Do you know what the trouble with having more money than you’ll ever be able to spend is? Tedium. It is finding a way to fill the void. That’s where performing comes into play for Valentine. It was an occupation that kind of fell into her lap after her father was sent to prison. Entangled and affiliated with the Irish Mafia, it was known throughout the Knightly clan that certain people and specific dealings went without mention. No whispering of deeds done in the smoking-room of their lavish home. No commenting on the deviant men and women hiding away in the guest room, coated in dry crimson.
Edward Knightly had taken one for the team and confessed to brutal corruptions, some of which were his, others that belonged to those more influential than he. But at the end of the day, blood was blood, and this was his cross to bear. The arrest of her father devastated Valentine, leaving the poor little rich girl with yet another void in which she attempts to fill.
Valentine is a Natural Redhead.
Comes in at a whopping 5′3
New York Born and Raised.
A daddy’s girl through and through, she makes it a priority to visit him once a week and is in charge of putting money on his books.
If her father going away has taught her anything, it’s that time is precious and you better not waste it. She will hold it against you if you toy around with her time.
Working isn’t something Valentine needs to do, she thinks of it more so as a hobby.
Valentine is extremely flirty and promiscuous but finds it difficult to create a genuine connection with her lovers due to intimacy issues.
Her relationship with her mother is quite strained because she’s very much into the cause and stands behind the Irish Mafia and is willing to do her part if asked. (Secretly struggles with this because they allowed him to take the fall)
Valentine is engaged to her longtime boyfriend. It's very much a picture perfect, planned-out (we don't use the word: arranged around here) marriage. One of power and opportunity. Not love.
She’s incredibly spontaneous and reckless.
Flattery will take you far with Valentine.
Valentine is the poster child for being a party girl, drinking, drugs, and staying out till the sunrises.
irina: i know but
irina: a lot of complicated shit happened right before he died and i don't know
irina: it's all so much, val. why the fuck is this all happening
irina: i know, everyone's trying. and mourning. and scared. that's also why i feel weird about everyone reaching out and worrying about me. as if the city isn't falling apart and everyone doesn't have their own shit to worry about
irina: i promise, i will. but same goes for you, okay? i'm serious. don't act like i'm the only one who lost him. you lost him too, and you deserve support. i care about you the same way you do me and i want to help however i can
irina: yeah, kinny i can trust. i'm safe here, i promise
Valentine: Complicated is in our blood. It always will be... But that will never change the fact that he loved you, Irina. Don't let anything cloud that.
Valentine: I don't know... A few months ago, I thought this Veil thing was a joke... Instead, we've been consumed with despair ever since.
Valentine: Everyone channels grief differently. Some smother. Some lock away. Others refused to acknowledge their feelings... And even though I don't have an iota of the pain you must feel, I am here for you. Day. Night. Whenever. You have my number.
Valentine: Many people lost him, little Rina. But I want to support you. That's what I care about in this moment.
Valentine: If that changes, or you need an escape, you know I will help in any way. I love you.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” Vincent replied with a soft chuckle, half grinning as he watched her. He never actually thought that this would be happening when he suggested it, honestly he thought it was just a silly little idea. He never thought that she would take him serious, because why would she? Especially over this. He looked down at the designs he had chosen, flipping from one to the other, suddenly second guessing himself. What if she hated them? What if he didn’t really know her style like he thought he did? That thought made him a little nervous for some reason and all they were doing was showing each other potential ideas.
“Fair.” His gaze flickered down to her phone for a second, then up to her, “you wanna do this at the same time? No. No we should maybe do one shows and then the other shows, huh? That makes the most sense.” He laughed a bit, nodding to her phone. “Ladies first.”
Was this an absolutely ludicrous idea? Without a doubt. Never had she considered tainting her temple in such a manner, yet, when Vinny tossed out the outlandish thought, she couldn't help but latch onto it. Would her mother be utterly disappointed in her? She could only hope.
