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diamonddaze01 · 5 months ago

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missed calls

Pairing: idol!yoon jeonghan x gn!reader | wc: 3.7k genre: fluff, angst warnings: none a/n: missing my husband extra hard // all my love to @lovetaroandtaemin @gyubakeries and @gotta-winwin for beta-ing this <3

now playing: better half by jeonghan ft. omoinotake

summary: It’s a strange kind of ache, missing someone who feels both so close and so far.

The time difference makes you feel like a ghost sometimes.

There are moments when the world feels off-kilter, as though you’re existing in parallel timelines that never quite overlap. You wake to silence, your phone screen dark, the weight of unanswered messages settling in your chest like morning fog. You wonder where Jeonghan is when you miss his calls.

Maybe he’s walking through crowded streets in some unfamiliar city, the hum of life around him muted by his own thoughts. You picture him with his hood up, his head tilted just slightly, the breeze lifting strands of his hair as he stares out at a horizon that feels impossibly far from you. His lips might curve in that faint, private smile he wears when the world seems too loud, when he’s retreating into himself in a way only he can.

Or maybe he’s somewhere quiet, tucked into a hotel room that still feels too big for one person, the night pressing against the window like an old friend. You imagine him leaning back in his chair, his voice heavy with exhaustion, his words soft and slow as they try to find their way to you. But the distance swallows the sound before it can reach you, leaving you with nothing but the memory of how it feels to hear his laugh, his voice calling your name.

It’s a strange kind of ache, missing someone who feels both so close and so far.

Saitama, Japan. November.

네가 있는 그곳의 일기예보는 유난히 자꾸 눈에 들어와 이런 날 보며 웃어 줘 (The weather forecast where you are strangely keeps catching my eye / smile for me on a day like this)

Saitama. His third stop on the tour. Japan, a city far away from you, but close enough to feel like an ache in the back of your mind. It’s the way Jeonghan’s absence seems to stretch time itself. Some days, you don’t even recognize the hours as they pass—you only feel the silence.

When his name lights up your phone, it’s late—too late, really, to expect any sort of coherent conversation. But with Jeonghan, it never matters.

“I saw the weather in your city,” he says, his voice a low, familiar hum against the backdrop of your quiet apartment. There’s no greeting, no preamble—just the way his words always feel like home. “It’s raining, isn’t it?”

You glance out the window. The rain has stopped, but the world is still soaked in its aftermath. The streetlights paint the wet pavement in long, streaking reflections, the kind that feel like they belong in an old film.

“It’s not raining anymore,” you murmur, leaning into the sound of his voice. “But everything’s still wet.”

There’s a pause, the kind of silence that stretches not in discomfort but in longing. You can almost picture him, somewhere in Bangkok, leaning against the edge of a hotel balcony, the humid night pressing in around him.

“You always loved the rain,” he says finally, his voice soft with memory. “You’d sit by the window for hours, just watching it fall, like it was the most important thing in the world.”

“And you’d tell me to close it,” you reply, smiling even though he can’t see it. “Before we both caught a cold.”

He laughs, and the sound is so achingly familiar that you press your phone tighter against your ear, as though it might close the miles between you. “I miss that,” he says, quieter now, the amusement fading into something deeper. “I miss you.”

His words sit heavy and warm between you, like a blanket you can’t quite pull around yourself. You press your forehead against the cool glass of the window, letting it anchor you in the present.

“I miss you too,” you whisper, and though the words feel small compared to the weight of your longing, it’s all you can give him right now.

There’s another pause, longer this time, and when he speaks again, his voice is a thread pulled tight with exhaustion and tenderness. “It’s been seven stops,” he says, almost to himself. “Seven cities. But every time I look out at the crowd, I think of you. Wonder if you’d be somewhere out there, smiling at me.”

You close your eyes against the sudden sting of tears, the thought of him standing on a stage, searching for a face that isn’t there. “I wish I could be,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’d give anything to be there.”

“You’ll be with me at the last stop,” he replies, his voice firm, as if saying it will make it true. “We’ll be together then.”

“Promise?”

“Promise,” he echoes, the word carrying a weight that you know he won’t let go of.

For a moment, neither of you speaks, the silence filled only with the quiet hum of static and the imagined sound of rain falling somewhere far away.

“Smile for me,” Jeonghan says suddenly, breaking the quiet. His voice is playful now, teasing in the way that only he can be. “On a day like this, just smile for me.”

And even though he can’t see it, even though it doesn’t feel like enough, you smile. Because for now, it’s the closest thing to being by his side.

Bangkok, Thailand. December.

멀리서 바라본대도 언제나 함께인 너와 나 서로 꽉 잡아주었던 손가락 대신 말이야 (Even if we’re far away, you and I are always together / Instead of fingers tightly holding each other, we have words)

Jeonghan’s in Bangkok now, and your calls have become more sporadic. The time zone difference has made it harder to sync up, and his rehearsals and soundchecks stretch late into the evening. The countdown to Christmas is drawing near, and there’s something about the holiday season that amplifies the distance. The twinkling lights in your apartment feel colder, the festive music playing on the radio a bit too cheerful. It’s hard to ignore the ache that fills the gaps between the fleeting conversations.

But he always finds a way to let you know he’s thinking of you, even when the calls don’t come.

It’s one of those late nights, just days before Christmas Eve, when his name flashes across your phone. You’re curled up on the couch, surrounded by half-wrapped presents and an unopened box of decorations, the scent of pine from the small tree you managed to set up lingering in the air. The world outside is dusted with snow, and for a moment, you let the stillness settle. But the phone call is like a soft knock at the door, a gentle reminder that even when he’s far away, Jeonghan’s voice is always there to anchor you.

“Sorry I missed you earlier,” his voice crackles through the speaker, a bit raspy from all the singing. You smile to yourself, hearing that familiar tone, the one that always sounds so far away yet somehow so close. “I hate not being able to hold your hand.”

You press the phone to your ear tighter, as if that could bridge the miles between you. The emptiness of the space beside you feels even more pronounced in this quiet moment. Your fingers ache, as if they could still feel the warmth of his touch from all those nights when you held each other close.

“I know,” you reply, your voice soft, the words carrying a weight that makes the distance feel like a tangible thing. “We’ll make up for it.”

You let the silence linger, as if it could somehow fill the void. “Someday,” you continue, the hope threading through your words. “When we’re together again.”

You can hear him exhale, a heavy sound that speaks of fatigue but also of something deeper. “Someday,” he echoes, but his tone is threaded with something that makes your heart ache. There’s a distance in the word, and yet a promise too, like a whispered prayer in the cold night air. “Until then, I guess I’ll have to settle for this.”

“Settle for what?” You shift on the couch, glancing at the twinkling lights on the tree, the soft shadows they cast on the walls. The thought of him fills your chest with warmth despite the cold that’s crept into the room.

“My voice,” he says, the corners of his voice curling into a soft smile. You can almost hear it, as though he’s there, standing beside you in the living room, smiling that quiet smile you love so much. “Calling your name.”

The sudden rush of emotion hits you like a wave, and you let out a laugh, albeit a quiet one. You can hear his smile through the phone, and it makes your heart flutter in that familiar way. Even though you’re separated by miles and time zones, you know that smile. You know that voice.

“That’s all I need,” you say, your words steady despite the longing twisting inside you. There’s a comfort in this—knowing that, even through the distance, he’s thinking of you. Even as you sit here, surrounded by the quiet of the holiday season, you are not alone. You never are when his voice is with you.

“Just my voice?” Jeonghan teases, but there’s no mistaking the tenderness behind it.

“For now,” you tease back. The smile that spreads across your face feels like the sun breaking through the clouds after a long storm. “But I can’t wait for the day when I can hear you say it in person again.”

He pauses for a moment, and you can tell that he’s smiling too, even though you can’t see him. “Me neither,” he says softly. “Just wait, okay? I’ll be home soon. And I’ll hold your hand then. All the Christmas lights in the world won’t be able to compare to that.”

The words settle in your heart, and for a moment, you let the phone slip from your ear as you look out at the snow falling softly against the darkened window. The world outside seems to hold its breath as you hold on to that promise, the quiet magic of love woven through the simple exchange of words.

As the conversation ends, you stand and walk over to the window, watching the snowflakes fall. You can almost feel him beside you, can almost imagine his fingers lacing with yours in the stillness of the night.

And in that moment, with the twinkling lights of Christmas warming the room, you let yourself believe—this will pass. Soon, he’ll be back. And you’ll both hold on to each other, through every season, no matter the miles.

Incheon, South Korea. January.

변하지 않는 중력처럼 끌어당겨 날 너에게로 (Like unchanging gravity, you pull me toward you)

The months of separation have felt like a quiet ache, each day stretching endlessly between you and Jeonghan, but as his flight lands at Incheon, the world shifts, and you feel it in your bones. The moment the doors open, his figure steps through the airport terminal, the hum of conversations and the bustle of travelers fading into a distant blur.

He's wearing the exhaustion of tour like a second skin—his eyes heavy, his steps slow—but there’s something in the way he moves toward you, something magnetic, something undeniable. It’s like gravity, drawing him back to you with an inevitable pull, no matter how far apart you were.

As he crosses the threshold, his eyes meet yours, and in that instant, the months of absence dissolve. His tiredness melts away in the warmth of your gaze, and his lips curve into a smile—soft, yet filled with the same intensity as a thousand words unsaid. He drops his bag with a thud, not caring where it lands, and before you can even take a breath, his arms are around you, pulling you close, as if the air itself is too thin for him to breathe without you in it.

It’s not just a hug. It’s an avalanche of emotion, a force so powerful that it steals your breath away. His heartbeat syncs with yours as if it has never been out of rhythm, as if time had never existed between the last time you held him and now. The world, with all its noise, its demands, its distractions, seems to quiet around you.

His scent is the first thing that hits you—a familiar blend of him, of warmth and the soft whisper of something that always makes you feel like home. His skin is warmer than you remember, and his fingers, gentle but sure, find the back of your neck, cradling your head like he’s afraid you might slip away again.

“I told you I’d come back,” Jeonghan murmurs against your ear, his voice hoarse, as though it’s been waiting for this moment for so long. You don’t know if he means he’d promised in the past or if it’s a vow meant to echo through every moment you share in the future. The weight of his words lingers in the air, rich and heavy, and you can’t help but let out a soft laugh.

The sound is barely audible, but it’s enough to break through the haze of emotions thick in the air. You pull away just enough to see his face, eyes darker than you remember but alive with a quiet, burning affection. Your fingers find the fabric of his coat, clinging to him as if it’s the only thing that could anchor you to this moment, this reality where the distance no longer exists.

“You’re real,” you whisper into the hollow of his shoulder, fingers gripping the cloth like you might lose him again if you let go. The ache in your chest rises, threatening to swallow you whole, but it’s different now. He’s here, and the space you’ve carried between you for so long is finally closed.

“I’ve always been real,” he answers softly, his voice a balm against the tremor in your voice. He pulls back just enough to look at you, his hands gently cupping your face, his thumbs brushing over your cheeks with a tenderness that threatens to undo you. His gaze is endless, like the ocean, deep and consuming, and you find yourself lost in it, drowning in the warmth of his presence.

“You’re the gravity that pulls me back,” he says, his lips curling into a small, knowing smile, one that’s both soft and filled with something heavier. “I could never stay away.” And then, before either of you can think about it too much, he leans in, slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment before he seals it with a kiss.

It’s soft at first, tentative, as if testing the waters of this closeness that feels like it could shatter the fragile air between you. But then his lips press against yours with a quiet urgency, a hunger that’s been buried under weeks of separation. His hands slide to the back of your neck, pulling you closer, and you respond in kind, your hands threading through his hair, holding him as if you could absorb him into your very being.

The kiss deepens, and for a fleeting moment, it feels like the entire world is holding its breath, waiting for this moment to unfold. There’s no rush, no hurry—just the slow burn of his lips against yours, the shared exhale, the tender weight of his arms around you.

When you finally pull away, the air between you feels impossibly full, as if the kiss itself has filled the space where words have always struggled to reach. Jeonghan presses his forehead against yours, his breathing unsteady but steadying.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispers, voice thick with everything he’s felt in the time you’ve been apart.

You smile, feeling like the distance, the longing, all of it has finally found its place in the quiet of his embrace. “I’ve missed you too.”

And in this moment, wrapped in his arms, you know that no matter how far he goes, no matter the miles between you, he’ll always be the gravity that pulls you back to him. And you’ll always come back, too.

Bocaue, Philippines. February.

어린아이처럼 늘 손을 꼽아 다시 만나는 그날을 (Like a child, I count down the days / Until the day we meet again)

Even reunions are fleeting. When Jeonghan leaves again, this time for the Philippines, you are left to breathe in the emptiness that lingers in his absence. The quiet stretches out before you like an untraveled road, the days growing heavier with every passing hour.

But in the stillness, you find a strange comfort—counting the days, one by one. The routine becomes a delicate ritual, as if the act of waiting itself is a thread connecting your hearts, pulling him back toward you.

You find yourself tracing the days in your mind, as though they were beads on a string, one for each heartbeat. Like a child who waits for the seasons to change, you cross off each night on an invisible calendar, whispering his name to the moon as if it could carry your voice to him.

Each day feels endless, and yet, within it, there is hope.

One evening, just as you settle into your favorite spot by the window, the full moon rising to bathe your room in silver light, the familiar sound of his voice breaks the silence. You hadn’t realized how much you had missed the sound of it—soft, distant, yet so very close.

“Are you looking at the sky?” Jeonghan’s voice hums across the distance, pulling you in, weaving a bridge between the two of you.

“I am,” you reply, a tender smile pulling at the corners of your lips as you tilt your head toward the heavens. “Are you?”

“Always,” he says, his voice carrying a warmth that feels like a caress even through the phone. “It’s the one thing we can share, no matter how far apart we are.”

There is something about those words, simple yet profound, that makes your heart ache in the most beautiful way. You imagine him, somewhere under the same sky, the moonlight washing over his face, just as it does yours. His eyes, probably closed in that soft, familiar way, drinking in the same view. And in that moment, the world seems smaller. The distance between you and Jeonghan, though vast, feels like a mere whisper.

You picture him looking at the same moon, its light spilling over his face, and suddenly, the distance feels bearable. The days may pass in slow motion, but each one brings you closer to him. And so, with the moon as your silent witness, you smile softly into the night, counting the days as they turn into weeks, knowing that soon—soon—he will be home.

Osaka, Japan. March.

다음 그다음 싹이 틀 연 분홍빛의 벚꽃잎이 수줍게 핀 모습을 함께 보도록 (the buds of pale pink cherry blossoms / Will bloom shyly for us to see together)

By the time Jeonghan reaches Osaka, spring has arrived. The cherry blossoms you dreamed of seeing together have finally bloomed, delicate petals painting the air with soft pinks, like a memory you’ve held onto through the long months of distance. Their fragile beauty seems to mirror your own waiting heart, tender and yearning, unfolding bit by bit with every passing day.

One afternoon, he calls you just as you’re stepping outside, the warm breeze teasing the edges of your jacket, the scent of fresh earth and spring in the air. The cherry trees in your own neighborhood sway gently, their petals dancing in the sunlight, their branches dipping toward the ground as though offering their beauty to the world. It’s not quite the same as the ones in Japan, but they’re still stunning, just like the dream you once whispered to him late at night: that one day, you’d be there together to witness this moment.

His voice crackles through the phone, distant yet intimate, like he's right beside you. “They’re blooming here too,” Jeonghan says, and you can hear the awe in his voice, the wonder that always lingers when he talks about the little things that make life feel full. “I wish you could see them.”

There’s a slight catch in his words, and you can tell it’s the same wistful longing that fills your chest when you look at the trees, but you smile anyway, because you know he’s thinking of you.

“Next year,” you reply, trying to sound certain, though your voice catches in the same way his did. “We’ll see them together next year.”

