#Forensic Science Question And Answer With Explanation

[forensicfield]

Forensic Science QnA

Continue reading Forensic Science QnA

[frank-olivier]

Uncharted Skies: Exploring the Mystery of UAPs

The study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAPs, has long been a topic of fascination and debate, with some approaching the subject with skepticism and others dedicating themselves to understanding these enigmatic events through a scientific lens. Dr. Kathleen Murray, a scientist with a background in forensic science, geoscience, and education, brings a unique perspective to the field, combining her expertise with a passion for nature and the universe. Her journey into the world of UAPs began with a remarkable sighting in 1997, where she witnessed a small, stylized object moving within an equilateral triangle of stars in the desert, an experience that sparked her curiosity and set her on a path of discovery.

Dr. Murray's research on UAPs is characterized by a combination of observation, recording, and analysis, as she uses binoculars with 36x optical zoom to capture videos of these phenomena, which she then meticulously analyzes using software such as Stellarium and Flight Radar 24. One of her most recent sightings, which took place on the 4th of March, is particularly noteworthy, as it involved a flashing object moving from south to west that she was unable to identify as a satellite or aircraft. Despite consulting with an astronomer and checking with Flight Radar 24, Dr. Murray was left with more questions than answers, highlighting the complexities and challenges of studying UAPs, where the lack of concrete evidence and the abundance of unknowns can make it difficult to draw conclusions.

Dr. Murray's approach to investigating UAPs is marked by a commitment to scientific inquiry and a willingness to consider alternative explanations for these phenomena. She recognizes that there is still much to be learned and that it is essential to approach the subject with an open mind, avoiding the pitfalls of skepticism and dogma. By doing so, Dr. Murray hopes to contribute to a greater understanding of UAPs, which may, in turn, shed light on the mysteries of the universe. Her use of technology, such as binoculars and software, allows her to collect and analyze data in a systematic and rigorous manner, while her decision to share her findings with others, including the scientific community, reflects a commitment to transparency and a desire to advance our understanding of UAPs.

Dr. Murray's exploration of the possibility of summoning UAPs, using techniques such as the Gateway Experience program, music, and visual imagery, demonstrates her willingness to think outside the box and consider unconventional explanations for these phenomena. Although these attempts have been unsuccessful, they reflect her openness to new ideas and perspectives, an essential quality in a field where the unknowns are so great and traditional explanations may not be sufficient. By embracing this openness and commitment to scientific inquiry, Dr. Murray's work on UAPs serves as a model for how to approach complex and mysterious phenomena, and her contributions to the field may ultimately help to shed light on the nature of reality itself.

Dr. Kathleen Murray: Pulsing Orb (UAP Files Podcast, March 2025)

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

[fanfic-the-wish-your-heart-makes]

Nygmobblepot x Reader Jealousy Over the Reader's Ex Wanting Them Back (Headcanons)

@i-smoke-chapstick requested: absolutely ADORE your writing <3 if requests are still open id love to see some poly!nygmobblepot x reader jealousy headcanons? maybe just how these two deal with readers ex coming back for them 😂 take your time! Reader: gender-neutral (no pronouns) for both the reader and the ex Warnings: the love-interests having thoughts of murder & non-specified torture of the reader's ex, spoilers for what positions they're in in season 3 episode 5

•You're at an event with them, a gathering with people of various social classes, including your ex for some reason •Your boyfriends haven't outed you as their official date of course, that would be too dangerous with Oswald in such a high position, two positions, if you count his illegal business •He and Ed regret you being single in the eye of the public however, when they find out that your ex is there - before even knowing that the ex wants you back •Actually, just seeing you with someone else incites jealousy in both, knowing your past relationship or not

•Then they hear the ex bringing up your previous relationship and "how much they regret things not having worked the first time". •"First time"? More like last time!

•Forget Ed's "Love is about sacrifice, it's about putting someone else's needs before your own". He's a huge hypocrite. Yes, he'd sacrifice things for you, but he won't let you sacrifice even a little of your own happiness to make your ex feel better. Is that because he's jealous? Partly yes. A bigger part of it 🤫

•With Oswald, it depends on how much Ed and you have expressed that you dislike jealousy, cause he'll reign it in if it prevents you from being sad or angry at him, and keep the murder fantasies to a minimum...

•...unlike Ed. He'll see you talking with your ex and picture himself walking over to plunge a knife into the offending person's chest. His imagination can be rather vivid 💀. •Oswald has to shake him out of the fantasy, feeling rather lonely by now •Ed sees Oswald's worry and jumps into action: •He walks over to you and introduces your boyfriend to your ex, aiming to make a professional impression •With Oswald possibly still being more shaken, Ed does the talking, mentioning many a great deed of them while testing the stranger's knowledge •He does this using riddles that neither you nor Oswald can answer •To be honest, this makes Ozzie pretty insecure. He knows that Ed is showing off & using extra difficult questions but the ex forensic science technician looks at you as if only the people who know the answer were worthy of your love

•Oswald is quick to drag you away, not even giving your ex an explanation. He's a feared man, he doesn't need to justify himself. •Away from the party guests, Ozzie pads you down to look for harm •Ed asks whether you want them to take care of "the problem" •Both are very eager to make propositions about what they could do to your ex •They can get pretty graphic •Oswald could describe torture and Ed would admire him with heart eyes 😍😂

•After their initial rambling, your partners listen very closely to what you have to say •If the ex was abusive or is creeping you out...well, Owald slowly starts to smile rather innocently and is soon joined by Ed 🙃😂

•Until you know what you want to be done with your ex, Oswald's henchmen can always deal with the unwanted guest •Oswald can make use of his mayor security for you •They'll definitely do a background check, just to be sure. This is Gotham, they can't trust just about anyone, good taste or not 😉

•Now Ed is freaking out about the chances of you still being interested in your ex, even without having heard what you've got to say about it •Oswald is a little calmer and musters up the courage to ask about your feelings

•If you tell them that you still find your ex attractive, they're heartbroken. Two smart men reduced to sad kicked puppies. What did they do wrong?! Or what did your ex do so right? Can they do something? Anything? They'd worry about it a lot

•If you say that you "just" like your ex as a friend, they're still agitated •They probably both propose to out themselves as your boyfriend, only to follow it up with promising not to for your safety

•Unfortunately, the event must continue and so your ex talks to you again, much to your boyfriends' misery •They're very protective of each other and would normally offer to kill whoever's upsetting the other in a heartbeat •Now they just throw each other worried glances and direct glares at your ex together

•When the event is over - naturally or after a word from the mayor - you're quickly whisked away by them •Once alone with you, they're less agited •Perhaps you want to share your true hatred for your ex now? Or tell them what you love about them? Please 😢 •They need it

•After some time Ed calms down, not having Oswald's reflexes to analyze people's every micro expression •He'll show you why you should stay with him

Let's just say I wouldn't say no to making a one-shot with this topic in the future - because Ozzie definitely takes longer to be assured ;)

Author's note: Wow, those headcanons got quite long 😄🤗 Y'all let me know what you think :)

[welcome-to-green-hills]

Hey mystery! Time to flex the big brain of yours with a science question. I’m sure that you’re familiar with the recent change in ages for Sonic and co. All of their ages were removed. So my question to you is how old would Sonic and his friends be since he’s now meant to be seen as TEENAGER?

Hello, my dear!❤️✨

This is a very interesting question. And I say that because it's a very... controversial (?) topic in the fandom at the moment. For those of you who are not familiar with the matter, the ages for many characters on their Sonic Channel bios were removed back in October (Bevan, 2022). Even characters like Vector and Rouge, who have notoriously been viewed as adults in canon, do not have a defined age anymore. This was a decision made by SEGA of Japan (SoJ) to keep the characters ambiguous with ages. For some characters, we can still infer that they’re strictly teenagers, like Sonic (Game Informer, 2022. 05:00 to 05:08). Maybe a little bit older, but not by much. It could range between 13-years-old to 19-years-old. It’s really up for interpretation with some fans, especially since the actors for the Sonic series are focusing on deeper voices.

Disclaimer:

I am more than happy to answer this question, but I’m afraid that I’m very limited on how I can answer this. Ages displayed throughout the series has always been a fickle thing. And that’s okay! I’m assuming that this ask is geared towards Game!Sonic rather than Sonic Wachowski, since his canonical age is 13-going-on-14 (Fowler, 2020). If this ask is geared towards me debunking the "age argument," then you might get a different answer. That, and I'm not gonna buy into the B.S. that comes from it.

The problem here is that I'm being asked to apply scientific logic to a fictional character. That's all well and good, but I'm limited in resources. That, and I'm making assumptions on how physiological traits work with an anthropomorphic animal. I'm basing my conclusions on human physiology. While this may seem logical for the ask, I don’t necessarily know how “fair." This would be considered more of a headcanon rather than a scientific explanation to your question. If there was more of an understanding of the Sonic characters’ anatomy, then I would be comfortable with giving a strong answer. They best that I can supply is a hypothetical scenario that might supply a content answer. “Content” meaning that’s it’s fine, but gives me enough wriggle room to debunk/empathize in the future.

I must also stress that an average does not mean the "perfect model." No singular person is the same. There is no such thing as normal. When I say that something is of average comparison, I'm translating it to a general starting point. I need a base to go on in order to build on top of my reasoning and data.

References:

For this ask, I will be looking at cranial structures and comparing them to both human, anthropomorphic animals (Sonic). Data that is generated to answer this ask comes from existing games, interviews with game developers, and anthropological research.

The methodology and techniques that I’ll be referencing comes from “Bare Bones: A Survey of Forensic Anthropology” by, Michael Warren et al. (2012). This is an excellent book that provides techniques and disciplines to criminologists, anthropologists, and physicians. The Smithsonian: National Museum of Natural History provides a sample of "Forensic Anthropology 101" in their free educational service HERE. I’ll also be referencing different case studies found in cultural anthropology journals. Hyperlinks will be attached in the in-text citations for view.

Methods:

I can answer this question using basic forensic techniques. There are a few different ways to determine an individual’s age when examining skeletal anatomy:

Cranial anatomy

The pelvic girdle (pelvis)

Femur

Mandible

Most archaeologists and forensic anthropologists will answer that the pelvic girdle is the best indicator for identifying an individual's age. The pelvis girdle consists of three main bones: hip bone (ilium, ischium, pubis), sacrum and the coccyx. With this, we look at the level of maturity of bone growth to make an educated guess. This can be identified by the bone's state of fusion. Depending on the identification of the individual, the pubis may fuse or grow robust. If the femur is present with the pelvis girdle, then the collected data becomes stronger. The femur is measured in height from the neck to the head, then the shaft alone to provide an idea of one's stature. All of these together create a plausible stature for one's growth and maturity.

