[center][h2]Friday March 26th, 2094, 17:20 local
London, UK[/h2][b]Bea Draws Stuff @BeaDrawsStuff[/b]: 
[i]"I know today was supposed to be an art stream, but… [s]cognitive[/s] technical difficulties happened.
Head on over to the main streaming channel for an explanation and today’s replacement content, start at 05:30 PM as usual.”[/i]

#BrainFail #BeaDrawsStuff #FormulaAG #Q&A[/center]
[b]GalwayGirl:[/b] Ah, our favourite orange cat. Never change.
	[b]MadBea:[/b] I can neither confirm nor deny the brain cell was temporarily misplaced.
		[b]UwU-chan:[/b] You mean “I can meowther confirm nor deny the brain cell was tempawarily misplaced.”
			[b]DohnJoe:[/b] i took psychic damage reading that

Bea sat at her computer, leaning back in her chair with her feet up on the desk out of shot as she waved to the camera. [color=#1EFF24]”Welcome! We weren’t supposed to be here. But we are. Whyyyy? Well, after the last art stream, I was going to clean everything like I normally do… but then GalwayGirl dropped her bombshell in the Discord. By the way, Galway, you were [i]this close[/i] to catching a negligent manslaughter charge,“[/color] Bea held up her hand, thumb and index finger almost touching. [color=#1EFF24]”I couldn’t breathe reading that. If you guys don’t know what I’m talking about, head on over to our Discord server, link in the description, and have a gander, it’s the last pin in the ‘Storytime’ room. Anyway, I got distracted by that, and then I just forgot what I was going to do like a complete knob, aaaand now my airbrushes are full of dried-up paint.“[/color] She held one of the tools up, visibly gunked up. [color=#1EFF24]”So I found a sacrificial bowl, filled it with paint thinner and we’ll see if I can salvage this in time to do at least something today.
In the meantime, since the stream with Amy, there was a big spike in subscriptions. Welcome to the madhouse, new people, we’ve got fun and games.“[/color] She held her arms open in a welcoming gesture, [color=#1EFF24]”And with new people came old questions, with a vengeance. So initially I thought I’d go through the evergreens and answer them so they’re all in one place people can go to and neither I nor others have to repeat the answers over and over ad nauseum. And then this happened, and although I might regret this, I thought why not do this live and post an edited version later, plus the ones that are unasked here. And we’re doing it here because let’s go with all questions, not just art.
So get your questions sorted out, I’ll go get some tools, and we’ll get right into it.”[/color]

[code]MrZombie999: Who or what made you want to race?[/code]
[color=#1EFF24]”I and every other racing driver in the world answer this one at least once every year in official interviews at the start of the season you lazy bugger, you didn’t even try.”[/color] Bea grinned as she started disassembling the airbrush, [color=#1EFF24]”Though I suppose that’s the definition of an evergreen, isn’t it?
There wasn’t really a person or a racer I idolised. Once I was racing I obviously read up on the sport’s history, so names like Walter Röhrl, Michelle Mouton, Einar Englund and Karri Talo entered the picture, but no one that actually stood behind my decision to race.
Instead, when I was two, three years old, I’d sit on the living room floor playing with LEGOs and my dad would be there working from home and he’d have the telly playing on our home cinema as background noise. Dad always liked boats, so I was playing with LEGOs, imagination in overdrive, under this four by two wall of Sailing Unlimited, Olympic Sailing and maritime documentaries and before long, I was no longer building houses and animals, I was making boats and ships. And when I inevitably asked dad if I could join a sailing club, he obviously said yes and those will always be some of my most treasured memories, those father-daughter bonding moments of preparing and launching our boat or discussing the club races.”[/color] Bea recalled fondly, placing several pieces of the airbrushes into the paint thinner bowl.
[color=#1EFF24]”If you ever have to do this, remember to never soak the whole thing, just the metal parts. Paint thinner and rubber seals don’t party well together.”[/color]
[code]CryptidX: So why the switch from sea to land?[/code]
[color=#1EFF24]”You get wet, you get cold, if there’s no wind there’s no race, it’s not a comfortable affair.”[/color] She shrugged, [color=#1EFF24]”Bit of a weird reason to switch to karting I guess, but there it is.”[/color]
[code]CryptidX: Do you still sail?[/code]
[color=#1EFF24]”Occasionally, when the weather’s nice. Speaking of, I’ve got something related to that planned for the summer break for the art channel, too. All of you who have been with me since the sailing days will love that.”[/color]

[code]NineIron: Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized Kais’ or one Kais-sized duck?[/code]
[color=#1EFF24]”I’ll take the Kais-sized duck and anyone who claims otherwise is either lying or fucked in the head.“[/color] She laughed, [color=#1EFF24]”You have no idea how happy I am Kais was just another victim of maple syrup terrorism and not the perpetrator of that incident, because I am [i]not[/i] looking forward to chatting shite about Kais for any reason. I’m quite attached to my front teeth being where they are.”[/color] She wasn’t trying to say he’d do it, but she wasn’t entirely convinced he wouldn’t either.

