Fire on the ice, Ice in the fire

Market Research || Open

“Yes!” Phillip clapped his hands together. “Games, of course. Definitely gotta have darts and billiards. It gives people something to do, y’know? If you’re not drinking or if you’re not hungry — or if you’re on an awkward first date or company happy hour and need to break the ice.”

He grinned.

“Y’know I was thinking of having a nice outdoor seating area for the summer — maybe get some outdoor lawn games going? Depends on how much space I can get, I suppose. Croquet might be out of the question, but maybe some lawn darts and quoits.”

@mal-mchale

"Right, right good call on the awkward first date thing. Draw all the uni kids in." Mal could remember a time or two when she relied on an activity to save a bad date.

Mal grinned back and just snorted, "Yeah, I don't know exactly the croquet crowd in Swynlake, but I'm sure if you offer a pint and the promise of a prize, you could get a good lawn skittles tournament going."

The people of Swynlake needed low stakes things to do anyways, there were a lot of galas and dress up events. A lowkey tournament with a pint was sort of what the place needed.

@knightley--phillip

It’s Mykonos Baby || Malette

“Well this had to take some insane planning.” Collette snorted. Still shocked her girlfriend was even able to pull it off! Not even because Mal wasn’t capable…but she knew herself! Always paying attention and always planning. Very difficult to pull one over on her!!!

“Which I don’t think I will ever get over!” Collette bit down on her lip. “I don’t even mean something like this! I just mean whenever I think we have reached our bestest day you surprise me with something better.”

Collette meant that.

“I never have felt limitless in a relationship and baby I believe we are just that.” Collette reached across the table and pulled at Mals hand. “You already know of my most recent drama with an ex and well there are quite a few before him. I just..” she humpfd. “…I just never thought I could feel like this. Which is why I am sorta bad at expressing all of this.”

@mal-mchale

"It wasn't easy." Mal said still modestly as she squeezed her girlfriend's hand. "But I really wanted to do something special ya know? Something important for you." Because she loved her. Because she had truly meant what she said as she curled up in her arms the other night, exhausted and drained of every last bit of physical and emotional energy from work.

Mal gave her a raised eyebrow with a particular look as she mentioned the 'quite a few before him.' But she let her continue as that was not important in this moment. Her eyes softened as Collette spoke, giving her hand a small squeeze again. "Never thought you could feel like this...?" She said questioningly. Surely she'd felt love before right? Had no one given that to her? It made her want to do even more to show her that she could be worthy of that. "So... you're saying you do feel the same as me, you just can't say that?" She was trying to understand her better.

Everything pointed to Collette loving her, right? That's what she was saying? It had been weeks since Mal had told her, her feelings and the lack of reciprocation and only acknowledgement rang a bit hollow in her heart. She'd tossed that feeling aside and worked on her surprise instead. Everyone had their own pace, she just reminded herself of that. She just never thought that she would've been the one to say it first.

@mal-mchale

Jump scare || Open

Frank wished that he shared Mal's confidence. He had visions of the trolley upturned in the same puddle that the cartidge of paper was now languishing in, and the Head Librarian yelling at him (or at least giving him that horrible, withering look). But hey, what other choice did he have?

"Thanks." He murmured when she righted it a little bit, getting it out of a little ditch it had managed to find. Frank reached for the trolley as well, lifting it a little to get it over a few more bumps in the road before they were on the path up to the library. "It's just up this way." He said, beginning to pull the cart in the right direction so that Mal could push from the other side.

Feeling like he should maybe make conversation, Frank asked, "What brought you today? You're not a student, right? I don't think I've seen you around here before, and we kinda see everyone at the library."

@mal-mchale

#probably #nsfw #nsf meeee #face

Mal hefted the heavy cart filled with various papers over the bumps that needed to be avoided and to save the wheels the strain. She hadn't expected a bit of a workout on her way out, but her legs and biceps were going to be feeling pretty good after this.

The firefighter didn't mind silence. She knew talking wasn't necessarily everyone's strong suit and he seemed a little... meek? Was that the word? Shy? So when he did speak she found it a nice surprise.

"Oh yeah, I'm long past my uni days." For a degree she no longer utilized. "My girlfriend is a professor here. You probably at least know of her, Collette Richards. I was on my way out after our lunch date."

