my love is an animal call cutting through the darkness, bouncing off the walls between teeth on a broken jaw following a blood trail, frothing at the maw
private mumu blog for bloodngloryhq
penned by styx
The del Castillo family had been her saving grace. Did it make them friends? Who knew - but Gabriella had impressed upon them all the same. Or at least, she had with Celestina. Santiago was still an issue of her own making she needed to approach. How she'd fallen into darkness on his account - and yet continued to slip information to the woman she now made a beeline for in the back corner of the restaurant, was a failing all her own. There were few things she wasnt proud of, and that was certainly one. But - that wasn't what she was here for now. "Please tell me they have a decent bottle of red," a greeting like any other when it came to Gabriella - small talk just wasn't her thing. "Setting up an entire embezzlement scheme and sending the feds to your exes front door is thirty work." All on account of him never quite getting to the part where he told Ella that he was married. "I've got something for you too.
The request had come as a surprise, been followed with plenty of questions and thoughts. None of which Valeria had thrown out for him to answer. There'd be other times for this, after whatever this would count as. Was it a date? A proper one, with others around? For once the district attorney lacked the answers, nor was she willing to go dig for them. "Have you ever known me to be anything but honest?" Val's voice was low, quiet enough to make sure others would not hear.
"Besides, do you really think I'd speak like this around him, or even near him if I wasn't sure that he would most certainly interpret things in his favor?" Said politician had done so plenty before. "Would you rather I talked about you?" Her face lit up with a smile. "It would be more favorably. I promise." ❧ @aqxatofana
A beat. "No, actually.. I haven't." which somehow felt like a gravity defying feat considering those he surrounded himself with. The truth was, what he knew of Valeria was simply pure. With little else beyond it to make him believe she could do anything that didn't radiate honestly and the justice she so clearly sought it. It was a dull reminder that as quickly as he approached her - interested in gaining a foothold with the district attorney, what it'd become would burn to ash if she ever knew who he was. "It's actually refreshing."
A crease formed at the bridge of his nose as he visibly disagreed with the idea that the man would consider everything meant for his favor. Inwardly deciding he didn't want Valeria around him if she could help it. "About me?" A jarring response his body turned until he stood to face her, "I'm not sure I want to know what you have to say about me," it's not depreciating, if anything it's a mock venture in and of itself, the smirk pulling at his lips proof. "I daresay you'd probably hurt my feelings somehow. My fragile ego."
His relationship with Luca had practically been non-existent - just as most people within the mob, though his presence around Nico came in continuation from the late Don's. With his second year of controlling the New York mob, he was still forging the connections his father had made. Luca Delano was one of those. It didn't matter to Nico what tie he had to his late brother, what mattered was that if he could see anything worthwhile within Luca. Eight years of service or not.
As he sat behind his desk, Luca occupying the seat across from him, his gaze remained focused on the other. Admittedly, his question had picked faint internal irritation in Nico. If only because he was expected to give Luca something to do. Initiative would have been preferred, in Nico's ideal world. Yet here they were. "I have an address I'd like gone." he retrieved a small post-it note, writing the address of Suzanne Mclean's clothing store on, before reaching over the desk to pass it over to Luca. "Tonight."
"Consider it already done," in what capacity, mattered little. Despite whatever gap the death of the former caravelli patriarch left behind, Luca didn't intend to allow it to grow. Though he'd rarely spoken with the man before him in person, every successful job prior to this measured to nothing if he didn't pull weight where it counted. And with the Pantheon seemingly closing in, teeth caught in the carotid of the underbelly of New York, even he had too much to lose to stick to the shadows. He took the note, filed the address to memory then moved to the window, propping it open just enough as he lit the post it on fire, held between two fingers as ash disappeared into the wind. The final piece of the post it tossed aside, no trace of ink left to matter. "I pulled on some old connections," prison had opened up a lot of doors for him, on both sides of the bars - the one that landed him here, inclusive. And people always talked under the right circumstance. "The van in the security footage from the fires. It was flagged at a few of the other sites.." The window closed quietly, but he didn't return to the seat. He hated sitting. He'd noted when he found out that it was possible Nico already know but - "I know the name, from before." The underground fighting circuit had been rife with the type - always trying to make it by pressing on people's desire to win. "Fernandez, he's tried working a couple betting rings. Ran into my dad a few times." Not that the detail offered much, he didn't have contact with the man anymore. "Couple days, I should have a location on wherever that van is holed up."
They met ages ago, probably before she made district attorney, and definitely before she got married. If their situations had allowed it, he'd probably have been invited to her wedding, but both of them knew that wasn't a possibility even back then. It was a difficult relationship to maintain considering his work with the mob, but even information aside, it had been worth it. The mayor hummed a greeting as she handed off one of the warm paper cups of coffee in her hand, then sat stiffly with a long, heavy sigh. "Ooh, it's my favorite shitty park bench. I'd never forget it," she said with an easy grin as she settled beside him comfortably. "Good to see you too. Glad you're still alive, actually, with all the bullshit," she said, echoing his sentiment. After a few minutes spent in comfortable silence, she tipped her head back slightly and half closed her eyes. "I'm worried about this 4th of July event. I don't think big gatherings like this are smart right now, but I don't know what to do about it."
