#Peter Lukas and Co

[the-magpie-archives]

Several times recently I've found myself making tea whilst listening to The Magnus Archives, and as a result I've developed a silly little headcanon...

I'm not sure if it's a nationwide thing, but certainly throughout my life I've experienced the weird stigma of having sugar in your tea. It's not direct or aggressive, but there always seems to be this vague notion that sweetening your tea makes you less strong, less manly. I rarely see men ask for sugar, and often observe an obvious proudness in teenage boys when they say "no sugar, thanks."

Picture Jonathan Sims, newly appointed archivist, worried he's not good enough, placed haphazardly in power of people who were very recently peers, and desperately trying to prove he's the right man for the job. Everything seems to be falling apart a bit, and he's not at all sure his assistants have any faith in him; he had to ask for a tape recorder because he couldn't get his laptop to work properly - that's embarrassing.

Now imagine Martin: office sweetheart, gets along with pretty much anyone, just moved to a new position working with two close friends, and the attractive guy from research is his boss (he's a bit rude and stuck up, but it's probably just the stress, right?). He's pretty comfortable! Aside from the occasional snide remark from Jon it is a good job, which is especially pleasing considering how he got to work at the institute in the first place.

Two opposing forces, as we all well know! But what's better at building bridges than a nice cup of tea? Martin makes a lot of tea, but I like to think he memorises how everyone takes theirs. Regardless, he has to ask at least once.

And so, kind, sweet, gentle Martin, his offer of a cup of tea promptly accepted, would have the misfortune of saying, "do you take that with sugar?" to an embarrassed, flustered Jon, who's trying desperately not to confront any romantic feelings he might have hidden away. The ensuing scoff and slightly too enthusiastic 'No! Thank you.' would be enough to remember that preference for a while.

As times go on, hundreds of cups of tea later, things get less tense between the pair, and Martin never has to revisit the question; but late one night, shortly before Jon is to leave for Great Yarmouth and Martin is to risk it all to take down Elias, Jon places a hand gently on Martin's shoulder and asks "Could I have a cup of tea?". Of course Martin says yes, it's the least he could do, but as he turns to go and make it, Jon calls out again. "With sugar, please."

Just a tiny vulnerability, but enough. By that point most of Jon's facade has been torn roughly away many times, but letting go of small points of pride often means more than non-deliberate actions. Having enough bravery to admit to liking something soft and sweet is harder than you'd think.

Maybe during those six months after, Martin would watch the sugar dissolve into his own tea with a painful melancholy, the sweetness a bitter memory.

#This is so much soppier than the stuff I usually write‚ but the mind wants what the mind wants 😌 #I was planning to write this as fluff only but that's not where it wanted to go #But God. It's literally just like Peter Lukas said‚ cos they love eachother so much and so intensely #But how much do they ever really know about eachother? It shows how much they truly love eachother who who they are #But it also makes it so much more tragic that they loved eachother so much yet they never got to know everything about the other... #Anyways that's enough of that! #tma #the magnus archives #the magnus institute #jonathan sims #martin blackwood #Jmart #Jonmartin #teaholding #tma headcanons #Fun fact I actually wrote this instead of writing case studies for real life because the only academia in my brain is tma... #Also if you read this far put in the tags how many sugars you take in your tea... I'm curious... #I'm a monster so I take 3 or just pour roughly that amount into the cup :/

[staysaneathome]

Other TMA Supermarket Headcanons (why is this my life)

Tim Stoker was a Lidl man

Sasha James shopped at Morrisons, like Michael Shelley and Gertrude Robinson

Gerry Keay got his hair dye from Tesco’s

Georgie Barker used to shop at Lidl but switched to Waitrose to splurge on cat food for the Admiral

Oliver Banks eats ready meals from the Co-Op

Not!Sasha got shortbread from Marks & Spencer’s

Annabelle Cane is also a patron of Waitrose and the Web got her Waitrose Card

Elias Bouchard is pretentious enough to get all his food from Fortnum and Mason’s

Peter Lukas has never been inside a supermarket in his life and he isn’t about to start now

#the magnus archives #tma #supermarkets #why did i write this #I still don’t know #tim stoker #sasha james #michael shelley #gertrude robinson #georgie barker #oliver banks #not sasha #annabelle cane #elias bouchard #peter lukas #this will make no sense to anyone outside the UK

[nysocboy]

Gemstones Episode 3.3: Baby Billy sings forever, Kelvin can't say the Word, BJ poses nude, and I'm depressed

The Greek Chorus: The white-haired, grinning Baby Billy, dressed like a clam, sings"There will Come a Payday," while walking through the Gemstone resort, Zion's Landing.  He sings incessantly in a swimming pool area with absolutely no beefcake, while viewers grate their teeth and snarl "Get the f*k on with it."  Yes, we know he's a Greek Chorus, singing about the "payday" coming to the Gemstones.  We don't need ten minutes of it, in a show that is already squeezing in too many plotlines.

Finally, long after we put on the mute,  Baby Billy returns to his penthouse, where his very pregnant wife Tiffany and their three-year old son Lionel are watching the old game show Family Feud.  The Baby Billy/Tiffany plotline this season will be about trying to get the Gemstones to invest in a Christian-based Family Feud show, Baby Billy's Bible Bonkers.

Timeline problem: Tiffany had her first baby in the last episode of Season 2.  Now he's at least three years old.  But three years have not passed in the Gemstone universe.  

"We don't like you":  The Montgomery Boys (Robert Oberst, top photo, Lukas Haas) in bathrobes in Eli's house, eating breakfast, discussing Peter's militia with Eli, May-May, and the siblings:

 Peter thinks that his sons and Gemstones tipped off the feds, so now he's gunning for all of them.  May-May wants the boys to come home with her, but they refuse: "We'd rather be homeless bums living under a bridge."  Or living in a mansion with a staff of 17?  

Afterwards, the siblings go down to the Aimee-Leigh memorial, discuss how much they hate their cousins, and give them the finger as they peer through an upstairs window.  Eli insists that they have a Cousin's Night and try to get along.  

The Redeemer: Amber brings a copy of her marital-problem System to BJ, who claims to be unaware of any problems between him and Judy.  Does everyone in the church know that Judy has been withholding sex? Or did Jesse tell Amber about the affair?

A Complete Lack of Knowing How to Fit into the World: Kelvin and the teens are making anti-smut posters in the parking garage outside the Salvation Center Stage, for some reason, when Keefe drives up in the Smut Busters van.  Kelvin flitters over, laying on the femme stereotypes, and says "Hey, Bud."  Keefe calls him "Bro."  This must be facade language: they are pretending to be buddies and co-pastors in front of the kids.

Keefe drove to an adult store and bought out their inventory of sex toys. "You've been having all the fun lately!" Kelvin exclaims, wishing that he could have been there to help pick out the toys  He does his usual titty-tweak display of affection, then reveals that his Daddy is forcing him to go to Cousins' Night with the Montgomerys.  They have "a complete lack of knowing how to fit into the world around them."  

Sounds exactly like Keefe!  He tries to guilt his way into an invitation. 

