoy a pub lunch deal (£15, originally £23) or get 20% off Smuggling Duds underwear. Time to ditch the raincoat and dance in London! Get in to Latino Life in the Park for only £15 and save deal 50%. The UK's largest Latin Music festival, LatinoLife in the Park, returns for its eighth year, bringing vibrant Latin culture to West London's Walpole Park. Voted Britain’s ‘Most Inclusive Festival’ and the only UK festival selected for the European ‘Inclusive Festival Guide', it promises unique experiences with quality and diverse artists. Highlights - Five stages featuring the best UK-based Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese artists - The only UK festival selected for the European ‘Inclusive Festival Guide' - Deal was £30, now just £15 When and where? - July 20, 2024, 12 pm - 10 pm at Walpole Park Need to know - This voucher is valid for a ticket to Latino Life in the Park. - Event restricted to those aged 18 and over. - Start time: 12 pm. End time: 10 pm. Last entry: 9 pm. - Please present your booking confirmation upon arrival at the box office. - No admission for under 18s after 7 pm. - Ticketholders will not be re-admitted. - Guests cannot bring their own food and drink to the event. - No dogs allowed. - Location: Walpole Park, Mattock Ln, London, W5 5EQ. Linux Hosting: Your Website’s Powerful Engine Imagine your website as a car. The operating system (OS) is like the engine – it controls everything that makes the car run. When it comes to web hosting, Linux is the most popular engine choice, and for good reason! Benefits of Linux Hosting: - Cost-effective: Since Linux is free, web hosting providers can offer competitive pricing. - Flexibility: Linux is compatible with a wide range of popular website building tools and programming languages like WordPress, PHP, MySQL, Ruby, Python, and SSH. This gives you more freedom to create your website exactly how you want it. - Security: Linux is generally considered a secure operating system, making it a good choice for protecting your website. - Reliability: Linux servers are known for their stability and uptime, which means your website is less likely to experience downtime. cPanel with Linux Hosting: cPanel is a popular control panel that simplifies website management on a Linux server. It provides a graphical interface for tasks like: - Uploading files - Managing databases - Creating email accounts - Setting up security features The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen is selling burgers, fries, and beers deal for £15. Lunch at The Cardinal just got better! Head to Hotel Saint at the crossroads of vibrant, historic neighborhoods and enjoy a signature burger (beef or veg), fries, and a drink deals for only £15. The outside terrace is perfect for sunny days, while the indoor atmosphere offers a vibrant, upbeat buzz for a cozy meal. Highlights - Located inside Hotel Saint, right in the heart of The Square Mile - Choice of a pint of beer, house wine, or a soft drink - Was £23, now just £15 Need to know - This voucher is valid for a burger, fries, and a beer at The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen. - Availability: Monday to Sunday, 12 pm – 6 pm. - To redeem, send your booking confirmation to [email protected] with your preferred date and time. Ensure your voucher, security code, and QR code are clear. - Please present your voucher upon arrival. - Voucher valid until August 30, 2024. - The restaurant must be informed of any changes/cancellations within 48 hours of your booking. If the booking is canceled after this time, the voucher will be deemed redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking. - Time Out is not responsible for ensuring dietary requirements are catered for. Please contact The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen to ensure your dietary requirements can be accommodated before purchasing a voucher. - Location: 9 Aldgate High St, London, EC3N 1AH. Smuggle Your Valuables in Style: Smuggling Duds Underwear Tired of bulky wallets and fanny packs cramping your active lifestyle? World-class DJs and international athletes trust Smuggling Duds for a reason: our patented stash pocket underwear lets you carry your essentials discreetly and comfortably. - Dirt jumping without your phone bouncing around. - Landing that perfect trick on your skateboard, worry-free about losing your cash. - Dominating the octagon with your credit cards safely tucked away. Underwear features: - Secret stash pocket: Big enough for money, credit cards, phone, or whatever needs hiding. - Superior comfort: Designed for active lifestyles, with a variety of styles and sizes to choose from. - Exclusive designs: Rock a fresh look while you rock your favorite sport. - Female stash pocket thongs: Because ladies deserve secure storage too! Special Offer: Use code ACTIVE20 for 20% off your first order! Ticket prices for As One in the Park are now £15 (formerly £30). Over a decade since this vibrant festival first kicked off in Victoria Park, it continues to provide a fun, fab, and affordable celebration of pride, diversity, and entertainment. This year's headliners include Birmingham-born producer and DJ Hannah Wants, Scottish DJ and musician Kevin McKay, and season four champion of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Danny Beard. Enjoy an array of cabaret, drag artists, comedy, dancers, and more. With street food and booze pop-ups to keep you fuelled, and body glitter to get you in the festive spirit, tickets are just £15! Highlights - Featuring some of Europe’s biggest DJs and brands - Special guests include Drag Race's Baga Chipz and Danny Beard - Five stages of music, cabaret, circus acts, dance troupes, live comedy, street food, and more - Over 50% off tickets When and where? - Date: July 21, 2024 - Time: 12 pm - 10 pm - Location: Walpole Park, Mattock Ln, London, W5 5EQ Need to know - This voucher is valid for a ticket to As One in the Park. - Event restricted to those aged 18 and over. - Start time: 12 pm. End time: 10 pm. Last entry: 9 pm. - Please present your booking confirmation upon arrival at the box office. - No re-admission for ticketholders. - Guests cannot bring their own food and drink to the event. - No dogs allowed. For more exclusive deals on lifestyle visit WhatsOn Get in to Latino Life in the Park for only £15 and save deal 50%. Linux Hosting: Your Website’s Powerful Engine The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen is selling burgers, fries, and beers deal for £15. Smuggle Your Valuables in Style: Smuggling Duds Underwear Ticket prices for As One in the Park are now £15 (formerly £30). Read the full article

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educationtech · 4 months ago

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Life At an Engineering College In India | Arya College

Engineering students in India face a unique set of challenges and experiences throughout their four-year degree program. From the intense competition to get into a top engineering college to the rigorous coursework and pressure to perform well, the life of an engineering student in India is anything but easy.

The Competitive Entrance Exams

The journey begins with the highly competitive entrance exams like JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Students spend years preparing for these exams, often joining coaching classes from as early as Class 8. The competition is fierce, with lakhs of students vying for a limited number of seats in the top engineering colleges.

Coursework And Academics

Once admitted, engineering students face a grueling academic schedule. Classes run from 10 am to 5:30 pm, leaving little time for anything else. The curriculum is heavy on theory, with a focus on subjects like Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. Assignments and projects are constant, with students often pulling all-nighters to complete them.

Branch Selection

After the first year, students have to select their engineering branch. This is often a matter of chance, based on their rank in the entrance exam. Many end up in branches they are not interested in, simply because their rank wasn't high enough to get their preferred choice.

Campus Life

Despite the academic pressure, engineering students do manage to have a vibrant campus life. Most colleges have active student clubs and organizations, where students can pursue their interests in sports, cultural activities, and technical projects. Fests and events are a highlight, providing a much-needed break from the monotony of classes.

Placements

The final year is all about placements. Companies visit campuses to recruit students, with the process starting as early as July/August. The competition is intense, with students vying for a limited number of coveted jobs. Those who don't get placed in the first few days often have to settle for less preferred options.

Challenges And Contradictions

The life of an engineering student in India is full of challenges and contradictions. Many students end up in engineering not out of passion, but due to parental pressure or the perception of better job prospects. This leads to a lack of interest and motivation, which is reflected in the high dropout rates and poor quality of education. Moreover, the focus on theory over practical skills means that many engineering graduates lack the necessary skills to succeed in the job market. The pressure to perform well academically often comes at the cost of developing soft skills and pursuing other interests. Despite these challenges, the life of an engineering student in India is not without its rewards. The sense of camaraderie and support among classmates, the opportunity to learn and grow, and the potential for a bright future make it all worthwhile. Those who manage to navigate the challenges and stay true to their passion often go on to become successful engineers and entrepreneurs.

What Role Does Practical Training Play In Enhancing The Employability Of Engineering Graduates

Based on the search results, practical training plays a significant role in enhancing the employability of engineering graduates in India:

Practical Training and Employability: Studies have shown that engineering students who engage in practical training during their studies tend to have higher employability prospects after graduation. Practical training helps students develop job-relevant skills and apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Mismatch Between Industry Needs and Academic Curriculum: There is often a mismatch between the skills required by industry and the curriculum taught in engineering colleges. Practical training helps bridge this gap by exposing students to industry practices and expectations.

Developing Soft Skills: In addition to technical skills, employers also value soft skills like problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and teamwork. Practical training programs provide opportunities for students to develop these crucial employability skills.

Experiential Learning Approaches: Institutes like BITS Pilani have incorporated experiential learning approaches, such as structured courses on business communication, professional presentations, and group discussions, to better equip students with the skills demanded by industry.

Competitive Programming: Initiatives that encourage competitive programming among engineering students have also been found to improve their problem-solving abilities and overall employability.

In summary, practical training, experiential learning, and competitive programming play a vital role in enhancing the employability of engineering graduates in India by helping them develop industry-relevant technical and soft skills.

There are so many colleges in India that give practical training to Engineering students but Arya College of Engineering & IT is The best Engineering College in Rajasthan.

#Engineering #Engineering College #Jaipur #Arya College

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umichenginabroad · 7 months ago

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Week 13: The Unseen Marathon, a Tale of Late Nights and Quiet Chaos

G’day folks,

I wish something had happened this week but its really felt like one of the most uneventful weeks of my time here. It doesn’t help that I am coming off one of the most eventful weeks of my life, but still, this week was school, school, and more school. Our roommate Viv, whom Joe and I pretty much only see on the way out to spend the day at the library, said it best: “When will you guys be fun again??”... not for a while I’m afraid.

Upon arriving back in Sydney, I decided to face what the next three weeks were looking like in terms of assignments. And pretty much 60% to 70% of every class’s grade is being determined by assignments, tests, essays, and portfolios crammed into the next couple of weeks.

