r u n.t h i s.t o w n.

Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise that I dance like I've got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs? started from the bottom now we here. outlaw queen of London, patron saint of lost girls, avenging harlot. [a character in the-manic-heart roleplay, it's awkward when people who aren't follow me.]

[lakarodriguez]

let's do lunch || laka and athena

[athenaharrison-deactivated20141]

Dear lord. Inviting some random girl over to dine with them seemed like exactly the type of thing Gregory was liable to do. The sex was bad enough, but now having to make polite conversation with a charity worker? How…quaint.

"No, please." Athena said, unconvincing in her serpentine smile. "We would be much obliged. 

[lakarodriguez]

"Well. Alright. But I can't stay long. I have a meeting later, something about stocks, it's all going over my head." Laka laughed, bright and open. She settled down at their table, crossing her legs delicately at the ankles, carefully  stowing her files in her bag.

"So, how long have you two known each other? You haven't been hiding this doll from everyone, have you?"

[lakarodriguez]

let's do lunch || laka and athena

[athenaharrison-deactivated20141]

Athena eyeballed the woman in front of her disdainfully. If Gregory was speaking to her, it was a bad sign- he had confessed, rather adorably and late at night, that his only liasons other than Athena herself were whores and coworkers. And it was little wonder; the man may have been good-looking, but his personality was detestable to the highest degree. Prone to jokes about women’s ‘knockers’ and vaguely racist comments, he in all of his unattractiveness was an easy target for Athena’s prowess.

"The arm candy," Athena said coolly, hiding her mild disgust at being treated like a toy "is named Bernice Grandeau. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She blinked quickly, once, twice, and briefly struggled to remember if she had seen this girl before.

[lakarodriguez]

Laka had met Gregory several times - it was part of her front, her ongoing efforts to seem the society Sloane type. She had been increasingly spending her time at galas and fundraisers, never doing anything to stand out, just politely sipping at cocktails and champagne in Bulgari jewelry and her "smart, but not too smart" skirt suits. Laka had been underestimated all her life, and it had given her a keen sense of how she was perceived - as long as she was merely the shallow, sweetly smiling heiress type, no money of her own, no ambitions of her own besides photo-op causes, she would be safe. Or, safer.

That sense was kicked into overdrive by the way Athena looked at her. Was that jealousy? Or just annoyance at the disturbance? Oh, Auntie. "Bernice. Lovely to meet you. I'm Laka Rodriguez." She smiled, every bit as warm and genteel as she always was at functions. "Please, don't mind me, have a wonderful afternoon-"

"Don't be ridiculous! You're eating alone. Come join us." Gregory insisted.

[lakarodriguez]

let's do lunch || laka and athena

Laka was halfway through what should've been a perfectly lovely lunch - a glass of white wine, a light meal, folders of work in front of her. She wasn't in the mood to be social. She hadn't even brought Elisabetta along with her - as she normally would've. The blackout was still fresh in her mind, and in her hands, with carefully coded names and delicate euphemisms, was the information she'd been given about the men who had most probably killed her employee. She needed to steel herself for what was to come, for what she would have to do.

Then she heard her name.

"Miss. Rodriguez! How lovely to see you." 

She plastered a smile on her face immediately, quickly closing the manila folder in front of her, and stood. "It's so good to see you again! When was the last time? It feels like it's been months." She cooed, walking over to greet the man.

She looked at the woman on his arm, smiling her thin, dangerous smile. "Who's the arm candy?" She teased, although she already knew the answer. 

[lakarodriguez]

plots

opportunities for advancement: Laka is always looking to expand her business, and there are a lot of people in London with trades and talents that are very interesting to her. Make an appointment, stop by the apartment, make your case and see what she can do for you. After all, she prides herself on being a good boss. [taken by lucas]

tug at my heartstrings: Laka's a fairly benevolent person, but she doesn't like people to know that. Come to her for something, for work, for help, let her know something has happened that will tug at her heartstrings, and there's not much you won't get... if you're willing to give her something in return. She can't look too soft. 

[lakarodriguez]

LAKA AND AVERY LOLz

Name: Nina Harrison-Davenport

Gender: Female

General Appearance: Short, and solid, like Laka. Brown hair she usually wears in a braid. Blue-green eyes. Killer smile. Wicked muscles.

