#forensic science (field of study)

[er-cryptid]

alright nerds, favorite biology (or biology-adjacent) field

had to make this new poll so there's more options

[bewithus4u]

A Guide to the Field of Forensic Science Education

Forensic science is a lighthouse in the field of criminal investigation and justice, solving puzzles with methodical study and interpretation of the available data. Fundamental to it all are the skills of forensic scientists—people who have undergone extensive training in order to reveal the mysteries concealed in crime scenes. What, though, is required to become one? Come along as we explore the…

[posh--bee]

falling for you (into the deep end) || Aaron Hotchner

pairing → Aaron Hotchner x Reader

summary → One second, you're standing next to your father's pool, ready for a cold drink on a hot summer day, and the next you're suddenly falling into said pool with a man you have never met before in your life. A man who shortly after introduces himself as Aaron Hotchner to you, your father's unit chief and friend. Yep, this is definitely your worst nightmare come to life.

warnings → meet-cute, fem!reader, rossi!reader, reader has rossi's last name, reader wears a bikini, reader is down bad immediately, Aaron is the sweetest guy ever, but also down bad, (unspecified) age gap, a cuss word here and there, short description of a hypothetical crime, no y/n used

author’s note → I wanted to write something for Hotch, preferably with a reader who is Rossi's daughter. Throw in a quirky and slightly awkward meet-cute and voilà—here we are! I'm pretty sure Rossi's mansion doesn't have a pool, but who cares, now it does! This fic kinda developed a life of its own near the end so let me know what you think about it <3

word count → 4.8k

masterlist(s)

series masterlist || ⋆part 1⋆ part 2 - part 3 coming soon-ish :3

The soft ripple of the pool's aquamarine water rocks you gently, caressing your sun-warmed skin, the smell of chlorine, sunscreen, and what can only be described as summer tickling your nose.

The leaves of the trees surrounding your father's property rustle in a lazy breeze and you open your eyes, the clear sky that greets you as brilliantly blue as the water you're floating in, your arms and legs spread like you're mimicking a very happy and very relaxed starfish.

It's one of the hottest days of this year's summer and you decided to enjoy it thoroughly in the best way you know how: By lazing around your dad's house—sorry, mansion—eating his food and commandeering his pool until you're all wrinkly, while he is at work, catching the worst monsters humanity has created.

You will always be worried about him when he's gone but you've only ever known a world where that is what your father does; hunting down killers, teaching others to do the same, or writing books about understanding and capturing these dangerous people. And making a ton of money in the process.

Naturally, he never wanted you to follow in his footsteps, knowing how dangerous, how grueling, how draining his work can be, hoping that his only daughter would choose a different path for her professional life.

And naturally, you defied his wishes.

Kind of.

Only last week, after years and years of studying and researching and writing papers and pulling all-nighters and drinking enough caffeine to power an aircraft, you graduated with a PhD in Forensic Science and can now proudly announce yourself as Doctor Rossi instead of Miss Rossi.

That's why you're currently back at your father's place, simply enjoying doing absolutely nothing before you're officially joining the workforce, hopefully helping to catch many more of the monsters your father and his team hunt and developing the methods and practices of your field further.

But for the moment, you're content to simply float in the pleasantly cool water, watching a single lonely cloud drift across the endless blue sky before you decide in a stroke of pure genius that a cold and fruity drink is exactly what you need to make this perfectly carefree day even better. You let yourself grow heavy in the water, your body sinking to the tiled bottom of the pool where you remain motionless for a few seconds, admiring the mesmerizing shifting patterns the sunlight paints underwater before you kick off the tiles, your fingers wrapping around the metal bars of the pool's ladder as soon as you reach them.

You climb out of the pool, water cascading down your body and creating a small puddle on the sun-warmed wooden planks of the patio at your feet. You grab your towel from one of the fancy deck chairs and quickly dry yourself enough to go to the kitchen and make yourself a drink before leisurely sipping on it while you lie in the sun, a hopefully good book keeping you company until you decide it's time for another relaxing activity.

With your game plan fully formed, you set it in action, going over to the sliding glass door that leads back into the house when you catch sight of your reflection in it, briefly pausing to fix the top of your—if you might say so yourself—super cute and flattering bikini.

But before you can then reach for the handle, a silhouette of a person appears behind the glass out of nowhere and the door slides open all the way, revealing a man you have never seen before in your life standing in front of you.

In your father's house. That you thought you had to yourself.

Oh hell no.

Immediately, your heart jumps into your throat, your pulse spiking in pure panic and you stare at the stranger fearfully, your brain frantically scrambling to find the best course of action that doesn't lead to your pictures ending up on one of the boards at your father's workplace—one photo showing a candid shot of you smiling, probably from your recent graduation, while the others would document how the killer left your broken and bruised body behind on the patio, your blood painting the wooden planks red, seeping into the cracks between them, maybe even dripping into the pool's clear water and staining it with clouds of diluted blood.

The stranger's dark brows furrow in concern, and when he gently, carefully says your name, it does nothing to calm you—not in the slightest. Your body is stiffly frozen on the spot while your fight-or-flight response is busy flipping a coin and waiting to see which side it will land on.

But then the stranger takes a step towards you and you spring into action, yelping in alarm and instinctively taking one, two, three steps backwards—away from him—which you quickly realize was a big mistake when the terrible feeling of having missed a step makes your stomach drop.

And then time slows down.

With a startled cry you fall backwards, flailing your arms helplessly but without a chance to regain balance when your back foot is already hanging over the edge of the pool. The stranger's eyes widen in surprise and he urgently reaches for you, his warm and strong fingers actually closing around your wrist firmly, trying to pull you back towards him—but it's too late.

Your momentum makes the stranger lose his footing as well and not a fraction of a second later the two of you break the pool's glittering surface in a joint, enormous splash, instantly submerged by the water.

Little drops of it are still raining down on you when you and the stranger come back up at the same time to gasp for air, your pulse ringing in your ears, looking and feeling more than a little disoriented. Your wide eyes find the deep brown ones of the unfamiliar man next to you and he silently stares back at you with an equally befuddled expression.

He's extremely handsome, your brain notes unprompted, even with his previously styled hair now completely wet, the dark strands sticking to his forehead and sending droplets running down his sharp features, some stubbornly clinging to his eyelashes and even the tip of his nose. Naturally, his clothes are completely soaked too, his dress shirt now clinging tightly to his body and it embarrassingly takes you a moment to avert your eyes from this sight, from his chest, and shoulders, and arms, especially when you notice the way he has the sleeves rolled up above his elbows.

With warm cheeks that have nothing to do with you lazing around in the sun all day, your gaze snaps back to his face which looks like he's still trying to comprehend what just happened.

And that's when the horrible realization dawns on you.

That maybe this man who didn't show any signs of aggression towards you and even tried to save you from falling, who knows your name and is dressed in suit pants, a dress shirt and nice shoes might not be a serial killer coming to end your life after all.

And you just made him fall in the pool with you—completely clothed.

Oh no. Not good. Very not good.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry! Are you—are you okay?"

The words tumble out of your mouth franticly, your voice too loud, too shrill, a wholly different kind of panic settling in that makes your hands tremble and your stomach feel slightly sick.

The stranger lets out a high-pitched, breathless laugh, an amused kind of disbelief on his face when he answers, "I am, yes. Are you alright?"

His deep voice is good-humored and kind, the kind that makes your knees go a little weak despite yourself and all you manage in response is a quick little nod, threading your fingers together in front of your body, nervously playing with them under the water.

You watch him brush the hair from his forehead with one large hand, slicking the wet, jet-black strands back, water running down his arm, droplets getting caught in the dark hairs on his forearm and he quickly looks at the probably very expensive and now very drenched watch on his wrist before his kind gaze finds yours again, saying, "I'm sorry I startled you like this. I thought Dave texted you I was coming over. He has some old case files on his desk he asked me to review while he's still at the office."

As soon as these words leave his mouth, your cheeks and ears flame up in shame while your eyes widen in horror. Because that means this man who is currently in the pool with you is an FBI agent, a highly skilled profiler working on the same team as your dad, and it's all your fault that he took a completely involuntary dive with you.

And then, as if you're not already wishing for the bottom of the pool to open up and just swallow you whole to end your misery, he adds the one thing that makes this surreal situation even worse.

"I'm Aaron—Hotchner. It's good to finally meet you. Your father talks a lot about you."

Cool.

Cool cool cool cool.

Because of course, of all the agents your father works with you just made Aaron Hotchner, the BAU's unit chief and your dad's very serious, very important and very no-nonsense FBI boss fall in the pool with, completely clothed, and probably ruining his expensive shoes and watch and wallet and phone in the process.

Sure.

No problem.

Definitely not one of the most humiliating things to ever happen in your life.

You are going to drown yourself in this pool.

With your mind and body locked in a continuous state of distress, you exhale a trembling breath that does nothing to calm you, the words just spilling out of your mouth, your voice cracking pathetically as you try to explain yourself and apologize to him, completely distraught.

"Oh god, I'm so so sorry, I—I didn't know—I left my phone inside and haven't checked it in hours—If I'd known you were coming over, I'd—I'd never—oh my god—"

To make matters even worse you have to realize with renewed horror that tears are welling up in your eyes and you stubbornly press the heels of your hands to your eyes as you gasp for a breath, struggling to keep your emotions under control and regain even the semblance of composure. You refuse to make an even bigger fool out of yourself in front of him than you already have.

But that's nearly impossible when Aaron's voice is so infuriatingly understanding and kind, his tone soft and comforting.

"It's alright, you really don't have to apologize to me. You didn't know and I scared you half to death. It's not your fault, so don't worry about it, okay?"

But how can you not worry about how much you messed up when this is probably the worst first impression you have ever left on someone—and that includes the time you destroyed someone's side mirror with your own car only to learn a few days later that that someone was your then-boyfriend's very unamused mother when you visited his parents for the first time for a very uncomfortable and icy dinner. (Your mind still likes to torture you with this little incident when you're busy trying to fall asleep, basically dooming the relationship from the very beginning, but in the end it was for the best—because that woman would've shown up wearing a white dress to her son's own wedding. So you're pretty sure you dodged a huge bullet there.)

You risk a glance at Aaron through the gaps between your fingers, the reassuring smile on his face making you feel a little silly, a little overdramatic but it also makes you calm down enough to let your hands drop from your face. Not that you had any chance not to, not when he's looking at you like you couldn't do anything wrong in his eyes, ever.

