illusorieta.

❝I have NOTHING to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.❞ Reyna J.D. Wade thirty-one. Director of Special Projects [Silver Securities] Head of Engineering [Ashram Academi (A2)] private military contractor written by SI.

[reyna-jdw]

TAGS — BIO — HEADCANONS — WANTED CONNECTIONS

BASICS.

Name: Reyna Jazmyn Dizon Wade

Faceclaim: Kathryn Bernardo

Gender & Pronouns: Cis female, She/Her

Age: 31

Birthday: July 31

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Romantic Orientation: Demiromantic

Occupation: Director of Special Projects @ Silver Securities

Neighborhood: Carriage Falls

Does your character have a secret? She wants to destroy the Wade family business. 

Would you be willing to have this secret used against them at some point in the future? Yes

OVERVIEW.

Reyna J.D. Wade was adopted into the Wade family at the age of 8 and then was sent to boarding school by age 13, making her one of the more elusive Wade siblings. Often away from Wilmington for school and later work, she unintentionally contributed to the Wade legacy with her academic achievements and a meteoric rise in the corporate world due to her innovative engineering work. Unbeknownst to many, and hiding in plain sight, her career on paper disguised her actual work in a private military company. Within her previous employer, a rival competitor to Silver Securities called Ashram Academi (A2), she was entangled with corruption and unethical working conditions, ultimately ending in a failed whistleblowing attempt. Now, terminated from her previous role, and biting the bullet, she has finally returned home for an extended time and a new position at her father’s company. She has yet to decide whether or not this is a good thing, especially with the trouble brewing in Wilmington. 

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

"And that's why there's botox." retorted Gwen with a unfazed expression as she watched the German Shepherd puppy explore their surroundings. As much as she wanted to express disappointment in Reyna's impulsiveness, she was willing to admit that the puppy had her heart with how adorable it was. To be fair, she did have a softer spot for animals than humans. "GD?...How original..." Furrowing her brows, she could feel an unusual feeling of wanting to keep the puppy, but with the kind of schedule and responsibilities that she had, she was worried of neglecting them. “They’re ours.” she replied in a matter of fact tone. "I have a job that isn't quite balanced Reyna, I will be needing your support. No objections or else give them to someone else." Her jaw clenched at the last part of her response, but she stepped forward and bent down to life the puppies into her arms and view the sex. "It's a male. Name it Wade—simple and done."

[reyna-jdw]

She giggled. Sometimes her sister’s quips were funny. “Yeah, decided not to think too hard on it. If I was always clever, I’d get too tired.”  Reyna tilted her head as she watched the puppy explore. She liked dogs, but all her other homes didn’t have enough room to care for one. She also was rarely home; A2’s missions often took her abroad. She quietly dusted her shoes before getting up and smiling at Gwen. Their parents had put her in the new role to keep her from fleeing from the Wades again. “Mm, I have a job too, but I accept.” She walked over to them. “Though if anyone asks, Wade Wade is your doggy, so that way he can meet his future papa and you can explain being a dog mom.” Her smile turned into a smirk. “Do you think Wade Wade will like Noah and the kids? I think so. Little guy is friendly, no?”

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

Steeping some tea, Gwendolyn had been humming softly to herself as she was tidying up her kitchen after having some breakfast. In the midst of her preparing her drink, she heard some commotion at her front door and after recognizing her younger sister’s voice, she didn’t budge as Gwen expected her to come directly to her. However, there was something off about Reyna’s demeanour as she could hear the excitement and tour that she was doing around her home. Confused, she stood by her kitchen’s doorway, arms crossed and as she met her gaze when Gwen suddenly saw the little pup with a bow on their collar. “You did not…” she blurted out in disbelief. As the younger Wade placed the dog on the ground to roam free, Gwen was in complete shock yet in awe of how adorable the K9 was. "This has to be a joke right?...You have to be playing a prank on me." Pausing, she then curiously asked, "What's its name?"

[reyna-jdw]

Reyna looked up at Gwen. “You’ll get an eleven on your face if you keep up with that sour expression.” She laughed and remained squatted close to the ground if the little dog wanted to return to her. While she hadn’t discussed Operation Gwen’s Dog with her sister, she received enough encouragement from her therapist when they shared how beneficial a pet could be for a mental health journey. Reyna understood that the therapist meant it for her, but she thought the benefits could extend to Gwen! “I did.” She grinned. “And it isn’t! I haven’t played a prank on you since we were young. You always seem to know before the joke gets to happen!” That, and she was never fond of poking a sleeping dragon. “Hmm… I dunno. I’ve been calling them GD, short for Gwen’s Dog! The station usually names their partners, but the little buddy wasn’t made for the academy. Hey, since they’re yours, you should name ‘em!”

