#my only claim here is that this isn't nice and we shouldn't encourage it in ourselves or others

[eightsixtiism]

As a Max fan, I do admit that Max isn't perfect and I absolutely adored Lando before especially with his friendship with Max and Carlos. Lando is getting hated mainly because of the things he says and some of his actions. One was the trump thing, second, was when Max was congratulating him and he decided to snitch despite the race being over (not a big issue for me personally cause all drivers snitch). Third is the way he acted when he won the Dutch GP especially when he decided to use Max's catchphrase (I know it wasn't Max's before), most of us found it rude especially since well max's catchphrase and Lando saying that seemed as if he was mocking Max and the worst thing was it was Max's home race. Fourth, the cooldown with Lewis when Lew was merely being nice and he decided to somewhat insult him (I feel insulted despite Lewis saying it was fine). Fifth, When he called Max's win in Brazil luck not talent, I mean luck was a part of it but talent had a much larger contribution. Sixth, when McLaren fucked up and he made his engineer beg for Lando to give the place back to Oscar despite him being only there because McLaren fucked up and Iscar was doing an excellent job defending (Fuck Mclaren strategy tbh). Seventh, podium in Hungary ('twas fucked up) Oscar couldn't even enjoy his win because Lando was the center of attention despite Osc having a phenomenal drive. Eight, when Oscar had to give up a win (it was a sprint but it was still a win) just for him to lose big time from Max. Ninth, when Oscar once again had to back off to give Lando a chance to catch up to Max but he couldn't pass Charles. Tenth, this is mostly due to how the FIA has been acting. They have been acting like a knight and shining armor for Lando, especially during the quali. This is not hate, I do think he is a contender for this season, the way he's been acting is somewhat the problem. (I think I have more but this is enough lmao)

there's a lot to be covered here so i'll answer the ones that caught my eye.

3) now that i've thought about it, i'd understand why max fans in particular would be mad about it. max coined the phrase, his friend essentially used it to take a dig at him. me personally, if this is what you're getting so seriously pressed about then i actually don't know what to say. this is a sport, shithousery will ensue between friends, enemies, acquaintances— everybody. it's not like lando completely ridiculed and encouraged any more hate towards max; i don't know if i can say the same for max, though.

4) that one i felt taken aback by it too. don't know why he said that, it's definitely something he could've avoided saying. but if lewis isn't bothered about it, i'm not going to be. if he was, i certainly would be and will hold lando accountable (i still do anyways)

5) this is so palpably hearsay and i cannot believe you still think this. at this point, i feel like a broken radio trying to reason with you guys and tell you that that is not what he meant. i'm sure you've come across people explaining what the actual meaning is, so let's not sit here and still believe this foolishness. if, for some reason, you still don't get it, there's a post here that explains it perfectly.

6 and 7) you are talking all about unrightful lando wins, but didn't lando have to give his place up for oscar? oscar didn't overtake lando by his own will and win, so why won't we use that against oscar? some people do, but we all know it was mclaren's fault for putting them in that position. they could've easily let them stay where they are and fight for p1, but they didn't and that is how it panned out. after them guilt tripping lando into giving the place back, are we still blaming lando for this? i know you shouldn't be because as you said, 'fuck mclaren strategy'.

8) mclaren were seemingly championship contending... up until they claimed they weren't after the brazil gp (honestly, odds were stacking up against them that they weren't because they kept fucking up more than they should've). i can tell you are either quite ignorant or haven't been a fan for long, because it seems you are too used to someone winning the championship by their own merit because of the very pitiful gap in performance between the red bull drivers, but forget that many championships have been won with the help of teammates, one of the most infamous being lewis and valterri. oscar giving up his place was to help lando (who's higher in the standings between the 2) get more points and close the gap. it wasn't a rightful sprint win, we are all aware, but that's how this sport works.

10) i was going to go hell on this take, but @landhoe-norris worded it perfectly in their post:

"Imagine thinking that an organisation that rigged a race so that your favourite drivers would win a championship, an organisation that has allowed him to run other drivers off the track for the past three years without repercussions, is now being biased against him because he ‘has the wrong passport’ when in all seriousness your favourite driver is the epitome of ‘white privilege’ and has been since he stepped into the sport."

there's nothing more for me to say.

all in all, lando is not as bad as you guys make him out to be. if anything, max, in my opinion, is worse. and looks like he'll always be.

[stop-entropy-lie-down]

this thread is another example of using reactionary insults against right-wingers to 'beat them at their own game' which ends up tacitly endorsing their worldview - just like with the posts making fun of prince william for being bald and the rest.

having poor fashion sense (or in this case just not knowing the secret rules of men's tailoring) is not immoral, and dunking on strangers for it is not nice.

