(inspired by this absolutely buckwild gifset)

Max says, “We could try it, you know. With alcohol.”

Daniel is staring at his phone, not really paying attention. Maybe looking through his Instagram DMs, maybe texting girls. He hooks up a lot, Max knows, because once he overheard Helmut yelling about it: about how if Daniel wants the team to take him seriously he needs to take himself seriously and focus on the track, not on “scoring pussy.” Something about that phrase makes Max want to squirm. It's so fucking crass and gross, of course, but the main problem probably is that Max wants to be the pussy.

He says, "Daniel. Are you even listening?"

"Yeah," Daniel says, and laughs a bit. "I mean no, not really. Start being interesting and maybe I will."

Max flicks him in the ribs. "I always am interesting. No, I was saying, I think we should make some actual cocktails." He's thought about propositioning Daniel for so long that actually doing it feels kind of surreal. "What you said before, when we were filming, about without the alcohol there's no cock." Daniel is looking at him now, looking properly. Good. "I think maybe we should try with alcohol. And so also, with c—"

"Max, my man, with respect, what the fuck are you on about?" Daniel drums his fingers on his thigh, so fast they blur. "Ok. Maxy. Are you—is this a Verstappen come-on? Are you trying to hit on me right now?"

"Yes," Max says, relieved that Daniel is getting it. It's hard to read his face but he at least doesn't look angry.

Daniel stares at him for a long moment, and says, "You need better lines."

"Daniel!" Max is frustrated that Daniel is joking about this. He put his hand on Max's leg earlier, during filming; closed his warm fingers over the bare skin of Max's knee and left them there for a split second, and Max had to laugh about it and make it into joke, because the camera was there in their faces recording everything: and what even is the point of doing that if Daniel is going to pretend everything is fine and buddies when it's just the two of them by themselves. Max says, "There aren't any cameras here now. It doesn't all have to be bantz always. You can just say, if you want me."

Daniel closes his eyes and leans his head back. "Max. You're don't—that's not the kind of thing someone can just say, ok? It's not that straightforward."

"It can be." Max can feel his body wanting to tremble; grips his hands together between his knees and doesn't let himself. "It can be so easy, Daniel. You text me your room number and I will go there tonight and suck your dick. What is easier than that?"

Daniel lets out a long breath. "Maxy. You're gonna be the death of me."

"Well, perhaps, but I don't think so," Max says. He's won, he can feel it, the same way he feels it in the car when he's racing towards the chequered flag in P1 and knows he'll make it across the line first. "Probably you have had your dick sucked before, so. I don't think it will be such a shock for you."

Daniel looks at him, then, and puts a hand on Max's shoulder: rubs his thumb over Max's collarbone where it makes a ridge under his polo. Just that is enough to get Max hard; he can't think about what it will be like, to have Daniel in his mouth later, or he'll explode or shout or start crying.

Daniel says, "Ok. Jesus. I can't believe I'm saying this, but—ok."

Max fights down the urge to say something stupid like Thanks or You won't regret it. "Good decision," he says instead, and makes his voice cockier than he feels.

why do you think Max and Kelly will break up soon? I ask because I think they could last a long time (this is just my opinion, not facts at all. I'm curious because you probably think differently so I'd like to understand your point of view to complement mine):

• the way Max looks happy when he hugs her in the parc fermé when she's waiting for him (there's many pictures of it and I can't belive he's faking it)

• Max looks happy and relaxed around her when there's no cameras pointed at them or when they're not posing (that video of them in Brazil dancing or them dancing more recently -they're not good dancers, but they're in their own world, so it doesn't matter- or when they're in the background of pictures).

• because she adapted to his lifestyle, moved in his appartement and seems to let him do whatever he wants (him streaming and playing with his friends during their holidays, Kelly doing her own things with her friends, travelling without him, giving him space to do his own things, both being independent)

• she knows about what matters the most to him, racing, and her family does too (imagine that your in-laws are scornful because you don't have a higher education degree and your work is atypical -even if you do it well-, and that they don't like you because you don't match the expectations they had for their daughter, for example. the first meeting and your relationship with them might be easier if you have the same passion)

• she can match his lifestyle (man makes millions every year and her father is a multi-millionaire. she's probably invested in the family business, so she can afford his lifestyle + their lifestyle is maybe close to what she experienced growing up in her really privileged family)

• their families get along well if we exclude Jos (which is important in a relationship + now that we can travel again, Sophie, Victoria, Kelly and Sylvia seems to get along well)

• they built a cute (not blood related) family (Max seems to like kids and he's good with them, so I can see why it wasn't a problem to date Kelly when she had a toddler + since they both come from complicated families with divorces, stepfamilies, half-siblings, remarriages, the family they created is probably normal for them and they probably understand each other better + Max probably likes cute P a lot as her step-father, Daniil is obviously her real dad)

> I tried to be as objective as possible because I don't like her that much because of all the ads she did during the race weekend, especially last year, when she doesn't even need the money; what she shared from Max when he didn't share anything himself; or her behavior after her father's words. despite this, I can really see them working long term because I don't see why Max would leave her 🤔 if he cared about being "used", I think he would have left already. their relationship is convenient to both of them and I think they love each other at least a little to decide to get together, and stay together

I think once he figures out her real intention and her true colors start showing the way they did with everyone else he’ll leave it. If he ever does realize it. If not, oh well, I feel sorry for him but he looked for it 💀

Someone mentioned on Reddit that the two starter flashpoints, Black Talon and Esseles, have been refreshed a little. I took a look and yeah, definitely. 1. There are sharper camera angles and more reaction shots of the PC.

2. There are medics in the mobs and I swear I don't remember seeing those before. But maybe they are trying to get players in the habit of killing the medics first for future content. 3. It seemed slightly easier. Not that it wasn't already very easy if you are approaching it at max level, but Ydira Ban went down a lot faster. 4. There's a little more violence - shots of the soldiers dead on the floor, for instance. When Viri pushed down the door before the Ydira Ban fight, they showed her taking out two soldiers along with the door. And when she killed the general - that was definitely longer (I always kill the general because let's be real - if you turn him over to Kilran and his MurderDroid, he's going to be horribly tortured and still not live. He mentions he has the plans in his implants in his body - even with very little imagination, it doesn't sound good. A quick death actually seems more merciful in that particular situation).

5. I noticed that they made a point of showing Viri's reaction when the Black Talon drops out of hyperspace and encounters the first Republic ship. And it actually did bring my attention to a specific point I had not considered before - that would really be my girl's first actual battle. Her first time actually being part of space combat. She'd have a lot to think about and take in there. Especially Viri, given that her parents were on a cruiser for a while.