The mandible is touch-and-go. I’ve shared in the past that teeth can provide an idea of an individual’s weight, social/economic status, stature, left/right dominance, and types of bite when chewing food. The state in which teeth grow in can give us an indication of age. This is just as good as observing one's age with a pelvis girdle. If not, maybe a bit better! However, this only works if there's a certain amount of teeth present and a record of growth is present. We look at an individual’s molars and premolars in order to determine a rough estimate in age. On average, wisdom teeth come in between the ages of 17 to 25 (Renton et al., 2016). Some are late bloomers, others are early birds. X-Rays can help us identify where the teeth are currently and provide a projection of when they'll appear. As long as there is recorded data on how teeth grow and when they come in, it's easy to determine how old someone is.

Finally, we have the calvaria. For the sake of sanity, I will be referring to this as the “cranial cap." This is the top crown of the head with four major bones that shapes the skull. These bones feature the frontal bone, two parietal bones, and one occipital bone. Along the top of the cranial cap we see these squiggles that separate the bones. These are called “sutures.” Sutures can be defined or barely visible due to the state of mend. Through maturity, these bones mend together to create one bone rather than four. These are not signs of damage done to the head, these are signs that show the state in which a child is growing (Warren et Al., 2012). Sutures are a result of an infant's cranial cap fusing together after being birthed. To put simply; the less defined they are, the older that one supposedly is.

OBSERVATION:

As explained in the “Methods,” section, the cranial cap and mandible appear to be a more logical choice when determining Sonic’s age. I am fortunate for the small crumbs given to me from Sonic CD (1994) and Sonic Unleashed (2008). Both of these provide a good picture of Sonic’s biological estimation on age range. I will not be referring to Evan Stanley’s interpretation of his skull. I do not feel that this is necessary, nor canon. This is Ms. Stanley’s interpretation of Sonic anatomy and fan art.

Mandible

Right before it's initial release, Sonic Unleashed's opening cinematic was meant to have a darker tone. Initially, the beta version of the scene depicted Sonic being electrocuted in his super form as he's infused with Dark Gaia energy. This scene was also meant to show his skeleton during the painful transformation. Screenshots of the scene are available online. One particular shot shows enough of Sonic's mandible to identify canine, incisor, premolars, and molars. The image above shows that at least ONE wisdom tooth (third molar) is present. Other signs of third molars is not visible due to angle of shot.

In the animated short titled "Night of the Werehog," we're given a good shot of Sonic opening his mouth and showing his fangs. Way in back are three molars (Image has been brightened and highlighted for view). Since one confirmed wisdom tooth is present in the shot, we could infer that Sonic is at least 17-years-old. Not fifteen. Seventeen is the average age for when we see wisdom teeth begin to grow in.

Cranial anatomy/Cranial Cap

In Sonic CD (1993), there is a particular scene where Sonic is electrocuted once again. [Fun Fact: one would not be able to see Sonic's skeleton if electrocuted, you'd see his nervous system instead.] Once again, players are able to see Sonic's entire skeletal system. The problem with this example is that it's pixelated art. Pixel art can range from being detailed works of art, or simplified icons that have symbolic meaning. The skeletal anatomy that we see of Sonic in the CD title is not enough for me to draw a conclusion on how old he is. It's merely a representation of a shock taking place.

For a better representation of a cranial cap, we should refer to the beta version of Sonic Unleashed once more. Sutures on Sonic's skull are a tad harder to make out in the image due to how saturated the scene is. A wonderful example of seeing Sonic's cranial suture can be seen at a side profile. The one closes to the sphenoid bone (eye socket) is a cranial suture. Again, this one is up for debate since the quality of the photo is poor. For the sake of sanity, we'll claim that this is a suture.

Examining the suture, we see that it's less defined. This does not mean that the sutures disappear completely. As we grow older, the bone fuses. If Sonic were younger, then the sutures would be more defined. Here, they've fused quite finely. This leads me to believe that he is out of the child phase (1yr to 12yrs) and into Adolescence (13yrs to 17yrs).

Femur & Pelvic Girdle/Pelvis

Generally, there's a model that can be used to display what a mature individual looks like compared to an adolescent when observing a pelvis girdle. Here, it's a bit harder for me to make an assumption because there's a lacking model of what adults and adolescents look like for anthropomorphic animals. This is a query that I've faced when trying to examine Sonic's skeletal anatomy. Of course, measuring a femur and weighing the density of bone could provide some insight on Sonic's estimated age (Shipman, 2018).

In a real world, that would require lots of money and an actual subject that is the equivalent to Sonic's height and weight (canonically, Sonic is 100cm tall and weighs 35kg). You'd then have to figure how much the bone density changes when someone stands up, sits down, lies down, and so forth. Plus, I don't know Sonic's level of body fat to even begin doing a simple calculation. It's a bit of a headache the more that this is tackled upon. That is a lot of data to collect for a talking blue hedgehog.

Measurements of the femur to the pelvis are fine and dandy, but the data is inconclusive. A simple measurement could be off by a single year or three. Once more, it's kind of hard to capture a crisp picture of the pelvis girdle and femur. I feel that gathering data from this perspective is inconclusive.

Discussion:

I must stress that this isn’t meant to be as in-depth or taken seriously. I must also stress that many social groups around the world have different approaches and cultural definitions to what it means to be a teenager. This is a common topic that I try to educate people about when it comes to cultural norms and social practices. Most western cultures consider that teenagers starting at 13yrs of age and ending at 17yrs of age before becoming a legal adult at 18yrs. Some western cultures even extend the age gap to 13yrs to 19yrs. Cultural and social teachings of how we define what is and isn’t a teenager could easily be defined as “adolescence.” We refer to this as adolescence, it allows us to have an extended age gap of 13yrs to 19yrs (Ember et Al., 2017). It all narrows down to how these practices and beliefs are taught within one’s community.

Some fans headcanon Sonic and his friends are growing older, others younger… or even stick with the Western interpretation of him being 15-years-old. Sonic's age has always been ambiguous, meaning that it's not narrowed down to a specific number. The query that I've faced is that there is a lack of official material that displays this easily. The information that I have shared in this post works on a plausible theory that he's older than 15. However, gaming manuals have almost always made it a point hat hes 15/16 (Sonic Heroes Game Manual, 2003). The point now is that he's a teenager. He will always be viewed as a teenager in this canon. To me, Game!Sonic is definitely older. He clearly shows characteristics of being an older version of himself (the strongest supporting evidence here being his teeth), but still within the range of being classified as a "teenager."

My goal here is to not enforce one way of thinking. The most that I can do is supply the data and leave you, the reader, to make your own conclusions. I hope that this answers your question, my dear.

[erwinsvow]

𝐚𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨

note: part two to the college headcanons! part one can be found here! i had a lot of fun writing these and i hope everyone enjoys them :) teacher/student dynamic warning for zeke and hange's, and i guess bullying for annie's :/

𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐝

the very definition of kind-hearted frat boy who doesn’t fit the stereotype he’s been assigned at all

starts off with accounting before realizing he hates math, moves into business management and marketing

the linkedin profile is absolutely popping, 500+ connections and details about every club and organization he’s ever been a part of

the friend that helps everyone find internships and fixes their resumes while offering helpful advice and not being condescending… anyways so that’s how you meet porco

he works at the career center 100% and does various coaching/prep help, and you, pieck’s friend, are in desperate need of an internship

so you’re complaining to your friend as usual, when she tells you to stop by the building and ask for a “pock”

so you do just that, walking in and asking for “pock” and porco is a little stunned by this pretty stranger calling him by a nickname reserved for his close friends, and even then he just barely tolerates it

but he doesn’t want to correct you, especially since you’re being so sweet and he can tell you need some help

so a meeting at the career center slowly turns into facetime calls to review applications and last-minute edits, stopping by your dorm to help you fill out paperwork and walking together to mail it out

i have a feeling porco doesn’t wanna be too forward, and he thinks he’s being very aloof and casual, when he really just seems oblivious

and you cannot tell for the life of you if he likes you or he’s just being friendly since you’re close with pieck

finally after you land the internship and won't have your normal excuse to spend time with him, you get the guts you've been searching for

you tell him about the position later in the day, stopping by the center for hopefully the last time

"by the way, my number's on my resume if you're ever gonna ask me out."

leaves pocky-boy flustered and red and scrambling to ask you out, and you have been happily dating since

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

oh boy

conny is a very typical college kid in the sense that he will sleep through every 8 am class he has, blow off class to go wait in line for the nacho bar, and has adopted the mantra ‘c’s get degrees’

but he is an extremely lovable education major with a focus in history

rarely seen without his shadow sasha, but now that she started dating niccolo, she thinks that conny could use a relationship too, and that it might do him some good to be with a funny, down-to-earth person

thus begins the most grueling two weeks for every girl on campus, as sasha hunts down girls that she thinks would be a good match for her best friend

this includes airdropping a photo of conny to the lecture hall with the caption “would you date this man? serious inquiries only”

creates a fake tinder complete with a google form to narrow down the options

however, none of this is necessary because sasha bumps into you in the smoothie line and causes your triple berry blend to go flying

she helps you clean up and idle conversation leads to you talking about dates and so forth

“well, i’d love to set you up with my best friend? how do you feel about a blind date?”

yes, conny met you, the love of his life, on a blind date set up by sasha with a stranger

it’s one of those funny stories that people don’t believe when you tell them, because how ridiculous is that, but you both think it’s perfect since you get along so well and it made all the waiting worth it

bonus: double dates with sasha and niccolo! fondue night at their apartment, going to the arcade and having to lug up sasha and her food baby while niccolo parks the car, just overall a grand time :)

𝐳𝐞𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫

zeke yeager, ph.d. started his new job at university with one rule in mind: absolutely no illicit affairs

he also coaches the club baseball team, because why not get involved on your campus

he really believes that he’s gonna stick with it too, despite the overwhelming number of students who come to his office hours with questions that his less handsome teaching assistants could answer

but no, he doesn’t want to earn a reputation as that professor, and so he heads into the new semester with absolutely no lingering thoughts of an exciting little dalliance to get him through the monotonous days

he knows his huge lecture classes would always come with a few pretty students, but it’s the smaller, upper-level psych class he’s teaching when he meets you for the first time

zeke has you all figured out, or so he thinks. sitting in the front row, raising your hand for questions he wasn’t expecting anyone to actually have an answer to, neatly handwritten notes in a color-coded notebook. he wouldn’t peg you for the type to jump and take the risk by starting a relationship with a professor.

but he soon realizes that he didn’t have you as figured out as he thought he did.

you avoid the gaggle of freshmen during office hours by scheduling meetings instead, sometimes right before class, coming to him with two cups of coffee and a wide smile that actually had him fooled into thinking you were here for academic reasons

this facade quickly fades though, because after a semester of interactions with you and getting more and more comfortable with each other, to the point where coffee orders are memorized and it’s zeke rather than professor yeager, you’ve had just about enough

he knows he’s fucked when you come visit him at practice for the baseball team, bringing him a drink and engaging in conversation while the players watch their coach flirt with you

he’s especially fucked when he realizes he’s looking forward to practice just because there’s a chance you’ll stop by on your way to your next class

you submit your final paper early, nearly a week before it’s due and of course the first in the class to do so, and waltz into his office the next day with another steaming cup of his favorite drink

“you submitted your paper pretty early, you know.”

