AlteredTundra

Edenridge

_{An @Aces Away, @LovelyComplex, & @metanoia Collaboration || Featuring The Lost Trio}
____________________________________________________________________________________________

As a Southie who had been in Juvie while the cheerleader- who seemed to enrapture every other group in the gym- died, Mordechai was immediately disinterested in the little audio-visual show that took place about her and her mysterious death. Ha, like there wasn't enough death in this town without throwing in mystery. Insert Jazz Hands here. But it obviously riled everyone else up enough to head to some locker that Danny Belmonte recognized the combo to.

Which. Stalk much? Why were Southies considered more fucked up again?

Shaking his head, Mordechai glared at the retreating backs before nodding at Poppy and Jade, still holding Poppy to his side like a lifeline. Likewise, he had a feeling he wasn't getting that hoodie back from her. Given the fact that it was his only other long sleeved piece of clothing he had aside from his old Serpent jacket, he was oddly okay with losing it.

"We lurkin' after them like the shadow creatures we are?" He asked with a small smirk, remembering how easy it was for the Southies to hide and jump out at unsuspecting Northie students, eliciting screams and jumps of impressive heights. Those times seemed so much more complicated, yet simpler in a way. He couldn't explain the twist of emotions he felt when he remembered those two and a half years he was out before Charlie snapped. The smirk he wore turned into a grimace and he turned his head away. "Looks like Belmonte was onto somethin'."

Jade peered her head in the direction of the fleeting mob of Northies, especially those who seemed especially affected by that show they were blessed/cursed (depending on which hill you stood on). But as noted by Decky’s less-than-enthused reaction, Jade also didn’t feel obligated to follow the herd of Northies. “Yeah, it seems like it,” she commented absentmindedly.

In true Poppy fashion, Decky would not be getting back his hoodie. With his hoodie resting on her shoulders, and Charlie’s hoodie hiding her frame, she felt completely and utterly safe. It felt like the two boys she loved the most were shielding her from what was to come and she liked that notion. She was able to press on, well, sorta, because Decky was still holding onto her tight. If they followed the group, he would have to release his grasp because walking in tandem with him as he squeezed her to death would end up being a difficult task at hand.

Squirming in his arms, Penelope looked between her friends and struggled her way out of the hold. Once she was in a standing position, she dropped down. After landing on a lower bench, Poppy took her friend’s hoodie off and tied it around her waist, stating her claim over it without saying it outloud. When the last of the northies trailed out, she turned on her heel to look at her best friends and scowled, “What the fuck does Charlie have to do with Francis’ locker?”

Her dark eyes burned with passion and determination, and if Jade, who had watched her friend’s journey, was paying close attention, she could see Penelope James changing right in front of her. Slowly but surely, the James girl was burying her grief and entering her anger phase. She was ready to face her demons head on and her friends could come join her or go fuck themselves. “If this is going to prove that Charlie didn’t lace Allison’s drugs, which he DIDN’T, we need to go. Allison was a sad girl who was scared to graduate. She knew there was nothing more waiting for her. She was at her peak. And that made her turn to drugs. But no. No one ever talks about that. All those motherfuckers—”

Poppy took a moment to gesture to the exit of the gym where every Northsider left from, putting an emphasis on all those that led to the deaths of many who attended Edenridge High. All those motherfuckers. They failed them. Everyone, including her, Decky, and Jade, failed them.

Them as in: Charlie, Allison, Maxine, Danny, Amanda, and all those that died that awful day— this whole damn school failed them. “—talked about the boy that gave the most popular girl drugs, putting all the blame on him. No one talks about the damage that girl went through. No one talks about WHY Allison turned to drugs.”

After her tangent, Poppy crossed her arms and expectantly looked at her friends to get off their asses so they could get to the bottom of this. She didn’t care who got hurt at this point, she needed answers and her friends could be with her or they can get out of her fucking way, “Well?”

Mordechai grinned and rolled his eyes as Poppy staked her official claim on his hoodie before he really tuned into what she was saying. She was right of course; everyone talked about Charlie like they knew him, talked about all the Southies like their lives were just a tv show for Northie entertainment, never mind whether the truth was in there or not. He had let Poppy go easily, quickly recognizing the girl getting riled up and knowing not to try and tame the energy. Poppy could always be damn terrifying when she wanted to, and it had taken Mordechai a little longer to learn than most. He's definitely learned by now.

"I ain't bout'a pretend that I care about that Allison girl," He spoke up, taking the first steps after pulling himself up off the bleachers. "but you're right, Street Angel, ain't nobody here allowed to put any more dirt on Hard Times' name, I-" his voice trembled before he cleared it, getting it back under control. "I failed him in high school, I wasn't the Brother I was supposed to be because I was too focused on consequences." he looked into the eyes of his girls, an apology there for them alongside the one for Charlie.

"Fuck consequences now. I'll take 'em all to get some damn clarity with him."

Both Decky and Poppy became fired up, something that she was particularly shocked to see in Poppy. Of course, the blonde knew her sister was adamant in getting to the bottom of this whole mystery. And of course, she wanted to know as well. That wasn’t what kept Jade from externally showing it. She couldn’t say what it was exactly.

But what she knew for certain was that, no matter how she was feeling internally, doing this for Charlie -- that is, finding out the truth and truly seeing if they could clear his name -- that’s what was most important. And as she stood up, looking between both Poppy and Decky once more, where a vulnerable loss of life had been present on Jade’s face and in her blue-green eyes, a sense of determination and conviction to see this through had taken its place. “For Charlie,” she found herself saying almost as a call to arms like she was Braveheart or some shit.

“For us.” Penelope gently corrected. While clearing the stains in Charlie’s name was a good motivator, she knew they all needed this. They needed closure so they could stop clinging to the past and all the guilt. This would be the first step in the right direction and it was time for Poppy to take the lead. And so she did. After rushing down the bleachers, she looked back at them and adjusted her face mask. As much as she wanted to get ahead of herself and run to the next clue, she knew she was just on an adrenaline high and who knows if being amongst the crowd once more would put her body through a state of shock. But at least… She had her friends and they had her.

Instead of going ahead, she waited for them to join her so she can latch onto them both once more, “Fuck consequences.” Poppy reiterated Decky’s words. Together, they could handle whatever was ahead of them. As long as they had each other, they would be fine. No matter how daunting the truth may be, together, they’d be okay.

Together.

"For us." Mordechai reiterated, following after Poppy with one last look to make sure Jade was also moving. The quick walk down the halls was silent, and Mordechai could feel himself tensing up and pulling ahead. He didn’t like the way the school felt, and he really didn’t like the moldy smell of the damp hallways; his throat was feeling tight and he could feel a migraine coming on. He wanted this night over already. He wanted to go curl up with Sonny in the Serpent’s Den at EoS, he wanted to beat the shit out of whoever was doing this, he wanted to catch up with Poppy and Jade and maybe even visit Danny’s grave. Maybe even visit Charlie’s.

He wanted to cry.

Instead, he and his girls made their silent way to the rest of the group that was huddled around a photo with an air of confusion, and he caught the last bit of conversation. Unable to quell his curiosity, Mordechai came up behind Jill and peered over her shoulder to see what was causing such a fuss.

"The fuck was your brother doing in a Serpent house, Callahan?" He spoke up from directly behind them, eyes sharp on the recognizable background in the photo. "Not for nothin’, but 13 Carlisle ain’t exactly a Northie-friendly residence."

Mass Effect: Kingslayer

Curiosity. Excitement. Paranoia (mild).

These mixed feelings clouded the Turian’s mind as he rode in the skycar, en route to the Bachjret District. And most of the journey was spent in his own head. He rewinded the message he received and how it was addressed to his full name. Only a select few knew he was on the Citadel. After you got set up by your own father and your whole unit was sent into a death trap, trust wasn’t in high demand and him being here was on a need-to-know basis. As far as Sivus was concerned, the only person who needed to know that Sivus Veritas was on the Citadel, working as a CI for C-Sec was Sivus Veritas.

So how did this person know? How could they have known who he was?

The first thought he had was this might be a trap. He considered that to be very likely, especially since he had fallen for it before. And since that fateful day on Omega, SIvus made it a personal mission of his to recognize the signs. But with this message, which he kept repeating in his head, didn’t indicate anything close to it being Family Betrayal 2: Citadel Boogaloo.

And that’s why he was riding in this skycar. And why he saw the Livilla Towers come into view.

Sivus decided the best way to find answers was to see what this was all about. If this was truly the day he was going to die, then it’s a good thing he wore his best armor and brought his pistol and assault rifle that had saved his ass more times than he can count on his hands.

“And we’re here, Tur-Clan.”

Sivus stared up at Kav-Esh, a volus. It was strange for him to see a volus be a skycar driver, but it wasn’t the strangest occurrence in his life. “Right on, uh --Kav-Esh, was it?”

Kav-Esh’s sigh of annoyance was echoed due to his suit and helm. “Correct, Tur-Clan.”

As a moment and a half of silence passed, Sivus scratched the back of his head until he decided to give his patient driver a tip almost twice what the meter said. It only seemed right since he was obviously rude to him. And he didn’t want word getting around that the new Turian on the block was cheap.

Okay, maybe he wasn’t new. He’s been to the Batia District a few times. Some Batarians knew him because his CI work frequently forced him into unsavory company, but he didn’t need to worry about running into them by the tower. It wasn’t like the Batarians he helped put away were getting released anytime soon. Right?

Right!

Sivus made his way through the entrance to the towers and, after a brief exchange with the man at the desk, a few moments spent in the elevator paled in comparison when the moment of truth had come.

When he entered the code on the console and the apartment door slid open, which had been around the same time that he heard someone shriek -- a human female’s voice by the sound of it -- screech worse than a Krogan battlecry (yes those are unpleasantly tolerable at most), Sivus just knew this was going to be fun.

“Guess the party’s in here,” Sivus noted with a smirk.

He gave the room a once-over. Between the Quarian, a bearded human, an attractive human female, and an Asari, he figured it was the unexpected delight in the Vorcha that seemed to be the source of that scream.

“Man just when I think I’ve seen it all.” He let his eyes scan the room and he felt an underwhelming feeling pass through his body. “Tiny place and a lot of people.” When he set his bags down, he cracked into a chuckle. “Name’s SIvus Ritas, by the way. I’m what you call a lifesaver. Need someone to break into a warehouse without being noticed? I’m your guy. Need someone to shoot pirates and other scummy criminals? I’m your guy. Need someone to get you so blacked-out drunk you can’t even remember where you are? Meet me at Haven and you’ll experience a good time that you never thought was possible.”

Post a random fact about yourself.

I am of the opinion that coffee is always best when it's sweet. And black.

Mass Effect: Vigil

@Gcold Not sure if I'll have the time to squeeze in an app or if I have the space for it, but I'll think about it.

Might go human biotic if I am able to think of a good enough concept.

Mass Effect: Kingslayer

Dossier: Sivus

Sivus Ritas

QUOTE "Ace in the hole!"

