#preliminary draft

[sexiestpodcastcharacter]

2024 Preliminaries — The Penumbra Podcast — Junoverse

Propaganda

Alessandra Strong:

she's known as cockroach strong bc she survives everything, she packs excellent survival bags and could absolutely kick your ass

Buddy Aurinko:

Space pirate MILF with flowy red hair and charm for days

Juno Steel:

He's bi. He's a lady. He's a noir PI. He's a space pirate. His boyfriend is a master thief. He's nonbinary. He's got it all.

Peter Nureyev:

gentleman thief of the night <3

he is the thief with no name, he spends hours doing his makeup daily, he has more issues than body hair. he is so good at constructing false identities he doesn't know who he actually is. he fell in love with Juno the moment he said he'd never tried eating cologne. he has sharp teeth!!!!

Mod Note: From here on out I will be using the "#Junoverse" tag in place of "#Juno Steel" due to the character now being a potential competitor in a main bracket.

EDIT: Pretend there is a question mark at the beginning of the poll please.

[teecupangel]

Consider, Clay manages to escape Animus Island, but his AI-consciousness has now been transferred to... a Vocaloid.

If he manages to do it early on, maybe he's stuck trying to inform the Brotherhood that Lucy is a traitor through music videos on YouTube XD

Ngl, when I first read this, my mind immediately went "Clay is stuck in the digital space but Rebecca has installed Vocaloids in her pc that he can access" and this happened XD

Just Clay making a name for himself as the composer/producer "S16" and he chooses Miku as his main vocaloid because she's the most famous among the vocaloids.

People enjoy his music because he's able to make Miku sing in fluid English (took a lot of tweaking but Clay has the power of the Animus on his side, if Desmond's sessions lag a bit, his sacrifice is necessary for Clay's best 'talent') and it's an ongoing series that starts of as sounding like someone bitter because their ex was a manipulative bitch (having Miku singing it makes the yuri enjoyers like it too) then, once his popularity starts rising, he begins the ancient conspiracy and sci-fi part of the ongoing music series.

Fans are now divided on which they enjoy more: the ordinary kinda mean kinda dark start or the full on ancient alien conspiracy latter songs XD

[coquelicoq]

me merrily writing a bunch of posts so flawed i can't in good conscience post them and then saving them to drafts: next time i have insomnia and no filter i am so screwed 😀

[treasuresfromthearchives]

Facsimile of a portion of President Lincoln's draft of the Preliminary Proclamation of Emancipation, September, 1862

Issued 1894 - 1903 (Approximate)

C. Scribner's Sons (Publisher)

[mildlyscentedsmore]

writing second chapter to the time travel fic so I can post it proficientlyyyyyy

[galercin]

mercy and compassion

She recalls the first encounter she had with death. 

It was not during the war between the two countries, nor the game strung in her courting partner’s hands, but a bird on its back with its feeble legs curled up. She had been no more than seven or eight years of age where the weight of death’s curl could not reach her. Rinea had knelt down and scooped the lifeless thing into her hands. Digits brushed over its feathers, beak, and talons. When it did not stir, suddenly its stillness and absence of heat settled in her palms. She frowned. She had been summoned back to her parents and the bird back to an embrace of weeds and loose dirt. 

“Hm,” her father sighed deeply, the same sound he made when something went wrong. 

Eyes stared into her own then seemed to glaze past her into their yard when she told him of her encounter. His arms uncrossed and foolish as she was, she thought for a moment he might place it on her shoulder. They occupied themselves with a scroll left on the table instead. 

“That’s just the way things are. It was too weak for this world, so it died. Leave it there, other creatures will make use of it.” 

Then, a few years later, when she thought herself wiser and smarter, another bird had been found. She had been with her father this time. An eagle lain on the dirt still writhing and twitching. A hunter’s arrow lodged in it and carried its plume and flesh with it to the other side. Fear struck in its still, glistening eyes as if it had been pulled from a cruel painting.

“Are you certain we cannot save it?” she asked.

“Save it? Execution is the mercy we grant it.” A light ring of metal unsheathing scraped against her untrained ear. Its handle is pressed into her palms and the weight of his hand is on her shoulder now. “Go on.”

She must have made a face for his only response was, “This is for your own understanding of how the world is supposed to work.”

No harvest supplied from the earth, thus weaker prey must be caught. That was all they were, prey. 

Death was inescapable, but she vowed at the time that it would never be met by her hands.

[lightningblade1994-blog]

{SONIC THE HEDGEHOG} "Story/Plot Summary [3rd Rough Draft] (For © KatarinaTheCat)

"THE DEATH EGG SAGA"

Part I: The Prelude Arc

The genesis of the Death Egg saga can be dated back to the start of the South Island incident, when Eggman, frustrated by his constant defeats, learned of the six Chaos Emeralds resting on South Island and carried out a massive invasion of the island to use them to conquer the earth. The doctor kidnapped all of the local Animals to use them as power sources for his robot army of "Badniks", and built his fortress, the Scrap Brain, as a base of operations. However, Sonic heard of the invasion and rushed to South Island to save it. After facing hundreds of Eggman's robots and the doctor himself at various points, the hedgehog made it to the Scrap Brain with the six Chaos Emeralds in his hands and defeated Eggman one final time, bringing peace back to the island. He then released the gems, which filled the areas there with flora before being flying off to West Side Island along with a seventh Emerald.

Part II: Little Planet Arc

In what became known as the Little Planet incident, Dr. Eggman learned of the appearance of Little Planet - a mystical planetoid that appears over the earth's Never Lake region once every year - and the seven Time Stones that were resting there that were said to be capable of controlling time itself. Coveting these stones to conquer the world, he trapped the planetoid inside of a nasty metallic shield that was chained to one of the mountains in Never Lake. Eggman then sent his Badniks to Little Planet to wreak havoc. These events caused the future of the planet to be a desolate wasteland ruined with pollution and machinery.

Upon learning of his nemesis' actions, Sonic traveled to Little Planet, where he learned that he could undo Eggman's operations by going back to the past and destroying a "robot transporter" there. A while after his arrival, he met Amy Rose - a female hedgehog deeply in love with him - who got kidnapped by Metal Sonic, a deadly robot created by the doctor to counter Sonic's abilities. Making his way through Little Planet's regions, Sonic liberated them from his adversary's control, resulting in "good futures" with harmony and peace. Upon arriving at the Stardust Speedway city, the hedgehog encountered Eggman and Metal Sonic, the latter of whom challenged him into a deadly race. When he won, Sonic rescued Amy and then freed Little Planet from the scientist's control when he destroyed the doctor's Metallic Madness base.

Part III: Death Egg Deployment Arc

Following these victories, Sonic boarded his biplane, the Tornado, and left off in search for adventures, eventually finding West Side Island and going to rest there, not knowing that Eggman was following him. Soon after landing on the island, the doctor kidnapped the local Animals for his Badniks to find the seven Chaos Emeralds that were said to be resting there according to legend. The villain's plan was to use the gems as a power source for his newest orbital weapon/space station: the Death Egg. Meanwhile, Sonic met Miles "Tails" Prower, a young fox with two tails and a great passion for machines, and the two quickly became best friends.

