#and pitying tom

[onemightygoldfish]

Once in a while, I make the mistake of looking up online discourse about 500 days of summer, only to see a take so horrendous it makes me banish my phone to the shadow dimension for a week

[ariddle-diddle]

The Cup, post homicide.

Borgin & Burkes Tom trumps all other Toms, in my heart.

[unremarkable-gods]

in honour of being promoted to Deputy Stage Manager in my school's theatre department, top gun high school/sixth form au:

Dr Kazansky rules the drama department with an iron fist. always wearing black turtlenecks. never seen without his glasses, his coffee, and his terrifying glare (which earned him the moniker Dr Iceman). do not show up to rehearsals if you don't know your lines. death be upon the poor students who fuck around during tech and dress, because they will find out. he loves the crew tho.

Mr Call-Me-Mav Mitchell is the head of sports. you name it, he's played it, and he could absolutely give you pointers, also, do you want a protein bar with that? it's chocolate flavoured :) even the kids who Hate (capital H) sports love him. he is sunshine and adrenaline in human form. endless energy. no one knows why he is called maverick, but even the principal does it, so.

Mr Kerner is the principal. he is also the only person who can interrupt rehearsals and survive. dr kazansky loves him. inexplicably, maverick hates him. nough said.

Jake Seresin is the school's golden child, not even because he's Kazansky's nephew. he’s head boy. he’s on the school’s football/rugby team. he writes regular articles for the internal magazines. and this year, he’s playing Orpheus in the school’s production of Hadestown. everyone thinks it’s nepotism. it is and it’s not, jake just lost a bet to his Uncle Tom, and must now reap the consequences to said uncle’s delight.

Bradley Bradshaw has been stage crew since he was thirteen and an overworked runner, thank you very much. it’s his final show, he’s the DSM, and if fucking seresin ruins this for him, he will riot. dr kazansky should never let that happen. however, this is the same man who, last year, laughed when revealing that a screen on stage had turned off and bradley had to go on stage during the show to fix it. hm. maybe bradley should have re-thought his life choices. also: the turntable. the goddamn turntable.

other characters include: phoenix as eurydice, bob doing lighting, payback and fanboy as ASMs who flirt over the comms to everyones misery, cyclone as another drama teacher/stage manager,

maverick keeps turning up to rehearsals and trying to help because his favourite (cough only cough) godson and his favourite player are both interested in this stuff, so he should at least try, right? kazansky hates it until he doesn’t. kerner thinks it’s all fucking hilarious. bradley is embarrassed but its kinda endearing do NOT tell him i said that.

kazansky and maverick both bare witness to A Moment between their respective pseudo sons and decide the two simply must get together for their sakes and also so they never inflict that on another person ever.

bradley and jake both bare witness to A Moment between their respective pseudo fathers and decide the two simply must get together for their sakes and also so they never inflict that on another person ever.

kerner is cackling. Cackling.

[jennrypan]

Im sooo attracted to Venom/Eddie but it's literally ONLY Tom Hardys version--

I don't care about the comic version of them no one tell me SHIT (Comic Eddie is NEVER as fine as Tom Hardy 🤷‍♀️)

[maximura]

Ad Astra: The Theory Of Relativity | An Interstellar Ateez story Part I | Part II | Part III | Park IV (Words 5130, Warnings: mild swearing)

It's just after 7pm when they finally pull up the dirt driveway to their home. The sun has set in the sky, its blue hour casting a soothing indigo over the property, and although they can't see them clearly, the gentle rustle from the surrounding corn fields comforts something deep within Hongjoong's soul. They've all been so careless to take this scene for granted every single day. 

Kyungmoon is relieved as he greets the brothers at the door, indulging Wooyoung in his tall tales and energy but when he catches Hongjoong's eyes, he silently motions upstairs, where Yunho must still be. 

"He's been worried." The older man says by way of explanation, "He helped me make dinner but didn't want to eat it until you got back. You might want to go talk to him."

"Thanks Uncle Moonie," Hongjoong nods. "I'll do it now."

After Wooyoung finally allows their uncle to go home, they both head to the kitchen to grab a drink of water, still parched from the day's events, and that's when they notice that Yunho had set the table already, all three plates and glasses flipped upside down to prevent any dust collecting. 

"Oh nice, corn cakes!" Wooyoung rushes forward when he spots the food containers, only to be abruptly yanked back by the neck of his hoody.

"No."

"What? It's dinner time isn't it?"

"Wait till I get Yunho. You know he's upset about today. Do not eat anything until I get back."

"Because we went without him?" Wooyoung asks. "He should've come with us." 

Hongjoong sighs. "Just sit and wait." 

He makes his way up the stairs and knocks gently on Yunho's bedroom door. There's nothing for a few seconds but he resists the urge to barge in, remembering how much he hated that when he was teenager himself. 

"Yunho? It's just me, can I come in?"

"No."

"Well, okay, can I talk to you through the door then?" 

"Just go away Hongjoong. I'm fine."

They haven't fought in such a long time that Hongjoong wonders if things have been building up to this anyway. 

"Sorry I didn't radio in this afternoon. They took the truck from us for a while but we're both fine now."

There's silence after this and Hongjoong knocks again.

"Yunho?"

"Leave me alone Hongjoong, I said I'm fine!"

If today was any other day, if NASA stayed dead, if there was no hopeful future to think about, if their parents never died, if he was just an older brother who only needed to think about himself, Hongjoong would've walked away and given his brother the space to deal with his emotions on his own. 

But in his heart, even without committing to anything, he knows their lives will change now. He doesn't have the luxury of time, none of them do, and now more than ever, he doesn't want to waste it over small petty misunderstandings or disagreements. 

"Okay but I just wanted to say sorry for coming home so late." Hongjoong says to Yunho's door. "Thanks for making us dinner by the way, that was really good of you, but your brother is about to eat the whole thing if you don't come down."

It's then that he hears angry stomping and the door being wrenched open with such force that the rush of air ruffles Hongjoong's hair into his eyes. 

"But that's for all of us! God, why is he so annoying!?"

