#muse: xiomara

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

Hello I’m here to demand you tell me everything about Scarlet SanDiego pretty pretty pls with a Cherry on top

EEEEEK *takes in deep breath* ok this is a long one

-> Scarlett Vera Sandiego

Sister: Xiomara Isabel Calloway

Animated FC: Princess Elena Castillo Flores from EOA (different eye color and auburn hair)

Fandom: Carmen Sandiego 2019/Laws of Attraction

Designated Tag: #scarlett sandiego oc

LI: Soren Reinhart (OC; International Spy)

I also remembered my OG LOA MC literally after you made the ask 😭 (Kavya "Kavi" Asvaldr Nikatas I think, also she/her who is besties with my CoP MC) and I actually was gonna end up pairing her with Thomas in an alt MOTY Universe! Though I haven't finished the series yet so Thomas was gonna be my backup LI unless I decide who she wants to be with/stay single. The idea of her 7th wheeling is hilarious to me. So if she sounds more interesting for the Windverse™️ feel free to tell me. It might even be easier since she's a blank slate that I can add to after replaying

I don't really know where to begin so this post is kind of gonna be a mess/super vague uhhhh

Nickname(s): Scar

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality/Preference: Bisexual

Religious Identity: Agnostic

Birthday/Zodiac: December 15 (Sagittarius) 

Major: Lawyer

Born/Raised: Buenos Aires, Argentina -> Sydney, Australia

Parents: Carmen Sandiego (Superthief -> Philanthropist) and Graham "Crackle" Calloway (Ex-Electrician; Deceased in "Accidental" Fire)

Ethnicity(?): Argentinian and Indigenous Australian

Trivia: Central Heterochromia (Hazel-Gray Eyes)

Life Motto: "Find your inner flame"

Connection w/ Other MCs: Friends with OPH MC and I believe she's distantly related to my ACOR MC? I have to check lol

I'm literally blanking rn but basically, her parents used to be thieves and part of a secret evil organization (her mom was raised there from birth and met her dad at the same school), and after they defeated said organization, they settled down (even started the Scarlet Sheep Orphanage) but ofc the leaders of [organization] weren't gonna let them live happily ever after. So they staged a fire that killed Gray. Scar ran back inside after she saw her father die. She lived with a lot of resentment towards the organization and specifically the people who killed her father, but eventually, she was able to take that grief and do everything she could in her power to ensure justice is always served (literally, she's a fashion icon in my head). She didn't have a conventional family growing up but there was a lot of love (ninja grandfather, mechanic aunt and racecar driver uncle, secret agent godparents, famous singer aunt, and-)

How They Look Like:

From left to right: Scarlett Sandiego (art by @procrastinateland) and Kavya Nikatas

[femmefairytales]

// New Muse Alert: I've been meaning to add her for some time, but I've finally put Xiomara -- daughter of Queen Amaya and King Magnifico -- on the list. She's an Auradon kid, raised by her mother. But there is a dark streak inside of her.

[blackwidowlilith]

@hoaxwings

I bet you can’t wait for summer. You can finally take her to swim at Oceanside. 

[lumiinousbeingsold]

tag drop - supernatural ocs pt. 2

[hoaxwings]

starter for @longroadhcme​ & @twiceburrned​

She didn’t know why she was sticking around. Aside of Freya that was -- there was no other serious connection she had to this town. Not to mention there were other cases out there that she could be helping with instead of just being a sitting duck and hoping that her siblings will find their way back here. After all, that had been what they had all decided. So she figured if she was going to make this semi permanent than she needed to get a job as a cover and extra income for herself. Not like she could keep living off her retirement and thinking it would last forever. Or maybe it would. After all she was rather furgal. After spending a couple of hours running around and passing her resume she decided to grab a box of M&Ms and enjoy what little was left of the day as she saw the sun set on the curb of the street, Once she saw a shadow over her, she leaned back making eye contact with said individual, “Want one?” 

[prcttyvxnom]

xiomara cordero ┈ « tag drop. »

[intomusings]

ೀ ﹒﹒  favorite   names   compilation    !

ur   fav   musings   girly   again   here   with   the   first   of   my   christmas   goodies   .   my   favorite   thing   to   do   is   these   name   compilations   so   i   decided   to   create   another   masterlist   of   my   absolute   favorite   ones   (   some   old   ,   mostly   new   )   anyways   all   i   ask   is   that   if   u   found   this   useful   ,   u   like   or   reblog   to   show   ur   support   .   i   hope   everyone   is   enjoying   the   holiday   season   ♡

- a : abella, ardella, ares, aire, arden, ayla, arie, alder, august, aymes, atlas, alina, alora, aryn.

