#zak bridges

[the-troll-of-the-bridge]

Haven't read those books in like 8 years but I started reading the serie again a few days ago

I forgot how much I loved Zak and baby Drizzt

[pucksandpower]

Crash Course Correction

Lando Norris x Reader x Max Verstappen

Summary: the Austrian Grand Prix left your boyfriends less than pleased with each other, so you decide to do something about it

The tension in the air is palpable as you stride into the living room, your eyes darting between Max and Lando. They’re seated on opposite ends of the couch, arms crossed, deliberately avoiding each other’s gaze.

The aftermath of their crash at the Austrian Grand Prix still lingers, a cloud of unresolved anger and frustration hanging over them.

You take a deep breath, steeling yourself for what’s to come. “Alright, boys,” you announce, your voice firm but tinged with exasperation. “This ends now.”

Max’s head snaps up, his blue eyes narrowing. “What are you on about?”

Lando, unable to resist, chimes in with a snort. “Probably about how you can’t drive for shit.”

“Me?” Max’s voice rises an octave. “You’re the one who-”

“Enough!” You cut them off, hands on your hips. “I’ve had it with this childish bickering. You two are going to sit here and work this out, or so help me, you’ll both be sleeping on this couch until you do.”

The threat hangs in the air for a moment before Lando breaks the silence. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m dead serious,” you reply, your tone leaving no room for argument. “I love you both, but I’m not dealing with this anymore. Sort it out.”

Max leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Y/N, come on. It’s not that simple. He-”

“No excuses,” you interrupt. “Talk to each other, not to me. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” With that, you turn on your heel and march out of the room, leaving the two drivers to face each other.

For a long moment, neither speaks. The ticking of the clock on the wall seems to grow louder with each passing second.

Finally, Lando breaks. “This is ridiculous,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair.

Max grunts in agreement. “Yeah, well, welcome to life with Y/N. Stubborn as hell.”

“You’re one to talk,” Lando retorts, but there’s less heat in his words now.

Max sighs, leaning back into the couch. “Look, about the race ...”

Lando tenses. “What about it?”

“I ... I might have been a bit aggressive in that turn,” Max admits grudgingly.

Lando’s eyebrows shoot up. “A bit?”

“Hey, you weren’t exactly backing off either,” Max counters, but his tone is more defensive than accusatory.

Lando opens his mouth to argue, then closes it, considering. “Fair point,” he concedes after a moment. “I guess we were both pushing pretty hard.”

The admission seems to ease some of the tension in the room. Max nods, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “It’s what we do, isn’t it? Push to the limit.”

“Yeah,” Lando agrees, a matching smile forming. “Sometimes we just ... overstep that limit.”

There’s another pause, but this one feels less strained. Max breaks it, his voice softer now. “I am sorry, you know. For how it ended up. It wasn’t what I wanted.”

Lando’s expression softens. “I know. Me too. It’s just ... frustrating, you know? We both lost out on a podium.”

Max nods emphatically. “Tell me about it. The team was not happy.”

“Christian give you an earful?” Lando asks, a hint of sympathy in his voice.

Max groans. “Like you wouldn’t believe. You?”

“Zak was ... not thrilled,” Lando admits with a grimace. “But I think Andrea was even worse.”

They share a look of mutual understanding, the shared experience of team disappointment bridging the gap between them.

“You know,” Max says slowly, “maybe we should ... I don’t know, talk more? In the paddock, I mean. Try to avoid these situations.”

Lando tilts his head, considering. “Yeah, that could help. Better communication, less ... assuming the other will back off.”

“Exactly,” Max agrees, warming to the idea. “We’re both competitive as hell, but maybe we can find a way to race hard without ... well, this.”

Lando nods, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “I’d like that. It’s more fun when we’re both actually finishing the race.”

Max chuckles. “Can’t argue with that logic.”

The atmosphere in the room has shifted dramatically, the earlier tension replaced by a tentative camaraderie. They’re both quiet for a moment, processing the change.

“So,” Lando ventures, “think this counts as making up? Because I really don’t fancy sleeping on this couch. It’s not exactly built for comfort.”

Max laughs outright at that. “God, no. My back would never forgive me.” He pauses, then calls out, “Schatje? You can come back now. We’ve sorted it.”

You poke your head around the corner, eyeing them suspiciously. “Have you really? Or are you just saying that to get out of couch duty?”

Lando holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Cross my heart. We’ve had a proper talk and everything.”

You step fully into the room, your gaze moving between them. “And? What did you decide?”

Max and Lando exchange a glance before Max speaks. “We’re going to work on communicating better about what happens on the track. Try to avoid these ... incidents.”

“And off track?” You prompt, not quite satisfied.

Lando jumps in. “We’re good, love. Really. Water under the bridge and all that.”

You study them for a moment longer before your posture relaxes. “Alright, I believe you. But if I hear one more word about that crash ...”

“You won’t,” Max assures you quickly. “Promise.”

You nod, finally allowing yourself to smile. “Good. Now, who wants dinner? I’m starving.”

As you turn to head back to the kitchen, Lando calls out, “Hey, Y/N?”

You pause, looking back. “Yeah?”

He grins, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Just for the record, if we had to sleep on the couch ... would it have been together, or ...”

You roll your eyes, but can’t help the laugh that escapes. “In your dreams, Norris.”

Max snorts. “As if I’d share a couch with you anyway. You kick in your sleep.”

“Oi!” Lando protests. “I’ll have you know I’m a perfect sleeping companion.”

“Sure you are,” Max teases. “That’s why Y/N always complains about your snoring.”

You decide to intervene before they can start bickering again, albeit more playfully this time. “Alright, children. Less arguing, more helping with dinner.”

They both groan dramatically but get up to follow you into the kitchen. As you start pulling out ingredients, you can’t help but smile at the easy banter now flowing between them.

“So,” Max says, leaning against the counter, “what’s for dinner?”

You shrug. “I was thinking pasta. Simple and quick.”

Lando perks up. “Ooh, can we have garlic bread too?”

“Only if you make it,” you counter, tossing him a loaf of Italian bread.

He catches it with a grin. “Challenge accepted.”

As Lando busies himself with the garlic bread and you start on the pasta sauce, Max hovers nearby, looking slightly lost.

