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#call of duty 2021
inhan---inhan · 1 year
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kapkant7 · 8 months
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shadow0-1 · 1 year
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Two (2) former CIAs
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Task Force 141 and their favorite indie sad girls
Price
Adores Lucy Dacus
Teared up hearing Night Shift the first time, cried the second time.
Owns the "Lucy Loves Me, Dads Fear Me" hat
Gaz
Mitski fan
His favorite album is Bury Me at Makeout Creek
Is still upset he missed seeing her live
Ghost
Pharb
Savior Complex is his favorite song
looks forward to her Christmas single every year
Soap
He is a top 40 listener so the closest to indie sad girl he gets is Lana Del Rey
Is unashamed about it and makes everyone listen to her unreleased stuff
His favorite album is Honeymoon
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shinmiyovvi · 10 months
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Here's a wip of the Carrd website for my CodZ oc Information Files
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bukuoshin · 9 months
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They want me to do jury duty so bad.
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dagamingshelf-database · 11 months
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Call of Duty: Warzone Loot Crate Keychain
This keychain was released globally in May of 2021 inside a Loot Crate box sold for $29.99. It was released as merchandise for Call of Duty: Warzone. This item came from Loot Gaming, a box centered around all things video games. This was an item included in the April 2021 box themed "Salty". It is a Loot Crate exclusive.
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tryhardsports · 1 year
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Call of Duty League (CDL) 2023: How to watch in India, full season schedule
Call of Duty League (CDL) 2023: How to watch in India, full season schedule
Call of Duty League 2023, or CDL 2023, is one of the most anticipated competitions for Activision’s famed game, expected to take place next year. The tournament will be broken into smaller tournaments known as Majors, which will lead up to the final championship event. The matches will be played in a LAN format, bringing together the world’s most elite CDL teams on an one stage. To further…
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patybaccarini · 2 years
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Quais sãos os jogos online mais procurados pelos jovem?
Quais sãos os jogos online mais procurados pelos jovem?
Hoje com toda a tecnologia as pessoas do mundo todo estão cada vez mais tempo online seja para trabalho home office ou jogos online. Vaja a lista com os 10 jogos online mais procurados pelos jovens de todo o mundo. 1º Lugar Minecraft (2009) 1º Lugar Minecraft (2009) A primeira vez que Minecraft surgiu na internet foi em 2009, como um projeto online do programador sueco Markus “Notch” Persson…
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rudrjobdesk · 2 years
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2021 में लोगों की पसंद बने ये 10 पॉपुलर स्मार्टफोन Games, सबसे ज़्यादा बार हुए डाउनलोड
2021 में लोगों की पसंद बने ये 10 पॉपुलर स्मार्टफोन Games, सबसे ज़्यादा बार हुए डाउनलोड
साल 2021 के पहले 6 महीने खत्म हो चुके हैं. ये 6 महीने मोबाइल गेमिंग इंडस्ट्री के लिए काफी बेहतर रहे. मोबाइल डेटा और एनालिटिक्स प्रदान करने वाले ऐप ‘Annie’ द्वारा पिछले 6 महीनों के परिणामों के अनुसार, इसका राजस्व 2021 में 10 करोड़ को पार कर चुका है. भारत अभी मोबाइल गेम डाउनलोडिंग के हिसाब से दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा बाजार है. जब स्मार्टफोन गेम्स पर यूज़र्स के खर्च की बात आती है तो अमेरिका सबसे ऊपर…
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cheriladycl01 · 4 months
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My love, is mine all mine - Max Verstappen x Norris! Reader x Charles Leclerc Part 2
Plot: Norris' Twin sister is also a driver in the 2021 line up and is in her rookie era. Not only do the commentators struggle to now talk about the pair in the race, but they also struggle to talk about talent. What happens when two drivers find her eye-catching.
Credit to countingstars-17 for the GIF
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After you'd spent the week at home you travelled to France, you asked McLaren to set you in a different hotel from the other drivers. You found one that was cheaper and still within a decent distance from the race track.
Your sisters in your groupchat that didn't have your bothers in, had texted you telling you Lando was getting worried you wouldn't be showing up for this race. It was Thursday and normally drivers would come to the paddock for media duties but when he came it was just him doing stuff for the F1 YouTube and being pestered by the McLaren social media teams for content.
"Zac where is she, you guys wont tell me and I'm worried she wont be here for practice which starts in 20 minutes!" Lando asks Zac whose in sat in hospitality having a pre-race coffee.
"As far as I'm aware, she's already in her car getting ready for the practice session ... so I'd get yourself down there now so you can get a good time Lando" he smiles, Lando rushed to the garage Zac slowly trailing behind him, wanting to get to the garage to get a set of headphones and sit with the race engineers.
"Y/N can you hear?" you hear through your in ears.
"Loud and clear, let me know when i can leave the pit" you say shuffling down in your seat to test the pedals.
"Nico, the pedals are feeling a little stiff, its like there's no traction" you complain as your directed out onto the pit lane.
"Okay, just do a slow lap, testing the breaks and make sure the throttle is all okay. Then we'll see if we need to bring the car in quickly before a flying lap.
As you'd gone round on a normal lap, it was determined that there was an issue with the breaks, the minute you'd tried to do the flying lap your car had major under steer. You'd managed to keep it out the gravel but you had spun out. You were called back to the pits and only placed P16.
You slammed your wheel onto the bonnet, and the engineers all immediately started to work on your car. You talked with them helping them out.
You spied Lando's car in the corner of your eyes being pulled into his half of the garage.
"Y/N hey" he says jumping out the car pulling him helmet off.
"Kinda busy trying to fix this trash can of a car right now Lando, later" you say not even sparing him a glance. Grumbles come from the mechanics making you whisper an apology as they jokingly scowl at you.
Was it petty that you weren't speaking to your brother, yes.
Was it petty that you were trying to get him to have a spoon of his own medicine for the way he'd treated you in Azerbaijan, yes.
Were you going to stop right now? Nope!
"Oh, erm okay well I'm going to go grab something to eat before the next practice" he smiles.
"Cool" you nod a smile, before kneeling down pointing something out to the mechanic that didn't look quite right.
"I'll be back in a bit, will the car be ready for FP2?" you ask.
"Should be, just needs some greasing and tightening. Trust us you'll be flying out there in no time!" the head mechanic says and you smile nodding softly before walking out towards the rest of the motorhomes.
You walked past, shyly waving to the drivers she encountered. Sky had seen her but were already busy interviewing Christian Horner and Toto Wolff who were currently talking about the championship this year and Mercedes rough start to the season in Bahrain.
"Y/N?" a voice asks from a table outside the Red Bull hospitality.
"Oh! Max, hey how have you been" you exclaim crossing over the Sky cameras who unbeknownst to you followed you for later review. You pull him into a hug, happy to finally see someone on the grid who hadn't upset you in the last few weeks.
"I'm good but i think the actual question is, are you okay?" he asks rubbing up and down your arm.
"Yeah, I just don't really know how to even talk to Lando about all of this, he's never not been there for an achievement of mine up until now. The team's strategy was shit, and I got us more points passing Lando, i was on the fresher tires, I had DRS i don't understand why they wouldn't want me to overtake" you complain, you really genuinely couldn't understand it.
It wasn't like this in Formula 2.
"You'll come to learn, that people don't like being my team-mate because im golden boy. I was the hot shot that Horner took a gamble on and he won jackpot. It's never easy being the second driver on a team to a golden boy" he advises, making you look down tears in your eyes.
Is that all Zac thought of you? The secondary to your golden boy hot shot brother.
Well that just wouldn't fly, you'll show them that your made of more and that you are worthy of sharing the seat with your brother.
"You know, keep it up Schat, Horner's been keeping an eye on you. So have Mercedes and Ferrari" Max whispers leaning in and holding your waist. You gasp as he leans back looking at you nodding before wandering off and into the Red Bull motorhome.
You check your phone for the time seeing that you really should make your way back to the McLaren garage to see if your car is ready.
"We didn't talk" you hear from behind you and a hand grabs your wrist and pulls you back to them.
Charles
"I don't want to talk to you Charles" you grunt shrugging his arm off.
"Why not?" he asks looking over you.
"I think you know why, just concentrate on FP2 Charles" you say, for the first time you see a sort of desperation in his eyes. It's almost as if he came here with the intention to say something to you, but he also doesn't want to admit it.
"Y/N... wait" he starts again but you continue walking. You manage to get back to the motorhome and see Lando sat in the hospitality, he was with his personal trainer Jon and then the performance engineer Jarv.
You walk past them and here Jarv say something to your brother.
"Go follow her, you need to sort this out before the race"
"She doesn't want to talk to me, I've tried" he groans as you wait behind the door just in earshot of them.
"You call earlier in the garage trying? Jheez man" Jon laughs before getting up and discarding of his food tray.
"Your right!" Lando sighs before jumping up to come and find you. You start to walk away so it didn't look like you were listening in to their conversation.
"Y/N, please can we talk" Lando says stopping you right by the coffee cart.
"Mmmmm"
"Look, I was terrible the other day. Your my twin and we've shared everything together. I- I'm sorry i wasn't there to celebrate with you. It's just annoying when Jon's telling me that you've been told not to go for the overtake and then you do. I see now that you taking over worked better for the team but i cant help but be upset" he tries but you look at him in shock, why on earth was he making this moment, this apology about him and how he was affected.
"How are you still making this about you?" you scoff.
"What what do you mean, I'm explaining why i wasn't there..."
