#pre-k media | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

i-am-confused-always · 9 months ago

Text

those tags r so important

honestly preach.

i watched My Neighbor Totoro for the first time, here's my chronological viewing experience:

woo-hoo! dusty old japanese house with japanese architectural details aplenty

these kids got some ENERGY my goodness

family dynamic's adorable. peak quality dad humor

kids: our house is haunted. parents: that's so cool!

hell yeah, wrinkled old lady rep. we need more friendly old women with potato faces and warts like storybook witches. the backbone of society, these ladies

Plot Summary: Small Child Bothers Local Wildlife

sacred tree sacred tree sacred tree

Introducing Totoro! nobody said this fucker's got TEETH???

Uh-Oh! Inadequate Parental Supervision Detected

(you misplaced your four year old! you're not supposed to do that)

4-year-old: i met a magic forest spirit. dad: oh shit fr?

4-year-old: *angrily hugs sister* missed u bitch

this small child has a smile like a toad. like a really really cute toad. like the cutest toad in all existence. i love her she's perfection please just let this child be happy

rice paddies are so pretty....so back breaking....rice is such a prissy crop

*my crush is stranded in a rainstorm* takethisumbrellait'syoursnowBYE *runs away in panic im so good at flirting*

Giant Chinchilla Learns To Hold Umbrella, Is Fucking Delighted By Experience

take this, it will help you on your quest! *hands u trail mix wrapped in a leaf*

LO-FI HIP HOP STUDY LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

crouching down to peer at dirt--A++ top notch foundational childhood experience

mom has a big ass forehead

honey! the chinchillas are performing Rituals in the backyard again

help yeah let's jack and the bean stalk this shit

huh so we're all just climbing aboard the giant chinchilla's tiddies now ok

class trip!

the pure adrenaline of Vegetable Gardening

no! the small child is crying! she is bawling her eyes out. no no no. i can't cope with this. emotionally i cannot cope 🥺🥺🥺

i've only had Mei one hour but if anything happens to her i will raze this earth and everyone on it

please someone make this small child smile again

oh no the tall child is crying too

i can't take this. my heart can't take this.

i need a drink

small child running determined to deliver magic veggies to the hospital. this kid is my hero

she is also unsupervised. so, so unsupervised

babe you are FOUR

godDAMMIT ghibli, you cannot give me watercolor sunsets while a small child is missing. u are killing me. my heart is giving out. this is me, experiencing heart failure.

Totoro to the rescue!

no wait CATBUS to the rescue!

i admit i initially thought the cat was a creep. alice in wonderland prejudiced me. i have revised my notions of smiling cats

i've decided the cat is a metaphor for the magic of a robust public transport system

MEI'S OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and so is mom. she's a lovely lady im sorry for what i said about her forehead. it's a noble forehead.

happy ending YES bitch!!!!!!

ok. ok ok ok. that was magical.

(as a first-time adult viewer i was worried i wouldn't be able to Access the Magic. but i could and i did and it was incredible. that was culture. that was ART. joy distilled into animated form. holy rites of childhood. i understand now. how glorious, this world we grow out of. how full of marvels. i'm going outside to smell grass and sun and get dirt under my fingernails. miraculous.)

#my neighbor totoro #totoro has no canonical sex/gender #none of the characters refer to totoro with gendered language #the audience just saw a Character with no gender indicators and went with 'he/him' bc male is assumed to be the default :(#which is extremely dumb! kill the voice in your brain that sees a Creature and goes 'that's a BOY beastie. bc BOY is the default gender'#um NO?#'he's so chonky. he's just chillin. he's vibin.' no stop that's not a HE that is an UNSPECIFIED FROG. that's an otter. that is a MORAY EEL #yes They are chonky. they're chilin. they're vibin. just being a Creature. a lil Beastie blissfully ignorant of human gender nonsense...#i need u to understand they/them is not a neopronoun. its genuine grammatical function includes scenarios where gender is not specified #nothing against neopronouns but sometimes i think yall forget singular 'they' is just...part of everyday speech...kids learn in pre-k #u can just default to They instead of Him! that is a Thing. that is a Common Language Practice that has existed for centuries.#i PROMISE you u can they/them a random dog on social media.#pinky swear.#anyways. Totoro peak it/its representation let's go

12K notes · View notes

salemruinseverything · 1 year ago

Text

killjoys dashboard simulator

0 notes

🎸 destroyasleftasscheek Follow

hey does anyone know what the fuck is up with that dr death defying dude. i swear that guy is either psychic or a spy how the fuck does he report on shit so fast

🪻 kaleidoscopeeyez Follow

he's the reincarnation of cecil palmer

🎸 destroyasleftasscheek Follow

who the fuck is cecil palmer

🎸 destroyasleftasscheek Follow

wgat the fuck is a podcast

53 notes

🪦 generationnothing Follow

does bli seriously have an account on here. girl this is the killjoy website

#delete later

1 note

💉 idrinkbatteryacid Follow

🍭 candycosmos Follow

👾 coloradosunrisedotmp3 Follow

where's my "the fab four are fucking posers" option

🧟 unkillablez Follow

WHERE'S MY OPTION FOR THE FUCKING GIRL. also why am i losing

💉 idrinkbatteryacid Follow

FUN GHOUL?!

#you have a tumblr account???? #what the fuck hi #sorry you're losing man the people are thirsty for the venom sibs #i voted jet idk what they're on about

1.6k notes

👠 nightshadesdefender Follow

i feel like the only two pieces of pre-war media that fully survived to the modern day being yo gabba gabba and homestuck has given us an extremely distorted view of what life was like back then

👠 nightshadesdefender Follow

imagine if they were minimalists

945 notes

💥 themadgearandmissilekid Follow

hey do you guys know anywhere in zone six we can hold a show tomorrow night? vanny's burned down

💊 thisaintaparty Follow

i didn't do it

💥 themadgearandmissilekid Follow

i'm never selling you a single ticket ever again

54 notes

👻 tryingnottothinkabtit Follow

aye can i get uh......... actual fucking food

💫 unnaturaldisaster Follow

power pup?

💫 unnaturaldisaster Follow

you want power pup?

💫 unnaturaldisaster Follow

you want fucking power pup?

👻 tryingnottothinkabtit Follow

ingredience

5.3k notes

🙂 betterlivingindustries Follow

This is the official account of Better Living Industries™.

Have a Better Day!™

💊 thisaintaparty Follow

👻 tryingnottothinkabtit Follow

👠 nightshadesdefender Follow

🍭 candycosmos Follow

🪻 kaleidoscopeeyez Follow

🎸 destroyasleftasscheek Follow

🏳️‍⚧️ truetranssoulrebel Follow

💫 unnaturaldisaster Follow

🐍 goodluck Follow

🪦 generationnothing Follow

🔒 saintofpurgatory Follow

✨ jetstarr Follow

🧟 unkillablez Follow

6.4k notes

⚰️ salemruinseverything Follow

can anyone fucking hear me

#salem's random thoughts #tw unreality #the true lives of the fabulous killjoys #ttlotfk #danger days #dashboard simulator #is this meme dead yet or do i have time

2K notes · View notes

mostlysignssomeportents · 26 days ago

Text

The Brave Little Toaster

Picks and Shovels is a new, standalone technothriller starring Marty Hench, my two-fisted, hard-fighting, tech-scam-busting forensic accountant. You can pre-order it on my latest Kickstarter, which features a brilliant audiobook read by Wil Wheaton.

The AI bubble is the new crypto bubble: you can tell because the same people are behind it, and they're doing the same thing with AI as they did with crypto – trying desperately to find a use case to cram it into, despite the yawning indifference and outright hostility of the users:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/09/autocomplete-worshippers/#the-real-ai-was-the-corporations-that-we-fought-along-the-way

This week on the excellent Trashfuture podcast, the regulars – joined by 404 Media's Jason Koebler – have a hilarious – as in, I was wheezing with laughter! – riff on this year's CES, where companies are demoing home appliances with LLMs built in:

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-hgi6c-179b908

Why would you need a chatbot in your dishwasher? As it turns out, there's a credulous, Poe's-law-grade Forbes article that lays out the (incredibly stupid) case for this (incredibly stupid) idea:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/03/29/generative-ai-is-coming-to-your-home-appliances/

As the Trashfuturians mapped out this new apex of the AI hype cycle, I found myself thinking of a short story I wrote 15 years ago, satirizing the "Internet of Things" hype we were mired in. It's called "The Brave Little Toaster", and it was published in MIT Tech Review's TRSF anthology in 2011:

http://bestsf.net/trsf-the-best-new-science-fiction-technology-review-2011/

The story was meant to poke fun at the preposterous IoT hype of the day, and I recall thinking that creating a world of talking appliance was the height of Philip K Dickist absurdism. Little did I dream that a decade and a half later, the story would be even more relevant, thanks to AI pump-and-dumpers who sweatily jammed chatbots into kitchen appliances.