One major difference I’ve noticed in schooling here vs. the States is the assignments' weighting and timing. If you plan on coming here beware of this. For nearly every class I’ve taken in the States, class material that you learn is almost immediately applied, whether it be a lab, a problem set, etc. It's a system I’ve become beyond grateful for since hopping the pond. UNSW and likely other schools in Australia essentially wait until 2/3rds of the semester is past and then assess everything you’ve learned up until then. It's frustrating because the earlier fundamentals are lost. If you’re not careful, you could very well end up in the position Joe and I were on Wednesday night.

Alright… it's 15 pages long… based on two labs we weren’t there for… and we can’t recognize half of the terminology…

*Yikes* Luckily for us procrastinators, the late penalty for every 24 hours late was 5%. Thinking ourselves saved at just a 5% loss, we worked through the night. Before we knew it we were shaking ourselves awake at 4:30 AM to look down at a report that was maybe 10% done.

The next three days made for the worst academic sprint I’ve ever done. It quickly became clear to Joe and me how little we knew, so we were left scrambling over 3 days clocking in an average of 12-14 hours of work. Rewatching lectures, tearing through scribbled notes, and working out our own hypothesis’ on what the questions were really asking. The last day was a 24-hour 12 pm to 12 pm session, all to get the thing submitted before more penalties could be accumulated.

Disclaimer, Joe and I conducted our own work completely but it was spiritually invaluable to not be alone and have someone else there struggling with me.

Outside of studies, we did make time for an exciting trip to an escape room with our New Zealand friends. It was titled ‘Lost in the Woods’ and we enjoyed 70 minutes of scrambling, gaslighting, laughing, and ‘No way!’s as the intricate engineering of the room unfolded with every solved clue. It's an expensive hobby but every time we finish we get told how well we've done. I guess we just can't get enough of the praise, I mean puzzles.

‘Till next week!

Grant Touchette

Aerospace Engineering

University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia

#ipewinter24 #umichenginabroad #ipeunsw #australia #GrantTouchette

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discoveryspotlight · 1 year ago

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Navigating the World of Modeling: A Guide to Finding the Right Agency

Many renowned modeling agencies with a wide variety of talent are found in the United States. These agencies provide a range of services to aid prospective models in honing their abilities and establishing lucrative careers in the entertainment sector.

How to Find the Best Modeling Agency in the US

Finding the best modelling agency Charleston SC for you is essential for success. The fashion sector has its own specialties, and there are a few commercial modeling agencies in almost every city.

Models are required for a variety of print photography projects, modest fashion shows, and commercial photo assignments. A successful model may be just about anyone. The key is to be aware of your opportunities and skills and to promote them to the appropriate agency.

Determine Your Priorities

Are there specific brands or kinds of work that you are drawn to? If so, it might be helpful to find a company with connections to such clients.

Research Agencies

Start by conducting an online search for "modeling agencies in [your city]" to see what local agencies are available. Once you have a good list of potential "mates," you can look into each one more deeply to determine which ones you could see yourself getting along with. Look at the clients, talent, and submission policies that they accept.

Check Reviews

Try typing the name of the modelling agency Charleston SC into a search engine along with the phrases "scam," "review," or "complaint”. You can also look up reviews on Google and feel free to get in touch with models you see on the company's social media pages to find out if they are really represented by the agency and to learn more about their experiences working with it.

How A Modeling Agency In The US Can Help

A company that represents models for the fashion industry is known as a modeling agency. These agencies are paid through commissions, typically from agreements they reach with the head agency, the model, or both. Aspiring models in the US might benefit from modeling agencies in a variety of ways.

Training and Development

Models can receive training from top modeling agencies in the US, test shootings can be arranged, portfolios can be laid out, comp cards (composition photo cards) can be created, and other printed materials for models are needed1.To elevate their standing within the business, these agencies spend money on the development of their talent.

Finding Work

Models are introduced by modeling agencies to designers, photographers, and advertising firms in order to find work for them. The greatest modeling agencies guide their models and work to place them in as many positions as they can. Their job is to promote you and locate jobs for you.

Handling the Details

A modelling agency Charleston SC allows a model to concentrate on modeling and not the administrative side of things by managing the details. Modeling is a cutthroat, quick-paced industry that operates outside of the typical 9 AM to 5 PM business hours. An agency typically operates around-the-clock to manage problems like cancellations or last-minute assignments.

Building Contacts

Model management firms or agencies are a common and traditional means for models to expand their network and secure bookings. The secret to landing those ideal editorial shoots and catwalk opportunities that assist strengthen a model's portfolio and increase their awareness in the modeling industry is frequently being signed to a reputable agency.

Tips To Avoid Modeling Agency Scams In The US

The modeling business may be difficult and competitive, and regrettably, some people and businesses try to take advantage of aspiring models. The following advice will assist you in avoiding frauds involving US modeling agencies:

Research the Company

It's crucial to do your homework on a modeling agency or program before signing the contract. Try typing the name of the modeling school or agency into a search engine along with the phrases "scam," "review," or "complaint". You can also look up reviews on Google and feel free to get in touch with models you see on the company's social media pages to find out if they are really represented by the agency and to learn more about their experiences working with them.

Never Pay an Agency Upfront

Real modeling agencies won't demand payment in order to "secure your spot" in a modeling job, for your photos, or for a test shoot. They will help you find work and pay you after the client does. What portion of any money you earn from assignments goes to the agency should be clearly mentioned in the contract you sign with it. Any company that requests payment to act as your representative is a fraud.

Don’t Deal with a Modeling Program That Tells You How You Have to Pay

Avoid working with modeling agencies that dictate how you must pay. This can be a red flag for fraud.

Don’t Deal with an Agency That Makes You Use Its Staff for Your Photo Shoots or Auditions

Although some agencies do frequently employ photographers, they shouldn't require you to use their services in order for you to receive assignments.

Get Everything in Writing

Get everything in writing before agreeing to any contracts or agreements. This contains information about the services the modelling agency Charleston SC will provide for you, any guarantees they provide, and any fees or costs related to their work.

#modelling agency Charleston SC #modelling agency #Becoming a Professional Model

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gz8manage · 2 years ago

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New Product Development Project Management

Solution

The road to new product development is never smooth. Feedback is necessary for the success of a new product, but sometimes feedback can jump out of the line of improvement, either requiring revisions to the product’s specifications, or possibly changing the comfort zone of other areas of the business. For example, for consumer durables, a manufacturing unit may not find a chassis tool design compatible with existing factory facilities and ask for an impromptu design. However, this design change can come at the cost of product maintainability, which the service head will find problematic. In another case, the service head may request a design change to reduce the engineer’s service time with the client, but the marketing head may resist any aesthetic changes.

During product development, many in-house teams are involved in bringing concepts to market. Aligning product requirements and designs, work phases, timelines, and deliverables is key, especially when it comes to aligning these disparate teams.

1. Be prepared to manage resources effectively

Demand and time-to-market for new products are often driven by product managers or senior management rather than project managers. But the project manager agrees or disagrees with the product requirements and time-to-market to a large extent depending on the available project resources, and planning and using resources should be led by the project manager. Therefore, project managers should prepare in advance what they can control—get resource management ready.

8Manage PM’s Resource Pool stores human resource skill information and its availability time and load information, as well as non-human resource information (eg, equipment availability time, material inventory). Project managers can select, assign, and monitor the use of all project resources from the resource pool.

2. Create a more realistic product development plan

The critical path method or the agile methodology can be easily implemented using project management tools such as 8Manage PM. If the critical path method is used, the project manager needs to determine the longest chain of dependent tasks. If any activity on the critical path is delayed, the entire product is delayed. If an agile approach is used, requirements will be prioritized into staged development, and there is no guarantee that all requirements can be completed within a fixed project time. But each time a staged development is entered, stakeholders will reorder requirements to ensure that important product requirements are met first.

Regardless of which of the above approaches is used in the project, project managers will be able to execute projects more efficiently if they improve resource management.

3. Find the chart that works for you

From tasks to status to team assignments, your product development team should have a lot of information, but not everyone handles it the same way.

8Manage PM will give the team the option to display the data in the chart that works best for you—whether you prefer to use a Gantt chart, or a burn down chart—to help you better understand the overall development process.

4. Use real-time reporting for deeper insights

As you develop new products, things are constantly evolving. Your project performance tracks and reports changes in new information, and you need to stay on top of the latest data in order to make informed decisions about how to move forward.

With 8Manage PM, all charts you create are updated in real time. This means you can always see the latest information.

5. Centralize communication and your product vision

You may have heard that new products have a high failure rate. Many issues are often at play, but the biggest problems might include frequent miscommunication and a misplaced vision for the product.

8Manage PM improves the new product development process as it provides a centralized place for all product-related conversations and status updates. Team members don’t need email threads, notes, and instant messages to get the latest information they need.

Additionally, this transparency allows the entire development team to understand the vision of the product. This is important because with this larger vision, you can sift through feature requests and prioritize projects that serve the desired outcome.

#Project Management #project management

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regard-luxury · 2 years ago

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Seiko' S Astron Gps Solar Chronograph Is A Logical Alternative With Luxurious Style

Sosoda focuses on the annual Celebration of Lucas XP Super how to spot fake rolex Ske. Omega makes use of the donation of lunar lighting as a lot as fiftieth anniversary since January 1. Coutura is a modern collection of Seiko Watches that includes atomic sync and chronographs. The glamour and vivacity imbued inside a watch that would elegantly exudes a fragile feeling.

Surrounding the dial are embedded IATA airport codes of different international locations that help point out the time distinction. This timepiece costs $1,729 USD, and is a superb selection for international travel. This Seiko Astron Solar GPS watch options seiko astron gps solar our Calibre 5X, that provides the most superior performance ever. To improve the pace and high quality of the GPS connection, every part in the GPS module has been re-engineered.

