#you think he could achieve everything he has all by himself with just oli as his sidekick ? ��

[dreamings-free]

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[local-nerd-boy]

Who is Oliver lying to in the end?

As many people pointed out, the entirety of the Saltburn movie is about Oliver telling lies to everyone in order to appear as exactly the person they find interesting.

He is a nice, broke boy for Felix and Elspeth to fix, an art connoisseur for James to talk to and a lover for Venetia to seduce. Literally all he knows is be bisexual, eat hot chip and lie. And the story he tells in the end about always having planned to kill the Cattons was just as much a lie as everything else.

Now the question is: Who is he telling this story to? Who is he lying to? Who is he trying to get approval from by changing his story this time?

There are three possible answers I can think of: Elspeth, Himself and The Audience.

tl;dr: Oliver is telling a lie the entire movie, of course he didn't plan to kill the Cattons from the start but he wants you to believe that so badly, and most of all he wants to believe it himself.

1. Elspeth

While Elspeth might be the only other actual person in the room with Oliver, I think it's highly unlikely that she was the one Oliver was lying to, concidering that she is literally in a coma and about to be murdered by Oli. So why would it matter anymore what she thought of him?

That brings us to the next person he could be lying to:

2. Himself

The only person who is really hearing Oliver's story is Oliver himself. And that could be exactly who he is lying to.

He tells himself that his goal had always been to get the house instead of his goal being Felix's attention.

Because he failed so misrably at his first goal he now wants go make mostly himself believe that he never had that goal in first place. He tells himself that he always wanted the house, the money, Saltburn. Because recognising the rejection would mean recognising himself as the loser who doesn't fit in and that would just hurt too much.

But there is also a third "person" in the room with Elspeth and Oli that Oliver could be lying to:

3. The Audience

During the entire movie Oliver desperatly wants to fit in and belong, be a fixed part at Saltburn. But he never achieves that goal, he is always on the outside looking in.

What he can be a part of in the end though is the story itself.

In storytelling there are at least 4 major character types:

the protagonist

the antagonist

the confidant

the love interest

Next to Felix (or anyone in the Catton family, for that matter), Oli could never imagine or dare to imagine that he is the protagonist. How could he see himself as such, concidering that he never felt like he belonged or fit in?

Neither could he be the confidant as... literally no one really confides in him.

That leaves the love interest and the antagonist. The very first thing Oli states in the movie is that he loved Felix but he wasn't in love with Felix. He is purposefully removing himself from the role of the love interest. That is not what he wants to be seen as, even though it is so blatantly obvious that he is in love with Felix.

A reason why he denies being the love interest is because he simply failed at being such. Felix never saw him that way, they were never a thing, quite literally he was never Felix love interest.

That only leaves one character type: The antagonist. The moment Oliver realises that he is never going to be the love interest he decides that he is going to be the last remaining role he could possibly play: the antagonist. And thus he kills Felix.

And from that point of view, painting himself as the calculated antagonist, Oliver tells his lie. He pretends that punching a hole in Felix tire wasn't a try at a love-interest meet-cute but a first step in his evil-mastermind plan. He wants you to overlook that he failed as a love interest and instead wants you to pay attention to the role he has decided to fullfill for you, for the story you're watching: the antagonist. He is telling a lie to The Audience, making himself fit in as the evil, strategic mastermind because that is the role that was left for him to fit into the story.

[tutuandscoot]

Ok so firstly.. it’s so sweet and humble of them to acknowledge their incredible achievements and insane records they hold, personally I’m sure it means a lot to them but they certainly had and do have the mindset that those medals and records aren’t everything and it’s what they did for each other- the experiences they shared and what they built together that mean the absolute most- this was soooooo much more than a sport to them.

For T to say to S that she believes he’ll be coaching some team that blows all their records out of the water is a huge complement to him and I know she believes he will change this sport for the better, and that coming from her who he sees on just this completely unreachable pedestal, it must be hard for him coz frankly he said no one will be as great as her and he has to remind himself of that when he’s working with teams ‘I can’t expect these girls to be TV’. 🥲

BUT…

For the sake of it.. let’s explore the possibility for a team- from any country to break TS Olympic medal tally record:

Remember: their record is 🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈

That’s over 3 Olympics.

The first one was from Vancouver: 1x🥇.There was no team event at this point.

Next was Sochi: 2x🥈🥈 the first year the team event was held.

And finally Pyeonchang: 2x 🥇🥇. Gold in the team, gold individually.

So to break TS record a team would need to achieve any of the following combinations (once you get into 6+ medals the colour is interchangeable as long as least 3 are gold and at least two are silver).

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈

🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥈

🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥉

So: a team needs to win AT LEAST 3 gold: that could come either individually or in team event. Individually seems the most likely, however with the rate that the sport is changing, over 8 years, and don’t forget ageing/ teams splitting up/ politics/ judging… there’s a chance.. but not a huge one. Really the only team who came close to this was.. drum roll please 🥁 VIRTUEMOIR. The team event scenario is less likely. This requires there to be a STRONG AF national figure skating team across the board- all disciplines averaging essentially top 5 finishes consistently over 8 years.. so if you look at the state of Canadian figure skating right now, heck just look at the 2022 olys.. that country in particular needs to completely rebuild their national team. And frankly, VM’s era really was a golden age across the board in Canadian figure skating.. multiple times world champions in dance, mens and pairs, world medalists in ladies and WC winner at the worlds directly after the Olympics. There haven’t been any world medalist from Canada after the 17/18 season (that I can think of, GP got a bronze in 2021). This team situation goes for the USA as well, but they are in better shape, a lot of ‘great’ skaters retired after either 2018 and 2022, and as a team they are yet to win gold (still don’t know what’s happening with medals from Beijing) and then Russia I’m not gonna bother talking about coz you know.. they’re currently committing war crimes..

These 5+ medals will of course need to come from both success in the team and individual events- because an even more unlikely scenario is an ID team attending 5 Olympics and winning either 5 gold or 4gold and a silver in either event.

So, those are the broadest examples, and really everything after that are just derivatives from those scenarios.

A “possible” instance for eg: is 6 medals across 3 games: 3 gold coming from a combination of the IE and TE, let’s say 2 individual gold and 1 team gold (same as VM), two silvers- one from the team and one individually (same as VM) and lastly either another silver or bronze from another team event..

For the reasons pointed out above.. that is possible.. but a long shot because it depends not only as a single ice dance team’s success, by the strength of the national team as a whole, and again removing Russia from the equation, coz they have always been strong but also.. doping, the Canadian team in 2018 was somewhat of a unicorn, and they just happened to have strong af skaters in every category- all of which medaled individually in 2018 or had medaled previously (Patrick in 2014) (+Gabi who didn’t medal but was still a world medalist). Individually it will require a team to essentially be.. really top 3 in the world over 8+ years, and or mount an iconic comeback.

The most recent ID winners did not compete in the team event at either olys (18/22) and their team won’t ever be a team medal contender (in the near future anyway) so they have no chance of beating VM’s oly medal record.

So with that mostly covered.. let’s move onto some of their other records.

Let’s examine their reign as the youngest ever oly champs:

They were 20+22 when they won in YVR. I do not watch ID religiously so I don’t know every team or exact ages, but everyone currently competing and even attended the previous olys are already past VM’s age record- all the medalists in Beijing were in their mid- late 20’s/early 30’s, and the next crop behind them- the next 10 teams let’s say, were all well into their 20’s, so at the next olys it would have to be a new team, probably currently in juniors. Now I’m even more uneducated on the Junior Circuit, but I believe the majority of those teams, even if they were to rise above the level of seniors now, wouldn’t age wise be able to cut in under VM.

And a note on that as well, the ID landscape has shifted since VM.. they were an anomaly. They shouldn’t have won when they were that young but they did. An odd sequence of events- the change in the judging system and therefore the athleticism of the sport started to favour younger teams, but now that isn’t so much the case and the younger teams have grown up with this new system and are now older, and are just as athletically capable as the younger ones, but also have the maturity to service the artistry side.

So probably at least in the next several Olympics that record seems pretty out of reach.

Winning at a home games:

(This won’t be breaking a record but only being the second to do it).

This really just depends on luck of the draw. The olys are decided 8+ years out so there’s no way a team 10 years away can guarantee a win that far in the future. The Vancouver olys were announced in 2001 and at that time VM were 12+14- hadn’t moved away from home yet, we’re still growing, no injuries, anything could of happened but as we all know it just worked for them (and they worked for it) so the stars just kinda aligned on that one.

Winning an olys before a worlds title:

(Again will be second to do so).

This is probably the most attainable, but really the least significant, esp since VM have already done it, and it can only happen once coz once you win them both you can’t do that again.

Finally let’s look at the Super Career Grand Slam (my personal point of pride for my dancing bbys):

On the surface this seems possible, but when you think about it..

A team has to first win both the JGPF and Junior worlds, this achievement is very possible, but they then have to first; stay together (if teams split it is often between juniors and seniors) now they can achieve the SCGS with separate partners- but to be second after VM they need to stay together. They then need to win either 4CC or Euros, the GPF, World champs AND the Olympics. That last one is understandably the most likely place to fall flat because they only have once chance every 4 years. The olys and the junior titles are the most critical pieces to complete to gain this title. DW couldn’t do it because they didn’t get the junior titles, PC couldn’t do it because they didn’t get the junior titles. It requires a sustained and gaining excellence across both circuits and about 10-15 years of reign at or near the top.

That’s where VM stand out against everyone else.