"By saying that I've upset you, when I'm the person you've affected. Do you even know what they have been saying about me in articles because of this whole thing with you and Charles? I'm being told I'm a shit driver and i shouldn't have my seat and that my own brother and multiple other drivers agree... I'm being told im a danger to the sport and that I wont have a seat come next year!" you sigh, knowing that he had a right to be upset about you overtaking him, but it shouldn't be at you.
"I'm sorry, I know I ruined it. I should've celebrated with you! Its my fault" he says, before pulling you into a hug. You hug him back, your shoulders sagging into it. Your brother was always your other half, you guys were two peas in a pod. It broke your heart when he left you behind in F2 before going to F1 in 2019. So this year, being the first year that you were back driving with your brother it was special for you.
"It's not like I wont have other podiums to celebrate this year" you jab him making him laugh.
"Oh yeah, not if i have anything to say about it!" he jokes as you both start walking back to the garage.
"I'm still upset though, just so you know. But I forgive you" you smile as you both get back to the cars.
"Hey, how's the car looking?" you ask the people around your car.
"You'll be good to go, breaks are sorted and its looking good!"
And that was true, you came P3 in FP2.
You didn't have a good night sleep, thinking about Charles and how he's tried to talk to you today, how you'd made up with Lando, and you kept asking yourself if it was too quick. But what was in your mind the most was Max and what he'd told you and how he'd been so nice to you over the last few months.
FP3 the next day was worse and you came P10, which then set the mood for Qualifying, where you finished P10 which would mean that your are in the middle for starting the next day.
Lando was in P8 meaning he was directly in front of you, you were hoping you could get a slipstream from him, and overtake Fernando on the start.
By the end of the French Grand Prix you and your brother both simultaneously moved up 4 places ending with him in P5 and you in P6, Zac was happy as you'd managed to stir Ferrari and get ahead both of them.
You were walking to your car, when you notice a sleek Ferrari next to your McLaren and a familiar man leaning against it.
"Charles I really cant deal with this, the interviews have tired me out. I'll see you in Styria!" you say, clicking the keys to open your car.
"Y/N please I need to apologize" he says grabbing at you wrist again turning you round.
"Charles, look. I forgave Lando for not being at my podium and yelling at me, but you actively told me I didn't deserve my seat when i've had to work twice as hard for it than anyone on the grid. So to be told that its undeserved is horrible because this is all I've ever wanted..." you say tears brimming your eyes.
"I'm sorry I'm so so sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'll think I'll regret this forever if I don't do this" he says before grabbing your cheeks with his hands, one sliding down to your neck before leaning in and placing his lips against yours.
You kiss back, it's more out of anger, you weren't sure why you actually kissed him back. After the initial shock you pulled away, your hand slipping in between you too to push him away.
"Charles what the hell" you shout, looking at him eyes wide.
"I'm sorry, but the reason I get so annoyed with you is because I've had a crush on you for years. At first I hated that you always were better than me, I got more aggressive and you were the safer driver back then, so you'd give me room let me pass. I knew I'd never have a chance with you, getting you attention was easier when I teased you, but i guess as i got older i got more sour at you, and how everyone seemed to adore you and grab your attention apart from me" he reasons now holding her wrist again.
"Charles, you cant, you cant do that" you cry.
"What, I cant admit what I've been feeling for you for years. Y/N please" he begs, the puppy eyes looking down at you as you shrunk yourself.
"What's going on over here" Max asks coming over looking between you and Charles, you turn away so that he doesn't see the tears in your eyes, wiping them with the sleeve of your orange McLaren rain jacket.
"Nothing Max" you say before turning back round smiling at the both of them.
"Come on Y/N. I know you better than that" Max said but you decided to stay silent.
"Is he bothering you again? Charles, just leave her the fuck alone. We spoke about this after Azerbaijan..." Max says pushing him away from you.
"Max don't! Its fine I promise, I'll see you both in Austria okay?" you say getting into the car. You sit there for a second, contemplating what the hell just happened before you realize both the drivers are still stood there watching you.
What. The. Hell.
A/N: I don't know if i like this, it feels like I made her and Lando make up too quickly, and Charles felt kinda quick. But for future ideas in this series, her and Lando making up now means room for more angst in the future *wink,wink*
Taglist:
@littlesatanicassholebitch @hockey-racing-fubol @laura-naruto-fan1998 @22yuki @simxican @sinofwriting @lewisroscoelove @cmleitora @stupidandunnecessary @clayra-g @daemyratwst @honey-belden @moonypixel @lauralarsen @vader-is-hot @ironcowboycopnickel @itsjustkhaos @the-untamed-soul @beebo86 @happylittlereader @ziejustme @lou-larcher5 @thewulf @purplephantomwolf @chasing-liberosis @chillyleclerc @chanthereader @annoyingmoonballoon @summissss @evieepepi08 @havaneseoger08 @celesteblack08 @gulphulp @fandom1ruined2me @celebstories @starfusionsworld @jspitwall @sierruhh @georgeparisole @dakotatankbig @youcannotcancelquidditch @zzonsbeek @tallbrownhairsarcastic @mellowarcadefun @ourteenagetragedy @otako5811 @countingstacksandpanicattacks @peachiicherries @formulas-bitch @cherry-piee @hopexcroc @mirrorball-6 @spilled-coffee-cup @mehrmonga @bigsimperika @blueberry64857959 @eiraethh @lilypadlover @curseofhecate @alliwantisadonut @the-fem1n1ne-urge @21stcenturytaegi @dark-night-sky-99 @spideybv28 @i-wish-this-was-me @tallrock35 @butterfly-lover @barnestatic
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fangirl-dot-com · 4 months
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Lewis Hamilton and George Russel - I'm with a Knight and Slenderman, No One Can Touch Me
It’s part 4 time! This was so fun to write and I laughed so hard at some parts. I feel like George is a really underrated driver. He’s funny and a good person (even though he looks like Woody from Toy Story). And the girlfriend effect has hit him hard. His hair is so beautiful and I need to know what he does with his bangs. 
And then Sir Lewis – good Lord, he needs to go back to that one hairstyle from that one interview that made everyone fall for him 
Specially dedicated to @treehouse-mouse <3
[TAG LIST IS CLOSED] 
Like always, comments, questions, concerns, likes, and reblogs are always appreciated! Love you all &lt;;3 
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“Shit,” you muttered as you looked around the now empty paddock. You knew that taking a nap after your media duties had been done was a bad idea. You had played nap roulette with yourself and were now paying the consequences. You shouldn’t have said “oh, I won’t set an alarm. Someone will come get me. I might nap for ten minutes or it might be 3 hours. Who knows!” 
Well, now you knew. It was three hours. 
You looked around for your backpack that you had come with. But as your eyes danced around the garage, it was nowhere to be found. You sighed as you at least remembered your phone. But alas, the world hated you for being a woman: your phone was dead. 
“Ok, there’s no reason to panic. Let’s head to the parking lot and see if someone is still here,” you whispered to yourself. Walking carefully, you exited the dark paddock. The parking lot was no different. 
Dark, cold, and empty. 
“Great. Just great.” You decided to sit on a curb and wait. Maybe by now, Christian or Max would know that you are missing, and will come back to get you. 
Or maybe they were mad at you. Yes, you were on the podium. As a rookie. At your first race. 
But you made a mistake that costed the team a 1-2 finish. Maybe you didn’t deserve to be looked for. 
Before your thoughts could spiral more, two bright headlights blinded you. You raised a hand to try to cover at least some of your face. The two front doors of the car swung open. Your heart started to race. 
It was just you out here and they might be kidnappers. 
“Please I have no money on me. Don’t beat me up or kidnap me. Trust, you do not want to sell me or anything like that,” you spoke out, trying to hinder their unknown wants for you. Your fear slowly melted away at a familiar grandpa laugh and bean-pole build of the two figures. 
“Lewis! George!” You stood up quickly. 
“What are you doing out here?” George peered down. Your neck was bent to even look up at him. 
“Um. I might have been left behind because I was taking a nap. And my phone is also dead.” You sheepishly grinned at the two. 
Lewis sighed before bringing out his phone. “I don’t have Christian’s number, but Toto does. Let me give him a call.” 
Your head cocked. “Do you not have Max’s number?” George let out a laugh. 
“Kid. Think of Abu Dhabi 2021.” Your eyes widened. 
“Sorry.” 
Lewis waved you off and walked a bit aways to hear Toto. George just kind of stared at you as you stared at him. 
“Are you ok?” 
“Of course I’m ok. I’m with a knight,” you pointed at Lewis, “and Slenderman. No one can touch me.” You crossed your arms before giggling. George just gawked at your boldness. You took this time to look at the nice Mercedes in front of you. “Is this the new model?” 
George nodded. “Yeah, Lewis just got it. He won’t let me drive it though.” A pout formed on his lips. 
“I get what you mean. Max won’t let me drive his Ferrari.” 
“Why would you want to drive that junk?” 
Your head tilted. “I don’t know. I like my Porsches better though.” It was George’s time to raise an eye brow. “I haven’t gotten them yet. But they’ll be ready soon. I had to ship one to London and the other to Monaco.” 
“Ah.” 
You looked at Lewis, who was still on the phone. You had an idea. 
A very bad one, but an idea none-the-less. 
“You wanna go somewhere?” You pointed at the still running car. Lewis should have taken the keys. 
“Where would we go?” George was already grinning like the Cheshire cat. 
“There’s a burger king a couple of miles away.” 
George was already climbing into the driver’s side. “Let’s get going!”
Back with Lewis, he was still on the phone. For some reason, Toto would still not give him Christian’s number. 
“Please Toto, I am with two children,” he pinched his brow, “and I’m tired and I’d like to get back to the hotel. So please send me Max’s or Christian’s number.” He wasn’t aware of his car that was now filled with said two children making their getaway. He hung up once he got Max’s number. 
