#the internet has peaked for today | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

cressidagrey · 2 months ago

Text

The Queen of Romantasy and the Race Car Prince - Chapter 17

Pairing: Lando Norris x Elizabeth "Lizzie" Treshton (Original Character)

Summary:

Elizabeth Treshton—bestselling romantasy author, queen of fae heartbreak, and sworn devotee of a carefully structured routine—never expected her service dog to abandon protocol and diagnose a Formula 1 driver with something. But that’s exactly what happens when Mara the wonder-dog ditches Lizzie’s side to aggressively alert to none other than Lando Norris in the middle of a coffee shop.

Warnings and Notes:

Mention of epilepsy and service animals. I don't myself suffer from epilepsy, so I asked my IRL friend, who thankfully was nice enough to let me ask her all the questions I could come up with. The rest I asked Reddit. So everything that's wrong...that's totally my fault and not on purpose.

This has literally all the worst things the internet has to offer: Ableism, Sexisms, Toxic Media, horrible journalism, death threats...I am pretty sure I am missing some of it.

As always big thanks to @llirawolf , who listens to me ramble

6 July 2024 - Silverstone GP, Quali Day

YouTube Transcript – Silverstone 2024 – Lando Norris Post-Qualifying Interview

Interviewer: “Lando, solid qualifying today. But I have to ask—the paddock is absolutely buzzing because you’ve brought someone special this weekend. This is the first time we’ve seen you publicly with your girlfriend. What made Silverstone the right place?”

Lando: [laughs, rubbing the back of his neck] “Yeah, I guess I couldn’t keep her a secret forever, could I? Silverstone just made sense. It’s home for me, and it’s a special race, so... felt like the right time.”

Interviewer: “People were definitely surprised! Most fans had no idea you were even dating someone, let alone Elizabeth Treshton, a bestselling author. Was keeping it private a conscious decision?”

Lando: “Yeah, for sure. I mean, I like keeping my personal life… well, personal. But also, Lizzie’s got her own career, her own thing, and I wanted to make sure she was comfortable before anything went public. It’s a bit different from racing, but she’s got just as many passionate fans as we do in F1.”

Interviewer: “Speaking of passion—social media is having a meltdown over the fact that her dog, Mara, is at Silverstone wearing a Quadrant bandana that matches your helmet. Can you confirm if this was planned, or is this just peak marketing?”

Lando: [grinning] “Liz just thought it’d be funny. And honestly, it is. They are my good luck charm.”

Interviewer: “One last question before we let you go—now that she’s made her paddock debut, should we expect to see Elizabeth at more races?”

Lando: [shrugs, smirking] “We’ll see. I mean, she’s got books to write, but maybe if I ask nicely.”

Interviewer: “Alright, we’ll hold you to that. Thanks, Lando, and good luck tomorrow!”

Comments:

@/RomantasyQueen: Wait wait wait—Lando called her Liz??? Since WHEN???

@/TwitchChamps: What if he’s the only one who calls her Liz? What if that’s like...their thing???

@/RomantasyReign: Lando Norris dating THE Elizabeth Treshton is the plot twist of the century. This crossover is feeding me in ways I didn’t know I needed.

@/TifosiTears: Not only is Lizzie a Ferrari fan, but she’s dating a McLaren driver??? The potential for absolute chaos in this relationship is INSANE, and I’m here for it.

@/GatekeepingGremlin: Ugh, why does every driver suddenly need to have a famous girlfriend? This feels so staged.

@/F1Bookworm: We’ve been sobbing over tragic, brooding fae princes for YEARS, and now Lizzie is with Lando, the most golden retriever boyfriend to ever exist. I love this for her.

@/MaraStanAccount: Mara being the true star of the paddock is the best part of this. Someone get this dog a tiny Quadrant hoodie ASAP.

@/BitterAndSalty: She’s a writer, big deal. What does she actually have to do with F1?

@/PitLaneGossip: The fact that Lando admitted Lizzie’s got fans just as passionate as F1 ones??? He understands the romantasy girlies are unhinged and will defend their queen. We’ve already claimed him as a book boyfriend now.

@/ConspiracyQueen: Funny how she’s suddenly at Silverstone and now everyone is talking about her. Feels like a marketing stunt, tbh.

@/WAGWatch: I love how Lizzie isn’t even a regular WAG. She’s an author. Like, imagine dating a race car driver and still being the most interesting person in the room.

@/LandoFangirl69: Lando soft-launching Lizzie was one thing, but Mara getting a full rebrand as an F1 celebrity dog was NOT on my 2024 bingo card.

7 July 2024 - Silverstone GP, Race Day

YouTube Transcript - FIA Post-Race Press Conference – Silverstone

Attendees: Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen

Moderator: “Next question.”

Interviewer: [Clears throat.] “Lando, your relationship with Elizabeth Treshton has been in the spotlight. Given her epilepsy, do you ever worry about how that might affect your career and the demands of F1?”

Lando: [Blinks, frowning.] “Sorry, what?”

Interviewer: “Well, F1 is a high-pressure environment—constant travel, long hours, high stress. Do you ever consider whether being with someone who has a condition like that is… sustainable?”

Lewis: [Turns his head sharply.] “Excuse me?”

Max: [Squinting at the interviewer.] “Did you really just say that?”

Lando: [Slowly, voice dangerously calm.] “Are you asking me if Liz’s epilepsy is a problem for me?”

Interviewer: “No, no, I just meant—”

Lando: [Flatly.] “Because that’s what it sounds like.”

Interviewer: [Awkward chuckle.] “I meant in terms of logistics.”

Max: [Muttering.] “Logistics. Unreal.”

Lando: [Deadpan.] “Logistics.”

Interviewer: “Like—does it make things harder for you?”

Lando: [Leaning forward slightly.] “Harder for me? I’m not the one with epilepsy. She is. She’s the one managing it. And she does. Every day. It’s not an issue. It’s just part of her life.”

Interviewer: “But with the unpredictability—”

Lando: [Firmly.] “Life is unpredictable. That’s not a reason to not love someone.”

Lewis: [Shaking his head.] “I’ve heard a lot of nonsense in these press conferences, but this is a new low.”

Max: [Scoffs, crossing his arms.] “Yeah. This is disgusting.”

Interviewer: [Looking increasingly uncomfortable.] “I didn’t mean to imply—”

Lando: [Interrupting.] “You did imply it. And I don’t get it. You wouldn’t ask this if she had diabetes or asthma. Why is epilepsy different?”

Lewis: [Firmly.] “It’s not.”

Max: [Pointedly.] “Maybe we should be asking why you think it is.”

(A tense silence. The interviewer looks like they want the ground to swallow them whole. Lando exhales sharply, jaw tight.)

Lando: [Flatly.] “Liz is my girlfriend. I love her. End of story.”

Moderator: [Hurriedly.] “Next question.”

Comments:

@/F1Fanatic99: Lando shutting that down IMMEDIATELY. No hesitation. No dodging. Just straight-up ‘I love her. End of story.’ That’s a man right there.

@/GridGossip: You can literally see Lando getting angrier with every follow-up question. This interviewer really thought they were onto something.

@/WheelToWheel: Max saying ‘this is disgusting’ and Lewis calling it a new low. They didn’t just stand by—they backed Lando and Lizzie. That’s respect.

@/McLarenUpdates: The way Lando just flat-out refused to give them any kind of negative soundbite about Lizzie’s epilepsy. That’s love.

@/EpilepsyAwareness: It’s rare to see someone in the public eye so openly defend a partner with epilepsy like this. Lando handled this perfectly. Thank you for using your platform the right way.

@/AlwaysDR3: I mean, the interviewer had a point?? F1 drivers have crazy schedules. It’s a valid concern.

@/SilverstoneStan: Lando saying Lizzie’s epilepsy isn’t hard for him… yeah, but he’s definitely making sacrifices. He should’ve just been honest.

@/SpeedDemon19: No, but actually… that interviewer should be ashamed. What an awful question to ask.

@/F1TeaSpill: I like Lizzie but let’s be real, she’s a liability for his career. The press will always focus on this now.

@/McLarenSuperFan: If she ever has a seizure during a race weekend and it distracts him, then what?

@/MaxsOrangeArmy: That interviewer was so desperate for Lando to say something awful, and instead, he got a masterclass in 'how not to be an ableist idiot.'

@/PitStopChaos: Mara (Lizzie’s dog) growling at the TV somewhere, I just know it.

@/ChaosInTurn1: Not Lando making this interviewer question every life decision they’ve ever made.

@/F1Wifey: The way Lando did not let them frame epilepsy as some kind of obstacle for him. He kept the focus on Lizzie and how she handles it. That’s how you love someone.

@/WheelToWheelGirl: Lewis and Max backing him instantly?? No hesitation?? It’s the kind of solidarity we love to see.

@/EpilepsyAdvocacy: The amount of people acting like epilepsy makes someone unworthy of love and stability is disgusting. Thank you, Lando, for not entertaining that nonsense.

@/RacingLogic: No one is saying he shouldn’t love her, but c’mon, it’s a fair question. F1 drivers have insane schedules.

@/ToxicMcLarenFan: Lando could’ve just said ‘we manage it well’ and moved on instead of acting like the interviewer just insulted his ancestors.

@/SilverstoneElite: I get that he’s in love or whatever, but acting like this isn’t a factor in his career is just naive.

@/PaddockInsider: Bet McLaren wishes they could tell him to not be so public about this. Sponsors might not like the drama.

@/PitLaneDrama: The moment Lando said ‘logistics?’ I felt the temperature in that room drop.

@/FIAConspiracyTheories: Can’t wait for the Netflix edit where they make it look like this ruined Lando’s season.

@/FastAndFearless: The way he shut that down so fast? He’s not just defending Lizzie, he’s making it very clear that ableism won’t be tolerated.

@/EpilepsyAwareness: Public figures treating epilepsy like a burden is so common. Seeing Lando refuse to play into that narrative means so much.

@/DriveItLikeItsHot: ’Life is unpredictable. That’s not a reason to not love someone.’ I AM SOBBING IN THE CLUB.

@/McLarenMadness: This interviewer really expected Lando to go, 'Yeah, you’re right, I should probably dump her' ???

@/F1GirlfriendGoals: Lando: ‘She makes my life better.’ Me: Crying in single.

@/CasualF1Fan: That interviewer woke up and chose ableism live on air and Lando was having NONE of it.

@/PurelyObjective: Lando’s getting defensive over nothing. It was a logistics question, not a personal attack.

@/UnbotheredMcLarenFan: I feel like this was an overreaction? He could’ve just said, ‘We make it work’ and moved on.

@/StrictlyBusiness: If you don’t think sponsors consider things like this, you’re naive. This is a discussion, whether you like it or not.

@/MaxFanButConfused: McLaren PR must be watching this with their heads in their hands like 'oh god, here we go again.'

@/MaxRageMode: Lando really said “You’re not gonna get the soundbite you want.

@/LandoSimps: Lando is so in love with Lizzie. He didn’t even hesitate before going to war for her.

@/WAGsInFormation: That interviewer really tried to frame epilepsy as a reason not to love someone. What year is it??

@/PaddockSpice: If looks could kill, Max and Lewis would’ve been the co-conspirators in The Murder of the Silverstone Interviewer.

@/FIAClownShow: If you listen closely, you can hear the exact moment McLaren PR started hyperventilating. @/McLarenPanicDepartment: “DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHETHER BEING WITH HER IS SUSTAINABLE??” Bro. That is insane to say out loud.