"I mean it, it was just an accident. Don't blame yourself for that."

He says it with so much conviction that you're almost ready to believe him, but the unhappy frown still clings stubbornly to your face, still mentally berating yourself over this whole situation you actually had very little control over.

That's why you jump almost a foot into the air (the water you're still standing in) when a warm and big, big hand gently squeezes your naked shoulder. Aaron is somehow so much closer than before, looking down at you and steadily holding your gaze while all you can do is dumbly stare back into his eyes, captivated by the sparkle of amused patience in them, by the way his dark eyelashes frame them so perfectly, following his sharp features to the slope of his nose, further down to his lips, wondering just how they would feel pressed against yours—

Nope—!

That very attractive and very wet man in the pool with you is still your father's colleague and friend, you remind yourself with burning ears, letting out an involuntarily awkward little giggle that ends in a dramatic sigh, your whole body deflating under the comforting weight and warmth of his hand on your skin.

You manage to smile up at him despite your chest still feeling a little too tight with anxiety while butterflies undeniably start to stir in your stomach.

"Thank you for saying that," you murmur defeatedly as you try and fail to tear your gaze from his eyes. "But I'm still sorry about your clothes and watch, and everything else too."

But he simply shakes his head, easily dismissing your attempt to apologize once more, shutting down your offer to pay for the damages that would surely follow before it could even pass your lips.

"It's fine, really. All of these things can be replaced. I'm just glad you didn't hurt yourself."

How can he just say things like these with that stupidly attractive and smooth voice of his while his hand deliberately rubs up and down your arm and not expect you to fall for him right then and there? Because you're pretty sure that's what's happening right now, without you having the slightest of chances to stop it.

But that's a problem you will have to deal with later, you decide, because right now the two of you are still just standing in the water together, and while your attire is completely pool-approved his very much isn't and you probably should get him at least a towel and some dry clothes to change into.

So you softly tell him as much, nodding your head towards the house, "I could get you some of dad's clothes so you can change, I hope that's okay."

"That would be perfect, thank you," Aaron answers, a grateful smile on his lips and you can't help but notice and appreciate the enticing crow's feet framing his eyes while he does.

You give him a timid smile in return, mumbling, "It's the least I can do."

He only gives your elbow a final tender squeeze in reply before pulling his hand back, his fingers lingering on your heated skin for just a moment longer and you can't find it in you to complain about it, not when a pleasant shiver runs down your spine at that.

Crap. You're in so much trouble already.

Reluctantly, you look away from him and turn around, heading to the pool's ladder, your whole arm tingling with the ghost of his touch but you try to ignore it as best as you can—which isn't all that much.

You climb up the steps first before holding out your hand for Aaron even if it's not strictly necessary. You're delighted when he takes it anyway without hesitation, your whole hand swallowed in his firm grasp, a discovery that makes your stomach do a funny little flip.

"I hope this at least takes the first place of the most memorable ways you ever met someone for the first time," you joke as Aaron emerges from the pool, finding some humor in this absurd situation as you watch his soaked clothes lose probably half of the pool's content on the planks of the patio, the wet fabric sticking to his body unpleasantly. But you don't miss the quick upwards quirk of his lips despite him looking like a pretty miserable, drowned rat now. You try to cover up your amused snort with a cough, but you know he can't have not caught it.

He however takes it in stride and graciously ignores it, instead starting to take off his watch while saying, "It absolutely does. And I can't say I wasn't wishing to cool off all day today, but that wasn't really what I had in mind. Not that I'm mad at all about this spontaneous opportunity to take a swim with you."

He smiles at you, fully, boldly, and you're probably mistaken when you think you saw just a sliver of shyness shining in his eyes because you're too distracted by the rest of his face that looks somehow even more handsome than before.

"Well, in that case, you're very welcome," you play along easily despite your heart slamming almost painfully against your ribcage. "And what can I say, I just love to leave a lasting first impression."

You're blessed with that charming high-pitched laugh of his again while he lays his watch on the patio table before his hands move to the buttons at the top of his shirt—which is not something you should find as enticing as you do.

"You definitely did. I just hope you don't make everyone you meet for the first time fall for you like that."

The words take a moment to fully register in your mind as you're busy admiring his deft fingers working on the first button of the shirt, but when they do something must suddenly take possession of you because your mouth curls into a teasing smile without you really meaning to and you casually hum, "Hm, no. Just you."

Aaron's fingers freeze mid-movement, his gaze so much more intense than just moments before but to your own surprise you don't shy away from it, keeping your eyes locked with his as he carefully utters his next words, his voice just a little rougher.

"That must make me pretty special, then."

You consider his words with a slow tilt of your head, your teeth sinking into your bottom lip to keep the eager smile threatening to overtake your face contained, your heart hammering away in your chest and your head feeling slightly dizzy. The daring and impulsive part currently in control of you makes you step directly into his personal space without hesitation where you can openly admire the small amount of chest hair peeking over the collar of his t-shirt which immediately cancels out the disappointing discovery that even in this heat he's wearing multiple layers.

"It probably does, Mr. Hotchner," you practically purr in reply, your voice almost unrecognizable to your own ears as you bring your hands up to his chest.

Your eyes never stray from his when you nudge his hands away from his shirt and replace them with your own, your fingers shaking visibly as you slowly, deliberately slide another button through its respective hole for him. And he lets you, his lips slightly parted, his gaze so much heavier, so much more heated than before that you have to suppress a full-body shiver.

You know it's not appropriate to do what you're doing right now, not with a man who is easily ten years your senior, who you never met in person before today and—most importantly—who is not only your father's superior but also his friend. And before today you would have never given in to your impulses like that, simply shoving them to the farthest corner of your mind where they would come back to haunt you during sleepless nights, making you wonder what could've been if you had just taken a chance for once in your life.

You don't know why it's different now with Aaron Hotchner of all people, what it is about him that makes you act like this so suddenly, so uncharacteristically bold, but you can't stop yourself—and to your thrilled delight, it doesn't seem like he wants you to either.

Not when you can clearly see the nice blush dusting the apple of his cheeks pink. Or when you notice the anticipation in his eyes, his tongue absentmindedly peeking past his dry lips to wet them. Or when you catch his pupils dilating as his attention snaps down to a droplet of water shining on your collarbone, his eyes following its path utterly transfixed as it slowly runs down between your breasts, the soft swell of your chest on full display for him thanks to your bikini top hugging you so perfectly.

To your astonishment, his gaze doesn't make you uncomfortable or exposed and you don't shy away from his attention—quite the opposite. You let yourself revel in it, a pleasant tingling sensation spreading from the very tips of your fingers to the rest of your body, making you feel confident and desired in a way few, if any, people have in the past.

He makes you feel cherished, the (poorly hidden) want in his eyes only increases this feeling.

But most importantly—he makes you feel safe.

That's what's so different about him.

So it's not surprising that you're lightheaded in the best way possible when your fingers slowly trail further down his shirt, smugly smirking up at him when he realizes he was caught red-handed ogling his friend's daughter's scarcely clad chest.

You see his Adam's apple work uneasily in his throat as he tilts his head slightly, not being able to meet your eyes anymore, his whole posture suddenly uncomfortable and stiff and the look on his face downright terrified. You find everything about this incredibly endearing and equally entertaining, the way his cheeks are now deeply red and probably burning hot to the touch, the tips of his ears very much in the same condition and his hand flexing by the side of his body as if debating whether physically pushing you away and creating some distance between the two of you would somehow remedy the situation.

But he doesn't, instead his gaze guiltily flickers to meet yours for a split second and then his lips part for the first words of a sincere yet deeply embarrassed, stammered apology. Yes, Aaron Hotchner, the ever-serious, ever-composed, big bad FBI agent who stares down serial killers for a living, who doesn't even flinch when the barrel of a gun is pressed against his head, actually stammers, evidently not used to losing control like this, not used to allow himself to give into temptation, anything that would expose that behind his almost perfect mask is simply a man, a human, with tragically repressed wants and needs and desires.

But you smile up at him, kindly, giddily, because you're really not used to someone like him giving you this kind of attention and you refuse to let yourself feel bad about it now and start to overthink it, so you simply say, "It's okay. I don't mind."

And then, because it's the truth, you add, "Not when it's you."

Your words cause a quick succession of emotions to flash across Aaron's face—regret, surprise, doubt, relief—only to finally settle on something so soft, so gentle, so close to adoration that your first, entirely instinctual reaction is to shrink and hide away from gaze.

But he doesn't let you, holds your gaze steadily and brings his hand up to yours still lightly resting against his chest. His fingers curl around your much smaller palm and he has the audacity to smirk at your very obvious, very telling reaction to this as if your roles weren't reversed just moments before. But then he gently presses your hand against his chest, his hand still covering yours and you immediately forgive him.

Because like this, you can feel the heat of his skin slowly bleed through the wet fabric of his shirt and into your own skin. You feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the low hum forming there when your other hand moves with a mind of its own to rest on his shoulder, anchoring you to him further.

But most importantly, like this, you can clearly feel his heartbeat mirror the almost frantic, thundering pace of your own.

It's as confusing as it is exhilarating, knowing that for some bizarre reason, you and this stranger (because as many times your father has talked about Aaron, you have never met him before today) feel the same magnetic pull towards each other, and without knowing who moved in first you're suddenly breathing the same air, your faces close enough for you to count each individual dark eyelash and admire every single detail and imperfection of his handsome face.

Questions linger unspoken in the small space between you—Is this okay? Should we really be doing this?—but the small impatient noise escaping you is enough to dissipate them immediately.

He moves in even closer and you let your eyelids flutter shut, your heart stuttering in your chest when you feel his breath fan across your face, feel his lips hesitantly brush against your own, the faint touch enough to send a spark of overwhelming pleasure down your spine, the eruption of butterfly wings in your belly like nothing you ever felt before in your life, before finally—

Finally—

—the devastating sound of the front door falling shut echos through the whole house, your father's cheerful voice calling out both your and Aaron's name.

Your eyes snap open in horror, your heartrate spiking alarmingly, and like you were burned you push away from Aaron, desperate to create even the illusion of distance between the two of you. You're lucky you don't fall in the fucking pool again but only because of Aaron's quick reflexes, his arm wrapping around your naked waist and urgently pulling you flush against him, thankfully not losing his footing this time.

