i think, therefore i am.

dependent multimuse blog || affiliated with @lawlesshq penned by ross. she/her, gmt -3

[acoldmyst]

* ◟ : 〔 PATHY DEJESUS, CIS WOMAN + SHE / HER 〕 YARA RHODES , some say you’re a FORTY FOUR YEAR OLD lost soul among the neon lights. known for being both AMBITIOUS and SELF - SERVING, one can’t help but think of YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by BILLIE EILISH when you walk by. are you still the OWNER for GRAVITY NIGHTCLUB, even with your reputation as THE INTANGIBLE? i think we’ll be seeing more of you and A GLASS OF RED WINE WITH A DARK LIP STAIN ON THE RIM; A HAND WITH IMPECCABLY MANICURED, SHARP NAILS, HELD OUT TO CLOSE BUSINESS; CROSSED LEGS ON A BUSINESS CHAIR, ADORNED BY SHARP HEELS AND A CLOSED OFF POSTURE, although we can’t help but think of RACHEL DUNCAN ( ORPHAN BLACK ) + EMMA FROST ( MARVEL COMICS ) + ALANNA MITSOPOLIS ( MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE ) whenever we see you down these rainy streets.

i. STATS

full name: yara cristina rhodes

pronouns/gender identity: she/her, cisfemale

sexuality: she/her, cisfemale

birth date: august 2nd

occupation: owner at gravity nightclub; formerly director of publicity at dahl co. (until 2028) and stoneage industries. (until 2035)

star sign: leo sun, scorpio rising

affiliation: to all, and to none.

ii. BIOGRAPHY

ׂ╰┈➤ a study in genetics.

if yara rhodes has inherited anything from her parents, it really doesn't go beyond appearances. daddy's curly hair, mommy's beautiful dark eyes, and the personality of the devil incarnate from a young age. leonardo and beatriz rhodes are good people, as selfless as they come, who both let go of high paying careers in order to dedicate their lives to public service. alas, the do-gooder gene certainly skipped a generation when it came to yara, and that much has been clear from childhood.

ׂ╰┈➤ lessons in patience.

they didn't know what to do with her. she was too smart, too questioning, and too objective. beatriz even had it in her to try a child psychologist, who had to inform her that it wasn't a sin for yara to not be a carbon copy of her parents. this didn't do much for the family's relationship, pushing yara to plan ahead for several years, until she could leave the house as soon as she was 18.

yara has been a free woman since. they've barely have any contact, her parents still unable to look at the woman she has become. since then, it's been one long game of chess after the other; patience to grow under competitive and unfair work environments, to make the right connections, to learn and to grow in more ways than one, all so that she could reach the point in which she now stands.

ׂ╰┈➤ the spider web.

after years of work weaving her silk all throughout new york city, yara rests on her laurels, contemplating the fruits of her hard labour. she's the glue holding several enterprises together, the chain sustaining unimaginable deals, all the while expanding her nightclub franchise, and hopefully her influence, to different cities. there's now a new, albeit smaller location of gravity at las vegas, but new york city is still the beating heart of her operation.

anyone who's anyone in the big apple know the name of yara rhodes, and of the gravity nightclub. but what happens behind close doors is a well-guarded secret, in both cases. gaining access to those, though not an impossible task, is a remarkably difficult one, so you better start playing your cards right.

iii. WANTED CONNECTIONS

— associates, in any and all of the organizations or even unaffiliated;

— people who work under her in gravity, both at the club itself and at management;

— former coworkers from dahl co. and stoneage industries;

— former and current lovers?? lol

— i'm open to all suggestions!

[acoldmyst]

WHEN: july 30th, 2040 WHERE: gravity nightclub, upstairs office WHO: open (0/3)

Yara's ears are woefully unprepared for the loud sound that breaks on the other side of the line, and she has to hold out her phone as far as her arm will go while they recover. "Jesus", she complains as soon as the receiver is back in its ideal position, "where the hell are you, inside the Grand Canyon? Your reception is ass."

