[vievecorcityrp]

VICTORIA WU

GENDER: Female

SPECIES: Spirit

AGE: 200+

SEXUALITY: Bisexual

OCCUPATION: Psychiatrist at Vievecor Sanitorium, Spirit Elder

DISTRICT: The Shipyard

HEADCANONS:

Born in China over two hundred years ago, in life Victoria was a witch and as she aged she became an expert in conjuration magic. A forbidden power that is linked to her eventual demise, however she is incredibly secretive about this.

Victoria’s family were incredibly poor, hiding in the shadows to avoid being discovered. Later, she was indentured to work in a brothel, which led to the beginning of her end. You won’t find it in any historical records, but there was once an old folk tale that spoke of a witch summoning a powerful mythical entity in hopes that it would help save her from her unfortunate circumstances. But, the entity could not be controlled and was enraged by the witch, deciding they would take her life and instead have her continue her path as a spirit.

After becoming a spirit, years later she eventually settled in Vievecor City in order to not be discovered by those she had left behind in life.

Victoria is a Spirit Elder & also works as a Psychiatrist at Vievecor Sanitorium. She was initially drawn to the role because she felt that she had once been someone in need of help that could have benefitted from someone in her position. The role in the Council naturally fell into place due to her advanced age.

Victoria enjoys dream magic but has to remind herself not to delve too far should she repeat past mistakes. - Victoria lives in The Shipyard, finding it most convenient for work and to blend in. However she enjoys spending time in Hedon for the various establishments there that allow her to enjoy the night-life. Despite the dangers of some of these establishments, Victoria enjoys these places because they make her feel most alive and provide a distraction from her worries. Sometimes, she feels as though the entity cursed her to live her life alone as a spirit forever without ever feeling true happiness. - She’s a talented gambler, though she keeps this to herself.

Victoria has a pet cat, he is a large ginger cat that reminds her (in personality, anyway) of her old familiar, who took the form of a Siberian Tiger.

Victoria is sometimes nicknamed ‘Toria’ or ‘Tori’ by those close to her.

PERSONALITY: Calm, Intimidating, Secretive, Independant, Resilient, Assertive

CHARACTER TYPE: Pre-made - Victoria Wu

BLOG: @spiritvictoriawu

[spiritvw]

“It’s an important part of your job, is it not?” Victoria asked. “Do your peers not look down on you if you don’t participate in the tradition?” Victoria only part joked, the other part of her genuinely curious to hear if it held any merit.

“How convenient for you.” Victoria replied, hesitating for a moment. If he worked in the police department, there was a possibility he knew Jo. Then again, it was a large department…

“That would be helpful.” The spirit eventually agreed with a small nod of her head. “Thank you.”

[matthew-alexander]

"Contracts?" Matthew shot Victoria a look before getting a little defensive. "It's not anyone else's business how I conduct my own demonic business. And besides, I have enough contracts of my own. You'll figure it out on your own. If you ever decide to become one of us."

The fallen deity pulled out his cell phone to set himself a reminder to talk to Luke about Victoria. He was not in the habit of recruiting for the demonic ranks, but he was not about to turn a curious friend away.

[spiritvw]

“I was asking out of genuine curiosity. It wasn’t a judgement.” Victoria pointed out. “You really are in a bitchy mood today.” She added, but her tone remained lacking it’s usually sharpness. “Would you like to go for a drink, or would you rather ride out your mood alone?” She asked.

[spiritvw]

The neat click of Victorias heels — or rather, the illusion she created of them — came to a slow stop in front of the doctor. “What would you call it?” She asked him. She hadn’t seen an emergency vehicle outside and she could only assume from his lack of uniform that he wasn’t performing treatment officially. She could have been wrong, but when concerning Ayumu and his business, she doubted it.

The spirit barely spared a glance at the wounded man, whose whimpers were making him sound thoroughly sorry for himself. “If the sound of moans bothered me, I doubt I would find myself in a brothel.” She pointed out to him, passing her dark eyes over the handsome features of the man’s face.

“What’s your name?” Victoria asked, most people lied, but it didn’t matter. “You sound as though you find yourself here often, yet somehow I’ve never seen you before.”

[howellmaxen]

“Well, I suppose touche, you got me there.” The curve of his lips twisted up into a small smile. He had always enjoyed when a woman pushed back a little with wit or sarcasm. She didn’t seem like one of Ayumu’s girls, but that wouldn’t have mattered to him. Conversation with a person, human or not was much more intriguing than tending to the injured in a place like this. Paying to lose money at the gambling tables and the exchange of it for sex weren’t on Howell’s list of things he needed to do before he died. His only purpose for being there was to keep the injured healed, so they’d stay quiet.

“I like to think I work efficiently and so I’m gone before I am noticed.” To be fair he wasn’t sure what his reputation would be if he was found in a brothel, he didn’t exactly stick with familial high society pressure these days and he wasn’t the head of any department. It would be safe to say that the doctor would just be looked at with side eyes from his coworkers, but no serious damage would take place. “If that’s the road we are going, I haven’t seen you either. If I did I think I’d remember.”

He had just finished the stitch on the man’s head when he turned back to elegant figure that loomed in his direction. “Dr. Maxen, but calling me Howell is just fine.”

[spiritvw]

“Ayumu must be paying you handsomely for such a discreet service.” Victoria observed, but not without her own suspicion.

She paused for a moment, “Really? Why’s that?” She asked curiously, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer. “Hm. Perhaps it’s all the lingering in the back corridors you’ve been doing. I’m usually a figure men don’t like to see coming at their gambling tables. It usually means their brothel money is going to quickly disappear before they can spend it.” It wasn’t all men, of course, but Victoria tended to find they remained to be the majority.

“Howell,” Victoria repeated curiously, “Doctor Victoria Wu. I am the lead Psychiatrist at the Sanitorium.” She introduced. “It looks like your work is done.” she observed as the doctor finished his last stitch and his patient seemed eager to leave their company.