Yunho rarely gets angry for long but he's a teenager like any other and not immune to exploding with volcanic rage. Right now, he fills up the entire doorway and Hongjoong has to take a step backwards to make some space. 

He's grown so tall now, towering head and shoulders above nearly everyone, and for a split second, with his balled fists and tightly wound muscles, Hongjoong wonders if his brother has ever wanted to punch him in the face just to release the anger. 

But the rage always fizzles out as quickly as it boils over. 

On seeing his older brother standing there with tired shadows under his eyes and the same crumpled clothes he's seen a million times before, Yunho slowly lets the feelings of betrayal fade away, only to find them replaced by shame and guilt.

Hongjoong catches the change as it happens and knows he has to derail that train of thought.

"Well, hate to break it to you but he's not adopted and it's completely genetic."

Yunho huffs out a laugh, almost against his will, but the fight has left his body now. He isn't completely immune to Dad Jokes yet. 

“He’s kinda stuck with us forever, so don't be too mad at him."

"I'm not mad at him." Yunho says, voice back to normal.

"Are you mad at me? It's okay if you are."

Yunho doesn't answer, preferring to silently stare at their feet. Hongjoong was still in his sturdy old work boots but Yunho’s much larger feet were encased in blue slippers and the old dog socks that their mum had given them all one year. It makes Hongjoong suddenly nostalgic for Christmas holidays, back when it was a day to actually celebrate and not actively dread because another year was over. 

"Come on, it's been a long day, do you want to come down and eat dinner with us? You did all the hard work for it."

Yunho shoulders slump and he lets out a defeated sigh. "Fine."

The mood is a little brighter over dinner and even though Hongjoong is relieved that Yunho rarely holds much of a grudge, he also knows that his brother masks his hurt the best out of the three of them. Hongjoong is mostly too tired to pretend and Wooyoung broadcasts his emotions on every wavelength and frequency that exists, whether he realises it or not. 

But ever since he was a child, Yunho had often chosen to suffer in silence, especially if it meant keeping the peace.

It's why Hongjoong is knocking on his door again at bedtime. 

"Hey Yunho, it's me. Can I talk to you for a bit?"

This time his brother opens the door and invites him in. 

In stark contrast to Wooyoung's biohazard of a bedroom, Yunho's was much neater: with cleaned floors, a closet of folded clothes and a desk only half littered with homework. There are two photo frames on the bookshelf: one of them all at an amusement park with their parents and another from last year when Wooyoung had won a science competition at school. 

“I just wanted to say sorry about today again.” Hongjoong says as he sits down at the desk.

"It's okay Hongjoong, I know you had to go."

"Well, I didn't really and I didn't give you any notice so that was real shitty of me." Hongjoong says earnestly. "Is that what you were angry about?"

Yunho shrugs and looks at the floor. 

There's a long pause followed by a barely audible mumble.

"What?"

Yunho sighs with pained effort and looks everywhere but at his brother.

“You both just left.” He says quietly. “I thought you weren't coming back.”

Hongjoong chest aches at the words. He fucked up and he knows it. 

"I'm sorry," He repeats, knowing how inadequate it sounds now. "I know it was a stupid. I wasn't planning to leave you here by yourself. I didn't tell Wooyoung to come."

"Well, he went anyway."

"I know." Hongjoong says in exasperation, "I didn't want him to. He was supposed to stay here with you."

Yunho starts picking at the sleeves to his sweater but doesn't reply or look up. 

“I know you hate it when I do stuff like this.” Hongjoong continues apologetically, "I really didn't plan to leave you alone like that."

Yunho shrugs again.

"I'm....I'm really trying to make better decisions that are important for us, all of us. You know that right?"

"Yeah, I know."

"I thought about turning back and taking you with us but your school's social worker is already hassling me about my "unconventional parenting."

Yunho looks up now. "She is?"

"Yeah, I think they're just waiting for me to mess up." Hongjoong chuckles bitterly. 

"Well, she doesn't know anything." Yunho says with a scowl. "It's just her job to be like that with kids when their parents die."

"Well, as annoying as she is, it's good that you have people like that looking out for you guys at school."

"We can take care of ourselves too." Yunho says defiantly, voice now regaining back some of its confidence, albeit shakily. "I'm not a little kid." 

"I know." Hongjoong smiles. "I know you can look after yourself and I know you can look after Wooyoung too but I'm still your older brother, so I'll keep trying not to do so many stupid reckless things. No guarantees but I'll try."

"You love doing stupid things though." Yunho mutters under his breath. "That's why you have no friends."

"Hey! I have friends!"

Yunho just gives him a withering look. "The Park uncles don't count and people you do jobs for don't count either."

"Yeah yeah whatever." Hongjoong says with a dismissive hand wave. "Hey, speaking of stupid things, what the hell happened with your driving test? And that punk on a bike?"

Yunho suddenly flops face down into his bed with a frustrated groan. "Why does everyone know about that?!"

"Because it's hilarious?" Hongjoong laughs. "So who is this kid? Someone in your class right? Have I met him? Her? Them?"

Yunho's ears turn bright red. "Do we have to have this conversation Hongjoong? I forgive you or whatever okay? Can we just stop talking about this now please?"

"Well, I'm trying to do more conventional parenting, so spill it: who is this giant that's got you so distracted that you almost crashed into Farmer Lee's paddock?"

With his face down in the pillows, all that comes from Yunho is muffled gibberish. 

"What? I can't hear anything you're saying."

Yunho rolls over now to look at the ceiling, there's a deep blush colouring his cheeks. "It's just.......well, um, it's a...guy...I think."

Honjoong chuckles, "You think?"

It's then that it hits him; he may have known about Yunho's preferences for years but his brother is only figuring it out for himself now. He's tried his best to give Yunho a safe space to tell him, whenever he was ready to, but it never came.

He can't fuck this up now.

"Oh hey, that's cool! What's he like?" 

Instead of answering, Yunho looks over at his older brother, eyes shifty and nervous at the over enthusiastic response. "So you're not...mad at me?"

"For what?"

"For....that it's not, you know, a girl?"

