#maybe prepping for the detective's exam?

[thestarrynightslover]

Okay, so PD s11 finale theories:

Route A: they work real hard get to the killer and Voight but it's too late and he's dead/dying/dies en route to Med/at Med

Though I'm not so sure abt this cause we haven't heard about Jason's leaving (no, I am not up to date with who's already been confirmed to stay, sorry)

And if this happens, I think Hailey, or someone else on the team (prob Hailey), will kill the offender and it won't be the best of shoots so she'll be forced out of the department, or it'll take a toll on her and she'll take Petrovic's advice and make a change in her life (leaving cpd, and what I'm gonna say now is another discussion entirely but: she might not even wanna continue to be a cop and let's remember she has a college degree!).

OR

She'll just be really shaken by Voight's d3ath (which will be her losing another one she loved/who was her family) and will leave bc of that, she'll think that job is taking more than giving.

Route B (a happier and therefore less likely one, lol): everything will work out and Voight will be okay but Upton's good work as a team leader will be so praised that she'll get some sort of promotion and will have the opportunity (and accept, again, following Petrovic's advice) to lead another team.

OR

Even saving Voight, she'll kill the guy (or he will!! And she'll want to take the heat) and be asked to leave the pd/leave bc she can't leave like that anymore.

In summary, I think the episode, despite being a finale (which are usually more team-coded), will be Upton centric and will highlight those conversations abt mental health and change between her and Petrovic and that's gonna have everything to do with her leaving.

Another conclusion I'm reaching after e12 is that (total shocker, yes I know 🤡) there will be no upstead reunion/closure whatsoever, bc Hailey's departure is not gonna have anything to do with that. And even though I will most likely be over the moon if we get at least a phone call with Jay, I don't think that should happen bc as much as they did the upstead break up really dirty and bad and fucked up with all those unanswered phone calls and stuff, I think it wouldn't make any sense to bring him back or even up at all again, for obvious reasons: we haven't heard about Jay/upstead in forever now. Literally no mentions that either even happened on the show ever since Jo's first episode where she points out that Hailey just got a divorce. And even though Hailey's not healed at all after all she went through (not just Jay's leaving!!), it's like she has gotten some sense of closure on that part of her life and to bring that all up again would just be straight up cruel with her/them (cause whatever happens, I don't see them getting back together, so...). But this is a drama (read character-hater) show, so who knows, right?

Well, that's it, thank you for coming to my ted talk if you made it to the end of this rant. Bye, see ya next week!

[mtdthoughts]

Academics (Migi & Dali Observation)

Here, I just want to compile all the times that we got to see the twins' academic abilities (mostly Dali's), so nothing too deep here. Spoilers throughout the whole story will be shown.

The twins start off their first year (~April) in the lowest-ranked class. There may have been an entrance exam, and I wouldn't be surprised if the twins did not do well considering they've likely had no previous schooling. Migi seems to be incapable of doing math, though he may be incorrectly assuming that Dali is just as bad as him.

The twins have their results from quizzes before midterms. Dali gets a 61 in History, a 68 in Science, and a 71 in Math (shown in the manga), while Migi gets a 3 in English and a 6 in Japanese. It's pretty amazing that Dali is able to get decent grades despite having no previous schooling, while it seems clear that school isn't Migi's thing.

Also, notice the division of subjects, which clearly isn't equal. Dali took Math, Science, and History, while Migi took English and Japanese. It's hinted that Dali has more of a STEM focus. Also, Dali probably chose what he thought was objectively the three hardest subjects, which is in character for the reliable older brother. Of course, he probably should've realized that it would've been best for him to do all the studying and for Migi to do something else. Maybe he just wanted Migi to contribute or wanted Migi to feel equal?

While disguised as Sali, Dali is able to study in the library and fool (poor) Migi into studying harder. Dali's scores continue to improve, while Migi makes even more impressive improvement.

The twins get their midterm results. Dali gets a 97, 98, and 99, while Migi gets 100's to fulfill his promise to Sali. While it's amazing what love can do to Migi, Dali actually shows much promise in academic abilities, as he's able to rise to the top in no more than a couple months. Plus, he didn't need to run himself ragged like Migi.

While infiltrating the Ichijo house, Dali learns and makes use of lie detection and hypnosis just by reading Akira's books, showing his curious and experimental nature. His reference to "litmus paper" shows that he was definitely paying attention in science class.

While it's clear that Migi hates school, Dali becomes capable of tutoring others. He's come very far from arithmetic to hyperbolas within just one year.

Hitori has moved on to the top-ranked advanced class, and even gets a perfect score on his exams (*Note: this is an anime-only scene). Somehow, I doubt that Migi earned these scores himself, so it was likely Dali who was behind this achievement. I guess this shows that Dali is excellent at all subjects, though his specialty is likely somewhere in math and science.

Now, Dali is 15/16 years old and is reading a book on algebraic geometry, which is typically considered graduate-level mathematics at university. It's remarkable that he started off as an orphan with little to no schooling and is now a prodigy far above his peers in knowledge. He kind of reminds me of William from Yuukoku no Moriarty, considering that William is also a blonde elder twin who was an orphan and is a genius at math among other things.

Now, Dali is attending school, though I'm not sure what type of school (e.g. high school, prep school, university, etc.) he's going to or what he plans to study. Regardless, I'm sure he'll find success, and I'd like to think that once he's done with school, he'll be able to hang out with Migi more. Of course, that's assuming his ambitions don't take him further away.

Bonus:

This post was mostly centered on Dali, so let's go back to Migi. Again, it's clear that Migi hates studying, as his goal is to become an avant-garde artist. But this leaves me wondering: Is Migi attending a high school, or is he just done with school altogether?

I bring this up because in Japan, compulsory education lasts until junior high school. Given who Migi is, I'm thinking it's more likely that he ditched school and is now spending his days chilling with his parents and friends while thinking of and making new creations, which is perfectly fine if it makes him happy!

[formenis]

Can you do a oneshot of L Lawliet where he is in a secret relationship with Light's twin sister and she finds out she is pregnant so she shows up at Task Force to tell L and just announces it to the whole task force but its L who announces he is the father.

OML I'm so sorry for the delay, Anon-san 😭😭

Lately I'm feeling so overwhelmed and in the dumps that I lost any sort of inspiration. I hope you like it thou.

.

.

TITLE: NEWS

pairing: L x Yagami!fem!pregnant!reader

warning: none.

«See you later mom»

«Be careful dear. You too Light»

«Yeah bye mom»

And the door was softly closed after that answer. The two Yagami twins, Y/N and Light, always left home earlier than their sister Sayu. Light had to take the train for the Daikoku Private Academy while Y/N was a last year high school student at the Gamou Prep Academy, where her twin brother attended supplemental classes in the afternoon. Actually, it was what her family knew. The reality was a lot different.

Despite the two twins had the same age, the same skills and the same perfect school report, Y/N had that extra oomph that Light hadn't. It was thanks to this oomph that ensured her a special, secret job. She was noticed by no less than the greatest detective in the world, L.

Y/N Yagami had everything L needed: intellect, slyness, excellent rhetoric. At first, they had a simple working relationship made of mutual respect and esteem. But as time passed those feelings changed.

Initially Y/N felt strange: L was this mysterious detective with an extraordinary mind and skills, she never saw him in person. She had the impression that what she felt for him was wrong: what if L didn't exist? Y/N was so curious about him that one of their online meetings, she couldn’t wait to ask him thatquestion.

«L, can I ask you something?»

« 𝚈𝚎𝚜»

«Why did you decide not to show yourself? Can you describe yourself to me, please?»

A long pause followed her question. Y/N didn’t know what to say (or to do). She had the feeling she crossed the threshold.

«𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝙻 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚢. 𝙸𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝙻 𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛»

Such an arrogant person. Y/N expected an answer like that. So she gave up with her wish to see her crush' face.

Sometime later, however, the Yagami girl met someone. A pale, tall young man with a simple white shirt and faded jeans; his hair was moved by the wind and they seemed messy yet rather silky. He was standing there, at the top of the Tokyo Train Station's stairs, staring intensely at her, few steps higher than the girl. This man was blocking the way and Y/N was in a rush.

«Excuse me, I have to-»

«You're Y/N Yagami?» he immediately interrupted her and in the meantime he hid his hands in the pockets of that faded jeans.

«Who wants to know it?» Y/N replied defensive. Unlike Light, Y/N had good skills in many martial arts and she was ready to kick his ass, just in case.

«Me»

Y/N hadn’t the idea that in front of her there was L himself. He introduced himself as Ryuzaki but, for some reason, she couldn’t believe him. For her, it was like he had a good answer for everything as if he planned every single (and possible) question from the Yagami girl. That reminded her of…L. Everything about him reminded her of the detective.

Day after day this Ryuzaki started to appear more and more often in her life: at the train station, on her way home or after school. He told her he was studying for the entrance exam at the To-Oh University, that was why the two of them were seeing each other that often.

«I see, what do you want to study?»

«Criminology»

Y/N and Ryuzaki created a strange bond between them. The Yagami twin felt so at ease with him despite his particular (and rather unique) behaviour: she didn’t mind about the large amount of sugar he ate or the sitting position he took. He was so smart and brilliant…once again she thought about L.

It seemed like that Ryuzaki appreciated Y/N's presence too. He loved listening to her or analyse every single feature of her figure. She would find him staring at her such intensity that she would look away.

Y/N, however, had so much in her mind. She was so convinced that Ryuzaki and L were the same person that she felt so anxious around him. She had to know the truth.

«Ryuzaki, can you tell me something?»

«What is it, Y/N-san?»

«Are you L?»

The two of them were waiting for the train and Ryuzaki was standing (or "slouching" actually) right beside her. His dark hair covered the face and Y/N couldn’t tell what he was feeling or thinking. She was afraid that she crossed the threshold.

Ryuzaki smirked and sighed through the nose as if he laughed silently. Then he turned to look at her. «Yes»

He kept staring at her while Y/N got pale and returned the stare with wide E/C eyes. So she was right…he was L. The real L. She couldn’t believe that this man…with faded jeans and a simple white shirt…was L. The same L she started to love.

That was how their story began.

───────◇───────

Now Light was going to finish his last year of school together with his twin sister Y/N but something else what happening outside the Yagami household: Kira.

This person took the role of judge, jury and executioner of the criminal world not only in Japan. Kira was such a disgusting, immoral human being, Y/N hated him. Nobody had the right to play with other's life regardless of their police record. Light, however, didn't agree with his sister.

«I don't understand your point, N/N. The world would be a better place without criminals, you have to realise that»

«Of course it would be a better place without them, Light. But it's not the right method!»

«And what would be "the right method"?» Light asked her making air quotes with his fingers.

«Uhh…I don't know maybe putting them before a judge?» Y/N simply replied. «Kira is not the solution, Light»

Her brother was so different lately. Since this Kira appeared Light started to act strange, Y/N was the first to notice it. Not even her mother, father and Sayu perceived it.

Y/N was feeling strange too actually. After Ryuzaki's "confession" about his identity the two of them admitted their respective feelings. Y/N was so happy that Ryuzaki felt the same as her, she was so happy. Sachiko noticed it and asked her if her happiness was due to a boy but Y/N didn’t give her a proper answer.

Ryuzaki was investigating about Kira and he booked a suite at the Imperial Hotel and Y/N would pay him a visit from time to time. They talked, played, ate and even made love in that room. And it was since one of those times that Y/N started to feel weird.

«Let's not talk about it, alright Light?»

«Fine» her twin shrugged and kept walking home together. After a while they crossed a konbini, a Japanese convenience store.

«Wait Light, I have to buy something»

«Alright, I'll wait you here»

And Y/N ran inside the shop while Light started to read a book outside. She had to buy few things: a new set of pencils, chips and…a pregnancy test. Yes, a pregnancy test.

She had all the symptoms: swollen breasts, nausea, fatigue. And the fact that she missed the last period was a sort of final proof. But she wanted to be sure.

Once she payed everything Y/N left the shop and kept walking home with Light. He was looking suspiciously at her but he said nothing.

.

> TIME SKIP <

«Positive…it's positive» Y/N repeated in a whisper while looking at her pregnancy test. Her E/C eyes were still glued to the test when she heard someone knocking at the door.

«Y/N! I need the bathroom!»

«Me too!»

Light and Sayu were staying right outside the door, Y/N hoped they didn’t hear what she said before. She hid the test in the pockets of her jeans and left the bathroom.

«Sorry» and she ran downstairs. Light, once again, looked at her with clear suspicious and raised an eyebrow. Sayu took advantage of this moment to lock herself in the bathroom.

«Sayu! I have to go with dad, leave the bathroom!»

In the meantime, Y/N already left the house and was literally running towards the Imperial Hotel, where Ryuzaki had his room (and where the Task-force met L for the first time). He had to know it.

About ten minutes later Y/N arrived at the hotel and quickly went to Ryuzaki's suite. She was bouncing off the walls for the excitement.

«Ryuzaki!» she spread the door open and ran inside. She quickly reached him and made him turn towards her.

«What is it Y/N-chan?» he asked calmly.

«I have to tell you something!»

«And what would it be?»

«I'm pregnant!» she said smiling. It, however, faded quickly when she saw Ryuzaki's lack of reaction to that news. Was he…disappointe-

«What?! Are you serious Miss Y/N?» the young voice of Matsuda echoed in the room making Y/N distract from the man in front of her.

The Yagami girl noticed that her father's entire Task-Force was working in the same room as L and she didn’t notice them when she entered the suite. Excitement was replaced by fear.

«Uhm…well…»

«Congratulations!» Matsuda got up and walked closer to her with a kind smile on his young face. That smile cheered her up a little.

«Thank you Matsuda-san»

The rest of the Task-force congratulated to her too, they were all so happy about that news. The only one who didn’t say anything was L, the father.

Aizawa started to give Y/N some "parental" advices when L's suite room opened again revealing Soichiro and Light at the doorstep. Y/N didn’t notice it immediately and she couldn’t stop Matsuda from rushing towards his boss to give him that important announcement.

«Boss, did you know it?»

«What is it Matsuda?»

«Miss Y/N is pregnant!»

Silence.

Silence of a grave, to be precise.

Nobody dared to speak, to move, to breathe. It seemed only Matsuda wasn’t feeling that heavy atmosphere.

At those words Soichiro walked towards his daughter and placed his strong hands on her shoulders.

«Y/N, is it true?»

She gulped and swallowed hard. «Yes dad, Matsuda-san is right» her voice showed no fear, no embarrassment, no shame. Even if her family didn’t agree, she wasn’t going to give up that easily.

«Who is the father? Someone assaulted you?» he immediately asked sounding rather worried and serious. Y/N was going to answer when she heard some sort of mumbling from behind, where L was sitting.

«Did you say something, Ryuzaki?» asked Soichiro.

«I said, Yagami-san…» he took an ice-cream sandwich and divided it in two. «I am the proud father» he turned towards the policeman and licked the vanilla cream without looking away from the man.

Soichiro couldn’t see her but Y/N was smiling widely at Ryuzaki who smiled back for a mere second before

[oh-no-another-idea]

word find tag 🌹

Tagged by @papercutsunset to find vision, huge, mean, space, and loss-- thanks pal! Today was a lovely sunny day and I ran errands and had coffee and wrote, and now I’m off to start dinner prep--gonna make some spicy chicken cacciatore! Come knock on my door, I’ll give you all a bowlful 🍲

Vision:

“We have to get out of here, now.” Already, visions of being locked in there or worse, were rushing through Quin’s head. He pictured Jax waiting for as long as he could, and then flying off, only to have the ship stall and plummet them to their deaths.

