Realistic or Modern 𝔹𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣 | Main

[geminiy]

blood in the water

chapter 1 ▸ the meetup

the envy nightclub

sat july 8th, 2023 @ 12:45am

warm, humid

interactions

PenguinFox fieldofclover r e i logastellus wickedlittlecritta LowkeyLovingLoki Lizy vixe travelbypages Robinside CuChulainn neverbackdown celadon.

The music in the club was loud enough to feel in your ribs, beats matching those of the pumping hearts of dancers and partygoers. Envy Nightclub was always a popular spot, known for its specialty cocktails, live DJs, hyped atmosphere, and gorgeous employees. Yes, the Envy lived up to its name, becoming a star-studded location over the years. Saturday nights were always the busiest. Popular DJs were brought in to headline the event, which was by invitation only, and the club was flooded with lights and smoke and expensive alcohol. To be able to attend a Saturday night party at the Envy was rare, even more so if you somehow found yourself lucky enough to receive an invitation to the VIP rooftop.

Sixteen letters had been sent out weeks earlier, no return address to allow anyone to reply. It was an offer of employment, it was easily discerned, and as soon as the second letter, sealed in an envelope along with a small business card marked with a scarlet kiss, came inviting the participants to the Envy's VIP rooftop, it became clear what this employment was.

It was no real secret that the Envy was often a hotspot for unsavoury activity. Politicians rented out rooms with black Amex cards to do blow and hang with dancers. Stars mingled and fought and kissed and launched each other in the pool. Long before that, it was a meeting spot for one of Chicago's most notorious gangs. With the death of the Ludovici family, the club lost a bit of its reputation for being a secret spot for the criminal.

The doors to the rooftop opened for the first time in decades just moments ago, guarded by secretly armed security. The only entrants would be those with the entrance card, marked by the kiss of one Beatrice Ludovici.

Let the games begin.

coded by natasha.

 

[fieldofclover]

Andrea Gilbert

The Medical Apprentice

Mood:

visibly irritated, internally grieving. the same ol' andie.

Location:

the cemetery, followed by the club.

Outfit:

click me!

Tags:

none

tw: death, cemeteries, cancer, things like that

Free time was a burden to Andrea Gilbert. All it did was make her think, and she didn't want to think. Thinking led to feelings, and feelings led to the overwhelming grief she still felt on a daily basis. And, because she had been forced out of work in order to get some quality time out in the fresh air, she found herself wandering down the sidewalk aimlessly, still clad in her blue scrubs and white lab coat. The hospital wouldn't pay her this much overtime - but she would work for free if they let her. She must have looked like a zombie, shuffling her way through the crowds of people heading to and coming back from their destinations. She was scuffing her white Reeboks, too - something that she hadn't even noticed as her mind drifted elsewhere. And before she knew it, her feet had brought her straight to the cemetery. It was time to visit an old friend.

The friend in question was none other than her late husband. Finding the grave based on the Goulding on the back of the stone, Andie nearly collapsed onto his final resting place. She too, had her own final resting place secured right next to his. How she wished that she could have been the one buried there instead of him. "Hey, Pat...it's me again." The tears quickly began to fall as she clung to the stone, as if it were her last hope for survival. She had once been Mrs. Patrick Goulding. Now she was just plain old Andrea Gilbert again. She couldn't bear to keep her last name his own after he had lost the war that his body had fought so valiantly. Reverting back to her maiden name also meant that no one could cause any more pain to befall her by bringing up his memory. But oh, how she still kept the diamond ring that he had slipped on her finger. She had locked it up safely in a small safe that no one knew the combination to but her.

Andrea wiped her tears, realizing that she looked childish mourning Patrick. She rose to her feet, taking a quick glance around. No one was visiting the cemetery right now - or at least, they weren't in the section that the Gouldings were in. But she still lingered at the site, her eyes deadlocked on the death date engraved on the marble slab: April 12th, 2018. Her twenty-first birthday. Patrick had promised her that they would be able to celebrate it together, whether he was still sick or not. He had broken that promise. And just like that, her world had been turned upside down. Bad decisions started becoming the norm. She had cut her hair, which had once reached the middle of her back, into a jagged bob. She had picked up the bottle. Her college career was tanking. But somehow, through the dark clouds that had surrounded her aura, a gentle hand had reached into the storm and pulled her out to safety.

The owner of that hand? Beatrice Ludovici. And at first, Andie wasn't sure of the opportunity that had presented itself to her. Joining the mafia wasn't exactly the life plan that she had laid out for herself. But, then again, she'd be part of a family again. A real one, where she would be welcome. It gave her the motivation that she needed to get her life back on track. Now, all she had to do was show up at the Envy tonight. Her life would never be the same. Patrick wasn't there to baby her anymore. And if she fucked up, she'd soon be joining him. It was a win-win either way. Self-deprecating? One hundred percent. But that was Andie. Life hadn't always been so kind to her. But maybe this could be a new beginning for her.

But before she could get out to the club, there was someone else she needed to visit first. And luckily for Andrea, he didn't live far. She followed the path over to the opposite side of the cemetery. A small white stone marked only by the name Gilbert was the only remnant left of her older brother Joey. If her parents hadn't been so cruel, he might have had a fighting chance. "Wish me luck, JJ. I'm going to make it out of here, just you wait." She pressed her index and middle finger to her lips, then to the warm slate that somehow felt as if the sun was still shining down upon it. But it was near midnight now - the moon hung in a waning gibbous state, illuminating the graveyard in an eerie glow.

Finally, she brought herself to get out of the cemetery altogether. There was no time to change into something more suitable for club Envy, so she just kept on walking in the direction of the nightclub. The business card sealed with a crimson kiss hadn't left her person since she had received it. And now, it was her key to get into the club. She had no idea what to expect from this first meeting as she idled before the looming building. She still had time to change her mind. But she didn't hesitate any further - this was what she had to do. And she was going to do it. Andrea stormed into the club as if she owned the damn place. It was time for a change. And if it was a good one, well, she was about to find out.

♡design by stardust galaxy, coded by uxie♡

 

[wickedlittlecritta]

devin murphy

the thief

the envy

don't threaten me with a good time

interactions

open

Despite the hype, Devin hadn't been prepared to be impressed with the Envy. It was in Chicago, for chrissake, how upscale could it be?

But it would have been a perfectly respectable club in Berlin, though many club goers did have an air of being grimly determined to enjoy themselves. A few more drinks and a few more DJs, and Devin suspected that wouldn't last. Most people were having a much less self-conscious good time through a haze of neon and alcohol and EDM so loud it vibrated through your chest. Devin was in the sort of outfit he tended to think of as an unobtrusive work "uniform": black button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up and the top few buttons undone, black jeans, and black Converse. Most places this outfit made him nearly invisible, though he had learned that in the midwest all black was unusual. But it made him feel prepared, so he hadn't opted for something more colorful to soothe midwestern suspicions.

Anyway, even if whatever the job that had called him here turned out to be a bust, the evening was already worth the hassle of canceling his flight. Devin wove through the crowd with his Negroni (which was good, but not as good as the ones he'd had in Rome), idly casing the place as he went. Mostly out of habit, rather than thinking anything would go wrong and he'd need to know where the other exits were.

Though the card with a scarlet red kiss burned a hole in his pocket Devin stayed in the lower floors of the club, mingling with the less exclusive clientele. They might not know anything about Beatrice Ludovici--in all honesty Devin would have been shocked if they did--but it was always informative to know if there were rumors, and what they were.

Mostly he just confirmed what he already knew ("I heard this used to be, like, a mob place," a girl wearing enough Curious to give him flashbacks to middle school confided to him over an appletini the color of a green jolly rancher), but that didn't make him any less interested. Devin had worked with the mafia before. Art crime in Italy was usually tied up with one of the various mafias, after all. He'd had a few brief run ins with the American mafia in New York, but as far as he could tell they were mostly sad relics of their pre-RICO glory days. And the Ludovicis were supposed to be gone. Wiped off the map gone. But there was a card with a scarlet kiss in his pocket that said otherwise.

