#i suppose... it IS promo hours...

[lovediives]

meow meow meow meow meow. hi I’m diamond and I’m a cat boy. Can I get a promo?

pros as me as your oomfie:

funny, a bit insane, I meow for you

cons as me as your oomfie:

not funny, a bit insane, I meow for you

[heartbeetz]

I think it's a little bit deranged maybe that my go-to line when I think of Anton's voice now is the unused "god damn son of a bitch" one. Not the happy hour line. Not the demo trailer video (though that's second). Not either of the other silly little videos. Specifically that bit of unused dialogue I ripped from the demo files myself.

[citk]

hang awnn lemme update my carrd

[dawndestroyer]

ironic that I can't see my own sideblogs on my dashboard so I am literally missing out on my own experience I curated... stares off into the skyline

[gaykarstaagforever]

YouTube has this thing now called YouTube Playables (great name as usual, guys; it's not a children's snack pack), that are basically in-app "Flash games"-style things that are just enough game to keep you watching ads.

The ones of these that aren't direct ripoffs of owned IP (very specifically Zuma) are barebones exercises in that bog-standard FTP addictive mobile gaming loop we all know and hate but also LOVE, minus the in-app purchases (for the time being). Like, shallow systems that are fun for exactly 30 minutes, then get stupidly hard so you'll pay to win, though you can't do that yet, so...kind of pointless.

...I still spent FOUR HOURS playing these, because they tapped into my primitive lizard brain's desire to try and master an utterly meaningless task and then feel undooly smug about it.

I didn't get any ads, because I'm a stooge that pays real money to Google every month for this, because once you go adless, you CANNOT go back. Which kind of negates the whole point of these, as addictive time-wasters that keep you glued to the platform and its commercials? But I already pay for YouTube and STILL got caught in these, so I suppose everything is going according to YouTube's plan either way, and I need meaningful human relationships.

But THAT isn't going to happen any time soon! So let me waste another evening on these by reviewing some crap garbage games for idiots that no one cares about, on Tumblr dot com!

1. Totemia: Cursed Marbles

It's Zuma. That's it. With a couple minor tweaks that make it harder and more annoying.

Just license Zuma, YouTube. I think you can afford the, what, $25 that would cost atm?

2. Sword Play

An on-rails sword slashing game (you don't control the movement, just the slashing), and you kill plastic doll guys before they kill you.

At some point they get projectiles that move really fast, that you can only destroy via specific directional QTEs that don't register properly half the time, because this is all relative finger smearing across the screen.

It was fun before that. The guys fall apart specific to how you slash them. That's something.

3. Dessert DIY

This one sucks. You're just picking from very limited options, then doing specific motions to trigger animations that create desserts that don't even look much like the promo art. People request different things, but early game all they ask for is "whatever you want to make" and "do one out of poop with bugs on it to make someone I hate throw up."

And then there's an animation of someone accepting what is obviously poop with bugs on it from their sworn enemy, they eat it anyway, then vomit.

The only fun part about this is the shameless inclusion of NPCs that look like celebrities, specifically Billie Eilish, Kanye West, and Donald Trump.

If you want to make a poop ice cream cone with bugs on it and feed it to Trump until he vomits all over his desk, this is the game for you. Otherwise, this is meh even for one of these meh games.

4. Bowmasters

Dueling Angry Birds, but you have no control of the camera and it focuses on you so you have to trial-and-error the degree of angle and throwing force to figure out how to hit and kill your opponent before they hit and kill you.

There are many colorful pop culture-inspired combatants to unlock, with a huge variety of projectiles of different weights, sizes, and behaviors. This is the most "very nearly a real, good game" one of these.

...Except that the level progression forces you to do Bonus Rounds, and one of those is "knock fruit off the head of an opponent without hitting them, and you have to do this like 5 times in a row, and we move you further away from them another 30 yards every round, and you have to use a wildly different unique projectile every round, and you get 3 chances, and that includes if you miss entirely."

It is basically impossible to do this, because your ever-changing location makes calculating arcs and force, with the ever-changing projectiles, impossible, in this limited amount of attempts. It turns into grinding it out until RNG randomly makes you win.

Which is a shame, because otherwise, this is fun. But you WILL get stuck on a stupid fruit round and stop playing this.

5. Mob Control

You have a cannon that launches blue guys. The NPC opponent does red. You both are trying to bumrush the other's base, taking advantage of buttons and switches and bonus gates that speed you up or slow you down and multiply your number of guys. Guys annihilate each-other when they run into each-other, so you need to overwhelm Red before they overwhelm you.

It's fun until it gets so fast that it becomes a chore to manage where precisely to launch guys specifically to annihilate other guys.

6. Merge Master

This goddamn game. This was 3.5 hours of my 4 hour playtime.

You have a grid board, with you at the bottom and an opponent at the top. You both have an army of warriors and dinosaurs, and a team HP bar. You click go, the warriors fire projectiles and the dinosaurs melee the nearest enemy, and last man standing wins.

Before each round, you can arrange the placement of your army, and use money you won from the last rounds to buy more warriors and dinosaurs. But the kicker is, you can combine like warriors and dinosaurs to make more powerful units, which you keep at the end of every round. They don't gain XP or anything, but as you make more money, you can buy more 1st-level units (that's all you can buy), and gradually combine them and then combine the combinations, and on and on and on, making incredibly powerful new units. And you need a mix of low-level and high-level units to have enough melee dinosaurs and projectile-throwers to overwhelm high-level enemy units, or draw fire away from your own, against the ever-changing enemy army each round.

It's a process of slowly adding more units and combining them to make stronger and stronger units, and as many of them as you can get, accounting for the limited board space. Also the price of units rises exponentially each round, so you may have 1 trillion gold, but at this point a new 1st-level dinosaur costs 245 billion.

I couldn't stop with this. It just got me. I wanted to see new exciting high-level warriors and dinosaurs, and see how fast I could take the other army down. There's more than zero strategy at work here, and battles can vary substantially from round to round, depending on what mix of units the enemy brings to the board.

It's still a rudimentary Flash-esque game, and very much akin to those shitty mobile boss rush games that raid our shadow legends. But it's not PTW yet, and the graphics are a charming and distorted replica of early 2000s 3D games, like Age of Mythology or GTA 3. It felt like something, for awhile.

It isn't, and I wasted valuable battery charge on this stupid shit. But I was having fun. And sometimes, that's enough.

...And posting about it here. It's something to talk about that isn't the world eating itself.

And we all need that sometimes.

[dilemmaontwolegs]

It Started With A... || CarLandOscar

Summary: Whoever thought love was limited to one person was an idiot. Love had no limits and you knew that better than most when a rookie found himself carving out a third of your heart. Warnings: established relationships, fluff, angst, pining. WC: 7.5k

It started with a smile. It was stiff and polite and made you pity the rookie who was being introduced to everyone so fast he would surely forget their names. 

“It took me a few months, but you’ll figure out who is who,” you encouraged him as the welcome committee went back to work in the factory and Oscar looked for guidance on where he was meant to go next. 

“I hope so. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” he admitted sheepishly. “Are you in the PR team?”

You looked down at your black skirt and white blouse and thought you probably did look like someone from PR or legal. “Contrary to belief, I am actually what people would call a PR nightmare,” you said as you held your hand out. “Y/N Y/L/N, Lando’s girlfriend.”

“It's nice to meet you. I suppose I’ll see you around here a lot then.”

You smiled ruefully and shook your head. “I’m studying at Royal Holloway but we wanted to be here for your first day so we stopped by.”

You looked around for Lando and found him returning from the cafeteria with a takeaway coffee cup in his hand. “I wondered where you went,” you teased as you happily accepted the hot drink and the kiss he placed on your cheek. 

“Figured you needed this, love. I kept you up pretty late for a school night.” Lando nudged Oscar and winked. 

The Australian’s ears turned pink and you rolled your eyes at your boyfriend's humour. “He was steaming until some ridiculous hour this morning. You’ll probably find him crashed out on a couch somewhere this afternoon while I will be struggling through lab tech.”

“You’re the smartest person I know, I don’t think you even need to go to class.” Lando tipped your chin back, giving you a deep kiss without care that his new teammate was watching the interaction. “We should go, love, don’t want to make you late again. You want to come for a ride too?”

“Shouldn’t I go inside?” Oscar asked as he looked to the double doors that led into the employee only section.

“They want us to do a few icebreaker promo vids to get to know each other so you’ll just be waiting around for me to get back anyway.”

“You should probably get used to that, he likes to keep people waiting,” you joked. 

“When have I ever kept you waiting?”

“I’m still waiting for a win.”

Lando chuckled and playfully swatted your ass. “I’m working on that. Hard.”

You cupped his cheek and ran the pad of your thumb over his pouting bottom lip. “I know you are, baby, and it’s gonna come.”

Oscar cleared his throat and jutted a thumb over his shoulder. “I can just go wait inside.”

“Nah, come on,” Lando said as he grabbed his keys from his pockets. “You should see where her classes are in case there's an emergency.”

You frowned in confusion. “An emergency?”

“Yeah, like if I’m running late.” Lando draped an arm over your shoulder and led the way to the handful of reserved parking spots near the front door. “It’s only 15 minutes down the road.”

Lando opened the passenger door to his Range Rover and you glanced at Oscar who just smiled and opened the back door. “I’m okay back here,” he said as he climbed in. You settled into your usual seat but adjusted it to give Oscar’s longer legs some extra room. 

The drive took a little longer with the tail end of rush hour traffic but it seemed to pass quickly with Lando and Oscar making small talk. You could almost feel Lando’s excitement vibrating off him when he spoke about the upcoming season while Oscar was far more reserved. You quickly understood that he was merely the quiet type, not that he wasn’t excited. 

“You should come over for dinner,” Lando said, one hand resting on your thigh while the other steered. “I’m heading back to Monaco this afternoon but I’ll be back for the weekend.”

He squeezed your leg when he caught your eyes dropping down at the reminder. “It’s only a few days, love.”

“I know, doesn’t stop me from missing you.”

Oscar tried to turn his attention to the scenery out the window, feeling intrusive in the intimate moment, but Lando caught his eyes as they glanced over you. “Oscar could keep you company. Maybe you could show him around Surrey?”

Oscar’s eyes widened as if he had been caught red handed and his cheeks flamed again. “I, uh, sure, I mean, you’re probably busy studying though.”

“I can make time. I actually get through it a lot quicker without this distraction in the house. Who would have thought?”

Lando gasped, “Me, a distraction?”

“Mhmm, you always need attention, baby. But that’s okay, I still love you.”

“Good to know.” Lando dropped a lopsided grin and winked before pulling up to the front of the Science Block. “I love you too, and don’t forget Carlos is picking you up this afternoon.” 

You leaned across the gearbox and kissed Lando farewell before turning to Oscar. “It was really lovely to meet you.”

“You too. Should I get your phone number?”

