only one not smiling — open.

TEDDY. · 07-22-2021, 03:41 PM

[align=center][div style="width: 450px; text-align: justify; font-family: andale mono; font-size: 6.5pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 1px; line-height: 14px; color: #484a4d"]❝ Ya know, you’ll try this and never wanna drink anything but this ever again! ❞ Teddy was ever-so-poised as he schmoozed with a group of Badlanders in the late afternoon. It had been his idea to hang out behind the bar in the casino so that he could prepare a couple of espresso martinis to whoever was interested. Teddy wasn’t a man who liked to get his hands dirty, but he could confidently claim that he was one of the best cocktail makers in this whole beachside town. ❝ Listen to dis: vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and sugar syrup, with a little garnish as a lagniappe. How dat sound? ❞

As he began to pour prepared drinks into martini glasses, Teddy took notice of Papa who wandered into the casino solemnly, hands in his pockets as he approached the bar. ❝ Papa! Ya gonna like what I made ya. ❞ Teddy exclaimed, sliding over one of the glasses so that Papa could receive a drink first before handing drinks out to others with a grin on his lips. ❝ Mmm, yeah… So I heard that people are runnin’ riot back home. Last week it sounds like Leandro Aguillard was shot ‘n’ killed in his own home. ❞ Well that was a name that Teddy didn’t think he’d hear again. Brows raised, lips parted slightly with a mild look of surprise before he murmured to himself, ❝ Aw, pauvre t-bête[sup]1[/sup]. ❞

❝ I don’t think you're gettin' it. ❞ Giovanni returned in his gravelly voice, lowering his words to a hushed sound as if to not create a scene in the otherwise quiet casino. ❝ Aguillard and I had a deal. Ya know what dat means. ❞ With a curled lip, Teddy stared across at Giovanni with puzzlement before Giovanni lifted the martini glass and dismissed louder, ❝ We’ll talk later. ❞ With that, Giovanni turned to leave the casino again, this time with the martini in hand. Brows slowly bunched together before Teddy eventually turned to look back towards the Badlanders he was trying to entertain.

❝ How’s da martinis? ❞ He tried to appear as eager as before, but this most recent interaction with Papa left a sense of unease lingering within. He forced a smile, leaning on the counter before he stated, ❝ I say we spend the afternoon making each other cocktails. What about cha? ❞ His pointer finger landed on someone, quirking a brow, ❝ What’s your speciality? Come up and make us something. ❞ He lifted up his martini, taking a sip as he tried to put his worries about Papa’s ominous words behind him.

[sup]1[/sup] aw, poor thing

Angel Seong. · 07-22-2021, 05:45 PM

[align=center]

[color=transparent]u rock !

*:･ﾟkim rosa*:･ﾟ

[color=transparent]claire loves u!

The thin stem of the glass fit in his fingers a little more comfortably than he would have thought, considering how much uncertainty and disease he felt since being conscripted in the Badlands. It wasn't like he didn't have a choice, but the way out would have left a poor taste in his mouth in more ways than one. Maybe this drink was just some help in his acclimation to the group, still on the bottom rung and lower of their ladder. He had no idea if the man [Teddy] in front of them did this often, making drinks for his members- he figured he would have had someone else doing that. But he had heard that the man enjoyed his parties.

If there is a way intended to drink a martini, Kim wasn't aware, nor did he really care, it was a drink so as long as you drank it what would be the trouble? Done thinking he tips the glass to his mouth and his lips smack at the lingering taste of sweet and bitter. It wasn't bad, but being the first one he's ever had, he wasn't sure if he liked it or not. Shaken drinks and cocktails were not often encountered outside on your own. He hummed wondering how many visits he could spend here learning things he hadn't known before joining the mafia. It may have been the slight delight of exploring something foreign or the alcohol already sinking in, but he glances around a little more brazenly to sweep in cast of the characters in the room.

He was then wondering when he'd be asked to do something; laundry, porter, garbage, whatever you needed. That's what he did as a prospective, until his time came to prove himself to this company. He was somewhat intrigued that he was even clear to sit at the bar, but he wasn't going to bring it up or question it. His head turns in time to Teddy addressing him with a finger and the to show the merry men and women what drink he could make for them. The boss proclaiming the audience and he would be crafting cocktails for one another. That sounded fun, but the only thing he was familiar with was drinking straight when he did find the commodity. To decline would be insulting, if not a risk he was unwilling to take when the leader put him on the spot. So he casually hops from his seat to around the bar and he curtly surveys the massive variety of liquor and syrups and such that can complement them.

Oh yeah, this was a hopeless endeavor. Well, perhaps he could make it a joke, perhaps that was the finished martini humming in his brain. He felt fine, even as he passed the glasses of milk to those attending this little show. Because water would have just been insulting.

[b]this scrolls.

Shiloh ! · 07-22-2021, 08:59 PM

text

SALEM

ENTRY #01

8.15.16

BL ENFORCER

[div style="borderwidth=0px; width: 333px; min-height: 347px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia; font-size: 7pt; color: #000000; line-height: 99%;"]At the offer of a cocktail, Salem's heart sunk into her stomach. How could she possibly weasel her way out of a drink, especially a free one offered up by Teddy himself? She plastered a small smile onto her face and lifted up a hand, trying to shake her head towards Teddy to indicate she didn't want one. However, it was too late; a cocktail glass was in front of her before she could even blink. She casually slipped the glass to an NPC next to her, praying that Teddy didn't notice. She was left strumming her fingers on the bar top until Giovanni walked over, demanding Teddy's attention and whispering apparently-important words to his son. Salem furrowed her brow and pulled out her flask of tea. She wondered if she could feign being drunk and challenge Giovanni to a fight?