“Don’t just stand there,” you chide gently. “Make yourself useful. Chop some vegetables or something.”

Max grimaces. “You know I’m useless in the kitchen.”

Lando laughs. “Come on, Max. Even you can’t mess up chopping vegetables. Here, I’ll show you.”

To your surprise, Max allows Lando to guide him through the process, their earlier animosity completely forgotten. You watch them with a warm feeling in your chest, grateful that your plan worked out better than you could have hoped.

As the kitchen fills with the aroma of garlic and herbs, the conversation flows easily between the three of you. Racing stories blend with personal anecdotes, punctuated by laughter and the occasional playful jab.

“Remember that time in Monaco,” Lando says between giggles, “when Daniel thought it’d be a good idea to-”

“Oh God,” Max groans, but he’s smiling. “Don’t remind me. I still can’t look at inflatable flamingos the same way.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Do I even want to know?”

They exchange a look before answering in unison, “Probably not.”

The pasta is almost done when Max suddenly says, “You know, I’m glad we sorted this out.”

Lando nods, his expression sincere. “Me too. It’s ... nice, this. Being able to just be together without the pressure.”

“Yeah,” Max agrees softly. “Sometimes I forget we’re not just rivals, you know? We’re ... partners.”

The word hangs in the air for a moment, weighted with meaning. You hold your breath, waiting to see how Lando will respond.

A slow smile spreads across Lando’s face. “Yeah, we are. Even if you are a pain in the arse sometimes.”

Max laughs, the sound full and genuine. “Right back at you, mate.”

You can’t help but join in their laughter, relief and happiness bubbling up inside you. This is what you’d hoped for — not just a truce, but a real reconnection.

As you all sit down to eat, the conversation continues to flow. You find yourself content to just listen, watching the way Max and Lando interact. There’s a new ease between them, a understanding that goes beyond their shared profession.

“You know,” you say during a lull in the conversation, “I’m proud of you both. For working this out.”

They both look slightly embarrassed at the praise, but pleased nonetheless.

“Well,” Lando says, a teasing lilt to his voice, “we couldn’t very well let you win, could we? Threatening us with the couch, honestly.”

You stick your tongue out at him. “Hey, it worked, didn’t it?”

Max chuckles. “She’s got us there.”

As the evening winds down, you find yourself curled up on the couch between them, a movie playing on the TV. It’s some action flick that none of you are really paying attention to, too content in each other’s company.

“Hey,” Max says softly, his arm draped around your shoulders. “Thanks for this. For ... pushing us to talk.”

Lando hums in agreement from your other side. “Yeah, we can be right idiots sometimes. It’s good to have someone to knock some sense into us.”

You smile, warmth spreading through you. “That’s what I’m here for. Someone has to keep you two in line.”

They both laugh at that, the sound harmonizing in a way that makes your heart swell.

As the credits roll on the forgotten movie, you realize that this ��� this moment of peace and companionship — is exactly what you’d been hoping for.

It’s not always easy loving two Formula 1 drivers. The competition, the pressure, the constant travel ... it can all take its toll.

But moments like this? They make it all worthwhile.

You snuggle deeper into the couch, surrounded by the warmth of the two men you love. “So,” you say, unable to resist one last tease, “I guess you’ve both earned your bed privileges back, huh?”

Max and Lando exchange a look over your head before Max speaks. “Actually ... I was thinking maybe we could all just stay here for a bit longer. This is ... nice.”

Lando nods in agreement. “Yeah, no rush to move. Unless you want to, of course,” he adds quickly.

You smile, touched by their reluctance to end the moment. “Here is perfect,” you assure them.

As you settle in for another movie, you can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, that crash was a blessing in disguise. It forced a confrontation that needed to happen, cleared the air in a way that casual interaction never could.

And now, curled up between Max and Lando, their earlier rivalry forgotten in favor of shared laughter and warm companionship, you know that whatever challenges come next, you’ll face them together.

As a team.

As a family.

[gguk-n]

Chapter 1- The Proposal

A+ in Pretend Love (Lando Norris x Reader)

Series Masterlist

Summary- The sponsor's say they'll pull out if Lando doesn't fix his ways. So, Zak stages an intervention. Y/N can't get approved for visa, no matter how hard she tries. Zak offers to help. An honest and mutually beneficial relationship is formed.

The scene is set. The MTC is almost empty to the wandering eye, but in reality, every one was sat in the huge conference hall Zak had constructed for other reason not pertaining to the one they had gathered for. "So, we're gathered here today" Zak began only to be interrupted by Oscar, "I still don't get why I'm here when this is about Lando." Zak sighed, "This is about me?" Lando asked surprised. Oscar looks at him with a raised eyebrow and then the other people at the table like in the Office. "Oscar, this is a team problem and we must deal with it as a team." Zak spoke while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Now where was I? Before I was rudely interrupted" Zak paused; "The sponsors aren't happy and want to pull away because of Lando's antics" Zak finished. "What? Why me? What about Oscar?" Lando pointed out like a child caught in trouble. "As far as I know, Oscar is extremely sponsor friendly with his long term girlfriend and polite demeanour" Zak said looking pointedly at Lando.

The table erupted in whispers, "What have I do?" Lando piped in. "The partying, the girls, the drinking. Might I continue?" Zak asked. Lando sighed, "So, what do you want me to do? Live like a monk" he asked. "No, we just need to polish up your image, make it more sponsor friendly." Zak said. "I have an idea" someone on the table suggested. "Go on" Zak prompted. "What if we say that Lando's been in a long term healthy relationship and is about to get married?" they suggested. Everyone seemed to hum in agreement. "What no? Ask me first, I'm the one involved. This is nonsense. Ask the sponsors to leave" Lando almost shouted. "Lando, you do know those sponsors are the reason you can drive in Formula One, so that we can make cars for you to race" Zak asked pointedly. Lando's shoulder's slumped, he looked at Oscar for support but he just shrugged at Lando; "Fine" Lando sighed. "So, which model is it?" he asked. "No, we need someone low- key. Out of the public eye to make this believable" someone else piped in. "But which girl will want to agree to that" someone else argued. Lando was currently a by-stander in his own life.

Finally after much deliberation, it was decided that to help Lando clear up his image; he would fake date someone who lived a normal life. And Zak would pay them to keep their mouth shut.

