atlas had never let himself linger on realizations that always came in the quietest parts of his day. that, at various times in his life, good and bad, the raven haired bartender had always been somewhere close by. in college, it'd been her saving his ass from being cut from the team. a couple of years ago, it'd been her grounding him when heavy truths hit him square in the chest. in between their bickering, she'd always known what to say and even in heated moments, ingrid had always delivered the truth. "actually, yeah. it's not good for the lungs," he countered, a barely-there, boyish curve on his mouth.
his gaze dropped to the uneven grain of the bar and he nodded. intent didn't matter. he knew why his mother had passed it on. it hadn't been out of the kindness of her heart. it was solely grief driven and the desire to step away and put distance between herself and the place she'd built with someone who was no longer there. "i've been around long enough. i think it was a good call." no matter their familial issues, he'd always shown up for the wolves. lucas had too, but while atlas had been there picking up the slack, the younger williams had been living his life.
and now, lucas the audacity to bellyache that it wasn't his name on the paperwork. "it would mean a lot," he assured, the gratitude spoken quietly, but weighted with nothing but genuine truth. to him, to lucas, to the wolves. they all needed a little extra support. "just uh, let me know when you wanna drop by? i can pick you up." he wondered, for a beat, how she was getting home after shift. a part of him wanted to offer a ride, but every time they got friendly, something always caused a shift between them.
After all these years, Ingrid Lozano had lost count of the times she swore ( left and right ) she'd never speak to him again, and yet.. that never really stuck. Even when it came down to snapping at him or, on some occasions, actually biting him just to make a point, she still couldn't bring herself to fully walk away; especially not when he needed someone to knock some sense into him. Truth was, she couldn't explain it. It made her wonder, how it could be a gut feeling rooted into her that just knew, or, maybe it was the way his eyes darkened on those rough days, or maybe, just mayybe she just knew him better than either of them wanted to admit. And that was enough for her to turn into a persistant little shit, like a gum that sticks on your shoe and can't get rid of till you eventually give up. He needed that gum now, and despite knowing she'd be tossed aside the moment everything was well again, Ingrid didn't mind. "Mm, like those lungs of yours haven't breathed worse." She murmured, rolling her eyes with a laugh.
Her gaze dropped briefly to the bar when his did, fingers tracing over the edge of a glass she hadn't bothered to move. Listening as he spoke, she couldn't help but agree – he had been there long enough, and put his heart into it. Cared enough for those wolves, the way he cared for his girls, and as much as she'd like to smack him most of the time, she had to give credit where credit was due. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter, "Are you happy, though? With the decision." It'd keep him busy, if anything. Busy enough so he wouldn't come around here to drink.
The moment passed like it always did with them; never lingering too long before something lighter slipped back in. At his next words, her lips twitched again, that familiar spark returning as Ingrid tilted her head slightly. "Wow. A ride too?" she dragged out, tapping her fingers lightly against the counter. "Careful, Williams. You keep offering perks like that and I might start thinking you're trying to win employee of the month or something." Her eyes flicked up to meet his again, something warmer settling there for just a second before she ruined it on purpose. "Tomorrow would work since I usually make it home in one piece." she grinned, "Most nights."
maverick didn't need a time clock to know how many hours he put into a work week. it was easy to determine when it felt like he never really quit, even when the sun set and the moon rose to take its rightful place in the night sky. he took it home too, often and without hesitation. as one of the few detectives at the precinct, it fell on his shoulders and that wasn't a responsibility that mav took lightly.
the case, something that they didn't see often, was a puzzling piece. two murder victims and not many suspects to name. he'd reviewed the crime scene photos, had studied every single one down to the finest details. he'd even walked the scene over and over again, each time hoping he'd find something that he'd missed before. it was clean, far too clean for his liking, but he'd crack it. he knew he would, because he understood what it meant if he couldn't and that wasn't a burden he looked to bear.
the gentle knock at the door pulled his deep blues from the file opened at his desk. it was autopsy findings for each victim. as the door cracked open, he placed the papers back into the neatly compiled file and closed it with as much care as he could.
