#this era of car and engine is so fucking sexy to me

[skitskatdacat63]

VETTONSOOOOOOOO

[supermaks]

i'm dying for the part 2 of the essential max verstappen races i've watched all the first 10 (teenage crime era) and now i need the rest!!

✨💘 part 1 💘✨💎🧨🌠part 3🗽🎯

Brazil, 2019 In part 1 I said Max always stunted in the US, but like both Americas have a crush on him. People like to yap about his 'luck' and how 'lucky' he is. Max bends luck to his favor with a crowbar if he has to and this race proves that. also shout out to Hannah she’s BEEN the best CS in F1 fr 🌻

Austria, 2019 yes honey, that Austria, 2019. First Honda powered win for red bull and it came on the back of a cracked out prancing horse. Lestappen had angry sex in front of 200000 orange shirts and we just let them

70th year anniversary GP, 2020 Set the scene: for 2020 mercedes has put thee most competent driver of all time behind the wheel of a Boeing 707. They say it's a car but its an airplane ok. So every race is basically like 2 hour long british orgasm ASMR. This one tho, this should've been the beans and toast equivalent to Beyoncé at the superbowl. This should've been their Homecoming. They got 2 races in the calendar for the 1st time, it's F1's birthday, Lewis is driving a commercial airplane, it's happening during peak covid because their prime minister is insane, period. They had it all. Except, it was kinda warm out. And Max Verstappen noticed. Whole british empire vs one man's inability to not be the moment. Guess who won

Emilia Romagna, 2021 emilianos first victory of his maiden title year , and a race I remember watching and thinking. oh okay. so it’s time. With Max, even as a baby fan of both him and Lewis, I was always kinda like, waiting for the dog fight. And finally, lil bro has the car. Everything else was already in place. If u do watch my dumb list in order, which I recommend u do, u can actually c him get ready for 2021 over the years. His starts, and especially this one, become flawless, he has somehow learned how to manage his tires and dominate races in lesser machinery ((we dont talk about it enough. max has won races every single season he's driven in f1. every rbr car he's ever had, he got it home. that's a shooting star fr. thats a once in a lifetime.)) , he's patient, and still uncompromising, still unflinching. He's ready. We were not tho lmfaooo

Zandvoort, 2021 baby boys first home gp win. a lovely lil watch to feel warm and fuzzy inside and also just like watch him be the best driver on the grid at home

Russia, 2021 p20 to p2. Max in the rain, u already know wtf is going ONNN. A race for the GP girlies. SOOO so dope to watch a driver and an engineer orchestrate a comeback of that level in real time. A true privilege and I mean it wholeheartedly. I think GP and Max are soulmates like professionally. Also literally the funniest thing in the world when they're pulling into their lil positions after the race and my fav old man Lewis does a double take like that better not be who I think it is 😭

USA, 2021 listennn. it's 2021. I can't mention Max without mentioning Lewis. They took each other to realms of racing that F1 didnt even remember existed. When I tell u these bitches were 40 seconds ahead of everybody else. 40 seconds. In 2021. But yuh, the blond one set a purple sector with like 100 lap old tires to defend that win. 2021 was just very kind to the Circuit. Sexy sexy race

Jeddah, 2021 well if he's just some guy why does his pussy pop so severely. 😐 No F1 driver will ever serve cunt the way Max served cunt in Jeddah. Driver of the day for no reason other than pure fucking headassery. They said u can't move the culture by losing and that white man said hold on. That quali lap almost put a child in me. I am so sorry

((lil bonus from Zandvoort, 2022 like shut up imagine doing this to lewis hamiltondfmsnfksdlkjf))

Japan, 2022 2nd title win. And fittingly so, he would've lapped the whole field if the race had been completed in its full distance. 1 second faster than everybody else, still improving at the end. But its his recovery at the start that I wanna highlight here. On a wet track, awful conditions, mf sent it outside of t1 around sharl, not because he had to, not because his championship was on the line, but because he could. He went for it, no hesitation. Nobody else would go for a move like that. First, because they wouldnt be able to do it. Its an overtake that requires a control of the car that is left to the Hamiltons and Verstappens of this world. U put a wheel wrong and you’re done. Second, it just wasnt worth it. Rb was a rocket anyway, he would've gotten the lead back eventually. But that is not who Max is. Max refused to give up the lead for even a second. It has nothing to do with having a dominant car, its about racing. Max will always, always go racing. And I love him for it.

ty for reading 💝 I hope that u can return to these races again and again and find joy in watching our fav public enemy number one do his thing. He’s very good at it

[remapped-soul]

2023 season predictions

with the risk of me being a clown by the end of it, here are my 2023 season predictions. i tried to keep it tame, but I'm also delusional and a tifosi. Tinfoil hat on, rant under the cut, because it got long.

The WDC will be decided between Max, Charles and Merc (if they manage to get a better car this year). Things are uncertain at Ferrari with a new TP and their strategy department, so it will probably be between Max and Merc in the end. I'm saying Merc because George is good (when he doesn't apply what he learned in merc school of shunting people off the race track) so Lewis will probably forget all about "being a better teammate" and use phrases like "idk why George did what he did" when all George did was to win (and outpace/outqualify him). Merc will use team orders to get Lewis that 8th WDC (ngl i want him to get that 8th wdc). George will learn how it is to be a 2nd driver at merc and will commit crimes.

This or Max wins everything again and we're doomed for another RBR supremacy but not fun because it's not Seb. Yes, I'm very biased, what of it?

