#Phase 1 Strategies

[fogaminghub]

🌟 Calling all Jedi! Are you prepared to face Dagan Gera in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor? Our new guide dives into How to Defeat Dagan Gera (Final Fight) and breaks down each phase with effective strategies! 💫 Discover how to master team combos and dodge tricky attacks to secure your victory. 🛡️✨

📖 

[dravidious]

You're more amazing than love

Finished up Trauma Team, and I gotta say, the difficulty was consistently way lower than Under the Knife. Even the final Twisted Rosalia operation was easy. But wait, beating the game unlocks hard mode! I'm so sorry, I wasn't being fair, I was judging the difficulty by the first playthrough, I should really try out the hard mode to see if-

I beat hard-mode Twisted Rosalia on the first try.

So yeah, no idea what to expect for UtK2's difficulty

[luvbabydoll]

— under their noses — chapter two

a series made by © luvbabydoll

the briefing

soap slammed his hands on the table. “we need a plan.”

across from him, gaz nodded solemnly. “a proper one. can’t keep runnin’ around like headless chickens.”

ghost, arms crossed, sighed. “this is the dumbest shit I’ve ever been a part of.”

price just pinched the bridge of his nose. “why am I here?”

because obviously, this had escalated.

after weeks of failed covert testing, the boys had finally accepted that their efforts weren’t enough. they needed a strategy. a mission.

and so, they had gathered in the barracks for what soap had officially titled “operation angel.”

gaz pulled out a whiteboard. “alright, lads. let’s break this down.”

he uncapped a marker and wrote PHASE ONE: in big, blocky letters.

“step one: we confirm the voice.”

soap nodded. “already tried that, didn’t work. but we have confirmed she calls people sweetheart.”

ghost grumbled, “that’s hardly proof.”

“yeah, yeah, which is why we move on to—” gaz drew an arrow. “step two: spot the mannerisms.”

soap leaned back in his chair. “already got a list going.” he tapped a fucking notebook on the table. “lip biting. head tilting. that little—y’know—that thing she does with her hands when she’s thinking?”

gaz snapped his fingers. “yes. the wrist tapping.”

ghost stared. “you lot are fucking freaks.”

price exhaled slowly. “i cannot believe i’m listening to this.”

but the boys ignored them, too deep in the mission.

gaz turned back to the board. “step three: test her reactions.”

soap grinned. “push her a little. see if she slips up.”

ghost raised a brow. “and how, exactly, do you plan to do that?”

soap just smirked. “oh, i’ve got ideas.”

the execution — attempt #1

they were not subtle.

and the worst part?

you noticed.

it started small.

soap, lingering in the med bay for no reason, watching you like a hawk.

gaz, conveniently bringing up onlyfans in casual conversation.

ghost, lurking in doorways like a fucking cryptid, staring.

and price?

price was just done with this entire situation.

“why are you still in here?” you finally asked soap, who was sitting on the exam table, legs swinging.

“dunno.” he kicked his feet. “maybe i just like your company.”

you narrowed your eyes.

then, slowly, “…are you okay?”

soap nodded. “yeah. you could say I’m in pretty good hands.”

there was a beat.

soap just grinned.

you tilted your head. “...alright, out.”

soap groaned. “damn it.”

the execution — #2

the second attempt was even less subtle.

gaz, sitting next to you in the mess hall, sighed dramatically.

“y’know what I could really go for?” he mused.

you looked up. “what?”

gaz stretched leisurely. “a nice, soft-voiced woman tellin’ me i’ve been workin’ too hard. maybe calling me love.”

you blinked.

ghost audibly sighed.

soap hissed at him. “too much.”

gaz winced. “shit, yeah, that was too much.”

you just stared at them.

“...you guys are acting really weird.”

the execution — #3

downright pathetic.

soap, leaning against the med bay door, casually went:

“hey, what’s your opinion on side gigs?”

you didn’t even look up.

“depends.”

soap nodded. “cool, cool. ever done any? like... online stuff?”

you froze.

not much. just a flicker.

but the men saw it.

ghost, across the room, zeroed in on you.

soap grinned widely. “huh. that’s funny, because i swear i’ve seen—”

you turned around, smiling sweetly. “soap?

soap blinked. “yeah?”

you handed him a giant fucking needle.

“hold this.”

soap immediately backed away. “r-right, y’know what? forget I said anything.”

the debrief

the boys sat in the barracks, defeated.

soap groaned. “she knows.”

gaz exhaled. “oh she definitely knows.”

ghost just leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “and yet, we still don’t have proof.”

price sighed. “i hope you idiots realize how stupid this is.”

soap threw his hands up. “we can’t just ask her!”

price gave him a look. “why the hell not?”

silence.

gaz rubbed the back of his neck. “i mean… it’d be weird.”

soap nodded. “yeah. like, ‘hey, we’ve all been following your account for months, any chance that’s you?’”

price rolled his eyes. “christ. you lot are pathetic.”

but the worst part?

the absolute worst part?

despite all their efforts—despite the failed plan, the awkward encounters, the hours spent investigating—

they were still no closer to confirming it.

and you?

you were having the time of your life watching them struggle.

[carnalcrows]

STAY QUIET

pairing: rockstar! male OC x male reader [faceclaim]

synopsis: The scandal should’ve ended with damage control. But when the video keeps resurfacing—and the trail leads back to a grudge older than Jiho’s debut—you realize this was never about bad PR. It was personal. Now you're spiraling, Jiho’s not letting go, and someone’s about to find out what happens when a scandal turns into strategy.

content warnings: 18+, idol/manager dynamic, bottom male reader(he’s tired, ok), jiho is younger and terrifyingly in control, mild yandere energy, fingering, p in a (reader receiving), possessive behavior in soft lighting, revenge plot, workplace betrayal, low-key emotional blackmail, they catch the guy but at what cost. also: sheets were changed after, i'm not a monster.

word count: 2.5k [pt 1 here]

You don’t tell anyone he stayed.

No one asks.

When you return to work the next morning, your pass still works, but you notice two things before you’ve even cleared the lobby.

Your name is no longer on the artist schedule.

The lady at the front desk doesn’t look you in the eye.

The building smells like cheap cologne and too much coffee. Somewhere upstairs, Jiho is probably already in makeup. You’re not technically supposed to be there, not on paper, but no one told you not to show up, just like no one said the scandal was real. Just like no one ever tells you anything directly.

You keep your head down and head for the second floor, hoping the PR director’s still out at the brand meeting.

She’s not.

She’s waiting in the boardroom with two people you don’t recognise and a company-issued iPad pulled up to the paused frame of the video.

You blink once. Twice.

“Have a seat,” she says. Not unkind. But definitely not kind.

You sit.

The man beside her—suit, subtle luxury watch, no name tag—leans forward like he’s about to explain a security breach, not your job’s slow death.

“We’ve reviewed the clip. It’s clear there was physical contact that could be interpreted as inappropriate.”

You exhale slowly through your nose. “It was a collar.”

He nods like that’s tragic.

“We’re not here to accuse you. But the clip didn’t come from an audience member or a fan. It was internal. Shot from the floor’s restricted side angle. Only ten or so staffers have access.”

You freeze.

“You’re saying it was leaked on purpose?”

He doesn’t answer. That’s not his job.

The PR lead clicks her nails against the screen. “What we need from you right now is stability. Don’t escalate. Don’t comment. Don’t reach out to Jiho directly, even privately.”

“Why?” you ask, despite knowing better.

She tilts her head. “Because this isn’t about what happened anymore. It’s about what people think happened. And what they want to believe next.”

You leave the meeting with your jaw locked and your hands shaking.

The elevator’s slow. The hallway feels tighter than usual. Your phone buzzes once.

It’s Jiho.

Where are you?

You type out: Don’t. Not right now.

Then delete it. Then type it again. Then delete that too.

The elevator stops on the rehearsal floor. The doors open.

Jiho’s standing there.

He’s alone.

Hood up. Cap low. A water bottle dangling from his fingers like he forgot to let go.

You step back into the corner of the elevator without meaning to.

He doesn’t get in.

Just tilts his head. “Come with me.”

You should say no.

You don’t.

You’re not sure if it’s gravity or muscle memory. All you know is that by the time you’re halfway down the hallway, trailing a few steps behind him like it’s still your job, your pulse is up and your mouth is dry.

You don’t ask where he’s taking you.

Maybe it’s pride. Maybe it’s instinct. Maybe it’s just easier to let him lead than to admit you’ve lost control of the narrative—of your job, of this… whatever this is. You just follow Jiho through the corridor like you’re still the one managing him. Like you’re not the scandal the company’s hoping will quietly phase out.

He doesn’t speak until the elevator doors close behind you.

Then: “They told you to stay away from me?”

You don’t answer.

He tilts his head, smiling like it’s funny. “So why are you here?”

You give him a look. “You asked.”

“That was a test.”

You scoff. “Of course it was.”

The elevator dings on the basement level. Not parking, not storage. The old staff lounge—the one the company stopped using after a remodel. It’s empty now, lights dim, couch still there with a rip in the armrest and one of Taeyang’s old hoodies folded like someone meant to come back for it.

Jiho walks in like he owns the place.

He sits. Doesn’t gesture for you to do the same. Just watches as you hover in the doorway like you’re waiting for a better option.

“What is this, Jiho?”

He shrugs. “Time alone.”

You press your fingers to your brow, exhausted. “You really don’t care, do you? About the fact that this could ruin your reputation, your future—”

“You.”

The word cuts through your sentence like a knife.

You stare.