@/MaraForPresident: Mara better be getting so many extra treats for emotionally supporting Lizzie through this.

Is Lando Norris’ Relationship Hurting His Brand? By: James Carter, The Racing Report

When Lando Norris stormed to yet another podium at Silverstone, the home crowd erupted in cheers. The young Brit is one of Formula 1’s most promising stars—charming, talented, and a marketing goldmine. But while his on-track performance continues to impress, his off-track choices are raising eyebrows.

Namely, his relationship with fantasy author Lizzie Treshton.

It’s no secret that Formula 1 drivers tend to date models, influencers, and celebrities—women who embody the glamorous, jet-set lifestyle that comes with being in the pinnacle of motorsport. Treshton, by contrast, is an author of romantasy novels, a niche genre that, while popular, hardly screams luxury brand ambassador. More concerning, however, is the ongoing discourse surrounding her epilepsy, her service dog, and the apparent PR nightmare that comes with dating someone so fundamentally unaligned with the F1 image.

Let’s be honest—Lando Norris’ schedule is relentless. Grand Prix weekends involve constant travel, late nights, high-intensity racing, and overwhelming media obligations. In short, it’s not an environment suited to someone with a medical condition like epilepsy. While Norris has passionately defended his girlfriend against critics, one has to ask: is this sustainable?

It’s an uncomfortable question, but a necessary one. Relationships require compromise, and when one partner’s lifestyle is inherently at odds with the other’s career, problems arise. Norris insists that Treshton’s epilepsy “isn’t hard” for him, but realistically, how could it not be? He’s bringing her into an environment full of flashing lights, loud noises, and extreme stress—hardly ideal conditions for someone with a neurological disorder.

Beyond the logistics, there’s also the question of image. McLaren has spent years cultivating Norris as an approachable yet aspirational figure, a brand-friendly athlete with widespread appeal. That image is now being dragged into online firestorms, as Norris’ fanbase—usually one of the most engaged and loyal in motorsport—has become divided.

While Norris and Treshton’s relationship may be personal, in F1, nothing is truly private. The controversy surrounding Treshton has only intensified in recent weeks, from heated online debates to Norris’ now-viral post-race interview where he shut down a journalist for asking if her condition made his career harder. While some fans saw his response as commendable, others questioned why such discussions were necessary in the first place.

One thing is clear: Treshton is not a neutral presence in Norris’ career. Her online presence, her outspoken defense against critics, and even her service dog (yes, a Labrador now features in Norris’ F1 orbit) have sparked endless debates. The internet discourse isn’t just about Norris’ driving anymore—it’s about her.

And that’s the problem.

Lando Norris is 25 years old, at the peak of his career, and one of the most marketable drivers in Formula 1. The last thing he needs is unnecessary distractions. His fans adore him, his sponsors invest millions in him, and McLaren is banking on him to lead the team into its next championship era.

But in a sport where image is everything, is he making the right personal choices?

Time will tell. But one thing is certain: this relationship isn’t just about romance—it’s about reputation. And Lando Norris may soon have to decide which one matters more.

Comments:

@/F1Fangirl88: Imagine thinking a woman having epilepsy is a ‘PR nightmare.’ This article is disgusting.

@/PaddockInsider69: They have a point. F1 is a demanding career, and Lizzie’s health issues aren’t exactly an easy thing to manage. It’s a fair question.

@/McLaren4Life: Lizzie is literally just existing and these guys are acting like she’s some kind of controversy. Lando loves her. That should be the end of the discussion.

@/BrandManagerAnon: Lando is a brand, whether fans like it or not. And Lizzie is making that brand messy. This isn’t about love—it’s about business.

@/MaxFan_33: So women in F1 can only be models or influencers? God forbid a man date someone smart and successful in her own field.

@/EpilepsyAwarenessUK: The ableism is off the charts. Having epilepsy doesn’t make you a burden or a liability. It’s a medical condition, not a PR scandal.

@/McLarenPRRep: F1 is a high-profile world. Not every girlfriend can handle it, and honestly, Lizzie brings more drama than she’s worth.

@/FastCarsHotGirls: No offense but Lando could have literally any woman in the world and he chooses some nerdy author? Make it make sense.

@/WDC_OrNothing: Not saying she’s bad for him, but you do have to wonder if all this online drama is a distraction.

@/AntiRomantasyClub: Her books are cringe, she has zero charisma, and now she’s bringing a dog into the paddock? Lando deserves better.

@/GeorgeRussellThirstClub: This is why we don’t let men write articles.

@/MaraTheLabradorFan: DELETE THIS ARTICLE OR MARA WILL FIND YOU.

@/F1HotTakeKing: Not saying Lando should break up with her, but is he really thinking long-term? He’s 25, at his peak—does he want to spend his prime years worrying about his girlfriend’s medical issues?

@/GridGossip101: Look, we all love a good romance story, but let’s be real��Lizzie doesn’t exactly scream ‘F1 Girlfriend Material.’ She’s not glamorous, she doesn’t do grid walks, she’s not a model or an influencer. What does she bring to the table?

@/PRGuruAnon: If I were Lando’s management, I’d be deeply concerned. Fans love a cute WAG, but when your girlfriend starts trending for all the wrong reasons, that’s bad optics. Epilepsy is tragic, but F1 is about strength, not struggle.

@/RealTalkMotorsport: Lando’s brand is cool, fun, and youthful. Lizzie’s brand is book nerd who doesn’t even like clubbing or gaming. It’s like watching someone date their high school librarian.

@/GridRumorsDaily: Lando is a professional athlete in peak physical condition. Can we talk about how unfair it is that he’s dating someone who might not always be able to support his lifestyle? Relationships are a two-way street.

@/AnonymousPaddockInsider: Not saying McLaren should step in, but if I were Zak Brown, I’d be strongly advising Lando to rethink his public image. This isn’t just dating—this is business.

@/F1ImageConsultant: F1 is about performance, speed, and excellence. Lizzie’s whole vibe is soft, bookish, and… honestly kinda boring. This isn’t a good match.

@/GridGirlsAndGlamour: Look at the top WAGs—models, influencers, businesswomen. Lizzie writes fantasy books and brings a dog to races. Is this really the standard now?

@/AlphaMaleMotorsport: Men in high-performance careers need high-performance partners. I’m sorry, but a woman with a chronic illness and a stack of romance novels isn’t it.

@/RedBullInsider69: Lizzie being here is cute for now, but let’s see how long it lasts. We all know these drivers eventually upgrade.

YouTube Transcript – The Apex Take Episode 236

Hosts: Mark Daniels and Ryan Foley Title: Lando’s Girlfriend: Not a Model, Not an Asset?

Mark Daniels: All right, boys, let’s talk about Lando Norris and his, uh… let’s call it an interesting taste in women. (leans back, smirks)

Ryan Foley: Oh yeah, the one who writes those, what is it, fantasy romance books? (raises eyebrow, glances at notes like he can’t believe this is real)

Mark Daniels: Yeah, yeah, the “romantasy” or whatever they call it. (laughs, shaking head) Fae warriors and soulmates and—dude, I read a summary of one, and I swear it’s like a fever dream for lonely cat ladies.

Ryan Foley: (snorting) Right? Like, Lando could have anyone. Models, actresses, influencers—the kind of women you usually see around F1. (gestures vaguely, as if motioning to an imaginary lineup of supermodels) And instead, he’s with some chick who writes books about fairy kings and, what, magical smut?

Mark Daniels: Listen, I’m sure she’s a nice girl, (mockingly raises hands in defense) but let’s be honest—she doesn’t really fit the F1 WAG mold, does she?

Ryan Foley: (blinks slowly, smirks) Not at all. I mean, no offense, but when you think of an F1 driver’s girlfriend, you picture a certain kind of woman. You know, glamorous, stylish, jet-setting with him to every race. (shrugs, leans forward like he’s about to drop some deep wisdom) And instead, this one’s at home writing… whatever the hell she writes. And she’s definitely not doing runway shows in Monaco, let’s put it that way.

Mark Daniels: Yeah, I saw people trying to hype her up like, “She’s so successful in her own right!” (air quotes, exaggerated eye roll) But let’s be real, man—she writes books for teenagers who want to date elves. That’s not exactly Victoria’s Secret material. (laughs under breath)

Ryan Foley: And let’s not even get into the whole epilepsy thing. (leans back, crosses arms like he’s about to say something so reasonable) Like, I don’t wanna be that guy, but dude, how is that not a problem for Lando? The guy’s a professional athlete, constantly traveling, constantly under pressure—does he really need the extra stress? (shakes head, looking “concerned”)

Mark Daniels: That’s what I don’t get. I mean, yeah, he says it’s not a big deal, but come on. (tilts head, voice dripping with skepticism) She’s had seizures before! What happens if she has one in the middle of a flight? Or during a huge race weekend? (shrugs like he’s just being “practical”)

Ryan Foley: (leans closer, like he’s breaking it down logically) Exactly! Look, I get that he’s into her, but at some point, you have to wonder if it’s practical. Dating in F1 isn’t normal dating. These guys don’t have time for relationships that require a ton of extra effort. (shakes head, gesturing like it’s just common sense) And you know there are plenty of women who’d make his life easier.

Mark Daniels: (laughs, shaking head again) Right? Like, dude, you’re one of the most eligible bachelors in motorsport. You don’t have to date someone who writes about magical fae prince soulmates. You could just… I don’t know, date an actual model? (mock-thinks, looking up at the ceiling like it’s a groundbreaking idea)

Ryan Foley: It’s wild, man. (scoffs, shakes head) The guy’s got millions of options, and he’s out here choosing a book nerd with a health condition. Make it make sense.

Mark Daniels: Hey, maybe he’s just a nice guy. (grins, barely hiding the condescension) Or maybe he’s in too deep and doesn’t realize it yet.

Ryan Foley: We’ll see how long it lasts. (leans back, smirking like he knows something everyone else doesn’t)

Comments:

@/F1HotTakes: Imagine dedicating an hour-long podcast to making fun of a woman who’s literally more successful than you. Y’all really sat down and said, ‘Let’s embarrass ourselves today.’

@/BookishF1Fan: Lizzie Treshton is a New York Times bestselling author with a global fanbase, and these guys run a podcast with 12 listeners and a ring light from Amazon. Maybe let’s not act like she’s the one who’s out of place here?

@/SpeedDemon99: So we’re just gonna pretend women in F1 HAVE to be models or influencers now? God forbid a driver dates someone with a real career.

@/FaeQueenLizzie: This is so funny because Lizzie’s books sell millions of copies. Like, she could probably buy their entire podcast setup with a week’s worth of royalties. They’re out here roasting her while she’s out-earning them in her sleep

@/McLaren4Life: The fact that they’re talking about ‘practical’ dating like Lando’s supposed to choose his girlfriend based on convenience… bro, it’s his relationship, not a logistics issue for DHL.

@/EpilepsyAwareness: I don’t wanna be that guy, BUT—’ Congrats, you’re exactly that guy. Imagine thinking epilepsy makes someone unworthy of love. Clown behavior.

@/F1Fanatic23: The misogyny, the ableism, the absolute lack of self-awareness… this podcast really has it all. Can’t wait for Lando to ignore their existence while winning podiums.

@/RealTalkF1: Look, they could’ve phrased it better, but they’re not wrong. Lando’s lifestyle is crazy—dating someone with a serious medical condition is complicated.

