#Meche Barba

[genevieveetguy]

Lola Casanova, Matilde Landeta (1949)

[emmieexplores2]

Meche Barba

[saiilorstars]

Dare To Forget Me

Ch. 54: The Not-Jealousy

Previous chapters // Montserrat’s masterlist

Fandom: SVU // Pairing: Rafael Barba x OC

Warnings: Due to the nature of the series’ plots, I do have to rate this as ‘mature’ for constant mentions of rape.

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @averyhotchner​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @abzidabzy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @hellofutur​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @xovalliegirlxo​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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The courtroom was half filled with reporters from every possible news outlet in New York. It was outrageous and yet not shocking at all. Everybody was following the trial. Fortunately, Rafael was immune to all of the pressure that would come from those outlets. He just thought they were nosy. They made no difference to him when he started that morning. Bauer was up first.

"...and when the third woman, Tiana Raynes, came to you and said Shakir Wilkins had raped her, did you promise her a bonus?"

"Yes, I did," the man seemed at least a bit guilty for his actions.

"Can you tell the jury why you offered these women bonuses, which may appear to some as buying their silence?" prompted Rafael.

"I take no joy in this. I've had a long-term relationship with Mr. Wilkins. I simply couldn't reconcile my knowledge of him with what these women were saying. At the time, I believed that these were false allegations."

"And now?"

"After I saw how upset Carla was in that elevator, it began to gnaw at me. And these other girls... There's a saying: When three people at a party tell you you're drunk, don't drive home."

That may not have been the best comparison but Rafael would take it so long as he said nothing else unprompted. "Thank you, Mr. Bauer."

After him, Calhoun took her turn. "I'm sure we can all agree you're in a difficult position here, Mr. Bauer. Yes, thank you. But isn't it true you're only testifying today in exchange for avoiding charges of bribing a witness?"

That's common knowledge, scowled Rafael. It was a rather weak beginning which made him slightly curious of how she would end it.

"I'm testifying here today because I made a wrong decision, and for that, I apologize," Bauer responded.

"But no charges have been filed?"

"Correct."

"At the time these complainants came forward, did you believe their stories?"

"No, I did not. I simply couldn't think that the man I knew was capable of doing the things they said he was doing."

"But now you do believe that Shakir Wilkins assaulted these three women?"

"Yes, I do. As I said, after that scene in the elevator with Carla, replaying all their words without blinders on, so God help me, yes, I do."

"Does the sudden change in your beliefs give you the right to invoke the morals clause and terminate your contract with Mr. Wilkins, saving your company roughly half a billion dollars?"

"Roughly, yes, but that's not why I terminated him—"

"Does getting out of your contract with Mr. Wilkins provide long-term relief?"

There it was. Rafael cut in with a sharp "Objection!"

He would never be the fool to underestimate that woman, neither would the others.

"We need to prepare Tiana," he said as soon as they were out of the courthouse. The others had already thought about that and thus called ahead to schedule it with the woman. "Calhoun's going to go after her and strongly."

"When doesn't she?" Amanda countered, making a good point.

"We'll make sure she's here this afternoon," Olivia promised him. She would see it personally if she had to.

"I can bring over the file too to make sure that we don't leave anything out," Montserrat said.

"You?" Nick was sending her a half smirk. "I wonder why?" Beside him, Fin shook his head and nearly showed a smile.

"What is this? High school?" Montserrat raised an eyebrow at them, then, just to prove her point, she seized Olivia's arm. "I'm getting the principal!"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Enough guys."

"He started it," Montserrat pointed a finger at Nick.

"And if he doesn't watch it, I'll finish it," Rafael surprised them with his own input. He was above these types of jabs but not if they were directed towards Montserrat. "Drop it, Amaro."

Nick looked pleasantly satisfied. Sonny gave him a light shove from behind. It truly felt like high school.

~ 0 ~

Later that afternoon, Montserrat returned to the courthouse with Tania to go over her testimony. The young woman begrudgingly made her way to the appropriate seat and started the session rather uninterestedly. Montserrat had taken her mood as a cause of the entire situation, which was very fair. Rafael had to badger her with questions which couldn't possibly lift the woman's mood.

"Then I woke up. My dress was ripped, stained...he raped me," she spoke slowly, her arms folded over her chest, her gaze looking...bored? Montserrat thought she had to be wrong.

Rafael either didn't notice it from where he sat which, in Montserrat's opinion, couldn't be any less professional given his spot was on the jury stand with his feet propped up. "And you didn't tell anyone."

Tiana shifted in her seat, finally giving him the time of day. "Look, I know I have to do this, but I had to take an express bus and a taxi to get here."

Rather unimportant and pretty much nothing to do with the topic but given the situation, Montserrat assured her it wouldn't be a problem. "Okay, we can reimburse you for that."

Apparently, she said something terrible because Tiana was sending her the coldest of looks. "And that's it?"

She sounded incredulous — why would she be incredulous?

"Is everything all right, Tiana?" Rafael asked her.

"I just…" Tiana sighed. "Forget it. Just tell me what you and Mr. Bauer want me to say."

"We want you to say exactly what happened," Montserrat spoke slowly, getting more confused as the seconds ticked by.

"Lemme look at what I said before, and I'll get it right."

"Why would we—"

"What did you mean when you said you'd say what Orion Bauer wanted you to say?" Rafael cut in, that line suddenly hitting him. He pulled his feet down and stood up, making his way over to Tiana. "Orion Bauer gave you a bonus to keep quiet about the initial complaint, isn't that right?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "A bonus. Uh-huh, right," she spat.

"Are you saying he didn't make a payment?" Rafael waited for the answer but all he got was a hard stare from her in return. "What?" His eyes flickered to Montserrat who'd completely lost them. She had no idea why Tiana was suddenly acting like this.

"How much is that suit?" Tiana asked instead, the judgment filling each of her words. "Two grand?"

Well that was certainly the last thing Rafael expected. "I beg your pardon?"

"And that tie? Please," she rolled her eyes, "I work retail. You don't think I know?"

"Okay, Tiana, what does that have to do with this?" Montserrat came forwards, hoping to get a straight answer and not the crap she was giving them instead.

Tiana barely gave her a glance and when she did, it was full of disdain. "Oh, hello, white girl."

Montserrat scowled. "Excuse me?" Who the hell was this woman making assumptions about? Couldn't be her.

"Orion Bauer paid me half-assed what he paid those other girls," Tiana started, anger lacing her tone.

"And how do you know this?" Rafael asked her, almost stretching an arm towards Montserrat to keep her in place. Tiana was pushing buttons.

"I heard it on LMZ. Do you think I'm stupid? He paid them five grand. So maybe you call him and make it right, then I'll remember better."

"And you think that we're—" Montserrat gestured between herself and Rafael, "—involved with that too? No, wait a minute," she shook her head, "What the hell did you get paid for and why the hell would you think we'd be in on it?"

"Detective," Rafael's call was a warning. Montserrat inwardly huffed but kept her mouth shut. Rafael turned his attention to Tiana who was still glaring at them, more at Montserrat. "What did Bauer pay them for? To keep quiet about the rape?"

"Please," scoffed Tiana, "All I know is, I got paid to say Shakir raped me."

More anger rose in Montserrat. If that was true then did she really think that they would be in on that plan?

Rafael had a better grapple on his frustration at that moment. His mind was racing to make the connections that came with Tiana's claim. "Are you saying...are you saying Shakir Wilkins did not rape you?"

"I'm saying you get Mr. Bauer to give the right amount — the fair amount — I'll say whatever the two of you want me to say," Tiana shifted in her seat again, planting her hands on the bar of her seat. "Hell, I'll do you nasty like I did Shakir in that dressing room, but you got to man up, and pay up."

"That's it!" Montserrat snapped, actually moving towards Tiana until Rafael caught her by the arm and yanked her back. She actually tried getting free out of sheer offence. Their case was probably in shambles, the woman thought they would pay her for her story, and she had the audacity to make a terrible pass at Rafael. She would need some time to get back from that, and even more when the others found out.

In the meantime, she would have to deal with Rafael which was a problem enough. Once they sent Tiana home and they were out of the courthouse heading home too, he was free to laugh (because tomorrow there would be no room for such a thing).

"It's not funny," Montserrat huffed. She picked up her pace on the street with another huff.

"The situation isn't but the way you handled it was…" Rafael stopped walking to think about it, leaving Montserrat to stop as well and look back at him. The clear amusement on his face made her want to smack him for taking joy in her reaction. "It was perfect," he eventually said and laughed.

"You know, right now, I really want to dump you," Montserrat said.