Max will get engaged. We won't get rid of Kelly Piquet, unfortunately.

There will be team orders at Ferrari. Charles would get more confident. We will get more porn couch videos and sexy ice baths to wash over the fact that their strategy is shit. Their engine will actually be the bomb, but it won't matter because the team does not what it takes to win. Charles will start hinting at future plans that do not involve Ferrari. RIP the little monegasque mouse. He will get a new girlfriend as well. The tifosi will storm Maranello probably.

Lando will get his first win. I hate Mclaren with a burning passion and Lando is an insufferable brat, but even I want to see him win. Oscar and Lando won't like each other.

Fernando will get a podium with the green tractor, will commit many crimes against Lance because no one fucks with Nando, not even the nepo baby.

Things will go well at Alpine in the beginning. They have a good car and manage to be in the points. They even manage a podium or two, and they will remember they hate each other and it will be hell. Can't wait.

Nico H. and K-Mag will murder each other and will not get into the points and it's what Haas deserves. Do it for Mick, boys.

Daniel gets to drive in Las Vegas. Checo will suddenly get sick and Daniel will drive their rocket ship ~(not in LV but sometime during the year) and actually get a win for the first time in forever (if RBR don't use team orders, which they will).

Will Checo be in his villain era? We will find out.

Mick will drive in FPs and he will drive so well and everyone will realise it wasn't him but the car. Fuck Steiner.

No one cares about Sargent.

Alex Albon gets his first win (much deserved - looking at you, Lewis). So does Nyck De Vries.

Nothing to say about Alfa Romeo. They are wholesome wholesome wholesome. Or Valtteri retires.

Everyone will be incredibly tired by the calendar is too packed and they hate it and they want Seb back. FIA will come with more outrageous rules or won't respect them. Pierre gets a warning each race because they hate him.

I will get a ticket to either Monza or Imola.

Last but not least (i did say i live in delulu land) we get Nico Rosberg back in the paddock. We get Nico and Lewis talking We get Nico and Jenson interactions. Seb goes AWOL. Luna will cry herself to sleep.

Tinfoil hat off, imma go touch some grass now.

[formula-what]

Brocedes time line for a very patient anon

Lewis quotes in orange, Nico quotes in pink, everyone else is blue.

okay first some background knowledge:

Nico is rich as fuck. only child, born in Germany, brought up in Monaco. son of world champion Keke Rosberg

Lewis was born on a council estate in Stevenage and his dad had to work multiple jobs for him to start karting

Honestly I think the difference in their backgrounds is one of the things that pushed them together, they were both isolated from the rest of the kids, but I’m keeping this purely facts rather than speculation.

2000

They’re both 15 years old and are karting teammates for MBB (Mercedes Benz McLaren) in Formula A

Robert Kubica: “there was always competition. But they didn’t fight. It was friendly competition. There was always laughing afterwards.” // “they would even have races to eat pizza”

They often shared hotel rooms at the races which was a “scene of many wrestling matches between them”

Dino Chiesa (their karting boss) – “many times I was called by reception about some problem in the room. It might be noise, or they might have broken something. They would never sleep so they were always tired the next morning”

“they both liked ice cream so much, particularly vanilla. During the night they wanted to eat ice cream always, so I had to go out everywhere to find some and keep them happy”

Lewis would often persuade Nico to buy him sweets

They would have competitions over LITERALLY EVERYTHING

Lewis: “we always had great competition whether on the racetrack or computer games or playing football”

“probably the first bit of competition we had was when Nico used to ride a unicycle everywhere so I thought, ‘I’ve got to learn how to ride this unicycle. Ive got to be better than him.’ I spent all my time outside the go-kart learning to ride this unicycle”

Apparently it only took Lewis 2 hours to teach himself how to do it

In maybe 2013 ish (when they were still friends) Lewis reflected with– “I have never laughed so much than when we were racing together. Nico was kicking everyone’s butt at that time. We had so great races together and built a great relationship”

“we were just arriving and enjoying go-karts and eating pizzas every weekend, fighting all the time and just having fun, whereas now it’s all business.”

many times they would talk about what they would do when they got to f1, made plans hoping to be teammates and become world champions together.

“Nico would say ‘when I’m in formula one’ and for me it was always ‘if I ever get to formula one’. Because obviously Nico’s dad was a formula 1 driver- he knew he was going to make it.”

F1

Nico joined f1 in 2006 with williams, Lewis 2007 with McLaren. And man I WISH I knew what went down with this two when Lewis nearly one his rookie season (missing out by one point to mr fernando alonso) and then WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP in his SECOND SEASON (again by one point thank you mr alonso)

2008 Australia

Nicos gets his first podium, and ofc Lewis is there (he won it) and they are jumping around in the cool down room. Just, two kids who are literally living the one thing they have spent their whole lives dreaming about together. Lewis won the championship that year and oh wow I can only imagine their celebrations together.

2013

They’re teammates in Mercedes!!!

Nico: “every other day there are moments or things that pop up and I can smirk and thing, ‘that’s exactly the same as it was 15 years ago’”

2013 Malaysian Grand Prix gets an honourable mention. This is the race with red bulls good old multi 21 but merc also had their own team orders, stopping nico from fighting for his first merc podium, but Lewis disagreed with it so it didn’t really spark that much tension between them- more the team.

2014

the start of the turbo-hybrid era so y’all know this was good in terms of performance.

