#and you can only not imagine it because words like Trafficking and sex don't exist in your world

[tumbloggingattheendofitall]

I think it's actually really solid from a philosophy standpoint that Aaron Sorkin created the contrivance of The President Invoked The 25th Amendment

Because above all, the text of the amendment covers the circumstances

But beyond that, it's been like 20 years and I've gotta say that if half as many politicians had involved that level of cognizance in decision-making, I don't actually think we would be in this political landscape

What I mean is. They swore a man in to do a job that collectively lasted less than a day. He did do that job, unbriefed and largely unprepared and it was on the back of The US President was Unable to continue his duties that they made another guy temporarily President and they only got there because the president was already so taxed by his daughter being kidnapped that he was unable to continue

Jfc I mean I do actually Hate the motherfucker that made Temp President in the show

But I think it's really valuable that this show was so obsessed with Process for so long because it made a better show where we're asking ourselves not only politically what this does to this guy (which makes us politically savvy) but in a modern context, I'm frankly asking what the fuck else wasn't focused on, in-universe, that makes this situation challenging to navigate and weird to get through because we now have a temporary new president and not for the reason that the amendment envisioned either

I mean it's actually fascinating as a discussion and I think it makes things like political science more interesting as we try to a world where people frequently get so old they die (or get voted out) before resigning their seat in public office

And this one is such a wild circumstance that it could only be tv but these are the kind of circumstances that do kind of make public office and how those leaders deal with it tells you a lot about them

Like how for example I think being President is more important to Donald Trump than any process that allows for the country to actually function

I think he'd never invoke the 25th even if he were suddenly upon his deathbed by disease with warning

Because I think he's the kind of man that cares more about his ego than how an entire country functions (it doesn't or it Tries Badly) without that figurehead -because I would argue the biggest advantage to a president is having a figurehead at which other countries can point a gun, which allows them to lose focus on the other ways that the government actually (theoretically) runs

Anyways I'm just saying things recreationally but I'm really pondering this in light of what I have seen in the show and the ways that this show largely reflects a politics that is baking to the one we continue to play (because the people who haven't embraced the panopticon believe politics still works like this, or else have already died)

I'm just saying there are already many obviously challenging pieces to this but conceptually there is a letter that removes his power as an elected official, and another what returns it, and both get approved at once.

And then the capitalism that makes a rabid and ravenous Press also makes itself known and I'm reminded that people make their whole salaries on the shit like this which is why the 25th has only ever been theoretically enacted (and I don't know history but I'm pretty sure I'm right about that one since it's an American time

[sinsiriuslyemo]

Please don't hate me lol, but can you do an imagine where rafael's girlfriend forgives him for cheating on her? I mean everyone has their flaws right lol and throw in some makeup sex in there too

Hey sweet anon! So, I do not hate you as I totally agree that everyone has their flaws, even Barba. Still, because you wanted them to have make up sex, I had to be very careful with A) how far Rafael went with the other woman and B) how I handled the make up sex. I felt right away that no self-respecting woman would have sex with a man right after forgiving him for cheating, but I found a way that was both realistic and what you want for the end of this imagine. I hope it’s good enough

I love to explore people’s flaws because it makes for real emotion unlike any other. So thank you so so much, and also thanks for being so patient in me getting this out :)

Sinceriously,

Hero

There was no excuse, Rafael knew that deep down, and he’d heard the same one used time and time again for one misdeed or another.

I was drunk, and it just happened.

Even as he thought the words now, he knew it didn’t exonerate his sin. If anything else it may have just made it all worse. Still, it was the truth, and considering what he’d done, he felt he at least owed you that much. The truth.

The truth was that he’d gone to a bar after a tough case, knowing you would be stuck at work for at least a few more hours. The truth was that he’d had one scotch too many after a case involving a pedophilic sex trafficking ring, one he’d lost. The truth was that the woman who sat down next to him started talking to him, flirting with him--and though he knew it was a slippery slope--he didn’t stop her efforts, in fact he flirted back. It felt nice to have such a beautiful woman pay attention to him when lately you’d been too swamped at work to notice much of anything else.