Watching as Vincent babbled on, Valentine had a hard time comprehending whether he was simply nervous or buzzing with excitement, as she was. Perhaps it was a dash of both.
"Okay… But you can't laugh at either of my designs, okay?" Ivory visiously devours her lower lip, her phone lifted to offer up her first creation. "I was thinking something like THIS-" Holding out her cell to him, a delicate finger swiped across the screen to offer up a similar choice. "-or THIS."
Laughter cut low, smooth as whiskey poured neat, his hand closing around hers with an ease that made the gesture feel inevitable. He gave a light tug, guiding her toward the stalls, steps unhurried like he had all night to peel back those careful layers she liked to wrap herself in.
“No promises about dinner, sweetheart,” he murmured, that wolfish grin tugging at his mouth as the range door swung shut behind them, “but keep proving you can handle what I put in your hands, and maybe I’ll even spring for dessert.”
The space hummed empty around them—no voices, no eyes, no audience but the two of them. Just the echo of their boots against concrete and the faint bite of gunpowder clinging to the air. Alexie lifted her hand again, brushing his lips across her knuckles before releasing her, trading that fleeting softness for something sharper.
“First things first,” he said, drawing the compact pistol from the case and setting it down in front of her like an offering. His eyes caught the ruby of her dress under the harsh lights, and for a heartbeat his smirk softened—then it was gone, swallowed back into that easy charm. “I didn’t hand you this beauty so it could sit in a bag looking pretty. You’re gonna learn her weight, her bite, and how to make her sing when you tell her to.”
Stepping in behind her, his presence deliberate, he adjusted her stance with a light touch at her hips, a hand guiding her elbow. The rasp of his voice curved against her ear, velvet wrapped around steel. “Now—feet planted, grip firm. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll keep you steady.”
His grin returned, dark and indulgent, as he leaned back enough to catch her profile. “Besides… you said it yourself. You love proving me wrong. Let’s see if you can do it with a loaded weapon in your hands.”
Digits intertwine as if it were as natural as the air in their lungs, delicate meeting severe—silk enveloped in steel. They float through the empty range as if they possess it; the only sounds are the tapping of their boots and the whirr of fluorescent lights overhead. It was a daunting melody that had her soul drumming with anticipation.
A gentle titter slips past strawberry petals, her head shaking. "As if we both didn't already have an idea for dessert."
Warm lips caress her knuckles, forcing the whisper of a genuine smile twitching at the intersection of her mouth. It was as if, ever since their time together on the yacht, the air between them had diverted, curling in something unexplored. Something unknown.
A wicked little grin finds her features, offering up a nod as the tip of her nose crinkles. "Hmm, amusing… You make her sound like me." Moving into position, she allows him to put her into place, her frame leaning back into him, feeling the heated, jagged edges of his body against hers. "-except me both know I only sing when I desire to do so."
Planting her heels along the mat beneath, manicured fingers encase the pistol, metal gleaming along with the sparkle of her painted nails. A frigid quiver slithers up the length of her spine as his breath brushes tauntingly against her ear. There is a mix of scents: the sweet kiss of her custom fragrance, the harsh bite of his cologne, and the bitter sting of gunpowder. It was intoxicating. "Awe, once again, my Dark Knight." Valentine teases, before shifting her focus.
Alexie's challenge merely doused the fire within her, setting it ablaze. She was accustomed to being underestimated and misjudged. But at the end of the day, she was her father's daughter, a Knightly through and through, and a challenge? That wasn't something she'd back down from.
Her dark gaze focuses on the target in the distance, recalling his words from the boat, as well as the hum of instructors online, and the observations noted in books. With a gentle inhale, she tugs the trigger, her body stumbling back slightly. Unfortunately, the bullet connects with the bottom of the cutout of an assailant. With a tantrum of disappointment, her frame shifts, knees bending somewhat as her legs spread, and she's now posed in a fighter's stance.
