a lust for life ;

Leyla Diaz, Paramedic, 30, Civilian/Neutral

[leylaxdiaz]

johnny-legend·:

Always good at reading people, it was obvious to Johnny that her hesitation was born in a mistrust of the police for whatever reason. And given his official capacity for being here was due to his job, he didn’t pull at that thread. “Pleased to meet you, Leyla.” Things just slightly better now, he gave a subtle shake of his head. “In general, here to show support for the departed and the community as a whole. And for myself in particular, here to pay my respects to the Bianchi family. I take it you were an acquaintance as well?”

It made sense, him showing his respects, Leyla could appreciate that. But there was still that intuitive hesitation that made her choose her words carefully, although what could she really reveal given that she had no idea about the gang life in Atlanta? “He was a friend—he was family.” She swallowed back the symphony of emotions that wanted to waiver along the tone, knowing she needed to act strong and be a pillar of strength to those that had welcomed her as Gwyn’s best friend. “Are there a lot of you here, paying respects?”

[leylaxdiaz]

dixiepresident·:

Richard’s façade—while orchestrated to mock at those in theroom experiencing pain—fell immediately.Perhaps the girl just didn’t know—how quaintof Bianchi, keeping people around who hadn’t a fucking idea the people whoreally stood in the room. A foot stepped forward, towering over the woman as hetilted his head to one side, lips curved into a smile. A nonchalant pose, handspocketed. “I wouldn’t try to get me thrown out of places, if I were you. It mighthurt your little friend in the long run.”

The significant height difference, or maybe it was the fact that the male mentioned the word friend, didn’t cause Leyla to cower. Spring tinted orbs were now hardened like emeralds, arms folding over her chest in an act of defiance. “I’m not throwing you out, it’s a wake, everyone is welcome to pay their respects, so at least have some respect and compassion or kindly leave.” She of course took it to heart, the threat he used, fearful of Gwyn’s life and that naive human resilience in protecting another. “And keep the people here out of this, enough of them are hurting already. And what does my little friend have to do with this anyway? You’re being a bully in a place that has no need for it.”

[leylaxdiaz]

calliope-grace·:

Callie chuckled a bit at her remake and shook her head. “Yeah, no fight club here. I promise.” Although with the way her life was going it was looking like her life was supposed to shape up like an action movie. Maybe more of a horror. “Somehow I don’t believe this will be the last one we go to..whoever decided to kill the Bianchi boy is going to have to answer to it.” She said quietly. She was not looking forward to finding out who it was considering she felt like she might know them.” 

She was silent for a moment, bewildered that Callie could utter such a thing and caught off-guard. “What do you mean…” The words came out barely above a whisper, taking a second to glance around them, afraid someone would find offense if they overheard. “Why do you think this isn’t the last one? What do you mean whoever decided to kill him…” Hadn’t it been an accident? Hadn’t the storm overcome Gio and that was it? Had someone actually murdered him?

[leylaxdiaz]

alastxir·:

“Two out of four of the deceased were friends of the family,” he noted, crossing his arms as the service continued. He’d shown up out of consideration for the other families as well, but he knew the reason why there’d been such a large turnout. Appearances were everything in this town and the longer he’d given the public a reason to lean towards the law, the better. He needed to be better than those who’d shown up to gloat over the death of a known criminal. “What about you?”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” The words came out easily, even if the male was showing up as a formality, Leyla still felt compelled to offer condolences. It was respectful for the dead. “I knew one of the deceased, I considered him a friend, and family.”

[leylaxdiaz]

dommcretti·:

The tension and sorrow that filled the room was unbearable to Dominic for all the wrong reasons. Somewhere down the line his humanity got shut off – maybe it was when his personal agenda turned everything into a business – that even at a funeral he couldn’t muster up an ounce of sympathy. They were casualties and, to Dom at least, death was as natural to him as breathing. It was a vicious cycle of life and, if he continued to play his cards right, he’d keep dipping and dodging death for as long as he could. "Pretty sure my stories…memories pale in comparison to yours.” He uttered, looking down at Leyla who was obviously shaken up by the whole ordeal. “How you holdin’ up?”