[tendencyblue]

The Senator and the Ensign

Originally posted for Chocolate Box 2020

Summary: "You are acquainted?" the Ma'a'ta prompted, but Rey wasn't sure what to say.

Reylo, between TLJ and TROS, mutual undercover

948 words | rated G | read on AO3

"And how do you two know each other?" the Ma'a'ta asked.

It was a perfectly natural question; in fact, it would probably have been odder if he hadn't asked. One of the main roles of a Ma'a'ta was to precipitate peace and harmony between all guests on this planet. Encouraging connections between their guests and learning of previous connections was one of the ways they did so. And it was very obvious that "Senator Mila" and "Ensign Rorg" recognized each other.

Which, Rey had to admit, was mostly on her. The Supreme Leader had merely opened his eyes very wide and gone pale when he saw her; Rey's start of surprise had been much more visible to the Ma'a'ta.

"You are acquainted?" the Ma'a'ta prompted, sweetly. But Rey knew he could get much less sweet in a heartbeat. This planet didn't like liars very much.

The General had argued with Rey about coming here for just that reason—especially in disguise—but nobody had been able to think of any other way to contact the Rebel outpost here on Martalfa'a. And she'd been successful, too. She'd passed the initial message to her contact earlier this evening. She ought to receive a reply any time now, and then she could leave—if her cover lasted that long. Which would require convincing the Ma'a'ta. "Yes, we—"

"We were childhood acquaintances," Kylo filled in. Apparently, he didn't want to get caught out any more than she did. "We were very close for a few years when we lived near each other, but since then our paths have only crossed rarely. Although of course I have seen the Senator's name in the news now and then."

Rey was glad the General had insisted on her claiming the name of one of the human senators who hadn't been on Hosnian Prime, instead of inventing her own. Though even with her hair dyed and pinned up, she bore only surface similarity to the real Senator Mila, so she still needed to get off this planet quickly. "I never see you in the news, Ensign," she said. "I would have thought you'd at least have had a promotion by now. How many years has it been since you signed up?"

"Um, I can't remember," he said. "The years fly by, don't they?"

"They do indeed," the Ma'a'ta said, no doubt attributing the tension between them to the fact that "Rorg" was still an Ensign after so many years and not, say, that the last time they'd been in the same room they'd torn a lightsaber in half. "And I'm sure we've all been doing what we could in the meantime," he added. "Both ensigns and senators add their own contributions to the galaxy, and it is the contributions of us all that keep the galaxy spinning."

"Thank you," Kylo said. "And if you'll excuse us, I was hoping the senator and I could get reacquainted."

"Yes, of course," the Ma'a'ta said.

He waddled off to the next group of guests, leaving Rey and Kylo to hiss simultaneous whispers at each other: "What are you doing here?"

"You first," Rey said after a minute. "Did you know I was going to be here?"

"No. Well, yes, but—"

"What do you mean, yes?"

"I overheard you say that you might come here, but I didn't know when. The bond between us isn't gone completely," he said earnestly. "I still get glimpses of you, from time to time. I haven't spoken to you when I've seen you because I know you'd only close me out, but Rey—"

"Don't say that name here!" Rey hissed. "Did you come here for me?"

"Not...exactly. There was a mine on this planet, years ago, that the Empire used. There's been rumors that it's not as exhausted as it was said to be. I came here to investigate."

"And does the Supreme Leader need to make his investigations personally?"

"Now who's saying things that shouldn't be overheard?" he hissed back. "I thought it might be...nice...to see you."

"It would be nicer still if I had my lightsaber," Rey snapped.

"Then you shouldn't have broken it. And why are you pretending to be a senator, anyway? You couldn't have chosen a less identifiable identity? You don't look anything like Mila."

"Well, then you'd better help me avoid suspicion because if they catch me I'm taking you down with me."

He looked at her for a long moment, then said "Okay." He leaned forward.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he murmured against her mouth. "The Martalfa'ar want their guests to make connections. So if we're making a connection, they'll probably leave us alone."

"I should probably be bothered by the fact that that makes any sense to me whatsoever," Rey grumbled, but it was actually a pretty nice kiss, so she returned it.

He ran his fingers through her hair. "I could probably give you a few tips on acting like a senator," he whispered in her ear, "since there are a few who actually were my childhood acquaintances, unlike you."

"I think I'm doing perfectly well, thank you very much," Rey said, and kissed him firmly before he could give her any more unhelpful advice.

The Ma'a'ta wandered by half an hour later, but he only said cheerfully "Ah! Finding common ground is what keeps the galaxy spinning! I am very glad for you!" and then hurried over to a cluster of people who were glaring at each other.

"Don't say 'I told you so,'" Rey said firmly.

Kylo kissed her again, instead. But she was pretty sure he was thinking I told you so.