PROFILE Full Name: Sivus Veritas (not public knowledge). Date of Birth: March 22, 2155. Species: Turian Gender: Masculine Age: 28. Occupation: Bouncer for Chora's Den || CI for C-Sec Service Rank: Manditary service with the Turian Military → Part of the Cabal Vanguard Shock Troop Unit Profile: Cabal Vanguard Powers: Shockwave Barrier Lift Throw Belongings: Armax Arsenal Crossfire Assault Rifle Hahne-Kedar Kesler Pistol Custom-made Turian Vanguard Armor outfitted with biotic enhancing technology Role: Infiletration Specialist || General combat support || Effective morale booster

---

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE

Sivus is what you get when you combine the closest thing to Turian Royalty and being told he's meant for greatness and him actually believing it.

He comes from an acclaimed line of Cabals, with many of the male turians in his family being known for their impressive leadership and impressive combative skills. And for Sivus, he's always believed he's been destined for greatness, which may speak to the arrogance that flows through his body. and maybe that led him to be ignorant to how life will knock you on your ass, but that's never rocked his confidence. He's always maintained the notion that he is the best and when he served in the Turian Military, he proved it by outclassing most - if not all - of the same-year recruits.

He bleeds blue charisma. He can charm his way into or out of most situations (if he needs to). And this stems from the raw, almost suave nature that is on the surface almost at all times. Many call him obnoxious for the way he presents himself, but you can believe that every word that comes from his mouth is fully backed by him believing they are gospel.

Though he is a leader in every respect, when he wasn't promoted and was still serving under his CO, he was and, to a degree, still is known for his reckless behavior. Again, this stems from the innate arrogance and sense of entitlement he was raised with. It's not that he has problems following orders. If given an ultimatum and it's clear as he is obviously handsome, then he will carry out the order he's given from start to finish. That being said, he will offer up his opinion or depending on the situation and what kind of mood he might be in, Sivus will have several opinions. This may lead him to clash with the commanding officer of the unit/squad he is assigned to.

But after it's all said and done, he will carry these orders out and will always be loyal to those he fights by.

Because that's another thing that Sivus is known for. You can call him every name in the book. You can bring up the worst moments of his professional career, but one thing you can't say is that he's disloyal. Never has he ever let anyone close to him take the fall for him nor has he let anyone down in his twenty-eight years of being alive. He'll risk his professional reputation so that his personal rep can maintain its integrity because that's what Sivus Veritas represents. He's a hotshot and will question authority, but he'll have your back when it really matters.

DETAILED HISTORY

The name Veritas not only commands respect, but it is given it because for generations, every son born to the Veritas family has not only brought honor and dignity to the Cabal Vanguards, but they have served with the Turian Military for as long as they could until retirement since the first Veritas named Simus. For generations for the last seven hundred years, they have done the Cabals proud. With this respect and prestige and long history, there was bound to come expectations.

Sivus, the lastest Veritas to come of age, has always known that one day he would be expected to climb the ranks when it was his turn to join the Turian Military. Growing up in sheltered (though not too sheltered), he never displayed any opposition to it. On some level, he understood this is what it meant to be a son born into the Veritas family. And he had enjoyed the privilege of being from wealth. His childhood home was massive as it stood up on a hill overlooking the city below it. And he had servents that would get him anything he desired. It didn't matter if it was food, expenses, or toys, whatever Sivus wanted, if the servents could obtain it for him, it was his.

But on his fifteenth birthday, unlike most species' who would celebrate it with a big celebration, some kind of food that would be the focal point of being celebrated, for the Veritas family, the ritual that Sivus went through was taking the first step into doing the Veritas name proud. He began his first day with the Turian Military.

Not even a week into service and Sivus Veritas was already in the Cabal Program, being infused with Element Zero and taking the first steps to not only artificially develop biotic powers, but after his initial recovery time was finished, he'd train under not just any Turian Captain, but a one Tarus Veritas, his father.

Tarus didn't play favorites. This was probably Sivus' biggest culture shock. The Tarus he knew, while strong and always honor first, was also a loving father, but professionally, Sivus had never experienced a tougher son of a bitch than if he had any say in the matter. Every single combat drill, training regime, and when the mood struck him, spontaneous runs through the marshland that surrounded the Cabal Camp, was excruciating. Every morning he woke up exhausted and every night he went to bed aching.

This unique form of torture, while effective in the long run, proved to be the very thing that fractured the once delicate father-son relationship that Sivus thought they had. There were even times when he challenged his father's authority. It wasn't without reason. When one of his best friends was taking a short break, his father pistol-whipped him. This caused Sivus to come to his defense, but doing so meant that he had to challenge the authority that was Captain Tarus.

Suffice to say that Sivus went back to camp with a few more scraps and bruises than he left with, but this cemented a thought in the unit of seven that they will remember for the years to come. When one of them was kicked down, regardless of his arrogance and ego, Sivus' unit would remember that he came to their defense. Not even the wrath of his own father would stop him from being there for his brothers.

His loyalty would only develop the higher he rose up the ranks and by the time he was just twenty-three, Sivus was promoted to the rank of Captain. Through hard work and perseverance, which was deeply rooted in proving to his father that none of his harsh tactics would demotivate him, he was given his own unit, but not just any unit. He commanded the same one he came up with.

For about a year, The Cabal Vanguards, but especially the unit that Sivus led, were joined by other Turian Military squads during missions that were generally to fend off invaders from Turian Colonies and those that were suspect to Pirates and other unscrupulous individuals. For the most part, every mission was a raging success. High praise came his way. The Cabal unit he led was given specific respect for how effectively they moved as a singular unit. It was noted by his superiors that Sivus inherited his father's talent for leading a successful infiltration squad that moved as one. When he gave an order, they followed it to a T.

When Sivus was asked by none other than his father to lead a private, off-the-record infiltration mission of the highest order. The mission was a simple one, though it proved to have many risks involved.

On Omega, a former Turian Military general was going to sell secrets to a group of Blue Sun mercs. If successful, it would not only harm the hierarchy by exposing dozens of military operations and undercover agents within the Terminus Systems, but in doing so, it would also expose a dark secret linking Tarus to organized crime.

Sivus was conflicted after his father told him the extent of what these secrets could do to the family. If made public, everything their ancestors built would be followed by the shame of financing illegal biotic experiments. The pride he once felt for the Veritas name had left when Sivus accepted to take this mission. It was not because of his father that he took the mission; it was for the pride of the Cabal Vanguards.

He went to Omega with his unit, who were dubbed The Seven Aces. It was a simple mission, right? Find the treasonous Nidas Stysius and either bring him quietly or eliminate him before he could transfer the secrets over the Blue Suns.

So how could he have misjudged the situation so immensely?

During their fifth night on Omega, all of their sources and the intel they provided them with had determined the deal was happening in the Kima District. So they moved like one organism, crossing the bridge and getting into positions. Those who were long-range would take sniping positions and those who were close-quarter fighters were with Sivus.

It was a 4-3 formation.

Only, what neither of them anticipated was they had been betrayed by one of their top sources.

Mercs from all three major groups: Eclipse, Blood Pack, and Blue Sons had converged on the location, cornering them on the bridge. Before Sivus had any time to react, before he could give any orders to his men, a massive firefight followed. It was a massacre, too. Krogans and Vorcha; Salarians and Asari; Turians and Batarians, the blood of all shades spilled over the bridge. Bodies were flying, concussive rounds shot in every single direction.

And then came the war cries.

And then the screams of agony when one took their last breath.

In the aftermath of the fight stood only two men.

Sivus Veritas and the leader of Omega's Blue Suns. A human named Ryan Gusman. In a fit of rage, Sivus almost murdered the man, but he approached the man, paralyzing him with his biotics, and pinned him against the nearest wall. He only had one demand: tell him who organized this betrayal.

And when Ryan uttered Tarus Veritas' name, everything in Sivus died - everything that mattered, that is.

Ryan Gusman didn't have a reason why. He only stated that he was given over a hundred thousand credits to lure Sivus to Omega, feed his sources wrong information, and to slaughter "the one who brought Tarus the most shame".

With that information, Sivus vanished. His entire identity, from the loyalty he once held for his people and his family to the Turian pride he once had, had died with the other Six Aces. He needed to find himself again. He needed to rediscover that part of him that was, above all else, something to be proud of. That's what led him to the Citidel.

When arrived on the Citadel no more than a year ago, he did odd jobs for some not-so-pleasant company. From criminals to shady businessmen and politicians, if they needed hired muscle, Sivus wasn't against it, but he'd pick semi-legitimate work over being someone they can order to kill someone. It wasn't until he became engrossed in the Wards and developed an attachment for not only the people who lived there but those who needed his services more that he decided to get involved in a somewhat more personal way.

And that's how he became a bouncer for Chora's Den, though secretly he worked as an off-the-books CI for C-Sec. It wasn't the safest job, but compared to being betrayed by your own father and losing your entire unit, being a CI/Bouncer at one of the shadiest "clubs" in the Wards was like paradise for him.

The year passed and Sivus was becoming quite fond of his place at Chora's Den. He developed a rapport with the clients, the dancers, a one General Septimus, and he even had an appointment with the Consort in just five months. Everything was aligning for him and he almost felt like he was regaining what he had lost nearly a year ago.

That was until someone from some operation called "Kingslayer" contacted him at his private residence. What stuck out to him was how they addressed him in the E-mail.

"Dear, Sivus Veritas--"

That's what made him pay attention.

Whoever it was, they knew everything: where he came from, who his father was, how his entire unit died on Omega, and how he was a CI with C-Sec and was close to taking down Fist. Everything he had done since joining the Turian Military was detailed in the message, yet it wasn't presented in a negative light. They praised him for his numerous accomplishments and wanted him for a special task force.

Maybe this was it. The one thing that could give Sivus his light back. Being a bouncer could only do so much. Maybe what he needed most was being part of a team and kicking ass in the process.

In the message, it was cited that his military record, notable leadership experience, and overall charm made him a perfect candidate for the operation.

In the back of his mind, Sivus had doubts, but he knew he couldn't pass this up. At the very least, it might be fun!

---

Mass Effect: Kingslayer

Dossier: Sivus

Sivus Ritas

QUOTE "Ace in the hole!"

PROFILE Full Name: Sivus Veritas (not public knowledge). Date of Birth: March 22, 2155. Species: Turian Gender: Masculine Age: 28. Occupation: Bouncer for Chora's Den || CI for C-Sec Service Rank: Manditary service with the Turian Military → Part of the Cabal Vanguard Shock Troop Unit Profile: Cabal Vanguard Powers: Shockwave Barrier Lift Throw Belongings: Armax Arsenal Crossfire Assault Rifle Hahne-Kedar Kesler Pistol Custom-made Turian Vanguard Armor outfitted with biotic enhancing technology Role: Infiletration Specialist || General combat support || Effective morale booster

---

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE

Sivus is what you get when you combine the closest thing to Turian Royalty and being told he's meant for greatness and him actually believing it.

