#or i write more f1 than call of duty

[internetgremlin-writes]

Passionate sexy times with carlos after he comes back to the hotel drenched with champagne 🥵🔥

When I say you're about to get SEVERAL versions of this... I don't even care this man deserves the world I will write him winning A THOUSAND TIMES OVER (also the gifs from today aren't in yet so bare with)

@hnmaga-blog here is one hopefully BEFORE you sleep!

Warning: SMUT

im actually so overwhelmed with all this im struggling to sit still and write so I've got the highlights on for the race I've just watched lmao

You had screamed yourself hoarse. Hands clasped so tightly your nails had made small crescents in your skin, as red as the garage you were sat in, your eyes locked on that screen. You didn't remember even breathing during that last safety car. You'd been bouncing on the balls of your heals, mumbling half of prayers to every god you could imagine, and some you were sure you'd just made up.

And then it happened.

He sailed past his teammate, took his lead back and held onto it like a dog with a bone. And you watched, screaming, shouting, sobbing as the chequered flag waved and Carlos Sainz, your Carlos, became an F1 Winner. You felt like you were erupting, your entire body splintering as you burst with joy and pride and relief and a million other emotions that you couldn't name as you turned his mother who had the same look on her face and sobbed freely onto her shoulder.

You didn't stop crying through the entire podium ceremony. Everyone saw Carlos as this new man. New confidence, power, and control over the car. The Carlos who had finally settled into Ferrari and was proving everyone wrong. You didn't. You saw the teenager you'd grown up with. You saw the Carlos who'd just gotten into his first race car, not a go-kart, who'd come away with a P5 and ran at you, cheeks flush and grin big as he assured his best friend that he was going to win a Formula 1 race one day.

The look he gave you when he finally found you in the crowd was identical. And then he was grinning at you and winking and your stomach dropped to the floor because you knew what was coming next.

It didn't help that you didn't think you'd seen anyone look sexier drenched in champagne. With his image blown up on the screens behind him, you could see every curl of his hair that was plastered to his neck, the flush on his cheeks, and the smile that really, truly reached his eyes.

You'd finally stopped crying. He had a lot of media duties now, and then team debrief and photos and lord only knows what else. You knew you had some time. You slipped back to the garage, finding yourself sidling up to Rupert with a horribly poor acting job of feigning tiredness and asking for Carlos' spare hotel room key. There was no way Rupert believed you were tired, but he handed you the key with a knowing look in his eye.

Your relationship wasn't exactly a secret, you'd been best friends since childhood; your father a British rally driver who had competed with Carlos Sainz Sr which had evolved into a longstanding family friendship. You spent your teenage years going through phases of crushes on the Spaniard. In your early twenties it started as a mortally embarrassing hook-up after a night of drinking that was perhaps a bit too soon following a messy break-up of yours. And then that hook-up turned into casual sex on the rare occasions you saw each other - nothing more than two young, hot people letting off some steam. The casual hook-ups turned into him inviting you to his races, getting dinners before, and staying for whole weekends. During a challenge video he did with Torro Rosso, he let slip that his 'girlfriend' wouldn't have been impressed with his poor attempts at cooking.

You'd called him that night and asked, with a cold dread in your stomach you tried to ignore, whether his girlfriend was currently in a hotel he'd paid for close to the track for the next race weekend. He'd said yes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and that was it. You were Carlos' girlfriend. You never really went public with the news, he just started appearing more on your social media and you on his - and the fans put the puzzle together pretty quickly.

Once in the hotel you changed into a dress you'd brought with you- just in case. It wasn't really a dress, more a virtually see-through slip with lace stained a deep, dark red.

You only had to wait an hour before you heard the familiar fumbling of the door handle and Carlos stumbled into the room, a faraway grin still on his face. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw you grin fading from his face and something hungry stealing over his eyes.

He was still in his race suit and first place cap, the trophy in one hand and champagne bottle in the other. You could see the fabric of it was still soaked, shining. You could smell the alcohol on him. He placed the prizes reverently on the desk, trophy beside bottle beside cap, which he took off and gently folded before shaking his hair out. It was wet, black and shiny and sticking up in all directions.

"What is this?" He asked, slowly approaching you and gesturing at your outfit. You shrugged at him, a languid smile of red lipstick breaking out across your features.

"What? You can't handle one more prize?" His eyes visibly darkened, his grin becoming wolfish as he stole towards you.

"It depends," he stood directly in front of you, fingers toying with one of the spaghetti straps holding your outfit up, before drawing it down and over your shoulder with ease. Just his fingers grazing your skin was enough to make you shiver. "Do I have to share this podium?" His race suit hit the floor and he stepped out of it, already pulling the fireproof top over his head and allowing it to join the pile.

"This one's all yours, you earned it,"

That was all it took for Carlos to lunge at you, pinning you to the bed as he kissed you with something you'd never felt before. It was electric, charged with liquid serotonin. You didn't think you'd ever experience anything so pure and so filthy so simultaneously. He was groaning into your mouth as you pulled on the knots formed in his wet hair, your hands grappling to touch him everywhere you could.

You found yourself laughing into his mouth as his tongue slipped into yours at the same time you realised his skin was damp, everywhere. He pulled back, watching you, amused.

"What?" You'd not heard him sound so light. So happy and carefree and joyful in so long. It was like a breath of fresh air that made you fall in love with him all over again.

"You're soaking wet!" That made him laugh, collapsing his weight onto your chest as you felt hot puffs of air in your neck, making you squirm below him. He quietened, pressing kissing along the vast expanse of exposed skin that was your chest. His hand was sliding along your thigh, making its way all the way up until you could feel him so close to where you wanted him so badly.

"I'm supposed to say that to you, no?" Before you could say anything you felt his finger dip between your folds, swiping experimentally. He raised an eyebrow at you when he realised you weren't wearing any underwear. His grin faded to a smirk. "Ah, but so are you," he held his hand up, and you could see his fingers glistening in the low light.

"You looked so good up there," you murmured, arching your back to press your chest against his. He groaned appreciatively, at your words or the way you were pushing the waistband of his fireproofs and boxers down, you weren't sure. His head dropped into the space of your neck as you wrapped a hand around him and started to move lazily, enjoying the way he responded to you with a shudder and a guttural noise.

"I was thinking about this in my interviews," he admitted, a guilty smile and what you thought might have been a blush creeping across his features as he bucked into your hand once more. He cast a glance over his shoulder, to where his small pile of treasure was sat on the desk, which struck you with an idea.

He gave a small moan as you slid out from underneath him.

"What?"

You didn't say anything as you moved, deliberately swaying your hips far more than usual as you crossed the room, turning to him with a devilish grin on your lips. You elegantly lifted yourself up, seating yourself directly beside his trophy and allowing your legs to fall open.

"You should be able to see your winnings," Carlos looked like he's died and gone to heaven, all too eager to rush over and have you in his arms once more, kissing you feverishly, urgently.

"I love you," he mumbled against your lips "You're the best prize," you were a little distracted, he was standing so close that he was brushing against your clit, sending small shockwaves down your spine.

"I love you too,"

He hesitated as you reached down, lining him up with your entrance, you gave him a quizzical look.

"But I haven't-" you kissed his cheek.

"I warmed up before you got here," you admitted. Carlos loved to make sure you were fully seen to before he even thought of having sex with you. Usually, you loved how attentive he was to you, but today, well today the only thing you wanted to celebrate was him and okay - so the image of him soaked to the skin in champagne on that podium had been enough to get you going so much so that waiting for him to come back had been a little too long. Carlos must have appreciated the gesture because he almost growled as he pushed into you.

"Dios Mio, I will never forget how good you feel," he groaned into your neck, beginning to build pace. You were gripping his shoulder, knowing full well your nails would be marking his skin but you couldn't bring yourself to care. You'd waited so long for this moment that the euphoria of it all building rapidly within you and you felt your stomach tightening already. Carlos had one hand on your hip and the other, you noticed, was gripping the base of his trophy.