You close your eyes for a moment, breathing in the air around you, letting the thought of his warmth beside you on a spring day settle in your chest.

There’s a long pause. For a moment, the connection feels stretched across miles, but you can still feel him there, as though he’s standing in front of you, watching the same cherry blossoms. His voice, when it comes, is steady, unwavering, and filled with the quiet certainty that’s always been his signature. “We will.”

And in that moment, you know it’s true. You know that no matter how far apart you are, no matter how many missed calls or delayed flights or sleepless nights you face, this love is something that time cannot touch. It’s written in the cherry blossoms that bloom when the seasons change, in the soft glow of the moon that shines for both of you, no matter where you are. It’s in every smile that crosses your lips when you hear his voice, every quiet moment when you can almost feel him beside you, even though he’s thousands of miles away.

It’s in the way he always calls, no matter how late it is or how busy he gets. In the way he’s never too far to remind you that he’s thinking of you. You believe him because you’ve felt it—the way his love wraps around you, steady and sure, even when the distance feels endless. It’s in the promise of next year, and the year after that. It’s in every missed call, every whispered promise, and every moment that pulls you back together, stronger than before.

In the distance, a cherry blossom blooms.

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astrolocherry · 24 days ago

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The Midheaven ~

-Aries Midheaven: "She’s the reason half the room is scared and the other half is secretly obsessed." They don't follow her because they trust her; they follow because they can’t help themselves. Her presence is a collision of myth and instinct; she starts the era you’ll spend your life reacting to.

Taurus Midheaven: “She doesn’t climb to the top—she becomes the thing worth reaching.” People think she's peace incarnate. They don’t see how hard she worked to stay unbothered. Venus gave her beauty — but also wealth, taste, and the patience to wait until you fold.

Gemini Midheaven:  “The World Sees the Trickster — Until the Trick’s On Them” She’s branded chaotic, restless, scattered. They don’t realise she’s playing twenty versions of herself at once — and winning. Her success doesn’t follow logic; it follows curiosity.

Cancer Midheaven: “The World Sees the Protector — But She’s Already Planning Her Escape.” She’s tired of being the home everyone runs to and the wreckage they leave behind. She doesn’t want to be your safe place — she wants to disappear before you notice she’s gone.

Leo Midheaven: "Expected to shine—even when she's dead inside." She was born to be watched and she knows exactly how many eyes are watching. There’s something in her that dazzles and devours — you’ll watch her rise whether you love or resent it. And she knows it’s your problem, not hers.

Virgo Midheaven: “The World Sees Precision — But Misses the Bleeding Edge” She stitches herself into perfection, razor thread through skin. The outside is seamless; perfection is expected. Praise is optional. She runs on iced coffee, contempt, and irreparable cynicism.

Libra Midheaven: "She’s not charming you. She’s disarming you. By the time you notice the game, she’s already won it." She’s not flirting. She’s closing. You just assumed it was about you.

Scorpio Midheaven: "Haunting. Sleek. Fashionably Untouchable. The world senses her power, but by the time they name it, she’s already slipped underground.” Her presence feels like a confession waiting to happen. She doesn't expose people—they unravel on their own.

Sagittarius Midheaven: "The World Sees the Prophet on a Joyride” This placement gives big freedom energy. She chases truth, beauty, and style with a philosophy—not a rulebook. And the public adores this freedom but forgets how lonely it feels at the top of the sky.

Capricorn Midheaven: "Resting CEO face and the existential dread to match." The boss babe was never a phase. It was a survival response to being 8 years old and paying emotional rent. She’s the blueprint they all try to copy — but no one survives her climb.

Aquarius Midheaven: "The World Sees a Wild-Card Prophet They Can’t Quite Understand” They call her radical—right before stealing her ideas. She's a forecast in human form. She’s not misunderstood — she’s just playing five timelines ahead.

Pisces Midheaven: "The Public Dream, The Private Haunting” She's the public's favorite mirage. If someone doesn’t “get” her, that’s fine. Pisces Midheaven doesn’t live on the same frequency as the people who criticise it.

Cherry

#midheaven signs #aries midheaven #taurus midheaven #cancer midheaven #gemini midheaven #leo midheaven #virgo midheaven #libra midheaven #scorpio midheaven #sagittarius midheaven #capricorn midheaven #aquarius midheaven #pisces midheaven #midheaven sign #birth chart

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deantfwinchester · 1 year ago

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Neighborhood Walgreens

Pairing: No-Outbreak!AU, Joel x Teacher!Reader like always

This one takes place before the other two timeline-wise, I guess - just a few months into knowing each other. No established relationship, and some ridiculous flirting.

Summary: A busy, sick Joel gets a little care from the people in his life - including the neighbor and friend he's been crushing on for the past few months.

Warnings: fluff, fluff, fluff-fluffity-fluff. Bout to get a standing root canal appointment, tbh.

A/N: The bulleted fics are piling up in the notes app, but boy are the well-crafted girlies a bit of a trek. More to come, if the functioning part of my brain has anything to say about it.

Word Count: 5.9k. absolute unit.

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Joel wakes up feeling like shit. He’d felt a bit of a scratch in his throat the night before, but tried to write it off as allergies or something - until he woke himself up coughing before his alarm could even go off. He knows he has a cold the second he tries to breathe through his nose - no dice. His head feels like it’s stuffed with cotton, and it’s pounding before he can open his eyes. He shivers when he moves the blankets aside to get up, and each muscle in his body begs him to crawl back into bed.

Ever the trooper, he rises anyway, heading to the bathroom and checking the medicine cabinet to find what he’d feared - no cold medicine. Awesome. Resigning himself to trucking through the day, he blows his nose, pops a couple tylenol, and gets ready. His respiratory system isn’t too fond of the assault, however, and he’s coughing up a lung before he can finish. Today should be fun. He’ll need to stop by the drugstore on his way home.

Once he’s dressed for the day (trying his best to look alive), Joel trudges down the stairs to see Sarah at the kitchen table, half-eaten bowl of cereal in one hand and a pencil in the other as she finishes the last of her homework. She hears him shuffle in and looks up just as he sniffles, locking eyes right before he can still his features into a facade of rested wellness. The look on her face tells him he’s not getting away without worrying her, and he hates that. She doesn’t say a word as he makes his way to the coffee pot, she just watches him, only speaking up when he shivers at the mug’s warmth in his hands. The weather’s typical for an early autumn morning, but nowhere near chilly. Though the temperature should drop today with rain in the forecast, Sarah knows her dad and he’s never cold.

“You know, I could just head next door. I guarantee she’d be happy to drive me,” she says smiling into her textbook, trying to be nonchalant with her concern. She was referring to you, their neighbor of a few months now, who’d given Sarah rides, helped her with homework, or checked in on her when Joel needed. You’d been around since the day you moved in, and neither of them could complain — certainly not Joel. Maybe she was hoping to fluster him a bit as well, suspecting his feelings for you were a bit more than the friendship he insists they are.

He chokes on his coffee and coughs a little, shaking his head as she closes her book and begins leafing through her notes. Joel’s been worried enough lately that he’s taking advantage of your kindness too much — afraid he’s inconveniencing you and you’re too nice to say no, despite your insistence to help on more than one occasion. Besides, he already feels crappy, the last thing he wants today is for you to see him like this, hardly able to keep himself together. Or worse, to get you sick as well. Absolutely not. He opens his mouth to respond, but she speaks first. “It’s not like she hasn’t before. Maybe just one day? You need…,” she trails off, losing the battle with her expression as her eyebrows knit together and she notes the pallor and exhaustion on his own.

He takes a swig of his coffee hoping it will soothe the growing soreness in his throat before responding, “That’s alright kiddo, I-,” but the words catch in his throat before he can finish, and he cuts himself off coughing harshly into his elbow. Sarah grabs a glass and fills it with water while he coughs, longer than he has all morning, and hands it to him when he catches his breath. The look on her face is challenging now — she knows she won’t win this game, but she’ll still put up a fight. Predictably, Joel continues his previous thought as though unfazed by the fit, though his voice tells another story. “It’s just a cold, I’ll be fine. You don’t need to be worryin’ about me, babygirl,” he says hoarsely, waving her off with a sniffle. “You got a science test today, worry about that. You feelin’ ready?,” he asks, subverting talk of both his illness and mentions of you.

Sarah relents with a sigh, “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she says, gesturing to the textbook and notes on the table. He’s more confident than she is, and he smiles brightly at her.

“You’ve got it down, not a doubt in my mind. Now finish getting your stuff together before we’re late. I’ll get the car runnin’,” he says, moving his coffee to a travel thermos before grabbing her lunch from the refrigerator and getting it packed up. She looks back at him hesitantly before leaving the room to gather the last of her school stuff.

Joel’s got his coffee in hand and Sarah’s lunch in the seat next to him as he waits in the truck. It’s nice enough outside, but he’s still chilly, and wonders if he should run back in and grab a jacket. He forgoes this idea when he realizes Sarah’d put up more of a fight if he did, knowing he’s warm-blooded as all hell, and vocally hot until at least November. Not to mention Tommy’d see right through him the second he shows up to work. No, it’s just early in the morning. The day will warm as the sun climbs to its apex for sure. He’ll be alright.

While he’s thinking too hard through the fog in his head, Sarah climbs into the car with her backpack on, pulling it off to throw into the seat next to her. But not before she’s placed two additions in the seat between them - a box of tissues and a water bottle. She doesn’t say anything to him, just gives him a knowing look before loading her lunch into her backpack. Joel stills a moment — he’s not surprised by her care, but softens at the gesture. As Sarah shuts the passenger door, Joel wonders how the hell she turned out so sweet, and kisses the top of her head in silent thanks before pushing the truck into drive.

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By the time Joel gets to work, his headache has bloomed into pain behind his eyes, leaving him squinting hard in the bright morning sun. He’s also used quite a few tissues since he dropped Sarah off at school. He’s definitely grateful she thought to grab them, but unfortunately, his congestion won’t budge. He’s not naive enough to think he can hide from Tommy, but hopeful that his brother might at least leave him be today. He can muscle through if he’s just working and not being nagged by his brother for hours. He’s sure of it.

—--------------------

Tommy’s not an idiot, but he lets him slide for the first few hours. It’s clear he knows something’s wrong. Joel’s a quiet enough guy, but never this silent, only speaking up when the work demands. He noticed when Joel got out of the truck this morning looking particularly drained - both in face and demeanor - and had checked in as casually as possible, hoping to avoid his brother’s evident and exceptional irritability. Joel, of course, had promptly brushed him off and clammed up for the remainder of the morning. Speaking only when spoken to hadn’t stopped Joel from making noise, though, much to his brother’s dismay. Tommy had seen him all morning, breaking into intermittent fits of coughing he’d attempt to mask beneath the racket of power tools. Tommy’s just about as good at hiding his concern, and Joel catches him looking in his direction in the thick of it on more than one occasion. After which Joel would rip his eyes from his brother’s fretful gaze, hoping to deter him from moving forward to give him a once-over.

Despite his many efforts otherwise, Tommy knows Joel’s sick - too sick to be working like he is today. It’s when the guys break for lunch around noon and Joel just quietly nurses a bottle of water (which he only has because Sarah made sure of it, no less), that Tommy decides he’s got all the evidence he needs. Tommy sidles up next to his brother who’s leaning against his truck bed, and by the looks of it, allowing it to hold most of his weight, too weary to do so himself. Tommy sighs next to him, and Joel braces for what’s coming.

“You know, we’ve pretty much got it covered over here today, not a lot left to do before we pour anyhow. Probably a good thing, bottom looks like it’s gonna fall out before long,” he says, gesturing to the darkening sky above them. “We can manage for the day if you wanna head on home, maybe take a nap? Hate to tell ya, but you look like hell.” Tommy nudges his brother’s shoulder with his own playfully, attempting to lighten the mood. Joel rolls his eyes at Tommy, sniffing and clearing his throat to talk.

“Nah. ‘S just a cold. I’ll be alright,” Joel says, hoping to end the discussion with his curt response, but failing when his throat catches on the last word. Tommy’s face is etched in worry at the sound of the cough tearing up his brother’s throat.

While Joel attempts to catch his breath, Tommy takes in the reddened flush on Joel’s otherwise pale face, and the distant glassiness in his eyes. Taking advantage of his distracted state, Tommy places the back of his hand against Joel’s forehead. He’s barely there long enough to get a read on his temp before Joel swats his hand away, but it’s enough. No wonder he’s caught Joel shivering more than once today.

“Dammit Joel, you know better. We’ve sent guys home for less and you know it,” says Tommy, face twisting in frustration and concern.

“Tommy it’s fine I-“ Joel attempts to reply, but Tommy cuts him off.

“Did you even bother to check it before ya left? You know this is a fuckin’ hazard on the job. Damn accident waitin’ to happen,” his tone is grave, but his expression is worried and achingly sincere. Joel pushes the thought from his mind and shapes up - not his little brother’s job, he can take care of himself.

“No. I’m fine to keep workin. That’s it. We got stuff to do,” Joel says with finality, turning on his heel and promptly returning to his tasks. Tommy’s not happy about it, but he could spend all day arguing with his bullheaded brother, tiring him out more without making any headway. No, he’ll just keep a closer eye on him while they work. That’ll have to do.

—--------------------

It’s when the rain starts coming down a little after two that Tommy hits his limit. Once he notices a couple drops beginning to fall, he looks to Joel, just in time to see his brother shivering when the drops make contact with his overheated skin. That’s enough of that. Tommy stalks over to his brother, whose reaction time is significantly slowed, and Joel turns to look at him a bit dazed.

“Alright, that’s it. Rain’s coming down, you’re shaking like a fuckin’ leaf. Go home.” It’s Tommy’s turn to remain steadfast in his convictions. Joel looks over at him with tired eyes and Tommy can’t help but soften.

Only when a few chilled drops hit Joel’s face and neck making him colder than he’s felt all day that he concedes. “Yeah, alright.” It’s clear he doesn’t have the energy to put up a fight, especially when Tommy pats his shoulder comfortingly and he slumps a bit. Joel’s shivering again as Tommy ushers him back toward his truck.

“We’re heading out soon as we get cleaned up anyway. How ‘bout I pick up Sarah? Just go home and get some sleep?” Tommy asks, hopeful now that his brother’s folding.

“Okay,” he breathes out, running a hand down his face before trying in vain to rub out the pain behind his eyes. Joel stops just outside the driver’s side door and looks to Tommy to thank him.

“‘Course. Now head home. I’ll see you in a little bit,” Tommy responds, to which Joel nods, then climbs into the truck. Tommy takes another look back to find his brother sitting in the driver’s seat gathering himself, mildly satisfied with this result

_____________________________________________________________

For once you actually make your way to the parking lot right after school on a Friday. You're notorious for staying too late, grading, planning, or straight up yapping, but today you’d made a rookie mistake. You’d showed up to work on Day 2 of your period without checking your advil stash. Fuck.

After a day of cramping, crabbiness, and guilty apologies after being kind of a bitch to your students a couple of times, you head to your car as soon as the bell rings. You’ll stop in the Walgreens around the corner from your neighborhood for a quick supply run, then head home to be comfortably horizontal for the remainder of this fine Friday afternoon.

—--------------------

Truth be told, Joel is relieved to be done for the day by the time Tommy makes him leave. The last of his resolve had crumbled and fallen with the first raindrops and the chill they set in his bones. He turns the heat on in his truck and settles in, letting the air warm him up and willing the pounding in his head to subside just long enough to focus on the road. A few minutes and a bout of coughing later, he finally works up the strength to drive home, only to realize he’s still horrifically unmedicated. Shit. Guess he’s stopping at the drugstore on his way home if he wants even a little relief.