One of the more impressive watches to come out of Basel this yr got here not from the quiet cantons of Switzerland, however rather from none apart from the quintessential Japanese brand, Seiko. The Seiko Astron additionally has a perpetual calendar that is correct as much as February 2100 (feel free to begin fretting about Y2.1K). Fortunately, my Seiko Astron won't turn into a victim of my absentmindedness because it is powered by light and is totally self-sustaining. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I truly have a number of watches which are tucked away in my drawer because I by no means remember to take them to the jeweler to have the battery changed.

The case is 30 % smaller than the earlier Astron, with a diameter of 44.6 mm and a thickness of thirteen.three mm. Seiko used a smaller GPS antenna to make this decrease in dimension potential. Additionally, Seiko has improved the sunshine penetration to the solar cell, so the Astron can have completely different dial designs. In addition to the black dial used in the prior model, the brand new Astron comes with a blue or white dial. WatchTime and famous watch collector and expert Jeff Kingston have teamed up once more for the 2014 version of the popular “Inside Basel.Geneva” series of collector events, kicking off September 5 in Chicago.

SeikoSeiko’s Astron GPS line of watches already moves on the speed of sunshine when it comes to practical fashion for world travelers, and to rejoice a decade of sporty watchmaking, the fashion is getting a major replace. The latest version of the Seiko Astron GPS boasts an all-new design with titanium construction, in addition. Trigalight – A shining light within the darkness of night time January 2023 When the visibility of other watches fades, timepieces equipped with trigalight are simply getting began. Caliber 5X53 provides a dual-time perform with an AM/PM indicator and automatic DST adjustment. Even though this is an impressive piece of tech that feels solidly built, it won’t be my travel watch of selection.

It prevents 99% of light reflection and allows the dial to be easily legible, even in shiny mild. Since its creation in 2012, Astron has modified the way that many individuals measure, understand and relate to time. We are confident that our costs are the bottom that you will luxury watch brands for men find in the UK. However, we will offer you the opportunity to purchase the product at that cheaper price from WatchNation. All orders are sent using Royal Mail’s tracked supply service. Orders positioned earlier than 4pm (Monday-Friday) are dispatched the same day, 11am Saturday.

#seiko astron

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landinoandco · 3 years ago

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|Shutter speed|

Chapter two : A New Beginning

{Lando Norris x Reader}

Summary: A photographer. A pair of F1 drivers. Triangles. A sticky situation of morals and fighting fate. What could go wrong?

Warnings: none :) apart from a mention of grief and passing of a loved one

Rating: teen and up

Word count: 2.9 k

A/n: welcome to the second chapter of 'Shutter speed.'

I'm going to start a taglist so comment on this post or message me if you would like to be added :)

Previous chapters: Chapter one

Chapter two: A new beginning

By the time Georgie had raced home, it had stopped raining and the sun was beginning to fight its way through the mass of clouds that had filled the sky. The journey home had given Georgie plenty of time to think - to mull everything over about the crazy afternoon she had just endured. They had finally booked their first event since lockdown, the insanely attractive stranger she had met in the coffee shop but somehow it all ended back to a person she thought she had finished thinking about - not that you ever could. Her Theo. Her lovely Theo.

Theodore was her childhood sweetheart. Theo was everything to her, llike Georgie was everything to him. They had their whole future planned out: travelling around the world and experiencing different cultures, photographing their entire experience and showcasing the beginning of their journey through life on an Instagram they had set up. Before settling down and starting a family of their own. Together. It was going to finish like all the fairy tales did...

And everybody lived happily ever after.

In hindsight, they had jinxed themselves before they had even started, not long after they had finished their A - levels and about to start their next chapter at Uni - Theo had fallen ill. Georgie refuses to acknowledge the illness for she believes it shouldn’t be the way he is remembered, instead reminiscing on the short but meaningful life he lived. Theo died not long after he was diagnosed, leaving Georgie behind with a new and tainted meaning to happily ever after because if it wasn’t with him then what did it truly mean?

As they say hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Even now, 5 years on, 23 years of age, she is still plagued with the memories and the thoughts of everything they could have had but for some reason the universe was against it all. She hated to think of herself as unlucky because she was blessed to have met Theo in the first place.

Shaking the memories from her head, she unlocked the apartment door and trudged through - hanging her coat and bag on the hooks then making her way over to the breakfast bar. On top was a fluorescent post-it note that read: “Popped into the city to pick up some new lenses for the cameras. Fill you in when I get back. Fancy getting a takeaway tonight to celebrate? Love you lots ~ Maisie.”

A takeaway was exactly what was needed. She thought. And a nice warm shower.

The thing Georgie loves about showers is that they give her the ability to find an answer and solution to pretty much everything and anything. She spent a lot of time in the shower after Theo passed, it was the only thing she could justify enjoying. Striping her clothes off and chucking them into a pile on the floor, she reached into the shower to turn it on - the water immediately rushing out and crashing loudly onto the floor. As soon as she was happy with the temperature, she stepped in - letting the warm water droplets wash all of her worries away. It was the only thing that she felt helped her relax; come to terms with everything she was feeling.

Her first and main worry was what they were going to do after Goodwood. If they didn’t find consistent work soon they were going to run out of money - they were lucky to have made some good investments and savings leading up to this point to have coped through lockdown.

Georgie grabbed the shampoo and rubbed it thoroughly through her long waves. She had been to Goodwood a few years back - Theo had taken her. It was the best date she had ever been on - she remembered it as clear as day. They had found an empty bench to sit on next to the hill the cars climbed in the ever popular annual hill climb - it was there and then they had decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together and travel the world.

Stepping back under the water, she let the water take the shampoo away, watching as the bubbles slipped through the drain. Theo had been a massive formula one fan - dragging Georgie into the sport as well. Jenson Button had been his favourite driver and McLaren his favourite team so naturally that was hers as well. As soon as he passed Georgie had nothing to do with the sport - she refused to watch it and stopped keeping up with the teams.

She reached for the conditioner bottle, pressing her lips together in a tight line. All of this thought about Theo and the racing world she turned her back on - a slight regret forming in the pit of her stomach, was she ready to go back to it? She remembered the atmosphere of Goodwood when she had been, people from all over the world gathered to celebrate the one thing they had in common: their love for cars. She was slightly envious of the people who got to travel the world, following in the car's tyre tracks and capturing the moments you only get to experience once in a lifetime.

Georgie paused and furrowed her eyebrows, she was struck with an idea. Whether it was absolutely brilliant or outright stupid and unrealistic, she was yet to find out. Hoping out of the shower and grabbing her towel, she made her way to her room. It was worth a look, she supposed, there was no harm in that. Once she was dressed, she sat at her desk and turned on her laptop; begging fate to be on her side today.

“Honey, I’m home.” Called a voice from the kitchen.

“Hey sweetie.” Georgie shouted back, “I’ll be with you in just a moment.”

She pulled up the McLaren careers page, her mouse hovering over the view jobs link. Georgie was ready to travel the world. She was ready to experience life again - after all it was Theo’s dying wish that she completed everything they were setting out to do. Perhaps she was selfish for not coming to this conclusion sooner.

She clicked.

Taking one last deep breath, Georgie placed her hands to her forehead and moved her face closer to the screen as she read through the roles. Tyre performance engineer. No. Finance analyst - production. Definitely not. Hope was diminishing rapidly even though it was as she had expected. The chances of finding anything suitable were low. She was coming to the bottom of the list when a role jumped out at her. But not impossible apparently.

Lead photographer - team.

And the deadline was Tuesday at 11.59 pm. They had the best part of 6 hours to complete this application. It was going to be tight but possible.

She jumped up and rubbed her hands over her face in disbelief. Running her hands through her hair, she sat back down - hardly being able to keep still. It was only an application advert - many people were going to be applying. She thought as she exhaled loudly. More experienced people. Skimming through the description and requirements, she almost felt like she was dreaming. It was perfect. The role was to travel with the whole team and capture every moment to later be used on social media and advertising.

“Everything alright in here?” Maisie poked her head around the door. She was faced with an almost tearful Georige. Her words almost trailed off.

“Do you want to travel the world?” Georgie asked her, her voice wavering slightly. Maisie seemed taken aback as she moved into the room and sat on Georgie’s bed. “I’m sorry - what? Have you forgotten what’s been going on recently?”

“With a formula one team, Mclaren to be precise.” Georgie corrected and moved aside so Maisie could see the screen. Silence fell between the pair as Maisie read on, Georgie’s leg had started bouncing in anticipation. Minutes later she was met with a frown. “That’s not quite how I had imagined you would react.” Georgia mumbled, sighing. She mirrored her friend's expression, chewing on her bottom lip.

“Before we start fantasizing, I just want to make sure you’re ok with this.” Maisie said softly, taking one of Georgia’s hand in hers. Georgia nodded slowly, rubbing her thumb over her friend’s hand. “This would be his dream. I know he’s watching us - he really is looking out for us, Maise. I want to do it for him.”

Maisie’s smile grew, “As long as you’re sure. Come, let’s discuss it over take away and I will explain how this weekend is going to work.” Georgie stood up, grabbing her laptop and a notebook, “One thing is for sure. We are going to need one hell of a portfolio.”

It was now Sunday - the final day at Goodwood.

To say the rest of their week leading up to this point went smoothly would be a lie. In the end it all got a bit complicated. They submitted their application at 10:58 pm that Tuesday evening - due to it only being a singular role they applied as their business in hope that the combined experience would set them apart from other candidates. Wednesday they spent the day prepping for Goodwood - trying out the new lenses and practising photographing cars they found around London. They were going to watch the Goodwood livestream on Youtube Thursday and Friday to see what they were going to be faced with that Saturday. Until Maisie received a call. It was Mclaren and they had gotten through to the interviews - all taking place that Thursday afternoon on teams. As it turns out, they wanted to have hired someone for the role by Friday in order to be ready for the British Grand Prix the following weekend.

“I mean it makes sense,” Maisie said, blowing her coffee to cool it down before taking a long sip. “It is their home grand prix after all.”