 

Wouldn't he be invited automatically?  He was admitted to the family as Kelvin's partner back in Season 2.  But maybe, to stay closeted, Kelvin only brings him to events where a lot of people are invited, like the dinners at Jason's Steakhouse and the Zion's Landing ground-breaking.  This is a family-only event, and not even the entire family.  It's limited to Montgomery cousins by blood or marriage.  If Kelvin brings Keefe, no one will be able to pretend that they are just coworkers or platonic pals. 

Keefe's bribes are: his special sausage dip and his "flames and swords."  The dip is served with crackers on a phallic dish.  Everything these guys do involves dicks. It is amazing that some fans, actually quite a lot, were still arguing that Kelvin and Keefe were straight after this episode. 

Let's look more closely at the "flames and swords."   Kelvin knows exactly what Keefe is talking about: he doesn't have to say "Remember that fire dance I performed that one time?"  He must perform it regularly, but you wouldn't do it for just one person, and the family has never seen it.  We can conclude that the guys are involved in the local gay community, attending gay events with sausage dip and Keefe's "flames and swords" 

The Best Dude Friend of a Cousin Kerfluffle:  Kelvin is happy to invite him, but that's not enough. Keefe pushes him to name their relationship: "I ain't a cousin, though."  An odd way to put it; he means "not the Montgomerys' cousin."

"I know you're not a cousin," Kelvin responds.  "You're my b...best...dude...friend of a cousin."  He was starting to say "boyfriend," but couldn't say it, then tried "best friend," but couldn't say that either, since it is obviously not true. Why can't he say "boyfriend"?  Because they are in public with the teens nearby, or because he won't admit it to himself?

Notice the profound sadness in Kelvin's eyes.  He is in pain.  He is desperate to Say the Word, but he can't.  Why not?  

I see someone who has been closeted for so long that he must remain closeted, even in private.  Despite their forays into the local gay community, despire their wedding rings, despire sharing a house, a bed, and some "good buddy" sexual activity, he cannot admit that Keefe is his lover. Remember Leonard Bernstein's Mass:

What  I say, I don't feel.  

What I feel, I can't show.  

What I show, isn't real.

What is real?  Oh Lord, I don't know.

BJ and Judy are having problems of their own:   BJ is watching the instructional video for Amber's System. Now we see how it works: when you are tempted to say or do something wrong, you drop a blue or pink gemstone into the jar, and your spouse doesn't get hurt. But they'll know how often you've been thinking about it.   Judy enters and becomes irate over the implication that they need marital counseling.

We cut to the women's group, where Amber is quoting one of the main same-sex couples in the Bible, Ruth and Naomi: "Where you go, I will go. and where you stay,  I will stay.  You're people will be my people, and your God my God."  Then she asks the women to think about "the commitment we have made to the people we love," implicitly validating same-sex marriages.   

Judy bursts in and throws the System carton at her.  But they need the System, Amber insists, because "the decline is real," people aren't showing up, and the scandal of marital infidelity could destroy the church altogether. What about the scandal of a gay youth minister living openly with his boyfriend in the Gemstone compound?

Next, the siblings, in their throne room...um, executive board room, reject Baby Billy's pitch for the Bible Bonkers game show.  

Timeline Problem: In Episode 3.2, the board room is still under construction, with Percy making rough sketches, on the same day the Montgomerys flee the militia.  Cousins' Night has to be just a few days later.  Percy works very fast!

The Night, and a lot of vulnerability, next.

The full review, with nude photos and explicit sexual discussions, is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

#the righteous gemstones #kelvin gemstone #keefe chambers #Adam Devine #Robert Oberst #Tony Cavalero #Episode review

[john-bracket]

Significant Jother Prelims!

The prelims for Jacket 4 will come in two waves after the winner’s bonus poll ends on Sunday, so get your votes in there.

First, there will be the prelims to decide between love interests for Johns/Jacks/Variants who had multiple submitted. There are eight of those matches, and they will be released throughout the day on Monday, July 10.

Then, there will be the prelims to decide which single nomination significant jothers will make the bracket. If a nomination was submitted multiple times as the only love interest, they are already in. There are 11 polls of four significant jothers, and the winner of each will make the bracket. Prelims were seeded by submission order, and those polls will be released throughout the day on Wednesday, July 12.

Match-ups below the cut!

Monday Match-ups: Who shall win the jand?

Prelim #1: Martin Blackwood (11) vs Georgie Barker (1) for Jonathan “Jon” Sims (The Magnus Archives)

Prelim #2: Jason Mendoza (5) vs Derek (1) for Janet (The Good Place)

Prelim #3: Mercymorn (2) vs Alecto (1) vs Augustine (1) vs Mercymorn + Augustine (0 but throuple rights) for John Gaius (The Locked Tomb)

Prelim #4: Zatanna Zatara (2) vs King Shark (2) for John Constantine (DC)

Prelim #5: Nisha Kadam (2) vs Moxxi (1) for Handsome Jack (Borderlands)

Prelim #6: Brad Majors (2) vs Frank-N-Furter (1) for Janet Weiss (Rocky Horror Picture Show)

Prelim #7: Shayera Hol (1) vs Mari McCabe (1) for John Stewart (DC)

Prelim #8: Rafael Solano (1) vs Michael Cordero (1) for Jane Villanueva (Jane the Virgin)

Wednesday Match-ups: I don’t have a funny name

Prelim A: Phryne Fisher for Jack Robinson (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) vs Kitty for Johnny Thirteen (Danny Phantom) vs Marguerite Baker for Jack Baker (Resident Evil) vs James “Jamey” Emerson Fletcher for Mary “Jacky” “Bloody Jack” Faber (Bloody Jack)

Prelim B: Naomi Herne for Evan Lukas (The Magnus Archives) vs Pete Tyler for Jackie Tyler (Doctor Who) vs Agnes Montague for Jack Barnabas (The Magnus Archives) vs Eric Bittle for Jack Zimmermann (Check, Please!)

Prelim C: Anna Bates for John Bates (Downton Abbey) vs Rose DeWitt for Jack Dawson (Titanic) vs Wendy Torrance for Jack Torrance (The Shining) vs Samatha Carter for Jack O’Neill (Stargate SG-1)

Prelim D: Joan of Arc for JFK (Clone High) vs JFK for Joan of Arc (Clone High) vs Elvira for Don Juan (Moliere) vs Pocahontas for John Smith (Pocahontas)

Prelim E: Penta Roujeat for Jack Wright (Namesake) vs Jethro Bodine for Jane Hathaway (Beverly Hillbillies) vs George Jetson for Jane Jetson (The Jetsons) vs Peter Parker for Mary-Jane Watson Parker (Marvel)

Prelim F: Thor for Jane Foster (Marvel) vs David Read for Jane Read (Arthur) vs Marla Singer for Jack/The Narrator (Fight Club) vs Sophie Aubrey for Jack Aubrey (Master and Commander)

Prelim G: Jay Nakamura for Jon Kent (DC) vs Satinder Hall for Ivo Keys (Shaderunners) vs Edward Rochester for Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre) vs Co Bao for John Rambo (Rambo)