He leans forward, elbows on knees, fingers laced. “It’s not about me. It’s not even about the company anymore. They’re not scared because I touched your collar. They’re scared because they think I might do it again.”

You’re quiet.

He continues. “They saw something they weren’t supposed to see. So did everyone else. That’s the problem. That I looked at you like that. That you looked back.”

“I didn’t—”

“You did.”

You open your mouth. Close it.

He stands slowly. Walks over until he’s just in front of you, blocking the doorway. Not touching. But close enough that your brain short-circuits the idea of leaving.

“I’m not going to make you do anything,” he says, voice low. “I don’t need to.”

You flinch. “What does that mean?”

Jiho looks at you like it’s obvious.

“It means I already have you.”

You don’t remember when you started shaking. Only that you’re still shaking twenty minutes later, in the stairwell, back against cold concrete, your phone buzzing in your pocket.

You answer on the third ring.

It’s Doyun.

“Hey,” he says casually. “You ghosting me or something?”

You glance at the wall across from you. Your brain’s still spinning. “I’ve been busy.”

“Yeah, I figured. PR’s been sprinting across the building since 9 a.m. I think someone cried.”

You rub your eyes. “Did they say anything?”

“Not officially. But you know how this place works. The stylists know everything before management does.”

You wait

Doyun exhales. “They think it came from inside.”

You go still.

“The clip,” he clarifies. “Not a fan. Not a leak through press. It was shot from the side—restricted angle. One of the old camera hallways that’s staff-only now.”

Your mouth goes dry.

“Was it… recent?” you ask, slowly.

“No clue. But it was posted through a dummy account with a weird handle. Someone’s been watching for a while, maybe.”

The hallway feels colder now. Too still.

Doyun hesitates. “You think Jiho knew?”

The question hangs in the space between you. You don’t know how to answer it. You don’t even know if you want to.

“No,” you say. “Probably not.”

Doyun doesn’t push. “Yeah. Probably not.”

But he doesn’t sound convinced.

And you aren’t either.

You’re called in on a Thursday.

No warning. Just a message from the assistant coordinator that says "9:45 a.m., 3rd floor. Bring your badge." You don’t ask what it’s about. You already know.

The room’s smaller this time. No full boardroom. Just the head of artist management, a legal rep, and your new handler—some fresh-faced guy from planning who speaks in phrasing like “potential optics challenges” and “staff-artist ambiguity threshold.”

They don’t ask you what happened.

They ask what you’re willing to say on record.

You sit there, palms flat against your jeans, wondering how the hell this became your life.

You don’t name Jiho.

You don’t need to.

They tell you that "a quiet, internal phase-out" might be the best path forward. You ask what that means. They say you'll still get paid. You ask how long. They don’t answer.

Then they tell you a second clip has been posted.

It’s shorter than the first. Just three seconds. From a different angle—shakier, a little out of focus.

But it’s still you.

Still Jiho.

He’s brushing past you in a hallway, hand grazing your back. It could be nothing. It is nothing. But the caption under it says:

“so they’re still seeing each other huh 💅🏻”

It has thirty thousand likes in under an hour.

You ask if they’ve traced it.

They say no.

You ask if Jiho’s seen it.

They don’t answer that either.

You leave the office with your head pounding.

You don’t go home. You don’t go to the studio. You end up at a small café four blocks away, the kind of place where no one looks at you twice if you stay too long and don’t order a second drink. You sit in the back corner with your phone face down and your thoughts crawling like ants in your skull.

You don’t know how long you’re there before someone sits across from you.

You don’t have to look up to know who it is.

“I was followed,” Jiho says quietly.

You look up then. He’s not wearing a mask. No hat. Just a hoodie and glasses and that blank expression that always looks like he’s either thinking too much or nothing at all.

“By who?”

“I don’t know.”

He sips from a plastic cup that you didn’t see him buy.

“They weren’t close. Just enough for a blurry shot. They didn’t care what I did. They just wanted to see where I went.”

You don’t speak.

Jiho leans in, elbows on the table.

“I went to see you.”

You close your eyes.

“You knew that would happen.”

“I hoped it would.”

“You—” your voice is too sharp, too loud. You swallow. Start again. “You’re being followed. And you still came here?”

He nods. “Now they know where to look.”

Your chest tightens.

“Jiho,” you whisper, “what are you doing?”

He’s quiet for a long time.

Then: “I’m making it impossible for them to erase you.”

---

You’re half-asleep when Doyun calls.

It’s not unusual—he’s the kind of person who only remembers you exist when the world’s ending. But this time, his voice isn’t teasing. It’s quiet. Measured.

“I know who leaked the clip,” he says.

You sit up immediately.

There’s silence on the line. Then: “His name’s Jisoo. Does that ring a bell?”

You close your eyes. “Yeah.”

Trainee. Cut just before debut. Replaced by Jiho.

You’d heard whispers, back when you joined—something about missed rehearsals, a bad attitude, internal tension. No one ever said it out loud, but everyone knew: Jiho took his spot.

Doyun exhales. “Apparently he still had access to the system. He’s been reposting the video from a buried staff login. PR’s keeping it quiet while they figure out how far it goes.”

You rub your eyes. “Why are you telling me?”

“Because I think he’s not done. And because I saw Jiho earlier. He’s not doing great.”

You freeze. “What does that mean?”

“I mean,” Doyun says carefully, “he looked like someone who’s about to make a problem permanent.”

You hang up without saying goodbye.

You find Jiho in the old green room. The one they stopped using after the remodel. He’s sitting on the floor, hoodie up, guitar untouched beside him. He doesn’t look surprised when you walk in.

“They know,” you say. He doesn’t look up. “Yeah.”

You close the door behind you. “You could’ve told me.”

“I didn’t want you involved.”

“You got me fired,” you snap. “No,” he says. “They tried. I stopped them.” 

That shuts you up.

You sink into the chair across from him. The air between you is still sharp, brittle.

“Why did he do it?” Jiho finally looks at you. “Because I got his spot.”

“That was years ago.” He shrugs. “Some people hold grudges better than they hold choreography.”

You almost laugh. Almost.

Then: “We need proof.” Jiho blinks. “We already have it.”

“Yeah,” you say, “but we’re not the ones holding the company leash.”

The plan is messy.

You dig through the backend system and find the last IP log-in. Then you run a bait file through it—an early version of a sponsorship contract with a fake date and Jiho’s name highlighted like something’s off. Then you sit back and wait.

It doesn’t take long.

Thirty-seven minutes later, the file’s been opened. Duplicated. Shared to a Discord server you didn’t even know existed.

You bring it straight to legal.

They call you back the next day.

“It’s done,” they say. “We’ve locked him out. He won’t be bothering anyone again.”

You expect that to feel better.

It doesn’t.

You don’t even knock. He opens the door like he was already standing behind it.

Jiho’s not surprised. Not smiling, either. Just calm, quiet, eyes flicking over your face like he already knows why you’re here.

You walk in.

He closes the door behind you—slowly. No words. No questions. Just lets the silence stretch until it turns into something else.

Then: “Take your shoes off.”

You do.

You’re not even halfway through the hallway before he’s got a hand on your jaw, turning your face to his, breath warm across your lips.

“I’m not going to ask what this is, Hyung,” Jiho says, voice low. “I already know.”

And you should respond. You should say something—something level, something safe—but the way he looks at you strips that instinct clean. So you just nod.

That’s all he needs.

He has you stripped down before your head even hits the pillow. Every movement is intentional. Every touch calculated.

He kisses like it’s not optional. Like it’s permission and punishment all at once. Your pulse spikes the second his hand slips beneath your thigh, pulling you open, making space for him.

“Hold still,” Jiho says, just above your ear.

You try. You fail.

He moves slowly—not for your comfort, but for his own satisfaction. Like he wants to feel every inch of your body adjust around his cock. Like stretching you out means something more than just prep—it means possession.

The first thrust is too much. The second is worse. The third has you gasping, your fingers twisting in the sheets, legs trembling under the pressure of his pace.

Jiho doesn’t slow down.

He stays close—pressed to your chest, hips moving in a steady rhythm that makes it hard to think, let alone speak. His breath is hot against your throat. His grip unshakable.

“You feel that, Hyung?” he whispers. “That’s me.”

You groan—half pleasure, half disbelief.

He presses deeper. His body locks into yours like muscle memory, like a song he’s played a hundred times but only now gets to hear out loud.

You’re already close—your spine bowing, your mouth slack, your vision buzzing at the edges—and when he pulls your leg up over his hip, the angle makes everything shatter.

You’re gone.

You come like your body’s been waiting for it all week—hips stuttering, breath caught, eyes shut tight—and Jiho doesn’t stop. He keeps fucking you through it, pace tight and focused, until he’s cursing into your neck and spilling inside you with one final thrust that leaves your whole body pulsing.

He doesn’t pull out right away.

Just stays there.

Breathing hard.

Chest rising against yours.

Then he lifts his head. Looks down at you. Quiet. Sweaty. Still a little smug.

“You’re mine,” he says again, voice hoarse.

And this time, you don’t even try to deny it.

Later, you lie there tangled together, skin damp, hair in your eyes, breath slowly evening out.

Jiho’s arm is thrown across your waist, lazy but possessive.

“You think they’ll still try to split us?” you ask.

He exhales against your collar. “They can try.”

You close your eyes.

For the first time since it all started, you believe him.

© carnalcrows on tumblr. Please do not steal my works as I spend time, and I take genuine effort to do them.

