Drive-by fic post

[stunt_muppet]

I have a rather lengthy RL update and a writing musing currently being typed, but for now, have a ficlet I scribbled during my lunch break. 

Yes, as of right now, three of the five fic_variationsprompts I'm writing revolve around the aftermath of Season 3 events (one is not yet finished). But, honestly, I'm running low on ideas, and if that's what works, I'm willing to roll with it. 

I would really like to work on my SVU and L&O ficlets now. Miami Muse? Think you could give those two muses a leg up? That'd be fabulous. Thanks.

Title: Renovations

Author: me

Wordcount: 388

Rating: PG

fic_variations Prompt/Claim: “Light/Shadow”, Alexx Woods

Spoilers: Up to the beginning of Season 4, since that’s when it takes place

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Nobody seemed to like the renovations.

 

Oh, sure, when they asked each other about it, they’d exchange the usual niceties about how lovely it all was. It was unique; it was different; it let in the light so much better, made this place look less like a cave; it made the whole lab absolutely glow at sunset.

 

But Alexx knew they were lying. Some of the lab techs kept the shades down 24/7, for what little privacy that afforded. She had seen Horatio roaming the central corridor with a disapproving look on his face, muttering words like “fire hazard” to himself (though why it was a fire hazard, and what exactly he expected to catch fire, she hadn’t yet asked). And just a few days ago she’d found Ryan, furiously Windexing the glass panels and cursing to himself when he thought no one was looking.

 

It bothered her a little, but she didn’t mind too much; the morgue had changed fairly little compared to the rest of the building, and she could work fine so long as all the essentials were still where they needed to be.

 

No, it wasn’t that it didn’t function. The new building made her uneasy because it was a reminder: This isn’t where you used to work, and these aren’t the people you used to work with. Speed was dead. Hagen was dead. Yelina was God knows where. And everyone else, herself included, was still reeling, retreating until it was all safe again, if it will ever be. They’ve all taken three steps back, and it’s funny how different everyone looks from that distance.

 

And, of course, there was the knowledge, hanging over all their heads, that they were under a microscope. The death of one officer, the suicide of another, and the mysterious retirement of yet a third – not to mention Horatio’s near-miss suspension for police brutality – had put them all in the public eye. People were watching them now; their every move could be seized on and inspected, scoured for some evidence of wrongdoing or incompetence. All these glass walls might be pretty, but anyone could look right through them.

 

She used to be okay with being watched. But before, it was always by someone she knew.

 

For the first time in years, Alexx wanted nothing more than to go home.

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Cross-posted to csimiamiand fic_variations, at some point.

Comments

[rainbowstevie.livejournal.com]

Whoops, I seem to have cruised right on past this post...should know by now not to read from top to bottom on my friends page.

Great topic. I've always wanted to do something with the glass walls, but I could never think of an angle. I certainly wouldn't have made the connection "This isn’t where you used to work, and these aren’t the people you used to work with." Love that part, although I think my favorite line has to be Horatio muttering about fire hazards. Gold.

All these glass walls might be pretty, but anyone could look right through them.
Ooh, I probably shouldn't even open my mouth if I don't have a concrete suggeston, but I feel like this such a fantastic observation that it wants more. Something almost sinister, not just that anyone *could* look through them, but that they were specifically designed for that purpose. Preventing secrets, or what have you.

[stunt-muppet.livejournal.com]

I feel like this such a fantastic observation that it wants more.

...you know, I hadn't even thought of doing anything else with that, but I'm glad you suggested it, because now I really want to play with it. I'll probably leave this the way it is when I put it up on fic_variations, just for the sake of time and my wordcount limit, but I'll be coming back to this for sure.

[jeremybrettfan.livejournal.com]

"Fire hazard"

LMAO.

You speak the truth.

[stunt-muppet.livejournal.com]

But it is! The central hallway's too narrow; there's not enough room for people to get out in case of emergency! Not to *mention* the dangers of getting cut on broken glass...

...and while we're on the subject, where are the staircases in this building? How come we've never seen them? How do we know *those* are fire-safe?

The whole crime lab's not up to code! XD

[esteldur.livejournal.com]

Good work!
Don't know what else to say. See comments above for details.