#pad-foots 500 writing challenge

[griffxnnage]

unnecessary || f.w

prompt: “i missed your arms around me so i came to cuddle.”

word count: 1180

warnings: fluff, probably overuse of the word ‘malishka’

a/n: congrats @pad-foots for 500! i’m so proud of you! thanks for the tag, and i hope you like it!

“Freddie? Where are you? I’m home!” You called from the entryway of your flat above the joke shop. It’d been a long day at work and you were ready to put your feet up and relax. According to Fred, however, it wasn’t going to be that easy. 

“Darling? Where are you? I’m making tea, do you want some?” You busied yourself in the kitchen, putting the kettle on and getting two tea cups. “Fred?” You hadn’t heard anything from him yet, so you checked your phone. Nothing. 

You started to wander the apartment, calling his name and peeking your head into the occasional room. You still couldn’t find him. Only when you entered your bedroom did you find a clue to his whereabouts. You found a note on the neatly made bed, and you recognized his unique handwriting.

Hello darling. As you can probably tell, I’m hiding. Come and find me xo

P.S. yes, I would like some tea

“Wow. This man is going to be the death of me.” You thought aloud, smiling to yourself. After you searched for him in the last few remaining rooms, you heard a rustling from the linen closet to your right. A smirk growing on your face, you mockingly said, “Well, I wonder where Freddie could be!” You started to slowly reach for the doorknob when it started to turn at its own accord. 

“There is no Freddie. He’s not here right now. This is Fredrick.” 

Yeaaa, it was Fred, just with a Russian accent. A terrible Russian accent.

“Well then, Frederick, what are you doing in there?” You rolled your eyes, totally accustomed to this behaviour. “I am on a very secret mission, so let me do my duty, sexy but annoying woman,” His harsh accent came from the other side of the door and you couldn’t help but double over in laughter. “Freddie, come on. Just come out already!” You laughed, tears forming in your eyes. 

“Well, my mission was to sweep the area, but now I think I can scrub that and take you in for questioning. You’ve seen too much!” The door creaked open, slowly, revealing the red, fiery hair of your husband and the mischievous look on his face. “Well, well, well. Malishka, what am I going to do with you?” He purred, his large frame leaving the closet and towering over you.

“Well, I dunno. You’re gonna have to catch me first!” The tense atmosphere was broken by your cute smile and speedy run. Fred couldn’t help but break character for a split second before chasing after you. Since you got a good head start, you were able to keep out of sight. Running out of ideas of where to hide, you went to the first place that came to mind: the bedroom.

After you scampered into the room and quietly closed the door, you went under the bed, with your feet closest to the edge of the bed. You tried to rearrange yourself so you could see if he came in, but the space was too tight a fit. So you just waited there, quick little breaths leaving your chest and excitement in your eyes. 

His footsteps grew closer, the floor creaking under his weight. You couldn’t stop yourself from giggling, which made the creaking stop, and then quicken, coming in your direction. “Oh shit,” You whispered to yourself, mentally kicking yourself. 

“Malishka, where are you?” He said the last word all drawn out, his movements slow and deliberate. You could hear the soft pats of his socked feet on the carpet, and it made your heartbeat quicken in excitement. 

Once you thought he’d left the room, you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding in, relieved that he’d gone. Well, you thought he’d gone.

“Oh, malishka, come here,” You felt two large, strong hands wrap around your ankles and you let out a squeak as your belly got a slight rug burn. Once you were out from under the bed, you flipped over quickly to see ‘Frederick’ standing over you, a stupid smile on his face.

“I have you now!” He lowered his voice to match that of Darth Vader and reached down to gently tickle your belly. “I shouldn’t have let you watch those Muggle movies, Freddie,” You giggled, squirming on the floor.

“Well, I see that Frederick is gone,” You looked at him with an eyebrow raised. “Who is this Frederick you speak of, darling? I’ve never heard of him,” His voice trailed off as he leaned down to pick you up and carry you to the kitchen, where the kettle seemed to be screaming.

He set you down with a kiss on your forehead and set to making two cups of tea. You sat yourself at the counter, watching him with your head resting on your hand. “So, Y/N, how was your day?” He turned around, carrying the steaming cups of tea and setting them down on the marble counter. 

You just sat there, mouth agape, wondering if he was just going to ignore the events that’d just unfolded a few moments before. “Uh, did you not just chase me down? Or did that not happen?” You furrowed your eyebrows, curious to see what his next move would be. A small smirk appeared on his gorgeous face, and all he said was, “No idea, malishka,” accompanied with his signature wink. “Anyway, wanna cuddle?” He chirped, rather cheerful all of a sudden. You just rolled your eyes and followed him to the bedroom, tea in hand.

Once you were both situated under the fluffy blankets and propped up by innumerable pillows, you leaned against him with your head under his chin. He started stroking your hair, but that didn’t stop you from telling him off about before, and how unnecessary the whole ordeal was. His response seemed very well rehearsed.

“Darling, I missed your arms around me, so I came to cuddle! That’s it! I’m innocent! Nothing but good intentions on this mind. I did nothing wrong. Also, I don’t know about this Frederick fellow. How did he even get it? Seems rather suspicious. And handsome. Troublesome, but handsome,” His voice trailed off as you began to giggle. The laugher only grew louder when he started to tickle your belly, and after that, a full-blown tickle fight ensued.

A quarter of an hour later, you both had collapsed on the bed, which was now completely disarranged, chests heaving and light giggles leaving your lips. “Ok, next time, if you want cuddles, just say so.” You breathed, never wanting those kinds of shenanigans to go down again.

“I can’t make any promises, Y/N. Now come back here and cuddle me, malishka.” He held out his arms, and slapped his hands at you; quite childish, but then again, isn’t that Fred? 

“Freddie, what does ‘Malishka’ mean?” You asked, snuggling in close to him. He chuckled and leaned in close and whispered in your ear, “It means ‘baby girl,’ Y/N.” 

The blush on your face sent Fred into another fit of laughter which would later lead to another wrestling match. Then again, there would always be more to come.

[nonbinaryeddiekaspbrak]

lovely

fandom: dear evan hansen

rating: general audience

ship: kleinsen

words: 555

honorable tag mentions: evan is autistic, jared has adhd, happy stimming, nonbinary jared using they/them

@pad-foots​

“I know we literally just kissed, but can I kiss you again?”

Jared feels nervous asking this question, their eyebrows low and drawn together. Their eyes are on Evan, who is still cradling their jaw with his left hand, their own hands are wringing together nervously. His blue eyes are a bit distant as his right hand sets two fingers upon his lips, the corners of his mouth tilting up in a small smile. Their nervousness melts a little at the sight, their hand coming to cover Evan’s on their face. His eyes move up, connecting with an expression of yearning.

“Ev?”

Evan hums, his light blush going from pink to red as he steps back into awareness. His eyes move from Jared’s, and he attempts to take his hand away, but they only let it go far enough to properly hold it, slotting their fingers between Evan’s.

An “oh” falls softly from his lips as Evan stares at their hands. Then his eyes are moving up to theirs again. They decide to take the first move this time, leaning forward slowly enough that Evan can back out if he doesn’t want to. 

Just like the first time, Jared feels slightly giddy, cheeks warming under the intimacy of this act. They can feel Evan’s hand on their face again, laid softly against their cheek, a thumb running feather-light under their eye. Jared finds their right hand migrating to Evan’s hip, giving light pressure as his thumb traces circles over the fabric.

“Is this okay?” Evan whispers once they back away. It’s like he’s afraid to be too loud to hear over the pop songs playing downstairs. Maybe they are, too, the prospect of Heidi interrupting this fragile moment is something that they find terrifies them. They push those thoughts back into their head to focus on Evan again.

“Yes,” Jared breathes, as their forehead dips to rest against Evan’s shoulder. His hand moves to their back, running up and down in comforting motions. Jared sighs, letting their eyes close again as they take in the smell from the candle burning not too far from them. It was something sweet, but not overwhelming, and definitely one that they’d have to get the name for.

“Does this mean you want to be my boyfriend?” Jared murmurs, staying in place, but straining their ears so they could catch the answer. They feel the vibrations from his chest as Evan laughs.

“Of course.” 

They chance a peek at his face, tilting their head enough to see. Evan is smiling widely, excitedly, and his other hand, the one off of Jared’s back, is being shaken rapidly. His joy is infectious as Jared sits back up, Evan’s left hand joining in on the shaking, and Jared finds themself wanting to join, leg twitching every few seconds and pressure filling their chest.

They smile wide at Evan, and their hands move frantically over the somewhat rough surface of their jeans, the roughness positively adding to the experience. Evan laughs again, and slowly calms down, watching as Jared expels the buzzing energy from their own chest. Their smile turns back into a fond one, and then it morphs into a smirk before they break the silence.

“Since you’re my boyfriend now, does that mean I can actually ask you to cuddle with me?”

[rhaenyratargayen]

now I’m all about you // s.b.

summary — in which sirius black mends the heart of the girl he’s in love with, y/n y/l/n, who ends up falling for him in the process.

word count — 4.2k

warnings — cursing, I think thats it.

a/n — this is for @ch0colatefr0gs 500 followers writing challenge!! <3 ily mel! This fic is for the song prompt Long Story Short by Taylor Swift // I’m a full fledged sirius girl now and this is officially one of my favorite fics I’ve ever written okay <3

Sirius Black nearly landed straight on his face as he stumbled forward after stepping on the back of James Potter’s shoe. Sirius wasn’t watching where he was going as he followed his friends out of the Great Hall, instead, his gaze was trained on the pair snogging across the corridor; Y/N Y/L/N and Bertram Aubrey.

“Oi! Watch it, Padfoot.” James turned back to Sirius as he yanked his foot forward, but his brows furrowed as he turned back to his friend, zoned in completely on something else entirely. James followed Sirius’ line of sight to the couple across the room and sighed.

Sirius hadn’t looked away since he saw Bertram snogging the girl he was in love with. Y/N Y/L/N, a bright young witch with a knack for helping the marauders out on potions and pranks as she had her own love for mischief. It was fourth year when Sirius fell for her, she stopped them from brewing an incorrectly made potion, inevitably saving their asses from a month's worth of detention.

“Come on, Pads.” James sighed, tossing his arm around his friend’s shoulder to try and guide him back to their common room.

Even now, seventh year and eighteen years old, Sirius Black still couldn’t get the witch off his mind. She was everywhere it seemed, not only did she help with their pranks, but she also became rather close to the group over the years and while Sirius was happy to spend any sliver of time with her, it almost made it worse seeing her everyday and knowing she wasn’t his.

Remus and Peter turned at the huff that left Sirius’ lips, having trailed far in front of the other two marauders. Remus noticed the girl across the corridor immediately and pursed his lips, feeling guilty for his lovesick friend.

“Let’s go, mate.” Remus sighed, coming to Sirius’ other side to usher him towards the gryffindor common room.

As the boys arrived, they all collapsed onto the couch and chairs surrounding the fireplace. Remus pulled out his quill to work on an essay with Peter, while James tossed his head back for a nap. But Sirius sat with his chin in his hands, eyes narrowing onto the glow of the fireplace as his mind raced with thoughts.

He hadn’t even realized his knee was bouncing irritably, it wasn’t until James spoke up that he stopped.

“Knock it off, Pads, ‘M trying to nap here.” James spoke out, not caring to open his eyes.

Sirius muttered an apology, consciously refraining his frustrated jitters from continuing. He rang out his hands next, unknowingly just transferring his nerves to another distracting behavior. Peter and Remus met each other’s annoyed gazes before glancing up at Sirius with furrowed brows. Once he finally stopped, they returned to their essay.

The three of them were sure their anxious friend had removed all his jitters after that, and they all returned to their original activities in silence.

“... Bertram Aubrey?”

James, Remus and Peter all huffed unanimously, releasing their frustrated sighs into the common room. Sirius shot up at their desperate huffs and rolled his eyes, before settling back against the couch with his arms crossed over his chest.

“He’s no good for her.” Sirius tossed his hands up, protesting their whines for him to drop the subject.

“I mean, you don’t know that.” Peter spoke up softly.

“What? And you do?” Sirius huffed, causing a snicker to escape James’ lips at his attitude.

“Relax,” Remus mediated, “All Peter’s saying is you don’t know Bertram.”

“I don’t need to. I know Y/N and she deserves someone better.” Sirius huffed.

“Someone like you?” James pressed.

Sirius shot James a glare, a dangerous side eye despite holding no actual threat. James leaned over to pat Sirius’ shoulder whilst Remus gave him a shy smile. The three boys knew of Sirius’ affections for Y/N, despite it being painfully obvious, it was barely a month after meeting her that Sirius was blabbing his affections towards the other boys. Remus joked that he was starting to sound like James, constantly thinking of the girl whose finger he was wrapped around, and while Sirius still teased James relentlessly, he knew the feeling.

“Hi, boys!” Her voice rang out as she entered the common room.

Despite the anxiety Sirius felt over seeing her with someone else, it was almost instinctive the way his stress seemed to fade away at the sound of her voice. He almost didn’t turn to look, but as his sleek black locks brushed behind his shoulder as he turned his head, he was grateful he did so.

She was quite possibly the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She carried herself in a way that made all heads turn, she was confident and outspoken, and brave. She could fight if she needed to, always ready with a quip on her tongue, but it was the softness within her, the bright light that never seemed to go out even in the darkest and coldest nights, that had Sirius Black head over heels in love with her.

Lily and Marlene followed behind Y/N, Lily took a seat beside James, giggling softly when he tugged her towards him, Marlene joined Remus and Peter and Y/N, she took a seat right beside Sirius.

“How’s your day been, Pads?” She smiled warmly.

Sirius relaxed at her tone, there it was; the warm light he had grown so fond of. But a bitter taste rose to his tongue as he thought about answering her, if were to be brutally honest he would say ‘rather terrible, actually, I just watched some bloke snog the brains out of the girl I’m in love with.’ But instead he focused on the sincerity in her eyes and sighed, leaning back to rest against the couch.

“It's been good, love,” He pursed his lips, “You?”

His heart sank as he watched a shy smile rise to her lips, one she tried desperately to contain until Lily’s teasing drew it out of her.

“She’s had a wonderful day, haven’t you, babe?” Lily chuckled.

“Got yourself a boyfriend, have you, Y/L/N?” James snickered.

Marlene laughed from across the room, “She has, he’s a bloody good kisser too.”

“Shove off,” Y/N rolled her eyes, “It’s a new relationship, I don’t want to move too quickly. But… he is quite a good kisser.”

As Marlene squealed in delight, it took everything in Sirius not to leave as quickly as he could, run off to his dorm and splash cool water on his face until he no longer felt the sting behind his eyes. It was getting harder and harder to be near her and not be hers. And while Sirius would give up the chance to call her his if that only meant she would always be in his life, he would give it up in a heartbeat, but he never thought about having to call her somebody else’s.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

It had been about one week since Y/N told the group of her new relationship. They had begun seeing Y/N and Bertram everywhere; holding hands in the corridor, eating together in the great hall, snogging in empty classrooms, it seemed like the entire universe was rubbing her new relationship right in Sirius’ face.

He stopped seeing her as much, within just a week he had already started avoiding her, taking new routes to class in order to avoid seeing Bertram’s fingers slotting with her and kissing her on the forehead before class. When he did see Y/N without Bertram she was usually with Lily and Marlene, and far too many times Sirius had passed by just to hear the bloke’s name coming from her lips. It was a tortuous cycle, and on Saturday when all his mates went to Hogsmeade, Sirius stayed back at the castle.

Sirius sat in silence in the common room, a book in hand although no matter how many times his eyes skimmed the words he wasn’t actually retaining any of the story. His mind was too busy thinking of how Bertram was probably sharing a butterbeer with Y/N at that very moment, it wasn’t until he heard a pair of boots stepping through the portrait hole that he looked up.

To say he was surprised to see the very girl he was just thinking about would be an understatement, and especially not with red eyes and tear stained cheeks.

“Y/N?” He rushed from his seat, tossing his book on the ground.

As he reached her he hesitated, would it be wrong for him to embrace her? To hold her like he wanted to when she so desperately needed someone? As she sniffled, trying to hide her tears, Sirius sighed and placed a comforting hand on her back. Missing the way she relaxed into his hold, he led her to the couch and took a seat beside her.