Devin pulled the card from his pocket and studied it again, like maybe he'd missed something the first or seventh time he'd inspected it. Then he tucked it back in his pocket and made for the stairs.

It was time to meet the boss.

coded by natasha.

 

[r e i]

Isa stared at the card in her hand. The moment she agreed was the moment she knew that the secret that she had been keeping needed to stay secret. Beatrice Ludovici could never find out about Jasmine. To be able to use that secret against her without mercy. She wouldn't have her kid be a tool for Ludovici to use. So she made sure that Jasmine wasn't connected to her. Luci even got a good nanny to take care of her while they were gone so she wouldn't need to be worried about making sure her child is safe. Now it was time for her to meet the team.

Luckily she had already met and knew a part of the team.

Her adoptive father, Lucifer. Otherwise known as her best friend.

The moment she knew that she was going to take the offer given to her. Isa went to him, he was the only other person in the world she trusted against everything. He was her family. He gave her a purpose in life, and she gave him one. So she knew that if she wanted to go forth on this path, she needed him by her. And he agreed and she set up the meeting that got him the offer as well.

"Papa, we gotta go!"

She tells him as they walked out the door. Jasmine was asleep and it was time to go to the club.

Isa got in the car and glanced at Luci

"We stick together. I don't like going into the lion's den but this is for Jasmine and giving her life better than what we ever had. "

She said as they grew closer to the club.

"Don't do anything crazy, Luci. I don't want to have to break a few bones yet,"

She told him with a smirk as they got to the club heading in. They went straight to the VIP area showing the cards that they had and being allowed up.

Time to see what they got.

capo of the muscle

isa.

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♡coded by uxie♡

 

[travelbypages]

SELENA WHITLOCK

Anxiety coursed through Selena. The thought of adding people to their little group was a terrifying one that haunted her dreams. It had basically always just been Bea, Sel, Vi, and the few others. Their group was small, close knit, and partially drama free. Normally she was fine with people. In fact, she was a complete people person. Her outward personality was one that people gravitated to. Her smile and her confidence were a radiance in the haze that people often called life. But would it be all different now that Bea was exclusively inviting all these people? There was one thing that Selena feared the most, was to end up alone.

When Bea informed Selena of where the "party" was and who would be in attendance, she knew what she had to do. Her role among the group wasn't the most important but nonetheless, essential to the outcome of how the night would go. But first, she needed to arrive to the location. In true Selena style, she dressed from head to toe in the most glamorized outfit and makeup she could think of. She liked being the center of attention. She enjoyed the looks of admiration that people gave her as she passed by. Tonight would be no different. She wanted to make a good impression on the new people, even if things went South with them later on.

So, with the sparkly dress situated and her hair sprayed to the nines with Aussie strong hold, Selena was finally (and very tardily) ready for the party. The driver she had hired for the night was standing outside in the dark with his hands shoved in his pockets. He seemed to be bored as Selena walked up, but all it took was a quiet "excuse me" from Selena to get the man in gear. Her door was opened for her, her hand was held as she got into the car, and they were off to the party. The traffic in Chicago though, made the movement of the vehicle drag on, and on, and on. "Why are we driving at the speed of a fucking turtle?" She asked the stranger, narrowing her eyes at the rearview mirror. She was already late thanks to her own get ready routine, she didn't need to be more late because the driver couldn't find a detour that would get them to the location faster.

"Sorry ma'am, I'll take a different route." He told her apologetically and took a different turn. With a sigh, Selena dug through her purse to find her phone. She would need to text Bea that things were taking longer than she thought. Hopefully though, the newbies would be situated and comfortably talking among themselves when she arrived. That way, she could slip in and head straight to the bar. But of course like most things in Selena's life, things needed to go absolutely wrong. The squeal of tires, the loud crunch of metal on metal, and the swears of the driver in front of them, Selena knew from the moment that the car stopped that the driver would not be getting a good tip, "you've got to be kidding me." She grumbled as she opened the door and climbed out, the driver doing the same on his side, "you rear ended someone!" She yelled and stomped around to the front of the car, the front end completely jutted in, while the other drivers trunk popped open from the impact.

Again, taking out her phone, Selena made her way to the sidewalk. If life was a cartoon, there would be smoke blowing from her ears. Normally, she was a pretty level minded person, but right now she could punch a wall. Quickly, she dialed Bea's number. It rang until the smooth tone of her friends voice echoed in her ear. After explaining the situation and asking if she could send a ride, the conversation ended and Sel crossed her arms over her waist. It was cold already, and the scene of the drivers arguing was beginning to irritate her. Could this night get any worse?

Mentions: Bea - geminiy
Interactions: will be with Salem - r e i

coded by kaninchen

 

[r e i]

Salem was disinterested in what was going on around him. He like his siblings was the first to arrive. While Bea made sure was every thing was prepared for their guest. He was off in the corner ignoring the world around him. He was waited for one person to show up, and that was Selena Whitlock. To everyone else, he was just bored with this show already. Already knowing how the game was going to play. It was like playing chess knowing every move that your opponent made. It was boring but this wasn't the truth. Underneath the cold exterior, he wanted her to be here. So she can make the game eventful.

Selena had a way of drawing the most fun out of the most boring of tasks.

It was like that since they were children. When times were different and Salem was different. Where he wasn't afraid to love her, to care for her, to be there for her in person instead of in the shadows as he is now. Their history was nothing but his fault but he couldn't let her in. Not when he couldn't trust himself to not lose her like the others. The least he could do, is make sure the person that does get her heart, is the one that will protect her and love her like he never could. He was a broken man, and she deserve better than him. He checks his watch, as time goes by, and she wasn't there. The cold shell of his was breaking little by little as she was normally fashionably late but this time, it was more than that. It wasn't until he heard Bea answer the phone, and it was her.

Turns out the dumbass driver rear-ended someone and she needed someone to pick her up. Salem's fist tightens as he thinks of the driver's carelessness. He wouldn't let this go, he will know of the mistake of driving carelessly with someone that Salem considers precious. Before Bea even thinks of asking the grunts to go and handle it or herself. He got up and walked out taking his jacket and car keys. He heads out ignoring the look from Bea, and hears the ding of his phone. Checking it to see that his sister had sent his light's GPS signal. He jumps in the car and drives off. Ignoring traffic laws, he got there in under 15 minutes and parked the car. Getting out, he glanced at Selena who looked at him in surprise.

"My sister ordered me to pick you up, get in the car. "

He orders her as he looked at the commotion in front of him.

Salem walked forward to the middle of the two men arguing about damages. They shut up with a cold look from Salem.

"Here's some money, that should cover the damages. Now leave. "

He told the other driver coldly handing him a few hundred and the other driver nodded and walked away. Salem then turned to the driver that had caused the issue in the first place. Before the man could blink, he was held up against the car with Salem's cold eyes staring into his.

"I should have you ruined for your carelessness but I won't but here's what is going to happen, you are going to refund her for the ride, then you are going to take care of everything yourself. If you even think of charging her for something, I will ruin your entire life without fail. I promise you that."

He told him swiftly as he let him go at the end the man shook and nodded as walked away.

He then walked back to the car where Selena was leaning on the passenger door. He opened it, letting her get in before closing it and heading to the driver side. Getting in, he drove off without words. He had done his part.

Now the anger that was daring to slow him whole was gone but the empty part of his heart of still there. He knew where it was.

Selena Whitlock had it. And she always had.

capo of the mind

salem.