“Asking for my girlfriend’s number in front of me,” Lando scoffed. “Mate, that’s fucking rude.”

You slapped Lando’s arm and he burst out laughing. “You should have seen your face. Classic.”

You smiled apologetically to the Aussie. “I’ll put it in your phone,” you offered as you held out your hand for the device. You quickly entered the number and hit the green icon until your phone rang in your pocket before taking a selfie and adding it to the contact. “There, now you’ll remember who the name belongs to.”

“Thanks,” he chuckled, taking the phone back. “I would’ve just put ‘Lando’s Missus’.”

“I like that, you can still update it,” Lando chuckled. “It’s a good title.”

“One I’m still waiting for,” you said as you waved your empty ring finger. The movement drew your attention to the watch on your wrist and you swore as you saw class was about to begin. “Bye, baby, have a safe flight.”

You bundled up your bag but when you reached for the door it was already opening and you gave Oscar a quick hug as you stepped out. “Bye, Osc.”

Half the students had disappeared into the halls and you speed walked up to the heritage building where you would spend the first half of your day.

Lando watched you walk away while Oscar took the front seat. “You’ve done something right,” he commented as he put the SUV in reverse, “it took me two weeks to get a nickname.”

A dark blue Ferrari was surrounded by dozens of students when you left your last class and you cradled your textbooks tighter, prepared to bustle your way in. Carlos had been keeping an eye out and was quick to spot you leaving the building. He moved assertively through the crowd and met you at the edge of the circle so he could use his body to shield you. 

“Nice and inconspicuous,” you teased him when you were safely deposited into the passenger seat.

“Sorry, hermosa, the flight was delayed. I didn’t have time to go home and switch cars.” He drove slowly as the last of the fans moved aside and tried to peer through the tinted glass. “How was school?”

“I didn’t fall asleep, so there’s that,” you said with a yawn and felt Carlos’ hand close around yours as you closed your eyes. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Carlos lifted your hand to his lips and kissed your knuckles before resting them on his lap. “Lando said you made a new friend.”

You smiled and opened your eyes to see Carlos glancing across the car as he sped along the highway home. “You two are the worst gossips. Oscar’s nice. I think they will get along well as teammates.”

“Better than me?”

“No one could beat you and Lando as teammates, baby, that was pure magic.” You rubbed soothingly along his thigh to reassure him. “I don’t know if he will get more vocal as he gets comfortable but I get the feeling Oscar is just a quiet person. He’s very different from Lando, and you and Daniel, which could be a good thing.”

Carlos chuckled to himself. “It sounds like you have spent a lot of time thinking about him.”

“There may have been moments,” you admitted. “But there was someone I thought about a lot more.”

A wicked grin grew and Carlos’s hand drew yours higher up his leg as he turned onto the narrow lane that led to the private property Lando had bought. Set halfway between the McLaren factory and your university, it was the idyllic spot to live and Carlos could fly in from the Ferrari HQ in Maranello whenever he had free time, or, when Lando didn’t want to leave you on your own. 

“And who exactly did you think about?” Carlos asked as the front gates opened. “Was he handsome?”

“Very, very handsome, with dark hair and a sexy accent. And he’s so fucking fit, I could break my teeth on his abs,” you hummed happily as the car pulled into one of the few spaces left in the large garage. “I could go on and on about him. Charles is just-”

“Cha-“ Carlos’ foot fell heavy on the brake and the car jutted to a sharp stop. “Charles!”

Your giggle filled the empty car as Carlos ran around the front and opened your door. The world tipped over as he grabbed you out of the seat and tossed you over his shoulder, swatting your ass as he marched you into the house. 

“I’m sorry, I was joking,” you spluttered between laughing and gasping as he spanked you again. “I was thinking about you, doing something surprisingly similar to this actually, just less clothes.”

The world spun again as he tossed you on the bed and caged you beneath his body, his bottom lip pushed out in a pout. “You hurt my feelings, mi amor.”

You wrapped your legs around his waist and combed a hand through his thick dark hair that had grown in the week he had been gone. “Then let me make it better.”  

It started with a text, asking if you had any recommendations for the local takeaways. It was Oscar’s cheat day and you were feeling like you could use a little pick me up of greasy food so you offered to show him your favourite spot. Carlos had been called away a day earlier than planned so you had the whole house to yourself and its grand size always seemed scary on your own. 

The buzzer from the gates sounded and you hit the remote button to open it after, swearing as you realised you lost track of time. Open textbooks covered the kitchen table and highlighters were strewn amongst them as you tried to colour code the notes you had made on post-its. It was a mess, but it was too late to clean up as Oscar knocked on the front door.

“I promise I didn’t forget you were coming, I just thought I had time to finish my homework first,” you said as you opened the door and waved him in. You looked down at the grey sweatpants that came from Carlos’ drawer and the hoodie that came from Lando’s, not quite what you had planned to wear into town. “Obviously, I thought wrong. Make yourself comfortable, I’ll just get changed real quick.”

“You don’t have to get dressed up,” he said as he took his shoes off and closed the door behind him. “I’d rather you be comfortable.”

You smiled at the sincerity and gave him a quick hug, inhaling the musky cologne that clung to his shirt. “You’re sweet, Osc, but you’re a rookie and it shows.”

He frowned as you pulled away and started to head to the stairs for the second floor where the bedrooms were. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

You paused at the bottom step and looked over your shoulder. “You’ll see in an hour.”

The chicken shop had been almost empty when you entered before the dinner rush but there was a crowd growing outside. You were used to having cameras pointed your way after publicly dating Lando for over two years, but Oscar had only shot to fame in the last month when his infamous tweet aired on Drive to Survive. He hadn’t been known outside of the smaller F2 circle but now he was a household name. 

“I see what you mean,” he said as he did his best to ignore the people knocking on the glass. 

“You get used to it, eventually.” You popped a hot chip in your mouth and chewed it while you watched him, a small frown tugging his brows together. “The trick is deciding early on what your position is.”

“What position?”

“With the fans, the paparazzi, all of it.” You glanced at the window and waved. “When we started dating, Lando tried to protect me from them and hide our relationship but they were like sharks after blood. We found we had more privacy if we acknowledged them, then they just moved on.”

You didn’t try hiding with Carlos so no one ever dug too deep into it. Everyone just assumed you were close friends given how close Lando and him were too. It was easier for everyone to believe you were just friends.

Oscar turned to the glass window and forced a smile before waving to the children. Cameras flashed as the fans got the face shots they wanted and then they dispersed back about their day, with the exception of a few stragglers. “Huh. Are you sure you’re not in PR?”

“I’m sure,” you said with a smirk. You weren’t joking when you said you were a PR nightmare - if the world found out about the unorthodox relationship between you, Lando and Carlos it would be. “I have just been through it all before so I can be your personal guide.”

“Thank you.”

You pushed the leftover plate of fries his way knowing he was probably like every other driver who had the ability to consume three times their weight in carbs on a cheat day. “You can thank me with another dinner date, it beats going cross-eyed studying.”

“I’m not sure your boyfriend would appreciate that,” he said as he dragged the plate of fries closer and finished the last of them.

“Lando appreciated what makes me happy, and he’s secure enough to trust what we have isn’t going anywhere.” 

The idea was foreign to him and you could see the doubt he had about it, but he settled instead for a polite, “That must be nice.”

“Your PR team is going to love you,” you chuckled as you grabbed your wallet to pay. “A driver who actually keeps his thoughts to himself, that’s a rarity.”

Oscar’s long legs quickly overtook you and he had some cash out ready. “I invited you,” he said with a stern look that caught you by surprise. “I’m paying.”

Raising your hands in defeat, you smirked and slipped your wallet back into your handbag. “Yes, sir.”

You watched his eyes linger on your lips before he shook his head of the wayward thought and led the way out of the store. “So what do you usually do when Lando is in Monaco?”

“Carlos usually comes and keeps me company, or I just study. Not exactly the epitome of excitement but it’s my last year and then I’ll go to Monaco too.”

Oscar quietly accepted the knowledge without questioning it, though you could see them swirling in his eyes. He wanted to know about Carlos but he was too polite to ask, or maybe he knew it wasn’t something you could answer. “Well, you have my number so if you get sick of studying you can always call me.”

"You can call me too, Osc.”

Term break arrived with as much turbulence as the plane you took to Austria. On one hand you were excited to be able to travel to a few races but on the other you nervously awaited two assessment results and continuously checked your phone for updates until Carlos locked it in the hotel safe. “You can get it back when you promise to relax.” 

“I won’t relax until I know what I got,” you argued but between him and Lando they distracted you well enough, for a while at least.

“We need to get going,” Lando reluctantly said as he climbed out of bed and tried to restore some control over his mussed hair. “You can have your phone back, but just so we can contact you, not so that you can worry about your damn exams.”

Carlos laughed as he unlocked the safe that also had your passports and valuables stored. “I’m sure she will listen to you,” he said as he handed the phone over and saw the unread text messages from Oscar light up the screen. “Though maybe she won’t have time to check her emails now.”

The two managed to shower in a matter of seconds before they reappeared and sorted through the pile of clothes on the floor, tossing red one way and papaya the other. 

“Is Oscar on his way?” Lando asked when he was dressed and ready to go to the track. 

“He’s already there,” you replied, barely looking up from the messages that were coming in rapidfire succession except to kiss Lando goodbye. “And he said you’re going to be late again if you don’t hurry up.”

“I was on time yesterday,” Lando grumbled, pulling his shoes on as he hopped to the door. “I just looked late because I was the last to arrive.”

“Better than coming too soon,” Carlos joked as he leant down to give you a kiss too. “See you later, mi amor.”

You arrived at the track just before the driver’s parade began, when everyone was too busy making their way to the grandstands so the paddock was much easier to navigate. The results had been posted and a smile had been plastered on your face since seeing the grade, but you wanted to tell Lando and Carlos in person. 

“Hey, you’re actually here.” The aussie twang greeted your ears before you turned and found Oscar opening his door opposite Lando’s. “I was starting to believe you were a figment of my imagination.”

Oscar opened his arms and you stepped into the hug you were pretty sure you had trained him into expecting every time you met. He was already in his fireproof skins and they hugged every inch of his torso so you could feel the muscle that lay beneath. 

“I got in last night,” you said as you brushed a hand through his soft hair and giggled when it flopped back over his forehead. “How has your week been?”

“I’m pretty sure you know almost everything that’s happened.” Referring to the hundreds of texts that were religiously exchanged. 

“It’s not the same without seeing your face, I can’t tell if you’re lying or not.”

He tucked your head back into his collar and held you a little tighter. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“You would if you thought it was protecting me.”

He didn’t have a response for that, at least not before Lando’s door opened and he leaned against the panel with an amused look on his face. 

“Are we celebrating or commiserating, love?”

You had completely forgotten why you had come to the building and a bright smile lit up your face as you bounced on the balls of your feet. “A+, baby.”