So I figured I'd republish The Brave Little Toaster; it's been reprinted here and there since (there's a high school English textbook that included it, along with a bunch of pretty fun exercises for students), and I podcasted it back in the day:

https://ia803103.us.archive.org/35/items/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_212/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_212_Brave_Little_Toaster.mp3

A word about the title of this story. It should sound familiar – I nicked it from a brilliant story by Tom Disch that was made into a very weird cartoon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8C_JaT8Lvg

My story is one of several I wrote by stealing the titles of other stories and riffing on them; they were very successful, winning several awards, getting widely translated and reprinted, and so on:

https://locusmag.com/2012/05/cory-doctorow-a-prose-by-any-other-name/

All right, on to the story!

One day, Mister Toussaint came home to find an extra 300 euros' worth of groceries on his doorstep. So he called up Miz Rousseau, the grocer, and said, "Why have you sent me all this food? My fridge is already full of delicious things. I don't need this stuff and besides, I can't pay for it."

But Miz Rousseau told him that he had ordered the food. His refrigerator had sent in the list, and she had the signed order to prove it.

Furious, Mister Toussaint confronted his refrigerator. It was mysteriously empty, even though it had been full that morning. Or rather, it was almost empty: there was a single pouch of energy drink sitting on a shelf in the back. He'd gotten it from an enthusiastically smiling young woman on the metro platform the day before. She'd been giving them to everyone.

"Why did you throw away all my food?" he demanded. The refrigerator hummed smugly at him.

"It was spoiled," it said.

But the food hadn't been spoiled. Mister Toussaint pored over his refrigerator's diagnostics and logfiles, and soon enough, he had the answer. It was the energy beverage, of course.

"Row, row, row your boat," it sang. "Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, I'm offgassing ethelyne." Mister Toussaint sniffed the pouch suspiciously.

"No you're not," he said. The label said that the drink was called LOONY GOONY and it promised ONE TRILLION TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN ESPRESSO!!!!!ONE11! Mister Toussaint began to suspect that the pouch was some kind of stupid Internet of Things prank. He hated those.

He chucked the pouch in the rubbish can and put his new groceries away.

The next day, Mister Toussaint came home and discovered that the overflowing rubbish was still sitting in its little bag under the sink. The can had not cycled it through the trapdoor to the chute that ran to the big collection-point at ground level, 104 storeys below.

"Why haven't you emptied yourself?" he demanded. The trashcan told him that toxic substances had to be manually sorted. "What toxic substances?"

So he took out everything in the bin, one piece at a time. You've probably guessed what the trouble was.

"Excuse me if I'm chattery, I do not mean to nattery, but I'm a mercury battery!" LOONY GOONY's singing voice really got on Mister Toussaint's nerves.

"No you're not," Mister Toussaint said.

Mister Toussaint tried the microwave. Even the cleverest squeezy-pouch couldn't survive a good nuking. But the microwave wouldn't switch on. "I'm no drink and I'm no meal," LOONY GOONY sang. "I'm a ferrous lump of steel!"

The dishwasher wouldn't wash it ("I don't mean to annoy or chafe, but I'm simply not dishwasher safe!"). The toilet wouldn't flush it ("I don't belong in the bog, because down there I'm sure to clog!"). The windows wouldn't retract their safety screen to let it drop, but that wasn't much of a surprise.

"I hate you," Mister Toussaint said to LOONY GOONY, and he stuck it in his coat pocket. He'd throw it out in a trash-can on the way to work.

They arrested Mister Toussaint at the 678th Street station. They were waiting for him on the platform, and they cuffed him just as soon as he stepped off the train. The entire station had been evacuated and the police wore full biohazard containment gear. They'd even shrinkwrapped their machine-guns.

"You'd better wear a breather and you'd better wear a hat, I'm a vial of terrible deadly hazmat," LOONY GOONY sang.

When they released Mister Toussaint the next day, they made him take LOONY GOONY home with him. There were lots more people with LOONY GOONYs to process.

Mister Toussaint paid the rush-rush fee that the storage depot charged to send over his container. They forklifted it out of the giant warehouse under the desert and zipped it straight to the cargo-bay in Mister Toussaint's building. He put on old, stupid clothes and clipped some lights to his glasses and started sorting.

Most of the things in container were stupid. He'd been throwing away stupid stuff all his life, because the smart stuff was just so much easier. But then his grandpa had died and they'd cleaned out his little room at the pensioner's ward and he'd just shoved it all in the container and sent it out the desert.

From time to time, he'd thought of the eight cubic meters of stupidity he'd inherited and sighed a put-upon sigh. He'd loved Grandpa, but he wished the old man had used some of the ample spare time from the tail end of his life to replace his junk with stuff that could more gracefully reintegrate with the materials stream.

How inconsiderate!

The house chattered enthusiastically at the toaster when he plugged it in, but the toaster said nothing back. It couldn't. It was stupid. Its bread-slots were crusted over with carbon residue and it dribbled crumbs from the ill-fitting tray beneath it. It had been designed and built by cavemen who hadn't ever considered the advantages of networked environments.

It was stupid, but it was brave. It would do anything Mister Toussaint asked it to do.

"It's getting hot and sticky and I'm not playing any games, you'd better get me out before I burst into flames!" LOONY GOONY sang loudly, but the toaster ignored it.

"I don't mean to endanger your abode, but if you don't let me out, I'm going to explode!" The smart appliances chattered nervously at one another, but the brave little toaster said nothing as Mister Toussaint depressed its lever again.

"You'd better get out and save your ass, before I start leaking poison gas!" LOONY GOONY's voice was panicky. Mister Toussaint smiled and depressed the lever.

Just as he did, he thought to check in with the flat's diagnostics. Just in time, too! Its quorum-sensors were redlining as it listened in on the appliances' consternation. Mister Toussaint unplugged the fridge and the microwave and the dishwasher.

The cooker and trash-can were hard-wired, but they didn't represent a quorum.

The fire department took away the melted toaster and used their axes to knock huge, vindictive holes in Mister Toussaint's walls. "Just looking for embers," they claimed. But he knew that they were pissed off because there was simply no good excuse for sticking a pouch of independently powered computation and sensors and transmitters into an antique toaster and pushing down the lever until oily, toxic smoke filled the whole 104th floor.

Mister Toussaint's neighbors weren't happy about it either.

But Mister Toussaint didn't mind. It had all been worth it, just to hear LOONY GOONY beg and weep for its life as its edges curled up and blackened.

He argued mightily, but the firefighters refused to let him keep the toaster.

If you enjoyed that and would like to read more of my fiction, may I suggest that you pre-order my next novel as a print book, ebook or audiobook, via the Kickstarter I launched yesterday?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/picks-and-shovels-marty-hench-at-the-dawn-of-enshittification?ref=created_projects

Check out my Kickstarter to pre-order copies of my next novel, Picks and Shovels!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/08/sirius-cybernetics-corporation/#chatterbox

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

221 notes · View notes

monards · 7 months ago

Text

insanity being revived fpr an extra day because of this stupid comment i found. tbhis is the end of EVERYTHING in my mind

once a month crepe experiences the most insane 26 hour bout of insanity over the mischaracterization of rhinedottir

#i know the person who wrote it is on tumblr. and i hope you see this and know that i am in absolute shock you had the GAUL #to negatively comment an artist's interpretation. OF RHINEDOTTIR????#OF ALL PEOPLE??? ENTITIES??? MEDIA??? CHARACTERS ?????????????????????#I HATE EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!#4DANGO HAS A BEAUTIFUL RHINE DESIGN AND ITS AMAZING AT CONVEYING THE COMPLEXITIES & CONCEPT OF #PERFECTION HIDING INNER IMPERFECTION #WITH THE FACT SHE APPEARS CLEAN AND PRISTINE DESPITE BEING HORRIBLE. AND THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT CLOTHING COVERING DARK #WHATTHE FUCK DIES “this does not convey her personaility at all” EVEN FUCKING MEAN.#WE DONT KNOW HER REAL PERSONAILITY??? SHES PURPOSEFULLY AMBIGIOUS???#gen hate everything #im insane #sorry. im gonna be mad over this for like a week #its okay to not like something. but publicly commenting is fucking WILD #keep uour comments to yourself if you have nothing nice to say #you learned this in pre-k #holy god #crepe rants

