#serendiptious-esparza

[sunrise-on-the-reaping]

titans, scarlet, ruby

titans; do you prefer slow mornings or relaxing evenings?

Slow mornings. I hate it when I have to rush in the morning.

scarlet; describe your current crush/es.

I don't have any at the moment (sadly.) Do fictional crushes count? (Big bad biker!)

ruby; what does your ideal first date look like?

Exploring the city, going to a museum, dinner at a restaurant in an artsy neighborhood (yes I'm a pretentious snob.)

[djesusgetnaked]

67,89,56,74!

okiuhygh Those questions are totally absurd I love you for asking them.

67) Is it rude for a deaf person to talk (sign) with their mouth full of food?

The real question is : can you concentrate enough to speak sign language while eating ? I mean you have to control your mouth and your hands at the same time.

89) If someone owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way to the center of the earth?

Totally mate. Sure the piece of land is defined by measures on earth, the actual ground. But when you dig up something on your land, it’s yours right ? Well it’s underground. The owners just have to cooperate with the little demons inside the belly of Earth, and they’re not very pleasant.

56) Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

Why is it almost the exact same word in French and in English although the languages haven’t the same origins ? (Yeah trying to distract you with another question.)Becaaaause. It was one big room and then they separated it with walls and it became a building with apartments ?? Idk seriously ahah. I’m trying to seem smart and confident but I’m dying.

74) How does a real estate company sell its office without causing confusion?

Real estate-ception ! (for Inception, nevermind me)By burning ? The insurance will take care of everything.

[writefasttalkevenfaster]

Congrats on 1k!!!! You deserve it because you are truly a gifted writer! Could I request a hc on how Barba would feel as his wife being the defense attorney that is on the same case as him. Would it affect how he argues the case?

Omg you are so sweet! Thank you so much!! <333 Thank you for being so supportive of me T.T You are the best, and for that I want to make this extra special (and long) for you!!

Disclaimer: This would never happen, since one of them would have to recuse themselves from the case, since it’s a HUGE conflict of interest, but let’s bend the rules of the realities of the American legal systems a bit why don’t we ;).

Rafael Barba was used to squaring off against the usual attorneys, the usual victims of his legal prowess and wit, so to speak. 

There was Rita Calhoun, who he did miss working with when she was on their side, but it made all the more thrilling when he could one up her. Especially when he got to rub it in over drinks. 

There was Buchanan, who he utterly despised the presence of, as the man knew every dirty defense attorney trick in the book, and then some. 

And then there was you, a general nuisance with cheap paperwork tricks that kept him digging, and brilliant defenses that always had him considering deals, and sometimes taking them. The defense attorney that always managed to poke holes in his case: and then in his defenses, making it past to his heart. 

He did marry you after all. 

But there came the day he was kept waiting and waiting for Rita Calhoun to arrive, as you sat in the gallery, waiting for this arraignment to be over, so the two of you could grab lunch. 

“Judge, the People are not opposed to a continuance, we all have lives that we would like to return to,” As he spared another apologetic glance at you, catching the Judge’s attention. 

“Don’t you work at the same firm as Rita, Mrs. Barba?” And your attention snapped from Rafael to the Judge. “Could you handle this arraignment?” 

Rafael looked helplessly on, as you tried to keep an ounce of decorum, “Judge, wouldn’t that be inappropriate, considering-” But the Judge waved you off, explaining that it would be a greater injustice for this man’s trial to be rescheduled a fourth time, then it would for you to service as his arraignment lawyer. 

And it seemed he left you no choice, as Rafael shrugged, his attention snapping to the front, as he lost the demeanor of a caring husband, and assumed his prosecutorial stance. You were not his wife at this moment, but his adversary. “How does the defendant plead?” You whispered with your client for a few seconds, before clearing your throat. 

“Not guilty, Your Honor,” You answered. 

“People on bail?” And Rafael shifted his gears into action. 

“People request remand, Your Honor, the defendant is a flight risk, he was caught by detectives boarding a plane to Azerbaijan, a country not currently cooperating with U.S. extradition, he has connections both in and out of the country, and no real connections to the community.” Rafael replied, his prepared speech rolling off the tongue just as he had prepared this morning. He would get remand no problem. Or so he thought, until he saw a small smile curling on your lips. 