His phone rang for a few seconds before Max’s voice sounded over the background noise of a party. 
“Who is this?” 
“It’s Lewis. You left your kid here.” He heard Max curse on the other side. 
“I thought Vito was getting her, but Vito is right at the bar. Can you send me your location so I can pick her up?” 
Lewis waved a hand, even though Max couldn’t see it. “No worries, I can just drop her off. I’m with George and we’ll driver her over. I have my-” Lewis stopped.
“Lewis? Are you there?” 
Lewis’ eyes scanned the now empty parking lot. He groaned. “They took my car!” 
Max laughed for a bit before he realized that Lewis wasn’t playing. “Send my your location, I’m already out the door. We’ll find them.” 
By the time Max got to Lewis, you and George were already having the time of your lives. 
You pointed out the window. “Look Georgie. Traffic cones. Have you ever put one on your head?” 
When George denied that he had, you gasped and told him to pull over. You and him climbed out of the low car and walked over to the traffic cones. By now, your phone was a bit charged, courtesy of the charger in the vehicle. And it was blowing up. 
But you didn’t see it or care. 
You picked up one of the cones and put it on your head. Your giggle resonated through it. 
“Y/n, smile!” You heard George say. You smiled, even though it wouldn’t be seen under the orange hat. 
George told you that he was going to set up the camera to take a picture of the two of you. 
“Let’s put our heads together.” The two cones whacked against the other. George had to bend over so that they would be close.
You laughed as your hair was staticky due to the cone. George’s hair was the same, which made you laugh even harder. “Send that to me, I’m going to post in on the gram.” 
The only notification you looked at was the one from George with the picture. Quicky uploading it, you knew you were about to create even more chaos. 
The two of you decided to sit on the curb for a bit. Your thoughts from earlier quickly sprang into your head, due to the silence between you two. 
“George?” you questioned, looking ahead. He was currently scrolling through his phone, but he made a noise to let you know that he was listening. 
“What was it like having a teammate that you know you’ll never amount to? Not saying that you won’t amount to Lewis at some point, but,” you trailed off, not knowing how to continue. 
The click of his phone let you know that George was now focused on the conversation. 
“I get what you mean. It’s very overwhelming. You get put up with world champions, and people are already expecting you to beat records and perform as well as they do.” George sighed as he reflected on his first year with Mercedes. How the people would taunt that he wasn’t good enough to be Lewis’s teammate and that he should just be second fiddle to him. Suddenly, he noticed a hand had been placed on his shoulder. Tears also wetted his face. 
When had he started crying? 
You continued to rub his shoulder until his tears stopped. 
You tried to console him. “Well, we can be second-fiddle buddies together?” you offered, hoping he would laugh. And he did. 
The two of you decided to sit on the curb for a few more minutes. But at this point, you knew that Lewis along with Max were probably on their way to get you. You pulled yourself up, then held out a hand to George, who took it without second thought.  
Before you knew it, the two of you were back in the car, just chilling. 
“Look what Max and Lewis are saying.” You showed him the screen and laughed. It really was fun to mess with old men. 
“Are we still going to burger king?” 
You nodded your head. “If Lewis can be a knight, I need a crown to be the king.” 
“Don’t you mean queen?” he asked as he started the car back up again. 
“Nope.” You popped the P and that was a good enough answer. George pulled away from the side of the street and made his way to the Burger King. The two of you were thankful that it was mostly empty, except for the employees. The two of you ordered more than enough food for two people. You justified it as giving the workers more money. 
Your companion went along with it. 
“Order number 69,” the tired lady called out. George and you shared a look before the two of you collapsing on the ground, dying with laughter and probably exhaustion. You were still giggling as you took the food from the lady. You muttered a thank you before you and George took a table near the back. 
“Did you get your slushie?” you questioned, holding your cup. 
“I didn’t know they had slushies!” 
You took George’s hand and let him over to the machine. The amount of slushies that you slurped down would never be recorded. As you drank one of your last ones, you suddenly remembered an important detail. 
You looked over at the tired lady who took your order. “Do you have the crowns?”  
Max was still constantly trying to reach you, with one hand on the steering wheel and his phone in the other. 
“Come on kid. Pick up,” he pleaded and cursed when the call went to voicemail for the umpteenth time that night. 
Lewis was texting all the drivers in the group chat, asking if they’d seen the two of you. They came up short. 
“This is ridiculous,” Max seethed. “How could you have let them do this?” 
Lewis shot him a glare. “How could you leave her at the paddock after dark?” he bit back. 
“Like I said, Vito was supposed to take her back to the hotel. She’s not allowed in the clubs.” 
“Then Christian should find some way for everyone to party. The kid got a podium her first race as a rookie, and she was left behind.” 
Max banged his head on the steering wheel as they stopped at a red light. Lewis was correct. He wondered if you felt forgotten. Knowing you, you probably did. And it was mostly his fault. He’d talk to Christian about alternatives until you turned legal age.
“I’ll talk to Christian about that. What were you and George doing back at the paddock anyway?” 
Lewis grimaced. “I forgot a file back at our garage. George seemed antsy and restless so I invited him. Never doing that again.” 
Max smirked, “Kids. Am I right?”  
“Look!” Lewis pointed at a familiar car in the parking lot of an empty Burger King. Max pulled in on two wheels. As they walked up, their eyes landed on two people, crowns on their heads, hands flailing. 
Max pushed the door open and stopped towards the figures. His hands landed aggressively on the table. “Do you two know how much trouble you’re in.” 
He heard laughing from behind him. 
“Max. That’s not them,” Lewis whispered. 
Max’s head jerked and saw the scared faces of two employees. He heard more laughing and whipped his head around, eyes finally falling on you and George, whose phone was out recording. You looked as if you were about to explode with laughter. 
“I’m sorry about that.” He turned around and stomped towards your table. “Let’s try this again.” 
His palms hit the correct table this time. “Do the two of you know how much trouble you are in?” He looked into your eyes before glancing at George. 
You stared up at the seething Dutchman. You pulled out a french fry.  
“Fry?” 
“Lewis, I got you an impossible whopper.” George held out the wrapped food. 
Max sighed, anger waning by the minute. There was no fighting with the two of you. The two adult-figures sat down and started to eat. Max munched on a fry as Lewis started to eat the burger. 
You and George continued to talk about your so-called adventures. 
“And then George ran a red light.” 
Lewis choked as George winced. Lewis’s head jerked toward George, eyes squinting. 
“You’re paying for that.” George only shrugged, he had enough money anyway. 
Max just stared in silence, mulling over the exhausting night. You could sense that he was still cooling off, and you were scared of what he might say in the car. 
The food was quickly finished and the four of you were headed out the door. It seemed as though yours and George’s energy levels were quickly tanking as the two of you barely said a goodbye. The hug and faux tears though were enough for Lewis and Max to roll their eyes. 
You watched as George and Lewis left in the Mercedes. You gulped as you got into the passenger side of Max’s rental vehicle. You winced at the proximity. 
You mind quickly went back to your dad. How he’d hit the side of your face if you did anything that was “out of line.” Or he’d pinch your thigh until it bruised. Those were the easiest to hide. When your face was a little too red and purple, your helmet stayed on for the entire race day. 
Your eyes welled with tears at the thought of Max turning out to be like him. You didn’t think he would, but you were out of line tonight. 
No fun. No sneaking out. No stealing (borrowing) cars. 
You were sinking into yourself, and Max could sense that. 
He turned to look at you. What he said next was shocking. 
“I’m sorry kid.” 
Your eyes bulged. “Why are you sorry? If anything, I should be on my knees begging for your forgiveness.” 
Max just stared at you before slowly putting his hand near your head. 
This was it. He was going to hit you and you’d have to live through everything again. You couldn’t tell Christian that his golden-child would do such a thing. And no one would ever believe you. 
You jerked back as your eyes closed tight. Your body tensed, waiting for the repercussion to your actions. Your breaths got a little bit faster and shorter.   
But it never came. 
All that was, was a gentle placed hand on the top of your head. 
Comforting. Loving. Cherishing. 
Max wanted to cry as he saw how your body prepared for something horrible. Something nasty. 
“Kleintje,” Max breathed out. 
Your tears began to make their escape down the hills of your cheeks. You could only repeat and whisper I’m sorry, over and over again. Max couldn’t do anything but wait for you to calm down and maybe tell him what was racing through your head. 
Your breathing evened out as you felt there was nothing coming. Soon you were embarrassed for thinking that Max, one of the only people to seem to care about you, would do such a thing. Yet, your mind always went back to your patterns.
People who should care, didn’t. Hands that were made for comforting, didn’t. Encouragements didn’t exist…for you. 
Maybe you were the problem. 
But, maybe you weren’t. You’d allow some comfort, just this once. 
Max cooed as you leaned into his hand. He knew you were tired. A long day of racing and a long night of adventures would really do that to you.  
He didn’t expect you to explain to so quickly. But you knew how to surprise someone. 
“My dad and mom, weren’t the nicest. They wanted a boy, got me instead.” You harshly exhaled. “They put me in karting because if they had had a boy, they would have done the same. I was just a placeholder.”
Max listened, wanting to hear what you said. 
“It started off small. A push here, a hit to the helmet there. I really didn’t think anything of it. Until I was about 7 and I crashed my kart on the last lap. I was going to win too, but I over compensated and hit the wall. All I remember after that race was my dad grabbing my wrist and yanking me to the car. I hit my head on the dash, I think. Or he was the one to push my head in.” You shrugged at the nasty memory, as if it didn’t matter. 
Max on the other hand, was getting angrier. Yes, his dad did similar things, but he was a boy. He could stand up for himself. And he had his mom and sister. 