Personality: Learned a lot from Avery - she’s fun-loving and whip smart, and though Laka won’t admit she gets it from her, a troublemaker from the day she was born. She’s constantly eluding her mothers, and Liam, who is occasionally put on “Nina Duty”. He delegates whenever he can. 

Special talents: Chess master, tattoo artist. 

Who they like better: Avery. 

Who they take after more: Laka.

Personal Headcanon: Drives a Harley Fatboy. 

Faceclaim: Kaniehtiio Horn

[lakarodriguez]

LAKA & IAN DUH

AND LAKA/IAN BABY NUMBER 2

Name: Roman Harrison-Actey

Gender: Male

General Appearance: Managed to get the genetics for height somewhere in the family. Curly brown hair, his mother’s eyes. 

Personality: Surprisingly studious, Roman is a fairly cheerful, carefree young man. Like his namesake, he’s extremely interested in tech, and he’s incredibly charismatic. 

Special talents: Could build a computer when he was 11

Who they like better: Ian. BOTH KIDS LIKE HIM BETTER.

Who they take after more: Ian. Or Roman.

Personal Headcanon: Actually more religious than either of his parents.

Faceclaim: Marlon Teixeira

[lakarodriguez]

Laka & Aria (BECAUSE HEY WHY NOT)

Name: Hope Harrison-McKinnon 

Gender: Female

General Appearance: Tall and slender, wide blue-green eyes and elegant features. Both of her mothers are very graceful, and it shows in her.

Personality: Witty and quick with a cutting remark, Hope is too snarky for her own good and almost too smart for her own good too. She knows how to play with people’s expectations, and doesn’t hesitate to do so when it means getting her way.

Special talents: Does doing eight shot of tequila and staying on her six inch heels count?

Who they like better: Laka.

Who they take after more: Even split.

Personal Headcanon: Becomes one of her mother’s lieutenants at 21. 

Faceclaim: Jasmine Sanders

[lakarodriguez]

Ian/Laka (Lian? iaka? Lakian?)

Name: Tamya Harrison-Actey. 

Gender: Female

General Appearance: Never grew past 5’5” (though that’s still taller than her mother). Almost unnervingly blue eyes. Curly dark hair, full lips, small boned and delicate looking.

Personality: Not as ruthless as her mother, Tamya is still level-headed and pragmatic. She’s not particularly interested in the family business, unless you count her grandfather’s work. 

Special talents: Has been learning from her mother since she was a small child - by sixteen, she’s been well trained in MMA and is a decent marksman. 

Who they like better: Ian. Laka’s head is in her work a lot. She came to understand why as she got older, but she’s still closer to her father.

Who they take after more: Laka.

Personal Headcanon: Goes into biomedical engineering.

Faceclaim: Maiara Walsh

[thegardenof-eden-deactivated201]

If they had a kid meme ☻

[adelekwong-blog-deactivated2022]

Send me a pair name and I’ll tell you what I think it would be like if they had a child.

Name:

Gender:

General Appearance:

Personality:

Special talents:

Who they like better:

Who they take after more:

Personal Headcanon:

Faceclaim:

[lakarodriguez]

so tell me what's a man with a rifle in his hand gonna do for his daughter when it's her turn to go

[lakarodriguez]

"I miss you"

one year

Family. They’d been a family. Elisabetta and Liam and Ian and Laka, From the moment it’d all come together, it had been the four of them, easy joy, something that she hadn’t felt since Aria and Toby had left. It was real. It was solid. And then it was gone. She didn’t stop wearing black. She’d been all couture and glitter a year ago, had been couture and glitter the night he’d gone, had let red stain her dress like it had the night she told him he’d be a part of her life if he wanted to. She had held him. Daina had not done his work that night. The building had burned, except for him. A year past, and she was still in black, her scarf around her neck and covering her hair like a cowl. Liam and Elisabetta handled the flowers. Laka had done her job when she mowed down the last man who had touched the plans that took him away. 