He never thought it was something you did on purpose, but the fact remained that you’d barely acknowledged his existence these last few weeks.

When she put her hand on his knee and squeezed, he hadn’t moved away. Nor when she slid closer to him, her legs slotting between his, hands gliding over his thighs as she asked the universal question that was often a prelude to sex among strangers, Do you wanna get outta here?

He’d nodded his head, let her lead him outside where she hailed a cab. It wasn’t until they were in that cab, and her lips were on his, hands touching him where you usually did that realized what he’d done--what he was doing.

He’d moved away from her, apologized over and over, and gotten out of the cab, opting to walk home--all 72 blocks.

By the time he was through the door, he felt even worse than he had before and, despite the way his feet throbbed, it had nothing to do with the long walk home. He could hear the shower running and moved into the kitchen for a bottle of water, twisting the cap off and taking a long drink.

Never did he think he would find himself in this situation again, only this time on the other side of the coin. He knew all too well what it felt like to be cheated on, to be made to believe that you had somehow been the cause of it because of something you did or, God forbid, didn’t do. How damaging to one’s self-esteem it could be and more importantly how it would inevitably lead to issues of trust.

You would never be able to trust him again, he just knew it. He would be lucky if you didn’t kick him out as soon as he confessed.

“Hey, where have you been?” you asked as you walked into the kitchen in your robe, one hand using a towel on your still damp hair.

“I was at Forlini’s,” he replied in hushed voice, swallowing to brace himself for what he was going to say--what he had to say next. “Something happened that I really need to talk to you about. And I completely understand if it changes everything for you, but I just need you to know that I love you and I am so, so sorry.”

You frowned as the hand you were using to towel-dry your hair fell to your side. “What happened?”

He swallowed again as bile threatened to come up his throat and ran a hand over his face. “There was this woman at the bar...I was a little drunk, and I know, I know that’s not an excuse. There is no excuse, but...she…”

“What?” you urged, feeling something rise in you...was it anger? Betrayal? Both?

“She started flirting with me and I started flirting back and the next thing I knew, she was asking me to go home with her…” He couldn’t look you in the eye when he said what he had to say next. He couldn’t face that he was solely responsible for every ounce of hurt and betrayal that you would inevitably feel.

“What did you say?” you asked, though judging from the look on his face, you already knew what he said.

“I said--”

“--Look at me in the face when you tell me,” you demanded.

Rafael swallowed again and slowly brought his eyes up to meet yours. “I said yes,” he whispered. “But as soon as I got in the cab, I realized that I didn’t want to lose you. I realized what I was doing and I left.”

You sighed, shoulders dropping as the tension left them. “So nothing happened.”

It was a relief, to say the least, that he hadn’t cheated on you. Your whole life had been plagued by men who had mistreated you, beginning with your father when he walked out of your life at age one and ending with your last boyfriend, who resented you for not letting him sleep with other women when he wanted to.

When you met Rafael, you had always been waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it never did. He was the one. The only one who had ever shown you that you deserved love and respect, who gave you the self-confidence to do more with your life. It was because of him that you’d found the drive to move up in your career as a literary editor.

“Not exactly,” he mumbled. “We kissed...in the cab.”

And just like that, your world came crumbling down around you. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered ‘I love you’ was all but an illusion now. The blood drained from your face and you found yourself taking a step back, away from him.

“Y/N, it was a huge, huge mistake. One that I will regret for the rest of my life. I love you so much--”

“Shut up,” you said, shaking your head. As you looked at him, it was as though you didn’t even recognize him anymore. It infuriated you to know that some other woman had tasted his lips the way you had, that she had quite possibly touched him in a way that was supposed to be reserved for you.  “Who is she?”

“No one, I swear. I just met her tonight,” he answered. “Honestly, I don’t even remember her name.”

You looked him over, unsure as to whether him not even knowing the name of the woman he let come between you made the situation better or worse.

“Is this the first time this has happened?”

“The first and last, you have my word--”

“Oh, you know what, Rafael? I’m sorry but your word doesn’t mean dick to me right now,” you snapped as a pressure welled in your throat. “How could you do this to me?”