She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper, coating the cotton material in salty tears. Sirius felt odd, like he wasn’t supposed to see her like this, for some reason the way she carried herself into the room made it seem like she didn’t want him to see her like this.

Sirius ignored the urge to hold her and clasped his hands, “... You weren’t expecting anyone to be in here, were you?”

She looked up at the sound of his voice, teary eyes meeting his in a fleeting moment before she looked back down. She mirrored him, clasping her hands together as well, and shook her head.

Sirius remained quiet for a moment, studying her, looking for some tell tale sign in to what she needed in that moment.

“I can leave if you want,” Sirius spoke cautiously, “But I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone like this.”

His comforting presence tore down the dam that held back her tears, and with a whimpering sigh she let out a cry and leaned into Sirius’ embrace. He inhaled sharply as she clung to his arm, her delicate hand clutching the sleeve over his bicep. His heart broke at the sound of the sobs leaving her lips, and his blood suddenly boiled thinking about whoever made her feel this way. But it wasn’t long before she shuffled closer to him, and he was brought back to her.

“I’m so sorry, love.” Sirius tugged her closer into his chest and rested his chin on her head. He didn’t know what had made her cry, but he was sorry to her, sorry that she had to shed any tears at all.

He held her for a while, sitting in silence as her crying ceased, and held her some more until he felt her shift in his side. He opened his arms, allowing her to sit back, and he waited with concern pooling in his grey eyes for her to tell him what was wrong so he could fix it.

“What happened, sweetheart?” His voice was low, comforting. He lifted his hand to hold her chin between his thumb and forefinger, raising her gaze to face him.

“I’m a bloody idiot, that’s what happened.” She huffed.

Sirius furrowed his brows, “Stubborn? Maybe, but an idiot? Definitely not.”

She exhaled a soft smile at his attempt to make her feel better, but her faux grin only pained his heart more. Sirius sighed, but he remained by her side, placing a comforting hand on her knee.

“You can tell me anything.” His voice was softer than before, as if not to disturb the peaceful silence in the room.

She inhaled a shaky breath and nodded towards Sirius, “It’s Bertram. He’s an ass and I didn’t see it.”

Within seconds the warmth Sirius felt being in her presence sharply shifted to a raging burn, a distasteful disgust that had him clenching his jaw and swallowing thickly.

“– I guess I was just so caught up in the romance of it all, you know?” She tossed her hands up, completely unaware of the fury behind Sirius’ eyes, “He was cute and sweet, and I completely missed all the red flags. The git only talks about his bloody self anyway.”

She chuckled as she finished, a sad laugh to mask the hurt she felt in that moment, the disappointment, the betrayal. It was all too familiar for the girl who couldn’t seem to find a decent match.

“I actually thought it’d be different with him,” She scoffed, “‘M such an idiot.”

“That’s enough.” Sirius cleared his throat. His deep voice earning him a concerned look from Y/N, she turned with furrowed brows to see Sirius clenching his fist.

“The only idiot is that bastard who clearly couldn’t see what he had right in front of him.”

Sirius softened at the sight of a genuine smile rising to Y/N’s lips, and at that moment he decided he would do quite literally anything if it would keep that smile on her face. However, while he thought of all the curse words he could think of to describe what a blasphemous idiot Bertram Aubrey was, his heart was with the girl in his arms.

He sighed, exhaling the anger he had built up before turning to Y/N and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

“‘M sorry your date was ruined,” He said, genuinely, “But there’s still some time before everyone has to get back, we could still make the best of a day at Hogsmeade?”

Where there was once heartbreaking tears was now a relieving glow on Y/N’s face. Sirius felt the tension release from his chest as she grinned up at him, happy with his suggestion. The thought of spending the afternoon alone with her had heat rushing to his cheeks, and he was suddenly very aware of how close they were.

“We can go now if you want?” He cleared his throat.

Y/N sat up, looking to Sirius with a soft grin and a gentle glow despite the puffiness of her eyes.

“Eager for a date with me, are you, Black?” She quipped.

Sirius felt the air drain from his lungs as he inhaled sharply, the words falling from her lips so easily, as if the two of them going on a date were something she’d thought about before.

“A date?” He hurried after her as she walked towards the portrait hole, “Is that what this is?”

Y/N giggled, the sound warming Sirius’ chest, “Don’t worry, Pads, I’m just joking. I don’t know what this is but I’m glad we’re doing it… thank you.”

She turned to face him then, stopping in her tracks and looking up at him with sincerity. Sirius sighed as he looked down at her, he raised his hand to gently take her chin between his thumb and forefinger, raising her head from dropping in melancholy.

“You don’t need to thank me, I’d do anything for you in a heartbeat.”

She inhaled a slow breath as he spoke, suddenly being swarmed with the familiar flutters in her stomach she got when she met the loud gryffindor in fourth year. She blinked, eyes flitted between his own and found him to be genuine, soft and incredible alluring. She had barely noticed he’d dropped his hand from her face and began walking down the stairs until he spoke up.

“Oh and,” He turned with a subtle smirk, “This can be whatever you want it to be.”

And if his words weren’t enough, the wink he threw her way was enough to confirm it; she was falling for her best friend.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

That trip to Hogsmeade was the first of many. Weeks had passed since Y/N’s breakup with Bertram, and while Lily and Marlene were at Y/N’s side offering a shoulder to cry on, constant knowing looks were exchanged when she started seeking out Sirius’ company.

It had become a routine for them at this point, they sat together for breakfast and walked together to class. Even if they didn’t share a class, Sirius would walk her across the castle risking his own tardiness daily, Mcgonagall seeing through his beaming smile weekly.

James, Lily, and Marlene were constantly teasing the two behind the other’s back, dropping hints of affections or trying to stir up something to finally happen between the two, but to no avail. Sirius and Y/N seemed to be in their own little world, and it was exactly how they liked it.

“Alright, true or false, did you or did you not hex Bertram’s head into growing twice it’s size?”

The laughter ceased instantly from Sirius’ lips, as he desperately tried to keep it from bubbling up again. The answer? True, of course. He and James had hexed Bertram earlier that week without a second thought, but seeing the raised brow and the knowing smirk on Y/N’s lips before him had Sirius glowing with mischief.

“I can neither confirm, nor deny–” Sirius chuckled between his words.

Y/N quickly grabbed a red pillow from the couch and swung it at Sirius’s shoulder.

“Answer, you prat.” She playfully scoffed, struggling to contain her own laughter as Sirius wheezed so hard he almost fell off the couch as she swung at him, “You know the rules, Black, answer honestly or test your luck with an every flavor bean.”

She shook the box teasingly in her hand, her brows raised at Sirius. He shook his head humorously, letting it fall back and giving Y/N a perfect view of his jawline and the exposed skin of his neck. She felt the flutters in her stomach once again, they had been getting worse the more time she spent with him. She had fallen deep now, so deep she laid awake at night in her dorm tossing and turning with thoughts of him, thoughts she struggled to get rid of. And while they were all innocent, flashes of his smile and the way he said her name, each one pulled her in deeper.

“Well if I take one then you’ll know the answer.” Sirius chuckled, tossing his hands up in the air.

Y/N laughed triumphantly, “So you admit it, then?”

Sirius quickly sat up, his sudden movement bringing him face to face with Y/N and incredibly close. Neither of them had realized the lack of space between them until it was too late, their breath fanning each other’s lips and filling their individual thoughts with the same feeling.

“I’m not confirming anything, darling.” Sirius winked.

And while mischief still hung in the air, Y/N’s humorous smile faded to one of content as she looked at Sirius, lowering her hand that held the beans. She exhaled slowly, unknowingly her eyes wandered his face, admiring the grey in his eyes and tracing the shape of his nose and down to his lips.

“Y/N.” Sirius’ voice was low when he spoke up, slightly raspy yet soft, like her name was his favorite thing to say, and it was. He tugged his bottom lip between his teeth as he felt the warmth grow in his chest as he noticed where her gaze laid.

Sirius noticed the shift in their friendship after that day at Hogsmeade. It kept him awake at night, in the best way possible. His chest ached every time he looked at her, like he could no longer contain the love and adoration he felt. She was so beautiful to him, he always thought she was, but he hadn’t been given the opportunity to see her like he had now – sincere, genuine, heart on her sleeve. It was more beautiful than he was prepared for and every moment he spent with her urged him closer to grabbing her face in his hands and kissing her senseless.

“I like it when you call me that.” She whispered, the words feeling foreign on her tongue as she admitted something aloud she had only thought in her head.

“Darling?” Sirius questioned. He was patient as he watched her unravel before him, her walls crumbling. He blindly searched for her hand in her lap, delicately slitting their fingertips together and feeling his chest ache at the inhale she took at his touch.

She nodded in response, biting her lip to contain a grin. It brought one to Sirius’ lips at the sight of her. He raised his hand that wasn’t tangled with hers and held her chin between his thumb and forefinger like he’d done so many times before, always loving the effect it had on her. His eyes were drawn to her lips, his thumb ghosting over her bottom lip, lightly tugging it free from her teeth and watching, enticed as she exhaled slowly.

“Don’t do that.” She spoke softly, a playful tone in her voice.

She fully grasped his hand that held hers, fully connecting their fingers as she tugged him closer to her lightly. He tossed the pillows between them to the ground and shuffled closer to her, tightening the small space between their lips and moving his hand to cup her cheek.

“Do what?” He played along, surprised by the groundedness in his voice, a sharp contrast to the rapid beating of his heart.

Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, letting her body fully comprehend the effect he had on her. Her fingers felt warm, like bolts of fire shot up her veins straight to her heart just from holding his hand. And his breath that fanned her lips, his hand on her cheek, it was overwhelming in the best way.

“Act like you’re gonna kiss me and then don’t.” She raised a brow, silently testing him.

Sirius’s eyes raised from her lips and connected with hers, no teasing in his voice as he spoke, “I don’t want to do anything you aren’t comfortable with,” his eyes flitted between hers, “And, darling, if I start I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop.”

She grinned softly, in that moment the enlightening and electrifying effect he had on her shifted to one of comfort and safety. Her heart had secured itself in his hands, protected by his love for her it made a decision she was too afraid to.

Her voice, ever so quiet, spoke softly to him, “What if I don’t want you to stop?”

Sirius leaned forward and connected their lips then, pausing at the initial feeling of finally kissing the girl he’d been in love with for years. Her free hand raised to hold his wrist, keeping his hand in place cupping her cheek. She inhaled lightly, breathing in everything about him; the scent on the collar of his shirt, the smoothness of his lips on hers, the tenderness in which he cradled her face, and the confidence in which he held her hand.

Feeling comfortable, she pushed forward lightly, deepening their kiss. Sirius was slow with her, careful not to do anything she wouldn’t be comfortable with and while she admired his actions she wanted him and she was sure of it. She sucked his bottom lip between her teeth, drawing out a low groan from his lips that had her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Sirius slipped his tongue past hers then, and smiled against her lips when she moaned softly. His smile broke their kiss, he chuckled softly as she caught her breath, head spinning and heart pounding. She chased his lips, connecting them in another short lived kiss just to feel him again.

“Merlin,” He sighed against her lips, “I love you.”

She pulled back suddenly, a glow in her eyes as she rested her forehead against his. With adoration in her eyes she suddenly began giggling softly to herself, the sound warming Sirius’ chest while also confusing him tremendously.

“What are you laughing for?” He shook his head, a smile tugging on his lips as he watched her.

“Bloody hell, Sirius,” Her laughter died down as she planted a soft kiss to his lips once again, “I love you too, I just wish you would’ve told me that before I went out with Bertram fucking Aubrey.”

Sirius laughed then, planting a kiss on her forehead as she curled into his chest, “I was a bit busy watching you snogging in the corridors.”

Y/N playfully rolled her eyes, “At least now I know why none of those relationships worked out.”

“And why’s that?”

She leaned up to look at him, biting her lip as she thought of kissing him again, a cheerful thought as she recognized she’d now be able to do it whenever she wanted to.

“Because they weren’t you.”

––––––––––––––––––––––

BONUS +

Sirius stood with Y/N outside charms, savoring the time he had with her before they parted for their own classes. He reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before she leaned up and kissed his cheek, turning on her heel to enter the classroom.

Out of the corner of his eye, Sirius caught sight of Bertram watching the pair of them a dozen feet away. As if a lightbulb went off in his head, Sirius remembered the first day he caught Bertram snogging Y/N and grinned.

Sirius quickly grabbed Y/N’s waist and spun her to face him, planting his lips firmly on hers as she reached him. She moaned lightly, surprised by his sudden affections but enjoyed them nonetheless. She stood on her toes, raising herself to deepen the kiss while her hands brushed through his hair. When she finally pulled back, Sirius chased her lips, his hands firm on her waist as he kissed the corner of her mouth.

“Easy, Black,” She teased, softly planting a final kiss to his lips, “No need to worry, I’m yours.”

––––––––––––––––––––––

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[gumnut-logic]

Callisto (Full Prologue)

Prologue Part One - Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3 | Bit 4 | Bit 5 Part Two - Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3

When I first started this story, I was of two minds whether to put all of the prologue at the front or scatter it throughout the fic. I started with 700-odd words of it and drove into the body.

It fast became obvious that I really needed to build a lot more into the prologue as the OCs were empty shells and I needed to explain the story behind them and why Jeff is so determined.

So at the end of Part Two, I stopped and went back. This is the result. Nearly 5000 words of Jeff Tracy landing on Mars. It can stand as its own story, but it definitely leads into the planned events for the novel, Callisto. Either way I hope you enjoy it. Be aware that the first 500 words or so may be familiar as they were part of the original version. Don’t worry, the rest is new.

Of course, many, many thanks to @tsarinatorment​ @scribbles97​ and @janetm74​ for all the amazing support and help with this fic. Plus @onereyofstarlight​ my go to science officer on this voyage. You guys are absolutely amazing and I couldn’t have done this without you ::massive group hug::

Now this is done, I can finally go back to writing the novel chronologically. I have to say that this is going to be one hell of a ride.

No warnings needed.

-o-o-o-

2033

 “Another boy?”

Jeff grinned. “Yeah. Another one.” He couldn’t help but stare at the photo that had landed on his screen as a good luck token from Earth.

He did of course, know about Lucille going into labour the night before and it was for that reason he hadn’t had the sleep he probably should have pre-history making Mars landing. But honestly, to get this signal from that little blue planet a good eight months away…his heart swelled…his beautiful baby boy had a shock of red hair that screamed their Irish ancestry down through the hundreds of years since their family had left the old world.

Lucille sat holding him, looking tired but ever so proud. Her dark hair was tied back and the sparkle in her eyes brought a lump into his throat. Her mother, pink hair and all, sat beside his wife holding his two eldest boys on her lap. Scott had his hand on Virgil’s arm as the now second youngest reached over towards his baby brother, a frown of concentration on his face.

“He’s beautiful.”

Jeff startled a little. Berry was breaking regs and leaning over the back of Jeff’s pilot couch, her straps unfastened. The cockpit was pretty snug in the lander, most of the room taken up with safety equipment and interfaces, leaving little for the padded personnel support.

He shot an eyebrow in her direction and she smiled a dare back at him. The astrogeologist wasn’t one for breaking the rules, she just liked to taunt him a little.

Ju, in contrast, was checking her harness was secure a second time. “Creating your own crew, Tracy?” Her auburn eyes smirked at him. “Aiming to replace us?”

He grinned. “Could be.” Dare he mention that his four-year-old eldest could already name all the controls in this cockpit? His grin widened. “But we can’t replace the first person to set foot on Mars, now can we?”

Berry snorted, a little abashed. But it was, after all, her part to play once they made touchdown. The words had been rehearsed, the order of exit decided. For very specific reasons, the first human on Mars was going to be Kate Berrenger.

Berry had worked her ass off to make this mission a reality. Her specialisation onboard was astrogeologist, but honestly it was far more. The woman was talent on legs. It was she who had designed much of the equipment they were deploying on the surface, she who had hunted and gathered the funding, she who had put in the sweat and tears to make this work. And Ju wasn’t far behind. The two of them were quite a powerhouse pair. Jeff considered himself and Lee lucky to have been chosen for this mission. Of course, he’d known Berry for a very long time, worked with her for most of it, but it wasn’t a given that the team that had helped populate the moon would also be the first on Mars.