“Your Honors, my client was caught boarding a plane to Azerbaijan for a business trip, not to escape the country. He had no idea he was under suspicion for his wife’s murder and rape, as the detectives gave him no indication of any sort. And as for connections to the community, how about his daughter, who is right now in custody, but patiently waiting for her dad to be bailed out? To ask that this man be given remand would be a disservice to justice, especially after his hearing has been rescheduled how many times now, on top of having ill-prepared attorney now?” You crossed your arms. “Ordering remand on top of these circumstances would be a greater miscarriage of justice than if we rescheduled this arraignment another two times.” 

And the Judge considered your argument, “I agree, your client must surrender his passport, and wear an ankle bracelet, confined within his home. He also has to cough up $50,000 for bail. Court is adjourned.” 

And Rafael stood there, jaw hanging on the ground, as you shook hands with a man whose case you had been familiar with all of two minutes. 

And though court was adjourned, your time facing off with him in the courtroom sure wasn’t. 

As when you returned home from your firm, you had some news: they wanted you to stay on the case, as your now client, did not trust anyone else at your firm, much less any other attorney. 

Great, Rafael thought, holding his head, He would get to relive his early days of getting his ass handed to him by you. 

Noticing his pouting, you chuckled, “I’m starting to think half the reason you married me was so I couldn’t be on the other side of aisle.” Your arms looped around his neck, as his hung around your waist, pulling you taut against his body. 

He placed a sweet kiss on your lips, a wicked smirk pulling at his lips. “Half? More like the entire reason.” 

And with that Rafael had to start the case from scratch, b/c he knew you of all people weren’t going to give him an easy time. 

You had been working day and night on the case, leaving some morning before 6 AM and returning well after 5 PM. 

And it didn’t help that most days, you came home with a grin on your face, which unnerved him more than many of clients ever could.

He needed some more evidence and he needed it yesterday.

The trial started off with opening statements, and he did his usual spiel as always, but when it was your turn to get up, he quickly realized that this was not going to be difficult as he thought: it was much, much worse. 

But he wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Within your opening statement, you had changed more than half the jury’s minds. 

Calling witnesses was no better, as you managed to tear apart their backgrounds from mouth to anus, and by the end, he wasn’t sure how much of a case they had. 

He had managed to bring it back with Carisi’s testimony along with the physical evidence, but you managed to sneak reasonable doubt into every other element in the crime, including the Prentice’s numerous affairs, business scandals, and overall dislikable demeanor. 

“Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, everything Mr. Barba said is true: Mr. Prentice is a scoundrel, a crook, and a cheat, but he is not a rapist not is he a murderer. Most of us handle our relationships as we do our business. There is a fine line, between personal and public,” You spared a glance at your husband, who simply rose an eyebrow, as he scrawled notes on his legal pad. “And that line should never be breached, but today it was, in the name of justice. But there would be no greater injustice than to place this man in jail. Mr. Prentice had no apparent reason to murder or rape his wife; they were going to counseling, she had no idea that her husband was cheating, in his business or in their marriage, so why kill her? Mr. Barba presented all this supposed evidence and framed around her husband, but what really differentiates this man’s picture from any other? Motive. And that’s the one thing Mr. Barba doesn’t seem to have an explanation for. If the frames are all the same, then the crime always fits. And though everything Mr. Barba said is true, but if we charge Mr. Prentice with this crime, then what could stop the state from charging you, or you, or you?” You stopped in from the jury foreman, turning on your heel to face them. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” 

And the verdict came around soon enough, three days spent inside, only to pop out and say they were deadlocked. And then finally, the call came. 

He watched as you entered the court, striding in with heels clicking against the marble floor. As you stood, you laid a comforting hand on your client’s shoulder, whispering some reassuring words in his ear. And he couldn’t help but smile. 

He remembered when he asked you why you had become a defense attorney, instead of a prosecutor, and you had paused, as he saw the façade and barriers melt away to real emotion, as you glanced up from your drink, and said: “No man, woman, or even child, wakes up one day and wants to commit murder. They are driven to it, by circumstances, mental illness, or abuse. And I believe they deserve a fair shake in court, the state already has so much power, and it won’t have me as a public servant, but as a worthy adversary.” 

