#2021 Signs of the Times Gala

[cieloclercs]

𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐞 | chapter three

pairings: charles leclerc x senna!oc part: 3/? warnings: swearing i think? charles is a bit of a dick, they finally meet again so angstttt, seb and kimi the best boyfriends!! word count: 6.8k

SAUDADE. in which childhood rivals turned best friends realise they were always meant to be something more

03. wishful thinking

author’s note: sooo they’re meeting this chapter 🫣 sorry guys it’s gonna be pretty tense from here, the slow burn starts now!! 🥳🥳

read it on wattpad!

previous: chapter 2 next: chapter 4

20 January 2021 Rolex Monte Carlo Sponsor’s Gala                                                            Monte Carlo, Monaco                                                                                       

EMERALD GREEN IS becoming more familiar to Noa as the days pass, and she nears making her debut in Formula 1. It’s the colour of her evening gown, the one Raffaella had delivered to her Monte Carlo hotel room earlier that evening inside a sleek Chanel gift bag. She has to admit, if they’re trying to convince her to sign that contract, they’re certainly doing a good job, because this dress is one of the most beautiful she’s ever worn. It feels like a second skin, like ribbons of water flowing through her fingers when she hitches up the skirt a little, walking slowly up the steps to the venue. Camera lenses click and flash all around her. Even if her confidence is shredded by anxiety, dressed like this, Noa feels like a million dollars.

Just like the rest of Monaco, the Salle Belle Epoque is ludicrously expensive, lavish beyond anything she’s seen before. This is the playground of the rich, after all. Its ceilings are high, marble pillars framed with gold stretching far upwards, where they meet the ceiling, like a work of art painted across the sky. It reminds her of Versailles, Noa thinks, the image and embodiment of wealth. It’s intimidating to stand amongst it all, harsh golden lights from chandeliers glaring down upon her. But she keeps her head up high, and clutches at Sebastian’s arm a little tighter. He smiles over reassuringly. He must have done quite a few of these galas in his time. Noa trusts he won’t let her flounder.

The itinerary for the night is planned out to a tee and expected to be followed. First, the press have their fill of pictures outside the venue, something which she is, thankfully, already accustomed to. She’s the showstopper of the night in her emerald dress, and it seems the cameras can’t get enough of her. Noa has to bite back her laughter at Sebastian’s forlorn expression as he’s momentarily pushed to the side. Though he may be a four-time World Champion, he doesn’t exactly try to carry himself with much glamour anymore; much more comfortable with his unruly, one-with-nature kind of look (meaning that Britta almost had to fight him to get him to drag a comb through his hair for the night). “I’ve had my heyday in Monaco.” he tells Noa later, in the car on their way to the venue, “Those years were enough to last me a lifetime.”

Second comes the cocktail reception, in which they await the arrival of all the guests. She has half a mind to call Sebastian out on his earlier statement, as the way he’s going through already his third glass of the night is strikingly similar to his days of partying with Red Bull. Noa holds her tongue though, when they are approached by some of the other guests in attendance. She’ll remind him later, when he’s inevitably struggling to walk in a straight line.

Rolex has branched out further into Formula 1 to mark the beginning of the new season. Looking around, Noa can already spot a lot of familiar faces. There’s Lewis Hamilton, of course, over near the bar talking to the ever-smiling Daniel Ricciardo. As an old family friend, she makes a note to pull the seven-time World Champion aside to catch up before the end of the night – she hasn’t seen him in almost six months, after all. Noa has spotted Seb shooting looks at Kimi Räikkönen from across the room who, like his former teammate, is indulging perhaps a little too much on the complimentary cocktails. Then there’s Max Verstappen, who is standing stoic as ever in a corner with a familiar looking blonde woman. Noa hasn’t seen much of him since her karting days, but she thinks – looking at the slightly uncomfortable expression he wears – he might appreciate seeing a familiar face. She certainly would: well, depending on how familiar, that is.

The one person she really doesn’t want to see appears not to have arrived yet. She isn’t naïve enough to believe he won’t show up; considering he practically rules Monaco, it would be unheard of for him to not be here. Noa can’t see his new teammate, Carlos Sainz, amongst the crowd either, so she assumes the Ferrari representatives simply haven’t arrived yet. She makes a mental note to keep an eye out for the Spanish driver – that way she’ll know roughly when she needs to take herself to the bar to prepare for the undoubtedly awkward few hours ahead.

“Hey, do you mind if I leave you for a bit?” Sebastian turns to ask, eyebrows arched questioningly. Noa smiles, shaking her head. She isn’t blind – her teammate has clearly been dying to go and see Kimi, who is stood, serene as ever, by himself. He tries to play it off, assuring her that he’s more than willing to stay if it makes her feel more comfortable, but once again she shakes her head.

“It’s fine, Seb.” Noa chuckles, “Go see your boyfriend.”

He merely grins at her teasing, leaving her with a wink before making a beeline towards the Finnish driver. She watches with a smirk as they greet each other enthusiastically, a rare smile, which is mostly only reserved for Seb, taking over Kimi’s face. Then she’s at a loose end. She could go and mingle with some of the other guests, put herself out there a little bit, but with the prospect of what is about to come, Noa isn’t sure she has the energy. Maybe she needs a drink to build up her confidence first.

The bar it is, she thinks. Slowly, she begins to make her way through the crowd, stopping to say brief hello’s to those she recognises and to those who greet her first. Their faces only seem to blur together, even though she tries to hold on to them – anything to distract her from her growing anxiety. The bar is almost in sight when Noa is stopped for the final time by a very familiar voice, which brings a surprised, yet grateful smile to her face. She turns to face Max Verstappen, and for a moment all her worries seem to be forgotten about.

“Hi!” she says brightly in response to his equally enthusiastic greeting, wasting no time in wrapping him up into a friendly hug, “Long time no see.”

“Yeah, you don’t say.” Max chuckles dryly. In fact, the last time they saw each other was also the last time Noa stepped foot in the Formula 1 paddock. It feels like an age ago, but at the same time, she knows once she’s back again it’ll feel like she never left.

Hovering to Max’s left is that same familiar-looking blonde woman, smiling hesitantly as Noa pulls away to study her with curiosity. Now, close up, she realises exactly who this is. It takes a moment for the name to click with the face, but as soon as it does, her face lights up into the widest grin of the night.

Max watches this moment pass, deciding now is the time for re-introductions, “Obviously, you already know my –“

“Annie?” Noa cuts him off. His mouth snaps shut with a faint huff, “Annie Beaumont?”

The blonde woman beams ecstatically, “Hi! Oh my God, you remember!” she laughs, hands flying up to cradle her face briefly.

“Of course I do!” Noa cries. In unison, they both surge forwards at the same time, falling into a tight, familiar hug. The Brazilian squeezes her eyes shut briefly, taking in the moment, trying to commit it perfectly to memory. It was strange how she hadn’t even realised how much she missed her paddock best friend until now, when she finally got to hug her again.

“I can’t believe it.” Noa laughs incredulously as they both pull away, “It’s been years!”

Anneliese Beamount had been a near-constant presence at her side around the paddock, when they were both in their pre-teens. Noa would often go to watch Charles’ races, which more and more tended to take place separately from her own as he moved up the age groups, leaving her behind. Annie’s older brother, Luc Beaumont, was a kart racer in the same category, so many of her weekends were spent trailing along after him and their devoted parents. At the same time, Noa was often left at a loose end when Charles raced and she didn’t. So when she bumped into Annie one day at the International Circuit of Zuera in Spain, they immediately hit it off. From then on, at every race they would meet up in the paddock, tormenting Luc, Charles and their other driver friends at every opportunity they got. Noa misses those days now. It was a time where she didn’t have to worry about anything except her next race. A simple time.

“How have you been?” she asks. Annie steps back, glancing up at Max. It clicks in Noa’s head, as the Dutch driver takes her hand in his and gazes back down at her lovingly. She can’t help but let her mouth drop open ever so slightly.

“I’ve been great.” Annie grins, “I am great. We both are. Right, babe?”

Max says something in reply, but she doesn’t hear it. She’s too focussed on the way he leans down to press a kiss to Annie’s cheek, and the way his eyes light up brighter than she’s ever seen them as he looks at her. Slowly, a massive grin spreads across Noa’s face.

“This is so surreal.” She breathes, “I’m so used to you two biting each other’s heads off all the time.” the couple laugh softly, shaking their heads at the remembrance of their former, much more oblivious selves, “This is…it’s different. But I love it.”

One of her prevailing memories from all those years in the paddock is the large amount of time that teenaged Annie Beaumont and Max Verstappen spent getting on each other’s nerves. As one of Luc’s main rivals, she always tried her best to derail the Dutch driver in any way possible. It had led to more than a few very public arguments, and scolding from their parents (as well as a few paddock officials when things really got out of hand). Though, with the benefit of hindsight, Noa begins to remember things a little differently – the way that Annie somehow always managed to bring Max up in conversation, whether positive or negative; the way Max would search for her gaze across the paddock, just to give her a dirty look. Noa isn’t sure how she never saw it before. Thinking back, it was all so obvious. They never hated each other. They were just too proud and scared to admit their feelings.

“I guess you’ll have a lot of questions.” Annie giggles, noticing the still present look of dazed bewilderment on Noa’s face. The Brazilian woman nods her agreement almost instantaneously.

“You have no idea.” She chuckles.

“We should meet up some time.” Annie then suggests, her tone quietening with her slight nerves, “I can give you all the details then?” Noa’s gaze softens. It’s been far too long since they last saw each other. After the nightmare that was 2018, she all but cut everyone off; not just Charles, but everyone who had ever been connected to or associated with him. She just didn’t want to be faced with the reminder of seven years of friendship, poured straight down the drain in one night. It hits her now that in doing that, she also lost the one friendship that may have been able to lift her out of the hole she dug herself into. Noa is ashamed to say that she’s hardly thought of Annie since that day. It’s selfish, she knows, but she needed to wallow in her own grief for a little while, to let it sink in, so she could finally begin to accept it. Well, there’ll be no more wallowing from now on, Noa tells herself. She’s done letting Charles Leclerc ruin her life.

“Sounds perfect.” she grins back at the woman, another former best friend, and Annie’s face lights up like the pitch black sky in a fireworks display, “There’s a lot we need to catch up on.”

“You don’t say.” she smirks. It’s familiar, a memory from the past when they were close enough to tell each other their darkest secrets. Noa has missed it desperately, “You’ve got some explaining to do.” Annie raises an eyebrow. It doesn’t take a genius to interpret what exactly she means. The Brazilian driver grimaces; but really, an explanation is the least she can offer to Annie after everything. She owes her that, if nothing else.

Noa is about to speak again, to ask her what she’s been doing all these years that they’ve been apart, but Max suddenly calling to someone across the other side of the room makes her freeze. He moves slightly away from the pair, as if he’s giving them the option to keep talking, and waves both of his hands over his head. He’s trying to summon whoever it is. Noa’s blood runs cold. Somehow, she knows exactly who Max Verstappen is calling. It’s as if she can sense him.

“Charles! Carlos! Over here!” he yells, seemingly indifferent to the disapproving looks he gains from some of the other guests. She watches as his arms drop, and a bright smile overcomes his face. That means they’ve seen him. It means they’re walking over. Noa’s head drops for a moment to rest her chin on her chest, as she sucks in a deep breath.

