#this is better than getting into harvard by a long shot

[lixxieslatte]

@itsahotminuteinbetween @itsahotsecondafter

i’ve made it… I HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT

(i’m sobbing rn what your so cute pookie T-T)

(none of the art is mine btw)

[writemekpop]

Bad Girl | Jung Jaehyun

Summary: Jung Jaehyun is the first guy you’ve ever met who isn’t attracted to you. You’re determined to seduce him. 

Genre: Enemies to lovers AU

Word Count: 1.5k

As you walked into the first play rehearsal, you felt your heart stutter. 

A painfully hot guy was standing by the cast-only coffee table. He was tall, statuesque, in a long black coat and glasses. His chest strained at the fabric of his white shirt, as if his stiff body couldn’t be contained.   

"Hey, you must be Jung Jaehyun," you said, looking up at him through your lashes. Now, you just had to wait for him to start drooling - guys couldn't resist you. 

"Afternoon," Jaehyun said. He barely glanced at you. Was he gay or something? "Thank goodness you're here, we're out of tea." 

You blinked. "Sorry…I’m your co-lead? I play Margot Warner, your character's wife?" 

He stretched out his hand to shake yours, stiffly. "Apologies - I thought you were the coffee girl." 

Damn it, even his cold stare of indifference was sexy.  

"Let’s start with the argument scene," the director said. 

You and Jaehyun took centre stage. "Does my gaze make you feel nothing?" you breathed, looking into his eyes. "My touch?" You twined your fingers in his heavenly soft hair. "My kiss?" 

Standing on your tiptoes, you squeezed a kiss to his lips. They were cool as marble. 

Jaehyun stared into your eyes. Now, overcome with desire, his character was meant to tear the buttons off your shirt and pull you close, just as the lights dimmed. 

But Jaehyun stepped away from you. "Time out!" He sighed. "I just cannot understand what my character sees in hers. Why does he suddenly give in?" 

The director nodded. "He’s right. We need some chemistry here, guys! This is… PG-13 at best.” 

Jaehyun looked at you. "Listen, you may have never seduced a man, but you are going to have to pretend. That is of course, what actors do." 

You could just strangle him. Never seduced a man?  Jaehyun thought he was so much better than you, with his stupid little theatre degree from Harvard. 

You didn’t need a fancy degree to be a good actor. Plus, you could eat Harvard boys for breakfast - and you had. You’d tasted half the football team, in fact. 

Four hours later, you still hadn’t got the scene. 

The director looked like he'd had enough. "Sort out the chemistry by tomorrow, or I’m firing one of you. Which one do you think I should fire?" 

"Him!" you said, at the same time as Jaehyun snapped, 'Her!" 

You stormed up the stairs of the auditorium to get your bag from one the seats. Chemistry problem. Bullshit. That was like saying Albert Einstein had an intelligence problem. 

"Where do you think you're going?" Jaehyun said. 

A tiny shiver ran down your spine. 

"Are you really going to give up on the scene that easily?" Jaehyun taunted. "I've seen chihuahas with longer attention spans." 

"It’s tough acting against a brick wall," you shot back. 

Jaehyun shuddered. "If I have to teach you how to act, I will. Come here."

You walked over to him. 

"Margot is trying to seduce her husband. Your acting is too unidimensional!" 

"Uni-what?" you said. 

"Obvious! You're playing it too obvious," Jaehyun said. "I can see why that would be a problem for you. The whole Barbie thing usually does the trick with men, doesn't it? With your tight dresses and your… long legs. " He glanced at your body, and quickly looked away. But you’d noticed.   

You smirked. "So you think I'm hot." 

Jaehyun scoffed. "What I'm saying is, you need to play the role with your whole body. Subtle - yet hair-raising." He grabbed your script. "I'll try Margot. Watch and learn." 

Jaehyun stepped towards you. 

On the surface, nothing had changed. But Jaehyun was a different man. His face was flushed, his breaths shaky. His eyes kept flashing to your lips, like it took everything in him not to kiss you. 

"Does my gaze make you feel nothing?" he said quietly, his black eyes searching yours. "My touch?" He twined his fingers in your hair, and you couldn't hide the sound of your breath catching.

Every inch of your skin was alive.

"My kiss?" 

Jaehyun kissed you. His lips were so much gentler than you'd expected. You knew it was just acting, but Jaehyun seemed so into you it made him nervous. His whole body trembled with desire. 

You pulled back, struggling to catch your breath. That kiss was hair-raising.  

Something told you Jaehyun wasn't that good an actor. 

Jaehyun pulled back, his face flushed, a pink cloud of lipstick rimming his mouth. He was biting his plump lips, almost as if he was fighting a smile. "Clear?" 

You smiled. "You've forgotten the end of the scene."

An unreadable expression flashed over Jaehyun’s face. 

“How did it end again?” he murmured, his eyes fixed on yours. 

Your eyes fell to Jaehyun’s lips. “Margot and Lewis find the time to… reconnect.” Your fingers found the opening of Jaehyun’s shirt. “To get to know each other again.” 

Jaehyun gulped. “I thought they hated each other.” You started unbuttoning Jaehyun’s shirt, one button at a time. He shivered under your touch. “Hate and love aren’t as different as you think,” you said. 

You abandoned Jaehyun’s shirt on the seats. His body belonged in an art gallery, a sculptor’s impression of the perfect man. Only, Jaehyun was not still and cold anymore. His chest was rising and falling, his flesh hot. 

“This doesn’t mean I’m giving in,” Jaehyun said. “I still abhor you.” 

“And I still don’t give a damn what abhor means,” you said, smirking. Jaehyun hoisted your leg up against his hip. His lips met yours now, hungrily, no script to lead the way. 

On the couch in Jaehyun's big New York apartment, you smirked down at him, stroking his chest. "How was that for seducing a man?" 

"Excellent work," Jaehyun said in mock-seriousness, trying not to look ridiculous despite still panting. "Highly commendable." 

“You know…” you said, nuzzling into his chest, “if you were so into me, why did you act like a jerk?” “I’m married,” he said.

 You felt a pang of disappointment.   

“Divorced, to be precise,” Jaehyun continued. “Eight years. She was my… my first.” He spoke into your hair now. “I didn’t know what to do with the way I felt about you. I know I’m just a fling to you, but-“ “You’re not,” you said, moving to meet his eyes. He was gnawing at his plump lip, and you smoothed your finger over it, stopping him. “The way I felt last night… let’s just say I don’t get that a lot.” Your voice dropped. “Or ever.” “Are you saying I’m the best you’ve ever had?” Jaehyun said, turning you around so he was hovering over you, wearing a smug smirk.

“You’re gonna have to work a lot harder to earn that title…” you said, fixing your fingers in his hair. 

-- 

The next day, when you returned to rehearsal, something had changed. “You- um, you first,” Jaehyun said, gesturing to the coffee pot. 

“No, really, you,” you said, rubbing the back of your neck. You had no idea how to act professionally now. Should you touch Jaehyun? Smile at him? Ignore him completely?  

You both broke out into laughter.  

When it came to that scene, however, you and Jaehyun fought the urge to rush to the end.  

"Does my gaze make you feel nothing - my touch - my kiss, blah blah blah..." you mumbled, then pulled Jaehyun towards you in a kiss that made you weak in the knees. 

A lot of the director’s throat-clearing later, Jaehyun finally prised you off him, and you stood next to each other. The spotlights were a little blurry – or was that your eyes?  

The director started a slow clap, his mouth ajar. 

"Will these two set the house on fire? I think so!" He walked towards you, lowering his voice. "But really, how did you do it? What's the secret?"

You grinned at Jaehyun. "We were just acting. That is, of course, what actors do." 

—     

MAIN MASTERLIST

Let us know what you thought in the comments or on anon! 💋

[roosterforme]

roosterforme's Bradley Bradshaw one-shots masterlist (Rooster x Reader)

roosterforme masterlist

Rooster x Reader one-shot fics:

A Nice, Big Rooster Rooster is surprised to run into you on North Island. He's not, however, surprised to find that he still wants you as much as always.

I Still Want You Bradley had been an idiot when it came to you. He still wanted you, but did you still want him?

I Like Your Voice You and Bradley recognize each other by your voices.

Benefits Bradley spends a long weekend in Mexico, enjoying the beach and your body.

I'll Take You There Bradley's best friend is moving to San Diego, and she asks him for a little help.

Why Do They Call You Rooster? When another girl asks Rooster how he got his call sign, you make sure she knows how big he is and who he's with.

Go Slow When you tell Bradley why you're nervous, he makes sure to go slow.

Couches, Floors and Beds You had reached your boiling point with your roommate, Bradley Bradshaw. 

Frustrated Rooster is kind enough to help Hangman's ex-girlfriend when she's feeling frustrated. 

Stay on Your Knees When Bradley messes up again, he’s more than willing to beg.

Hot For Teacher  You knew it was against policy. You wouldn’t bend the rules for anyone else. But when it came to Rooster Bradshaw, you threw all caution to the wind.

Red Flags, Green Flags Hangman complains about his date’s red flags, but Bradley thinks this girl sounds amazing. 

Can I Have My Shirt Back? You didn't usually invite guys home with you after a night out, but this one was always going to be an exception. 

You Deserve an Overachiever Bradley is forced to come to terms with the fact that he wants to replace your boyfriend with himself and give you proper orgasms. 

Want You Bad When Bradley realizes his girlfriend isn’t as innocent as he thought, at first he’s surprised, then he’s on board.

All I Want For Christmas Is You Bradley returns from deployment just before Christmas and immediately falls for the new bartender at the Hard Deck. 

Good Boy Bradley is more than happy to give up his dominant ways whenever you demand it from him. 

Take Two When Bradley got you pregnant, he blew his chance at a relationship with you. He loves his daughter, but he never stopped loving you too.

Champagne Lips You and Bradley both try to claim the last bottle of champagne on New Year's Eve.

I Would Never Hurt You Bradley saw the bruises and knew what was going on, but he also knew you didn't need him the way he needed you.

Hello, I Love You When Phoenix signs Bradley up for speed dating on Valentine's Day, he is skeptical. But after he meets the woman of his dreams, he's not afraid to admit his best friend was right.

Do You Wish It Was Me? When Bradley returns from deployment and finds you engaged to Harvard, he knows he needs to get you back. 