Y/N Y/L/N was in her last semester at University of Monaco of her Master's programme. She been living there since the start of the programme while working as a teaching assistant to gain experience towards her final goal of becoming a Professor. The university was great; culturally diverse and the job paid decently well; in her opinion. Right now, the biggest dilemma she faced was the stupid visa that for some reason wouldn't get renewed no matter how much she tried. She was sat in an almost empty cafe in the street's of Monaco, tucked away from the public. "You must understand. I'll have the job as soon as I graduate. Please extend my visa" she almost begged. "We can't Miss Y/L/N. Those are the rules. You will have to leave the country at the end of your visa" the voice replied sternly. Y/N sighed exasperated while running her hand through her hair for the hundredth time today as the call cut.

Some one else had entered the cafe during this whole ordeal, he walked up to Y/N, "Is this seat taken?" Zak asked. Y/N just nodded without looking up. "I'm sorry for eves dropping but it seems like you're having visa issues?" Zak asked. Y/N looked up, he pushed his business card forward. "I'm Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren" he introduced himself. "Y/N Y/L/N" she shook his hand. "I could help you if you'd like" he suggested. "What do you get in return?" she asked skeptically. "Well, I will have to discuss this with the person who might help you and let you know" he said. "Maybe you can forward me your CV. I can see what I can do" he spoke slowly. Y/N bit her lip before thinking, fuck it. What's the worst that could happen? and forwarded her CV to Zak. "I'll contact you as soon as possible" Zak said smiling while he walked away. "Arrange a meeting in the MTC, I have the woman for the job" Zak called his assistant.

Back at the MTC, when everyone had gathered; "So, I met this girl, around Lando's age. She is in need of help with her visa renewal" Zak said. "If she needs a visa for Monaco, wouldn't she be better off marrying Charles" Oscar interrupted. Zak sighed loudly, "Can you stop interrupting me?" he asked. "Can you stop having me attend meeting that have nothing to do with me?" Oscar retorted. "Touche" Zak relented. "So, we help her with her visa and she helps us with Lando" Zak suggested. Everyone seemed to agree unanimously. Lando was quite the whole time, he felt like he had lost any credibility since they were in trouble with the sponsors because of him. He quietly agreed to the arrangement. "Let's meet up with her. I'll arrange for a meeting. Just the three of us" he told Lando already on the phone with Y/N before Lando could even say anything.

They had decided to meet at a cafe in Monaco. The cafe was quite, with barely any customers in site. When Zak and Lando entered, they found a woman sat at one of the tables placed at the back, nursing a cup of coffee. As soon as she saw Zak, she greeted him with a smile. Lando was looking at her the whole time. Zak cleared his throat, "This is Lando Norris" he introduced Lando to her. She smiled at him, introducing herself and the three sat down when Zak began talking. "So, here's the thing, I need help" She nodded along, "If it's not money related I think I can help" she suggested. "It isn't. I need someone to help with damage control." Zak drawled. "Lando here is a Formula One driver, he drives for my team" Zak explained, watching the confusion on Y/N's face. She nodded along. "The sponsors are creating an issue, all baseless I might add. But I do want to please them and I believe, you would be of great help" Zak said. "How can I help?" she asked. "I would like it if you two would date. Maybe like a fake relationship, just for like a year or so." Zak said quickly. "I don't...this is crazy." she expressed. "I understand this is crazy, but please help me. Being with a millionaire helps" he pleaded. "He's a millionaire" Y/N asked looking at Lando now. "I might not look the part but they pay well" Lando laughed gesturing towards Zak. "This will help, they wouldn't want to cause issues for a public figure." Zak further elaborated. "Like a mutually beneficial relationship" Zak finished. "I need to think about this. All of this is too much for me" she said quickly grabbing her things to leave. Before the two men could stop her she was out of the cafe. "Told you this was a bad idea" Lando said shaking his heading, getting up to leave.

Back home, Y/N was in turmoil. She ended up googling Lando and whatever they said was true. This wasn't some MLM or cult they were trying to indoctrinate her into. And from all the news article, it seemed that Lando had bit of a reputation of partying and sleeping around. She could see why having a girlfriend would help him. She couldn't see why she could help him though. Wouldn't he do better with a model or someone famous?

A few days of her mind being plagued with thoughts of that weird meeting with Lando and Zak; the visa officer called. "Please ma'am you have to understand, I can't do anything. I can't renew your visa" he stressed. Y/N was annoyed, "Please, you can't do this" she cried. "It's out of my control" he expressed. "Please stop calling us" he warned and cut the call. Maybe, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Y/N called up Zak, "Hi, This is Y/N" she spoke slowly. "Hi, Y/N. How are you?" Zak chirped. "I'm good. I'm up for the offer. I'll date...I mean fake date Lando" she stated. "Wonderful. That's what I would've liked to hear" he gloated. "Let's meet at the same place this weekend. And please answer a few questions my assistant will email you before we meet" Zak said before cutting the call. Zak had to make a few more calls like to Lando and his assistant.

Y/N and Lando both received emails asking them questions most couples would know about each other. Y/N wasn't sure if she should fake a personality but decided against it and answered it as truly as possible.

The weekend rolled around rather quickly and the both of them were getting dressed to meet. The cafe seemed empty yet again, a strange occurrence in their eyes. The three of them greeted each other before receiving files from Zak. "These contain information about each other learn it. And this contains how you two met, fell in love and are now happily engaged" Zak said, pulling a velvet box from his pocket. He placed the box in front of Y/N which housed a beautiful ring, "It's fake, so don't worry about losing it" Zak said looking at the pair. "I think this will turn out great. Now, Y/N, Lando's home race is soon. So, two of you will make your debut then." he explained. Y/N looked at Lando, the two of their eyes locked together as Zak explained everything.

