#to the point where he KNOWS he'll be back on the grid (and back in the red bull) it's just a matter of time

[danthropologie]

Daniels whole demeanour and confidence at the gp though. He was absolutely walking and was feeling himself which makes me soso hopeful esp from his comments about next year and the stuff about the sim too. And him wanting himself to race, the belief in himself to go out and do what he loves!! I think the whole things with the fans and support is just a bonus tbh, like I do believe he would’ve decided he wants to come back either way with or without the huge reaction he was getting at the weekend but I like to think it shows him how supported and loved he is.

right and it was also such a nice (and interesting) progression from the launch as well, where even then he was SO excited and it felt like he probably kinda already knew that he wanted to get back on the grid, even if he wasn't quite ready to say it yet 🤧

[ef-1]

Transcribed Excerpts from Christian Horner's hour long Interview that are batshit insane and so narratively dense you'd think they're lifted wholesale from a book, featuring:

The most in depth, behind the scenes view of what transpired in 2018

Fords CEO getting in touch with Dax to gush about how much he likes Daniel

Christian feeling vindictive towards Daniel

Christian comparing Sebastian and Max

Christian comparing Daniel to Roger Federer

How Christian had to mitigate Helmut's shitshow and personally asking Dietrich to give Daniel everything he wanted

Hilarious rapid fire in the end and his perspective on the failure of Ferrari

●●● <- indicates a time skip

Dax: In tennis you see guys when they lose steam, they break apart.

Christian Horner : you see that with checo.

●●●

[Dax mentions that in Christian's position, a lot of people would not have invited Daniel back into the family. "Because Daniel turned his back on the family." ]

Christian: Daniel's a great guy. Very badly advised in his early career. Everybody fucks up at some point. I think he recognizes that he made a mistake. He didn't have good advice around him at the point he left us. Having spent time outside the family he realized what he had here was actually good. It was horrible to see that it got worse and worse after us. It was actually this time last year in Mexico where I sat down with him in my hotel room, I told him you need a complete reset- take a year out. Come back to us.

Dax: He's such a win for you guys.

Christian: Totally.

Dax: you sent Daniel to Jim Farley [ CEO of Ford] and I know Jim Farley and he got in touch with me and told me "That Daniel Ricciardo guy is the greatest!" I'm like to him: he's the dream, send him anywhere.

●●●

Christian: He's [Daniel] a confidence driver, when he's got his mojo, he one of the fastest guys on the grid.

Dax: he's lethal.

Christian: yep.

Dax: he's got that magic thing that people either have or don't have in my opinion which is: there are winners and there are not winners

[you're not ready for this lol]

Christian: He came to us, he's one of our juniors, I remember going to watch him in formula 3, he really stood out. Very smooth. Just great. Naturally. Like a Roger Federer kind of style behind the wheel, very very classic. Light touch. Great, great skill. And then he came through the system [RB program] when we had Sebastian Vettel, 4 time world champion- Mark Webber retired. We chose Daniel as the Junior, with no expectation on him and he started beating Vettels ass. he won 3 races in 2014 when we had FAR from the best engine, Sebastian never won a race that year.

Dax: Even his time at Mclaren, it sucked for him but he's the only one who won a race.

Christian: He IS the only one who won a race.

Dax: and for a long time now.

Christian: and Renault he had great performances. [...] he's got to feel the love. He's got to feel comfortable in the environment that he's in. Some of his races for us were- absolutely outstanding.

●●●

[Christian about the 2018 negotiations]

Christian: I asked Dietrich to show Daniel love. Helmut was obviously pro Max, I said if you could just balance things out, let him [Daniel] know you want him. Dietrich said "no problem, I'll talk to him" so he took Daniel upstairs after the race in Austria to talk to him, and they were there for well over an hour.

Dax: To the point you were nervous?

Christian: I thought SHIT! But they reappear, and they're both smiling, I tell him: "Dietrich, how did it go?" He says,"No problem, don't worry about it. It's not even a question [that daniel would leave]"

Christian: Then we went to Germany, and his engine blew up. His engine kept letting him down, letting him down, letting him down. But from there, we went to Hungary, and we got his paperwork [Daniel's contract] for a TWO year deal all sorted out. Daniel's manager came to me and said 'listen Daniel is nervous about the engine' because we were going to switch to Honda so his manager said: 'he'll do ONE year' I thought wow. That's not really what we talked about, because in 6 months we'll be having the same conversation. So I remember I went back to Dietrich, and I said, "it's about relationships. It's NOT about contracts. If he wants a one year contract, give him a one year contract," so at this point: he's got everything he wants. Also, at that point, Daniel was doing a test for us after the Hungarian race, I thought Daniel will sign the paperwork on Monday, suddenly Monday goes and he's in the car on Tuesday. I'm starting to smell something because this is an enormous deal, you'd have thought he'd be in a rush to sign this contract. And he didn't sign the contract before he got in the car in the morning and I thought he'd sign by lunchtime but it didn't happen. He had to get out of the car and go straight to the airport because he's flying from here to LA and I thought he'll call me. I'm feeling something at this point.

Dax: you know you're about to be broken up with.

Christian: yeah.

Dax: if your girlfriend didn't show up to lunch then dinner-

Christian: exactly. So- he [daniel] rings me, I was in the car with Geri, he tells me "I just got off the plane, I arrived in LA, and I've been thinking on the flight, all the way here- I'm not going to sign the contract. I'm going to take another contract. [...] he tells me Renault? The engine that let him down for 2 years? I was convinced, I was CONVINCED- because Daniel has got a sense of humour- I thought- he's taking the piss. I thought come on. I told him: come on. There is no way. You're not going to Renault, stop fucking about, just sign the contract. After 10 minutes he finally persuaded me that he was going to Renault. It was disappointing.

Dax: I wanna applaude you, because a lot of people who go through that experience think: fuck you.

Christian: there was an element of that. I thought: go and suck on a lemon for a bit. But actually during the pandemic, I remember he called me and said "Christian I hate to say this to you but you were right"

•••

Christian thinks Max > Vettel

Christian about Alex and Pierre being teammates with Max: he broke them

[Very confused in this part because Christian like? Says the best thing for Checo to perform is to forget about Max, stop trying to compete with him, stop looking at his data? Girl you are NOT selling it rn]

•••

When Christian is asked to analyse Red Bull's champions, he thinks Sebastian and Max are diametrically opposed . Sebastian is your stereotypical German, he would be at the track until 11 to analyse data. Max is not interested in all the detail [devasting news for all the bitches who spent years trying to dunk on Daniel by calling him not technical, Christian seems to think that Daniel and Max share a natural ability that doesn't rely on data.] He [Max] Gives you just what he needs to go faster. Max hates testing, has no interest in it.

●●●

Christian confirms he has a lucky toilet.

●●●

Christian says in 2014-18 Red Bull came this 🤏 close to selling to Audi.

●●●

Christian: Drive to Survive is the Kardashians on wheel

●●●

Christian: You get characters like Gunther Steiner. How scary is he. He used to work for us, I had to be the one to fire him.

●●●

Christian on why he believes Ferrari have failed over the last 15 years: Ferrari is a national institution instead of a Team. It needs to become a racing team again. Too many people have input at the top.

[adventuringblind]

Heyyyy

Is it possible to have more autistic reader X Oscar like something happens at the race weekend and it's the rest of the grid helping her out as they also try find Oscar. Or anything really.

If not totally fine.

Also LOVE your writing!!!

Grid Panic

Oscar Piastri x Autistic Reader

Genre: hurt/comfort and fluff

Summary: a photographer is taking pictures during a night race and gets in readers face with the flash on. She panics and Oscar is nowhere to be found.

Warnings: cameras and autistic meltdowns

Notes: Okay, so this is MY experience with meltdowns. Please remember that everyone is different and experiences things differently. Also, this is HC format.

Masterlist

Night races are your favorite

The weather is more mild at night

It's easier to hide away from the crowd

The journalists don't spot you as easily

It's perfect

Currently, you're waiting for Oscar to come out of the media pen

Meandering around the paddock with headphones in as you wait

Oscar is protective yes

But not overprotective

He lets you lead the way, and if you get uncomfortable, then he'll step in

He can read your signals like it's clockwork

But he's not here

And a photographer has decided to make you his muse for the moment

He begins snapping shots with the flash on since its dark

You've never been on for bright lights

It's been the cause of many moments spent tucked away under tables and desks

He's saying things to you about smiling for the camera

But your not listening

Desperately trying to shield your face from the onslaught of flashing lights.

You’re lucky that Lewis is walking by

It’s not like you were trying to screech his name

But volume is harder to control when you feel like this

Needless to say it gets his attention

He gets in between you and the photographer

His arm slung around your shoulders protectively

Eventually you register the darkness of the alley between buildings

“Are you alright?”

Everything in you wants to say yes

But the urge to slam yourself into the ground and stay there says otherwise

No words

Just breathe

Physical contact is to much right now

“Can we go to Oscars room?”

You nod yes

Then you’re journeying to the McLaren motor home

You run into Charles on the way

He trails behind you

Mildly panicked because you aren’t speaking

Never a good sign

He waits with you in Oscar’s room

He plays soft piano music to drown out the noises from outside the room

You hide in the corner and curl yourself into a ball

Meanwhile Lewis is running around the paddock

He wishes he hadn’t put his scooter away

He runs into Lando during his search

“Need…Oscar…”

“Why? Am I not good enough for you?”

“Girlfriend is having- a thing.”

“A thing?”

“Ahhhh- what’s it called- a meltdown!”

Lando joins in on the search

At this point it feels like they’ve looked everywhere

Then they see Max

“Max!”

The Dutch does a spin and smiles when he sees them

“Have you seen my teammate?”

“Zak dragged him off somewhere, I think.”

*internal screeching from the two Brits*

“Can’t you show us where they went?”

Max drags the two along

They end up back in front of the McLaren motor home

They head inside with Lando leading them to Oscars room

Charles is watching from outside the door

“Took you long enough.”

They all collectively roll their eyes

The photographer got a warning

The boys (Lewis in particular) fell asleep as soon as they hit their respective beds

Oscar covered you in his jacket and drive you two home

Taking back ways and using the back entrance of the Hotel

He laughs to himself after he manages to get you to fall asleep

It’s a miracle they didn’t send the whole paddock into a panic

You fall asleep knowing your have good friends who can listen to your needs

[saey707]

I SEE YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN "HEARTSTEEL" I LOVE THEIR INTERACTIONS ON TWITTER AND EVERYTHING (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) It's cool, just cool :') Well, the point is... could you do a Yone x fangirl!reader? (I've been thinking about an anonymous online friendship and then a BIG surprise when they just meet face to face) Anyway, have a good day <3 -🍄

✿ Prompt: You have a chance encounter with Yone ✿

♡ champion focus: yone ♡ tw: none! ♡ Gender-neutral reader

Author’s Note: YES HELLOOO! ૮₍´｡ᵔ ꈊ ᵔ｡`₎ა Thanks so much for requesting! I tried my best to get the premise of your idea in, but I did make some changes to improve the flow of the short and make it more authentic! Hope you enjoy! ૮₍˶ •. • ⑅₎ა ♡

You and Yone met through an online board long before he went off the grid- hell, you met long before Yone even became legendary!

While it wasn't the conventional way to meet someone, you couldn't help but become fascinated by him and all the discussions he participated in. It's not every day you meet a (kind) man so invested in the history of Japanese warriors, DJ'ing, cold brew, and meditating!

You've never met Yone in person, but you figured from his messages alone he was either an old man or a kind soul... Even both. Every email Yone sent you was well punctuated and wise. He always knew exactly what to say, to an extent where you didn't know if he was just researching everything he was telling you or was telling you something based on his life experiences!

The day Yone sent a photo to you was the day you were convinced he was an old man now. It was clear that the photo was printed when he took a picture of it. His long, black hair was neatly kept, and he stood tall and sharp in a suit... Not to mention, there were orbs on the edge of the photo, and his eyes were as red as a demon!

You knew, eventually, your anonymous pen pal would stop replying one day, but it still hurt all the same. For years, you wondered if Yone was okay. You wondered where he was now, what amazing things he was doing. You wondered if one day he would ever email you back again... You wondered if he was dead.

"Hey, Warrior! I know it's been a few years since we last spoke. I know you won't respond, and I don't carry any grudges against you for it. I just can't help but wonder: How have you been? Were you ever able to get that red motorcycle you wanted? Are you still DJ'ing?"

That was the first email in years you sent to him... And you couldn't help but find some comfort in having a one-sided conversation. In a way, it felt like it healed the past few years you were left wondering and waiting.

"Hi, Warrior! You won't believe what happened yesterday: I finally got myself to meditate for 30 minutes straight! I'm still not sure how you can do it for an hour, but maybe someday I can get just as good as you. Hope you respond soon. I miss you!"

It became a regular habit for you to email him, even knowing you would never get a response. But maybe someday he'll be able to see what's going on in your life. Maybe someday, he'll open up his emails and respond to you... It's just wishful thinking.

"Have you seen the new band going viral? They're called Heartsteel! Their producer has the same name as you and even rides a red motorcycle in the music video! Isn't that cool? I know it isn't you, but at the very least I can imagine that it is you. I can imagine it's you out there doing great things with great people. And maybe it makes sense to me now why you won't respond. But just know I'm proud of you. No matter what you're doing out there. I'll email you again in a few days. Bye, Yone."

You sent the email, shutting your laptop now.

Waiting in line for a cold brew, it came as a surprise to you when you saw a man in front of you looking down at his phone, not even realizing that the line had already cut down to his turn to order.

You waited a few seconds... Then another. Then another.

Soon enough, you were annoyed. "Uhh, hey?! It's your turn to order..!" You tapped the man's shoulder, watching as he turned his head to you, confused as he shook himself from the alternate dimension his head was just in.

Your eyes widened as you stared at him for a moment, taking in the intricate details of his face. You recognized the sharp look in his eyes. You were familiar with the shape of his jawline. From the moment you got a good look at him, you knew it was him.

And while it seemed as if he didn't recognize you, the moment you spoke, his eyes lit up. It was you.

"Warrior?"

"Deer..."

[russellsppttemplates]

Could you do a Lance blurb where him and reader take the girls to Miami for Race Week and they are amazed, especially Addalynn by the F1 Academy girls and he manages to convince Susie to introduce the rest of the girls to Addalynn (since she already knows Tina Hausmann since she is part of the Aston Martin Driver Academy) and she says she wants to be like them when she grows up

"Addalynn, go with daddy because he had a surprise for you!", you told your oldest daughter so she could follow Lance, "me, Margot and Viv will join you soon, okay? Just need to change her clothes", you nodded to the baby who had spit all over her clothes.

Earlier on the week, Lance spoke to Suzie and after a successful exchange between them and arranging his schedule, he managed to take some time to be able to take your oldest daughter to the F1 Academy area so she could meet the rest of the grid.

"We're going to watch the preparations for the F1 Academy race - all of the girls are here, and Suzie Wolff found some time in their schedule to give us a tour and you can meet them too!", Lance announced.

"Is Tina going to be there? She's the only one I've met before!", Addalynn pointed out after she jumped up and down in excitement.

"She is - I think she's the one giving us the tour actually", Lance held your daughter's hand in his as they walked closer to the gathering of people, spotting the Aston Martin Driver Academy pilot, "hello hello! My wife has the other two girls and I think they're staying in the garage, so we can get going to meet everyone else - Y/N will be here shortly", he smiled.

"Hello! Hi, Addy!", Tina greeted, "ready to meet all the drivers?", she suggested, taking the little girl's hand and walking her through the whole area.

Later, you joined them in the Aston Martin Driver Academy garage, "mummy! Did you know Tina's number is your lucky number?", Addalynn told you, pulling you to see the car up close.

Margot was the most affected by the jetlag, so she was happy to sleep on Lance's hold, his arms making sure she wouldn't drop while you had Genevieve strapped to your chest.

"I did, my love - I think it's very cool!", you smiled as Suzie came up from behind you.

"Sorry, needed to do some managing there", she chuckled, "how are you enjoying this?".

"The work you're doing here is incredible, truly - I'm sorry I haven't been to many of the events, this little one has kept me busy", you mused, kissing the top of the little girl's head.

"Don't apologise, Y/N - you're still one of our biggest supporters and one of the ones who came forward when we only dreamed of this at the very beggining", Suzie rubbed your back, "you're doing such an amazing job juggling everything", she smiled.

"Thanks", you admitted with a blush on your cheeks, "I never wanted to race myself - Lance took me karting a couple of times and he'll tell you just how bad it was -, but Addy loves this and I know so many more like her love it and they should be given a chance too!".

"Abbi, Maya and Doria are just there, let me see if I can wave them over here! Hey!", Tina called the other girls, "this is Addy and she also loves racing!", she introduced your oldest daughter.

"I want to be like you when I grow up", Addalynn said as she sat inside the car, "I want to drive like you!", she beamed.

(Thank you for sending this in ✨️)

[astercontrol]

So…

I just watched Legacy again.

And… I keep coming back to the Ram-Castor theory.

Which first sparked from a paragraph on the Tron wiki, attributed in the footnote to Tron: Evolution…

Disparate accounts of Castor's origin exist. He was reputedly designed and created by Kevin Flynn in TC30 as an interpreter but quickly and naturally exceeded his original directives. Unconfirmed conflicting reports describe his origin as a "low-priority actuarial algorithm illegally co-opted identity of the obsolete protocol. More investigation required for verification."

This blew my mind, because... cryptic as it is, I found it easiest to interpret as:

The program that became Castor/Zuse was originally an interpreter program created by Kevin Flynn.

At some point, another program-- this "low-priority actuarial algorithm" -- took over his identity and took his place.

and… you know where my mind goes when I think of actuarial programs.

As far as I know, only one character ever canonically was described as such.

One who I cannot help but think of in the same category as Zuse (i.e., queer-coded, fun-loving, my favorite character in the damn movie, and died too damn soon.)

But... what would it take, for Ram to become Castor??

My initial impression was:

Ram gets rerezzed on the Grid, before the coup.

Perhaps Flynn sneaks in one of Roy's backups.

(Maybe this backup, unknown to Flynn, has been updated with some hacker code, for purposes of Zack-Attack shenanigans.)

And this Ram 2.0 is the "actuarial algorithm" who eventually assumes the identity of Castor/Zuse.

This was all months and months ago…

But now, having rewatched Legacy just now, the ideas have…

…. expanded.

Into the realm of the… something.

Here goes.

As to how Ram started out on the Grid:

I imagine that Flynn tried to give him something approaching his original purpose. Actuarial math is concerned with calculating probabilities, and this is useful for plenty of things besides setting insurance premiums.

(Ram probably would prefer many of those alternatives over setting insurance premiums, once he learns just how little insurance companies actually help people.)

His actuarial nature might even have him calculating probabilities about Clu, long before Flynn and Tron do… and seeing danger coming miles away.

And you know Flynn wouldn't have listened to his warnings.

Maybe this causes Ram to go into hiding early, before things with Clu go... clearly bad.

Now. Once in hiding, when the Purge starts, of course Ram decides to help the ISOs. He's a helper by nature. And he's lived under oppression and genocide.

Already he'll need to do this in some secrecy.

And this may very well be when he "reinvents" himself for the first time.

So. He hacks his way into the place of this …translation program that wasn't yet doing much of anything.

He takes on the new appearance, and the name Zuse.

Uses his hacking skills further, to control Solar Sailers and the permissions on other programs' discs, all in the name of getting ISOs to safety.

(This is all mentioned in the wiki, as well, attributed again to Evolution.)

(There also seem to be… hints? that Zuse himself is an ISO? but this is not clear on either the wiki, or in Legacy. There may be more data in Evolution? In any case, I'm proceeding on the assumption that he is not an ISO, just a regular program who may have been co-opted or hacked by another one.)

At the point in Legacy where Sam meets Zuse, some pieces fell together rather clearly for me.

When he says:

"Zuse has been around since the earliest days of the gaming grid. By necessity, he has to mind all the percentages, all the angles."

it feels to me that he was clearly talking about his past as Ram, the actuary. Perhaps calculating percentages of probability for gaming purposes-- betting odds and such-- back when the games were just for fun?

But, as he said, it was self-preservation that made him change his identity. With the Purge over, and Clu attaining greater and greater power… he had to reinvent himself again, to stay safe from Clu's wrath against anyone who supported either ISOs or Users. So he gave himself the name Castor, instead, and kept the Zuse identity under wraps.

"Castor" is actually a fairly clever choice of name. If he was going to go the Greek-gods route, "Ares" would have been the obvious code for Ram (the ram being the symbol for Ares/Aries).

(…AND I continue to pray, probably without hope, that Jared Leto keeps his mitts off of Ram completely. But, that's another topic.)

Ares was a son of Zeus.

Unclear whether this was why Ram chose the Zuse name… or whether the program had that name already before Ram took over him. (The wiki suggests that, like many names in Tron lore, it was an allusion to a famous name in computing history. In-universe, Flynn could certainly have named a program with such inspiration.)

In mythology, Castor was… one of the twins born to Leda after Zeus impregnated her. But the pregnancy had two different fathers, and Castor was not the twin fathered by Zeus.

From the perspective of a Ram in hiding, "Castor" could be taken to mean "false disguise for a true son of Zeus."

Not saying that was the sort of thing Ram himself would have come up with.

It's what I would have come up with, in his position.

But I am not an actuarial program. I am a goddamn pattern recognition program. This is obvious.

So, the above is likely all irrelevant.

Moving on!

By this point, Ram/Castor/Zuse might be pretty disillusioned with the Users, honestly.

Flynn's in hiding, doing nothing! He let Tron get corrupted, Yori either disappeared or never got rezzed in, and a tyrant with Flynn's face is in charge of everything!

I would NOT blame him for being unconvinced that changes at the top actually make a difference; that one leader's better than another.

I would not blame him for being earnest in saying, "I believed in Users once before."

And then, of course, the betrayal!

Clu's guards barge in.

Zuse…. stands back and lets everything happen. Gives them free rein to attack Sam. Stands back and watches in glee, as the whole thing goes down.

Watches Sam fighting back. Watches Kevin Flynn and Quorra bursting in to help. Watches the whole fight. Just watches, dancing and firing energy bolts randomly into the whole mess like a madman, as if he has no stake in it one way or another!

It would be easy to interpret this a number of ways.

He has gotten truly vengeful toward the Flynns, to the point of losing his grip on reality.

He has gotten truly vengeful toward EVERYONE, to the point of losing his grip on reality.

Perhaps his personality has even split somewhat-- the Castor and Zuse personas becoming somewhat separate entities?

This would fit with the idea that he started this whole business by co-opting the identity of another program!

Maybe that program's mind was always trapped somewhere within… fighting him.

Maybe it came to the surface more and more often as time went on.. becoming a possessing demon with very different views about everything Ram used to care for.

BUT.

There is one other possibility.

Let's take a look at just what he promised, and to whom, and just how the promises were followed through on.

First, to Sam. He offered Sam "a change of attire," "a forged disc," and "transport to cross the Sea of Simulation."

And then he stood back, and made no attempt to stop either Sam or his helpers or his attackers…

and the fight played out as fate would have it, letting Sam and Kevin and Quorra escape to safety…

as they, most surely, would…

as they could have been predicted to…

from the viewpoint of one whose probability-calculations have always been informed by faith.

One who, deep down, does still believe in the Users.

He might… just possibly… still care.

Also, consider.

Zuse does not allow Clu's guard to take the disc he stole from Kevin. He appropriates it for himself, as a bargaining chip to use with Clu.

For what? "Control of the city. A sizeable request, I know."

Here might be where Zuse finally miscalculates. He was expecting, or at least hoping, that there was a chance Clu would honor his end of the bargain.

If Clu had, indeed, allowed him control of the city, it would have given him an advantage from a large number of "angles"-- no matter how the political side of things played out.

It could have given him leverage to help the Flynns later on, and undo the damage caused by the theft of the disc.

He might, quite possibly, have predicted that Sam and Kevin would both be able to recover from the immediate problem of the disc being lost.

For all we know, that brilliant probability-calculating mind might have already had a plan for that, and for how to help them later.

And even if that plan failed…it could certainly have permitted Zuse to be involved on a much larger scale in the resistance.

(Kevin, deep in his "zen thing," had even said that programs forming a resistance from within could have a better chance of taking Clu down than he himself ever could.)

(Zuse might, at some point, have agreed with him on that, and prepared himself to play a part in it.)

But.

All this seems lost.

Because, instead of honoring the deal, Clu just takes the disc and then blows up the End of Line Club with Zuse and Gem inside it.

However.

We can easily imagine that someone with the previously displayed skills in

hacking

hiding

taking on new identities

calculating probabilities

and playing all angles / planning for all possible outcomes

…might have kept a backup of himself somewhere safer?

In any case.

Whatever was going on in Zuse's mind, in regard to helping or not helping the Users, and preparing or not preparing for Clu's betrayal…

you can't deny two things.

He doesn't give Clu any leads to find the Flynns. He tries to convince him they're already dead.

and, once they do escape…

there just happens to be a Solar Sailer right in reach, waiting for them to sneak on.

A "transport to cross the Sea of Simulation." Just as promised.

Just my thoughts.

[dairy-farmer]

Am on a reversal of my other prompts kick~ :3c

Imagine~~

The Time Loop Prompt! A perfectly average, nothing happening, boring 24 hours. BUT THIS TIME?? It's NOT Tim who gets trapped! It's our dear Bat Boys!

Tim is still patrolling, been distant. Considering going back to The Nest. This upsets Bruce but he doesn't want to push and drive Tim away. Aggravates Damian, who is supposed to be putting away the Suspect Unknown Magical Object.

The more he listens to Drake make excuses, the more annoyed he gets. He gets careless. Too rough. Jason arrives, planning to look something up, but notices and corrects him. It's the final straw. He slams the idol down.

It shatters.

Magic sweeps the cave. Oh Shit.

Tim HEARD that. Respond. Respond! He's coming over! Tim IMMEDIATELY changes his plans. Awkwardness be damned, they just got exposed to Unknown Magics. He arrives. The Bats manage to peel themselves off the floor. Run through their standard "are we compromised" tests. So far? Nothing.

But Tim is gonna stay the night, just to safe. A 24 hour watch.

The next day is quiet. Maybe it really was nothing? Or it hasn't hit yet, knowing their luck. Could have just been the showy bang itself. Still... it's nice to actually have Tim AROUND for once. They wish they knew how to say that without starting a fight. They watch him head out around midnight. They hate it.

The NEXT day though? Oh. So THAT'S what it did. Timeloop. Well that's annoying. Except... except Tim's expression says he has no idea what they are talking about. But he was THERE, was he? They compare notes. And...

No. No, he wasn't. He HEARD the idol breaking, but wasn't actually THERE for it. He's outside of the Loop. So he'll have to take their word on it. Now, what are their options? Magic users, right?

They spend the day trying to figure out who they need to talk too. Then the next. Then the NEXT. Gods damn it they hate magic so, SO much. But! Constantine SHOULD be able to brute force them out? They are told this sort of situation is "his thing". Fine. So where is he?

Yeeeeah, about that.....

Bruce closes the link before he says something he will probably not regret, but would be DEEPLY unprofessional. Apparently they are on their own finding Constantine. Last known location: "probably Earth".

Fantastic.