The mechanic shot him a look that plainly said you are sitting with your foot wide open and an array of cords spilling out. “What, shall I carry you? I thought you were the prince in this scenario—”

Huge:

Section two didn’t seem to have any real thought into it—they walked past huge cauldrons and pots, followed by bedding, and then old hard drives and port tablets. Finally, aisle five, which was bolt after bolt of fabrics, from the simplest linen to richly embroidered brocade and silks.

“We have to sew our own clothing?” Sepia asked, mildly horrified.

Jax laughed. “Don’t be silly. Wait for it…there!” They had reached the used clothing racks—they stretched almost as far as the eye could see, if the eye was half closed and everything was blurry.

Mean: 

“This is only my opinion but…I don’t know if Quin would actually be any better if he’d gone about it my way.”

“What do you mean?” Jax asked.

Selene shrugged. “He wouldn’t have started flying for real, not for years. There would have been eyesight exams and textbook memorizing and simulators, all before they let him touch a ship. With you, he had a hands on experience from day one.”

“I’ll say.”

Space:

The control tower boasted a huge amount of holo screens that proudly took up at least a quarter of the circular space, and in them, Quin had front row seating to the chaos taking over the prison. One screen was full of flickering flames; the simmering scene of a recent explosion. No movement detectable. A few more were full of inmates and guards blasting each other apart in the tiny corridors. The meal hall was almost impossible to see, but it looked like a food fight. Or maybe a firefight.

No loss, so I’ll pass it on along with super, proud, arrogant, and sparkle, to anyone who wants to go hunting, and also @chayscribbles @dontjudgemeimawriter @aohendo @indecentpause @splashinkling @cadewrites @ghost-town-story @ren-c-leyn and @author-a-holmes -- any interest? 🏵

[teamhappyme]

to care for you

rafael barba x female!reader

referenced cases from S17E04 and S17E16

word count: 4k

a/n: this is my first fic that I’m letting the world see and I’m... terrified. i hope whoever reads this gets some joy out of it. shoutout to @qvid-pro-qvo and @hurricanejjareau , y’all got me roped into loving the SVU boys, and this would not have been created if I hadn’t found your blogs. big inspiration over here. alright, here we go friends.

****

“Well you’re going, right?” 

“I haven’t decided.” “Haven’t decided? It’s Liv and Noah, Barba. A christening for the cutest little boy and the most deserving mother. They’ve been through hell this year, they deserve our support. Besides, you’re a devout Catholic, you should be all in for this.”

“First of all, he’s getting christened in a Unitarian church. Second, I wouldn’t exactly use the term devout. The last time I went to church was with you and Carisi after that trafficking case last year.” He said while grabbing another slice of pizza. In your three years since joining the SVU this was the first time you saw Rafael Barba eat a slice of pizza. 

“Careful. You might get some grease on that thousand dollar suit, Counselor.” He glared at you before taking a bite. “If you’re worried about the priest smelling your absence out, Carisi and I have enough devotion to pass on to you.”

“I don’t want any of Carisi’s Catholic guilt.” “You need me to take your confession?” You asked with a smirk. 

There weren’t many people that could get away with pushing Barba’s buttons without getting chewed out by the ADA in his next breath. And when you first started out with the squad, there were many occasions where you and Barba had some heated arguments.

Getting transferred to SVU was an overwhelming experience. You were thrown into the understaffed department right along with Carisi, so the two of you had to step up pretty quick for the unit. There was no adjustment period, trust wasn’t built, it was forced upon the squad. It took about two months for you to really trust the other detectives, but once you did, the unit got into a groove. Cases were being solved left and right and you started to understand the routine of the SVU. 

Until you had to testify. It was six months in, and it was your first testimony with the unit. It was also the first rape case you worked with minor victims. There were four fifteen year old girls accusing their history teacher of rape, two of which disclosed to you. 

You prepped with Barba for an hour the night before, making sure you knew the case inside and out. You felt confident in your answers, and were ready to take the stand. Until the following morning. On your walk down to the courtroom with him, you rushed into the ladies room to vomit up your coffee and your anxiety. Public speaking was never one of your strong suits, and Barba had cautioned you to be prepared for Buchanon’s toxic cross examination.

As you washed your hands and cleared your face, Rafael stayed outside the door, even deterring a woman from coming in. Once you exited, he was waiting at the side, pulling a granola bar and stick of gum out of his blazer pocket. You took the food, as he gave you a nod and waited for your okay to continue the walk down to the courtroom. A slight nod of your own and weak smile got his feet moving again. 

That trial was the first olive branch extended between you and Rafael. He wasn’t one to offer warm greetings, and since you were often glued to Carisi’s hip, it was hard for him to separate you from the enthusiastic detective. There were passive aggressive comments relayed back and forth while trying to indict a perp, and long nights spent deliberating probable cause at the round table. But it wasn’t until you accompanied Liv to One Hogan Place, in a particularly bad mood when you sassed the ADA back after he made a comment about your witnesses being incredibly unreliable, not having time for the shenanigans. 

After that moment, Rafael knew that he could trust you. The passive aggressive comments yielded, but the sass continued. The repertoire the two of you were slowly building drew quite the audience, Carisi and Rollins almost always feeding the fire with more topics to discuss. 

About a year into your tenure here, you started to check in on Barba. The first time you stopped by was originally a business call. Liv needed a warrant asap, already staking out the apartment of a suspect. You rushed over to the courthouse, trying to find any ADA’s secretary when you saw Barba still in his office at midnight. According to Carmen, he rarely went home before 9:00. After that night, you made it a habit to check in on him at least once a week. The DA’s office was a cutthroat environment, and Barba’s office was an even lonelier place. 

Thursday nights were penciled in for your unofficial drop ins, almost through the week but still burning the midnight oil. You would show up around 10:00 with pizza for you, and sushi for his expensive taste every time, knowing neither one of you had time to eat dinner yet. Most of the time, the two of you would work on your respective cases, sometimes sharing notes if the work overlapped. But if it was a slow week, sometimes the two of you would just, talk. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who understood the demanding nature of the job. Your family in particular couldn’t understand why you loved this career so much, but your squad could. It was reassuring to have their support.

“Alright, enough with the holier than thou attitude, Detective. I actually wanted to talk to you about the case.” Sitting up a little straighter in your chair, you wiped your hands on a napkin as he pulled out a manila folder. “I’ve been encouraged by the D.A. to drop the charges against Bobby D’Amico and Noel Panko.”

“What?” “And I have a motions hearing scheduled for Friday morning to dismiss the charges.”

After everything the squad had done for this case, what you saw Amanda put herself through. It was all for nothing.

“Barba, you can’t be serious. We have three victims, two willing to testify. We have footage of them attempting to rape Rollins for crying out loud.”

“Kristi Cryer has changed her story too many times. She was raped, then it was consensual, it was Panko, it was Panko and D’Amico. A jury will never believe her story.” You crossed your arms over your chest. “The jury won’t believe her or you won’t?”

“Hey, you know this isn’t about what I think. This isn’t a case we can win. We have to look at the optics.”

“The optics,” you muttered as you stood up from your seat. “Multiple women were raped by two well-known men in New York society, and the D.A. doesn’t want to make any enemies, right?” 

“You’re taking this worse than Liv did.” You scoffed. “Am I? Good. Because for the rest of their lives, those girls will have to live with the fact that their rapists are still out there. Not to mention their reputations will be ruined. People are going to call them liars, and whores. Their lives are never going to be the same. All because you won’t stand up to the D.A. and do what’s right?” 

Rafael stood up now, his loosened tie swinging from the sudden movement. “If this goes to trial, it will not go our way.”

“What about when you went after DCFS? You went after Musio, Grayson, Sheridan,”

“That was different,” “Why because it was Liv?”

“Because the department was a mess, and there were months worth of evidence of neglect and backdating reports. You were there, and if I remember correctly you were fighting alongside Liv to get me to prosecute.”

You ran your fingers through your hair, not willing to accept that this case was over. “These girls deserve justice, Barba. You were there when Panko went off at Dodds, he knows he’s done.”

“I want these guys just as bad as you do, Y/n. But we do not have the evidence. It’s a he said she said case, with one other accusation from a year ago without a rape kit. Not to mention Rollins went undercover without notifying a superior, tainting the whole investigation. We will make a fool out of ourselves and lose this case in court.”

“And it’s all about winning for the D.A.’s office, isn’t it. Can’t do anything out of the kindness of your hearts, can you?” You knew you crossed the line as you saw Rafael’s shoulder’s drop the slightest bit, his jaw clenched in place. 

“Maybe if you passed the Bar instead of failing three times you could understand why we can’t pursue this. We can’t bring a case to trial based on our emotions. This isn’t your tissue loaded desks, this is a courthouse.” 

You broke the tense eye contact you were holding after his statement. Insulting your academic failures and empathetic tendencies in one foul swoop. That was a low blow, even for the counselor.

Rafael knew his words pierced you. He pushed his chair back and let out a breath, getting ready to back track. But you beat him to the punch. 

“You know, my capability of empathizing with victims is the reason why you’ve put so many rapists away. If they had to speak to you, there would be no cases for you to even prosecute.”

This wasn’t a normal spout between the two of you. Things rarely got personal, and if they did, they were never this spiteful. 

“Then I guess there’s a reason I’m prosecuting in front of the judge and jury and you’re dealing with the victims.”

You scoffed at his final statement. You knew he was cocky, but you didn’t think he would use your insecurities or shortcomings against you. Especially not the fact that you failed the Bar Exam three times, which was only disclosed to him once Carisi opened his big mouth.

Covering your head with your beanie, you made your way to the door before either one of you could do more damage. You fought the urge to apologize, knowing you would need space before you could think of a response.

“Have a good night, Counselor.”

****

“Oh my goodness, Benjamin! Look at that tower you made with Maura! Did you show Luke?” “No. Mama saw it!” You smiled at the two year old through the phone, his own grin lighting up the room even over facetime. “Benjamin, is mama there? Y/n/n wants to talk to her for a minute.”

“I can bring you to her!” Maura took the phone out of the toddler’s hands, but you quickly protested so you could say goodbye to your godson. “Bye Benny, I love you buddy.” He blew you a kiss and you caught it as your little cousin brought you across the room. 

“Auntie Leah! Y/n/n wants to talk to you.” She handed the phone over while settling in next to her aunt. You saw your older cousin’s calming face, and couldn’t help the tears in your eyes.

“I haven’t even said anything and you're already crying,” You let out a laugh and took a sip of water. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.” 

“Y/n, are you at the precinct? It’s 8:00 your time on thanksgiving, what are you doing there?”

“There was some work I needed to get done. If I can’t be with you guys, I can at least get a head start so I can come home for Christmas.” The squadroom was empty now, but it had only been filled by the desk sergeant and a couple uni’s until five. You’d been here since noon, not succeeding in spending the holiday alone in your apartment. “Besides, I’ve been able to ignore all of my mother’s phone calls with the ‘I’m working’ excuse. Has she called you guys yet?”

“Just mom once. You know she doesn’t mean it to hurt you, she just wishes you could spend time with family for the holidays.” “I know.”

Your family meant the world to you, and having missed the last two years of holidays was hard on you. Sure, you saw them eventually, but Christmas and Thanksgiving weren’t the same alone.

“Since I’ve already started Christmas shopping, is there anything Benjamin needs or wants from his godmother?” “He has requested, and I quote, ‘y/n/n’s nummy cookies’.” The smile that spread across your face was so big it almost hurt. That baby boy was probably your favorite person on the planet, besides your own nieces and nephews. “Alright well hopefully he can help Y/n/n make those nummy cookies in a few weeks. If not, I’ll send a box out, along with an amazing present.”

“What about me?” Maura asked, and you just shook your head. “Hey, I’m not made out of money here girlfriend.” She laughed at that.

“Have you at least eaten anything today?” Leah asked, trying to steer the conversation into a more meaningful direction. She could read you so easily. “Yes, I have. I’m not going to be here much longer, so I’ll grab something for dinner on my way home.”

“Y/n/n,” The eight year old interrupted again, and you couldn’t help the smile that etched across your face as you rolled your eyes at the silly nickname. 

“Yes, Maura.” 

“There’s a fancy man walking towards you.” 

You turned your head and saw Barba walking through the squadroom. “I gotta go, Leah.” 

“Is everything okay?”

He pulled over Carisi’s chair, raising a brow to make sure it was okay. You nodded.

“It’s okay. Just a colleague. I’ll talk to you later.” “Okay. We love you and miss you.” Tears pooled in your eyes again as Maura hopped on. “Love you Y/n/n!” A tear fell from your eye as you let out a laugh. “Love you too guys. Bye.”

You ended the call, quickly wiping your eyes now that you had an audience. It was only last night that you had your rather animated argument, and neither of you had reached out. Being stubborn was one of many traits the two of you shared.

“Can I help you, counselor?” 

He held up a brown bag with a receipt stapled to the fold. “It’s thursday night. It’s usually you making trips to the office, but I figured I could take the field trip tonight.” 

He opened up the bag, pulling out cartons of Chinese food. Your hand immediately reached for the fortune cookies, ripping the plastic wrapper off. 

There was a lingering tension in the air, unresolved conflict, and hurt feelings, but it still felt okay. Mainly because the two of you knew you were both to blame. 

“How did you know I was here?” You asked while grabbing the carton of lo mein. “I called Carisi. He said you were supposed to be in Minneapolis for the holiday, but got wrapped up in the case. Said he offered his family to you, but after hearing the commotion over the phone, I understand why you declined.”

“I didn’t decline because of their raucous personalities. I just wanted to get some work done.” 

He digressed, retreating into his carton of fried rice. “What about you? Why aren’t you eating pie and decorating for Christmas with your lovely mother?”

“She volunteered this year. Since Abuelita died, she hasn’t been a big fan of holidays.” You nodded, knowing how hard it was for Rafael to grieve his abuelita last year. 

“How has she been doing?”

He shrugged. “She has good days and bad days. She blames herself most of the time, but she has her school, and her kids to keep her upright.” “And you.” His eyes met yours for a brief second, the corners of his mouth turning up the slightest. He always wanted to do more for his family. 

“Was that who you were on the phone with? Your family from Minneapolis?” 

“Yeah. I was supposed to go out there for thanksgiving, but when we caught Kristi’s case, I cancelled. I thought,” You stopped, knowing any mention of the case would bring up last night’s conversation.  

“We were going to trial.” He finished the sentence and you nodded.

If everything had gone according to plan, Panko and D’Amico would’ve been indicted this week and the trial would’ve begun the following week. You’d already started prepping Kristi with Rollins, making sure she knew her story backwards and forwards. But it was all for nothing it seems.

“Y/n, what I said last night,” You shook your head. “We both said things we didn’t mean. I started it, and was completely out of line.” 

“You weren’t. You were fighting for Kristi, and your case. I just, I didn’t want to hear it.” He ran a hand through his hair, not perfectly quaffed like usual. “I shouldn’t have brought up the Bar. It was low, extremely low, and you didn’t deserve it. You and Carisi could take me out in court in a day. And if you ever tell him that, I’ll deny it until I die.” You laughed while taking an egg roll, crossing your finger over your heart. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

You let the apology sink in for a minute before starting your own. “I know you would’ve brought this to trial if we had enough evidence. I know that you care about the victims just as much as we do. I’m sorry that I said you didn’t.”