A few days later, when Eggman began to terrorize West Side Island's regions to find the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic and Tails set out to stop him. While making their way through the island's various areas, the duo collected the seven Emeralds and had numerous encounters with the doctor. With the gemstones in his hands, Sonic was also able to attain a Super transformation - Super Sonic - for the first time. Eventually, the heroes boarded the Tornado to chase after the scientist in his Wing Fortress battleship. However, an ensuing assault caused the biplane to be heavily damaged and begin to fall off, thus forcing Sonic to continue on his own. After bringing the warship down, the hedgehog saw Eggman escape in a space rocket to outer space. Fortunately, Tails returned with a repaired Tornado and helped Sonic grab ahold of the doctor's rocket. Soon after, the hedgehog found himself boarding the Death Egg, which had been finished and launched with no Chaos Emeralds. Following a showdown between Sonic and Eggman, who was piloting his Death Egg Robot mech, a chain-reaction caused the Death Egg to begin exploding, forcing the hedgehog to go back to the earth as Super Sonic, where he reunited with Tails as the space station was seemingly destroyed.

Part IV: Angel Island Arc

In the "Angel Island incident", it turned out that the Death Egg had actually not been destroyed; following the previous events, it began falling into the earth's atmosphere and collided with a floating landmass known as Angel Island. This crash of catastrophic proportions caused the island to fall into the surface of the ocean, resulting in massive tsunamis around the world. Having survived this calamity, Eggman detected energy fields of the Master Emerald. Wanting to use this powerful gem to relaunch his space station, the scientist began kidnapping Animals for his Badniks yet again. Eventually, he came across Knuckles the Echidna, the guardian of this massive Emerald, and falsely claimed that he was a kind scientist who was researching the Death Egg's crash and that Sonic was coming for the Master Emerald. Falling for Eggman's lies, Knuckles promised to help him drive Sonic off the island upon his arrival.

Days after the Death Egg's crash, Tails caught a strong Chaos Emerald signal on his Emerald Detector, while Sonic found a Ring that gave him an unexplainable desire to go to Angel Island. When the two arrived at the island using the Tornado, however, Knuckles ambushed them with a cheap shot from below, causing them to lose the Chaos Emeralds, which the echidna picked up and ran off with. Soon after, the heroes began making their way through the floating island's various regions, recollecting the Emeralds along the way. Despite facing countless setbacks, they eventually made it to the Launch Base, where the Death Egg was undergoing the last few repairs, and got onboard the station just as it began taking off. There, they faced various of Eggman's most powerful mechs. Despite the odds, the doctor was again defeated, and the Death Egg - due to the battle having taken place during a critical point of its launch - crashed back onto Angel Island's volcano, Lava Reef, while Sonic and Tails landed on Mushroom Hill.

Part V: Sonic & Knuckles Arc

Knowing that the Death Egg would soon be relaunched yet again, Sonic and Tails continued their adventure across Angel Island while resisting various setbacks from Knuckles and Eggman. Eventually, they discovered a "Super Ring" which led them to the Master Emerald's altar at the Hidden Palace that upgraded their Chaos Emeralds into the very powerful Super Emeralds. When the heroes collected these enhanced Emeralds, Sonic became able to attain a Hyper transformation - called Hyper Sonic, an even more powerful version of Super Sonic. After boarding Eggman's Flying Battery, Sonic and Tails landed at Sandopolis, where they made their way to the Lava Reef. At the heart of this area, the doctor activated the Death Egg's laser eyes, causing the volcano to become active. After managing to escape from this place, the duo entered the Hidden Palace, where they had a confrontation with Knuckles. However, their encounter was interrupted when they saw Eggman steal the Master Emerald despite the echidna's best attempts to prevent this. Without the Emerald where it belonged, Angel Island began falling down. Realizing that he had been tricked, Knuckles guided Sonic and Tails to the celestial Sky Sanctuary, where they had several battles against the scientist's Mecha Sonic Mk. II before barely boarding the Master Emerald-powered Death Egg which was leaving the atmosphere.

Along Sonic and Tails' path was a space station full of traps, Badniks, and dangerous areas. After overcoming these hazards, the duo faced Eggman's Giant Eggman Robo, powered by the Master Emerald itself. When this massive mech was destroyed, the doctor tried to escape one last time with the massive Emerald in his Egg Mobile, as the Death Egg itself finally crumbled and got completely destroyed, but his attempts ended in vain. Afterwards, Sonic transformed into Hyper Sonic and gave chase to the mad scientist, who was using his Final Weapon in a last-ditch effort to escape with the massive gem, in outer space. The hedgehog defeated Eggman, retrieved the Master Emerald and, along with Tails, returned it back to Angel Island, which began ascending into the sky again. After this showdown, the Death Egg saga came to a close.

[hauntingofhouses]

i got a comment on my fic yesterday that inspired me to stay up until 4am and write 1.5k words despite my cold and my clogged sinuses which are both kicking my ass rn.

like i mean, before this, i was definitely still working on the fic, but focusing more on the outline and plot beats of the overall story. so yeah i def still haven't abandoned it, but that one comment made me remember like, OH SHIT i have to actually write a proper chapter and put it into prose instead of just vague bullet points sitting in my docs folder LMAO

anyway i love you everyone who is following my fic, everyone who has left kudos and comments, and everyone who has supported my writing in general. I LOVE YALL

[wildflowercryptid]

insta seems to be confused as where i actually live, which is both a blessing and a curse, bc it'll give me targeted ads for things that i would definitely go check out if they weren't states away.

the major reason why i say it's a curse is bc it just served me an ad for a frog & toad art exhibit that's not even remotely close to where i live and i'm just supposed to keep living my life knowing i can't go to it.

[primepaginequotidiani]

PRIMA PAGINA The Jerusalem Post di Oggi mercoledì, 11 giugno 2025

[bethrnoora]

chat gé pé tois syntax so bad sometimes it's hard to even edit for style

[little-p-eng-engineering]

Little P.Eng. Engineering: Leading the Way in CRN Registration Engineering Services

In the vast realm of engineering, specialization is key. Engineers with niche specializations can offer unique services that meet specific demands within the industry. One such niche is CRN (Canadian Registration Number) registration engineering services, and at the forefront of this field is Little P.Eng. Engineering. This article will dive deep into understanding CRN registration, the crucial role it plays in Canadian industries, and how Little P.Eng. Engineering has established itself as a go-to service provider in this domain.

1. Understanding CRN Registration

Before delving into the specifics of Little P.Eng. Engineering's services, it's essential to understand what CRN registration is and its significance in Canada.