Strengthening her grip, her gaze zones in on the attacker's neck, inhaling once more before tapping the trigger. The echoing boom penetrates the chamber as her bullet pierces through the air, making contact with the paper, ripping through the top of his body, right where his neck meets his chest.
avery was someone who meant everything to him. it was the entire reason he ended things with her in the first place. henry wanted to protect her, and evidently, his efforts had all been for nothing. she was taken, and, given that video sent to everyone, he feared the worst outcome imaginable. his hands were unsteady, and his mind was far from clear. he just knew he needed to do something that wouldn't end up with him behind bars. going to valentine felt like a safe and smart choice. he knew it was stupid, that sleeping with her wasn't going to solve any of his problems, but it was still better than the alternative.
seeing her underwater like that, it was agonizing. there might've been other people he could've talked to, people who would understand his fears and his pain, but henry didn't want to talk. he wanted to feel numb, wanted to distract himself from all thoughts of the blonde, and this was the only method he knew would be effective without landing himself into hot water or putting himself in an uncomfortable position emotionally. he would deal with feeling shitty about himself as a person in the morning. for the time being, he just needed to stop his mind from screaming at him.
henry didn't think she would turn him away, but he was relieved that she did welcome him in. he knew that he didn't need to explain things to her, and he was glad that she could understand the purpose of his visit. perhaps if he'd been in a better mood, he might've taken her up on her offer for a drink, but alcohol was not on his mind that night. he probably would've made even worse decisions if he did take her up on it. he shook his head in response and cleared his throat. “ no drinks for me, ” he managed to get the words out.
his gaze remained fixated on valentine. she knew how to have a good time, she would give him the perfect distraction for a fleeting moment, and maybe, just maybe, the storm brewing in his mind would calm, even if it was just slightly. when it came to the redhead, they didn't need to talk, especially not about their lives. that was what henry liked so much about her. “ bedroom, ” he stated decisively. a body of water was the last place he wanted to be near, and he was sure that much didn't need to be said. he stepped closer to her, hands finding their way to her hips.
Bedroom. The distance between them became non-existent as his grip found her hips. Reflected in his gaze, she could see his suffering. Torment of feeling misplaced. Ineffective in a situation where he had zero authority. It was an agonizing position to be trapped in, bars locking you in, forcing you to suffer through endless emotions of despair.
Valentine had been there, ensnared in a web of anguish and self-loathing. Each thread digs deeper into your flesh until it feels like nothing is left but the hollow shell of what once was.
And that's where he lay—chained and bound by the realization that fate was out of his hands.
Palms press against his chest, cautiously gliding up his frame, before delicately wrapping an arm over his shoulder, digits slipping into the locks at the nape of his neck. Leaning up on the tips of her toes, her lips find his in an almost painful kiss. He wasn't the only one with a mind plagued with immutable chaos. Just as he longed to make the world stop spinning, she coveted the same thing. And in this moment, they would allow one another to use each other for an escape.
With delicate steps back, fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him along with her as she maneuvered them towards her chamber. Her mouth moves with deliberate motions, tasting, commanding, but leaving room for him to take complete control if that was the release he craved.
With a few messy steps and muffled giggles, they entered her space, the faint metropolis lights twinkling below through the windows. Taking a step away from him, her wounded gaze finds his, as her shoulders shimmy, allowing her robe to pool in a pile of silk at her feet, leaving her in a rosy nightgown. Approaching once more, Valentine peers at him through thick lashes, her hands moving to settle under the fabric of his shirt, gently forcing it along his frame, digits caressing his heated skin.
Vivi would be lying to herself if a part of her didn't miss the redhead. Not that she would say that out loud. Valentine had been by her side through the difficult shit in life. It was odd not to have her here, even when she was mad at her. As she stepped into Valentine's home, she slightly gave her a nod in acknowledgment. Vivi wasn't one for many words. But she wanted to talk.
"So I don't like rumors, you know that. I would rather hear from the source than believe something as stupid as hearsay. Vinny said you argued with my brother." She paused to gauge a reaction. "What about?" for Valentine to snap at him, that was saying something.
