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venusintheblindspots-blog · 7 months

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Viserys Targaryen Rant Part 2

Rhaenyra, the King’s Heir

After episode eight of House of the Dragon aired, there were a lot of people cheering on Viserys for his support of Rhaenyra’s claim.

I will admit, the scene was heartwarming to me at first,- a frail old man on the brink of death, getting up solely to defend his daughter in front of a court that may have had grievances with her being a female-heir. That kind of fatherly support, means a lot in a misogynistic society like Westeros. But, what does that moment of support truly mean for a man that had not performed his duties as a father?

Let us refer back to episode one. This scene in particular:

Aemma expresses to Viserys that she does not wish to have another pregnancy after the birth of the child she’s pregnant with.

According to Fire and Blood, Viserys and Aemma married when she was eleven years old. Their marriage was not consummated until two years later, when Aemma had flowered. Aemma in both Fire and Blood and House of the Dragon would go on to suffer multiple miscarriages, that some of Maesters suspected were due to her being bed too young.

Refocusing on the scene above, Aemma tells Viserys that Rhaenyra suspects that the unborn child might be a girl. Viserys is insistent that it is a boy.

In episode one, Rhaenyra was fifteen years old. If she were male, Viserys would have started preparing her as his heir,- taking her to council meetings, send her as a messenger, etc. But he doesn’t, because he wanted a male heir. He spent almost two decades brutalizing his wife and ultimately killing her for a son. He spent almost two decades neglecting his daughter and putting her aside because he wanted a son.

Aegon, Second of his Name

In the third episode of House of the Dragon, we meet Aegon, the first child between Alicent and Viserys.

For a majority of the episode, Aegon is being celebrated as it’s his name day, and he’s the king’s first born son. The King now having son would usually signal a change in succession, since for most of Westeros, sons inherit over daughters. However, by the end of the episode, Viserys’ position does not change: Rhaenyra is his rightful heir.

So what happens to Aegon, the long-awaited son?

Let’s look at some word from the screenwriter, Ryan Condal:

"Aegon is a great example of neglect and indulgence," Condal says. "This is the medieval version of the millionaire's prodigal son. His mother was 15, and his father never paid any attention to him. His father deeply, deeply loved Aemma and Rhaenyra and was [only] having [more] kids to carry on the line. He really didn't want Aegon — he wanted Baelon, the son that killed his first wife."

When we first meet Aegon he was being celebrated. After hoping for a boy for years, Viserys finally got a male heir.

We don’t get any scenes of his early childhood but we see Aegon again when he’s a teenager. He’s disinterested in most things, he’s blunt, he teases, he masturbates by the window sill, but most of all, he’s disinterested and lackadaisical.

After another time skip, we see Aegon again. He’s still disinterested in most things, he drinks, he’s a rapist, and is overall not really a good person.

Within the fandom, most of the blame for the way Aegon has turned out has been directed to Alicent.

Now, Alicent being a child-bride does not excuse all of her actions, but it does explain a lot of them.

In scene where Alicent speaks with Dyana, I interpreted her reaction as one filled with shame, frustration and disappointment. All of the traits I used to describe Aegon, can be applied to Viserys. Aegon is his father’s mirror and Alicent is the only one who is trying to break it. Immediately after meeting with Dyana, she confronts Aegon, and disowns him(well,not really). Were her methods rash? Yes, it was rash and abusive, but who else was checking him? Where was Viserys during his formative years to correct this behavior?

I do not condone any of his actions, but I grieve the person Aegon could’ve been if Viserys had not been his father.

Aemond, the Kinslayer

I’d reckon that Aemond’s birth wasn’t quite the spectacle that Aegon’s was, he’s the second son, who inherits nothing.

When we first meet Aemond, he’s miserable. He has a very low self esteem mostly due to all of his peers having dragon, while he doesn’t. His father, Viserys was the last mount of Balerion, the Black Dread. Balerion represents the strength and history of House Targaryen in Westeros. He’s the last dragon to have come from Old Valyria, and his first rider was the man who united Westeros under one crown, Aegon the Conqueror. Viserys took Balerion on one ride, and the old dragon died shortly after. He spent all of his rule as a Targaryen king without a dragon. We get no indication that he had negative feelings about not being a dragon rider, in fact, he finds power in the dreams and prophecies of Targaryens and Old Valyria, than the man power of dragons. Had he been around to salvage any feelings of unworthiness Aemond felt when his egg didn’t hatch, or when the riderless dragons in the dragon pit rejected him, Aemond would’ve been less resentful about not having one.

So in this scene here, where he claims Vhagar, and rides her for the first time, it’s a moment of legitimacy for him. He’s a Targaryen, with a dragon. He fits in with his siblings and his nephews, finally.

His claiming of Vhagar came with a price, his eye. I’m not going to delve into the mishap that took place between him, the Dragon twins and the Strong boys, because they were children. Baela and Rhaena had all right to be angry about Aemond claiming Vhagar, Luke had all right to defend his brother, Aemond had all right to react to their insults. Was he a bit insensitive ? Yes, but he’s a kid. They’re all children. They do not have the same awareness and consideration adults should have.

The aftermath of that scene is a confrontation between Rhaenyra and Alicent.

There has been a lot of discourse about this scene in particular, but Emma D’arcy and Olivia Cooke’s is the one I resonate with the most :

ED: It’s such an interesting scene, right? My sympathy is fully with Alicent. On the page I was like, Well, she’s fucking right.

OC: Someone’s lost an eye.

ED: Someone’s lost an eye! I’m so amazed every time Paddy basically tells you to let it go. Simultaneously, Rhaenyra is playing quite a basic game: Lie hard, do not back down, and weaponize this word “treason.”

OC: Alicent’s being gaslit massively and she fucking explodes. In friendships or relationships, when it gets to the point where you feel you’re going mad, there’s no route out other than complete volcanic annihilation.

ED: There is something resentfully delicious in it for Rhaenyra, in that she so rarely gets definitively the backing of her father. Early on, she loses both her best friend and her father because they get married. These moments where she gets publicly chosen, and chosen instead of you — there’s a really violent quality of vengeance for her.

No Alicent should not have asked for a five year old’s eye. But her son, has just lost one. And his father, is more focused on the fact that his grandchildren were called bastards. Now I’m not discounting the fact that Westeros discriminates against bastards, but that could have been addressed afterwards. Viserys spent the entire scene promising his court that they’d lose a tongue for even uttering a word about his grandsons, while his son is sitting in a chair with his eye in front him on a plate. Aemond now has to learn how to maneuver around with one of his five senses damaged. (Honestly, I think a few scenes with Aemond struggling a bit with this would’ve been great).

If Viserys had just acknowledged Aemond’s detriment in that scene, maybe give him some reassurance, comfort, literally anything, he wouldn’t have remained vengeful years after the incident.

Helaena, the Dragon Dreamer

The parenting of Helaena is the best representation of Viserys and Alicent’s dynamics with their kids,- Alicent struggling to connect with her child, while Viserys the parent who would’ve had a better shot at connection is nowhere to be found.

Helaena has correctly predicted several events in House of the Dragon so far, the loss of Aemond’s eye being the price of his dragon, Meleys bursting from beneath the dragon pit, and the Dance of the Dragons. The thing is, no one in universe is paying her any mind. The weight of prophecies in ASOIAF is a topic that George likes to explore, and he’s given us a few tragic characters like Rhaegar, who met their doom by interpreting a prophecy ‘incorrectly’.

Helaena is a dragon dreamer. She’s also a dragon rider, but we have no scenes with her on Dreamfyre. She represents the more mystical part of House Targaryen, as she possesses the power that prevented them from the Doom. Yet her father, who is a deeply interested in these aspects of being Targaryen, doesn’t speak to her about these things.

If Viserys had made an attempt to understand or simply bond with his daughter, none of the atrocities his family faced would have happened the way it did.

My sympathy for Team Green stems from the fact that literally every single one of them would’ve been way better people if not for Viserys.

#no daeron because he basically doesn’t exist yet #anti viserys i targaryen #anti viserys targaryen #house of the dragon #hotd #hotd alicent #alicent hightower #queen helaena #helaena the dreamer #hotd aegon #aegon ii targaryen #aemond targaryen #prince aemond #aemond the kinslayer #rhaenyra targeryan #princess rhaenyra #queen rhaenyra

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psiithirisma · 2 years

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Bedrock Bros Actor AU (but not quite focusing on the acting part, to be fair)

Where star child Tommy gets a role for a sitcom with 3 other actors as part of the main cast, one of them being the famous teenage actor Technoblade, aka Tommy's idol.

15 years old Techno is a famous child actor, know for his participation in multiple renowned films, having leading roles in more than one. However, Tommy recognizes him for his appearance in his favorite cartoon which he has been a fan for years.

This cartoon tells the silly adventures of the protagonist, a hilarious bad-ass cute pig that wears a crown and a cape and is extremely good at fighting. A generic type of serie but with high enough ratings to have kept it going.

In said show there's a special episode where the protagonist fighting against a bad guy resulted into him being teleported to another dimension, the audience's dimension. Most of the episode was live-action, Techno chosen as the actor to be the human version of the pig.

Younger Tommy was obsessed with that episode. With the whole cartoon in general but he ADORED that specific episode and when it aired only made his interest for the series stronger.

So when he realizes he's working with THE Technoblade he has no shame in showing how happy he is.

Techno isn't too surprised. He's aware people look-up to him and that he has fans, but what does takes him aback was the fact this kid apparently recognizes him thanks to his appearance from years ago in a cartoon and no other more famous role.

The main character is called Teno (a shortened version of a much MUCH longer name) so now you have little 7 years old Tommy calling Techno "Te'no" due to the beloved character and the similarities between their names. Also because it's easier and quicker to pronounce.

But most people assume its a cute childish mispronunciation of Tech's name since they dont know the cartoon so the general reaction is “aww he's like your little brother” which embarrasses him to hell and back.

Especially when Tommy adds that he is like an older brother to him.

Terrible, horrific, cringe. He is no one's older brother.

...Techno can't really fight the Big Brother allegations when the show they casted him and Tommy for is literally centered on the day-to-day life of a family of 4 (the other two actors being Phil and Wilbur) and all of them fill their respective roles almost as if it was second-nature for them, with the family dynamic following them behind scenes too and present in their off-camera relationships.

Tommy talks a lot about the show to Techno and preys for any fun facts or “classified information” he may have from working on the show.

Techno sadly doesn't but now Tommy got him invested in the show so he gets in contact with some of the writers to have a chat with them. The little blond pretty much ends up interviewing them trying to squeeze as much information as possible out of them.

Speaking about interviews; in an interview the main cast is told to draw the other members and Tommy draws Techno as the little monarch pig but with glasses and after that pigs became part of Techno's brand.

Tommy at some point tells Techno about the character he created a while back, a similar pig to Teno but yellow and blue eyes, wearing a red and white t-shirt and named Big Man (a nickname since Big Man's real name is Nutpig).

It's a clear self-insert but he doesn't comment on it.

Tommy spends hours rambling about the multiple stories he created where Big Man and Teno go on amazing adventures kicking ass. Techno happily listens, sometimes participating with his own made-up adventures.

Occasionally, after a particular exhausting day filming, Techno would find a sheet of paper with a doodle of 2 pigs, Teno and Big Man, on his desk.

Unaware of the soft smile crawling on his lips or the way his fatigue suddenly would lessen at the sight of the childish scribbles.

Techno discovers these official comics of the show and buys them only to read them along with Tommy when the latter would be tired after an entire day in the set.

Most of their reading sessions ending with the youngest drifting to sleep with his face buried on the older's side.

One day Tommy makes Techno a paper crown as a thank-you gift for being an incredible older brother. Saying he isn't sure how older brothers are because he never had one before but despite this he knows Techno is the best one out there.

Techno tries his hardest not to burst into tears right on the spot.

That is something he would find himself doing a lot since meeting Tommy. Trying not to cry out of pure love and affection.

Maybe being an older brother wasn't too bad.