"come in, of course. you're no bother." maverick cleared his throat and sat up straighter in his chair, his shoulders squared, attention on her. it was something that his grandmother had taught him — always give your full attention to the person that you're speaking to. "i'm sorry for not reaching out sooner. i received the autopsy reports and i've been looking through them. wanted to... try and get a fuller picture of what happened."
the detective waved a hand toward the seat that sat opposite of him, his ocean blues sweeping over the box of tissues at the edge of his desk as his gaze shifted between her and the chair. "please, take a seat. we can look through some of them if you have the time? that way... if i have any questions, you can help me to shed a little light on them." he nipped at the inside of his cheek. "can i get you anything? coffee? water?"
Aylin never thought she'd find herself in a position like this, but then again, who really thought how easily life could change overnight? And in such a way? "Come in, of course. You're no bother." If only her feet could obey as easily as the words came out of his mouth. It wasn't like the room was dark and unwelcoming, or that Maverick was anything but kind to her ( it was quite the opposite, ), but walking in there meant that she could potentially come across new information.. and Aylin wasnt sure she was ready for that. Moving carefully, almost instinctively quiet, the young woman eased into the chair he'd offered, keeping the notebook close for a moment before she finally set it down on the desk between them. "It's okay.. I know you're busy." There was no edge to it, no blame; just an understanding that came from being forced into patience she never asked for. Aylin would rather have this, than a rushed investigation for the sake of closing the case.
Autopsy photos? Good thing she didn't have any breakfast. Her stomach was already tight, and as Aylin exhaled deeply through her nose, she forced herself to shake her head slightly. "No, no, I'm good, thank you." She said softly, "We can go through them." She said quietly, nodding once. Even if it was hard; Aylin would rather be the one doing this than her elderly grandmother. She did it once, now it was only photos. "If it helps."
for as many nights as their casual banter had shifted into something dark and heavy, he was still surprised by the wave of warmth that always seemed to wash over him when she was near. he blamed familiarity, blamed the past they chose not to talk about, and the way she was as good with the wolf-pup as she was with his children. above all else, it was how goddamn endearing he'd always found her, back then, and more so now. "one day you might," he grinned, his dark orbs flecked in golden honey dropping to the uneven grain of the bar top.
the strange feeling of an upward curve made his cheeks feel tight. for two months, it felt a heavy weight was pressing into his chest, only relieved in the quiet moments where his head didn't feel like it wanted to implode. atlas chuckled quietly and pulled his gaze from the bar and back to her. "you're lookin' at the new boss. if you wanna drop in and check in on your best friend, you're allowed to." he knew that lucas wouldn't mind, and it wasn't like he had a girlfriend keeping watch over him any longer. she'd bailed, again, but this time he hadn't blamed her. not really. "look, i know it's a lot to ask, but... if you wanted to come by, i could use the help."
Under different circumstances, Ingrid would have found something to keep herself busy, anything to avoid paying attention to him. Wiping down glasses that were already spotless, rearranging bottles that didn’t need rearranging. Normally, she’d cling to those little tasks just to keep her hands moving and her thoughts somewhere else. But tonight? She wasn't in the mood for all that, and maybe, just maybe, she was in a good mood, despite the exhaustion of a long night. Lately, a strange but honest thought had been sitting in the back of her mind, and she didn’t quite know what to do with it. The truth was, he had been a constant in her life for longer than she cared to admit. Through the nights, they’d shouted at each other on the top of their lungs, and the quieter ones when they simply existed in the same space without saying much at all; Atlas had always been there. Odd, whatever feeling this was. "Mm, afraid of a little smoke?" she teased, glancing over at him with that warm grin.
