rkivebyACA

No one will ever know how much I freaked out, I really did, hearing that. Sherlock Holmes doing something for another person to connect socially with them without receiving anything in return and without, apparently, any ulterior motives.

Also: John's Diaries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then Enola brought Tewkesbury a cup of something ( I don't care if it's tea or sewage water ) she, Enola Holmes, brought a cup of a drink to her love pair.

Fuck I love parallels. Holmes and their love language. The best? John was ready to give up on his tentative friendship and then Sherlock came with a cup of tea. Tewkesbury and Enola have a fight and he was, probably, ready to be abandoned and then she came with a cup of something.

I know what you are!

(it's inspired by the real story of Lidia Poët, the first Italian woman to become a lawyer. IT'S GREAT)

(think Enola Holmes, but in her 20s and lawyer. And with a fuck buddy)

AKA: How the Netflix show "The Law According to Lidia Poët" wrote one of the best character growth-arcs I ever witnessed on screen

AKA: The long promised: Enrico Poët character meta

I think many shows centering around feminism - and especially period pieces - struggle to write feminism and the situation women lived - and still live in - a realisitic and relatable way. You either have male character saying stuff like: "Women belong in the kitchen" or male character being absolutly pro-women. Nothing in between. And even when sexism is addressed... a real character arc where a male person grows into realizing what women suffer from... often in silence... is hardly anywhere to be found. In a way thats not staged, but just human. Flawed and raw and relatable

And then Enrico Poet walzed in and just delievered. Its insane.

Short summary: The Law according to Lidia Poet is a show about the first female italian lawyer who had to fight against alot of prejudice, as well as a occupational ban. Enrico is her brother.

When we meet Enrico he is a mirror of the society surrounding him.

Whats really interesting about the way he is written is: He is more nuanced then your typical period piece sexist: "Go and bear babies." Instead he respects her intelligence and her intellect. He respects her wish to work... but not as a lawyer. If his sister really wants to work and earn her own money why not in a traditional female job?

Interestingly, and very telling for his character, is what he says next

He hesitates before he says that. And he doesn't look at Lidia. He looks at his daughter. So yes... he considers marrying a valid option for a woman. But not for Lidia, because Lidia is not "normal". Nowhere in the whole show he tells Lidia to marry. He maybe not agrees with her, but he always shows a certian kind of respect for her wishes.

Later he says:

So does he says all those things because he truely believes them... or because his father - a higher male authority - used to say the same things and he just repeats them?

But Lidia insists on being a lawyer so Enrico eventually agrees that she can be his assistent (he is a lawyer himself) and help with cases, but only if:

So already here the show overcomes the boring cliché trope of: "Women belong in the kitchen"-sexist. No, Enrico is much more nuanced then this. Already in the short conversation we see that there two sides: What Enrico was taught to say and what he really believes.

When we enter episode 2 Lidia starts working for Enrico. The power dynamic is clear. He is in the leading position. Nevertheless Lidia is taking every opportunity she gets to keep on working as a lawyer, independet from her brother. When Enrico finds out about her "side business" he is angry. But interestingly he doesn't try to stop her.

After Lidia solved the ep1 case really sucessfully a certain kind of trust grew between these two. Enrico doesn't want to get involved in trouble, but he trust his sisters abilitiy to solve the case.

But then - from one moment to the next - the really real danger occurrs that the public might find out that he is working with his sister, his sister who is not allowed to work in law anymore. And he snaps:

Here he only thinks about himself. Every trust between them is lost. In this moment Enrico only thinks about his career. This moment Lidias professional success is not to him... because she will not have any anyway.

But you don't think the show lets him get away with that, right? Oh our boy will learn his lesson.

He and Lidia meet a lesbian who had to hide her relationship with another woman. The following conversation takes place.

THIS! This is the first time he has to look into a mirror and realize he is part of the problem. Until this point he probably thought that he is a good guy. He lets his sister work with him, he lets her solve her own cases. But now he is forced to realize that he also judged his sister, every day. He has to realize that his sister suffers and he is one of many reasons. He is not one of the good guys. We see him being ashamed and he starts to think.