"No, Yunho. No. I am not mad at you." Hongjoong says gently but firmly, making sure there's no room for any misunderstanding. "That's the last thing I would be mad about, and besides, it would be kind of hypocritical of me to judge you for that."

There's a pause so deafening that they can both hear the wall clock tick tick in the room. Yunho eyes widen in shock as he slowly comes to the realisation about his brother. 

"WHAT."

"What?"

"Since when were you...."

"Into guys?" Hongjoong supplies helpfully, "Since always little bro. So when you need to have that other talk, let me know. Safety first!"

"Oh my god. Make it stop." Yunho flops down into his pillows again. "We are not having that conversation right now!"

Hongjoong chuckles but decides to take pity on his brother; he remembers how big, life-altering and world-ending all his teenage crushes felt back then too. Young love is as potent a blessing and as it is a poisonous curse.

Adult love wasn't much better. 

"Okay okay, I'm leaving. Get some sleep." Hongjoong rises from the table but can't resist walking over to thump Yunho's back a few times in solidarity. "I'm very proud of you today okay? Tell me when you want to have that other conversation. Anytime. Okay?"

There's a muffled "okay" in reply and a small “Thanks” as Hongjoong exits the room.

They will be fine.

But he can't go to sleep yet. 

There's still the matter of the manic fourteen year old banging around in their basement instead of sleeping. 

"Wooyoung, it's been a long day." Hongjoong rubs his eyes in exhaustion. "Can you leave the drone alone? It'll still be here in the morning."

Wooyoung is sitting in front of the dissected drone with a contemplative expression, like a surgeon about to engage in some delicate neurosurgery. Hongjoong sighs as he plucks the wire cutters from his brother's hand.  

"Seonghwa can build robots. Did you know that?" Wooyoung asks him. "He probably told you when you had your meeting. He's so smart. And he's so nice. And he's so tall, I think he's definitely taller than you."

"How is that even important?" Hongjoong replies defensively as he tidies the mess of papers and pencils strewn around the work bench. "He's a know-it-all, is what he is."

Wooyoung blinks at him for a few seconds before going back to the drone. "Yeah that's what I meant: he's really smart."

"Why are you even on first names basis with him? You met him for like ten minutes."

"But that's his name? Doctor Park Seonghwa? He said to call him Seonghwa." Wooyoung says in confusion. "Why? What do you call him then?"

"This isn't relevant." Hongjoong mumbles dismissively. "That place is full of astrophysicists, they're all smart."

"I have to start building more robots.” Wooyoung announces matter-of-factly. “Seonghwa said he built his first one out of Lego when he was thirteen. I'm a whole year behind Hongjoong! I've only built radios and circuits. Do you think we can find some Lego?"

Oh God. 

Raising a fourteen year old is a never ending cycle of lost battles.

“If you stop terrorising that drone and go to sleep right now, I'll ask around for some Lego. How's that?"

Wooyoung peers at him skeptically with a sharply raised eyebrow. “Tomorrow?”

"Sure, tomorrow."

"Okay, deal."

Hongjoong falls asleep as soon as he hits the mattress but while his body is dead to the world, his mind is alive with visions of space shuttles, sunsets and a binary moon. He’s never alone in the dream but he doesn’t know who is next to him either. It’s someone kind. Someone who understands him. Someone he loves.

It isn't a nightmare, it doesn't feel like a dream, it just feels like a memory he hasn’t lived yet.

*

After their encounter with NASA, not that much changes for awhile. Hongjoong deliberately keeps it that way, not yet ready to face the big decisions looming in the distance. He doesn't tell Wooyoung all the details of that day at NASA, he doesn't tell Yunho or anyone else either, not out of sworn secrecy but out of fear for their reactions. It weighs heavily on his mind, like a persistent dark cloud that follows him everywhere.

Yeosang contacts him a few times to gather more details and sends through some proposals for his involvement. Professor Park calls him too, just to talk about the updates. He doesn't say 'yes' to anything but eventually agrees help with the training manual for the pilots. He can do that. It's easy to work on it when the boys are asleep. Nobody has to know. Nothing has to change. 

One day, a week after he sends his suggestions for the pilot program, he's in the middle of fixing their neighbour's tractor when a package arrives in the mail, hand delivered by a man he's never seen in these parts of town before. 

Dear Mr Kim, 

On behalf of the astrophysics and aerospace divisions at NASA, we would like to acknowledge and thank you for your submission regarding the current pilot program. Your suggestions will now enter the appropriate channels for review and consideration. Please contact me should you have any further questions or wish to extend your involvement. 

Regards, 

Dr Kang Yeosang

NASA Head Of Public Relations and Communications

Hongjoong folds the letter back into its envelope and stuffs them both in his desk drawer. This is enough involvement. He did what they had asked of him, his job is done for now, and he tries to put it out of his mind. 

The school year drags on to keeps them all busy. Wooyoung's suspension is revoked when he promised to retake the science test. Of course he gets an A and Hongjoong feels smugly victorious about it, knowing Kim Yonghwan would've absolutely hated grading that and how it means the fourteen year old would not fail science after all. 

Yunho passes his driving test on the second attempt. No bike distractions this time. 

As the year draws to a close, there was the small matter of his high school graduation. Despite always doing well academically, Yunho had simply announced one day that he intended to keep working at the Lucky Corn Mill after graduation but also wanted to help Hongjoong with his engineering jobs. 

"You can study at the university in the next town too." Hongjoong reminds him. "If you want that. We'll make it work."

But Yunho had shaken his head, "No, I want to stay here. I like working at the Mill and Uncle Moonie said he would level up my job if I learnt how to repair the machines like you do."

Hongjoong had been half skeptical, wondering if Yunho was keeping the peace again by taking the path that would be the most easy for their family. But when Hongjoong asks him this, he's met with an easy grin. 

"No, I really want to stay here. Our town needs the Mill. I don't want to move to another place and not know anyone. Seems like a big hassle if you ask me."

It doesn't come as a surprise to Hongjoong. It was what he had expected. Wooyoung always had his head in the clouds, dreaming big dreams and having big ambitions that he didn't know how to realise, but Yunho was grounded in this town's dirt and dust, rooted in the same community that he grew up in and cared for. 

