siren's song

nico ruiz / written by sav.

[sirensmade]

in which nico’s father died && his mom won’t take him home.

“Take me with you,” he pleads.  Except Nico doesn’t belong with her, it’s obvious in the cool, passive, stony way she gazes at him.  He’s beat and bloody, and fury twists his face into something unrecognizable. She’s indifferent; Nico is anything but.  There’s nothing for him here now that his father is gone, though. So why shouldn’t she take him home, drag him under the waves and make him something better?  He’ll never be a god himself, but isn’t it his birthright to at least live among them?

“You don’t belong.”  Nico’s too busy being hit by the full force of her cruel confirmation to see the odd look in her eyes.  It’s something like regret. It’s the same look from the day she handed Nico (a squalling, quarrelsome child then, too) to his father. 

Seventeen now, he’s still far from a man.  All he knows is the life he and his father fought tooth and nail to have.  All Nico knows are the pretty songs he sang, once, to bring food home, and later to bring home something to ease his father’s pain.  Funny how she’s here now, wasn’t then. Why had Nico even bothered?

With his purpose gone now, Nico has nothing to do but throw himself against the waves, to call forth any creature with a speck of exceptional blood and, then, to throw himself at any who dared show up.  All for a moment of Her attention, His Mother.

It’s a wonder he isn’t dead, too.  But nothing in these waters would dare to kill Nico -- not with his mother so close.

A wretched sound claws its way up Nico’s throat, ugly tears stain his face.  He spits at his mother’s feet, because he doesn’t have words for the bitter disappointment that’s going to suffocate him, and then flinches when she strikes him across the face for it.  Claws cut thin, deep gashes across his face. The salt on her nails makes the sting of it near unbearable. 

And just like that, just like she always is, she’s gone.  Swallowed by the waves. And Nico is alone on the shore again, blood turning the sand pink.  

He feels frail, powerless, and acutely aware that he is not like the others.  He has not been lovingly championed by gods; he is no sort of hero. He is the bastard of a nothing-nymph, the child of a ghost story.  He will be given no gifts, not by her. 

Nico is the product of a careless mistake.  

[sirensmade]

cfamazons‌:

Nico might be cute. Well, cute might be an understatement. But Apollo’s on the job, the last thing he needs to do right now is not think with his head. He’s got a job to do, and this time he’s not going to leave it to someone else. “That’s funny, I was thinking it felt like longer.” Apollo throws back easily, raising an eyebrow as he watches Nico’s motions. He’s confident he can catch the guy if it comes to that, but he’d rather not do that by using any kind of… special abilities here.

“Letting me catch you? Please, you had no where to run.” Apollo scoffs, shaking his head. It’s not a matter of pride or anything, just a matter of fact - Nico can puff himself up about it all he wants, but they both know better. “I’m still investigating that, by the way. I know they didn’t just let you out.” He can’t figure out why they let Nico out, but there’s clearly more to the story. “Nope. I know I seem pretty gullible, but it’ll take more than you batting your eyes to trick me into believing that.”

“ longer, huh ??  you missed me. ” nico shrugs and pockets the bills again.  “ you don’t seem gullible to me, not exactly. ”  apollo strikes him as very, very earnest in an almost annoying sort of way.  but it’s better than the cops who have lost all earnestness, or never had it in the first place.  they’re less moral, more dangerous. 

“ what’s to investigate ??  i’m sure you’ve seen the videos.  we have a nice little chat, and then my door gets opened.  not my fault your guys are...so easily convinced. ”  it hadn’t taken much effort, truthfully.  but he suspects it wouldn’t be that easy a second time.  “ so’re you here to take me in again ??  see if something’ll stick this time ?? ”

[sirensmade]

crowbcrs‌:

Jason arches an interested eyebrow at the sound of shattering glass, though beyond that and an amused smile, he doesn’t react further. “You’re a little crazy, huh?” he asks mildly. It’s not exactly a turn off. Jason was raised on crazy, spent 90% of his time with a collection of people that were probably all some degree of certifiable. He laughs a little at the next remark – he is perfectly fucking charming, thank you very much –  and shakes his head. “A for effort, Marilyn, but no, you can’t. Anyway, I’m just about done.”