"My winner," you purred into his ear, knowing exactly what he needed to hear.

"Be careful," his voice was low, strained and dangerous. "If you want to-" Carlos was unable to finish his sentence for you were already gone, your walls clenching around him as your head fell back, calling his name repeatedly in bliss. Carlos shuddered, his entire body stilling as you felt him come with you, his lips pressed against yours in one last burning kiss as your hands knotted in his hair to keep you grounded to him.

He stilled, his hand on your hip becoming an arm wrapped around your waist, holding you flush against him. You pecked his lips, only pulling away enough so that your foreheads were pressed together.

"Congratulations, Carlos,"

He was still breathing too heavily to speak, his eyes closed and eyelashes spread across the top of his cheeks as he nodded against you. He was still smiling.

"Celebrate with me in the shower?"

You grinned at his thoughts, knowing exactly where this night was heading, and that you'd only just scratched the surface of the celebrations to come.

[formulavilla7]

Max Verstappen x Horner daughter reader

This is the second chapter to my first F1 fan fiction. I want to apologise for taking so long to write it but December was busy with uni deadlines and Christmas. Then I’ve been working. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Hopefully I can write Chapter 3 soon as well

It had been two weeks since Max and Y/N had last seen each other and to say that both of them were not in the slightest excited to see each other again would be a massive lie.

In between training, factory visits and other Red Bull duties, Max found his mind wandering towards Y/N, so much so that he missed the question the interviewer asked him about the race weekend that they were going into.

Ah yes, Baku. The circuit in the Azerbaijani capital that was famed for being quite a dangerous one. Crashes and accidents were frequent. He remembered the crash he’d had himself with Daniel back in 2018 when they’d been teammates. Daniel had gone straight into the back of him trying to overtake and he vividly remembered the wrath that both of them had faced from Christian Horner. The same Christian Horner who’s daughter he was thinking about.

He chastised himself wondering what on Earth he was getting himself into. He’d met her for little over ten minutes and she’d had this much of an effect on him. He blinked and tried to banish her from his mind, at least for the remainder of the press conference, so that he didn’t make more of a fool of himself.

He successfully navigated the rest of the interview with no further hitches and quickly left after being dismissed to return to the Red Bull garage, where as luck would have it, Y/N Horner was standing.

She turned, sending him a bright smile that he couldn’t help but return. He decided that he’d go and talk to her but the universe clearly had other ideas as at that moment her father called for him. He cursed Christian inwardly but went to him anyway, hoping that he’d be quick. He wasn’t.

He’d only had time for small smiles since as he was either driving in free practice or trying to help the team optimise his car for qualifying. Qualifying came and went in a chaotic manner as his fellow drivers crashed leading to numerous red flags. He qualified third behind his title rival Lewis Hamilton, which wasn’t ideal but he’d always said that he’d rather qualify third than second because you could slipstream the leader which happened to be Charles Leclerc.

With that in mind he felt quietly confident about the race, which aged well in hindsight. He’d watched as Hamilton easily got past Leclerc on lap two, hoping that he could do the same. Lap 7 came and he’d seized his opportunity to get past the Ferrari and chase down Lewis and Sergio had done the same. It was all going so well and it got even better when Hamilton had a slow stop under the yellow flag. Max was leading the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and he even stayed ahead of Lewis after his own pit with Sergio to back him up. He and Sergio were showing great teamwork.

Max was in the line for the race win. He was first. This victory was surely his. Then his tyre blew as he was travelling down the main straight. He crashed into the wall at 200mph. The impact was huge. All he cared about was the result. He was out. His lead was gone and it could be Hamilton’s. He needed this win, it couldn’t go to his championship rival. Anger coursed through him. There was a red flag and he clambered out of the cockpit, kicking his tyre in frustration and storming away. The marshals told him to get into the medical car and he had no choice but to do so despite wanting to go to the garage.

After his checks, he finally went to the garage with his head down low, not wanting to look at the staff. He could’ve won. They all looked at him sympathetically. He went to his driver’s room with the frustration still prevalent

A few minutes later there was a knock. Max sighed, not feeling like facing anyone, until he heard a voice.

“Max, it’s me. Y/N. Can I come in?��

Max got up and opened the door, finding Y/N in front of him. She gave him a small smile and entered. He looked at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes wondering what she wanted.

“How do you feel?” She asked “That was a big impact, I wanted to see if you were ok”

“I’m fine. A little sore but mostly fine.” He tried to send her a smile, appreciating the concern.

“Good. I’m sorry about the result, you really deserved that win.”

“Yeah, it was frustrating. I led for so long only to get a puncture. I feel like I let everyone down. I should be on the podium with a stronger lead in the championship but instead I’m here feeling sorry for myself.”

“You didn’t let anyone down” she told him firmly “why would you say that? It’s not your fault that the tyre blew”

“I know but I was so close to the end. The victory was mine and it got messed up. The team work so hard and spend so much time improving the car but it’s still not enough” his voice broke at the end of it and he flushed, embarrassed. He didn’t know why he was telling her all of this but she was a comforting presence and it was all bubbling over.

She surprised herself and him with her next move. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a fierce hug, holding him tightly. She blushed and went to let go, shocked but Max held on. Tears slipped down his cheeks in a rare display of vulnerability and he tried to whip them away without her noticing. He barely knew her and he was crying in front of her. He never cried.

“It’s ok to cry Max, you’re frustrated and upset. Don’t be ashamed” her voice was soothing as she gently rubbed his back. “You’ll be back stronger for the triple header. I’m sure of it. This is just bad luck and it’s out of your control but you’ve got this. Trust me” He did, for someone he didn’t really know he trusted her a lot and so he allowed her to comfort him and allowed his vulnerability to show.

“Who won?” Came his hoarse voice

“Checo” she told him, smiling softly

Max smiled slightly, happy for his teammate despite his own misfortune. The Mexican had supported him as best as he could throughout the race and he was pleased that he’d managed to get his first win for Red Bull.

“And Hamilton?”

“He finished 15th. They restarted the race after your crash and he locked up and went straight . His brakes were smoking like crazy. Sergio had a great start and was able to hold off everyone else. The podium was him, Vettel and Gasly”

“That’s amazing. Thank you for checking on me. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course. I can see why my dad likes you Max.”

“Oh yeah?” He asked, interested

“Yeah” she smiled mysteriously, glad to see that he’d cheered up slightly. “I should probably go, dad’s probably wondering where I am. You can always come and find me if you need me though. Actually…” she paused, rummaging through her bag before pulling out a scrap of paper and a pen. She scribbled on it and handed it to him. “My number if you ever want to talk.”

“Thanks” he said watching her smile before she left. Max grabbed his phone from his bag, typing in her number and a message, feeling better than when he’d first come here and with that he decided that he’d better go and congratulate Checo and thank him for trying to help.

That was Baku. It was now the French Grand Prix

He’d tried to banish any thought of the previous race weekend from his mind. He knew it wasn’t good to be hung up on the past especially when he was in a tough battle for the title with a seven time world champion.

He’d managed to mostly brush away thoughts about the race itself but the one thing that lingered in his mind was Y/N. He remembered how she’d comforted him, gently reassuring him that he was not to blame and that he’d be back stronger. He remembered how her warm body had felt encased in his arms after she’d impulsively hugged him. He remembered the whiff of floral perfume that he’d smelt as he breathed in, it was light and subtle but he noticed it. He wished that they could have stayed like that forever, a thought that tinged his pale skin red. What was wrong with him?

They’d been texting a lot for the two weeks in between Baku and France and he found himself quietly hoping that something would come of this.

Y/N had been right, he thought, as he stood on the top step of the podium. He’d come back stronger in France, effectively using a two stop pit strategy to gain the tyre advantage over Lewis. On the penultimate lap he got past his championship rival on faster tyres and the victory had been his. He saw her as he stood on the podium. She was in the crowd with Christian and Geri, beaming up at him as if to say “I knew you could do it”. The whole Red Bull team were going crazy but all he saw was her and that’s when he knew he was in trouble. He’d known her for a month now but he felt a connection with her. He was a little ashamed at how easily she’d charmed him but deep down he knew he didn’t care all that much.