It takes the rest of that loop to put together a functional program. One that will search for the House of Mysteries in a grid pattern, spanning the entirety of the planet. They cut it close, but manage to memorize it.

Next loop, start the program. Which... takes ALL of the Bat computer's processing power to run.. meaning they can't work on any cases. Now what?

They disperse. Try to find something to do. Read that book, finally play that game, maybe work on that art project. But... what's the POINT if all their progress gets undone? They try new foods, take naps, check out places they've put off going too.

The program has barely made a dent. The entire planet is not a SMALL place to search after all.

It's Dick who gets lonely first. Gets ideas. He'll swear of course, he didn't. It just... his friends are busy. Thanks to the loop? They'll STAY busy. Forever. He wants to hang out. Misses his Timmy Time. Things aren't great between them. But he is trying to be better.

And for Tim? It's a Rule. If someone stuck in a Timeloop wants to hang out, you hang out. Because YOU may have spoken to them yesterday, but for them? They could have been trapped alone for years. So he sighs and let's Dick drag him along.

Dick is THRILLED. Tim is having fun. HE'S having fun.

He genuinely can't remember when last it was just the two of them. Hanging out. Does Tim even skateboard anymore? Still WANT to see that photo exhibit? Yeah, Tim is having fun. But Dick gets the vibe he's humoring him. That... that he doesn't even KNOW him anymore.

So next loop he tries again.

It's not like Tim remembers their last hang out. He can keep trying! Movies and events and outings. Has he ever taken Timmy dancing, he wonders? Let's hit the clubs! Everything and anything! See what gets a spark of interest.

And... listen, maybe the clubbing was a mistake. Yes, Timmy is old enough. Yes, he had fun. But so did Dick. They got dressed up Super Hot. They got tipsy. Dick made sure to watch over Tim while he was their, made sure no one harassed him or put anything in his drink. Let him have fun in the loud music and strobing lights.

And... and... Realized Timmy... Timmers Tim Tim... grew up Hot. Watched him move. Laugh. Be gorgeous and relaxed in a way he rarely gets to be, surrounded by people who WANT him but who could NEVER know him like Dick does.

He... he should not be having these thoughts. Not about his baby brother. It's a distant thought. Weak in the face of things sliding into place at long last. Finally a name to apply to the complicated MESS that sat between them. One that seemed to come from HIM and not Tim. Oh.

His hands linger more then they should, helping his tipsy brother home. He dumps them both in his bed. Legs tangled, clothes on. Just to soak up the warmth of Timmy's body and press close, close, CLOSE. To let mad thought and insane plans rumble to life in his head. He shouldn't. He has to shut these thoughts down NOW while he still has a chance.

Tim is so warm. A bit giggly and boneless from the elaborate cocktails he wanted to try. Cologne all but washed off by sweat and stinking of the club. But... but cuddling him BACK for the first time in as long as he can remember, outside of an Ivy breakout. He wants and wants and wants. What if he could KEEP this?

It's so warm.

And waking up is so cold. No Tim. Just a reset timeloop and empty bed. Tim remembers nothing. But Dick does. Things have shifted. Lets go clubbing, Timmy! Why PAY for their cocktails when I can make better ones! It's called pre-gaming!

Soon they are tipsy, it's barely mid-day. But Tim is gorgeous and laughing. But, WHOOPS! Dick spilled his drink on your pants! Thank god we're still at home, huh? You can still change. BTW, unrelated, past boyfriends? Wanna rant?

He distracts Tim, pants off, with a rant. Nudges the conversation where he wants it. Dick's not nearly as drunk as he's pretending. But Tipsy Tim? Has GRIEVANCES! Don't get him wrong! He LOVES trying new positions! Practicing his BJs! So sue him, he's a perfectionist! But does that mean he never wants a little reciprocal action? No!

He, in fact, very much DOES want to get eaten out! Constantly! And other things! CONSTANTLY! He's horny and stressed okay? They lead stressful lives! But GOD FORBID men who will dive head first into radioactive goo monsters, put their Precious Wittle Mouths anywhere near his-!

Dick takes his chance. HE would never do that. You deserve BETTER. Have all those cases on the Bat computer, all that work at WE. He crowds forward, not looming, on his knees. Hands resting on Tim's hips. Not doing anything. Just so very, very Close.

Tim deserves to relax... doesn't he?

And Tim is torn. This does not seem like normal Dick behavior, but? Timeloop? Booze? And does he WANT this? Dick IS his childhood hero. He's had dreams about stuff like this. Should say no though. But then Dick leans forward, rests his flushed cheek against the soft skin of Tim's stomach. Rubs, just to feel them glide against each other.

Tim shudders. Y.. yeah. He deserves to relax. He mutters.

Like blood in the water before a shark. Tim squeaks he's lifted and moved so fast. He's being pressed down to the end of Dick's bed. He barely has time to register his boyshorts disappearing before his legs are lifted and spread. Then skilled, wet, heat is PLUNDERING him and he's jerking so hard you'd think he was tazered. Hands scrambling along Dick's sheets for any sort of purchase.

Gasping for air, whimpering, he can't for enough coherent thought to tell Dick to just-! Oh god! S-slow down! He spasms apart and then? Oh god. Clever, clever fingers. Sliding deep and rubbing just-! Dick is VERY good with his mouth. Tim come apart again and again, until he's desperately grabbing for Dicks head, slurring weakly for it to stop. For Dick to let him REST.

It's so god damn PERFECT. Dick has never seen anything better. Flushed and boneless and taken car off so good. He gently hauls him up the bed. Gets his Timmy all warm and snuggly. Then slides slick and perfect into his pampered little hole. Wraps him up close for a cuddle. Just the two of them, as he fucks. So, so good~

It's more of a rut then anything, honestly. But holding him? Feeling the gushing wet hole flutter around him as he rocks and rocks, just chasing his pleasure? Tim is so GOOD for him. A twitching, drooling, exhausted mess wrapped up in a safe little bundle, here in his arms. He slides as deep as he can, when he cums. Keeps Tim close and full.

Fails to notice, near midnight, when someone comes looking for him.

Tim may not remember, but Damian sure does. And he is NOT best pleased. Have you LOST YOUR MIND?! He may not li.. may have.. there may be strained relations between him and Drake, but that does not mean he will allow these PERVERSIONS!

Tim is baffled and wary. The Demon Child is sticking to him like glue. Dick keeps trying to subtlety separate them but what say WHY. As the day progresses, it escalates.

The NEXT Same Day? Tim is out right ALARMED. Dick tries to kidnap him for "bro time"? Did the magic idol turn him evil?! Shit! KON! He spends the day at the Kent farm.

Next loop? Wakes up in a safe house. One of Bruce's? WHY? Oh fuck. Damian's kidnapped him. Wait.... are... are these Bruce's KINK restraints?! Damian What The FUCK?!

And... look. Damian's at the end of his rope here. Richard is NOT giving up. Has years more experience and a plethora of allies. Drake doesn't even realize he's IN peril! No! Shut up!

He gags Tim. Begins explaining. Looks unhinged. Pacing back and forth. First the time loop, which is his fault. He KNEW better then to let his temper get the better of him! Has been working tirelessly to-! It doesn't matter. First the timeloop. His fault. Then Richard acting suspicious. Nothing out of place though? Until it WAS!

Liquor supplies raided! Held up in his room all day! Damian was suspicious!

The BASTARD! Forever going on about Family this and Family that! Blood relations don't mean anything! Still FAMILY!! He just wanted-!

Damian freezes, mid rant. Things connecting in his mind. Tim doesn't know WHAT and is too busy trying to get free of his cuffs to care. But then Damian spins to look at him. Eyes intense in a way that is VERY AL Ghul and thus VERY concerning.

Damian figured it out. Richard wanted Tim for himself. Of course he did. Tim is the favorite apprentice. Richard lied to Damian so Damian wouldn't be compition. He KNEW Damian desired Timothy and was doing everything he could to discourage it! Because Damian is the rightful heir. He has more to offer. Is a dangerous rival to have. He figure it out!

Tim has no idea what's happening and Damian may have finally gone insane.

Why is he coming closer? No! No coming closer! Go be insane somewhere ELSE! But Damian does not. He's not just Wayne stubborn. He's AL Ghul stubborn. He can TOTALLY seduce his freaked out, tied up, brother-rival!

Tim tries to kick him in the face.

Works for him. He's done research, he knows Dick's modis operandi. It apparently WORKS so... Holding the legs that tried to kick him, he inches forward. To tug sleep shorts out of the way until they are trapped near bound knees.

If Tim could remember it, could compare them, he'd tell you Damian is rougher then Dick. Demanding and exploring, tounge hot as it goes where it pleases. That he was far more merciless, in his inexperience, as that demanding mouth sucks and licks and toys with his clit. He chokes on air. Jerks and thrashes against the restraints binding him.

He's barely aware of Damian reaching for something, of some sort of noises, as he tries to escape the onslaught. But then there are demanding fingers. Slick and clumsy. Exploring, pushing deep as they can, more STUFFING him then fucking him. Full. Too much!

Something else replaces them. Over lubed. It SQUELCHS going in. Whats?

If nothing else, Damian has an EXCELLENT eye for sex toys. Tim all but HOWLS when he flips the vibrator on. Unthinkingly cranking it high, with little thought for Tim's sensitive hole. The orgasm is DRAGGED out of him. He.. he doesn't think Damian can even TELL he came. He's to distracted by eating him out.

Oh god. Tim's gonna die.

The vibrator keeps going.

By the time the loop resets, Damian has used several "interesting" toys he's tried. And fucked Tim's poor, throbbing hole full. Tim is losing time. His shoulders are screaming from the restraints and he's passed at least twice. Damian has... has never been softer with him.

Whispering praise and kissing every bit of skin he can reach. Cuddling close. Touching him reverently. Tim doesn't know how to feel. Doesn't... Doesn't understand.

He wakes up and doesn't remember.

Jason, however, catches both Dickface and the Hellion trying to kidnap his Replacement. Has some Opinions about that. He'd THOUGHT things were too quite.

There goes his reading day. And he'd been making such good progress on his books. This is some BULLSHIT. Meh, Timbers can sleep on the couch. Back to his regancy novel. Except of course his life could never be that easy. The fuckers team up. Lie their asses off to some Kryptonians. And he KNOWS that Kon-El has been just WAITING for an excuse, so DICK MOVE you FUCKERS! Oh shit!

Now they are in a lead lined bunker. No quality literature in sight. Timbits is convinced the idol turned everyone but him evil and you know what? Yeah. Yeah that's EXACTLY what happened. We should kick them in the dicks about it. It's the only heroic thing to do, really.

But then the fuckers FIND his lead bunker. HOW.

And the squirrly little shit he's trying to protect goes "don't worry, I got a place". Next thing he knows? Bam. Just... just a fuckin WALL of pictures of baby him. Timbers had a secret, Kryptonian-proof, stalker bunker? Oh. My. God. This is the creepiest, hottest, most pathetic thing he's ever seen.

Is that one of those WAIFU PILLOWS? Oh my God it IS! It's HIM! Booty shorts and all! Bruce shut that shit DOWN. They only ever managed to sell 15!

Tim regrets everything. Please. Just... for the love of all that is holy. Evil family members? Remember? Ignore my Secret Shame Bunker.

Jason will not. Don't think he didn't see the Red Hood merch. Supporting crime alley merchants are we? Cause they are the ONLY ones who sell those. The rest you had to have MADE. You're a creepy little fanboy. Holy shit. How did he FORGET that?

......Jason kinda needs to bend you over that creepy waifu pillow on those Red Hood sheets and fuck your brains out. Get over here. Now.

Tim would... LIKE to say as both a collector and self respecting vigilante, he doesn't desecrate his collection and get wildly distracted. But. Well. He would be a lying liar who lies. He's face down, ass in the air in SECONDS. Jason pounds him like he's trying to permanently bruise his hips. Makes him admit to all sorts of things he SWORE he'd take to the grave. Then flips him on his back, bends him in half, and goes AGAIN.

Somehow he finds Tim's old self-interest fanfiction. Drags Tim's head down to blow him as he reads it out loud. There are literary critiques. Tim's too distracted by the cock in his mouth to care.

Dawn comes. Tim does not remember. Jason wages war against the two fuckos who would prevent take two of "The Secret Fuck Bunker: An Epic Romance." He is INVESTED.

Bruce... finally acknowledges he can't keep ignoring whatever nonsense his sons are getting up too. It's loud and getting in the way of, you know, BREAKING THE TIME LOOP. You remember that, RIGHT children of his? He banishes them from the house. Well, Alfred does. He nods and agrees to it.

Tim is concerned but understanding. Bruce explains what progress they've made. They... they talk. Tim is supportive. He always has been, even when Bruce did not deserve it. Bruce.. admits the loop could not have come at a worse time.

The anniversary of- When he was lost in time? Tim finishes.

Yes. Being unmoored. Lost, trapped, and helpless before a force you can't so much as touch. Bruce has never liked timeloops. They are made to drive men mad.

Hesitantly, Tim climbs into his lap. Heavy and warm. Alive. Here. Arms wrap around Bruce in a hug and he just? Let's himself... breathe. Holds his boy back. Anchored and okay, if only for now. The hum of the computer, the chattering of bats, the smell of Tim's cologne. It's meditative.

Hands, running soothing fingers through his hair, gripping his sweater. A head resting against his own, Tim's lips ghosting against his forehead. Nearly a kiss, mostly just closeness. It's... it's the stillness that does it. Let's the thought he refused to think, finally slink forward. It's just them here.

And only he will remember.

But... He is an old and broken man. Has insisted on playing Father figure for so long, for all he did it so poorly. What right does he have to think this, much less ACT on it? To complicate Tim's life. Try to be something he's not even sure he can manage? What right does he have?

And why? He wonders, rubbing his exhausted cheek against the softness of Tim's shirt. Is he so very weak, so selfish, when it comes to love?