You had no one. 
“The next morning, I woke up and there was this giant bruise on my face and smaller ones littered my arms. I thought that was the end of it, except it continued. I was able to hide it pretty well. My race suit pretty much covered everything. I also didn’t have many friends, or, I just didn’t have friends. So there, wasn’t a need to worry. They stopped after I made it to the end of F4, because I was winning and there were more cameras. The moment I made it to F3 in 2019, they disowned me.” 
He did the math. You would have been 16 at the time. Still a kid, but smaller. His heart broke for you. 
“Kid, look at me.” 
You turned your head and made eye contact. Your brows furrowed when you saw tears in his eyes. 
He wasn’t supposed to cry. Why was he crying? 
“I’m crying because no one should ever have to go through something like that.” Oh, you must have said that out loud.
You shrugged once again, “I probably deserved it.” 
“No, geitje, no one deserves that. Ever. You didn’t.” You could only nod along. Your eyes were getting tired by the minute. Max could tell so he started the car. He only had one more thing to say. (translation : kid) 
“My dad did similar things. But I had people to help me. And I know your dad isn’t around, but Y/n,” he said your name, trying to emphasize that he was serious. “I am here for you. Christian is here for you. Mitch is here and so is Vito. We love you. I’m not a good teammate, and you can see that I’ve gone through more teammates than anyone else has in the amount of time I’ve been here. I’m the only constant. But I think that we will actually work out. Best duo right?” 
For the first time since Burger King, where you and him were still parked, he saw your eyes light up. 
You nodded, “Best duo.” 
Max finally took that as a sign that you’d be ok for the night. He carefully back the car out and started on the road toward the hotel. 
“Do you think Christian will let me come to the club next race.” 
Max let out a sarcastic laugh. “Definitely not.” 
Your giggles filled the small space. Max’s heart swelled at making you laugh. 
You’d be all right. He’d make sure of it. 
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AN: oh my gosh that got REAL depressing – I apologize. But, Max needed to know a bit more about your lore if he’s going to be able to fend off any unwanted visitors (FORESHADOWING). Anyway, I will see you all at the next chapter! Muah! Much love <3 – author :D 
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reikorun · 2 months
Text
KlubOutside Q&A 201-300 [Translation]
Translated by @reikorun
Q201.
2021.09.20
I like Luppi. I was absolutely overjoyed when Luppi made an appearance as a playable character in Blade Battlers 2nd which was released on PS2. In this game, Luppi's arms transform into tentacles and he could extend them to attack. I was surprised because there was no such depiction in the original work. Did sensei also supervise the settings for attacks in this game?
A201. 
I can't recall so I probably didn't touch it. Luppi fighting with outstretched arms is so entertaining to me. I think that outlaw kind of feeling is one of the greatest qualities about games back then.
Q202.
2021.09.20
Of all the characters you have drawn, which one did sensei consider the most difficult to design?
A202. 
Shun Shun Rikka, or rather the image of Orihime's abilities is the one thing which changed the most without quite clicking together. Initially, the story was that Orihime herself would grow Horns and sprout a tail, becoming sort of like a dragon girl.
Q203.
2021.09.20
Sensei, is there any character that you have drawn who makes you think "this guy is insufferable"? 
A203.
There isn't. I draw while thinking “this is so scummy, that's the best thing about it.”
Q204.
2021.09.20
Does Kubo-sensei have any fetish? When I look at sensei's drawings, I can't help but speculate that you like slender wrists and long fingers, regardless of gender. 
A204.
I don't have any particular fetish. I think it's because I draw illustrations using my own hands as reference.
Q205.
2021.09.20
Regarding Ichimaru Gin's eye color, I believe it was red around the early days of the anime, and then changed to blue in the latter half. What does Kubo-sensei think of his red eyes around this early stage? Also, as far as Kubo-sensei's canon is concerned, is it safe to assume Ichimaru Gin's eye color is blue? 
A205.
In the early days, the checks were not being handed down to me so they ended up being red. For the record, the anime related mistakes were errors made by my editor at the time who didn't bring the checks to me. Because of this, I drew Gin with his eyes open on the cover of volume 20.
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Q206.
2021.09.20
Rukia's visuals in the live-action adaptation has become quite a hot topic of conversation, but was the matter reviewed by Kubo-sensei?
A206.
I had made it clear from the beginning that I would not be involved with the live-action project, so basically the whole thing was given the okay. Even regarding Rukia's hair, there was a conversation where I said "I'd like you to go ahead with this" so I assumed there was a clear vision but it turns out there wasn't. I don't dislike the movie itself. Renji was extremely good.
Q207.
2021.09.27
Kubo-sensei, to what extent do you supervise merchandise and so on? I'm very happy that a lot of BLEACH merch has been released recently.
A207.
I feel like I'm supervising the things my editor can't make a judgment call on. Speaking of editors, they try their best to avoid handing over supervision duties to authors so that they can allow authors to concentrate on their creations, but after the series had ended, I had some free time so my editor has started bringing me more supervision duties than before.
Q208.
2021.09.27
If it were to come true, would you ever wish for a BLEACH anime adaptation, which faithfully follows the original work, to be broadcast by way of a remake?
A208.
I think I would.
Q209.
2021.09.27
It seems that the 2021 art exhibition will only be held at one location in Tokyo, but would it be possible for you to consider holding it at a variety of other locations? I'm really looking forward to it, but I'm sure there are many people across the country who live a considerable distance away and can't make it. It's a wonderful opportunity, so I think it will be easier to visit if it is hosted in various locations. I think it's a really difficult task, but I would be grateful if you could consider it just once.
A209.
I also want to show the exhibit to my parents, so I hope it will be held in Hiroshima.
Q210.
2021.09.27
Even though Byakuya and Ichika-chan never interact in the original work, I can easily imagine Byakuya being an uncle. I wonder why that is?
A210.
I can imagine it too. Byakuya's face whenever he tells her "kamawanu*"…. (*It's fine/I don't mind)
Q211.
2021.09.27
In volume 58, chapter 518, when Grimmjow was trying to interrupt Urahara and Ichigo's communication, Urahara instructed Orihime and Sado to "use the you-know-what to chase him back outside the tent", but what exactly was the "you-know-what"? What in the world is it, that it can throw Grimmjow off balance to such a degree…? I've been wondering about this for a long time.
A211.
It's a device which emits a sound that Grimmjow dislikes.
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Q212.
2021.09.27
Is Ninny-chan easier to draw than Noel-chan?? I was curious because there are more illustrations drawn of Ninny-chan!
A212.
This is because the clothes I want to draw tend to suit Ninny better. If you have big breasts, it's probably difficult to find clothes that suit you.
Q213.
2021.10.04
Ginrei is Byakuya's grandfather, but Kyōraku did not mention his name as a Shinigami who has been Captain for 100 years or more, so perhaps his career as a Captain was rather short?
A213.
I forgot to mention him! Let's just pretend it was Shunsui's blunder.
Q214.
2021.10.04
Do you find that characters of a certain age group are easy to draw, and conversely,  characters of a different age group difficult to draw? 
A214. 
I'm not very good at drawing children or toddlers.
Q215.
2021.10.04
I have been curious about Tsubokura Rin-kun of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Rin-kun's hair wasn't filled in when he was in monochrome, I thought for certain he had pale blonde or white hair. However, in the anime his hair was dark brown … so as far as you are concerned sensei, what colors did you imagine when designing him? 
A215.
Was that the color it turned out to be? The image I had in mind is a pale sepia-like color.
Q216.
2021.10.04
Isn't it too bothersome to draw Grimmjow's hairstyle??
A216.
It's too bothersome isn't it? I wonder if you could give him a stiff pompadour instead?
Q217.
2021.10.04
Do you remember the first game you ever played?
A217.
It's "GeGeGe no Kitarō - Yōkai Daimakyō" which was purchased for me together with the Famicom unit itself.
Q218.
2021.10.04
Do you get asked to draw portraits by acquaintances?
A218.
I have always refused all portrait requests from both friends and celebrities.
Q219.
2021.10.11
What is Kensei's specialty dish? 
A219.
It's "Whole Pumpkin Gratin". The highlight for him is the part where he gets to use his bare hands.
Q220.
2021.10.11
When I saw the Playlist on KlubOutside, I was surprised at the wide scope of Sensei's music choices. How do you discover new music?
A220.
SoundHound is my recommendation.
Q221.
2021.10.11
Is the bellyband worn by the Shinigami Men's Association the same as the one worn by Kirinji Tenjirō?
A221.
It's different. The bellyband Tenjirō wears was made by Senjumaru.
Q222.
2021.10.11
Now that I think of it, what does "Whiskrs" mean? I looked into it, and although there are some existing terms, I couldn't find anything in particular with regard to its meaning. I don't know whether sensei came up with the name or not, but perhaps it envelopes some special meaning? 
A222.
It's a modified spelling of the word "whiskers". I came up with the name, or to be more specific, it's originally the name of a store that exists within the BTW universe. Though, this still has yet to make an appearance in the story.
Q223.
2021.10.11
When you go out, have you ever had a fan recognize you as Kubo-sensei and then attempt to speak with you?
A223.
A long time ago, another author wound up uploading a photo of a drinking party I was with to Twitter in the middle of the get-together, the restaurant was identified from the photograph and I was ambushed. It was late at night and I was on my way home alone, so it was really scary. That was probably the one and only time I was approached on the street.
Q224.
2021.10.11
Sensei, have you ever felt negatively about your own work in the past? I am currently creating works with the goal of becoming a designer, but unfortunately I feel embarrassed to display even the things I have created very recently in front of others. How do you overcome this from your perspective, sensei?
A224.