Terrified, you stare up at him, both of you frozen in this blatantly incriminating position—entirely too close, too intimate for two strangers, a daughter and her father's friend—his palm burning into your naked skin while your dad's footsteps are coming closer, and closer, and closer—

In a last, desperate attempt to save yourself and Aaron from being discovered like this your tardy fight-or-flight response kicks into gear again, urging you to—albeit reluctantly—exit his hold and rush towards the house, fleeing the scene of the crime and leaving poor Aaron to explain what happened to your father.

You don't stop when you run past your dad, only squeaking something unintelligently about getting some dry clothes when his confused voice calls after you, your wet feet almost causing you to slip and fall on the cold and hard marble floor but somehow you make it to the safety of the upper story, making a beeline to the master bedroom's dressing room.

With your heart beating painfully inside your chest, you curl up into a miserable ball of anxiety and regret in the middle of the room, not caring that you're dripping pool water onto the expensive carpeted floor, your shaking hands coming up to cover your face.

What the hell were you thinking? How will you be able to face your father—or worse, Aaron—ever again?!

You press the heels of your hands hard enough against your eyes that stars and shapes overtake the darkness of your vision, contemplating if staying inside this dressing room for the rest of your life is really that bad of an option.

But you're startled back into action when Aaron's calm but carefully controlled voice followed by your father's boisterous laughter travels up the stairs to you and you pick yourself off the floor before hectically digging through your father's clothes until you find something passable for Aaron to change into.

As you descend the stairs, knees weak and threatening to give out underneath you, your anxiety pressing heavily against your chest, you wonder helplessly how you will survive the rest of this day, how you will ever survive seeing Aaron again after today.

Because this afternoon, while he fell in the pool with you, you fell for Aaron Hotchner.

(And he fell in love with you, too.)

series masterlist || ⋆ part 1 ⋆ part 2 - part 3 coming soon-ish :3

divider by @/cafekitsune

[writingsonsaturn]

i love these tim bradford x sunshine!reader but what if they had like a really not sunshine job, pathologist or something and the others found out.

the idea is probably really stupid, do whatever you want or just pretend i never sent this

sun-kissed shadows

{ masterlist }

🪐 - this is so freaking cute, I loved writing this!!! thank you anon <33

wc - 1.4k

content warning: reader is a blood spatter analyst, descriptive talks of dead bodies and things that go along with being a forensics tech, gore? kinda? its not for the ones with a super weak stomach pookies

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

Tim has always felt some sort of force field pulling him toward you, the way your smile could light up the darkest of rooms, or how your voice is always so soft and airy. He knew he had to introduce himself that night in the bar, Tim asked if he could treat you to a drink and you just couldn’t resist his wide, hopeful smile and agreed. Tim was in love the moment your voice reached his ears, suddenly three years later, your warm body is what he wakes up to.

His eyes studied your face, every little detail that gently lay across your face had been mesmerized since the first time you slept over. Tim’s fingers delicately traced his hand over your cheekbone, a soft gesture he used to pull you out of your dream ridden state.

You stirred slightly, becoming aware of the small disruption. 

“Good morning, pretty girl,” Tim whispered in a sleepy tone.

“Hi,” you smiled widely while stretching your arms, creeping open an eye only to see a smiling Tim staring right back at you.

“Are you aware that it’s creepy to watch someone sleep?” you jokingly said, a smirk making its way onto your face. “I can’t help it, you’re just so beautiful,” Tim explains in a jokingly defensive way, throwing his hand over his chest and fighting a grin. You only giggle and pull yourself onto his chest, resting your chin gently on top of him and looking up into the eyes of your lover.

The two of you laid together, soft spoken words floating around the confined bedroom. Talking about what the day ahead looks like, then finally after some convincing, Tim agrees to get up and make you breakfast before you need to leave. You both worked at the station, however you tend to clock in earlier since you usually have deadlines to meet and paperwork to file. 

Your career wasn’t what people expected you to be a part of, it was a rather dark job - well you didn’t think so, but to each their own. You worked as a blood spatter analyst, reconstruction of crime scenes and helping determine what sort of weapon was used at the time of the attack and or homicide, and most importantly you helped with figuring out how a victim was hit. 

You loved your job, but it was always fun to see the cogs in a person's brain start to rapidly spin when you explain what you do for a living. 

Now, although you work at the same place, nobody actually knows what you do. There has only been a handful of conversations about work considering Tim’s friends very obviously do not want to talk about policing when they are off-duty, which you understood. Everytime you were asked you would simply just say you helped at the crime scene after they all had left, and the crew would just let it go.

Personally, you weren’t sure talking about how far brain matter had flown out of a victims head was a dinner worthy conversation. 

Once you clocked into work for the day you immediately started on the leftover paperwork from last week's case, an elderly man who had been bludgeoned by his caretaker. It was a gruesome shift that day, all the red yarn and pictures taken were horrible, sometimes you wished for the ability to erase memories from your brain's hold. 

You were also aware that once the trial started you would have to testify to the science of how you figured out what was used to kill the man, and how you knew. 

However, not long after lunch - thankfully after - you were called into a scene that was horrific. Blood coating a once white wall, a man on the ground already in rigor mortis, and way too many bodily fluids. 

This case was already different, you were informed that it was a high priority and all hands on deck type of situation. 

That being said, everybody was there. 

Looking around you caught Tim talking with Angela and Nyla, likely because he was the first officer on scene and needed to give an account as to what he saw. You were in full gear, white suit that covered you head to toe, goggles and a KN95 face mask that helps prevent you from breathing in any unwanted fumes that expel out of a deceased human’s body.

Chen, Nolan, and Juarez were all there. Going through the steps of securing the scene, one talking to the housekeeper who found the body and another rolling tape around the front of the property. You walked over to where Tim was standing with the two detectives to get an idea of what needs to be collected into evidence, and what time the body was found.

Taking off the hood of your suit, along with the other two items blocking your facial features to give you better access to communication, you noticed Lucy freeze as she looked your way. 

“Hello detectives,” you smiled kindly, to which they both offered one back. Nyla and Angela knew what you did, they were really the only ones to know, you worked with detectives very closely.

 “Hey bloody, what’s the diagnosis?” Angela joked.

“Pretty standard stuff, was shot directly in the face by shotgun most likely, shrapnel is imbedded into the skin-” you start to explain while pulling up the notes you were taking, “-had to be pretty up close to produce the amount of damage that was done, found a shoe imprint in the blood as well,” you finish and look up, to now see a small crowd of stunned faces contributed by Lucy, John, and Celina.

“This is so not what I thought you did” Celina gaped, looking at you like you grew a second head.

You laughed at the shock, “guys this really isn’t that crazy,” shaking your head you begin to put your equipment back on so you could make your way back into the house. “What are you talking about? This is insane!” Lucy exclaimed, gesturing to your get-up with over exaggerated hand motions. 

Tim couldn’t help but snicker at the over-the-top reaction perpetrated by your mutual friends, they once explained you were the sunlight to their dark, and traumatic jobs, and here you were getting up close and personal to bloody body parts and foul stenches. 

Before putting the mask on you gave Tim a quick peck, saying you’ll see him tonight for dinner and made your way back into the crime infested home.

The shift had been long, and rough. You spent nearly 45 minutes trying to decipher if there was actually a fingerprint or if it was just a smudge, luckily for you it came back as a partial print, which could give you nothing but it could also give you everything. 

You also had to pick out a couple of pieces of the shrapnel that were stuck in the victims face and place them in evidence bags, for you to also test later at the lab. Different shrapnel comes from different ammos which can be used in different weapons, it was a very significant job you held.

Finishing the day, you turned in reports of today’s findings and got the things ready to be tested in the lab tomorrow morning, because that was tomorrow you’s problem, tonight’s you was leaving and heading to eat dinner at a nice restaurant that Tim surprised you with yesterday. 

Bringing a duffle bag to work always came in handy, especially because you were able to fit a nice pair of date clothes into it making it to where you didn’t have to stop at home to change. 

“God, I am starving” your voice echoed through Tim’s mind, his thrill hard to hide as he got up to greet you. “It’s a good thing I already ordered an appetizer for us then, huh?”  Tim led you to your seat, pulling the chair out for you, then sitting down himself. 

The two of you caught up on the rest of the day, you explaining the frustration game of is it, or is it not with a partial fingerprint and Tim telling you about the women who attempted to flee while handcuffed only to fall head first into dog poop. The laugh you expelled caused other customers to look at you with judgement, but you couldn’t care less. 

By the end of the night, both of you were just admiring each other, “you know, I don’t think our friends imagine me as this light in their life anymore,” the smile on your face was large and knowing.

“You’re still my sunshine,” Tim whispered, sending you a wink.

[hannibals-grahamcracker]

OKAY I am a little sick of people thinking of Will Graham as uneducated or unintelligent.

This man owned a huge amount of well-loved books, he was familiar with the works of Dante Alighieri, he outsmarted the FBI, and he could keep up intellectually with Hannibal fucking Lecter. On top of that, he manipulated Hannibal, a master manipulator, and even fooled him. He outsmarted the smartest man he knew.

As far as his education goes, Will had a degree in forensic science (a notoriously difficult field of study, at least in the U.S.) from George Washington University and was implied to have more than one, or at least multiple areas of education, due to his ACADEMICALLY PUBLISHED WORKS in entomology.

I'm not sure where this idea that Will is not as intelligent or educated as Hannibal (or other characters for that matter!) came from, but it seriously grates on my nerves. I am begging some of y'all to give him more credit. He's canonically incredibly intelligent, and that's not just from his empathy disorder.

(And before anyone comments, yeah, I know it's probably from the poor kid who grew up at the boatyards in NOLA fanon, but still.)