- b : beau, babette, belle, blake, briar, bronte, banks, boston, bishop.

- c : cassiel, clara, celeste, camden, chandler, collins, clay, cartier, chanel, cosima.

- d : dove, dream, danica, delaney, drue, denver, dacey, delcy, darcy, dahlia.

- e : elodie, emory, emrys, elio, elowynne, emerson, evie, edie, estoria, esme, effy, evans.

- f : flora, faye, fallon, ford, forbes, finnick.

- g : gaia, geles, greer, gensen.

- h : hera, hudson, hampton, heath, harlowe.

- i : isla, inara, ilia.

- j : juniper, josefine, jane, jovie, joey.

- k : kiersten, kairo, kaia, kian, kouvr, keanu.

- l : lysander, lanie, lorena, lawson, lux, ludo, lourdes.

- m : marla, marigold, maren, maeve, marlowe, miller, monet.

- n : neah, north, nola, nell, noel, nariah, niamh, nami.

- o : ozzy, orion.

- p : presley, posy, pearl, porter, pacey, paxon.

- r : reed, ruelle, raya, romey, ryker, rhode, reign, rafe, rohan, raiden, remi, rion, rhiannon, reece, river, raine, rumer, reem, rhys.

- s : selah, soraya, sarifya, savion, sloane, sol, soren, scout, saint, striker, serafina, sabina, sutter.

- t : teal, twila, tristan, tobie, tripp, teague, tate.

- v : vienna, vega, vera, vincenzo.

- w : wren, winter, winona, winnie, wilder, weston.

- x : xaverie, xylah, xiomara, xander.

- y : yves, yara.

- z : zephyr.

[diamcndhearts]

Open to m/f/nb

Connection: friend, step sibling, step parent, family friend, whatever makes sense

Plot: Xiomara just broke up with her cheating boyfriend and seeks solace from your muse.

Smoke exhaled out through her lips as she heard the door open and close behind her. Xiomara didn't need to, or care to, look up at the person checking in on her. She'd been sitting on the stoop for a while now, practically frozen in place as she smoked.

"We broke up." She offered the information up on her own, knowing the question was coming. Even if they hadn't asked specifically about her relationship, they would have asked what was wrong with her, or how she was feeling, or anything else that would have brought up the break-up anyway.

"All those times that he made me feel like I was crazy or paranoid or insecure." She took another drag from the cigarette. "I was right all along. He was cheating on me for months."

[corpsebasil]

NIKOLAI HUNGER GAMES PARTE DOS

dear God he's so handsome I can't do this

Maybe you shouldn't be, you know you shouldn't be, but you're happy to see your prep team regardless of how you're feeling on the inside.

"'The female tribute for District Two'" Lionus Treech, the announcer for your district, had cheered, reading the slip of paper inside the glass bowl. If you could've bet money you'd put your life's savings on every name in that bowl being yours. "'Y/N Y/L/N!'"

When you moved forward, exchanging one quick glance with the sharp-toothed Enobaria, you knew none of the other surviving victors would volunteer. Even Brutus, a nasty, violent man that still treats life like an arena, hadn't done much but lift his brows when Nikolai's name was read from the male bowl. (It helped that Nikolai was watching Brutus with an expression that promised unspeakable violence if the older man even blinked funny.)

"Darling!" The first voice cries; the trio of stylists that burst through the train door are as loud as their sense of style, all three clad in some sort of animal print. "You look stunning!" Lark gasps, bringing his warm hands to your face. The dark-skinned man is wearing bright purple liner, the color unfairly gorgeous on him. "Don't worry, we'll get these dark circles out of the way. Where's that handsome man of yours?"

"You won't believe the party you missed last month, Y/N. There were aerialists dressed like actual swans! And a frozen swan ice sculpture!" Jem adds, kissing your cheeks quickly. Her dark hair is pulled back in a spiky bun, the part of her hair zigzagging. "You would've looked glorious in this white little number I was working on--covered in feathers. Just glorious."

"I'm sure Y/N feels devastated she missed it." Xiomara, your most level-headed stylist, muses, her tattooed skin free of any makeup. She almost looks normal by Capitol standards--if it weren't for the ear-modding that leaves the tips of them pointed like a fairy's. Her golden eyes are amused when she pulls you into a soft hug, her voice soft. "Hello, darling. We've all missed you." When she pulls away it's clear she wants to say more but she doesn't. "The gem of the Capitol. We will do our best to make you shine."

"Oooh! That's an idea!" Lark snaps his fingers. "'Shine'!"

"What are you getting at?" Jem scoffs.