"Here's the contract and an NDA" Zak said pulling out more papers. "How long will the contract be valid for?" she asked beginning to read it. "For a year" Zak stated. "Don't you have any questions?" Y/N asked Lando. "No" he said shaking his head and proceeded to sign the contract while Y/N took her time to read through it, not wanting to be tied by anything she couldn't be able to repay. Y/N finally signed the paper after a few more minutes of going through the contract. "Welcome to the McLaren family. Don't worry about the expenses, they will be covered by us" Zak said quickly putting the contracts away. "Pleasure doing business with you" Zak remarked. "I hope we get along well" Y/N told Lando, directing her attention to him. "Hope so. My number is in my details. I'll contact you before the weekend. See you on the Thursday after this" Lando stated. "The weekend is on the Saturday or Sunday" Y/N quizzed. "Not in Formula One" Lando said, "I'll text you the details soon" he said leaving before anyone. Y/N watched both Lando and Zak leave, confused at what she had just gotten herself into.

She reached home, kicked off her shoes and plopped down on the sofa before calling her best friend. "Guess what I just did" she said as her best friend answered the call.

Tag list- @gamesetmatch-me @seonghwaexile @yootvi @hadesnumber1daughter @khaylin27 @abq654

[periwinkla]

Something I noticed about Phoenix is that ever since Doug Swallow's case, he seems very averse to physical confrontation.

There are multiple times across the series where you would think he would at least try to defend himself... like with Zak, for instance. Phoenix, even though Olga is distinctly in danger, just goes up the stairs to get a signal and calmly makes the phone call so the police can take care of it.

With Apollo, he doesn't even try to stop the punch (there's an element of guilt there of course, where he might feel like he deserves it). And this is not something that has anything to do with AA’s writing style, because we see Apollo punch Phoenix, Athena having no qualms about defending herself, and various prosecutors launching stuff at people whether it’s for comic relief or not. But we know Phoenix can be impulsive towards himself - swallowing a necklace, running off a bridge - so it's not like he’s a naturally calm, collected person. It seems to me that time with Doug where for a moment he thought he might have hurt someone with his rashness impacted him deeply. And, in a sense, if he didn’t shove him and run off, maybe Doug wouldn’t have died then... If he had listened calmly, if he hadn’t been rash and let his anger take over, maybe it would have gone differently.

After Doug’s case, whenever he's angry he only ever resorts to harsh words, but no physical action at all. Not a shove, not a touch. And even that is pretty rare, because he really tries his hardest to keep calm. An example of him being so angry that he can't keep the words back was during 2-4 with Edgeworth, and that was a special occurrence because of everything that was happening. Other than that he somehow usually manages to keep his cool, and be calm whatever happens. Like Drew Misham says he did after the Magnifi trial: 'That day... the entire court descended into chaos. Only you stood still, your eyes calmly watching.'

[planet4546b]

he just pissed me off so bad i had to stand up and pace my room and dramatically gesture at the tv for like 5 minutes MR WRIGHT YOUUUU. STUPID MOTHERFUCKER

phoenix you’re ’acting a little samira with it’. tch

[the-bi-library]

Happy March! Here are bisexual books out in March!

PS: I totally recommend (and kindly am asking authors or anyone else) to use the tags #bisexualbooks , #bibooks , #bisexualrep or any other variation of them when promoting (your) books with bi main character as it makes it easier for me to find books with like that since I follow those tags! 💖

Books listed:

When Worlds Collide by Erin Zak The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste Comet Cruise by Niska Morrow Never Leave, Never Lie by Thea Verdone Go Lightly by Brydie Lee-Kennedy The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorn Icarus by K. Ancrum Falls From Grace (Grace Notes #1) by Ruby Landers Ellipses by Vanessa Lawrence The Fealty of Monsters (The Fealty of Monsters, Volume 1) by Ladz Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste These Bodies Between Us by Sarah Van Name The Night Compass (Wilderlore, #4) by Amanda Foody Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo The Dark Feather by Anna Stephens Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura That Secret Something by Emily Wright Heirs of Bone and Sea (Dark Depths) by Kay Adams One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain The Weavers of Alamaxa (The Alamaxa Duology, #2) by Hadeer Elsbai Saint, Sorrow, Sinner (The Gideon Testaments, #3) by Freydís Moon The Safe Zone by Amy Marsden Tempting Olivia (Oxford Romance #2) by Clare Ashton Crossing Bridges by Chelsey Lynford Sounds of the City by Stacey Ennis-Theobald Searching for Someday by Renee Roman Back to Us by Addison Clarke

[nyoomfruits]

for the ask meme: 5 + 68, landoscar!

THANK YOU TO @ocontraire FOR HELPING ME OUT WITH THIS ONE <3

bar/restaurant au + heroic sacrifice

It's the calm before the storm, that small moment right after family meal and right before their first reservations, tables all set and silverware shined. Lando's standing in front of the bar, double checking the reservations, while Oscar's behind it, cutting a lemon.

"How's the apartment coming along?" Lando asks, when he's made absolutely sure all reservations have a corresponding table. "Managed to find a couch yet?"

Oscar wrinkles his nose, tosses the ends of the lemons and sweeps the rest into an ingredient container next to the limes and the maraschino cherries. “Logan thought he found one but when we went to look at it,” he shudders. “There were stains, Lando. Stains. Questionable ones.”

“Oh, yikes.” Lando mimics a retching motion. “Well, have to keep looking then I guess.”

Oscar hums, grabs a glass and fills it with water, two ice cubes, and a singular slice of lemon, places it in the exact spot Lando always keeps his drink, hidden out of sight from the rest of the restaurant by the coffee machine. When Lando raises an eyebrow at him Oscar sighs, and adds a pink straw. “We were planning on doing a thrift store run on Sunday but Zak gave me the opening shift, so.”

Lando drops the pen he’d been fiddling with. “Zak did what?” He asks.

Oscar shrugs, a dismissive little motion that Lando learned long ago to not actually dismiss. “It’s fine, it’s just this once. Bella has this family thing, so.”

“No,” Lando says, “no, he can’t do that to you. You hate the morning shift.”

Oscar rolls his eyes. “We all have to do things we don’t like as much sometimes.”

“Yeah, but,” Lando frowns. “Last time it took you weeks to recover. Months! You do realize you have to get up at 7am right?”

Oscar looks at him, bemused. “Lando, seriously. I’m fine. And it wasn’t months. It was two days max. I’m just not a morning person, I’ll live.”

“No, no, no, do not worry. I will relieve you of your duties. I will fall on this sword for you. For you are my brother in arms and I have sworn to protect you with my life,” Lando’s reached over the bar to grab Oscar by the shoulders, and Oscar’s face is doing some kind of crossover between fond and exasperated.

