FLAWED

death is part of who we are. it guides us. it shapes us. it drives us to madness. can you still be human if you have no mortal end?

[asinnerclair]

sadie-royale:

With each familiar face, the new sensation of being punched in the gut reminded Sadie that things had clearly changed. Powering through was what others expected of her- what she expected of herself, and so she did. 

Taking the seat beside him, Sadie did her best to make her smile seem genuine. “What are you having?”

Startled wasn’t the right word, but perhaps surprised would fit as he jerked his head toward the voice. Blinking, he took in the smiling face, letting silence linger longer than he meant to. 

“Sadie,” he finally said. Registering her question, he added, “Rum and coke. Something simple. You having anything tonight?”

[callmemissdonnelly]

The tops of the bills inched out of the envelopes opening just enough to allow her one last recount as she walked into the hideout. It’s halls ingrained themselves into her muscle memory so firmly, she barely had to look up at all. Until she heard other footsteps approaching, that was. “The Captain around?” She asked vaguely tucking the tips back into their paper prison. 

[asinnerclair]

“Haven’t seen him all day.” Hayden was on his way out for the night, his pack heavy with dust. It felt strange attempting a job he had originally been assigned after --- e v e r y t h i n g. But now that they had a larger stock, now that the competition had lessened, he could return to the duty with little trouble.

But it still felt strange. It still felt ----- cleaner compared to what he had done.

“Might be holed up in his office though. He’s going to be happy with the collection?” he asked, his head dipping down toward the envelopes in her hand.

[insoundmic]

Visit Original Link

[asinnerclair]

don’t want no sugar in my coffee it makes me mean, oh, it makes me mean

[asinnerclair]

effiesjones:

“Oh, I don’t work–” Effie’s voice trailed off as she turned around, spotting one of the Rogers. She’d seen quite a few of them during her visits to Tobias but that didn’t necessarily mean they would remember her. She’d always been the invisible girl, after all.

“Um, what was it again?” The brunette glanced around for Leo but figured while he was busy, she could help out a bit. She owed him that much and more for taking her in years ago.

His gaze flicked to the woman who spoke, and a brow raised in reaction. Her name was lost, but there was familiarity to her face. Right then, there was a haze clouding his mind to remind him of how he knew her face, but really, it wasn’t as if it mattered. Not in the long run, at least.

“Simple rum and coke. Though if you have anything stronger, I wouldn’t mind a replacement.”

[beaux-castor]

She lowered the knife, but only slowly. “You didn’t say you were coming.” She wasn’t mad- It was good to see Hayden, but still disconcerting. “You can’t sneak up on me like that, I’ll kill you one of these days.”

[asinnerclair]

“I was in the area and felt like seeing you. I’ll call next time when I’m ten minutes away.” Clearing his throat, he added a “sorry” as well before stuffing his hands in his pockets and walking closer. God, he missed Beaux’s presence at the hideout. He didn’t realize how stabilizing her silence was until she was gone.

“How’s the apartment holding up? I see it didn’t blow away with that storm last week.” Awesome, Hayden, talk about the weather; what an invigorating topic choice. “And where’s the other cutie of a cat? I think I’m growing on Artemis.”

At least it was easier to sound jovial around Beaux. It wasn’t the same banter (and would never be the same again), but it wasn’t as forced. No, the small smile on his faec was genuine, and in the back of his mind, there was a sliver of relief.

[vaedafranco]

“Since you’re helping me, you can have control. Pick whatever you want.” Vaeda passed the remote to Hayden before finding all the paper work.

[asinnerclair]

“You might regret that decision,” he mumbled as he turned on the television. He flipped through the shows, thumb in his belt loop as seconds turned to minutes. His indecision came to an end when he huffed and finally settled on Daredevil. 

“Hope you like superheroes.” He tossed the remote on the couch and drifted back to the younger girl, hovering over her shoulder to look at the work. “This just general filing, or is this paperwork so important there’s a system to it?”

[beaux-castor]

“Come on, Raven.” Beaux said, softly, but still irritated and almost gruff, like her speaking usually was. She reached down and grabbed the cat, rolling her eyes as he purred. “There are wolves out there, they’ll eat-” She stopped, hearing something, and reaching for her knife. She whipped it out, and spun around, Raven clawing at her shirt, to face the person. 

[asinnerclair]

beaux-castor:

Holding up his hands, he whistled. “Still impressive as always with the reflexes, Beaux. Even with a cat, you look as if you could stab me to death.” A beat of silence, then, “Anytime you want to put that down, you can.”

[vaedafranco]

“Well, you can sit in the corner and look pretty if you want. Or you can help me with the filing while watching Netflix.”

[asinnerclair]

A corner of his lips lifted. “I look pretty at all times. But the filing sounds tedious enough to want to finish it quickly, so ---- what’s on the Netflix queue?”

[asinnerclair]

He swirled the last bit of alcohol in his glass for a few moments, resting his head against his free hand as he did so. He had finished early for the night, but while a celebratory drink seemed like a splendid idea earlier ----- there was little joy to be had.

                            ( maybe he just shouldn’t THINK right then )

Downing the last drop, he shoved the glass aside, saying simply, “Another.”

[vaedafranco]

“I have some hacking to do. You are welcome to join me if you want.”

[asinnerclair]

Raising a brow, he slowly began to follow the younger girl. “What would you have me do?”

[streetsofneverland-rpg-blog]

→ BEFORE

Hayden grew up in the most average of families. His mother was a housewife, his father had a nine to five job. Him and his siblings all went to a Catholic School, attended church every Sunday, prayed before dinner. His siblings complained about it, especially Hayden’s little brother, Chuck. Hayden knew his brother was trouble, he was constantly going off at him for doing stupid things, but always kept it a secret from his parents. The bonds of brotherhood are incredibly strong. You can only imagine how devastated Hayden had been when he was told that Chuck had been killed in some ‘incident’. Investigating led him to Neverland, and to the Lost Boys. Chuck had been a part of their little ‘gang’.. Hayden blamed them all for not saving him, for letting him die. Digging a little deeper, Hayden discovered that the Jolly Rogers hated the Lost Boys just as much as he did. He joined their ranks as a drug dealer, managing to make friendships along the way.

→ AFTER

The concept of faith and a higher power became a paradox of a loaded topic and a useless convention for Hayden once the war reached its head. Unimaginable things were asked of him; far more than what he expected when he had joined as a drug dealer. However, he found himself taking part with no question; arson, violence, robbery all listed in his ledger of crimes. His willingness caught him both notice and respect from the other gang members, no longer straggler on the outside of the group but a trusted aide in their battle for power. He’s hardened significantly over the past two year, more quiet and serious. A rock in the group, his focus is solely on the Rogers maintaining the upper hand in the new order of Neverland. There are no more rosaries to hold, no more prayers meant for salvation. Survival is what’s left for him, and his survival is linked with the Rogers now and no one else. Not even Him.

→ CONNECTIONS

friends with Hook, Josh, Angel, and Beaux

   ░  TAKEN  

[callmemissdonnelly]

Hearing Hayden’s voice brought her back from her moment, how long had she been in there? It felt like seconds but it could have been an hour for all she knew. When she was lost in her thoughts, time didn’t seem to move the same way it usually did. Turning the sink on with her elbow she dipped her hands into the lukewarm water, and she got as much off as she could before touching anything else. It took her a moment or two, coating her hands with soap and scrubbing away what the water had left behind. 

But eventually, she did come out. Hands shoved into her pockets and blue eyes looking up at the boy who’d been kind enough to drive her home instead of leaving her in the snow. “Hey.” 

[asinnerclair]

He shoved his hands into the pocket of his jacket long before she opened the door in order to mask him clenching them. There were some aspects he couldn’t show her right then, and by the time she presented herself, he had grappled control over his face and body.

Or for the most part; his hands started to burn from the cramping aches.

“Hey,” he said, giving her a small smile. “You good? Uh -- prettied up yourself enough for your standards?”

[unjollyroger]

Tobias eyed him doubtfully, but finally heaved himself up off the couch with a nod. “Alright then,” he agreed, knowing that Hayden did have a point. And who was he to turn down the prospect of shooting something. Someone was always more satisfying, but targets in the yard had their own merits. He picked up his own gun and walked outside, following Hayden. “After you,” he offered to Hayden, stepping out of the way. He watched him with the slightest hint of amused smile, almost looking forward to the prospect of competition. 

[asinnerclair]

Now he was like a child, almost bouncing on the balls of his feet when Tobias agreed. He was too antsy in the space, and though outside reminded him just how isolated they were, it was the better option. 