Poking around the container, he let out a scoff. “You weren’t that far off. I’m the D.A.’s puppet, letting him decide which cases I prosecute or not. We don’t have a lot of room for an emotional influence. I know how cold I can be with vics and witnesses.”

“That doesn’t mean you don’t care.” 

“Tell that to Kristi Cryer. She posted a vlog today, ripped me a new one for not believing her. Called the D.A.’s office, and I quote, ‘a bunch of spineless jellyfish.’ She’s not wrong. I mean,” He let out a humorless laugh. “I went to law school so I could help people. At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself the last twenty years. But in reality, I’ve been climbing the bureaucratic totem pole, pushing myself further and further away from that kid in the Bronx.”

“You don’t seriously believe what Cryer said do you?” He shrugged, not meeting my eyes. You sighed, placing the carton on your desk, leaning over to rest your hand on his arm. “You are the Assistant District Attorney for the Sex Crimes division. People do not last here if they don’t care about the victims. I’ve seen you in court, in testimony prep, hell even in interrogation. You care about every single person that needs our help. Does it suck that the law is not the most accommodating to rapists and pedophiles? Yeah, it’s really shitty. But you didn’t write the law books, as much as you like to believe you did.” A smile crept onto his face. “You care about your mom, your abuelita, everyone that helped you in the Bronx. I know you care about us, even Carisi, although you’d never admit it. You are not a spineless jellyfish, no matter how fun it is to say.”

“You really believe that?” He still couldn’t meet your eyes. It always amazed you how easily the most put together people could fall victim to their insecurities. 

“Rafael, I would not be spending every Thursday night for the past two years with you if I didn’t believe that you were one of the most kind-hearted people I’ve ever met. I care about you.”

His green eyes finally met yours as he moved to gently hold your hand that was previously resting on his forearm. He gave it a soft squeeze as you smiled, trying to ignore the butterflies that started blooming in your stomach. The same butterflies that rested there every time your hands brushed when you were walking down the hallway, or when his hand rested at the small of your back to escort you into the courtroom. And after tonight, and the way he was looking back at you, you knew he felt them too.

You spent the next ten minutes finishing off the takeout, sitting in a comfortable silence, not needing to fill the moment with anything else. The two of you kept sneaking glances at one another, breaking out into a sheepish grin if you were caught. 

Once you were done eating, Rafael cleaned up the food as you got all your belongings together for the long weekend. It wasn’t until that moment you realized he wasn’t wearing an expensive suit; he had on a navy blue quarter zip, black jeans, and some loafers. A smile crept up on your face knowing that you got to see him in casual clothes.

“Ready?” He asked as you slipped on your gloves and pushed your chair in behind you. “Ready.” 

You lived close enough to the precinct that it was only a ten minute walk. Rafael lived in the other direction, but still insisted on walking you back to your apartment. An Uber could pick him up from there, he said, because that man would not be caught dead walking across the city in his loafers.

He called for a ride as you approached your block, not wanting him to wait in the cold too long. As you approached the brick walk up, you started to fidget with the keys resting in your pocket. 

“Thank you for dinner. And a double thank you for not making me eat your sushi.” He smiled. “You’re welcome. Thank you for being such good company.”

“Anytime.” A sharp gust of wind hit you, causing you to duck your head into your coat for a few seconds. When you looked back up, Rafael’s cheeks were rosy red and wind burnt, and absolutely adorable. “I’ll see you next week for a warrant, I’m sure.”

“I’m sure. Make sure to get me a coffee on the way, listening to you list the legal reasons why you need the warrant always makes me sleepy.” 

You smiled.“Deal. Goodnight, Raf.”

“‘Night, Y/n.” 

Despite the farewell statements, neither one of you moved. You couldn’t bring yourself to look away from his warm eyes, and it wasn’t until you felt his fingers brush against yours that you moved closer. 

His eyes flickered to your lips for a second, before looking back at you. You took another step towards him, waiting for him to close the gap between you. When he did, all you could feel was the warmth of his lips on yours, and the cold tip of his nose resting against your cheek. 

It was short, the two of you pulling away after a few seconds. But one smile from you had him leaning back in, resting a hand on your cheek as he kissed you again. It was slow and careful, but full of adoration. You couldn’t help but smile into him, bringing your hand up to rest against his own. After a few more seconds, his own smile made it impossible to stay connected. 

This time when you pulled away, you rubbed your thumb across his red, wind burnt cheek, not even trying to suppress the stupid smile on your face. And you were happy to see him grinning the same way.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” He said, shifting his head just enough to press a kiss to the palm of your hand. Neither one of you is willing to ruin this moment with any talks about what this means. “Okay. Get home safe.” “I will.”

One more look at his rosy red cheeks, and you let out a laugh before you let yourself pull away.

“What?” He asked, completely dumbfounded by his affect on you. You shook your head in response. “Nothing.”

He returned your laughter before lightly kissing your lips one last time. You could get used to this. 

“Goodnight, counselor.” You said once you pulled away, lightly shoving him toward the ride that just pulled up. 

“Goodnight, detective.”

****

[rahleeyah]

Following on from here; what happens when Jennifer Mapplethorpe meets Olivia Benson:

Jen keeps her gaze straight ahead as she leads Detective Benson to the breakroom. Truthfully, she doesn't know what to make of these NYPD detectives. They've only just arrived, it's too soon to be making snap judgments, but Jen is a copper, and that means she has developed a certain knack for reading people. The Americans, there's something...grim, about them. They're both attractive, fit, early forties, maybe, but their eyes are hard. They're both wearing blue jeans, which Jen wasn't expecting - the state police have a dress code for detectives and it doesn't include blue jeans and t-shirts - and they both move like they've got guns at their hips, even though they won't be allowed to carry while they're here. They seem to know one another well; they move together, and Benson called her partner El, and Jen didn't miss the unspoken look that seemed to pass between them.

That's the part she doesn't understand. What passed between them when Benson volunteered to fetch the coffee. Jen gets the feeling that Benson isn't subordinate, isn't going to get the coffee bc she's the woman and that's her role. Something else motivated her to walk into the breakroom alone with Jen, and that's.. interesting.

The second they stepped off the lifts Benson's eyes found Jen and something...very strange happened, then. She'd found herself caught, for a moment, trapped by those big brown eyes, by the way they traveled over Jen, appreciatively. She isn't used to getting that look from women, and certainly not from a woman who looks like that. Benson is tall, and her hair is shiny and dark, and she looks like...not a model, not waif thin like that. She's curved like an hourglass and she moves with an easy confidence, and Jen can hardly take her eyes off her. It's never been like that for her, before; she's never been this shocked by another woman's beauty. But then, she's pretty sure she's never met anyone like Olivia Benson.

"it only makes one cup at a time," Jen tells her as she leads Benson over to the coffee maker. "Sorry."

"that's fine," Benson tells her with an easy smile. "I'm in no hurry. Show me what to do."

So Jen does, points her to the cups and the coffee and the tap, and then the first batch is percolating and there's nothing to do but wait.

"how was the flight?" Jen asks. She doesn't really know what else to say.

"long," Benson tells her dryly. "He's been in a shit mood since we boarded."

Jen nods. Stabler did look a bit out of sorts.

"how long have you been working together?"

Benson is leaning casually back against the counter, and the position she's assumed highlights the swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips, in a way that makes Jen nervous. It's almost like a challenge, Benson's beauty. Like she knows exactly how she looks, and rather than trying to hide it, she's daring Jen to do something about it.

"twelve years."

Jen looks up at her sharply; that's a hell of a long time. That's three times as long as Jen's been in homicide. That's longer than Bernice Waverley's marriage.

"is that normal in New York?" She asks. "I don't think anybody here has been working together that long."

Benson shifts a little, looks away. Almost, Jen thinks, like she feels guilty about something.

"no," Benson tells her. "most partners don't stay together that long. Especially in svu."

SVU, Jen has learned, means sex crimes. She can't imagine doing that job, day in, day out, and especially not with a brooding, aggressive-looking man standing beside her.

"you must get on well," Jen muses.

"we understand each other," Benson says with a shrug. "What about you, you been in homicide long?"

The first cup of coffee is done. Benson takes it off the machine, loads it up with sugar, sets it to the side, and preps the next cup. The movements of her hands are deft, easy. Christ, even the woman's hands are beautiful.

"about four years," Jen says. "I always wanted to be in homicide but it's not easy to get in. Everyone wants to be a homicide copper."

"everyone?" Benson asks, and Jen realizes her mistake too late. But there's a smile tugging at the corner of Benson's full lips, and it makes Jen feel comfortable and nervous at the same time.

"did you always want to be in svu?" Jen asks.

Benson looks away, again. She doesn't look guilty this time. There's a flash of something like grief in her eyes and she's trying to hide it, and Jen wishes she wouldn't. Jen wants to know what put that pain there.

"yeah," Benson says. "I can't imagine doing anything else."

What would it be like, Jen wonders, to have that kind of faith? To be that dedicated. Disinterested in advancement, focused only on the crusade. Jen loves her work of course she does, and she wants to help, but she's also not planning to stay in homicide forever. She's already studying for the sergeant's exam. She wants to move up the ranks. She wants to move her career forward. Benson, though...Benson is fighting a war. There's something admirable about that.

"must be hard," Jen says.

"some days it is," Benson allows soberly. "Some days..." Her voice trails off, and she gives her head a little shake, and her hair tumbles around her shoulders like a waterfall. "but I don't do it for me. Or not just for me. I do it for them. Someone has to."

She's a goddamn crusader.

The second cup of coffee is done and so Benson reaches for it. No sugar in that one. She picks up the mugs, and she and Jen go back to rejoin the boys together. When they reach the desks Benson hands Stabler the cup with all the sugar in it. She does it silently, and he takes it without looking at her. Their movements are reflexive, as if they are long accustomed to doing this dance together. She knows how he takes his coffee and they know how to interact without interrupting whatever's happening around them. He shifts to the left and Benson comes to a stop at his right, and their shoulders are almost touching. Jen watches, wondering if they know how they telegraph their connection to one another. How they seem drawn together, even when they're not addressing one another. Nick is explaining about the case they're investigating and Benson and Stabler are sipping their coffee, listening intently, and they've both got their heads cocked towards one another. His t shirt is black, drawn tight across his heavy shoulders, and hers is white, drawn tight across her breasts but following loose beneath them, and they've both got their sunglasses pushed back on their heads, and there's something almost symmetrical about them. Complimentary. Like they're a matched set.

"right, you lot," Wolfie calls out from behind them.

Stabler and Benson, their heads swivel to the left together, and then their bodies turn in perfect unison to face him. Like a dance. A dance they've done before. Jen wonders if they know they do that, too.

"Senior Sergeant Stanley Wolfe," he introduces himself, and Stabler reaches for his hand.

"Benson," he says, pointing to his partner. "and Stabler."

"welcome aboard," Wolfie says grimly. "Briefing room," he adds, addressing all of them. "Let's bring our new friends up to speed."

[dustofbrokenheart]

The Covenant: Study Habits

Pogue Parry x Reader

Word Count: 2,095

Summary: You are stressing about finals and need to study. When Pogue graciously volunteers to be your study buddy, you don’t refuse the offer. 

Silence and solitude, you decided, were your ideal conditions for studying for finals. Spencer Academy was a fairly serious institution given its status as a prep school, but the library and various common areas tended to transform into social scenes, especially during this point in the semester. As much as you enjoyed the chatter and laughs, you really needed to study in order to pass your physics final and make the honor roll.

At first you tried moving your studying to your dorm, which was definitely quieter, but it didn’t exactly give off study vibes either. It was way too easy to take a nap or raid your snack stash or eavesdrop on conversations that were happening in the hallway.

You looked and looked for a good spot and you finally found it in the discovery of the school’s shop classroom. Not many students at Spencer took wood or metal shop that you were aware of and you were a little surprised those classes were offered at all. The room itself was tucked away in a dim basement that shared space with random storage rooms and an unused bomb shelter, a relic leftover from the 1940s.

The day you found it was also the day you found out that the room’s door wasn’t locked by the teacher, which wasn’t good from a security standpoint, but made entering very easy for you whenever you dropped by after hours to study.

Being a shop classroom, it was mostly open space and machinery, not unlike a garage situation. You were extra careful not to disturb any of the projects-in-progress, even though some of them looked really cool, and avoided all of the tools, most of which you couldn’t name much less identify.

But there were a couple of waist high counter tables along one wall so you could sit down. The height was just right where you could alternate between sitting on a stool and standing on your feet which was honestly better for your circulation. Most importantly, it was abandoned at this time of night and that meant no distractions.

The sneaking around continued for a couple of days until your anxiety had had enough, prompting you to find out the teacher’s information so that you could email them and ask formal permission to use the room when school wasn’t in session. Mr. Clarke seemed happy enough to let you use it and you decided you liked him even though you had never met in person.

It wasn’t even until the second week of studying down there that you finally saw someone other than yourself. You had just finished dinner and made the trek from the dorms to the shop room when you noticed them. A radio played softly in the distance but as you got closer and closer to your spot, you figured out that it was coming from the room.

You paused just outside the door and debated whether you should still go in or not; you really needed to get through some practice problems, but would you still be as productive if someone else was in there? You really should do these problems. Besides, maybe the other person would leave soon.

The metal handle clicked as you opened the door.

A small boombox was blaring some Green Day out of its speakers and figure in a black tee sat next to it fiddling with a hand drill.

Wanting to get his attention before the drill started up you cleared your throat loudly.

Beautiful hazel eyes locked onto you immediately and you felt a little breathless. That was before he turned fully around and you were better able to appreciate his toned chest and arms through the black fabric of his shirt, small barely detectable sawdust particles attached themselves to his jeans.

“Hey there,” he greeted with a raised hand.

Of all people to run into you couldn’t believe that it was Pogue Parry, one of, and in your opinion, the student body’s top eye candies. Dazzled, all you managed was a timid wave back.

He cocked his head, his shaggy hair falling slightly to the side. “I’ve never seen you before.”

Come on, Y/N. Get it together and answer the boy.

“Actually, we have—”

“Physics together,” he finished with a smile. “I know. I meant down here in the shop.”

Your face felt like it was on fire. He recognized you! A Son of Ipswich noticed that you were in a class with him and you were so excited that you managed to ignore the fact that you had misunderstood him. “You’re right about that. I’ve only been coming here for, like, a week. I got permission to study here.”

“Cool. Mr. Clarke is a sweetheart so I’m not surprised.”

Trying to get back on track you asked, “How long do you think you’ll be working on that?”

Both of you looked at the drill.

“You probably want it quiet, huh? I can stop for today, this is just a side project I’m doing anyway, it’s gonna be a tv stand when it’s done. Definitely not as important as a final.”

As much as you felt bad for interrupting him and essentially taking over his spot, you took him up on his offer. He was now the hottest and kindest classmate in your mind. You dropped you backpack on the floor and spread your papers across the countertop trying your best to sneak peeks at Pogue where he was cleaning up a few feet away.

When he finished, he walked over. “What class are you studying for?”

“Physics.”

“No way!” He pulled up a stool and straddled it opposite of you.