The graduation day itself is a flurry of activity that seemed so unnecessary. It's unbelievable how stressful getting three sets of suits cleaned and ironed turns out to be. Wooyoung wears a tie and brushes his long dark hair only after the promise of more Lego and electronics to build his robots. Hongjoong caves in to the demands for the sake of his own sanity. 

It all culminates in Yunho having an uncharacteristic crisis in the truck on the way to the ceremony. 

"Don't embarrass me!" Yunho tells them firmly. "Especially you Wooyoung."

"What? Why especially me?"

"You always make so much noise and I swear to God, do not to ask every single person I introduce you to if we're dating. I'm not dating anyone! Got it?"

"Got it." Hongjoong salutes, while Wooyoung just mumbles something unintelligible. 

"And don't dad my friends." This one he directs at his older brother.

"I don't do that!" Hongjoong replies defensively.

"Yes you do!" Both younger brothers yell in unison. 

“Recommending sunscreen is not dad-behaviour. It’s just common sense. Our ozone layer is not what it used to be.”

Yunho sighs as Wooyoung wheezes like an asthmatic bird next to him.

“See all this?” Yunho says, gesturing to everything in the truck. “This is what I need you not to do!”

The graduation takes place in the school's indoor basketball court and it's all too familiar for Hongjoong, right down to the colours of the gowns, the cheerful balloons and streamers and the chatter of proud parents and overexcited teenagers. 

Wooyoung is inhaling the free food and Hongjoong leaves him there to mingle with some parents he knows, like he's an Actual Responsible Adult now himself. He does not make eye contact with the social workers, just in case they have any more unsolicited feedback about his parenting skills.

Against strict instructions not to do it, they let out loud cheers when Yunho is called out with his classmates and Hongjoong finds it endearing how red his brother gets at the attention. There are two other tall boys in the class, one he knows already, the Song's only son Mingi, and one he's never met before. He wonders which one owns the infamous bike. 

Wooyoung insists on being the official photographer of the event and sneaks up front to take copious photos of Yunho getting his certificate. 

Third in his class. 

Hongjoong is so proud of him. The overwhelming feeling sneaks up without warning and he doesn't realise he's tearing up until it's too late. The lump in his throat formed without his consent but as he claps and cheers, he thinks to himself, overcome with relief: I didn't fuck it up, he turned out okay.

After the formalities are done for the day, Yunho goes off to talk to his friends. They meet up later for a late lunch with Kyungmoon and Jonghoon, who gift Yunho with some new work boots that he tries on immediately.

As a treat, Hongjoong drives them both to a supermarket on the edge of town that still carried a small assortment of junk food that contained so many preservatives, they never really seemed to expire. They sit in the back of the pick up truck to eat it. 

"Hongjoong CRIED. How lame!"

"Thanks Wooyoung. That's real nice of you to point that out, you little punk."

Yunho laughs and uses the good mood to ask Hongjoong for a sip of his beer. Hongjoong gives him a bottle of his own instead. It's a maize lager that's barely alcoholic at all but Yunho relishes every single drop of it like it was the best thing he's ever tasted. 

Even in the time of a global food shortage, humankind will always find a way to manufacture alcohol.

Wooyoung sets the camera to takes a dopey photo of them all grinning like lunatics and while the boys fight over the last of the candy, Hongjoong can't help thinking that if life never gets better than this, it's okay. 

They're okay. This is okay. 

And they deserve so many more decades of it.

*

The weather is hot and dry over the summer school break. They have a few days of rain but it's not enough. Yunho takes more shifts at the Mill to help process as much of the existing crop as urgently as possible. On his days off from his regular jobs, Hongjoong takes Wooyoung to the Mill to help the Park brothers fulfill the orders that were coming in hard and fast. 

The town is thrown into panic mode by the threat of a drought and it only slows down when they get a solid week of heavy rains. Jonghoon chuckles at the fickleness of the weather, lamenting poetically how mercurial and precarious it was for humankind's survival. It was all meant to lighten the mood but even the jokes had a bitter nervous edge to them. 

Yunho takes renewed interest in mechanical engineering and Hongjoong is all too happy to pass on his knowledge, going as far as having Yunho tag along to his jobs, whenever he wasn’t at the Mill. As expected, he takes to it like a duck to water, but surprises them both with his capacity for learning.

Wooyoung litters the basement with what Hongjoong can only describe as a small army of Lego robots. They don’t question the teenager and leave him be, only periodically coming down to feed and water him. 

Life is peaceful for a period.

Then several letters from NASA begin to arrive, increasing in frequency and then urgency. 

*

Dear Mr Kim, 

Following review from the aerospace division, we are pleased to advise that your suggestions were met with favourable agreement. Given the sensitive and complex nature of operations, we would be grateful if you could make contact regarding an in-person discussion on the best way to move forward with your involvement.

Regards, 

Dr Kang Yeosang

NASA Head Of Public Relations and Communications

*

A week later, prompted by his lack of response, another letter arrives. 

Dear Mr Kim, 

I am writing on behalf of our aerospace division to follow up your response regarding your involvement with our pilot program. Please contact me to discuss this matter. 

Regards, 

Dr Kang Yeosang

NASA Head Of Public Relations and Communications

*

Dear Hongjoong, 

Yeosang's gotten himself in a stress spiral over the pilot program. I read your suggestions and proposal, it was brilliant as expected. Please contact my poor colleague to save him from his descent into madness. Our young pilots would most benefit from your guidance, particularly in person. 

The shuttle is coming along well. They will be mounting the boosters soon. I apologise for the urgency but time is always of the essence, as you know. 

Please send my best to the boys.

Kind Regards, 

Professor Park 

NASA Director of Astrophysics and Aerospace Engineering, PhD

*

Dear Mr Kim, 

I am writing to follow up on the numerous unanswered correspondence you have received from our organisation. I have word that the letters have arrived safely to you in person, please advise if you have moved residences since or remain confused by the information provided and need assistance. 

As per our previous correspondence(s), I wish to reiterate the importance of our aerospace and pilot program and also remind you of their role in both our imminent and future stellar missions. We simply cannot proceed without their involvement.

