#how to recruit truck drivers

[cdldriverrecruiter]

Utilizing Past Applicants and Referrals for CDL Truck Driver Recruitment

Allow me to provide you with a strategy to effectively enhance your hiring success more effectively. It's quite straightforward: revisit your past or archived pool of applicants, regardless of their previous outcome if they were hired or interviewed or not. Whether stored in your email archives or physical files, gather these individuals as they can be a potential employee. Additionally, compile a list of your current employees, including drivers and mechanics.

Systematically reach out to each individual, inviting them to your office for a discussion. Inquire about their professional network and inquire if they could recommend any potential candidates for our current job openings. Consider incentivizing these referrals with bonuses, if feasible. Implementing this approach could yield positive results for your recruitment efforts.

Implementing these time tested tips and strategies will yield a dramatic difference in your recruitment efforts. If you'd like to discuss further, please contact us at 800-940-6353 or visit classatransport.com.

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#helprecruiting #cdlrecruiting #hiredrivers

[bejeweledblondie]

New Recruit

Simon “Ghost” Riley x F! Reader

Summary: Y/N’s & Simon’s little girl goes to work with her daddy after begging for months, this is based on a true story that happened today my husband came home decorated in stickers

Warnings: none

When your daughter found out Simon was bringing her to work the next day she was overly ecstatic. She immediately grabbed her little pink backpack & packed three of her Barbie dolls, stickers, coloring books, all the essentials. Your daughter had grown incredibly curious in what her father did. He’d always try to bring back some sort of souvenir for her, & it only helped with peaking her curiosity. She’d constant ask different questions when he’d come home from a mission & Simon would create some elaborate story to shield her from his actual profession. All she knew what that he was in the military to some degree. So Simon decided since it was mainly a online safety training day he’d bring her onto the base.

The next morning she was so excited nearly bouncing out of her seat in anticipation. She kept asking so many questions about the activities planned that she wasn’t eating her cereal.

“Sweetheart, you gotta eat up my love.” You stated, reminding her of the colorful fruity breakfast food in front of her. “You need to be well fed before you go with daddy to work.”

“Okay mummy.” She replied starting to eat away. Simon had just come back from a early morning run & walked in the door. “Daddy!” She yelled excitedly & opened her arms for a hug.

“Hey princess!“ He greeted her. Despite how sweaty he was, he couldn’t deny his little girl a hug.

“You stink!” She exclaimed. He ruffled her hair & walked upstairs to take a well needed shower. Once she was done with her breakfast you took her upstairs to get her ready for the day. She had laid out her outfit the night prior. The cutest little pink corduroy dress, with white tights, & mary jane flats were resting on her dresser. You got her changed into her outfit for the day & Simon came in dressed in his uniform. It was a morning ritual before he left for work that he’d help put his little girls hair up. His bear paw of a hand grabbed the hair brush that sat on her dresser & started to brush her sandy blonde locks.

“What bow do you want this morning princess?” He asked pointing to the plethora of bows that sat in a container.

“Hmmmm,” She said thoughtfully her little nose crinkling in thought. “The pink one!” You now leaning against the door frame giggled to yourself. She had all those bows but without fail the pink one was the one she wore the most. He clipped the bow into her small ponytail & let her look at it in the mirror.

“Okay pumpkin, let’s go so daddy is not late for work.” He said & scooped her up. She always looked smaller then she was in Simon’s arms. It always looked like he was carrying a doll around. He grabbed her pink backpack & swung it over his free shoulder. The three of you made it downstairs & you gave the two of them a kiss goodbye.

“Looks like it’s just you & me today.” You said quietly to your now visible baby bump.

Simon buckled the wiggly little girl into her car seat & got into the driver’s seat of his pick up truck.

“Okay darling what do you wanna listen to?” He asked looking back at her, already knowing her answer.

“Taylor Swift!” She exclaimed & like clockwork he put on her absolute favorite song, Shake it Off. He smiled to himself as he watched her wiggle around in her car seat to the song singing to herself. Simon tried to sing along, but she shot that down really fast. “No daddy I only sing.” She said. He rolled his eyes playfully, & shook his head. Knowing damn well she got her sassiness from her mother.

He pulled up to the gate to the base, & showed both of her identification cards. The gate guard scanned both & saluted Simon. Soon they were in the parking lot to the headquarters, & Simon was struggling with getting the car seat unhooked. His damn sausage fingers were getting in the way.

“God dammit.” He said as he tried to unclip one of the straps. Your daughter got wide eyed & gasped.

“Daddy you just said a bad word!” She exclaimed. “Mummy says those aren’t nice words.” A look of disbelief was on Simon’s face at his child’s scolding, knowing well enough she’ll repeat what happened later on. The swear jar at home was already way too filled from his accidental cursing. Price had been standing outside finishing off the last of his cigarette watching his lieutenant struggle with the car seat buckle. After he finished his smoke he decided to go over & help. Being a father to three kids meant he was a professional.

“Oi, Simon!” He called coming down the stairs. “Need some help?”

“Anything would be great, Price.” Simon said clearly frustrated. Price looked at the little girl in the car seat who looked back him & smiled. “I swear they strap them in tight enough they could survive an atomic bomb.” Simon continue. “Eleanor, this is Captain Price. Daddy’s boss, he’s gonna unhook ya.” Simon told his daughter.

“Hello, Eleanor,” Price said. “Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand & she grabbed onto two fingers, shaking his hand. Somehow someway Price was able to get the car seat unhooked. Eleanor held out her arms & Price picked her up placing her down next to her father. Simon took the pink backpack & his daughters hand. All three of them walked into the building only to be greeted by Soap & Gaz.

“Finally!” Soap exclaimed. “What took you lot so long-“ he cut off mid sentence at the sight of the little girl holding her fathers hand. “Who’s child is that?” He asked.

“This is my daughter, Eleanor.” Simon explained. Eleanor now shyly was hiding in between her fathers legs.

“I had no idea you had a kid LT.” Gaz said. The two men crouched down to greet the little girl. Simon’s hand came down to stroke her hair to tell her it’s okay. “Hello, Eleanor I’m Gaz & this is Soap.” She just stared back at them gripping onto the camouflage fabric of Simon’s pants.

“She’s just shy.” Simon explained & picked up his daughter.

“Well let’s get to it.” Price stated, & they all walked into one of the briefing rooms. “Simon why don’t you drop Eleanor off with Laswell while we conduct our briefing.” Price stated. “She’s just right next door.”

Simon carried his daughter out of the room & knocked on the door of the room next to them. Kate opened the door & smiled.

“Oh isn’t this a surprise!” Kate said.

“Could you just let her sit in here for a few? We’re about to do a briefing.” Simon asked. She nodded & Simon handed his daughter off to her with her pink backpack.

“Daddy where are you going?” Eleanor asked in a upset tone.

“Daddy’s going to be right next door.” He explained to her. “Then when I’m done you can come in.”

“Okay daddy.” She replied. Simon went into the briefing room & Laswell closed the door to her office. She placed the little girl on the ground who held onto her pink backpack.

“Whatcha got in there?” Laswell asked as she crouched down to her level.

“I have Barbie’s.” Eleanor said. “Do you know how to play with Barbie’s?” She asked. Laswell nodded, & Eleanor opened up her backpack to reveal her Barbie’s. The more questions Laswell asked the more comfortable Eleanor was around her. Once the briefing was finished, Simon went next door to check in on his daughter. There she was sitting with Laswell on the floor playing with her three favorite Barbie’s. Soap & Gaz also appeared in the doorway behind him. After a few minutes Eleanor realized her father was in the doorway. “Daddy!” She exclaimed excitedly. He never got tired of seeing her excitement when he walked into a room or came back from work.

“Hi princess, can I steal Laswell for a minute?” He asked. “Soap & Gaz will play if you want.” He said & Laswell got up. “Then after this we can get Macca’s for lunch.” She lit up at the sound of that.

“Okay daddy.” She said in agreement. Soap & Gaz soon joined her on the floor. She looked at them skeptically especially Soap. “Why is your hair that way?” She asked as she picked up one of her Barbie’s from the floor. Gaz had to control himself & try not to laugh.

“It’s a Mohawk, & I like it.” He replied. She really was Simon’s kid.

“Do you know how to play Barbie’s?” She asked them quizzically. They both looked at each other & then her. “It’s okay, I’ll show you.” Eleanor went on to explain the drama between three of the dolls. It was an elaborate betrayal & divorce plot that left the two men speechless. “That’s how you play Barbie’s.” They just stared back at her absolutely confused.

“Oh wow,” Soap said. “That’s uh wow. That took a sharp left turn.”

“I’ll say,” Gaz said. “What else did you bring?” He asked. She went to her backpack & whipped out the sticker sheets.

“Those look fun.” Soap said. Eleanor took a sticker of a unicorn off of the sheet & placed it on his forehead. The cutest giggle he had ever heard erupted from her lips. Soon his whole face & Gaz’s face were covered in stickers. Simon, Price, & Laswell had completed their briefing, & went to go check on the three of them next door. Once they opened the door Kate had to stifle a laugh. Simon looked on in amusement at his daughter who placing different stickers over his teammates faces.

“Eleanor, love what are you doing?” Simon asked.

“Making them pretty.” She replied very matter of factly.

“It looks like Lisa Frank threw up on them.” Laswell said.

“Hey we’re trying to make the new recruit here happy.” Soap replied with his eyes closed as she placed a new sticker on his forehead.

“New recruit?” Price asked.

“Yeah little Eleanor here.” Gaz answered. Simon smiled to himself as he watched his daughter enjoy herself. He knew she’d be asking to come to work with him again, but this time with more stickers.

[ohforficsake]

The Margay: Chapter 8

Benadryl

prev / series masterlist / main masterlist

Summary: Santiago recruits Frankie to contract for a covert agency that pairs them with danger in more ways than one. A series of one-shot snippets taking place during and around missions.

Pairing: Frankie Morales x Sniper!OFC

Word Count: ~ 13.2K words (I made y'all wait, but you get all of this and two spicy scenes)

Rating: Explicit 18+ / fingering, car sex, dirty talk, unprotected piv, creampie, oral (f receiving), comeshot, come eating / language / mentions of past drug use / hostage extraction / canon-consistent violence / Minors DNI

A/N: I know nothing about fixing cars. I know nothing about helicopters. I know that these two love each other. Special guest appearance this chapter by Ben Miller. Benny fans, your boy is a menace and he's wonderful.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all for your lovely comments, for recommending this story, and for screaming with me about these two.

chapter moodboard if you're interested

Divider by @cafekitsune!

MONDAY

AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN HONDURAS.

“MOOSE,” Santiago barks at where Audrey’s bent double over the hood of a Land Rover as he slams their truck door. 

She doesn’t bother to drop what she’s doing, perimeter alarms two miles down the hill had already alerted her to their arrival.

One of them thwaks her on the ass and she knows it's Santi.

Frankie doesn’t do it like that.

“Whatcha got, what’s going on here?” He peers down at wires and tubes. 

“Auxiliary belt’s fucked, where’s my…”

“Catfish get over here, she’s talkin’ your shit, I’ve got no idea.” Pope calls over his shoulder, not realizing that “Frankie” and not the name of some obscure tool is actually the intended end of her sentence. “This thing armored?” He kicks a tire.

“Yep.”

A massive palm spreads over her back, the shadow of his body a cooling balm.

She looks up now.

“Hi,” Frankie smiles.

“Hi,” she grins over her shoulder, craning her neck back for a kiss, and Frankie briefly slips her his tongue because he’s never been able to resist a girl who’s good with her hands. 

“Serpentine belt?” He asks when she breaks away.

‘Yeah, it’s cracked to shit. Gonna swap the tensioner too. Let me get the breaker bar?”

“Like a different fucking language,” Pope quips as he opens the driver’s side door and slips inside.

And Frankie’s torn between letting her continue and wanting desperately to take over the job, lest a speck of grease mar her lovely skin. She’s clearly capable of doing this herself, but chivalry wins out and he grabs the long metal rod from the toolbox on the ground.

“Top or bottom?” Meaning which tensioner.

“Bottom, it’s got too much play in it,” she answers, pressing on the bearing to show him.

“Oh shit yeah, that’s loose.”

“God, get a room,” Santi quips from where he’s reclining in the driver’s seat, brim of his cap pulled low over his eyes against the sun.

“Why don’t you do something useful like unload the truck?” Frankie calls as he slots the breaker bar into place. “Hold on let me get a picture of how it’s sitting,” and he reaches in his back pocket as she slides her left arm in front of his face. She’s drawn the belt’s path on the inside of her forearm in pen to help with re-threading the new strip of rubber.

Frankie’s cock twitches.

She knows what she’s doing. 

She always does.

She would have done this without him.

And she lets him in anyway.

He applies pressure to the bar, forcing the tensioner away from the belt and Audrey reaches over him to slip the old rubber strap from the pulleys, her chest grazing his arm as she does.

God if Santiago wasn’t fucking here right now flits across his mind. 

If this isn’t all of his teenage fantasies come to life…

She has the belt off in seconds and disappears as he hits the inside of the breaker bar with his palm to unlatch it. Audrey returns with a wrench, new belt slung diagonally across her torso.

“Crack that nut off for me, baby?” She doesn’t need to tell him, but she enjoys needling Pope, who scoffs from his leather cradle.

Fish’s broad shoulders briefly strain under the cotton of his t-shirt as he gets it loose, winding it off the bolt with deft fingers. He slots the nut into his back pocket out of habit and the mechanism comes away in his hands. 

“Don’t need that, it came with one,” and Audrey dives in with the new tensioner, lining the lugs of the new part up before screwing the new nut part-way on. She slips the new belt off of where she’s wearing it and Frankie helps her line it up, pausing occasionally to check her arm for the positioning, landing a kiss on her shoulder here, dragging his nose up her tricep there. 

Once they have the belt back in place, Frankie tightens the nut on the new tensioner and they both step back.

“Oi,” Frankie pounds on the headlight to get Santiago’s attention. 

“Start her up?” Audrey rests one hand on her hip and shields her eyes with the other.

Santi gropes around for the keys before starting the truck and Audrey and Frankie let it run for a second before stepping forward to inspect their work. 

“Yeah, looks good.” 

“Sounds better than it did,” Audrey adds. 

Fish raises his voice to be heard over the engine, “shut her off, Pope.”

Frankie fiddles around, checking the tightness on all of the bolts within his reach before they work together to replace the fanbelt shroud and reconnect the air filter pipes.

“Where in the hell did you learn to do that?” Fish rubs the heels of his palms together when it’s through, squinting against the sun.

Audrey slams the hood closed. “Friend with a Messerschmitt has a thing for old cars too.” 

Frankie’s gotta meet this guy.

But right now he has a more–pressing–problem and he excuses himself with a “gotta hit the head.” He figures cool water on the back of his neck will unwind him enough that he can face them again.

_____

Hours later the three of them are hunched over the dining table, staring daggers at a site plan that’s dotted with an array of plastic army figurines.

There’s a poker chip in the center. A four-year-old hostage that needs extracting. The daughter of a diplomat being held for political leverage.

None of them are happy about it.

But they’re also among the handful of people in the world who can get her out alive. 

Each of them feels that obligation acutely.

“We need another man,” Audrey crosses her arms over her chest.

“The compound is just too big. Too many fucking people,” Santi scratches at his beard. “If we need Fish in the bird ready to run, that’s already too sparse. And if we need you up here,” he points to tight concentric circles on the plan that signify high ground, “keeping the path to the bird clear, I can get in quietly, no problem, but I can’t get out with a hostage in tow.”

“What if I go with you?” Frankie pipes up, “it takes less than 90 seconds to get this in the air,” he points at a toy helicopter with an index finger.

“90 seconds could be too long. And god forbid something happens to you in there and you can’t fly that bird,” she taps inside the building. “Then we have two sets of dead weight and a hornet’s nest on high alert. I wouldn’t be able to get there in time to fly everyone  out.”

Pope twirls a pen between his fingers and Frankie places and replaces the helicopter at different points around the map before returning it to its original position at the private airstrip.

“That’s the only spot that works. Anywhere else draws attention and/or goes against the intel on their route,” he concludes, rubbing at his eyes with his thumb and middle fingers. 

“How do we know that’s not drawing attention anyway?” Santi bites the inside of his cheek as he gestures at the helicopter.

“There’s been a nature documentary crew in and out of that airstrip for weeks. The bird Davis’ guys lined up is  the same make and model with all the same markings,” Frankie answers. “It’s just bulletproof.”

Santi turns to Audrey, “can he get someone else out here?” Meaning their boss.

“Getting someone out here isn’t the problem, getting someone out here that I trust is. Everyone I knew in there is long gone.”

“You still got any friends?” Santi’s brow knits.

“Not ones who do this kind of shit anymore.”

“Pope,” Frankie pipes up after a beat. “Ben?”

“Yeah,” Santiago lights up, “yeah, you think he’d be up for it?”

Frankie shrugs, “worth a shot. Benny’s down for anything.”

“Ben is…Miller?” Her brain reaches back and spits out what she can remember of the Lorea briefing and bits of the stories they’ve told about a “Benny.”

“Yeah.” They both look at her expectantly. 

They need the final party’s buy-in.

“Tell me more.”

“He’s solid. Ready to do whatever it takes to get a job done,” Santi starts.

“A bit brash at times, maybe,” Frankie tempers Pope’s enthusiasm. “A little wild when he drinks, a little hot under the collar,” he scratches at this beard. “But not in the way that disobeys orders.”

“He runs clean during a mission, Aud. Doesn’t like an operation that doesn’t go to plan. Doesn’t leave messes. Puts his own life on the line when it matters.” Santi says firmly. “Might be a bit of an adjustment period though.” 

“Might be.” Francisco apparently agrees.

“In what way.” She stares them both down.

“He, uh…might have a little bit of a hard time taking your orders at first.” Santi runs a hand through his hair.

“He’ll push you a bit,” Frankie again scratches at his chin. “Not because he wants to run it.”

“Just because he doesn’t know you,” Santi finishes, arms crossed, hip resting against the edge of the table. “But he’ll fall in line.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“He uh,” Santi takes his eyes over her form, “might come on a bit strong,” Santi says.

“He’s gonna want to fuck you, Aud.” Frankie translates.

“That I can handle. All of this I can handle. Do you trust him?” Her green gaze slides between the two men.

“I do.” Pope answers with conviction. 

Frankie responds, “with my life.”

She stares hard at Frankie before drumming her fingers on the table. “Okay. I’d like not to lose time and waste the intel on this. Davis can have a screen run on him tonight if he’s game. Can he get on a plane tomorrow?”

“I’ll ask,” Frankie sits up and reaches for his phone. 