He closes the lid of the laptop with a decisive click and returns the encryption key to its compartment. He should really just — leave, then, but for whatever reason he doesn’t. In lieu of making the good decision, he approaches the China cabinet, broken glass crunching under his combat boots. “So, before I take off, you gotta jog my memory,” his eyes flick up and down, a brief once-over, “where did we land on you telling me who you are?”

nico’s not sue why he hasn’t just insisted on leaving.  there’s a chance he could.  but there’s also a chance that mr. hood here has the place under some sort of surveillance, and even if nico manages to pull the wool over his eyes, the safety won’t last long.  that would cause nico all sorts of problems in his day and night job. he opens the drawer of the nearby credenza, rifling for anything of value until the sound of crushed glass catches his attention again. 

he smiles again, eyes flashing from the symbol on the man’s chest to his mask with some degree of measured interest.  “ i think we landed on ‘ the mistress, ’  but if you’re really asking -- nico. call me a cab ??  it’s the least you can do, after threatening to murder me and all. ”

[sirensmade]

crowbcrs‌:

Jason snorts. Not really his type, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t understand the appeal. Still, he would guess she hadn’t stuck it out this long for his charm. “Well, he’s obviously not hitting it right if you’re out here propositioning any old wanted felon who comes through that window. I’d advise making a break for it. Especially if you’re here for all this,” Jason gestures vaguely to the luxury penthouse, and his smile edges towards something rapacious. “’Cause, just between us girls, it’s not gonna be around for much longer.”

He then makes the mistake of looking up and, caught off guard by the smile and the proximity, has to pull his attention back to the task at hand with more force than should be strictly necessary. Tighten up, Red Hood. “Uh, fair point,” Jason says, shifting a little against the Ottoman. “But it’s solitary bed rest and no strenuous physical activity. I don’t put out until the third date anyways, I’m real classy like that.”

“ classy, ” nico repeats with a snort.  yeah, figures.  god forbid the winds blow someone hot and easy his way.  still, the news that all this is about to go up in metaphorical flames has nico edging towards somewhere near giddy.  god, he fucking loves the moment where everything goes tits up.  there’s plenty of other rich people in gotham; it’s not like nico’s livelihood is in danger.

   he gets up off the ottoman, slowly, so it’s clear that he’s not about to make a run for it.  “ so what you’re saying is my time here is limited ?? ”  he opens the china cabinet and drops a crystal wine glass, then another.  he’ll break the rest later, when he’s not trying to get it with unexpected company.  “ i have been dying to do that.  someone’s always going on about it, how rare it is.  snooze fest. ”  he sighs.  “ listen, if you’re not going to, as you so charmingly put it, hit it right, and you’re also about to blow up my spot here, can i just take a few things and go ??  i’m not gonna call the fucking cops on you. ”

[sirensmade]

cfamazons‌:

“You know, you’re partially right there. This is feeling a little stale. Kind of like deja vu, right?” Apollo throws with an amused sort of smile. He’s not foolish enough to let his guard down with Nico of course - he’d be stupid to take that sort of risk, he knows how talented this guy actually is. How many times has he caught Nico out, how many times has he gotten close to a solid arrest only for Nico to somehow slip through his fingers? He knows catching him isn’t as easy as half the precinct think it is. But.. he’s amusing all the same.

He laughs at the comment, shaking his head. “Well we both know that’s not true. You might’ve just noticed me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been keeping an eye on you.” Raising an eyebrow, Apollo pretends to consider the question. “It could be, if that’s what you’re in the mood for.” Oh, smart move Tandon, flirt with the perp. “Seriously though, you realise I caught you out here for stealing - what, not even two weeks ago? What made you think I wasn’t going to catch you this time?”

flirting with the perp is a smart move when the perp is cute.  and nico’s cute.  it’s totally, one hundred percent understandable.  nico pauses like he’s counting on his fingers.  “ two weeks ago, already ??  it feels like just yesterday. ”  he rolls his shoulders a little, stretches his neck out.  he might have to make a run for it, after all.  he’s pretty sure the cop isn’t going to shoot him, even if he does run.  