Taglist: @axetivev @yyuinaa @zaynesyumei @sageofspades @onyxmango @puccigucii @the-ultimate-librarian @sooobiinn @sooniebby @i2innie @tintenka1@timaas-blog @darlinqvi @horrorsbeyondreality @rednugget @lysanderplume @leron1108 @kauo-writez @the0ishere @calgurl @kissenturine @bleedingbl0ssom @gayaristocrat @hyppernovva [comment to be added, or send an ask]

[bloomzone]

2025 #8 The Power of 3: Divide Your Year, Reclaim Your Time

Happy New Year—it’s 1st January, and 2025 is finally here woooooaaaaah. A blank slate, full of possibility. But this isn’t about resolutions. This is about creating a system—a life strategy that works every single day, not just for a few weeks in January. (This is my mindset rn !)

✒️..That’s why today, we’re talking about the 3-3-3-3 Method. Your year isn’t one overwhelming block of time. It’s not a marathon you burn out on halfway through(trust me). It’s a cycle of seasons—each three months long—designed for you to grow, adjust, and conquer in stages.

[You don’t need to control 12 months at once. You need to master each quarter.]

Why 3-3-3-3 Works

The biggest mistake people make is thinking success is linear. It’s not . Life happens in phases. When you divide your year into 3-month blocks, you give yourself permission to focus, recalibrate, and restart four times a year.

[Three months is long enough to see results but short enough to stay motivated.]

Four separate quarters means you have four fresh starts. No wasted time, no excuses.This structure keeps you accountable, productive, and adaptable.

Breaking Down the Year

Let’s go quarter by quarter !!

Q1: The Groundwork (January-March)

This is your foundation. These three months are about clarity and direction. You’re building the systems and habits that will carry you through the rest of the year.

Set specific, actionable goals for Q1—just three.

Focus on discipline, not motivation. Build habits that align with your goals.

Start small, but be consistent. Every day you show up, you’re stacking bricks.

Your mantra for Q1? “Brick by brick, I’m building my future.”

Q2: Growth Season (April-June)

This is where the seeds you planted in Q1 start to sprout. Now it’s time to double down.

Push yourself harder. Challenge the systems you built.

Evaluate: Are your habits working? If not, adjust them.

Stay consistent—this is the quarter where most people quit.

Your mantra for Q2? “I don’t stop when I’m tired; I stop when I’m done.”

Q3: The Grind (July-September)

This is the toughest quarter—it’s hot, it’s long, and the novelty of the year has worn off. But this is also where champions are made.

Stay focused on execution. Don’t lose sight of your goals pleaaaase I know u can do it

Keep your pace steady. This isn’t about speed; it’s about endurance.

Reflect: What’s worked so far this year? What hasn’t? Cuz we are not perfect!!!

Your mantra for Q3? “I thrive in the grind. I grow in the struggle.”

Q4: The Finish Line (October-December)

This isn’t the time to coast. These last three months are your chance to finish strong.

Tie up loose ends. Complete what you started.

Celebrate your wins, but don’t get complacent.

Plan for the next year. Use what you’ve learned to set bigger goals for 2026.

Your mantra for Q4? “I finish what I start. I don’t quit—ever.”

Tasks (ideas) for Each Quarter

1. Q1: Build Your Base

Identify three goals.

Break them into daily and weekly tasks.

Track your progress daily.

2. Q2: Expand Your Reach

Push your comfort zone.

Evaluate and adjust your systems.

Focus on consistency, not perfection.

3. Q3: Commit to the Grind

Keep going, even when it feels tough.

Reflect monthly: What’s working? What isn’t?

Stay disciplined, no matter what.

4. Q4: Reflect and Rebuild

Finish strong—don’t leave anything undone.

Celebrate, but use failures as lessons. FAILURES ARE TEACHERS !

Set the stage for a powerful 2026.

1st January: it's a Now or Never

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new year. But here’s the truth: excitement fades. Discipline doesn’t. If you want this year to be different, you have to act differently.Today isn’t about January 1st being special. It’s about what you do with every day after this. Divide your year. Build your plan. And most importantly—execute.Because when December 31st comes around, and the world is reflecting on what they’ve lost or didn’t achieve, you’ll stand tall knowing you didn’t waste a single season. You didn’t just live through 2025—you mastered it.

one quarter at the tiiiiiime!!

@bloomzone 📇

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - July 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my new(ly repurposed) Patreon!

1. Four new cheetah cubs born in Saudi Arabia after 40 years of extinction

“[T]he discovery of mummified cheetahs in caves […] which ranged in age from 4,000 to as recent as 120 years, proved that the animals […] once called [Saudi Arabia] home. The realisation kick-started the country’s Cheetah Conservation Program to bring back the cats to their historic Arabian range. […] Dr Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the NCW, said: […] “This motivates us to continue our efforts to restore and reintroduce cheetahs, guided by an integrated strategy designed in accordance with best international practices.””

2. In sub-Saharan Africa, ‘forgotten’ foods could boost climate resilience, nutrition

“[A study published in PNAS] examined “forgotten” crops that may help make sub-Saharan food systems more resilient, and more nutritious, as climate change makes it harder to grow [current staple crops.] [… The study identified 138 indigenous] food crops that were “relatively underresearched, underutilized, or underpromoted in an African context,” but which have the nutrient content and growing stability to support healthy diets and local economies in the region. […] In Eswatini, van Zonneveld and the World Vegetable Center are working with schools to introduce hardy, underutilized vegetables to their gardens, which have typically only grown beans and maize.”

3. Here's how $4 billion in government money is being spent to reduce climate pollution

“[New Orleans was awarded] nearly $50 million to help pay for installing solar on low to middle income homes [… and] plans to green up underserved areas with trees and build out its lackluster bike lane system to provide an alternative to cars. […] In Utah, $75 million will fund several measures from expanding electric vehicles to reducing methane emissions from oil and gas production. [… A] coalition of states led by North Carolina will look to store carbon in lands used for agriculture as well as natural places like wetlands, with more than $400 million. [… This funding is] “providing investments in communities, new jobs, cost savings for everyday Americans, improved air quality, … better health outcomes.””

4. From doom scrolling to hope scrolling: this week’s big Democratic vibe shift

“[Democrats] have been on an emotional rollercoaster for the past few weeks: from grim determination as Biden fought to hang on to his push for a second term, to outright exuberance after he stepped aside and Harris launched her campaign. […] In less than a week, the Harris campaign raised record-breaking sums and signed up more than 100,000 new volunteers[….] This honeymoon phase will end, said Democratic strategist Guy Cecil, warning the election will be a close race, despite this newfound exuberance in his party. [… But v]oters are saying they are excited to vote for Harris and not just against Trump. That’s new.”

5. Biodegradable luminescent polymers show promise for reducing electronic waste

“[A team of scientists discovered that a certain] chemical enables the recycling of [luminescent polymers] while maintaining high light-emitting functions. […] At the end of life, this new polymer can be degraded under either mild acidic conditions (near the pH of stomach acid) or relatively low heat treatment (> 410 F). The resulting materials can be isolated and remade into new materials for future applications. […] The researchers predict this new polymer can be applied to existing technologies, such as displays and medical imaging, and enable new applications […] such as cell phones and computer screens with continued testing.”

6. World’s Biggest Dam Removal Project to Open 420 Miles of Salmon Habitat this Fall

“Reconnecting the river will help salmon and steelhead populations survive a warming climate and [natural disasters….] In the long term, dam removal will significantly improve water quality in the Klamath. “Algae problems in the reservoirs behind the dams were so bad that the water was dangerous for contact […] and not drinkable,” says Fluvial Geomorphologist Brian Cluer. [… The project] will begin to reverse decades of habitat degradation, allow threatened salmon species to be resilient in the face of climate change, and restore tribal connections to their traditional food source.”

7. Biden-Harris Administration Awards $45.1 Million to Expand Mental Health and Substance Use Services Across the Lifespan

““Be it fostering wellness in young people, caring for the unhoused, facilitating treatment and more, this funding directly supports the needs of our neighbors,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. [The funding also supports] recovery and reentry services to adults in the criminal justice system who have a substance use disorder[… and clinics which] serve anyone who asks for help for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay.”

8. The World’s Rarest Crow Will Soon Fly Free on Maui

“[… In] the latest attempt to establish a wild crow population, biologists will investigate if this species can thrive on Maui, an island where it may have never lived before. Translocations outside of a species’ known historical range are rare in conservation work, but for a bird on the brink of extinction, it’s a necessary experiment: Scientists believe the crows will be safer from predators in a new locale—a main reason that past reintroduction attempts failed. […] As the release date approaches, the crows have already undergone extensive preparation for life in the wild. […] “We try to give them the respect that you would give if you were caring for someone’s elder.””

9. An optimist’s guide to the EV battery mining challenge

““Battery minerals have a tremendous benefit over oil, and that’s that you can reuse them.” [… T]he report’s authors found there’s evidence to suggest that [improvements in technology] and recycling have already helped limit demand for battery minerals in spite of this rapid growth — and that further improvements can reduce it even more. [… They] envision a scenario in which new mining for battery materials can basically stop by 2050, as battery recycling meets demand. In this fully realized circular battery economy, the world must extract a total of 125 million tons of battery minerals — a sum that, while hefty, is actually 17 times smaller than the oil currently harvested every year to fuel road transport.”

10. Peekaboo! A baby tree kangaroo debuts at the Bronx Zoo

“The tiny Matschie’s tree kangaroo […] was the third of its kind born at the Bronx Zoo since 2008. [… A] Bronx Zoo spokesperson said that the kangaroo's birth was significant for the network of zoos that aims to preserve genetic diversity among endangered animals. "It's a small population and because of that births are not very common," said Jessica Moody, curator of primates and small mammals at the Bronx Zoo[, …] adding that baby tree kangaroos are “possibly one of the cutest animals to have ever lived. They look like stuffed animals, it's amazing.””