It dings in response thirty seconds later. 

“He’s in.”

And she immediately slips her cell phone out of her back pocket, stepping into the other room to make arrangements with Davis. 

_____

“Nothing more to do tonight. We’re gonna take this thing out on a test run,” Frankie tips the brim of his cap up far enough to swipe curls off of his forehead as he makes his way through the kitchen.

“It’s 9pm, it’s dark,” and no sooner is it out of Santiago’s mouth than he catches Frankie’s drift.

“Mind your business, Pope.”

“Roger,” Santi turns back to his beer and the baseball game he’s watching on his phone. “If you aren’t back by midnight I’m calling in a BOLO for two idiots fucking in the back seat of a Land Rover.”

“I was actually in the mood to do it on the hood,” Audrey quips as she appears at the foot of the stairs.

“Fine, just don’t leave come stains that I have to look at when I’m driving it tomorrow.”

“No promises,” Audrey winks and Pope scoffs.

Frankie slaps him on the shoulder on his way out the door.

“Lucky fuckin’ bastard,” Pope murmurs under his breath and takes a swig of beer.

_____

Half an hour later, Frankie has her naked in the sea, legs wrapped around his waist, lips at her throat before the brim of his cap knocks her in the chin.

“Francisco, what is the deal with this thing, you shower with it on?” She reaches to spin it around backwards.

“Just my favorite hat,” he returns to sucking on her collarbone, tongue accepting the bitter burn of salt water so long as it’s laced with the taste of her skin.

“What is Standard Heating Oil?”

“No clue. Found it in the dollar bin at Goodwill one day.”

“Fascinating.” He has no tie to this hat save for the fact that it’s his and it goes everywhere with him.

“Used to get made fun of as a kid. For having curly hair,” he tucks his chin into the juncture of her shoulder.

The brush of his beard tickles her skin as he continues.

“Just always preferred to cover it up, I guess.”

Audrey takes the hat off and slips it backwards onto her own head. 

Her fingers wind in his curls.

And she holds him without prying.

“Used to get made fun of a lot as a kid. My hair. My nose. Wasn’t really into sports either.”

“You’ve just named some of the things I like most about you,” Audrey kisses at his jaw. “What were you into, Frankie?” She whispers.

“Liked to read, I suppose,” he muses.

And she hums, nuzzling her face into Frankie’s shoulder. “I like that about you too.”

He’s warm and open like this as they listen to the soft lap of waves against the shore. She holds him as if it could seep into her bones.

After a moment Frankie whispers, “I, um. I used to—not—be good at handling all of this. My past and my present.”

And she pulls back a fraction to gaze softly into dark eyes.

“I used to use.”

And her hand in his hair strokes gently over the nape of his neck as un-shed tears set brown eyes swimming.

“Coke. I just kind of fell off the wagon,” he nods like he needs her to agree that this doesn’t change him. 

Audrey holds his face in her palms, thumbs gently skimming over the apples of his cheeks.

“Got hit with a license suspension a few years ago. Then Pope came through with the Lorea job and that—that didn’t—” he trails off.

“Ended up getting the license back but—”

Frankie stares over her right shoulder out into the horizon.

“Everything else fell ap—”

And Audrey presses her lips to his because she doesn’t know what more to do than allow her body to speak where the prospect of words seems trite in comparison. She presses her lips to his cheek and wraps her arms tight to his neck until he returns her hold, tighter than before.

“I haven’t, though,” he murmurs against her skin, nodding his head again.

“In two years. I haven’t used.”

And she knows what lives in the spaces between those words.

I haven’t used since you.

And it terrifies her.

I can’t save you.

I can’t fix you.

I can’t be that for you, Frankie.

And yet.

She is. 

He’s quiet for a long while in her arms. Body slowly giving up its tension to the water before he murmurs, “you float, baby.”

And her brow furrows in the moonlight.

“I sink. In the ocean,” he muses as he pulls back to look at her. “You’re like a life vest.”

And Audrey chances a joke, looking down at her full chest and muttering, “well…”

Frankie’s tongue darts out to lick at his bottom lip. “Nuh uh this too,” his hands slip down to grip hard at her ass.

And whatever that was before has passed.

Audrey welcomes it with a laugh and a kiss at his jaw. 

“I missed you,” he whispers and again fits his chin into the curve of her shoulder.

“Oh, Francisco,” she sighs and presses her nose to his wet hair, inhaling the salted smell of him.

“I know it’s only been three weeks,” he starts to apologize. 

For his attachment.

“I missed you too,” she preempts and arches into him, gripping his neck tighter.

“Can I tell you something?” Frankie pulls back, whispering against her chin.

“Of course,” is her answer, but she stiffens ever so slightly.

Because he’s said it far too intimately.

And mercifully more than three words tumble out of his mouth.

“I saw you fixing that truck today,” he noses at her jaw to whisper against her lips. “I could have fucked you right there on the hood.”

“Oh yeah?” Audrey whispers with the beginnings of a smirk playing on her lips.

“I was so fucking hard.” 

“Is that why you ran away?” She laughs. “You know Pope was half asleep.”

“Yeah, but you’re loud, baby,” he lets out a sly murmur. “Would have been a hell of a wakeup call.”

“Ah, and you’re quiet as a church mouse.”

Frankiee grins with guilty teeth in his bottom lip. 

“Could have taken me with you,” she presses her lips to his, opening just a fraction to allow his tongue into her mouth, “to wherever you absconded to.”

“The lady deserves better.”

“Mm, like the hood of a car?”

“Done.”

She lets him go and starts racing towards the shore.

Frankie follows after her, catching her around the waist and hoisting her onto the hood of the Rover, massive hand hooked around the nape of her neck with a grin splitting his face.

Audrey reaches for him, hand wrapping around the girth of his half-hard cock, working him as his forehead briefly thumps against hers. 

“Oh, fuckk—,” Frankie hisses. “Baby. Baby, baby, baby—” he rumbles through the lowest registers of his voice as the fingers of one hand trail up the back of her calf. Frankie’s palm settles on one knee before he roughly pushes her thighs open wider. 

“Look at me,” he whispers.

Audrey slants her gaze down at him as he stares back from under hazy half-closed lids.

Frankie slips his middle and ring fingers into his mouth, sucking the salt from them as her jaw drops open, brows knitted with want. His fingers slip between her folds in time with his tongue between her teeth to deliver the taste of salt to her the moment his fingers slip inside.

“Wet already? Ohh baby,” Frankie purrs into her mouth. “My pretty, dirty baby,” he pants, hips thrusting his cock into her fist now.

She moans into his mouth and arches, pressing her breasts against his chest before she freezes.

“Frankie, get in the car.”

“I want you right here,” he skates his nose up her neck.

“Frankie, there’s a truck coming, get the fuck inside.”

And no sooner does she say it than his ears catch the distant whine of a diesel engine winding up the coastal highway.

“Oh, fuck,” he chuckles, corseting her waist in his generous hands and picking her up off the hood, making sure she has her feet before grabbing the pile of their clothes from off the hood. 

They dive into the backseat of the truck, Audrey first and Frankie close behind such that they end up a tangle of limbs, leather squeaking under wet skin. 

Frankie drapes himself over her, a wet curl falling into his eyes as he peeks up out of the window, tracking the truck’s path.

“Fifty meters,” he reports before mumbling “fuck, I’m sorry baby,” as Audrey shifts under him where knees and elbows fell at painful angles.

“‘S okay, how are we doing?” She glances up at the thick column of his neck above her.

“Ten meters,” Frankie counts it down, “five,” he ducks down out of view momentarily before tracking the truck the other way. 

“I think we’re clear, baby.” 

And the moonlight streaming through the sunroof catches in her eyes, turning them a shade of seafoam. 

Illuminating something that he can’t quite unpack right now through the haze of lust.

Frankie fits his mouth to hers again, suddenly possessed with the need to feel. His palm slides down to cup one breast, pinching her nipple before spreading wide over her ribcage. 

He runs greedy fingertips over her skin as he moves, kissing at her stomach and biting at her inner thigh.

She props herself up on her elbows and takes his cap from her head, tossing it onto the driver’s seat before raking a hand through her curls and reaching for his cheek.

He turns his face to kiss her palm.

And Frankie almost lets something slip on a sigh.

“I—”

“Need you,” he swallows hard. “I need you, Aud,” Frankie’s voice is a cracked whisper when he pauses to look up at her. 

“Have me, Frankie.”

And he again kisses her palm before sucking her thumb into his mouth, crawling back up her body. His right hand snakes down to pump his cock, the other fitting into the crease of her thigh. 

“Are you—?” He murmurs against her lips.

“Frankie—” she chokes on a desperate breath and he thrusts inside of her such that they both cry out, Audrey’s nails sinking into his tricep, Frankie’s mouth open, teeth catching at her jawline. 

“Oh God,” he rests his forehead against hers as she tangles her fingers in his wet curls, tipping her face to suck on his bottom lip.

“Frankie, move,” she urges and he does, slowly at first. Long, deep strokes before he sits up, hands settling on her hips as his speed builds. 

He’s not slow about chasing his own release. 

One knee on the floorboards, the other foot hiked up on the seat with her leg over his hip, fingers digging into the curve of her waist, yanking her against him to meet his every thrust. Audrey braces one hand against the door, and the other on the back of the seat.

Frankie’s a man in a trance. 

Breath hissing through clenched teeth, gaze fixed on where he sinks inside of her. A curl falls loose across a forehead growing damp with sweat. 

Audrey arches in his hold, “you feel so good Frankie.”

“You’re so tight, baby.” 

When he reaches up to grip one shoulder he pulls her ass clear off the seat.

But even in this one-track haze Frankie is quick to protect her, arm looping around the small of her back, and the other coming to the crown of her head, guarding it against the roof as he twists to sit on the seat with her on top of him. 

He pauses a moment with wide, panicked eyes, as though he’s surprised even himself. 

“Smooth, Morales,” she grabs his face between her hands and slips her tongue into his mouth. “Very. Fucking. Smooth.”

And she’s in control now. 

Audrey leans back to brace her hands on his thighs, rolling her hips, allowing them both to feel every inch of each other. Frankie’s head falls back into the space between the headrests, hands roaming her skin, squeezing at her breasts, fingers fitting into the spaces between her ribs, thumbs running down over her abs before settling below her navel, feeling how his cock fills her from the outside. 

“Oh shit,” Frankie’s head snaps back, lip curled as he watches in lurid fascination. Audrey indulges him for a moment before she shifts forward, one hand on the seat, the other on his chin. 

“Look at me.”

And he angles big brown eyes up at her before she kisses him with an open mouth. 

Frankie licks warm and wet down her neck, sucking at the salt of her skin mixed with seawater. He buries his nose between her breasts as he meets her hips halfway, palms skating over her back, one hand tangling in the curls at the base of her neck.

It’s too much when she meets his gaze again.

The way that lust has blown her green eyes dark. The way that plush lips hang open and wet from his tongue. The humid heat of bodies and the smack of flesh.

The way she looks at him with something he can’t name.

And Frankie can’t hold back anymore. He’s rough with her now. Building with frantic speed that has her bracing one palm against sunroof glass with her head thrown back, the sound of skin-on-skin echoing around the truck.

“Fuck, you’re so deep,” she keens.

“Yeah?”

He knows.

One hand moves to cup the base of her skull and roughly pulls her face back to his. 

“You like that?” Frankie presses his forehead to hers, grabbing her hard by the hips, and thrusts up hard into her cunt.

“Fuck,” she whispers.

“Yeahh you do,” he smirks, tipping his face to kiss her. “I know what my girl likes.”

He holds her hips, fully inside of her, the head of his cock pressed deep, guiding her back and forth to grind against him. Putting pressure on her clit. 

“Frankie, Frankie, Fr—ohh,” she breathes.

She can feel him smile against her mouth. 

“You gonna come for me, baby?”

She moans and tries to roll her hips but Frankie’s fingers dig in. 

“My pace, baby.”

And she groans in frustration.

“No, none of that,” he chuckles darkly, one hand sliding along the crease of her hip to rub circles against her clit.

Audrey digs the nails of one hand into the seat and wraps the other hand around the back of Frankie’s neck.

His tongue slips back into her mouth and he rolls his hips without pulling out, just barely teasing at that spot deep inside of her that makes her fall apart. 

“Jesus, Frankie,” she throws her head back. He watches her chest heave. The way the curves of her breasts catch the moonlight shining through the sunroof. He latches his mouth to one, tongue laving over sensitive skin.

The hand on the back of his neck grips hard at his hair and Frankie slips the flat of his teeth over her nipple before she tugs, bringing his mouth back to hers.

Frankie’s arm wraps around the small of her back as his thumb and his hips speed up, growling now. She reaches down, skating her hand over where his rests. Her fingers replace his thumb on her clit and Frankie squeezes the globes of her ass.

“Frankie, I don’t think…”

“Turn around,” he commands.

And she arches an eyebrow, slowly climbing off of him, both moaning at the loss of contact. Frankie urges her around, a palm skating between her shoulder blades, pressing her forward to lean against the back of the passenger’s seat. She languidly drapes her arms over either side of the headrest. 

Frankie shifts on the seat and slowly sinks inside of her again.

“Ohh fuck,” she sighs, forehead thumping against leather. 

Frankie spreads his thighs wider.

“Sit, baby,” but he doesn’t allow her time to react before yanking her down onto his lap, fully sheathed inside of her. He moves slowly at first testing this new angle before leaning forward, dropping kisses down her spine.

“That better?”

And she hums a laugh, glancing back over her shoulder. Frankie’s eyes flick up to her and he grins, nipping at her skin. 

He hooks a hand over her shoulder as he fucks her with the other on her waist, building in pace until his hips lift off the seat with every thrust as she bucks her hips back against him. Audrey reaches between her legs to rub her clit and Frankie growls.

“Yeah, baby.”

And the angle is perfect now and Audrey starts to cry out from the depths of her chest. “Frankie, that’s it, that’s it, that’s it, that’s—OH.” She braces her free hand on the back of the seat and Frankie feels his balls tighten when she pushes back against him as pleasure sears through her.  

Frankie slows his thrusts, moaning as her walls milk his cock.

Audrey finally exhales on a ragged cry and Frankie wraps an arm around her waist to pull her against his skin as hips pick up speed, chasing his own release. 

She arches in his hold, head falling back against his shoulder. Frankie hips snap hard with a shout as his cock pulses, his body shuddering with it. 

Nose smashing against her cheekbone. 

Teeth softly nipping at her jaw.

Audrey reaches up to cup his cheek, lips pressing softly to the corner of his mouth. Frankie kisses her properly, slow and wet as palms rub across her stomach, up her ribs and over her breasts as his tongue slips into her mouth.

The windows of the Rover have gone foggy with heat.

He wraps his arms around her waist and holds her to him, softening cock still inside of her, chest heaving as she moans softly through ragged breaths, still tingling.

Frankie kisses at her cheek and up to her temple before whispering, “was that…?”

“So good.” She shifts and Frankie holds her tighter, head thumping against hers.

“Don’t. Don’t leave me yet,” he pants.

“Frankie,” she scratches lovingly at his scalp. “Baby. I really have to pee.”

And he laughs a self-satisfied laugh against her hairline.

“Okay,” he shifts her, pulling out of her heat with a moan. “Wait,” he holds her with an iron arm around her waist, swiping a hand through the fog on the window, checking that it’s clear before he cracks the door. 

He shifts her onto the seat as he steps out first.

“I’m a big girl, Frankie, I can…”

He holds both hands out to her, corseting her waist, intending to half lift her down onto the beach. “You’re gonna fall, Bambi Legs.”

And she can’t help the hearty laugh that it pulls from her.

True to form, her legs falter the moment her feet hit the sand, but Frankie holds her to his chest, staring down at her through warm brown eyes, tucking her hair behind her ear with a wink. 

Frankie kisses her on the forehead and spins her around towards a small outcropping of rocks. “Go on, Bambi,” he swats her on the ass.

“Can I have my underwear at least?”

“No,” Frankie screws up his face and scoffs, reaching into the tangle of clothes in the backseat to fish out her thong. He has it crushed to his nose when he turns around.

“Perv,” she quips with a grin, swatting him on the arm with them after he hands them over.

She returns to find Frankie leaning against a tire, back door open, barefoot and clad in his jeans and cap, one of her cigarettes dangling between his lips. 

“Excuse me, sir, you can’t smoke there,” she quips as she molds her body against his, slipping her hands into his back pockets. Frankie lights the cigarette and blows the first puff out of the corner of his mouth before holding it to her lips. She inhales before Frankie follows suit.

Audrey pulls away from him, reaching for her sports bra and linen pants. Frankie presses his chest to her back after she pulls them both on, reaching for his t-shirt.

“Leave it,” she spins around and Frankie pops the cigarette between her lips as she runs her hand over his bare stomach.

“Yes, ma’am.” Frankie smiles before his eyes fall on the backseat. 

“We gotta clean this.”

Audrey slips around him, cigarette dangling from her lips, and pops the trunk open, rummaging around for a moment before tossing a packet of Clorox wipes in his direction.

Frankie cleans the seats as she starts the truck and rolls the windows down.

They drive back to the safehouse along the coastal road in companionable silence, wind whipping around the cabin, carrying wisps of cigarette smoke on salted breeze. 

Audrey drives with one hand, fingers of the other laced with Frankie’s.

_____

TUESDAY

When Santiago slips into the driver’s seat the next day for their early morning recon run, the first thing he does is briefly peer over the top of his sunglasses.

“Goddard, I can see your ass-print on the hood.”

“How do you know that’s not Morales,” she quips from the backseat.

“Morales has no ass.”

“Well, you said no come stains.” She pops her gum in the backseat as she loads another magazine into her rifle. “Nothing about ass prints.”  

Frankie pulls the brim of his cap down against Pope’s searing stare and bites the inside of his cheek to hide his smirk.

“Unbelievable,” Santi starts the ignition. “You two are unbelievable.”

“Unbelievably good at fixing that belt.” Frankie quips, banging one palm on the dashboard as they pull out of the drive.

“Fuck you, Fish.”

“She did that already.”

Audrey cackles from the backseat.

_____

Six hours later, Benny shows up on the doorstep of their safehouse.

Audrey greets him in leggings and a worn green t-shirt. 

“Well hell-o,” Benny peers down at her over the frames of his aviators.

“Miller?”

“Yup, yeah. Ben Miller,” he holds out his hand. 

“Audrey Goddard,” she offers a sturdy shake. “Come in, come in. The boys are just through in the back here,” she gestures through to the backyard.

Fish and Pope are locked in a sparring match, Frankie’s arm around Pope’s throat, wooden knife pulled out, ready to jab between Santi’s ribs before Pope taps him twice on the arm.