@/BigManRacing: Why is everyone mad? They just said what people were already thinking. Lizzie doesn’t fit the usual WAG mold. That’s just facts.

@/TruthHurts: Everyone’s so sensitive. Not every comment about a woman is misogyny. They weren’t even being that harsh.

@/WAGsAreForModels: It’s called having standards. F1 drivers date models and actresses, not some chick who writes about elf sex. Be serious.

@/LandoDeservesBetter69: Not to be rude, but they’re kinda right. Lando could have literally anyone. Why settle?

@/NoMoreNepotism: Bet she only got famous because of Lando. No one was talking about her books before this. Typical clout-chaser behavior.

@/F1BookClub: Imagine being so insecure that you need to dunk on a woman who’s objectively more successful than you. Anyway, y’all should read An Autumn of Fire and Stone. Great book, would recommend.

@/LandoFan14: Lando: actually in love with Lizzie These guys: ‘But why isn’t she a model?’ Get a life, man.

YouTube Transcript – Full Throttle & Fiction, Episode 32

Hosts: Tessa Lane & Jamie Foster

Title: Lando Norris, Lizzie Treshton & The Romantasy/F1 Crossover of Our Dreams

(Podcast intro music plays, fading out as the hosts settle in.)

Tessa Lane: Okay, listen. I know we’re all still emotionally recovering from this revelation, but we need to talk about how we are actually living in a dream crossover event.

Jamie Foster: We’re talking “Marvel meets Star Wars” level of unexpected but completely legendary crossover. Lando Norris, F1’s beloved chaos gremlin, is dating Lizzie Treshton, queen of romantasy and the woman who has personally ruined our lives with her books. (clutches chest dramatically)

Tessa Lane: I still can’t believe this is real. Like, my two completely separate hyperfixations just decided to collide and make the internet combust.

Jamie Foster: (laughing) Same. I’m still trying to process it. Like, I spent years sobbing over her books, and now I find out she’s dating an F1 driver? And not just any F1 driver, but Lando Freaking Norris?

Tessa Lane: It’s actually the funniest thing ever because Lizzie—who writes about tragic, brooding fae princes and fated soulmates—is out here dating the human embodiment of a golden retriever. (laughs)

Jamie Foster: (grinning) And you just know that she’s mentally rewriting Lando as some kind of mischievous trickster fae lord who causes problems on purpose but in, like, a deeply endearing way.

Tessa Lane: Oh, 1000%. The next book she writes? The love interest is going to have “chaotic, drives really fast, makes bad jokes, but is secretly a sweetheart” energy. And we’ll all just know.

Jamie Foster: (mock serious) Lizzie, blink twice if Lando has started pitching plot ideas.

Tessa Lane: No, but actually. And can we talk about how people doubted her success? Like, some people were actually out here like, “Who is she?” as if this woman isn’t a New York Times bestselling author with millions of copies sold worldwide. (shakes head in disappointment)

Jamie Foster: Like, be serious. She’s out here building fantasy empires, and people want to act like she’s just some random? No, babes, she’s the moment. Some of us have been in the trenches with her books for years. We have suffered. We have cried. We have made fanart at 3 a.m. in emotional distress.

Tessa Lane: Her Twitter alone should’ve told people she was going to be a menace to the F1 world. She’s been unhinged for years, and now she has paddock access and a platform? We’ve already won.

Jamie Foster: Oh, she is going to thrive in this environment. Like, imagine her at a Grand Prix, just casually tweeting something like, “The real battle today is Charles vs. Carlos, but if either of them crash, I am writing them into my next book as cursed lovers destined for war.”

Tessa Lane: (wheezing) No, but let’s talk about the most important part of this entire situation—Mara. Lizzie’s Labrador service dog, aka the only WAG that matters.

Jamie Foster: Mara is a cultural reset. This dog is already more famous than half the grid. Like, she has fan edits. She has fan accounts. I saw someone tweet, “Mara could win a championship before Ferrari at this rate,” and I haven’t known peace since.

Tessa Lane: (mock gasps) Speaking of Ferrari… LIZZIE. IS. A. FERRARI. FAN. And not just casually. Like, she’s been ride or die for Ferrari since childhood. She’s a full-on Tifosi.

Jamie Foster: I just need to know… did she absolutely lose her mind when Lewis Hamilton announced he was moving to Ferrari? Did she faint? Did she ascend? Did she write a 10,000-word emotional essay about how this is the greatest thing to ever happen to the sport? Because I feel like she did.

Tessa Lane: Oh, she definitely had a meltdown. Like, I just imagine Lando coming home and finding her sitting in complete silence, staring at a Ferrari poster, just whispering, “Seven-time world champion. In red.”

Jamie Foster: (laughing) And meanwhile, Lando’s standing there like, “So… you’re gonna support me at McLaren, right?” And Lizzie just does not answer.

Tessa Lane: (grinning) She’s just like, “Babe, I love you, but this is bigger than us.”

Jamie Foster: Honestly, this entire thing is the best thing to happen to F1 pop culture in years. Final thoughts?

Tessa Lane: Lizzie Treshton is an icon. Lando is lucky. Mara is royalty. And the romantasy x F1 crossover is the serotonin boost we all needed.

Jamie Foster: Couldn’t have said it better myself. Now, everyone go pre-order Lizzie’s next book and prepare for the chaos she’s about to unleash in the paddock. (blows kiss to camera, grinning)

(Outro music fades in as the episode ends.)

Comments:

@/FaerieQueen89: I swear I opened this video thinking, “No way, this crossover is real,” and now I’m emotionally INVESTED. Lizzie Treshton writing romantasy by day and attending McLaren garage debriefs by night is the kind of duality I aspire to.

@/Mara4WDC: Mara being the first Labrador to achieve WAG status is actually the most important part of this. Somebody get her a tiny team jacket and a paddock pass.

@/TifosiTears: “Babe, I love you, but this is bigger than us.” SCREAMING The fact that Lizzie is a lifelong Ferrari fan and her fave driver is Lewis Hamilton makes this 1000x funnier. Lando fighting for his life against her deeply rooted Ferrari loyalty.

@/BookishChaos: Can’t wait for Lizzie’s next book where the broody, fae warrior prince just happens to have suspiciously Lando-esque traits. Like, “his eyes gleamed with mischief as he smirked, trouble always one step behind him.”

@/CertifiedMcLarenMenace: Lando: “You’re supporting me at McLaren, right?” Lizzie: intensely staring at a Ferrari poster “Seven-time world champion. In red.”

@/F1AndFantasyForever: I was today years old when I realized my two greatest hyperfixations could actually merge into one chaotic, beautiful mess. We are LIVING in the golden age.

@/ElvenKissesAndRaceCars: Romantasy book fans: crying over soulmates and prophecy-driven love stories F1 fans: crying over tire degradation and strategy calls Me, now realizing I can be BOTH: SOBBING IN ITALIAN

@/MaraStan69: Mara supremacy. She’s the real main character. Lizzie and Lando are just side quests in her journey to world domination.

@/LandoPlsConfirm: I need Lando to address this IMMEDIATELY. Does he know his girlfriend’s books have emotionally destroyed half the internet? Does he know we have trauma?

@/ChaosGremlinXL: I came for the F1 gossip. I stayed because now I need to read every book Lizzie has ever written.

@/MaxForMara: Someone please put Mara in a Ferrari cap so we can confirm which team she supports. This is IMPORTANT.

@/McLarenBookClub: If you had told me last year that one of the most successful romantasy authors on the planet would be dating Lando Norris, I would have laughed. And yet, here we are. The crossover NOBODY predicted, but EVERYONE needed.

@/FaerieTalesAndFastLaps: Lizzie going from writing about fae warriors to sitting in the McLaren garage like it’s totally normal… Ma’am, are you aware you are LIVING in a fantasy novel? The girl with epilepsy who was never supposed to have this life, thriving in a world of speed, chaos, and international fame. Like, GIVE US THE BOOK.

@/WitchesAndWheelTracks: Me: “I don’t have time for a new hyperfixation.” Also me: scrolling through every single Lizzie Treshton tweet and trying to find evidence of Lando references in her books

@/RedBullButMakeItRomantasy: The way she could write a book about the F1 grid as if they were a fantasy court and it would SELL. Max as the battle-worn fae king. Lando as the mischievous prince who never takes things seriously until he does. Charles as the tragic heir with a prophecy on his shoulders. IT WRITES ITSELF.

@/TifosiTrash: Lando really fell for a girl who would 1000% choose Ferrari in a heartbeat. The irony is delicious.

@/JustHereForMara: Mara being the unexpected star of this relationship is something I deeply respect. She’s not just a service dog, she’s a cultural icon.

@/RomantasyAndRacing: Lizzie fans: “She has changed our lives with her writing.” F1 fans: “She has changed our lives by making Lando’s life infinitely funnier.”

@/IlPredestinatoWife: CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT LIZZIE MET LEWIS HAMILTON. THIS WOMAN HAS BEEN A FERRARI FAN HER WHOLE LIFE. HER FAVORITE DRIVER IS LEWIS. DID SHE CRY? DID SHE PANIC? LANDO, GIVE US THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES.

@/ElvenQueenOfSpa: This woman has had multiple New York Times bestsellers, a legendary romantasy series, a loyal fanbase that would riot for her… and now she’s dating one of the biggest names in F1. She is the moment.

@/Gasly’sCroissant: Does this mean Lando is now legally required to read her books? I need this man live-reacting to An Autumn of Fire and Stone.

@/MaraForPaddockPass: Mara needs a tiny headset. I need Lando to carry her into the paddock like the royalty she is.

@/ChaosGoblinV2: Lando: “Babe, can you come to my race?” Lizzie: in a Ferrari shirt, holding a Lewis Hamilton book “Uhhhhh….”

@/KnightOfMcLaren: Her books are all about fate, destiny, and soulmates. I need to know if she secretly believes she and Lando are fated. I NEED ANSWERS.

@/SoftForSoulmates: Lando and Lizzie being a thing is proof that life is just a long, weird fantasy novel and we are all side characters.

333 notes · View notes

midnightshindig · 3 months ago

Note

allen x human reader hc’s?

Allen x Reader hcs

Probably my last one for today, apologies if it's a bit short!

I love this prompt and I love Allen ughhgfdaofjdgfof shout out s3e4 for literally having me foaming at the mouth

No S3 spoilers for this one!

He's surprisingly normal for an alien

Like, he brushes his teeth, showers, goes on dates, etc

but there's some cool things you get to introduce him to:

Concerts, are a big one, live entertainment isn't really feasible where he's from

But he looooves movies, and shows you all the best alien movies he grew up on

If you're a superhero, he loves training with you

We know Allen, he likes em strong

if not, he probably joins you on your preferred mode of exercise, if you do a sport or something, he'll get into it

You guys take couples boxing lessons together, and he picks it up really quickly

Now that he's on Earth and doesn't have to worry about a fear of PDA, and so he's alllll over that shit

he likes to hold your hand all the time like literally all the time HOLD THIS MANS HAND

that being said, he's also very gestural, so he's holding your hand with one hand and gesturing as he speaks with the other

it works fine enough for him

He loves to carry you, you humans are so lightweight!