The show ends with Lidia not being allowed to ever work as a lawyer or lawyer assistent ever again.

When Enrico and Lidia are called to court, Enrico says this to Lidia:

But his tone has changed. He doesn't try to muzzle her anymore. He tries to protect her. Because he knows that whatever she will say, it will become worse... for him, but also for her.

And when the judge announce the sentence, Enrico shortly looks to her sister. Checking how this sentence will effect her. He starts caring. Because the conversation with the lesbian character - him being forced to look in the mirror - slowly starts changing him.

Episode 3 marks a turning point in Enricos character development

In epsiode 3 Lidia is solving a murder. The victim is the father of a guy she was supposed to marry when she was younger. The engagement was arranged and Lidia ran away because she didn't wanted to marry him. While she is solving the murder Lidia finds a letter from her own father to the father of her arranged-ex-fiancé.

It turns out that Lidia was only supposed to marry so that her father gets his debts canceled. Lidia shows Enrico the letter. He is horrified.

While he is reading the letter he is so ashamed he can not even look into Lidias eyes.

His voice breaks while he keeps on reading, he panics and is still not able to lock eyes with Lidia.

And now comes the quote that - imo - shows his character growth: "Thats a cattle market".

In this moment he realizes that the life of his sister, a woman, is worth nothing. That she can be easily auctioned off like a cow. That she is at the mercy of her own family... men... who can drop her any moment and cause harm to her. Because legally she has no protection and can not speak for herself. A cattle market indeed.

When Enrico hears how calm Lidia is... sad, broken... but super calm like she isn't surprised, Enrico is horrified. Because he realizes that this is what Lidia is confronted with every day. For him thats shocking, for her? thats the reality of her every day life. And being confronted with that, changes Enrico. He realizes that he can not longer close his eyes and pretend that his sister is some kind of "freak" for wanting to make her own voice heard

Its time for him to step up, to do something. To fix all the injustice that happened to Lidia, just because she is woman. Not standing in her way, but standing alongside her.

And Lidia smiles, with hope in her eyes, because it is the first time a man stood up for her and fights for her rights alongside her.

Because Enrico now knows what it means to be a woman. He saw the injustice and he can not be quiet anymore.

He grew so much. We came from Enrico telling Lidia that she shouldn't work in law to him seeing them as equal.

To him eventually waiting outside her house, neither saying goodbye to her nor trying to stop her from leaving to America. Just respecting whatever choice she will make.

This is character growth doen right!

TL:DR

This show takes a really raw and human approach to Enrico character growth: want to work along side a woman? Then you have to face the reality women are suffering from. And eventually this reality will change also your perception of the reality surrounding you. Is this character growth idealized? Sure but that’s not the point.

Character growth is important. Flawed, but trying is important.

hi! i said i would create a separate rec list for my loves, so here we are!

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

phantom thread by cuddlepoetry

170.9k, rated E, slow burn + enemies to friends to lovers + forbidden love

when the only person who could ever understand you and who consumes your entire being is always standing at the other side of the net. When i tell you this is my favourite fic ever, like words can’t even describe it.

endgame by opheliareadsandwrites

6.6k, rated E, established jannik/carlos

this one is just a very sweet, domestic fic that covers the end of the year, including a training session in murcia, a lot of moments that made me “aww” out loud.

tell me how all this, and love to, will ruin us by blumenkid

series, 34.1k, rated E, FWB + unrequited crush

this series explores jannik and carlos develop a fwb relationship after their first match together, and wow. first fic is janniks pov, whilst the second is carlos’, fair warning carlos’ is a lot more emotional because ow. the biggest emotional turmoil smut has given me.

how to stay by japrufrocks

8.5k, rated M, heavy angst but happy ending, cw: ed, dissociation, suicidal ideation + depression

this one isn’t an easy read, but if you like angst, then this is perfect. janniks life after his doping ban, except he doesn’t come back. carlos is just as if not more (in a completely different way) upset about the ban.

picture perfect by intwilightlight

8.6k, rated T, fluff one-shot

retired footballer!jannik + intern!carlos, they meet when jannik does a fashion campaign for a friend and goes through their relationship development. very cute and love carlos in this.

coffee for... yannick? by anon.

