#should i just like...become a golf fan

[natailiatulls07]

Pen Pals

Oscar Piastri x Female!Reader

Summary - Strangers to pen pals to lovers

Warning - Cuteness overload!

Reader works in redbull as a media girl

-

Hi there,

I'm Y/n and I'm excited to write you! I've had a few pen pals in the past but none have really worked out.

But I digress, maybe we should start by introducing each other with a few fun facts; I love formula one! I am and will always be a cat person, having two cats of my own and my favourite past time would have to be finding and trying new recipes which either works or becomes a disaster, there's no inbetween!

I look forward to hearing about you and hopefully we'll get on well with eachother!

Yours truly,

Y/n

-

Dear Y/n,

It's lovely to meet you! This is my first time so go easy on me! I loved reading your letter and found it quite ironic as I am also a big fan of formula one.

A few facts about me is that my favourite film is 'ten things I hate about you' even though my friends always tease me for it. My favourite formula one driver would have to Oscar Piastri, next best rookie since Hamilton in my opinion.

Who's your favourite driver? And which team do you support??

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Dear Oscar,

What a coincidence! I would definitely agree that Oscar Piastri is a great driver, espercially after winning a sprint in his rookie year! But however, I am a Max Verstappen girl through and through so that also means I'm a redbull supporter as well. But I have respect for each and every other driver and team!

I don't see how your friends can tease you about your favourite film, it is a iconic late 90s film with a stunning cast! See picking a favourite film for me is hard! There's too many to pick from like paddington or pretty woman or even oceans eight!

So what gotten you into starting to write pen pal letters??

Yours truly,

Y/n

-

Hi Y/n,

Yeah with my job I find that alot of the people I talk to are very fake and greedy. I felt as those if I just starting writing letters to someone I could keep an anonymous identity. I hope you'll respect that, I'm sure you will!

Don't get me wrong I love my job, it's something I worked my whole life for. But it feels some what suffocating sometimes.

What about you? You said that you've had pen pals in the past but none have really worked out. I can't see why though, you seem lovely and have a great taste in sport!

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Dear Oscar,

Understandable. I promise to remain respectful and I won't pry. I think a pen pal is the perfect way to step away from our lifestyles, it gives us someone that won't judge and you can realise to them.

I started writing to pen pal when I started college. I moved away from all my friends and had a rocky break up with my boyfriend at the time.

So from then I tried to find the best pen pal. But believe it or not, not many people start a pen pal to talk to others and hear others but to just talk about themselves.

A pen pal relationship should be equal and not one sided so often those relationship will have lasted just under two months. But lets not dwell on the past.

Wait important question now! What is your zodiac sign?? It tells you alot about a person.

Yours truly,

Y/n

Time skip a few months -

Hi Y/n!

Just read your last letter, loved your descriptive story about your now sister in laws hen party! I need to see those drunk photos immadiately.

My summer break just started, I have a lot of down time and not a lot to do. Please do you have any suggestions!? I have a feeling that I'm going to spend my summer moving between the gym, my apartment and my local store.

How did the date with that guy go? Was the trip to the jungle mini golf really worth it? I remember I went on a date once, we went to a nice restaurant and by the end of the night she was black out drunk. WORST DATE EVER!!

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Dear Oscar,

I would give you suggestions on what to do this summer. However just like you, my sofa becomes me seconds home after my bed. Well actually every summer me and my bestfriend deciated a day to binge watching all the Harry Potters! We go all out, getting themed snacks and making a fort out of blankets.

Oh my god! The date was horrible! All he did was talk about his family riches and how 'successful' he is. And to add salt to the wound the place was filled with whiny children. NEVER AGAIN!

Also I've add the photos from the hen party to the envelope, non of them have my face in it but you can see that the bride is enjoying herself.

Yours truly,

Y/n <3

Photos in the envelope -

-

Hey Y/n,

Looks like the hen party looks as exciting as it sounded! Send my crograts to the bride and groom please.

I'm sorry your date went like that, I hate rich snobs who just glot and I work around them a lot lol! A girl like yourself doesn't deserve to be treated like that, you deserve fancy restaurents and meaningful date. I know I would give you the world.

Harry Potter marathon?? Mmm doesn't sound like a bad idea, I might rope my friend into then, he's british so he'll feel right at home!

Anyways I've been thinking...over these last few months I've grown to trust and adore our little letters back and forth. And I was wondering if you wanted to exchange numbers or something, idk.

I'm actually in Barcelona next week for work, but we can arrange something if you wanted. I just feel like I'd want to put a face to a name and exciting personality!

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Hi Oscar,

The world huh? Thats a bold statement...

Wait that ironic! I'm also in Barcelona next week, we could meet somewhere. I can't really do Thursday through to Sunday, that's when my work really starts.

But yeah we can meet at some coffee shop or something, I seen some nice recommendations on tiktok recently.

I'm actually really excited for this! I've never had a pen pal that actually worked out, let alone wanted to meet me, so I feel lucky! Yeah these letters have been fun to write, it's like I've learnt so much from you. Thank you so much!

OMG did you watch the last f1 race in Montreal?! Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo podium! I'm sooo proud Piastri, he is slowly but surely moving up and competing with Verstappen for my fav driver! There I said it!

Yours truly,

Y/n <3

-

Dear Y/n,

Is Piastri growing on you Y/n?? Ooo that's exciting! But you wouldn't want to disappoint the current world champ, his no 1 fan is going to the dark side!

I would definitely give you the world! In a heart beat actually, you've single handedly made me feel normal and human again and I am forever thankful for that!

So you're working Thursday through Sunday...the exact days that formula one is active in the same city. I feel bad for you honestly, I'm sorry...

How about we meet up on the Wednesday? Should we meet at the three marks coffee?? I've heard great things about their coffee!

Meet me there at 1pm! I actually can't wait! See you then!

Yours truly,

Oscar <3

Outside the cafe -

Stood just outside the cafe, Y/n fiddled with her bag. She didn't know why she was so nervous, she would trust her pen pal Oscar with her deepest darkest secret if needs be.

Busy was an understatement. And Y/n knew fully well why, it was the reason why she was here this week. Formula one. Being one the media girls at redbull meant that she had to attend every race, not that she was complaining.

Just down the street was Oscar, walking head held high and a large grin on his face. He was beyond excited to meet the mysterious Y/n.

When they both began sending letters to each other, they agreed that neither would pry for surnames, addresses and other personal details.

The one thing they decided to do today was dress in all white, making it easy for each of them to pin point each other.

Oscar approached the cafe, his eyes scanning the area for a women dressed in all white. Until he spotted her, it was love at first sight!

He was obsessed with how she stylied her hair, and what she decided to dress like considering the white rule. "Y/n!" Calling out her name, as he made a quick walk towards her.

Y/n could hear her name being called and when she turned she came face to face with the one and only Oscar Piastri smiling down at her. A gasp broke through her lips, surprised that he was her pen pal.

"You're my pen pal?" She asked in disbelief. The Australian driver nodding his head excitedly. "You let me hype you up about your driving and didn't tell me?"

They both broke out into laughter. "Yep! And I loved it!" Oscars face held a cheeky grin, that Y/n instantly fell in love with.

-

After settling down in a small secluded table just outside the cafe, Y/n turned to Oscar. Her face now holding a cheeky grin. "Is now the best time to tell you that I work at Redbull as a media girl?"

Now it was Oscars turned to look shocked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"So you're telling me we've been right under eachothers noses the whole time!?" Neither expected that they were in reality quite close to each other whilst they were sending letters back and forth.

"What are the chances? Right?"

"Fancy leaving Redbull and join me in Papaya? maybe then Oscar Piastri will be your favourite driver..."

"Oscar!"

-

#formula one #formula one x reader #formula one fanfiction #formula one x y/n #formula one x you #oscar piastri #oscar piastri x reader #oscar piastri fanfiction #oscar piastri x y/n #oscar piastri x you #f1 #f1 x reader #f1 fanfiction #f1 x y/n #f1 x you #mclaren #mclaren racing #mclaren f1 #mclaren formula 1

[gabigabigabby]

ryder cup | l. norris

part 2 of all the love in rome

lando norris x sainz!reader

the landosainz saga

a/n: ryder cup content here!!! y/n and lando have my heart fr

synopsis: y/n and lando show up to support carlos in the ryder cup

face claim: sophia weber

—

ynsainzzz

liked by landonorris, oscarpiastri and 587,925 others

ynsainzzz golf sister & girlfriend 🤷🏼‍♀️⛳️🏌️

tagged: carlossainz55, landonorris

view all 55,995 comments

landonorris Passenger princess 🫶🏻

ynsainzzz landonorris the most patient

landonorris Sorry for being annoying today 😘

ynsainzzz landonorris at least you realize 🤷🏼‍♀️

carlossainz55 I think you should learn how to play sometime

ynsainzzz carlossainz55 just because i tag along doesn't mean i'm interested carlitos. but if you care, maybe sure

francisca.cgomes wish i was w you, i feel your pain 😭

ynsainzzz francisca.cgomes i knoowww, i miss you

pierregasly Good, now you can tag along with us and accompany Kika 😂😂

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danielricciardo Throuple

ynsainzzz danielricciardo best one there is

username my brother better become a formula 1 driver sooner than later i stg 😤

username lando and y/n, are you guys adopting

username they better be bc i volunteer as tribute

username you going to the qatar gp y/n?!

ynsainzzz username duhhhh

username prettiest couple in the world

username alex and lily are quaking in their boots

lilymhe username tell me about it !!!!

ynsainzzz's story

landonorris

liked by carlossainz55, georgerussell63 and 1,663,545 others

landonorris Took the prettiest girl out tonight (:

tagged: ynsainzzz

view all 88,862 comments

ynsainzzz i guess flattery is now the way to my heart 🤍

francisca.cgomes ynsainzzz does that mean i have a chance?

ynsainzzz francisca.cgomes you've always had a chance bbg

ynsainzzz love you, last lap lando 😚

landonorris ynsainzzz love you more princesa 🥹

carlossainz55 Leave her alone she's an independent woman

ynsainzzz carlossainz55 is this your way of asking me to come back to ferrari

pierregasly Gotta do it for the aesthetic huh bro 😂

landonorris pierregasly blame Y/N 😭

carlandoy/n seeing landosainz on my timeline >>

username i'm a mercedes fan... but damn y/n making me ditch my team🙈

ynsainzzz

liked by carlossainz55, francisca.cgomes and 1,663,946 others

ynsainzzz you're not as bad as i thought you'd be, rome. tornerò ❤️🇮🇹

tagged: landonorris, carlossainz55

view all 84,995 comments

landonorris I am so cute wow

ynsainzzz landonorris real talk‼️

carlossainz55 Thanks for coming hermanita 🫡

ynsainzzz carlossainz55 love you hermano😘

francisca.cgomes prettiest girl there 🧡🧡

ynsainzzz francisca.cgomes i love you

heidiberger_ wish i was there!!!!

ynsainzzz heidiberger_ me too! 😭😭

charlottesiine miss you 🤍🤍

ynsainzzz charlottesiine me too omds 🥹🥹

pierregasly Miss you dude, see you in Qatar

ynsainzzz pierregasly you will 😚

charles_leclerc Post more Ryder Cup stuff

ynsainzzz charles_leclerc i'll leave that to your world champion landonorris

username y/ncarlos heals my heart 🥹🥹

carlandoooo that carlando pic💔💔

ln4updates too much for my small heart to handle

danielricciardo Wished I could've joined you guys

ynsainzzz danielricciardo miss you danny🥹

#lando norris #ln #ln4 #lando norris x oc #lando norris x y/n #lando norris x you #lando norris x sister!reader #lando norris x reader #formula 1 #f1 #formula 1 fic #formula 1 social media au #f1 x reader #f1 imagine #f1 fic #f1 social media au

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

There are already numerous incarnations of Taskmaster, which started as a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival worldwide. However, would the pair consider bringing the UK show to the US? "We're in New York at the moment and we're muttering about it. We think it could work," Horne mused. "We would love to do it. I'll say it, blatantly," Davies laughed. "I would love us to do it, but I think it would have to be a recreation of what we do on our terms. American performers coming into our world and abiding by our rules, and I think it would work, and I would love to do it." Horne continued, "Americans have always loved some British shows, like The Office and going back to Monty Python. I don't know why, but I think they have taken this under their wing. I haven't got an answer for you, and it might be because it's quintessentially British, but it's very different from anything on American TV. People tend to tell us that it makes them happy, and if they're sad, they can turn to it and escape."

Love the way they completely, 100% ignore the fact that they've already done an American version. They're not just disowning it, they're retconning it out of history. Which, to be fair to them, is what I'd been hoping they might do at some point. Pretend the first one didn't count and give it another go. A second American Taskmaster might also be terrible - I can think of a lot of ways America could fuck it up - but it might also be cool.