There are of course numerous other records regarding points which will easily be broken coz the rules get changed every year, and number of national titles- which they don’t even hold, but ALL OF THE ABOVE… it will take a team with sustained, decades long greatness in a single partnership with the right chain of events and strength of the sport as a whole to top them. It’s a subjective sport so of course people will develop new favourites.. but what’s on the record on paper.. well there’s a reason there’s an acronym for it:

GOATs.

I rest my case.

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

Employed To Serve are putting British metal back on top

For the past decade, Justine Jones and Sammy Urwin of Employed To Serve have helped elevate British rock and metal both on and off the stage, from Album Of The Year releases to their championing of new bands. Now, with fourth full-length Conquering on the horizon, the pay-off is being felt across the entire scene…

Some years ago now, at the end of her last job in retail, Justine Jones made a decision. Providing she could eat and had a roof over her head, she wasn’t, she told herself, going to spend her life doing anything that was “un-fun”. Instead, Justine decided, she’d navigate the world by working hard on the things she loved and that she truly believed in.

“I’ve never been content to be a cog,” she says. ​“I’ve always wanted to be like a very heavily involved person. I like having a say, I guess. I’ve never liked having a manager, in terms of work. I have got that childish, rebellious thing, like, ​‘Don’t tell me what to do.’”

Employed To Serve are not cogs. Nor are Justine and guitarist Sammy Urwin ones to sit around and wait for the lights to go green. With what the singer calls ​“our Hatebreed, perseverance attitude”, a self-starting, hands-dirty, DIY ethos that’s as much about enthusiasm for music and building a scene as it is firing up pits, they have become one of the most exciting British metal bands of the past decade. When Oli Sykes invited them to join the Bring Me The Horizon-curated All Points East festival two summers ago, he noted that they were ​“one of the few heavy bands around who I actually like”.

Kerrang! had got there before him, mind. In 2017, we crowned Employed To Serve’s second album, The Warmth Of A Dying Sun, our Album Of The Year. Its follow-up, 2019’s Eternal Forward Motion, was awarded a full 5K rating and a spot on our front cover, their second. When they gave us the nod a while ago that they were about to drop the first single from their brilliant fourth album, Conquering, coming this September, we didn’t even need to think about giving them a third.

Like Oli’s band, there’s an energy to Employed To Serve, an orbit around them that feels like it’s pulling in other bands, linking seemingly unlinked outfits together through sheer enthusiasm. Beyond the band, offstage, Justine and Sammy run Church Road Records from their home in the Surrey commuter town of Woking (a place notably annihilated by Martians in H.G. Wells’ War Of The Worlds). Through this, they can sign and put out music by bands that they like: the only real signing policy amounting to ​“bands that excite me”, says Justine. There’s as much gratefulness towards the artists they release – Svalbard, Palm Reader, Cruelty, to name but three – for trusting them to look after their records, as there is to anyone who gives their own band the time of day.

“As cheesy as it sounds, we’re lifers,” says Justine. ​“I love music. I love releasing it. I love that I do it for a full time job. I love playing live. First and foremost, we are music fans. Obviously, we love being in a band and stuff. But we just live and breathe music.”

As with so many things for so many people, the depth of this dedication was thrown into sharp focus as COVID took hold last year. At the end of 2019, Employed To Serve were on a winning streak. Eternal Forward Motion was one of the year’s most acclaimed releases, they band had spent a month on the road with Bury Tomorrow in Europe and the UK, and on New Year’s Eve, Sammy and Justine put a bow on their long-term relationship by tying the knot. In March 2020, just before lockdown ended touring for everyone, the band’s UK headlining run just about snuck in, and saw them sell out London’s Camden Underworld, a show that ended in chaos with the audience onstage triumphantly carrying Sammy on their shoulders.

When things ground to a halt, the gap left was palpable. Once source of reflection came in taking stock in what the band had achieved, while also having to find a replacement for guitarist Richard Jacobs. It’s an exercise the pair are admittedly used to, to the point where Justine says, ​“We probably look like dictators, like it’s the Sammy and Justine show.”

To wit, keen observers will note that they are the only members of Employed To Serve to be on both this Kerrang! cover and the last one. There’s no bad blood anywhere – Richard left to move to Japan with his wife, drummer Robbie Back has become a dad, bassist Marcus Gooda went on to focus on other things – it was simply the wage of getting older in a band. When life’s forks come up, you have to make a choice. For Sammy and Justine, the choice just happens to be to stay the course. Three new members have been drafted into the band – guitarist David Porter, bassist Nathan Pryor and drummer Casey McHale – but it still provided a moment of reflection for what was actually important.

Another, more serious bit of stock-taking came last September, when Justine resigned from her job as a label manager at Holy Roar records, after serious assault allegations were made against the label’s owner. Soon after, that label folded entirely.

But in both cases, where events could have sown doubt or caused serious damage, things instead bloomed. And so, Sammy and Justine turned Church Road – a small concern of Sammy’s for years already – into a full-time occupation and livelihood, taking on Holy Roar releases already on the slate and pressed, and releasing them herself. In the case of their first release, Svalbard’s When I Die, Will I Get Better?, there was barely a month to move everything over, and yet it still hit the shelves on the day it was always intended to. Because, looking back, it’s almost like there was no other consideration than to carry on.

“When everything happened, I thought, ​‘Maybe I could go to a bigger label or something.’ But that’s not where my heart is,” says Justine. ​“My heart is in finding bands in tiny little venues and then helping them grow into their second hours and stuff. And it’s just more fun. Obviously, it’s very scary [running your own label], and I’ve spent a lot of this past year very stressed. But I don’t have to answer to anyone – I just do the best I can for the bands because I love them. My favourite thing is sitting on Bandcamp with a coffee or a beer, and going through each genre finding the best bands of that day, or going through Apple Music or Spotify and finding new bands. It has been like that since I was a kid. So doing a record label just makes sense.

“Obviously I wish it was under better circumstances, but COVID has been almost like a blessing for this band, because it’s helped us regroup,” she continues. ​“It made us take stock of all the cool shit we’ve been lucky enough to do. Because sometimes when you get caught in the rat race of everything, you’re never really living in the moment. And then COVID happens, and you think, ​‘What do I miss?’ Friends, family, playing shows. And I’m like, ​‘Cool, I’m doing the right thing. Let’s get back to it.’”

For Justine, this meant becoming the boss. For Sammy, already a music obsessive with an apparent addiction to both old-school death metal and playing guitar in as many bands as possible as a member of Renounced and Motormouth (as well as playing in Glorious with Justine), it was an opportunity to dedicate his life to his passion even further. A gardener by trade, he’d lately found himself wondering what was beyond it.

“I was doing gardening work on and off for the last 10 or so years. I enjoyed the work, but sometimes I would kind of find myself being a little bit like, ​‘What’s the five-year plan?’” he says. ​“I’ll always do the band. But we got a few members going off and doing other stuff. I knew I had to find something else to do, because I wanted to do something in music that also fit around being in the band. I just knew I wanted to be with like-minded people talking about music all day.”

Sammy and Justine talk about music a lot. Get Sammy started on metal, and his enthusiasm quickly runs away with him. For Justine, their impending gig at Download Pilot a couple of days after our interview is as much about watching everyone else as it is their own show. Though one of the heaviest bands on the line-up, as a showcase of the breadth of rising talent the British rock scene has, appearing on the same ticket as Enter Shikari, Trash Boat, Creeper, Boston Manor, Neck Deep, Loathe and Conjurer is a large-scale version of what they’ve been driving at for years.

“It’s so funny, because it kind of sounds weird, but within the British scene, it makes total sense,” says Justine. ​“It’s a very rich scene at a minute, and it’s for all spectrums. You have bands like Orchards and Gender Roles on the Big Scary Monsters label, but equally, there’s loads of heavier bands, too. Everyone knows how hard it can be being a British band, because it’s hard to get over to America. And now, unfortunately, it’s gonna be hard to get to Europe [after Brexit]. So everyone’s got this thing like, ​‘We’re this little island here and we need to stick together and support each other.’ It’s a nice collective, and a moment in time to be a part of.”

“Even though we’ve written a more metal record [with Conquering] for us, that’s definitely not a statement of us closing the door,” says Sammy. ​“Obviously we’d love to tour with Gojira or Lamb Of God or something like that. But if Creeper came to us and said, ​‘Do you want to tour with us?’ we’d say yes.”

It was on such a line-up that Justine first appeared on the cover of Kerrang!, alongside Becky Blomfield of much-missed alt.punks Milk Teeth, with whom ETS were touring at the time. It not only showed two rising talents in the British scene, but also how well such different ends of it slotted together. Which was kind of the point.

“We were like the little metal sandwich in that tour,” says Justine. ​“But we worked well, because it was an example of this sort of British scene that’s going on at the moment.”

“People turned up who would be wearing ETS T‑shirts, and then singing along with Milk Teeth and vice versa,” says Sammy. ​“That’s so cool to see. Obviously there’s still a little bit of gatekeeping going on in the world of metal. But, for me, that was a really good sign of a shift.”

“It makes total sense. I don’t know why it’s not more of a thing, having mixed bills like that,” says Justine. ​“Everyone in our generation grew up listening to Slipknot and blink-182; two polarising bands, but it makes total sense. I listen to both of them religiously. So that actually kind of makes sense in a bill. It’s literally a music fan’s show. I remember Thursday opening for My Chemical Romance at Wembley on The Black Parade tour when I was 14, and Reuben opening for Billy Talent as well. I literally got to get into heavier stuff from those mixed line-ups.”