6 notes · View notes

dearreader · 10 months ago

Text

k so i made this poll awhile ago to answer my question on if people would rather spend a date with a swiftie or an anti-swiftie (someone who hates her and devotes their life to hating on her). i mentioned i didn’t have the spoons to handle it being longer than a day and know it was going to be biased as it would start in my circle and would work it’s way out, so i wanted to do a longer poll when i had the energy to handle a week long poll like that. (i’m assuming when i post this, as i’m pre making it, i’ll be in recovery from my nose surgery since i’ll be stuck at home a week so i’ll have more time to monitor and look at the tags)

so nows the time, but i’m going to addendum the question a bit:

*some extra things that came up on the original poll i didn’t elaborate on fully that i want to make clear:

- you don’t get a say in what type of swiftie you get. assume that you’re going to be spending the evening with someone who massively loves her and her music and wants to discuss it. they’ll talk about songs, their favorite lines and meanings, symbolism behind the reputation album, etc.

- YOU MUST TALK ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT. even if it’s the anti-swiftie you must talk about her. i understand the sentiment people made on her not coming up, and that’s valid, but that’s not the question i’m asking. YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE EVENING WITH SOMEONE WHOS GOING TO TALK ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT NONSTOP, WILL IT BE THE LOVER OR HATER?

- im just trying to gather a general consensus on this and want to get data from a lot of people which means this is going to end up on people’s blogs who probably hate swifties and are annoyed by them. that’s okay as that’s the point of my question. but if you’re going to go off in the tags about how much you hate her or hate swifties and be an asshole about it im blocking you. you can just simple say “i hate her/i hate swifties” and don’t need to elaborate. you don’t need to sit in the tags going off on how much you hate her and trying to “defend” yourself from swifties. i just want an answer to the question.

- ALSO, this is not an open poll to go harass anyone in general. if you are a swiftie and see an hater in the tags and wanna fight DON’T FUCKING DO IT. just block and go read/watch your favorite media and think of blorbos kissing or whatever, but DO NOT SEND HATE OR HARASS ANYONE.

the hypothesis im trying to prove is that people in general would much rather spend an evening with someone that is going to talk about something they love all night vs someone who will spend the evening talking about something they hate. i want to gather as much data as possible to get a good consensus and if you go and be an asshole to someone because of their tags on this poll, either side of the swiftie to anti-swiftie spectrum, your disproving the point. if you see tags you don’t like just simply block and carry on. understand? k good.

- in general this is not meant to be a very serious or heavy question. it’s meant to just let me pick people’s brains and see what they’d want to do. i just want to get my results and go. just vote, drop your opinion in the tags, and go.

- also, this last part is silly and not at all related to my data, but since i’m forcing you on a dinner date i’ll at least let you pick the restaurant and food you have. so if you could also say what restaurant/food choice you’d want and what you’d want to order i’d love to hear it. sky’s the limit here. go nutz or even very specific on what you’d want to eat. i am trying to learn to cook and don’t know a lot of recipes or different food types, so i’m hoping this will give me a bigger idea of what food is out there to make. (this question is not meant to be a way to stick it to anyone or for you to go “i’ll go to a shitty ass restaurant and take a swiftie/anti-swiftie and make them eat garbage 🤪”, it’s just a fun question to give people something positive to add to the poll if they want. AGAIN IF YOUR GOING TO BE AN ASSHOLE ILL BLOCK YOU.)

- i’m going to be annoying and ask that you reblog for a wider sample size and such, if you don’t want to that’s fine, but i’m going to be polite and ask you nicely.

that should be everything, thank you for reading my long ass list and voting in this poll. i hope you have a good day and such.

#kelly babels #polls #taylor swift

477 notes · View notes

wethotcrazy · 3 months ago

Text

GIVE IT A CHANCE

pairing: Ollie Bearman x Fem Driver! K-pop Fan! Reader

word count: 2495

this idea came to me in a prophetic vision as i was listening to ETA by NewJeans, yk he just has that face idk how to explain it.

The early morning simulator room was dim and quiet as Ollie stepped in, rubbing his eyes and adjusting to the light. He wasn’t expecting anyone else to be there at this hour, which is why he was surprised when he heard upbeat music pulsing softly through the room, lyrics in Korean threading through a catchy beat.

It didn’t take him long to spot Y/N, her head bobbing to the rhythm, her eyes focused on her screen. She was wearing her headphones halfway, one ear open, giving her full control of the simulator’s settings—and, evidently, the speakers.

"Didn’t think anyone would be up this early,” Ollie said with a smirk, hoping to catch her off guard.

But Y/N didn’t even flinch. She simply smiled, her eyes sparkling with a playful look. “Oh, yeah… first in gets speaker rights, haha…,” she replied, turning up the volume just a little. “You don’t mind, right?"

Ollie shrugged, a little charmed by her confidence. "Doesn’t look like I have much of a choice.”

With a laugh, Y/N launched the next song, not hesitating to dive into a quick explanation of how NewJeans had taken over the K-pop world lately. Ollie listened, half-amused, half-impressed. She talked about girl groups like they were close friends, like they were just as important to her racing routine as the car itself. As she continued to gush, he found himself caught up in her excitement, almost convinced by her infectious enthusiasm.

She noticed his curious glances and laughed, nudging him. "You know, it’s actually quite nice, Ollie. You should give it a chance."

Ollie just smiled, making a noncommittal noise. He didn’t know much about K-pop, and he didn’t think he’d ever see himself adding it to his playlist. But then he caught himself humming one of the melodies later that day—an upbeat tune from Twice that he’d heard during the simulator session. It kept popping back into his head when he least expected it, like a pleasant earworm he didn’t want to get rid of.

Over the next few weeks, something shifted.

Ollie found himself scrolling through her social media in his downtime, watching the TikToks of Y/N’s “pre-race rituals” she posted. She’d film herself doing girl group choreography in her racing suit, top half hanging around her waist as she danced to songs that were clearly meaningful to her. Fans loved it, and so did he. There was something endearing about her passion, and the way she didn’t hesitate to share it with the world. Somehow, it made her feel even more real, like there was a part of her that was untouched by the pressure and intensity of racing.

One day, he came across a clip of her dancing to a song by Le Sserafim. She was focused, but her expression was soft, full of joy, as if nothing else existed in that moment but the beat and the moves. It made him smile, watching her in her element like that. Without even realizing it, he saved the clip, something he’d catch himself watching on repeat whenever he needed a moment of calm.

He didn’t notice the change right away, but slowly, his playlists began filling up with the songs she loved. He’d go to sleep with the catchy hooks of K-pop songs playing in his head, and he’d wake up humming them, much to his own surprise.

The next time they met for simulator training, Ollie arrived a little earlier than usual. He saw her slip into the room with her headphones on, smiling to herself as she tapped her fingers to a beat he couldn’t hear. Instead of waiting for her to notice him, he took out his phone, tapping to play one of the songs she’d shown him before. The room filled with the familiar sound of a NewJeans track, and she whipped around, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Ollie!” she gasped, laughter bubbling up. “Did you just put on K-pop?”

He grinned, feeling a strange thrill at her reaction. “Well, it grows on you, I guess.”

Y/N looked at him with a mix of pride and amusement. "I never thought I’d see the day! So… favorite group?”

“Don’t make me choose,” he joked, but he was a little flustered by her excitement. “But if I had to, I’d say… maybe Twice? Or, you know, New Jeans.”

She clapped her hands, beaming. “See? I told you! K-pop’s addictive.”

The two of them shared a quiet laugh, and Ollie couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through his chest. It was more than just the music now—it was the way they’d found this new connection, something that felt personal and easy, a side of Y/N that he felt lucky to know.

On race day, Ollie arrived a bit earlier, hoping to catch a glimpse of her “pre-race ritual.” He didn’t have to wait long. Y/N was in her own little world, music playing on her phone as she moved through the steps of a quick choreography, fluid and confident. She didn’t see him at first, and he took a moment just to watch, a smile tugging at his lips. She was magnetic, her energy infectious, and he found himself tapping his foot along to the beat.