I have read your suggestions for the pilot training program. It would seem your experience would be greatly beneficial to our young trainees. 

Please advise Dr Kang Yeosang if you do not wish to remain involved in assisting our mission as his time, and mine, would be better served in less futile pursuits. 

Regards, 

Dr Park Seonghwa

NASA Deputy head of Astrophysics, Robotic Engineering and Interstellar Biology, PhD

*

Dear Doctor Park, 

I am writing to confirm I have received and was able to read all the letters. I'm glad to hear my suggestions were helpful in some way. Contrary to popular belief, I have many other equally important commitments here.

I wasn't trying to waste Yeosang's time or yours but as I explained to your father before, my priority is to ensure the ongoing stability for my family. It would not be practical to travel multiple hours out of town to train your pilots on a regular basis. 

I remain available to offer assistance in other forms. 

Regards, 

Kim Hongjoong

*

Dear Mr Kim, 

It seems you are capable of answering correspondence in a timely manner after all. 

I have taken the liberty of proposing a relocation of our partial pilot simulator to a venue more accessible to you. I believe it will cut down your travel time to half an hour each way. Yeosang will draw up a proposed schedule, taking into account the days you are available from your current occupation.

Please reply promptly if this is agreeable to you as I would like to progress this situation without further delays.

Regards, 

Dr Park Seonghwa

NASA Deputy head of Astrophysics, Robotic Engineering and Interstellar Biology, PhD

*

Dear Doctor Park, 

Yes, that would be agreeable. 

Thank you, 

Kim Hongjoong

*

Dear Mr Kim, 

I have made arrangements for the partial simulator to be relocated to its new venue in 10 days. I have included all the details of such in this pack, including your security ID and paperwork, which you will need to return to Yeosang ASAP. 

There is no set launch date available at this time but I am compelled to tell you that all pilots need to be ready when they are called. 

Please do not lose your security ID. It is particularly tedious to obtain a replacement. 

Thank you for your cooperation. 

Regards, 

Dr Park Seonghwa

NASA Deputy head of Astrophysics, Robotic Engineering and Interstellar Biology, PhD

*

Dear Doctor Park,

Thank you for making the arrangements. It’s incredible that you were able to do all that so quickly. As per your threat, I have returned all the security paperwork to Yeosang this morning. 

There might be typos and one of Wooyoung’s robots spilled coffee on the pages. 

I’m looking forward to meeting your pilots.

Regards, 

Hongjoong

P.S I will try my best not to lose the security ID

*

Dear Mr Kim, 

I have confirmed that Yeosang has received your paperwork and processed it. It was rather difficult with the coffee staining but he is a professional after all. 

I am glad to hear that your brother has chosen to take his talent for science so seriously. Robotics is a noble pursuit with significant benefits to society. 

Regards, 

Dr Park Seonghwa

NASA Deputy head of Astrophysics, Robotic Engineering and Interstellar Biology, PhD

P.S Please do not include P.S notes in official correspondence letters

*

Dear Doctor Park, 

Please send my apologies to Yeosang for all the inconveniences. 

Wooyoung insists I say Hi to you on his behalf. He’s threatening to send his robot army to kill me in my sleep if I don’t. 

Regards, 

Hongjoong

P.S Okay

*

Dear Mr Kim, 

It is perplexing that you continually choose to be contrary to my recommendations. I also note the lack of apology to myself, who also had to assist with your coffee stained paperwork. 

Please advise Wooyoung that I said Hello and wish him the best with his killer robot army. I am certain their enemy will be of no match. 

Regards, 

Dr Park Seonghwa

NASA Deputy head of Astrophysics, Robotic Engineering and Interstellar Biology, PhD

P.S Please stop this, it’s unprofessional

*

Dear Doctor Park, 

I didn’t apologise to you because it seems like my brother is trying to follow in your footsteps and has taken over our entire basement. I had to ask the entire town for all their old Lego bricks, they all think I’ve gone nuts now.

The Coffee Incident is your fault. So I’m not sorry. Wooyoung wants to show you his killer robot army one day but I’m sure you’ve got plenty of other important things to do.

Yeosang gave me my new schedule, thank you for taking my job and brothers into account. I’m meeting your new pilots in two days. Will the rest of the team be there too?

Regards, 

Hongjoong

*

Dear Mr Kim, 

The rest of the team is not required to attend. Relevant members of the aerospace division will be present to provide you with orientation but I understand you are already well familiar with how the simulators work. 

You will be asked to provide direct feedback to my father or Yeosang, however you may also send your evaluation reports to me directly if it is easier. 

Please advise Wooyoung that when time permits, it would give me great pleasure to see his killer robot army. Unfortunately, at present I am trying to find solutions for interstellar biodynamic viability.

Your lack of remorse is deeply disrespectful but expected for one so unappreciative of robotics. I send Wooyoung my condolences.

Regards, 

Dr Park Seonghwa

NASA Deputy head of Astrophysics, Robotic Engineering and Interstellar Biology, PhD

P.S: I wish you the best for your first day with our pilots

[sporesgalaxy]

my mom decided interview with the vampire would be a fun halloween movie and I gotta say. Im really glad that what we do in the shadows exists or Id be a lot angrier about this being so dull

[fear-hope-soup]

Tom Holland and Zendaya at Women's Singles BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells)

[mydarlingdearestdead]

Aphrodite lifted the teacup to her lips, relishing in the press of cool porcelain against her flesh. As she lowered it, she noted the imprint she left behind. The slight remnants of her blushed lipstick. It would never wash off, she knew. An imprint of love, you see, must always persevere. That is Love's allotted curse.