1.1 What is CRN?

The Canadian Registration Number (CRN) is a number given to designs for pressure vessels, fittings, and boilers in Canada. Each province or territory in Canada has its safety authority responsible for giving out these numbers. The CRN ensures that the design meets the specified Canadian standards, which vary from province to province.

1.2 Why is CRN Important?

Having a CRN means a design has undergone rigorous scrutiny and adheres to Canadian safety standards. Manufacturers and industries looking to operate in Canada need to ensure their pressure equipment conforms to these standards, thus safeguarding both the equipment's end-users and the environment.

2. The Little P.Eng. Engineering Advantage

Established with a vision to bridge the gap between complex pressure equipment design standards and their implementation, Little P.Eng. Engineering has become synonymous with CRN registration services. Here's what makes them stand out:

2.1 Expertise and Knowledge

Having catered to a multitude of industries – from oil and gas to renewable energy – the team at Little P.Eng. Engineering is adept at understanding specific requirements and tailoring solutions accordingly. Their deep-rooted knowledge of Canadian standards, combined with a practical approach to design and verification, ensures optimal results.

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The focus is always on delivering value. Little P.Eng. Engineering’s client-centric approach ensures that every project is handled with utmost dedication, keeping the client's objectives and constraints in mind.

3. The CRN Registration Process with Little P.Eng. Engineering Embarking on a journey with Little P.Eng. Engineering means simplifying the otherwise convoluted CRN registration process. Here's a step-by-step guide: 3.1 Initial Consultation

The process begins with an in-depth consultation to understand the client’s needs, project scope, and specific requirements.

3.2 Design and Documentation

Based on the initial discussion, the team undertakes the design drafting phase, ensuring it aligns with the respective Canadian standards.

3.3 CRN Application Submission

Once the design is ready, it's time to submit it for CRN registration. The team at Little P.Eng. Engineering ensures all documentation is accurate and complete, eliminating any chances of rejection.

3.4 Post-Approval Support

After obtaining the CRN, Little P.Eng. Engineering continues its support, assisting clients in implementing the design and ensuring its long-term viability.

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Over the years, Little P.Eng. Engineering has successfully undertaken numerous CRN registration projects. A few noteworthy ones include:

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For a client in the renewable energy sector, Little P.Eng. Engineering developed a unique pressure vessel design to be used in wind energy conversion. The design not only secured CRN registration but also set a precedent in the industry for its innovation.

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A leading oil and gas company approached Little P.Eng. Engineering with a complex requirement. The team, with its extensive expertise, managed to design a fitting that not only met the industry's stringent standards but also optimized the client's operational efficiency.

5. Conclusion: The Future of CRN Registration with Little P.Eng. Engineering

The world of pressure equipment design and its associated standards is ever-evolving. As industries advance, the demand for specialized engineering services, particularly in domains like CRN registration, will only increase. Little P.Eng. Engineering, with its proven track record, expertise, and commitment to excellence, is perfectly poised to lead this change. For industries operating or looking to set foot in Canada, partnering with Little P.Eng. Engineering means ensuring their designs not only meet but exceed the stringent Canadian standards, paving the way for a safer, more efficient future.

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[cressidagrey]

White Horse - Chapter 26: July 2024 - Part 1

Pairing: Max Verstappen x Isabelle Leclerc (Original Character)

Summary:

Max Verstappen is a World Champion. Isabelle Leclerc is invisible.

She watched her family give up everything for Charles’ career—Arthur’s karting, their father’s savings, even her childhood horse. She understood. She never asked for more.

But Max does. He notices the things no one else does, listens when no one else will, and puts her first in ways she never imagined. With him, she isn’t an afterthought—she’s a choice. And for the first time, she realizes she doesn’t have to be invisible.

Warnings and Notes: 

we have now moved on from Charles bashing to bashing his whole family, Discussions of toxic past relationships, talk about loosing a childhood pet, toxic families, mention of the loss of a parent.

As always big thanks to @llirawolf , who listens to me ramble

The conference room was sleek and quiet — all minimalist design, smooth wood, and muted light. The floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over Monaco’s marina, but Belle barely registered the view. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap, one leg crossed over the other, Max’s knee brushing hers beneath the table like a silent anchor.

Belle sat beside Max at a long table in a private meeting room, her hands folded carefully in her lap. The lawyer — a tall, gentle-voiced woman named Monique with sharp eyes and an expensive watch — smiled politely as she turned the final page of a stack of documents.

She had known about the pregnancy since Max had called last week and said, “We need to make sure she’s protected. Properly.”

It hadn’t been dramatic. There were no tears. No whispered breakdowns.

Just Max, calm and steady, saying "my wife is having our child, and I want everything in place if I don’t come home."

And Belle had agreed. Because love like theirs wasn’t made of denial.

It was made of preparation.

 Monique spoke first.

“I’ve drafted the new will, updated with the marriage registration and the preliminary trust structure for the baby.” She slid a folder across the table to Max. “It’s standard language, but I can walk you through it.”

Max nodded. “Let’s do that.”

Belle glanced at the page — her name in clean legal font at the top. It still startled her sometimes. Isabelle Verstappen. A name that felt more like a promise than a title.

Monique continued, calm and clear. “Everything’s been updated as requested. The property title adjustment will be processed this week, and the new will reflects both your marriage and the pending addition to your family. In the event of Max’s death, Belle inherits all real estate assets, including the Monaco apartment, She also has controlling interest in the holding companies and exclusive guardianship of the child. There is a clause allowing her to appoint a secondary guardian if needed, and a separate financial trust to be accessed at her discretion for the child’s care.”

Belle’s fingers tensed slightly on her notebook.

Max reached under the table, slid his hand into hers.

Monique continued. “You both now hold medical power of attorney for one another. In the event of a serious injury or incapacitation, decisions will legally fall to the surviving spouse. The trust for the child will be activated upon birth and can be revised at any time.”

Belle blinked. “You’ve already set up a trust?”

Max nodded beside her. “I wanted it in place before they got here.”

Monique smiled. “It’s not uncommon for high-risk professions.”

High-risk. Belle hated that word.

Monique glanced at Max. “There’s a healthcare proxy included as well. You’ve named your wife as the sole decision-maker if you’re incapacitated.”

He didn’t hesitate. “Of course.”

Belle didn’t speak for a moment. Just breathed. Absorbed.

Because here it was. In print. In contracts and clauses and notarized certainty.

This man — who drove faster than anyone else on earth — was handing her the most fragile parts of his life and saying I trust you.

Not out of fear.

But out of love.

Monique gave them a moment before gently flipping to the next document. “There’s just one more point of discussion — guardianship, in the event that… well, neither of you are able to care for your child.”

Belle straightened.

“Obviously we don’t need an answer right this second,” Monique added, professional but kind. “But it’s something we do recommend including in advance. Just in case.”

Belle didn’t hesitate.

“Victoria and Tom.”

Max glanced at her, surprised.

“They already have three kids,” she said softly. “Their home is overflowing with love. Lio and Luka would be like big brothers. Hailey a big sister. ”

Max looked at her for a long moment — not surprised, just… moved.