“Boys?’ Audrey calls.

Both of their heads turn in her direction and immediately they erupt in camaraderie. 

Hugs and claps on the back, big smiles all around. 

Audrey slips back inside, allowing them a moment to catch up.

After they’ve said their hellos Benny nods towards the house, “so uh, who’s that? She come with the place?”

“Moose? Nah. She’s running this thing.” Santi grins. 

“Like the coordinator?”

“No, like the Mission Commander, Benny.” Frankie scoffs. 

“No shit,” Benny perches his hands on his hips.

“Well. She technically outranks you,” Santi whacks Benny’s chest with the back of his hand. “Don’t overstep.”

And overstep is the first thing that Benny does.

“So you’re the Mission Commander?” Benny barks when she returns.

“Yes,” Audrey sets a fresh pitcher of water on the patio table.

“What’s your background?”

“I’ll have Davis email you my full roster,” she slips dark shades over her eyes against the sharp afternoon sun.

“Can’t tell me yourself?”

“We don’t have that much time.”

“What branch?”

“Never served under a branch.”

“So you never served.”

“I’ve been serving for almost 25 years, Miller.”

“Benny, did you not get—” Santi starts.

“I did. Didn’t read it.” Benny’s eyes are still locked on hers from behind mirrored aviators. “Alright,” he nods toward the lawn. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Frankie lets out a low whistle. “You’re about to be humbled, Benjamin.”

“Maybe,” he calls, not believing it for a second. “You’re tiny, though,” he says to Audrey, who slips off her shades and tosses them to Frankie.

Audrey’s no waif, but Benny is nine inches taller and has fifty pounds on her. 

And Benny fights guys bigger than he is down at the gym all the time. And wins. 

There’s no way in his mind that she can best him. 

“Take those off, pretty boy,” she points at his shades.

“‘S fine.”

“Alrigh,” she toes at the dirt, “not on me if they break.”

“Alright, keep it clean you two. No punches, no kicks, nothing permanent,” Santi calls. “Aud, you got knives on you?”

She reaches into her boots and pulls two out to hand over.

“Benny?”

“Nah, I just got off a plane, man.”

“Alright, set it up.”

 Benny jumps a few times before holding his fists up to his cheeks in a guard.

Audrey drops her right foot back and crouches.

And Santi gives the cue.

Immediately Benny closes the distance between the two of them, scooping her up and throwing her over his shoulder like a ragdoll. She’s quick to react, twisting to hook the inside of her elbow around the back of her knee, pulling tight such that the crease of her hip and the top of her thigh apply pressure on Benny’s neck, choking off his carotid artery.

He has no choice but to tap out, aviators hanging awkwardly off of the end of his nose.

“Okay,” he finally hands them off to Santi, raking his hair out of his eyes, “two out of three.”

Santi gives the signal again and Benny goes for her knees this time, immediately dropping her to the ground. They tussle for a moment before Audrey locks Benny in a triangle choke that he can’t find his way out of.

He taps out against her collarbone.

“Okay, three tries,” Benny grunts, blue shirt starting to darken with sweat.

“Benny, that’s—” Fish tries to intervene.

“It’s fine, Frankie,” Audrey’s chest is heaving as she holds up a hand in his direction. “Let him have it.”

They get back into position and when Santi gives the signal Benny is immediately behind her, trapping her neck in a chokehold between his arms, huge palm applying pressure to the back of her skull.

Frankie twitches but Santi holds out a hand.

Audrey jumps with her legs in the air, using their weight to swing Benny forward, turning as she lands and slipping her head from between his arms. Benny braces himself on his palms and immediately constricts, balling himself in an effort to cut off her ability to hook any of his limbs. In a flash she leans on his back, wrapping an arm over one shoulder and the other under the opposite armpit, prying one elbow away from his torso with a jab of her knee. Her leg hooks it and kicks back, taking Benny’s arm with it to its full span. She locks the top of her foot over her calf with his outstretched limb between her legs and spreads her knees, the pressure from her hips bending Benny’s arm the wrong way until he frantically slaps at a patch of dirt.

She instantly unfolds from him and rolls away into the grass.

“Alright,” he pants, holding out a fist, still face-down on his stomach. “You win.”

Audrey taps it with her own knuckles, fighting for breath. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” Benny swallows hard through his panting, “Yeah I’m good.”

He sits up and stretches his arm for good measure.

“Can we be done here?” Frankie asks, unsure that his heart can handle seeing her in danger, and positive that his dick is going to act up seeing her get herself out of it. “It’s fuckin’ hot.”

They take turns with showers between the safehouse’s two bathrooms, until Frankie slips in with Audrey.

“Thoughts?” He asks quietly, wetting his hair under the spray.

“He made good choices out there,” she hands him the bottle of shampoo. “Smart in a fight.”

“Yeah, Benny fights down at the local gym. Kind of a small-town celebrity.” He sneaks a kiss at the nape of her neck as he scrubs at his scalp before rinsing. “I didn’t know you could do that, though.” 

“Getting too old for much hand-to-hand these days,” she winks over her shoulder at him as he grabs the conditioner bottle from her, raking cream through her curls before slicking the excess through his own hair.

“He got you good back here,” Frankie delicately runs thick fingers over the bruises blossoming on the wings of her hip bones from when Benny took her knees out from under her. 

Frankie wraps his arms around her waist, holding her to his chest a moment.

“Don’t like seeing you like that.”

“This is what we do, Frankie,” she soothes a palm over his forearm.

“Yeah.”

And he gently turns her head to slip his tongue into her mouth, enjoying this moment to themselves.

Frankie warmed by the water. 

Audrey warmed by Frankie.

_____

They rejoin the boys in the kitchen where Santi has started on steaks and Benny has thrown in to whip up roasted vegetables. 

Frankie cracks open beers and passes them around.

Afternoon flows into evening. Beer flows into liquor. 

Camaraderie abounds.

Somewhere around 10pm, when Audrey excuses herself to the restroom, the whiskey in Benny’s veins springs a question loose.

“Alright, boys,” his voice is low. “Which one of you is hittin’ that because if you’re not, I’m gonna.”

“That’s pretty bold of you to assume she’d have you, Benny,” Pope reaches for his glass.

“It’s that white boy confidence,” Frankie quips from where he’s leaned back in his chair and Santi snorts, nearly spitting out his drink.

“I mean—” and Benny makes a show of running his hand through his hair. “But seriously, is she single?”

“She’s not gonna fuck you, Benny.” Santi grins.

“Alright, okay. I see you, Pope,” Benny smacks the back of his hand against Santi’s arm.

“I think I have to turn in, boys,” Audrey sighs when she returns, reaching for her glass without sitting and tossing back the last of her gin. “We’ll run it through top to bottom tomorrow and get you geared up,” she nods at Benny. “I have Davis’ guys refreshing the intel. Provided everything still checks out, we’ll execute on Thursday as originally planned.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Benny nods. Bourbon eyes starting to fall heavy on the sway of her hips. 

She places her glass in the sink before moving to gently grab Frankie’s chin one hand, thumb and middle fingers fitting in the bare patches in his beard, and bends to give him a quick, chaste kiss.

He hooks an arm around her waist when she moves away, hauling her against him again, “I’ll be there in a sec,” he assures her before craning his head up for her lips again.

“No rush,” she soothes a hand over the span of his chest, “I might be back down for water, but you boys enjoy. G’night.”

When she’s upstairs and out of earshot, Benny erupts in hushed tones.

“CATFISH, YOU DOG.”

Frankie grins and blushes in that order.

“Damn,” Benny muses to himself as he takes another sip of whiskey. “I would not have guessed.”

“Ah c’mon you should know better, Benny.” Santi jabs a thumb in Frankie’s direction. “Big Dick Morales, remember?”

“BIG. DICK. MORALES.” And Benny holds his hand up for a high-five that Frankie rolls his eyes at, crossing his arms against his chest instead. “Damn.”

“Bastard finally found his glass slipper,” Santi quips.

“Jesus Christ, Pope,” an agitated Frankie rubs at his eyes. “Okay can we—” Frankie winds his hand forward through the air, wanting desperately to move away from this line of conversation. 

Benny leans in across the table, finger pointed at the ceiling in reference to the woman upstairs, “the whole thing? Fuuuck.”

“Dude, you can hear the two of them like three rooms over,” Santi snarks.

“Oh well you gotta enlighten us, Catfish,” Benny spreads his arms and leans back in his chair.

“I ain’t tellin’ you shit, Benjamin.” Frankie quips, swallowing a mouthful of whiskey.

“Ah, c’mon, Fish. You know me and this one are painfully single.” Benny smacks Pope on the arm again. Like literally, my balls ache.”

“That’s not a real thing,” Frankie shakes his head.

“It is!”

“Then get acquainted with your hand, Benny, I dunno what to tell you.”

“She is smokin’ hot, Catfish. Can I at least get some material here…”

Frankie shakes his head and starts, “I’d suggest you try www dot p-o-r…”

And there’s a snort from the stairwell

Audrey in black sleep shorts and a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt, metal waterbottle in hand.

And she watches the tips of Benny’s ears start to burn.

Even Santiago sits up a bit straighter.

Frankie covers the smirk on his face with the heel of his palm.

Because he knows Audrey’s about to put Benny back in line for the second time today.

“Don’t let me stop you, boys,” she pads over to the sink on bare feet to fill her bottle.

Fraught silence hangs in the air until Benny pipes up.

“We uh, we were just asking Big Dick Morales over here to tell us his secret.” Bourbon has made Benny’s tongue loose. “Seems like you could have anyone and yet you chose this guy. Must know something we don’t.”

Audrey has a measured tolerance for many things. 

Slandering her lover is not one of them. 

“Benny,” she places her water bottle on the table. “Benjamin?” And she drapes her arm across Benny’s shoulders in a move that sends him rigid in his chair from the slouch he was in.

“You really want to know his secret?”

Benny swallows hard. 

“He’s sweet. He’s smart. He’s funny. There’s no peacocking with him. It’s that easy, Benny.”

Benny snorts like he doesn't believe her. 

Sober Ben Miller would never steal a friend’s girl. Drunk Ben Miller is a 6’3” blue-eyed, dirty dishwater blonde who’s never been told ‘no.’

And Audrey needs to disavow him of whatever little fantasy he has that distracts him from the task at hand and makes him think she’ll end up in his bed after the celebratory round of drinks when this is all through.

She cranes low to whisper near Benny’s ear, eyes glinting where they’re locked on Frankie’s mischievous, half-lidded ones. “Okay, here’s a secret, Benny. You ever found that spot that’s so deep it makes your lady see stars? Not the one up front, any idiot can find that. It’s way back in there, tucked away because it’s the most precious place you’ll ever go. That one spot that sets her whole body reeling for minutes afterward. You ever found that?”

And she waits until Benny answers, “no.”

“No? Santi, you ever done that?” She doesn’t move, and doesn’t break Frankie’s stare as she asks it.

“Once or twice,” it’s the truth, but Santiago smirks because he knows what she’s doing and agrees that it needs done. “It’s been years though.”

“Wild. Frankie hits that every. time.”

She claps him on the back, “you should try it, Benny. Good communication is key, but you’ll get there.”

And she hooks a finger into the cap of her water bottle and heads for the stairs.

Frankie throws them a salute with two fingers and follows right behind her.

“Was that too harsh?” She whispers when Frankie turns the lock on the bedroom door, brown eyes wide.

“Baby,” he grabs her around the waist, peppering her face with the softness of his lips and the scrape of his scruff. “That was so. fucking. sexy.” He trails his nose down her neck, licking and sucking at her skin.

“I only told the truth, Francisco,” she throws her arms around his neck.

And Frankie presses her to him, palm accidentally catching on her bruises and she winces.

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” he apologizes with lips on her neck.

“‘S okay,” a kiss, “get in bed, Frankie.”

Frankie hums, tongue licking behind her teeth. 

And she crawls under the duvet, settling on her side as Frankie quietly strips down to his boxer briefs, placing his cap on the nightstand.

Frankie hums as his lips find her ear and his hand cups her breast, making her arch back against him with a moan.

“Shhh baby,” Frankie soothes. “Not sure how thin these walls are.”

“Pope doesn’t give a shit.”

“Benny might. Wouldn’t want to scare the kid.”

“That’s a grown man, Francisco,” she whispers as she twists in his hold, hand cupping his jaw. “And I don’t really care what Benny hears,” her fingers slip down his stomach, nails catching on the trail of hair leading under his waistband.

She smirks against his lips, “how did that conversation even start?”

“Mhmm,” Frankie squeezes her thigh and pulls her closer to him, nose skimming her cheek. “Benny wanted to know if you’re single.”

“Am I not?”

“No. You’re mine.”

And he moves before Audrey can process Frankie having laid their situation that bare in front of her. He rolls and pulls her with him to lie on his chest, hand cradling her skull as his lips find hers.

But he senses her hesitation.

“Do—do you want to fuck Benny?” His eyes are suddenly soft. Unsure of himself.

“No, Frankie, I don’t want to fuck Benny.” She adjusts to straddle his hips and sits up, raking her hair out of her eyes.

“Then wh—”

“Shhh, Frankie, please,” she soothes both hands over the slight swell of his belly. “Tonight, I’m yours,” she cranes down to kiss him, “and for the rest of this trip, I’m yours.”

But it all sounds so temporary.

And he wants so desperately to push back. To ask what happens in the after. 

What happens when she goes home? Does she lay in bed alone, sleeping like a baby, or is her bed warmed by someone else? 

Does she wish for his company when she goes to the movies, does she need someone to hold her shopping bags at the mall, who packs her groceries in her fridge, or does she do it all alone?

Does she make herself come and wish it was him?

Is he some secret she keeps stashed away?

Is there another?

Does she think of him at all?

“But—”

“Francisco. Leave it.” Her gaze is granite. “Please. Please let us just have this. Right here. Right now.”

And the thing in her eyes is back again. The thing he can’t quite name.

But there’s want there too.

And it’s only the whiskey with a side of beer that allows him to acquiesce.

“Okay,” he whispers, kissing her deeply before sitting up, palms skating up the panes of her back before flipping her over, parting her legs with his shoulders.

And he means okay out of desperation. The visceral need to prove his worth to a woman that could slip through his fingers and into another man’s bed on a whim.

There would be a taker downstairs.

And okay he’s going to do his best.

Okay, he’ll pour want—need—through his fingertips.

Okay.

He’ll crack granite.

And Frankie has all the right moves. The skillful flick of his tongue, the hollowing of his cheeks, and the pump of his fingers.

But Audrey’s brain won’t let her come.

“Baby,” he looks up from between her thighs, rubbing a palm down her stomach, “where are you?”

She takes a deep breath as he rakes his hair off of his forehead and runs his tongue over a bottom lip wet with her slick.

“Fuck, I’m sorry, baby.” She props herself up on her elbows and Frankie gently lets her legs fall open to climb up her body, the tip of his nose brushing hers.

“What’s wrong, gatita?” He whispers.

And that word feels a world away from where they are now.

“Think I’m just distracted, Frankie.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay, that’s okay, baby,” he tucks a stray curl behind her ear before shifting around to lay next to her. He settles on his side, pulling the duvet up enough to take the tent in his boxer briefs out of the equation.

She stares into the middle distance while Frankie sits with her in the silence. 

Palm still rubbing her stomach under her t-shirt.

Trying to soothe himself with her skin.

He’s losing her.

She settles down next to him, his hand settling on her ribcage, thumb rubbing soft circles into her skin.

Big green eyes settling on brown ones that are doing their best to hide panic.

When she reaches for his cheek his lids flutter closed, her cold hand a balm to his burn.

Audrey maps the contours of his face with reverent fingers. Palm curving over the roundness of his cheeks. Nails catching on his beard. Thumb tracing echoes of the joy that accumulates in the corners of tired eyes. 

She runs her index finger lightly over the scar on the bridge of his nose.

She presses a kiss to his lips.

And he offers a soft smile when he opens his eyes again.

“Frankie,” she whispers, running her thumb feather-light over his bottom lip, “do you remember what I told you. That second night?”

“You told me a lot of things that second night,” he runs his fingertips down her spine.

“But what I always come back to is—”

“You’re beautiful.”

They both whisper it at the same time.

The corner of Frankie’s lips quirk in a gentle smile that dimples one cheek.

“You’re beautiful Frankie,” she kisses his chin. “I need you to know. You’re beautiful.”

And it soothes him in the moment. Enough that his eyes start to slip closed, pulled at first by the weight in his chest. The need to shut out this reality. 

She turns in his arms to press her back to his chest and he pulls her in to him, tucking his nose against her neck.

Settling into each other like they do every night they share a borrowed bed.

And Frankie slips off, warm breath skating over her skin.

But Audrey’s heart still pounds in her ears.

_____

They shift around each other in the night.

Frankie’s legs tangling with hers.

Her fist clenching in the cotton of his shirt.

His palm cupping her warm breast. Staying there.

Audrey’s tongue slipping into his mouth.

Frankie pulling at her waist urging her on top of him.

“Baby, I need you—” he swallows hard. Unable, through the haze of sleep, to stave off the seep of apprehension into his viscera. 

Desperation.

It bleeds into the haze of his dreams and back out into reality when her weight blankets him.

He skates his nose up the side of her neck, hot puffs of breath dampening her skin before he nips at her ear, “now. Right now baby.”

Take this feeling from me.

Let me prove that you’re mine.

She sits up from where she straddles his hips, pulling her t-shirt off as Frankie rights himself to lave his tongue over one tight nipple.

Audrey wraps her arms around his neck and his hands settle over her shoulder blades before he lays her backwards, kissing a path down her form as her fingers tangle in his hair.

He feasts until her body goes taught with pleasure, every throb of her walls around his fingers a beat of reassurance to his buzzing mind.

She keens his name when she breathes again.

“I’m here, baby. I’m here,” he hurriedly tugs his boxer briefs down, pumping his thick, weeping cock.

He rubs the head of his cock through her folds before sinking in slowly, mouth dropping open a fraction with each inch that he gives her. 

Audrey’s back arches off the bed, hand flying to cover her mouth.

Frankie weights her form with his, kissing at her knuckles, begging for the moans trapped behind them.

She allows it.

Allows Frankie’s tongue into the wet of her mouth, still tasting of her.

Allows him to sit up and bring both of her legs together, holding her ankles with one massive hand as she reaches back to grip the edge of the bed. He guides one to each shoulder, fingers digging into the meat of her thighs. 

Knocking against something sacred.

And she’s trying. 

Trying not to scream for him.

Not to let slip how she needs him.

Here. Like this.

All ways. Always.