"Shiiiiiineee. We can cover her skin in gold dust! She'll look like a goddess."

"She'll look like a damn disco ball."

"Lets see you come up with--"

"Hello." The moment Nikolai speaks, his frame filling the empty doorway, all three preps whip their heads in his direction. Jem actually blushes. Then the cooing begins, Jem and Lark fussing over him while you and Xiomara watch with tiny smiles on your faces. Your prep team--Nikolai's biggest fans. "Yes, yes I did." Nikolai responds to a flurry of questions, Lark's biggest concern being whether your lover has cut his hair recently or not.

"With you and Finnick there I'll have to keep smelling salts around for the amount of swooning Capitol citizens." Lark sighs, fanning himself dramatically. "Just imagine him covered in gold dust, Jem."

"I am certainly imagining it."

"Picture it. Picture it vividly."

"Let's allow the two of them relax." Xiomara urges, calmly leading her fellow stylists out the door. She gives Nikolai a soft pat on the shoulder as they leave, still squawking about covering the two of you in gold dust. The second the door closes you sit on the nearest velvet-clad seat, a long sigh leaving you.

"Gold dust, hmm?" Nikolai hums, approaching you calmly. "Seems like your prep team is excited for the Quell."

"Maybe they're inspired. They get to style me, after all."

"Course they are." Nikolai smirks when he leans over you, arms caging you against the couch. Your eyebrows lift, chin raising a fraction as he crowds you, forcing you to look up. "You're utterly striking."

"Why thank you. I always say--"

"You always say--?"

"--'I am the gem of Panem'--"

"Yeah, yeah." Nikolai scoffs, cutting off your giggles with his mouth. He leans into you, lips roving over your own while you close your eyes, your hands tugging him even closer. "'Gem of Panem'. You certainly are." His words are spoken softly against your lips before his tongue moves to trace the curve of your throat.

"Yes..." You murmur, head tipping back. "That is....true."

"Mhmm."

"Nik."

If anyone overhears the moan you let out when he kisses his way down your neck, tugging the front of your dress down with him, they don't bother you.

Lol

I need him

[tooswcctx]

"Are you sure about that?" Xio asked softly, stepping even further into his personal space but not quite enough to have people stop and stare at them back stage. There were already enough rumors about them still and no matter what she did or who she went out with post Page, people still liked to ask about it. When the whole thing had first made it's rounds in the tabloids, Xio had been pissed that what people associated with her was Page and not her own music, but she had gotten over that pretty quickly. "Ghostwriters can still take direction," she mused with a shrug, glancing behind herself towards the crowds of their peers, every single one of them either being approached for a connection or doing the approaching. It was a bit pathetic for the latter group, practically begging on their knees for a scrap of attention.

"Is that sarcastic?" Her eyes were immediately back on his, brow furrowing for only a moment before she remembered not to mess with her makeup. She didn't need lines on her forehead on top of everything else. "Just tell me. I wouldn't have had to find you here if you hadn't blocked me - real mature, by the way."

open to: f muse: page brennaman, twenty-six. famous singer and songwriter who has been recently caught in a tabloid famous love triangle plot: page and his ex-girlfriend broke up and very soon after, he and your muse got together for a summer fling. he ended it at the first sign of cold weather and got back with his ex-girlfriend, releasing an album that spring that had songs that awkwardly fit most of your muse and page's relationship. it's an awards show, and your muse is curious: how could you go with never speaking to her again but write an entire album about her? and was the award heavy in his hands? very shawn-camila-sabrina coded

"The album is not about you,' he lied, wishing he didn't have the award in one hand and a drink in another. He was a foot taller than her, but she had cornered him both physically and conversationally. He had her blocked on almost everything, and he'd figured there would be so many people at the event, that she wouldn't get an opportunity to size him up, but there she was, looking quite glamourous but more-so mad.

"And you said my music was all ghost written anyway,' he was bluffing. "Congratulations on your nomination, by the way,' Page wasn't trying to be petty, the award suddenly burning his skin. He wanted to be nice and diffuse the situation that he had created all through his reluctance to ever be the bad guy.

[swimmingsirenindierp]

open: m/f/nb 21+ muse: xiomara, she/they, pansexual connection:  fwb, ex, up to player

"I'm not interested in living in the past mi amor," Xiomara said in a gentle tone. Her gaze lifting to theirs. They didn't know if this was something that they could move past, but she hoped they could. "I'm not interested in feeling guilty my whole life. So either you forgive me, or you don't. But I'm really hoping you do."

[fatedtragedy]

open to : males, females and non binary babes! muse : xiomara sanchez, daughter of notorious serial killers.