Put it to either of them that between their music, DIY attitude and simple lust for wanting to marshall a scene without walls, Employed To Serve could be called leaders, or at least the setters of examples for others to follow, and it’s a compliment they’ll take, but also something that they don’t want to take too much credit for.

“I mean, it’s for others to say, isn’t it?” says Justine. ​“We just have mental to-do list of stuff we want to achieve. And if that inspires people, that’s sick. It’s never like we try to be the leaders or anything.

“At the end of the day, I love the idea of kids getting into metal because of us and vice versa.”

As such an entry point, Conquering is a very good one. Ultra heavy and explosive, it leans even further into Sammy’s love of death metal OGs like Morbid Angel and Death, plus classic thrash, with shredding solos everywhere, as well as more vocals from the guitarist. And not even changing three-fifths of the band since their last album has had anything other than a sharpening effect. Fundamentally, Conquering is exciting, full of energy, and powered by a deep-set love for simply doing it.

“The floodgates have been opened, I guess, in terms of wearing our influences for this record on our sleeve,” says Sammy. ​“I like to think we still maintain the ETS that was there before, but it’s obvious that during lockdown and leading up to this record, for me it was about early Machine Head and Testament and Exodus and stuff. I feel like this is our chance to show that side of us a bit more.”

“It’s where I feel at home, as well, because I grew up listening to early Lamb of God and ​’90s-era Roadrunner Records bands,” adds Justine. ​“Straight-up metal, but not straight-up metal in the sense that we’re doing it by numbers. We sound like us, but there are more choruses and solos.”

“Lyrically, it’s similar to Eternal Forward Motion and touching on some pretty bleak stuff, but for the most part we tried to put a positive spin on it,” says Sammy. ​“I wanted put all of that energy into something positive. I didn’t want to say the same things again, because I didn’t want to make it sound like it’s the same record. I’d say it’s an even more positive record than before.”

The day we meet for this interview, long after the tape recorder goes off, conversation about bands and music continues into the small hours. Three days later, at Download, as Sammy chucks himself into the crowd at the end of the band’s set and Justine alternates between roaring her head off and smiling her face off, the delight in all this is self-evident. Employed To Serve are one of the best metal bands in the country – one of the best bands full stop, in fact – but on a broader scale, they also act as a reflection of an emerging wave of bands for whom being in a band is an act of joy, of doing something with your life, of not settling for things that are, as Justine says, ​“un-fun”.

“Stuff in the band does get to you sometimes and you do get grouchy or whatever,” admits Sammy. ​“But we realised that we’re also very fortunate people who have played with people that have become our best friends. It’s about taking stock and being like, ​‘This is fun.’ That’s what the album is about. It’s about not letting things in your life get the better of you. Because sometimes they do, and you find yourself getting all aggy, and you’re only doing yourself a disservice at that point, really.”

“I think Henry Rollins said, ​‘Tenacity over talent,’” says Justine. ​“We work hard, but it’s tenacity. You could be the sickest guitar player but just sit in your bedroom and never play a show. No.”

“I mean, I do set myself up for it, where I’m kind of pulling my hair out,” adds Sammy. ​“I’ve had times where I’ve had three or four band practices a week. And there’s a gig this night, and a gig that night, and I’ve got to do this, that and the other. But you’ve gotta be in it to win it. And when a cool gig comes about, or cool tour comes about, or you’re just really happy with what you recorded, that’s when you know it’s worth it.”

As they say themselves, Justine and Sammy are lifers. As other members leave to start families or move abroad to begin the next chapter of their lives, rather than feeling left behind, it’s almost made them realise even more quite what a special thing they have.

When it brings you as much happiness as doing this clearly does, what else do you need? And anyway, it’s worth it to not simply be a cog.

[thecosmicsen]

"when you talk about her, your eyes light up but look distant and your voice gets less annoying. it's nice. love looks good on you."

THE MISDEMEANORS OF DUMB AND DUMBER   —  — —     (  3  /  ??  )

the eager and vigorous slurping of piping hot ramen from the shared plastic tub fills up the still humming background noise of the convenience store.  it is significantly past midnight,  the store still bustling with the night crowd but nothing out of bounds is disruptive enough to interrupt the duo’s late-night snacking session.  intently hunched over in their plastic chairs and slightly rickety table,  peace sweeps in and lays on a comforting thick blanket on the two simply enjoying their newly acquired food scored from hard-earned labour.  it is the only time that Oliver makes the exception for Jaewoo to be all up within his personal space without breaking out into a berserk ruckus over Jaewoo breathing in his closed off radius.  with the way how Oliver’s fingers fly to ensure that every morsel of ramen is relished in his mouth causes Jaewoo to slow down with his own scarfing down so that Oliver can get a bigger portion than him.  he smugly achieves by recounting his profound bonding moments with the animal apparitions  (  whilst resisting the temptation to compare Oliver to one of the ruffian mutts who could only be placated with carrot cake  )  as well as talking about his favourite subject that he simply can never shut up about :   Inés.

his spirited storytelling starts off with how tiny plastic table has Jaewoo’s knees animatedly knocking against Oliver’s as a result of the momentum arising from Jaewoo’s exaggerated hand gestures during his narration.  it makes him want to burst out laughing at the instinctive snarl from Oliver that naturally integrates into a low menacing growl to fend Jaewoo off from further provoking him in his personal space especially during his precious eating time.  in response,  Jaewoo always waves him off with an impish smile that shows off all his pearly whites although he backs down purely because he wants Oliver to keep eating up and so that he can enthuse about a concept that he noticed lulls out a mollified Oliver. 

in between a languid slurp of ramen soup,  he whispers out in hushed tones to his ravenous counterpart.  “  did you know that I have to tell all the humans that I know that I met Inés as a blind date setup  ?  I have to come up with details about how our friends apparently set us up for a blind date so we met each other in this cosy but still classy enough restaurant for a place that Inés wouldn’t mind going to and we apparently hit off straight away.  do you know how I met her actually  ?  one of my clients  —  that is a word that I use for the people who summon me for a wish and we begin our professional working relationship together congratulations Oli you learnt a new word today  —  came to me crying about how a demon deceived her.  according to my client,  Inés tricked her into giving up her soul to her and she wanted it back so I had to stalk and hunt Inés down.  which wasn’t too hard to do actually.  everyone who has met or seen her has always talked about how beautiful and gorgeous she is.  she has a really distinctive style too so it really wasn’t that hard finding her.  anyway,  I landed on a garbage dumpster when I first saw her in person because I was already trying to uh  . . .   impress her I guess.  but we got into a little quibble about whether my client was accurate about the deceiving part or not so it wasn’t exactly a smooth start but it wasn’t a weird or rocky one either  ?  it was always easy being myself around her from the start.  but it actually took me a really long time to trust her and it took a lot for me to realise that . . .  she is more than the incarnation of chaos that comes with the image of a being a demon.  can you believe it  ?  ”  

with another careful sip of the noodles,  he always tends to get starry-eyed and whisked away in his own twinkling universe when he uses the opportunity to talk about the love of his life to someone very important to him.  “  you know me Oliver,  I have all these ideas about romantic love but she put her foot down,  crushed all my expectations and said this is the reality of love.  I never thought in a million years that I would fall in love with someone who is on the opposite of God’s side even though I didn’t really believe in him before I met him.  I don’t know . . .  I always knew I had these preconceived ideas about demons and Inés specifically especially because of the tidbits I got about her when I was hunting her down.  so I was really shocked to learn that she is capable of loving and then loving me in return on top of it  ?  I don’t know what I would have done if she had left me without a word because she did try but somehow I had a gut feeling that I had to . . .  tell her that it’s okay and that I just wanted her to stay in my life even if it meant pretending to have low emotional attachment.  it was agonising,  not knowing what I meant to her and whether I could lose her within a blink of an eye.  sometimes things feel too good,  so close to you that it is almost within your grasp but then it slips right through and vanishes into thin air forever.  but that’s what is funny about the whole thing,  you think love will just happen.  well,  the feelings do but working towards an actual relationship is like when you’re going up on a log jam ride and your stomach is all tensed up and waiting for the dip on the other side.  oh my god,  we need to go to a theme park together  !!  do you think you could behave yourself for a day in one  ?  we need to go on the log jam rides together Oli  !!  ” 

although he knows Oliver is going to protest about the money going into food instead,  he hurriedly presses on as he shoves a whole handful of ramen into the other’s already stuffed mouth.  “  have you ever looked at someone in the eye and had an  I’m seriously fucked  moment  ?  ”   it even surprises him with the amount of sheer shyness that abruptly overcomes him and plunging his face with a rosy coloured blush,  his words tumbling out in an uncharacteristic jumble.  “  uh . . .   t-that’s one moment I had with her when she h-held my hand for the first time after I thought she was gone.  ”  now he entirely shuts up to fight down his stuttered out flustering,  his cheeks burning up ablaze with the reminiscence.  

that’s when Oliver’s eloquent words throw him off guard with the amount of deliberate insight despite the fact that he still labelled Jaewoo as annoying.  had it been any other time,  Jaewoo would have immediately and enthusiastically confirm how annoying he can be for Oliver but since he himself has been mellowed out by the topic of Inés,  he merely stares at him in astonishment as Oliver’s words ring in an continuous echo in his ears.  