“Okay,” he said, quietly, final. “Victoria and Tom.”

Monique made a quiet note, then gathered the papers. “That’s all for today. You’re welcome to take copies home, review anything again, but legally — everything’s in place.”

Belle signed.

Her name — Isabelle Verstappen — in clean, looping ink at the bottom of the page. Not to take something away. But to build something forward.

Belle hesitated. “Is there… anything else?”

Monique raised an eyebrow gently. “Such as?”

Belle glanced down at her lap. “I thought Max might… want me to sign something else.”

Silence.

Then, Max’s hand slid over hers beneath the table. “You mean a prenup?”

Belle nodded once.

Monique blinked, surprised. “There’s nothing of the sort, Belle. That was never discussed.”

Belle looked at Max, who met her eyes steadily.

“I didn’t marry you with conditions,” he said simply. “What’s mine is yours. What’s ours is already half your idea anyway.”

Belle stared at him for a second — stunned, soft, wrecked.

Then she cleared her throat. “Okay. That’s… not what I expected. But okay.”

When it was done, Monique gathered the documents, promising scans and copies by end of day.

The room emptied, polite and efficient.

Belle stayed seated.

Max didn’t move either.

She finally turned to him. “That felt…”

“Big?” he offered.

She nodded.

“But good,” she added, quieter now. “Because this is ours. Our life. Our family. Even the scary parts.”

Max kissed her temple. “That’s why we’re here.”

Her hand found his on the table, fingers lacing together.

“I hope none of it ever matters,” she whispered.

He looked down at their names on the signed pages.

“It already does,” he said.

***

Text Messages: Max Verstappen & Victoria Verstappen

Max: Hey You got a minute?

Victoria: For you? Always What’s up?

Max: Belle and I had a meeting with the lawyers today We’re setting everything up properly Just in case something ever happens

Victoria: Okay… Everything alright?

Max: Yeah. Everything’s good. More than good We just want to be smart about things

Victoria: Of course So… what do you need from me?

Max: We listed you and Tom as guardians For the baby If anything ever happens to us

Max: I wanted to ask you first Properly Not just throw your name on a form

Victoria: Max. Yes. Obviously. Always. You didn’t even have to ask. But I’m really, really glad you did.

Max: Belle said it without blinking She trusts you too

Victoria: Now I’m crying in the supermarket, thanks 🙄

Max: Sorry (But not really)

Victoria: We’ll take care of them. No matter what. But nothing’s going to happen to you, okay?

Max: Yeah I know Still I sleep better knowing it’s you

Victoria: We love you. And we love her. And we already love this baby. 

Max: Thanks, Vic. Really.

***

The therapy room was quiet in the way only tension could make it — not peaceful, but primed. A silence that hummed with everything unsaid, everything tiptoed around for years.

Belle sat on the edge of the sofa, hands clasped tightly in her lap, her pulse thrumming just beneath her skin like a warning. Every muscle in her body was taut — trying to hold everything in place. Her blouse, loose by design, felt suddenly too tight across her chest. She hadn’t been sleeping. She hadn’t eaten lunch. There was a dull ache in her temples, a sharper one behind her ribs.

Max was beside her.

He hadn’t spoken.

He hadn’t even moved, aside from the occasional brush of his thumb against hers.

But his presence was solid. Anchoring. The one thing in this room that didn’t make her feel like she had to prove she belonged.

Across from her, her family sat arranged like a tableau of old fractures: Pascale, elegant but weary, lips pressed tightly together; Arthur, fidgeting in his chair, worry written into the curve of his brow; Lorenzo, arms folded like a gate; and Charles — the one who hadn’t looked at her properly once since she’d walked in.

Camille, the therapist, smiled gently. “Thank you all for being here. We’re here to listen first. Belle, since you asked for this session, would you like to begin?”

Belle nodded, throat tight. “I don’t expect this to fix everything. But I wanted to give you a chance to hear me. I’ve felt invisible for a long time. And I know that might not have been your intention, but it doesn’t make it less real.”

She paused.

No one spoke.

She added, voice quiet but edged in iron: “And I’m not here to be blamed for how I coped with that.”

That was when Charles finally looked up. “Then maybe he shouldn’t be here.”

Max didn’t move.

Belle’s grip on his hand tightened.

Camille interjected gently. “Charles, we agreed to keep this space respectful—”

“Respectful?” Charles cut in, eyes flashing. “You brought him to a family session. The man who didn’t even tell me he married my sister. The one person guaranteed to turn this into a war.”

Belle’s voice cracked, quiet but firm. “Max is here because I want him here. He’s my family now. He supports me. He doesn’t speak over me or forget I exist unless it’s convenient.”

“You bring him here, like he has any right to sit in a family session—”

“Charles—” Camille began.

But he was already unraveling.

“—Like he didn’t make it worse. Like he didn’t encourage all of this—”

Belle flinched.

“Charles,” Max said, voice low but firm.

“You don’t get to talk—”

“Stop it!” Belle snapped, her voice breaking.

The sound echoed louder than shouting.

Everyone went still.

She stood — too quickly — and emotion spilled over before she could stop it. Her hands shook. Her breath hitched. Tears began streaming down her cheeks before she could blink them back.

“I invited him,” she said, trembling. “Because he’s the only one in this room who never made me feel like I had to earn his love. He didn’t ask me to shrink or wait or perform. He didn’t disappear until it was convenient to care again. He showed up.”

Arthur’s expression twisted with guilt. Pascale’s eyes filled with tears. Lorenzo exhaled like he’d been punched in the stomach.

“I tried for years to matter to you,” Belle whispered. “And when I finally stopped waiting, when I found something good, you acted like it was betrayal. It wasn’t. It was survival.” 

But when Belle cried harder, silent and shaking, one hand pressed protectively to her stomach — a reflex now, a habit more than a choice — Max’s restraint cracked.

“Enough,” he said, voice sharp and fierce and final.

The entire room froze.

“This isn’t good for the baby.”

Everything. Stopped.

The silence that followed was different. Not tense — stunned. Heavy. Real.

Charles froze.

Pascale’s hand flew to her mouth.

Arthur blinked, mouth slightly open.

Lorenzo — unreadable, contained Lorenzo — lost every ounce of composure.

Belle sat, still breathing too fast, still cradling her abdomen like she didn’t even realize her hand was there.

“She’s crying in a therapist’s office because her own family forgot her,” Max said, his voice flat, controlled. “And she still came here hoping you’d be different. And you’re yelling at her like it’s her fault she stopped begging you to see her.”

“You—” Charles started.

Max’s eyes burned. “She’s pregnant. And this stress? This shouting? This guilt-tripping? It’s not just hurting her anymore. It’s hurting both of them.”

Real, stunned silence.

Belle covered her face with both hands, chest heaving.

Max moved instantly, kneeling beside her. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” he whispered. “You gave them a chance. That’s more than they deserved.”