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♡coded by uxie♡

 

[travelbypages]

SELENA WHITLOCK

Selena watched the fight between the drivers go down, arguing back and forth in a speed she didn't bother trying to keep up with. It didn't take long for her to listen to the arguing before a dark car rolled up. She instantly knew who it was, and that only made her mood more sour. She loved to flirt with him on social media to try to pull him out of the cage he locked himself in. But since that night she didn't particularly care to be around him in person. He shattered her heart and every time she saw him it was like more pieces fell out of place. She loved him. She always would. But she needed to rebuild herself and move on. It was just hard to do so when the overprotective man stepped in for the little things like this.

After his demand for her to get in the car, Selena just simply rolled her eyes and walked over. She wouldn't get in without him opening the door, so she chose to lean against it, studying her nails with a bored expression on her face. She would be lying if she said that it wasn't hot how Salem handled the interaction with the drivers; being the hero to one while being the bad guy to the one who got her in this mess in the first place. Salem was a good guy, and she knew that, but it hurt to see his change. He went from being so lively around her to stone cold. He shut himself out to her completely and it was like she didn't even know who he was anymore. As if they hadn't grown up together.

When he approached and opened the door for her, she got in without even a thank you. She knew Bea wouldn't have specifically sent Salem. There were plenty others who could have picked her up. Salem came on his own. There had to be a part deep down that still cared about her. The part that held her close that last night, the man who cried in her arms and kissed her lovingly. She knew he existed deep down, but it was too much of an effort to try and find him again. Not when he ignored Selena's existence 99% of the time, "so what? You wanted to play the greater good hero today?" She asked, her tone laced with sarcasm. Normally she wouldn't be this mean but the events of the night put her in a bad mood, "wanna tell me why you actually came to get me? Or are you gonna ignore me now that we're here?" She didn't know why she was talking to him in such a crude tone but it was most likely because she was still bitter about him leaving her in his bed all those years ago.

Mentions: Salem - r e i

coded by kaninchen

 

[logastellus]

the weapons expert

location

the envy.

mood

focused.

outfit

outfit over here.

mentions

Isa// r e i

Lucifer Holmqvist.

The dark lit venue was accompanied by dimmed lights and the sound of loud music vibrating through the bones of every drug and alcohol pumped being present. It was just the environment that Lucifer needed to be in, the deranged man accompanied his daughter Isabella to the unreasonably overpriced club known as The Envy, two envelopes addressed to each one held information on the location along with directions to the VIP section of the club. The conversation a few days prior was needed yet tense, he completely understood the reasoning for Isabella accepting the offer from one of the most lethal mafia families in the City of Chicago even reading the massacre of the family years ago. But, he wanted her to understand the dangers she was getting herself into in the near future, making sure whatever she leaves behind doesn't follow her to the one thing important to both of them. Jasmine. The question asked was one he was expecting and he already knew the answer he would tell Isabella.

He had just finished reading his granddaughter a bedtime story, his eyes gazed down at her soft innocent face before he softly ran his fingers through her dark brown hair. He was twenty-four and still in the military when he decided to adopt Isabella when she was seventeen. He knew what he was getting into but didn't care because he wanted to make sure that she got the chance to live a normal life...something that was stripped away from him. He was scared yet ecstatic to hear that she was pregnant, he didn't particularly like the guy who knocked her up but in that moment he was focused on Isabella and his soon to be granddaughter. The arrival of Jasmine was a blessing to both, and Lucifer knew that both his blessings needed to be protected. Her looked over seeing Isa standing at the door frame. "Papa we have to go!" He watched as she quickly rushed down the hallway before turning back to the sleeping Jasmine and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before getting up and leaving the room.

The music was blasting in his ears as he and Isa walked through the crowd. The smell of cigarettes mixed with marijuana wafting through the building was enough to get him excited. He didn't like large crowds but being in an active club was an exception. He felt the touch of hands brushing against his body, his eyes connecting with a clearly intoxicated woman, a grin appeared on his face as he slipped his hands around her waist pulling her in for a quick brush of his lips on her ear whispering in his thick swedish accent very erotic words before leaving a hickey on her neck. His hands slipped away from her waist before walking away, as much as he wanted to stay and get fucked up he was here for business with his daughter. The pair finally reached the double guarded door before taking their black invitation cards out show that they were requested by the Ludovici family. He reached into his jacket pocket grabbing a cigarette out of the carton he carried and lit it inhaling a puff before letting it exhale through his nostrils quickly relishing in the slight burn of the tobacco going through his nose. He looked over at Isa as the door was opened for both of them and gave her a subtle nod as an indication that he was ready to walk through the threshold knowing there is no turning back.

coded by natasha.

 

[CuChulainn]

Padraig "Paddy" Coughlan

Padraig’s phone vibrated softly on the small wooden table next to him. The alarm to tell him he was late. He sat in his tiny shoebox apartment, the lights were off, and he had a small lamp on the table to illuminate himself. Outside the patterings of a light rainfall hit the windows and blurred the view of the outside.

It was two years ago that he found himself on the run in this very city. He had barely evaded a hit squad from Belfast, and he knew that the local police forces were after him too. He was a rat, cornered in a foreign place with no allies, no resources. And then he was saved, given a lifeline and an escape route out of the predicament he was embroiled in.

Beatrice Ludovici was his savior that day. In return, he had offered his loyalty. Now two years later that call had come. He had no question that’s what the employment offer was about. He had no need or want to question it. The answer, regardless of the work, would have been yes.

Now, sitting in his dark apartment he took a deep breath and readied himself. One last drag of the cigarette and he dropped it into an ashtray, grabbing his phone, and his keys and leaving the tiny room behind.

The dull, pulsing vibrations of the nightclub reached him before he saw it. It felt like the heartbeat of a city. Slowly pulsing underground, it was the siren call of the night dwellers and party goers. Rounding the corner the lights and the crowds appeared, this was Envy.

The crowd inside was dense, the lights and music pounded and assaulted the senses. The throng of people moved and swayed to the beat. The atmosphere was matched only by the smell of sweat, smoke, and alcohol.

It took time but eventually he walked through the doors of the rooftop bar, clasping the business card in one hand. He looked around to see unfamiliar faces and he grew a little tense. At least, he wasn’t the first one here.

coded by Mister Glass​

 

[Lizy]

tara blanc.

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  mentions- beatrice, angelo ( geminiy ) interactions- open!!
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

It was quite odd.

Not that Tara wasn't into it; she just found it very unexpected. As she sat in front of her vanity mirror getting ready, she glanced at the business card decorated with a vibrant lipstick mark, belonging to Beatrice Ludovici, handed over to her by Angelo Ludovici. She'd be lying if she said that this job offer didn't excite her, she was growing bored with her same old routine so, a change in motivation might be just what she needed. But she'd also be lying if she said that she completely trusted the people she was going to be working with. As a liar, it was only natural for Tara to not trust easily. Still, she respected the Ludovicis, even if she'd found their prior scheme to put her skills to the test to be rather lackluster.
It happened a few weeks ago. Tara was doing some good old fashioned inspiration scouting, a common activity on nights she was feeling bored but didn't have anything big planned. She went to a bar commonly inhabited by the typical scum of the Chicago business world in order to scope out potential targets, maybe get a free glass of wine and some wallets on the way. She immediately took note of a well dressed man sitting at the bar and decided to go over and have a little fun. The smell was the first thing that caught her attention. Usually the kind of men she approached at these bars reeked of overpowering cologne, not whatever pleasant perfume this man was sporting. So, to settle her suspicions, she got to her usual sweet talking and quickly determined something was very off. He was clearly not interested in her advances, but for some reason was making a concentrated effort to reciprocate her flirtatious attitude. This is Tara Blanc we're talking about, two of her primary talents were being able to read people and being able to flawlessly charm men... most men anyway. She'd be damned if she couldn't use these skills to spot a homosexual with one hundred precent accuracy guaranteed. So, she confronted him- asked what his angle was. He came clean and explained that he'd been sent to test out her skills by his sister, Beatrice Ludovici, and passed along a job offer and an invitation to a gathering of the team Beatrice had acquired, located on the rooftop of the Envy.
That was the gathering she was getting ready for now. She finished up her look with a pair of expensive diamond earrings and some black heels and swiftly headed out the door, ready to get to the club. Tara was no stranger to the Envy, having been there a few times before, typically accompanying some politician or business men in order to get closer to him. Entering the building, she felt no need to linger in the lower levels of the club. She'd seen it all before- and she honestly wasn't a fan of the club scene. She marched straight through the crowds of people, drunk women and men- most of them ogling her as she passed, to get to the rooftop. She'd never been here before. Allowing the security guards posted at the entrance to inspect her scarlet market ticket of entry, she stood by confidently. When she stepped onto the scene she gave off an air of respectability and strength. Tara got the feeling that this was a new era, and nothing was going to stop her from being a part of it.