2014 Bahrain Grand Prix

They were both fighting for the win and had a collision which prompted a “mock fight” in parc ferme after the race (which I really hope there’s a video of).

Turns out, Nico won because he had used engine modes banned by Mercedes to get a power advantage in the closing laps. which kinda pissed Lewis off

2014 Spanish Grand Prix

Lewis’ fourth win in a row and took lead in the championship. They were fighting till literally the last second and Lewis crossed the line 0.6 seconds ahead of Nico, who says he could have passed him with one more lap.

Lewis defended using the same banned engine modes that Nico had used in Bahrain. Yeah.

2014 Monaco Grand Prix

This is IT. This is peak petty bitch. This is the one people still cry about.

It’s the end of Q3, both of them are out on a lap, Nico ahead of lewis. Nico’s already on provisional pole but Lewis is pretty close.

And then,, Nico just,, parks his car?? He says he made a mistake but the guy doesn’t even crash he straight up just,, rolls to a stop into a slip road. So the yellow flags come out forcing Lewis to abort a lap that was in the makings of pole.

The stewards say it was a-okay but Lewis was convinced it was intentional (and let’s be honest, yeah it probably was) and he even claimed that merc’s data proved it. (low key surprised he didn’t just tweet out the telemetry but I guess he got a stern telling off from mclaren last time)

But *this* is when Lewis tells the world that they aren’t friends anymore. An iconic interview.

Nico then wins the race too, ending Lewis’s four win streak and putting Nico in the lead of the championship.

2014 Hungarian Grand Prix

Lewis has an engine failure in quali meaning he starts from the pit lane, but he does good to make his way up the pack but THEN there’s a safety car which puts him ahead of Nico but on a different strategy.

Nico asks if Lewis can let him past as he needs to pit again before the end of the race, which will give him the place back anyways. Lewis straight up refuses, he’s on a role here. He started from last, and Nico started from pole, why should he slow down to let his title rival through.

Mercedes strongly suggest that his blocking fucked up Nicos race but Niki Lauda is on Lewis’ side so he doesn’t get punished (We stan a supportive father figure) even though he did blatantly refuse to be a team player.

And guys, this is the last race before the summer break so you know Nico was left seething for four weeks.

2014 Belgian Grand Prix

Second lap, Nico attempts a clumsy move and there’s contact, giving Hamilton a puncture and knocking him out of the race.

There’s a lot of controversy but basically it turns out he crashed with him intentionally, not backing out of the corner to “prove a point”. Nico ended up finishing second but was punished by the team, forced to apologise, and even booed on the podium.

2014 Abu Dhabi

For some reason it ran for double points?? The first time in History??? But idk???

Lewis had a perfect start and went on to win it and take the title, Nico had a problem and was told to retire the car but he kept going anyway and finished 14th. Nico went into the cool down room to congratulate Lewis on the championship win, which. cute.

Lewis claimed his second championship. Which not only was huge because of the inter team rivalry, but also because of the large gap between his first win. This guy had lost out on winning the championship in his ROOKIE season by ONE POINT, and then WON it in his SECOND season, and then there was like a FIVE YEAR gap before he won it again.

2015

Damnnn this car was fiiiinneeeeeee.

They do more laps in testing than any other car AND do it on a single power unit. And then. Australia. They take a one-two THIRTY FOUR seconds ahead of the third place Ferrari.

2015 Chinese Grand Prix

Nico is second in a one-two but claims that Lewis kept backing him up into Seb, trying to compromise his race (and help out his boyfriend).

Lewis gave zero shits: "It's not my job to look after Nico's race, it's my job to manage the car and bring the car home as healthy and as fast as possible. That's what I did."

2015 U.S. Grand Prix

If Lewis wins here he could also claim the title with three races to spare (you have to remember back then the title fight often went up to the last race so this was pretty cool)

Lewis very aggressively forced Rosberg wide at Turn 1 to claim the lead, and then there was some sexy fighting between the Mercs and Redbull all race. Nico led in the closing stages but made a mistake, running deep into a corner and letting Lewis past with only a handful of laps to go.

Nico finished P2 and had not only lost the race but the championship title. Nico was fuming, saying Lewis’ move at the start was “one step too far”.

This is the infamous cap throw in the cool down room. Lewis throws Nico his P2 hat, Nico straight up yeets it back at him. I tear up just thinking about it. They grow up so fast.

2016

Nico had came so close to winning and I guess this was just, the last straw. All or nothing. This year he literally gave it everything he had. Lewis and him stopped speaking, Nico gave up literally the rest of his life and even stopped sleeping in the same bed as his wife and taking care of his kids, instead spending every moment trying to get into Lewis’ head. Honestly, I think he might be the only one that could beat Lewis. Just because he knew him *so well*. He literally threw away like 16 years of friendship. But also it’s like, he had to be world champion. He *had to*. His dad was champion and his whole life he’s been preparing to win it too. Tough luck that he raced in the same era as Mr. Best Driver The Sport Has Ever Seen.

Nico won the last few races of 2015, and the first four races of 2016. Lewis had a couple car problems and Nico had a good lead on him in the championship.

2016 Spanish Grand Prix

Gentlemen. A short view back to the past. Nico had made a switch error on the formation lap causing the car to go into the wrong engine mode. So he was running a lot slower than Lewis, who was fighting to claim back the lead.