Camille cleared her throat gently, measured but soft. “Belle… thank you for being honest. Max, thank you for saying what needed to be said.”

Belle shook her head, still too overwhelmed to speak. Her body ached with tension she hadn’t realized she was carrying.

Max didn’t let go of her.

He stood and turned to face them — not angry. Not cruel. Just done.

“She’s pregnant,” he repeated. “And she came here because she still believed you deserved the chance to be part of that. But if what you bring is more of this — more silence, more anger, more entitlement — then maybe she needs to stop giving chances to people who don’t know what to do with them.”

He sat beside Belle again, taking her hand in both of his.

She didn’t look up. She couldn’t. Her hand stayed curled over her belly, protective. Heartbroken.

Then, after a long, still moment—

“I didn’t know,” Charles said. Quiet. Shaken. “Isabelle, I didn’t… I swear, I didn’t know.”

“I know,” she whispered.“That’s the problem.”

More silence.

Then Pascale wiped at her eyes, voice shaking. “I want to be part of this. Not just the baby. You. I want to do better.”

Arthur nodded. “I will. I already started. But I’ll do more. Whatever you need.”

Lorenzo’s voice was hoarse. “You shouldn’t have had to say any of that alone.”

Camille waited. Then softly, “This is where it begins. Not with fixing. But with listening. With staying.”

Belle finally looked up.

Still hurt. Still guarded.

But in her eyes — something softened.

She didn’t say I forgive you.

She said something truer.

“You have a long way to go,” Belle said, voice rough.“But you’re here. That’s a start.”

***

By the time they got home, Belle hadn’t said a word.

Max didn’t push. He unlocked the door, opened it for her, let her walk through the apartment at her own pace. She moved like someone underwater — slow, dazed, like her body had been hollowed out.

She didn’t even take off her shoes.

She just stood in the middle of their living room, arms limp at her sides, until Max gently touched her elbow.

“Sit,” he said softly. “I’ll get you water.”

But she didn’t sit.

She crumpled.

It wasn’t a fall — not all at once — but something slower, sadder. She sank down onto the rug like her bones had given out, hands covering her face, breath catching in her throat.

Then the sobs came.

Max was beside her in an instant, sinking to his knees, gathering her into his arms without a second’s hesitation.

She curled into him like she’d been waiting all day for it. Like she’d finally let herself feel everything she hadn’t let show in front of them.

And Max—Max held her like he never intended to let go.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered into her hair, one hand stroking her back, the other cradling her head as she buried her face into his chest. “God, Belle. I’m so sorry.”

She shook her head against him, but he kept going.

“I shouldn’t have said it like that,” Max said, voice rough. “Not like that. I should’ve asked. I should’ve let you decide.”

Belle didn’t answer — not in words — but she held him tighter, and that was enough.

She cried for a long time.

Not loud. Not dramatic.

Just steady.

Heartbroken.

Max held her through all of it. Through the shaking, the ragged breathing, the muffled apologies she tried to whisper into his shoulder. He didn’t correct her. Didn’t argue. He just rubbed circles into her back and reminded her, again and again, in the softest voice he had:

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

At some point, he coaxed her into bed. She resisted, groggy and stubborn through the haze of exhaustion, but eventually let him pull back the covers and tuck her in. She wore his hoodie — one of the big, soft ones — and it swallowed her. Her hand still rested over her stomach as she lay on her side, eyes red and barely open.

Max kissed her temple, her forehead, her hand. He didn’t leave her side until her breathing evened out and she finally slipped into sleep.

Then — and only then — did he let himself move.

Quietly, he crossed the room to where his phone sat on the kitchen counter.

He didn’t text. Didn’t scroll.

He found the number for Belle’s doctor and sent a message requesting an appointment.

Tomorrow. Urgent if possible.

She hadn’t eaten all day.

She hadn’t slept properly in nearly a week.

And her crying tonight… it had shaken something in him.

She always carried things so quietly. Until she couldn’t anymore.

Max stood at the kitchen counter, staring down at his phone, still in his jeans and hoodie from earlier, and exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

He couldn’t make her family change.

But he could protect this.

Her.

Their baby.

He would make sure she was seen, cared for, and safe — even if it meant dragging the world into a quiet, burning rage to make it happen.

The phone buzzed with a confirmation.

Appointment: Tomorrow. 9:30 AM.

Max looked back toward the bedroom.

Belle was asleep, one arm curled under her pillow, still holding her stomach like a shield.

And Max made himself a promise.

They would never make her cry like that again.

Not while he was breathing.

***

The four of them sat in stunned silence.

The therapy room door had closed behind Belle and Max ten minutes ago, but no one had moved since. Camille had offered them space to process, and they’d taken it — not because they needed it, but because they didn’t know what else to do.

Charles sat with his hands clenched in his lap, staring at the floor like it had betrayed him. Pascale held a tissue tightly in one hand, face pale, mascara faintly smudged beneath her eyes. Lorenzo’s arms were crossed — his usual stoicism barely holding under the tension in his jaw.

And Arthur — the youngest— was pacing.

Charles finally broke the silence. “She’s pregnant.”

“Yes,” Arthur said flatly, not looking at him.

Charles blinked, still stunned. “She’s actually—she didn’t even tell us.”

“She didn’t owe us that,” Arthur snapped, turning to face them. “Not after everything.”

Pascale looked up. “Arthur—”

“No,” he said, sharper than they’d ever heard him. “No. I’m not doing this. We’re not going to sit here and act like we’re the wounded ones.”

“She should’ve told us,” Charles muttered. “We’re her family—”

Arthur rounded on him. “Then maybe we should’ve acted like it.”

That landed.

Charles looked up, startled.

Arthur laughed — a short, bitter sound. “You really don’t get it, do you? Belle spent years trying to be seen. Trying to be heard. Every time she did something good, we clapped for a second and then went back to talking about karting or my race result or whatever Charles was doing that week.”

“That’s not fair,” Charles said stiffly.

“No?” Arthur said, eyes narrowing. “Name where she was when she graduated top of her class. You remember what we sent her?”

Charles didn’t answer.

“Exactly,” Arthur snapped. “Nothing. We forgot. We forgot her birthday, Charles. And even then, she didn’t scream at us. She just stopped trying.”

“I didn’t mean to forget—”

“You didn’t mean to notice her, either,” Arthur said, quieter now. “But Max did.”

That silenced the room.

Arthur ran a hand through his hair, pacing again. “You know what gets me the most? She still gave us a chance. She walked in there, pregnant, vulnerable, and hoping maybe we’d finally show up. And what did we do?”

He looked at Charles.

“You shouted at her husband.”

He looked at Lorenzo.

“You stayed quiet until she was crying.”

Then he looked at Pascale.

“And you only spoke when Max said the word baby.”

Pascale’s lip trembled. “I didn’t know.”

“She didn’t trust us with it,” Arthur said, softer now. “And that’s the part that should scare you. Not Max. Not the secret wedding. Not the baby. The fact that she didn’t feel safe enough to tell us.”

