jo

(jo)ppie

she/her

i write on ao3 and draw occasionally

MV1 - CL16

i'm a fan of many things (movies, books, other fandom-related media) but am mainly into f1

open to talk/be moots with anyone!

my fic(s)

in the mean time, here’s a tiny (but no less mighty) snippet ;)

.

The metallic trophy reflected the sunset like a mirror, washing it in glowing hues of orange and gold.

But when Charles looked beyond the prize he had been chasing for all his life, he found that Max only had eyes for him. As if the trophy was an extension of the pedestal; as if it was merely another object in his peripheral.

His eyes were bright and crinkling at the edges. His hair was swaying in the gentle breeze. His silhouette was just kissed by the retreating light.

Max was a storm, always chasing the sun.

Charles matched Max’s gaze with his own.

For a second, the once gleaming trophy faded into the background, rusting at the edge of his vision— and the center of gravity tilted until there was nothing but the man standing in front of him.

(dumps a truck of kudoses onto you)

this might be a bit too late, now that the 14th chapter is out and that you've made a post about all the different analyses. But because, (of course) I love how unbelievably amazing blood red knights is, i still decided to give you an ask about this. You have all this plot and you STILL manage to throw in the occasional "il Redentore", or Charles somehow worshipping Max, or making parallels to Brocedes, or making the Helios comparison.

And of course, me, a big greek mythology enthusiast, automatically thought, "Why Helios?"

After everything that just happened (the end of the 14th chapter), I can say that I am really goddamn happy that you put him as Helios. He's the Sun, the light on the sky, that you have to look up to, to find. But Helios was also the god of sight. He saw everything that his light shined on. He could also take peoples sight. In some myths he takes vision and in others he heals them, gives them their vision back.

This reminded me a lot of Max, especially in BRK, because he's this charming person. People look at him and he's automatically "il Redentore" or "predestined"... People are blinded by his fame and success.

And don't even get me started on the family relations, that is just. Too complicated.

Also, the four horses. The thing is, I love that the mural had four horses. Incredible, yes, love it. But why make it, if he could still win more and more championships. This made me think that he's not going to be able to win this championship. We'll have to wait and see.

But my final question is:

What made you choose Helios. Was it just because of the four horses and Charles being obsessed with him and the sun? Or was there a deeper meaning. If not, then it's okay, but as Max Verstappen once said, "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS!"

hi and thank you for sending this!! i love answering this stuff :)

the sun as a motif (and by extension helios) is the biggest thing i left out of my analysis post because i'm gonna expand on it in the final chapter, but i'll gladly explain a bit more for you!

i chose helios mostly because it aligned so much already with the motifs of gods and the sun, and especially how charles constantly compares max to those two things. it encapsulates this ideal, untouchable version of max that he's conjured in his head. but if max, in charles' head, is this immortal being with the power of the sun, then what is the metaphorical equivalent of the sun itself?

well … a certain someone happens to be famously deemed “the sun of maranello”.

i will explore this in the next chapter, but an essential aspect about why helios, of all gods, is that he represents how max and charles view each other as racers. max, as an invincible, mythical being who rages above mortal men. charles, as a force so strong and bright that gives light to mortal men. the further into the story they go, the more interchangeable their roles. they exist as separate beings but are eternally interconnected.

honestly a lot of this is up to your interpretation! the four horses thing just fit too perfectly with max's four-time wdc status so i included it. i didn't know about the god of sight aspect, i love your interpretation of people being blinded by his status! and good call on the family relations, max repeatedly refers to his dad as a "titan" in his pov which coincides with helios' background :)