"Well, that's a dangerous promotion." Ingrid said after a beat, voice light again. "And you worry about me burning the place down." She continued, joking more than anything else. But when he mentioned needing help? The joke faded just enough to show she was actually listening. Spending time helping the wolves? Spending time with the girls? It made her forget, and God knows how she enjoyed it, despite being too stubborn to admit it. Her lips twitched after the longest pause, not wanting to miss the opportunity, "Yeah… I don't mind stopping by." Ingrid admitted, exhaling deeply. "Besides, if I don't show up once in a while, she's going to forget I'm her favorite person. And I worked very hard to earn that title. Almost lost a finger."
The hallway outside the office was quieter than Aylin expected. It wasn't silent, no, somewhere down the corridor a phone rang, a chair rolled across tile, someone laughed faintly, but it all felt far away, like a distant echo. Life still existed, and yet, for her family, it felt like it had all slowed down dramatically ever since her sister's life was cut short. Lylah and her husband had become nothing more than names in a case; names scrolling across a screen during the late-night news. To most people, that was all it was. A headline. A brief story before the next one took its place.
But Lylah had been so much more than that. She was a mother, a sister, a granddaughter. A woman who laughed too loudly sometimes, who braided hair in the mornings and left little notes on the fridge. None of them deserved an ending like that. None of it should have happened. And Emily? Emily didn’t deserve to wake up in the middle of the night and call for her mother, only to find her aunt in her place. To strangers, it was just a tragedy that had already passed through the news cycle. Something sad, but distant. To Aylin, it was different. It was as if a piece of her soul had been torn away.
The small notebook was tucked carefully against her chest, one hand wrapped around the edge like it anchored her there. Up close, the exhaustion was harder to hide. Aylinn's eyes were slightly pink, her face still a little puffy from nights that ended with quiet crying she tried not to let anyone hear. Dark circles lived under her eyes now, the kind sleep didn’t seem to fix anymore. She slowed when she reached the open door.
For a moment, she just stood there. Still, the young woman had tried.
Her hair was brushed. Her coat buttoned neatly. A little makeup she’d put on earlier before leaving the house, not for herself but because her niece watched her carefully these days. Kids noticed when the grown-ups stopped trying. Shifting her weight slightly in the doorway, Aylin became more hesitant to step in uninvited. After a second, she lifted her hand and knocked lightly against the open doorframe. "They told me I'd find you here." she said gently. "I’m sorry to stop by like this.." she added after a small pause. "I just… didn’t want to wait."
She lifted the notebook a little so he could see it. "I started writing down everything I could find, email passwords, account logins, security codes… anything that looked like it might connect to something.. I figured it might help. Or at least give you somewhere else to look."
they always did say that bad things come in three. in his experience, they came in waves that seemed never ending. life had tossed too many truths at him and when he hadn't known what to do with them, it had made the choice for him. it was a heart attack, the kind they called widow makers, the kind that left his mother clinging to flannels and old photos, the kind that had her pushing the rescue into his hands.
and then there was his biological father — a drunk, a loser, a man who never committed to anything but finding the bottom of a bottle. atlas had wanted to know him, but now, it felt like an impossible task. lucas hadn't cut him any breaks either. his younger brother had taken his grief and turned into something else, something that atlas knew better than most — misplaced anger.
her voice pulled him from the amber colored liquor in his glass. "i tip like i do," he exhaled, lifting a hand to brush over his unkempt beard. he tipped like he owed the whole bar, when in reality, the only person he owed a thing was her. "she did. said i should probably check and make sure you haven't burned this whole place down yet." a rough chuckle ghosted off his tongue, ragged and worn thin by untouched grief and exhaustion. "she's wondering when you're coming to see her again."