“Knew you could do it!” Lando wrapped his arms around you and, incidentally, Oscar too. “Fuck the diet, we are going out tonight.”

You looked up at Oscar. “You’ll come too right?”

“Of course he’s coming,” Lando answered with a wink. “Gotta thank the guy that looks after my girl when I’m away. She would never get her nose out of a book if you didn’t take her out.”

You had quickly learned that it didn’t take much to make Oscar blush and Lando loved to make it happen. 

“It’s no problem,” Oscar murmured as he scratched his heated neck. 

Oscar understood more than anyone why there were always rumours about Carlos. Every time pictures were snapped of you and the Spaniard, or all three of you, the gossip began anew. After spending quite a bit of time with you over the last six months he had his own fair share of rumours but he knew nothing had happened with you. It was hard not to gravitate closer to you or to hug you at any given chance - there was a magnetism he couldn’t explain and he didn’t want to fight it. 

“You saved me from total starvation on numerous occasions,” you praised, rising on your toes to kiss his pink cheek. “My hero.”

Oscar’s face grew another shade deeper and he tried to change his racing thoughts to something other than the feel of your lips. It was impossible, he was too far gone and was helpless to his own feelings that wanted more than you could offer. He couldn’t even look at Lando after the betrayal he had just imagined doing. That was his teammate and you were his boyfriend.

“I’m going to head to the garage,” he choked as he took a step back and grabbed his balaclava from his room. He could feel your eyes in him as he left and when he reached the end of the corridor he turned with a frown as he realised he had missed something. “Congratulations on the grade, you deserve it after the effort you put in.”

Those eyes he had come to love in the last six months softened and you smiled. “Thank you, Osc. Good luck out there.”

It started with a kiss. While Lando and Carlos were celebrating the points they had earned, you were keeping Oscar’s glass full as he stewed in his mind over what he could have done better. You could almost see the calculations running through his head as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass and it was like he couldn’t even hear the music in the nightclub. 

“If you don’t drink that I will, and you don’t want to see what happens to me when I have whisky,” you warned him. 

He looked at the glass and sighed, putting it down. “I think I should just call it a night. You should go have fun with them.” You followed his sight to Carlos and Lando jumping with the crowd, Lando’s mouth moving with the words and Carlos’ arm draped over his shoulder.

“They can keep each other company, I want to be here with you.” You took his glass and lifted it to your lips. “Last warning…” The liquor burned down your throat and you rushed to take a gulp of your fruity cocktail to wash away the taste before a shiver rolled down your spine. “Oh god, how can you drink that?”

You poured another glass from the bottle on the table and held it out until he took it with a small laugh. “It’s meant to be sipped, not shot,” he clarified before drinking a small amount.

The whisky hit your stomach and you felt warmth spread across your skin. The bar menu suddenly became a necessity and you fanned your face with the cardboard as the flush reached your hairline. “We should dance.”

“I, I’m not a good dancer,” he said, looking concerned at the idea.

“No one is good at dancing,” you pointed out, the crowd basically just jumping to the beat or moving side to side. “Just follow my lead.”

He accepted your hand and you grinned triumphantly as you towed him to the dancefloor before turning and stepping closer to his body. Your hands came to rest on his chest and you swayed your hips to the beat before realising he really did need to be led because his hands were still limp at his sides. 

“You can touch me,” you teased as you grabbed his hands and put them on your hips. “Just relax and feel the rhythm.”

Oscar’s fingers flexed when he felt you start moving again, your body brushing against his, and he released a shuddering breath when you turned in his arms and tipped your head back on his shoulder to look up at him. 

“You okay?” you asked as you watched his blue eyes darken in the laser lights.

“You’re beautiful.”

You turned to face him with one of those smiles of pure joy that always made his day better and he forgot about his poor race result. He could hardly breathe when your hands roamed his body, climbing the thick column of his neck to rest on his racing pulse. He was pretty sure he was going to pass out when you rose on your tiptoes, eyes closed and lips pursed to give him one of those sweet kisses on his cheek.

Someone knocked into him and he turned to growl a warning but then your lips were there, pressed to his lips and he lost the words. Time slowed to the space between one heartbeat and the next as he savoured the sweet taste of your drink, unable to stop himself from taking a little more. 

You had kissed his cheek enough times to memorise the feel of them and knew it was not what you were kissing. A soft gasp slipped past when his tongue parted your lips and your fingers found themselves tangled in his hair, tugging him closer as your body yearned for more.

“Uh-oh, someone’s had a bit of frisky whisky,” Lando purred in your ear.

Oscar startled back and wiped his lips that were the same shade as your lipstick. “Fuck, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, it was an accident. Someone pushed me,” he stammered as he looked around but had no idea who had barged into him when there were hundreds of people in the club.

“Relax, mate,” Lando said with a laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. You cozied into Lando’s arm and tried to process what had happened while your lips tingled from the kiss and your heart fluttered. “It’s the whisky.”

You wanted to tell him the whisky hadn’t kicked in yet but kept quiet as Oscar exhaled in relief. Hiding your face in the crook of Lando’s neck, you screwed your eyes shut and pushed away the image that told you he had regretted the kiss. The knowledge settled in your gut that twisted and turned and you gripped Lando’s shirt harder at the rejection. 

“Can we go?” you begged quietly. “Please?” 

Lando kissed your forehead and nodded. “Okay, love, let me just tell Carlos.”

Your hands were left empty as Lando darted back into the melee to find Carlos who would probably stay until the club shut down. For the first time since meeting him you felt awkward in Oscar’s presence knowing you had made him uncomfortable. You didn’t know what to say and it was clear he didn’t either as he buried his hands in the pockets of his jeans. 

“I’m sorry,” you mouthed as you took a step away, hoping the crowd would swallow you whole.

When you woke the next morning for a moment you could pretend it was some strange dream, or nightmare, until Lando blinked his sleep eyes open and pulled you into his arms. “Good morning, beautiful.” The timbre of his voice when he was just waking could always bring a smile to your face but your lips merely wobbled and he sat up concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“I fucked up, with Oscar.”

“Baby, it was just a kiss and you were both drunk, I’m sure he’s probably already forgotten about it.”

The thought that he could forget something that to you was so profound only compounded the ache in your chest. You didn’t want him to forget, you didn’t want him to regret, and you voiced as much to Lando as you cried in his arms.

“Sweetheart,” Lando murmured softly as he wiped away your tears. “I think this is a conversation we should have with Carlos.”

“It doesn’t matter,” you grumbled, tearing yourself from his embrace. “It wouldn’t work out anyway.”

Lando got up and followed you to the bathroom as you turned the shower onto the hottest setting. “Why wouldn’t it work?”

“You and Carlos are best friends, and while you are always close to your teammates I know he doesn’t have the same interest in Oscar.” You stepped under the cascade and welcomed the burning heat that rained down. “I don’t want to lose what we have by wanting more.”

You didn’t hear Lando leave as the steam fogged up the glass and you let your head fall against the cold tile wall. He left you to your thoughts and gave you the space needed to reconcile your feelings to the past.

It started with a phone call. The urge had woken you from a deep sleep and you couldn’t shake the need to reach for your phone and dial the number you knew by heart. It had been a good weekend for the McLaren team with double podiums both in the Sprint and Grand Prix. The two third place caps were hung on the post of the bed as testament to the productive weekend but Lando had gone to bed deflated. 

Oscar had won his maiden race before him. A rookie had done what he had waited years for, what he still waited for. 

“Hello?”

You had assumed the call would go to voicemail after ringing for so long so you weren’t prepared to hear Oscar’s sleepy voice in your ear.

“Hey, sorry to wake you.”

“It’s okay, is everything alright?”

You swallowed and shook your head before remembering he couldn’t see. “I just wanted to say congratulations, I thought you would still be out celebrating.”

“There’s no one to go celebrating with,” he said so quietly you wondered if it was even meant to be said out loud. 

“I’m sorry.” You weren’t sure what for exactly but you felt the need to say it anyway. It was about the only thing you had said to him in weeks. “I should let you get back to sleep.”

“It’s, uh, it’s good to hear your voice,” he admitted and you a little bit of the weight on your shoulders eased as you realised whatever you had wasn’t completely ruined.

“You too, Osc. Good night.”

“Night.”

It was naive to think that one phone call could repair the divide that had chasmed between you because when you returned home for your last semester you still felt his absence everywhere. There were no daily text messages, or invitations to dinner, no sudden appearances as you left class. He was a memory that haunted you and it was always worse when both Lando and Carlos were away.

Four Months Later

It started with a bouquet. The small card was almost lost in the overflowing explosion of blossoms that left a sweet scent in the air but when you flipped it over your heart skipped a beat. Congratulations, OP x 

You were still smiling just as brightly an hour later when you arrived at the graduation ceremony to receive your Honours degree. You had kept the bouquet with you and inhaled the fresh scent as you waited for your name to be called. A loud cheer erupted from the rows where Lando, Carlos, your friends and family sat but it was the lonely cheer at the back of the hall that caught your attention. 

Unfortunately it may have been a hopeful hallucination as you didn’t see him again after that or at the celebration Lando threw for you at home.

“Pack your bags, baby, it’s time for Monaco!” Lando engulfed you in a hug and spun you around so your ceremonial robes billowed out and you clutched your cap to keep it from flying off. “I’m so selfish, I can’t wait to wake up to you every fucking day.”

Another set of arms tugged you away and you fell into Carlos’ embrace. “I’m so proud of you, hermosa.”

You were practically a marionette the way you were passed from one person to the next until finally the bottles of champagne ran dry and the party came to an end. You collapsed onto your bed with a giddy laugh that the long journey was finally over and you toed your heels off, letting them fall to the floor. 

“You can’t sleep in your dress, amor,” Carlos chuckled as he walked into the room with Lando after locking the house up. 

“Then you will have to undress me,” you teased with a beckoning finger that faltered when you saw Lando had the bouquet in a vase that he had found downstairs and he placed it on the bedside drawers beside your phone. “I saw him.”

“I know,” Lando said as he straightened the card among the roses. “I invited him.”

“Thank you.”

The next bouquet was one that you sent to him on his birthday. He barely kept the flowers alive for a week but he did keep the card that was attached. The two little xx’s you signed off with were almost faded from how often he traced his thumb over them before slipping it back into his wallet. He was no longer a rookie but he found this season harder to bear without your companionship and he wished he could somehow fix what he broke.

The problem was that he couldn’t settle for just your friendship anymore so he had to keep his distance instead. He had tasted your lips and nothing less could sate the addiction that had festered in the absence of another hit.

Miami was torturous for Oscar. The car was running great and his qualifying was great, but after five rounds of racing he was still stunned every time he watched you enter the paddock. At least in China the weather was horrible so you were bundled up in Lando’s hoodie but Miami, Miami was hot. Monaco had been influential in your fashion and the dress you wore was worthy of the runways in Paris. 