5.2k, rated T, strangers to annoyances to lovers one-shot

barista!carlos + tennis player!jannik, meet after jannik refuses to drink hotel coffee, so he decides to try a coffee shop. obsessed w the ending in this, wraps the story up PERFECTLY.

say yes to heaven (say yes to me) by petricoreus

11.6k, rated E, childhood friends (?) to strangers-kind-of to something smut

modern day punk/pastel fics, catholic!carlos + fuckboy!jannik. a lot of yearning and a lot of religious guilt in association with waiting till marriage. very hopeful ending too, so loved.

criminally yours by voodoo_pop

12.5k, rated T, secret + established relationship

CSI!Jannik + Cop!Carlos AU. this is quite a cute and fun fic, getting to watch the others try and figure out if jan and carlos are dating or not. LOVE LOVE LOVE the found family part as well 

for somewhere to be home by mitthjartad

3.3k, rated G, introspection + falling in love

insanely cute one-shot on jannik learning about what it means to be in love throughout his life. the ending never fails to make me grin because aww.

gravity by signifierofchaos

12.8k, rated T, slow burn + slice of life + getting together + secret relationship

a look at all the moments carlos fell in love with jannik. i honestly can't come up with the words to describe how much i love this fic its just wow. the ficification of everything is romantic by charlixcx tbh.

won’t you stay for a while? (i wish that you’d never leave) by helioslover

2k, rated G, domestic fluff + grieving something you never had

i didn’t read the ‘grieving something you never had’ tag and got so annoyed at the ending, but looking at it now, it is so perfectly bittersweet im in love.

paper rings by l0stinspace

series, 13.1k, rated G, established relationship

the tooth-rotting fluff tag is no joke, this is the cutest thing ever. from relationship to coming out to marriage, this series is just cuteness all the way through LOVE.

first serve, second chance by denegressi 

24.7k, rated G, alternative- universe (parent-trap style)

Incl. novak/rafa

universe where novak coaches jannik early in his career, and carlos is the son of divorced rafole. obsessed w this au tbh, honestly just all-round fun and cute vibes.

it's time to leave the capsule if you dare by denegressi

14.3k, rated G, timeskips + established relationship, cw: homophobia

tbh any denegressi work is a good read. this work is about everything from them getting together to them coming out and dealing with the backlash. very much need to re-read this one, but love love love.

the cat next door by flamballboyant

18.4k, rated M, small town rom-com strangers to lovers

if 2000s rom-coms were about cats and small towns in northern italy. yeti feature so immediate 10/10, but honestly such a sweet fic. OBSESSED w how jannik is written in this, awkward but adorable i love.

lead you on by nimmue

13k, rated E, smut ft. feminisation + hate sex

If i'm so honest im just such a sucker for alt universe fics where they are athletes in a different but ESPECIALLY OBSESSED ARTIST TROPES. The trope which is explored and lost w jannik throughout this, with it being nearly 10k of pure smut, but ugh love.

it is the green eyed monster by cuddlepoetry

18.3k, rated M, rivals to lovers

another one that kind of has me at a loss for words when it comes to describing it. Its just beautifully written in how it describes coming to terms with love.

half a life by youthgoneoscarwilde

79.4k, rated E, slow burn friends to lovers, cw: physical + sexual abuse

football!sincaraz AU, requited love, but carlos is in a couple of relationships before he realises that the right person was there all along. dont take the content warnings lightly (JANNIK ISN'T THE ABUSER BTW).