Prelim H: Rosemary for Jack/Raider (Metal Gear Solid) vs Vriska Sekret for John Egbert (Homestuck) vs Maddie Fenton for Jack Fenton (Danny Phantom) vs Minnina for Jonathan Ratker (Dracula Starring Mickey Mouse)

Prelim I: Clary Fairchild for Jonathan Christopher “Jace” Herondale (The Mortal Instruments) vs Marisol Garza for Jonathan “Jon” Cartwright (The Shadowhunter Chronicles) vs Jo Lupo for Zane Donovan (Eureka) vs Robert Martin for Janet van de Graff (The Drowsy Chaperone)

Prelim J: Rebecca St. Claire for Jack Secord (Warehouse 13) vs David for Giovanni (Giovanni’s Room) vs Lucy Moderatz for Jack Pullman (While You Were Sleeping) vs Petra Solano for Jane “JR” Ramos (Jane the Virgin)

Prelim K: Scott Summers for Jean Gray (Marvel) vs Hessa for John the Baptist (The Wife of John the Baptist) vs Helen Wick for John Wick (John Wick) vs Patrick Bateman for Jean (American Psycho: The Musical)

#yeehaw #proper tags what are those #they’ll be on the individual polls #but there are over fifty here so #also let me know if I messed up anything #so I can correct it before I make the polls #don’t ask how long this took

[iforimaginary]

Bringing you a small Valentine’s Day treat in collaboration w/ @skaepegoat!!

It’s honestly been a good while since I indulged in some angsty Lonely Eyes content— shall you find yourself interested in the description below, feel free to check out the work on AO3 here!

„ As I write to you now, I realise it might do you well to stay away at sea; relish in the hues of my irises all you can before you port in England. I fear the passing of Wright is not the only thing you’ll have to mourn upon your arrival. “

Or

A series of telegrams exchanged between Peter Lukas and the man at present known as Elias Bouchard detailing the unfortunate incident accompanying the passing of James Wright.

I recon we shall publish more letter-based fics in the near future; its a handy and painless way of co-creating, I must say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#the magnus archives #magnus pod #peter lukas #elias bouchard #james wright #jonah magnus #lonely eyes #letters #letter fic #collaboration #fic promo #writers of tumblr #writers of ao3 #never forget to stroke your writers egos

[ao3feed-jonmartin]

A Study In Professionalism

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/agUZsR5 by mediocre_everything Man Sends Text To Wrong Group Chat, Accidentally Stops Apocalypse Or, When a series of unfortunate texting errors combined with prying co-workers tears his reputation as a stone-cold professional to shreds, Jon says 'fuck it' and tries his hand at having friends, and, just maybe, saves the world a little in the process...also there are The Horrors. But mostly friends. OR, Another (mostly) chat fic, in which I stay as close to canon as possible while making everything a little less doomed. Words: 657, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: The Magnus Archives (Podcast) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M Characters: Sasha James, Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Martin Blackwood, Tim Stoker (The Magnus Archives), Alice "Daisy" Tonner, Basira Hussain, Elias Bouchard | Jonah Magnus, Peter Lukas, Jane Prentiss, Michael "Mike" Crew, Jurgen Leitner Relationships: Martin Blackwood/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Martin Blackwood & Sasha James & Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist & Tim Stoker, Basira Hussain/Alice "Daisy" Tonner, Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist & Alice "Daisy" Tonner, Georgie Barker/Melanie King, Georgie Barker & Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist Additional Tags: Fix-It of Sorts, mostly unrelated to my other fix it series, Canon-Typical Worms (The Magnus Archives), Canon typical hurt, canon atypical comfort, i am going to fix it but it will hurt, Not Really Character Death, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, canon typical worms, Hurt Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Asexual Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Nonbinary Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Trans Sasha James, Protective Tim Stoker (The Magnus Archives), Tim is going to go through it, We are all Irrelevant., Georgie Barker & Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist Friendship, The Mechanisms Were Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist's College | University Band, but tbh i will be taking liberties in that sense. for plot., i'll add more tags later im sleepy, author is losing confidence in their ability to be funny, author is losing confidence in their ability to write in character texts, Sasha James Lives, Tim Stoker Lives (The Magnus Archives), Bisexual Tim Stoker (The Magnus Archives) read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/agUZsR5

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #tma #jonmartin #jmart #jonathan sims #martin blackwood #jonmartin fanfic

[maddies-chronicles]

have another old draft i never posted lmao

so in my crossover dr my early life is going to consist of me growing up with my father (valentine morgenstern) and being raised in his weird blood purist cult. i'm in his little freaky group (actually we're on the run because the clave wants to find and prosecute him) until i'm about twelve, when either the mundane police catch up with him for murdering a bunch of mundanes, or the shadowhunters catch up with him for being valentine morgenstern.

quite honestly i don't remember a lot of the mortal instruments and i can't be arsed to read it because clary's my sister and i don't want to read about her love life (and i definitely don't want to read the smut scene y'all i can't-) but i do have the shadowhunter's codex and i've read some of the other books more recently, so most of my dr will be based on either what i remember from the series' or what i find on like... wikipedia.

so anyways he raises me in like niagara falls or smth because we were chilling running from the law, and he was close mundane business partners with tony stark, norman osborn, and bruce wayne, because rich people are funny like that. anyways, i usually just sit in tony's lab in utter silence until ben parker (who works for tony stark in my dr) takes pity on me, the like, seven year old, sitting in utter silence, and brings in his nephew, peter parker, who i then befriend. peter then brings in his friends, ned leeds, harry osborn, and gwen stacy, and that's how i meet them. so basically, gwen, harry, peter, ned, and i are childhood friends kinda. eventually my dad decides these mundane kids are a bad influence on me and starts leaving me at home instead. i'll reconnect with them later.

when my father gets caught/i get taken away, i move to paris and meet my new family, but i also start going to french school. when i first arrive, my french is abysmal (much like my OR self ). the first person to find and help me learn french is mika couffaine (younger brother of luka and juleka couffaine) who is fully bilingual and speaks both english and french completely fluently and without an accent. juleka and luka are also fully bilingual, but speak with a slight french accent in english. anyways, mika quickly becomes my best friend.

i can never remember what i've already talked about on here, but my other parisian friends are abby, julian (adrien's brother), hana (kagami's sister), manon, chris, etta, ella, and your usual alya, nino, adrien, juleka, luka, etc. mostly i hang out with the people my age though (see: mika to ella), because they're the ones in my classes. chris, manon, ella, and etta have all been aged up so that they're not really that much younger than marinette and co. we're all only about two or three years younger.

#shifting #shifting realities #shifting antis dni #shifting community #reality shift #shift #desired reality #shifters #reality shifting #shifting script #shifting scenarios #scripting #scripts #shifting to toh #shifting to miraculous

[sam-grey]

I’m getting through my second listen of TMA, and just finished episode 100; did Peter Lukas send that man into the Lonely? I didn’t notice that my first time through, but Peter definitely said “… I’m sure you need some time to get used to your new situation. Good luck Brian.”

Was the static Brian being sent into the Lonely? Cos I’m fairly certain that we never hear from these people again, and the episode ends immediately afterwards, Melanie doesn’t come back in.

Damn bro. Peter asked if he worked there and when he confirmed he didn’t and that Elias wouldn’t care, he really said “lol bitch you don’t matter, mine now.”