Following the usual champagne celebration, he climbed down from the podium and went straight to his team. He accepted their congratulations with a smile and his eyes fell on her.

“Well done Max” she told him with a bright smile. She knew he could do it

He smiled in reply, desperately trying to hide his blush particularly as Christian was looking right at them. “Thank you, Y/N” he said, clearing his throat so that his voice came out normally.

He made an exit and headed back to his hotel briefly before deciding that he felt like doing something this evening. Nothing too taxing as he was tired but just something chilled and fun. He texted Y/N asking if she wanted to join him for a few games of bowling and a meal which she accepted. He smiled at her reply, looking forward to it.

He quickly dressed, nothing too fancy just a casual shirt and some jeans but he made sure that his hair lay smoothly and wasn’t sticking out like it did after a race. He spritzed some cologne and headed for the lobby of the hotel where he had agreed to meet Y/N.

He was unprepared for the beauty that awaited him when she stepped out of the lift. She too was casual in a blouse and jeans but she still looked effortlessly beautiful. Her smile shone brightly as she saw him and approached and Max couldn’t help but smile back. It was infectious.

“Hey” she said grinning

“Hey, shall we go?” He asked

She nodded and they set off to his car as he of course had offered to drive. He loved to drive even in a normal road car and he was planning to try and impress her with his speed. He realised he would be showing off but he couldn’t help it.

She loved it however, laughing as he accelerated through southern France. “Are you trying to impress me Max?” She asked teasingly

He blushed, embarrassed that she’d figured out his plan and tried to think of a reply but he couldn’t so he just laughed brushing it off as best as he could.

They arrived at the bowling alley as they’d decided it was best to do this first. They got the bowling shoes and chose an alley, sorting everything out.

She turned to him “I love bowling. Hope you’re prepared for a challenge Max. I won’t go easy on you” she smirked

“Y/N I’m so good at bowling, you need to watch out. This will be my crown”

“Oh it’s on Verstappen. We will see about that”

Their competitive nature had come out in full force and they were both teasing and trash talking each other, trying to put the other off. They were having a lot of fun along the way of course, laughing and joking when the other missed the pins or didn’t knock down many and then gloating when they got a strike.

It had come down to the wire in their final game before they’d leave and have dinner. They were level on points so everything counted. Max bowled first, knocking down a respectable 7 pins. He then bowled a further two pins, narrowly missing the final pin, which he wasn’t pleased about. He tried again on his final throw but still missed. He heard her giggle, which ordinarily he would like but competitive Max was complaining that he might lose. Now he was focused on distracting Y/N so that he could win. He tried everything but no such luck. She bowled a perfect strike and had already won and her next two bowls also went well. She’d won.

She turned to him grinning “Well what can I say?” She teased “I told you I wouldn’t go easy on you”

He rolled his eyes as the competitive side of him simmered down. “I’ll beat you next time”

“Next time?”

“I have to get my revenge don’t I?” He winked

She laughed “I guess another win for me couldn’t hurt.” She’d enjoyed the evening so far and was looking forward to the meal.

They found a small, cosy looking restaurant and decided to enter sitting in the corner inconspicuously. They spent the rest of the night teasing each other about the bowling but also talking about other things like their childhoods and experiences, becoming even closer.

When they’d finished their meal and closing time was upon them they left thanking the staff for the nice food. In similar fashion to their arrival, Max sped home, enjoying her excitement at the fast pace. He pulled up to the hotel and walked her to her room, feeling sad that their night had to end.

She smiled at him, opening the door. “I had a lot of fun tonight Max. I’d love to do it again if you have some time free. Congratulations on the win again, I knew you’d bounce back after Baku. I believed in you”

He was touched, it meant a lot to hear that she believed in him and had faith in him. “Thank you, I had a great time. Can’t wait for next week in Austria. Text me in the meantime?”

“Of course I will. It’s our track next week, I’m sure you’ll smash it” her eyes were sincere

He flushed shyly “Thanks Y/N. I’d better go anyway. Sleep well” he went to leave but she grabbed his hand to pull him back.

She pressed a kiss to his cheek, her soft lips warm against his pale skin “Night Max, see you soon”

“Yeah see you” he said slightly in a trance. He waited until she shut the door before he pressed his hand to his cheek that was still tingling. Jesus Max, he chided himself, you’re acting like a lovesick idiot. He probably looked so strange to outsiders, standing with his hand to his red cheeks with a small smile gently tugging at the corners of his lips. He shook his head and headed back to his room, knowing he had to wake up early to return home tomorrow. He couldn’t help but feel slightly sad about that but he cheered himself up knowing that he would see her again in a week and then see her the week after that. He couldn’t wait. The realisation was hitting him more and more every time he saw her. He, Max Verstappen, had a large crush on Y/N Horner. The driver and the boss’ daughter. He hoped it would end better than it sounded.

[maranello]

2 part question

Part1: I think it’s pretty obvious that Charles is completely devoted to Ferrari but in another universe, what team do you ever imagine him moving too?

Part 2: with Redbull and even McLaren becoming clearly very dominant do you think that Ferrari will be able to compete? I want Charles to win sooooo badly but at the rate Ferrari is going I’m worried he’s blinded by his devotion to them and will forgo winning races and the championship with another team who are more likely to win just to stick with Ferrari. How long will he stick with them and keep losing before he hits a point where he doesn’t want to do it anymore? I don’t want him to be a midfield driver, it would just be such a waste and he deserves so much more.

Part 1: Terrible question to answer, really, for someone just as devoted to Ferrari as Charles is. 

Realistically, any top team would have to consider him. It’s just tricky when they all have their chosen ones in the same generation, and I don’t think any teams have a good time dealing with two No. 1 drivers at the same time, nor do I personally want Charles to be in a situation where he can be at a disadvantage. (I also don’t think he’d enjoy not having that kind of confidence from the team and vice versa either.) 

However, if you’re putting a gun to my head, I would say Mercedes > Red Bull > McLaren. Just based on personal preference. Especially since McLaren is Ferrari’s age-old nemesis - I would hate to see him go there. (And I think the orange is not a good look for him.) Plus I would say out of these teams, Mercedes actually gets on best with Ferrari (Have you seen Toto with Maurizio Arrivabene? Have you seen how Merc admin Tweets about Ferrari? Would you come into my garage with a sledgehammer to help me with a stuck wheel nut? Merc x Ferrari propaganda xo). And also just, I think Charles would get on a lot better with Lewis as a teammate compared to, say, Max in Red Bull perhaps. Lore from 2020 or something I think said Charles would welcome Lewis as a Ferrari teammate if it came down to it. They already have a decent relationship, we saw that consistently since Bahrain 2019, they even play Call of Duty and Euro Truck simulator together in the year of our lord 2021.

Part 2: I’d hesitate to say that McLaren is becoming “dominant” after a few races. I believe that their car is simply very strong overall and very consistent with a good Mercedes engine. I won’t deny that it’s probably a better car than the Ferrari of this year (which, lest we forget, is still largely based on the shitbox of last year). While Red Bull does seem to be doing better than Mercedes in the past few races, I wouldn’t write Mercedes off or put them behind McLaren by any means. More importantly, it’s hard to say what teams will be “dominant” after the new regulations hit in 2022. So there’s that! 

In the long run, I doubt fighting for P3 in Constructors’ or just beating the McLaren drivers’ in the Drivers’ Championship this year really matters to Charles or Ferrari, for that matter. They want race wins and championships. Ferrari is probably aware that they have a great talent and know that if they don’t turn it around soon, they do risk losing him. (And also the masses of tifosi and Italian media who are in love with him.) I think they know that they have been less of a prestigious team in F1/a national pride than they have been a national embarrassment since 2020. So, I have a weird negative-energy faith in Ferrari to do everything they can to give Charles a championship-winning car because, by God, if they can’t do it with Charles, I wouldn’t believe they could do it with someone else. It’s not only just humiliating, but it is also terrible for the brand. If Ferrari’s car doesn’t work out in 2022, then we will see. Charles’ contract with them runs until 2024. 