The Purrfect Storm Bradley inadvertently becomes a pet owner after he hits a stray with his Bronco. When he meets a lovely vet tech who is willing to help, both Bradley and the cat fall for her instantly.

Make It Messy, Baby Anytime Bradley has a rough day, his perfect wife is there to make it all better. Sometimes that means getting a little messy.

Daddy Would Say Yes After you manage to embarrass yourself in front of Rooster, he still makes it clear he wants you to ask him out.

Cockpit Love When you jokingly told Bradley that you would be jealous of him spending so much time with his Super Hornet, he decided it was time to let you stake your claim on him in the cockpit.

Something to Talk About Bradley knew the rumors were circulating. He knew his friends were talking. But he had known you for such a long time, and you were just friends. Because if something was going to happen between the two of you, it would have happened by now. Right?

When Tomorrow Comes Four months is a long time to go without Bradley. When you tease him a little bit the night before his deployment starts, he reminds you that he's always worth the wait.

You Want Me Anyway Bradley wasn't your boyfriend. He didn't owe you anything. But after months of hooking up, you expected more from him than what you were getting. It was time for you to move on. But Bradley has other ideas.

Earning His Rank Bradley knew you wanted to make his promotion night special for him as he got his new pin. He could tell by the teasing way you asked "What are you going to do to me when we get home, Lieutenant Commander?" He had something in mind.

Midnight Confessions It's getting harder and harder for Bradley to hide his feelings for you, especially when you offer to drive him home on his birthday. Before he knows it, he's drunk in your passenger seat, confessing everything he's kept to himself. He may not remember all of it in the morning, but you certainly do. 

How Could I Forget? When Bradley met you in a dive bar in Virginia, he just knew he wasn't going to be able to stop thinking about you. Even a year later, he still remembers your laugh and the way you kissed him.

So Fresh, So Clean At first, Bradley is mortified when the guys force him to stop at a carwash featuring bikini clad women from a college softball team. But when he meets you there, he starts to think he should thank his friends instead.

Feelings Involved After months of dancing around your feelings, you're about to leave San Diego and Bradley behind. But on your last night in California, you realize you're not the only one with your heart on the line.

Sufficiently Surprised Bradley loves dirty quickies with his wife. Between his work schedule and yours, that's often all there's time for. But when he rushes home from work on his birthday, ready and raring to go, he's in for a bit of a surprise.

Don't You Want Me, Baby It was like a fairytale, the way you stole Bradley's heart with your gorgeous face, retro denim jacket, and karaoke skills. But when you disappear into the night, leaving only one small trinket behind, he's left wondering if he didn't just dream you up.

Do You Wanna Touch Me? You had been working at the bar for six months. And you'd been crushing on Rooster since the first night he handed you his credit card, called you Babydoll, and asked you to start a tab for him. And it only got worse from there, until one night you asked him about more than just his drink order.

On My Terms Bradley didn't seem to notice how broken you were inside. When he looked at you, there was never any hesitation in his eyes. He was the first man in a long time that you wanted to trust with every part of you. If only your body and mind would start working together. If only you could get the words out.

Wrong Number Bradley was planning on a quiet night at home with a beer and a basketball game on TV. When he receives a text from a wrong number, he's left looking at a beautiful photo of you. Now he just needs to persuade you to ditch the guy you meant to text and focus on him instead.

Don't Waste Another Minute When you finally recognize that you have been hanging onto your relationship for all the wrong reasons, you end things. You knew there would be someone better for you, and it was a welcome realization to see that he had been right there in front of you the whole time. 

Stateside Bradley made a mistake last summer when he left for his deployment without ever asking you out, and then he thought about you a lot when he was gone. He was stateside again for less than a day when the other guys coerced him to help with a fundraiser at the Hard Deck. A friendly wager with the squad might not be the only thing he wins by the end of the night.

Deployment Sucks but I Swallow Bradley was used to having your undivided attention when he was about to leave for a long deployment, because you'd been spoiling him that way for years. When you spent the day with your friends and got home late instead, he wanted to be annoyed, but everything you do is just too sweet. 

Whole Lotta Love You and Bradley were just friends, and perhaps that was why you trusted him so much. It wasn't his fault that you were secretly harboring a crush a mile wide. When your noisy neighbor becomes too much and you decide you need to move, Bradley helps you brainstorm a solution. But when you set your plans into action, you're surprised to find that he seems almost jealous.

Vintage You love teasing your husband about his deep and unwavering devotion to his Bronco, but he's insistent that it would come in second place to you every time, and he intends to prove it. While you're away on deployment, he concocts a plan to get you behind the wheel of your very own vintage beauty.

Wild Rooster Chase Bradley thinks about you more than he should, and his feelings for you run deeper than they ought to. You've never given him an indication that you want to take the teasing touches and playful flirtation to the next level, so he never pressed his luck. When you surprise him by sending a text message that could change everything, he's ready to chase you all over San Diego for some answers.

California Autumn Bradley was drawn to you the minute you moved onto his street. You seemed to bump into one another everywhere, and each time he saw your smile or heard your laugh, he knew he had to ask you out. He wasn't expecting the answer you gave him, just as you weren't expecting to wish he could be the man for you.

Mail Call After a long and illustrious Naval career, Bradley was used to months spent on an aircraft carrier. Nothing ever felt quite as good as a letter from home. He thought he knew what to expect this time, but you always made things more exciting.

[drghostwrite]

Holding onto you

Pairing: Callie Torres x reader

Summary: not sure lol… there aren’t enough Callie fics and throughout the show she had some pretty rough relationships, so here’s some fluff for the Dr. Torres. It’s kinda nothing then smut then fluff, this will be a multi part story!

Warning: Smut!

******************************************************** you pulled your car into the long drive way climbing out and fumbling to find your house keys.

you opened the door and looked around the house that was eerily quiet all the lights were still out. You went around flicking on the lights, “Callie?” You called but no answer.

“Callie, baby are you here?” No answer so you walked back out and saw her car sitting in your shared driveway.

“that’s weird, where is she?” You whispered to yourself and crept your way up the stairs. You peaked in your bedroom and then saw the note taped to the door, big trauma I was called in, welcome home my love.

You had been away for a conference but decided that you were ready to go back to work so you changed your clothes and made your way to Grey Sloan. The storms were raging as you drove to the hospital, rain beat down on your windshield, you parked and ran in through the front doors. The receptionist at the desk perked up, “how can I help you?”

“Hey…” before you could finish she recognized you and directed you to the OR where Callie was currently operating. You quickly thanked her and ran to change into a clean and dry pair of scrubs.

as the elevator doors slid open you stepped through straightening out your clothing with your hands, you made your way to the gallery only to be greeted by a curious group of interns watching your wife operate. You sat down next to the group, “so any updates?” you asked and started talking to the small group. Part way through the conversation one of the girls recognized you, “Oh my God… your Y/N Devine like doctor Y/N Devine!”

“well yes and no” you chuckled with a small smirk.

“What do you mean yes and no?… I’ve watched your techniques, I tried to get into Harvards program just to study under you.”

“way to suck up there Jo…” some of the other girls scoffed.

“well I mean yes as in I am her same person same skills but no as in I’m married now so I technically hyphenated my last name but I don’t ever go by that or Devine anymore… Also I would like to clarify that I no longer teach at Harvard I accepted an attending position here.”

“Are you the new head of trauma?” A red haired woman spun around.

“Yes ma’am.” You gave a small grimace and smile.

“No that’s a good thing, April Kepner I’m actually one of your residents.” She reached her hand out and you shook it.

“Good to know.” Just then Miranda Bailey stepped into the room and all the interns shot back forward.

“Ahh Miranda Bailey, she’s still got it.” You laughed.

“Y/N Devine-Torres, does your wife know you’re up here?”

“I don’t believe so, looks like she’s tapping out though so better go find her before someone else does…”

“go getcha girl, good to have you back.” She laughed as you left. All the interns shocked at the fact that your “wife” was none other than Dr. Calliope Torres.

you ran down to the locker room where you figured she would be changing. You knocked on the heavy wooden door, “knock knock anyone home?” You asked playfully slipping in. You found her pulling her shirt over her head next to her locker, which held a couple pictures of you and her, Sofia, the three of you along with her stethoscope and a few other necessities. She turned to you and made a sad face letting out a whine and letting her shoulders drop.

“I’m so so sorry that I couldn’t be home…”

“I know baby I know.” You said pulling her into an embrace placing kisses on her lips.

“rough night?” You whispered in between kisses.

“you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Mmm so don’t tell me just let me take you home, relieve some of that stress… that tension.” You said running expert hands over her strong arms and shoulders.

She bit her lip, her eyes darkening by watching yours, “whatever you say… Y/N Devine” she said all airy and mocking the girls earlier.

“that is Dr. Torres to you.” You said placing a bruising kiss on her lips.

the car ride home was quiet, you could feel the gentle anticipation coming in waves. You parked and walked up to your shared house gently leading her through the door. Setting all your bags down keeping an eye as she went into the kitchen, you walked up behind her hands massaging the muscles ghosting kisses on the back of her neck as she leaned her head back into you. You grabbed her hand and guided her upstairs to your bedroom, grabbing her shirt and pulling her close, starting to strip her clothes pulling her closer and closer until she was completely bare, letting your hands grasp at her curves and muscles quick breathes and smirks shared in between heated kisses, you ran skilled fingers all over her body before pushing her back her knees meeting the bed.

“looks like someone couldn’t wait for me to get home.” You said slyly.

“your my wife of course I can’t wait for you to get home… she said suggestively, as she scooted back the bed, you were on all fours over her heated kisses being trailed across her body. For awhile you made out letting your hands roam the heat intensifying as you kissed every part of her body.

“Y/N, mi amor.” She whined as you nipped at her neck then replacing the bite with a kiss.

“yes my love?” You asked moving down to her chest nipping the soft skin and then placing kisses, leaving a kiss right in between her breast while looking up to make eye contact.

“I need you…” you worked your way back up to her mouth, your hand sneakily going between her legs, fingers ghosting her inner thigh.

“mm, what do you need love?”

“Uh…” she inhaled sharply with a whine, “you I need you.” She exhaled into your kiss, your fingers sliding through as you felt how wet she was.