“  thank you,  ”  he offers a small but affectionate smile,  it is all what he can softly reply in return at first as the depth of Oliver’s words sink in as a delighted buzz filling up his ears now.  “  love does that to everyone . . .  the same thing will happen to you when you love someone Oli.  I know you are capable of having the same thing for yourself.  if someone as annoying as me can find someone to love them,  you will have no problem.  especially now that you mention it,  what do you think love is  ?  you’re a softie deep down inside all that crazy anger,  huh.  do you like hearing me talk about her that much  ?  you can meet her if you want to but just remember that she’s my cute girlfriend.  I wish I could say I would die for her but I’m already dead so I will say that I don’t mind getting exorcised at the expense of her happiness and safety.  ”  to himself,  he knows this is a huge testament to his love when his number one unfaltering fear of shamans and the exorcism that entails never fails to freeze him on the spot out of sheer paralysing fear. 

“  anyway,  did you know that there are lots of different types of love  ?  there is romantic love,  the type that I have with Inés and then there is platonic love between friends too.  maybe one day you will be able to understand it as something we might have together in the future.  and romantic love for yourself with someone who will support you through the good and bad.  your whole life changes when you have someone you know you can go back home to no matter what happens.  one cuddle will make everything feel all right again.  even though I could do stuff like this to make you feel better . . .  ”  on cue,  he mischievously flicks a finger at the other’s forehead before patting it better.  “  so tell me,  do you want to try looking for love  ?  I’m probably the best cupid out there  !  and I won’t let you met any random people either.  it has to be somebody who I know is PERSONALLY perfect for you.  then maybe one day,  in the future,  when we are sitting down like this at the convenient store but this time with five tubs of ramen,  I will get my chance to say love looks good on you Oliver.  ” 

[vspirit8]

Figure skating: Bunch of thoughts based on recent comments I came across

Warning: Long post ahead (apologies to those who are scrolling through on your mobile devices) 

I came across a comment that praised Chen for his mental strength, which isn't wrong, because the kid does have it in spades, but then they also go on to say that Hanyu's is weak because he lets things affect him too much. Which isn't technically wrong per se but....

...seeing their performances during their short program at the Olys side by side and their individual circumstances coming into it, I find it hard to make sense of this claim. I see the point that they are trying to make but I think they may have mental strength and mental fortitude mixed up and they also have a very one dimensional, or perhaps, selective view of what mental strength is. 

Chen is mentally strong in some ways, not in others. Meaning he's strong in coming back quickly from disappointment, but he can't hold it together during the moment of truth where the stakes are at their highest and the competition its strongest, and only seems to be able to perform at his best when he doesn’t have as much pressure or is relieved of it. Hanyu, on the other hand, has proven time and again he can perform very well under extreme pressure, despite his lack of mental fortitude at other times. Chen, like a lot of other skaters, so far seems to implode at the first sign of disaster during his performance, while Hanyu and even to some degree Uno, are able to leave their mistakes right where they made them and focus on delivering what's left of their performances as best as they could most of the time. I say most of the time because there were times when they did implode almost all the way through. But when they did, it wasn’t because they lost focus due to mistakes. It was due to other reasons that they weren’t able to save the rest of their performance (e.g.: rhythm loss due to tech change or bad mentalscape right from the get-go).

Both Chen’s and Hanyu’s strengths and weaknesses are trade-offs of one another and results have shown that Hanyu's less common brand of mental strength (Chen's type is more commonly found) and, uh, acute sense of competitiveness, is the more effective one in getting the exact final result one truly wants.

Uno also has an enviable and less common sort of mental strength that sees him with less of a tendency to get affected by outside influences, something that is especially handy to have as an athletic competitor (and something that Hanyu most definitely doesn't have despite everything else he does have--Medvedeva, however, has it in spades), but the guy himself has acknowledged that what he has is different from what Hanyu has. He can block out pressure by being so immersed in his own little world he remains unaffected, but he also mentions that, had he had to suffer the same kind of pressure and attention Hanyu has been shouldering for years and expected to deliver results on top of it all (this is also something Medvedeva also seems to be able to do) then he's pretty sure he'd be out of the race pretty quick. Say what you want about the kid's jumps and sleepy attitude, but like every elite athlete, the guy knows himself, because he is right and has proven that he does buckle under pressure when Hanyu isnt around to shoulder most of it like he was originally supposed to (JNats ‘16, GPF '17, JNats ‘17 & WC '18#). And while mental strength is good and all, I think the real secret behind these athletes' success is knowing exactly what both their strengths and weaknesses are.

Since I'm talking about mental strength though, I wouldn't undermine Hanyu's one. He may not be able to block out noise as effectively as others nor can he effectively shut off his brain when skating (he only managed it like, what, once?) plus he may take defeat harder than most others (though not in the sour grapes sort of way but more in a self-punishing way), but when he comes back, he does it swinging three times as hard. Possibly harder. In fact, he swings back so hard, it’s more than enough to make all the difference for him to win it all at the end of the day. So if anything, I'd be afraid of it. And would never underestimate it. Not as a viewer, and especially not if I'm a competitor.

There was also talk that if Chen and Hanyu were to both skate clean under the new rules and scores, Chen would likely come up on top due to the trend of judge's scoring so far this season. To a certain degree, I actually agree. It's entirely possible that a clean Chen with all guns blazing can beat a clean Hanyu who doesn't put out ammo to match because that's how the game is played. This was how Hanyu himself had gotten ahead of past rivals who had been ahead of him. Chen may not have beaten his record that he achieved with less quads but that was also during the era before Chenflation so if both skaters skate clean and Hanyu breaks his previous record, there is no guarantee that Chen with his bigger guns won't get even more simply because judges are compelled to score him as such. From what I observed, scores are relative and aren't given according to what's actually put out (or not put out) on the ice. Miyahara's scoring at SkAm is the latest perfect example of this (higher tech score and lower PCS than she truly deserves). Far from being ashamed and apologetic about it, though, they are making it more obvious, as if they are showing the world what they are really about and there's nothing anyone can do about it. And they'd be right. 

Everything is upside down and inside out when it comes to figure skating, and it's not even at random, so let's not delude ourselves that ISU and the sport they govern over will suddenly become the epitome of clean. Nothing that depends on judging ever is. Hanyu certainly hasn't deluded himself and that is a huge part of why he is able to win--or almost win--the biggest comps, season after season. Strategy based on information you gathered on the environment is key. You don't whine about it. You play their game according to their rules and if you're able to outsmart them (and get this, they're really not all that intelligent), you win. Zagitova did just that last season.* Easily. Not that what she did was easy, quite the opposite, but her strategy, although not easy to pull off, was an excessively simple one. If Tutberidze was testing out a theory with Medvedeva and Zagitova, she was proven right. 

Hanyu himself knows this. Which is why he had the 4lo, his biggest weapon at that point that Chen doesn't properly have himself, ready at hand during the Olys. If Chen had skated his SP clean, he wouldn't have held back on his own ammo, wonky ankle be damned. And if both Hanyu and Chen skated clean with their biggest ammo at hand, based on how judges are forced to judge Hanyu when he's at his very best in the past, I still think the edge would go to Hanyu because when two top competitors are head to head, then it's the little things that count. This is something that Hanyu had accounted for and worked into his winning strategy from Day One, even before all these trigger-happy skaters came out from the woodwork. The guy has what a lot of these shortcut athletes don't: rock solid foundation on both his tech and other performance-based aspects, that judges will be forced to take into consideration when they can't use other things as leverage to justify their scoring.

So, in a scenario where both skaters were to skate clean but only one uses all his ammo, the one with the bigger BV may just win simply because of that. But in a scenario where they both have high BVs with only a slight difference between said BVs, and where both skated perfectly, Hanyu will win not just because he is the better skater. It's because he knows what's inside the judges heads and is able to use it. To me, this, and not his skating skills, is Hanyu's true strength.

*Clearly Chen's and Uno's strategy doesn't work for Zhou, like he was hoping it would. Whining about it won't do much because at this point, it just sounds like he's making excuses for himself for giving judges room to doubt him in the first place, and angry they they chose to doubt him instead of giving him the benefit of it. If he truly wants to get somewhere in this sport, he might want to consider taking a page off Hanyu's and Zagitova's** books instead. It is infinitely harder but you get more control over your results. If he can't pull it off, it's simply because he lacks the ability to and that's no one's fault but his own. I know it sounds harsh but that is the reality of the world and situation he's in. He apparently won't be one of the lucky few who can apply shortcuts and make it work. But if he's able to come back with honest to goodness improvements and gain results in that way, then ultimately, he'll be the luckier one. If he's as wise as he seems to want people to think he is, he should be able to come to this conclusion.

**Admittedly, Zagitova's strategy is slightly different than Hanyu's in that hers also has elements of Uno and Chen's strategy of blinding judges with tech prowess (or so-called tech prowess  in Uno's case, but he seems to have other things to blind the judges with, like nice upper body movements). So Zagitova may not be able to bank on her strategy like she did last season as it was wholly designed to game the last system. Her basics aren't solid enough to enable her control even after a system change/revision but she does have her OGM rep so she may be able to completely cross over to Uno’s and Chen's strategy instead. We'll see.

I mentioned Medvedeva in passing when talking about mental strength because that girl is the epitome of it if I've ever seen one. However, what she doesn't have is a rock solid foundation that sees her with few skating flaws. If she manages to fix at least half of them and get her natural mental strength back into gear, she may just stand a chance against the upcoming lady quadsters, if they still have their quads when they turn senior (and Kihira, if her prowess with the 3A also stands the test of time).