Georgie chuckled, “It’s just, I feel like if we were to explain to anyone they would think we were making this up. It’s all happening so quickly.”

That Friday, ahead of their debut at Goodwood on the Saturday, they got the call. According to the lady Maisie spoke to, it was very close between them and another candidate but the fact they were working at Goodwood tipped the scales in their favour.

“And.” Maisie started. “We are going to meet with a man called Zac Brown on Sunday, he is the CEO of McLaren Racing-” Georgie was very lucky to have Maisie as she was the businessman - or women in this case - out of the pair. Her people skills were unmatched, how she did it Georgie would never understand.

Now on Sunday, Georgie was quite sad to see it coming to an end. The atmosphere was one that she had never quite experienced before - it was one that filled her with pride and adoration; something she hadn’t felt in a long time, not to this extent anyway. The whole weekend, a beaming smile had been plastered onto her face - so much so that her facial muscles were beginning to ache. The whole community of people were ecstatic to be there, watching on in excitement as a sport that had missed the company of their crowds opened its doors once again. It wasn’t long before she had agreed to meet with Maisie ahead of their meeting with Zac Brown that she found herself walking up the infamous hill. The loud buzz of conversation seemed to fade, instead the only sound she could hear was the rumble of engines as they came cruising by. She stopped at a clearing where a bench stood proudly, smiling softly to herself as she slung her camera strap over her shoulder, stuffing her hands into her trouser pockets. It hadn’t aged a day.

Lando Norris had decided to take a break from the main McLaren marquee - he had just finished his final drive of the day and was looking for some time to reflect on the weekend he had just had after having the honour of driving the three cars that Aryton Senna won McLaren their championship titles. It had been a tough season leading up to this point - after Carlos left to join Ferrari he felt this year all eyes would be on him. Many expected Lando to fall into the shadow of his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo, everybody expected him to fade back into the background. Perhaps that was why he trained so hard during the winter break - he had pushed himself right up to the limit. Lando wanted to prove to himself more than anyone else that he was a good driver and he did have potential to fight those at the top, after the taste of a podium in Austria - he was hungry for more. Even as a young boy during his karting career, Lando put pressure on himself - to strive to be the best on the grid - sometimes it meant he forgot to enjoy himself because he was so worried about what other people thought about him.

He had reached a clearing past the trees. All weekend he had kept half an eye out for the girl at the coffee shop. Part of him was disappointed not to have seen her, he really wanted that second chance. He came to a stop and checked his watch - it wasn’t long until Zac wanted him back; he mentioned briefly about a pair of photographers joining the team. They would be replacing his friend Jason after he decided that travelling just wasn’t practical anymore, who could blame him, his first child was on the way and he wanted to be there with his wife every step of the way.

Lando brushed a hand through his curls, casting his gaze around before he would make his way back. When a bench caught his eye or more specifically the girl sitting on the bench. She sat with a content smile dancing on her lips, a reminiscent glaze coated her eyes. He took a step towards her, there was something familiar about her. It was like his feet were frozen in place - his brain was telling him to go back but his gut told him to stay put. He stood for a minute or two before it hit him - square in the face and quite frankly he couldn’t believe his luck. It was the girl from the coffee shop. Right in front of him. It was now or never. Lando took a calming breath before going and sitting next to her.

Georgie was rudely pulled from her thoughts when a person sat down on the bench next to her. She moved her head slightly to see who the intruder was when her heart stopped. Recognition dawned on her face. Georgie knew instantly he had recognised her as the corners of his mouth twitched into a shy smile. “Hi.” His tone silvery and almost breathy.

“Hey.” She beamed back, “I’m Georgie.” She said, gazing up at him, admiring the way the sun caught around his halo of curls giving them an almost angelic glow.

“Lando.” He told to her, the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly. Neither of them could quite believe that they were sitting with each other.

“I - uh - It’s a wonderful day for it, isn’t it.” Georgie had panicked. She didn’t know what else to say and her mother used to always say: ‘if in doubt talk about the weather.’ It was something along those lines anyway. Silently cursing herself, she cringed at her awkwardness only to hear him chuckle at her comment.

“It’s much better now the rain has cleared off.” Lando instantly felt relaxed around her, he didn’t know what it was. Perhaps it was that she seemed just as socially inadequate as he was. “So Georgie.” He savoured the way her name rolled off his tongue. “What brings you to Goodwood? I hope you don’t mind me saying this but I heard you talking about it before you rushed off the other day.”

Georgie inched closer, almost leaning into the comfort and warmth he seemed to provide. “My friend and I are photographers and she somehow got us into working for the Goodwood Festival of Speed brand. I still don’t quite know how she did it, for some reason she didn’t want to talk about it.” She trailed off, a pink tinge creeping onto her cheeks as she had come to a rather astonishing conclusion. The corner of Lando’s mouth lifted at her innocence. “Anyway.” She moved on quickly. “As it turns out I am also here to meet my new boss.”

“It’s almost like it was meant to be.” Lando quirked. “Who are you working for now?”

“I’m the new photographer for the McLaren formula one team.” She explained, pride laced in her tone. Lando’s eyes widened, his mouth fell open in disbelief before he caught himself. Composed his expressions and stated very plainly...

“I’m Lando Norris. I drive for the McLaren formula one team. As it turns out you and I are about to attend the same meeting.”

Taglist: (please message me or leave a comment if you would like to be added :))

@mjuikoli @httplayer @phatyak

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lightsovermonaco · 3 years ago

Text

His Good Sweater: Chapter 10

Masterlist

Shoutout to my bestie @acollectionofficsandshit for all the drunk comments she made while betaing this one... Wish you guys could see them lol

Word Count: 4.8k

Recommended song: “Amnesia" by 5SOS

Pierre paces in his dinky trailer at the Circuit of the Americas and desperately tries to forget you exist. He had already taken down the pictures on the wall but the images were burned into his brain. He had shoved your shirt under his bed, having absolutely no idea how it had made its way halfway around the world to taunt him.

He was slowly unraveling like a spool of thread on a loom as you wove him irrevocably into the tapestry of your life.

The race in Austin started in less than two hours and you hadn't texted him. Not once in the handful of years he'd known you had you neglected to wish him luck before a race, even if it was 2 am your time or you had exams, you always took thirty seconds to warn him to be safe and finish well.

He was beginning to think you hated him for how he'd acted at the gala last weekend, jealous and possessive from afar. Talking to you would have been the better choice. But seeing you laugh and dance the night away had hurt too much. He’d slipped out early after Victoria assured him she could find a ride and sped home to fall apart.

He had only barely managed to piece himself together in time for the race.

Pierre checks his phone for the third time in as many minutes and swears under his breath. He didn't know why he expected it to ring and for your face to pop up at this point. Even if you called to tear into him, he'd still fall to his knees at the sound of your voice. He just wanted to hear you speak, didn't care what was said, only that he could latch onto your words and lose himself in them.

Hope sparks when his phone chimes but he nearly throws it across the trailer when he sees Charles' name.

Heard from her yet?

No. At this point I'm beginning to think I never will again.

Maybe she fell asleep early?

It's 5 pm in London. I'll bet you she's eating a bowl of takeout from the Chinese place down the street, not sleeping.

Its still possible. Don't dwell on it. This isn't the headspace you wanna be in before a race. Block it out. I don't wanna see my best friend wind up hurt today.

Pierre didn't reply, if only because Charles was right. Worrying would get him nowhere. After his shitty qualifying yesterday, he started thirteenth on the grid so he had his work cut out for him. Austin offered plenty of opportunity for overtakes; he could get the job done if his team made the right calls.

And if he made it to the podium, you would have to text him.

The thin mattress groans when he sits to unlace his hastily tied race boots. He folds his legs to sit criss cross and places his palms on his knees. The familiar pose already has some of the tension leaving his shoulders as his eyes slide shut. He breathes in for ten seconds, reflecting on what ails him. He holds the breath for five seconds before releasing it slowly.

He repeats the process until he comes to terms with the fact that you won't be wishing him luck. That was your choice; there was nothing he could do about it and therefore no sense reading into it. He had done all he could to convince you to trust him. The ball was in your court; he had to be patient and wait for you to take a shot.

“Focus,” he murmurs to himself, forcing any erroneous thoughts from his head. “Walk through the track.”

The circuit at Austin was challenging, consisting of a mix of 20 sweeping corners and scattered hairpins. He was almost lucky in a way to be starting so far back on the grid because turn one was only a few hundred meters from pole and their tires would be slightly colder and less grippy upon arrival than his would be. The few extra seconds afforded to him by starting thirteenth could mean the opportunity to leap frog past his rivals in the first corner.

The counterclockwise circuit meant he would have to keep an eye on his front left tire too, as it would wear faster than the others. He'd change gears an average of 66 times per lap, higher than similar length tracks like Monaco. Pit stops cost an average of nineteen seconds, meaning he would need to build a significant gap to the driver chasing him in order to avoid the threat of any undercuts.

There were too many variables occupying space in his mind to afford you a sliver of it.

Some time later he decides that his four leaf clover tucked safely in the worn leather of his wallet will provide all the luck he needs and switches on his pre race playlist after popping in his ear buds.

"Sights on the podium," he murmurs to himself, hand on the doorknob. "Let's race."

The bass flows through him as his feet carry him to the Alpha Tauri garage on autopilot, through the back entrance and to his plain white driver room. The familiar beats are a numbing salve spread on his frayed nerves, his anticipation rising like a crimson wave in his veins. He leaves his clothes in a haphazard heap in the corner and changes into the white fireproofs hanging nearby, thoughts momentarily veering to you knocking on the door and stripping them right back off.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, he runs through his usual stretch sets until Pyry arrives to walk him through reflex exercises.

"How's your head?" Pyry asks, running him through more cool down stretches. "Do we need to take a minute and do some meditation?"

"Beat you to it," Pierre grunts out, pushing back against the hand on his head to work his neck. "I'm good."