Stacks of passes hung around your neck and fell into your cleavage as you entered the grid and joined Lando where he was talking to Carlos. Oscar watched with envy as you hugged them both and kissed their cheek with well wishes for the race while he failed to hear what his race engineer was explaining. He was distracted by the fact you had seen him, and smiled. It was small and shy, but it was a smile nonetheless and one of his own growing as you waved your fingers and disappeared back into the garage.

One hundred and ten races he kept you waiting, but finally Lando won his maiden race and there was nothing that could bring him down. He had not stopped smiling, or dancing, or talking since winning and he wasn’t even sure if any of it made sense. The hours were a whirlwind of alcohol and noise until it all turned black and Carlos had to help you get him into bed.

Lando was fast asleep with his mouth open and snoring, which heavily down to the copious amounts of alcohol he had consumed at the after party. He didn’t even stir as you slipped out of the bed and left the room to answer the call that lit up your phone. 

“Hey.” You kept your voice low even though you knew nothing short of a fire alarm would wake your boyfriend.

“Hey.” You could hear the smile in that word and your own lips curled up in response. “I’m sorry if I woke you, I just needed to hear your voice.”

You navigated your way through the dark hotel suite to the balcony and opened the door just wide enough to fit through before closing it. The humidity was instant and the satin nightgown clung to your warm skin as you hung up the phone. “You didn’t wake me.”

Oscar was so close you could almost touch him, but the balcony one room over was just too far away. He even looked down the gap to see the fifteen storey high plunge and you could see his brows burrow together like he was calculating his chances of making the leap across. 

“Don’t you dare,” you warned him. “I didn’t come out here to see you fall to your death.”

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the railing and he sighed in defeat. A smirk soon tugged at his lips and he brushed his hair back over his ear as he eyed the sheer slip you wore. “But you did come out here to see me.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, aware of how thin the material was and all it bared. “I wanted to check how you were.”

Oscar’s lips pursed at the reminder of his poor race result. 

“Could have done without your boyfriend’s boyfriend crashing into me.”

He didn’t know how close to the truth he was with that statement and you wondered if he knew about the relationship that Lando and Carlos had or if he was just playing on an old fan rumour. You wondered how shocked he would be if he knew that Carlos was passed out on the other side of Lando right now. 

“It is a part of racing,” you reminded him. “There’s always a risk battling it out.”

Oscar dropped his head with a little laugh. “It’s a good thing I didn’t call you for sympathy or I would be disappointed.”

“Why did you call me?” 

You knew why.

“I told you, I wanted to hear your voice.”

“Osc,” you sighed, your hands falling to your side, and he lifted his head to look at you, his blue eyes so similar to his teammates.

“I’m not an idiot,” he said as he let go of the rail he leaned on and rose to his full height. “I know you love him.”

“I do,” you confirmed with a small nod, unable to look in his direction as you turned your focus to the view of the ocean instead. 

You didn’t hear him move until his feet landed quietly on the concrete behind you and you spun around to face him. A small shocked gasp escaped your lips when his palm glided over the satin at your waist and pulled you closer to his body. Your hands found their own space on his chest and he froze as he waited for you to push him away, but your fingers curled into the white shirt he wore.

“I know you love him,” he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of your ear. “But I think you might love me too.”

“You have ignored me for months.” It wasn’t a denial and he caught the admission of those missing words.

“I can never ignore you, and now I know I can’t even keep my distance from you.” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against yours as his large hands cradled your face. “I need you, Y/N.”

“You don’t know what you are asking for,” you whispered as you fought the urge to tell him just how much you needed him too. 

“I’m asking for a chance to show you how perfect we are for each other.” He pulled back to see tears shimmering in your eyes and he sighed. “I shouldn’t have called. I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”

“Wait-”

“No, you don‘t have to say anything. I shouldn’t have put you in that position. I don't want you to cheat on Lando.” He kept backing away but you followed with each step until his back was pressed to the railing. 

“Lando isn’t the problem,” you promised as you reached for his face and cradled his sharp jawline. “Remember when I said I was a PR nightmare?”

Oscar nodded as his brows furrowed together. 

“I’m trusting you with a secret no one else knows.” His confusion grew as you took his hand and led him inside the suite. You pressed a finger to your lips as you reached the bedroom door and nudged it wider so he could see what was inside. In the dim light it was hard to make out what he was looking at but then everything came into focus like the Ferrari shirt on the floor and the CS55 cap on the nightstand. 

Oscar’s jaw slackened as he recognised the two bodies spread across the sheets and he eyed the empty space that you had filled. A thousand questions muddled in his head and he swallowed them down until you had closed the door again. His hand slipped out of yours as you walked back to the balcony and you wondered if that was the last time you would ever hold it.

“No one can know, please,” you whispered as you hugged yourself and stared at the moonlight on the waves. 

“Help me to understand what I just saw. Are the rumours true then?”

You laughed and turned to face him, crossing your legs and you leant against the rail. “They're not wrong,” you admitted with an evasive shrug. “They love each other and have a relationship, but it’s not the same relationship that I have with them.”

“You’re not exactly helping me to understand this,” he muttered, dragging a hand down his face as he sat heavily on the outdoor settee. 

You had never needed to explain it before, the addition of Carlos to yours and Lando’s relationship had naturally fallen into place and been accepted without having to understand why you all felt the way you did or how it was going to work. But now you were going to try.

“I met Lando first and what we had was instant, he was funny and sweet and kind. Then he introduced me to Carlos who was so charismatic it was impossible not to love him too. It didn’t mean I loved Lando any less so he supported me having a relationship with Carlos too.” 

“Okay.” He nodded like it made some sense and it gave you a slither of hope. “But what about them?”

You watched Oscar’s eyes linger on the skin bared by the satin and they darkened when you uncrossed your legs to step closer. He sat up straighter as you approached and his legs opened for you to step between and he did nothing to stop you when you took a seat on his lap. 

“You want to know if it's a package deal?” you teased, toying with the strands of his dirty blonde hair. “You want to know if you can have me, but at what price?”

His throat bounced with a deep swallow and his tongue wet his dry lips before he could speak again. “Is it?”

You thought about teasing him more but you settled for the truth. “No, like I said, they don’t have that sort of relationship. Yes, we may sleep in the same bed more often than not and on occasion they share me, but that is as far as they go. That is where the rumours are wrong.”

“Share you as in…”

“Threesome, Oscar,” you confirmed with a laugh as his cheeks turned pink. Seeing that colour again reminded you of the kiss and you shifted on his lap to straddle his hips. “I can’t stop thinking about you. It feels like a part of me has been missing for months.”

His hands slid up your back and pulled you closer. “I know what you mean.” 

His lips were so close you could feel their warmth and they begged you to close the distance, but you couldn’t just yet. “I want you, Osc, and you’re right, I do love you.”

You could see the sadness in his eyes as he asked, “But?”

“But I don’t know how this works when you and Carlos are battling each other every week.”

“I know things sound heated on the radio but that is just on the track,” he promised, his thumbs drawing soothing circles over your spine. “I have no problem with Carlos, I swear.”

Carlos had said the same thing but you weren’t sure if they were just trying to placate you. Only time would tell.

“It’s not just my heart that will break if this doesn’t work,” you whispered as your eyes fluttered shut and you surrendered yourself to him.

“Then we will just have to make this work.”

[littlelamy]

drew starkey x victoria’ssecret!model!reader

you’d been waiting all week for this delivery. victoria’s secret had sent out the official box for your tiktok promo, the angel wings and lingerie, and you couldn’t help but feel a little giddy about it.

being part of the victoria’s secret family was still a surreal feeling, even after a few shows and campaigns. the wings—they always made you feel like you were stepping into a different world, like some ethereal being just floating through life.

the oversized box had been sitting on the entryway table for a few hours now, untouched. you were waiting for the right moment to open it, savoring the anticipation. drew was supposed to come over later, and part of you wanted to share the moment with him. the way his eyes lit up whenever he saw you in anything remotely sexy? yeah, you were definitely looking forward to that.

when the door clicks open and drew walks in, his eyes find the box immediately, a smirk spreading across his lips. “finally came, huh?” he teases, dropping his keys on the counter before making his way over to you. he’s in one of those casual moods, still dressed in a white t-shirt and dark jeans, but there’s this glint in his eye—one that makes you bite back a smile.

“you want to see what’s inside?” you ask, brushing past him on your way to the box, fingers trailing lightly across his arm as you go.

“you know i do,” he murmurs, following close behind, his hand gently resting on your waist.

you carefully lift the lid, pulling out the tissue paper, and there it is—the lingerie, delicate lace, satin ribbons, and soft mesh in a soft blush color. the angel wings are folded beneath the fabric, shimmering lightly under the living room light, and the sight of them makes your heart skip a beat.

“holy shit,” drew whispers, his hand now gripping your waist a little tighter. his eyes are glued to the set, his breathing just a touch heavier than before.

“like it?” you tease, pulling the lingerie out of the box and holding it up to your body, the sheer material barely covering anything.

he licks his lips, his gaze dark and heavy. “put it on.”

there’s something in his voice that makes your stomach flip, a hunger that you know all too well.

you nod, taking the lingerie and wings into the bedroom. your hands are trembling just slightly as you slip into the delicate fabric, the lace cool against your skin. it fits like a second skin, hugging your curves in all the right places. the wings, once you attach them, feel light and ethereal on your shoulders, giving you that iconic angel look.

taking a deep breath, you step out of the bedroom, and the moment drew lays eyes on you, you feel the intensity of his gaze wash over you.

his eyes roam over your body, taking in every inch of you from the lace that barely covers your breasts to the delicate ribbons that rest on your hips. he leans back against the couch, his eyes darkening as they lock onto yours.

“you look unreal,” he breathes, his voice low and rough, like it’s taking everything in him to hold himself back.

you smile, feeling a surge of confidence under his gaze. “thanks, babe. i’m supposed to film a tiktok for them in this.”

“forget tiktok for a second,” he says, his voice deeper now, more demanding. “walk for me.”

you blink, caught off guard by the request. “walk for you?”

“yeah,” he nods, sitting up straighter, his eyes never leaving you. “like you’re on the runway. i want to see you.”

there’s a playful smile on your lips as you step back, giving yourself some room. his eyes track your every move, the air in the room growing heavier with tension.

you start walking, slow and deliberate, your hips swaying just like they would on the runway. every step feels charged, every movement precise. his eyes burn into you, watching the way the lingerie clings to your body, the way the wings catch the light with each turn.

“fuck,” he mutters under his breath, shifting slightly on the couch. “come here.”

you obey, walking toward him, but the moment you’re close enough, his hands are on you, pulling you down onto his lap. his fingers grip your hips tightly as he looks up at you, his pupils blown wide with lust.

“you have no idea what you’re doing to me,” he growls, his hands slipping under the lace of the lingerie, fingers teasing the bare skin of your thighs.

you can’t help but smile, leaning down to brush your lips against his. “oh, i think i have some idea.”

he kisses you then, hard and demanding, his hands roaming over your body like he can’t get enough. his fingers slip under the straps of your lingerie, pulling them down your shoulders as his mouth moves to your neck, kissing and biting his way down.