#tma #peter lukas #the magnus archives #sam speaks #idk why but I really like peter #as a character. at least #he’s so blunt #mag 100

[myfavoritepeterotoole]

Peter O'Toole and Richard Brooks on the set of Lord Jim 12 April, 1964

Lord Jim (1965) directed by Richard Brooks

Peter O'Toole as Lord Jim

* description * Director Richard Brooks takes Peter O'Toole through rehearsal in front of Buddhist statue... While on location for LORD JIM in Cambodia. LORD JIM, based on Joseph Conrad's classic story of high adventure, is being filmed by writer-director Richard Brooks for worldwide release by Columbia Pictures. Starring Peter O'Toole, James Mason, Curd Jürgens, Jack Hawkins, Eli Wallach, Paul Lukas, Akim Tamiroff and Daliah Lavi as THE GIRL, it is in Super Panavision 70 and Technicolor and is a Columbia-Keep Film co-production. Location shooting takes place in Cambodia, with interiors to be completed at Shepperton Studios, England.

#peter o'toole #richard brooks #lord jim #on the set of lord jim #on the set of #cambodia #1964 #my collection #retake

[thetruecthulhu9]

Did Peter lukas die or did he just move deeper into the lonely like he did the first time? Cos Jon didn’t have murder vision just yet

#tma #the magnus archives #peter lukas #the lonely #jonathan sims #jon sims

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 4.16

Beer Birthdays

Emil Schandein (1840)

Mathias Leinenkugel (1866)

William H. Biner (1889)

Alan Eames (1947)

Don Scheidt (1956)

Five Favorite Birthdays

Kingsley Amis; English writer (1922)

Aristotle; philosopher (384 B.C.E.)

Ford Maddox Brown; artist (1821)

Henry Mancini; composer (1924)

Garth Williams; illustrator (1912)

Famous Birthdays

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; L.A. Lakers basketball player (1947)

Edie Adams; actor (1927)

Polly Adler; madam (1899)

Ellen Barkin; actor (1954)

Bill Belichick; football coach (1952)

Joseph Black; Scottish chemist (1728)

Bruce Bochy; San Francisco Giants Mgr (1955)

Charlie Chaplin; actor, comedian (1889)

Jon Cryer; actor (1965)

Merce Cunningham; dancer, choreographer (1919)

Jose de Diego; Puerto Rican political leader (1866)

Anatole France; French writer (1844)

Peter Garrett; Australian pop singer, politician (1953)

Bennie Green; jazz trombonist (1923)

Lukas Haas; actor (1976)

Wendell Johnson; speech therapist (1906)

Dick "Night Train" Lane; Chicago Cardinals/Detroit Lions CB (1928)

Martin Lawrence; comedian, actor (1965)

Herbie Mann; jazz flautist (1930)

"Pigmeat" Markham; comedian (1906)

Spike Milligan; comedian (1918)

John Millington Synge; Irish writer (1871)

Barry Nelson; actor (1917)

Ike Pappas; television journalist (1933)

"Lonesome" Dave Peverett; English bassist (1943)

Shu Qi; Chinese actor (a.k.a. Hsu Chi; 1976)

Gerry Rafferty; rock singer (1947)

Selena [Quintanilla Perez]; pop singer (1971)

Hans Sloane; naturalist, collector, British Museum co-founder (1660)

Bill Spooner; rock musician (1949)

Dusty Springfield; pop singer (1939)

Peter Ustinov; actor (1921)

Bobby Vinton; singer (1935)

Wilbur Wright; inventor, 3rd successful airplane flight (1867)

#Birthdays

[fondsinformation]

Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung - kann sein, muss aber nicht!