The way this reads is so funny, though. Alex explaining that he thinks there could be demand for Taskmaster in the States by reaching for options as wildly different as The Office and Monty Python, while ignoring the fact that one show that has been on American TV before, and is a bit like Taskmaster - perhaps not as much like Taskmaster as it should have been but it has to be more like Taskmaster than Monty Python were - is Taskmaster US. Though I don't think it became proof that British shows succeed in America.

Due to the show's popularity, the Taskmaster House has become iconic and is a character in the show in its own right. However, they have managed to stop the location, rethemed for each season, from being swamped by fans. "I think I can solve the mystery as to why it's not inundated by people. It's because it's horrible. It is quite grubby," Davies said. "It's a horrible, cold, awful little place that I'm delighted I don't have to spend much time in." "Anyone who comes there will go I can't believe I spent money on a plane ticket to see this."

Shut up, Greg. I have paid for my plane ticket already and I am absolutely going to go look at that house. I will jump up in the air and try to see over the gate. I will look at the golf course and say "It's weird that this is mainly a golf course and not mainly a house for panel shows." I have it all planned out. It'll be worth the plane tickets.

[shivroyisbisexual]

one of those things that I find pathetic are those succession fans who make videos and comments on videos where they GENUINELY root for the man with the most “top dog” vibes and have a whole running hierarchy in their minds about it.

It’s one thing to analyze the show for that — I definitely do, and the characters within the show definitely are keeping score within their different information-limited perspectives. It’s important, a key part of the culture and what makes the characters tic as people.

It’s another thing to really buy in and huff top dog farts about it.

Here’s my list of red flags for boring dude bro succ commenter (woman inclusive term though it’s usually men)

In honor of it being a show about rich fucks I’m using the little golf red flag emoji

⛳️ promotes and defends Logan’s politics and behavior as great and true right down to repeating his lines on being totally self made, knowing how people “really are”, how everyone is out to get him for no reason, he’s a strong family man, he should be in charge because he’s strong enough to tell it like it is blah blah

⛳️ that fucking “hard times make hard men who make good times that make soft men that leads to hard times” crap or however it goes — they really believe in this shit

⛳️ Logan’s word is gospel, to the point of quoting his views line for line as THE literal truth summary of a situation or character

⛳️ The above is taken as true especially about himself and his kids, but this goes triple for anything he says about Shiv. If he says Roman has no fucking acumen that’s taken to be probably mostly true, but Roman is seen as able to rise up and prove him wrong. If he says Kendall is not a killer, that’s probably mostly true, but Ken is seen as able to “rise up” and prove him wrong. If he says Shiv has no real experience and isn’t as smart as she thinks she is, not only is that unquestionably true but she can never rise above it AND she’s not just not as smart as she thinks she is she’s downright stupid. The worst. Definitely married Tom 100% because she’s a coward and that’s alllllll there is to it because notorious family man Logan is an oracle. Perfect font of wisdom. Interestingly this is also how the wrapped around Logan’s finger grown up abused kids act when stressed — they throw Logan’s take downs of each other in each other’s faces as unquestionable truths

⛳️ has little or nothing to say about Connor other than memeing him or calling him likable because he’s not in the fight for succession really and he’s too on the nose a parody of “anarcho capitalists”/“libertarian” crank leaders whose 1%er (in more than 1 sense) runs for high office these boring dude bros have likely donated to and hyped before

⛳️ succeeding Logan is consistently viewed as an unqualified “win”, as is becoming “a killer” like Logan even if a few flourishes toward how evil he is are made, or how they would be better off cashing out. Commenter still reverts to succession = winning. Adopting Logan’s personality = winning. Except for Shiv mostly, she’s just a cold two faced b*tch especially if she acts more like Logan to Tom.

⛳️ former game of thrones viewer who’s main interest was Who Would Win (tm) mostly adjudicated based on who was confident and powerful with snappy lines or bold moves that day and probably was a dude or could be said to owe her shit to a dude or they predicted she’d win but would be horrible as a ruler and wouldn’t “deserve it”

⛳️ even if they hide it you can tell the vibe is they do think any sign a character is gay or bi is a mark against them like they’re definitely laughing at it in a “haha eww” (mentally deducts points) kinda way

⛳️ super basic conventional dude bro views on the wives, girlfriends and escorts being gold diggers, with 0 introspection on the dynamics of that when true being the fault of the rich man leveraging being rich and choosing it also, not being some poor baby getting taken for a ride by a master manipulator, and 0 interest in the complicated cases where yes the money is the main part of it but also there’s real relationships there in some cases too, or the heartfelt delusions of them at least

⛳️ tends to not remember the names of characters like Sophie, Iverson, Rava, Jess and just call them Kendall’s kids, Kendall’s ex wife, Kendall’s assistant lady

⛳️ hard to quantify or prove but they say the SAME thing like at first you think it’s the same dude but no it’s like 100+ different yt commenters saying the same thing word for word on different succession clip vids. Part of this is for sure yt commenter culture where people get into saying whatever broadly appealing thing gets likes or upvotes or whatever they’re calling it there, similar to reddit

⛳️ switches their views on the likelihood of a character to “win” on a dime with the whole dude bro commenter crowd moving as one, and not really seeming to take time to analyze why they were mislead (if they were) before. Like if they now think something else, they were wrong before, and that raises how and why. Here I’m thinking of the group that was totally all up in arms about Machiavellian Greg now hyping Kendall the Killer After-all. With no introspection on why they were SO easily convinced this other guy was going to get it (more or less because it would be a funny narrative if he did and they saw themselves in him and his “perchance” shit). They just really have a gut reaction to narrative beats that Feel Snappy and either clever or dominant, and therefore significant. But they have to rationalize and act like it’s more than it is.

🪂 Special shout out to a different set of succession commenters who annoy me: those think piece writers who claimed Greg and Tom had more “humanity” for sounding like stilted try hards and brought in academics to try and push that.

#Please feel free to add more. #I’m like 90% sure it’s Roman who Logan says has no fucking acumen but I’m doubting myself a bit #he says he’s a jackoff in plenty of ways #succession #hbo succession #kendall roy #shiv roy #roman roy #logan roy #connor roy #succession fans #sophie roy #iverson roy #rava roy #jess jordan #greg hirsch #tom wambsgans #succposting

[joons]

As someone who knows very little about the Beach Boys but is curious, I would love to know all the tea on Mike Love.

"Mike Love isn’t just not rock … he’s actually in the red, like the anti-rock. He’s in rock debt and should spend his next life wearing golf pants and selling hairpieces." — Tony Hicks, Riff Magazine

A real article.

Let me take you on a journey.

Every Beach Boys fan starts to hate Mike Love as a joke, and then it gradually becomes real. (Mike Love defenders, I am truly sorry; you are the devil's strongest soldiers.) The traditional narrative is that when Brian Wilson (the eldest Wilson brother and de facto leader) stopped touring and began spending all his time writing music for the band, Mike Love (Brian's cousin, lead singer, lyricist) became worried that Brian would go off on his own and leave them behind. Mike had good reasons to worry; when the band came back from an extensive tour in Japan, Brian excitedly showed them what he had been working on: Pet Sounds. Widely considered their best album, and one of the best albums of all time, Pet Sounds is chamber pop music, with a wall of orchestral instruments and complex vocal harmonies, interspersed with really off-the-wall sounds, like bicycle horns and theremins, all in service of a "concept album" (the first ever such thing) about a young man entering adulthood and struggling to manage a relationship. Oh, and Brian had already recorded all of this with the Wrecking Crew (professional session musicians, who adored him), written all the lyrics with a new guy, Tony Asher, and then ushered the Beach Boys in to record the final vocals.

Mike Love was probably justifiably a bit peeved that Brian had just like ... done the thing without him and without the band, but that was Brian's job; that was the deal they had worked out when Brian decided he couldn't handle the pressure of touring anymore. Brian was already considered a savant composer at the time and the key to the Beach Boys' success; the Beatles adored his work, and he was in a constant battle to do something as spectacular as the Beatles were doing with albums like Rubber Soul. But when the band came back and got to hear the full thing (Mike was consulted on some of the lyrics beforehand), Mike was like, "This isn't us, this won't sell." (Other members had similar concerns, especially about having to recreate these elaborate orchestrations with a few guitars and drumkits on tour, but they trusted Brian.) The stressors between Mike and Brian continued when Brian started doing an even more ambitious album, Smile, using a really avant-garde lyricist who dealt in poetic imagery rather than concrete stories. Mike once again spent all the recording sessions whining about it and resisting any push toward psychedelic imagery. Legend has it he said something like, "Don't fuck with the formula" (of cars and girls and surfing), and basically shat all over what would have been the most innovative pop album of all time (purely from a production standpoint, it was a beast, needing to be constructed in tiny segments and then edited back together using analog recording equipment). It would have been, as Brian described it, "a teenage symphony to God."

Brian, being mentally fragile, did not do well with conflict like this, (he had already, with great struggle, gotten his father, Murry Wilson, fired as their manager, after Murry's abusive, controlling behavior made it impossible for them to record) and the disappointing reactions from the band and from the public toward Pet Sounds and Smile essentially killed his confidence, meaning that he soon retreated from being the band's leader and took less and less of an interest in writing. (He was more involved than popular imagination might think, but it was certainly a turning point in his creative output.) The pressure quickly became too much, and Brian, who was struggling severely with his mental health, shelved the entire Smile project. It was not released in any complete form until 2004, when Brian had the support around him (hint: not the Beach Boys) to let him put it into an acceptable shape and release a legendary lost piece of media. And it was incredible.

Now, at this point, most fans are like, "Aw, that Mike! Always sticking to the formula!" while acknowledging that he was right about how big of a risk these albums were. Points were made, and Pet Sounds didn't actually sell as well as their other stuff! Smile was very weird! Pet Sounds was so influential among rock musicians at the time (the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was a direct response to it), but it wasn't a commercial smash. And music does need to be somewhat concerned about the business side. So maybe some fans are like, "Well. We give Mike too much grief for this, Brian had to be responsible for his own confidence, this stuff happens, whatever."

But there's never really a moment where Mike Love is vindicated. He is never satisfied to be "right" about one thing; he must be right in all things. As you keep learning about him, you're like, "Mike is just an asshole."

Very famous picture of Mike and Brian. You can see the whole relationship here.

The main reason the clashes in '66-'67 are still a sore spot is because they're a microcosm of the decadeslong war for the soul of the band. In the 1990s, Mike wrested control of the Beach Boys name from the other surviving band members after the death of Carl Wilson, Brian's brother (a saint, a diplomatic soul who kept the band together when they would otherwise be at each others' throats). This gets into complicated legal weeds, but basically Mike won the rights to tour as "the Beach Boys" even though he only toured with one other member. All of the members share in the profits but are not allowed to do their own tours with the name. Brian had no interest in touring with him at the time, and neither did Al Jardine, another surviving member, but Mike went after Al for touring as "Beach Boys Family & Friends" and successfully sued to prevent any of the other boys from doing anything similar. At the same time, he excluded them from working with him on the official tour. He has kept the band in stasis, rarely playing songs beyond the 1962-1966 eras, and keeping the band's image as a good-time surfing group, when they are so much more, and it grates that they are not more known for how musically significant and groundbreaking they were (I count the entire band's contributions in this, not just Brian, as many of them are great songwriters in their own right and did wonderful production work in the late '60s and early '70s). Mike stands athwart that deserved legacy because he finds it difficult to share the spotlight, and his contributions in the later years were simply not good. Mike isn't solely responsible for the Beach Boys being classified as a nostalgia act; that impression began when Capitol Records, their first label, put out a greatest hits album that sold far more than anything new the band was making in the early '70s. But Mike leaned into that, and instead of capitalizing on renewed interest by showing how the band had grown, Mike wanted to show that the band was exactly how you remembered them.

He is also known for being bizarrely abrasive at times, to the detriment of the band's reputation. When they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, Mike interrupted Brian's sweet statement and wound up going on a ramble lambasting other Hall of Fame members for suing each other (THIS IS DRAMATIC IRONY) or for not "showing up" for that year's event because they've "always been chickenshit to get onstage with the Beach Boys." I have never been able to get through this video in one sitting, I have to stop because the secondhand embarrassment is too much.

ELTON JOHN: Thank FUCK he didn't mention me!

He later blamed his tirade on not meditating that day.

In the 1990s, Mike began to sue the other members for damn near everything. While Mike was somewhat justified in regaining songwriting credits from the Beach Boys' early work (Murry Wilson had something to do with wanting to keep the credits for the Wilson brothers), he went on to claim that Brian including a picture of the Beach Boys in the album sheets for his version of Smile "damaged" the image of the band. Jesus wept. He also sued Brian for how he was portrayed in a (to be fair, mostly ghostwritten and bad) memoir without having read it.

