"i stopped trying to understand fate and destiny a long time ago, but dumb luck seems to be my specialty."
tanvi mishra, 35
private investigator and owner of mishra investigations
Occupation: Private Investigator/Owner of Mishra Investigations
PERSONALITY
Goals/Desires: to always have the answers, get better at hacking/coding (since she’s terrible at it right now), feel unadulterated joy once more, own a Marc Jacobs “the tote bag” bag
Fears: turtles, being unable to resolve a case resulting in justice going unserved, getting trapped in a car underwater
Hobbies: listening to true crime podcasts, crocheting, baking, developing film photographs, editing digital photographs (she likes both mediums but prefers digital), thrifting, people watching (aka listening to conversations she shouldn’t be), stargazing, reading comic books, has been trying to solve a 9x9 rubik’s cube for two years now
Likes & Dislikes: the smell of coconut, the sounds of the beach at night, super soft oversized sweaters, wearing heels, watching a photograph appear through the development process in a dark room, black nail polish, a well organized filing cabinet, the groan every cop makes when she shows up at their crime scenes // authority figures, silence, small minded people, how broken the criminal justice system is, stagnant routines, people who refuse to debate, the smell of fresh pavement, eight foot privacy fences, the sound of train whistles and big rig horns, odd numbers of stairs, running
QUICK FACTS (quick is subjective tho bc idk how to tldr anything very well)
Was always a nosey kid, her curiosity getting her into trouble and she’s heard a lot she wasn’t supposed to because she eavesdropped
When she was 15 her older sister (who was 16 at the time) went missing
This was the MySpace era and her sister had met an older man on MySpace and planned to meet up with him - which the police found after the missing persons report was filed - and they essentially said she left on her own accord we’ll put a BOLO out but she’ll come home
Tanvi knew that wasn’t, she and her sister were super close and she knew Jaya wouldn’t ever just leave and not come home like that
She wasn’t happy with the way BRPD was handling her sister’s case so she started doing her own investigation, utilizing the ‘skills’ she’d honed over the years by simply being nosey and charming
She ended up figuring out that the older man from MySpace was in cahoots with a super popular teacher from their high school to lure girls away from home for nefarious reasons
She became super unpopular because she began digging into his background and making accusations that no one believed
She did end up finding her sister but it wasn’t a happy ending- her sisters body had been found in Charleston as a Jane Doe
This began her tumultuous relationship with Briar Ridge PD because she blamed them for Jaya’s death- had they done their jobs and actually looked into her sister’s disappearance as what it was- an abduction and not a runaway- Tanvi truly believed she’d still be alive
She ended up figuring out exactly what happened and got the teacher arrested and sent to prison for abduction, aggravated assault, and accessory after the fact to murder
She also identified and located his accomplice, the man who actually killed her sister, and provided enough evidence to the police to get him arrested for abduction with intent to defile, aggravated sexual battery, first degree murder, and list of other charges
Both men were sent to prison for life
Her sister’s death and the subsequent trials and trauma caused her parents to split up
She opened up her lil investigations business under the table in high school as a way to cope with her newly tumultuous home life and the grief that was eating away at her
Initially the underground business (which was garnered completely through word of mouth) was called “M.I.T.” (aka “Mishra Investigates Things”), and she helped her fellow students (and at times, teachers and other faculty members of the school) solve problems/”mysteries” they couldn’t figure out on their own
However, this was all done under the table and in secret, as she was still wildly unpopular with her classmates for getting the beloved teacher arrested- she also didn’t make many friends while on her quest to find her sister, as she was more… aggressive than she normally is
The money she made in high school enabled her to get her PI license after graduation and open up her own, actual, legitimate business- Mishra Investigations
She now lives in an apartment above her office, which is located in Beach Front right near the water (kind of like the Psych office location if you’ve ever seen Psych)
Her business is thriving and she’s made a lot of really good contacts in not only Briar Ridge, but the surrounding cities- however, her relationship with BRPD is still very much one of distrust and loathing, specifically with the Chief of Police who was the lead investigator on her sister’s case back in the day