—--------------------

Joel’s standing in the cold and flu aisle of his neighborhood Walgreens, sniffling miserably and squinting heavy-lidded at different cold medicine boxes in each of his hands. He remembers one particular medicine helping at least a bit more than others last time he was sick, but for the life of him he can’t remember which one it was. Dammit, he really just wants to get out of here. He’d much rather keep this cold to himself than be hacking in public, but he needs something if he’s ever gonna stop coughing long enough to get the sleep he desperately needs.

The tiny white letters on the back of these orange and green boxes are starting to run together, and the pain behind his eyes digs its heels into his frontal lobe. He squeezes his eyes shut and curses a little louder than he realizes, triggering a coughing fit in the middle of the store. Great. Now everyone in the store knows he’s carrying a respiratory plague. He’s sniffling and feeling like a walking germ when he hears his name called.

“Joel?” you call from the end of the aisle, having heard his voice from a few lanes over. Joel turns his head to see - oh no. Jesus. Boy did he wish you weren’t the one seeing him look so gross right now. As you come closer to find him squinting under the clinical brightness of the drugstore, you get a good look at him. He looks… rough. His hair’s a bit damp, and more disheveled than usual - not the fresh, styled damp you see when he leaves the house after a shower, but a clammier mix of sweat and rain. His posture is far from the typical confidence and swagger he typically wields with each step, and is more evidently haggard. You notice his eyes first though, with dark circles and brows creased in confused exhaustion. They’re half-closed too, like he’s fighting to keep them open.

He tries to open them wider and stand up straighter as you approach, clearing his throat to speak, but he’s coughing again before he can get a word out. He’s shaking with the force of it and you notice his shirt is damp in places as well - must have gotten caught in the rain. Just minutes ago, he’d have been uncomfortable under your scrutiny, but he’s too wrapped up in catching his breath to be embarrassed at this point. You draw nearer with pure concern in your eyes as his coughing subsides, and his resolve melts a bit more.

“Whoa, hey, you okay over there? That sounded painful,” you say, finally meeting his eyes. He notices the fretful tone in your voice — it’s gentler than his brother’s but carries the same intention.

“Yeah, can’t say it feels great,” Joel says hoarsely before attempting to clear his throat once again, hoping his lungs will cooperate this time. “Can’t seem to remember which of these damn pills will give me a hand though.”

“Didn’t I just see you on Wednesday? When did you start feeling bad?” you ask, leaning against his side to take a closer look at one of the boxes from his hands. Maybe with some details you can help figure something out to get him feeling better, or at least let him rest.

“Last night, I guess. Came on pretty quick. Was workin’ okay this morning, but once the rain started, Tommy sent me packin’.”

“You went to work like this, Joel?! Isn’t that like, dangerous? You could really hurt yourself,” you chastise, rubbing his upper arm comfortingly while staring up at him looking utterly devastated. Christ he may melt into a puddle right here. He’s seen this look before, and though he doesn’t want you close enough to catch this, he doesn’t have the heart to shove you away like he did Tommy. He bothers to look at least a little guilty, and you sigh before continuing: “Bad idea. And you know it. Now, let’s figure this out. You’ve got the cough down for sure - what are your other symptoms?”

Before Joel can respond, he looks down into the small basket hanging over your arm and notices its contents: a box of pads, tampons, a bag of peanut M&Ms, a resealable bag of bite-sized chocolates, sour gummy worms, two different pain medications, and a box of peppermint tea. Pain relief, pads, and candy salad. Caught. This is not a conversation you want to have with Joel — men get weird about periods for some childish reason, and you’re really not in the mood. You glance down and move the basket behind you a bit, ready to brush him off and keep the conversation on him, but when you meet his eyes they’re wider and his brows are furrowed above you, drinking you in.

“You sure you’re feeling alright?,” he asks, gesturing to the contents of your little black basket. His tone mirrors the worry you’ve been bleeding since you turned onto the aisle. You’re taken aback by the question at all, given the obvious nature of today’s dilemma — one most men you know wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. His voice doesn’t waver, and his expression doesn’t falter, or express an ounce of discomfort. It’s interesting, but you’d rather not dwell on it, and laugh him off anyway.

“Oh, yeah. Nothing I haven’t dealt with before of course,” you smile and wave your hand in the air to brush off his concern, but his eyebrows inch closer to one another, and his head tilts slightly to the side. You’re the one growing warm under his perusal now, so you turn the subject back to him. “Anyway, talk to me. What’s the matter?”

Joel stares a moment longer, but begins to rattle off a list of fairly standard cold symptoms. You’re glad it isn’t anything too serious, he’ll probably just feel crappy for a couple of days while his immune system does the heavy lifting. Now to figure out what can be done to make him more comfortable in the meantime. One thing you know for certain after hearing the growing congestion in his voice and the rasp in his throat — he’s gonna need the stronger stuff. You take the boxes from his hands and return them to the shelf. He looks at you perplexed, struggling to sniffle against the congestion that — according to the pained squinting he’s still doing beneath the fluorescent lights — is giving him a hell of a sinus headache, and keeping him from breathing through his nose. Fine as he may be in a few days, at the moment he looks devastatingly uncomfortable.

“Yeah, this crap on the shelf isn’t gonna work. Let’s get ya some of the stronger stuff,” you say, patting his shoulder before tugging him along to the pharmacy. He doesn’t ask any questions, just quietly follows your lead. Along the way, you explain the useless nature of the phenylephrine in the easy stuff, and how the good stuff requires you to show your ID. You tell him why the drugs with the pseudoephedrine are more helpful, and he nods and snuffles in understanding. Sounds good to him, he’ll let you take the lead on that one. As smart as he knows you are, he more than trusts your judgment.

You approach the counter and begin perusing the options, talking with the pharmacist about what you need, when Joel starts coughing again. You can’t help but rub his back and whisper soft words in comfort when his face twists in pain from the fit wreaking havoc in his chest. As your hand moves in soothing circles across his back, you can feel the heat of his skin through his t-shirt. Shit, he didn’t say anything about a fever. You need to get him home as soon as possible.

When he’s composed a bit, you wrap up with the pharmacist, and she asks for your ID. You pull yours from your bag and hand it to her, but pause. Should you show her your own? Does she need to see Joel’s too?

“Oh, for sure. Uhm, do you need to see his too, since he’s the patient?” you ask, wanting to get done with this as quickly and smoothly as possible so you can get him out of here. She’s looking at the card in her hand intently and entering your information into the computer, busy with the transaction.

“No ma’am. We don’t need your husband’s ID since you’re the one purchasing,” she responds, not lifting her eyes from the computer. You blush at this, but she doesn’t seem to notice until Joel’s eyes go wide and he chokes, forcing him into another bout of harsh coughing. Jesus, his throat must be torn up. You reach for him with one hand and place your own basket and a few other sick day supplies on the counter with the other before she finalizes the transaction.

“Thanks for all your help!,” you say a bit frantically as you begin to usher him toward the exit. You walk out of the store in silence, neither one of you looking at the other, each of you trying to keep a nervous smirk at bay. Only when the automatic doors shut behind you do you turn to look at each other and laugh heartily, extremely entertained by the pharmacist’s assumption. The laughter only ceases when it sends Joel coughing again — you need a read on that fever he’s sporting. Once he’s mostly caught his breath, you move closer and place a gentle hand on his forehead, then move it down toward his cheek. Joel closes his eyes and without realizing, leans forward into your soft touch. When your hand leaves his face, his eyes open to find that look again, and he muses that you may make him sweat before the fever gets the chance.

“You didn’t mention this earlier. Did you know you’re running a fever, Joel?” you ask him, and he looks guilty toward the asphalt.

“Tommy mighta mentioned somethin’ about it earlier, but I’ll be alright,” he responds, but fails to suppress a shiver when the breeze kicks up. Your heart breaks a little seeing him shaking — how did you miss that earlier? You sigh deeply before telling him you’re hesitant to let him drive home. He insists it’ll be fine, and you understand it’d be more of a hassle to come get his truck later on. You concede since it’s such a short trip back, but you’ll follow him back to your adjacent homes.

—--------------------

After parking your car in the driveway next to his own, you meet Joel at his truck. You bat his hand away when he attempts to grab the bags from yours, and tell him to go unlock the door. Ever the gentleman, he’s a little perturbed, but follows your instructions anyway. Once you’re both inside the house, you set the items on the table and sit him down next to it before heading for the cabinet and filling a glass with water. After passing him the glass and watching as he slowly sips, you unload the bags, and begin reading the back of the box from the pharmacy.

“Have you eaten anything today? It’s probably not a great idea to take this on an empty stomach,” you say. He goes a little green at the thought of eating anything before swallowing and huffing a response.

“No, haven’t really felt like it. Don’t think it’d sit well right now, to be honest. I’ll be alright with just the medicine, I bet.” You sigh in response, a little anxious it’ll make him feel worse, but either option could do that at this point. At least the thought of the medicine isn’t nauseating for him at the moment. You’ll let it slide, for now.

“Fine. But you’ll definitely need to eat something substantial later,” you tell him, giving him a once-over, taking advantage of the single instance he’s below you to get a good look at him. You’re already thinking through take-out options that might help tonight. Another day, you’d make some soup for him — get him full and warm him up. Hell, tomorrow you might. But today you’re exhausted, with the period fatigue and the cramps that won’t let up, you’re definitely ready to get into some more comfy Friday Afternoon Clothes.

“Alright, you get changed and get comfy on the couch. I’m just gonna run home and get outta these work clothes, then I’ll be right back.”

“You’ve done plenty already today, darlin’, really. Helped me out more than you know. And I’d hate for you to catch this too,” he explains, looking guiltier than you’d like. You’re plenty aware of the risk here but at the moment you couldn’t care less. You don’t really feel like sitting by yourself in your house right now anyway. No reason both of you should feel crappy alone.

“Uh, Joel, did you forget that we’re ‘married’ now? I’ll be back in just a minute to check on you,” you insist, smiling at him. He looks at you admonishingly and smiles back, shaking his head. You have no idea how happy that makes him — his stomach flutters at the joke, and it isn’t from his illness. You hesitate on the way out the door, and turn to check with him once again. “If having me hovering is gonna keep you up though, I can totally leave you be. I don’t want to keep you from getting the rest you need.” Your voice and expression are apprehensive, afraid to be a bother.

He probably doesn’t still his face well enough, and he’s certain you can see desperation in his eyes when he shakes his head. He can’t tell you quite yet, but he’s over the moon you want to stick around. All semblance of nobility is dropped - having you near him could never be unwelcome. “You don’t hover, sweetheart. Nothing about you is bothersome. I’d love the company, actually,” he tells you in earnest.

Your expression settles at the reassurance, and you smile back at him. “Good. I’ll just be a few minutes,” you begin, but your smile turns to a grimace with the last few words as you feel a sharp twisting in your stomach and lower back. Your hand instinctively grips your stomach, hoping to ease the pain. There’s definitely no escaping that one. Joel’s eyes widen, but you cut him off before he can ask if you’re okay. “Yep, I'm gonna get out of these pants and into something loose before my uterus tries to kill me,” you joke, reaching for the knob.

Joel chuckles in response but he’s frowning a bit. The look from the drugstore is back, and you don’t know what to do with his sympathy. You can’t look long before heading out.

He hates seeing the pain you’re in, but what upsets him most is the way you brush it off. Like your pain is smaller, or insignificant by comparison — one he wouldn’t draw anyway. It sticks with him more than it probably should, but he can’t seem to shake it. He needs to act, somehow. Once he’s changed, he grabs a few blankets from the closet and the heating pad they keep around for his back and for Sarah’s own cycles. He knows how much it can help her, so he figures it couldn’t hurt to offer, at least.

He sets up a spot on the couch for you both — a little nest for staring at the tv and, (he hopes), cozying up just a bit for extra comfort. He’s still not hungry, but he microwaves a bag of popcorn and grabs some other assorted salty snacks to join the candy you’d picked up. He’s seen how snacky you can get after school sometimes, and wants to make sure you have an array of options, prepped for any craving.

You return as he’s placing the last of these items down on the coffee table — he’s rather proud of his little presentation — and sees your hair up and a comfy set of sweats that are just a little too long in the arms and legs. Lord help him, you look fucking adorable. He can’t stop the grin that spreads across his face when you walk toward him.

“Well don’t you look cozy,” he says with eyes shining at your improved expression. You give him an exaggerated little twirl to show off the baggy outfit you’ve adorned yourself in for this evening’s activities.

“Damn right! I’m ready for anything now,” you say, stuffing your hands in the pocket of your hoodie. He’s laughing in response before it catches in his throat again and he starts coughing.

“That makes one of us,” he jokes once he’s caught his breath.

“Yep, I want you on the couch. Right now. Go ahead and get comfy and I’ll get the medicine. We gotta get you drugged up enough if you’re gonna get any sleep.” You’re ushering him to the couch when you stop in your tracks. When you catch sight of the coffee table snacks and the heating pad set up on one side of the couch, already plugged in and waiting, you nearly tear up. You’re speechless for a moment — no one’s ever done anything like this for you before. This little thoughtful gesture means the world, and you’re not sure what to say.

“Joel! You didn’t need to do all this. You’re sick, I’m supposed to be taking care of you,” you insist, nudging his arm with your own, leaning lightly into his side.

“Wasn’t hardly anything, darlin’, just some stuff I know helps Sarah when she gets to feelin’ like you do. She likes her snacks salty, and always feels better with this little fire hazard next to ‘er,” he says, gesturing to the heating pad on the couch. His grin turns mischievous before he starts again: “Besides, you said it yourself, we’re ‘married’ now, huh? I oughta know what my wife needs just as well,” he finishes, voice too satisfied, and eyebrows raised in jest.

You’re giggling when you grab his hand and squeeze it, thanking him. “This goofy little bit we’re doin’ ends the second Sarah and your brother walk through the door, by the way. Not looking to scare her, that’s the last thing I wanna do,” you instruct.

“‘Course, but fuckin’ with Tommy sure woulda been fun,” he says to you, and you laugh in agreement. Once you see he’s settled, you make tea for the both of you, hoping it’ll work magic with the medicine to get him resting comfortably and — with any luck — napping before long. He’ll probably protest, but with a little coaxing, you’ll get it into him.

When you return with the tea, he takes it from you with both hands, before using one to pull you down on the couch next to him. He’s pulled you a little closer than you may have sat yourself, and he’s pleased when you don’t pull away or readjust. You just grab the heating pad, crank it up, and stick it behind your lower back while leaning forward to grab the medicine. You check his temperature again with the back of your hand while he’s preoccupied taking the medicine you’d doled out to him. He’s a little warmer than he was outside the drug store.

“Maybe we should get a number on that. Where do you keep your thermometer?” you ask, worry written on your face all over again. You attempt to rise from the couch to go hunting, but he grips your hand again, keeping you in place.

“Nope, nope, it’s fine sweetheart, I promise. You need to get some rest too. Sit,” he directs, his tone leaving no room for discussion. You roll your eyes, but wriggle back against the couch again before pulling a blanket into your lap. Joel fiddles with the cord of the heating pad and readjusts it behind your back, making sure it isn’t folded or sitting uncomfortably against you. You sigh in relief and fall a bit toward him as you settle in, and he inches you way as well. You arbitrarily turn on a movie you’ve both seen, fully aware neither of you will be making it to the end, and snuggle closer. The fevered heat humming beneath his skin is pleasantly warm against you as he settles deeper, and he’s slipping in and out of conversation within minutes.

_____________________________________________________________

Sarah walks through the door with Tommy in tow while end credits roll across the tv. They head into the den to check on Joel, but conversation falls silent and they stop in their tracks at the sight they discover. You’re sleeping peacefully, legs tucked up under you and head lolled against the back of the couch. Joel’s head has somehow found its way into your lap, and he’s resting warmly on your stomach, no doubt alleviating some of the pain with his warmth and weight. Your hand rests on his shoulder, holding him securely.

Tommy’s face goes slack, but Sarah’s smiling ear to ear, and turns to her uncle, trying to quiet her laughter. He looks at her wide-eyed, but says nothing, and she holds her hand out between them, fingers curling toward her palm.