Doesn't matter how big you are this guy is just throwing you around for fun

super sad to find out you can't breathe in space

so he settles for taking you flying within Earths limits

He's a big cuddler

takes up like your entire bed and has you lay on top of him

he enjoys it very much

likes to kiss the top of your head as you rest on him

there's something about your rythymic breathing that lulls his own body to sleep

Lots of human stuff is intriguing to him, like, for example: you dream?

He's never known another species to dream

And when you ask, you can't really explain why you dream, just that you do

So he gets like, really into dreams

he wants to analyze them and predict things with them he finds them FASCINATING

in the same way no Viltrumite would think of flying as a superpower- it's just how all Viltrumites work-- Humans don't think of dreaming as a power, just as a bodily function.

and he's sooooo intruiged

maybe a little jealous

so you start making up dreams and narrating them to him while he lays with his eyes closed, head in your lap

It's difficult to look good in photos with him

you know, because he's orange?

But you guys find good color combos and make it work

You guys look great <3

Meeting your parents is hilariously unhinged

Your mom is a little worried about the.... logistics.... of it all

while your dad tries so hard to treat him like a normal human it loops back into being rude

"So.... Allen.... have you considered how you'll have children?"

"MOMWHATTHEFUCK"

Allen can literally only laugh and cover his face with a hand in embarrassment "I mean- Unopans are compatible with a lot of species, I think if that's what Y/n and I wanna do, then it'll be fine"

oh my god this is so embarrassing

and your dad just gives Allen shrimp with the tail on, not explaining you have to take the tail off-

or maybe not bc he's just crunching those fuckers up oh my god

and everyone's a little grossed out

but it goes well, and they like him, and you guys have their approval

hooray

Allen sometimes feels bad that you plan all the dates (you don't mind, really) so he tries to plan you a date

back with the confederation, he was a pretty good cook

so he picks a recipe off the internet and makes it for you

But like. He can kind of eat anything

and it doesn't occur to him that eating raw meat could be.... bad for you?

So he gives you food poisoning and you have to go to the ER

but it's okayyyy you're alright, he feels terrible about it though

You guys are all in all a pretty low-key couple

You go to lunch at a diner together, stay home and see a movie, big cuddling people for sure

Allen Is SO Funny

but in that casual way where he cracks you up while folding laundry

like who cares that he's an alien this is peak domestic bliss

and he wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world

#invincible show #invincible season 3 #invincible #invincible fanfic #invincible x reader #allen the alien x reader #invincible allen x reader #allen x reader #invincible allen #allen the alien

325 notes · View notes

directdogman · 8 months ago

Note

Hi, I hope you're having a decent day! I'm sorry if this is an invasive set of questions - feel free not to answer - but do you still actively like DSaF as your own creation, or is it more of a "it was fun while it lasted but i outgrew it and it's for the best to leave it behind" kind of project? Do you ever regret making the games? If you knew they would get so popular, is there anything you would have changed about them? Is there anywhere I could read more of your writing.

It fluctuates a bit. These last couple of years, I've really just been sorta nostalgic for it. I've seen a lot of people discuss those games being a source of comfort during bad times in their lives, people talking about how much the characters mean to them and it's hard not to smile when you see that.

It's a funny thing for close friends of yours to see people WITH fanmade DSaF merch out in the wild, or to watch a random youtube video and being hit with a DSaF reference outta nowhere. It happens from time to time, even today. On a few occasions, I've even had a person reference my work to me in real life and not realize who they were talking to, believe it or not. It's really fun to play dumb and get someone to explain your work to you like you don't know what it is.

I certainly didn't think any of that would happen when I first made the series, or even during development. I think the normal assumption would be to look at DSaF as it exists now and assume its release was a peak for it, but believe it or not, the official discord only had 30 people in it shortly before 3 dropped! The archive listing of the series (reposted to a single page after the series ended) is now sitting at over 1.1 MILLION downloads.

People kinda assume the true heyday of something is when it's new, when it's fresh and novel. For instance, some people look back at when FNaF itself was new and see that time as its peak because it had a lot of internet cultural relevance as big new indie thing on the block. But, raw numbers don't lie. The series has been continually growing since its conception and that growth has similarly bled over to its fan projects. This explains why DSaF, despite not having a new series release in almost 6 years, seems to be inexplicably growing.

Just recently, I saw someone post footage of a scene from DSaF 2 on Twitter, which got over 16k likes. People praised its writing and largely celebrated the scene. The ironic thing about that particular scene is that I remembered being unsure if it was good or not, so I showed it off in one of the FNaF community hubs. The response was broadly lukewarm to negative. Now, it's held up as one of the best scenes in those games. That's kind of the point I'm trying to make, my thoughts on the series have certainly changed with everyone's else with years of hindsight.

Heh. I'm not sure if I've talked about this in a long time, but y'know, the very first scene I implemented in-game was actually the very first Phone Guy scene in DSaF 1, more or less exactly how it appears in-game today. This was before I'd even written the bulk of the game. I was pretty unfamiliar with visual novels as a whole, pretty unsure if something like this would be palatable to a fandom that was really just used to sit 'n' survive stuff that were far more gameplay than text. I mean, there wasn't any FNaF fangames really LIKE DSaF before that point. Closest was FNaFb, a jokey turn based RPG made in the same engine.

The engine I made the game in is also not exactly fit for VNs out of the box either, and I wasn't 100% sure the idea would actually work. But, the very first time I added the image of the prize corner, Phone Guy, the audio of that iconic cheesy stock track and booted up a test screen, I had a little moment where I said "Oh. I think I'm onto something interesting here." I kinda remembering instantly realizing in that single moment how much potential the idea had. Over 8 years later, I still remember that moment like it was yesterday.

I think lately, that's the sort of stuff I think of when I see people coming to me and asking about the series. Yes, it's really rough around the edges, yes, there's jokes that've aged poorly. But, it is a source of comfort for people and entertains tens of thousands of people each month. And that's gotta count for something, right?

235 notes · View notes

inkdrinkerworld · 2 months ago

Note

https://www.tumblr.com/inkdrinkerworld/777676521827614720/if-anyone-has-any-remus-thoughts-please-send-them

It’s his 65th birthday today he’s such an old man

Waking him up to a cute little breakfast and all the cute stuff flowers gifts all of it

Omg yes!!! This is adorable! (His age is never mentioned, just as a heads up)

Remus stirs awake slowly. He mumbles in his sleep, his hand stretching towards where you’re next to him, only to find your spot cold.

He’s grumpy already. He hates not waking up with you next to him. He likes taking a little extra time to cuddle close to you and smell your hair and kiss your face.

It’s like his thoughts summon you, because you come in the room quietly, holding a tray that’s got a steaming bowl on it, a cup of tea and a bouquet of flowers.

His grumpiness fades at the sight of you. Something fond spreads around his heart, it’s beat steadying as you smile at him.

“Happy birthday, Remmy.” You sit near his leafs as he sits up, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“Thank you dove,” you lean forward and kiss his cheek. “S’this all for me?” He takes a peak at the tray and smiles.

There’s not much on it, gods know he doesn’t have an appetite so early, but it’s got his usual breakfast.

Milky porridge with stewed apples, black tea no milk, and a little plate of pears and cheese.

“It’s no one else’s birthday, baby.”

He tuts at the tone and you giggle as you crawl up next to him now that he’s situated with his breakfast.

“Where’d you get the flowers?”

The bouquet has all Remus’ favourites; snowdrops, a few crocuses and some marigolds. They’re all from your garden and you know Remus knows that.

“Do you like them?” You ask in lieu of an answer. Remus tucks your forehead to his chin, his words murmured just above your head.

“I do, I feel proper spoilt.”

You beam, and then nudge him to the pears first. “They’re the really soft and sweet ones.” He feeds you a bite first in true Remus fashion.

As he munches, you map his face with your eyes. All his features soft in the morning light. “I have two gifts for you.” You say suddenly and Remus frowns, his spoonful of porridge hovering near his mouth.

“Dove you didn’t have to.” You shrug, not caring. You and Remus have this conversation every year and every year you ignore his claims of never wanting anything and get him things anyways.

“You’ll love them.” You promise and you slide of the bed as he finishes breakfast.

You pull two wrapped gifts from under the bed, and set them beside his thighs. “Go ahead.”

Remus opens the gifts carefully, the first one being a chain with your initial on it to match the one you have with his. “Thank you, baby.” He kisses your lips and you feel your chest tighten.

“One more.” You’re practically bouncing in your seat next to him as he opens the last one.

Inside is a cloth bound copy of his favourite classic, one you’d scoured the internet for.

Remus gasps, fingers tentative as he passes them along the cover. “My love,”

“Do you like them?” Remus cups the back of your head, pressing your foreheads together.

“I love them,” he kisses your lips. “Thank you, dove.”

You kiss his lips a second time. “You’re welcome, Rem.“

#remuslupin #remus lupin #remus lupin one shot #remus lupin oneshot #remus lupin imagine #remus lupin drabble #remus lupin fic #remus lupin fanfiction #remus lupin fanfic #remus lupin fluff #remus lupin blurb #remus lupin x black reader #remus lupin x reader #remus lupin x you #remus lupin x yn #remus lupin x y/n

142 notes · View notes

centrally-unplanned · 5 months ago

Text

California Crisis: Gun Salvo

I watched the 1986 OVA California Crisis, and it was really good! This anime, if you have heard of it all (which is unlikely), is famous for two things. One is its look:

Which in anime form did not exist before, and has not existed since. When you research “California Crisis” in English the source everyone pulls from is this essay by longtime industry man Fred Patten, and he describes it as “the over-solarized art style most commonly associated with the commercial artist Patrick Nagel, who was very ‘in’ at the time.” I believe him on that being an influence - he worked with the creators after all - and my primary documents from said creators are quite limited; but those that I have never mention him. They certainly were aiming for Americana - but what is causing this unique look is the use of thick, black outlines on the inner shading of the characters (something Nagel doesn’t really do), which producer Yoshikazu Tochihira mentions as a common technique used on vehicles in anime at the time. Given how heavily cars and ‘copters feature in this, I think the look was also sort of its own idea to create stylistic cohesion between the key parts.

I am not going to say it always works - on our main girl Marcia it is sketch, those eyes man:

But for our boy Noera it comes out a lot nicer:

He has less demand to be “typical anime”; bishoujo can’t blend here but surfer bum absolutely can.

You get used to it over time though, and it excels at capturing the idealized West Coast aesthetic. In particular, by being “not anime” it really helps you feel like it is somewhere else than Japan. The OVA is filled with long panning shots of detailed Los Angeles streets and beaches, named restaurants and garbled English menu items aplenty. Our friend Fred Patton - who isn’t a fan - comments that “Animation fans at the time said, only half-humorously, that it looked like the main purpose of the video was for a handful of Japanese animators to come to California and take a road trip from San Diego to Los Angeles for location shots.” But that never happened - this was made on a shoestring budget, and according to the same source as before no such site visit occurred. Instead, reference material was gathered by “searching bookstores, travel agencies, libraries, and even the American Cultural Center”, and it was a lot of work to get the details even half-right from that. Stop spreading lies, Fred Patton! Wait until you get my strongly worded comment on your blog, I don’t care if you passed away 6 years ago (RIP an absolute legend), get your facts straight!