“ see, you and i are remembering that day very differently.  i remember letting you catch me, and then i remember one of your co-workers letting me out.  so forgive me, officer, but i’m not that worried. ”  mischief lights up his eyes, and he pulls the money from his pocket.  “ what ??  this ?? you wouldn’t believe me if i said he gave it to me willingly ?? ”  did he already file a police report ??  damn, nico needs to try a little harder.  

[sirensmade]

ofquinzels‌:

@sirensmade​

Harley hadn’t woken up that day with the intention of committing any crimes. Albeit the one she was about to attempt was just a teeny tiny one. 

“It’s not even a whole bank.” She spoke aloud, to literally no one but herself. “It’s a bank hub. The B man can’t have a little batty hissy fit if it’s just a….glorified ATM with like, ONE fricken guy behind a desk!” 

She wasn’t even sure they kept that much money there, but it was probably more than a liquor store, and she didn’t feel like putting in the effort to heist an armored car. So, she’d loaded up her “fun gun” and donned her favorite argyle shorts and threw the doors open on what was one of the ugliest buildings Harley had ever seen. Pointing her weapon at the clerk, she began making her demands.

“Listen buddy, this is a stick up! So don’t STICK UP a fight and you won’t find out what I loaded this gun with today!” It was marshmallows. The fat ones. “Start loadin’ up the benjis, bucko!”

you don’t live in gotham and not know harley quinn.  and nico’s spent a lot of time thinking that she’s, like, seriously fucking awesome.  so excuse him if he’s having a big freak out right about now.  a positive freak out, albeit.  he’s lucky that he’s in costume, too, so he doesn’t have to act freaked out by the events.  and hell, he may even make some money from this endeavor.  

nico is a little taken aback by how fucking loud she is.  he winces but then flashes a pearly white grin, giving her outfit a once over.  he’s going to go find some shorts like that tomorrow.  just to expand the costume wardrobe, of course.  

he raises his hands slowly, though he’s pretty sure she’s not threatening him.  “ man, you sure do know how to put the fear of god in ‘em, huh? ” he asks, marveling at the speed with which the guy is loading the bag up with money.  might be even more effective than his own methods.  crazy sells.  

“ harley quinn, right ?? i’ve been dying to meet you. ” 

[sirensmade]

@cfamazons

   for all the world, nico feigns some serious nonchalance, like he just happened down this street on accident.  he props his shoulder carelessly on the alley wall.  “ officer, ” he says the word with no small amount of snark.  “ you know, i love the classics, but this is beginning to feel a little stale, don’t you think ?? ” he asks.  “ i mean, we know how this goes. ”  or, at least, nico does.  it’s at least half his fault, come back to the same places again and again just to work in an extra taunt or two. 

“ besides, i haven’t even done anything wrong. ”  not strictly true.  there’s a wad of cash in his back pocket that doesn’t belong to him.  “ is this a stop and frisk situation? ”

[sirensmade]

hawkcyed‌:

there’s someone out there probably judging how clint actually waits for the guy to be done with his casual destruction. but it’s not like it’s his car. or like he has a car right now. and clint’s about 80% sure that trying to step in the way is a surefire way to get cut up by a car that looks like a pimp my ride reject. a pimp my ride reject with one of his tracker arrows stuck in the rear. “ you know those things are like five bucks, right? don’t think they’re gonna be winnin’ you big money in vegas… ” he sighs, and really hopes this won’t come back to haunt him some day. it probably will. but he’s got a small soft spot for the young folk causing a little havoc, weird to think that once upon a time that was him. god he was old.

but hey, he got the name right. and apparently clint said that out loud, so now he’ll have to roll with it. “ wait, who are you–? ” no, wait, potentially not as urgent. “ didn’t happen to see where the driver scurried off to, did you? ”

nico hums a quick note, no intent behind it this time.  “ yeah, but they’re cute, right?  real retro vibe to them. ”  they’ll be a great edition to his car.  he shrugs his shoulders. “ i’m nobody.  just coming from a costume party. ”  it’s not exactly a lie if nico doesn’t expect the man to consider it, right?  it’s a little lie for fun.