She leans her head to the side, resting on her knuckles, and only then spots her young assistant at the door, gesturing a little frantically at someone outside. Who?, she mouths, but the poor nervous thing is unable to communicate, and Yara rolls her eyes before turning her attention back to the call. "Listen, I have to go, but do give me a call if the signal gets any better." She hangs up then, but continues to type away at her phone while signaling for her assistant to bring in whoever is waiting.

When she lifts her gaze to greet her visitor, it's with her ever present, ever charming smile. "Please, do forgive me about the wait. I am even busier than usual these days."

[acoldmyst]

broken record player — what regrets does your muse have? if they could go back and change that event / the past in general, would they?

"You want my honest answer?" Yara leans back on her seat, arms crossed, unfazed. "Not one. Not a single thing. I'm a woman of very calculated actions, you see. I assess risks beforehand. I don't do anything that I know has a chance of causing irreversible damage." She pauses then, looking almost annoyed. "And you can think what you will about it, but I'm not the one wasting her life on crying over spilled milk, am I?"

[acoldmyst]

🪄 MAGIC WAND & ❤️ RED HEART

🪄 MAGIC WAND — would you describe yourself as a superstitious person (someone who believes in superstitions)? do you believe in luck?

"Luck, huh? I suppose it could be as true as anything else." Yara shrugs, the topic not particularly interesting to her. "But from where I'm standing, luck is just a cute word for privilege, more often then not. Most of us have to put in the actual effort."

❤️ RED HEART — what is/are your love language(s)? how do you use it/them to communicate your feelings about others?

She frowns slightly. "People still believe that?. Well. I suppose it's something close to acts of service, though not quite. If I can help the people who are important to me, I will. Though my kind of helping isn't always appreciated."

[acoldmyst]

🤝 HANDSHAKE, 💞 REVOLVING HEARTS

🤝 HANDSHAKE — do family or platonic relationships mean more to you? or do they mean different things to you?

Yara mulls over the question for a moment. "Family, per se, I can't say means much." Her tone is indifferent as she says it, and she shrugs. "A lot of my relationships are professional, too. But I do suppose there's a few people very close to my heart out there. Everyone's got that soft spot, don't they?"

💞 REVOLVING HEARTS — who and/or what are you most grateful for in your life?

"Mm." She takes a moment to ponder about the question,the answer trickier than she would have thought. "I suppose... well, Anchali Shinawatra was... is a blessing in my life." Yara goes silent them, far away all of a sudden. After a minute, she shakes herself back to reality, and smiles. "Eden Yorke, too. My pride and joy, that one, though part of me still sees him as a little boy."

@anhedcnias @lovelornbones

[acoldmyst]

what was the best thing in your character’s life?

Yara grins large. "At the risk of sounding like a 60 year old white man, I have to say it's my work. I really do love what I do, which is why I put so much energy into it. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see... my club grow and expand."

[acoldmyst]

what's a topic your muse could talk about for hours? is there a reason this particular topic means so much to them?

"Oh, wine. I'm a bit of a conneisseur, really." She answers immediately, then chuckles. "Cliché for a club owner, isn't it? I do actually appreciate it, though, outside from work."

[acoldmyst]

is there anyone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? if so, how come? what makes this person important to you? / what is your oc's blood type?

Yara swallows hard, the question unexpectedly difficult to answer. "Well. Not really." After a pause, her gaze suddenly distant, she comes back to herself. "I'm very different from my parents, but frankly, I don't think we were ever meant to be close. Sure, it would have been easier, but alas. I don't resent them."

•

"Strange question." She chuckles. "I'm boring, I'm afraid. Your classic A positive."

[wiltedthorn]

Her proposition is given immediate consideration, even more so when a familiar track from an old flame ripples throughout the crowd. Gravity doesn't entice him the same way it used to, but it serves it's purpose as a capsule of a different time— some days he reminiscess it as better days, other as ignorance.

"I could use a proper chat," He agrees, a humble confession as he follows through the pulsing crowd. "Get your best, you're gonna need it. I was trying to avoid ruining your night with this nonsense."

There's no use in hiding the fact that he's here for guidance. That's been the foundation of their relationship since they'd met, and neither seemed to have outgrown it. Occasionally they could trade places, but there was something to be said about how easily Eden gave into Yara's wisdom. If she were to ever turn against him, he'd follow her word right into a noose.