Rafael laughed and started walking again, taking her hand when he walked past her. He squeezed it tight as she tried to pull her hand out of his. "Why? Jealous?"

"No!" she said far too quickly to ever believe it.

"You nearly lunged at the girl," he reminded her, not that he needed to. It was permanently ingrained in his mind.

"But not because of what she said to you," she once again spoke far too quickly for anybody to believe her.

"No, course not," Rafael sarcastically agreed, nearly laughing when she shot him a death glare on the side.

"You're enjoying this way too much!"

"Yeah, I am," he let the laugh come out this time. "Never thought I'd see the day when Detective Novak lost her cool with a victim."

"Based on what she said, she's not a victim," Montserrat spat. "She's lying and that's what makes all future cases harder to get through to court."

"I know, but we have to verify what she's saying. She could just be angry about the amount she was given and wants to get more."

"It doesn't excuse what she said." As soon as Montserrat heard her words that deeply contradicted what she'd just said before, her eyes fell shut and sighed.

"So," Rafael stopped walking, shooting her a smirk, "It is why you're upset."

Montserrat could think of multiple ways to deny that. She could probably argue for the rest of the night if she wanted to, Rafael would definitely get a kick out of it too, but the truth was there and if roles were reversed, he would be doing the same thing. "Yes, fine," she confessed with a groan. She turned to face him, her expression between a glare and a pout. "How dare she!? I'm your girlfriend!" she pointed to herself, ignoring (or possibly not even hearing it in the midst of her anger) Rafael's laugh. "I was standing right there and...okay, so she didn't know that but…" Her face scrunched, making it impossible for Rafael not to laugh even harder. "Oh shut up!" She decided to stop making an idiot out of herself in public and started for home again.

"Montserrat!" Rafael called after her, picking up his pace to catch up with her. "Montse, you need to calm down."

"Shut up!"

"Your vocabulary is on fire this evening, you know?"

She shot him a glare. "Keep talking like that and you're going to get some real colorful vocabulary right now."

Rafael's eyebrows raised in utter amusement. He'd never seen her so riled up and he had quite an impressive talent to irritate her. Jealousy did many things to people. "How about I take you home, huh?" He slowly reached for her hand, unsure if she would allow him to touch her. He had to control the urge to laugh when he clasped his hand around hers and she gripped it even though she was frowning so deeply. He managed to take them to her apartment without getting smacked, though it didn't save him from many more incredulous outbursts. She was beyond pissed (and jealous) and it would take at least one night to bring her down.

"The audacity," she was huffing even when they approached the door of her apartment.

"I know this will get me either smacked and/or something worse but jealousy is a whole other color with you," he remarked, smirking when she nearly bumped her head into the door.

"What!?" she glared at him.

"Are you going to smack the shoulder? Or the head?" he asked with a straight face. She finished unlocking the door and cursed at him under her breath. He followed her inside with a smirk on his face. "It's alright, Montserrat. Calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down," she promptly snapped.

"What can I say then? Because everything I've said before seems to just piss you off even more," he closed the door behind her.

"God you're terrible at this," she leaned on her hip, giving him an incredulous look.

It almost resembled the look Tiana gave them but he wasn't actually stupid enough to say that out loud. "You do know my track record, right?"

She groaned. "You're stupid!"

"Okay, fine, insulting seems to be the way to go with you," he shrugged. "Whatever works for you."

She groaned again as she stomped her way up to him. "You're supposed to reassure me, stupid. Tell me that you like me?" She brought her hands to rest on his chest, her fingers fiddling with the top button of his coat, her frown slowly shifting into a pout. "That you would never look at anyone else? That sort of stuff."

"But you're not jealous, right?" Rafael asked her, his smile widening when her face scrunched.

"No," she said like it should've been obvious that she wasn't.

"Just checking," Rafael took in a deep breath as he arranged his best words to appease her. "Of course I wouldn't look at anyone else—why would I? Look at you," he tucked one of her curls behind her ear then cupped her face. "Everybody wants you, I have to make sure nobody gets their hands on you." Montserrat started smiling, enjoying each of his admiration declarations. "Tú eres mi corazón." He gave her a short kiss on her lips. Even though the apartment was only half lit with the hallway light, he could see a blush on her cheeks. "And you're not jealous, right?"

"Nope!" she popped the 'p' in her answer, making him chuckle.

"Good, because there's really nothing you have to worry about," he bopped her nose. He let his arms drop around her waist. "But if you ever want to 'not-be-jealous' again, that's fine too."

Montserrat's frown returned to her face. "I swear to god—"

Rafael saw her hand coming to shove him so he seized it midair. He tucked her arms in front of her then wrapped her up in a big, and tight, hug to prevent any future smacks. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"

"I really hate you!" she huffed and let her head fall on his shoulder, adding a moment later: "...but I also really like you."

Rafael smiled and hugged her even tighter if that was possible. "I kinda know. I've learned to understand your vocabulary."

"That's so sweet," she said with a light laugh. He dropped a kiss to her hair, slowly letting her arms free to have them around him as well.

~ 0 ~

The next few days were a rapid blur trying to vet the remaining victims. Through yells and demands, each one remained true to her story.

"They're definitely not lying about the transactions," Sonny said as he looked over the information on his computer. "Carla and Macie-Lynn got paid more."

"This whole case is coming down like a house of cards," Montserrat leaned on her desk. "And you know who I think is behind this?"

"How about the man making all the payments?" Nick called from his seat. "Who else, right?"

"Liv's already sent Rollins with Barba to talk to Bauer again," Fin said, leaving the 'now we wait' unsaid.

"Yeah, I know," Montserrat said with a grumble. After learning what she almost did in the courthouse, Olivia pulled her out of the case altogether. It was a right punishment, alright, but it still pissed Montserrat off. Apparently, jealousy wasn't a good reason for almost lunging on somebody even though that somebody turned out to be a liar.

"Control those emotions, Novak," Nick 'tskd' at her. The others grinned at his remark. By now, they all knew what happened at the courthouse.

"Seriously boys, is this high school?" she slammed a hand on her desk, daring any of them to answer her. Suddenly, they all had work to do. "Mhm."

~ 0 ~

"Are you kidding me?" Bauer was outraged once he heard from Rafael and Amanda what had happened with Tiana. "She's shaking me down again!?"

"Dad," Cordelia tried to calm him down, going around his desk to help him sit down.

"No, no!" He shooed her to the side. "She came crying to me. I tried to make it right. I gave her $800, now she wants more? Ingratitude!"

"Now, are you denying you gave Tiana money to claim rape?" Amanda asked slowly so there would be no contradictions later on.

"You're damn right I'm denying, lady. It's an outright lie. Not that I should be surprised."

"Mm-hmm, and why is that?"

"Dad, stop," Cordelia shushed him in vain.

"That girl didn't even graduate. I was the one that made her assistant store manager. Because the way I grew up, background didn't matter. It was a matter of character, integrity. It was a matter of loyalty!"

"Okay, I think that that's enough!" Cordelia spoke over him seeing that he wasn't listening to her. Unfortunately, Bauer kept going.

"It's a long path, a strange journey we are all traveling with our tribes, our families. Just the way of our culture, just the damn way of it."

Rafael felt a headache coming. "This is very simple," he said, cutting Bauer off. "Did you or did you not pay Tiana Raynes to make false allegations?"

"The hell I did not! Did you ask the other girls? The white girls?"

"Dad—"

"Because if you did, you would discover that they didn't change their stories."

"And how do you know they didn't?" asked Rafael. "Are you in touch with them?"

"Dad, you have to stop now-"

"No—"

"Dad, please…"

"Cordelia, Cordelia!" Bauer yelled at his daughter, silencing her. "I'm in charge here! Now look, I love you, but you have no more sense than your mother did! You're blind!"

Cordelia kept herself composed as she glanced at the pair. "We are done here. All of that was off the record. I would like you to leave now. Please. This is enough."

"So now NOW you're worried about me?" Bauer turned to her, startling Cordelia."About the company? Hmm? Now you're a good girl?" Amanda and Rafael watched as the man got in his daughter's face. "Well, that's good. Because I forgive you, my darling. I forgive you for everything."

Cordelia had clearly not been expecting that bit and truthfully neither had the others. It left a lot of questions on their way down from the office.

"What was that?" Rafael couldn't come up with a definite answer so he shared his guesses instead. "Early dementia? Our journey, our tribes?"

"I don't know." Amanda was as lost as he was. She glanced away and happened to see Cordelia leaving the building as well, quite in a rush. "You go on ahead."

Rafael followed her gaze and saw Cordelia walking in the opposite direction. "She can't talk to you about the case, she's his lawyer."