He comes from an acclaimed line of Cabals, with many of the male turians in his family being known for their impressive leadership and impressive combative skills. And for Sivus, he's always believed he's been destined for greatness, which may speak to the arrogance that flows through his body. and maybe that led him to be ignorant to how life will knock you on your ass, but that's never rocked his confidence. He's always maintained the notion that he is the best and when he served in the Turian Military, he proved it by outclassing most - if not all - of the same-year recruits.

He bleeds blue charisma. He can charm his way into or out of most situations (if he needs to). And this stems from the raw, almost suave nature that is on the surface almost at all times. Many call him obnoxious for the way he presents himself, but you can believe that every word that comes from his mouth is fully backed by him believing they are gospel.

Though he is a leader in every respect, when he wasn't promoted and was still serving under his CO, he was and, to a degree, still is known for his reckless behavior. Again, this stems from the innate arrogance and sense of entitlement he was raised with. It's not that he has problems following orders. If given an ultimatum and it's clear as he is obviously handsome, then he will carry out the order he's given from start to finish. That being said, he will offer up his opinion or depending on the situation and what kind of mood he might be in, Sivus will have several opinions. This may lead him to clash with the commanding officer of the unit/squad he is assigned to.

But after it's all said and done, he will carry these orders out and will always be loyal to those he fights by.

Because that's another thing that Sivus is known for. You can call him every name in the book. You can bring up the worst moments of his professional career, but one thing you can't say is that he's disloyal. Never has he ever let anyone close to him take the fall for him nor has he let anyone down in his twenty-eight years of being alive. He'll risk his professional reputation so that his personal rep can maintain its integrity because that's what Sivus Veritas represents. He's a hotshot and will question authority, but he'll have your back when it really matters.

DETAILED HISTORY

The name Veritas not only commands respect, but it is given it because for generations, every son born to the Veritas family has not only brought honor and dignity to the Cabal Vanguards, but they have served with the Turian Military for as long as they could until retirement since the first Veritas named Simus. For generations for the last seven hundred years, they have done the Cabals proud. With this respect and prestige and long history, there was bound to come expectations.

Sivus, the lastest Veritas to come of age, has always known that one day he would be expected to climb the ranks when it was his turn to join the Turian Military. Growing up in sheltered (though not too sheltered), he never displayed any opposition to it. On some level, he understood this is what it meant to be a son born into the Veritas family. And he had enjoyed the privilege of being from wealth. His childhood home was massive as it stood up on a hill overlooking the city below it. And he had servents that would get him anything he desired. It didn't matter if it was food, expenses, or toys, whatever Sivus wanted, if the servents could obtain it for him, it was his.

But on his fifteenth birthday, unlike most species' who would celebrate it with a big celebration, some kind of food that would be the focal point of being celebrated, for the Veritas family, the ritual that Sivus went through was taking the first step into doing the Veritas name proud. He began his first day with the Turian Military.

Not even a week into service and Sivus Veritas was already in the Cabal Program, being infused with Element Zero and taking the first steps to not only artificially develop biotic powers, but after his initial recovery time was finished, he'd train under not just any Turian Captain, but a one Tarus Veritas, his father.

Tarus didn't play favorites. This was probably Sivus' biggest culture shock. The Tarus he knew, while strong and always honor first, was also a loving father, but professionally, Sivus had never experienced a tougher son of a bitch than if he had any say in the matter. Every single combat drill, training regime, and when the mood struck him, spontaneous runs through the marshland that surrounded the Cabal Camp, was excruciating. Every morning he woke up exhausted and every night he went to bed aching.

This unique form of torture, while effective in the long run, proved to be the very thing that fractured the once delicate father-son relationship that Sivus thought they had. There were even times when he challenged his father's authority. It wasn't without reason. When one of his best friends was taking a short break, his father pistol-whipped him. This caused Sivus to come to his defense, but doing so meant that he had to challenge the authority that was Captain Tarus.

Suffice to say that Sivus went back to camp with a few more scraps and bruises than he left with, but this cemented a thought in the unit of seven that they will remember for the years to come. When one of them was kicked down, regardless of his arrogance and ego, Sivus' unit would remember that he came to their defense. Not even the wrath of his own father would stop him from being there for his brothers.

His loyalty would only develop the higher he rose up the ranks and by the time he was just twenty-three, Sivus was promoted to the rank of Captain. Through hard work and perseverance, which was deeply rooted in proving to his father that none of his harsh tactics would demotivate him, he was given his own unit, but not just any unit. He commanded the same one he came up with.

For about a year, The Cabal Vanguards, but especially the unit that Sivus led, were joined by other Turian Military squads during missions that were generally to fend off invaders from Turian Colonies and those that were suspect to Pirates and other unscrupulous individuals. For the most part, every mission was a raging success. High praise came his way. The Cabal unit he led was given specific respect for how effectively they moved as a singular unit. It was noted by his superiors that Sivus inherited his father's talent for leading a successful infiltration squad that moved as one. When he gave an order, they followed it to a T.

When Sivus was asked by none other than his father to lead a private, off-the-record infiltration mission of the highest order. The mission was a simple one, though it proved to have many risks involved.

On Omega, a former Turian Military general was going to sell secrets to a group of Blue Sun mercs. If successful, it would not only harm the hierarchy by exposing dozens of military operations and undercover agents within the Terminus Systems, but in doing so, it would also expose a dark secret linking Tarus to organized crime.

Sivus was conflicted after his father told him the extent of what these secrets could do to the family. If made public, everything their ancestors built would be followed by the shame of financing illegal biotic experiments. The pride he once felt for the Veritas name had left when Sivus accepted to take this mission. It was not because of his father that he took the mission; it was for the pride of the Cabal Vanguards.

He went to Omega with his unit, who were dubbed The Seven Aces. It was a simple mission, right? Find the treasonous Nidas Stysius and either bring him quietly or eliminate him before he could transfer the secrets over the Blue Suns.

So how could he have misjudged the situation so immensely?

During their fifth night on Omega, all of their sources and the intel they provided them with had determined the deal was happening in the Kima District. So they moved like one organism, crossing the bridge and getting into positions. Those who were long-range would take sniping positions and those who were close-quarter fighters were with Sivus.

It was a 4-3 formation.

Only, what neither of them anticipated was they had been betrayed by one of their top sources.

Mercs from all three major groups: Eclipse, Blood Pack, and Blue Sons had converged on the location, cornering them on the bridge. Before Sivus had any time to react, before he could give any orders to his men, a massive firefight followed. It was a massacre, too. Krogans and Vorcha; Salarians and Asari; Turians and Batarians, the blood of all shades spilled over the bridge. Bodies were flying, concussive rounds shot in every single direction.

And then came the war cries.

And then the screams of agony when one took their last breath.

In the aftermath of the fight stood only two men.

Sivus Veritas and the leader of Omega's Blue Suns. A human named Ryan Gusman. In a fit of rage, Sivus almost murdered the man, but he approached the man, paralyzing him with his biotics, and pinned him against the nearest wall. He only had one demand: tell him who organized this betrayal.

And when Ryan uttered Tarus Veritas' name, everything in Sivus died - everything that mattered, that is.

Ryan Gusman didn't have a reason why. He only stated that he was given over a hundred thousand credits to lure Sivus to Omega, feed his sources wrong information, and to slaughter "the one who brought Tarus the most shame".

With that information, Sivus vanished. His entire identity, from the loyalty he once held for his people and his family to the Turian pride he once had, had died with the other Six Aces. He needed to find himself again. He needed to rediscover that part of him that was, above all else, something to be proud of. That's what led him to the Citidel.

When arrived on the Citadel no more than a year ago, he did odd jobs for some not-so-pleasant company. From criminals to shady businessmen and politicians, if they needed hired muscle, Sivus wasn't against it, but he'd pick semi-legitimate work over being someone they can order to kill someone. It wasn't until he became engrossed in the Wards and developed an attachment for not only the people who lived there but those who needed his services more that he decided to get involved in a somewhat more personal way.

And that's how he became a bouncer for Chora's Den, though secretly he worked as an off-the-books CI for C-Sec. It wasn't the safest job, but compared to being betrayed by your own father and losing your entire unit, being a CI/Bouncer at one of the shadiest "clubs" in the Wards was like paradise for him.

The year passed and Sivus was becoming quite fond of his place at Chora's Den. He developed a rapport with the clients, the dancers, a one General Septimus, and he even had an appointment with the Consort in just five months. Everything was aligning for him and he almost felt like he was regaining what he had lost nearly a year ago.

That was until someone from some operation called "Kingslayer" contacted him at his private residence. What stuck out to him was how they addressed him in the E-mail.

"Dear, Sivus Veritas--"

That's what made him pay attention.

Whoever it was, they knew everything: where he came from, who his father was, how his entire unit died on Omega, and how he was a CI with C-Sec and was close to taking down Fist. Everything he had done since joining the Turian Military was detailed in the message, yet it wasn't presented in a negative light. They praised him for his numerous accomplishments and wanted him for a special task force.

Maybe this was it. The one thing that could give Sivus his light back. Being a bouncer could only do so much. Maybe what he needed most was being part of a team and kicking ass in the process.

In the message, it was cited that his military record, notable leadership experience, and overall charm made him a perfect candidate for the operation.

In the back of his mind, Sivus had doubts, but he knew he couldn't pass this up. At the very least, it might be fun!

---

Edenridge

The Honey Badger of the Southside

_{“It's my rule never to lose my temper till it would be detrimental to keep it.” ― Seán O'Casey}

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙚

Mikhail Aleksandr Zima

𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨

💣 Mika - Common nickname || Responds to it the most
💣 Mickey - Common nickname || Friends and Second fam call him it || Responds to it also; won’t have any problems with it
💣 Michele - Playground name || Used to taunt him || Only call him this is if you wish to breath blood from your nose
💣 “Honey Badger - Street Name || Serpents will refer to him by it || He has this name for his tendency to not give a fuck and his bold behavior
💣 HB - Derived from his street name, also a common nickname || If you know him by Honey Badger, this is often used to get his attention || Doesn’t care if you call him by it

𝘼𝙜𝙚

20, May 1st || Taurus

𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

Cismale, He/Him

𝙎𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮

Heteroflexible, though heavily leans towards female

𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙨

Taken || Dating Caitlin Cleary

𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨

▸ HEIGHT : | 5'11
▸ WEIGHT : | 165lbs
▸ ETHNICITY : | Russian-English (father’s side); Irish-American (other’s side)
▸ HAIR COLOR : | Dark Brown.
▸ EYE COLOR : | Deep set blue eyes
▸ BODY TYPE: | Athletically toned || Muscular-leaning
▸ MODIFICATIONS: | Mickey has his ears pierced, a scar on the back of his head from his younger years

There’s something to be said about how Mika looks equally like both of his parents. From the deep set eyes he shares with his father (and equally with his brother, Viktor) to the dark-rooted dirty blonde hair that is so clearly a perfect blend of his father’s natural blonde hair and his mother’s dark mane, he embodies them both in almost every single way that counts. And with an athletic body that has origins in being raised to be fit as early as he possibly and physically could, it has further evidence in his eventual progression into athletics and self-defense. The way his muscles are toned now, though with the additive of various scars throughout his body, it is clear to anyone that Mika not only continues to exercise, but he does it to the point where every inch of his body is toned to his preference.