Aided in this sense of immersion is the OVA's second source of notoriety: the absolutely banging city pop soundtrack by pop star Miho Fujiwara. The OP, Streets Are Hot, lives up to the name, straight fire:

youtube

And while not as peak, the rest of the OST doesn’t disappoint. Anime Youtuber STEVEM has a video on California Crisis that digs into the music side, as the history of city pop is absolutely his jam; for me I will just comment that it is a little lost now how western city pop was in Japan. Today it is of course “peak Japan” after its 2010’s retro internet boom, but if you listen to pop music from 1970’s Japan you still hear a lot of blending of western musical sensibilities and more traditional Japanese vocal stylings and instrumentation. City pop was one of the earlier genres to fully shed the past and embrace synth instrumentation and modern vocal approaches. And the aesthetic often pulled specifically from California - these are not album covers that scream Tokyo:

All of this is to say that this OVA is not only of its time, but it also embodies its time - a paean to the California Dream of the 80’s Tokyo youth:

Fucking vibes, man, for this alone the OVA really hits for me. Though of course, for all the Americana it is still an anime:

(Which by the way, Marcia rides a motorcycle on the highway and is clearly like 17, so Noera's rejection of an offer of sex here is more linguistic evidence for the bifurcated meaning of the word “lolicon” to refer to both actual prepubescent eroticization but also any preference for “youth” over “maturity” in typologies of femininity, intersecting with the bishoujo boom of th- okay okay, put the gun down, I’ll move on, geez…)

Sadly for California Crisis, its contemporary audience disagreed quite strongly with this being a symbol of the era; it was a huge flop. The OVA was the flagship project of a new anime venture by producer Hiromasa Shibazaki called Hiro Media Associates, and that shoestring budget was some very thin string. Shibazaki was launching his own anime+ magazine at the time, Globian (as seen in the links above), which was used to advertise their works - but towards that goal California Crisis only ever produced a single promotional image, which you see utilized everywhere it is mentioned:

So it just didn’t have the resources behind it to draw in a crowd. And the crowd it did draw in, best I can tell, wasn’t enthused; the art style was off-putting, the plot itself is a bit of a meandering mess, the long panning shots are ~vibes~ yes but also ~budget~ and obviously so, and the ending is a bit of a vague question mark. It was supposedly going to have a sequel, but Hiro Media, and Globian alongside it, closed shop soon after it was released, leaving audiences feeling that it was unfinished.

I won’t begrudge anyone their taste, or pretend it is not a very uneven work. However, I want to redeem the OVA’s core narrative from its reputation; I think it is honestly great, and it absolutely does not need a sequel. So let’s get into the plot - this is a story of a 20-something bar hand Noera, who runs into motorcycle-riding teen Marcia alongside a quasi-sentient UFO orb that just crash landed on earth. It beckons telepathically to be taken to Death Valley, a call which Noera resists but Marcia commits to heart-and-soul. Along the way the military, the CIA, the Soviets, every deep state boogeyman you can think of, all try to stop them, car chases and gunfire akimbo. Our duo bond, eventually they succeed, and the alien gives off a Kubrickian abstract flash of light and then vanishes - roll credits.

Ignore all the details, the mechanics, the CIA, all that shit. Puzzling and unsatisfying when you are watching it as a 17 year old, sure, but you are smarter now, you can separate the wheat from the chaff. Instead, why does Marcia want to follow a random alien orb into Death Valley?

Hilarious levels of on-the-nose buzzword dropping, oh sure. But behind that? Marcia is a teen, looking for meaning. She watches TV, reads books, dreams of being a hero, a protagonist, and this is it - the call of adventure! She is being offered the slot of main character and she isn’t going to turn it down. She literally name-drops Close Encounters of the Third Kind as part of her motivation, she is story-brained. When you first hear this line, you are like Noera, you eye roll it. But on reflection there is nothing more American than being the center of the universe - it truly is the American Dream.

But Marcia is not the main character of this story - the singular promotional image is lying to you. Noera is as well, and he has wisdom she doesn’t. Noera lives in the city fringe on a low wage service job, driving a beat-up Chrysler he presumably maintains himself. A blue collar man of habit, a himbo before it was hip. He follows Marcia to protect her, he casually rejects her post-car-chase adrenaline-rush-induced sexual advances. And, while they are escaping the military by hiding in a bar, he runs into an old high school friend Jack - who happens to be one of those military agents!

We have been seeing this guy the whole OVA, running the entire alien hunt operation. Top of the class, super genius, going places. Noera is unphased, and he and Jack reminisce about gags and girls from the old days. Noera congratulates his friend for “getting out” of his hometown, as it were, and then plot-duty calls, Jack’s real life calls, and he has to leave. As he does, Noera calls out to him, “Come visit me!":

And Jack leaves without saying anything:

Because it isn’t highschool anymore, right? This guy is in the Big Leagues, he isn’t gonna schlep out to some podunk bar in Long Beach because a dude he used to help do his geometry homework offers him a dri-

Oh, nevermind! Because none of that shit matters, right? We are all just dudes, let’s share a beer.

Marcia stares unaware through the entire scene by the way:

This is Noera’s “culminating moment” for his story, and she doesn’t track it.

Chasey chasey fighty fighty Death Valley journey and Marcia delivers the orb, she wins, with Noera’s help she saves the alien. And so it pulses out a sparkly rainbow, something that could maybe be interpreted as a thank you, and then leaves - giving them absolutely nothing to show for their efforts. Marcia is left on a panning shot, shocked and disappointed, holding a now broken piece of useless glass. She was never the main character of anything. She just ran an errand.

This is such good American Dream commentary! It ends the way all stories about the American Dream end - with it being a sham. Because it is. It’s all narrative, all marketing, all the outside trappings of something disconnected from the inner reality. Since this isn’t a midcentury novel but an anime OVA, the trappings of success aren’t a detached suburban home and 2.5 kids - it's being the hero of an action adventure epic. But fiction is fiction no matter the genre. Marcia doesn’t get that yet - but Noera already did before the VHS tape began to play. And Marcia’s budding realization is paralleled with Noera's own showcase of the socio-economic dilemmas that more typically define the genre - success doesn’t change who you are or what you need.

Once you step back from the sci fi spycraft stuff - which admittedly trails off - and see the themes, the ending is perfect, a sequel would totally ruin this. This is the best 80’s anime OVA commentary on the American Dream done through an otaku lens around. Definitely beats all the others in that category, for sure. Totally.

Anyway if you wanna fight me about my hot take meet me at the Waffen SS bar in 1980’s LA where I will be getting the shit kicked out of me for yelling my center-left political opinions while tipsily standing on the bartop:

All that research and I still have no explanation for this shot.

#California crisis #essay #Ash 80's OVA Hour #Youtube

103 notes · View notes

homunculus-argument · 2 years ago

Text

You ever have those random little epiphanies that are just stuff that's obvious in hindsight, but you never thought of that before? Like today I was doing my favourite internet activity - lurking other peoples' conversations online - and came by a discussion about some guy who's finnish, and another finn helpfully translated an observation about him to the english-speakers in the audience: that he talks finnish in an extremely distinct southern dialect.

And someone, clearly not finnish, commented to this, going "hold on isn't this guy like Has Never Seen A Cow In Real Life-levels of urban?"

Some other finns came in to explain the matter - something I already knew of course, but would never have crossed my mind is something that'd require explaining: Finland is structured differently than the US, with the most southern areas being the most urban and densely populated, going more rural and sparsely inhabited the further up north you go. The closest equivalent to the US kind of cows-and-tractors "redneck" (affectionate) area is central Finland. In finnish, a southern dialect - especially this one in particular - is peak Soft-Handed City Boy -talk.

And it had somehow never really consciously crossed my mind that every country and culture has their own urban-and-rural division, whether it's north/south, east/west, etc, with their broad-stroked stereotypes of the people on the other side. Like maps of places I've never been to, that on their own say nothing to me, have their own imaginary lines drawn somewhere in there, and people from one side of the line will point at the other side and say "this is the region where drunk driving a tractor is a considered a competitive sport", and the people from the other side say "people from this area have never been outdoors and will squeal in terror if they see a live chicken."

611 notes · View notes

nanowrimo · 11 months ago

Text

Smash Your Word Count Goals in 3 Easy Steps

from our sponsors at Freewrite

Here at Freewrite, we help writers reach peak productivity in order to meet word count goals and create their best work yet. That’s our reason for being.

Today, we’re going to share the three easy steps proven by science to help you reach your writing goals!

1) Set A Goal & Write It Down

The psychology of goal setting is pretty clear. It’s what NaNoWriMo is all about, right? Research has proven that people who set goals experience higher motivation and are more likely to feel accomplished.

However, the type of goal you set makes a big difference to your efforts. Make sure that your goals are (a) clear and specific, (b) realistic, and (c) measurable.

Being clear about your goal will help you hone in on what you’re trying to achieve and ignore distractions. Make sure to write it down, as well. Research by psychologist Gail Matthews has revealed that people who write down goals are 33% more successful than those who simply set a goal in their head.

Next, be realistic. This means being honest with yourself about what you can and can’t achieve based on your other life obligations. Setting goals that you can’t achieve will only lead to frustration and, ultimately, a lack of motivation.

And last, make sure each goal is measurable. “Write 1,000 words each day” is much easier to measure than “Finish this book.” Because we all know it’s difficult to measure a book being “done”!

Breaking these goals down into smaller, simpler steps will help, too. If your goal is to write 20,000 words during Camp NaNo, break that down into 5,000 words a week, and then figure out how many words you’ll have to write each day to reach those smaller goals.

2) Practice Freewriting

Freewriting is thinking. It’s as simple — and as difficult — as that.

While every writer is unique, and there is no one way to be a writer, there are similarities we all share as humans — especially humans in the modern world — that create common obstacles to doing the things we love — like reading, writing, and yes, thinking. There are the obvious external obstacles: social media, email, the internet. But there are sneaky internal obstacles, too — the main culprit being the inner critic.

As humans, we are judgmental. It’s in our DNA. Our brains are constantly assessing situations, imagining outcomes, and making decisions. It’s part of survival at a very basic level. However, that means that when we do anything, including writing, we tend to automatically assess our actions — judging our own words, tweaking and editing them as we go along. That constant evaluation not only hinders progress, it can also stop us from ever getting started. And if we do manage to sit down to write, that inner critic creates an unconscious anxiety that prevents us from experimenting and writing down our most innovative and creative — and weird! — ideas.

We’ve all heard the advice to “write now, edit later.” Or perhaps you’ve heard writers reference “the sloppy/crappy/messy first draft.” Those are just fun ways of referencing the writing method in which you separate the drafting process from the editing process. Or, what we call freewriting.

Many people haven’t written this freely since childhood, but there’s a reason this method is taught in MFA programs. Getting your thoughts down first and revising later increases productivity and yields better, more creative work because it allows you to give your brain fully to each task. It means that when you’re drafting, you’re drafting, and when you’re editing, you’re editing. There’s no context-switching or multitasking.

So, what if you gave yourself permission to write badly at first? And we don’t just mean cheesy or with glaring plot holes — we mean typos, missing words, character names replaced by big Xs because you couldn’t remember them in the moment.

The next time you draft, we challenge you to give it a try. Just let yourself go and give your thoughts and feelings over to the act of creating. Because that’s when the magic happens.

3) Track Your Stats

OK, you’ve set measurable goals, and you’ve started drafting. What’s next?

Track your efforts!

Here at Freewrite, we’ve created a tool to automatically track important writing stats, like word count, writing days, writing streak, and more! It’s called a Postbox Profile, and it gives you a unique URL that allows you to share your stats with writing friends.