July 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[andy-wm]

In the Mood for Love?

<me: always>

Love isn't rare

Humans fall in and out of love as often as the wind changes. We, as a society, love to be in love. And many of us aspire above all, to have love in our own lives. But in a world of 3-second attention spans, and 15 minutes of fame, and influencers vying for our engagement everywhere we turn, it's hard to stay focused, even on love.

So for anything in this modern life to grab and hold our attention, to endure in our minds, it must have a stronger pull than all the ads and the algorithms. It must be more powerful than the best marketing strategies.

It must be a wonderful, amazing thing indeed.

Truthfully, if you had asked me pre-2018 if I could imagine myself mesmerised by the (unconfirmed) relationship between two idols, I would have scoffed at the idea.

This is not something I ever thought I'd be prepared to go to war over.

Yet here we are.

Right now I can't imagine anything more wonderful and amazing than the love between these two beautiful people who we adore.

It didn't come easy.

It's a hard-won love between two men who have sacrificed their youth to achieve their dreams, who live their lives in front of cameras and face the harshest criticism imaginable for the slightest mistake.

Many of us have watched this love story unfolding before our eyes. We saw the looks they shared and the glances that passed in secret.

We knew before they did, how this would go.

We stood on the sidelines, by turns anxious and overjoyed, as they blossomed into adults and learned how to love one another fully.

We watched them laugh and cry together.

We watched them fight and then make up.

We were there when they were so wrapped up in their mutual affection that they didn't see us.

When they didn't see anyone but each other.

We watched them grow into and around and through one another until they became inseperable.

Until they could not be undone.

We have been through it all, if not with them, then alongside them.

Cheering for them, defending them, and holding space for them in a fandom that at best refused to acknowledge them and at worst despised their bond, we havent wavered.

We have been by their side, and we have been on their side.

And what a privilege it has been.

With their military service coming to an end, we will see them together again... finally.

No doubt they will have changed, individually and together.

No doubt the men we knew before will be different in many ways when they come home.

Will they share more with us?

Will they share less?

Will they vanish into their dark fortress, or into Hybe, and be too busy to talk to us?

Will they turn on Weverse live at 2am and throw parties with us?

It's impossible to know, so it's pointless to have expectations.

But what we do know is that they have been together all this time collecting stories and experiences they (probably) would love to tell us but (probably) can't share.

This phase of their lives has been lived without us - it's a whole chapter we know nothing about. Most likely the time they've spent camouflaged amongst the other ROKA soldiers will remain a mystery.

And isn't that marvellous!?1

I find it delicious, knowing they've been getting up to who knows what without cameras or critics to squash their joy or catch them out.

Singing in the shower is just the tip of the iceberg when we know they're always side-by-side.

But with or without us, I truly believe that this is one of the greatest love stories of our time.

No, love itself is not rare, but this one is.

This resiliant, joyful, full-hearted love is special

It is worth acknowledging.

Worth celebrating.

And worth defending.

💜❤️‍🔥💛

As always, these opinions are my own.

[astrologydray]

Moon phases in astrology explained 🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌖

1. New Moon — Beginnings, Intention Setting

• Astrological Vibe: A time for planting seeds, starting fresh, and initiating change. It’s a cosmic reset.

• What to Do: Set intentions, journal goals, make wishes.

• Energy: Low visibility = low energy, introspection, incubation. You’re not meant to “do” yet — just dream and envision.

🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑

2. Waxing Crescent — Building Momentum

• Astrological Vibe: Hopeful, motivating, like you’re moving toward your goals. You start seeing small signs of progress.

• What to Do: Take small action steps. Visualize what you want as already happening.

• Energy: Growth-oriented, optimistic, still gentle.

🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒

3. First Quarter — Decisions, Action, Challenge

• Astrological Vibe: Tension starts to build between where you are and where you want to be. You’ll feel challenged to act.

• What to Do: Push through blocks. Take bold steps. Don’t back down from hard choices.

• Energy: Assertive, bold, energetic. A turning point.

🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓

4. Waxing Gibbous — Refinement, Adjustment

• Astrological Vibe: Your plans are unfolding, but there may be tweaks or changes needed before they reach completion.

• What to Do: Refine, improve, adjust strategies. Reflect on what’s working.

• Energy: Nearly full power. Focused, productive, fine-tuning stage.

🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔

5. Full Moon — Manifestation, Culmination, Release

• Astrological Vibe: Emotional peaks, big revelations, clarity. You see the full picture — whether you like it or not.

• What to Do: Celebrate wins, release what no longer serves you. Let go.

• Energy: High, intense, dramatic. Things feel fated or unavoidable.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

6. Waning Gibbous — Gratitude, Sharing, Teaching

• Astrological Vibe: After the full moon’s peak, this phase helps integrate lessons and spread wisdom.

• What to Do: Share your experiences, teach others, practice gratitude.

• Energy: Reflective, generous, wise.

🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖🌖

7. Last Quarter — Evaluation, Letting Go

• Astrological Vibe: You may feel the urge to reassess your goals and start winding down what isn’t working.

• What to Do: Release, declutter, cut energetic cords. Prepare for closure.

• Energy: Sober, truth-revealing, “get real” energy.

🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗🌗

8. Waning Crescent — Rest, Surrender, Closure

• Astrological Vibe: End of the cycle. Time to rest, retreat, and recharge before the next New Moon begins again.

• What to Do: Meditate, forgive, rest, dream. Connect spiritually.

• Energy: Quiet, dreamy, deeply intuitive and spiritual.

🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘

[glowettee]

if you can’t join them, beat them at their own game | monda vanderwaal

you know what no one tells you when you’re the weird girl? the forgotten girl? the one on the outskirts of every group chat, the one who fades into lockers and background noise and the “oh yeah, her”? they don’t tell you that being invisible is a superpower.

because when they’re not looking at you, you can see everything. and when you’ve been left out of the game long enough, you stop waiting for someone to pick you. you start learning how to build your own board, your own rules, your own checkmate. and mona vanderwaal? she didn’t just reinvent herself. she weaponized invisibility. she turned being overlooked into a strategy.

this is for the girls who are done playing nice. who are tired of being everyone’s “before” picture. who are finally ready to stop being ignored and start being unforgettable.

i have been quite feeling invisible lately, i felt like friends haven't been matching my vibe, been wishing i had other things i don't have. while admiring other strangers without knowing their lives. it feels like invisibility has been present in my life lately. so, this is why i made this post, mona from pll has been on my mind lately and her character development in the show has resonated with me lately. so here is to the girls who are tired of being invisible, who are ready to be themselves without caring about the projections others make of them.

what they don’t see is what you can use

mona started as the sidekick, remember? “loser mona.” that’s what they called her. she watched all the pretty girls treat her like she was disposable, like she’d never be anything more than a tag-along or a punchline. but the entire time, she was studying the rules. and not just the social rules, but the unspoken ones. who has power, who doesn’t. who pretends, and who sees through it.

and once she saw how fake the system was? she didn’t cry about it. she coded her way out. literally. like… not to be dramatic but she created a terror network from a burner phone and lip gloss. the girl rebranded herself from the inside out and didn’t ask for permission once.

so here’s what i need you to understand if you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt underestimated:

→ you’re not “too quiet” or “too weird” or “too much.” you’re just still loading.

and when the download completes? you’re going to be so dangerous they’ll wish they never ignored you.

✧ how to weaponize reinvention (like mona did)

reinvention isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not. it’s about realizing who you’ve always been beneath the projections. you’re not “turning into” someone else. you’re unearthing the girl who’s been waiting for her moment.

here’s your mona-core transformation plan i created for you all. think of it like a silent blueprint. no one has to know you’re doing it until it’s already done.

1. ✧ go ghost to get clarity

you don’t evolve in a crowd. you evolve in silence. mona vanished, on purpose. she took time away from the people who only saw her as one thing. if you’re trying to reinvent yourself while staying in the same rooms with the same people who never valued you, it’s like trying to paint your masterpiece on a foggy mirror. it won’t stick.

go ghost. log off. step back. observe more than you post. this is not isolating forever. it’s giving yourself the space to remember who tf you are without the noise.

2. ✧ romanticize your obsession phase

mona didn’t just glow up. she obsessed up. she got smarter, sharper, faster. she learned to code, built surveillance networks, studied her enemies' every move. while they were partying, she was plotting. it wasn’t out of spite... it was because she finally cared about herself more than she cared about them.

find your thing and get borderline delusional about it. your grades. your skincare. your SAT prep. your book you're writing. your personal brand. pick one obsession and make it your everything. fall in love with knowing more than everyone in the room. there is nothing more powerful than a girl with an obsession no one sees coming.

3. ✧ be unrecognizable. but still you

when mona came back, she wasn’t “loser mona” anymore. she was glossy. mysterious. her words were clipped like she’d deleted half her personality just to make space for ice. you don’t need to become mean. you just need to become unreadable.

leave the overexplaining behind. let people wonder. change your style. update your habits. wear something unexpected. shift your tone. speak softer, think sharper. nothing scares people more than the girl they thought they knew, suddenly looking like a puzzle they never had the pieces to.

4. ✧ build a life that makes you unbothered

this is not about revenge in the messy, petty way. it’s the softest kind of revenge: becoming so content in your own world that their validation feels irrelevant.

mona didn’t just take power, she built systems. her lair. her data archive. her skillset. her “i don’t need any of you to win” energy. you need your own version of that. maybe it’s your notion dashboard. your pinterest board. your secret google doc full of ideas. your weekly routine. your skincare archive. make your life a fortress. girlblogging has become a part of my life, and i use it as a system to improve myself while helping others.