I think he is aware that career choices are important, but unfortunately, I think it really depends on his internal goals. He said as recent as April 2021 that he already wants to renew his contract with Ferrari. He joked about it in the Ferrari video a week ago during the Styrian Grand Prix. I think he is a stubborn person who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. If his goal is to win a championship with Ferrari specifically, then I think he would have to be dragged out of there kicking and screaming. Or like, if Ferrari can’t get it together after two regulation changes, then I would think it’s impossible for him to not see that it’s not working out. 

We can’t really tell the future because people change and circumstances change, and this is quite a few years we’re looking at. The 2022 stint will be really important for Ferrari if they want to keep him. I would (hopefully) give it a maximum of two regulation changes, given that his goal to win with Ferrari specifically doesn’t change throughout the next five years. I think earliest, it would be if the 2022 car turns out to be shit and he suffers another year or two of having a bad car, he may decide that his drive to win races and championship is stronger than his wish to win them with Ferrari. 

For now, we should take a page out of his own book and be patient. 💜

[gryfon-spanish-werewolf]

Uuh dunno if you would like this prompt : Anna and Elsa as a mythical creatures.

Would love too see what you will write them as ^^

@like-redhead-probably I sat thinking about this ask for a long time, because while I IMMEDIATELY thought of one for Elsa, Anna’s absolutely eluded me. And I know you were probably looking for a story, but I am unable to stop myself from first EXPLAINING my choices xD

I was already thinking about the myth of the Hulder (or huldra if we’re speaking of the creature in general instead of the specific Norwegian myth) for other story-related reasons, and as I did more research, I felt like the Hulder REALLY shared similarities with Elsa.

Generally speaking the huldra is a Scandinavian myth of a pale skinned, blonde or brown haired, attractive young woman who lives in the wilderness, often luring men away with song or dance to be killed or misled, stuck wandering forever. Sometimes she’s connected strongly to water, and instead of making men lost, she drowns them. Sometimes she is described as similar to an elf or fey-like creature, with characteristics related to other Huldufolk (we’ll get to them later) such as living in a parallel world, or a world Underground, and therefore preferring caves or appearing and disappearing suddenly. Sometimes she is depicted as having a hollow back, or a cow’s tail, which she hides out of embarrassment or to conceal her true identity. Which… how cute is that?

Before the 11th century, the myths were focussed more around the Huldufolk, which literally means “Hidden Folk”. There are lots of stories as to why and how the Huldufolk came to exist, but for the purpose of Elsa I think it most appropriate to look at the Christianization of the myths. Why?:

Frozen and Frozen 2 are modern movies made by an American company and Christianity is nigh untanglable with American culture, they take place in ~1840s Norway, F1 has a dedicated place of Christian congregation depicted in said movie, an official royal crowning overseen by a Christian faith leader, and the adaptation of Frozen generally comes from author Hans Christian Anderson and therefore should take his life and society into account, etc.

The Christianized myth says that one day Eve was washing her children (presumably after Cain, Abel, and Seth) in the river, when she heard God approaching. Ashamed that He would see her kids unclean, she hid the half she wasn’t done bathing, and when God asked, “Where are the other children?” Eve claimed that she had all of them present, indicating the clean ones. This gave God pause, but in the end He said, “Then let all that is Hidden, remain Hidden.” The children that Eve lied about became the Huldufolk, unable to live among humans. These people would eventually become characterized as dwarves, elves, fairies, etc., as time and interpretations rolled on, the huldra being just one of many mythical “species”.

So. Who is Elsa? She’s a:

fictional, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned young woman who led thousands of men wlw to wander helplessly into the dark caves and wildlands of social media with a power ballad and a jaw-dropping transformation sequence

Okay I’m joking… mostly…

In fact my interest in choosing the Hulder for Elsa lies purely outside of any romantic or sexual appeal, especially since Elsa as a character exhibits next to 0 romantic or sexual interest across two whole movies and an additional two shorts. Indeed, there’s a reason people headcanon her as either asexual, aromantic, or both! No, the reasons I chose the Hulder are:

Elsa’s name

Her upbringing

Her duty as queen, and

Her general behavior, specifically in regards to Frozen 1, as Frozen 2 Elsa is, at times, an almost completely different character

Elsa’s name was chosen very specifically by the filmmakers because it means “God is my Oath”. Oaths are binding, heavy, and invoke the maker’s or subject’s actions and personhood in the future. In Elsa’s case specifically, it invokes divine witness: perfect for a queen, someone born to rule. A promise to be fair, to uphold, to protect, to lead, to be a dignified and honorable face for the country. And Elsa was so ready to be that… except for the powers of course. Or at least, when they became something other than a magical gift of wonder and joy. When they became dangerous. Then there comes another oath, spoken to powerful creatures of magic, the Trolls, and born from parental fear: “She can learn to control it.”

Binding, heavy, invoking of Elsa’s future. As she grows, Elsa becomes closed off, quiet, hiding in her own home. She still takes her duties seriously, but now that she has been Other’d, taught to hide herself and her curse, she is just as much shadow as person. To young Anna, Elsa must have been almost ghostlike, disappearing right when Anna thought she’d cornered her, only to reappear sometime later down the hall, out of arm’s reach.

God promised Adam and Eve that their children would inherit the earth, even after leaving the Garden of Eden. Then suddenly that changed, due to Eve’s fear and shame of her unwashed children, and some would now inherit Underground, or somewhere else entirely. The lost children of Eve had become Other’d, needing to hide, disappear, and resort to inhuman tactics just to exist. Maybe they’re jealous, maybe they're just tricksters. But it’s not their fault. And it wasn’t Elsa’s either. Another reason they are similar.

Now, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Hulder, or for Elsa. While the Hulder is generally known for her more chaotic and negative attributes - just like our favorite snow queen, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. There are a few myths that say burning a charcoal fire -instead of a coal or gas one- is most pleasing to the Hulder, that she’ll even watch over it during the night, and wake the sleepers in case something happens. If a traveler leaves supplies behind with a note or offering for the Hulder, they will travel safely. In fact, some people leave caches for her, as though to cater to specific requests. Coming across the Hulder by chance can have a multitude of outcomes, but if an astute observer spots her cow tail and mentions it, she may become shy and run away. Don’t mention the empty back though, that’s almost certain death.

Basically my point is… trade out the word “traveler” for the name “Anna” and we can draw all the similarities we want. Anna did all of those things, in a way. Anna gave Elsa a little gift of their favorite snowman every Christmas. Anna knocked on Elsa’s door and spoke to her, treated her kindly despite the distance between them, literal and metaphorical. It’s not hard to imagine that Anna left little notes around the castle, hoping Elsa would find them, read them, and know that Anna still loved her, still missed her. And, well, hopefully Anna wasn’t setting any fires and falling asleep next to them - but Anna always kept a light on for Elsa, in her heart. And it flickered and wavered sometimes, but it was a strong fire most days. And we know Elsa was always drawn to it, drawn to Anna because she loved her right back. Loved her first, even. And because it was a warmth that pleased Elsa, she tended it, quietly, carefully, warmly. Like putting a blanket over an Anna that had fallen asleep in the painting room, refusing that slice of chocolate cake so Anna could have two desserts, and listening, for hours and hours, days and days, for the sound of Anna’s glorious bonfire-like soul outside her bedroom door. Even when her secret was revealed, Elsa believed that the best way to protect Anna’s life, her flame, was to distance herself, running to a secret, special place all her own - much like the Hulder might run away back to the Underground.

And this last part’s just me, but I’d like to think that if the Hulder was treated kindly, respected, and given dignity, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if someone came across her accidentally. That instead of being instantly drowned, or the Hulder becoming sheepish and attempting to run, it would feel recognized. It could be called by name. And instead of feeling the need to hide it’s Otherness, it could be treated as part of it, and cared for just the same. I don’t even need to be subtle here: Anna called Elsa by Name, really saw her, and reframed her darkness into light. Anna hasn’t fought God yet, but she did walk through hell and back for a sister that everyone else saw as a threat, monster, and sorcerer. A category 9 Other. Too bad for them, Anna’s got a Category 10 heart.