When I first became a manga artist, I felt embarrassed when my editor read my draft right in front of me. If you are creating something that personally satisfies you, you're just not accustomed to showing it to the average person, so you have no choice but to show it to a bunch of people and get used to it. 
Q225.
2021.10.11
Have you ever had a character Awakened in Brave Souls? If so, I would like to know which character it is.
A225.
It's Fierce Battle Aizen. Though, it's more like I just ended up Awakening him when I was targeting others.
Q226.
2021.10.18
In the work, it was never once stated from a  reliable source that Tōshirō's Bankai comes undone once his petals dissipate, but what actually happened when his petals fell away during the period he had an imperfect Bankai? 
A226.
Hitsugaya would injure himself after going through an imperfect growth.
Q227.
2021.10.18
When Rangiku had collapsed, Gin said "the fact that you passed out from hunger, it means that you have it too, right? Spiritual Power." and in Volume 11, there is a description from the exchange between Rukia and Renji that those with Spiritual Power feel hungry. But why didn't Hitsugaya realize he had powers until he dreamed of Hyōrinmaru?
A227.
Because his grandmother taught him that "only children get hungry.”
Q228.
2021.10.18
Why did Orihime's Rikka grow larger when Chad and Orihime returned from training in the final arc? I was curious because no one touched on the matter.
A228.
That's because Kisuke modified it to match her clothes (a cover was installed on the outside of the pins to make them difficult to break), but nobody said anything because they didn't think it was particularly worth mentioning.
Q229.
2021.10.18
When I was looking at "Hirako glasses" which was updated on the Gallery's Graffiti section, I became curious, what is that thing Hirako Shinji is holding in his mouth? Considering the hot drink in his left hand, maybe it's a cinnamon stick or something?
A229.
It's a cigarillo that he's holding in his mouth purely for fashion. I looked into it when I drew it but I couldn't find anything that matched the size I imagined.
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Q230.
2021.10.25
Good evening! The work titled "maturity" in the gallery that was released on April 3, 2021, could that be Mayuri-sama?
A230.
It's Mayuri. When I tried to type the title "mayuri", I accidentally tapped on the wrong suggestion and entered that instead, I left it as it is because it's a pain to change it.
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Q231.
2021.10.25
Did Ikkaku make the strap that Ichika has attached to her bag in JET?
A231.
That's right.
Q232.
2021.10.25
In BLEACH, how much influence did the ranking results of popularity polls have on a character's level of activity?
A232.
It's irrelevant. I'm the type who thinks "isn't that kind of thing discourteous to characters with few votes?"
Q233.
2021.10.25
Regarding the art exhibition, is it possible to increase the number of venues? I would absolutely love to participate, but due to the current situation, it is quite difficult to travel to Tokyo. Nevertheless, there are many fans of sensei and his work around the world. Although this is a very presumptuous request, I would be extremely grateful if you could consider it. Best regards.
A233.
I'll let my editor know! Murakoshi-saaan!!
Q234.
2021.10.25
Sensei, given that you play a lot of Dragon Quest, I was curious, is "Zaraki" - the district of Rukongai which Zaraki Kenpachi took as his name - based on the spell "Thwack" (*Zaraki in Japanese).
A234.
That's correct. Hold on, have I never mentioned this before?
Q235.
2021.11.01
Is there any reason why Kyōraku-san couldn't grace the cover of a tankōbon? I wanted him to have a cover.
A235.
It's just a coincidence. I wanted to draw it too.
Q236.
2021.11.01
Are Renji's tattoos only on the upper half of his body? Do they not continue down to his thighs?
A236.
They don't continue down. Wait? Have I never drawn his thighs before?
Q237.
2021.11.01
Is the double chant that Rukia recited during the fight against Aaroniero, simply the Sōren Sōkatsui chant split in two, with the Rikujōkōrō chant sandwiched in-between? Or does the substance of the chant change slightly depending on whether each is invoked independently or as a double chant?
A237.
It's a shortened version of Rikujōkōrō inserted between the full version of Sōren Sōkatsui. The effectiveness of the spells will increase if you perform both chants in full, but the time efficiency will decrease, so that would diminish the purpose of a two layered chant.
Q238.
2021.11.01
When a Zanpakutō is inherited from another person like in the case of Tōsen and Kenpachi, will the essence of its soul be overwritten? Or will it be made to mix with the essence of the previous owner?
A238.
Generally it is overwritten, but in some cases it may mix.
Q239.
2021.11.08
Were there any foreshadowing elements that made you go "ultimately, nobody noticed, huh?" up to the end of the BLEACH serialization? If so, is it likely there will be an opportunity to present it somewhere?
A239.
After I've finished playing a game or watching a movie, I like spending time alone thinking about what happened here and there or discussing with others about this and that. I want to create moments like that, so there are some parts where I try to depict things in a way that is not easily noticed, that's why unless someone correctly points it out, I try not to say much. 
Q240.
2021.11.08
Why didn't Ryūken give Uryū the "ken" (弦) character in his name? ×[1]
A240.
Because he was thinking that he didn't want to let Uryū become Quincy.
Q241.
2021.11.08
How far have you progressed in Monster Hunter? If there is a monster that you like among the monsters that appear in this title, please tell me about it!
A241.
I haven't played in a while. In this title I like Goss Harag.
Q242.
2021.11.08
Can I post the photos from the gallery on social media??!?!?
A242.
I guess it's not allowed, going by the FC rules. You can post my dog from Deskside at least.
Q243.
2021.11.15
Have you ever had to change a scene you originally wanted in order to make the depiction more in line with Jump guidelines? If so, which scene is it and how did you truly want to draw it? 
A243.
During the time Jump had a large circulation, extremely graphic depictions were not allowed, so I had to redraw some of the places where Mayuri appears. The first thing I fixed was the scene where his squad members die in an explosion.
Q244.
2021.11.15
There are characters for whom the theme music feels perfect, and on the other hand, others for whom the theme music is unexpected. By listening to each character's song, I feel like I am able to learn more about a character's inner being, it's so much fun! When deciding on a song, which does sensei place more importance on: the lyrics, or the melody?
A244.
It's only about the melody, sound and vocal quality. If it's the case that the lyrics also match, it's just a coincidence.
Q245.
2021.11.15
The market for e-books has grown larger, but when it comes to electronic and physical copy, people often say things like "you should buy the physical book!" What do you think? 
A245.
Either one is fine. Even I read most of my manga electronically now. I like making paper books but I think physical paper copies will become more of a collector's item in the near future.
Q246.
2021.11.15
Kubo-sensei draws many animals, but are there any that you particularly enjoy drawing?
A246.
Right now it's dogs. Since owning a dog, I've started to grow fond of animals, so I feel like I may reach a point where I'm able to draw animals a little better now. 
Q247.
2021.11.15
If there was an entrance song for Chad's boxing match, I wonder what kind of music it would be? If you have a song in mind that you can imagine for this scenario, please share the artist's name and song title with us.
A247.
It would be "Apache" by Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band.
Q248.
2021.11.22
An illustration of Tatsuki wearing a Shihakushō exists, did you originally plan to have her transform into a Shinigami? 
A248.
The one I drew for Jump Festa a long time ago, right? That's just an illustration I drew for Jump Festa that one time.
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Q249.
2021.11.22
It seems like Rukia often wears dresses in the Human World, is there some reason why? If you have any particular preferences regarding the clothing choices of the BLEACH cast, please by all means, tell us about it!
A249.
I'll give you three example reasons for why they wear what they wear:
Orihime's body type makes it difficult for her to wear a dress.
I wanted to make a physically active Rukia stand out by making her wear clothes that are ill suited for physical activity.
Rukia was wearing hakama in Soul Society, so she's not familiar with fitted clothes.
Q250.
2021.11.22
You may not remember this … but during an autograph signing session, I was the one who announced "I'm getting married to my boyfriend who I initially became friends with through BLEACH!" We broke up at lightning speed after that! (Peace sign.) But sometimes we hang out and are on good terms as friends. Now my question is, what is sensei's favorite color?
A250.
My condolences. It's orange.
Q251.
2021.11.22
In the JET Q&A segment, you replied that the Vice-Captains of the 13th Division ten years later would be Sentarō and Kiyone, but I believe Kiyone was also the Vice-Captain of the 4th Division, so does that mean that they are concurrently serving as Vice-Captains?
A251.
That would be a mistake. Sentarō is the only Vice-Captain of the 13th.
Q252.
2021.11.29
Please tell us how Unagiya Ikumi-san and Ichigo met in the first place.
A252.
Their meeting came about when Ichigo delivered Kaoru, a lost child (and Ikumi's son) back to his mother. (Ikumi encountered them en route.)  
Q253.
2021.11.29
Ichigo remembers the time Orihime carried her older brother Sora to the Kurosaki Clinic, but does Orihime remember meeting Ichigo at this time? When Ichigo entered high school, he noticed that Orihime was the girl from back then, does Orihime realize that it was Ichigo who greeted her at that moment?
A253.
Ichigo is the only one who remembers. Ichigo remembers that scene clearly because he felt a strong sense of one-way sympathy for Orihime, who was on the verge of losing her family.
Q254.
2021.11.29
Sensei, what's the one thing that makes you think "I'm second to none when it comes to this!"?
A254.
My Mickey Mouse impression.
Q255.
2021.11.29
I got the impression that Aizen-sama was often drinking black tea at Las Noches, but I wonder if likewise he drank Japanese tea during the time he was in Soul Society in the role of a Shinigami? Or is it that Western style food and drink like black tea also exist in Soul Society, and he has been a black tea enthusiast since long ago?
A255.