“Given how many life support pods we’re dragging down there, I bet your boys could drop by in about thirty years or less.”

“You gonna put your money where your mouth is, Berry?” The thought was tantalising. Not to put pressure on any future careers – Lucy would kill him – but he would hope that at least one out of three might follow in his footsteps.

Maybe?

He turned around and opened his mouth, only to be interrupted. “Major Tracy, tell your team to secure. Two minutes to separation.” Sinclair was his usual grumpy, nervous self.

“Roger that, Orbiter Control.”

He glared at Berry and the redhead bit her lip with a smile, green eyes dancing, before sitting back and strapping herself in preparation for the sequence.

She didn’t stop smiling though.

“So watcha gonna name him?” Lee prodded him with his eyebrows from beside Jeff.

A last glance at the photo before he returned to separation prep, fingers tight in his gloves. “Are you going to remember this one?” An eye in the engineer’s direction.

“Sure.”

Running his fingers over the controls, Jeff ran through pre-flight. “Name my eldest.”

Lee grunted, his eyes darting away. “Not important right now.” A flick of a switch. “I’m green across the board.”

“A-ok.” Jeff ran through the last sequence of checks…and ran them again…for luck. “Orbiter Control, we are green for separation.”

“Roger that, Cornerstone. Separation in sixty seconds on my mark.” A breath. “Mark.” Another pause. “Good luck.”

And the countdown began.

Jeff ran his eyes over everything again. The great ship that had journeyed so far from home was preparing to split in half. The lander at the top of the vessel was to pull away from the orbiter and its massive propulsion engines to begin the historic descent to the Martian surface. Eight months in space, so much preparation time and so many sacrifices before that, had all led to this moment.

History in the making.

His eyes combed the readouts watching like a hawk. The computer had control, but computers could only do so much.

Still green across the board.

Quiet, his fingers touched the screen where the photo had been. “John Glenn Tracy.” A breath. “His name is John.”

Displays shifted as the countdown hit zero and machinery grunted. The Cornerstone drifted apart from its propulsion module and floated free far above the red of the Martian surface.

Jeff eyed his instrumentation and sent a prayer to his family back home.

Today was an important day.

-o-o-o-

Lee watched Jeff side-on as he clicked his helmet into place. Taylor was a realist and he knew he wouldn’t be here without the crazy pilot.

It was Jeff’s drive that had gotten them this far. It was like riding a rollercoaster of determination and outright luck. From the Airforce, through space training and their sojourns on Alfie, Lee had tied himself to the man’s coat tails and hadn’t looked back.

God, it had been fun.

Jeff Tracy was a tsunami that crashed through everything and took everyone with him.

And Lee went willingly.

When they had been chosen for this mission it was a dream come true.

The countdown dropped to zero and machinery clunked as the lander separated smoothly from the orbiter. She drifted momentarily before the computer engaged thrusters to push her gently out of orbital alignment.

“We are five by five for atmospheric entry.” The words he uttered were almost rote after so many practise simulations back on Earth.

Atmospheric entry on Mars was considerably different to entry on Earth. Terran atmosphere was more like soup in comparison to the barely-there Martian atmosphere. Still made for a warm entry though, friction was friction after all.

“Trajectory achieved.” Jeff’s voice was confident and firm. As always.

Lee eyed the computer readouts, mentally ticking off procedure as the lander dipped into the outer reaches of the atmosphere and shifted to its entry interface.

Forces wrapped themselves around Lee and his body responded. After so many months of weightlessness, this was going to be a challenge.

“Ready for deceleration burn.”

The landing module sported early entrance stage retro thrusters designed to slow the vehicle to reduce the friction on the spacecraft’s skin. A new innovation that had proven essential in many return trips to the moon in preparation for the creation of a habitable dome on the satellite.

And here they were attempting to do something similar on Mars.

Cornerstone shook as her thrusters engaged exactly on time.

The craft roared.

Lee revelled in it.

“Three minutes to subsonic.”

“I really hate this bit.” It was barely heard above the commotion.

Lee snorted to himself. Ju was an astronaut in every sense, but she had a thing regarding atmospheric entry and the microscopic bits they could be exploded into if something went wrong.

“We are on track, Ju. Not a thing to worry about.” His voice reassurance itself, Jeff could sell the moon cheese if he so felt like it.

“Orbiter to Cornerstone. Tracy, we have a problem.”

Lee blinked. Sinclair’s voice was ominous.

“Orbiter, detail?”

“Cornerstone, weather has kicked up on the landing site. We have a developing dust storm. Looks to be a big one.”

“Orbiter, we are fixed for descent. Please advise severity.” Jeff’s tone was frustrated and Lee couldn’t help but echo it.

Data landed in Lee’s console and while Jeff continued to monitor their descent, Lee examined the situation. “We have a category five dust storm developing over the landing site. Orbiter is right, she looks like she could actually do some damage.”

Mars dust storms were generally all gust and no guts. The air density and pressure forced storms that were dramatic to look at, but generally little more than a windy day on planet Earth. This one, however... “It’s an anomaly.”

Jeff’s eyes darted from his console to Lee’s, grey eyes assessing the data. “Ju, your opinion?” They had to make the decision fast. Altering their trajectory now was possible, but fuel was precious. Any extra used now narrowed their safety margin for later.

The meteorologist’s fingers darted over her board. “Unusual strength, I agree.” Lee glanced in her direction as she frowned. “But Cornerstone should be able to handle it.”

“‘Should’ is not a good enough assumption, Zhang.” Jeff was frowning. The lander’s retros cut out as they reached a safe enough velocity to manoeuvre and Jeff’s hands curled around the yoke.

Lee’s finger darted over his board and brought up the outside cameras.

The red planet stretched out before them, her slightly blue tinted atmosphere contrasting against the rust of her surface.

That surface was churning.

Ju was outraged. “How the hell did that develop in the time it took us to separate from Orbiter? She was as calm as a sleeping baby!”

“I don’t care about then, I need now. Zhang, recommendation!”

The woman grunted. “I say go. If you think you can handle it. It is well within Cornerstone’s specs. Your decision, Major.”

Jeff’s lips thinned, his eyes darting across the readouts. A moment and he hit the comms switch. “Orbiter, we are go for landing. We’ve come this far, might as well go all the way.”

“Tracy, are you sure?”

“Humanity never got anywhere taking it easy.” He glanced at Lee. “Hold onto something.”

Cornerstone began her turn, orientating her nose to the sky so her retros could lower her safely to the Martian surface.

Or in Jeff Tracy terms, ‘spinning so she could park her ass’.

As if reading Lee’s mind, the glint in Jeff’s eyes was something to both be wary of and to celebrate.

Out of the four of them, Jeff was the most reckless, the most daring. But as he was the pilot, it sometimes called for it. Jeff had already saved them from becoming just another crater on Earth’s moon by pulling the most unconventional manoeuvre ever seen on the satellite when a landing thruster misfired on approach. The craft had shot off on a completely unpredicted vector that would have ploughed them into moon dust...if Jeff hadn’t reacted as fast as he did. He flipped the craft with its remaining three thrusters and, shedding the majority of their velocity in an energy dump that had Lee’s stomach on the outside, planted their craft like a sack of potatoes.

They had landed roughly, but they had landed alive and Lee was still amazed his friend had been able to do that.

So, if they were going down in a cloud of red dust, Lee was quite happy to have Jeff at the controls.

Not to say that Lee himself wasn’t handy with a spacecraft. He had his own experience to be proud of. He flew, but his realm was more the mechanical. He was here as back up and maintenance.

For those times the Tracy fix wasn’t quite enough.

A sigh. He eyed the billowing clouds below as they rapidly approached. They were history in the making. Whatever happened here today would be taught in schools for decades to come.

He had faith in Jeff. They would land, Berry would take those first important steps on a new planet, say the rehearsed words, and join Neil Armstrong in the halls of fame.

But first they had to get there.

-o-o-o-

Jeff swallowed as the cloud of dust loomed beneath the lander. Numbers scrolled across his console. The computer should be able to handle most of it. Its programming was solid. Lucy had made sure of it.

The thought of his beautiful wife...little Johnny.

Dust swelled and wrapped around their craft and visibility became...bad.

Cornerstone shuddered.

Mars dust was a bastard of a thing. Ever so fine and carrying a tiny electric charge that on occasion interfered with instruments.

This was one of those occasions.

“We have blackout on three primary sensors.” Damn. Two others flickered, the screen fritzing a moment.

His fingers darted over controls in an attempt to compensate for the data loss.

Lee was muttering beside him and stabbing at his board. “Rerouting to back-ups.”

Their screens flickered and cleared somewhat.

Numbers plummeted.

Beyond the blinding dust the digital readout that marked the surface of the planet approached.

Far too fast.

Retros crucial to start the landing sequence did not fire.

Shit.

It took seconds for him to compensate and move to manual, but that was enough for the craft to fall many more metres so, when he did manually trigger the burn, they were lower than they should be.

Cornerstone roared as he pushed more energy into braking.

“Lee, we need primary thrust or we are so much pancake!” Her four landing thrusters were not slowing them enough. The math in his head was churning out a fatal result and their history-making attempt was fast turning into a shitfest. “I need that power now.”

“You have it.” Short and sharp as Lee’s hands darted over his console.

On Jeff’s board the main thruster icon lit up.

It wasn’t meant to be used this way. The main thruster was for launching. It was far more powerful than they needed to land. But if he didn’t slow Cornerstone, she was going to take on a big red rock and lose.

The computer ran calculations and spat numbers out at him.

“Firing main thruster.” The icon flashed, Cornerstone roared and g-forces wrapped around all of them and squeezed.

No one said anything for the second of burn that slowed their descent ever so rapidly. Everything shook, the ship’s superstructure groaning.

Jeff’s eyes tracked their velocity, counting down as the surface of the planet rushed towards them. Visually they couldn’t see it. Virtually it looked ready to slap them in the face.

But the main thruster compensated, slowing the craft just enough for the landing rockets to do their job.

Jeff killed the big one and concentrated on the landers to take the last of their speed.

Cornerstone slowed. Five hundred metres. Four hundred metres. Three hundred metres. Two hundred metres. One hundred metres. Landing struts deployed. Fifty. Thirty. Twe-

The whole ship slammed to a stop, its structure groaning and tilting for a second before righting itself. Alarms began shrieking, red lights flashing all over his board.

What the hell?!

The readout had them stalled nineteen metres ‘above’ the virtual surface. Virtual was obviously not lining up with actual.

Another metallic groan and the ship tilted slightly again. This time it stayed tilted. No doubt a landing strut had taken the brunt and folded.

One red light screamed at him more than the others.

Beside him, Lee confirmed his fears. “We have a fuel leak.”

Shit!

He was unstrapping himself even as the craft groaned again. Something sparked not far away. Lee was a split second behind, listing the reason for the malfunction. The exterior hull, and the mangled landing strut responsible.

A rupture in the external hull. Hell.

Jeff undocked a diagnostic pad and slapped it on his belt.

Martian gravity made itself known. So many months without its native pull, Jeff’s body protested the sudden movement, but they didn’t have time. Precious fuel was escaping.

He hit the ladder leading out of the cockpit at a run, feet locking around the struts and his hands pushing him down. The whole sensation of gravity, but only a third of Earth’s was baffling. His body caught between expectations and stumbling along the way. Ultimately, he partly fell his way down through the access ports, hands grabbing at the railings barely preventing him from colliding with each deck.

Cornerstone’s fuel tanks were attached to her four landers, with a fifth fueling her main launcher.

It was number three that was the problem.

His boots hit decking and he scrambled for the airlock. Beside him Lee had a toolkit and they both barrelled through the door sealing it behind them.

The pumps cycled and the pressure dropped, their suits shifting with the change, and then the elevator was lowering them to the ground.

As the doors opened, they were faced with a wall of swirling dust.

Jeff did his best to ignore it but it fast became a problem. The maintenance tab in his hand was directing him to climb ladders up the side of the vehicle, but he could barely see the tablet, much less the ladders themselves through the red dust.

“Stick close, Lee. I’d hate to lose you in this.”

“Right behind you, Jeff. Wouldna want to lose you either.”

It was simple, but reassuring nonetheless. Fumbling, he found the landing strut. It was skewed in a way that even in the thick swirling haze, he could see was far from the right angle for correct support.

Hooking a foot into the lowest rung, he snagged his friend and urged him up the ladder ahead. If anyone was going to save their asses in this situation, it was Lee.

If Jeff could land it, chances were Lee could fix it. The man could jimmy two sticks and a rubberband into whatever was needed. Hell, he’d done almost exactly that on the moon at least twice.

This was just another challenge. Jeff had landed them, no matter how roughly. Now Lee would be able to fix it.

Jeff clung to that maxim.

But the question wasn’t about skill, it was more about whether or not they were going to damn well be able to see what they needed to see in order to do what needed doing.

Red obscured everything. The speed it was all flying past spoke to his earth senses of gale force winds, but the pressure on his suit was little more than a windy day.

Not enough to affect the spacecraft.

Mars was obviously educating them early that this was not Earth. Not in any way shape or form.

Their clamber up the strut was partly a blind one, but they made it to the damaged side of the craft. Through a mixture of touch and virtual readout, it became clear that the outer hull had buckled, forcing the inner hull into the fuel tank. Most of it had held, but there was a small microfracture and the pressure differences were bubbling solid state fuel into gas at a rate that, if it didn’t deplete the tank, would likely cause an explosion that would solve all their problems with a history-making finality.

Jeff climbed up beside Lee as he fumbled at his tool kit. The tank was dislodged off its mounts, something they would need to remedy later, but it was still inset from the hull.

Jeff put his body in position to block the main flow of the dust and wind, jamming himself up against the still warm hull of his ship.

A little less dust swirled over the bubbling crack and Lee didn’t hesitate. Before Jeff could blink, gell bondtape landed smoothly over the area, the engineer sealing it with an electronic nudge from a set-wand. The electricity lined molecules up like soldiers and locked them in place bonding them to whatever the tape was adhered to. They had used the same stuff on Alfie two years ago when one of their habitats had tried to make one with the lack of lunar atmosphere.

An extremely simple solution for a very dangerous problem.

His heart, still adrenalin-fueled, refused to believe the danger was over.

As if reading Jeff’s thoughts, Lee smirked at him through the haze. “Never leave home without it.” A sigh as he ran a gloved hand over the seal. “This should hold for the short term. Once we are sure the strut is stabilised, I’ll give it a good going over. Hopefully, we can lose this storm in the process.”

Jeff would have liked to claim it couldn’t blow forever, but both of them knew Mars storms could be unpredictable and last for months if they so chose to.

Lee ran a scanner over the strut’s connection to the launcher. How the hell the engineer could see the readouts, Jeff didn’t know.

For all future excursions to the Red Planet, Jeff was going to recommend helmet based heads-up displays.

“She’s safe for now. A little bent, but she isn’t going to fall over. Hopefully, once we get out some of the heavy lifting equipment we can bend her back into shape if we need to.” Lee stood up. “Hull patching is going to be an ass, though.”

Jeff’s lips thinned and he dropped a hand onto his friend’s shoulder. “One thing at a time. We’ve got this, Lee.”

Lee grunted. “How the hell do you keep spinning the optimism, Jeff?”

A snort. “What? You’d prefer doom and gloom?” He shuffled back towards the ladder. “That’s it, Lee, we’re never leaving this god forsaken rock. Welcome to your new home.” He raised up his hands and as if the gods declared him some kind of Moses for that very moment, the dust clouds parted as if they were a red sea of sand. Sol, so much smaller this far away, poked its weak light through the hazy atmosphere and lit up the bare red rocks of their temporary home. While on one side, the billowing wall of dust storm swirled on its way, on the other red mountains rose up to a weak blue-red sky.

Lee shifted down beside him. “You know, I figured you had an agreement with the gods of physics, but isn’t this a little ridiculous?”

Jeff was too captivated with the view to respond.

Cornerstone was on the plateau they had been simulating for months on end. She stood tall and proud, if a little crooked and pinker than her promo shots.

“We made it.” The words fell from his lips.

Lee clung to the ladder beside him. “Yeah, that we did.”

Sunlight flickered weakly in the atmosphere and a gust of wind dragged more dust across the view.