Anyone with a Postbox account — that’s anyone who writes on a Freewrite OR uses our free in-browser drafting tool, Sprinter — can create a Postbox Profile and track their stats.

👉Don’t have a Freewrite yet? No problem! We have a FREE in-browser drafting experience called Sprinter that helps you shut down distractions and make progress — and gives you access to Postbox. Start writing today absolutely FREE at sprinter.getfreewrite.com.

👉Ready to grab your own Freewrite? Our entry-level device, Alpha, is $50 off this June only! Just use code STARTWITHALPHA at checkout.

#nanowrimo #writing #sponsored #ad #freewriting #writing goals #word count #Freewrite

278 notes · View notes

yourpenpaldee · 11 months ago

Text

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ WRITEBLR INTRODUCTION.

I don't usually put myself out there as it makes me nervous. But I've been a lurker for way too long, and it's about time I step out of my comfort zone. So, hello! I'm Dee (she/her), twenty-two, and have found my voice with storytelling.

Writing has always been a passion of mine, and continues to be the tool I turn to when I need an outlet to freely express myself. I have, unfortunately, hit a rough patch with consistency, and I'm here to bring all of that motivation and inspiration back. Especially since there are one too many WIPs sitting on the backburner, and they're all calling my name.

As someone who loves to dip their toes into every genre of fiction, I will read anything that peaks my interest. However, when it comes to creating, my works usually fall under romance and mystery. With practice, I intend on branching out into other genres I don't write often. There's a lot to explore in the world of writing, and I don't want to limit myself to only two categories.

Creating this blog provides me the space I need to accomplish the many goals I often dream of achieving. I acknowledge that it all starts with the ability to hold myself accountable. To show up for myself. To become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Putting myself and my projects out into the world is only the first of many steps, and it feels quite liberating.

I aim to use the voice I've found to not only contribute to the progression of POC representation, but to touch on several topics that remain heavily stigmatized in today's media. There’s a joy that runs through my veins every time I see someone like me on my screen or in a book. I feel seen, heard, and proud. I feel important. But as a creator, there’s that itch that can only be scratched when I create. When I make something that lets the next person know that they’re not invisible. That they're valued, loved, and appreciated. That's what I hope for when someone reads a project of mine. For them to feel the same rush of joy flowing through them as it does me.

Wow, I’m a yapper. I'd like to close this intro off with some fun facts, so here are some of my top five favorites with sidenotes because I still want to yap a bit more about the things I adore.

SOLO ARTISTS:

ARI LENNOX ✧ ˚ · . CHOCOLATE POMEGRANATE — GET CLOSE — GOAT — POF — UP LATE

HALSEY ✧ ˚ · . 100 LETTERS — I HATE EVERYBODY — NIGHTMARE — ROMAN HOLIDAY — THE LIGHTHOUSE

HOPE TALA ✧ ˚ · . CHERRIES — EDEN — I CAN'T EVEN CRY — LEAVE IT ON THE DANCEFLOOR — SUNBURN

MELANIE MARTINEZ ✧ ˚ · . ALPHABET BOY — DEAD TO ME — EVIL — NOTEBOOK — STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

HALIMA ✧ ˚ · . DOWNTOWN — FORD CARDINAL — IF LOVE WAS GREEN — SAMANTHA — TALK

BANDS:

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER ✧ ˚ · . AIRPLANES — BETTER MAN — KILL MY TIME — LONG WAY HOME — TEARS!

FALL OUT BOY ✧ ˚ · . BANG THE DOLDRUMS — CHICAGO IS SO TWO YEARS AGO — HEADFIRST SLIDE INTO COOPERSTOWN ON A BAD BET — NOBODY PUTS BABY IN THE CORNER — WHERE DID THE PARTY GO

FLO ✧ ˚ · . CARDBOARD BOX — FLY GIRL — IMMATURE — SUITE LIFE (FAMILIAR) — WALK LIKE THIS

PARAMORE ✧ ˚ · . BIG MAN, LITTLE DIGNITY — CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE — FRANKLIN — MISGUIDED GHOST — PART II

THE INTERNET ✧ ˚ · . DONTCHA — HOLD ON — LOOK WHAT U STARTED — SOMTHING'S MISSING — SPECIAL AFFAIR

GAMES:

CORAL ISLAND ✧ ˚ · . IF I START LISTING NAMES, I'M GOING TO MENTION EVERYONE. BUT I'M A LOYAL MARK GIRL. AND NOAH... AND MILLIE, EVA, BEN, Y—

DISNEY DREAMLIGHT VALLEY ✧ ˚ · . THIS IS SUCH A COMFORT GAME THAT SOOTHES MY INNER CHILD.

DON'T STARVE [TOGETHER] ✧ ˚ · . I MAY OR MAY NOT STILL SUCK AT THIS GAME AFTER A SOLID THREE YEARS, BUT I'M A WIGFRID MAIN.

STARDEW VALLEY ✧ ˚ · . I LOVE SEBASTIAN AND LEAH, AND I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL IF I HAVE TO.

THE SIMS 4 ✧ ˚ · . WHERE I SPEND A LOT MORE TIME IN CREATE-A-SIM AND BUILD MODE COMPARED TO PLAYING THE ACTUAL GAME.

TROPES:

FAKE RELATIONSHIP ✧ ˚ · . MHM... JUST SAY YOU LIKE EACH OTHER ALREADY.

FATED MATE ✧ ˚ · . I'M A BIT PICKY ABOUT THIS TROPE THOUGH. THINGS TEND TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY BUT I ENJOY IT NONETHELESS.

FRIENDS TO LOVERS ✧ ˚ · . A CLASSIC THAT DOESN'T NEED AN EXPLANATION.

REUNION ✧ ˚ · . ESPECIALLY IF THEY WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THEY REMINISCE OLD MEMORIES, OH MY GOODNESS. I EAT THIS TROPE UP EVERY TIME.

SLOWBURN ✧ ˚ · . NO DOUBT THIS IS MY MOST FAVORITE TROPE. THE BUILDUP TO EVEN THE TINIEST PIVOTAL MOMENT ALWAYS MAKES MY HEART THUMP.

TV SHOWS:

CRIMINAL MINDS ✧ ˚ · . YES, I’LL WATCH ALL 16 SEASONS FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME AND FALL IN LOVE WITH PRENTISS EACH TIME. WE WERE ALSO ROBBED OF BEARDED HOTCH CONTENT.

BRIDGERTON ✧ ˚ · . DO I CRY EVERY TIME I WATCH GEORGE AND CHARLOTTE'S STORY? YES. WILL I CONTINUE TO REWATCH IT AND RECITE THE LINES EVERY TIME SOMETHING REMINDS ME OF IT? ASOLUTELY.

THE BEAR ✧ ˚ · . I WISH I KNEW OF AYO EDEBIRI BEFORE THIS SHOW BECAUSE THAT WOMAN IS AMAZING??? LIKE, HELLO???

THE EQUALIZER ✧ ˚ · . *mini spoiler* STILL CAN'T STOP THINKING OF DANTE'S GRIN WHEN HE GOT TO SEE MEL, ROB, AND HARRY'S LITTLE WORK SPOT FOUR SEASONS LATER.

SWEET MAGNOLIAS ✧ ˚ · . HELEN, MADDIE, AND DANA SUE IS HOW I PICTURE MY FRIENDS AND I IN THE FUTURE. MARGARITA NIGHTS, BEING AUNTIES TO EACH OTHER'S CHILDREN, UGH. I LOVE THEM WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

And that concludes this introduction on me and this blog. I would love to connect and befriend other authors, so please don't hesitate to reach out as my DMs will always be open! I'd love to support and read your works, so don't be hesitant to share them with me if you'd like.

I hope you all will enjoy reading my works as much as I enjoy the process of bringing my ideas to life.

divider creds to strangergraphics ♡

#writeblr #blog intro #writeblr intro #writeblr community #writing community #writing on tumblr #writers on tumblr #writing #authors #writers #i did not expect for this to get as long as it did my oh my

162 notes · View notes

biomic · 2 months ago

Note

rob i finished build today, holy shit what a fucking show. im gonna make a post about it later but it was so insane. thank you for the rec, i enjoyed it a lot!! now that i wont be spoiled id love to hear more of your thoughts on it

ah, build is just... the best.

i remember before build came out there was this general feeling, at least in my circles, that kamen rider was losing its way with a string of pretty divisive seasons and excessive toy bloat (hilarious that we thought bandai's influence reached its peak in 2017.), and there was some discussion about whether or not you could even still make a good, Classic™ kamen rider season under the current production structure

and then build comes out of the gate swinging and never really lets up. like i said, the dash was going NUTS every week as more of the story unfolded, this community has never been as unified as it was when build was airing. obviously not literally everyone, but it certainly felt like buildmania was sweeping the internet

im honestly not sure if a new rider show will ever capture everything i love about kamen rider the way build did. the way being a kamen rider isolates you from the world, the burden of heroism balanced by the reward of helping others, sento taking the identity and the powers that evolt crafted for him and choosing to fight for love and peace instead...

it's died down now but there was a tiny bit of build backlash for a while, due to the endgame arc losing some steam with the dad stuff and people getting tired of just How popular build was, but i think it deserves all the praise it gets and more. some of my fondest memories watching toku, and one of my favorite shows period

and even if it sucked it would still be S-tier for one of the producers coining the phrase "Heated Drama Between Men", which has energized the tokusatsu community for over seven years now

#sorry i didn't get to this last night! but im so glad you dug it :)#melody magic #asks #kendrix morgan died for our sins #kamen rider for ts

34 notes · View notes

cusackswhitehair · 23 days ago

Note

Mooney x Alex is needed

(bonus if Alex hoards gender and pronouns too, they don't discriminate, whatever xe want is hers)

//Desc: Cheese and Rice, dude I LOVE THIS RAREPAIR WITH ALL MY HEART!! Alex and Mooney are a match made in heaven I tell you, too bad I’m gonna’ have to scurry through the deepest catacombs of the internet if I wished to find content about them, and that’s a crime right there! But I enjoy all the breadcrumbs I may receive! We could call the ship “Half Moon” cause Alex stole her other half, haha, peak. Anyways, thank you for requesting and enjoy! \\

⏾⋆ .˚ 🌘 Moony x Hoarder Alex Dating Headcanons 🗑️ ⏾⋆.˚

————————————————————————————

Not a day passes without Moony coughing up some puns, that’s just how the world must be. As the Sun has to shine, and the Earth has to spin, the Moon has to…bug her boyfriend with her ungodly puns to death. She should do stand-up really, maybe she could cover up Alex fighting for his life behind her. We must admit, they are terribly tirering and it seems Moony has a goldmine of them up there in her noodle. They just never stop. “Babe—babe what do you think about this one—cough cough How does the moon cut its hair? Eclipse it. Ha-ha-ha—get it?” “Make it stop, per favore Dio! Unbearable!” “Pfft, y’know what they say! Garbage humor: quite a bin-efit! Ha!”

Nobody belived these two were actually together, and even after if became more than obvious…they are textbook definition of a bromamce turned romance. If it wasn’t for the overly passionate nature Alex posesses, nobody would have a clue. He could be giving out the most breathtaking bouquet and Moony would say something along the lines of “dudee, really? For me? Awh, man you’re like, the best…like gadzooks my guy!”