#tommyinnit #technoblade #bedrock bros #sbi #sleepy bois inc #innitblr #bladeblr #sleepy boys inc #long post #venus whispers #actor au #sbi au #twitter liked this one a lot so here u go #fluff #i like fluff

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burningtacozombie · 18 days

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‘Cold Case’ Reboot From Creator Meredith Stiehm Eyed By CBS

EXCLUSIVE: After bringing back CSI: Crime Scene Investigation with CSI: Vegas, CBS is looking to revive another Jerry Bruckheimer Television-produced crime procedural from the 2000s. The network is in negotiations with Warner Bros. TV for a reboot of Cold Case, which aired on CBS for seven seasons from 2003-2010, Deadline has learned. The followup comes from the series’ creator/executive producer Meredith Stiehm.

Set 15 years after the original series’ final episode, the untitled Cold Case reboot would follow a new team of tenacious detectives who investigate cold cases across the Southwest.

This is a new location as the original Cold Case was set in Philadelphia. The move would allow the potential new series to introduce a new group of characters as they tackle unsolved homicides.

Stiehm is writing the script. She is executive producing with JBTV’s Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed for WBTV and CBS Studios. Talks between CBS and WBTV have been going on for weeks, and sources stress that the two sides are not close to a deal. Reps for the network and the studios declined comment.

The original series follows Detective Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris), a homicide detective with the Philadelphia Police Department specializing in cold cases, who was partnered for the majority of the show’s run with Detective Scotty Valens (Danny Pino).

No talent is currently attached to the reboot though I hear Pino has had informal conversations to reprise his fan favorite character Det. Scotty Valens, possibly in a significant way. I hear Morris has not been approached about the reboot but is aware of it and could potentially appear in some (likely limited) capacity to provide additional continuity, having led the original series for seven seasons.

Cold Case‘s main cast also included John Finn, Jeremy Ratchford, Thom Barry and Tracie Thoms.

Before proceeding with talent discussions, WBTV has to close a deal with CBS, which I hear had been a challenge. According to sources, the sticking points include some of the issues that the two sides faced during the renewal negotiations for WBTV’s then-freshman East New York last spring that reportedly contained a request from the network for additional streaming rights.

After months of back-and-forth, those talks fell through. The Cold Case reboot would mark the studio’s first drama sale to CBS since then as the two sides are trying to hammer out a new deal template. (The studio and network have an ongoing relationship on the comedy side through Chuck Lorre’s Big Bang Theory franchise which recently got another offshoot series, Georgie & Mandy, for next season.)

There is no particular rush as CBS’ 2024-25 slate is already stacked with three new drama series, Matlock, pushed due to strike-related delays, NCIS: Origins and Watson.

Since the end of Cold Case after 156 episodes, Stiehm worked as an executive producer on Showtime’s Emmy-winning drama Homeland and also co-developed and executive produced FX’s The Bridge, based on the Danish-Swedish format. She is repped by UTA and attorney Bruce Gellman.

In addition to CSI: Vegas, currently in its third season, JBTV has sophomore CBS drama series Fire Country, which has been renewed for a third season and is eying a potential Sheriff-centered spinoff. The company is repped by CAA.

via Deadline

#danny pino #scotty valens #kathryn morris #lilly rush #tracie thoms #kat miller #cold case #WHEN I SAY I SCREAMED #about to lose my fucking mind #holy shit I can't believe this might be happening

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jadebread64 · 5 months

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time for me to post my bullshit ramblings on the new doctor who episode in no particular order like a maniac lol

(SPOILERS AHOY, DONT CLICK ON THE READMORE IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THE EPISODE)

obviously seeing tennant and tate back in their roles is so cool, they feel exactly as they should, it doesnt even feel like 15 years have passed when you watch them its great

DONNA CANONICALLY HAS A NONBINARY DAUGHTER AND IM SO FUCKING HAPPY ABOUT THAT

NOT ONLY THAT BUT HER ALSO BEING PART OF THE METACRISIS TIME LORD SHIT IS SUPER COOL

lmao im not even joking when i first saw the meep™ i literally thought "aww it's so cute i hope it doesnt end up being evil" and LO AND BEHOLD

OH MY GOD DAVID TENNANT JUST SUDDENLY PUTTING ON A FUCKING JUDGE WIG AND DOING A COURTROOM SCENE WITH THE MEEP AND THE WRARTH WHILE DONNA AND HER CONCERNED FAMILY JUST OBSERVE

also i think the wrarth voices are so funny cause in the trailers they're like *auurhghghg scary monster sounds!!1!* but in the episode they just sound british like every doctor who space alien should

i think the new TARDIS looks really cartoony and i think it's kinda fun, idk if ncuti is gonna end up with this TARDIS set (i'd imagine the bbc doesnt have the budget to make a whole TARDIS set for 4 episodes then just make a new one lol) but i think it looks kinda plain at the moment? idk if they added some chairs and bookshelves n shit like the capaldi one and make it look more lived in overtime it might be one of my favourites just for the whole classic who vibe it has. either way it's perfect for david he gets to run around like a little kid in there and thats all that matters lol

also tennants new suit looks so fucking good and honestly wish he just had that in series 2-4 instead of the brown suit

i think it's so funny how literally not even 5 minutes after entering the TARDIS donna just fucking spills her coffee on the console and the whole thing just explodes and goes to shit immediately lmao

ALSO WE'RE GETTING A FULL ON TENNANT/TATE ADVENTURE NEXT WEEK???? AM I IN 2008 OR 2023 I CANNOT TELL ANYMORE TIME HAS NO MEANING

im really hoping we get to see whoever the fuck neil patrick harris' character is in the next episode, im 99% sure it's gonna be the celestial toymaker but only because the doctor who youtube account kept posting celestial toymaker clips and i think they're being cheeky bastards lol (/positive)

(/sarcasm) i cant wait to see all the queerphobic assholes shitting on this episode for having the few pronouns/binary lines in it and going "dOcTor wHo iS wOkE nOw yUcK" even though doctor who has been progressive since literally 1963 with the daleks (which got a fancy new colourization that i need to check out still but thats a whole OTHER THING LOL)

oh yeah and david's acting is really fucking good in this, like when he thinks wilf has died and he just sorrowfully says "i loved that man." like MY HEART CANT TAKE THIS

plus when he thinks he has to sacrifice donna to save everybody, holy shit his perfomance is incredible

this is just a me thing but seeing a doctor who episode live as its broadcasting is so cool, i've been watching this show for like 8 years (i think??) and i usually just ended up finding it on dailymotion or some shit like a day or two after the episode aired so i'd always be late for it lol (btw for the people coming after me i dont pay for disney+ at all lol) so watching it the at the same time as everyone else was very cool especially since i nearly slept in through it lmao

anyways i think thats all if i remember any more things i'll add em in lol

plus some bonus ramblings before the episode aired

#doctor who #doctor who spoilers #doctor who specials #the star beast #rambling

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foxes-that-run · 6 months

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Midnights is the break up album

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In the above interview with Zane Lowe Taylor talks about Happiness and how it is about ending a long term life changing relationship. Taylor said it was the last song for Evermore, and started relating to friendship. Toward the end she switches to speak in the first person. That was in December 2020, 1.5 years before Midnights. After that we saw Joe very little.

The concept of the album was a series of midnight thoughts throughout Taylor’s life, which many tracks are, however there is an element of viewing the downfall of this relationship through them. I think Taylor didn't want to make the announcement through a publicist but through her lyrics on Midnights.

Question, Glitch and SOTB are plain wishing she was with an ex

Bejeweled is remembering when CH didn’t value her love, reflecting that she also also bored and under appreciated in her current relationship

Midnight rain is possibly the toughest, it’s reflecting on a relationship she let go for fame

Dear reader is a statement that she is not who her fans think because the happy in love narrative is not her experience

Taylor stopped liking Joe's IG posts 11 May 2022, he didn’t attend her NYU doctorate ceremony on the 18th May 2022, midnights was released in October and the break up announced the following April after the Eras tour had started.

A relationship having ended would not have been announced in real time ahead of a world tour and new album. Us knowing is a secondary challenge to actually going through the break up. What I wonder about is why was Invisible String ever on the setlist, was it there to be removed when it went public?

Taylor stopped liking his IG posts 11 May 2022

Taylor also went from always liking Joe’s IG posts to stopping between 27 April and 11 May 2022, she hasn’t liked one since:

So when?

Taylor may share one day. But to me this lyric in Stop you're losing me hints at the point she realised it was over:

Fighting in only your army Frontlines, don't you ignore me I'm the best thing at this party (You're losin' me)

Taylor is the best thing at most parties, but after showing up at the Golden Globes and wrap parties for a not great TV series for Joe he made some not great (or not at all) showings at big events for her:

2020

25 November - In the Long Pond Session Taylor said Joe was William Bowery

16 December - Taylor said to Zane Lowe that Happiness is about ending a long term relationship, she switched to first person

2021

15 March - Grammy's Joe had never come & it was COVID limited, but he won a Grammy for *Album of the year* & I'd say she has the pull for a ticket for a producer of it

April - Folklore credits update to add Joe as producer on 6 songs, including 3 William Bowery wrote, Grammy eligible. No credits for midnights and evermore.

12 May - Taylor was honored with a Global Icon award but Joe left to film in Belfast the week before. Harry also at Brits and won.

21 August - Joe actually seen with Taylor

14 September - Taylor seen in ireland, seen at conversations with friends cast party

14 November - Blake, Ryan, Sophie & Selena join Taylor at the SNL All to Well launch party. Joe A was filming in Panama.

2022

27 March - They went to the Vanity Fair Oscars pre-party, but Taylor skipped the 2022 Grammy's, Brit Awards and Oscars. It's interesting that the only photos of Taylor are of getting out of the car with Joe squinting, they bypassed the press line.

11 May Taylor stopped liking Joes IG posts

15 May conversation with friends airs, Joe says his costars real name, then F*** (character name) in a sex scene in the Final Cut of episode 3 at 11:55 and 12:10.

18 May - Taylor receives an honorary doctorate from NYU, while not a party it is a massive deal. In her speech she smiled at a particular part of the audience when she referenced friends and family, but Joe was at a Rising Hollywood party in LA.

19 May - Joe on Kelly Clarkson talking about William Bowery

31 August - VMAs afterparty - Joe & Taylor's unglamourous run to a car. VMAs have been important to Taylor since 2009. She was on the cusp of winning the most VMAs ever, announced Midnights and All to Well won. I wonder if Midnights was already done though.

20 October - Midnights pap walk where Joe uses a coffee table book to shield his hand from being held.

2023

9 February - Grammy afterparty- Joe came to afterparty

31 March - The 1 replaces Invisible String.

8 April - break up announced said it occured 'weeks earlier'

#midnights #Youtube #taylor swift #it's joever

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warningsine · 7 months

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Breaking Bad’s final season is 10 years old. It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since Walter White’s story came to a close. All of the deceit, violence, plot twists, and puzzling cliffhangers the series provided still occupy a mountain of space in our heads, just begging for yet another rewatch. In the time since the final episodes of the beloved crime drama aired, no show has quite matched the exquisite pacing and pitch-perfect tone of the eight episodes that concluded Walter’s time as the meth kingpin of New Mexico. Still, even amongst an array of masterpiece hours of television in the second half of the show’s fifth and final season, the Rian Johnson-directed epic “Ozymandias” stands tall above all else.

“Ozymandias” starts with a nearly 15-minute scene in which Hank (Dean Norris) is killed by Uncle Jack (Michael Bowen) and his gang of Nazis, Jesse (Aaron Paul) is essentially sold into meth manufacturing slavery to Todd Alquist (Jesse Plemons), and Walt wanders through the desert in search of transportation back home. The sheer amount of action during this time period would be enough for most shows already, but Breaking Bad was just getting started.

The scene when Walter arrives home to Walter Jr. (R.J. Mitte) and Skyler (Anna Gunn), apoplectic and deliriously wondering why they won’t believe him about Hank’s death, is where the episode truly enters the pantheon of TV greatness and even ascends to a higher legend regardless of medium. Skyler has decided that she simply won’t stand for Walt’s intimidation tactics and disregard for the White family any longer, and this is when “Ozymandias” turns into one of the most bone-chilling horror flicks of the 21st century.

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Fans of Vince Gilligan’s show will instantly recognize the cadence of the scene from the jump. Walter goes into persuasive essay mode when Skyler makes the heavy claim that Walt killed Hank. Walt always has one more lie in the chamber, one more plea for survival when his time is up. This time his elaborate, emotional explanations are raw and real, but why would Skyler know that? She’s had to play along with Walt’s games for five seasons now, and this time there is no turning back.