Masterlist

[gregoftom]

Meanwhile poor Tom seems to only have the fly guys, no wonder he’s so immediately attached and clingy to Greg lol

yeah 😭 it's so sad because like. man. i was just thinking about that, maybe he's the one with little to no real friends like. tom is such a tragic fucking character taking ls left right and centre and like i'm not about to say that he did nothing wrong but fucking hell. he suffered more than christ and for what. [to get ceo and his boy but ygwim fdhkjfd]

no but like. idk it's just sad because his heart is as soft as a baby bird. his true nature beneath the roy suit is romantic, gentle and loving but he squashes it down best he can to fit in and and when he does let it show he gets rejected by shiv and at least in his mind, by greg. the self hatred i know he has inside is so much. free my man he only did some of it

i already think he has textbook bpd generally and that explains a lot of his behaviour but i think his worst fear [which to me is losing greg] is a little more founded when we think more about how greg is personable and kind and can easily connect with others and tom, which we can assume from his only friends being the two??? fly guys cannot. him being terrified and hurt that greg will leave and do his own thing, oh. you can't stand me either then? UHF!!!! god! ow!

tom :((( i love him sm my baby child of this earth i love him my favourite lil guy i will protect him at all Costs

[greaserink]

TOM !!! Your brain is so huge with actor reanacting movies wth y/n. What would be his favorites in your mind ?

Definately Casablanca when it came out, Gone with The Wind, or anything with a lead male role with romance. They were practically written for him to play! Such a shame he had to die right before he could get his acting chops on such big screens.

[ariddle-diddle]

Merry Christmas to all, from Tommy. He loves holidays.

no bg because he looks so stupid there.

[charliespringverse]

anyways i'm enjoying the pjo series but i do think that the god of war & his children should be built less like dehydrated marvel muscle shows and more like contestants in a strongman competition . be nice to see some fat people on my screen once in a while idk

[scarecrowismybabygirl]

[differenteagletragedy]

Simon gets discharged after an injury sidelines him, and he’s sooooo annoyed about it. Sure, he’s older now, he’s not as spry as he used to be and the injury, a bullet that tore through some of the muscle in his leg, makes it worse, but he can still do the job.

Except he can’t, because the powers that be won’t let him, so after two decades of service, it feels like he’s back where he started. Aimless. It eats at him.

Eventually he lands on becoming a cop, figures the structure will be good for him. He knew it wouldn’t be exactly the same as the military was, but he’s not prepared for how boring it truly is.

He sits in his patrol car for hours sometimes, checking for people speeding or having the audacity to drive around without the right stickers on their vehicles. Sometimes he pulls people over just for the hell of it — he’ll ask “You know why I stopped you?”, just hoping for something fun to come from it. He’ll write tickets to assholes for no real reason, and he’ll let worried mothers with small children in the backseat off with empty warnings.

There are times that he sees some action, but it's always short-lived. A drug bust here, an assault there. There's a bit of adrenaline rush when someone resists, and yeah, it's a little exciting when he gets to use his strength, but it's nothing like what he had before. He can't find a way to sink his teeth into it.

Then he gets a call, a little hope of reprieve from the mind-melting boredom of a slow Tuesday night: drunk and disorderly female at a bar close to him. Yes, he can take care of that.

When he arrives, you're just outside the door, arguing with a bouncer. He can see immediately why police were called — you're clearly wasted, all flushed with messy hair and smeared makeup, but you've got some fight in you. Some fight that you're presently showing to the bouncer.

"This is so fucking unbelievable," he hears you sneer, words coming out all slurred. "I didn't do anything wrong! I'm not the one who should have gotten kicked out. This is bullshit and you know it, and --"

"Evening, miss," Simon interrupts, sauntering up to you. "What seems to be the problem?"

You turn, stumbling as you do, to face him, and he's immediately met with the vitriol you'd just been spewing at the poor bouncer, who looks at him now with a pitying gaze, his message clear: you're Simon's problem now.

"The problem," you begin, stepping closer to him, "is that all I was trying to do was have a good time and nobody wants me to."

"That right?"

"Yeah, that's right," you say, your voice a bit softer now. Simon knows what it is when you look up at him, lips pouty and lashes fluttering — it's just a tactic. But he still smirks, because at least he's not writing tickets.

"Actually, the problem is that you got drunk off your ass and when our bartender cut you off, you started causing a scene," the bouncer interjects.

"Nobody fucking asked you, Tom!"

Simon bites back a chuckle, but he can tell the conversation isn't going to go anywhere — just looks like you're a regular who had a little too much. He gives a nod to the bouncer, he tells him that he'll take care of you, then guides you back to his patrol car.

Or at least he tries.

But god, you're just so difficult. You're mouthy and stubborn, telling him that you know your rights, you're an upstanding member of society and he’s going to be sorry, just a constant stream of whatever nonsense pops into your head. He was just going to get you away from the bar, give you a ride home if you needed, but you won't shut up long enough for him to offer.

"This how you were acting inside?" he finally interrupts, leaning against his car. "No wonder they called me in, you're a bloody nuisance."

You gasp, and then you put your hands up, giving him a hard shove. He puts his hands on your arms, to steady you more than to stop you, then tuts, spinning you around and holding your wrists together with one large hand.

"Have it your way," he mutters, pulling out his handcuffs.

"Are you fucking arresting me?" you ask, bewildered. "Seriously?"

"Public intoxication and assaulting a police officer," he tells you. "Getting quite the rap sheet, aren't you?"

They’re empty words — of course he’s not going to charge you with anything. You’re just drunk, you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else. He’s a big boy, he can take a little pushing around. But the way he sees your eyes widen and your lips part when he spins you back to face him, a clear look of apprehension on your face, it makes him want to play, just a little.

“Assault on an officer … believe that’s a felony, yeah? You want to deal with that, or you want to keep your pretty little hands to yourself?”

“I’ll be good,” you answer automatically. “I promise.”

He considers. Imagines what you’d look like bent over the hood of his car, or draped across his lap in the front seat. He can see it in you — you would be good for him. He’d just have to pull it out of you first.

“One more chance,” he concedes. “But the cuffs stay on.”

PART TWO

[lumhos]

in love with the idea of tom being obsessed with becoming an otherworldly being, someone who isn’t trapped by human standards or limitations. something that is magic personified.

and yet, he is painfully human. his immune system is poor, his hands are sweaty and warm. he blushes easily and his temper is short. his emotions, while hidden through a carefully crafted mask, always shines through the glints in his eyes.

contrasting with harry who only wants to be a normal human being. someone that nobody would bat an eye at when walking past the street. the perfect image of average.

instead, his steps are silent, almost floaty. his eyes have an odd glow and are endless. his hands are deathly cold and his teeth are razor sharp. he is loud and awkward but there is something sinister behind that. something much like a predator.

tomarry that wants to be the other so bad but can never fully achieve it. tomarry that is attracted by this image of their ideal form and goes to the other because of it. tomarry that lives in their own bubble of obsession, possession, and adoration. hatred and love. biting jealousy and intense pity.