[autopsyfreak]

personality disorder stigma

is being taught to students in colleges

something that i can’t recall mentioning much on here, if at all, is the ableism that is taught within certain educational fields towards people with personality disorders.

for those of you who might be unaware, specific courses do involve the mention of personality disorders and these are often introduced with the DSM criteria combined with negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding these disorders.

this isn’t specific to cluster b disorders either.

my experience

i studied forensic science and criminal psychology in college for 2 years, during which, an aspect of my course included the mention of 3 personality disorders: AntiSocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD).

these disorders were mentioned in a highly unprofessional manner and pushed us to associate these disorders with crime. we were taught to correlate ASPD and NPD with serial killers and to link PPD with school shootings. we were then asked to research known serial killers and to find ones with these specific conditions.

pushing these ideas only negatively impacts people with these disorders as it forces the narrative that people with personality disorders are dangerous criminals, which in most cases couldn’t be further from the truth. it also then results in people from these courses going into professional fields and holding this prejudice towards those they come across with these disorders.

our education surrounding these personality disorders was very limited and, as i already mentioned, the areas that we were educated on, we were being taught to demonise them by associating them with violent crimes.

how it impacted me

i felt unwelcome in these spaces and as though i was being forced to be alienated from my peers as someone with ASPD and NPD.

it was dehumanising and demoralising to have to sit in a classroom and listen to people say that your conditions are dangerous and violent.

this needs to stop.

people with personality disorders are not inherently dangerous and it is harmful to push that misinformation, especially within an educational environment where people rely on you to tell them the truth and are easily influenced by what they are taught. people with personality disorders are deserving of understanding and acceptance.

it is never alright to make students feel that their medical conditions make them unwelcome to study in an educational field.

[strawb4kdior]

University Vi headcannons - ⭐

a/n: i wrote some for Caitlyn so here are some for Vi

~

University Choice: Vi would go to University College London (UCL), studying Criminal Justice or Forensic Science—she’s always been passionate about justice and law.

She’s definitely not the study-all-day type—more of a get-in-and-get-out kind of person.

Prefers hands-on learning, especially when it comes to practical labs or field trips, where she can do real-world work.

Hates group work—she’d rather do everything on her own than rely on others.

Barely studies for exams—she trusts her instinct and experiences more than textbooks.

Her idea of revision is reading summaries the night before an exam.

Loves lectures that involve action or conflict, especially when there’s a good debate involved.

She’s notorious for debating with professors, especially when she disagrees with something.

Doesn’t really care about grades—as long as she passes, she’s fine.

Always last-minute cramming, but still somehow pulls through with decent grades.

Reputation as a “badass”—Vi has a tough exterior, and people respect her because she doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Despite her tough-girl persona, she’s surprisingly popular—people love her energy and boldness.

She’s part of the boxing club, where she’s known for her impressive skills.

The go-to person for advice if someone’s being picked on—Vi doesn’t tolerate bullies.

Loves late-night hangs with her friends, where they either talk about the latest crime cases or watch old action films.

Rarely attends parties, but when she does, she’s the one leading everyone to the dance floor or winning drinking games.

People who are close to her know that Vi is a softie at heart—her reputation as a “tough girl” is mostly an act.

Vi tends to hang out in a small but loyal group of friends, mostly people she trusts.

Doesn’t deal well with fakeness—if someone is pretending to be something they’re not, she’ll call them out.

People know not to mess with you because Vi always has your back.

Vi’s university style is a mix of casual but tough—hoodies, leather jackets, denim, and combat boots.

Loves wearing jackets with patches or anything that adds a bit of flair.

She’s more into comfort than style, but she somehow makes it look effortlessly cool.

Always has her signature fingerless gloves on, even in lectures.

Dark denim jeans—either ripped or perfectly fitted, depending on her mood.

Vi’s style can be described as sporty chic—always ready for a workout or a spontaneous adventure.

Wears minimal jewelry, usually a watch and a couple of rings—simple but effective.

Her university bag? A sturdy backpack, perfect for carrying books and personal gear.

Hoodies and T-shirts with band logos are her go-to for casual days.

Loves oversized coats during winter, especially ones that make her look like a bouncer.

Vi is incredibly protective of you, always making sure you're safe and looking out for your wellbeing.

Loves to pick you up after class and sometimes gives you a ride home if you’re not too far.

Always surprising you with little gifts—a new book she thinks you’d like or a sweet treat from the local café.

Vi loves physical affection, so expect a lot of hugs, back rubs, and sneaky kisses between classes.

She’s a big fan of holding hands—especially when she feels the need to keep you close.

When she’s stressed, she’ll come to you for comfort, laying her head on your lap or asking for cuddles.

Shares her snacks with you, even if she pretends not to, claiming, “It’s just because you look hungry.”

Loves cooking for you, and while it’s not always gourmet, her homemade meals feel like a warm hug.

She’d sneak into your room when she’s feeling tired, just to fall asleep next to you.

Vi is overprotective but in a playful way—if anyone dares to flirt with you, expect her to step in, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.

Gets jealous when other people get too close to you, but she tries not to show it—she’s just protective.

When you’re feeling down, she’ll make you laugh or tell you how amazing you are.

Surprises you with spontaneous dates—be it a late-night walk around campus or a picnic in the park.

She’s always making you laugh, even on the worst days.

Teases you affectionately, calling you cute nicknames like “sparky” or “wild one.”

Vi adores when you wear her clothes—especially her oversized sweaters.

Crashes your study sessions by sneaking in and distracting you with a kiss.

Never hesitates to stand up for you—even if it means confronting someone who’s been rude.

If you're feeling insecure about something, Vi will remind you of how amazing you are in her own straightforward way.

Always invites you to hang out with her friends, and she makes sure everyone treats you well.

How She Deals With Exam Stress

Vi deals with stress through physical activity—boxing, running, or even punching a bag.

Hates studying for long periods, so she takes frequent breaks to blow off steam.

Gets easily frustrated when things aren’t clicking, but she always pushes through.

When she needs to focus, she locks herself away in her room, no distractions.

Rarely asks for help, even though she definitely could use it sometimes.

She’s the type to procrastinate until the last minute—but somehow still gets decent results.

Listens to loud music when she’s stressed, blasting rock or punk to drown out everything else.

Takes long walks or does a few laps around campus to clear her head.

Gets easily overwhelmed, but she relies on you to keep her grounded.

Treats herself with chocolate or junk food after a tough study session.

Has a favorite diner where she takes you to get burgers and fries after a long week.

Hates taking public transport—she prefers walking or riding her bike everywhere.

Loves movie nights, especially action films or anything with a lot of explosions.

Her idea of a perfect day is hanging out with you, grabbing food, and watching a film at home.

Loves showing off her tattoos to anyone who’ll listen—each one has a story.

Always checks on you if you’re feeling stressed about assignments.

Can’t stand overly competitive people—she’d rather just enjoy life and not turn everything into a contest.

Adores when you play with her hair, especially when she’s tired.

Loves quirky cafes, especially ones with board games—Vi’s competitive streak comes out when she plays.

Always texts you first after her last lecture, even if it’s just to say, “How’s your day going?”

Could eat pizza every day, and she’s probably the one who introduces you to new pizza places.

Plans spontaneous trips just to get away from university stress—weekend getaways are her thing.

Is definitely a morning person, but she still stays up late to keep you company.

Sings along to songs in the car when you’re driving, but only if no one’s around.

Always keeps your favourite snacks stocked at her place, so you’ll feel at home whenever you visit.

[myman0rexic]

An Undergraduate Forensic Viewing of Like Minds (2006) Train Scene

Pray for me. Pray for yourself. We are one now.

Contents:

1. Introduction 2. What We Know 3. The Investigation 4. Bibliography for Nerds

1. Introduction

Some justifications first.

I'm an undergraduate stem student obssessed with many topics, including forensic studies. I just finished a complete course about forensic chemistry/tecnology/law in uni and yes, I'm a big failure of a person and was thinking about applying some of the things I've learned into Like Minds' train scene. To clarify, I'm not an experienced profissional of the field. It is to say, I've never worked in such area and had just one or two significant interaction with said profissionals and students. My considerations won't be 100% accurate, clearly, and I may mistake or ignore fundamental data and studies. I intend solely to present some interesting facts and rapidly discuss their applicability here.

Take everything I say with large grains of salt, this is mostly for my enjoyment.

Let's kill Nigel!

2. What We Know

Figure 1. Visual diagram of forensic ballistics' main areas of study. Some will be mentioned here. [1]

2.1. Ballistics - Anatomy of a Discharge

Ballistics is a science field divided in three main ramifications: (1) Interior Ballistics, (2) Exterior Ballistics and (3) Terminal Ballistics. (1) studies the mechanism of a gun discharge, (2) studies the trajectory and behavior of a projectile once it is ejected from a firegun and (3) studies the damage and overall interaction of the projectile with a material structure (biological or not). [1] Ballistics experts (chemists, some engineers, law experts, etc) ocuppy themselves with many things regarding firearms, a field of work that recuries much study and understading of multiple fields of knowledge such as spectroscopy, law and general legislation, physical properties of chemical coumponds, solid state science, material science, industry production series and others. Some areas of chemistry and biology are of great importance and are commonly used complementarily.

We then understand what bullets are. The component that effectivally hits the target in these scenarios is the actual "projectile".

Figure 2. Simple structure of shotgun (left) and rifle (right) ammunition. [2]

In simple terms, they're composed by (1) a shell that holds everything together, (2) some coumpond responsable for the liberation of gas via chemical reaction and (3) some way to give the heat needed for said reaction to occur. There is a whole field of study and production of these killing objects that seeks out to balance some of their properties in different scenarios by the armamentist industry in oder to supply endless applications that constantly develops new shapes and components, so going through it all would be impossible. Regardless, all ammunition is classified by size, called "gauge" in shotguns, and "caliber" in rifles and handguns. [2]

Case: [in shotguns] It is a small cilindrical piece made out of a tube of common plastic or sturdy paper (the red/blue/colored part) that holds the multiple projectiles to be fired (shots), with a metallic base (the primer) composed of brass (copper and zinc) or steel (iron and carbon). [in rifles] The case is called cartridge case, and it is composed by brass as well. [2]

Powder (or propellant): They are usually Nitroclelullose (handguns), Nitroclelullose/Nitrogliceryn (rifles) and Nitroclelullose/Nitrogliceryn/Nitroguanidyn (long range rifles) [3]. Oversimplifying, organic molecules containing nitro groups (present in Nitroclelullose, Nitrogliceryn and Nitroguanidyn) are really unstable; these chemical groupaments are highly reactive in face of many scenarios. If enough energy is provided (by heating, or mechanical contact and pertubation) they will enter a decompostion process, breaking and reacting with their own bonds spontaneously, liberating gases such as H2O, N2 and CO2. These mentioned gases are much more stable compared to the original organic coumponds, so the atoms will "prefer" to form these species if the conditions are set (thus, a spontaneous reaction). This increases pressure inside the shell and forces the projectile to leave violently as a result of gas expansion. [4] Shotgun powder is composed by potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur; a mixture known as "dark powder", and it is separated from the shot (projectiles; multiple balls of steel, lead, rubber, or really anything) by a small component called "wad". The same principle explained in the decomposition of organic nitro-compounds apply for the potassium nitrate present here, but only in the presence of sulfur (easier to melt and ignite), providing the necessary heat for potassium citrate to generate the oxygen needed, resulting in charchoal's combustion. [2]

Primer: Primers are a fundamental part of any ammunition, and yet a simple one. When a firing pin from the firegun hits them, sparkles and heat will be produced, which gives the propellent all requiered energy for the chemical reaction. It is, when the action lever is pulled, the firing pin is tensioned by a spring inside the gun. When the trigger is pulled, this firing pin hits rapidly the ammunition's primer (metallic base). [5]

Figure 3. Shotgun firing pin scheme. [5]

The discussion of differents powders/propellents (like smokeless powder), projectiles shapes (in rifle cases) and firegun types (other than rifle and shotgun) is being ignored.