cracks and hollows by captainlk3

9.1k, rated E, developing (?) relationship

another look at sincaraz throughout the years, except this one is just jannik sinner denying he's in love. really loved.

first times by misty_whisper

3.1k, rated T, fluff one-shot

a look at the five firsts in their relationship. honestly just the cutest thing ever.

silly little mouse by laurie

21.5k, rated t, match-maker + crack treated seriously

incl. andrey/zverev

jannik and anna break up, so andrey decides to play cupid for sincaraz and makes a gc. honestly im so obsessed w how everyone is written, and im just a sucker for chaotic gc fics. still a zverev hater, but he's unavoidable, sigh.

call me by your name by bangonoscah

45.3k, rated M, strangers to annoyances to lovers + social med fic (kinda)

jannik is a journalist who carlos insists is out to ruin his life, but that is far from the case. i read this three months ago and still think about janniks confession. maybe my favourite sincaraz fic ever.

crooked the road by restless5oul

43.9k, rated M, developing relationship + future fic

carlos suffers a career-ending injury which leads to jannik reaching out via letters, and love ensues. another adorable personal fave because the letters are just so ugh.

enrosadira by 10270

10.9k, rated T, pure fluff

they spend the off-season together in italy, the amount of fluff in this is the definition of tooth-rotting. when i tell you i spent so long waiting for a proposal, just for it to never come, but still adorable as hell.

ink by 66miles

9.2k, rated T, soulmate-mark AU

incl. flavio/jakub (YAYY)

they’re school tennis players, and everyone in the world has a unique way of identifying their soulmate. this was cute and a milestone as the first cobolik fic despite laver cup being in september lmao

servebot by spit_kitten

53.8k, rated E, coach/player? kind of? + ambiguous relationship

incl. jannik/novak

novak asks carlos to come and train a player on his island, except the player is an ai robot called jannik. honestly only read this because i had seen sm on tumblr about it, but i can see why because wow.

un nuevo lugar para ahogarse by kayashk

series, 10k, rated E, idiots in love 

a two-story series in which jannik and carlos spend time together in alicante and monaco during breaks. honestly another victim of my love for domestic idiots in love fics.

count the ways by mg_day

2.1k, rated T, unrequited crush + introspection

jannik loves carlos but carlos could never feel the same. warning this is hella angsty but beautifully written

sweet love by chucara

72.1k, rated M, lovers to lovers

they’re in a relationship without calling it a relationship, then said non-relationship gets leaked the day before the wimbledon mens final. this is insanely cute despite the leak, and i am obsessed with carlos and emmas friendship in this (with the side of jasmine too). also comes with a jack/holger sequel if that's your thing.

amor y destino by jujubeejones

38.9k, rated T, blissfully oblivious to lovers

when you're in love with your rival, and you know he is in love with you but won’t admit it because you are rivals, so you dance this weird tango for months that also has a motif in a spanish love song. another fic i have read more times than i can count

the trophy you get to keep by collision 

14.3k, rated E, rivals to lovers + body worship

the discussion of mutual feelings after roland garros and emotionally intense sex after wimbledon. i don’t think i've ever gotten emotional over smut until this fic. just beautiful.

the seas catch fire by japrufrocks

68.3k, rated T, future fic + angst with happy ending

jannik returns to the tour after a knee injury and over a year of ghosting carlos. carlos, who was head over heels for jannik is now trying to get over him (unsuccessfully).

chiaroscuro by speakstrikedress

37k, rated M, angst with a happy ending + internalised homophobia

they hooked up in saudi arabia, then hardly talked until after janniks ban when he came to rome dressed in all black.

sei cosi bello (anzi bellississimo) by littlebilly

8.3k, rated T, getting together + 5+1 things

five times carlos gives jannik princess treatment, and one time jannik realises what he is doing. very cutesy

did i misread (completely) every single touch? by anon.