Speaking of. We finally got to Anna.

Anna was difficult to pin down because to me, Anna is so very, very human. That’s what makes her special! Yes, yes, you could throw any mythical creature at Anna and the fun part would be trying to make it work within her personality and characterization BUT since the question was Anna AS a mythical creature, that changes the game! The word ‘creature’ itself tends to conjure something distinctly INhuman. So I…. tried, and cheated maybe a little. Because I picked for Anna the Norse Valkyrie.

Most people know what Valkyries are so this one takes significantly less explaining. Valkyries are women that are warriors, shieldmaidens, and the hands of Odin, and they choose who lives and who dies during battle. Their chosen dead ride with them to Valhalla, while those they choose to live are usually granted honors in life. There are the darker sides of Valkyries that paint them as blood hungry maidens waiting on the sidelines before a war, singing the names of who will die with glee… but generally speaking the version of Valkyries that most people know and admire today are accurate! And thank goodness because attempting to depict Anna the other way would probably give me an ulcer.

Anna, much like the Valkyries, is a woman of valor and strength, who is perceptive, guides others, sees into people’s hearts and reveals their goodness. Valkyries are also warriors of prowess themselves, and Anna in Frozen 2 with that ice sword? We all know she was ready to use that for real. She also exemplifies traits that Valkyries both look for and have! Bravery in the face of danger: hello Marshmallow, Elsa’s own blizzard, Hans’ lethal sword strike, LIVING MOUNTAINS, and a damn collapsing.... dam. She also defends those who cannot do it themselves: saying publicly that, “My sister is not a monster… she was scared, she didn’t mean any of this,” even if that cast suspicion or doubt on herself, and the crown, as a whole. Anna knew and believed in Elsa, despite all the years and heartbreak and anger. Despite the impossible magic that literally just happened before her very eyes. Belief in character, despite appearances. And once they were reunited, Anna made every effort to stay by Elsa’s side because she STILL had that faith in her. Anna’s name means “Grace” or “of Grace”, and damn if she didn’t extend that to the person others found most unworthy, even to Elsa herself. Valkyries see what others don’t, and their decisions are final.

[Deep breath] SO! You asked for Anna and Elsa as mythical creatures. You got… a small academic paper, by social media standards xD. I intend to write a little piece about a Valkyrie who encounters the Hulder on the edges of a battlefield and… realizes she never made a choice about this particular woman. And wonders why she can’t ;). BUT I didn’t wanna leave you hanging any longer. Hope you like my choices!

Oh also, nobody asked, but Kristoff is a werebear. No research required

[ajoblotofjunk]

I was going through my first outline for HFoG and wow that is some wild shit. It was so different! For fun I thought I’d share some of it so you can see where it veered dramatically off course.

The first couple of chapters are the same, the first differences really start in March.

March (Yr 1) - Two weeks later in mid-March is first race - Did you declare the oil?/Of course I did, gods, Jaime, I know what I'm doing. /I saw you studying the regs again.; pit stop argument, etc.; Early pit stop, Jaime thinks they're too slow, is watching the racers pacing him, zooms off a bit too soon and Brienne is FURIOUS with him for putting them in danger, they have a huge fight and it's the first time he backs off a little and apologizes. She says 'if you do it again, I'm done.' I promise I won't. 'There has to be trust, Lannister.' 'Jaime's shorter, you know. You'd save a whole syllable. Could be critical in the pit.' She rolls her eyes. 'Fine. Jaime.'; Brienne in response makes Jaime learn how to stop exactly where he needs to; she stands in front, knowing he'll hit her if she doesn't trust him. I'll be the front jack. He makes a comment and she's like “this is serious, Jaime.” He swallows and nods by her use of his name. “Okay then. Let's practice.” He's still wounded from his team betraying him, he doesn't trust them, but he trusts Brienne. (This is all between the preseason and first race)

(Ed. note:That thing about the syllables shows up in the wedding night sex as my own personal shoutout TO MYSELF because I always loved that line and it never made it into the fic in the end and I’m an enormous dork.)

May (Yr 1) – Bronn places dye in Jaime's gloves so when he shakes hands they're blue (but Jaime laughs, he's the happiest he's been in years, he's driving loose and confident and reckless but he's winning for now); Martyn's payment comes due & almost fucks up Brienne (he's on tire duty, he is slow on the pneumatic during a practice and asks for her help and she comes over and he releases it as she's going for it and it almost breaks her wrist. It's obvious he did it purposefully and the crew swarms him, Bronn goes to get Jaime, who comes back FURIOUS and fires him; Arya joins the crew (Willem cleans up his act)

(Ed. note: I forgot Arya was supposed to join in year one. Hah.)

June has most of what ended up being in July, and July has most of what ended up being in June. Then:

August (Yr 1) – Two weeks in he shows up, middle of a hot, lazy summer; they have a great time; he drives the F1, they grow closer

(Ed. note: No sexytimes at all on Tarth. No sexytimes at all until the second year, which is one of the best changes I made.)

September (Yr 1) – Wins a race, shirt off, spray w/champagne; they kiss first time before crash ('for good luck' he says; realized he felt like he always did at the start of a race day, blood pulsing with the need for action and the roar and vibration of the engine under him); BEFORE he loses his hand, he's about ready to have sex with her on top of the car but he's got his celibacy thing and he's like “after the race”) and then he crashes the next day so their first time takes awhile. (He's glad she didn't know what he was like with two hands, he's worried he couldn't compete with that Jaime.); crash happens at Griffin's Roost end of Sept. (he hit Red before that for talking shit about Brienne; does Vargo Hoat cause the crash (Martyn gave him secret access to the info & the building w/Connington's help - oh snap)); she's watching, he takes the corner too fast and then in the second between watching live and turning to the screen, his car is flipping. She sees his car and her brother's car superimposed on each other, when she'd snuck out to see it at the impound after.

(Ed. note: The original reason they don’t get together in the first year was because Jaime had a celibacy vow during the race season that he kept as sort of a ‘good luck’ thing, which I’m super glad I dropped. Not my finest plot device. 😂)

Oct  (Yr 1)– Brienne convinces Selwyn to start a team and signs Jaime based on Brienne's belief in him; She ends up driving him fast to get that feeling back. But he's a complete disaster, drinks too much and makes a fool of himself, cruel as a defense mechanism, obsessed w/Brienne but doesn't want to bring her down

(Ed. note: This was a period of time where the Arctic Monkeys’ “Do You Wanna Know” was influencing everything I was writing and I wanted him to be very sweaty and wrecked and this is also a thing I’m glad I dropped. Brynn and I actually talked about this a lot - whether Jaime being cruel to her after they’ve started getting together would be a dealbreaker; at one point he was so mean to her she just left for Tarth and that kickstarted him into wanting to get his act together, but a lot changed and so did that, thankfully)

Nov (Yr 1) – Brienne tells him the news after the World Championship when he's super down on himself and that she will be his race engineer and have Bronn as his chief mechanic because she blames herself for not paying attention (which she doesn't reveal until later); and Pod and Arya and most of the crew; she says no December break, you have to work for it. “Why?” he asks. He starts rehab. They start fixing up Selwyn's F1.

(Ed. note: Oh I forgot she surprised him with the news they were starting a racing team for him. Hah. Wow this version was SO DIFFERENT.)

Dec (Yr 1) – She surprises him by bringing in Arthur Dayne to motivate him; they get FIA to agree that he can have a modified steering wheel. Jaime has conversation with Selwyn – you have more money than you  let on. 'I wanted Brienne to have a simple life.' 'Then why did you let her come with me?' 'Because you were the only one who didn't look at her like she was a freak.' Jaime is- OOF.

