#this was sponsored by copious amounts of kombucha

[coffeecities]

um, i have a snippet of day 6 of @lestappenweek? 🫣 i thought about posting this independently but then i saw this would fit right in lestappen week 😶 so here you go, i guess

EDIT: was tagged by @xiaoluclair so i’m tagging her back (and now am looking through my other wips and looking for snippets to post) + also tagging @f1-giuki​ and @fueledbyremembering to post snippets from their wips to tide us over spa this weekend 👀

“That last ace serve was incredible,” Charles said as he began talking with his hands again, “but the backhand in the second set—the one before matchpoint?—was my favourite. It was very much like Federer, non?”

And really, Max had no choice but to be smitten. And once again wonder why he never bothered keeping up with Formula 1.

“Being compared to Federer is too much high praise,” Max replied, a little shy to being compared to a legend. The media could paint him arrogant all they want (and he really was arrogant sometimes, to be quite honest), but being compared to legends—especially those that recently retired—still was too much for him to handle.

“But it’s true, yes? It was like watching Roger Federer fighting with Rafa Nadal,” Charles said as he continued to praise him, “ah, but your opponent is not too much like Nadal. Perhaps we will find out in Paris.”

“Will I see you in Paris then?”

Charles gave him a small, amused smile, and Max had to wonder if it really was time to get himself updated with Formula 1. He could hear Christian in the background conversing with Charles’s companion, and wondered if he could pull his coach and save him from embarrassment.

“I would like to,” Charles began, but Max could feel a little apprehension (disappointment?) at the tone, “unfortunately, I—we—have races on some of the dates. Perhaps if you made it to the finals?”

“I always make it to the finals,” Max joked, peacocking a little as he found himself enjoying the conversation he’s having with Charles.

“Ah, but that is true,” Charles conceded with a quiet laugh, “then perhaps I’ll get myself a ticket to the finals?”

Before Max could answer, the staff interrupted them and told them they needed a photo together for their social media. Max was quick to put his arm around Charles’s waist, blaming the redness of his face from the energy he exerted while playing. Christian was already making their goodbyes and Max was a little panicked at having their conversation cut short.

“Can I have your number?,” Max asked, surprising both himself and Charles at his bold question, “I can get you an all-access pass in Paris for the finals, of course. Just so you’re not inconvenienced.”

#this was sponsored by copious amounts of kombucha #and me replaying fed vs nadal matches because i miss them a lot???? #um pls be gentle #lestappen