Jeff shifted. “We better get inside before that mess starts up again. Take advantage of being able to see where we are going.”

Lee didn’t respond immediately, his eyes combing the jagged horizon. “Thanks, Jeff.”

A frown. “For what?”

“Getting us here.”

“It was a group effort, Lee, you know that. Couldn’t have done it without the team. Couldn’t have done it without you. Hell, you just patched a hole that could have blown us up.”

Lee grunted.

“Are you guys going to hang outside all day, or do we have to guess the sitrep?” Berry’s tone was tight.

“Roger, Berrenger. Situation secure. On our way back in.”

It wasn’t until they reached the elevator that he realised exactly what had happened.

And who he was.

By the doors, protected by the shadow of the lowered module was a single footprint that hadn’t been blown away by the wind.

“Aw, hell.”

Lee, as always, stepped up beside him. “Yeah. I guess that makes you the first man to walk on Mars.”

-o-o-o-

Ju was furious. “It was Kate’s right to be the first!”

The vacs in the airlock had sucked everything off their suits to the point Lee was surprised his hair wasn’t standing on end despite the helmet.

As it was, his hackles were somewhere near orbit as they stood in the conference room that doubled as a mess. “And what exactly do you think we were supposed to do? The ship was going to explode.” It was simple to Lee. Sure, he was all for equality, it was a given, but they would’ve been all equally dead if he and Jeff hadn’t done what they did.

“You didn’t give us a chance!”

“I’m the engineer here, Zhang. There wasn’t time! The decision was made and we are alive because of it.”

“Then why weren’t you first, Taylor? Why the hell was Tracy even out there? He’s not the engineer!”

Beside Lee, Jeff straightened. “Standard procedure, Zhang. We work in pairs. If you think I was going to let Lee go out in that on his own, you’ve been serving while wearing a blindfold.”

The short, dark-haired woman stepped up to the Major, her eyes fiery. “It was Kate’s place in history and you stole it!”

Lee flared. “We did what was necessary! This was not a publicity grab, for Christ’s sake! It didn’t even occur to us until we were returning. It was about saving our lives, Zhang. How can you possibly think it was anything else?”

“Because it always is.” She waved a hand at Jeff. “Always the hotshot. Always the first. Always the hero. Do you ever think, Tracy? Do you ever think about those you barrel past?”

Jeff glared down at the meteorologist. “I will not apologise for my achievements, Zhang. This was an honest to god accident.”

“Due to decisions made by you.”

“What the hell, Zhang?!” Lee pushed forward. That was taking it too far.

“We should never have tried to land in that dust storm. We should have waited it out.”

“You said we could take it!”

“But it wasn’t my decision, was it?” Her tone was a positive hiss at Jeff.

“Screw you, Zhang-“

“Taylor!”

“Jeff-“

The man was still the damn tall walking wall when he wanted to be. “Lee, stop.” He glared at Ju. “I will not apologise for my command decisions either, Zhang. What was done, is done.” His stance softened as he turned to Berry.

She had been ominously quiet the entire time.

Jeff sighed. “I’m sorry, Kate.”

The red-haired astrogeologist straightened away from the bulkhead, her arms still folded across her chest. Lee had always liked Berry. She had her head on much straighter than Ju ever did.

Ju was like a terrier with a bone.

The bone variety today was definitely Jeff-flavoured.

But there was only kindness in Berry’s eyes as she looked up at the Major. “This sucks, Jeff, it really does.” She looked down a moment. “But it is what it is and I guess it was what it was meant to be.” A shrug. “I suppose I’ll have to settle for third on Mars. Still pretty momentous, I think.”

“Kate, it doesn’t have to be that way.” Jeff took a step towards her. “It’s not official. It was a stupid repair. We can do the ceremonial step onto the planet anyway. No one has to know.”

Her head tilted to one side. “So, the ship miraculously healed itself?”

“Berry-“

She closed the gap between them, placing a hand on his arm. “Jeff, honestly, it’s not what is important here. You took the first step. We still have plenty of others that need to be taken. My ego can keep.”

Zhang flared again. “Kate, this was for women-“

“Ju, enough. It doesn’t matter! Humans have just landed on Mars, for god’s sake. I would have thought we would be a little less worried about the gender of the person taking the first step and more worried about the fact we did it without blowing up.”

“It was supposed to be you.” Ju wilted in defeat under Berry’s glare.

“Well, it was Jeff, and I think he is no less deserving than any of us.”

Jeff’s voice was quiet. “Are you sure, Kate?” The use of her first name was a rarity for the major, there was a friendship between those two almost as long as the one between Jeff and Lee. Hell, if Jeff hadn’t met Lee’s sister, Lucy, the engineer wondered what might have eventuated in that department.

Not that he had ever had to worry about that. Jeff was a complete sop for Lucy. His sis had the man wrapped around her little finger.

If that made Lee feel just that touch more protective of the crazy pilot, then so be it.

Kate straightened, her shoulders strong. “I’m sure.” Then her lips curled up a little. “Besides, my lines were so much more elegant than ‘Stick close, Lee. I’d hate to lose you in this.’”

Jeff snorted and shrugged. “If I’m going to make history gotta make sure my best friend is with me.”

Zhang made a disgusted sound and stormed out of the room.

Shoulders dropping, Jeff sighed. “Guess I need to work on my phrasing.”

But Lee was too wrapped in the moment, a little too proud and grateful to care. “She’ll live.”

The grunt from Jeff reminded Lee that they still had months to share living quarters with the fiery Ju.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her.” Berry squeezed Jeff’s arm before reaching out to Lee as well. “Thank you, both of you, for getting us down safely. We’re on Mars, guys. Let the party begin.”

The smile in her eyes was honest and ever so heartening.

-o-o-o-

Next

[intothestarkerverse]

Time of Our Lives (Part Seven)

Based on a prompt from @geekymarvel  

Peter is tasked with an important mission that requires him to go back in time.   Finding himself at a gala for Stark industries in the 1990’s, he comes face to face with a young and incorrigible Tony Stark who considers Peter’s attempts to deny his advances a challenge.  Now, dogged by a horny young CEO who won’t take no for an answer, Peter’s task has become much more difficult….

(STORY CONTAINS ENDGAME SPOILERS)

Read on AO3

Tony Stark had long ago learned to live independently.  From boarding school as a child to MIT as a teenager to working for his family’s Fortune 500 company as an adult, he had rarely been coddled and had taught himself how to survive without many close personal attachments, depending only upon himself, and never allowing sentimentality to consume him.  He could count those for whom he deeply cared on a single hand:  Edwin Jarvis, James Rhodes, and (before her death) Maria Stark.  The rest of the billions of people on the Earth?  He never expected much more from them than a fleeting night’s entertainment and debauchery or more money to pad his already over-inflated bank account.

The last thing that Tony Stark ever anticipated was how easily Peter Parker seemed to fit into that life of self-imposed solitude.  Perhaps some of that could be accredited to Peter’s familiarity with the Old Man.  Peter was not as easily offended by Tony’s peculiarities because, no doubt, the Old Man hadn’t grown out of all of them.  He laughed at Tony’s dry wit.  He blushed at Tony’s flirtations.  He called Tony out on his shit and somehow instinctively had a sixth sense about when to stand his ground and when to back down to Tony’s mercurial temper.  It was like being with someone he’d known for years, and there were times when he had to consciously remind himself that they’d actually met only a short time ago.

It was likely that the Old Man kept his lab organized in a similar way to Tony’s, more because Tony was a creature of habit than because there was any tried or true system to it.  Even decades into the past, that had to be how Peter seemed so at ease in the area of Tony’s home in which he had always felt the most comfortable and in control.  But it wasn’t just the lab.  It was everything else, too.

There were no breakfast buffets after that first morning, but there was always some manner of breakfast food waiting for them when they woke up.  Eggs and bacon.  Waffles.  Pancakes.  Muffins.  Something.  Peter playfully teased and cajoled Tony into taking at least a few bites of food, sometimes even serving him up a small plate with his morning coffee with the insistence that “even a brain as amazing as the great Tony Stark’s needs fuel.”  As much as Tony pretended to hate it, there was some long-buried and never-recognized part of him that was happy to have someone who cared about his morning caloric intake.  It had been such a very long time since someone had tried to take care of him, someone who wasn’t on his payroll and was genuinely concerned about him because of an emotional fondness and not a monetary need, at any rate.  It felt much nicer than he was ever going to be willing to admit to anyone.  Even when he didn’t feel like eating, he always caved in and ate at least a few bites of whatever Peter was offering him.  It was only to pacify the kid, he told himself, but if he was being honest…he might become more of a breakfast person if his mornings were going to stay like this forever.  But they weren’t.  That’s what he had to keep telling himself.

After breakfast, if Stark Industries could do without their CEO, the two men were off to Tony’s home lab.  The first time he’d showed Peter the lab, he had genuinely hoped for a bigger reaction.  Peter was not nearly as impressed as he would have hoped, but…Tony had to remind himself that he was still competing against that ridiculous Old Man who had the benefit of 21st Century technology and several decades of trial and error that Tony had yet to experience. Of course the Old Man’s lab was going to be shinier and more impressive.  Of course Peter wasn’t going to ‘ooo’ and ‘awww’ over technology that he likely found woefully outdated and comical.  Tony wasn’t bitter about that.  At least…not much.  To his credit, Peter seemed genuinely taken with Dum-E and U.  He greeted them like old friends…and they probably were, come to think of it.  If it was possible, the robots seemed equally enamored by the kid.  Though, as Tony watched Peter giggle and duck Dum-E’s awkwardly swinging appendage, the inventor wondered if there was anyone who wasn’t charmed by the spiderling within minutes of meeting him.  How did he fight crime in the future?  How did all of the criminals not just turn themselves in at the prospect of causing that boy an ounce of harm?  How had the Old Man not become an authoritarian dictator imposing martial law on New York City just to keep the crime rate down and make sure that Peter Parker never encountered anything more dangerous than lost tourists and purse thieves?  

Peter felt responsible for the Old Man’s death.  It wasn’t so hard for Tony to imagine that he’d died for Peter.  Protecting him.  Saving him.  Guaranteeing him a future of rainbows and unicorns.  Not that Tony would ever do anything like that himself.  He could just…understand where the Old Man might have become more sentimental as senility and infirmity crept up on him.  Tony Stark was a self-centered piece of shit…one who choked down unwanted breakfast food every morning just to watch Peter’s face light up with triumph and joy over his small victory.

Fuck.

The lab work was as grueling as Tony had warned that it would be.  Fixing the Nullifer was an impossible task.  There were six glass boards erected on wheels around the lab, all of them covered in colorful, erasably marked equations as Tony and Peter broke the Nullifer down to the bare bones theories Howard Stark had hypothesized when creating it.  There were parts strewn across several work tables.  Blue prints and schematics pinned to walls, taped to floors…  

Though he would never say as much out loud, Tony was impressed by Peter.  His grasp of theoretical physics was remarkable for a kid without a college degree.  Though there were times that Peter needed him to break down the truly advanced parts of a few of the equations, Peter was quick to grasp the concepts once they were explained and proved unafraid to voice his own ideas and theories.  He wasn’t just beautiful, sexy, and brave, he was also smart enough to carry on a scientific conversation with Tony without being left behind…and without boring the inventor.  That, in and of itself, was astounding.  Much to his own chagrin, Tony found himself hauling out other projects, theories, concepts, prototypes…explaining them all to Peter with a touch more eagerness than his self-respect preferred and taking in the boy’s praise or suggestions like he was starving for it.  

They always broke for lunch when the sound of Peter’s stomach rumbling became too distracting, taking whatever fare Jarvis had prepared for them back to the lab so they could eat and work at the same time…though they rarely did.  The ‘picnics’ as Peter called them were usually spent discussing things other than the Nullifer, mostly because Peter insisted that it was important to give the brain time to process things subconsciously.  Tony did have to admit that more often than not, after they’d spent all of lunch arguing over who the best Star Wars characters were while seated in the only clean part of the lab (a six foot square section of floor in the left center) there was some kind of small ‘eureka’ moment that led them down a new path.  It was never the right path, but he had warned Peter that he thought the Nullifer could never actually be fixed.  It certainly wasn’t like, as days passed, Tony was hoping he was right and that stupid machine was broken well into their old age.  Because that wasn’t true.  Or at least, he’d never admit it.  Even to himself.

It was somewhat distressing how little Stark Industries seemed to actually need their CEO around.  Tony suspected that Obie was probably still shouldering a lot of the workload, and since he had no desire to dip his toes into the bureaucratic side of the company…he didn’t feel much like stopping him. Every time he mentioned Obadiah’s name, Peter would imperceptibly tense up and change the subject. It was suspicious, but Tony tried to write it all off as a mutual dislike between the men.  After all, when Tony’s presence had finally been demanded in the office, he’d taken Peter with him to show him around the company…and Obie had been less than welcoming to the young man.

Dinner was mostly delivery, eaten in front of the television, the two men seated closely together on the sofa or the floor in front of the coffee table.  Peter had a deep appreciation for cinema, one that Tony found both endearing and a little obnoxious every time he referred to a recent release as a ‘really old movie.’  “You’re going to be a really sexy corpse if you say that one more time, Peter.”

Peter gave Tony a sidelong glance attempting an innocent smile and a dismissive shrug.  “You’re the one who calls my Tony ‘Old Man’ whenever you’re referring to him.”

Tony felt his jaw clench ever so slightly at Peter’s choice of words.  He sucked in a slow breath through his nose, letting it escape in a sigh as he pushed the nearly empty Chinese takeout container away.  Suddenly, he wasn’t hungry anymore.  “You know, from what little you’ve told me about the guy…I don’t get why you still think he was ever ‘yours’.”

Peter froze, staring down at his own food.  Perhaps Tony had said too much.  He wasn’t jealous of the guy and he hardly wanted Peter to think he was.  There was just some part of him that was very frustrated by Peter always referring to the Old Man as ‘his Tony’.  “No…yeah…you’re right.  He’s not mine.  Never was.  He’s just…just Mr. Stark.  I won’t call him ‘my Tony’ anymore.  I’m sorry…if it…you know.”

Fuck.

The kid even knew him well enough not to go any further with his apology or his excuses.  Tony had never imagined how amazingly frustrating it would be to have someone like Peter around.  No, not someone like Peter.  Peter. There couldn’t be anyone else like Peter, not in all of time and space.

—

“What’s this?”  Peter had been rooting around in Tony’s drawers trying to find a spare tube of lubricant.  They were out, something he’d only just discovered when he was trying to prepare to seduce the older man when he finished with his late-night conference call with the Japanese investors.  Instead of finding spare lube, he’d stumbled upon a worn children’s chapter book tucked away in the bottom drawer of Tony’s bedside table.

Tony froze inside the doorway.  His face was unreadable, but there was a hint of something uncomfortable in his dark eyes.  “A book.”

“Yeah, I figured that part out.  I mean…why do you have it?”

“It was a gift.”

“From?”

“My mother.”

“Oh.”  Peter’s hand fell to his lap, still holding onto the book.  Suddenly, he felt bad about bringing it up.  Although they had both lost their parents, it was something neither of them had talked about to any profound extent.  Peter barely remembered his parents, and for Tony that loss was only a few years old.  Peter could sympathize and avoided the topic unless Tony brought it up.  He felt the mattress shift as Tony sat down beside him.  The billionaire was staring at his hands, remarkably quiet for someone who always enjoyed talking so much.  “You don’t have to say anything else.”  Peter felt the need to make sure Tony knew he was all right with the silence.  “I…I understand.”

Tony nodded his head slowly.  “Yeah, Beautiful, I know you understand…That’s why…”  He fell silent, his words cut off by a melodramatic sigh.  “She gave it to me when I was little.  It was my favorite book growing up.”

Peter looked down at the battered dust jacket and smiled.  The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle.  “This makes so much sense.”  It added a whole new layer to Iron Man that Peter had never even considered.  He could just imagine a tiny Tony Stark pretending to be a knight…only to grow up and save the universe as a futuristic knight of sorts.  