your woman

white town

♡coded by uxie♡

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[neverbackdown]

Elena Garcia

Curious, Concentrated

Envy Nightclub

everyone

Click Me

Standing strategically in the shadows with her back against the main bar of the club, Elena slowly lifted the glass of wine to her lips as her eyes watched the door, studying each person who entered, some faces were familiar, some were not. Her eyes skimmed the crowd but her attention was only peaked by those that went straight for the VIP area to reach the rooftop bar. Those were the people she needed to be aware of, to figure out before placing herself in the lions den with them.

She twirled the invitation between her fingers as she scanned the room, her brain trained to figure out the best escape options should things go south and she needed to make a hasty exit, be it a fight, enemies, the police or even simple things like a fire, Elena always needed an escape plan, an idea that had been drilled into her brain by her uncle since she was a child.

"Knowledge and preparation are a person's most powerful asset"

Her uncles words rang through her head as she was suddenly able to feel the knife strapped to her thigh. While she had decided to leave her gun at home for respect of the meeting, a girl could never be too careful these days and so the blade was just a precautionary security measure. One she hoped she wouldn't need to use but in her line of work it was normally inevitable.

As she finalised the last route in her head, Elena pushed herself away from the bar and began to walk slowly towards the meeting. She reminded herself that this was a new business opportunity and not a trap created by some enemy she had made through her life. After all too many people had come this direction for this all to be some elaborate trap to kill her. Wasn't there?.

Upon reaching the rooftop door, Elena flashed the security her lip sealed card as she walked past them before placing the invitation into her bra for safe keeping. With her wine glass still in hand, Elena lifted her head, her persona and body melding into one of grace, confidence and courage as she stepped through the doors and onto the rooftop.

 

[r e i]

Salem knew she was pissed at him. She had a good reason to be. He had left, maybe not physically but emotionally he had left after that night they had shared together. He had broken her heart and left her behind. In his mind, he was scared of losing anyone else. Afraid of letting himself love another to lose them the next day. She didn't know this but he had broken his own heart as well. With every push, and cold word he said, a piece of his true self. His heart died. He pretended to sleep around, acting like someone that didn't love her anymore but they both knew the truth.

Salem couldn't stop loving Selena even if he tried.

"Greater good hero?"

He questions as he drives off towards the club. Salem was growing more angry at himself by the minute. He couldn't let her in but every word she angrily said to him, broke a piece of a shield that he had worked on building up for the past few years.

"All you need to know that I came to get you, nothing more."

He tells her as he sped past the cars in the street. Getting to the club quickly. He opens his door, gets out, and then goes to open hers before closing back again.

Before they walked in, Salem stops her. He looks at her for a moment, his eyes still cold, as he opens his mouth.

"Whatever you may think of me Selena, or how you may hate me."

He told her coldly as he held her arm

"Doesn't mean that I won't protect you. The moment Bea invited you into our home, is the moment you became one of us."

He told her with a cold look in his eyes

"This wasn't me becoming a greater good hero, this was protecting what's mine. Don't ever forget that."

He ends it there as he lets go of her arm. Salem then opened the door for her as they walked past everyone. Salem nodded to a few of his contacts who were there, as they headed towards the rooftop.

"Don't forget what I said. I will protect what's mine. Nothing you can ever do, will ever fucking stop me from doing so."

He tells her as he opens the door letting her in before walking away. He did his job. Now it was back to business.

He was a capo before he was anything else.

Salem was a soldier before he was someone with a heart.

capo of the mind

salem.

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[r e i]

Isa waited for Luci's signal. He had already flirted with a woman on the way up here, it took everything for Isa not to drag him away, but she knew that he needed to relax, and this was the one way for him too. She doesn't do clubs anymore. Too much drinking and drugs. It would be too easy to slip back into her dark side. She could already feel the urge building, but she needed to get a grip. Nothing could break her focus on the situation at hand. She waited and looked at her father, who took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff before looking at her and nodding. She knew it was clear for them to walk in. So they did. Taking a glance around, she noticed a familiar face.

Elena Garcia

Isa and her first met during a match. She noticed her studying her opponent, and she wondered why. So she kept an eye on her, seeing her follow him, she followed her. Normally she would let it go, but something about the girl interested her. So she did. She then felt someone take her into the storage closet holding a knife against her throat. It was the girl. As she looked at her, she knew she could get out of this hold, but she wanted to let her how a little power before she even the odds. The girl asked why she was following her, and Isa answered honestly.

Because she caught her eye. She didn't care about the man she was following, but she did want to know why.

The girl told her to mind her business or she would handle her. Isa almost laughed and quickly disarmed her, taking the knife and holding it against her throat. Before letting her go and just walking away. Isa wasn't going to do anything, she just wanted to show her that she had control cause she wanted her to. The next game, she spotted the girl again, but this time, she was looking at her and nodding to the left. She got the signal and followed her. That's when they started to talk, and that's how they became friends. After a few times of meetings, she got to know her name. And the rest is history. They weren't good friends, but they knew of each other, and Isa trusted her. So she went to her, nodding to Luci where she was going.

She never told him about her friend, but he trusted her enough to know she knew how to handle herself. Plus Isa knew that he wouldn't take his eyes off of her.

She walks up to her as she scans the room and smirks.

"Why aren't I surprised to see you here, Lee.."

capo of the muscle

isa.

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[vixe]

Violet Chandler

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The sound of glass hitting the expensive marble bar top rang out in her ears, making the poor girl wince at the sound. It was day 3 of one of her weekly benders but she was trucking through, filling her stomach with as much booze as she could possibly manage. Now, Violet Chandler wasn’t a light weight.. except when it came to the light bubbles of a crisp glass of champagne, that always seemed to sneak up on her. Fortunately for Violet, there wasn’t an once of champagne to be had. The used to be Frat brothers, now donning their very lavish suits, had something different in mind but Violet didn’t care. A free drink was a free drink plus, she rarely ever brought her wallet with her— she didn’t need to. Men fell over themselves to even have Violet look in their direction. But, to Violet it was all just a game. They were just another tick in her little black book.

“Another round for the lady?” A hand on the small of her back as his breath fanned the back of her neck. Her usually wild energy replaced by the air of a demure young lady, waiting for her friends. Which, was true—sort of. The letters had already been sent out, that’s why she found herself conning men into buying her drinks, just for fun, at the Envy. Now it was just a waiting game, to see who would show up first.

Violet nodded her head eagerly, a small smile playing on her lips. His hand slowly trailed down to the curve of her bottom, making her stomach churn in disgust. Violet didn’t make a scene about it, instead She twirled around, grabbing the drink in the process and grabbed his hand with her free one.

“Let’s go dance!” She shouted over the loud thump of the bass, tugging him towards the sea of sweaty bodies. She let go of his hand has the bodies enveloped him, effectively losing him in the crowd. She couldn’t hide her smirk as she darted off to the side, placing the glass down on a random table, her shoulders relaxing from being away from his creepy energy.

PING!

A reminder on her phone, signaling it was time. A wicked grin etched into her features making the girl put some pep into her step. Off the rooftop she went, ready to raise some hell.