“Pay up,” she says, way too satisfied for Tommy’s liking, and far too much like her father. He rolls his eyes, and digs his wallet out of his pocket. He really thought his brother would be too chicken to do anything about this — at least for a little while longer.

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moonlitrogue · 6 months ago

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[CLOSED*] FREE READINGS

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666writingcafe · 7 months ago

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Envy

A Series of Text Conversations

Author's Note: So rather than having Beel be the only one who experiences a diminished amount of his sin, I thought it would be interesting if Levi and Belphie did as well, but instead of their Little D's being responsible, it's directly tied to MC's power going haywire as a result of not only being out of their timeline for so long, but also not wearing the Ring of Light to help manage the intensity of and destruction caused by said power.

And what would set MC's envy off? The perception that Solomon's drifting further and further away from them.

Text Conversation One: Asmo and Solomon

Asmo: you wouldn't happen to know anything about divination, would you?

Solomon: I'm no expert, but I have a pretty decent grasp on it. Why?

Asmo: is it usual for multiple people to receive the same fortune?

Solomon: Depends. Were you at a carnival where someone was trying to make money off people's gullibility?

Asmo: no! we were at RAD.

Solomon: Why?

Asmo: has no one told you about the mock classes we've been taking?

Solomon: I'm not sure. I've kind of had my hands full.

Asmo: ah. right. sorry.

Asmo: anyway, all us brothers were in attendance, and we all saw the same symbol, and the professor grew pale as he told us what it meant.

Asmo: apparently we're supposed to "prepare for water".

Solomon: Fuck.

Asmo: what's so bad about that? i mean, it could have simply been a weather forecast.

Solomon: Divination doesn't work like that, Asmo. It's a way of receiving omens.

Solomon: Don't expect a mere drizzle or even a standard thunderstorm. Think more flood. Tsunami. Hurricane, even.

Asmo: but the only one of us that has any control of water is levi, and he's been pretty chill recently.

Solomon: *face-palming crow sticker*

Solomon: gotta go

Asmo: solomon?

Asmo: Solomon????

Asmo: hello??????

~~~

Text Conversation Two: Asmo and Barbatos

Asmo: have you heard anything from solomon lately?

Barbatos: *no sticker*

Asmo: what about zephyr?

Barbatos: *no sticker*

Barbatos: *eek sticker*

Asmo: that doesn't do anything to alleviate my anxiety.

Barbatos: I know.

Barbatos: But usually I hear from at least one of them daily, but it's been radio silence for the last week.

Barbatos: Speaking of which, how's Leviathan doing?

Asmo: he's fine...i mean, he's been more willing to share his stuff than usual.

Barbatos: What type of stuff?

Asmo: video games...manga...that sort of thing.

Barbatos: Standard editions?

Asmo: what?

Barbatos: Is he lending out things that can be easily replaced, or is it rare items?

Asmo: i mean...he let me borrow this earlier this morning. just shrugged nonchalantly about it before handing it to me, so i assume it isn't super valuable.

Asmo: *sends a picture of a shiny manga book cover*

Barbatos: Open it to page 42 and take a picture of the panel on the upper right corner.

Asmo: okay...

Asmo: *sends picture of panel*

Barbatos: That's what I thought. The situation is more serious than I thought.

Asmo: what are you talking about????

Barbatos: What you currently have in your possession is one of a very small number of copies that contains a drawing of a silver leaf in that panel. It was put there by the author as an Easter egg to link this manga to the universe of his long-running series Silver Leaf. If I recall correctly, only 25 of these exist, and they were given away to fans who were able to decipher a series of coded messages he spread all across the internet, each one more complex than the last.

Asmo: so????

Barbatos: SO the fact that he was willing to let it out of his sight, let alone in the WAY you said he did, suggests that his sin has an EXTREMELY loose grip on him at the moment, because under normal circumstances he'd keep that book under lock and key.

Asmo: and you know this because....?

Barbatos: Do you not understand how envy works, Asmodeus?

Barbatos: It's not just about being jealous of what someone has. It's doing everything in your power to not only obtain what you want, but to keep those things as far away from others as possible because you feel like you're the only one capable of taking care of them properly.

Asmo: what does this have to do with solomon and zephyr?

Barbatos: *face-palming sticker*

Barbatos: You should be grateful that you have your looks.

Asmo: HEY!

Asmo: i KNOW that was a back-handed compliment!

Barbatos: Oh good. I was afraid it would fly over your head.

Asmo: HEY!!!!!!

Barbatos: I suppose I'll be nice and spell it out for you: the reason why we haven't heard anything from them is because Zephyr's seeing to it that we don't.

Asmo: oh.

Asmo: OH!!!!

Asmo: it has to do with the puberty thing, doesn't it?

Asmo: how our transition is affecting them as well?

Barbatos: Glad your brain decided to show up.

Asmo: BARBATOS!

Barbatos: I apologize. I tend to get snippy whenever I'm stressed. I shouldn't have taken it out on you.

Asmo: THANK YOU!

Barbatos: You remember the fortune you received in divination?

Asmo: yeah...it was the last thing solomon and i talked about.

Barbatos: Well, brace yourselves. This will be unlike any storm you've ever witnessed in the Devildom.

~~~

Text Conversation Three: Solomon and Lucifer

Solomon: listen i know were not on the best of terms but we did kind of agree to call it a truce while the situation with mc was happening because we both care about them and want to help them in any way we can so im asking for your help please

Lucifer: What do you need me to do?

Solomon: pick me up

Lucifer: From where?

Solomon: i managed to sneak out of the cottage while mc was sleeping and am currently making my way over to the nearest shop i can find i know its late and youre totally within your right to tell me to fuck off and deal with it myself but i am literally terrified and figured that you wouldnt ask too many questions

Lucifer: Is it the crystal shop off Kearlam Alley?

Solomon: yes please lucifer you have to hurry once they realize that im not there

Solomon: oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck

Lucifer: I heard it, too. Are you at least under some sort of cover?

Solomon: im still in the forest but the trees arent doing shit against this downpour im already completely drenched

Lucifer: I remember there being some sort of wooden pavilion near you guys.

Solomon: yeah i literally just passed it not sure how much help its going to be this is already gearing up to be some genesis type shit dont ask me how i know that its too much to explain over text

Lucifer: You won't be under there for too long. Just let me get some proper clothes on and I'll come straight to you. In the meantime, grab onto something once you're under the pavilion roof

Solomon: thank you so much mc has been keeping me trapped in the cottage for the last few days because they think that im not spending enough time with them and that other people are stealing me away from them on the one hand i know theyre not acting normally and that their envy is being magically exacerbated but on the other hand im incredibly scared and its triggering some of my childhood memories and i dont like it but if i start crying about it i get yelled at which only makes me feel worse its a vicious cycle

Lucifer: Breathe. I'm on my way.

~~~

Family Group Chat

Lucifer: Whoever reads this first, make sure everyone's awake. We'll be camping up in the attic for a few days.

Lucifer: Levi and Satan, use whatever magic is necessary to protect the house from total destruction from a very powerful flood akin to the one Father created to destroy humanity. Asmo and Belphie, bring a spare set of clothes and some blankets with you to the attic for Solomon. Mammon and Beel, grab as many nonperishable food items as you possibly can from the kitchen. Use Beel's gym bags to transport them upstairs.

~~~

Fantastic Three Group Chat

Lucifer: If you haven't already, get everyone to the highest point of the castle and start charming it against the storm.

Diavolo: I'll do you one better: we're building an ark as we speak.

Lucifer: Whose idea was that?

Diavolo: Simeon's.

Lucifer: Of course. He was there for Operation Genesis. It was his idea to save the animals.

Diavolo: What's causing it to happen this time?

Lucifer: MC's rage.

Taglist: @lost-in-time-wanderer, @fuzztacular, @dianedancer18, @sweetbrier2908, @flare-love, @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf, @thunderlightning351, @l3v1chan, @anxious-chick, @5mary5, @expressionless-fr, @tenkobitch, @budbuddnbuddy

#obey me shall we date #obey me nightbringer #obey me asmo #obey me asmodeus #obey me solomon #obey me barbatos #obey me lucifer #obey me mc

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exploderizing · 2 months ago

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so i’m trying to make a falsettos timeline and i’ve been looking at weather forecasts from 1979 - 1981 trying to match it to the outfits they’re wearing to figure out the months and stuff like that so um yeah how do I stop

#falsettos #falsettos 2016 #my friends are worried about me because of this #i’ve actually read so many wikipedia pages because of this though #falsettos musical

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rtc-graphic-novel · 11 months ago

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welcome to the graphic novelization of ride the cyclone

have you ever wondered what ride the cyclone would look like as a graphic novel? well, so have i. after about a year, i’ve finally decided to at least try to pursue this project. however, i don’t want this graphic novel to be something that only i want to see. therefore, I’m going to set up various polls from time to time to see what you would like to see. this will be a collaboration between me and anyone who answers the polls.

the current timeline for this project consists of a few stages, which will be listed below:

picking the “cast”. for each character, i will be making a poll of as many different actors/actresses that have portrayed the character. whoever wins the poll will be the inspiration for both the characters design and personality.

character sheets. i will be posting character sheets with basic information on each character after the poll is finished, so feel free to send in your hcs/characterizations of the characters

designing the main “set”. much like the characters, i will be making a poll of as many different sets of rtc that i can think of. whichever set wins will be the primary inspiration for the actual setting

writing the script of the graphic novel. while i will likely be sticking very close to the script of the show, i will be making polls on adding scenes, different choreographies, and much much more

creating a model of the main “set”. this will be worked on in tandem with four, however, will likely not be posted/as featured. i will however be posting progress shots along the way.

making the comic. this likely will be the slowest part of the project, but will ideally have the most content posted/created. i also will (hopefully) be making fanart during this project so that way there is still content to be consumed. the posting of pages/chapters will be voted upon in a poll when we are closer to this part of the project

about the author-

hello, i’m aster! (main- @forecast-disaster)

please keep in mind that this is going to be a very long term project and be patient with me. i firstly have a lot of work cut out for me, secondly have little experience in making comics, and thirdly have a life outside of my project, which means that i may not be as speedy quick as a pro webcomic artist

#intro post #ride the cyclone #rtc #rtc musical #rtc comic

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asestimationsconsultants · 3 days ago

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Can a Construction Cost Estimator Sydney Help Avoid Project Delays?

Construction delays can severely impact project budgets, timelines, and stakeholder satisfaction. Many Sydney-based builders and clients ask whether hiring a construction cost estimator can help prevent such delays. The answer is yes—cost estimators play a proactive role in minimizing delays through detailed financial planning and risk management.

Understanding the Role of a Construction Cost Estimator

A construction cost estimator provides detailed forecasts of all project costs, including materials, labor, equipment, permits, and contingencies. These comprehensive estimates help project owners and managers allocate resources efficiently, avoiding cash flow shortages that can halt construction progress.

Estimators also analyze market conditions, such as current material availability and labor supply, which are critical factors in Sydney’s competitive construction environment. Incorporating these variables helps create realistic schedules and budgets.

How Accurate Estimates Reduce Delays

One of the primary causes of construction delays is insufficient budgeting. When budgets fall short, work must pause until additional funds are secured, causing costly downtime. A thorough estimate anticipates these risks by including contingency allowances for unforeseen expenses.

Additionally, accurate cost forecasting allows contractors to plan procurement and workforce deployment effectively, reducing the chances of material shortages or labor bottlenecks that could stall the project.

Estimators and Tendering Process

During the tender phase, estimators provide detailed cost breakdowns that help contractors prepare competitive and realistic bids. This transparency minimizes the risk of underbidding, which is a common cause of project delays when contractors struggle financially mid-project.

By helping select financially viable contractors, estimators contribute to smoother project execution and timely completion.

Ongoing Cost Monitoring to Prevent Delays

Many construction cost estimators continue to support projects during execution by tracking actual costs against budgets. This ongoing monitoring allows early detection of overruns or scope changes that might impact schedules.

Prompt reporting of cost variances enables project managers to take corrective action before issues become delays, ensuring projects stay on track.

FAQs

How does a construction cost estimator help prevent delays caused by funding shortages? By preparing detailed budgets with contingency funds, estimators ensure sufficient resources are available to keep work progressing smoothly.

Can estimators predict supply chain or labor shortages in Sydney? Yes, experienced estimators incorporate local market intelligence to forecast potential availability issues and adjust plans accordingly.

Does accurate cost estimating improve contractor reliability? Absolutely. Realistic budgets allow contractors to bid fairly and manage resources efficiently, reducing financial stress that leads to delays.

Is ongoing budget tracking by estimators beneficial? Yes, it enables early identification of cost overruns, allowing timely interventions to avoid delays.

Conclusion

In Sydney’s fast-paced construction industry, delays can significantly disrupt project outcomes. Engaging a construction cost estimator helps prevent these delays by delivering accurate, realistic budgets and identifying risks early.

From thorough initial forecasting to ongoing cost monitoring, estimators provide financial clarity and control. Their involvement promotes better planning, smoother tender processes, and proactive management of unforeseen challenges.

Ultimately, a skilled construction cost estimator is a valuable partner for keeping your project on schedule and within budget, reducing the likelihood of costly setbacks.

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justinspoliticalcorner · 8 months ago

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WaPo: Trump proposals could drain Social Security in 6 years, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

Julie Zauzmer Weil at WaPo:

A new report projects that the Social Security Trust Fund might run out of money within six years under a Donald Trump presidency, while Vice President Kamala Harris’s proposed policies would not meaningfully change the current trajectory.

Social Security faces a looming funding crisis in an aging country, with trustees most recently predicting that the retirement and disability program’s trust fund will become insolvent in 2035. Many of Trump’s campaign proposals would accelerate that timeline, potentially by years, said the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group that opposes large federal deficits. In a report released Monday, the organization concluded that many of Trump’s proposed second-term agenda items all work in the same direction when it comes to the Social Security Trust Fund. The budget group did not produce a similar report on Harris’s policies because they would have a negligible effect measured only in weeks or months rather than years, said Marc Goldwein, CRFB’s senior policy director. Compared to prior presidential campaigns, Goldwein said, “I can’t think of anything that would be this order of magnitude” in its detrimental effect on Social Security’s bottom line compared to the policies Trump has proposed.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed the report in an email to The Washington Post: “The so-called experts at CRFB have been consistently wrong throughout the years.” She said Trump’s energy and trade policies would improve the economy to “put Social Security on a stronger footing for generations to come,” and alleged that Harris would damage the program by allowing millions of undocumented immigrants to stay in the country. The campaign promise made by Trump that would most directly affect Social Security collections is his promise that no Social Security recipients should have to pay federal income taxes on their benefits. Under current law, 40 percent of beneficiaries pay taxes on some portion of their Social Security. The tax they pay on their benefits goes directly back to the trust fund, and getting rid of it could cost the program almost $1 trillion over 10 years, the report forecast. Other Trump policies might have indirect effects. Trump’s pledge to deport millions of undocumented workers could cost the trust fund hundreds of millions of dollars, the CRFB said. Many undocumented immigrants have payroll taxes taken out of their paychecks for the Social Security Trust Fund, but never become eligible to claim benefits, so they are a net positive for the program.

Trump’s proposed high tariffs on all imports could affect the economy in several ways detrimental to Social Security’s financial health, CRFB said. If the tariffs drive high inflation as projected by Wall Street experts, Social Security will have to pay out more in benefits because of automatic cost-of-living adjustments based on inflation. The report also pointed to Trump’s promises not to tax tip income or income earned during overtime hours. Trump has not clarified whether he means to exempt them from federal income taxes only or also from taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. If he means the latter, that could cost Social Security $150 million to more than $1 trillion over a decade, with the likely outcome on the very high end of that range, CRFB said.

