Girls with mother issues was a foreign subject for Damien, because he couldn't relate, or didn't find himself relating to it. The truth was that he had an amazing relationship with the women in his life, especially with those who weren't directly related to him or didn't have any sense of familial significance to him. His mother was a godsend and one of the strongest people he has ever known. Persephone was someone he didn't think would be so kind to him, but maybe it was their distinct dislike of Hades that made it easy for them to get along. Of course, Erin was someone he was massively protective over.
And then there was Sera and ALina. Sera was someone who he enjoyed sparring with. She may have gotten the one-up on him today, but he'd get his revenge on her sooner than she realized. Alina was fun and a likeminded individual when it came to the concept of relationships (spoiler alert they didn't care about monogamy).
But dead mothers? Yeah, Damien couldn't relate. But then again, maybe he could? It was weird, but he almost found himself identifying with that need of wanting to spend time with one's mother. Hell, if his father wasn't such an omnipotent, all-seeing prick of a father, maybe he could just...go see his mother right now.
Kalinda, apparently, didn't have that luxury.
And damn it, Damien actually felt sorry for her. Not the kind that came out as pity, but a genuine remorse for someone who wanted to make things right.
But he hated that she was expressing some kind of regret for feeling that way.
"Damn it, stop saying sorry for something out of your control!" Obviously, that hit a nerve. "What kind of stone do you want for her? Do you want any special engravings on it? I mean, since we're in a graveyard and there are plenty of empty gravestones, I can get it done for you, well.." He expelled out a small laugh and raised up his right arm, extending it to the side. The palm was open and fingers faced towards the back of the graveyard. A magical rune appeared on the ground three paces in front of him and behind his throne and about ten skeletons with pickaxes and various engraving tools arose from it. "Just tell them what you want and it'll be done."
"Sire, what is it?"
"Good news! You won't be sacrificed today! Instead, Kalinda here will tell you want she wants to be engraved on that there headstone and you'll do it." Damien stared at the empty eyes of the souls of the dead that possessed skeletons with parts of the skin still on the bone. "Fail and then I'll sacrifice you. To Onyx!"
As if on queue, his black pitbull-looking hellhound made his presence known and struck the fear of their sire into their barely alive eyes.
And then they walked up to Kalinda. "Mistress, what would you like for us to do?"
______________________________________________________________________________________ Location: Outside of Home → Delbrook Academy Parking Lot (before school) Interactions: Her idiot brother Outfit for The Vass Siblings ______________________________________________________________________________________
"I swear, if that idiot doesn't hurry up, I'm going to risk it and ride to school myself."
Malu was beyond pissed and it was for a good reason, too.
For as long as she's been attending Delbrook Academy and, hell probably ever since she's been going to school, Malu Vass has never missed a day. She never took a sick day or decided to play hooky because her friends wanted her to go to the beach or just game. No, she never did this because Malu had her eyes on what was beyond next week's test. Malu knew from a young age she wanted to make something of herself. She didn't know exactly what that was, but knew if she could get into a good college, then maybe she might figure it out once she got accepted. All she knew was that acing tests and having perfect attendance were just a couple of ways she might achieve this.
But, of course, as her brother proved time and time again how consistent he was at testing her every button, she stood outside of the Vass home, dressed in her usual summer wear of jean shorts and white top, tapping her foot impatiently against the ground. Curses of all sorts flew out of her mouth in a low tone. She was counting down the seconds she was expecting him to show.
As the final seconds of the last minute Malu could spend standing, waiting for her brother, she was growing so furious that it could no longer be restrained to her gripping her board tightly nor tapping her foot. By this point, Malu was visible fury.
And, of course, that would be the time that her brother’s truck came speeding down the street.
And when it came to a stop, opposite of a glaring Malu, Kyle was smiling at her, eyes partially closed. As if he thought that giving her his trademark “I’m sorry” face was going to make up for making her wait until the literal last minute.
“Sis, I’m so sorr—”
Malu cut him off as she tossed her board into the trunk, and climbed into the passenger seat. “Save it!” She sternly told him. She leaned back into the seat and looked at him with the same scathing gaze that was trademark for her. “Don't just sit there like a dog waiting for a bone!” She gestured to the road in front of us. “Drive, you moron!”
After they finally arrived at the Delbrook Campus, not even a second after his truck came to a stop did Kyle frantically see his sister hop out and grab her board. She didn’t even give him a hug or kiss goodbye. She didn’t wait for him to wish her a good day, which after the fact he realized was weird considering they’d have the same class this year. But still. Rude.
As he sulked for a few moments, Kyle took a glance behind him and admired his surfboard. The reason he was almost late wasn’t because he was slacking off. He just knew that there would be some killer waves to come in, so Kyle did the thing that always came naturally to him: he woke up at 3am, took a shower, and surfed for a few hours. Of course, where he surfed wasn’t practical considering he lived in Long Beach.