Amanda was already backtracking from him. "We can talk about fathers." Because it sure as hell seemed like there was another story between Cordelia and Bauer that they didn't know about. She turned completely and hurried after Cordelia. "Hey, Cordelia. You all right?"

"I'm fine," Cordelia answered despite being startled with Amanda's sudden presence.

"Is your father always like…"

"Larger than life? Absolutely, and I love him for it. He's old school. A lion."

"Yeah, can you help me understand something? I don't think your dad is the kind of man that would completely destroy someone's reputation just to void a contract." That's where it all seemed to tie back to. Nothing else stood out.

"No, he would never," Cordelia said. "He raised me to believe that your word is your bond. Used to say if you ever betray that, you are dead to him."

"What did he mean when he said that you were blind, and he forgives you? Forgives you for what?" Amanda studied the quick flicker of Cordelia's eyes away from her. The story had to be big.

"I have no idea. If you'll excuse me, we really shouldn't be talking," Cordelia offered her one small smile before picking up her pace.

~ 0 ~

"This doesn't make any sense. Orion Bauer paid the store clerk to say that I raped her?" Shakir stared at Rafael until he would tell him that it was all a lie, that the story couldn't be that.

Unfortunately, Rafael nodded to confirm. "Yeah, Tiana finally gave that up."

"What about the other two?" Calhoun quickly asked. She didn't expect for this office visit to be just about one girl retracting her accusation, not when that was already old news.

"Well, they're still claiming you raped them."

"I didn't!" Shakir exclaimed and this time there was a more plausible reason to believe him. "I swear. I mean, this can't be about the money on my contract. The old man makes a fortune off me."

That's exactly what Rafael and everybody else thought. "Okay, can you think of any reason Orion Bauer wants to destroy you?"

Even Calhoun waited for the answer. Shakir thought for what seemed like a minute before something flashed across his eyes. Rafael knew for sure there was something there, but Shakir never answered.

Two days later, however, he would receive an audio that would answer all ALL the questions. It was that very audio that would set Shakir free from all accusations because he was, in fact, innocent.

The courtroom was flooded with reporters again, the hallways were in constant flashes of cameras.

Calhoun came out of the courtroom with a natural triumphant smirk and when Rafael came out a moment later, he was all but deflated. "I'm gonna go upstairs and...duck calls."

"You poor thing," Montserrat couldn't help but chuckle. It was always a pain to lose against Calhoun but this case would surely leave a good amount of lingering loose ends to tie. The glare he shot her as he left wasn't at all inviting but she welcomed it nonetheless.

"So Bauer just gets away with this," Fin said as they started heading out themselves.

"My bet? A tape like that? Sooner or later it comes out," Olivia said, almost sounding like it was a promise.

"Well, what about these three girls?" asked Sonny. "They lied, under oath. They just get to skate?"

"They should get a punishment," Montserrat muttered. Not only for the way they helped wreck Shakir's reputation but also for making it even harder for future victims to come forwards.

"General policy for the D.A. is when you go after girls when a case falls apart, it can prevent real victims from coming forward next time," Olivia explained what they already knew.

"I guess you guys were right," Amanda looked at Finn, Sonny and Nick. All throughout the case they'd stated their reluctance to believe the girls. It wasn't for nothing apparently.

"We missed Bauer paying them off," Nick said.

"They were just his pawns. Like Shakir, like his daughter," Olivia shook her head.

"And he was good," Montserrat hated to admit. "That old man act of his? He played us. I mean, he really used his own daughter in this. I can't imagine my own father doing that to me."

"He's a narcissist," Olivia reminded them. "He thought he was 'protecting' his daughter." Montserrat stiffened suddenly, not that anybody noticed it.

"The extremes fathers—parents—take to do what they think is protecting their children can sometimes be completely off," Amanda sighed. "They just wreck their lives instead."

"Yeah," Montserrat mumbled. Many things were running through her head when they left for the precinct. They were the same thoughts that directed her back to Rafael's office at the end of her shift. He wasn't expecting her to stop by, much less for her line of greeting to be: "I'm sorry!"

He looked up at her just as she strode up to his desk, looking truly apologetic for whatever she was sorry for. "This should be interesting," he mumbled under his breath before asking, in a regular volume, "What's wrong?"

"Me," she shrugged, wringing her hands together. "I didn't get what you were saying about the 'fathers protecting their daughters' stuff up until today when...well...you know…" she gestured to the side, referencing the awful case they closed today. "What Bauer did to Cordelia, thinking he was 'protecting' her...that is never what my father would do."

"I didn't—that's not what I meant to say!" Rafael exclaimed, panicking with her but for very different reasons. The last thing he wanted was for that assumption to make its way up to her father. "That—I did not mean to say that."

"No, no, I get it," Montserrat hurried around his desk, stopping beside his chair. "I mean, my Mom left when I was four so my Dad did get a little overprotective of me but never to that point. What I want to say is that when you are ready, know that my Dad, he's not...he's not that type of man."

"I know that," Rafael said, feeling odd that he had to say it out loud. 'Because that's not what I meant. I expect him to be protective of you, yeah, but nothing to like what Bauer did."

Montserrat sighed. "I'm sorry for not understanding, for not believing in it actually. You were right." She leaned off his desk and came around his chair. He opened his arms before she'd even sat down on his lap. She curled an arm around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. "I was just so excited about the idea of having you meet my family and them meeting you, I was stupid. I'm sorry."

"No you weren't," Rafael brought a hand to rest on her back. "It's nice that you were excited about it. I didn't actually know you were excited about it. Truth be told, I was probably more afraid than anything else."

"What? Why?"

"I did mean what I said about the over-protectiveness but there's just other things, Montserrat. We, us, we're not exactly conventional."

Montserrat scrunched her face. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Do you remember how we started?"

"How could I forget? It involved a lot of yelling and arguments."

"Yeah, do you think your father would like to know that? That I yelled at you?"

"I think he'd be more upset that I was yelling and throwing things," Montserrat said, chuckling when she remembered the awful way she threw her ballerina necklace at Sonny then later threatened to murder him and Rafael all together.

"I'm serious," sighed Rafael. He leaned his forehead over hers. "Plus, there's an age difference."

"Six years," Montserrat patted her hand against his chest. "It's not that big of a deal. I'm 30, you're 36, need I be more clear on the 'we are well past the age of 18' thing? Somebody's even exactly twice that number." She giggled when he flicked the back of her head. "You really have nothing to worry about when it comes to that stuff."

"I still worry," he admitted. "I'm not always put together, I have a bad attitude, I'm snarky and it comes out. People don't like me for a reason."

"Regardless of when you meet my family, I know they would like you."

"Yeah, how do you know?"

Montserrat raised her head to meet his eyes. "Because you make me happy," she replied plain and simple. "My Dad loves me and he noticed the big change after I moved from Queens. I wasn't me. I didn't laugh, I didn't talk, I spent most of my days in my room. Knowing that you helped me get back to some normality and that you're constantly caring for me is all he needs to know. And it's all he's going to care about."

"That wasn't because of me, you did that on your own," Rafael said, though he was touched that she would think he did that for her.

"But you helped. You don't realize it but you did and you're still helping me. So when you're ready, you won't have to worry," she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"You have that much faith?"

"Mhm," she nodded.

He searched her face, only finding absolute trust in what she said was true. It warmed his heart and after the day they had, it wasn't something easy to do. Montserrat always did things to him that he never thought were possible. She surprised him every day, making him wish that it never stopped. He knew he was in this relationship for the long run and for that to be true, he needed to show her. He wanted to show her.

"Okay, let's set it up."

His words didn't register for Montserrat the first time around. She tilted her head at him. "What?"

"When can we set it up?"

"Like...you mean the...dinner…?"

Rafael nodded his head. "Yeah, you think we can do it soon?" He would never forget the way her face lit up like the fourth of July. He laughed. He had to!

"Oh my God! Are you sure?"

"No, but I'll try to be on my best behavior."

Montserrat laughed. "That'll be the day! But okay!" She crashed her lips on his for a messy, eager kiss.

[anahuacalli]

Omisiones Mejor Actriz Premio Ariel: Un listado de grandes actuaciones que fueron ignoradas por la Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas y que en algunos casos son más recordadas que las ganadoras y nominadas.

