Author's Notes: Something of an attempt at a character study of one of my favorite characters on this show, in the form of four tiny ficlets. First time writing Donnelly, so feedback is super appreciated.
Disclaimer: Nothing SVU related that is mentioned in this belongs to me.
Strong
i. constant quarreling, the childish fits, and our clothes in a pile on the ottoman
Elizabeth Donnelly wasn't a particularly emotional person. She prided herself on being cool, calm, and collected even in the most stressful situations, but when she found that box of memorabilia while cleaning her closet one spring, she had cried.
That box was chocked full of emotion, of memories. It was choked full of him.
She'd loved him once. She'd loved him twice, up until infinity. She'd been young and stupid. She'd also never been so happy.
But that had been years ago, and she was no longer young and stupid. She was proud of herself on having lost those two qualities but having kept her happiness. Or that was what she told herself, what she lied to herself about.
In an efficient manner, Elizabeth pulled herself together and dried her eyes. The days with him had been careless fun, but nothing of real value. She didn't miss him. Really, she didn't.
Perhaps she was becoming a pathological liar.
ii. like a king without a castle, like a queen without a throne
Her job was everything to her.
Being a lawyer was where her passions came into play. It was where she spread her wings and flew. It was what she did.
She'd known that she wanted to be a lawyer for as long as she could remember. It made sense; she had practically been born arguing. She was never one to keep her opinions to herself. She made them known, and she articulated them well. She fought for what she felt was right; she was a formidable opponent. She always wanted the last word, and she was quite good at getting it.
This is what she did: she was a lawyer, and she fought for what she believed in. She loved it; she was good at it. Reflecting on that, she felt a twinge of nervousness as she climbed the steps to the courthouse, the first time doing so as a judge rather than a prosecutor.
She could have turned around and fled from the courthouse; she could have refused the promotion to judgeship. But no, that's what she doesn't do.
iii. with every year that came to pass, more clouds appeared until the sky went black
In her youth, she had been so naïve, so optimistic. She'd placed great faith in people and trusted that they would do the right thing. She had believed in many; she had given her trust out almost freely.
But years in the courtroom had changed that.
As a prosecutor, she had defended against the worst. Murderers and rapist who had shown absolutely no remorse for their crimes. As a judge, she'd watched it. She'd watched them from the bench and had quickly began to stop believing in people so easily.
People had to earn her trust. Once they had gained it, they had better use it well.
iv. you're never gonna break me; sticks and stones are never gonna shake me
They could say whatever the hell they wanted about her. It would not affect her in the least bit. Her mind was full of more important things and had no space for such petty gossip.
If she were someone else, she wouldn't have been able to stand it. Each - cold, has no heart at all and every - what a bitch would slowly crack at her soul until she eventually broke.
But such emotional weakness on her part would never occur.
She was Elizabeth Donnelly.
She was strong.
Titles/prompts from:
i - "Photobooth" by Death Cab for Cutie
ii. "Goodbye Stranger" by Supertramp
iii. "No Sunlight" by Death Cab for Cutie
iv. "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield