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Emerald City

DDay

▶ ▷ Birth name ◀ ◁

Damon A. Day

▶ ▷ Stage name ◀ ◁

DDay

▶ ▷ Nicknames ◀ ◁

Dee, Double D, Daddy D, D-Man

▶ ▷ Birthday ◀ ◁

Private. Musician's request. Cannot be found on the internet. Fans are always guessing.

▶ ▷ Age ◀ ◁

Twenty-three

▶ ▷ Education ◀ ◁

Had a travel tutor until he turned eighteen. Has up to a high school education.

▶ ▷ Occupation ◀ ◁

American rapper, singer, dancer, emcee, songwriter, and actor. Desires to become a record executive and record producer, with his own label company in Emerald City. If he has time, he'd also become an entrepreneur potentially developing and creating his own clothing line, owning a restaurant, and developing his own alcohol brand. He will always strive for more, even when he reaches his goals.

▶ ▷ Notable Physical Attributes ◀ ◁

• Complete Heterochromia. Left eye, amber (wears a red contact for aesthetic). Right eye, green.
• 191.8 cm / 6 ft 3.5 in ✖ 76 kg / 168 lb ✖ 12 US.
• Frame is slim and toned.
• Strong arched brows, thick eye lashes, warm undertone skin (sun kissed white).
• White American, with Scottish, Norwegian, German, & Native American in his acestory.
• Hip hop fashion meets "Rebel Without a Cause" trope.

▶ ▷ Personality ◀ ◁

• Known as a "Heartthrob" & "Lady Killer" even if he's openly bisexual.
• Blunt & Brash.
• Prideful & Arrogant.
• Temperamental & Taunting.
• Sarcastic & Unpredictable.
• Decisive & Desired.
• Spirited & Flirtatious.
• Persistent & Adventurous.
• Confidant & Loyal.
• Under the mask: Lonely & Attention-Seeking.

▶ ▷ Short Biography ◀ ◁

DDay has the game locked. His career started at the age of three as a child star. He found love for music by being the main character's younger self in Legend Has It (1999) - a movie that follows a busser turned rapper, gaining advancement while being involved in a gang. He was more active in the film scene when he was younger than he is now. After his parents divorced, when he turned six, he focused on music, and in that regard, his father noticed. His father, a self sufficient travel photographer, explorer, and stock trader, spent a good portion of his life grooming his son to become an idol.

By age thirteen, Damon had a manager, who doubled as his agent, a traveling tutor, who doubled as his nanny, and a publicist, who doubled as his stylist. For most of Damon's teen years, his father was in and out of his life, following his wanderlust, and allowing his hired staff to parent his child. As for Damon's relationship with his mother, it's non-existent. Infidelity led to a crack in their perfect family image and her existence has been forgotten. Her identity unsearchable on the web.

With fame, glory, and money skyrocketing, DDay found his sound and catered to those who enjoyed hardcore rap, but also provided hip hop, contemporary R&B, trap, and pop to his larger targeted audience (females). His life has always been on the fast lane, creating an ambition hard to satiate and energy difficult to store. This can be translated to: feeling bored, restless, and empty.

In his prime now, he's stumbled on this alluring rarity known as Emerald City. Deciding to take a sabbatical to work on his new album, spontaneously and to the dislike of the local townspeople, Damon bought a second home, away from LA, right next to them, on the outskirts of the city. What he is unaware of is, he has never had a place to actually call his home. Perhaps that's what drew him to this place... the need for a home, a beautiful one at that. Maybe eventually, when he is ready to truly settle, Emerald City could be just that. His home.

Love at first sight.

_{Anime character: Ichiro Yamada from Hypnosis Mic; Dialogue color B42020}

Emerald City

Sees all these girls... considers making male idol

Emerald City

@The Muse >.>
<.<

I might take it.

_{But I still want a farm character eventually}

Emerald City

What you guys brainstorming?

I have three potential concepts, but I definitely want to give this rp some variety.
Farm leaning. I think it would be an overall fun, wholesome write.
Actress leaning. Either upcoming or already an idol.
Teaching leaning. Seems like a good position to get involved with characters.

I love the characters so far! Diverse.

Emerald City

@The Muse Hey boo, I am interested but please be patient with me. I leave this Wednesday for an almost week long trip for personal stuff.

REBOOT COMING SOON. INVITE ONLY.

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Location | The Great Outdoors, for AJ at least.
Mentions of | Mostly Val @Dirty Pretty Lies.
Little mentions of others here and there.
Interacting with | Each other Chris @GhostMami & AJ @TootsiePop
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Not uneducated of the area that he was in, AJ didn’t walk too far from the campsite. Those that hiked in the backcountry, off the established trails, are advised not to travel alone. In addition, there were over 20 hiking trails with different difficulty levels, and it was night, which meant it was even more dangerous than it would be during the day.

He hoped his friends, and their friends, didn’t decide to go on a nightly adventure, and if they did, he hoped they weren’t dumb enough to stray from the path. Knowing this unpredictable batch... Who knows!

Truly, no one wanted another disaster, right? Like in the form of venomous rattlesnake bite or falling off a cliff…. right? He hoped not. However, things weren’t looking so hot for them. It was their first day and there was already an accident and a fight. Both where he was at the center of it. Was this a smart idea? A last hurrah road trip? No one seemed to be enjoying themselves. No one seemed to want to do this anyways.

Why was he getting depressed all of a sudden? Wasn’t he just inspired to say ‘fuck it all, let’s have a good time’? Sighing to himself, he headed towards the visitor center. Let’s hope they’ll stay put and take it easy. They had a hobo to entertain. The closest hiking trail to the visitor center was the Moenkopi loop, difficulty level easy. Deciding the best reception place was probably here, he took a seat at a picnic table. Still in sight was a now minuscule bonfire.

His lips curved into a sheepish smile. Gaining distance from everyone gave him some relief. He felt like he could catch a break. It was times like this where he could see the world stopping, as he took in the beauty of his surroundings. The night sky. The fresh air. The humidity. If it weren’t for all the negativity in his mind, one could say nature and travel brought the best out of him. He wouldn’t know. Right now, he cared too much about what everyone thought about him. Right now, he was the fool that wrecked a shitty RV. Right now, he was guilty for hurting Val.

After he slipped on his bluetooth and his service slowly connected with the nearest satellite to call Chris, AJ leaned back, so he can stare up at the view. Reception was barely at the mid mark, but it did get through. The ringback tone was all AJ could focus on, as his narrowed eyes studied the distant lights entangled in the sky of midnight velvet.

Armed with a bowl full of mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot fudge, and chocolate sprinkles, Chris elbowed open the door to his room and kicked it closed behind him. Dinner with his mom went well. It was just the two of them, Gwennie was busy. That was probably for the best, because her being around would have lead to more rolling around in the sheets and less preparing for tomorrow’s exam. Not hot blonde distractions tonight.

Chrysler had done as much as he could to study for his practical. He knew what he knew and his hands would do what they’re capable of, and that was that. If he failed… well, he could always just become a wandering vagrant or something. Hopefully he wouldn’t fail, but Chris always thought it best to never get his hopes up. Less disappointment that way. With his fate more or less decided, the teen plopped down into his futon bed — currently in couch mode and covered in a mess of blankets — and began to engage in Netflix & Chill all by his lonesome. You know, the actual literal PG version.

As soon as he had lifted the first spoonful of sweet confection to his lips, his phone buzzed in his back pocket. Lifting a cheek, he pulled it out and screened the call. AJ, oh boy, this would require pausing Peaky Blinders. His best friend was known to be quite long-winded on the phone. And in real life. Basically all the time. He got that from his momma, from what Chris gathered of the duo. Lord knows how his dad could handle all of that drama under one roof.

“Ahh, he lives.” Chris answered the phone mockingly. Having not heard back from AJ until now, it seemed an apt joke. “Still smiling?”

Grin. “How can I not smile while talking to you?” Playfully teasing, AJ could admit to himself that hearing Chris’ voice did help elevate his mood. It was gay, but whatever. “You ready to ace your exam?” For once, AJ wasn’t steering the conversation toward his turmoil. Friends gotta’ be considerate of others, sometimes.

Chris looked down at the bowl of sin in his lap. “Uhh… I’m stress eating ice cream and contemplating if I’d be a decent criminal. That count?”

“You’ll be fiiiiiine, Chris.” Sitting up, AJ brought his gaze back to the small fire in the distance, “As a criminal and a mechanic. I bet you could do both.” He snickered, his laugh echoing in the receiver.

Mm, ice cream sounded baller right now.

He chuckled at AJ’s response. He hadn’t considered both as an option, but maybe. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Even if all else failed, Chris could always count on having AJ in his corner. “So how’d things shake out earlier? Did you get my texts?”

Did I get your texts? Clearing his throat, taking a moment to run his right hand through his unruly hair, AJ cheesed in an anxious kind of way, “I did... but. I was a little preoccupied.” After another moment, he rubbed his hands together and thought of his next words. What to say, what to say. Deciding to let out another laugh, simply at the thought of remembering what transpired hours ago, AJ assured his lover boy, “Don’t you worry, Valentine. I still got my shiny teeth.”

“Yeah I wasn’t too worried, not when ya have the crazy russian with ya. So everyone’s alright then?” Chris said before taking a big minty bite of ice cream. Cold. The spoon was very cold. Brain freeze incoming.

“No… not necessarily…” His voice trailed off and his eyes went down to the ground as if Chris was right there, giving him that stern, grumpyface look. How could he lie to his friend? He just couldn’t! He’d plead the fifth. “Soooooooo… the shitty — like why were they even driving — RV, was owned by the Cuban guy from my school, y’know, Sami? And it might’ve ended with me, errrr, making Val… emotional. BUT IT ISN’T MY FAULT!” He suddenly defended his honor. “SHE BLAMES ME FOR HER PROBLEMS AND I MIGHT’VE YELLED TERRIBLE THINGS BACK AT HER THAT I KNEW WOULD HURT LIKE A BITCH!”

Ah, there it was. Classic AJ. Chris blinked a few times, partially because he was recovering from brain freeze, partially because he was digesting information. Cuban guy named Sami? Chris had recognized the voice from the phone and wondered if it could be the same guy he went to middle school with. Maybe he transferred to rich bitch school at some point, Chris had no idea, he’d kinda fallen out of touch with most of his old crew since he got kicked out. But that was neither here nor there.

“Val, huh? Weird that you guys would run into each other randomly like that, but I mean like… you’re both always kinda like that…” Like what exactly? Was there a word for it? Like what happens when a tornado meets a volcano, just like that one song said. But that song was about a couple, and AJ and Val weren’t a couple. Buttt, maybe they should be? Whatever, not his business, as long as AJ fulfilled his end of the bet. “Just like, wait for things to cool down and apologize. Get her some food or some shit.”

Swiftly and with complete disgust, AJ retorted, “Why do I have to apologize?!” Just thinking back at the fight, he was getting heated. Maybe they needed to talk sooner rather than later, only so he could burn the bridge down. Hellfire! “It’s MY fault she pushes me away because what? I loved Jamie? Break up happens. Boom. She’s back! Then Mandy comes on in and I’m just a GOOD ASS FRIEND. She ghosts me again. Like what the fuck??? Y’know what. I’m NOT going to be the better person. Not this time. Why should I?!” He was standing up now, ready to start round two.

“Jesus, calm your ass down, aiight?” Here he was getting all riled up when Chris was trying to have a relaxing night. At least this distraction was keeping him from stressing about tomorrow. “First off, you should apologize because only pussies don’t apologize when they know they fucked up, and YOU just TOLD me that you said some things in the heat of the moment that you probably shouldn’t have. Own your shit, be a man.” The advisor ate another scoop of ice cream in a breath between lines. “Secondly—” Chris began, with a mouthful. “Are you really that thick headed? This shit is so obvious, you know why she’s flyin’ off. She’s jealous, dude.” On god, why did this kid need so much help getting it in.

The rich, naive, so naive boy had a response in his head after Chris told him to be a man. It would’ve been a heavy sigh and a simple ‘you right’, but the next part shook him. “What?” The anger dissipated and his feet that were planted in the sand felt... light. He felt light. Jealous? Really? Of what? Of ME?

Breaking out of this sudden trance, AJ laughed it off obnoxiously, “Pfft. Jokes. Chris is full of jokes.” It was unbelievable. Uncanny! Unheard of! She got jealous over people hanging over Nate, not him.

“I ain’t jokin’, dude.” Chris replied with an exasperated laugh. He set down his bowl on the end table with a porcelain clank. Grabbing his smokes and a light, he made his way to the window and opened it wide so he could blow out the smell. Last thing he needed was his moms whirling in and losing her shit too.

“Think about it. You just said it yourself, right?” Chrysler took a long drag and then exhaled. “Y'all were tight as hell, but then you get a boyfriend. And you in love and spending all this time, probably engaging in all kinds of PDA because you a slut for sure, so she gets bent and backs off. But then you break up, and guess who comes back trying to get it in? Things go back to the way it was for a while. But now you run into Val, and you got this hot lil honey in your passenger seat heading out on a summer vacation together, and she goes bananas. You see it now, bro? She wants to be that honey.” This shit was elementary, as far as Chris was concerned. How on earth was AJ this oblivious? Must have dated a dude for too long, forgot the complex ways of women.

As much as AJ wanted to continue to be in denial, the painted picture Chris just shoved in his face was too daunting, too shocking for him to fight back. Was he that ignorant to her feelings? Those darted eyes that stabbed the back of Jamie’s skull, while he kissed his first love in the hall. Or when he rushed to give her a hug and she just shouldered him, ice cold. Calculating and mapping their memories, he could see a difference when he took her out, she at his side, and when he was surrounded by everyone, but her.

When Mandy needed a place to stay, Tink didn’t agree it should be with a guy. Mandy was housed at his place, and Aleks, and other guys’ cribs for that matter. All who Val considered her close companions… was he this stupid? “...it’s just platonic.” He whispered, more to himself than Chris.

How should he feel with this newfound information? Part of him couldn’t believe she liked him more than just a friend. Part of him was… confused. Extremely confused. If she loved him, really loved him, why would she lie? Why didn’t she just say it? Like really say it.

“I dunno man, just think about it is all I’m saying. Girls get weird about stuff like that, can’t just say what they feel.” Not his girl though. Chris was blessed with a girl that did nothing BUT speak her mind, all the damned time too. He wouldn’t want it any other way though. “Apologize, clear shit up. Carry on with your trip, you’re supposed to be having fun, bruh.” Chris took another drag. “Where’d y'all end up tonight anyway?”

Get it together, dumbass. Mentally scolding himself, choosing to focus on the present and not looking at Val in a different light, his stomach unpleasantly pleasantly unpleasantly curling on the inside, AJ calmly answered, “Red Rock. All of us. Every. Single. Fucking. One. Of. Us. Minus Mandy. Mandy bounced. Sami hates me. Emilia keeps crying because when she sees me and Matt she probably thinks of scum. Most of ‘em don’t like me because of what I did to Val. Yessi hugs me close to her tits. Aleks is exhausted. The usual. And oh, we have a new hobo friend that speaks french.”

Red Rock? That probably meant they were camping instead of hotelling it. For a moment, Chris felt a pang of missing out. He loved camping… not so much the drama that seemed to be surrounding this particular trip though. Chris nodded as he listened along and then stopped at the last part. “Wait, hold the fuck. You have a what?” He flicked a bit of ash out the window and let the night breeze take it. “Y’all a bunch of white people out there camping and are just chill with a hobo joining you? Haven’t you seen any horror movie ever, this is why you guys are usually the stars of ‘em. You don’t see asians doing that.” You don’t really see asians camping at all, but that was beside his point. Point was, they were probably chillin with a crazy french ax murderer and AJ was way to ‘eh, whatever’ about that.

“It’s all good, Chris. When I get back to the site, they’ll all be singing kumbaya and be drunk as hell. He has a guitar, my man. He’s strumming to that song Gwen just played on the radio. It’s super chill.” The vibes told AJ they weren’t in danger. The french hobo was amicable! And didn’t remind him of his mother, or anyone on her side of the family… now that was SCARY. Always give his mama what she wanted, or the house would catch on fire. Literally. Yep, yep. Regardless, he was more concerned about other matters. “Don't worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing gonna’ be all right.”

Chris just shook his head in response which, of course, AJ had no way of seeing. If things were to go horror movie, they’d probably be okay with Sami and Aleks around. Maybe not Aleks, actually… he and Yessi would be the pair that got killed because they were fucking in the woods. AJ was the pretty boy, he might last about halfway through the film. Anyway, hopefully his friend’s assumptions were correct. “Whatever you say, Bob Marley. Did the hippie bring you some weed or something?” Chris laughed at the uncharacteristic musical reference.

Shrugging to himself, AJ slowly, very slowly, strolled back down the path toward everyone else (there was still a bit of distance), “Iunno. We just met him. I called you LITERALLY right after.”

Stopping himself in his tracks, realizing how unusually nervous he was, returning to his original concern, he hesitantly asked his friend, “...is this trip even worth it?” He wanted to say fuck it and carry everyone’s burdens… but for some reason, this first day, just getting to their first destination, it was all crashing. Was he that afraid to lose everyone and grow up? He was a walking disaster and as his past has shown, especially with Jamie, he damages the things he cares about the most — on purpose. Maybe this last hoorah is his way of saying goodbye, move on, and hurt them before they hurt him. Maybe he was thinking too much and needed a drink.

Yeah, he needed a drink.

Worth it? What did he mean by that? The kid was the walking embodiment of more money than brains — not that he was stupid, he just had that much money. AJ could afford this trip ten times over, of course it was worth it. He was surrounded by his friends, sure a couple of tagalongs joined in, but whatever. One of them is a friend too! Knowing his best friend, Chris figured there was some deeper meaning with that question. Maybe he was just bummed that he wasn’t there to. Was it egotistical to think that? Eh, whatever… “Of course it’s worth it man, you had a rocky start, but you’re gonna have a blast. Save all that worrying for the real world, you’re on vacation now. Go have a drink with your definitely-not-a-murderer hippie friend.”

Yeah, he was right. AJ needed to get in vacation mode. It would be easier with Chris at his side, but whatever. He wasn’t going to put guilt in his Valentine’s mind, the day before his big test. Friends don’t do that shit. “I’ll snap you his face.” The pretty boy jested (not really, he was going to), before deciding it was time to let his friend go until tomorrow a minute after his exam ends, “Good luck, Chris. Don’t let Gwen’s tits distract you.”

“No luck, just skill.” Chrysler responded with slightly feigned confidence. “And I’ll do what I damn well please with them tits. Have fun, I’ll see you soon.”

“I MISS YOU ALREADY.”

REBOOT COMING SOON. INVITE ONLY.

---

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_{▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
Location | Camping grounds.
Interacting with | Errbody that is there.
Some directed to Hugo, some specifically directed to the Misfits, and only avoidance directed to Val.
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃}

Laying on a blanket, salty drops trailing down his face from spending the past hour or two building himself a tent and going on a hike to clear his head, AJ needed to cool down. When he went on a hike, he had starburst in hand (sugary medicine to 'cheer the fuck up'), a water bottle latched to his belt, and a deliberate focus on the golden sun descending. As a precaution, and simply because he wanted to, he chose to make a tent and not rent out a cabin.

Fuck the cabins.

What's the point of camping if you're just going to resort to lodging? Pathetic. The lot of them. For being the 'pretty face, pampered one', who got on everyone's nerves, he seemed to be more comfortable getting down and dirty, more comfortable in the changing settings of nature, more comfortable with adapting, than a handful of them. You can thank his dad and Chris for that. His dad had the cliche rags to riches story, and Chris was Chris. Too prideful to take AJ's inherited money as kindness. If AJ lost it all, he believed he'd be fine. His mother and sister, on the other hand, not so much. That's okay. He'd take care of them.

Deeply sighing to himself, AJ rolled to his side, thinking about calling his Valentine. There was always the urge to rant to him. Did he have a problem? The problem of using Chris as a diary? Probably. But it helped. For clarity purposes. The fact that the trip was turning out to be a pain for him, somehow the Misfits tagging along too, when he had problems with people, specifically Tink, was total balls. The fact that Mandy bailed on them, not even saying goodbye but disappearing and leaving a text for him, was total balls. And don't get him started with the car ride where Emilia kept CRYING, all his efforts of cheering her up were TOTAL BALLS. Regardless, he kept his mood swings at bay, while glaring at the crackling fire projecting long shadows on the surrounding area. As much as he wanted to get lost in the glowing embers, his attention was brought to Sami's mention of Vegas.

Of course they'd want to go to Vegas too.

"I already have reservations at the Bellagio." His tone was barely enthused, "Surprise." His surprise felt empty due to everyone HATING him and Sami taking ALL the credit of a Sin City trip. "The invitation is open to everyone, and if you--" He pushed himself up to stare at the Misfits, purposely avoiding eye contact with Val, "-- aren't comfortable staying at the same pent as us, I'll just call my cousin for another room."

Being friends with AJ meant there were perks, and most that were close to him, knew his aunt, Theresa Kerkorian-Kable, had recently obtained her birthright, MGM Resorts International, which only elevated the status of his professional poker uncle, "The Archangel of Poker", Neil Kable, and his three cousins, Sonya, Elias, and Trent. To be honest, he felt their celebrity status was higher than his family's, but it could be the way they held themselves. Fame was what you made of it and the only thing AJ ever flaunted was his vehicle collection and prowess. His parents, a Technology and Media Guru and a Broadway Star, versus, his uncle and aunt, the Best Poker Player of the Decade and a Hotel Darling. You be the judge.

Fame was fame, and AJ knew he was lucky to be born without the troubles of those with barely anything to their name. The only reason he brings up his money is to take care of the people he cares about. He didn't really see it as obnoxious and disrespectful. If he had the money, shouldn't he share it? That made sense to him, but to some people, they just saw a rich brat.

"Bonjour Monsieurs~! Mademoiselles~! A fine night around the fire, no?!"

Before anyone could accept or decline Sami and AJ's offers, a hippie looking dude invited himself to their fire. Silently, AJ watched the older man strum his guitar with no care in the world. No worry. AJ could tell by looking at him that there were no ill intentions, just a man who wanted company and who fed his wanderlust on a daily. "My apologies les amis if I interrupted, I am simply another traveler looking to explore the world and your fire seemed so inviting." It was refreshing. To be around someone who didn't share similar plights as this odd group of high school graduates.

"How has your day been?" The sweet refrain of the acoustic guitar was nearly in sync to the song playing on the radio. Maybe this was a change in pace AJ needed to be in, to stop brooding and take action. To stop being a baby. Live a life of no worries. Hakuna matata, right? The lion cub needed to take a note from those loved ones and better himself. Without them, he would be only an asshole.

Yes, this was their summer! And dammit, they were going to have FUN.

"Shitty, but I'm over it." Picking himself up, AJ opened up the cooler and gestured for the hobo to take something, "Help yourself to food and drink, dude. You look like you've been walking for days."

With that, he looked back at the large group, "Think about it. Getting another room is just a phone call away. Let's stop wasting our summer being bitches." He should apologize to Val... bury the hatchet, even if it means saying sorry. Internally, he was growling at himself. He hated saying sorry. He wasn't even in the wrong! Opening his mouth to call to her, wanting to ask for some more time to talk, he decided against it. It wasn't the right time. Okay, he was going to be a little bitch for a bit longer.

"I'm going to make a call. Tell ghost stories or play a game. Do something. Get drunk. Have fun!" After turning on his heel, AJ strolled away, down the hiking path once more, and pulled out his phone. Fortunately, he had a portable charger and he could make this call. "Call my Valentine."

What would he do without his phone?

[Canceled]

^{𝓣𝐢𝐦𝐞 ✿ Out of the house since 7 𝒜ℳ
@ Comfort from 8:30 to 9:45 𝒜ℳ
Seven minute walk back to her place, arriving @ 9:52 𝒜ℳ
𝓛𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✿ Streets of NYC, having left Comfort → The Loft
𝓘𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ✿ The Sunset → Her roommates & Becky @Hoekage @NeoAC}

Some people will leave a mark on this world. Some people stood out in a crowd of thousand. Some people were simply... beautiful. Mina Pereira couldn't put her finger on it, but she left Cafe Comfort thinking back at the stranger, now acquaintance, she had met. A young girl with the sunset in her hair. A smoldering hot teenager that seemed to be as passionate about photography as Mina was with music and dance. She made a new friend.

With a wide smile on her face and a bounce to her step, she pranced down the side walk, her hips swaying side to side. Her plastic shopping bag guarded a white box of pastries (double dipped chocolate donut, pumpkin scone with cinnamon butter, banana bread, and a blueberry muffin), all the while her french manicured hands held a tray of drinks. Large coffee with milk and two sugars for her sister, an Iced Americano with almond milk for Khione, a Mocha Frap for Becky, and an Iced Passion Fruit tea for herself.

She cherished her morning solitude. It was the main time she could be with herself, before she conquered her day. Having woken up later than usual, Mina was just happy she was able to get a stroll in. She would've went to the park, but it was blocked off by police. The moment she saw the flashing lights, she turned the other way. There was no time to get depressed. Whatever happened would break her heart. It would surely get on the tellybox within the next hour or two.

Focusing her thoughts on the young dreamer she met, keeping her energy levels at a blissful calm, Mina smiled to herself, incredibly intrigued. Her intuition told her this was someone she didn't want to forget. Someone worth knowing. Someone she could help. They had only met briefly and yet the bubbly musician, whose token feature was her golden and full of life locks, couldn't help but wonder the possibilities of their potential friendship. The possibility of her finding out the damage this girl hid so well with a smile. The possibility of them finding solace with each other because they shared kindred spirits. The possibility of her having a best friend that was outside her world within The Loft. How wonderful would that be?

She was over analyzing this girl already. She couldn't help it! This was how the well sheltered Mina coped when she knew socially she was missing something. Friends, lovers, enemies. Really, she only had Natalia and Khione, and even then, she couldn't fully understand them because of how much life they've lived in comparison to her. Her employers and coworkers from her various jobs didn't count. Neither did Mrs. Mitchell, their fellow landlord and owner to Spin City, count. Whether it was because Mina was weird and people had a hard time accepting odd personalities, or because her sister was threateningly over protective, she could only wonder about the what ifs...

"Pandora..." Mina softly whispered to herself.

This was incredibly strange – to be completely fascinated by a single person when their meeting didn't hold much significance besides a simple exchange:

---

As the sun peered into the shop window, hitting a perfect spot on the peach wall to give Mina a lovely vibrancy and radiance, she took in the smell of espresso, cinnamon rolls, and baking bread. The door was propped open so the scent of the baked goods could flood out and fill the outside area. There was a clean, sweet, and yeasty aroma that warmed even the coldest of hearts.

Before her roommates woke, she liked to spend some of her early morning here, reading a good book and listening to music on her MP3 player. Mina had been rehearsing sweet vibrations and poetic words in her head, only her left earbud in, when a whispering meadow broke her concentration.

"Can I take your picture?"

Mina, whose soft, thick blonde curls lightened at its tips, and blue gaze spoke nothing but soul, glowed when she looked up smiling, absentmindedly turning to the next page of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The teenager confidently standing before her didn't speak loudly. Even so, it was enough to grab the blonde's attention. The Firecracker's voice reminded her of a finely tuned acoustic guitar. Such a mesmerizing tune too. "'Cuse me?" There was a moment of bewilderment in Mina's face. Her lost gaze surveyed the stranger's disposition. She found herself immediately captivated.

"Oh... sorry. I should've introduced myself first. My name is Pandora–" That's different... and cute. I like it. "–I'm building my portfolio for Parsons, and I can't help but think you'd be a perfect model." Come again? Mina, a model? Well, she was an upcoming musician and her and her sister were bound to have higher budget photo shoots sooner or later. Still, was she really that recognizably pretty? To where someone would just walk into a cafe and notice her? "I have a fashion blog, but my portfolio is more focused on capturing beauty in everyday life." Yes. Mina. People see you.

"That's kind of neat! Is photography... your dream? Sorry if that's a dumb question. I'm just..." Surprised. Surprised she was actually approached at one of her favorite spots, out of the countless times she's been here, by someone this eye-catching nonetheless.

"Mina." She closed her book and stood up, so that they were now talking on the same level. "It's really nice to meet you, Miss Pandora." Twiddling her thumbs, she wondered if this was the part where they shake hands. WHY WAS SHE SO AWKWARD?! ALSO, was she a lesbian and didn't know? Or was she just naturally drawn to this dynamite teen? Because Mina couldn't take her eyes off her. She had never seen someone so fascinatingly peculiar before.

The unnatural redhead raised an eyebrow at the warmth emitting from the bottle of Sunshine. Letting out a delightful chuckle, Pandora noted out loud, "Mina, like Wilhelmina Harker." Maybe? Isn't that from Bram Stoker's novel? Pandora nodded to herself, as if she could read Mina's mind (she couldn't, it was just good timing). Genuinely and passionately, she gave her response, as she held her camera that was hanging off her, by a strap, "And yeah, it is. My dream, I mean. It's my way of showing how rich the world is. I want people to see that I'm not afraid to fall in love with my subject. No matter the differences. I'm here to savor life intensely, y'know? Every second, minute, and hour of it." And she hoped that her pictures showed exactly that. A world where supernatural and humans could truly, and purely, coexist.

"Wow." Such profound words for a girl who looked like she had yet reached her twenties.

"...what? Am I talking too much?" Pandora anxiously moved up and down on her tiptoes. We do the same thing! "I get like that some–"

"Oh no, you're fine! I'm just in awe with how eloquent you talk. You know what? Of course you can take my picture and if you ever need a model again, here's my number." Pulling out a pen, out of her backpack purse, she scribbled with big, cutesy cursive her digits (she forgot her flip phone at home). "This is my way of showing my appreciation for you being so bold. It's refreshing and I'm flattered!"

"Really?" The girl that rocked orange and had an enchanting attitude gleamed, obviously proud of her success. Her hazel locked with Mina's blue. Seemingly, there were no ulterior motives.

"Mhm." Reaching out, with her number on a napkin in hand, the shining musician, The Scarlet in The Scarlet Dagger, innocently giggled, "Really. You made my day."

---

Walking up the stairs, from the record store to The Loft, wishing she didn't have so much to carry so she could enter through the fire escape, Mina announced her arrival, while nearing the entrance, "Natty! Kiki! I got goooooooodies!" Only to stop in her tracks. "Oh? Is Becky leaving already? I got her things!" Mina lifted up the tray of drinks and gestured with her eyes toward the plastic bag hooked on her arm.

Politely, she squeezed between the human barricade at the door, "Pardon me, I'm just going to... place these here." After resting the tray and bag on the side table, that usually held their keys, mail, and landline, she huffed in relief, "Home sweet home! I need to shower... I have to be at work by noon." By work, she was referring to her bridal sales job.

As per usual, Mina was in her own world, missing all the signs and social cues, "We still performing tonight?" There were times they got the unfortunate call of their gig getting cancelled or needing to be postponed because someone overbooked. Hopefully tonight wasn't that kind of night because Mina was itching to sing. "Oh, and something bad probably happened at Central Park. There were coppers everywhere! I was too scared to check it out."

REBOOT COMING SOON. INVITE ONLY.

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𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, & 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞.
_{@TootsiePop @Dirty Pretty Lies
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SLAP!

With his face turned away from Valeria, AJ stood silent as everything transpired in tandem. He swallowed the anger festering inside of him, like it was fire-seed within his stomach. Of course, she was with him. Why would she be traveling with this fuck up that knew her longer than anyone else? Right? It wasn't like this was their last young, wild, and free summer together. Right? Makes perfect fucking sense. He let her pull him into an embrace, something he use to find so much comfort in... was downright pissing him off. Was this the gesture of their friendship? She came and went as she pleased. She showed she cared and didn't when she felt like it. She needed him and then she didn't. Like what the fuck? What was he to her? 'I love you, J.' Was this a game? Was he a joke?

sounds like a time to talk with your money

His phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it. Sami walked away like the pussy he was and with that, AJ's dark brown eyes looked past the hair strands in his face to Aleks taking care of business. The man of the hour, already on the job, examining the steam of the cheap ass RV, with phone in hand. His dark gaze darted at a girl he had very little relation with who voiced her opinion glaring loud, as she defended her knight in Cuban armor. A girl with an insignificant, average physique and a boring face trying AJ's patience (Kim). She was so insignificant to him that he didn't even know her name. Tsk. AJ's teeth was tempted to grind, and yet he withheld, because Lord knows that was terrible for his teeth.

He didn't like her.

and not your damn mouth

His eyes narrowed, becoming more rigid, cold, and hard in seconds. Why was the first day of this trip turning out to be legitimate hell? His iris glowered, as he tried to take in Val's scent to settle his emotions. Everything was going to be okay. Everything was just fine. Everyone would just move the fuck on and leave him alone. His eyes shot at Monica who examined him, asking if this was his handiwork.

NO SHIT, SHERLOCK.

call a mechanic

Jesus. His attention was drawn to the now collapsed Emilia, crying. Shit, people, this wasn't the END OF THE WORLD. Why were they being so dramatic? Hell, they needed more than a mechanic. These kids needed counseling. He scoffed and rolled his eyes when Matt did exactly that. Tried to console the shattered, broken Goldie. Please. If anything, he'd make it worse. No one that knew Matt would have the right of mind to go to HIM for 'comfort'.

Finally, after staying dead still, he subconsciously wrapped his arms around Valeria's waist, as yet another face he didn't know by name (Jules) came out of the RV. AJ was pretty sure Yessi considered this boy as a boss bitch – a cute little thing, in AJ's opinion. Maybe he'd use this week to feel him out, for his dare. Watching the boy fall to the ground, more out of exhaustion than out of sadness, AJ thought in aggravation: Come on, the crash wasn't even THAT bad.

And then the last person that came to view was none other than Nate Matthews.

and keep your teeth bruh.

"Good." He whispered into Val's ear, which could answer everything she had yelled at him. Interrupted her dream? Good. I love you. Good. You are a pain? Good. "Do you ever wonder if this..." He glanced at her, bringing awareness to how closely they were holding each other, "Made someone jealous?" The only other person that could possibly hear what AJ was saying was Monica, because of how close she was standing to them. He couldn't tell if his anger was still in a reactive state or not, but now he was out for Val.

Neither of the two were paying attention to anyone else now, not even yet another person appearing (Umbra) and going to Emilia’s aid. They were too caught up with themselves.

Val let out a low chuckle, brown eyes sparkling at her friend’s ridiculous statement. “Nah,” she muttered dismissively in response, hugging AJ tighter. “You know he’s never given a damn about me in that way. To Nate, I’m nothing more than that pesky little fly that persistently annoys you when you’re trying to eat your food and it gets you fucking irritated and you just want to swat it the hell away and pray it doesn’t come back to bother you again.”

Pressing on her painfully tight, his seething anger seeping out of his lips, he laughed at her response, obviously not caring about a damn thing she was saying, "Stop acting like we're okay, because we're not." He was tired of giving her chances. He was tired of forgiving her. He was tired of the games. Did she really think this could make up for their damage? "You're cute." He vindictively teased, kissing her chubby cheek out of spite rather than love, before releasing her.

“I know, J…” the girl admitted to both of her best friend’s statements, biting her lower lip and looking down at her worn Vans as the familiar feeling of guilt rose up like bile up her throat. The second she threw her arms around AJ and he just stood there like a wax figure straight out of Madame Tussauds’ Museum, Valeria knew things between them were not okay.

And how could they be? For the past few weeks, the brunette had put up her walls again: ignoring AJ’s texts and calls, turning down any petitions to hang out, avoiding him whenever possible… But how could she confess the inner turmoil that some of his actions were causing her without sounding like a pathetic bitch? Those who knew her well could attest to the fact that admitting her weaknesses was not something Valeria was fond of, nor something she did often. Hell, she could even count with the fingers of one hand the amount of times she’d confided her feelings in someone (that particular someone being a towering Russian that might or might not be a few feet away from where she and AJ stood- not that it mattered, of course). But in all honesty, Valeria knew she could trust Alfie James Tyler with her life, and he would guard it with his own. Yet she also knew her best friend was just as emotional and explosive as she was. Her biggest fear was that he wouldn’t understand… Which is why she’d thought it best to put up #TheWall and go on with life.

“I’m sorry, man,” Valeria began in an apologetic tone. “And I swear to God there’s a damn good reason for everything that’s going on with me. It’s just-” she suddenly trailed off, visibly uncomfortable as she looked away while shifting her feet. “You know I’m not good with the touchy-feely kinda stuff.”

Turned away from her, forlorn, he shrugged, "Yeah, I know.” Surveying everyone who was dealing with the problem he caused, he assured his dear friend with the kindest of tones, "Don’t worry about it, Tink.” Her nickname lacked the softness and care it always had, as if he was completely and utterly fed up.