Tim's fingers pause... and then continue.

They have always been a lot alike. This may have been inevitable. But a day spent camping in his chair is not. It's terrible for his back. And for all that the loop may reset physical exhaustion, they clearly do nothing for mental exhaustion. The program will run just fine on its own, Bruce. Too bed with you.

For the first time in years, that old Batman Mischief. Oh? And who will keep him there? Hmm? You? Better supervise him. Make sure he stays. Tim's laugh fills the cave. Guess he has no choice then, does he?

Shukking clothes, Bruce feels decades younger. Back when the world wasn't so heavy on his shoulders. Just two young men, a soft bed, in the dark. He kisses Tim breathless as he works him open. Finds sensitive spots on his neck as he wrings and orgasm out of his boy, just to get him relaxed. Plenty of lube and stretching, and he's sinking in. Slow and relentless.

Tim gasping, shaking, gripping his arms like a lifeline. Tim feel like he's being impaled on a log. If he didn't love Bruce he'd have called it off the second his pants were off. He's never sitting again. Never WALKING again. It's not even rubbing against anything, just pressure. But... but Bruce is looking at him with such AWE and in such PLEASURE and he.. he cant.....

Bruce starts slow and relentless. Just getting Tim's body to let him GO. To stop clenching and relax. Little by little. Then faster. Harder. It feels ruinous. No ones ever going to be able to stuff Tim like this. He can't even tell if he LIKES it. So much. Full. Stretched and sloppy and all his inside pumped to pieces.

Should be crude. Violent. He's being RUINED. But Bruce is so loving. Holding him and praising him and kissing him. Gasping like it's the best he's ever had. That's cheating. How us Tim supposed to be mad if he does that? And then Bruce cums in him and he can't even... even...

Bruce loses count, how many rounds they go. Tim is absolutely fuck drunk and gapping, his poor little hole drooling and twitching around nothing. He should have held back. Next time he'll hold back.

Probably.

He pulls his sweet boy close and just... let's himself exsist. Holds him. Everything is warm and good. He drifts off.

And wakes up alone. Start of the loop.

Bruce breaks some things.

He also puts two and two together, as he stalks his was to go fetch Tim. The odd behavior of his sons makes a.. sudden sort of sense. Family Room. Now. Let Tim sleep.

No one wants to admit to anything. Them? Take advantage on the timeloop? They would never! Take advantage of Tim's lack of MEMORY of the loops? They would NEVER! In fact! What were YOU doing at the devils sacrament, goodie Procter?!

Accusations are thrown.

Bruce asks if they're done.

Because this can go one of two ways. They leave Tim alone until after the loops after finished. OR? They share.

What.

Tim can't make an informed decision with less then 24hours of information to go off of. We may remember our time bonding with him. But HE does not. We share, he decides. What, if anything, he'll do AFTER the loop ends. No fighting or No Tim.

Argue and I'll have Clark remove Tim from the house each day, every day, at midnight. Full 24 hours. Try me.

Tim wakes up to a VERY weird energy in the studio today. The vibes are Off. You guys... good? They explain the Timeloop. He chooses to believe it's that.

Right up until Jason pulls him into a guest bedroom and fucks him on the floor.

It takes a lot of days Tim doesn't remember, for the program to Find Constantine. He gets fucked in his bed, his brothers bed, the batcave. There are threesomes he doesn't remember. Face fucking. Machines. Each morning, the SAME morning, his family greet him with a stranger and stranger energy he can't quite place. He's missing something.

They find Constantine right before a loop resets. Tim is asleep when they head out to Argentina. He goes from dead asleep to WIDE FUCKING AWAKE.

TIM. REMEMBERS.

Oh, you BASTARDS. Not even a DRINK first? What is he, a cheap date?? Just a "hey gorgeous" and a hand down his pants!?!? He's killing them! Alfred! ALFRED! Where's the shotgun!?

Those fuckers better GROVEL. No dates, no ROMANCE, just fucking him against the nearest flat surface. In FACT! KON! Kon get your Midwest ass over here! You're my dad now!

The Bats hear Boss Music and are rightfully afraid to answer their phones. It won't save them. Tim is MIFFED and owed ROMANCE and ROMANTIC fuckings. Where the hell are his flowers? His fancy restaurants reservations? His ALIEN TECHNOLOGY!?

He's moving in with the KENT'S! No pussy for you! No pussy 1000 years!

😭😭😭😭 tim getting so MAD at the bats for not romancing him and just fucking him instead- repeatedly to. they used him like an open cunt at a glory hole!!! he would absolutely be livid and as for the bats, tim is angry but at least he's still talking with them even if it is to yell and insult them 😭😭😭

[yesloulou]

pleaseee sort all drivers, i am here for this crossover!

thank u for this ask i had so much fun i acc made a lil graph for it lol

first of all. daniel is a slytherin 100%!!! see tags on this post:

max -> hufflepuff: he's hard working (training in the rain) he's patient (waiting all those yrs at rb for a winning car) he's loyal (actually said he'll retire at rbr) and he's extremely fair (ad 22 when he refused to block charles to help checo his teammate get p2 in wdc)

(my chirlie mutual started hate shipping lestappen after this lol)

checo -> hufflepuff:the fact that his loyalty still lies with force india/racing point to this day... also the fact that he's able to maintain a surprisingly good relationship w daniel even though every day 20730847 articles come out talking about daniel taking his seat?? (according to c horner max and checo actually get on better when daniel is there). i feel like this is bc checo is a compassionate person (he had been in daniel's shoes in 2020) and he sees that it's fair daniel will ofc take the chance if he's able to get his old rb seat back.

charles -> slytherin: 1. the ambition of envisioning himself driving for ferrari since he was like a fetus 2. the being comfortable with lying for the greater good 3. the following jules his god father who was a first gen FDA driver pretty much step by step (heritage) 4. and the resourcefulness of getting himself endorsed by the Todt's at age 14.. that mouse is a slytherin!!! in fact. did you know he's affectionately known among the italian tifosi as 'viperella 🐍'? plz refer this brilliant scholarship by @dhufflebee.

carlos -> hufflepuff: when he said 'i was very good i was very fast today' with barely suppressed tears.... when he said his penalty was 'not deserved it is TOO SEVERE i said please please please please to wait to wait until the race is finished and speak to me'........ that was a man trembling w rage bc he was treated unfairly and his hard work was not valued

lewis -> ravenclaw: he's obviously either ravenclaw or slytherin and i think the fact that he likes to distance himself from his peers a lil bit to focus on racing puts him in the former. also whenever he's asked about things happening on the grid (daniel losing his seat, seb's retirement...) i get a feeling that he's very cordial yet doesn't get involved all that much.

george -> slytherin: you would think he has a similar family background to lando's bc of the extra posh accent he maintains and the way he dresses so well... wrong. you're actually looking at a man who values heritage more than you might think. he's ambitious and prepared and driven yet subtle about it (suffered all those years in williams for the merc oppurtinity). he's also a very prideful person imo (see: flipping vb the bird immediately after portugal 21 crash). slytherin thru and thru

fernando -> slytherin: next

lance -> ravenclaw: i can see the slytherin argument bc he comes from money but i feel like he values truths and facts more than he is prideful or unrelenting. see: fact checking max over 180 cm height (where the iconic 'he claims that?' came from). see also: 'ask george about my vegas tag junior win in 2012.. ask him about it.. yeah hahaha ask him about it...' also he has a certain calmness and resignation that comes from valuing facts and observations above else. see:

lando -> slytherin: i love him but the amount of times he whined on the radio so mcalren would team order daniel to maintain position and not fight..... the cunningness, the being comfortable with exaggerating his situations to his engineer... the benefiting from his heritage (the millions of pounds of norris money injected into mclaren).. the resourcefulness of somehow getting z brown involved with his personal brand quadrant which subsequently established mclaren and himself as a package deal... he's a slytherin. he makes fernando alonso proud.

esteban -> ravenclaw: idk esteban that well but the fact that he used to count checo's sins to every media post race back when they were teammates at racing point, then go on twitter with receipts knowing full well it wouldn't change a thing bc checo had the sponsors he didn't... este speaks with facts and he embodies ravenclaw's signature 'resigned cynics'

(the 'perez tried to kill me 2 times!' 😭)

pierre -> gryffindor: suzuka 22 post race where he hesitated but then started talking about jules anyway ("i don't think what happened today was respectful towards jules and his family"). he got a very heavy handed penalty from the fia afterwards which to me feels retaliating. that's a very brave boy. also he is not afraid to show his temper (example) and doesn't easily back down (the alleged shouting match with, and i kid you not, adrian newey). he is very gryffindor.

yuki -> gryffindor: he's obviously passion driven, hence temper <3. also i think the fact that he and pierre became such good friends despite being teammates and having incidents on track rlly speaks for how much they trust and are loyal to each other

alex -> hufflepuff: idk alex that well but the whole concept of drs train conductor is so very hufflepuff coded. i worked hard i was patient i dragged my tractor in front of yours so you're not overtaking me. it's all fair game.

logan -> slytherin: i mean obviously this was taken right outside of their commom room

– end –

p.s. shout out to @tyrannosaurus-maxy for organizing the sort the grid polls you're truly our trend setter!!! ✨

[pitconfirm]

Hello it is me, francis, wondering 2 things (making up my own ask game ahahah):

- what was your lancepill moment? Like moment you fell for Lance… never to recover…

- can u elaborate on Alex/lance??? I have recently been shown intriguing material and saw your tags a while ago… you have thoughts👁️?

Hiiiii francis 🫶

first of all, my lancepill moment... definitely 2020. i was kind of aware of him before that and followed him on socials but I only properly got into f1 in 2020. I got into it through the lockdown streams and when they got back to racing I was bewitched by his pink suit and silly aura. but the point of no return was watching his Monza podium... LIFE CHANGING.

And oh boy.... alex/lance... strollbon. where do i even begin. for the past couple weeks, Ann and i have been having absolutely derranged convos about them... our beloved rarepair. my thoughts are below the cut in case this gets too long:

I have too many thoughts to possibly mention them all but I think the core energy of this ship is that... lance is a spoiled princess who needs to be treated right, and alex is a nice guy who could TREAT HIM RIGHT... as can be seen by the iconic umbrella moment:

As the genius @lil-shiro said... lance has reverse daddy issues, in that his dad has always been able to give him exactly what he needs, so he expects the same kindness and dependability from his partner... i think alex could give him that.

they both have a similar sort of energy of hating media duties, being very nice but also having a bitchy side... i think they'd mesh very well together. as you can see here, their combined sassy energy… unstoppable.

also we know that lance has extreme cat energy, and who on the grid is good with cats? alex albon of course.

and another very very important element of strollbon is of course georgeture. the concept of george's best friend being in a relationship with his enemy... groundbreaking. traumatising. perfect. the potential drama here is so delicious… I may have to write it.

of course the utterly devastating moment of George realising alex and lance are together... maybe he sees a notification from lance on alex's phone, maybe he catches them in the act... either way, he passes out. and then wakes up. and then passes out again. his life is ruined and he'll have to learn to balance his hatred for lance with his desire to be a supportive friend to alex (and eventually, reluctantly, admit that lance isn't that bad).

TLDR, lance is a princess and alex should spoil him. I hope my ramble made sense 😅 but if you have any other questions im always happy to answer 🙏

[hegoeshardasfuck]

casual

wordcount: 2K

tags: semi-public sex, biting, handjobs, workplace (?) sex, sub Itachi, dom Kakashi

synopsis: Kakashi and Itachi both think that it's nice having a wherever we want and whenever we want kind of relationship / OR / that fic where they fuck on the job

authors note: hehehe been working on a fanfic writing/reading discord server lately :3 me and my bud r still workin' out the flaws rn but i got something queued to post when its ready to drop

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57578641

Really, they couldn't ask for much more out of their agreement. Simple and concise and signed with ink laden with trust to the point it may as well be blood. Not a word would ever be uttered outside hallowed halls to keep both of them safe.

Although, hallowed halls are almost never enclosed spaces, almost never somewhere without a risk. That's part of the fun. Two high standing shinobi having an affair in the dead of the night against a tree or in the hallways of an abandoned building.

They play fast and loose with each other. Sparing raking glances if they cross in broad daylight. Hunting one another down if split missions cross paths. Whenever and however they want each other they have each other, only if they can be done within the parameter of time limits. They have jobs to do even if they're shaky legged as they do so.

It's a simple mission this time, assassination. Sneak into a theater and kill the lead actor because they're planning a coup d'état and they're the one in charge. Kakashi wants to bite back against the Hokage's instructions, that it's improbable for an actor to be capable of revolution. But he doesn't, he may be in his twenties but backtalking his old teacher won't fare well.

He doesn't get a teammate at first, Minato sure of himself that his prize pupil would do fine. But after a bout of consideration and back and forthing between the two, he dispatches another. And that other is Itachi, someone who'd blend in well with the darkness of the house. He supplies a script of the show, how the scenes play out, and notating each of the leads major scenes.

A simple job, they weren't even advised to do it in the back after the show. Just to get the job done, even if the entire audience sees it happen. They just need to get it done.

"How do you want to do this?" Kakashi asked the day of the mission, closing night. The sun was starting to set already, just an hour until the show would start.

"There's a dressing room underneath the stage, and two that are far off stage right. I doubt he'll use those ones during quick changes, too much distance and too little time."

"If he's a shinobi then he'll only need a minute, he could use any changing room. Where else could he hang out when he isn't on stage?"

"There's a chance he'd just loiter off to stage left, or underneath the stage."

"Underneath it?"

"It's called an orchestra pit, it's quite close to the changing room. Sometimes there are live instrumentals, I suspect there will be for this play."

"What about the pipe grid above the stage?"

"Don't you think we'd get noticed? It'd be too creaky anyways."