But Frankie settles one palm low on her stomach and applies pressure with the heel of it. Feeling the bulge of his cock as he fucks into her. 

A bit more pressure and the crown of his cock catches her g-spot. Over and over.

Sending sparks across her vision.

And Audrey loses it.

Composure.

Sanity.

The scream choked in the back of her throat.

The tenuous hold she had on the tide of pleasure that breaks over her now, causing frantic hands to reach for his wrist and nails to sink into his thigh.

Walls throbbing around his cock.

She’s probably woken the whole house.

Good.

Frankie’s jaw clenches through the pulsing of her cunt, thumb slipping through the slick he pulls from her core to wind against her clit.

He can’t keep the moans in now.

And so he gives them to her.

Leaning forward with one leg still over his shoulder to bite at her bottom lip.

“You’ve got one more in you,” he inhales through his teeth, “don’t you, baby? One more, come on baby.”

“Frankie,” she sobs, swallowing hard, “you know better,” she grips at the sweaty roots of his hair. “You know better than that, baby.”

And he growls from somewhere deep in his chest, sitting up enough to let her leg down.

But he lets it down across his body, slipping his cock from her heat and flipping her over onto her stomach with the momentum of it.

Audrey immediately braces herself on her forearms as Frankie thrusts back inside of her, the weight of his body falling against her not a moment after.

“I do know better,” he mashes his nose to her temple. “I know my baby likes it like this, doesn’t she?”

And it’s so sordid. The speed with which Frankie’s hips move now, skin slapping against hers. The way his tongue licks a stripe over her ear. The wet squelch of his cock through her slick.

The grunts he can’t help when he’s this close. 

Audrey grins with teeth in her bottom lip from under a cascade of black curls.

“I can feel it, you know,” Frankie purrs, beard scraping against her cheek before his nose follows suit. “Feel when I’m in that spot.” He sucks on her neck before sliding the flat of his teeth against her skin.

She lets out a sultry hum.

“Like it was made for me. So fucking tight around my cock.”

And all she can do is moan in response because he’s slowed his pace. There’s the slightest circle to his hips with every thrust.

Grinding deep—hard—as if to prove his point.

He’s doing it spectacularly.

“Jesus, Frankie,” she moans, head dropping into the space between her forearms. 

She’s warm gold in his hands, pliable and glistening. Bending with his attention. Made malleable with his want.

Something precious.

He props himself up with one arm and runs a reverent palm down her spine before fitting fingers to the curve of her waist and slipping under her hips.

She keens the moment he starts toying with her clit.

“Harder, Frankie,” she gasps with the breath that he hasn’t stolen from her ribcage.

He moans, a deep, cracked thing as he buries his face between her shoulder blades.

The snap of his hips jostles her against the mattress, slowly at first before Frankie’s rational brain shuts off.

He slips his fingers from her, reaching for her thigh and pulling it up towards her waist, fitting his knee behind it.

Hips grinding her clit against the bed.

His pace builds until his moans drown out her fractured sobs of pleasure, teeth scraping at her shoulder, her body blanketed by the breadth of his form. 

She slips one hand down to work her clit. “Frankie, yes, yes, ye—”

“C’mon, baby. Yeahhh—”

“Oh fuck. Frankie. Frankie, Frankie, Fr—” Her body bows, back colliding with his chest the moment he moves to kiss her with a open, uncoordinated mouth as her walls clench hard around him.

“‘M gonna fucking come,” he hisses in her ear. “Gonna come. Gonna—fucking—cover you with it.”

And she keens between the aftershocks and Frankie’s promise, burying her face in the tangle of sheets.

“You—yeahh—you want that? Want my come? Fuck, baby—” he chokes out.

And it takes everything he has to pull out of the grip of her cunt at the last minute, wrapping his fist around his heavy length, pumping his cock twice before thick ropes of come streak across her spine.

Frankie roars, rushing to slam his cock back inside of her, still throbbing with his release, body twitching and trembling with pleasure before he stills.

Audrey’s soft moans call him back to her. 

Fragile, wrecked things, tangled with heaving breath.

Frankie pulls out with a groan from them both as Audrey protests the loss of his heat at her back.

Until the hot wet of Frankie’s tongue slides over her skin.

He cleans her of his come with a greedy mouth, lips sucking up her spine as he does.

“Fuck,” she whispers.

Finally he returns his full weight to her, one hand splaying against her jaw and bringing her face back towards his.

He tastes of himself. 

Bitter salt and insatiable lips.

Audrey’s face drops back into the sheets when he lets her go, arching up against him with the need to feel his solid weight.

His warmth.

Frankie gently gathers her hair in one hand, peppering her neck and back with kisses before he rests his chin into the curve of one shoulder.

She’s molten now.

“W’s that okay?” He whispers.

And she’s incapable of doing anything more than letting out a throaty, satisfied hum and pressing a kiss to the scruff of his cheek.

Frankie musters enough strength to pull her with him back up to the head of the bed, tucking her against his chest, palm soothing over her back as she nuzzles her nose against his neck.

Audrey’s hazy, murmured, “you’re beautiful,” is the last thing either of them hear before sleep takes them again.

_____

THURSDAY

“Boys, we have a slight wrinkle. They’ve got three more jeeps out here than they did yesterday,” Audrey reports as she stares through a pair of binoculars from where she’s parked a mile away from the compound.

“Benny and I could slash those tires before heading in,” Santiago’s voice crackles over comms.

“Too risky and you wouldn’t have time. They’re on the opposite side of the compound from your entry point.”

“Problem is, more trucks means more men,” Benny chimes in.

“It also means unfamiliar faces. Might actually make it easier to slip in,” Frankie muses.

“I have a distraction in my back pocket, but report back when you’re in position,” Audrey radios.

“I bet you do.”

Frankie growls, “she means an RPG, Benny.”

They suffer through fifteen minutes of silence before Santi reports back. “You were right, Fish.”

“Let us walk right in,” Benny murmurs.

“Consensus seems to be they’re prepping to move the hostage in about an hour. We’ll ingratiate ourselves until then.”

“This’ll be easier than we thought, boys.”

Frankie hisses, Audrey shushes, and Santi shoots him a pointed stare.

“Don’t fuckin’ say that Benjamin.” Fish growls.

“It’s not done yet,” Audrey murmurs.

Ten minutes later, Benny asks, “Moose, did those Jeeps look armored?”

“Unfortunately for you, no.”

“Okay, we have a slight hiccup,” Benny’s voice is low. “Their planned extraction route has changed. They’re heading in the opposite direction from the airstrip.”

“Great,” Frankie mutters.

“So, my way,” Audrey chimes in.

“The planned route runs right past you, Moose,” Santiago adds.

“We could still take the risk. Break at the last minute?” Benny suggests.

“Too dangerous if those Jeeps aren’t armored. Aud can start knocking them off but they’ve got more men than we accounted for and we dunno how many vehicles they’re going to mobilize,” Fish scratches at his chin and reaches for a map.

“Moose, that Rover have a turbo on it?”

“It’s got two, Benny. But we still can’t make that run to the safehouse. The jungle’s too dense and they’ll be too hot on our tail the minute they get wise. We have to get the hostage into the chopper and Frankie’s gotta make the final run.”

And it’s like she and Frankie have the same idea at the same time.

“So, this is risky—” Fish starts.

“The beach.” Audrey says.

“Think that would give you enough space?”

“If you can be there the minute we break through.”

“I can.”

Audrey’s quiet for a moment, running through contingencies. “Okay boys, we’re gonna do a live handoff.”

“You’re not gonna stop, Aud?” Santi asks, voice jumping half an octave.

“I don’t think we’ll have time. Think you and Benny can handle that switch?”

“You hop in the bird and I can hand her up,” Benny mumbles to Santi.

“Yeah,” Pope nods with bright eyes. “Yeah, that’ll work.”

“We’re good if you both are,” Benny reports.

“Frankie, you good?” Audrey asks.

“I’m good. Give me a five minute warning before hostage extraction, I’ll get this up and hold the area.”

“Okay. Santi and Benny, you come straight to me. No sense in taking men out if they’re headed this direction anyway, it’ll just tip them off. But that means you boys are gonna have to floor it. Give me as much lead time as you can.”

“Done.” Benny answers.

“I’ll drive. You get in the back with the girl,” Pope nods.

“Yeah.”

“Anyone have any questions?” Audrey asks.

She gets three ‘no’s.’

“Everyone clear on their role?”

She gets three ‘yes’s.’

“If anyone has any doubts, speak up now. If not, everyone confirm, individually, that this plan is a go.”

Without hesitation, everyone answers ‘confirmed.’

“Alright boys. Benny and Pope, are you both in position to start the clock?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I’m officially marking five minutes until extraction. Frankie, get her up.”

“Roger.”

Ninety seconds later Frankie confirms he’s in the air and has cleared the airstrip.

“Benny and Pope, you’re cleared to move in accordance with the timeframe.”

They’re out and in the back of the Jeep in another seven minutes. An unknown man slips into the passenger seat thinking he’ll hitch a ride with the boys, and Benny covers the girl’s eyes and ears with two massive hands as Pope fires a silenced shot at the man’s temple before he floors the truck.

They catch up to Audrey in another two minutes.

“They’re sixty seconds behind us,” Benny blurts out as he opens the door, immediately grabbing the girl out of the backseat. “Sorry about this, sweetheart,” he mumbles as he picks her up and hurriedly transfers her into the Rover, sliding in behind her and slamming the door.

She’s quiet and pliant, but there’s panic in her eyes. 

“Santi, there’s two minutes on that,” Audrey simultaneously tosses a live charge to Santi who slaps it onto the Jeep, right over the gas tank, before he slips into the passenger seat, slamming his door as Audrey hits the accelerator.

“Frankie, we’re on the move. ETA to the beach is seven minutes.” Santiago reports.

Audrey catches the little girl’s wide brown eyes in the mirror.

“Hey Diana,” she says with far more calm in her voice than she has any right to have. “I’m Moose. This is Pope,” she gestures to Santi who turns around and offers the girl a winning smile, “and that’s Ben next to you.”

“I know all of this is a lot. But we’re here to get you home.” Santi assures her.

“You ever been on a helicopter, Diana?” Audrey asks again and the boys pick up on where she’s going with it.

“One time,” the girl answers in a soft voice.

“That’s awesome!” Benny chimes in. “Did you like it?”

She nods.

“Well, there’s a helicopter coming around just for you that’s going to fly you to your parents.”

“Okay.”

“We’re gonna help get you inside, but we’re gonna need you to be really brave, okay?” Santi says. “The guy flying the helicopter is called Catfish, he’s my best friend. And I’m going to be with you the whole time.”

She nods, eyes still wide with fear.

“We’re gonna have to move pretty fast once we get down to the beach okay?” Benny says as they hear the charge Santi set go off in the background.

“We’re gonna crawl out through there,” Pope points at the sunroof.

And she starts shaking her head ‘no.’

“Hey, Diana?”

This from Audrey.

“I just wanted to tell you that I think you’re the bravest person I’ve ever met.”

“Really?”

“I really do!”

She brightens a bit at that.

“I know you can do this. And these boys are going to keep you safe, that’s what they do best. Keep people safe. And then in less than an hour, you’ll be with your parents.” She meets the girl’s eyes in the mirror again. “I promise.”

“You pinky swear?”

Audrey laughs and reaches one gloved hand behind her.

“I pinky swear.”

And she feels a small tug at her hand.

Benny holds his pinky out and Diana wraps her small finger around it before doing the same with Santi.

“Frankie, beach in one,” Audrey reports.

“Roger,” he returns over coms and thirty seconds later they hear the thump of rotor blades. “They’re about two minutes behind you.”

“That’s your ride, Diana,” Santi flips the switch to open the sunroof as he crouches on the passenger seat.

“Diana?” Audrey asks.

“Yeah?”

“Keep your eyes shut real tight for me until Pope tells you to open them again, okay?”

And the little girl shuts her eyes and covers her ears as Audrey wrenches the wheel to the right and hits sand.

“Frankie, I’m going to aim for 60 mph, or I’ll run out of beach too quickly,” she reports.

“Roger.”

And Audrey lines the Rover up on firm sand as the thump of rotor blades grows louder. Wind and sand whip around the cabin as Santiago climbs out of the sunroof.

When Frankie gets the bird close enough, the downdraft from the rotor blades keeps sand in the cabin to a minimum, but creates a wake around the Rover.

Audrey’s only able to see about a hundred feet in front of her at any given time.

“Frankie, my vis is shit, callout if we’re gonna hit anything.”

“You’re clear for at least two miles if you hold it straight. Rock outcrop that would take some maneuvering just short of mile three.”

Two minutes. They have two minutes.

Santiago grips the roof rack in a crouch until Fish brings the helicopter skids within two feet of the truck. 

He easily launches himself onto the skids, Frankie expertly accounting for the impact. 

The bird doesn’t even rock.

Audrey chances a glance up at the chopper.

This is gonna work.

She gestures for Benny to get into position. 

He urges Diana onto the front seat, and mercifully she doesn’t put up a fight.

Benny climbs onto the center console, but the moment he sticks his head out of the sunroof, bullets start flying.

Santiago instantly reacts, laying down suppressive fire as Benny hoists himself up, hooking one foot under a bar of the roof rack, knee on sunroof glass to straddle the open space before he reaches down into the cabin, hoisting Diana up off of her seat with a hand under each arm, his back to the gunfire, shielding her.

Immediately she clings to his neck.

It’s a small blessing when bullets pause.

They don’t want to hit the girl, and Audrey mutters “thank fuck,” under her breath.

Benny assesses their angle and makes eye contact with Santiago who lays his rifle down. 

“Close the sunroof!” Benny yells over rotor blades and wind, and immediately Audrey reaches up to comply, giving Benny more space for solid footing.

It takes less than three seconds for the motor to slide glass closed, but Audrey swears it takes at least a year off of her life.

Benny’s dialed in and readjusts in an instant, standing to his full height.

Frankie and Audrey hold the vehicles dead even with each other, hurtling across the beach at highway speed.

Benny doesn’t hesitate, putting one foot on the skid of the chopper before gently loosening Diana’s hold on him. Santi puts a foot on the skid next to Benny’s and gets well within arms reach. 

Benny still holds Diana close to his body, Pope instead reaching for her.

“On three!” Benny yells, blonde hair whipping around his face.

“ONE.”

Santiago places his hands under Benny’s, making sure he has a firm grip on the girl.

“TWO.”

Benny holds her out just a little farther.

They lock eyes and both nod.

“THREE.”

Benny’s hands drop away and Santiago pulls her in tight to his chest, falling backward into the helicopter as Benny takes his foot off the skid.

“FISH, WE’RE CLEAR GET OUTTA HERE,” Benny crouches down on the roof, screaming into comms as Audrey flips the switch to open the sunroof again.

Benny drops back into the Rover as Frankie pulls hard to the right, peeling out over the ocean and out of range of the bullets that have once again started flying.

Benny reaches through the cabin to grab his rifle off of the back seat and immediately starts firing out of the sunroof as Audrey slows down enough to turn around without rolling the Rover, bringing the truck to a stop.

There’s half a mile between them and the rocks.

Thirty seconds.

She scrambles into the back seat and reaches into the trunk before slowly poking her head up in front of Benny.

Audrey shuffles to the right for clearance, stands on the back seat, and slings a metal tube up over her shoulder.

Half a second later she launches off an RPG.

Anything that remains when the smoke clears is easy work.

Benny takes out three men and Audrey picks off the tires of the one Jeep that made it through.

Everything finally falls silent, save for the muted sounds of the ocean and the crackling of fire—dulled by their ringing ears. 

Audrey reaches for the transmit button on her comms.

“Beach is clear.”

She glances back at where Benny is standing on the passenger seat behind her.

Audrey reaches out a hand.

And Benny shakes it with a laugh.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here, Benjamin.”

“Roger that, Moose. Roger. That.”

_____

Benny tries to hail Pope and Fish over comms periodically on their way back to their safehouse, but between the distance and the terrain, he doesn’t get anything back.

He tries calling and texting, but nothing gets through.

“They’ll have ditched the bird, and it’s probably four hours by car,” Audrey muses as she pulls into the safehouse drive.

“So maybe 6:30? 7?”

“Probably about that.”

“‘Kay.”

But the pauses between their words are thick with worry despite everything still going according to plan. 

They both shower and change into comfortable clothes, Audrey calling in a status report and cleanup while Benny makes hotdogs for their late lunch. 

They fall into conversation that’s far more comfortable now.

He pours Audrey a gin and soda around 5 pm when he can tell she’s still on edge. 

He fixes one for himself too and suggests they sit on the front porch.

6:30 pm comes and goes and Audrey parks herself on the hood of the Rover to light up a smoke.

Benny sits down next to her, propping sandaled feet up on the bullbar.

“Want one?” She angles her packet of Parliaments in his direction.

“Nah,” he politely shakes his head. “Don’t smoke. But you’re good, I don’t mind.”

And she huffs a laugh because Benny’s the one who followed her over here.

He tells her fight night stories to pass the time as she chain smokes, hoping to distract her enough to soothe her buzzing nerves. 

And his.

Audrey pulls a sweatshirt on to guard against the chill.

When 7:30 rolls around, Benny slips a cigarette out of the box and asks if she can give him a light.

Audrey smirks and acquiesces. 

At 8:15pm, Audrey’s phone lights up, notifying her that something has tripped the perimeter alarm.

She quickly unlocks it and holds it up between her and Benny as she presses play on the video.

It’s a car they don’t expect, and in the fading light, it’s too dark to make out who’s inside. 

Benny calmly slides off the hood and opens the Rover, tossing Audrey a rifle and grabbing a pistol for himself before quietly shutting the door. They move in silence to meet behind the truck, staring through the cabin out through the front windscreen, waiting for the car to appear.

It slips calmly into the drive as they both hold guns at the ready. 

Santiago steps out first with a smile on his face. The moment Frankie appears from behind the driver’s seat, Audrey drops her rifle and takes off running.

“Audrey,” Frankie sighs as she collides with his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. He wraps one arm around her back and cups the base of her skull, pressing her tight to him.

“The FUCK took you so long?” Benny booms as he lays his pistol on the hood.

“Stopped for coffee,” Santiago quips, giving Benny a hug and a pat on the back. “Nah, their security detail had car trouble, so we swapped them out so they could move. Frankie fixed this piece of shit up, but it took some time.”

“Gave Benny and I some time to bond,” Audrey moves to give Santi a quick hug now as Benny wraps Frankie in his arms and thumps him on the back.

“That was some real Fast and Furious shit, boys!” Benny whoops.

“Yeah it was,” Frankie returns to Audrey’s side, arm draped around her shoulders.

A smile of pride playing on his mouth.