Nico closed the door to keep him back, and Lewis lost control on the grass, and spins into Nico and taking them both out of the race in the first lap. This is probably one of the most iconic crashes. I’m pretty sure there’s a clip of this somewhere in black and white with the titanic music over the top.

Niki Lauda blamed this one on Lewis (I guess even a supportive dad has to be critical sometimes) "Lewis is too aggressive. It is stupid, we could've won this race".

2016 Austrian Grand Prix

Nico had been struggling with a brake issue all race but was still on the way to win it. But in the last lap Lewis had caught him up and gone in for the overtake.

Typical Nico not taking any shit, refusing to be the guy that backs out and they collide. Lewis took the win and a damaged Nico dropped to fourth. From first. In the last lap.

Both of them blamed each other and tired dad team boss Toto Wolff threatened team orders in future races.

The stewards blamed Nico for the incident, issuing him two penalty points for failing to allow "racing room" and causing a collision.

2016 Abu Dhabi

In the final laps of the race, Lewis ignored team-orders from his race engineer and the technical director.

He deliberately slowed and backed Nico into the pack hoping they overtake him, and there would be enough of a points difference to win the title.

Nico finished second and won the title by five points.

And then,,, Nico announced a surprise retirement during the FIA prize giving ceremony.

Lewis’ response:

"This is the first time he's won in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop.” (We stan a petty king)

“But he's also got a family to focus on and probably wants to have more children. Formula One takes up so much of your time."

“In terms of missing the rivalry, of course because we started karting when we were 13 and we would always talk about being champions. When I joined this team, Nico was there, which was something we spoke about when we were kids. So it's going to be very, very strange, and, for sure, it will be sad to not have him in the team next year."

And now they are kind of on speaking terms but not really, they are both pretty private but I think they are at the ‘awkward small talk when we run into each other at the supermarket’ stage of the break up.

[holdmyhopeinyourhands]

i think many of us are getting carried away over the winter break.

this is the first new era of cars in which there is a budget cap, and limited wind tunnel and cfd testing time for everyone.

merc, and ferrari, have previously spent well into the mid $400 million bracket (even excluding engine dev costs), and red bull has been spending in the mid $300 millions.

the budget cap for 2022 is $140 million. that's not even half of what merc/ferrari spent, or even rb has been spending. it's so much closer to what smaller teams, like aston, alphatauri, williams, alfa and even haas have been spending as recently as 2019. alpine (excluding engine dev) and mclaren have been floating in the interim in the $200m range.

development of a car obviously costs money, not only for the resources to make it, but to pay the best people in the business to do it for you. none of those big 3 teams will have anywhere near the amount of 'surplus' that they're used to spending in order to achieve the advantage they've had over recent years.

the "big 3" of merc, ferrari and rb will likely be ahead of the pack still, mainly due to the preexisting infrastructure (both in equipment and people) they all have from years of spending so much money each year.

but we shouldn't be hoping nor even expecting for domination from the cars themselves. it's less likely to happen than ever, and arguably the biggest advantage the big 3 have had has been almost completely nullified.

of course, i could be wrong. but don't we all want to see a greater number of drivers have a genuine chance of winning, or getting on the podium every weekend? don't we want to see more sexy, sexy racing from lewis against nearly every driver on the grid?

i for sure don't want lewis to just have to deal with george all season. give me the spice of ✨variety✨

<3

I would be for spice and variety if Lewis wasn't robbed at abu dhabi. Now I'm just bitter. So to me if 2022 means Lewis crushing everyone so be it. It's not very sportsy of me and yes I am sounding genuinly petty but that's how I feel. I was all for spicy racing between several teams even after the abu dhabi qualifier no matter who won because it would have been cool to watch but Masi just stepping in and ruining everything has made me see red. I want justice and if that justice entails mercedes doing better than everyone else, sign me up. We can have more teams contending for the championship after that but 2022 is the season I pray Lewis fucks up the field.

Also I get all that. The budget cap and new cars etc and I'm not saying merc will nail it. I'm just really hoping and praying they do. Lewis isn't getting any younger so I rather he wins now than merc somehow screwing it up. But that's my opinion. You're very welcome to have your own and I partly agree with you too it's just that *waves at Lewis* I need him to win.

[chibivesicle]

Golden Kamuy chapter 261 - called it.

As the break surrounding American Thanksgiving comes to an end, I have a little more time to write this week’s meta.  Overall, I’m feeling pleased that I was able to predict the major plot point in this chapter, but it was pretty obvious.

The chapter starts off with Meiji era firefighters doing their things and Kikuta wanders back into the plot.  The fire crew fights the fire sending a crew to the rear of the brewery.

Kikuta is wandering through the building in a less smoky area.  Seeing that he’s cool and collected, I’d guess his strategy was to try to slowly cover the ground to find Asirpa. 

Usami raced off to chase Kadokura since his obsession with him seems to overpower his ability to follow Tsurumi’s orders.  Kikuta is met with the barrel of a rifle as he turns a corner to bump into the regrouped 27th.

He looks a little awkward since someone pointing a gun at you isn’t exactly a relaxing situation but the unnamed private apologizes as everyone looks at him.  Tsurumi seems pretty relaxed, Tsukishima seems resigned as he holds Asirpa and Koitio and Nikaido just blankly look at him. I like how Kikuta is able to remain calm as he greets Tsurumi, he is truly a classy man.  He simply listens to Tsurumi’s update about avoiding Hijikata or Sugimoto and that there is also a sniper on the loose.  It is then that Kikata shows some nervousness knowing that the body is that of Usami.  I think he does a great job of either acting surprised or maybe he’s honestly surprised since Usami was a great fighter, but he also knew he rushed into situations while he has always been methodical.