“ oh, yeah.  little shorter than me ?? dark eyes, crazy amounts of arm hair ?? ” a wallet materializes from somewhere on nico’s person.  “ he just gave this to me.  crazy, right? ”  he pulls out the cash and tosses the rest of the wallet to old man hawkeye here.  “ he was heading downtown, when we crossed paths. ”

[sirensmade]

crowbcrs‌:

There was always a mistress. Seriously, when were people going to learn? Hadn’t anyone else bothered to read Gone Girl? “No,” Jason answers flatly, eyes trained on the laptop screen as he copies three folders labeled ‘H’ onto his USB drive. “Outside of some sort of Make-A-Wish foundation catered specifically to dusty white guys, I’m having trouble picturing the circumstances under which John Markey gets it on the regular from a guy who looks like you.”

Jason is about to confirm that yes, any further inquiries into his business will inevitably lead to violent intervention, but the second comment makes his wit stall. Noticeably. Which is…. annoying. “Are you– you’re not actually flirting with me, right now,” Jason says, mouth twisted in a small but incredulous frown. “Because I held you at gunpoint, like, thirty seconds ago. Are you concussed? How many fingers am I holding up?”

Nico shrugs as noncommittally is possible.  He’s not wrong.  Nico’d rather jump off a bridge than actually let John Markey touch him, but if he plays that hand, then this whole jig is up.  “I think you’re underselling Markey’s...charm.  I mean, his wife is crazy hot.”  Maybe Nico should be pretending to hook up with her instead.  Ah, well.  Live and learn. 

He presses on ahead to the more amusing bits.  “You just told me I was too hot to be fucking around with Markey, so...you know, you’re at least half as guilty.”  Nico flashes a smile full of pearly white teeth and leans just a tad closer.  “It’s Gotham! If I don’t flirt with men who pull guns on me, my pool will be severely limited.  What’s the treatment if I am concussed?  Bed rest?”  

[sirensmade]

crowbcrs‌:

“Huh,” Jason starts, intrigued. While he has absolutely no intention of spending a second longer in this part of town than absolutely necessary, the rest of the proposal sounds good. A little too good, probably. “Well, you’re weirdly checking all of my hostage boxes right now, so I’m gonna say yes. Hands where I can see ‘em, though. Full disclosure, I’m not one of those C-list, bought-my-first-Domino-mask-at-Party-City types. I will shoot if you try to book it out of here before I have what I need, and it’s close range, so that shit’s gonna hurt like a mother.” 

Jason moves through the space as he talks, already knowing exactly what he’s looking for and exactly where he’s going to find it. Lifting the false top off the ottoman by the window, he reaches beneath the mass of blankets and throw pillows to supply John Markey The Third’s super secret second laptop. It takes him a moment to pull his helmet up over his head - leaving just the domino mask in place - and to carefully draw a physical encryption key out from one of its compartments. “Oh, hold on,” Jason starts, voice cut off in a dry laugh as he sticks the key into one of the laptop’s USB ports. He looks up at the stranger with a crooked smile. Not the spouse, next-of-kin, an employee, a member of the house staff, or a cat burglar, which left… “You’re not the mistress, are you?”

“Yeah, you don’t look like a C-Lister,” Nico agrees easily.  He reassembles the ottoman and takes a seat on top of it to better watch the vigilante work.  He recognizes him; the outfit is far from inconspicuous.  And Nico runs in rough enough crowds to occasionally have to worry about vigilante interference.  He’s lucky, now, that he’s never met the Red Hood face to face, not in costume.  Might make this less pleasant. 

He grins, adjusts in his seat like he’s preening.  “Do I seem like the type to you?” Nico asks, tapping his fingers against his leg in a random beat.  “So, do I get to know what you’re looking for, or is that another thing that’s going to get me shot?”  He rushes on without waiting for a real answer, “You know, I bet you get this a lot, but you should really think about ditching that helmet.”