I drew that because I wanted a scene where Aizen eats the same thing as the Espada, but when it came to eating, there were some characters (like Ulquiorra) who I didn't want to depict in a dining scene (at that point), so I merely chose black tea as a compromise, therefore it's not that I was paying any particular attention to tea itself. 
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Q256.
2021.12.06
Is it possible for a member of the Gotei 13 to transfer to another Squad at their own behest? Recruitment of Captains or Vice-Captains from other Squads has been portrayed, but what is the situation like for ordinary soldiers?
A256.
It is possible if they make an application and obtain permission through their superior officer all the way up to the Captain. However, If they don't have any accomplishments their superior will reject it so it's difficult for an ordinary soldier.
Q257.
2021.12.06
Do you have a favorite coffee shop?
A257.
The place I frequent the most is Hoshino Coffee. I want to go to Komeda but I haven't had the chance to go yet.
Q258.
2021.12.06
What kind of life did Ikkaku-san and Shino-chan lead in Rukongai? I'm not sure if they're related by blood or not, but are they still family?
A258.
They're ordinary relatives. The Madarame family are a distinguished family and Ikkaku is treated like an oddball.
Q259.
2021.12.06
What do you order when you use services like Uber Eats for delivery?
A259.
The thing I order the most is Starbucks' White Mocha. By the way, I don't use Uber because I had a scary experience in the past.
Q260.
2021.12.06
I would like a YouTube channel or something to be created for Uni-chan. 
A260.
If I could get someone to do the editing for me, then I would like to make one to document my dog's growth, but I don't think I would update it often….
Q261.
2021.12.13
If you were to spend a day with any character from "BLEACH" or "BURN THE WITCH", who would you like to be with?
A261.
I seriously thought about it, but maybe being with Balgo would be the easiest….
Q262.
2021.12.13
Speaking in terms of BLEACH characters, who would you compare the breast sizes of Noel-chan and Cquntnire-san to? 
A262.
It's more or less that I'm drawing Noel like Orihime and Cquntnire like Nel.
Q263.
2021.12.13
What is Kubo-sensei's favorite rock or metal band?
A263.
I haven't been listening to much metal lately…during my high school days, I liked ROYAL HUNT and IN FLAMES.
Q264.
2021.12.13
This is closer to a request than a question, but I would like for you to issue and sell, the currently trending, NFTs with BLEACH illustrations! If that were to happen, I would definitely buy them!
A264.
I'll let my editor know about this also. Murakoshi-saaan!
Q265.
2021.12.13
What is your favorite ice cream?
A265.
Lately, I've been liking HERSHEY'S Chocolate Ice Bars. It's also nice that each bar is small and just the right size.
Q266.
2021.12.20
I have a question regarding BTW Magic. In chapter 0.8 which is a one-shot, Noel-chan uses Absolute Dragon Shatter in Front London, but in chapter 1, numbered Pipers spells known as "Magic" made an appearance. As a premise, I believe that Magic and Absolute Dragon Shatter are alike (as they both use Witch Kits), I suspect that the reason why Noel-chan adopted this unnumbered attack method in Front London may be due to one of the following two points:
1. Magic is an attack method that utilizes the medium of Witch Kits to feed on a special energy similar to Reishi which exists only in Reverse London, on the other hand, Absolute Dragon Shatter is an attack method made for Front London, which does not require this special Reishi. 
2. Given that it was an attack against a Disguiser Dragon who had remained hidden for ten odd years, Absolute Dragon Shatter was used as an arcane means and is considered the highest order of Magic or even a method surpassing Magic itself.
I'm really interested about the relationship between Magic and Absolute Dragon Shatter, will it be revealed within the story in the future!?
A266.
How insightful, I'm not sure whether or not I'll get to write about it in the future so I'll explain. In Front London, you can basically only use spells through items that are "charged" with magical power. The gun-pipe is not a rechargeable item, but Noel habitually fills it with magical power of her own accord, the release of that power is Absolute Dragon Shatter. Only Noel is able to use it. 
Q267.
2021.12.20
The person Ichigo respects is Shakespeare. Given this fact, does it follow that this is a universe where eminent figures like Mozart and Napoleon existed?
A267.
Eminent figures certainly exist within the Soul Society too, but if I were to touch upon that, the manga would end up in a completely different place, so I didn't bring it up.
Q268.
2021.12.20
Do Szayelaporro's glasses have lenses? Since it's a mask, there should be no lenses so I assumed it was the frame alone. However in the anime, there were depictions of lenses reflecting the light and gleaming so I was confused! 
A268.
There is no lens.
Q269.
2021.12.20
Were all the designs of the Zanpakutō which materialized in the Zanpakutō: The Alternate Tale arc, created by you, sensei?
A269.
I came up with some ideas and had an image in mind, Kudō-san designed them, I checked them. They pass for various reasons like being "just as I imagined!" or being "interesting because I wouldn't have come up with this design myself!"
Q270.
2021.12.27
Do you have a favorite character from Dragon Quest numbered titles or spin-off works?
A270.
It's King Grossner (Dragon Quest 10).
Q271.
2021.12.27
I heard that you like figure skating, Kubo-sensei, but do you have a favorite athlete?
A271.
It's Candeloro.
Q272.
2021.12.27
It is mentioned in the novel "WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU", that when Shiba Kaien died in battle, Isshin was the Captain of Squad 10. Why didn't Rukia, who was already serving as a member of the Gotei 13 at the time, realize that Ichigo's father was Shiba Isshin when she was freeloading off of the Kurosaki family? 
A272.
There are two reasons for this: for one, his outward appearance was completely different. Secondly, he was a Captain from another Squad and she was a regular soldier, so they didn't have much point of contact in the first place. To go further, given that there is no way for a Shinigami to have children with a human (only Kisuke knows how), the idea that a "Shinigami may become human and produce children in the Human World" did not occur to Rukia.
Q273.
2022.01.03
I like the accessories (hats, sunglasses, etc.) and clothes that the characters are wearing in KlubOutside's Graffiti, they are exceedingly stylish. Is it possible to put them up for sale? 
A273.
I will let the FC manager know about this. Totani-saaan!
Q274.
2022.01.03
Sensei, do you have any plans to publish, for instance, the yonkoma you drew for the magazine into a single book someday?
A274. 
It might have been published in JET.
Q275.
2022.01.03
When you were writing BTW, who came to your mind first between Ninny and Noel?
A275.
Out of all the characters in BTW, Noel was the first.
Q276.
2022.01.03
When Rukia entered her name into the family register, it's assumed that she did not change her last name, but now that she has become a Captain, it means there will be two Captain Kuchiki, so how do the other troops distinguish between the two when addressing them? Is it possible that she will revert to the Abarai surname?
A276.
Many of the troops differentiate between them by calling them Captain Kuchiki and 13th Captain Kuchiki. 
Q277.
2022.01.10
Did Zangetsu eventually return to being a single blade? The "Ten Years Later" version of Ichigo was implemented in the social game - Brave Souls, and he wielded the "Zangetsu which emerged from a broken Tensa Zangetsu" as seen in the final stages of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Zangetsu which was reforged into two swords for Hollow and Quincy, became one as Tensa Zangetsu in Bankai, so I thought for sure it would return to two swords once the Bankai is disengaged.
However, does this mean that Zangetsu did not return to two swords due to the fact that after activating Bankai, Ichigo's Hollow and Quincy powers were absorbed by Yhwach, and that his Bankai was damaged among other factors? Or is it that it's possible for Ichigo to wield both the dual swords and the single sword if he so desires?
It may just be game original staging to begin with, but I was intrigued.
A277. 
Since I haven't described this in detail nor do I plan to portray the matter any further, I'll give you an answer. The two blades of Zangetsu are the "sword" and the "sheath". The correct form of a Zanpakutō is one that has a sheath, and there are only two swords without one: Sayafushi and Zangetsu. What fixed Zangetsu into its "correct form" is the dual swords state, and in Bankai Zangetsu is placed back in its sheath, what emerged after that sheath was shattered is the "True Zangetsu". The shattered sheath was absorbed by Ichigo, so I think he is also able to return to dual blades if he wants to, but I suppose that depends on Ichigo himself.
Q278.
2022.01.17
I've always wondered about this since reading volume 12, but was there a physical relationship between Aizen and Hinamori? I think it's more fitting for Aizen to not engage in this sort of thing, so I'm on the side that says it didn't happen.
A278.
I won't answer this because I think it'll be more fun to leave it unanswered.
Q279.
2022.01.17
Is Hōzukimaru a rare type of Zanpakutō which always requires the sheath for its Shikai.
A279.
That's right.
Q280.
2022.01.17
Kubo-sensei, when it comes to TVs, are you in favor of wall-mounted? Or do you prefer freestanding?
A280.
Mine is attached to a wall storage unit with an extendable arm.
Q281.
2022.01.24
Upon being granted a letter, does the Schrift allow abilities to manifest based on the nature of an individual? Or does His Majesty already know what they are before granting it at the epithet stage. 
A281.
Yhwach can see words almost as if they were engraved on the individual's body. Those who are bestowed Schrifts, which were previously lost through death in battle and so on, are discovered from the words engraved on them and then given power.
Q282.
2022.01.24
Do Yōkai and Yōsei exist in the world of BLEACH?
A282.
It would be more fun if they did.
Q283.
2022.01.24
A color version of the BLEACH e-books exist, but does Kubo-sensei decide on the color scheme and such?
A283.
There are parts that I check and parts that I don't (I only check what my editor asks me to check), but even the parts that I do were decided upon rapidly in the intervals between my work schedule during serialization, so when I look at them afterwards, I often come to think "was this the kind of color I chose??”
Q284.