[center][h3]To be continued…[/h3][/center]
[hr][center][h2]Friday April 2nd, 2094, 07:30
Tokyo, Japan[/h2][h3]5500 meters above sea level[/h3][/center][color=#1EFF24]”I can’t overstate how happy I am that they aren’t making us say the patented name of this gizmo.”[/color] Bea tugged at one of the small devices attached to the harness, sitting cross-legged in the side door of a helicopter in a company-provided white jumpsuit with black highlights and black full-face helmet.
[color=#7AFFAD]”Still can’t get it right?”[/color] Ava wore the same except with inverted colors, slipping on her helmet and stretching while the HUD confirmed the gizmos in question were working right.
[color=#1EFF24]”If it has more syllables than a week has days it’s not a word, it’s a tongue twister.”[/color] When they first got the script the previous day, both pilots spent their lunch stumbling over the long Japanese name the company chose for their new line’s unique selling point.
The video coordinator looked up from his tablet. “Camera drones ready for jump one!”
“Sound checks out.”
Both racers gave the crew a thumbs up and stood in the door.
“Aaaaand… Go.”

[center][b][h3]—  —  —[/h3][/b][/center]
[i]
Framed by the rising Sun, Ava and Bea stood in the door, the camera doing a close pan of the parachutes on their backs before Ava looked over her shoulder into the camera.
[color=#7AFFAD]”As a former test pilot, I know the importance of precision and reliability. That’s why I trust Fujikura parachutes.”[/color]
Then, as one, they both turned to face into the helicopter and fell backwards with a slight push away with their legs, arms spread as wide as the smiles on their faces, over the edge and out of view.

Several quick cuts of freefall acrobatics followed, both solo and the two in close proximity; plain and with smoke canisters attached to their ankles, and including shots of the pair performing a synchronized routine together, all with an upbeat, inspirational track in the background.

The fun was interspersed with closeups of the sensors around the harness, on-screen graphics explaining all the helpful features they enable, and CGI-modified visor cam shots of the two skydivers showing the HUD giving them real-time data on wind, speed, sum of speed vectors, acceleration and more, essentially allowing for IFR skydiving.

The camera cut to Bea levelling out of an inverted corkscrew and deploying the parachute, the canopy featuring a sun setting over a mountain range in vibrant colors. Ava followed soon after, her canopy adorned with intertwined red dragons on a white background. An overhead shot showed both women landing standing up on small cardboard markers, high-fiving each other after stowing their chutes and doffing their helmets.
[color=#1EFF24]”And with the new guidance system,”[/color] Bea turned to the camera, [color=#1EFF24]”You can dive right into the fun without worry, whether you’re a seasoned skydiver or just starting out.”[/color]

“Fujikura Parachutes” The narration closed as the screen cut to the company logo, “Your adventure awaits.”
[/i]

[hr]
[center][b]Bea Ward @MadBea[/b]: 
[i][Selfie of Bea and Ava in their skydiving gear, arms around each others’ shoulders and smiling into the camera.]
Amazing day out at the shoot with [b]@FlyingAva[/b], even worth the 6:30 AM wake up.