All that must be known is: the trigger pulling promotes a mechanical impact against the ammunition base, which promotes chemical reactions that liberate great amounts of gases, increasing the pressure inside the case, what will pushes the projectile(s) inside foward with great speed.

2.2. The Shotgun - Means to An End

We now restrain ourselfs to the firegun. Let us take a look on the following images:

Figures 4-9 (left to right, top to bottom). Shotguns' takes from Like Minds (2006).

Main considerations:

The shotgun used by Mr. Colbie isn't the same one used by Nigel/Alex in the train scene. We can clearly point that by the number of barrels, i.e., two barrels contaning two projectiles (killing Nigel's mother and father without visible activation) in its first appearance, and only a single one in its second appearance. Maybe this has been discussed before.

It is not a narrative problem if we have the eyes for it. Nigel's father possesses two shotguns, so we assume Nigel went back and grabbed the single-barrel one before going after Alex.

The reloading thing would be important during the bedroom scene, between the moments where John shoots his wife and Alex picks up the gun from the floor. There would be no way of aciddentially shooting Mr. Colbie wihout Alex pulling the action on the second barrel (how would he know which one of the barrels were loaded and why Mr. Colbie would only activate one of the two barrels? It appears he wasn't using the shotgun to merely scare his family). Perhaps the double barrel shotgun used has some individual firing feature, perhaps.

Also, the single barrel shotgun is the same one used by John when Alex and Nigel first accessed the hidden baseament together. This isn't of great relevance though.

After a compulsive research in gun sale sites and over 900 models of shotguns (no joking), I'm inclined to believe that Nigel's single barrel shotgun is an Era 410 GA Single Shot Break Action. My conclusions is based on Figures 6 and 9, the shotgun's best takes throughout the entire movie. The important details are: a single barrel, with rounded trigger guard that ends exactly where the wooden stock begins, by a rounded break action lever with squarish shape that leans horizontally to the receiver and a rectangular like forestock. Other smaller details are: the receiver's top shape and really curved back, the declination present on the stock and the three screws' position and size.

The engraved symbols on Colbie's receiver are sculpted by a profssional artist called "engraver", by client's demand. Therefore, these sigils are decorative and probably carry some meaning to the shotgun's real owner, so they aren't a discrepancy to worry about. The frame I acquired (Figure 9) is of poor quality and there's nothing I can read in there besides one or two letters. I've tried to watch the movie in other internet sites but it didn't help that much.

It took me forever, but here it is [6], [7]. There are also youtube videos revewing this gun in the Extra section.

Figures 10-13. Era 410 GA Single Shot Break Action Shotgun. [6]

Note: @laurelwen successfully identified Nigel's firegun as a Boito .410. The text engraved on the shotgun's receiver in Figure 9, in fact, reads "Boito". Check it out on this post. Look up Extra Bibliography No. 7 in the shotgun's section as well.

Shotguns are a really old type of gun from the 16th century. Their mechanisms were adjusted during following centuries, but they remain still to date with an extremely simple way of function. Today, there are many types, including the single-shots and hand shotguns, much different than what was originally conceived. A break shotgun is capable of "breaking in half" for reloading, exposing its ejector/extractor and barrel interior just as many other fireguns. [8]

Figure 14. Break action shotgun anatomy. [9]

The Era 410 GA possesses a specially long length of barrel, which helps projectiles to achieve maximum velocity before leaving. Still, it appears from my research that this is a second hand model with low price, low demand and little historical relevance. This is the type of gun that would be bought mainly by collectors and enthusiasts; however, because of its little weight, good shooting and minimalist elegance, this firegun is not one of the worst models out there for small amateur animal hunting.

A 410 (10.41 mm, one smallest shot diameter in the market) with great pattern of dispersion after the discharge isn't bad, so at medium distances most projectiles would succesfully hit the center of a target. This is not very good when we're talking about a point-blank discharge directly at Nigel's face.

3. The Investigation

Figure 15. "If they had any evidence, I wouldn't be talking to you, would I?"

Authorities arrive at the dark, umid and isolated train tracks. Immediatly, a shocking scene: a desperate young man holding in his arms the corpse of a dead boy, disfigured. They transport the living witness away from the scene, but the lying unknown and deformed body is extracted for further autopsy. Detective McKenzie takes over with Forensic Psychiatrist Sally to interrogate the surviving suspect, Alex Forbes.

After the initial approach and first hours of interaction, the case takes an unexpected form. The question now is, did Alex Forbes shoot the now identified Nigel Colbie alone, or did Colbie participated in his own killing to incriminate Alex?

The police wastes its time thinking about common scenarios described in the book. They know the victim, the place where it happened, the exact gun used and the main suspect. Everything comes down to answering the presented question. Psycological attempts of extracting an answer from Alex by closed sessions with Sally, it is, to try and build a thrust and comfort relation with the suspect in order to obtain a confession would be protocol. But Alex clearly is beyond that, and if we must say, he's in control the whole time.

All that is left for the police is to attach towards factual evidences. Now, we describe two fundamental forensic elements of a gun-related crime.

Gunshot Residues (GSRs)

GSRs are one of the strongest evidences when it comes to forensic studies. Being composed of burnt and unburnt organic or inorganic particles from the explosive primer from the shell, propellant and possibly fragments of the bullet, cartridge case, and even the firearm, they frequently contain elements such as Sb (antimony), Ba (barium), Pb (lead) or Zn (zinc), Cu (cooper), and Ti (titanium). Their deposition concentrates away from the firearm into the shooter's (arms, face, hands and chest mainly) and victim's (region of contact mainly) bodies. GSRs can be found in nearby surfaces as well, such as the floor, ceiling, walls, objects, clothes, etc. The direct deposition of these residues must be carefully used as evidence because of its irregular distribution on the surrounding enviroment after the discharge. Thus, the main factors are always the chemical composition and concentration spots. Shotgun shots (the small spherical projectiles) are usually made up of lead or lead/antimony, but some ammunitions use steel, zinc-plated steel, tungsten and bismut in substitution (So, in our case, we can expect more significant ammounts of antimony/lead or zinc, iron and carbon). [10], [11]

A 410 ammunition is classified as "birdshots" ammunition, used for hunting said animals. The little diameter of projectiles allows the carrying of multiple projectiles inside one shell, facilitating the execution of small moving targets. The potential damage mustn't be underrated, though.

The aforementioned substances/elements can be detected, investigated, and quantified using microscopy, chemical analytical and chemometric methods, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). All these techniques are extensively known and applied in uncountable areas of science for identification and characterization of solid materials. In a nutshell, these methods revolve around the interaction of matter with radiation (such as X-Rays) and the energy absorved/emitted by it after the interaction. The SEM is a most usefull analysis for it can provide real images of micro structures and particles present above any surface, like clothings, skin, fifregun metal and others, if properly prepared. [10]

It is important to understand that these identification methods are of extreme precision and sensibility, it is, minimal concentrations can and will be detected inneviatbly.

Figure 16 and 17. (Left) Image of gunshot powder residues dispersed in the air after discharge. Top left and (Right) images refer to SEM "photos" of extremely small particles of GSRs that can be chemically analyzed. [12], [13]

What about the lifespan of these residues? In long terms, the shooter's trigger hand (right hand) seems to contain most of the residues that persist for a fair amount of time after the discharge. [10] Unffortunately, the mentioned study occured in controlled enviroments, which is not the case. Another work [14] concludes that most GSRs are lost after two-four hours from the discharge. Considering the fast action from authorities described in the movie, we can basically ignore this factor and consider other variables.

Figure 18. "All I can tell you, was that the heavens were falling. And the sound... it was incredible. It was like the Gods were rejoicing for what was done."

Backspatter Material (BM)

Figure 19. Distribution of Forward Spatter and Backspatter caused by a shot at a biological target. [1]

We hereby exclude the forward spatter, it is, the biological material projected fowards with the projectile (to the back of Nigel's head), for its little relevance, since we're not questioning the type of gun or ammunition used; we assume that Alex is describing a resonable scenario that matches with the actual damage done to Nigel. There are no consistent reasons to question this since everythings seems to support Alex's description of this.

BM comes from the combined forces of several interacting wound and ballistics effects. The collapse of the wound cavity and balance of resulting overpressure, the stream of liquid and tissue particles accelerated along the lateral surface of the projectile, the shot's contact and ejection of muzzle gases out of the entry wound from the powder cavity... Every surrouding surface must be investigated, that is, even the shotgun barrel's interior. This small ambience is fairly protected from external pertubations and houses BM from the shot. Considering the poximity with Nigel's face, we can almost assure to encounter biological material with DNA inside. The bellow mentioned study cites another work where a 9 mm pistol cointaned backspatter material from test targets even at a distance larger than 1 meter, much greater then the few inches that separated Nigel's face from the barrel. [1]

Matter of fact, this biological material can pass by processes of Organ Tissue Identification (OTI) and Body Fluid Identification (BFI) if Nigel's identity was at question, or if we desire to understand more profundly the projectile's damage caused to his skull/face/tissue. [1]

Figure 20. "None of what I've heard makes him a murderer."

So, how can we gather this up to develop the investigation? Utilizing only these two fundamental concepts, we can make a few assumptions.