HEADCANONS
Always smells like coconut, it's her favorite scent and she uses coconut scented shampoo/conditioner, lotion, body wash, and probably body spray
The bitch of it all is, however, she's allergic to the actual fruit... which works just fine for her because she hates the way it tastes
Loves to bake and her office is known for having different fresh baked goods in the waiting room
She’s both really good and really bad at her job in that she always gets the information, but she has a bad habit of getting herself into sketchy situations and having to charm her way out of them- which is helped by her best friend, who’s a high powered attorney
Gets caught during surveillance more often than not
Doesn’t drink coffee, but drinks tea (specifically, peppermint tea) constantly
Loves listening to true crime podcasts, is absolutely one of those people who falls asleep to Investigate Discovery on the tv
POSSIBLE WANTED CONNECTIONS
The other PI who works at her 'firm' with her
The receptionist at her office
People she's done cases for
People she's pissed off, maybe someone she's had as a target where she outed a big secret of theirs (like they were cheating or embezzling from their job or something)
Contacts she’s made/turned friends during the course of her business- especially someone good at coding/hacking
People who knew her sister/are connected to her sister
A call came in regarding an armed burglary, and Aydin, who was on duty, sprang into action. The patrol officers had already apprehended the criminal, so now it was his turn to take charge of the investigation. There had been a series of burglaries on the outskirts of town, and Aydin wanted to explore potential connections.
He squatted down, carefully sifting through the broken glass for clues, making sure not to disturb the evidence too much. It was then that he heard a familiar voice. Pausing, he took a deep breath and asked, "Tanvi, what are you doing here?" He turned to look at her over his shoulder, suppressing the urge to smile. She could be irritating and a pain, but he couldn't deny that she was enjoyable company.
Aydin straightened up, towering over his colleague, and lowered his voice to ensure Tanvi couldn't overhear. "The forced entry and security footage both link to the other cases. Head back to the station and make a note of it in the case file." With that, he redirected his attention to Tanvi and placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding them to a more secluded spot. "Thank you," he said as he accepted the coffee, appreciating the warmth on this late night. "Do I dare ask how you found out about this?" He continued with a chuckle. She had her own methods, and that was very much her business.
At the brief sign of annoyance from him, a wide grin formed on Tanvi's features. "Oh, you know..." She began from behind him, letting out a playful whistle, "Just enjoying the view." She mused, hiding a smirk by bringing her coffee up to her lips and taking a drink from it. Their relationships was a funny one, where Tanvi shamelessly flirted with the detective who's job she knew she made significantly more difficult, while he did what he was supposed to do and acted like she was nothing but a nuisance. But she knew better. They played a game of cat and mouse, but they both knew it was just that- a game.
Watching him straighten up and move towards his colleague, Tanvi's eyes shamelessly scanned his frame before landing on his face and leaning in to hear his lowered voice. She could only partially make out some of the words, but she didn't much care about the facts of the case. In truth, she'd only come out to the scene to see Aydin and because she was bored. "You can ask," She muttered, face colored with amusement as she, for once, didn't fight him on his direction and instead moved with him. "But I'm not gonna tell you. Where's the fun in that?" She teased, one eyebrow raised. "Gotta keep a little mystery in the relationship, don't we?" Another tease accompanied by another smirk. "This related to the other burglaries? You guys got the guy, right?"
starter for: @tanvi-mishra
location: septima poinsette clark library
Val had always adored Briar Ridge's library. Not only for the amazing history behind where the facility got its' name, but for the worlds it opened up for the brunette every time she opened a book from it. It had provided her an escape when the world felt too much, knowledge when she needed it, and so much more. So she spent a good bit of her down time browsing the shelves at the library.
Which was exactly what she was doing, when she spotted someone not so covertly trying to keep tabs on another library patron. Val's eyes lit up in excitement as she recognized Tanvi. Quickly, and as quietly as she could so as not to draw attention from anyone else, Val approached the woman. "Ooooh! Who are you keeping an eye on this time?" she asked excitedly.