Alex had never admired anybody more, than when he first watched Moony skate down a ramp. She would so effortlessly rock the board without limbs and Alex can barely even stand up straight on one. Moony was eager (as eager as she could physically be…) to teach Alex to skate, but the poor fellow proved to be all fingers and thumbs when it comes to vehicles that are more complicated than a tricycle. Despite this, Alex was avid to show off those sweet moves. “Moony! Moony! I swear, I’ve got it this time!” face plants “Doing great, man, keep it up!”

Turning their back to all the large gatherings of idiots, Alex and Moony often having endless escapades around Alex’s hoard. When the sun peaks on top of the highest part of the horizon, Moony always manages to find something to be awestruck about. What can they do? Real treasure hides under that solid ground of junk. For example, Alex has a few files of whole neopronoun lists lying around, which proved to be quite a chick magnet. “Woah dude!!! You have these stuff??” “What stuff?” “Holy wow, Space/Spaces/Spaceself?! This is neat, let me have this!”

Moony, although very rarely, brings up her weight, a dodgy subject that she’s unhappy about. Ever since that thing with The Great Runas, she has had a little bug up her mind, it’s a major insecurity. Now Alex? He was knocked sideways about this, he surely wasn’t a very self-concious fellow, but Moony? That bit of alright bombshell? After he got a wind of this, he started to leave a bunch of encouraging notes around like “looking hot today babe!” and other laughable stuff like that.

These two are the BIGGEST judgers around, they keep it to their own, but the gossip hits every single time. They would be the sort of couple who would make cringe buttons out of paper and press it ceaselessly and mimic incorrect buzzer sounds between one another.

After a certain suspicious man provided Moony some peculiar looking hemp, the couple would sesh after nights of long days, melting into a sofa with its’ springs out, guzzling diet soda, taking the fattest riffs off the bong. Moony would put up some of her favorite sitcoms to dazily laugh at…now we know where she gets those wacky puns…

This pair shares a mutual passion for complaining about the upmost trivial things, only that Moony goes the more cynical route, while Alex kicks trash cans and rolls on the floor at the smallest inconvenience. Moony monitors this quite “lame” behaviour thoroughly… she calls Alex’s trantrums cringe and that’s enough somehow.

You couldn’t even begin to fathom that battlefield, that is their bed. Not only does it look like a wasteland after nuclear Armageddon, and not only does Alex sleep in the position of a star fish, protecting his valuables even in his sleep, there isn’t a single night in which one of them doesn’t roll down on the floor or finds themselves huddled up in some crazy position in the morning. God knows what they do in their sleep.

———————————————————————————

#ena dream bbq #ena dbbq #dbbq #joel g ena #ena joel g #hoarder alex #moony ena #ena fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic #dating headcanons #romantic headcanons #rarepair #rare ship #joel g

23 notes · View notes

katethetank · 6 days ago

Text

Possession of the Heart - Chapter 5

Rating: 18+ minors gtfo Chapter Summary: Steve finally gets what he's been waiting for. (See image at the end of what their undergarments look like - I dug all over the internet finding examples of Edwardian Era underpants!) CW: Oral sex, vaginal fingering, unprotected p in v sex, knotting Pairing: Alpha!Tommy x Omega!Steve - Alpha!Eddie x Omega!Steve Word Count: 3.7k

Chapter 4<<Masterlist>>Chapter 6

The next day is the hottest they’ve had yet. The sun is barely at its peak in the sky by the time Steve reaches the stream and the heat of it is unbearable. He wore lighter clothes today in hopes to be more comfortable, but they’re not doing much against the high temperatures. His plan was to read in the shade of Eddie’s porch while waiting for him to return for lunch, but the rippling waters are too tempting to pass up.

He sets his book down in the grass, removes his shoes and socks, and looks around him to make sure he’s alone. He unbuttons his linen trousers and removes them, keeping on his light drawers. They’re a thin white material, edged with lace around the bottom just above his knees and would normally keep him cool on a hot day. Today is not that day. Next he removes his linen shirt, and his modesty is kept intact by the white chemise underneath. The neck is squared, and shoulder straps are made of lace, allowing the material to be more breathable in this weather.

Steve carefully folds his clothes and sets them next to his book before moving down the slope of soft grass leading to the water. He dips a toe in and feels immediate relief. The water is cool and clear, and so inviting that he wastes no time stepping fully into the stream. At its deepest the water reaches just below his chest and he lets out a soft sigh as his body quickly cools off. He loses track of the time as he floats on his back and drifts downstream, only to swim his way back up to the bridge and repeat the process over and over.

On one of his laps back up, he startles when he hears a voice call out, “I see you’ve abandoned me in favor of an afternoon swim!”

Steve steadies himself on his feet and looks up at the bridge to see Eddie leaning over the edge and smiling down at him. He can’t help but smile back. “I couldn’t resist! The water was just too inviting.”

Eddie smirks and glances down briefly. “Cold, is it?”

Steve makes a questioning sound and looks down at the water. But he immediately realizes that’s not what Eddie was looking at. The thin white material of his chemise has gone nearly transparent where it clings to his skin, and the pink shade of his nipples can be seen clearly. The hardened buds look downright lewd and Steve quickly crosses his arms over his chest to cover up.

Eddie chuckles above him. “No need for modesty. You don’t have to hide from me, sweetheart. In fact, do you mind if I join you?”

“Oh…I suppose not.”

Eddie straightens up and walks around to the side of the bridge where Steve’s clothes are resting. He feels like he should avert his eyes, but Eddie’s smile is playful as he doesn’t break his gaze from Steve. His cap is carelessly tossed to the ground. His thumbs tuck into his suspenders and he slowly peels them off his shoulders. The simple act shouldn’t be so erotic, and yet…Steve finds himself unable to look away. Eddie unbuttons his shirt and pulls it out from his trousers. As he opens the material and lets it fall from his body, his smile turns from boyish to something else. Steve’s eyes roam the expanse of his skin. His broad shoulders, lean and muscular arms that are likely the result of manual labor, defined pecks with just a dusting of hair in the center. Steve’s mouth waters.

Sitting in the grass, Eddie unlaces and removes his boots, and peels off his stocks. He stands again and the sun glistens off the sweat on his shoulders. He unbuttons his trousers and looks at Steve intensely as he pushes them down and steps out of them. All he’s wearing now are his briefs that are buttoned high on his waist and reach down just past his knees. His arms flex as his hands move to the bun behind his head. He unties his hair and shakes it out and Steve has never seen anyone so striking. His dark curls reach past his shoulders and frame his face in a way that brings out the depth of his eyes.

Those eyes that he is far more likely to drown in than this stream.

Eddie steps down to the water’s edge and doesn’t bother testing it with a toe like Steve did. He walks right in and submerges himself fully, quickly popping up out of the water and pushing his hair out of his face. He looks so beautiful that Steve can barely breathe.

He swims closer until he’s within arm’s reach and stands at his full height in front of Steve. Countless drops of water roll down his skin and Steve has the urge to chase them with his tongue. He’s never felt desire like this before. Eddie reaches out and gently rests a hand on one of the arms still crossed over Steve’s chest. “I told you, darling. You don’t have to hide from me.”

The way he says darling is so different than how Tommy says it. Coming out of Eddie’s mouth, it sounds like he means it. That Steve is something darling, something precious to him. Steve slowly relaxes his arms until they are at his sides in the cool water, and he doesn’t feel a bit of reluctance with the way Eddie’s eyes drink him in.

Eddie moves closer until their bodies almost meet and Steve tips his chin up to look at him. He doesn’t ever want to stop looking at this man. Eddie’s arm wraps around his waist and holds him steady as the stream rushes around them. His other hand comes up and his knuckles graze over Steve’s flushed cheek. It’s such a contrast to how he’s been touched before by someone with piercing blue eyes that he’d rather not think about again.

Any thoughts he could have are wiped from his mind as Eddie pulls him flush to his body leans in. Their lips finally meet and it’s like all the pieces of Steve’s heart fall into place. Eddie kisses him tenderly, and his soft, plush lips are the only thing Steve ever wants to feel again.

Steve lifts his hands out of the water and he slides them up Eddie’s arms until they wrap around his neck. Eddie groans and kisses him harder, parting his mouth and sucking Steve’s bottom lip between his own. It lights a fire in him and Steve holds him tighter, opening his own mouth and flicking his tongue out in search of Eddie’s. He doesn’t have to search long. Eddie’s tongue meets his and Steve whimpers at the taste of him. Eddie holds the back of Steve’s head and tilts it just right so their mouths slot together perfectly. Their tongues swirl and caress, meeting in a fevered dance the likes of which Steve has never known.

Eddie holds him impossibly tighter and slots his thigh between Steve’s legs. The water has cooled him considerably, but the heat of Eddie’s skin between the thin material of their undergarments is searing as Steve presses himself into the muscled limb. The sensation is just a taste of the pleasure he knows Eddie can bring him. When Steve moans into his mouth, Eddie’s hand moves from the back of Steve’s head, down his neck and back, and finds its home on the curve of Steve’s backside. He holds Steve in a firm grasp and rocks himself forward. His arousal is evident against Steve’s hip.

He clings to Eddie as their lips and tongues continue to explore each other, and suddenly those strong hands are moving again, down past Steve’s backside. It’s as if his body knows what to do without being told as Eddie firmly grips the meat of Steve’s thighs and pulls. He parts his legs, allowing Eddie to lift him, and Steve wraps them around his hips, slotting their bodies together. Eddie’s cock is firm against Steve’s folds. Desire builds and Steve wants to know what their skin feels like against each other.

Holding Steve securely, Eddie turns and breaks their kiss. He looks down at Steve as he walks to the water’s edge and steps into the warm grass. His eyes are so wide and dark and captivating. Steve feels like the answers to all of life’s greatest mysteries could be found in them. A small sigh escapes him as Eddie lowers himself to his knees and gently places Steve down in the grass. It’s long and soft, and has been warmed by the sun, making it the ideal place to be laid bare should Eddie desire.

Steve looks up at him and he is so breathtaking that there are no words to describe it. He tucks Eddie’s damp hair behind his ear and smiles softly at him. “Can I have you? Right here?”

“You can have all of me. Anywhere.”

Eddie leans down and captures Steve’s lips in a searing kiss. His fingers trace the lace of Steve’s shoulder strap and move lower to make teasing circles around the hard bud of Steve’s nipple. Goosebumps break out over his skin despite the heat from the sun and he whimpers into Eddie’s mouth. The light touch moves lower still, dancing over Steve’s ribs and landing at his waist. Eddie pulls away from Steve’s lips and looks into his eyes as his fingers dip under the hem of his chemise and touch the bare skin underneath.

“Can we remove this, sweetheart?”

Steve nods and sits up as Eddie kneels between his thighs. He makes to remove his own clothing when Eddie stops him with a gentle hand. “May I?”

Tommy never asked to remove his garments. He never offered. Never made it an option. Steve was always expected to be disrobed and waiting for him. His heart clenches. He’s hurt that Tommy never cared for him like this, but he’s also grateful that Eddie is here now to show him what it’s like to be taken care of. He raises his arms above his head and Eddie smiles softly at him before he carefully peels the soaked and see through material off of his skin. Steve expects him to toss it aside, but Eddie once again shows his care by laying it out in the grass beside them to dry in the sun before he even looks at Steve’s newly exposed skin.