The waves he rode were in San Diego.
Yeah, maybe he understood why Malu was mad. Or maybe she just needed to chill. Or maybe she hasn’t pulled that stick out of her ass ever since her last relationship fizzled out. Truth be told, there wasn’t much Kyle could do there. She got with this person and they dumped her. And instead of dealing with it like the more mature sibling she claims to be, she lashes out at him just because he chose to go to the San Diego Beach and ride some waves on a school day.
“And I’m the rude one?”
Kyle shook his head and went to get some food, then went to class.
As the morning progressed, Kyle deduced a few things were made obvious. Number one was the most obvious and that was the incredible discomfort he found himself experiencing when he realized that one of his best bros, Cassian, his little sister sat behind him. And throughout most of that time spent trying to focus on whatever Miss Goldman was saying, he felt the tug internally between wanting to acknowledge her (yes, he’s aware that’s bad) and ignoring her existence for obvious reasons, but also because her brother was sitting in the next row and a couple of seats behind him.
So all in all, Kyle didn’t hear a single word that she said, but before he realized it, the Principal appeared on the screen. Kyle was getting ready to prop up, but when the old man told them to stand up for the pledge, there seemed to be a few others that just groaned when they stood up. And after it was all done, the old man talked a bit about what the year was going to look like.
When Mr. McGregor mentioned homeroom, there was a feeling of dread that passed through Kyle’s entire body when he realized he’d be in hell with one of his best bro’s little sister behind him and Cass watching like a hawk. Or maybe he wouldn’t. All Kyle knew was that he was in for one hell of a last year.
And after they were left go. And after the assembly ended, which left Kyle feeling a lot better than he had all morning, he was pumped. The Carnival was awaiting the most chill, yet most hypest surfer in all of Delbrook and Long Beach.
“Let's do this!” Kyle pumped himself up.
With a loud “wooo!”, he took to a charge towards the lacrosse field.
Kyle went deep into the carnival and had his eye on that big hammer thing with the bell...what was it called again? Honestly, Kyle never knew the name of it, but he knew that it was his favorite attraction alongside the ring toss. But it was the first thing he saw, so once he got his fill, he’d seek out the ring toss.
As the easily excitable surfer took off to a run, he found himself smiling. There were a couple of reasons for this. The bright lights from some of the more well-lit attractions and booths, the energy he felt when he stepped onto the field, but it was more than that, but also simpler. He was smiling because nobody was in line at the hammer-and-bell thing. So, he’d have first, second, third, and maybe if he was feeling lucky, fourth cracks at it.
“Kyle!”
He heard a murmur of his name being called out amongst the loud chatter and sounds. It caused him to stop and look around.
“Kyle! Over here!”
He heard his name being called again, but this time he found who was calling him.
“Oh no…” He shook his head. “Just...keep walking. Don’t do it. Yeah, she’s cute, but donnnn’t do it!”
As he repeatedly tried to convince himself that walking over to a cheek-to-cheek smiling Sandra was a bad idea, especially when she was wearing a really nice top--
Okay, you definitely shouldn’t be looking at what she’s wearing…
As Kyle half turned his gaze away from Sandra, he could still hear her call to him and he could still see her move her raised arm up in the air, as if trying to get his attention. If she had just learned when to quit, he could still make it to the hammer-and-bell game. It was less than ten feet away from him, but as he made a step towards it, he heard a gutwrenching sound that selectively paralyzed him only when he turned back around.
That sound that he heard was the godawful scream of one Alessandra Bishop after she found out how much force a speeding volleyball could dish out when it came into contact with the forehead
What felt like an internal struggle for Kyle was a simple game of tug-of-war. On one side, Kyle knew it wasn’t his job to go to her side, especially if it turned out she was okay. If he went over there and did make sure she was okay and wanted to leave, he knew she wouldn’t let him. God knew that if he did go over there, Kyle would curse himself because he didn’t want to give Cass the wrong idea.
But then the other side came into play.
Kyle was a good guy. Not only that, but all things be damned — including his kindasorta crush on Sandra — Kyle didn’t have it in him to leave Sandra, or anyone for that matter, laying on the ground after being struck in the face by a volleyball.
Rubbing his temples, he cursed himself and was running away from the hammer-and-bell game. He hadn’t looked back at it. He ran full speed to Sandra’s side and took a knee. Internally, he was still cursing but he couldn’t just leave her. “Hey, uh, you alright there, Ali?”
Levi has always been a thrillseeker, a boy who wanted to prove to the world that he wasn't afraid.
Growing up in Angel Grove, he was always a hyperactive knucklehead (though most people just called him an idiot) who got into trouble. It started when he was an infant and he'd make himself the center of attention by drawing it from anyone he could and getting it from anyone he could. At his core, he is a fun-loving person and this always came through as much as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. His parents always encouraged him to live his life as long as he maintained at least some form of boundaries.
But to a thrillseeker, to someone whose high came from that brush with death, boundaries don't mean the same thing to him as they do to most people. Between his indulgences in wave boarding (that eventually became hover wave-boarding) to skating and rock climbing and basically any extreme activity that would satiate that desire for the rush, Levi kept pushing his body to the max, kept pushing his mind past the limit, and kept busy. and sometimes he would even venture into places he may or may not be allowed to step foot on.
As someone whose greatest academic accomplishments were graduating high school with the bare minimum GPA requirement, he was never someone who could understand anything past basic communication. Technology wasn't his strong suit and if you were to ask him about any current events, he'll just give you a blank expression. Instead, Levi will cheer you on and support you if you're going through anything difficult and he'll make you laugh and help you feel better by being a solid friend. In that, he is without a doubt the smartest man in the room. His heart is huge. And really, that's what's most important, right?
Malina Leilani Vass ∞ Malu, Mad Malu, Maliboo (only a select few can get away with it)
A L I A S E S
Malu Vass Offical @MadMalu @MadMalu
A G E
16 || February 16th
G E N D E R
Cisgender female
S E X U A L I T Y
Bisexual (slight female lean) - Malu isn't against dating boys, but boys are dumb and she likes the gentle touch some girls bring to the table.
C U R R E N T C I T Y
High school is set in the LA School District, so.. the choice is yours as long as it fits in that area!
E T H N I C I T Y
Native Hawaiian, ScotIrish, Chinese, and Japanese
_______________________________________
A P P E R A N C E
Height:5’5”
Weight:130lbs/59kg
Hair:Dark Brown || silky to the touch, mid-back length
Eyes:Dark Brown
Body Type:Petite
Body Marks:She has several piercings along her head: earlobe, nose, eyebrows, and tongue
Clothing Style:Like her brother, Malu is a creature of comfort. Baggy clothes from oversized jeans, windbreaker jackets and pants to oversized sweatshirts and shirts, Malu embodies everything one might expect from a SoCal skater girl. She prefers vans over all other skater shoe brands. She typically has a plethora of hats as well: knit caps, actual hats, bandanas tied over her head. She also fashions herself a fan of big loop earrings and piercings as she has several. She usually fashions her hair naturally and tied up with anything really: clips, hairties, etc.
_______________________________________
R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S
Recently Single (long story)
Crushes . . .
Flings . . .
Past Relationships . . .
F A M I L Y
father:∞ Akoni Kahale Vass || 55 || Retired Surfer/Owner of VassWear, a successful surfing apparel and equipment brand || FC: Keanu Reeves mother:∞ Mitsuki "Suki" Vass (nee. Watanabe) || 54 || Retired Skater; now a consultant for skating games such as Skate and Skater XL || FC: Tomita Tamlyn older brother:∞ Skylar Aolani Vass || 17|| Senior at Delbrook Academy; ametuer surfer and full-time dumbass || FC: Booboo Stewart
P E T S
∞ Rocky (4 years old male) - Male Black Lab || Lola (4 and a half years old ) - Female White Lab ∞ Hawk (3 years old) - Male Saint Benard
____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S
✔Going to any skatepark to unwind. ✔#winning - Like her older brother, Malu loves to win, but her version of winning is more about acing her tests and getting the top marks and, during decathelon season, when the Delbrook team wins, she feels vindicated beyond belief ✔Bizarre food combos - the odder the better. Malu's tastebuds aren't like most, so naturally things like peanut butter ramen and flaming hot cheetos-crusted grilled cheese hits the spot ✔When she’s trying to focus, Malu puts her beats headphones on and blasts some hardcore gangsta rap. Anything from Pac, Biggie, P-Diddy, and NWA focuses her mind.. ✔Malu's a nerd and she isn't shy about it (but doesn't broadcast it), so naturally she watches a lot of anime and superhero fiction, reads comicbooks, and, though video games aren't always her forte, sometimes you can catch her playing Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts with the occasional MOBA if she has the time
D I S L I K E S
✘#losing - like her brother, Malu doesn’t like losing, either. It infuriates her to no end. ✘Being late to school. Her perfect attendance record is kind of important to her and usually whenever her brother has it in his hands, she grows increasingly annoyed with him. ✘Limes - from the color to its sour taste, Malu just doesn’t vibe with it. She much prefers the tanginess of a grapefruit or a lemon vs gross limes. ✘Her brother’s annoying habits of “going witht he flow”. As someone who is pretty anal about punctuionality, Malu can’t handle it sometimes. ✘Know-it-alls who don’t actually know it all. Malu knows her shit but she doesn’t brag; she shows it. Those who brag probably are compensating for something.