@frank-mohanty

aristourgima

It’s Mykonos Baby || Malette

The glasses clanged with cheers.

The food was made with love.

Collette ensured they had every dessert on the menu coming their way!

There had been trips in her past with a plethora of exs. Not that this made her think of them but Collette never knew if they would get here. Swynlake had always sucked them in so much with their jobs and family that the idea of a trip and adventuring the world was like a fantasy.

Unlike her last situationship where the trips were plenty but they were all for show. This just felt different.

As the fresh fruit and crepe was presented before them Collette finally let the moment ground her.

“I never imagined you’d do something like this for me.” She reached for a strawberry and brought it to her own mouth. “I still think I am speechless. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express all the emotions it makes me feel.” The smile that followed was filled with excitement - hoping to not bring this conversation to a place she wasn’t insecure about.

“How do you do this every time. Surprise me.”

@mal-mchale

Mal was in Greece of all places with her girlfriend. Had you said that to her a year or so ago and she'd have thought you were mad. But, she had to admit, she was smitten. Hopelessly so.

It had been a while since she made time for a relationship like this. She hadn't ever traveled internationally or anything like that with her ex girlfriends (hadn't traveled much internationally in general). Ava sort of did her own thing traveling and Mal had been all over Canada with her previous girlfriends with sports and other travel but that wasn't like this. This was different.

The food was great, the drinks were great, and Collette was amazing navigating a foreign country with such confidence.

Mal ate a piece of fruit as Collette spoke, a small smirk on her face to try to hide the slight redness that flooded into her cheeks. Yeah, Mal had planned to surprise her, but it wasn't anything big, she just... showed up. For her. Made time for her and what she really wanted.

The firefighter snorted, fingers still rubbing gently along Collette's hand on the table. "I think this is the first time I've actually planned on surprising you." She looked over to her girlfriend, eyes reflecting the warmth of her smile, "You're worth it all though, you know. The effort."

@collette-richards

Market Research || Open

“Right? I don’t wanna, like, totally bar families from it —” He was thinking of Levi, of course. “-- but the nature of having later hours will make it more of an adult crowd, y’know? And the menu, of course. I was thinking of doing a specifically 18+ area in the basement. For the fun drinks.”

He winked here.

“But yeah — that charred husk of the Deer is definitely bringing some negative energy into town. We need to cleanse it and build a bigger, better pub.” He paused, then added, “So what are Mal McHale’s top requirements for cool pub?”

@mal-mchale

"Sounds like the right slot to be in." Mal said with a nod, brows drawn together in thought a bit more. Phil seemed to really have a direction with this. Seemed a little surprising but when you found something that excited you, she'd expect that sort of drive to make it happen.

"Don't know how I became a measurement of cool." Mal let out a laugh. She didn't find herself cool. Barely understood how she'd gotten suddenly popular over the years in this town either. "But I think it's gotta be inviting, welcoming especially with all the tourists we get." She spread across the bench a bit, arching her back as she stretched. "Good name that sort of sets it apart, good staff." She made a slight hum of a noise, "I'm not a fan of gimmicks. Themed nights are always entertaining though and we all know how the town loves a themed event."

She looked up at Phil, smile on her face, "Also, you'll keep me longer if there's something to draw me in competitively, so billiard or pub games."

@knightley--phillip

Jump scare || Open

Frank was glad that she'd managed to snag the trolley before it could roll too far away; the last thing he wanted to do was have to run after it. No need to add any more embarrassment on top of the rest, was there?

"Oh, thanks," He smiled, giving the trolley a gentle pat. Thankfully, the rest of the delivery had remained unharmed. With little ceremony, Frank scooped the soggy paper up out of the puddle and put it on the bottom shelf of the cart, shaking off his wet hands as he gripped one handle of the trolley. "I'm Frank. 's nice to meet you, Mal. Um -- this is going up to the library."

@mal-mchale

"Not a problem." Mal flashed the lad a grin. She glanced down to the soggy puddle and the various bumps and cracks of the pathway they might run into.

"Might be best to lift the cart a little over the uneven bits. I'll help. Two people on a trolley should make your time go faster." She looked over to him with a confident expression, like this large tolley with books and papers and whatever else would be easily sorted with a little teamwork.

She kicked one of the wheels a bit, nudging it straight up towards their destination, hands pulling up on the trolley a bit, "Lead on, Frank."