“Oh yeah?”  Tony turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow, wondering at what part of his future could have anything to do with a book about the Round Table and chivalry.  “Well, I’m glad.  I guess.”  He was quiet again for several seconds before he reached out to gingerly take the book from Peter’s hands and begin leafing through it.  “When my mother wasn’t busy being a trophy wife, dragged off by my father to all corners of the world…she’d always come to my room to read me one of these.  Sometimes it was the only time I got to spend with her.  Being raised by nannies isn’t all that Hollywood makes it out to be.”  He grimaced, closing the book again.  “I loved those story times.  Everything about them.  Falling asleep to the sound of reading.  Dreaming about the stories.  Spent most of my very limited innocent years playing Knight and pretending to be a hero.  Then my father decided I was too soft, that I need to learn to be more independent.  Shipped me off to boarding school a half a world away when I was seven and I only saw my parents on holidays after that.  If I was lucky.  I don’t think we ever actually finished reading that book…”

Peter’s throat felt tight as he swallowed, lifting a hand to rub at his eye self consciously, attempting to wipe away the dampness there before Tony saw it.  

Only he did.

Peter could tell by the way Tony’s expression seemed to soften, the way he stared at Peter as if he was only just seeing him for the first time.  The teenager tried to smile, rubbing at his eyes again before Tony reached out to capture his wrists, gently pull his hands away from his face and bridge the distance between them.

Peter could never remember Tony kissing him quite so gently before.  There was a tenderness to the brush of lips that took the young man’s breath away.  When Tony dropped his wrist and lifted a hand to gently stroke the side of Peter’s face, the boy felt tingly all over.  “Umm…we’re…we’re out of lube.”

Tony paused, ceasing the gentle succession of feather soft kisses he’d been pressing to Peter’s lips as he stroked his cheek with a calloused thumb.  A little laugh escaped him and he rested his forehead against Peter’s.  “Way to kill the mood, Parker.”

“I’m sorry!  We could…I don’t know…go without it?”

“Nah, we’ll get some tomorrow.  Tonight…let’s try something else tonight.”

Peter’s gaze was wary, but he nodded, afraid of what sexual escapades they might be about to embark on…right up until the moment Tony made himself comfortable in the bed and pulled Peter into his side.  Wait.  Was Tony Stark actually cuddling?  On purpose?  Of his own choice?  Instead of sex?  Without sex?  Cuddling?   Peter couldn’t help himself, he was grinning like a fool and only too happy to snuggle in as close to Tony as he was allowed.

“What knight did you pretend to be?”

“What?” Tony’s words were muffled by his position, nose buried in Peter’s chestnut curls.  “What knight…Arthur, of course.  Had to be the king, didn’t I?  My ego wouldn’t tolerate anything less.  Why?  Which knight do you think I am?”

Peter considered this for several minutes, running his fingers on a slow track up and down Tony’s clothed chest.  “Lancelot.  I think you’re way more a Lancelot.  Flashy and sexy.  The best knight, but also…controversial and tragic.”

Tony pulled back enough to look at him. “Damn, kid, you make me really curious about my life between now and then.  What the hell happens to me?  Who the hell is this Old Man, anyway?”

“Earth’s greatest defender.”

“No shit?”

“No shit.”  The silence lingered between them, but it wasn’t a bad quiet.  Peter was happy to rest in the comfort of Tony’s arm, tucked against his side, head resting on his chest.  It was Tony who finally broke the silence in the most unexpected of ways.  “Do we start at the beginning or where my mother and I last left off?” He held up the book with his free hand.

Peter just stared at him in awe.  Was he actually suggesting what Peter thought he was suggesting?  Somehow, the idea of cuddling with Tony in his bed reading his favorite book, a gift from his dead mother, a book he’d abandoned along with his innocence well over a decade ago…was the most intimate thing Peter had ever heard. He felt so humbled, so honored, so happy, that he was blinking tears out of his eyes again. “Better start at the beginning.  I don’t think the story of King Arthur has a happy ending.”

“The best stories never do, Sweetheart.”

—

“We’re going to dinner.”

Peter looked up from the circuit board he was bent over, setting it aside to look at Tony incredulously.  “We’re what?”

“We’re going out.  We’ve been cooped up inside for weeks.  It’s time I took you somewhere nice.  So…go shower, change, whatever.  We’re going to my favorite restaurant.”

Peter couldn’t even try to hide his delight at the prospect.  They were going on an actual date.  If he’d thought that periodic cuddles and stories with Tony were wonderful, than a dinner date with the man of his dreams was more than he’d ever hoped for.  He didn’t even care if Tony saw him running to their room to shower and change.

After a little less than an hour, Peter was pleased with the way he looked.  He’d tried to tame his curls and tie his tie just right.  The suit Jarvis had picked up for him ‘just in case’ he happened to need it was precisely the right size.  Then again, with Jarvis, everything was always perfect.  Peter had never thought that the AI would come up short in comparison to the real man.  Even Vision had nothing on this guy.

At last, content and more than ready for dinner, he decided to leave the master bath and go in search of Tony who he discovered entering the bedroom in search of him.

The two men froze in their respective doorways, speaking simultaneously in mirrored exclamations of surprise and indignation.  “What are you wearing?”

A long pause.

“You said you were taking me to dinner.”  Peter looked down at the suit and tie he’d donned, suddenly feeling very self conscious about his choice of attire compared to the jeans and band t-shirt Tony was wearing.

“Where exactly did you think we were eating, Tavern on the Green?”

“I mean…you’re a billionaire.”

“So that means I eat nothing but cavier for every meal then, huh?”

Peter looked genuinely puzzled.  “Don’t you?”

Tony crossed his arms and regarded the younger man with an eyebrow raised questioningly.  “You claim to know me so well, Pete.  What’s my favorite food?  Hm? Is it Foie Gras?”

Another long pause.  “No, its Cheeseburgers.”

“Bravo!”  Tony gave Peter an over-exaggerated round of applause.  “There’s the boy genius I know and love!”

The words hung between them for several seconds as both men realized what he’d said, albeit accidentally.  Peter’s face broke out in a slow grin that very nearly split his head in two, while for the first time in recorded history, Peter assumed, Tony actually blushed.  He cleared his throat, opened his mouth to speak, and remained speechless.  Another first for the billionaire by Peter’s estimation.

“No fair taking it back.”  Peter’s warning was spoken so softly that it barely carried to Tony’s ears.  The billionaire sucked in a slow breath and shrugged as if to say that he had no intention of taking it back, or acknowledging that it had ever happened.

“You’re not changing your clothes, Kid.  You’re eating in the suit.  Come on.  I’m hungry and I’m tired of waiting.”

“No, but…I don’t want to eat cheeseburgers in a suit, Tony.  I’ll look stupid.”  Peter’s high-pitched pleading echoed around them as they made their way through the penthouse and finally to the garage.  Tony sauntered to one of his cars, smirking at the kid as he slid into the driver’s seat.  

“Get in or starve, Beautiful.”

“Mr. Jarvis would never let me starve.”

“Did I say you were going to be starving for food, Beautiful?”  Tony’s gaze dipped meaningfully and Peter turned a deep shade of red.  

“Yeah, okay…I guess…I guess I can eat a cheeseburger in a suit.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Peter fidgeted the whole ride, feeling incredibly self conscious and over dressed.  More so when he saw where they were going to be eating.  Tony led the way into the tiny diner, greeting the middle-aged server and the line cook visible through a small pass-through into the kitchen.  He knew their names.  Apparently, he was a regular.

“You look pretty young to be a lawyer.”

Peter looked up at the woman whose name was apparently ‘Lorraine’.  “Oh no, I’m…I’m not a lawyer.”

“You don’t say…never see men in here in a suit unless they’re lawyers.  You just a fancy dresser, then, huh?”

“Um…yeah?”  Peter glanced down at the napkin wrapped silverware she’d placed in front of him and smirked at the sight of what appeared to be grease on the spoon.  Good thing he didn’t need silverware to eat a burger.

“What are you and your fancy man getting today, Tony?”

Tony raised an eyebrow at Peter, gesturing to the menu.  Peter, however, just shook his head.  “Just…double whatever you usually get.”

“Well, Lorraine, you heard the man.”

“Hey, Charlie, you hear all that?  I need two Dead Cows wearing Yellow Blankets, two orders of Frog Sticks and we need ‘em Stark Naked.”

Peter couldn’t help but snort as he tried to hold in his laughter.

“Be right back with the shakes, Dear.”  Lorraine departed the table with a wink, unused menus stashed under her arm.

Peter took the time to look around the diner now that they were alone.  It was old, but despite the literal greasy spoon, appeared to be clean.  There were a few other diners, but everyone seemed to be minding their own business.  Every booth had a tiny juke box sitting against the wall, and with nothing else to look at, Peter was happy to slide along the seat and take a closer look at the music selection.  “Oh wow, there’s some great really old music on this thing, did you bring change?”

“Of course.”  Tony laughed.  “Gotta have quarters for the jukebox and the pinball.  It’s part of the place’s charm.”

“There’s pinball, too!”  Peter craned his neck to find the game.

“It’s by the bathrooms.  I’ll challenge you to a few games after we eat.  Only fair warning you though, Beautiful, I’ve had the High Score on it for well over a year.”

“That’s really going to suck for you when I beat you tonight, then.”  

The burgers were surprisingly good.  Juicy, covered in gooey melted cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, pickle, tomato and some kind of ‘special sauce’ that Peter swore was just ketchup, mustard and mayo mixed together.  The milkshakes were thick, the fries were salty, and Peter was quick to declare it his new favorite burger joint in New York.  He even managed to beat Tony’s high score on pinball and preened with pride the entire way home while he listened to Tony grumble about a promised re-match.

As it turned out, the diner became a familiar haunt for them.  Several times a week after working late in the lab, they’d wind up in ‘their’ booth.  While they started out on opposite sides, after a couple of weeks, Tony just began sliding into the seat beside Peter, settling an arm around his shoulders, speaking softly into his ear, stealing french fries from his plate.  

—

Tony couldn’t believe that he had to hear about Peter’s bithday from Jarvis.  That hurt.  Far more than it should have.  The butler had shared the somewhat troubling exchange in which Peter had debated whether it was possible to have a birthday before someone was officially born.  Jarvis now thought Peter was utterly insane, but still seemed to like the kid.  It was impossible not to.

What did you do for your lover on his pre-Birthday?  They couldn’t have a party.  Peter had no one to invite and that was just going to be depressing.  He couldn’t give Peter a physical gift because he’d never be able to take it with him when he left.   If Tony ever let him leave, anyway.  A trip was out of the question, Peter would balk about being away from the Nullifier for that long.  He could convince the boy to take a few hours off, but more than a day…that was never going to happen.  Never mind that they’d already been at the job of repairing it for months.

The answer came to him quite unexpectedly, but it really was perfect.  It was going to be expensive.  It was going to take time, but Tony had both.

August tenth, after breakfast, Tony convinced Peter to take the morning off, though he said nothing about Peter’s birthday.  Not yet.  Peter didn’t suspect anything until Tony pulled his sports car into a parking spot at a lot for Forest Park in Queens.  Only then did the teenager pivot in his seat to fix Tony with a questioning look.  His confusion clear on his face.

“Happy B-day Peter!”

Peter just stared at him.  “Uh…thanks.  I guess.”

He clearly had no idea why Tony had brought him to Forest Park, but that was all going to become clear in a moment.  “I couldn’t think of what to do to make this special.  Thought a lot about it.  Had a lot of crazy ideas.  Settled on this one.  So…Peter, are you ready to meet your very much alive and breathing parents?”

If Peter looked surprised now, Tony was sure that finding out they were S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents was going to be a real Kodak moment.

[kathydsalters31]

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Dogs & Dog Owners (2019-2020 Edition)

November 19, 2018 3 Comments

Updated December 2019

Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we know and love, and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Want to spoil you, your dog, or a dog-loving friend or family member this holiday season? We rounded up our favorite dog toys, accessories, apparel, and technology available for dogs and dog owners. We and our long-haired dachshund Django personally love and use every one of these items and have tried them all. So don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have a question about anything. Did we miss a great gift idea? Leave your ideas in the comments below! Happy holidays!

IN THIS POST:

Gifts for Dog Owners

Dyson | V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Mike and I can’t say enough good things about Dyson’s V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. We ordered this cordless vacuum last year to replace our very old, heavy and outdated model. What a difference! Dyson’s Animal vacuum works incredibly well on our carpets and hardwood floors and manages to remove all of Django’s dog hair from the surfaces.

The convenience of having a cordless model and the compact shape of the Dyson Animal are also worth emphasizing. Suddenly vacuuming our apartment is incredibly easy and convenient. We’re able to easily get under our bed and furniture with the Animal and have no problem storing it in our tiny NYC apartment closet. 

DJANGO | Dog Carry Bag

DJANGO’s dog carry bag is designed for you and your pup’s daily commute or next weekend adventure. The 20 oz. cotton canvas is waxed, providing a layer of protection from rain, moisture and time. Soft leather handles are engineered for max carrying comfort, and the 230T nylon lining is silky, durable and water-resistant. A soft and sturdy foot pad and bag-to-harness tether ensures your pup’s comfort and security. Four exterior and interior zip pockets ensure essentials (poop bags, keys, your passport) don’t get lost in the fray.

Fracture | Hand-Crafted Custom Glass Prints

Mike and I have traveled and adventured with Django throughout the US, Canada and Europe. We have so many incredible photos of our travels and use Fracture to turn our most artistic shots into stunning glass wall art. Fracture allows you to easily upload a favorite photo of your dog. Fracture then prints the image directly onto durable, frameless glass in vivid color. Choose from multiple sizes that can be easily mounted or displayed via stand. For your reference, our above Fracture prints are 11 x 11 inches (left) and 4.8 x 6.4 inches (right).

Furbo | Treat-Tossing Dog Camera

We’ve owned Furbo’s treat-tossing dog camera. Furbo is essentially a baby monitor for your dog. It allows you to monitor and speak to your dog when you’re away with 1080p HD video, 2-way audio, and even night vision. Furbo also allows you to fling treats to your dog remotely. An extra benefit? We leave Furbo on whenever we travel with Django for an extended period of time for home security and peace of mind.

Hoover | SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner

When Home Depot reached out to Mike to test and review their new SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner, we welcomed the opportunity. We were getting ready to move out of our Philadelphia apartment – a one bedroom rental – and the light cream carpet in the bedroom showed clear signs of Django’s presence. We ultimately were very impressed with our new Hoover’s power, effectiveness, and ease of use. Link below for a full and very detailed product review of our Hoover.

Here is our full product review of Home Depot’s SmartWash Advanced Pet Carpet Cleaner.

Petsies | Custom Pet Stuffed Animals

Petsies creates custom stuffed animals of your pet. And when we say custom… we mean the stuffed animal looks exactly like your pet. After uploading a few clear photos of your pet and completing a quick questionnaire about your pet’s breed and distinguishable markings, a team of designers works on and perfects your stuffed animal. They actually use air brushing techniques to ensure your stuffed animal looks exactly like your pet – markings, hair and all. The end result is incredible. Keep in mind that because every Petsies order is custom, it usually takes 1-2 weeks for your order to arrive.

Operation ResCUTE | The Story of Jingles

If you’re looking for a special gift for a dog loving child or young adult, consider Operation ResCUTE’s Story of Jingles. The Story of Jingles is the first book in a series of three. Based on the true story of a real life rescue dog, the book comes with an adorable stuffed animal. The best part? 100% of profits go towards helping shelter dogs get adopted.

We know the family behind Operation ResCUTE and have only wonderful things to say about them. Their cause is honorable and generous. Operation ResCUTE is a non-profit organization intended to educate and encourage the next generation of young readers to think about adopting shelter dogs in need of a loving home.

PrintArtKids | Custom Stationery, Puzzles, & Other Personalized Gifts

I’ve been on the search for more thoughtful presents this year and absolutely fell in love with PrintArtKids. PrintArtKids is a woman-owned and operated small business that transforms your favorite pet and family photos into custom stationary, puzzles and other creative personalized gifts. We ordered Django-themed holiday cards (above left) and a beautiful custom Django-themed puzzle (above left) for our baby boy. Both are incredibly high quality and the puzzle is truly one-of-a-kind. Our puzzle is 30 pieces since Django’s baby brother is so little, but you can also select higher count puzzles! The company will also be rolling out 500- and 1000-count puzzles near term! If you’re looking for a more thoughtful, innovative, and personalized gift for a dog lover, head over to printartkids.com.