____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y
Intelligent → observant → analytical → passionate → ambitious/ambitchous → arrogant → self-critical → stubborn → has a volcanic temper
Malu is the exact opposite of her brother. While both are loud in their own right and have a certain energy to them that makes it undoubtable they are related, Malu's energy is less chaotic than Kyle's; she has a focus. She is an amateur skater, but that is not what she devotes most of her time to. Even though part of her heart is with it, academics is where she feels her soul pulling her towards. She has a bright mind and using that, she has devoted herself to her studies. She's observant and has comprehension skills that far outclass most of the members of her family. With AP classes making up most of her class schedule, she proves that she has the drive to succeed.
But sometimes this means Malu is too driven. She has the tendency to never give up and while that's normally a positive thing, she does it obsessively and may even put everything in her rear-view mirror as she tries to accomplish whatever her mind has convinced to put her all into.
Malu is someone who will also go to bat for those closest to her. Unlike her brother who tries to go more diplomatic or get everyone to chill, Malu is a fighter. If she has a problem with you or you cause one for her, she won't hesitate to show you why they dub her "Mad Malu". And as a lover, she's equally as passionate, but she gets jealous easy. Or at least it is assumed. Truth be told, Malu hasn't actually had a girlfriend or boyfriend mainly due to her obsessive nature of devoting everything to her schoolwork.
____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y
There is a love story that holds a lot of importance in the Skating and Surfing worlds. Two cultures that have often been associated with each other, yet both have significantly different vibes (as the kids say). Surfers are laid back and relaxed. They are very much “go with the flow”, as is the requirement of their sport.
Meanwhile, skaters are rowdier. They live by a “live free or die trying” creed. They are rebellious and not always law-abiding. They are rough around the edges and usually come from broken homes. Their aggression takes form in the music often associated with them. And their tricks are flashy. Very much a “high risk and high reward” style.
And yet if you really think about it, they aren’t all that different.
That’s what brings us to how these two collide and why it is so relevant to Skyler and Malina Vass. IT is because their parents comes from both worlds. And much like their parents, they followed in the same footsteps. In the shadow of Akoni Vass, Skyler found a love in the freedom and the relaxed vibes that the ocean gave him, while Malina, who was very much like her mother, Mitsuki Watanabe. Aggressive, graceful, and full of attitude.
And the story of how Akoni and Mitsuki met is something of a romantic tale that goes back nearly thirty years.
Akoni, a native to the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, came from a long line of Big Wave Surfers. And he was a gifted one at that. At just twenty years old, he was in the surfing finals in 1985. It was him and an Australian by the name of Jason Dust (clearly not his real name but that’s what everyone called him). He got the name in how he always left everyone in his dust and won every competition he paritipated in.
And this one was no different.
While he lost in the competition, it was after that a nineteen year old Japanese girl came up to him. She introduced herself as Suki. They talked for ten minutes about how close he came and how hse was rooting for him. She said she had been following his career for a few months and how she admired his talents. And then at the luau, they talked some more. They’d spend the entire night off on their own, talking about anything and everything: their hobbies, interests, what kind of music they liked, what kind they hated, their favorite food, least favorite, and pretty much everything came up.
It’s funny. They were two people who met by chance. She was visiting her grandfather who lived on the island and there she met the boy who would become the love of her life - only it wasn't at that moment. It wouldn’t be until twelve years later at the 1997 Summer X-Games that were being hosted in San Diego where he’d see Suki again. It didn’t matter that he received international success as a multiple award-winning surfer and had made a name for himself, or that so much time had gone by since he last saw her, Akoni knew her face almost immediately.
And when she took gold in the Vert event by landing a 720 tailgrab and she was getting honored, he thought about all the time wasted and he rushed to the podium. Of course, security recognize dhim and in a rare moment, they let him go on stage. After several moments of letting the audience realize that Akoni Vass was in the crowd, he went straight to Suki, knowing full well she knew who he was (or so he hoped) and he stumbled through his words only to say “frick it” into the microphone and got down on one knee.
“We haven’t seen each other in so many years, but I never forgot you. Suki, marry me babe!”
And she didn’t hesitate to say yes. On the day where, until five minutes before seeing Akoni, her biggest thought was how happy she was about all of her hard work paying off. But after it all, now she was engaged to the person she’d spend the following 20+ years with and have two amazing children with. And no matter how many times the story gets told in their household, both Kyle and Malu never seem to be able to fake their smile. It is more than just a nice, romantic tale about how two people who didn’t think they’d ever see each other again end up not only finding their way back to each other, but carpe diem life. It’s about how all the success in the world never fill the void of true happiness.
But one big takeaway they both have (albeit for very different reasons) is how their parents’ story, much like the old tradition, is also their legacy.