[...] Both Trump and Harris have said they aim to protect Social Security to prevent cuts if elected, but neither candidate has offered a comprehensive plan to plug the current projected gap. Stabilizing the trust fund will require either raising more money or spending less money in some way, or a combination of the two.

Donald Trump’s proposals to Social Security, despite claiming to be a champion of Social Security, could hasten the depletion of Social Security funding, per a report from Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

See Also:

MMFA: New analysis shows Trump would devastate Social Security’s finances, debunking MAGA talking point

#Social Security #Donald Trump #Kamala Harris #2024 Presidential Election #2024 Elections #Committee For A Responsible Federal Budget #Social Security Trust Fund #Social Security Privatization

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charles-leclerc-official · 1 year ago

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2024 Canada Grand Prix Race Analysis

On the surface the Canadian grand prix appeared more complex than it was. With mixed weather and teams gambling on several different strategies things came down to skill and speed in the end. With skill being what brought home Max’s 60th career victory.

While Max was celebrating Ferrari was having the team's worst race of the season.

So let’s unravel what happened at the Canadian grand Prix.

The thing to know about this race and really the entire weekend was that it was dictated by weather. Rain was in the forecast all days of running on track and this impacted every single team, some positively some negatively.

Overall this was probably the worst race for just about every team on the grid in various ways. I will explain more, but there were serious issues at the front and back of the field and in all top teams. Put simply this race was a mess.

Table of Contents Ferrari - Timeline and strategy - Charles: mechanical issues and data analysis - Carlos Red Bull - Max - Sergio - Team problem Mercedes - George - Lewis Mclaren - Lando - Oscar: data analysis Williams Haas Concluding Thoughts

Ferrari

Ferrari’s race and entire weekend can be summed up quite simply: bad luck, a few bad gambles, and mechanical issues. It felt like everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. A perfect storm of all the wrong things.

The real questions are, what exactly went wrong? And how much is the team responsible? Because the failures this weekend mostly fall on the team not our drivers.

On paper it may appear that Ferrari messed up, with bad strategy calls and just the usual “clown show”. However, taking a closer look it wasn’t quite as severe as all that. There were some calls that were not great. A lot came down to mechanical issues and some gambles that didn’t pay off. The strategy was made to look worse by the conditions. Do not get me wrong, it was the worst we’ve seen all year, but in a year of near perfect strategy that isn’t saying much. It wasn’t perfect, but it also was far from outright bad. There are a few key mistakes the team made, and also some things they are being unfairly criticized for.

Charles qualified P11 and did not finish the race, Carlos qualified P12 and did not finish the race.

To understand what happened I am going to walk through the weekend, because this all started in free practice.

Free Practice

The first thing to know is that Canada resurfaced the track, so the surface was much smoother than we were expecting. This didn't suit the Ferrari as well, and suited other cars better.

The first two free practice sessions were heavily affected by rain. This was where conditions were mixed but did allow for some dry running.

FP2 was where the rain was much heavier in the second half. Charles and Carlos each did a stint on the medium tyres and then another on the intermediate tyres.

FP3 was the driest session and this is when the team focussed the most on qualifying runs for both drivers.

While the team did get runs in during all sessions, a lot of running time was lost due to rain. And also waiting out traffic as the track was busy when conditions did permit for running.

One important thing that was learned during free practice was that the SF-24 was struggling for grip on the track. This was due to the resurfacing of the track, with very little rubber laid down, it made things very slick for the car. The rest came down to setup, but the track surface was probably the main culprit for lackluster running in dry conditions.

This is where I want to point out an issue I have noticed with the team, that has now impacted two races.

After seeing things this weekend I can say that so far this season Ferrari’s weakest point is that the team really does not seem to adapt well to losing a free practice session. They don’t seem to have a good plan to effectively edit their testing program to get the car where it needs to be. We saw a very similar issue in Japan, and it was worse here. Notice how Japan was the team’s second worst qualifying session. They really seem to need that time to get the settings on the car right. But in Canada as in Japan weather was expected to impact running. So it’s really on the team to figure out how to prioritize things better during free practice. Because we see the results not being there in qualifying when this happens, and we see both our drivers frustrated and feeling like they didn’t get enough done.

Based on the way Ferrari operated during free practice and the areas they were targeting(figuring out brake balances in certain corners, doing more inter runs) I believe they were very confident in qualifying being more impacted by rain. The slowness and odd behavior during FP3 would be explained in part if Ferrari were running a setup geared for wet conditions while things were dry. Which tells me they were really counting on it raining during qualifying. This was the first bad gamble of the weekend.

Qualifying

Charles qualified P11 and Carlos qualified P12. This was the worst qualifying result for both drivers.

As stated above, I am pretty sure Ferrari believed that rain was going to impact qualifying. I think they spent more time during free practice trying to prepare their cars for that.

However, it did not rain during qualifying. This started Ferrari off on the wrong foot. I don’t think the setup was optimized for fully dry conditions. So Ferrari gambled on it raining, and it didn’t. I don’t think this was a bad gamble. Weather is unpredictable and the chances of rain were very high. If it had rained I don’t think Ferrari would have been top 3, there were still other issues, but I think Charles and Carlos would have been in Q3.

So I attribute this to bad luck.

The second issue during qualifying, and this was the bigger one, was the judgment on the soft tyres in Q2. One set of soft new tyres would be used for Q2. This is fine, it was important to save 2 sets for Q3 where things would be most competitive. The gamble came into play when Ferrari had to chose whether to start the session on old softs from Q1 and then pit for new for the second flying lap attempt, or to start on new and do the second lap attempt on used softs. Ferrari chose to start Q2 on a new set of softs. They did this because they believed rain would impact the second half of Q2. Again, they weren’t wrong to believe this, the sky was getting darker by the minute and all metrics pointed to rain at any point. So this was again a gamble, and again, it didn’t pay off. Because it didn’t rain, and with the way things were running better laps would have been possible later in the session. But by that time they were on the used softs.

One thing the team could have done was pit for new softs late in the session when they realized this, however that would have left only one set for Q3, and it would have been a different type of gamble.

I will note that this same tyre management was used by Mclaren, so it wasn’t actually a bad call. I think this in particular highlights that the setup was also a crucial part in the failure during qualifying. It likely would have benefited Ferrari to be on new rubber at the end given they were struggling.

So qualifying was a mix of poor car setup, and a series of gambles that didn’t pay off. I don’t think any of these gambles were strictly bad, they made sense at the time. One thing to take away is that this qualifying was not grossly mismanaged, and this just shows how weather and a new track surface can really impact these little things.

I think that with new rubber at the end of the session Charles and Carlos likely would have made it to Q3. They probably wouldn’t have been top 5, but they would have at least been starting in the points.

After qualifying, without mechanical issue Charles likely would have finished in the points, possibly up to 5th. The race pace was actually there, he pointed this out himself. It was also reflected in the data we did get from longer runs during free practice. The race pace was on par with Mercedes and better than Red Bull(note this is without knowing all factors the other teams were operating under during free practice). Unfortunately he never got to capitalize on that, by the time the mechanical issue was fixed his race was all but over.

The Race

Charles

Charles' race was dictated entirely by a mechanical issue. It’s been the topic of a lot of speculation. What exactly went wrong? Should the car have been retired? Was there even a chance to climb back up the field?

I think I have some answers.

Right from the race start it was clear there was something off with Charles’ car. It was losing a lot of power on the straights and he was fighting to stay ahead. This was an obvious mechanical issue with the car. His race engineer talked him through a lot of adjustments to see if the problem could be solved through wheel settings. It didn’t, the problem got worse and with each lap Charles was losing over a second of pace. That was unsustainable.

At first it seemed to be a straightforward power unit problem. However after troubleshooting the team had their doubts. During his second pit stop on lap 28 his team did a full electronic restart of the controls in his car. That seemed to clear up the issue. However the pitstop needed to do this restart took 47 seconds, and given he’d already been losing places due to lacking power before, when he came out of the pits he was dead last and was lapped soon after. At that point his race was unrecoverable. The car’s pace was actually solid, and was not far off the top 3 cars(closest to George) but a lap down it was essentially impossible to make up places. The team tried to recover a little by gambling on the hards to try to get more speed, but the rain started immediately(the choice to try the hards was Charles’ and the choice to also go back to the inters was also Charles’ choice) so this was another weather gamble that did not work in Ferrari’s favor.

The decision was made to retire the car, there isn’t a point in running not in the points in a car that should be scoring points, when you are a lap down, in a race with mixed conditions that would mean the chances of the car sustaining damage are high.

The team managed as best they could and the communication was pretty good. Emotions were running high on both sides, but that is to be expected. Ferrari gave Charles control over what he wanted to do. The only possible issue was them encouraging him to stay out on the hards after it had started to rain. This was mostly because if he pit for inters that was going to end his race, the hards were already a last ditch effort to try to find some extra pace to get back up in the pack. But the rain really messed this up. It was a fine gamble, and it was the best choice to retire the car.

Since the race we have learned that the cause of the mechanical issue for Charles was not the power unit itself, but rather the control unit and sensors connected to that component. Ferrari reported sensor issues at Imola, and Monaco(Charles had to do an engine swap during FP sessions to get it sorted) They have found that there is a problem where sensors are throwing false positives, reporting a problem when there is no problem. Changing the power unit seems to solve the problem. However this isn’t a long term solution.

I think that there is something wrong with the connection between sensors and the control unit. Since the team have said the control unit and associated sensors(Ferrari have not been more specific) I believe this means that the sensors in question are most likely the ones that accept driver input(ie accelerating) rather than monitoring sensors(ones that would relay tyre temperature). The second most likely option would be sensors connected to the power unit. But the problem is not the sensors themselves, rather the connections between the sensors and the CU. This would explain the loss of power Charles experienced if the car simply was not responding correctly to his inputs. This is further supported by the inputs Bryan was walking Charles through also did not work.

So the sensors are likely fine, the control unit is fine, but the connection between the two is not.

Why does changing the power unit seemingly solve the problem(at least temporarily)? There are a few possible explanations, it may be that during a switch the sensor gets cleaned re-positioned correctly etc. A hard reset on electronics can interrupt faulty feedback and set a clean slate. It clears the RAM and so things start off before there was a problem. It's a temporary fix. And it would come back if there is a sensor problem because eventually a false positive will get thrown again and then the team is right back where they started.

This leads into what happened this race. There was a serious problem, Charles was losing a lot of power, and this again makes me suspect it’s a sensor associated with some crucial feedback from the power unit. So after trying to troubleshoot to see if there was actually a problem and they were unable to find evidence of a physical issue Ferrari decided to do the last resort which was a full reset on the car. This is not ideal because it takes time, and during a race that was time Charles just didn’t have. However the reset did seem to clear up the issue. This happens with electronic problems because if there is a part or sensor that is giving bad information, a reset clears the RAM and all the old codes are gone, so the system is no longer operating under the assumption something is wrong.

To solve this problem Ferrari are going to have to do some serious trouble shooting for the connection between the control unit, the sensors and the power unit. It seems like each time this comes up they get a little closer to identifying the issue.

One good takeaway from all of this is it does seem like there aren’t any fatal flaws with any of Charles’ PUs, and that is good because we were getting concerned about him likely having to take a penalty sometime this season if he needed a fifth. At this point it’s looking less likely, but I would not rule it out.

Data Analysis

Charles' data is clearly compromised by the problems he encountered. And we can look at the data to find out just how much he was impacted by the CU problem.

Here is a look at Charles' best lap prior to the electrical reset in the pits(RED) and his best lap after the problem was fixed(WHITE)

For three periods during the earlier lap he had DRS open, which is the only reason he was even close, without DRS he would have been even further off in speed. And he had no DRS in use on the later lap. So the problem being solved made him faster than before even when he was using DRS. It also allowed him to take corners better.

To really put it into perspective I chose Max's best inter lap from that second stint as well to compare.

Here the difference is clearer, where Charles top speeds were lacking before and then after he was actually faster. These laps are from different times and are subject to slightly different track conditions. The main thing to highlight is that change in top speed, and how after Charles was achieving competitive speeds. Unfortunately by that time it was too late. These are good speeds, but they are not "make up an entire lap and climb back into the points" speeds.

Now I want to compare Charles' and Carlos' pace. There are a lot of variables that were constantly changing so do keep that in mind.

*Note: because of the nature of this race and the lower lap times on inters F1 tempo read almost all early laps as "outliers" so I had to show those as well, the slower laps here are from the safety car and pitstops.

The most notable thing is that even with a serious problem Charles was on pace with his teammate who did not have the same issue. This tells me two things. 1. Charles was driving exceptionally. 2. The car setup likely played a greater role in the non-competitive pace. Also being stuck in the midfield likely did not help either Carlos or Charles.

Overall, I was very impressed with Charles performance this race. He was overtaking, driving in mixed conditions, while taking directions from Bryan and changing the settings on his car literally every lap to troubleshoot the power issue he was having. He was running the same race as everyone else while also trying to reprogram his car. I can’t believe he was keeping up and was doing so without any serious errors while his attention was severely split. Not only that his pace was the same or better than his teammate who did not have the same mechanical issue, but he was overtaking. This was actually one of the best drives of the race, and it was masked by the car problems.

Carlos

One of the biggest questions was what happened to Carlos’ pace and speed. He didn’t have the same mechanical problems as Charles so why wasn’t he much faster? Well I suspect that one factor is he is still running on his second PU, and I believe we will see that changed before the Spanish GP. Both Ferrari cars were not there in terms of performance this weekend, and I think that was for various reasons. I won’t attribute all of his issues to that, as it’s a guess on my part, though it seems it’s about time for the replacement there, even if there are no issues, the mileage may warrant it.

Edit: Carlos also took minor damage to his front wing and floor early in the race when he made contact with Valtteri, this most certainly also affected his overall speed and pace.

Also the car setup not being optimal likely would affect Carlos more than Charles as since upgrades Charles has been ahead in extracting speed out of the car. The fact that they were close tells me that this was a setup issue and not really a serious failure on the part of the driver.

Carlos ran a very standard race, relaying good info back to the pitwall and managing well under the mixed conditions. He wasn’t doing much in the way of climbing, stuck in the mid-field mess with a car that was not all there this weekend.

His race ended when he made an attempt to pass Alex on lap 53. He made contact and both cars lost grip and spun out. This probably happened because he lost traction due to the damp track. This incident was his fault, the footage is pretty clear on this. The move was risky in the mixed conditions. He took responsibility and that is what we like to see from drivers when things like this happen. I get the need to take a risk. It was really the only way to try to salvage Ferrari’s race. After a long race of very few errors one cost him his race. So given that the conditions were tough I am not too concerned about this. It’s a disappointing result for sure, but a lot of drivers were making errors, it’s just unfortunate his led to a DNF.

I will say I am actually very pleased with the teamwork this weekend when facing very difficult conditions. The communication was there, things were transparent. Carlos was relaying helpful info back to the pitwall for Charles. And afterwards the team as a whole was very transparent and informative about what happened. This felt so different from seasons past. Tempers and tensions ran high, but that was out of frustration for the situation not the team. It’s easy to confuse those. Bryan was doing great, one of the communication blips we saw was when he was trying to hide how much pace was being lost in a strategic attempt to stay in the game, but Charles knew it was already too late. The team wasn’t perfect this weekend. But seeing them go through a lot of things going wrong and this being the result made me feel even more confident in the team overall. We have a team that communicates and owns their mistakes. That is a positive. It was good to see how the team handled everything going wrong, and I am not displeased with the outcome on that front. It’s easy to make the new team look good when things are going smoothly, but this weekend showed a stark difference in this new team and management compared to years past.

Furthermore I am very pleased with the transparency from the team, from Fred to the drivers, on what went wrong and what can be done to improve. This is a really good sign, and I liked that Charles and Carlos were able to say what they wanted. It was helpful in understanding this weekend, and continuing to build trust in the team even with a poor result.