Lorenzo exhaled slowly, some of the anger draining from his posture.

Charles looked like he’d been hollowed out.

“She was holding her stomach,” Pascale whispered. “Even when she cried, she—she protected the baby. From us.”

Arthur nodded. “Exactly.”

Silence again.

And then, for the first time in a long time, Arthur looked at them all — older brother, older brother, mother — and stood taller than he ever had.

“No one is making her cry like that again,” he said. “Not if I can help it.”

Charles swallowed hard. “So what do we do?”

Arthur’s jaw tightened. “You start by earning a place back in her life. Slowly. Without demands. Without entitlement. You show her you’ve changed. And if you haven’t? You step aside.”

No one argued.

No one could.

Because they’d all seen what Arthur had — a sister at the end of her rope, still trying to offer them grace.

And they’d nearly broken her again.

But maybe not completely.

Maybe, if they were lucky, there was still time to do better.

To be better.

To finally be family in the way Belle had deserved all along.

***

Belle woke to sunlight and silence.

Her eyes burned. Her head ached. Her throat felt tight from the hours she’d spent crying into Max’s chest the night before. For a long time, she just lay there — curled on her side, one hand resting against the soft curve of her stomach, the weight of the last twenty-four hours pressing against her skin like bruises she hadn’t earned.

Max wasn’t in bed.

That was the first thing she noticed.

But when she pushed back the covers and sat up, she could hear him. Low voices. The sound of him in the kitchen. Coffee brewing. Something being cut on a chopping board.

When she padded out into the hallway, Max looked up instantly.

“You’re awake,” he said gently. “How are you feeling?”

She blinked at him. He was already dressed — hoodie, jeans, hair still damp from a quick shower. He looked like he hadn’t slept, though she had no idea when he’d crawled into bed beside her. All she remembered was him holding her until her tears stopped.

“Tired,” she said honestly. “Drained. Like I fought a war in a hotel lobby.”

Max’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t smile. Not really. He poured her a glass of water and walked it over.

“You need to get dressed,” he said softly. “We’ve got an appointment at 9:30.”

Belle blinked. “Appointment?”

“With your OB.”

She stared at him. “You made a doctor’s appointment?”

Max looked… sheepish. In that way only Max Verstappen ever could — a little bit guilty, but completely unapologetic. “You were crying for over an hour. You didn’t eat. You didn’t sleep until after midnight. You kept holding your stomach like it hurt and I just—” He broke off, rubbing the back of his neck. “I need to be sure everything is okay. With you. With the baby.”

Something inside her cracked — not with annoyance, not even embarrassment, but with a kind of vulnerable affection that made her chest ache.

“I’m fine,” she said, quietly.

Max didn’t argue.

But he looked at her like fine would never be good enough again.

They left ten minutes later.

She wore leggings and one of Max’s hoodies, too tired to care. Her hair was in a bun, her face bare. Max had packed snacks and a water bottle in her bag like he was preparing for a cross-country drive. He opened the car door for her without a word. Held her hand at every red light.

The clinic was quiet when they arrived — not many patients that early. A nurse smiled at them, already familiar with Belle, and waved them through. Max never let go of her hand.

The doctor — kind, warm, sharp-eyed — asked gentle questions. Belle answered them all in a quiet voice.

“Any unusual cramping? Headaches? Nausea? Emotional stress?”

Belle glanced at Max, then gave a small, exhausted laugh. “Define unusual.”

The doctor smiled, then softened. “What you went through yesterday? It matters. Stress does affect the body, but you’re here now. We’ll check everything.”

And they did.

A blood pressure cuff. A blood draw. The gentle press of a fetal doppler wand against her stomach.

Then— The soft, rhythmic sound of a heartbeat.

Max’s fingers tightened around hers. He didn’t say anything. But when Belle looked at him — really looked — she saw it in his face: that fierce, wordless love that had carried her out of that therapy room and straight into this one.

The doctor smiled. “Heartbeat sounds perfect. Baby’s strong. And you’re doing better than you think.”

Belle let out a shaky breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.

Max pressed a kiss to her temple.

“I just wanted to be sure,” he whispered. “I couldn’t watch you cry like that and not do something.”

Belle closed her eyes.

Then, without even thinking about it, she rested her head against his shoulder and whispered:

“Thank you.”

Because it was more than an appointment.

It was a promise.

***

Text Messages:   Belle Verstappen & Emilie Abadie

Emilie: how’d it go yesterday?

i waited until morning because i didn’t want to be that friend but also i’ve been lying awake since 6 trying to imagine how many things charles said wrong in under an hour

Belle: you waited like a saint you get a medal

Emilie: oh good you’re alive that’s step one

Emilie: how bad was it scale of 1 to “i considered throwing my shoe at someone”?

Belle: i cried max snapped everyone went quiet and then Max accidentally revealed i’m pregnant because he couldn’t watch me sob anymore

so ...somewhere between “shoe-throwing” and “emotional napalm”

Emilie: WHAT

Emilie: WHAT

Emilie: MAX DROPPED THE BABY BOMB IN THERAPY??? WITH CHARLES THERE??

Belle: yep :)

Emilie: oh my GOD how is max still alive how are YOU

Belle: tired kind of hollow but also maybe... a tiny bit relieved?

it was a mess but they listened eventually i think

Emilie: do i need to bring cake or a shovel or both

Belle: both but i’m okay now doctor said everything’s good with the baby max scheduled the appointment himself

Emilie: of course he did husband of the year defender of the bump destroyer of sibling egos

Belle: he really did go full “don’t make her cry it’s bad for the baby” in front of everyone it was... a moment

Emilie: i would’ve PAID to see that wait no someone in that therapy room owes you money for that performance

Belle: arthur tried maman cried lorenzo looked like someone slapped him charles sat down and didn’t speak again

Emilie: is it terrible that i find this deeply satisfying

Belle: no it’s why i love you

Emilie: seriously though i’m proud of you i know how much this cost you and you still showed up

Belle: i’m trying for the baby for me

Emilie: and when you’re ready for step two i’ll be there with tea and probably more sarcasm than is healthy

Belle: perfect i love you

Emilie: i love you too, belle you’ve got this

***

Team Redline Stream Transcript

 Luke Crane: Max. My guy. My married guy.

Gianni Vechio: Is it Verstappen or Mr. Leclerc now? Just checking.

Max (deadpan): I’m already regretting logging on.

Luke Bennett: You regret logging on? Imagine our shock when the paddock exploded because someone casually dropped a kiss in Parc Fermé like it was no big deal.

Max:  (muted chuckle) It was a race. I won. Belle was there. That’s all.

Chris Lulham:: “That’s all.” HE SAYS. Like he didn’t casually change the internet’s collective brain chemistry.

Luke Crane: Bro, you were standing there looking like you'd just won the title and found true love.

Gianni: THE WAY YOU LOOKED AT HER.