The big question here is if whether or not Nigel's hands were present by Alex's when the trigger was pulled, which would lead the police to support or oppose Alex's narrative. Chemical examination with organic solvents (which won't cause preocupant harm to a dead body) and analytical methods could immediatly point to the presence of GSRs or biological/non biological BM. If Nigel's hands were elevated in his head level (or superior) in the instant of discharge, trace amounts of discussed metals/elements coming from the firing mechanism and ammunition, as weel as little to some biological material, would definetly be found in his hands and forearm skin since there was no clothing covering. Any substance found in his hands/forearm could be microanalytical compared to the ones present in Alex's hands, clothes and face as well. This could be done with really small samples of fresh skin. On the other hand, if Nigel's arms were lowered at the instant of discharge, we could still expect the presence of GSRs in his arms (yet, in less amounts) but the abssence of backspatter materials most certantly. This would classify Alex as a murderer without excuses, even if he alleged that Nigel asked for it.

In the scenario where Alex discharges at Nigel from a great distance (configuring simply murder) we could note the abssence of GSRs in every part of Nigel's body except for the targeted region (perhaps if they were at a greater distance to each other) and the presence of these GSRs in Alex, but in much higher concentration.

But the enviromnent's conditions are of primordial importance. Nigel and Alex stand in an open area, with considerable wind, heavy rain and gravel soil. The heavy rain could simply carry way much of these residues from Alex's body, clothes and Nigel's hands as well. Most GSR would probably be lost to those conditions and its deposite upon the soil's surface would be extremely hard to be quantitatively analized due to unknown degrees (elevated) of impurities and diverse materials and dirt present, but qualitative tests would still be valid.

The knowledge about the victim, crime scene, shooter, exact firegun and time of the tragic event allied with the fast action from authorities saves most of the police's efforts on identifiying and tracking down evidences. However, what remains still offers a challenge. The best evidence here, GSRs left by the discharge, would be of questionable help considering the presence of heavy rain in sight. Still, analitical quantities of them, if detected in Nigel's skin by proper chemical and espectroscopy-related analysis, can be used to comparate probable ammounts present in Alex's clothing and skin (despite the difficult of such). With that being said, the police would find themselves in a much more complex case of muder/assisted suicide, and further evidences and information about their relationship and recent whereabouts would ineviatably need to be extracted from external sources (such as parents, school's employess, close friends and students). Despite all this, Alex's final acting of removing Susan's body and disapearing from sight (not to mention the card left in Sally's car) immediatly sustent his guilt in a case where he already was the main suspect and basically confirmed criminal. And you know, breaking into a cemetery and extracting a corpse from its grave is definetly worth of some jail time. The Colbie's House Murder would certainly incriminate Alex for homicide as well, and the current Brotherhood's little political influence wouldn't prevent him from this destiny, as it appears. But the case is not over.

Further evidences were to be discussed, if it was not for the dissapearing of Alex Forbes.

The subject now roams unknowingly through England with mysterious intents. Its participation on the described case still lacks formal arguments and the Court should now approve his arrest warrant and search decree. Alex Forbes will most probably live to perpetrate the deluded fantasy responsable for the death of three young students in order to carry the sacred holy burden of an ancient templar bloodline.

Yet, we pray.

Who's the enemy now? We are.

4. Bibliography

[1] Euteneuer J, Courts C. Ten years of molecular ballistics-a review and a field guide. Int J Legal Med. 2021 Jul;135(4):1121-1136. doi: 10.1007/s00414-021-02523-0. Epub 2021 Feb 16. PMID: 33594457; PMCID: PMC8205864. [2] https://spotterup.com/how-ammo-works/ [3] Serol, M.; Ahmad, S.M.; Quintas, A.; Família, C. Chemical Analysis of Gunpowder and Gunshot Residues. Molecules 2023, 28, 5550. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145550 [4] Guanchao Lan, Jing Li, Guangyuan Zhang, Jian Ruan, Zhiyan Lu, Shaohua Jin, Duanlin Cao, Jianlong Wang, Thermal decomposition mechanism study of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO): Combined TG-FTIR-MS techniques and ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamics simulations, Fuel, Volume 295, 2021, 120655, ISSN 0016-2361, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120655. [5] https://www.hunter-ed.com/national/studyGuide/How-the-Shotgun-Shoots/201099_92815/ [6] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/era-410-ga-single-shot-break-action-shotgun-131-c-8284a72a5b [7] https://firearmland.com/item/1079096107 [8] https://www.letsgoshooting.org/resources/articles/shotgun/meet-the-shotgun/ [9] https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-guides-importation-verification-firearms-ammunition-and-implements-war-top-break [10] Virginie Redouté Minzière, Céline Weyermann, Organic and inorganic gunshot residues on the hands, forearms, face, and nostrils of shooters 30 min after a discharge. Science & Justice, Volume 64, Issue 5, 2024, Pages 557-571, ISSN 1355-0306, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2024.08.002. [11] Joshua Hallett, Michael Stolk, Michael Cook, K. Paul Kirkbride, Examination of gunshot residue arising from shotgun cartridges containing steel, bismuth or tungsten pellets. Forensic Science International, Volume 306, 2020, 110096, ISSN 0379-0738, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110096. [12] https://www.bka.de/EN/OurTasks/SupportOfInvestigationAndPrevention/ForensicScience/PhysicalEvidence/Homicide/GunshotResidue/gunshotresidue_node.html [13] Francesco Saverio Romolo, Pierre Margot, Identification of gunshot residue: a critical review. Forensic Science International, Volume 119, Issue 2, 2001, Pages 195-211, ISSN 0379-0738, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00428-X. [14] Jalanti, T & Henchoz, P & Gallusser, Alain & Bonfanti, M.S.. (1999). The persistence of gunshot residue on shooters’ hands. Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society. 39. 48-52. 10.1016/S1355-0306(99)72014-9.

Extra

random materials, take a look

1. Chemistry of Explosives (book pdf) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-0589-0_5 2. ERA 410 GA video 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGWm2aaWVAc&ab_channel=SteadFastCourage 3. ERA 410 GA video 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S16C5Y6lxY&ab_channel=esquad540 4. Quick discussion about Smokeless Powder on r/guns https://www.reddit.com/r/guns/comments/1tawwm/things_i_want_you_to_know_about_smokeless_powder/#:~:text=Because%20of%20something%20called%20oxygen,and%20temperatures%2C%20leading%20to%20fouling. 5. A little on the kinetic energy of specific projectiles (everything applies here as well) https://nodoroc.com/d/node/20 6. A little more on ammunition Caliber https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/bullets2-types.htm#google_vignette

For the sake of archieving, here are some shotguns I've separated to double check during my research until the Era 410 GA appeared. Curious enough, number 7, called "boito", appears to be another common name given to Era 410. Woops.

1. https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/north-american-auction/victor-break-action-single-shot-12-ga-shotgun-4988316 2. https://www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com/auction-lot/stevens-arms-.410-gauge-single-shot-break-open-sh_9F84899825 3. https://palmettostatearmory.com/jts-shotguns-single-shot-410-bore-26-single-shot2.html 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stoeger-Coach-Gun.jpg 5. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/harrington-richardson-shotguns/h-r-bay-state-20-ga.cfm?gun_id=103017190 6. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-unknown-model-unknown-single-barrel-blued-wood-28-barrel-poor-condition/ 7. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/410-boito-model-reuna-28-single-barrel-blued-timber-3-chamber-sec9622/ 8. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-harrington-richardson-model-1908-single-32-barrel-blued-wood/ 9. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-norinco-model-std-single-barrel-30-shotgun-great-condition/1 0. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-raick-freres-model-unknown-single-barrel-30-shotgun-belgium/ 11. https://gritrsports.com/henry-repeating-arms-single-shot-12ga-shotgun-h015-12 12. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1418/Tomas_Agote%2C_Eibar_12G_single_hammer_ejector_shotgun.html 13. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1659/Vanguard_Game%2FVermin_.410_hammer_ejector_single_barrel.html 14. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1290/Astra_Ciclope_12G_single_barrel_hammergun.html 15. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1883/Rossi_Game%2FVermin_20G_single_hammer_ejector_shotgun.html 16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stevens_511_Shotgun.jpg 17. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/harrington-richardson-shotguns/harrington-richardson-44-smoothbore.cfm?gun_id=102901609

thank you for reading

[hypothermiatapes]

Yesterday I answered an ask about the Hogwarts school system and if it might have been different in Tom’s time than it was in Harry’s time (you can find it here). I’ve been thinking about it for a day now and would like to add onto it.

I believe the Hogwarts education is catered to the purebloods to widen the gap between them and muggleborns. I say this because the school system is actually very poorly set up for people that didn’t grow up in the magical world.

The lovely anon had mentioned how ancient languages aren’t taught, which are important because many ancient texts would most likely be written in them (not to mention most spells are in Latin). This really caught my attention because throughout history people have used reading and writing to widen the gap between social classes. This was especially prevalent during Shakespeares time when those in poverty wouldn’t be taught and thus couldn’t rise in society because they didn’t have the skill.

It can be assumed that this could also be the case at Hogwarts. Purebloods would have grown up in the magical world while practically swimming in gold for most of them. This means purebloods would likely grow up being taught these languages and reading ancient texts considering their families most likely knew these languages and had the money to hire tutors and buy books.

This opens their field to the pure and unaltered history and records of the very world they live in while also knowing their worlds traditions through first hand accounts. Muggleborns and a lot of halfbloods won’t have this privilege, and if the ability to read these languages is common among purebloods (the people in charge of the government) then people who can’t will be considered unqualified. This also means most texts won’t be translated because why would they translate it if the important people already can read them?

There’s also only eight classes a student can take during Harry’s time (this doesn’t include flying in first year), and while there might have been more in the past we’re going to ignore it. These are far too few classes to properly educate people newly entering your world. There are no classes to introduce muggleborns to the magical world, not a word about how much their money is worth, holidays, just culture in general.

The classes also lack variety and specialization for certain subjects. In high school I had the opportunity to take very niche classes in science and social studies to deepen my understanding of the subjects while also exploring career options. We had classes like Cold War, Native American history, mythology, forensics, conceptual physical science, to name a few.

Hogwarts lacks these things, you only have one path you can take not to mention how when you pick an elective you must stick to it. This is a horrible strategy since they only start discussing career choices in fifth year and by that time you can’t change what you’re taking. Electives should also be more niche and odd to introduce students to new careers and opportunities. Hogwarts lacks this.

However, purebloods grow up in the magical world, so they have the knowledge of what paths can be taken and how to achieve them. They have the money for private tutors if they wish to have a deep dive into a certain subject.