Tanvi had a Kindle, multiple murder mystery books on her shelves, and even a few books in her Audible app from free trials she'd gotten throughout the years and yet... the PI wasn't sure the last time she actually read anything for fun. Which was why, as she pretended to peruse the shelves of the library while following the older man she'd been hired to catch selling company secrets to the brand's biggest competitor, Tanvi looked incredibly out of place. They were in, what was her humble opinion, the most boring section- the reference section, and she couldn't even muster up the attention span to focus on a single book she pulled from the shelves. Luckily, the man she'd been hired to watch was none the wiser to this shadow, as he was too preoccupied with trying to look inconspicuous (and failing) while glancing down at his phone.
Using the positioning of the shelves, Tanvi pulled out her camera and snapped a few photos of the shady looking man. She was about to try and busy herself with looking through yet another book as both she and her mark waited for his mysterious companion, when the voice from behind her caused her to nearly jump out of her skin. "Shit!" She whisper-screeched, turning around quickly with her hand over her chest. The only thing that saved her camera from falling to the ground was the strap around her neck. "Val," The color in her features was finally coming back and quiet laughter left her lips. "You scared the fuck out of me." She admitted, glancing back over her shoulder to ensure the jittery man hadn't noticed and taken off. Luckily, he was still in his seat, eyes glued to his phone. "Creepy man in the cubicle in the back. His boss thinks he's in cahoots with their competitors and is getting ready to turn on the company like in 13 Going on 30. I think I'm about to get the proof I need, because there's no reason someone should look that shady in a library."
Who | @tanvi-mishra
Where | Briar Ridge Hills
The large sectional in his living room was more then big enough for the two to have their own space, but Civan was comfortable to be sunk into the cushions with Tanvi's legs laid across his lap. Exhaustion clung relentlessly to the man, his head leaned back for a long moment, having worked at the fire station during a recent uptick in calls. He was running off of mostly tea. Civan had every intention of cooking for them, but currently moving was sounding less and less appealing. "Maybe robots aren't the worst idea." He posed, a fairly off-color comment for a guy who still got annoyed at the practice of using keyless startup in cars. Not to mention outwardly cringed at the idea of smart homes, even automated light switches gave him pause. "If only to cook." Ordering in was always an option, but there was a very small number of places he could eat from that would deliver to his home - a tragedy itself.
Comfort. That's what Tanvi felt whenever she was in Civan's presence. He was one of her closest friends, someone she cared deeply about, and someone she knew like the back of her hand. It was why, when he'd invited her over for dinner and they'd instead ended up curled up on the couch with the brunette half asleep next to him, she wouldn't complain. Not until her stomach did, at least. Which was why, when he spoke, his unusual words caused her half closed eyes to snap open. "Excuse me?" She snapped, confused for a moment before a laugh bubbled past her lips. "Who are you and what have you done with my Civan?" She teased. "Because the man I know and love wouldn't ever wish for robots. You feelin' okay? Should I call a doctor? Do they still make house calls? Or have you been replaced by a robot?" She teased, sitting up and moving so she was next to him on her knees, eyes playfully narrowed as she pretended to inspect him for any robotic attributes. "I can make something if you want, though. I don't know if you remember, but I make a killer PB&J sandwich." She mused.
Marco had spotted Tanvi even across the street. It was clear that she was trying to follow someone, and as that someone kept glancing over their shoulder at her, Marco was pretty sure Tanvi's cover had been blown. Folding his arms over his chest, he watched in amusement to see how the brunette would get herself out of this situation. When her pursuant actually turned around and seemed to be pursuing Tanvi, Marco let out a chuckle, watching as his friend dashed across the street. The smile was quickly wiped from his face when he saw the direction she was moving in. Marco's head swiveled back and forth between his motorcycle and Tanvi as she approached and moved to hide behind it. He should have known exactly what was going to happen the second she reached it, but nevertheless a sigh escaped his lips as both bike and woman fell to the ground. He quickly closed the gap, crouching down to pick up his motorcycle off her. "Thanks for cushioning my baby's fall, Mishra." he teased, as he reached out a hand, offering her a hand up as she rose to her feet before righting the bike. "Why were you chasing that lady anyways?" he asked, nodding over his shoulder in the direction of the redhead she had been pursuing.