2022.01.31
Sensei, if you had the opportunity to be involved in a project in the future, what sort of creative work would you like to be involved in? (Live-action film, animated movies, manga, dramas, YouTube, etc.)
A284.
If I could get involved with the story aspect, then it would probably be a game.
Q285.
2022.01.31
If you could actually sell any kind of merchandise at the fan club shop, what kind of items would you want to sell?
A285.
Bracelets with the text from the opening poems.
Q286.
2022.01.31
Is the reason why Uryū was not affected by Auswählen connected to Uryū's grandfather?
A286.
There's a bit of a complicated setup regarding this, but it might appear in the anime adaptation of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. (Depending on the composition.)
Q287.
2022.02.07
It has already been decided that the Thousand-Year Blood War arc is getting an anime adaptation, but will there also be an anime adaptation of the side story novels? I'd especially like to see "WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU" in the anime which depicts Rukia and Renji's marriage and the progress of Ichigo and Orihime's relationship.
A287.
Ah, I see. If there is enough room, then it may be possible.
Q288.
2022.02.07
Is it not true that Gigi is a girl? It kind of seems like Yumichika only said otherwise to provoke her.
A288.
Giselle is a man.
Q289.
2022.02.07
Who was the one to slash Rukia from behind during the first invasion by the Sternritter?
A289.
The plan is to depict this in the anime version.
Q290.
2022.02.14
Is the giant spoon used by Hikifune Kirio of Squad Zero actually her Zanpakutō?
A290.
That's correct.
Q291.
2022.02.14
During the performance of the ROCK MUSICAL BLEACH, Kubo-sensei personally talked to Tsuchiya-san, who played the role of Gin, about Gin's true intentions and purpose, as he was having a difficult time interpreting the character, and Gin's true intentions had not yet been revealed within the story at the time. I remember there was an episode which went something like that, but in so doing, did you also discuss everything which occurred with regard to Rangiku and Aizen? Also, did you not have any reluctance to divulge information which has not yet been revealed in the story?
A291.
I feel that we talked about things like how Gin viewed each character rather than the story itself. If it is necessary for the performance, then there is a possibility that I may also convey undisclosed information to the voice actors so it's not limited to this particular occasion.
Q292.
2022.02.14
Is the "table with English language BLEACH quotes suspended inside its transparent legs" which you wrote about in the cover flap comment of Volume 44, still being used? I would love to see photos of sensei's favorite furniture and more!
A292.
I use it when I'm composing my drafts at home. The tabletop is in disarray, so I hope a photo of the legs will do.
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Q293.
2022.02.21
With regard to the role of a Shinigami, it involves cleansing Hollows of their sins by way of a Zanpakutō and sending them to Soul Society in peace, but was this role simply to extinguish Hollows until Nimaiya Ōetsu showed up?
A293.
It was only after the creation of the Gotei 13 that the role of a Shinigami was properly defined.
Q294.
2022.02.21
At what age did Chad get his tattoo? Was it when he moved to Mexico? Or did he get it inked in his own hometown in Okinawa? I would be grateful if you could tell us.
A294.
He got his tattoo in Mexico when he was 9 years old.
Q295.
2022.02.21
I heard that the Lost Agent of the Shinigami arc concluded earlier than planned, is that true? If so, I'd like you to tell us about the story you were actually planning to write.
A295.
You mean the rumor that I was planning to compose an episode for all the classmates but I got bored and decided against it? If so, then it's true. I feel like I mentioned that in a character book or something.
Q296.
2022.02.21
Have you ever wanted to draw Oiroke manga? (*Manga with light erotic content.)
A296.
I'm not confident that I'd be able to draw it well.
Q297.
2022.02.28
In the BLEACH PS2 game "Bleach: Erabareshi Tamashii", techniques such as "Hadō #20: Shōtenkyū" and "Hadō #26: Gōensai" made an appearance, but were these Kidō Kubo-sensei's ideas or the creations of the game staff? If it's the former, I'd also like to know how to write it in kanji!
A297.
I had no involvement with that so they're the creations of the game staff.
Q298.
2022.02.28
I really love the relationship between Ichigo and the store manager, Unagiya Ikumi, and you can sense in the air how Ichigo suddenly turns back into a child. Please tell us if there was anything you paid extra attention to when creating Ikumi-san.
A298.
Ikumi is a character that was born because I wanted to create a place for Ichigo where he could be himself outside the Kurosaki home due to a plot development, that is, the sudden loss of a place where he belongs in the Lost Agent arc.
Q299.
2022.02.28
In "BURN THE WITCH", it seems that each division is armed with a different type of weapon, but in the event that they change affiliations, like how Bruno encouraged the witches to do in the story, do they undergo training with new weapons?
A299.
They train with new weapons. It is also among the Director's faculties to ascertain an individual's suitability for a weapon and then offer an invitation to them.
Q300.
2022.03.07
Is the thing under Hisagi's left eye, tape? A tattoo perhaps?
A300.
It's a tattoo.
Translation Footnotes:
×1. 弦 means bowstring and is in both the names of Sōken (宗弦) and Ryūken (竜弦).
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Text
The surveillance advertising to financial fraud pipeline
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Monday (October 2), I'll be in Boise to host an event with VE Schwab. On October 7–8, I'm in Milan to keynote Wired Nextfest.
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Being watched sucks. Of all the parenting mistakes I've made, none haunt me more than the times my daughter caught me watching her while she was learning to do something, discovered she was being observed in a vulnerable moment, and abandoned her attempt:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2014/may/09/cybersecurity-begins-with-integrity-not-surveillance
It's hard to be your authentic self while you're under surveillance. For that reason alone, the rise and rise of the surveillance industry – an unholy public-private partnership between cops, spooks, and ad-tech scum – is a plague on humanity and a scourge on the Earth:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/16/the-second-best-time-is-now/#the-point-of-a-system-is-what-it-does
But beyond the psychic damage surveillance metes out, there are immediate, concrete ways in which surveillance brings us to harm. Ad-tech follows us into abortion clinics and then sells the info to the cops back home in the forced birth states run by Handmaid's Tale LARPers:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/29/no-i-in-uter-us/#egged-on
And even if you have the good fortune to live in a state whose motto isn't "There's no 'I" in uter-US," ad-tech also lets anti-abortion propagandists trick you into visiting fake "clinics" who defraud you into giving birth by running out the clock on terminating your pregnancy:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/15/paid-medical-disinformation/#crisis-pregnancy-centers
The commercial surveillance industry fuels SWATting, where sociopaths who don't like your internet opinions or are steamed because you beat them at Call of Duty trick the cops into thinking that there's an "active shooter" at your house, provoking the kind of American policing autoimmune reaction that can get you killed:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/14/us/swatting-sentence-casey-viner/index.html
There's just a lot of ways that compiling deep, nonconsensual, population-scale surveillance dossiers can bring safety and financial harm to the unwilling subjects of our experiment in digital spying. The wave of "business email compromises" (the infosec term for impersonating your boss to you and tricking you into cleaning out the company bank accounts)? They start with spear phishing, a phishing attack that uses personal information – bought from commercial sources or ganked from leaks – to craft a virtual Big Store con:
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise
It's not just spear-phishers. There are plenty of financial predators who run petty grifts – stock swindles, identity theft, and other petty cons. These scams depend on commercial surveillance, both to target victims (e.g. buying Facebook ads targeting people struggling with medical debt and worried about losing their homes) and to run the con itself (by getting the information needed to pull of a successful identity theft).
In "Consumer Surveillance and Financial Fraud," a new National Bureau of Academic Research paper, a trio of business-school profs – Bo Bian (UBC), Michaela Pagel (WUSTL) and Huan Tang (Wharton) quantify the commercial surveillance industry's relationship to finance crimes:
https://www.nber.org/papers/w31692
The authors take advantage of a time-series of ZIP-code-accurate fraud complaint data from the Consumer Finance Protection Board, supplemented by complaints from the FTC, along with Apple's rollout of App Tracking Transparency, a change to app-based tracking on Apple mobile devices that turned of third-party commercial surveillance unless users explicitly opted into being spied on. More than 96% of Apple users blocked spying:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/
In other words, they were able to see, neighborhood by neighborhood, what happened to financial fraud when users were able to block commercial surveillance.
What happened is, fraud plunged. Deprived of the raw material for committing fraud, criminals were substantially hampered in their ability to steal from internet users.
While this is something that security professionals have understood for years, this study puts some empirical spine into the large corpus of qualitative accounts of the surveillance-to-fraud pipeline.
As the authors note in their conclusion, this analysis is timely. Google has just rolled out a new surveillance system, the deceptively named "Privacy Sandbox," that every Chrome user is being opted in to unless they find and untick three separate preference tickboxes. You should find and untick these boxes:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/how-turn-googles-privacy-sandbox-ad-tracking-and-why-you-should
Google has spun, lied and bullied Privacy Sandbox into existence; whenever this program draws enough fire, they rename it (it used to be called FLoC). But as the Apple example showed, no one wants to be spied on – that's why Google makes you find and untick three boxes to opt out of this new form of surveillance.
There is no consensual basis for mass commercial surveillance. The story that "people don't mind ads so long as they're relevant" is a lie. But even if it was true, it wouldn't be enough, because beyond the harms to being our authentic selves that come from the knowledge that we're being observed, surveillance data is a crucial ingredient for all kinds of crime, harassment, and deception.