Finally, she looked up and caught him watching, cheeks pink as she laughed. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough,” he said, stepping closer. “You know, maybe if racing doesn’t work out you could debut as an idol.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Yeah right, okay…”

They shared a grin, a quiet moment of understanding passing between them. Ever since that first K-pop-filled simulator session, their dynamic has changed. He’d go out of his way to make their training schedules align, just so he could listen with her, maybe pick up a new song or two to tease her about later.

And though he’d never say it out loud, watching her dance, knowing these little rituals were her way of staying grounded… it felt like his own way of connecting with her. A small piece of her world that she’d let him into.

As the season went on, fans began to notice Ollie’s subtle transformation. In interviews, he’d mention her more often, usually with a smile when asked about their friendship. Some eagle-eyed fans even caught him humming a few K-pop melodies during Prema videos, and speculation spread across social media like wildfire.

When someone finally asked him about it, he shrugged with a grin. "Guess Y/N has good taste," he said, leaving it at that.

But in truth, it wasn’t just about the music. Every song reminded him of her laugh, her energy, and the way she found joy in something so different from racing. It was a little ritual, a small way to stay close, even during the busiest days. And though he didn’t know exactly when it had happened, somewhere along the line, Ollie realized that maybe K-pop wasn’t the only thing he’d grown attached to.

Ollie’s transformation was undeniable. Y/N’s playlist had become the soundtrack to his days, whether it was Le Sserafim blaring in the simulator, NewJeans playing through his earbuds on race day, or even the quieter Twice ballads that had somehow snuck into his late-night wind-down routine. He’d catch himself mouthing along to the lyrics, subconsciously practicing bits of choreography he’d pick up from YN, his own private tribute to her.

Of course, his friends at Prema and a few of the other drivers started to notice, and the teasing came swiftly.

“Are those Twice lyrics I hear, Ollie?” Kimi called one day in the paddock, his grin practically splitting his face.

Ollie rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t fight off the smile. “Maybe. What’s it to you?”

Kimi raised his hands in surrender, still laughing. “Hey, hey—no shame in it, man. Just didn’t know our resident racing prodigy was also a K-pop aficionado.”

“Yeah, next thing you know, you’ll be wearing matching outfits with Y/N and doing TikTok dances before races!” joked another driver, Dino, who’d caught Ollie attempting one of Y/N’s routines before practice one day.

Ollie could only laugh, brushing off the comments with a shrug. “She would be more than happy to teach you guys too,” he quipped, throwing a wink at Y/N, who was watching the whole thing with an amused grin.

As the season rolled on, Ollie’s transformation was undeniable. Y/N’s playlist had become the soundtrack to his days, whether it was Le Sserafim blaring in the simulator, NewJeans playing through his earbuds on race day, or even the quieter Twice ballads that had somehow snuck into his late-night wind-down routine. He’d catch himself mouthing along to the lyrics, subconsciously practicing the moves Y/N had taught him, his own private tribute to the friend who’d somehow changed his life with her love for K-pop.

Of course, his friends at Prema and a few of the other drivers started to notice, and the teasing came swiftly.

“Are those Twice lyrics I hear, Ollie?” Kimi called one day in the paddock, his grin practically splitting his face.

Ollie rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t fight off the smile. “Maybe. What’s it to you?”

Kimi raised his hands in surrender, still laughing. “Hey, hey—no shame in it, man. Just didn’t know our resident racing prodigy was also a K-pop aficionado.”

“Yeah, next thing you know, you’ll be wearing matching outfits with Y/N and doing TikTok dances before races!” joked another driver, Max, who’d caught Ollie attempting one of Y/N’s routines before practice one day.

Ollie could only laugh, brushing off the comments with a shrug. “If you want to keep up, maybe you should get on the trend too. Y/N would be more than happy to teach you guys some moves,” he quipped, throwing a wink at Y/N, who was watching the whole thing with an amused grin.

As the season progressed, he found himself leaning into it, not just to keep up with Y/N but because he genuinely enjoyed it. He started keeping tabs on comebacks, messaging her when a new song dropped, sending her clips and asking which choreography she was going to master next. Y/N would respond with enthusiastic voice notes, her excitement filling his inbox with laughter and inside jokes.

One night, during a particularly tense week before a race, Y/N shot him a message just past midnight.

Y/N: Can’t sleep. Found this new song from a girl group I think you’ll love. Wanna come around to listen?

Ollie didn’t think twice, slipping out of his flat and finding her in her own dimly lit living room, her phone ready with a new track queued up. She played it softly, the two of them listening together in the quiet, just sharing a moment of calm before the chaos of the upcoming race. It became their routine—a new song here, a dance there, small moments that only they shared.

One rainy afternoon at the track, while they were waiting for a rain delay to clear, Ollie watched Y/N from a distance, bouncing slightly on her toes, moving through the motions of a dance routine that was clearly second nature to her. She didn’t have the music on this time, but she didn’t need it; every beat, every move was etched into her memory. Her racing suit was half off, hanging around her waist, her fireproofs slightly damp from the humidity, but she was lost in her world.

Kimi sidled up next to him, noticing where his attention had drifted.

“You’ve got it bad, mate,” he said, crossing his arms, a knowing smirk spreading across his face. “Bet you know more K-pop routines than any of us now.”

Ollie shrugged, unable to keep the warmth from spreading across his cheeks. “It’s… fun. And it’s kind of relaxing, you know?”

“Yeah, it’s not just about the music, though, is it?” Kimi shot him a pointed look, which Ollie pretended not to notice. “Come on, we all see the way you look at her. Even my mum could pick up on it.”

Ollie laughed, trying to brush it off, but deep down, he knew Kimi was right. It wasn’t just the music that drew him in anymore—it was the way Y/N shared it with him, like she was letting him into a part of herself that was untouched by the pressure of racing. Every song was a glimpse into her world, and he couldn’t help but feel grateful that she’d let him in.

Finally, it all came to a head one evening after a particularly intense race. Y/N had performed spectacularly, finishing on the podium, and the team celebrated with a late dinner at a nearby restaurant. There was laughter, cheers, and, of course, someone brought out a portable speaker to keep the energy up.

Y/N, still buzzing with excitement, nudged Ollie, her eyes gleaming. “Alright, Bearman,” she said, her tone playful but challenging. “You’ve been following K-pop all season, so it’s about time you proved yourself. How about a little dance-off?”

Ollie blinked, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. “You’re joking.”

“Come on!” she urged, and the others at the table started chanting his name, egging him on. “Show us what you’ve got!”

With a reluctant grin, he got up, and she queued up one of her favorite songs from Le Sserafim, the opening beats pulsing through the room. They started off slow, her laughter contagious as she showed him the steps. To everyone’s surprise (and Kimi’s endless amusement), he actually kept up with her (though timidly), moving through the choreography they’d practiced during one of their late-night sessions in her flat.

The team erupted in applause when they finished, a little breathless, a little flushed. Y/N beamed up at him, her hand squeezing his arm. “You’re not half bad, Bearman,” she said, her voice soft, only loud enough for him to hear. “Guess I really did a good job with you, huh?”

He looked down at her, the noise around them fading to a hum. “Yeah,” he replied, voice low. “You definitely did.”

For a moment, they stood there, surrounded by their friends but entirely in their own little bubble. He felt like saying something else, something about how her music had come to mean so much more to him than just catchy beats and routines. But he didn’t need to say it; the look in her eyes told him she understood.

And in that shared, unspoken moment, Ollie realized that the season wasn’t just about racing anymore. It was about every song, every laugh, every quiet moment they’d stolen away to be themselves. Maybe K-pop had been the start of it, but what it had led to was something he wouldn’t trade for anything.

K-pop might’ve been her world first, but now, in some small way, it felt like their world too.

131 notes · View notes

wonyowonyo · 7 months ago

Text

Racing Hearts (K. Minjeong X M! Reader)

Erm... Another update I guess. 3.6k words. This one was fun to make, hope yall enjoy it!

The deafening roar of the engines filled the air as the sun blazed down on the Circuit de Monaco. The atmosphere was electric, the anticipation palpable. It was the race everyone had been waiting for – the Monaco Grand Prix. In the heart of the action were two fierce rivals: Kim Minjeong, known to her fans as Winter, the ice-cool driver for McLaren, was known for her precision and unwavering focus. and Y/N, the fearless racer for Oracle Red Bull Racing, was the opposite. Their aggressive and daring maneuvers had earned them a reputation as a wild card on the track.