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[travelbypages]

SELENA WHITLOCK

Selena watched his face with her eyes narrowed as he drove. She hated that he owned her heart, but did nothing with it. He knew he owned her heart and he chose to take advantage of that. She loved him and he refused to acknowledge her. And when he spoke, it was like a knife stabbing her heart. She didn't know if it was an act to push her away or if he took what he wanted and just tossed her aside like many guys have, but she hated the hold he had on her. And she hated that she was happy he came to get her despite how harsh his words were to her.

With a roll of her eyes, she leaned back into the seat. She didn't bother saying anything to him for the rest of the ride. She didn't want him to know he still had her, even if he just snapped his fingers. She would be there as soon as he wanted her. But that was because she was weak. She didn't know why she loved him. She didn't know why he would sleep with her then just ignore her like it never happened... But she loved him.

When the car came to a stop, she girl stepped out when her door was opened. She didn't bother looking at him until he took her arm in his hand, "Salem let go." She told him, her words harsh enough to garner looks from the bouncer. She was fuming. He had no right to claim that she was his, "you seem to forget you left me in your bed. I don't belong to anyone. Especially not you." She told him, her tone seething. Ripping her arm out of his grip she made her way into the club and then he spoke to her again. This time, she just ignored him and marched her way up to the rooftop.

Instantly, she spotted Vi. It looked like she just got there. Which was perfect, because Vi was probably the only person who knew about Lena's history with Salem. Taking the girls hand, she made a beeline to the bar. She was holding in her tears as she ordered a few shots for the both of them, "I fucking hate him." She lied as she downed one of the shots. She didn't even know what it was but she enjoyed the burn as it went down, "fucking saying I'm his as if he owns me. He has no fucking right." She continued her mumbling as she downed another one. She didn't care if this was a work event. She didn't care about much besides getting wasted and somehow getting home later. She was pissed and anyone within a ten mile radius might notice that.

Mentions: Salem - r e i and Violet - vixe

coded by kaninchen

 

[celadon.]

TAGS
vixe
travelbypages
neverbackdown
r e i
et al.

---

Westside Appliance Parts and Service
Friday, July 7
7:40 PM​

Soren stood behind the front desk in a too-big apron and looked at the clock.

That’d been their entire work day. Unable to really speak and just looking. Keeping track always. They’d move around the store but their eyes would not. They’d be looking while in view of customers. While helping customers. Taking periodic upward glances while someone half-explained a problem they had with a something or other. A toaster oven. An electric kettle.

It was not with relief that Soren observed the counting-down of minutes. Maybe something of the many nameless feelings that could pass for it. Though it was a slender part, anyway. It was mostly fear that they felt. Fear of the momentous. Because in twenty—

7:42 PM​

They leapt back a little.

In eighteen minutes the work day would be over. And then Soren would have about three-and-a-half hours to decide.

In reference to the letter that was sent.

They’d made a decision about it a number of times already. Switching and switching back. Weeks of simulations and doubts. But in about three-and-a-half hours (plus eighteen minutes) their time would run out and so would their chances to think on it. They’d make their decision and it would likely be the wrong one. They felt they knew that somehow. Really knew that. The only way they could have ever won at this was if B.A. Ludovici had never sent that letter to begin with.

The kiss of death.

7:43 PM​

A man came plodding in all scruffy. The door eased shut behind him and he took his baseball cap half-off but then changed his mind and kept it on. A misery was written on his face. A misery that sought to sell itself, to convince, but couldn’t: it was too small. His problems were just those of a Saturday night, a bad one, but they’d made him all starved for attention and peasantish, like hear this. Behold my tattered image and listen to me. Very drawn-in towards himself. He held his arms close. He might have been high.

“Can you fix this for me?”

And the way that he said it, it was as if he spoke around the corner to Soren’s coworkers — three men in their forties — in the back doing whatever, maybe smoking, you couldn’t even really see them from the front — and it was only by accident that Soren was the one to receive the message. Pirate radio.

On the counter the man set down, without any grace to it at all, a vape with a portable charger still docked into it. He set it down hard like he was going to rob the place with it.

“Yeah, uh, it won’t turn on and it doesn't wanna charge.”

7:44 PM​

“Uh…”

The slightest tip towards hesitation and it was enough to make the man jam up his upper lip at them. “Uh what?”

They tried to look anywhere but him. Up, down. And he almost followed them. Almost moved his head around like he was trying to block a photo.

“We… I’m…”

“We. Uh. I’m.”

“...sorry, I don’t… think we… do these here.”

“What?”

“Yeah.”

“No… what? ...Say… that again… ‘you don’t… do these… here.’” Acting. He was acting for an audience somewhere out there that loved him.

“I mean… I don’t… I don’t… I don’t…” — tightening their eyes shut in the struggle — “I don’t… I don’t think… think that…” — Dear Lord — “think that we actually fix this.”

That was true. They’d seen a few instances like this, people getting turned away. And there had been a few fearful times, too, (quiet part) like this, but their coworkers had been around the front those times, out of smokes, out of whatever to do. So it had been okay.

And those times, it hadn’t been…

7:45 PM​

Fifteen minutes before closing, maybe one of the more important nights in—

“Well, so, no... then… what the fuck do you even do here?” He sniffed and he grabbed at his nose, ignoring the washing machine bodies and fridge doors lined up against the other wall, then put his hand around the base of his neck. “What do you even do here? Besides be fucking incompetent?”

“...W-we do kitchen, and… and…”

“We do kitchen, and, uh, uh. I’m trying to get this fucking fixed. And this is an appliance store, right? So…”

Soren’s voice took on the low urgent undertones of faraway traffic. “We— Have you checked with the vendor? With the… and y—... w—... we close in fifteen minutes.”

“The fuck’s the ‘vendor’?”

“We close in fifteen minutes.”

“What?”

7:46 PM​

By this point they had reached a place of panic: “Fourteen minutes. We close in fourteen minutes. So you should—”

“Well, I just can't fucking leave it here overnight. So just take the time, just quick, so it’ll—”

“We close in fourteen minutes.”

“‘Fourteen minutes.’ ‘Fourteen minutes.’ How long have you been fucking working here? That you somehow can’t fix this fucking shit in fourteen minutes?"

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

“Yes. Yes, you fucking can. You’re just being fucking—"

Rare angry panic, wide hot eyes at the floor, desperate, summoning: “We close in fourteen minutes! I’m sorry, but I’m trying to tell you something! We close in fourteen minutes! We close in fourteen minutes!!! This is a VAPORIZER, we don't—”

He put his hands over his ears. “GOD. God. You know what? Fucking unbelievable.” And he started stomping his way out. “I’m done. And you know what else? I'm gonna go and I'm gonna go around telling everyone to never fucking come here. Because they won't fucking help you. They'll fucking yell at you instead."

Soren’s face broke with a long-roiling stress sweat. “We're sorry we couldn’t help you.”

“Fuck you, bitch. You fucking bitch. Fucking unprofessional. Crazy.”

The door closed. Quiet fell down over the store. Soren took a few barely-there breaths. Still so very activated.

Then their boss came out of his office very ashen and serious. Smouldering.

“What was that?”

They wiped their face away, trying to be casual though their voice was still shaking. “Just a guy.”

“That’s not what I meant. What did I just hear out here?”

“It was a guy. He…”

“Soren?”

“Yeah?”

“I want you in my office. Before you go home for the evening.”

“Okay.”

7:59 PM​

No one else came in. So Soren went through the checklist ahead of the hour. Used their key on all the locks it needed to be used on. The register and the sliding cabinet beneath it and so on. Turned off the backlights.

Early end to the business day. Not a common occurrence there.

Brick-wall room with a desk and a computer and no windows: he’d been smoking. It gave Soren a headache. They grabbed at their forehead. Imprecise fingertips.

Their boss sat back in his leather desk chair, rolling a stress ball around in his big hands.

“Soren.”

“Yeah.”

“So… what was that?”

“A guy came in.”

“Did I really hear you out there yelling at a customer?”