Kakashi raises a brow, "Too creaky? My, my, Itachi, how much moving around do you think we'll be doing?"

"Enough to risk alerting a cast or audience member."

"You really think you'd be shaking that much?"

"You really think you wouldn't."

They share a brief pause, carnality rests heavy in the air, but it's dismissed as fast as it's agreed upon. They have a mission to do. They can swap spit and fuck before the play hits it's crescendo.

"What about the catwalk?" Kakashi asked.

"Do you know how hard it would be to get up there even before the show starts?"

"Sneaking around wouldn't be too hard, we just break in through the backdoor and then find our way to stage left and make our way past the balconies undetected, and then climb the stairs."

"I didn't take you for a theater guy."

"Itachi, I throatfuck you every other week, what makes you think that I wouldn't be invested in theatrics?"

Itachi gives a nod, "Fair point." He shoves himself off of the wall he was leaned against, "So it's settled then?"

"We hide in the catwalk and assassinate him for all to see?" Kakashi confirmed, just to make sure they're on the same page.

"If nothing goes wrong, then it'll pan out just like so."

-/-/-/-

The catwalk is more of a crawl space, they have to hunch awkwardly to dart through to a good spot so they can actually snipe him when he's center stage. Heat rises up to the top and the urge to call it quits for up top and hide out in the dressing room is strong. But they have a plan and they're going to stick to it.

Even as Kakashi pushes Itachi against the low railing, back arching against it they'll stick to the plan. They have forty minutes till the big cue where it'll be fun to watch someones brains splatter across the stage. He grips one of the bars to keep himself from tilting to far back as Kakashi bites his throat.

Lips trailing up from his collarbones and along his major veins and to his jawline. The mask got pulled down once the potlights came down and they were thoroughly drenched in darkness, save for the glow of limelight hitting them from below. Kakashi doesn't know when exactly he deemed Itachi a safe person to take down the mask in front of, but he just did.

And maybe he ended up deciding so when he realized he couldn't leave marks that darkened to the point of needing concealer to cover if he had on the mask. He'd rather avoid clawing tears into Itachi's hips and his shoulders and his thighs, much rather bite and kiss his way into permanent residence of the flesh. Leave marks with lips that sear skin and make Itachi falter when he has to wear a tight collared shirt.

Knees rest on either side of Itachi's hips, his own barely bent to keep from his feet hanging off the ledge. A hand rides up underneath his armor and undershirt to brace his lower back. He keeps his hands up above his head because they both know they'll never be in a situation where his wrists can be tied to a headboard.

The hand on the small of his back drops down to grip his ass as teeth sink into his throat. Then his hip, tenderly kissing along the mark as he goes. Semi gloved fingers trace past the waist of his pants, sliding along warm skin and the contrast makes Itachi shudder.

He gasps as blunt nails firmly grip into his thigh and fingers jam into his mouth. He goes ramrod straight at the intrusion and tries not to moan around them. Kakashi leans back from Itachi's throat, sore and red and slick with saliva. He retracts his fingers briefly to allow Itachi to breathe before pressing them back in, "Itachi, if you don't want to jeopardize the mission, you'll have to stay quiet."

Itachi tried to nod in spite of fingers pressed down on the back of his tongue, triggering his gag reflex only a little bit. He swears he'll start to dry heave around them or pull back his head. He knows that if he pulls back Kakashi will thrust his fingers in deeper.

"Can you do that for me, sweetheart?" Kakashi asked quietly. The swell of a musical number started below them, the serenade of an ensemble started singing. Kakashi gives a hum of laughter at the timing, "See, there'll even be a little bit of cover for your moaning."

He drags his fingers out of Itachi's mouth when he finishes speaking, "I can be quiet." Itachi hisses the words at Kakashi. Almost a dare. Go on, he urged, make me scream so loud it stops the show.

And despite how much the notion made Kakashi shiver with delight, he held strong. They have a job to do and they have a plan for it. Instead of bearing down on Itachi's throat to make him fucking howl he rubs circles into the tender flesh of his thigh. Well, not super tender, he is toned, but there's enough give that Kakashi can feel the flesh depress under the calloused pads of his fingers.

The fingers in Itachi's mouth hold him steady at the shoulder blade, shaky arms still held high above his head. Lips meet his own every single time he gasps or moans with Kakashi's fingers pull down his pants at an agonizing pace. The theater is already a hotbox but Itachi's swears he could faint with how hot his body feels.

Heat courses underneath his skin as pale flesh is exposed to the air. Eruptions of song and cheering go on below them every few moments and it makes it really hard to focus on not moaning. Normally it's dead silent, normally there isn't a semblance of cover from being exposed. It's so much easier to crack when there's something to catch his slip up.

A shaky moan slips past his lips and Kakashi devours it without hesitation. Meeting his lips and kissing to make sure that they're red and puffy and slick with saliva. He kisses to the point he might as well be throat fucking Itachi with his tongue as his hand deftly slides slick down his partners cock.

Itachi bites his tongue as Kakashi slowly strokes him. Don't moan. Don't groan. Quiet little gasps escape as he follows the rises and falls of the music below them with each stroke. His toes curl and he tries his hardest to shift the wanton moan into an uneven exhale as Kakashi nips his throat. Teeth so sharply blunt, like that of a dogs.

Kakashi pauses, words hush against Itachi's throat, "Nice and quiet, you wanna cum for me?"

Itachi nodded fast.

And as fast as he nodded Kakashi stilled his motions.

A bewildered little "what?" escapes Itachi's throat as he registers the stall of motion and the incessant throb of want. He whimpers and tries to buck up but he hears something in the infrastructure of the catwalk or the bar he's gripping creak and he goes still.

"Go on," Kakashi said, "Tell me how badly you want to cum for me."

"Kakashi..." Itachi seethed and whimpered at the same time, "We can't, can't risk being loud- what about the job?"

Kakashi gave a hum as he ghosted his hand dangerously close, "You have plenty of time to beg before our target gets on stage for his big musical number."

Itachi tries to glare but Kakashi's hand rests heavy on his inner thigh and Itachi sort of just crumbles to pieces, "Please."

"Do better than that."

"Please, Kakashi, just let me cum. It's been too long since we last did this, please. I don't care if they hear me; make me cum, Kakashi sensei."

The word sensei hits Kakashi like a bag of bricks, it's been a long time since Itachi called him that. And this re-contextualization makes him feel something ungodly burning in his stomach. He let's his hand trace back up Itachi's thigh to slowly pump him, the somewhat rough texture of fabric against skin makes Itachi whimper and whine.

He doesn't stop giving pathetic, pleading sounds though. As he hits climax and Kakashi kisses him to muffle his reaction his grip on the bar slips, the hand on his shoulder blade catches his fall. He leans onto Kakashi as he's carried through the high of orgasm and somehow he timed it with the way the orchestra falls out of a tune.

"Want me to take the shot?" Kakashi asked, a tenderness too his tone he reserves only for the likes of Itachi and his dogs.

"We only have one chance, and you're definitely in a better state to be the one to do it," Itachi answered with, already back to calculating every possibility so they can come out on top and succeed.

"Got it," Kakashi said, shifting his knee away from where it bracketed Itachi in. Minimized him. Made him easy to dominate because it really is hard to make it seem possible unless you've already done it a hundred times.

Which, Kakashi can't confirm or deny if he has dominated Itachi that many times. Because as often as he does top Itachi has done the same to him twice over. And he really wouldn't have it any other way.

[twotimeracewinnerlandonorris]

I see so many Lando fans screaming, crying, throwing up hoping he'll get a win to "silence the haters" and like …. Lando could win a championship and people would still harass and spread misinformation about him - a win isn't going to change that.

While it would be nice to stop reading "Nowins" all the time, I don't want a win to one-up the haters, I want a win for HIM. He's given so much of himself to this team. He's apologized to them every time he's screwed up - frankly, he's shouldered a lot of blame to defend them when they've screwed up. He's shared his data with his the competitors he'll be compared to first - two different teammates - all to advance the team even if that becomes his own detriment. He defended this team and their shit start to the season, even had his own fans calling him petulant and disrespectful when he rejected Jenson's (who he clearly respects and admires) opinion that staying with McLaren had been a bad decision. Yet this same team, that he spent his first 2 years helping rebuild, spent 2021-2022 essentially carrying on his back, and has spent 2023 being leader of and defending has never returned the favor anytime he's come close to a win. Between 2 different occasions of team orders where he could have likely fought for that maiden win, 2 different strategy blunders including one where he was just given a complete lack of information that somehow every other driver on the grid was given complete information for.

And now we're in a situation where he won't be happy until he stands on that top step. Because this man should not be qualifying P2 at a track the car isn't even strongly suited for and then immediately beating himself up and criticizing himself for it as if that performance wasn't incredible.

And I know that self-criticism is going to continue to happen because the novelty of P2 has worn off for him, he's ready to move up to the next step, but the team clearly isn't ready for that. Hell, the team itself can barely congratulate and support him when he puts on amazing qualis now.

And God I don't even know at this point. He loves this team, he's given everything for them, but I still hope he has the strength to walk away if it comes to choosing between team loyalty and never getting to recognize his full potential. I am and always have been a McLaren fan, but the way Lando has been treated by supposed "fans" for the past 3 years (which the team leadership allowed and didn't really say/do anything to prevent or discourage) and now even the team leadership refusing to rally around him when clearly some of that 2019 "I'm not good enough" mentality is coming back has me wondering if this new leadership team isn't headed in a completely different direction than the one that truly allowed Lando to thrive, both professionally and personally, in 2020-2022.

preach! i know that nothing this man will do will ever make the ef's of social media stfu. i want the win for him. he's put so much into his career, put so much into mclaren and he deserves everything back. and when i say deserve i mean it. cause ppl are always like "you don't deserve anything in f1", well fuck that cause he deserves all the success he can get. he's so good, like i can't keep making dissertations about how good he is (mainly because i'm running out of words 😭).

agree with all of this. love you 🥰

[vro0m]

vro0m's rewatch - 176/332

2016 Austrian GP

Okay I know Baku was boring but buckle up because we have a lot to cover this time again.

Welcome to the Austrian GP! Lewis is back on pole! Very eventful quali session on a drying track. It leaves us with a mixed grid and grid penalties. OH MY GOD MAX IS WEARING LEDERHOSEN?!?! Oh Daniel as well. It's not as funny on Daniel. 

I don't know where to go from there. 

We see Lewis' qualifying lap. It's crazy because the car is very twitchy and he locks up several times but still manages to end up on top. He does well to catch it everytime. 

Okay let's review the grid. So Lewis on pole OVER ONE SECOND AHEAD damn, then it's Hulkenberg somehow, and Jenson??? Okay. Raikkonen in 4th, Ricciardo is 5th, Nico is 6th with a grid penalty, Valtteri is 7th, Max 8th, Seb 9th with a grid penalty and Massa is 10th. Also not that we really care but Palmer, Haryanto, and Nasr all start from the back because of grid penalties and then Kvyat is starting from the pitlane because of a chassis change. That's a lot of penalties. Interesting note on the RedBull front : Daniel hasn't been outqualified by Kvyat nor Max this year at this point. 

Lewis thinks the race is gonna be fun. Johnny asks if it's important for him to get the race win here for the championship given both Nico and Seb are starting from further back. He says every race win is important anyway, none is more important than the other, but it is a good opportunity today so he'll do his best. There's apparently been issues with the ultrasofts so he asks if he's concerned about this. He says no more than anyone else. 

Simon says the issues with the ultrasofts is graining / wear and tear. Apparently they can only get 4-5 laps out of them which is absolutely ridiculous. 

They've also had issues with the kerbs, someone got a suspension failure because of them so that's another hazard we hope won't cause too many issues this race. Ah it was Max who broke his suspension. There were 4 different incidents due to the kerbs and they involved 4 different teams though. So that's not good. Initially they thought some specific yellow kerbs around the track were the issue, but then Nico lost the car and crashed due to one of the regular red and white ones. Brundle and Anthony think it seems to be a cumulative thing rather than a one time impact that breaks the car, as in it depends how old the sensitive parts of the car are. However they also show a video of Kvyat going over the yellow kerbs. In slowmo we can see the car shaking erratically. As Brundle comments you can visibly tell the part that's on the kerb is shaking at a different frequency than the part that's not on it. Then the suspension breaks and the rear right is gone. Big crash. They talked about it with Alex Wurz, GPDA chairman but also track designer, who sits in the FIA safety commission. He says the red and white kerbs are 2.5cm high and the plain red ones 5.5. He says there's the same configuration in Barcelona, but over there they only drive over them for 0.3 seconds. He says the new kerbs in Austria were installed because it's a new FIA standard, and they should come to other tracks as well, but the issue they're facing is the cars stay on those kerbs much longer than in Barcelona and vibrate at a frequency that basically fatigues the carbon fibre which causes damage. No one could have foreseen it, he says. It's a FIA issue and it's not the fault of the organiser. They will learn from it. Ted says the drivers definitely learned that you can go over the red and white ones but not the red ones. Wurz says first of all you don't go on the yellow ones as seen with Verstappen's crash. Then it's correct, short term solution is crisis management aka don't go on the kerbs. Longer term he thinks asking the tracks to change back is not the way because it costs millions and it's up to the teams to come up with cars that can handle that vibration frequency. Uhhh. Okay. Weird take in my opinion. 

Time for the race. Formation lap. 

Apparently Wehrlein is in the wrong spot and will be getting a penalty. Oh no! He’s reversing on the grid?! Are you insane?! 

And they're racing!