"hey, i don't wanna sound like a stalker but - i think i know you."

[gabecortez]

Full Legal Name - Gabriel Alexander Cortez

Nicknames - Gabe

Gender & Pronouns - cis male, he/him

Sexual Orientation & Relationship Role - bisexual, dominate

Birthdate & Age (will update) - June 18th, 31 years

Birthplace - Austin, Texas

Current Residence & duration of stay (will update) - 4 years, almost 5 years with a condo downtown in New Bellevoux, LA

Occupation - former model turned bartender at Cucina Paradiso

Relationship Status (will update) - single pringle

Faceclaim: Taylor Zakhar Perez

Links - photos | threads | plots - full bio | home style

Future Links - pinterest board, spotify playlist, musings, aesthetics

Warnings: mentions of drug usage, alcohol, depression, body image issues and mental struggles. Proceed with caution.

Gabriel "Gabe" Alexander Cortez was born into a rather large family as the middle child, consisting of seven children (including him), in Austin, Texas by Xiomara & Rafael Cortez. He grew up very close to his family barely wanting to leave home until he turned 20, and he dreamed of exploring more on his own and learn more about himself without his family, as much as he loved them. The family held close values so they really cared about family time.

His first stay away from home was in Los Angeles, California at 21 where he explored his loved of mixology and culinary but was unsure which path to take. That was until he got offered a modeling job while he was just at a local store. Suspicion but it all seemed to work out - for the most part. To Gabe it was always just a job, until he met his then girlfriend. They were absolutely smitten in months.

It took about a year before everything started crashing down around him. He did a photoshoot with another guy and they were looking rather cozy, even hung out and became friends after words. It left to Gabriel's girlfriend's jealousy and even some rumours started coming out of him cheating and being secretly gay. Though this did soon help Gabe find out he was bisexual at the time, he wasn't worried about it. Trying to get his relationship to work out, adding on top of that his parents divorced and he spiraled, falling into drugs and alcohol to cope with everything. This also lead to his relationship ending, not caring anymore and him properly exploring his bisexuality and coming to terms with it.

Thing got so bad at one point that when his mom visited him in Los Angeles, she was too worried and pushed him to go into rehab and at first he refused, keeping up the bad lifestyle until it took a toll on his mental and physical health. As much was he wanted to just leave California, he needed to get better, but also he needed a good place away from the drama. At first thinking to go back home, but he ended up somewhere else entirely. Going off the grid for a bit to focus on getting better, because he didn't like what he saw in the mirror anymore.

Upon taking time to work on himself, Gabriel moved to New York for a bit, to focus on his former favored skills, finding a love of both cooking and bartending. He also became a bit of a health nut after his time away to get better. It has him going to the gym now daily and really making sure to take care of himself. Once he turned 27, he left New York for New Bellevoux and got his condo downtown his mother's help and got a job as a bartender. After he settled a bit, he got his dog, Baxter who's his entire world right now. Thought there's still apart of him longing to find his perfect person when the time is right.

(OOC - This will be updated as his time goes on)

[thenightofgabe]

Welcome to New York {GABRIEL CORTEZ} !! They are a {THIRTY-ONE} year old {CIS MALE} who uses {HE/HIM} pronouns. They’re a/an {BARTENDER} who has been in town for {4 YEARS}, who lives in {MANHATTAN}. When looking at {GABRIEL} you automatically think of {CASUAL, LAZY, COMFORT} but that probably makes sense since they also remind you of {TAYLOR ZAKHAR PEREZ}. You can always hear {RUSH} by {TROYE SIVAN} coming from their place. Who knows what kind of trouble they’re going to get themselves into.

Links - photos | threads | plots - full bio | home style

Future Links - pinterest board, spotify playlist, musings, aesthetics

Full Legal Name - Gabriel Alexander Cortez

Nicknames - Gabe

Gender & Pronouns - cis male, he/him

Sexual Orientation & Relationship Role - bi/pansexual, dominate

Birthdate & Age (will update) - June 18th, 31 years

Birthplace - Houston, Texas

Current Residence & duration of stay (will update) - Manhattan, New York

Relationship Status (will update) - single, not currently looking but open

Warnings: mentions of body image, implied eating issues, drug usage, alcohol and depression. Proceed with caution.

Gabriel "Gabe" Alexander Cortez was born into a rather large family, consisting of seven children (including him), in Houston, Texas by Xiomara & Rafael Cortez. He grew up very close to his family barely wanting to leave home until he turned 20, and he dreamed of exploring more on his own and learn more about himself without his family, as much as he loved them.