“No.” They shielded their eyes behind slats of fingers so that their boss couldn’t see them. A childish thing to do. They were well aware of that.

“Did you yell at a customer, Claret?”

“No. Yes. He was yelling at me.”

"No or yes?"

"Yes, but he was yelling at me first."

“And you yelled at him, and you didn’t bother to go get me.”

“He was a tall guy. He was being aggressive and he was scaring me.”

“Okay. Okay, so, I heard profanity. Did you use profanity when you were talking with him?”

“No.”

“Did you swear at a customer?”

“I didn’t do that.”

“Okay. And you’re sure?”

What the fuck? “Yeah.”

“Alright. Alright. Here's what's going to happen. Tonight I’m going to go home, and I’m going to think long, and I’m going to think hard about whether or not to keep you on.”

“Okay.”

“As an employee.”

“Okay.”

“And I’ll tell you what I think tomorrow about you keeping your job.”

“Okay.”

A silence followed, with both of them trying to be so careful about it, about what impression it might give to the other person.

“...God, you’re not really here with me at all, right now, are you?”

They dropped their hands and looked at him. Not speaking. They didn’t need to. It wasn’t a question so asked that it might get an answer. It didn’t need to be.

Soren’s Apartment
Friday, July 7
8:37 PM​

Something they had done hundreds of times — they passed the not-to-be-serviced elevator, went up three floors in a dirty stairwell to a dirty hallway, and then from there, with a key, the dark apartment with air so dry and so dusty that it made them squint. They were always squinting here. They would wake up coughing.

They’d managed to make it out of a studio by breaking a life sentence’s worth of cybersecurity laws. Rent was much harder to afford every month but they had separate rooms now. Separate messes. It felt more like what, in a sick way, it sort of needed to be: a temple. One big shrine to rules (their own), to concentration, to a life lived mostly in the dark, and mostly without moving.

In their living room they had no real furniture. There were three huge monitors on a desk, new machines stacked above old gutted ones as high as filing cabinets. Cables running all over the floor, folded in the corners. This was where most of the money went. Not really thinking, their brain just working, a ritual: they hit a switch and it all came on, humming, like a choir practising perfectly several buildings away.

Then they turned on the ceiling light. Above another table, low, about knee-high. On it were packages of disposable SIM cards and CPUs and unused circuitboards, wire strippers, empty boxes and packing tape, back-issues of engineering magazines. Cat food for when they house-sat for the neighbour on the left. Cleaning products, aerosol. Notepads everywhere. Bulk packs of matchboxes and chewing gum and udon noodles. Multiple fans blowing at once. They needed to take out the trash. Every room needed to be swept.

In their bedroom there were lights strewn everywhere and blank CDs hung up like disco-balls and on the bed there was the suit that they had rented.

Pants and shirt and shoes and blazer.

They never thought they would ever actually wear a suit.

A suit suit.

That there would ever be an occasion where they would have to.

They dropped their things at the foot of their bed, and they looked at this suit, black cloth on black cloth, and as their neighbour on the right's faulty smoke alarm went off for the thousandth time they gave it a chastening look. A stink eye, so to speak.

They sat down and pinched the lapel of the jacket and glared at it. Tried to see, though they already knew, what they would look like in it.

“I really don’t want to do this,” they said to no one, voice full of hate.

But:

9:51 PM​

“I'm lying to myself.”

Then:

10:48 PM​

“No, I'm not.”

Then after awhile they got up again. Went and took a shower and just looked into it, letting the hot water clap them right in the face.

Envy Nightclub
Saturday, July 8
12:45 AM
​

Yellow and purple and white light. It made their eyes spin in their sockets.

His heart beat up to his ears so that it was all he could hear. The lights flashed. In the flashes, Soren could tell: everyone had a card, maybe not like his, but a card that would get them through a door on their way to wherever it was they needed to go. It was all glamorous untimid people of priority and purpose. Shouting and locking arms and tumbling around the fête like players on an opera stage. Altos and tenors.

And then this geek who'd never sung. He'd been taken to a nightclub only one time before. It was on a date which had ended poorly.

Soren went through the crowd and tried not to return any of the looks the other clubgoers were giving her. She was being kept on close watch. Even worse, she wasn't being looked at like she was scandalizing everyone by daring to be there. She'd move her head slightly up and see that some of the people had hunger in their eyes. A hunger at all the things they expected her to know. Like there was a book out there on how to be at a nightclub, on how to be a normal and easy and sexy person and how to do it correctly. And everyone was there dancing around her, barking like wolves, going: you've read it, right? You've read it? Can we quiz you on it?

Some of them tried to reach out. Soren was fast to get away.

Yellow and purple and white light. And diverting shots of blue from some kind of laser every now and then. And their heartbeat which was so loud. And the music going oontz oontz oontz oontz oontz oontz that seemed to shake the building and that would sometimes be louder, louder than Soren's heartbeat, and they would lose it for a minute. And that would frighten them.

Why did they come here?

Why did I come here?

To work for the fucking mob?

The Mob. Capital M.

Criminals. Real criminals who sell people drugs and take out hits and kill you if you say no to them.

Why?

Soren knew exactly why and they could not stand it.

Sick on bad information. Bad self-knowledge. If they could throw it up somehow, they would, but there was a feeling like there was nothing in their stomach at all. Just acid. Maybe it wasn't anything that could be removed. Maybe the poison was already in them.

They stormed out the other side of the crowd. And then everything stopped.

There was the rooftop door. With the guards beside it.

The guards looked at them. Got ready to shoo Soren away if they didn't offer a convincing reason for them being there in five seconds, four, three...

She took out the card. She showed them the kiss.

The doors were opened for them.

They went up the stairs. As if being piloted by someone else.

He passed two women at the bar and took a seat at the very far end, as far from them as possible.

They fixed a neutral look on their face. The bartender came around to them and they just stared straight ahead, not saying anything.

Making peace with their death in as much privacy as they could find there.

Trying not to shudder.

code by birth of venus.

 

[wickedlittlecritta]

devin murphy

the thief

the envy

don't threaten me with a good time

interactions

travelbypages , vixe

From the roof Chicago spread out like a forest of glass and light, the only height in a landscape that rolled on and out unbroken to the sky. It made something small and primal in Devin's brain feel like he was going to get carried off by a giant eagle at any moment.

Devin pulled his eyes from the horizon and focused on his immediate worries. The well-lit pool dominated most of the rooftop, but it was empty. The handful of others who had already arrived had mostly gathered around the bar. It was quieter here than downstairs, the music distant, the lights steadier. This was a business meeting, for sure.

Making his way to the bar, a pair of women--one redhead, one blonde--caught his attention. The blonde was nearing the end of a vicious tirade against someone (an ex, a man, it sounded like) as Devin approached the bar.

"It's far too nice a night, and the company too lovely, to do shots about a man," Devin said, by way of greeting as he selected a seat near them. He was sure drinks were included with the ticket, so the gesture lost some of its meaning, but he leaned over towards the bartender and asked, "What kind of champagne do you keep up here? We're celebrating tonight, after all." He looked at the two women and gave them his best, brightest smile and a wink.

coded by natasha.

 

[neverbackdown]

Elena Garcia

Curious

Envy Nightclub

Isa - r e i / Mentions - Luci logastellus

Click Me

As she took a sip of wine, Elena quickly scanned the faces in the room to see who exactly she was dealing with. The host, off course, was nowhere to be seen but Elena had already guessed they would be making a grand entrance once everyone had arrived.

Her eyes landed on a familiar face and a small smile played on her lips as she watched Isabella enter the room. The woman was still a mystery to her, she had managed to overpower Elena the first night they met, something that Elena was not used to happening and yet Elena still felt somewhat protective over her. She couldn't explain the feeling but put it down to the fact that Isa appears a lot more vulnerable and innocent than she really is.