7.9k, rated E, secret relationship + infidelity

jannik shows laila to the world, and carlos is jealous 

hangman’s version by battle_of_roses

10.7k, rated T, F1!AU + non-linear narrative 

carlos has always known his rivalry w jannik is different, but never truly hits him how and to what extent until jannik signs w merc. hopelessly pining carlos alcaraz SAVE ME.

where you belong by cuddlepoetry

16.6k, rated E, secret relationship + angst w a happy ending

jannik is insanely possessive over carlos which is hard when no one knows they are together, and the whole world is head over heels for carlos. you just know it is going to be a great day when a new cuddlepoetry fic hits the tennis rpf tag, this one is sososo good i was kicking my feet whilst reading this, no joke.

even now, still by nimmue

10k, rated T, lovers to strangers to something again

carlos and jannik are together until it gets leaked and carlos freaks out, and they fall apart. The ending of this one is so yummy i grinned SO hard

pin me down (you dont have my number) by oatflower

5k, rated M, rivals to friends to lovers

the age old question: why does carlos alcaraz have his passcode set to jannik sinners birthday? he is obsessed w birthdays, of course! this is so cutesy, and i am OBSESSED w the prompt.

cyber by deliriouslyshipping

76k, rated E, strangers to lovers + reupload

jannik is sexually frustrated, so to fulfil his needs, he falls in love with camboy!carlos. for a fic w so much smut, this is unbelievably cute i love it sm.

so stupid in love by montemei

63k, rated M, secret relationship + crack treated srsly

that awkward moment when you and your rival get married in a vegas church instead of confessing your feelings for each other like normal people. I promised myself i wouldn’t read this one until it was finished bcus i just KNEW i wouldnt be able to wait for updates, and i was not disappointed this is the cutest fic EVERRRR.

a little more red by advantagealcaraz

40k, rated M, falling in love + ‘im not gay, im a tennis player’

fellas is it gay to fall in love with the guy you play against at wimbledon? oh also, it is the 1960s. this one was so fun i love it, considering i am not usually a big historic piece person.

its not strange, thats the worlds shape by promieny

8.5k, rated T, getting back together + angst w a happy ending

jannik wants to train with carlos in murcia after the 2025 season ended, despite the fact that he is worried about carlos’ hamstring and carlos is worried about their previous fling and his feelings. another very cute one-shot.

mi amor florece como otoño by kayashk

12k, rated M, text fic (kinda) + yearning

carlos is so insanely head over heels in love and obsessed with jannik so it's pining central over here. this is told through carlos scrolling through their text thread and reminiscing about old memories, and i am just so in awe of this fic.

the problem by clandestinegardenias

18.2k, rated E, requited unrequited love

jannik thinks carlos is flirting with him out of habit and not because he’s in love with him. THE RESTAURANT SCENE IN THIS UGHHH.

prevention by theonlygamergost

7.5k, rated E, fluff and smut + praise kink

jannik is worried about people discovering their relationship after the six kings slam. so carlos fucks him over it.

workplace situationship by nowthisistheatre

8.6k, rated M, angst + getting together

carlos tells his family they aren’t together, whilst jannik, who thought they’d been dating this whole time, is sitting next to him.

how to disappear completely by rafaelnadal

series, 23.5k, rated E, idiots in love + emotional hurt/comfort

carlos is in love with jannik that everyone, including jannik knows, but tennis destroys them before their feelings can (kind of). so angsty man, but so good fuck.

gut feelings by claes (niccolos)

7.2k, rated T, text fic + friends (kinda) to lovers

carlos is head over heels in love with jannik and everyone, but jannik seems to be aware of it. This is also told through the form of texts. i am a SUCKER for text fics SUE ME.

anything, always by 66miles

4.8k, rated T, human/vampire relationship

carlos is dating vampire!jannik except no one thinks jannik actually exists. i am a BIG vampire!jannik fan, so this was an immediate inclusion bcus it was so cutesy.