But for Malu, the impact the story had on her isn't as important as what her mother did in her day. She proved everybody wrong that being a champion at the X Games wasn't just a boys club. That was something that Malu always clung to. She knew most girls her age, especially when they heard of their parents' grand love story, would hone in on the romantic aspect of her father proposing after they hadn't seen each other for so long. And yeah, maybe Malu thought that at first, but the older she grew up and more confident and sure about what she wanted out of life, the more she came to look up to her mother's groundbreaking achievements and wanting to do the same. She didn't want to be another pretty face nor did she want to be the person who would have the tagline "just like her mother did before her".
She wanted to stand on her own.
Yet, Malu isn't at the point yet that she knows exactly what she wants. Despite her desires, her love the sport that her mother brought up in is there. Her mother's influence is all around her in more ways than she probably realizes. She feels a pull towards the sport, but she also wants to stand on her own two feet, separated from her parents' accomplishments. She just doesn't know what she wants to do.
____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O
G R A D E Y E A R
11th - Junior
G P A & A V E R A G E
3.9 || B+ and A- average - 90/92% average
E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S
Trig & Physics
E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R
∞ Academic Decathelon Team ∞ Occasionally tudors
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N
When she isn't dragged around by her idiot older brother, Malu gets around with her board
P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N
Hard to say. Malu has her heart set on Harvard or Yale. Those are her dream schools, but selection is hard and acceptances are even more difficult. It's why she's putting in as many AP courses that she can get. And why she's tutoring so she can beef up her application.
But then there's her skating. God only knows that if she wanted to, Malu could make it big. She has the talent, but she doesn't want to be just known for that. What should she do? Forget about getting a degree that could set her up for life so she can just be referred to as Suki 2.0? Is that really something she'd be okay with?
____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O
E M P L O Y M E N T
When she was a preteen, she made a good amount of money from skating competitions that she saved. Her current income is from her tutoring. Rich parents want their dumb kids to barely pass and that's where Malu comes in.
F A V O R I T E P L A C E S
∞ Houghton Skatepark ∞ Long Beach Towne Center ∞ Any comic book store, especially when the new Saga and Wonder Woman is due and Comic Con when it's Comic Con season
R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S
∞ Making sure she’s the top of her class, which given she’s thrown in with the seniors, it’s a lot. And Malu likes the challenge that brings. ∞ Making sure her spot on the Academic Decathelon team stays hers. ∞ Not ruining her perfect attendance, which given her main mode of transportation is her idiot brother, that proves to be more difficult than it should be. ∞ Tutoring the occasional dumbass
____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R
Growing up, in addition to her mother, Malu had always looked up to women who were icons like Rosa Parks, Joan Jett, Hayley Williams
This isn't just limited to real life. Malu took a liking to powerful women in fiction like Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Katness Everdeen, etc
An unashamed guilty pleasure of Malu's are daytime soap operas. Don't judge her, but Days of Our Lives is her favorite and has been ever since 2009.
She will fight anyone that Marlena's possession storyline was actually pretty iconic.
Malu isn't picky on who she tutors, but if they're a lost cause, she'll tell the parents - almost brutally
When it comes to the decathlon team, she normally assumes the role of captain until someone either officially declares her the team captain or someone more qualified comes forward.
She hates any kind of vinegar: distilled, red wine, balsamic -- whatever it is, she doesn't like it.
Hates her full name and punches anyone who dares to call her Malina.
Seeing the fireworks jump to the sky and greet the clouds in loud splendor left a bittersweet taste in Jackson Drake’s mouth.
Again, he had been forced to attend Camp Ridgewood, separated from just about every potential for fun that he could be having in town. Right now, he would be on main street, enjoying a classic Ridge-Dog, a cheese-stuffed sausage on a brioche sandwich roll with grilled peppers, onions caramelized until they resemble jam, and topped with a special sauce that consisted of Japanese mayo and a slight drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Just that little hint of the tart, bitter, sour, sweet balsamic makes the whole thing come together.
And of course, he would be hanging with his boys - his crew that he did everything with.
Jackson was missing it because, of course, Felix Lopez, one of the more reputable teachers at the middle school he recently graduated from, had felt the need to put his name down. Jackson was getting older. Lopez knew this and he wanted Jackson to experience the camp life as much as he could. And it wasn’t like Jackson hated being at camp. It wasn’t far from town, so if he really wanted to go home, as much as he knew Felix would hate it, Jackson could just ride the trail down the mountain.
It would be so easy to just head back home.
But Jackson hated easy. Easy was the coward’s way out. Easy was wearing floaties when you were learning how to swim. Easy was using Youtube when you struggled with a trick.
Jackson hated taking the easy way out. If he didn’t persevere, then how would he know what his limits were? Well, okay, he doesn’t know his limits for everything. He doesn’t know how many RidgeDogs he can eat in one sitting nor does he know how long he can go breathing underwater without wimping out.