@frank-mohanty

It’s Mykonos Baby || Malette

Collette fixed her lip gloss as she waited by the door. Really no sense in crowding the bath room - plus Collette knew that if the two of them were stuck in there together for too long. Well they would never make it out of the villa and there would be no Mykonos fun. They could never keep their hands to themselves but honestly who could blame them. Collette knew they were the hottest couple in tis hemisphere.

"Well first dinner!" Collette shimmed her shoulder as she pulled her girlfriend with her out the door.

As the walked through the streets she made sure to point out every thing she had already done. What they had planned. Oh and where she wanted to try to sneak in before they left. "The resturant in just up here! I was walking this way earlier today after checking in with the girls and this loveable old gentleman stopped me and showed me the fish he had just caught this morning." Collettes eyes were wide. "Babe you should have see it! The thing was taller than he was! So of course I use my two little fingers here." She pinched them together in the air between them. "...and I helped him carry it by the tail of course to his little bistro down on the corner!"

The small quaint resturant strung up with lights was just at the end of the walk. "We get to have that swordfish tonight! Its light so we can drink all the wine we want!" Collete was so excited to share this moment with Mal. Their own little adventure.

With one final tug she pulled her girlfriend towards the small table on the lit patio - ready to get their dinner started before they fun could really happen! @mal-mchale

Yeah, it probably was good for them to get out and about, although given the fact that clubbing was on the agenda, it wouldn't stop them from whatever festivities they got up to by the end of the night.

Mal, once more, was lead forward, out into the night, blindly following the girlfriend who'd planned things out to a detail she admired but would probably never find herself ever doing. She was always passenger princess in spirit.

"Oh yeah? Makes our catches out on the river last Fall look like sardines." Mal teased, looping her arm around her girlfriend as they walked the streets of Mykonos, sounds of all sorts and smells of every kind in the air.

Collette tugged and she followed like the dutiful girlfriend she was except she stepped out a bit quicker to gently grab the other woman's seat to pull it out for her. Gentlemanly, romantic, chivalrous, all vibes she was going for with this surprise trip and their exciting vacation, which was much longer than any time she'd taken off in the recent years.

She took her own seat across from her gorgeous date and slid her hand across the table to gently run her fingers along the back of Collette's hand. The lighting made her eyes glow. How anyone couldn't find themselves in love with her, she didn't know.

She was in it. Even if maybe her girlfriend wasn't yet.

It had been a month or so that had passed and still, Mal's confession was unanswered and unaddressed. She swept it to the side for the time being, but it was still there. Hadn't gone away.

@collette-richards

It’s Mykonos Baby || Malette

There was just something special about a disco nap.

You spent the whole day doing activities. Catching rays while reading a book. Stopping for a cocktail and being surprised by your girlfriend?!

Now she was refreshed and ready to go enjoy their first evening out! Dinner and then a club!

Swinging her head out from the bathroom door she smiled with a yooo hooo. Of course she let Mal get some rest in while she re did her hair.

“I am almost ready honey! If you need to freshen up!”

Looking back in the mirror she adjusted her slinky orange dress then stepped back out into the bed room holding an arm up. “How do I look?! Mykonos chic?!”

@mal-mchale

Mal had enjoyed her little rest snuggled up against her girlfriend now that the anticipation of carrying out this surprise was over and she could just enjoy their vacation together. (Along with many uni students who were also on this trip but you know, a minor detail.)

It didn't take Mal too long to get ready, already rolling out of bed while Collette worked on her hair and getting dressed in her own outfit of a light linen buttondown and shorts for clubbing.

She still had to manage her own hair when Collette popped out of the bathroom looking fucking gorgeous. She crossed the room with a smirk, "You look amazing." She slipped an arm around her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll be done in a second, I just need to fix my hair."

The firefighter straightened herself out in front of her mirror, running her fingers through her hair and grabbing her styling products to fix the stray curls that decided to do their own thing.

After a minute or two she moved back out of the bathroom, "Alright, let's do this." She grinned as she slipped her arms around her girlfriend, "See what this Mykonos clubbing thing is all about."

@collette-richards

Market Research || Open

"A pub," said Phillip simply. "Just a good old-fashioned English pub -- I reckon the town's missing one of those since ol' Gaston's place went to the dogs. And then burned down."

