#YOUR HONOR OUR CLIENT DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS ILLEGAL

[mateoxrafael]

"I'd still be helping each other, pretty sure motivational speaking would be a lot less messy," but Mateo loved the thrill of the mess, going into work and not having a clue what to expect. To know that it was his hands that saved lives, it was like no other feeling in the damn world and he absolutely loved it. "Maybe that can be a retirement gig when I get sick of scrubbing up," and hey, when it came that he wasn't having to hide who he was anymore he'd love to go around talking to whoever would listen to him. "I'm attractive which will at least draw a bigger crowd," and then he began to laugh without warning as the next thought came to his mind, "I could have a whole cult following, that'd be insane." Granted, he was in the mafia, which was basically the same thing as far as he was concerned - not that he wanted to be a part of it.

"Hm, a hero walking about our shores, we should be so honored, and yet you're so nonchalant about it. Do you know what other men would give to be put in that situation of honor?" He asked, though he wasn't going to push the subject. The client obviously didn't seem too phased by the award so why should Mateo continue to bring it up? As he listened to the others answer to the first question he asked he couldn't help but nod, "sound too good to be true so you had to see for yourself?" He was looking for something wrong, something illegal about it all, "I think them coming out here saved their asses when it comes to the legality of it all, but what do I know about what's legal and illegal these days," especially given the life he'd lived up to this point. The man, although not breaking laws himself, was surrounded by it on the daily. Though that wasn't the more important of the answers he was given, instead Mateo focusing on the second that he'd given and how he couldn't quite even explain it. "You don't know that," he suggested, "you'd be surprised what people could understand around here given the opportunity. You seem like you've got a lot on your mind, want to talk about any of it?"

Philosophy was not what he was expecting when he came to the brothel island. And yet, the guy beside him was spouting off deeper things than his therapist had the entire time he had used one. It was interesting. He wondered what had happened in this man's life that would cause him to have such an outlook. It was a hopeful one but when he spoke, Mike couldn't help but catch some type of sadness there. But really, hope only bred from sadness, didn't it? "You ever think about ditching doctoring and becoming a motivational speaker?" Mike asked, his brow raising. It was a joke because, yes, Mike could joke sometimes, but it was a real statement too. The man had a lot to say. He should consider letting more hear it.

He shrugged, "Some sun. It can be pretty gloomy, honestly." He mentioned. Mike didn't mind it though. Sun was alright but he got sick of it pretty easy. He was sure he was going to spend most of time indoors on the island, honestly. He chuckled and shrugged, "I suppose. They only give them out if you did something particularly 'heroic' in their book." It was pretty stupid in his opinion because all cops and federal agents were heroic in their own right, but what did he know? Mike ran his fingers through his dirty blond locks and he shrugged his shoulders, "I couldn't find anything about this place." Mike admitted, "It's really bizarre. I figure coming here is the only to figure it out myself." He shrugged. Perhaps it was stupid. But Mike was a curious man. The other question was to be expected. He was silent for a few moments, unsure how he wanted to phrase why he was there, "It's hard to explain." He just said, "Doesn't matter anyway." Mike threw out there and shrugged, "No one would get it."

[erijonarexhepis-blog]

PILOT

SEASON ONE, EPISODE ONE ////// PART FOUR

Part one, Part two, Part Three, Part five

April is scribbling down notes on her notebook, a cup of coffee in her hand. It's morning, and they're going to the courthouse today. April has been putting some of her attention to the Lila Stangard case because she can't stand not knowing, and she loves to solve mysteries.

"Mornin'," Sheri walks in. She's wearing one of April's oversized t-shirts, and her hair is still messy.

April doesn't look up as she responds, "good morning."

"You're still on that?" Sheri pours herself a cup of coffee. "Did you know her or something?"

"A friend of a friend. Sorority girls would hang out at the bar where I work." April looks up from her notebook. "I didn't know her personally."

"So you're doing this for your friend? That's sweet."

April looks at her for a moment. "No, I'm doing this because I love mysteries. This is a potential murder case."

Sheri gives her a look. "Not every mystery is a murder case."

"Potential," April repeats. She looks at her watch. "I have to go to court now." She stands and gathers her things. "I'll see you later."

"Absolutely." Their lips connect in a short but sweet kiss.

"Bye," April smiles. She walks away.

"Bye," Sheri calls after her— with a smile on her face.

"Mr. Bryant, you and your business partner, Mr. Kaufman, had a meeting in his office on the morning of the accident, correct?" Annalise asks.

The man who has taken the stand answers, "yes. To discuss moving Gina to accounting."

"So, to avoid any possible sexual harassment lawsuit?"

"That's correct," he nods.

"Will you please read this e-mail that you wrote to Mr. Kaufman?" Annalise gives him a letter.

"Dear Arthur, consider this my official request that you step down as C.E.O. I've warned you about having sexual relations with employees of this company—"

"Your honor, this e-mail was not part of the discovery file," the prosecutor protests.

"Is this true?" The judge asks Annalise.