What Jackson does is this: as tempting as it was, he wouldn’t go down the trail. Instead, he would sit at the edge of the cliff, phone in hand as his board was in his lap. He kept his eyes on the display of fireworks that continued.
And that was when he heard his phone buzz in his hand and that immediately caught his attention for a few reasons. Maybe, the most jarring was how, recently, cell service had been in a fritz today. No matter how hard Jackson tried, he couldn’t contact anyone that wasn’t outside the camp. For some reason, one of those who were in his contacts that were on campgrounds currently could be reached.
So, why of all times, was he getting an alert saying he got a fucking E-Mail?
Opening the email, he read it and it made no sense. Jackson read the wordy email and it made no sense. Someone named Jericho Watson, who went on to talk about something that he clearly didn’t know anything about. Did Jackson claim to see two giant ass monsters fight about six years ago? Yeah maybe. And did anyone believe him? Well, the local conspiracy theorist had a few ideas, but by the time Jackson’s parents had him go through the motions of seeing kid-friendly therapists, they deduced that it was just his wild imagination.
He was eight, after all. Who the hell would believe the wild and active imagination of an eight-year-old kid?
Laughing, Jackson just closed the email and deleted it. “Whatever man!” Remnants of his laugh carried into a sigh and Jackson looked at the sky. “Yeah...It was made up.” As he spoke, he blinked once and swore he saw something spark above the fireworks, the faintest sight of something...different than what he should be seeing. Like something flying that looked too...green to be anything in the sky.
“Oh, great you’re seeing things again.”
And when Jackson shook its head, it was gone. Gone, but what did that mean?
Nothing. Because that’s what it was. You were seeing nothing but your hunger getting the better of you.
Maybe...Maybe Jackson needed to get some food.
Yeah, that was a good idea. And that’s what Jackson did. He got up and went to the mess hall, hoping an evening snack may just help him not pretend like he saw what he did six years ago.
Skylar Aolani Vass ∞ Kyle, “Totally Kyle”, KyeKye (his little sister used to call him that)
A L I A S E S
KyleDoesThings @TotallyKyle @TotallyKyle
A G E
17 || February 16th
G E N D E R
Cisgender Male
S E X U A L I T Y
Pansexual - Much like the waves he rides, Kyle is very much about “going with the flow” when it comes to romance or otherwise. Gender identity has no place in this surfer’s heart.
C U R R E N T C I T Y
Long Beach, California
E T H N I C I T Y
Native Hawaiian, ScotIrish, Chinese, and Japanese
_______________________________________
A P P E R A N C E
Height:5’10”
Weight:165lbs/75kg
Hair:Dark Brown || silky to the touch, mid-back length
Eyes:Dark Brown
Body Type:Surfer bod
Body Marks:N/A
Clothing Style:Usually, you might say that Kyle is someone who prefers “comfort over style”, but to him his comfort is his style. Long sleeve shirts, baggy shorts, jeans, tanks for those hot days, and a collection of baseball caps + a handful of hair bands because of his long hair, this is his style. He doesn’t know what the hell to call it, but it’s his! He also favors Nike shoes exclusively. He might be a materialistic person, but top of the line Nike shoes is his one indulgence -- well, when it comes to apparel. Food on the other hand is another matter altogether.