The camera closes in on the set of knives in the kitchen. Even as Walter paces back to the bedroom to pack his family’s belongings, Walter Jr. on his tail fishing for answers, Skyler stalks the weapons that are just mere meters away from her hands. The matriarch of the White family goes on the offensive, building a symbolic and literal barrier between herself, her son, and the criminal father whose immoral acts have multiplied for 60 episodes up to this point.

When Walt approaches Skyler with a lack of sincerity, she swings at her husband with the blade, slicing into the flesh of his hand. The look of unadulterated shock on Walt’s face is where the scene turns into a Kubrickian chill ride. Not a single note of music or background sound assaults the senses as Walter and Skyler commence years of frustration pent up inside of them, fighting for the handle of the killing object with their entire might. Cranston and Gunn are beyond bombastic in these 30 seconds of madness, culminating in Walter Jr. careening into the violence when he realizes his mother is overpowered.

For so much of the series, Walter Jr. views his father as an idol, a man he can admire for inspiration. On a dime, he’s able to flip his perception of his parents, saving the guardian who actually deserved his respect this whole time. This character development choice combines with Johnson’s decision to pan the camera slowly out from the family, coalescing into a frightening epiphany for Walter and the viewers at home: the nerdy science teacher from the pilot episode has transformed into an antagonist worthy of our shame.

“We’re a family.” As Walter bellows these heartbreaking words, the cries of baby Holly and Skyler paint the picture of what type of household Walter has decimated. A wife, son, and infant daughter are the victims of a mass murderer, a drug dealer, and a psychopath. Especially when juxtaposed with the cold open of the episode, when Walter and Skyler are planning mundane scheduling occurrences such as what to eat for dinner and vital, life-changing moments like what to name their unborn child, this horror scene defines the fall from grace that Gilligan so desperately set out to craft.

Walter Jr. calls the police on his father, and in a split second, Walter digs into his authentic self, kidnapping his daughter to gain leverage over Skyler one last time. When Skyler realizes what’s happened, she dashes outside and pounds on the window panes of the dilapidated truck Walter escapes in. The most menacing part of the exchange is Walt’s decision to forcibly back his way out of the driveway, ignoring the family SUV behind him. The red vehicle ends up halfway down the street, the sounds of screeching metal echoing in unison with the haunting score now being played in the background.

The weight of these sounds crescendos with Skyler’s begging for Walt to cede control of the baby. Anna Gunn’s performance here makes the entire scene, and it’s as beautifully acted as any clip in the show. She won multiple Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for the fifth season, but infinite adulation seems more apt. Gunn forces the audience to sympathize with her, even after some questionable decisions in the third and fourth seasons of the series.

These four minutes pack more story into their allotment than most shows do in an hour. We learn so much about all three characters, their motives, and where they are headed at the show’s cataclysm. The roller coaster Rian Johnson builds feels like a Rube Goldberg machine of horror. Every action causes a chain reaction that expounds upon the previous one. There’s no time for the audience to take a single breath, and we often have to make split-second emotional decisions about the characters we’ve all come to love at one point or another. Johnson has the gall to jostle with that profound connection and shatter the anti-hero trope that Walter White came to define. Cranston’s character is Jack Torrance, and we’re all whimpering Wendy.

“Ozymandias” is still the textbook example of television horror for the last 10 years and will be for at least another 10.

#breaking bad #ozymandias #Youtube

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 1 year

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BY JOE PATRICE

In United States v. Rahimi, the Fifth Circuit ruled that a guy who voluntarily agreed to a court order — entered to resolve a domestic violence claim — barring him from owning guns cannot be criminally convicted for violating a court order prohibiting him from owning guns because of the Second Amendment. In doing so, the court reasoned — as we’ve seen before — that since domestic violence existed in the 18th century and the Framers didn’t punish abusers for having guns then, it can never pass a law to do it now.

No, seriously, that’s the logic. See Rahimi at 11.

But there’s a lot being written about the majority opinion. Let’s focus on the concurrence because that’s where Judge James Ho shines. And by “shines,” we mean turns in shoddy research that would get a first-year associate fired.

As a recap, here are the facts of the case:

Between December 2020 and January 2021, Rahimi was involved in five shootings in and around Arlington, Texas. On December 1, after selling narcotics to an individual, he fired multiple shots into that individual’s residence. The following day, Rahimi was involved in a car accident. He exited his vehicle, shot at the other driver, and fled the scene. He returned to the scene in a different vehicle and shot at the other driver’s car. On December 22, Rahimi shot at a constable’s vehicle. On January 7, Rahimi fired multiple shots in the air after his friend’s credit card was declined at a Whataburger restaurant.

That’s not a fact-pattern, that’s 15 minutes in GTA Online.

The spree resulted in law enforcement searching his home and finding firearms. However, Rahimi had voluntarily agreed to a court order barring him from possessing firearms to settle a domestic violence claim lodged by his ex-girlfriend. Having been found with guns despite a court order (again, an order that he agreed to) prohibiting him from having guns, a grand jury indicted Rahimi under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8). He would then plead guilty because he was, you know, guilty. Then he realized that he lived within the Fifth Circuit and launched a broadside against the constitutionality of his conviction, which the court approved.

Now to the concurrence.

Judge James Ho, thirsty as a lost wanderer in the Mojave for any opportunity to ingratiate himself to any future Republican administration that might elevate him to the Supreme Court, writes separately:

The right to keep and bear arms has long been recognized as a fundamental civil right. See, e.g., Johnson v. Eisentrager, 339 U.S. 763, 784 (1950) (describing the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments as the “civil-rights Amendments”); Konigsberg v. State Bar of Cal., 366 U.S. 36, 49–50 n.10 (1961).

It’s always difficult for conservative judges to find support for their “deeply historical” analysis of the Second Amendment since it doesn’t exist. Even the majority opinion explicitly notes that, “In Emerson, we held that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms—the first circuit expressly to do so.” Since Emerson was decided in 2001, this is just letting pride get in the way of Originalist gaslighting. Come on, Fifth Circuit! You can’t go around admitting that the individual right to gun possession is barely old enough to drink.

So kudos to Judge Ho for trying to build a historical case! Unfortunately, neither of these cited opinions have much to do with the Second Amendment.

And they both… prove the opposite of what he’s arguing.

Eisentrager is about federal jurisdiction over Nazi war criminals. The Second Amendment does come up, but in a very particular way. Eisentrager concludes that war criminals held in Germany, who have never been inside the US, do not have access to US constitutional rights. By way of analogy, Justice Jackson explains that extending rights in this way would justify giving guerrilla fighters unchecked access to guns.

If the Fifth Amendment confers it rights on all the world except Americans engaged in defending it, the same must be true of the companion civil rights Amendments, for none of them is limited by its express terms, territorially or as to persons. Such a construction would mean that, during military occupation, irreconcilable enemy elements, guerrilla fighters, and “were-wolves” could require the American Judiciary to assure them freedoms of speech, press, and assembly as in the First Amendment, right to bear arms as in the Second, security against “unreasonable” searches and seizures as in the Fourth, as well as rights to jury trial as in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments.

The Court’s point here is to highlight the absurdity of extending these rights to foreign combatants to prevent the military from blanket disarming enemy troops. It’s a stretch to extend this to support the claim that the Court thought that the Second Amendment doesn’t countenance regulations that would bar criminals from having guns within the United States. Indeed, several of the Justices on this opinion were on the Miller opinion that directly laid out that this was not the meaning of the Second Amendment.

But as bad as that citation may be, Konigsberg is somehow worse.

Konigsberg is about swearing that you aren’t a communist to get admitted to the bar (maybe that’s what we need to deal with all these woke Biglaw lawyers!). But the funny part of this citation is that the specific footnote Ho points to… reaches the opposite conclusion. While the case is about the First Amendment, Justice Harlan ends this footnote with the sentence, “In this connection, also compare the equally unqualified command of the Second Amendment: ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'” This ignores the whole “well regulated” part, which is dictionary definition of a qualification, but set that aside.

Judge Ho appears to have seen “unqualified command of the Second Amendment” and called it a day. EXCEPT that’s the antithesis of the whole footnote.

The sentence attached to the footnote is: “At the outset, we reject the view that freedom of speech and association, as protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments, are ‘absolutes,’ not only in the undoubted sense that, where the constitutional protection exists it must prevail, but also in the sense that the scope of that protection must be gathered solely from a literal reading of the First Amendment.” Footnote 10 in full:

That view, which, of course, cannot be reconciled with the law relating to libel, slander, misrepresentation, obscenity, perjury, false advertising, solicitation of crime, complicity by encouragement, conspiracy, and the like, is said to be compelled by the fact that the commands of the First Amendment are stated in unqualified terms: “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble. . . .” But as Mr. Justice Holmes once said:

“[T]he provisions of the Constitution are not mathematical formulas having their essence in their form; they are organic living institutions transplanted from English soil. Their significance is vital, not formal; it is to be gathered not simply by taking the words and a dictionary, but by considering their origin and the line of their growth.”

Gompers v. United States, 233 U. S. 604, 233 U. S. 610. In this connection, also compare the equally unqualified command of the Second Amendment: “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” And see United States v. Miller, 307 U. S. 174.

Justice Harlan contends here that just because the First Amendment reads as “unqualified,” it doesn’t mean that the law treats it as such. He then throws in the Second Amendment specifically for the purpose of underscoring this point. It’s included to convey: “See, this is written to be unqualified too and literally no one is stupid enough to think the Constitution intends to create an unfettered individual right to guns.”

How did something so sloppy end up in an appellate opinion? Obviously, there’s a dearth of historical precedent for the proposition that the Second Amendment affords an individual right to gun ownership, but armed with AI-facilitated caselaw search tools all he could come up with for pre-2001 support is an opinion from 1961 that concludes the opposite way?!?!

This guy needs to stop boycotting elite law school clerks, because he needs some serious research help.

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distortedclouds · 4 months

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Clouds, hello!

For a 2023 year in review writer ask :3

1, 3, 9, 15, 19, 21, 22, 29, 30

Thank you for blessing us the past year with your wonderful stories, and once again - congratulations on finishing your magnum opus (for now; I'm sure you'll write another outstanding story if you were planning to write a long fic!) Black Water.

I said it already (many times but anyway) but I admire you a lot as a writer and I really look up to you a lot.

Heyyy Anna!!

I'm always happy to be a part of this fandom with people as talented as you! Also, the best part about writing BW was being able to share it you and everyone here ❤️

Let's get to the questions!

What’s something new that you tried in a fic this year? How did it turn out and would you do it again?

While this past year has been a wonderful and unique experience all on its own, it's gotta be writing "out of order"

Slow and Steady all happens in the same universe and the same timeline, but I wanted to try and let smaller stories flow together into one without having to worry about writing them all at that way

3. What’s something you learned about yourself as a writer?

That I get too much into a single "universe" and refuse to leave it. Im glad that this allows me to delve deeper into the characters emotions in a particular situation, but it also hinders my creativity that it becomes harder to write anything different or anything too different

Leaving is possible, but not as easy

9. What fic meant the most to you to write?

.... I tried to find a different answer, but It'd be a gross lie to say 2023 wasn't the year I posted some of the heaviest and hardest to go through chapters of BW

Thanks to BW I was able to allow myself to explore a lot of feelings and thought-patterns that I usually gloss over in my head because they're either too painful or too overwhelming to consider on my own, but in fiction, if felt more doable

15. Rec a fic you wrote or posted in 2023

It's only appropriate that I rec Slow and Steady, considering it started as a 2023 challenge (but will live on for much longer lol)

Kind of a way for me to hop between different points of their relationship without being stuck with a plot or particular narrative

19. Share your favorite opening line

The second chapter of Slow and Steady

"It’s the eighteenth day when Armin finally picks one up. It’s slim and long and surprisingly weightless where it fits effortlessly between his index and middle fingers. He wonders how much thought went into ensuring it’s as easy as possible to hold."

I love writing sad Armin who's trying to keep it together you know?