[carlossainzlusciouslocks]

Who are you?

Oscar Piastri x reader

Soulmate au

You can hear your soulmate speak but only after you have met them.

Summary: Oscar Piastri hears an unfamiliar voice during a race and thinks he is going crazy.

Word Count: 2.4K

Warnings: Attempt at humour (idk if that counts as a warning 😭), Change of POV, No use of y/n or any pronouns for reader.

Note: I really hope you like this one. This took me AGESSS to write cause I kept losing motivation to finish it whoops 😬 I did NOT proofread this so please let me know if I have made any mistakes

Part Two

Oscar was already sat in the car, surrounded by mechanics, having already done his formation lap.

"Radio check" Oscar heard his race engineer, Tom Stallard, say.

"Loud and clear" Oscar replied.

"Lights out in 5 minutes" informed Tom.

"Copy" Oscar said, voice neutral, focused.

The lights had gone off. The race had started. Oscar pushed his foot to the floor and sent the car flying around the first corner. He raced ahead of the other cars, wresting his own car so that no one could pass him. He managed to keep pole position even as the race progressed.

Pit stops. They were always the thing that could cost you pole position. But that was not the case, in this race, for Oscar. McLaren had decided to undercut the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc by pitting Oscar early and it worked!

Just as Oscar was leaving the pits he heard it. A voice.

"Ugh I can’t believe that McLaren are undercutting the Ferrari’s. Ferrari really needs to fix their strategy"

Who was that? Oscar had never heard that voice before. Why was he hearing voices? Whose voice was that?

"Hello?" Oscar said, confusion evident in his voice. There was no reply. He pressed his radio button.

"Tom, did you say something?"

"Nope" Tom replied.

"I heard a voice" Oscar stated.

"A voice? Whose voice?" Tom questioned.

"Yes. A voice. I don’t know whose voice." Oscar snapped.

"Maybe the radio is broken. Just focus on the race and we will get back to you about the radio." Tom said, trying to get Oscar’s attention back onto the race and away from the strange voice.

"Yeah maybe." Oscar said in a noncommittal tone.

Oscar didn’t hear the voice again until a few laps later when he heard,

"Oh my god. No! Alex just crashed!"

There it was again. The voice.

"Who are you" Oscar said quickly. Almost as if he was scared the voice would disappear.

"Who is talking? Are you talking to me? Who are you?" the voice replies.

"Yes I’m talking to you. Who are you?" Oscar said, irritation evident in his voice.

Your day started very differently to Oscar’s.

You had been gifted paddock passes to the Spanish Grand Prix by your best friend Alfie. He knew how much you loved Formula One but he also knew how you couldn’t afford tickets to go to a race. Which is why he bought the tickets for you.

When you found out that Alfie had bought you tickets to a Formula One race, you were fuming.

"No. It’s too much. I can’t accept these tickets from you. They are too expensive" You shoved the tickets back into Alfie’s chest.

"Please take the tickets. I’ve already bought them. I’ll be going with you anyway so it’s not like I’ve gone out of my way or anything when I bought them"

"Yeah but it makes me feel like you pity me because I can’t afford it" you shouted.

But now that the day was here and that you were already in the paddock, you felt glad that you had accepted the tickets from Alfie.

You had made sure to get to the race track as early as you could in the hopes of seeing one of the drivers and getting a picture with them. You really wanted to see Alex Albon, he was your favourite driver.

The paddock had been busy from the moment you arrived. Mechanics left, right and centre. Influencers pushing you out of the way, thinking that they are more entitled to be there than you are because they have an online presence. You were constantly being pushed and shoved by people walking past you.

You had just taken a photo outside of the Williams garage and had started to make your way back onto the bustling race track when someone walked past you and knocked you onto the floor.

"HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING" You yelled after the person who pushed you. You didn’t get a reply, or an apology. All you got was a sore behind, after falling onto it.

Alfie reached his arm out, you grabbed it and he pulled you up off of the floor.

"That was rude." Alfie said.

You nodded.

"Let’s not let it ruin our first in person Formula One race though" you said trying to lighten the mood, and ease your embarrassment. You were pretty sure that your fall had been caught on multiple cameras.

You and Alfie made your way to the grandstands where you would watch the race from. You watched the cars pull away from the starting line and race around the first corner. You had been on the edge of your seat since the lights went off.

The first few cars were starting their 37th lap when you saw Oscar Piastri dip into the pits at the last minute. You had to watch the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc completely miss the opportunity to pit at the same time as Oscar.

"Ugh I can’t believe that McLaren are undercutting the Ferrari’s. Ferrari really needs to fix their strategy" You said, throwing your hands up into the air and shaking your head.

"Hello?" You heard an unfamiliar voice say.

You stilled. Body stiffening in confusion and shock.

You heard the voice speak again but you couldn’t understand what he was saying. Your ears were ringing. You knew who was speaking. You knew that it was your soulmate.

They had to be here. Your soulmate had to be here. You had to have met them today, at the race. You immediately stood up from your chair and started frantically searching for someone that you would remember meeting throughout the day. Someone that could be your soulmate. You didn’t recognise anyone sitting around you.

"HEY! SIT DOWN!" Someone yelled.

Reluctantly, you sat back down.

You had always wanted to find your soulmate, even from a young age. You used to love reading stories about people finding their soulmates. You read every single book there was about soulmates. How they found each other, what their soulmate systems were and how every soulmate could have a different soulmate system. You were counting down the days until you could finally meet your own soulmate and today, of all days, was the day.

You tried to focus on the rest of the race, putting the idea of your soulmate being at the same race as you, out of your mind.

"What was that? Are you okay?" Alfie asked. You brushed off his worries and told him that you were fine. With that, he turned and focused his attention back on the race track.