“That’s sweet, Lando, really. But I’m fine.”

“For death,” Lando says, completely unfazed. “For glory. For brotherhood. Fear not, my beloved. I will save you from these atrocities.”

Oscar pinches the bridge of his nose. “We’re not even. I’m not your beloved, Lando.”

Lando perks up, smiles. “But you could be,” he says, winks.

“Sure,” Oscar says, dubiously. “Anyway, really, I’m fine. One morning shift won’t kill me.”

“No, no, no, let me do this for you. Just promise me one thing,” Lando says, still dead serious. “If you have children someday, if they point to the pictures, please tell them my name. Tell ‘em how the crowds went wild. Tell ‘em how I hope they shine.”

“Okay, now you’re just quoting Taylor Swift at me,” Oscar says throwing up his hands, making Lando’s hands drop off his shoulders.

Lando pouts at him. Oscar frowns. Lando pouts harder. “Fine,” Oscar relents, shoulders sagging. “Fine you can have your weird heroic sacrifice or whatever you want to call it. Take my Sunday morning shift.”

“Yay,” Lando says, beaming brightly. “Think of me, when the sun falls behind the heavens. I’ll go tell Zak.”

“Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated, you absolute dumbass,” Oscar drawls after him, as Lando skips off in search of Zak. With his back turned, Lando misses the ridiculously fond, endeared smile Oscar sends after him.

[aaivii]

Guys guys guys, one thing please in all this McLaren discussion!! The truth is we actually don't know what is there in the contract!! It was started by a whiny rant by Wheel Buxton *it's not a spelling error, that guy can save 100 cats and dogs but I'll still never like the guy, but still he speculated one thing and everyone is shouting about it, OK!! We don't know if really Zak prefers Lando, and Andrea prefers Oscar!!

But what I do know, is that a team broke Oscar's trust once!! And we all know what happened..🤭. Now I have no idea whatever will happen, and in the wake of oh lando should leave this team blah blah, I cannot imagine Lando not in orange, so if anyone is changing the team, it's Mr. Oscar I-dont-mind-burning-the-bridges Piastri, I learned it from my father's lover!! And as someone who wants to see him in Merc, and have a Hamilton-esque career arc *Don't fking come at me, a girl can dream alright*, I can't wait for Toto to say,"This is not the first time we are getting a WC driver from McLaren *yes in my dream Osc won in '24 and '25 now focus, * and we are absolutely ecstatic to start a successful journey with him.

How's my dream guys!! Also, in case it's not clear #team osc(like tom wambsgans to kendall before board meet in succession iykyk). Don't come at me, I love Lando, and Mclaren though it's more like a red flag toxic relationship but it's OK they are trying, team Oscar all the way!!

[cornertheculprit]

the thing about phoenix in aa4 is that imo he was not fighting to get his badge back. he did not create the mason system as a part of some super secret plan to topple kristoph and restore himself to his former glory. it was pure coincidence that drew misham happened to die right before phoenix was going to introduce the mason system and the initial case was changed over from whatever it was before to vera's trial. and i think when he did that his end goal was not to get his badge back but to expose the truth of what happened seven years ago. to reveal that magnifi had shot himself and that kristoph had forged the evidence and yknow everything else that came along with the gramarye trial. even in the end credits he said "MAYBE i'll take the bar exam...again." it's why there should've been a much longer gap and a lot of thought on his part about whether or not he should've become a lawyer again. because. i mean. even before aa4 happened phoenix was!!! getting disillusioned with himself!!!

bridge to the turnabout literally ended with him driving himself up a wall over whether or not he did the right thing exposing diego as the killer of misty fey and then in aa4 what always gets me is that. when he presents the forged evidence. roughly two months after bridge to the turnabout. when the judge asks him if he has an explanation for himself. all phoenix says is "if i did, would the court hear it?" he doesn't even bother to fight it. he only gets fired up once klavier reminds him that this meant that zak would get pronounced guilty as well and god knows phoenix wouldn't stand for an innocent person getting pronounced guilty because of something he did. but concerning himself? concerning his badge getting taken away? he doesn't even bother. sure, he investigates for a bit afterwards, and he makes friends with kristoph with the slightest of suspicions that he might've been the one to forge the diary page, but that's about it. and what with maya telling phoenix in aa3 that she honestly didn't expect him to keep being a lawyer for this long, phoenix's disconsolation at the end of 3-5, and his immediate acceptance of the fact that his badge was going to get taken away and the courts wouldn't listen to him anyway so why even bother trying, it doesn't surprise me. the mason system was always about leveling out the corrupted playing field, not about phoenix getting his badge back.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

💙💜💖 Bi Books Coming Out March 2024

💖💜💙 Do you know what we could always use a little more of? Bi books! Here are a few coming out in March that would make fabulous additions to your never-ending TBR! Happy reading!

💖 The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste 💜 Falls From Grace by Ruby Landers 💙 These Bodies Between Us by Sarah Van Name 💖 Never Leave, Never Lie by Thea Verdone 💜 When Worlds Collide by Erin Zak 💙 Comet Cruise by Niska Morrow 💖 The Fealty of Monsters by Ladz 💜 The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel 💙 Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland 💖 The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist by Sophie Gonzales 💜 Saint, Sorrow, Sinner by Freydís Moon 💙 Ellipses by Vanessa Lawrence 💖 Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne 💜 Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo 💙 The Dark Feather by Anna Stephens 💖 Go Lightly by Brydie Lee-Kennedy 💜 The Night Compass by Amanda Foody 💙 Icarus by K. Ancrum 💖 The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste 💜 The Safe Zone by Amy Marsden 💙 Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton 💖 Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura 💜 That Secret Something by Emily Wright 💙 Back to Us by Addison Clarke 💖 Heirs of Bone and Sea by Kay Adams 💜 Searching for Someday by Renee Roman 💙 One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain 💖 Crossing Bridges by Chelsey Lynford 💜 The Weavers of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai 💙 Trouble by Lex Croucher

[pyropsychiccollector]

Ace Attorney: IF (... Part 13)

With much of the Dark Age of the Law expelled, Gant passes the torch of Chief of Police to Gumshoe after Tyrell dismissed the offer. Gumshoe is still a jovial guy, but he's a better detective and officer because of Tyrell watching over him all this time… Not to mention being partnered with Franziska reining in his goofy slipups.