1946: Sara García – Los tres García (03 nominaciones)

1946: Meche Barba – Gran Casino (0 nominaciones)

1946: Libertad Lamarque – Gran Casino (0 nominaciones)

1947: Libertad Lamarque – Soledad (05 nominaciones)

1948: Columba Domínguez – Pueblerina (11 nominaciones)

1948: Rita Macedo – Rosenda (07 nominaciones)

[frankenpagie]

11.5.21

[12thperigeeball]

Another sweep, another ball! Trolls young and old have come from light years away to the latest iteration of the grand 12th Perigee Ball, hosted in the wooded wilds far from the polluting lights of the cities. Out there, it's easy for trolls to shed their normal lives and troubles, exchanging them for luxury and glamor and joy. Out there, any troll from any caste could be a king or queen...

This season's ball has made quite a stir among the guests. Art of War speaks to the soul of every troll who has read the words, boiling the blood that flows through their veins in the conquest hungry fervor. Fashion itself may be considered passe by the youth of Alternia, but the ball was never for the teens. Those with older, more refined tastes have relished whetting their claws and teeth on this year's theme!

Even the groundskeepers have enjoyed decorating for the ball this sweep. The closer trolls got to the mansion deep in the mountainous woods, the more they saw glittering chains and great embroidered banners pointing the way - until the trees parted and the grounds were uncovered. Great outdoor heaters kept the snow at bay, and the ground that could be seen was lush and littered with grand statues of great soldiers past and future, faces gleaming with gilded gems as trolls passed.

Was this a ball, or a museum? Trolls could only wonder as they gathered outside and waited for the doors to open. Scholars and weapons dealers stood by the statues and instruments of war, eager to speak of the deeds of the fallen to those who would listen - or help pose beside gleaming battle mechs.

Indeed - It could easily be forgotten what one was here for! But the host wouldn't dare let anyone get too comfortable outside.

A great thundering drum begins to beat across the mansion grounds, and the scholars and dealers gently directed the attention towards the mansion doors. Grand, red curtains parted before the dark mahogany doors as the beat picked up tempo and other drums joined in. It was like a heart beat - tying every troll there into the same rhythm, directing their blood to pump faster and faster, until -

- Until the door opened with one final crack, and Kilran Barbas stepped forward to address his guests.

Dressed in a halo of daggers, and a finely woven coat printed - no, woven - with delicate snowflakes, he looked decadent. Red hair and gold glinted in the light of the courtyard, and he basked in the attention of those before him, a smile on his face and gauntleted fingers spreading as he welcomed those before him.

"Welcome!" He called out, "To the 12th Perigee Ball! I am yet again honored to host again this sweep, and I am excited to see the enthusiasm everyone has brought to my hive. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing your smiling faces! This event isn't about wealth, or notoriety, or connections - but rather, the warmth we all share by being together this time of the sweep. Whether you came with a date or if you came alone, know that you are what makes this night truly special."

"So please, come inside - and enjoy the Art of War I've prepared for you this evening."

With a bow and a clink of his metal fingers against his waist piece, Kilran stepped aside as the guests surged forward to enter the mansion.

Drums dictated the pace of everyone's feet, leading them in a grand, steady march through the grand hallways and bringing them past grand paintings and photos of Alternia's history. From the tyrian rebellions of the 1st century, to the modern day conquest of Deutostal on the edge of the galaxy, every inch of wall was covered in tapestry or painting! Statues separated them all - and in the foyer, some of the grandest pieces were there to be seen.

After all, what could be grander than the massive portraits of every past king and queen, lined up and light with lavish red curtains and swords lined up beneath their frames?

As lovely as that all was, it was all just decor. No, the greatest, grandest piece of the ball stood at the back of the foyer. Raised above the rest upon a pedestal stood the King and Queen's crowns and the Couturier's cape. Glinting and rotating upon their golden stands, no troll could miss them from wherever they stood - after all, wasn't that the goal of this event? A war of popularity, of looks, all to conquer the rest and claim them as their own spoils.

It would be a rough, long battle, but to win - ah, you would just go down in history, wouldn't you?

But until the battle is resolved, why not enjoy yourselves?

What will your character do?

[cinedeoromexicano1920]

𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙋𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡

Pinal continuó trabajando en la firma de productos farmacéuticos, en su departamento de publicidad. Su jefe, sabiendo que ella estudiaba actuación, le dio oportunidad de participar en la grabación de algunas comedias radiofónicas en la XEQ. Debutó en la comedia Dos pesos la dejada, junto a Luis Manuel Pelayo y Carlota Solares.

En la estación de radio, conoció a unos publicistas, quienes la invitaron a formar parte de una compañía experimental. Debutó en dicha compañía con un papel en la obra Los caprichos de Goya. El director de dicha obra era el actor y director mexicano de origen español Rafael Banquells, con el que Silvia inició una relación laboral y una estrecha amistad que derivó en romance. Banquells consiguió que un hombre llamado Carlos Laverne les permitiera utilizar para sus montajes el Teatro Ideal de la Ciudad de México. Laverne eligió a Pinal para participar en un montaje con la compañía del Teatro Ideal, dirigida por la actriz española Isabelita Blanch. La obra se llamó Nuestra Natacha. Silvia actuó en numerosas obras de dicha compañía al lado de figuras como Banquells, Emperatriz Carvajal, Patricia Morán, Miguel Manzano y Emilia Guiú. La primera obra que protagonizó fue Un sueño de cristal.

Pinal debutó en el cine en 1949 con un papel en la cinta El pecado de Laura, donde trabajó junto a Rafael Banquells, su esposo en ese momento. Le siguió el filme Bamba, un pequeño papel en la cinta Escuela para casadas, y finalmente la película La mujer que yo perdí (1949). En ese mismo, participó en el filme, Mujer de medianoche. En 1950, fue elegida para participar en la cinta, El portero (1950). Ese mismo año le siguieron las películas; El rey del barrio (1950), y La marca del zorrillo (1950).

En sus inicios, Pinal participa en pequeños roles co-estelares en varias cintas. Trabaja con David Silva en El amor no es ciego (1950), con Marga López y Fernando Soler en Azahares para tu boda (1950); Mapy Cortés en Recién casados...no molestar (1950); junto a Niní Marshall y Joaquín Pardavé en Una gallega baila mambo (1950); Elsa Aguirre en La estatua de carne (1951); de nuevo junto a Fernando soler en Por ellas aunque mal paguen, y de nuevo con Meche Barba y Fernando Fernández en Cuando los hijos pecan (1952).

Pinal recibe su primer reconocimiento importante, su primer Premio Ariel como actriz coestelar, por su actuación en la cinta Un rincón cerca del cielo (1952) dirigida por Rogelio A. González, donde trabaja de nuevo junto a Pedro Infante. En 1952 actúa con Joaquín Pardavé, Fernando Fernández y Antonio Aguilar en las comedias Doña Mariquita de mi corazón y El casto Susano. También apareció con un pequeño rol en la cinta Si mi vida, protagonizada por Lilia Michel y Rafael Baledón y repitió mancuerna con "Tin Tan" en Me traes de un ala (1952).

𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚣 𝚌𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝟿𝟷!🎂

[giadavina]

Meche Barba, rumbera.

[nattdeferro]

A maioria deles vão falar, eu sei, a maioria deles vão cair, eu sei, depois que conhecerem aquele seu sorriso engraçado e tímido. Por que você não precisa ouvir o que eles falam , você é o que mostra ser não esconde nada, escancaradamente Garota Poderosa , feliz de quem realmente querer conhecer suas maneiras e eu realmente quero, Garota Poderosa. Você tem passado por mim o dia inteiro , se não é pessoalmente é no meu pensamento , o dia inteiro, todos os dias. Vou te contar detalhes de você que acho que ninguém sabe mais que me chamam atenção sem nem te conhecer vou começar:

Você morde o lábio quando tem dúvida de algo , ou quando passa por mim com seus inseparáveis fones de ouvidos. Você meche as mãos como se estivesse dançando conforme a música e sorri olhando algo no seu celular enquanto anda. Fala obrigado até sem precisar pra mostrar que é educada. Faz coque alto por que é muito prestativa , isso prestativa é assim que se diz. Usa máscara do Homem de Ferro, e camisa da mulher Maravilha, por que concerteza é o seu lance. Algo no jeito que se move mostra se está de bom ou mal humor e como posso te conhecer tanto sem te conhecer tanto?