Good start from Lewis, Hulkenberg is losing places, Seb is making moves. At the end of the first lap, it's Lewis, Jenson, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Nico, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Seb, Valtteri and Sainz. When we come back from the start replays, Max is ahead of Daniel. And Kvyat is out of the race. Raikkonen is closing on Jenson, and Seb is closing on Ricciardo. Nico overtakes Hulkenberg for P4. Verstappen overtakes Hulkenberg for P5. Seb overtook Daniel and overtakes Hulkenberg for P6. Raikkonen overtakes Jenson for P2. Lewis, ahead, sets the fastest lap. Nico overtakes Jenson for P3. Max attacks Jenson… And overtakes him for P4. Hulkenberg is pitting, as well as Alonso. Seb attacks Jenson who pits. 

Lap 10. Daniel is preying on Seb. Loads of pit stops. Order goes Lewis, Raikkonen +3.9, Nico +3.1, Max +0.3, Seb +2.3, Daniel +0.4, Wehrlein +7.4, Grosjean +1.0, Magnussen +1.4, and Palmer +0.8. But again, mind the fact that most of the midfield just pitted. Nico is in. It's weird that they're pitting him first… Daniel is told they'll be pitting soon and to push, which is also surprising because he's on the supersofts, not the ultrasofts. Nico is starting his way back up the field. Loads of quick action in the midfield. More pit stops. Daniel boxes. Nico sets the fastest lap, on the softs. Max pits. Wehrlein keeps reporting rain but he's the only one. We get a slowmo shot of Lewis tyres being shredded. Seriously. As in we see bits of rubber flying off the edges. Aha, there's drops on the helicopter cameras indeed. It's minimal though. Raikkonen, who's on the supersofts, is slowly but steadily gaining on Lewis since Nico pitted. They need to box Lewis but they're trying to make the ultrasofts last as long as possible. Nico is also coming fast. 

Lap 20. Lewis, Raikkonen +4.1, Seb +5.1, Nico +14.2, Max +10.5, Ricciardo +3, Grosjean +31.1, Nasr +6.8, Jenson +0.5, and Hulkenberg +1.1. Mind the fact that the top 3 hasn't pitted yet. I'm not seeing Merc’s vision with this because if a pit stop takes about 25 seconds, that puts Lewis between the 2 RedBulls pretty much. So behind Nico, notably. Except if they believe he can stay out long enough to 1-stop without being overtaken? Or that he can race his way back up? But overtaking cars on track is generally not your first choice of strategy. The car is not '23 RBR dominant enough to make it a safe gamble. Lewis pits! Oh it's not a perfect stop, 4.2. He's behind Nico on P4. I vastly overestimated how long the pit stops last on this track lol. Max is just half a second behind him as well. Ferrari pit Raikkonen. He's out behind Daniel, not good. OH NO! Minutes after we get images of Seb's (who's leading and still hasn't pitted) damaged tyres, one of them delaminates and he crashes! Ohhh and it's a miracle he didn't collect one of the cars coming up behind him. Ted says he heard the explosion. Safety car is out and loads of people dive into the pits. The good news is that he barely touched the barrier. The safety car is leading the cars through the pitlane so the marshals can clean the pit straight where the incident happened. 

And that's how they get to lap 30. Under safety car. Nico leading, Lewis behind him on fresher tyres. (Don't think about it too much.) Behind them it's Max, Daniel, Raikkonen (Ferrari really fumbled this time again), Valtteri, Nasr, Jenson, Grosjean and Magnussen. They're now letting lapped cars unlap themselves. Hulkenberg and Grosjean are under investigation for speeding in the pit lane. And they go again. Lewis was caught sleeping a little bit. Perez overtook two cars down the straight in a pretty impressive move. Magnussen gets a 5 second time penalty for defending with more than one change of direction earlier. Loads of overtaking in the midfield again. Nico sets the fastest lap. (All of a sudden I realise it's been either Lewis or Nico on the podium in the last three races. They haven't both ended in the top 3 since the Russian GP, and of course they crashed in Spain after that.) Nico sets another fastest lap. Hulkenberg and Grosjean also get penalties for speeding in the pitlane. 

At the end of lap 39, it's Lewis setting the fastest lap (my autocorrect went for "gayest lap" which should be a thing). Nico, Lewis +1.9, Max +6.3, Daniel +3, Raikkonen +2.6, Valtteri +6, Jenson +2, Nasr +0.9, Grosjean +0.3, and Massa +0.5 gets overtaken by Perez who immediately loses the place. Ricciardo is warned of possible rain in turn 2. Lewis is starting to close the gap to Nico. Another fastest lap. Ted argues Mercedes have to pit Nico again to be fair to Lewis because they left him out and that's how Nico got the position. I'm not too sure that's how it works, especially as, as Crofty points out, it would mean relegating Nico somewhere down in P8 probably, and so losing the 1-2. Nico sets the fastest lap again. They're matching pace. Lap by lap. The gap only moved by 0.039 in 5 laps. But Nico goes wide and Lewis suddenly gains a second. He's close to getting the DRS now. He's told the suspension loads are critical on turn 9 and he needs to avoid the kerbs. Worrying. Meanwhile there's a bit of tyre debris hanging beneath Nico's car that's probably slightly affecting aero. He also has a piece of something broken on the side of the car. It's not completely loose and minimally moving but still. 

Lap 50. Ted predicts everybody will be 2-stopping very soon. Nico, Lewis +1.6 cannot or will not close the gap, Max +11.9, Daniel +6.4, Raikkonen +1.2, Valtteri +15.8, Jenson +0.5, Grosjean +2, Massa +2.9, and I can't see who's P10 because Magnussen pits. Plenty of people pitting indeed. No one important yet. Ah nvm Valtteri is in. Lewis is closing fast suddenly. He sets the fastest lap. Is it hammer time? Ricciardo is closing on Daniel as well. And Lewis put Nico in the DRS zone. IT IS HAMMER TIME I KNEW IT! Bono said so on radio hehe. Let's go! He pits first. Not great again, 3.5. He needs a great out lap. HE WENT WIDE NO COME ON. Nico is in. Fuck fuck fuck. It's so much quicker! 2.3!!! Arghhh. He's still ahead. Fucccck. On top of it they put Lewis on softs and Nico on supersofts. Wtf is this. Oh but he closes that gap so quickly now. It's gonna have to happen on track and it makes me nervous as hell. I wonder if they're thinking about team orders. Lewis is unhappy about the situation though. "Nico car ahead, he is on the super-soft tyre. 16 laps remaining, need to attack and pass on-track," Bono tells him. "Why is he on the softer tyre than me?" Lewis asks. "Lewis we think that this is the right tyre to get to the end." The gap is 1.2. 1.1. 0.9. Lewis gets rid of a backmarker. Raikkonen overtakes Ricciardo for P4 as he goes wide. 1. 0.9. 0.8. Nico is gonna find himself stuck behind Max, who's currently leading because he hasn't pitted for the second time yet. 0.7. Max laps Hulkenberg. He doesn't pit. Lewis attacks Nico with DRS in the pit straight. 0.4. 0.7. He went so quick he almost broke the track record. 0.6. There's a lot of traffic. 0.7.

Lap 60. Tough battle ahead. Verstappen, Nico +0.5, Lewis +0.8. Nico attacks Max from the outside but goes wide slightly and can't get past. Daniel pitted but who cares right now. Nico attacks again and this time it works. He's back in the lead. Lewis is going to have to clear the RedBull quickly as well. There's 10 laps to go. Max still doesn't pit, are they planning to go to the end on these??? Jesus fucking christ Lewis doesn't make it down the pit straight meanwhile Nico lapped another car that's 2 cars between them. It's not good. 

10 laps to go. Nico is getting ahead. I'm so frustrated lol. Both Max and Lewis are stuck behind a backmarker then he finally gets out the way, Max goes through but Lewis overtakes them both let's go! Time to hunt! 1.6 to go and 9 laps. 1.4 and 8 laps. 1.2 and 7 laps. Massa retires. Daniel overtakes Jenson for P5 on his fresh ultrasoft tyres. I don't care, that's not the fight we want. Lewis sets the fastest lap. The gap is down to 1 second. 6 laps to go. Alonso retires as well. Hulkenberg retires. I don't care, I don't care! Why are they showing us Raikkonen being 3 seconds behind Max instead of the Mercs?! 5 laps to go. Another fastest lap, 4 laps to go. 0.6!!! 0.5!!! 0.4!!! Nico is stuck behind backmarkers, it's time to go come on! 0.3… 0.2… DRS down the pit straight but it's not enough. 0.4. 0.3. 0.2. Trying down the outside, it's not enough… 0.2… 0.3… Nico's tyres are degrading. He moves ahead of a backmarker as does Lewis. 2 laps to go jesus fucking christ. Nico gets DRS from lapping the backmarkers. He gets some air, 0.6. FINAL LAP. 0.3. 0.1!!! OH MY GOD THEY'RE WHEEL TO WHEEL AND THERE'S YELLOW FLAGS IN SECTOR 2 THEY TOUCHED! THEY TOUCHED! LEWIS IS PUSHED WIDE! NICO HAS DAMAGE, HIS FRONT WING IS BROKEN AND SENDING SPARKS EVERYWHERE. IT DISINTEGRATES! AND LEWIS OVERTAKES HIM! AND PEREZ HAS CRASHED! AND NICO GETS OVERTAKEN BY MAX AND RAIKKONEN! oh my god oh my god what is this ending??? 

It's the end of the race!!! 

In the end, Lewis wins ahead of Max and Raikkonen, Nico is P4. Unbelievable. What did I just watch?!

On the radio Bono says it's not the race they were after but good result. Lewis immediately gets defensive. "I was on the outside. It wasn't me that crashed." I can hear him pouting through the years. 

We see a replay and I feel like I can see the split second when Nico decided he just wasn't gonna turn. Right before the impact. Listen, here's the thing. They both go to the limit every time they're up against one another, it's the dynamic. But you have to say Lewis manages to be more subtle than Nico about it. When Nico gets it wrong it's more often than not super clear cut. This is one of these times. 

Toto is seen banging on the table. That's gonna be a real nice debrief. 

We also see Perez' crash. His car wouldn't turn, maybe it's another suspension failure. Lewis is very happy still. You can tell his conscience is clear. Oh fuck no. The RBR race suits have a lederhosen design. Ugly. Lewis shakes Raikkonen's and Max's hands. It's gonna be a super dry podium though. He lets out a long sighing "whoo" as he walks to the timing screen. "That was intense at the end," he says. "What happened there?" Max asks excitedly. There's a short but noticeable pause. He chuckles dryly and says "he made a mistake into turn 1 in the last lap, and um… I was chasing him on the outside…" He sighs. "and I was ahead on the braking, and I started to turn, he [inaudible as the camera moves back]." Max makes another comment and as the camera moves back to them, Lewis chuckles softly again, turns around with his head bowed but a noticeable smirk, and mutters "ah jeez…" He avoids the camera as usual. 

There's a few boos as Lewis gets on the podium. Then a lot more when he gets his trophy. During the anthem, the stewards decided they would investigate Nico for the collision as well as for driving with a badly damaged car. The investigation doesn't mention Lewis. Loads of whistling and booing during the interview as well. Rancid vibes as always. The interviewer asks if he knows what it is about. "I don't know but it's not my problem it's their problem," Lewis says. That's not gonna help. It doesn't matter. At the end when they get back to him and she asks what happened with Nico, the crowd gets rowdy again. Lewis repeats : Nico made a mistake into turn one that gave him an opportunity on the outside of turn two. He says he left a lot of room on the inside (true), and "guesses" he locked up and crashed into him. He thinks he might have had some issue with his brakes. She's trying to ask another question starting by "did you consider, maybe, to say, who…" but he interrupts her. "I'm here to win. I'm here to win." That's the end of it. Uncomfy.

In front of the Merc pit wall, Toto, Vowles, Paddy and some other guy I don't know are talking. 

Niki says as well he guesses Nico had a brake problem. What he doesn't understand is why they hit each other. When Ted says Brundle was under the impression Nico hit Lewis, Niki says no, the first issue was he had a brake problem. But then why did they hit each other? he says, this he doesn't understand and thinks it might have been Nico's fault. He'll have to look at it again. 

Toto is fucking pissed. Ted asks what he calls that incident. He thinks about it. "Brainless." Furrowed brows, closed expression and all. He's so angry. He doesn't say anything else. "Well from who?" Ted prompts him. He says "we" were marginal on brakes, if not completely over the limit. But they couldn't help the drivers (because of the stupid ass radio ban), and Nico suffered a BBW failure on the straight and defended really hard, and Toto is upset. He doesn't know yet what he will tell them. Ted says of course he won the race but it could have easily been a 1-2 (and right! yet another weekend with only one of them on the podium!) but Toto says it could also have been a double DNF. Ted also asks everyone he can about his theory that they basically owed Lewis the win after Nico's undercut. He asks about it in a more subtle way than that obvi. Toto says you can't play chess. Lewis was on a 1 stop strategy because they thought it was best. It wasn't the case so they converted to a 2 stop. Ted doubles down. He says they gave Lewis an opportunity to undercut with the second stop but they brought Nico in immediately thus not letting Lewis bring the undercut to completion. "No you're getting things wrong here, Ted," Toto says softly but firmly. He doesn't elaborate. 

Okayyy it's gonna be very interesting to hear Nico's version of things. He's gutted and he says he was sure he'd win and then he lost in the last lap, which he describes as "pretty intense". He also says he was struggling with his brakes and his tyres were degrading which gave Lewis a chance. He still felt confident he could defend and bring it home. He had the inside position. Ah here we go. He says he went a bit deep but it's fine because he can dictate as he's on the inside. That's not the rule lol. Absolutely fucking not. Like sorry you know I point it out when Lewis is full of shit but this time it's Nico for sure. He says he was "very surprised" that Lewis turned but bro it's a corner. That's what you tend to do. Still he says "*I* caused a collision", which is honest. She asks what he'll say to the stewards and slips in the question that Toto called the whole thing brainless. He's annoyed. He says he doesn't know he hasn't thought about that yet he's still frustrated about losing the win. She asks to talk about how he got in a position where he could win the race with the pit stops in the first place with Lewis trying to make the tyres last etc. He says to be honest he doesn't know about that, he was in front, he felt great, and he was gonna win the race. That's it. 