At arms length, was how Luca preferred people. It was easier. Not out of self pity or self sabotage - it just wasn't all that easy to hold a conversation with people once they discovered how deep the stain of red on his hands went. Making people, places and information disappear into the abyss was the only constant he knew, and beyond that years of prison and fighting rings hadn't done him any favors. But in truth, he had too many secrets. Too many things he held close to his chest. When he'd met Breslin, letting her know him had been one of the toughest things he'd had to swallow - but whatever part of him that had needed her at the time, he was grateful for now. "Mine too," he huffs, leaning back as hands slid deeply into his jacket pockets. "Don't be," it's rich — considering how recent events had played out. Though his hands had healed, he still felt the occasional pull of tightly scarred skin across his palms. "There'll be too much press, too many outside eyes on the place." The reveal of the latest luxury hotel wouldnt be tarnished by the pantheon, he felt sure of it. Somehow. "But, while we're on the topic... I need a favor"
"Look sharp," the crowded street didn't quite feel like enough as she siddled up against the familiar face. Hand caught the crook of his elbow, bringing him to an immediate halt as they quickly became just another couple caught up in the chaos. Never mind the security guard who'd made it to the end of the block, panting and searching for a woman he'd barely paid any mind to when she'd first walked into the jewelry store. "We keep running into each other like this, and I might start to think you're following me." The silk of her tone is almost mocking, he'd been her scape goat the first time they'd met too; an unlikely coincidence, though were that her fault or his, she didn't know yet. Fingertips curl against the yellow diamond necklace in her coat pocket, an excellent addition to her collection. "You could at least buy me a drink."
Time wasn't linear, it shifted in monumental waves. Some more than capable of forcing a person to forget where dry land used to be. Too many years had passed now, for Ella to simply pop up out of the blue and claim she'd forgotten to reply to a text after opening it. Too many years had passed now, for Ella to really know what to do with herself when it came to Santi. Though she'd never been the type to leave a man behind; she'd become someone else in the ribbons of grief that slipped themselves around her throat when her brother had been killed. Instead of finding a safe landing, she'd chosen to hang. Now - now, spotting him across the cafe, she swallowed whatever self preservation and pride she had in the moment. Grabbing the small plate of baked goods out of the waitresses' hand, ignoring the stammering response it earned and the bewilderment - she knew the owner.
A peace offering. The tray placed down as she slid into the seat opposite, brushing off his present company. "You know I've never been all that good at apologising..." An understatement, to say the least, but it beat the explanation and admission that she'd been in contact with Cel more times than she could count over the years - but that was an entirely different realm of understanding. He, had been her friend - one of her closest. "But if you need me to, you know, for falling off the face of the earth for... almost half our lives.." the insinuation trailed off into something of a grimace, part of her waiting for him to either blow her off entirely.
SPOTTED: GABRIELLA VARGAS in new york city! heard the THIRTY THREE year old belongs to THE CONTINGENCY as a HACKER. word on the streets is that they can be ADAPTABLE and METICULOUS, , but they can also be VINDICTIVE and JUDGEMENTAL
Gabriella Vargas didn’t know the warmth of a safety net until she was almost nine years old. Instead, a cold home in Sinaloa, Mexico with unpaid bills, lingering smoke and the rattle of empty bottles reflected the hollow care of woman who never should have had children. Her father, gone more often than not, a drug runner for the cartel only passed on the knowledge he knew, and getting away with breaking the law was the only legacy he left behind.
The welcome of neighbours who made sure she and her brother were fed, and clean and had clothes that weren’t riddled with holes, all eventually moved away, into quieter - safer buildings. This quick became the starting point of her inability to trust anyone but herself, especially with the wellbeing of her younger brother soon weighing heavy on her shoulders.
With nowhere to go and a mother who barely remembered she had children, it started small. A wallet skimmed off the grocery counter, a gallon of milk and a loaf of squashed bread stuffed into her backpack. Only enough to make it through until the next day - and the day after that. Eventually, it became clear that it was never going to be enough and after a particularly nasty fight in a school parking lot, Gabriella was pulled into a crowd that her fourteen year old self never imagined being around.
Slowly but surely, everything her father taught - how to go unseen, hotwire a car, switch bags without getting caught, trick people into taking fake money - it all resurfaced in the uncertainty of living on the street. Being a young girl made it easier - nobody suspected the angelic child with the bright smile, but beneath it, she began to shed her skin until she grew fangs and learned to spit venom on her own. From street fights to burglary, forgery to hacking the system. By the time she was seventeen, she'd pulled her brother out of the place their mother called home and never looked back.