“i know. i also know that it means i’m not your student anymore, so if you were going to make a move, now’s the time.”

no, he definitely had underestimated how much he knew about you.

𝐦𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧

mikasa is a forensic sciences major and is still debating on the minor- she’s torn between criminal justice or history like armin.

she loves her major classes, but she just wants something else interesting to look forward to as well, so armin suggests sitting in on a couple classes early in the semester and getting a taste for it.

so you don’t really think twice when she claims the empty seat next to you on the first day of classes, smiling politely and paying attention to the professor. you do notice, however, that she’s not writing anything down or looking at the syllabus, leading you to strike a conversation on why that is.

she explains herself and then before you even know it, the lecture ends and you spent the last forty minutes talking to mikasa about anything and everything.

she’s sitting in on another class tomorrow, and absent mindedly invites you to come along, to which you agree all too quickly, because why wouldn’t you

numbers are exchanged, times are fixed, and mikasa leaves wondering why she’s so excited at the idea of sitting with you in class again.

you two hate the history class she had chosen, with the professor droning on and on and you being focused entirely on the conversation you’re having with mikasa

until the professor kicks the two of you out for not shutting up, that is

you’re both laughing hysterically once you reach the hallway

“i’m gonna have to discourage you from doing that history minor if that’s what all the classes are like.”

“well, i have to do criminal justice so we can have that class together, anyways.”

𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭

true to form, annie goes into one of the most difficult majors: cheg. definitely flies through intro courses with straight As and minimal effort, but that’s also mostly because all she and bertholdt do is study

reiner tries his hardest to get her to go to a party every once in a while, but usually to no avail because she always has an exam to study for

you’re a tutor, and honestly, you’d say you were pretty good at your job. you can answer questions and explain reasonings fairly well to confused students. but when annie comes to your office hours with some complicated problems and she’s asking for explanations that you just don’t have, you literally feel your face burn with heat for the entirety of the time she’s there

long story short, your first encounter is embarrassing, to say the least. you’re stumbling over words as you try to look through your old notes and piece together an answer for annie, who you cannot even look in the eyes.

anyways, she leaves eventually and you want a hole to open in the ground and swallow you up, but at least she won’t be back next week, right?

wrong.

miss leonhart doesn’t know how to express her feelings any better than you, so her way of flirting is spending time with you in the tutor center as you fail to answer her questions time and time again

you want to scream at her to stop coming because she and you both know you’re not helping either of you with this

but also you really don’t want her to stop coming because you don’t have any other ways to see her outside of class

both of you reach your wit’s end on the same day, her coming to you with the absolute easiest problems she could find in the textbook, and you with every intention of asking her out to dinner

she opens her book, and you reach and close it quickly

“unless this is the only way you know how to flirt, something has to change now.”

𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐳𝐨𝐞

dr. zoë teaches, just, way too many classes

we’re talking multiple chemistry labs and upper-level research courses as well

you’re just a ph.d. student doing rotations as per usual, and you’ve heard the comments from students senior to you about dr. zoë, who makes every student in rotation say hange instead of the formal way you’re used to

you’ve heard everything from crazy to genius and everything in between

what you weren’t expecting was… so good looking, and young? and comforting? and talking about all the things that you didn’t have the guts to bring up with other people, like how you always feel a little left out in the field and that you think no one cares about your research interests that much—a lot of stuff that you find yourself pouring out to hange on your very first day in the lab

you’re wondering why it’s so easy to talk to them, and why none of the other rotations ever felt this comfortable

and then you realize you’re spilling your guts to someone who probably doesn’t even care, and has way more to deal with on their plate than a ph.d. student with imposter syndrome

so you’re apologizing right after you’ve finished, when you’re met with the warmest look and a reassuring hand on your shoulder

it’s so easy to fall after that, with weekly meetings and regular check-ins, and you know it’s wrong to have this strange crush on your superior, but hange really feels like the one person you can count on here

you hide the crush in favor of getting the mentorship you desperately think you need, but it’s not long until you’re onto the next rotation and the next lab’s work is even closer to the stuff you love

you hate the way you feel, that you’re not gonna have any reason to keep in touch and you never even got to explain how you feel about them—and that you didn’t even get to experience hange’s energy because she was always listening and helping you out

it’s not until you get a text the night before your first day in the new lab from hange, filled with reassuring words and asking for a coffee date later in the week to talk about how it goes, that you realize just how well hange understood you

𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

last but not least, miss pieck is double majoring in french and public health

absolutely obsessed with her majors and loves the subjects, but works herself to death to keep up with it all

you don’t even realize that the pretty, studious girl you’re seeing in the library all the time is the same girl you spot with some of your friends from class

pieck is as oblivious as they come. you invite her on study dates after you two are introduced by reiner, invite her to get coffee after a particularly late night of studying, pretty much start spending most of your days together

you can’t help but be disappointed that pieck doesn’t see you in that way, because you’ve slowly been falling head over heels, but you accept that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, and you still love the friendship you two have

it takes a while for things to click for pieck, but they do right as the semester eases up

once exams are over, you two decide to go to these famous parties porco and reiner never stop talking about

it’s not the usual scene you’re comfortable with, but what’s wrong with letting loose a little, especially after midterms? no harm in having fun, right?

wrong again! you definitely get plastered way too quickly, and eventually pieck takes you to a room to settle down

drunk confessions of love aren’t usually the way to go, but you can’t help but reveal everything you’ve been feeling for the last few months when pieck is taking care of you in your current state

you definitely wake up hungover and ignorant to last night’s shenanigans, but you’re in your dorm, with a bottle of water and ibuprofen on the nightstand, phone plugged in and shoes off

pieck comes back with breakfast, coffee and your favorite pastries, and checks up on you

“so.. about last night..”

“i’m so sorry, did i throw up on you?”

“no, but you did say you were in love with me. was that just a drunk thing, or is it a sober thing too? because i think i’m in love with you too.”

[missmentelle]

Hi! Do you have any book recommendations about psychology/therapy for non-therapists that are just interested in these kind of subjects?

I do, in fact! 

Here are some of my favourites, with links to their Goodreads pages. Please keep in mind that they cover some extremely intense topics: Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness (Pete Earley) - this is easily one of the best books I’ve read about the abysmal state of the American mental health system, and the history of how we got here. The author, an investigative journalist, tells the story of the American healthcare system through the lens of a more personal story - that of his son, who was arrested on felony charges after breaking into a neighbour’s home during a manic episode, only for the family to discover that they had very few legal options available to help their child. 

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook (Bruce D. Perry) - an extremely honest (and very disturbing) collection of real-life stories of deeply traumatized children who were treated by Dr. Perry, one of the first child psychiatrists to recognize the role that poverty and trauma have on brain development. Each case is accompanied by an explanation of the neurology and science of the trauma behind it, and how that science contributed to the ultimate outcome of the case. 

Girl, Interrupted (Susanna Kayson) - this book is pretty much the “OG” of mental health memoirs. It gives a very honest look into the two years the author spent in a psychiatric institution as a teenager, from 1967 to 1969, receiving treatment for borderline personality disorder. (if the title of this book seems familiar, it’s probably because it was made into a hit movie in 1999).

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales (Oliver Sacks) - if you study the field of psychology, you will eventually read an Oliver Sacks book. It’s a given. Dr. Sacks was a neurologist who treated people with a wide variety of brain injuries and neurological conditions - he compiled several books about his most unusual cases, but this one is probably the most famous. 

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness (Kay Redfield Jamison) - probably one of the most interesting memoirs you’ll ever read about living with bipolar disorder. The author was a highly successful clinical psychologist when she developed bipolar disorder, and realized that even her advanced knowledge of the disorder was no match for her own brain telling her that nothing was wrong. The book details her attempts to understand and manage her disorder as she returns to her highly successful career. 

The Glass Castle (Jeannette Walls) - not a scientific book about mental illness, but a beautifully-written memoir about a life lived in the shadow of it. Walls tells the story of her childhood, growing up in a wildly dysfunctional and semi-nomadic family. She details her complicated relationship with her (likely) mentally ill parents who taught her to see the beauty in the world, but were unable to provide the kind of safety and stability that she needed. This was also made into a movie in 2017. 

Prozac Nation (Elizabeth Wurtzel) - another “classic” (and somewhat controversial) mental health memoir. The author gives an extremely frank and honest look into her struggle with atypical depression as a young woman living in New York City and attending Harvard University in the 1970s. Her book was turned into a movie in 2001. You may have seen this book mentioned in the news lately, as the author recently passed away from cancer. 

Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men (Lundy Bancroft) - if you spend enough time on relationship blogs and subreddits, you’ll see a recommendation for this book eventually. Written by a man with decades of experience running treatment programs for abusers, this book offers a detailed explanation of the patterns, tactics and behaviours seen in men who abuse their partners, as well as the rationale driving those behaviours. 