“Shit.” She hisses to no one but herself. Annie hears it, and flashes her a sympathetic look. She is the only one of the three faced away from where the two Ferrari drivers are now surely fast approaching. No doubt, Annie can see them. Maybe she can see Charles, and how reluctant he is to walk over while she’s there. Maybe Carlos is all but dragging him. Or maybe he hasn’t even noticed she’s there. That might hurt her more than anything, if she’s still so torn up about the death of their friendship, and he no longer cares.

“You want a drink?” Annie whispers to her. Noa feels a sudden, overwhelming sense of gratitude. She’s quick to nod, the corners of her lips tugging upwards gratefully.

Annie calls over one of the waiting staff in an instant, who are milling around the guests with trays of cocktails balanced precariously in their arms. She takes a glass with gracious thanks, and hands it to over. As soon as the cold neck of the glass in her hands, Noa downs its contents in a single gulp. She lets the liquid burn her throat with a satisfied hum, before dropping her arm and turning to stand beside Annie, who is staring at her in shock. She knows if she looks up now, she’ll see him, probably now standing all but five metres away. But something is stopping her. So Noa instead focusses her attention on her friend – not one of the former nature. At least not any longer.

“That bad, huh?” Annie whispers again. She grimaces.

“You have no idea.”

It’s clear there can be no backing out or running away from this when Max steps forwards to embrace the two drivers, beginning first with Charles before moving onto Carlos. Though Noa still doesn’t look up, she can hear his voice. It sounds exactly the same as the last time she heard it over two years ago; just as smooth and soft, but all she can hear are the harsh words he spoke to her on that night. They’ve tainted every memory she has of him now. It’s all overshadowed by the betrayal.

Noa is snapped out of her thoughts when Carlos approaches, moving away from Max to where she and Annie are stood side by side. He greets the Belgian woman first with a familiar, friendly hug, before turning to her. He smiles, even though she can already tell he knows everything. Noa can somehow always tell. There’s something knowing glinting in his eye, not anything obvious, but just enough to be recognised. It’s the feeling of knowing something about a person that you maybe should not necessarily know. He’s not trying to show it, and he’s probably not even aware of it either – but Noa always has been. Perhaps because her paranoia searches for it.

She pushes the thoughts from her mind, stepping forward with as bright a smile as she can muster to meet the Ferrari driver in the middle. “Hi, I’m Noa.” she introduces.

Carlos’ eyebrows arch, “Oh, I know.” He chuckles, “It’s wonderful to finally meet you.” She doesn’t have time to think about the many possible implications of his words before he’s stepping forwards to wrap her into a hug. Noa accepts it, and it doesn’t feel strange or forced as she may have feared. The exchange is as normal as any other, like there is no tension hanging in the air at all. When she pulls away, she even manages to smile at him, properly this time.

All that evaporates in an instant when she turns, her gaze locking onto those green eyes she’s both been dreading and longing to see for over two years. Charles Leclerc is watching her intensely, his lips ever so slightly parted. For a moment, all Noa can think to do is stare. Though it seems he’s suffering from the same dilemma.

He looks older than when she last saw him, which isn’t a massive surprise, considering it’s now been well over a year since the 2019 season ended. He’s lost most of the soft, childish curves to his face, replaced by sharp, high cheekbones and an angular jawline. The navy blue suit framing his body only adds to this newfound maturity he seems to have gained. It’s fitted to barely within an inch of the limit, tight in all the places it should be, accentuating the muscles in his arms, legs and chest which hide beneath the fabric. Charles has always been attractive – it’s simply a fact she learned to accept as a teenager – but now that seems to have been multiplied tenfold beyond anything she remembers. He looks impossibly good: annoyingly. She’s supposed to be upset with him, yet all she can focus on in those first few seconds are the depth of his eyes and his cupid’s bow lips.

Then she spots the Ferrari logo emblazoned on the breast pocket of his suit. Like someone clicking their fingers in front of her face to snap her out of her daydream, any tenderness or familiarity she may have been feeling towards him in her moment of weakness suddenly fades. All that remains are the familiar flames of anger, licking at her belly. Noa’s eyes narrow. Charles notices the change immediately.

“Uh, we’re going to get drinks from the bar.” Max says, clearing his throat awkwardly in the tense silence. He takes hold of Annie’s arm gently, ready to pull her away with him to give the two some space, “Carlos, do you want anything?”

“Actually, mate, I think I’ll come with you.” the Spanish driver announces hastily, hurrying away from Charles’ side before his teammate can attempt to drag him back. He shoots him a look over his shoulder. Noa can’t quite read it.

“We’ll see you in a bit!” Max calls brightly. The other two cringe at his forced enthusiasm, but follow him towards the bar anyway. As she leaves, Annie looks back at Noa, offering her an apologetic smile. She grimaces, her heart sinking low into her stomach. Now she has no line of defence, no one to fall back on if this conversation – or whatever it is Charles is trying to do by being here – becomes too much. Noa stares down at the empty bottom of her glass until she’s sure they are gone. Only then does she look up, finding a pair of green eyes already watching her.

She doesn’t know it, but Charles’ head is spinning. Everything he’d done to hype himself up before walking over here, and even before, to prepare himself to see her again, quite frankly, goes to absolute shit. He’s completely forgotten how he planned to start this conversation. The words are lost to the uncomfortable silence.

Noa Senna looks almost nothing like the young girl he last saw at the end of 2019, and even less like the one crushed on that awful day the year prior – one of the worst days of his entire life. He supposes it’s to be expected. She is twenty one now, a fully fledged adult now living an adult life. But it’s not just the face that she’s grown up that hits him hard. It’s how much she’s matured; how beautiful she’s become. Charles had always thought she was beautiful, even when they were kids, but nothing quite like this. Noa, stubborn, headstrong, fierce Noa, is now almost nowhere to be seen. A young woman stands in her place, stripped of all her childlike innocence. On the one hand, Charles is in awe of her. But on the other, she’s almost unrecognisable as the Noa he knows – or used to know. Undoubtedly breath taking, yet somehow less full of life. At least as he remembers her. Then again, it has been over two years since he truly saw her, and people can change a lot in that time.

Either way, the combination of shock and awe inside him is killer. His eyes are caught on the way her dress dips with every natural curve of her body. It fits her like a glove. Charles curses himself. He’s making this much harder for himself than he wanted it to be, because suddenly his mouth is dry and he’s too wracked by nerves to formulate any kind of situation-appropriate greeting in his head. He is, to put it simply, lost for words.

“Hi.” He speaks eventually. The moment the words leave his mouth, he cringes. Noa stares back at him in disbelief.

“Hi?” she returns. It comes out as more of a scoff than anything else. For the moment, Charles chooses to ignore it, pushing forwards with a strained smile.

“You – uh – you look beautiful.” He says, gulping when Noa’s expression remains perfectly impassive. He’s not sure what’s worse: gaining no reaction, or gaining the reaction he initially feared when he blurted the words out. Disgust. At least then he’d know what she is thinking.

Noa simply doesn’t quite know what to say. She’s too angry, too wracked with disbelief to find herself flattered by his compliment as she may have been a few years ago, or if she was thinking straight. How does he have the nerve to approach her, after two years of absolutely zero contact, and say something like that? It simply doesn’t make sense to her. The only think she can make sense of is the anger it sends coursing through her veins.

“What do you want, Charles?” Noa asks, a tired sigh slipping past her lips. Her mind flickers back briefly to the promise she made to her father, but in the moment, engulfed by flames, she is blind to it; wanting nothing more than to get as far away as possible from this man and his piercing green eyes. Charles feels his heart sink.

He’s pushing back all the questions he wants to ask her, trying to respect her wishes – to get straight to the point. But oh how he longs to simply sit down and talk to her again: to ask her about her day, to catch up on everything he’s missed in his absence. Instead, Charles focusses on the pressing matter, the one he originally intended to discuss with her, but seemed to forget all about as soon as he caught sight of her once again.

“I take it you know about the Chanel contract?” he asks after a moment of internal debate. Something heavy settles over his heart.

“Yes.” Noa replies. She ignores the flash of disappointment that flares up in her chest at his seeming indifference. But it’s not like she expected him to strike up a friendly conversation – that’s not how things work between them anymore.

Charles nods. He’s fighting for his concentration, mind racing as he tries to remember the rough script he came up with in his head on the car journey here. Yet no matter how hard he tries, the words just don’t seem to want to come to him.

“Do you want to go somewhere a bit quieter?” he speaks up again finally, ignoring the strange look Noa is giving him after his prolonged silence, “So we can talk.”

The Brazilian woman sighs. There are people all around her whom she either knows well or has at least been acquainted with before. Some are even strangers, and at this moment, she’d rather throw herself into a conversation with them than do this. She can see Daniel Ricciardo has joined Seb and Kimi now, not that far away from her, and Lewis is just across the room, talking to newly arrived Mark Webber. Of course, Max and Annie are only at the bar too. She could easily blow Charles off to join them. It would certainly be a much more comfortable situation for her.

But then she’s reminded of her father. Noa makes a point of keeping his trust in her as secure as a lockbox at all times, because he’s done so much for her over the years, she can’t even imagine lying to him. Besides, she knows for a fact that he would never lie to her. Noa has made a promise. As much as she wishes she could go back on it now, she needs to do this. Both for the sake of her potential contract with Chanel, and more importantly, for her father. She’ll just have to grin and bear this one.

“Alright, fine.” She concedes. Charles tries to hide the relief that flashes across his face. Luckily, she’s too preoccupied looking around the room for a quiet place to sit down to notice it, “There are some empty seats over there?” she suggests. He follows her gaze to a small, two-person booth in the corner of the room. It’s both far enough away from the majority of guests for them to be able to have a conversation in private, while also being close enough so they won’t look too out of place. Convenient. Silently, he nods, and they both make their way across the room to the booth.

Charles grabs a drink each for the both of them on the way. He hands one to Noa as she takes the seat opposite him. She doesn’t thank him, but he’s not surprised.

“This is a big opportunity for me.” the Brazilian woman speaks first. He’s a little relieved at that, but only because it means he has to struggle again to find the right words, “I don’t have to tell you how important a sponsorship like this is. I want it to work.” Noa pauses, sucking in a deep breath, “But I don’t know how it’s going to with you there.”

Charles’ eyes narrows. He feels the pain of her words like a dagger, but he feels the accusation stronger.

“They want us both, Noa.” he shoots back. She tries to ignore the way her stomach flips to hear her name spoken from his mouth. “Not just you. This is a package deal. Do you not think I need this as much as you do?”

Her heart drops. A scowl overcomes her face. Those all-too-familiar flames of anger seem to be making a reappearance, despite her desperate efforts to tame them.

“No, actually. I don’t.” she all but spits in reply, “You’re Ferrari’s golden boy. You can do no wrong.” Her voice drops dangerously low, eyes darkening until they’re almost black, “But I’m the first woman to drive in Formula 1 in almost thirty years. I need the safety net.”

Exposure like this is the best thing she can gain at the moment. That way, she builds a loyal fanbase before the season starts – a fanbase that will stand by her, even if things don’t always run smoothly. Noa knows how delicate this whole situation is. She knows that the second her performances start to dip, Chanel and any of her other sponsors could drop her in a heartbeat. That’s why she needs their backing now. Charles on the other hand, is already one of the most popular drivers on the grid. In the eyes of the Tifosi, he really can do no wrong. Sure, he may benefit from the money a deal like this will bring to both him and his team, but he doesn’t need the security like she does. Without it, he’ll still go on to keep his seat without a struggle. Noa might not.