Phil couldn't remember if Mal had been on duty that night. He tried not to think too much about what could've happened with Maddy. He also tried not to think too much about what the hell Maddy had been doing there. (He knew, of course, but that didn't mean he wanted to dwell on it).

@mal-mchale

Mal raised her brows, thinking a second before she grinned, "Think we need one."

She didn't care to mention to Phil that she'd been there to put out the fire. That she watched and yelled at Tom to get out of the building when he'd gone after her roommate. She hadn't known they were all somehow related or something at the time.

She stretched her legs out in front of her, "There's no in between space for the 18+ crowd. There's Gusteau's and then the club. Nothing casual to watch a match at. Kronk might put on a football game over at Chippa's but that's full of kids too and he doesn't serve much alcohol."

Mal gave him a nod, "Sort of part of the rebuilding process too after the fire."

@knightley--phillip

It’s Mykonos Baby || Malette

Plans change and in this case…good!

Hurry through the villa Collette pulled her girlfriend along. How much more fabulous could this get?! Not only was the surprise everything she could have dreamed of…they were finally getting a real vacation together!

All of the drama and chaos that was back in Swynlake could stay the hell over there! They were now about to have a romantic rendezvous in Mykonos…with a side of chaperoning!

“It’s absolute fabulous! Honestly the school must have gotten a hell of a deal getting us these villas!” Collette swiped her key in her door and the beep greeted them as she pushed the door open. Opening up to her fabulous room with a balcony. “I was excited to enjoy all this space on my own but baby…just come see! I think that jet tub is calling our names!”

Tossing one of Mals bags on the couch in the living space are she twirled towards the bedroom. “We have an hour or so before we head back out! Would you judge me if I take a little disco nap…you know maybe a 15 min lay down?!”

@mal-mchale

#happy birthday mal #a dingus rly #face

Mal was glad the hard part of keeping the surprise appearance in Mykonos from her girlfriend was over. Now she could just enjoy their little vacation in Mykonos (with several college students).

She looked around the villa, her eyebrows raising a bit. The balcony alone was impressive. She set the rest of her stuff down and followed Collette over towards the bedroom and the jet tub. All very impressive, but she was more interested in her girlfriend over the amenities.

"Judge you? For a disco nap? Never." Mal grinned and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, tugging her in a little closer so she could press a kiss to her lips. "I might join you for a little lie down myself." She pressed another kiss to her lips, walking them towards the bed in question with a grin, hands never leaving her girlfriend.

She teased with a grin, "I think with the packed itinerary you've planned I might need the rest."

@collette-richards

chiefhugo-slade

Rushed to the Scene || Chief Saga

Date: February 2026

TW: medical trauma, hospitals, blood, car accidents, substance abuse, drinking

Summary:

Part 1: First responders arrive on scene and access the situation - taking extreme measures to save a life.

Part 2: Swynlake Medical Team spring into action as trauma victims of multiple levels flood into the ER. Diagnosing Chief with layers of trauma.

Part 3: A medical mystery accessed by a dedicated team of doctors and interns - ensuring Boo get the treatment she may or may not need…

@boointhenight @mal-mchale @copper-russell @tod-mitchell @delilah-mohanty @dr-spinelli @dr-grundler @trackedbymaximus

|Read All 3 Parts Here|

guardian-angle22

KATY O'BRIAN at the NYC premiere of The Running Man (2025)

guardian-angle22

KATY O'BRIAN for Blanc Magazine in February 2025

+ Bonus: headline about the photoshoot

guardian-angle22

KATY O'BRIAN guest starring in S3E4 of Magnum P.I. (2021)

#tw violence #tw fighting #face #yes I queued her birthday spam while I'm gone

Jump scare || Open

Frank might've told her not to worry, since she could've approached him head on and probably still would've jumped, but that would probably be taken the wrong way. It was very much nothing to do with her, and everything to do with him.

But anyway-- the stack of paper, in a puddle. The boxes of paper ready to go upstairs on a rickety-wheeled trolley, which was currently making a slow escape down a gentle slope towards the grass outside of the library.

"Oh-- that's really kind, but you don't--" Frank looked between the trolley and the paper, and decided on the trolley. He leaned over, snagging it before it could go too far. "I don't want to inconvience you, or anything."

@mal-mchale