The Psychopath Whisperer: The Science of Those Without Conscience (Kent Kiehl) - one of my personal favourites as someone who concentrated in forensic psychology. This book takes a scientific look at the construct of “psychopaths”, explaining the neurology and scientific studies behind the condition, and dispelling popular myths about what a psychopath actually is (hint: it’s not at all like the movies). 

The Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime (Adrian Raine) - another favourite book from my time in grad school. This one is on the denser side, but still accessible to a layperson - it outlines some of the science and biology that underpins violent crime, and explores the reasons that some people grow up to do horrific things, and others just don’t. 

Hope this answers your question! Happy reading! MM

[violetmuses]

Views || Chapter 2

Dedications: @lilith-blackrose

2016

James “Bucky” Barnes

When Dr. McCoy finally opened that front apartment door to greet us, I immediately noticed many differences. I wasn’t mean enough to question her age here, but laugh lines etched into the perfectly dark complexion of her bare face.

Dr. McCoy hadn’t sported the lab coat with its clipped name tag or walked around in those dark work shoes.

This time, she folded both arms while wearing a tank top.

Capris clothed her lower body and she stepped back on the heels of athletic sneakers.

Her dark hair clipped, hiking upwards with just a few strands poking out a little from the back.

“Oh my God.” she whispered, almost covering her mouth at the sight of me, Sam, and Steve here in the hallway.

‘I can talk now.’ Only using my bare right hand, I offered to use Sign Language and beamed one smile for good measure.

“Really, what does your voice sound like?” While speaking in return, Dr. McCoy signed both questions back, also motioning her hands just to follow my lead.

‘This. Are you ready?’ I gestured my hands, giving Sign Language for what would be the last time around her, just before clearing my throat.

“Yes.” she smiled briefly, listening to me.

“Hi,” For once, I was allowed to speak, revealing my Brooklyn accent to Dr. McCoy for the first time.

“Hi. What's your name, Barnes?” Dr. McCoy winked towards me. We both completely ignored Sam and Steve without caring.

“Bucky.” I corrected her, giving my nickname.

“Okay, Bucky. How can I help you this time?” Dr. McCoy asked, arching her left brow.

“Hopefully, you can help us find someone.” I answered.

____

“One of my sources identified him as Colonel Helmut Zemo of Sokovia. He’s an intel officer.” Dr. McCoy pointed towards her own laptop screen.

“How do you actually know so much about the military? I thought you worked in science.” Sam narrowed his eyes towards Dr. McCoy.

“I’ve worked with soldiers or veterans all the time and of course many reports that I’ve filled out involve cognitive data. This is what happens when the Forensic department needs help, too.” Dr. McCoy gave out this explanation without cringing, which I’d been thankful for here.

“These days, you can definitely cross paths with anyone around weird circumstances.” Sam shook his head, clearly not humored.

“Right. Now, let’s see. Regarding your target, he’s been hiding in plain sight for quite some time now and was last seen in Germany, just in time for him to play a shrink and trigger Bucky. That's everything we already know.” Dr. McCoy sighed, hitting a dead end here.

“Thanks. We just had to figure out the hell this guy was since he wasn’t my true evaluation specialist.” I shook my head, quietly watching how Dr. McCoy sat back in her chair while still facing the laptop.

“No problem, Bucky. It’s good to see you again.” Dr. McCoy mentioned my nickname and smiled again, easing my nerves even more.

“You too. Thank you.” I said goodbye, planning to leave with Sam and Steve trailing just behind my footsteps.

“Don’t be a stranger.” she called out before walking to the front door and leading us back out of here. I could only imagine if that kitchenette table had been the same one from twenty years before.

“I’ll try my best.” I allowed myself to chuckle. She then peeked at me from inside the apartment, jokingly waving as Steve, Sam, and I moved back towards that elevator.

______

“How old is Janelle?” Steve jokingly narrowed his eyes towards me after we boarded this travel aircraft.

“Don’t be rude!” While humored, I slapped Steve’s arm.

“I’m serious, give me a ballpark answer.” Steve laughed.

We had also armed ourselves for the upcoming face-off. Despite rules of those Sokovian Accord documents, Tony had agreed to join Steve and confront Helmut Zemo.

“I could be wrong, but she’s probably reached her late-forties or early fifties at this point.” I squinted, racking my brain again if past information would somehow reveal Dr. McCoy’s age.

“Damn. I don’t think she’s dealt with Cryo-Freeze, either.” Steve mumbled without making eye contact near me.

“Think about it, man. She’s been fortunate enough to age.” I shook my head, quietly noticing that Steve cursed for once.

“That’s fair.” Steve said back, looking upset just before we both focused on the mission again.

“I don't know if I'm worth all this, Steve.” I lowered my voice, staring outward while this helicarrier continued ascending.

“Look. What you did all those years. It wasn't you. You didn't have a choice.” Steve tried his best to reassure me.

“I know, but I did it.” I still felt disappointed in myself.

_______

“It's good to see you, Tony.” Steve lowered his shield and faced unformed Tony.

“You too, Cap.” Tony whispered in return. Even I had briefly smiled behind my firearm.

Now, all three of us continued lurking between shadows of the Siberian HYDRA facility. I’d already recognized that centered memory chair and its apparatus still looked extremely haunting.

“If it’s any comfort, they died in their sleep. Do you really think that I wanted more of you?” One foreign accent echoed from some kind of hidden speaker found in this vast warehouse space.

Zemo. My thoughts realized.

Walking between flits of light, I soon noticed that Cryo-Freeze chambers now held dead bodies of advanced Super Soldiers. I’d fought them all in the past, especially when lab coats and uniformed handlers lost control on their own.

“What the hell?” I tip-toed, still armed while still trailing my footsteps behind Steve and Tony.

“I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you here.” Another switching light revealed that Zemo perched himself behind the barrier of a holding fortress.

“What?” Steve then hurled his shield forwards in defense, but it zoomed right back into his hand like a boomerang.

“Please, Captain. The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets.” Zemo shrugged off Steve’s anger.

“I’m betting I could beat that.” Tony called out towards Zemo, echoing behind that unformed red-gold helmet.

“I'm sure that you could, Mr. Stark. But then, you would never know why you came.” Zemo taunted again, proving that there was more to learn behind this meeting for us all.

“You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?” Steve chimed back in, stepping forward and watching Zemo through glass.

“I thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you and followed you. Now that you're standing here, I just realized that there's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes. How nice to find a flaw.” Zemo tried but failed to intimidate Steve when speaking further.

“You’re Sokovian. Is that what this is about?” Steve mentioned Ultron’s complete destruction of Sokovia last year, but Zemo didn’t falter and continued to respond.

“Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No, Captain. I am here because I made a promise.” Zemo shook his head, correcting my friend here.

“You lost someone.” Steve’s voice nearly became a whisper as he still faced Zemo with this guess.

“I lost everyone, and so will you.” Zemo’s words filled the warehouse again as he interested something into a video monitor nearby.

I lowered my gun to watch that screen and immediately recognized the footage.

Mission Report: December 16th, 1991

No, no, no! My thoughts panicked, already thinking of the future aftermath between Steve and Tony.

That evening, friendship died.

_______

During our ongoing battle, I soon managed to press Tony's uniformed frame directly against the back wall. My voice then shouted and growled as I palmed that helmet-shield and even clutched the centered reactor of the suit all at once here.

While trying to keep Stark at bay and watch out for Steve, one flame of another energy beam powered, forcing my left metal arm to explode out of place. In turn, my body nearly spun before hitting the ground, falling with impact before long.

“Nell!” Turning onto my back, I screamed for Janelle and cried out as shuddering tears dampened my face.

To make matters worse, she wasn't even around to help us during this particular battle.

Both agony and downright horror quickly surged from the ruptured socket found on my left.

I would surely die here without ever seeing Janelle one last time.

Not even realizing what I had just shouted, Steve bolted mid-fight to help me stand up. He even looped my “good arm” around his shoulder. Even feet staggered as we began to leave this facility.

I lowered my head in shame with every step, almost tripping over myself as Tony shouted behind Steve and I.

“That shield doesn't belong to you. You don't deserve it. My father made that shield!” Tony shouted, discouraging Steve with each phrase here. I’d been too weak and didn’t give rebuttals myself, though.

Out of nowhere, Steve dropped the shield mid-step, leaving Tony behind as Stark laid out on that sanded and dark ground.

[aliensandartifacts]

Melania

Mel heard her TA, Gretchen, cough, possibly choking on her coffee, before she’d even looked up at Clint who was sitting in the front row.  “I...I mean Dr. LaVeau…sorry...sorry, Doctor.  LaVeau.  I forgot.” The Freshman quickly corrected as Mel’s eyes raised to pin him, her face still looking down at her notes on the lectern that her laptop was perched on.

They’d been in the middle of a lecture on her excavation in Peru that had been with Devlin McCormick and Danforth Jones decades in the past when Clint had interjected.  He was young, he was eager, and he often tried Mel’s patience.   Part of that was that he seemed to have an innate sense of picking up on the truths about things hidden in plain sight, whether they be about aliens or the supernatural.  Once he did get a hold of one of those, he was hard to get off of that topic.   Something told her that he would one day be working for her, or alongside her.

“Better, Clint.” A smirk formed on her face as she stepped from behind the lectern and over in front of the table that was up on the riser that she was on.   There were almost 100 students in her lecture and she knew them almost all by name because this lecture class actually wanted to be there.  They had discussions and were interactive, and she knew that if she tried to swing the discussion back where it had been going that they’d all be wondering why she didn’t answer Clint’s question.  Sliding to sit on the table, she crossed her feet at the ankles and let her high heel clad feet swing slightly.  “And yes, I did catch that episode last night.  Although I don’t believe that everything unexplained or unknown is,”  she brought her hands up in dramatic fashion and leaned forward, “***ALIENS!***”  The class all laughed at the slight crazed expression on her face  and the way she duplicated Giorgio Tsoukalos’ mannerisms as she said it. Mel chuckled as she sat upright and looked around the class again.  “Okay, so seriously, you know I do watch those and I also happen to enjoy a good binge on everyone’s favorite hot nerd:  Josh Gates.  Folklore and mythos all have some basis in reality but that doesn’t mean that everything is aliens, ghosts, or some supernatural creature.  There are real world explanations for many things that the people who came up with those mythos just did not understand.  However,”  she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, placing her hands on either side of her thighs to hold prop herself up as she faced her class, “there are things that are unexplained.  And there are jellyfish, which I firmly believe are examples of alien life.” 