Winter and Y/N had been at each other's throats since the beginning of the season. Every race was a battle, not just for the podium but for supremacy. Their rivalry was the stuff of legends, fueling media headlines and fan debates. But beneath the surface of competition and animosity, there was something neither of them dared to acknowledge.

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

Winter tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her eyes focused on the track ahead. She suddenly remembered her little interaction with Y/n earlier.

"Winter," Y/N said, catching her in the paddock before the race. "Ready to lose?"

Winter looked up, her expression unreadable. "We'll see who crosses the finish line first, Y/N."

Y/N smirked. "I've got a good feeling about today."

Winter's eyes narrowed. "Just try to keep up."

Recalling back the earlier banter, adrenaline coursed through her veins, the familiar rush that came with every race. But today was different. Today, she had to beat Y/N.

She glanced in her rearview mirror and saw the familiar Red Bull car, driven by none other than Y/N. Their rivalry had become the centerpiece of the F1 season, a story of two incredible talents pushing each other to the limit.

"Stay focused, Winter," her race engineer's voice crackled through her earpiece. "You've got this."

Winter took a deep breath and nodded, even though she knew he couldn't see her. She knew she was good, but so was Y/N. And that made every race a thrilling challenge.

Meanwhile, Y/N was equally determined. The Red Bull driver had a reputation for being relentless, always pushing the car – and himself – to the edge. But Winter was his match in every way, and that drove him even harder.

As the lights went out and the race began, the two rivals shot off the starting grid, their cars neck and neck. The crowd roared as they battled for position, each driver refusing to give an inch.

Y/N got a good start, but Winter was right beside them, refusing to give an inch. They barreled down the straight, neck and neck, neither willing to back down.

As they approached the first turn, Y/N saw an opportunity. They braked late, sliding past Winter with inches to spare. The crowd roared, but Winter was unfazed. She knew the race was far from over.

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

Mini Flashback

The rivalry between Winter and Y/N wasn't confined to the track. Off-track, their animosity often boiled over, creating tension-filled moments that kept the media and fans buzzing.

One such incident occurred at a pre-season press conference in Melbourne. Winter had made a pointed comment about Red Bull's reliability issues, which had plagued them the previous season.

"Let's just hope their engines can keep up this year," she had said with a smirk, her eyes flicking to Y/N.

Y/N's jaw clenched, but he forced a smile. "We'll see about that, Winter. Just make sure you don't spin out trying to keep up."

The room had erupted in murmurs, the tension between the two drivers palpable. The exchange set the tone for the rest of the season, each press conference and media event becoming a battleground.

Another notable incident happened at a sponsor's event in Barcelona. Both drivers were scheduled to appear at a meet-and-greet with fans, but things quickly turned sour. Winter had arrived first, signing autographs and taking photos. When Y/N arrived, the crowd's excitement doubled, leading to a subtle but noticeable shift in attention.

"Looks like they were waiting for the real star," Y/N had said, his voice loud enough for Winter to hear.

Winter had shot him a glare, but before she could respond, a fan asked them to pose for a photo together. The resulting image, with Winter's forced smile and Y/N's smug expression, quickly went viral, becoming a symbol of their heated rivalry.

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

The tight corners and narrow streets of Monaco made overtaking a risky endeavor, but Y/N was known for his daring maneuvers. He saw an opening and went for it, darting past Winter with inches to spare. She grit her teeth, refusing to let him get away.

"Nice move," her race engineer commented. "But stay on him. You can take him to the next corner."

Winter nodded, her eyes narrowing as she focused on Y/N's car ahead. She knew she had to time it perfectly. As they approached the hairpin turn, she saw her chance. With a deft flick of the steering wheel, she dove inside, reclaiming her position.

The two cars were so close that they nearly touched, the crowd gasping as they navigated the turn. It was a dance of precision and nerve, each driver testing the other's limits.

For the next several laps, they traded positions, neither able to maintain a clear lead. It was a battle of skill and strategy, each move countered by an equally brilliant response. The tension was palpable, not just between the drivers, but for everyone watching.

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

Lap after lap, Y/N and Winter pushed each other to the limit. Their cars weaved through the field, overtaking and defending with breathtaking skill. Every time Y/N thought they had an edge, Winter was right there, matching them move for move.

In the middle of the race, a sudden rainstorm added to the chaos. The track became slippery, and visibility was poor. Y/N's heart pounded in their chest as they fought to keep their car under control. Winter, known for her icy calm, seemed almost unaffected by the conditions.

On lap 45, Y/N saw their chance. Winter had gone wide on a corner, leaving just enough space for Y/N to slip through. They floored the accelerator, feeling the car respond with a surge of power. For a moment, they were ahead.

But Winter wasn't done. She recovered quickly, drafting behind Y/N to gain speed. As they approached the final laps, it was clear this race would come down to the wire.

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

Mini Flashback

The rivalry extended beyond the professional realm, affecting their personal lives as well. At a charity gala in Monaco, Winter and Y/N found themselves seated at the same table. The atmosphere was icy, the polite conversation forced.

"Enjoying the season so far?" Winter asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Y/N smirked. "I could ask you the same. Still struggling with those pit stops?"

Winter's eyes flashed with anger. "Maybe if you spent less time talking and more time driving, you'd understand the importance of teamwork."

Their exchange drew the attention of those around them, but before it could escalate further, the event's host called for a moment of silence. The truce was temporary, the animosity simmering beneath the surface.

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

As the race entered its final stages, both drivers were exhausted but determined. The pit stops had been perfectly timed, the strategies flawless. It all came down to these last few laps.

With three laps to go, the tension was unbearable. Y/N and Winter were side by side, neither willing to give an inch. The rain had stopped, but the track was still wet, making every turn a potential disaster.

On the penultimate lap, Winter made her move. She dove inside on a tight corner, forcing Y/N to the outside. Y/N fought to keep their position, their tires skidding on the wet surface.

"Come on, come on," Y/N muttered under their breath, gripping the steering wheel tightly. They couldn't let Winter win, not after everything they'd been through.

Y/N felt his heart pounding as he closed in on Winter once more. He could see the determination in her eyes, even through the helmet. It was a look he had come to respect, even if he would never admit it.

"You're doing great, Y/N," his race engineer's voice broke through his thoughts. "Just a few more laps. Keep the pressure on."

He nodded, pushing the car to its limits. He knew he had to make his move soon. As they approached the final straight, he saw his chance. He pulled alongside Winter, their cars inches apart as they hurtled towards the finish line.

For a moment, it was as if time stood still. The world narrowed to just the two of them, their rivalry and respect intertwining in that final push. And then, with a surge of power, Y/N inched ahead, crossing the finish line first.

"By a margin of 0.01 seconds, the Y/N of Red Bull Racing came on top to clinch his Monaco Grand Prix Win!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as Y/N took the victory, but the thrill of winning was mixed with something else. As he climbed out of his car, he saw Winter doing the same. She walked over, her helmet under her arm, a look of grudging respect on her face.

"Good race," she said, extending her hand.

Y/N took it, shaking firmly. "You too. You almost had me."

Winter smiled, a real, genuine smile that made Y/N's heart skip a beat. "Next time, I will."

As they stood there, the rivalry seemed to fade, replaced by something new. They had pushed each other to the limit, and in doing so, had forged a bond that neither had expected.

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

The weeks following Monaco were a whirlwind of media appearances, team meetings, and endless travel. But amidst the chaos, Winter and Y/N found themselves crossing paths more often. At first, it was awkward, the remnants of their rivalry still lingering. But slowly, they began to see each other not just as rivals, but as equals.

One evening, after a particularly grueling practice session, they found themselves alone in the paddock. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the track. The evening was unusually cold, and the paddock was quiet as most of the team members had retired to their hotels. Y/N was one of the few still lingering, going over some last-minute data in the Red Bull garage. They were so engrossed in their work that they didn't notice someone else was still around until they heard a faint sound of frustration from the neighbouring McLaren garage.

Curious, Y/N walked over and saw Winter hunched over her laptop, her brows furrowed in concentration. The sight was unusual; Winter was typically calm and composed, but tonight, she looked stressed.

"Winter?" Y/N called softly, not wanting to startle her.

Winter looked up, surprised. "Y/N? What are you still doing here?"

"Could ask you the same thing," Y/N replied with a small smile. "Everything okay?"

Winter sighed, rubbing her temples. "Just some last-minute data analysis. Something's not adding up, and it's driving me crazy."