[ishanigarcia]

Ishani put the book back, letting her hand rest on it for a moment. The quiet of Read it 'n' Weep wrapped around her as Reyna's words sank in—being "worth the effort" still felt strange to hear, even now. "You say that so casually," she said with a laugh. "But seriously, your humor comment? That's high praise." She thought back to that day, remembering how joking around had kept her going—how even the smallest joke felt like a lifeline in that darkness. The fact that she never lost her sense humor even now was a miracle, if she was being honest. Moving closer, she spoke quietly. "And for the record, finding me changed my life too. You're stuck with me now—bad jokes and mental health humor included." Spottingo another self-help book, she cracked a smile. "Although I have to ask—how many of these books do think a person could read?" She could never. It would put her straight to sleep. "Alright, I've had enough of this place. Want to grab coffee? My treat."

[reyna-jdw]

“Only because I feel comfortable around you and I like your style. Laughter makes places feel warmer.” She smirked at her. Reyna wasn’t shy about complimenting those who she felt deserved the praise. Oftentimes, someone’s goodness was told through eulogies, but to her, eulogies were pointless if the person couldn’t hear them. Where was the honour in silent admiration?  “Good,” She leaned in to listen to her better, “means that I haven’t scared you off yet.”  Her hand left the shelf as she decided not to buy another self-help book. “Honestly, as a collector, I couldn't tell you. I've got to admit that I sort of just open these books to a random page and hope that whatever my eyes land on is a golden nugget of wisdom.” She shrugged and then nodded. “Yes. Wild that I haven’t grabbed my morning coffee yet. Where has my mind been?” 

[reyna-jdw]

Closed Thread for Gwendolyn Wade: @gwendolynwcde

Location: Gwen’s Home, Carriage Falls

“Come over here, GD, come on, come on! You’re supposed to be a secret surprise for her.” Reyna shook the tennis ball and called the dog over before squatting down to tie a bow to their collar. The puppy was once a police dog candidate, but their playfulness was incompatible with the training. “Gwen’s Dog, your new task is to become Gwen’s bestie, so lock in.” She scooped up the puppy and started the tour for her new friend. “This is the entrance, foyer or whatever… Then over there, that’s where Gwen does her super serious talks and this right here.” She stopped at the kitchen. “This room might become your favourite place. It has all the food and I usually bother Gwen here… Speaking of Gwen.” Reyna lowered the puppy to the ground to let them run around. “Surprise! Happy early Holidays!”

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

Hearing Reyna have immense trust in her made Gwendolyn curse inwardly as she didn’t expect that she would still follow through with it despite her disappointment and own harboured guilt over not being there for her. It was difficult to even navigate the conversation given that emotions were heightened and they both were stubborn women. “If I choose to help you, I want you to know that it’s not going to be easy.” She had a couple of expectations for Reyna and she wasn’t sure if her sister would be receptive to it. 

“For starters I want you to seek out a therapist, talk to someone professional…Medicated or not, at least let’s focus on what’s up here.” She then pointed at the tops of her head and added, “Being on the field takes a toll on you. There’s no shame in finding ways to keep the thoughts at bay.” The more she spoke, the more she saw how uneasy and uncomfortable Reyna looked. A frown settled on Gwen’s lips as she stood up and asked, “What’s wrong?” Suddenly, she watched as the younger Wade made a rush to her kitchen sink to throw up. Concerned, the Chief of Police went to her fridge to pull out a cold bottled water and hand it to her before preventing her from leaving. 

“It’s been a long day.” Gwen said at first. “It’s fine, Reyna—just stay the night. Before you even try, I’m not taking no for an answer. Head up to the guest room and freshen up. I’ll make some congee to help ease your stomach…” Sighing softly, she crossed her arms and reassured her worries by saying, “Let's table it until we're both ready to discuss it further...For now, just focus on the present, especially since you're back here and pivoting the course of your life." With that being said, she dismissed her sister and began prepping their meal for the night.

[ END. ]

[reyna-jdw]

— END.

[isabcllamcndoza]

Kimberly found comfort in feeling the warmth of Reyna’s solarium as the sun shined through the built windows. The company and the sensation made her feel like she was back home, an air of familiarity that she somewhat missed. “Ew, don’t remind me of those bodyshots Reyna.” replied the heiress with disgust. Once upon time the two had their fair share of fun, but that was all behind them now. “Simple.” she corrected as she side eyed the other brunette. 

“MS K got tired of conforming to the Soto way and so she ran off to America to start a new life.” she explained at first. “It was and on top of that, I finally felt…free? I mean yeah, I’m still figuring it out, but the kidnapping was just the cherry on top to remind me that we simply can’t have it all.” Her tone and humour to all this was morbid, but it was how she was coping with the aftermath. The last thing she wanted to do was wallow up in her sorrows, especially not in front of Reyna out of all people. She couldn’t help, but laugh in response to the younger brunette's words and it soon followed with a gracious smile. She appreciated not only her honesty, but her ability to keep her grounded, “Fair enough...We'll see, this place has too much baggage of its own that it's affecting the people living in it. Ingat ka lagi, ha. Now please tell me you have good tsimis or even a better question, how are you? Last I checked you were A2's employee of the year."

*Ingat ka lagi: take care always

*Tsimis: gossip

[reyna-jdw]

Tamed. This version of Kimberly seemed tamer and from the way Reyna saw things, her friend traded one cage for another, but now wasn’t the time to talk about that. “Ah, simple.” She repeated with some skepticism. Kidnappings had a way of complicating things, especially when someone came from wealth. “Apologies. That was uncouth of me.” She sincerely placed her hand over her heart and gently patted her chest. 

A part of her could relate to Kim. While she hated admitting it, Reyna sometimes fantasized about leaving everything behind and taking a new identity. She wondered how different her world could be if she were someone else entirely. “Freedom is good, but do tell what isn’t allowed in your new life. The last thing I want to do is bring too much attention to you.” At that moment, she decided that playing along with the lie would work best to maintain their friendship. 

“Okay, okay, I won’t start a manhunt.” She rolled her eyes and waved her hand, dismissing the thought. Reyna was trying to distance herself from A2 and their unethical ways. “You know, Santi?” She used to work with him and he was one of her closest friends. “He’s going through with the arranged marriage to Aramonta Xia Wei even though he has a secret boyfriend. Man’s an east coaster and some sort of chef, I think. As far as I know, his boyfriend isn’t invited, but don't know if it's certain since I got uninvited when A2 and I broke up.”

[noahhwcng]

Noah laughed at Reyna's comment about naughty kids, running his hand through his hair. "Trust me, they try to get away with stuff. But they're good kids overall." The mention of Gwen's patience made him smile involuntarily. "Yeah, she really is. The twins bombarded her with questions when we visited, but she took it like a champ." She sat, answering every single one of the twins' rapid-fire questions that she didn’t have to. The way she made his kids laugh brought up feelings he wasn't ready to examine too closely, especially given his history with relationships. Learning about Reyna's plans to stay sparked his interest. "That's cool you're building a house here. Wilmington has a way of pulling people back." He thought about his own return, how right it felt to be home despite everything.

The mention of Nina teaching ballet caught his attention. "Actually, Lyra might love that. She's been begging me to let her try dance." He would have to take a look at that. "How much does she charge?" Not that money was the issue here. For his kids, he’d climb mount Everest just to see that they got what they needed. "It'd be nice for her to have something that's just hers, you know? Zeph's got his soccer, but Lyra wants to do everything, it feels like." The conversation felt easy, natural. It was nice talking to someone who understood what it meant to come back home. "Guess we're all finding our way back somehow."

[reyna-jdw]

“I mean that’s natural, even from a young age, people aren’t too comfy with being wrong.” She lightly shrugged and grinned. “So cute!” Reyna exclaimed. “Curious kids are also a sign of good parenting! Sounds like they had fun picking the brain of someone outside of Dad.” She liked hearing that things were going well for Noah and it was good to know that the topic of children was no longer taboo with Gwen. Maybe she was reading too much into it, but Wilmington seemed to have done some good in her sister’s life. “Yeah, it does, and the space here is pretty good. I couldn’t build anything in San Francisco! It was too cramped.” 

She raised her brows and clapped her hands together. “It could be perfect! And actually, I’m not too sure. Since the studio doesn’t specialize in ballet, they may charge a membership fee or charge by the class, but Lyra will have an opportunity to try other dance styles too.” Reyna nodded at him and continued, “Nina’s crazy amazing at ballet so she’d be in good hands if she started with her. She’s all about mentoring young dancers.” She couldn’t help but chuckle at how he described his daughter. “Aw, she’s finding herself… It’s pretty cool that she wants to do everything. One day she’ll find several things to be passionate about and watching all that must be pretty exciting. If your kids want to talk to an engineer I’m your gal. I could show them my laser cutters, 3D printers, hell, even my whole garage workshop.”