It made you nervous to have him watch you write and when he pointed out a mistake you made, you felt like crawling into a hole. The eraser left behind eraser shavings as you corrected the error.

“Hey, wanna work together?” he asked either not noticing your embarrassment or choosing to ignore it.

“Sure,” you said with a shaky voice.

“Cool.”

He wasted no time and grabbed his own copy of the packet, clicking open a pen, ready to go.

You moved to the next problem and read it out loud.

“A block weighing 200 N is pushed along a surface. If it takes 80 N to get the block moving and 40 N to keep the block moving at a constant velocity, what are the coefficients of friction μs and μk?”

Pogue hunched over, quickly working it out when he noticed you sitting still, rubbing the end of your pencil against your mouth. Scooching over to your side of the counter he showed you his work and walked you through his steps.

“Wow, you’re really good at this.”

He laughed off the compliment. “Nah, I promise you I’m a pretty stupid student.”

“But you finished this problem in under a minute,” you insisted. “Meanwhile, I would’ve been stuck for hours and still have gotten it wrong.”

He stared at you and even though you couldn’t get a good read on him, it was too easy to get lost in his eyes. Eventually, he spoke.

“I don’t want to throw off your groove of anything, but maybe we can study together.”

Was this a dream? Because an invitation like that only happened in your fantasies.

“But I don’t know how that benefits you—you seem to a good handle on it already,” you admitted.

“As I told you, stupid student. Besides, my study habits are non-existent so maybe some of yours will rub off.”

You beamed at him, easily convinced. “Well then let’s go over the first problem again because I’m still confused...”

Every night for the next seven days Pogue met you in the basement and walked with you to the classroom for your study session. Despite not having a high opinion towards his academic abilities, he was very patient and effective tutor/partner.

“Wait, remember to multiply the variables in the parenthesis before subtracting it from the total. PEMAS is your friend Y/N.”

He was also very easy to talk to. Whenever he talked about his bike or swim regimen, two things you knew nothing about, he took the time to put it into words you understood without making you feel like an idiot. And when you were feeling chatty, he would actively take an interest in what you had to say.

“Hunger pains after a swim workout are the worst, especially after long swims where your aerobic systems are gassed. It feels like you’re one stomach growl away from wasting away.”

“Oh, speaking of food, I found a granola recipe. I don’t know who decide to mix coconut and cranberries with granola, but that palate combination amazing. I’ll bring you some if it turns out alright.”

“You’d better save me some then, even if it’s not to your ridiculously high standards. I can feed some to the boys, too.”

Time flew by and it didn’t feel like the studying had gone on for a whole week. Each session seemed to pass faster as you got to know him better, to see the him that didn’t have to be filtered for the public eye. You liked this side of him even better than what you have seen of him in class and in the halls.

But all things come to an end. On the last session before the final, you guys finally finished the last question in the review packet with a grateful exhale.

“You sir, are a physics godsend. I can’t believe we’re done with the whole review guide.”

“I hope the final isn’t as long as the guide is. He must’ve stuck every problem we did during the semester in this thing,” he complained.

“I really hope not,” you groaned. Because if it was, there was no way you would finished within the allotted one-hour period.

“But, I have a feeling you’re going to crush the exam. Just try your best not the set the curve too high, for the rest of our sakes.”

You playfully shoved him for the last part of his comment. Silence stretched on and you realized that this was the last time you guys were scheduled to study together. Fast on the heels of that thought was another: you didn’t want to leave. By the way he didn’t seem in a hurry to leave, you hoped that meant he was reluctant as well.

“So…” he trailed off and you waited with bated breath. “Guess we should pack up, it’s almost nine.”

Your shoulders slumped in disappointment at his words. “Yeah, I guess.”

For a second, you were tempted to ask him out, or at least see if he wanted to hang out as friends, but you decided against it. He was the type that would’ve spoken up if he were interested. Best just to act dignified and be thankful that he bothered helping you in the first place.

You were steps away from walking out the door when he stopped you by grabbing your hand.

“Actually, what I meant to ask is if you want to get a bite to eat after the test tomorrow. Is that weird?”

Your pulse fluttered in obvious joy.

“You mean like a date?” you breathed.

“Yeah. You’re a pretty cool, Y/N, and I’d be sad if this is the last time we hang out.”

“I would love to,” you assured him with a huge smile on your face.

He reached to slowly envelope you in a hug, and even if the angle was a little awkward due to the backpacks being in the way, you automatically hugged back. You were thrilled to discover that he smelled like an exotic mix of leather and, dare you say, magic.

You were even more thrilled when he walked you back to the dorms like the sweet boy you had observed him to be over the past week. Luckily there weren’t any people loitering out in the hallway because if word got out that a Son of Ipswich had walked you to your room, the whole school would know by morning and you were enjoying the moment far too much to have to worry about that.

“Good luck tomorrow. See you on the flip side,” he said in parting.

That night you laid in bed but felt like you were on cloud nine. In less than twenty-four hours, you would be done with physics for the semester and have had a date with Pogue Parry. Pogue Parry! You snuggled into your pillow and swore his scent still lingered freshly in your nose.

_______________

I was super inspired yesterday and wrote this. Good luck to everyone that’s prepping for final exams! Thanks for reading.  

[littleladymab]

for twitter user dumplingsquid: Lana/Mia accidentally falling asleep together!

----- 

Lana yawns and rubs her forehead with the back of her head.

“Getting tired, Detective?” Mia teases, still bent over her own collection of notes for the mock trial case.

“Not Detective yet,” Lana says and lets her head roll back against the couch cushion. “Still need a few years.”

“Passing this exam first might help.”

Lana groans, then heaves herself back upright so she can contemplate the papers on the table. “Where do you find all this energy?”

Mia taps her lips with her pen in thought. “Perhaps it is because I am still so young--”

“Stop it--”

“I have not yet experienced how exhausting the world is--”

“I am a year older--”

“And so much more weary for it, Lana.” Mia gets to her feet, stretching her arms up over her head and rolling her shoulders. “How about I make us some tea.”

Lana props her cheek in the palm of her hand, blearily staring at the papers that she scooped up. “Coffee.”

Mia shuffles into the kitchen, humming to herself as she sets about the process of making the drinks. “I only have instant, I hope you don’t mind.”

There’s a grunt of response. “Just so long as it has caffeine. I’m going to have to pull an all-nighter at this rate.”

The question jumps to the tip of her tongue, but Mia swallows it down. She listens to the sound of the water coming to a boil, the soft shuffle of papers from the living room, and considers it.

“Do you want to stay over?” Mia asks, though as soon as it leaves her mouth the kettle screeches for attention and she has no idea if the question was even heard.

She sighs, and when a request to repeat what she said doesn’t come, decides to forget about it.

Of course, as she returns to the living room, she finds that Lana has fallen asleep, head still propped up in her hand, not even disturbed by her approach.

Mia suppresses a smile, setting down the cup of coffee and her own tea. “Well, I won’t wake you, then,” she says softly, and pulls out a blanket from the storage ottoman. She drapes it over Lana, then resumes her seat on the other side of the couch -- legs tucked primly beneath her, mug of tea in one hand, and papers in the other.

Though in the muted silence of the apartment, with Lana’s even breathing from the other side of the couch and the dry details of the case at hand, it’s not long before Mia’s eyes begin to droop as well.

She sets aside the mug. Maybe a tiny nap would be a good thing, and she can power through the rest of the case notes after. Because Lana was right -- there is a good chance it will be an all-nighter in order to prep for their side of the mock trial.

Capping her highlighter and also putting side her notes, Mia wiggles her way under the other half of the blanket instead of getting up to find another.

Just a little nap, she thinks, as she tucks her arm beneath her pillow and lets her eyes slip shut.

[cynicalclassicist]

Doctor Who: Visitors to the Vault

By Toby Sutton-Long.

This isn’t mine but was done by another of the Lockdown writers who very kindly sent it to me.

“It’s the eyes.” “Oh yes, and the hair.” “The eyebrows, definitely.” “The way he shapes his mouth.”

The students were all furiously looking around to see where that gossip was coming from. A few near the front were taking notes so quickly they went through multiple pens. The more experienced of them wondered why, it’s not as if the Doctor set essays or exams or anything. In fact nobody knew what exactly he was paid to lecture on, but his tutorials were always the most popular, the one thing that would get any student straight out of bed after a hangover. Sometimes the people who came weren’t part of the university at all, but had somehow heard of this marvellously clever and wonderfully bonkers man. But none were as noisy as the two gossiping older women four rows from the back.

Sarah Jane Smith and Jo Jones.

Back at Bannerman Road a week before, Mr. Smith had reported some strange alien detections coming from St Luke’s University. Sarah hadn’t considered that odd, but she was quite surprised to hear that they’d been emitting since 1947. She just couldn’t figure out how this had gone unnoticed for seventy years. At this point she’d say something to Luke or Clyde or Rani or even K9, but they’d all gone and flown the nest, and she’d found hunting aliens just wasn’t as fun by yourself. She thought about asking Osgood or Jack, but dragging UNIT or Torchwood into something like this never usually went well. Ace was too well known to go undercover, and the Professors Chesterton were presenting a tour of talks in Europe about the Aztecs. But she knew she wouldn’t have as much fun with anyone other than Jo, who luckily was in England for a bit, looking after her grandson Quito, who wanted to try a year at a “normal school”. And so the two old friends went all the way down to Bristol in Sarah’s magical car, which she refused to give up for anything.

Within about ten minutes of them parking up they decided to follow the large congregation of students piling into the big hall. They had a cover story all prepped, if questioned they would say they were the aunties of some fictitious second-year biologist who got lost. But nobody seemed to notice them at first, even when Jo managed to knock someone’s orangeade all over their laptop. It was only until they both seemed to have the thought at the same time that this man was the closest a human could ever get to the Doctor, that they began to draw attention to themselves. Seemingly everyone got the same thrill from watching him bounce across the stage, talking at a million miles an hour about nonsense. There was a beautiful girl who stared right at him, her big eyes looking in amazement and the biggest smile you could ever see, a look of privilege just from knowing him. If this man was the Doctor, this girl was certainly the current lucky companion.

“You can almost imagine him doing some Venusian aikido!” giggled Jo. “I wonder how many jelly babies he eats a day?” responded Sarah in an equal fit of laughter. At this point they looked round and noticed how many of their fellow audience members were tutting at them, and the ladies resolved to head back outside to search for the readings further. Sonic lipstick in hand the two investigated the four corners of the building, but found nothing especially alien that couldn’t be explained by the presence of thousands of students. Sarah longed for K9, he could have been a great deal of help, but he was on the UNIT Moonbase with Luke. As the midday sun glistened over the gorgeous building, Jo leant over a gate to have a moment’s rest, before seeing a portly little man in a brown duffle coat rushing down the path. He was looking round shiftily, but did not spot her. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but he looked suspicious, perhaps alien.

Jo acted quickly, rushing over to Sarah, who was scanning some soil in a flower-bed. “Sarah Jane, I think I’ve found something, someone!” Jo excitedly gushed. The two held arms and rushed in the path of the strange man. He had disappeared by the time the two were by the other side, but luckily Sarah had noticed an open basement door leading down a dark and dingy flight of stairs. Treading carefully but not wanting the man to evade them, they made their way down what looked to be a very abandoned basement, full of bats and spiders’ webs in every upper corner. After four of these flights of stairs, the adventurers saw several aggressive flashing red lights reflecting onto a wall, before turning to see a huge door casting a massive shadow. The sonic lipstick appeared to go mad in Sarah’s jacket pocket, pre-tuned to the readings clearly coming from the other side.

“It must be programmed for sonic devices.” murmured Sarah as she aimed the device at the door. Some noises responded back, as if the door was decoding itself. “Oh my, Sarah Jane!” Jo cried back in horror, “Maybe it’s a trap for the Doctor?” “That’s what I’m worried about.” Sarah kept pressing on the sonic lipstick as a desperate attempt to get it to work faster, but eventually the door opened to reveal a massive, white spacious chamber. In the middle there was a piano where a woman very much resembling a Victorian nanny was playing some grand number, and generally ignoring her visitors. She looked extremely comfortable with her surroundings, and after about three minutes she spun round on her stool and finally noticed the women.

“Oh, you’ve regenerated! And you’ve got Sideshow Bob doing it too!” she yelled excitedly in her thick Glasgowian accent, before squinting at them, “Which is which?” “Who are you talking about?” Sarah asked. “Ooh, intruders! How exciting! Well, I would welcome you to the House of Fun, but the guv’nor’s gonna be rocking up and chucking you out any minute!” she skipped towards them. Jo looked at her in deep contemplation. “You know my darling, I feel as I know you. Have we met?” “I’ve been in for a while love, I don’t think so. But hang on, now you mention it, you both look very…” the woman paused in contemplation, “I know! The exes!” Sarah and Jo looked at each other and then back at her, but before they could say anything she spoke again, “Never really had that much to do with each other, did we Calamity Jane? But you, you were my first. And…” she dramatically leaned in to stage-whisper in Jo’s ear “My secret favourite, don’t tell the others!” “I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are.” Sarah repeated. “Neither do I.” Jo added.

“You do, silly! You know, you will obey me! Axons and Sea Devils! I suppose I do look a bit different shaved.” Jo’s light bolt moment struck, “Oh my, you’re the Master aren’t you?” The woman’s eyes lit up, “Give the girl a gold star! Call me Missy. Oh, you look a bit different. Age has improved you my dear, do you think I should give it a go?” “That’s the Master, a Time Lord like the Doctor Sarah Jane, and not a very nice one.” Jo explained to Sarah, “But I thought they’d all died?” “Oh Time Lady, I like to be old fashioned!” Missy chirped. “What are you doing back here on Earth? You’ve been stopped before, and we can stop you again!” Jo straightened herself and Sarah aimed her sonic lipstick. “Oh don’t stress yourselves! I’m a prisoner for crying out loud, for my redemption.” Missy uttered these words as if she couldn’t quite believe that she was saying them. This shocked both her visitors and there was silence for a few moments.

“Well, it’s nothing more than you deserve!” Jo shouted, but Sarah was more curious. “Who imprisoned you?” she asked, and Missy merely smirked. “Oh you know, you’ve always known. Both of you.” Jo and Sarah looked at each other, and each gulped a gulp of realisation. “The Doctor…” they said in unison and shock. “He was that lecturer…” “Of course he was!” they felt a mixture of excitement at the prospect of seeing their old friend, but also a feeling of surprise that he was staying on Earth again. He hated it so much last time, when they both knew him, he always complained about it. Was he being forced to guard this strange Master’s prison? Was he somehow doing it out of choice? “How long have you been here for?” Sarah asked, trying to figure out what was really going on. “Well, we arrived here on Tuesday, so…” Missy counted a few fingers, “I’d say just about seventy years.” “So the Doctor, the Doctor’s spent seventy years lecturing at the university, and you, you, have been here?” Jo quivered. This sounded so unlike the Doctor she knew and loved, even he wouldn’t sit back for all that time, especially as a prison guard. But was he doing it to save the world? But why on Earth, why not take her someplace else? Jo wanted to ask Missy all these questions, but when she tried to nothing would come out. “Why?” she could only ask.