(Ed. note: I knew I wanted Arthur Dayne to show up, but he was playing a more active mentoring role in this version, and then once I really started getting into Jaime being left hanging alone with the ‘Kingslayer’ stuff, I was pissed at Arthur and realized it wasn’t okay for him to just show up. Heh. Also - that line is actually in the final version of HFoG, so some things do stay!)

Jan (Yr 2) – (they don't have NEARLY as much money as with Lannister Corp – look at this for ideas of how that will play out: https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/tales-former-f1-chief-mechanic-952404/3045945/)

(Ed. Note: I did end up using a TON of the reading and research that I did throughout the story, even in the final version. Races were especially helpful for me to see the wild things that COULD happen - like Brienne coming in to pit with two flat tires. However, the Evenstar team having a much smaller budget never came in to play as much as I thought when I first started. There were some hints of it - their meager ‘cafe’ in the paddock, only having one wing at the end, not having all the extra parts teams normally would, but that article is actually pretty interesting for other ways the really shoestring budget teams have to cope. The LanCo LST was really helpful for me to get around the reality that having a car that can compete at the top level requires an absurd amount of money.)

Feb (Yr 2) - Oberyn Martell had won instead, his first championship ever, and he had not seemed happy when he took the trophy. Brienne had been touched when he'd dedicated it to Aerys and he'd had the trophy sent to Aerys' family; Rumor hinted they'd melted it down and sent that to Jaime Lannister with a note calling him 'Kingslayer,' but it seemed so medieval and cruel Brienne couldn't believe it.

(Ed. Note: Oh geeze I totally forgot about this subplot! There was a whole thing where the Targaryen’s HAD done that and Jaime held onto the trophy as sort of a self-flagellation and then he ends up throwing it away before he proposes to Brienne. Hah.)

Mar (Yr 2) – how he loses one race: https://www.dw.com/en/f1-sebastian-vettel-loses-his-cool-as-lewis-hamilton-wins-canadian-grand-prix/a-49120669

Apr (Yr 2) – he gets really frustrated and shoves all the tools off the table; “I'm not cleaning that up,” she said and walked out on him.

(Ed. note: Honestly a little sad I never kept this scene in some form. It could have been good.)

Jul (Yr 2) - (He puts the old-school lollipop sign in her hand. You tell me when you're ready.)

(Ed. note: this would have been ~symbolic~ because the lollipop signs were what the pit crew used to use to stop a driver in the pit lane and then released him back on the track, but it would have taken too much to explain and it never felt worth it.)

Aug (Yr 2) – She says he needs the rest; he wants to be with her; they have sex; she admits she's been reluctant she didn't want to curse him and he thought she just wasn't interested though he adored her. He says “you're the best luck I ever had.” They finally get together for good.

(Ed. note: I held onto that “best luck I ever had” line for far, far longer than it deserved. I mean it almost showed up in the actual proposal scene and luck had ceased to be a thematic thing between them.)

Oct (Yr 2) – He shows her the interview from their first week – this moment, and he paused right after her story, when he'd stared at her with what she recognized now as adoration; this, he said, is when I first fell in love with you. (That's how he tells her he loves her.); Bronn gets sick, she has to be Chief Mechanic again, she's terrified about Jaime crashing but she works a couple of races and everything is okay. Bronn comes back.

(Ed. note: So - this was going to be Brienne’s big emotional subplot in addition to the relationship. Her being Chief Mechanic again after she was his mechanic during his crash. That was why I ended up changing everything, because it wasn’t enough.)

Nov (Yr 2) – he wins the World Championship; they get fastest pit time record; they find each other in the crowd, Jaime pushing through the media scrum and other racers and everyone and he sees her tall and blonde and tears in her eyes and they find each other and hug and kiss and he doesn't care.

(Ed. note: He had been the more reticent one which was absurd. So many good changes from this version.)

January (again) - He retires to work with her and Selwyn on Tarth; they start a racing school with a focus on underprivileged and disabled kids, as well as girls; Brienne keeps getting calls to be a mechanic for another team (will she?? No, she loves being home mentoring girls interested in being mechanics)

(Ed. note: The karting school was there from the beginning!! But again I didn’t really understand Brienne in this initial outline, and I’m so glad I spent the time thinking more about her and what she wanted. I think the balance between them really worked to give the story so much more depth.)

[risarufen1984-blog]

It appears the Najdorf is the only sound way for black to meet the open Sicilian. It one of the most fantastically complex openings, and you have to be ready for a fight. One option that frustrates many white players is an early e5, kicking the d4 knight. And therefore, I inspecting it. You know I inspecting it. I want to make sure everything is good, Trump told Stern at the time. The producer and director get together with the casting director and audition actors for all of the scripted roles. These taped auditions usually last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes each. If it is an ensemble cast, they generally try to audition in groups to see if the actors have chemistry. "The command was one that exposed me to the temptation of disobeying it, as it seemed to me impossible to endure life for so many days separated from Luscinda, especially after leaving her in the sorrowful mood I have described to you; nevertheless as a dutiful servant I obeyed, though I felt it would be at the cost of my well being. But four days later there came a man in quest of me with a letter which he gave me, and which by the address I perceived to be from Luscinda, as the writing was hers. I opened it with fear and trepidation, persuaded that it must be something serious that had impelled her to write to me when at a distance, as she seldom did so when I was near. It might be news to you that pomegranate is superb for muscular strength. However, you might still be aware of the health benefits of the wonderful superfruit that is the pomegranate. Pomegranate is rich in nutrients and comes with various health benefits. You even spoke to me, one of the so called neighbours who has no idea who The Watcher could be. Or maybe you do know and are too scared to tell anyone. Good move. She's a Korean celebrity/makeup artist! I like most her tutorials but I usually prefer her GRWM and Globe trotter series or Instagram tutorials more than her sponsored videos as she goes in depth to what she does with her makeup. She mostly focuses on tutorials so you should go for what interests you! Her Coachella makeup and Osaka GRWM tutorials are a few of my favorites. She doesn't stick to the same products or review new releases as she explains more on technical stuff that will be useful for people. I used to be healthy and in pretty good shape. Vegan diet, ran half marathons, etc. Then I got married and let it slip, but maintained pretty well around 160. A more likely route would be a declaration of emergency, probably phrased in the way that some force had invalidated the election. He probably blame the democrats. Anyone who argued with him would be part of the conspiracy. I use a ton of different notebooks and a Macbook. I think its all a process. I outline on paper, then write a full outline on my mac, then go back to paper (notecards) to finalize everything, then write write on my Macbook. It is a burden because it is on your shoulders from the 성주출장마사지 time you are sexually active until the time you hit menopause. Is it a distinctly different burden? Of course. But someone difficulty with infertility does not make another struggle with fertility invalid.. I 성주출장마사지 literally do not watch TV outwith F1. All my other viewing is racing series which I keep up with online. It the fact that you have to fork out for "packages" which are just a way of charging you for a fuckload of content you don want or need.The price of food is going up all the time, heating, fuel, electricity etc.