Between them, there were far too many stories to tell, too much pain and wounds to heal, but what was the point of looking back? Nothing good came with it, and Ingrid had learned that lesson the hard way. She grew up to learn not to trust anyone but herself. Those with the kind words and sweet smiles were the worst of them all, and yet, there were always moments when she'd find herself holding her guard down. Just like now.. and boy, she knew she'd regret it. One day. Somehow. Watching him for a second longer than usual, her grin lingered but softened just a little around the edges. "Well first of all.." Ingrid said, glancing back up at him with a raised brow, "Rude. I have never burned the place down. Almost? Maybe. But never fully committed. Who wants to run and hide while wearing stilettos?"
The corners of her mouth tugged upwards, green hues glancing over him, wondering how bad the night way. Was he here for the alcohol? Or to talk? Whatever it was, Ingrid didn't want to pry.. and yet, she didn't want him to drink more either. "Oh, so that’s why you’re here." The brunette paused, her eyes meeting his. "Someone missed me, hm? Unbelievable. I give that girl ten minutes of affection and suddenly I’m emotionally responsible for a wolf." Ingrid joked, letting out a laugh. "You know, when someone usually tries to chew off my hand, I try to keep my distance.. but I'll come. If I'm allowed to."
By the time Ingrid finally stepped out from the back room, the bar had quieted down to that lazy, late-night hum she actually liked. A few people lingered over drinks, the music had dipped low enough to be background noise, and the chaos of the rush was nothing more than sticky memories on the counter. She had changed quickly, throwing on an oversized hoodie and loose jeans over the nightclub outfit she’d been wearing earlier. Walking home in tight fabric wasn’t exactly on her list of smart decisions for the night, so baggy and invisible it was. Girl had learned from her previous mistakes. Tugging the sleeves over her hands, she slid behind the bar again, leaning forward on her elbows as she let her gaze sweep lazily across the room.
That’s when she spotted him.
Ingrid blinked once, like exhaustion was likely playing tricks on her, before her mouth curled into a grin. Of course. "Well, that’s unsettling.." she muttered, straightening a little as she looked him over like he’d just appeared out of thin air. "I leave for five minutes and suddenly Atlas Williams is sitting in the bar like he pays rent here." She tilted her head, green eyes glancing over at him with amusement, then rested her chin in her palm. "What happened? Did Nova send you to check on me or something?" Ingrid raised a brow, barely containing a laugh, "Blink twice if the wolf is running the household now. Honestly, I wouldn’t even be surprised."
NAME: Maya Ying-Yue Lee
NICKNAME(s): May, Yi
AGE: Thirty-Four
BIRTHDAY: Unknown, but documents claim it’s December 16th, 1992 BIRTHPLACE: Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
HOMETOWN: Providence Peak, Colorado
ETHNICITY: Chinese
NATIONALITY: American / Chinese
GENDER / PRONOUNS: Female / She, her
ORIENTATION: Heterosexual
OCCUPATION: Costume Designer and Online Business Owner
LANGUAGES(s) SPOKEN: English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish
❨－－𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ∖❩
ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Paul and Harper Lee
BIRTH PARENTS: Unknown
ADOPTED SIBLING(s): Lillian Lee, Alice Lee, Josie Lee, Roman Lee *Names can later change
BIRTH SIBLING(s): Unknown
EXTENDED FAMILY: George Lee ( uncle / father’s side ), Ryan Lee ( uncle / father’s side ), Amy Lee ( aunt / father’s side ), Stella Howard ( aunt / mother’s side ). PET(s):
Loki, the black family poodle.
Benji, the mixed breed beauty Maya recently adopted.
Milo, the one-eyed cat who followed her right into the house and never left.
❨－－𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ∖❩
FACECLAIM: Ni Ni
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Dark Brown
HEIGHT: 5'7''
WEIGHT: 110 lbs
BUILD: Slim
TATTOOS: None.
PIERCINGS: Ear piercings ( lobe, upper lobe, helix )
❨－－𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ∖❩
POSITIVE TRAITS: Bright, Calm, Adaptable, Compassionate, Creative, Gentle NEGATIVE TRAITS: Stubborn, Silly, Secretive, Self-Conscious
FEARS: Astraphobia.