[hclenshivers]

Ni Ni Dongji Rescue European Premiere

[spiritvw]

“I’d like that.” Victoria smiled. She found herself glad that Naz continued to be her friend, despite Victoria’s best efforts to push her away in the very beginning. The feeling of dread always lingered, wondering what she might think of her should she learn her past.

“I think the very last thing they wanted was for me to see inside their dreams,” Victoria admitted. “I’ve apologised, but I’m not sure it changes anything.” The spirit averted her gaze for a moment, before swallowing down a welcomed mouthful of the fresh tequila Naz had poured. She and Jo had been pretty clear on no personal attachments and Victoria seeing inside her dreams had gone against that.

Victoria’s eyes returned to her as Naz took her hand, quietly glad of the contact and reassurance. “Thank you for having me over,” She responded fondly. “And for being my friend.”

[naz-ulusoy]

After a night of drinking and revealing secrets, she knew that a spa day would help put them both at ease and recovery. They couldn't change what had already happened but they could forget about it with massages and sauna's.

"Well no one really enjoys but I also don't like how a deity can sense how I'm feeling or how a werewolf tells me how nice a smell," she said before she grinned. "Well actually, I do like when a werewolf tells me I smell nice," she hummed, thinking about her boyfriend. Clearly some tequila would do them some good, Victoria could try and forget about her mistake and Naz would likely admit something stupid to assist.

"Thank you for allowing me to be." They didn't talk about it much but she knew it hadn't been easy for Victoria to let her in but Naz was persistant and patient. Now they considered Victoria has one of their closest friends and she was forever grateful for it. "And anytime. You should come over when Judas does the nude model painters, I can't paint but I enjoy watching," she joked, offering up another drink to her friend.

[spiritvw]

Naz’s grin made her smile. “You’re very cute when you’re smitten, do you know that?” She pointed out. It was nice to see her friend so happy.

Victoria quietly snorted, “Don’t they get enough action as it is without inviting nude models to your house?” She teased, “Still, I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity.” She offered a sly smile before sipping at her drink. “Thank you. Now you have plenty of time to tell me what you’ve been up to with your boyfriend as of late…”

[spiritvw]

Victoria noticed the subtle change in Matthew’s expression. It was difficult not to do so given her profession, but she chose not to push her question any further along the same vein. Didn’t every species have their own cross to bear in some form or another? She and Matthew had always been quite similar in that way, it seemed. “You have done well for yourself.” She agreed, genuinely. The spirit breathed a soft laugh at the dramatic swish of his coat. “How did you find making contracts at first?” She asked curiously. “How did you decide which ones you wanted to take?”

“I recognise the name, but I don’t believe we’ve met.” Victoria answered, “Can you introduce us?”

[matthew-alexander]

"Thank you," Matthew smiled, knowing that they'd understood each other enough in the moment to brush that topic aside.

"Oh, so contracts are what interests you?" he asked, brow arching. "It's an instinctual thing for some. A hoarding thing for others. Contracts guarantee souls for us to feed on."

"And I believe I can. Luke works in the police department as a detective. I can put you both in touch."

[spiritvw]

“It’s an important part of your job, is it not?” Victoria asked. “Do your peers not look down on you if you don’t participate in the tradition?” Victoria only part joked, the other part of her genuinely curious to hear if it held any merit.

“How convenient for you.” Victoria replied, hesitating for a moment. If he worked in the police department, there was a possibility he knew Jo. Then again, it was a large department…

“That would be helpful.” The spirit eventually agreed with a small nod of her head. “Thank you.”

[spiritvw]

Teeth marks. Victoria’s eyelashes fluttered against the swell of tears that had formed in her eyes but not yet fallen, and her hands slowly fell in disbelief from her backpack, knowing nothing she had would change the outcome of this now. She had just begun to feel like perhaps she was no longer meaninglessly floating around the island, that she’d found her reason to stay, the person who had made all of this worthwhile. A light in a very dark place. Now it seemed like it had already been taken from her, before she’d even had chance to grasp at it properly… And Jo, she was the one having to face the pain of this. The realisation of death. Victoria knew it all too well and it made her push her selfish thoughts and tears away.

She sunk down to where Jo was slumped, wrapping her arms around her in order to guide her gently to the ground. “I’ve got you…” She whispered as she leant in to press her forehead against the other woman’s. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” She reassured her, hand gently holding her cheek where it felt feverish against her palm. The idea of not being able to return to their sanctuary together was crushing. There would be no more late night embraces and soft whispers, just the two of them, just a vastness where Jo’s presence was missing.

Although it was hopeless, Victoria held pressure against the wound with a jacket she’d had tied around her waist, at least hoping to ease her of some pain. She remembered her own death— knowing it was entirely her own fault— it had been swift, but terrifying.

Please don’t go, a voice whispered in her head, but she didn’t let it free. I only just got you back. It was a selfish thought, but one she felt all the same.

“Finding you again has been my biggest saviour…” Victoria whispered, finding Jo’s tearful gaze. “What do you need?” She asked her just as gently, quietly, “Anything— I could create an illusion. Somewhere, someone.” Victoria reassured her, stroking her thumb along her cheek. Perhaps she might like to see Leila again, Victoria thought. She thought she remembered her face just enough from the brief time she had spent within the other woman’s dream so many years ago, to create something for her.

[detectivejdarling]

Jo tensed the second Victoria tried to guide her lower, her hand catching weakly at her arm before she could be eased all the way down. “No—” It came out hoarse, breath hitching halfway through as another wave of heat rolled through her. She shook her head, jaw tightening as she forced herself to stay upright against the wall, even as her body protested the effort. Lying down felt like giving in.