[ligtas]

Val only wished he could be as cheerful about discovering family connections like Reyna was. He hadn’t quite figured out how to tell her they were related—not exactly something you slip into a conversation with, ‘Here's your receipt. By the way, I'm actually your kuya. Like, for real.’ Instead, he stuck to something less complicated. “Oh, same! I haven’t been back home in years either. Sent my mom home a couple of years ago, but… she came right back an—" 

"—Ay nako,"¹ His mom interjected. "'Nice to have around,' ha! He's been here too long, anak. He needs to get married. May kakilala ka ba anyone who's single?"² 

"Nanay..."³ Val groaned. Lost in a whirlwind of thoughts—between his mom trying to set him up yet again and his half-sister being literally right in front of him—he had reached for the tray in the oven without a mitt. The sharp, blistering heat hit, and it took him a few seconds to realize he was holding a hot metal tray. "Ow, fuck...!" He dropped the tray to the floor in a clatter, losing four dozen baby pan de sals in the process. "Shit, sorry about that!! I'll clean it up..." 

"Ay susmariosep.⁴ See, anak? He can't take care of himself. This is why he needs to get married." His mom chided as she shuffled on over to grab a walis and dustpan. “Okay ang kamay mo?"⁵ She then grabbed his wrist to check his hand, sighed, and shooed him gently towards Reyna. “Ako nalang, anak. Sigi na. E-entertain mo siya.”

“Sorry you had to see that.” He mumbled, his cheeks more red than his hand. A new feeling her never felt before was coming up—God, being uncool in front of your younger sibling really sucked. “Yeah, so, uh, we’ve got palamig today. Perfect if you want to cool down. ...I should probably dunk my hand in it at this rate.”⁶

—

¹ Oh, my goodness. (Literally - Oh, child.) ² Do you know anyone who is single? ³ Mom… ⁴ Oh, no. (Literally - Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.) ⁵ Is your hand okay? ⁶ I’ll handle this, child. Go on. Entertain her (Reyna). 

[reyna-jdw]

“Ah… She’s probably worried about you.” Reyna chuckled. She heard that being able to send parents home was a top-tier goal in Filipino culture, but she didn’t understand. With what her biological father failed to do in her life, she couldn’t imagine herself doing anything for his sake. Even with the people who raised her, she never learned to feel like she owed them. Comparatively to Val and his mother, Reyna’s home was marked by missed connections.  “Unfortunately, Tita, I don’t. A lot of my friends are in happy relationships.” 

Oh, shit!

Reflexively, she reached out to Val and only stopped because of the glass display between them. “Oh my god, why are you apologizing? It’s an accident and you’re the one who got hurt.” When he moved around the counter to her side, she quickly looked down at his hand. “It doesn’t look too bad now but you might want to get it checked…” If he could still feel pain, then it wasn’t the worst kind of burn, but she knew that it’d be uncomfortable later. 

“When you flavour it with banana extract and your hand, I can’t say it sounds delicious.” She kept her tone light. “I feel bad. I took some of your attention and your hand got all messed up. You know what, let me pay for the lost trays of bread along with my original order. It’s the least I can do.” And if he didn’t accept that, she planned on offering to cover his medical expenses. With all the heaviness in her life, she wasn’t sure if she could leave this incident on her platter. “If not that, then let’s arrange a deal for later… I hate to see bread wasted.” 

“Kuya…” She squinted at the name on his apron. “Kuya Val, come on, what do you say? I can’t keep supporting this small business if the baker stops baking. Cute apron, by the way.” Reyna pointed at it. “I love custom goods. That personal touch really makes them something special. Say, where’d you get it? With the holidays coming, I feel like I should get a headstart on the gifts.”

[ninaxwade-deactivated20241123]

Nina felt her chest tighten at her sister's abrupt reaction to not having to handle everything alone. "Okay," she nodded softly. Unsure of what to say in that moment, she decided to remain silent. Each of them had their own sense of independence. Despite being part of a large family, each sibling had carved out their own path and rhythm. However, their lives were all intertwined and rooted in their shared upbringing, regardless of how they each came to bear the Wade last name. There were stories and histories so deeply ingrained that even Nina didn't know all the details of her siblings' lives. Instances like this made her feel detached, despite her desire to be open-hearted and honest with them all.

"Oh? So, you spoke to Gwen already." Nina couldn't argue with that. She wasn't particularly fond of working for their father, but she needed something to occupy her time, especially since she would be living under their roof until she got back on her feet. Transitioning from the limelight to a desk job felt like a drastic change, and she loathed being back here because she felt lost about who she was in this environment. "What did Gwen say?" Once again, all she could do was shrug at her sister's comment. "I don't know...the studio is great and all, but I feel like I'm plateauing."

[reyna-jdw]

Maybe she was overthinking it. Why was she so afraid of opening up to her sisters? They both held a special place in her heart, but that fact alone terrified her. No, she was terrified of letting them down. That uneasy feeling in her stomach was back. In the little that she said, was it too much for Nina? Reyna swallowed the lump in her throat and reminded herself that Nina wasn’t the type to be judgemental. Her simple answer didn’t mean anything negative. “Sorry.” She apologized for her unspoken thoughts. “It’s been years and I’m sorry that this is what I followed up with…but you’re my sister and one of the reasons I stayed.” 