Gifts for Dogs 

BARK | Super Chewer Monthly Subscription Box

Django’s favorite hobbies including eating, cuddling, and absolutely obliterating new toys. He loves nothing more than taking a perfectly new toy and ripping it to pieces. We stopped paying more for premium “destroy-proof” toys since Django would ruin them in minutes! You can imagine Mike and I were thrilled when Bark rolled out a new Super Chewer monthly subscription box for dogs who play harder and demand more of a challenge with their toys. We most recently received Bark’s Thanksgiving-themed box which came with 3 amazing toys (including a Smash Potato, see photo above), two healthy super chews, and two bags of meaty treats. Django was particularly obsessed with his new Smash Potato toy and 100% Salmon Skin Roll chew. The toys are incredibly durable yet still keep Django’s attention. They’re made of all-natural rubber or nylon and contain zero fluff.

Note that during sign-up, we opted-in to the “Extra Toy Club” to receive three toys in every box instead of two. If you don’t opt-in for the extra toy, each monthly subscription box includes 2 tough toys, 2 full-size bags of treats, and 2 meaty chews. Each box is themed around different types of play and senses such as fetch, mentally stimulating puzzles, and scents for nose work.

DJANGO | Reversible Puffer Dog Coat

Help your pup brave the chilly months of the year in this reversible, durable, and uber-comfy cold weather dog coat. The windproof and weather-resistant outer shell provides warmth, insulation, and protection from the elements. The interior lining is made from extremely soft, strong and long-lasting 100% cotton fiber that offers additional comfort and warmth for your adventure dog. Oversized arm holes enable maximum range of motion whether you are walking down a city sidewalk or running up a snowy mountain trail. Use the structured leash portal to incorporate your favorite dog’s harness and leash attachment. Velcro closure for easy on and off. Machine washable.

The Farmer’s Dog | Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service

The Farmer’s Dog is a subscription dog food company that delivers high quality, nutrition-dense, ready-to-eat frozen dog food meals to your door. All three recipes offered (turkey, beef, and pork) are made in the USA with USDA-certified and human grade meats. High quality animal protein is always the first ingredient, and each recipe is complemented by nutrition-dense legumes, carbs and vegetables such as chickpeas, sweet potatoes, broccoli and carrots. Django is always very excited when we bring out Farmer’s Dog at night for dinner. We’ve been feeding Django this for some time now and highly recommend it.

We recently published an honest review and comprehensive overview of The Farmer’s Dog. You can read it here.

Brentwood Home | Runyan Pet Bed

[embedded content]

Django absolutely loves his Brentwood Home memory foam dog bed. He is actually sleeping on it now as I write! Django has slept on his Brenwood Home dog bed every night since we brought it into our home, and he often walks into our bedroom during the day to nap on it. We’re huge fans of the waterproof, removable, and machine washable bed cover. We’ve washed the cover countless times and it’s held up well. It is also non-toxic – a huge plus. This is a wonderful option for your dog if you want a very high quality, comfortable, and long-lasting dog bed.

For your reference, Django is 16 inches long (from neck to base of tail). We own the Runyan Pet Bed in size medium and color mocha which is perfect for Django’s long sausage dog body.

Pet Plate | Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service

The first time Django ate Pet Plate, he actually carried his dinner bowl out of the kitchen and into the living room so he could continue licking it. He had never done that before, and Mike and I took it as a very good sign.

There are a couple things Mike and I really respect about Pet Plate. Most importantly, the quality and nutritional value of Pet Plate ingredients stands out. Pet Plate’s chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb are all high quality sources of protein from USDA-registered suppliers. All fruits and vegetables are flash-frozen, preserving higher nutritional value relative to dry dog food recipes. The second factor making Pet Plate a favorite in our household is convenience. Every Pet Plate box comes delivered to your door with pre-packaged frozen meal containers. Mike and I keep all the meals in our freezer until the day before we are ready to serve them to Django.

Open Farm | Freeze-Dried Raw Grain-Free Dog Food

Upgrade your dog’s diet with Open Farm’s Freeze Dried Raw meals and toppers. Each recipe are packed with nutrient-rich, whole food ingredients, such as humanely raised meats, organic leafy greens, and organic pumpkin. For an added nutritional benefit, every blend is topped off with superfood ingredients like coconut oil and turmeric.

Outward Hound | Hide-a-Squirrel Interactive Plush Dog Toy

This is by far one of the most popular dog toys on Amazon and easily one of Django’s favorite toys. Each plush ‘log’ comes with tiny plush squirrels that squeak and hide inside the log. Watch with amusement as your dog rips each plush squirrel out from the log over… and over… and over again. My only complaint about the toy? Django broke the squirrels’ squeakers pretty quickly. With that said, he still plays with them regularly. I also just saw you can buy replacement squirrels on Amazon for only $7. Not bad at all.

Musher’s Secret | Pet Paw Protection Wax

If your dog refuses to wear boots outside, consider a high quality wax-based paw balm. By far the most popular product for winter adventures and one we personally recommend is Musher’s Secret Paw Balm. Musher’s Secret is a blend of 100% pure and natural waxes including white and yellow beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, and vegetable oils. Once a thin layer is applied to your dog’s paws, the wax-based cream protects against snow, salt and ice. You can even rub the wax between your dog’s pads to help prevent snowballing (a problem we are very familiar with given Django’s hairy paws!). The balm also contains Vitamin E to help soothe dry paws during brittle winter months. Tub sizing ranges from 60g (the one in my hand) to 200g, and the reasonable cost of this winter necessity makes it a great stocking stuffing.

Unique Sports | Tourna Mesh Carry Bag of 18 Tennis Balls

If your dog loves tennis balls and/or destroys a tennis ball within 10 minutes of getting it consider treating him or her to this massive bag of very affordable and lasting tennis balls. Before I found this, we were purchasing pro tennis balls (3 to a can) which started getting expensive. Although I wouldn’t play tennis with these balls, they are 100% perfect for a pup looking to play fetch. One tip? Store them in a garage bag or other scent-proof container… Otherwise your dog will find them with his nose and whine relentlessly at the closet door until you give him one (we know from experience).

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The Ultimate Gift Guide for Dogs & Dog Owners (2019-2020 Edition)

November 19, 2018 3 Comments

Updated December 2019

Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we know and love, and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Want to spoil you, your dog, or a dog-loving friend or family member this holiday season? We rounded up our favorite dog toys, accessories, apparel, and technology available for dogs and dog owners. We and our long-haired dachshund Django personally love and use every one of these items and have tried them all. So don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have a question about anything. Did we miss a great gift idea? Leave your ideas in the comments below! Happy holidays!

IN THIS POST:

Gifts for Dog Owners

Dyson | V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Mike and I can’t say enough good things about Dyson’s V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. We ordered this cordless vacuum last year to replace our very old, heavy and outdated model. What a difference! Dyson’s Animal vacuum works incredibly well on our carpets and hardwood floors and manages to remove all of Django’s dog hair from the surfaces.

The convenience of having a cordless model and the compact shape of the Dyson Animal are also worth emphasizing. Suddenly vacuuming our apartment is incredibly easy and convenient. We’re able to easily get under our bed and furniture with the Animal and have no problem storing it in our tiny NYC apartment closet. 

DJANGO | Dog Carry Bag

DJANGO’s dog carry bag is designed for you and your pup’s daily commute or next weekend adventure. The 20 oz. cotton canvas is waxed, providing a layer of protection from rain, moisture and time. Soft leather handles are engineered for max carrying comfort, and the 230T nylon lining is silky, durable and water-resistant. A soft and sturdy foot pad and bag-to-harness tether ensures your pup’s comfort and security. Four exterior and interior zip pockets ensure essentials (poop bags, keys, your passport) don’t get lost in the fray.

Fracture | Hand-Crafted Custom Glass Prints

Mike and I have traveled and adventured with Django throughout the US, Canada and Europe. We have so many incredible photos of our travels and use Fracture to turn our most artistic shots into stunning glass wall art. Fracture allows you to easily upload a favorite photo of your dog. Fracture then prints the image directly onto durable, frameless glass in vivid color. Choose from multiple sizes that can be easily mounted or displayed via stand. For your reference, our above Fracture prints are 11 x 11 inches (left) and 4.8 x 6.4 inches (right).

Furbo | Treat-Tossing Dog Camera

We’ve owned Furbo’s treat-tossing dog camera. Furbo is essentially a baby monitor for your dog. It allows you to monitor and speak to your dog when you’re away with 1080p HD video, 2-way audio, and even night vision. Furbo also allows you to fling treats to your dog remotely. An extra benefit? We leave Furbo on whenever we travel with Django for an extended period of time for home security and peace of mind.

Hoover | SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner

When Home Depot reached out to Mike to test and review their new SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner, we welcomed the opportunity. We were getting ready to move out of our Philadelphia apartment – a one bedroom rental – and the light cream carpet in the bedroom showed clear signs of Django’s presence. We ultimately were very impressed with our new Hoover’s power, effectiveness, and ease of use. Link below for a full and very detailed product review of our Hoover.

Here is our full product review of Home Depot’s SmartWash Advanced Pet Carpet Cleaner.

Petsies | Custom Pet Stuffed Animals

Petsies creates custom stuffed animals of your pet. And when we say custom… we mean the stuffed animal looks exactly like your pet. After uploading a few clear photos of your pet and completing a quick questionnaire about your pet’s breed and distinguishable markings, a team of designers works on and perfects your stuffed animal. They actually use air brushing techniques to ensure your stuffed animal looks exactly like your pet – markings, hair and all. The end result is incredible. Keep in mind that because every Petsies order is custom, it usually takes 1-2 weeks for your order to arrive.

Operation ResCUTE | The Story of Jingles

If you’re looking for a special gift for a dog loving child or young adult, consider Operation ResCUTE’s Story of Jingles. The Story of Jingles is the first book in a series of three. Based on the true story of a real life rescue dog, the book comes with an adorable stuffed animal. The best part? 100% of profits go towards helping shelter dogs get adopted.

We know the family behind Operation ResCUTE and have only wonderful things to say about them. Their cause is honorable and generous. Operation ResCUTE is a non-profit organization intended to educate and encourage the next generation of young readers to think about adopting shelter dogs in need of a loving home.

PrintArtKids | Custom Stationery, Puzzles, & Other Personalized Gifts

I’ve been on the search for more thoughtful presents this year and absolutely fell in love with PrintArtKids. PrintArtKids is a woman-owned and operated small business that transforms your favorite pet and family photos into custom stationary, puzzles and other creative personalized gifts. We ordered Django-themed holiday cards (above left) and a beautiful custom Django-themed puzzle (above left) for our baby boy. Both are incredibly high quality and the puzzle is truly one-of-a-kind. Our puzzle is 30 pieces since Django’s baby brother is so little, but you can also select higher count puzzles! The company will also be rolling out 500- and 1000-count puzzles near term! If you’re looking for a more thoughtful, innovative, and personalized gift for a dog lover, head over to printartkids.com.

Gifts for Dogs 

BARK | Super Chewer Monthly Subscription Box

Django’s favorite hobbies including eating, cuddling, and absolutely obliterating new toys. He loves nothing more than taking a perfectly new toy and ripping it to pieces. We stopped paying more for premium “destroy-proof” toys since Django would ruin them in minutes! You can imagine Mike and I were thrilled when Bark rolled out a new Super Chewer monthly subscription box for dogs who play harder and demand more of a challenge with their toys. We most recently received Bark’s Thanksgiving-themed box which came with 3 amazing toys (including a Smash Potato, see photo above), two healthy super chews, and two bags of meaty treats. Django was particularly obsessed with his new Smash Potato toy and 100% Salmon Skin Roll chew. The toys are incredibly durable yet still keep Django’s attention. They’re made of all-natural rubber or nylon and contain zero fluff.

Note that during sign-up, we opted-in to the “Extra Toy Club” to receive three toys in every box instead of two. If you don’t opt-in for the extra toy, each monthly subscription box includes 2 tough toys, 2 full-size bags of treats, and 2 meaty chews. Each box is themed around different types of play and senses such as fetch, mentally stimulating puzzles, and scents for nose work.

DJANGO | Reversible Puffer Dog Coat

Help your pup brave the chilly months of the year in this reversible, durable, and uber-comfy cold weather dog coat. The windproof and weather-resistant outer shell provides warmth, insulation, and protection from the elements. The interior lining is made from extremely soft, strong and long-lasting 100% cotton fiber that offers additional comfort and warmth for your adventure dog. Oversized arm holes enable maximum range of motion whether you are walking down a city sidewalk or running up a snowy mountain trail. Use the structured leash portal to incorporate your favorite dog’s harness and leash attachment. Velcro closure for easy on and off. Machine washable.

The Farmer’s Dog | Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service

The Farmer’s Dog is a subscription dog food company that delivers high quality, nutrition-dense, ready-to-eat frozen dog food meals to your door. All three recipes offered (turkey, beef, and pork) are made in the USA with USDA-certified and human grade meats. High quality animal protein is always the first ingredient, and each recipe is complemented by nutrition-dense legumes, carbs and vegetables such as chickpeas, sweet potatoes, broccoli and carrots. Django is always very excited when we bring out Farmer’s Dog at night for dinner. We’ve been feeding Django this for some time now and highly recommend it.

We recently published an honest review and comprehensive overview of The Farmer’s Dog. You can read it here.

Brentwood Home | Runyan Pet Bed

[embedded content]

Django absolutely loves his Brentwood Home memory foam dog bed. He is actually sleeping on it now as I write! Django has slept on his Brenwood Home dog bed every night since we brought it into our home, and he often walks into our bedroom during the day to nap on it. We’re huge fans of the waterproof, removable, and machine washable bed cover. We’ve washed the cover countless times and it’s held up well. It is also non-toxic – a huge plus. This is a wonderful option for your dog if you want a very high quality, comfortable, and long-lasting dog bed.

For your reference, Django is 16 inches long (from neck to base of tail). We own the Runyan Pet Bed in size medium and color mocha which is perfect for Django’s long sausage dog body.

Pet Plate | Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service

The first time Django ate Pet Plate, he actually carried his dinner bowl out of the kitchen and into the living room so he could continue licking it. He had never done that before, and Mike and I took it as a very good sign.

There are a couple things Mike and I really respect about Pet Plate. Most importantly, the quality and nutritional value of Pet Plate ingredients stands out. Pet Plate’s chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb are all high quality sources of protein from USDA-registered suppliers. All fruits and vegetables are flash-frozen, preserving higher nutritional value relative to dry dog food recipes. The second factor making Pet Plate a favorite in our household is convenience. Every Pet Plate box comes delivered to your door with pre-packaged frozen meal containers. Mike and I keep all the meals in our freezer until the day before we are ready to serve them to Django.

Open Farm | Freeze-Dried Raw Grain-Free Dog Food

Upgrade your dog’s diet with Open Farm’s Freeze Dried Raw meals and toppers. Each recipe are packed with nutrient-rich, whole food ingredients, such as humanely raised meats, organic leafy greens, and organic pumpkin. For an added nutritional benefit, every blend is topped off with superfood ingredients like coconut oil and turmeric.

Outward Hound | Hide-a-Squirrel Interactive Plush Dog Toy

This is by far one of the most popular dog toys on Amazon and easily one of Django’s favorite toys. Each plush ‘log’ comes with tiny plush squirrels that squeak and hide inside the log. Watch with amusement as your dog rips each plush squirrel out from the log over… and over… and over again. My only complaint about the toy? Django broke the squirrels’ squeakers pretty quickly. With that said, he still plays with them regularly. I also just saw you can buy replacement squirrels on Amazon for only $7. Not bad at all.

Musher’s Secret | Pet Paw Protection Wax

If your dog refuses to wear boots outside, consider a high quality wax-based paw balm. By far the most popular product for winter adventures and one we personally recommend is Musher’s Secret Paw Balm. Musher’s Secret is a blend of 100% pure and natural waxes including white and yellow beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, and vegetable oils. Once a thin layer is applied to your dog’s paws, the wax-based cream protects against snow, salt and ice. You can even rub the wax between your dog’s pads to help prevent snowballing (a problem we are very familiar with given Django’s hairy paws!). The balm also contains Vitamin E to help soothe dry paws during brittle winter months. Tub sizing ranges from 60g (the one in my hand) to 200g, and the reasonable cost of this winter necessity makes it a great stocking stuffing.