“what she wants she gets…” you left one more bruising kiss before sliding down in between her legs, you didn’t waste much time and it wasn’t long before her moans filled the room. Your hand pumping as your mouth worked wonders, before you knew it she had hit her high. As you placed kisses up and down her legs she sat up pulling you into her lap, you wrapped your bare legs around her and she could feel how wet you were, how much you ached.

“You know I always knew you had that last name for a reason… Dr.Devine.”

“mmhm, too bad I changed it.”

“must’ve been a special one.”

“yeah, more than special, she’s pretty amazing, the ONE, the only one.”

She chuckled, “well then… my turn, show you how amazing I am…” she said teasing you her hand sliding in to give you more teasing action. She turned and laid you on the bed your legs still wrapped around her waist, you unhooked them, still holding with your knees as she got up.

she walked over to the closet and was digging until she pulled out the strap, you but your lip as she walked back over to you, she sat next to you pulling you back into her lap, one hand was on her face as you kissed her while the other held onto the top of the headboard.

at first she moved slowly grinding into each other but before long she had you on your back legs over her shoulders as she railed you, loud moans filling the room, good thing your neighbors weren’t to close by.

“mi amor, absolutely beautiful, if only I could put a baby in you, see you glow as you carried our baby.” That sent you over the edge.

A little while later you found yourselves wrapped in each others arms legs tangled, the bed in disarray, you laid your head on her chest as she held you.

You were being quiet, Callie reached over brushing some curls out of your face, “Y/N what’s on your mind?”

“Hmm..” you pulled out of your daze.

“where did you go?”

“no where.”

“you’re being quiet… what’s wrong?”

“nothings wrong, just thinking.”

“About what baby?”

“Well,” you said sitting up next to her, she looked up at you until she saw how nervous you were, scooting up to prop on the headboard next to you.

“baby what’s wrong?” She said getting more concerned, she ran a gentle hand over your leg as you faced her.

“were you serious?”

“about?”

“the baby, me being pregnant?… with our baby.” You looked into her deep eyes.

“I…uh… to far? I’m sorry if…”

“no, no, I want a baby.”

“really?”

“I mean yea, I know with Sofia and all and Arizona and the whole situation that it’s not easy, but I want a baby I want little mini us’s running around.”

“Y/N is that what you were so nervous about?”

“yea i thought maybe you were just saying it but then i got thinking and…”

“baby,” she said cutting you off, “I would love to have a baby with you, I was serious. You would look gorgeous carrying our baby and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else, you’re more than just my wife, my best friend, love of my life… and besides Sofia would love having a sibling.” She said leaning up to kiss you.

“so you wanna have a baby?” You chuckled into her kiss.

“yes love I wanna have a baby.” She said placing rapid kisses on your lips and pulling you into an embrace as you both giggled.

[like-the-verb]

“--How are your migraines?”

A Rafael Barba / Rita Calhoun one shot

"--How are your migraines?" She'd asked him, and he almost thought he could hear love peaking through the dripping sarcasm in her voice.

Or:

Rafael has a migraine, Rita is there

Tags:

Rating:

General Audiences

Category:

F/M

Fandom:

Law & Order: SVU

Relationship:

Rafael Barba/Rita Calhoun

Characters:

Rafael BarbaRita Calhoun

Additional Tags:

Hurt/ComfortSick Rafael BarbaHeadaches & MigrainesAlternate Universe - Canon DivergencePost-DivorceHarvard UniversityRita and Rafael's Harvard daysand they were ROOMMATESThere Was Only One Beds17 e2 Criminal Pathology

Warnings: vomiting/nausea, abortion (both only briefly mentioned)

Fic:

"--How are your migraines?" She'd asked him, and he almost thought he could hear love peaking through the dripping sarcasm in her voice. God he hated her. That's what made her so perfect. Rita and Rafael. Enemies from heaven. Soulmates from hell. They had met at opening day at Harvard many years ago now, and it was love/hate at first sight. Rita was the only one in any of his classes to give him a real run for his money, and soon enough the two were sharing a tiny one bedroom apartment 15 minutes away from campus. The arrangement was for them to take turns, with one in the bedroom and the other on the couch, just until they could afford a bigger place. That was never going to last though, with both of them complaining so much when it was their week on the couch that they finally gave in a shared the double bed that took up almost the entire bedroom. It wasn't long before other friends caught on, nagging them about whether they were really just friends, or if something more was going on, because well, they did share a bed after all. Rita was there for him when they first got bad. He'd had migraines since his early teens, but they were always manageable with a few painkillers and a good day's rest. It wasn't until his third year of college that they really got bad. When they began knocking him out for three days straight and he'd have no memory of anything leading up to it. The first time it happened he thought that was it. He was dying. But no, just a bad migraine the ER nurse had told him, after Rita had taken him to the hospital, also thinking he was on death's door. He spent the rest of that night sobbing in between bouts of nausea and vomiting, and begging to sink into the floor and make it all stop. Rita held him that night, rubbing circles on his back and whispering soothing words while she ran her hand through his soft brown hair. Rafael often thought back to that night and how lucky he was to be loved by her, to see that soft, loving side to a woman who is usually so cold and borderline cruel. They spent many more days and nights like that over the course of their friendship, and eventual marriage. Rafael, a heap of tears and pain on the floor and Rita holding him and muttering sweet nothings to him in an attempt to make it all easier. He missed that, especially on days like this. While Rita had clearly been joking, trying to get a rise out of him as she often did, Rafael had a feeling she could see the signs. The aura he had felt that morning should have been a sign to take the day off, but of course, Rafael never took a day off work, ever, and especially not during a case like this. As he looked over the headlines on the papers his ex wife had dumped on his desk he felt the throbbing behind his left eye get worse. Despite taking medication for it before he left for work, the migraine kept getting stronger the longer the day went on. Rafael checked his watch. It hadn't been long enough yet for another dose of codeine, and really, he shouldn't even be taking this much, it probably made the migraines worse rather than better. Without thinking, he raised a hand to his forehead, a vain attempt at soothing the now almost unbearable pain. Rita of course noticed this.

“Hm” she acknowledged "the case really is worsening them, huh? What a shame it would be if someone were to use that to their advantage in court.”

The sarcastic comment earned her a glare from the prosecutor, and she backed off slightly.

“Really that bad?” She asked, sounding almost sympathetic.

“Mm” Rafael managed to get out, the pain now at a level that would have once had him out for days, luckily though, after decades of pain like this, he had learnt to push through. He knew Rita wouldn't drop it though. Her once snarky expression now replaced with genuine concern. No matter how hard either of them tried, despite their work killing their once happy marriage, they could not for the life of them manage to suppress the undying love they had for one another.

Now, Rafael noticed, Rita was making her way around to Rafael's side of the desk, gently dragging a chair along with her. She placed the chair next to him, and before sitting down, she strode purposefully across the room to close the blinds, knowing from years of dealing with Rafael's migraines that letting in unnecessary light was possibly the worst thing one could do at this moment. On her way back to her seat, Rita also shut off the overhead lights, and watched as Rafael noticeably sighed with relief. She knew it wasn't much, and his pain was still clearly bad, but the darkness would help. Rita sat in the chair next to her ex husband, and gently placed a hand on his back, and subconsciously, she began rubbing circles, just as she used to back in their college days. She hated to admit it, but she did truly love the man, and she knew he felt the same. If only their ambitions hadn't taken priority, and if only they hadn't let work destroy their relationship. Perhaps if Rita hadn't had the abortion those years ago they would be a happy family of three, or even more, right now. Instead of bickering over cases and plea deals they could be bickering over who would do the dishes that night, and ultimately settle on making the kid (or kids) do it instead. Thinking of this imaginary argument and family that she would likely never have, Rita placed her free hand under Rafael's chin, lifting his face to meet hers. The two met eyes, and against both of their better judgments, they leant forward, locking into a tired, but gentle, kiss. As the kiss depended, for just a moment Rafael's pain felt as though it lifted.l, and Rita felt as though that distant dream of being an old married couple with the man she had loved since day one of college, wasn't so distant after all.

[slootpoot]

Longhorn - Chapter One

01 | Since the Beginning Longhorn Masterlist

You’ve been with the boys for… a while. 

You were with Dean when he tracked down Sam in Harvard; mainly because you couldn’t say no when he appeared on your doorstep, face drunkenly red, blubbering about how his father is gone. 

You were there when Sam lost Jessica, comforting him when Dean didn’t know how to. 

You were there every time they thought they were getting closer to finding John, only to be hundreds of miles farther. You were there when they felt abandoned. 

You’ve been there since the beginning. Since Dean was in high school, jumping from cheerleader to geek. He even tried with you one time, only to be shot down with a loud, thundering laugh to his face. 

So, yeah, you’ve been stuck with these two lumberjacks for a long, long time. 

You’re sat in the backseat of the Impala, back against the door and your legs stretched out in front of you (shoes off, of course. Dean would lose his shit otherwise). With a book comfortably on your lap, you’re sipping on your milkshake Sam bought for you while the boys chat about the case up front. 

You’re all stopped at a gas station to fill up while they talk. 

“Alright,” Dean starts, staring at the unfolded map in his hands. “I figure we’d hit Tucumcari by lunch, then head south, hit Bisbee by midnight.” He looks over to see Sam staring at his PalmPilot, brows furrowed. Dean throws a playful glance at you through the rearview mirror. “Sam wears women’s underwear.” 

A smile curls your lip as Sam responds. “I’ve been listenin’, I’m just busy.” 

“Busy doin’ what?” Dean scoffs, peering at the screen before he steps out of the Impala and begins filling up the tank. 

You adjust, placing your bookmark and closing the book. Your chin rests on the back of the front bench sit as you listen. 

“Reading emails.” 

“Emails?” you echo. “From who?” 

“Friends at Harvard,” he mumbles back. 

Dean scoffs. “You’re kidding. You still keep in touch with your college buddies.” 

You shrug. “I still keep in touch with some people from high school.” 

“Johnny still want to get in them pants of yours?” 

“Yes, Dean, Johnny is still the same asshole.” 

“See?” Sam says, thumb jutting out in your direction. “Why wouldn’t I keep in touch with my friends from college?” 

“Well…” Dean slides back into the drivers’ seat, closing the door with a grunt. “What exactly do you tell ‘em, Sammy? You know, where you’ve been, what you’ve been doin’?”

Sam shrugs. “I tell them I’m on a roadtrip with my big brother and family friend. Say that I needed some time after Jess.” 