"Why did you leave Stoneage?" He asked, inquiry cut blunt once they've found solitude.

[acoldmyst]

The door clicks behind them, a blessed silence washing over the sounds of the club outside. Yara moves to the shelf across the room, standing on her tiptoes to reach a bottle of wine. Something about this almost feels nostalgic to their Stoneage days, more so than their usual meetings; maybe it's the way Eden's looking at her, a distinct layer of pleading below the usual restlessness. Yara can feel the question before he even says it out loud, and doesn't make any effort to conceal a sigh as she sits across him in her desk. "Eden, honey, it's been five years now." That this was the first thing he asked confirms all of her suspicions, the feeling she had that he was craving her handholding more than usual. "I told you before, it was never the plan to be there forever." Whatever it is that is eating away at him this time, she can only hope it doesn't speak louder than his common sense. Yara sets the glasses on the table, filling them, before continuing on, her voice in a delicate tone that she reserves to few. "You know you can talk to me. What's bothering you?"

[wrvtchedhearts]

Zakir grinned widely, his proud eyes hidden behind the glasses, as his augmentation zoomed in on a few particular scenes. Appreciative of those rapping along, those dancing, the ones who seemed to come up with dance moves on the spot. He saved some small bits, for himself mostly, but he could even put a few on his socials, if he made sure not to zoom in on anyone's face too much. He looked down at the crowds, trying not to show how giddy such sentences made him, how much he was happy to hear that he was making the waves he wanted to make, after all this time.

"Of course," he said, as he played his persona. The confidence he wished he could finally make his own one day. "Just on the brink, arre yaar, I think in some cases I'm already there," he decided. "Few more pushes I might finally have need for a security detail," he joked. "I'd have to actually tell you when I'm coming by so you can warn security."

[acoldmyst]

"Ah, yes. That would be appreciated." She grinned, despite herself. Zakir was visibly beaming behind his dark glasses, and though she wouldn't acknowledge it, there was definetely something akin to pride inside her chest. Zakir was a driven man, one that was never afraid of what he had to do, and she had a lot of respect for that, more so than she would let on. There was no doubt in her mind that he would make it, especially because he wasn't afraid to. "So, hotshot, do tell. What's next on the rising star to-do list?"

[sagamemes]

crucial muse development questions.   send a number in my inbox to find out more about my character as a person  ( because often, the most important things about character development have nothing to do with their shoe size or netflix queue ).

what would completely break your character?

what was the best thing in your character’s life?

what was the worst thing in your character’s life?

what seemingly insignificant memories stuck with your character?

does your character work so they can support their hobbies or use their hobbies as a way of filling up the time they aren’t working?

what is your character reluctant to tell people?

how does your character feel about sex?

how many friends does your character have?

how many friends does your character want?

what would your character make a scene in public about?

for what would your character give their life?

what are your character’s major flaws?

what does your character pretend or try to care about?

how does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project?

what is your character afraid of?

[angelprompts]

random character headcanons, vol i   ♡   happy developing ᵔᴗᵔ

teddy bear — does your muse have any treasured possessions? what makes it so special?

scratched cd — what genre of music does your muse hate? if someone happens to turn on that genre, will they tolerate it or leave the room?

dried paint brush — how creative is your muse? do they create anything with said creativity or are they considered 'wasted potential'?

playground equipment — what's a childhood memory, whether it's liked or not, that stands out to your muse? why does it stand out among the rest?

candy bracelet — does your muse prefer chocolate, hard candy or chewy candy? do they even like sweets at all?

broken record player — what regrets does your muse have? if they could go back and change that event / the past in general, would they?

ball pit — what does your muse do for fun?

orange creamsicle — what's a topic your muse could talk about for hours? is there a reason this particular topic means so much to them?

hopscotch — does your muse like to work out? if not, how else do they move their body from day to day?

flimsy fairy wings — did your muse used to celebrate / dress up for halloween as a child? if yes, what's a costume they remember wearing (and did they pick out or did their parents)?

instant messenger — if it's not already taken, what is your muse's go-to username?