Fiz um filme na minha cabeça imaginei você mãe de duas meninas parecidas mais diferentes sorridentes e inteligentes como você , te imaginei com uma roupa estilosa por que sei que é estilosa , imaginei você pegando no meu pé por que não te respondi e por que não falei para se encontrarmos hoje, achou ruim por que não prestei atenção na música que me mandou ou no texto que escreveu por que não é muito de falar e quando escreve é algo que concerteza vale apena ler. Tem o fato de você nunca precisar usar maquiagem , e o mais gostoso é ver como as pessoas ao seu redor olham pra você sei que é amada. Imaginei a gente junto no domingo você passando a mão na minha barba e me cheirando dizendo que o meu perfume é o melhor que você já sentiu. Já fiz muitas coisas erradas mais imaginando você como eu posso errar , mãe, linda , dedicada trabalhadora já te vi trabalhando mesmo você odiando e dizendo que tá horrível naquele uniforme. Tem cara que carrega o mundo nas costas , mais nas horas vagas toma uma cerveja e curte um pagode , e também manda aquela mensagem errada , que aquele otário nunca vai entender , mais eu entendo Garota Poderosa. Eu aposto que você se deu 100% por que pra você é assim sem indecisões, vive se decepciona , chora e canta se joga , realmente eu só queria conhecer as suas maneiras. Seu corpo e sua mente são sua contribuição, dá amor e nunca perde nada , se eu tivesse você não precisaria mais de nada. Te oferecer algo seguro por que te conhecendo e não conhecendo sei que você merece. Eu sou apenas um cara não posso estar em todos os lugares mais sei que o seu coração seria o lugar mais bonito para estar.

[if-i-couldnt-be-myself]

Ah, se ela soubesse...

Se ela soubesse das coisas que eu sei, jamais teria cometido esse erro

Se ela soubesse do quanto seu olhar me penetra, como se enxergasse no fundo da minha alma, não deixaria você olhar pra outra pessoa nunca mais

Se ela soubesse o quanto é viciante ficar perto de você, jamais teria coragem de se afastar

Ah, se ela soubesse o quanto você cativa as pessoas.. como pôde deixar você escapar?

Ah, se ela soubesse... que a sua voz foi a primeira coisa pela qual eu me apaixonei! Ah, essa tua voz.. tão linda, macia e rouca, mas tão invasiva, meche com cada terminação nervosa do meu corpo, como ela pôde não querer ouvi-la a cada segundo?

Ah, se ela soubesse o quanto você é lindo

Por dentro

Por fora

Cada mínimo detalhe seu..

Ah, se ela soubesse.. o quanto você é especial, pediria à Deus você de presente, como eu costumava pedir nas minhas orações à noite, você é exatamente da maneira como eu pedia ao Pai

Ah, mas se ela soubesse.. que você tem uma falha na barba que te deixa tão charmoso, que a pele do teu rosto é linda e que tudo no teu corpo é, não teria coragem de encostar em mais ninguém

Ah, se ela soubesse.. que você tem uma cicatriz no ombro arrozada, macia ao toque, chega até ser bonitinha, mas não combina absolutamente nada com você, porque nada, nem ninguém deveria te machucar

Ah se ela soubesse, que você sorri enquanto dorme e que é tão lindo, não dormiria mais nenhuma noite sequer porque você transmite tanta paz enquanto sonha, é surreal observar você dormir

Ah, se ela soubesse... como é bom te transmitir carinho e o quanto você gosta e merece ser cuidado, nunca deixaria de proteger você

Ah, se ela ao menos notasse.. o quanto essas pintinhas no seu ombro são apaixonantes, não conseguiria deixar de deslizar os dedos por elas por nem um segundo sequer

E se ela ao menos enxergasse toda essa luz que você irradia, não deixaria de querer ser iluminada por você jamais

E se ela visse o quanto teu coração é puro e aparenta ser forte, mas na verdade é tão frágil e tão cheio de amor, cuidaria com todo o cuidado, o preencheria com amor e carinho porque é isso que ele transmite e é isso que você merece

Ah, se ela soubesse o quanto você transborda amor...

Se ela sonhasse em saber o quanto a tua boca é macia e quente, o quanto teu beijo me abriga, o quando teu abraço me conforta e o quanto eu me sinto em casa quando estou com você...

Se ela soubesse que a minha parte favorita do teu corpo é a curva do teu pescoço que parece que foi feita pra eu me aninhar ali, porque a gente se encaixa tão bem e eu sinto que cada centímetro seu foi criado como um quebra cabeça que se encaixa perfeitamente em mim..

Se ela notasse que por um instante tudo que eu quis foi fazer morada em ti e em troca me abrir por completo pra que tu viesse fazer morada em mim

Ah se ela observasse...

Como é bonitinho o jeito que você caminha e o jeito que você me olha, como você me toca e como é bom ouvir você dizer que estava apaixonado por mim, nunca teria deixado você parar de dizer isso à ela

Mas se você mesmo soubesse de tudo isso, jamais deixaria alguém magoá-lo assim, não te dar o valor que você merece! Porque você merece tudo do mundo! Porque você é tudo, menos dor! Menos escuridão, te disse e repito: você é luz! Não entendo como alguém pôde deixar você partir..

Mas me e perdoa!

Por ter me precipitado e atropelado tudo, nós dois ficamos eufóricos demais.. talvez por não entendermos muito bem o que estávamos sentindo ou pela necessidade extrema de querer alguém pra cuidar da gente, talvez sejam só dois corações calejados clamando por amor e atenção

Mas sabe, eu continuo apaixonada por cada pedacinho seu, costumava passar os meus dias imaginando como seria me encontrar com você e no fim nada saiu como nós planejamos. Entenda que você se tornou alguém especial pra mim e eu quero você por perto, a gente ainda pode construir uma história linda juntos, pois a gente teve uma conexão forte, quando nós nos falávamos dava pra sentir a energia que irradiava de mim e e eu sentia a tua mesmo distante, essa história não precisa ser de homem e mulher e eu adoro você! Mas nós podemos perfeitamente nos tornar grandes amigos ou o que quer que seja que Deus reservar pra gente. 

Eu vou continuar apaixonada pela pessoa que você é e vou continuar te protegendo sempre, eu sinto a necessidade de cuidar de você. Mas eu quero que você entenda que isso que eu sinto não quer dizer que estou criando expectativas de um relacionamento, não! Sempre disse à você, meu pior defeito e qualidade é que eu sou intensa demais e eu me apeguei muito pra deixar você partir assim! Não quero te ver magoado nunca e te quero sempre por perto! Se essa garota é o que você realmente quer, não exite em ir atrás da sua felicidade! Talvez seja um grande erro, talvez seja uma troca injusta, mas você só vai saber depois que tentar e eu sempre, sempre vou estar aqui pra te ajudar, eu prometi isso à você! Mas nunca se esqueça de se colocar em primeiro lugar e de que ninguém tem o direito de machucar você!

Fique sempre por perto, nunca se afaste! Tu sempre vai ser casa pra mim.

Um beijo,

mozão.

[lilyrosedeepdiscomfort]

mi vedo allo specchio e i capelli sono sempre meno è più fini, mi viene quella frangetta ridicola spelacchiata che fa intravedere la fronte che si espande . ora il 25 faccio finalementr la mia priva seduta in un centro a firenze specializzato in disturbi dell’identità di genere e nn vedo l’ora di chiedere come fare per la barba e i capelli , che ora mi fanno stare male più del resto. i miei capelli hanno sempre avuto tanto valore. nell’adolescenza li ho deturpati tagliandoli costantemente e ora che li porto di nuovo lunghi stanno morendo .però hanno sempre un colore bellissimo. io ho sempre avuto dei capelli molto sottili e super delicati e grassi e luminosi. biondo freddo che riflette bene la luce. liscissimi. da piccolo avevo meches naturali e le amiche di mia mamma le facevano sempre i complimenti per i miei capelli , sempre portati a caschetto per mostrare meglio la liscezza e i riflessi che facevano

[saiilorstars]

Dare To Forget Me

Ch. 53: The Impending Meet

Previous chapters // Montserrat’s masterlist

Fandom: SVU // Pairing: Rafael Barba x OC

Warnings: Due to the nature of the series’ plots, I do have to rate this as ‘mature’ for constant mentions of rape.

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @averyhotchner​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @abzidabzy​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @hellofutur​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​​​​​​​​​​ @xovalliegirlxo​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[If you’d like to be added to this specific OC’s stories/edits, send me a message!

When Amanda returned from her trip, she came back with another report of a victim and since that claim also came with the clear bribery of Mr. Bauer, the squad had no choice but to return to the man and get the details straight. At least this time, he wouldn't deny the story when he was brought into the precinct. This time, he and his daughter would be speaking with Rafael and Amanda, see if it would switch their stories around talking to different people.

"So I gave this Marcie girl five grand. She had no memory of what happened. It was the same cockamamie story Carla told," Bauer had shrugged his shoulders like they were talking about something casual.

"But...you hadn't heard Carla's story yet, and Macie-Lynn was six months ago," Amanda pointed out the error in his explanation.