His first stay away from home was in Los Angeles, California at 21 where he ended up getting into mixology and culinary, during his stay there. He modeled to make ends meet and caused a lot of body images issues during this time, being pushed to look a certain way. This causing Gabriel to fall into a state of depression and get into the night club life style drinking his problems away.

Despite it being a hard time for him in his early to mid-twenties, there was a sliver light as Gabriel did manage to find out something major about himself. He was bisexual. After first he blamed it on experimenting with drugs and all the drinking, but it became clear how he felt when he find himself attracted to both men and woman, this extending to trans men and woman as well.

As far ad dating history goes, he's had a few, but the one that stuck with Gabriel the most was with an ex-girlfriend he almost changed his whole life plan for. When things fell apart, he didn't even want to stay in California as a whole anymore and packed up everything and moved to Manhattan, New York at age of 27 years, spending his past 3 years happily in New York focusing on himself more than anything.

He's gotten out of his depressive episode (but he has his days), doesn't do drugs at al but will still enjoy a drink - mostly socially and started to work out and eat better for himself, leaving modeling in the past mostly. He tends not to think or speak of that part of himself much, wanting to forget it happened.

Gabriel works as a bartender in Manhattan, living in a loft (makes rent but working a lot and family always sending money to make sure he's well off, even if he tells them not to). Usually every summer around his birthday he'll try and go back to Texas to see his family, but didn't upon turning 30, just not feeling up for travel while telling himself to do better upon turning 31 or 32. He's mostly been focusing on self love, making friends and trying to make the best of every day.

(OOC - This will be updated as his time goes on in New York)

[felteverywhere]

in the mood to write some one liners so here’s a starter call for some new test muses i’m eager to write. most of these i’m still in the midst of developing but i love doing it as i write them. like and i’ll come to you for muse!

a͏laric mackenna, 28, straight, he/him, d͏͏͏a͏͏r͏͏y͏͏l͏ ͏m͏͏c͏͏c͏͏o͏͏r͏͏m͏͏͏a͏͏c͏͏k͏ fc.

ari bychkov, 34, bisexual, she/her, pom klementieff fc.

buffy hunter, 24, bisexual, she/her, hayley law fc.

carina burrows, 25, bisexual, she/her, rachel hilson fc.

caoimhe nolan, 33, bisexual, she/her, nicola coughlan fc.

elvira luna, 27, bisexual, she/her, eva de dominici fc.

finley washington, 25, bisexual, she/her, lili reinhart fc.

jeanette eilken, 48, bisexual, she/her, neve campbell fc.

johanna mcnamara, 42, lesbian, she/her, lauren ambrose fc.

niamh maloney, 26, lesbian, she/they, wallis day fc.

raquel luna, 21, bisexual, she/her, nicole wallace fc.

richie maestras, 26, bisexual, he/him, brandon larracuente fc.

tez rhodes, 30, straight, he/him, o'shea jackson jr. fc.

saverina argento, 20, lesbian, she/her, rowan blanchard fc.

wyatt rafferty, 23, straight, he/him, owen teague fc.

xiomara macias, 22, bisexual, she/her, esmeralda soto fc.

[anniezsecretz]

Replacement ★ (Ch 3) OC x Simon "Ghost" Riley

HELLO! I AM BACK! :D I had to take a short break due to school, but I have chapter 3 hot and ready for y'all! I'm SO sorry I disappeared, but I should be staying. :) thank you for reading as always!

you can find this chapter of replacement on ao3 here first chapter ★ prev ★ next

★★★★★★★★★

chapter tags:// anxiety, older brother price, captain OC, OC x Simon “Ghost” Riley, light trauma mentions, emotional support pup, OOC Ghost (for a reason), spiteful Ghost, enemies to lovers (enemies), vague mentions of death, canon deviation, angst/comfort, alcohol mentions, drunk squad, bonding

★★★★★★★★★

bite-sized synopsis: trick is finally starting to feel like part of the squad after a mission success and goes out to celebrate

                                           ・┆✦ʚ★ɞ✦ ┆・ A knock on my office door, and I invited whoever was there in with a, “Get your butt in here if you wanna talk.” I was busy filling out some of the mountain of paperwork we were given after our missions every time. But hell, it seems like these documents are double what I’d have to fill out with my old squad. Well, John and I decided to just call them the 1-4-2 instead of my old squad. It fits in more than I thought it would.

But I had an unexpected visitor at my door: Gaz, with Soap and Roach at my door frame. “Hey Trick! The mission went well soooo…” he drew that out like he expected me to know. Instead, I gave him a blank stare from behind my slightly tinted goggles with a shrug.