Her vision swam again, darkness creeping in before it cleared just enough to make Victoria’s face sharp where everything else blurred. Jo swallowed hard, her hand dragging back down to her side before stilling, fingers curling against the fabric like she could hold herself together through sheer force of will. It didn’t work. Nothing about this was working.

“I didn’t mean to ruin this,” she managed, voice rough, catching at the edges. "Us." The words sat heavier than the apology had. A week. That was all they got. A week of something that had almost felt like a life again, carved out in the middle of everything that had gone to hell. She had courted death for years, had always thought it would feel like relief. But it didn’t.

Not like this.

Not with Victoria right in front of her.

Her words hit Jo harder than anything else had. For a fleeting second something soft slipped through the haze—the idea that she hadn’t been nothing but damage. That she had given Victoria something real, something good. It faltered almost immediately. Her breath caught unevenly and her eyes burned as tears slipped free before she could stop them, tracking down her cheeks unchecked. Because even that seemed like cruelty now.

She shook her head at the spirit's offer, small and unsteady. A faint, pained smile flickered and faded as quickly as it came. Her hand shifted, fingers curling weakly into the fabric of Victoria's top. “No,” she said quietly, her eyes refusing to leave Victoria’s. “Just you. Only you.”

Jo's grip tightened just slightly even as another tremor worked its way through her, her body betraying her in small, uncontrollable ways. Her jaw clenched like she could force herself into stillness. “I don’t—” She stopped, swallowing against the dryness in her throat, eyes squeezing shut for a second before she forced them open again. “I don’t want to end up like them.” The words came quieter, steadier than Jo could've hoped for. Her thumb shifted slightly against Victoria’s hand, a small, deliberate press that said everything she couldn't. "Please."

[spiritvw]

“You didn’t ruin anything,” Victoria whispered. It was just a cruel twist of fate. The same fate that had delivered her the loss of her first love. She had finally found someone who had loved her for who she was, only to get to spend so little time with him. She had been desperate to keep him, so desperate in fact she had reached for necromancy and when that hadn’t worked, she’d called upon what she thought she knew. Conjuration magic, only this time it was power far beyond her reach, a being so powerful and beyond the reaches of her imagination, she wouldn’t have believed it was real had its revenge on her arrogance not been so painful. His face flickered in her memory, only to be replaced by Jo’s. Somehow this cut felt deeper. “You have given me everything.” She whispered to her. Victoria was quietly angry there was nothing she could do.

Her thumb swept away Jo’s tears, “Don’t be afraid.” She whispered tenderly, “I will be right here.” She reassured her, though her own tears began to escape now. Victoria halted her attempt to create an illusion for Jo, her eyes softening, shoulders drooping. She hadn’t gotten to say what she wanted to with her first love… he had been gone too quickly. Did she want to miss this opportunity with Jo?

Victoria steadied herself to talk, but Jo beat her to it, with words that would take the air from her lungs. It was an impossible cruelty, to be faced with the choice of having to watch Jo suffer, or be the one to end her suffering. “I—“ She whispered, I can’t, she wanted to plead. “I’m not ready to be without you.” She confessed, feeling pathetic in her weakness, “We spent so long shutting each other out… this past week… it made me realise how much time was wasted, how much I—“ The spirit paused, brushing a piece of hair from Jo’s face, unsure of how much time she had left. “I know your heart will always belong to someone else and that’s okay..” she whispered, “But this time has made me realise perhaps mine has belonged to you for a long time… and I can’t let you go without...” Tears continued to fall, her hand tightening around hers. “I.. I have loved you. I love you still.” She told her.

[spiritvw]

Victoria wanted to be comforted by the idea that Jo was merely winded from a fast paced sprint, but she knew her and she knew when she was diverting. “You’re not fine…” She said gently but insistently, all the while she was praying, hoping that she was just over-worrying, that she’d forgotten what it was to be human. But she felt the moisture at the tips of her fingers, the dark blood stain that had begun to flourish on the dirty fabric of her clothes. “Jo…” she breathed, dread creeping into her voice. “Let me look at you, did you catch yourself on something?” Her words were coming fast, hoping at any moment she’d be told it was something fixable, something, anything, but the worst.

Victoria glanced around them, scouting the area around them for the undead whilst she brought her backpack around to her front, burrowing into its contents for scraps of fabric for bandages, any remnants of antiseptic that hadn’t already been used, the denial coming thick and fast. “We can rest here a moment, let me look at you.”

[detectivejdarling]

Jo knew she looked like shit. She could feel it—heat crawling under her skin, sweat cooling too fast against it, her pulse uneven and wrong in a way that made her stomach turn. Every breath felt just a fraction too shallow, like her body had forgotten how to do it properly. It wasn’t something you could argue your way out of. Not convincingly. She wanted to push back—wanted to make it sound like nothing, like something she could walk off, sleep off—but there was no angle left to take that wouldn't fall apart the second it left her mouth. Not with the way her hands trembled. Not with the way her vision kept threatening to blur at the edges.

She took a reluctant step back when Victoria moved to gather their meager medical supplies, meaning to lean into the wall for support as she lowered herself. For all of three seconds, it felt like she could do it, but then her balance just... slipped. Her hand went out to catch herself, but it came a beat too slow, her legs not quite able to keep up with what she was asking of them. The drop had barely been a foot but the impact still jarred through her, sharp enough to pry a quiet moan from her lips.

It took effort to move after that. More than it should have. Jo dragged herself into a more upright position, letting her head tip back for a second as she tried to steady her breathing. Everything still felt off. Too fast and too slow all at once, Victoria's face swimming in and out of focus as she kneeled next to her.

Jo's hands refused to remain steady when she reached for the hem of her shirt, fingers clumsy as she drew the already soaked fabric up enough to expose the wound at her side. The skin around it was already angry. Swollen. Darkened in a way that didn’t look right, especially for something fresh. The imprint was unmistakable.

Not a scrape. Not a tear.

Teeth.

