night at the smithsonian | s. reid |

i. the masquerade

author's note: hey! so I wrote this one on a random spree and I really like it so far, any excuse for Reid to be in a suit. I thought I was only going to write Matthew stories but this one just happened so I am going to run with it.

warning: may contain explicit language, explicit content, or mature material. 

viewer discretion is advised.

enjoy! :)

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Alex's POV

The stars sparkled in the sky on this crisp, clear Friday night. People were flooding inside as the event was about to begin. Black tuxes and ball gowns all around. As I got out of the taxi, I saw hundreds of people with the most eloquent attire and dazzling masks. It was the Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual ball, this year's theme being Black Tie Masquerade.  In proper D.C. fashion, this year it was being held at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History. Walking into the building, you could see pictures and statues of animals all around. 

The dress I picked this year was an emerald green satin gown with a plunging neckline, modest enough to leave the mind wondering but hot enough to catch the eye. I wore a black mask detailed with lace and feathers, supposed to be designed to look like a raven in reference to my favorite poet, Edgar Allen Poe. My hair was put up in a sleek yet undone look with minimal silver jewelry and black strappy heels. Despite my 4 years having worked at the FBI, this was my first year attending the ball. I had just moved to Virginia after living in Miami working in violent crime. 

~Earlier that day~

"Agent Sadler, I must say... Your background is quite impressive and your superiors from the Miami field office speak very highly of you. They described you as meticulous, analytical, and also a quick shot. Would you find that to be accurate?", he said curiously. 

She felt very nervous, this was the job interview she had waited for, but she would never let this feeling show on her face. 

"Yes sir, I do. While I have spent most of my life focused on research and education, I found myself very dedicated to working on my skills in the field. So, whether that was negotiation, self-defense, de-escalation, or physical fitness, I made sure I was prepared. As for being a quick shot, my father served in the Marines, so I was taught from a young age how to handle, disassemble, and aim a weapon without missing. I am confident about my skills in the field but I feel that most of what I have to offer is in my background in behavioral psychology, sociology, human development, and criminal justice. I have been trained to understand the motivations and patterns from my experience while working in Violent Crime. ", she tried to say with ease and confidence in her abilities. 

"How do you feel that this background makes you a good profiler? Lots of agents have degrees in psychology..." 

This was a test. She knew that it was.

"Can I be direct, sir?", she said hesitantly. 

"Yes, agent."

"When I walked into your office, you expected not to hire me for the empty position in the unit. Most likely because one of my unit chief mentioned that I had an issue with one of the other agents in Florida. Your suit says that you are organized. Your collar is ironed, shirt has been steamed, no wrinkles in sight. The cuff links you wear are simple and do not stand out, yet you touch them when you have something on your mind that you are not saying. Nothing about you stands out yet each piece you wear is carefully coordinated. You like control and thrive in a position of authority. You are consistently lacking sleep, whether because of the late hours you work, having a child, or both. But you are comfortable with it. There are two pictures pointed at you on your desk, one slightly pointed more towards you which means you pick it up to look at more often than the other. The impression on your ring finger says that you have been married or are currently married. Without already knowing your previous work experience as a prosecutor, I could have guessed based on the way your paperwork in laid out on your desk. When I told you that my father was a marine and trained me in firearms, your perspective on me changed. I can also see that you did not expect this thorough of an answer but I did not want to leave this interview without making some type of an impression. This is just the beginning of what I got in the first 4 minutes, anything incorrect in those statements?" She was worried she might have taken it a step too far but wanted to prove to him what she is capable of.