"I thought it was," she replies. "Although, my associate is more familiar with the paperwork on this case." Annalise takes the paper and walks over to Bonnie. "Bonnie?"

"Oh, my god," Connor says in a low voice.

"What?" Wes and April ask, confused, both looking at Connor, who is sitting between them.

"I found the e-mail in the files given to us by our client's previous attorney, your honor," Bonnie says. "I just assumed it was a part of the discovery file."

"It wasn't, which means it was obviously obtained illegally."

"Enough," the judge orders. She turns to Mr. Bryant. "Did you write this e-mail, Mr. Bryant?"

"Yes," he answers.

"Then I have to side with the defense here. The email's admissible."

"Your honor!"

"I've made my decision, Mr. Williams."

"Mr. Bryant, as stated in the e-mail, you were angry at Mr. Kaufman for taking part in a sexual relationship with an employee."

"I was frustrated, yes."

"So frustrated that perhaps you swapped his blood pressure pill for an aspirin in order to gain sole ownership of the company?"

"Objection!"

"Withdrawn. No further questions."

"We did well today," Annalise says. "No doubt due to Mr. Walsh's hard work last night. I'll be at the dean's cocktail party if you find anything before tomorrow." She leaves.

April turns to Connor, surprised. "You did that?"

Connor grins. "Well, don't sound too surprised."

Michaela looks between them, almost weirded out by their interaction. "How'd you get that e-mail?" Michaela asks.

"Yeah, bro. For reals," Asher adds.

"I don't kiss and tell." Connor starts to walk away. April and Michaela look confused.

"Was that sarcasm?" April asks at the same time as Michaela asks her question— "What the hell does that mean?" They follow him.

///

April is behind the bar making drinks, which she decided would be better than going to the dean's party. She needs the money because taxes don't pay themselves. It's a slow night, so occasionally, she pulls away from work to write.

"You still writing on that thing?"

April gives the other woman a side glance. "You said you liked my poetry, Rebecca."

"Yeah, kinda regret that now," she rolls her eyes playfully.

"No, you don't," April says as she closes her notebook. "What do you need?"

"I need a big pepperoni pizza and a beer. And the couple on table four want two glasses of red wine." Rebecca smiles at her own comment.

April chuckles under her breath. "Right away."

"So, you and your girlfriend," Rebecca starts as April grabs a bottle of wine, "have you screwed yet?"

"We haven't. Not that it is any of your business." April pours wine on the two glasses.

"But why haven't you? Because you're a demigod," Rebecca guesses.

April frowns at Rebecca and hands her the wine glasses. "I'm not a demigod. I'm mortal."

Rebecca sighs. "Remind me to teach you how to be sarcastic." She walks away to serve their customers.

"I don't need sarcasm," April tells Rebecca once she gets back.

"It's how normal people socialize."

"Not everyone."

"Yeah, you're right. Kids don't know what sarcasm is. They take everything literally. And so do you."

April pauses for a moment. "Did you just call me a child?"

"Point is that you would be more fun. Not that you're not fun. I find it very charming when a smart person like you doesn't understand something as common as sarcasm. Makes me feel smarter," Rebecca grins.

April smiles a little. "Then, you're welcome."

Rebecca chuckles. "You're a weirdo. And you're buying me pizza and beer." She walks away before April can protest.

"What?" April mumbles.

///

April enters the apartment, and she's thinking about something Rebecca said. She hasn't had sex with Sheri yet, even though they have dated for months now.

Sheri is sitting on the couch, she has a book on her lap, and she's drinking tea— probably with milk. She looks up from her book. "Hey," she smiles.

April closes the door. "Hey." She feels overwhelmed because she knows that Sheri wants to do it, but she doesn't understand why she doesn't.

"Are you okay?" Sheri looks concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Sheri doesn't look convinced. "What is it? You have that look on your face?"

April frowns. "What look?"

"You had that look when we first talked about sex. I remember that. Why are you thinking about sex?" Sheri has a teasing smile on her face.

"A friend brought it up. That's all."

"Do you want to do it? We haven't done it yet, so this would be our first time."

The anxiety grows in April's chest, but she doesn't know why. She knows how she feels about Sheri. "Sure," she mumbles.

Sheri smiles. "Really?"

April hesitantly nods. "Sure."

Sheri's smile drops. "No, you don't."

"I— I don't know," April exhales.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Sheri frowns. "How can you not know?"

"I-I-I just— I don't know. Okay?"

"April—"

"I don't know why I bought it up," April cuts her off. "I'm sorry."

"April, you don't have to be sorry. I just need an explanation."

"I-I don't have one. There's no right answer to this. There's no book that I can read that'll give me the answers. I don't know why I'm like this. I didn't choose this."

Sheri stands up, and April backs away when she feels herself tear up. "Like what?" Sheri is more confused than ever.

"I only feel sexually attracted to someone once I've made a strong emotional connection to said person."

Sheri takes a step back, processing what April told her. "You're not attracted to me?"

"Sheri—"

"I need a moment," Sheri cuts her off. "I'm gonna go for a walk." She grabs her coat.

"It's late." Sheri ignores her words and walks out.

///