Baker stumbled over his words. "Well, I may have the timeline confused…"

Cordelia stepped in to save her father. "My father runs a multi-billion dollar company fielding hundreds of emails and phone calls a day. You can't expect him to remember who said what when."

"Very true," Amanda agreed then added, with a sweet smile, "But I'm pretty sure he'd remember handing out bonuses the way these girls have claimed you have. Money tends to be hard to forget, especially if it was linked to somebody else coming to you about Shakir, right?"

Of course neither Bauer nor Cordelia had much to say after that, much less when Rafael took over. "Mr. Bauer, you're looking at witness bribery. Think hard."

"Okay, actually, we are done here," Cordelia said quickly, but her father had other ideas.

"No, no, no. There was a gold digger, a black girl...works in retail. I didn't believe a word she said."

Cordelia looked like she was ready to put her own hand over her father's mouth but the damage had already been done. Later that day, Olivia would send Amanda and Montserrat to go talk to that very girl about the situation.

"I like working here. I don't want no part of this," Tiana said first and foremost when she'd been pulled to the side in her store.

"So you think if you talk to the police, you're gonna lose your job?" Montserrat asked. It was a fair assumption to make based on who the biggest star of the company was.

Tiana nodded her head. "Mr. Bauer said Shakir is the golden goose, a role model for my community. Look around, we all have our jobs because of Shakir." And of course proving her point, the store was currently packed with customers. "I'm on a store manager track here."

"And he told you that after you went to him?" Amanda made the next assumption. She wasn't that far off. Tiana reluctantly nodded again. "Listen, honey, from personal experience? Pretending something didn't happen doesn't make it go away."

Montserrat blinked and instinctively looked at Amanda differently. With her, Montserrat could never be sure that whatever Amanda was saying was for the case or because it was actually true. The way Amanda said that right now left Montserrat wondering the same thing. Was she being honest? That shouldn't matter right now, though.

Montserrat shook her head to forget about her thoughts. "Hey Tiana, it's best if you just talk to us with the truth." The woman still seemed reluctant but after a bit more insistence, she started to speak.

~ 0 ~

"Hey," Montserrat strolled into Rafael's office with a file in hand, that of their latest victim. She dropped the file on his desk, motioning him to read it and when he didn't, she shrugged. "What?"

Rafael was giving her a look like he was trying to figure her out and that was puzzling given this was a strictly professional visit. Everything he needed to figure out was already on the file. "That's all you're saying?" he asked, still sounding like he was testing her.

"What...else am I supposed to say?"

Rafael tilted his head head at her, eyes narrowing for a moment. "Is this a test?"

"If it is, can you let me in on it because I have no idea what you're talking about."

His face fell flat. "Montserrat."

"What?" she almost laughed out of sheer confusion. "Didn't Olivia tell you we were dropping this off?"

"Yeah, I just...I didn't think you were coming to drop it off."

"Why wouldn't I?" Montserrat stiffened when an idea popped into her head. "Did you...did you want to cut our interactions short now? For the whole contract we had to sign?"

"What? No!" Rafael sighed. Even though sometimes he would admit (only to himself though) that he liked her challenging ways, he didn't want to play it right now. "I thought you were upset with me because of the...meeting the parents stuff?"

"Oooh! Well, you could've just said that! You let your mouth run all the time, dammit!" Montserrat huffed, missing the way he rolled his eyes at her. "After thinking about it, I decided to give you the space you need to really consider it."

"Seriously?" Rafael raised an eyebrow at her. Her giving something up like this wasn't exactly her way.

Montserrat shrugged her shoulders. "I actually talked to Carisi about it, so you can thank him for this. You should probably start a tally mark about this—"

"Okay, okay," he said quickly, waving that matter off for the moment. "So...you're okay for now?"

"Yes," she sighed. "I'm not going to pressure you. You know what I'd like for us to do but you have to do it out of your own accord. If you think we're not ready for that then...we'll be ready later on."

"And you'd be fine with that?"

"Yes, so long as we're fine," Montserrat's expression was cautious when she spoke.

Rafael realized she was waiting for him to confirm that, yes, they would be fine. Challenging as she was, she could also be a little bit naive sometimes. "Yes," he smiled at her. "Of course we are, and we will be. Thank you."

Montserrat nodded at him. "So...that file?" she tapped a finger over said file. "I told Liv this would be a professional visit. It's the only way she let me come on my own."

Rafael laughed. "She'll be hanging this over our heads for a while." He picked up the file to finally read it.

"Better her than anyone else," Montserrat said.

Rafael would agree. "You know I'm doing my best to avoid Casey around these parts?" It was Montserrat's turn to laugh. "She's like a version of you, only with the same skills as me."

Montserrat smirked. "Now imagine if I did all this for a living?" She made a gesture to his office. "You wouldn't be able to take me."

Rafael looked up from the file to meet her gaze. It sounded like a tempting challenge but if he was being honest, she was already too much for him sometimes. She was exactly how she needed to be and she really complimented him. It was a novelty, really. He wondered if she truly understood that.

"Your silence means defeat," Montserrat said much too proudly for Rafael to want to taint.

His mouth opened on instinct to snap but he closed it in time. A light 'sure' slipped through a moment later. She straightened up with even more pride of her triumph. It was endearing.

"Alright," she tapped a hand over the file on the desk, "This is the new girl, new victim, that Rollins and I spoke to." Rafael picked it up to skim. "She sounds legit, she definitely had things to say about Shakir." He was getting that gist the further he read. "Liv reallys wants you to talk to Shakir and his new representative in this legal matter."

Rafael lowered the file to meet Montserrat's gaze. It was much too big of a smirk not to take the bite. "Who would that be?"

"Our dear frenemy Calhoun." She nearly laughed at his reaction.

"Of course. I'll handle it, I guess...of course…" He started in a new light, even a sneaky smile that Montserrat couldn't yet figure out. "It's always good to have a detective around."

"Oh, so now you want a detective at your side?" She asked, hands on her hips, as she reminded him about his earlier comment to her at the precinct. "I thought a detective was too tiring."

"Montserrat…" He should've known that comment would come back and bite him. "Montserrat, cariño—"

"Na-na-na," Montserrat wagged a finger at him, "Don't you 'cariño' me, ha! That's not always going to work." She planted her hands on his desk, leaning over with a smirk on her face. "Sledujte svoje ústa okolo mňa."

He knew he was in trouble, she was clearly scolding him, but Rafael couldn't get past the way her foreign tongue sounded. Plus, coupled with that smirk on her face? God. "What was that, my dear?" he asked in a pitiful mumble.

"Watch your mouth around me," she translated smoothly. She leaned off the desk, once again proud of herself with his reaction.

"Always," he said automatically, making her chuckle. He shook his head, reprimanding himself for being too weak, though he was sure that the next time Montserrat pulled something like that he would fall again no doubt.

"Hurry up and read the damn thing already," she said as she grabbed a seat across him. "I can be very impatient, you know." Just for show, she kicked her feet up on his desk, raising an eyebrow at him to say something about it. She was pushing buttons and they both knew it. How far would he let her go? The tingle of the suspense was the thrill she loved.

"Montserrat Irene Novak…" Rafael muttered under his breath. He grabbed the file again and decided to focus on it entirely before he lost it again. He did, however, catch her smirk from over the file.

~0~

Calhoun was representing Shakir, much to Rafael's annoyance. She brought Shakir to the office and both listened to the case that seemed to be getting bigger and bigger.

"Tiana Raynes. Sharkwear salesgirl is your latest victim," Montserrat told the pair. There was a flash of recognition in Shakir that didn't go unnoticed by her and Rafael.

"And she kept her panties?" Calhoun raised a clear suspicious eyebrow.

"Yeah, there was semen on them and her dress," Rafael answered with a tight smile. "Better than an autograph."

"When does she allege this took place?" Shakir demanded.

"You were in her store for a march madness event, Mr. Wilkins."

"I was everywhere for march madness. 16 cities in 16 days."

"This was in the Sharkwear flagship store. Tiana took a selfie with you and your cutout," Rafael said as Montserrat brought up said picture on a tablet. It was clear as day. "That's her, that's the dress."

"Okay, she met him," Calhoun shrugged.

"Well, she says he did more than that, so we are going to need a DNA sample today, Mr. Wilkins," Montserrat put the tablet down on the desk.

"No, no, look, I wanna be totally straight here," Shakir said before anyone said anything else. "I was in a bad place. I just lost my marriage. And my wife and I separated on new year's, and yes, I've been dating since."

The term was so loose and everybody knew it.

"And you "dated" Tiana Raynes?" Rafael asked.