"You sound better than you have all week, I'll give you that. Keep that focus, use it to propel yourself forward."

"Run me through the lineup again," Pierre requests, "I need something else to think about."

Because if he let his mind follow the path it wanted to, it would inevitably lead to you and undo the work he had done to avoid that. He needed to be empty of anything that wasn't racing, anything else was an unnecessary distraction that had the potential to end in disaster.

Pyry rattles off the grid in order of who Pierre needs to overtake, pausing between each name to give him time to recall their driving styles and potential chinks in their armor to exploit. He knew from tapes of previous years that Stroll often ran wide into turn one, giving Pierre the option to brake late and sweep up the inside. Vettel was half convinced the track was cursed, so his mind would work against him enough that Pierre could exploit it and get past at some point. He continued until he got to Hamilton and Max locking out the front row, where he would need a bit of luck to overtake.

"You got it?" Pyry asks, stepping back.

Pierre rolls his shoulders and nods.

"Get shit done mate," Pyry says and bumps fists with his driver. He slips out to allow Pierre a moment to center himself before slipping into his race suit, leaving it half unzipped and tying it around his waist before following his trainer.

Pyry leads the way to where the matte navy and white car waits, mechanics swarming it like studious worker bees tending to their queen. No one talks to him save his engineer because words from anyone else threaten to break his carefully constructed race mentality. If they wanted him to bring home points, they knew to leave him alone once he was suited up.

His mind is blank of anything but statistics as he twists his ear buds in and pulls on his balaclava and helmet. As his vision narrows to the sliver of track he can see through his visor, so does his focus. With forty minutes to lights out, he's directed out onto the track. He rips the wheel to the right as he exits the garage, getting a decent powerslide for his efforts.

There was no doubt in his mind that he would land on the podium, if only to see the look on your face when he did.

**********

It took an unfathomable amount of restraint to keep yourself from calling Pierre to wish him luck.

You texted Max instead, wishing him a safe and comfortable podium a half hour before lights out. He hadn't responded, likely already in the garage with his trainer going through his pre race routine.

The pace Max had set the day before had awarded him pole position and the margin between him and Hamilton had been enough that you were confident in his ability to hold off the Mercedes for all fifty six laps.

If you were honest with yourself, you were disappointed that the Alpha Tauri you so desperately tried to ignore would be starting in thirteenth. You try not to think about it, instead queueing up SkySports and opening your laptop for pre race coverage. You avoid the interviews in favor of listening to the commentators analyze the grid.

"It should be an easy win for Max as long as he fends off Hamilton until the first round of pit stops. The undercut works well here, as Red Bull proved last year, and I'm sure they plan on doing the same thing this year."

You hum in agreement, gingerly sipping your steaming tea. You really ought to consider a career as a sportscaster at this point based on how often you came to the same conclusions they did.

"I think one of the biggest shakeups is Russell starting all the way up in eleventh after his amazing qualifying for Williams yesterday. Think he can hold onto that position?"

"He's got some fierce competition not far behind in the form of Alpha Tauri. Gasly starts thirteenth- surprisingly far back on the grid given the otherwise flawless performance he's shown this year. But it seems likely that he should be able to overtake-"

You flick the tv on mute, unable to stomach listening to them sing his praises. You numb your mind with social media until the Formula 1 theme plays on your laptop, alerting you that there's a few minutes until race start. Tire blankets are peeled off and the drivers weave their way through the formation lap with the exception of Kimi who takes his traditional straight line approach to warm up his supersoft tires.

Most of the front runners are on ultrasofts, indicating a two stop strategy. It was Pirelli's recommended approach, and you were glad that Horner heeded their advice for once and let Max use the ultras in Q2. It would give Max the upper hand over Hamilton who starts on the yellow sidewall tire and thus slightly slower lap times.

Crofty and Brundle break down the notable turns as the cars line up on the grid, pointing out the sharp hairpin only a few hundred meters from pole position. If Max got away clean, he would be ahead of the cramped pack and have an even better edge over the silver arrows who would be forced to queue behind him.

The traditional "lights out and away we go" kicks off the grand prix, engines roaring into the first turn. Max does manage to get away clean and is awarded with an immediate advantage. Turn one proves tragic for the Alfa Romeo of Raikonnen and the Asthon Martin of Stroll who collide and cause Kimi to spin. They rejoin at the back of the pack, your eyes snagging on the navy and white of an Alpha Tauri as it streams past.

Your heart spins in a similar fashion when the GAS driver tag leaps up two places in the timing table, suddenly in eleventh due to the incident. Your gaze snaps to the laptop humming on your legs before you remember its Max's driver cam you queued up. The Dutchman is silent as his engineer relays information about the incident and informs him of the widening gap between those chasing him.

“Confirm received,” Gianpiero says calmly. No matter the situation or how heated Max got, he always kept his head. It was what made the duo such a good match and had likely kept Max from going off the rails on more than one occasion.

“Yeah,” Max says shortly, clearly pissed about how quickly Hamilton was approaching. “Let me know when I’ve got enough charge to get out of range.”

“Yep, will do. Just keep this pace and you’ll hold him at bay.”

Live coverage replays the incident between Stroll and Raikonnen from the view of onboard with Pierre. The instant the 10 on the halo appears in the center of your screen you suck in a breath. He yanks the wheel to avoid colliding with Ocon, who had to do the same to keep from hitting his teammate as they navigate through the carnage.

You chew on your lip and try to refocus on the battle between the front runners. Not much is happening in the midfield for the next thirty or so laps and Max just barely manages to build a solid enough gap between himself and Hamilton to dive into the pits comfortably without losing places.

Your phone rings and you answer it without checking who it was as the only person you wouldn't answer was currently occupied.

"Hello?"

"Why the fuck didn't they pit Daniel?!"

You grin, noting the blistering beginning on his front left tire as SkySports switches to his onboard camera. "Because he's about to pass Charles," you tell Dan's girlfriend. She didn't call you often during races. It was likely that she knew you were nearing your wits end and this was her way of offering support.

"He won't be able to with those tires- oh." She breaks off when Daniel passes a DRS detection zone and his rear wing opens, allowing him to pass the Monegasque with ease.

"Told you," you say with a touch of reprimand. "You're always too nervous about those things. Daniel knows how to drive, just trust him to get the job done and he'll bring home another trophy for your apartment."

"I don't live here," she points out and you roll your eyes. She had lived in London as long as you had known her, but she was almost always at Daniel's apartment whether he was in town or not. Daniel digs in as the camera follows him for a lap, highlighting the widening gap between the McLaren and the Ferrari.

"You basically do. At this point, you're paying rent for a dusty one bedroom apartment on the east side that you set foot in maybe once a month." She scoffs but you push on, "a waste of sterling if you ask me, when you're at Daniel's every time I ask you to do anything."

"You act like I never- there goes Pierre!"

His name sparks dread in your gut as your attention flicks back to the screen in time to see him overtake Bottas on the inside of turn one. He'd managed to claw up to fifth with the move, somehow gaining places while you weren't looking.

"Good for him," you croak, trying your best to be genuinely happy for him. He was pushing the car to the limit and you'd be amazed if he didn't wind up on the podium along with Dan and Max. Charles and Hamilton were the only ones in his way, and something told you Charles wouldn’t put up much of a fight when his mate reached his gearbox. Hamilton would prove a challenge but he had been making tiny mistakes all day. Nothing significant, though enough to add up to him barely holding onto second while Daniel rode his gearbox.

"He's got ten laps to get past those two," she murmurs as if momentarily forgetting you were on the phone.

"Can we talk about literally anything else please?" You whisper, half tempted to shut off the race completely.

"Babe, you have to face the music at some point. Either you never want to see him again or you love him, which is it?"

She never failed to be anything but brutally honest. You appreciate it because everyone else let you brush off your problems, but she called you on your bullshit. She would needle you about it until you folded.

"I think it's better for both of us if I pretend we never met, don't you?"

"Easier for you, yes," she agrees. "But it'll kill Pierre. You don't think you could keep in touch with him, just as friends?"

"I don't know if I can handle that. I can barely look at him without wanting to bawl my eyes out."

She sighs, pausing to contemplate what to say. Voice soft, she continues, "Why don't you just take him back? Clearly it's ruining both of you. Are you really gonna let the press wreck the best you ever had? I know its hard but-"

"I'm not like you," you cut in. "I can't just ignore the articles and the comments and pretend there aren't people out there that hate me for being with him. They came to my house, disrupted my family. Hell, Ben can't even go to school without being mobbed by his classmates demanding answers. If my suffering is what allows my family to go about their lives then so be it."

"If that's what you wanna believe."

You sigh, tangling your fingers in the hem of your shirt. "It is."

"Alright," she says, voice teetering on a knife's edge. "I know better than to try to change your mind when you're like this. He's on the podium by the way. Oh, and watch what you say to Max- Pierre will read into it."

She hangs up without a goodbye, leaving you to deal with the realization that the podium is indeed VER RIC GAS on your own. Your eyes are glued to the Red Bull and McLaren drivers, blatantly ignoring the one in the white suit as the anthems play and the champagne is sprayed, turning away to busy yourself with making coffee when Daniel hands his liquid filled race boot to third place.

You weren't quite sure how you were supposed to watch what you said to Max- there was no reason to in your mind. Max was your next closest friend on the grid and you had every right to congratulate him if you wanted to.

Resolute in your decision, you text Max and Daniel a quick congratulations before shutting off the TV and closing your laptop.

Max's insane custom ringtone he'd selected for himself nearly makes you jump out of your skin when it blares from your phone.

"Hey great race-"

"Did you see it? I wasn't sure if you'd watch it- did you see my move on Hamilton when he tried to get past me?" He was talking a mile a minute like he was still out on track. "I was like- and then Dan tried to overtake me on the final lap and I was like no way! And then-"

"Max," you chime in, dragging out the 'a' with a sing-song voice. "You're rambling."

"Oh right. Yeah but I made it! Led every lap and finished with another win."