Y/N hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "Mind if I take a look? Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can help."

Winter glanced at Y/N, her expression softening slightly. "Sure, why not."

Y/N pulled up a chair and sat beside Winter, peering at the screen. They spent the next hour going through the data together, discussing potential solutions and sharing insights. What started as a technical problem soon turned into a collaborative effort, with both drivers pooling their knowledge and experience.

As they worked, they found themselves easing into a comfortable rhythm. The initial tension melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie that neither had anticipated. They laughed over shared frustrations and celebrated small breakthroughs, the boundaries of their rivalry blurring in the process.

"Got it!" Y/N exclaimed finally, pointing at the screen. "There was a discrepancy in the telemetry data. That should fix it."

Winter's eyes lit up as she checked the results. "You're right! How did I miss that?"

Y/N grinned. "Sometimes it just takes a second opinion."

Winter looked at Y/N, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Thanks, Y/N. I really appreciate this."

"Anytime," Y/N replied, feeling a warmth in their chest. "We're competitors on the track, but off it, we can still help each other out."

With the data issue resolved, the atmosphere relaxed. Winter leaned back in her chair, looking more at ease than she had all night. "You know, I never expected us to be sitting here like this," she admitted.

"Me neither," Y/N agreed. "But I'm glad we did."

Winter's expression grew thoughtful. "It's funny, isn't it? How racing can bring out the best and worst in us. We push each other to the limit, but moments like this remind me that we're not so different."

Y/N nodded, feeling a connection they hadn't recognized before. "We both want to be the best, but we also understand what it takes to get there. The sacrifice, the determination... it's something only another driver can truly understand."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared experiences hanging in the air. Finally, Winter broke the silence. "You know, Y/N, I've always respected you as a driver. But tonight, I feel like I got to know you as a person. And I like what I see."

Y/N felt a surge of warmth. "I feel the same way, Winter. Maybe we can be more than just rivals."

Winter smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached her eyes. "I'd like that." Winter offered her hand, prompting a handshake, to which Y/N accepted. “Call me Minjeong, if you want.”

They talked for hours, sharing stories of their journeys to F1, their struggles, their dreams. The more they talked, the more they realized how much they had in common. And slowly, the walls they had built around themselves began to crumble.

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

With their newfound understanding, the dynamic between Minjeong and Y/N started to change. They still pushed each other on the track, but off the track, there was a growing camaraderie that neither could ignore.

One weekend, during the break before the Canadian Grand Prix, they found themselves attending a sponsor’s event together. It was a relaxed setting, far removed from the high-stakes atmosphere of the race track. The event was held at a luxurious lakeside resort, complete with water sports and outdoor activities.

Minjeong and Y/N were partnered for a friendly kayaking race, much to their surprise. As they paddled out onto the lake, their competitive spirits flared up, but this time it was accompanied by laughter and playful banter.

"You know you're going down, right?" Minjeong teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"In your dreams, Minjeong," Y/N shot back, his grin infectious.

The race was close, but in the end, they crossed the finish line at the same time, their competitive energy dissolving into shared laughter. As they sat in their kayaks, catching their breath, Y/N looked over at Minjeong, a warm smile on his face.

"This is fun," he said. "We should do this more often."

Minjeong nodded, her own smile matching his. "Yeah, we should."

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

The Canadian Grand Prix was next on the calendar, and the atmosphere was charged with excitement. The track was known for its high speeds and tight corners, promising an intense race.

Minjeong and Y/N were both determined to win, their rivalry reignited on the track. As the race began, they found themselves battling for the lead once again, their cars dancing dangerously close.

The final laps were a blur of adrenaline and strategy. Minjeong had taken the lead, but Y/N was right on her tail. As they approached the final chicane, Y/N saw an opening and took it, his car surging ahead. But Minjeong wasn’t giving up. She pushed her car to the limit, their wheels almost touching as they raced towards the finish line.

In the end, it was Minjeong who crossed the line first, but by the narrowest of margins. The crowd went wild as she celebrated her victory, but her eyes were on Y/n, who was climbing out of his car with a proud smile.

"You were amazing out there," he said, walking over to her.

"You too," she replied, her eyes shining with genuine admiration.

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

After the race, the drivers gathered for the podium ceremony. The tension from the race melted away as they sprayed champagne and celebrated. Later that evening, at the after-party, Y/N found Minjeong sitting alone on a terrace, looking out over the city.

He approached her, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. "Hey."

She turned, her expression softening. "Hey."

They stood in silence for a moment, the city lights twinkling below them. Y/N took a deep breath, his heart pounding.

"Minjeong, there's something I need to tell you," he said, his voice steady despite his nerves.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it?"

He took a step closer, his heart racing. "I think I've been fighting my feelings for you for a long time. And I can't do it anymore. I like you, Minjeong. More than just a rival, more than just a friend."

Minjeong's breath caught in her throat. She had felt the same way, but had been too afraid to admit it. She took a step closer, her eyes locking with his.

"I like you too, Y/N. I have for a while."

They stood there, the world around them fading away. And then, slowly, Y/N leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a soft, tender kiss. It was a moment of pure magic, the culmination of months of rivalry, respect, and unspoken feelings.

From that moment on, everything changed. Their rivalry was still there, but it was now accompanied by something deeper. They supported each other, pushed each other to be better, and celebrated each other's successes.

The media was in a frenzy, speculating about their relationship, but they didn't care. They had found something special, something worth fighting for. And as the season continued, they faced every challenge together, their bond growing stronger with each race.

Y/N and Minjeong's relationship began to shift. They started spending more time together off the track, sharing meals, discussing their passion for racing, and even seeking each other's advice on various matters. Their bond grew stronger, built on mutual respect and a newfound understanding of each other's struggles and triumphs.

One evening, a few weeks after their late-night data session, Y/N invited Minjeong to join them for a walk along the beach. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the water, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to their conversation.

As they walked, Minjeong turned to Y/N, her expression serious. "You know, that night in the paddock changed something for me. I realized that I've been so focused on beating you that I never took the time to appreciate you."

Y/N smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude and affection. "I feel the same way. That night made me see you in a different light. You're not just my rival; you're someone I respect and care about."

Minjeong reached out, taking Y/N's hand in hers. "I'm glad we had that moment. It brought us closer, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Y/N squeezed her hand, their heart swelling with emotion. "Me too, Minjeong. Me too."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Y/N and Minjeong stood there, hand in hand, knowing that their relationship had changed forever. They were still competitors on the track, but off it,

they had found something special—a bond that transcended rivalry and blossomed into a deep and meaningful connection.

As the season progressed, Y/N and Minjeong's relationship continued to evolve. They were still fierce competitors on the track, but off it, they were inseparable. Their bond grew stronger with each passing day, built on mutual respect and a deep understanding of the other's passion and drive.

They supported each other through victories and defeats, celebrated each other's successes, and found comfort in each other's presence. The paddock, once a place of tension and rivalry, became a space of shared dreams and growing affection.

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

In the final race of the season, in Abu Dhabi, they found themselves in a familiar position—competing for the championship. But this time, there was a difference. They knew that no matter the outcome, they had each other.

As they lined up on the grid, Y/N glanced over at Minjeong. She smiled, a genuine, warm smile that spoke volumes.

"Ready to lose?" Y/N teased, echoing their words from the previous year.

Minjeong chuckled. "We'll see who crosses the finish line first, Y/N."

Y/N nodded, feeling a surge of affection. "May the best driver win."

The race was intense, filled with heart-stopping moments and breathtaking maneuvers. In the end, Y/N took the victory, clinching the championship. But as she crossed the finish line, her first thought was of Minjeong.

Later, in the winner's circle, Minjeong approached Y/N, a proud smile on their face. "Congratulations, champion."

Y/N pulled Minjeong into a tight embrace. "Couldn't have done it without you."

As they stood there, surrounded by cheering fans and flashing cameras, Y/N realized that their journey together had only just begun. They were rivals, yes, but they were also partners, friends, and something much more profound.

And as the sun set on the Yas Marina Circuit, casting a golden glow over the track, Y/N and Minjeong knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, side by side.

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

#fluff #kpop #kpop fanfic #kpop gg #kpop imagines #kpop girls #aespa #winter #kim minjeong #aespa minjeong #minjeong x reader #aespa winter #aespa imagines #aespa x reader #kim minjeong x reader

251 notes · View notes

jmdbjk · 1 month ago

Text

The year that was 2024:

But first...