The surviving members of the Beach Boys reunited in 2012 for the band's 50th anniversary. They put out a new album (it was great!) and toured together for the first time since the 1990s. David Marks, an early member who left during the first year, was invited back to play with them. It was healing to see them together and genuinely enjoying performing. Audiences were thrilled. Brian Wilson and Al Jardine both expressed how excited they were to keep it going, not just as a one-time anniversary tour but something they could conceivably do year after year, healing the split between Mike's band (with Beach Boy Bruce Johnston) and the tours that Brian and Al did together. But before any of that could be worked out, Mike just ghosted them, along with David. He announced that the tour was going to go on without them without doing a joint release. Brian and Al wrote a freaking letter to the editor stating they hadn't been told. So it's definitely another "Mike is why we can't have nice things" moment. He has described his exclusive ability to tour as "my nourishment and my revenge," framing it as a way of recovering lost royalties after being cheated out of songwriting credits for a long time, even though he was already awarded monetary compensation for that. In actual fact, he just cannot handle being upstaged.

Some other things that Mike gets flak for: getting obsessed with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental Meditation movement, writing songs exclusively about the concept and trying to turn the Beach Boys into an official Maharishi touring group; overclaiming writing credits for his small contributions to certain songs; playing for Trump's campaign events; playing for a trophy hunter guild (these last two in spite of public disavowals from Brian and Al). There are probably other, more private things that I don't think are necessary to get into. None of the band members have completely clean hands in how they've treated one another. What sets Mike apart is that he makes it public and cannot move on.

Everyone has a different breaking point with him, I think. For me, it's his continued digs at Brian, particularly relating to Brian's mental illnesses. Even extending some grace to him for dealing with difficult working conditions as some of the band members spiraled, I cannot excuse how disgusting his language is and how much he clearly wants to erase the empathy and love people have for Brian, with whatever tool he has at hand.

For context, Brian Wilson was locked into an unspeakably abusive conservatorship with his psychologist, Eugene Landy, for a decade, up until 1991. The abuse involved improper prescription treatment that continues to affect Brian to this day. (He is lucky it did not kill him.) I don't even like to think about it much because it's so dark, but Landy controlled what Brian could eat, what he sang, and who he could talk to. He sold off Brian's publishing rights and represented him in public and corporate matters. Thanks to a longtime fan and music journalist, David Leaf; Brian's future wife; and intervention by the family (who had been cut off from communicating with Brian), he was given control of his own life again and eventually properly diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. He has gotten to lead his own life again, making music that helps him deal with auditory hallucinations and depression, and working with who he wants to.

With that background, it's absolutely fucked for Mike to say this:

"He’s not in charge of his life, like I am in mine. His every move is orchestrated and a lot of things he’s purported to say, there’s not tape of it. But, I don’t like to put undue pressure on him, either, because I know he has a lot of issues. Out of compassion, I don’t respond to everything that is purportedly said by him. I’ve noticed where he says he really regards me as his greatest writing partner and that he loves my voice. Even on the 50th (anniversary tour), he made it quite clear he really liked watching me do my thing while he was at the piano. So, there’s a lot of positivity there.” (X)

So many layers there. He's so comically up his own ass, but the things he says about Brian upset me so much. He's so vile for no reason. Even if this were a criticism of Brian's PR or legal team, he could say so, instead of using Brian's past abuse to brush aside his opinions. He always does this thing where the Wilsons' addictions and illnesses are the result of bad choices, while he's never done anything wrong and was victimized by them. It's so infuriating, but it's also hard to get too upset with him because he's genuinely blind.

The thing about Mike is that he's so ... bad that he's fun to hate. Is he truly the worst person in the world? No. But is he actually the worst person in the world? Yes. His terribleness makes me laugh. That might have more to do with the cerebral way Beach Boys fans cut Mike Love clips, but goddamn, it gets me. (Beach Boys fans have had to deal with an awful lot of kitsch against their will, and I think this is their way of coping.)

LISTEN TO THIS MANIAC, I AM WHEEZING AT WORK.

(It's so crazy, he even added in that psychedelic riff at the end of the video! That's not in the song! It's just to emphasize how weird he thinks "Good Vibrations" is and how much he has to "apologize" for it. What is happening. Even when he is "joking," there's such a dark energy about it.)

In conclusion:

A real article. "His memoir leaves him neither vindicated nor convincingly tolerable as a human being."

#anyway in spite of all this 'big sur' slaps #and guess what so does 'student demonstration time' #okay bye #the beach boys #this was so fun to write; thank you for giving me an excuse to type this all up!

[fakemon-archive]

ASTRA DEX, created by DarkNe0s (2009)

Did you ever make your own pokemon when you were younger? Maybe drew them, sprited them, and then shared them on some long-gone corner of the internet?

What kind of pokemon did you make?

Today, we have plenty of guides to making fakemon that more closely match the design style and philosophy of official pokemon designs, and MANY creative and incredibly talented artists bringing these fan-made dexes to life. But even still, it's hard to say what exactly makes something a pokemon design- especially when it's something that varies so much between generations.

Good Lird. The similarities between these seems to start and end at "IT IS GREEN".

Ultimately, what a pokemon should look like is entirely subjective- but that's obvious enough, isn't it? That's just the base line of fakemon design itself. Everyone and their mother knows it.

Let's have some fun. What should your pokemon look like? Do they need to be as close to official design styles as they can be? Or can they be frightening, cool monsters? Maybe something more cartoonish? What's the weirdest you can get with them? Who's to say you can't get any weirder? What should limit you?

You can answer that on your own time. Let's look at the ASTRA dex!

SKIPPEA - LEAFALING - JETRANG

The Astra region begins with a TERRIFICALLY creative grass starter- a samara, or "helicopter seed", which becomes an actual helicopter before its final stage- a powerful grass/flying-type jet! It's a very fun and well-designed line.

There's also the more... "up-to-date" version on deviantart, or at least as up-to-date 2009 can be considered. The most noticable difference lies in the middle stage, given a much 'beakier' face. It and its first stage have also been given a lighter shade of brown, as well as dark pupils that match with the final stage.

Meanwhile, Jetrang is the perfect animal- the only change it recieved was being made just slightly more aerodynamic.

GOFLARE - SMOKOAL - BOMBURROW

How cute! It's a magma gopher with a gradually cooling shell of rock forming over it- AND it's a landmine! If this thing ends up in your golf course, you best just give up. Once again, other than slightly lighter colors, only one stage has received particularly noticeable changes- this time the final, being given clearer markings and removing the lava pit on its back to be a more solid shell.

One of my favorite bits of this line is how the middle stage is given the typical angry Sugimori eyes, while the final has those dark sweet-looking cute eyes you see on things like eeveelutions and vulpix. A very darling creature- I think I'll take it to the local golf course!

SQWIMP -CLAWDAWD - CLOBBSTER

Oh. Oh

Sqwimp

As you can tell by the complete lack of difference between the video version and the deviantart version, this is THE perfect beast. There's very little to say on it- it's a poor little shrimp that grows tough armor, and becomes practically untouchable! ... Except for its antennae, which are quite vulnerable.

Actually, it reminds me quite a bit of a certain videogame extraterrestrial... though, it's hard to say whether that's by design or pure coincidence.

Ah, this got pretty long already! As such, the rest of the post is simply going to be an image and link compilation of the rest of the dex that exists. The purpose of this is both to showcase the dex, but also to preserve its existence.

How much digital information is lost in a day? A youtube video from 2005 could be taken down for using copyright music, and nobody might even notice. An old, forgotten forum could finally shut down, throwing years of shared comments and ideas to the wind. It's insignificant to most, you don't need to cling to everything really.

My main interests lie in creature design. Both in original creations and fan-made. Not as a professional, but in general- I love seeing what fantastical things people create, and what you can learn about their own thought process through them. What they imagine makes a good design, or a cool concept, or an awesome creature- in these cases, what they imagine a POKEMON to be on their own terms.

This blog is meant to archive old and unique fakemon projects wherever I can find them as best I can, in case they should otherwise be lost to time. If you have any projects of your own that you'd forgotten, or if you know of anyone else's, please feel free to share! I have a lot of love for these things, and I'm hoping to spread that love to others.

Anyway, most images should have links to their original playlist / video / deviantart upload. Now, do note that unless explicitly stated by the original creator, these designs and sprites are not for free use in other projects.

And of course, if you are the original creator of these and have your own comments / would like the post to be removed, please feel free to speak! No need to be shy on these webpage

DarkNe0s deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/darkne0s

DarkNe0s youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarkNe0s/videos

#incomplete dex #youtube #deviantart #Youtube

[effervescentdragon]

Heartbroken Lando because he realised that Carlos doesn't loves him anymore (because now he has Charles)??

The whole 1.8k of this is brought to you by Mr. Perfectly Fine being on repeat rigth after All Too Well (10 Minute Version) being on repeat ;) I would recommend any fans of Lando or Carlando to walk away, this is not for you. I am also generally sad and mean and bruised these days, and this is how I cope. Hope you like this, let me know what you think!! <3  

When Carlos had said I think we should stop doing this and We won't have time next year, you've seen how this year has gone and I don't want us to end up resenting each other and It's just a break, we're both too busy and I don't want us to become a chore to each other and I love you, you know I love you, that won't change, but we both need to be more focused on our careers and You understand, don't you?, Lando agreed, because what was he supposed to say, really, when Carlos was right?

Neither of them was achieving results that they wanted, that they needed to achieve to prove to the world just how good they were. And yes, they both agreed that many things could be blamed at both of their cars, both of them shitty in different ways, but the fact was, Lando knew they were both distracted with each other too much to focus on racing.

Lando didn't really mind it, if he was honest. He wanted Carlos to be there for him when his brain got too loud, and wanted to console Carlos when he needed it, and he'd made peace with the fact that the past season was a bust for both of them by their own standards, and wasn’t really optimistic about the current one either. He knew his place on the team was secure, but he also knew Carlos' wasn't. He still had a contract only until the end of this year, and Lando bit his tongue when Carlos said I need to bring them results, Lando, I'm not paying for my seat, and didn't say anything, just nodded and said I understand.

So it was only a break, really, and it would only last until Carlos got his contract extension, and until they saw how this season would go, and until Carlos finally realised what Lando already knew; that they were always going to end up together in the end. 

Except; well. 

Except Carlos got his contract extension up until 2024, and he still didn't mention anything about them getting back together. Except both of their seasons were fucked to hell and there was nothing they could objectively do about it, and Carlos still said nothing. Except that Carlos and Lando still played golf, and still talked about things, and still partied together and ate dinners together and hung out together and planned holiday retreats with their friends together, and Carlos still said nothing about them going back to being more than friends.

Because they were, they were still friends, and Lando didn't know how to change that. Because Carlos still hugged him, and pushed him around, and touched him like one would a mate, but there was a firm, invisible line that Carlos didn't -- want to, it felt like he didn’t want to anymore -- and Lando didn't know how to cross. 

We can talk about more things now that we aren’t teammates, Carlos had said in the interview, but when Lando watched it, instead of feeling the warmth and contentment he always did, all there was in his chest instead was dread, because, the matter was, they didn’t. They didn’t really talk more, in fact they talked even less, and when they did, there was no intimacy to it anymore. There were no whispered words on the pillows in the middle of the night, or soft mornings with kissing over breakfast, or just looks and touches that worked to say all that was needed when words were lacking. 

But it was only a break; a temporary misalignment which would right itself, like adapting to new rules and new machines on the track. It was only a break, until they finally sat in the car one day and everything finally worked the way it was supposed to. 

Except; well. 

Except it wasn’t only Carlos and Lando, because if it were only them, and only about them, Lando thought Carlos would’ve caved and came to Lando’s room after Silverstone: or he would’ve caved in Melbourne, when Lando offered to stay with him; or he would’ve caved in Monza, for his birthday, when they were both drunk and Lando felt almost like it was back then, before the break and before Ferrari and just before, when they were CarlosandLando. 

Except it wasn’t only them, because if it were only them, then they would be a Them again. But it wasn’t, because there was also Charles.

Charles, with his wide, beautiful eyes and silly, charming behaviour and perfectly sculpted face. Charles, with what people said was more talent than anyone else has posessed in a long time and more subsequent admiration by other drivers and the world than he deserved. Charles, with his perfect hair and his kind words and his propriety and his angelic face even in the face of fuckery, which has been more or less almost every race throughout the season. Charles, Scuderia Ferrari’s fucking Il Predestinato, with his raw talent and his miracle-working on track despite constantly being fucked over by strategy and luck both. Charles Leclerc, the man who was the final nail in the coffin of Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari tenure, the boy to whom Ferrari offered the longest contract they ever did, and the man who took Carlos away from Lando and McLaren. 

Well, technically he didn’t, Ferrari did. Lando knew this, knew it was a childish way of looking at things; but still, still he wondered. He couldn’t help but wonder.