“Y’all hungry? We’ve got hot dogs,” Benny throws a thumb over his shoulder at the house.

“Fucking starving.” Frankie laughs.

_____

Mirth and liquor flow freely for the rest of the night.

“Okay, so wait, wait. Y’all gave me shit, but Benny doesn’t have a callsign—” Audrey points at the man in question..

“Benny’s callsign is ‘Benny’,” Santi swallows a mouthful of whiskey.

“Sorry, what?”

“Well,” Frankie braces both hands on his thighs with a grin. “This one—this one ti—” but he can’t get it out without dissolving into a fit of laughter. “Benny is ‘Benny’—like Benadryl.”

“Yeah, walk me through that,” she rakes a hand through her curls.

“He got stung by a bee one day, took two Benadryl and slept through an entire training exercise.” Santi is grinning so hard that his face hurts.

“Benadryl can do that, yeah.”

“No. Babe,” Frankie laughs, resting a hand on her shoulder, “he slept through the training exercise WHILE he was out in the field.”

Benny is blushing now.

“He would come to enough to get into a helo, but then he’d fall asleep. Strapped into the seat,” Santiago gestures at his chest through howls of laughter.

“He got out of the bird, got into position on the ground with his rifle like he was about to line up a shot and fell the fuck asleep again,” Frankie wheezes, bracing his hand on Santi’s shoulder as he folds forward in his chair.

And she can’t help but laugh at the sight of Frankie having lost all composure.

“Fucking blanks flying everywhere,” Pope makes a cutting motion with his hand, “my man is OUT COLD.”

“There are pictures,” Frankie wipes at his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, fuck you,” Benny grumbles, but there’s a smile hiding just behind his lips. “I assume you know about these two idiots.” This to Audrey.

“I do, yeah,” she smiles as she takes a sip of gin.

“You gotta tell me how you got Moose now.”

“Oh,” Santiago reaches into the pocket of his sweatpants for his phone, finding the picture before sliding it over to Benny. “She saved our asses by nailing that shot.”

“Oh, cool.”

Benny isn’t quite impressed.

“Through night vision from a mile away, Benny.” Frankie adds.

His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline now and he holds Santiago’s phone closer to his face.

“Damn, Moose. That’s sick,” he slides the phone back to Santi, “thought it was because of your tattoo.”

“YOU’VE SEEN IT?” Santiago screams.

Benny holds his hands up in front of his chest, “she had a tank top on earlier, I didn’t know it was some kind of secret.”

“It’s not, Benny. Santi just thinks it is,” she winks as one hand idly winds in Frankie’s curls.

“Unbelievable,” Santiago shakes his head.

“I like you, Moose.” Benny holds his glass up in her direction.

She taps the side of hers to his, “I like you too, Benny.”

“You do excellent work,” he swallows a sip, “clean, precise, efficient. Think on your feet. Hell of a shot. You wind this one up,” he points to Santi, “and this one is in love with you,” he gestures towards Frankie. 

And Audrey hides it in the moment, pulling her hand away from Frankie’s hair under the guise of reaching for her glass.

The truth is.

Benny’s just said the last thing she wants to hear.

next

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[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

On The Hunt: Run Run Little One

Summary- 1.8k Alpha Steve Rogers x Little One. You are navigating a life unbonded and without your mate.

Warnings- There is no Steve in this chapter, it is dedicated entirely to our Reader. I felt our reader deserved her own chapter showing how she is handling life after Steve left. It is heavy on angst.

A/N- Well I had the hardest time with them after what happened. Seriously, I broke my own heart with that ending and tried to pick up the pieces after that... I needed to mourn it in my own way I guess. But let's see what happens. Thank you to everyone who ever followed The Pack series, and had a deep love for Alpha Steve and Little One. Please don't give up on them. Dividers made by @firefly-graphics

Masterlist

You turned the last bolt and pushed up from the engine, peeking around the hood to a teenager sitting in the driver's seat. “Turn the key Parker.” 

“Yes, Ma’am.” He said respectfully, which you hid a grin at the young wolf. Still, a pup, displaced from his home, he tried so hard to belong. You immediately liked the kid and found him smart with all the technological stuff. Sam was smart to quickly recruit him to help keep the equipment running while most of the pack went back into the logging business, trying to keep them afloat while they all tried to recover from what happened. 

The truck shuddered to life, Peter giving a fist pump in victory. “I knew we would get it Y/N! And Sam thought we were going to have to junk it.” 

“He should have more faith in us.” You agreed while closing the heavy hood with a loud bang and started putting away the garages tools, Peter gathered others scattered around, handing them off to you. You noticed his glance continuing to drift back to the back of the garage but you ignored it. There was nothing back there for anyone.  

“Hey, what's up with that truck under the sheet in the back? Does that one need to be fixed?”

You felt a tremor roll through you because underneath that oversized sheet was Lenore. Steve’s precious truck that he left behind. It was something that you couldn’t bring yourself to go back to look at, the truck had so many memories that still hurt. When you returned back, Sam had it already stored away, another sign that Steve was gone. 

It felt like a lifetime ago and just yesterday all at once. 

Your Little Wolf whined at the sudden change in you, trying to keep you from sinking back into those feelings of a broken heart. “That one isn't to be touched, it is out of commission,” you said sharper than you meant to, unable to mask the anger and hurt that Lenore brought up in you, Peter snapped his mouth shut from any more questions, picking up the clear warning in your voice. A soft thump against the garage entrance broke you from your tension.  

Sam made his way into the garage to check on their progress. “Is it ready?”

“Yup, Parker took one look and figured it out.” Your tone changed from earlier, one that said you were happy and content. A lie. The Little Wolf yipped happily as the teenager blushed at the praise, rolling his thin shoulders. 

“It was really just a guess.” 

“Well when you save us from having to purchase a new truck Peter, you helped us out a lot with your guess.”  

“You keep bringing the equipment you guys deem can’t be fixed. I will put money on this kid making it work better then before.” You winked at Peter, who was scoffing at the praise, red in the face. 

You bowed out of the conversation, leaving the garage to head to Natasha’s cabin. Peter waited till you were gone before speaking privately to Sam. “I’m worried I might have upset Y/N by asking about that truck in the back.” 

Sam sighed sympathetically. “Don’t worry about it Kid. That was Steve’s truck and he is a sore subject for Y/N, you didn’t know.” He pointed to the engine. “How about you show me what you did so I can fix it myself next time.”

As soon as you stepped into Natasha’s home, you started stripping from your sweaty dirty clothes, feeling much too sensitive. The shower called your name, and when you stepped into it, your head tilted back to let the water stream over your face, rivulets of grime that came with working on equipment brought. The Little Wolf seemed to feel more relaxed, grooming herself in your mind just as you started to scrub yourself clean. 

<I think you scared that kid when he asked about the truck.>

Your mouth twisted at her observation, you certainly hadn't meant to. Peter didn’t know anything about your broken bond with Steve. He just caught me off guard with the question. 

<Eventually people are going to start talking about him. We can’t avoid discussing him forever.> 

That made you snarl, whisking the last of the soap and shampoo off. You didn’t want to talk about your mate. It had been months and it still stung, broke your heart, and reminded you of the bond you lost and the man who you still loved with that said broken heart. 

“I’m asking you, as your mate to not do this, don’t shut me out from you. Sending me away from you won’t keep me any safer than before.” 

“Ever since you have been with me, you have been hurt Y/N. When have I ever actually been able to keep you safe? I already freed you from me Little One.” He paused at the door, his hand on the door handle, and pushed through, never once looking back at you.

The memory was an onslaught that made you sob out in the streaming water, mixing with your tears. Watching him just walk away and holding out hope he would turn around, tell you that you two would figure it out. He didn’t. You waited so long till Natasha came to you, telling you he left. 

He really was gone. The hardest part was you couldn’t hate him because of it. You knew he held himself responsible for what happened to you and was doing it because he was scared of ever hurting you, that he couldn’t protect you like he promised he would. 

The Little Wolf brushed against you for comfort till you felt control again. She dropped the conversation, but you already knew what she was going to say. 

That you had a home already, the cabin that Steve let you make into your home sat vacant and dark, waiting for either of its people to return. Maybe it’s time to return home, and start healing from everything that had happened. 

It was just too hard. 

You needed to take your mind away from the past, you needed to run and play before leaving the pack once again.

The Little Wolf spanked the ground in front of the black yearling, yipping at him to play with you. Peter was cautious, pretending to be uninterested in what you were trying to entice him into but he soon broke, giving chase after the Little Wolf, who swiftly took off. 

You had the advantage of knowing these trails with all the twists and turns, the thick underbrush you could hide in and attack the younger wolf. You ducked into the blackberry brambles, your thick fur keeping the thorns from pricking you, and the sweet fruit was fragrant enough to hide your scent. Lowering to the ground, you waited, patiently. 

Soon the black wolf breezed past, his nose to the ground and circling with deep inhales. A confused growl rolled from him as he twisted back, having lost the trail. Your tail twitched, and your muscles flexed with anticipation to leap. When he stuck his nose in the hole where you darted into, your paw thumped the tip, making him fall back and you pushed out, knocking him over with playful yips and licks to his face.

Taking off again, Peter scrambled after you, picking up speed with his lighter yearling body. You took his challenge, picking up speed to lead him to fallen logs that lay decaying in the path. Your hind legs powered beneath you, sending you easily soaring over them where Peter had to skid in his surprise at the sudden obstacle, losing seconds in making his jump. 

It was freeing, to feel the bursts of forest floor shoot underneath you as you leveled yourself, streamline racing through the last of the woods till you burst onto a stony beach, twisting to tackle Peter and roll him into the edge of the lake. Tumbling together till splashes of water soaked you, you and Peter both stumbled out of the cold lake to shake the water off and in a peaceful lope, trotted onto the beach, panting to catch their breath. Both dripping wet, the Little Wolf started to run a tongue against the pup's ears, chewing out the debris that got caught in his fur. He grumbled in agitation at being taken care of but rolled his head this way and that for you to do so. After all, it was so reminiscent of his mother taking care of him that he wasn’t going to stop you. 

A howl sounded up, calling the wolves all back, and the Alpha compel in it made Peter whine, having to trot away from you. You chose to ignore it, watching as Peter left you the way you two came. Pushing up off the stony beach, you started following the water's edge, able to weave back and forth as the gentle waves rippled on the shore with the wind blowing. The cool autumn was starting to touch pack lands, the trees hinting at the color changing with bites of yellows and reds. 

Other pack mates answered, there ‘I’m here, I’m here” location cry, but none of them had the deep boom of the Alpha you so desperately missed. 

Returning back to Natasha’s, you dashed past the redhead who was lounging on her porch, face tilted to the twilight sky just starting to edge the treeline. After changing back and slipping on your clothes, you made your way outside, a bag slung over your shoulder. Dropping it near one of the chairs, you slipped into it. 

It was quiet between you and Natasha for a few minutes until she stirred in her chair to finally face you while you too admired the night sky, recalling happier times when your Little Wolf sang her Alpha’s song. “Time for you to leave again?” 

You gave a wistful smile, nodding. “Yeah, I’ve been here longer than I intended already. T’Challa won’t care but…” You shrugged, finally turning your gaze back to knowing green eyes and a sad smile. “I’m still trying to figure out what I want in life. Helping the Panthers find their stolen, gives me a purpose right now.”

“Y/N” Natasha reached over to grasp your hand, squeezing tightly. “You have a home here, a purpose, all those things. You are family, always will be.” You nodded at her words, tears building in the corner of your eyes but refusing to spill. “But I know you have to do this. Just come home when you can?” 

“Of course, I will, keep your couch free for me?” 

“Well, you could just take the damn bed woman. Not like I’m here all that much either.” Natasha laughed and you pushed to a stand. She followed suit, you both embracing in a goodbye hug. “Stay safe Malen'kiy volk, don't make me come to Wakanda to save your ass.” 

“You can come, but to hook up with that panther again.” 

Natasha gave a wicked smirk and arch of her brow. “Now that is tempting indeed.” 

You laughed before one last hug. Grabbing your bag, you headed off the steps. Stark's was a few hour's drive and he already was expecting you in the morning to send you back to Wakanda. 

It hurt to leave, but it hurt to stay too much.

[bandofchimeras]

ACAB its not just a slogan or a meme.

police make everywhere feel so unsafe.

when you aren't one of the demographic they serve (landowning upper class white cishet people). i don't even think about calling the cops if my life is danger. I did that one time. they arrested me.

if there was a murder need investigating, sure, but i wouldn't trust that they would actually put any effort into the search based on who my friends tend to be.

in this city, they paid serial killers on the force 500,000 pension to "retire" and then get hired again by another county force the next year. everytime a cop car drives by, I imagine that verified murderers and accomplices, heavily armed and angry, are in the drivers seat. how is that NOT a fucking "gang"?

I'm white. I'm never going to understand the particuarly terrifying relationship Black Americans or Native people have with the police.

but when other middle class people make jabs at "unsafe" neighborhoods and places...they forget elite, rich neighborhoods can be just as deadly if you don't look like its residents. My blood pressure rises whenever i have to drive my junker truck with the taped over window into a wealthy area, or park near businesses where most of the other cars are shiny. recently all the side streets in this city have been full of "NO PARKING" signs to target houseless folks. In Kentucky they're working on passing the H5 bill the "Safer Kentucky Act" - which would decriminalize shooting homeless people. and criminalize sleeping in your car. and implement a three strike rule, which can lead to a life sentence or execution.

state sponsored execution for being "undesirable" think about that. they get to just decide who gets to live and die? for being "dirty" or using substances? for being disabled by a disabling virus?

its easy to let ACAB become a slogan and not think about why cops are bastards if you aren't exposed to dangerous situations regularly, and then default to them in a panic when the chips are down. because you haven't seen it. you're the white church mom I used to know posting about how nice the cops were to her when she got pulled over. the lady who makes her blonde friend drive when they go on road trips because she can get out of tickets. but once you witness the level of betrayal and mishandling in the criminal injustice system, the level of abuse and violence, the way your neighbors and friends are trigger-happy to use this armed gang against you the second you're perceived as "out of control, "the second that violence touches you it becomes so obvious these bastards are not your friends and never can be.

unless you adopt the ideology necessary to justify their aggressions against yourself and your neighbors. and even then. you ever seen some wacko with a Blue Lives Matter wrap get pulled over? its funny but also it shows, nothing will protect you. cops are doing heavy PR right now. town halls, coffee and donuts. they're recruiting for the upcoming militarization that's coming in response to Palestine protests and this horror show election in November.

Amerikkkan cops are heavily infiltrated and practically equivalent in many cities to other white supremacist, militant gangs. They are militarizing more and more rapidly. Using AI and integrating with the court system, more survelliance, more rules for how you're allowed to exist in public. think about that. why should it matter? if you loiter, if you skateboard, if you wear glasses or masks? you are being trained to see yourself and your neighbors as potential-crime-committers rather than human beings. we are self-survelling. reporting. getting off on correcting and ignoring eachother. What Israel is doing is a mirror held to our collective potential future. and you should be very, very alarmed. Fuck the cops. Fuck the prisons. Fuck the detention centers. We already have the Gestapo and the camps. Look the fuck around.

[dynared]

I'm once again bored, so I'm thinking over a character from Transformers who got either ignored and/or hosed and am wondering what Skybound or another series can do with him. With the Super Ginrai toy apparently due out soon, I'm turning my attention to Ginrai/Powermaster Optimus Prime/Apex Prime, quite possibly one of the most unique concepts in Transformers that no one really has fleshed out in any way.

Ginrai is the main protagonist of Transformers Masterforce, a truck driver who is accidentally bound to two bracelts that let him combine with a very familiar red looking truck.

Unfortunately, the narrative itself says little about the fact that the truck is Optimus Prime, with a clip show called The Big Book of Masterforce released after the series ended claiming it was meant to be a new body for Prime before the evil Devil Z stole it, and it was bound to a human.

The Marvel comic book meanwhile, ignores this in favor of saying it WAS Optimus, with his binary-bonded Nebulan partner, Hi-Q, helping to unleash his body's true potential. Only there it was Hi-Q who became the non-entity, barely appearing on panel until a plotline where Optimus cheated death by essentially downloading his brain into Hi-Q.

And yet despite both the popularity of the toy mold and design, and the flexibility of the idea, Powermaster Prime/Ginrai hasn't really been used in anything. Dreamwave floated the idea of Ginrai appearing in one of their sourcebooks, only for the company to have its rather famous dissolution due to Pat Lee's tomfoolery, Animated had plans to make their version of Powermaster Prime/God Ginrai without Ginrai or any Powermaster elements but the show famously ended with the start of the Hub Network, the Wings Universe had Ginrai as a separate character from Prime (and a paranoid neurotic) and IDW, as part of their hate-on for all things Japanese Transformers, didn't use him at all.

That said, there's a lot you can do with this character, but it feels like all of it is Year 4 or Year 5, rather than Year 1.

Optimus Prime - Agent of GI Joe.

With the Energon Universe going all in on the idea of Transformers and GI Joe being in the same universe, the human element has a much easier grounding figure than someone who just happens to come along and slots neatly into the Commander role without interference. If a human was able to transform into someone that looked like Optimus Prime and the government found out, well, odds are that person would be recruited by Colonel Hawk and the Joes to act as the Autobot commander, and possibly to ensure that the Bots act in the best interest of the US government.

From there, there's a lot of both Transformers action and spy fiction elements that can be implemented into the story. How long before the Autobots figure out the ruse? Will they? Will Ginrai or whoever the human is be forced to silence his allies to avoid his secret coming out? And how much of Optimus will rub off on him? Especially if Optimus isn't really dead and that Transector isn't empty?

Spike Witwicky - King of Braves.

Poor Spike has been through a lot in the first arc of the Transformers comic. Without spoiling too much, the series starts with his mom having died a few years back, his dad an alcoholic, and he gets hurt during the fighting between Bots and Cons. While characters like him are normally used in a context to provide a more "normal" set of eyes, the US cartoon eventually made Spike into an Autobot, as the head of Fortress Maximus. Unfortunately, The Rebirth miniseries where this occurred clearly had shown the series was out of gas at that point.

Still, given Spike's relationship with Optimus, the idea of Spike being forced to act as Prime's partner, or even more notably, his replacement, creates an angle that would be very interesting, IF we spend enough time with him to feel earned.

It's bad enough Spike was essentially a galactic ambassador to a war he never knew about, now he has to lead the people he got to knew and trust against enemies probably far more powerful than the Cons that started the war. How does he react to that given everything the war has likely taken from him? Does he embrace the opportunity to fight back against the invaders, or does he threaten to crack under the pressure? Not to mention the evergreen G1 characters Spike may know suddenly dealing with someone who's a full-fledged super robot, and may be the difference between victory and defeat?