Jo let her head drop back against the wall with a pained groan, eyes closing briefly as another wave of heat rolled through her, sharper this time. Her breath hitched on it, uneven. For a second, she didn’t say anything—frustration, anger, despair and something dangerously close to panic warring for dominance over her mind. Then her gaze found Victoria’s. “I’m sorry,” she said, voice low, thinner than she meant for it to be.

Of course it happened now.

For years death had seemed like an unattainable mercy. One she had been denied over and over and over again. And now—

Now this.

A short, humorless breath slipped out of her, something bitter curling at the edges of it. Her teeth sank into her lower lip, hard enough to ground, to keep something from spilling over, but it didn’t quite hold. Jo's eyes squeezed shut for a second, and when they opened again, they were glassy, unfocused, the first tears gathering despite the effort it took to keep them at bay.

[spiritvw]

Teeth marks. Victoria’s eyelashes fluttered against the swell of tears that had formed in her eyes but not yet fallen, and her hands slowly fell in disbelief from her backpack, knowing nothing she had would change the outcome of this now. She had just begun to feel like perhaps she was no longer meaninglessly floating around the island, that she’d found her reason to stay, the person who had made all of this worthwhile. A light in a very dark place. Now it seemed like it had already been taken from her, before she’d even had chance to grasp at it properly… And Jo, she was the one having to face the pain of this. The realisation of death. Victoria knew it all too well and it made her push her selfish thoughts and tears away.

She sunk down to where Jo was slumped, wrapping her arms around her in order to guide her gently to the ground. “I’ve got you…” She whispered as she leant in to press her forehead against the other woman’s. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” She reassured her, hand gently holding her cheek where it felt feverish against her palm. The idea of not being able to return to their sanctuary together was crushing. There would be no more late night embraces and soft whispers, just the two of them, just a vastness where Jo’s presence was missing.

Although it was hopeless, Victoria held pressure against the wound with a jacket she’d had tied around her waist, at least hoping to ease her of some pain. She remembered her own death— knowing it was entirely her own fault— it had been swift, but terrifying.

Please don’t go, a voice whispered in her head, but she didn’t let it free. I only just got you back. It was a selfish thought, but one she felt all the same.

“Finding you again has been my biggest saviour…” Victoria whispered, finding Jo’s tearful gaze. “What do you need?” She asked her just as gently, quietly, “Anything— I could create an illusion. Somewhere, someone.” Victoria reassured her, stroking her thumb along her cheek. Perhaps she might like to see Leila again, Victoria thought. She thought she remembered her face just enough from the brief time she had spent within the other woman’s dream so many years ago, to create something for her.

[spiritvw]

The kiss against her knuckles made her heart flutter. It seemed silly, that the simplest of things could draw such a reaction out in her. It was even sadder still that she couldn’t be open about the way Joanna made her blush, the way her heart thumped every time she saw her, or the way her knees felt wobbly when they kissed. She wanted more of her, always, and couldn’t have her. “He creates that response in many.” She tried her hand at humour, because it was all she could do.

“I wanted to… I look forward to seeing you and your work, you’re very talented.” Jia confessed, “Even if it is only seeing you for a moment or two.” The seamstress swallowed, “It doesn’t matter, I understand… you needed to protect yourself and you were probably doing the right thing for us both… even if I wish you didn’t have to.” There was a quiet, lingering sadness, one that only worsened when Joanna mentioned leaving. The possibility of not seeing her after this twisted in her gut. Not only might she lose what she had with Matthew, but was this going to be the end of the only true attraction she’d felt in her life too? Gone before it had started? “I’d like to. See you again,” She responded far too urgently, making her cheeks grow redder still. “If you want to, that is… we could… maybe we could—“ She paused, self conscious and vulnerable, “Meet somewhere quiet… go away. Just us…” It was soft, hopeful, but also full of fear she might get rejected.

[detectivejdarling]

Joanna had heard compliments like this before—variations of it, dressed up in different words, praise that came with conditions, with assumptions, with her father’s name trailing behind it. Ezra had been sweet-talking her for the past two months now, but it landed differently, coming from Jia. It mattered, coming from her.

Her gaze softened, something quieter settling in as she looked at her. “Careful,” Joanna murmured, a faint smile pulling at her mouth. “All that praise might get to my head.” Her grip on Jia’s hand shifted, turning it over so her thumb could trace slow, absent patterns along her palm, along fingers that knew how to weave something real from nothing. “And we both know where the real talent lies.”

All she had to do was step into a world already built for her, deliver lines already written so they could be edited and rearranged to fit someone else’s vision. And it was easier than Joanna would’ve liked to admit—pretending to be in love with Matthew. All she had to do was look at him and imagine Jia in his stead.

“No.” Joanna gave a small shake of her head, regret creasing her brow. “Don’t make excuses for me.” She hesitated, searching for the right way to say it without breaking something fragile between them. “I wasn’t protecting myself,” she added after a moment, voice dipping. “I just… handled it badly.” She had scarcely been able to think clearly then, preoccupied with Jia’s hands on her—measuring, adjusting, fixing things that didn’t need fixing—and with how she hadn’t wanted her to stop. A flicker of heat crossed her face, settling along her cheeks and the tips of her ears. It was a reason but no excuse. “You deserved better.” Her gaze lingered, holding Jia’s longer than necessary. “You deserve better.”

At Jia’s suggestion, a small, breath-soft laugh slipped past Joanna’s lips. Quiet, almost disbelieving. “Go somewhere,” she echoed, the words softening in her mouth as she brushed her fingers lightly along Jia’s temple, tucking a loose strand of hair back into place. “Just us.” Her thumb traced the warmth in Jia’s cheek, and something in her expression turned almost reverent. “I’d like that,” she said quietly.