Standing at the threshold of 2025 I look back far past 2024 to that day in June 2022 and the grief, disbelief... the shock and trauma those of us experienced while watching the Festa Dinner video. That dinner had been pre-recorded a few weeks prior and they released it on June 14. The members had to be scared of what our reactions would be when we watched it.

At that time we still had no idea how military enlistment would unfold, that news was still months away for us after the October concert in Busan. All we knew was BTS was going to pause but we did not really know what that meant. And it wasn't just the fans who went into a tailspin, Hybe stock took a dip, the secretary of Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism begged BTS to come back. The news of a BTS hiatus began to hit international news media across the globe. The emotional devastation was real.

That day and following days, it seemed like 2025 was forever in the future. What would we be like in 2025? What would the members of BTS be like? What would the music industry landscape be like? What would the world be like? It was two and a half years away from that day. Back in June 2022, 2025 seemed like a lifetime away in the future, a bleak, dark unknown.

We attempted to pull ourselves together and look for the positives... "we'll save so much money!” and "we'll have time to learn Korean!" HAH! The real winner: “I can catch up on content!” LMAO!

Here we are now, two and a half years later. My god the shit that's transpired since. A lot of it was not on anyone's radar.

2024, the year of fighting...

Throughout the year and as the year wore on, we fought boycotters, haters, mantis and solos. We fought the media, each other, other fandoms... it was a constant battle to clear the mess. Our main weapon? Our love for BTS and the members and our commitment and determination.

We should be better at recognizing bad actors, at recognizing organized hate. I hope you all are blocking it, muting it because it is an energy drain to dwell on it and it exists. Some people are compelled to lash back at it. I'm not one of those. I prefer blocking/muting. Do what is right for you.

So here's a recap of 2024...the first quarter of the year started out calmly.

January: We were basking in the BTS documentary series Beyond the Star and waiting for a sign of our men completing their basic training. We were hoping to find out where they would be stationed for the rest of their military service.

February was relatively quiet. Except for this.

Tae's song "Fri(end)s", released mid-March.

Hope on the Street Vol. 1 released end of March with the six episode docu-series running through April.

We were hitting our stride, understanding that they'd prepared so much for us while they were away. Even k-media reported on the unusual amount of content produced by BTS to span their enlistment time. It was reassuring and we were spoiled. Looking back, it was the quiet before the storm...

This "quiet before the storm" has never quieted before the storm like this quiet before the storm quieted the first quarter of 2024.

In April we witnessed a real eclipse in the sky and then while we were having the best time unraveling the mystery of the Monochrome merch popups, the shit hit the fan with the Min Hee Jin revelations. And that circus was just beginning. Maybe I'm just naive or too much of a positive person but I never fathomed that there were people out there this demented, this twisted, this delusional, controlling and narcissistic that they thought they could single-handedly bring down a huge company like Hybe via public opinion. And as time went on and continues to go on we learned she was not alone. That woman is sick and evil.

I recalled back in 2021 seeing people be paranoid about the young company, Hybe, hiring ex-SM employees. I wanted to believe these former SM employees they hired saw the opportunity to escape a toxic workplace and therefore defected to Hybe. Now we know the paranoia was justified.

The end of April and into May I watched Begins ≠ Youth, the drama series based on the BTS Universe. It took years for that series to finally see the light of day. It was very intriguing. There was a lot of controversy about Xclusive, the platform it was delivered on. My theory is it was an experiment to see how fans would react to a blockchain/NFT product. I have a huge post in my drafts about it but we moved on from it quickly, so I did too. The series was great though.

The rest of May was a month where we were trying to remain calm, trying to remain positive. We as a fandom felt very beat up. Anticipation was through the roof for Jin's military discharge and Festa.

But first, Namjoon released Right Place, Wrong Person, the studio album and subsequently, the accompanying documentary, Right People, Wrong Place. Both the album and documentary are critically acclaimed, winning awards and landing on "best of" lists across the globe.

Finally, it's June. Jin's discharge was so emotional for everyone. We were able to see everyone except Yoongi greet him outside the gates. But it was amazing seeing all 7 together in still photos afterward. It was a collective sigh of relief that we truly are beginning the downhill side of their military enlistment. Jin has been working his ass off since that day, his album Happy and its title song Running Wild doing well.

I know we've got our opinions about the South Korean government but that day, for me, seeing Jimin and Jungkook in their uniforms, as soldiers, just hit a spot in me that I can't describe. I felt proud of them. And I hope after their discharge they can tuck away that sense of accomplishment in a safe space and flip the bird at the bureaucrats running their country.

Jimin dropped his second album, Muse, in July, the mystery solved of what all those other producers were doing with Jimin the second half of 2022. The title song Who continues to chart. His songs are wonderful. I'm so proud of how far he's come during this solo era. I miss him.

And then Are You Sure?! happened. Even though we KNEW it was coming, I can't believe we got that show. I can't believe they did all of that. Naked Jimin except for a small pair of black shorts... naked Jungkook. Just so much naked after years of Victorian era artist protection CG over every square inch of bare skin. Watching that show, so much of what I knew in my mind of how they are together was mostly confirmed.

I said this months ago: After Jungkook’s 2023 Weverse lives, the Are You Sure?! series, their companion military enlistment and his documentary I Am Still the theatrical release and the Disney+ docu-series, it is clear that Jimin is Jungkook’s touchstone, a significant presence through at least this part of his life. We can’t know what the future holds, I would never dare to assume what their own personal desires or goals are for themselves, but I do know that Jimin will play a big part in it and I hope we still get to see some of that play out when it happens.

I'm still processing. I digressed. It happens when it comes to me, Jimin and Jungkook. Moving on.

August... my god. My dear Yoongi. We are still waiting to see him again, to see with our own eyes that he is actually ok and to figuratively take his hand in ours, to reassure each other and keep moving forward to leave this year far behind. I know he knows we are here. I can't stand the wall though, of not being able to see him. Does that make sense? I mostly keep my thoughts to myself about him because it really hurts my heart to think about him having to suffer through all that. August and into September were hard, hard… so hard.

Fast forward to October when Hobi stepped out of those doors on the day of his discharge, it seemed like time had flown by as if we just watched him leaving for training camp, even though it was sooooooo long ago.

And now he's lived in LA for almost a month, been in Japan and seen with more people... A possible fashion collab? Songs/album in February? We don't know anything for sure yet but info has leaked. A tour in spring? I'll be there if I can snag tickets.

We've seen glimpses of Tae and his buff self. His collab with Bing Crosby was ground breaking and hopefully will become a holiday classic just like the original. Also, happy birthday, Tae!

[Photo shared by Taehyung on his Instagram stories.]

December began shockingly with South Korea's President Yoon attempting to impose martial law. My heart dropped. Our guys were on red alert, scrambling. It lasted a few hours before being overturned by their national assembly.

Mid-December, while on a vacation leave, Jungkook surprised us with a 2 and a half hour live just like he used to do. He looked so good. He sounded good. From what I saw, he's still the same Jungkook.

Do you realize, if martial law had remained in effect, we would not have seen Jungkook? There would be no celebrating. We would all be in limbo. Who knows what that crazy shithead (now impeached-president Yoon) would have done if martial law was still in place. The slow reveal of information about the planning of it is chilling and should be a reminder to us all to not take things for granted. Their National Assembly are still trying to get everything under control, the turmoil is not over yet.

Somehow, the Universe is working overtime to get BTS through their service and I hope it continues to do so because we still have just under six months left. At this point, I believe anything could happen.

Counting down the hours to 2025

We are about to enter the holy Borayear of our Lord Min Yoongi 2025. Bestie and I talked a lot about what the possibilities might be for 2025.

Of course, like everyone else, we know nothing for sure, only what we've gleaned from the member's themselves, official announcements, news releases and hints here and there. What we DO know for sure is there will not be a void. We have two Tannies back with us. Music will be released, content produced:

January 4 is Jin's OST.

Not directly BTS related but we as a fandom would like some closure and satisfaction surrounding the MHJ drama because trials will begin in January.

Hobi has something coming. Certainly Hobi will have another EP, perhaps HOTS Vol. 2? which would be supported with a tour. There's been a leak of info. We are on high alert.

For the others, perhaps a few one-off singles before June. Between us, we don't think Tae has another album's worth of music. Jungkook either.

A Yoongi collab perhaps?

Namjoon, probably nothing. Poor baby is so ready to be discharged.

