#sorry if i sounded standoffish i was in a mood haha

[medium-sized-carlos]

In hindsight staying out and waiting for a red flag was the right call, and maybe you're right and max never had any intention of pitting until they red flagged it (like poor george wanted to do). But hindsight is wonderful, and McLaren would also have looked stupid if they didn't pit under the VSC and the red never came, and both drivers crashed out because it was too wet for their worn out tyres.

I definitely agree that McLaren have been fumbling strategy a lot this year though, it's been so long since they've been battling up front it's like they've forgotten how to do it. I mean, in 2008 when they last won a championship Oscar's race engineer was competing in the Olympics 😂

And yeah McLaren ask the driver's opinions way too often. The mental load on the drivers must be huge, especially in wet conditions where it seems like they're all just desperately trying not to crash (or trying not to die, like Ollie said 😬). The team have the bigger picture and computer simulations and multiple really smart people whose only job is to do strategy, imo they should just tell the drivers what to do and let them concentrate on driving (and all the other stuff they have to do to manage the car).

I need people to know that "Max was lucky with the red flag" and "Max is very talented and did an amazing job" are both statements that can be true at the same time.

[ethereousdelirious]

awright I got a challenge for you

This prompt with Elias and Peter/Archive staff/other. Could be difficult to get in character but I love how you write sick!Elias so if anyone could do it it’s you ^_^. Also I’m feeling sad and need some Elias snz but you’re totally not obligated to do shit if you don’t want to <3

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[I have no idea what submissions even look like on the dash any more hahaha anyway, that’s what this is]

Done! Sorry that took so long haha. Hope you like!!!! thank you for the request <3 <3

The door to Elias' office was a sturdy thing, solid oak with real brass handles that locked with a matching key. Even without the benefit of the Eye, the lock was largely useless, as his mortal subordinates knew better than to come barging into his office and his superhuman peers paid no heed to something as petty as a locked door. 

He also knew how much Elias hated being interrupted or having his time wasted, which was exactly what Peter was there to do. And after all, true loneliness needed reminders of company to make the sting of solitude all the more keen. Elias, powerful as he was, would never truly succumb to the Lonely, but Peter was sure his attempt would annoy Elias all the more.

He phased into Elias' office and waited.

Elias did not look up, but his shoulders stiffened, the fabric of his shirt drawing taut over the clenched muscles. "Are you familiar with the adage 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'?" he snapped, turning over a sheet of paper. He sniffed and snatched a tissue out of the box at the corner of his desk.

Peter tracked the motion with his eyes but did not process it right away. He let himself materialize, a benign smile on his face. "Come now, Elias, haven't you missed me? Haven't you been lonely?"

Elias ignored the teasing, folded the tissue into quarters, and gently wiped his nose. "How about 'familiarity breeds contempt'?" he said. "Have you heard that one?"

"That one does sound familiar," Peter said. He leaned in, lowered his voice to a whisper. "We'll have to be careful not to get too familiar."

Finally, Elias looked at him. His dark eyes were as piercing and unsettling as ever, but the effect was slightly dimmed by the dark half-circle under each of them. "What do you want?" Elias demanded, ending the sentence with a congested huff.

"Just thought I'd drop in on my old friend," Peter said without breaking eye contact.

"Look," Elias started, running his pointer finger up and down the bridge of his nose. "I'm not in the mood. I'm very busy, I have a c--" He cut himself off with a surprisingly explosive sneeze that made his teeth click together, and then another. “Eh’tsch! H’tsch! I have a-- Ehh’SCHF!”

Ah, so he was sick. Peter watched this with all the wide-eyed serenity of a cherub. "Oh, dear. What do you have?"

"A cold," Elias said through gritted teeth, one hand caressing the underside of his ribcage through his shirt. The tissue he'd been holding was now clenched tightly in his fist. Sniffling pointedly and glaring at Peter, he blew his nose. "Did I mention I have work to do?"

A strange mix of amusement and concern twisted in Peter' chest. "Are you sure you should be working?" He leaned in and placed the back of his hand to Elias' forehead and Elias, despite himself, did not pull away.  "No fever," Peter said, satisfied.

Elias jerked his head to the side and sneezed, caught so off guard that he didn't even have time to cover his face. “Hh’tschff!” He paused before opening his eyes. "Do excuse me," he said, momentarily forgetting to be rude and standoffish. With stiff, calculated motions, he picked up his fountain pen and began to write on one a legal pad.

Peter was quiet for a long moment, studying Elias, who refused to look up. He was pale and had to breathe through his mouth. It was pathetic in exactly the right way to tug Peter's heartstrings. He just wanted to wrap Elias up in a good jumper and give him toast and tea.

"Come on, Elias," Peter said, "you can take one day off."

"Of course I can, Elias said, in a voice slurred by congestion. "I just don't need to." He rubbed absentmindedly at a raw spot on his nose. "Contrary to popular belief, I do actually work, and I certainly don't need a day off just because of a few sneezes."

"Oh, but you look so miserable," Peter said.

"Well, then," said Elias, turning to look him in the eye. "Why don't you take a page out of my book and watch the show?"

"Elias, I really don't think you know how pitiful you look."

Elias turned over another paper on his desk at random. "Do tell." Another sneeze wracked his frame. He sighed through his mouth, his free hand tensing into a fist.

"Bless you, by the way," Peter said, sensing that he was losing this battle. Elias always had been stubborn. "You need some tea, I think."

"Or some quiet," Elias said back. "Look, if it will make you feel better, you can…" He looked around for some errand to send Peter on.

"I'm listening."

“Hhh’chf!”

"Bless you." Elias sighed and dragged his hands down his face. Peter imagined his sinuses were throbbing. "Come on, Elias, let me look after you. Let's have one day of normalcy."

"I don't want normalcy," Elias protested, though he didn't sound as angry as Peter would have expected. "Normalcy got me this." He gestured to himself, his watery eyes and pink, irritated nose.

"Well," said Peter, settling into one of the leather armchairs on the far side of Elias' desk, "I think I'll stay here and keep an eye on you."

"As long as you're quiet about it," Elias said, and Peter could have sworn he was smiling.