And then, something switched off within him while a faux smile graced his face, and by now, he believed his anger turned into an entirely different emotion, "I’m gonna’ clean shit up, now.” Unsettling, AJ gave her a thumbs up and started to walk away, heading towards the RV. Done with this conversation.

Or so he thought.

“No you’re not.”

As it was common between the two hotheads that were Valeria and AJ, they often found themselves impulsively springing into action before their minds could take a second to process the best way to go about the situation at hand. And that’s how the small girl ended up forcefully grabbing her Peter Pan by the arm and roughly dragging him out of earshot from the rest of the group. When Val had deemed they were far enough away, she let go of his arm and pretty much squared up in front of AJ: a rather comical sight considering the young man had half a foot of advantage over her. The brunette’s fists were balled up beside her, with a deep frown knotting her arched eyebrows together, and her short figure rising and falling with unsteady breathing.

“You want to know what’s up with me, Alfie? Fine.” Val spat, cheeks red with anger at everything going on and the fear/nervousness of what she was about to admit. “It’s the bitch currently sitting in the passenger seat of your fancy little sports car right now. That’s what’s going on with me.”

Alfie. If she was saying anything of importance after that one word, it was going into deaf ears. His mind was met with a montage of his school days where he put his peers, boys and girls alike, into compromising positions for calling him by his first name.

Did she really just...?

Staring right through her, he clenched his fists, piercing his nails into his skin to get himself out of this stupor. She was his best friend. He didn’t want to strangle her. He didn’t want to smash her skull against the side of the RV that was so kindly hiding them. He didn't want to harm her.

Breathe, dude.

He needed to break this habit. This trigger. It’s just a goddamn word.

Closing his eyes, he heard the voices of little kids mocking him, like he was a fucking clown. Do I amuse you? He wasn’t going to hurt her. Do I make you laugh? His breathing picked up, ever so slightly, as he whispered, planting his feet deep into the sand, "...come again? The last part.” His voice beggingly warned her to avoid using his first name again.

Valeria let out a frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes and stomping the ground like the child she could very well act like sometimes. “I said that if you want to know what the fuck’s wrong with me, you can find the answer sitting in your goddamned sports car!” she cried out again, pointing at the yellow vehicle sitting at the curve while her voice took on that shrill tone it always did when she was losing the temper that was just about as tall as she was. “Did the crash leave you deaf or something?!”

What? He looked back at his car, where Mandy was resting, and honestly, this perplexed him. But then, there was her tone, “Did the crash leave you dumb or something?!” Was she seriously ignoring him because he was friends with a girl she didn’t like? And then thought the best way of telling him was to start with his first name! “WHAT-THE-SHIT-VAL!” First because of Jamie, now because of Mandy?! “Why don’t you cut me off with every fucker I talk to, huh?! If I just kissed Aleks or something, would you be like: ‘bye bitch’???” AJ Tyler was back to his irrational self. Now, however, he was completely at a lost.

Seriously.

“It’s not- I KNEW YOU WOULDN’T FUCKING GET IT!” Val shouted, clearly past the point of caring whether people heard them or not. “You never do! It’s not about you, J! It’s about your best friend fighting her own fucking demons and needing to step away before she lets herself be swallowed whole. It’s about not feeling like a complete fucking loser with the constant fear that you’ll never be good enough, and that you’ll end up losing those who really fucking matter. It’s about being fucking terrified that someone else will come in and sweep you off your feet and have you so fucking whipped that I’m once again relegated to second place. You walk through this life thinking everything’s all about you all the time. Woe is me: the beautiful, dirty, filthy fucking rich AJ Goddamn Tyler. But guess what, Peter Pan? Sometimes, things aren’t about you!” she finally finished, her voice breaking at the last sentence and looking very much like she was close to tears.

“BUT THIS HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ME, HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

Woah. Bring it down a level, boy. “Woe is me? WOE IS ME?!” Yeah, not working. “You’re the one making this about me because when you continue to hate yourself, you take it out on me! Like I’m the reason you’re not getting what you want! Like I’m the reason you’re not happy! Like I’m the REASON Nate doesn’t see you! Like ‘oh-my-God, Senpai: notice me’. Don’t blame me because you’re scared of love, Val. Like, Jesus. At least I know I’m pathetic because I still got my head thinking about my ex. Ain’t no one’s fault but my own and I wasted a good year because of that!”

As if his first few sentences hadn’t been damaging enough, right after Valeria heard Nate’s name being shouted out to the seven seas, something inside her snapped. AJ’s words and the sounds of rest of the world had faded off into nothingness, eardrums filled instead with white noise. Her sense of sight was suddenly tinged red, and her mind was clouded of all rational thought. For a few seconds, the short girl simply stood there, dark hair flowing around her in the desert breeze while her brown eyes were wide and her mouth was agape, like that of a fish just pulled out of water.

But in the blink of an eye, the rage-fuelled Val was springing forward and tackling AJ to the ground, keeping him down with the weight of her petite body on top of his, and raising her fist to leave a few lasting marks on his fucking attractive face.

And this was why she didn’t like discussing her feelings.

Like, ever.

...and this is where he cursed under his breath for restraining himself earlier.

He should've hit her.

Well, at least he won't have a guilty conscience.

REBOOT COMING SOON. INVITE ONLY.

@BleedingLover

Are you still part of this rp? Please respond to this, or PM me, letting me know your status, because if you do choose to drop, I'll need to write Mandy out, but she'll still be a canon character.