21. Share your favorite piece of dialogue

...... Anna do you know how much I wrote this year!?

on top of 8 chapters of BW ALONE

ffs

Black Water, Ch 20. Not The "pillow talk" but the part just before it. Annie isn't used to comforting and supporting Armin with words rather than actions, but this is the first time since the beginning of the timeline she does it and it'll always has a place in my heart

22. Share an excerpt from your favorite scene

Black Water, ch 17:

It was just this morning that Armin woke up alone. This same bed felt too big and too empty, with one of the pillows remaining squarely by the headboard, untouched and smoothed over. Now, it’s a mess; utter chaos. Annie has her hands in her hair, working out loose knots while leaning back on her pillow—which she’ll probably have to spend upwards of fifteen minutes working back into proper shape when they try to sleep again. The blanket resembles the peaks of high waves on a stormy day where it rests atop her knees, cascading in all sorts of ripples and wrinkles. Both towels she used are still on the floor, damp and in need of good airing so they remain smelling fresh. He tells himself that it does not matter that Annie wasn’t here this morning, or the night before, or the one to precede, but that she’s here now. That she came back and he’ll make sure to hold on to her properly this time around.

2022 was the year of making Annie suffer. 2023 was the year of making Armin suffer

29. If this were an awards show, who would you thank?

To my friend from 6th(ish) grade whom I exchanged a lot of my writing with

30. What’s something that you want to write in 2024?

Something Armin-focused for sure! I've been wanting to do that for months now with no luck. Maybe this year will be it!

#ask #Annawayne

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shazzeaslightnovels · 4 months

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Shousetsu Heartcatch Precure

Author: Takashi Yamada

Illustrator: Yoshihiko Umakoshi

Label: Kodansha Character Bunko

Release Date: 16 September 2015 (Initial release), 8 February 2023 (this edition)

My Score: 3/5

Heartcatch Precure was the first entry in the Precure franchise that I watched. I had no idea at the time that I would become such a big fan of the series, to the point where I have now seen 15 Precure anime (16, if we're counting the currently airing Soaring Sky). Still, Heartcatch holds a special place in my heart. It's such a strong entry in the series and it's never fallen out of my top 5 Precure series, despite having seen so many of them. This volume gives audiences a chance to revisit the fan favourite season, and gives a particular focus to Yuri Tsukikage, aka Cure Moonlight.

In the first chapter, we explore Cure Moonlight's origin story. It's been a few months since Yuri's father disappeared without a trace and Yuri is talking to Kaoruko one day when Cologne decides that Yuri would make the perfect Precure. Kaoruko is against the idea as Yuri is already handling too many burdens with a missing father and a single working mother to take care of. But, Cologne approaches Yuri behind Kaoruko's back, and of course, Yuri jumps at the chance to become a Precure when she learns that she may be able to see the Tree of Hearts and find a clue to her father's whereabouts.

The second chapter skips ahead to two years after the birth of Cure Moonlight to show her downfall at the hands of the Dark Precure. The next chapter adapts a few different episodes of the anime. From what I remember, it does this faithfully with most of the scenes being depicted exactly like in the anime, with a couple of novel original scenes from Karouko's and Yuri's POVs. It shows the births of Cure Blossom and Marine, as well as the reveal of Yuri's identity as Cure Moonlight. The fourth chapter briefly summarises Cure Sunshine's debut before covering Moonlight's revival. The final chapter covers the climax and ending of the anime. There is an added short epilogue here that reveals the girl's futures which I don't believe was in the anime. Tsubomi works for NASA, and Erika is a fashion designer. This was mentioned as their dreams in the anime, but is actually the reality in the novel. Itsuki is a fashion model, and Yuri is a researcher like her father, both of which are new to the novel.

To be honest, this volume was pretty disappointing overall. I was expecting a lot more new content, but aside from the first chapter, the short epilogue, and a couple of scenes here and there, it's a straightforward adaptation of the anime. And if I wanted to experience this story again, I would have rather just rewatched the anime instead of reading this. It was still an enjoyable time, but I was hoping for more. I did also get the Smile Precure volume so hopefully that one fares better.

#heartcatch precure #Takashi Yamada #Yoshihiko Umakoshi #Kodansha Character Bunko #3 stars #December 2023

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cazzyf1 · 2 years

Text

Tribute to Niki Lauda: My favourite quotes/quotes I find interesting from interviews and articles about Niki Lauda 1/?

In honour of the third year without Niki, I've compiled this post full of my favourite quotes that I have found over the last couple of months. I, as like many others, miss Niki a lot, but I hope these amusing and interesting quotes from Niki offer some happiness in celebrating the amazing life Niki had and all the joy he gave to everyone around him.

I don't have the links on hand to the sites I found them on, but if you wanted a particular one I am sure I can track it down, please feel free to share any quotes or articles you have as I love reading new information about him. I would also love to hear your favourite quotes from this section as well! Reblog or comment some of them! 🥰

"Already I've been informed that Niki played up previous evening. Anges warns me 'Niki has a headache this morning, but it doesn't matter.' One of the team tells me in a less guarded tone that Niki drunk too much red wine last night at the $150-a-ticket ball (black-tie affair or not, Lauda none the less appeared wearing that Parmalat cap) then went on to disco. "We had to drag him back to his room at almost two this morning. It's most unlike him, he's normally in bed at nine.'... At 11:00am the little man arrives alone. Carrying a sports bag and wearing a sheepish grin that exposes those slightly buck teeth. "Morning," he says to everybody in general. One of the team saunters over, lifts Lauda's dark glasses and peers into those normally steely blue eyes. 'Not bad' he says, 'Not bad', and everybody laughs."

"Lauda is a very lonely man and not very happy, even though he appears to have all he wants. He does not appear to enjoy life."

"In addition to Lukas and Mathias, Lauda also fathered an illegitimate son. He was born in the same year as Mathias. In his book, "Let's talk about money" which was published in 2015 he wrote: 'He was born in 1981. I regret that I couldn't be a full father to him."

"Are you currently single or is there a new love?

Marlene is unbeatable as a type, nothing has changed in our relationship. We made up our own rules. Our divorce was hyped by the media five years late. Then a wave came up. She is the one who walks with me today. I got them after three months in Wr. Neustadt because I wanted to know what it was like to be married. And one day we said, now let's just get divorced. I know that nobody will probably understand that, but nothing has changed."

"Proflie: Does this closeness to death also affect sexual behaviour?

Lauda: Of course. If you have the feeling it could be over tomorrow, you deal with it differently. And the women in the Formula 1 circus were relatively flexible."

"Focus: Your children Lukas, 17, and Mathias, 15, live in Barcelona. Do you have a say in education?

Lauda: Raising children is just one of Marlene's numerous strengths. Recently I wanted to explain to my boys that a condom if and how it works. Then they both pulled a rubber band out of their pockets and said, "Here, dad." I was surprised at how well organised they are.

Focus: You may have heard that from Lauda Air, condoms are distributed on flights to Bangkok

Lauda: That can be. My older son Lukas joked that he wanted to experience something "dirty". Since I'm with him in a striptease bar in Vienna. When they found out that Lauda's son was there, the table was already removed and a girl began to dance and undress in front of him. I felt a little funny because I thought, poor Bua, what he has to put up with. But he did it perfectly. When the girl stood stark naked in front of him, he took off his shirt and put it on her. This has definitely not happened before.

Focus: You look at life with an analytical dryness. Are you a man without tears?

Lauda: I cry a lot, most recently with the movie "Phenomenon". The scene where John Travola, poor bastard, was laying in bed saying "Goodbye, honey" to her and then he died.

Focus: Your marrige to Marlene was divorced in 1991. Now we could read everywhere that you had returned to her...

Lauda: I neither turned away from her nor towards her. Our basis has always been right, they understand me and I understand them. Point. We don't have any friction because we don't keep telling ourselves you have to be different because that's how I want it.

Focus: You are often seen alongside beautiful women. Don't you have break on women?

Lauda: Well, a relationship with a woman isn't bad, it's more pleasant, very good, very important. I'd rather be with someone than alone. That's why I dont' have a bad relationship with Marlene. What most people don't understand is that it's that simple. They always just think, something can't be right, it can't be, because they're interpreting their own problems into other life.

Focus: What makes you so attractive to women?

Lauda: I can't judge that. I think my strength is that I don't hang around for long and I don't play shows or drama for women. Why should I change when I meet a woman? Because she would say I should take off my kappl and then I sit in front of her without a kappl. After three years she would think, please, what kind of dog did I raise: it sits 'down' cap on, cap off. Even today, years later, ex-partners still tell me "It was great with you." I'll tell you why, because the next one s such a jerk who gets on her nerves from morning to night because he tells her what they do and how she should be."

"But Lauda wasn't just about the money. During the civil war in Rwanda, he personally piloted two aid fights to the crisis area in 1994 and 1996. Undaunted and at his own expense, he piloted a Lauda air machine packed with relief supplies such as medicine and food for the refugees cared for by Caritas. In 1994, Lauda then flew directly to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. As an entrepreneur, Lauda, who was more concerned with his own advantage, justified his aid campaign with the words: "When you see these pictures, you know that it's about the poorest in the world. You have almost no chance of surviving yourself, you have to help them.

Many years later he admitted that his second wife Birgit Wetzinger, whom Layda met in 2004 when she worked as a flight attendant at his airline Niki, had further developed his social conscience: 'As far as social commitment is concerned, Brigit really opened my eyes. You could say she managed to awaked my social conscience.'

"He has not only learned to let his soul dangle, but also 'that it's not so bad if iI'm thrown off my path every now and then, which I've followed with great stubbornness and egocentricity."

"Is it true that some drivers used to be really wild dogs, as they say?

Lauda's answer: I could tell you the truth because it had already been said before. Of course, due to the willingness to take risks, to which we have fundamentally adjusted, we lived our lives, in which we did not always take everything so precisely, and one did not necessarily want to involve the fixed partners.

"F1 legend Niki Lauda even urged the Dutchamn to go to a 'psychatrist' to temper his aggression.

"If I go, then we might as well go together" Verstappen said."

"In an interview with 'side view' Brigit Lauda revealed how happy she is with her husband. The former racing driver gave her a very special present for her first wedding anniversary on August 25th. "He gave me a ring in the shape of a 'infinity' sign" revealed the former stewardess "as a sign of the infinity of our love". The couple met at work: Brigit was the flight attendant at Lauda's airline. Niki Lauda was already sure after two years. "She is the woman of my life" he proudly told the same magazine at the time."

"With twins you are constantly chasing after two who are running in opposite directions" he bravely completes his childcare service. "We play on the iPad, watch the children's favourite DVD, 'Baby Einstein' and sometimes we go to feed the ducks in the Potzleindofer Schlosspark."

"Instead of organ music, Niki Lauda;s favouire music was played, including Tougher than the rest by Bruce Springsteen."

Austria: Were there a few tears?

Lauda: No, but it was a very emotional moment. Above all, it was important that my second eldest son, Matthias was Mia's godfather and that he also wanted that. And that's exactly how it was with my Lukas, who was Max's godfather. That was a reunion for me and they both wanted it that way. "

"The marriage anniversary was celebrated in Lauda's regular restaurant, the Viennese Do&co on Stephansplaz. "It was so romantic!" enthuses the Formula 1 legend with unusual emotion. At the sight of the sunset, "emotions really went through." He thanked his Brigit for the now eight year love and loyalty and above all for "the greatest gift of all." his two twins Max and Mia. "The children are really my everything. There really isn't anything bigger or more beautiful."

"We recommend getting married" the tough airliner enthuses surprisingly sweetly about his marriage to Birgit a year and a half ago. No wonder, since the former fly Niki stewardess entered his life, he hasn't stopped smiling. "It's very good for him, through her, he became more human, less egotistical and learned to enjoy life." Lukas has long since taken to his young stepmother's heart."

Austria: What attracts you to jet into space?

Lauda: I always wanted to fly into space. It's a dream of mine to see the world from up there. But I want to do it as a pilot; if so, then I would like to be in control myself. The additional appeal of the thing is to fly such a space shuttle. If the story comes about, it will be a huge rush.

Where your parents religious?

"Catholic."

When did you stop beliveing?

"Never!"

Do you still believe?

"Sure. I think there's something up there, but I don't think I have to go to Church every Sunday."

Do you believe in Jesus?

" I think 99 percent of what you do with your life is up to you. You can achieve anything, but wether it actually works or not depends on something we can't explain."