From there the discussion returned to the show that Clint had mentioned and Mel’s thoughts on it.  Areas she agreed, areas she disagreed, and her own personal observations having been to the site as both a tourist and a professional.  She engaged the class, challenged them, and in some cases flat out disagreed and pointed out areas where their logic and facts were flawed and wrong.  There were many areas where she admitted there was not evidence and that answers could not be found.  Could it be aliens?  Maybe.  Could it just be that modern man was looking at things with minds that were over complicating it?  Also possible.  It was hard to go back into the past and look through the eyes of those who lived then and know what exactly they were seeing and why they thought things should be done a certain way or how they necessarily did them.  At the end of time, she left them with a few thoughts and a promise that next time they WERE going to get through the lecture that they had skipped out on this time before sliding off and stretching her long denim clad legs and watching her students prepare to head out.

After telling Gretchen she’d see her in her office later in the day, Mel headed back to the lectern to shut down her laptop and get things packed up to head back out into the frey of the symposium attendees and try to make it back to her office in one piece.  She might once more take the back halls and tunnels after hearing her students talk about their experiences. Just as she had deposited her laptop into her messenger bag she saw a gentleman making his way to the front that she knew wasn’t one of her students, too old, but seemed to have something on his mind.

“Dr. Melania LaVeau.  Is there something I can help you with?”  She greeted him with an intrigued smile before he made it to the front of the lecture hall.

Tristan

He finished walking down the aisle and stood just out of handshake range.  “Just plain Tristan Beck.  I hope you don’t mind that I snuck in and listened.  I have a special place in my heart for anything Extraterrestrial.”  There was an awkward few minutes while he worked up the nerve to continue.  Since she outranked him in the education department, he decided to treat her like he would the principal of the high school he taught at.  “From one teacher  to another, I liked the way you handled the kid that asked the question.  I was just about to head up to the Astronomy symposium upstairs, but …”  He shrugged.  “I like Aliens.”  He blurted it out, much like someone might say they like mustard on their hot dogs.

Her laugh made him smile.  “Have you ever found anything in your research that made you pause and wonder if perhaps something or someone from a more complex universe had a hand in its creation?  The Nazca lines?  The Incan Calendar?  Okapi’s?”  At her blank stare he grinned.  “You know.  Giraffe’s only relative?  Looks like someone took a zebra and crossed it with said giraffe.”  That earned him another soft chuckle.

His phone pinged with an incoming message.  He looked down and his spirits  sank.  ~Tris, where are you?  Dr. Marks is about to talk and you’re not here.  Hurry up, there’s not many seats left and I’m thirsty!~

“Well, I gotta run. Apparently I’m not important enough to hold up a lecture on the possibility of planets that revolve around black holes.   I just wanted to thank you.  I enjoyed the lecture greatly.”  He didn’t hold out his hand for her to shake.  It was rude and stupid but he just couldn’t do it, so he smiled again and nodded as he turned away.

Melania

“Nice to meet you *just Tristan Beck*.”  Mel was almost chuckling as she called out to the intriguing gentleman as he started to head back toward the main aisle out of the lecture hall.  “You didn’t let me answer though,”  she paused as he looked back but continued to walk.  So she did have his attention.  Interesting. “Yes, I have.  I am a woman of science but I do believe we are not alone in the universe.  Aliens, spirits, paranormal, supernatural, I not only believe...I have seen proof.  Enjoy your lecture, but if you want to talk more, I’m one building over,”  she pointed in the direction that the building her office was in was located.  “Third floor.  If you can’t find it, ask where the Voodoo Princess Archaeologist is located.  I’m kinda famous over there.” She gave him a wink and saw his brows slightly draw together and that made her laugh again.  “You better hurry.  I’ve heard it’s a madhouse out there.”  She gave him a bright smile as he headed out. Shaking her head, she turned back and slung her messenger back up and over, crosswise over her body.  Deciding that she wasn’t wanting to brave the horde of symposium attendees and LSU students out in the atrium, she took the back door out of the lecture hall that would lead down to the tunnels that connected the buildings underground and were accessible only to faculty and staff.  One of the perks of the jobs, quick exits.

A few minutes later and she was up on the third floor and in her office, a new pot of Blue Mountain coffee started and her feet propped up on her trash can under her desk as she booted her laptop up to see what new and interesting excuses her students would have for wanting to turn in assignments late.   Behind her lining the built-in shelves were the many books on archaeology, history, and other various topics she found of interest along with various artifacts that she had legally collected over the years.  Some of what was on the shelves were painstaking reproductions of artifacts that she had discovered that had been respectfully turned over to the proper authorities, but which she wanted to commemorate discoveries that held significance.  There were days that she would look at many of them fondly.

About an hour after she had arrived back in her office, she received a Zoom call from a colleague who was doing an excavation with a team in Israel.  Mel pulled back her long, wavy, dark brown hair in a high ponytail to keep it out of her face at the beginning of the call.  As normal, she frequently gestured with her hands as she talked.  Her silver toned rings caught the light and the colors of the items in the room as her fingers flexed and moved.  A few of the rings had stones in them that coordinated with what she had on.  This day it was pink jasper and lapis, matching the creamy pink of her sweater and the dark blue of her jeans.  On her right thumb was a teardrop shaped amber ring that was made from a piece she had personally found and was mounted in a setting that appeared antique.  It was the most elegant piece that she had on, and one that she wore daily.  Rarely did she wear gold, and seldom gemstones of any kind unless attending a formal function.

She had just ended the call and refilled her “Forensic Anthropologist:  I’d find you much more interesting if you were dead.” coffee mug when there was a knock on the door.  “Come in, but you better have chocolate with you!”  Mel teasingly called as she spun her purple and yellow LSU Secretlab gaming chair back around.  “OH! Oops, sorry, I thought you were a student.”  Mel laughed when she saw who it was.  “Come on in, no chocolate required as an offering this time.”

[forensicfield]

Forensic Science QnA

(more…)

[booknerdateen]

Stalking Jack the Ripper Series Review

My rate: 10/10

I have officially finished this series. This review will contain spoilers but i will warn y’all for each book when it comes. But let’s begin shall we!

Edit: I stopped writing it cuz it was getting late I ended up forgetting about this, so yea.

*Stalking Jack the Ripper*

This book contains everything I love (okay not everything, but in this case everything). We got Jack the Ripper, 1800s London (50/50 on 1800s cuz we all know how women and girls were treated), an amazing protagonist who don’t care for society rules/gender roles, and forensics/true crime. This was actually my first read for 2018. Like legit, I began readining this on New Years Day (January 1st). I think it took me either couple weeks or the month to read. I just loved this book throughout reading it.

Spoilers

Okay. Idk how I wanted to start the spoilers aspect. Aurdey Rose is honestly me (except being centuries apart). I love the fact how she can be a....idk how to put this....a lady and she knows how to cut bodies. That did not makes since....if it did, thank you for knowing what I was trying to say. Trying to think of analogy....ah yes it’s like how the princesses and queen in Shrek 3, they be all nice and princessey and next thing you know, the Queen freakin kicks down the wall with her foot...maybe head...it’s been a while. Thomas dang Cresswell...I want a Thomas in my life. All I have to say...jk but yea. My suspicions of Thomas of being The Ripper was in the beginning, I also think I had suspected Uncle as well, but that I do not know, then suspected Audrey Rose’s father. But nope! It was freakin Nathaniel! Legit plot twist!

*Hunting Prince Dracula*

This was a good book! In the beginning Thomas and Audey Rose head to Romania, the home of Dracula! The explanation mark wasn’t necessarily but I wanted to be dramatic. They go to the...Bran Castle where Headmaster Moldoveanu teaches forensic science. There they embark on a strange yet familiar folk tale of Dracula and victims seeming of vampire bite marks.

Spoilers

My goodness this book! We get to see Audrey Rose (a female) in a all boys school basically and I loved it! We got to meet Anastasia who also wants to learn the subject. Meeting Daciana and Illeana and we got a lesbian couple in the 1800s. LGBTQ+ representation yall! Okay im good now. That one dude sketching Audrey Rose, definitely creepy, but I think we got to see why he did that. Although I would like to see the sketch. The injections making it appear to be fang marks, bodies being blood drained...i legit didn’t see that coming. The Order and how Daciana and Illeana being in it as well. Thomas being the rightful heir of Dracula. Aka the Prince of Dracula! Oh my goodness this book had me!

*Escaping From Houdini*

This was my first preorder of the series and in general. When I saw what the preorder would consist of (tarot cards based on the book, certification saying the signature was real...i think that was it....), I had to get it. I read this book while during Christmas time last year as we went to California (I got family up there). I also decided to try and sticky note it...i think it was like 3 chapters I did it with, but yea. The two, along with Uncle and...I forgot her name set sailed on Euphuria where there is a traveling carnival and murders...dun dun dunnnn! It was really good.

Spoliers

Freakin Mesphitos...i know I spled his name wrong. I have no words to describe him honestly. Definitely clever that is for sure. Liza in the carnival and dating the one and only Harry freakin Houdini! Liza being in the carnival did surprise me cuz I never thought Liza would run off to the circus. The murders being...compiled, no that’s not it...idk the word...as the tarot cards is honestly a clever analogy of it. I do admit the murders seemed gruesome (which I do like, but little too much in this case) and as always I do want to see what the murders looked liked. Mesphitos and Audrey Rose mini romance surprised but I wanted more 😬😁 does that make me a bad person? Thomas “proposing to Audrey Rose like yessss! My OTP!

*Capturing the Devil*

When I found out this book was up for preorder like the day of it, I legit was like “you know what, Imma spend my money!” I was so excited when it came. As a fan of true crime and knowing the book is set at the Chicago World Fair, I was like “we getting freakin H.H Holmes!” likes yesss! The plot twists were really good. I was legit so sad I finished the book and the series. I literally made a dedication of the series on my bookstagram, I was that sadened I finished it.