"No, hooked up. One time, after hours, in a...a dressing room, and it was her idea."

"Yeah, but that's not her story," Montserrat cocked her head. "See, she told me you drugged her, and she woke up the next morning in the store, her dress stained."

"She says this now, five months later?" Calhoun said, face expressing obvious mistrust. "And she just happened to save the panties? This is well-timed blackmail."

"Look, she's lying about the rape," Shakir said.

"Yeah, like... Carla?" Montserrat sighed sarcastically, "Like Macie-Lynn? They all say that you bought them a drink, and the next thing they remember, they were naked, and they had been violated!" It was hard to believe it in the beginning too but every story was aligning with their predecessors.

That didn't stop Shakir from shouting the opposite. "They are lying too!"

"About what? Tiana's lying about being raped? But you did have sex with her, and the other two, they're lying about everything?"

"Okay, okay, I don't know what's going on here, but Carla, and the other one... Macie-Lynn? I may have had sex with them also."

"And if you did, it was consensual, isn't that right, Shakir?" Calhoun cut in sharply and quickly, as was her usual talent.

"Yes, absolutely. I mean, so I wasn't all warm and cuddly afterwards. I like sleeping alone. You know, spending the night, spooning, it's not part of the Shakir Wilkins experience."

"Mm, not surprising giving the stories," Montserrat flashed him a disdainful smile. "By the way, do you have a prescription for Ambien or Xanax?"

"Yes, of course I do. I can't sleep most nights because my wife is trying to take my son. And that's why I couldn't admit to the sex. She will crucify me with it in the custody battle."

He wasn't wrong there. Unfortunately he wasn't looking at the big picture. "You've got bigger problems than a custody battle, Mr. Wilkins," Rafael promised him. Calhoun knew enough to believe it.

~0~

"Okay, now Shakir is saying he did have sex with all three of them?" Olivia asked after Montserrat returned from Rafael's office. The detective dutifully nodded her head. "And let me guess, it was consensual." Once again, Montserrat nodded.

"It's possible," Sonny spoke up from his seat. "I once had two girls claim their dad molested them, just to get him to pay their student loans off."

"No rape kits. No outcry at the time. Barba's really gonna go forward with this?" Fin asked, leaving Montserrat to nod again. Her neck might hurt after this.

"Give it a rest, guys. I didn't want to believe it either. But we've got three consistent stories, and there's no evidence that the women compared notes…" Amanda said, everyone knowing she had been first in line to disbelieve these girls.

"They may be just after money," Nick pointed out. It was obvious that he, Fin and Sonny still held some of that disbelief. Even Montserrat found herself going back and forth sometimes. She never wanted to turn a victim away but there were a few points that made her feelings shift.

"They already got it from Bauer!" Olivia exclaimed.

"To keep quiet about being assaulted," Sonny corrected her, fully ducking his head when Olivoa threw him a glare.

"You want an outcry witness? Bauer's your guy."

"Good luck! You think Orion Bauer's gonna tank Shakir?" Fin scoffed.

"Mm-mm. I'm predicting health problems, mini stroke, something," Sonny said.

"We do have him on witness bribery charges. That gives us leverage," Montserrat shrugged. The daughter would definitely know that too which would hopefully lead to a compromise.

"In the meantime, let's vet the three complainants," Olivia decided. "Money issues, personal histories, and any previous false accusations." The others dutifully agreed and dispersed for their desks.

~ 0 ~

Despite a challenging conversation, Bauer reluctantly agreed to testify against Shakir. Everything was supposed to go smoothly despite the shaky case, but they caught a breakthrough when one of the victims, Carla, recorded a meeting between her and Shakir. It led to the full arrest of Shakir until the trial began.

A few days before the trial was set to begin, Orion Bay went on the air to announce the termination of Shakir's contract. It was all over the news and on repeat all day that even when Montserrat returned home, her ears were still privy to the broadcast.

"Turn that off," she groaned to Kara as soon as she came in.

"Well, safe to say I know the answer to 'how was work today?'," Kara said as she turned the television off. She looked over to her best friend taking off her coat. "Hey," she called with narrowed eyes, "Where's my boyfriend who promised me a delicious take out—" Sonny walked in just as she was about to finish that sentence and when Kara saw the bags in her eyes, she beamed. "My absolute best boyfriend!" She hopped off the couch to go greet him.

"Best boyfriend?" He repeated with a frown. "Does that mean there's more I don't know about?"

Montserrat rolled her eyes when Kara planted a kiss on him that shut him right up. "You're both annoying but since I want food I won't say anything." She walked by them and essentially grabbed the bags from Sonny's hands.

"That's not saying anything?" Kara made a face, giggling when Sonny very quietly said 'I wonder what she would do if she did have something to say?'.

Montserrat let it go for the sake of her hungry stomach. "Let's just eat. It's been a long day."

"I'll bet," Kara said as she and Sonny joined her in the kitchen. "It's all over the news, interrupting my shows too by the way. How big is it over there?" Both Montserrat and Sonny snorting at the same time was enough of an answer. "Okay, maybe switching topics is a good idea…"

"Yeah," went both detectives as they passed each other their respective orders.

"Hey!" Kara snapped her fingers when something came to mind, "How's that 'meeting the parents' bit coming along with Rafael?"

Montserrat froze. Her eyes flickered to Sonny who had quickly ducked his head to the box in front of him. "You're dead, Carisi."

Kara looked between them, wondering why her boyfriend was under threat. Sonny shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not looking for any arguments," he explained, something that had Kara nodding with approval.

"He's so smart, isn't he?" She curled her arm around his and rested her head against his shoulder. "I thought you looked kinda funny—"

"Funny?" This was definitely not getting better for Montserrat. "What the hell does that even mean?"

Kara pulled her arm from Sonny's to set her hands on her hips. "Montserrat, I've known you for years, like a decade really. You think I don't know when something's bothering you?"

Montserrat huffed. That was a fair point. "I'm not 'bothered'," she clarified. "Not anymore."

"Yeah, you're welcome," Sonny said, only to have a very sharp 'shut up!' thrown at him in return.

"Sure you're not bothered there?" Kara almost laughed.

"I'm not," Montserrat reassured her. She grabbed a seat and opened up her box of food. "I talked to Rafael, I told him I was giving him space. I'm not interested in pushing something on him that he doesn't want to do." It's the last thing she would ever do to him.

"He'll come along," Kara waved it off. "How do you plan on breaking the news to your family, though?"

"Gael already knows," Montserrat reminded her.

"Yeah, but he doesn't know who. And your dad has no idea about it. Got any plans?"

Montserrat shrugged. "I don't know. I figure just dinner or something."

"Why not something here?" Kara beamed at her own idea. "Oh! You can have something here and we can invite your family, even Casey to cushion the news for your dad."

"What?" Montserrat couldn't help but laugh. Casey was the last person who would 'cushion' anything about her dating life. If anything, she would make fun of them in front of her father.

"It actually could help ease the tension," Sonny put in his two cents when Kara started rambling about the evening in mind. "That's what Barba was worried about, right? He already knows Casey, he has some relationship with Gael—a limited one but something nonetheless—and Kara and I could even be around if that helps."

Montserrat smiled appreciatively at the two of them. For all the jabs she took at them and their relationship, the innate drive of them to help her constantly with her own relationship was something she would be thankful for. "You guys would do that for me?"

"Yeah!" they both exclaimed.

"When Rafael says 'yes', because we all know he's going to eventually agree, we can have everything set up!" Kara promised. Sonny chuckled when she started listing possible dinner ideas. He started eating from his own and maybe even picked from her box.

"It may not be for a while, Kara," Montserrat said. "I'm really just going to let him think about it for as long as he needs to."

"Well yeah but it'll eventually come up. So we can have your dad, Gael and the girls?" Kara laughed with Montserrat at the idea of her nieces meeting Rafael. "Oh, I can't wait to see what Ivana has to say."

"Juliana is the one that worries me," admitted Montserrat. Teenagers and whatnot.

"And I'm sure Casey will help no matter what. Plus, I'll be here," Kara gestured to herself then Sonny, "And of course my boyfriend and your partner who will say nothing but good things. I'll even bring along Damian!"

Sonny nearly choked on a bit of pasta, his endless coughing pulling the gazes of the two women. Kara patted his back while Montserrat stared with the deepest of confusion.

"You okay over there?" she asked.

"Y-yeah!" But he still coughed for a few more seconds. "Just...wrong pipe…"

"Gotta slow down there," Kara chuckled, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Yeah," he cleared his throat twice before he was able to stop. He wondered if it had even crossed Rafael's mind the inevitable meeting between him and Damian. He has to by now. It was simply too important to forget. He suddenly wished his girlfriend wasn't that big of an organizer because he had no desire to be around that gathering.