He wondered when he watched Charles and Carlos make their way through the paddock, hands almost touching, heads close together as they whispered to one another behind their palms and laughed at something only they knew, Ferrari princes, both tall, both smiling, both too-good looking, just right for the legendary team. He wondered when they were all playing golf with Alex and George and Caco, and when Charles and Carlos weren’t even on the same team, and yet they somehow always ended up giggling together, Carlos messing with Charles’ cap and Charles batting his hands away, but not moving from Carlos’ space. He wondered when Carlos’ phone went off in the middle of their dinners and he pulled it out and chuckled, laugh lines around his eyes softening as he typed out a response immediately every single time. He wondered when he saw the challenges Ferrari made them do -- and he watched them all despite knowing he was going to feel like shit after he did, but he had to, he had to know, he had to see -- and saw the way their interactions changed over the almost two years. 

It was almost exactly the same as it was with him and Carlos. It started off as brotherly competition, as jokes and pokes and teasing of what looked as friendly affection, right up until the touches became more insistent, and the looks became longer, and the smiles turned from the media-approved ones into something real, something that could be observed in the softness around the eyes and the twist of the lips in a smile and the easy way of breaching each other’s personal space to touch, like there is no need to ask anymore, like it’s there for the taking. It was almost the same, except it wasn’t Lando that Carlos was looking at, and it wasn’t Lando’s lips he was staring at, and it wasn’t Lando’s fingers he tangled his own into anymore. It was Charles’ lips, and Charles’ eyes, and Charles’ fingers, and Charles himself who pushed into Carlos’ space until Carlos made way for him instinctively; until he made space for Charles like it was Charles who belonged there. 

And Lando could live with that, he could, he really could, he would if it was necessary, because he cared for Carlos so much, he just needed him in his life, he could swallow it all down and be patient, if it weren’t for the fact that Lando knew Charles knew what Lando was feeling.

Because Lando was sure Charles knew, he was fucking sure like he was sure his car was shit and like he was sure Earth went around the sun or whatever, because Charles would sometimes look at Lando when they were all together, before the race or in the media pen or at the golf course or in a restaurant, and he would look like he’s thinking about something, and then he would smirk and inevitably lean towards Carlos, or call for Carlos, or do something that drew Carlos’ attention to him every single time without fail. He was sure, because Charles would smile, and bat his eyelashes, and open his stupid mouth, and lick his lips, and Carlos’ eyes would follow the path of Charles’ tongue every single time. He was sure, because sometimes when Carlos hugged Lando after the race or quali or a game of golf -- to which Charles was invited more often than not nowadays, all giggling and cheating to win and playing dumb when he was caught, insufferable in his nonchalance -- Lando would catch Charles watching them, and there was something self-satisfactory and something that annoyed Lando greatly in his eyes -- pity, or satisfaction, or derision, or a face of someone who knows he’s going to win a game almost nobody else knows they’re playing -- and then look away, the curl of his smile making him insufferably handsome. 

Lando didn’t know what to do, really, so he clung to the one thing he believed in, and that was Carlos. Carlos, who was always truthful with him, Carlos with his principles and his morals and his clear-cut view of the world -- Carlos, with his face buried in Charles’ hair in the club, mouthing something in his ear that made Charles’ eyes hazy; Carlos, with the easy way he lifted Charles’ in that video, without having to check how to do it because he already knew; Carlos, with his hands on Charles’ cheek, patting it, his eyes full of dark promises that were now Charles’ -- Carlos, with his easy smiles and camaraderie for everyone, and his bad jokes and his language mishaps and his red overalls that fit him and made him look better than he ever did in -- orange -- any other colour he’d ever worn. 

So Lando went on with his days, and texted Carlos regularly, and kept his mouth shut, and tried not to think about Charles, and tried not to be petty when he was asked about Charles in the interviews or by the other drivers on the grid -- and failed most of the time, if the looks he got were any indication -- and kept trusting Carlos when he said It is only a break, it is not for forever and You understand, don’t you? and kept driving his shitty car and kept hoping that next year would be better and kept being on Carlos’ team in golf and kept laughing at Carlos’ jokes and believed Carlos when he had said I love you, that won’t change, even though it has been over a year since Carlos last said any of it to Lando. 

Because Carlos was right, and it was just a break, and it wasn’t forever, and Carlos would’t lie to Lando. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t.

Carlos wouldn’t lie. Not to Lando.

Would he?

#anyone who likes lando step away #f1 rpf #charlos #my writing #effervescentdragonrants #everybody is a bastard here #jealousy #maybe cheating but i dont rly think so #perhaps emotional cheating #heartbreak #idk youve been warned enough #i am sad and i am pissed off and i chose my punching bag #ferrari boys <3

[total-drama-brainrot]

Hello hello ophe 👋😇

How are you going so far? 😊

I just want to say aletrent has taken over my brain and I’m here thinking if I should make it happen for cruise stars but then I remember that I promised the fresh people in the server that AleNoah will happen. I’m here thinking to myself

“😟 damn why do you ship AleTrent? Aren’t you a AleNoah shipper? Alejandro and Trent deadass never even interacted, besides this is gonna be like the last time where you joined a fandom and got brainrotted by a crack pair/rare pair. And Noah and Alejandro’s dynamic is more interesting to write and think about. Besides brain you can shove Trent with Duncan it will be funi 😁.” -me to my Brain 😇 🧠 as I try to keep my brain cells in check

Anyways enough about me taking about stuff that doesn’t matter I finally thought of the main villain(s) for Shitwrecked and I’m really excited to write about them bitches scheming 😈 (but I kinda want to do another idea throwing session sometime again in the future, it was fun to talk and do the funi throw shit together and see what happens 😁, social interaction my enemy😔)

But as always let the brain rot commence as we speak

Lindsay and Noah friendship real tho!

Shitwrecked crap that was on my mind recently-

Emma and Trent friendship- they both are a disaster (lovingly way) one is literally a mess while the other is in the inside (I think in Trent’s bio thing it said that his sprit animal or favorite was a cat and Emma is cat person)

Nemma divorced conformation/rr cameo in a challenge and heather kissing Emma(rr)/j

leonard bringing a horse into the competition

Courtney is remind of Brittney(raccoon) when Zee brings back out lord and savior Oilvia Von Trashpanda

Topher tries to run over Chris with a golf cart

Skyella sweep! Dave becomes more emo as skyella sweep happens

Prillie divorced arc as Millie feel like priya thrown their friendship away for a guy and that priya is hanging out with Caleb more

Hear me out Trent and heather Secret alliance or some shit (I think it sounds funi to me😁) probably not go with it but it was fun to think about tho

Trent being annoy/passive aggressive to Geoff and Justin(oh how who can my favorite character be/j🤪)

Chef probably treating the reboot cast more favorably(no one can stop the Wayne)

Axel being the reason why Duncan is scared of Celine Dion cardboard standees

Gwen having to deal with her golden retriever cousins

Thinking of a scene where Emma is talking with Gwen/courtney about dating advice or something as she describes Axel (Emma doesn’t say name) “they have an eyebrow piercing and they got their ears pierced too. They are all tough as nails and abrasive but they can be surprisingly sweet and caring.” Both Gwen or/and Courtney be thinking to themselves “damn why Duncan of all people?”

Noah with the whole divorce dad look “Owen I miss my wife..”

Don big naturals/j 😈

Damn I think I kinda went a bit off with the rambles😳 brain rot do be hitting harder than the kitchen floor 😔

-Ass Stars anon

Hello hello ASAnon, it's nice to have you back! 👋😊

Alejandro and Trent are very shippable characters, so it was inevitable that someone would start seriously shipping the two despite their complete lack of canon interaction. So long as you're enjoying yourself, who's to judge?

I'm happy to hear you've figured out some of the details of your AU! It can be super hard to figure out what direction you want to take your ideas in, especially for an AU as broad and character-filled as your own.

The brainrot is real and it consumes us all. If these ideas are what make you happiest and/or are the ones that you find the most amusing, then include them in your story! Self-indulgence is half the fun of writing/drawing/creating your own AUs. 😌👍

Don's big naturals are canon though. They're a non-negotiable inclusion in any fan-content. /j

#don big naturals is going to end up as a fandom wide meme at some point. like leshawna ball. /pos #ass stars anon #replies

[f1-birb]

The thing that annoyed me most about whole “no longer fun” drama wasn’t George’s salty comment to media about growing up etc. It was that Lando’s comment was completely taken out of context in the first place.

He didn’t say it to make a dig at George in any way. He was talking about his own situation and how lucky he was that McLaren allowed him to be himself unlike some other teams. He used George & his move to Mercedes as an example, in that George pre-Mercedes was more fun but that Merc required the drivers to become more corporate & PR driven. He even stressed that it was down to the team. But of course media & fans ran with one small sentence out of context and dragged him through the mud for nothing. I don’t even know if George saw the original interview or if he only knows about the out-of-context sentence. Yes Lando probably should have just not used an example as it would have a saved himself a load of abuse but it was obvious in the interview that there was zero malice behind it.

It was interesting though that for all his bitchy response, George immediately started trying to be more “fun” on social media & in interviews so it obviously hit a nerve & he knew what Lando had said was true about how Merc was changing him.

As for the podcast, I think George was just making a sarcastic throwaway comment tbh. Like you say they always roast each other. He’s not an idiot, he knows Lando was about as likely to score a podium in the McLaren this year as he was himself in the Williams the year before. And he did go out of his way to praise Lando’s performance this year in that Sky interview after the presenters were mocking Lando a bit for the best of the rest thing. He didn’t have to do that, he clearly meant it.

This. All of this. George definitely only heard the out of context comment because he targeted golf specifically in his response, something Lando has been open about loving. (Except there are several other drivers (bestie Alex Albon for one) who have also been open about enjoying golf)

The PR63 meme became a meme for a reason, and I'm glad George has started being a little more fun again, even if it is a result of him feeling slighted by the comment. I'm seeing more of Williams George come back and I liked him a lot, and him and Lando in the two AD Sky interviews were brilliant together

At the end of the day they're mates. Are the besties? No, I don't think so, but there is clear, blatant, mutual respect there, Lando's always had high praise for George even when George was at Williams and I was really impressed by George interrupting the interview just to specifically praise Lando

#lando norris #george russell #anon you dropped this 👑 #birb speaks

[looosey]

Lucy's Side Quest #5: Manic Drawing session

Big reveal: I'm Merch Chair of my dance team this year! Yayyy!!!

So I feel really lucky to have fallen into this position because the only experience I actually have designing a shirt is once for a club in high school. BUT my confidence in making a banger clothing line is so high. It's giving Dunning-Kruger effect (i.e. where those who have the least experience/knowledge of something have the most ginimonosaurus un-based confidence in their capability). Speaking of, idk why I'm explaining psychology to a bunch of 6-9's and 9.00 fans.

Anyways, I'm back at home because I'm trynna become an american this week and taking the civic exam here in Dallas. There's never anything to do in Texas, because it's so hot outside and my siblings are internet queens, so I just drew a bunch.

Even if it looks silly now, I have this vision of how these designs could look nice mix-matched on t-shirts, hoodies, or sweatpants. Some of the font inspiration is from Tyler the Creator's albums, and in general his Golf Wang brand. I probably should have waited till I created digital versions to post this, but I couldn't wait to share it. I'm a hoe for instant gratification.

This is another drawing to break in this sketchbook. I haven't used colored pencils to art in a hot minute. Like at least 8 years, holy shit.

I really don't know where I'm going with art. I listened in on the Figma design conference last week, and really thought hard about this 6-3 degree I'm gunning towards. I really want to. Need to. Do something creative in my job. I might go crazy otherwise. Not necessarily design, or dance, or music, or drawing, or writing. I don't know what, which is the problem. Do I just start making hella shirts and portfolios? I might actually start that Youtube channel.

It would be nice to have a mentor/advisor in media, and there must be so many at MIT... just how to reach the right ones?

#actual ihouse art #merchandise design #dance team #dunning kruger #art #artists on tumblr #golf wang #fashion #lucys side quest

[f0point5]

Okay I feel like there’s a common misconception of hating on wags cause girls want to be one and yes that is the case for some girls but most girls who run gossip pages would actually not want to be wags cause if your are dating a hated driver you are fucked.

To say that wags get unnecessary hate is a lie, they get criticized more than anything, we all know its mostly the wags that do stupid shit just to get attention, (also before going into this I’ve never seen lances gf getting criticized, its always just lance and people question how they started dating, but they do just so they can find another reason to hate on lance.)

To say that all wag get hate just cause they are dating a driver and people are jealous is actually stupid cause often times fans of other drivers will come after the wags as a way of hating on the driver himself. We see this happen all the time, some max fans can’t stop bringing up checo cheating when hating on the Mexican, like honestly if him and his wife have moved on so should everyone fucking else.

