i'm a true believer

SYBILL TRELAWNEY. TWENTY EIGHT. NYPD. said it's going to be OKAY, they can see into the future. everything turns around. TERROR may be coming, but those are only games. sirens may be sounding, roads closing down.

[divincrights]

lionhevrted‌:

“Good energy?” Minnie scoffed, rolling her eyes as she repeated the phrase. She didn’t get them, didn’t get half of what they said because of things like this.  “It’s a rock,” she said dismissively, “what could it even do?” Her eyes narrowed at Sybill, her annoyance still prominent in her stance. “Just follow the damn policy, Sybill, I don’t care if you think it’s dumb.”

sybill opened their mouth, thinking about starting the circle all over again. there was no making minnie happy, especially when the woman was looking for an argument. “okay then,” were the only words that came out before sybill picked up the newspaper. minnie could benefit from being more intune with nature is all sybill thinks, but that probably wouldn’t happen in a thousand years. “i’ll start working on it.”

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k-ingsleyshacklebolt‌:

“I certainly hope there is – else the precinct is technically paying the both of us for extra work, and I think that may be a few clams too many for the budget to handle.” He shrugged loosely, far too aware that the money was stretched so thin, even more so with the disappearance of the files, and the uptick in gang activity… Kingsley hated to think about it, but it was close to his mind even in moments of peace and rest. Sometimes he thought he could hear his mother’s voice, accented and firm, in the back of his mind, telling him that he shouldn’t bring his work home like that, that it wasn’t healthy. Truth be told, he had very little in his life beyond his work, or at least very little he had no guilt related to.

“I agree. It’s important to see the city, and also to take time to relax from time to time, so you can get back to work with fresh eyes.” Words of wisdom, but perhaps more than a little hypocritical, coming from Kingsley. He cared for his coworkers a great deal, though, and didn’t want them throwing their lives into work the way he did, didn’t want them to regret so much the way he does. Even Sybill, occasionally odd, and frequently confusing though they were, sparked warmth in him, an instinct to shield. “Cleansing?” His voice came out a little higher than he’d intended, but Kingsley affixed a neutral expression onto his face, nodding as though he understood. “You could, if you want, do a reading for me. That’s not an order from your captain, by the way. Only if you want to.”

sybill tried to take the money comment lightly. “you know you pay me far too much for what i do already.” sybill said, thumbing through their cards. they did very little besides making sure all of the organization was in order, but even actual officer did that better than them sometimes. the thought of money being tight made sybill nervous, but in the end they knew it’d all work out.

“you should follow your own advice more often, sir.” sybill added with a smile. sybill’s desk sat right outside of kingsley’s office. sybill knew when they left and when they stayed, and it was often so much more of the latter. “i’ve been reading about chakras lately, you know. it’s all about balance, but i think anyone can benefit from that.” they paused for a moment, taking in kingsley’s words. “really? you’d let me?” it wouldn’t be the first time, but ti was still surprising. kingsley, oddly, seemed somewhat interested in some of the practices sybill partook in, even if it was just to be kind.

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officerrevans‌:

“She just likes things to be organized, that’s all.” Lily couldn’t blame them for their frustration though. “I can’t hold that against her.” She frowned when she saw them starting to pack up. When this conversation was over, it was back to the precinct. Back to everything she was hoping to avoid. “I guess I can’t do anything I want to do without a little risk,” she mumbled, “But I don’t want to lose everything.”

“organized. that’s a word for it.” sybill said, somewhat forlornly. they didn’t hate minnie at all, in fact, sybill always wanted to be minnie’s friend. they looked up to her. lily and minnie seemed to get on just fine, so why couldn’t sybill? they tried not to dwell on it. “i would say you may have chosen the wrong job, but i couldn’t imagine anyone doing it better than you do.” they said sincerely. “and no matter what happens, you’ll always have me.”

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lionhevrted‌:

“I believe it has to do with the thought there too much clutter on one’s desk will lead to distraction,” Minerva stated a bit huffily. “Regardless,” she crawled, “your little…knick knacks are unprofessional and not the image we want to project to the citizens who come here for our help.” Minnie pinched the bridge of her nose, the frustration from the morning and from this interaction with Sybill creating a headache behind her eyes. “My problem is that they’re against policy, and I’m asking you to at least try to follow it.”

“i’m at the height of productivity,” sybill said defensively. “it’s all the good energy.” they added a wave of their hand towards the bit of tiger’s eye that sat on the edge of their desk. they straightened up the stack of papers they needed to file, one of their last things to do today. why did minnie always have to cause a fuss when they were almost free from their desks? “and no one is coming here to get help from me anyhow, that’s all you, minerva.”