She let out a sigh. “Big sis already scolded me for the no-contact and not telling her about work, then told me to get a therapist…” In a small voice, she added, “And I don’t blame her. I sort of threw up in her sink…” Another sigh. “I fucked up with you all. Her disappointment was clear and yours is too. You think you can give me a chance to be better?” She shrugged and turned the glass of water in her hands. Her approach with Gwen had been too strong so she dialed it back for Nina. Hopefully, her younger sister didn’t see it as babying her. 

“Plateauing?” She repeated incredulously as her brows stitched together. “Like in terms of your love for ballet?” For as long as she could remember, Nina lived and breathed ballet. “I mean, dancing doesn’t have to mean only the performance or teaching it. You could open up your new studio or do behind-the-scenes stuff. I couldn’t do field work anymore so I’m heading down the executive path. Don’t know if I want to stay in the industry though…” She looked over at her sister with a slight smirk. “What if we went back to school together?”

[arnavxkhanna]

Arnav wasn’t sure whether or not to take Reyna’s criticism of his system as a bad thing or just someone trying to poke holes in his statistics. Still he shrugged at her words before nodding at her words, “the truth is—I have clients around the world so that helps because so many people have different cultural requirements at times and so it really exposes me to different markets, you know?” He shook his head when she asked if he did it alone, he did luckily have some help even if he did most of the matching himself. “I have an assistant to help me with a lot of the administrative work because between you and me, that can get especially tedious. She's truly a lifesaver for me.” He told her with a smile before nodding at her. “A lot of people rather use online systems and that’s fine, I just don’t think those give everyone a fair chance. They’re based too much on people’s physical appearances and superficial things, you know?”

When Reyna asked him about his favourite success, he had to smile at her and lower his voice as he leaned in. “I helped a princess from a royal family in India—and let me just say that family had some outlandish demands, but luckily the guy I introduced them to seemed to work because he had all the right qualities, but not the royal linage they wanted but they understood how in this day and age—that wasn’t exactly the best thing to go by. It took a while, nearly seven eight months with the pair actually going on other dates and meeting other people but they just kept gravitating towards one another because of the sparks that were there. It was a wedding I felt really lucky to have been a part of,” he told Reyna before adding on one more tidbit, “they’re celebrating their fourth anniversary this year and are happier than ever so—it’s those stories that really stay with me you know? The ‘against all odds’ type.” 

[reyna-jdw]

“International connections, too?” She whistled, impressed. Arnav sure had a knack for people. Being a social butterfly was one thing, but figuring out how to channel it into a unique industry was beyond her. “That’s some expert-level stuff, Arnav. I get that. Whenever work sends me off-site, each place is different from the last one, so there’s never really a one-size-fits-all solution.” His attention to detail, personalized approach, and leadership contributed to his successful image. Reyna nodded. “Assistants are a godsend. I know I’d be a lot less put together without mine… And you’re right! Machines coast on the surface when it comes to trying to understand people. To be honest, I still see them as tools than anything else.” 

She huddled in with him as he spoke, curious. “A real princess, wow… Wait, that’s a big deal. I know how important pedigree can be for some families… Seven-eight months? You really help set fires in them.” She smiled softly. “I love those kind of stories, but they’re rare, no? I feel like they take a special kind of people to make them happen.” And Reyna was from a world of relationships built on transactional benefits. She showcased romances to her friends and family without ever feeling romantic about her former partners. “I don’t think I’d be able to do it… Hard to know where to start.” Or what she even wanted. Most of her life was focused on her career, so she lost sight of the woman she could be outside of it. “I should really stop neglecting my personal life. I’ll ask straight, do you have any experience working with women who spend too much time at work?” 

[nazimxgul]

“Good thinking,” He said to the female, passing along the dispatcher’s questions to the older gent. The old guy seemed to perk up a bit, giving his name and age without much trouble. “Water’s a solid plan,” he told her. “I’ll pop into the café and grab some.” He dashed inside and came back in a flash with a bottle. He handed it over to the woman, saying, “Here, mind helping him take a sip?”

While she got the old man sorted with the water, Nazim kept the dispatcher in the loop about how the guy was doing. He was itching for the ambulance to show up already. At last, he caught the sound of sirens. “They’re almost here,” he said to the woman and the elderly man. As the ambulance rolled up, Nazim breathed easier. The paramedics jumped into action, and he took a step back to give them space. Turning to the woman, he stuck out his hand. “Thanks for jumping in. I’m Nazim. You really knew what to do back there.”