Now when it comes to Lewis fans and Max fans hating on Kelly, like can you honestly blame them, who in their right mind as a mother thinks it’s normal to post your daughter naked, to have your daughter in a taxi without a seatbelt or car seat mind you in the video P was standing by the fucking window, people question how Kelly gets credit for being a good mom when she continues to do questionable things, she uses her daughter and max for clout, but it’s okay cause all wags use their boyfriends for clout right. Also don’t forget to mention that Kelly literally admitted to having a magical night with max when he was barely 18, hell for all we know he could have 17 and she was 27. But sure people have no fucking right to criticize her for her fucking actions, people have no reason to say she’s a fake activist when she posts about what’s happening right now and then posts an ads 3 post later, people have no right in criticizing her for defending her racist dads views, no one can criticize her for talking about overconsumption when it comes to holiday sales but she sits there with over 200 clothing items in max’s fucking home, no can criticize her for saying MAX IS A FUCKING STEPFATHER, after HE HAS SAID MULTIPLE TIMES HE’S NOT CAUSE P’S DAD IS IN HER LIFE. But yeah no don’t criticize her, she’s doing nothing wrong, fuck if that list wasn’t so fucking long I would go on.

People can’t criticize or judge Alexandra for deadass quitting university to fucking follow a guy around who is known to dump he’s girlfriends after 3-4 years cause he simply got fucking bored.

People rarely criticize Heidi from what I’ve seen, they mainly just make fun of Daniel for being with her for so long and not marrying her. But what I do I know right.

People can’t criticize Carmen for leaving her job for George like who the fuck does that, also people make fun of her calling him GR in her fucking post cause that’s actually fucking weird just call him George like fucking hell.

People can’t criticize Rebecca’s past simply just cause they liked Isa and cause Rebecca and Isa are the polar opposite from each other.

People definitely can’t criticize Luisa for lowkey using Lando for clout like fuck dude have you not seen she’s on dancing with the stars now and as far as I’m aware of, she wasn’t so popular like she is now, after her and Lando broke up. (And I literally hate bringing her up but everyone does, so whatever)

People can’t criticize wags for using their boyfriends for clout cause apparently none of them do, but that’s simply not true. I will believe you when it comes to both lilies cause one is extremely private and the other one has been more known cause golf has started to become an even bigger sport.

But of course everything a wag does is fucking perfect and they definitely don’t use these guys for clout, no one wants to become a wag, unless your Magui who is clearly desperate to be one and same with Kelly no offense. But holy shit guess what, if you guys can defend a wag from getting hated on why can’t you guys hold that same energy and defend a driver for getting on as well. Cause I’m sorry to say, but Max, Lando and Lance are some of the most hated drivers on the grid. But yet still ain’t no one defending lance, like holy fuck but of course no woman deserves the hate but a guy does.

How about instead of defending a wag from “unnecessary hate” why not defend a driver who gets unnecessary hate as well.

At least most gossip pages keep the same energy when it comes to wags and drivers.

At the end of the day most of these wags where just regular people till they started dating a driver.

Also this is in no way to hate on anyone I’m just trying to understand how the hell can you defend some of these wags actions and hate on everyone who points them out and or throw a pity feast for the wag when they get called out for it, but you won’t do it for the person these wags are dating.

✨U N W E L L ✨

I’m not even reading all this. I’m just not. I don’t have the energy.

I read the start, so I guess my point is, if you’re not jealous…what actually are you? Bored? You’ve got a calendar year free to write about people who date people who don’t know or care about you?

What is your damage?

Happy, fulfilled, balanced people don’t have this much negativity to point towards people that they don’t know and whose lives do not affect them. Get a life. Goddamn.

I’m only posting this to illustrate the craziness that exists when people can’t detach themselves from famous people and can’t deal with their own irrelevance.

Please go send this stuff elsewhere if it serves you in some way because I literally don’t have time to adequately respond.

[and-i-want-and-i-need]

My Stadium Tour Experience

I finally saw the Stadium Tour after so long(I was 14 when I bought the tickets and I’m 17 next week so…). Anyway, here’s the quick summary

So I arrived like right when it started so I didn’t see Classless Act much, only one and half songs :/

Joan Jett

Ageless queen

Seriously she looks amazing for someone with her style and her age

And her voice….memorizing

I want to be Joan Jett when I get older

I sadly can’t recall the first song she played but the second one was Cherry Bomb and the stadium went wild

For an act that was 45 minutes it was so fun and I wish she had longer

Poison

So bands will play songs before they start to get the crowd hyped…they chose Welcome to the Jungle

Bret Michaels came run out onto the stage and went wild

I loved his energy so much

“Pretty Shiny boy Bret Michaels”-The ladies behind us

Y’all he had a harmonica solo and it went harder than it should have

C.C DeVille got his solo and the stadium was chanting his name

Did I know there was chance he would play Eruption and lead into Fallen Angel? Yes. Was I still prepared when it happened? Not at all

Every time you blink Bret Michaels has a different hat on

Something to Believe In *Mwah*

What was really cool was how Bret interacted with the fans. He let them touch his guitar and waved to them, and when he was driving back into the stadium, he stopped the golf cart and went and gave a few fans high fives

Mötley Crüe:

I saw tits

Okay yes I don’t like the Crüe much themselves but they know how to put on a show

That magic was kind of lost once the giant statues of women appeared and the focus was on the dancers….first portion was just pure rock and I loved that

There were two people dressed like 80’s rock stars, like, Party City kind of costumes and I thought it was funny

Nikki Sixx’s daughter was there and they showed him playing while engaging with her and yes, it was cute and every woman over forty went “awwww”

Nikki Sixx:* Talking to the crowd and has a towel* “Want this towel? Here, it’s like the one I gave your mom in 1986…that’s probably true actually*

Back to the tits, yes it was even Tommy was speaking and they were shown on the screen

“Three pairs of titties in Houston of all places…oh there we go.”

That was kind of funny because he looked like he had just been released into society after being locked up

In other news the guy next to us was a little too drunk….his friend were literally dragging him

I know Vince Neil can’t sing but…oh it was bad…The backing vocals and the crowd saved him

MICK MARS MY MAN! He was just rocking in his corner and I love him for that

Def Leppard

There was a timer and that was the longest ten minutes of my life

They started with Take What You Want and I would have sang along if I didn’t become paralyzed in awe and excitement

It never felt real. The whole thing was like the best dream of my life

Sav*does the thing* Me: HE DID THE THING

Joe Elliott I luv u 🥺

Sav wasn’t shown enough on the screens :(

They started playing Armageddon It and I went ballistic

*This Guitar* My mom: this is so good why haven’t you play me this song :(

I will mom I will I promise you

RICK ALLEN THE THUNDER GOD AT THE FRONT OF THE STAGE GOING AT IT AND THEN AGAIN A FEW SONGS LATER IN THE BACK

I did not expect Promises for some reason so I was shocked when they played it but it was BEAUTIFUL

Y’all Hysteria had clips of them ove the years and newspaper headings on how awesome they were and I got teary eye

Two Steps Behind>>> And when it was just Joe at the end oml he’s an Angel the lighting his voice amdbaldnalshwpdbd

They love each other so much it’s adorable I want that kind of bond and I hope I have it with my friends

Rick walking around with his little maraca ❤️❤️

Rick:*epic solo* Me: THATS WHY IVE WRITTEN THREE ESSAYS ABOUT THEM

“From my head to my…” I got that on video fyi

“Rick has something to say” “Gunter Glieben Glauchen Globen” *Chaotic screaming*

There were two drunk girls dancing in front of us and they weee just having the time of our life and it was cool to see

Did not expect them to end with Photograph…but it was an amazing ending

They could have gone on for hours and I would have enjoyed every single moment

They played Kings Of The World on the speakers when it was all over so it was a giant stadium just singing along…beautiful

I could go on and on but I won’t I might upload some photos and videos

In all, the best concert I’ve ever to. The crowd was much fun and you can tell everyone wanted to be there. I didn’t know if I wanted to be a rockstar or a middle age woman reliving her youth with her friends. Seeing Def Leppard was so surreal and unbelievable, and everyone was amazing(Vince…Vince tries. He tries).11/10 experience

#I would have posted this earlier but I took a melatonin in the car then woke up at 7:20 then went to a PSAT class that lasted till noon #then I got stuck in traffic and then I had to do homework and then I was talking to a friend and yea #def leppard #what am i doing with my life #mötley crüe #joan jett and the blackhearts #Joan Jett #poison band #y’all that was amazing #best night of my life

[krissiebucks]

Thoughts~

For the first time ever my tl on Twitter is nearly void of any SHINee content. It’s like the entire fandom took a break. Instead I’m seeing shawols rt memes and random stuff. It’s a difficult time rn. It looks like the members aren’t going to speak out over this issue. So it’s really awkward and questionable. I know lots of babywols are going to leave, I’ve seen a couple turn into other fandom accounts but this is going to have to be a ‘time will only tell’ type of situation for me personally.

I know KR is behind the times when it comes to some social justice issues such as women’s rights and racism/prejudice so the colorists remarks might not even seem like a big deal other there. But the members are big public figures who have become role models in the industry and have fans all over the world. I seriously wish the editors would have left this part out. I know in the past MINHO has talked and reassured shawols on bbl over his frequent golf trips about making sure to wear sunblock which is pretty sad that he has to reassure everyone he’ll do his best to not get any darker. The issue with colorism runs deep in EAST ASIA many SOUTH ASIANS have spoken out against this type of behavior for years. Being an older kpop fan growing up in the beginnings of 2nd gen idols I’ve seen this joke played out numerous times. It’s absolutely disappointing that this type of behavior continues to go on. Even if it was played off as a “joke” it’s no excuse. Out of all the things to say, they had to bring this up. I wish it was easier to just move on and forget but this is going to sit with me for awhile. I never held a idol to high regards like I did in the past so my image of the boys hasn’t changed much. I know they are not perfect human beings with a heart of gold. No such person exists, so as I said before I was just have to wait and see. Being an older shawol I’ve been through other scandals the boys have faced. Some were accountable with immediate reflection and others completely ignored as outage was only really seen among international fans. This might just be another one of those times where the outrage is too far from home.

We need to do better as a fandom. KR shawols should have also spoken out against this behavior to bring awareness to the boys that this is inappropriate and unacceptable in this day and age. International shawols spoke up and helped bring awareness for the awful venue selection, why is this any different. Holding the boys accountable should be a priority for the fandom we should want them to do better. I don’t believe people have to demand anything from them I just want the message of disappointment and concern to reach them so that they can unlearn and want to better themselves in the future. Dragging them over a moment that to them might have seemed absolutely harmless will just make things worse. It might put the members off from ever wanting to change said behaviors or even interact with international fans in the future (take Taemin’s live and how awkward it was) The entire situation is absolutely disheartening. I hope they see fan’s disappointment and realize they unintentionally hurt many people. Shawols are doing their best they can right now. This is not an easy topic, but the boys schedules will still move forward whether they acknowledge it or not. I completely understand the frustration and exodus the fandom may go through. Only time will tell.

#shinee #mythoughts #that nobody asked for #kind of a rant I guess #but had to get it off my chest

[lire-casander]

chapter #5 — second verse

Their first official date doesn't take place until the following weekend, given Carlos' tight schedule of classes and time with his daughter, and TK’s own crazy life with interviews and photoshoots. They text for six days straight, at almost every waking moment — TK has to stop himself from reaching for his phone to check his messages during the times he knows Carlos must be teaching, but other than that he thinks this is going smoothly.

It also helps that Jonah seems to be taking this whole new adventure of TK’s life way better than he took him marrying — or even dating — Alex.

His brother has been exceptionally cheerful that TK’s been photographed with Carlos Reyes; TK should be worried that he’s this giddy about his love life when, merely days ago, Jonah had been very vocal about how much he despised Alex. Before the whole cheating debacle, TK had thought that Jonah might have been jealous in the way kids sometimes become when an important adult in their life begins dividing their attention between the child and whoever has come into the adult’s life.

But now Jonah seems completely happy with TK dating someone completely anonymous, and he’s even coyly suggesting places for their first date.

"Have you thought about bringing Buttercup to the date?" Jonah asks on Thursday, two days before Carlos is supposed to be picking TK up. "I bet he would love to be there with you."

"I doubt a bar is the best place for a dog," TK replies, looking up from the book he's reading to stare into his brother’s eyes. There's never a moment that TK isn't surprised by the uncanny resemblance between Jonah’s stare and that of their mom's.

"Is Carlos taking you to a bar?" Paul asks from his spot on the other couch. TK rolls his eyes so hard that it almost hurts; Jonah chuckles as he climbs up besides TK and sits on his leg. "Where has he been living these past years? Under a rock? Doesn't he know about—" Paul cuts himself off before saying anything else as he eyes Jonah, who's frowning at him.

"I bet Carlos doesn't know you don't like bars, T," Jonah says slowly. "But maybe we can tell him, and he can change his idea and bring you to the mini-golf. You could bring Buttercup with you!"

"What's with taking Buttercup on a date with Carlos?" TK questions his brother, finally putting his book aside. "What's going on, J? Why are you so insistent on me bringing Buttercup along?”