As she looked up at her savior from her spot flat on her back, Tanvi couldn't help but to grin. "Hey, any time. I live to serve, obviously." She jested with a laugh, reaching out to take his hand and use the leverage he provided to pull herself back into a standing position. Once she was fully upright and once again steady on her feet, Tanvi began brushing her back and backside off of the debris she'd landed in when she fell. Typical day on the job for her, really. "Oh, you know... work." She grinned, her own gaze drifting to the redhead, who luckily, seemed to have lost interest and was continuing down the sidewalk as if nothing had happened. Phew. "Her wife thinks she's cheating on her... but from what I can tell this is one of the few times the story might have a happy ending. I think she's taking dance lessons for their upcoming anniversary trip. But we'll see." Turning her attention back to Marco, grin still on her features, Tanvi gave his shoulder a gentle nudge. "What are you doing out here? Enjoying the weather? Or are you spying on me?" She teased.
WHO: @kiraznacar
WHERE: Paradise Point Resort & Spa
Anyone who knew Tanvi knew that while she liked to keep up appearances where her wardrobe was concerned, you'd be hard pressed to ever find her at the spa. Sure, she loved a good pedicure as much as the next person, but everything else? Count her out. Facials and manicures required too much trust in strangers while you were in a vulnerable position and if she wanted to sit naked in a hot room full of steam she'd just forget to turn the fan on in the bathroom when she took a shower. However, she'd been hired to look in to one of the masseurs in regards to yet another cheating case, and she hadn't wanted to go into the proverbial lion's den alone so she'd asked Kiraz to come with her.
"Thanks for coming with. If I have to lie naked while some stranger rubs on me I'd rather do it with someone else in the room." She mused as they headed down a hallway. "I think the locker room is this way..." Trailing off as she saw her mark having what looked like a very heated conversation with a woman who wasn't his fiancée, Tanvi pulled Kiraz behind a corner and peeked out as she tried to listen, all the while pulling her phone from her robe pocket and snapping a few pictures. With her voice lowered and her gaze trained on the couple, she asked, "Do they look like they're about to fuck in a supply closet or is that just me?"
Having caught up on all of her cases, Tanvi didn't have much of anything to do, proof in the fact that she'd been sat in her office munching on a bag of chocolate covered pretzels with her sock clad feet kicked up on her desk as she listened to her police scanner. It was nothing but routine traffic stops and noise complaints, such mundane activity that she'd begun to doze off in her chair- that is, until she heard a familiar voice coming through the speakers in reference to an armed burglary.
Listening to the transmissions long enough to get the location of the call, Tanvi popped up out of her chair and slipped her flip flops back on before heading out the door. She made a quick pit stop to get two coffees and then headed to her destination, arriving at the residential crime scene a mere half an hour after she'd heard it broadcast over the radio. "So, what do we have here?" The question was posed to the detective as she made her way past the crime scene tape to stand next to him, the smirk on her features evident even in her voice and one of the coffees held in his direction.
Even though Tanvi had been conducting some form of surveillance, whether it be eavesdropping on a conversation she wasn't supposed to hear or following a mark around with her camera, since she could crawl, she still wasn't very good at it. There were more times than she could count that she'd been caught and had to talk herself out of a physical confrontation or handcuffs, and this time was no different. As she snuck along the street following a woman who's wife was convinced she was cheating on her, Tanvi did her best to remain inconspicuous. However, her efforts proved futile as her mark kept glancing over her shoulder in the PI's direction.
It wasn't until the redheaded woman turned around and began making her way towards Tanvi with a look on her face that set off alarm bells in the brunette's head that Tanvi realized she'd been made. In a split second decision, she darted across the street and ducked behind the first vehicle she came to... a motorcycle. In her haste to duck behind it she lost her footing and reached for the closest thing near her to keep her balance, however her grip on the bike and her unsteady feet caused her to fall and pull the machine down on top of her. "Fuck!" She lay sprawled out on the concrete for a moment, hoping her mark hadn't noticed the commotion she was causing, and instead focused on trying to get the heavy bike off of her smaller frame. "A little help, please?" She called out, hoping someone walking by would take pity on her and help.