He dropped his gaze, hanging his head in shame. How could he do this? How could he have ruined one of the best things in his life in a matter of two hours?

“Is it me? Was it something I did--”

“--No!” he answered immediately, looking you in the ey as he shook his head. “No, mi amor, this was all me. It’s my fault, you didn’t do anything to deserve this. I screwed up.”

At least he was taking responsibility, something you couldn’t say about your ex. He took careful steps towards you, reached for your hands, which you promptly tugged away.

“Don’t touch me,” you whispered.

Rafael nodded and took a step back, giving you your space.

“I don’t wanna lose you, Y/N,” he said, voice shaking with emotion. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you so much--”

“--How am I ever supposed to trust you again?”

He frowned; it was an honest question, but not one that he was prepared to answer. “I don’t know, but I’ll do anything. Anything.”

You ran your fingers through your still damp hair, sighing loudly and shaking your head. “I’m gonna need some time,” you replied. “You’re on the couch until further notice.”

Rafael frowned and nodded his head. He wanted to reach out and touch you so badly, to kiss you and burn away the memories of another woman’s hands and lips forever. But that wasn’t possible, at least not now. He just hoped the time and space he gave you would help you forgive him.

Two Months Later…

After two weeks, you’d decided to break things off with him. Rafael hadn’t blamed you and he understood that what he’d done was unforgivable, but damn it if he hadn't been able to stop thinking about you. He missed you and all he could think about was how he could win you back. He knew it was a fantasy, but it was one that kept him from shutting down completely and so he indulged in it frequently.

Even Carmen had noticed that he wasn’t quite himself ever since you’d broken up with him. He’d forget his notes often for court, he didn’t touch his coffee, which in and of itself had signalled to her that something was very, very wrong. He hadn’t offered much of an explanation, but she knew. She’d known it the moment she caught him staring at an old photo of the two of you and looking so incredibly sad.

“Mr. Barba, if it’s alright with you, I’m going to head home.”

He looked up at her, quickly tucking the photo in his lap. “Yes, I’m sorry, Carmen. Go ahead, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She offered him a friendly smile and close the door to his office on her way out.

Rafael let a sigh blow through his lips as he put the picture away in his drawer and leaned back in his chair. He’d been spending the majority of his nights working late, but after his disastrous day in court, he needed a drink. Badly.

Closing his laptop, he stood and took up his jacket from over the back of his chair before he turned off the light and left.

He almost didn’t go to Forlini’s, but habits die hard and he found himself sitting in his usual seat with a scotch, pretending to watch the preseason football game that was playing on the TV.

“Since when do you watch football?” he heard you say behind him and he turned to look at you. Of course you looked amazing, it wasn’t though he deserved to have you feeling just as miserable as he was.

“Since now, I suppose,” he answered with a soft smile. “How have you been?”

“I’m okay,” you answered. “You?”

He swallowed and bobbed one shoulder. “Fine.”

“Liar,” you mumbled with a smirk, making him smile back.

“You look great,” he said, turning the conversation back to you. “Did you cut your hair?”

“Yeah, I guess I just wanted something a little different,” you answered, running your finger through your tresses.

“It looks beautiful.”

“Thanks,” you replied.

There was a moment in which the two you stared at each other, unsure of what to say next. Before you could announce your exit, he broke the silence.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked with a hopeful expression.

You opened your mouth as you considered his offer. Did you really want to sit and have a conversation with your ex?

“Sure,” you replied, carefully moving to sit in the stool beside him. When the bartender came over, you ordered and looked up at the TV screen. “So...who are you rooting for?”

He snorted and shook his head. “I don’t know, I was just watching it to take my mind off of work.” And you, he wanted to added, but decided against it.

“How’s that going?”

He looked over at you, studying your profile for a moment before he said, ��Okay.”

“Just okay?” you asked, looking over at him.

“It has its ups and downs,” he answered. “How’s work for you? I saw one of your clients made the Best Sellers list.”

“Yeah, he’s ecstatic about it,” you replied, grinning at him. “I think that was the toughest release I’ve ever overseen, but it got me a promotion.”