“Because it’s right. Because it’s decent. And above all, it’s kind.” Jo and Sarah instantly spun round at the very hearing of a far more masculine Scots tone, the tone of the lecturer they’d seen just a few hours before. He had just entered, accompanied by the man in the orange duffel coat. “Hello Jo, my Sarah Jane.” the Doctor put a hand on each of their shoulders, “Come on, we can talk in my study. Oh, this is Nardole by the way.” Nardole sneered at them disgustedly for some unfathomable reason. As the Doctor began to walk his old companions out, Missy piped up again. “Oh, pity, I thought I was finally getting some company at last!” Missy looked pointedly at them. “Not now Missy. Nardole, you clear up here.” the Doctor commanded as he led Jo and Sarah away.

The late afternoon sun glistened pleasantly on the beautiful old building of St Luke’s. The three old friends had spent hours drinking hot sweet tea and catching up. The Doctor explained about Missy and about Nardole. It even turned out that Nardole had seen pictures of Jo and Sarah and was only running to inform him. Speaking of Nardole, he turned up briefly a couple of times and left swiftly, refusing to talk to anyone but the Doctor. And as the clock struck five minutes to six, the Doctor shot up like a light. “Right, I’ll have to chuck you out. I’ve got a student coming in any minute, personalised tuition.” he said with regret at having to say goodbye. “That’s alright, I need to go anyway. Mr. Smith’s just sent me a message, there’s been a Vervoid spotted in Bethnal Green, I’ll deal with it.” Sarah explained. “Oh yes, one thing I’ve liked these past seventy years is having every alien invasion already sorted for me. Usually by myself!” the Doctor smiled. All three stood up, and Jo and Sarah looked at the TARDIS one last time. It still looked the same.

“Do you think you’ll ever fix that circuit thing in the TARDIS, so it won’t be a police box?” Jo inquired, somehow knowing the answer. “Do you want me to?” the Doctor’s eyes sparkled and Jo shook her head. “Of course not Doctor, you know that!” she smiled. Suddenly the door burst open and a young woman appeared - the same beautiful woman who was in the lecture who seemed so in awe of the Doctor. “Oh sorry, I didn’t realise you had company! You never have company!” she gushed. “Oh yes, Bill, these are my friends Jo and Sarah Jane.” “Just friends are we?” the girl giggled, “Or is there something more…” “Yes, thank you Bill.” the Doctor sharply interrupted.

Jo and Sarah made their final goodbyes and returned to the car. As day turned to evening and evening turned to night, the two women cruised up the M4, they thought deeply about what they had seen that day. In the decades that had followed their times travelling in the TARDIS and working at UNIT they had grown and changed so much. Jo had visited every country in the world, and Sarah had met and helped out so many. Each had found a family they loved so much. But what of the Doctor? He’d always been travelling, ever since they first met they both vowed to get in touch with as many of his other companions as possible, to great success. They always thought of the Doctor living the same life he always had, helping out, saving lives, changing his face in his magical blue box. But what if his life changed, just as much as anyone else’s?

“He won’t be there for much longer, I’m sure of it.” Jo decided at first. “I don’t think so either, Jo. But if that means the Master gets out…” Sarah tentatively uttered. “He’ll stop her. Hey, the Master, a woman!” “Maybe one day the Doctor will be a woman!” There was a lot of laughter at that prospect, and when they calmed down their thoughts turned to the girl they saw, Bill. “She’ll be the next, I can feel it. We were like that once!” “All that enthusiasm! And he really seemed to care about her.” “He’ll be travelling the universe again soon enough, with her. They’ll be best friends, and then they’ll have to say goodbye one day. Everything’s a stage in life, isn’t it Sarah Jane? And then we move on to the next stage, it’s not better, it’s not worse, it’s just different. And at the moment, the Doctor makes a good lecturer!” Jo laughed, and then Sarah joined in, and they talked some more, as they always did whenever they met. Neither of them noticed the police box far away in the sky, with the Doctor looking down protectively over the ones he loved, and his new companion Bill by his side.

And the story goes on… forever.

[stray-ninjas-fandoms]

Bungou Stray Thoughts Pt.1

Because y’all are so nice and lovely, I thought I’d post more on some headcanons/theories about BSD! And....make it a series (^__^)” (ahaha)

Disclaimer: I’m keeping up with the main manga but besides that, I’ve only read the Untold Story -- (thank you yokohama-drip/ce-la for the awesome translation! Here’e the link to that (X) post) -- and part of Dazai’s Entrance exam so a lot of these questions and theories I have may very well be answered in the light novels. If so, please let me know! Same goes for any additional inputs you’d like to share! I also love taking info from one world and crossing it over with other worlds so I may throw in random anime/TV show references in. Kudos to you if you get it!

~SPOILERS INCLUDED~ 

Alright *cracks knuckles* here goes part one! 

Here’s the previous post (X) I’ll be expanding on, both from the main post to reblogs and notes under that post!

1. Atsushi + his parents --- Atsushi was abandoned (or as was said by the headmaster - IDK how credible his words are) by his parents. I’m guessing they did so because he may have shown his abilities as a young child itself? Like how Kipo (from Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts) suddenly popped out her jaguar paws when in danger as a little kid? 

And they were afraid for their own safety as well as his and decided an institution would be better off to protect him? 

So...just imagine, if the headmaster saw Atsushi in the newspaper, there’s a good chance so did his parents!? 

Just thinking about how his parents would be extremely delighted and cheering from the shadows for him as they see their kid do these amazing things for the community (TT v TT)

2. The war and possibility of war trainee villages --- the current manga timeline is only a few years after the war, right? And Fukuchi says something along the lines of knowing Fukuzawa for a long time to the point of childhood friends, right? Fukuchi is also upset about Fukuzawa not participating in the war efforts as well. 

Is it possible then that entire villages were made/ captured by the government or some organization with potential soldier candidates to grow and train in for them to ultimately participate in the war? 

They would focus on getting all the ability user kids first but also anyone with an aptitude for fighting. 

They’d round up all the kids from their families at a young age/force the families to give up their kids or especially sons, put them in some kind of boarding school like scenario but in a rural area, and then have them be educated there while teaching them warfare and other combat techniques, prepping them to fight in the war. 

And then...have the village families take care of the kids?

It would avoid public detection because who’s gonna go investigate/ spy on a farm? And there’s enough room to let a bunch of kids run around without them really getting into any kind of trouble.

This leads to me saying...

Somehow Fukuzawa and Fukuchi got caught up in that war scheme and that’s why they know each other for so long and so well... 

(At one point in the manga and in the anime, Fukuchi/Mori ask Fukuzawa about his relations from the village and why he didn’t marry or something of that sort. But Fukuzawa being from a village was mentioned so that’s what gave this theory a root.) 

I’m not sure how Kenji got recruited but given he’s also from a village (Ihatov region from northern Japan as a reference to IRL Kenji’s works), maybe Fukuzawa scouted him from one of these -- at this point abandoned for the war effort but now functioning as normal -- villages, knowing there may be some ability users there. 

***********

That’s it for part 1! Stay tuned for part 2 and more :) 

[b99fandomevents]

Thank you again to the awesome folks who joined our first ever Fic Exchange!!! We hope you enjoyed writing your fics as much as we loved reading them. 

Under the cut is a masterlist of all the submitted works, compiled and arranged in alphabetical order by the amazing @amez-santiago. ♡ (If you don’t see your fic here or notice any errors, please let us know!) 

If you’re interested in joining the Fall 2019 Fic Exchange, definitely keep an eye out for our next announcement post within the next couple of weeks. 

a summer rain is passing over, and it feels like a dream | AO3

↝ by @exploding-snapple for @storyinmyeyes​

Amy takes Jake to go see a play, but it’s really the walk home afterward that he enjoys the most. (set a few weeks after 3x02)

Cause you’re what I always wanted | AO3

↝ by @sandylovesfandoms for @a-wren-d

Rosa shows Gina Babylon, and sparks fly

Coming Out | AO3

↝ by @the-poodles-of-pulitzer for @yaboring-yabasic

Rosa’s POV for coming out.

Dancing around each other | AO3

↝ by @disruptedvice for @amydancepants-peralta

“Ah! Amy! Help!” Jake shrieked the moment she answered her phone, not really concerned about volume control since he was kinda trying to not die at the moment. It had gotten through four rings before she finally picked up, and this would’ve been it for Jake if it’d gone straight to voicemail. Amy frowned, looking around as if he could see her, but soon brushed it off as her being paranoid. “Jake? What’s wrong?” “I’ve got the goose!” He shouted, jumping to dodge another swipe that could only be described as intelligent and intent. “The goose is here! The goose is here!”

Soulmate AU where one person finds a goose who leads them to the other person. The difficulty comes in not being mauled by a goose 

doggone summer | AO3

↝ by @timeforginasopinion for @sandylovesfandoms

Amy should have known it was going to be an awful summer from the moment Jake Peralta appeared on her front doorstep carrying a dog. “Morning, Ames,” he chirps, irritatingly cheerful, as if he’s passing her in the hallway at school rather than standing in front of her house during the sadly fleeting time of year she’s supposed to be free of this bullshit. “Cheddar, say hi to Amy.” The corgi swaddled in his arms, predictably, doesn’t respond. Jake fixes it with an offended frown. “Well, that was rude.” Amy sneezes a lot and thinks longingly of her bowl of oatmeal squares, now growing soggy on the kitchen counter. Her life was so much simpler ten minutes ago.

everything's good, everything's just as it should be | AO3

↝ by @fezzle for @the-poodles-of-pulitzer 

“Jake,” she starts, slow and deliberate. “Do you know who I am?” He stares at her a moment before shaking his head, and her stomach swoops. Oh my god. or Jake gets an appendectomy, and there happens to be an amusing side effect as he wakes up from his anesthesia.

foolishly, completely falling | AO3 [E]

↝ by @fezzle for @kamekamelea

“Are you… asking to hook up with me?” Amy asks slowly, every syllable enunciated carefully. “Whaaaat? No! Nope. No, I definitely was not! What I meant to say was -’’ “Becausetheanswerisyes.”Jake freezes, eyes bugging. “Wh-What?” “I-I said yes.” or Jake and Amy are friends with benefits. What could go wrong?

Heads and Hot Dogs and the Best Day Ever | AO3

↝ by @vernonfielding for @nerd-husbands

Nikolaj spends a day at the precinct not helping Rosa solve a case. He's never been happier. 

hold me in this wild, wild world | AO3

↝ by @dmigod for @santiagoswagger

He wants to say he doesn’t know how he got into this situation, but he knows exactly how it happened (or, at least mostly): with a bet. It’s not news to anyone that he and his professional partner are competitive—Santiago is a type A tightwad who feels like she has to prove herself to everyone (except him), and Jake, well, Jake likes to spite her. And to win. He really, really loves winning.

hold me in this wild, wild world | AO3

↝ by @johnny-and-dora for @meepmorpperaltiago

“It takes every ounce of willpower he has left not to kiss her like it’s their last night on earth. Despite the odds, he refuses to kiss her like he’s saying goodbye.” or, a forbidden love/royalty/fairytale au in which jake comes up with an alternative solution to amy being forced into an arranged marriage with the most boring man in the seven kingdoms.

i found a mirror for my soul (i don’t need no other) | AO3

↝ by @b99peraltiago for @exploding-snapple

When she realizes her sleeve has rolled up a little, showing the skin of her wrist and tries to cover it again, it’s already too late. Jake’s seen it. He’s caught sight of the glowing “S” printed there. “S” as in, Soulmate. Amy finally found hers – and, obviously, it’s not him. (Post-4x22 soulmates AU, in which Jake and Amy are not soulmates and she finds hers while Jake is in jail.)

i’ll put it all on the line | AO3

↝ by @amydancepants-peralta for @callginalinetti

"We have to find her, Jake!” He looks up from an evidence marker, furrowing his brow. “I’m sorry … her?” “Your mystery woman! The beautiful woman you were stuck on the subway with. She’s obviously your soulmate.”

I’m going home, to the place where I belong (where your love has always been enough) | AO3

↝ by @storyinmyeyes for @outofinspo

It’s moving in day for Jake and Amy and she’s a little stressed out over all the boxes that need unpacking, but in true Jake fashion, he provides a distraction.

I’ve got a really bad feeling I’m gonna love you so good | AO3

↝ by @amesantiagos for @romanovember

A typical Friday night at Shaw’s bar with the Nine-Nine …or not quite. “Really, I just wanted to check if you’re okay.” “Why wouldn’t I be?” She frowns at him, her eyes dark in the dimly lit booth, “and why do you even care?” “Well, first off, that’s rude,” he raises he eyebrows at her, “and secondly, because you’re my partner, and I know I normally come across as a badass, emotionless action-hero like type– ” “No, you don’t.”

if they’re meant to be together, they won’t stay too long apart | AO3

↝ by @startofamoment for @e11evenseggos

They’d first met in the fall of their freshman year. Amy can still remember it with perfect clarity: how Jake rushed into the lecture hall, hair unruly and plaid shirt rumpled. He looked like he’d just woken up, or maybe never slept. Perhaps he’d pulled an all nighter in prep for their big exam. (She had gotten the recommended eight hours of sleep, naturally, and had gotten up with more than enough time to have a balanced breakfast and to go over her review sheets.)

It is like Oatmeal……. | AO3

↝ by @dancezwithwolvez for @cheddar-the-dog

Another chance.

it’s your love i’m lost in | AO3

↝ by @stolethekey for @ofbuttsandbombs

She smiles. “That’s been the theme of the entire Holt-Cozner relationship. Finding love, despite everything telling them that they cannot. Being confronted with danger, with fear, with risk, but making the incredibly brave choice to love anyway.” or, an mcu post-snap au in which holt and kevin renew their vows

julian santiago and the case of the sister’s mystery boyfriend | AO3 

↝ by @amyscascadingtabs for @397bartonstreet

Eventually, he makes the educated guess that there must be someone else in her life. She must have wanted for this to break-up to happen, he figures, and a new mystery lover could very well be the reason. Julian simply has to figure out who it is.

long live all the magic we made | AO3

↝ by @benwvatt for @startofamoment

He deserves to know about cheering charms, or spells that change mice into teapots, or a potion that could double his age. He belongs in her world, she thinks. If only he were. Rule number one of being a Santiago: Neighbors like the Peraltas don’t have any business knowing about magic. Amy ignores it and finds everything she was dreaming of.

of babies and binders

↝ by @a-wren-d for @acanoftrash

domestic peraltiago

Of Debates and Chickenshit Boys | AO3

↝ by @professionalpenthief for @imalloutofhoots

Amy’s happily dull life turns upside down when a mystery admirer’s love for her goes viral in her high school. As she navigates the new uncharted territories of being in the public eye, she finds love does defy all expectations. 

Regarding The Incident In Which Raymond Ran Away To Mexico | AO3

↝ by @nerd-husbands for @amesantiagos

“Can you clarify,” Kevin said into his cellphone, using his other arm to hail a cab, “how much wedding cake did Cheddar eat?"  The Honeymoon episode, from Kevin’s perspective.

Run, Hide, Fight (Show Me Going) | AO3

↝ by @cheddar-the-dog for @vernonfielding

around two days after the active shooter situation in Brooklyn Heights Hotel Rosa wakes up from a nightmare that she soon realizes was not a nightmare at all

sailing home once and for all | AO3

↝ by @kamekamelea for @disruptedvice

In the universe where Jake is a sailor from New York, he finds himself coming back home to this one special girl - detective Amy Santiago.

Sick Leave | AO3

↝ by @winnietherpooh for @amyscascadingtabs

Amy decides that Jake needs a vacation after he returns prison, and he finally begins to open up about his recovery as they read Harry Potter together.