“Are you serious?” Charles hisses under his breath, “Are you really going to make this all about you again?”

His words send her reeling. Her mouth falls open in shock and outrage, but for a good few seconds, no sound comes out. This reminds her so much of the night their friendship ended. The way he’s looking at her now, eyes blazing with anger and frustration, lips pursed as if to hold back the torrent of hurtful words he no doubt wishes to say to her. Noa won’t let it affect her anymore. She refuses to let her eyes prickle and flow with tears as they did then, even if Charles is making the same mistake that cost them seven whole years of friendship.

“Do you really want to start this argument again?” she says, as calmly as she possibly can. The softness of her voice snaps Charles out of whatever spell he is under. Immediately, the anger and frustration, remnants from two years prior, flows straight out of him. All it leaves behind is regret. But he’s past the point of being able to apologise, he knows that. After everything he’s done, no matter how many times he says I’m sorry, Charles doubts there is anything he can do to make it up to her. If the look in her eyes isn’t testament to that fact, then he doesn’t know what else is.

“No” he sighs, running a hand through his hair, “I don’t.”

“Good.” Noa shoots back. Her voice is as cold as ice, “That’s not why I agreed to talk to you. I’m doing it because I care about my career, and I don’t want our past getting in the way of it.”

Charles nods. He can barely even bring himself to meet her eyes now. The fear of what he will see in them overwhelms him.

He wonders how they managed to get themselves into this situation. Besides the obvious, of course (his own stupid pride). Once – not so long ago in the grand scheme of things – Noa had been everything to him. She was his best friend, his confidant, his biggest supporter, and most of all, the one person he always believed would stay by his side. But, like so many others who came before, he lost her. It may be different, because she’s still alive and well, sitting before him now, so close he can see her rosy cheeks where her blood flows steadily beneath her skin. Noa is still with him on earth, but she’s never felt so distant. It’s a different kind of loss. In a way, it hurts just as much.

The tense silence between them feels so wrong. For two people who had once been the most important presence in the other’s life, this fall from grace is the most dramatic of all. The most heart-breaking.

Someone is calling them before they have the chance to speak again. It’s Sebastian, with a half-full glass balanced precariously in his hand, looking both apologetic and curious. Noa stares at him. She’s torn between feeling grateful that he’s cut this excruciating exchange short, and feeling irritated that he’s interrupting just as she feels they’re finally about to get somewhere.

“We’re going through for dinner now.” he tells them. They both nod in reply, but make no move to stand. Sebastian turns on his heel after that, marching back towards where Kimi is waiting for him. Noa catches her teammate grimace at the Finnish driver, shaking his head. She sighs.

“We should probably go.” Charles speaks up first. A hum is all he receives in reply, yet still, neither of them make the move to stand. This conversation is still very much unfinished. They’ve got a lot to work through if they’re ever going to be able to work together comfortably. One night simply isn’t going to be enough, they realise that now.

Noa watches with raised eyebrows as Charles reaches to pull his phone out of his pocket. He punches the passcode in quickly, tapping a few more buttons before he places it face up on the table and spins the screen around to face her. It’s open on the contacts app. Her gaze snaps up to watch him with an expression he can’t quite interpret.

“If you give me your number, we can arrange another time to meet up.” he explains, “I’ve got some testing to do in Maranello next week, so maybe after that?”

Noa doesn’t reply. She simply continues to stare down at his phone, her eyebrows knitted together ever so slightly.

“You deleted my number?” she asks quietly.

Charles’ lips part, but no sound comes out. His mind stutters for a moment, trying to come up with an explanation. He’d deleted her number almost immediately after their fight, too overcome with fury to pause and think about the potential consequences of his actions. But once he’d done it, there was no going back. In the moment, he’d wanted every trace of Noa out of his life. If only he’d known then how much he would later come to regret that decision.

“It’s fine.” Noa waves him away as he begins to stammer out some kind of excuse, “I deleted yours too.”

Only after she’d tried to call him about a hundred times, but she’s sure he doesn’t need to know that part. It perhaps explains why she never received any answer, but for some reason, that only makes her feel worse. The anger is gone, replaced by the sadness and regret she’s been trying to ignore for months. Noa just hopes Charles can’t sense the change in her demeanour. Though, if he’s still the same Charles she remembers deep down, he’ll be just as in-tune with her emotions now as he was back then.

Silently, she types in her number into the new contact on his phone. It feels strange to simultaneously add her full name into the empty space, rather than one of her many childhood nicknames he’d given her when they were young. It’s so formal – so unlike them, as they used to be, anyway. Noa’s heart is heavy when she slides the phone back across the table towards him, and he takes it, fitting it back into his pocket.

This time they do stand up. The other guests are beginning to file into the dining hall by now, a low hum of chatter settled amongst them which gradually grows softer as each person moves out of the room one by one. Noa notices that Sebastian is waiting for her by the bar. She smiles over at him gratefully. At least she knows he’ll have her back this season, whatever happens.

Just before she can walk over to her expectant teammate, a gentle hand on her arm halts her in position. She freezes, turning slowly at the sound of Charles murmuring her name in a tone so soft she can barely hear it. He hasn’t touched her in over two years, she realises. Not since that night has she felt the warmth of his hand on her skin. Noa hates that it still manages to send sparks coursing through her body, a pleasant shiver shooting up her spine. After all this time, all the heartbreak, and she’s still as weak as ever.

“Noa.” Charles repeats, just as softly as before, snapping her out of her trance. She looks away from where his hand rests on her arm, gaze lifting to meet his eyes. They’re wide, shining with something she thinks is…hope? He takes a small step away from her, clearing his throat nervously. There’s a lot he wishes to say to her right now; some bad, some good, but all of them honest. One thought pushes his way to the front of his mind. I’ve missed you, he thinks. But he can’t say something like that to her, not now. So he settles for another truth; one not quite so risky as the admittance that he’s spent every single day of her two year absence wishing she was there by his side.

“It’s good to see you.” Charles says finally. Even if she’s changed almost beyond recognition, even if it seems as though she’d rather be anywhere but here with him right now, he’s glad she is. It’s been far too long.

Noa can do nothing but stare. She’s not angry anymore, but she’s not sad either. She just feels empty. Charles Leclerc has lost his power over her, just as he lost her friendship over two years ago. Maybe it is a good thing she’s seeing him now. Maybe this will begin the process of gaining closure: of letting him, and whatever they used to be go. Without a word, Noa turns away, striding across the room to where Sebastian waits for her, not even sparing Charles a second glance. He watches the emerald of her dress slide along the floor, and closes his eyes. When he opens them again, she’s gone. Too late to see the regret he wears, his heart out on his sleeve.

“How did it go?” Sebastian asks as they walk side by side into the dining hall. He glances back towards the door, from which Charles has still not emerged.

“It was ok.” Noa murmurs in reply, “All things considered, it could have gone a lot worse.” She lets her eyes wander the room, searching briefly for their assigned table. When she finds it, she taps Sebastian on the arm, and they make their way quickly over, weaving between the other tables so as to cause as little disturbance as possible, “I think we’ll be meeting again to talk in more detail about what we’re going to do, though.” She admits. Sebastian looks to her with raised eyebrows.

“And how do you feel about that?” he asks. He’s not stupid – he can sense the lingering animosity between the two former friends (or at least, Noa’s animosity towards Charles) as clearly as anything. As much as she’s fierce and headstrong, Sebastian has also come to learn that his teammate does not enjoy confrontation. No doubt, they’ll be quite a lot of that in the time it takes for them to figure out how they’re going to move forward.

“It needs to be done.” Noa says with a resigned shrug, “The contract is pretty clear – either we’re both in, or neither of us are. As much as I wish I never have to speak to him again, I care about making this work more.”

Sebastian hums. They’re nearing their assigned table now, where most of the other Formula 1 drivers in attendance are also sat. Just as they approach, he steals a glance at Noa, trying to read her expression in the few moments he has before she catches him. It’s impassive to the untrained eye, but Sebastian has always figured himself to be someone who’s very good at reading other people’s emotions. Despite her callous words, he can see she’s hurting. Noa believes she means it when she says she never wants to see him again. Sebastian knows she doesn’t really. She’s simply telling herself she does.

They take their seats around the table where their name places are set out. Luckily, they are next to each other. Noa is pleasantly surprised to find Max Verstappen seated on her left, with Annie on his other side shooting her a look that says, ‘As soon as this is over, you’re telling me everything.’ Sebastian looks like he’s just won the lottery when he sits down next to Kimi Räikkönen, whose blank expression lifts for only a split second when he sees his former teammate. For a moment, Noa doesn’t even spot the empty seat in front of her on the other side of the table. She’s perfectly oblivious, wrapped up in the distraction of conversation with her fellow drivers.

Then another round of greetings ripple across the table, and she looks up. Charles makes his way towards the seat in front of her, next to his teammate who waits to pat him on the back and shoot him an encouraging look. Noa sighs. Her eyes find Sebastian’s.

It’s going to be a long night.

liked by f1wags and 1,354 others

noasenna_updates Noa at the Rolex Monte Carlo Sponsor’s gala tonight! She’s wearing a custom made emerald Chanel formal dress, which was apparently especially designed for the occasion! 😍

view all comments…

username it’s noa’s world, we’re just living in it

username oh she KNOWS everyone’s obsessed with her

username she’s so beautiful it hurts 🥲

username isn’t charles there too??

taglist: @harrysdimple05 @ricciardosheart @azxulaa @dakotali @hopingforpeace @flowerchild-96 @destourtereaux @wordsthatwaterflowersinyoursoul @luckyladycreator2 @roseamongthorns13

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#eau-rougee fic #rose writes! #saudade #charles leclerc fic #charles leclerc #charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc x oc #charles leclerc x senna!oc #charles leclerc x fem!oc #charles leclerc social media au #charles leclerc instagram au #charles leclerc twitter au #charles leclerc smut #charles leclerc drabble #charles leclerc fluff #charles leclerc angst #f1 fic #formula 1 fic #f1 fluff #formula 1 fluff #f1 angst #formula 1 angst #f1 au #formula 1 au #f1 imagine #formula 1 imagine #f1 fanfic #formula 1 fanfic #f1 social media au #formula 1 social media au

[realmadridfamily]

Mishel Gerzig says that if she had the power to stop time, she would do it on her wedding day because she didn't want it to end. And no one can be surprised. The model became the wife of Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid's goalkeeper, at the beginning of July last year in a fabulous wedding worthy of a fairy tale.

In fact, it took place at the Château de la Croix des Gardes in Cannes. Their wedding was full of emotions and magical moments, after the romantic proposal they made last year in Positano. While on vacation on the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Belgian athlete got down on one knee and gave his girlfriend a gorgeous engagement ring. But the real diamond in Courtois' life is Mishel, a stunning blonde beauty.

Fight for your dreams.

The model has been traveling around the world since the age of thirteen, appearing in campaigns and on the covers of prestigious fashion magazines. Intelligent and determined, at the age of 26, she knows what it means to fight to realize her dreams, because everything was not always rosy. “My mother received many offers to pose for me, but she was afraid to introduce me to this world, especially at such a young age. Finally, we decided together that we would try," Mishel recalls her beginnings in fashion, when, as a teenager, her parents took her to castings and photo sessions that lasted up to five hours.