The atmosphere in the car dips, but Dean keeps going. “Oh, so you lie to ‘em.”

“No. I just don’t tell them everything.” 

“That’s lyin’, Sammy,” you chirp, leaning back into your seat. Your milkshake lays empty in your hand, but you don’t dare rest it on the ground or, god forbid, the seat. “I get it, though. Lying is better than telling the truth. I can’t tell you the last time I told a normie anything close to the truth.” 

That’s what you’ve always called them - normies. The people that don’t know the truth that lays lurking in the shadows. The people that have a peace of mind, can go to bed at night without nightmares of waking up with a blade to your throat or a gun to your head. 

The car goes silent for a second. You tap Dean’s shoulder with the cup to motion him to throw it away for you. He’s back in the car when Sam starts muttering. 

“What?” Dean queries, leaning closer to the passenger side despite Sam leaning farther and farther away. 

“There’s an email from a girl, Rebecca Warren, from college.” 

“Is she hot?” 

You smack Dean upside the head with your hardcover book. He yelps, ducking, when you ask, “What did she say?” 

“Her brother, Zack, who went to school with us, was charged with murder. He was arrested for killing his girlfriend. Rebecca says he didn’t do it, but it sounds like the cops have a pretty good case.” 

“Dude,” Dean chortles. “What kind of people are you hangin’ out with?” 

“No, man,” Sam sighs, shaking his head. “I know Zach. He’s no killer.” 

“Sammy,” you start. “Maybe you don’t know Zach that well. It has been a while since you’ve seen him.” 

He ignores you. “They’re in St. Louis. We’re goin’.” 

Dean chuckles. “Look, man, I’m sorry about your friend and all, but this doesn’t sound like our kind of problem.” 

“No, Dean, it is. They’re my friends.” Sam gets that look on his face, the one that says the stubborn bastard isn’t going to back down. 

“Sam, St. Louis is four hundred miles behind us.” 

They exchange a look before Dean sighs and starts the ignition, rolling out of the gas station. 

“If we’re going to St. Louis,” you start. “I’m going in the arch. Sam is going with me, because I am not getting fondled in that elevator alone.” 

“Why the hell would I get fondled?” 

“Old ladies like tall men. Tall, young men, Sammy. Just imagine it; their wrinkly old lady hands, sliding up your shirt -”

“Just go back to reading your book, Y/N, please.” 

Chapter Two

[gummybear1178]

F-14: Family of 14: You Don’t Know But...

Chapter 1:

Chapter 2:

Chapter 3:

Chapter 4:

Chapter 5:

Chapter 6:

Chapter 7:

Chapter 8:

Chapter 9:

Chapter 10:

Chapter 11:

Also on AO3:  

Hope you guys enjoy! If you want on the taglist let me know! (See guys I am learning Tumblr)

Not fully sure where this story is going other than it will be IceMav and their 12 adopted dagger squadron kids!

The dagger squad is determined to find out who Maverick is married to, leading to some shenanigans and eventually the reveal! Followed by one shots featuring MavDad Icemav and Dadmiral with the Daggers!

Feel free to leave requests and ideas

The Daggers sat on the deck of the Hard Deck. Penny had been kind enough to allow the Daggers to make it their unofficial hangout. However, they hadn't taken her up on the offer much until Mav and Ice's house kind of became off limits for a few weeks.

Well, not so much off limits, more so they had semi banned themselves temporarily. Electing to one, let Mav rest and feel better, and two, not get in the middle of whatever was going on between Ice and Maverick.

"I wonder what happened?" Phoenix finally asked the looming question in the group.

"I don't know," Bradley admitted, knowing the rest knew he was most likely to know. "All I know is that the Flyboys told me the house is probably a no-fly zone for a bit."

A few Daggers snorted at his attempt of humor to lighten the mood.

"No, but really, all they've told me is it's something to be left between Dad and Pops. They claim they will be fine once they talk."

"And when will they talk?" Fanboy asks quietly.

Several of the Daggers heads went down.

"Usually, they don't take long. It's just a matter of them getting it out." Bradley watched the waves. "I barely remember a fight between them growing up, at least not one that wasn't over within a few hours."

Jake looked down at his water bottle.

He just had this family start to form. He couldn't lose it now.

"Kids, look, Maverick and Ice, they fight on occasion. They are also stubborn, which means sometimes it takes a minute for them to work it out. But they always do." Penny said, stepping out onto the deck.

"Hey, Penny." Several of the Daggers greeted. Others just nodded in her direction.

"While their stubborness may make it take an extra second to solve their issues, it also means that they are stubborn about loving each other. Those two have been through a lot together. They will get through this." Penny assured.

"How do you know?" Jake asked. A few glancing his way surprised by the raw tone to his voice.

"Becuase they always do." Penny stated as though it was a fact, and after the way she said it, the Daggers didn't think that it could be anything else.

"You know you are our unofficial aunt, right?" Fanboy asked, breaking some of the tension.

"Oh, trust me, I know." Penny rolled her eyes, "And I wouldn't change it for anything." She winked before heading back into the building.

Phoenix smiled, and with a renewed hope amongst the Daggers, she decided to suggest a change of topic.

"Alright, how about we play a game?"

"What kind of game we talkin'?" Javy asks.

"A get to know each other more game. We each know each other on varying levels." Phoenix explained.

Each Dagger chimed in a version of agreement, and so the game began.

"It's called 'You don't know, but...' and basically you tell everyone something that they don't know. It can be about yourself, a random fact, or really just about anything. Some of us know other better than others, so just not something everyone knows. Like your call sign. The point is to get to know each other better."

"Alright, Phe, you suggest the game you have to start us off." Bradley pointed out, leaning back in his chair.

And so the game was on.

"Alright, you don't know, but... I played softball in high school."

"I guess I'll go next, you don't know, but I am a huge Swiftie to the point my call sign was almost Swift." Harvard said.

"You don't know, but I got my first black eye in college from lightsaber dueling in the courtyard." Fanboy admitted/bragged.

"Only you." Bradley laughed.

"Hey, we had a many a people come try and join us. Also, I would like to point out it wasn't becuase I couldn't duel it was because my roommate was supposed to just go left then right and just keep repeating but then got confused and went the same way twice."

"If we ever doubted your call sign, that's all the proof we needed." Bradley laughed.

"You don't know, but I hate being called Bagman." Jake said, glancing down at the deck.

"Good to know Hangman." Phoenix said, but the look on her face made him know she took the statement seriously.

"You don't know, but I want you guys to call me Jake..." Jake added, having already taken a huge step out of his comfort zone. Why not take one more.

"Good to know, Jake." Phoenix amended, a small smile on her face.

Meanwhile, Javy watched his best friend with a smile on his face. Proud of him for opening up.

Javy knew that was a huge step for Jake.

Now, if only he could take another huge step when it comes to another pilot. Javy internally rolled his eye,  knowing that was going to be a much more complicated process.

"You don't know this, but I went to LSU, GEAUX TIGERS!" Javy said, allowing the mood to lighten and take the pressure off of Jake.

And so the game went on.

---

The tension in the house was palpable. Even the ever light hearted Fanboy would be able to feel it.

Maverick had finally started to feel better.

Which, on one hand, Ice was very happy his husband was feeling better. However, on the other hand, that meant the looming conversation was soon to occur.

Ice walked into the living room with a cup of tea in each hand.

Maverick sat wrapped in a blanket on the couch. He reached out a hand to take a cup from Ice as Ice sat down.

"Ice..." Maverick started.

Ice sighed, he knew that tone. He had been anxiously awaiting that tone.

"Conversation time?" Ice asked softly.

"Look -"

"I'm not objecting, I know the conversation needs to be had. So, let's have it. Where do you want to start?"

"What did you tell Cyclone?" Maverick finally settled on after a moment of pause. He had run this conversation through his head hundreds of times and he still wasn't sure how he wanted to start it.

"I told him that if someone tells you that you can't do something, you have to p

rove them wrong. That you will do everything to prove them wrong."

"Did you really think that I wouldn't do everything possible to make this mission go well. To make it succeed. To bring Bradley back alive?" Maverick's voice strained during the last sentence.

"Mav..."

"No, Ice, you are the one who has believed in me. You pushed me to be better, but never by making me believe that you didn't believe in me. Rather because I knew you believed in me. So, why, why would this time be different? Why would you tell Cyclone to not believe in me, why not have him believe in me and not have me fighting him every step of the way?"

"I needed to make sure you came back, you and Bradley and everyone else. I panicked, and I know you do well when you do something out of spite." Ice admitted.

"So, the encouragement of keeping my kid, our kid, alive wasn't enough?"

"It should have been. Deep down I know you would do everything to come back and make sure he came back, but my fears took over. My biggest fear was losing you; losing Bradley. I let my fear control me."

"And you've never done this any other time? Never?"

"This is the first, only, and last time I have ever done that."

"I'm going to ask again Ice, do you regret it?" Maverick asked, his eyes as serious as ever, he had already asked this, and Ice evaded. He would not evade this time.

"I-"

"Ice."

"I regret my methods. I regret that I told someone to esentially hurt you. I regret hurting you. I regret letting me fears take control of me. However, if that is the reason you survived, I don't know if I can fully regret it."

"Ice, we established, I would do everything no matter what. That spite it not the reason I survived and so did the Daggers. So, one final time, do you regret it?"

"Yes, I regret it."

"And you will never, and I mean never pull that again?"

"Never."

Maverick simply nodded taking the information in.

"Maverick, I always believe in you. I know not everyone has, and I never should have contributed to the doubt others have had. I never doubted you. I was scared. I acted irrationally. I am so sorry Mav... I love you."

"I love you too Ice."

"I know you went through years of superiors telling you that you couldn't do something and judging you just from your last name all because of a government cover up. I know all of that. I never should have told someone to act like that. I truly am sorry."

"I believe you Ice. This hurt, I am not going to lie. I do however, understand why you did, I may not agree with it, but I see where your thoughts went and why. I forgive you, but don't ever do that again."

"Never."

"So, we can tell the kids the parents have made up so they can come over again without fear of feeling like they are in an igloo with the cold tension?"

"According to Viper, they have been referring to our house as a 'no fly zone' so I think we can change that status. I missed our Daggers."

"They missed you too." Maverick smiled as he leaned against Ice's side. "I'm not telling them why we were fighting. Just we had a disagreement, we talked about it, and it's over with. They don't need the details."