5. ✧ be scary in a way they can’t name

the ultimate mona move? no one ever quite knew what she was thinking. and that made her powerful. she wasn’t dramatic. she wasn’t loud. she was calculating. strategic. collected.

learn how to be calm in chaos. learn how to let people underestimate you and say “thank you.” start doing things that don’t make sense to anyone but you. when you stop performing for their approval and start acting from your own internal plan, you become intimidating without lifting a finger.

✧ final thoughts from mindy (aka: me)

some of us were never meant to be the main character in their story. because we’re meant to write our own. if they didn’t choose you, good. now you’re free to choose yourself with no interference.

i want you to stop apologizing for how deeply you feel things. for how hard you try. for how long you remember the mean things they said. you are not too sensitive. you are not overreacting. you are collecting data. and one day, you’re going to turn all that hurt into something unrecognizable and sharp and stunning.

mona didn’t need a second chance. she made one.

and so will you.

xoxo mindy~

⋆ free resource drop: a printable guide for overthinking, burnout, and perfectionist spirals. download “deprogramming your trauma-coded ambition” here →

[cheeseceli]

Espresso

Pairing: Kim Hongjoong × Gn!reader

Genre: headcanons, friends to lovers, accepting feelings phase

Synopsis: “I'm working late cause I'm a singer” or where Hongjoong can't stop writing love songs about you

Warnings: Hongjoong is an idol

A/n: because he said espresso is his favourite song rn | announcement

Hongjoong who was trying to deny the fact that he liked you

Like “what do you mean, we're just friends !?”

Denial, yeah

Everyone knew he had feelings for you

He knew it too

But he really didn't want to admit it

Because if he says it out loud then it becomes (more) true, right?

So if he just ignored everything, maybe he had a chance of overcoming his feelings

His first strategy was to focus on his job

No feelings, just work

Such a perfect recipe, isn't it? He couldn't get distracted this way

That is until all his songs became romantic

That wouldn't be exactly a problem if the songs were about fictional or hypothetical situations and characters

However, they were all about you

And it was starting to get hard to accuse everything of being a coincidence when there were way too many coincidences

How could he describe your voice, your laugh, your eyes and each one of your mannerisms perfectly and still dare to call it a coincidence?

More work

Work until you forget about what feeling in love is like

But still, his mind was pretty consistent and insisted on thinking about you

And that's how you became his unintentional muse

He was trying to write to run from reality, but all his songs turned out to be what he was trying to escape from

You remember that back at that time, you were pretty worried

Hongjoong kept himself locked in the studio for hours, sometimes nights

You were scared he was overworking himself

But if you only knew he was stressed because he couldn't work

Not when every verse seemed to be about you

Although the experience wasn't good at all, you both might need to be grateful for that

Because that's how Hongjoong finally got sick of the situation and decided to confess at last

And that's how you ended up with a mini album of songs he wrote about you, the promise of even more songs and, of course, a boyfriend

Masterlist | you'll probably like: songwriting for you

Thank you for reading 🖤

Taglist (open!): @yuyubeans

Credits for images 1 2 and 3

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

[felassan]

Mark Darrah video: 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard Has Shipped. Now What?? #/masseffect'

Video description:

"Dragon Age: The Veilguard has shipped. What happens at BioWare now? BioWare structurally finds itself in uncharted territory as it only has a single Project (Mass Effect) active. Chapters: 0:00 Veilguard is out, now what? 0:22 BioWare Structure and History 1:57 Growth 4:45 Consumption 6:28 Sustain 7:27 Contraction 11:14 Leadership Discontinuity 1 12:48 Leadership Discontinuity 2 14:14 One Project At A Time 16:33 Mass Effect 18:50 Will The People Be There? 22:18 FOCUS"

[source]

Key notes from the vid and the comments underneath:

"Up front I should say that I have every confidence that Mass Effect [5] is in fact being worked on and that that project is going to receive all of the support from EA that it might need."

Slowly and painfully BioWare is figuring out that it simply can't do more than one project at a time anymore. It's now a single-project studio. Mark Darrah expects that both Edmonton and Austin will be working on ME5 together

ME5 effectively paused production for 15 months in order to help DA:TV ship

Right now other than some DA:TV clean up/final patches, everyone at BW is working on ME5

However ME5 isn't yet ready to suddenly have a team of 250-300 people working on it, so while some DA:TV devs moved onto it, some DA:TV devs were moved to/are moving to other parts of EA instead. The ME5 team started, but there is a long way between "start" and "ready to scale" up

The ME5 team is figuring out what ME5 is going to be & its structure, then will get ready to ramp up to a much bigger team size

"BW, for the first time really ever, is able to singularly focus on a single project, is able to put everything it has towards a single goal, which is making the best ME it possibly can."

But it remains to be seen whether BW will be able to get its people back when it needs them and is ready for them. There are a few reasons why this might prove difficult. Alternatively, on the flipside, this degree of focus might be exactly what BW needs to move it into the next phase of its life. "Maybe EA is going to prove to be incredibly effective at moving people around and when ME5 looks to start to grow maybe there will be no troubles".

We will probably have hints of what's going on [with ME5] within the next two years. "I have high hopes for ME. I think that once they figure out staffing, BW being focused on one game at a time is probably great for the studio" (though there may be growing pains to get there)

Does Mark Darrah foresee similar issues in the ME5 dev cycle to what DA:TV had? No, because ME5 hasn't had the same two big directional shifts, and it has had no leadership discontinuity (ME5 paused when they went to help DA:TV i.e. it didn't continue without a leader). But we should only really start counting ME5's dev cycle from today. "It really hasn't been that long with a significant team"

The ME5 teases in recent N7 Days were made by a "very small team"

There are still lots of veterans at BW

Mark Darrah doesn't expect to be involved in what BW makes next

More under cut due to length.

BW has existed in different ways/structures through its history. We're currently entering into an "unprecedented time" for BW

The purchase of BW by Elevation Partners, the purchase of BW by EA, when Ray Muzyka & Greg Zeschuk left BW, and the year 2017 in general are the 4 most important events (not including shipping games) that Mark Darrah feels have affected BW the most in its history

BW's strategy over time could be seen as having had 4 different phases: grow, consume, sustain, contract. In the contract phase, though BW maybe didn't realize it yet, the number of projects it was capable of running simultaneously was decreasing slowly/gradually. Why? Projects were getting more expensive, requiring more people/resources/time, and by this point BW had essentially burned off all its 'reserves' from the growth phase i.e. there was no longer any fat left to burn off

After DA:I shipped, Mark Darrah experienced that it was very difficult to find resources if your project wasn't the next project that was due out the door

DLC is a safety valve for processes and staff; a place for devs to work when other projects aren't quite ready for them yet; a place for the next gen of leaders to be grown. These things disappear as DLC does. Mark Darrah is pretty sure that the move away from DLC is coming from EA

In the contract phase, in 2013-14 Anthem was starved out by DA & ME:A. ME:A was also somewhat starved out by DA. Then when ME:A was in the driver's seat, it consumed most of the resources

In late 2016/early 2017 during the push to ship ME:A, as part of that BW began to experience leadership discontinuity. As the DA leader, Mark Darrah led a team of DA people onto ME:A to help it ship (the Dragon Age Finaling Team) for a few months. this sort of thing had happened at BW before but this was the first time when senior leadership moved off the projects they led to do this. this caused a change in philosophy in terms of the way that projects were run

When ME:A shipped and Casey Hudson came back to lead BW, there was then a much much larger leadership discontinuity with Anthem. The Montreal studio was supposed to move over onto Joplin to help kickstart it but it ended up getting taken away and given to the leadership in Montreal. but even if this had happened as it was supposed to, BW may not have been able to be in a place where it was going to be able to ship Anthem and Joplin simultaneously

Three quarters of the senior leadership on Joplin moved to Anthem or left BW. DA continued and became Morrison. The discontinuity had massive consequences for DA4

In 2021/22, this happened again in the opposite direction. The leadership team moved onto DA to help it ship, though rather than leaving some of the team in place, everyone moved. The other project (next Mass Effect) effectively ceased to exist for 15 months in order to help DA4 ship. In 2023 for the first time since 1995 BW was only working on 1 project (DA:TV) & there was nobody working on ME5 or remasters or side projects at that time. Now that DA:TV has shipped, apart from some people on cleanup and final patches, there is no plans for DA:TV DLC and "there is only Mass Effect". "Everyone at BW will be working on Mass Effect."

DA:TV being a 'direct sequel' would have been an unlikely path

With BW now focusing on a single project, Mark Darrah does worry that EA will get "itchy"

It'll be a [long] while to DA5 [hypothetically speaking, if it gets made]

MELE involved a lot of external devs

Shadow Realms was BioWare Austin and was due to: "partially places for people, partially a desire for Austin to get something new."

Mark Darrah expects that the devs are hearing everything being said about DA:TV

BW focuses more on consoles because of sales numbers

Unreal Engine 5 (which ME5 is on) is moving onto other EA projects as well, which may help

There are reasons why DA:TV is the way it is

BW has had external consultants on leadership and structure over the years

Mark Darrah expects that the next Dragon Age will once again be pretty different to the last iteration

BW Austin were brought in to help make Anthem. "What didn't happen (that should have) is that they should have had more directional control over the live service direction."