Comfort is easy when you live on the Southside. Cheap and affordable is probably what motivates Mika’s fashion sense, because a lot of what he wears might be found at the thirst store down the block from where he lives. Sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, jeans of varying shades of blue and brown and black and green -- all of it might seem mundane and boring, but aside from the occasional splurge of a special shirt he might like, most of what’s found in Mika’s closet has come at an affordable price. And you can’t say that he doesn’t rock it. Though, he’ll be the first to admit that he might overpay for the copious amounts of aviator sunglasses he owns. Let’s cop that one out to it being an addiction.

𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮

Protective || Compassionate || Initially Kind || Bold & Brazen || Fearless || Confident (when comfortable) || Loyal || Guarded || Tempermental || Self-Sabotaging || Selfish (un/intentional) || Aggressive (when provoked) || Unforgiving (when wronged) || Sees red (when pissed)

Understandably so, Mikhail grew up being torn between two sides. And like the Irish Martini that makes up the two sides of his family, one being the Irish side that is full of red-hot tempers and loyalty for one's own beyond anything that anyone who doesn't know it can't possibly understand it; the irish side that has been the foundation for many moments of blinding red and vulnerable moments with his sisters and mother; the Irish side that has filled him with as much love as it has with uncontrollable fits of rage and misguided protection, often leading Mikhail with the intention to do good but somehow missing his mark.

And then there's the bitterness of his father's end. His father, whose world was filled with so much darkness and toxicity. Like the Chernobyl sight that is radioactive and can be triggered at any moment, so is the way his father's darkness influenced him. The constant need to prove himself, constant need to feel like he could stand up to his older brother, that he wasn't a pussy in comparison. That need birthed not really an identity or anything in the like, but it gave name to his anger. All the frustration from how he felt about his father in both the way he was rarely there and when he was, it was always to instill negativity in his mind, Mika always felt so angry and no matter how angelic the presence of his family was, the demons of his father and of how he found himself in control only when he fought, that's when the name Honey Badger was given to him, because it was not something that was born from trauma but rather, HB was the name given to the uncontrollable rage, the fire that could not be quelled no matter how much love was given.

And that's the brutal truth about Mika. When you meet him, unless there is a reason why he doesn't like you, he'll smile. You'll see someone pleasant, maybe even crack a joke or two, and he will be as polite as you are to him. He is the kind of guy that firmly believes in being treated how you treat others, but give him a reason to punch you and he'll show you no mercy. Hurt his sisters? He'll kill you. Insult his family? You'll have a black eye to go with your broken nose. Disrespect him in a way that comes off as more than just a joke? Your shin is gone.

See, inside, Mikhail is twisted up. There is an internal struggle to balance the goodness his mother instilled in him and the demons that eat at him every night and sometimes, externally, this makes him difficult to deal with.

𝘽𝙞𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮

The origins of the South Side's Honey Badger might hold elements of stereotypes and cliches within them. His father, Ivan Zima, came to be a prominent figure in the Russian Mafia and his particular group was based out of New York City, but specifically, Brooklyn, though Ivan had connections all throughout the entire Northeast, but specifically, he has notable connections within the South Boston area.

Actually, that is where his wife, Mary-Anne Joanna is from. His wife of nearly thirty years, who hails from Edenridge, a community/neighborhood in South Boston. Actually, she is the black sheep of one of Edenridge's founding families. Her's is O'Hara and she first met her would-be husband when he was in Edenridge so many years ago. He was brokering a deal with Reynaldo Gonzalez and Conrad Taylor, the then President of the Fallen Angels MC. It was part of a longstanding agreement that would benefit all three parties -- something that Charlie Taylor honored when he took over five years after the fact.

But during this early time was when a young troubled girl who found herself attracted to the dangers of the gang life entranced by a dashing, young-ish Ivan Zima. With his charming wit, bravado, gorgeous locks of golden hair, and how shockingly attractive he was, the two clicked instantly. She was only twenty-one at the time, but soon they began seeing each other. It wasn't long before Mary found herself enticed by him and addicted to his company that her relationship with her family was strained and when Ivan came to town one last time when he left, so did she.

Their life together has spawned throughout the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. It was never perfect and that was because of his job. He only talked to her about it only so briefly, but she never questioned it because she was in love. And she loved the family they had. Together, Ivan and Mary had four beautiful children. Viktor, Mikhail, Katya, and Anastasia. Viktor, being the oldest, was probably the most difficult and their youngest were great in their own regard, but Mika was probably the only one who got an equal share of light and darkness from his parents.

Mika, he grew up never knowing which end of the scale he should lean. All his life, his father, who most of the time wasn't even around, but when he was, Mika was always second-choice. Viktor was the older brother whose shadow loomed over him. Viktor was Ivan's favorite and sometimes, Ivan made sure Mika knew that. And that always made him feel inferior to his brother. And maybe in a way, that made him bitter, and sometimes that bitterness exploded in conflicts with his classmates. Sometimes it exploded by him getting into fights; and sometimes, though he never meant for it to happen, these fights caused some kids to be hospitalized.

See, Mika grew up with a lot of imbalance in his life. But what seemed to always center him and make him smile were two things. The first being, of course, was his mother and sisters. There had been times when he was reduced to tears, where his insecurities made him punch walls. At times, it got so bad that his sisters and mother couldn't get through to him, but eventually, they did. Their light eventually outshined what his father and brother tried to do to him.

Correction. Their light outshined what Ivan and Viktor thought they succeeded in doing, but it didn't last. For a while, he found a balance.

And then, after something terrible that happened during one of his bad episodes, which as one could imagine, when someone insulted his mother so badly that he exploded his fist into their face, red streams pouring out of several cuts, Mika didn't even consider that the kid he beat up and nearly killed was the son of one of his father's rivals. And he never anticipated that the retaliation would result in one of their cars in their parking lot being blown to smithereens.

And in a rare showing of compassion, Mika saw the genuine fear and worry in his father's eyes. Somewhere in the pits of his soul, Mika thought that his father was only worried about his daughters and mother. Maybe that's why he sent Katie and Stacy to live with their Uncle Gus and Aunt Ester in Pinehurst, the sister city of Edenridge and why Mika was sent to live with the second thing that centered him: his godfather, Rey Gonzalez.

Some deep-rooted fear took hold and it was a while before Mika found himself comfortable. A lot of the same incidents recurred, but there was a difference. For the first time, he wasn't overlooked. Sure, Rey had a son that was close to his brother, Viktor's age, but even that was different. Rey was there when Mika finally felt comfortable enough to reach out. Rey was there to straighten him out when he needed to be. And when he wasn't, his son Rey Rey brought him out of the red bubble he locked himself in and Mika came to actually love his new home.

And when Rey Rey was otherwise occupied, then Aleyda, Rey Rey's little sister, was there for him too. They were around the same age, so that was something different for Mika to adjust to. He never thought he'd have a sister that was closer to his age than not, but there was something about her that was different. Maybe it was how honest she always was with him. In the beginning, of course, Mika always was peeved and annoyed whenever she spoke her piece about this or that, but over time, which of course coincided with his own comfort with his family, he came to seek it. Even after all these years, she still told it to him how she saw it. It was always something that Mika appreciated.

When Mika embraced Edenridge, he began the journey of having a normal life. He made friends, he joined the football team, he dated and fucked around with some hot girls. He went to parties both on the northside and in his own backyard. And hell, maybe one could say he was in love at one point.

But like with all things in his life, there were things that tested his resolve. He made mistakes both personal and not and, though he didn't know when eventually he would have to face them like the man that Mary-Anne and Rey Gonzalez raised. Ivan Zima wasn't a father to him anymore. Honey Badger made sure of that.

𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮

Zima Family

<sub>Ivan Vladinov Zima AKA "Baba Yaga'' || Father || 56 || Businessman, Arms Dealer, Brigadier for the New York Bratva || Father and main source as to why he has anger problems || Face Claim: Paul Bettany — Ivan lives up to the name. Often dubbed Ivan the Terrible, Ivan the Ruthless, Ivan the guy-you-don't-want-to-fuck-with, in his professional life, he takes no prisoners. A captain -- or Brigadier -- with the Russian Mob, otherwise known as the Bratva, his responsibilities have always been about running jobs that better further the organization's influence amongst cops and politicians and the governing forces, as well as those from the old country. But as a father, Ivan switches into someone less of a monster. Baba Yaga isn't near this at all. Ivan Zima, he raised his four children with a mixture of bias and imbalance. But in a specific way, his sons, Viktor and Mikhail, grew up in a very toxic masculinity way. One embraced while the other struggles to endure.

Ivan never saw how he raised his boys as anything bad, but of course, he would have to be around to notice the effects. Nevertheless, he is such an arrogant and conceited, not to mention narcissistic, man that what he sees and what is the truth are two completely different things. Sure, the way he made his money provided his family with a life they couldn’t complain about -- not realistically, at least (again another thing from his perspective), but at what cost does that come at? The impression one has of you, of course. And unless you’re talking about Viktor, the only one who actually likes Ivan as a father, the general opinion of Ivan is that he’s scum. Though, his wife, for all of her positives, still seems to be very much in love with him.

Especially what he did when it really mattered. Too bad Mika can only see through the good to realize that.

Mary-Anne Joanna Zima (nee. O'Hara) || Mother || 52 || Housewife, Jewelry Designer, The Woman behind the Boogeyman || Face Claim: Raquel Weisz — Mary-Anne is a proud, Boston woman. Fire runs through her veins almost as obvious as the nurturing, loving mother that she is that has almost single-handedly raised four children. To her husband's associates, she might just be "The wife", often serving the men their drinks and whatnot, but it is not what both Ivan and everyone else in the Zima household knows. Though she might be the black sheep of the O'Hara family, specifically for the attraction she's always had for danger, Mary-Anne is the life and soul of the Zima Family. Ivan relies on her when he needs someone he can trust all of his stress with and her kids, they know love because of her. Her twin daughters know a firm, yet gentle hand because Mary-Anne raised them the same way she came up: like queens but knowing when to not take shit. And her sons knew how to respect women even if the world might tell them differently. Viktor may not have absorbed those lessons as much as he should have, but Mika did. And he tried to balance it with the excessive amount of counterproductiveness that came from the other elements in his life.

But what remained a fact was that Mary-Anne, despite all the darkness in their lives, remained the light to guide even her kids that embraced too much of the evils of the world they were born into.