Seeing that Isabella was with someone, Elena decided against approaching her, just yet anyway, and found herself moving towards the outside of the area. Being on the sideline was always an advantage point, perfect view and easy escape and with her back against the wall no-one could sneak up on her.

As she took another sip of her wine and allowed herself to start thinking about what was to come, movement caught her eye and she smirked as she noticed Isabella walking towards her. The smirk only growing as the girl spoke to her.

"Ah you know, can't miss out on the action" she laughed in an almost sing-song tone as a smile found its way on her lips. "It's good to see you Isa" as she spoke her eyes landed on the man watching them from afar. She motioned her head towards him slightly before looking back at Isa "I see you brought your own personal bodyguard?" she commented with a slight tone of amusement to her voice. The idea of Isa needing a bodyguard almost made Elena laugh but she was curious as to this man was.

 

[r e i]

Isa smiled at Lee, something about the girl drew her in. Their talks became a highlight of her night after her fights. She understood her in a way that she never got before.

"Of course not, you bring most of it anyway. The action that is."

She said as she laughed at her. She might have overpowered her that time but she got skills. It just so happened that Isa is more skilled, due to her training but she would rather let Lee take the lead in most fights. Her way of fighting is more..fun to watch than the straight beatdown that Isa would have given them.

"It's good to see you too, Lee."

She told her with a soft smile as she looked at her. Isa even with Lucifer by her side, was unsure of this meeting. Knowing that she was going to be owned by a Ludo was more scary than anything. The Ludovici family even being less in the mafia world, and the underground was a known name. Even with their house diminished, their name still strikes fear in the hearts of most people in the underground. Everyone knew better than to cross them, and now she was going to be working for them. Doing whatever Beatrice Ludovici asked of her while hiding her own secrets, she needed someone there. Not Papa, but someone that were outside of her secrets and everything about her.

That someone was Elena.

Isa smirked as Elena pointed out Luci who hadn't taken his eyes off of her since she moved to talk to her.

"Him? He's my overprotective best friend."

She said grinning

"He got a job offer as well, and well he's here. He does like to act like my bodyguard but he's just an overprotective friend."

She and Luci both agreed to keep the true nature of their relationship until she felt like they were safe. To everyone here, they were just best friends than father and daughter. Plus most people look at them, with their seven-year age difference, and wouldn't think father and daughter.

It worked in their favor most of the time, and they didn't mind since it was safer that way.

"So are you here because you are bored and wanted action or?"

capo of the muscle

isa.

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♡coded by uxie♡

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[vixe]

Violet Chandler

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The first thing she noticed about the rooftop was the immediate cool breeze that cooled off her warm skin. The second was the massive, crystal clear pool that seemed to almost glow as her eyes adjusted to the light that emitted from the water’s reflection. Quickly, she noted how quiet it was upstairs. The steady thumping at the bass from downstairs could still be heard and made her long to slip back down stairs until ever one had showed up but, fate had other plans.

A small, soft hand wrapped around hers, forcefully dragging her towards the bar. She didn’t even have to look at her kidnapper to know who it was. Her perfume filled her nostrils the second Selena entered her personally space.

“I fucking hate him.” Violet, unconsciously let a snort erupt from her lips in her drunken haze. Fucking Salem. Violet couldn’t place her finger one what Selena saw in him—why she was so obsessed with with some mediocre guy with a weird ass name, who names their kid Salem anyways?

A shot had been placed in front of her, when did she order a shot? Shrugging the girl pick up and shot back the liquid, un phased by the burn in the back of her throat.

"Fucking saying I'm his as if he owns me. He has no fucking right." Sel continued her rant while Violet pulled her close, resting her chin on the girls shoulder. She smelled so good, compared to the sweaty bodies she was dealing with down stairs.

“Hmm you smell good, Sel.” She mumbled against the back of her neck, “is that new perfume?” Violet didn’t really want to hear about the drama with Salem, so she tried to butter her up, make her feel good about herself as much possible so that maybe she could just forget about him, even if it was just a for a little while. If she wasn’t here on business she would’ve taken Selena to the lounge and made all of her troubles fade away.

The arrival of another had her attention move slip from her grasp and the situation at hand as her grip on Selena lessened. Her eyes lit up, watching the person dart for the farthest chair at the bar. A soft giggle pushed past her lips as she called for the bartender. She ordered a round of shots for the bar. Then she pulled away from Selena to take a seat, for the first time that night.

It wasn’t long before another tiny glass was being placed in front of her. Her hands eagerly snatched it from the bar top and held it up towards the stranger sitting alone at the edge of the bar. She gave them a wink before throwing back her 15th (give or take, who’s counting?) shot that night. Oh, she was definitely feeling it now as she could help but squirm in her seat while her stomach felt warm and bubbly. Violet wanted to dance, but, she couldn’t. She had to remain precessional, this was a business meeting after all. Which meant she had to make a good impression on these new recruits for the sake of the Ludovici Family.

“It's far too nice a night, and the company too lovely, to do shots about a man," A wicked grin etched into her features. The first recruit, of many to make themselves known.

“What kind of champagne do you keep up here? We're celebrating tonight, after all." Her grin grew even wider as she turned towards the man.

“Excellent idea, Mr— uh, I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch your name?” Violet leaned on the bar with her elbow on the countertop and batted her eyelashes at the handsome stranger.

“I’m Violet, second in command.” A flute of the golden bubbly liquid appeared in front of her, she picked up and took a sip.

“Don’t worry, I don’t bite unless you ask me to.” She placed a hand on the Small of Selena’s back. “This one, with the boy troubles, is Selena.” Another (long) sip of her drink.

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[logastellus]

the weapons expert

location

the envy.

mood

bored.

outfit

outfit over here.

mentions

Isa//Elena//Soren
r e i // neverbackdown // celadon.

Lucifer Holmqvist.

Lucifers' eyes continued scanning over the dimly lit room, noting the number of exits, possible weapons and people were present. Letting a long breathe of smoke and tobacco exhale from between his lips he let his eyes lock in on the red lipped and black dress woman walking towards he and Isabella. He stepped a few inches back when the woman arrived and continued his stare at her while listening to her conversation with Isa. The two women continued their small talk when he saw a waitress walk around the room offering pre-made alcoholic drink on a black metal tray. Quickly grabbing whatever contents that was on the tray, his mouth almost collided with the concoction before he paused hearing the question the shorter of the three of them asked. "I see you brought your own personal bodyguard?" The drink was lowered from his mouth, he was about to respond with an insult before Isabella quickly spoke for the both of them.

Listening to the answer Isa gave, he made eye contact with the black dress cladded woman before downing the contents in his glass. "Yeah...best friend..." He huffed then walked away letting the two women converse when his eyes landed on a small figure at the end of the bar, making his way over he slid into the seat next to her and retrieved another cigarette from his pocket before slipping it between his lips and litting it. He lifted two fingers to call the bartender over "I'll have a boulevardier...and don't skimp on the whiskey" he watched as they walked away to make his drink before taking a drag of his cigarette letting it fill his lungs before exhaling. "Funny...they sent a child an invitation...guess they're desperate and will offer anyone a spot in their little club" He took a brief look at them before staring at the bartender as they placed his drink on a napkin then walked away. Looking at the beverage he grabbed it taking a sip before talking again. "I'm not one for starting let alone involving myself in conversations but...tell me what the ludovici family wants with a twig like you" He inhaled smoke from his cigarette before exhaling waiting for their answer.

coded by natasha.

 

[travelbypages]

SELENA WHITLOCK

Selena was reeling from the conversation with Salem. She hated him but loved him. She hated that she loved him. Either way she'd be getting wasted. When Vi pulled her close, Selena loosely placed a hand on her friends hip. They had a history, most of the time just texting each other to meet up in each others rooms for a quick night. Usually when they were drunk or lonely. Or both. She liked Vi, and maybe in a different universe where she wasn't so caught up by Salem's mind games, she and Vi would be an item, "it is a new perfume." She said, her tone changing a little from Vi's flirting. That was one thing about Selena, was that even if she was mad or upset about something, her mind could be easily distracted by something, or someone, else.