Unique Sports | Tourna Mesh Carry Bag of 18 Tennis Balls

If your dog loves tennis balls and/or destroys a tennis ball within 10 minutes of getting it consider treating him or her to this massive bag of very affordable and lasting tennis balls. Before I found this, we were purchasing pro tennis balls (3 to a can) which started getting expensive. Although I wouldn’t play tennis with these balls, they are 100% perfect for a pup looking to play fetch. One tip? Store them in a garage bag or other scent-proof container… Otherwise your dog will find them with his nose and whine relentlessly at the closet door until you give him one (we know from experience).

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Best Professional Bags and Briefcases for Women Lawyers

Well designed, fashionable, professional-yet-functional bags and briefcases for women are so hard to find. I surveyed over 500 women lawyers on email lists, Facebook, and Twitter, in order to compile this list of briefcases for women. The list includes a wide range of names, styles, colors, and interesting lesser-known brands, all of which can accommodate a laptop.

These are my three rules for a well-designed bag for lawyers:

Related “How to Dress Like a Lawyer” “Lawyer Lifestyle” “The Best Briefcases for Male Lawyers”

Strap. Some bags don’t come with straps, which means you have to carry it in your hand. This is impractical and annoying. You often need both hands to grab something out of your bag, and you can’t do that if you have to carry the bag by the handle instead of over your shoulder. (Bonus points if the strap doesn’t dig into your shoulder, especially right over a bra strap.)

Functional. This obviously depends on what you need to carry. I tend to travel light and often the most I need to squeeze into a bag is a laptop and a one-inch folder (along with the usual woman stuff like makeup). Carefully considering how much room you need and what you will be carrying will make your briefcase more lovable in the long term. Another nice-to-have feature is a bag with feet that can stand on its own. It is nice to be able to set down your bag without worrying about it falling over.

Feels good and/or feminine. When I graduated from law school, I had a men’s Coach briefcase. I bought it because I loved the feel of the leather, it was highly functional, and it was well built. Back then, I wanted a bag that will help me blend in and having a bag that looked similar to the ones my male counterpart was carrying helped me feel more comfortable. As I matured and became more comfortable as a lawyer, I felt it was important to bring more of myself and my personality not only to what I what I wore, but to all aspects of my law practice. Having a bag that I felt comfortable carrying, with the right blend of femininity and function, became more important to me. I didn’t want to be a generic lawyer, and leaving behind the men’s Coach briefcase was one small step towards finding my footing.

The balance between professional, functional, and not too frumpy or too sexy makes it a challenge to find a briefcase or bag. The recommendations from the lawyers I surveyed were mostly a variation on the traditional briefcase or tote. There were also many suggestions for rolling bags, which are especially helpful if you have to carry a lot of weight and negotiate high heels at the same time.

Best Women’s Professional Bags Under $100

I was certainly not the only lawyer to leave behind the “masculine” bag and traded it in for a more feminine one. Here’s what Maureen Hodson, attorney at Hunsucker Goodstein said about her Kenneth Cole Hit a Triple bag:

Kenneth Cole Hit a Triple Tote – $49

For years I used a really ugly masculine bag and longed for something more feminine. I found it about a year ago, and though inexpensive, this has served me well. 

Hodson recommended this bag not only because of how it looks but because of its function:

I like that it has dedicated space for both an ipad and laptop, with plenty of room for legal pads and a redwell or two. The external pockets are great for dropping my office keys into. The center compartment (which holds the laptop) unzips all the way, which is really nice for when you need to stack a bunch of stuff in there!

Another brand that falls into the feminine yet functional bag is from Solo. I included it because they have a large collection under $100. Here’s the Solo Jay:

Solo Jay – $58

Best Women’s Professional Bags for $100-$250

Another big factor in considering the bag is how it feels against the body. I love bags that hugs the body, like this Piel Hobo laptop bag:

Piel Hobo – $148

It has wider straps and hugs the shoulder and allows the bag to sit in between the arm and the side of the body. It also comes in 4 colors, which is always an added bonus.

Many of the women lawyers I interviewed chose men’s briefcases. It makes sense in many ways. They’re functional, there are lots of options, and it does the job — carrying your stuff from point A to point B with ease and comfort.

Of all the men’s bags recommendations, my favorite one was the Knomo Henderson bag:

Knomo Henderson – $250

Lisette Sell, attorney at Cooley LLP, said she chose this bag because it is “feminine and functional.” She “wanted a bag that was just the right size. Wanted more than just a laptop bag but didn’t want a large clunky bag. I am not very big/tall and didn’t want to have to haul around a bulky bag.”

Unlike all the other bags listed in this post, this Michael Kors Jet Set bag isn’t specifically for a laptop, although you can place a laptop in the middle compartment. Oftentimes, you’re limited to one or two colors when it comes to professional bags. The Jet Set bags comes in three sizes and dozens of colors and patterns:

Michael Kors Jet Set – $225

Professional Women’s Bags for $250 to $1,000

I received two recommendations for MZ Wallace bags. Both lawyers described their MZ as durable and functional:

MZ Wallace Metro Tote – $300

Jodi Swick, partner at Edison, McDowell & Hetherington llp said,

It will hold several folders of documents (or a binder), a laptop and a pair of shoes. It also has outside pockets for your phone, pens, etc. Mine has literally been around the world.

Tumi has one of the best collection of women’s briefcases, and there were multiple votes for Tumi bags, both for style and function. As Shoshana Chazan, attorney at Sodexo, Inc., puts it:

Tumi has some great options. I have an old one that, even after the dog used it as a chew toy at one point, still looks (and works) great.

Erin McDermit, attorney at Shuman Snyder said,

Tumi is all I have ever used. quality and simple/classic styles.

The Tumi Sinclair is just the right size, black, and goes with everything. Like most of the other Tumi bags, it is highly functional, with a large interior compartment that is great for bulky files:

Tumi Sinclair – $545

Professional Women’s Bags Over $1,000

There are obviously well-known luxury brands in the over-$1,000 club, like the classic Louis Vuitton Neverfull:

Louis Vuitton Neverfull – $2899

For your best Olivia Pope impression, bring the classic Prada Saffiano Lux Executive Tote to a settlement conference:

Prada Saffiano Tote – $1999

NOTE: As of this writing, the Prada Saffiano Tote is no longer available on Amazon, though you can still find it at Neiman Marcus or Prada.

Best Overall Professional Women’s Bag

If you have the budget, the absolutely best professional bag is made to order by master leather craftsman Myron Glaser.

Elizabeth A. Frohlich, partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, said:

I loooooove this work tote that I have used every day and for court for 8 years, and still get compliments. I am a BigLaw partner, so need something that can go formal, too. It is very expensive, but is a real workhorse, made of delicious leather. Mine is black with silver hardware. Myron Glaser at Glaser Designs will customize, too.

Glaser Designs Custom Totes – $1,000-$2,000+

The best women’s professional bag is a custom tote handmade by Myron Glaser of Glaser Designs in San Francisco.

Rating: 5 (out of 5)

Best Women’s Bag: Glaser Designs Custom Tote Bag, reviewed by Jeena Cho on November 30, 2015 based on an earlier article written by Staci Zaretsky on April 15th, 2011.

The post Best Professional Bags and Briefcases for Women Lawyers appeared first on Lawyerist.com.

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Best Professional Bags and Briefcases for Women Lawyers

Well designed, fashionable, professional-yet-functional bags and briefcases for women are so hard to find. I surveyed over 500 women lawyers on email lists, Facebook, and Twitter, in order to compile this list of briefcases for women. The list includes a wide range of names, styles, colors, and interesting lesser-known brands, all of which can accommodate a laptop.

These are my three rules for a well-designed bag for lawyers:

Related “How to Dress Like a Lawyer” “Lawyer Lifestyle” “The Best Briefcases for Male Lawyers”

Strap. Some bags don’t come with straps, which means you have to carry it in your hand. This is impractical and annoying. You often need both hands to grab something out of your bag, and you can’t do that if you have to carry the bag by the handle instead of over your shoulder. (Bonus points if the strap doesn’t dig into your shoulder, especially right over a bra strap.)

Functional. This obviously depends on what you need to carry. I tend to travel light and often the most I need to squeeze into a bag is a laptop and a one-inch folder (along with the usual woman stuff like makeup). Carefully considering how much room you need and what you will be carrying will make your briefcase more lovable in the long term. Another nice-to-have feature is a bag with feet that can stand on its own. It is nice to be able to set down your bag without worrying about it falling over.

Feels good and/or feminine. When I graduated from law school, I had a men’s Coach briefcase. I bought it because I loved the feel of the leather, it was highly functional, and it was well built. Back then, I wanted a bag that will help me blend in and having a bag that looked similar to the ones my male counterpart was carrying helped me feel more comfortable. As I matured and became more comfortable as a lawyer, I felt it was important to bring more of myself and my personality not only to what I what I wore, but to all aspects of my law practice. Having a bag that I felt comfortable carrying, with the right blend of femininity and function, became more important to me. I didn’t want to be a generic lawyer, and leaving behind the men’s Coach briefcase was one small step towards finding my footing.

The balance between professional, functional, and not too frumpy or too sexy makes it a challenge to find a briefcase or bag. The recommendations from the lawyers I surveyed were mostly a variation on the traditional briefcase or tote. There were also many suggestions for rolling bags, which are especially helpful if you have to carry a lot of weight and negotiate high heels at the same time.

Best Women’s Professional Bags Under $100

I was certainly not the only lawyer to leave behind the “masculine” bag and traded it in for a more feminine one. Here’s what Maureen Hodson, attorney at Hunsucker Goodstein said about her Kenneth Cole Hit a Triple bag:

Kenneth Cole Hit a Triple Tote – $49

For years I used a really ugly masculine bag and longed for something more feminine. I found it about a year ago, and though inexpensive, this has served me well. 

Hodson recommended this bag not only because of how it looks but because of its function:

I like that it has dedicated space for both an ipad and laptop, with plenty of room for legal pads and a redwell or two. The external pockets are great for dropping my office keys into. The center compartment (which holds the laptop) unzips all the way, which is really nice for when you need to stack a bunch of stuff in there!

Another brand that falls into the feminine yet functional bag is from Solo. I included it because they have a large collection under $100. Here’s the Solo Jay:

Solo Jay – $58

Best Women’s Professional Bags for $100-$250

Another big factor in considering the bag is how it feels against the body. I love bags that hugs the body, like this Piel Hobo laptop bag:

Piel Hobo – $148

It has wider straps and hugs the shoulder and allows the bag to sit in between the arm and the side of the body. It also comes in 4 colors, which is always an added bonus.

Many of the women lawyers I interviewed chose men’s briefcases. It makes sense in many ways. They’re functional, there are lots of options, and it does the job — carrying your stuff from point A to point B with ease and comfort.

Of all the men’s bags recommendations, my favorite one was the Knomo Henderson bag:

Knomo Henderson – $250

Lisette Sell, attorney at Cooley LLP, said she chose this bag because it is “feminine and functional.” She “wanted a bag that was just the right size. Wanted more than just a laptop bag but didn’t want a large clunky bag. I am not very big/tall and didn’t want to have to haul around a bulky bag.”

Unlike all the other bags listed in this post, this Michael Kors Jet Set bag isn’t specifically for a laptop, although you can place a laptop in the middle compartment. Oftentimes, you’re limited to one or two colors when it comes to professional bags. The Jet Set bags comes in three sizes and dozens of colors and patterns:

Michael Kors Jet Set – $225

Professional Women’s Bags for $250 to $1,000

I received two recommendations for MZ Wallace bags. Both lawyers described their MZ as durable and functional:

MZ Wallace Metro Tote – $300

Jodi Swick, partner at Edison, McDowell & Hetherington llp said,

It will hold several folders of documents (or a binder), a laptop and a pair of shoes. It also has outside pockets for your phone, pens, etc. Mine has literally been around the world.

Tumi has one of the best collection of women’s briefcases, and there were multiple votes for Tumi bags, both for style and function. As Shoshana Chazan, attorney at Sodexo, Inc., puts it:

Tumi has some great options. I have an old one that, even after the dog used it as a chew toy at one point, still looks (and works) great.

Erin McDermit, attorney at Shuman Snyder said,

Tumi is all I have ever used. quality and simple/classic styles.

The Tumi Sinclair is just the right size, black, and goes with everything. Like most of the other Tumi bags, it is highly functional, with a large interior compartment that is great for bulky files:

Tumi Sinclair – $545

Professional Women’s Bags Over $1,000

There are obviously well-known luxury brands in the over-$1,000 club, like the classic Louis Vuitton Neverfull:

Louis Vuitton Neverfull – $2899

For your best Olivia Pope impression, bring the classic Prada Saffiano Lux Executive Tote to a settlement conference:

Prada Saffiano Tote – $1999

NOTE: As of this writing, the Prada Saffiano Tote is no longer available on Amazon, though you can still find it at Neiman Marcus or Prada.

Best Overall Professional Women’s Bag

If you have the budget, the absolutely best professional bag is made to order by master leather craftsman Myron Glaser.

Elizabeth A. Frohlich, partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, said:

I loooooove this work tote that I have used every day and for court for 8 years, and still get compliments. I am a BigLaw partner, so need something that can go formal, too. It is very expensive, but is a real workhorse, made of delicious leather. Mine is black with silver hardware. Myron Glaser at Glaser Designs will customize, too.

Glaser Designs Custom Totes – $1,000-$2,000+

The best women’s professional bag is a custom tote handmade by Myron Glaser of Glaser Designs in San Francisco.

Rating: 5 (out of 5)

Best Women’s Bag: Glaser Designs Custom Tote Bag, reviewed by Jeena Cho on November 30, 2015 based on an earlier article written by Staci Zaretsky on April 15th, 2011.

The post Best Professional Bags and Briefcases for Women Lawyers appeared first on Lawyerist.com.

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[carasueachterberg]

I think all of us could use a happy story right now, so I’ve decided to create another Diary of a Rescue to follow the story of Mama Mia and the Broadway Babes. The last time I did this, about a year ago, I had the same intention but instead the story took a tragic turn right off the bat.

Daisy B, the mama dog featured in that story finally found her forever family the same week that Mama Mia arrived, so that seems like a sort of cosmic seal of approval to try again.

So far, so good.

Below are the dairy entries from our first week with this little family. If you’d like to see them in real time, you can follow along on my writer Facebook page. I also post extra pictures and videos in the Another Good Dog facebook group. Here’s hoping this story proves a heartwarming distraction to all that is going on in this world.

Diary of a Rescue Day One:

I’ve waited to start a new diary hoping my original diary dog Daisy would be adopted. Paws crossed it will happen soon. Today I’m starting a new diary for a last minute rescue of a mama dog and her ten 1-week old puppies.

I got a call last night from our puppy coordinator- this mama and pups is in a NC shelter that will be closing. If they aren’t out by Saturday, they will be destroyed along with, I’m assuming, all the other dogs that don’t get rescue. (I don’t say ‘euthanize’ because that’s not what it is when you kill adoptable, healthy dogs).

Of course I said yes, I want them. So, today I met an amazing pilot, Kay Cross, who has flown rescue for over 500 dogs. She arrived at Winchester airport and brought the mama and pups.

In the coming weeks, I’ll tell you more about them, their journey, and the current situation for too many dogs caught in the wrong place at the decidedly wrong time.

Tomorrow we will work on names, figure how many boys and girls we have, and tell you more about this precious lucky family. Tonight we’re letting them settle in- finally safe. Life gets better for these eleven souls now.

Proud of my rescue family and thrilled to have met another rescue hero today.

#togetherwerescue #anothergooddog

Diary of a Rescue Day Two:

After being warned that this mama dog was very protective of her pups, it turns out she’s like some of my other teenage mama dogs – she’s ready to leave them at the drop of a hat if it means a walk or a snuggle or some treats.

She got up at 3:30am for a potty break. When I put her away, I forgot to put on the ‘gate topper’ (a contraption Nick built to keep fence jumpers in the puppy room – she proved she needed it earlier in the evening when she climbed the fence to join me watching Pitbulls & Paroles). When I got up at 7am, mama dog was loose in the hallway and had inspected the shoe cubbies, my bin of sweet potatoes, and overturned a basket of my son’s hats/glasses, but not done too much damage. We will re-think our set up today so she doesn’t hurt herself climbing the fence.