He huffed. “We’re heading to a pub to celebrate, all of us. Even Price. We also have a spare seat ‘n were wondering if you’d wanna come with?” Gaz’s invitation was unexpected, and I felt myself practically light up. Light up into a million fireworks that go off in my office like the Fourth of July, probably burning everything around me.

I bit my bottom lip underneath my mask, a bad habit of mine to help me think. “Y’know what? Sure. I can see if y’all can handle yer alcohol like I can,” I said with a slight muse in my voice. “I’ll be there in 5, lemme do these papers real quick. Parking lot?”

Gaz gave me a thumbs up with that smile of his before dragging the boys with him away. I could hear Soap’s excitement about going to a pub and Roach’s small question about it. A laugh escaped my mouth while I moved my fountain pen on the papers I was signing, being very careful with my writing.

I haven’t done these kinds of papers in so long. Usually, I’d be working on them with my 1-4-2 officer— who was surprisingly not Xiomara but instead Jackson, Callsign Falcon.

Jackson would critique me for my messy writing and leave me laughing about it, then letting him rewrite it in nice legible cursive. He was my most trusted officer; he’s saved my life a few times too. He and I were both heartbroken by Xiomara’s… loss. The entire squad was, we all wanted to pack up and run away.

I heard he’s still on recovery leave. That’s what John had told me, at least.

Speaking of the devil, John’s knuckles wrapped on my office door frame and invited himself in, standing in front of my desk with a light smile overshadowed by his mustache. “You ready, Ver?” He asked in his usual father-like voice, but I think that’s just the oldness in him really showing at this point.

“Mm. Yeah, I think I’m ready. I got a good chunk down; I’ll get the rest done later in the evening.” I stood up and went around my desk to John. But I felt compelled to do something. I just stood in front of him awkwardly, looking right up at him with my hands awkwardly down at my sides. I lifted up my goggles on top of my hat to look at him properly.

I wrapped my arms around John and hugged him. Shit, I could barely wrap my arms around him but I managed to still, barely. He stood in shock momentarily before hugging me back and gently patting me on the back. “I’m proud o’ you, Ver. You’ve been through so much, ‘n here you are. As strong as a boulder, eh?”

The words coming from his mouth made me tear up. Fuck.

I have been told “you’ve been through so much” as a pitying phrase. As a “oh you poor thing” phrase. But never in the way John told me, he told me he was proud of me. And not even my own brothers would say that they’re proud of me. They’d say I’m just getting the short end and eventually, it’ll get better, but John is acknowledging more than just the past. He’s acknowledging my strength.

I’ve never squeezed someone harder while he pats my back. “Thanks, John. You know how to tug heartstrings.” I pulled away from the hug and crossed my arms, straightening my back again. “Now let’s go ‘n shotgun some coldies; maybe I’ll make you take a shoey from Soap’s boot.” I gently nudged him with an elbow while wiping my cheeks of my tears with my other hand.

“Yeah, let’s go ‘n get shitfaced,” he joked as he gave me a pat on my shoulder and led me out to the parking lot. Everybody was there before us and about to pile into John’s truck before I noticed that I… wouldn’t be able to fit in.

John caught on soon after me and started counting everyone, then the seats. “Okay! We need volunteers on who’s gonna go in the truck bed.”

“What?” I nearly broke my neck when turning to look at John. “What the fuck do you mean by goin’ in the truck bed? It’s bad if all of us are piss drunk ‘xcept one, but worse if we have someone in the bed o’ the truck vomiting all over themselves.” I shook my head a bit while considering what we can do.

“We can put Trick in the front, then have Roach share a seat with Gaz.” Ghost hasn’t spoken to me much since the fight he had with Price over me during training, even if we sleep in the same room together. He always sneaks in after he thinks I’m asleep.

Price nods with a grunt of agreement. “Well, everybody pile in. We don’t have all night.” I could feel the stare in the back of my head from Ghost while I got into the front passenger seat, scooting the seat up to give the boys in the back some legroom. Price got in next to me in the driver’s seat, and instantly stared at me for no discernible reason.

He blankly stared at me with his mustache slightly twitching.

“Whuh- what? Do I have something on my face?” I lightheartedly joked while brushing my mask with my glove, eventually bringing my goggles over my eyes.

Price gave me that condescending stare with both of his brows furrowed at me. “Is the first thing you do ev’ry time yer in my truck, you mess my seats?”

I rolled my eyes at him while the boys got rowdy in the back, Price pulling out of the parking lot to get to the pub. I got off first and opened the back doors of the truck for the boys, letting them practically fight amongst themselves to get out of the truck.                                            ・┆✦ʚ★ɞ✦ ┆・

Inside the pub, it was cozy, I guess. I felt like it was a bit too rowdy with some guys watching American Football. Eugh. Why’d we have to be in America of all places?