Chris: THE HAND ON HER WAIST.

Gianni: THE KISS, MAX.

Max:  (muttering) You guys are insufferable.

Luke Bennett: I’m sorry — did we not deserve to know that your secret wife is Isabelle Leclerc?!?

Max: She wasn’t secret.

All at once: YES SHE WAS.

 Luke: Where is she anyway? We’ve earned this. Bring her on stream.

Max: She’s not going to—

Gianni: MAX. YOU OWE US.

Chris: SHOW US YOUR WIFE. SHOW US THE MYSTICAL INTERIOR ARCHITECT GODDESS WHO FIXED YOUR PENTHOUSE.

Max: You people are insane.

Luke (chanting): BELLE. BELLE. BELLE. BELLE.

Chat:

BELLE! BELLE! BELLE!

WHERE IS SHE MAX

DROP THE WIFE

MRS VERSTAPPEN SUPREMACY

WE SAW THE RING SIR

MAX BLINK TWICE IF YOU MARRIED UP (we know you did)

 Max:  (sighing, amused) Belle?

[muffled in the background] Belle: Yes?

Max: They want to say hi.

Belle:  (closer) They want to do what?

Max: Just come here for a second, Schatje. They’re not going to shut up otherwise.

 [Belle leans into frame wearing one of Max’s Red Bull hoodies, hair up, tea mug in hand.]

Belle: Hi.

Chat: OMG IT’S HERMRS MAX IS REALSHE’S SO PRETTY WHAT THE HELLTHE HOODIE IS KILLING MEMAX MARRIED A QUEENINTERIOR DESIGN SLAYI CANNOT BREATHEMAX YOU ARE OUTKICKING YOUR COVERAGECHARLES CURRENTLY DEAD BECAUSE HIS SISTER IS WEARING RED BULL MERCH

Luke Crane: Okay. So first of all, Belle. Thank you for putting up with this idiot.

Belle: (drily.) He’s nothing to put up with. He’s something to treasure. 

Gianni: We just wanted to say congratulations. And also... how did you keep it secret for this long?

Belle:  (shrugging): People only see what they want to see. We never hid it. We just didn’t make it obvious. 

Chris: Oh my god she’s articulate. You really married up.

Max:  (soft, proud) Yeah. I did.

Belle:  (grinning, pressing a kiss to Max’s cheek, making him blush) Anyway. That’s enough fame for one evening. Bye boys.

[Belle exits frame. Max looks extremely smug.]

Max: You happy now?

Luke Crane: Beyond.

Chris: I still can’t believe you didn’t tell us.

***

Meanwhile on Twitter: 

@/GridGossip:  MAX VERSTAPPEN’S WIFE JUST SHOWED UP ON TEAM REDLINE STREAM IN HIS HOODIE WITH A MUG OF TEA AND SAID “HE’S NOTHING TO PUT UP WITH: HE’S SOMETHING TO TREASURE.” I AM NOT OKAY.

@/TifosiTears:  CHARLES LECLERC IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AND HIS SISTER IS OUT HERE IN RED BULL MERCH KISSING MAX ON STREAM. I’M SCREAMING.

@/F1TeaSpiller So to recap: → Belle Leclerc kissed Max in Parc Fermé → Changed her name on IG → Is apparently married?? → Wore his hoodie on stream → And the grid is collectively feral. 10/10. No notes.

@/SoftLaunchSociety The Red Bull hoodie. The tea mug. The unbothered queen energy. Belle Verstappen didn’t soft launch — she hard dropped and said “you’ll catch up.”

@/RedBullUpdates: BELLE VERSTAPPEN WALKED INTO FRAME LOOKING COZY, SMUG, AND MARRIED. WE HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE NARRATIVE.

@/FerrariPain:  charles leclerc when he realizes his sister wore red bull merch in 4k: 🧍‍♂️😐💔

@/WifeGuyMax: max verstappen grinning like a man who knows he married out of his league and then blushed when she kissed his cheek this is romcom content i never expected from sim racing

@/F1MemeLord: Team Redline: Show us your wife Max: She’s not gonna— Belle Verstappen, already wearing his hoodie and holding tea like a queen: Hi Me: this is better than Netflix

@/MonacoRoyalty: i want belle’s PR team forgotten by her family? married in monaco? red bull hoodie and soft lighting? KNEW exactly when to show up. this girl is PLAYING CHESS.

@/MaxEmotionsFan Max: (quietly, proudly) “Yeah. I did.” Me, in tears: and you DID, Max. he married his girl.

@/F1ChaosClub: charles leclerc forgot his sister’s birthday and now she’s on twitch in a red bull hoodie being called “queen” by 600,000 viewers. you literally could not write this better.

@/GridPsychics: prediction: Charles is currently pacing his Monaco apartment wondering if it's too late to be a supportive brother spoiler: it might be

@/F1FanFictionCentral plot twist: Max Verstappen wasn’t the emotionally unavailable villain. He was the surprise wife guy all along.

@/TifosiMeltdown:  Everyone’s like “awww Max and Belle are so cute 🥺” Meanwhile Charles Leclerc is living in the eighth circle of PR hell because his baby sister is in Red Bull merch on Twitch with his literal racing rival

@/SoftLaunchScholar: The Max & Belle reveal timeline is a case study:

Ignored birthday

Secret wedding

Parc Fermé kiss

Instagram name change

Twitch hoodie wife drop This is art.

@/F1Lorekeeper: The fact that Charles forgot Belle’s birthday and then found out she married Max Verstappen two weeks later

And now she’s drinking tea in Max’s stream wearing Red Bull gear

I genuinely think we’re watching a live sibling rivalry rewrite Greek tragedy @/MonacoRoyalty: Belle said “we didn’t hide it, you just weren’t looking” and the Leclerc family should NEVER recover from that

@/CharlesIsCrying: no because BELLE VERSTAPPEN appearing on stream in Red Bull merch while the internet still hasn’t healed from the forgotten birthday incident??

Charles is somewhere short-circuiting in real time

***

It was raining softly against the windows when Belle brought it up.

They were curled up on the sofa — Max in joggers and a hoodie, Belle tucked against his side with a blanket draped over her legs, her cheek resting on his chest. The television hummed quietly with some old documentary neither of them were watching. Max’s hand traced slow, absentminded circles against the bump that had started to become undeniable beneath the fabric of her sweatshirt.

“We should probably tell the rest soon,” Belle murmured.

Max didn’t answer right away. His fingers stilled, then resumed their gentle pattern.

“I know,” he said. “I just… don’t want it to turn into a thing.”

Belle lifted her head slightly to look at him. “Like… a press release thing? Photoshoot? Magazines? Perfect lighting and fake candids of us in a meadow somewhere?”

He let out a soft snort. “Can you picture me in a meadow?”

Belle smiled. “Only if you were holding a kitten and a baby goat.”

“Belle.”

“Okay, fine, just the baby goat.”