“When I turned 16, I signed with modeling agencies in Miami and Milan, and my mother decided to quit her job to accompany me. My parents supported me very much and I will always be grateful to them," said Mishel, who realizes that, especially at this age, it is difficult to combine studies with her developing modeling career: "It was not easy at all. But my friends and teachers helped me so that I could continue my studies. I missed a lot of school trips and a lot of events, but I knew it was a necessary sacrifice to progress in my career, and I don't regret it.”

When she reached adulthood, she had to fight the monster of anxiety: “I wanted to give back to my parents everything they had given me. I started working hard, flying around the world, and something was wrong. One day, on the plane going to work, I started to feel short of breath, my vision was blurry, my heart was beating very fast and I couldn't feel my body. I thought I was having a heart attack, but actually I was having a panic attack. It was a very dark year in my life. With the support of family and friends, I was able to fight it and work on my mental health. I read and studied about panic attacks and learned to practice breathing and meditation. So every time I get one, I know how to recognize it, how to breathe deeply, and how to talk to myself: I remind myself that I am strong, that I am healthy, and that it will pass in time”.

"Physically and emotionally"

The strength and temperance she gained after seeing all things black served her well, especially in supporting her husband. Thibaut Courtois, considered one of the pillars of Real Madrid and one of the best athletes in the world - last year at the Ballon d'Or gala he was awarded the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeeper of the 2021-22 season - was injured in training a few days before the start of La Liga. After the surgery, he is back in full shape, but his return to the pitch is still a long way off.

HOLA: Mishel, it will be difficult for Thibaut to be unable to play for so long. How are you supporting him emotionally?

MISHEL: The first month was very difficult, but I stayed positive and supported Thibaut physically and emotionally.

H: Four months have passed since your wedding, what is the most special memory you have from that day?

M: The ceremony and the “Yes, I Do” with Thibaut.

H: What funny or unforgettable anecdote would you share with our readers from your wedding?

M: The harmony that existed between everyone, between friends and family, and how much fun everyone was having. Happiness on this special day.

H: How is married life treating you? Have you noticed any changes since you became Courtois' wife?

M: In general, we feel the same. But we are both very happy and excited about this new chapter.

H: In this reportage you pose with Cartier pieces. Do you like to wear jewelry regularly?

M: Yes, I like to wear jewelry, but minimalist.

“An unforgettable look”

H: What are your favorites, the ones you usually wear the most?

M: Two necklaces I have, my wedding ring and sometimes a bracelet.

H: And when it comes to dazzling at a party, what are your favorite elements?

M: I think jewelry is very important to complete a memorable and iconic look. So I choose jewelry that matches my dress. But overall, I love special earrings and wearing multiple rings.

H: What is the most special piece of jewelry in your jewelry box that has the most sentimental value to you?

M: First of all, my wedding ring and engagement ring, as well as earrings and a bracelet that my mother gave me a few years ago.

H: What would you say is the jewel of your life?

M: The people in my life. My family and friends. The most valuable things in life are not the ones you can buy with money.

“My family lives far away”

H: Which of you, Thibaut or you, is more romantic?

M: I would say it's me. But Thibaut also has very romantic moments and loves to surprise me.

H: How do you surprise him?

M: With small things, daily, some romantic, others fun.

H: If you could stop time, at what point would you like to stop it?

M: On my wedding day, because we didn't want that day to ever end.

H: What if you had more time, how would you use it?

M: Seeing my friends and family more, because they live far away.

#Mishel Gerzig #Thibaut Courtois #Interview #Model

[raeuberprinzessin]

Making Amends - Forgotten - Prompt 17, Chapter 26

@felixmonth, @stainedglassm

Summary: For Felix Month 2021 - beware, the chapters are not in chronological order^^

When Felix loses a bet with his cousin, he has to make amends with Adrien’s friends. Well, at least this provides a good excuse to spent a lot of time with Adrien’s “very good friend”, a certain designer, who may or may not be described as tolerable … or cute. This may not be so bad. Yeah, not bad at all.

AO3 | Masterlist

Prompts: First | Previous | Next

Chapters: First | Previous | Next

Felix stared at his notes and blinked slowly. Could it really be? He leaned forward and once more read through his checklist and all the details he had jotted down up until this point.

He turned around to look for his apprentice and when he spotted him, he excused himself and walked over to the table he and Mylene sat at.

"Sorry to interrupt. Ivan, could you take a look at this? I can't help myself, I feel as if I have forgotten something," he explained and placed everything in front of the other boy. Ivan let go of Mylene who he had embraced right before Felix had come over. He as well as his girlfriend leaned over the papers, the notebook, and the tablet.

"I can't see anything you might have forgotten. As far as I can tell, you've thought of everything. The venue, the catering, the personnel, the guests," he listed and pushed everything back over to Felix. "I don't know what might be missing. Maybe you forgot something else? Is there any birthday you should have remembered?"

Felix shook his head. There were only very few people whose birthday was important to him on a personal level. His grandparents' assistants took care of everyone important for business reasons and told him when he had to sign a present.

"What about Sabrina?" Mylene suddenly asked. Both boys gave her a confused look. "Sabrina?" he finally probed when she failed to offer any more explanation.

"Yeah, your bet with Adrien, you remember? As far as I can tell, you already did something for everyone else, except for Sabrina."

Mylene was correct. He had mentally put a check behind the punishment for the bet and completely forgotten that there was still one last person. He probably didn't remember, because Sabrina was always around Chloe and didn't seem to have much personality beyond her role as Chloe's sidekick. He felt a bit ashamed to admit, he had unconsciously not considered her as her own person.

"I think that might be it. Thank you, Mylene for reminding me. I shall go and correct this immediately," he announced, packed his stuff and turned to leave.

"Need help with that?" Ivan called after him and Felix gave him a small shake of his head over his shoulder. "Probably, but I really should at least try first. Pray that Chloe doesn't annoy me enough for me to do something reckless. We really need that venue."

***

Chloe Bourgeois was undoubtedly the most obnoxious, annoying, insufferable, infuriating, immature, horrible, despicable, outrageously vile brat to ever walk the face of the earth! At least this was Felix's very objective opinion.

Marinette had been pretty confused when he had stormed into her room and exclaimed, "Calm me down or I'm afraid you'll have to de-akumatize me because I'm done and more than willing to end that scion of a mangy mutt and a hornet!"

Marinette didn't hesitate and only a moment later Felix found himself lying on the chaise lounge with his head bedded on Marinette's lap. She hummed softly and gently brushed with her fingers through his hair. It was a heavenly feeling and Felix felt himself calm down and his eyes closed almost instantly. This was nice. Maybe he should get enraged more often if this was the payout.

For a few minutes, he simply didn't think of anything and just enjoyed being spoiled by his not-quite-yet-but-maybe-hopefully-soon-girlfriend. He planned to officially ask her at the gala after her show. She would have a bit more time then since everything would be over and the holidays would start only a week later. He wished he could invite her to stay at one of his family's estates, maybe the one he taught her horseback riding at. But he realised that she would rather stay in Paris and not leave for several weeks, even though she could use the horse miraculous to come back at any time.

"Do you want to tell me what happened that got you so upset?" she finally asked. Felix didn't reply right away. The sensation of her fingernails scratching gently over his scalp was extremely distracting. "Chloe Bourgeois has to be my most formidable foe," he finally answered, "which I feel insulted by since she's everything but formidable."

"Ah," he could hear Marinette's amused smile in her voice, he didn't need to see it, but he opened his eyes to sneak a glimpse nonetheless, "your arch-nemesis." Felix snorted at that. "Chloe isn't important enough to be an arch nemesis, more like a minor antagonist. She's a nuisance."

"I wouldn't have thought that a nuisance would be capable of getting you this riled up," she teased. But since she didn't stop her ministations Felix didn't mind. "I'd say Gabriel is my arch nemesis. And one day I will deal him a fatal blow."

"No murdering your uncle," Marinette stipulated, but didn't comment on this any further. Instead, she started to gently tug on his hair. "If I'm done with Hawk Moth before you're done with Gabriel, I'll even help you."

"I don't need to murder him. I just want him to suffer and regret everything he did to Adrien, my aunt and my family. I'll get a lot more satisfaction out of that." He didn't want to create a martyr. Adrien would never be free of Gabriel’s ghost if he died too soon, he would always feel morally obligated to do what his father would expect of him.

"So, Chloe made herself a nuisance. How exactly did she provoke your anger this time?" Felix sighed and tried to sit up, but Marinette just raised a brow and he obediently relaxed again.

“Today I was reminded that there is still one classmate left before I can call my punishment finished. I completely forgot that Sabrina is her own person and not simply an extension of Chloe,” he recounted his earlier revelation. Marinette just hummed in understanding and continued with her almost rhythmical tugging. “I went to talk to Sabrina, but thanks to Chloe I had no chance to have a conversation. Sabrina didn’t dare to acknowledge me after Chloe told her to act as if I was not there. In the end, Chloe even said I should do something else for her since that’s what Sabrina would want. And I really don’t want to do anything else for her.”

“Understandable. Sabrina might be the hardest person to do something nice for. Of course, the nicest thing would be distance to Chloe, so both of them can do some growing on their own, but you and I know that that’s not going to happen. And I don’t think Sabrina would call that as doing something nice either.” Marinette lifted one hand and rummaged around in some box on the desk. “But I think there is still something that can be done. And since Sabrina is especially hard, I’ll help you.”

"You will? Thank you! I have no-" Felix had sat up and stopped when he caught himself in the mirror and the strands of hair Marinette still held between her fingers.

"Did … did you braid my hair?" he asked bewildered. Marinette leaned forward and fixed the small braid with the hairpin she had just pulled out of the box on her desk and whispered, "I regret nothing."

***

“We could have met him at your place.”

“We could have. But the probability of Sabrina and Chloe coming here is zero,” Marinette retorted. She took a step back and gave the coffee table in his parlour a critical once-over. After a moment she stepped over to the floor-to-ceiling window and pulled a small side table over, so it would stand slightly to the left while she opened the right wing of the window. Felix observed her pulling the sheer curtain back over the opened half of the window, so it would blow in the gentle late spring breeze. Finally, she turned around and took the vase with the fresh flower bouquet she insisted on buying and placed it on the side table instead of the coffee table. Afterwards, she rearranged the pastries.

“The coffee table looked too cluttered,” she explained when she caught his perplexed face. This made him snort, “Well, you plundered half of the bakery display.”

“Most of that was for your mom and Ines for using your apartment for the meeting. At least a little compensation for the trouble. I know what Officer Raincomprix prefers, after all, he’s a regular at our bakery.”

Felix made the wise decision to not engage any further in this argument. Marinette had promised to help him with his last atonement and he knew how much she cared for details and perfection. And he also knew how she could get a bit snappish when there wasn’t anything else she could prepare to ensure said perfection. He was glad that he was one of the few people she felt comfortable enough around to not mask her nervousness with a grimace of a smile. And a snappish Marinette was still better for her than a spiralling Marinette. He could deal with that.

A knock sounded and after Marinette called Ines, their housekeeper opened the door to let them know that Officer Raincomprix had arrived.

“Thank you, Ines. Please let him enter.” Felix stood up again to step next to Marinette who now had a pleasant smile on her lips. Sabrina’s father stepped into the room and the housekeeper closed the door behind him.

“Thank you so much for coming, Officer Raincomprix,” Marinette immediately greeted him. Felix came up next to her to shake the hand of his guest.

“Please take a seat. Would you prefer coffee or tea or something else?” Felix asked. He fell effortlessly into the role of a host, after all, he had several lessons teaching him etiquette.

“Coffee, please. Black,” the man added after a moment. He seemed a bit nervous and awkward as he eyed the pastries but didn’t dare to take one.