#FujikuraParachute #Skydiving #Tokyo #CarreraCondorFA #FormulaAG #AGRacing[/i][/center]

[b]Shel1:[/b] Ah, what the hell, I needed to upgrade anyway. I can live on instant ravioli and tap water for a month, right?
[b]HotStuff:[/b] I have no idea how theyr allowed to do this
	[b]NineIron:[/b] Man, Imagine someone telling you you can’t do a dangerous hobby so you don’t injure yourself and can do your dangerous job instead.
		[b]Crossfit_Crusader:[/b] Which, to Bea, is also a dangerous hobby. :D
		[b]Richie:[/b] Man, imagine trying to tell [i]Bea[/i] to do or not do something. I’d rather herd cats.
[b]MalvinasMatias:[/b] Wow. Blasts Spirit over being “unsafe” last year because their planes were found SLIGHTLY rusted and now she’s shilling this? Really? Hypocrite.
	[b]Javi:[/b] wish her parachute failed
[b]Darkstar69:[/b] Damn, those jumpsuits…
	[b]TruckerTim:[/b]
	[img]https://i.imgur.com/WjWhGTg.gif[/img]

[center][b]Bea Ward @MadBea[/b]: 
[i]It’s waiting, [b]@ValkyriePaul[/b] :P
[Image of the [url=https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.2114948332.7565/gptr,1400x,front,black-c,313,133,750,1000-bg,f8f8f8.jpg]most garish shirt[/url] the Carrera Condor merch shop offered with Bea’s signature across the front and a sheet of A4 paper with ‘Large/52’ written on it on a table next to it.]

#CarreraCondorFA #FormulaAG #AGRacing #JapanAGP #PaulMulder #TeamValkyrieAGR[/i][/center]

[hr][color=gold][center][h1][i][b]DELTΔ HYPER[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color][color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Episode 3: The Neon Bath[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color]
[hr]
Bea sat on comfortably the Delta Hyper set, clad in the usual jeans, team polo and sneakers, listening to Aurora’s explanation. Seemed easy enough.

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the most likely to eat noodles with a fork?”[/color] She read the first question, [color=#1EFF24]”Starting controversial, the answer is: Anyone with a shred of sense.“[/color] She grinned mischievously, [color=#1EFF24]”But I’ll say me, because I know for a fact I don’t know how to use chopsticks.”[/color]

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the worst at keeping secrets? I think Amy and Han would be pretty bad choices to tell yours, not because they’d accidentally tell someone else but because they’d do it intentionally if they thought it could help them.”[/color] No malice, just a matter-of-fact statement.

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the best Christmas gift giver? Definitely Han. She strikes me as the type of person who has entire Excel spreadsheets for birthdays, previous gifts and whatnot.”[/color]

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the most fussy eater?”[/color] After reading the question, Bea simply raised her hand in silence.

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the most likely to climb Mount Fuji? Oh, that’s Harrison. Although I think Jenny does bouldering, she might go as well.”[/color]

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the most likely to get speeding tickets? Nora.”[/color] Bea fired off immediately, not even elaborating. [color=#1EFF24]”Maybe Henry. Rich kids, am I right?”[/color] She added a second option, the sarcasm dripping from her voice.
“Paul thought it’d be you.” Aurora added.
Bea raised a finger. [color=#1EFF24]”Look, in my defence, a lot of times the speed limit is complete horse manure. But he’s not [i]entirely[/i] wrong.”[/color]
“Would you share how many?”
[color=#1EFF24]”Nooo, I think I’ll take the fifth. Next question! I don’t like where this is going.”[/color] Bea laughed.

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the best drifter? Either me or Ulrich. I’ll say me, because I’d been rallying for longer. To quote Walter Röhrl: ‘Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows.’”[/color] She flashed a toothy smile.
“Paul wasn’t sure who would be better between you and him and suggested you two find out.”
She drummed her fingers on the tablet. [color=#1EFF24]”I know what he’s doing, and I hate that it’s working.”[/color]

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the biggest classic car fan? Oh, that’s easy, that’s Paul. Dorian probably has a few, but Paul I know for sure.”[/color] Bea knew he inherited his father’s collection, but didn’t explain her reasoning. Audrick’s death got brought up every other time Knight was in the news, she didn’t need to add to that.

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the most likely to be the first to die in a horror film? Henry. Rich playboy kid never makes it past Act one.”[/color]
“Does that mean you two would be the first to go?”
[color=#1EFF24]”I like to think I’ve seen enough horrors with my dad to recognize I’m in one early and leave, but maybe that is what would do me in. ‘Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.’ after all.”[/color] She shrugged with a smile.