"That's great." You force as much enthusiasm in the words as possible, trying to match his chaotic energy. "You did great. I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I'm proud to be your friend. You beat a world champ!"

"It means a lot-"

"Who's that?"

You stiffen at the familiar cadence. You had assumed Max was back in the garage when he called, but he must have still been in the podium room. You could picture him in his race suit, smudges of grease and dirt staining the pristine white. Beads of sweat probably ran down his neck, begging to be brushed away by your tongue.

"Uh, no one," Max says in a lame attempt to cover up his digression. "I gotta go," he whispers to you.

"Let me talk-"

"Wait don't," you start, but the call ends abruptly and you blink. You stare down at your phone, completely dumbfounded. Of course his instinct would be to talk to you, to share the euphoria of a podium with you. It was the first victory in three years he wouldn't have you to celebrate with.

It was only a matter of time until his resolve popped like the cork on his champagne.

**********

Pierre's phone is in his hand as soon as Max hangs up. He hefts his trophy in the other, a wild grin on his sweaty face as he snaps a picture. He makes sure he's the only one in the frame, shamelessly wanting himself to be the center of your attention.

"Mate," Daniel pipes up, catching his eye, "you think that's a good idea?"

Pierre sighs, cutting the Australian a glare. "I'm just trying to fill her in."

"Wasn't your plan to give her space?"

"It's been a week, isn't that long enough?"

"Take it from me, sometimes it takes months for someone to figure things out. Hell, you know how long it took me to sort through my feelings for-"

"I know," Pierre cuts in. "I know. I just- a snap can't hurt can it? C'mon, I just got a podium! If it goes bad I can blame it on the post race jitters."

Daniel holds up his hands and shrugs. "You're a grown man. Do what you want."

Pierre studies the photo, scrutinizing the way his hair was plastered to his head and the awkward way he'd posed to keep anyone but himself out of the frame. It's his genuine smile that he knows will do you in, and ultimately the reason he sends it.

His phone is a lead weight clutched in his grip as he winds through the paddock, constantly stopped by vips and team members congratulating him. None of what anyone says registers, he just tries his best to match their mood and sputter praises about his team's contributions to his podium.

The snap you finally send back is only from the eyes up, but it's enough. He's surrounded by people in his driver room, but for ten seconds it might as well have just been him staring at a sliver of your face on a screen.

The tiny lines at the corners of your shining eyes tell him you're smiling, which is a step in the right direction even if you won't let him see your entire face. It's enough to reignite the hope that slumbered in his chest while waiting for you to pull the trigger and make a move.

He sends back a video of the people in the room, who cheer when they realize they're being filmed. 'Wish you were here,' is what he captions it and sends it without giving himself a chance to overthink.

Ten minutes pass with no reply.

The beer he’s already consumed have given him a pleasant buzz as well as an excuse to make a bad decision or two. He takes another video of the room to post to his Instagram story, 'Missing you' written in the lower left corner.

Fuck, he hopes you'll see it and regret leaving him on read. Instead all he gets is a text from Charles chastising him for stirring up drama.

Really Pierre?

Blame it on the alcohol, he texts back.

I know you aren’t drunk. You can’t form a coherent sentence when you are.

Guess i gotta drink more then

Pierre doesn’t turn anyone bearing alcohol away. He's two celebratory shots deep when Daniel finds him sulking in a corner. "You've got my girl texting me freaking out over your story. I've seen it and I gotta agree with her. Was that really necessary?"

"She left me on read," Pierre says like that was enough explanation. His head was spinning and it was getting hard to keep the room upright. "And it's the truth. I miss her like hell. I want her here. She was supposed to come, you know? I was gonna have her fly in with me on the jet. She doesn't start class again until June. I had this whole week planned out. I was gonna show her Texas- she’s from New York and..."

He trails off when he notes Dan’s pitying smile. Daniel sighs and runs a hand through his curls. "I know. I get it, okay? I know it's hard but you can't force it. You've gotta let her come back on her own, all you're doing now is pushing her away."

He was fucking clueless when it came to these things. He'd had you for a few precious moments and now that he'd lost you he didn't know how to act. His mind was running on hazy autopilot; he barely knew which way was up, let alone did he trust himself to make any sort of important decision.

He stares down at the shot he'd been handed at some point before throwing it back. The cheap whiskey burns his throat but he barely registers the sting. "Should I take it down?"

"She already saw it," Daniel says gently, as if he anticipates how bad the fuck up will hurt. And it does. It hits him like a tire wall at two hundred kph, knowing that you were probably ranting or crying on the phone with Daniel’s girlfriend. "But yeah, that's probably best. People are already wondering what happened between you two, no need to throw fuel on the fire."

"You're probably right-" Pierre cuts off when Charles arrives with a grimace on his face. He shakes his head and gives his friend’s shoulder a squeeze.

"For once I'm not the dumb one."

"You're a dick, you know that right?" Daniel says, allowing Pierre to delete the post. It takes him a few tries before he gets it down, but undeniably rumors will be circulating in the morning if they weren’t already.

"Honestly what were you thinking?" Charles demands, edging towards full blown yelling. "I told you to leave her be. The gossip stemming from this isn’t gonna help.”

The last thing he needed was someone else telling him how stupid his decision had been. At least Daniel had the decency to show sympathy.

"Honestly?" Pierre responds with the same intensity, his anger flaring. "Honestly, Charles, I was thinking that she was happy for me but was too afraid to take the leap. She haunts me. Every second I’m awake I have to force myself away from her. Even when I’m asleep I can’t get away from her. So I don’t know, maybe I wanted to haunt her too."

“This isn’t the way you win her back and you know it.”

“I know!” Pierre throws up his hands. “But what else am I supposed to do? She won’t talk to me. She has no problem talking to Max or Daniel but apparently she draws the line at me.”

“You know it’s not-” Daniel's eyes flick to his phone and he fights back a grin. All it does is remind Pierre that he lost the person that could bring that sort of smile to his own face. "Fellas I wish I could stay and help but I gotta get going. Charles, I think Pierre needs another drink." He slaps five American dollars in the Monegasque's hand. "First one is on me."

Pierre is too deep in a spiral to care when his friend drags him from the party to a bar just south of the circuit. Somehow it was within walking distance; the floor was sticky and the lighting was for shit but he didn't care.

Pierre's focus was on downing shot after shot, erasing the broken image of you his mind had conjured up. He never should have posted the story. It only served to feed into what the media had been speculating for the past week and dredged up more tension between you.

Pierre stops checking his phone two shots later. The liquor provides a wet blanket over his senses, dousing him in cold water and scrambling his brain. He could barely remember his own name, but yours still lived in the corner of his mind.

Even drunk, he refused to forget you.

Two hours and who knows how much alcohol later, Charles helps Pierre back to his hotel room.

Pierre falls asleep as soon as he hits the mattress, head too blurry to dredge up memories of you.

#are you feeling the angst yet #pierre gasly #pierre gasly X reader #formula 1 #f1 #formula 1 imagine #f1 imagine #formula 1 fanfiction #formula 1 fantasy #f1 fanfic #f1 fanfiction #f1 fic #f1 fantasy #formula 1 fanfic #formula 1 fic #formula 1 rpf #f1 rpf #pierre gasly imagine #pierre gasly fanfiction

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whatdoesshedotothem · 3 years ago

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Friday 6 October 1837

8 ¼

11 20

much rain in the night and this morning till after 8 then fair – high wind – sun and F70° at 9 20 and breakfast – no! had Mr. Jackson from Duncan the tailor with patterns of cloth for grooms’ suit for George – ordered to be 4 guineas + breeches strapping – clothes to be sent home on Wednesday night, and cloth of the same price to be kept for footmans’ dress and undress suit – breakfast (A- sat by me) at 9 ¾ in 25 minutes then off with A- at 10 ¼ and walked with her to Cliff Hill – there at 11 20 sauntered about there 5 minutes and then set off back again – somewhile at Hipperholme quarry – a shower while there and rain began before I got to Mytholm – took shelter at Hannah Greens’, and again in the doorway of Listeriwck E.P. cabin home at 1 20 – Holt just come but kept him waiting till I opened note from A- enclosing key of her bureau and sofa table-drawer – to send her back the letter that came last night for her aunt Mrs. W. H. Rawson sent back the letter – then with Holt till 2 10 talking over colliery concerns – and then walked with him (Joseph Mann came to us at Listerwick pit) to set out the new engine pit – Cliff the engine-maker from Huddersfield to come and look at the place tomorrow about 10 pm – H- thinks 2 [?] inch