“you’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs against your skin, his breath hot and heavy. “i can’t believe you’re mine.”

“i’m all yours,” you whisper back, threading your fingers through his hair, tugging gently as his lips find your collarbone.

he groans at your words, his hands gripping your hips tighter, pulling you down harder against him. you can feel how hard he is through his jeans, the pressure between your legs already building with every movement.

“take this off,” he demands, his fingers tugging at the delicate lace of your lingerie.

you comply, reaching behind to unclasp it, letting the fabric fall away, leaving you completely bare except for the wings still attached to your back.

drew pulls back slightly to take you in, his eyes dark and filled with raw desire. “you look like a fucking angel,” he whispers, his voice rough and filled with awe.

before you can respond, he’s pulling you closer, his lips crashing against yours again as his hands roam over every inch of your exposed skin. his touch is possessive, like he’s claiming you, marking you as his.

you gasp as his hands find your breasts, teasing your nipples until they’re hard and sensitive. his lips follow, kissing and sucking at the soft skin, drawing moans from your lips that only seem to spur him on more.

“drew, please,” you whisper, your hips grinding against him, desperate for more.

he groans, his hands moving to undo his jeans, pushing them down just enough to free himself. he’s hard and ready, and the sight of him makes your mouth water.

“come here,” he growls, his hands gripping your hips as he positions you over him.

you don’t need any more encouragement. you sink down onto him slowly, both of you groaning at the sensation. he fills you completely, stretching you in the most delicious way, and you have to take a moment to catch your breath.

“fuck, you feel so good,” he mutters, his hands gripping your hips tightly as he starts to move.

you start riding him slowly, your hands on his shoulders as you find a rhythm, your hips moving in slow, deliberate circles. the pleasure builds quickly, the friction between your bodies driving you both closer to the edge with each movement.

drew’s hands roam over your body, one hand slipping between your legs to tease your clit, sending shockwaves of pleasure through you.

“fuck, you’re so tight,” he groans, his hips bucking up into you, making you gasp.

“drew, i’m so close,” you pant, your nails digging into his shoulders as you ride him harder, faster, chasing your release.

“come for me, baby,” he growls, his voice rough and demanding. “let go for me.”

that’s all it takes. the coil of pleasure snaps inside you, and you come undone with a cry, your body trembling as waves of ecstasy crash over you. drew’s hands grip your hips tightly as he thrusts up into you, his own release following soon after.

you collapse against him, both of you breathing heavily, your bodies still tangled together as the aftershocks of your orgasms pulse through you.

drew presses a soft kiss to your forehead, his arms wrapping around you as you both come down from the high.

“you’re gonna kill me one day,” he murmurs, his voice still breathless but filled with affection.

you smile, nuzzling into his neck. “maybe. but at least you’ll die happy.”

he chuckles, his hands running up and down your back, gently tracing the outline of the wings still attached to you.

“i can’t believe i get to keep you,” he whispers, his voice soft and full of awe.

you lift your head to meet his gaze, your heart swelling at the love and admiration you see in his eyes. “i’m not going anywhere,” you whisper back, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

“good,” he murmurs, pulling you closer. “because i’m never letting you go.”

[fisherrprince]

friends, countrymen. if you feel the urge to go to the chiropractor because your body aches, you do not want a chiropractor, you want a massage.

“but fish” you may say. “that sounds. scary” it’s not. if you really have an aversion to people touching you, at all, ever, maybe this isn’t for you. but a chiropractor isn’t for you either, because they also touch you a lot. In the case that you think you’d be chill with it for an hour, im going to describe in detail more or less what to expect at a massage appointment.

-

why not a chiropractor?

we’re not going to get into it, but a chiropractor tries to put your bones back in alignment. This is functionally useless if your tight muscles are pulling on your bones in the first place! They’ll just go back to being achy and out of alignment within the week. You need to be addressing the root of the problem. a massage may not fix it (sorry. it takes work on your part), but it may help your muscles relax so you can train them to chill out and sit in their correct spots. plus it feels nice. if you feel like you need something more intense, go for a deep pressure therapy massage. it digs into your sore muscles without the danger of a chiropractor.

what does the room look like?

in most cases, when a massage parlor has an official building, the massage room is a small dim-ish room with one massage table, maybe a chair, and some cubbies or cabinets either for the masseuse's tools or for your clothes. there may be decorations, candles, fake candles, little speakers, a mirror, or pillows. the massage table looks like a little twin mattress with a donut pillow sticking out the top and blankets covering the mattress. The table is also usually heated, and you can adjust the heat by asking for it.

what stuff is also there?

smells there are smells in there, usually woody, floral, or natural scents like cedar, eucalyptus, lavender, chamomile, or peppermint. sometimes you get to choose your smells. if there's a smell you don't like (eg lavender, which makes me sneeze), politely ask not to use that one. very few massage parlors have no smells at all, but I've found that most places aren't nearly as overwhelming as, say, a bath and body works, which sucks to be in.

music or nature sounds. think stereotypical soft spa music. I've never encountered a situation where the music bothered me, but you can also request to change it.

lotions and/or oils they go on your body, because rubbing your hands against your skin for a long time without a buffer irritates your skin! they are where most of the smells comes from, if there's not a diffuser in the room. again, if a smell is bad, politely request to not use that smell. the oils may also get in your hair or on your underclothes, if you keep them on.

warm things sometimes the masseuse will use warm things, like warm towels or warm rocks, on you. they're usually nice in the same way a hot tub is nice - a little hot at first, and then warm. if they use a warm towel, it's probably going on your feet or back or neck. warm rocks will usually go on your back. I've never encountered warm rocks but they're in the promo pictures so, i suppose you'd need to do something other than a deep pressure therapy massage to get warm rocks.

some talking at the beginning, the masseuse may instruct you to take some deep breaths and relax, like the beginning of a meditation. she will usually not keep talking the entire time unless you're talkative. I often fall asleep.

what am I expected to do?

you'll enter the room, the masseuse will ask you what you want her to focus on, and she'll leave for a few minutes to let you undress. You can undress to your comfort level, but I usually at least decide to go topless, because it helps them reach my back better and my upper back hurts. once you're as comfortable as you can be, slide in under the blankets (both blankets if there's two) on the table and leave only your head poking out. if she doesn't tell you to start on your back or stomach, pick one, doesn't often matter.

you are fully expected to let her know at the beginning if there are areas you don't want her touching, and you're expected to let her know if she's going too hard or too gentle on your muscles. her goal is your comfort and relief!

then what happens?

chillax for a while. the masseuse will move around the table, addressing your muscles bit by bit. usually, they'll start with a scalp massage, and then move down. aside from massaging you, she will often move your limbs around, tuck the blanket around you, or put things like rolled towels or pillows under you at times. you are just supposed to lay there, relax, and let her do so.

good massage feels like anywhere from a nice backrub to that good sore you feel poking a bruise or moving after working out real hard. it should not actively hurt -- let him know it hurts if it does.

what do I do after?

when she leaves the room to let you redress, do that, and then go meet her in the lobby to pay her (if you haven't already) or for a brief touch base. if this is like, a fancy resort massage, they'll have a whole dressing room you're supposed to go back to, so you won't see your masseuse again. he's probably washing up.

drink water! often they'll give you some water afterwards. It's because loosening your tight muscles opens them up to water your body wants to give them anyways, so you might get a little dehydrated.

eat a snack with vitamins in it, like nuts or fruit. if you had a massage that really beat you up (I asked for this a few times while recovering from an injury), take an advil too. Normally, you won't need pain reliever even a little bit.

if it was nice, leave a little tip.

miscellaneous tips

if this is your first time, go for the shortest option so you can see if you like it or not. often, they'll have a first time client discount.

don't be afraid to fall asleep or snore or anything. they don't care.

they also shouldn't care about your body type. To be polite, take a shower at least the night before going in, but I guarantee they couldn't care less about what you look like, only that your muscles are stiff.

don't be too annoyed if you asked for neck and shoulders and the masseuse is hanging out at your feet. remember to specify exactly what you want at the beginning, but your muscles are all connected, and your legs are probably tight too.

try to find an independent company. massage envy might be good for a first attempt if you're worried about them pushing too hard, but they aren't as good or personalized as some guy who's been doing this for 40 years.

when you lay on your stomach, stick your face in the donut pillow in a way that lets your face stick out the hole, but try not to line the middle of your neck up with the edge of the bed. it's a little uncomfy.

you are fully within your rights to wear a mask during your massage.

please tell them your allergies! especially if it's to coconut oil!

[unsuperingyournatural]

nowhere else i'd rather be

Pedro Pascal x Actress!Reader

comfort, TLOU season 2 spoilers below

materialized after watching the SXSW interview with him and Bella where he started to get a little emotional as he talked

You missed the flight.

Not the one you booked, but the one you needed to be on—the one that would've gotten you to him in time.

Your day had unraveled like string pulled too tight. A last-minute promo shoot ran over. The car that was supposed to take you to the airport arrived half an hour late, and the traffic was a crawling mess of brake lights and frustration. By the time you got through security, the plane was already taxiing. The only thing you could do was pace at the gate and rebook.

The flight you ended up on was quiet. Too quiet. You spent most of it curled toward the window, earbuds in, the drone of the engines dull against your thoughts. You kept replaying the way Pedro looked last time you FaceTimed from set—bone-deep tired, dust in his hair, that Joel stillness he carried like armor even off-camera. You remembered the way his hands curled into fists when he didn’t think you were watching. The long silences that came after night shoots.

You knew today would be brutal. The kind of goodbye that sits behind the ribs for days.

You checked the time obsessively. Watched your texts go unanswered. Imagined him surrounded by applause, shoulders tight, eyes glassy, doing his best to laugh and deflect when someone handed him a final cup of coffee with "Joel" scrawled across the lid.

He didn’t know you were coming. That was supposed to be the one good part of the day—showing up just in time to pull him into a hug before the weight of it could settle too heavy. But now you’re stepping into a hotel elevator long past sunset, earbuds back in, bag over your shoulder, praying the moment hasn’t passed completely.

Your phone buzzes. FaceTime. Pedro.

You answer with a soft smile, masking the fatigue and the guilt pooling in your chest. “Hey, you.”

The screen lights up with his face, and the first thing you see is the wreck of him.

He’s sitting on the edge of a hotel bed, hoodie loose around his neck, hair mussed from running his hands through it one too many times. His eyes are rimmed red, lashes still damp. There’s something fragile about the way he looks at you, like he’s not quite sure he can hold it together.

“Oh, baby,” you murmur, the term soft with ache.

He tries to laugh, but it crumbles in his throat. “I didn’t want to call you like this.”

“Like what?”

He shrugs, wiping quickly under his eye with the sleeve of his hoodie. “Like a guy who cried all the way back to the hotel.”