Similarly, Byrne passes on the title of Chief Prosecutor to Lana Skye; though he doesn't intend to resign as a prosecutor yet, he does like the idea of a fresh slate for prosecutors if the police are getting an overhaul. Phoenix, Neil, Franziska, and Simon are all capable in their own right, it's just Lana seemed to have the best temperament for the role of Chief. Plus, Phoenix and Franziska often got called on for cases from interpol, they weren't always around anymore. They have a fresh recruit in Robin Newman, but she's a rookie at 19.

Hugh O'Connor went on to join Edgeworth Law Offices, and Junie is learning the ropes as a new judge (Judge Courtney is her mentor). As the youngest member of Troupe Gramarye, Trucy is gaining enough popularity that she's getting her own stage assistants to help her with grander tricks and shows; the ones that work directly with her are Bonny and Betty de Famme. Furthermore, though it's a tentative thing, Zak has agreed to reopen talks with Mister Reus to do shows with him; Zak, Valant, and Thalassa know better than to outright trust him after Magnifi ousted him from the group years ago, but they do want to mend burned bridges if they can. They're not the same as they were under Magnifi, they're more on the up and up. Treat their friends and coworkers with dignity and respect, no blackmail or coercing one another, no sabotage. Obviously Mister Reus still holds a grudge against the Gramarye's, but he's not going to be obvious about it - he bides his time to take his revenge.

Bearing all of this in mind, it seems like everyone is doing rather well. (人◕ω◕) Athena's entering her second year as a lawyer, and she's getting along better with her mom and Aura Blackquill now that she can handle being around others with her sensitive ears. Apollo's entering his third year as a lawyer, and considering all that he's gained with his Gramarye family and all his new friends, he talks with Mia at last about where he grew up. Because he's tired of being doomer about his foster dad never returning for him, and wants to finally do something about Khura'in's situation. He knows that nation is governed by spirit channeling, and while Mia isn't a medium herself she still hails from a village of them. Mia vaguely knows about that history, how her village's founder hails from that nation, but it's never been significant enough for her until now. She agrees to go scope it out with Diego, let Apollo and Athena watch over the office for a few weeks.

Yet upon arriving in Khura'in, Mia winds up taking the case of Ahlbi Ur'gaid, who lacks an attorney because of the state of the country. She manages to defend him against Gaspen Payne, and encounters Rayfa, who's so reminiscent of Maya… Rayfa isn't sure why, but she can't seem to stay mad at Mia, even when the older woman makes a "mockery" of her insights. Mia isn't in her face, and it vexes her to meet an outsider who's so respectful yet believes in a defendant's innocence… Even when Mia's life was on the line. The judge is similarly at a loss because of how composed Mia is and how she reminds him of court procedures outside of the insights. But everyone figures this will be a one-time miracle because Ahlbi really was innocent. Diego wasn't too thrilled with the stakes of the Defense Culpability Act, but he did trust Mia, and he believes in Ahlbi's innocence too. They get the warning from Inga to keep a low profile or else, but Mia doesn't intend to bend over when the country's such a mess judicially.

Apollo's amazed Mia won a trial in Khura'in, but he knows this will only be the beginning. It's gonna be tough to overcome the Ga'ran regime. Nevertheless, Apollo focuses on the present - Trucy's getting ready for her first "major" solo performance (without the other Troupe members), it'll be televized and everything. He wants to support and cheer his sister on… But he winds up defending her in court when she's framed for murder during her show. It's a similar to what happens in canon, but the agency isn't at stake, nor is Troupe Gramarye as Zak dismissed Trucy having to sign anything herself; they were wise to Mister Reus trying to pull anything underhanded… But they never expected Trucy's trick to be sabotaged after so many precautions were taken… It really feels like Trucy accidentally killed a member of the audience, even after reviewing the filmed event…

But Ema is the detective in charge, and Franziska insists on handling the case - see how Mia Fey's proteges hold up under pressure. Cases involving magicians are a headache… But Franziska has some experience navigating them. To her, as annoying as Bonny and Betty's "teleportation" trick was to unravel, they weren't nearly as obnoxious as Lotta Hart. The tougher witness to squeeze the truth out of was Mister Reus, who did wind up being the culprit… But overall, Apollo and Athena were coming along nicely as lawyers. Even with Reus threatening to sue Mia and Co. Law Offices, do everything to deter them from the truth, they held steadfast despite a couple small bumps in their logic along the way. Bonny and Betty stay on as Trucy's assistants, though they'll have to come up with some new tricks… Mister Reus's hatred of the Gramarye's stings, but they know it's not completely unreasonable. They just have to keep striving to be better…

A couple of weeks after that trial, Mia and Diego have won several cases in Khura'in, both together and separately. It's a risk each time, but they've demonstrated not all defendants are guilty. This not only attracts the attention of the Ga'ran regime, but the Defiant Dragons as well. Fed up with the "mockery" of the courts, Nahyuta decides he'll face Mia Fey and be the one to crush Apollo's mentor… But he winds up prosecuting Abbot Inmee's wife when she's framed for murder, and he fails to secure his victory. This earns him a punishment from the Queen, and he's left with an even more burning grudge against Mia… Though he can't deny Abbot Inmee and his wife exposed as members of the revolution shakes up society quite a bit - the disdain towards the Defiant Dragons takes a nosedive.

Through that case, Mia meets Datz and Dhurke, the leaders of the resistance. Since she knows this was the man who raised Apollo, she's not as intimidated by him as society is. Rather, she's disappointed in him for shooing Apollo away and not staying with him when the boy needed a family. Granted, she knows it's important to give the people here in Khura'in some hope, but this seems like a battle to tactically retreat from with the royal family so oppressive. Not much progress has been made in over a decade, and only lately has she and Diego been tearing up the courtroom. It's not too late to make amends; Dhurke needs to set his priorities straight while he still can. Though Mia's shameless confrontation does rankle a bit, he can't deny the weight her words carry - she lost her sister, and his ambitions could easily lead to an early grave and put Apollo and Nahyuta through the same heartache. It's difficult to step away when the Defiant Dragons are doing better than ever, but it's easier to sneak out of the country and check on Apollo than it is to approach Nahyuta at this time.