A side note but certainly worthy of knowing is that Mary-Anne is a jewelry designer whose works include various deals with Macy’s and Sears across the northeast. They are affordable, yet stylish. She also designs premium bracelets for more luxurious clients, though ever since her family had to split up, she hasn’t done any of that.

Victor Maxx (born Viktor Maxim Zima) || Older Brother (full) || 28 || Banker, Gangster, Money Launderer || Face Claim: James Norton — Some say Victor is the very embodiment of what it means to be a son of Ivan Zima: confident, business savvy, intelligent, ruthless, charming, but he is also conniving, deceitful, and a pathological liar. He is a literal snake who only does things that benefit him. And that’s just when it comes to business. Personally, he is a bastard. Growing up, Mika always experienced cruel torture from his older brother. Victor always saw it as “toughing” the boy up, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Deep down, Victor never liked Mika. He always thought he was too soft. He thought he was unworthy of the life he was given and always made damn sure to remind Mika of it.

And when he graduated from Harvard Business School, Victor rubbed that in his brother’s face, too, essentially reminding him he was the only one that mattered. Even to his sisters, Victor was a bastard. Maybe that’s why Victor is the true essence of what it meant to be Ivan Zima’s heir. He inherited everything bad about the man, which makes Mika glad that he is all the way off in England where he isn’t Mika’s problem (and hasn’t for a few years now).
Katya Sophie Zima/Katie Čapek & Anastasia Svetlana Zima/Stacy Čapek || Younger Sisters (full; also twins) || 17 & 17 || Seniors at Pinehurst High School || Face Claims: Kathryn Newton (Katie) & Kristine Froseth (Stacy) — If Mika and Viktor/Victor represent the darkness of the Zima-O’Hara family, then Katya and Anastasia represent the light. Everything good that Ivan and Mary-Anne possess was so clearly passed down to their twin daughters. And rightly so. They have always been shielded from the horrors of their father’s job and what he does to provide. Or at least they were for most of their life. OF course, they came to understand the complexities of their life, yet they had the maturity and understanding to not let it effect them where it really mattered. They are extremely close with Mika and even somewhat close with their eldest brother, Victor. But they are also extremely close with their mother. Honestly, if there was one person who they’d die for, it’s her and as obvious as a neon sign, that’s a two way street.

The complex upbringing they had was only heightened by the almost biblical elements behind just how much like their parents they are. And it’s almost inversed to how they look, too. Katie, who many say is the spitting image of her father both in the way her face rounds, but with her naturally blonde hair and blue eyes, but it’s the stubborn pride and refusal to accept no as the only answer that she embodies from her mother. And she has used it to the best of her abilities. But likewise, one could say that it’s led to many problems both when she was growing up and when she and her twin were sent to live with their aunt. She always clashed and even got to the point in which Katie found herself seeking a validation of being heard that only the debate team could provide. Her opinions, which contrast her upbringing, has been very anti-violence, very anti-oppression. She leans heavily to the left on the political spectrum and wants to become a lawyer when she graduates college. She is well on her way to being accepted to Yale. She just needs to ace the upcoming school year and she just might do it.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Stacy. Compared to her opinionated twin, she is more mild-mannered than Katie. She has a prim and very regal like personality that many in the Zima-O’Hara family question where she got it, but the truth is that, out of all, her and Mika probably have the same core personality (if we ignore Mika’s temper and all the other shit that plagues him). She is the one who looks most like Mary, though compared to Mary’s almost-black hair, it’s clear her father’s lighter shade influenced the way she appears, what with the auburn shade she has. But she has blue eyes just like her twin. But unlike her twin, she is somebody who doesn’t have any interest in politics or anything about it. It’s not that she doesn’t care, but she’s much too busy with cheerleading. And maybe it is something not as important (coming from Katie), but Stacy feels it’s just as important and it shouldn’t invalidate her opinion. She is quite honestly somebody that is passionate about cheerleading, having been someone who has trained in gymnastics for nearly all of her life, she feels that she can have a real career in it some day and hopes to make the squad of a professional team. Her dream is to make it on the New England Patriots squad, though really any professional team would be more than enough.</sub>

Gonzalez Family

_{Reynaldo “Big Rey” Gonzalez || 60 || Adoptive Father/Godfather || Retired Gang Member || Face Claim: Jimmy Smits — ”Big Rey might be the hardened criminal and sure, he’s certainly equal parts bark and bite, but this man -- yeah, he took me in. Sure, it was because my old man asked him to, but he could have said no, ya know? He could have told Ivan to fuck off, but he didn’t. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty fucking grateful that he didn’t live up to the stereotype that surrounds people like him, ya know people who live a certain life. He didn’t need to take in another mouth to feed and I know I didn’t make it easy for him, but Big Rey is my father. I don’t care about blood and I certainly don’t care if I’ve only been his son for half my life, this man took me in and I’ll be forever repaying all that he’s done for me.”
Reynoldo “Rey Rey” Gonzalez II || 26 || Adoptive Brother || Leader of the SSS || Face Claim: David Castenda — ”Man Rey Rey, you crazy son of a bitch, what is there to really say? You talk a lot and god, you’re a fucking dick, but not in the way that will make you sore after a good night. Sorry, that’s weird but you like it. Anyway, you’re a pretty wild fucker, but whatever was implied with our dad goes double for you. I have a brother and he’s a fucking asshole. A real bastard, but you? Man, you’re the real deal, you know? I mean, you’re still a crazy bastard, but you accepted me as your brother. I know loyalty is a big thing for you and maybe that’s why we have always gotten along so well, huh? You know you always have me in your corner, right? Fuck, you’re my brother and no lack of a blood connection will ever change that."
Aleyda “Ley” Gonzalez || 21/22 || Adoptive Sister || Single mother & Hairdresser @Tresses Salon || Face Claim: Alexa Demie — “Fuck, Ley kinda scared me in the beginning. Really just in your face, but fuck me if she wasn’t one of the few people who was always straight with me. Her honesty was a breath of fresh air. Probably something that just seems to be a Gonzalez trait, huh? But, it’s also that she never sugar coated anything. When I fuck up, she lets me know and when I’m doing good, well she probably won’t be all cuddly about it but I’ll know it when I hear it. And of course, there’s how she’s easily one of the main reasons why I’m not such an illiterate when it comes to Spanish.”}

𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙘

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_{FC: Finn ColeDialogue Color: #635687}
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Fonts: Honey Badger Header || Character Header
💣 Mika is a practitioner of sambo, a Russian martial arts specializing in hand-to-hand combat. He isn't at any professional level but he can certainly hold his own in a fight. Though his anger tends to hinder his technique. So he mildly swings for the fences for the most part.
💣 He is fluent in Russian and English. He can also understand most Spanish and can carry a basic conversation in Spanish but some terms go right over his head.
💣 He wouldn’t call himself an addict because, unlike those junkies who go to Sonny and Prof for their daily fix, Mika knows his limits. That being said, once in a blue moon -- or just whenever he is feeling like it -- he will indulge heavily in party favors that he pays out of his own pocket. And when he does, his poison is always vodka and coke.

The white stuff, not the carbonated sugar water.

💣 Mika is what one might call a sort of third-party to the Serpents. While he technically might be part of the gang, he isn’t part of like Decky Boaz was. He does, however, follow the orders given to him by his brother all the same.
💣 Mika still lives with Big Rey and when he’s not working, he’s helping around the house as much as he can.
💣 Mika drives a black 2017 Toyota Tacoma that he recently bought with money his father forwarded him through several third parties.

💣 He was never going to accept it until he received some advice about what to really do with it
💣 Before coming to Edenridge, he had a group of friends that were literally his ride or die crew - Boris, Denis, and Nika (forever 13].

Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit || Wild Boy by Machine Gun Kelly (feat. Woka Flocka Flame) || Radioactive (Imagine Dragons cover) by Bullet For My Valentine || Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz || The Heart and The Fist by Rudy Francisco

Chronicle of the Honey Badger

Chapter I
Intro (page 4)
Saved by the Bell (flashback) (page 4)
About A Boy (flashback) (page 5)
The Bitter Taste (page 5)
The Honey Badger & The Devil (page 5)

Halloween Special
Making Peace With the Past (page 6)

Intermission - Post-Chapter I/Pre-Chapter II
Death Triangle Breakfast (page 7)
Buttheads, Bambi, & A Baby (flashback) (page 7)
Dear Brother (page 7)
Devil in Disguise (page 7)
Bittersweet Reunion (of Badger & Blossom) (page 8)
A Promise to Protect You (page 8)
Family Reunion (page 10)
Pa-ta-ta-ta-ta (Fucking Menace) (page 9)
Gonzalez Family Dinner (page 9)
Welcome to Edenridge (page 9)

Chapter II, Day One - Before the Storm
Make Your Own Luck (page 10)
Solo Post (page 10)
Under the Oak Tree (flashback) (page 10)
Not Your Fault (page 11)
Coming Undone (page 11)
The Devil Sees You (page 11)

Chapter II, Day One - During the Storm
A Badger's Breakdown, A Viper's Virtue (page 13)
Breaking Point (page 14)
I Promise, I Swear (page 14)

Chapter Two, Day Two - After the Storm
Happy Birthday - Flashback (page 14)
The Afterglow (page 14)
Back to the Beginning (page 15)
The First Step (page 15)

Edenridge

_{A @metanoia & @Venus Collaboration || Featuring Marco Brady & Lanie Lancaster}
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The memory of hers and Mordechai’s first time together came rushing into Elaine’s mind like an overflowing river, flooding the young woman with feelings she wasn’t prepared to handle. While she had been prepared to face the death glares and snide comments from her former cheerleading friends, she hadn’t imagined in her wildest dreams that Decky would choose this moment to return to town. By now, she was holding Roddy’s hand so tightly she was surprised he hadn’t said anything. She knew that her face was probably reflecting the many feelings wreaking havoc in her chest, but keeping a stoic expression was the least of her worries. She was angry, she was upset, she was hurting, she was betrayed. Let the whole world see it.

In the past, Marco wasn’t known for his awareness. And he sure as hell wasn’t all that known for taking into account social queues. Maybe you could chalk that up to Marco being blissfully aware of how sometimes people wanted some privacy and how sometimes, even if he didn’t intend to, not knowing when to leave and when to just stay put made people become frustrated with him. It led to some roll their eyes when they had to leave instead.

But that was no longer the case. Now Marco understood when he needed to take the neon sign hint that his friends wanted to be alone.

Or, honestly, just wanted to have a private conversation.

And when he let Jade, Poppy, and Decky -- that was his name, right? Kai or something like that. Honestly, it had been so long since Marco had seen his face around Edenridge that he found himself blanking on his name when he was limping down the bleachers.

God, why did Marco decide to climb so high? With how his bones were cracking and his limbs likely cursing him all the same, he shouldn’t have done it.

But it was okay. All he had to do was go down about five levels and he could limp safely on the ground. How Marco managed to do that without dropping the box of cannolis that Danny entrusted him with was beyond any scope of comprehension Marco, past or present, was capable of. What mattered was that he could walk.

