#aboutspeedmeta

“Much of you is unique, but your name is carried out in what you do, who you are when you find yourself in the heart of the race. An intensity, a concentration. 바퀴에 악마. “Devil on Wheels”, or perhaps “Demon”, for the Americans who are faint of heart.” At that his eyes sparkle, catching Speed’s gaze if only to deliver him this bit of humor in an exchange of many starts and stops, a hesitancy that just doesn’t exist for the leading man of East Asia’s racing circuit, one would think.

“For me? I think I’d like to call you friend, if that would be alright.

His heart flutters, as it always does when Taejo compliments him. The man is not free with compliments. Speed knows this is because of his family, his father in particular, as they have spoken many times.... intimately on the subject of family. Taejo has become close with the Racer family, himself and it is that which has prompted the openness. Speed never pushes or pries, nor does the rest of his beloved family, but there is something in him that makes people want to open up.

This is one of those cases. It isn't a display, in front of thousands of cameras and microphones. They aren't their track personas. Speed and Taejo, at this moment, are just a couple of young men enjoying the other's company. He reaches and grasps Taejo's hand and squeezes.

"Call me whatever you want," he says, his smile becoming mischievous, "just don't call me late for dinner."

“I feel the need…” One hand raised, that cool countenance cracked and there emerged an amused grin.

“The need…for Speed.”

The moment the first half of the phrase left Taejo's mouth, the moment his hand rose, Speed mimicked the action, grinning wide, a flush high in his cheeks. Thousands of flashes from every kind of camera sparkled like diamonds all around them, all eyes on the pair, daring to interpret what might or might not have been between them.

"The need for speed!” Their hands met above their heads, somewhere between them and the cameras continued going off. One of them was quoting a film, the other... Well, that was up for debate. The tabloids would have a field day. 

1. If you could do your first time over, would you?

2. How do you deal with what we’re certain is the vast number of folks who want to get in your pants?

3. Is Racing really better than sex?

"I ah... y'know, if you'd asked me when I was younger, I'd've said yes, but, honestly? No. You wanna do everything perfect the first time 'cause you care about 'em, but... I think it's good enough that you try." He shrugs, wiping sweat and grease off his forehead with the back of his hand. The Mach 6 is up on a lift and he's fiddling with the underside.

“How—wait run that by me again? That isn’t… nobody wants…” Big, sincere blue eyes dart downward as he attempts to quickly manufacture a response. “Err… Trix’… y’know she really helps me keep ‘em off.” His cheeks are red and somehow this acknowledgment of the amount of people nursing crushes on him is hardly an ego trip. It clearly overwhelms him.

"Yes." This one is easy.

There are moments when the paparazzi displays a rare moment of restraint and this is clearly one of those. Something about Speed Racer makes them less inclined to go for the jugular, so to speak, but more because there is no jugular to sever in this case. He is wholesome, for lack of a better term, as is his whole family. Outside the stain of his brother’s iniquities, the Racer clan is squeaky clean and now, with new evidence surfacing after the 91stPrix, even Rex Racer’s sins are close to exoneration.

"I just have the one..." His brows knit as he gestures to and looks down at himself, the equation not quite completing itself until he's already spoken. "Oh...OH! I've never... I'm not... I haven't killed anyone, if that's what you mean."

"He's my friend, sure," Speed says, shrugging as if this is obvious, as if it is totally normal to befriend Taejo "I don't need friends they disappoint me" Togokhan whilst also being competitors on the track. "When you race in the majors, the roster's a lot smaller; you get to know people. It's... kinda nice actually. Like having more family."

What did your muse want to be when they were a child? Did they go on to do this and if so, was it everything that they hoped it would be? Or has this desire changed since, and why?

//After years of watching Rex race, timing him, riding with him, there was and has only ever been one occupation for Speed, and that is of course a combat racing driver. It is everything to him, his whole life and keeps him close to his family, whom he loves dearly.