_______________________________________
R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S
Single (for now)
F A M I L Y
father:∞ Akoni Kahale Vass || 55 || Retired Surfer/Owner of VassWear, a successful surfing apparel and equipment brand || FC: Keanu Reeves mother:∞ Mitsuki "Suki" Vass (nee. Watanabe) || 54 || Retired Skater; now a consultant for skating games such as Skate and Skater XL || FC: Tomita Tamlyn younger sister:∞ Malina Leilani "Malu Vass || 16 || Junior at Delbrook Academy; ametuer skater || FC: Fivel Stewart
P E T S
∞ Rocky (4 years old male) - Male Black Lab || Lola (4 and a half years old ) - Female White Lab ∞ Hawk (3 years old) - Male Saint Benard
____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S
✔The beach and everything it provides: the sun to tan, the ocean to surf and swim, the beach to play volleyball and throw frisbys, also the beach to get buried in the sand by the boys and potentially have a sandbra made in the process, and having occasional picnics where SAND WILL NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE POTATO SALAD! ✔#winning - Kyle loves to win and hates losing. There is no worse feeling in the world to him, so he'd prefer to win if at all possible. ✔Loco Moco - yeah, he's a walking stereotype, so you bet he adores this beloved classic from the island. Meat? Good! Rice? Good! Beef gravy with MSG and soy sauce? GOOOOOOOD! ✔Or really any food. Kyle loves his food. Especially if it';s cheesy or with a little soy sauce on top. ✔Not doing homework - he's not his sister. Homework makes him want to die. ✔Hanging with the boys ✔Mixing all sorts of sodas for a special surprise flavor ✔90s beach vibe, or really anything about the 90s ✔Playing video games ✔Trying to win big with the ladies and fellas who aren't one of the boys
D I S L I K E S
✘#losing - he isn't a sore loser or winner but he really hates the feeling of failure ✘When the vibe is ruined - all Kyle wants to do is be all about those good vibes, but when the good vibes are ruined, it's a real bummer. ✘Drugs that isn't weed - he gets high but he doesn't do anything stronger than that. ✘Being told to cut his hair - yes, he understands you dumb boomer - his hair is too long. You can shut up about it already. ✘TV series/films that require too much thought to enjoy ✘Aggressive music - he much prefers the easy listening stuff ✘Beer - not that Kyle doesn't enjoy his alcohol, but he's more of a wine cooler and fruity drink kind of drinker. ✘All the "Kyle" memes - okay, maybe not all of them, but it got annoying a couple of years ago when all everyone wanted was for him to punch some drywall. ✘Spicy food - he does like the hot stuff and definitely doesn't like it when it gives him the shits from hell ✘Wasting time - not so much because he's impatient but Kyle doesn't want to waste time beating around the bush. Rip off the bandaid! ✘Spiders - they scare the heeby-jeebies out of him
____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y
Being the thrill-seeker that he is, Kyle approaches every new obstacle that comes his way with the mindset of someone optimistic about success but accepting that he might stumble. He believes that if you don't try, then you won't know what'll happen. Rejection is always something that life will throw at you, but in his sometimes-humble opinion, Kyle has always tried to keep a level head if he failed. Of course, there are moments when his emotions get the better of him. He might flip out, fall into a "mood" that will take him out of commission for a while, but eventually, he'll come back swinging harder than ever.
Kyle believes in never staying down. Whatever he did wrong before won't happen again because he'll tackle that obstacle from a different approach. Whether it's mastering a new trick, making friends, wooing the hot person that caught his attention, or trying to figure out the monster that is Algebra, Kyle never gives up. Even in his down periods, in the back of his mind, he knows he has to face what nearly destroyed him. Remember, what doesn't kills you truly makes you stronger.
His eyes being open to adventure and trying new things also extends to befriending someone who might be his polar opposite. Sometimes he isn't met with the most positive reaction due to his ability to come off as obnoxious and simpleminded (not his words, but it's been said in the past to his face) - but he always means well. In both friendship and romance, Kyle only has the best intentions at heart. As overbearing as he might be and as annoying others might find him (ask his younger sister), Kyle will persist. He's tenacious like that.
Sometimes, however, Kyle is oblivious to what others want. Or more like he'll be so lost in his own head, believe that the best thing for him is to succeed after he has failed, that he'll lose sight of something even more valuable. In his mind, losing often doesn't come into play unless all options have been explored. Sometimes Kyle doesn't acknowledge that some things weren't meant for him to succeed. And that's really the worst thing about him. A special kind of stubbornness that takes form in his dedication to win.
____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y
There is a love story that holds a lot of importance in the Skating and Surfing worlds. Two cultures that have often been associated with each other, yet both have significantly different vibes (as the kids say). Surfers are laid back and relaxed. They are very much “go with the flow”, as is the requirement of their sport.
Meanwhile, skaters are rowdier. They live by a “live free or die trying” creed. They are rebellious and not always law-abiding. They are rough around the edges and usually come from broken homes. Their aggression takes form int he music often associated witht hem. And their tricks are flashy. Very much a “high risk and high reward” style.
And yet if you really think about it, they aren’t all that different.
That’s what brings us to how these two collide and why it is so relevant to Skyler and Malina Vass. IT is because their parents comes from both worlds. And much like their parents, they followed in the same footsteps. In the shadow of Akoni Vass, Skyler found a love in the freedom and the relaxed vibes that the ocean gave him, while Malina, who was very much like her mother, Mitsuki Watanabe. Aggressive, graceful, and full of attitude.
And the story of how Akoni and Mitsuki met is something of a romantic tale that goes back nearly thirty years.
Akoni, a native to the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, came from a long line of Big Wave Surfers. And he was a gifted one at that. At just twenty years old, he was in the surfing finals in 1985. It was him and an Australian by the name of Jason Dust (clearly not his real name but that’s what everyone called him). He got the name in how he always left everyone in his dust and won every competition he paritipated in.
And this one was no different.
While he lost in the competition, it was after that a nineteen year old Japanese girl came up to him. She introduced herself as Suki. They talked for ten minutes about how close he came and how hse was rooting for him. She said she had been following his career for a few months and how she admired his talents. And then at the luau, they talked some more. They’d spend the entire night off on their own, talking about anything and everything: their hobbies, interests, what kind of music they liked, what kind they hated, their favorite food, least favorite, and pretty much everything came up.