And as the Judge told you to rise with the verdict, he saw you rise with your client, bearing the burden of the verdict together. “Madam Forewoman, what say you?” And she paused, looking up as she read from the note card. 

“We, the jury find the defendant…” And Rafael knew whatever the verdict, he would be content, because you were his adversary.

And he was so glad that he was worthy of being your husband. 

[vlad-thee-inhaler]

Rafael Barba Headcanon: “Say Something”

An SVU HC, requested by @serendiptious-esparza​: Rafael Barba proposing to you. 

I apologize for taking so long. But here it is. Enjoy!

Rafael had been antsy. This hadn't been the usual pre-court jitters that he'd often experience on the eve of a verdict. At least, under those circumstances, he had maintained a shred of composure amidst the loud, anxious gulps of scotch. However, this was different. 

And it was not normal.

You had never seen Rafael so unsure. So afraid. He had been bare. Vulnerable. Without that ego. For once.

He came home, unquestionably drunk. His hair, once aligned immaculately, had now been unkempt, and some straggly strands feathered his brow. His eyes simply dimmed as he saw the concern that shaped the frown on your face. 

"What has been happening to you, Rafael?" was all you could manage to squeeze from your lips, which were now trembling and damn-near paralyzed. 

"Look," Rafael sighed. "I honestly don't know what to say. I've been contemplating this. Second-guessing myself. All week. I don't know how you're gonna take this..."

He met your gaze, and the inebriation had seemed to just melt from his demeanor. "I love the hell out of you. Okay? I do." He swallowed. "And I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't interested in marrying you, because that is all I want. There. I said it."

He fidgeted in the deep pockets of his trousers. Eyes focused to the ground. You reached for his hands. Forced his gaze back up to you with a simple hand to the chin. Kissed his mouth, though it still reeked of whiskey. His lips were still the softest, sweetest pair you had ever touched, nonetheless.

His eyes had seemed to speak:

What do you say? Say something.

"Yes, Rafael. I will."

[unleashthemidnight]

1,7,8,9 <3

Hi honey!

1. What’s your middle name, and do you like it?

I have two middle names and I like them both. The third one is the name I have answered many times aka the pink potato one; Rosamunda. I think it’s beautiful. My whole name has this flow to it when said out loud so there’s sometimes very interesting moments with nurses, teachers and others when they say the name out loud.

Fun fact: There isn’t many with that name in Finland (maybe handful and mostly people that have moved to Finland). Fun fact no 2: The invitation to my name-giving and birthdays that were organized in same day had it like “Invitation to Rosamunda’s name-giving” (I don’t remember how the words actually went) and I think my parents referred to me with that name before it was official one. Many people didn’t believed it would end up being a part of my actual name. XD The whole day is something that I really would like want to see, I have read my fathers notes for the event and I might know where some of my odd but great ideas come from.

7. What’s your worst fear?

There’s so many fears that I have, just listing three here because I don’t know what is the worst and I really don’t want to burn it down to just one.

Being completely alone; losing everyone I care about, and everything, and not even getting help from the society and the officials who should be helping.

Not getting through with this mental health problem at all. I want to live the life and have the energy to do it and manage to do everyday life task like going to shower, eat, pay bills, open emails and messages, make food, just the simple things too. And because of that everything that would come with not getting better.

Certain version of pain, slippery ice and overall falling; mostly because of my knees. I really don’t want cruches anymore and I want my knees to be where they should be. It limits life so much and I have always made through of those but I have so many bad memories relating every single times about that too.

8. Who’s your biggest inspiration?

I can’t name anyone certain person and I don’t know would I even yet to want to have anyone being that to me.

At the moment I can find inspiration from so many different people for different aspects in life and also depending on my mood too and what I feel I need or what the intuition says. I can find inspiration to do something because someone else inspired me to do the thing and for another thing it might be someone else and for like drawing and writing the inspiration comes elsewhere.

With categories the inspiration usually comes from singers and bands, actors and family and friends but also fellow “traveler”, someone from tumblr, you guys here, random passers-by. Everyone has the talent of inspire me someway. :3

9. Do you have any cool talents?

Ruining my own life with misery and depression.