Like my Star Saber meta, these are just some basic ideas for what could be a very interesting character later on with themes of identity, symbols, and the injecting of super robots into the American G1 framework in a more direct way than the Japanese shows did originally. Still, I think it's something that could be a lot of fun in the hands of the right writer.

[itsdappleagain]

hell yeah baby backstory time

it is time for the boston tea party caper!!

notes under the cut assss always

this episode is a bit of a mix-up for me. i like it but not my favorite all things considered. i'm still excited though- some of the moments in this episode are GOLD

HQ!!!

JHSGHSD "hey red hows san diego" "not great" "im not talking about you girl"

"i thought he lived in the cloud"

player looks so unamused pls

PLEASE "though i am hearing voices again" HOW WAS THAT RELEVANT. WERE U HEARING VOICES BEFORE

shadowsan is the best character here he's so funny

THE "THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT"

if they vowed to use their "superpowers" for good and ivy hotwired that car later on i guess maybe they used to steal cars and then decided to go straight maybe

ivy is so cool

OH hey also by the way their younger designs. SO GOOD carmen should have gotten a dorky in between phase we were robbbbed

small

not trey and his butt chin

i like how the screen glitches when its paused on trey. new headcanon this is a powerpoint presentation they threw together right then and there

you dare knock LYDIA

"i got this" zack says with the confidence of a man who just ate taco bell learning they won't see another restroom for eight more hours on the road trip

the talking through the race kills me every time 😭you can't hear each other

man this racetrack has an overhead drone keeping exact pace with the leading car

zack had a chase devineaux phase too once

carmen sandiego: oh no no we're rated for seven year olds!! the boston tea party caper: the mafia boss who lent us money threatened to put a hit out on us if we didn't commit a robbery for him on a suspicious front for a money laundering operation for the mob

the main reason i dislike this episode and need for speed is because zack doesnt ever get to learn. he was impulsive and it was bad in duke of vermeer, he was impulsive and it was bad in boston tea (okay fine, it shows us his younger self! fine with that) BUT THEN HE IS IMPULSIVE AND ITS BAD AGAIN NEXT TIME. FOR THE SAME REASONS whyyy wouldn't they take duke of vermeer as an opportunity to show his growth instead of making him out to be some angry no control childish idiot who sacrifices untold amounts for a little payback. and drags ivy down with him EVERY TIME

there's something so cool and sinister about ivy smiling, reassuring him, and then slowly pulling down the ski mask to hide any emotion. ivy and zack seem like they could have been prime targets for VILE recruitment- they could have gone down a much darker path

shadowsan was so invested

carmen's puberty crammed in those few months between the boat and the boston holy shit

player accidently saved zack and ivy's asses by turning off those cameras jgjsgkd

the second perspective of zack crashing into the wall kills me every time pls

here goes carmen with "its for your own safety" who taught her that phrase

i love how z and i immediately think that this person couldnt possibly be...i dont know. an employee or a manager or someone who works at the donut place. she's gotta be another thief. i mean they are right but like why

the giant ass green vault behind the fridge door 😭

WE'RE FOLLOWIN THAT LADY FOLLOWIN THOSE BREADCRUMBS TO THE DOUGH

wait didn't they arrive in a truck parked on the other side of the building

carmen ALSO had a chase devineaux phase

???? isnt that truck she just stole the one they got there in???

i mean carmen. girl. you kicked them out of their own robbery and then stole their car did you expect them not to follow you

carmen's devineaux side coming out <3 also completely shameless carmen cant drive comic plug

there are so many car accidents literally everyone could have died in for these two (this and need for speed) episodes. credits roll as the paramedics show up to carmen who just CRASHED HER CAR INTO A FUCKING HOLE HEAD FIRST

they had to make sure to show us that carmen was literally the worst driver possible to justify zack being there

i love zack immediately getting super friendly with the random woman who just stole their car, crashed it, and then stole it again with them inside

carmen: haha suave quip zack and ivy, the two most neurodivergent bitches on the planet: IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

also carmen looks hilariously uncomfortable wedged behind this shipping crate. she's experiencing her first infodump

the loaning money joke is actually very funny

i kind of like how awkward carmen still is in some areas. she still talks like a VILE operative- she reports her every move to player, she simply responds with "understood." because thats the only way she knows how to relate

ANGY

ivy: oh no camera: zooms out to show the most outraged face the animators could draw

screenshots of all time

can you imagine your weirdgirl little 16 year old classmate dips and you see her a few months later and she's turned into this trenchcoat wearing 5'7" long haired adult woman whose only goal is to make your life a thousand times harder

not quite sure how this episode said "oh yeah. her classmates who knew her as a kid constantly call her by the wrong name and disrespect her despite constant corrections. and also her mother figure, seeing the new her, disowns her with the proclamation that this new person killed her child when she took this new name and betrayed her" and made it not transgender

le chevre was so cool about everything for like three minutes

HEY okay my favorite detail of the show is that when carmen runs in this episode she gets way out of breath because she isn't in shape yet i LOVE that detail

i have never heard more emotion from gina than when she went "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME"

THROW HER OVERBOARD

el topo is also cool about things for like three minutes

zack and ivy bounce constantly between dumb orange cat energy and golden retriever who would jump into the ocean for a guy who petted them once energy

legend has it carmen still manages to throw el topo and le chevre in the water every time they are within a mile of it

i love le chevre backing up and running away from her because he's like oh shit. wasn't she like the best in our class?? is she going to kill me or something?? why did she leave VILE what the fuck im booking it nah

YEAH I NEED THE ROPE CARMEN IS SO MEAN IN THIS EPISODE ITS SO FUCKING FUNNY

IVY RESPONDING TO THE ASK FOR "MUSCLES" WAS A UNIVERSAL LESBIAN WIN FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE PLANET GOD WHAT AN ICONIC SCENE. MILADY. ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS KISS HER HAND GOD

its never brought up ever again that ivy's "shirt" is actually a blue undershirt and a black vest and that is criminal we needed a gay vest. something

the slomo kick is so hot

LE CHEVRE STEPPING ON HER HEAD

those plates must have hurt so fucking bad

okay well. you DO commit crimes

"the police have no idea they exist" okay. TELL THEM

SEE? VEST.

"got any room for us on your next job?" "you know what? sure! come along and help me take down this global criminal organization. uhhh what are your names again btw?"

yall i dont think eddie is going to want to see you for the money

A FLYING CAR he said yeah zack that was smart

i love how offended by literally everything the bostonians do shadowsan is

THEY MADE SHADOWSAN GET IN THE BACK BEHIND THE SEAT HAHAHAHHJHD

that hq wont be so wasted when you die of hypothermia! good luck carmen

alrighty, thats the beantown caper all done! only two more to catch up on before I'm on time again for my favorite episode this saturday >:)

[finalmileniece]

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[silver-ink-iron-words]

I’m so glad you guys are liking it 🥰

---

CW - discussion of sexual assault

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Dinner Guest, Part 6

“You did the right thing.”

“I don’t remember asking you.”

“LaChasse would have tortured your friend. Tortured the kid. Probably even you, if you pushed them to it. You would have given in eventually, and then had nothing to show for your stubbornness.”

“Can you please just shut up already?”

“You didn’t have a choice.”

“Is that what you told yourself when you helped LaChasse imprison me?”

Clara fell silent.

They were in a second interrogation room – Clara standing to attention, Julian handcuffed to the table. They’d been sent to wait here while LaChasse delt with the kid.

Julian knew there would be some kind of consequence for the resistance he’d put up earlier. Increased security and restrictions, maybe a beating. But it wouldn’t be too severe. LaChasse couldn’t risk taking him out of commission, after all.

And frankly, even if they did hurt him badly, he deserved it.

The kid had started crying, when Julian explained to LaChasse how his powers worked. Splotchy, red-faced crying with quiet pleas and shuddering sobs. Clara was right, in a way. But what difference did Julian’s excuses make to the kid who would soon enough be holding disintegrated brain matter in his hands?

“I can help you,” Clara said suddenly, pulling Julian out of his thoughts.

Julian turned a weary gaze to her. “Sure. I take my coffee with cream and two sugars.”

She rolled her eyes. “I meant that I can help your friend escape.”

Julian stiffened, eyes darting around the room. Surely there had to be a recording device somewhere.

“That wouldn’t be very wise of you,” he said carefully.

Clara stepped closer, her voice hushed but focused. “There is a cargo truck leaving at 5 am tomorrow. The driver’s been paid off, and there’s one extra crate big enough to hold a single person.”

Julian blinked at her.

“You’re out of your mind,” he said.

“Listen, everything’s already set up. I just need your help getting your friend to the location. They don’t trust me.”

“I don’t trust you. Why the hell would you betray LaChasse like this?”

“Is it so hard to imagine why I wouldn’t want LaChasse’s empire to keep growing? Their recruitment rate has nearly doubled since you’ve started cooperating. They’re getting too powerful, and innocent people are starting to get hurt.”

Julian snorted. “Right. ‘Starting to.’”

“Getting you out would have been ideal, but it’s pretty obvious that you’re not going to willingly leave your friend behind.”

“How observant of you.”

“So, removing LaChasse’s leverage is the next best option.”

Julian tried to roll a crick out of his neck. “Why not just quit, if you don’t like what LaChasse is doing?”

“I don’t mind my job,” she said, running a hand through her hair. “But . . . let’s just say there are certain people who I want to stay hidden. Who could have easily stayed hidden, if it wasn’t for your annoying power.”

“Annoying is an understatement.” Julian tried to rub his face, but found that the handcuffs kept him from reaching. “Well, as inspiring as your sad excuse for a moral backbone is, I’m going to have to answer with a tidy ‘get fucked.’”

Clara’s look of surprise gave Julian a tremendous amount of satisfaction.

“You’ve given me no reason to believe you,” he explained. “And even if I did believe you, I’m not pulling any stunts that might endanger Alex.”

Clara looked for a second like she wanted to object, but must have decided that it wasn’t worth the effort.

“You’re no better than me,” she said instead, eyes narrowing. “People are going to get hurt, but you’re just as ready to throw morality out the window as I am.”

Before Julian could offer a sarcastic retort, LaChasse entered.

Julian hadn’t known what to expect, so he wasn’t sure whether or not the easy calm on their face was a good sign.

“Leave us,” they said to Clara. She walked out without acknowledging Julian. He was glad to be rid of her.

He felt increasingly less glad, however, as LaChasse strolled forward and settled into the seat across from him.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper chat,” they said, placing their elbows leisurely on the table.

“You know, I wonder sometimes if it wouldn’t have been smarter to just off myself.” He cast his gaze at LaChasse. “Or off you. Even if I died trying, it probably would’ve been worth it.”

LaChasse frowned. “You’re quite dramatic today. Is everything alright?”

The question nearly made Julian laugh. He peered at the diamond tracker bracelet still fixed on his wrist. “I’m tired, LaChasse. That’s all.”

If LaChasse was irritated, they didn’t show it. Their face was that same glassy calm.

“I hope you understand,” they said, “that I cannot allow you to disobey me.”

“You always find the creepiest way of saying things, don’t you?” Julian’s bones hurt. His limbs were weary. “I did listen to you. What, am I not allowed a moment of hesitation before I sell my soul?”

“No.” LaChasse’s voice was hard. “Not in front of others you are not.”

“Can’t let anyone see me question you, I take it?”

“It does set a troublesome precedent.”

“And what if I said tough shit? You can make me play your sick games, but you can’t turn me into a mindless tool. You can’t beat the thoughts out of my head.”

LaChasse studied Julian, their eyes roving. Then they pushed upwards, making the chair’s metal legs screech against the concrete floor. They walked around the table to him.

“Hey, what are you – ”

Julian was cut off when LaChasse grabbed his head and kissed him.

He screamed into the kiss. Tried to jerk back. But LaChasse held firm. He wanted to lift his hands to push them away, but the cuffs pulled taut when he tried.

Julian couldn’t do anything but sit there and slowly, horribly drown.

When LaChasse finally pulled away, Julian was trembling like a tree branch ready to crack in the wind.

“I find it interesting that you think I want you just as a tool, little bird.”

Julian let out a shuddering breath that crawled up his ribs like vomit.

LaChasse kept their death grip on his head. “I do not particularly care how long it takes. But you are mine, and someday you will act like it.”

“And why would I do that?” Julian wanted his words to burn like fire, but they came out withered and ashen.

LaChasse titled their head. “That partner of yours is rather attractive, too. I can see why you like them.”

Julian’s eyes widened.

“Many of my men have observed this fact as well,” they continued. “I have standing orders to leave them untouched. But orders can always change.”

“So I’m expected to endure that kind of thing, so that they don’t have to?”

LaChasse grinned. “Julian, didn’t you know? All the best heroes are martyrs.”

----

Julian and Alex waited at the rendezvous point, keeping a look out for Clara. The cold night air bit at their skin.

“Tell everyone I said hi,” Julian joked, a feeble attempt to fill the silence.

Alex gave a little smile as response, but it didn’t reach their eyes.

“Oh, except Gary. Tell him that he still owes me five bucks.”

“It’s true, isn’t it?” Alex turned their gaze up to the starless black blanket of a sky. “That you gave yourself up for me.”

Julian tensed. He’d anticipated this conversation, but that didn’t make it any easier. He’d hoped, somehow, to go his entire life without talking about this.

“Not entirely,” he said. “The reasoning was slightly more complicated.”

“But I was a central motivator?”

Julian let out a breath. “Yeah.”

Alex was silent for a long moment.

“Julian, I’m so sorry.” Their voice was pitched higher with the start of tears.

Julian’s heart panged. He wrapped an arm around Alex’s shoulders. “Hey, don’t be. It was my decision.”

“You shouldn’t have done it. The things you’ve had to go through, all for – ”

“Hey, come on,” Julian said. “What’s with the doom and gloom? This’ll be my last chance to see you in a little while, babe. Let’s not ruin it.”

Alex peered at him. “I’m worried about what you’ll do after this.”

Julian plastered on a smile. “I’ll be okay,” he lied.

Alex nodded, but they didn’t look like they believed him.

Clara arrived not long after.

“Okay, we’re still running on schedule,” she said. She turned to the driver – a big burly man with a mustache. “Is there anything else you need before leaving?”

“No ma’am,” the driver said. “All’s left is for him to get in the crate.”

“Oh, by the way, Alex uses they/them pronouns,” Julian said.

Everyone looked at him, and stared.

He gave a confused smile. “Is there something on my face?”

Suddenly, Alex took his hand. “I love you, Julian. Please remember that.”

“What – ”

Clara raised her hand, and Julian’s entire body froze. He tried to cry out, tried to ask what the hell she was doing, but he couldn’t make a sound. Nothing could move but his eyes.

“Do it now,” Clara said to the driver.

The driver pulled out a small brown bottle, and poured the contents into a cloth. 

“Sorry kid,” he said, as he placed the soaking cloth over Julian’s mouth and nose.

Julian looked to Alex. Their eyes were deep reflective pools holding many different emotions – sadness, worry, guilt.

But not regret.

Those eyes were the last thing Julian saw before the chloroform turned his vision to darkness.

Part 7

[butternuggets-blog]

Changing Faces

Minor Blood/Gore - A Discovery of Witches x SAS Rogue Soldiers

Pat Riley, Augustin Jordan, Baldwin Montclair/Male OC

@adowbaldwin @booksoncanvas

Pat Riley kept polishing his boots and studiously ignoring the two men locked in a fierce whispered argument beside him.

He had glanced askance out the corner of his eye a few times now and caught the ginger staring at him with an intense, cold expression. The blonde had come and gone a few times, doing duties, and whenever he returned he would try to pry the other man from his perch in the shadows. And the argument would resume.

'Can I help you sir?'

The blonde smirked at his friend, and strode over. The ginger twitched like he wanted to step forward, but chose not to, glaring instead at his companion’s back.

'Not really.’ The Free French man shrugged apologetically. His accent was noticable by its absence; his voice was nondescript, but there was an almost lyrical lilt to his words, like poetry. ‘My friend thought he knew you; you look exactly like someone we've met before'

'Someone good?'

No, unfortunately. He was-..' the man fumbled loosely for a polite turn of phrase, failed to find one, and gave up. '- a monster.'

‘Well I hope I don’t prove to be one’

The blonde smiled. ‘I hope so too.’

________________________________________________________________

He found out later that their names were Benoit Ferrand and Martin Bouchard. Martin was fair-haired and genial, a sergent that could raise the spirits of his men effortlessly, and made a genuine effort to get to know everyone under his command.

Benoit was a captain, ruthless and pragmatic, and with a fiery temper that could be curbed with a look from Martin. Pat felt that it was another Paddy and Eion situtation, and kept his thoughts to himself.

He had even more to think about when the rest of the Free French came back from patrol. Augustin Jordan had been out leading a patrol, and hadn’t been told about the new commanding officers who had arrived with fresh recruits.

Pat watched him stiffen, his eyes roving over the pair as they approached the truck. Benoit nodded, stiff and formal, and Augustin returned the gesture, shrinking in on himself a little like he was trying to appear smaller than he was.

Interesting.

He showed the same deferance to Martin as well, although he shook the other man’s hand instead of bowing. They were clearly communicating with each other although Pat could barely see their lips moving as they talked.

...oh.

Pat’s heart jumped slightly. He was still getting used to having Augustin around; he wasn’t nearly as concerned about the vampire as he had been when they found out about his condition, but adding two more into the mix, especially ones that appeared to have senority over him...well, he was definately uneasy.

________________________________________________________________

Pat spat blood onto the sand, dribbling most of it down his chin and onto his collar as Baldwin stared down at him with a blank expression.

'Morning.’ He drew a rasping breath. ‘Fancy meeting you here.'

The plane had caught them by surprise, straffing the trucks and causing them to scatter. The rest of the patrol had gotten away but Pat had missed the obvious drop in the sand dune in front of them and before even Baldwin’s lightning-fast reflexes could save them they had pitched forward into nothing.

He remembered hands shoving him clear of the driver’s side door and then darkness.

'You should..leave me here and..and go get help'

'Don't be stupid.’

Baldwin sat down on the sand beside him, resting a salvaged machine gun in his lap. Behind them, the sun was setting, the crumpled remains of the truck quietly smoking away.

‘Martin would never forgive me if I left you here alone.'

'How long have I got?'

Baldwin glanced at him.

'..not too long. Another two hours.'

It was. No relief, no joy; no sorrow or anger either, just a quiet, calm peace in the face of the inevitable.