Ferrari really looked a lot worse this weekend because of continued bad gambles on weather conditions. That is very unlucky and there isn't a way to avoid that. The rest was due to the mechanical failure on Charles' car, and one error from Carlos.

One highlight was that Ferrari had the fastest pitstop, so our pit crew were pulling their weight for our drivers who were dealing with rough conditions.

Not a good race result but also I think there were some positive showings from the team and this doesn't look like it's exposed anything fundamentally wrong with the operation.

Red Bull

Now while Red Bull won the race, and Max had a really great drive the team had a lot of problems this weekend. Before I talk about the team issues we will look at Max's win, how it came about and his main competitors this race.

Max

Given the weather being a significant factor, this race was not going to be won by speed, but rather the driver near the front who was the most consistent and made the fewest errors, and it should come as no surprise that the driver who won was the most consistent and made the fewest errors.

This was probably Max’s best race this year in terms of him showing his skill on track and why he’s really the best and the one to beat. He had some luck, but the win was most certainly due to his superior driving, ability to control the cars behind and of course lack of error in mixed conditions. It was not a perfect race from him, but he won based on the fact he made the fewest mistakes of all the cars at the front, and that really came down to his skill behind the wheel.

There are very few instances where you can see Max lose grip even a little. He was so smooth in keeping on the racing line, and also keeping control if his wheels deviated from the line.

Also he did set a very good qualifying lap, the same as the time George got for pole, even though Max didn’t start on pole he did set the same time so he was just as fast.

It really was his consistency in these ever changing and mixed conditions that won him the race. I’d call this his best drive of the season.

Data Analysis

I am going to cover Max, George, and Lando’s race data here as comparing the top three was the real story behind this race and Max’s win, it made the most sense to have it all together.

This race was not one where I am as concerned with pure speed, because in the rain that matters less than racecraft and control over the car. Given most drivers struggle to some extent in the rain mistakes are bound to happen.

A look at the top 3's final stints, this was when the race was won or lost. All cars were close, and everyone was looking quick. Here it's very clear Lando did not have the speed to catch Max those final ten laps. He was consistently off. Max was actually the one on the oldest tyres too. Only by a few laps, and George had the newest, so the other two were not slower due to tyre age. The interesting thing here was George was faster than Max on a few laps(He was on the newest tyres at this point). He really did have great speed this race, but you can see where the error he made cost him the place.

Now let's look at the full race between these three.

*Note: again I had to include all outlier laps to show the full race perspective

Lando was only faster in the second half of his first stint. I suspect that something about specific track grip and conditions then was in his favor. After that his pace was the same or slower. So he was not going to be keeping that lead he had. He didn’t have the speed, and he certainly didn’t have the consistency.

George was faster, and I state later that this was George’s race to lose and he lost it, almost entirely due to his own errors. He was right on that competitive pace all race. Pretty much identical to Max, which after their qualifying that did not come as a surprise. What cost him were several errors where he lost grip. I indicated them with arrows, you you can see the laps where he lost control stand out on their own.

It was that final error that sealed George's fate. He was speeding up, he had the pace to make an attempt at closing that gap, and he lost it.

While Lando had more micro errors, a few points of lost grip, wiggling on the track etc. George had bigger errors. And his final one likely cost him P2 and possibly the win. He was faster, he had the speed to be able to at the very least catch Lando, he had fresher tyres, but it was lap 64 where he lost grip and went off that cost him. Without that he very likely would have been able to catch Lando in those final laps. Catching Max was more of a long shot but he might have been able to get within striking distance.

Max won not because he gained track position due to a safety car, there was a lot of race left and a few more pitstops to be had, as well as another safety car for all those cars to catch up to him again. He won because he was in control on that track as the conditions changed, he didn’t need to be fastest(though make no mistake he was fast) he just needed to put in consistent laps times and defend, and he did just that.

Red Bull and Sergio

Now Red Bull had a very serious problem. One I find to be very concerning in terms of “strategy” as well as safety. And this is the fault of neither of their drivers, who were simply doing their jobs, this was a problem behind the pitwall.

When Checo spun out on lap 52 he was told by the team to drive the car back to the pits. Checo lost control of the car and spun when he got the right side off the racing line and his hard tyres hit the wet on the track. This caused him to spin, with his rear wing crashing into the wall and being severely damaged.

He drove back to the pits under team orders.

This order from the team to drive back to the pits was concerning for 2 reasons:

Safety, both Checo’s safety and the safety of every other car on track. His rear wing had been severely damaged and was spreading debris. Other drivers noted this and were concerned by this as well.

Red Bull admitted both over comms and when investigated by the stewards that the reason for this order was to prevent another safety car from being called out. At this point Max had the lead of the race and another safety car at this point would not have been good for him(at least this was the team’s belief).

Here is the rule that the team admitted they broke. Checo had significant damage. Which means he needed to stay off the track. Red Bull told him to re-take the track and run all the way back to the pits while his rear wing was severely damaged. Checo was already off the track, so the only thing he needed to do was wait and the marshals would have helped under a safety car to get his car taken care of.

This was a choice made to try to make gains for Max, at Checo’s expense and really the potential expense of every other driver on the field(including Max, he was not immune to getting a puncture from debris either) This lack of concern for driver safety is unacceptable from the team. The team was fined and Checo will have to serve a starting grid penalty next race through no real fault of his own. The team truly failed both their drivers with this call in my opinion, Checo paid the steeper price but this could have ended badly for Max’s race as well.

The most confusing part of this to me is why they needed Checo to come back to the pits. There was an escape lane off the track right where Checo spun off, all he needed to do was turn left. And there was another track exit at turn 8. Why did he need to progress around the entire lap back to the pits spreading debris? Why they didn’t tell him to just drive there to get off the track completely is beyond me. It would have probably just been a temporary yellow flag then. Would that not have also avoided a safety car like they wanted? It just made this whole thing feel like more of an unnecessary risk. I don’t think it was directly malicious on the team’s part, it was just really stupid and unnecessarily risky. Again, this was also risky to Max’s race, he could have gotten a puncture from this and that most assuredly would have cost him the race.

The team admitted to breaking the rules in an attempt to secure a race result for their driver. This should carry a much stiffer penalty for the team than a 25,000 euro fine and a grid penalty. I’d increase the fine substantially so that it really actually hurt the team and they feel real consequences. This was the team’s fault so I think the team as a whole should be punished rather than singling out a driver. The best way is through a bigger fine, then the drivers don’t pay the price

Truly the worst display we’ve seen from any team all year in terms of how they chose to handle things. This cannot happen again. And the thing is that this isn’t speculation. Red Bull have admitted that they knew in the moment that Checo’s damage would be safety car worthy, and ordered him to return anyway, also forgoing the option to take track exits before the pitlane. They admitted that the reason for making him return was to avoid the safety car being brought out.

I have seen this compared to “crashgate” or some other form of race fixing. This is truly an insane comparison. Race fixing is a serious accusation and it requires forethought. This was just the team trying to weasel out of a bad situation and intentionally breaking the rules to do it, they were reacting to something that happened, not planning to create a situation that would win them the race. This wasn’t race fixing. We need to make sure that accusation means something and this wasn’t it.

Furthermore, the assessment from the team that this was necessary to keep Max in the lead was I think a misjudgement. If the safety car had come out would Max have been guaranteed to lose the lead? I am not convinced. With the safety car I am fairly confident Max would have kept the lead, but we might have seen Mclaren fall behind the Mercedes faster. Max’s driving having the fewest errors(after Lewis) is what was going to keep him ahead.

And the funny thing is that we don’t even have to speculate because the safety car did come out literally a lap later after Carlos and Alex collided. The field backed up to Max, the Mercedes cars were able to pit, and Max stayed in front. So that shows a few things. 1. That the safety car is not what won Max the race, and 2. A safety car at that point in the race was not going to compromise Max’s race to the point he lost position.

Tis is on the team. Checo made a mistake, and Max did nothing wrong. The drivers were just doing their jobs. My harshness is meant to be directed at the team behind the pitwall, not the drivers in this situation.

It’s just unfortunate that something like this kind of shadows things for the team when they should be celebrating another win, and a milestone for Max.

Mercedes

Somehow this was Mercedes best result but one of their most mixed performances. George qualified on pole, and Lewis P7. George finished third, bringing home Mercedes first GP podium of the year, and Lewis came in P4. These are the team's best finishing results and best qualifying results, so on paper a very good weekend for the team. However things during the race and behind the scenes were not so great.

George

This was George’s race to lose. He qualified on pole. He had a car with the pace and speed to win. And it was due to several large errors on his part that he lost those places both to Max and Lando. Furthermore his craft in defending against Lando left a lot to be desired. He’s usually a much better driver. But this weekend George really defeated himself. He had some very good moments, but considering he had the ingredients for a win this weekend P3 is not a good final outcome.

I will highlight that he did have some good overtakes and his speed was quite good. And of course that qualifying lap was his best driving all year. However he lost control of the car at multiple key moments(most notably on lap 64), and also failed to defend effectively against Lando.

Lewis

Lewis had a very interesting race. During the GP he looked the most competitive he’s been all year. Moving quickly up the field, applying pressure to Oscar and eventually getting past him, getting past George for a few laps. Gaining 3 places in mixed conditions through overtaking skill was really a good showing from him. He really showed that no matter the car he’s in he will be competitive in the rain.

Given the way he was racing I think had he had a better qualifying result he’d have been far more competitive than George at the front. He is always solid in the rain and he likely would have made fewer mistakes and been able to control the pace of the cars behind better.

Lewis’ qualifying was really impacted by poor tyre warming. He mentioned that his garage didn’t have his tyres warmed up to the correct temperature so he was out on cooler tyres from the start. Given the pace we saw from him during the race I do believe this was the case, because he clearly had very similar speed to George in that car. In fact he was faster than George during free practice sessions(not that those are always indicative of true pace) So that does explain his significantly different qualifying results. Which is a shame because both Mercedes starting at the front would have been a very different race.

Now onto the issue Mercedes had.

The first would be not getting Lewis’ tyres prepped correctly for qualifying. There isn’t anything he can do about that, he has to work with what he’s given and he was given something that wasn’t going to be able to compete at the front in qualifying.

Second, the issue of allowing George and Lewis to race. While I understand that yes sometimes this is fine on a team. It really felt like it was unexpected to Lewis, especially after he’d shown he can take places, while George had mostly lost them. I am not sure strategically it was best to risk having the drivers go wheel to wheel especially on a track with changing traction. I get that George was on the faster tyres and they wanted George to have the chance to take his places back since he did start on pole, but at that point in the race it was extremely unlikely. So it just felt unnecessary. I think revealed a little bit of tension in the team. Which not good to see the first weekend they are looking really competitive.

A quick look at the final bit of the race between George and Lewis.

Lewis was doing amazing on those hard tyres, speed wise he was not even significantly far off his teammate who was on mediums. This is why George was able to catch Lewis and overtake him though, he was on newer rubber and softer rubber so he had the speed advantage. Lewis wasn't going to be able to catch him once he passed.

So good results for Mercedes, however errors cost them higher places, and I think that management in the garages also was very mixed.

Mclaren

This was not a great race for Mclaren. On paper their results look good, but this race had several poor strategy calls as well as quite a few errors from their lead driver. They were in contention for the win. And yes, the safety car aided Max, however Mclaren defeated themselves both behind the pitwall and on the track more than anything.

Lando

Lando showed what I suspected. That yes in a fast car he can overtake cars which are not on pace, however when it comes to really applying pressure and racing in mixed conditions his performance starts to wane. As well as when the pace is essentially equal as we saw in the later half of this race he isn't making gains. He was pretty good at first but as the race progressed he was being caught out by the mixed track conditions as well as not able to handle pressure from behind cost him his places.

He was in a fast car, but his driving was riddled with mistakes, the car kept him at the front but he missed quite a few overtake opportunities because he was too aggressive on the throttle, wasn’t finding the grip, and just getting sloppy. None of that was the best we’ve seen from him. In another race those kinds of things would have been more costly. Luckily for Lando other drivers were making more errors.

His main competition this race was George. Who was fast, but due to several errors that cost him time lost places. His final placement was as much due to poorer driving on the part of his main competition(George) rather than a really competitive showing from him. That is a part of the sport, good on him for capitalizing on that.

And yes the first safety car backed up the field and allowed Max to retake the front. However, there was a second safety car where Lando was placed to catch up to Max. He had the chance to overtake there again and couldn’t do it.

But this isn’t all on Lando. Mclaren made some bad strategy calls that put Lando on new tyres and losing places in the pits at the wrong time. He stayed out an extra lap during the safety car, I think the team wanted to see if he could keep track position. The result put him on the back foot and allowed him to be undercut by Max on newer tyres, because he did have to pit the next lap. If he hadn't he would have been worse off and lost even more places. I think this was just the team being reluctant to give up track position, but it was just a bad pit call under the safety car conditions that neutralized the lead Lando had built. So I am not sure what they were going for or why they believed Max was not going to re-take the lead given the circumstances.

To be clear the timing allowed for Lando to be able to pit, the team could have gotten him there, this wasn't a case of the safety car placement preventing that. The team needed to make that call quickly, and they didn't. These are the kinds of things that make the difference when competing at the front. Mclaren have not had the best season so far as far at pit stop timing goes, the results have been mixed. So the team really failed him on that. He would have been much better positioned the rest of the race had they pit at the right time.

Lando made mistakes and his competitive pace was there, but it wasn't that extra speed from the beginning for most of the race. He cannot account for the team misjudging things like that. He doesn’t have the same perspective they do.

He talked about his amazing pace but then that first safety car being what ended his race. But his pace the rest of the race didn't reflect that earlier pace. And there was another safety car where he was positioned to be able to catch Max. It's not like he was stuck on older tyres the rest of the race and Max created an insurmountable lead. And what happened to that amazing pace from earlier? I think he didn't manage the continuously changing track conditions as well and that would explain why his pace was still good, but no that significantly faster pace we saw near the beginning. So his argument about that one safety car being what cost them the race really falls apart.

Overall very mixed performance from Lando. There were some good moments, but the lows were costly, and we got a look at how he handles pressure from behind as well as if he can catch Max in equal conditions and the answer was no.

Oscar

Oscar again had a similar story to Lando in the sense that Mclaren strategy did him no favors.

Oscar had really good pace most of the race and was matching his teammate competitively and this was while he was in dirty air from Lando. The interesting thing was on lap 61 when Mclaren asked Oscar if he thought he’d be able to take Max at the front.

Lando was not making any progress at shortening the gap to Max at this point, and Oscar's pace was more competitive at this point. The numbers don't reflect this directly but the circumstance does. Lando had clean air, Oscar didn't and Oscar was still on pace with Lando. So from Mclaren's perspective Oscar was looking better for a proper fight.

I was actually surprised to hear this from Mclaren as I was so certain they would not really give this kind of opportunity to Oscar if Lando was ahead. Strategy wise it made sense to try to push the faster car ahead. However when under pressure from a car that was less than a second behind and faster. The choice not to swap here is what really determined the rest of Oscar’s race because then Mclaren really went ahead in making sure their full support was going to Lando to help him stay at the front of the field, with Oscar’s job being to keep George back(and we saw how that went) it was almost inevitable that George would pass.

As interested as I was in this question from Mclaren, I again think they had the timing wrong. Oscar was under so much pressure from George, he almost got overtaken twice the lap they asked that. That was not the time to ask. And also to consider the move at that point was too risky.

Furthermore this would have been a bad call, they were too quick to judge the pace. They asked Oscar this on lap 61. The previous lap was after the warmup from the pits, and that lap looked like Max and Oscar and Lando were matched on pace, with Oscar and Lando slightly ahead.

Here you can see that after the pit outlap on lap 60 that is the one lap this final stint where the Mclaren cars were faster than Max, by 2+ tenths. However after that Max pulled away. The Mclaren cars were in the low 1:16 area and Max was pulling consistent 1:15s. They literally were making this call off the one lap the times converged thinking it was indicative of the pace for the rest of the stint.