Steve lays back down in the grass and soaks in every minute expression on Eddie’s face as he turns back and looks over Steve’s body. He sees desire, appreciation, joy, and eagerness. He bites down a smile of satisfaction and reaches for the laces on his drawers. Eddie’s hand stops him and the question is written plainly on his handsome face. Steve nods once again and relaxes his hands in the grass.

Eddie’s deft fingers untie the laces, loosening the cloth from his waist. He shuffles back on his knees and takes his time peeling the drawers away from Steve’s skin, slowly revealing it inch by torturous inch. He does the same thing as with the chemise and lays the draws out in the grass as well. Steve trembles as Eddie crawls up the length of his body, looking at every possible exposed part of him. His gaze isn’t lecherous by any means. It doesn’t make him uncomfortable or uneasy.

Steve feels desired like he never has before.

“Darling boy. Look how beautiful you are.”

Steve could cry. He didn’t know his body could be appreciated like this. “Eddie, please. I want to feel you.”

The kiss placed to his lips is reverent and Eddie soon moves down the slope of his neck. Steve gasps as he licks over his mating gland and Eddie groans, breathing his scent in deep. “You smell so good. Lavender. Rosemary. Sage. You’re like a garden in spring.”

Tears prick his eyes at Eddie’s words. His lips continue a path down, and Steve lets out a quiet moan when Eddie’s tongue circles his nipple. His hand gives attention to the one on the right, rolling it under his thumb, while his mouth closes over the left, sucking on it gently. It makes him throb between his legs and Steve feels himself getting more slick by the minute.

Eddie switches sides, paying equal attention to both, and by the time he starts kissing his way lower, Steve is gasping for breath and flushing not just from the heat of the day. He spreads his legs further, welcoming Eddie between them. His cocklette is hard and aching when Eddie flicks his tongue over the tip and takes it into his mouth. It feels even better than the first time. Eddie moans around it and the vibrations send a pleasant chill up Steve’s spine.

He bobs his head up and down the small length, and when he’s had his fill there, Eddie moves further down, lapping at the slick coating Steve’s folds. “I could spend an eternity between your thighs, my darling. You taste divine.” He dives in further, working his tongue and mouth with great fervor. Warmth builds again inside Steve’s body. He very much looks forward to feeling that release again. Eddie’s fingers slide into him and stroke his walls, finding that spot that makes him cry out in pleasure.

When a third finger breaches his entrance, Steve moans loudly as Eddie focuses his ministrations on that spot. Another wave of slick eases the way when Eddie’s mouth returns to his cocklette, sucking hard and working his tongue rhythmically with the thrust of his fingers.

The fire burning inside reaches a fever pitch and Steve shouts into the summer sky as his body explodes with waves of ecstasy. He feels himself squeezing Eddie’s fingers so tightly they can barely move like they had been. As the fire in him slowly extinguishes, his body goes limp and his eyes slip closed. Eddie’s fingers slide out and he leaves a soft kiss to the tip of his softening cocklette.

“I swear to you, Stevie…making you cum is my greatest success in life.”

Steve smiles and lets out a weak laugh. Eddie kisses his way back up his body and Steve is surprised at the sweetness he tastes when their lips meet. He hums pleasantly and laps into Eddie’s mouth. When the kiss breaks, he cracks his eyes open and looks up at this beautiful man in awe. “That was…incredible. Why do you taste so good?”

Eddie grins down at him. “It’s you that tastes so sweet, darling. Why do you think I hunger for your cunt?” Steve’s eyes widen at the use of the uncouth term and Eddie is quick to ease him. “I mean no disrespect, I swear it. I wasn’t exactly raised in proper circles. That’s just how folks on my rung of the social ladder speak, sweetheart.”

“Well then…I love how you make me feel down there. In my…in my cunt.” Steve can feel his cheeks flush, but his bashfulness disappears as Eddie laughs into a kiss.

“Nicely done, darling. I’ll have you speaking like a sailor yet.”

Their kisses grow heated and Steve wraps his legs around Eddie’s hips, drawing him in. The hard line of his clothed cock rocks back and forth along Steve’s folds and he yearns to be filled.

“Eddie…I need to have you inside me.”

Eddie kisses him again and speaks quietly against his lips. “Anything you want. It’s yours.”

He rises to his knees and starts to unbutton his briefs. Steve sits up and stills his hand. “May I?” He felt so cared for when Eddie removed his undergarments. And Steve has never known what it’s like to do the same. Tommy always did it himself with the bedroom drenched in darkness. He wants the pleasure of revealing Eddie to himself and seeing everything clearly in the sunlight.

“I’d be honored, sweetheart.” Eddie’s hands fall to his sides and Steve carefully works the buttons open. His hand trembles with nerves and excitement as he separates the material. He’s rewarded with a glimpse of Eddie’s firm stomach and the trail of hair leading from his navel downward. Steve’s fingers slide underneath the fabric towards Eddie's hips, and he guides the briefs over the smooth flesh and taught backside. He finally allows his eyes to drift further down as the tented material slides off and pools at his knees.

He’s seen glimpses of Tommy before, brief as they were. But here in the midday sun, he stares unabashedly at Eddie. His cock is long and thick. Veins run up and down like roads on a map and Steve wants to explore them all. Where Tommy had skin sheathing the end, Eddie does not. The flared tip is a deep pink, and a drop of pearly liquid drips down into the grass between Steve’s legs. He mourns the loss, wanting every part of Eddie inside him.

His gaze must have lingered a little too long. Eddie tips his chin up and his eyes are full of mirth. “You act as though you’ve never seen a cock before, sweetness.”

“I…I haven’t. Not properly.”

Eddie coos at him and strokes his cheek. “How has someone as perfect as you been denied so much?” He lays Steve back down in the grass and kicks his briefs fully off his body. “The things I would love to teach you. You’d be a right scholar by the time I was done.”

Steve doesn’t ever want Eddie to be done with him. He reaches up and gets his hands into Eddie’s damp hair, pulling him down into a kiss. He’s yearned to know what their naked bodies feel like together, and soon finds out as Eddie drapes himself against his flushed skin. The weight of his body settles something inside him and Steve can’t wait any longer. He rocks his hips up and Eddie groans as his bare cock makes contact with Steve’s slick cunt.

Eddie doesn’t even have to use his hands. He gets just the right angle, sliding himself between Steve’s folds until it catches at his entrance and starts to press in. Steve’s body goes completely lax, so overcome with the satisfaction of finally being filled with this beautiful Alpha’s cock. They both let out a groan as their hips meet and Eddie is panting into his neck, lapping at his mating gland and likely getting dizzy off the scent of Steve.

He starts to rock his hips, grinding against Steve’s body, and already that warmth is returning. Eddie fills him so completely, like they were always meant to fit together. He starts to move with more purpose, drawing himself out and thrusting back in, slowly at first and then faster, deeper. Steve’s hand buries into Eddie’s drying curls, and the other grips onto the muscles of his back. He doesn’t hold back any sounds of how good this makes him feel. Moans are punched out of him every time Eddie drives himself into his body.

Eddie doesn’t hold back either. Groans spill out of his mouth along with words of praise. “Steve, my darling, you feel so good. You’re so wet. So tight. I’ve never felt anything this good before. You’re perfect, sweetheart. Perfect.”

His declarations light Steve up inside. Tommy never uttered a word all the times he rutted into him. He never gave Steve any reassurances. Everything Eddie says makes the fire burn hotter. His cunt throbs and he can feel his slick running down his skin and soaking into the earth. He’s never gotten this wet before.

As Eddie kisses over his gland and sucks on the skin, Steve feels himself getting closer and closer to his climax. He grips Eddie tighter and rocks his hips in tandem with Eddie’s thrusts.

“Stevie, sweet boy…I’m so close. Can you cum for me again, sweetheart? I want to feel your cunt grip onto my knot as I fill you.”

The fire explodes and he screams as his release wracks his whole body. Eddie stills and lets out a low growl as he spills his seed and his knot locks them together. Steve’s climax continues longer than it ever has before, his cunt clenching around this perfect intrusion and milking Eddie’s cock of every drop.

He clings to his lover as the flames subside and his body trembles. His chest heaves with Eddie’s as they catch their breaths and relax their limbs. Eddie is fully draped against him, his breaths coming slower and more steady. Steve knows this part well. As soon as Tommy would knot him, he’d fall asleep while locked together and Steve would patiently wait underneath him until he could roll his husband off and clean himself up.

But he should know that with Eddie, it would be different. His rough fingers card through Steve’s drying hair. Eddie kisses every inch of his neck, along his jaw, his cheek. When Steve turns enough for their lips to meet, it’s slow and tender. He can still taste a hint of his own honeyed sweetness on Eddie’s lips.

“My god, Steve. How are you real? You’re so beautiful, so sweet. I wish I could keep you to myself. He doesn’t deserve someone as divine as you.”

“Please, Eddie. Don’t remind me of where I must return to. Just lay with me. Let me pretend that I can have this.” Eddie nods and kisses him again, so soft and sweet it makes Steve’s heart ache. “Why did you not kiss me until now? Why deprive me of these perfect lips?” Steve’s finger traces Eddie’s bottom lip as it stretches into a smile, and he dips his head to kiss it.

“I wanted to. More than anything. That first time…I hate to admit that I thought you only wanted to use me to get back at him. To feel something. And I couldn’t stop myself, couldn’t resist the temptation. You were so perfect, darling. So beautiful. It all felt so good that I lost myself in it and neglected you. I felt unworthy. But you came back. You still wanted me, and I understood that I could touch you and provide what you craved, what you needed. And if I kept myself from kissing you, it would be easier to deny the feelings I have for you.”

Eddie smiles softly at him and caresses his cheek. The gentle touch sends a shiver through him, and he wants to ask Eddie what changed, why now, but he doesn’t have to. Eddie’s next words bring tears to his eyes as fill his heart with a joy he’s never known.

“I’ve always been a bit of a fool. You’re undeniable, Steve. There’s no sense in fighting it. There’s no resisting you. I’m yours in any way you want me.”

Steve’s heart can barely take it. He can’t find the words to tell Eddie how much that means to him. So he takes his face in a delicate hold and brings their lips together again, and kisses him until they’re able to separate.

They reluctantly part from one another and Steve feels entirely too hollow without Eddie inside him. His spend trickles out and Steve wishes there were a way to keep every drop in, like a cork in the neck of a bottle. Eddie helps him to his feet and laces their fingers, then guides Steve back into the stream where he gently cleans both of them between their legs. They sit in the grass after, naked and unashamed, as their skin dries in the afternoon sun.

Too much time passes, and yet, not enough. Steve has to make his way back to the manor so his lengthy absence isn’t noticed. Eddie helps him dress, and Steve returns the favor. They kiss one last time before they part, with promises to see each other again tomorrow. As he makes his way back down the path, he finds himself grateful for the stifling heat and the blissful day it provided.

Chapter 4<<Masterlist>>Chapter 6

*********************************************

There we go!!!! Now look at underpants from over 100 years ago.

Taglist is open!

@mrsjellymunson @the-unforgivenn @watermelonmite @hiscrimsonangel @micheledawn1975 @stedestielfrattficlover @disrespectedgoatman @orie-jai @themoonagainstmers @moltenchocolatelavacake

#steddie #steddie au #eddie munson #steve harrington #stranger things #alpha eddie munson #alpha tommy hagan #omega steve harrington #omegaverse #omegaverse smut #steddie smut #steddie fanfiction #steddie fic

29 notes · View notes