five years

There was trace of joy on her face. Her friends missed that, missed it constantly, missed Ian swooping in to add levity, missed the way she lit up when he spoke and made it all so much simpler. For a man whose life had been chaos since he met them, he seemed to make it all so much easier. Laka had barely laughed. She carried on with her work - her business flourished, but it wasn’t the same. Aria and Toby didn’t hear from her anymore. The only people who saw her were her employees and her father. If there were long talks with her mother, they were hushed, late at night, filled with sobs. Was this what it was like, Mama? Was this what it was like for you? No. Not like this. I’m so sorry, baby. 

ten years

Elisabetta ran the company now. It wasn’t weakness, she supposed. It wasn’t as if Laka couldn’t carry on without him. But whatever beauty Laka had seen in it once upon a time was gone. She didn’t have the love left in her anymore. Elisabetta was strong, she’d said. Elisabetta would take good care of the women who relied on them, would manage to carry on what Laka had started. There were occasional calls from Spain, Greece, Portugal, Iceland. Always right before she was going to leave. No time for visits. How are the girls. How is Liam. Goodbye. Elisabetta didn’t handle the flowers anymore. When she went to visit one drizzly October morning, it was covered in chrysanthemums. She knew what it meant. As she turned away, Liam wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulled her close. She supposed they were all that was left now. The story was over. They had been left behind, just like her. 

[lakarodriguez]

I miss you

one year

Lilies are cliche, and they smell like cat piss. On the anniversary of Avery's death, Laka drowns the grave site in dianthus and gardenia. She does not visit. She tells Elisabetta what she wants, and, growing paler and more wane every day, the woman complies. Laka stays inside the entire day. She does not answer her phones. She does not call down to Elisabetta for coffee or supper. The next morning, the assistant somberly clears away several empty wine bottles, and leaves her boss to the aftermath. She doesn't mention it, and neither does Laka. Avery's name is not spoken.

five years

The second the words leave Elisabetta's mouth, she knows she's made a mistake. Laka stands and leaves the office. It had been so innocent. "Avery would've loved this." And she would've. Elisabetta hadn't known the girl as well, but it was hard to know her and not like her. Avery would've loved this and Laka is out of the room, doors slamming behind her as she retreats further into the penthouse. It's not even the anniversary. It's a strange way to mourn, but it's not Eliabetta's place to question. It never has been. When she sees the note next morning "Four dozen gardenia, six dozen dianthus, twenty seven pink roses" she does not say a word. She fills the order. Twenty seven. One for each year the girl got to live, one for each that was taken from her. So far. Elisabetta wondered how much silence and how many roses would be made to plug the wound as time passed. Not her place to question. Not her place to wonder.

ten years.

Elisabetta waits in the car. It's the first time, to her knowledge, Laka has allowed Liam to take her to this place. The sky is grey, the clouds are thick, and Laka is wearing black. Her hair is graying badly, and Elisabetta knows it's not just age. Liam moves to get out of the car with Laka, and Elisabetta places a gentle hand on his shoulder. Not the time. No assassins in the graveyard. She watches her boss, stilettos sinking in to the damp ground, shaking visible even from so far away. It is their job to wait silently. It is their job not to question. When Laka comes back to the car, mud on her knees, they say nothing. They take her home. 

[averydavenport]

"If are not improving then what’s the point?"

[lakarodriguez]

"Sometimes, just surviving, sorry to say. I know it's not news to you, but it's true. Never write off just making it to tomorrow."

[guardianofthelibrary]

Send me "I miss you" to know what my muse will say after 1 year, 5 years, then to 10 years after your muse's death.

[averydavenport]

"But… I don’t want to be this. I hate it, I hate being here. This isn’t me. Don’t people pretend to be someone better than they are when they have the chance? I can’t see the positive side of this."

[lakarodriguez]

"Well, that's 'cause there isn't really one."

"But it's not always about being better, Avery. We can't hold like that forever."

[averydavenport]

"I don’t want to be alone. I just… I’m hideous right now, and I don’t want anyone seeing me like this. It isn’t me."

[lakarodriguez]

"... babe, take it from the master. When there's safe harbor, and you're able to be something you don't generally let yourself be... just take it. It doesn't happen often enough."

[averydavenport]

"I didn’t want you to beg for me to talk to you." She sighed. "I don’t want anyone looking at me."

[lakarodriguez]

"... then I won't."

"I'm not lashing out at you, Avery. If you don't want me here, I'm leaving. Simple as that."