The barest of smiles tried to grace her lips, faltering as the memories swelled, most recently when Gwyn and Gio had crashed at her place to get out of their home. How much like a family Leyla had considered both of them, and dull too in comparison to Gwyn’s. The loss of a sibling was like the loss of a limb, and Leyla still had scars that were healing. It was why her positivity and preference for embracing the moment shone so brightly. “I’m holding up as best I can. Gwyn on the other hand…” Tongue flicked over dry lips, biting back another rise of tears that wanted to brim the edges of her eyes. “I just don’t understand what happened….we ...we looked for him that day and ...I never imagined his silence was because of this.” Or maybe she had—hadn’t her own radio silence from her late brother been eerily similar? Gwyn had felt it, that panic had been justified, that iron grip on her phone and glance down each time it lit up with hope it would be her brother’s name there.

[leylaxdiaz]

natalia-venturi·:

Natalia couldn’t even imagine how Gwyn was feeling, and she hated seeing that light sucked away from her. They worked together, and although they were not extremely close, Natalia considered her a friend. Gwyn’s usual spirit had been ripped away, and the nurse wasn’t exactly sure how to offer comfort. The icy chill in her voice made Natalia shudder more than the cold weather itself, but she pressed on. “It’s cold out here,” Natalia pointed out dumbly, setting an extra warm latte on the step beside Gwyn in offering. She didn’t want to force her to talk about anything she didn’t want– but also hoped Gwyn knew she wasn’t alone.

There was relief seeing Natalia’s familiar face, especially surrounded by the strangers that had come to pay their respects to the four that had died. It was like reality gently presenting itself, that this was just a moment and everything was continuing forward, that beyond this grief there was still work to be done, their own lives to be led. Selfish, surely, to consider at this time, but Leyla had learned four years ago. “I’m not sure how long Gwyn took off work but...I can try to help where I can.”

[leylaxdiaz]

detectivesilasking·:

Perhaps there was something within Silas that should’ve feltremorse for his actions, when he looked over to the brunette, that saddenedstare echoed in her eyes. But he didn’t. He didn’t care, it was less a familyand more a job to be done. A cockroachinfestation to be stamped out. He thought irritably. Though while his minddarkened with ideas of finally riding the gangs from the city—he remainedfocused. Posing a gentle smile, his hand too cupped the small to-go cup ofcoffee, as he lingered near the refreshment table. “Hmm?” He asked, raising hisbrows. “You’ll have to say that a little bit slowly, my grade school Spanish ispretty poor at best—“ He turned to face her.

There was resistance in wanting to reveal what she’d said to a complete stranger, to expose that vulnerability to others that didn’t know her aside from being a friend of the family and couldn’t know just how close she’d become with both Bianchi children. So close in fact that she considered both to be sister and brother, and now she’d lost another family member. “I said it’s unforgivable what happened to them. I mean...is fate always this cruel?” She hadn’t meant for such honesty to be asked, but given the circumstances, the way people around her were acting, Leyla had been told all of it was a freak accident, but was Death truly so heartless to take out four people at once? Shouldn’t she have been used to Death by now, given that she’d lost already? “Lo siento...I haven’t slept, I don’t mean to ask you such a question.”

[leylaxdiaz]

dixiepresident·:

He’d seen her lingering around Bianchi’s only living child now,which he couldn’t help but slide in, snipe and try to make a jab where—possibly—itwasn’t needed. Not that it was ever needed, but it made for Richard to have afun time, and wasn’t that what life was all about? Hands pocketed, as he lookeddown at the shorter woman, a Cheshire cat smile on his lips when he spoke. “Oh—Iknow the boy’s father. We’re old colleagues.”The grandest of lies, of course, but Richard wasn’t about to explain it to thewoman. “But how do you know him—don’ttell me someone’s lingering around the room hoping to act like they’re winningat life by showing sympathy to nobodies—“And there was the guiltless jab at the Bianchi’s misfortunate loss.

His smile was unnerving, full but not quite genuine. “Well, thank you for coming and paying your respects.” She felt compelled to extend the Bianchi gratitude in their stead. Especially since the majority of them were hidden away to mourn in privacy. “I’m—” The word nobodies cut her off right then and there, reeling for a half second before she finally digested the confirmation. “¡Disculpe! Have some respect for the dead. If you’re one of those lingering around the room hoping to act like they’re winning at life by showing sympathy for nobodies, you can leave.”

[leylaxdiaz]

calliope-grace·:

Callie smiled at the girls comment. “Yeah, surprisingly looking beat to shit isn’t my normal look.” She said shaking her head. Looking around at everyone she sighed and stuck her hands in her jacket pockets. “It’s nice to see you again, even though it’s under bad circumstances again.” The paramedic was nice, too nice to be associated with anything like this. 

