#tutuola

I’ve recently been re-watching Law & Order SVU episodes. Olivia is just as badass as I remember. She’s still my favorite character.

I think I stopped watching the show when I felt like they were slapping her around too much on it for no reason though. And I’m sure that her back already hurt from having to carry this show on it for so long. 

I’ve also realized I like some characters more than I remember doing and others less. Like Munch, Fin, Captain Cragen, M.E. Warner, Huang. I like all of these characters a lot. I appreciate them even more now than I used to. And I genuinely missed the old dynamic after they left. 

I remember liking Alex Cabot. She was my favorite A.D.A. But I haven’t re-watched enough older episodes with her in it to know if my opinion has changed or not.

I also like A.D.A. Barba.

I dislike Stabler now, which comes as a surprise to me. Don’t get me wrong, I was never really that invested in episodes that featured Stabler without Benson, but I always liked the Benson and Stabler dynamic. They had good chemistry and it was clear they loved each other. I remember really wanting them to get together back in the day. Now I’m really glad they didn’t. And I hope they never do.

You see, the thing I could never really put my finger on is that Stabler is an asshole. He’s just such an asshole. And frankly, Benson deserves better. Then again, she’s one of the few people he actually kind of listens to but she kind of enables him, so there’s that. I just don’t think they’re good for each other. They just enable each other to stay stunted emotionally and every other way you can think of. 

I thought that Benson also had great chemistry with Cabot. It could be seen from space. And I can say this because I was able to see it at a time in my life where I didn’t even know the LGBTQ+ community was a thing. I don’t know if they would have made a good couple though. But they might have, two badass women kicking ass together and separately.

I say Benson deserves better than Stabler but I don’t even know if Benson could handle better. I love her character, she’s a strong, independent woman with a soft gooey center for a heart (sometimes). A badass. But she happens to be in a business where most of the men she meets are scum. And those who aren’t might be intimidated by her. I think  she can also come off as aloof and untouchable. Like she doesn’t need anyone. And she doesn’t, but everyone deserves someone kind in their life who loves and respects and gets them that isn’t their kid. 

Speaking of, I’m really glad they finally gave her a kid even though it took 84 years, because that was always a dream of hers and I always knew she’d be a good mom. And I wanted her to be happy. Still do. 

They gave the decent guy for Benson bit a good try with Cassidy but she didn’t really let him in and he didn’t really know how to be with her. She didn’t really seem that fond of him to begin with anyway and they didn’t really have chemistry.

I thought she could have maybe made it work with Fin or Barba. They seemed mature and respectful enough. And both seemed genuinely fond of her and she of them. But I don’t think she let either of them in really either. And I don’t think either of them ever tried to woo her.

I just don’t know what her letting anyone other than that asshole Stabler in would look like. Not that she ever fully let Stabler in. Which I don’t blame her for because yikes. But he’s the one who got the closest.

Like, maybe someone that looked like Benson could snap them in two if she wanted to while still being a badass and a respectful sweetheart who saw right through her and gently coaxed her to let down her guard around them could work. You know, someone respectfully determined and patient and honest with Benson who got her to be honest with them. Or a burly, buff looking dude who worshipped the ground she walked on and had a gooey center for a heart. Maybe someone who knew how to read her and learned her by simply observing her, but not in a creepy stalkery way. I don’t know. Either way, I think they’d need to be a walking paradox. You know, someone who pleasantly surprised her in who they turned out to be. And had a good sense of humor maybe.

She seems okay on her own though. And again, she has her kid. 

I also think it’s interesting how she’s evolved because of her kid. It’s obvious her loyalties are now with her kid over anything else. I think it’s something I didn’t appreciate when I first realized it as it happened years ago. But it’s where they should be. In the sense that she doesn’t want her kid to have to grow up without a mother, without her, after having already lost his biological mother. She is all Noah has. And it’s made her less reckless and therefore less stupidly heroic, a trait I actually enjoyed about her, than she used to be. There are things she did for the cause, for her job, to help the victims, that I don’t see her doing now, if she thinks it will put her own life in jeopardy unnecessarily. And while I didn’t use to appreciate it, I do now. 

I’ve been watching snippets of Benson’s reunion with Stabler. I’m glad they brought him back regardless. She needed the closure. Whether it’s to talk about it, even though they were never that great at that to begin with, or just to get him out of her system or maybe he’s changed and become the kind of man she deserves. Although those sound like famous last words if I‘ve ever heard any.

EDIT: Wait, I just found out Benson was apparently with Tucker for a bit. That looked good. Like it actually worked. He’s the kind of guy that looks like Benson could break him in two if she really tried, but is also a badass yet really gentle with her.

Fin: *falling asleep*

Munch: *whispering* Fin...

Fin: *sighs*

Munch: Why would the Hamburgler steal burgers and not hams?

Cuddles & Nuggets

Rita sighed happily as Fin kept running his fingers through her hair. It felt so good to her. She burrowed further into the couch as the television played in the background. Rita opened her eyes, intertwining their fingers.

“What’s the plan for the day?”

“Jaden has been asking to see you,” He smiled.

Rita sat up, placing a leg on either side of his lap, “I miss him. Tell Ken and Alejandro that we can take him for the day,” She gave him a quick peck before curling into his chest.

Fin wrapped his arms around her tightly, pressing a kiss into her hair, “You’re extra snuggly,” He murmured.

“I missed you,” Rita murmured, kissing down his jaw line, “This week has been so chaotic.”

Fin pulled back, tilting her chin upwards before giving her a slow languid kiss, nipping her bottom lip before pulling away slowly, “I am sorry work was crazy,” He murmured.

Rita kissed his nose, before standing. She groaned as she stretched her body, “I am getting too old to sit like that.”

Fin reached out, running his fingers along the stretch of skin that appeared,”We can find other ways to cuddle,” He smirked.

Rita laughed, “If we try that today, Jaden won’t be able to come over.”

Fin looped his finger through a belt loop, gently guiding her to the couch, “We could try cuddling like this,” He purred as he crawled between her legs. Fin rested his head on her stomach, smiling as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Rita pulled him up, slowly kissing him again. She moaned as their tongues meshed, “Mmm,” She slowly pulled away, taking deep breaths.

“What if we pick up Jaden tomorrow?”

Rita laughed, lightly slapping his shoulder, “We can always do this once Jaden goes back to his fathers!”

Fin grumbled, laying his head back on her stomach.

“Are you hungry? Sounds like you have a grumbly stomach.”

Fin laughed, “Nah. Let me go call Ken. Do we have his favorite chicken nuggets?”

Rita shrugged before padding to the kitchen, checking the refrigerator, “No, but I can go get some.”

Fin spun her around, holding her hips, “Have I told you how much I love you?”

Law and Order SVU | S21x01 "I'm Going To Make You A Star"