Ice nodded silently as he tucked Maverick's head under his chin.

The world was back on it's axis.

---

"Alright Grand-Daggers, I've been told today will be my last day as your instructor, however, I am in town for longer so this will not be that last you see of me. The impending last day though, does mean it's time for some good stories." Viper said with a growing smirk. "For this, I have brought in a guest instructor, Grand-Daggers, meet your other Grandfather, Jester."

"Greetings, grand-daggers, I do believe it is story time." Jester dramatically walked in, swinging the door open.

"Now, how about I tell time Maverick made a excel sheet detailing who he thought reminded him most of from pop culture characters. However, in trying to send it to the flyboys, he accidentally sent it to the whole base. Cain, a 1 star admiral at the time, was not happy to be matched with Skeletor, however, Stevens, a 2 star admiral at the time, was very happy to be matched with Luke Skywalker, and well, he took care of Cain."

"I mean it's Luke Skywalker, ofcourse he was very happy." Fanboy agreed.

"Leave it to him to somehow send an email like that to the whole base." Yale laughed.

"Though, Bradley over there did convince Ice to go as Batman for Halloween one year becausae he was going as Robin." Jesters began the next story.

"Yea, then convinced every other flyboy who was stateside to join in. By the end we had most of the Justice League and a few villains." Viper added.

"Who was Mav?" Halo asked.

"Green Lantern, more specifically Hal Jordan because he was also a military pilot. Air Force though, so Maverick made sure to wear his bomber which of course has his Navy patches. Claimed he was improving the character. Which techinically he was."

---

Short, but it's something. Hope you guys enjoyed. Sorry it took sthe o long, hopefully another chapter or 2 in August. July is questionable. However, it's been months so I wanted to get yall something.

As usual, let me know what yall thought and what yall want to see!

Thanks for reading and continuing to comment!

[mint-moon25]

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[motownfiction]

ultimatum

As a family attorney, Will hears the word ultimatum probably once a day.

People are always giving each other ultimatums, and Will – ever the excellent lawyer – takes copious notes about them.

I told him if he didn’t break it off with his dental hygienist, I’d leave him.

She either got rid of the cat or else!

If he continued to stay at his karate lessons all night, and never came home, then I told him there wouldn’t be a home for him to go back to.

Will writes it all down. He remembers it all. He carries the words with him like songs he doesn’t like. In between Harry Nilsson singing “Without You” and that secret song from the High School Musical soundtrack that Emma used to think was brilliant, he hears spouses saying terrible things about each other. Sometimes he agrees with the client. Sometimes he just thinks about how the money will help his girls.

Everything is all about his girls, even after all this time.

Everything is about Elenore. Seeing her smile after so many years of crying. Talking to her about the latest bullshit Disney’s cooked up for Star Wars. Swapping memories about law school and taking it on the chin when she reminds him she’s better because she went to Columbia. Will doesn’t dare remind her that he’s the reason she was able to get there. His time. His love. That’s all free, and she never needs to feel obligated to him.

Everything is about Emma. Listening to her talk about her theories for her dissertation. Holding her when the prospect of the job market and moving away from New York makes her cry. Ordering her dinner and leaving little Love, Dad notes in the bags. Emma is one of the most fascinating women he’s ever known, and everyday, she finds more ways to impress the hell out of him. Will can hardly believe he’s allowed anywhere near her.

Everything is about Veronica. Saving up money to help her go to college. Listening to her gush about the different colleges she wants to go to. Dreaming with her about Harvard and Yale even though they know it’s all a long shot, a crap shoot. Veronica is beautiful and wonderful, and Will makes sure to tell her she’s a miracle of a granddaughter. If her father can’t remind her that she’s special, her grandfather sure as hell can.

And everything is about Lucy, the woman who requires no ultimatums, the woman Will is lucky enough to have known since she was a girl. Not the other half of him, but the whole that makes life worth living. She’s it.

“Do you think that’s why we’re still together?” Lucy asks one Saturday morning over croissants and orange juice. “Because of all the horror stories you hear at your job? You figure, like, ‘At least it’s not as bad as that?’”

Will shakes his head.

“More than that,” he says. “More than I can say.”

Lucy conceals her smile behind a long sip of orange juice, and Will thinks about all the words in his head.

(part of @nosebleedclub september challenge -- day xxiv!)

[ashbrat488]

One Shots List

Sliding Into Home - Calahan Skogman AU

– McKenzie Sharpe is fresh out of college and accepts (or forced into) a job from her father, Scott Sharpe, who happens to be the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. She grew up around sports, being the only child of a mother that died when she was young and a father that wanted a boy to live vicariously through. She comes from a prominent name in the MLB and loves baseball and all sports, but is constantly being underestimated based on her sex and her looks in the industry. Now she runs the social media for the Brewers even though she has her dreams set on something much higher that no one thinks she can do…

Calahan Skogman grew up in Wisconsin, always dreaming of playing for the Brewers and now, fresh out of college, he turned down other offers to pitch for his dream team. He is quiet and keeps mostly to himself, having his own reasons for pursuing professional baseball. When he meets McKenzie, he sees her as everyone sees her; a spoiled brat who was only around because of her father and nothing else. He hates entitled, privileged people that think they are better than everyone else and he pegs her as what he hates most right away. When they start a winning streak however, they start to find themselves spending more time together and they both realize they don’t know the other one as well as they think they do…

Hope In Love - Sebastian Stan AU

-- Esperanza "Hope" Garcia doesn't have time for a proper relationship. Every time she has made time for a man, they've disappointed her. Her last proper boyfriend was 5 years ago in Law School. He worked as an electrician and hated her long hours in the library. She came home to find him in bed with a "friend". She all but swore off men after that.

Sebastian was married for 6 years to his high school sweetheart, Violet. She was killed in a mugging gone wrong. Sebastian hasn't dated anyone since her death almost 10 years ago. He's had random hookups, but always leaves before the next morning and never goes back to a woman more than a few times. That is until he met Hope.

Sebastian and Hope met through mutual friends almost a year ago and sparks flew almost immediately. Neither of them wanted anything serious, so they both decided to remain friends with certain "benefits". Over the last few months, Sebastian has been growing feelings for Hope but never dared admit it to her as her stance is firmly set for no relationship between them or for her and any guy.

Codename: Turtledove - Cole Turner

--Cole Turner is just a farmer trying to live his simple life while also trying to find the right woman to settle down with. He’s a little eccentric and a little high strung, becoming too much for most women pretty quickly. When he meets a woman at the farmer’s market, he thinks she could be the one until he finds out she has been lying since they met including about her name.  Eleanor just wants to meet a nice guy, but being the daughter of the president makes it hard to find people to trust. When she meets the hapless farmer Cole, she thinks she might have found someone she could really love... that is until he finds out just how dangerous it can be to be the potential boyfriend of the president’s daughter and he has to decide if the trouble is worth the pain...

Torn Pages - Bucky Barnes 

Bucky Barnes has survived breaking his Winter Soldier conditioning and Thanos and even managed to keep his best friend through it all. Now he is living in Brooklyn near Steve Rogers and meets an attractive bookshop owner, Serena... Everything is perfect between them until one of their enemies takes her to lure Bucky and the Avengers to them...

Lloyd Hansen - August Walker with OFC

**What if... August Walker and Lloyd Hansen both went to Harvard together. They were rivals, constantly getting into fights, and all around hating each other. Until... Until Jackie came into the picture. She was a freshman when they were seniors and the only thing they could both agree on was her... And only when they shared time together in the bedroom... I heard Paris is nice all year long...**

Happy Birthday, Captain - Steve Rogers

Steve has been away on a mission for weeks, finally returning on his birthday with a present for his girlfriend...

Sherlock and his cane…

Purely smut with Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes…

Ari/Steve ... Birthday Cake

Ari and Nomad Steve are twins and their neighbor Rosie brings them a birthday cake...

Speak Now - Ransom Drysdale

Brittan and Ransom were inseparable most of their lives. Until he was forced to break up with her to marry someone else. Can she convince him to leave his wedding to be with her instead...

Better Than Revenge

Zoey is a singer and comes home for a short break from tour to hang out with her boyfriend, only to find him in bed with her best friend. So she makes it her mission to enact revenge...

Dessert

Just Jake Jensen smut, nothing else...

[absensia-archived]

TWO MEN FIND THEMSELVES AT A POTENTIAL STALEMATE. NEITHER WANTS IT TO END THIS WAY. FOR ONE, IT WOULD MEAN FAILURE AND ANOTHER LONG NIGHT SPENT IN AN EVEN DEEPER PIT OF POLITICAL - CRIMINAL EXCREMENT AND VISCERA. FOR THE OTHER, IT MEANT A DEATH HE'D NEVER SEEN COMING, WHICH WAS UNDOUBTEDLY WORSE THAN ONE COULD SEE COMING.

The little bits of static that sparked and shot through the live audio feed did not begin until after the syndicate's current ranking top interrogator had kicked Charlotte out of the room for quote - unquote: disturbing the mark in a decidedly counterproductive manner. You're not helping, he'd said. Quit bothering my friend here, he'd said. You're making him cry, he'd said. With evidence of the man's imminent - and not to mention, irreversible - dissolution into sobs and waterworks right before her eyes, there hadn't been much Charlotte could do except acquiesce and make her exit.

" God. How come we never get to have any of fun around here, " she'd remarked as she joined Ghost in the monitoring room four flights of stars, three left turns, two - and - a - half right turns, and several doors away from Dobermann's so - called interrogation room much more than six feet below them. Conscious, she was,( though hardly self - conscious ), of her effect on electronics, Charlotte had seated herself as far from the equipment the room would allow her, which is to say, not far enough. Still in Ghost's peripherals, likely, the blonde had made herself comfortable. With her booted feet kicked up on the tabletop and her arms crossed her chest, she'd manage to balance herself perfectly on a single back leg of her chair.

In the right corner of the multiple screens that lit the small room, a digital clock ticked up the milliseconds, seconds, minutes, and hours. As the numbers fluxed, so did the occurrences of static pops and visual glitches in the live image. The time, however, never skipped. Much to Charlotte's annoyance, the man had managed to hold his tears back with her gone, but it wasn't going to be much longer before he broke under the pressure Dobermann's was relentlessly laying on. Top of his class at Harvard Law all those years ago, top of the tax bracket in his city for many years now, and the nigh - revered consigliere of a massive backing mafia in the recent years, and he was about to give it all up in exchange for nothing but a shovel. A shitty, rusty, chipped - up shovel to unbury himself once all the bloody dirt settled on top of him.

But even that was still better than nothing. Wasn't that how that one saying goes? Better the devil seen than one unseen? Better the devils you know than the ones you don't. Like mysterious women who seemed to form out of shadow and nothing else. Like a disembodied laugh and a sound so sharp, so loud, that you can't even be sure you've even died until a reaper's skeletal hand reaches for you. " That's a long fucking way to fall, " Charlotte said as they watched the man on screen crumple, his face as white as paper, the sheen of sweat on his face doing him very little favours in the single dim light of the cell room. " But at least he'll live. Sort of. "

@azraelreckoning / " THE PRICE'A FREEDOM IS HIGH. "

" That, it is. " In the odd psuedo - dark of the monitoring room, something changed in Charlotte's gaze as she watched the proceedings of the man's downfall. It might've been a trick of the light. That might be simply something one has to tell oneself. But something darker than the mere dilation of the vessel's pupils shifted then, as behind it, something uncoiled past the null of the pupil, past where science tells us light enters only to vanish into little more than electrical impulses and mirror - tricks. From comfortable to calm, the woman smiled in the dark as the names, numbers, and assignations began to pour out of their friend, the fallen man. Dobermann did not have pen nor paper with him because he assumed these videos would suffice as a record. As for Ghost. . . Well, Charlotte wasn't sure just how much she trusted his memory ( or just him in general ) when it came to these things. Maybe it was good enough, maybe it wasn't, maybe he just didn't care enough about the details. " S'good thing we're in charge of the price this time around, then, huh? " she said, shooting Ghost a quick grin as she drew a small notepad and pen from somewhere inside her blazer jacket. The pen clicked loudly, but then there was not a single sound to follow even as she clearly began to jot down everything the man was giving up in her own shorthand. Not the idle scratch of the paper or the quiet stick of the ink as she pressed and lifted the ballpoint tip from the page.

With one ordeal ( barely ) done, the agent was already looking for another curiosity case to pick apart, and even as her hand moved in an odd spiral pattern over her pages, her gaze slid back over to the phantom. " Hey. Be honest. Are you getting a little bit bored? With this job, I mean. " Without looking away from the eerie glow of the screens' blue light on the corner of his jawbone, Charlotte dotted an I, crossed a 7, and flipped to a fresh page. " I mean, we've only had one dead body and one assassination attempt so far. This guy wasn't even particularly difficult to find and break. I'm asking because you seemed bored. If you want, we could always find a way to fuck up the rendezvous tomorrow. Hm? "

[charlenasaxen]

“Fleishman called it a good piece, Jen.’

‘Jesus, did I wait up so late just to hear that?”

“No; I’ve got much better legs”

“she brought some over to Gannett House tonight. Everybody said they were as good as your legs.”

“Damn,’ I replied, ‘why can’t I ever quit when I’m ahead?’

‘Because, Preppie,’ said my loving wife, ‘you never are.”

“in favor of a lucrative job that would get the dirty word ‘scrounge’ out of our goddamn vocabulary”

“Consider the case of yours truly: Law Review, All-Ivy, Harvard and you know what else. Hordes of people were fighting to get my name and numeral onto their stationery.”

“Mr. - (why risk a lawsuit?), kept telling me: ‘Barrett baby”

“Also, they really snowed me. I mean, old man Jonas came up to Boston, took us to dinner at Pier Four and sent Jenny flowers the next day.”

“I told her not so fast and she told me to go screw because I was probably singing the same tune. I don’t have to tell you she was right.”

“Jonas and Marsh paid Oliver Barrett IV $11,800, the absolute highest salary received by any member of our graduating class.

So you see I was only third academically.”

“It’s so nouveau riche,’ complained Jenny.

‘But we are nouveau riche”

“Jonas and Marsh was an easy ten-minute walk (or strut - I preferred the latter gait)”

“so were the fancy shops like Bonwit’s and so forth where I insisted that my wife, the bitch, immediately open accounts and start spending”

“newly returned to civilian life after having actually shot at some Vietcong (‘I’m not positive it was VC, actually. I heard noises, so I opened fire at the bushes’)”

“or because word of my Law School successes had gotten around (I didn’t brag about the salary, honest)”

“Just say I’m pregnant, Oliver.’

‘Are you? ‘I asked.

‘No, but if we stay home this weekend I might be.”

“I’ve really grown fond of the name Bozo,’ I said.

‘You mean seriously?”

“You would name our child Bozo?’ she asked again.

‘Yes. Really. Honestly, Jen, it’s the name of a super-jock.’

‘Bozo Barrett.”

“I meant it sincerely. This whole Bozo business had gotten to be a frequent daydream of mine as I strutted to work.”

“But lacking a truly devastating remark, she merely cut the cake and gave me a piece”

“There’s nothing in our genes that says two hundred and forty pounds, Oliver.’

‘We’ll feed him up, Jen.”

“Oh, yeah? Suppose he won’t eat, Oliver?’

‘He’ll eat, goddammit,’ I said, getting slightly pissed off already at the kid”

“soon be sitting at our table not cooperating with my plans for his athletic triumphs.”

“He’ll eat or I’ll break his face.”

Jenny looked me straight in the eye and smiled. ‘Not if he weighs two-forty, you won’t.’

‘Oh,’ I replied, momentarily set back. “But he won’t be two-forty right away!”

“You be nicer to my mother, Preppie!’ Christ, hopefully Jenny would keep Bozo from destroying me.”

“is a certain irony involved when guys who spend the first years of their sex lives preoccupied with not getting girls pregnant”

“He understands, doctor,’ said Jenny for me, knowing without my ever having mentioned it”

“Didn’t her voice even suggest that she hoped, if an insufficiency were to be discovered, it would be her own?”

“Oliver, the problem is more serious than that. Jenny is very sick.”

“I waited for the doctor to tell me that it was all a grim joke.“

“I insisted that he had made some mistake”

“Up to me! Christ, at this point I didn’t feel up to breathing.”

“what therapy they had for Jenny’s form of leukemia was merely palliative - it could relieve, it might retard, but it could not reverse”

“all I really could think of was how obscene the whole fucking thing was.

‘She’s only twenty-four!’ I told the doctor, shouting”

“I realized that I couldn’t just sit in this man’s office forever. So I asked him what to do.”

“He told me to act as normal as possible for as long as possible. I thanked him and left.

Normal! Normal!”

“I hoped there was a God I could say thank you to. Thank you for letting me wake up and see Jennifer.”

“Who?’ I asked.

‘Raymond Stratton ‘64,’ she said, ‘your best friend. Your roommate before me.”

“Don’t go canceling squash games, Preppie. I don’t want a flabby husband, dammit!”

“I yelled, trying to work up my normal mock anger”

“Jennifer!’ I bellowed, now honestly hurt”

“I told this God, whoever and wherever He might be, that I would gladly settle for the status quo. I don’t mind the agony, sir, I don’t mind knowing as long as Jenny doesn’t know.”

“Younger men? I was the youngest guy in the office. But I read his message: Oliver, despite your chronological age, you are already one of the elders of this office. One of us”

“I had resolved to tell nobody, to shoulder the entire burden myself. So I gave old man Jonas some bullshit”

“looking at the wonderful and silly extravagant things I would have bought Jennifer had I not wanted to keep up that fiction of … normal”

“I was the proud possessor of two tickets (first class, no less) to the City of Lovers”

“Guess what, Mrs. Barrett,’ I said”

“But quietly, with none of her usual mock-aggression. As she spoke it then, it was a kind of endearment: ‘Bullshit, Oliver.”

“Hey, can you define ‘bullshit’ more specifically, please?’

‘Hey, Ollie,’ she said softly”

“I don’t need Paris. I just want you -”

“And I want time,’ she continued, ‘which you can’t give me.’

Now I looked into her eyes. They were ineffably sad.”

“We stood there silently holding one another. Please, if one of us cries, let both of us cry. But preferably neither of us.”

“Oh,’ I said, knowing that she was trying to inject some levity into the grim proceedings.

‘Can he at least read and write?”

“That remains to be seen,’ smiled Mrs. Oliver Barrett”

“Now at least I wasn’t afraid to go home, I wasn’t scared about ‘acting normal.’ We were once again sharing everything, even if it was the awful knowledge that our days together were every one of them numbered.”

“things we had to discuss, things not usually broached by twenty-four-year-old couples.

‘I’m counting on you to be strong, you hockey jock”

“wondering if the always knowing Jennifer could tell that the great hockey jock was frightened”

“for Phil,’ she continued. ‘It’s gonna be hardest for him.”

“You’ll be merry, goddammit. I want you to be merry.”

“It was about a month later, right after dinner. She was still doing the cooking; she insisted”

“I was aware, in the swift flurry of motions that followed, that this was it. Jenny was going to walk out of our apartment and never come back.”

“Hey,’ I said, ‘anything special you want to take along?’

‘Uh uh.’ She nodded no, then added as an afterthought, ‘You.”

“Jenny just leaned against me, and I secretly wished there would be no taxi, that she would just keep leaning on me”

“Jenny was cuddled up against me. I was kissing her hair.”

“he wished us all sorts of good fortune and happiness. Jenny thanked him.

She seemed unsteady on her feet and I wanted to carry her in, but she insisted, ‘Not this threshold, Preppie.”

“(Who could have thought of such trivia? We were too busy buying dishes.)”

“I know I was lecturing him needlessly - ‘Jenny’s the boss. Whatever she says goes. Just you guys do everything you possibly can to make it not hurt.”

“I don’t care what it costs, doctor.’ I think I was raising my voice.”

“I commanded him, ‘just remember I want her to have the very best. Private room. Special nurses. Everything. Please. I’ve got the money.”

“certain that no automobile, foreign or domestic, even with some Graham Hill type at the wheel, can make it faster”

“My father did not say, ‘Show him in.’

Instead, his door opened and he appeared in person.”

“Come in, son,’ he said. I couldn’t read the tone.”

“I also sensed that he didn’t want to give me any heat. But he did want to … talk.”