She leaned in then, slower this time, giving Jia the space to pull away if she wanted to. The first kiss was light, almost tentative, more promise than claim. “A lot,” she murmured against her lips, the second kiss warmer, lingering, her hand shifting against Jia’s jaw to hold her there a fraction longer. Her lips brushed along her cheek after, unhurried, drawn by the warmth of her skin, following the line of her jaw with quiet certainty. Not just wanting—choosing.

The knock at the door came anyway. “Miss Darling, you’re needed back on set.”

Joanna stilled, her forehead dropping against Jia’s shoulder with a soft exhale, something like a quiet groan slipping free before she could stop it. “Yes,” she called back, voice low but steady despite the color still high in her cheeks. “Just a minute.” She stayed there a beat longer, unwilling to move, before lifting her head just enough to press one last, gentle kiss to Jia’s collarbone.

When she pulled back, her gaze found Jia’s again, steadier but no less reluctant. “You can stay here as long as you want,” she said, voice deliberately low so her words wouldn't carry through the thin walls of the trailer. “As long as you need.”

[spiritvw]

“I’m not making excuses… I know how frightening this can all be.” Jia replied softly, she couldn’t imagine how it was when you were someone in the spotlight as much as Joanna was. At least she had the option that she could hide herself away, that she could have the space to breathe without someone constantly caring what she was doing, who she was spending time with or what she looked like. “I’m just happy you decided to come back.” Her cheeks were still lightly coloured pink and she managed a small smile as Joanna tucked her hair behind her ear.

Then her lips were against her own, soft and gentle and warm, everything she was missing in her life and her heart thumped loudly in her ears. She kissed her back just as gently, her hand coming up to cup her cheek and hold her there for a moment, allowing it to dip into the strands of her hair, until the small knock at the trailer door came. It made her jump and then quickly soften. Her chest rose and fell in a disappointed sigh, the only thing lifting her the kiss to her collarbone that made her heart flutter.

“Okay…” Jia responded quietly, “Good luck for the rest of your shoot.” She whispered fondly, her hand squeezing Joanna’s, lingering onto her hold for as long as she could, before finally letting her go. When the trailer door clicked shut behind her, Jia exhaled quietly, unsure of so much, but entirely certain that the fluttering of her heart for Joanna was the best thing she had ever felt.

[spiritvw]

For: @howellmaxen

Location: Ware

(Past thread)

It wasn’t a secret that Victoria enjoyed taking money from the patrons that gambled at Ayumu’s business. As long as she agreed not to rinse the entire house of its money, they had agreed to let her continue attending—for now. That being said, the nights that Victoria took a seat at the gambling tables were a night no-one but her looked forward to, because the (mainly) male patrons their knew their brothel money was going to be limited, which was her exact intention.

Fights weren’t exactly unheard of, Victoria had been around enough establishments of the same kind to know it, but Ware was usually composed, and that meant it was getting taken care of somehow.

She was returning from taking a cigarette break when she saw them—someone a short distance away at the end of the hall, tending to a man with blood trickling from an injury to the head. “I didn’t realise Ayumu hired such efficient medical staff.” She said, announcing herself.

[howellmaxen]

Working for Ayumu made the man feel sufficiently dirty. It's not the sex work or the gambling that really grated at him, though the patronage sometimes left more to be desired. No, it was the reminder of why he was still coming to these dens of ill repute. A moment of weakness in his past he regretted that was hung over his head like a dangling carrot to make him move forward. Except that carrot was a nuclear bomb that would ruin his life.

"Hired? That's an amusing word."

The gentleman, if he could call him that, was a whiny fellow, intent on not scaring his oh so beautiful face. Howell would wager, it was likely he didn't want to have his wife investigate how he got a wound to the head, if the golden band on his finger meant anything. Looking up he was so startled he almost stuck his patience. Ethereal. That would be the word that came to mind when he looked at her, though at the time many words did not come.

"My apologies, we aren't using any sedative, were the moans bothering you?"

[spiritvw]

The neat click of Victorias heels — or rather, the illusion she created of them — came to a slow stop in front of the doctor. “What would you call it?” She asked him. She hadn’t seen an emergency vehicle outside and she could only assume from his lack of uniform that he wasn’t performing treatment officially. She could have been wrong, but when concerning Ayumu and his business, she doubted it.

The spirit barely spared a glance at the wounded man, whose whimpers were making him sound thoroughly sorry for himself. “If the sound of moans bothered me, I doubt I would find myself in a brothel.” She pointed out to him, passing her dark eyes over the handsome features of the man’s face.

“What’s your name?” Victoria asked, most people lied, but it didn’t matter. “You sound as though you find yourself here often, yet somehow I’ve never seen you before.”

[theworldisabrokenbonebutitishome]

[spiritvw]

“Maybe.” Jia responded sadly. It had been the whole reason for her marriage to Matthew in the first place, an unspoken agreement between the pair to keep each other safe and provide a cover, while their hearts and desires lay elsewhere. It was the best they could hope for. Jia could only look at Joanna with longing and wish she could have more than just fleeting moment with her, something real, where she didn’t have to let her go, or worry that someone might find them at any moment.

“I’ll have to talk to him more. See if he’ll be amiable to the idea. I’m not sure who would believe it after today…” Her fingertips brushed away the remainder of her own tears, only to find Joanna doing the same to her own. “Please don’t cry,” She said softly, squeezing her hand, “I don’t like to see you upset. I will be fine… you don’t need to worry about me. I’m sorry that I came to your set… I… I just wanted to take the opportunity to maybe get a glimpse of some of your scenes.” She admitted, colour rising in her fair cheeks, “Call me impatient for the premier.” She pushed a small smile. Even if she didn’t much feel like smiling, she didn’t want to hinder Joanna’s final day of filming with her own fears and worries.

[detectivejdarling]

Joanna gave a small shake of her head. “Married couples fight. Weddings aren’t smooth sailing only—especially toward the end.” It was true, even if she wasn’t entirely sure who she was trying to convince anymore. “There’s always going to be someone who doubts your version of the story,” she added, quieter now, “but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying to convince the rest.”