I don’t actually know anymore, this feels like the question “tell me something about you” and instantly just not being sure anymore who you are or having to think way too much before finding something to answer. This might come from the realization of not having clear self imagine, something that my phychiatric nurse mentioned to me. But I’m still at the age of figuring everything out so yeah.

Um... There’s somesort of pride that comes with the different style of arts (clay, drawing, painting etc) and writings I have done.

Talent of knowing ONLY* three languages and sometimes even understanding them?

Being optimistic because I have something (probably the finnish sisu) that has made me open the mouth of certain times and also ended up changing something in me or in my life; all the times I had gotten professional help with my mental health, the one time when I volunteered to go and share flyers about the summer theatre. It was miracle if I even talked to strangers and I just said it and went even when my parents said that I don’t need to if I really don’t want and... I spent my summers there and overcome certain anxiety of talking to people. That’s not really a talent but something. Asking help is the strongest magic spell one can do.

*”only” has ‘long’ story behind it so here it goes: I said one time to my marshmallow baby @pizzamanteachings that I can speak only three languages and it didn’t get out of hand, neither of us didn’t run with it at all. XD

Thank you for asking honey! n__n

[barbaesparza]

Pass the happy along! When you get this, reply with 5 things that make you happy. Then pass it along to the first 10 people in your activity ♡

Thanks! Okay I’m finally getting around to doing these and I got 5 of them! I guess I’m a bit obsessive with my liking 😝Okay let’s go!1) You guys2) Reading fanfic3) Writing fanfic4) Making new friends5) Getting acknowledged when I do something correctly 😂

[unleashthemidnight]

Doraine-for the playlist <33

D: Doris by J. Karjalainen

O: Orgy for One by NinjaSexParty

R: Rafaelin Enkeli by Pekka Ruuska (Rafael’s Angel)

A: Autiotalo by Dingo (Deserted house)

I: Isä by Kaija Koo (Dad)

N: Nostalgiaa by Anssi Kela (Nostalgia)

E: Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears For Fears

Thank you sweetheart <3 This got little bit more finnish but eh... *cough*

Name, url, character, random word - playlist!

[mrsrafaelbarba]

22,23,24 for the fic ask!! ps- you're one of my favorite writers. your fics are gold!!

Thank you for all your support my dear! I love seeing you in my notifications, always makes me so happy! <3

22. Choose a passage from one of your earlier fics and edit it into your current writing style. La Lanterna di Vittorio

As you looked back on that evening, you struggled to recollect the finer details of your first date with Rafael. One of the things that had stuck with you the most was the atmosphere at La Lanterna di Vittorio; it is a lantern-lit indoor garden and life jazz exuded sensuality and romance. The conversation had been intimate, of that you were sure. He lived up to his reputation of being a mouthpiece, but you certainly kept up with his pace. You talked, of shoes and ships and sealing-wax, of cabbages and kings. And it might possibly have been the only time he has gone a whole evening without making a sarcastic comment.

The night ended with Rafael walking you back to your apartment.

“I had an amazing time tonight,” you said shyly, suddenly acutely aware of the implications of Rafael standing with you at your door.

“So did I.”

Daring to glance up at his eyes, for the first time, you noticed the dark flecks dancing across a sea of ever changing emerald green, it felt like falling into an ocean of peridot. “Maybe next time this doesn’t have to be a thank you dinner.”

Rafael smiled and you were glad you had put on those kitten heels which accentuated your ankles. Not only did they make you feel confident about your legs, but they brought your eyes level with his luscious lips. You adored the way one corner of his mouth tilted upwards, lips parting into the most relaxed smile you’d seen from him up to that point.

“Well I have your number.”

“And you most certainly know how to use it!”

Sweet laughter bubbled from his lips before he bent down and pressed his lips against your cheek, his 5 o’clock shadow brushed against your skin, making you blush and stare down at your fancy kitten heels. Only when he took your hand, did you have the courage to meet his gaze.

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Good night!” you called weakly after him as he walked away.

23. If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?The first things I wrote when I started writing was with a little series called These Are Our Stories, OC x Rafael fics. I look at them and cringe. I would love to go back and re-write it, all 70 chapters of it!

24. Have you ever deleted one of your published fics?No, actually I have never done that.

40 Questions — Meme for Fic Writers