Einen rechtlichen Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung gibt es nur in wenigen Fällen. Doch hier finden Sie hier gleich noch ein paar Tipps, wie Sie Ihre Chancen auf eine Abfindung erhöhen können. Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung - kann sein, muss aber nicht! Einen rechtlichen Anspruch auf Abfindung gibt es im bundesdeutschen Recht nur in wenigen Fällen. Meist ist eine Abfindung Verhandlungssache. Auch wenn Sie dabei nicht so erfolgreich sein sollten wie die "ehrenwerten Eliten", geben ihnen die nachfolgenden Beispiele vielleicht ein paar Anregungen: - Ehemaliger DWS-Chef Asoka Wöhrmann erhält trotz Ermittlungen gegen DWS-Mitarbeiter wegen des Verdachts auf Kapitalmarktbetrug eine Abfindung 8,15 Millionen Euro (msn.com, 17.03.2023) - SAP-Finanzchef Luka Mucic erhält 9,6 Millionen Euro Abfindung (businessinsider.de, 03.03.2023) - Für die Zeit vom 1. Januar 2021 an erhält Martin Zielke eine Abfindung in Höhe von 3.348.480 Euro brutto. (faz.net, 24.03.2021) - Die ehemalige Co-CEO Jennifer Morgan erhält eine Abfindung in Höhe von 15 Millionen Euro. Insgesamt Zahlt SAP für Morgan, die Vorstände Michael Kleinemeier und Stefan Ries mehr als 23 Millionen Euro an Abfindungen. (businessinsider.de, 05.03.2021) - Sechs Millionen Euro Abfindung soll Guido Kerkhoff für nur ein Jahr als Vorstandsvorsitzender von Thyssen-Krupp erhalten, obwohl der Ruhrkonzern angeblich kein Geld hat. (handelsblatt.de 01.10.2020) - Matthias Müller (seit September 2015 VW-Vorstandschef) kann 2018 mit einer Abfindung von rund 20 Millionen Euro oder einer Fortzahlung seiner Bezüge bis 2020 in gleicher Höhe rechnen. (wiwo.de, 18.04.18) - Air Berlin Chef Thomas Winkelmann erhält für die Pleite der Fluggesellschaft eine "Insolvenzversicherung" von über 4 Millionen Euro - für die Mitarbeiter gibt es nicht mal einen Sozialplan. (rtlnext.rtl.de, 19.10.17) - Yahoo hat das Webgeschäft an den Telekomkonzern Verizon verkauft. Die ehemalige Firmenchefin Marissa Mayer kassiert nun letztendlich eine Abfindung von "nur noch" 23 Millionen US-Dollar (2016 waren noch 55 Millionen US-Dollar im Gespräch) – 3 Millionen in Bar, der Rest in Aktien. (SPIEGEL, 14.03.2017) - Die frühere Verfassungsrichterin Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt kassierte für 13 Monate Betriebszugehörigkeit bei VW eine Abfindung von mindestens zwölf Millionen Euro (knapp zwei Jahresgehältern). Außerdem erhält die Juristin eine monatliche Rente von mehreren tausend Euro. (SPIEGEL, 18.10.2017) - Der frühere Siemens-Chef Peter Löscher erhielt 2014 bei seinem Abgang 17 Millionen Euro Abfindung plus Siemens-Anteilsscheine, zusammen knapp 30 Millionen Euro. (ebd.) - Der staatliche schwedische Energiekonzern Vattenfall hat offenbar zehn Millionen Euro Abfindungen an drei ehemalige Topmanager seiner deutschen Tochter Vattenfall Europe in Berlin gezahlt. (Berliner Morgenpost, 05.04.2011) - Nach Informationen des "Handelsblatts" aus Konzernkreisen erhält Schmückle zum Abschied vom Konzern einen goldenen Handschlag in einstelliger Millionen-Euro-Höhe. (SPIEGEL Online, 01.09.2010) - So verließ Vorstandschef Léo Apotheker Anfang Februar dieses Jahres den Konzern ... Für Abfindungen wurden im ersten Vierteljahr 27 Mio. Euro fällig. Nach Apothekers Abgang hatten weitere Topmanager dem Unternehmen den Rücken gekehrt. (Die WELT, 28.04.2010) - Ex-Porsche-Chef Wendelin Wiedeking standen 50 Millionen Euro Abfindung zu. Wiedeking kündigte an, die Hälfte der Summe zu spenden. - Der ehemalige Bahn-Chef Hartmut Mehdorn sollte laut Medienberichten 4,9 Millionen Euro Abfindung erhalten. - Der Chef des Autozulieferers Conti, Karl-Thomas Neumann, erhielt nach elfmonatiger Amtszeit eine Abfindung von 7,4 Millionen Euro. - "Der Vorstandsvorsitzende des krisengeschüttelten Handels- und Tourismuskonzerns Arcandor, Karl-Gerhard Eick, wehrt sich gegen Kritik an der 15 Mio. Euro hohen Abfindung, die er bei seinem voraussichtlichen Abgang nach der Insolvenz des Unternehmens erhalten soll." (Die WELT, 31.08.2009) - "Hertie-Insolvenz - Mitarbeiter gehen nach Kündigung wohl leer aus. Bitter: Wahrscheinlich reicht das Geld aus dem Sozialplan weder für Abfindungen noch für Gehaltsfortzahlungen der 2600 Mitarbeiter." (Die WELT, 21.07.2009) - "Der wegen seines autoritären Führungsstils und der Höhe seines Gehalts kritisierte Chef der US-Baumarktkette Home Depot, Robert Nardelli, ist mit sofortiger Wirkung zurückgetreten ... Nardelli erhält vom weltgrößten Baumarktbetreiber noch Lohnzahlungen, Aktienoptionen und Abfindungen im Gesamtwert von 210 Mio. Dollar (158 Mio. Euro)." (Die WELT, 04.01.2007) Es gibt nur in wenigen Fällen einen Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung Auch Sie hoffen wenigstens auf eine "Entlassungsabfindung bei Kündigung"? Sie muss ja nicht gleich so hoch wie bei Nardelli oder McKinnell sein? - Vielleicht bekommen Sie ein ähnliches Angebot wie beispielsweise Opel-Mitarbeiter in Bochum: "Für die Abfindungen gilt die Formel 'Lebensalter mal Betriebszugehörigkeit in Jahren mal Monatsgehalt geteilt durch 35'. Ein 50-Jähriger, der 24 Jahre lang als Autobauer gearbeitet hat, kann damit bei 3000 Euro Monatsgehalt mit einer Abfindung in Höhe von gut 100.000 Euro rechnen. Die Abfindungen sind allerdings auf 250.000 Euro begrenzt." (DER WESTEN, 26.11.10) Oft entpuppt sich eine Abfindung bei Kündigung jedoch schnell als vergebliche Hoffnung. Eine Befragung von Infratest/WSI über beendete Arbeitsverhältnisse im Frühjahr 2008 ergab: "Arbeitgeberkündigungen nannten 2001 32 Prozent, in diesem Jahr 28 % (der Befragten - T.S.). Im Zeitvergleich gestiegen ist der Anteil einvernehmlicher Auflösungen und auslaufender Befristungen ... Kündigt der Arbeitgeber, kann der Betriebs- oder Personalrat dem widersprechen ... Im Vergleich zu 2001 ist der Anteil der Widersprüche gestiegen, von 10 auf 18 Prozent. Die Klagequote hat sich bei Arbeitgeberkündigungen kaum geändert: In der Untersuchung 2001 betrug sie 11 Prozent, 2008 ein Prozent mehr ... Nur konstant zehn Prozent bekamen bei der Beendigung ihres Arbeitsverhältnisses eine Abfindung." (Böcklerimpuls 2008) Was für Vorstände scheinbar ganz selbstverständliche Abfindungen bei Kündigung sind, ist für einfache Mitarbeiter oft unvorstellbar: 4 Millionen Euro Abfindung für Ex-HSH-Nordbank-Chef Dirk Jens Nonnenmacher, von der er nach jahrelangem Rechtsstreit nur 1,5 Millionen Euro "Geldbuße" zurückzahlen muss, um sich damit vom Vorwurf der Untreue freizukaufen. Wichtig für Sie ist ganz sicher auch: Einen Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung hatten im Rahmen eines Sozialplans 61 %, bei einer späteren Klage gegen die Kündigung 57 %, ohne Klage 10 %. Ein ähnliches Ergebnis liefert eine DIW/Infratest-Befragung 2009. In Folge der Finanzkrise 2008 und der nachfolgend ansteigenden Kündigungswelle nahm nach Angaben des IW Köln die Tendenz zu Kündigungsschutzklagen und Abfindungszahlungen zu: "Derzeit landet fast jede dritte arbeitgeberseitige Kündigung vor Gericht ... Um eine Kündigung und potenzielle Kündigungsschutzklagen zu vermeiden, schließen etwa 30 Prozent der Unternehmen mit jenen Mitarbeitern, von denen sie sich trennen möchten, Aufhebungsverträge ab. Diese sind in der Regel mit Abfindungszahlungen verbunden. (iwd Nr. 12 vom 12.Februar 2009) Allerdings gibt es auch Konzerne, die schon gern eine kräftige Abfindung bei Kündigung zahlen, wenn sie trotz Betriebsvereinbarung Stellen abbauen möchten. Im FOCUS wurde diese Methode als Verführung mit bösem Erwachen bezeichnet. Und der STERN mahnt: "Niemals leichtfertig unterschreiben". In diesen Fällen kann es einen Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung geben Wieso sind Entlassungsabfindungen doch nicht so verbreitet? Ganz einfach: Sie haben zwar einen Anspruch auf Ihren restlichen Lohn bzw. Ihr restliches Gehalt. Einen Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung dagegen haben Sie auch mit dem Kündigungsschutzgesetz (KSchG) in der neuen Fassung ab 01.01.2004 nur selten: - Abfindungsanspruch infolge eines außergerichtlichen oder gerichtlichen (freiwilligen) Vergleichs über die Wirksamkeit einer Kündigung - Abfindungsanspruch bei einer Kündigung gemäß § 1a KSchG - Abfindungsanspruch aufgrund eines Auflösungsurteils des Arbeitsgerichts gem. § 9 und § 10 KSchG, weil die Fortsetzung des Arbeitsverhältnisses unzumutbar ist - Abfindungsanspruch aufgrund eines Tarifvertrages oder eines Sozialplanes - Abfindungsanspruch infolge gerichtlichen Urteils wegen Ansprüchen eines Arbeitnehmers auf Nachteilsausgleich. Bestenfalls in den letzten drei Fällen kann ein Anspruch auf Abfindung bei Kündigung gegen den Arbeitgeber durchgesetzt werden. Beispielsweise wie in diesem Fall: "Die Deutsche Bahn und die Lokführergewerkschaft GDL haben sich am Donnerstag nach langem Ringen auf einen Tarifabschluss geeinigt. Lokführer, die mit dem Zug einen Menschen überfahren haben und aufgrund einer Traumatisierung nicht mehr fahren können, erhalten demnach weiterhin ihr volles Gehalt. Für den Fahrdienst untaugliche Kollegen können sich entscheiden, in anderer Funktion lebenslang bei der Bahn zu bleiben oder mit einer Abfindung zu gehen." (Quelle: Münchner Abendzeitung, 20.03.2014) Einerseits gilt das KSchG nicht für Kleinbetriebe bis zu 10 Vollzeitbeschäftigten. Andererseits müsste der Arbeitgeber gemäß KSchG in der Kündigung nämlich darauf hingewiesen haben, dass sie auf dringende betriebliche Erfordernisse gestützt ist und der Arbeitnehmer die Entlassungsabfindung beanspruchen kann, wenn er die Klagefrist verstreichen lässt (KSchG § 1a). - Achtung: Falle! Oft einigen sich jedoch beide Seiten über eine Abfindung bei Kündigung, um einen Rechtsstreit mit ungewissem Ausgang zu vermeiden. Die Höhe der Abfindung ist Verhandlungssache - das Kündigungsschutzgesetz bietet hier nur eine Orientierung (siehe Anmerkungen). Eine Statistik über Abfindungshöhen finden Sie z. B. bei statista.com. Die Entlassungsabfindung ist sozusagen der Preis für das Einverständnis mit der Kündigung. Doch hier ist äußerste Vorsicht geboten, damit Sie keine Nachteile bei der Gewährung von Arbeitslosengeld bekommen! Was ist das überhaupt - eine "Entlassungs-Abfindung"? Entlassungs-Abfindungen bei Kündigung sind Entschädigungen, die Sie als Arbeitnehmer, als Geschäftsführer einer Kapitalgesellschaft oder als Vorstandsmitglied einer Aktiengesellschaft erhalten als Ausgleich für die mit der Auflösung des Dienstverhältnisses verbundenen Nachteile, besonders den Verlust des Arbeitsplatzes (vgl. BFH-Urteil vom 11.01.1980 - BStBl 1980, Teil II, S. 205). Steuerrechtlich stellen sie eine Entschädigung im Sinne des Einkommensteuergesetzes (EStG) § 24 Nr. 1a dar. Entlassungs-Abfindung und andere Zahlungen Wird also ein Arbeitsverhältnis auf Veranlassung des Arbeitgebers gekündigt, so können Arbeitnehmer Abfindungen und Leistungen vom Arbeitgeber erhalten, die nach dem Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG) ganz unterschiedlich steuerlich behandelt werden: - Arbeitslohn ..., der gemäß EStG § 19 normal besteuert wird; - Entschädigungen im Sinne EStG § 24 Nr. 1, die gemäß EStG § 34 steuerbegünstigt sind; - steuerbegünstigte Leistungen für mehrjährige Tätigkeit, die gemäß EStG § 34 steuerbegünstigt sind oder - eine modifizierte betriebliche Rente. Wenn sich Arbeitnehmer und Arbeitgeber einfach nur auf Arbeitslohn bzw. Gehalt und Entlassungsabfindung verständigen, so ist es für beide Seiten gut zu wissen: wie erfolgt die Berechnung der Abfindung? Wie hat Ihnen der Artikel gefallen?