We can't rely on companies to spy on us responsibly. Apple may have blocked third-party app spying, but they effect nonconsensual, continuous surveillance of every Apple mobile device user, and lie about it:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar
That's why we should ban commercial surveillance. We should outlaw surveillance advertising. Period:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/03/ban-online-behavioral-advertising
Contrary to the claims of surveillance profiteers, this wouldn't reduce the income to ad-supported news and other media – it would increase their revenues, by letting them place ads without relying on the surveillance troves assembled by the Google/Meta ad-tech duopoly, who take the majority of ad-revenue:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/05/save-news-we-must-ban-surveillance-advertising
We're 30 years into the commercial surveillance pandemic and Congress still hasn't passed a federal privacy law with a private right of action. But other agencies aren't waiting for Congress. The FTC and DoJ Antitrust Divsision have proposed new merger guidelines that allow regulators to consider privacy harms when companies merge:
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FTC-2023-0043-1569
Think here of how Google devoured Fitbit and claimed massive troves of extremely personal data, much of which was collected because employers required workers to wear biometric trackers to get the best deal on health care:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/04/google-fitbit-merger-would-cement-googles-data-empire
Companies can't be trusted to collect, retain or use our personal data wisely. The right "balance" here is to simply ban that collection, without an explicit opt-in. The way this should work is that companies can't collect private data unless users hunt down and untick three "don't spy on me" boxes. After all, that's the standard that Google has set.
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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/29/ban-surveillance-ads/#sucker-funnel
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Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg
CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
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charlewiss-writes · 1 year
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call it what you want / charles leclerc
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masterlist
day 13: necklace (one-word november prompts!)
pairing: charles leclerc x reader
word count: 1.8k
summary: after a awful night at qatar gp 2021, you were looking for a way out and charles was right there. how did your relationship evolve when you didn't want anything to do with anyone, but he was, well, him?
t you're constantly attracting eachother?
warnings: abusive behaviour. max being an asshole but only for the fic (I don't believe he is actually like that, I just needed someone to play the villain)
author's note: I know that it's late but i really liked how this turned out 🥹 hope you like it too!
inspired by:
I recall late November, holdin' my breath
sunday, november 21, 2021.
after coming second place, you knew max would be furious. he was still in the lead of the 2021 world championship, but with lewis just a few points behind him, the pressure was too high. you saw his faked smile on the podium, and even though your cheers for your boyfriend were genuine, the smile on your lips didn't quite reach your eyes.
max wasn't aggressive, but sometimes, when he was really mad about something that happened on the track, he would raise his voice a bit too high for your liking, and close the doors a bit too hard for you to avoid flinching. and that's what happened when the dutchman entered his driver's room after he had finished all his duties.
"what are you doing here?" he said, after closing the door a bit too hard. you winced at the venom that distilled from his voice. you quickly began to apologize, even though there was no real reason for you to do. "I'm sorry, I thought you might need-"
"I don't need anything from you. leave." he said, not giving you a second look. "what?"
"i said leave!"
too stunned to actually talk back at him for taking his anger out on you, you simply stood up and left, careful not to make too big of a fuss and trying to go unnoticed. when you got out the door of the hospitality, walking as fast as you could, you accidentally bumped into someone.
Slowly I said, "You don't need to save me
But would you run away with me?"
Yes (would you run away?)
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"y/n, right?" you nodded, still looking at your feet to avoid looking straight into the man's eyes. "are you okay?". you mumbled a quick "i need to go" before yanking your wrist out of his touch. still, he went after you. "I know you maybe don't know me, but please" he ran a little, just enough to put his body in front of you again, impending your way. "how can i help you?".
with how freaked out you were about the whole situation that had occurred in the last 5 minutes, you hadn't realised that the man that was in front of you was charles leclerc.
you didn't actually know him personally, just by the little gentle nods when you were accompanying your boyfriend to the races. still, he had always been friendly towards you, but that didn't mean you two were close. but he was your only way out of there, and there wasn't anything you wanted more than to get away from max, as quickly as possible, in whatever way you could.
"can you get me out of here?"
Starry eyes sparkin' up my darkest night
he nodded enthusiastically, looking intentionally at your eyes. it was like he was seeing right through you, like he knew about everything that went downhill inside the building behind you. and with that sympathetic look that could light up the whole night, he grabbed your hand and you two made your way out of the track, thankfully avoiding prying eyes.
All my flowers grew back as thorns
Windows boarded up after the storm
He built a fire just to keep me warm
the first few days where hard.
you didn't know charles that well, and he understood why you didn't feel comfortable talking about what happened that sunday night. after all, max was his friend first, and you thought that he wouldn't believe whatever you had to tell him if that meant going behind his friend's back.
but he proved you wrong.
day after day he called you, visited the place where you were staying, making sure you were okay, that you had everything you would need without actually having to leave, avoiding running into your now ex boyfriend. charles was doing everything in his power to help you through this time, but still giving you the space you desperately needed, wanting to get away from the racing world.
thankfully, max hadn't called you after everything that happened. it seemed like he understood the message quite clearly after you went back to your shared place and took everything with you.
All the drama queens taking swings
All the jokers dressin' up as kings
They fade to nothing when I look at him
monday, december 13, 2022.
the speculations about your breakup had started quickly due to your disappearance when the next weekend rolled around. it was weird, especially after being by max's side through the whole season. and even though the dutchman didn't actually confirm or deny the breakup rumors, when he won the 2021 world driver championship and had another girl cheering for him, it became quite clear that you two were over.
charles and you had grown closer since that night in qatar, and after abu dhabi, he flew as quickly as he could back to monaco. not only because he desperately wanted the season to be over after finishing seventh in the standings, but because he wanted to see you as soon as possible, to assure that you were doing okay after max's little show the day before.
"what are you doing here?" you were a little surprised to see charles back at your place, in monaco, after watching him on tv a few hours before, racing on the other side of the world. "wanted it all to end as soon as possible. took the first flight back home" he hugged you and rubbed your back while doing so. you moved aside, so he could step into your apartment.
"i know you saw the little stunt he pulled yesterday" he mumbled, seated in your couch with his arms resting on his knees, looking at the floor. he never referred to max by his name when he was talking about him with you, not that it happened often. being a harry potter die-hard fan, he preferred to call him by voldemort's nickname in the series, he who must not be named. it was a silly thing to do, but it always made you smile. you sat next to him and put your palm on his knee, reassuringly. "i'm just glad you got tenth place" you smiled, and now he turned his head, connecting his blue eyes with yours. "i'm sure you'll do better next season".
And I know I make the same mistakes every time
Bridges burn, I never learn, at least I did one thing right
monday, february 14, 2022.
"can we go out tonight?" charles looked at you with pleading eyes, while laying on your stomach. "you're sure?" you said, clear doubt in your voice. being valentine's day, you knew that if anyone saw you, they would put two and two together and figure that between charles and you there was something bigger than a friendship.
not that you really cared about what anyone would say, but it would be like throwing a match to a gasoline tank, inevitably exploding, and you were afraid that it would break you two apart. charles would be called a bad friend, a traitor, like anyone apart from you three knew what truly happened between you. and you would be called every name on the book. so you wanted to avoid going public for however long you could, keep your situationship in the dark.
"yes, are you?"
after everything that happened with your ex, you had almost promised to yourself that you wouldn't date another driver on the grid. and it wasn't intentional, but how could you not fall for charles when he was an angel sent from heaven?
My baby's fit like a daydream
Walking with his head down
I'm the one he's walking to
saturday, march 20, 2022.
going against your friend's advice, you decided to join charles on the first race weekend of the season. it was your first race back since everything went downhill in qatar, so you were nervous about running into max or any redbull's employees, knowing that your presence would eventually be disclosed to the dutchman. so, you remained at all times on charles' trailer, where usually no one came close, and no one apart from his pr manager and carlos knew about you turning up to bahrain.
not even charles, as you didn't want to distract him from qualifying.
only after getting pole, for the first time of the season, carlos was the one responsible to tell his monegasque friend that you were actually there. he almost was as quickly as his car when running through the paddock, trying to get to you as quickly as possible. once he made it through the door, closing it fast to avoid any spying eyes, he reached for you, already standing on the middle of the room, prepared to congratulate him on his achievement. "I knew you could do it, love!"
"everything for you".
I want to wear his initial
On a chain round my neck, chain round my neck
Not because he owns me
But 'cause he really knows me
thursday, august 12, 2022.
even though you were acting like a couple for a bit now, and everyone that knew you thought that you were, in fact, together, you two weren't official yet. not because you didn't want to, but you wanted to avoid moving too fast, and charles understood your decision. you were seen at the track a couple of times now since the season started, always by the monegasque side, but walking behind him, careful to keep your distance.
but now, since the summer break had started, you had spent every waking moment together in your apartment, almost attached to the hip. considering that he would be going with his family on a trip soon, you didn't want to lose any moment you two could enjoy, not wanting to miss him later, even though it would be inevitable.
"why don't you come with me then, ma belle?" charles said, while packing the things he kept at your house on a suitcase. you laughed a bit, thinking that he was joking. when you saw his serious face, you got up from the couch and went to hug him from behind. "maybe another time, love. now you have to rest, spend some time with your loved ones".
"then you should be there too" charles turned his head a bit so he could kiss your temple. he whispered in your ear "wait, i have something I've been waiting to give you."
you weren't good with surprises, so you stood up quickly after charles had gone to grab whatever he had on his jacket. pouting, you said "what is it, charles?"
"don't be inpatient and close your eyes for me, love" he called with a tone full of mischief. you laughed a bit and put your hands covering your eyes, to avoid the urge to spy. "put your hands out" charles commanded and you obliged, extending your palms face up towards where you assumed he was standing.
he deposited a small box that, once he told you it was okay to open your eyes, you could see that was white. opening it you saw a beautiful necklace with a little c letter on it, small but still visible enough. "i know this could be too soon for you, but i need to do this. you can call it what you want, but please, will you be officially mine?"
smiling, you answered softly. "nothing i would want more, charles".
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