She was just about to make some comment about Vi when a new voice brought them both out of their little bubble and Vi quickly took a seat as they ordered both shots and champagne, "both are yum either way." She said and quickly downed her shot, just looking to get as drunk as she could before basically chasing it with the champagne, "you're right. Bartender! I think we'll be needing more of these." She told him and waved the champagne flute before turning back to the stranger as Vi introduced herself and Selena, "it's nice to meet you." She said and reached around to shake his hand, stepping a little closer to Vi. She was too antsy to sit just yet. She quickly downed the champagne just as the bartender replaced it with another.

"SO!" She paused for dramatic effect as she took the new champagne glass and looked at the two, a rather flirty glint in her eyes. She was curious to see who would jump at this chance, though Vi seemed rather wasted, "who would like to dance with me on this fine night that's too fine to worry about boy troubles. Y'know, before Queen Bea makes her entrance..." She said, giving the both of them a look. Hey, if she struck out with the new guy, then she definitely wouldn't have troubles getting close with Vi. At this point she didn't care who she was taking home, just as long as it took her mind off of a certain someone. Plus, Sel wasn't too picky. Which was obvious with her infatuation with Salem.

Mentions: Vi - vixe and Dev - wickedlittlecritta

coded by kaninchen

 

[Lizy]

tara blanc.

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Tara surveyed the rooftop, curious as to whose company she was in. She didn't spot any familiar faces among the crowd beginning to gather. She always appreciated the company of strangers; not knowing anyone (or rather, no one knowing her) made it all the easier to manipulate situations. She could twist a web of lies in a matter of seconds if need be. She had to remind herself, though, that tonight was not the night for her usual games. If she was going to work with these people, she couldn't be someone new every time she spoke to someone here. She couldn't be Rachel Murphy, or Kelly Anderson, or Raquel Smith. No, tonight she was Tara Blanc. Though that didn't mean the people here would be able to learn much about her, the real her was closely guarded behind high walls. Besides, Tara felt she wasn't even sure who the real her was at this point. She'd been playing these identity games for much too long. Still, she loved the thrill and the rewards that came with playing, at this point she wasn't going to stop.

Deciding she wanted to observe for a bit before mingling, Tara headed for the bar. Now, she didn't like getting drunk, hating the lack of control that came with being inebriated, but a single glass of wine wouldn't hurt. As she approached, a woman with fiery red hair immediately caught her attention. The hair was bold and obviously eye-catching, but that's not why she pulled Tara's focus. There was just something so familiar about her. Brushing that thought off for a second, she took her place at the bar, a few seats over from the redhead and the two companions she was chatting with. "A glass of Malbec, please," she said to the bartender with a smile. While the bartender went to retrieve her wine, her gaze drifted back to the redhead, observing her for a few seconds longer than what would be considered a normal glance. Oh shit. She did know this woman, and she remembered exactly how their paths had crossed.

"Thanks," Tara said as the bartender placed a glass of wine in front of her. As the bartender went off to help others at the bar, she took another slight side glance at the woman, just to confirm that she was who she thought she was. And she was right. Well, to a certain extent. She, without a doubt, recognized the woman as Ruby Olsen. Although they had met on a job and Ruby seemed smart, Tara wouldn't be shocked if Ruby was just a cover name. The two had met while conning a politician; they both happened to be going after the same target, but they had different goals, so they realized if they banded together, they could help each other. But that's not where that ended. No, Tara recalls their working relationship being a little less than professional. She very rarely mixed business with pleasure, but that job was one of the few exceptions, ending their scheme with a bang. Literally. She just hoped that "Ruby" wouldn't be completely pissed that she left it the way she did, just disappearing sometime early in the morning without any closure. She regretted leaving it that way; she just didn't know how else to handle it. She was so unfamiliar with sharing her personal life with someone that she had decided that simply jumping ship would be easiest for both of them. Still, she'd had a good time and gotten along with the woman rather well. Maybe tonight they could reconnect, this time not under the guise of disguises and manipulation. Tara decided against approaching her for now; she didn't want to cause any drama while she was with her friends. No, she'd sit back and sip her wine, waiting for a good moment to make herself known, or maybe the redhead would spot her and approach herself. Who knows what the night had in store?

your woman

white town

♡coded by uxie♡

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[wickedlittlecritta]

devin murphy

the thief

the envy, rooftop

don't threaten me with a good time

interactions

vi vixe , selena travelbypages

Devin couldn't help but feel pleased that he'd managed to introduce himself to the new boss' inner circle on a whim. "A pleasure to meet you, Violet, Selena. My name's Devin. I'm in acquisitions," he added with a wink.

The champagne appeared in iconic flutes, the pale gold liquid bubbling invitingly. Devin took a sip. It had bright notes of citrus and pear, and a richer after note of pastry. Definitely not a cheap champagne. His interest--in the evening, in Beatrice, in the job--increased.

He was about to ask for more information (Violet seemed the delicious combination of well-informed and very tipsy), but before he could decide on his approach Selena asked for a dance, looking between him and Violet like it were a challenge, or maybe a dare.

Devin could never resist a dare.

He grinned at Selena, setting down his glass and rising from his seat at the bar. "I'm smart enough to know better than turn down a dance with a beautiful woman." He offered Selena his hand.

coded by natasha.

 

[vixe]

Violet Chandler

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And just like that, Selena had been swept off her feet by a man by the name of Devin who was apparently in acquisitions. Violet didn’t mind. She didn’t own Selena and that was very apparent with het she relationship with Salem. Violet saw how the girl looked at him and she knew that Selena’s would never look at her like that but it didn’t bother her. Violet would always be the second choice when it came down to it. Violet brought her flute of champagne to her lips and downed the whole thing in one go. She slid the flute to edge of the bar and signaled to the bartender to refill the glass. Champagne wasn’t really her thing but, then again she’d take any alcohol as long as it got her drunk.

With Selena gone and the lack of music on the rooftop Violet was beginning to get bored. There was one thing that Violet hated more than anything and that was being bored and sitting idle. But, it was at point that she had noticed another had joined her at the bar. Violets eye’s swept over her briefly, noting that there were only a few bar stools between the two of them. A respectable distance, not to close but close enough to overhear the conversation between her, Devin and Selena. A smirk lifts up the corner of Violet’s mouth. The women looked vaguely familiar.. she could quite put her finger on it but Violet knew that she had seen this beautiful women before.

Violet turned around leaning her back against the bar. She watched the women bring the glass of wine to her perfectly plump lips and take a sip.. and then it hit her. She’d know those lips anywhere and they just so happened to belong to a beautiful brunette by the name of Lydia Mackenzie. Violet’s already warm face felt even warmer as she recalled back to a time when they would slip underneath the sheets for passionate night together, only for Lydia to slip away into the night. Usually she’d she her, bright and early at the office but one day Lydia left, never to be seen again. That is, until now. Here she sat, in all her glory, sipping of a glass of red wine—a glass of Malbec most likely. A part of Violet’s heart ached for the girl but another, a much bigger, part understood. It was part of the game—the lifestyle they had so proudly integrated themselves in. Still, Violet had missed Lydia.. she even looked for her for months after the con had ended.

Before she could even think about it, her feet were moving towards the women. A soft chill ran down her spine as Lydia’s familiar perfume filled her nose. Violet inhaled her scent deeply before she sat down next to her, sipping on her glass of champagne.

“You still like Malbec?” She asked, not even looking over at Lydia. A part of her was nervous—nervous that she had just imagined her.

“Do you remember that night? When we ordered that bottle of Malbec.. and we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other? And.. do you remember how you left in the middle of the night? No note, no anything?”

Finally Violet looked over at her—her breath catching a little bit I’m the back of her throat. Damn Lydia was beautiful.. she always had been.

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.