Max pulled ahead with significantly better pace. Lando wasn't going to catch him and neither was Oscar. Mclaren would have ordered this based on the one singular lap they were faster than Max that last stint and it likely would have cost them both places to the Mercedes. This was a bad data interpretation and possible strategy that Oscar saved them from.

Here is a look at that same data in graph form to really visualize where the times came together and where Max pulled away.

I think this was actually pretty shrewd on Oscar's part. If he’d fumbled that swap by even a half second(or even less) both Mercedes likely would have ended up ahead of the Mclarens. We saw he was not able to hold Lewis back forever. And so he was actually better on the strategy than Mcalren who were more concerned about pace, but his choice made it so Lando could keep attempting to put pressure on Max, rather than having to contend with George and Lewis coming from behind. He very likely prevented a Mercedes 2-3 with this choice. So I was really impressed with his maturity and strategic mind when under pressure like this.

Probably Oscar's best performance on track and in terms of strategy. Really impressed me on a few fronts. Mclaren I don’t think were seeing as much of the big picture, or really wanted to take that gamble. I will hand it to them, they did ask their driver his opinion and went with his choice. But I think that considering a swap there was kind of crazy seeing how much pressure Oscar was under, Lewis was barely outside of DRS and he was at some points.

A look at Oscar and Lando's pace in the final stints. Lando was faster most laps. Oscar did well this race, however by the end the tyres seemed to be getting to him again, especially having to do a lot of defense and being in more dirty air compared to Lando. Also remember that Oscar was in dirty air for way more of this race than Lando and that is also reflected in those final laps.

Good race result for both Mclaren cars, but this race had a few very odd strategy calls that likely cost both drivers, or would have cost them more if they'd acted on them.

Williams

Williams somehow managed to have their best and worst weekend at the same time. Best because this was the best performance they have seen from their car and both their drivers in qualifying all year with Alex qualifying P10 and Logan in P13.

Not only that, Alex had probably the most impressive move of the entire race where he overtook both Yuki and Daniel. That move was impressive because not only was it a double overtake in a trickier spot on the track. He needed to leave the racing line to do it, getting his tyres on a wetter part of the track. He maintained perfect control. You can see the other two cars he passed wiggle when they left in similar wet patches during that pass. Just some truly impressive racecraft and control on Alex’s part.

Unfortunately William’s saw both drivers DNF. Logan lost control of his car and was unable to recover it, bringing out that first safety car.

Alex DNFed after Carlos tried to pass on lap 53 and made contact, taking them both out of the race.

Logan was at fault for his DNF. He struggles in the rain and he paid the price.

Alex unfortunately lost the most as he was having his best race of the season and was taken out through no fault of his own.

Mixed results. However I think that this race did show that the Williams upgrades have given pace to the car and the team does stand a good chance of scoring more points. Alex especially seems to be more and more comfortable in the car every race. I was wondering if Monaco would be a one-off for the team, it seems it wasn’t and Williams may be on an upward trajectory with their car’s performance.

Haas

Haas really stole the show at the start of the race with their choice to start both their drivers on wet tyres instead of intermediate like the rest of the field. The rain at the start of the race was not expected to last, so starting on wets was a gamble, and it paid off incredibly on that front. Kevin climbed from P14 to P4 in a matter of a few laps because of the better grip he had.

Nico similarly climbed the field, and lasted even longer on the wets.

The reasoning behind this strategic gamble was to try to climb the field early to gain much higher track positions, and then try to hold as many of those as possible for the rest of the race, acting on the assumption they would get passed by a few cars. If it had worked as intended then it likely would have been a points finish for both drivers.

This was also Kevin and Nico's best driving of the year. Kevin passed so many cars with very low visibility, and Nico extended the grip of the wets as long as he could.

However Haas shot themselves in the foot when they were unprepared for Kevin’s pitstop for inters, and that lost him almost all the positions gained on the wets. They finished just outside the points, so this very likely would have made the difference.

Haas had a good strategy, it’s a shame we didn’t get to see it pay off. Both drivers did well this weekend.

Kevin started P14 and finished P12, while Nico started P17 and finished P11.

Final Thoughts

Since this was a rain race I want to give credit to the drivers who really showed their skill in the wet. First Max, for his consistency, then to Alex for some really impressive moves in wet conditions, to Kevin for a really impressive climb up the field with very low visibility, and to Lewis who gained places continuously throughout the race. I will also give an honorable mention to Charles because he was driving in those same conditions, not losing pace to his teammate, overtaking, all while changing settings on his car every single lap to solve a mechanical issue. We saw some really high quality driving this race.

On the teams front this race was interesting as all top teams made some pretty serious errors when it came to strategy, from consistently getting the weather wrong to intentionally breaking the rules this was kind of a mess.

Interesting race, one to forget as a Ferrari fan, but we learned a lot.

That's all I've got. See you next time we go racing in Spain!

#lucis race analysis #canadian gp 2024 #long post #scuderia ferrari #charles leclerc

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teopatra · 2 years ago

Text

tell a friend to tell a friend, she’s bacccck 🤭 🤭 🤭

~ 😗 pick an image 😗 ~

Todays topic is… DRUM ROLL PLZ 🗣️.. 🥁 🥁 🥁

Why do ppl hate on u?? 🤔

Group 1:

You’re the type of person that is very thorough and this makes other people compare themselves to you and automatically feel attacked bc it’s so obvious that they’re only working to achieve the bare minimum. Before meeting you most people did only what was expected of them in school and work until they met you and now they see you as the standard. If you were such a bad person then why would random stranger customers praise you??? give you gifts, buy you snacks, etc if you were such the bad guy like people make you to be.

You’re the type of person that people may pick on for no reason not bc they see you as weak but bc they WANT you to FEEL left out, these types of people were the ones crying and complaining on social media during quarantine about how lonely they were and sad bc they had to be by themselves and you was just there sipping your tea bc you did your shadow work years ago when everyone else was creating soul ties and being n superficial frenemey relationships . You’ve been ostracized since an early age, but they can’t seem to understand why no matter how cliqued up they are and you’re standing alone or with one other person who also stands alone, why you aren’t begging to be n the circle or why you aren’t trying to prove yourself to others. whole time you’re loved by your family, your community , your siblings and or you have a friend group outside of them that they’re not aware of. Needless to say, you’re pretty fulfilled in life.

Bc of your high IQ, whether you know or not, you actually are gifted in creativity. For most you prob are supppper stylish you’re Mr or Misses put that shit on .. like FORREAL, and you rarelllllly get compliments or you do but not publicly or people may come days later like I saw that pic you posted and you’re thinking to yourself liiiiike hmm I didn’t see you n the likes thooo hater if you seen it why you ain’t like it then?? 🙄 people tell on themselves and you’ll realize years later that the whole time you were really the IT girl or Him but you make people feel small so they’d never tell you. Silent stalkers, silent obsessed fans and hidden enemies & prob people who call themselves your besties bc they wanna be accepted by the masses and since your the unconventional baddie (really not unconventional it’s just everyone else is basic and unoriginal / you break the norms and people don’t know how to be stylish outside of following trends or recreating what they see on their FYP or timeline…) anyway the way you dress is original and you’re prob good at trend forecasting and when you say stuff people be like “shut up” cuz you’re always right and people are inept when it comes to being creative or original; at the same time if someone was to try to wear what you’d wear for some reason they’d look like a fool 😂 it’s giving that’s so raven vibes where you’re psychic AND fashionable like how you gonna be the whole package? Meanwhile they’re getting bashed by their own family members for being dumb as doorknobs lmao

School : you’re the type to actually pay attention and when simple questions are asked you realize how little common sense people have bc they’ll basically repeat what was just said and so many people are used to being pacified and not called out on their BS bc it’s “not nice” but you’re like eff that why did you just ask what we’re doing n class when we’ve been talking about it for the last 30 min like bffr?? Cuz atp you’re playing in MYYY face for wasting my precious time by having to repeat simple stuff. I see you being the type where you’re tired of the professor asking the class questions and the class just mute sitting there like 🥴😓🫤🫠😵‍💫😴 .. AGAIN WASTING YOUR PRECIOUS LIFE FOR WATTT EXACTLY? So you *sigh* (save the day Superman /superwoman) by , once AGAIN, answering.. the.. questions.. you feel a tap on your shoulder.. “how did you know that??” ARGHHHH you want to scream bc I’m sorry [TW] everyone at your school is stupid or slow and it be making you feel like you weren’t even supposed to be born n this time period bc it’s no way 😂 you’re the type to get a bad grade n an easy class like gym just bc you didn’t try or change out when in reality you don’t gaf bc you prob have a high GPA anyways. I see you overall being a nice person (I just seen 3:33) but you have a low tolerance bc you know what you want out of life and everyone is just going thru the motions.

Work: you exemplify great customer service and work ethic and most people may hate on you bc customers prefer your service over others not just bc you look good 😂 which people also try to say you have pretty privilege and that disgusts them bc you actually do but don’t get it twisted bc you’re handsome intelligent and you understand psychology really well which goes hand in hand with sales. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for being friendly or doing your job right. I don’t see you being like a stickler rule follower but rather someone who engages with customers to make the day go faster and honestly it builds rapport and makes your reputation even better bc you could be the youngest yet seem the most knowledgeable bc people who’ve worked there longer or have senior experience bc they’re much older feel like you should just take notes from them even tho there’s no notes to be taken bc you body the job. In fact you body everything you do like they wouldn’t hire you if you weren’t qualified. You’re the type to get the job bc of your experience then when you work your magic now all your coworkers are hating UGH I can relate

Alright group 1 we’ve been going in LMBO if you want more actually check the other piles bc this one is getting long , like 2 may resonate assswelllllll🫶🏽✨💕

Group 2:

Okay girl people hate on you because they assume that because of how you dress you could come from a family that is a little more well off even tho you don’t flaunt it , tbh you are a lowkey kind of person and may be a bit timid. I see that you challenge yourself and put yourself out there because you’re a talented individual but your anxiety or shyness may get the best of you. You’re very intuitive and you can pick up on other peoples emotions you may be claircognizant or clairaudient or like the character in Charlie Bone who could touch objects and be transported back , so you sense things that most people don’t notice like subtleties and small changes n the frequencies.

People hate on you for seeing right thru them.. it’s unfair to ppl that try to hide behind a mask or coverup their true intentions or emotions and you may innocently ask someone what happened or what’s wrong bc something did and they didn’t tell anyone. So they immediately project on to you and call you weird or try to embarrass you wen you were trying to put yourself out there by being nice. Sorry I got side tracked but you could also be the type of person that doesn’t have alot of money but you’re resourceful and people wonder how you look so stylish when you’re not wearing anything designer. Or if you do wear designer brands it’s not the mainstream designer that people are used to and even up and coming designers that you’re aware of as are most people who are into the fashion world but these people are basic so all they know is Gucci.. you’ll have something on and people like it and love it trust me but they’ll try to get you to doubt your choices by making you the joke but honestly if it was so bad then why y’all talking about it sm?? Like who’s the fan? they are 🤭

People hate on you bc you’re chosen and they have pick me energy.. like you have the ability to stay focus and you’re selective with your energy I see you have this one true friend you rely on and everyone can’t stand them bc they’re 10 toes down for you and there’s prob a lot of daily talk where you’re the topic of conversation and others wish that people talked about them sm like they do you so they’d feel important but you’ve prob stopped someone from telling you what others say about you to you bc it isn’t aligned with your higher self or the action of gossip is just low vibrational. you’re like why’re y’all talking sm about other folks like can y’all step your game up so you can be the topic instead ??? You’ve prob told people you don’t care to go to college bc you want to sing , dance, act or do art.. strong fire energy or Aquarius energy. Like you’re just different and in your own lane and if anyone tried to find their way into your lane they’d automatically get called a copycat.

You’re the popular loner; you mind your business and stay focused and people hate on you bc you’re not easily distracted, there are no rumors that can go on about you bc you’re authentically you even tho you’re to yourself everyone knows exactly what you’re about and you really don’t leave any room for confusion or assumption cuz a “bih knew better than to to let [me]/ you hear it” .. 😂

People hate on your bc they can’t try you and honestly you’re probably everyone’s crush and they’re all competing for you.. funny thing is people don’t converse about how hot you are to each other bc in everyone’s eyes they’re trying to get with you or you’re their imaginary gf or bf and they wouldn’t admit it bc they don’t really wanna know who you’d pick😂 BIG delusional energy , you don’t have mean girl vibes but you don’t play the BS games. You make people feel like they have to step their game up like they may act childish but when you come around everyone straightens up and fights for your attention even if it’s a friend group bc they’re all secretly in love with you and wonder what type of things you’d like so they can win you over

People hate on you bc of how classy you are it doesn’t come off as arrogant, it just gives boujee high standard vibes. you could have a very attractive parent or older sister and peoples older siblings and parents can have crushes on your family and that’s why people hate bc they ugly 😂 or if their dad has a crush on your mom it’s like 🙄 it seems like people cannot escape you bc you’re the talk of the town.. people also hate on you because people try to be like you wen they realize their crush likes you bc even if you were to like someone back you don’t make it obvious you like to play hard to get or you like to be chased (AS YOU SHOULD ).. you may catch people watching you or eavesdropping or trying to steal glances at your phone or Instagram.. people would love to be your friend to get advice from you but they’re jealous and jealousy consumes people.. you’re really the nicest person but you couldn’t care less who likes you or doesn’t cuz at the end of the day you have INFLUENCE. And with great power comes great responsibility.. years later these people may try to friend you on FB or tell you how inspired they were by you or they wish you were friends.. but like they couldn’t handle being your friend anyway bc their standards for themselves really aren’t that high and it shows 😂

Strong Scorpio rising or Scorpio placements but now Scorpio sun

Group 3:

Bet y’all never heard this one 👇🏽😜 [explicit lyrics]

Okay last but not least pile 3 you should read pile 2 bc it’ll make more sense. you are also extremely talented and for some reason you have this karmic lesson that you have to overcome where everyone tries to put you into a certain box like oh you should just be a nurse o you should do this or be that but they don’t have the type of talent you have and with that type of talent that you have will attract a lot of naysayers but if you do music you either have a very angelic voice or your music tone or type is original like Kendrick Lamar’s flow when he first came out or like a mixture of alternative rap.. whatever it is don’t be shy try to live out loud. You’re not the type of artist that shoves your art in peoples faces and if you put your art on a platform like Etsy or SoundCloud I see the more intention you put into it and the more you believe in yourself the more attention you attract from strangers. People hate on you because you stand by your work whether it be tarot, pottery, resin work, herbology, makeup etc and people in your hometown may not support it as much as others do… like if you were to have a showcase I see people from other places hoping you announce a date so they can come to your city and support you aww 🥹 it MAY take years of hard work BUT that’s what people want us to think.. the Divine blessed you with a gift that you should love OUT loud.. the more you do the more resistance you’ll get from those around you but that’s bc Saturn, Rahu, Mercury, and Ketu want to challenge how hard you’ll work bc not everyone deserves to be famous which is why some famous people or people of notoriety flop or don’t last long bc it’s not genuine.. you don’t do it for the money you do it out of love..

people hate on you because you EXUDE love.. you ARE LOVE and there’s nothing bad people can say about you bc you don’t harm anyone you give people compliments but I see a lot of people from your family or hometown deal with generational trauma and they’re not used to Divine energy and true love so you trigger people bc you illuminate their shadows and you make them uncomfortable with how at peace you are with yourself.. you are an influence /influencer (in the making.. on a wide scale don’t think that you’re not an influencer just bc you’re it rich or famous or getting a bunch of brand deals baby you better live delusional cuz that’s how you manifest)

people hate on you bc they may secretly buy your products or listen to your music when they’re alone and it triggers something n their soul when they hear your voice and words and it may make them cry bc they realize how unhappy with self they are .. people wish they had your confidence to have a passion and a gift and to love it sm that you want to share it with the world they also hate how insecure they are.. they know your songs bar for bar and want to play it n public but feel embarrassed 😒