“That’s great, I’m really happy for you,” he answered, smiling back. “Are you um…” he cleared his throat, fingers fidgeting with the corner of the napkin beneath his glass, “seeing anyone?”

The corner of your mouth curled upward as you arched a brow. “Super smooth, Rafael.”

He rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Are you gonna answer the question?”

“No.”

“No, you’re not going to answer or no, you’re not seeing anyone?” he asked.

He was almost afraid of the answer. True, it had only been two months since you’d broken up with him, but he still feared that some other man had suddenly appeared and swept you off your feet. The idea made his blood boil with jealousy.

“No, I’m not seeing anyone,” you replied. “I’ve pretty much been focused on work.”

He nodded, looking you over and even though you hadn’t asked, he offered an answer of his own. “Me too.”

The attention caused goosebumps to erupt over your skin and you looked away, taking another sip of your drink. If you were being honest, you had missed him, especially seeing him whenever you got home from work, hunched over a case file on the couch. You missed the way his hands felt against your skin and the way his lips would set your body on fire every time he kissed you.

But he cheated, you tried to remind yourself. Even if he realized what he’d done before he let it get too far out of hand. Even if he’d come home that night and told you everything with the hope that you might forgive him.

“Have you heard about the new pirate exhibit at the MET?” he asked, breaking the silence between you.

A smile broke out on your face. “Yeah, I haven’t been able to go see it yet, but I’ve heard it’s amazing!”

“We should go sometime,” he said, holding his breath as he waited for a response.

“I dunno…”

“Y/N, I miss you,” he whispered, turning his shoulders to face you. “I want you back. I’ll do anything to win you back.”

Your eyes met his and drifted over him, gazing at his broad shoulders and his forearms, exposed from him having rolled up his sleeves the way he always did when he wanted to be comfortable. The way his tie was loose around his neck, top button of his shirt unbuttoned, allowing a peek at his chest hair. Looking back into his eyes, you smirked at the subtle hues of hazel blended in with the green. The freckles on his nose that you’d always found so adorable seemed even more so in the bar lighting.

“You wanna get outta here?” you asked, the words tumbling from your lips before you had a chance to second-guess yourself.

His eyes lit up and he nodded. “Yes.” He left some cash for your drinks and followed you out of the bar where he hailed a cab.

His heart was racing as the taxi brought the two of you back to your place, the apartment you’d shared when you were still together and he frowned as memories came flooding back to him. When he felt your hand brush against his, his focus was once again in the moment and he shared a glance with you as you led him into the building, into the elevator and finally, into the apartment. Locking the door behind you, you shuddered as he came up behind you and gently kissed your neck, hands drifting over your hips.

As much as you had loved his slow, burning love-making, you were more in the mood to take out your anger. Turning in his arms, your lips crashed against his, hands tearing at his clothes. He seemed to catch on to your intentions quickly and ripped your shirt open, causing buttons to fly on either side of the room. You bit down hard on his bottom lip and he growled, picking you up until your legs wrapped around his midsection and carried you into the bedroom.

Falling onto the bed with you, he pushed your skirt up to your hips, reaching for your panties and yanking them down your leg while you undid his pants. You rolled him onto his back and pulled off his pants and underwear, dragging your nails down his torso and leaving bright red streaks in your wake.

He groaned through a clenched jaw and watched as you licked the underside of his erection before you took him into your mouth.

“Fuck, Y/N,” he moaned, arching his back and grabbing your hair in a tight fist as you let him reach the back of your throat and swallowed around him.

Just when he was preparing to have the blowjob of his life, you pulled away and grinned at him mischievously.

“That’s all you get of my mouth, and you know it’s more than you deserve,” you whispered. “So now, you should show me just how badly you want me back. And you better not be gentle about it.”

A smirk graced his face as he abruptly rendered you on your back and bit down on your shoulder, ensuring a mark would be left behind before he moved on. Kissing down your collarbone, he sucked on your nipple while one hand pinched the other between two fingers. You cried out in a mixture of pain and pleasure, arching towards him as he bit down on the stiff peak. He bit you again and again, leaving his mark on various places of your body until he reached the apex of your thighs. His tongue ran over your seam, parting your lips to allow him access to your core.