It looks to me that Koito and Tsukishima are both looking down towards Usami and not actually looking at Kikuta.  I think if Koito were looking at Kikuta, his gaze would be more to the left but it isn’t.  I wonder if both of them are thinking, Usami was a bit crazy thank goodness . .

The action then shifts to Ogata wondering where Vasily is as he thinks what his plan would be.  He states he’ll try to move upwind of the smoke for better visibility.  Is Ogata continuing the sniper battle?  I’m not sure, he may be just trying to avoid him.  He’s had a long evening and he’s smart enough to know when to retreat.  The fact that there is smoke, I would expect him to use his previous experience with Tanigaki and how he knew he retreated too late when Tanigaki escaped from Huci’s home.  It seems that Ogata evolves as a sniper and strategic thinker, but Vasily is just doing what he’s always done. 

We get some rare Vasily thoughts as he is looking for Ogata at the ground level.  It seems he finally figured out Ogata’s name so now we get the thought of his name.  He predicts Ogata trying to outflank him using the smoke to conceal his movement.

I dunno Vasily, Ogata already dealt with this situation with Tanigaki so I think he’ll do something unpredictable to pursue Tsurumi and the 27th from the shadows.  Face it, you are out classed.

The action returns to Sugimoto charging at Boutarou who whips his hair into his face blocking his vision.  He easily dodges his strike and grabs his rifle.  More importantly he asks Sugimoto if this will only be settled if one of them dies.

Which is a logical statement before he kicks Sugimoto in the face.  But Sugimoto can’t be stopped as he hits him in the face with the butt of his rifle and he falls to the ground as he draws his rifle ready to kill Boutarou since he’s immortal so it means that he won’t be the one to die when this is settled.

Very unusual for the manga, Boutarou decides to surrender.  He holds up his hands and smiles that he’s been beaten, but Sugimoto isn’t having any of that.  But then just as he fires Shiraishi deflects his shot (I think he was close enough that he wouldn’t miss.)  Oh YES!  Shiraishi indeed comes to the rescue of Boutarou.  I knew there is something between these two.

Shiraishi points out the obvious fact that Sugimoto needs to calm down and that they won’t find where Asirpa is if he’s dead.  Shiraishi, the underrated guy who is pretty intelligent!

Boutarou points out they will have to team up and Sugimoto is already walking away once he hears it was the 27th and assumes Tsukishima is the one who got her (incorrect) and he’s ready to just leave with Shiraishi.  Boutarou got some skins from Kadokura and he’s got the insider Ainu information, he thinks it is more than enough.  I love how Sugimoto thinks that because Boutarou hit him with a shovel he can’t trust him and thinks Hijikata is better (you know the man who has tried to kill you more than once) and he orders Shiraishi to come with him.  He the also assumes that Vasily will somehow protect Asirpa and that the 27th can’t escape.  

God, his logic is so flawed.  We know that Vasily is after Ogata, and Ogata only.  He doesn’t care about Asirpa and he never has for all we can tell and his inner dialogue in this chapter indicates as much.  Plus, Tsurumi always finds ways to escape so thinking a Russian sniper who doesn’t understand Japanese is going to snipe the entire 27th to protect Asirpa is - well insane.  Perhaps, the hit to the head with the shovel was too much.  Aaannnnnd the next page proves my point.

Look it is Vasily now up on a roof again asking for Ogata to come out of his hiding position.  But Ogata is no fool, he’s instead inside at a higher level with his rifle ready as he scans for Vasily.  He’s likely looking for him so that he can just move to avoid him and he’s not running outside.

Sugimoto then runs into a random guy with really weird round eyebrows, tied up.  Of course it is the fire crew that went around the back and they were tied up by the 27th who are escaping under the guise they are the fire crew!

Tsurumi drives the fire engine and Tsukishima walks off close to the viewer.

I wonder if Ogata is looking at them to determine that they are the 27th and if they have Asirpa?  It would be great if Vasily thinks he is continuing his sniper game and Ogata just follows the 27th and he’s left sitting on the roof of some building into the dawn.

Sugimoto unties the firefighters and asks were the 27th went. They don’t have any horses for obvious reasons, since the 27th stole them, but Boutarou has a solution.  Shiraishi is supporting him!  This means he ignored Sugimoto’s call to leave him behind and he’s even helping him move more quickly.  I want to know more about their relationship as characters!

And boom! Boutarou has found a Sapporo beer promotional car!  Which he can drive.  Sugimoto is of course impressed as his ability to drive a motor vehicle and there was a Sapporo Beer car, though this one is a lot fancier.

We learn that he learned to drive with Eddie Dun while hanging out with Wakayama.  The flashbash shows him wearing some cut off shorts, his arm around Dun while Wakayama holds his shoulder.  Does this confirm bisexual/pansexual Boutarou?  Considering how he acts around Shiraishi as well, perhaps.  There is also the fact that the other flashback had him in the nude when Wakayama told him to give up on the gold.  We also know Dun was running around nearly naked with the Ainu woman’s garment from Asirpa’s relative’s daughter. 

With that the chapter ends as Boutarou drives off in the direction that the 27th is headed in the beer car!  Which oddly makes me think of the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile and all the jokes that go along with that.