#EDIT: I’ve struck WC18 off the list because it has been brought to my attention that it is not like the others on it. That mistake-ridden performance apparently had less to do with Uno succumbing to pressure and more to do with his injuries and not being in an ideal mindscape to overcome them earlier but was able to snap back into it enough to deliver the last bit of his perf (jumps that he apparently also had trouble with in practices but was able to nail during the performance itself). Having only seen that performance once and not being in the habit of seeing practices and warm-ups of any skaters, I might have been too hasty in my judgment of that particular performance. Thanks to those who corrected me. :)

[oliristhemisericord]

SIDEREAL PROMPT / QUESTIONNAIRE

01. Tell us about your character’s name. Was it given to them or chosen? Does it hold any special meaning? If your character has aliases or nicknames, how did they get them and what do they mean?

There's no any special meaning to his name. It was given to him when he was born and he's been ambivalent about it since. Since his captivity by a Collector, Oli hasn't used it in full anymore. Very few people know his name isn't just “Oli”, and fewer still know anything about his clan name. Something he likes to keep that way.

02. What is your character’s relationship to their homeworld? Do they hold fond memories of it, or do they hate it? Are they still here, and if not, do they miss it?

Oli… realises the significance of his homeworld to himself and others of his species. Part of him considers — sometimes, fleetingly — about returning, but he also knows that there's no future there for him, nor does he believe there ever was. He's not been there for over a century, and even before he was forcibly removed from it, he'd not been on good terms with his clan.

03. Describe your character’s relationship with those who raised them. Was it positive? Negative? Neutral? What sorts of ideologies were they raised with, and do they still stand by them now?

As a maelibus, Oli was raised communally by his clan; they don't recognise the importance of “parents” above all, and all those born within a generation are siblings. That said, Oli hasn't been on good terms with them for a long time and he doesn't care to change it — his pride doesn't allow him to.

04. What is your character’s relationship with the Force? Is your character Force-sensitive? Whether or not they are, do they believe in it? Do they lean more towards the dark or the light or are they somewhere in between?

Whether maelibi are truly Force-sensitive is in the eye of the beholder. As a maelibus, Oli is very in tune with it, and he can manipulate it in others; indeed, it's his entire diet. He can't use it like a non-maelibus sensitive can, however, but his relationship with it is specific. People come in flavours, one better or richer or deeper than another. Regardless, he isn't affected by light or dark as normal.

05. What three word would you use to describe your character? What three words would your character use to describe themself? What three words would someone close to them use?

• iron-willed, generous, principled

• angry, tired, done

• caroc: annoying lil bitch

06. Describe your character’s aesthetic. Do they tend towards fashion or function? Do they like to accessorize? How does this extend into their own personal spaces, such as their home or their workspace?

Oli's aesthetic is… shimmering. Glitters. Glamour and leather. Bold eyeshadows and bolder nail polish. His cantina reflects it in a dark, sleek, neon way; it’s not a place where people go to be miserable (although he sure does). It’s a place where people go for an experience, aesthetic or otherwise.

07. What are your character’s vices? Guilty pleasures? Bad habits? Weak spots?

A big vice Oli claims isn't a problem is alcohol. He's a very functional alcoholic, and he can get very irritable (more irritable than his usual) when he hasn't had a drink in longer than twelve hours. Aside from that, he has a begrudging weak spot for those struck by injustices or persecution, the small and genuinely innocent.

08. Tell us about your character’s relationship with food. What are their favorites? Do they enjoy cooking? Are they adventurous? Will they eat absolutely anything or are they hard to please?

Oli doesn't eat. At least, not traditional foods, and thus he's very ambivalent about it. He doesn't understand anyone who's enthusiastic about food, and would honestly just roll his eyes at them. Where his own diet is concerned, he's very…. particular. Unless he's downright starving, he wouldn't eat just anyone, and picks his sustenance very deliberately, especially based on his moods. After all, if you’re craving chocolate, you’re not gonna settle for chips.

09. How does your character feel about engaging in relationships—romantic and / or sexual—with others? What is their history like? Do they fall in love easily? Are they constantly in and out of relationships?

Anyone who’s met Oli will account he’s quite antisocial and irritable. He’s polyamorous, though, and the idea of being tied down in a monogamous engagement — with anyone — makes him want to throw up. That said, Oli doesn’t fall in love easily. Indeed, he could say he’s never been in love with anyone, and he’s also not one to really sleep with just anyone. The people he’s attracted to vary widely, and there’s seemingly no rhyme or reason to it. Anyone he’s attracted to, romantically or sexually, he’s attracted to for vastly different reasons, and there doesn’t seem to be a unifying factor.

10. What is your character’s pain tolerance like? Can they hold their own in a fight, despite injury? If someone hurts them with the aim of gaining information, how much can they take before they cave?

Maelibi have very tough hides, and Oli specifically has an iron will. Hurting him physically doesn’t break him, it just makes him angrier until his restraint snaps and he sucks you dry.

11. What is your character’s weapon of choice? Are they more skilled as a melee fighter or do they have more skill with ranged weapons? What’s their fighting style like? What sort of training do they have behind them?

Although Oli doesn’t do much fighting, considering he thinks it’s beneath him (and if he does end up in a fight, he uses vocal chords to render his enemies — and allies — useless), but his weapon of choice is, very simply, a blaster. Precision is part of his entire being, from his words to his aesthetic, right down to his shot. Aim bots have nothing on him.

12. Does your character have any words or catchphrases that they say frequently? Tell us about how they picked them up.

Oli will call anyone ��honey’ and ‘bitch’. Although the former may seem a little nicer than the latter, the former is, possibly, more pejorative than the latter. How he picked it up, no one knows, least of all himself, but at this point, it’s as much part of his brand as the rest of his crafted identity.

13. Tell us about a negative experience your character has had with either the Jedi or the Sith, and how this has affected their standing. Whether currently aligned or unaligned with either faction, if forced to choose, how would they side?

He has no negative experiences with either, and the only reason he has currently unofficially aligned himself with the Jedi is simply because he loathes unjust persecution. Nothing angers him more than a large oppressive force committing figurative (or worse still, literal) genocide on a specific people, and he will absolutely go to bat for them on principle.

14. How would your character react to seeing a relative or friend on the opposing side of a battle or mission?

There are very few people he considers a friend, and if it were a relative on the opposing side… well. Providing he could kill them with the available tools, he wouldn’t hesitate if it meant his own survival. Above all, Oli is self-preserving, and not even sentimentality will get in the way of him coming out on top.

15. Describe a memory that your character finds embarrassing.

Any time he has shown weakness, even in the privacy of being alone, are memories he wishes to forget. Starving in a cage on Nar Shaddaa were some of Oli’s lowest moments, the times anger made way for despair and a fluctuating will to go on are things he refuses to recount, dwell on, or even admit to be true if anyone asked. They anger him, surely, but above all, they frighten him.

16. What goals does your character hold for themself and what steps have they taken towards achieving them? How far are they willing to go to reach them? What is their be-all and end-all?

Oli’s goal, as it always has been, has been to survive by whatever means necessary. That, and winning. It doesn’t matter what he’s winning, whether it’s a battle of wits or a full-blown war; if there’s something for him to compete for, to end up the victor, to win, that’s his goal. That is his be-all-end-all, I suppose. His pride would allow for no less.

17. What is the one thing your character would change about their life if they were given the chance? What other lives could they have lived as a result?

No matter how much Oli insists on survival, sometimes he wonders what it would be like to not have been born at all. Would it have been better? Not for anyone around him, of course, but just as a sense of personal release. He doesn’t like being alive, but he’s sure not about to give it up either. More practical, the one thing he would’ve changed in his life was killing his captors first chance he got. And maybe not have been as… argumentative as to get himself banished from his clan, but that’s one he’ll never tell anyone.

18. Living in such a high-conflict time, how does your character feel about doing what they must to survive? Will they hurt or kill others—either directly or indirectly—to protect themself and / or those close to them? If so, do they regret it when all is said and done?

Survival is everything. Nothing is too far where his survival is concerned — he’ll kill and maim (and indeed, he has) if it meant living another shitty, terrible, no-good day. He hates being alive but he’ll do anything to stay alive. The one thing that would weigh heavily on his conscience, despite himself, was aiding in the unjust pain of oppressed peoples.

19. What is the biggest problem your character is currently dealing with?

Which shade to paint his nails that don’t clash with his eyeshadow without making everything monotone. Lol. Na, it’s mostly following his conscience and principles without becoming a target for those he’s harbouring these fugitives against, because he knows… he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe. And that scares him.

20. Give us 3+ headcanons of any length or subject matter.

1. Having been in the business on Nar Shaddaa for so long, he’s become a sort of information broker for bounty hunters and general criminals alike. Or honestly anyone seeking information about anyone or anything, really.

2. Despite the fact that he isn’t directly involved in the criminality of Nar Shaddaa, he inexplicably carries some respect on the moon. People who have made trouble for him in the past fifty years have mysteriously disappeared, and he just doesn’t seem to want to die, regardless of how many have tried over the years. The general consensus is that that’s one human you leave alone.

3. Indeed, everyone far and wide does think he’s a human. One of ambiguous age that somehow doesn’t seem affected by the ravages of time, but a human nonetheless. Only those of his clan, and a single unaffiliated being, knows who — or what — he truly is, and all of his clan is on Iego and will never leave, and the one other being has been sworn to secrecy on the pain of death of his loved ones.

bonus. Give us a list of any length telling us why our “fave is problematic.”

• problematic because he’s just so fucking mean? Like why?