Max laughed into her shoulder, pressing a kiss there. “No photoshoots. No flower crowns.” He made a face. “No soft-focus, perfectly lit, black-and-white Instagram announcement with matching white outfits and hands shaped like a heart.”

She laughed softly, burying her nose in his shirt. “The horror.”

“I mean, unless you want that,” Max added quickly. “If you want that, I’ll do it. I’ll even wear linen.”

Belle looked up at him again, mock-serious. “Max, you’d rather crash into a gravel trap at Monaco than wear linen on purpose.”

“Correct.”

She smiled against his hoodie. “I just… I don’t want it to feel like I’m trying to prove something.”

“You don’t have to prove anything,” Max said, his voice low. Sure. “You’re pregnant. You’re my wife. That’s it.”

Belle glanced up at him. “You say that like it's simple.”

“It is.” He tilted his head a little, thoughtful. “So how do you want to do it?”

She shrugged. “Something honest. Quiet, but… real.”

Max was quiet for a beat. “You mean, like the wedding.”

Belle smiled. “Exactly like the wedding.”

He leaned forward and kissed the side of her head. “We can do quiet. That’s our specialty.”

She chuckled, then bit her lip. “I was thinking… what if we just posted a photo? Not even of us. Just a pair of tiny shoes on the coffee table and a caption like, ‘Coming soon.’”

Max grinned. “You want to break the internet again.”

“I want to give it to us first,” she said. “And let everyone else catch up later.”

Max looked at her like she hung the stars. “Deal.”

They sat in silence again, the kind that meant safety.

“I don’t need the whole world to know at once,” Belle murmured, her voice softening. “I just want to share it in a way that feels like us. Not a brand.”

Max pulled her closer, his hand still resting protectively over the bump neither of them could stop reaching for.

“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

***

Text Messages:  Belle Verstappen & Emilie Abadie

Belle: Thinking of announcing the pregnancy before Silverstone.

Emilie: oh?? as in… telling the entire planet??

Belle: Yep. Before I start showing enough that people start whispering.

Emilie: You mean before more people start whispering You okay with going public?

Belle: I think so. We’ve been quiet long enough. Besides… Silverstone’s always a circus. May as well drop the baby news before the clowns arrive.

Emilie: Iconic behavior tbh Do I get a heads up before the post goes up so I can prepare emotionally

Belle: Of course. Also— You should come.

Emilie: To Silverstone??

Belle: Yes.

Emilie: Belle. That’s Lando’s home race.

Belle: And you like Lando.

Emilie: I do not like what this insinuation implies.

Belle: You like him. He adores you. Your flirting during dinner could’ve powered the entire paddock.

Emilie: Okay first of all That’s rude And accurate

Belle: Come anyway. Come as my friend. Not as Lando’s girlfriend.

Emilie: …you are dangerously persuasive.

Belle: Lily’s coming too. It’ll be fun. You, me, Lily, a very grumpy Max pretending not to be nervous about the baby stealing his press conference thunder.

Emilie: You really think the baby will upstage Max?

Belle: If she has my hair and his eyes, absolutely.

Emilie: oh my god if it’s a girl with his grumpy face and your attitude the world is not ready

Belle: Exactly. Which is why you need to be there. Help me judge the chaos.

Emilie: Okay okay Fine But if Lando tries to make things serious while I’m there I am blaming you

Belle: Deal. You’ll be the secret girlfriend, I’ll be the public wife. We’ll keep balance in the universe.

Emilie: Verstappen-Leclerc diplomatic summit in Silverstone Can’t wait.

Belle: You bring the wine. I’ll bring the reveal.

***

Instagram Post: @/belleverstappen

Comments: 

@/maxverstappen1: 🍼❤️ 

@/danielricciardo: I’M GOING TO BE THE FUN UNCLE CALLING IT NOW

@/landonorris: AAAAAHHHHHHHHH 🍼😭❤️

@/alex_albon:The baby already has better fashion sense than me and it’s not even born yet.

@/oscarpiastri: Congratulations!! So happy for you both 🤍

@/charles_leclerc: Congratulations. Truly.

@/georgerussell63: Huge congrats!

@/arthur_leclerc: 🥹❤️ You’re going to be the best mum, Belle. 

@/yukitsunoda0511: baby Verstappen with Leclerc sass?? terrifying. adorable. congratulations!!!

@/sebastianvettel: Welcome to the next adventure. You’ll both be amazing parents. 💛

@/carlossainz55: The paddock is already preparing the next generation of chaos.

@/f1girlie44: BELLE IS GONNA BE A MUM I’M SOBBING

@/leclercsrevengearc: Max winning races, hearts, and fatherhood. Charles losing sleep. Balance.

@/gridgossip: Between the birthday drama, the Red Bull hoodie, the Parc Fermé kiss and now THIS — Belle Verstappen has had a better character arc than half the grid.

@/victoriaverstappen: Best news of the year 🍼 Can’t wait to meet this little one!! 

@/f1: We love a future champion in the making 👶🏽🏁

@/verstappensupremacy:

I KNEW THE RED BULL HOODIE WAS FORESHADOWING

MAX IS GOING TO BE A DAD I’M CRYING

@/f1babygossip:

Baby Verstappen is going to have the softest mama and the most aggressively protective papa and I LOVE THAT FOR THEM

@/charlespls:

someone go check on charles

she posted this BEFORE A RACE WEEKEND

we need an ambulance at Ferrari

[3motionally3xhausted]

Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons

Welcome to me stepping into a new fandom space with redesigns as usual

Idk if I'm 100% happy with Jack's design, but it's better than the first draft so whatever we'll see if I keep it or never touch it again (the ugly preliminary designs are under the cut)

[wolfythewitch]

wolfy this might be a stupid question but what's the difference between an animatic and an animation

Animation is like. Smoother? I guess. Animatic is the rougher version of it, like a draft. It usually has mostly the key poses and maybe some breakdown poses, but when you start inbetweening (poses in between frames to smoothen the action) it starts getting into the realm of animation

What's funny is a lot of animatics on YouTube aren't really the industry definition of an animatic, they're so much more defined and polished that animatics you see in pre production. Mostly because those on yt are already the final works, while pre prod animatics are like preliminaries for before the animation

[absinthemindedly]

On today's todo list:

Draft and schedule emails

Review existing literature on my PI's current research direction

Review previous NSF GRFP applications

Look into other national fellowships (listed)

Brainstorm about personal statements + project proposals

I've unfortunately fallen off my daily journaling/work routines the last few months, and I'm working on getting myself back into good habits. Today, my main goal is to schedule all my emails to other PhD programs their declining offers of admission. I just finalized everything with my chosen program this week, and the April 15th decision deadline is looming. I feel terrible for dragging my feet on communications, but I want to make sure I send personalized emails to each professor I interviewed with. I know this is part of the process, but I still hate disappointing people.

On the upside, I've already set up my graduate school accounts, put together a preliminary schedule of my classes in the fall, and set up my new email. I'm eager to get back to work