Conclusions from this chapter are pretty simple.

1.) Tsurumi has found an easy way to leave and is heading north with Asirpa.  Koito and Tsukishima seem distant and reflective and Kikuta is playing it calm like the 007 that he is.

2.) Vasily is continuing the sniper battle.  Does he care about Asirpa? Fuck no.  Does he care about Tsurumi? Nope.  Does he care about Ogata?  Too much.

3.) Ogata is avoiding Vasily.  But if he’s continuing the sniper battle is questionable at best.  I predict he’ll use something from his battle with Tanigaki to evade Vasily.  Either he’ll pass by in the open while Vasily thinks he behaves in a predictable fashion.  Which Vasily should know that Ogata already doesn’t act like a typical sniper so he should stop thinking that way.  Ogata doesn’t waste his effort or actions, he sniped Usami because it was the right thing to do.  It doesn’t mean he’s in the mood for more of this waste of his time as Tsurumi escapes with Asirpa.

4.) Shiraishi is the hero of the day!  He’s on a roll. He saved Sugimoto from the fire and now he saved Boutarou from Sugimoto.  He knows that Boutarou is a smart guy and as I’ve stated before, he’s there to make Sugimoto uncomfortable.  It is because of Boutarou that they are able to steal the beer car to pursue the 27th, but I predict something will prevent them.  Like they run out of gas or end up in a ditch and have to retreat and rest up before attempting to rescue Asirpa. Does this mean that ShiraBou is real?  Or are you just trolling us Noda?  Eh? Eeehhh?????? Boutarou clearly wasn’t worried wearing shorts with other men, flaunting his sexy figure.

5.) Hijikata’s group has fully retreated.  We didn’t see them in this chapter, but they are smart enough to have withdrawn versus trying to pursue the 27th or Sugimoto.

Well that is all for now. I think the 27th will successfully escape since it will have to make other groups consider how to rescue her.  I’d love for Ogata to stalk the 27th and sneak her out from Tsurumi’s grasp leaving everyone else to clash.

[missmarquin]

Twenty Flowers, and the Memories of Them

I saw this graphic floating around and bam, Drabbles happened. 

Read on A03 for better Quality!

Otabek is a sap when it comes to things, but Yuri loves it. 

He’s tired and aching, and his students are fucking stupid. But when he walks into their small apartment, to find a bundle of flowers in a jar, he smiles. He doesn’t need a note. Beka has explained more than enough times his stupid obsession with flowers and the questions they can ask. 

His fingers touch a leaf lightly, and he leans over to smell them.

“Yura,” Otabek says from behind him. Yuri turns to find him in a towel, dripping wet. Otabek pulls him close, kissing his lips lightly. 

“What are these for?” Yuri asks.

“No reason,” Otabek says. “Just memories.”

Memories indeed. 

….

Rose

“Hey Beka.” 

The man in question hums lightly, but doesn’t look up from the bike that he sits before. He’s sprawled out on the ground before it, surveying it with a critical eye. Yuri watches from the workbench. Otabek takes a socket wrench, muscles bulging slightly with effort as he works at the screw. Yuri keeps watching, swallowing thickly. He blames the hot garage air. 

“What’s your crush like?” He finally asks. 

Otabek drops the tool, hissing slightly in surprise. Yuri blinks at that, but his friend recovers immediately, the wrench twirling about deftly between his fingers. “They’re a little hot-head,” Otabek says, as he moves to pull at another part of the bike. Yuri is about forty-percent sure that it was the engine, but what the fuck does he know about motorcycles? “More bark than bite though, ad I’ve learned over the years. And beautiful.”

“And let me guess,” Yuri intones, bored, “They don’t know it, right?” Isn’t that how romance always works?

Otabek snorts at that, the closest thing to a genuine laugh Yuri would ever get. “No. Trust me, they absolutely know.”

Yuri thinks on that for a long moment, and then says, “Sounds like someone I’d get along with.”

By the time Otabek looks up from his work, Yuri’s already lost interest in the idea, and he misses how the mechanic regards him with the utmost fondness. 

Cherry Blossom

It isn’t the first rom-com that Otabek and Yuri have ever watched, and it certainly isn’t the last. This night is like any other. Beka leans against one arm of the couch, and Yuri across the entire thing, his long legs stretched across the other man’s lap. Otabek holds Yuri’s ankles in a loose grip unconsciously. Yuri eats popcorn noisily, but Otabek doesn’t. He only watches him. He watches Yuri, more than the movie itself. 

Yuri never notices. 

“That’s so stupid, Yuri says around a mouthful of food. He gestures wildly at the screen. “Who the fuck believes in love at first sight?”

Otabek does. Otabek does, because he’s a living example, not that he’ll ever let Yuri know. Instead, he grunts his customary grunt, squeezing the soft skin of Yuri’s leg gently. 

“Yeah, who would ever?”

Daisy

Yuri tries not to think of his younger days, because those days fucking suck. He remembers Otabek though, and those memories aren’t so terrible. 

He remembers a stocky boy stumbling around like a blundering fool. Unable to hold basic forms, little-to-no flexibility to speak of. Yuri favors this memory because it’s funny-- it’s funny to remember the determined look on Otabek’s face, and how it belied the strain on his ill-suited-for-dance of a body.

As an adult though, he’s grown fond of it. It’s when Otabek first saw him, first noticed him. The whole Eyes of a Soldier thing was pretty endearing.

And of course, Yuri is fucking smug about it. 