[tech-specialist98]

Poco X3 Pro review: More power to you

📷

📷📷 Poco X3Poco hasn’t been around for long and yet very quickly this Xiaomi spinoff brand has built a reputation for itself launching multiple products with “world’s first or India’s first” technologies. Starting off with the illustrious Poco F1, it went on to launch the Poco X2 (first phone under 20k with 120Hz refresh rate display) and Poco X3 (first phone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G system-on-chip). The freshly minted Poco X3 Pro, likewise, is the first phone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC. More than the chip itself, it is the price of the phone that is grabbing headlines. It starts at just Rs 18,999 (6GB/128GB).Then again, if you know a thing or two about Poco, this is business as usual.Unlike the Poco F1 or Poco X2 or even the Poco X3, the Poco X3 Pro isn’t technically a new product so to say. As the name suggests, it’s a turbo-charged Poco X3. If the Poco X3 was a race car, the Poco X3 Pro with its more powerful hardware should be a rocket ship. That’s expected. But that’s not all that you probably expect from a phone launching in 2021, even if its costs so low. You also expect a little bit of polish and a little bit of promise of futureproofing to go along.High performance, delivered Like the phone itself, the chip inside it is also not completely brand new. The Snapdragon 860 is a Snapdragon 855 from 2019 with a slightly overclocked CPU. Think of it as a refurbished Snapdragon 855 Plus. Considering how fast Qualcomm keeps refreshing its portfolio these days, some might take that refurbished badge with a pinch of salt. Some might call it dated. But when you put a chip like that inside a budget phone like the Poco X3 Pro, all your preconceived notions are instantly blown away. Suddenly, things start to make a lot of sense.Make no mistake, this is the most powerful phone under 20k in the Indian market today. Period. As if it wasn’t already enough, the Poco X3 Pro also comes with UFS 3.1 storage, another first for any phone in this price range.The Poco X3 Pro story essentially revolves around this hardware combo. It is perhaps the only Poco phone worthy of being called a “spiritual” successor to the Poco F1, perfectly aligning with its “everything you need, nothing you don’t” formula which is probably why the brand is going all out on marketing it that way. For good reason. Next to the Poco X3, the Poco X3 Pro is a whole new beast. Like I said, it’s a rocket ship.And it performs like one, for the most part. There are two parts to this story.This is the only phone under 20k that can play a graphically intensive game like Genshin Impact (at medium setting) or Call of Duty: Mobile (all maxed out) effortlessly, which is to say that your experience would be very, very satisfying. The Adreno 640 GPU holds up well. Though it throttles from time to time, this phone latches on and gives you a steady 60fps in many supporting games. Something like this was not possible before. It opens new opportunities, the Poco X3 Pro, for those looking to get some sort of headstart into the world of competitive gaming without breaking their bank. But it is not perfect. The Snapdragon 860, like the Snapdragon 870, and even the Snapdragon 888, is prone to heating, sometimes alarmingly when stressed. There is a cooling system inside the phone — called Liquid Cool Plus — but it seems lifted as is from the Poco X3, a phone that came with a far less powerful chip in comparison. Whatever it is, it can’t hold the beast for long as the Poco X3 Pro gets warm quickly, and near toasty during extended gaming sessions. At this point, it can become uncomfortable to hold.Basic day-to-day tasks are handled well by the phone though. As an everybody phone, this is as slick as it can get at such a low price. Poco gives you an option for up to 8 gigs of LPDDR4X RAM. Storage is capped at 128GB, but the phone supports expansion by up to 1TB. This is via a hybrid slot.Beyond gaming Rest of the Poco X3 Pro is familiar territory. Be it design, display, or battery. Even the cameras. That is not to say there are no changes, but those changes have got more to

do with subtle refinements than anything else. Some choices work, some not so much but you can tell Poco has tried to add a bit of polish to the whole package. The Poco X3 was rough around the edges.This starts with the design itself. The dual tone look is being carried over, which is to say that the Poco X3 Pro — like its predecessor — is also unapologetically bold and flashy. There is a new bronze colourway if you’re into that sort of thing. The pill-shaped massive camera module stays put too. So does the recessed side-mounted fingerprint reader which is, expectedly, fast and responsive. The only change here is the slightly tweaked Poco branding that’s more “3D” than before, but still difficult to unsee — and in my case, difficult to get along with.One of the big concerns with the Poco X3 was its heft. It was big and bulky. A part of this was because of its huge 6,000mAh battery. Poco has tried to address those concerns by reducing capacity — the Poco X3 Pro has a smaller 5,160mAh battery — but the results are nothing to write home about. The Poco X3 Pro is still an all-plastic phone that’s almost 215 gram in weight and nearly 9.5mm in thickness. Not to mention, that watered-down battery means the Poco X3 Pro can’t last as long as the Poco X3 (battery life on average is good though). It’s one of those rare instances where Poco has backed itself into a corner.It’s barely touched that screen though aside from bumping up the protection which is Corning Gorilla Glass 6 now. The Poco X3 Pro has the same 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with 1080p resolution and dynamic 120Hz refresh rate (240Hz touch sampling) as the Poco X3. It works in the same way also which means it is good but not best in class. The panel does not get very bright, colours appear muted and viewing angles could be better. The phone can’t play HDR10 content off streaming services like Netflix despite support. Ghosting or random stutters are common across some UI elements from time to time or when you are browsing through a page that involves diverse elements like text, images/GIFs, or videos. Next to a phone like the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, or Note 10 Pro, the Poco X3 Pro looks seriously underpowered in this regardThese Redmi phones also give the Poco X3 Pro’s cameras a run for their money. The Poco X3, even though it was a performance-oriented slash gaming phone, had a competitive camera setup. For some curious reason, its “Pro” version takes several steps back. It has a 48MP main (this was 64MP in the X3), 8MP ultra-wide-angle (13MP in X3) and two 2MP cameras, one for depth and another for macros. Output is just about serviceable.You can take good-enough shots with the primary camera (Sony IMX582 sensor) when lots of light is available, but the level of detail and dynamic range could be better. Colours are mostly true to source, which is nice. The ultra-wide camera lacks colour parity with the main camera, but it does a decent job offering a wider perspective when lighting is ideal. Details are still amiss in these photos, but it is what it is. Portraits shot with the Poco X3 Pro come out nice with good subject separation and creamy background blur. The macro shooter is a hit or miss affair. Low light photos (even with night mode which is also available on the ultra-wide) are disappointing, in part due to the aggressive noise reduction algorithm. Video recording tops out at 4K@30fps. The 20MP front camera is same as the one on the Poco X3. It takes decent selfies when lighting is good with occasional smoothening even when beautification is manually set to off.Software has always been Poco’s dark horse and while that’s largely true about the Poco X3 Pro as well, MIUI for Poco is clearly showing signs of ageing, already. It does not show any pesky ads like its other Redmi siblings which is well articulated and appreciated, but Poco needs to do more than that to justify its existence as an independent brand now. MIUI for Poco needs to be more than just MIUI with a Poco launcher to differentiate itself. With Xiaomi borrowing many of its features including the

hallowed app drawer and Google feed on the minus one screen, MIUI for Poco doesn’t really stand out anymore. If anything, it has become buggier by the day. The amount of bloat or unwanted apps has gone up. But the biggest problem is the lack of clarity on future updates. My review unit is running MIUI 12.0.5 (with the April security patch) when an even cheaper Redmi phone like the Redmi Note 10S has been updated to MIUI 12.5.4.An ode to a classic I write this review as I install Battlegrounds Mobile India Beta on this phone, and I can’t help but think how far Poco has come. How the Poco F1 turned the industry literally upside down. That phone was far from perfect. It had a wonky design and terrible cameras. The thing couldn’t even stream Netflix in high definition initially. And yet, here we are, three years later, still asking Poco to launch a successor. Not a lot of phones have commanded so much respect and adulation from fans and critics alike. It was truly one of its kind, the Poco F1, and I think it’s befitting it stays that way. Some things are just not meant to be replacedBut you can always have a product or two that could take you back in time. Something like the Poco X3 Pro. It is the only phone that has been able to recreate some of that lost Poco F1 magic for me.There are phones with better design, more colourful display, significantly better cameras, and longer battery life under 20k, but none of them can play Battlegrounds Mobile India Beta the way it is meant to be played like the Poco X3 Pro. If that is what you are looking for, the Poco X3 Pro comes highly recommended.But here’s the thing, nostalgia and power will take Poco only so far. Considering how a lot of people are still holding on to their Poco F1s, it would have been nice had Poco offered a 5G option (it’s possible since the Snapdragon 860 is compatible with an external X50 5G modem) even if it came at a cost.Pros: Most powerful phone under 20k, 120Hz display, Loud dual speakers, IP53 rating, Good battery lifeCons: Big and bulky, Cameras could be better, Slow Android update rollout

[droneseco]

Logitech G915 TKL Keyboard Review: High Quality at a High Price

Logitech G915 TKL

9.50 / 10

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Without a doubt, the Logitech G915 TKL is an excellent keyboard. I've been using it every day for the past three months and I have no regrets. It's responsive, has all the features I want from a keyboard, and looks great with an impressive build quality. If the technical specifications and aesthetics of the G915 TKL appeal to you, and you're willing to pay the asking price, you won't be disappointed.