Something more than a catalog of non-definitive acts | AO3

↝ by @chipmunksallshipklefan for @professionalpenthief

Jake and Amy go undercover as a couple.

The Beer Burglar | AO3

↝ by @outofinspo for @cheeto-anaconda

Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place crossover where Jake arrests Eleanor

The Date Night 

↝ by @meepmorpperaltiago for @amazingsantiago

Based on the prompts: jealous Amy and Jake being Amy’s hype man

The Desert Sucks, But Being a Damsel in Distress Isn’t Too Bad | AO3

↝ by @romanovember for @fezzle

I’m never drinking again. Jake Peralta thinks as he comes to consciousness, his mouth full of cotton swabs and sandpaper and his head pounding like a sledgehammer on concrete. Or maybe 50 million sledgehammers, a freight train and another 24 elephants. Ugh Jake rolls over, and pulls his crinkly and hot duvet closer, relaxing his aching and hungover body into the cool embrace of… sand? And on his head? An honest to god cowboy hat. Yeehaw?

The in-between | AO3 

↝ by @disruptedvice for @amydancepants-peralta

Amy’s thoughts between ‘go back to being colleagues’ to ‘screw light and breezy’

the interrogation room | AO3

↝ by @yaboring-yabasic for @timeforginasopinion

one-shot based loosely on the prompts badly trying to keep a secret, locked in, and kid fic with some peraltiago, dianetti, and the whole squad.

the smell of coffee runs through my veins | AO3

↝ by @elsaclack for @winnietherpooh

five times jake smells like fresh coffee grounds (and one time he doesn’t)

the stars lean in a little closer all because of you 

↝ by @peraltasames for @b99peraltiago

baby peraltiago + beach house 2.0

there was a time when a moment like this wouldn’t ever cross my mind | AO3 [E] 

↝ by @kamekamelea for @disruptedvice

She looks deeply into his eyes, dark from the desire overwhelming him and whispers straight into his lips in an authoritative tone. “No, Jake. Fuck me with my uniform on.”

THIS BOY WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME | AO3

↝ by @ofbuttsandbombs for @stolethekey

Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago, self- proclaimed 'best detectives of the Nine-Nine’ (and 'of the NYPD’, 'no, USA!’, 'no,the entire freaking world!!’, when they get a little drunk) are handed a routine murder investigation which goes off- track. Will this cause their already fragile relationship to change? The journey from 'Peralta and Santiago’ to 'Jake and Amy.’

time is ticking away (and there are too many things I wanna say) | AO3

↝ by @what-about-gay for @johnnydora

Amy is stressed because she can’t find her soulmate, while Jake couldn’t care less about his soulmate. Time is ticking and they have to find their soulmates, because when the clock is at zero and you haven’t found your soulmate yet, you and your soulmate both die.

Variations on sharing a bed 1/2/3 | AO3 [T to M]

↝ by @disruptedvice for @amydancepants-peralta

Peraltiago drabbles + sharing a bed trope

We Are The Greatest Love Story (The World Had Ever Seen) | AO3

↝ by @cheddar-the-dog for @dancezwithwolvez

the night they meet his life changes forever and he’d never go back to before or how the story of Kevin and Raymond found its start

we could be a beautiful miracle, unbelievable | AO3

↝ by @stolethekey for @johnny-and-dora

Kylie hums, reaching over to unzip the back of Amy’s dress. “Well, whatever you’re not anxious about is going to lose his mind when he sees you in this. Seriously.” “He has a girlfriend,” Amy snaps, shimmying out of the dress and snatching her leggings off the wall. “And this isn’t for him.” - in which Amy throws a New Year's Eve party that subsequently implodes.

we were good at faking forever | AO3

↝ by @johnnydora for @dmigod

David Santiago has super powers. No matter how much effort Amy gives to everything she does, he always manages to beat her tenfold, including obtaining the girlfriend of his parents’ dream. With ten days until her brother Miguel’s wedding and no date, Amy has no choice but to convince the next person she sees to fall madly in love with her.

we were wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart | AO3

↝ by @santiagoswagger for @benwvatt

Desperate to find a last minute gift for her mom, Amy stumbles into the only open flower shop in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, the florist is very annoying.

we won’t run (we can fight) | AO3

↝ by @amydancepants-peralta for @chipmunksallshipklefan

“Be careful who you give your midnights to, my darling. Midnights are for talking - for old friends and new; for truth and never for lies. When you’ve only got the stars to illuminate, everything else falls away. Midnights are for confessions.” Her hand falls to Amy’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “They’re for falling in love.” Well that’s just ridiculous. She and Jake were definitely not falling in love. Oh. Medieval AU where the evil King Vulture is ruining Brooklyne. Amy and Jake work together to take him DOWN.

whelp, this might be your view for the next seven years | AO3

↝ by @callginalinetti for @galaxygaydreams

sometimes you get to meet your soulmate twice (basically a new version of how jake and amy meet and fall in love)

When You’re Home

↝ by @397bartonstreet for @peraltasames

jake and amy’s first night back together after the ambulance scene in coral palms pt 3 + fluffy reunion goodness.

where’d you go, david santiago | AO3

↝ by @acanoftrash for @brillliant

when amy’s brother goes missing, she hires private detective jake peralta to find him.

You Already Know | AO3

↝ by @e11evenseggos for @what-about-gay

a one-shot of Gina and Rosa’s wedding ceremony.

you showed me something i can’t live without | AO3

↝ by @amazingsantiago for @dailyb99

Alternative ending to Casecation. Jake is left reeling after Amy’s “start over” comment. Title from ‘I Believe’ by the Jonas Brothers.

[educationedgeblog]

The Role of a Certified Business Analyst

Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Success

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, where ideas are the seeds of innovation and success, it’s crucial to have individuals who can transform these ideas into tangible plans for growth. Enter the Certified Business Analyst — a professional adept at navigating the intricate maze of business processes, deciphering complex data, and steering organizations toward their goals.

Understanding the Role of a Certified Business Analyst

Let’s start with the basics. A Certified Business Analyst is like the Sherlock Holmes of the business world. They investigate, analyze, and connect the dots to solve the mysteries hindering a company’s progress. In simpler terms, they help businesses figure out how to do things better, faster, and smarter.

Imagine you have a dream of building the world’s most fantastic ice cream parlor. You’ve got the flavors, the ambiance, and the passion, but you’re not sure how to make it a reality. This is where a Certified Business Analyst comes in handy. They’re the ones who will help you figure out the best location, the most popular flavors, and the right prices — all by diving into the details and using their expertise.

The Certification Badge: What Does It Mean?

Now, you might be wondering, what’s the deal with the “Certified” part? Well, it’s like having a badge of honor. When someone is a Certified Business Analyst, it means they’ve gone through a series of training and exams to prove they know their stuff. It’s not just about having a fancy title; it’s about having the skills and knowledge to back it up.

Think of it this way: If you were hiring someone to help you organize a big event, wouldn’t you prefer someone certified in event planning? Of course! The certification is a signal that this person has the expertise to make things happen.

What Does a Certified Business Analyst Actually Do?

Let’s break down the day-to-day tasks of a Certified Business Analyst without diving too deep into the jargon ocean.

Problem Solving: Picture a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. A Certified Business Analyst is the one who figures out what those missing pieces are and how to put them together. They identify problems within a business — maybe a slow process, a confusing system, or a lack of communication — and propose solutions.

Data Detective Work: Certified Business Analysts love playing detective with data. They collect information, analyze it, and turn it into meaningful insights. It’s like telling a story using numbers and charts instead of words.

Bridge Building: Imagine a river between two towns. The bridge that connects them is like a Certified Business Analyst, helping different parts of a company communicate. They ensure that everyone is on the same page, working together towards common goals.

Innovation Engine: Ever heard the phrase “thinking outside the box”? That’s a Certified Business Analyst’s forte. They come up with creative ideas to improve processes, cut costs, and make the business run smoother.

Communication Maestro: Translating complicated business jargon into plain language is a superpower of a Certified Business Analyst. They’re the go-between for the tech wizards and the marketing maestros, making sure everyone understands each other.

Project Navigation: Ever tried sailing a ship through uncharted waters? It’s not easy. Certified Business Analysts guide projects from start to finish, making sure they stay on course and reach their destination successfully.

Make sure check this: PMP Exam Prep

Why Every Business Needs a Certified Business Analyst

Alright, you might be thinking, “But my business is small. Do I really need a Certified Business Analyst?” Absolutely! Here’s why:

Efficiency Boost: A Certified Business Analyst can spot inefficiencies in your processes and suggest improvements. This means things get done faster and with fewer hiccups.

Cost Savings: By identifying areas where you can trim the fat, a Certified Business Analyst helps you save money. They’re like the financial advisor of the business world, making sure every penny is well-spent.

Strategic Planning: Want to grow your business? A Certified Business Analyst helps you chart the course. They create strategic plans based on data and market trends, ensuring your business sails smoothly into the future.

Improved Decision-Making: With data-driven insights, a Certified Business Analyst empowers you to make informed decisions. It’s like having a crystal ball that tells you what will work and what won’t.

Adaptability: In the fast-paced world of business, things change quickly. A Certified Business Analyst helps your business stay nimble, adapting to new trends and challenges.

Becoming a Certified Business Analyst: The Journey Unveiled

Now, you might be curious about how one becomes a Certified Business Analyst. It’s not as mysterious as it sounds — it’s a journey of learning and growing.

Education: Many Certified Business Analysts start with a degree in business, management, or a related field. This provides them with a solid foundation of knowledge about how businesses operate.

Certification Programs: To earn that coveted certification, individuals often enroll in specialized programs. These programs cover everything from data analysis to project management, giving future Certified Business Analysts a well-rounded skill set.

Hands-On Experience: Theory is great, but hands-on experience is where the real magic happens. Many certification programs include practical elements, allowing aspiring analysts to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Continual Learning: The business world is always evolving, and so are the skills needed to navigate it. Certified Business Analysts engage in continual learning to stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices.

Networking: Like any profession, networking is key. Certified Business Analysts connect with others in their field, sharing insights, tips, and tricks. It’s like having a support system of fellow detectives.

In Conclusion

In the grand tapestry of business, Certified Business Analyst are the weavers, ensuring that each thread is woven seamlessly into a masterpiece. They are the unsung heroes who turn chaos into order, ideas into plans, and challenges into opportunities.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a corporate giant, the insights and expertise of a Certified Business Analyst can be the wind in your sails. So, the next time you encounter a business challenge or dream of starting something new, remember — there’s a Certified Business Analyst ready to help you turn those dreams into reality. They’re the wizards behind the curtain, making the business magic happen, one analysis at a time.

[drgnrder82]

Fictober 2019: Day 25

Fandom: Pokemon / Detective Pikachu

Prompt: “I could really eat something.”

Rating: T (brief language)

Trigger Warning: None

Characters:  Tim Goodman, Harry Goodman, Emolga, OC’s Alison Angeles,

A/N: These snippets follow after the events of a fanfic I finished called Heart of Gold that can be read in full on AO3 here.

______________________________________

“Detective Goodman, PI, office. Angel speaking, how may I help you?” It was instinct. Habit. She didn’t even think before picking up, didn’t even need to see the phone to know where it was the instant it started. The phone had literally been in the same spot since she met Harry. Alison regretted it instantly. She was distracted, reading an article from another medical journal while Tim lounged on the couch with his own case notes. He still needed days worth of hours to be signed off by his ‘mentor’ before he could take the licensing exam. He was so close! “Yes, Detective Goodman has a free appointment this morning.”

Tim felt the shift in her voice and perked up. Jotting down the new appointment she suddenly felt like she’d seen a Ghost Type. A chill ran through her as she hung up.

“Any prep we should do for my dad?” But she wasn’t really listening only trying to figure out how to cover her tracks. Get out. With Tim. “Who’s the...oh.” She hadn’t seen Tim meet her at the desk, then he was pulling the schedule to him and panicked. Throwing the schedule on the desk and straightening it up, closing out of the journal.

It had been Mrs. Westin. Harry’s favorite millionaire widow who kept coming to him when she was lonely and her latest ‘pool boy’ left her in some newly hatched scandal.

“I could really eat something.” She could see the same panic welling in Tim.

“Food sounds great.”

“Like, Kanto maybe?”

“Gonna take a while to get there.”

“Wake up Em, it’ll be fine.”

“Is it supposed to rain?”

“Does it matter?”

Tim quickly shook Emolga awake, Alison adjusted the last of the files just right so it looked like Harry had been the last one at the desk. You know, because her handwriting in the appointment book wouldn’t give away a damn thing. They could hear the shower shut off and shouted, “We’re going to lunch! You have an appointment coming soon!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“We just thew my dad to the Mightyenas.”

Alison tossed Em in the air now the she was awake, letting her glide down the street so they could meet her at the corner. “Yeah. Yeah, we did.” Keeping a brisk pace was easy, she just kept thinking about what Harry would say. It had been only a few months since her last round of little jobs that only Harry Goodman could solve. “You wanna go back? Be a pool boy?”

“No. No, no, no.” They zipped across the street and were almost at the train stop when Alison’s phone began to buzz. “You?”

“Nope.” She should have left her phone behind at the apartment. Harry would probably call her non-stop until the appointment started.

“Wait.” He was slow on the uptake, should have questioned her sooner. “Why don’t you want to see Mrs. Westin?”

[mentalcurls]

6.5 Effettivamente

I’ve been waiting for this clip ever since 3.4 Argentina (which took place a month ago today btw), but in my soul I’ve actually been waiting for this coming out since forever.

my 💔 poor 💔 heart 💔 broke 💔 seeing Martino watch his friends interact from afar

they’re relaxed and comfortable with each other, their relationship is as close as ever while Marti’s relationship with them is in tatters, he barely speaks to Gio and that’s it

this is even worse than the picture Gio posted on IG on Tuesday, when Martino was supposed to go to Elia’s to prep for the exam and didn’t go

my 💔 poor 💔 heart 💔 breaking 💔 again because, despite Giovanni’s reassurances on Monday, Martino doesn’t believe Elia has forgiven him so he chooses to stay away from him... and let’s not forget Elia sits next to Marti during classes

Elia leaves, Martino finally approaches Giovanni, but he looks like he’s going to his death, look at his face, my poor baby

has he ever been bluer?

deep breaths baby, deep breaths

HE DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING? LEAVING THE FIRST MOVE TO GIO (who doesn’t disappoint thank God)? SO HE COULD HYPOTHETICALLY IGNORE HIM?