Spoilers

My goodness! H.H Holmes being the fact he was on it with Audrey’s brother. Random fact: there is a theory that H. H is really Jack the Ripper, so him being in on the murders there was really good. The letters, I read that part on the way to campus and was so intrigued. I gasped when Audrey Rose bumped into H.H in the beginning like ahhhh! Or mayber it wasnt her...idk at the moment. Thomas being in an arranged marriage cuz of his evil father definitely had me. The dude even threatened his sister, like mannn! I mean thankfully, it did work out. The way they caught H.H and saving Audrey Rose was crazy. The wedding was good. The first wedding was beautiful like I was ready to cry, but the actual wedding wasn’t as beautiful. They did marry, but the ending left me with questions. Ya know? What ither murders did they solve? Did they have kids? These are the answers we need!!! Okay, I’m good now.

In general

I have never been this engrossed with a series since Hunger Games and that was when the first movie came out. I never preordered a book before until this series. It is so amazing, so wonderful, full of crime stopping lovers and ahhhh. I definitely recommend this series. 10/10!

[aspiringauthorintraining]

Partners in Crime #2

“I’m on my way, don’t worry.” (Y/N) assured, looking down the road. “No, I’m sure I’m not lost. I just wanted to stop by to grab some coffee for us. I found out about a great place from a friend.”

“I thought I was the only friend you had in Central City?” The voice on the other line asked in a hurt tone.She could imagine the pout forming on her friend’s face.

“I thought I was friends with Cisco and Dr. Wells too?”

“Well…you know what I mean. And, you told me that you couldn’t hang out yesterday because you had work? If you didn’t want to see me you could have said so.” 

“Oh my gosh, Caitlin, stop. I did have work, but we had no current cases, so my partner offered to show me around town. And this all happened after you called me yesterday.” She tried reasoning with her friend, to stop her from wallowing in sadness.

“…”

“Caitlin, are you still there?” she asked, breaking the silence. 

“Fine, I forgive you.” her friend finally responded.

“Oh, thank you soooo much.” (Y/N) replied sarcastically, but with endearment. “Well, I’m gonna hang up now ‘cause I’m in the parking lot. I’ll see you in a bit.” 

“Okay, see you soon!” Caitlin exclaimed gleefully.

(Y/N) noted the very empty parking lot. Well, better parking spots for her, she shrugged. As she walked towards the building, it brought up nostalgic memories of her friends, when she visited them a year ago. 

“Caitlin? Anyone there?” She called out into the pitch black lab. “I’m pretty sure I’m in the right room.” 

She retraced her steps in her head, thinking if she made wrong turn in the hallway, when suddenly, the lights turned on, blinding her.

“SURPRISE!!” 

As (Y/N) regained her vision, she saw her friends standing in the middle of the room with bright smiles.

“You guys! You almost gave me a heart attack, and momentarily blindness.” She said with a grin on her face.

“Well, then it was worth it.” Cisco high-fived Caitlin, who was standing next to him and Dr. Wells. 

Playfully glaring at her friends, she walked over to grab them in a deathly hug. 

“I’m so glad you’re here!” Caitlin exclaimed when breaking apart the group hug. “And this time, you’re staying longer than before!” 

Caitlin Snow, or Dr. Caitlin Snow, was (Y/N)’s friend from university. They had met when Caitlin bumped into her inside the campus coffee shop, and when they discovered they were taking the exact same upper level classes, it became the start of a beautiful friendship. 

(Y/N) was also the reason Caitlin and Ronnie met too. When Ronnie was in need of tutor for Quantum Physics and Equilibrium, she overheard his conversation and gave him Caitlin’s number, who had a crush on him since the day she saw him in the Science Library. (Y/N) made them promise that she would be the godmother of their future children the second after Ronnie’s proposal. After she found out what happened to Ronnie during the particle accelerator incident, she grabbed the next train to Central City to help her friend through the rough time. It was hard already that she just lost one of her best friends, with Ronnie’s death, so she couldn’t even imagine what it felt like for Caitlin, to lose her best friend and her fiancee.

“Now we can have Sherlock marathons!” Cisco cheered.

Cisco Ramon, was (Y/N)’s spirit animal. They agreed they were each other’s soulmate, platonically of course. Their first meeting was when she visited Caitlin after the particle accelerator explosion. They clicked right away, and kept in touch after she returned back to Starling. And of course, he would always butt into her and Caitlin’s facetime whenever he could.

“Of course! You better have been training for it.”

“Duh. Dude, marathons are the reason for my existence. I’ve been training for 2 years for this.” Cisco happily chomped on his 45th Twizzler of the day, grinning in between chews.

“Ms. (Y/L/N), it’s good to have you back.” Dr. Wells greeted her. 

(Y/N) also met Dr. Wells for the first time, when she came to Central City nine months ago. He was cold at first, but eventually warmed up to her; noticeably, after he had a bite of her famous brownies. Her mother always said, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. 

“Thanks Dr. Wells! It’s really nice to see everyone again!”

“Have you thought about my offer from last time? It still stands. Although, I understand if you choose not to take it, based on our lab’s reputation now.” Dr. Wells’ smile faltered, being reminded of the events a few months past.

When Dr. Wells met her, he was intrigued to find out that, instead of becoming a scientist or working in a lab discovering the next element, she was working as a forensic scientist in Starling City. She was offered a job at STAR Labs when she came to console Caitlin, but turned it down because she didn’t want to leave Starling City at that time. But now that she moved, the situation was different.

“Really?” (Y/N) lit up. “I completely forgot about it, with all the moving and chaos.” 

“Well, STAR Labs would be lucky to have a scientist with your expertise join us.”

“Dr. Wells, there’s really no need to persuade me. I would take the offer in a heartbeat. But…” she trailed off, a frown forming on her face after remembering her other job.

“I moved here to work at the CCPD, and so I wouldn’t be able to work full time here.” 

“Of course, forensics is your passion. But, not to worry. We’ve been in a partnership with the CCPD, ever since the appearance of the metahumans in the city.” Dr. Wells explained. “I’m sure we could work something out with them.”

“Are you serious? Thank you! Thank you so much!” She shook Dr. Wells’ hand rapidly with excitement. Caitlin and Cisco grinned at the news, excited to hear that their friend was joining their small team. 

“Well, we have one more member of our team who has to approve of you, but I’m sure he will.” Dr. Wells chuckled at her persistent hand-shaking.

“Who?” 

She didn’t notice anyone else in the room with them when the lights had turned on. 

“He’s not here right now. He, uh, works part-time here at the labs actually.” Cisco fumbled over his words nervously.

“So, what’s the plan for today guys?” A voice sounded from behind her, making her slightly jump. 

Turning around, (Y/N) saw Barry saunter into the room with his hair all over the place, like he just walked through a windstorm. She was surprised to see him in STAR Labs. It seemed he was too, by the look of his widening eyes and his frozen state.

“Uhhh…” He paused, failing to come up with any words. “Y-(Y/N)! Wh-wh-why, I mean, w-what are you doing here?” He scratched his neck nervously, looking at the others for an explanation. 

“Barry! What are you doing here already?”

“We thought you were coming later…”

Cisco and Caitlin were in a state of panic as well, while Dr. Wells pinched his nose in frustration. Barry continued looking antsy, looking anywhere in the lab except for at her. 

“What’s going on here guys? Is Barry the other person I’m supposed to meet?” Her friends continued to panic and everyone continued to look anywhere but at her, trying to avoid answering her question. 

“Barry is actually…” Caitlin finally spoke, looking at the others in the room for help with her sentence.

“He’s here for CCPD!” Cisco yelled out. Confused, Barry gave a ‘what’ look to Cisco, wanting further explanation.

Dr Wells chose to intervene at this moment. “Yes, Mr. Allen is here to go over the recent meta human case we just closed. Isn’t that right Mr. Allen?”

“Y-yes! That is exactly why I’m here. To talk about the case…” Barry echoed Dr. Well’s words, seeming unconfident with his words.

“Really? I thought today was your day off Barry?” (Y/N) wasn’t convinced that it was the real reason he was here.

“It is!” Cisco interrupted. “But you know Barry. He’s a workaholic. Those off days still can’t stop him from working, right Barry?”

“Yeah!” Barry replied a little too enthusiastically. Caitlin buried her face in her hands, shaking her head.

Something seemed off to (Y/N), but she decided to drop it at the expense of not wanting to hear anymore lame excuses. “Alright then, I’m just gonna head out now with Caitlin. I’ll see you at work tomorrow, Barry.” 

And before the boys could make a bigger mess than they already did, Caitlin push her friend out of the room, silently glaring at the boys from behind.

[ordersreality]

Crossroads

Ekúi, still sore from the swim and weary from the medication, decided to stay at home, that night. After all, he hadn’t been invited and his big brother can always fill him in, later.

The first thing Second Class Petty Officer Kirk Samuel Hicks, the Coast Guard Instructor, said when Cull got there was, “Go ahead and tie the dog outside. We won’t have room for him.”

Azif reluctantly agreed to play along.

Just in time to hear his name taken in the role call. “Azif i-Sabba? Sounds Iranian, you a terrorist son?”

“Yezidi, Sir, and a terror only to my vitals, Sir.”

“Yezidi? Never heard of them!”

“Must be because you do not listen, can we get on with the class, Sir?”

He called on “Colin Ironwode? What kind of fool name is that?” Then with a little more volume, “Ironwode!?”

The teen opened the door, “Does that mean the ‘dog’ can join the class now?”

“Wait, ‘you’ are Trainee Colin Ironwode?”

“Intern, Son, and yes. And that is ‘iron wood, not iron wad; it’s a weed, not a spit ball, Khurg.”

About that time Captain Madoc stepped to the door, and not realizing the mess that was just made, “Ironwode, what the hell are you blocking the door for?”

“Sorry Captain, I’m tied up for the moment. Still waiting on the Little Officer to let me play with his toys.”

His crew mates thought that was just a little too much, but contained the giggling rather well.

Madoc was still not amused. He opened the door he swept his hand to wave xer in.

Cull grabbed a blue plastic, butt-slider chair at the back, turned it around, and climbed in as best xe could.

Meanwhile, Hicks just had to ask, “Why didn’t you tell me you were signed up for this class?”

“Why did you ass-u-me I wasn’t? You did not even ask, just commanded I be tied up. A fetish of yours, Mate?”

“But, your not hu-,” the man gestured at the body in that blue chair, trying to make sense of what was going on, sputtering, badly.

While Cull patiently waited for the ignition, Hicks went onto the next name on the list, with better courtesy, now that the good Captain was present.