HAHAHAHA. God I love Anthony. He saw what I saw. Because he's on the skypad looking at replays. He says it seems indeed Nico had brake issues because in the precedent corner he runs past the apex. But then. You look at his hands on the on-board and that's how Anthony puts it : "it's clear to see that, you know, even if you're running out wide, he doesn't really attempt to even make the corner". And it's true. You see when he gets to the corner, he turns the steering wheel about 45°, they make contact,

and then he actually makes the corner which takes him turning the steering wheel a full 180°.

Ah wow I was wondering about the mistake Lewis has been mentioning into turn 1 and indeed on the replay we see Nico clipping the inside kerb. It's so subtle. What attention to detail it takes. On his on-board, we see he left enough space on the inside as he said and we see him fully turning the steering wheel to make the turn as you expect, or trying to, because they make contact before he gets there.

We also can see that when Lewis tries to make it back to the track after being pushed wide, Nico doesn't leave him space to do so. Then Anthony runs it again from the start. He says any driver seeing this would be asking why didn't you even try to make the turn, brake issue or not. 

Back to Simon, he shows Nico's on-board to Johnny. Johnny gleefully says : "I'll tell you when I'd start to turn. Just easing into now…" Simon goes "No." as the two cars collide. Johnny guffaws : "It's about 5 yards after!" Brundle doubles down from the commentary cabin with Crofty. It's Nico's fault. Lewis was on the racing line, he couldn't have gone more to the left than he did. Brundle thinks Nico will look back on it and "realise that his attempt to intimidate Hamilton and run him wide is a critical error." 

They're talking with Toto AGAIN. Simon says everybody in the skysports team agrees Nico should have turned earlier. Toto reiterates that Nico had a BBW failure into turn one. He says Nico tried to make the corner brake where he usually does but the brake didn't work anymore. But that's bullshit because that's not what Nico says. Nico said he could dictate the turn because he was on the inside. He didn't say he couldn't brake. Johnny doesn't buy it either. He says okay he had a brake issue but he didn't turn the wheel. They show him the on-board. What a uncomfortable position to be in. "See you normally would start now," Johnny comments. "And he doesn't turn, does he?" We hear Toto dejectedly say "yeah." Again I can't overstate how annoyed he is, understandably. The interview started with the journalist being pretty aggressive trying to get Toto to drop the PR act and now the tables have turned. Johnny says it's racing, as if to temper his mood down. Toto says sure but cars colliding is like déjà vu "and I'm ending up with you guys speaking about uh… colliding teammates and it's absolutely not what we want and we just need to think the consequences from here now." Toto also repeats that Lewis was originally on a 1 stopper and when they converted to a 2 stopper is when the problems began for him. He says the pit stops weren't perfect but they're trying new things but that's not where the race was lost. Simon asks what they're gonna do about it though, as he said himself it could have been a double DNF. They mentioned before if it happened again they might have to start giving team orders. Toto says when two cars DNF like in Barcelona the team looks like idiots. It's disrespectful to 1500 people who are working "their nuts off" to prepare the car. Johnny asks again but how can you control that? "It seems that talking doesn't bring us any further," Toto articulates. You can tell he's this close to just losing his shit with his two boys. They need to think of all possible solutions and it can go as far as implementing the unpopular team orders. Simon asks if that's what they're gonna do. Toto says no, but it's on the table, that's what they're gonna discuss. Johnny asks what they were asking last time they had this conversation : is it not gonna dictate the championship? Toto says the same thing he said at the time : he hates team orders, they want to let them race, but if racing ends up in collisions then it's not what they want. The others are also getting closer to them as well so that has to also be taken under consideration. 

Anthony is still playing with the replays and apparently Jenson Button himself reacted to it saying "he doesn't even let him back on the circuit!" after the facts when Lewis tries to rejoin. The thing is, though, Lewis overtook Nico under yellow flags. Anthony argued that given Nico's car was damaged and losing pieces, Lewis was entitled to overtake. I'm not sure that would hold with the stewards. Eventually Nico fell back but Lewis couldn't know that at the time so he went for it. I wonder if that's gonna be an issue. The thing is also the yellow flag showed up right as Lewis was passing by then he slowed when he saw the lights. Anyway he's not under investigation right now. 

Nico is out of the stewards and now Lewis is under investigation for overtaking under yellow flags I'm gonna lose my mind. 

Ted says the fans told him the track commentary was blaming Lewis for the collision as that's why they booed him.

We finally hear from Lewis.

Brundle asks if he was surprised to see Nico ahead of him after his pit stops and he says definitely. Everything was going well, he was doing everything he was asked to. He says he was "with Nico" and was asked not "to let him go any further" cause he's gonna have to stop (?). And then he himself had to come in. He was battling with the order to stop but he obeyed and then he was on other tyres and he was not too happy about that because Nico was on the faster tyre. "So yeah for sure I'm like 'how am I supposed to get by' with the disadvantage of being behind and then also at a disadvantage with the tyre compound". But he dug as deep as he could and thought "it is what it is, I'm gonna do everything that I can whether it's right or wrong". Brundle asks if he thinks he can take any blame for the incident or it's all Nico's fault. He starts by saying we're biased as humans but also he doesn't feel biased which. Great start lol. He says he was on the outside, he believes he was ahead going in, Nico was in his blindspot so he left plenty of space. He got to the white line, he began to turn and "boom, big hit". "So… Pretty sure he hit me," he says with a tentative smile, "rather than the other way."

Another journalist jumps in. Brundle lets him ask his question. He asks if Lewis was surprised by the crowd's reaction. He says for sure but he has a few team LH fans here and they were waving flags and he could spot them because they were wearing his favourite cap "you know the kind of burgundy one I have?" and in all honesty he only heard them.

He says these things "they're not the greatest" but "it happens." Brundle chimes in. He asks if he thinks it was about him, or "about us brits, on the EU ?" (I did see during the brakes ads for some kind of big talk show about whether or not the UK should leave the EU for wider historical context here lol) "I have NO. CLUE. Honestly," Lewis says half amused. He says he's been up there before and other people were being booed "for real reasons" like "taking someone out or doing something intentional, or appearing intentional", but he doesn't see how they got that from what happened today. Brundle asks how his brakes were because they heard they were both struggling with brakes– Lewis doesn't wait for the mic. He shakes his head. Once Brundle hands him the mic again he says "my brakes were fine." He says there's a gauge on the steering wheel and if the brakes get hot they have to take measures to keep them in the window. He says he will see later on but he's guessing Nico was in the red and rather than lifting (he starts chuckling as he talks) and looking after it, he brought them to failure. Brundle says they nearly collided again when he got back on the track. He says he tried to get back without losing too much ground and he didn't leave any space. He laughs. He says usually after such incidents you try to move over, "he stayed, he hugged the white line" and kind of appeared out of nowhere as he came. 

Simon says apparently they met at their apartment building swimming pool the other day and had a 30 minute talk trying to make things okay. Apparently in the written press conference Toto said again they might have to implement team orders and basically says just thinking about it makes him wanna "puke himself". 

Well they've waited for as long as they could but we don't know the stewards' decisions. Time to Google. Annnd Nico got a 10 second time penalty. It didn't change the results though. He was reprimanded and received 2 penalty points for driving with a damaged car. 

[meaninglessblah-writes]

three word prompt: "You look lost” for SladeRoy please 🥹

For you, always. Thank you for the prompt! ❤️

"You look lost," Roy accuses, and can't help but tense when the mercenary turns. He thinks he manages to mask it by crossing his arms over his chest, leaning casually in the open doorway of his room.

From the way Slade's eye sparkles with amusement, Roy thinks he might not look so unaffected. "I think I'm exactly where I need to be, actually," Deathstroke replies.

The asshole doesn't even have the decency to look ashamed at being caught red-handed rifling through Roy's personal belongings. Doesn't even have the humility to sneak around, bold as anything as he helps himself to the contents of Roy's room.

Roy doesn't even bother asking how Slade managed to bypass the Titans' Tower security grid. "Dick's room's that way," he says, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder. "Third on the left down the hall — you can't miss it."

"I'm not here for Grayson," Slade returns, unhurried. Roy feels like prey beneath that gaze, heat gathering beneath the freckles on his cheeks.

"Is it just my panty drawer you're here to dig through?" Roy doesn't even know why he's not dead yet. It's not like there's any sentimentality between them. Just because he spent a night in Wilson's bed one reckless weekend in Kentucky.

Slade arches a cool brow. "Didn't think you had enough panties to need a whole drawer. But I have to admit, these are cute."

He lifts a hand, red lace dangling from an outstretched finger. Damning as anything.

That flush burns to the intensity of a forest fire. It incinerates whatever braincells Roy had left, because the next thing he knows, he's stalking across the room to snatch the red panties from the mercenary and stuff it into the nearest drawer.

"That's none of your business." Roy doesn't even know where Slade found those; he's pretty sure he lost them under the bed after a wild night. "It was a dare anyway," he snaps, fumbling for plausibility.

Slade looks unconvinced. Whatever, he's not here to prove himself to Deathstroke the Terminator. "The things teenagers will do these days," he hums, and goes right back to rifling through Roy's drawers.

"What are you looking for?" Roy demands, flabbergasted.

Then he realises, with a mortified strike of dread. Slade has dug through Roy's clothes, nearly to the very back of the chest of drawers, and Roy knows back there he'll find—

"Wait," he yelps, just as Slade's hand closes on grey, washed out fabric.

Slade unearths the clothes, sending t-shirts and sweats tumbling to the floor at Roy's feet. He feels his face wash white, and then fill with a rush of blood when Slade's crooked brow turns on him.

He brandishes the official-looking Fort Knox Army Base sweatshirt at him, the faded and flaking lettering damning. "A souvenir, hmm?"

Roy's mouth moves, but no words surface. "I—"

Slade bundles the sweatshirt up and tucks it under his arm, shouldering past Roy. "Doing some thrift shopping after a night in my bed, Arsenal? I'm not a museum gift shop."

Roy doesn't point out that his own sweatshirt was unwearable because Slade had the audacity to get come all over it. Nevermind that it was Roy's own come, the bastard.

That sweatshirt was one of the most comfortable he'd ever worn, long in the sleeves and spacious. Notwithstanding it had to be at least forty years old, by Roy's estimate. He's not keen to see it walk out of his sight.

Besides, he kind of liked sneaking out of Slade's apartment wearing the old man's clothes. And maybe, if he were being entirely honest, Roy's worn it more than just the once.

"You weren't using it," he tries for, following the mercenary out into the hallway.

"You dug it out of my laundry hamper," Slade says, gruff and unimpressed. Roy tries not to marvel, again, over the fact that Deathstroke the Terminator keeps a laundry hamper. "I'm taking back what's mine."

"What if I pay you for it?" Roy tries desperately.

"Not for sale," Slade says, and Roy catches up to him at the elevator, blocking his path.

"I could wear it," Roy blurts, and can practically feel the heat radiating from his face. Slade's brow creases, like he's not grasping what Roy's trying to offer. He looks anywhere but at Slade's face when he says, "I'll wear it while you, uh—"

Slade's eye clears with understanding, and Roy almost wishes the ground would open up and swallow him.

Behind him, the elevator pings.

[shovson]

some ppl in the motorsport zone have made a playlist for their ocs so i thought i'd jump in with mines too. tbh it's a wippy but also i kiiiiiinda don't really like long playlists so it's done to me. anyways. posting it here so i can talk about each song in detail

link to the playlist

brutal - olivia rodrigo

the playlist begins with tragedy as adren's own life takes a tragic turn after the death of his brother. with no more close relatives, adren's emotions are...unstable as he navigates the paddock alone.

faster than you - reaubeau, eke

adren has momentum in his car and he shows why he deserves a spot in the grid

gasoline - halsey

to be honest it was either gasoline or drive. but i think this one fits adren better. adren learns the car. something something something.

beck and call - july talk, tanya tagaq

adren and his teammate begin to move between each other but it feels like there's something wrong with the dynamic. and yet they find each other coming back for the other.

'cause im a man - tame impala

adren takes a hateful look at himself. he's sort of unsure about who he is. and thinks he sucks as he can't figure out what the hell anyone wants from him.

chamber of reflection - mac demarco

yeah we're getting into adren's sad boy era as he tries to figure out whether the emotions his teammate shows him privately are real. he lives with the shame of being unwanted in a public space, though he can't do anything about.

bad habit - steve lacy

adren wants to know how his teammate feels. he realizes that his teammate is nothing but a coward. at this point it's manipulative, with his teammate trying to make him stay. adren hates it. and yet he still yearns for him.

blue racecar - sassy 009

unstable relationships around adren as he can't seem to let go because he just wants someone to put in the same effort back!

cage - wyatt smith

despite everything, adren wants to help, knowing that this was one of his brother's strongest traits and he wants to have it too. he would sacrifice himself for his teammate over and over again, even if it means he destroys himself in the process.

trustful hands - the do

adren is surrounded by people who love him. and he knows that. adren lives in spontaneity. and trusts he'll always get back on his feet even after everything.

alive - pearl jam

after a crazy rookie year, adren makes it to his second year with a different outlook. he's still there. he remains resilient.

this feeling - my!lane

tbh this song is included in a lot of car playlists and i like how upbeat it is. it really suits adren a lot!

so many details - toro y moi

managing a relationship remains difficult for adren. there's so much that overwhelms him. the amount of shame his teammate still goes through internally and the mixed messages....adren isn't surprised he leaves. but they're still so intertwined.

babydoll - ari abdul

adren still wants his man sooooooo bad....

find a way - vallas, philsofie

adren begins to believe that he can do this. he's finding the balance. he's got everything he needs. he just needs to push himself closer to what he truly wants.

cure for me - aurora

the playlist ramps up again. adren knows who he is and he's unashamed. each win is nothing to hide. his own queer identity is not worth hiding. he takes pride in himself.

outsider (donald durand remix) - kavinsky, donald durand

for adren, it's still uncertain. he has to keep moving. and everything's building up. the song is instrumental and meant to depict how much adren wants to be champion. he knows it won't be easy and there's still so much going on. but he needs to just push that car to the finish line.

like a rockstar - chase altlantic

this is adren's celebration song. champagne sprays and confetti. the absolute riots, the mechanic screams, everything. he reflects on the journey.

still feel. - half alive

adren's got the energy to keep going!

take me where your heart is - q

still such a painful romantic, adren wants his partner to be just as emotionally vulnerable. and also adren loves. he's just full of unconditional love.

touch the stars - french 79, sarah rebecca

adren is optimistic. both for himself and others. he sees the goals in sight for more bright events. another championship? a stable relationship? healthy grieving? he's just needs to reach for it.