uni!sincaraz by deliriouslyshipping

series,45.8k, rated E, smut + friends to something more to lovers

carlos and jannik have a threesome at a halloween party, then they can’t stop fucking. THE LAST STORY IN THIS UGH I'VE REREAD IT A MILLION TIMES

the consequences of the loser by random_writer (sb_95)

17k, not rated, angst + fluff

a look at the relationship no one thought would survive. the holiday scene is so cutesy.

you are the reason by lauraaa26

3.4k, rated G, love + comfort

jannik wins wimbledon and thinks carlos will have the same reaction to it as he did at roland garros. a very heart-warming fluff piece.

caramel chocolate and consequences by kitty_flower

12.4k, not rated, fluff + sharing a bed

drunk jannik goes to visit carlos after the wimbledon ball. jannik is so evil for leaving him like that, but that’s ok.

kiss and makeup by leclercism

14.7k, not rated, idiots in love

jannik is so in love with carlos and all it takes is the adrenaline and champagne of wimbledon to let it slip. sucker for holiday get-togethers, sorry.

but i would love to by tarteauction

9.6k, rated E, mutual pining

another post wimbledon fic except this time jannik invites carlos to spend time with him in monte carlo instead of going to toronto. because you know you're gone when the boat driver thinks you're newlywed.

get you where you wanna go, if you know what i mean by deliriouslyshipping

138.8k, rated E, F1!AU + strangers to one-sided enemies to lovers

carlos is invited to a f1 race and gets to do a hot lap with five-time wdc, jannik sinner. jannik falls first, but carlos falls harder kind of a situation. didn’t think i would like carlos playing hard to get, but UGH THIS FIC IS SO GOOOD, i have read it no less than five times.

dimenticare by marion_von_wolfstadt

15.7k, rated E, summer vacation + unrequited crush

carlos and his family take a vacation to the italian alps. here he meets a ginger-haired girl, janni. the fact that they meet again is so argh like yes, fall in love, be destined for each other i beg

say you wanna by duckdarts

5.6k, rated T, friends to lovers

jannik invites carlos to spend some time together in monte carlo after they both drop out of toronto. They are also both head over heels for the other. protective bestie holger suits him very well, lmao.

rain on his skin by mahixa

7.7k, rated M, love study

carlos is in love with a lot of things about jannik so why not kiss at wimbledon. i love rereading this one, it’s very cutesy 

like a river flows surely to the sea by anon.

series, 12.5k, rated T, getting together + established relationship

jannik has a crush on carlos so he invites him to go jet-skiing after umag 2022. another very cute series.

what memory keeps by nimmue

7.5k, rated M, fluff + smut

another post-wimbledon ball carlos visit fic but holy shit i am obsessed with how janniks infatuation is written in this, especially in #that bit.

a guide to losing by grubsyd

8.1k, rated E, established relationship + smut

a look into the very conventional way they cope with losing when in big tournaments, whilst also being head over heels for each other. a very beautiful fic which feels crazy to say about a smut fic BUT TRUST ME

oh, simple thing by knoepfchen

23.6k, rated E, social media fic + getting together

post-wimbledon once again, except this time juanki offers carlos his holiday home. i am so obsessed with the social media aspect of this fic, which makes it such a fun and cute read.

tell me you dont want me (i know you can't) by fivesecrets

10.9k, rated M, 5+1 things

five times carlos is jealous of how close jannik is with other people, and one time, he doesn’t have to be. IF JEALOUS CARLOS HAS NO FANS I AM DEAD.  jan is a little evil in this but that is ok.

that human touch by japrufrocks

8.1k, rated T, hurt/comfort

carlos once invited jannik to alicante and jannik finally took him up on that offer after a hip injury in madrid. this one hurts a tiny bit, but the ending makes up for it.

whisper hope to me by fivesecrets

9.4k, rated M, friends to lovers

jannik decides to stay in london for a few days after his wimbledon 2023 loss to novak, so carlos invites him to hang out. one of those ones you read and just smile the whole time bcus it is so freaking cute.

see them bloom by baselinerallies

6k, rated T, feeling relisation