[awardseasonblog]

Annunciate le candidature nelle categorie principali degli European Film Awards (EFA), conosciuti anche come Oscar Europei, che da oltre 34 edizioni celebrano annualmente le migliori pellicole del Vecchio continente. Quest'anno tra i 35 film provenienti da tutta Europa (in rappresentanza dell’Italia ne sono stati selezionati 3 comprese le co-produzioni) la nostra cinematografia può fare affidamento sull'apprezzata prova di #PierfrancescoFavino candidato come miglior attore per il film di Mario Martone #Nostalgia (scelto per rappresentare quest’anno l’Italia agli Oscar per la competizione del Miglior film internazionale) e sulla meravigliosa opera di Laura Samani #PiccoloCorpo candidata al #FIPRESCI. A conquistare il maggior numero di candidature spiccano #Close #HolySpider #TriangleofSadness #Corsage. Best European Film -Alcarràs (Sp-It) -Close (Bel-Fr-Neth) -Corsage (Austria-Lux-Ger-Franc) -Holy Spider (Den-Ger-Swe-Fr) -Triangle Of Sadness (Swe-Ger-Fr-UK) Best European Director -Lukas Dhont for Close -Marie Kreutzer for Corsage -Jerzy Skolimowski for EO -Ali Abbasi for Holy Spider -Alice Diop for Saint Omer -Ruben Östlund for Triangle Of Sadness Best European Actress -Vicky Krieps in Corsage -Zar Amir Ebrahimi in Holy Spider -Léa Seydoux in One Fine Morning -Penélope Cruz in Parallel Mothers -Meltem Kaptan in Rabiye Kurnaz Vs. George W. Bush Best European Actor -Paul Mescal in Aftersun -Eden Dambrine in Close -Elliott Crosset Hove in Godland -Pierfrancesco Favino in Nostalgia -Zlatko Burić in Triangle Of Sadness Best European Screenwriter -Carla Simón & Arnau Vilaró for Alcarràs -Kenneth Branagh for Belfast -Lukas Dhont & Angelo Tijssens for Close -Ali Abbasi & Afshin Kamran Bahrami for Holy Spider -Ruben Östlund for Triangle Of Sadness European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI -107 Mothers (Slovakia-Czech Rep-Ukr) -Director Peter Kerekes -Love According To Dalva (Bel-Fr) -Other People (Pol-Fr) -Pamfir (Ukr-Fr-Pol-Ger-Chile) -Small Body (It-Slovenia-Fr) -Sonne   #Nominations #EFA #EFA2022 #EuropeanFilmAwards #OscarEuropei #AwardsSeason #AwardsRace #Awards #StagionedeiPremi #Movies https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckse_e5s0ae/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#pierfrancescofavino #nostalgia #piccolocorpo #fipresci #close #holyspider #triangleofsadness #corsage #nominations #efa #efa2022 #europeanfilmawards #oscareuropei #awardsseason #awardsrace #awards #stagionedeipremi #movies

[boricuacherry-blog]

In 2014, a list penned by Lindsay Lohan naming 36 of her lovers were leaked and appeared in US Weekly Magazine. Some of the names included were Justin Timberlake, James Franco and Georgia Rule co-star Garrett Hedlund. (Although Hedlund's rep has denied he slept with the star).