“I’m glad it isn’t, I’d be concerned if it was and think you were in a Fight Club like that movie.” She kept her volume low, not wanting to offend anyone for speaking so casually about a violent movie, or by talking about anything but the wake for the people. But Leyla had learned that despite everything, life moved on, despite her too wanting to resist. She’d been here before, for her own brother, and that hadn’t stopped anyone else moving on alarmingly more quickly than she had. “I hope this is the only one of these we’ll have to attend...it’s odd how the violence and crime in the city has amplified. And being a paramedic I’m starting to see a lot more of it than usual.”

[calliope-grace]

leylaxdiaz‌:

“Me too,” Leyla offered quietly in return, finding that civil conversation felt odd in the somberness of the wake, as it had when she’d attended her brother’s years ago. Finally, she glanced at the other, taking a moment to recognize her. “Oh–you’re the girl from the hospital–” One of two that she’d loaded up into the bed of the ambulance. “I didn’t recognize you without…” Nervous tongue flicked over her lips, causing her to silence. Not exactly a kind way to put bandages and casts without causing the other to recall that exact moment. “You look well.” Again, another odd feeling given where they were. 

Callie smiled at the girls comment. “Yeah, surprisingly looking beat to shit isn’t my normal look.” She said shaking her head. Looking around at everyone she sighed and stuck her hands in her jacket pockets. “It’s nice to see you again, even though it’s under bad circumstances again.” The paramedic was nice, too nice to be associated with anything like this. 

[leylaxdiaz]

johnny-legend·:

With a public service like this, it wasn’t always easy to tell whether someone was there simply to pay their respects or for other reasons… other hidden reasons. As Johnny stood off to the side, a young woman he couldn’t recognize began to speak to him. He turned towards her, sunglasses still covering her eyes as he spoke in a lower voice. “Passing acquaintances, mostly.” It was the easiest thing to say, not a lie and yet nothing that would raise more questions. “I’m with Atlanta PD. And you? Were you close to them?” Johnny offered a handshake to her. “Detective Legend.”

Sunglasses shielded her gaze from dropping to the extended hand and hesitating. She’d been warned by Gwyn not to talk to the police, that they would take anything and run with it. Which Leyla found odd, given that the police could just as easily take what she had to offer and try to help find out what happened to Gio. “Leyla Diaz,” Within that split second of hesitation, she had swiftly recovered, willing to speak if it meant helping, even if Gwyn didn’t want to. She’d do it for her. “I didn’t know the police would be here—can I ask why?”

[leylaxdiaz]

dixiepresident·:

What sick person would almost laugh at the state of thingsbefore him? Richard, of course. That haughty grin threatened to break at everyturn, as he walked out of the viewing area where the bodies lay. Surely,Bianchi might’ve stabbed him, a gripping silence of tension broke, as both menshook hands. Playing coy was key—after all, the Atlanta PD was crawling inside of the room. “What ashame, isn’t it?” He feigned a terribly fake voice, popping a grape in hismouth as he stood by the refreshments. “So—soyoung. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

There was something insincere about the way the tall male spoke--each tsk hitting hard and ruffling her already frayed feathers. It had to be her exhaustion, and the fact that Leyla was now wary of anyone that showed up to the wake--worried for Gwyn, worried that she herself would overhear someone say the wrong thing and tear them a new one right then and there. Naturally protective, Leyla was unable to help herself from resorting to old habits and marking every exit. Training that had been ingrained four years ago, rusty, but still useful, her rough excuse of gun marksmanship all but forgotten. “It is a shame, and they were tragically taken too soon. Who did you know?” 

[leylaxdiaz]

calliope-grace·:

“Uh, I know the sister of one of them. I wanted to be here to support her.” Callie said quietly. It was a bad idea coming to the funeral, but she also felt like no one knew her well enough to see what side she was one. Unlike the others in the club, the brunette felt like she still had some kind of heart left and wanted to be there for the girl that she had met. “What about you?” 

“Me too,” Leyla offered quietly in return, finding that civil conversation felt odd in the somberness of the wake, as it had when she’d attended her brother’s years ago. Finally, she glanced at the other, taking a moment to recognize her. “Oh--you’re the girl from the hospital--” One of two that she’d loaded up into the bed of the ambulance. “I didn’t recognize you without...” Nervous tongue flicked over her lips, causing her to silence. Not exactly a kind way to put bandages and casts without causing the other to recall that exact moment. “You look well.” Again, another odd feeling given where they were. 