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c-elestinawarbeck‌:

Her grin only grew as Sybill spoke, and she glanced over at her friend. “Are you saying my soul needs to be purified?” she said, the words followed with a bit of a chuckle. If they were, they wouldn’t exactly be wrong. “Oh, it’s absolutely lovely. I’ll talk to Arthur about it later,” she murmured, her eyes falling to the case once more before glancing around the rest of the shop. “We haven’t looked at the books yet, have we?” she said, before linking her arm through theirs. “Come on, then!”

“i think we could all use a little soul cleansing now and then.” sybill said, before tilting their head. “you know the man behind the counter? you’ve never mentioned it before.” regardless of celestina’s response, they followed her without question to the books. although sybill had plenty of books back home, some stacked on every surface, nothing stopped them from picking up a few more. especially the odd ones that found their way on to these shelves.

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ofremuslupin‌:

remus felt like he was intruding. he was sitting at his own table still, his own things and coffee in front of him, but his attention was solely on sybill and their own. were their positions reversed, he would have bene angry at being interrupted in a moment of solace but – he had always been sort of a hypocrite. “ what sort of things do you ask them ? ” he stared at the card on top, looking at the illustration. there was no concept of what it was or what it could be running through his mind – just curiosity. “ if they only really tell you about the past, what’s the point ? ” there was a tinge of disappointment in his voice. “ they still look like just paper to me. ” he leaned back in his seat. was his saying that a challenge – was he hoping to be proven wrong ? he wasn’t sure.

“they don’t tell you about the past, no.” sybill backtracked. it was always so much more complicated explaining it to someone who didn’t want to get it, but once sybill set their mind to something? there was no backing out. “open ended things. it’s more like asking for a suggested path.” they were hoping that this became somewhat more clear than before, but it didn’t seem like it was getting anywhere. “not just paper, sir. not at all.”

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lionhevrted‌:

Minnie snorted, barely refraining from rolling her eyes at them. “Then try following them and keeping your desk regulation if you have regard for them,” Minnie snipped, her tone sharp for no reason other that the growing pain behind her eyes. “And regardless of if I’m the only one with a problem with your little knick knacks,” she said derisively, “they’re still not allowed to be on your desk at all.”

“do we even know why that rule exists?” sybill said. in all honesty, they didn’t see the point of having a rule if it wasn’t to prevent someone from getting hurt. the one thing sybill hated about the nypd was the decorum, but they supposed it came with the territory. “you’re the only one who has ever complained about them, so i just don’t understand the problem. you have to crane your neck to even get them in your line of sight!”

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officerrevans‌:

“Hush,” she smiled, “Minnie likes you.” Or, rather, Lily couldn’t imagine Minnie disliking anyone, especially someone like Sybill, someone Lily found trustworthy and kind. Even after spending these brief minutes discussing her feelings with them, Lily felt better. Though, not all her anxiety had been squandered. She wasn’t sure it ever would be. “I guess you could be right,” Lily sighed, “We aren’t all meant to be best friends with our co-workers. Still… I hate feeling like this. I should feel comfortable, right? Safe. Especially in a police precinct of all places.”

“you can say what you like about minnie,” sybill said dramatically. “but anyone with a personal vendetta against my knick knacks is no fan of mine.” there was a bit of annoyance to the joking tone, but sybill held nothing against the woman. they were... annoying at times, they could admit it. “while a precinct should be safe in theory,” sybill frowned, grabbing the cards off the table. “i think it might not be the most comforting or risk free place to hold a job. i’d feel that way too, if i were in your shoes.”

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officerrevans‌:

“You know what I mean,” Lily rolled her eyes, though a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She knew Sybill was right; the secrets in the world of crime were much more complicated than the black and white perspective she grew up assuming all the world was. “You’re around it all day too, though. Not the same as me, but you are. In the precinct, you don’t ever get the feeling that someone is watching you? Waiting for you to… I don’t know. Mess up?” 

of course sybill knew what lily meant, mostly because they were pretty good at getting each other most of the time. being able to be authentic, being able to joke around, that was something they enjoyed most about spending time with lily. and also not feeling the need to use those absolutely stiff and boring titles that the nypd seemed fond of throwing around. “you know,” sybill said with a quirked brow. “my desk is a stone throw away from minnie’s, correct?” although it was mostly a joke, there was truth to it. “although i do just think that’s what the workplace is like for everyone. we just have a bit more at stake.”