BW has had difficulty learning from previous games because at least one title was too far along TO learn. but a single game leads to staffing issues

Mark Darrah pitched a dev structure back in 2016/17 which would have had "3 fast follow games then a period of retooling"

EA doesn't really sell IPs

Chance of DA:TV DLC? "That's an EA question. And I expect EA's answer to be no". "I don't think we will see DLC. A new DA would be in the future."

"DA has been looking for larger audiences in every iteration. EA has never understood the franchise"

Remake DA:O or ME1? "While I think it would do well, I don't expect it to happen at any time soon. Also the skillsets required don't really over lap"

"The 3 previous games DAVe was are leaking through in places"

Diagram from the video which shows the flow of people throughout BW's history, made by a member of Mark Darrah's community.

[source]

[rootspiral]

Agatha All Along deep dive: episode 3 part 2

(Wandavision entries: [1][2][3])

(AAA entries: ep1 [1][2][3][4] ep2 [1][2][3][4] ep3 [1][2][3] ep4 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][+1] ep5 [1][2][3][4][5] ep6 [1][2][3] ep7 [1][2][3][4][5][6] ep8 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] ep9 [1][2][3][4][5][6])

alice panics and checks if she still has her mom's amulets, lilia says, you still got them! in a sweet reassuring way. agatha also panics and checks if she has her brooch, but she does it quietly. when she finds the brooch she gives a sigh that no one notices.

I just love the parallels between agatha and alice, a daughter who lost her mother and a mother who lost her son, both grieving, both connected to the Road. but while alice, despite her shyness, is able to express her feelings and find strength and reassurance within her coven, agatha keeps her pain quiet and close to the chest.

checking her exit strategies while the others are still looking around in awe, because she's a) always a step ahead everybody else and b) a huge fucking coward. agatha is never as confident as she seems. was she hoping to bolt the moment billy wasn't looking and leave the others to deal with his mess?

ooh alice is the second to check. that's so interesting, they parallel each other but agatha does things secretly, alice does them openly.

NOT FUNNY, writers

yeah this is not a confident woman. she is terrified

not because babies make her cry or anything. in fact she eats babies, haven't you heard?

agatha is always real mature, but there's something about jen in particular that makes her regress into toddlerdom - and yeah it's funny, but we know agatha does this kind of stuff to mask and deflect, and I think she's especially defensive around jen because she actually respects her and values her opinion! so she has to rebel to that feeling like the true kindergartener she is

sharon dives for the wine, agatha rises a hand to warn her but hesitates. a moment later alice rises a hand and stops her. I'm only seeing this because I'm looking so closely but I'm not dreaming it, am I? this has to be on purpose? and oh my god alice was a cop. what did agatha choose to be under the spell, when she didn't bottle her emotions and guard herself so closely?????

okay okay okay now I'm thinking about moon phases and elements. alice is Fire, agatha is Spirit, would there be a connection? or maybe agatha as Spirit is like the Avatar and has to learn something from each element. from Alice she would learn to listen to her protective instincts - or rather to use them to protect others and not only herself, and that's what would ultimately make her choose to save Billy. I'll keep an eye out for this, maybe I'm on to something? this is Water and Jen's trial tho, so what does she learn from jen?

so jen despite her sarcastic exterior has been very vocal about both billy and sharon not belonging here. now she takes billy to the side and openly warns him. she's very pragmatic and not particularly emotional, she had to grow a lot of armor too, which makes her breaking down and crying in the finale all the more meaningful. the obvious lesson aside (agatha being responsible for jen's trauma), another thing that agatha has to learn from her is moral values. if jen were in agatha's shoes and saw the truth behind the Road you know she would have stopped this whole thing immediately. agatha needs to learn to be the bigger person for once and take things seriously, instead of running away.

we know agatha tolerates and even encourages the rumors about nicky, because the truth is too awful. is that why she's always yapping about hating children and eating babies? dear lord, it's so funny that she's so immature, and at the same time it's not funny at all

no one's judging you honey. you get drunk all you want, you earned it. and fuck these bitches and agatha especially for letting her drink poison - billy gets a pass because he's underage, why doesn't sharon get a pass for being magicless? I'll tell you why, because deep down no one takes her seriously. she's a joke to them.

lol billy's empty hand

agatha you will be ready to tackle him the moment he tries to drink for real. the clowning! all for show. and sharon is already pouring herself a third glass, nothing funnier than self medicating with alcohol, am I right gang?

I adore adore adore adore alice bonding with billy. she tries to do the agatha "i'm too damaged to open up" thing but one sad puppy look and she melts away. because he's just a kid (and a emo hot topic kid at that) and she WILL make him feel accepted no matter how sad inside she is. she's such a good person leave me alone

"so you guys evil, am I right?"

"no no no we have reclaimed that term, that's no longer a slur"

what's your favorite donatella versace impression? mine's alice's

can you guys please stop deadnaming this poor woman?? (spellnaming? magicnaming? wandanaming?)

agatha you are a humongous asshole for only pretending to drink and kathryn hahn you are so funny and so hot and talented

dying future!lilia jumps back in time to tell her coven she loves them and that's the moment she lands on lmaooooo with her face all swollen and everyone panicking and agatha pounding on the door. you don't deserve her love anyway agatha. she will give it to you because she's the better person, but you don't deserve shit

so yeah agatha we've been poisoned and Death's gonna come any minut....

BWAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAH

that's taking 'deadbeat wife' to a whole other level

bit creepy there, billy. it's like Jigsaw being upset at people not participating in his games

billy: fine I'LL DRINK

agatha running in slowmo: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

you miiight be projecting your issues on that kid a lil bit there, buddy

she might drink the wine to save billy but she'll be an ABSOLUTE TEENY-WEENY BABY about it

such a fun episode

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that would be her last words, folks! aren't we HAVING SO MUCH FUN????

alice always being the first one to run and help and trying to save everyone. just... alice

shoutout to @idkbroletssee and their billy's commentary!

go to episode 3 part 3

[yeet-me-lol]

Oc Homicipher

🎩MR. GRIN 🎩

Mr. Grin is a tall ((370 cm)), shadowy entity with an unsettling permanent smile and pupil-less white eyes. Dressed in an old-fashioned suit and hat, his very presence terrifies humans and ghosts alike. He doesn’t need to speak or threaten, his eerie silence and looming figure are enough to make anyone freeze in fear.

He can phase through walls, ceilings, and floors, often appearing suddenly and without warning. When needed, black arms with unnaturally long fingers emerge from his form, reaching for anything,or anyone, he sets his focus on.

Despite his terrifying appearance, Mr. Grin is neutral by nature. He neither seeks to harm nor help others directly. However, if anyone dares threaten his hidden life source, a flickering flame hidden somewhere only he knows, they will meet a swift and merciless end.

Whether friend or foe, Mr. Grin exists as a being of shadows and silence, trapped between light and darkness, forever smiling.

🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻

Mr. Grin’s Personality:-

1. Eloquent and Intelligent

Mr. Grin is highly intelligent, speaking with a calm and refined tone in flawless English. His speech carries an air of sophistication, making him stand out from the other ghosts.When interacting with less articulate entities, he adapts, deliberately simplifying his language or speaking in “broken” English to ensure they understand.

2. Neutral and Observant

He doesn’t show strong emotions, instead observing situations with quiet curiosity. His permanent smile and unreadable demeanor make it hard to tell what he’s thinking.Mr. Grin rarely takes sides unless his own safety or hidden life source is involved.

3. Darkly Witty

Despite his unnerving presence, Mr. Grin has a dry, dark sense of humor. He often makes unsettling but clever remarks, leaving others unsure if he’s joking or serious.

4. Mysterious and Reserved

Mr. Grin doesn’t reveal much about himself. He answers questions vaguely, often changing the subject or replying with riddles.His reserved nature keeps everyone guessing, adding to his enigmatic aura.

5. Unpredictable Yet Polite

He’s polite, even when terrifying someone. For example, he might say “Pardon my intrusion” as he phases through a wall or ceiling.While he usually remains neutral, his actions can shift unexpectedly, leaving others uncertain of his true intentions.

6. Protective When Necessary

Though he doesn’t form attachments easily, Mr. Grin can be fiercely protective of those he chooses to care for, showing glimpses of loyalty beneath his eerie exterior. However, his methods of protection can be chilling—he won’t hesitate to use his black arms or towering presence to eliminate threats.

7. Pragmatic and Strategic

He approaches problems with logic and strategy, often outsmarting others rather than relying on brute force. His intelligence makes him a valuable ally—or a formidable enemy.

🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻

His dialogue:-

He can actually speak fluent English but chooses to use bad English to blend in with the other ghosts. However, when he notices the Protagonist struggling to speak bad English to communicate with him, he finds it amusing and eventually switches to proper English. He even laughs at the Protagonist’s silly attempts at broken speech.

~Examples of his dialogue~

🎩-Talking About Himself:

“No. I. Am. Not. Here.”

“Me. Grin. You. Scared.”

“Walk. Walls. I. Do.”

“Quiet. Always. Quiet.”

🎩-Talking About Others:

“He. Fool. Always. Loud.”

“Ghosts. Dumb. Talk. Too. Much.”

“They. Fear. Me. Why? Look.”

“You. Weak. Run. Now.”

🎩-Reacting to the Protagonist:

“You. Not. Scared? Odd.”

“Stay. Here. You. Safe. Maybe.”

“Why. You. Talk. Me?”

“Run. Now. He. Comes.”

🎩-Warning or Threatening Others:

“Leave. Room. Now.”

“No. Fight. Me. Bad. Choice.”

“You. Gone. If. Try.”

“Light. I. Keep. Always.”