And then Niki begins a monologue:

"There is someone watching over me, doing something for me, and I have to accept that."

Years ago, Niki tells me, he left the church to save on church taxes. But recently he rejoined as a father of two children and even had his children baptized. And yes, of course: today he pays church taxes again. Today, he proudly explains to me, "I'm a Roman Catholic!"

As everyone knows, Catholics believe in heven and hell. So I ask him: is there car racing in heaven?

"No, unfortunately not."

Why not?

"I don't think racing drivers go to heaven, they behave too badly for that. They go to hell. There are a lot of car races there."

Why shouldn't racers go to heaven?

"You are inherently self-centered."

Are you egocentric?

"Yes! Yes! If you drive at the limit and want to win, you have to be self-centered. Otherwise you'll never make it."

So no racers in heaven?

Almost. With one exception: Senna (Ayrton Senna, anotber three-time Formula One Champion who died at the 1994 San Marion Grand Prix) who, "read the Bible" before racers, is now in heaven.

Does he race cars up in the sky?

"Maybe. But if he does, then he drives all alone..."

Maybe against the angels?

"Right! Could be."

And all other drivers end up in hell. Do you race there?

"Always!"

Against who?

"Against each other. They really have fun in hell."

Will you become world champion in hell?

"I hope. I'll fight the devil too!"

Do you think you can win there?

"I hope. I won earlier, why not in hell. Maybe I have to try harder and go even faster."

EJ: You just mentioned James and some of his activities outside the cockpit. He was a womaniser, but you weren't a bum yourself either. It was common knowledge that after marriage, you had more than enough wives.

NL: My marriage was never over. Are you crazy? In the beginning it was my wife. She was always there and supported me through think and thin. Sometimes I have no idea what I was doing without her.

EJ: Your son never became a world champion.

NL: INdeed, there are no guarantees. My son Mathias never really wanted to race when he was eighteen. Why? Because he grew up with Marlene. Marlene is the opposite of any logical, normal racing mum. She had a huge heart. She is afraid of pretty much everything in the world and she has given my children a good heart but no logic.

He often vomited before the races. All the tension hit him in the stomach. I used to watch him and when he went back to the bathroom I would follow him and pee next to him and ask, "How are you today James?"

Lauda's appearance in the prince's box in 1975 is legendary. The racing driver, who was still rather shy at the time, took the hand of Princess Grace Kelly when the trophy was handed over - and kissed her against all court rules!

Niki: The whirlwind that followed was unbelievable, but the princess just smiled. I only touched the back of her hand lightly!

It's a catchy tune that's hard to get rid of: The Ballermann hit 'Mama Laudaaaa' creates a good atmosphere not only in Mallorca, but also at various tent festivals and other celebrations.

The German newspaper BILD asked Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda what he thought of the song,

"Yes, I've heard that, I was very surprised, but I find it funny. I've often been asked about it, you can smile about it."

Lauda also has a message for the musician duo behind the hit: "Keep singing with Mama Lauda!"

LL: James Hunt is portrayed in the film as a womanizer, you more as a focused analyst. What role do women play in Formula 1?

NL: unfortunately none today! In principle, the drivers are all married and come to the races with children and dogs because the danger is no longer there. Marlene went to two races with me, then I had an accident and she never wanted to come with me again. So we drivers were left alone in the races - thank God, because that took away the stress of whether I should accelerate or not. Of course, all the other women who wanted to catch one of us lunatics were there. To be honest, I wouldn't want to miss the time of Woodstock and the 1970s in Formula 1!

LL: From the wives to the kids: How are you with the twins Mia and Max?

NL: Pure madness! At first there were discussions about changing diapers and I said I don't do that. And I actually never had to do it, the need was never there. But I always comforted Birgit: "Wait, my time is coming!" Now they are four years old and my time has come. Around 6 or 7:30 in the morning, the two of them come marching up and "bang!" They're in bed with me. A big rush! What they performing. And these fun discussions!

"Brigit is my heroine. That this woman came and donated a kidney to me is unique." A statement of love from Niki Lauda, who died exactly one year ago. Since then, hardly anything has been heard from the 41-year-old widow who continues to live in Vienna with the twins, Mia and Max, 10.

"It was love at first sight," said Niki at the time about getting to know the two. She was "unnerved at the moment because he was staring at me like that and staring at my cowboy boots the whole time." But she soon raved about his demure humor and his extraordinary personality "with rough edges."

If you had asked Niki Lauda in front of Brigit if he could imagine marrying again, and becoming a father again, he would definitely have said no. He was considered rather as someone who quickly succumbed to female charm. "Since he was with her, his priorities have changed," says business friend Hannes Jagerhofer. Since he was in a relationship with the ex-stewardess- whom he met on a flight from Vienna to Ibiza in 2004 - he has learned to enjoy life more.

"When I met Niki," Jagerhofer said an interview with WOMAN in 2024, "he walked non-stop about the children. After a certain time he was always in a hurry to get home to put them to bed."

It was logical that at some point he had to feel invincible. A few years ago, he demanded a little more respect from my fellow reporter. The justification was typical Lauda:

"After all, I'm something of a divine apparition."

Mercedes sports director Toto Wolff was next to it with a knee injury. His crutch almost fell off his chair.

Recently Niki has softened. Allowed more feelings. His twins Max and Mia softned him. His whatsapp profile picture: the grinning son. Lauda came out as a loving family man. But the body wanted less and less. The lugs: sick from the corrosive fumes back then in the Ferrari. The Lauda cough, his trademark.

When I wished him a Merry Christmas on the phone in 2018, his voice was weak and cracked. The fighter inside showed the first signs of weakening. It was the last time I spoke to Lauda. On the 70th birthday in February 2019, son Max answered his cell phone. "Dad can't right now." I sent greetings.

When Lauda was sitting in front of the French motorhome. I happened to walk past. He saw me, jumped up briefly - and gave me the middle finger.

I plucked up all my courage and asked the innkeeper if I could speak to 'Mr Lauda' for a moment. He hurled at me, 'Naa, nobody can get in here.' My heart slipped into my pants and from there straight into the asphalt. Failed, right into the first race.

But Niki saw me come to the door. "So, so you want to talk to me." he said, "But first you have to tell me a Lauda joke and then I'll decide." My brain went though the Lauda jokes that I knew in a split second. Most angry.

Then it shot out of me, "Why can you never marry Lisa (read:Leisa) Minelli?"

"Why not?"

"Becuase her name would be Lisa Lauda!"

Niki bursts out laughing - then he took me to his table. Since then I've been a Lauda fan and of course a fan of Lisa Minelli.

Would you like to tell people who don't know you that well a little bit about your husband and father Niki Lauda? There's a lot there.

Lauda: My new family, Brigit and the children are the best thing that could have happened to me. You made me a different person. It's an unbelievable feeling when my two, Max and Misa, come to my bed on Sunday morning and do gymnastics on top of me. Then we go to have breakfast where my grandfather used to have breakfast.

What's up for Christmas?

Lauda: We bring up the children as they should. You should learn to respect. THere is only one gift for a birthday present or Christmas. In the meantime. Max is looking at the price, which Mia has chosen...funny. Pampering them with presents is the worst thing you can do to children, at least I think so.

What changes have you made in your new family

Lauda: Brigit and the children have made me much, much easier. Blinders down, farsighted, less selfish. I'm not that focused on myself anymore. I try to create an attitude to life around me which everyone feels comfortable.

What do your circle of friends say about this?

Niki Lauda, the supervisor in Mercedes Formular 1 family, orders a cappuccino and a glass of water.

Lauda: They are surprised. Speaking of friends: I am very careful with the word friend. Basically, I like having people I work with sit down in the evenings, but I'm not one to talk about 'friends' that easily.

But you have...

Lauda: Stop, stop. Brigit, yes. Brigit is my friend. I can talk to her about anything, anything. There are no secrets. Complete trust.

There is no better compliment from his mouth. What did you think when Brigit told you she was pregnant?

Lauda: It was always my wish. When I heard that there were two of them, a boy or girl. If couldn't have been better.

Were you present at the birth?

Lauda: No, I'll tell you why not. I don't want to be an additional distraction at birth like this. I know of cases where the nurse pressed the newborn baby into the hands of the father sitting there. He was in tears, so happy and suddenly this baby stopped breathing. It took a while for the nurse to notice and take her to the intensive care unit. Events like this are my argument not to make yourself so important. This is my very personal attitude. But I don't cities anyone who wants to be there either.

Has world-famous muli-millioniare Niki Lauda ever changed diapers?

Lauda: As a result of today's life and there associated emancipation of women, I have constant discussions. Why should it be different with us than in other families? I'm not saying I'm old-fashioned, but that's up to the woman. Of course, when the hat was on fire I also changed diapers, but I'm not a diaper changer... I think women are generally better at dealing with babies.

Pure Niki Lauda. He speaks as he thinks. Straight. Don't get bogged down. Think. To say. Ticked off.

I accidentally didn't screenshot this question

Lauda: Always. That's logical. My wife is opening a gallery. She is studying art history, she has two children and me. She wants to do it and can do it, but gets upset because she as too much to do. I said to her, "You made all the decisions to do it this way. I could never to what you do. You are a miracle."

And then it was good again?

Lauda: of course. Because we give each other the freedom and respect to develop as we wish. But when two people nag each other to the core, the marriage fails.

Maybe yes. Niki Lauda speaks more privately than ever. A question arises that you don't want to ask Lauda - out of respect. What touches you deep down in your heart?

Lauda: I can tell you. Just recently the death of Angle Nieto made me cry. He was 13 times motorcycle world champion, we were like brothers. A woman crashed into the back of his quad in Ibiza, fractured a skull, seven days in a coma, dead. His sons made a video of his ashes being dumped into the sea in an urn off Ibiza... flowers all over the water... that's where I was torn...

Niki Lauda shows me the video, poignant. Robbie Williams sings 'Angles' The eyes of to-the-point-not-a-word-too-much analsys next to me blur.

Lauda: The other day Mia suddenly said to me on the phone: 'Dad I heard the song on the radio where your friend died.' That pushes my tears out. Basically. I'm an insanely sensitive guy.'

His two adult sons Mathias and Lukas from Niki's ex wife Marlene also talk about the time with their father. And chooses harsh words:

Lukas Lauda: As a family man, Niki was a disaster. He was always on the go. That's why I have more of a brotherly relationship with him, not a father-son relationship. As a family man, he was useless.

Too bad. Why isn't there a woman in the race today?

Lauda: Because too few make the effort to drive go-karts as girls and fight their way to the top through the various racing series. This is a pity! For a woman nowadays, it would no longer be a problem to go racing. The cars all have power steering, so it's no longer just physical strength that counts. I wish that women would finally ride with us!

Would I be too old if I discovered my passion for racing tomorrow?

Lauda: How old are you, if I may ask?

I'm turning 22 now.

Lauda: Already too old!

Who was most popular with women?

Marko: We are both married. So it's okay.

Again - who was most popular?

Marko (laughs): We only counted the victories, not the women.

Lauda: We didn't have any competition for women. We always looked at each other with awe.

Marko:.. and exchanged experiences. In every sense.

Did you also exchange wives:

Lauda: I can't remember that, you, Helmut?

Marko: Let's just leave these good answers as they are.

What are your biggest character differences?

Lauda: Helmut is a grumpy bear. And I'm always lauging.

"It's much easier to have a so-called marriage with Toto than sometimes with wives" analyzed Lauda, "The women with their emancipation have become such a challenge that they become so difficult that I have to defend myself every day." adds Niki.

In the OSTERREICH-Talk, Lauda makes it clear: "It's logical that it's often easier between Toto than me with a wide, Toto said that too" REferring to his dream marriage with Brigit, Niki makes it clear, "We are incredibly harmonious. There's zero discussion there. But first you have to find someone like Brigit."

Then Lauda concrete: "The best example, 1984, Portuguese Grand Prix, decisive for the World Champion between Prost and myself. My fitness guru Willi Dungl said to me because he already knew what I was after. "You, there's a blonde Italian girl running around down there, she's always looking for you." I went right over and asked how she was doing. I then took her to dinner on Friday because I am a polite person. Then she asked me if she could have dinner with me again on Saturday. So I told her she couldn't have dinner with me, but she could come to my room from eight to ten?"