HOBBIES: Fashion Design, Calligraphy, Cooking, Hiking, Daydreaming
HABITS: Twirling rings around her fingers, the ability to fall asleep anywhere, chewing the tip of a pen or pencil.
❨－－𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ∖❩
TW: CHILD ABANDONMENT / ADOPTION / CANCER / DEATH
Born in Nanjing, China, Maya was one of the many babies abandoned because of the one child policy. Of course, she was considered one of the lucky ones, as whoever gave her away that cold December night, had chosen a state orphanage to become the newborn’s new home. Known for the relatively better conditions, Maya stood lucky for a second time -- as she never came to know the hardships of of orphanage life. When she was only a few months old, the Lee family traveled to China, in hopes of adopting a child and baby Maya captured their heart; coming back to the United States as a family of three. In the years to follow, the Lees would adopt four more children, completing their dreams of a large happy family.
Ever since she could remember herself, Maya was happy. The Lees were devoted parents, trying to teach their children how blood was not all a family needed to be complete and in a great extend, they achieved exactly that. Growing up with strong values, Maya and her sisters would also attend Chinese school three times a week, as their parents wanted to make sure that the girls would have a better understanding about were they came from; as well as the right tools if they ever decided to find their birth parents. A big part of their life was all about accepting their past, and embracing their future. Everything came crushing down, when Maya was sixteen and her father was diagnosed with cancer. That didn’t seem to break the family dynamic, as the doctors were optimistic. Paul was strong, he was young -- he would make it. And truly, he fought the disease for years, seeing two of his girls graduating with honours and then passing peacefully in his sleep; leaving the family devastated.
Before Maya could deal with the loss properly, she was off to New York to study fashion designing, and thus, keeping the promise she made to her dad. The city was quite different and this was not the life the young adult was used to. People were not friendly, her roommates would make her life hell and the competition with other classmates would keep her up at night. This continued for a few years, until there was a breakthrough that changed her life. Taking up a project for a film production, Maya never expected that her clothes would catch the right attention, with more deals coming her way to the point she would constantly be busy in her small studio.
With her own apartment, and work to keep her busy, Maya was hopeful and more positive. She was in love -- she had a few friends that seemed to genuinely care. Things seemed to fall in track or that’s the impression she had, until the day she came back to find her then fiancé in bed with another woman. Packing her stuff, she didn’t think twice before leaving New York and returning back home. With no explanation toward why her engagement failed, or why she decided to take a break from work and focus on remodelling a cabin in Bighorn Hills, Maya kept quiet and has only recently went back to feeling like herself again.
❨－－𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 ∖❩
Prefers designing period clothing and for that reason she has a lot of history books for research.
Her online business runs on personalised items, and Maya chooses whether to take up special requests for dresses.
When inspiration hits, you’ll see her pull out a sketchbook and start working. If she’s at home, then May will drop anything she’s doing to put her ideas on paper.
Has gotten drunk once and got so embarrassed she has a one drink rule now.
Will not engage in a physical fight, as this girl can’t fight for her life. Surprisingly, her dad has taught her how to shoot and her aim is excellent.
She’s a very active person. Will definitely start her day by going jogging with her dog.
With the news that China lifted the one child policy, Maya couldn’t help but feel more curious about her birth parents. She put her plans to visit and find more information on hold because of work.
❝ Shoot for the stars ⎯ but if you happen to miss shoot for the moon instead. ❞
❨－－𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ∖❩
NAME: Igrid Isolde Lozano
NICKNAME(s): Iggy, Isie, Oldie.