[noahsresources]

IN CHARACTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS .

send an emoji/series of emojis for my muse to answer any of the following questions in character! for some questions, there are fields italicized and bolded for you to fill in with the name of a person/place/event/etc in the muse's life. please remember to fill in these spaces in order for the question to make sense! each emoji is described in case you can't see them, and they are listed alphabetically. ♡

✈️ AIRPLANE — have you traveled anywhere that helped you discover something about yourself and/or about the world?

😠 ANGRY FACE — how easy or difficult is it for you to express your emotions? if you find it difficult, what do you think is holding you back?

🎨 ARTIST PALETTE — what are some hobbies that you like to partake in? do you think they're just to pass time or to distract yourself, or do you believe some of them potentially have therapeutic outcomes for you?

🎈 BALLOON — what is something you've created and/or accomplished recently that you're proud of?

🖤 BLACK HEART — what would you say is the darkest thought you've ever experienced? what do you think caused you to have that thought? have you ever planned on or fantasized about acting on it?

🏹 BOW AND ARROW — if there's something from your past that you'd give anything to go back in time and redo, what is it?

💔 BROKEN HEART — is there anyone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? if so, how come? what makes this person important to you?

🎄 CHRISTMAS TREE — what is your favorite holiday and why?

🌙 CRESCENT MOON — what would you say is your current biggest dream and/or career aspiration and why?

❌ CROSS MARK — how would your life be different if [name of person] had never been in it? would it be better or worse?

⚔️ CROSSED SWORDS — do you have any skills that you are absolutely grateful you have and that mean a lot to you? how do you usually use these skills? would they come in handy if someone you cared about was in trouble?

🔮 CRYSTAL BALL — what is a core memory from your childhood that you think defines you today?

🗡️ DAGGER — what is something or someone you know you can't afford to lose? how far are you willing to go to make sure you don't lose it/them?

💧 DROPLET — are you grieving something or someone? do you feel like you lost something or a part of yourself with it/them?

😶‍🌫️ FACE IN CLOUDS — is there something you're hiding from the people you love? if so, how urgent is it for them to hear it? what's holding you back from sharing it?

🍂 FALLEN LEAVES — how would you metaphorically describe your life and the journey(s) you've been on?

👻 GHOST — is there someone or something that you feel is missing from your life? do you know if there's any way to find it/them?

🩶 GRAY HEART — what kind of friend do your friends consider you to be (mom friend, uncle friend, funny friend, etc) and why? what do you think this says about your personality?

🤝 HANDSHAKE — do family or platonic relationships mean more to you? or do they mean different things to you?

❤️‍🔥 HEART ON FIRE — what angers you the most? what triggers this anger, and how do you cope with it? what does this anger feel like, if you had to describe it?

💋 KISS MARK — if you had to share a romantic kiss with a loved one, where would you share that kiss and why? are you thinking about giving this romantic kiss somewhere other than the other person's lips?

✝️ LATIN CROSS — are you a religious person? did you grow up religious? does your faith mean anything to you today?

🩵 LIGHT BLUE HEART — what do you fantasize about the most often (generally/sexually/etc)? are there any people that are significant to or that you can see in this fantasy and why?

⚡️ LIGHTNING BOLT — how has [significant event in muse's life] impacted you? what has it made you realize about yourself? about others? about the world?

💄 LIPSTICK — have you had any romantic or sexual experiences that made you realize something about yourself?

🪄 MAGIC WAND — would you describe yourself as a superstitious person (someone who believes in superstitions)? do you believe in luck?

❤️‍🩹 MENDING HEART — how strongly do you experience your emotions? does it depend on who you're interacting with and/or the context of the situation?

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what song lyrics do you think most accurately describe you? your journey through life? who you are as a person?

🫂 PEOPLE HUGGING — generally speaking, do you feel very supported by the people in your life? how strong and cohesive is your support system, if you have one? do you often feel like you're at the front of the line or pushed to the side by the people in your life?

❤️ RED HEART — what is/are your love language(s)? how do you use it/them to communicate your feelings about others?