[color=#1EFF24]”Who is the most romantic of the pilots on the grid?”[/color] She actually paused to think, [color=#1EFF24]”Well Dorian definitely thinks so, he’s French.”[/color]

[color=#1EFF24]”And the last one: Which pilot would you most want to be stuck on a desert island with? It says ‘desert’ island, so I’m assuming there aren’t all that many resources to go around, so either Harrison, Nora or Ulrich. If I’m going to die of dehydration, might as well make those two days fun.
If it’s like Robinson’s island, survivable, then Ava. She’s had training for it, I know we can tolerate each other and I’m almost sure she wouldn’t whack me with a rock to preserve resources and then blame it on an unfortunate fall when she got rescued. Kais is also a valid choice, but the jury’s still out on the last two points.”[/color]

[color=#1EFF24]”Your turn now.“[/color] Bea reached over with a smile, handing the tablet over to Aurora, [color=#1EFF24]”You’re as much of a star of the sport as any of us are.”[/color]

[hr][center][h2]Friday April 2nd, 2094, 21:00
Tokyo, Japan[/h2][h3]BioCHO sponsor event, Hakone Izakaya Bar[/h3][/center]The event was in full swing, a mix of pilots, sponsor representatives and both paying and invited VIPs milling about under the rainswept energy shield and beats of the music. And with the fruitiest, most colorful drink being offered in hand, clad in a black pantsuit with white-colored accents - she needed full sleeves since she couldn’t be bothered to swap out her prosthetics for the backup set to keep up with dress code guidelines on visible body art - and giving the cameras the occasional wave, Churchill’s ‘V for Victory’ or a blown kiss, Bea was right in the middle of it, the inkpens she brought along getting mileage on them as, knowing she had nowhere else to be, many people were asking for sketches in addition to the regular photos and autographs and in the breaks between, she kept herself busy dragging the Condors’ resident introvert out of her comfort zone. Although her plan to make it a bit more bearable for Ava by finding the similarly-outgoing Astrid to start with crashed harder than she did in Cape Town as Astrid beat them to the event by about fifteen minutes and that was enough to get the Faroese pilot going.
[color=#1EFF24]”Bit of a shame we already did the Fujikura ads.”[/color] She noted, [color=#1EFF24]”That would've been some publicity stunt. ‘Alright, time for bed.’ Grab stashed parachutes and throw ourselves over the edge.”[/color]
[color=#7AFFAD]”I think you've had too much to drink.”[/color] Ava replied from behind a glass of Chilean red, [color=#7AFFAD]”Or maybe not, I've lost the ability to tell with you.”[/color] She added a friendly jab.
Bea was about to reply when Astrid got their attention, the group merging with some of the other pilots.

[quote]"What do you drink by the way? I know they're free, but I'm gonna make a run to the bar!"[/quote]
[color=#1EFF24]”I still have some, thank you.”[/color] Bea raised her glass, still half-empty, when Cassie offered to make a booze run. [color=#1EFF24]”Have to pace myself.”[/color] This wasn't a secondary school house party, she had a qualifying session to knock out of the park tomorrow. The unconstrained merriment would have to wait until Sunday evening.

[quote]"I don't think we've met yet. You did well in Cape Town. Till uhh...yeah."[/quote]
[color=#1EFF24]”’Yeah.’ about sums it up.”[/color] She nodded in agreement with Harrison, reaching out to shake his hand. [color=#1EFF24]”But it wasn’t my first, it won’t be the last, such is life.”[/color] Bea shrugged.
[color=#1EFF24]”So, is this finally your year or are we in for another snoozer?”[/color] She turned to both Southern Cross drivers and more cheerful topics, nodding her head in Amy’s direction at the last word.

Her eyes visibly went slightly wide in surprise when Astrid mentioned bidding on her art for the painting itself as opposed to the charity, and kept growing when Dorian joined the club. [color=#1EFF24]”Thank you, but you do know that our facilities are just down the paddock from yours on a race weekend, do you? You can just pop over to say ‘hi’ and ask. Any of you.”[/color] She offered with a smile before turning to Astrid specifically, [color=#1EFF24]”I’ll trade you one for some gin, I had one of yours a few-.”[/color] She paused, [color=#1EFF24]”For legal reasons two years ago at a wedding, like liquid liquorice candy.”[/color]

[quote]“Does anyone else wonder where they come up with these questions to ask us?”[/quote]
[color=#1EFF24]”They most likely have interns scour fan sites. It tracks with the style, especially of younger fans, the secrets and drifting for example.”[/color] She shared her opinion when Paul asked, [color=#1EFF24]”Oh, and regarding that: You’re on.”[/color] She jabbed a finger in his direction, referring to the drifting challenge he proposed. [color=#1EFF24]”Manager at the Brooklands Mercedes World in London owes me a favor, I could get us a few hours on the attached test track.”[/color]