I'll skim past the final case details because honestly? Canon did well enough establishing the approximate "how" this is all pulled off. However, I will dive into the resolution and all the epilogue bits. (人◕ω◕)

To put simply, Mia bringing Dhurke back to him is way more than Apollo could have hoped for. Yes, the reunion wasn't so warm and fuzzy. Not only did Apollo snub him when talking about retrieving the Founder's Orb from Kurain Village, but Thalassa's reunion with him was bittersweet… And meeting Zak was…well… (人◕ω◕) Zak is hard-nosed about the whole affair because Apollo is Thalassa's child, and Dhurke just… abandoned him. Dhurke knows he screwed up, but he's torn because everything was for the sake of saving Khura'in. Even now he can't give up the good fight…

Ultimately, though, Apollo and everyone helps Daddy Dhurke recover the Founder's Orb, and Apollo agrees to go back to Khura'in to save Nahyuta. It's not easy overcoming Inga and Ga'ran, but they reunite Dhurke with his wife, Nahyuta, and Rayfa. It's quite an awkward family reunion, especially since the Gramarye's tagged along with the lawyers, Ema, and Chief Prosecutor Lana. They wanted closure for Jove, Apollos father. (人◕ω◕) But Amara is reinstated as Queen, and Dhurke reopens his law firm and begs Apollo to stay and help him. The country's in a delicate state of flux with Ga'ran deposed and Inga imprisoned… And Dhurke really needs the help of lawyers. He can't ask Mia and Diego to stay, they've done more than enough. But Apollo? Dhurke wants to completely make amends, even if his birth family is also there for him. Apollo still has a soft spot for Dhurke and Nahyuta, and agrees to stay for a few years. He won't abandon either of his families if he can help it, and he doesn't want to quit on Mia either. … He also might have some sweethearts to return to, but more on that later. (人◕ω◕)

Even with Apollo remaining in Khura'in for a bit, they've still got lawyers back home to fill the void. And Athena doesn't plan to stop growing either~

[thisisyourdriverspeaking]

In honour of F2 being back in Imola this weekend, this is the F2 edition of my US number ones posts. Enjoy 😊

Juan Manuel Correra (9th August 1999) & Ritomo Miyata (10th August 1999) - Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle

Kush Maini (22nd September 2000) - Madonna - Music

Richard Verschoor (16th December 2000) - Destiny's Child - Independent Women Pt 1

Victor Martins (16th June 2001) - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink - Lady Marmalade

Enzo Fittipaldi (18th July 2001) - Usher - U Remind Me

Rafael Villagomez (10th November 2001) - Mary J.Blige - Family Affair

Amaury Cordeel (9th July 2002) - Nelly - Hot In Herre

Dennis Hauger (17th March 2003) - Jennifer Lopez ft LL Cool J - All I Have

Franco Colapinto (27th May 2003) - Sean Paul - Get Busy

Zane Maloney (2nd October 2003) - Nelly, P.Diddy & Murphy Lee - Shake Ya Tailfeather

Joshua Durksen (27th October 2003) - Beyonce ft Sean Paul - Baby Boy

Paul Aron (9th February 2004) - OutKast - Hey Ya!

Roman Stanek (25th February 2004) - Twista ft Kanye West & Jamie Foxx - Slow Jamz

Taylor Barnard (1st June 2004) - Usher - Burn

Isack Hadjar (28th September 2004) & Gabriel Bortoleto (14th October 2004) - Ciara ft Petey Pablo - Goodies

Zak O'Sullivan (6th February 2005) - Mario - Let Me Love You

Jak Crawford - (2nd May 2005) - 50 Cent ft Olivia - Candy Shop

Ollie Bearman (8th May 2005) - Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl

Pepe Marti (13th June 2005) - Mariah Carey - We Belong Together

Kimi Antonelli (25th August 2006) - Fergie - London Bridge

Another link to this playlist 😊

[hauntedparaclassics]

Zak Bagans LEGACY Explained - Ghost Adventures History 👻

January 22, 2025

Zak Bagans was born on April 5, 1977, in Washington, D.C., but it was in the quiet town of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where his fascination with the supernatural began. As a young boy, Zak was intrigued by the unknown, often exploring the creaky attics and dusty basements of his childhood home, imagining what secrets they might hold. His life took a pivotal turn when he moved to Las Vegas to chase his dreams of documentary filmmaking. However, it was an encounter in 2002 in Trenton, Michigan, that would set his path irrevocably towards the paranormal. Zak lived in an apartment where he experienced what he believed to be an interaction with the spirit of a woman who had taken her own life in the bathroom he used. This event was not just a scare; it was a call to action. Fuelled by this experience, Zak, along with Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin, decided to document their explorations into the unknown, leading to the creation of the "Ghost Adventures" documentary in 2004. This project was more than just a film; it was the beginning of a legacy. The documentary aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2007, but it was the subsequent series on the Travel Channel in 2008 that catapulted Zak into the public eye as a serious paranormal investigator. The show "Ghost Adventures" became a cultural phenomenon, offering viewers a mix of genuine fear, curiosity, and skepticism. Zak's approach was not just about seeking thrills; he was on a quest for understanding, using a blend of historical research, modern technology, and personal intuition. His method often involved direct confrontation with spirits, which led to some of the most memorable moments of the series, like his encounters at Bobby Mackey's Music World or the infamous Poveglia Island in Italy. Over the years, Zak's personal life became as entwined with the paranormal as his professional one. He opened Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum in Las Vegas in 2017, where he houses some of the most infamous haunted artifacts collected during his investigations. Each item, from the Dybbuk Box to Bela Lugosi's mirror, has its own chilling backstory, turning the museum into a repository of both history and horror. But with fame came scrutiny. Critics often accused "Ghost Adventures" of staging events, which Zak met with a mix of frustration and determination to prove his authenticity. His response was to delve deeper, producing shows like "Deadly Possessions" and "Demon House," where he not only showcased haunted objects but also documented his own psychological and physical battles with dark entities. Zak's journey into the paranormal world was not without its toll. He often spoke of the emotional and physical exhaustion that came with his work, especially after investigations that left him feeling ill or spiritually drained, like his experience at the real-life Conjuring House. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Zak continued, driven by a belief that his work could offer solace or answers to those haunted by their own experiences. Today, Zak Bagans remains a figure of both fascination and controversy, a man committed to bridging the gap between the living and what might lie beyond. His life is a testament to the idea that some questions about life and death are worth pursuing, even if they lead down the darkest corridors. His story continues, with each investigation adding another chapter to his ongoing narrative of seeking the truth in the shadows.