Copper brows furrow before she grumbles under her breath. "Dammit, Vinny..." Arms crossed along her chest as though she were attempting to safeguard herself from giving any emotions away. "It was nothing of any concern." The redhead assures her, offering up a slight shrug.
"It was a little quarrel, and now it's been dealt with..." Had it? Things were left bitter, angry... and they hadn't spoken since.
"Truly, V, it's not a big deal."
The range’s harsh fluorescent light catching on ruby lips and a dress that looked like it belonged under chandeliers, not bullet casings. His mouth curved, not quite a smile, not quite a smirk—more like the kind of expression a man wore when he couldn’t decide if he was amused, impressed, or just plain intrigued.
“Well, shit,” he drawled, letting his eyes roam deliberately slow, making no secret of it. Black tank clung to his frame, jeans sitting easy on his hips, casual in theory—though with the cut of his shoulders and the sharp line of his jaw, he looked like he’d stepped out to break hearts, not break in targets. “If I knew we were playin’ dress-up, I’d have brought the suit outta retirement. Hell, maybe even a tie, just to keep up with you.”
He stepped closer, scent of gun oil mixing with the faint trace of her perfume, head cocked with mock-consideration. “Course, I’m not complainin’. I like the view just fine.” His voice dipped into that smoke-smooth cadence, words curling like they had their own weight.
Alexie plucked the compact mirror gently from her hand, snapped it shut with a flick, and tucked it back into her palm. “Warpaint, huh?” His eyes held hers, steady, edged with something that looked almost like recognition. “Guess that makes tonight somethin’ a little more than target practice.”
The corner of his mouth tugged up, razor-sharp wit glinting under the lazy delivery. “Good news is, sweetheart, I don’t waste time. Bad news? You just invited me to see what you’re really made of. Hope you’re ready to prove me wrong.”
Her smile imperils to heighten, but Valentine deliberately plays it off as if she wasn't daunted by his taunting words and shamelessly scouting eyes. If anything, the redheaded wetdream thrived under the heat of his gaze. She always had. "Hmm, you think this is dress-up? No, no, silly boy. This is simply how a genuine lady presents herself, though, I'm sure with the riffraff you keep as company, it can be hard to comprehend."
With a graceful pause, her head tilts slightly to the side, eyes glistening in the light of the range, as she returns the favor, unabashedly skimming him over. It was everlastingly vexing that someone could look just as mouthwatering in clothes, as well as without, yet Alexie was like her very own, walking, talking Adonis. Chisiled to perfection. And by the Gods, it was irksome. "Oh, I know you do. Hadn't you peeped what color I'm sporting?" It was only his favorite.
Clasping her delicate hand around the compact, she reaches up with her free hand, the tapered nail at the tip of her pointer finger brushing along the underbelly of his chin, as if beckoning him closer. "Save the flattery and flirtation for when you take me out later-" Had that been discussed? Absolutely not. But now? Now it was expected. "-for now, I want you to show me how to use the shiny little weapon you gifted me." Her talon gently scrapes against his chin before dropping to her side.
"Plus, I think we are both acquainted with the notion," With a dramatic twist, she pivots away from him, captaining towards the venue. "that there's nothing I love more than proving you wrong."
After the heartache, the drinking, the hiding away, Valentine longed for something reckless, foolish, even. Something completely outside the realm of what she would do on her own. And as always, Vinny came through with the most outrageous concept during a movie night together.
"Okay, are you ready?" The redhead questions, offering a peaked brow from behind her phone.
"We get one veto each. If we don't like each other's first idea, we get to see the second one. Fair?" Valentine smirks to herself, having both designs ready. Her first offering would be utterly ludicrous, but amusing to share nonetheless.
irina: val, come on. i know how much you and levi fucking mean to each other. you've gotta be just as much of a mess right now as me
irina: really. how are you?
irina: that's why i love you, you always know just what to do. because yeah it was kinda overwhelming and intimidating at first
irina: all the texts and condolences and i can barely even process what happened
irina: thanks, really. i'm actually staying with my friend kinny for a bit. she kinda clocked that i shouldn't really be alone right now. so.