Key Features

Tenkeyless and mechanical

Tactile switches

Wireless

Specifications

Brand: Logitech

Wireless: Lightspeed / Bluetooth

Backlight: RGB

Media Controls: Yes

Battery: 40 hours (100% brightness), 1,080 hours (0% brightness)

Num Pad: No

Switch Type: Tactile

Replaceable Keys: Yes

Pros

Satisfying and smooth typing experience

Quiet, considering it's a mechanical keyboard

Sleek and stylish low-profile design

Vibrant and very customizable RGB lighting

Decent battery life, especially with RGB off

Switches between two devices easily

Cons

Very expensive

Only the function keys can be programmed for macros

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There's no doubt about it: the Logitech G915 TKL is a premium mechanical keyboard.

It looks stylish, with a compact design, brushed metal finish, and flashy RGB lights. It's wireless, with a reasonably portable weight and decent battery life. It also has nifty additional features like media keys and the ability to connect to multiple devices.

All of that helps make a good keyboard, but none of that matters if the typing experience is terrible. Happily, the Logitech G915 TKL is the best typing experience I've had. The low-profile tactile keys are a joy to use, offering satisfying force feedback without being too loud.

Here's the kicker though... it costs $230. Is it really worth spending that much on a keyboard?

Sleek, Compact, and White

While the Logitech G915 TKL does come in black, I've grown tired of all my computer peripherals sucking the light out of a room. While the black variant released first in June 2020, I waited patiently for the white. I'm glad I did.

With a brushed metal finish giving a premium, professional look and feel, the keyboard stands out on the desk. That aluminum alloy top is against a steel-reinforced base, so it feels like kit that's built to last. The underside of the keyboard is plastic, but it doesn't detract from the look—plus you're not looking there anyway.

Other reviews have noted that it's hard to see the keys on the black version in a dark room with the RGB off; that's not a problem here, since the dark letters pop against the white key caps.

There is one downside to the white: it'll show dust and dirt very easily and quickly. Obviously it depends on your environment, but I've found myself needing to dust the keyboard every week or so just to keep it looking spick and span.

The key caps are coated with material designed to minimize fingerprints and it's effective. After a long, intense gaming session there is some smudging where your fingers have been resting for hours, but you really have to look for it and it's easy to clean.

The TKL in the name denotes tenkeyless, meaning it lacks the right-hand number pad you might be used to. Frankly, unless you do lots of numerical data entry, you're unlikely to miss it. The lack of a number pad makes the keyboard compact (368 x 150 x 22 mm), though not cramped, which means you can bring your mouse closer for a more comfortable posture.

There's also no wrist rest. Having only ever used keyboards with one, I thought this would be troublesome. In fact, because the keyboard has such a low profile (it can either lay flat, or slightly raised to two settings via underside feet), there's no wrist strain and the lack of wrist rest was instantly forgotten.

Onboard Profiles, Media Buttons, and Volume Scroll

Since this is a TKL keyboard, that means there's not much space for dedicated programmable keys. However, Logitech's G Hub software does let you assign whatever you want to the function keys, including macros and game-specific actions.

It's a bit curious that you can't program every single key and that's presumably a limitation of the software rather than the hardware. It's something that Logitech would be wise to support, since more customization is no bad thing.

You can store three different profiles within the keyboard, which you can switch between on the fly with F1, F2, and F3. It works well, though I've not found much personal use for it.

At the top of the keyboard are dedicated buttons for things like changing brightness, entering game mode (to disable specific keys when gaming), along with media controls.

There's also a button for switching between the wireless USB dongle connection (which Logitech brands as Lightspeed) and Bluetooth, which means that you can use this keyboard on two devices at once. The switching is instantaneous, so power users should find no interruption to their workflow.

A minor complaint is that these buttons are slightly soft and don't feel that nice to press. They can be pushed easily from any angle, which is handy, but it does mean that they require some force to fully push in, resulting in an unsatisfactory wobble.

On the other hand, the volume slider that sits in the top-right of the keyboard is a delight. This textured wheel can be spun endlessly, which is fun in itself, but offers easy and quick refined volume control.

A Satisfying, Tactile Typing Experience

The Logitech G915 TKL comes in different key switch models, but I went for the tactile switches, which are quieter and don't require a full press to register a keystroke.

The tactile switches used here have an actuation distance of 1.5 mm, an actuation force of 50 g, and a total travel distance of 2.7 mm.

Despite being a small keyboard, it doesn't feel cramped. I'm able to type quickly using it, with each key press feeling responsive and pleasing; in part thanks to the smooth feel and slight curve of the keys.

Considering this is a mechanical keyboard, which are generally notorious for their noise, the G915 TKL is relatively quiet to type on. The tactile switches themselves are pretty inaudible, but if you type forcefully and quickly you will notice the volume.

I've never suffered from keystrokes not being registered, which is vital when typing and gaming. You won't even notice when the keyboard goes into rest mode, bar the green light of the battery light indicator showing briefly, since it wakes up and responds instantly the moment you press a key.

Simply put, typing on this keyboard is a joy. It's not only responsive, but it's also physically enjoyable thanks to the premium feedback of the tactile switches.

Light It Up With RGB

Of course, this wouldn't be a modern keyboard without RGB. I'm still not entirely sold on the concept, since I don't spend much time looking down at my keyboard, but there's no denying that it looks fantastic.

Within the G Hub software you have a whole host of different color and animation options. You can choose from presets like "breathing" that pulsates color, "echo press" that changes the color of keys as you press them, or "audio visualizer" that responds to your music.

If you don't like any of these, you can go ahead and build your own lighting options, customizing the colors (Logitech claims to have 16.8 million colors available), animations, speed, and so on. Chances are you can achieve all your RGB ambitions here.

You can even apply pre-configured profiles for specific games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Rocket League.

The colors are wonderfully bright and vibrant, even in a well-lit room. They pop especially well against the white key caps.

Reasonable Battery Life

This is a wireless keyboard, which means that battery life is important. You don't want the keyboard dying on you in the middle of a game.

If you keep the RGB on at full brightness, the Logitech G915 TKL will last around 40 hours. You can reduce the brightness to make the battery last longer, or turn the RGB off entirely.

As someone who writes for a living, and who owns a wireless keyboard to not have wires on my desk, 40 hours battery life will barely see me through the week. A bit more juice would have been appreciated.

You can conserve battery life in G Hub, where you can set inactivity lighting settings, like dimming the brightness after a minute. You can also choose various low battery warnings when it drops below 15% charge, like having the keys breathe red.

With no lights at all, the keyboard will last around 1,080 hours (that's 135 days of 8 hours use), which is much more reasonable. Losing the RGB is a shame, but you might consider it worthwhile to benefit from far superior battery life.

That said, the keyboard does charge quickly, from zero to full in under three hours. If you're a heavy computer user who wants all the lights, know that you will have to charge often. Just remember to plug it in overnight every week or so and you'll be fine.

Worth the Asking Price?

Without a doubt, the Logitech G915 TKL is an excellent keyboard. I've been using it every day for the past three months and I have no regrets. It's responsive, has all the features I want from a keyboard, and looks great with an impressive build quality.

Time to go out and buy one, right? Maybe. When it comes with a $230 price tag, this keyboard really needs to be perfect for you to justify that sort of expenditure. For me, it's everything I want from a keyboard.

However, if you value customizable keys and macros, the G915 TKL is let down by Logitech's inadequate G Hub software. Equally, if a wrist pad is important for you, it's a non-starter. Besides, there are cheaper alternatives that will give you those things.

But if the technical specifications and aesthetics of the G915 TKL appeal to you, and you're willing to pay the asking price, you won't be disappointed. This is a fantastic keyboard that I hope to use for years to come.

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