But nobody worth the money they have ever did their own dirty work, and Gabriella played that to her advantage, first seeking out those in need of something until her name became synonymous with con jobs and thievery, and soon enough those people and more began to track her down. Quick, efficient and invisible. People with money always wanted something they didn't have, and for everything she plucked out of obscurity for them - whether they asked for specifics or something new and shiny, she tracked it down and delivered on a silver platter. Plus, interest.
and it almost fell apart - another job lined up, and a small crew of thieves willing to skirt the law with her, it all went to shit when another crew showed up on the job and the night ended with two dead. Her brother bled out on the street, in the cold damp snowy embankment of New York City.
it nearly destroyed her, a quick descent into a brief madness as she buried her grief with sex, drugs, blood and alcohol. but not everyone was meant to spiral forever, and when the grief didn't feel as hollow anymore, she did what she could to fit the pieces back together and build a life she wanted for her brother.
It was in the hollow that Gabriella built upon her greatest asset. Anonymity and the expanse of the world wide web meant she could take and destroy whatever she wanted with the click of a mouse. Piece by piece, Ella pulled the threads of everything and everyone she knew until her web was pristine. Every detail of the people around her a vulnerability to exploit - every secret a new weapon.
But the world had changed and while she'd never pass up the chance to get her hands dirty, she simply didn't need to. The boom if the internet opened millions of new doors. And when approached by the contingency, an organisation in need of another ghost in the machine, Gabriella agreed. Now, years later, a jack of illegal trades - a simple pick pocket venture to cracking a safe and remaining hidden, she's a plague to the wealthy, and a vestige among thieves.
WC:
Give me messy neighbours. Hateship. Fwb. Exes. Those she knew from Mexico. Cartel connections. A "friend or former lover" who are the reason her brother was killed (there's details). People she's done jobs with or for in the past (any crime will do), people looking to hire her now she'll freelance too. Besties. Someone she ripped off or stole from before. Maybe she crashed your car or smthn. Chaos pls.
"Color me surprised, I didn't think this was your scene." Not that Jamie made it his business to run a deep dive on what, precisely, the enforcer's preferred extracurriculars were outside of work. It just seemed an odd sight to find Luca there amongst the extravagant partygoers; a plethora of actors and business owners and old money heiresses. Not quite sticking out in any obvious manner, but a peculiar addition that caught his eye nonetheless. "Or does one of them have you on retainer as extra muscle in case somebody tries to scale a pillar?"
"You mean I don't give off trust fund, ivy league blood or criminally insane vibes?" there were a great many more cliches he could list off that were often linked back to the hamptons but, as one of his closest friends... James was undoubtedly correct. "It's a curse to be one of the others, at least you'll never have to suffer with us. But hey, I tried." Not really. Unfortunately he just had one of those faces - he could blend into a crowd as best as possible, but a former lifetime of cage fights and brawls meant it showed. "clearly you haven't seen Dom yet..." though he wasnt specifically there as a retainer of extra muscle... Luca knew where he'd be if and when shit hit the fan. "might not scale a Pillar but he's been eyeing off the ocean like there's a fucking siren calling his name so."
Friends wasn't quite the word he'd have ever used to describe what he and Cami had ever been. The clash of personalities had been irritating at first, annoying even. After a while, he no longer detested the barbed comments and bitten insults had left him with an unspoken fondness for the hellion Caravelli well before he'd solidified any sense of a place among them. Once little more than an angry soldier plucked from his prison cell, the now enforcer carried a reputation that didn't quite reflect that of the woman he approached now. He was blood, broken bones and flames that consumed - whole she was, well... this. The opulence of the room left him starkly out of place, easily noted by the way her current company dismissed themselves and turned on their heels quicker than the glare could peel itself from Lucia's features, "Did you pay one of the hotel staff to follow and clean up behind me?" A slight glance over his shoulder at the quiet and rather timid looking middle aged woman enough to shake her into looking otherwise occupied with one of the drapes. "I showered for this and everything." Flute glass in hand, he offered her another, "Added a little kick in that for you, by the way."
@softstcps / Val @ the party of white clothing and dreams
It'd been a rather off handed idea. Asking Valeria to come with him tonight. They'd never discussed exactly what this was, or where it was going and something about stepping into the very public light with the district attorney felt like it should have come with some kind of conversation. Until now, it'd been late nights and early mornings at small hole in the wall establishments she'd wanted to show him. Scattered across the city in small patches of bloom that pieced together the kind of woman she was. The request had slipped from his mouth before he'd really thought about the implications - and how he'd have to play his hand when the questions began. But for now, Luca was deigned to pull her a little tighter against his side as she spoke about the pigheaded politician they'd just passed just quietly enough for him to hear - the splash of laughter that curled around her words breathing warmth into the coldest corners of a cavernous chest. "Shhh," he hummed, the corner of his own mouth betraying him all the same, "You're going to get yourself in trouble and I don't think I can save you from that one."
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