Daffodil

Yuri doesn’t often dress up, because it’s extra work. Otabek relishes the rare moments when he does though, because Yuri goes to the fucking nines. 

“Beka, will you help me with this tie?” Yuri asks, storming out of the hotel bathroom in a whirlwind. Otabek turns, only to freeze to the spot. Looking, just looking, taking in the sight of Yuri in a deep burgundy button down. Yuri’s lips pull into a tight frown as he fumbles with the white bow tie. 

“Fucking ties,” He murmurs, and then he repeats, “Beka.” Yuri looks up. “I asked-- why are you staring?”

Otabek snaps his mouth shut and steps closer, trying to play it cool. He pulls Yuri’s hands from the tie, fixing it easily. “It’s a good color on your,” he says simply. His fingers ghost over the skin of his neck, pulling here and sliding the fabric through there. “Caught me off guard.”

When he’s down, Yuri fingers the shirt nervously, but smiles back. 

Peony

“Telling the truth is fucking boring,” Yuri groans, leaning long the couch. 

Otabek is sprawled across the floor, trying to hook up a gaming system. Even as a DJ extraordinaire, was was clueless when it came to most other electronics. He stares at the pile of wires and controllers and plugs with a severe frown. 

“Don’t be silly, Yura,” he says, moving to untangle a pile. “It’s basic manners.”

“You know better than anyone that I don’t have fucking manners.” Yuri pauses. “Except with you. I’m nice to you.” Another pause. “If it’s your story, fucking embelish it. Honor and glory, and all that shit. Don’t you want to seem impressive to others?”

“Do you lie to me?” Yuri knows that Otabek is only teasing him, but his heart jerks slightly. Because there are things that Yuri feels and Otabek doesn’t know. 

“No,” Yuri finally says. “But I’ve made a habit of lying to myself, I guess.”

Iris

“I asked what your favorite song from the nineties is.”

“And I answered.”

“I’m In Love With My Car, by Queen isn’t the fucking nineties, Beka.”

Otabek smiles. “The nineties was a terrible era of music, so I prefer to ignore it.”

Yuri rolls his eyes in response. 

Sunflower

“Why the moon?”

Otabek considers Yuri’s question for a moment, and then says, “It reminds me of someone.”

“That mysterious crush of yours?” Yuri teases.  “All beautiful and that shit?” They’re laying in the grass of some park, on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, and Yuri doesn’t see Otabek smile wryly.

“That’s not really why, Yura.”

“Eh?”

Otabek thinks again for a moment. “You know how the moon pulls at the tides?”

“Yeah, gravity and shit.”

“Well, this person pulls at me, and no matter what, I find myself always going back to them.”

Yuri gives him a sideways glance. “Beka, I’m literally the only person you hang out with. I feel bad for whoever’s heart your breaking.”

Otabek hums in response, looking back to the night sky. Yuri doesn’t quite get his silence.

Narcissus

“Yakov wants me to cut my hair.”

Otabek isn’t surprised, but Yakov was a bit traditional in the end all of things. Yuri hasn’t cut it in years, and it falls limply around his mid back.  He reaches out, grasping the ends in his fingertips.  “Will you?”

“Fuck that shit,” Yuri spits. “It’s my favorite part of me.”

“Same,” Otabek says, reaching to brush his bangs back. 

Yuri’s expression softens. 

Freesia

It’s been a long day of competition, and they’ve forgone the partying afterwards. Yuri hisses as he pulls his foot out of an ice bath. Otabek takes it gently, pulling it into his lap. Wordlessly, he massages the skin and applies ointment to any scrapes and cuts. He avoids bruises and moisturizes the cracked skin. 

“Hey Beka,” Yuri says, and Otabek hums in response, like he often does. “You’ll always be my best friend, right? Like this’ll never end will it?”

Otabek fucking hopes not, but the future is never certain. Still, he replies with, “Of course it won’t. I’m yours forever, Yura.”

Yuri tries not to look pleased by the words.

Orchid

“Jesus fucking christ,” Yuri mutters, and Otabek looks up at him. He’s struggling with a peach, his fingers covered in the slick juice as he peels it carefully. When he takes a bite, it dribbles down his chin. Yuri’s tongue snakes out, licking it up and--

Otabek looks away quickly. He can feel his face burning red. He’s mortified. 

He also comes to the conclusion that peaches are now his favorite fruit. 

Violet

“Kissing is overrated.”

Otabek blinks at Yuri. “Have you ever kissed anyone?”

Yuri scoffs. “Of course I have. Never impressed by it.”

Before Otabek can respond, Victor butts his unwanted nose into the conversation. “Probably because you’re kissing the wrong person,” he says, leaning over Yuri’s shoulder.

“What the fuck does that mean?” Yuri snaps, pushing Victor away.

But Victor only laughs, winking at Otabek.

Alstroemeria

“Let’s go back to Barcelona,” Otabek says one night. 

Yuri grunts softly, snuggling into his side, muttering about how sore he is from skating that day. Friends don’t do this, Otabek thinks. Not even best friends-- but best friends who love each other? 

More likely. And so-- “You heard me,” Otabek says, nudging him gently. “Let’s take a vacation.”

“Why Barcelona?”

“Because Barcelona always brings us good things.”

Yuri hums at that and doesn’t discredit his observation. “Barcelona it is, then. Let’s set a course.”

Otabek then looks down, confused-- only to realize that Yuri is talking in his sleep. 