Okk. I think that's all. Have some this does i made, spoiler btw-

[fiamat12]

Re: Reasonable Doubt

Hollowing out - the JD phase

Just as in any relationship, when two people are no longer involved or are less interested in each other, they typically engage less w/ one another. That's where a "hollowing out" or fade out strategy comes into play w/ the adjacents.

(Please maintain LOW expectations as we can only know which direction Lukola is taking us by what we see over the next few weeks, or months... *sigh*)

1) Phase 1- of the hollowing out could've been L's fade out w/ A. We've seen no *live* interaction btwn them since mid May, followed by L's slow like on her IG post, a Spain pic w/ just him not her, and a very distant/ dissociated bike ride/ pap pics.

2) Phase 2 - could be JD's turn. (I imagine it would be easier to address him last since he's actually a friend they want to keep around). N has spent weeks away from him on her own jobs, gave a supportive but neutral IG share of his upcoming project, and took pap pics in his last known location that only *alluded* to being w/ him...

Could this be intentional? Sunny, @jmuz09 's AI robot thinks so. (We've spent alot of time updating him, as even he was getting confused as to who is where lol) ⬇️

3) For those of you saying N wanted to be recognized at the airport, according to this strategy, she likely did in order to be linked to the pics on the street in AUS - and maybe they wanted L to be recognized to a degree, too. Or at least for there to be REASONABLE DOUBT...

Because the final phase would be the reintroduction of L in N's orbit and for the truth to come out. And sorry, Mr. Robot it won't be an "oh yeah, we already kind of knew", it will be a "Hell yeah! Let's goooo!" from Lukola shippers. 🤪👫👶✌️

^ Note: In the summary, the Robot assumes the pic is of Lukola on the street, and not JD w/ N. Tbf, we don't have 100% confirmation of it.

[laura1633]

Here are all the lovely fics , I would be so grateful if you could give these fics a read and leave some nice comments for the authors who took the time to write them. 💕

It's been a great gun fight (You drew blood, I set myself on fire) by LeonSolo There will be one religion in Italy, Charles Leclerc. On his knees, he will pray to a God he was supposed to kill.

Red Light at Dawn by LuciThornz Five months ago Max was kidnapped by pirates. Miraculously he was found safe, and now his father has arranged for him to start courting the Governor’s son. But it’s not that simple, Max hasn’t told anyone the whole story of what happened at sea, getting captured was never part of the plan, neither was falling in love. Now Max has a plan to get back on the open ocean and find the pirate he fell in love with before it’s too late. The funny thing about plans is they never do go smoothly.

The Tortured Driver's Department by Shadow_reads Prompt Fill for Lestappen Birthday Challenge:  Charles said he'd love to have his own F1 team in the future, and Max already has Verstappen.com. Max is also experienced and is most suited to being a team principal. Their shared retirement arc is where they own a team together: Charles handles the press conferences and media, while Max focuses on the data and strategy.

Forever Love by stealmysunshine Charles isn’t going to wait around for Max to pop the question. Who says that there is a preordained question popper? There are two people in this relationship and Charles has every right to show Max just how precious he is and make him feel loved.

(k)not in public by bananasomg When Max accidentally invites friends to tag along on his and Charles' holiday to Greece (which Charles has coined their mating oasis trip), Charles isn't phased, and Max is easily convinced. Hallowed Ground by crimsonmidnight When an FIA racing law forces Omega Charles to take part in a mandatory mating hunt after getting the Sauber seat, Alpha Max vows to do everything it takes to claim him as his own.

The Wait Is Worth It by crimsonmidnight Max Verstappen's adventures in purchasing a fucking machine and using it when Charles gets an attitude.

Sutures by jadesaturn After years of grueling battles, academic rivals Max and Charles part ways upon graduating from medical school until they meet again as surgical interns at the same hospital. Their age-old feud continues, as expected. Grey’s Anatomy Enemies to Lovers but make it Formula 1.

A taste of the divine by (anonymous on ao3) female!Charles ends up losing her virginity to Max and he is going through it.

i'd wanna hold you (just for a while) by Kashoot Charles doesn't normally want to regress, choosing to ignore his needs in favor of keeping busy with all his other obligations. "I'm a racing driver, Max, not a baby!" Max knows better.

Preloved by LaurawritingF1 After getting caught up in another scandal, Charles, the crown prince of Monaco, is sent to an 'Omega Establishment' to find himself an omega in the hopes it will settle him down. Charles is not at all interested in picking out a pretty housewife for himself and is intending to return home empty handed until he meets Max, an omega housed up in the 'Preloved' section of the establishment and clutching hold of his pup tightly.

Everything Changes, Yet Nothing Does by Shadow_Reads The sun was setting over Monaco, casting a warm golden glow over the city. The gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore provided a serene backdrop, contrasting with the turbulent emotions swirling within Charles. Tonight was the night he would ask Max to spend the rest of their lives together.

how you get the boy(s) by amelielacy In which world-famous streamer Max falls in love with artsy single dad Charles.

Hunting Love by himmywimmy Charles becomes an unwilling participant in the pack’s annual mating run and to protect himself, he asks his alpha friend, Carlos, to catch him. But as the night of the mating run unfolds, another alpha seemed to be on the hunt for him.

5 moments of chaos and +1 moment of peace by LaurawritingF1 Charles and Max are retired and dealing with the chaos of looking after their children during the summer vacation. Jimmy, Sassy and Leo also make appearances. Them the breaks, they don’t come gently by imamessofawriter “They just announced that Charles is retiring.” Charles suddenly announces his retirement and then appears to disappear completely.

[russellsppttemplates]

A little hope (Lando Norris) (Part 1)

Lando will give you all the time you need if it means you will work things out

Note: english is not my first language. I don't think I've ever written a piece without closure/closing off the subject like this, so constructive thoughts are appreciated... might do a part two depending on how this one goes, let me know your thoughts on it! ✨️

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated 🤍 and I'm taking requests so if you have any ideas or concepts you want to share, feel free to do so as I'll try to get to them the best I can!

my masterlist

Tw: mentions a couple's fight, self-deprecation moments, body image insecurity, signs and symptoms of anxiety

Tag list: @myloverjk-blog

"Here, gorgeous", Lando said as he opened the door for you, letting you in first and following suit, finding your places around the table as the meeting was about to start.

"Thanks, love", you whispered as you set your things down on the table, turning on your laptop as you gathered everything you needed to show them.

"Whatever you want to do, we'll do", Lando noted a while into the meeting already. He didn't know that much about graphic design, so if his graphic designer said they should do it, they were going to.

The frown on your face, however, didn't seem to agree, "I spoke to the marketing guys, as well", you looked at Anna as she nodded, "and they think this is also the best strategy if we want to expand it to this market", you clarified.

"Then that's how it's going to go, Y/N", Callum asserted, noticing your slightly antsy posture as you moved on to the next point of discussion.

This had been happening for a while, the thoughts plaguing you with the fact that, in the simples of terms, you worked for your boyfriend. While the relationship had nothing to do with how you got the job and position, and inside the team, no one seemed too phased by it, part of you wondered if you were taken differently because of your relationship.

"Alright, Y/N?", Tara said, calling you back to planet Earth, "yes, sorry. But I agree with that, yes, but could we do this earlier, maybe this week? It would match up with all the dates we have", you answered, earning everyone's approval as they booked the shoot for Friday.

A knock on the door startled you as a woman peeked, "I'm sorry, I'm looking for Anna? From Marketing?", she asked, looking at you, "are you her?", she pointed her finger to you.

"She's my girlfriend, Y/N, she's our graphic designer", Lando said with a big smile.

"That's Anna", you said as the ginger haired girl raised her hand, "I'm Y/N", you murmured the last part.

The uneasiness took over your body again when you noticed the woman's look directed at you, a mixture of a silent scoff and a despised expression.

"Do you need a ride home, baby?", Lando asked once the meeting ended, "I have to go somewhere before going home, but thanks anyway", you said, kissing his lips chastely and bidding goodbye to everyone.

"Is she alright? She seemed off today", Max commented as he saw your interaction with his bestfriend, "this project had been taking a lot out of her, she's been tired, that's all", he said as he looked at your back as you walked away from them, "at least I hope it's that".

Only it really wasn't that, and with your calendar and Lando's calendar, you only saw eachother again on the day of the shoot.

The fight you had the day before still resonated with you and Lando, each of you measuring your words and how you had behaved.

"In Quadrant, you are my superior and I respect that", you pointed between you two, "but I'm my own person and if there's something I say, I want to be heard as me, Y/N, graphic designer for Quadrant", you cleared, "And in the meetings, if I give an idea, I want it to be heard and seen as coming from a graphic designer with experience and knowledge, not your girlfriend who you're afraid will get hurt if you say no and always let me get my way", you explained.

"But who said that I don't respect you like that? Because I do! I've considered every idea you've said like I'd consider them if somebody else said them!", Lando attempted, "do you think my love for you is not genuine? Do you think my appreciation for you or how much I value, as a person and as a member of the team, depends on what? What do you think this is?", Lando snapped, looking angrier than you've ever seen him. He usually kept a calm stance no matter how stressful the situation was, so the slight raise in his and his tone was enough to show he wasn't his usual self.

"Is it my fault you are my girlfriend? Are we putting this relationship, our relationship, in a basket of cons for us and for our lives?", he sounded genuinely hurt at his admission.

You didn't mean it that way, and you knew he knew that, but the fact that his mind went there and considered it enough for him to say it out loud hurt you.