“Feel free to help yourself to some pastries,” he offered the man after filling his cup with coffee. After serving the guest he filled Marinette’s cup with coffee but left enough space so she could fill it with some milk and sugar, although he knew she wouldn’t add the horrendous amount she usually preferred. It was unbecoming to add too much sugar when the drink wasn’t prepared in private.

He filled his own cup with black tea and added a splash of milk.

“You wanted to talk about Sabrina?” the man opened the conversation. He had a croissant on his plate but besides putting it there he hadn’t touched it or his coffee. Marinette paused in stirring her cup of coffee, then put her spoon down and gave Officer Raincomprix a reassuring smile.

“Sabrina is not in trouble, Officer Raincomprix. I asked you here on behalf of Felix.” She tilted her head slightly in his direction and he nodded. “Felix joined the class several weeks ago and on his first day, he lost a bet. The price for losing that bet was to do something nice for every member of the class. The only one, he hasn’t done anything for yet is Sabrina. Since she is always around Chloe Felix hasn’t been able to get to know her like the other classmates, which is why I asked you here. Maybe you could tell him a bit about Sabrina or something that would make her happy?”

The man seemed to relax at that. More than that, he seemed exceptionally excited about the opportunity to talk about his daughter and Felix could easily see how much he adored her. He learned that Roger Raincomprix had raised his daughter mostly on his own. Sabrina’s mother, a woman going by the name of Cecile Morel, was a successful ballet dancer. Whenever she was in Paris she would call, but she usually had engagements elsewhere.

“Cecile loves Sabrina. I know this and I’m sure Sabrina knows, too. But she is also very free-spirited and needs to roam and amaze people with her talent all around the globe. She would wilt away if she had to stay put. It wasn’t easy to tell her to follow her passion, but back then we were constantly fighting and that was even worse for Sabrina.”

"Do you think Sabrina misses her mother?" Marinette asked in a gentle voice. Felix didn't contribute a lot to the conversation. He preferred to listen and think. He probably wouldn't be able to convince Sabrina's mother to stay, going by what her father told them. But maybe it was a possibility to at least bring her back regularly? Although Felix's preferred profession was acting for movies and television shows, he had some contacts in the field of theatre and stage performance. But his idea would take some time. Getting someone a recurring engagement at the state ballet would be hard. Potentially even harder than getting someone a spot on the ensemble. He couldn't decide that. Marinette and he would only be able to use their influence to heavily encourage the artistic director to engage Sabrina's mother more often.

"I think she misses her at least a bit, but she usually doesn't talk about her a lot," the man replied. Marinette nodded. "I can imagine. I had no idea until now that her mother is a professional dancer, but I know that Sabrina would like to join the dance club at school. I once heard her and Chloe talk about that."

Felix noticed Marinette's suddenly stormy look. She had a lot more patience with Chloe than he did, but it still angered her that one word from the mayor's daughter would deter Sabrina from doing something she wanted to do.

Officer Raincomprix nodded slowly. "I am glad she has a friend," he started, "and I also think that Chloe needs a friend. I'm just questioning whether this friend has to be my Sabrina. I just hope Sabrina finds new friends at the lycée. Maybe some friends who won't simply override her wishes. I already know that she and Chloe will go to different schools. That was a huge discussion at home, but the deciding factor was that she wants to study law to become a judge one day."

After that, there wasn't much new information and finally, Officer Raincomprix announced that he had to leave.

"Please take some pastries with you. I have seen Sabrina eye the raspberry vanilla and the honeydew macarons the last time I've seen her at our bakery. Maybe you would like to take a few so she can try them?" Marinette offered, playing the perfect host once more. The man thanked her and packed a few macarons, a croissant and a pain au chocolat into a box. They accompanied him to the door and returned to the parlour to discuss what they learned.

"So, I assume you won't try to get her an internship with one of your lawyers?” Marinette placed a mocha macaron in front of him and arranged the leftover sweets in a way nobody could tell that some were already missing.

“It would have to do something with law, but considering how her father talked about it, I’m led to believe that her reason for pursuing a law degree is a yearning for justice and not the fine art of verbal and psychological warfare our lawyers practise. If that was something she liked she probably would have no issue asserting herself against Chloe.” Felix shook his head. “No, I would like to try to give her the chance to spend more time with her mother. But I think I might need your help for this.”

He looked at her and Marinette sat down and let him know to continue.

“I was thinking that maybe we could invite her mother to dance at the gala after the fashion show. If I remember correctly the artistic director of the Parisian State Ballet is a guest as well as the director of the Parisian Institute for the Performing Arts. Of course, we can’t make either of them engage her or make her take a possible offer. But we could mention to the art director how awed we are by her talent and how disappointing it is that she isn’t performing in Paris more often and maybe the director of the institute would consider engaging her as a guest lecturer.”

Marinette tilted her head slightly and nodded slowly.

“Try to contact her. Ask her if she would be willing to perform at the gala and tell her that of course she would be invited to the silent auction and the fashion show before the gala as well. You can mention that Sabrina and her father would also be invited. If I heard correctly she doesn’t necessarily try to avoid her daughter, she just finds work more often elsewhere. And since it’s already a bit on short notice, this might convince her. If your mother doesn’t want you to use your staff to fly her in or your money to buy her a plane ticket and a hotel room if she wants to stay at a hotel, I know my family would be fine with it. I’m sure you can make all the necessary arrangements.”

She stood up and stretched a bit. “Do you think you need more help from me?” she asked. Felix shook his head and stood up, too. “I think I’m fine and can do everything else,” he told her and pulled her for a half-hug into his side. “Thank you for helping me with this. I would have had no idea how to go about Sabrina.” He leaned over and gave her a small peck on her cheek. The smaller girl looked up at him and gave him a self-satisfied grin. “You’re welcome!” she smirked, returned the peck and then stepped out of his hug to take the two massive plates full of sweets and pastries.

“Now, eat your macaron! I made a batch of mocha macarons, especially for you,” she ordered and left the room. If someone asked him later how she opened the door although both her hands were occupied by heavy plates, he wouldn’t be able to answer. And Marinette would try to prevent anyone from revealing her mysteries.

“Amelie, Ines! Would you like some sweets?” he heard her call as he bit into the mocha macaron and enjoyed the mix of bitter and sweet flavours on his tongue.

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #felix graham de vanily #felinette #felinette fanfic #felix month 2021 #marinette x felix #rich!marinette #felix redemption #bamf marinette #Hexxe: Making Amends

[bizarrequazar]

GJ and ZZH Updates — January 22-28

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.

This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)

[Glossary of names and terms] [Masterlist of my posts about the situation with Zhang Zhehan]

01-22 → Zhang Su posted a douyin a few minutes before midnight, leaving the comment on it, “New Year's Eve~ Those who spit at me are really meaningless, I have never hurt him, so you can spit whatever you want~ If you still support him, go support his new songs and trendy brand~ As his friend of 18 years, it’s not that you make friends just for show, there are some things you can’t help if you don’t believe it, time will prove it” [screenshot] (I’m not linking the douyin itself because I don’t want to give him traffic, DM me if you want the link) This was well timed, as Flora finished the wiki page for him the following day, which outlines exactly what a good “friend of 18 years” he’s been. 

→ #GongJun and #HappyJunZhe2023 trended on Twitter.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted three photos of him from 12-31 holding Lunar New Year’s items. Caption: “At the beginning of the new year, window stenciles are posted, the red envelopes are full of blessings, and spring comes. Chinese New Year's Day is destined to be the beginning of good luck, remember to turn on the TV today and watch the boss @ Gong Jun Simon!” 

→ The Weibo account for Fox Spirit Matchmaker posted a new poster for the show featuring Gong Jun and the female lead Yang Mi.

→ Gong Jun posted a promotional image for the Youth Exhibition program he would appear in on 01-24. Caption: “In the new year, I hope to jump out of my comfort zone and see more scenery that I’ve never seen before.  In the brand-new Year of the Rabbit, I also wish you a bright future and to not to shrink back. On January 24th at 20:00 on the third day of the Chinese New Year, I will take you into a special ‘Youth Exhibition’, remember to come and see it!”

→ 361° posted two photo ads [here] and [here] featuring Gong Jun.

→ The Instagram posted a video of “Zhang Zhehan”, “Zhang Mama”, and “Zhang Zhehan’s nephew” sending New Year’s greetings.

→ Gong Jun’s studio reposted a video by People’s Daily of Gong Jun’s Dragon TV appearance that would air later (full videos linked below) with the added caption: “Fighting with swords in the jianghu, living a bold life, watch boss @ Gong Jun Simon's chivalrous transformation tonight! In the coming year, I wish everyone good luck and a happy New Year!”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted sixteen photos from his Dragon TV appearance. Caption: “The whirling chivalrous man, willful and dashing, boss @ Gong Jun Simon is free and unrestrained, happily singing a song of the jianghu.”

→ Gong Jun posted a douyin of himself in his outfit from his later Beijing TV performance. Caption: “There are a lot of ‘skins’ in the New Year!🤓” BGM is Rollin by Calvin Harris.

→ Gong Jun appeared on Dragon TV’s Spring Festival Gala, where he performed 刀剑如梦 originally by Wakin Chau and did some magic tricks. [performance] [translated lyrics] [subbed magic tricks] (cw a bunny falls, no obvious signs that it was hurt) Fan Observations:   -  The hanfu worn by some of the backup dancers (below) is the same one that Zhang Zhehan wore on 2021-07-14. At that time, fans of another artist whom I will refrain from naming slandered Zhang Zhehan online, claiming that the outfit had been made exclusively for that artist who had worn it previously. The use of the hanfu here—and for multiple backup dancers nonetheless—is pretty much spitting in the faces of those people.  -  During the first part of the performance, there’s an illustrated cherry tree with a single white blossom.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted nine photos of Gong Jun in the outfit from his later Beijing TV performance. Caption: “The green shirt welcomes the spring, smelling the snow on the branches. Boss @ Gong Jun Simon is going to the Chinese New Year appointment at the #Beijing TV Spring Festival Gala# tonight!”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a douyin of him from the above photoshoot. Caption: “Snow is falling, green shirts are fluttering, and boss @ Gong Jun Simon starts the first work diary of the lunar calendar 🐰 year!” BGM is 探窗 (钢琴版) by 汐音社.

→ Gong Jun appeared on Beijing TV’s Spring Festival Gala, performing the song Blood Actor originally by HITA. [performance] [lyric video with contextual info] Fan Observations:   -  Some drew parallels between the lyrics of this song and those of the song Zhang Zhehan recited part of on 2021-07-26.  -  As mentioned in last week’s post, HITA is openly and actively a CPF. [Here] is a song she wrote specifically for them. 😊

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted nine photos from his Beijing TV performance. Caption: “The rhyme of the opera is melodious, and the music and shadow overlap. Boss @ Gong Jun Simon's green shirt appeared, tasting the meaning of rhythm and leading the elegance of the country.”

→ #Gong Jun sings beautifully# trended at #9 on Weibo hotsearch, and #GongJun, #龚俊Simon, and Junjun trended on Twitter.

01-23 → Hsu Fu Chi posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Fresh posted four gifs of Gong Jun.

01-24 → Hsu Fu Chi posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun. Fan Observation: Someone mentioned that they’ve been using these same photos for ages, so I checked and they've been using this specific one since literally the first day of their endorsement on 2021-10-29. 🤡 Judging by hairstyles, I would guess he hasn’t done more than MAYBE three photoshoots for them, if I’m being generous.