Or, well whatever Marco’s one-step limp could be called.

“Hey, that's actually clever. Marco One-Step Brady! I can start a troupe. We can tour Boston and make some money.”

Oh, the things Marco did to entertain his mind as he somewhat aimlessly wandered around the gymnasium. He had lost sight of basically everyone he met when coming here. He didn’t see Danny anywhere. He definitely lost sight of Jade and the others as the bleachers were kind of blocked by the mess of former students of their senior class, who Marco remembered being a lot shorter.

Then again, him having a slouched stature nowadays, maybe that’s why he thought that.

Anyway, he had to sit down soon. His legs were starting to ache again.

Guess Marco One Step isn’t ready for the stage yet.

Marco took a quick glance around, initially because he wanted to find a seat, but what he got was something better.

Next to his PT bud was one of his closest friends. Right behind his family, Danny tied with two other people: Roddy Callahan and Lanie Lancaster. Roddy and Marco were recovering at the same hospital and had their physical therapy aligned around the same time, so they had a lot of time to get to know each other. Their love for sports was honestly what really made Marco a fan of his. Of course, he didn’t like that Marco called soccer football and American football the fake news of football.

And next to him was Lanie.

Lanie was just...God, where did Marco even begin? How many times had they been there for each other? How many times had Marco confided in her? How many times had they pigged out to whatever he felt like cooking? It was impossible to list just how much he loved her. Lanie was his platonic soulmate and that was a fact. He was Rylie’s godfather-- and whenever she needed him to watch Rylie or if she had to do anything, Lanie always knew that she could leave the little girl with him. She was as important to him as her mother was.

And when he saw the look on her face, that cocktail of pain and heartbreak and sheer anger, he didn’t even think about how much his legs were hurting nor how many steps it was from where he was and where she was, he just limped to her.

And every bone that could ache did. But Marco didn’t care.

And then he was in front of her, offering her not only a smile but he lifted up the box of cannoli’s up to her as if offering her it. “You look like you can use some comfort food.”

Lost as she was in the memories of a happier time, it took some time for Elaine to acknowledge Marco approaching her. It wasn’t until he heard his soft voice accompanied by the kindest of smiles that she was able to snap out of her thoughts and be gently brought back to reality. In response, Lanie offered her best friend a tearful smile and nodded in agreement with his words. She needed a hell of a lot more than just some comfort food, and Mac knew it. She turned to Roddy to politely excuse herself before letting go of his hand, locking her arm with Marco’s, and slowly walked off to a place where they could talk more privately.

“You have no idea how thankful I am for your friendship right now, Marco,” Lanie told the boy sweetly. She could feel tears of gratitude starting to pool up in her eyes again, so she looked away and blinked hard in an attempt to get rid of them before looking at her best friend again. The last thing she wanted was to let any of the vultures in this room see her cry-- grateful or not. “Are you okay, though? Do you need to sit down? I saw you were limping a little bit. I don’t want you to get hurt in any way!”

“Oh, don’t sweat it! I’m okay!” Marco waved away Lanie’s concern.

But it was well-placed because he was aching all over. Maybe it was his athletic perseverance that sometimes had him almost sabotage himself. If he was with Danny right now, not only would he catch it, but he always had a way of getting Marco to do what was best for Marco, even if Marco didn’t like it at first.

And maybe it was his stubbornness that made him not want to do what might be best for his own physical well-being, but he couldn’t let that plague his mind right now, not when it seemed like Lanie was in need of that special brand of sunshine that Marco Brady was known for.

Choosing the lesser of two evils, Marco temporarily switched positions by putting most of his weight on the leg that wasn’t as bad as his recently recovered one. “So!” He grimaced slightly, though he turned it into a forced smile. “What’s going on, Lanes? Did you want to go somewhere and talk? I mean, you can have as many cannoli’s as you want if you don’t feel up to talking.”

Lanie shook her head at his offer. As delicious as she knew cannolis were, mixing the sweets up with the alcohol and unpleasant feelings bubbling up in her stomach didn’t seem like a sensible idea. Throwing up and embarrassing herself tonight wasn’t part of the agenda. “I’m okay, Mac. It’s just…” She trailed off again after a long sigh, shifting her eyes down to stare at the shiny purple lacquer on her toenails. When she finally spoke again, the higher pitch brought upon by aching heartbreak and nervousness rang clear in her voice. “When Roddy first asked me to come, I told him he could piss off. I had no intention of being anywhere near this building tonight. But when he explained his reasoning for wanting to be here, I couldn’t say no. Even with the way things ended between us, I just can’t let Rod do anything that could hurt him if I have the power to intervene or help him somehow, you know? My conscience doesn’t let me. I love him: he’s my daughter’s dad, and I would do anything for him. I just didn’t think he was going to be here too. If I knew he would be, I wouldn’t have come.”

He bit his lip almost as a gut instinct when he not only heard the pain in Lanie’s voice, but his legs aching aside, he felt it. It was in his stomach, it tossed like he ate a bad batch of tacos, like someone had actually punched him, dug their fingers into his entrails, and got them twisted up for good measure. But he also felt it when he just looked at her. The way she was talking about Roddy, he found himself just standing there, alternating from good leg to bad to good and he wanted to say something, but by the time she finished, all he could do was grab her hand.

“Lanie…” He squeezed it, half-frowning, half-smiling at her. He knew who she meant. He didn’t have to ask because he had seen Decky earlier before he ached his way down the bleachers. “We...we can leave. Or go elsewhere that’s not here if you want.”

Lanie shook her head again, turning to Marco with tears in her eyes once more. “I can’t leave Roddy here,” she whispered sadly, looking back over her shoulder at Roddy and spotting him already caught up in conversation with Kylee Grimm.

Although Lanie was aware that there was nothing between them beyond a platonic friendship like the one she and Marco shared, seeing Roddy and Kylee together felt like another kick to her already injured stomach. Flinching slightly, Lanie looked at her own best friend again. “Even if that Kylee girl is here and is probably very eager to take my place, I can’t just leave him, you know? I mean, he asked me to come here with him for a reason, right? If he wanted her to be the one he came here with, he would’ve asked her. Right?” Elaine knew that she was purposely hyperfocusing on something extremely meaningless, but she didn’t care as long as it kept her mind from trailing back to the presence of her ex-boyfriend.

It wasn’t that Marco felt helpless, but any attempt he made to help her seemed to fail. So he had to go back to the drawing board. “Well, you know that’s simply not true. You could never be replaced. You two share something that nobody in this entire world could ever breach.” Marco’s eyes darted over towards Kylee and Roddy, even if it was for a quick moment. There was nothing negative in the way he looked at them. If anything, it was more of a visual reminder that they were, in fact, over there. Going back to Lanie, he continued, “But he did ask you to come with him, so that has to tell you something.”

The blonde nodded, and for the first time since her eyes had landed on Decky, she gave Marco a small smile. “Did I tell you he said he’d move to Texas with Ryls and I?” She confessed, that smile still playing around on her lips. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up, of course, but it would still be a really nice thing to have him close enough to be an active part of Rylie’s life.”

“No, I don’t believe you ever mentioned that,” Marco admitted, almost laughing for a second. He had known Roddy as the type to never make empty promises. That was something that Marco had always admired about him. Regardless of the situation, he always got the sense that he was a man of his word. So if he said that to Lanie, especially if it seemed that he wanted to move with them, then it must be true. “Roddy has never been the type to say something if it wasn’t true. Or at least, I never got that vibe from him. And I have to imagine, too, that being near you and Rylie is probably one of the most important things to him right now. My gut is telling me that he means this.” Marco always went with his gut feeling.

Before Lanie could get a word out, Mei Ramsey’s voice suddenly echoed across the room, aggressively demanding for the culprit behind this unwelcome class reunion to reveal themselves. As if on queue, the lights in the gym suddenly went off, and Lanie instinctively grabbed onto Marco’s arm. And when Allison’s voice began to ring out from the old building’s sound system, followed by the interchanging images of her deceased best friend along to the tune of “Summer Long Gone”, it took every ounce of the blonde’s strength to not succumb to the sudden wave of grief and pain that was threatening to send her funneling to the ground.

“Wait, is that…?” Marco’s voice was low and especially low compared to the voice playing loud enough that everyone heard.

It took him almost five seconds to register whose voice he heard and his immediate thought was about why Allison Davies’ voice was playing. He didn’t know her well enough to be bothered by hearing her voice. Granted, he was barely a freshman when she died, so Marco wasn’t engrossed in that side of Edenridge High’s social circles. He just knew that Lanie and her were close.

And when he began to think about it, he felt her grip on his arm tighten. And then it got tighter and tighter. It was more than just your usual comfort squeeze. Something about it alerted Marco to look at her and he just said “it’s okay, I’m here” without even thinking. And he said it loud enough so that she not only heard him, but made sure to wait until she was looking at him (or in his general direction) so that she knew he meant it, too.

For what seemed like the millionth time that night, Lanie’s eyes had filled up with tears. Frankly, she was starting to feel pathetic at this point. She hadn’t cried this much since her breakup with Roddy months ago. Thankfully, she had Marco to keep her somewhat grounded to reality. She barely managed to mouth an inaudible thank you to the Brady-Castillo boy when another piercing voice rang across the room.

This time, it was Jillian the one making the scene, clearly intoxicated and seemingly taking a page out of Mei’s book judging by the amount of threats and profanities coming out of her mouth. As much as she wanted to feel sorry for her old friend considering the terrible cards life had played her, there was a secret part of Elaine that couldn’t help but feel relieved that she had extricated herself out of the situation when she did. When Roddy had broken up with her, with no warning, it had left Lanie feeling destroyed. Jillian’s presence, with her happy relationship at the time and her budding pregnancy, had only served as a bitter reminder of what the blonde had lost. She had found herself resenting the redhead more and more with each passing day, until she finally decided to burn all the bridges that could potentially trigger her in one way or another. And although she felt guilty about severing ties when she heard about Jill’s hardships, the redhead’s current behavior was a sign that Lanie had done the right thing. She had her own messed-up life and an infant daughter to worry about. Getting sucked into Edenridge drama of any sorts would be counterproductive in her quest for self-betterment.

Next thing she knew, Jillian was name-dropping Roddy in her rant, and Lanie immediately felt herself tense up. It was one thing for Jill to go around being angry at the world (and rightfully so). But it was another thing if she tried to use the innocent Roddy as a punching bag, because this would mean that Lanie would get herself involved. That, of course, would not be in anyone’s best interests.

Everything was so tense right now. Everyone was on edge.

And it wasn't like Marco didn’t understand it. He was feeling similar emotions. But he felt somewhat disconnected by the strife a lot of people were feeling. Lanie had Decky Boaz being here, Roddy, Roddy’s being blamed for that Alison Davies audio, especially since it was his surname that was showcased, and just...everything else. And then there was Jillian O’Brien, who Marco could only surmise was drunk.