This was followed by what even Madoc thought was a boring rendering of Coast Guard History, skipping over the less popular events like turning the fleet into engines of war during every major military event. Cull had taken to writing one of those Drheigr nursery rhymes when Hicks passed down the isles handing out a booklet.

Cull just couldn’t figure if the man was afraid he wouldn’t have enough, or if someone would get more than their share. The Petty Officer grabbed the doodle and demanded, “What the hell is this?” Without waiting for an answer, “Not in my class!” While the dragon-skinned teen was repressing a growl, “Put that away, you won’t need it here.”

“Um, put what away?”

Tapping the Input Recorder, “That cell-phone, you won’t need it.”

“Khurg, that ‘thing’ is anchored to my skull. It isn’t going anywhere I am not.”

The instructor moved to take it when Madoc barked, “Leave it, Petty Officer!”

“But, Sir,” the Petty Officer whined, “the class, what if it rings!?”

Cull simply grunted, and offered, “It is not a cell-phone. If it rings, I’m the only one who would hear it. Can we focus on the class, Khurg, or can I go home and get some …?”

“… Ironwode!” Madoc barked. “Hicks, either teach the class or get out of my way so I can do it!”

Much subdued and clearly chastised, the Coast Guard Petty Officer continued to distribute his booklet to the rhythm of pages being turned. Though angered by the act without permission, he held his tongue.

When he returned to the front, Hicks asked, “What are the three most important components to an investigation, anyone?”

The seconds ticked on, again to the sounds of pages being turned, without a single volunteer. Feeling somewhat responsible for the silence, Cull raised a winged hand.

Reluctantly, owing mostly to the lack of participation from the thirty-two students before him, he pointed.

“First, blood, sweat, and tears, ninety-percent: then educated and talented deductive reasoning, eight-percent: finally, Anomalous Thought Entities, three-percent.”

“That does not add up, um, Son.” When no explanation was forthcoming, “So, what are ‘Anomalous Thought Entities’?”

“Ideas, hunches, connections, sudden bursts of inspiration, wild-ass chains of reasoning, knowing something without knowing how you come to know it, that sort of thing.”

“And you think it’s that important?”

Shrugging, “It helps.”

“I have never heard of someone relying on ‘hunches’ as a major part of the investigation.”

“Um, my 101% might be a bit fuzzy, but how is ‘three-percent’ a ‘majority’?”

“Tell me, ‘Cull’, how much field experience do you actually have?”

“You mean with the Authority? I don’t know, counting …, wait, is this paid time?”

“Just answer the question!”

“Thirty-two-and-a-half hours, give or take. That would not be counting the times I spent on paleontological digs with my uncle.”

“Thirty-two-and-a-half hours, give or take? Well, I have you know, after eighteen years in the First Fleet I have never entertained a single hunch. Pure science young, um, is it man or woman?”

“Imán, Khurg.” The look of confusion, though entertaining, dispelled any further explanation. “Choose one that entertains you the most, and go with it. I do.”

Then plowing into the ensuing silence, “Petty Officer, after eighteen years you should know that pure science includes both a recognition of ourselves as part of the subject of observations, as well as the knowledge of how very little we really know. I’ve seen people digging in the dirt for hours only to get dirty. And someone accidentally digs where they weren’t supposed to because they thought they saw something, and ‘Dingo!’ a prize in minutes. I’ve also seen someone ignore those hunches and get very hurt. Now, if you don’t mind, I will trust my nearly seventeen years of life experience over your mindless service to our country, any day.”

“Captain, do I have to tolerate this insolence? If he were in the Coast Guard….”

“…I think you would be in chains, Sir. You came to this class with insolence on your tongue. Azif has done nothing to you and yet you call him a terrorist? In a world where that could get him in a lot of hot water? Extraordinary rendition mean anything to you? Pinochet maybe? I don’t even care that you call me a dog, make fun of my name, but he’s my crew mate. I wonder if you even have any friends, Khurg!”

“Captain!?” When Madoc didn’t say anything, “Tell me this, have you ever had a single ‘hunch’ pay off?”

“Just this last Saturday,” Azif replied. “Xe saved a child’s life with it, Sir.”

“What? I don’t get that, how could she have saved a child’s life with a stupid hunch?”

“Story, Petty Officer,” Cull went forward, “the parts that are up for public consumption, that is. I’m floating up there, getting a workout because the ceiling winds are pretty disorganized at the time. I drop down a bit to get some rest and I smell petrol burning. Knowing what I do about the winds I try to follow the smell with my mind as best I can, leading to the discovery of low lying, whitish smoke accented with a taste of black. I fly over there to investigate and notice the boat had already sunk, and a man swimming for Mazatla Peninsula. I’m in contact with my skipper and alert him to my findings. But, I find I am entirely too interested in the sinking boat, and decide to learn why—the singular Anomalous Thought Entity in my equation. The schooner is sinking slowly, nose up, natural I guess if there is still air caught in it. So I open a locked hatch, swim up inside, and there is this little, maybe seven-year-old boy, frightened, feeling very unloved. He says his daddy’s angry with him, I ask where his daddy is, get him to come with me, and learn his dad is now arrested. So, I suppose that ‘one’ hunch saved a boy’s life and lead to a criminal investigation.”

Madoc added, “Not to mention, there were barbiturates in the boy’s stomach. His inhaler was fighting them off. Cull thought enough to grab a baggy and collect the evidence before the fish did.”

“That was just an act of due diligence, Sir, not a hunch.”

“And where were you when you heard the explosion?”

“I don’t know that there was one. I was 33 fathoms over Elephant Island.”

“There wasn’t, just fire,” Madoc added.

“So, how did you learn of it?”

“Okay, let me replay what I said so I know I said it; yes, yes-yes, okay, yes, right after the upper atmosphere turbulence, I told you I smelled the petroleum burning.”

“You must have some pretty special talents to have been made part of the service. Where do you hail from, son?”

Somewhere in the distance a phone rang.

“My mother. Tell me, Second Class PO, eighteen years, and only an E5?”

“Um, nothing to worry about.”

“Good, can we get on with the class? I have some personal training in a few hours and would like some rest before then? We are supposed to be discussing ‘Coast Guard Forensic Procedures,’ not airing your personal issues out.”

The Captain’s personal phone rang, quietly.

The Petty Officer barked, “See, that phone rang!”

Ignoring the charge, “Cull, there is a problem we could use your help with.”

“What and where?”

“Lincoln Street Bridge, the top of the south pillar, a man looks like he might jump. They want us there to collect if he does.”

“Let them know I’m on my way. What frequency?”

“Em-4. What are you waiting for?”

“Sir, only one of us is passing through that door; right, thanks.”

Out, down, and up, Cull found the warm night air a bit thin, but usable.

Madoc simply added, “Class dismissed, Petty Officer, you are on report.”

“What?”

“You spent three quarters of your valuable class time—which is supposed to contributed to these people’s certification—on anything but the subject you were sent to teach. Azif, did he insult you? There, the very reason you are still only a Petty Officer.”

“Well, he kept calling me Khurg, it’s Kirk.”

Greg, who was carrying a heavy load toward the dry-dock, followed by am orc carrying a heavier load, “That would be orchish, mister, means ‘dog’. Did he say it kindly or cruelly?”

· • º • ·

[littlehollyleaf]

anyway, so - Eddie and Foxy

(oh I’m sorry you thought I was DONE?)

(actually I really am sorry - I know I have other messages and tagged posts waiting and I promise I’ve seen them and I really do wanna respond! I just -

~FEELINGS)

Can I just say - this little line -

Foxy: Heard you were dead, Ed

Because the delivery makes me smile okay? It’s the way Foxy puts a slight emphasis on ‘Ed’ - kinda like he’s TRYING to EMPHASISE THE RHYME? 

A little bit of Eddie’s theatrics rubbing off on him? Or Foxy tailoring his speech/behaviour to match Eddie’s? Either way I find it very, very cute :)

Other things that are super cute - this moment -

When they visit the crime scene and Foxy deliberately hangs back to give Ed space to investigate - silently acknowledging that Ed is more capable.

But ALSO - we see Foxy watching with the above curious, maybe slightly nervous, expression. And I imagine a variety of things crossing his mind in that moment. 

A touch of anxiety perhaps - that he’s making a mistake working with a known felon and murderer, is it morally/ethically sound?; that Ed won’t, or worse can’t, help him, because how will the GCPD ever stop the bomber and bring Haven justice then?

But alongside all that it also looks, to me, like Foxy is kinda nervously excited to see what Ed uncovers, to watch Ed work. I mean, it’s not fanboy level interest or anything like that! But I do get a sense of personal interest from Foxy. We’re not quite Watson eagerly waiting on Holmes’ deduction, but we’re in the vicinity!

Basically - there’s a nice level of quiet anticipation in Foxy here that I really love.

And it’s followed up by Foxy tiling his head and prompting Ed by saying his name - not softly, but not impatiently either. It’s a sort of firm but questioning - ‘Ed?’ and the tone suggests to me a dual worry that Ed might be stalling and isn’t going to help (putting Foxy on the edge of distrust/impatience) and also that, for whatever reason (ie. his mental heath issues or his current physical condition), Ed is too unwell to help and may be on the verge of collapse or a breakdown (nudging up Foxy’s compassion and/or pity). It’s Foxy trying to figure out if he should be berating Ed or tending to him, basically!

Then ofc Ed launches into ‘Detective Mode’ (Arkham Games pun there :p) and Foxy relaxes and joins in and they both happily lose themselves in the science of it all :) 

Partners in Forensics <3

(no wait, couldn’t you technically, actually, literally call it ‘Partners in Crime’ ie. crime solving?? omg wordplay is the best)

And and - there’s a couple of moments during the deduction when both of them get mildly frustrated with each other, but it’s mitigated by the overriding respect each of them are feeling for the other as well -

1) Foxy’s weary response to Ed gleefully comparing the crime scene to a ‘classic locked room mystery’ and beginning his theatrical summary of exactly what a locked room mystery is. You can just HEAR Foxy thinking ‘oh god, another riddle/performance, can’t he just get to the point?’ 

Except moments later Foxy is actually engaging with Ed’s ‘performance’ - giving the correct ‘answer’ to a locked room mystery (ie. that the killer was already in the room) and going on to ask Ed, GENUINELY CURIOUS, if that means the bomb was already in the building. Seriously, I swear Foxy doesn’t look mad or impatient when he asks the question, he’s back to being properly lost in the puzzle and eager for Ed’s insight.