• his aesthetic is a mood that I just cannot pull off and he knows how to serve looks like damn

• have you seen his jawline? Problematic

• he could rule the galaxy but he says it’s too much effort and too much socialising...

[cogentranting]

Oliver Queen as a Slytherin: A Character Study

When asked what Hogwarts house I believed Oliver Queen to be in I very adamantly declared him to be Slytherin. I was asked to explain my reasoning and (with the editing and co-authorship of @emeraldoliverqueen) I wrote this absurdly long exploration of Oliver and his character as a Slytherin. (These are my own thoughts and interpretations- I’m not trying to fight anyone; you’re free to imagine him/write him in whatever house you prefer)

These are the traits that the Harry Potter wiki listed for Slytherin: Resourcefulness. Cunning. Ambition. Determination. Self-Preservation. Fraternity. Cleverness.  And if those don't describe Oliver I don't know what does.

Resourcefulness- the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

He made a bow from materials found entirely within his hotel room. He rigged together a booby trap in the middle of a jungle. He devises weapons on the fly. He may have come back to his city and have billions of dollars at his disposal to help him on his quest, but his origins are on a deserted island where his resourcefulness sustained him.  

Cunning- skill in achieving one's ends by deceit (aka lying)

He came up with a plot to get himself arrested so that he could have someone else pose as him in order to throw the police off his trail. He dug up information and used it to blackmail Amanda Waller. He came up with a ploy to destroy the League of Assassins from the inside. He planned the ruse to get Sara Slade and himself onto the Amazo. Plans and strategies are his strong suit. Here we could also include, Oliver’s impressive skill at lying (he manages to convince virtually everyone that he is something he’s not for years. And he beat a lie detector test.).

Ambition-  a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work; desire and determination to achieve success.

admittedly not one of his more notable traits in that he doesn’t really seek success for it’s own sake. However, he is the mayor, was a CEO, was high-ranking Bratva member, was the head of the League of Assassins and also has a zeal he puts into perfecting different skills. So there is some element of ambition present in those things, because he rises to the top of everything he does. And of course, there is the incredibly ambitious endeavor that is Oliver’s crusade- the sheer size of the tasks he sets for himself speaks of his ambition. The idea that he would hold himself accountable for saving a city, and punish himself for failing (running away after the Undertaking) indicates his ambition.  

Determination- the process of establishing something exactly, typically by calculation or research.; firmness of purpose; resoluteness

His name is Oliver Stubborn Queen. Stephen Amell described stubbornness as Oliver’s superpower. Oliver’s sheer force of will is what propels him through most of his experiences. His determination is part of why he’s so able to resist torture (Oliver NEVER breaks under torture- except with Prometheus, but that was on a special psychological level and didn’t involve endangering anyone else). It’s why he’s able to endure so much. It’s why he is able to achieve such skill and physical fitness. It’s why he butts heads with literally everyone. And it’s why he is able to accomplish so much more than anyone thinks he’s capable of. Also think of his dedication to the list and his evolving crusade.Think of how absolutely impossible it is to dissuade Oliver from this course he has set for himself, either through arguments (Diggle, on multiple occasions but the Claybourne incident in particular) or through harm to him (Oliver going out to chase down the Count while still being affected by Vertigo). Once Oliver has set himself a purpose he does not back down.

Self Preservation- the protection of oneself from harm or death

This one is unusual because it’s very present, but it’s also paired with self-loathing and suicidal tendencies. However, this only makes his sense of self preservation even more evident. Because it’s undeniable that Oliver fights hard to survive- in his ten years there were countless times when he could have given up, or should have died and he kept going and made it out. Oliver’s inclination of self preservation is so strong that for ten years it has managed to overcome those suicidal thoughts even in the face of the number of impossible situations he’s been in. Consider the fact that he survived his five years through sheer force of will. A few specific moments stand out: Oliver breaks his own hand to get free and stop Slade from killing him when they first meet; Tatsu claims that his “will to live” is what saved him on the mountaintop;  digging the bullet out of his own stomach; undergoing a week of torture and then still stabbing Kovar in the hand and trying to fight his way out; his suspicious nature, especially in instances such as when he finds the guy in the cave claiming to be shipwrecked and chooses to leave him, and with Andy.

Fraternity- the state or feeling of friendship and mutual support within a group.

The list of Oliver's "brothers": Tommy, Diggle, Anatoly, Slade, if you want to take Barry on to that even though he's never verbally identified Barry that way. Oliver loves his bromance. In fact, Oliver is all about family. From his mile-high prioritization of Moira and Thea, to the found families he creates everywhere he goes (the island, hong kong, team arrow etc.).  That sense of brotherhood and that form of love is something Oliver can’t go long without, and that’s why he almost always has at least one close friend he refers to as his brother.  

Cleverness- the quality of being clever; ingenuity or shrewdness.

Arrow has a pretty common mystery element and puts a lot of focus on Oliver’s detective skill- piecing together clues, discerning motives, tracking people down. His sense of humor, when he shows it, is sort of clever dry sarcasm. He has an extraordinary skill with languages. Tactics are his specialty. He’s good at figuring out how machines work (fixing the plane radio). He rigged a computer system to help him when he worked solo. Oliver’s extremely intelligent and most of that veers toward the clever and cunning classifications.

Slytherin is also associated with tradition and family names. Oliver is from Old money- an established family name with wealth and power (btw, Thea, Moira and Robert are ALL Slytherin- it’s why Merlyn relates to them more than to Tommy, who is decidedly NOT a Slytherin). His idea of honoring the dead is also a somewhat tradition oriented mindset. His choice of weapons (bows and arrows and swords) could also be considered traditionalist.

The Slytherin wiki page also talks about how they make strong leaders, and that is something I strongly associate with Oliver. (I’ve talked about it before, here)

The biggest thing however is that Oliver (and all the Queens) is defined by a ruthless pursuit of his goals. “whoever I am, I'm someone who will do whatever, whatever it takes to save my sister.” “he had you and he was gonna hurt you. There was no choice to make.” “To live I had to make myself more than what I was, to forge myself into a weapon.” “There's no length that I will not go to to avenge Laurel. To stop Darhk from ever hurting anyone again.” “Do you remember what you told me? It takes a monster to kill a monster.” “To do what I do, Barry, takes conviction. But more often than not is the will to do what's ugly.” “There are people in the world who deal only in extremes. And it would be naive to think that anything less than extreme measures will stop them.” What sets Oliver apart is his moral pragmatism, his willingness to cross lines, the fact that if you stand in his way he WILL destroy you. And that’s ALL Slytherin all the way.

Here’s an additional Slytherin description that seems to sum up Oliver pretty well:

Slytherins are usually ambitious, goal based learners, who can be very perfectionistic. They can be resourceful, subtle, charming, self-reliant, and adaptable. Just because they’re not loyal in the same way Gryffindors are doesn’t mean they’re not loyal people- they’re just extremely selective about who they are loyal to; which is usually a very small amount of people who they know they can trust and confide in, and they are usually extremely passionate and caring towards this small group. They also feel great deals of respect for people they feel are deserving of respect. (http://unicornachos.tumblr.com/post/46241425124/diffusing-some-hogwarts-house-stereotypes)

What about the other houses though? How does Oliver compare to their key characteristics?

Ravenclaw- Intelligence, wit, wisdom, creativity, originality, individuality, acceptance.

Oliver is certainly intelligent. I have a whole ongoing soapbox about how smart Oliver is and how it never gets acknowledged. Note that: it never gets acknowledged. That’s important. Because there is a reason Oliver isn’t often thought of as being one of the smart characters (and why characters will make comments calling him dumb “you’re very handsome but not especially bright)- Oliver doesn’t have a particular inclination toward the pursuit of knowledge or a value for intelligence/knowledge in and of itself, and those things are defining Ravenclaw qualities. It’s for this reason that Oliver never did well in school- the knowledge itself was not interesting to him. For Oliver, intelligence is a tool to achieve his ends; his intelligence is channeled into a goal- getting off the island by fixing a plane radio, using computers to steal from Adam Hunt, learning a language to survive whatever country he’s trapped in, memorizing ARGUS tactical maneuvers etc. His intelligence craves utility much more so than someone like Felicity, or Nate, or Caitlin. This pushes it away from a Ravenclaw trait more towards the Slytherin sortings of “cunning’ and “resourcefulness”. And really it all falls back under the purview of Oliver’s ‘by whatever means necessary’ mentality- sometimes “whatever it takes” is torture, sometimes it’s learning a new language in under a year. Oliver has wit- his humor is defined by snark and dryness. But the fact that it only makes rare appearances keeps it from being a defining trait of his, and indicates that it’s not of particularly high value to him. Oliver isn’t a character I would define as creative- creativity is defined by imaginativeness, which is never something highlighted in Oliver, and original ideas. Oliver has plenty of original ideas, but creativity has a strong artistic connotation, something Oliver does not demonstrate. Rather his more inventive ideas lean toward tactics and strategy, something related to resourcefulness- again, a Slytherin trait.  Likewise, originality/individuality is not something Oliver actively cultivates- he’s original and unique as a person because everyone is and he’s by no means a conformer. But rather than coming from a desire to be original or exercise his individuality, Oliver’s contrast with others comes from ambition. Acceptance can have many different definitions/connotations but Ravenclaw definitions seem to put an emphasis on accepting eccentricities. Oliver is not un-accepting… but neither is his acceptance clearly shown. While Oliver is very adaptable and will work with all sorts of people, there are a number of people whose eccentricities he meets with clearly expressed annoyance, especially when first meeting them (Cisco in 3x08, Curtis at various points but 4x17 particularly, Ray in 3x18, Kara in Legends 2x07, Barry at various points). As to Oliver’s wisdom, that’s a contentious point. Many would argue that Oliver is not wise at all, he makes terrible decisions and never learns from his mistakes. (I would not be one of those people). Others would say that Oliver has a lot of experience to offer and gives strong advice. I would argue that while Oliver’s experience has lead to him becoming much stronger at giving advice, his practicality and comfort operating in morally gray areas, as well as his extensive trauma, cost him the moral viewpoint that would be needed to truly be considered wise.