The Jimin x Benny Blanco music, whatever that may be.

Maybe that rumored JK x Tae subunit song. Or maybe it's not a song?

Jin mentioned another album but the timing is tight to squeeze it in before June.

Then the HYYH 10th Anniversary in April, whatever that may entail. A retrospective perhaps?

Attempting to predict how their discharge days will play out is difficult. Jin and Hobi splitting up to meet Namjoon and Tae at their respective bases? And then all four of them head to Jimin and Jungkook the next day to greet them as they exit their base? We wait with anticipation.

After the Boraholy month of June 2025, we expect group activities to ramp up. What those will be is anyone's guess. Weverse lives for sure. Also, dance practice videos. We expect new music. We also expect performances. Perhaps a one-off "we're baaAAAaack!" type concert? Or not. But performances of some sort. They've been looking forward so much to performing I can't see them waiting any longer than they have to for at least one performance somewhere, somehow.

And toward the end of 2025, a comeback album and the world tour announcement. May the odds be ever in your favor. Just kidding. I'm getting those tickets.

Our speculation continues... could new music consist of more subunits?

I could be wrong but I do not think they will revisit a Bon Voyage or In The Soop format. They might pick up Run BTS but it won’t be like it was before. I can’t even see them doing what Jin’s doing in many Run Jin episodes. Not as a group.

I think (I hope) that Yoongi picks up Suchwita again. I hope he does not change one iota of the format. He can address his incident again if he chooses, reiterate he apologized, paid his fine and now we’re moving on to live our big life. That’s it. I hope if this happens his first guest is BTS as a group.

Maybe that last thing is really wishful thinking on my part but even considering Yoongi might ditch Suchwita or change it just doesn’t align with who he is. He is a “fuck you” type of guy.

Anyway. 2025 has a promise of hope and happiness and relief and closure. But now, I think we all know to be wary, that anything can happen.

Bottomline to all of this, to wrap up the year and look forward to the new year is that BTS is COMING BACK. SEVEN MEMBERS STRONG.

The reality is, it will be three years from that day back in 2022, when we finally see them as a group again. The members are slowly becoming more active. We have less than six months to wait and we know how fast that can go. 163 days left for Jimin and Jungkook, 162 for Namjoon and Tae, 173 left for Yoongi.

We must enjoy every moment we can until June 2025 and hope for the best! FIGHTING.

103 notes · View notes

ioniansunsets · 1 year ago

Note

i discovered your blog today and i have a scenario in mind that i have to share with you!

could you write a Heartsteel!Kayn request with K/DA!reader? — headcanons, fic or even the two of them talking on discord; it could be anything! — if you want to ignore it, i will understand, dear.

✖ Heartsteel!Kayn with K/DA!Reader ✖

✖ Word Count: 1.1k

✖ Tags: Established R/S

✖ A/N: I'm also going with headcanon of the idol thing where they try not to get caught in public together to avoid gossip but people somehow ship you guys and speculate anyway teehee ITS CUTE!!!!! I'm also pretending you guys got together after he joined Heartsteel so its after he got removed from his old band.also PARANOIA DROP IN 10 HOURS LETS GO TEAM!!!!!!!! I LOVE HEARTSTEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

----

xxxx On Tour xxxx

- It sucked so bad! It was touring season and the both of you guys were busy. All your time together were quick video calls over Discord and sporadic updates via message. It wasn't a secret to your bandmates at least so your respective bands did try their best to give you space. Quiet moments in dressing rooms to call each other were now your small moments of peace between practice sets and live shows.

- Somehow still finding ways to love each other apart. Kayn getting Akali to buy you some chocolates from him. You pleading Alune to help you send Kayn some flowers after his show. (She's a sucker for romance so she lovingly helps you.) Or the way he would spend money getting someone to deliver dinner to you after a long show.

- If only one of you guys are touring, the other totally pays and watches all the livestreams and tries to pop by to shows! You're performing 3h from him? He's begging your manager to let him drop by. Waiting for you backstage to congratulate you on your hard work.

- If you're the one waiting for Kayn backstage he always visibly lights up. He tries to look cool and badass on stage but when its after a good show, seeing you wave at him in the halls, his heart soars! He runs over, pulling you in for a tight hug. " Did you hear me! I was good today wasn't I!" He'd smile proud, giving you a kiss as he fishes for compliments. There is no approval he craves more than your own.

- The other boys are surprisingly nice about it, no one really makes fun of Kayn for being so excited to see you (other than Ezreal). They treat you as one of the band, giving you VIP passes to pop by their shows. And you do the same for them! When possible you slip their manager some VIP tickets to your show for them to sneak in. A mutual understanding from both groups to protect you and Kayn from media.

- Pre-debut Heartsteel, Kayn has also went to almost all your shows, front row every time and surprisingly he always tries to match you hair color for the tour. You have bright blue for tour? So does he. Its blonde now? He's the same. Kayn just thinks its kinda cute to safely match with you in someway shape or form, it is just a small thing that paparazzi wouldn't pick up on so easily since so many other fans do it too.

xxxx Off Stage xxxx

- A supportive power couple, you two help each other out with band activities off stage. You aid him when he practices singing. Kayn giving you tips on how to get keep a good rhythm in your verses, and is also a personal cheerleader for dance practices. You'd help him get connections to other companies that K/DA has collabed with, trying to help Heartsteel succeed! Kayn helps out in his own ways too, sometimes playing tunes in his room for you to sing to. It is all really sweet.

- When he drops by your studio its adorable, it was before Heartsteel's debut and shortly after the peak of KD/A's release. Kayn trying to hide from paparazzi for your sake as he sneaks in through the back. Always in a different cap and sunglasses that he stole from Ezreal, he would wait in the practice room, sitting in a corner and cheering whenever you successfully get a dance move down. The other members don't seem to mind him much, he's now a common presence in the studio. The other girls seem fond of him, happy that you have someone so supportive by your side.

- You try to do the same between your busy training schedule too. Dropping by Kayn's place during band practice evenings, Yone always being the one to let you in since Kayn always sleeps in late. You'd bring snacks and a discerning ear. Your feedback being super useful as you're one of the few people Kayn actually listens to. What Aphelios or Sett say would take multiple attempts and a lot of effort to get through to Kayn, as such, the rest of the gang keep trying to get you to push him to not try to squeeze a "totally sick line" into the rap bridge.

- He doesn't show it off but Kayn has all your merch, you offer to give it to him but he refuses, something about manly pride and supporting his partner, he will spend his own money and time fighting with other fans to buy your merch. A lightstick by his bed, your album on his shelf. A limited edition photocard safely stacked in a top loader on his table (he doesn't have a wallet or else he would totally bring it around.)

- You do the same for him, as one of Heartsteel's first fans you own some of their original merch, simple tees with just their logo, a average blank CD with " Paranoia KAYN MIX" scrawled on in messy marker, they are all your treasured possessions. Kayn even let you keep some of his guitar picks, you have one with a hole punched in as a necklace that you wear when apart from him. Your one secret? You have CDs from when he was in his old band, only the album that he was included in of course, but you don't bring up how you were secretly a fan from his early career. - Sometimes you guys try to go out on dates, risky but fun! 3am walks at the beach, alone together as he plays the acoustic guitar for you by the waves as you sing. Expensive private room dinners at secluded restaurants, walking in, both of you with your hair temporarily dyed black with hair spray dye to try and avoid attention. Small things. Fun things. - It was a little embarrassing when rumors first circulated. Fans somehow finding it cute that Heartsteel can be seen at your shows or how sometimes K/DA gets spotted backstage at Heartsteel concerts. They started to ship members together and when a photo of Kayn looking at you with a soft loving smile was snapped, the internet went wild! *Isn't it cute how they can get Kayn to smile that way!* *Ah! It should be me I want to be them so bad!!!!* Kayn would never admit it to you but he likes all the TikTok video edits of the two of you together, he thinks its really cute unironically.

#THIS TOOK A WHILE I WAS SO BRAIN EMPTY #i only knew i wanted them to wait backstage for each other #IM GLAD I GOT SOME HEADCANONS OUT #its really cute tbh #Anon Answer #WHY ARE ALL MY ASKS KAYN HEARTSTEEL LMAO YALL #Kayn x Reader #Shieda Kayn #KaynLeague #Heartsteel!Kayn #Kayn League #Kayn LoL #HEADCANONS #League of Legends Headcanons #K/DA Reader

422 notes · View notes