“I always worry about you,” Joanna cut in, her frustration slipping through before she could soften it. She drew Jia’s hand up, pressing a brief, lingering kiss to her knuckles. “He just makes me so mad.”

Her gaze lingered there a moment before lifting again, something gentler settling in. “You didn’t have to come over,” she said. “You’ve got your own set, your own chaos to deal with, and you still…” She trailed off, the rest left unspoken but clear in the way her expression softened. A faint smile curved at her lips, more fond than amused. “I like that you did.”

Her thumb shifted slightly against Jia’s hand, absent and grounding. “I keep thinking how much easier this would be if we were on the same shoot again,” she admitted after a beat, glancing briefly toward the trailer door. “Same call times, same sets… no sneaking around corners just to get five minutes.” Her eyes flicked back to Jia then, something more honest breaking through. “Feels a little stupid now… the opportunity I wasted last time. Putting your job at risk like that, just because I was scared.”

Jo exhaled softly, caught in that in-between space where she knew she would have to leave soon, but didn’t want to. “They’ll come looking for me in a minute,” she said, her voice lower now, grounded in the reality waiting just outside. She paused momentarily. “Listen… I know everything’s kind of up in the air right now, but…” She drew her teeth across her bottom lip, holding Jia’s gaze, uncertainty flickering beneath the surface. “What happens after today?” Another beat passed before she continued, much quieter this time. “Do I get to see you again?”

[spiritvw]

The kiss against her knuckles made her heart flutter. It seemed silly, that the simplest of things could draw such a reaction out in her. It was even sadder still that she couldn’t be open about the way Joanna made her blush, the way her heart thumped every time she saw her, or the way her knees felt wobbly when they kissed. She wanted more of her, always, and couldn’t have her. “He creates that response in many.” She tried her hand at humour, because it was all she could do.

“I wanted to… I look forward to seeing you and your work, you’re very talented.” Jia confessed, “Even if it is only seeing you for a moment or two.” The seamstress swallowed, “It doesn’t matter, I understand… you needed to protect yourself and you were probably doing the right thing for us both… even if I wish you didn’t have to.” There was a quiet, lingering sadness, one that only worsened when Joanna mentioned leaving. The possibility of not seeing her after this twisted in her gut. Not only might she lose what she had with Matthew, but was this going to be the end of the only true attraction she’d felt in her life too? Gone before it had started? “I’d like to. See you again,” She responded far too urgently, making her cheeks grow redder still. “If you want to, that is… we could… maybe we could—“ She paused, self conscious and vulnerable, “Meet somewhere quiet… go away. Just us…” It was soft, hopeful, but also full of fear she might get rejected.

[spiritvw]

Victoria watched as Jo’s fingers closed around her arm. Suddenly their automatic fallback of alcohol was taken out of the picture and for some reason Victoria felt a fleeting moment of relief, before it was replaced by the overwhelming notion of being out of her depth. She analysed people’s emotions and actions every day, yet Jo somehow kept her feeling clueless, made useless by her own emotions.

Fingers found Jo’s hand, sliding between the gaps of the other woman’s to guide her towards the sofa by the unlit fire. She sunk down into it, hoping Jo would follow suit. “We don’t have to talk.” She reassured her. “We can just… sit.” She said softly. She didn’t know if Jo wanted to be touched, if she wanted encouragement, if she wanted to be left alone, if she just wanted Victoria to fill the void for a moment so that she wasn’t alone. It didn’t need to be understood. Her hand was still in hers and Victoria’s thumb grazed the skin at the back of her hand. She relaxed back into the sofa cushions, letting her gaze follow to the city skyline. Its lights twinkled against the dark sky, reflecting off the water of the docks. She didn’t speak, but eventually tightened her hold on Jo’s hand, holding her steady.

[detectivejdarling]

Jo followed Victoria without resistance, the distance that had seemed so insurmountable seconds ago closing easily as she let herself be led to the sofa. She sank down beside her, her gaze dropping to their intertwined hands. To the way their fingers fit, the way Victoria’s thumb moved idly over her knuckles. Jo tracked it without meaning to, her focus narrowing, the rest of the room fading at the edges. The motion was small, repetitive, steady enough that it started to pull her under, thoughts slipping further out of reach with each pass.

She didn’t want to fall asleep. Couldn't. Not here. Not like this.

Her eyes stayed open a second too long, then blinked slower, heavier. The pressure of Victoria’s hand tightening around hers pulled her back just enough to register, and Jo exhaled quietly, something in her giving in with it. She sank lower into the cushions, her shoulder settling more firmly against Victoria’s before her head followed, tipping over to rest there. Her eyes slipped shut, her weight settling a fraction more, tension easing out of her in slow increments as she let herself lean into her. Her breathing evened out, quieter now, falling into an unintentional rhythm with the movement against her hand as she began to drift off.

It caught her off guard when her body jerked lightly, a small, involuntary start as she tipped too far, awareness snapping back just long enough to register where she was. Her fingers tightened around Victoria’s for a brief second. “Sorry,” she muttered, more breath than word, but her eyes slipped shut again before she could stop them.

[spiritvw]

Victoria felt the weight of Jo’s head resting against her shoulder, the warmth of her body as it relaxed into her side—albeit with hesitation, but she didn’t blame her. The spirit waited patiently through each jolt of her body as Jo tried to remain awake, stubborn, as always. She kept hold of her hand through each hesitation to rest, slowly easing her thumb back and forth against the skin of her hand, that was still cold from the outside.