Hufflepuff- Dedication, Hard Work/Unafraid of toil, Fair play, Patience, Kindness, Tolerance, Loyalty

Dedication comes very close to Oliver’s “determination” trait so in most instances it is present, however, dedication could also be applied to relationships and there you run into the issues of Oliver’s cheating in his younger years. Oliver is also very hard-working (won’t stop until he drops from exhaustion type of hardworking). But that’s where Oliver’s Hufflepuff traits end. Hufflepuff’s value fair play- fair play doesn’t particularly interest Oliver. He’s a no holds barred fighter, his primary tools for accomplishing things are fear, intimidation and pain. He’ll sever your tendons to end a fight, physically intimidate you in an argument, keep countless secrets, torture an innocent man for the greater good, use any trick he thinks of to win. Fairness is not something Oliver considers. Hufflepuffs are patient. Oliver is patient in accomplishing a task, but not when dealing with other people. Watch the scene in 5x02 where he berates the recruits after Rene messes up. Watch him get frustrated with Barry in Flash 2x08. Even consider the way that he charges off to climb the elevator shaft in 5x20. Kindness. No. Oliver is not kind. He’s good, with a big heart and a lot of love. But that’s not the same thing. He can be kind, to the people he cares about, but in general he is not a kind person. Oliver has a temper, Oliver is very blunt, Oliver is often focused on his goal to the point of neglecting the emotional needs of others. Oliver shot three different mentees with arrows to teach them a lesson, Oliver has yelled at every single member of Team Arrow and most members of Team Flash. Oliver has gotten frustrated and made several different grown men cry. He’s not kind. Tolerance really depends on which definition. Go back and look at what I have to say about “acceptance” and adjust as necessary. And loyalty. Oliver is loyal… until he’s not. He’s loyal until he cheats on you with your sister. Or until he feels he needs to lie about something or do something alone. Or until you do something that makes him feel he can’t trust you- and his trust issues are substantial so there’s a lot that can do that. But mostly just consider that Hufflepuff is most commonly defined as being the friendly, cheerful house. And Oliver Queen is most commonly referred to as brooding, dark, and “doesn’t play well with others”. To the extent that the woman he was dating made a joke about how an alternative version of Oliver might be “agreeable”.

And Gryffindor (the one that more people probably sort him into)- Bravery/nerve/daring/courage, chivalry, recklessness/impulsivity (not listed but very commonly associated with them)

Oliver certainly does share some traits of this house-. However, Oliver isn’t actually what I would call chivalrous. Chivalry is defined by being courteous and gallant- Oliver is more often blunt, cold and pragmatic. He isn’t given to large gestures and when he is charming, it isn’t with the same nobility that chivalry implies. Secondly, though many people deny it, Oliver is not impulsive. Occasionally he acts impulsively, in times of duress or anger or fear. But in general, most of his behavior is very controlled, very calculated. He’s the planner of the Arrowverse. He’s the strategist. He’s the one who spent years planning his crusade. He’s the one who researched his team members before telling them anything. He’s the one who taught Barry to case a situation before rushing in. He’s the one who insists on having a plan before a confrontation, the one who wants all the information before deciding whether or not to trust someone. Nor would I describe Oliver as arrogant. Confident, yes. Arrogant is defined by overestimating one’s abilities. In his younger days Oliver may have been a touch arrogant. But now Oliver’s confidence is simply awareness of his oft-proven skill. Oliver knows what he’s capable of (a lot) and has confidence to match. Gryffindors are also often thought of as self-righteous, which is defined as “characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one is totally correct or morally superior.” And Oliver is quick to praise the morality of others (whether they are deserving or not)- Thea, Laurel, Diggle, Felicity, even someone like Moira. And not just praise what a good person they are, but tell them how much better they are than him. He’ll call himself a monster, talk about being “beyond redemption”, or “broken.” He can be made to believe that he is undeserving of any kind of love, that he is poisonous to the people around him. It took years of working as a superhero before anyone could convince Oliver to see himself as a hero. Oliver is sometimes proud, it’s not unusual for him to think he’s smarter than someone else, or to think they’re naive. But most of the time he does not believe that he is a good person, let alone better than others. He’s not self-righteous.  

And Oliver is without a doubt brave (daring/courageous- Gryffindor’s trait list is a bunch of synonyms) but this trait is rarely emphasized. In its place the narrative focuses on his toughness and determination- his passion and willingness to do whatever it takes. The emphasis on his willingness to sacrifice rather than bravery in and of itself. And Bravery is rarely a trait that Oliver expresses any particular value for. It’s rare that he praises something like that. What’s more, Oliver’s bravery is not a trait unto itself. His bravery comes naturally from all that is Slytherin in him. It comes from his cunning, resourcefulness and skill which he is acutely aware of to the degree that he doesn’t have to fear anything.It comes from a passionate sense of fraternity. A loyalty to his brothers (and any family, biological or otherwise, that he claims) which supersedes everything else. And most of all it comes from his single-minded determination, ambition and ‘whatever it takes’ mindset which will not let anything stand in the way of him accomplishing his goal- not even fear. (And, unfortunately there is also an aspect where some of what might be considered bravery is actually disregard for his own life- what is there to fear when you’ve embraced pain and the possibility of death?). Oliver’s bravery is result, not a cause.

[That being said, there is a decent chance that, were he in the books, Oliver would get sorted into Gryffindor. Because there is a tendency for Harry Potter to treat bravery as a trump-card trait- it doesn’t matter how many of your other traits line up with another house, if you’re brave, you’re Gryffindor. It’s like the golden snitch of character traits- if you have it, everything else is irrelevant. And that’s something that happens in practice but in theory shouldn’t happen. It’s the tendency which turns four equally valid houses and personality types, into the Protagonist House, the Antagonist House, aaaannnnddd everybody else. And it’s a tendency that I think Rowling actively tried to counteract further down the road (hence, Newt Scamander). So I don’t accept Oliver’s bravery as overriding all his prominent Slytherin traits.]

In the end, I think that the qualities that most distinguish him from other characters (characters like Diggle, Barry, Ray, or even Felicity) are very much Slytherin traits. His key characteristics, the ones that really define him and his style of heroics, are his cunning, his determination, and his ruthless pursuit of goals. And those are all Slytherin.

Plus…. Come on guys. Green.

TL;DR-- Oliver is a Slytherin because he is cunning, resourceful, stubborn, ambitious, and always has a plan which he will be ruthless in executing.

[lovinmightyfire]

Thank you lovely @scarlet-rainy-dreams for tagging me in this questionnaire. It’s so interesting, it was quite hard, but such a challenge and a nice time to think lots of stuff. 

The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My idea of perfect happiness would be...being at peace with myself and my surroundings. Enjoying the pleasant things of life...

2. What is your greatest fear?

Myself, my bad side. My anxiety that pushes to all the bad in my life...

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

And here it goes again. My anxiety issues. When I’m in painful stress, it’s like I can become someone entirely different, that can turn normal situations or daily life into pain and bad coping mechanisms, makes up sympthoms, believes in things I would never believe in my senses, let’s say. I know that I can come up to a certain point, but the hard thing is to stop it some times, and I just can’t bear myself like that.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I don’t like when people self loathes a lot and victimize themselves for believing they’re a piece of crap when they aren’t and they are humans, and all humans have their problems, and can also make their solutions. Often people that act like victims of life live off of the others,like toxic parasytes ruining the environment. I don’t like at all when people use victimism to take advantage on their lies,for example. Well, I can say I do not like ‘psychopatic’ behaviours.

5. Which living person do you most admire?

I would say my boyfriend, but he’s a human. Humans have defects, every human has things that one won’t like to copy or idolize. Well, he made me see my potential, he made me grow as an individual, he helped me to grow and focus on empathy, if that’s understandable. I love people that can give a little bit that goes a long way to help you to make a better you. Let’s say I could admire that people.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

I think yeah, my love of japanese culture, and my passion onto let all people be...I don’t know if that’s also understandable,lol.

7. What is your current state of mind?

All I can think of is “ I need to have another ‘point of focus’ onto my stress”, like now it’s all centered in my back and neck and jaw. Lol. Also,needing to COPE with stress smoothly in order of a better quality of life. More than that, I just want time to pass to see if I can really make into the things I planned for this year. I always say “If it’s not prolly going to work out, I’ll surely keep hanging on the way so things will”.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Being “social, extroverted,talkative”. 

9. On what occasion do you lie?

I don’t always lie, because I’m ...the most terrible person at that, and most likely will feel TOO guilty. But..as humans, like we are, we had said our white lies. I lie if I have to give a surprise to someone. I CAN’T WITH SURPRISES I ALWAYS RUIN THEM. But if I really need to keep it, I will..say I did sth else. And I also lie to go alone. Like, being with friends and saying “ Oh, I need to go to some place to take sth, I won’t join you/I’m going to the doctor so I’m leaving earlier” So I leave alone and travel completely alone, with no one going with me. Ah yeah. I isolate myself very often. Sometimes it’s a need, but it’s not like I’m overwhelmed with people. It’s a trait I also despise of myself,but something I need.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Maybe the shape I have in my torso. like, not having like a “feminine” figure,and not exercising makes it look weird... I don’t really have too many problems with myself on the outside. 