Pat thought about the pass in his pack for Cairo and hoped that Jim would use it wisely. They’d joked about seeing the girls at the Empire Club, but they were sure they wouldn’t get very far before they found better entertainment elsewhere. He hoped Jim was smiling when he raised a toast to him.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence for a while, the sound of Pat’s rasping breathing mingling with the hiss and pop of the now-destroyed car. The plane didn’t come back, which was a relief, but Pat suspected it was because he had been lying unconcious for so long that whenever it had passed overhead previously it hadn’t seen any survivors.

Baldwin shifted in the sand and glanced down at him again.

'Have you figured out what we are?’

Pat nodded, and lapsed into a coughing fit. Baldwin waited politely for him to finish.

‘When?'

'Augustin.'

It was all he could manage around the liquid clogging his throat.

'I suppose we couldn't hide forever. Not in such cramped quarters.' Baldwin’s fingers fiddled with a few scuffed marks on the barrel of the gun as he tried to come up with the rights words.

'Martin thinks I should offer immortality to you.’ Baldwin scoffed lightly at something only he could see in his mind’s eye. ‘An immortal life.. as long as your enemies don't get too close to you first.'

'I'd consider it'

'Of course you would, you're dying'

'Still, it's not like I've got anywhere to be right now.'

Pat settled back into the sand and watched the stars come out above them. Phantom grass beneath his fingers whisked him back to Cumbria, the scent of ashwood and his mother’s primsoses from the window box outside the living room and the chatter of the neighbours echoing through the wall. He missed the chance to miss home.

Two fingers stretched towards the vampire, and Pat nodded as Baldwin slid closer.

'Are you sure? I need verbal consent before I even agree to attempt this'

'Attempt?' Pat croaked, drily.

'It hasn't always gone well, in the past'

'I'm sure.’ Pat bit through his lip as he half-crawled, half-dragged himself up into the other man’s lap and collapsed back down. ‘Don't mean to outrun the reaper, just delay him a bit.'

'And you're sure? You're ready?'

'Ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this'

'Alright.’ Baldwin helped him get comfortable again, and wiped some of the gunk away from his neck. Pat shivered at the brush of cold fingers against his skin.

‘This is going to be excruitiating.'

Pat nodded.

[kontextmaschine]

My closest college buddy was this Boston kid with a truck driver dad and a mom who was the office side of a construction contractor who had been tested at like 78 IQ but then they realized he had ADD and gave him Ritalin and he turned into this space genius who hung out at the Harvard library and Johnathan Culler and some other big "Theory" figures – which was a school of literary study that had been big but was now pushed back to redoubts at Cornell and UC Irvine – recruited at 16 to be the field's salvation, he was delivering papers at conferences his first year, eventually he ended up specializing in like, how trade goods from the newfound Americas affected 16th century European prose? He went on to Medieval Studies at Columbia before he looked around like "what the hell am I doing?", married a girl he'd known in Boston, and switched to law school

[reinedescauchemars]

the college experience, so far:

made a title ix complaint because of a presentation that it was mandatory for me to attend that allowed mockery of gender identities, including my gender identity

would have made a larger complaint about how that presentation also allowed mockery of socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations but i only felt like i had enough proof for for harassment based on gender identity

reread a survey consent form to make sure that i didn't accidentally consent to my responses being shared verbatim, as that is what had happened during the presentation

had to explain to the student life office for the housing i live in that i moved in four times

found out the resource center specifically for queer students is only open four hours a day and discovered that those times do not work well for me

had to re-enroll in a new section of one of my classes because they opened up too many seats in the previous sections and decided to drop everyone and then make us all re-enroll literally three days before classes start

tried wearing press-on nails because i didn't have enough time in one go to paint my nails but they popped off when i helped a friend assemble some furniture

discovered my go-to dining hall food from my go-to dining hall got taken off the menu (also it was the only vegetarian option for that dish and i don't like eating the meats that dish normally includes)

spent a ridiculous amount of money to buy a physical copy of one (1) textbook because my parents didn't want me to just pirate it even though i told them my professor said, in the vaguest of terms so as to not cause legal trouble, to just pirate the textbook

have been mostly surviving by skipping meals and free food because i'm not a morning person and there is so much free food as part of welcome events

got woken up by garbage trucks and loud cars every single morning because i live above a major road

bled out of an orifice i shouldn't bleed out of, which was probably due to a health condition i likely have but am ignoring because i don't even have the time to deal with my one diagnosed chronic health condition

had a major pain flare because of a vaccine reaction, but i guess i'm glad i'm vaccinated against the flu and covid, even if it put me through hell

tentatively agreed to go to rush week to rush for sororities even though i am not interested in greek life

almost got hit by a car, because drivers here apparently think it's a good idea to start going through an intersection as people are crossing at the sidewalk right in front of them

stopped feeling emotions the way i used to, which is kind of disturbing but i'm going to assume it's fine

the sports team with a pride flag at their table tried to recruit me, which means i either looked gay to them, they're desperate for new players, or both

got offered lactaid at a pizza lunch and didn't take it even though i know i'm lactose intolerant because i didn't have the energy to care

received a beanie with the name of the department my major is in on it because i was able to remember the name of a program that was mentioned in a presentation (it is also rather warm where my university is and it is permanently the wrong season for wearing a beanie)

found out how many ambulances are in the city across the border from us and somehow remembered this information even though it has no relevancy to me

ended up sitting still on a towel on the shower room floor for so long that the motion-activated light turned off

but y'know what? this is still fucking better than high school

[imarketer4udma-blog]

Marketing case study: iM4U drives logistic business to the top USA companies

Success in trucking depends on how well logistics and marketing work together, not just transportation. This specialized niche, a linchpin of global trade, necessitates innovative approaches to carve out a distinctive identity. One of our clients began with a single truck and a garage. They grew by treating customers well and being fair to employees, fueling their success story. A pivotal partnership emerged in November 2018 when our agency collaborated with them. Together, we bolstered their marketing strategies and harnessed their logistical expertise. The outcome? A notable placement among the top 5000 US companies, with a strong rank of 1910. This is all about demonstrating how good marketing and strong logistics can come together to bring success.

iM4U plan for marketing promotion

We created our marketing plan to elevate our client's integrated marketing strategies and attract more drivers to their company. The primary goal was to enhance the effectiveness of these strategies. The strategy focused on gaining insights into creating effective marketing tactics for a logistics company, including selecting appropriate channels for implementation. The plan's implementation encompassed several key steps: 

devise a structured plan to boost the marketing team's performance;

achieve essential metrics;

analyze the logistics market in the USA;

conduct competitor analysis;

formulate a brand promotion strategy;

enhance brand reputation;

identify suitable promotion channels;

sett a marketing budget for the year;

craft a roadmap for brand promotion.

Concurrently, the marketing consulting aspect of the plan aimed to make important processes in our client's company more organized and efficient. This involved optimizing team performance and creating mechanisms to monitor departmental efficiency indicators, resulting in an overall enhancement of operational efficiency.

More information in our article “How to find your target audience for your business”.

Challenges we faced and how did we overcome them

In the context of the trucking and logistics industry, our client faced a series of distinct marketing challenges that required strategic solutions. 

To stand out in fierce competition, they needed a special value proposition. They achieved this by highlighting advantages like quick deliveries and round-the-clock support. 

Overcoming driver recruitment hurdles involved highlighting a family-like atmosphere and driver-centric policies. 

To gain trust, they showed their no-damage guarantee and a track record of successful deliveries.

They managed to adapt to changing technology and cover vast areas by showing their tech expertise. They tailored messages for different regions.

They tackled complex services and followed regulations by using clear messaging and prioritizing safety. 

Despite cost constraints, a judicious budget allocation ensured high-impact integrated marketing campaigns. Through collaborative efforts, our IM4U Digital Marketing Agency assisted the client in surmounting these challenges, creating a robust marketing strategy tailored to the unique demands of the industry.

Implementation stage

We developed a comprehensive marketing plan and then executed it effectively. 

Our strategy included showcasing successful deliveries through engaging social media posts and informative blog articles on the company's website. By using data-driven insights, we created personalized email campaigns that generated valuable leads. We met clients at events, used testimonials, and case studies to build trust. 

All of this made our client more well-known, trustworthy, and appealing to drivers. We also enhanced the company's reputation and attractiveness to potential drivers, positioning them as a top choice in the competitive market. 

These multifaceted tactics collectively positively impacted the client's business growth and success.

Results and achievements

Our collaborative marketing endeavors have yielded impressive outcomes and accomplishments within the trucking and logistics industry. Through careful execution, operational expenses decreased significantly by 22%, driven by a more organized structure. Notably, cost per lead reduced impressively by 30%, showing strategy success.

A year-long plan optimized the budget, while a defined marketing department structure improved efficiency. These accomplishments relied on consistent growth, expanding the company's scale by 1.5 to 2 times each year, even during US economic challenges. Additionally, a monthly influx of 10 new drivers underscores our prowess in driver attraction.

Recommendations for logistic businesses

In this situation, our campaign excelled by efficiently organizing operations, reducing costs by 22%. Additionally, we lowered lead costs by an impressive 30%.

From this case study, we learned valuable lessons, especially about tailoring personalized marketing for clients and drivers. We created and implemented data-driven email campaigns, showcasing the strength of our integrated marketing strategy. Equally important, this approach consistently drove business growth, even during economic challenges, due to our operational excellence.

Conclusion

The success story of a truck driving company exemplifies the fusion of marketing and logistics, fortified by a meticulously crafted and executed integrated marketing plan. By emphasizing swift deliveries, driver-centric policies, and damage-free guarantees, they stood out. Personalized email campaigns, engaging content, and trust-building tactics elevated their reputation. Remarkably, operational costs fell by 22%, lead costs by 30%, and the company scaled 1.5 to 2 times annually despite economic challenges. This case showcases the power of strategic collaboration between marketing and logistics, driving growth and resilience through a well-devised marketing plan.

How to promote your local business - call IM4U agency to get an answer!

Unlock success for your local business! Contact IM4U Integrated Marketing Agency today for tailored solutions. Elevate your brand, reach more customers, and thrive in your community. Don't wait, call now!

[primevein]

The Prime of His Youth: Book I:  Forging His Own Path: Ch24: Homecoming

Smokescreen handed the phase shifter to Ultra Magnus. He leaned forward and took off at a sprint. He weaved in and out of the recruits, many of which already warrior-class, blasting them with his blaster set to training. All of the ones that were shot immediately stopped and put their hands up. Smokescreen ended up on the other side of the field, looking about as he pointed his blaster in case he missed any.

"Sergeant?!" Ultra Magnus shouted, and Smokescreen transformed, dashing across the field. He transformed next to Ultra Magnus, striking a pose. Ultra Magnus then turned to the troops, "Fall in." he said, and the dozen ran over, quickly falling in. "So, anyone here want to tell me that not a single one of you fired a single shot?!" He paused, and no one replied, "Any of you?" One of them raised his hand,

"Fear of friendly fire, sir." he stated.

"Well that's one reason!" Ultra Magnus shouted. "Any others?!" Again, he paused, and no reply came. He turned to Smokescreen. "Sergeant?!"

"One, it's difficult to use a blaster at close range! Two, I purposefully created a risk of friendly fire! Three, it's difficult to track targets with varying trajectory! Four, you were afraid!"

"Now, here's the tough part?!" Ultra Magnus asked, "How do you handle it?" He paused, and got no replies. He then turned to Smokescreen, "Sergeant?" he asked.

"When I was charging, you had a couple seconds to take me out. If I can reach your ranks, someone is going to die!"

"You knew he was coming!" Ultra Magnus stated. "You often have a split second to line up a shot. If you don't take it, you might not get another. What else could you do?" One of them raised their hand. "Yes?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"We can practice more against moving targets?!"

"Yes!" Ultra Magnus stated. "This is the Elite Guard. If you pass, you will be expected to keep yourself combat ready at all times. That means free time usually means training! There's a reason you are issued so much Energon!" He paused a moment to let it sink in. "Anything else?" he asked, and got no reply. He then turned to Smokescreen, "Sergeant?!"

"Once I get inside your formation, you lose any advantage that formation gave you! You can scatter! But, I might be doing this to get you to scatter! You need to train your instincts to be ready, to decide, and act, at a moment's notice!"

* * *

The cube van pulled into the parking lot. The driver climbed out and opened up the back. By this time Jack, Arcee, and Sirenia were there. The driver paused for a moment, "Well, that makes this part easier." He pulled a motorcycle over. Arcee picked it up and moved it into the garage. Next the driver pushed a large tool box full of shop tools. Sirenia picked it up and moved into the garage. Next a shop vac, which Jack picked up and moved into the shop. Arcee stood by the truck, and the driver was standing by a pallet with Energon cubes. "So, what do you want to do this this? Should I bring the pallet down?"

"Jack?" Arcee asked. Sirenia showed up next, but stood back from the truck.

Jack stuck his head into the truck. "We can carry them by hand." he simply stated.

Sirenia placed her hand on his shoulder, "Excuse me?" she asked, and he stepped back. Arcee reached in to grab a pair of the cubes. Arcee pulled them out of the truck as Sirenia reached in. Jack stepped up, and the drive pushed one of the cubes towards him. Jack tested it before picking it up, and was surprised by how easily he picked it up. He balanced it and moved to the garage. This continued for another round, and then another. Next came the food staples, and equipment, until they were done with the delivery.

* * *

June came home as Jackw as putting away the shop tools. She paused as she looked at the giant vaccuum. "What's this?" June asked.

"Shop vac?" Jack asked.

"You act as if it's the most boring thing in the world." June said excitedly. "Do you know how easy I could clean the house with this? Can I get it up the stairs?"

"I... could carry it for you?" Jack asked, and June gave him a determined by indecisive look. "The house was just cleaned." she stated, "Maybe I should wait until my days off." she said to herself, both eager and disappointed at the same time. Jack simply did not know what to say to her. "So, how did the day go?"

"Sirenia is busy reading every motorcycle repair manual." Arcee snarked. "This internet thing is bad for her."

"We'll see how much she learns." Jack stated.

"There's also videos!" Sirenia shouted from the back of the house.

"And how are you doing?" June asked Arcee, and she looked like she did not understand the question. "Well, I guess you got to spend your day with Jack... Let me get cleaned up, and then it's Arcee's turn to cook." This caused Arcee to quickly and attentedly look at her. "That's what I thought."

Jack slapped her ass, causing Arcee to quickly turned to look at him. "And now you got grease on my ass."

"If only we had a cure for that." Jack said, and she looked at him without recognition for a moment,

"Oh, right, the shower."

* * *

June, dressed in a blue housewife dress with white collar and polkadots. She tied an apron, and looked up at Arcee, "What?" Arcee asked.

"I just realized you don't have aprons."

"Hm?" Arcee asked, "Is that needed?" She then looked distant for a moment before refocusing, "Even if it's not, it would be nice to have one. Getting one my size might be a bit difficult."

* * *

The four sat around the table. "Why do Human cooking tools have to be so small?" Arcee complained.

"Yes, why do they?" Sirenia chided, and Arcee glared at her. Sirenia just smiled. Arcee's frown softened.

"I think she's starting to figure me out." Arcee voiced.

"You don't hate the world, as you so often say." Sirenia stated, "You just want to be alone with Jack."

"You can't really complain about that." Arcee stated.

"I'm not." Sirenia said with a smile, "I am forever thankful that I get to be a part of it." Arcee glared at her, "I get to be inside the walls."

"I mean, what's wrong with walls?" Arcee asked, "I did my time. I've never been that social, and the only reason I was social at all is that when you are fighting, if you are not together, you are dead."

"While I have never been a warrior, I can agree that there is nothing wrong with being by yourself. Which is why this internet is so amazing, is you can be alone and with others at the same time."

"You..." Arcee said, "You are with us all the time."

"With you." Sirenia said, and looked from her to Jack. Arcee looked at Jack and then gave Sirenia a confused look, "Wherever you two are, you are together." Arcee still gave her a confused look.

"Your walls?" June asked.

Arcee looked about nervously, reaching her hand towards Jack. Jack grabbed her hand in his own. "Nothing wrong with..." Arcee voiced.

"No, there isn't." June said. "You absolutely adore my son, and would literally kill or die for him." June paused for a moment, "Since you..." she said, and stopped herself from finishing it, "Is there a single thing he's asked you that you've said no to?"

Arcee's eyes went blank as she thought it over, "I honestly can't think of anything."

"You're even trying to cook for him." June continued.

"Trying?" Sirenia snickered.

"Oh, like you did any better?"

"I can accept the limitation of my feeble flesh." Sirenia theatrically replied, causing Arcee to Tsk.

"There's..." she barely voiced, "There's nothing wrong with wanting to... care for my Husband."

"I would do the same for her," Jack stated, "if she needed food, or clothes, or anything, really."

"We do have clothes coming." Arcee stated. "So, you got that part, done."

"He really doesn't understand what it's like to a woman." June stated.

"Of course not?" Jack asked, "I've learned to appreciate them."

"I've lived for longer than the Human race has existed." Arcee stated, "And I spent most of it fighting. In all that time, there's only one thing I want to do."

"Be with you." Sirenia swooned.

Jack squeezed Arcee's hand.

* * *

Arcee tried her best to wash the dishes. She eventually found she could press the plate between her thumb and index finger, as delicately as she can. She then put the washcloth on her other index finger, and used it to rub. It took time, and a lot of concentration to not break it, but she could, wash, most of the plate.

* * *

Arcee walked out the doors into the back. She saw Jack sitting under the overhang, and sat down next to him. She slipped over to cuddle up with her. "I'm a failure as a wife." she pouted.

"You are the first Cybertronians to try to do the dishes." Jack said to her.

"Is that supposed to cheer me up?" she asked.

"You literally do everything else." Jack said to her.

"But a Human wife could do the dishes." she uttered, and he sat up. He looked up at her face, and she turned until their eyes met. He moved in to kiss her on the lips.

"You do more for me than anyone that could do the dishes." Jack replied. "You act like I didn't know this when I married you." Arcee Tsked. "Did you think I was surprised when I found out you were three times my size?" Arcee grumbled without saying anything. "Hm?"

"Of course not." she replied, "Of course you knew we might have troubles. Of course my size cause problems."

"And I can't even breathe on your planet." Jack stated, "And need a variety of food that is not shelf stable, and not found on anything Cybertronian. Do you regret marrying me?"

"My entire life is..." she said, and stopped, and sighed.

"I'm the luckiest man in at least two planets." Jack said brightly.

Arceed Tsked. "What about Caminus?"

"We'll have to see about Caminus." Jack chided.

"Well, if you do find someone better on Caminus, I'm not letting you go."

"Until death do you part." Jack stated. "Legally, you are mine."

"So is my spark." Arcee added.

"And I'm yours." Jack added.