“I’m not—” Jonah shakes his head and kicks at a nonexistent bump on the floor. “I just don’t want you to go on your own. There could be bad guys anywhere.”

TK understands what Jonah isn’t saying; his brother has always been very protective of him and the life they both lead has always been peppered with threats, coming either from the fact that sometimes fans can be crazy or from the fact that Enzo’s been putting away criminals with very powerful friends out on the streets. It makes sense that Jonah might be worried about a new person barrelling into their lives out of the blue. “Are you scared that Carlos might be one of the bad guys?”

"I’m sure he isn’t," Jonah says earnestly. TK frowns at him; he doesn’t understand the thoughts that might be running through his brother’s mind; one second he’s so intent on not letting TK go out on his own and the next he’s changed his mind completely. "It feels like I already know him."

TK shakes his head. His brother has been making remarks similar to that one for the past four days; he knows it's just a way for Jonah to ensure he doesn't get left out of TK’s life ever again. He doesn't think that introducing his baby brother to a complete stranger on their first date is the perfect course of action, though — he wants to make sure that Carlos isn't really some psycho, and after Alex he doesn't want to expose his brother to just anyone who crosses paths with him.

"I was right about Alex," Jonah whines. "Don't you want to know my opinion on Carlos before you go on any more dates?"

"I swear, this kid," Paul laughs. "He's right, though. You should introduce Carlos to him. See what he thinks."

"He gets it," Jonah tells TK matter-of-factly.

"Still not happening this weekend," TK states. "Not bringing Buttercup with me either. You need someone to protect you while I'm away."

"Judd’s going with you," Paul says at the same time as Jonah asks, "Judd will go with you, right?"

"Yes, he will," TK admits with a huff. "You guys can be draining."

"That means we're doing our job well," Paul stage-whispers, leaning over the arm of his couch to high-five with Jonah, who giggles and stretches his hand out. "It's almost time for your call with Enzo, buddy," he notes, checking his phone. "I'll get going. Have fun on your call!"

TK shakes his head as his friend leaves the penthouse. Jonah sits properly and makes grabby hands at TK, who's in charge of the kid's phone whenever he isn't at school. As if on cue, the device starts beeping with a FaceTime call, and TK hands it over to his brother, muttering, "I'll be in the kitchen making dinner if you need me."

"Aren't you staying?" Jonah asks. "I bet Dad will love talking to you."

"Maybe later," TK tells his brother. "Now, pick it up. It's way too early in Tokyo for you to miss this call."

He disappears into the kitchen, letting out a long sigh as he leans onto the counter. He doesn't want to face Enzo right now — he's been avoiding him since he left for Japan on Monday — the same way he doesn't want to talk to his own father. TK knows they will both be supportive of this new adventure; Enzo already voiced his assent to this crazy idea before taking off to Asia, but Owen Strand is on a whole new level. TK fears that Enzo will try to convince him to talk to his father, and he's not ready to face that music yet. He'd love to enjoy the small mercies of life with Carlos — get to know him, take him on dates, maybe even kiss him — before sitting down and telling his father. Who, by the way, TK is pretty sure already knows, because Carlos' face has been splashed all over the Internet, and because Owen Strand, ever the impatient man, has been calling nonstop for five days straight. Which is as long as TK has been avoiding his own father.

"T!" he hears from the living room. "Dad wants to talk to you!"

He breathes in deeply and makes his way out of the kitchen in time to hear Jonah mumbling, "Dad, don't tell him, okay? It's a secret!"

"What's a secret?" TK asks as he flops down on the couch next to Jonah. "Hi, Enzo."

"Nothing important," Enzo says brightly, waving at him from the other side of the screen. "Hi, TK. Jonah will tell you right before the parents' meeting at school next month, won't you, son?"

"I will," Jonah says begrudgingly. "You're mean."

"Yeah, I know," Enzo dismisses his son's words with a shrug. "How are you, T? How's the fallout from the show? I'm sorry I had to fly out of the country right away."

"It's okay, you know it is. Nobody could have foreseen what happened," TK says, ignoring the way his brother scoffs by his side. "I'm doing fine. Promise."

Enzo pins him with a sharp look before changing subjects. TK’s never been more grateful for his brother’s father, and he's never been more amused when Buttercup makes his appearance and steals the whole show by barking hello at Enzo.

Saturday comes fast, much to TK’s equal dismay and excitement. He wishes he’d had more time to get ready for his first date after the Alex debacle, but he’s also thrilled that he gets to see Carlos in the flesh again. The teacher, ever the gentleman, texts him that he’s going to be picking TK up at seven thirty sharp. TK freaks out in his room as he tries patterned shirt after patterned shirt, and not a single one feels right. From the bed, where he’s perched with Buttercup and a bowl of popcorn, Jonah giggles and points out another shirt.

“That one, T!”

“That one’s plain black,” TK observes. “I’m trying to prove a point here.”

“That your fashion sense is atrocious?” comes Grace’s voice from the door. “Because if that’s what you’re aiming for, I’d say wear the palm patterned shirt. But if what you want to do is, you know, impress a certain teacher, I’d go with the plain black one.”

“I think he’d like it,” Jonah says, far too smug for his eleven years of age. “Trust me.”

“Now you’re an expert in what teachers like?” TK asks incredulously.

Jonah squirms uncomfortably under his gaze, but comes up with, “I’m sure. He’ll like it.”

“And I’m sure Carlos will like anything you wear,” Grace states. “Just not a patterned shirt, please. And you know I am an expert here.”

“Why?” Jonah questions, craning his neck to the side to observe Grace with his big, almost transparent eyes.

He splutters and glares at Grace. They’d agreed they wouldn’t mention Grace being friends with Carlos, and now Grace has blown it up with just one line.

“I’m an expert in what men in general like,” she tries to save.

Jonah isn’t buying it, much to TK’s chagrin. “Maybe you’re an expert in what men like to see in a woman,” he says. “But Carlos likes T, so he doesn’t like women.”

“About that, J—” TK begins, but he’s cut off by Marjan’s voice calling his name. He’s so regretting handing out copies of his door keys to his team. “Sorry, sounds like I’m needed. I’ll just wear this one,” he adds, grabbing the black shirt and fighting to put it on as he steps out of the room, leaving behind Jonah’s whoops of victory and Grace’s attempts at chastising him for yelling.

“Your boy’s here,” Marjan announces as TK reaches the living room. He looks around, panicking, but Carlos is nowhere to be seen. “Not here here, but Erik’s called to let us know he’s coming up.”

“Erik as in the concierge?” TK almost screeches. “He was supposed to keep Carlos back there and call so I could go down and—”

“Oh, you’ll be going down alright,” Marjan jokes, winking at him.

“Don’t be gross, Marj,” Paul admonishes. “As if TK puts out on the first date. Second—”

“You two are impossible and I hate you,” TK mumbles, looking around the place — which is in complete disarray despite the fact that TK’s tried to keep it tidy just in case — until he locates his black jacket and grabs it. “How am I looking?”

“Breathtaking, if I may say so,” says Carlos, startling TK and making him almost drop the jacket. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. The door was open and I—”

“It’s okay,” Judd says, standing up from his seat near the television. Such a bodyguard, TK thinks. “I opened the door when Erik said you were coming up. We were expecting you.”

TK huffs. He hadn’t been expecting to land eyes on Carlos Reyes so soon, and certainly not while in the middle of his very messy living room. He takes a brief moment to watch Carlos, admiring the way the long sleeves of his maroon Henley hug his biceps. He definitely does not notice how his jeans fit his silhouette perfectly.

TK shakes his head.

“I think we should get going,” he says. He doesn’t even waste time in greeting; he just wants out of his apartment, away from the knowing glances of his team.

“Just a second,” Marjan intercepts him as he walks by her. “Let’s take a selfie,” she says, lifting her phone. “Now, let’s post it with hashtag Calvin Klein hashtag Levi’s hashtag off on a date. C’mon on, Carlos, now it’s your turn. Let’s show you two off together! Who are you wearing?”

“I really don't feel comfortable,” Carlos says, blushing. By his side, Judd hesitates; TK’s gaze jumps from his bodyguard to Carlos, and the teacher looks so lost that it’s all TK has in himself not to wrap his arms around Carlos’ waist and hug him tight.. “I don’t think this is my world.”

“It's natural. You’ll get used to it,” Marjan continues, checking Carlos’ Henley in search of a brand that she obviously doesn’t find, if TK has to judge from the disgruntled sigh she lets out.

“Why don’t we all take a moment to breathe and relax?” Judd offers after a beat, when it’s evident that Carlos’ shuffling on his own two feet is coming from a place of discomfort rather than nervousness. “Take five, make sure we are all on the same page? And that we are all comfortable?”

TK has never been more grateful for Judd than at this moment. Marjan backs away for a second under Judd’s hard gaze, leaving Carlos some space to breathe. The effect is almost immediate; Carlos deflates a bit, the tension in his shoulders easing in the way he slumps slightly forward now that he isn’t under scrutiny.

“It’s fine,” TK finally says, when it’s evident that Carlos won’t say anything else as he continues to look at the ground. “You don’t have to like it or get used to it.”

“It just feels like everything is kinda scripted, if you know what I mean? Is everything in your life sponsored?”

“Most of it?” TK shrugs. “I guess I’ve gotten used to it by now, after all this time. I’m sorry I’ve kinda thrown you into this without warning. I guess I expect everyone to go along with this situation,” he adds. “But it’s okay if you don’t. Marj, leave him be. And just post my solo picture.”

Marjan pouts, but she nods. “Okay, just your pic, and no mention of where you’re headed. Also, it’s scheduled for a couple of hours from now, so you can ditch the paps.”

There’s noise coming from the corridor before Grace shows up from the bedroom area. “I’ve left Jonah all settled with the Marvel movie he’s chosen. He shouldn’t be any trouble,” she announces. “I’ll just grab my purse.”

TK is grateful that he gets to go on a date with Carlos Reyes, someone he’s pretty sure he would never have met under any other circumstances, but he hates that he needs to be monitored every single second of his day; that means that, for their first date, Carlos has chosen the place but TK has chosen the company. Judd’s bringing Grace along to keep up a semblance of normalcy, but that doesn’t mask the fact that TK needs a bodyguard — a babysitter, Judd would say — to go anywhere.

But when Carlos’ hand finds his on the way out of the penthouse, TK feels warmth seeping through his bones.

The bar Carlos has chosen is a somewhat hole-in-the-wall that TK would never have set foot in otherwise. It’s full of country music and cowboys trying to prove that they can line dance better than anyone else. TK steps on a few toes as they make their way to an empty table.

“This is an interesting place, Carlos,” he says once they’re settled, Judd and Grace at a table a few feet away from them. “How’d you come to find it?”

Carlos smiles. “It reminds me of home,” he explains. “I’m from Austin, Texas. When I was finding my footing here, I stumbled across this place and it reminded me so much of what I’d just left that I kinda got attached to it.” Carlos smiles softly down at him. “I met Nancy and Mateo here. You already know Nancy. Mateo works with us at the school. He is, uhm,” Carlos hesitates, “I think they don’t realize that they’re kind of dating.”

TK’s heart stutters in his chest at the mention of Austin, distracting him so much he almost misses the rest of what Carlos says. He isn't brave enough to tell him that he lived in Austin for a few months over a decade ago, because that would mean opening the Pandora's box of his not-so-ideal past. Instead, he clears his throat, focusing on the rest of what Carlos had said.

“Are they also from Texas?” he asks.

“Yeah,” Carlos replies with a nod. “It feels like we transplants were meant to find each other in the big city. Tommy, too.”

TK doesn’t recognize that name, it’s the first time Carlos has mentioned anyone called Tommy, and his heart beats traitorously faster at the mere idea of Tommy being someone special in Carlos’ life.

“We all work at the same school. Tommy used to be a paramedic back in Austin, and now she’s a school nurse. She moved all the way up here when her twin daughters were barely a few months old, following her husband. He was a chef.”

TK doesn’t comment on the sheen of nostalgia that blurs Carlos’ words as he speaks. He doesn’t ask the question that’s burning on his tongue either — he wonders if Leyre’s mother is also part of the close circle of friends that Carlos seems to surround himself with. He says nothing, though, feeling like it isn’t his place to pry, and Carlos changes subjects quickly.

“Want a beer?”

“I, uh,” TK stammers. He doesn’t want to tackle this particular topic right now, but he knows he should, sooner rather than later. However, he settles for, “I’ll have a water.”

“Water it is,” Carlos replies easily, walking away to the bar to fetch them their drinks.

TK takes advantage of his solitude to scan the bar; there are a few people dancing on the floor, and some others playing darts in a secluded corner. He smiles at how different this is from his usual scene. Here, nobody seems to know or at least care who he is or what he does for a living, and it’s exhilarating to just be.