JEsus, the awkwardness between them kills me

the seconds of silence between the greeting and Marti asking the first question, Martino licking his lips and swallowing like he’s gathering the courage to say something monumental despite it being a silly, innocent question

THE STILTED CONVERSATION oh God why, I’m hurting

“Ma non penso che ti interessi, no?” (But I don’t think you’re interested, right?) is Martino twisting a knife into his own wound because he’s saying: you don’t want to go out with the radio guys, you don’t want to get involved into something I’m doing (and I like, because we’ve seen he’s putting more effort into it with the Virginia Woolf thing on Wednesday - though it might also be something to keep his mind occupied on something that is not his crumbling relationships), you don’t want to spend time with me

I mean, Marti obviously knows, intellectually, that Gio doesn’t want to go to radio things because of Eva and because it’s just not his thing, but deep inside it’s just another refusal, one which Martino preemptively steels himself for

That “se… se ti va puoi… puoi venire da me” (If you’d like you can come to mine) is said in the same tone Martino has when he tells Filippo he’s seeing a boy in 5.5 Pride and when he asks Sana about homosexuality and religion in 4.3 Evoluzione

“Pizza, mortazza e City-Real” ICONIC

Marti asks Gio to hang out with a half smile (!!!) but Gio remains impassible and Martino’s smile falls

when Giovanni asks about their score, it’s as good as a YES FINALLY, it’s the rebuilding of the bridge between them and Martino smiles fully possibly for the first time in weeks because that’s their game, their ritual, their friendship going back to normal

WHEN THEY LEAVE THEY’RE BOTH SMILING AND TEASING EACH OTHER my heart sings with joy

Marti and Gio who are still laughing and making fun of one another while playing FIFA

(FIFA is a big bonding ritual for the boysquad, it’s the way they settle bets, it’s one of the topics they tease each other about, they play tournaments when they don’t know what to do, they keep long term score of who’s best and it’s something they all love, it’s a place of comfort for them)

(FIFA is a football/soccer game, which is imho significant as the setting Marti picks for his coming out, he’s trying to reinforce the idea that he’s still a guy who loves “boy things” like sports and videogames, despite his sexuality - as well as trying to reinforce that he’s still the same guy who played the previous 47+56 games he and Gio kept score of)

(the fact that Gio hesitates before starting to play FIFA again after Martino tells him he likes boys probably ups the level of panic in Marti’s head, because what if he’s gonna be excluded from something as important for their group and as “masculine” as FIFA now??)

(when Gio starts to play again AND ASKS MARTINO ABOUT NICO AT THE SAME TIME it’s such an important thing for Marti because he finds out can have it all)

I would like to thank not only God but also Jesus and LudoBesse for the closeups of Ludovico Tersigni’s face when he smiles 🙏

Their knees touching just gets to me, for no real reason, and I kinda wish we were able to see if they kept touching for the whole time or if Marti retracted after coming out

EFFFFFFettttttivaaamenteeeeee (make it last longer c’mon, Marti, I know you can)

is it me or does Marti look a tad disappointed when Gio asks him if the person he likes is Emma? maybe it’s just nerves

Marti who keeps stealing glances at Giovanni, checking in constantly

Gio senses Martino is uncomfortable, especially after the “ma non l’hai capito?” “no non si capisce un cazzo” (“don’t you know?” “no, I can’t understand you for shit”) exchange, and cracks the Sana joke to make him relax a bit, you can see he’s trying to keep a straight face long enough to speak without giving himself away (he should learn to deliver jokes from Nico, I mean, he kept a straight face for the whole Maddalena and hypertrichosis thing)

“Non *swallows* non è una ragazza” (It’s not *swallows* it’s not a girl) POOR BABY DEER HE CAN’T EVEN SPEAK  his throat must be so dry, he must be trying to keep breathing normally so hard, he’s probably shaking and THEN HE CLENCHES HIS JAW

once again Marti is steeling himself for the worst

and Gio just goes... slack, is the best way I can think to describe it, for a second. I don’t think it’s surprise? At least not for the gay thing, maybe for the fact that Marti actually confirmed it for him. It may also be relief

it’s just a second, then Gio gathers himself and thinks, looks at Marti who can’t meet his eyes

“Sono io?” (mind, non-Italian fans, it’s not a “Is it me?”, it’s more of a “It’s me?”)

I LIVE FOR MARTINO OVERCOMPENSATING WHEN HE DENIES IT to hide the fact that he did, indeed, crush on Gio for a long time 😘

the smiles. their smiles. Marti is slowly relaxing, Gio is finally understanding what’s going on with him and they feel like THEY’RE FINALLY FRIENDS AGAIN✨

Marti thinks it’s over, the three most important things he can see Gio wanting to know about (why’s Martino hurting, that Marti is gay and that he’s not in love with him) are out there and cleared between them now, and Gio smiled! And had nothing bad to say! Except he won’t play. Uh-oh.

HA, Giovanni Garau, patron saint of best friends, does it again! He’s put together all the little pieces, all the scraps of interaction, all the tiny moments when something he couldn’t quite pinpoint happened and BAM! He gets it, he knows.

Martino’s wry smile and nod

Gio mirroring him and nodding as well, halfway between “Okay, I can see it” and “Dude, well done, I’m actually kind of impressed”

and then Gio comes in like a wrecking ball against toxic masculinity and compliments Marti on his choice of man

Marti who acts like he’s never even noticed whether Nico is attractive or not

Marti looks so embarrassed, he should have been blushing (FE_CESARI UR GOOD BUT WHERE ARE MY BLUSHES ARE YOU A REDHEAD OR NOT????)

I wonder how closely Gio is mirroring the comments Martino usually makes when Gio himself tells him he’s attracted to a girl, maybe even when he told him about Eva? He tries his best to be supportive even though he doesn’t really understand, the exact same way Marti has always been supportive of him despite not understanding girls’ appeal

“Che fate, state insieme, uscite, COME STAI?” (What’s happening there, are you togethere, are you dating, how are you?) COME STAI GUYS most supportive best friend ever

“È un po’ strano lui” (He’s kind of weird) is such a weird way to put it? I mean, sure, you could say Nico acted weird, but not for the reasons Martino gives Gio, imo; he’s “weird” for changing schools in his last year, for his granddad’s puppets, for asking Marti to ditch a party he himself had asked him to and for dragging him to an abandoned pool of all places; Marti instead describes his as weird for appearing undecided, for seemingly stringing him along

is that a hint of disgust, almost, I detect in Martino’s voice while he quotes Niccolò’s text? Is he that fed up?

Gio makes a sound at that, that I can’t decide if it’s just an encouragement for Marti to go on, or if it’s an “okay, got it” while he plans Niccolò’s demise for daring to string Martino along

still, Giovanni sides with Martino but doesn’t tell his best friend he’s better off without Nico or make any threats of retribution or promises to fight for Marti’s honour or smth, because he’s a supportive pal who will trashtalk Marti’s s.o. when he acts like a dick but will still support Marti’s feelings for him and believes in Martio’s ability to take care of himself

I have Questions about Luchino’s voice message, specifically: who was this message sent to?

not Gio directly, because Luca asks “Voi c’avete”, second person plural

did he send it to the group with all four guys? but Marti’s phone didn’t ring, so either he’s got the group conversation muted (💔) or Luca sent it somewhere else

is there a group with only Gio, Elia and Luca in it to whom the latter could have sent the voice message? again, my 💔 heart 💔 breaks 💔

anyways, Marti is the best bro because despite not talking to Luca for two weeks he still offers up his notes

Gio taking advantage of Martino leaving without pausing the game to score on him lol

Gio asks Martino what he’s found while Marti is looking at the flipbook thingy... how much do you want to bet that by the time Marti answers nothing with that big smile on his face, Gio has seen the thing, what Marti was doing with it and the way he was smiling and he’s put everything together without Marti saying anything? that’s why he doesn’t press, as much as in recognition of the fact that Marti already opened up to him so much today

I 100% love the way both Marti and Gio start their sentences when they’re saying something important with “Comunque” (Anyways) as if it’s just a continuation from one long conversation between them, or as if they’re just stating for the record something that is obvious

Marti was definitely not expecting at all Gio to actively tell him he’s better than whoever Niccolò’s girlfriend is on principle, which in my experience is a very common best friend thing to say, and that hurts

Gio grabbing Marti by the neck and ruffling his hair is such a friend/brother thing to do, it’s a fond and exasperated thing in the way only siblings’ touches can be, halfway between an attempt to strangle you and a caress

This clip was so beautiful, the friendship between Giovanni and Martino is so beautiful, their ship is so beautiful! I’m so happy and so thankful for LudoBesse 🙏

[fixomnia-scribble]

Yay! You posted your recap so i can ask. After the dinner scene I saw some fan musings about Eddie moving up to be a detective. Did they just forget she is in line to be a sergeant? Or with your police knowledge is it possible Eddie could choose a detective job rather than accept a sergeant promotion? Or can she not be a detective now that she’s on the path to be a sarge.

Yay indeed! Here are Some Thoughts on the matter. I lurk a lot on NYPD officer chat forums and new-recruit advice boards, so that’s where I have gathered the following from:

The promotions to Sergeant, Lt, Captain etc. are done through exams and simulated job exercises. Anyone who feels qualified can apply to sit them, though the standards are well known. There are even recognized training schools that prep candidate officers in policing topics and skills. In addition, points are awarded for achieved merits such as years of experience, award bars and medals, college degrees, leadership in Police committees and groups etc. (Eddie lost .04 of a point because her bar was awarded after she sat the exam, poor thing!)

Promotion to Detective is not done by exam. Officers who have shown a steady history of making “good” arrests (i.e. by the book, stand up in court) and a strong investigatory aptitude may be invited to take on an investigatory role in a case. They need to be recommended to be put on a case team in this capacity. Usually this means working in the Narcotics or Gang squad, because that’s where the main action is. If the officer is offered this role for an 18-month or more assignment, they are usually considered Third Grade Detectives, and get a gold shield. Unlike Sergeants, Detectives can be demoted or recycled back into the Officer ranks if they do not perform as expected or if they have admin/disciplinary issues. Once they are settled into their role, they’ll be attached either to a special unit or to a precinct, under the overall supervision of the Detective Bureau. They can also take the promotional exams.

Now, what we know is that “Eddie did okay” on her Sergeant’s exam. Coming from Jamie, I interpreted that to mean that she passed over 70, which is the threshold, and is now on a ranked list waiting for her promotion options. I don’t know whether this is a misconception and she didn’t actually pass, but I doubt it. Which makes Frank’s comment about “ - and maybe you, someday” a little off-putting and condescending. The BB writers do seem to conveniently forget things, so for all I know, they may have blacked out that Eddie was VERY CLEAR about wanting to move up and get on the list, AND PASSED.

Eddie’s also been very keen to get her gold shield and become a Detective. She may have gotten tired of waiting, or she may have just wanted to keep all the doors open. If she is recommended for a Detective position right now, she can certainly take it, especially as it’ll be temporary for a year or two anyway. If she is offered a Sergeant’s position, she can do that, but not both. If she finds that she wants to be investigating more than supervising a team, she can certainly resign her Sergeant’s stripes. But she would return to the officer ranks where she came from, unless she gets a recommendation to join a case as a Detective.

Now, personally, I think Eddie would make a superb Detective, and Jamie a superb Sergeant. (I’d want Eddie investigating my case.) They’d make a decent showing as the other, but I think that’s where their talents lie as they’re played.

[emeraldwaves]

Title:  Undercover Emotions Chapter 1 Pairing:  Promptio, Highspecs Rating: E Word Count:  4,127 Read on Ao3 Summary: Rookie cop Prompto Argentum gets sent undercover with veteran Aranea Highwind in hopes of taking down the Caelums, longtime leaders of organized crime in Insomnia. After being assigned to assist Gladiolus Amicitia and Ignis Scientia, the pair dive deeper into the criminal underworld and find themselves caught up in a variety of shady dealings. However, when Prompto starts to learn who Gladiolus really is, his loyalties begin to shift in a direction he never expected.

Full fic under the cut! thanks to @its-love-u-asshole for betaing this!

"Argentum!" Captain Cor Leonis' voice echoed through the entire precinct's office, and Prompto practically fell out of his chair, wincing at the sound pounding against his ear drums.

"Uh oh shortcake, looks like you're in trouble. Again." Aranea Highwind giggled devilishly into her palm.

"Wonder what y'all did this time," Cindy Aurum snorted. "You’re always making Cor angry, hun."

"You know, maybe this time he's not angry! Maybe he's calling me into the office to praise me for doing such a great job on my last case," he smirked, looking rather proud of himself.

"ARGENTUM! MY OFFICE. NOW." Cor's deep voice repeated, showing no signs of happiness or pride. Prompto winced again, and shrunk his head towards his shoulder, making him look like a turtle trying to hide in its very tiny shell.

"Oh. Yeah. That definitely sounds like praise!" Aranea snorted. "Good luck, kid." She winked as he walked by her desk and made his way slowly to the Captain's office.

Cor was a good Captain, if not a little standoffish, but Prompto liked to think the man had a soft spot for him… when he wasn't yelling at him for a whole variety of things. Prompto was the newest member of Cor's team, and needless to say, he was still working out some of the odds and ends that went along with officially being a detective. This also meant there had been quite a few screw ups on Prompto's personal record.

"Cap'n Cor!" Prompto greeted, shooting a few finger guns at the serious looking man. "What's happenin'?!" he chuckled.

Cor, however, didn't laugh once. "Sit down and shut the door."

"Eheh… yes, sir," Prompto sighed, his shoulder's slouching as he flopped down into a chair directly opposite of Cor.

The man sighed, keeping his arms folded. "What the hell is this?" he asked, dropping a folder further up his desk so it was directly in front of Prompto.

Adjusting his glasses, Prompto peered forward, leaning over. "A… case file, sir?" he questioned. He knew it was probably a case file that didn't look good for him, but he didn't wanna bring that up if the Captain was going to focus on something else.

"This is the 5th one this month that has come across my desk documenting accidents from Officer Prompto Argentum. This one says you ruined not one, but two police cars? Care to explain how that happened?" Cor asked.

"I think you're missing the big picture here, Captain," Prompto began to explain, adjusting the glasses on his face.

Cor's face stayed deadpan.

"It's not about the cars, it's about the result!" he smiled, opening the file to point to the bottom. "See? ‘Culprit apprehended’!" he smirked, trying to keep what little pride he had left.

"Yes. But you've cost hundreds of dollars in police property damage and this isn't the first time this month! On top of that, you've almost let three felons escape, blown you and Cindy's cover accidentally, and there was the time you left your gun out carelessly on your desk. You're a newbie cop, and this isn't boding well for your personal record."

"I get that… but I'm also getting the baddies!"

Cor rubbed his forehead as he leaned back in the chair. "Yes, but it would be nice if you could handle yourself with a bit more poise. You have potential, Argentum. But I can't keep telling the heads of the department my newbie cop is screwing things up again."

"So… tell them Aranea did it!" he laughed, and Cor stared at him blankly, his face creepily stoic. "Okay, okay it was just a joke..." he mumbled.

Cor leaned forward and folded his hands together. "You're a good cop, Argentum. There's a reason I picked you for my team."

"Eh? You picked me?" he said, pointing to himself, and Cor sighed, as though he'd revealed information he would definitely regret later.

"Anyway, I want to send you on a higher profile case." Prompto's eyes immediately lit up. Here he thought he was going to be in trouble, maybe even kicked off the team, but instead Cor wanted to give him a higher profile case? Oh, he was definitely on board with this!

"I believe you'd be a good fit for this case, if you can keep yourself under control. It would be a good chance to prove yourself. I am setting you up to work with Highwind on this case, as it really requires two people. I trust her to keep you in check, but there will be moments when you are alone. I hope you won't make any mistakes on this one. If you do, you will be suspended from the team."

"Eh?! What?! Suspended!?" Prompto exclaimed, as though those were the only words he had heard.

"You heard me," Cor said.

"But you said I was a good cop!" Prompto whined, leaning back in his seat.

"You are. But you're not worth the amount of money you're costing the department. On top of that," Cor said, leaning forward once more. "Blowing your cover on this one… I say you'd be suspended, but if you’re found out, you'll be lucky to leave with your life."