And he certainly had improved since his recruitment days (because shooting at still targets rather than live made for better aim).

“Why thank you good sir,” he chirped after he scurried to the makeshift shooting range. The weapon in his hands felt heavy, but he adjusted accordingly as he positioned himself. 

“Whoever has the most shots in the center or head wins a round of free drinks,” he said before sighting the target and pulling the trigger.  

[rogerqueen]

“That day has not come and it never will come.” She turned the empty shot glass upside down, summoning the bartender over with a flick of her wrist and ordering two more shots. “Keep dreaming.”

[asinnerclair]

“Oh, I shall. Please keep proving me wrong by downing that awful stuff.” With a cheeky grin, he sipped his own drink before adding, “I’ll stick to the what’s actually good in this place.”

[sadie-royale]

“Don’t mention it.” Sadie waved away his thank you as she did most things. The prospect of someone actually giving her credit for something she deemed inconsequential never sat right with her. Then again, it was rare that she ever considered her own actions consequential. She had learned from an early age to blend in, not stand out. Becoming someone’s confidante or shoulder to rely on wasn’t something that she had ever longed to be. 

She wasn’t a strong enough person to hold herself up along with someone else. 

Stopping short, Sadie looked up at Hayden. This was a mood of his that she hadn’t quite seen before, only caught glimpses of occasionally. Part of her life had been adapting into whatever someone wanted at the time, but right now, Sadie wasn’t sure what that was. “Are you going to be alright?”

[asinnerclair]

The smile on his face fluttered, unsure of whether to stay in place or not. Don’t mention it; ah, he probably wouldn’t in the near future. Not until he composed himself. He knew he would be rattled about crossing the border, but this --- this was abhorrent.

He had to do better, be better ---- he had to become....

                      ( fuck, fuck, F U C K )

When she paused, he peered down as her question filled the air. And he should have had an answer right away, but his words faltered again, dying on his tongue like a flame on a candle. 

“I will be,” he murmured. He took a breath, holding it for a beat too long before sighing. Alright meant functioning, and he would -- and had to -- be that. “I turn alright at some point; so I will be. Soon. You can count on that.”

[sadie-royale]

Sadie shook her head, nudging him with her hip. She had been around long enough to know that there was no dispelling the perceptions that each side had of each other. It was an uphill battle that would inevitably lead to another fight on the next horizon. Exhausting as it was, she was used to it. 

“There’s other nights. I should probably be thanking you, if my tante heard where I was, I would be really be in trouble.” Monique had already voiced her displeasure over Sadie’s preference of the other club but the mermaid couldn’t help feeling out of place everywhere she seemed to go. It was easy to keep that from being obvious with a smile on her face but the feeling remained. 

[asinnerclair]

He huffed at the mention of Monique. Of any woman he knew, she was one he never wanted to cross. To be on her bad side ---- he wasn’t even sure how people managed to be on her good side because it was as if she didn’t have one. “Well, what she doesn’t know won’t kill you.” 

Trying to match her smile, his gaze darted back to the path, and soon, Dark Street came into view. His free hand flexed at his side, and he resisted the urge to clear his throat again. 

                   ( why can’t you be stronger, hayden? )

“Thanks. For...” He trailed off, uselessly gesturing to the Roger territory. The smile was still on his face, but it seemed the two of them were trying to put upon masks that weren’t working as they should for the night. And it wasn’t as if he could say anything to fix that. His words either weren’t enough or couldn’t be of good use; no matter if he thought he had become better since Chuck, it was clear by tonight that he hadn’t pushed past as far as he thought he did.

[unjollyroger]

Tobias rolled his eyes at Hayden’s persistence, waving him off. There was certainly nothing he liked better than shooting something, but he wanted a real challenge, a real target. None of this practice. “But I would need some actual competition,” Tobias teased, despite his expression staying practically deadpan. Well… He was slightly teasing. It was as good as he got.

[asinnerclair]

Pressing his hand against his chest, he released a dramatic, offended huff. “Wow Tobias, way to hit me where it hurts! I’ll have you know I’ve certainly improved since my recruitment days. I can be enough competition for you.” Raising a brow, a cheeky smile appeared. "Seriously, it'll be a great way to get ourselves working. I am not about being cooped up inside, especially when the sun is out.”