"And Sirenia's yours." Arcee chided.

"She - is an employee." Jack stated.

"Oh, she is so much more." Arcee replied.

"Okay, yes..." Jack added.

* * *

"Do they not know we can hear them?" Sirenia asked June.

"When Jack brought home a leather-clad biker babe, I was not expecting them to cutely hold each other's hand and take turns saying I love you."

[walker33961]

_______________________________________________________________

Y/N "LAVENDER" RILEY - TF-141, LOS VAQUEROS

CARTEL PROTECTION

LAS ALMAS,MEXICO

30 OCT 2022 1000

________________________________________________________________________

- Laswell provided some information about Hassan being protected under the cartel information.. The Mexican forces confirmed he's moving something sizeable towards the US. They suspect that they might be the missile.. Not known to their number of how many it can be. Shepherd ordered to capture Hassan for interrogation. Sending Ghost, Lavender and Soap to link up with the Mexican Specials in country along with all the manpower they need. Laswell said that a war might be dangerous. So, the General tasked Phillip Graves and his shadow company.. Their rules of engagement can help them to cut some red tape and get the mission done.

.....

.....

*Ghost, Lavender & Soap arrived Las Almas, coming down from the airplane*

.....

......

......

Soap :

Alejandro...

Alejandro :

Sergeant MacTavish.

Soap :

Call me Soap.

*looks towards masked Lavender*

Alejandro :

Sergeant...

... Laswell said your "Lavender"

Lavender :

Yes, Colonel Vargas.

Alejandro :

Call me Alejandro, Hermana..

Honour to have most powerful sergeant after Soap with us.

Soap :

Well..Actually, I believe she prefers to be --

Ghost:

That'll do.

Lavender :

Save it for Later Soap...

Alejandro :

Since your name is Ghost..

Welcome to the "City of souls"

....

.....

*Lavender almost choked with the joke , Alejandro giving his serious smile and walking near to the car soap trying best to hide his laugh..Ghost ded silent*

....

....

Soap :

I've never been to Mexico ...

Alejandro :

This isn't México .

.. This is Las Almas.

Ghost :

Shepherd's contractors are inbound to reinforce.

.. They're bringing harware.

Lavender:

They'll need room.

Alejandro :

My base is your base.

Ghost :

Good.

.. Now where's Hassan?

Alejandro :

Cartel safe-house, ten clicks from here.

.... Get in.

*Alejandro orders his soldiers to start their vehicle and follow his one*

*Everyone got in the car*

*Alejandro introducing Rodolfo, who's sitting in the drivers seat*

Alejandro :

This is my second in command, Sergeant Major Rodolfo Parra.

Rodolfo :

I'm afraid of Ghosts...*Spanish*

*Lavender understood what Rodolfo meant but kept silent , She knows Spanish from her fellow sergeants and lieutenants*

Lavender :

Easy Brother *Spanish*

*Rodolfo looked back realising that the Brits sergeant girl knows Spanish*

Alejandro :

You know Spanish?

Lavender :

All goes to my Mexican fellow friends on the base .. Heh

*While going through the Las Almas streets*

*Soap noticing some armored threats, grabbing his sniper*

Soap :

White truck, four armed in the back...

Alejandro :

Hey - tranquilo

-- that's normal here.

.. Guns on the street is jurisiction of the police .

Ghost :

Where the police?

Alejandro :

Well, Las Almas has a very serious problem.

.. There are few to uphold the law.

And many of those who resist corruption...

Disappear.

Soap :

What about the military?

Alejandro :

Well, because we are well trained, soldiers are recruited by the Narcos..

Ghost :

Why not you?

Alejandro:

We grew up here.

They call us Los Vaqueros.. *Spanish*

... Cowboys

We love this place...

And we'll due fighting for it.

*Lavender noticing Kids buying balloons but the cartel is surrounded*

Lavender :

Kids, guns and balloons...

That's a new one

Alejandro :

Narcos use generosity to win over the people.

Soap :

Even the children ?

Rodolfo :

Especially the children.

*Ghost, Soap and Lavender notices dead bodies wrapped with Cartel cloths*

Soap :

What's on those sheets?

Alejandro :

Narcomantas

Rodolfo :

Cartel cloths..

Alejandro :

Messages from El Sin Nombre.

Warnings... Marking territory.

......

... Our streets are laced with death...

Ghost :

Who's El Sin Nombre?

Alejandro :

El Sin Nombre, The nameless.

The leader of , Las Almas cartel.

Soap :

Where can we find him?

Alejandro:

You can't ...

No one knows who he is..

But he's everywhere..

And this is a challenge..

..and los Vaqueros like challenges.

Rodolfo :

With your mask.. You'll fit in well Ghost.

Lavender :

*Cough*

Be easy on my brother Sergeant Major, *Spanish*

Jokes don't work over him.. *Spanish*

But Ja.....

*Ghost got right away that she was about to say something over Jade..poked her lightly with his elbow, Lavender winked at his brother, Soap wishing to say something like that over her , bcz she also doesn't like mask jokes*

- Alejandro sees an army checkpoint, Tells Rodolfo to turn right.. To go round.. Soap asks why change of route, he explains that they are some troops in the pocket of El Sin Nombre. As El Sin Nombre is everywhere...

Alejandro tells that the cartels are hiding Hassan in the Village across the river.

Hoping that he's still there...

- After reaching to the spot, Alejandro ordering his army to be in position.. Everyone getting in to their spots and, Alejandro said Hassan is protected in a white 2 storey building, back of town. Cartels got alert after they opened the gate to come up over a place..with bunch of civilians house which are now used by the cartel.. Shots got fired in both groups... Cartels were moving fast... There was a house, ordered Lavender to take the door, she fired a cartel member in front.. Some shot came from the side room, soap threw a bomb and the threat was clear..

*moving in forward while checking*

Soap :

What happened to the families here?

Alejandro :

The cartel brings violence, so they leave.

...

Get ready to move

*soap, who was about to open the door from inside , Alejandro stopped him*

Alejandro :

Stand by...

.. Victor - 2 , this is 1-1 . Deploy smoke.

We're moving external..

Victor 2-1 :

Copy.

Smoke out...

Soap :

Where's your family Alejandro?

Alejandro :

I keep that a secret mostly hermano... To protect them

But... My wife is on the lead.. Will introduce her to the team ,

She's one of the Los Vaqueros..

Lavender :

Would be a blessing to meet her.

*Alejandro smiles at her response.. Ghost talking to himself inside about his sis being so curious about family things..he understands the reason honestly... Soap blushing hard at her smile while asking Alejandro...but not visible due to the outer smoke coming inside a bit*

Ghost :

We have concealment.

Alejandro :

Let's move..

... On me soap..

...

This is where they're hiding Hassan.

Expect resistance..

.. All teams, Set containment. Prep for breach.. *Spanish*

Go..!... Go!..

- 4 of them secured a room.. Alejandro confirmed that Hassan was not there.Ghost sees Quds force flag and confirmed Alejandro's intel was solid. Rodolfo informed them that Armies were rolling in...

Alejandro :

Shit... *Spanish*

Lavender :

Who is it?

Alejandro :

The Army.

Lavender :

We got reinforcements..

Alejandro :

Negative.

*Alejandro trying to cover his men.. For protection"

Ghost :

What're we doin'?

Alejandro :

Covering my men..

Once they're clear...

We fall back..

Lavender :

You want us to engage with the Mexican Army Colonel ?!?

Alejandro :

No Hermana...

These troops are paid by the cartel.

.. Helping the cartel to protect Hassan..

*Lavender who was about to fire over one*

Alejandro :

Hold your fire sergeant...

We'll dig in until my men are clear.

Lavender :

Multiple vehicles from the left...

Ghost :

From the right too...

Troop transports. Light armor..

- Suddenly shots were firing as it was raining bullets...out of nowhere someone threw a smokebomb.. Everyone started coughing ..except Ghost & Lavender ..since they're always the masked..

It was a toxic bomb... Not that harmful , minor. .

Soap was coughing badly...

*Lavender hands him a smoke relief inhaler*

Lavender :

Push and breath...

*Soap inhaled the air from it and became all good*

Soap :

Thanks Bonnie..

*Lavender.. Addressing the whole moment in her heart... He called her Bonnie a little hope of him having feelings for her..lights up.. She's All shy but not speechless*

Lavender :

Let's get going Soap...

Next time I'm brining extra masks for protection from smokes & all ..

Alejandro :

Brother who? *Spanish*

Lavender :

Y/n "Lavender" Riley...

So you know now who's my elder brother Colonel... *Spanish*

Alejandro :

I like your style hermana...

My Mrs. Would be so happy to meet you all brave soldiers..

Let's get going....

- Everyone going with the lead way.. Came across some path walk mountains... One was down a bit... Alejandro told Lavender to jump... She jumped and landed fearlessly , they were talking while passing..

Rodriguez :

The cliffs are dangerous

But you're doing well sergeant..

Lavender :

It's easy for me to do the jump-run shit on the cliffs..

Alejandro :

Keep that courage in Sergeant...

Ghost :

You know your way?

Alejandro :

We used to cut school and play here.

Soap :

Until the cartels moved in....

Alejandro :

Exactly...

The narcos changed everything..

- Armies started shooting in their way, Rodriguez fell off with shot..

Lavender :

Rodriguez!!

Alejandro :

Rodriguez!..

*shoots the threat*

Snipers down!...

Ghost :

Bloody good shot, mate!

...

Soap :

Armies still trailing us.

Alejandro :

We'll gain some ground-!

Ghost :

.. Move , sergeants !!

- Three came to a dead end..

Ghost :

You led us to a dead end, mate!

Alejandro :

We jump from here!

*Alejandro jumps*

Alejandro :

Don't lose your weapon !

...

...

...

*splash*

...

...

Ghost :

Sis your next!

Lavender :

Hmmph...

*Lavender jumps*

Ghost :

Soap, we stay here...

we're dead !

Now jump !

*Soap jumps*

*Ghost Jumps*

Alejandro :

You good hermanos ?

Ghost :

Affirm.

Alejandro :

Soap?

Soap :

Breathing..

Alejandro :

Where's Lavender?

Ghost :

Lavender, do you copy?

Lavender :

Moving down river to the bridge...

Using a rock for cover till you guys come over.

Soap :

Scared the shit out of me *Scottish*

*Alejandro & Ghost understood what he said*

Lavender :

Victors and Bravos .. Be careful

Threats are nearby the sight and in good count..

Keep your weapons all ready to fire!

Alejandro :

Solid copy.

..

All stations, this is Victor 0-1 - How copy?

Graves ;

--dow - 1 , Do you --?

-ay again

--o you re -- ?

Soap :

Radio's picking up somethin'

Lavender :

Might be the shadows..

The accent..

Ghost :

Sounds American..

- Alejandro signals the armies arrival, Ghost contacted front, soap took the West and Lavender took near the brige, all using rocks for cover... Graves came along in the comms.

Graves :

This is Shadow - 1 !

Engaging the bridge North of your position.

Danger close!

Alejandro :

Who the hell is that?

Lavender :

Commander Graves,

Shadow Company..

They're with us.

Ghost :

Shadow - 1

Bravo 0-7 ! Good shots!

Fire for effect!

Graves :

All stations, no enemy movement detected.

You're clear.

.. It's good to see you all in 1 piece..

Ghost :

Likewise, mate!

Alejandro :

This way!

Ghost :

We've located a vehicle for exfil.

Graves :

Roger that.

Be advised, we got a possible hit on Hassan, two clicks North from your position.

Alejandro :

That's cartel land.

They have compound there.

Lavender :

Load in!

Soap :

Let's roll!

Lavender :

I'll drive.

Graves :

You guys good to roll up Hassan with some fire from the sky?

Soap :

Let's wrap this fucker up Graves!

Graves :

Copy.

We are pushing to the target di-rectly,

Shadow - 1 , out.

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY UNIVERSITY!

Classes, Lessons & Other Tutorials

The Lucy character was one of the most inquisitve characters on television. A basic education did not prevent Lucy from furthering her education.  Here are some lessons learned by Lucy!

HIGH SCHOOL

“Lucy Gets Her Diploma” (1967) ~ When Lucy Carmichael finds out the bank has a new policy of only employing high school graduates, she must go back to school to get her diploma in order to keep her job. 

Lucy takes the usual classes - with a fair amount of physical comedy for extra credit. Her teachers include Dave Willock (Math), Donald Randolph (History), Olive Dunbar (Biology), and Barbara Babcock (English). The principal of Wilshire High School is played by George E. Carey. 

MATH

“Liz Goes To Night School” (1950) ~ Liz's arithmetic skills are so bad, George sends her to night school where she somehow winds up in a math contest.  

CHEMISTRY 

“Lucy and Viv Take Up Chemistry” (1963) ~ Viv regrets letting Lucy talk her into joining her for a night school chemistry class. Lucy gets carried away trying to invent a youth serum and develops a huge ego between explosions. The frustrated biology teacher is played by Lou Krugman. 

To teach her a lesson, Viv and the professor make her drink her own concoction. She’s horrified by the results of her youth formula.

AUTO MECHANICS

“The Not-So-Popular Mechanics” (1973) ~ Lucy Carter and Mary Jane take an adult school course in auto mechanics so they can change the oil on Harry’s vintage Rolls Royce. Their teacher is played by Robert Rockwell, who played biology teacher Mr. Boynton on “Our Miss Brooks” opposite Gale Gordon and Mary Jane Croft.

MUSIC

“Piano and Violin Lessons” (1949) ~ Liz takes up the piano to win a radio talent contest. To get even, George starts learning the violin. Who will win?

“The Benefit” (1952) ~ When Lucy wants to get into Ricky’s new act, she’s determined to improve her singing.  

Lucy Carmichael was given singing lessons by Dr. Gitterman (Hans Conried) in “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (1963). She used those same techniques on Agnes Schmidlap (aka Ethel Merman) when “Lucy Teaches Ethel Merman to Sing” (1964). 

DANCE

“Lucy Helps Ken Berry (1968) ~ Ken Jones (Berry) teaches a course of tap and soft shoe for $25. Lucy signs up and recruits a dozen truck drivers to  participate - not your typical dance students. 

“Dance Lessons” (1950) ~ After a disastrous experience at a club dance, Liz and Iris send their husbands to Professor Crawford’s School of the Dance. Instead of being greeted by  a befuddled old Professor, they meet his daughter, a breathless sexpot who immediately agrees to be their instructress.

RUDOLPH: “I’ve seen those girls who teach at Arthur Murray’s.”

“Liz Teaches Samba” (1950) ~ George talks Liz into teaching Wally, the son of the bank’s newest director, how to dance the Samba, and Wally gets a crush on Liz. The radio show served as the basis for...

“The Young Fans” (1952) ~ Lucy gives private dance lessons to Arthur Morton (Richard Crenna) so he can better woo Peggy Dawson, but he turns out to be more attracted to Lucy.

“The Ballet” (1952) ~ Thinking Ricky’s new act requires ballet, Lucy attends a class led by Madame LeMonde (Mary Wickes). “Abbas!  Abbas!”

“The Adagio” (1952) ~ Fred teaches Lucy to do the Apache dance for Ricky’s new act. When Fred’s lessons prove unhelpful, Ethel suggests Jean Valjean Raymond (Shepard Menken), a Frenchman who is more interested in amour than apache. This episode was partly inspired by....

FRENCH

“The French Lessons” (1949) ~ Liz and Iris are humiliated when they can't read the menu at a French restaurant, so they decide to take French lessons. The lessons lead to the prospect of a duel between her favorite husband George and her amorous French teacher, Jacques Duval (Rolfe Sedan). The radio episode inspired...

“The French Revue” (1953) ~ A trip to a French restaurant makes Lucy think she should take French lessons from the waiter Robert DuBois (Alberto Morin) so she can take part in Ricky’s new show. Lucy later taught herself French when preparing for her trip to Europe. 

DUBOIS: “In French, everything it is either masculine or feminine. You Americans don’t have that.”  LUCY: “You haven’t been in this country very long, have you?”

ENGLISH

“The English Tutor” (1952) ~ So that her baby will be surrounded by proper elocation, diction and grammar, Lucy recruits tutor Percy Livermore (Hans Conried) to teach them how to speak properly - for free. Naturally, he has ulterior motives.

LIVERMORE (to Ricky): In lieu of the remuneration for my tutelage, I am to be permitted to introduce my talents into your nocturnal bistro.

ART

“Lucy Goes To Art Class” (1964) ~ To impress handsome bachelor John Brooks (Robert Alda) Lucy and Viv join him at an art class. The art teacher is played by John Carridine. 

BROOKS: “I do believe that all of us have some sort of creativity bottled up inside of us.” LUCY: “I think this class might be just the thing to pop my cork!”

“Lucy and Uncle Harry’s Pot” (1973) ~ When Lucy breaks a vase which has great sentimental value to Harry, she goes to a ceramics class to make him a new one – with dubious results!  Her teacher is played by Roger Twedt, an actual high school art teacher from Palm Springs. 

ACTING

“Lucy Meets Mickey Rooney” (1966) ~ Mickey Rooney takes out a loan from Mr. Mooney's bank to open an acting school. Lucy and Mooney each wangle free acting lessons.

EQUESTRIANISM

“Horseback Riding” (1949) ~ George’s female co-chair for his horseback riding club’s upcoming breakfast ride has Liz so jealous that she’s determined to overcome her fear of horses and learn to ride herself.

COLLEGE 

Fictional Pottawatomie College in New Mexico is the setting of Too Many Girls (1939), the film in which Lucille Ball first met Desi Arnaz, although their characters never meet on screen. 

“Lucy’s College Reunion” (1963) ~ Lucy Carmichael (nee Taylor) goes back to her alumnus, Milroy College. 

“Lucy and the Professor” (1973) ~ Lucy hears her daughter is dating an older man, so she goes to Kim’s college to see for herself. Unfortunately, Lucy mistakes an elderly professor (Murray Matheson) for the younger one (John Davidson) that Kim is actually dating!

PROFESSOR KLEINDORF: ”Thanks Professor Dietrich. You’re really groovy.” PROFESSOR DIETRICH: (points to his frown lines) “These aren’t grooves. They’re wrinkles.”

At Desilu Studios, Lucy opened the Desilu Playhouse, recruiting promising young performers to practice their craft under her tutelage, much in the same way Lela Rogers taught her at RKO. Some of the more famous graduates were Robert Osborne, Carole Cook, and Majel Barrett. 

In the early 1980s Lucille Ball become Professor Ball, lecturing on comedy at UCLA.  

Grade school students listen to Lucie Arnaz talk during Lucy Lessons, educational modules built around episodes of “I Love Lucy.”