→ Fresh posted four more gifs of Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted two photos of him from the 2023 Online Audio-Visual Ceremony he would appear in that evening. Caption: “Firm and proud, hard-blooded. Tonight at 20:00 boss @ Gong Jun Simon stars in ‘Youth History’, recalling the heroic years of the past and expressing the spirit of the times.”

→ Gong Jun appeared in the 2023 Online Audio-Visual Ceremony, performing in a group song and acting in a skit. [full performance] (no subs yet)

01-25 → The Instagram posted a video of a clip from a fourth stolen song that would be released the following day. This was 洪荒剧场, the same song mentioned above that the real Zhang Zhehan had recited some of during his livestream on 2021-07-26, which was intended to debut it at the cancelled concert. (Quite coincidental timing, if you ask me.) Fan Observation: The photos used were leaked by August 2022, and the song demo was leaked in October 2021.

Also, the Instagram’s pfp was changed again, now to one of the most recent white haired photos. This might have happened a day or two earlier before I noticed.

→ Gong Jun made a post promoting the new drama Turn on the Right Way of Life. Caption: “Support Bo-ge's new drama! ... Catch up tonight!”​​

01-26 → The fourth stolen song was released. In the credits, it lists only Zhang Zhehan as the lyricist despite the real Zhang Zhehan having mentioned that it was written by Tang Tian.

→ Hsu Fu Chi posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun posted nine illustrations of the God of Wealth. Caption: “God of Wealth, God of Wealth, look at me! ! !” Fan Observation: The eighth picture was used by Zhang Zhehan as a pfp when he first made the Super3 Instagram account.

→ #ZhangZhehan trended on Twitter.

01-27 → #ZhangZhehan continued to trend on Twitter, #TheRealZhangZhehan also trended.

→ Wang Yixu, the CEO of STELLAR Pictures responded to a question on Weibo, saying that both Rising with the Wind and Fox Spirit Matchmaker will include songs performed by Gong Jun.

→ The Instagram posted a video of “Zhang Zhehan” playing basketball. 

01-28 → #TheRealZhangZhehan continued to trend on Twitter.

→ MARRSGREEN posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Kangshifu posted three photo ads featuring Gong Jun.

→ Addition 01-29: The Instagram posted a video of “Zhang Zhehan” playing with fireworks; this video had been posted to Weibo the previous day. [Here] is a video highlighting a glitch in the deepfake.

Additional Reading: → Flora’s daily fan news  → Flora also finished the wiki page for Xie Yihua this week.

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

This post was last edited 2023-01-29.

#Zhang Zhehan #Gong Jun #Word of Honor #woh cast #lld timeline

[kateeorg]

Headless Timeline (w/ Episode 8 updates)

BEWARE OF SPOILERS BELOW

1609: Henry Hudson, Henrietta Hudson, and Frederick Storms set off to sea. Henry supposedly founds Sleepy Hollow and appoints Ambrose Van Tassel as mayor. Henrietta's ship, the Lichtgevund, also makes it.

1621: Anneke Storms, Juniper LeBouf, and the rest of their coven plan to cast the headless curse on Henrietta Hudson on Halloween. Anneke dies in the orphanage basement, though her fate is chalked up to a disappearance. The Headless Horseman is born. Anneke changes her children's last names to her mother's maiden name: Crane.

1622: Captain Gravy Davy Crowbones sees the Headless Horseman

1620s misc: Captain Gravy Davy Crowbones falls in love with Juniper Lebouf in Sleepy Hollow. He receives Juniper's necklace when she dies upon its shores, and buries it with his treasures.

1776: Battle of White Plains fought 10 miles away, Declaration of Independence signed

1777-1785: Cotton Van Tassel serves as mayor of Sleepy Hollow. Gets beheaded over soup that was "too wet".

1888: Reginald Van Tassel builds Van Tassel manor.

~1995: Main characters are born in Sleepy Hollow

~1995-2000: Ichabod loses his parents and moves in with his grandmother

2005: Elizabeth Van Tassel dies (Kat is 10). Kat is told she drowned.

~2007-2009 (supposedly): Trevor Trinkets is born.

2009-2013: Kat, Matilda, Brom, Babes, and Spike all in H.S. together. Spike has encounter in the woods that traumatizes him and turns him emo, separating him from the other babes.

~2010-2013: Max encounters Woman in White at Raven Rock (based on the iPhone 4 reference)

2013: Creation of the yearbook with Kat's ominous message

~2013-2017: Kat tries going away to college, but drops out at some point and returns home. Tripp studies archaeology at Cornell.

2015: Max dies in Battle of White Plains reenactment

2021: Kat gets sick at Autumn Gala. Dr. Crayon and Baltus have a mysterious conversation. Anne Tarry dies one week later, everyone is told she OD'ed, and Judy Gardenier becomes the mayor's assistant. Rip Van Winkle disappears around this same time (October).

2021-2022: Ichabod's grandmother dies and leaves him the necklace. "Lucretia Lazenby" arrives in Sleepy Hollow, taking over Storms Inn (in actuality, Oksana Bolshekov is put under witness protection)

Undated:

Bruce McConnell dies by tomato allergy.

Paulie Tahoe dies and is buried in Sleepy Hollow by his family.

Trevor Trinkets's actual birthday.

#headless series

[aestheticcbeauty]

Ni Ni - 2021 Signs of the Times Fashion and Cultural Gala

#ni ni #event

[foxes-that-run]

Harry Styles Release Dates

January

1 - Treat People with Kindness MV (2021)

9 - Treat People with Kindness (2021)

February

28 - Falling MV (2020)

March

7 - Falling (2020)

April

1 - As it was & As it was MV (2022)

7 - Sign of the times, (FTDT B side) (2017)

15 and 22 - Coachella (2022)

28 - Live on Tour announced (2017)

May

- Erskine Records (2016)

2 - Sweet Creature (2017)

3 - Satellite & MV (2023)

7 - Hosted Met Gala Gucci Camp (2019)

8 - Sign of the Times MV (2017)

12 - Harry Styles (Debut) (2017)

12 - Gucci Met Gala film (2019)

13 - First live show at the Garage (2017)

13 - Love on Tour (Part 2) first show (2023)

15 - Behind the Album (2017)

18 - Watermelon Sugar & Watermelon Sugar MV (2020)

20 - Harry's House (2022)

20 - One Night Only New York (and Livestream) (2022)

22 - Gucci Tailoring Campaign (2019)

June

5 - Gucci Tailoring Campaign (2018)

7 - Another man cover (2017)

July

13 - Late Night Talking MV (2022)

14 - Live on Tour end (2018)

19 - Daylight MV (2023)

21 - Late Night Talking (2022)

22 - Last Love on Tour show (2023)

August

1 - Gucci Campaign Film (2019)

7 - Two Ghosts (2017)

20 - Madison Square Garden Residency, 15 nights, start (2022)

September

4 - First Love on Tour (part 1) show (2021)

18 - Gucci Cruise Campaign (2018)

19 - Live on Tour first show (2017)

21 - MSG Residency end (2022)

27 - Spotify Singles -Two Ghosts and Girl Crush (2017)

October

3 - Music for a Sushi Restaurant (2022)

10 - Lights up MV (2019)

11 - Lights up (2019)

23 - Golden (2020)

26 - Golden MV (2020)

27 - Music for a Sushi Restaurant MV (2022)

31 - Kiwi (2017)

November

4 - Gucci Ha ha ha campaign (2022)

8 - Kiwi MV (2017)

13 - Love on Tour announced (2019)

15 - Launch of pleasing (2021) (annual photo)

December

6 - Adore You & Adore you MV (2019)

13 - Fine Line (2019)

12 - Fine Line One Night Only at the Forum

#Harry Styles #Dates

[recentlyheardcom]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — How much is Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago worth? That's been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property's value when he said it's worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion.Siding with New York's attorney general in a lawsuit accusing Trump of grossly overvaluing his assets, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump consistently exaggerated Mar-a-Lago's worth. He noted that one Trump estimate of the club's value was 2,300% times the Palm Beach County tax appraiser's valuations, which ranged from $18 million to $37 million.But Palm Beach real estate agents who specialize in high-end properties scoffed at the idea that the estate could be worth that little, in the unlikely event Trump ever sold.“Ludicrous,” agent Liza Pulitzer said about the judge citing the county’s tax appraisal as a benchmark. Homes a tenth the size of Mar-a-Lago on tiny inland lots sell for that in the Town of Palm Beach, a wealthy island enclave.“The entire real estate community felt it was a joke when they saw that figure,” said Pulitzer, who works for the firm Brown Harris Stevens.“That thing would get snapped up for hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rob Thomson, owner of Waterfront Properties and a Mar-a-Lago member. “There is zero chance that it’s going to sell for $40 million or $50 million.”In the ongoing trial over the lawsuit, though, what a private buyer might pay for a place like Mar-a-Lago isn't the only factor in determining whether Trump is liable for fraud.WHAT IS MAR-A-LAGO?The 126-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,810-square-meter) mansion is Trump’s primary home. It is also a club, private beach resort, historical artifact and banquet hall with a ballroom that features gold leaf. It is where Trump stored government documents federal prosecutors say he took illegally after leaving office in 2021.While Trump has long admitted using “truthful hyperbole” in his business dealings, he is not exaggerating when he calls Mar-a-Lago unique.Built in 1927 by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, financier E.F. Hutton, she gave the property its name — Spanish for “sea-to-lake” — because its 17 acres (7 hectares) stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway.Post kept the mansion after the couple's divorce, using it to host opulent galas. In 1969, Mar-a-Lago was designated a National Historic Landmark.Post, who died in 1973, bequeathed the property to the U.S. government as a winter get-away for presidents, but Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter never used it. The government, citing the high upkeep costs, returned it to Post's foundation in 1981.The property fell into disrepair. Trump bought it in 1985 for about $10 million, the equivalent of $30 million today. He invested heavily in its refurbishment.By the early 1990s, however, Trump was in financial distress after several of his businesses flopped. He told Palm Beach town officials he couldn't afford the $3 million annual upkeep, and proposed subdividing the property and building mansions. The town rejected the plan.Negotiations continued and in 1993 the town agreed he could turn the estate into a private club, giving him cash flow he could use for maintenance. He built the ballroom, but signed away development rights.The agreement limits the club to 500 members — the initiation fee is $500,000 with annual dues of $20,000.Trump typically lives at Mar-a-Lago from October to May before summering in New Jersey.SO WHAT IS MAR-A-LAGO WORTH?That's hard to say. The biggest problem is there are no comparable properties. No one builds mansions in Palm Beach like Mar-a-Lago anymore and those that did exist were demolished long ago, broken up or turned into a museum.Trump, in an April deposition, justified his belief that Mar-a-Lago could be worth $1 billion by comparing it to the price the Mona Lisa or a painting by Renoir would command — the ultra-wealthy will pay a premium to buy something that's one-of-a-kind.

