ALICE Ch 280

It’s late when Lora and Kylie say goodbye to the Italians outside the bar. Holding hands, they start back toward the hotel.

“Felt like a proper damsel back there,” Kylie says.

Lora squeezes her hand. “We were lucky.”

“Lucky Mio’s got a concussion or that we don’t?”

“Both. And that Bianca and Aria were there. I haven’t heard from Glynda yet. I hope Mio isn’t smashed up too badly.”

Kylie chuckles. “I’d let Aria smash me up.”

“For the love of peace, Kylie. You’ve known her an hour.”

Kylie tosses her hair. “My womanly desires are aflame. Can’t argue with womanly desires, Lora. That’s your problem. What? You don’t like being rescued by a fit Italian bird who drives a Ferrari?”

Lora makes an odd little English sound of frustration. “You don’t know she drives a Ferrari.”

“Imagine if she did, though.”

“Whatever you say. And don’t try to call Katya, no matter how aflame you are, Kylie. I saw her talking to Fernando Alonso earlier.”

Kylie groans and shakes a fist, stumbling drunkenly. “That dipstick!”

“Two-time world champion dipstick,” Lora reminds her with a hiccup.

FF1

Bright lights shine on the simple chair.

Will Buxton is relaxed.

“It’s really not as consequential as one would think,” he informs the producer. “Yes, three drivers being banned from the upcoming Grand Prix is no small thing, and it makes for a load of amusing memes, but let’s be serious. Mio Mido and Akiko Tanaka have been in the points a bit, but they are not Valeria Flores or Max Verstappen. I’ve no doubt Alice Wilde will in fact be breathing more easily in this race with Mio out of it. This race is really about Max, Valeria Flores, and seeing if McLaren’s earlier success was a fluke or if they’re ready to come back and make something happen.”

“Do you have any comment on the rumor that Kevin Magnussen is responsible for the altercation?”

“I think we should focus on the race while team management should focus on keeping their teams from brawling in barrooms.” Buxton looks annoyed. “Although I will say that something like this involving a FUTA driver just days after FUTA brings on a purely sensational pit crew after their PR team makes it clear that they are shifting their priorities from points to engagement does raise questions. Did Mio instigate that brawl? Did she do it on Glynda Darcy’s orders? People are asking these questions, and the notions seem outrageous. More outrageous than calling on some Dancing with the Stars level celebrities to perform highly technical operations for the team just so that nobody forgets them?”

“What do you think?” the producer asks.

“I think that, as usual, I’m tremendously grateful that my name is not Glynda Darcy.”