Your heart folds in on itself.

“We wrapped.” He swallows. “That was it. Joel’s done. We all stood around clapping and hugging and pretending we weren’t crying until it was Bella's turn to say goodbye. She—” His voice cracks. He exhales sharply through his nose. “She called me her family. Said being on set wouldn't be the same. And when she hugged me, I just—”

You don’t say anything. You just listen. Let him talk.

“I didn’t think it would hit that hard,” he continues, voice quieter now, like he’s running out of steam. “But it did. All of it. The last scene. The jacket. The boots. Even the damn coffee cup they gave me with Joel’s name on it.”

You offer him a quiet smile, steadying, and step out of the elevator. Your footsteps are muffled by carpet now as you move down the hallway.

Pedro watches the screen, eyes narrowing slightly. “Wait, are you back at your hotel?”

“I’m on my way up to the room now,” you reply easily, shifting the camera just enough to keep the door numbers out of frame. You change the subject gently. “What did they give you? You said something about a gift bag?”

He talks, a little less raw now, about the crew and the last-minute gifts, about the director choking up during his speech. At one point he holds up a small wrapped box, trying to describe it while blinking rapidly. His voice keeps catching on certain memories, but you stay with him. Let him lean on you through the screen.

Then you’re standing outside his room. You knock three times, soft but sure.

He looks offscreen. Frowns. “Hang on, sorry. Someone’s at the door.”

“I’ll stay right here,” you say, tucking a smile into the corner of your mouth.

Pedro sets the phone down and moves to the door.

When he opens it, he freezes.

You’re standing there, bag at your feet, hoodie zipped up to your chin, your eyes warm with the kind of affection that comes from knowing someone so well you can see straight through them.

His mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

“Surprise,” you murmur.

He huffs out a soft, shaky laugh, the kind that caught in his throat like a breath half-held, half-sob. He steps forward immediately, arms pulling you into him with a force that says everything he can’t quite say aloud yet.

You melt into the hug, burying your face against his neck, pressing a kiss to the stubble on his cheek. “I’m here, amor.”

Another laugh escapes him, trembling and full of disbelief. You feel it in the way he holds you tighter. His hands shake just a little as they cradle your back. He doesn’t let go for a long time.

When he finally pulls back, his eyes search your face like he still doesn’t believe it. Then he kisses you.

It’s slow. Unhurried. A kiss that says thank you and I missed you and don’t go anywhere, not yet. You kiss him back with the same answer.

When he finally pulls away, he sees your bag. He reaches down, grabs the handle, then takes your hand in his and pulls you gently inside, closing the door behind you.

“Thank you for coming,” he says, voice hoarse.

“Of course I came,” you reply, giving his hand a gentle squeeze, your thumb brushing over his knuckles with quiet affection. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Later, the two of you are curled on the couch, his body wrapped around yours like he’s still afraid you might disappear if he lets go. Your fingers move gently through his hair as he talks, voice low and thoughtful.

“It was one of the best wraps I’ve ever had,” he murmurs. “But it was also the hardest. Joel was a lot. He changed me.”

Every time his voice wavers, you press a kiss to his forehead, his cheek, the corner of his mouth. Wherever you can reach.

At one point, he falls quiet. His hand slides up, resting over your heart like he’s grounding himself in the rhythm of your breath. He doesn’t speak for a while.

You hold him through it.

No camera. No crew. No need to be anything but this.

And for the first time tonight, he lets himself rest—not just beside you, but into the quiet, where nothing has to be said to be understood.

[therealcocoshady]

dad!marshall ideaaa

basically reader is also singer and has brought her child into the music show with her and she has to be away for an interview or something and her child wonders off and marshall’s dad instinct takes over when he sees thr child and in the end he hits it off w reader

hopefully this made sense😭

A/N : Hey ! Thank you so much for your request ! I started working on it a while ago and it stood in my WIPs for the longest time but here it is, finally ! I hope you enjoy it ❤️

Backstage babysitting

CW : Dad!Marshall - Fluff 💕

The hum of the backstage was a mix of tech chatter, the faint rumble of a bassline from rehearsals, and the occasional clatter of equipment. Marshall was hanging out backstage, trying to pass the time by thinking of ways to get back at Paul. His manager had convinced him to perform at the VMAs, arguing that the fans would really enjoy it and that it would be great promo for the album and, though he had agreed, he was starting to regret it. The whole thing seemed to be a logistical nightmare, with technical problems and rehearsals running late. He’d been waiting for nearly an hour and was left to his own devices, his manager having left to take some urgent call. He was leaning against a stack of sound cases, his baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, arms crossed tightly across his chest, wondering why a show that was supposed to be a well-oiled machine felt like a rusty bike.

He checked his watch for the thousandth time, unable to hold the loud sigh that escaped him. He didn’t think of himself as particularly demanding, but if there was one thing that made him exasperated and frustrated, it was lack of professionalism. Just as he contemplated storming off to demand answers, something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. A tiny figure toddled past, clutching a well-loved plush dinosaur that looked like it had been through its fair share of battles. Marshall's scowl softened instantly when he saw the little boy, who couldn’t have been more than two years old. The little one was toddling around, exploring, looking all around him, not paying any attention to what was in front of him, stumbling on a cable. Marshall’s dad instincts kicked in and he moved without thinking, catching the kid before he could faceplant into the floor. He knelt in front of him, holding him steady, and he could immediately tell by the little boy’s scrunched up face that he had quite a scare. He stared at him with wide, watery eyes, his bottom lip quivering.

« Hey, buddy, you okay? » Marshall asked, his tone softening. The kid didn’t answer, starting to sob. Marshall winced and held him, trying to reassure him. « You’re alright, bud. You just scared yourself, that’s all. Look, your dino is fine, yeah? » he said softly, before looking around, searching for the boy’s parents, but no one seemed to pay attention. The little one was clutching his dino plushy with one hand, and his hoodie with the other. « Who let you all by yourself, huh? » he sighed before scooping him up and settling him on his hip, starting to look around for whoever was in charge of child supervision, while the chaos around him continued. As a dad, it made him mad that anyone would be irresponsible enough to let their kid run around unsupervised, but the little guy wasn’t exactly showing signs of distress. He kept on looking around, mesmerized by the lights, unfazed to be held by a stranger. At some point, the boy turned his attention to him and smiled, his tiny hand reaching for the chain around his neck and he couldn’t help but smile back. « Pretty cool, huh? » he chuckled.

He looked around again as he walked up to a group of technicians when he heard a feminine voice ring out, sharp with panic. « Milo? Milo, where are you?! ». The boy straightened up and he immediately took the hint. « Milo, huh? I think someone’s looking for you » he hummed, before turning toward the sound. He immediately saw you, storming off the stage in a glittery outfit and full-glam. He immediately recognized you. How could he not? It seemed like your face and your voice were everywhere, these days, and your song, a strong contender for « Record of the year » was living in everyone’s mind rent free, what with the addictive beat and catchy lyrics.

When your eyes landed on the man holding your son, they widened in a mixture of fear and fury. « What the hell are you doing with my son, you freak?! » you shouted as you rushed towards them. Marshall stepped back instinctively, holding up one hand in surrender while the other still cradled the toddler. « Whoa, relax! I found him wandering around. He almost tripped on a cable. ». You snatched Milo from his arms and held him close. Your heart was pounding. It hadn’t been a minute since you had stepped off stage and noticed that your son and his babysitter were nowhere to be found, but it had felt like forever. « There you are, my love. God, you scared me » you hummed to Milo as you pressed a kiss to his temple. Then, you glanced at the stranger and froze. Eminem. You had just yelled at Eminem. « Sorry I freaked out » you apologized. « And sorry I called you a freak. I-I didn’t recognize you ». Your faces was flushed with relief and embarrassment. He chuckled and waved your apology off. «It’s fine. I get it. But you should probably think about having someone around to supervise him. He could have gotten hurt » he said quietly. « I have » you quickly retorted, almost offended by the implication, before looking around. « Though I suppose I should find a new one that won’t let him escape her notice » you hummed awkwardly, your heart still pounding from the intense choreography you’d just rehearsed and the scare. Marshall nodded and looked at Milo. « Yeah, he does seem sneaky, » Marshall chuckled. You let out a shaky laugh, shifting Milo on your hip as he buried his face in your neck while you looked at Marshall. For a split second, you lost yourself in his eyes and couldn’t help but notice how magnetic he was. Internet was right after all, the aura was unmistakable. He stared back at you, silence settling before you caught yourself. « I-I’m sorry. I’m, uh, I’m Y/N » you finally said. « I know » he replied in a low voice that made you blush. « Yeah? » you asked. « Yeah. Your song ruined my summer » he deadpanned and, for a brief moment, you didn’t get that he was joking. He must have caught your eyebrows furrowing, as he immediately clarified. « No, I mean. It’s good. I liked it. But it sure stays in mind » he hummed. « Oh. Thanks » you replied in a whisper.

There was a pause, as your eyes met again. Marshall couldn’t help but notice how your eyes sparkled, and you seemed to study him with equal intensity. There was something unspoken in the air, something thick. « So, » Marshall said, breaking the silence, « you’re rehearsing for the VMAs? ». You nodded, your expression softening. « Yeah. First time performing here. I’m kind of… on edge, trying to balance… well, everything » you replied, nodding at Milo. Marshall hummed and smiled. « Yeah, I’ve been there. But I’m sure you’re doing great. For what it’s worth, I heard you rehearse in the background and it sounded good » he complimented. You mumbled a thank, trying to fight back the heat creeping up your neck. You smiled at each other, and Marshall was about to say something when Milo tugged on your hair and handed Marshall his dinosaur. « Thanks, bud. That’s a really cool dino. Do you know what his name is? » he asked as he turned his attention to your son. « Dino, » your soon replied in an assured tone. « Well, your Dino’s actually a diplodocus,» Marshall explained softly. « Isn’t that a brachiosaurus? » you couldn’t help but ask. « Actually, no. It’s easy to confuse them, but the diplodocus is longer, when the brachiosaurus is much larger. And, uh, if you look at the tail-» he started to explain, gesturing to the plushy, before awkwardly quieting up. « But I suppose toy manufacturers are really accurate ». You let out a soft giggle and nodded. «True. But thanks for telling us. Didn’t think you moonlighted as a paleontologist » you joked. « I had a dino phase, growing up, » he hummed. You nodded, unable to fight back a smile. You were about to speak when his name was called for soundcheck. « That’s me. I mean, Paul is calling me. I should let you get back to, uh… Milo’s dad » he said, still staring at you. « No » you said without thinking, and he raised an eyebrow. « No? » he asked. « I mean, no, you can go, it’s uh… We’re not going back to his dad » you rambled, not too sure why. « Oh » he simply said and you caught him staring at your left hand, where no rock was on display. « Yeah… No» you hummed. « Ok » he replied, clearly trying to fight back a grin. « See you tomorrow » you said with a smile. « Tomorrow? » he asked. « If you’re rehearsing for the VMAs, it means you’ll be there, right? » you asked. « Oh, right. Yeah, I’ll be there » he hummed as he gave Milo his dinosaur back. « Bye, bud. Take care of your dino and your mom. And don’t run around, ok? ». Milo gave him a toothy smile and giggled, and Marshall stared at you. « Bye Y/N. I hope I’ll run into you » he said as he looked at you and started to walk towards the stage. « So do I » you assured him, silently vowing to do everything in your power to make sure it happened.