When she finally heard the rise and fall of her breath become slower, deeper, Victoria used her free hand to pull the throw blanket from the back of her sofa and cover Jo with it. She rest her head gently against the other woman’s, wondering what the morning would bring this time when she finally woke. Victoria would wait, somehow become comfortable in the mass of tulle and sequins she wore, in order to remain by her side. She didn’t sleep, not when she still couldn’t trust herself with her abilities and instead let thoughts consume her.

END.

[spiritvw]

For: @howellmaxen

Location: Ware

(Past thread)

It wasn’t a secret that Victoria enjoyed taking money from the patrons that gambled at Ayumu’s business. As long as she agreed not to rinse the entire house of its money, they had agreed to let her continue attending—for now. That being said, the nights that Victoria took a seat at the gambling tables were a night no-one but her looked forward to, because the (mainly) male patrons their knew their brothel money was going to be limited, which was her exact intention.

Fights weren’t exactly unheard of, Victoria had been around enough establishments of the same kind to know it, but Ware was usually composed, and that meant it was getting taken care of somehow.

She was returning from taking a cigarette break when she saw them—someone a short distance away at the end of the hall, tending to a man with blood trickling from an injury to the head. “I didn’t realise Ayumu hired such efficient medical staff.” She said, announcing herself.

[spiritvw]

For a moment, Victoria wasn’t sure what Jo needed. Whether it was the comfort of falling into their usual arrangement, or something else. When lips didn’t crash into her own and hands didn’t automatically find her waist and search for bare skin, Victoria at least felt like she knew where she was for a couple of seconds. If Jo wanted to talk, she could be that outlet for her.

“Yes… demon’s are quite good at that.” Victoria responded quietly. It didn’t hold any sense of admiration, or desire, just an acknowledgement. Victoria wasn’t going to pretend that the species used their powers for good very often. Whatever ‘good’ even meant. “Does he ask thing’s of you often?” Victoria asks. “You said you would do it all again… it must have been something very important to you for you to agree to his terms.” She observed. Perhaps the was stating the obvious, but Jo didn’t seem like the type to take things lightly.

Victoria moved from her spot and redirected towards the selection of spirits neatly collected on a brass bar cart close by. Feeling the brush of tulle against her skin, it felt ridiculous now to be dressed in such a fashion. “Would you like something?”

[detectivejdarling]

As Victoria began to move through her apartment, Jo remained in the doorway. Everything in her felt off—like someone had taken her apart and reassembled her wrong, not quite remembering where the pieces used to fit. Her chest felt too tight, her limbs too heavy, her thoughts slipping in and out of place faster than she could catch them. The adrenaline from earlier had burned through, and what it left behind made the room feel distant at the edges, like she was only half in it.

She let Victoria's questions linger longer than she should have. She had already said too much—lured by the idea of someone other than him knowing her. Feeling she owed Victoria at least that much. It was more honest than she had been with anyone in a long time and yet it still wasn't the whole truth. Because the whole truth would include telling Victoria that her bones ached with the absence of him, her chest a hollow, carved out space when he wasn't with her. That she only ever felt whole in his presence anymore. That a part of her despaired at the very idea of no longer being tied to him. That he had become the air in her lungs underwater—and the hand holding her there.

So instead of answering, she said nothing and watched Victoria move away from her. That, more than anything, seemed to sharpen the distance between them. Turn something felt into something observable. Jo tracked her without meaning to, gaze following the line of her movement toward the bar cart, and something in her chest dipped in a way that didn’t feel entirely steady.

She didn’t want a drink. The thought alone made her stomach turn slightly, her head already too full, too loose at the edges. She didn’t want questions either, not ones that asked her to dig any deeper than she already had.

She just—wanted her.

The thought sat there, familiar and unwelcome in equal measure, but Jo pushed herself off the door before she could think too hard about it. The movement felt slower than it should have, like wading through molasses, but she crossed the space anyway, closing at least part of the distance that had opened up between them. Her hand found Victoria’s arm before she could second-guess it, fingers settling there with a light pressure, enough to stop her but not enough to hold her in place.

“Don’t,” she said quietly, the word coming out softer than she intended. Neither sharp, nor demanding. Just tired. There was a brief pause, like she might try to explain it, soften it into something more acceptable, but she didn’t have it in her to dress it up into anything else. “Can we just—” Her voice faltered for a second, not from emotion so much as from the strain of trying to pin down something that refused to sit still. Jo exhaled, a small, uneven breath, and tried again. “Sit. For a bit.” Her hand hadn’t moved from Victoria’s arm, though the grip had eased without her noticing, more an anchor than a restraint now. Her gaze flickered up, worn thin in a way that left very little space for anything else.

“I don’t want to talk anymore.”

[spiritvw]

Victoria watched as Jo’s fingers closed around her arm. Suddenly their automatic fallback of alcohol was taken out of the picture and for some reason Victoria felt a fleeting moment of relief, before it was replaced by the overwhelming notion of being out of her depth. She analysed people’s emotions and actions every day, yet Jo somehow kept her feeling clueless, made useless by her own emotions.

Fingers found Jo’s hand, sliding between the gaps of the other woman’s to guide her towards the sofa by the unlit fire. She sunk down into it, hoping Jo would follow suit. “We don’t have to talk.” She reassured her. “We can just… sit.” She said softly. She didn’t know if Jo wanted to be touched, if she wanted encouragement, if she wanted to be left alone, if she just wanted Victoria to fill the void for a moment so that she wasn’t alone. It didn’t need to be understood. Her hand was still in hers and Victoria’s thumb grazed the skin at the back of her hand. She relaxed back into the sofa cushions, letting her gaze follow to the city skyline. Its lights twinkled against the dark sky, reflecting off the water of the docks. She didn’t speak, but eventually tightened her hold on Jo’s hand, holding her steady.

[spiritvw]

After finding her on that first night, Victoria hadn’t wanted to let her go. It felt like finally there was something inside her that wanted something more than just to float aimlessly around the island, killing time, waiting, hoping, for the end to come swiftly. Now she felt butterflies and warmth, she smiled often and somehow felt like she was coming home when it was to Jo.