People hate on you because you’re funny and for some reason people wanna hate you sooooo bad for no reason lol what’s their problem and you make your haters and enemies laugh and they can’t help it to the point where they may try to be nice to you and even if they didn’t do anything overly mean or bully like to you you look at them like their dumb wen they do bc you’re like ummm didn’t you hate me last week ???? And now they have a reason to make you the bad guy (might wanna read group 1)

People hate on you for being the youngest 😂 they hate on you for dumb things like having small hands or being dainty .. people could hate on your for liking cute stuff (like hello kitty or computer games even if they’re violent or logical games) like you’re like a cute little angel baby even if you’re a guy and if you’re a guy people hate on you bc you’re sweet and quiet and you laugh to yourself and other guys feel like you should flex your masculinity some people (TW) may try to say you’re gay for liking certain things which you could be and so what if you are gay used to mean happy ☺️ but for most of you I see you’re severely homosexual lol and lowkey all the girls have crushes on you but even tho you’re a quiet angel baby you prob got lean muscles and dark hair and you just don’t look like the other guys it’s crazy how men deal with beauty standards like women too but even tho most people may not have an outward crush on you, if there was a vote most people surprisingly to you would actually say you’re quite attractive ..

people hate on you bc you wear simple clothes like graphic tees and joggers and you look so hot 😂 I see you may be kind of a clutz or accidentally wear mix match shoes bc you got dressed n the dark lmao it’s giving strong struggling artist hobo vibes lmao and people hate that about you bc you’re naturally alluring and radiant. You may like anime or like to tell stories, even tho people may try to act like you’re lame if there was a bonfire people would want you there and sometimes people may try to throw parties just to see if you’d show up but you never do bc ✨social anxiety✨ .. strong E girl E boy /goth vibes it reminds me of stefan salvatore from vampire diaries 🤭😍🤤😫.. you’re not actually a guys guy or a girls girl bc you prob have a lot of siblings that are the opposite gender or you and you’re the only one that’s a girl amongst brothers or vice versa or if you’re the only boy with a bunch of sisters you may have a baby brother that’s wayyyyy younger than you .. basically you see how people may use manipulative tactics due to gender

I keep seeing backpacks maybe you take transit a lot of you like to walk and you just got your backpack but what you got n there Dora? 👀 better not be a weapon of mass destruction lolz jk

Strong mutable sign vibes or check your Pisces /12th house and gemini houses or Mercury

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creaturefeaturebypadfoot · 3 months ago

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The Augurey in Harry Potter: Origins, Symbolism, and Role in Wizarding History

Among the many magical creatures introduced in the Harry Potter universe, few are as misunderstood—or as melodramatic—as the Augurey. Also known as the Irish Phoenix, this peculiar bird is far from fiery or flamboyant. Instead, it cuts a thin, gloomy figure, resembling a small, underfed vulture with greenish-black feathers and a sharp, sorrowful cry.

A Shy Bird with a Bad Reputation

Native to Great Britain and Ireland, the Augurey is intensely shy, preferring to nest alone in thorny brambles. Its tear-shaped nest is often hidden deep in the undergrowth. It survives on a diet of insects, flies, and even fairies, which it hunts during heavy rain.

The Augurey’s mournful cry has long carried an ominous reputation. In wizarding folklore, it was once believed that its cry foretold death. This superstition caused many wizards to go to great lengths to avoid Augurey nests. But in 1824, magical researcher Gulliver Pokeby put those fears to rest with his book Why I Didn’t Die When the Augurey Cried. He revealed the truth: the Augurey simply sings when rain is on the way. Rather than a death omen, it’s a magical weather report.

From Myth to Meteorologist

Once the myth was dispelled, Augureys were sometimes used as magical weather forecasters. However, their constant moaning during rainy seasons—especially in wetter regions—made them less than ideal pets. While their feathers are striking, they repel ink and are therefore useless for writing. That said, the legendary Quill of Acceptance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is believed to be made from an Augurey feather.

Love in the Rain

The Augurey’s courtship rituals are surprisingly complex, peaking around Valentine’s Day each year. Sadly, Augureys raised in captivity often struggle to find mates if released, having never learned these intricate social behaviors. Their shy and melancholic nature doesn’t make matchmaking any easier.

Famous (and Infamous) Augurey Moments

Over the years, the Augurey has popped up in several curious moments in wizarding history:

Uric the Oddball, a notoriously eccentric wizard, once kept 50 Augureys as pets. On a particularly rainy day, they all cried in unison—leading Uric to believe he was a ghost. He promptly gave himself a concussion trying to walk through a wall.

In 1927, Newt Scamander—the famed Magizoologist—had a pet Augurey named Patrick, who lived among other magical creatures in his enchanted suitcase.

Hans, an oversized and gloomy Augurey, became the mascot of the Liechtenstein National Quidditch Team, even gaining a fan club.

Most hauntingly, Delphini, the daughter of Voldemort, grew up with an Augurey and later adopted it as her personal symbol. She had a tattoo of one on the back of her neck, and in an alternate timeline where Voldemort won, she took on the name “The Augurey.”

What’s in a Name?

The name “Augurey” cleverly plays on augury, the ancient Roman practice of interpreting omens by observing birds. Given that the Augurey’s cry was once thought to predict death (and now rain), the term is fitting. Some even suggest the "-ey" suffix hints at "grey"—a color symbolic of sadness, clouds, and rain. Very on-brand for such a moody little bird.

So, while the Augurey may not be the most glamorous creature in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, it certainly leaves an impression. Equal parts misunderstood, mystical, and moody, the Augurey reminds us that not every ominous sound is a bad omen—sometimes, it’s just time to grab your umbrella.

#augurey #harry potter #hp fandom #fantastic beasts #newt scamander

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fungalittleweirdo · 1 year ago

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Maybe one one of the brothers(rise) with a crush on reader but hears from Casey that resder marries/falls in love with someone else/doesn't make it.Whatever you feel like.ALSO LETS GO NEW WRITING BLOCK‼️‼️‼️

cyrill my friend i am going to feed you so well here

hmmmm

donatello x male reader, set a couple years after kraang-- the good timeline

i asked my friends to pick a turtle and a gender so i got that lol

i'll get more organised as i write more on this blog trust meee </3

enjoy!

Communicate With Your Lab Partner, Donatello!

"I see the way you look at him, Donnie."

He blinks, takes a deep breath, and shakes his head with an awkward laugh. "I don't know what you're talking about Casey, it's nothing. I've just been thinking a lot about him lately. I hope he and his eventual partner are happy together, that's all. I want my lab partner to be happy." Donatello's face contorts for a moment before it finally lands on an off-putting smile, "Anything but could affect the efficiency of which our labs are conducted."

Casey shakes his head and looks away, "Now I regret telling you about them." The time traveller sighs, standing up to frown at the softshell mutant. Donatello waves him off and urges him out of his lab, muttering about how Casey has nothing to worry about and that he would carry on like normal. But that very night he finds himself staring at the ceiling of his lab, blinking away the blurring of his vision. Donnie reaches for his phone without adjusting his posture, holding it above his face to check the time.

2:42 am.

He yawns, scrolling up to find his lab partner had texted him a funny picture of some cat meme. Donnie's lips curl up and his chest blooms with warmth as he reacts to the photo with a laughing face emoji, then responds with a meme of his own. His friend reacts with a straight faced emoji, responding with you're not funny, stop pretending you are. Donatello rolls his eyes, continuing to talk to him as the hours pass by, and when he checks the time again it is seven in the morning. It's time for the spiny softshell to head to bed even though he was meant to stay up all night regardless.

Lab Partner (7:02 AM): I know you should be heading to sleep now, but before you go, what's the weather going to be like Friday night?

Donatello sits up straight and winces as his neck's pain receptors send massive signals to his tired turtle brain, screaming at him to go to bed. He opts to shrimp over his keyboard as he checks his weather prediction algorithm, finding that there would be a seventy percent chance of rain over the tri-state area. He texts the extensive information to his lab partner, then asks him why he needs to know.

Lab Partner (7:11 AM): I asked this person out to go to Central Park expecting it to be sunny because of this week's forecast

Lab Partner (7:11 AM): But I trust your weather algorithm a lot more

Lab Partner (7:12 AM): Especially since they let Warren Stone back on the air

Delivered (7:12 AM): Scoff, any weatherman who associates themselves with that literal worm cannot be trusted for the weather. You came to the right turtle.

Lab Partner (7:13 AM): Yeah, I know I did

Lab Partner (7:13 AM): Get some rest, okay Don? I love you <3

Donatello's heart skips a beat and he stares at the screen for a moment, blinking at the three silly little words he somehow feels like he stole. Just for a moment, I could pretend... he thinks, pursing his lips as he responds in kind, then gets up from his chair to turn everything off in his lab, save for the emergency low lights. He begins heading toward his bedroom with his phone off in his hand.

The softshell is now lying awake, staring at his ceiling as he lay in bed fantasising of silly things he thought could never happen. It's bothering him, he knows it, but he doesn't feel like paying a visit to Dr. Feelings. His hand's gentle caresses on his plastron remind him of how his lab partner would hug him from behind and sway with him as he works, even though it always distracts him for a moment. The stim always brings him down to earth when he is in too deep in his work. Donatello misses the way he nuzzles into him when he's sleepy, spending days working on something together and letting him sleep on the air mattress he has set up in the corner. He misses the opportunities in which his lab partner would ask for him to sleep beside him, curling up in each other's arms.

Now that he thinks about it, Donatello and his lab partner are not strictly platonic, the way they interact with each other is quite intimate. The turtle blushes at the memory of his lips carefully planting kisses on his lab partner's head, and him doing the same. It was kismet, the way they met, since Donnie's lab partner was a former member of the Purple Dragons. Kendra let him go after he started spending too much time with the softshell rather than just spying on him. He risked so much for me, Donatello thinks, wringing his hands as he blinks away his exhaustion. He decides to take matters into his own hands, falling asleep with an uneasy feeling in his gut.

Donnie's lab partner wakes up with a start after a four hour sleep, promising Leo he would sleep more, then berating him for staying up late too. He makes himself a small breakfast and goes through his phone, then gets ready for his free day. Donnie calls him and he answers with a dramatic groan of annoyance. "Don, I swear, go back to sleep," he starts packing a bag to go out while listening to Donnie whine over the phone.

"I know! I know! You told me to rest and I already did. But you didn't sleep enough either so you're a hypocrite. I... wanted to talk to you about something."

"Can it wait? You need to sleep, dude."

"No, it can't."

Donnie seems to take a shaky breath, then speaks again.

"I need to tell you something important and I can't wait another day to tell you."

The mutant's lab partner sighs, then nods, even if 'Tello couldn't see him make the gesture.

"Yeah, I'll be over tonight. As long as you rest."

"I promise... I love you."

He pauses, the words ringing in his ears, bouncing around in his head like a screensaver avoiding the corners of its device. He's never heard Donnie say those words out loud before. He's never said them to him either, so the initiative shocks him into silence. Before the boy could respond, Donnie hung up the call and he stands in the kitchen with toast crumbs in his palm and marmalade on his fingers.

The difference between saying it out loud and sending it over text is made apparent in the boy's head, a realisation taking over as his heart beat faster in his rib cage. Oh... no... Being Donnie's lab partner has been fun these past few years, especially developing a close friendship like the one they have, but he finally realises how he must have come across. I should get my errands done quick to be at the lair in a timely manner, he thinks, washing his hands and grabbing his things to step out of his apartment, locking the door and starting his day.

Donatello is bleary-eyed and yawning to the point where his throat is dry. He stumbles into the kitchen to look for a glass of water, asking S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. to serve him some hydration. He gulps it down instantly and slams the glass down on the counter, then jumps at the voice in the corner of the kitchen.

"Happy to see you're drinking water, 'Tello."

An awkward smile plasters itself upon his face as he turns toward his lab partner, looking him up and down. He is wearing comfortable clothes as if he plans to stay a while. His tail twitches before he stops it from wagging in excitement.

"Ah, my favourite friend! I... I expected you to come to the lair much later."

"I can see that," He raises an eyebrow as he gives Donatello a once over, noting the black sweatpants he donned. "Cold?" The boy's arms snake their way around Donatello's waist and he jumps at the contact, nudging him away with a robotic laugh.

"Cold? Scoff! Who said I was cold?" Donatello now feels awake enough to serve himself his own water, watching it fill his glass as his friend stood beside him curiously. Then he gulps the entire glass down again.

"You usually wear clothes down here when you're cold. You don't opt for pyjamas like your brothers either, so you must be cold."

"Oh dear lab partner, how dare you use your observational skills on me."

Said lab partner chuckles and leans against the fridge. "You also don't reject my physical advances toward you... Is today a bad tactile sensory day?" He taps in a pattern against the countertop, signalling to Donatello that he is mildly worried. The softshell sighs and puts the glass down in the sink, stretching and cracking his limbs. He inhales through his nose, then exhales cool air that gradually calms him down.

"I am afraid of what I want to talk about."

The boy's eyes widen, his face depicts concern, and he moves on to sit on the stool beside the rack holding the pots and pans. Donatello goes to sit on the counter across from him. A couple beats of silence pass as the two look at each other, studying one another's body language. The turtle came to the conclusion that his lab partner is laidback enough to take the conversation seriously but without too much panic. He feels relaxed enough to continue talking, so he does.

"I am aware that the future Casey speaks of—whenever he feels ready to, that is—is much different compared to ours. Everything that happened in that timeline is completely irrelevant to now due to the butterfly effect. You know, how a flap of a butterfly's wings could summon a hurricane? Well... something he told me keeps nagging me. It keeps this voice in my head rambling on and on, it won't stop telling me things that make me feel... Things. I don't know what! I am feeling things and I hate when I do because I can't label them!"

Donatello stands up and begins pacing, cracking his fingers one by one as he continues to talk and his lab partner listens.

"Casey told me you had a partner in the future. It was great at first... spending a little under a decade together... then they were possessed by Kraang biomatter. You... you disobeyed Leo's orders to look for them, to capture them and keep them under control for when I found a serum to inject in them, one that could kill off the Kraang schmuck but leave their human flesh unaffected... But you didn't make it back to base."

He stands from the stool he sat on and approached Donatello, carefully holding his hands out, palms facing up. The softshell takes his hands and revels in their softness, visibly relaxing and staying put.

"Your passing is not what affects me the most," Donatello reaches up to cup his friend's cheek in his hand, swiping his thumb lightly across his face. "It's you sharing your affections with anyone other than I. That is what is bothering me."

The boy freezes, blinking up at Donatello with a confused smile. "You're the only one I share moments like these with. I don't understand what you're saying," he giggles, reaching up to squeeze Donatello's hand. The scientist is equally as perplexed.

"I'm saying that I love you."

He stands up straighter, rigid and unyielding. Heat spreads upon his face and he looks away, his laugh wavering.

"You know, hearing that in person sounds a lot better."

Donatello still holds his breath, waiting, waiting, waiting.

"I love you too, Donnie."

The mutant feels lightheaded when he exhales, then leans in for a second before stopping himself. His lab partner grins, nodding while he bites his lip knowingly. Donatello springs into action, gripping his friend's shoulders and pulling him in to meld his lips on his, tasting, savouring, fluttering his eyes shut as a grin stretched across his face, parting from the kiss with muddy, blushing cheeks.

"Can we do that more? That was really nice. I would like to open a document for this... if you let me."

He rolled his eyes and pulled his favourite turtle closer.

"Yes, you may, 'Tello. We have all the time in the world."

#rottmnt #rottmnt writing #rise of the tmnt #rise donnie #rise donatello #rottmnt donnie #rise donnie x reader #oneshot #no beta we die like gram gram #angst #light angst #fluff #angst with a happy ending #yippee

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