[reyna-jdw]

Reyna told herself she could be like this old man one day, alone in a crisis, so she tried to bolster her concern for him and extinguish her selfishness. However, part of her wanted to admit how inconvenient this ordeal was. Truthfully, she rarely went out of her way to help others unless her work required it or she could benefit from the exchange. She held in her sigh. “Yes, of course.” Today, she’d play along with the anxious hero. 

The urgency in Nazim’s voice marked his worry for the elderly gentleman and gave Reyna the impression that he could be the Superman type. She would have thought more about it had emergency services arrived later, but she dismissed the idea and made room for the first responders. She lingered awkwardly at the sidelines, caught between her half-investment in the outcome and deciding whether or not to buy another tea. Before her waffling could continue, Nazim’s voice broke through the jumble of thoughts. “No problem, Nazim. I’m Reyna.” She waved her hand at him.  “I felt like you did most of the work. You seemed like a natural at this.” 

[ishanigarcia]

closed starter @reyna-jdw

location: read it 'n' weep

She held up the self-help book, making a face at Reyna across the aisle of Read it 'n' Weep. "Where was this gem before my breakdown?" Ishani asked, flipping through the pages with mock indignation. The question came out lighter than she intended, but seeing her old friend—her literal lifesaver—brought back memories of those dark days in Bangladesh. She stared at the book in her hands, expelling a breath. The irony of finding it now, after everything, made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. Five months of therapy and a stint a mental hospital had given her better coping mechanisms than any book could, but still… "You know what's funny?" she said, looking up at her friend with a small smile. "If you hadn't pulled me out of that building, I wouldn't be standing here making jokes about my mental health." Her voice softened as she added, "I never properly thanked you for that day. For not giving up on me when everyone else had."

[reyna-jdw]

Wandering into bookstores and collecting self-help books that she’d never fully read was beginning to become a bad habit. What good were all these tokens of knowledge if she never invested and integrated them into her life? She swore that one of these days, she would stop only harvesting them for great one-off quotations, but it couldn’t be today. Reyna shut the book in her hand and looked over. “That’s a good one! It’s on the top of my list.” She tilted her head at Ishani, offering her full attention and a smile. “Hm? Oh, I’d take your jokes any day then. Hard not to feel glad about helping a beautiful person with a sense of humour.” She returned the book to its spot on the shelf. “You don’t need to thank me, Ishani. You’re worth the effort and like I said, I’m glad I found you.” Finding the other woman on that fateful day brought a needed change in her life, bringing light to what she once thought was a dark trajectory through her career. 

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

This wasn’t the Reyna that she knew growing up and somewhere along the way, something had happened to not only cause a strain, but a shift in attitude towards their family. “Coming home to nothing? You have everything!” she replied with complete confusion. “You’re going to let all that define you?” Her time at A2 had taken a toll on her and although Gwendolyn may not know the exact details, she’d seen and heard it all when it came to those type of organizations through her line of work and her own family’s business. 

“You hear, but you don’t listen.” she stated in an obvious tone. “No it isn’t an option, but it could have been fucking prevented!” It was evident that they were cut by the same cloth. They cared too greatly for one another that they were willing to get burned in the end. However, that was something Gwendolyn wanted to prevent when it came to the Wade legacy. She wanted them to live freely and have all the attention on her, so that the heat was taken off her siblings. It seemed she had failed miserably if this was the outcome of one of them.

Getting up, the Chief of Police truly felt like she was talking to a brick wall. Turning her back away from Reyna, she stood straight and closed her eyes briefly to calm herself down from her responses. It was absurd for her to carry the weight of her actions on her own and on top of that, she was given a second chance to change the trajectory of her life. However, Reyna was too blinded by her own self-deprecating worth that it was difficult to even convince her. “I just wished you would have contacted me.” she finally said in a defeated tone. She went back to her seat, as she exhibited an eerily calm demeanour while she picked up her cup of tea to continue drinking. “Reyna, we’re ALL fucking tired.” she bluntly replied. “I'm not someone who will hold your hand and promise you that everything will be okay, nor will I be the one to help you through it when you lost that respect, let alone trust from me. You need to get a grip on reality, you chose to go no contact and expect me to understand you? For all I know you could be lying to my fucking face. Isn't that what they've taught you as well? The act of deceit, especially with those close to you." Clenching her jaw, she then met Reyna'a gaze and added, "I want nothing to do with your will! That evidence? Do whatever the fuck you want with it, I'm not a fed anymore. I don't even know what you're trying to do, let alone want from me!"