Cymbidium

Yuri is looking at him weird, and finally it gets to Otabek.

“Yura, is there something wrong?” he asks. 

Yuri cocks his head to the side, a cute little wrinkle settling across his brow. “I’m trying to figure it out,” he finally says.”

“Figure what out?”

“Why girls don’t date you. I mean, you’re good looking and shit. Rocking muscles, sexy haircut-- aren’t you like made of the stuff they look for?”

Oh. Oh. It wasn’t that Otabek never expected to have this conversation, but he never thought Yuri would bring it up so casually. “Women ask me out plenty,” Otabek replies finally, rubbing at his neck nervously. “I just-- they aren’t my type.”

Yuri blinks at that. “Wait, are you gay?” A pause, and then, “I mean, that’s super not a problem and all that.” Otabek releases a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Seriously, it’s all good. Also, that dude that you like? Go fucking tell him, or something. I’m tired of carrying along your lonely ass.”

Otabek mutters something about it not being that easy. 

Rhododendron

Yuri hates the question that Otabek asks him.

Yura, are you afraid of anything? 

How does Yuri explain his biggest fear, is Otabek himself? Any and everything about him-- losing him, telling him that he likes him, what his reaction might be...

“Hey, you know how you’re like the only person that I remotely tolerate?”

“Hm?” Otabek looks at him over the bike he sits next to. And then, “Yura, is this about what I asked you the other day? Don’t worry about it; it was only a question.”

“Most people would say being alone, right?” Yuri replies, ignoring what Otabek says. “But I guess my fear is more specific. It’s losing you. That idea fucking sucks, because you’re the only person that means shit to me.” 

He risks a glance at Otabek, afraid that his words would seem weird but-- His heart beats wildly instead, because of the soft look on Otabek’s face. 

Tulip

“Lucky number fifteen,” Yuri says with a smile. 

“Fifteen? That’s a weird number.”

Yuri winks at him. “It’s how old I was when I met you.”

Otabek’s heart flutters, and he ignores it. “Yura, you were ten when we met.”

“Fucking semantics.”

Gerbera

Otabek knew the moment Aidana retired from making costumes, he would struggle finding someone else he could trust. And when Yuri tells him that he has a great person that would be perfect for Otabek’s style, he knew he should have ignored him.

“Beka, let me see,” Yuri pleads, throwing back the fitting room drape with little care. He stops. He looks, his gaze dragging the entire length of his body. “That’s uh… different,” he finally manages. 

“The first version was lavender. I told him to make it brighter. This wasn’t what I had in mind.”

And then Yuri wasn’t able to hold it any longer. He burst out laughing, nearly falling over. Otabek slaps his hand against his face, pulling at his skin in frustration. He spares a glance in the mirror, wincing at the neon pink and yellow ensemble. 

Yeah, next time he shoves Yuri’s head in the toilet instead. 

Snapdragon

“I’m a fucking unicorn, Beka, and you know it.”

Otabek smiles, because Yuri was right. 

Hydrangea

It’s probably Yuri’s last Olympics. 

It’s not something that Otabek wants to think about. It was okay when he retired, he expected to retire early into his career. But Yuri? Yuri seems like he’d be able to skate until he’s fifty-- even if Otabek knows that’s not possible. 

But it’s 2026, and Yuri is twenty-eight. He’ll be lucky to eke out another few years in his competitive career, let alone another Olympics. Yuri doesn’t mention it, but they both know. Otabek has to know, he’s his coach. The moment he hung his skates up, Yuri demanded it. 

Yuri skates flawlessly, like always. Otabek knows he’s in pain. He sees the slight strain in Yuri’s muscles, the little twitches of discomfort. He’s knows because he watches, he’s always watching Yuri. As his coach, as his friend, as well as wishing. 

They sit in the Kiss-and-Cry. They wait for the final scores, the ones that determine medals. Yuri sits in second, but he delivers one hell of a final performance. 

The announcement comes on, and the score is heard. And it’s like the stadium is quiet, it’s like there’s no one there, except for them. He turns to Yuri, who turns to him, and Yuri whoops. He jumps out of his seat, screeching, pulling Otabek with him. 

Otabek is proud, this is the proudest moment in his life. Because Yuri smashes a record and will bring home the gold. 

Yuri must be proud too, because he dips down and kisses him. It’s a surprise. They’ve danced around this for years, but Yuri finally make his fucking choice. 

Fuck the Gold, Otabek thinks, slipping his arms around his neck, pulling Yuri closer. 

Ginger

“I fucking hate Katsudon,” Yuri says. 

Otabek regards him with amusement. “Color me surprised,” he intones sarcastically. “You seem to have no problem with it anytime you come to Japan.” He points to the bowl sitting before him.

“I wasn’t talking about the fucking food,” Yuri snaps, and Otabek laughs. 

Carnation

“Hey Beka,” Yuri starts. He always starts things like that, with a simple Hey Beka. “What do you think about true love?”

He’s asked about this before, though they were pretty fucking young. Years ago, but Otabek remembers it. He remembers most of the things that Yuri asks. 

“What, do I think it exists?” Yuri shrugs. Otabek reaches out and grasps his hand, slipping his fingers between Yuri’s. “Obviously.”

Yuri isn’t the kind of guy to make mad declarations of love-- aside from his newsworthy smooch at the Olympics. But he says, “Yeah, obviously.”

Otabek smiles, squeezing his hand. 

Yuri squeezes back.