Why did Lauda only have two hours?

The ex-champion "I said I had to sleep at ten because I want to be the world champion the next day. She said okay, come into the room and left at ten minutes to ten. I slept like a god."

And what about sex in Formula 1 today?

Lauda: Formula 1 has become more of a family sport. Now the woman and children are coming along because less or nothing happens. Morale is maybe better today..."

Niki Lauda has gone into himself again: The ex-racer driver, who was loudly upset in the Austrian media about the participation of a male couple in the ORF dance show "Dancing Stars" has now apologized for his anti-gay statments.

The 61 year old wrote on his company Flyniki's facebook page on Wednesday, "I (...) would like to apologise to all the people who felt hurt by my choice of words, (...) Throughout my life I have not had any prejudice against homosexuals."

BILD: What if your son were homosexual?

Lauda: I wouldn't mind at all.

I was able to experience so many things with you, for which I am infinitely grateful - whether it was the countless hours in the cockpit around the world or our dinner together at the Plachutta in Grinzing, always at the same table with the same seating arrangement. Yeah, I'm going to damn miss all of that. Although you always claimed you had no friends, I have to tell you now: the kind of friendship you gave someone was unique. In a world where everyone is looking for their own advantage, you have given more than anymore could ever give back.

When you stood up for someone, fears of any consequence were foreign to you. You just did it - without a thought to what you get out of it. And believe me, my dear Niki, that's something that sets you apart from so many people.

But you were also - as already mentioned, merciless in your assessment of things that affected me both privately and professionally. The bottom line is that you were someone who spoke his mind. No ifs or buts. You and our conversations have also contributed a lot to the fact that I am now married and can call myself the happy father of two children.

Lauda: True, but I now have one from another institute. At that time I was in Hong Kong on a stopover between two Grand Prix and had dinner in a Japanese restaurant. I wanted to pay with plastic money, but then the waiter came, slapped my credit card in front of me and just said: "Call your bank!" I didn't know what she meant everyone laughed, but I didn't have another credit card with me. And so everyone I wanted to invite scraped together the money and I got out of this thing. The next day I call my bank and they tell me that according to their system it is completely normal that it cannot be me if I brought a sweater and jeans for 300 euros in the morning and then brought them again in the evening wants to pay by credit card. One can.

Lauda: I no longer get angry at those who never answer the phone. Friends always answer the phone. And there are people who are my friends. Brigit, for example, is my friend. She would never dare not answer the phone.

Lauda: Don't you ever want to get married?

Jagerhofer: Yes, I'll do that now anyway.

Lauda: When? Just make sure it's not a Grand Prix.

Jagerhofer: That's what Niki jokes about. We've already talked about it. I wanted to keep my girlfriends pregnancy a secret, but when I gave an interview to the ORF "Seitnblicken" Niki bursts in, "Ask him why there's a pram under the Christmas tree this year!"

According to tradition, you want the woman to take the man's name?

Both: Logical!

Lauda: This is Mrs. Lauda, and these are the Lauda children. There's no discussion at all.

How do you raise your children?

Lauda: I have an absolute cell phone ban. The children are only allowed to look at photos. There's no iPad either. But they must know how to hold the cutlery, be able to eat normally, have decent manners. Thank God my parents gave me this basic behaviour, so I'm not insecure anywhere. If I were suddenly invited to the Queen's I would have no problem holding a knife and fork properly there.

You, Herr Lauda, are said to have become more human since you married Birgit.

Lauda: When I met Brigit, two complete opposite collided. On one hand I was with my character, which was the way it was, and with my egoism shaped by racing and wanting to survive. I didn't know anything else. Then she came, with her youth, with her different views, and I have to be honest, today I am the opposite of what I was then. I'm happy and I hope my family is too.

What role does age difference play?

Lauda: She's 30 years younger, but it's not about age. It's really about her personality, I have to say that to be fair. She donated her kidney to me after eight months, she's a very strong woman, and she just showed me that I don't have to take life so seriously.

Lauda also enjoyed going in and out of strangers' garages. Mercedes man Lauda in front of a stripped Ferrari, that's a bit like Donald Trump showing up unannounced in the Kremlin. Anyone else would have failed at the bouncer. Nobody dared to stop the man with the cap. Niki Lauda was institution.

If anyone expects a friend from me, it is Brigit. This is my wide, with whom I raise my children and with whom I logically communicate about everything with. Even if I have a cold, I have to discuss it with her. Then she might say, "If you're sick, I'll make you some tea."

Speakign of tea: who pays for coffee today?

Of course I'll pay, that's logical. You are a woman.

Playboy: How wild were you?

Lauda: I've experienced a lot with James. I lived in London for a while when I started my racing career. He was my neighbour. So we let it rip. But he always took it to excess. I remember years later he was at my birthday party in Vienna and the next day there were test drives in France. At three o'clock in the morning I went home and said to James, "Don't tell stories, you'll be at the airport at seven o'clock in the morning." He wanted to fly with me...

Playboy: Did he come...?

Lauda: Yes but how. Half drunk. He looked like he just left out of the last bar. He had a young girl with him and held a portable radio to his ear. I put him on the plane and flew down. The test drives begin at ten o'clock sharp. After three laps I have an engine failure and thought: thank god, now I have four hours to rest. So I was sitting in the pits and suddenly I heard: Accident! We drove straight down to the track and then I saw Hunt's Mclaren. But it didn't look like an accident, no tire tracks, nothing. I went to his car and asked what's going on? And he said: "Niki, I was so tired. I had to stop here." That was James.

Playboy: After your first marriage ended in dirove in 1991, you didn't want to remarry. In 2008 you did it after all. Are men made for monogamy?

Lauda: If you ask me now: yes, before: no

Playboy: Does that mean men over 63 are made for monogamy?

Lauda: This has nothing to do with age, but with finding the right partner, and the woman with whom you have a common ground, but who still gives you enough freedom. That's the most important thing in a marriage. Of course, it's not easy. For example, I have a pronounced egoism, and I just can't shake it off. Although, a few friends who know me from before say to Brigit that I have never been like I am today. When she hears from the past, she doesn't believe it at all.

Playboy: What kinds of stories does she hear?

Lauda: What a self-centered person I was, who only gave a shit about himself and didn't make any compromises for anyone. that's all right.

"Is there any chance I can try a racing car one day?" And without even looking up from your newspaper said, "Fuck you guys, there's no way." And that pissed us off so much I decided to arrange it myself.

Their father laughs. "I was surprised that they did - but on the other hand I thought "Shit is not bad. I would have done the same thing." The real problem is Marlene"

Although Lauda claims to have felt little fear in racing days - "After the Nurburgring, I had some difficulties, but it too me one practise and it was fixed again." he is, to his own amusement, plainly intimidated by his ex-wife.

"Marlene hates racing like you would not believe." he says, "I married he and three months I nearly killed myself. So whenever I raced afterwards she said, "Do whatever you want , but I don't want to know." She feels it in her stomach - when I drive with her in the car and go quickly around a corner, she screams. If she finds out the boys were helping Mathias, she will kill us."

Krone: You rejoined the Catholic church for Max and Mia. Do you pray with them too?

Lauda: No, there is no prayer. But I read them stories. We spent hours building lego towers. I have a lot of patience, I really have to give myself credit with that. We love to go out in the garden and swing. Dive right and left for half an hour, it is really exhausting.

Krone: You are not know as a man of great feelings. Can you describe father feelings?

Lauda: Father feelings are the rush when I pick up the twins from kindergarten. As soon as they sit in the back of my car, they said in unison: "Dad, please drive in the snow!" (laughs) "Then of course I step on the gas , and then the kids laugh until we get back.

Krone: Is Niki Lauda sometimes strict?

Lauda: Brigit is strict. I'm the calm one. THis contrast works very well. Especially when Max just says, "No" when we want anything from him. Brigit then gets loud, while I have completely different principle. I calmy count to three, then the problem is solved.

Krone: Is it true that another sibling is planned for Max and Mia?

Lauda: The question comes up every month. That's just the way it is with woman. It would be illogical if you ask me. Because Brigit and I can observe and experience all developments in two gender forms with these two great children. Why do we have to triple that now? For me, it's so perfect. But women also have a say in that.

Krone: What would Niki say if a child told him at some point that he was gay?

Lauda: As far as I am concerned, all my children can be gay and lesbian. I have no problem with that at all. I would even support it. My children can be anything they want.

in his private life, too, he devoted his entire life to motorsport. "In reality, he only has feelings for his car and nothing else." summed up his former partner Mariella von Reininghaus, from whom he separated in 1975. A year later he married Marlene Knaus whom he had two children with. But the Viennese never had much time for his family, who lived alternately in Salzburg and Ibiza. When asked about this, Lauda once said in the Bunte: "We don't have a marriage in the classic style. We see each other four or five times a month and we're doing quite well with it."

Niki makes sure that his children, Mia and max aren't exposed to the public to the scrutiny so that they can live a normal life like any other children of their age. At times when the family was caught by the Paparazzi out in the open, father Niki made sure that the faces of his children were blurred and undiscernible.

Reversing roles in "Frustuck bet mir" Niki Lauda, known for being pragmatic, asked his alter-ego Daniel Bruhl questions of his own in today's O3, "Frustuck bei mit" He was particularly interested in the private plans of the acting star. "Well what about foam? Wedding, children?" And Bruhl, who has been in a relationship with therapist Felicitas Rombold for two years, put in a nutshell, "Yes, we will get married. We're still waiting for Felicitas doctoral thesis and until the turbulent times around 'Rush' have subsided for me, But it's very clear what we both want. She is my wife."

The 64-year old Formula 1 legend also gave private insight to. Lauda's wife Brigit is studying art history in her fifth semester, when she's at university, he looks after the children alone at home. "The last time I was supposed to make spaghetti, but I only found the sauce, there wasn't any pasta. But it was relatively easy to solve - the children simply got cornflakes again, like for breakfast. When Brigit came home, I was exhausted, but the children went to bed full and clean." In addition, the three-time Formula 1 champion, who still likes to compete with others, ran a private competition at home: counted which side Max and Mia slip into bed more often in the morning. "It's actually 1-0 for me every day - because they always come to me, Mia-mouse understood who I am, namely master of the house, and since then she's always stuck with me." he says with a laugh. And Lauda, who has always known to have read only one book in his life, namely "The seagull Johnathan" is currently expanding his reading:"I read Max and Mia Snow White every other evening. That has to be."

"My children, Max and Mia have just turned 6 and for their birthday they had a go-kart from a friend. I almost screamed 'Idiot!' and they wanted to drive immediately. My wife keeps saying they don't have my genes. Honestly, I have no idea if either of them will be a good driver someday, and I certainly don't want to push to find out."

Would you like one of your twins to become a racer?

"I hope not, but it is too early to tell. My daughter however, is a reckless one. She is exactly like me, right now, here in Vienna, it is the first time that I am alone with the children, because my wife is in New York. Immediately after this interview I run home because the baby sitter is leaving and I can't wait to be with them. It's a great experience. Brigit said I would never make it but everything goes on well."

You always seem very cold, controlled and pragmatic. Is this also the case in private life?

"I'm emotional, but I don't show it. I try to protect myself. I'm always in the spotlight so I hide. I'm easy to tears when I watch dull movies: I don't know why, but I feel like crying. "

You had twins with your wife Brigit eight years ago. They recently took part in a Formula 1 race for the first time. Why have you waited so long?

Because I am fundamentally opposed to children coming to car races. But my wife convinced me because there was a nice hotel in Austria with a lake and horses.

Are you a fan of a racer?

Max likes Hamilton, Mia Bottas. Perfectly divided.

Madonna: How difficult is it for you to give presents to your father?

Mathias Lauda: That is really very difficult. He has no hobbies, he is either sleeping or working. But we thought long and hard and found something.

Lukas Lauda: But it remains a surprise.

Madonna: Can you already reveal how the celebrations will take place?

Lukas Lauda: We're looking forward to a party in Ibiza with a smaller group, with friends and the whole family. But it's nothing pompous. He always wanted everything to be modest. In Barcelona we don't even notice the hype about him.

Mathias Lauda: Ibiza is ideal for us because we live in Barcelona and our mother and family live in Ibiza. We'll have dinner, drink a lot and go out.