SH:7/ML/E/20/0140

bore pumps are sure to lift the water .:. an engine that will work these is wanted – I said I thought 10 horse power would be enough – would write and ask Mr. Harper perhaps tonight or tomorrow basis to be an 8ft. and 12 strokes per minute – H- thought the engine might work till the Incline was finished and then rest – let the water rise in the EP. and run over into Long goit – 700 yards back would spend the level – JM. afterwards said 600 yards would do it – the water would be dammed back as far as Charles Howarths’ and the water head going in a line from there to about ½ between Tilly holme stile and Redbeck houses we should have no more coal loose than I had to get up to that line – I thought that would be 25 acres at least which at 5 acre per annum would save expense of engine 5 years = about £1000 – must keep the engine going till the Incline was finished for the water would rise in Listerwick pit and we must have vent from there and if we could not have vent from there the engine must be [put] at work I proposed a chimney down upon the head of the Incline no! this would produce more water to pump by letting in fresh springs – then it just occurs to me, we could drive a communication from our vent gate into Listerwick above the rise of the water – I had told H- I thought we could get some upper bed immediately without pheying in the old works – yes! and JM. also agreed to this on my explaining that ½ of the 2 Pumpfields in front of the house must be ungot – H- sells at 7 1/2d. per load (upper bed) on the top of Swales moor – Samuel Holdsworth and Wilson sell at 7d. but the bar makes a 1/2d. per load difference – surely then my upper bed is worth as much as Holts’ or more – JM. thinks we may sell it at 8d. this winter – H- pays 3d. per load getting – when pulled at Listerwick pit 1d. per load will pull and bank them (1 1/2d. per load till then) – Suppose I can clear 3 1/2d. per load and 1 collier gets 100 loads per week .:. 100 x 3 1/2d. = 29/2. and I can keep 3 colliers going 29/2 x 3 = £4.7.6 H- said they would clear £4 per week – if the engine to stand till all the coal got up to Charles Howarths’ then the 2 gates from P.E.P. to LIsterwick need only be common gates – will be wet driving – say 4/6 per yard then the 2 gates together = 9/. per yard and suppose each driven 2 yards wide (so as to allow of burying the scale) then there will be 4 yards breadth of coal go t= suppose 20 loads (low bed at 9d.) = 10 x 9 = 15/. but 18 loads at 9d. = 13/6 .:. there would be 4/6 (2/6 per on each gate) per running yard on the 2 gates (800 yards long) .:. 4/6 x 800 = £180 gained on the 2 gates for I have rails enough to do them – the engine (as soon as the Incline is completed, to be set up there) – whoever gets the job is to be bound in a hundred pounds penalty to have it in going order by xmas – Holt and Thomas have undertaken many small engines but never get them done in time – Holt left me on the ground about 3pm – walked back with JM. explained my ideas about the road by the brook side thro’ Mytholm Ing – JM. to level for the intended road – home before 4 – out about – had Mawson – Townend vexed not to have had the horses for £30. has reported that he means to indite Mawson for horse-dealing and make him pay the penalty = £14 – advised M- to care nothing about it – but let the man do as he choose – it would do him no good even if he did make M- pay the penalty which he would perhaps find a difficult matter – on getting home before 4 went into the garden, and on coming from there met Womersley coming from the hall – he has seen Messrs. Mitchell and Hall – the latter would consult his attorney and M- proposed selling the horse by auction and that he and H- and I should share the loss – I said I did not see what M- or I has to do with the loss – M- would not consent to my having [?] to the horse – so I said I saw no other way but to return the horse and let M- and H- settle it as they best could – SW. had had a horse returned – perhaps I might get him to manage the matter for me – while speaking to Mawson after 5pm George came to ask me to look at the bay pony he had brought from Wakefield not so tall as the chesnut ponies, nor near so much bone – a slight thing fit only for a child – certainly not fit for A- aetatis 4 instead of 6 – worth from £12 to 15 instead of £23 I just muttered that the blind horse (Felix if he should be blind) was worth a hundred of him – yes! said George – raining – ordered the Hoogly (market cart) and off with John at 6 5 for A- unluckily went by the Lodge – missed her – returned by the old road and back in 25 minutes – I disappointed about the pony – A- ditto too much so to talk about it, and left me and went downstairs – wettish – dressed – went into the cellar (as yesterday [?]) – 1 marsala – the cellar doors had been [?] with white paint by Mr. Haylands’ man today – dinner at 7 10 coffee – read the paper – A- came upstairs at 9 20 and I a few minutes afterwards but came direct to my room and till 10 25 wrote the whole of today – fine day till about (before) noon – afterwards showery damp disagreeable afternoon and evening – F51* at 9 ½ pm – asked Mawson what he would wear (bur wall) the brook for in Mytham Ing – he had 2/.per road for the brook waring against the meer – but better carting to Mytham Ing would do that at 1/9 per road of 1 yards high – I said 10. parts might have to be 2 yards high – mentioned that I wanted to lay the pit scale alongside it so as to form a road – Mr. Parker passed as I was leaving Hipperholme quarry briefly explained that I would have nothing to do with buying coaches of Mr. C- the hotel might take its chance – said I had sent Mr. Harper to him (P-) but he had not found him or Mr.Adam – P- would advertise again – I briefly explained about C- but said I would not let him the place for less than £400 a year I would sooner break it up – P- just said ‘oh! you will get your price’ we parted – going to a road meeting of the Elland and Brighouse road – nothing to be paid on the Denholm gate road – expected something on the Wakefield road this midsummer but nothing had been paid

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whatsonmedia · 4 months ago

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srbachchan · 4 years ago

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DAY 4602

Jalsa, Mumbai Oct 6, 2020 Tue 7:25 PM

Birthday - EF Ami Trivedi .. Naresh Dhokia .. Nilesh Kumar Bodawala .. Wednesday, October 7 .. to all the Librans a happy birthday from the land of the many moons .. be happy be safe and be in the love of all the Ef ..❤️❤️❤️❤️

.. its a wave of my acknowledgement to all that live and have lived with me in this family of the Ef .. you are all so special .. I feel blessed and so privileged that you exist .. and exist in this wonderful realm of our World, despite the trying times that we have faced, at times all these four thousand six hundred and two days ..

✊✊👊👊✊✊👍🏾👍🏾👏👏👏👏

Another ‘vidwaan’ lesson ..

Somewhere between the years 500 and 200 BCE, there was a mathematician named Pingala, who observed a numerical phenomenon which he called Maatra Meru - The Binary Pyramid...

Counting only in Zeros and Ones was quite common much before that... Which was simply a series of ‘Nothing’ and ‘Something’...

But Pingala had a brain-wave...

He noticed that growth of any kind, anywhere, in any form, always happens in the same order...

Which is,

Take the occurrence ‘Nothing’ and ‘Something’ as the first event... Then add the two - we have a second event which has only ‘Something’... then add the previous two events - we have a third event which has two of ‘Something’... then keep adding the previous two events for the next event -- the numerical value of each event is the total ways of occurrence of the first event of ‘Nothing’ and ‘Something’...

This is the pyramid, the Maatra Meru...

For instance,

A seed sprouts one string of the root... that one string matures, and grows another length... then this new one grows an off-shoot to become two... of these two, one is matured, the other is fresh -- so, the matured one grows an off-shoot --- thus, the two become three... then of these three, two are matured and one is fresh -- So, two grow off-shoots, and one remains - thus, three become five... And so on... five become eight... eight become thirteen... and so on...

In Western math, the figurative representation of this is called the Fibonacci series.... 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on... Fibonacci has gracefully admitted that it is from the ancient math in Sanskrit, which, quite innocently, he calls Indo or Hindu... Where did I read that? In his book, Liber Abaci...

Anyway,

The fun is this:

Pingala claims that anything in the universe which multiplies in form and features always follows this pyramid... With zero on the summit and the rest of the numbers in the increasing width of the base...

---

.. and I read the lines from the lesson of the writer poet and dear friend Ashok Chakradhar ..

‘राह हर ओर खुली हैं, तू कहीं से आजा । मेरे अंदर की पटरियों पे स्टेशन बहुत हैं’ ।

‘.. the paths are open in every direction , come from wherever you wish .. the several rail tracks within my soul have boundless stations ..’

Come to me .. come from any direction .. from any oath you wish to take my dearest Ef .. I have many stops on the rail tracks I possess within .. stop get of the trail .. spend some time with me .. have the ‘kulhad ki chai’ .. pick up the magazine or the news paper .. look about .. watch in amazement those that join the attached bogies .. give a helping hand to those that have excess baggage and need to be pushed into the crowded compartments .. hera that steam engined warmed whosh and the whistle of the guard at the end carriage waving his green flag .. get back to your birth .. stand by the open door and watch the station pass by ..

.. to the next and the next lot of the Ef passengers wishing and wanting accommodation in the compartments ..

I reminisce those early Allahabad days, when on occasion I used to visit my relatives in Banda, UP by train and the travel in the 3rd class pushing myself in through the windows because the doors were jammed with passengers .. and finding that elusive seat and upon which used be seated two others on your lap with their luggage .. and travelling an entire night so till the stationed destination .. getting off in time and shouldering all the personal luggage on the head and back, walking to the home of our relative who stayed a mile or two away from the station .. there being no transport .. the transport of the ricksha or the tanga being beyond our financial means ..

BUT it was happy times .. the strain and the pain of the journey was dissolved in the company of them that welcomed you with joy and happiness in abundance ..

.. be in smile .. be in contentment .. be .. just BE

My love as ever ..

Amitabh Bachchan

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leftonraed · 4 years ago

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The Night We Met - Episode 3

pairing : Taehyung x OC genre : bodyguard!au, singleparent!au, idol!au word count : 2.3k summary — Taehyung has a talk with his father. He also starts to catch feelings. Prologue | ep.1 | ep.2 | ep.3 | ep.4 | ep.5 | ep.6 | ep.7

You park the car neatly along the sidewalk. When the engine dies down, nothing else can be heard beside the subdued tweeting in the trees nearby playing with the agreeable silence the upscale neighbourhood is plunged in.

A cold wind blows on your face as you step out of the vehicle. There are leaves everywhere, covering the ground with hues of brown, red, orange and yellow. You walk around the car and see Taehyung adjusting Hina’s beanie and gloves while she waits patiently.

With a quick nod, you let him know the vicinity is clear and show you’re ready to escort them to his parents’ house.

He wraps her hand in his and leads the way. You keep a small distance behind. He stops in front of a tall front gate and rings the bell. You keep looking both ways until it opens and they are inside.

Taehyung notices his father at the other end of the path, waving and smiling warmly. He gestures back but gets surprised when the little girl lets go of his hand.

“Hina! Come back!” He orders as she runs away, giggling, towards the big piles of leaves gathered at the foot of the old tree in the garden.

“Go. I’ll watch her.” He hears you quietly saying right next to his ear, the sudden proximity making his heart jump hard.

“But-” He mumbles, flustered.

“She’ll join you after.”

Taehyung heads to his father reluctantly, gazing steadily at Hina making a mess around herself.

“Don’t worry about it,” grins the older man. “It’s been a while since we’ve heard someone laugh in here.”

“She never listens to him,” he complains and it reminds his father of his son’s childhood days.

He stops at the doorstep. “Did you ever?” Taehyung stares at him dumbstruck. “I’m just kidding. Come. Is your friend joining us?”