Valentine: Just as I'm aware how much you mean to him. He loves you, Irina. He loves you. I pray to the Gods, that you know that.
Valentine: Please, dollface, worry about how you're doing. I'm a tough cookie. Let me be that for you, okay?
Valentine: I don't think people understand how.. to deal with things like this. They tend to smother instead of truly help. They mean well, sure, but sometimes it's simply too much.
Valentine: If you need some time to shut the world out, please, do so. Just shoot me a text, alright?
Valentine: Kinny? That's Vinny's ex, no? [DELETED]
Valentine: Do you trust her? Is it safe for you there? You know I worry, you're my sister, Rina.
For: @valentinexhart
Characters: Vivi + Val
Closed starter
After texting Vinny on the phone, she headed over to Val's place. Whatever had happened, she didn't know, but for both Val and Neo to argue with one another. She didn't like it. So the brunette went to the redhead's apartment, knocking on her door. She texted her too.
Valentine's stomach sank the moment the message came through her phone. After all that had happened between her and Viv as well as Neo, the redhead wasn't looking forward to the conversation that was about to unfold.
Approaching the door, she carefully offers her entry, stepping aside to allow her to enter. "It's good to see you, Vivi..." The words ring honest and true, despite how things had unfolded during their last chat.
"Happy to see you're well."
levi paused at her question. shrinking back into the corner of her penthouse, thinking it was the only thing that could protect him from the rest of the world right now. she was hitting him with questions that he hadn't even thought of yet or in years. levi was watching his walls that he built up so high, crumbling brick by brick. he's discovering relying too much on one person makes him weak. it's why he stepped away from oz's life for a while. why he thought they needed a break. he let's his shoulder lean against the wall as he wraps his arms around himself almost protectively. like he is trying to brace himself for the impact of these answers, he was still trying to process in his head. "i had loved him. once." he bites the bottom of his lip so hard that it looks like it could bleed. he looks away from her. "but--- but i know after tonight, i don't anymore." he swallows nervously, his adams apple bobbing up at down. "i'm trying to love her-- i was getting so close, so close to telling her. it seems like life is ripping me away from that. val-- i have to tell her who oz is now." his deep midnight blue eyes look at her as he anxiously rubs the back of his neck. "she--- she can't be finding out from someone else about this. especially not right now. not when she's vulnerable."
Witnessing Levi in such a state of despair, fear, heartache... It sent distress rippling through every bone in her body. The way he shrank away into the corner like a frightened, wounded animal, the darkening of his gaze, the fidgeting of his hands. Years had gone by since the last time she'd seen him in such peril.
And for this moment, they were those very same young adults.
"Levi... you are capable of so much love. And I can't..." She couldn't fathom what he was tormented by. The truth that had come out. But she wouldn't ask.. She remembered that time. The boy. What it had done to Levi.
"You're trying... you're trying, and we both know that's what matters. Irina will understand. She won't judge you... You just have to be willing to expose yourself to her." Valentine longs to close the distance between them. To hold him again. But he needed to breathe. To swallow all the thoughts racing through his mind.
Alexie let out a low chuckle, the kind that said he wasn’t sure she knew what she was really asking for. His mind flicked—uninvited—back to the boat, to that cabin, to the silence between them that hadn’t felt like silence at all. He’d felt the shift long before then, maybe it was nothing, probably was, but either way he knew there was no rewinding the clock now.
Truth was, in this city, you either learned how to defend yourself—or you learned how to bleed. And more often than not, no one else was going to step in.
He leaned back against the couch, glass of the good scotch waiting at his side, the room heavy with the kind of quiet he liked best. A moment to savor before he typed out his reply.
Alexie: You want experience? Careful what you ask for—sometimes knowing the trick ruins the magic. Gentleman’s just good branding, Red . Keeps people guessing which hand I’m dealing with.