Some of the other names on the list included: Ashton Kutcher, Ryan Philippe, Stavros Niarchos, Joaquin Phoenix, Nico Tortorella, Evan Peters, Danny Cipriani, Maggio Cipriani, Garrett Hedlund, Justin Timberlake, James Franco, B. del Torro (Benicio del Torro), Wilmer Valderrama, Jamie Burke, Jamie Dornan, Zac Efron, Orlando Bloom, Colin Farrell, Heath Ledger, Max George, Guy Berryman, Adam Levine, Petey (Muse) Wright, Josh Mond, Ryan Phillippe, Lukas Haas, Paul Charles Valmorbida.

Lindsay stated that she made the list as part of her recovery process in AA.

"That she was my fifth step in AA at Betty Ford," said Lindsay. "And someone when I was moving must have taken a photo of it."

James Franco wrote a short story after the leaked list, titled "Bungalow 89" which blurs the line between reality and fiction.

It's a story Franco has told before, in an interview with Howard Stern, where Franco refuted the leak of Lindsay's "conquest list" by saying he'd turned her down at the Chateau Marmont, after recognizing that she was "troubled."

Lindsay Lohan was the main protagonist in his story "Bungalow 89."

Apparently, according to the story, after Lindsa snuck into his room at 3.a.m., "instead of fucking her, I read her a short story about a neglected daughter, called 'A Perfect Day for Bananafish' by J.D. Salinger." The story was featured in Vice Magazine's fiction issue.

"Bungalow 89" reads like a weird attempt at Faulkner-esque- stream-of-consciousness, but it also reads like an overlong explanation from Franco that he did not sleep with Lindsay, despite what her conquest list might say.

Apparently, while the two were guests at the Chateau Marmont, Lindsay would not stop trying to sleep with him, but he wouldn't entertain the idea. He wrote:

There was a Hollywood girl staying at Chateau Marmont. She had gotten a key to my room from the manager. I heard her put the key into my front door and turn it, but I had slid the dead bolt and that thing - I don't know what you call it: it's like a chain but made of two bars - that kept the door from opening.

She said, "James, open the door. Open the door, you bookworm punk blogger faggot."

My phone rang.

"You're not going to let me sleep are you?" I said.

"I just want to sleep on your couch," she said. "I'm lonely."

"We're not going to have sex," I said. "If you want to come in, I'll read you a story."

I read some Salinger to this young woman who hadn't read him before. Let's call this girl Lindsay. She was a Hollywood girl, but a damaged one. I knew that she would like Salinger, because most young women do. I read her two of the Nine Stories, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" and "For Esme - with Love and Squalor."

"Bananafish" was great because it has a nagging mother on the other end of the phone line, nothing like Lindsay's real mother, but still, the mother-daughter thing was good for her to hear.

And there's the little girl in the story, Sibyl, and the pale suicide, Seymour, who kisses her foot and talks about bananafish with her, those fantastic phallic fish who stick their heads in holes and gorge themselves - it should be called "A Perfect Day for Dickfish" - and then, bam, he shoots himself.

Then I read "For Esme." A man goes to war. He is traumatized. Then he is saved by the innocence of a young girl.

And what do we say about all this obsession with innocence? Salinger would be a companion to young women, real young women, for years, and then, one fateful night, he would sleep with them and the friendship would end.

After that, after he fucked them, they were no longer the innocent ones running through the rye to be caught before they went over the cliff. They had gone over, and he had been the one to push them.

Now we were lying in bed. I wasn't going to fuck her. She had her head on my shoulder. She started to talk. I let her. I ran my fingers through her hair and thought about this girl sleeping on my chest, our fictional Hollywood girl, Lindsay. What will she do? I hope she gets better.

For anyone else, this would be story enough. But for James Franco, Lohan is but the Proustian madeleine that inspires him to ruminate on the nature of celebrity. He continues writing:

You see, she is famous. She was famous because she was a talented child actress, and now she's famous because she gets into trouble. She is damaged. For a while, after her high hellion days, she couldn't get work because she couldn't get insured. They thought she would run off the sets to party.

Her career suffered, and she started getting arrested (stealing, DUIs, car accidents, and other things). But the arrests, even as they added up, were never going to be an emotional bottom for her, because she got just as much attention for them as she used to get for her film performances. She would get money offers for her jailhouse memoirs, crazy offers.

So how would she ever stop the craziness when the response to her work and the response to her life had converged into one? Two kinds of performance, in film and in life, had melted into one.

Conclusion: James Franco would like you to know: he did not sleep with the woman described in this story and if you think that woman is Lindsay Lohan, then OK.

#lindsay lohan #james franco #conquest list #bungalow 89 #a perfect day for bananafish #jd salinger

[veil-of-shadows]

9; echoes

Notka autorki: 1038 słów

Venice biegała między wyspą kuchenną, tablicą korkową oraz stołem w dużym pokoju. Przepisała informacje z telefonu na małą karteczkę i przypięła do tablicy. Wsunęła dłonie do tylnych kieszeni jeansów, odeszła kilka kroków i spojrzała na cały zbiór. Była z siebie dumna, że udało jej się zrobić coś takiego. Ale to było za mało, żeby mogła dowieść popełniony błąd w dokumentach Evana. Potrzebowała czegoś więcej.

Usiadła na rozkładanej kanapie, otworzyła nową kartę w przeglądarce i wpisała szukaną frazę. Tym razem liczyła na trafienie w dziesiątkę.

Co Arizona ma wspólnego z Filadelfią?

Nacisnęła przycisk enter na klawiaturze i… Pierwszy wynik okazał się być sukcesem. Artykuł o interesującym nagłówku pochodził sprzed zaledwie dwóch tygodni, co zgadzałoby się z jego przyjęciem.

Poszukiwanego zabójcę policja znalazła w Arizonie.

- Zabójcę? - szepnęła sama do siebie.

Przewinęła reklamy i zjechała niżej, chcąc szczegóły.

Zabójca ukrywał się w stanie Arizona. Policjanci dostali anonimowe zgłoszenie, gdzie mógł się ukryć i gdzie był widziany. Został przetransportowany do Pensylwanii, gdzie dokonał zbrodni.

Zmarszczyła brwi.

Morderca, przedstawiony na zdjęciu, miał zamordować dwie osoby, jednego mężczyznę i jedną kobietę zaledwie rok wcześniej. Nie przyznał się do przedstawianych mu zarzutów, ostatecznie przegrywając sprawę. Sąd najwyższy dopilnował, by sprawiedliwości stało się zadość, oddając rodzinom ofiar szczęśliwe zakończenie. Sędzia Walter Coulson skazał Evana P. na dożywotnie pozbawienie wolności oraz niemożliwość odwołania się od wyroku. Ze względu na niemożność odsiedzenia wyroku, Evan P. trafi do placówki psychiatrycznej w Filadelfii, gdzie po skończeniu terapii, zostanie przewieziony do więzienia.

Nie potrafiła uwierzyć własnym oczom.

Zrozumiała, co oznaczał mrok w jego oczach. Ukrywał wyrok więzienny i bezczelnie prosił ją o pomoc.

Prychnęła i wydrukowała artykuł wraz ze zdjęciem. Evan stał na miejscu oskarżonego w kajdankach, a obrońca dłonią wskazywał prokuraturę. Dokumenty przypięła pinezką na środku tablicy.