[bonesandthebees]

Help I'm so out of the loop, what did Dream do this time? Who was the Mangoball person? How is Connor related to any of this??

ok. ok. there is so much to explain so I'll start with the easy stuff.

after so many years, mangoball revealed themself on a post by icarus aka apollos-boyfriend. they are now a beatles fan.

god bless

okay now. sigh. dream.

you're not going to believe me but this is a condensed version.

but recently a clip surfaced from the shut up I'm talking podcast of tommy talking about how much he disliked meeting mizkif. mizkif wasn't thrilled about this. xqc called tommy cringe for it, tommy made a post making fun of xqc calling him cringe for wearing a trump shirt during the stream he did where he met trump, xqc shot back by tweeting one of tommy's standup clips and making fun of him for having an audience of mostly teenage girls. then, despite not being mentioned or involved in the conversation in any way, dream qrted xqc's tweet making fun of tommy with a meme outright calling all tommyinnit fans the r slur.

dream ended up deleting the tweet but only after a few hours or something so everyone had already seen it. he tried to defend himself on twitter, claiming that because he's autistic he's allowed to use it. this all happened very late at night in the US so the british streamers were asleep. dream also made a reddit post trying to defend himself, insulting tommy and co. and saying tommy had no backbone. next day, tubbo had a stream outright talking about how much he dislikes dream and defending tommy, while also acknowledging his own bias towards his friends.

that night, once again when the rest of the british ccs had gone to sleep, dream did a very late night stream that was basically him crashing out for 3 straight hours. he went over very cherry-picked parts of tubbo's VOD, 'explaining' himself and talking about how tommy was always such a terrible cruel friend to him (when tommy was, like, 17 mind you. he covered so many things I literally cannot remember them all but he shared private dms he's had with multiple ccs and also outright said someone shared skephalo porn art in the dsmp discord when tommy and tubbo were 16 but it was fine because the teens 'asked to be treated like adults' (??????????)

today tubbo streamed again, watching dream's stream and responding and acknowledging his own slip ups/mistakes he made while also calling dream out for a lot of the bs he said. he was also supposed to have a call on stream with dream to talk it out, but then during tubbo's stream tommy uploaded an absolutely scathing 5 minute video talking about how terrible dream has been over the years, and dream cancelled the scheduled call he had with tubbo. like if you want to watch anything from this entire mess, watch tommy's video. if you want a more full view of things, watch tubbo's VOD from today.

then quackity streamed today and everyone expected him to say something because dream also brought him up for some reason?? during his stream??? and shared private dms they had?????? but quackity is still winning the idgaf war. he just promoed some new stuff he's doing and then went "there was something else I was going to talk about but I forgot what it was. oh well, later guys!"

look this is. again. kind of condensed. the last two days have felt like ten years.

meanwhile connor has been having gold tier commentary on the whole mess on twitter, unsurprisingly.

[isak-dot-gov]

ok you did a paige x wwe reader before and i was wondering if you may feel inclined to do something like that for caitlin too cause the royal rumble was in indianapolis this year. plus she’s been in the pat mcafee show before so maybe he either accidentally or on purpose reveals the relationship

Royal Surprise

Pairing: Caitlin Clark x WWE!Reader

Word count: 965

Summary: When WWE Superstar!Reader enters the Royal Rumble in Indianapolis, their secret girlfriend, Caitlin Clark, watches from home—until Pat McAfee "accidentally" exposes their relationship live on commentary.

Dating Caitlin Clark was one of the best things that had ever happened to you. But it was also one of the most stressful.

Not because of her—Caitlin was incredible, the kind of girlfriend who would FaceTime you after every match, send you texts hyping you up before your promos, and even sit through hours of WWE content just to understand your world better.

No, the stressful part came from the fact that everyone wanted to know everything about Caitlin. She was already one of the most talked-about athletes in the country, and if the world found out she was dating a WWE Superstar? The internet would explode.

So, the two of you agreed to keep things under wraps for now.

It was kind of fun, sneaking around and keeping things low-key. You’d wear her oversized Iowa sweatshirts in hotel rooms but never in public. Caitlin would watch your matches religiously, but she’d only text you about them afterward. And when you visited her, you were just a “friend from high school” if anyone asked.

For months, it worked.

And then came the Royal Rumble.

WWE had been hyping up the Royal Rumble for weeks, and this year, the event was even bigger—it was happening in Indianapolis.

Your home turf.

And, coincidentally, Caitlin’s home turf.

You had been keeping your involvement a secret, but you couldn’t lie to Caitlin. So, a few days before the event, you finally broke down and told her:

You were going to be a surprise entrant in the Women’s Rumble match.

She had freaked out.

“No way! Wait—are you winning?” she had asked excitedly over FaceTime, sitting in her dorm room with her hood up.

You had laughed. “Babe, I wish. But no, I’m not winning. Still, it’s gonna be huge.”

Caitlin beamed. “I wish I could be there.”

And that’s where things got tricky.

If Caitlin showed up at Royal Rumble, people would start putting two and two together. She was the face of college basketball—her mere presence at a WWE event would raise questions. And if she was spotted backstage? Game over.

So, you both agreed. She would watch from home, like she always did.

Simple.

Except, well…

You forgot to account for Pat McAfee.

The energy in Gainbridge Fieldhouse was electric. The Royal Rumble was one of WWE’s biggest events, and the crowd was on fire from the moment the show started.

And when your theme music hit as one of the surprise entrants in the Women’s Rumble? The entire arena exploded.

You sprinted down the ramp, adrenaline pumping, ready to make your mark. You ducked under a clothesline, hit a perfectly timed dropkick, and within minutes, you were center stage, battling it out with some of the biggest names in WWE.

Meanwhile, Caitlin sat in front of her TV, losing her mind.

She wasn’t even supposed to be watching with anyone, but her former Iowa teammates had gathered in her apartment lounge for a small reunion, and now she had to sit there and pretend she wasn’t completely obsessed with you.

“Yo, Caitlin, didn’t you say you weren’t into wrestling?” one of her teammates asked, noticing how intensely she was watching.

Caitlin quickly shrugged. “I mean… it’s kinda cool, I guess.”

But inside? She was screaming.

And then, live on commentary, Pat McAfee—legendary WWE commentator, former NFL player, and the biggest menace in sports broadcasting—opened his mouth.

"Look at [Y/N] go! I bet a certain someone’s real proud right now—shoutout to Indiana’s own, Caitlin Clark!"

Silence.

Then chaos.

The arena erupted. The commentators started laughing. The camera panned to the crowd, as if hoping to catch Caitlin’s reaction.

On Twitter, #CaitlinClark immediately started trending.

Back in Caitlin’s lounge, every single one of her former teammates turned to her in shock.

“WAIT. WHAT?!”

“NO WAY.”

“Caitlin? CAITLIN. Is this real?!”

Caitlin, completely red-faced, could only groan and drop her head into her hands. “I’m going to kill Pat McAfee.”

Backstage after the match, your phone was blowing up.

Caitlin: We are SO done. Caitlin: DO YOU THINK ANYONE NOTICED?! You: BABE. WE ARE LITERALLY TRENDING. Caitlin: Oh.

Before you could process everything, you heard a familiar voice behind you.

“Well, well, well… looks like someone’s got some explaining to do.”

Turning around, you found yourself face-to-face with the man responsible for your public exposure—Pat McAfee himself, grinning like he had just won the lottery.

You narrowed your eyes. “You did that on purpose.”

Pat shrugged. “Eh. Maybe. Maybe not. Who’s to say?”

Before you could strangle him, another voice cut in.

“I’M to say,” Caitlin grumbled, walking into the room with her arms crossed.

You blinked. “Wait… what are you doing here?”

“She flew in after the match,” Pat answered smugly. “Figured she’d want to come support her girl. You’re welcome.”

Caitlin sighed, looking at you. “Since the whole world knows now, I figured I might as well be here for the aftermath.”

You bit your lip, suddenly feeling a little shy. “You didn’t have to come.”

Caitlin rolled her eyes. “Of course I did. I wanted to see you, baby.”

Pat awww’d obnoxiously, earning a glare from Caitlin.

Ignoring him, you pulled Caitlin into a tight hug. “I love you,” you murmured.

She hugged you back. “I love you too.”

Pat clapped his hands together. “Alright, lovebirds. Now that your relationship is out there, what’s the plan? Public Instagram post? Joint TikTok? Maybe a WWE storyline where Caitlin interferes in one of your matches?”

Caitlin groaned. “Oh my God, please stop talking.”

You just laughed. “Actually… that last one doesn’t sound so bad.”

Pat’s face lit up. “I always knew I liked you.”

Caitlin shook her head, muttering under her breath. “This is my nightmare.”

But deep down, even through the chaos, she was smiling.

[thelovehypothesis]

Lights, Camera, Flirt

Carlos Sainz  x Fem!actress!reader

From this request!

Summary: On set, Carlos flirts endlessly, and sparks fly—both on camera and off...

a/n’s: This is a recent request!

warning: fluff, fluff, fluff!

The soft hum of the studio lights buzzed as you stood in front of the mirror, fidgeting with the hem of your leather  jacket. It was a polished but casual look—a perfect fit for today’s shoot promoting Formula 1, a new venture for you. Being an actress, you were used to long hours on set, but working in a sports-adjacent environment like this felt different. The idea was to bring more eyes to the sport—broaden its viewership—and someone thought it was a good idea to pair you with one of F1's top drivers, Carlos Sainz.

You weren’t entirely sure what to expect from him. From what you’d heard, Carlos was a total charmer. And while a little flirtation could be fun, you were determined to be as professional as possible. The last thing you needed was to get flustered in front of cameras.

The crew buzzed around you, adjusting lights and preparing equipment as you tried to focus. The director had explained that today’s work would involve some casual interviews, behind-the-scenes shots, and some promo clips where you'd playfully interact with Carlos to showcase the fun side of the sport.

“Alright, ready to go?” the assistant director asked, snapping you out of your thoughts. You nodded, taking a breath. Just a job, you reminded yourself.

Then, Carlos walked in.

He was every bit the picture of a star athlete. Dressed in his red Ferrari team kit, dark hair perfectly tousled, and a confident smile that tugged at the corners of his lips, he exuded a kind of effortless charisma that made it hard to look anywhere else. The energy in the room seemed to shift the moment he stepped on set, all eyes automatically drawn to him.