[circuitsofgold]

Title: The Admin's Siren

Fandom: Tronverse ( set pre-Legacy. Maybe somewhere during Evolution?? Sometime after the Coup since Rinzler exists. )

Characters: Clu, Dyson, Rinzler, Jarvis, Castor/Zuse, Gem, various sirens, black guard, sentries, and misc programs

Pairings: Clu/Dyson, Clu/OFC, Clu + OFC, Dyson + OFC, Rinzler/OFC

Rating: gen ( smut in later chapters )

Notes: The first chapter has no smut in it. Clu and Dyson are in an established relationship. Everyone else… is not. Chapter 1 is more for setting the scene.

Chapter 1

Opal had been preparing for her first client of the current cycle when she got a ping from Gem. She was puzzled and even more so when she was given the instruction to meet her in Zuse's office. She sighed to herself, having hoped she could avoid the entertainer for at least a few micros. She didn't even necessarily dislike him, he was just a bit much at the best of times.

Well, in any case, best to get it over with. She thought before she found herself in Zuse's office. "Opal, my dear, you look absolutely splendid!" The Entertainer greeted her. Inwardly, she cringed. Outwardly, she smiled and murmured an acknowledgment of the compliment. “You both wanted to see me?

And she thanked The Creator when it was Gem that responded to her query. "Your itinerary has changed, Opal. Your clientele has been reduced to one program." And she noted the look of unease on both of their faces. Something resembling concern and maybe something resembling unease on Zuse's face. What was that about? Sometimes specific Sirens were requested by specific programs, normally ones that knew their clients.

"I'm afraid I don't see the issue. I know we sometimes end up being exclusive to one or two programs. Though I can't imagine that I’ve caught any particular program’s eye." Opal responded as she shrugged, absently going over her clients in her processor to pinpoint any repeat visitors. Maybe it was Dyson, who was fairly infamous for visiting Sirens. "Well, Opal, you've gotten the attention of a particular program who doesn't normally request appointments with Sirens and as far as my processor can recall, has never even bothered with them." Zuse responded as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. Well, that eliminated Dyson, if the program never dallied with Sirens.

"You've been specifically requested by Clu and he'll be your only client for the foreseeable future. Look here." Gem instructed as she passed Opal a tablet. Gem had already brought up Opal's schedule on it and it was in gold where it would normally be white. "I can't edit it either. He's locked it to the point only he can edit it." and there was a note of irritation in the other Siren's voice.

"Someone will be arriving to transport you to Admin Tower shortly. I wish I could tell you what to expect but truthfully I don't know what to have you expect from the Luminary. Just…be careful." Gem warned before she took the tablet back and let Opal be on her way.

—

Opal wasn't sure how long she had been waiting though it had occurred to her that she could have just gone to Admin Tower herself. But if she had been sent an escort than she didn't want to inconvenience programs that she could potentially be seeing a lot of if she'd be working with Clu on a regular basis. She knew of those programs as most all the Grid did. She'd even worked with Rinzler once in the past. That program had been a complete mess.

The ship that came to collect her wasn't Clu's throne ship but it was a red lined one. And then there was him. She knew him even before he derezzed his helmet, Dyson, Grand Marshall of the Grid. The only program that outranked him was Clu himself. Opal had to admit that she wasn't entirely sure what to expect with Dyson.

She was just about to greet him when red lined fingers gripped her chin to tilt her head this way and that. She'd worn her hair up since she didn't know the client’s preferences yet but she could swear she was being inspected. "Hm. I've never had the pleasure of seeing you before. Must be one of Castor's personal Sirens. I hear he does like them pretty. Oh well, I'm to escort you to Admin Tower. Follow me."

Opal was aware of her processor racing before he released her. She allowed a few nanos to calm down before she followed the Marshall into the ship. There were a few sentries on board and she wondered if maybe they'd be better for conversation than Dyson would be. She'd be a liar if their first meeting hadn't been unsettling. For now she'd settle in and wait until they got to Admin Tower. If Dyson had been like this what would Clu be like?

She heard a rumble of thunder before she saw the gold lit Admin Tower in the distance. Well, she'd have to meet the Administrator sooner or later if she was to be working with him for the foreseeable future. May as well get it over with and hope she didn't make a bad first impression.

She followed Dyson out of the ship and into the Tower itself. She picked up on some sort of tension emanating from the Marshall but she wasn't sure if she should ask about it or leave it alone. For now she elected on leaving it alone. Maybe if she could get at just one of his circuits she could glean what he was feeling but she wasn’t sure how that would make him react.

Opal found they were in a very large room with windows at the far end. She noticed holograms of miniature buildings scattered about the floor. She'd like to get a closer look but she suspected this was not the time to do so. For the reason for her being there was seated in the throne in a rather confident slouch.

"Clu, I brought the Siren you requested." Dyson announced as Clu's foot swung over the arm of the throne and onto the floor. Requested? Her processor raced as she tried to remember a time where she would have been in proximity of the Administrator for him to request her but none stood out. Maybe Rinzler had said something? "What's your designation, Program?" The Luminary asked of her which was a simple enough query. "Opal."

Clu stood from the throne to approach her. He stopped a few paces away and even from those few paces she could feel the heat emanating from his circuits. "And you work at the End of Line?" "I do." She responded as he started circling her. He stopped behind her before she felt him undoing her bun, which allowed her pink hair to spill down her back. "Much better. Looks more…natural. Don't you think so Dyson? You're the Siren expert here." She heard Dyson clear his throat."Yes, Sir." The response was short, terse, and full of information.

"Dyson, you're dismissed. I'd like to properly gauge our guest's abilities." Clu just about purred which seemed to settle right into her core. Dyson issued a sound that spoke of frustration and …jealousy? Before the Marshall left. She'd be lying if she had said that she hadn't had fantasies about the Administrator. Is that why she was here? Well, she'd have something to tell her sister Sirens back at the Line if that were the case.

"I'm sure you're wondering what I couldn't say in front of our dear Marshall? Well, you're not here for a quick interface if that's what you're wondering." Opal wasn't sure if she were relieved or disappointed at this revelation. "Sir? Then why am I here?" She asked, when she found herself holding a glass of blue energy. "Simple. You work in the Line. If I had my way, I’d blow the place to the ground and start over. However, as I am constantly reminded whenever I suggest the notion, programs go there to unwind after a hard cycle. Morale would plummet.

"The short of it is, Opal, you are going to be my eyes and ears inside the Club. I don't like setting foot in that place unless I have to. This way I don't have to. You go about your routine for your shift but then you report to me." Opal eyed the energy before she took a sip to not be rude. "So I’m spying for you?" "I'm sure you've noticed how Sirens can seemingly go anywhere they please. No one really questions the whys of a Siren being at any location. Now a Black Guard or a Sentry will certainly attract attention. Even if I thought to send them in a different suit." "And you being in the Line would certainly attract attention, my Luminary? Since you rarely grace us with your presence."

She felt the chuckle she got in response to her quip more than she heard it. "That's one way to put it." He responded as he curled some of her hair about his fingers. "It is rather brilliant. Having one of his own Sirens play the spy. Should have thought of it cycles ago." Having him this close, she felt the heat from his circuits again. The feeling itself wasn't anything strange. She'd been in close proximity with other programs to where the warmth was comforting but this was…

If she didn’t know any better, she'd think he was overheating. She had noticed his rather deep breathing as if it were an effort to cool himself down. Opal wanted to ask but didn't think it was her place at this nano. "You can stay the rest of the cycle and you'll return to the line for your shift the next cycle. Let them think what they want. I'll have… someone else escort you back. I have a feeling the Marshall will be rather unpleasant until I can explain."

And then a Sentry appeared to what Opal assumed was an unspoken summons. "Show our guest somewhere where she'll be more comfortable for the rest of the cycle. Opal, I await your report the next cycle."

[hungerpunch]

as the resident VB connoisseur I would love to know your opinion on his dynamic with Guanyu. I see a lot of hero worship, soft dom/sub potential there. In general its nice to see someone so openly in awe of valtteri

anon plsss i read this and put it in my mental soup pot to stew for several hours, considering it. i really like guanyu and, you're right, he's been so openly complimentary of valtteri. from the outside looking in, it looks like vb is doing a good job of balancing the fact that they are innately competitors with being a mentor. it seems to me that while socializing on the grid is not necessarily a priority for valtteri, it is important to him to actively help cultivate a positive environment for guanyu. i respect that bc i feel similarly in my daily life: my circle is small, but it's small so that i can put all my energy into tending it very well. i can't imagine how nervous/scared guanyu was entering the f1 arena for the first time, i can only imagine how scared i would be, and separately and apart from my love & appreciation of vb, i'm extremely grateful that his new team and teammate have been welcoming. i hope that despite all the DNFs and inconsistency w/ alfa romeo's cars, he'll be able to look back and say that his rookie year was a good experience.

sorry i'm getting away from the point.

i think their dynamic deserves much inspection bc it is so multi-layered. on the surface, they seem to fit well bc they are both relatively calm, even-tempered, respectful, and focused on their jobs. but underneath that we know that they are really goofy, as evidenced by their respective social media, and i think they probably understand each other's sense of humor. we know they each have interests besides racing that they are passionate about and though those interests are different, differences tend to serve as complements in a healthy relationship.

one moment that has stuck with me since seeing it was during the pitstop podcast when guanyu admitted he's already thought about where he would take valtteri to eat if they visited shanghai. like he's already daydreamed about showing vb around his city ;_; bc he likes vb and wants to spend time n share experiences with him. that's so cute bro.

taking their dynamic into a dom/sub space is a new consideration for me! i'll put it under a cut

i think when i start considering relationships from a bdsm perspective, i generally find that i take a kernel of something to serve as the core. if i were gonna do that with these two, it would be this:

the fact that guanyu posted this on both twitter & weibo, and captioned it differently on weibo in his first language... don't even talk to me. he's not ready to be vulnerable where vb could see and understand it but he's gotta speak his truth somehow!!! haven't we all been there with a crush? extremely relatable, babe.

and maybe that's the heart of it! guanyu didn't know what to expect, meeting valtteri, besides perhaps professional courtesy. he didn't expect to be seen, considered, and treated so equally! he didn't expect valtteri to notice how nervous he was before his first f1 race and to take time out to calm him down. and we all know that the recipe for imprinting on someone is to: a) be removed of your usual comforts and support b) experience a high intensity of pressure c) that someone shows you an unexpected kindness when you really need it. i feel like we've all been there, about to break down in tears because a random stranger was nice to us on a bad day. you really feel that shit hit, right? like idk you but i'm more grateful for you than anyone else in this world right now.

and that was just their beginning. now, valtteri's been a lighthouse in the storm for many many months. a calming touch point after frantic races, poor results. always there with a word of comfort, to pump him back up after he's been deflated, always a big hand on his shoulder or patting his back. the first time guanyu curls in and turns the gesture into a hug instead, he's sort of shocked at himself, but even more shocked at how valtteri reciprocates the hug without hesitation.

guanyu feels like he'll remember that first hug for the rest of his life. wants it all the time, the feeling of valtteri's chest against his, wrapped in his arms. on bad days, dreams about it ending with a forehead kiss. on worse days, hamstrung by homesickness and the pressure of his first year, dreams about it ending with a mouth kiss. it's not an instant physical attraction, but a gradual one, where one day guanyu realizes he's staring at the patch of grey whiskers in valtteri's beard while he talks and identifies that the itch he feels is the urge to touch it. he feels guilty and embarrassed by that, tries not to think about it too much, but it's undeniably baked into his brain. how he thinks of valtteri as a guiding hand, a steady presence, a calming voice of reason. qualities that he wants to consume, that he wants to embody, that he wants to be submerged in.

and i think of valtteri as such a competent, focused soft dom. he sees guanyu responding to his advice, engaging with his questions, turning shy at valtteri's praise. he knows, he's familiar with the type of person who has all the makings of greatness but is still too young to realize their own power, too young to feel much besides lost. and feeling lost is never nice. valtteri knows. he wants to make him feel better.

idk where i'm ultimately going with this but i think the image i'm conjuring in my mind is of a late night, after a race that yielded mediocre results, they've met up for a drink. in a dark bar. guanyu has expressed frustration, insecurity. the bar is emptying out. it's late. the bartender abandons his post to fetch more stock from the backroom and so, free of watchful eyes, valtteri dares to reach out, card his fingers through guanyu's silky-soft hair. "you're doing good," he says, lowly. guanyu sort of froze at the touch, and now his eyes drop from valtteri's. "i'm serious," valtteri continues. "you're doing a great job. everyone can see it."

and guanyu swallows hard, tries to fight his blush. because valtteri has said so little, but it means so much, and the truth is that he would follow that reassuring voice anywhere. especially to a bedroom.