Eli Beracha, chair of Florida International University's Hollo School of Real Estate, agreed it's difficult to assess the value of any unique property. The fact that Trump owned Mar-a-Lago would likely increase its sale price.“Some people are going to argue that not everyone likes Trump — some people would actually pay less because of that. ... But the high bidder is probably going to be a person who buys it because it belonged to Trump,” Beracha said.Pulitzer said the rock-bottom price for Mar-a-Lago would be $300 million. Thomson said at least $600 million. If uber-billionaires got into a bidding war, they said, a sale of a billion dollars or more would be possible.The much smaller Palm Beach compound once owned by the Kennedy political dynasty sold for $70 million three years ago.SO HOW DID PALM BEACH COUNTY COME UP WITH SUCH A LOW TAX ASSESSMENT?The county gives Mar-a-Lago its current value for taxation of $37 million based on its annual net operating income as a club and not on its resale value as a home or its reconstruction cost. It is one of nine private clubs in the county taxed that way.Becky Robinson, the tax assessor's spokesperson, said that method is used because private clubs are so rarely sold or built, making it impossible to set their tax rates by comparing them to similar properties. Mar-a-Lago's property tax bill will be $602,000 this year, county records show.U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a South Florida Democrat, wrote the county saying if Trump claims Mar-a-Lago is worth $1 billion, he should be taxed accordingly. If Mar-a-Lago had a $1 billion assessed value, it’s property tax bill would be approximately $18 million.Robinson said the county bases its assessments on the law and its formulas, not the value owners claim.WHY IT MATTERSIn her lawsuit against Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that Mar-a-Lago was one of multiple assets Trump overvalued in financial statements given to banks and others.On those statements, Trump valued Mar-a-Lago as high as $739 million — a figure James said ignored deed restrictions requiring the property to be used as a social club — not a private home. Her lawyers have argued that in his financial statements, Trump should have valued Mar-a-Lago the same way the county does, based on its club status.Trump's financial statements, the New York lawyers wrote, valued the club “based on the false and misleading premise that it was an unrestricted residential plot of land that could be sold and used as a private home, which was clearly not the case.”Trump's lawyers have said no trickery was involved, and that banks probably didn't rely on his financial statements anyway when determining whether to lend him money.

[sonicallyn0tstraight]

Adam Lambert: From Idol to Superstar

On January 12, 2009, the eighth season of American Idol premiered with many talented artists competing. Among those competing was Adam Lambert, who was able to advance all the way to the top two. When it came down to the viewers of the show to decide who would win the season, almost 100 million votes were cast. Then, the winner of season eight, the next American Idol, was announced to be Kris Allen. Years later when Lambert was asked if he thinks homophobia caused him to come in second on American Idol, Lambert responded with “Who knows, yeah, probably” (Rock, 2023). To contextualize Lambert’s statement and the attitudes surrounding queer people during the time Lambert was on American Idol, I want to briefly talk about an event in the state of California that greatly impacted queer rights. Months before season eight aired on television, a vote was cast in California. This vote was regarding Proposition 8, an amendment to the California constitution that would ban same-sex marriage in the state and overturn the previous California Supreme Court ruling from May of 2008 that legalized gay marriage. On November 4th of 2008, Proposition 8 was passed with 52 percent of the votes. Proposition 8 now made it so that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” (History.com Editors, 2022). Supporters of Proposition 8 invoked the “far reaching consequences” of legalizing gay marriage. One consequence that was particularly focused on was the implication that school curriculums would change and be required to teach that gay marriage was equivalent to traditional marriage. Proposition 8 was soon overturned through the court system.

Returning to Adam Lambert, he did not let being runner up on American Idol stop him from becoming a superstar. Soon after American Idol ended, Lambert was signed to RCA Records and released his first album, For Your Entertainment, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 (Peck, 2021). But these achievements did not stop the industry from trying to stifle Lambert’s queerness. One particular instance that caused Lambert to get in some hot water was his 2009 performance at the American Music Awards. During the performance, Lambert was doing what he called “the kind of performance I had seen since I was a teenager” (Paul, 2023). The performance involved dancers on stage, some suggestive moves, and an impromptu kiss between Lambert and his male bass player. After getting off stage, Lambert recalled being banned by the network for a while and being threatened with a lawsuit (Paul, 2023). This had served as a moment of realization for Lambert that not everyone was accepting of queer identities. Then in 2012, he released his second album, Trespassing, and soon after began collaborating with the band Queen, who he coincidentally met during his time on American Idol. In addition to touring with the renowned band, the two released a collaborative album in 2020 called Queen + Adam Lambert Live Around The World. His third album was released in 2016, called The Original High, which garnered positive reviews. Velvet and High Drama, his two most recent album releases, were released in 2020 and 2023 respectively, with the latter being a cover album of both classic and current songs.

In between his musical releases and touring, Lambert has appeared in a number of television shows and engaged in activism. Some more well-known television and movie appearances made by Lambert include being a guest star on Glee, co-starring in the television remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, appearing on Pretty Little Liars, acting in the movie Fairyland, and more. In all these roles and throughout his many years in the music industry, Lambert is able to provide representation for queer people. Lambert acknowledges the importance of representation, saying that “Visibility is so powerful” in his speech at the 2023 Creative Coalition Spotlight Initiative Gala (Paul, 2023). In 2019, Lambert created the Feel Something Foundation, named after his song Feel Something, to support members of the LGBTQ+ community. The mission of this foundation is to support LGBTQ organizations that are moving the needle for the communities they serve and are focused on building a fully inclusive society where LGBTQ people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy full human rights and are supported through the myriad of issues that disproportionately affect them” (Feel Something Foundation). The foundation does this through an annual choosing of LGBTQ+ charities both in the United States and across the globe with the help of charitable contributions and public funds raised through fundraising.

Sources

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/prop-8-passed-california-gay-marriage

[teapartiesandfandom]

I posted 258 times in 2022

That's 174 more posts than 2021!

35 posts created (14%)

223 posts reblogged (86%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@kitty-rasputina

@harriyanna

@teapartiesandfandom

@broosepayne

@kittykat8311

I tagged 132 of my posts in 2022

Only 49% of my posts had no tags

#duke thomas - 20 posts

#batfamily headcannons - 11 posts

#dick grayson - 11 posts

#batfam - 11 posts

#reblog - 9 posts

#batfam headcanons - 8 posts

#damian wayne - 8 posts

#jason todd - 8 posts

#bruce wayne - 7 posts

#cassandra cain - 7 posts

Longest Tag: 113 characters

#aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Dick Grayson and Jason Todd are the two  halves of the oldest daughter 

Dick is the responsibility. He is canonically known for being the quote mom friend and is very private by nature. His characterization shows how dedicated he is to being good even at the cost of himself and his relationships with others. Case in point: the fandom and the comics show him as the glue of the family, like every oldest daughter is.

He is me. He is responsible, acting as Bruce’s partner, and Damian’s parent while bruce is dead. He is loyal, killing the joker for the of his brother. Dick is the parts of the oldest daughter that gives and gives and gives. He is the one checking road trip bags, checking that everyone’s taken their meds, comforting after fights.

On the flip side, he bottle up his anger until it explodes. He and Bruce separate because Dick is hurting but he can’t fix it. He gets so sick of control that he runs away and lives his life in another city and for the early years is angry at jason for the relationship he and bruce have.

Jason is the aftermath of accepting trauma. He was loyal to a fault, straight a student, well enough behaved until he died. Jason’s death destroyed his father, just like the ones oldest daughter leaving can destroy a family. He was his father’s stability after dick was gone. He kept the house full of life and his death exposed the true cracks.

He was killed and his father didn’t avenge him. He came back, traumatized and furious.He is the aftermath of realizing how we’ve been treated all of our lives. Jason hates r*pists and mob bosses and people that hurt the community but he is done letting them live. He is still trying to protect but he is done being kind about it. Jason post rebirth is all of us learning boundaries and letting loose our anger for the first time.

Dick and Jason are the oldest daughter, one pre acceptance and one post acceptance. Both are complicated people that can’t be boiled down to ‘the playful one’ and ���the one with daddy issues’.

signed,

- an oldest daughter

p.s inspired by this post by @mumblesplash

148 notes - Posted April 24, 2022

#4

look it would be fucking hilarious if tim had a healthy sleep schedule except he’s just nocturnal. he goes to sleep at like six in the morning and wakes around five pm.

he’s completely healthy just… atypically

188 notes - Posted May 21, 2022

#3

the anti colonist sentiment in black adam is fucking amazing and the ‘it needs a protector not a hero’ is just perfect.

This movie really said ‘fuck colonialism’ and ‘fuck first world countries with a savior complex’

204 notes - Posted October 29, 2022

#2

What each wayne would wear to the 2022 met gala

Bruce:

bata plain black suit. to spite his children only.

Dick:

You can’t tell me that he would wear something like this. He would be very on theme but still want a personal touch. He loves dressing in ways that offend rich white people so the above outfit is perfect

Jason:

See the full post

318 notes - Posted May 2, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

The Batkids™️ vs Jeans

Dick:

This is a bell bottoms man. He loves the flair and the dramatics of them not to mention the retro vibe. Dick made discowing and the mullet™️ a thing in the dc universe. He loves retro styles and he isn’t afraid to say it!

Jason:

Literally anything but bell bottoms. He hates them partially because of Dick and partially because they don’t seems practical to him. Jason sticks to thrift stores so he favors wide leg styles of pants just cause they’re more practical. Loves black jeans (punk ass nerd /aff)

Cass:

No. Just no. She hates jeans so much. They aren’t stretchy or moveable like leggings, don’t allow ease of movements like skirts. If Cass has to wear them, she’ll wear cargo pants instead or maybe you can catch her in skinny jeans.

Duke:

🎵 He was a skater boy, she said, “see you later boy” 🎵 My mans loves skater styles. He likes big rips, wide leg jeans that still fit. Duke wants to be comfortable and fashionable more than anything else so his style really reflects that

Tim:

Emo boy. He only wears skinny jeans, tight as fuck skinny jeans. I love tim but he does not have a sense of fashion of what so ever. When there’s a gala, he isn’t allowed to leave the house without duke’s approval

Damian:

Will stab you. Damian grew up in soft comfortable and functional clothes. He doesn’t like jeans, and is more likely to wear a dress, especially around the comfort of the manor. He really doesn’t give a fuck if other people don’t like it

357 notes - Posted October 12, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

[cyarskj1899]

About time. I wished that her involvement in other cases were looked into. If she’s capable of covering up for a murderer let alone three murderers, then God knows what other cases she was corruptive

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Former DA In Ahmaud Arbery Case Finally Gets A Court Date

The long delay for Jackie Johnson shows how race and privilege helps some people avoid accountability.

By

Keith Reed

Published6 hours ago

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It’s been almost three years since Ahmaud Arbery was chased, trapped and gunned down by three bigots with ties to local law enforcement over the offense of jogging while Black. Those homicidal racists have since been tried, convicted and shipped off to prison, likely for the rest of their lives. 

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But months after the last conviction for his actual murder, one person who played a pivotal role by using her elected office to help the killers initially evade accountability is just now starting the process of facing her own accountability. Jackie Johnson, who was district attorney for Georgia’s Brunswick Judicial Circuit when Arbery was killed, will finally be arraigned Dec. 29. She will have to face a judge and enter a plea to charges that she violated her oath of office and improperly interfered with the investigation of Arbery’s killing by instructing Gwynn County cops not to make an arrest in the case. 

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Arbery’s killers, Travis McMichael, who actually shot Arbery, his father, Greg, a former investigator for Johnson’s office and William “Roddie” Bryan, have all had their days in court. But the long delay for Johnson shows how race and privilege can continue to shield people tied to law enforcement from consequences for their actions, especially when the victims are unarmed Black men with relatively little wealth or connections.