Unfortunately, Rafael would have no choice.

[cinemacuervo]

🍿 CINEMA CUERVO 🎬 Y 🔥 COMALA 🔥 PRESENTAN EL ESPECTACULAR CICLO DEDICADO A LAS DIOSAS DE LA PANTALLA DE PLATA, LAS INOLVIDABLES... 🌟🌟🌟 RUMBERAS DEL CINE MEXICANO 🌟🌟🌟 UN VIAJE FÍLMICO A UNO DE LOS GÉNEROS MÁS DIVERTIDOS Y EXITOSOS DEL CINE NACIONAL, CON LAS MÁS BELLAS Y TALENTOSAS ARTISTAS DE LA ÉPOCA, MÚSICOS DE LA TALLA DE AGUSTÍN LARA, "TOÑA "LA NEGRA" Y LUIS ARCARAZ, Y PRODIGIOSOS ACTORES Y CÓMICOS COMO EL GRAN DAVID SILVA Y ADALBERTO MARTÍNEZ "RESORTES", NO TE PIERDAS ESTE FABULOSO CICLO!! 🤩🌟 Iniciamos este JUEVES 4 DE OCTUBRE con la espectacular película que encumbrara a NINÓN SEVILLA como la máxima exponente cubana en México, la inigualable producción de JOSÉ DÍAZ MORALES, "SEÑORA TENTACIÓN", un formidable melodrama musical con la actuación especial del músico poeta AGUSTÍN LARA, y la presencia histriónica devastadora del inolvidable DAVID SILVA. Continuamos este sensual ciclo EL JUEVES 11 con la divertidísima "¡AL SON DEL MAMBO!" con la ardiente belleza de AMALIA AGUILAR, prodigiosa bailarina y primera actriz, que en esta comedia a ritmo de mambo y cha cha chá nos deslumbra, acompañada del bailador ADALBERTO MARTÍNEZ "RESORTES" todo un clásico de la comedia y el baile sabrosón. Imperdible película, muy muy amena :) MARÍA ANTONIETA PONS se volvió parte del Olimpo de las actrices del cine mexicano con la película LOS MISTERIOS DEL HAMPA, que tendremos el placer de proyectar el JUEVES 18, dirigida por uno de los realizadores más interesantes de todo el cine nacional, el inigualable JUAN OROL. Un filme de culto, absolutamente imperdible. Concluimos este sensual recorrido al cine de RUMBERAS, con la maravillosa MECHE BARBA, deleitando nuestras pupilas con su belleza y nuestros corazones con su gran actuación en la formidable película HUMO EN LOS OJOS, donde brilla al lado de la gran TOÑA "LA NEGRA" y de nueva cuenta el galán que también era un actorazo, DAVID SILVA. Fascinante película que daría auge a la producción masiva en México del fastuoso CINE DE RUMBERAS 🔥💚🤩🎬 SÓLO EN 🔥 COMALA 🔥 EL MEJOR LUGAR PARA GOZAR DEL CINE MEXICANO PINO SUÁREZ #300 CENTRO FUNCIONES 7:30 PM COOPERACIÓN $25 INCLUYE PALOMITAS DELICIOSAS 🍿🍿🍿 https://www.instagram.com/p/Boegd25A3iT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1u8fkbt1ui7oy

[onlymexico]

Germán Genaro Cipriano Gómez Valdés de Castillo (19 September 1915 – 29 June 1973), better known as Tin-Tan, was an actor, singer and comedian who was born in Mexico City but was raised and began his career in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. He often displayed the pachuco dress and employed pachuco slang in many of his movies, some with his brothers Manuel "El Loco" Valdés and Ramón Valdés. He made the language of the Mexican American pachucos famous in Mexico. A "caló" based in Spanglish, it was a mixture of Spanish and English in speech based on that of Mexican immigrants.

He usually acted alongside his "carnal" (blood brother), Marcelo Chávez, who also accompanied Tin-Tan with a guitar. He was a prominent figure during his golden years of movie making, from 1949 onward. His 1948 movie, Calabacitas tiernas, a comedy, was chosen as one of the best in Mexican cinema

Tin Tan dancing with singer and actress Flor Silvestre, his co-star in ¡Paso a la juventud..! and Escuela de verano

He has the record of having kissed the most actresses in his career, some of them the beauties of their day. Some of his co-stars were Marga López, Rosita Quintana, Silvia Pinal, Amalia Aguilar, Meche Barba, Ana Bertha Lepe, Maria Antonieta Pons, Tongolele and many more. He also collaborated closely with actress and comedian Fannie Kauffman, who was also known as Vitola, during their careers.

He was also one of several people who were originally intended to be on the front cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but denied the invitation.[citation needed] He requested that Ringo swap him for a Mexican Tree known as "El Arbol de la Vida", the Tree of Life, and he did.

He was the voice of Baloo the bear and Thomas O'Malley the cat in the Mexican Spanish dubbing of the Disney films The Jungle Book and The Aristocats; both roles were originally voiced by Phil Harris.

Tin-Tan was the subject of the 2005 documentary, Ni Muy Muy… Ni Tan Tan… Simplemente Tin Tán, by Manuel Márquez and Carlos Valdés, son of the comedian.

Hey, Pachuco!

[majulaporti]

my weak point.

Eu literamente não sei qual é o meu problema. Te encontrar me fez encontrar meu lugar de paz, eu sempre fui atrás de você porque não teria como sobreviver sem me descarregar ao seu lado... Você é amor, você é calmaria ao mesmo tempo de tempestade, você é meu encaixe, você é meu contraste, quando estou com você sou realmente quem eu sou de verdade aqui dentro, estar com você torna qualquer lugar em paraíso e qualquer momento em perfeição, então rapidamente todas as pessoas são boas, não há mal ou ruína ao seu lado. E derrepente tudo fica perfeito em milésimo de segundos, porque ali é o melhor lugar para se estar, e pronto, chegou o extremo da minha zona de conforto. Então, rapidamente me encontro no momento mais perfeito da minha vida.

Eu não sei o motivo real da sua existência na minha existência, e pra ser sincera eu nunca soube o que fazer de verdade quando estou perto de você, caraca... eu que sou tão boa em tudo, eu que dou conta de tudo e mais um pouco, ao seu lado me torno aprendiz novamente... tudo se torna a minha primeira vez ao seu lado, e com isso fica ainda mais especial passar momentos bons ao lado de você. Eu te amo tanto, e se pudesse você ficaria 24 horas ao meu lado sem que ninguém pudesse te olhar, te tocar, te desejar, te amar... Eu que gosto tanto de falar do seu cabelo, da sua barba, do seu corpo, do seu olho, não me contento em parar um segundo de te encher, e faço isso de nervoso. Você nem faz idéia do quanto eu te desejo, de quantas noites não sonhei e desejei você, você é maravilhoso e eu não consigo ficar mais de 3 segundos encarando esses olhos castanhos verdeados... Já você me admira como se fosse um quadro de Monet, e por mais que peça milhões de vezes para parar, você nunca tira seus olhos de mim, e então novamente eu que sou tão grande me torno um nada com o sentimento do seu olhar. Você ama me olhar, e isso meche comigo infinitamente. Rapidamente novamente me encontrei no momento mais perfeito da minha vida.

Eu não sei porque apareceu em 2015, não sei o motivo de não conseguir me desaproximar de você, e é verdade!!! Quase impossível me afastar de você, e mesmo quando você quis que isso acontecesse eu não sumi daqui, é como se meu início fosse em você e meu termino também, como se fizéssemos parte de um só corpo, sendo assim literalmente impossível não estar ao lado. Eu não sei porque você ta aqui, eu não sei se devo continuar te amando, se devo deixar você ir, ou se deixo tudo como está. Já fazem quase 3 anos que eu não sei de nada Felipe, eu literamente queria saber muito o motivo disso tudo. E de nada adiantaria tudo o que você faz por mim se eu não me deixar permitir, como eu disse acima, tudo se torna a minha primeira vez quando estou com você, o que sempre fará de tudo muito especial. Talvez eu devesse começar agir pelo impulso, assim seria mais feliz e faria o que gosto com pessoas que gosto. Mas em vez disso, eu sou daquelas pessoas que pensam 50 vezes antes de agir, e no final das contas por pensar demais não reage da forma como deveria... to com um buraco dentro de mim e ele surgiu aqui a partir do momento que entrei naquele carro ontem pra ir embora.

Literalmente, eu faço tudo errado sempre...

[giadavina]

Meche Barba