It’s funny. They were two people who met by chance. She was visiting her grandfather who lived on the island and there she met the boy who would become the love of her life - only it wasn't at that moment. It wouldn’t be until twelve years later at the 1997 Summer X-Games that were being hosted in San Diego where he’d see Suki again. It didn’t matter that he received international success as a multiple award-winning surfer and had made a name for himself, or that so much time had gone by since he last saw her, Akoni knew her face almost immediately.
And when she took gold in the Vert event by landing a 720 tailgrab and she was getting honored, he thought about all the time wasted and he rushed to the podium. Of course, security recognize dhim and in a rare moment, they let him go on stage. After several moments of letting the audience realize that Akoni Vass was in the crowd, he went straight to Suki, knowing full well she knew who he was (or so he hoped) and he stumbled through his words only to say “frick it” into the microphone and got down on one knee.
“We haven’t seen each other in so many years, but I never forgot you. Suki, marry me babe!”
And she didn’t hesitate to say yes. On the day where, until five minutes before seeing Akoni, her biggest thought was how happy she was about all of her hard work paying off. But after it all, now she was engaged to the person she’d spend the following 20+ years with and have two amazing children with. And no matter how many times the story gets told in their household, both Kyle and Malu never seem to be able to fake their smile. It is more than just a nice, romantic tale about how two people who didn’t think they’d ever see each other again end up not only finding their way back to each other, but carpe diem life. It’s about how all the success in the world never fill the void of true happiness.
But one big takeaway they both have (albeit for very different reasons) is how their parents’ story, much like the old tradition, is also their legacy. For Kyle, he has always saw it as inspiration. The hope that you might not always succeed, but never giving up has stuck with Kyle all his life. Not only does he take after his father in the passion he followed, but many who have seen them together have said that they are alike in so many ways: their thrill for adventure, love for Hawaiian classics like dry seaweed and loco moco, and the completely approachable personality.
But the biggest thing that they are often compared to each other for is their ability to piss off the women in their lives. Kyle is young, so he doesn’t know better, but Akoni is almost fifty, so you’d think he wouldn’t be a literal manchild, yet he constantly proves this whenever he and his boy decide to go on one of their spending spree at whatever toy store they can find.
But you can’t say that they don’t make things interesting for whoever is waiting on the other end of one of their wild adventures.
____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O
G R A D E Y E A R
12th - Senior
G P A & A V E R A G E
2.9 || C+ average with your occasional B and rare A
E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S
Yoga & Acrobatics
E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R
∞ Surfing (for Delbrook) in the spring; otherwise, he does it as a passion.
As if it wasn't obvious, Kyle wants to go pro. As in be like his father was at his age and go pro in Surfing. It's his biggest passion and, even though he might be the captain of DA's surfing team, it's not enough. At the end of the school year -- spring season, to be specific -- he won't be the captain anymore. So Kyle hopes this last year will open doors for him. He hopes that he'll make it big and really get off to the right foot.
If not, then there's always being like Mr. Beast and becoming the biggest stunt Youtuber the site has ever seen. That'd be fun, right?
____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O
E M P L O Y M E N T
Due to his surfing and acrobatic stunts and how-to videos on Youtube, Kyle makes anywhere from 1k to 7.5k dollars per month due to the consistent sponsorships he gets from companies such as Raid: Shadow Legends and SquareSpace.
F A V O R I T E P L A C E S
∞ Really any beach, but he has a preference for Hunnington Beach ∞ Abalone Cove Shoreline Park (for cliff jumping) ∞ Driving along the SoCal coastline during sunset and sunrises ∞ Finding any hidden dives to chow down at after a hard day of surfing
R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S
∞ Captain of the Surfing Team #GoRisingTides ∞ Does being chill and awesome count? No, then probably making sure his sister doesn't get into trouble ∞ Managing his social media accounts and making sure he keeps his presence on them consistent ∞ He pays for his own phone bill and car insurance and he has been on time with them for most of the time.
____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R
Kyle has a solid presence on social media where he and his friends perform various stunts
Kyle is technically diagnosed with ADHD, but neither of his parents got him treated for it due to neither of them believing in the label, so instead, Kyle channels his energy into his various hobbies and his parents allow him the freedom that comes with it
Kyle has a severe addiction to energy drinks but with a strong affiliation towards Bang Energy!
Because of his presence on not only the surfer scene, but social media, Kyle is sponsored by Vans, Bang Energy, and Raid: Shadow Legends
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!
💣 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.
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
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.
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
____________________________________________________________________________________________________ FC: Finn ColeDialogue Color: #635687 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
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