Price hands me a dirty shirley temple with a straw in it. “Thanks, mate. I’ll pay tonight, a’ight?” I told him, but he just shook his head.

“Nah, it’s on me. You proved yourself to be a good leader so far, I’m glad.” He pats me on my back as I grab my drink and feed the straw underneath my

 mask to drink. Yet when I looked up, I noticed a dirty look from the bartender. Oh shit, I need to pull out my ID.

I give my military ID to the bartender. “Sorry, forgot to give this to you.” I even have my mask on in the photo, my identifiable mark being my mask I guess. I don’t know how I was legally allowed to keep anybody from seeing my face; I guess it was some of Price’s doing, knowing how he constantly saves the country from destruction here and there.

I got my ID back pretty soon after him staring at it. “Wow Price, naughty ain’t cha? You didn’t show the bloke my ID, eh?”

Price stared at the bartender then back to me with confusion. “I thought I did; I swear I did. I think he mighta been caught off by the mask; he was the same with Ghost.”

The acid building in my throat and my mouth salivating was the worst feeling. The thought of being compared to Ghost was the worst, just because we both have masks on and hide our faces constantly. I mean, Roach does it too, but he only ever has a surgical mask on. I just have my cat-skull print bandana, how is it that different?

Now I’m overthinking. But that bartender is definitely still staring at me like I was a criminal. Eugh.                                            ・┆✦ʚ★ɞ✦ ┆・

I sat with the boys again while they talked and reminisced about missions.

“Say, cap’n. What’s a mission you went on that you like talkin’ ‘bout?” Soap’s voice hit my eardrums like a balloon popping, my attention going straight to him as I realized what was happening.

“Eh? What?” It takes me a second of thinking to get my bearings on what was happening around me. “Oh, uh… missions. Uhm.” I tap my glass with my nails while I think. “My old squad, Taskforce 142,” I look at Price with a grin, “we had a few rodeos. We were put in Limmen; we called it Operation Down Under, ‘n people said that Task Force Boomerang was in town.” I laughed while looking up at the rest of the squad. Soap was listening intently while doodling in his leather journal, Gaz leaned in while listening, while Roach was tilting his head when listening. Ghost refused to hear or look at me, as usual.

“I thunk Price would remember this operation too. Paramilitary group with military weapons, the usual. Some cringey name like Crimson Vipers, remember?” I looked at Price laughing at the name. “There were hostages bein’ held, ‘n a few were military personnel as well. But when we dropped in, Xio accidentally landed on another soldier ‘n nearly compromised us, if she wasn’t sneaky with the takedown.” I had to think back a lot to remember what happened on that mission.

“Diaz! Get your fucken head in the game, you nearly got us compromised,” I yelled at Xiomara as she yanked her parachute down, but I couldn’t help lingering my eyes on her face a few more seconds than I should’ve. I shot up and fixed my vest and nodded towards Jackson. “Approach silently; Chen is taking care of the video systems.” I hold my M-tar in both hands.

We maneuver through the unlocked emergency exits, but there were a dozen more than I would have ever thought there were. Who the hell has the time to be in a shitty wannabe military group? I direct forward, being the first to silently take their soldiers down and into the dark. Jackson assisted me by taking down a few others whilst we covered Xio to start some controlled explosions on their vault door.

I hear the vault door popping open. I always trust Xio to do a good job at getting the vaults open fast. But, I wasn’t predicting the alarm blasting the second Jackson fully opened it. “Chen? Mind getting on that?”

“I know, Captain! Alarms going down in a few seconds, prepare for a few soldiers coming to check,” I hear Chen say over our wires while reassuring me. Chen was one of my second lieutenants, helping Diaz with her platoons whenever needed whilst I oversaw them. But now, she was the one going to save our lives.

Jackson and I take out some of the stragglers that come to investigate, the alarm turning off quickly enough and Chen’s voice coming over the intercom.

False alarm, soldiers. Return to your stations. She says to all the soldiers trying to get to us.

“Diaz, Winny, infiltrate. I will watch ahead.” I stand guard at the vault with my silencer on, watching over them. There were only a few on their rounds to grab before they talk to their walkie-talkies, fairly easy.

“ANNIE!” Yelled Xio’s voice from inside of the vault.

I turned around whilst reloading my pistol and saw Xiomara and Jackson compromised, the Crimsons’ soldiers trying to wrap tape around their mouths. After that, I kind of don’t remember anything except when we had to return months later.