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ofremuslupin‌:

tact had no place in remus’ life, it never had, and really he preferred it that way. he knew when to be careful ( it did have its place, he would admit, especially where the marauders were involved ) but in general conversation ? what was the point in being fake or pretending when it would serve no good ? shaking hands clutched a cop of coffee as he sat outside the cafe ( really, coffee couldn’t be good for him, but if he had obeyed doctors with all the things they said to avoid, remus would have nothing left ) and he watched people passing by. people watching in general was an innocuous enough habit – of course, it was until remus began to stare. he hadn’t meant to but the cards the person had drew him in. curiosity killed the cat, he knew, but really if that were the case, he’d have been dead a thousand times over by now.

“ sorry – “ he wasn’t, but his face flushed red – he had good enough sense to feel slightly embarassed – “ just do those … really work ? ” remus’ face crinkled up as he continued looking at the cards ( and not the person ). he had always had a strange relationship with the future. he never thought he had one, and as he found himself living days he never thought he would have, he wasn’t sure what he could believe anymore. his mother had never been too spiritual, but she prayed to a god he wasn’t certain in to ask for more days in his life. they had been to doctors who acted as deities, but their prophecies were proven wrong time and time over. he shrugged his shoulders before spitting out, “ they’re only paper. ” he couldn’t act too interested.

“yeah, that is what they’re made of.” sybill looked up, setting the cards to the side. they would have to start all over with the task thanks to the new energy that had made it’s way over. there wasn’t much judgement in their voice, mostly because this wasn’t the first time they had dealt with the question.

“they can’t answer anything too specific.” sybill looked at the stack. the hermit sat upside down on top of the stack. “most of them tell you what you need to learn or work on. especially when it comes to the past.” sybill took a drink. there were plenty of skeptics, that sybill knew, so it wouldn’t surprise them if this man wasn’t listening. “they’re more of a reflection rather than a telling, i’d say. but definitely a lot more than a piece of paper.”

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a-carrow‌:

It wasn’t entirely fair to say that Alecto used Sybill. She did not like the connotations there - everyone used everyone else. That’s what people were for, means to an end. Did Alecto perhaps only respond to the other’s invitations when it suited her? Wasn’t that what friends were? And maybe Alecto knew Sybill did not just want to be her friend, but that wasn’t her fault. She would call them friend but keep them closer because it was who Alecto was. She would not apologize for what the world made her, and she did warn them.

They were sitting on the fire escape outside of Sybill’s building. Alecto had long ago shed her shoes and pulled her skirts up far higher than was likely appropriate, almost too thin legs swinging over the edge in an attempt to garner some sort of breeze. She leaned back on her hands and looked over at the sound of their voice. “Everything seems nicer when you aren’t actually looking at it,” her voice was a bit harsher than was warranted, but Alecto was all sharp edges and they knew. “But I haven’t been anywhere but the City, so I couldn’t say really.”

“i don’t think people are like that. they tend to be nicer when you decide to really look” sybill added thoughtfully, ignoring the edge in alecto’s voice. if sybill got upset everytime that happened, the two would never have a conversation ever. they’d still be stuck at a stage where sybill was leaving casserole’s at alecto’s doorstep.

they looked down people, if only for a moment, to see both of their feet dangling over the edge. “not ever?” sybill said curiously. they’ve lived in the city their whole life also, but- “not even to the countryside? not even for a moment?”

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c-elestinawarbeck‌:

“I think it was made for you,” Celestina said, gently nudging her friend in the side as they glanced upon the brooch in the case. “C’mon, let me show you what I found!” she said, tugging them towards the necklaces. “I think I might get that one,” she said, pointing a finger at the jade necklace that she had set her sights on only moments ago. 

“Do you like it?” she asked, knowing she probably wouldn’t find much else to catch her eye in the small shop. It wasn’t where she usually shopped, but she could see the allure for the other. 

the jade necklace was absolutely beautiful, that was something sybill could recognize for sure. “you know, jade,” sybill said, fingers hovering of the green gem as if there wasn’t a glass case between them. “is supposed to be really purifying for the soul.” sybill wasn’t as in deep with healing stones, but it was a miracle what a little reading could do. “plus, it’s beautiful, of course.”

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officerrevans‌:

“All of it, I guess. The file, the Prewett murder… and it all so close together,” she sighed, “It’s hard to wrap my head around it all. It feels like it all should be connected, but I just don’t have the pieces to put it together.” Lily looked up at Sybill, realizing she’d been ranting without meaning too. It was hard, feeling like she really had no one to talk to. “Like you always listen to Shacklebolt,” Lily shot back at them quickly, realizing she was avoiding what they truly were insinuating. Lily was the type to always listen to Shacklebolt, as her record would attest. Never before had she broken the rules, not like this. “I just… I don’t know. Do you ever feel like everyone you’re supposed to trust is lying to you?” 