Alexie: But I’ll give you this much: satisfaction only comes to those who don’t blink when the mask slips. You think you’ve got the stomach for that, I’ll let you find out for yourself.
Alexie:Good. I hate waiting. Means I get to decide if I’m the one worth your time—or the mistake you can’t stop making.
Valentine: I'm far more capable than you're willing to give me credit for, but don't worry, handsome. There's nothing I love more than proving a man wrong.
Valentine: We both know I'm worth waiting for.
Valentine: Try not to miss me too much until then. xoxo
So much had transpired since their last conversation. Death. Agony. Confusion. It was like a toxic aura clinging to her soul. But as Valentine stood outside the shooting range, dressed as if she would be attending a cocktail dinner instead, she gazed at her reflection in the tiny compact mirror in her palm.
A smooth brush of ruby mapped the edges of plush lips. But the tube in her hand wasn't simply makeup. It was warpaint.
If she stood any chance of getting to the bottom of what occurred with Levi, she was going to have to put away the socialite facade and descend into the evil underworld of the city. The very same underbelly that left one of her best friends lying frigid in the streets, and her father behind bars.
"About time..." Valentine breathes, gazing through the bitty mirror at Alexie. "I was beginning to think you were going to waste my time."
sebastian : no one .
sebastian : yeah it was fun , got to see someone get sprayed with ketchup .
sebastian : good .
sebastian : sound yeah . safe ? not sure . feel like an ant going up against a kid with a magnifying glass .
Valentine: Oh? And I missed out on that? Pity.
Valentine: You should have found me. I had the pleasure of tossing my drink in some assholes face. It was very dramatic and therapeutic.
Valentine: As I feel like a caged hummingbird. How much longer do you imagine we'll feel like this?
Valentine: I have a very outrageous idea... but hear me out. We should do this... in person sometime. Wouldn't that be insane! ;)
Valentine: Are we risking tragedy? Absolutely. But what is life without a bit of risk?
Valentine: How dare you reach out to ME, right now?
Valentine: I wanted to allow you proper time to breathe... I can't imagine how many people are swarming you.
Valentine: Please know if you need a safe haven, my home is always yours, Little Rina.
he hates the way that she is saying his name over and over again, like he has heard her say his name more than his own family members who are dead and gone. "n-- n---- no he cannot be a loose thread." he says anxiously running his fingers through his hair. "he knows too much about me." he roars at the air--- not directly at her. and just like that his cheeks were red once again. when she says those words, you were the ex? he just nods letting his eyes blink as tears escape his eyes. "wh- wh- why would he hurt me like that when he knows eventually everyone in my life dies? it's like i have some sick fucking twist to midas' touch where everyone in my life dies or gets hurt? i'm tired. i'm fucking tired." he pulls away from valentine at that thought, furiously rubbing away the tears from his cheeks like they were battery acid. he turns his back to her, fingers interlinking on the base of his neck.
"he was my whole fucking world, how am i supposed to move on from this? i was just trying with irina, and i d-- d-d- don't know if i can now."
It was as if she were witnessing something so stunning and delicate, shattering into a million unbreakable pieces. Jagged shards of crystal trickling into a pile of glass that could never quite be put back together the same. This... this right here, is why she couldn't do love. It destroyed you.
With slow movement, she inches closer as he pulls away, fearful that he might attempt to escape as if some wounded, fearsome creature. "I don't know his reasoning... but maybe that's something you need to give him the opportunity to explain." If it was safe. But she bit back those words. "Don't. Don't think like that, Levi. It's not true." Watching him unravel was earthshattering, as though she was witnessing the aftermath of his uncle's passing all over again.
"Do you still love him?" The question slipped between cherry lips before she could contain them. But she stood firm behind the question.
"Do you love, Irina?" Her throat was thick, tight with the weight of her inquires. "Because both you and Irina deserve happiness... But not if it's coated in uncertainty."