AGE: Thirty-Three
BIRTHDAY: May 16th, 1993
BIRTHPLACE: Providence Peak, Colorado
HOMETOWN: Providence Peak, Colorado
ETHNICITY: Native American and castizo Mexican
NATIONALITY: American
GENDER / PRONOUNS: Female / She & Her
ORIENTATION: Bisexual
OCCUPATION: Cashier at the Sweet Spot & Part-time Bartender at Le Cirque Nightclub
LANGUAGES(s) SPOKEN: English, Italian and Spanish
FACECLAIM: Priscilla Quintana
HAIR COLOR: Dark Brown
EYE COLOR: Green
HEIGHT: 5'5''
WEIGHT: 113 lbs
BUILD: Slim
PIERCINGS Ear piercings ( lobe, helix, bellybutton )
TATTOOS:
A hummingbird on her left wrist.
❨－－𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ∖❩
POSITIVE TRAITS: Intelligent, Brave, Hard-Working, Resourceful, Expressive
NEGATIVE TRAITS: Cynical, Sarcastic, Vengeful, Quick-Tempered, Pessimistic
FEARS: Acrophobia.
HOBBIES: Reading, Dancing, Exercising & Pissing people off
HABITS: Toying with objects before her, forgetting to take off your makeup before bed, late night snacking.
❨－－𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ∖❩
TW: CHILD ABANDONMENT / MENTION OF BULLYING
When the Lozano family moved to a small trailer in Bighorn Hills, it was all meant to be a temporary solution to their problems. Having lost their home to a fire, Veronica was left with a few belongings and barely any savings to care for her three-year-old daughter. Being involved with a married man, Veronica was very secretive about his identity and this was one of the reasons why their small home was never at peace. Growing up, Ingrid couldn’t understand why her father was never around and didn't ask much after realising her mom wasn't particularly interested in giving a straight answer. By the time she was nine, Ingrid was used to caring for herself as her mother would disappear for days, only to come back with a sour mood. Despite never being physically abusive towards her, Veronica was not a kind woman. It wasn’t until the age of twelve that Ingrid started hearing people talk. And it wasn’t until a few weeks later, when her mom found out she was pregnant again. The good news? It was by the same married man. Bad news? He wanted nothing to do with any of them.
So, things started going south again. After having Freya, Veronica barely paid any attention to the girls. She would often leave, come home drunk or with a random dude that they’d never seen again. If it wasn’t for Mrs. Walker, or nana as the girls liked to call her, Ingrid would never be able to attend school or care properly for her sister. She was more of a motherly figure to them than Veronica ever was, teaching them values, telling them stories and most importantly making sure the girls had food and clothes. It was thanks to Mrs. Walker, that Ingrid could get her first job -- babysitting for a couple in Claret Park, then dog walking and all odd jobs a teen could do at the time to save money. This money was their way out, going to college and studying like Ingrid always wanted. This money was supposed to be their future, but this money was taken by Veronica and her newest boyfriend, who decided to start a new life without the girls. Truth was, the abandonment didn’t hit her as hard as the realisation of how they had nothing left, and how their own mother was more than okay to push them both deeper into the dirt. That night, everything changed. Something snapped in Ingrid, whatever hope she held for the future was gone. At age sixteen, she was left to watch after herself, and her baby sister.
For two years, Mrs. Walker never called the child services. Instead, she made sure Ingrid would be able to finish school -- but all hopes for a college education were gone. With no money and responsibilities piling up, all Ingrid could do was work, and sometimes that included three jobs ; One to save money for Freya and her future, a second to put food on the table and a third to make sure they would never be left with nothing again.
❨－－𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 ∖❩
Despite skipping two grades and graduating earlier, she never went to college.
Ingrid will do any side jobs for extra cash, tutoring, babysitting, dog-sitting, cleaning houses or pretty much everything else.
A month ago Ingrid decided that with the help of youtube she will be able to remodel the small old trailer who’s falling apart. The project has been difficult, and her living conditions are very complicated but she’s confident she can turn that into a warmer home.
Doesn’t believe in love, and so far doesn’t do well with relationships because of her trust issues, thinking everyone is going to abandon her eventually.
Is a freaking good dancer and will show off after a few drinks.
She is allergic to nuts and always carries an epipen with her.
Doesn’t know how to swim to ride a bicycle since no one really taught her.
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