Despite Tara's insistence that you could be one of the models for the hoodie she claimed was made for you, you declined the invitation, feeling that it would only add to your self deprecation and the very few comments you had seen online about how "dating Lando has landed you a great gig when so many people are looking for jobs themselves". You weren't also in the best terms with your boyfriend, and since he was modelling too, it would hardly be a good idea to be so close to eachother whilst still working in front of the team.

"We printed the backdrop you sent us, Y/N!", the photographer, James, and his colleague, Kai, called for you as you went to inspect the piece. It wasn't greatly detailed, but had certain points already measured so the editing and designing would be easier for you once you go the pictures back from them.

"I've never done it like this myself, but a friend of mine from university has done this before and he said it was so much easier and the models can move freely as long as they're within the frame", you explained, sharing knowledge in case they ever found themselves with a similar issue in need of this solution.

So absorbed in the conversation about different techniques and the words they had done before, you missed Lando arriving to the studio along with Max who had started making sure everything was running as scheduled.

"First, it's model two and three", you said as you looked at the schedule Max held, "so that's...", you trailed off, looking again in the list to make sure you were calling the right names, "Lucy and Lando", you stated, looking around for them and seeing the boy laugh at something she had said.

"Guys!", Max yelled, "it's your turn", he whistled, grabbing their attention so they could get in position.

James kept telling them what worked best as Kai worked with the lights, carefully readjusting and pointing out whenever they weren't on the frame you had specified.

"Now it's just the male models", Kai said as Lucy stepped down.

"I'm sorry to bother, but do you think we can bring out the snack table around now?", she questioned as she clipped her hair back, not wanting to mess with the work that was done on the short blonde locks, "I woke up later than I wanted and I had to rush here so I didn't have much for breakfast", she cringed.

"I think we can, yes. There's coffee in there, too, so I might join you", you smiled, walking alongside her to the table the catering team had set up. You were planning to spend the whole morning in there, so food and drinks were ordered to keep everyone happy and content.

"Rough night?", Lucy asked as she say you make a triple latte from the expresso machine.

That would be a way to put it, you thought. You hated leaving things unresolved with anyone, but knowing you and Lando went to sleep without knowing where you stood, it was hard for you to close your eyes and fall asleep despite the tiredness you felt. You rolled in your bed countless times, changing the pyjamas you were wearing three times until you accepted that the choice of clothing wasn't what was keeping you from falling asleep. In total, you probably slept four hours, and you were hoping the coffee would help with that.

"I remember when me and Lando used to go out, there was this week where it was four nights!", she smiled, stirring the hot tea in her cup as she took one of the small sandwiches.

"You and Lando used to go out? I didn't realise", you asked, the curiosity killing you and the dread to know the answer even more.

"I mean going out as in out of the house and into clubs, parties and such", she laughed brightly, and even that didn't seem to settle your heart, "we found out we have mutual friends that work for the same chain of clubs. We never slapped a label on it, I think neither of us wanted the attachment or rules you had to follow, you know? He's always wanted to be free on his endeavours and do as he pleases".

"Sure", you gulped, drinking the hot coffee as you thought about her words, not going to far, probably for your own good, since you heard something fall, "I better go see what that is, excuse me", you smiled lightly.

As it turned out, there was a piece of metal holding the backdrop that had a smaller piece holding it together that wasn't the right size, "we have to tools in there, let me just change it quickly", you said, "you guys can go and grab a coffee and some snacks, they're really good", you offered, "I'll sort out the programming for the next set while I'm at it, too".

Carrying the piece to the room where you kept the tools, you turned on your laptop and ran the code, fixing the metal piece in the mean time when you heard someone walk in the room, "was the coffee that bad? I- Oh, hi", you muttered, seeing Lando walk in and sit in front of you as you worked on the table.

"Can we talk, please?", Lando wondered. Even though he was clearly tired and his usual bright eyes had required the makeup artist to apply eye drops on him twice already, he still looked as handsome as ever. His curls was bouncy and the green coloured hoodie was a perfect match against his tanned skin and the minimal jewellery he had on.

"Sure", you asked, setting the screwdriver down and looking at him.

"I want to apoligise if I made you feel unworthy, professionally and personally. It was never my intention, Y/N. I want to be there for you, and I want to protect you and help make sure nothing bad happens, okay? I'd hate to be the reason you feel bad, baby.

"But I also need you to tell me what's wrong, because I know something is bothering you and I don't care who I have to call or what I have to do to help, but you need to tell me", he stated.

Your eyes started to feel tight and threatened to spill tears you were sure had been building up for more than a week, "I'm a confident woman, I know what I'm worth", you reasoned, "growing up left from what society thinks women should behave and look like, I've had to grow thick skin and be confident in what I do. It's not that you've had other partners or flings before, it's the way I'm being labelled as your girlfriend. Suddenly, I lost my name, my identity and I'm something to someone, that's what people see.

"I love you, and I love being with you. I've had so many opportunities that I wouldn't have had in other jobs and in other relationships, but I'm not sure losing who I am is a fair price to pay", you added. "I need to think this through. I'm not in the right state to argue this and risk saying something I don't mean and hurt you in the process. I don't want to hurt you, Lando, and I don't won't to be hurt either, I'm sorry", you sighed, looking into his colourful eyes.

"I love you, Y/N, so much", he said as he took a step forward, testing the waters and not getting resistance from you which led him to press his lips on your forehead, depositing a slow and soft kiss there, "I don't want to hurt you either, but... Think about it, okay? Really give it some thought because there's a way and we will find it", he attempted, realising it wasn't his place to tell you how you should feel about something and finding a common ground.

"Sorry to interrupt, guys, but we need your opinion on something, Y/N", Kai asked, sympathetically smiling as you excused yourself from the room and back to the studio area.

Lando went outside to cool off a little, thinking about your discussion and taking the opportunity that he wasn't needed inside for a while.

Had he been a pushover? Was that how you felt? You hadn't been yourself in the past two weeks, but he had put it down to the fact that you had been to the race with him and then Quadrant had this project that you wanted to see through from begging to end and it was on a tight schedule. You wouldn't be persuaded to take it easy, so Lando did his best to make sure you were as well as possible, but he seemed to have failed.

"I don't know how long it will be before they notice I'm gone and need help, so I'm advising you to spit it out while you can", Max jumped in, sitting on the floor and against the wall next to him.

"Just tired, didn't sleep well", Lando muttered. He didn't sleep at all, truth be told, images of your shattered expression kept replaying in his head as he tried to figure out what was happening to you two.

"I suggest you tell me the truth", Max squinted, "so, try again".

"Y/N and I have hit a rough patch? Our first big fight? I'm not sure", he admitted, "she isn't telling me much, but I think it's about the fact that she works for Quadrant, as in the company I, her boyfriend, own and something about treating her like and employee and not my girlfriend", Lando let out, starting to get worked up, "she tells me this, and I've kept my distance, and that's not been good either. Didn't she say that I should treat her like the employee she is?", Lando snapped as his body language showed another set of emotions.

"She is an employee, yes, and she deserves to be treated as such. But she's also the person you come home to, she was someone before she met you, she is a person outside of your relationship and you shouldn't meddle things. You know that dating you isn't easy and she's been getting the backhand of it", Max reasoned as Lando listened intently, "the social media team have been taking care of it, but there have been comments that are less than kind about her on Instagram, the email marketing too...! It's shitty, less than reasonable accusations, but it has been there... Y/N has never liked to be discredited, and I'm not saying you do it per se, but maybe it's where you should go first", he tapped his friend's back.

"She's not letting me in, how am I supposed to know?!", Lando got antsy again, feet tapping the ground incessantly as his breath got quicker and shallower as he struggled to focus a little.

"Is this rage you feel? Anger?", Max checked, handing Lando the ice-cold water bottle so he could focus on the temperature and not spiral out, "you're good, mate? What do you feel?".

"It's fear that I might lose her", Lando said as he allowed himself to cry, "I'm afraid of losing her because of something I did to her unintentionally. Because being my girlfriend is bad for her and I can't be selfish and tell her to be with me when she's suffering. Because I can't help that I'm proud of her and I won't to belt out how proud I am of her work and that I have her?", he let it all out.

"Have you thought about how it feels for her, though? Even for you, there are comments left and right about how you got to where you are, so imagine how it is for her", Max thought out loud, letting it all sink in.

By the time they came back to the studio, the models were gone and, by the looks of it, so were you as they tidied the place.

"Lando, Max", James called, "we're just finishing up and then we'll also get going. Y/N had to leave, she said something about her mother calling her and she needed to go. Didn't look life threateningly urgent, but she had to get going. Also- Lucy, I think her name was -, she left her number here for you", the photographer said, "she asked me to make sure I handed it to you", he smiled, "do you need mine too? I'm assuming it's for the contract payments?".

"Yes, there was a mishap with her contract, but we checked and yours are still there, no worries with that", Lando lied, impressed at his ability to come up with a half decent excuse.

Walking up to his car, Lando threw the card James gave him in one of the bins outside before getting in with Max, "let me just send this text, one minute".

To lovie ✨️

I'll give you all of the time that you need, but I'm not leaving this, I'm not leaving us. You're the love of my life and I'll wait as long as you need me to, so whenever you want to talk, I'm here, baby.

I love you to the moon and the stars 🤍

"I'll be damned if lose her, Max", Lando admitted, resting his elbows on the steering wheel and supporting his head on his hands.

"You two were made for eachother, Lando. You'll figure it out", his best friend comforted.

As he was reversing out of the parking space, his phone beeped with a notification.

From lovie ✨️

Thank you for letting me do that, I appreciate it more than words can say.

I love you to the planets and around the Milky Way.

For now, it brought a smile to his face, and a little hope. And he would hold on to that little hope.

Part 2