💞 REVOLVING HEARTS — who and/or what are you most grateful for in your life?

🎀 RIBBON BOW — how confident are you with your physical appearance? is there anything about it that you are insecure about? is there anything about it that you are happy about or gives you confidence? how do you think people perceive you based on your physical appearance?

🧪 TEST TUBE — if you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what is one thing you absolutely have to resolve and/or do before then?

🤔 THINKING FACE — what three emotions tend to dominate your mindset? do you know why they do?

💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — is there something or someone you find yourself thinking about more often than other things? if so, why do you think you do this?

💀 SKULL — how has [name of person] 's death influenced your outlook on life, if anything?

☀️ SUN — would you describe yourself as more of an introvert or extrovert, or are you somewhere in between? how come?

🪽 WING — if you could choose to have one superpower for a day, what would it be and why? what would you do with it?

✍️ WRITING HAND — what is one thing you wish you were better at? this can be a tactical skill, social skill, hobby, etc.

[noahsresources]

details about ocs!

send an emoji/description of emoji to learn more about a writer's oc! many of these are taken from my munday asks meme, because i thought it would be fun to make a version for characters too! the prompts are categorized by emoji type and given descriptions in case anyone can't see the symbols. can be used for roleplayers and any general writers alike! for roleplayers, these can also be used for your interpretations of canon characters if you so desire as well!

𝐎𝐁𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐒. 💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — what is your oc's MBTI, enneagram, and/or other personality aspects (if known/interested in)? 🚗 CAR — does your oc have a driver's license? can they drive/operate any automobiles/machinery besides cars? ✈️ AIRPLANE — does your oc like traveling, or do they consider themselves a more homey person? 🎮 VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER — what are three of your oc's favorite hobbies? 💍 RING — does your oc have any piercings? do they want any (more) piercings? 🖊️ BALLPOINT PEN — does your oc have any tattoos? do they want any (more) tattoos? 📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)? 🎻 VIOLIN — does your oc play any instruments? what is their skill level (beginner/intermediate/advanced/virtuoso/etc)? 🩹 ADHESIVE BANDAGE — does your oc have any physical and/or mental disabilities? 🩸 DROP OF BLOOD — what is your oc's blood type?

𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐒. 🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what type of music does your oc like? do they listen to music very often? 💯 HUNDRED POINTS SYMBOL — share three random facts about your oc that others may not know. 💤 SLEEPING SIGN — is your oc a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? how are their sleeping habits? 🔱 TRIDENT EMBLEM — can your oc swim? do they enjoy swimming? 🔺 RED TRIANGLE POINTED UP — does your oc know how to use any weapons? 🔶 LARGE ORANGE DIAMOND — does your oc know cpr? do they have any other medical expertise? 🚫 PROHIBITED — does your oc drink/smoke? do they do it regularly, or is it more on occasion or for special events?

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄. 🌈 RAINBOW — what is your oc's sexual orientation/gender identity? what pronouns do they use? 🎄 CHRISTMAS TREE — what is your oc's favorite holiday? 🐶 DOG FACE — does your oc have any pets? 🐈 CAT — does your oc prefer a wide circle of friends or a few close friends? 🐷 PIG FACE — what is your oc's favorite animal? 🐉 DRAGON — what is your oc's favorite mythical creature? 🍃 LEAVES FLUTTERING IN WIND — what is/was your oc's favorite subject in school? 🌴 PALM TREE — does your oc have a green thumb? do they enjoy gardening? 🍎 RED APPLE — where was your oc born? do they still live in/around their place of birth or do they live somewhere else? how do they feel about their birthplace?

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒. ❤️ RED HEART — what are three of your oc's positive traits? 🤍 WHITE HEART — what are three of your oc's neutral/questionable traits? 💔 BROKEN HEART — what are three of your oc's negative traits? 💘 HEART WITH ARROW — what and/or who do(es) your oc consider the most important to them? 🧡 ORANGE HEART — does your oc tend to prioritize family or friends? 💛 YELLOW HEART — how many languages does your oc speak? what language(s) are they learning, if any? 💚 GREEN HEART — does your oc prefer being inside or outside? 💙 BLUE HEART — does your oc have any cool/special powers and/or abilities? how are they with magic, if it exists in their world? 💜 PURPLE HEART — what is your oc's ancestry/genetic background? 🖤 BLACK HEART — has your oc killed or seriously wounded anyone before? have they broken someone's heart and/or broken someone's trust?

𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒. 🎂 BIRTHDAY CAKE — when is your oc's birthday? how old are they? what are their sun, moon, & rising signs (if known)? what about their tarot card, ruling planet, & ruling number (if known)? do they fit the typical traits of these sun, moon, & rising signs? 🍝 SPAGHETTI — what is/are your oc's favorite food(s)? 🍰 SHORTCAKE — what is/are your oc's favorite sweet(s)/dessert(s)? 🍦 SOFT ICE CREAM — what is/are your oc's favorite ice cream flavor(s)? 🍔 HAMBURGER — is your oc good at cooking? are they good at baking? which one do they prefer? 🥯 BAGEL — what does your oc's typical breakfast look like? do they usually eat breakfast? 🥪 SANDWICH — what does your oc's typical lunch look like? do they usually eat lunch? 🍛 CURRY AND RICE — what does your oc's typical dinner look like? do they usually eat dinner? 🍸 COCKTAIL GLASS — what is your oc's favorite alcoholic drink, if they can drink? ☕️ HOT BEVERAGE — does your oc prefer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, water, or some other drink? how do they like to take this drink (ex. coffee with milk, hot chocolate with whipped cream, a specific kind of tea, etc)?

𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄. 😊 SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES — what are your oc's career/general life desires? what do they want to get the most out of life? 😖 CONFOUNDED FACE — is your oc an introvert, an extrovert, or an ambivert? do they let people in easily, or are they more reserved? 🤔 THINKING FACE — what are some of your oc's quirks/mannerisms? 🧐 FACE WITH MONOCLE — is your oc more logical or emotional? 🤓 SMILING FACE WITH GLASSES — is your oc chatty or quiet? are they at ease in social situations, or are they more shy? 🤩 FACE WITH STARRY EYES — is your oc a planner, or are they more spontaneous in their actions? 😥 SAD BUT RELIEVED FACE — is your oc prone to getting stressed out, or is it easy for them to keep their cool? 😓 DOWNCAST FACE WITH SWEAT — is your oc open-minded or stubborn? are they inquisitive or do they prefer to keep to their bubble of knowledge? 😞 DISAPPOINTED FACE — does your oc attract others, or do they tend to be left alone? 🤒 FACE WITH THERMOMETER — does your oc get sick easily? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY WITH MOTHER, FATHER, SON AND DAUGHTER — how many people are in your oc's immediate family? how many people are in your oc's extended family? do they have aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc? who in their family are they closest with? are they close with their birth family, or do they have a found family?

[wiltedthorn]

OPEN TO: @acoldmyst for yara rhodes LOCATION: gravity nightclub

Some warning echoes against the music, drags his feet as he tucks himself between other patrons to allow deliberation. Who had given him such vague guidance was lost to time but the words bleed between the anthemic lyrics pulsating throughout the club— don't go poking around in dark places. A few breaths are used to think up an excuse to disobey it, like how Gravity is bathed in bright blue hues and how he's looking for someone else to go around 'poking' inside his head. There's also the fact that Yara is one of the few that keeps things brighter. Eden had always found comfort in her company, took her word over anyone else's. It has to be the weight he's given to her decision that he's hesitated to come back around, something twisted in his stomach if she voices what he already knows but won't say aloud. Maybe she already knows with how many times she's agreed to reschedule with him.

"I'm late." His greeting is lost to the music, but he catches her underneath the flicker of lights. "Would you believe me if I blamed your security? It's more rigid than Stoneage." But she knows that, and he knows why. Smirking, cultivated curl of his lip just before he dismisses another thought, he asks, "Are you still enjoying this place or has it finally started to feel like work?"