But then there was Marco. He felt like he didn’t really belong here, not really. The only reason he was here was that Danny more or less forced him to come. And even then, he couldn’t think of a genuine reason why he was here, but he knew why he was staying.

For her. His eyes went to Lanie. She needed him more than ever.

As they would both watch Danny, Roddy, Jill, and that Kylee Grimm girl leave the gym, there was a part of Marco that was relieved. It wasn’t so much for him, but for Lanie. The ease that the absence of their forms would bring had to be at least something, right? But then he thought about those numbers and if those four were getting heated over something and then they left, what if they were onto something?

“Maybe...we should follow.” His suggestion came after several moments of being silent. He kept his eyes on Lanie. He understood that what he suggested was practically asking her to do something that he was assuming she didn’t want to.

But deep down, the young man also knew that he wouldn’t leave her side. It didn’t matter how much his legs hurt or were hurting, just because it would be hard for the both of them, didn’t mean they’d have to do it alone. “I know you don’t want to, but if I learned anything from this past year, running away from what might hurt you the most will only delay your suffering. You have to face it head-on. Just know that whatever happens, I’m not going anywhere. Sure, I might not be as directly affected, but you have me, Lanes. You have me until you don’t need or want me anymore.”

Now that the majority of the event attendees had left the gym, Lanie finally felt safe enough to allow a few of the tears she’d been holding back to run down her cheeks. “I’ll always need you, Mac. Always,” she told him softly, her heart swelling with the immense amount of love and gratitude she felt for her friend.

And like the four that went before them, albeit at a slower pace because Marco’s leg was really starting to give him problems, they went towards the haunted halls of Edenridge. Who knew what ghosts they might find there, but what they both knew was neither of them would tackle it alone.

Edenridge

@BrutalBx @Venus

The Honey Badger of the Southside

_{“It's my rule never to lose my temper till it would be detrimental to keep it.” ― Seán O'Casey}

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𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙚

Mikhail Aleksandr Zima

𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨

💣 Mika - Common nickname || Responds to it the most
💣 Mickey - Common nickname || Friends and Second fam call him it || Responds to it also; won’t have any problems with it
💣 Michele - Playground name || Used to taunt him || Only call him this is if you wish to breath blood from your nose
💣 “Honey Badger - Street Name || Serpents will refer to him by it || He has this name for his tendency to not give a fuck and his bold behavior
💣 HB - Derived from his street name, also a common nickname || If you know him by Honey Badger, this is often used to get his attention || Doesn’t care if you call him by it

𝘼𝙜𝙚

20, May 1st || Taurus

𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

Cismale, He/Him

𝙎𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮

Heteroflexible, though heavily leans towards female

𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙨

Single unless something serious comes along

𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨

▸ HEIGHT : | 5'11
▸ WEIGHT : | 165lbs
▸ ETHNICITY : | Russian-English (father’s side); Irish-American (other’s side)
▸ HAIR COLOR : | Dark Brown.
▸ EYE COLOR : | Deep set blue eyes
▸ BODY TYPE: | Athletically toned || Muscular-leaning
▸ MODIFICATIONS: | Mickey has his ears pierced, a scar on the back of his head from his younger years

There’s something to be said about how Mika looks equally like both of his parents. From the deep set eyes he shares with his father (and equally with his brother, Viktor) to the dark-rooted dirty blonde hair that is so clearly a perfect blend of his father’s natural blonde hair and his mother’s dark mane, he embodies them both in almost every single way that counts. And with an athletic body that has origins in being raised to be fit as early as he possibly and physically could, it has further evidence in his eventual progression into athletics and self-defense. The way his muscles are toned now, though with the additive of various scars throughout his body, it is clear to anyone that Mika not only continues to exercise, but he does it to the point where every inch of his body is toned to his preference.

Comfort is easy when you live on the Southside. Cheap and affordable is probably what motivates Mika’s fashion sense, because a lot of what he wears might be found at the thirst store down the block from where he lives. Sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, jeans of varying shades of blue and brown and black and green -- all of it might seem mundane and boring, but aside from the occasional splurge of a special shirt he might like, most of what’s found in Mika’s closet has come at an affordable price. And you can’t say that he doesn’t rock it. Though, he’ll be the first to admit that he might overpay for the copious amounts of aviator sunglasses he owns. Let’s cop that one out to it being an addiction.

𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮

Protective || Compassionate || Initially Kind || Bold & Brazen || Fearless || Confident (when comfortable) || Loyal || Guarded || Tempermental || Self-Sabotaging || Selfish (un/intentional) || Aggressive (when provoked) || Unforgiving (when wronged) || Sees red (when pissed)

Understandably so, Mikhail grew up being torn between two sides. And like the Irish Martini that makes up the two sides of his family, one being the Irish side that is full of red-hot tempers and loyalty for one's own beyond anything that anyone who doesn't know it can't possibly understand it; the irish side that has been the foundation for many moments of blinding red and vulnerable moments with his sisters and mother; the Irish side that has filled him with as much love as it has with uncontrollable fits of rage and misguided protection, often leading Mikhail with the intention to do good but somehow missing his mark.

And then there's the bitterness of his father's end. His father, whose world was filled with so much darkness and toxicity. Like the Chernobyl sight that is radioactive and can be triggered at any moment, so is the way his father's darkness influenced him. The constant need to prove himself, constant need to feel like he could stand up to his older brother, that he wasn't a pussy in comparison. That need birthed not really an identity or anything in the like, but it gave name to his anger. All the frustration from how he felt about his father in both the way he was rarely there and when he was, it was always to instill negativity in his mind, Mika always felt so angry and no matter how angelic the presence of his family was, the demons of his father and of how he found himself in control only when he fought, that's when the name Honey Badger was given to him, because it was not something that was born from trauma but rather, HB was the name given to the uncontrollable rage, the fire that could not be quelled no matter how much love was given.

And that's the brutal truth about Mika. When you meet him, unless there is a reason why he doesn't like you, he'll smile. You'll see someone pleasant, maybe even crack a joke or two, and he will be as polite as you are to him. He is the kind of guy that firmly believes in being treated how you treat others, but give him a reason to punch you and he'll show you no mercy. Hurt his sisters? He'll kill you. Insult his family? You'll have a black eye to go with your broken nose. Disrespect him in a way that comes off as more than just a joke? Your shin is gone.

See, inside, Mikhail is twisted up. There is an internal struggle to balance the goodness his mother instilled in him and the demons that eat at him every night and sometimes, externally, this makes him difficult to deal with.

𝘽𝙞𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮

The origins of the South Side's Honey Badger might hold elements of stereotypes and cliches within them. His father, Ivan Zima, came to be a prominent figure in the Russian Mafia and his particular group was based out of New York City, but specifically, Brooklyn, though Ivan had connections all throughout the entire Northeast, but specifically, he has notable connections within the South Boston area.

Actually, that is where his wife, Mary-Anne Joanna is from. His wife of nearly thirty years, who hails from Edenridge, a community/neighborhood in South Boston. Actually, she is the black sheep of one of Edenridge's founding families. Her's is O'Hara and she first met her would-be husband when he was in Edenridge so many years ago. He was brokering a deal with Reynaldo Gonzalez and Jerry West, the then President of the Fallen Angels MC. It was part of a longstanding agreement that would benefit all three parties -- something that Charlie Taylor honored when he took over five years after the fact.

But during this early time was when a young troubled girl who found herself attracted to the dangers of the gang life entranced by a dashing, young-ish Ivan Zima. With his charming wit, bravado, gorgeous locks of golden hair, and how shockingly attractive he was, the two clicked instantly. She was only twenty-one at the time, but soon they began seeing each other. It wasn't long before Mary found herself enticed by him and addicted to his company that her relationship with her family was strained and when Ivan came to town one last time when he left, so did she.

Their life together has spawned throughout the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. It was never perfect and that was because of his job. He only talked to her about it only so briefly, but she never questioned it because she was in love. And she loved the family they had. Together, Ivan and Mary had four beautiful children. Viktor, Mikhail, Katya, and Anastasia. Viktor, being the oldest, was probably the most difficult and their youngest were great in their own regard, but Mika was probably the only one who got an equal share of light and darkness from his parents.

Mika, he grew up never knowing which end of the scale he should lean. All his life, his father, who most of the time wasn't even around, but when he was, Mika was always second-choice. Viktor was the older brother whose shadow loomed over him. Viktor was Ivan's favorite and sometimes, Ivan made sure Mika knew that. And that always made him feel inferior to his brother. And maybe in a way, that made him bitter, and sometimes that bitterness exploded in conflicts with his classmates. Sometimes it exploded by him getting into fights; and sometimes, though he never meant for it to happen, these fights caused some kids to be hospitalized.

See, Mika grew up with a lot of imbalance in his life. But what seemed to always center him and make him smile were two things. The first being, of course, was his mother and sisters. There had been times when he was reduced to tears, where his insecurities made him punch walls. At times, it got so bad that his sisters and mother couldn't get through to him, but eventually, they did. Their light eventually outshined what his father and brother tried to do to him.

Correction. Their light outshined what Ivan and Viktor thought they succeeded in doing, but it didn't last. For a while, he found a balance.

And then, after something terrible that happened during one of his bad episodes, which as one could imagine, when someone insulted his mother so badly that he exploded his fist into their face, red streams pouring out of several cuts, Mika didn't even consider that the kid he beat up and nearly killed was the son of one of his father's rivals. And he never anticipated that the retaliation would result in one of their cars in their parking lot being blown to smithereens.

And in a rare showing of compassion, Mika saw the genuine fear and worry in his father's eyes. Somewhere in the pits of his soul, Mika thought that his father was only worried about his daughters and mother. Maybe that's why he sent Katie and Stacy to live with their aunt on the northside and why Mika was sent to live with the second thing that centered him: his godfather, Rey Gonzalez.

Some deep-rooted fear took hold and it was a while before Mika found himself comfortable. A lot of the same incidents recurred, but there was a difference. For the first time, he wasn't overlooked. Sure, Rey had a son that was close to his brother, Viktor's age, but even that was different. Rey was there when Mika finally felt comfortable enough to reach out. Rey was there to straighten him out when he needed to be. And when he wasn't, his son Rey Rey brought him out of the red bubble he locked himself in and Mika came to actually love his new home.

And when Rey Rey was otherwise occupied, then Aleyda, Rey Rey's little sister, was there for him too. They were around the same age, so that was something different for Mika to adjust to. He never thought he'd have a sister that was closer to his age than not, but there was something about her that was different. Maybe it was how honest she always was with him. In the beginning, of course, Mika always was peeved and annoyed whenever she spoke her piece about this or that, but over time, which of course coincided with his own comfort with his family, he came to seek it. Even after all these years, she still told it to him how she saw it. It was always something that Mika appreciated.

When Mika embraced Edenridge, he began the journey of having a normal life. He made friends, he joined the football team, he dated and fucked around with some hot girls. He went to parties both on the northside and in his own backyard. And hell, maybe one could say he was in love at one point.

