#Melody is the OC adopted Caitiff kid of their OC Arianna and Nines for reference folks

[victorluvsalice]

Happy Birthday Squid!

@gaydragonwizards -- as per your previous request, here is a story about Romero teaching Melody how to shoot, back before some of the major nonsense in our RP stuff! I hope you enjoy!

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“Okay, so – for our first lesson in shooting, I figured we’d start off with handguns.”

Romero snapped open the case in front of him, gesturing for Melody to take a look. “Got us a pair of basic Brokk 17cs here – they’re some of the easiest guns to get and carry around Los Angeles. I mean, pretty much every gang-banger and wanna-be crime lord on the street has got one of these in their back pocket or shoulder holster. Small, light, pretty easy to handle – downside is that they don’t have the greatest stopping power, but – well. You’re a Kindred – you’ve got other ways to stop people. And trust me, anything is better than that .38 your mother was using for fucking ages.” He rolled his eyes at the memory. “Seriously, I have no idea how she lasted until Hollywood with that damn thing. Like, she went down into the fucking Nosferatu sewers when that lizard asshole was filling them with shit with that and somehow managed to come out the other side.” He paused and considered this. “Then again, I guess she had Alice backing her up there. . .and let me tell you, that woman is terrifying with a knife.”

Melody made a grunt of agreement, then started reaching for one of the guns, clearly eager to begin. “Whoa – slow down there,” Romero said, putting his hand in front of theirs and earning himself a look. “Let’s get one thing straight right here, right now, okay? You don’t do anything until I tell you to. I’m the teacher here, and you’re gonna respect that.”

Melody’s eyes narrowed challengingly. “Don’t start – your mom’s asked me to teach you how to shoot a gun, and I’m happy to give you a few lessons,” Romero told them, frowning right back. “Knowing how to shoot, and shoot well, is a fucking lost art these days, and I wanna keep it around. But I know what you’re like, kid – that you’re into screwing around whenever you think you can get away with it. And normally I wouldn’t give a shit – but you cannot pull that while we’re having shooting lessons.” He wagged a finger at them. “I mean that – guns are dangerous. I mean, yeah, fine, not as dangerous to you guys as they are to humans and ghouls, but getting shot, especially in the right spot, still ain’t fun. You gotta respect your weapon – and more importantly, you gotta know how to handle it before you even think of pulling that trigger. I know you’re a smart kid, and you’ll pick up this shit fast, but you gotta listen to me. You start fuckin’ around, and I’ll end the lesson right here.” He leaned in for emphasis, meeting Melody’s gaze head-on. “And I’ll tell your mother exactly why.”

Melody’s expression went from “resting sullen” to “oh shit.” “Yeah, I figured that’d get your attention,” Romero said, allowing himself a tiny smirk. “I’m gonna try and keep it fun for you, I promise – we got loads of cans and bottles to shoot off the fence, for starters. But like I said, guns are dangerous, and I don’t want to be the one to explain to Ari why you’ve got a bullet wound or two in you – or in me. We do this, we’re doing it right. Good?”

Melody nodded, setting their face in “I’m ready and willing to learn” mode. “Great. So, before you even pick that thing up, a couple of safety tips to remember – always treat any gun as if it’s loaded. Even if you unloaded it yourself. Shit can happen, bullets can get chambered without you knowing, and it’s just not worth the risk. Second, always keep your finger off the trigger unless you intend to shoot. It’s too fucking easy to pull it without meaning to. And third, always be aware of not only your target, but what’s beyond it. Bullets go fast, and – depending on the caliber of the bullet and the gun – can punch through more stuff than you think. You don’t want to shoot a guy, only for the bullet to go right through him and hit your buddy on the other side.” He wagged his finger again. “What it comes down to is, well, don’t be an idiot. Think you can pull that off?”

Melody leveled another look at him. “Yeah, yeah, I know, lived under all our noses in that junkyard for who knows how long, you got brains and can take care of yourself. Just humor me and nod.”

That got a small smile, and the requested nod. “Fantastic. Okay – now you can pick up the gun, and I’ll show you how to check it and how to load it up. . .”

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[victorluvsalice]

Merry Christmas Squid!

@gaydragonwizards You asked for something with your OC Melody and Beckett, and I remembered one of our previous convos about Melody drawing some of their adventures with Beckett -- and hiding a few incriminating sketches featuring a certain Tzimisce’s creations from their mom -- and decided to go with that! Hope you like!

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“Melody?”

Melody looked up as Becket approached them. “What are you doing?” he continued, tilting his head at their little notebook. “I thought I was the designated note-taker in our little duo.”

Melody grinned and held up the book, revealing a sketch of a rather disturbing creature with blades instead of hands and a mouthful of knife-like teeth. “Ah, I see,” he said with a nod. “Indulging in the visual arts. Suppose I should be grateful you’re not spraying it all over the walls.”

Melody smirked. “I could.”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” Beckett said, in the tones of someone who fully expected to come in one evening and find the cabin just a blaze of interesting colors. He took a moment to study the drawing more closely. “It is very good, though. . .have you been doing these the whole trip?”

“Eh, about halfway through?” Melody shrugged, going back to their drawing. “Just – sometimes it’s quiet, and it’s something to do.” They poked their tongue out of the side of their mouth as they added some shading. “So I can remember the trip.”

“I’m surprised you think you’ll need help with that,” Beckett noted with a smirk. “You’re supposed to be the young whippersnapper here. Leave the memory loss to those of us who have been around a few centuries.”

Melody directed the tongue at Beckett. “I want souvenirs that aren’t your dumb notes.”

“My notes are never dumb. Often strange, many times baffling, and every so often verging on the absolutely ridiculous, but never dumb.” His expression softened a bit. “But by that same point, I understand the urge to keep a record. Perhaps our methods are different, but I get wanting to have something physical to look back on. And it’s been quite the journey, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Melody agreed, grinning. “Why I wanna draw some of it. So I can show everybody back home. Since, you know, you don’t have a camera on ya when we go out.”

“It’s a potential Masquerade violation if I take a picture of the wrong thing,” Beckett reminded them.

“Yeah, but you could take pictures of other stuff. We’ve been around just regular statues and shit.”

“That is a point. . .but on the other hand, I’m not exactly the best at developing film, and my attempts to learn how cellphone cameras work have more often than not led to me photographing my own thumb,” Beckett confessed with a chuckle. “So I wouldn’t rely on me for a visual record of our adventures.” He leaned over Melody’s shoulder, observing the creature taking life under their pencil. “I think your drawings should fill the gap nicely, though.”

“Thanks.”

“Mmmhm.” He let a moment go by, then added, “I’d – rip this one out of your journal once you’re done, though. Keep it to yourself.”

Melody shot him a weird look. “Huh? Why?”

Beckett raised an eyebrow. “Do you really want your mother to know you and I personally tangled with the szlachta of Sasha Vykos?”

Melody stared at him for a moment. Then, slowly, they put down their pencil, turned back to the notebook, and carefully pulled the page out. “Uh – might leave this one with you,” they admitted.

“Wise choice.”

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