different anon, but there are so many (okay, not that many) fics where charles used to be with pierre and ends up with max, or pierre is pining while charles gets with max that i just really like when it's max->charles <--> pierre. something about how lestappen only has racing (if that) but pierre and charles have a relationship that developped beyond racing and they maintain the effort to keep it going despite increasing engagements. it's about pierre being chosen and not having to fight for validation or love.

oh my god, anon, YES. i was reading your ask nodding all the way through it like 🙏‼️ you are SO correct, friend!! in fact, this is something @boxboxbrioche and i have discussed at length - how we'd LOVE to see a fic where the "standard" (and in our opinion sickening, sorry, lol) trope of pierre-pining-for-charles-who-loves-max is INVERTED. let's have max pine for charles who is perfectly, beautifully happy with pierre!!!! because exactly like you said, anon: lestappen don't have any sort of relationship outside of racing, and even in racing, it's... they're friendly coworkers, at best. not friends. (charles has repeatedly said that pierre is his only real friend on the grid!!)

pierre and charles, though - they're genuinely friends and they genuinely love each other's company. like you said: they make an effort to stay close despite increasing engagements and hectic lives. they make an effort for each other - and if that isn't love, then what is? (not whatever charles and max have, that's for sure.)

perhaps i'm a bit petty, and too much of a pierre girl at heart - but oh my god, i HATE the way pierre tends to be portrayed in charles/max fics. either he's an asshole, or he's not even there (lol) or there's this whole idea that he might love charles but he can never have/deserve charles. i'm sorry, but to me that's BULLSHIT. charles has chosen pierre over and over - what more do you need? in short, anon, i couldn't agree more with you when you said "it's about pierre being chosen and not having to fight for validation or love." you are so so so SO right for that take 🙏 i am right there with you, and i crave a fic where it's never even questioned that pierre is the one who charles chooses. and it's max who has to fight for scraps of validation/love (because let's be honest, this is the most accurate portrayal, anyway!)

maybe briony and i will write this fic one day 👀❤️ but until then: thank you SO much for sharing your thoughts, anon, and i think i can safely speak for briony too when i say that we both agree COMPLETELY and you are 100% correct 🙏❤️