11. Which living person do you most despise?  

I despise no one. But I don’t quite like some people, because of what they are. 

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?

I love when a man is sensitive, is very sure of himself and what he likes and hates, when he can channel his beauty inside and outside, the wit and intelligence, AND A BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND EYES WHERE I CAN SEE THE ENDLESS HUMBLY AND HARMONY IN HIS SOUL sorry

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Ehh well I like intelligence in a woman,also assertiveness. 

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“I love that” “I don’t like it when” “Thank you”

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

This is cheesy,but I’ll just read my heart, Istvan. I will never thank anyone so much. Despite everything, whatever the result is. I will always be thankful for lots of things. That leads me to, I also want to be the love of my life.

16. When and where were you happiest?

The first time I looked into Istvan’s eyes when I met him personally in an airport, dressing with a celebration outfit at midnight. I was shaking nervously, and when I laid eyes on him, it was like magic and time actually stopped. I felt in such a peace of mind state that led myself on, almost like floating of how calm I was, suddenly. There were no worries or expectations anymore, they were unexistent. I also recall when I looked at snowflakes when I was at his house. And when I was at sea floating, I said “I want to take a picture of this moment”. All the happiest moments take me to “love".  I also want to point that I feel so cheesy and embarrassed when talking about my love, or love in public. Ah. haha

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

I’d love to be very talented from the start with my favorite musical instruments. And maybe with creating clothes, like taking my creativity into clothing items but I can’t even simply sew. It’s like a math problem to me. Ah, I wouldn’t like to be talented on math or those things, because I don’t like them.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I changed lots of things I hated about myself these years. So I would like not to be anxious at all,or easily stressed,also being more ‘laid back’ in some decisions I could take,because life is about plans; but life is also about not following some of the plans. 

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I feel more at ease with myself. I feel like I can really get to love myself in the future, in a 100%. I love so much some of my qualities, my traits that is unbelievable how proud I am of being what I am. This is what I call a great achievement.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

A grim reaper. Maybe this isn’t my fourth life, maybe I sinned a lot, maybe I sinned in the next one, because I’m not gonna be a grim reaper with this life I have now. LOL *Evidently watched Goblin, carried away with it* Uso,uso. Nothing. I don’t have an idea.

21. Where would you most like to live?

Now I am very prepared for city life, with glimpses of nature. Would not like to live in the very center of a city because of the noise and the stuff...I also need the green in my life, the branches, the breeze. But I don’t like being far from a city.

22. What is your most treasured possession?

*I’ll figure out my room suddenly goes on fire* My headphones, the few meaningful band merch I have, A little Cortana doll my bf gave to me,along with a dragon statue,whew they’re meaningful.A necklace I always have on.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Yeah, like Oli said, losing the will to live, despising yourself and others that much you’d do that.

24. What is your favorite occupation?

Doing something that awakes and stimulates my interest, which is very deep and passionate.

25. What is your most marked characteristic?

I am assertive. I am loyal. And the best for last, I am VERY determined/strong willed. I’m just marking what people says they admire of me.

26. What do you most value in your friends?

Being people who I can actually be at peace and silence when it’s necessary and not so necessary. People who act quickly and really wants to be around you. 

27. Who are your favorite writers?

Maybe I liked a lot of things Gabo García Márquez and Julio Cortázar wrote. But I like too many different styles, and I won’t mention more/or a real fav.

28. Who is your hero of fiction?

I don’t know, man. But heroes for me are strongly determined passionate and fight-for-their-dreams people. 

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Nah, I don’t identify with anyone.

30. Who are your heroes in real life?

Oh, I already said that, don’t wanna repeat myself that much! 

31. What are your favorite names?

Ah! I love names! I like names with E and I ,they’re my favorite thing (why? IDK they sound so beautiful to me) like Ilonka, Imogen, Iris,Eren,Emre, Irine, Istvan (YEAH one of the reasons I came up with him was his beautiful name calling my attention) and if we’re calling a nationality I like hungarian names, russian/balkan/turkic names aka FANTASY SOUNDING BEAUTIFUL NAMES the most. I also like some japanese ones, but I’m turning off the weeb in this topic.

But to summarize it, I basically like unisex names, or female names that sound like male, and male names sounding like female. Names are beautiful, there’s something more than about this anyway. 

32. What is it that you most dislike?

Being a bait for something, being lied to

33. What is your greatest regret?

Not doing too much for my posture.

34. How would you like to die?

I don’t even wanna think about that. But what I wouldn’t like is making people I love suffer for me, feeling a useless burden. I’d rather die.

35. What is your motto?

"any dream stops being one if you believe in yourself, fight enough and just go for it all the way”

I’m tagging @severemagazinementality @rasenchuu @fautsus @natalicius @lunaloupgarou @april-lilies this time. 

[torentialtribute]

Russell and Norris are set for the drives of their lives in Melbourne

They laughed and joshed like two kids preparing for a gap year job Melbourne pub, but behind the easy smiles lay nerves and excitement the [

For George Russell and Lando Norris are not off to Australia to meet the locals towards 100 million.

A week today at the Albert Park circuit, Russell, who is 21, and Norris, 19, will join Lewis Hamilton as British Formula One racers, there on merit and the most exciting newcomers produced in this country since the five-time world champion made his scintillating debut on the same Tarmac 12 years ago.

     George Russell and Lando Norris will make their F1 debuts at the Melbourne Grand Prix

Russell will drive for Williams and Norris for McLaren, two teams who have recently seasons rubbed along the they had to fire it

That reality should limit expectations but, naturally, the pair of them were full of joy at the prospect of realizing their lives' dreams as they sat down at a London hotel for their only national newspaper interview together.

'It's a bizarre feeling to be on the brink of F1 because I've been busy since I was handed the seat last year,' said Russell, who beat Norris into second place in the 2018 Formula Two championship. You do not get time to think about it. But when you mention F1, it feels pretty awesome. "

A few hours after the interview, they have to go to Melbourne separately, wearing a pair of glasses, not to conceal them. but to help get accustomed to an 11-hour time difference

Russell, from King's Lynn, adjusted his sleep pattern back a few hours while still in England. The night before he got out he went to bed at 2am. Norris, from Glastonbury, moved his bedtime forwards.

     The rookies have known each other through the years in karts and junior categories

'I wear sunglasses at airports, not to look cool or anything,' said Russell, a stringy 6ft 2in to Norris's more compact 5ft 8in. "It is a way to dim the light so you are getting in the right routine. I always wear my sunnies on the flight. "

Norris said: 'My glasses are slightly different. I have to wear a contraption. They have blue lights to help me wake up when I am on a plane and there is no proper sunlight. They can then block the light as well. They are not sunglasses – I am not that cool. "

Nothing can really prepare the duo for this week. Their families will be in the background, but they will have their own homes and their lives, and they will have their lives on their way through the ranks.

Russell has traveled with his own pillows – thin ones – to help him sleep. Norris used to pack his own mattress but, this being F1, team sponsors Hilton will cater for his every nocturnal requirement.

'F1 teams spend a fortune on getting an extra tenth or a second,' said Russell, ' so why not make sure everything is 100 per cent right with your sleep? '

     Both men have been inspired by Lewis Hamilton while competing in the junior categories

The rookies have known each other through the years in karts and junior categories. Norris 'brother Oli was a contemporary of Russell, with Lando only belatedly pushing his nose on the scene.

' We are not friends as such – I have never been a sleepover at George's – but we talk sometimes and we get on OK, I think, do not we? ' asked Norris. They seem to, at times quite touchingly. How long is the last day

Both have been schooled by garlanded teams, Russell was under Mercedes' umbrella and Norris at McLaren, just as Hamilton was. Which brings up the subject of the world champion and his impact on them both.

Russell, who will race a substandard car that arrived late and Williams' technical director Paddy Lowe his job, said "I have been in a fortunate position being around Lewis at Mercedes. I have seen him in debriefs and we had a couple of flights together, when we could speak on a personal basis. I have seen how he makes it all work for him – an important lesson.

'He works so hard instead of relying on natural talent. There is no right way of doing it. You can not say that you can make it a five-time world champion. You have to find a way that works for you.

'Lewis works 24/7. There is so much glory but there are tough times to achieve your goals, to make it work. "

Norris, whose template is Fernando Alonso, the double world champion who vacated the race seat at McLaren last year, said "I once shook Lewis 'hand at the press conference at Abu Dhabi in November, but I am not sure he said anything.

' I do not really expect anything more. He's at Mercedes so he'll help George more than me. " Williams are powered by Mercedes, McLaren by Renault.

The debutants are similar but different. Norris, the supreme millennial, does his training indoors and uses a cycling app. Russell, who likes the gym more, runs and cycles outside, enjoying getting himself dirty.

Neither has a fancy car or a great hobby away from the track. Russell shops at Asda. Both do their own washing. Russell is more attuned to F1 history, even his fellow new boy.

So what of next Sunday's Grand Prix? 'There are nerves,' admitted Norris. 'A clean race, with no great mistakes, to act as a springboard,' they agree is the aim. That will do nicely for now, and will take care of the rest

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