[sirensmade]

@hawkeycd​

“ listen, sir, ” nico says, with just a touch of impatience, “i’ll be with you in just a minute. ”  his foot connects with the glass of a car’s passenger side window.  this time the semi-cracked glass gives way and nico manages to avoid any major lacerations.  he reaches inside, pulls the fuzzy dice off the rear view mirror, and then holds them aloft triumphantly.  “ see, i told you it’d be quick. ”  he puts his free hand on his hip and flashes a smile.

  “ so, hi.  what can i do for you?  hawkeye, isn’t it? ”  he shifts his weight from one foot to the other, just in case he needs to run, and scratches at the edge of his thin domino mask. 

[sirensmade]

@gcblinprince

    “ harry osborn, right ?? ”  nico acts, for all the world, like the watch he’s putting on right now wasn’t just taken from a random guest at this little soiree.  it won’t be missed for another couple of hours, so it seems like a no harm, no foul sort of situation.  he extends his hand and flashes a beatific smile.  “ i’ve heard so much about you, and almost all good things.  that’s hard to manage in a city like this.  nico, ” he introduces, with just the barest lilt in his voice, one that suggests only charm and innocence.

[sirensmade]

crowbcrs‌:

“Fuck,” Jason sighs, more annoyed and resigned than genuinely accusatory. “Who the hell are you? You know how many hours I spent combing through this douchenozzle’s email trying to find a time when the wife, interior designer, housekeeper, second housekeeper, and,” Jason pauses, putting the next bit in air quotes, though he can only use one hand on account of the other being loosely clasped around a sig, “cat technician were all out of the house? I now have opinions on things I didn’t even know existed yesterday, like the new direction of the PGA Championship Golf Tournament and the merits of Pink Ivory paneling versus African Blackwood.”

The talking comes naturally to Jason, but it’s admittedly also a strategy to buy himself a little time, size up the unexpected variable and reassess his plan accordingly. Jason has a height, weight, and gun advantage, but the general ease of the stranger’s posture suggests that he’s got a couple cards up his sleeve that Jason can’t yet see. “This isn’t that kind of robbery,” Jason says, decisively tucking his gun back into his thigh holster. He resolves to keep the guy in his eye line through the search; he’s a threat, possibly, but maybe not to what Jason’s trying to accomplish today. “Although, if he’s got a Montrachet 2008 down there, I certainly wouldn’t say no to a tour once I wrap up.”

nico lets out a long, low groan at the mention of the cat technician.  he can’t stand that bitch.  a carefully constructed casual facade doesn’t keep nico from tracking the movement of the gun.  nico’s confident in his own speed and ability, but he’s not faster than a bullet, that’s for damn sure. he’s running through the possibility of being able to snag the gun if the situation calls for it.  but, in nico’s very limited experience with actual vigilantes, it seems unlikely that a guy carrying a gun isn’t pretty capable with it.  

“ i’m -- well, hm. ”  how to explain this in a way that doesn’t get him shot or tied up in the basement.  “ nobody of consequence to you.  i won’t interfere, or call the cops. ”  that would only end poorly for nico, probably.  “ here’s my idea.  you tell me nothing about what you’re doing, i tell you nothing about what i’m doing.  and then when you’re done...cleaning the pool, or whatever, i’ll let you raid the cellar. ”  eyes slide from obscured face to thigh holster and back again.  “ and you can tell me all about golf and paneling over a glass. ”  truthfully, nico’s probably gonna book it way before then, but mr. scary vigilante doesn’t need to know that yet.  there’s a number of windows to sneak out of between here and the cellar. 

[onequoteperday]

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

William Shakespeare (from Henry IV, Part 2)

[sirensmade]

@crowbcrs

" well, hiya, ” nico greets, from his spot luxuriating on a couch worth more than a reasonable car.  hasn’t stopped him from kicking dirty sneakers up on one of the deep red cushions.  if anything, he’s expecting to have to worm his way out of a situation with a betrayed wife, not watch a vigilante come in through the window.  truthfully, nico’s wearing more clothes than he would in costume, but he feels naked and vulnerable without a mask or weapon of some sort.  

he reaches his arms up above his head in a slow stretch and gets up off the couch.  “ is this a robbery ?? ” nico asks, putting his hands up in a surrender that looks lazy and unaffected somehow.  “ because, in the interest of full honesty, the only thing i have a key to is the wine cellar. ”

[sirensmade]

     ( francisco lachowski / 25 / he/him ) – hey, have you noticed [ SIREN ] around lately? rumor is they’re from [ GOTHAM ]. out of costume, i think they go by [ NICO RUIZ ] !! their [ SIREN SONG / COMBAT ABILITIES ] make them a perfect fit for [ ROGUE'S GALLERY ].