Madonna: How close is the contract - despite the distance?

Lukas Lauda: We don't see much of the father, but we're used to that. It's always fun when we're together.

Mathias Lauda: We lived in Salzburg until I was about 15 and father in Vienna. Most of the time we only saw each other on weekends. Now Lukas and I have our center in Barcelona. We actually only wanted to move to the city for a short time and stayed! But we manage to see our father once a month.

Madonna: How is Niki Lauda as a father?

Lukas Lauda: There is a lot of laughter, but also a lot of criticism - in a positive sense. He's a good father, but he's certainly not a model father. That also had advantages. We don't have a typical father-son relationship as a result. We are more like brothers and friends.

Mathias Lauda: That's right, we can talk about anything.

Naida: Mr Lauda, congratulations on the wedding. Why did you want to keep the registry office secret?

Niki Lauda: So the wedding after all! Look, it's very simple. I understand that I'm always in the shop window with my red cap. THat's part of it and also helps me in business. But I am not the Boris Becker who has been in the media with his relationship for years. That's his way! My way s very different. Already at the beginning of my career at Ferrari I learnt how to draw boundaries. There is a partition that protects me and people around me. I need a territory that is only mine. The fun stops at my deepest feelings.

Nadia: But a wedding is also a public commitment to each other...

Lauda: Yes, of course, there is a marriage certification and an official act. I stand by Bridit so much that I wanted to go to the reisty office. I wanted to show her she is the woman for me.

Nadia: Sounds almost romantic...

Lauda: So I'm really not romantic

Nadia: How did you ask for Brigit's hand?

Lauda: In ibiza in a pizzeria, about two months ago

Naida: And when exactly did you get married?

Lauda: It was on Augst 25th at half past three in the afternoon in Viennese registry office. The registry organized it and we went in very inconspiciously.

Naida: With the red cap and jeans?

Lauda: Exactly

Naida: Were your family and close friends informed?

Lauda: Marlene and the boys already kenw it, it went according to plan. I didn't tell friends, every single person would have been a source of risk.

But they have a ball as friends. "I went to visit him (at his home) in Ibiza", recalls Lewis, "He would often invite me, we'd fly on his plane and I'd always get him to tell me stories. He had so many great stories. If you watch Rush he's portrayed as the serious, dedicated guy in contrast to James Hunt. But that was only one side of him. He loved the ladies too."

Niki is very proud of his skills with dogs. He even confided in me once that he thought he was a dog whisperer.

"What does that mean?"

"I understand dogs, and dogs understand me."

"For example?"

"They follow me even in difficult situations because I empathize."

"What would that look like?"

"Felix, for example, got his tail stuck in the trunk of the car and..."

"...hold on. Did he close the trunk himself?"

"No, I closed it, but only very gently..."

"which means the big dog whisperer pinched the dog's tail."

"Just a little, and Felix squeaked just a little. Something like this (Lauda squeaks very softly), but after that, he never jumped into the car again. Not for anything. He lay down on the floor, turned his back, and showed with every move he made: I am not going to jump in to that."

"And how did you cope with this incredible situation?"

"I offered him another car. He didn't want to go in there either. But I talked to him for so long and kept giving him treats until he finally jumped in. Now he's going it again, thank god. And Shivas will jump in anytime."

"Did you pinch his tail as well?"

(Annoyed) "NO."

"All right, all right."

Thank you for reading if you got this far! I hope you enjoyed the read and learned a lot more about Niki! Please don't ask how long this took me 😂

#niki lauda quotes #niki lauda #formula one #formula 1 #f1 #james hunt #daniel brühl #daniel bruhl #mercedes

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sicjimin · 2 years

Note

ur recnt...litearlly anything joonie

ok this might be just a little drabble but ... im thinking about a little family fics. namjin and their 5 years old daughter ......

"Appa", Seokjin looks down when he feels someone tugging the end of his shirt and stumbling to hug his knees as he washes the dishes.

"Hey little one", he smiles, brushing his wet hands off against his pants and quickly lift his daughter, "What's up? Do you need something?"

She shakes her head, bringing her thumb over her mouth to suck in before Seokjin catches it—"No no no"

She scrunches her face, and let her head rest over Seokjin's shoulder—and almost lulled into sleep if she doesnt snap her head as she remember why she's running down the hall for her Appa. "Papa ..", she babbles.

Seokjin frowns as he carrying her to the couch and sit her up there, "Papa? why?"

"Papa .. sick"

"Huh?"

"Bathroom", she squirmed, trying to get off from the couch. Seokjin quickly catches her, and bring her along to his and Namjoon's bedroom. He sighs when he sees the bathroom light up between the dim of their bedroom, and there's sound of water running along with a faint coughing.

Seokjin knows what's happening.

He puts his worried daughter on the bed, "Wait here, okay? I will take care of your Papa", he says, pressing a kisses on her forehead, and smiles when he got an eager nod.

"Joonie ...", Seokjin opens the door quietly, scrunching his nose as he greeted by pungent smell of vomit filling the air. His husband is paid him no attention—too busy welcoming the next round of vomit that pouring from his lips.

"Whats wrong?", Seokjin sits on the edge of tub, carefully brushing Namjoon's dampen hair back, and running his hand in soothing up and down motion on the latter back.

Namjoon coughs, breathing heavily, not even get a chance to answer before he gags again—mouthful of vomit plopping to the bowl, adding to the mess as its already soiled and almost half full, considering he has been there and upchucked his inside for .. 15 minutes.

Seokjin stays silence, patiently waiting the younger to finish—sometimes reminding him to breathe when Namjoon got hit by particular harsh wave that sends him retching hard.

"Hyung ..", Namjoon croaked out, falls sitting on the floor after the fit passed. He sniffles, looking through the older from his teary and red-rimmed eyes. He must been look horrible.

But Seokjin smiles, wiping the tears on his cheeks and flush the toilet, "What's wrong? You have been sick since last night", he asks after that—remembering how he jolted awake last night around 1 AM, with the same scene, as Namjoon vomited his dinner.

"I dont know ..", Namjoon breathes out. His mouth still feel bitter and bland. "I just suddenly feel so nauseous", he explains, "How do you know i'm here?"

"Ara called me .."

Namjoon chuckles weakly, "She's smart"

"Do you want to go to the doctor, Joon-ah? Get checked up?", Seokjin asks worriedly. He knows something is wrong with his husband. They both are ones with quite strong immune, rarely gets sick. He never seen Namjoon getting sick like this before, and it sends his anxiety up and high.

"No ..", Namjoon spits, "I will be fine .. i already feel better now", he says as he stands up, walking to the sink and rinse his mouth. He scoffs when he sees Seokjin frowning from the mirror, "I'm fine hyung .. maybe it's only food poisoning or stuff"

***

Seokjin calls it quit when Namjoon wakes him and Ara up—as he suddenly heaves over his palm, tossing the blanket ; almost shoving Ara that has been sleeping on his chest ; and run to the bathroom. Seokjin was still on his sleepy daze when he heard the bathroom door slammed and soon Namjoon's gagging following after, and at the same time Ara almost burst into tears beside him—possibly startled with the harsh movement that wake her up.

"Sshh Ara ...", Seokjin shushes her, pulling her close and patting her back. She has sobs into his chest now. "Papa ...", she wails.

"Papa will be back, love, sshh", Seokjin tries to calm her, a little bit overwhelmed with the sound of vomiting from the bathroom. He wants to check up on him but Ara's grip is tight over his shirt.

"Ara, baby .. can you let me check up on Papa for a while?", Seokjin asks, trying to peel himself, but it only makes her wails louder. He sighs, and decided to soothe the crying daugther on his arms.

Roughly 5 minutes, Ara has been lulled back into sleep, when Namjoon emerges from the bathroom, and curl back on the bed—even in the dim of their room, Seokjin can sees the exhaustion in his features.

"Joonie .. are you okay?", he whispers, reaching his free hand to card through the younger black locks. Namjoon groans, "No .. i dont know. I just keep feeling nauseous", he rasps. His hand hovering over his stomach, almost craddling it, "Even now .. it hasn't fully gone yet", he continues.

"But you just threw up, and you haven't eat anything yet ..", Seokjin frowns, "You're empty, Joon-ah"

"I know .. but i just keep wanting to puke", he whines, shifting his body slowly to not jostles his queasy stomach more.

***

AND YEAH my brain stops here ... after this you can imagine every episode of Namjoon going through his morning sickness, like keep vomiting but still so stubborn not to get checked up 💁‍♀️💁‍♀️ and it drives Seokjin crazy

#bts emeto #tw emeto #tw vomit #sick!namjoon #caretaker!seokjin #and again another mpreg fic #bts short fics

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lamardeuse · 1 year

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2022 writing review

1. Number of works posted to AO3: 10 (8 fics plus 2 vids)

2. Word count posted for the year: 59,553 (not a lot compared to some but in terms of the last few years it’s one of my higher word counts, and the highest one since 2012)

3. Fandoms I wrote for: 9-1-1, Merlin, Our Flag Means Death

4. Pairings: Buck/Eddie, Merlin/Arthur, Lucy Donato/OFC, Ed/Stede

5. Story with the most:

kudos: Bajo Fuerte Como Ron

bookmarks & comment threads: Forest for the Trees

6. Work I’m most proud of (and why): eh, I don’t know about “proud” but I was pleased with among the rusted hulls of years, which was such fun because I was able to get back to writing about both London and Merlin again. It was also gratifying to hear from people that it had hit the mark for them in terms of the emotional notes because it covered some pretty heavy topics and I wasn’t sure if I’d gotten the mix right.

7. Work I’m least proud of (and why): again, I don’t really think of it in terms of being “proud” of fanworks - I’m just happy I managed to write as much I did, and each story or vid has elements I enjoyed.

8. Share or describe a favorite review you received: this one that I got yesterday, I mean holy fuck. And this one from the recipient of the Merlin fic was pretty damn amazing too.

9. A time when writing was really, really hard: the last month I haven’t been all that motivated to write, but I’m hoping to get some more 911 fic written before 6B airs in March.

10. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you: basically, there’s always a point (if I’m lucky) in every fic where the characters take over and it feels like they’re writing it - I don’t know where a particular line or idea comes from as I’m writing it. It’s weird, but interestingly those are the lines or ideas that often get quoted back to me by people. There were times in Forest for the Trees, for example, which I was trying to write in Buck’s voice in the description as well as the dialogue, where I swear that I was channeling him - for instance, I have no idea where the Shape of Water comparison came from. It’s when I know I’m on the right track.

11. A favorite excerpt of your writing: probably the whole of the getting-together scene in The Art of Wifery - I was trying to write Ed POV and get Stede’s voice right and I felt like that whole scene really built and flowed naturally, so I was pleased with it. One excerpt:

When he's standing right behind Stede, Ed sees him close his eyes. There's a fine tremor in Stede's shoulders as he takes a deep breath in through his nose.

“What's wrong?”

Stede opens his eyes again, and this time the light catches a shine in them that wasn't there before. “Nothing. For the first time in my life, I think I can honestly say nothing is wrong.”

“Stede –”

“And you know, I don't care if you want me to wear a dress for the rest of my bloody life, if it makes you look at me like that – if it makes you –”

“Jesus, Stede, it's not about the dress.”

Stede's reflection raises an eyebrow at him.

“Okay, so it's a little bit about the dress,” Ed admits. “But not the way you think.”

12. How did you grow as a writer this year: Just getting back into writing semi-regularly in the last couple of years (and vidding this year) has been such a joy, 911 and OFMD have been a gift.

13. How do you hope to grow next year: Not a freaking clue. I do want to try to write something longer again, I guess, and push myself to get back to writing an actual plot of some complexity.

14. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer, beta, cheerleader, etc): there is SO MUCH great meta in 911 fandom from people like @yramesoruniverse and it’s really helped me to see the characters and the buck/eddie relationship in particular from so many different angles. You’re all amazing and I adore your energy, your enthusiasm and your big brains.

15. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year: way too much hahaha - and the freaky thing is sometimes I don’t pick up on it until afer I’ve written it.

16. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers: Don’t get butthurt if you’re called out on something you’ve written that’s caused harm. Writing it in the first place doesn’t necessarily make you a dickhead, but crying about it and getting your friends to defend your honour against marginalized people who are giving you free advice on how to do better? That definitely makes you a dickhead. Apologize, fix it and apply what you’ve learned in the future. Learn to separate yourself from your work a little bit - criticism of a fic is not criticism of you personally.

17. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: Oh god, there’s a buddie AU I want to write but it will take Work and I’m trying to motivate myself to get started on it.

18. Tag some writers whose answers you’d like to read: Anyone and everyone!

#my stuff

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checkdream32 · 2 years

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

If you are searching for a light novel series in the Japanese language, you may well want to attempt Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. This series is written by Rifujin na Magonote and illustrated by Shirotaka. The story centers on the mysterious character known as "Mutoku", who is a human with superhuman strength. After becoming killed, he is reborn as a boy and must choose whether or not to kill the guy who killed him. Fans of the anime have also loved Mushoku Tensei manga. It has been published in 15 volumes given that May possibly 2014 by Media Factory and is a well-liked series among supporters. The manga is based mostly heavily on the anime season one particular and the light novels. Nevertheless, there are some notable variations between the manga and the anime. The manga is often far more lighthearted and cheesy in tone. Despite the fact that the storyline is based mostly on journey and drama, it does have a handful of humorous scenes. The Mushoku Tensei manga is adapted from the light novel by the very same name. Anime adaptations generally come a 12 months following the authentic Japanese publication date. The original Japanese manga edition takes spot in the early 1990s. As it was initially written in Japanese, Mushoku Tensei has obtained a wide assortment of adaptations above the many years. The manga's popularity has led to a assortment of media. The series is broadly available in English, and you can uncover it at a lot of stores, like Walmart. Despite its controversial content material, Mushoku Tensei has a huge following between isekai fans around the world. It has been banned from airing in China since of its immoral content material. A well-known streaming web site referred to as the series a "bottom feeder" series. In spite of the criticisms and controversy surrounding Mushoku Tensei, it has risen to the leading of the charts among isekai supporters. The Mushoku Tensei manga is presently at chapter 80, and will attain a total guide release on 26-28 January 2022. The series has also been translated into English and will be launched as an animated series quickly. But never anticipate anything at all wonderful, and it will not make you laugh, so be prepared for a shaky expertise. If you like light novels, it could be a very good choice for you. The first volume of the manga was published in October 2014. The complete series is expected to attain 16 tankobon volumes by December 2021. The initial volume of the English adaptation was launched on November 24, 2015. Given that then, the manga has been translated into English by Seven Seas Entertainment. The manga is available via Comixology, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Sooner or later, the series will be localized to other languages. Nonetheless, the sexual themes in the series are kept down. Apocalyptic Dungeon of the Mushoku Tensei manga is a traditional in the Japanese manga market. This manga has gained a substantial fan base and is now translated into an animated version. Fans of this series will enjoy the action-packed story that follows the lives of a youthful boy named Rudeus. As the series progresses, the manga is increasingly complex and emotional. There are several series, each and every with their personal plots, and some are even adapted into total-blown movies.

#Apocalyptic Dungeon

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valenhell · 3 years

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From the studio that brought you “I can’t find good Byler fics in the ao3 tag”, comes:

"The Definitive Byler fic rec list"

Literally no one asked for this but because I spent the majority of last year (...and 2019, and 2018...) reading byler fics and coping with life, I thought I’d make a list of some of my absolute favorites.

The other day I was basically starving for some byler fics and the angel @magicalfairy provided me with some of her faves so I thought I’d do the same, because I love reading, and I love all of these fics and I appreciate their writers💗 And fic writers in general, come on!

- This is a mix of long works and one-shots/short stories. - Everything is mostly fluff with a tad of angst and a lot of internalized homophobia conflict. - Every fic is completed, except for the ones I mention that they are not. - I try my best to lay out the stories in a way that I won’t spoil you the plot but also warning you of some stuff you might don’t like. Either way, all of these fics are correctly tagged by their respective authors/owners, so read at your own risk. For better understanding, in between brackets I denote Rating, Words and quantity of Chapters. - I feel like I should clarify, none of these are narrated in the singular first person. None of that “And I told him...”, no.

Long fics

a dream always the same (T, 99k, 35 chapters) What happened in those few weeks between the Battle of Starcourt and the Byers leaving Hawkins. Literally a satisfying and very needed fill in of season three, with a good dose of Mike’s thoughts and conflict. Mike’s characterization is specially amazing in this one. The writing style is amazing and I know the author put everything into making it historically accurate, and it was really sweet. You probably read it, it’s by the amazing sevensided here on Tumblr🧡

Spring Break (T, 120k, 14/15 chapters) The slowburn of my dreams. Lots of internalized conflict and conflict with each other. Conflict within the Party (uhh kind of), conflict with Mike and Will. Byers family has moved and the kids are visiting! Chaos. Characterization is on point. Yeah, I know it’s unfinished, but the fourteenth chapter actually serves as a pretty nice ending.

This is where it starts (M, 148.8k, 24 chapters) Aged up characters. The Party is in college and Will disappears again, but now it’s different. Mike knows he didn’t vanish from thin air, and the discovery he and the Party end up making is pretty insane. Mystery solving/fantasy/third dimension, throw in a bit of D&D and Mike realizing some shit, and you get this marvelous fic. It’s a breath of fresh air. The world building is definitely one of the elements that stands out the most, because it’s very nicely described, it sounds like a dream and it’s completely immersive. Absolute gem of a fic.

there’s a Starman waiting in the sky (M, 30.6k, 8 chapters) Do I need to say anything? Will is out there living his best life and Mike realizes that wow, umm, maybe his best friend looks a bit too nice with that costume... and wait, is he getting horny? It’s actually really fun and sexy.

The Evening Speaks (T, 23k, 7 chapters) In where Mike is a late-night college radio host and Will is the art student that stays up till late to catch up with Wheeler on the Mic. They flirt through songs y’all, this one is really sweet.

heads or tails? (E, 24k, 3 chapters) Aged up characters. I know most people don’t enjoy sex in fics and with specific characters but this one is insanely well written. It’s a slowburn that commits to the tension and with every word you are grasping and anticipating their next move. I think you can find the author here on Tumblr as yousaidyes🧡

The Man of Average (M, 56.7k, 5/? chapters) Aged up characters. No but you don’t understand, the writing here is absolute gourmet. The story is exciting as well, it’s super interesting. Weirdly enough, for being very aged up characters, they are well characterized but they don’t feel like teenagers. They are naturally Mike and Will. The author really captured Mike and Will’s essence. I know, it’s unfinished and it’s updated very rarely, but this is the typical fic you can’t believe someone just posted on the internet for free. I will say though, I think it’s definitely not for everyone. Read at your own risk.

Heartstrings (E, 82.8k, 24/? chapters) Aged up characters. By the same author of The Man of Average. A collection of memories, the road to Mike and Will’s happy ever after. And fucking hell!!!!! You’ll cry and get angry, you’ll cheer for them, then you’ll want to crash their faces together because god dammit you love each other!!! But yeah, same thing here. The writing and the way the story is laid out as a nonlinear narrative is brilliant. And I also think this is one of the best Will versions I’ve read. The author might as well be the og creator of this two characters tbh. You can find the author here as mylesimeblr🧡

Sinners behind the walls (T, 1.5k, 1/1) And because I can’t stop recommending this author, a little thing of Mike tormenting himself but also being too deeply committed to Will.

The Red Envelope series (T/E, 167K, two completed works) Something happens that Will thought was impossible and from there, pure drama and romance. Anything by this author has the potential to become your absolute favorite fic, but this series in particular is amazing. I doubt that any of you haven’t read this, but it doesn’t hurt to put it in this list. I’m pretty sure the author is serendipitous-magic on Tumblr🧡

A New Fight series (T, 91k, two completed works, one WIP) And finally the Star Wars AU that we all needed. But this isn’t your typical “Mike is Han”, “Will is Leia” and “El is Luke”, it’s way more interesting than that, and the author has appropriated the Star Wars world like no other. I’ll admit I’m not a 100% fluent in SW lore but this is amazing to me either way. This author is also on Tumblr, tea-for-one-please🧡

- Yes, most of these are (if not all), in a way, canon compliant/canonverse/canon continuation into fanon. (In a way)

One-shots and short stories

Sundae for Two, Please (G, 4.8k) Steve being the supportive friend and older brother these kids collectively need. (not Jonathan erasure, we love him). Steve is very sweet himself, and this little cute thing through his POV is gorgeous. Yes, it’s byler.

Backstage (T, 10k, 2/2) Jonathan, you forgot to mention to Will how hot your new band’s guitarist is, dude. Now he’s hyperventilating and weirdly flirting with him in the corner. Background Stonathan because why not.

102 Peach Street (G, 3.8k) Established relationship, but not only that, they are married :’’))) PURE fluff. Extreme fluffiness. Diabetes.

sweatshirts and bottled up feelings (T, 3.2k) Or, Mike thinks that the sweatshirt Will wears looks insanely good on him. And kitchens are for lovers.

kiss it better (T, 16.3k) Basically one of the best character studies of a few precise moments of Mike and Will’s relationship and feelings.

will wonders ever cease (T, 11.3k) #i ship will and happiness. Omfg what a beautiful piece of fanfic. Will centric, this kid really deserves all the good in the world.

The Calm After the Storm (T, 1.6k) Tooth rotting fluff, boyfriends in love. Boyfriends being lazy, cuddling, love words, kisses. Boys loving each other’s company... Basically, Mike and Will in their element. What more can you ask for?

neither of us ready to let go (T, 4.8k) That scene from season three, but a bit of a fix it.

Still in love (G, 1k) Domestic, married life au fluff. Y’all, I’m a sucker for established Byler, even if I can’t find many fics with it. But this is very sweet. It takes place in 2020, but I don’t think there are any mentions of the COVID-19 crisis that I remember.

I Nver Find Out ‘Til I’m Head Over Heels (G, 12.5K) Classic 5+1 fic. If you haven’t read it, where have you been? This is your moment. In where Mike keeps inviting Will to the school dances and Will thinks it’s just a joke until he realizes it’s not.

Before You’re Gone (T, 5.9k) Will is leaving Hawkins and Mike thinks this is a great moment for a confession. This one I discovered last friday, thank you friend @magicalfairy 💗

You’re weird Wheeler (M, 4.5k) Mike unintentionally starts a tradition of going to each other to talk about their sexual encounters just after they finish. Will keeps getting more explicit with the details he shares, and he makes his best friend interested. This one is really fun y’all.

Out-Of-Town Friends (N/R, 4.6K) It’s not rated. I haven’t re- read it but I’d say it would probably fall in a T rating. So cute!! Will has new friends and sneaks off every friday and the Party doesn’t know where he is going, so Mike decides to follow him and is surprised.

Snowed Under (G, 1.3k) By the same author of The New Fight series. Mike is spending christmas by himself in college because a snowstorm hits Chicago and Nancy can’t drive to see him, but then he has a surprise visitor. Ahhh just a lil sweet holiday fic. Super cute.

you love me anyway series (T, 7.1k, three completed works) Literally just the cutest thing ever. Established Byler. Will loves to take pictures and he loves taking pictures of Mike. It’s adorable.

you wanna be friends forever (i can think of something better) (T, 9k) This one is so amazing. So. Amazing. From Will’s POV, my kid deserves the world and he gets it.

okay not to be okay (T, 4.9k) Mike is a bit sad but then everything is okay.

can’t hold out forever (G, 18.4k) Y’all!!!!! 5+1 sweetness. Mike has been falling in love since kindergarten. And it’s long af, you’ll enjoy it.

even if it takes forever (G, 1.3k) College short AU, they miss each other, they love each other, they promise all to each other. It is sappy y’all.

clear as day (N/R, 18.4K, 4 chapters) It’s not rated, but I’d say it falls in the T category. Strangers to friends to lovers. And also, everyone is pretty gay; we have our dynamic trio Mike, Max and El as disaster lesbians (and gay). Will works at the library and he is also gay. Lucas and Dustin and Will are the best friends we needed. It’s very sweet and the Party is kind of formed here!

I went overboard with the one-shots, so you must have realized how much I love long one-shots and I favor them over long works lmao but they are all amazing!!! If it’s on this list, I probably read it at 2 am, sobbing in my bed. So. Hope you enjoy it☺️🧡

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