The core classes are very straightforward too and don’t involve philosophical discussions or debates. This may seem small to you, but these things are essential to the development of a person. Don’t get me wrong, the facts are important, we must know them, but what about the grey area? This approach doesn’t teach kids to think for themselves, only to follow what they’re told.

My social studies and literature teachers always brought up several sides, often had us debate and also made us make educated guesses with limited information. My father had a sci fi fiction class and his teacher after a book and during would force them to try and understand how things like those dystopian futures had happened. This approach makes children learn to recognize patterns, make connections and also think for themselves.

When people can’t think for themselves and just follow what they’re blindly told it makes them easy to control. The government is controlled by the corrupt, money constantly going into the purebloods pockets not to mention they’re part of the Wizgomant is ran by purebloods and this is the high court. Nobody challenges them because they were never taught to look deeper, they only see the facts and whether these facts are real or not is irrelevant. This means the purebloods continue to enter high positions while muggleborns and many halfbloods are unable to.

I also want to mention how the history of magic class is ran by a ghost that can’t teach. They could’ve replaced him at any time, but they chose to keep him which means there’s a reason. I’m assuming firstly that enough students pass to say it’s not a teacher issue, and who are those students? The purebloods, people who grew up hearing about this history, have the resources. It’s also strategic to keep him because he keeps the “lesser” uneducated, and if someone doesn’t know history they’re doomed to repeat it/turn a blind eye as it’s repeated.

Finally, anon had mentioned how Hogwarts doesn’t teach subjects like math, science, geography, etc, and I also have a theory for this. While it may seem to put everyone in the magical world at a disadvantage it actually puts muggleborns into a horrible position.

The purebloods have the money and connections to do whatever they please and have a good life in the magical world, but the muggleborns don’t know how their own world works and it’s been rigged so that they will have a significantly hard time getting anywhere. The logical conclusion would be to leave the magical world but they can’t because nobody in the muggle world will hire someone who doesn’t know math, science and things like that. This means no matter what they do most are doomed to live in poverty and be exploited.

This is all theory, but I’ve been thinking about this for a whole day now and needed to write it down.

[angellnicolee]

delta omega phi house

SAM WILSON — Social Chair. Junior. Social Work Major. 3.7 GPA. Member of Peer Support Network. Member of the Men’s Track and Field team. Leader of the Outdoor Adventures Club. Member of Wade’s unofficial Prank Society.

MATT MURDOCK — Ethics Chair. Junior. Pre-Law. 4.0 GPA. Leads a Campus Study Group. President of the Pre-Law Society. Member of the Debate Team. Runs the Catholic Student Organisation. Member of the Disability Advocacy Group.

FRANK CASTLE — House Enforcer. Senior. Forensic Psychology Major. 3.2 GPA. Coaches Mixed Martial Arts Club. Captain of the Rugby team. Member of the Gamma Sigma honours society.

WADE WILSON — Rush Chair. Sophomore. Theatre major. 2.9 GPA. Member of the Stand-Up Comedy Club. Founder of the unofficial Prank Society. Member of the Mental Health Advocacy Group. Member of the MMA Club.

CLINT BARTON — Brotherhood. Junior. Mechanical Engineering Major. 3.0 GPA. Captain of the Archery Club. Stage Crew in the Theatre Department. Member of the Big Brothers Program. Member of the Fitness Club.

PIETRO MAXIMOFF — Secretary. Sophomore. Computer Science Major. 3.2 GPA. Captain of the Men’s Track and Field team. Member of the Speed-running Gaming Club. Member of the International Student Union.

[greenbubblefactory]

Matchup for @marzshin

Congratulations you have a match with..

Riddle Rosehearts !

★Riddle is a natural leader who thrives on order and discipline, and his ambition to uphold rules and structure aligns with your own strong desire to make a difference in the world and achieve your goals. Your mutual drive to succeed could create a deep understanding between you two. As someone who is driven and career-oriented like you, Riddle would respect your independence and ambition. He admires intelligence and would likely be impressed by your focus on forensic science and chemistry, as well as your general curiosity for the world. Riddle might not fully share your passion for mycology or zoology, but he would appreciate the dedication and thoughtfulness you put into your interests, and he’d enjoy engaging in conversations about your hobbies, learning more about them along the way.

★Riddle’s love for structure and attention to detail would complement your own perfectionistic tendencies. He would understand the frustration you feel when things don’t go exactly as planned and could offer you advice on how to channel that energy productively. His problem-solving mindset would also be useful when you’re feeling distracted or unmotivated, as he’d encourage you to push through those moments and get back on track. If you ever feel overwhelmed by the pressures of your studies or life in general, he’d likely be the one to gently remind you that it's okay to take breaks and focus on balance, ensuring you don’t burn out. His calm and methodical approach to life would help you find the structure you need to navigate your day-to-day challenges.

★Given that you value independence, Riddle would appreciate that you can handle things on your own. He isn’t the type to constantly hover, but you’d notice that he’s always keeping an eye on you, offering support when necessary, especially during tough moments or when you're feeling uncertain about your path. He may not express his care in the most obvious ways, but his thoughtful actions and dedication to your well-being would never go unnoticed. Riddle’s quiet acts of service, like bringing you your favorite snacks or helping you with something you’re working on, would be a subtle yet strong way he shows his affection. He might also leave you small notes or messages of encouragement, affirming your worth and reminding you that you’re capable of achieving anything you set your mind to.

★Your shared intellectual pursuits and love for discussing complex subjects would also make for hours of interesting conversation. Whether you’re delving into topics related to your major, science, or even abstract concepts like astral bodies, Riddle would love engaging with you on a deeper level. He’s the type to be fascinated by new knowledge, so he’d likely ask questions to dig even deeper into the subjects that intrigue you, giving you the chance to explain and expand on your passions. These intellectual exchanges would strengthen your bond, as you both value knowledge and would constantly inspire each other to grow in your respective fields. Riddle might even take a quiet interest in topics like forensics, wanting to learn more about them to keep up with your academic journey.

★Riddle's love languages of acts of service and words of affirmation align closely with yours, which would foster a strong connection. He’d likely show his affection through thoughtful gestures, such as helping you with tasks or taking care of something for you without you having to ask. His dedication to service would not only show his love but also his respect for you and your goals. When you're feeling unsure or having a hard time, his words of affirmation would come through in the form of carefully considered compliments and encouragements. He might not speak often, but when he does, you’d feel his words are meaningful and heartfelt, making you feel reassured and supported. For example, he may remind you how far you’ve come in your studies or how proud he is of your accomplishments, letting you know that your hard work has not gone unnoticed.

★In terms of conflict, Riddle can sometimes be a bit rigid in his approach, given his strict adherence to rules and order. However, he would make the effort to understand you and find a way to make peace. If you ever got into a disagreement or felt like things were out of balance, Riddle would approach the situation with a calm demeanor, trying to make sure you both see eye to eye. While he can be strict with others, he’s also someone who values growth and learning. So, during conflicts, he would likely take the time to reflect on his own actions and ensure that his words or behavior didn’t make things worse. He would likely expect you to do the same, and through this, you’d both learn how to communicate better and maintain a healthy, balanced relationship.

★Riddle's nurturing side would come through when you’re struggling with trust issues or need reassurance. He might not be the most outwardly affectionate or emotional, but when it matters most, he would show up for you, proving that his care for you is unwavering. As someone who values words of affirmation, you’d find comfort in his quiet yet sincere words of encouragement. His presence would be a steady one, always available for you when you need him. Whether it's offering advice, providing a safe space to vent, or helping you work through a tough moment, Riddle would be there for you in a way that makes you feel seen and heard.

★Riddle’s quiet strength, intellectual prowess, and nurturing yet firm nature would create a steady, reliable relationship that allows for both emotional growth and mutual respect. His support would give you the confidence to pursue your ambitions while making sure you don’t lose sight of your own well-being. Together, you would form a team grounded in shared values of ambition, intelligence, and respect for each other’s unique qualities.

English is not my first language so I'm sorry if there are any spelling mistakes!

[ohanny]

may i present to you....

pit babe: bones au

kenta is the socially awkward forensic anthropologist who would much rather be excavating the remnants of an ancient civilization in papua new guinea but unfortunately while he was fiddling with a mass grave situation in mexico he had a bit of a run in with the cartels which led to a knee injury and he's sadly confined in a lab with elavators and shit until it heals. he is not amused.

jeff is kenta's prodigy intern who also keeps saying he would rather be excavating the remnants of an ancient civilization in papua new guinea because think of the academia but actually? he is waaaaaaay happier doing his squinty work in a climate controlled lab with state of the art technology and no chance of cartels. also socially awkward because he got his phd at 22... and he was raised by kenta.

babe is not just an fbi agent... he is a rockstar fbi agent. he's young, he's sexy, he does not care about the politics of it all - he's here to catch the bad guys and be a badass. he just knows when someone is guilty and nothing is going to stand between him and an arrest. like sure, the search warrant didn't come through yet but he swears he heard screaming inside the apartment 😇

kim is ex-military special forces, assigned as babe's new partner because someone needs to keep babe in check and kim at least understands the basic principle of "it's not enough to bring the bad guys in, you need to also keep them in" so follow the protocols and don't give defense attorneys a field day. but really, he's just way better than babe at appearing legally trustworthy and they quickly become the bestest of crime fighting friends.

alan is the lab boss and also the regular sort of flesh pathologist although at this point it's like 30 for autopsies and 70 for keeping the lab from exploding. he is the one fully functioning normal adult there... except for that one time no one has let him live down. the day jeff came in, alan's first impression of him was a very nice ass bent over the autopsy table. he might have let out an involuntary, breathy "wow" and when jeff turned around, to avoid an hr violation, alan was like "i meant the subject!" which he then realized to be the body of a fully intact, naked, young woman. needless to say he did not make a great impression and worries jeff still thinks he's some creepy perv who lusts after dead bodies.

charlie is the lab chemist. he loves a man with a gun. he would also like to state that despite (alledgedly) being on some government watchlists, he had an impeccable safety record and never misused government equipment to do shit like determine the secret spice blend in kfc chicken or to brew lab wine until north joined the team so none of the "incidents" are his fault.

north is the bugs and plants guy. his "lab assistant" steve is actually a furry lil spider. he believes aliens are real and built the pyramids and, as a hobby, debates conspiracy theories with kenta. he might be a secret millionaire heir to a sketchy oil dynasty who anonymously funds the lab because a boy needs his toys, right????