All ten puppies look healthy and happy, but I’ve been leaving them mostly alone, only moving them to clean their bedding. Later today we will weigh them and put on whelping collars so I can track their weights.

Mama seems young and her paperwork says she is only one. She was wearing a pink collar with rabies and microchip tags- I don’t know if that means she was surrendered by someone who cared about her enough to chip and vaccinate her or if she was wearing an old collar the shelter or transporter had lying around. So many questions I have about this sweet pup but I’ve done this enough to know her history will likely always be a mystery but that’s okay because her future will be so much better.

We also have to come up with a name for mama and a theme for the litter. Ideas welcome!

#choosetorescue #opttoadopt #fosteringsaveslives

Diary of a Rescue Day Three:

I’ve decided what to name this mama and pups! There were lots of great suggestions from many people. I especially liked the idea of naming them after toilet paper/paper towel companies (Puffs, Cottonelle, Mr. Whiffle, Brawny), but decided against it because I’m hopeful (possibly erroneously) that this pandemic will have subsided by the time these puppies are ready to go home in about seven weeks.

More so, this is a hard time and I don’t want the puppies names to be a reminder or make light of a situation that is likely to have devastating consequences for too many.

So…(drum roll please)…this litter will be the Broadway Babes. Momma dog will be, of course, Mama Mia (she looks like a Mia to me). I’m still figuring out which shows to use – there are so many! Please add your favorites to the comments.

My musical theater major daughter will be home (finally!) tomorrow, so she will likely have plenty of suggestions too. This weekend my son’s high school show should have been in tech rehearsals for Cinderella which would have opened next weekend. (Ian is the lighting director.) So, there will definitely be a Cinderella!

I weighed the puppies yesterday and gave each one a different colored whelping collar. They are feisty puppies who squalled and wrestled and pooped and peed on me as I handled them. Mia watched and occasionally licked a puppy, but mostly seemed unconcerned by their concern.

They each weigh between 1lb 1oz and 1lb 10oz and there are seven females and three males. I know they look brown in the pictures and video, but they are all shades of brown from caramel to dark chocolate, and one of them is a brindle colored pup.

Because watching the puppies is such a calming and comforting thing, I’ve been trying to post plenty of LIVE videos on Another Good Dog™ (my foster dog group) and with Ian’s help, I’m hoping to set up a Live Stream through our Who Will Let the Dogs Out Youtube channel.

There is so much to be uncertain about right now, but one thing I do know is that we will get through this and in the meantime, we must be a comfort to each other.

Please stay safe and sane.

#happinessisawarmpuppy #choosetorescue

Diary of a Rescue Day Four:

Mama Mia really wants out of that puppy room. She spends a good portion of her day whining to get out and also jumping at the gate. The first day or so, I thought it meant she had to go potty and took her out practically every thirty minutes. Now I realize that sometimes she does need to go potty, but most times she’s just bored and lonely. She whines the worst if she can hear us talking.

She is an absolute love bug. No doubt she will make some family a wonderful pet, but for now she still has mothering duties. She is a good mom, if not a truly involved mom.

Definitely no helicopter parenting going on here. She climbs in and out of the whelping box as needed, but most of her time is spent sitting at the gate or lying in her dog bed. Unlike other mama dogs I’ve had, she never builds ‘nests’ of the towels or rearranges her puppies. She’s a just-the-basics housekeeper, so I have to change the towels and pads under the puppies quite often.

All of her meh-ness aside, the puppies are growing and fat and healthy, so she is getting the job done. Lucky for her, she’ll never have to do this job again. She’ll likely wean these puppies at about 5-6 weeks and a month after that will be spayed in preparation for her real life. Too many female dogs in the south have litters every year, sometimes more than once. When I see their struggle up close like this, it just breaks my heart.

I can hear some of the excuses voiced when I’ve encountered dog owners who refuse to spay/neuter or contain their pets, mostly in the south. They shrug shoulders and wonder why they should go to all that trouble for ‘just a dog’ or they say this is what they were born to do. I don’t know if they really believe those things or if they neglect their animal out of apathy, ignorance, or poverty.

I wish the world were different, but I remind myself often that not too long ago, situations like Mama Mia’s were commonplace everywhere in this country and now they are rare in vast parts of our nation. I believe we will someday solve this crisis. I believe it will happen in my lifetime. I’ve seen lots of sad situations when I travel south to write about shelter dogs, but I’ve also seen some incredible miracles happening in the most unexpected places.

#WeCanFixThis #Spayandnueter Who Will Let the Dogs Out?

Diary of a Rescue Day Five: two weeks old!

My how time flies (joke)…the puppies are a wonderful distraction. Tonight we will give them their official names and in the morning they (and Mia) will have their first deworming.

Be safe and be sane.

#choosetorescue

Diary of a Rescue Day Six:

The puppies received their first deworming. They are strong little pups who decidedly didn’t appreciate having anything forced down their throats. They squalled and I am sticky with dewormer. (Mia watched from a safe distance and happily gobbled her dewormer.) This is the dewormer that most puppies love – the only one that actually tastes good, so I know the upcoming dewormings will be even more challenging.

Between now and when they are adopted, I will deworm the puppies nine more times. including a dewormer that is administered six days in a row, so actually it feels more like I deworm the puppies 15 times. Doing the math on that one, it means I will be force-feeding dewormer 150 times in the next six weeks. Ugh. Makes me tired just thinking about it!

Along with the deworming, they all got their first nail trim. It’s taken me about three days to get to all 90 toenails. Thankfully, this bunch does not have dewclaws! It’s easiest to do when they are sleepy, but that drowsy state only lasts for about one foot and then the rest is a wrestling match. If I don’t get those little daggers clipped, they will snag on the towels, not to mention the discomfort to Mia as they nurse. I use a baby nail trimmer and will trim nails every two weeks from here on out.

The other monumental accomplishment was finally naming this bunch! I hashed out the ideas with two of my kids who are both theater buffs and we tried to pick unique names or names that had significance for us. Here is the color key to who is who:

Purple collar (girl) Cinderella (in honor of our high school’s spring show that is indefinitely postponed)

Brown collar (girl) Pippin (a role Addie has always coveted, she played Fastrada in our school’s production. Because Pippin is such a different kind of character/show, we gave the name to the brindle puppy)

Green collar (girl) Kiss me Kate (an excuse to gather puppy kisses)

Yellow collar (girl) Hello Dolly (and excuse to sing to her)

Orange collar (girl) Thoroughly Modern Millie (another favorite role of Addie’s)

Red collar (girl) Elphaba (a unanimous favorite in this household and on Facebook)

White collar (girl) Calamity Jane (because not only do I like Annie Get Your Gun, but I just like saying the word ‘calamity’)

Light blue collar (boy) Evan Hanson (because)

Bright blue collar (boy) Usnavi (Lin Manuel Miranda’s role in In the Heights – Ian’s favorite, plus, c’mon, won’t it be fun to have a puppy named Usnavi?)

Black collar (boy) Mr. Mistopheles (because we have to name at least one puppy after a cat. In fact, I’m seriously considering naming an entire litter after the characters in Cats next time!)

Now you’ll know who’s who in the weeks to come (or at least until they outgrow or destroy their whelping collars!).

Stay safe and sane. Hold the ones you love close, even at a social distance.

#rescuedismyfavoritebreed #opttoadopt #BroadwayBabes

Diary of a Rescue Day 7:

Mia is so over this mom thing. She spends her days darting in and out the box but mostly waiting at the gate for me. The puppies are fat and healthy so I know she’s doing her job but gosh, is she ready to be over it.

The puppies grow cuter every day but they are still basically little lumps. I don’t know when they will cross that line between lumps and puppies but I think we’re getting closer.

I am trying to appreciate this easy time because soon enough they will be a serious amount of work.

Hug your fur babies- they were once this tiny. Do any of you have pictures of your dogs when they were two weeks old? I might have pictures of a few of your pups….

#choosetorescue

Thanks for reading!

Cara

If you’d like regular updates of all my foster dogs past and present, plus occasional dog care/training tips from OPH training, be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog.

For information on me, my writing, and books, visit CaraWrites.com. I have a new book, One Hundred Dogs and Counting: One  Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues, coming out in July. If it sounds like something you’d like to read, I’d be beyond grateful if you’d consider preordering it. Preorders contribute to the success of the book, not only giving me and my publisher some peace of mind but hopefully attracting media attention.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org.

Our family fosters through the all-breed rescue, Operation Paws for Homes, a network of foster homes in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., and south-central PA.

If you can’t get enough foster dog stories, check out my book: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs . It’s available anywhere books are sold.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.

Diary of a Rescue Week One #animalrescue #fosteringsaveslives #puppiesoverpandemic I think all of us could use a happy story right now, so I’ve decided to create another Diary of a Rescue to follow the story of Mama Mia and the Broadway Babes.

[onestowatch]

Q&A: Classic Soul Resurrects as Durand Jones & The Indications Tour the World Over

Photo Credit: Horatio Baltz 

Giving the past new life is what keeps Durand Jones & The Inclinations’ fire burning. The band put out their debut, self-titled album back in 2016 and continue to receive praise for their bluesy tunes reminiscent to soul heroes like Otis Redding and James Brown. More recently, Durand Jones & The Inclinations dropped a deluxe edition of the album, which includes reproduction and ten live recordings. Highlighting the re-release, the band continues to tour across the world hypnotizing their diverse crowds with music that so wildly reflects R&B and soul music’s history. 

From a rural town in Louisiana, Durand Jones was an introverted child, only coming out of his shell through the influence of a saxophone gifted by his grandmother. He played that saxophone all the way through undergrad and even on to post-grad. It was there, at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where Jones met and formed The Indications - comprised of drummer, Aaron Frazer, guitarist Blake Rhein, bassman Kyle Houpt, and organist Justin Hubler.

Their formation was solely an outlet, a fun means to life in the Midwest. And, with a cheap budget of less than 500 dollars, the guys gave an album a go. After its release, and a one night show in Bloomington, the guys were ready to embark on separate career paths. Durand Jones & the Indications had only ever been intended, in guitarist, Blake Rhein’s words, “as a standalone recording project.” However, fate stepped in with bigger plans - plans to take the band around the world, more than once. In fact, you can catch the band live at a venue near you here. 

Curious about the journey, we chatted with guitarist Blake Rhein, lead vocalist, Durand Jones, and drummer/vocalist, Aaron Frazier. Read on for what they had to say about their formation, their debut album, and touring, below: 

OTW: What is your writing process like?  

Guitarist Blake Rhein: It's not the same for every song. Sometimes a hook just pops into my head, then I try to pick up a guitar or sit down at a piano as fast as I can to figure out how the chords should sit underneath it. As I'm working out the chords, I try out a bunch of different lyrics to see what sounds best and works well rhythmically. From there, we sit down as a group and say “okay what is this song about?” Aaron is great at focusing in on a concept and keeping the lyrics really centered around an idea or metaphor. We'll call each other out if we think a lyric is not working with the context of the song and say “what do you mean by this lyric? How does it fit in with the song?” It has been a challenge for me to write like this because when I started songwriting, I would just sing whatever came to mind, and it would frequently come out as utter nonsense. Every time I sit down and write with Aaron and Durand, I learn something from their writing style.  

OTW: Do you have a track or set of lyrics that you’d consider a favorite?  

Guitarist Blake Rhein: I really like “I Can't Keep My Cool” - to me that line has a sense of old school chilvary but it's totally something I would say nowadays if I was talking about a crush.  

OTW: How was playing your first SXSW?  

Guitarist Blake Rhein: It definitely brings things into perspective. Rather than being the headlining band who everyone is showing up to see, you're one of just thousands of bands trying to get a foot in the door. The best part is just hanging with other bands. We met some awesome folks this year. We hung out with Tank & The Bangas and also Natalie Prass who are all so incredibly talented and very warm people.  

OTW: How is life on the road? Any items you just can't forget?  

Guitarist Blake Rhein: It's a lot more work than I think most people imagine. There's really not a ton a free time that's not spent in the van. What keeps me sane is trying to stay active in what little downtime I get. Whether thats doing a few push-ups at a gas station or trying to explore a bit of the city the hour or so between soundcheck and when doors open up. It's really easy to spend that time just sitting in the greenroom, and after a week of that, I just feel terrible. I bring a microwaveable heat pad too. On those nights when you have to bust out the sleeping bag and hit the floor, It helps me get to sleep quick. That is crucial when you only have four or five hours before you have to wake up and get on the road.  

OTW: You’ve mentioned you originally made the album for yourselves not expecting it to carry this much weight - can you explain what it meant for you to put out the album in the first place?  

Durand Jones: When Blake called me up and told me Terry Cole (Colemine Records) was gonna put out the songs, I felt like it meant that this was a time worth documenting. You know, I thought it’d be something I could play at my fam’s cookouts and reminisce, or feeling proud of owning a personal treasured little piece of documented history that I was a part of. But that’s it. I personally did not believe it’d have the power to take me around the world. And now in a month we’ll be in Europe for the second time this year. I was so wrong haha.  

OTW: You’ve mentioned how music has helped with your introversion, how does that play into effect on stage? Is it something you struggle with?  

Durand Jones: When I first started singing publicly I struggled so bad. It wasn’t until this drummer who hired me for some gigs in Louisiana, grabbed me by the shirt, and shook me real hard during our break backstage. He told me to “snap out of it” and that’s all I needed to hear. Since then I just try to go out there unabashedly. Really trying to show what the music is making me feel. I’m still learning though. My manager tells me all the time to stop closing my eyes so much! Haha! 

OTW: Your line-up of spring and summer shows is pretty intense. Is there a specific date or place that you’re looking forward to most?  

Durand Jones: I was born in the south and my heart will always be there. So anytime I’m down there I feel like my body and soul is recharging. I’m looking forward to Birmingham. My style of singing fits that region so well.  

OTW: You’ve drawn comparisons to soul greats like Otis Redding, James Brown, and Charles Bradley - how does it feel to be placed alongside those names?  

Durand Jones: All of those guys are my heroes in one way or another. They paved the way for me to have this platform. I feel I gotta keep pushing forward. 

OTW: Can we expect any new material dropping soon? 

Durand Jones: We just dropped a new 45 with Colemine/Dead Oceans and we have a new live album out there too. We are working a new album at the moment. I can’t wait to show folks how much more we are gonna offer this time around. 

OTW: You’ve got quite a few festivals coming up as well - Bonnarroo, Bottlerock, Lollapalooza to name a few, any acts you’d like to catch live personally? 

Drummer/vocalist Aaron Frazer: I'll be trying to catch Mavis Staples at Bonnarroo. The Staples Singers have been an inspiration to me and her voice has taken on an incredible timbre in her later years. At Lollapalooza I'd like to see BROCKHAMPTON because I love what they've been doing in the digital world and it'd be interesting to see how it translates live.   

OTW: Who are your Ones To Watch artists?  

Drummer/vocalist Aaron Frazer: Ack there are so many! The first ones that come to mind are a band of three sisters we played with in Santa Fe called Lindy Vision. They make a no frills brand of indie rock that feels like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs meets ESG meets Chastity Belt. And then I'd also add Katie Von Schleicher, as well as The Horse Eyed Men, both amazing artists from Brooklyn.    

OTW: Prior to the buzz around your debut album, what plans did you have and/or had to change in order to keep up? 

Drummer/vocalist Aaron Frazer: We've all had to change our plans in a way. After we put this album out, I moved to New York to work as a freelance drummer. It was a grind, but I wound up with some steady gigs that added up to 21-25 shows a month. When the album started to catch people's attention, I made the decision to give up all those gigs and put my eggs in this basket. At the same time, Blake had been working at a record label and Durand had plans to pursue music education. But this [is] our main focus now.  It's a scary thing to bet on yourself, but we believe in this music and each other.  

OTW: Starting in Indiana, did you receive a lot of support in your city from the start? 

Drummer/vocalist Aaron Frazer: The support from our hometown of Bloomington has, and continues to be incredible. It was their support that first gave us an inkling we might have something special. During our first show, it was surreal to hear them erupt in cheers in the middle of songs as we hit stops or headed into the chorus. We're proud to have come from such a robust and talented arts community. It's a scene that stacks up against any in the country.