2) After Ed has offered his explanation/theory, in true theatrical fashion, about the oil drum (or whatever it was) being used as a bomb, Foxy offers his piece of glass as a possible rebuttal (also somewhat theatrically now I think about it since he deliberately offers it without explanation, forcing a follow up question from Ed - more adoption of Ed’s mannerisms?). Ed just looks at him and there’s a touch, I think, of suppressed disdain in his voice when he answers - ‘glass?’ Because Foxy is not only questioning the genius of Ed’s deduction, he’s also just messed up Ed’s performance by failing to applaud, or the equivalent of.

And yet, the disdain IS SUPPRESSED and tempered by GENUINE CURIOSITY. Ed isn’t just dismissive of Foxy, despite maybe wanting to be. He is also very much ACTUALLY ASKING for Foxy’s explanation, because he respects Foxy enough to know that whatever Foxy is bringing to his attention actually probably IS relevant.

...they go on to speak in tandem after that <3 perfect timing, having gone on a whole intellectual back and forth that has been bringing them slowly closer and closer until they are perfectly united :)

One very last thing! (...for now :p)

This is Eddie’s reaction to Foxy giving him the folder ie. the thing he was desperate for when they started and the reason he agreed to partner up with Foxy in the first place (oh damn, this plot and Jim and Ozzie’s plot were ACTUAL MIRRORS of each other this episode - Jim and Foxy both agreeing to ‘partner’ with their respective Rogue, should have twigged that sooner!)

Anyway, this comes after Ed has given his heartfelt speech about hoping Foxy finds whoever is responsible and makes them pay.

The caps really don’t do the reaction justice, because Eddie is honestly SO SHOCKED/SURPRISED at being handed the folder. It’s like... like his big speech was intended as his goodbye. There’s certainly a sense of finality to it. Eddie saying ‘this is where we part ways.’ Meaning, guys, I swear, by this point -

EDDIE HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE FOLDER!!

He’d got so swept up in the investigation (and spending time with Foxy?) that it had became his sole focus. He was no longer helping for the reward, he was helping BECAUSE HE WANTED TO. 

...and sure, maybe it’s largely because he got invested in the mystery/puzzle of it. But the way he gets so sombre at the end makes me think there was a fair part of him that was shocked/sickened by the bombing enough to want to help in order to get justice for it as well 

(he’s like Ozzie in that way perhaps - sickened and honestly wanting justice, but also happy to capitalise on the aftermath of the tragedy for personal benefit ie. Ozzie sets himself up as more of a hero because he enjoys the love of the people it provides him (and enjoys spending time with Jim?) while Eddie helps solve the crime because he enjoys the puzzle of it (and enjoys spending time with Foxy?)... maybe maybe...) 

But anyway, however you break it down, Eddie ended up caring more about solving a puzzle with Foxy than getting his prize and I - *clutches heart*

Gonna end with this look Foxy gives Ed after giving him the folder. 

Because it’s beautiful. 

(what’s that quote, about looking at people you love when they can’t see?)

(this may have been a transparent excuse for me to make and stare at more pretty pictures of my boys but you can’t prove anything) 

(I’ll try and engage with other posts/theories/characters soon... but I make no promises!)

[deductionjournal]

This blog hasn't been overly active lately so here's an explanation for that.

As some of you may be aware, I was one of the co-organisers for this year's TEDx event (top left) at my University, which was super fun, and super busy, and included lots of really great talks!

As the year progressed exam season has crept up again, and my first exam is tomorrow! So I've spent a lot of time revising (top right) and writing coursework (bottom left) over these past few months.

But just because I haven't been posting doesn't mean I've neglected deduction entirely!

A few months back I downloaded a collection of forensic pathology papers and have been going through them to learn more about curious deaths (bottom right). These have included death by insulin, pacemakers, tree forks and countless more.

And those of you who follow my Twitter @TB_Deductions would also be aware that I've recently purchased E.J Wagner's 'The Science of Sherlock Holmes' which I am thoroughly looking forward to reading over the summer. Those who follow my Twitter will also see news articles of scientific fields linked to development of detective work.

Not only this, but I've been answering a lot of your questions on various topics (such as Perfumes, fashion, and crime patterns) and have helped out on a small number of cases this past month.

This isn't all I've been up to, especially in relation to deduction, so keep your eyes peeled over summer...

[joie-university-rp]

Dear, CULLEN CHAMBERS,

It is with great pleasure we invite you admission to Joie University! Welcome to the Thunderclap family!

–

Congratulations, EM! Please be sure to check the New Members’ Checklistand send in your character’s account within 24 hours from now. We cannot wait to see all that you will bring to this roleplay! We love you already!

OOC INFORMATION:

Name/Alias; preferred pronouns: Em, She/ Her

Age, Timezone: 24, GMT

Activity, short explanation: 7/10, online everyday at some point.

Ships: Cullen/Male.

Anti-Ships: Cullen/ Female, Cullen/ Forced.

Triggers: RFP

Preferred photo for Character’s ID (please give a link): https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB825GB825&biw=1366&bih=625&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=kvJmXYuyJ5ma1fAPjM6rsAY&q=joe+keery+cute&oq=joe+keery+cute&gs_l=img.3..0l4j0i8i10i30j0i24.19848.20663..20737…0.0..0.334.589.2j1j0j1……0….1..gws-wiz-img…….0i67.1YZfPYlZ_fA&ved=0ahUKEwiLw_jWwabkAhUZTRUIHQznCmYQ4dUDCAY&uact=5#imgrc=IfWMRgmD7m5LXM:

Anything else:

IC INFORMATION:

Full Name (First, Middle, Last): Cullen Walter Chambers

FC: Joe Keery

Age/Year at University (Freshman [1st Year], Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student): 26, Sophomore.

Birth date: 20th April.

Hometown (please be sure to check the hometowns listed for characters your muse is related to!): South Haven, MI.

Gender/Pronouns: He/ Him.

Sexuality: Homosexual.

Major(s): Criminology.

Minor(s) [optional]: N/A

Housing request (remember, only the president of a Greek Organization is required to live at a Greek House to be in it!):

On-Campus

Extracurriculars (Click here for the list. Be sure to specify any executive board positions [i.e. president, secretary, etc.] If something isn’t listed, please put it here and we will add it to the masterlist!): LGBT+

Greek Life Affiliation [optional] (Please be sure to specify any executive board positions [i.e. president, pledge educator, etc.] or if your character is not yet a member, but plans to rush): N/A

CHARACTER PROFILE:

[At least] 3 Headcanons for your character:

When Cullen was young, he used to play a lot of sporting activities, but as he started to grow older, he grew out of the sporting world, and went onto different interests.

At the age of 10, Cullen was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and lives on a routine of checking his blood sugars, and making sure he has enough insulin in his body.

In Cullen’s teenage years, he was encouraged to get tested for autism, but has refused every single time to get tested for it, since he doesn’t care to know if he’s autistic or not.

Cullen is very into video gaming, he is a nerd at heart, and loves any and all things video games., he also has an interest for forensic science.

After High school, Cullen didn’t go to Uni straight away, since he was a little too anxious to go to Uni, so it had taken him quite a few years to actually pluck up the courage to go.

STUDENT CENSUS SURVEY:

(Please answer the following questions IN CHARACTER. Responses can be as long or short as you see fit!)

What made you want to attend Joie University? I want to get a job doing forensic science, so I need a degree. Seems like a pretty easy question to answer.

What are at least 3 positive or neutral and at least 3 negative traits that you believe you possess? I am hard-working, kind, and passionate, but can also be anxious, insecure, and obsessive.

Which of your traits do you value most? I like that I’m a passionate person.

How can that trait benefit the University (or its student body) as a whole? Being passionate means that I’m more likely to not skip classes, and maybe I could even join a club…? Not sure about that, but it’s a maybe for now.

What do you hope to gain from your experience at JU? I know what experiences I don’t want to gain from university. I would hope that this experience would help me for later on in life.

What is a quote or song lyric that describes you? ‘Been waiting on this for a while now.’

[dariusblake]

If you look at any one piece of evidence, then yeah it won't be enough to hang a case off. DNA profiling does not compare the entire genome and, even if it did, finding perfect unadulterated DNA samples at a crime scene is so improbable that I'd laugh in the face of anyone who claims they have. Same with finger prints. And fibre analysis, glass analysis, and basically anything.

But, and I want to stress this; you don't just look at one piece of evidence.

Anyone who holds up a piece of evidence and says that it "proves" anything is doing their job wrong and/or trying to sell something. Its one of the first and most important things you learn studying this shit; Do NOT make claims of absolute certainty. You are never going to be one hundred percent certain what happened, so don't think in those terms. Instead use multiple pieces of evidence.

Because that's another thing. Just because the evidence isn't 100% proof of anything, doesn't make it pseudoscience. All those little bits of data with their 40% and 62% accuracies? That's still adding weight to one side or the other. It's a statistical analysis, with all available points of evidence considered and factored in. And, again, if your expert witnesses are doing their job and not pushing an agenda, they will communicate this. It is not the job of expert witnesses to pass judgement and, when asked about their view on the likelihood of someone's guilt, they are expected to couch everything in terms of how likely they find it that the evidence was left by the accused. Anything else, including what that means for the overall case, is not something they should comment on. This is drilled into you every year you are on a forensic science course, at least in the UK. Also, cops should not be called as expert witnesses. The expert witnesses are meant to be experts and scientists who have actually studied the evidence as unbiased observers, not working for the prosecution or defence.

The final thing to remember is that, at least for most of the world, there is a principle of Innocent until proven Guilty. The court is looking for there reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime. If you can provide a sound and supported explanation of how evidence implicating them (even if it's not as likely) the court is supposed to rule not guilty.

You wanna be mad at the cops and biased judges spinning numbers to get men and racial minorities sent away disproportionately? Sure, I'm with you. Those people are at the heart of what is wrong with the criminal justice system.

Is the system perfect? No.

Has misapplication of data lead to wrongful conviction? Yes.

Have there been times when the method gives an incorrect answer? Without question, I defy you to show me a method that cannot produce false positives.

But that doesn't mean that whole system is pseudoscience.

Tldr - the errors in the criminal justice system lay largely at the feet of judges and people with agendas to push, not the science analysing the evidence.

criminal profiling is just astrology for cops