Spojrzała na godzinę i energicznie rozpoczęła przygotowywania do pracy. Zarzuciła na siebie kurtkę, a do kieszeni schowała klucze od mieszkania. Do torebki wrzuciła drugi wydruk artykułu, telefon, małą butelkę picia oraz drożdżówkę, następnie wyszła. Zbiegła po schodach i wpadła na przednie siedzenie swojego samochodu. Nie rozmyślała nad prawdopodobnymi problemami z silnikiem, przekręciła klucz w stacyjce i z piskiem opon wyjechała z parkingu.

Przejeżdżając przez kolejne ulice, kurczowo zaciskała palce na kierownicy. Uderzyła dłonią w radio, aby tylko się wyłączyło.

Przed budynkiem placówki stał Mike z kubkiem kawy w dłoni. Rozmawiał z odjeżdżającym lekarzem.

Venice wypadła z auta, wzięła torebkę, skąd wyciągnęła paczkę papierosów i zapaliła jednego. Czuła przypływ adrenaliny. Musiała porozmawiać z Evanem na ten temat, nie ma możliwości, aby to zignorowała.

- Dzień dobry. - rzucił wesoło Mike.

- Jak tam praca? - nie dawała po sobie poznać wewnętrznych emocji.

- Dobrze, nic takiego się nie działo. Jeden z pacjentów uciekł z sali.

Venice otworzyła szerzej oczy. Na myśl przyszedł jej tylko jedno nazwisko.

Peters.

- Co? Kto uciekł?

- Lukas, ten z dwadzieścia dziewięć. Szybko go złapaliśmy i wrócił do sali.

Odetchnęła z ulgą.

Czyli nie Peters.

- Dobrze, uf, to bardzo dobrze.

Wyrzuciła filtr od papierosa do kosza.

- Życzę miłej pracy. - powiedział, kierując się do swojego samochodu.

Odkąd każdy pamiętał, Mike jeździł niebieskim garbusem, co zdecydowanie wyróżniało go z tłumu. Venice odprowadziła go wzrokiem i weszła do środka.

W pokoju socjalnym Anastasia zbierała się do wyjścia. Złożyła fartuch i spakowała do foliowej reklamówki, a następnie do torebki.

- Venice? Co ty tu robisz tak wcześnie przed zmianą?

Złamałam kilkanaście przepisów drogowych, między innymi za prędkość, trzy razy przejechałam na czerwonym świetle, więc jestem wcześniej.

- Wstałam, przyszykowałam się i jestem. Lukas wam w nocy uciekł, słyszałam.

- Tak, ale to była moja wina. Miałam obchód i nie domknęłam jego drzwi. Najwyraźniej nie spał i skorzystał z szansy.

- Rozumiem. Najważniejsze, że jest w sali.

Venice postawiła torebkę na stoliku, a kurtkę odwiesiła na wieszak. Ubrała się w fartuch i włączyła czajnik, chociaż kawy nie potrzebowała.

- Do zobaczenia później. - Anastasia wyszła, znacząc koniec nocnej zmiany.

Venice czekała na przerwę śniadaniową, kiedy pacjenci będą mogli wyjść. Wiedziała, że Evan sam do niej podejdzie, sam się dosiądzie, byleby pytać o to, co udało jej się znaleźć. Tym razem, odpowiedź znała doskonale.

Telefon zawibrował przez przychodzące powiadomienie o nieprzeczytanej wiadomości. Odblokowała ekran.

Myślałaś, że rozwiązywanie zagadek przyniesie ci szczęśliwe zakończenie, a pokonanie błędnego koła komfort i spokój. Nigdy tak się nie dzieje. Prawda zawsze zawodzi.

Oderwała wzrok od ekranu i odwróciła się.

- Pani Thompson? - zapytał wysoki mężczyzna.

- Tak, to ja. - odparła zaskoczona.

- Jestem Kyle Shepard, nowy ochroniarz. Przyszedłem się przywitać.

Niewiele później stołówka zaczęła zapełniać się przychodzącymi pacjentami, jak i personelem medycznym. Przerwa śniadaniowa służyła wszystkim, ale ochroniarze pilnowali pomieszczeń. Niektórzy pacjenci siedzieli sami, bywały niewielkie grupy, a jeszcze inni prowadzili żywe dyskusje w swoim kręgu szpitalnych znajomych. To samo dotyczyło lekarzy i pielęgniarki.

Venice siedziała obok doktora Craiga, który popijał kawę, zajadał pączka i sprawdzał dokumenty. Szybko zamknął teczkę, odniósł kubek w odpowiednie miejsce, papierową torebkę wyrzucił i wybiegł ze stołówki niczym przecinak.

Uniosła wzrok znad swojego kubka i ujrzała wchodzącego do pomieszczenia Evana. Kosmyk jasnych włosów opadł mu na czoło, kiedy odwrócił głowę w prawą stronę. Odgarnął go za ucho i minął kilka stolików. Venice wiodła wzrokiem po jego zmarszczonym czole. Rozglądał się jakby czegoś, lub kogoś, szukał. Zamrugał kilkukrotnie widząc jej niewinną posturę. Usiadł obok niej i uniósł kącik ust.

- Witam.

Venice nie odpowiedziała nic, jedynie podsunęła kilka kartek z wydrukowanym artykułem pod nos. Zostawiając niedopitą kawę, wstała i wyszła ze stołówki. Nie obejrzała się przez ramię.

Evan pochłonął nagłówek i zerwał się z krzesła, aby pobiec za nią. Ochroniarze zablokowali przejście poprzez wyciągnięcie rąk na boki. Mógł się poślizgnąć, ale ostatecznie utrzymał równowagę.

- V— Pani Thompson. - zawołał za nią, lecz Venice zniknęła z pola widzenia.

Obaj ochroniarze milczeli.

- Puśćcie mnie. Muszę porozmawiać z pielęgniarką.

Żadnej reakcji. Odsunął się od nich i usiadł na poprzednim miejscu. Rozglądał się po innych pacjentach.

Mężczyzna objął towarzyszkę ramieniem. Wpatrywała się daleko przed siebie, lecz jej wzrok nie był skupiony na konkretnej rzeczy. Na czole widniała zmarszczka od zbyt długiego marszczenia skóry. Delikatnie dotknął jej policzka, aby zwrócić na siebie uwagę.

- Co się stało? - zapytał z akcentem.

Kobieta westchnęła.

- Nie wiem, szczerze mówiąc. Taki… dziwny dzień dzisiaj. A deszcz wcale nie pomaga.

- Rozumiem. To może pójdziemy się przejść, a później coś zjemy?

- Zmokniemy. Lepiej będzie jak posiedzimy w domu. Możemy coś obejrzeć.

Mocno przytulił ją do siebie i pocałował w czoło. Wtuliła twarz w jego czarną bluzę i przymknęła oczy.

- Zrobię herbatę, a ty możesz wybrać film.

[weminest]

Anyway. I'm thinking about how The Lonely's most well known avatars are literally a family and how family doesn't mean together and can be the most isolating thing that you push onto your kids when you have them and create a cycle of lonliness and I know that was probably the Point but I just got that and now I'm sad.

#The magnus archives #The lonely #peter lukas #Peter Lukas and Co #Wem Mumbles