He looks back where you’re standing ramrod straight, fixing Hina with an attentive look.

“She’s watching her.”

Taehyung welcomes the warmth of the house with contentment and starts getting rid of the thick layers he’s dressed himself in. The fire crackling in the living-room is the sole sound and source of light inside. He follows his father.

“It’s getting colder this week. I’m heating up tea.”

Taehyung offers a soft smile.

“So?” His father looks at him pointedly, sitting next to him.

“What?”

“You think I don’t know what’s between the two of you?”

Taehyung frowns, taken aback. “What?”

“I’m no fool. I know you like her.”

“B-but- I mean- No- It’s not what you think!”

His father chuckles the more he gets mixed up. “I’m just messing with you. What’s with that face you’re making?”

Taehyung pouts, feeling his cheeks warming up.

“I didn’t catch her name.”

“______.” He answers softly. “She’s Seojun’s replacement.”

“She seems reliable and… one-of-a-kind.”

“She is,” he trails to himself and gets a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m sure she has you under her thumb.”

Taehyung crosses his arms, slightly upset. “That’s not even true.” He opens one eye and catches him stifling a snicker. “Stop it!”

“Still so easy to get you worked up I see.”

Silence comes again and their smiles die down.

“How’s mom?”

He hears his father’s intake of air, trying to come up with an answer. “I don’t really know... She started eating again.” He looks at his son, “I guess she’s getting better. But I don’t know what this really means. I don’t think we’ll ever get over what happened.”

Taehyung keeps staring into space, at a loss for words. He can hear Hina’s laughter from the outside and his heart tightens as chaotic thoughts fill his mind.

“Maybe-”

“Hm?”

Taehyung sounds unsure about what he’s about to say. “I was thinking- If I left Hina here… It’d help?”

“We miss her terribly,” he sighs. “She does bring a lot of happiness. She looks so much like him. And you.” His father smiles tenderly. “But she grew attached to you. And we know why. I think you’re her best solution.”

“I just wan’ help mom and you get well fast.”

“I know. I know... Don’t worry too much over us, you already have a lot on your plate. We look after each other and- to know Hina and you have each other, it helps us feel better.”

A part of him feels relieved about keeping Hina home but he can’t ignore the heaviness in his chest the longer he thinks of his parents on their own with their sorrow.

Taehyung lets out a breathy chuckle. “ You know she-… She’s started to call me ‘daddy’ and-” he sees his father gazing back. “I don’t really know how to react.”

“Does it make you uncomfortable?”

He shakes his head. “Not anymore.”

“Then, it shouldn’t tick over in your mind. As long as she feels safe and you’re still managing… things… Cause you are, right?”

“Yeah,” Taehyung promptly reassures him. His mouth stretches in a small grin. “I- I get a lot of help back there.”

“I’m sure you do.” His father reaches for his shoulder, smiling as well. ��I’m serious, Taehyung. No need to get concerned about anything. We got this. All of us.”

They share a look, simple, yet holding so much more.

The kettle’s suddenly whistling, prompting the old man on his feet.

“Get’em inside. I’ll go wake you mom.”

Taehyung stands up and heads to the entrance. He opens the door and is a little surprised to see you already there, assisting Hina in climbing up the stairs.

The tip of her nose has turned pink and he can feel the freshness of her palms through the fabric when she hugs his leg. He hurries her inside after getting her shoes off.

He steps aside to let you in.

“Oh, wait…” He suddenly says. You look back, caught off guard as you watch him reach for the top of your head. “You have a leaf stuck in your hair.”

The moment is short but feels drawn out. His fingers are delicate in their motions, you can even feel him lightly combing your hair before he abruptly stops when he catches you staring back intently.

His cheeks warm up yet again. “Done.”

“I suggest you get in before we all freeze to death.” His father puts an end to your staring contest.

You both look away and watch Hina hugging her grandmother who just came down the stairs. She meets your eyes, surprised.

“Mom, this is ______.”

________________________________________

Taehyung’s not sure what to think of your closeness with Hina. It’s as if he feels obliged to feel bad about you watching her while he’s working on his new songs either in studios or shows venues when you’re only paid to keep any harm from her and not play babysitter. He still remembers that one day he firmly told her not to use walls as a written medium and started drawing on your body after you've told her she could and showed the tattoo on your thigh.

He was both befuddled and surprised to note that particularity. And he hates how stoical you always seem to be about everything. He wants to be able to read your mind but you’ve never indulged him. He gets more curious about your opinion of him as a performer.

As grateful he is for your presence, he’s come to realise, after only a couple of months in your company, its impact on their relationship. It’s not as if you’ve been trying to create any particular bond with his niece, yet you’ve managed to get Hina to ask after you when you’re nowhere to be seen. He never feels jealous about it, it simply makes him smile. He’d even find himself missing you oftentimes.

Today’s Wednesday and it’s awfully quiet this afternoon.

Taehyung’s scrolling endlessly through movies and dramas when Hina comes plopping down on the couch, face first, next to him.

“Are you bored ?” He smiles at her and playfully taps her bum.

Another minute passes by and he turns off the T.V. to grab his phone. It’s seven pm.

“Wanna go see ______?”

Hina pulls herself straight up at the mention of your name and squeals a little ‘yes’ as if he’s just had the best idea ever.

“Let’s go get prepared.”

Not long after, they’re already on their way to the gym where you’re always spending your free time on his days off. It’s not a long walk by foot. He knows he’s taking risks but he doesn’t feel like driving.

With Hina in one arm, he pushes open the front door. The air inside is thick and heavy with the smell of sweat. Music’s blasting, although low enough for him to hear the fit man greeting him at the entrance.

Taehyung adjusts his sunglasses on his fringe. “I’m looking for _______. We agreed to meet.” He lies.

“Wait here, I’ll go get her.”

“Thank you.”

He watches the man walk around a corner. He lets Hina sit back on the counter to ease his arm tired after holding her the whole walk.

“_______!” She exclaims, which has Taehyung looking where she’s pointing.

He spots you a few feet away walking in his direction and chatting with another man. He’s staring back quietly and feels satisfied when he notices the surprise in your eyes for a split second at their sight.

He feels Hina tugging at his collar to get back in his arms. She waves at you excitedly when you’re near. The man in your company stops behind to chat with another person crossing his way.

“Hi,” you hear Taehyung breath. He hopes you don’t notice his staring.

Your outfit isn’t much different from what you usually wear at home when you work out but your chest is glowing with your effort enticingly and your hair sticking to the flushed skin of your neck. Your worked up expression makes his stomach feel tingly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Uhm- We… Hina wanted to see you.”

“That’s really stupid of you.” You frown a little. “What if something happened on your way here? Or if someone recognised you?”

Taehyung feels himself warming up at your worry.

“We took care of it. Hina, show her,” he smiles proudly and raises a finger to tap and have his sunglasses falling down on his nose. Your gaze shifts back and forth to his cheeky smile and Hina who’s keeping a tight tiny hand on hers, obviously too big for her, clearly playing along.

“Secwet.” She hushes.

You pinch your lips not to let yourself get endeared by her.

“______?” The stranger suddenly says.

Taehyung’s eyes instantly look at his hand cupping your waist to fit himself between you and the counter. He notes he’s barely taller than him but his physique is near perfection. You do nothing to take his hand off of you. His smile dies a little.

“New friends?”

“Uhm-,” you turn your head to glance at him quickly, “Shownu, this is Taehyung. And his niece.” You gesture between them. “Taehyung, Hina, Shownu. He owns that gym.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Shownu doesn’t seem to recognise him as he swipes his hand on his shorts and offers it. Taehyung shakes it shortly and nods. “You should come someday. We’re offering fifty percent off of membership and the first month is free.”

“Now’s not a great time.”

“Why not?”

You shake your head at Shownu. “Why are you being so nosy?”

“I’m just asking.”

Taehyung intervenes. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Great.” He smiles and stretches a hand to pinch Hina’s cheek lightly but she leans away on Taehyung’s shoulder. He grips your shoulder, looking down at you. “Have to go. I’ll text you about the thing, okay?”

You nod.

Taehyung watches you watching him walking away. He can’t help but compare himself to him and wonder if he’s your type. It itches him to know more about the two of you but he knows better. You catch him and he grins a tight-lipped smile.

_______________________________________

The walk back home is quiet. Hina’s happy about not having to wear those gigantic glasses anymore and bounces her way in front of you.

“Don’t get surprised if you’re making headlines tomorrow.”

Taehyung turns around to see you staring blankly at him, “what are you talking about?”

“I’m sure someone’s already spotted you. You’re surely all over the internet.” You say pointedly.

“Uh- No, that’s impossible.” He quickly interjects. “I was careful. And it’s too dark now.”

“You don’t know them. They’re crazy.” You suddenly breathe very closely to his face. “They’re everywhere and watching everything you do. Seojun told me all about them.”

Taehyung freezes, uneasy. “Hina!” He calls when she starts to get a little too far. “Why are you saying these things? It's scary.”

“It’ll be your fault.” You close your eyes, slightly pouting.

He picks her up when she’s at his feet. He frowns,“stop saying that.”

“Then don’t go out without telling me.”

“Alright, I got it!”

Hina looks back and forth between you two.

“Maybe, we’re being followed.”

He’s getting a little alarmed. “You think?”

“I don’t know.” You walk closer and closer until your chest presses against his arm. “The best thing we could do... would be to pretend to be a family? Taking a walk?” You drag out.

“Eh?”

You grin a little lopsided smile at his funny expression. “Yeah, like this.” You sneak an arm around his, tightening him more to yourself.

Taehyung doesn’t know how to react to your sudden move. Hina stretches her tiny hand to cup your cheek and he notices a glint of satisfaction in your eyes. “Bu- but, you’re sweaty.”

“What did you expect, fetching me from the gym?” You jerk your body away.

“No, no, no! I take it back!”

You shake your head at him and he looks away when you don’t, trying to contain himself.

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