Source: Ghost Adventures Fans (YouTube)

[msnihilist]

Enough Rope by Miss_Nihilist

Summary:

The Flute of Gilgamesh disappears before Argost can recover it and, with it, goes his plan to rip Kur out of Zak Saturday's unworthy body.

But V.V. Argost did not get to his position in life by giving up easily… And he decides that, if he can't have the powers themselves, then he will possess the boy who wields them.

Chapter 4: The Beast in the Mountains

It was a long, quiet flight back to North America. About halfway through the trip, Fisk joined them on the bridge. Zak wasn't in the mood to play any travel games to pass the time and, even if he had been, he didn't want to talk to Fisk anymore than he wanted to talk to the rest of his family. 

After Mom and Dad got Fisk caught up on the job they were taking, he kept shooting Zak questioning looks and trying to get his attention. He knew that there had to be a real reason for Zak to suggest this, and it sucked that he was right. Zak had been lying for long enough now that even his own brother quickly knew that he had to have an ulterior motive.

(Argost could always be counted on to lie, too.)

Eventually, Fisk got the hint that Zak wasn't in the mood to talk. Mom and Dad took turns playing 'I Spy' with him instead. The pit in Zak's gut only grew. 

When was the last time that he felt like he actually belonged in his own family?

The ocean outside the window gave way to thin lines of sand, endless fields for farming, and ant-sized buildings. Zak shifted closer to the window so that he could at least watch the scenery to pass the time. 

He had always liked this part of flying, but lately, seeing the world from up high just made him feel far away. Everything looked unreal from so up high. So small. So fragile. So insignificant.

If he ever lost control, even for a minute, the amount of damage that Zak could do was astronomical. 

It would be easy.

"Make sure you're buckled up, boys," Mom said some hours later. "We're going to be landing and then taking the DRV to the site."

Read the chapter on AO3.

[sunskate]

I’m sorry because I love them so much, but I just find LaLa’s content not inspired this year. I was sooo moved the first time I saw Sound of Silence but every time I see it again I’m just seeing repeated elements and the same transitions (although a few more complex ones this time). I had a lot more fun watching Lily and Nathan’s RD. I was more moved watching Alicia and Paul. I know it’s all personal preference but I think Marjo and Zak could push themselves more

i was more moved and excited by the last two sets of programs too, but they set such a high bar. maybe this season is a bridge - concussions can take a long time to heal, so if repeating elements allows them to train fully and to grow other parts of their skating, then hopefully their Olympics programs will be something fresh

[inchidentally]

https://www.tumblr.com/inchidentally/742246572437504000/apart-from-the-absurdity-of-thinking-that-mclaren?source=share

Pro tip from someone who has been in this world for a really long time: DON'T READ WHAT KARUN HAS TO SAY!

Moreover, Oscar and his environment are happy with the cooperation with McLaren, just as McLaren is happy with Oscar being their driver. So there is no logical reason for Oscar to change his surroundings. Plus, from a sporting point of view, the move to Mercedes will not be an upgrade for Oscar. Another thing George and Oscar will have different car preferences, in McLaren Lando and Oscar are on the same side of the river so. The media first focused on Lando and his move to Red Bull, and now they started focusing on Oscar. Jesus, I'm tired of this season and the season hasn't exactly started yet. Another thing that pisses me off about all this is putting enormous pressure on Kimi Antonelli. His career is already so accelerated that it cannot be accelerated any further. Let the media leave him alone. Carlos in Mercedes or Red Bull is also a suicide mission because George and Max love oversteer cars and Carlos loves understeer. And in these two teams, Carlos will be the number two. So the only logical move is Audi or Aston Martin if Fernando does not renew his contract with AM or goes to Mercedes. If Sebastian wasn't stubborn, Mercedes would welcome him with open arms. A German driver in a German team, what more could you want. Plus the current regulations we have in F1 are perfectly designed for him (AM has blood on their hands for not giving him the car he deserved). There are also side options like Esteban and Pierre (their contracts are running out after this season) and Mick.

This is a digression from me.

you absolutely nailed it all anon !! like I really need everyone to remember that not only is it a journalist/presenter/pundits job sometimes to throw out wild cards and generate engagement, it's also the truth that Oscar has a particularly and uniquely brilliant set up with Lando and McLaren. and that there is literally no option for him that wouldn't be a pointless frustration or an outright downgrade. Andrea Stella and Zak Brown deserve every acknowledgement for how wisely they've put this partnership together.

but in particular Karun invoking Mark's name is hysterical bc Mark is why the McLaren move even happened AND Mark is not in the business of burning bridges with teams in a restless chase after a WDC.

Mark also hasn't spent the years managing Oscar and talking about wanting the kid to feel stability and the importance of trusting the people and team around him to start wheeling and dealing so that Oscar ends up with four teams behind him before he's even thirty !!!

overall, if the headline makes your heart race and has absolutely no history to support it then move on from it. the Lewis to Ferrari move was huge but it was NOT the first time Lewis had talked about it and we now know that Ferrari and Carlos talks were a long time in breaking down. both of these drivers have already made moves - they aren't in their second season of Formula 1. the biggest shocker about that was the timing of the announcement which sounds like it was bc an outlet was about to scoop it anyway.

and seriously as you said, it cannot be emphasized enough - and this is one positive point among many in favor of McLaren for Oscar and Lando - that having both drivers match up their preferences for the car to the point of as Andrea Said, using the same terminology and having their own private agreements on it, is so unusual and so hugely beneficial that it's why everyone makes a big deal of it with McLaren. if that were all that the boys had going for them at McLaren, it would be reason enough to stay put rather than go through two years adjusting to someone else's car and inevitably putting off race wins and a championship even longer.