But like with all things in his life, there were things that tested his resolve. He made mistakes both personal and not and, though he didn't know when eventually he would have to face them like the man that Mary-Anne and Rey Gonzalez raised. Ivan Zima wasn't a father to him anymore. Honey Badger made sure of that.

𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮

Zima Family

<sub>Ivan Vladinov Zima AKA "Baba Yaga'' || Father || 56 || Businessman, Arms Dealer, Brigadier for the New York Bratva || Father and main source as to why he has anger problems || Face Claim: Paul Bettany — Ivan lives up to the name. Often dubbed Ivan the Terrible, Ivan the Ruthless, Ivan the guy-you-don't-want-to-fuck-with, in his professional life, he takes no prisoners. A captain -- or Brigadier -- with the Russian Mob, otherwise known as the Bratva, his responsibilities have always been about running jobs that better further the organization's influence amongst cops and politicians and the governing forces, as well as those from the old country. But as a father, Ivan switches into someone less of a monster. Baba Yaga isn't near this at all. Ivan Zima, he raised his four children with a mixture of bias and imbalance. But in a specific way, his sons, Viktor and Mikhail, grew up in a very toxic masculinity way. One embraced while the other struggles to endure.

Ivan never saw how he raised his boys as anything bad, but of course, he would have to be around to notice the effects. Nevertheless, he is such an arrogant and conceited, not to mention narcissistic, man that what he sees and what is the truth are two completely different things. Sure, the way he made his money provided his family with a life they couldn’t complain about -- not realistically, at least (again another thing from his perspective), but at what cost does that come at? The impression one has of you, of course. And unless you’re talking about Viktor, the only one who actually likes Ivan as a father, the general opinion of Ivan is that he’s scum. Though, his wife, for all of her positives, still seems to be very much in love with him.

Especially what he did when it really mattered. Too bad Mika can only see through the good to realize that.

Mary-Anne Joanna Zima (nee. O'Hara) || Mother || 52 || Housewife, Jewelry Designer, The Woman behind the Boogeyman || Face Claim: Raquel Weisz — Mary-Anne is a proud, Boston woman. Fire runs through her veins almost as obvious as the nurturing, loving mother that she is that has almost single-handedly raised four children. To her husband's associates, she might just be "The wife", often serving the men their drinks and whatnot, but it is not what both Ivan and everyone else in the Zima household knows. Though she might be the black sheep of the O'Hara family, specifically for the attraction she's always had for danger, Mary-Anne is the life and soul of the Zima Family. Ivan relies on her when he needs someone he can trust all of his stress with and her kids, they know love because of her. Her twin daughters know a firm, yet gentle hand because Mary-Anne raised them the same way she came up: like queens but knowing when to not take shit. And her sons knew how to respect women even if the world might tell them differently. Viktor may not have absorbed those lessons as much as he should have, but Mika did. And he tried to balance it with the excessive amount of counterproductiveness that came from the other elements in his life.

But what remained a fact was that Mary-Anne, despite all the darkness in their lives, remained the light to guide even her kids that embraced too much of the evils of the world they were born into.

A side note but certainly worthy of knowing is that Mary-Anne is a jewelry designer whose works include various deals with Macy’s and Sears across the northeast. They are affordable, yet stylish. She also designs premium bracelets for more luxurious clients, though ever since her family had to split up, she hasn’t done any of that.

Victor Maxx (born Viktor Maxim Zima) || Older Brother (full) || 28 || Banker, Gangster, Money Launderer || Face Claim: James Norton — Some say Victor is the very embodiment of what it means to be a son of Ivan Zima: confident, business savvy, intelligent, ruthless, charming, but he is also conniving, deceitful, and a pathological liar. He is a literal snake who only does things that benefit him. And that’s just when it comes to business. Personally, he is a bastard. Growing up, Mika always experienced cruel torture from his older brother. Victor always saw it as “toughing” the boy up, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Deep down, Victor never liked Mika. He always thought he was too soft. He thought he was unworthy of the life he was given and always made damn sure to remind Mika of it.

And when he graduated from Harvard Business School, Victor rubbed that in his brother’s face, too, essentially reminding him he was the only one that mattered. Even to his sisters, Victor was a bastard. Maybe that’s why Victor is the true essence of what it meant to be Ivan Zima’s heir. He inherited everything bad about the man, which makes Mika glad that he is all the way off in England where he isn’t Mika’s problem (and hasn’t for a few years now).
Katya Sophie Zima/Katie Čapek & Anastasia Svetlana Zima/Stacy Čapek || Younger Sisters (full; also twins) || 17 & 17 || Seniors at Edenridge High School || Face Claims: Kathryn Newton (Katie) & Kristine Froseth (Stacy) — If Mika and Viktor/Victor represent the darkness of the Zima-O’Hara family, then Katya and Anastasia represent the light. Everything good that Ivan and Mary-Anne possess was so clearly passed down to their twin daughters. And rightly so. They have always been shielded from the horrors of their father’s job and what he does to provide. Or at least they were for most of their life. OF course, they came to understand the complexities of their life, yet they had the maturity and understanding to not let it effect them where it really mattered. They are extremely close with Mika and even somewhat close with their eldest brother, Victor. But they are also extremely close with their mother. Honestly, if there was one person who they’d die for, it’s her and as obvious as a neon sign, that’s a two way street.

The complex upbringing they had was only heightened by the almost biblical elements behind just how much like their parents they are. And it’s almost inversed to how they look, too. Katie, who many say is the spitting image of her father both in the way her face rounds, but with her naturally blonde hair and blue eyes, but it’s the stubborn pride and refusal to accept no as the only answer that she embodies from her mother. And she has used it to the best of her abilities. But likewise, one could say that it’s led to many problems both when she was growing up and when she and her twin were sent to live with their aunt. She always clashed and even got to the point in which Katie found herself seeking a validation of being heard that only the debate team could provide. Her opinions, which contrast her upbringing, has been very anti-violence, very anti-oppression. She leans heavily to the left on the political spectrum and wants to become a lawyer when she graduates college. She is well on her way to being accepted to Yale. She just needs to ace the upcoming school year and she just might do it.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Stacy. Compared to her opinionated twin, she is more mild-mannered than Katie. She has a prim and very regal like personality that many in the Zima-O’Hara family question where she got it, but the truth is that, out of all, her and Mika probably have the same core personality (if we ignore Mika’s temper and all the other shit that plagues him). She is the one who looks most like Mary, though compared to Mary’s almost-black hair, it’s clear her father’s lighter shade influenced the way she appears, what with the auburn shade she has. But she has blue eyes just like her twin. But unlike her twin, she is somebody who doesn’t have any interest in politics or anything about it. It’s not that she doesn’t care, but she’s much too busy with cheerleading. And maybe it is something not as important (coming from Katie), but Stacy feels it’s just as important and it shouldn’t invalidate her opinion. She is quite honestly somebody that is passionate about cheerleading, having been someone who has trained in gymnastics for nearly all of her life, she feels that she can have a real career in it some day and hopes to make the squad of a professional team. Her dream is to make it on the New England Patriots squad, though really any professional team would be more than enough.</sub>

Gonzalez Family

_{Reynaldo “Big Rey” Gonzalez || 60 || Adoptive Father/Godfather || Retired Gang Member || Face Claim: Jimmy Smits — ”Big Rey might be the hardened criminal and sure, he’s certainly equal parts bark and bite, but this man -- yeah, he took me in. Sure, it was because my old man asked him to, but he could have said no, ya know? He could have told Ivan to fuck off, but he didn’t. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty fucking grateful that he didn’t live up to the stereotype that surrounds people like him, ya know people who live a certain life. He didn’t need to take in another mouth to feed and I know I didn’t make it easy for him, but Big Rey is my father. I don’t care about blood and I certainly don’t care if I’ve only been his son for half my life, this man took me in and I’ll be forever repaying all that he’s done for me.”
Reynoldo “Rey Rey” Gonzalez II || 26 || Adoptive Brother || Leader of the SSS || Face Claim: David Castenda — ”Man Rey Rey, you crazy son of a bitch, what is there to really say? You talk a lot and god, you’re a fucking dick, but not in the way that will make you sore after a good night. Sorry, that’s weird but you like it. Anyway, you’re a pretty wild fucker, but whatever was implied with our dad goes double for you. I have a brother and he’s a fucking asshole. A real bastard, but you? Man, you’re the real deal, you know? I mean, you’re still a crazy bastard, but you accepted me as your brother. I know loyalty is a big thing for you and maybe that’s why we have always gotten along so well, huh? You know you always have me in your corner, right? Fuck, you’re my brother and no lack of a blood connection will ever change that."
Aleyda “Ley” Gonzalez || 19/20 || Adoptive Sister || Single mother & Hairdresser @Tresses Salon || Face Claim: Alexa Demie — “Fuck, Ley kinda scared me in the beginning. Really just in your face, but fuck me if she wasn’t one of the few people who was always straight with me. Her honesty was a breath of fresh air. Probably something that just seems to be a Gonzalez trait, huh? But, it’s also that she never sugar coated anything. When I fuck up, she lets me know and when I’m doing good, well she probably won’t be all cuddly about it but I’ll know it when I hear it. And of course, there’s how she’s easily one of the main reasons why I’m not such an illiterate when it comes to Spanish.”}

𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙘

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Fonts: Honey Badger Header || Character Header
💣 Mika is a practitioner of sambo, a Russian martial arts specializing in hand-to-hand combat. He isn't at any professional level but he can certainly hold his own in a fight. Though his anger tends to hinder his technique. So he mildly swings for the fences for the most part.
💣 He is fluent in Russian and English. He can also understand most Spanish and can carry a basic conversation in Spanish but some terms go right over his head.
💣 He wouldn’t call himself an addict because, unlike those junkies who go to Sonny and Prof for their daily fix, Mika knows his limits. That being said, once in a blue moon -- or just whenever he is feeling like it -- he will indulge heavily in party favors that he pays out of his own pocket. And when he does, his poison is always vodka and coke.

The white stuff, not the carbonated sugar water.

💣 Mika is what one might call a sort of third-party to the Serpents. While he technically might be part of the gang, he isn’t part of like Decky Boaz was. He does, however, follow the orders given to him by his brother all the same.
💣 Mika still lives with Big Rey and when he’s not working, he’s helping around the house as much as he can.
💣 Mika drives a black 2017 Toyota Tacoma that he recently bought with money his father forwarded him through several third parties.

💣 He was never going to accept it until he received some advice about what to really do with it

Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit || Wild Boy by Machine Gun Kelly (feat. Woka Flocka Flame) || Radioactive (Imagine Dragons cover) by Bullet For My Valentine || Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz || The Heart and The Fist by Rudy Francisco

Mass Effect: Kingslayer

I wouldn't be against the idea of a Discord server. I know I don't check the Guild as often as I do Discord, but I won't be bummed if there isn't one. Totally your call, Mao!