Prompto blinked. "What?" What could be so intense he would possibly not be able to leave with his life? The notion was admittedly terrifying, but Prompto would've been lying if he said he wasn't at least a little bit intrigued.

He'd become a cop to protect people, to protect the innocent and save lives. He knew what it was like to be weak, to feel tiny among people who didn't care for others and wanted nothing more than to knock people around. He never wanted to go back to that place again, and he never wanted anyone else to experience the horrors he had as a child, so he'd trained hard and worked to pass the police exam for years.

When Cor had picked him for his team, Prompto had been beyond honored, knowing the man was practically a living legend in the police world. The Captain had more arrests than anyone else in the Insomnia Police Department. Cor had apparently seen something in Prompto, still did, and Prompto really didn't want to let him down this time.

It wasn't like Prompto meant to screw up. Sometimes it just happened!

"I was going to wait and discuss this with you both after tomorrow's morning debriefing but now seems like as good a time as any." He stood up, swinging the door open to call Aranea in. "Highwind, you get in here too," he said, returning to his seat.

It took Aranea no time to walk from her desk to Cor's office, and she sighed, looking down at Prompto. "What did I do that could possibly be on par with him?"

"Hey!" Prompto muttered.

"Nothing. Please, take a seat. I have a case I need to discuss with you. If the two of you accept, you'll be partnered on this one," Cor explained, turning around in his chair to pull a large binder from the file cabinet behind him.

"You want me to work with this dingus?" Aranea asked, gently knocking Prompto upside the head as she walked by to sit next to him. She winked, grinning as she took her seat.

Prompto liked Aranea. She was a hard ass, but of all the veterans, she was the nicest to him, even if her compliments were sort of...strangely backhanded.

"Yes. And this mission will be long term," he explained. Prompto had never worked on a long term case before, and working with Aranea would surely be helpful, as she was one of the ones with the most experience in their precinct.

"Long term?" Aranea raised an eyebrow. "Been awhile," she chuckled, crossing one leg over the other. "How long we talkin'?"

Cor thumbed at the binder in front of him, and opened it up to a page in the middle. "I take it you both are well aware of the mafia problem we've faced over the past many decades. For a long time it was 'overlooked'," Cor scoffed. "Many older officers felt there was nothing to be done about getting rid of organized, high crime, but I have different plans.

"We've had informants in the field for years," he explained. "People who are working for both sides. We have a strict agreement. I don't arrest them, they report back any findings to me.

"I recently received a tip from one of them. It seems the younger males in the next generation have finally begun their training to become the next heads of the family. From what I hear, Regis Lucis Caelum has not been doing well," Cor explained, tapping on the picture in the binder in front of him.

"As both of you are probably aware, the Caelum family has been the head of organized crime for quite sometime now, and just below him are the Amicitias and the Scientias, the three main heads working together. From what I hear, Regis is soon to be on the outs, and his son, Noctis, is prepping to take over," Cor continued. "I believe, if we can get Noctis and the other younger members of the group, we can cut them off at the head…" he said.

Aranea nodded. "Makes sense. Get the main leader and they'll all go down eventually. So what ya’ want us to do?"

"Undercover mission," Cor said, placing two files on the desk in front of them. "My informant tells me Gladiolus Amicitia and Ignis Scientia are in need of two new assistants. Apparently Gladiolus goes through them like water, and Ignis dismissed his last one for being far too incompetent. Aranea, you'll be Ignis' assistant and Prompto you will be Gladiolus'. Apparently Gladiolus isn't allowed to request women anymore," Cor snorted.

"Wonder why," Aranea grumbled, rolling her eyes.

"So does this mean we're going to go work for the mafia?" Prompto asked, glancing between his two older coworkers.

"Indeed," Cor said. "The goal is to get close to both of them so they will eventually lead you to Noctis. Once you have Noctis' location, we can set up a break-in and we'll be sure to get him, and hopefully Gladiolus and Ignis as well. I don't want to get greedy though, so if we can only get Noctis, so be it.

"Prompto," Cor continued. "You're new to this sort of thing, but Aranea will be very helpful in debriefing. If the two of you can find a safe place, you can discuss the case, but don't unless you are absolutely certain the area is secure. Aranea will send all information back to me, let her handle communication.

"On top of this, you may have to do some...less than legal activities. I know you joined the police force to stop crime, not commit it, however, we consider this to be a... special circumstance."

"How fun," Aranea purred, her lips quirking into a smile. Prompto had a feeling she would enjoy this far more than he would.

Cor sighed, pushing the folders towards them. "Anyhow, take these folders and get yourself briefed on the case. We've set up apartments for you closer to the general whereabouts. So get packed and say goodbye to any personal friends and family members as you will not have contact with them for quite some time."

"Got it, won't take very long," Aranea said, picking up her folder as she stood up. "See ya' 'round, Cor." She waved her hand once as she exited his office, presumably heading to pack.

"Well?" Cor raised his eyebrow.

Prompto gripped the folder in his hand. Cor trusted him with such a high stakes mission? He was flattered, excited, terrified... the mix of emotions throbbed in his fingertips against the folder.

Jumping up, he clutched it to his chest, saluting. "I won't let you down, sir!" he said excitedly. "I am so ready for this!"

As nervous as he felt, he'd been waiting for a case like this since he joined the force! The whole reason he had become a cop was to keep the people safe, and what better way to do so than by stopping high-profile criminals who hurt people on the daily.

Cor opened his mouth, as if to argue that he wasn't so sure but he closed it. "Kid," he said, folding his hands over his lap. "Be careful, alright?"

"You got it," Prompto winked, giving him a thumbs up, heading out the office door.

Cor called after him before the door could shut. "And don't do anything stupid!"

~~

Gladiolus Amicitia looked around the cafe and immediately pulled out a cigarette. Ignis Scientia was never late to anything; not meetings, not appointments, and not even for spending time with his oldest and dearest friend. Admittedly 15 minutes wasn't all that late, but this was Ignis! So naturally, Gladio was a little stressed.

He lit the cigarette, holding it close to his lips as he pulled in a long drag, puffing the smoke out into the air. He rolled his fingers against the table, shaking his leg up and down.

He pulled out his pocket watch from his jacket. Where the hell was he?

He took another long drag on his cigarette, the possibilities of Ignis' whereabouts began to race through his mind. The problem was, there were so many potential scenarios of what could've happened to his best friend, and none of them were casual. All involved pain of some sort, injuries... death...

No. Gladio shook his head. Iggy wasn't that stupid. He wouldn't go and get himself killed before they were supposed to have lunch.

"Ah, Gladio, my apologies," Ignis' smooth tone cut through the cacophony of the streets and Gladio's own thoughts. His amber eyes immediately shot up to meet Ignis' jade hues. A smile pulled across his handsome features, and Gladio immediately rolled his eyes.

"Took ya' long enough," he growled, slamming his cigarette down on the ashtray to snuff it out.

"Were you concerned?" Ignis asked, pulling the chair out. He took a seat, leaning his elbows on the table as he smirked.

"Concerned my ass!" Gladio snorted. "You're never fuckin' late, so I was starting to get insulted." Ignis was safe, there was no need to let him know he'd been worried.

"Of course. Well, I did apologize," he chuckled, pressing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He thumbed through the menu, completely ignoring Gladio's huffy behavior.

"Yeah, yeah. Where the hell were ya'?" Gladio asked, watching as Ignis scanned the menu. Gladio didn't know why he was looking so hard. Ignis had been the one to choose this particular cafe. It was on the other side of town, on the edge of their territory, dangerously close to Izunia's neck of the woods. (Far too close, in Gladio's opinion.) However, Ignis had insisted, since this cafe was one of the only ones in the city which carried the brand of coffee he preferred. Gladio usually let Ignis choose the restaurants though, he was far more picky about his food than Gladio would ever be.

Ignis paused, his finger tracing down the edge of the menu. He pursed his lips as he turned his gaze towards his best friend. "It seems things have gotten worse with my uncle. I had to stop by the hospital."

"Damn Iggy, I wish I'd known, I woulda gone with you."

"I... know you would've. I almost stopped by here first, but I thought it best to go and handle things on my own first. I wasn't sure what condition he would be in," Ignis sighed.

The waitress arrived at the table, taking their order, and, as cute as she was, Gladio was thankful when she left them in peace.

"What happened?" Gladio asked once she left. He was tempted to pull out another cigarette, but refrained from doing so; Ignis didn't enjoy smoking while he had his coffee.

"He collapsed in his office," Ignis muttered. "The doctors aren't sure what happened. He was sleeping when I went to sign paperwork."

"Hm. Overworking himself again," Gladio chuckled. "Just like someone else I know."

"Gladiolus please," Ignis sighed. "I am not overworking myself. Besides, I brought the paperwork for the potential assistant candidates I found."

"Really?" Gladio smirked, raising his eyebrow. "So you're not overworking yourself and yet you brought work to our casual meetup!" he teased.

Ignis grunted, thanking the waitress when she put their drinks down. He picked up the cup, blowing over the heated surface. "Getting an assistant will stop me from overworking myself. Meanwhile, your assistant will actually help you get work done," he smirked back.

"Har-har, Iggy," Gladio said. "So I assume you'll be taking over for your Uncle for his gala duties?"

"Yes. Which is why it is imperative I find a new assistant immediately," he nodded. "We don't have much time before the Winter Gala, and seeing as Regis is letting Noctis handle it almost entirely on his own… well, he’ll need all the help he can get," Ignis spewed out the information quickly, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Iggy, calm down. We'll get it figured out."

"If Noctis and I take over for Regis and my Uncle respectively, we can begin to start putting our plans in motion. We could begin with the Winter Gala-"

"Forget it. There's no way my father will go for that shit," Gladio said, waving his hand back and forth quickly. "Look Iggy, I know you're eager, but we gotta be patient, okay?"

Ignis sighed, leaning back in his chair. He slipped his hands under his frames, pushing his glasses up. "I know. But taking over for my uncle includes... many things," Ignis muttered, flicking his gaze to the side. "You are... aware of this, Gladio?"

"'Course I am," he snorted.

"Then you understand why I am so eager to push things in our direction," Ignis hissed softly.

"Yeah, but one thing at a time Iggy," Gladio muttered, his own voice hushed.

Sighing, Ignis leaned forward, taking a large gulp of his coffee. "You're right, you're right." His tone sounded resigned, and Gladio felt a pang of guilt. Ignis was always tightly-wound, but right now he seemed far more stressed than usual. "One thing at a time."

Leaning over, he pulled a few files from his briefcase. He placed them on the small table in front of Gladio before smoothing out his gray suit jacket. "Here we are. The candidates." He passed one of the folders to Gladio. "I went ahead and selected my two favorites for us. This man, Prom Argent, is for you and this woman Nea Biggs is for me."

"Now hold on a second!" Gladio snarled, yanking the folder from Ignis' hands. "How come you get the woman!?"

Ignis rolled his eyes. "We discussed this, Gladio. The last three women assistants you had quit after you ‘broke their hearts’. I assume you won't be sleeping with this man," he said.

Gladio flipped the folder open, showing a resume and a small picture of a small blond boy with flat hair and glasses. "So you're giving me this kid? Who the fuck is this nerd?"

Ignis couldn't help but laugh. "Oh come on Gladio, give the 'kid' a chance," Ignis teased. "He's quite qualified if you read over his resume."

"Hang on, lemme see your chick," he said, lunging forward to grab the folder in front of Ignis.

"Gladio-"

He flipped it open and stared at the picture of the gray haired woman for a moment. "What the hell, Ignis! She's a babe!" he said, turning the picture around to shove it in his face.

"Yes, she is a very fine looking lady," Ignis muttered, snatching the picture from Gladio's hand. "But more importantly she's qualified. Her sources checked out as well, and I hear she's quite efficient," Ignis said.

"Good for her," Gladio mumbled.

"So since you're done griping..."

He wasn't, but he let Ignis speak anyway.

"And you're obviously completely fine with the match up."

He wasn't, but apparently it was useless to argue.

"They start tomorrow, so please prepare tasks for Prom to do," Ignis said.

"Tomorrow?! Oh I'll prepare all right," he grumbled, opening the folder once more to look at the scrawny blond.

"I know you're not pleased, but based on his credentials I think he'll be good for you. And Ms. Biggs is going to be just what I need to keep my workload from being far too overwhelming."

Gladio sighed. Ignis was an intelligent man, and if he thought this was best, it most likely was. "Alright Iggy, I'll give the kid one chance."

"Good," Ignis smiled, sipping the last of his coffee. "It will go smoothly, I'm sure."

Gladio growled, folding his arms. "One chance. If he screws up, he's gone."

~~

The suitcase on his bed was open, but not even remotely organized. "Shit, shit, shit! Where did I put those pinstripe pants!?" Prompto whined, tossing everything out of his closet. Cor had made it very clear he wasn't allowed to come back to his apartment, under any circumstances. He had to be sure he had everything.

Actually looking at his suitcase now, Prompto wasn't sure it was going to be large enough. "I should've bought two," he sighed.

Thumbing through the file he'd been given, he stared at the picture of Gladiolus Amicitia, the man he would be working for. He certainly looked like someone involved in the mafia! He had a scar down his left eye, and his wild brown hair was slicked back tight against his forehead. From what he could see in the picture, his shoulders were broad, and Prompto couldn't tell if he hadn't shaved in this picture, or if he purposefully left the hair on his chin and jaw like that. "What a scary lookin' fella..." Prompto muttered.

Slapping his cheeks, he shook his head and closed the folder back up. He wasn't scared! Hell no, this was the case he'd been waiting for; the case he dreamed about during training at the academy!

He glanced at the telephone on his bedside table. Should he call his parents? He didn't talk to them often. They were constantly traveling for work, and if not for work, then for pleasure. They never seemed to worry about Prompto, or the fact his job could often put him in life threatening situations. No, they were simply proud of him, and did their own thing.

His best friends were Cindy and Aranea... and he'd already said a tearful goodbye to Cindy when he left the station. Well, tearful on his side of things. She'd pat his back and wished him luck, warning him she'd kill him if he died.

No phone calls were really necessary.

Digging through his closet he grabbed a few more outfits. Everything he owned was far too... straight-edge. He knew these men usually dressed classy, but it was a completely different look from his own casual wear. The last thing he wanted was for his clothes to give him away. He couldn't risk showing any hints he might be a cop.

He twisted his lips and flopped down on the bed, looking at the mess of clothes. Adjusting his glasses, he puffed out his cheeks. Aranea was probably all packed. Hell, she'd probably been packed from the second she got home. From the way she left the office, Prompto wondered if she'd packed with the snap of her finger.

She hadn't looked nervous at all back at the station when Cor had de-briefed them on what they would be doing. (Not that Prompto was nervous, oh no, of course not.) Then again, she'd gone undercover plenty of times before. Still, Prompto was sure none of them had been as important as something like this. Maybe he could ask her about past cases later.

Blowing out a long huff of air, Prompto began to organize the clothes he'd thrown into his suitcase. He wanted to at least try and get some sleep tonight. With the insane mix of emotions mashed-up around inside of him, he wasn't sure if he would actually be able to. Being tired for his first day seemed like a horrible idea. The more tired he was, the higher the chances were he might flub and reveal their true identities-

No. He had promised Cor… no more screw ups! No, this was his first real undercover case, and there was no way he was going to fuck it up.