“we couldn’t just sit there, both of us willing to talk and yet unable even to look the other straight in the face”

“yet if we had more to say to one another I could even hang around your office, Father, and you would cancel your luncheon plans … and so forth”

“summoned the courage to look at him and say:

‘Thank you, Father.”

“calmly closed the house in Cranston and came to live in our apartment.”

“Does he cherish the dream that Jenny will come home?

He does, doesn’t he?”

“he won’t admit this to me, but I know it’s on his mind.

Because it’s on mine too.”

“the days were simply divided between visiting hours and everything else”

“Eating without hunger, watching Phil clean the apartment (again!) and not sleeping even with the prescription Ackerman gave me”

“I can take this ad infinitum.

Because Jenny is Jenny.”

“But not too far,’ she said when I reached the door”

“She says to get your ass in there,’ he whispered hoarsely, like the whole inside of him was hollow”

“I always liked to sit very close and just look at her face, which, however pale, still had her eyes shining in it.

So I quickly sat very close.”

“It doesn’t hurt, Ollie, really,’ she said”

“Something stirred deep in my gut. Some shapeless thing that was going to fly into my throat and make me cry. But I wasn’t going to. I never have. I’m a tough bastard, see? I am not gonna cry.”

“Huh?’ It was more of a grunt than a word.

‘You don’t know about falling off cliffs, Preppie”

“You never fell off one in your goddamn life.’

‘Yeah,’ I said, recovering the power of speech. ‘When I met you.”

“I would look it up and tell her first thing tomorrow.”

“sorry for having interrupted her”

“Are you listening, Ollie?’

I had turned my face away.

‘Yeah, I’m listening, Jenny.”

“Oliver, you’ve got to stop being sick!’

‘Me?’

‘That guilty look on your face, Oliver, it’s sick.’

Honestly, I tried to change my expression, but my facial muscles were frozen.”

“I wanted to keep looking at her because I wanted to never take my eyes from her, but still I had to lower my eyes”

“I was afraid to even speak the word ‘okay.’ I just looked mutely at Jenny.”

“I could tell when Jenny really meant something. So I bought permission to stay by telling a lie: ‘I believe you”

“From somewhere inside me came this devastating assault to make me cry. But I withstood. I would not cry.”

“happy to do her any favor whatsoever.

‘Would you please hold me very tight?”

“I got onto the bed with her and put my arms around her.

‘Thanks, Ollie.’

Those were her last words.”

“I wish I hadn’t promised Jenny to be strong for you.’

And, to honor his pledge, he patted my hand very gently.”

“Oliver.’

I stopped.

It was my father.”

“I couldn’t face him. I went straight for the revolving door. But in an instant he was out there standing next to me.

‘Oliver,’ he said, ‘you should have told me.”

“My father continued to address me, and I continued to stand still and let the cold wind slap my face”

“Oliver,’ said my father urgently, ‘I want to help.”

“Jenny’s dead,’ I told him.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said in a stunned whisper.”

“I repeated what I had long ago learned from the beautiful girl now dead.

‘Love means not ever having to say you’re sorry.’

And then I did what I had never done in his presence, much less in his arms. I cried.”

[xtruss]

All Life On Earth Might Have Started From Lightning, Scientists Say. It’s Electric!

— By Darren Orf | August 06, 2024

Victor de Schwanberg/Science Photo Library//Getty Images

For decades, scientists have theorized that volcanic lightning on an early Earth played a crucial role in kickstarting life on the planet by breaking molecules into useful, biological components.

A new study from Harvard University suggests that cloud-to-ground lightning—as opposed to other theories like cloud-to-cloud lightning or panspermia—likely provided the necessary material for the first organisms to form.

This discovery could help scientists better understand the chemistry of early Earth life forms, and provide a template for how life could start on planets beyond our own.

“How did life begin?” is one of the most profound scientific questions ever pondered. And it makes sense that such a grand idea would inspire many possible theories and explanations—both data-driven and divine. Focusing on the former, one of the most popular theories is the concept of “panspermia”—that ancient asteroids colliding into early Earth brought with them the building blocks (or even the microorganisms themselves) necessary to kickstart life.

However, there’s another theory that doesn’t rely on some extraterrestrial origin: cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.

In 1953, American scientists Stanley Miller and Harold C. Urey conducted the first experiments investigating whether lightning strikes could instigate the production of amino acids by simulating the conditions of early Earth. Now, scientists from Harvard University have discovered how cloud-to-ground lightning strikes—especially volcano-produced ones—could’ve created the necessary ingredients for life more efficiently than panspermia or even cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes. The results of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“The emergence, survival, and evolution of biology require dependable sources of nitrogen and carbon,” the paper reads. “Lightning-induced plasma electrochemistry could have generated high concentrations of nitrogen- and carbon-containing feedstocks locally and produced a range of reagents globally that were relevant (and crucial) to emergent life.”

Similar to the famous Miller-Urey experiment in 1953, the team simulated the conditions of early Earth in a laboratory, and studied the chemical reactions when simulated lightning strikes struck air, land, and water replicas. The results showed that carbon dioxide transformed in the carbon monoxide and formic acid—previously regarded as a “ubiquitous but overlooked component of the early Earth atmosphere.” But crucially, nitrogen (N2) would’ve also converted into nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia.

This is extremely important, as Earth’s early atmosphere would’ve been made up of nonreactive N2 molecules. Lightning was the essential piece needed to create the ingredients essential for forming things like DNA, RNA, and proteins. A 2023 study from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland found that the metabolism of ancient microorganisms soon found ways to break N2 gas into usable ammonia, but that lightning provided the crucial first step to really get the process going. Now, this new discovery is another strong piece of evidence pointing towards life’s electrifying beginnings—and another nail in the coffin of the long-shot theory of panspermia.

Scientists may never know for sure exactly how life started those many billions of years ago. But it seems increasingly likely that when it comes to creating life, Earth had it in her all along—and that it may not have been the only planet in our Solar System capable of such a feat.

[casspurrjoybell-25]

Cold as Ice - Chapter 39 - Part 1

*Warning - Adult Content*

Landon Reilly

I didn't even get to play in the game against Harvard on Sunday afternoon.

That was probably for the better.

There was no way I'd have been able to focus on the ice, not with how much Wren was occupying my mind.

The thought of him heartbroken and lonely hurt more than I cared to admit and the fact that I caused it made me feel even worse.

I was the first one on the bus that would take us back to campus, not even bothering to wait for Rojas but he was sure to find me as soon as he stepped on.

Cooper was stuck up at the front of the bus with Coach, still in trouble from what had happened yesterday.

Rojas sat down beside me like I expect him to.

"You left the locker room pretty fast yesterday," he said.

"You wanna tell me what the hell is going on with you and Cooper?"

No, I didn't want to tell him that at all.

I wanted to forget it even happened and to forget Cooper even existed.

I didn't need Rojas in my business about it either.

There was nothing to be done about it other than move on.

"I heard from some of the guys that he's been saying that you kissed him? But I don't think that's true. It seems like it was the other way around," Rojas continued when I didn't answer.

"It doesn't matter," I muttered.

Nothing mattered to me less at that moment.

What mattered was that this fucking bus got moving so I could get back to Providence and back to Wren.

"It does though," Rojas replied.

"I wish you'd have told me that he was messing with you."

"I don't need you trying to protect me."

I was trying not to snap at him.

He was the leader of the team and he felt the need to make sure everything was good with the team.

I knew what that felt like even if I epically failed at it.

"Don't think of it as protection," he said.

"It's more like I got your back. I have everyone's backs. I don't want anyone on the team to be messed with or targeted."

Rojas was like what a Captain should be, always looking out for everyone, making himself available to everyone if they needed him.

It was what I should have been when I was captain of my own team in high school but instead of doing that, I targeted Elijah because of my own deeply fucked up problems and made everyone on the team fear me instead of look up to me.

It was something I would never be able to change, never be able to take back and it was something I had to continue to learn to live with and make amends for.

"Cooper is a deeply insecure person," I muttered, looking out the window as the bus started to move.

"As long as he stays away from me and stops talking about me then I'm good."

Rojas didn't say anything after that and I was glad he wasn't going to make me spend the whole ride back to Providence talking.

I put my earbuds in and turned my music up, willing the time to move faster.

The drive back to Providence was almost two hours and I felt every second of it.

I could usually drift away on a long bus ride but now that I was aching to get back it felt like eternity.

It was nearing eight o'clock in the evening by the time the bus finally pulled onto campus.

I was up and out of my seat, practically mowing over Rojas in the process to get off this fucking bus.

As I stood outside and waited for the compartment holding our things to be opened, Coach approached me.

"Reilly, I want to talk to you," he said, lowly enough so that only I would hear.

I mentally cursed at him because of course he wanted to talk to me when all I wanted was to get the hell out of there.

"Sure, Coach," I mumbled, moving to grab my bag as soon as the bottom of the bus was opened.

"What about?"

He shot me a knowing look because it was quite obvious what it was going to be about.

I stood with Coach while he waited for everyone to grab their things and be on their way.

Once everyone was leaving, he led me over to his car.

"I'm not going to tolerate what went on in the locker room with John," Coach said once we were at his car, calling Cooper by his first name.

I knew better than to try and make excuses and place blame.

I just had to stand here and listen to whatever Coach had to say, then run over to the Brown campus like my life depended on it.

"I've suspended John from the team until further notice," Coach continued, and I cringed at what that could mean for me.

If he was going to suspend me from the team, that would most likely affect my scholarship and there was no way I was affording to stay here without it.

I was panicking.

It momentarily made me forget about going to Wren.

"Coach," I started in a rushed tone.

"I'm here on scholarship for hockey and..."

"Calm down, Landon, I'm not suspending you," Coach interjected, holding his hand up for me to stop.

I let out a sigh of relief.

"But if he did anything to you, I need to know about it," Coach continued.

"Anything other than what he did in the locker room because that will affect whether or not he comes back to the team at all."

I really didn't want to talk about this with Coach at all.

I didn't care if Cooper played on the team or not, I just wanted him to leave me alone.

"He just doesn't like me," I told him.

He looked at me with disbelief on his face but didn't press me further.

"Alright, well if you can think of anything, anything at all that you think I should know, please feel free to tell me," Coach responded.

I nodded at him and the two of us said our goodbyes before I was rushing toward the Brown campus, lugging my bag on my shoulder.

It was freezing out, my ears feeling like they were about to fall off.