Reaching down with one hand, you made a fist in his hair, yanking as your legs wrapped over his shoulders to keep him in place. Your mouth fell open, back arching as his tongue lapped at your most sensitive parts. His fingers curled against your hips and drew fresh, red lines over your skin, mouth latching onto your clit.

The sounds of pleasure you were making drove him crazy as his tongue made languid motions over your bud and sucked it deep into in his mouth, stretching the sensitive skin. Your hips rolled against him and he groaned deeply as you rode his face and held him against you with the hand still in his hair. His cock throbbed between his legs and he pressed his hips down against the mattress to alleviate some pressure. Dragging his nails down your thighs, he grasped your hips and held you to him as he doubled the efforts of his tongue, flicking it against your clit.

Using your legs to guide his movements, you rolled him into his back and sat on his face, hand still in his hair. You released his hair and leaned back to scratch from his hips to the bottom of his ribcage, earning a growl from him. Tossing your head back, you moaned loudly as your thighs shook in anticipation for your release. The pressure in your belly traveled to where he was stimulating you and your breath hitched as wave after wave of pleasure coarse through your body.

He needed to be inside you, but forced himself to wait for you to ride out your orgasm completely--not that he had much choice as you were in complete control. You lifted yourself off his mouth and shifted down his body to where he needed you most. He gripped your hips tightly while you took him in your hand and dragged the leaking head of his cock over your wet slit.

“How badly do you want me back?” you asked and he groaned, hips subconsciously rocking in attempts to penetrate you, but not succeeding.

“So badly,” he groaned between heavy breaths. “Please! I need you, please!”

Grinning mischievously, you lowered yourself just enough so that his head slipped inside you. Without warning, you sunk down onto him, relishing in how he cried out, gripping your hips tighter. You were sure his fingers would leave bruises but you didn’t care. You would mark him just as much.

You reached down and pulled him to sit up, taking his lips abruptly and scratching hard down his back. He matched your energy, biting your bottom lip and then your neck. You growled, rocking your hips and digging your short nails into his skin.

“Fuck, Y/N,” he hissed as his nails scored your back as well, leaving marks that raised angrily on your otherwise unblemished skin.

His orgasm built quickly as the two of you alternately scraped and branded each other with teeth and fingernails.

“You’re mine,” you growled against his mouth. “You understand?”

He nodded, face tucked against your neck and you grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking his head back to look into his eyes.

“Say it,” you demanded.

“I’m yours,” he replied, taking a handful of your hair as well. “And you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” you answered, bucking your hips against him.

“Fuck!” he exclaimed as you hugged each other close, teeth sinking into flesh again as your orgasms crested simultaneously.  

As you both came down, the animosity and anger you’d felt with him melted away and you clung to him, desperate for a fresh start. If you were being honest, you had missed him just as much as he’d missed you. You’d missed the late nights where the two of you would stay up talking about your future together, planning and going on vacations together, and meeting in the middle of the day for lunch. You’d missed the way he held you at night and how he would tell you how beautiful you were and how much he loved you.

You rolled and settled beside him, wincing as the fresh scratches on your back touched the sheets. Looking over at him, you saw the red and purple marks that littered his body as well and smiled as you met his eyes. The two of you stared at each other for a moment before you burst into giggles.

“Well, that was...intense,” he said as you snuggled into his side. “People are gonna think we got into a fight with a pack of cats in the alley.”

“I know, thank god it’s Friday. We’ll have the weekend to recover,” you mused.

“I love you,” he said, meeting your gaze. “I’ll never betray you again, I promise.”

“I love you too,” you whispered. “This is a fresh start for us.” He nodded, fingers gently running through your tresses. “Don’t screw it up, Rafael Barba. You won’t get another do-over.”

“I won’t need another,” he replied with a smirk. “I’ll never do anything to hurt you again.”

“I know,” you answered, kissing his lips and laying your head on his chest. “We should shower, we’re bleeding all over white sheets.”