dean is the actual non-spider lab assistant and basically a human calculator with a degree in theoretical mathematics. he's super excited to work in crime fighting and always volunteers to go on the field. has he perhaps tried to take the academy exam once or twice? yes. has he failed for reasons he thinks are utter bullshit? also yes. but shhhh. he will nail it the next time with babe and kim's help, he's sure of it.

way is the fbi psychologist and criminal profiler who helps them with cases and also would absolutely love to study babe and babe's justice boner and how this might have something to do with his serial killer doctor father but sadly babe does not want to cooperate. honestly, the entire science squad is like a smorgasbord of personality disorders, which make his own anxiety and depression look totally functional in comparison. this makes him happy.

pete is a lawyer working for the state prosecutor's office. and no, babe, he can't get you a warrant based off the "vibe" the guy gave off, he needs actual evidence and "please, for the love of god get it in a way that doesnt require me to represent you in court." loves to stroll over to the fbi building to personally request way for a psych eval or a consult. it's because he has the time. it has nothing to do with his hopeless crush.

winner is a defense attorney. he and babe have this eternal beef where winner loves babe cases because there's always a technicality he can get his client off on and babe hates winner because defense attorneys are money hungry scum bags defending criminals. but really, winner is out here making sure everyone's constitutional rights are being met! it's not his fault private sector pays better. he has student loans, come on!

sonic is the press liaison and PR representative. neither babe nor kenta understand why their teams need one, until sonic points out just last week kim's quick intervention was the only thing that saved a journalist from babe's right hook and the last time the lab had a high profile case, north brought the python who strangled the heiress into the press conference to state it was innocent and kenta demonstrated the legitimacy of his skills by pointing out every reporter who's had plastic surgery done. they get on his side after they realize none of them had to talk to anyone anymore.

tony is the head of the archaeology department, specializing in egypt. is he also running a smuggling and authentication scheme for illegally acquired artifacts on the side? sure. might he also be a secret cannibal they have to fight in a season finale? why not!

[anticapitalistclown]

Lookism Characters as Archaeologists pt.1

Jake, Eli, Johan, Samuel, Daniel, Yujin/Eugene

Jake

Specialization: Classical Archaeology

He romanticizes being an archaeologist, which makes working with him a dream job.

He knows all his workmates names and remembers all the students who spend a week on internship with his team.

He's straightforward and does what he thinks is more suitable on his research even if it means not keeping some strata in order to reach the most ancient one.

He does not teach, prefers to spend the day on the fields.

Has written some cool articles about remarkable warriors.

Didn't want to be an excavations' director but somehow ended up being a good one.

There's a rumor that he infiltrated in a black market in order to retrieve some stolen archaeological artifacts from smugglers.

Eli

Specialization: Forensic Archaeology

(Duties of archaeologists in this field of archaeology include collecting evidences like human burials, artifacts, footprints, tool-marks, etc., and trying to figure out the situation in which a particular crime might have happened; and to ascertain the influences on the remains of external factors that may have disturbed the crime scene).

His cold mindset made him the best on this field.

He teaches at the laboratories and side eyes the students who find gross touching real bones.

Keeps a file of plenty of different types of burials, sacrifices and traces of violence of the bones.

Shares laboratory with Johan.

He gets hyperfocused when a crime scene seems to be impossible to decipher.

He works more on the laboratory than the field.

When he was a student he destroyed a lot of evidence by mistake, improved trough practice.

Johan

Specialization: Zooarchaeology

(Also known as faunal analysis, is a branch of archaeology that studies remains of animals from archaeological sites).

There's a rumor that he cried when he found out a 4000-year-old dog died by a human weapon.

He's the best at his field but awful at tutoring, he doesn't have the patience to deal with students so Eli and other lab workers have to replace him on the teaching.

Has to be reminded once in a while that archaeology is a collaborative and multidisciplinary discipline.

Has made some internships cry.

He is the one who causes less damage to the bones making some restorers jealous.

Zack, Jake and Daniel forced him to participate on their excavations.

Samuel

Specialization: Prehistoric Archaeology

Joined this field because it was the hardest but the most well paid, doesn't mind the toxic ambience, he fuels it.

He is the strictest, never accepts he's wrong and avoids teaching newbies.

There's a rumor that he started a fistfight with Eli because of a debate about a burial ceremony.

He has good eye on the cutting techniques.

You have an only opportunity to make a good impression on him, if not you can say goodbye to work with him.

Talk about the survival methods and you have his attention.

Daniel

Specialization: Ethnoarchaeology

(Ethnoarchaeology is the science that deals with the ethnographic investigation of living communities in order to acquire knowledge of the past).

Joined motivated to understand the human conduct and because he was a fan of Indiana Jones since a kid.

His workplace is really tidy and organized, has a shelf with ceramics and fossils displayed on his office, so students can admire when tutoring.

None knows why, but he always ends up on the other archaeologists messes (infiltrated with Jake in a black market, got caught in the Samuel vs Eli fistfight, went to ask Gun for an artifact and ended up working with him).

A lot of students joined archaeology because had a crush on him.

He's a rookie yet has made a name for himself inside the community.

Eugene

Specialization: Quantitative Analysis Archaeology

None knows why there's this branch and why he does it, yet since he's the only one who knows how to use it, everyone depends on him.

Has never stepped in a field nor grabbed a shovel.

Loves to fail his students, says things like "you can try next year, if you succeed".

There's a rumor that his predecessor confused him for a student on his first day of teaching, and he cut his (the predecessor) car's brakes.

Only corrects his students essays so he can diss them.

[iheartchv]

could i ask for a matchup? also i hope your having a nice day/night/afternoon!! also, please excuse any bad grammar, english is not my first language.

im Cuban Puerto Rican, i speak both my mother tongue and English. kinda trying to get myself to learn German though. im a bit of an ambivert, i mostly enjoy spending time with those i know well.

im 5’2, i have a huge scar in my left leg due to an accident i had when i was younger. i have brown, nearly black eyes and i use glasses. i have a mole near my collarbone and another one just above. my hair is brown and medium sized with some side-tails.

currently studying with a forensic sciences major, a bit of a nerd.. i enjoy drawing, reading Sci-Fi and spending time with my pet snakes. (their ball pythons, they are super adorable…) i absolutely love heavy metal bands like Rammstein, korn, Slipknot, i listen to Type O Negative, Slaughter to Prevail from time to time aswell alongside jazz. i dress in a bit of a grunge way, it varies since i enjoy fashion a lot.

i enjoy watching true crimes series (Forensic Files being an all time favorite), watching Caso Cerrado, and documentaries regarding military history. i love the rainy weather and from time to time going to the beach. truly calming, really.

anyways, i really hope you are having a pleasant time, again. also i absolutely love your writing style!!

🤔I'll match you with...

Simon "Ghost" Riley 💀

I think Ghost would be your match

For this scenario, lets just say that Ghost was to keep an eye on you for a mission

You had shown potential that anyone working for the law would want you to work with them

You have an internship working for the police in your area, getting some practice for the field

You weren't bad, quite good actually

And because you were so good, you would also become a threat to any criminal facing charges for murder, etc.

One of such being Makarov and the Konni group

TF 141 got word that Makarov killed their spy that was sending feedback and intel

You were unfortunately the one looking over the said body of 141's spy; the FBI and CIA wanted to know exactly who done it

As Ghost continued to have constant vigil over you in the shadows, he didn't like the idea of seeing you make your way home alone

He finally decided to start blending in with people, and sometimes walking your way

It's just for the mission, he'd tell himself

🖤

At first, seeing his appearance was a little scary, intimidating

But you didn't sense no ill will coming from him, at least not toward you

You initiated conversations with him, and little by little he was talking more than just a word or a sentence

Over time he got to know you pretty well, as much as you allowed

He noticed how open you were to him, letting him know that you trusted him

You were just full of surprises;

One thing after another he learned so much about you besides what was in your personal records

He started to see you as you, not just another nameless target to protect

🖤

Even after the mission is complete, he comes back to see you...

Maybe stay for a while...

I can totally see you and Ghost going to the beach during times when there's no one around

Just you two

And rainy days?

He'd be all for it

A hot cup of tea and being with you is one of those perfect moments he feels at peace

[lesb0]

the truth about art history is that this field is very, very narrow and exists to study (High) Italian Renaissance art through a classically informed tradition OR modern French art or very controversially up until a few decades ago, NYC ab ex and pomo art. if you want to specialize in any other niche like, Cambodian architecture or medieval textile you just arent ever going to apply the foundational methodologies and theories art history was designed for. I've read scholarship that compared Lesotho womens flower mural houses to the boogie woogie painting because that's how limited the field is.

A lot of kids freshly out of a bachelor's degree have this idea that we need to reform art history to make it diverse and to add value onto overlooked (bad) art and to validate every person who has no base understanding of art and can barely deeply analyze a painting. there's this obsession with art history as a recovery vehicle to give a voice to dead minorities. But that's just, not what this field is. They really want to be social public historians and anthropologists, but aren't willing to let go of our title.

In fact, I know so many museologists and archeologists/anthropologists and contemporary visual art critics, a theater major, a forensic science BS, and in one case a straight up comparartive literature PhD in American slavery all misusing the title of art historian with at most 2 years of art historical training because it's better than their real field. and they ALL have this bizarre obsession with curatorial for no reason, again they're so desperate for a title, so that they can sound like something smart.

It's so funny because we can smell a desperate poseur from a mile away and we're somehow accused of snootiness over it. If you don't know shit about vasaris impact on the field I'm not calling you an art historian. you didn't write a thesis exerting the fullest extent of your visual culture training and knowledge on examining a black square for 67 pages to kiss your advisors ass so you haven't earned the title. Stolen valor like those civilian losers who walk around in army fatigues!!

[screampied]

my weekly drop into ur inbox 💖 😚 hope ur week's going well!!!! im being nosy but i think i've seen that u study? what do u study 👀 what's it like <33333

HEYYYY PRETTY 💓💓💓. i’m a computer science major !!! i mainly code n do software engineering stuff, lots of math and numbers but it’s fun. at first i studied psychology but ig i kinda grew out of it. at one point i did wanna go to med school to keep the parents happy but i chickened out 💔💔. blood makes me queasy LOL and i’ve been more into tech stuff growing up anyway

it’s cool !!! i’m working on getting a bs in comp-sci actually, and after that i’ve been leaning on maybe going toward the cyber-security field or maybe IT. i mainly deal with lots of programming n digital forensics which is neat