Carlos comes back with two water bottles and flops down next to him. “Here,” he offers. “I hope you like this brand. They didn’t have fizzy water.”

“Thanks,” he replies automatically, realizing that Carlos hasn’t ordered anything with alcohol. “You didn’t need to—”

“It’s okay,” Carlos dismisses him with a wave of his hand. “I was thirsty, and water’s better. Want to dance?”

Just then, a new song starts that apparently is well-loved by the masses, drawing them all in. All of a sudden, the dance floor is packed with people line dancing. But it doesn’t deter TK and they join the crowd, where he lets Carlos teach him the basic steps. TK is frustratingly bad at line dancing, as it turns out, and he’s growing antsy at his own inability to do it right. “I’m a damned singer,” he mutters under his breath when he steps on Carlos’ toes once again. “I should know how to do this!”

Carlos laughs, the sound of it reverberating on TK’s skin. It’s thrilling to be this close to him and yet not close enough, and it’s also frustrating because he can’t seem to get his steps straight.

“This is complicated,” Carlos offers almost breathlessly. He knows Carlos is just saying that to make him feel better, and TK would love nothing more than to believe him. He holds his breath as Carlos lands one hand on TK’s waist to guide him, only for TK to end up stumbling into a large man and making him lose his step.

“If you don’t know how to dance, go back to dancing school, city boy,” the man scoffs, leaving TK agape and Carlos snickering by his side as he attempts to apologize in between laughs.

“I’ll have you know,” TK says indignantly to Carlos as he turns around to face his date again, “I’m actually a pretty good dancer. I took classes for several years. And, sure, I’m a city boy, but there’s no need to say it like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like an insult! As if the guy isn't from the city too!"

Carlos chuckles. "He could perfectly well be a transplant just like me." He twirls TK as the music changes from country to something more intimate.

"Still, no need to be rude about my dance moves, which I know aren’t great."

“Guess he hit a nerve,” Carlos says lowly, tugging at TK until there’s virtually no space between them.

“What is that supposed to mean?” TK asks back, distracted by the press of Carlos’ body against his.

“Nothing. Just seems like nobody’s ever spoken to you that way before.”

TK stops swaying along the music to look Carlos dead in the eye. “Do you think he’s right? Do you think I’m a city boy? In a bad way?”

“Do you?” Carlos counteracts, and TK laughs.

“I like being able to be told those things without anyone actually recognizing me.”

“So you admit you’re a city boy.”

“Oh, shut up,” TK says, doing something bolder to stop Carlos from teasing him further.

He moves closer, until there’s virtually no space left between them, and lands his hands on Carlos’ biceps. TK is aware that line dancing isn’t supposed to be performed the way they are dancing right now, but he couldn’t care less. Carlos doesn’t seem to mind either; his smile morphs into something verging on wicked and he moves them across the dance floor without a trace of stutter in his step. TK is equally impressed at his elegance and turned on by Carlos’ self-confidence.

They don’t speak much more after their last teasing exchange; TK is too preoccupied with keeping himself upright when all he wants to do is lean into Carlos’ personal space and stay there forever, dragged into Carlos’ orbit. Carlos isn’t helping matters, either; he keeps his gaze locked to TK’s, smoldering glances that burn deep in TK’s soul and set him aflame.

The songs merge into one another, but TK loses count of them soon enough. His only focus becomes the tether of Carlos’ hands on his waist, the depth of brown eyes searching his soul, the shiver coursing up his spine as his skin comes alive in every single spot Carlos is touching him.

He can’t help himself.

He kisses Carlos when they’re about to spin — TK has tuned out the rest of the world, so he’s not even aware of what kind of music they’re dancing to, he’s just conscious of Carlos’ presence surrounding him. And Carlos is truly everywhere.

He responds to TK’s kiss eagerly; maybe too eagerly, for TK needs to take a step back from the force with which Carlos kisses him back. But he doesn’t break contact; if anything, his grip on Carlos’ arms tightens as he lunges forward again, the slide of tongue against tongue turning the kiss sloppy and almost filthy. Carlos’ teeth worry on TK’s lower lip, and it’s all TK can do not to come undone right there and then.

“Uh,” he says eloquently, breathlessly, when Carlos pulls away.

“Maybe we could continue this somewhere else?” Carlos offers, dark pupils blown as he stares down at TK.

“Yes, please,” TK agrees, nodding. He grabs Carlos’ hand and tugs at him towards the further end of the place, where he suspects the bathrooms are.

They barely make it there before they’re all over each other, mindless of the world outside their bubble.

* ~ * ~ *

Their first date is also the last one before TK needs to travel to Los Angeles for an event with his record label, so they keep texting and FaceTiming for two and a half weeks before they can even be in the same city again.

On a Wednesday, Carlos wakes up to the beeping of his phone’s alarm. He blindly aims to grab it, fingers colliding against it before actually picking it up and raising it to face-level. He stayed up late texting with TK, who’s once again back in New York City. They were very excited about being back in the same time zone, and Carlos hadn’t realized how late it was until he only got around three hours left to sleep. On the screen of his phone, he sees both the button to snooze his alarm and a notification from his work inbox. He huffs; he really isn’t looking forward to whatever nonsense the school board might be up to, and he’s sure it’s them since they’re the only ones who write to him on his work email — his friends and colleagues know better and text him directly. With a groan, he stands up and hurries for the bathroom before Leyre wakes up and starts her morning routine, which, after spending time with both the women in her life and TK Strand, has become more of a half-hour ritual of rinsing and getting her hair done.

They’re only three minutes late when they walk through the door of the building, Nancy already ushering them as Tommy and the twins turn around the corner.

“What’s with the hurry today?” Carlos mutters as he follows them all down the street. “We’ll be on time, just like any other day.”

“You haven’t read your work email, right?” Nancy complains. “I knew I should have texted you.”

“Texted me about what?”

But before Nancy can answer him, Mateo is joining them with a grim expression on his face.

“What’s going on today?” Carlos muses. “Everyone seems so worried.”

“Well, you would be too,” Mateo snaps at him. “If you weren’t so engrossed in your lovey-dovey story with TK Strand.”

“That was—” Carlos refrains himself from saying any expletives when the twins and Leyre turn around at the noise. “That wasn’t nice, Mateo. I’m not so disconnected from the world that I—”

“Rumor is that they’re thinking about closing the school,” Mateo sighs. Carlos stops dead in his tracks, breathing sharply in. “And you’d know if you’d read your texts or picked up the phone. We’ve tried calling you about this. We’ve texted you. But you were too busy going out with TK to even ask.”

“I’m sorry I’ve missed the teachers’ meetings. And I’m sorry for ignoring you,” Carlos mutters. He grabs Mateo’s arm and holds him for a moment while Tommy and Nancy walk with the girls a few steps ahead. “Tell me what’s going on? Please?”

“Well, Billy Tyson’s on the case,” Mateo explains. “He wants to tear down the school and build a luxury apartment complex with magnificent views to—” Mateo gestures in the general area around them, “—the finest part of the neighborhood.”

“Billy Tyson’s not the brightest bean in the pod, Mateo,” Carlos tries to calm his friend. “I doubt he has enough power to pull off such a feat. The school’s numbers have been good for years. Sure, we’ve faced a few bumps down the road, but I doubt the board would want to close it now. We’re in the middle of the school year!”

“Apparently that’s all everyone’s talking about through the grapevine,” Mateo mumbles. “The school board wants to meet with everyone today at nine sharp. We’re expected to leave our classes unattended for I don’t know how long just to be told to gather our things and leave by the end of the semester. I can’t believe we’re going to be separated like that.”

“We won’t,” Carlos insists. “If it comes to that, we’ll fight.”

The thing is, Carlos learns as he is pulled into the largest meeting room in the whole building during lunch break that day, they won’t be given much to fight for.

He barely has time to greet Mitchell, already sitting upright on a chair, looking tense as she holds a steaming mug of coffee, before the whole board steps into the room and everyone grows silent. Carlos finds a seat sandwiched between Tommy and Nancy while Mateo snatches a free chair on the other side of the room. The rest of the teachers quickly find somewhere to sit and everyone looks up as Billy Tyson enters the place and takes a seat presiding over the table.

“Welcome, everyone,” he begins. “I’d like to thank you all for taking the time out of your busy morning to meet here with us.”

“I think I’m talking for all the teachers here,” Mitchell replies in an even voice, “when I say that we’d like for this sudden meeting to be short, since we haven’t had the time to schedule proper backup for the classes, Mr. Tyson.”

“Well, as it turns out, this is not going to be long.” Billy Tyson looks straight over to where Carlos is sitting. “I know most of you have responsibilities to go back to. Others, I fear, are just waiting for the media circus to wake up.”

Carlos squirms uncomfortably under Billy’s pointed stare. He knows he’s been gathering a lot of attention as of late, but the paparazzi has been respectful of the school’s grounds — respect for the laws preventing them from filming where minors attend school or general respect, Carlos can’t be sure — and there haven’t been any weird situations. He doesn’t know why Billy is bringing it up now.

“I wanted you to be the first to know, directly from me,” he continues, “as soon as Superintendent Radford’s retirement is official, I’m going to be the next Superintendent.” There are mutters of approval and polite congratulations that Billy quietens with a wave of his hand. “Thank you, thanks. But, uh, as you all know, I consider this school to be sacred ground.”

Carlos scoffs, low enough that he’s not heard, but Nancy elbows him so he remains silent.

“This school was built out of the effort of teachers before you, valiant, amazing teachers whose legacy you’ve all lived up to.” Billy stands and begins pacing up and down the width. “That's about the highest compliment I could ever pay you. Which makes this next part so hard.” He clears his throat and Carlos knows that, whatever he’s going to say, it’s going to destroy the peace in their world. “The board knows the effort you have been making these past years, but the numbers don’t add up. I’m so sorry to be the one to have to tear down all your hopes and dreams, but the situation has become untenable. There's no reason to continue what you're doing here for another school year. We're shutting down the school by the end of the semester. Sadly, it will be permanent.”

Carlos blinks up at the board members who are sitting next to where Billy Tyson’s standing, their faces blank as they stare back at them. Some of his fellow teachers have stood up, proffering all sorts of complaints, but he manages to stay put. One of his hands lands on Nancy’s arm; he tries to infuse her with all the calm he can muster up as he also looks for Mateo. His friend seems glued to his spot, unable to even look up from the table. Carlos knows he’s probably feeling every bit of devastation his posture is oozing off.

"The Education Department is headed for a financial crisis," one of the members of the board pipes in; Carlos doesn't even remember his name, an old and bald man with too much time on his hands and too little respect for the kids, apparently. "I just read a very persuasive report that says there's gonna be dire consequences if we don't start making the hard choices."

"I wrote that report," Billy admits. When the whole room explodes in groans and even more complaints without Mitchell even trying to calm her teachers down, Billy lifts a hand in what Carlos thinks is supposed to be an authoritative manner, but falls short. "Don't worry, all the kids that don't find a new school by the end of second term will be placed in a nearby school. The department will make sure not a single kid stops attending school. Teachers, on the other hand…" he says with an insincere frown. "We can't afford such an expense. I'm sorry. I understand it is a painful sacrifice. But it is for the greater good."

It's then that Mitchell chooses to retaliate, standing up, a few hairs falling out of her tight bun. "So, let me recap," she starts in a calm tone that Carlos, who knows her inside out, can tell is anything but. "You're closing the school, placing our kids elsewhere, firing us, and there's no chance for anyone to save it, am I right?" When Billy nods, followed by the voices of some other board members expressing their acquiescence, Mitchell asks, "Then, when should I schedule the meeting with the parents so the board can explain the situation to them?"

"That's something for you to deal with," Billy announces, just when Carlos thinks he couldn't hate the man more. "This board has done its duty by delivering the news to you all. How you transmit it to the parents is your business, not ours. If there aren't any more questions, I'll let you go to your classes. We wouldn't want the kids to be unattended, now, would we?"

"We're short on staff because they cut our budget three years ago," Mitchell huffs under her breath when the whole board leaves the room. "That's why the kids seem to be unattended. We are making a great effort with what little you’ve given us."

"This can't be happening," some voice calls out. "What are we going to do? Mid-school year, it's impossible for us to find a new job with such short notice. All the schools will be full."

"And the kids?" Carlos asks. "What are they going to do, the ones who can't find another school in time?" He thinks of his daughter, who's been through enough changes lately, and about how this one is going to make her feel. "Are they going to scatter them like they don't matter?"

Tommy squeezes his hand. When he turns to her, he can see understanding in her warm gaze. "We'll find a solution, Carlos. There has to be a way to keep this school open."

"Unless we can find a way to snatch that report and see how much it'd take to—" Nancy begins, only to be cut off by Mateo.

"That's it!" he exclaims. "That report should be available somewhere. If we can find a way to match the numbers—maybe with a fundraiser, or a crowdsourcing thingie—"

"Crowdsourcing thingie," Nancy scoffs. "But you're right. Are we going down without a fight?"