“Hola,” he greeted warmly, walking over to you, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief. 

“You must be the one and only Y/N Y/LN I’ve been hearing so much about.”

You smiled, offering your hand. “That’s me. I hope I can keep up with a star like you.”

His hand was firm but gentle as he shook yours, holding it just a second longer than necessary.

 “I think I’m the one who’ll need to keep up with you,” he said, his voice a low murmur, his accent making the words seem smoother than they had any right to be.

You let out a polite laugh, already sensing that keeping things professional around him was going to be a challenge. But you were here to do a job, and so was he.

The crew gathered around, making final adjustments as the director explained the shots they'd be filming. The first segment was an interview where you and Carlos would chat about the upcoming F1 season, his team switch,, the thrill of the races, and how someone new to the sport—like you—could get into it.

“So,” Carlos started once the cameras were rolling, “how much do you know about Formula 1?”

You leaned in slightly, a smile tugging at your lips. “I know enough to know you’ve got a pretty packed season ahead of you.”

He raised a brow. “And enough to know I’m probably your favourite driver now, sí?”

You blinked, caught off guard by the flirtatious tone in his voice. But instead of letting it throw you, you tilted your head playfully. “Well, I suppose we’ll have to see how today goes before I make any declarations.”

Carlos grinned, leaning back in his chair, clearly amused by your deflection. “Challenge accepted.”

Throughout the interview, he kept up a steady stream of light banter, occasionally throwing in a playful comment that made it nearly impossible for you to keep a straight face. Every time you tried to steer the conversation back on track, he’d toss in something cheeky, making the crew laugh as you struggled not to break character.

“So, what about driving?” he asked at one point, his expression a little more serious. “Do you like fast cars?”

“I think I could get used to them,” you replied smoothly, knowing full well where he was taking this conversation.

Carlos’ eyes sparkled with a playful glint. “Maybe I’ll take you for a spin sometime. Show you how a real professional handles a car.”

You bit back a laugh, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. “I’ll hold you to that,” you said, shooting him a knowing look, to which he winked—an actual wink.

The director called cut, giving the crew a short break while the cameras reset for the next segment. As you stood to stretch, Carlos approached you again, his tone a little softer but no less playful.

“You’re good at this,” he said, nodding toward the cameras. “I almost believed you weren’t enjoying my flirting.”

“I’m trying to stay professional,” you teased. “You’re making that a little hard.”

He chuckled, looking far too pleased with himself. “I think you’re doing a fantastic job. It’s not my fault I’m irresistibly charming.”

“Modest, too.”

He grinned, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret. “I’ve been told it’s one of my better qualities.”

Before you could respond, the director called everyone back to set for the next shoot—a light-hearted promo bit where the two of you would be doing some silly races with miniature cars. As you both knelt on the floor, lining up your tiny cars for the race, Carlos was back to his antics.

“Loser has to buy dinner,” he quipped, positioning his car.

You raised a brow, not missing the suggestiveness in his tone. “What makes you think I’ll lose?”

He flashed that infamous grin again. “Just a feeling.”

“Don’t count me out just yet, Sainz,” you said, focusing on the little car in front of you. “I’m competitive too, you know.”

As the mini-race began, the room was filled with laughter and cheers, the silly nature of the task making it easy to relax and have fun. Carlos, of course, managed to sneak in more playful comments as you battled for first place. Despite your best efforts to ignore him, you found yourself smiling more than you probably should have.

In the end, you did lose by a fraction of an inch.

“So,” Carlos said, standing up and offering you his hand to pull you off the floor. “Where are we going for dinner?”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help grinning as you took his hand. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

“Si,” he said, laughing softly. “But don’t worry. I’ll make sure it’s a night you won’t forget.”

His tone was teasing, but there was a warmth in his gaze that made you wonder if there was more behind his playful flirting. It was clear that Carlos wasn’t just charming for the sake of the cameras—there was something genuine in the way he looked at you, the way he seemed to enjoy your company.

As the shoot wrapped up, you found yourself lingering on set, chatting with Carlos long after the cameras had stopped rolling. You couldn’t deny it anymore—Carlos Sainz was more than just a flirt. He was kind, funny, and had a way of making you feel completely at ease, even as he teased you relentlessly.

“So,” he said, his voice soft as the two of you walked toward the exit. “About that dinner…”

You smiled up at him, finally giving in to the undeniable chemistry that had been building between you all day. “I think I might be free tonight after all.”

----

Hope you liked it! and let me know if you want to know how take dinner went.....

-Lots of love, Em.

[fiamat12]

Hi hi Fia! I was just listening to Mis-Directed again. It got lost since Boss was right before it and that cut like a knife but we really should have taken so much solace in it knowing that Lukola did not want to private, they wanted us to know. Its release was prior to awards season so they weren't trying to hide they fell in love on set as if it was a detriment to their acting or that they weren't really acting. They are good actors and they also fell in love ❤️ Misdirected was essentially a tell-all and we should celebrate it! 🙌🫶 🎉

It really was overshadowed by Boss 😞 I tried getting into it and found myself de-noising "Let's get this done" instead lol. But it truly is a reflection of Lukola in so many ways. I'm convinced N did that particularly themed audibook to be able to fit in her on set love story w/ L - and it really is beautiful.

Thankfully not all of us were distracted and Three Act Tragedy did a nice review of the parallels and @jmuz09 recently reviewed it and found some nuggets that confirm they weren't hiding that art imitated life - and yes, prior to the SAGs.

A few LOUD story points:

1- Their characters are in a relationship irl 👫. When a reporter asks about them being seen kissing in the street, Hattie replies “our characters are embarking on a romantic relationship isn’t that what this interview is about? The new story lines, fictional love lives which are other people’s business”.

2- The characters deliver lines that are scripted but are the actors' emotions irl 📜. "'I love you’, they were Iris’ words but the slight crack in her voice wasn’t scripted nor was what she saw in Anthony’s eyes”. There was also a point at which Hattie was nervous about a 2nd intimacy scene w/ Anthony, as she'd never had an on-screen partner so vulnerable & authentic - and one that made her thighs wet.

3- They are ready to be public 👀. They declare their love for each other in front of everyone on set. They kiss and someone points out there is a reporter recording everything and it will probably be on sm in less than an hour, to which Hattie’s replies “I don’t care... there was no longer anxiety or reservation, this was the right person the right time and she was ready for all of it and it was worth everything and anything"

Note: even if you just listen to the last 4 min. of the final chapter, it indeed tells all!

But perhaps they wanted us to move on from it because it was poorly timed - a well laid crumb that they didn't want to gain too much attn. because it was problematic for the A narrative that L needed to wrap up. *sigh* It did double as one of the promos designed to make us look away from the likely arrival of BN, however.

And let's remember, this was recorded in September... it's quite possible it was supposed to come out earlier 🎧

[4ever-the-nme]

Caught this in the promo for next week's episode. Theory time!

Based off the promo, I'm going to assume that this takes place toward the middle or end of the episode. I think after Collins helps that mother give birth to her baby, she's going to start really feeling the loss of her own, and this could be a moment where Robby comforts her. It also could be where she tells him that she was pregnant and she lost the baby. Hopefully, it's where we get a lot more of their lore.

And according to interviews, there's supposed to be an event that makes their shift turn into 15 hours, so I also think there's a possibility that this is when the multiple-casualties event will be introduced with a bunch of ambulances coming in.

[kanmom51]

https://www.tumblr.com/kanmom51/712812388735418368/is-letter-a-song-for-army-the-baby-jm-never?source=share

I was going through this particular post and felt emotional...

Jm really calls jk baby isn't it?? We saw in the show too...things are slowly falling back to places just like many had doubts like why would the two bandmates supposed friends or the worst "not good mates, hate eachother so much to breathein the same place" travel to countries shooting a show in their last moment of freedom instead of laying happily beside their supposed gf or bf right.

They did tell us indirectly that they are together in their life without saying anything...just like everytime they did...

Hey there. :)

This is the post you linked:

Just read it again and ok then, what can I say, I am impressed. Quite the talented writer whoever wrote that one.😜

But seriously, am I a fortune teller or what? This was way before we even dreamt of a Jikook travel show giving us 9 hours more or less of authentic Jikook interactions. I'm not going to say uncensored, because there was clearly some censorship going on, at times on their part (awareness of cameras) and at times from the editors. But man, even with all of that, now that we are on the other side of this show you need to be really daft not to see they are telling us they are a couple. And if the show didn't convince us, well, this HAD to:

Oh, and JM calling JK baby... lol.

You know, like he did while talking to him in Letter...

Admit it.

You weren't surprised, right?

Only surprise was that once again it was allowed in.

But then again, purposefully so.

I know many are calling it a soft launch and well maybe you can call it that. But I would rather not label it. I will just sit here and enjoy what they have given us, which is so so much.

In this show we basically got first and foremost JM and JK telling us and showing us that they are, without a doubt, the closest duo in the group of 7. This comes on the tail of a couple of years where oh so many were claiming and reveling in what they thought was an apparent distance between the two. Apparent to those that for some reason think that these young superstars live their private lives for us to fully see. I guess (more so hope) that those ideas were laid to rest. And that for once and for all people finally realize that the two actually have a private life that we are not fully aware of. That the two spend time together even if we don't hear about it. That the two were and still are super close - intimately close.

And that takes me to my next point. It's not that the show revealed something that we weren't aware of when it comes to the level of intimacy between the two of them. It's not that they hadn't told us all of this over the years. It's that people were unwilling to hear it or see it and with the show we got to see it, 9 hours worth of it. Them on their own and them with their good friend that insisted on joining and was for most part allowing them to do their own thing. Not only did Tae's presence not disprove Jikook's closeness and intimacy (something many were hoping for), it actually highlighted it. It highlighted just how different, how much MORE JM and JK are with each other as opposed to either of them with Tae. Even when the three were spending time together (and I say even because much of the time Tae just left them to do their own thing or even if he was with them).

So yes, this was them allowing us to see just a little bit more of THEM. Together. The playfulness, the chemistry (again, something we were "warned" about in the promos - their known chemistry...), the way they just flow with each other, JK clearly being JM's cook (we get that in words and actions) and so much more.

I am not a fortuneteller and as such I can only write in hopes and wishes. I do hope and wish that this is them setting a new reality for the fandom. Yes the fandom should have caught on by now just how close they are. They basically never hid it, even if at times they pulled back with what we were shown (for many many reasons, some personal some towing the company line). But I am really hoping that post AYS Jikook will indeed be louder in the sense that they will allow us to continue and see THEM without the pullback we got at times. Because Army will accept THEM and embrace THEM. That the Jikook we get post military will be able to mention one another and it will be a new normal, not an eyebrow raising event. That JK won't have to say he'll get his toiletries and go over to shower at JM's because they will be living together in JK's new mansion. That they wouldn't have to hide it because people would finally accept them for who they are and who they love.