[leylaxdiaz]

Sunglasses shielded puffy eyes, even having a personal connection with death didn’t prepare them when it struck again. Leyla had only known Gio--she could recall their most recent conversation, something amusing about what Gwyn had said, her their mutual tether. Remembered how they’d scrambled to look for him during the blackout. Shoulders rolled back to push back that overwhelming sense of dread and guilt, opting to distract herself by speaking to others there at the wake. “How did you know them?” A vague enough question, offering the other the chance to speak up about one or all of the dead. 

[leylaxdiaz]

detectivesilasking·:

He was curious to see the turn out. Badge tucked neatly intohis pocket, as Silas crossed the foyer of the event hall. Dressed in black tofilter through the crowd, not lingering long enough, no one would askquestions. But he presumed curiosity—if four people died—at the hands ofsomeone, there’d be a name to blame. And they would be in this building. He wasn’t about to quick announce his intentions—he wassmarter than that. Moving to the refreshment stand, making himself a coffee,and standing off to the side, where he spotted someone already lingering. “Shame,isn’t it?” He commented to the person on his left. “They were all so young.”

The coffee in Leyla’s hand was more of a prop--warming cold hands that clutched the surface, heat radiating into her palms but not enough to distract her from the constant question that bounced back and forth like a tennis match. All she could do was simply be there for Gwyn and the rest of the Bianchi family--and she hated it. Surely there was something else she could do...but at the same time she too had been in the exact same position they were in the past. And she’d reacted the same as her best friend. Sadly, from experience, she knew not to push too much but just enough, there to be a pillar and a shoulder to cry on. 

A voice broke through her thoughts, corners of her lips flicked downward briefly as her gaze dropped to the coffee. “It is...” She swallowed back the swelled lump in her throat. “Es imperdonable lo que les pasó...” Said under her breath, as she attempted a timid sip of coffee.  

[leylaxdiaz]

guineverebianchi·:

It’d been a few days, mingled with the news. Asking Gwyn howshe felt was teetering on dangerous mixed with honesty. She was livid, even ifthat emotion wasn’t expelled right away. Shying away from a lot of people,those within her gang and outside, it made it easier. Sitting on the stepsleading up to the hall, the cold chill sinking into bare forearms as she satbefore the building, black head to toe. Her brother was dead. She didn’t care about much else now. Hearing footstepsapproach, she huffed. “I’m really not interested in the company.” She half-snapped at the person approaching,without looking.

“Then I’ll just sit here, silent, not saying a word.” Leyla mimed zipping her lips as she plopped down next to her best friend, her own brow furrowed in concern and sympathy. Leyla had lost her brother too, something she hadn’t actually admitted to Gwyn in the four years of knowing her--potentially because she too was still in denial and had all but left her previous life behind. Taken too soon, murdered by those they’d called ‘enemy’. But this wasn’t her time, it was Gwyn’s, and she knew the best way was to just simply exist in front of her until she was ready to talk.

[leylaxdiaz]

ravennarinaldi·:

Ravenna tilted her head, catching the tone of the mousey little brunette who piped up. An obvious roll of her eyes, as she slowly spun the wine glass on the table top. “Leyla–” She paused. “Si?” Ravenna tilted her head. Much like every last one of the Bianchi’s, it seemed those too who were involved within them were as dense as the rest. “Well, that’s for me to know. I can’t share all my secrets. I’m surprised you’re not off with Guinevere. Since I’ve been here, it seems you don’t leave her. Like a shadow.”

“Si.” She replied, shifting slightly in her chair when Ravenna said she wouldn’t be sharing all her secrets. Not that she’d wanted her to, but if anything the words made Leyla a little suspicious. Not sure what exactly to be suspicious of, but given the woman’s reaction to the last time she’d almost overheard something secret, Leyla wasn’t certain so sure at this point. The mention of Gwyn caused a humorless scoff to exhale through her nose, taking a sip of her drink. “If anything we’re like Yin and Yang, connected to one another, not one trailing the other but equal.” She was easily defensive when it came to her best friend. “Besides, she’s working.” Maybe. Leyla hadn’t heard much from her lately since the flood.