It pained her to say that, but being someone's last resort was something Gwen couldn't accept when she never saw her own sister like that. "I know we've had our differences and had time apart, but because you're family, you always came first. I was willing to drop everything and move mountains for any of you if you needed my help. I've always worried about you all and if mother and father were too overbearing, sometimes I had to set the record straight in order for them to understand..." she said at first. "And more importantly, I never saw you any less, I thought you wanted this and if anything I supported your choices because I understood where you were coming from. Sometimes being here is too suffocating for your own good that it pushes you to wanting to become your own person." Her expression faltered as she shook her head in disappointment, "But I guess I was completely wrong, but I'll take accountability for that. My career got in the way and well, I've been paying the price for it. I love you, I really do...But I can't help you if you're not willing to help yourself."

[reyna-jdw]

Over the years, she collected her doubts and carried them until their weight pressed her confidence into a fragile mask. She lost herself in the violence of her work, forgetting who she was outside of an operator contracted to meet objectives at any cost. Her stomach churned at the realization of how unstable her foundation was. Would her sacrifices have any meaning if she didn’t value herself? She felt another lump in her throat; whatever response she thought she had was trapped. The truth was, she didn’t have an answer for her sister. 

She recognized the guilt on her sister’s face, woven into her weary expression. Reyna was certain that she caused some of Gwendolyn’s exhaustion but since they weren’t free of their family name, she also bet they were struggling through their own almost impossibly high standards.  She just wished her sister would stop pointing the finger back at her. A lot of the blame sat on her side of the conversation, but she didn’t want to carry Gwen’s guilt too. 

“I’m contacting you now. You don’t trust me, fine, but I trust you. Even if I don’t like what you say, I still trust you. ” Of course, she knew that Gwen rarely coddled others and Reyna seldom leaned against her siblings, but her sister’s efforts in supporting others didn’t go unnoticed. “Please, Gwen. This is me asking for help because I know I shouldn’t be feeling like this but I do and nothing that I’ve tried on my own is fixing it. I can’t do it like this anymore…” She was tired of feeling alone and as difficult as it was to communicate, she hoped that her sister could see through her convoluted mess of words. She hugged herself, trying to keep her abdomen warm, hoping that her nausea would subside. 

When the conversation turned back to her will, she shook her head. “I wouldn’t trust anyone who’s lost their grip on reality with ammo or a loaded gun, so it makes sense for someone sane to keep track of that, right?” She got up from her seat when she felt discomfort swell in her chest. Though she couldn’t see her reflection, the sudden onset of cold sweat hinted at her newly pallid complexion. Before getting out another word, she made a beeline for the kitchen, tracing the steps her sister could have taken to prepare the tea. Reyna found a sink and gripped its edges for stability as she leaned over it. Half between a sob and a retch, she expelled her anxieties and then released her hold. She barely managed to turn on the sink before lowering herself to the ground. 

“I’m sorry, ” she uttered feebly, “I’ll leave after I clean it up.” Normally, embarrassment would have warmed her cheeks and urged her to get up quickly to cease such a pathetic display, but her body could no longer support any attempts at composure. Instead, she was slow to rise, mindful of her lightheadedness, and relieved that her nausea was replaced with emptiness. She let the faucet run until the bottom of the sink was clear then turned it off. Reyna kept her head bowed as she wiped her face and after a bloated pause, she moved around her sister finally attempting to escape. “Sorry…” 

[noahhwcng]

"I mean, we all had to grow up sometime." Noah shrugged, for some reason still feeling like a teenager who had self confident issues. "Yeah, I'm a pilot," he said with a nod. "Been flying for years now. And it might sound crazy but, I've got twins—Zephyr and Lyra. They're eight." He grinned, thinking about his kids. They kept him going, even when things got tough. Honestly, without them, he didn’t know what his life would be like now. "It's been one hell of a ride, raising them. But we're hanging in there." When Gwen's name came up again, he felt that weird flutter in his chest. He tried to ignore it and focus on the chat, but damn was it hard. "Gwen's been awesome. It's cool having an old friend around, especially with the move and all. My kids were all over her." 

It was a miracle the woman didn’t try to kick him out from their first meeting. The kids questions would have driven him nuts. "Anyway, that's great you're back for family and business. How long you planning to stick around?" He wanted to know about Reyna's return, but he also kept wondering what else Gwen might've said about him. It was dumb, he knew, to get hung up on that. But he couldn't seem to help it. Every time her name came up, his mind went straight to her. He shook his head a bit, trying to clear his thoughts. "How's the rest of your family doing?” There. At least the question had nothing to do with his ‘friend’. 

[reyna-jdw]

They grew up, but maybe they held onto some of their former selves. Noah was still a little awkward and though Reyna was beaming and celebrating a happy coincidence, she shifted ever so slightly, trying to ignore the tingling of insecurity. Gwen and Noah turned out alright. Maybe one day she’d get there. “Not so crazy. Having a pilot for a dad, sounds pretty cool to me, and that’s good! Happy kids are a good sign, so long as they’re not doing anything naughty.” She chuckled. “Yeah, she’s good with ‘em. She’s always been pretty patient.” And she knew that better than most. Reyna gave her sister plenty of headaches and some of them were more recent, so she was sure that Gwen could handle a few kids. 