-  amazing that this is my newest character and the first i’ve managed to make an about for.  mostly just cuz he’s of my own creation, therefore i feel bad making you google him.  so i’m going to keep it quick && easy, because i don’t think anyone wants to read a long-winded introduction. 

- nico is the son of a fairly prolific siren called iara or uiara, depending on who you ask.  it’s a fairly cliche tale.  beautiful siren has a brief love affair with a normal human man.  he’s got nothing but the shirt on his back, and he adores her.  she likes him for a while, and then she leaves him with a son and nothing else.  

- nico grew up with his father, only saw his mother once every year or so.  each time, nico would ask to visit his home with her, and each time she would refuse.  the motivation for which is unknown to nico to this day.  nico && his father didn’t have a lot of money, but they managed to get by.  nico’s powers were less mind control and more powerful suggestion at a young age, and it helped them get by.  nico was able to work the odds in their favor from time to time, but for the most part, his powers remained rudimentary for the first sixteen or so years of his life. 

- eventually nico’s father gets sick, and there’s nothing nico can do to save him.  father passes away.  nico’s fucking furious, begins to really act out.  he gets noticed / picked up by an offshoot branch of the league of assassins.  they offer to help him refine his powers in exchange for his services!  he goes about two years working with the league, and that’s where his powers begin to really take shape. 

- should have explained his powers earlier, but here goes.  as the son of a siren, nicos got a modified, if not slightly less effective version of a siren song.  with it, nico can exercise a level of control over a person’s mind.  the strength of this varies depending on nico’s readiness at the moment, the person’s will power, and about a dozen other factors.  on the unsuspecting, he can completely control them for a few minutes at a time, but he has to keep carrying the suggestion via voice the entire time, so .... u really just have to shut him up.  this power made him really good for assassinations, cuz he could just make it....look like someone killed themselves.  nico can’t control more than one person at a time, but he can affect the mood of a large crowd of people.  recordings of nicos voice do not carry any power, except that it sounds pretty. 

- so after his stint with the league, nico has a sort of crisis.  he doesn’t feel bad about what he’s doing so much as he just doesn’t enjoy it.  he’s sick of living his life for other people, so he finds his way to america. nico lands in the bludhaven / gotham area.  he flies under the radar for a while, and then ends up turning towards pettier crimes than murder. 

- realizes that crime is 1) fun and 2) lucrative and really latches on.  nico goes into full on selfish hedonist mode, just sorta fucking around for his own benefit.  he’s a rogue in name, because he loves Crime, but he doesn’t serve a higher authority or ideology.  he’s here for a good time, not a long time.  he’s obsessed w/ the IDEA of the gotham city sirens, tho.  does he want to kiss them or be them??? impossible to tell.  but he does jack their style from time to time, namely miss quinn’s penchant for sparkly shorts. 

- in his day-to-day life, he rubs elbows w/ the upper class of the area a lot.  his powers let him have multiple Sugar Parents who THINK they’re having weird illicit affairs w/ him, but really he’s just mind controlling them for a while, planting a fake memory, and letting them buy him lavish things in return.  

-  he’s selfish, thrill-seeking, hedonistic, and a Big Ol Flirt.  on the plus side, he’s intensely loyal to the people he DOES develop an affection for, but it’s a long road to being on an affectionate side of nico.

- while he was with the league of assassins, he called himself iara.  now, as a rogue he goes by siren.  on the RARE occasion he needs to be on someone’s good side, he has an unrelated persona called hummingbird, but it’s incredibly unlikely that anyone will ever meet that persona.  it’s just an outfit in the closet for when he needs to pretend to be a good guy!