“well organized crime sure has it’s way of being tight knit, i guess.” sybill said, scrunching their eyebrows together. of course, crime couldn’t be anymore complicated than justice, but there seemed to be a lot more people keeping secrets on the other side of things. “well, yeah i always listen to him. it’s easy to trust someone when they take a chance on you with nothing to gain except faster filing.” they had an amused lilt in their voice that dropped quite quickly. “i can’t say i have but in your line of work, i hav ea feeling you’re trusting different people than i am.”

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lionhevrted‌:

Minnie knew she was unfairly harsh to Sybill-she had been, ever since they started at the precinct, and she wasn’t quite sure why. But today, somehow all of their perceived faults seemed worse. Especially the collection of odd and ends taking up a solid percentage of Sybill’s desk space. “Just because Captain Shacklebolt hasn’t said anything doesn’t mean it isn’t against policy,” Minerva responded primly. “I know you have little regard for the rules, but would it kill you to at least pretend to follow them?”

“i have plenty of regard for the rules.” sybill said stubbornly. there weren’t many rules for them to break on their end, after all. doing as they were told seemed to get them far enough, and they didn’t truly make any calls of their own. there were no highstakes or even a bit of pressure on most days except for in moments like this. most of sybill’s trouble came from their coworkers. “and last time i checked, he was in charge, i’m sure you’re the only one who has a problem with it.”

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officerrevans‌:

“More important than you? Don’t be ridiculous,” Lily laughed. “You know you’re more interesting than all of the others put together.” She set her cappuccino down on the table, glancing down at the file peeking out of her bag. There would always be more time to look at it, when she could be alone. “Did I really miss you leaving? I wish I hadn’t,” she frowned. “It’s this case, Syb. I just can’t stop thinking about it.” 

“well, interesting sure. although the rest have all got things going for them.” sybill said, “and don’t worry about it,” there was a joking lilt in their voice as they took a drink from their own mug. they liked joking around with lily, most other people from the office didn’t take it as well or thought sybill was childish. lily saw what it was usually, just a joke. those weren’t illegal last time sybill checked. “i’m very stealthy.” the smile didn’t last long, especially since the case was brought up. sybill didn’t mess with those matter often. everyone honestly dealt with so much that they didn’t ask. although this seemed like the perfect time to ask. “which one would that be? the file? i thought shacklebolt told us to stay out of it.”

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c-elestinawarbeck‌:

Shooting a small grin at Arthur as they both wandered further into the pawn shop, Celestina wondered if Sybill had any idea of what lay beneath the shop. Of course, she had to admire her friend’s fascination with whatever could be found on the shelves, and had busied herself with looking at the pieces of jewelry only a few steps away. 

As her fingers ran over a jade necklace laid out in a case, she heard Sybill’s voice and moved over to their side. “Oh, Sybill, it’s just darling. You don’t have anything like this, do you?” she asked, a small smile coming to her own lips. 

sybill’s eyebrows furrowed for a moment, trying to recall their jewelry box. elephant brooch? yes. giraffes, lizards, birds, yes. owls? sybill might’ve had a pair of earrings, maybe a necklace, but they couldn’t remember an owl nestled among all of the other little treasures that they have collected over the years.

“no,” sybill settled on. their memory tended to be a bit shoddy, but  there’s no way one owl brooch is exactly the same as the other. “i’m going to keep looking,” they tapped the glass above the brooch. “but i’m going to come back to that.”

[divincrights]

lionhevrted‌:

where: the nypd office

who: @divincrights

Minerva was having a bit of a day. Her bones ached in the way that meant a storm was coming, and sorting through the paperwork on her desk, she wasn’t sure if it was literal or metaphorical at this point. She rubbed at her eyes, glancing at the clock to see she still had two hours until she could head out. Her head ached, and the upbeat whistling coming from Sybill’s desk was only making matters worse. She glanced over, looking at them and their cluttered desk with a narrowed gaze. Minnie eyed the assorted knick knacks with disdain as she informed them, “You know you’re not allowed to have those on your desk, right?”

sybill looked up from the papers they were shuffling through when they heard minnie speak in a voice that could only possibly be directed at them. they tilted their head, furrowing their eyebrows. minnie must be having a bad day because as far as sybill knew, they were just doing their job. their eyes were then directed at the assorted knicknacks on their desk: a little porcelain lamb, a tiny bronze woman draped in cloth, two fin-de-siecle like characters who were perched on a bench their size, among other things. “captain shacklebolt hasn’t said anything about it,” sybill said with a curious tone, adjusting the little lamb. “i’ve had these since i’ve worked here, you know. they’re not hurting anybody.”