“Oh, well, I have a home under construction, so the plan is to stay for a while or until either of my sisters gets tired of me," she joked. “I’m honestly surprised that we’re all back home again.” Good people lived in Wilmington, but many seemed a little broken. Reyna wondered if the place she ran from had changed enough to heal those returning and searching for a safe place to lick their wounds. Her mind wandered again to her sisters. “Well, you know Gwen… very work hard, and hopefully she’ll play hard soon. And Nina’s giving back to the community. She’s teaching ballet at a fraction of the price of master classes, so if your kids are interested, I recommend her.” As for the others, she had yet to go on an apology tour with them. “Everyone else has been busy. I might have to give an update after the holiday season.”

[ninaxwade-deactivated20241123]

Nina watched her sister closely, the tension radiating off Reyna palpable. She could sense the internal struggle as Reyna massaged her hand, a gesture that spoke volumes about the stress she was under. “I get it, really,” Nina said softly, her voice steady. “You’ve always been the one to take on so much. But it’s okay to lean on me too, you know?”

Nina could see the exhaustion etched in her sister’s features, and it tugged at her heartstrings. "I know things have been hectic for you,” Nina ventured, her voice gentle. She wanted Reyna to know that she was there, ready to support her, but she felt the distance between them. It felt like Reyna was trying to keep an arm's length like they had when they were kids and she was sent away. Nina watched as Reyna took a sip of water, her grip tightening on the glass. It made her wish she could lift some of that burden, if only for a moment. “You sound like you’ve had a lot on your mind. It’s okay to take a break and breathe,” she urged gently.

Nina shrugged, trying to keep her own disappointment at bay. “I’m teaching at a local studio. It’s not what I envisioned...I don't know what the fuck I'm doing right now." She pranced around and did everything she was told to do as the baby of the family. Her current dilemma was figuring out who she was and wanted for herself.

[reyna-jdw]

The last time someone told her to lean on them, they ended up dead. She inhaled uneasily, panic filling her up, replacing whatever semblance of calm she thought she had. “No…” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “It was terrible, Nina…” She wiped her hands on her lap and adjusted her dress while she found an even tone. “It wouldn’t be fair to put you through all that. Security services and defense… It’s all chaos…” 

Her thoughts drifted to their father. “I don’t know why anyone would be proud of this line of work.” Reyna sighed. If telling the truth could free her from its weight, why did it feel so hard to find the right words? “I’m… trying.” She began, “I swear, I am. I just don’t even know what to do. I spoke up at work and it ended up like shit. Then when I found the courage to speak to Gwen, I end up crying on the garage floor and feeling worse. I’m losing my fucking mind and I know I should stop feeling bad about myself… I just don’t know how.” 

Reyna chuckled. “That’s wild… so is mercury in retrograde or something? That’s insane that we’re both feeling bad about ourselves.” She leaned forward and reached out a hand for her sister’s. “On the plus side for your situation, you’re still doing what you love, right?” Things were bleak on her end, but she figured the least she could do was try to be positive for Nina. It didn’t make up for her absence over the years, but it was a start. 

[hawkinscoopers]

OPEN---- STARTER

LOCATION---- lincoln park in masonboro

Cooper had a little bit of time before he had to head into work. The Detective always loved to go running in the morning whenever he could and today was supposed to be beautiful out. It's fall and the weather has been crisp, freezing in the morning but gorgeous in the afternoon and that's how Cooper loved it. He was ready to go, ready to get running but the man stood there for a moment and took a deep breath then scoffed "You know what?" Cooper "Fuck it. I don't need to run this morning, I just need to sit here and take a minute. I mean look at this view? It's beautiful really, with all the changes of fall." Shrugging his shoulders, Cooper smiled softly and realized he sounded like an idiot but the man didn't care. Cooper stood there and took in the view before running off to put the bad guys away.

[reyna-jdw]

Reyna looked over at Cooper and chuckled. “It really is beautiful. I missed all the autumnal changes on the other coast.” Her regular coffee appointment was cancelled so she took the cups and decided to kill some time at the park before her next meeting. “Feeling zen, huh? I don’t blame you… Every now and then, I’ve been told it’s healthy to just stop and take it all in… appreciate the present or something like that.” She gestured at the sky as she spoke. She wasn’t sure if she was just misremembering what either of her sisters had said or if it was a friend who said something so serious. Reyna took a sip of coffee. “And don’t feel too bad about skipping cardio for now. You can always follow up with it some other time, right?”