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Most people accused of crimes are typically arraigned within weeks, if not days. Waiting a year and a half—Johnson was indicted in September 2021—is unheard of, Georgia defense attorney Dwight Thomas told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week. 

What happened to Arbery has largely been adjudicated; not even the men wasting away behind bars for his death dispute their roles, but from the very beginning it was clear that they thought their race and their connections to the criminal justice system—to Johnson in particular—conveyed immunity. Bryan actually recorded the chase and murder, saying in an interview later that he believed that the video would help clear them.

Providence R.I.'s Reparation Money Might Potentially Go to White People

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The judge in Johnson’s case, John “Robbie” Turner, hasn’t said publicly what the hold up is. He still has a month before Johnson has to stand in front of him, but at any time between now and then he could rule on her defense team’s motion to dismiss the case—which means there’s still a chance Johnson never faces accountability at all.

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MOVIES

Devotion and Marvel Star, Jonathan Majors, Plays A Game of My Favorite Things

Jonathan Majors' new film Devotion is now in theaters.

By

Adriano Contreras

 and Shanelle Genai

PublishedNovember 23, 2022

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[frontproofmedia]

Super Bad is BACK! Seniesa Estrada Set for Long-Awaited Ring Return

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Published: November 11, 2022

Estrada will defend her WBA minimumweight title Saturday against Jazmin Gala Villarino at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas LIVE on ESPN+

LOS ANGELES — After nearly 11 months out of the ring, Seniesa "Super Bad" Estrada is ready to make up for lost time. Estrada, who signed a long-term promotional pact with Top Rank earlier this year, will defend her WBA minimumweight world title Saturday against Jazmin Gala Villarino at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Estrada-Villarino will serve as the co-feature to the WBO middleweight world title fight between reigning champion Janibek "Qazaq Style" Alimkhanuly and British challenger Denzel Bentley. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, tickets starting at $25 are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Alimkhanuly-Bentley, Estrada-Villarino, and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. Estrada (22-0, 9 KOs), a two-weight world champion from East Lost Angeles, is ranked No. 7 on the ESPN.com pound-for-pound list. Before her recent layoff, Estrada had a banner 2021, going 3-0 while winning a pair of world titles. Last December, she knocked down the previously unbeaten Maria Micheo Santizo twice en route to a fourth-round stoppage. As fight week kicks off, this is what “Super Bad” had to say from her Los Angeles training camp: “Jazmin is a tough opponent, and I know any fight can be dangerous. She’s fighting in America for the first time and is coming in as the underdog. This is her opportunity to become a champion, and I am not taking her lightly. I always prepare to be the best 'Super Bad' I can be.” “This is my first fight with Top Rank, and it’s the perfect time in women’s boxing to be with Top Rank and to fight on the ESPN platform. I’ve had a nearly 11-month layoff, and I felt like I was missing out on all the incredible things happening in the sport. I want to be the best and stay active. Now I’m happy to be back and hopefully go for those big unification fights that I’ve wanted and ultimately become an undisputed champion.” “Growing up, I didn’t have a role model to look up to in women’s boxing. Being in a position where I can inspire younger women is great. It makes all of my struggles worth it. That’s what I do it for, to inspire the next generation of women who want to accomplish great things.” “I believe I am the best fighter at minimumweight, light flyweight, and flyweight. My goal is to conquer all three divisions. I want to win all the belts at 105, then go to 108 and 112."

(Featured Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

#HF #Seniesa Estrada #Top Rank Boxing #ESPN

[toughgirlchallenges]

Sophie Etheridge - Disabled long distance open water swimmer and the founder of the Facebook group Adaptive/Disabled Open Water Swimmers (ADOWS).

Sophie has spent the past 2 years trying to raise awareness of open water swimmers with disabilities in the hope that more people will become inclusive and accepting to people of all abilities. 

  She has also spent the past year building a community of athletes with disabilities through her ADOWS Facebook group which now has over 600 people in it. 

  Members include those with all sorts of disabilities from people with invisible conditions such as Fibromyalgia and brain injuries to those with visual impairments and amputees. There are also coaches, event organisers and carers in the group so that they can learn the best way to support and include those with disabilities within their work. 

  Since starting the group Sophie has worked with The Henley Swim Company and The British Long Distance Swimming Association to help them improve accessibility at their events.

  Sophie grew up in Hastings and was an active, fully able-bodied swimmer but in 2011 she was involved in a cycling accident, which resulted in a long diagnostic process before finally being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome; one of the most painful conditions in the world in late 2012. 

Suddenly finding herself struggling to walk and in constant pain was tough. She struggled with being constantly exhausted and to put the cherry on the top; due to hypersensitivity she was unable to wear trousers or leave the house if it was windy because it was too painful for her.

  Triathlete to wheelchair user in under a year.

  It took several years of struggling with different medications, physiotherapy appointments, hospital stays and falling into a deep depression before she was sent onto a pain management programme. The course was intensive for 3 weeks but in total lasted a year and it was as a result of this course that Sophie rediscovered her love of the water. 

  It wasn’t an easy journey back into the water because anything on her legs hurt – including water! 

  It was about 6 months before she could get in the local leisure centre pool and start swimming again but as soon as she did she knew it was where she was meant to be.

  Since then (2016) she has gone on to not only get back into open water swimming but has taken on some huge swims including The Great East Swim 1 mile (2016) and 5km (2019), The Thames Marathon Swim (2018), 10km in lake Tallyn in Wales (2019), the Swim England Open Water National Championships (2019) and finally, in September 2021 Two Way Windermere, which she completed in 16 hours and 41 minutes!

  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. 

  To support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Sign up as a Patron -  www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. 

    Show Notes

Who is Sophie

Growing up in Hastings

How she got into swimming

Doing her first 5k at the age of 11

Being disqualified from her first swimming gala

Playing music in an orchestra

Wanting to be a sports physiotherapist

Choosing between music and sports or physical education

Being diagnosed with epilepsy as a child

Playing clarinet and piano as her way to relax

Studying music at Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge

Going to university and swimming at the same time

Joining a local triathlon club

Before and after the accident

Being diagnosed with Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Being on her own while in the middle of her degree

From being active to absolutely nothing

Feeling all her plans are out of reach

Being away from her family

Experiencing bullying at university

Feeling lost for about five years

Being put on a pain management program at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge

Getting back into the water and tolerating the pain

Falling in love with swimming again

Wanting to be a swimming coach again

Getting her level two open water coaching qualification

Getting help from Straight Line Swimming run by Keri-anne Payne

Feeling herself again after 8 years

Campaigning for disabled swimmers

Creating the community Adaptive/Disabled Open Water Swimmers (ADOWS)

Magical moments for her when it comes to swimming

Making so many new friends through swimming

Doing the Aberdovey Swim in 2019

Her plans to do the Two-Way Windermere (2WW) in 2020

Using Windermere swim to raise awareness and fundraise for a disability sports charity The Arctic One

Having surgery before her two-way swim

Pushing through the challenge

Her whole experience while doing the Windermere swim

Her top tips and advice

  Social Media

  Website: www.sophie-adaptive-athlete.com 

  Instagram @sophie_adaptive_athlete 

  Facebook @SEasaptiveathlete 

  ADOWS (Adaptive/Disabled Open Water Swimmers) Facebook group 

Check out this episode!

#podcast #women #sports #health #motivation #challenges #change #adventure #active #wellness #explore #grow #support #encourage #running #swimming #triathlon #exercise #weights

[ippnoida]

Commercial print recovery in India – new multicolor press sales take off!

In April, alongside the opening of schools and colleges, we had a sense that book printing and exports have recovered well. This recovery was gradual with signs that demand picked up in Q3 itself. Ultimately, the feedback from the organized commercial print businesses is that the financial year 2021-22 ending on 31 March was a good bounce back from the pandemic year 2020-21. 

Moreover, a significant number of the leading commercial printers have exceeded their FY 21-22 sales above the pre-Covid year of 2019-2020. Although some of this growth may be inflationary, including the increase in raw material prices the other factor could be the slowing down of the economy in the year preceding the Covid year. 

Domestic textbook printing was visibly booming from March to May of this year. While it has slightly cooled down in July, book printing exports remain steady as they have throughout the past two years. Other commercial printing segments that depend on the recovery of the travel, hospitality, retail, automobile, and other industries are slowly coming back although the recovery in digital print could be a bit quicker than in offset.

Strong print recovery but how to manage inflation

We discussed the commercial print situation with Narendra Paruchuri of Pragati Offset in Hyderabad who remarked, “The first three months (April to June) of the financial year have been ok, but there is a threat of inflation over the next nine months of the financial year which silently destroys profitability. Some part of the rise in paper prices is genuine while the rest of it could be an opportunity cost. However, there is an added uncertainty in availability and delivery times also.”

Gala spoke about the purchase of a Koenig & Bauer RA 106, a 6-color perfecting press with a combi/UV coater at the end of the press that is expected to arrive before December, well in time for installation before the end of the financial year in March. In Navneet’s new K&B black model 6-color 106, the perfecting is configured after the first printing unit (1+5). The press features the side-lay free Sensoric Infeed System, dynamic sheet brake, non-stop feeder and delivery, and other features of the new black models.

Heidelberg which has sold several packaging presses this year has so far only announced the sale of one press to a commercial printer so far – a CX 92 4-color press to Samrat Offset, based in New Delhi. It does expect to sell another two or three presses to commercial printers for installation within the financial year.

New technology capacity creation is one barometer of print’s recovery and vitality. While the sales of sheetfed offset packaging presses including highly configured 7-color plus coaters with UV are at a high level, the bounce back in commercial printing of 4-color and longer presses has been a bit of a surprise. A number of the larger commercial printers who are specialized in book printing and exports are buying 8-color perfecters such as Thomson Press in Faridabad and MultiVista in Chennai who have both bought RMGT 92 8-color machines. 

As we wrote in previous issues, Nutech in Faridabad has already installed its RMGT 92cm 4-color press in April 2022. Another commercial printer who has purchased the RMGT 92cm 4-color press is SAP Printers in Mumbai and another RMGT 92cm 4-color is coming to a publisher for his in-house production. Apart from the Thomson and Nutech presses which are already installed and running, the remaining three RMGT presses to commercial printers will come later in the year.

The demand in the smaller Indian cities and towns for 4-color mid-size presses is also booming and Komori has been especially successful among these printers with installations to exceed a dozen in the commercial segment. The chip shortage and other supply chain problems mean that the manufacturers are unable to commit to deliveries before the end of the financial year, 31 March 2023. Nevertheless, one can estimate that anywhere from 21 to 23 new multicolor presses imported from the five major international manufacturers will be installed for commercial and book printing in the year.

Indian Rupee has gained against the Japanese Yen

The sheetfed offsets for the commercial printers will be overwhelmingly dominated by the two Japanese manufacturers, although they are doing well in the packaging press segment too. The reason for this is the significant devaluation of the Japanese yen against the US dollar and even the Indian Rupee.

As one printer pointed out to us, from 1 January 2022 to 20 July 2022, while the Indian Rupee has gone from 75 to 80 against a dollar, the Yen has devalued much more against the dollar, from 115 Yen to 139 Yen per dollar – or about 15%. Where it earlier cost from Indian Rs 0.65 for a yen, it now costs Rs. 0.58 or only 58 paise for a yen. Thus while the Indian Rupee has devalued by 3.8% against the Euro, it has become stronger against the Japanese Yen by 10.47%. The Japanese manufacturers have the edge over the German press manufacturers for the Indian customers who can buy now.

#Commercial print #Heidelberg

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