[acoldmyst]

She had spotted Eden in the crowd as soon as he arrived, minutes before his gaze finally met hers; he stuck out like a sore thumb, a boyish closed-off posture amidst the dancing bodies, almost as though he was a lost child seeking his family in a multitude of strangers. And isn't that the truth?, Yara pondered silently, giving the boy an easy smile as he approached.

Though she didn't believe his excuse for a second, given how many times he'd asked to reschedule, Yara decided to humor him. "I should hope so, love. I run an incredibly clean business, as you know." She gave Eden a conspiratorial wink. "And I've told you. The work is why I enjoy it. The club itself is only a perk for when I feel like it."

The thing about Eden Yorke was that Yara knew him – hell, she might as well have made him after seven years of crafting his perfect image for Stoneage. She knew him more than he realized, maybe more than he knew himself, and his small talk couldn't be a more transparent attempt at going off a tangent if he actively tried. But he had been hesitating too long, and she wasn't about to let him do it again. "How about we go to my office? I'll open one of those bottles on my wall and we can talk properly."

[wrvtchedhearts]

Zakir grinned. He did enjoy confidence in others, even if there was a small bit of jealousy when others expressed it so genuinely and he at times felt like he was fighting his own mind over it. To be confident in his own abilities and position was something he found rare. Sure, he could speak ten languages, and a good half of those fluently, but he'd always scold himself for every tiny mistake. "Arre yaar, they are lucky indeed!" he said, offering Yara an appreciative look through the sunglasses.

His attention peaked when his own song came on, it wasn't that his beats were that different from rappers who were currently big, but he liked to think he had his own style. Combining different languages, different music genres, trying to be fresh, new, unique.

"It might be my lucky day too, Mashallah," he said, trying to keep his huge grin under control as he saw people dancing to his music and lip-syncing along with the lyrics. "Did you plan this?"

[acoldmyst]

Yara chuckled lightly before sipping her drink once more. "I couldn't have, darling, it's not like you let me know you'd be coming." Her eyes scanned the crowd; whether or not Zakir's song was to thank for that, she did feel relief to see it was a mostly harmless one tonight. A woman was entitled to a little uneventful evening every once in a while, amidst so many agitated ones.

She turned to Zakir, leaning against the bar. "I can't say anything for our DJ though. Perhaps they saw you hiding back here, or someone else did and made a request. You are just on the brink of becoming recognizable, after all."

[acoldmyst]

( & anchali shinawatra. )

"I've had time to entertain myself." Despite her inability to complain about tardiness, managing her own schedule had never been her forte. The notion of integrating a personal assistant into her small team had been entertained more than once. If not for her fierce need for privacy, such a position might have already been filled. Typically, the young woman preferred to abstain from alcohol, valuing the control she maintained over her body and mind. Yet, tonight, a glass of chilled white wine sat before her, its pale liquid shimmering against the dim light of the restaurant. The delicate stem of the glass felt cold in her hand, a stark contrast to the warmth of the room. The complementary rosemary focaccia placed on the table remained untouched, a silent testament to her distracted thoughts. "Looks like that man in the corner is asking his partner to marry him." Her gaze, deep chocolate hues, sharp and observant, pointed discreetly to a pair of men engrossed in their fine dining experience. "He looks nervous, doesn't he?" she snickered, her laughter carrying a slightly sinister edge that belied her amusement. After a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of unspoken thoughts, she turned her attention back to her companion. "Oh, love, never apologize. I'm always grateful to be in your presence, tardy or otherwise." Her words, laced with sincerity, hung in the air like a tender embrace. As she spoke, her eyes lingered on her companion with a longing that she could barely conceal.

Yara's gaze followed Anchali's to the lucky couple on the other side of the restaurant, watching intently as they made their way to their so-called happy ending, and crushing down whatever useless jealousy tried to stir inside. I wouldn't be happy like that, she told herself once more, as she always did.

Turning her attention back to Anchali, she was met with the younger woman's soft gaze and even softer words, which did nothing to soothe the feeling in her chest. Yara plastered on her best fake smile, ever determined to not allow herself any sign of weakness. "The feeling is mutual, sweetheart." A sip of her drink, or rather a gulp, to push down the words bubbling in her throat. "So, tell me, how has the journalism business been treating you?