When I got to Wren's building, I sent Jess a text hoping she would be at Stella's so she could come down and let me in.

She was downstairs within a couple of minutes.

"What's up?" she asked as she threw open the door.

"What happened to your face?"

"Nothing. Is Wren up there?" I asked, following her up the stairs.

"I don't know. I've been at Stella's," she said.

"What, a few days away from him and you have a change of heart?" she said, with a teasing smile.

I sent her a tentative smile back.

"Something like that," I said.

Jess was the only one I had told about what had gone on with Wren, she was really the only one here I had apart from Wren.

The two of us got up to their floor and made our way down the hall to Stella's and Wren's rooms.

"Good luck," Jess whispered, squeezing my shoulder before letting herself back into Stella's room.

I let out a breath and knocked on Wren's door.

The person I didn't want to see was the one that answered.

"Oh, thank God," James said, pulling me into the room.

I glanced around the room but Wren was nowhere in sight.

James released my arm and shut the door behind us.

"Where's Wren?" I asked, backing away from him slightly.

"No clue," James replied.

"He hasn't been here all weekend but I'm sure he'll be back eventually. You need to talk some sense into him. He's been acting like a crazy person."

The last thing I wanted to do was sit around with James to wait for Wren but that was my only option.

I put my bag down under Wren's bed and sat down at his desk.

He had things all over the desk, papers, pens, open books, notebooks.

It was so uncharacteristic of him.

James was just watching me and I sat there and pretended I didn't feel his stare even though it was pissing me off the longer it went on.

"Can I help you?" I snapped, looking up from the desk.

He was standing over on his side of the room, leaning back against his bed.

James grinned over at me and I hated that that reminded me of Wren.

"You don't like me very much," James stated.

He said it like he already knew that, not like it was some new revelation.

"If it's because of my history with Wren, you don't need to worry about it."

I was embarrassed that he could see right through me about this.

It was obvious my problem with James had nothing to do with him and everything to do with my jealousy over him and Wren.

"Seriously, he doesn't like me the way he likes you, he never has," James continued.

"I don't give a shit."

James's grin widened.

"You clearly do."

I glared at him until I heard the door unlocking.

My eyes immediately shot over to the door just in time to see Wren walk in with a bag slung over his shoulder.

"Now where have you been?" James asked him in a teasing tone.

[nickgerlich]

Crisis Point

Corporate crises have been happening for as long as corporations have existed. It’s just that when they happen today, corporations are far more exposed and vulnerable. It’s not so much that they are intentionally being transparent. No, it’s because they are so visible.

We can thank social media and always-on, 24/7 news coverage from many sources. You can run, but you can’t hide.

Yesterday I recorded a forthcoming episode of BuffSpeak, the official podcast of the Engler College of Business. My guest was Dr. Kris Drumheller, with whom I have done many studies on crisis communication. We have had numerous journal articles and book chapters published on the subject. That episode will drop on 4th March.

We chatted for more than an hour, but could have easily gone on for two or three. This is a subject ripe for discussion, for examination and dissection. And while we may all learn a little bit more each time a company faces a crisis—often of their own doing, mind you—each week it seems there is another entrant into the sweepstakes to see who can fall into the biggest mess.

Of course, sometimes a crisis happens at no fault of the company. I summon what is probably the best text book example of how a company had a crisis served to it, and then responded so perfectly that it has stood the test of time as the model of how to do it right.

That would be the Tylenol case of 1982. Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer, was faced with the inconceivable: product tampering. An unknown person or persons in Chicago had laced Tylenol painkillers with cyanide. Seven people died, including a child. The poisonings were seemingly random across Chicagoland, but that was the geographic extent of the problem.

Keep in mind that there were no social media sites in 1982, only daily newspapers, the evening news, and a very young CNN still finding its rhythm. While citizens may have been waiting with bated breath for the latest headline, the emphasis was on “waiting.”

J&J then did the unprecedented: they pulled their own product nationwide, not just Chicago. Sales plummeted to absolute zero. But within months, Tylenol was back, this time in tamper-resistant packaging. You know. The kinds of screw caps that only make your headache worse when you really need to get a couple of painkillers.

But it was the right move, and we can thank J&J not just for packaging innovation (or curse them—your call), but also focusing on the main issue: consumer safety. They weren’t worried about their own well being; no, they were willing to absorb a lot of red ink while they searched for a solution to the problem, one that any other company could have been victimized over.

A killer was never found, although one person was arrested for trying to extort $1 million from J&J. This person spent 12 years in prison, but could not be tied to the killings. He was just an opportunist. And as soon as Tylenol returned to shelves, sales took off, the general public comfortable and assured that they were safe once more.

Yeah. You can’t get better than that.Skip forward 40 years or so, and we have the crisis of the week playing out on social media and the news. But things are different now. Whereas sales after a crisis typically formed a “Crisis U” shape on the graph, in which sales drop but then rebound, they are now increasingly likely to be the “Crisis L,” as detailed in a recent Harvard Business Review article.

That’s another way of saying that sales go off a cliff, and then eventually settle in at a new normal much lower than before. Worse yet, in our highly polarized society, it is now not just possible, but also highly likely, that when companies do anything, they will offend about 50% of their customers. And when that happens, the victimized company can only brace themselves, while their competitors may reap unexpected benefits.

Which is exactly how Molson Coors contends its beer sales shot upward last year. Net sales were up 9.3%, due in large part—or so they contend—from the Bud Light crisis last April. We can certainly debate cause and effect all day long, but those beer sales had to go somewhere. And as we have noted earlier, a lot also went to Modelo, which, oddly enough, is also brewed by AB InBev.

The question is whether this change is sustainable. For that matter, should Molson Coors redirect marketing efforts to appeal to the more conservative Bud Light ex-pats? That would be dangerous, because then they would offend others. But then again, it would be nice to hang on to this sales bump.

These are rough times for companies, and there will be a new victim next week as sure as the sun rises in the east. And the week after. On and on, companies doing things that ruffle feathers and irritate sensibilities.

Oh, that corporate crises could be as straightforward as the one that Tylenol faced 42 years ago. J&J can almost thank their lucky stars that the crisis was not about them, but rather everyone and the safety of a nation. While the crises we see today typically have nothing to do with product safety, there is still much to be gleaned. Focus on the bigger issue. Always be concerned about the well-being of the consumer. Stick to your mission, pray for calmer waters, and hope that your sales chart is a U and not an L.

Be sure to give a listen to BuffSpeak soon. This is a good episode, and on a topic that every corporate employee needs to be cognizant of.

Dr “Hold Your Tongue” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[pollyna]

He is drinking his third shot when he realises that fuck it, if he could graduate from Harvard, becoming a doctor and a fucking excellent pilot, the 1% of the 1%, he could surley master the courage to go and talk with Admiral Kazansky. He has to talk with the man, not ask him for a date because he isn't Fritz. Frizt could go there and ask the man without having half of the alcohol Harvard has in his body now. He's not drunk, he swear. He just need a little liquid courage. Oh honey, you can go and talk to the man, he isn't going to eat you Penny says, filling his glass one more time. This is the last one of the night, so you go there before Mav comes around and swips him out before everyone's eyes. Okay, okay he can do it. Thanks Penny he says drinking until the last drop of his vodka.

He's half way the bar when Captain Mitchell slides on the booth, just on the right side of the Admiral and kisses him. Nope, so not gonna happen to night, sorry, he tried at least? he tries to convince himself when a hand drags him back towards the booth. So Harvard, my dear husband is asking himself when you would have find the courage to come and talk to him or if he had to make the first move to come to you. Now kid, you have to now that Iceman does the first move only with me or when he wants to get someone to disappear Mav says with a conspiratorial look at his husband so what about you sit your ass down son? I'd hate to loose another pilot so soon.

Harvard has to be very pale because another pilot? Oh god, he's going to die. Did Admiral Kazansky really- oh for chrissake Pete, let the man sit and have another drink before he has a heart attack. And then Harvard is sitting down without realising because Maverick is sneaky and he should have known better than to just trust the man. There's a beer already in front of himself and so, lieutenant what was all that fret? If it wasn't for the uniform, and that I hand picked you, I would have asked Penny to escort you out or that you were trying to flirt with me. the Adrmial says after a long minute of silence and Harvard is really trying to not choke on his own beer. It's-i'm not Fitz sir, I was trying to find the moment to come here and talk to you, sir. Everyone else did it and I didn't like to be left out of the loop, sir.

Uhuh, you're one of the kids I haven't seen around the house yet. But here you're, you can speak and introduce yourself the man is positively trying not to laugh and Captain Mitchell is stuffing is mouth of peanuts because he wants to be serious. He's going to say something, he really is, because his mouth is opening and closing and the beer bottle is slowly but steadley becoming lighter and still, not a single sentence is out.

Admiral Kazansky is looking at him, Captain Mitchell is looking at him, hell Penny is looking at him behind the bar but still, silence.

Did Mav ever told you what he did to piss Admiral Cane that much? the Admiral asks, looking back at his husband who's already trying to escape the story behind the question. But no sir, he didn't and so it begins.

Penny has to send them all out because she has to close the bar but the Admiral, call me Iceman, is still going on and on about this or that thing that Mav did or sharing randomly old gossip about other Admirals and Harvard's jaw is aching for how much he's laughin. It's 3 am and he has to go to sleep because in four hours they are going to have another loop to do and he needs to sleep but he really doesn't want to leave them. Now he gets why everyone is always around their house and why Halo decided to work with this particular Admiral years ago.

Do you prefer waffles or pancake Lieutenant? the Admiral asks, after exchanging their goodbyes.

Pancakes with a side of fruit salad, sir he answers, confused by the question. The last person who was interested in his breakfast habits was Yale and that's a particular story that involves a burn pan he doesn't want to think about right now. As it, it happend just two mornings ago and most of their clothes are still smelling like smoke.

Another on your side than, Mav. We will be expecting you on Sunday morning, it's going to be a brunch, all the squadron and the hopes are less alcohol in the mimosas than last time the Admiral announces before walking away, a half asleep Maverick on his side and Penny looking at them by her car.

Sunday morning. Perfect. Now he just has to find the strength to wake up at seven for the rest of the week. Easy peasy. And he can finally tell Fitz he talked to the man and take Yale with him so maybe, maybe, is boyfriend is going to learn how to cook once and for all.