You had forgotten all about hearing your soulmate. You had told yourself that it wasn’t them and that you were just hearing things.

"Oh my god. No! Alex just crashed!" You shouted, grabbing Alfie’s arm.

"Who are you" There it was again. The man’s voice. Your soulmate’s voice.

Who is talking? Are you talking to me? Who are you?" You replied, voice trembling slightly.

"Yes I’m talking to you. Who are you?" Your soulmate said, irritation evident in his voice.

"I’m your soulmate" You replied hesitantly.

"Oh" his voice said, shock more than evident in his voice.

"That means what? That we met today? That we are in the same place?" He questioned.

"Yes. I’m guessing you are a Formula One fan too" You joked, hoping to lighten the mood and break the ice between the two of you.

"Haha yeah. Listen, do you think we could talk later? It’s kinda difficult to talk right now" he said, sounding slightly out of breath.

Then it clicked. You knew who your soulmate was.

He must have been a Formula One driver.

Oh, it was all starting to make sense now! You heard him say something about a radio a few minutes ago but you didn’t think that it would be about the radio in a Formula One race car. You just assumed that he was out of breath because he was running to get to the race track whilst the cars were still driving around.

Wait. You hadn’t met any Formula One drivers in person. It couldn’t be one of them. Unless you accidentally bumped into them when you were both walking through the paddock. Your head was spinning. You could feel a headache forming behind your eyes. This was all getting a bit too real too fast.

"Are you okay?" Your soulmate said, worry clear in his tone.

"What do you do for a living?" You asked, quickly. Completely ignoring his previous question. You couldn’t help yourself. You just had to know.

"Ermm oh Ermm why?" He asked. Clearly stunned by your outburst.

"Please. I just need to know. Please" you pleaded, desperately.

"I am a Formula One Driver" he said reluctantly.

"Oh god." You said breathlessly.

"I don’t even remember meeting you. I don’t remember meeting any formula one drivers today" you said, your brows furrowing.

"I don’t know who you are talking to but I know for a fact that you have met a Formula One driver today" Your friend Alfie interrupted.

"Excuse me?" You said. Eyebrows raising as high as your hairline.

"Yeah. I thought that you knew" Alfie said as if it was obvious.

"No?" You questioned.

"Yes! A Formula One driver knocked you over when we were walking through the paddock and you fell onto the floor. You even shouted at him and everything!"

"WHAT? No. That can’t be possible. That idiot that pushed me over was my soulmate?!"

"What are you talking about? Are you talking to me?" Your soulmate asked.

"Oh god. I remember that! I remember! You walked into me and fell onto the floor. I tried to apologise but I got pulled away because I was going to be late for the national anthem" He said, realisation clear in his voice.

"Oh god. That’s so embarrassing!" You said, completely mortified.

You just heard him laugh. The two of you didn’t speak after that. You were too busy drowning in your own embarrassment.

The leading cars were already starting their last lap of the race. Oscar Piastri in pole position, Charles Leclerc in p2 and Carlos Sainz in p3.

You didn’t hear from your soulmate again until you watched the cars pull into part ferme.

"Listen, I want to see you after I’ve finished my media duties. We have already met once today so why not meet again?" His voice said hopefully.

"Oh. Erm. Are you sure? You don’t even know me. We have spoken for two seconds." You said, anxiously.

You looked down at your clothes, questioning if you were well dressed enough to meet your soulmate.

"Yes, I’m sure! I want to meet you. Get to know you better in person. I travel a lot and this may be the best time to meet" he said, honestly.

"Oh okay then. Let’s meet." You said shyly.

"I’m Oscar by the way. In case you didn’t get that" The man, Oscar, joked.

You told him your name.

"Hmm" Oscar said thoughtfully. "It suits you" he said decisively.

You and Oscar decided that you would meet outside of McLaren’s hospitality. You got there whilst Oscar was still doing his media duties. You were the only person waiting outside. The crowd of fans bustling past you as you waited for your soulmate to arrive.

"Excuse me? You can’t wait here. You’ll have to move" you heard a voice say. You turned around and came face to face with a man in a McLaren shirt, clearly someone who worked for the team.

"Oh sorry. I didn’t know. I’m just waiting for someone" you said, starting to move away from the hospitality building.

"Yeah well, wait somewhere else." The man said, in a rude, snotty tone.

"Hey!" You heard another voice. His voice.

"I’m almost at hospitality now. Where are you? Are you still there?" He asked.

"Yeah I’m still here. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here for though. I’m being ushered away by someone from your team" you joked.

"What?" A voice said.

You turned around again, the McLaren worker still chirping away, angrily, behind you. It was Oscar. And he was running up to you.

He stopped just before he got to you.

"Is everything okay?" Oscar asked, not taking his eyes off of you. Looking you up and down, making sure that you weren’t hurt.

"Oh yeah. Everything is fine. Don’t worry about it!" You nodded.

He pulled you away from the hospitality building and started pulling you towards his driver room.

The two of you didn’t speak again after that. Allowing yourselves to bask in the comfortable silence that had settled between you. Once you got to his driver room, he pulled you inside and licked the door.

"Hi" he said breathlessly.

"Hello" you replied, looking down at your feet.

You heard him step closer to you.

"Can I hug you?" He whispered. Almost as if he was worried that if he spoke any louder, it would scare you away.

You nodded. His arms wrapped around you and he pulled you to his chest. You let out a deep breath. It felt as though you hadn’t been breathing properly your entire life but now that you were in Oscar’s arms, you could finally breathe.

He smelt nice. Better than nice. He smelt amazing. Which is relatively surprising considering he had just won a Formula One race. He smelt of soap. He smelt like home. You tensed. That thought scared you. A lot. You had only just met him and your brain was already telling you that he was your home? He was your soulmate. Maybe that’s what being a soulmate was. Them being your home. Your other half.

You both pulled away from the hug. Your arms still wrapped around each other.

"I can’t believe you are here" you heard Oscar mutter under his breath. "I can’t believe you are real"

"Why would I not be real?" You whispered back.

"I’ve been waiting for you my entire life and you are finally here"