I had to be in the infirmary for a few days for a few bullet grazes; Xio and Jackson were prisoners of the Crimsons. And when I returned with a whole brigade, they would never have stood a chance in a million years. I brought the weapons but when Xio saw me, she said I had “hell flames” in my eyes for how they took my best soldiers from me.

I look up from my glass to the boys all looking at me. Not Ghost, of course. “And well, we took the group down ‘n got Xio ‘n Jackson back. When we were at the extraction point, Xio handed me the laptop rigged to the explosives and told me ‘your call, captain.’ And that’s kinda what kept me in the ADF and Royal Strayan Air Force for so long.” I lean back in my chair to gauge the boys’ reactions better.

Price was proud and grinning, nodding with familiarity like when I told him the story. Soap was amazed, I could practically see stars in the man’s eyes. Gaz was intrigued, his body language being much more open than before. Then Roach was just listening intently while fidgeting with his hands.

I kinda laughed at their reactions. “Any questions?” Price raised his hand. “Yes, Price?”

He stifled a laugh before asking. “Wasn’t your callsign then Viper, Annes? Instead of fucken Trick?” Then he let it rip, knowing how much that callsign haunts me to this day.

“Shit yourself, Price.”                                            ・┆✦ʚ★ɞ✦ ┆・

We were all a few drinks in when I leaned against a pool table, playing a game of 8ball with Soap. “Soooo, bonnie, what do ya think of yer new Taskforce so far? Sure, we ain't Taskforce Boomerang, but I'd think we're close.” I laughed at his joke while looking up at him.

“Thas sweet, Johnny. You guys come quite close, y’know. Some of the best I’ve seen in action, except Ghost when listening to my instructions.” I lined up my cue stick with the white ball, not paying much attention to which ones I was hitting. I was more focused on the smile on Soap’s face.

“L.t is rough, y’know. He’ll warm up; he always does.” Soap got off the pool table and patted me on my shoulder. “I don’ see why he wouldn’t be so intrigued by the great Captain Ver, y’know. You’re an amazing leader.” I watched him line up his cue with the ball as well.

I chuckled, feeling a bit of blood rush to my face. “Oh hush with yer flattery; you just wanna try ‘n make me blush, eh?”

“Oh please, if I were tryin’, you’d be as red as a cherry tomato!” He leaned against the table while I lined my shot up, of course, missing the ball I was going for completely.

I raised a brow at Soap before chuckling. “I have no doubt, sarge. I’m sure ladies think yer a catch,” I complimented. “I know plenty o’ old ladies who would love a young guy like you flirting with them like they’re 20.”

He laughed while hitting a full red in the pocket, then lightly jabbed me with the cue stick. “Would love to meet ‘em! I’m sure they’re sweet.”                                            ・┆✦ʚ★ɞ✦ ┆・

Midnight.

God, I love midnight; it’s so gorgeous seeing everything around us. But they were all kicked out of the bar for being rowdy, except me. I sobered up a while ago because I was expecting that I was going to drive once I saw Price taking shots.

I shoved the boys into the truck slowly, Price in the passenger with the boys toppling over each other in the back. Everybody was knocked out the second they were all in the car, leaving me laughing at their dumbass sleeping faces. I got in the front seat and adjusted the seat again.

“Don’ touch muh fucken… seats…” Price mumbled in his sleep as he passed back out in a matter of seconds.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Pendejo.”                                            ・┆✦ʚ★ɞ✦ ┆・

The drive back home was peaceful, all the boys sleeping until I hit a pothole right by the base, when all of them startled awake.

We all got to our rooms safe and sound though, which I’m glad happened. I wasn’t sure if Ghost would even get in the same truck as me when he was drunk, but somehow he was compliant when I shoved him in. I had to help him get back to our room though; he was heavier than I would’ve ever anticipated when he leaned onto me.

“I don’t need helpff… you fucken… bloody bastard.” I was shocked at him drinking himself into a stupor; he didn’t seem like the type.

“Don’t get your panties inna knot, I’m just makin’ sure yer fine.” I dropped him down onto his bed. “Just don’ fall off yer bed ‘n we’re fine.” I turned away from him to the bathroom, changing real quick and brushing my teeth.

When I got curled up into my bed all comfy and cozy, I heard Ghost’s slurred sleep mumbling.

“I fucken… hate you… Captain Ver.”

“I fucken hate you too, Lieutenant Riley.”

“Shithead.”

                                           ・┆✦ʚ★ɞ✦ ┆・

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! RAAA! Also, I'm going to open requests soon :) Thank you for reading this chapter! and if you'd like to help me beta-read this story send me a note! pls