Mitchell shakes her head. “I understand you all, and I feel your frustration. But as much as I’d like to have a magical solution, I doubt we can manage to get as much money as is probably needed to save this school.”

“We can at least try,” Tommy states, standing up. “We won’t go down without a fight. Even if we lose in the end.”

Everyone nods their assent, and even Mitchell sighs and says, “I’ll see what I can do about the report, but the rest is all on you. I’ll have to deal with angry parents for the remainder of the month, and I think it’s better if I start scheduling meetings right away. The sooner they know, the sooner they can choose a new school for their children.”

“That doesn’t sound like fighting the system,” Nancy mutters as they all stand up and slowly leave the meeting room. “She’s already given up.”

“She’s only being rational, Nancy,” Tommy tries to explain. “We need to be prepared in case this—We need to be prepared for the worst case scenario. She has to deal with a lot right now,” Tommy tries to explain. “She’s the one in charge of telling the parents, and she’ll get the brunt of the reactions even though none of this is her fault at all. So I think it’s only fair that we carry most of the weight of saving the school.”

“How are we going to go about it?” Carlos asks as they walk through the corridors. His classroom is the first they reach, and he stands outside, barely avoiding being seen by the kids through the door’s window. “I don’t have any idea.”

“I’ll think about it,” Mateo promises. “I have a couple of free hours right now before my next class.”

“We’ll wait impatiently for that,” Nancy promises in an acidic tone before bidding them all goodbye and fleeing to her own room, where she’s been holding meetings with the older students about what they want to do with their futures this whole week long.

Carlos breathes in deeply before opening his door and stepping inside. Luckily, his pupils have behaved while he's been gone, so he finds a classroom that's calmly reading their textbooks under the attentive gaze of Molly Shutters, a senior student who's usually put in charge of his class whenever he needs to step out for whatever administrative reason and there's no other teacher available. He thanks her and watches her leave, wondering how she's going to fare for the last semester of her last year of school when she'll be forced to switch schools — or worse, to become homeschooled for six months.

To say he's distracted the rest of the day is an understatement. To his credit, the rest of the teachers that share lunchtime with him are equally subdued, and the air is vicious with grief and resentment. He can see a few of the youngest teachers checking their phones and punching on their screens; spying over the shoulder of one of them, Carlos can see the logo of an app he’s heard of. Apparently it’s the hottest one to find a new job at the moment. Carlos shakes his head at the idea of them already giving up.

"We'll find a way," Tommy promises him as she sits down next to him. "I just don't know which one."

"The easiest way is to admit defeat and find a new job," Carlos retaliates. "The only problem is where."

"What did they teach you at that Police Academy you went to like, a century ago?" Nancy points out as she flops down at Carlos' other side. "We have to fight."

"Well, my dad thought I was too soft to become a police officer," Carlos mutters. "He wasn't happy when I changed jobs either, because I was moving up here then."

"Sounds like someone who can't settle for anything that's not in his life plan."

"He's a Texas Ranger," Carlos tries to explain. "He just didn't understand that I never wanted to become one, and then he didn't understand that I had to respect Iris' wishes."

There's a pregnant pause as he fits as much of his salad into his mouth to prevent him from speaking too much about his past; he's shared some bits with Tommy and Nancy, fewer details with Mateo, and he has definitely not talked about his relationship with his parents with TK. Whatever they have, it’s way too new to be burdened with the knowledge that his parents love him, and accept him, in a way — just not in the way Carlos would have loved them to. They adore Leyre; but Carlos has never felt safe enough to bring anyone back to Austin to meet his family. Dan had been the only one who stuck around enough for Carlos to even consider it, but then he hadn’t been sure about it — wanting to keep his family and his love life separated in order not to hurt his parents — and Dan had resorted to the next best thing.

Which had been sacking up with one of his colleagues from the law firm he’d been working at.

“Anyway,” Carlos continues, clearing his throat. “We need to come up with a plan, and we’ll need a lot of money. Anyone have any ideas?”

Mateo nods as he attacks his pasta with gusto. Carlos frowns when he recognizes the smell coming out of that dish and briefly eyes Nancy’s lunch. He refrains from commenting when he realizes Nancy’s eating the same pasta, and it’s not from her usual lunchbox.

“Why don’t you share this with your boyfriend?” Mateo suggests. “I mean, he’s famous, isn’t he? He could help with the fundraiser.”

“You can’t seriously be suggesting that,” Carlos says, taken aback. He would never have thought of asking TK for money for this, and he’s aghast his friend has even said that out loud. “I won’t be asking TK for mo—”

“Not for money, you silly,” Mateo continues. “I’m not barbaric. But he’s got traction. He has like, a million followers on Instagram. If we were looking for publicity, TK Strand would be my go-to man for all social media related marketing.”

“Marjan is a beast,” Carlos admits. “She’s the one managing all his social media profiles. Nancy knows her.”

“Oh, I do,” Nancy smiles around a mouthful of pappardelle. “She’s amazing.” When Nancy says nothing else, Carlos sighs.

“I guess I can talk to TK. This is just—”

“Special treatment?” Tommy offers when his words falter.

“Nepotism?” Nancy adds. Carlos scoffs.

“I’d say it’s a bedside conversation,” Mateo jokes.

Carlos dismisses them with a wave of his hand as he finishes his salad. “We need to set some boundaries about what’s a proper conversation and what’s not,” he warns before standing up. “I need to go back to my classroom. Some of us are trying to mold the new generation, you know,” he adds teasingly as he walks over to the sink and rinses his bowl before carefully drying it up and placing it back in his lunchbox. Without even saying anything else, he walks out of the teachers’ room and into the corridors.

Since there are still a few minutes left before lunch break ends and classes resume, the corridors are bursting with students rushing to their lockers and talking before they have to step into their late afternoon classes. However, as Carlos walks among the crowd, there’s a reverent silence that precedes him, and a string of hushed murmurs that follow as he steps across the corridors. Every single student is aware of his relationship with worldwide famous singer TK Strand; Carlos hasn’t fooled himself into believing that their dating would be coveted and secret. But he’s still trying to get used to the stares and the comments he overhears whenever the students think he’s not listening.

Being in the eye of the media hurricane isn’t as easy as it seems when celebrities show up on TV. Being followed by photographers, being talked about in yellow magazines, being the focus of all the gossip in the world — that’s something he could pretend to ignore because he still had the sanctuary of his classes and the school. Now, with every single student muttering about him, with every single teacher looking at him differently for who he’s dating — Carlos isn’t sure how he’s going to wade through that new situation.

And things with TK have been wonderful, he can’t complain about that. They’re slowly getting to know each other, after that first date that ended passionately in the bathroom of a bar. He isn’t ready to let his friends know that there haven’t been any bedside conversations as of late; he’s taking his sweet time with TK because, despite knowing that he’s falling hard and fast for the singer, both of them are in a delicate situation. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t fantasized about undressing TK, feeling his skin under his fingertips, and doing all sorts of naughty things that he really shouldn’t be thinking of while heading to his afternoon classes.

The rest of his school day flies by as he teaches Math and encourages his pupils to join the school’s math club that only he knows has little to no chance to make it even to the regionals, given the short notice Billy Tyson has given them for the closure of the school. Carlos wants to scream, but he can’t let his anger and frustration out while in front of the children, so he bites the inside of his cheek and answers the questions the kids ask as well as he possibly can. By the time the last bell rings, he’s worn out and itching to leave the building, and it’s not until Tommy passes by him when he’s locking the classroom that he remembers he’d agreed to go on a date with TK.

“I’ll be picking Leyre and the twins up now,” Tommy announces. “So you guys can relax,” she adds with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

Carlos shoots her a death glare. “I hate you,” he mutters.

Even though he isn’t a big fan of playdates in the middle of the school week, Carlos has to admit that he needs a moment without kids to just unravel, and Tommy knows exactly how to help. He feels a bit guilty, as well, since the source of his frustration is exactly the same as hers, but she’s better at managing it.

“Don’t rush,” she tells him. “I can feed them dinner, and she can stay for the night. It’s not the first time.”

"I don't think that will be necessary," Carlos insists. Before he can say anything else, he spies Leyre, Evie and Izzie waiting for them at the end of the corridor. "You've told them already, haven't you?" he accuses.

"Evie had a free period," Tommy explains. "And after what Mateo said at lunch, I remembered that you guys haven't had a proper date in forever, with TK’s crazy schedule these past weeks. So, you're welcome, lover boy."

"I hate you," Carlos grits out again as they approach the children.

Leyre surprises him by hugging him briefly in public, and whispering into his shirt, "I love you, Papi."

"That's all because I'm allowing a playdate on a school night. I will be picking you up at nine sharp," Carlos promises.

“I thought we’d agreed Leyre could spend the night,” Tommy insists.

“You offered,” Carlos says with a polite smile. “But it won’t be necessary. Maybe another time, okay?”

“Will your boyfriend,” Leyre asks with a pleading look in her eyes, “be coming as well?”

“To pick you up from Tommy’s?” Carlos feigns to think about it before saying, “We’ve talked about this, Leyre. I know you want to meet him. But not yet, okay?”

Leyre lets out a whoop and hugs him even tighter. Carlos is beginning to think that his preteen daughter might love TK Strand — boyfriend, singer and celebrity crush extraordinaire — more than she loves Carlos himself.

"Have fun, and behave," he tells the three of them before they take off, leaving him alone with Tommy. "Are you proud of yourself yet?"

"Very much so," she says smugly.

Carlos would have screamed right then and there, but he purses his lips in a tight line and walks to retrieve his things. The first thing he does as he grabs his phone is text TK.

Tommy has taken Leyre for the evening.

The reply is almost immediate. Your place or mine?

Mine's closer to Tommy’s.

You've got yourself a date.

Carlos has never in his life rushed so much to get back home. He gets to his apartment with just enough time to throw his messenger bag across the living room and try to tame the rebel curls that have fallen out of their gelled trap before the bell is ringing.

When he opens the door, he is greeted with a sight to behold — TK wearing a yellow hoodie that looks comfortable, with a hint of mischief in his impossible eyes.

"Wow," Carlos breathes out.

"Like what you see?" TK greets. Before Carlos can say anything, TK’s grabbing the front of his shirt and tugging at it so Carlos is leaning forward.

The kiss is both searing and calming, making him soar and grounding him all at once. Carlos kisses back, hands roaming up TK’s arms as the events and worries of the day are pushed to the back of his mind. He finds himself way too busy with TK to give room to any negative thoughts. Instead, he’s feeling and nipping and nibbling. He lets out a moan that suddenly reminds him where they are.

"We don't want to give my neighbors a whole show," he mumbles. "Come inside."

"That was the plan," TK says coyly, leaning in and dropping a kiss right below Carlos' ear that leaves him panting.

He closes the door behind his back with a well-aimed kick of his foot, and attaches himself once again to the plush lips and the pliant body that’s underneath his, pressed against the wall closest to the entrance. They separate long enough to take a breath and move blindly around the space, until Carlos’ legs hit his couch and he loses his balance, pulling TK down with him.

#the fic #lire's 911lsbb #forever in a second too short (home is a heartbeat) #chapter 5 #911lsbb

[afigmentofyour-imagination]

I remember the first time I saw LGBTQA

I know the LGBTQ were but not the A

I asked my dad what the A stood for

"Ally" was his answer. At this time two of my dad's children were out (My older brother as Trans and gay, and me as bi). I remember how absolutely ridiculous I found that. Sure allies are important, but I support animal rights and I am not animal. I support the black community and they push for equal rights, but I am not black. I support metoo, I am not a victim of sexual assault. Allies are people outside the group that help support the group. So I refused to acknowledge the A part of the LGBTQ+ community. I remember be so upset that as an ally people were trying to claim to be part of my community. I wasn't even an active part of the community (I am sill not), but this would is what stop me from becoming more active. I couldn't figure out why this upset me so much for years. (Even after I learned about asexuality, even after I left my not like other girls phase)

I see the LGBTQ+ community as a bunch of smaller community with similarties coming together under an umbrella term for protection and greater support. I don't think allies should need that support and/or protection.

For example think of lgbtq+ as sports. Each letter is a different sport, the subsets of that letter the teams, the people who made that letter the players. Allies are the fans. Yes fans are an important part of sports but you wouldn't say that being a fan is a sport.

Some ahole: sports are an affront to God no one should play them

Sports fan: how? It's just a game, they have fun playing

Ahole: God said the only game you can play is golf. You're a sport player disgusting!

Fan: I am not a player, just a fan.

Ahole: disgusting freak! I bet you're one of those dog fighters

Allies are part of the community, not because they want to be, but because homophobes decided they were.

This post has gotten away from me.

#zoophila #in my metaphor goft is cis heterosexual #yes golf is a sport #but homophobes dont realize that straight is a sexaulity #animal fighting a metaphor for pedophila and #lgbtq+

[519magazine]