Victoria had returned to her group to let them know where she had been and that she would be spending more time away, but that she would still return to help satiate the need for blood. It wasn’t abandonment, it was Victoria grasping at the chance for some happiness.

Victoria stopped as Jo did, pressing her back to the cold wall. “They’ve grown bored of the busy areas. Too many tourists.” She replied with some dark humour, but her smile faded when Jo swayed on her feet. Victoria’s brow furrowed and she looked over the damp collar of Jo’s T-shirt and the sheen on her forehead. “Hey,” She said softly, her hands moving to her waist to bring her closer, “Are you okay?”

[detectivejdarling]

Jo let out a shaky breath, forcing herself to stand a little straighter despite the tremor in her legs. “I’m fine…,” she said, her voice rough but intentionally light, “just a little winded.” She offered Victoria a smile meant to reassure, though it faltered at the edges, strained and uneven. Her hands reached for Victoria almost on instinct, curling at her elbows for balance as well as comfort. “You… you didn’t see that sprint, did you?” she added, laughing softly to cover the hitch in her chest.

As Victoria’s hand brushed over the damp, faintly clingy fabric at her side—and just barely over the bite hidden beneath her shirt—Jo’s breath hitched, a subtle wince flickering across her features. She leaned further into Victoria, letting her weight press close as if it could ease the sharp edge of pain crawling through her veins. A quick shake of her head masked the moment. “It’s nothing,” she murmured, tone still light but uneven, “really… I just need a sec.”

[spiritvw]

Victoria wanted to be comforted by the idea that Jo was merely winded from a fast paced sprint, but she knew her and she knew when she was diverting. “You’re not fine…” She said gently but insistently, all the while she was praying, hoping that she was just over-worrying, that she’d forgotten what it was to be human. But she felt the moisture at the tips of her fingers, the dark blood stain that had begun to flourish on the dirty fabric of her clothes. “Jo…” she breathed, dread creeping into her voice. “Let me look at you, did you catch yourself on something?” Her words were coming fast, hoping at any moment she’d be told it was something fixable, something, anything, but the worst.

Victoria glanced around them, scouting the area around them for the undead whilst she brought her backpack around to her front, burrowing into its contents for scraps of fabric for bandages, any remnants of antiseptic that hadn’t already been used, the denial coming thick and fast. “We can rest here a moment, let me look at you.”

[spiritvw]

Can we get out of here?

It was enough for her. The demand for answers had left her and given way to something else.

“Come on.” She said, her voice gentle but sure— perhaps more sure than Victoria felt in herself — and she began to lead them away from their spot in the forest. She couldn’t even recall why she had ended up out there in the first place, but now it didn’t matter. They didn’t return to the party, instead the spirit led them from the Sacred Glen and found them transport to her home back in the Shipyard.

The door closed behind them, her keys settled in the bowl by the door and the apartment a perfect image of the illusion she had created, except the fire wasn’t burning. Victoria turned to Jo now, not knowing what would happen from here.

“Everything’s okay when you’re here.” Victoria reassured her, even if it wasn’t, even if Jo didn’t believe there was anything that Victoria could do fix things.

[detectivejdarling]

Jo didn’t say much on the way to Victoria’s apartment. The quiet settled in around them, heavier now that the buzz of the festival was gone, and with it came everything else Jo had been holding at bay. The cold, the lights, the music—Christmas had a way of digging its hooks in whether she wanted it to or not. By the time they reached Victoria’s place, the exhaustion had caught up to her properly, sinking into her bones in a way that made it hard to tell where the night ended and the rest of it began.

There had been a moment, somewhere between the Sacred Glen and the door, where she’d almost reached for Victoria’s hand. But then she hadn’t dared to. It felt like too much—like all she ever did was take and take and take, without knowing how to give anything back that didn’t come at a cost.

The door shut behind them with a quiet finality, and Jo lingered just inside, eyes flicking briefly over the space before settling on Victoria again. At the spirit’s reassurance, she gave a small, almost automatic nod. Her gaze dropped, drifting somewhere off to the side as if she could avoid the weight of the words that way, before she forced herself to look back at her.

A quiet breath slipped past her lips. “I don’t know what he looks like,” she said at last, voice low, steadier now in a way that came from distance rather than calm. A faint, derisive huff followed. “I’m not even sure I know his name.” Her head shook once, small but certain. “I never know when he’ll show up next. Or which face he’ll wear.” The words sat heavy between them, stripped of anything dramatic—and Jo couldn’t help but wonder if Victoria remembered. The dream she'd witnessed. Darkness, wearing a familiar face.

Jo held her gaze then, something sharp but broken flickering through the exhaustion. “But I know that I owe him.” A beat. “That he owns me.” Her jaw tightened, just slightly. “And I’ll do whatever he asks.”

[spiritvw]

For a moment, Victoria wasn’t sure what Jo needed. Whether it was the comfort of falling into their usual arrangement, or something else. When lips didn’t crash into her own and hands didn’t automatically find her waist and search for bare skin, Victoria at least felt like she knew where she was for a couple of seconds. If Jo wanted to talk, she could be that outlet for her.

“Yes… demon’s are quite good at that.” Victoria responded quietly. It didn’t hold any sense of admiration, or desire, just an acknowledgement. Victoria wasn’t going to pretend that the species used their powers for good very often. Whatever ‘good’ even meant. “Does he ask thing’s of you often?” Victoria asks. “You said you would do it all again… it must have been something very important to you for you to agree to his terms.” She observed. Perhaps the was stating the obvious, but Jo didn’t seem like the type to take things lightly.

Victoria moved from her spot and redirected towards the selection of spirits neatly collected on a brass bar cart close by. Feeling the brush of tulle against her skin, it felt ridiculous now to be dressed in such a fashion. “Would you like something?”