No, Salem conceded, Teddy'd never forgive me if I did that. When the leader returned, she could sense the strain in his voice and his eagerness to get the crowd moving and focusing on someone or something that wasn't him. Salem steeled herself: just thinking about voluntarily talking with Teddy made her stomach flip, but that feeling was undoubtedly outweighed by the rage she felt when imagining Giovanni hurting him.

"What's wrong?" Salem stood up and made her way towards Teddy, the fellow Badlanders moving like a sea around them, fighting to get to the liquor and syrups. "What did your father say?"

VITALS

> overall status: 100%

> physical status: stable.
> physical health: 100%
> physical afflictions: none yet.
> minor injuries: none yet.
> major injuries: none yet.

> mental status: stable.
> current status: stable.
> mental health: 100%
> mental illnesses: None
> mental damage: None

TAGS

━ ━xGENERAL
> Elisa Barone | "Salem"
> Female
> 23
━ ━xAPPEARANCE
>Human
> Dark brown hair that varies in shade, pale, blue green eyes.
> Carries at least 2 cigars at a time, a small handgun, and a small switchblade.
> tall, lanky and a bit awkward physically.
>
━ ━xABILITIES
> N/A
> N/A
━ ━xCONFRONTATION
> medium physically | easy/medium mentally
> non-violent power-play allowed
> no kill | request maim/capture
> ask to attack in bolded, underlined and italicized black
━ ━xRELATIONSHIPS
> Lionel King x Melissa Barone
> UNBORN CHILD
> Half brother Rafe
> Half niece Gigi
> Cat Chrisanthymum "Chrissy"
>Bisexual | no crush
>
━ ━xOTHER
> this text + this color = this meaning

I'VE COME TOO FAR TO SEE THE END NOW

━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ even if my way is wrong

a small everyone. | beware hidden scrolling

TEDDY. · (This post was last modified: 08-10-2021, 09:14 PM by truce..)

[align=center][div style="width: 450px; text-align: justify; font-family: andale mono; font-size: 6.5pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 1px; line-height: 14px; color: #484a4d"]Teddy’s eyes darted around with an uneasy smile, taking a step back to allow for Kim to begin preparing drinks for the group. Honestly, Teddy was pleased to see Kim willingly take part in the fun, not because it was a nice stroke to the ego for the authoritarian, but because it gave him a chance to stand back and take a breather. A chance for people not to notice the way he was reeling from Papa’s ominous news. Lips curled into a sneering smile as he observed Kim begin his preparations by pouring milk into each glass before Teddy turned his head away upon noticing Salem nearing his side.

❝ What's wrong? What did your father say? ❞ Eyes shifted away from the group of Badlanders and towards Salem directly, worried eyes darting across her face before leaning in to speak under the sound of the other Badlanders nearby. ❝ This life we’re livin’? It’s my dream. The only fly in da ointment is the fact that — like most things — dreams are fragile, and I have a feeling that what my Papa just told me is really about’a test dat.❞ He lifted his head again, staring at the vacant doorway that Papa had left from before he began to lean back against the bar. Noticing a glass being handed over towards him, Teddy took a swig before pulling a face.

❝ Dis just milk? ❞ He stared towards Kim for his reaction for a moment before lips pulled into a grin and he began to cackle. ❝ Jesus, Kim. You a funny guy... Y’aint ever heard of a Bushwaker? Gimme the dark rum, kahlúa and… chocolate liquor. Do we got coconut cream? No? Ah well, it’ll be fine without, trust me! ❞

Shiloh ! · 08-11-2021, 03:22 AM

text

SALEM

ENTRY #01

8.15.16

BL ENFORCER

[div style="borderwidth=0px; width: 333px; min-height: 347px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia; font-size: 7pt; color: #000000; line-height: 99%;"]Dreams are fragile.

Salem thought for a moment about the concept of dreams. She used to want to be a singer, when she was a young child, before her distrust of the world blossomed. Of course, she had always been shy - even in a stable house hold she most likely would have given into her stage fright and given up on her dream. Still, she smiled at the memories of her humming a familiar tune to herself, reveling in the feeling of being able to do just one thing well.

Recently her only dream had been to survive. She had succeeded, of course, but how long would she if Teddy's words were true? She eyed the leader, who was now chatting with Kim. She had to force down a wince when she gazed upon his brilliant blue eyes: what could she dream of now, with a child on the way? What was there for her to do besides survive? She shook her head and looked away, across the casino and over the old, dusty machines that hadn't worked in ages. The machines where she sat at and eavesdropped when she first arrived, pretending to play despite the fact that everyone knew they were broken. She remembered how her breath would hitch in her throat whenever she touched the smooth metal of the machines, her eyes lit up in wonderment.

I want to keep surviving here. Since Rafe had come, Salem no longer felt so isolated from the world. She was surprised at this admission of appreciation for the Badlands, but contented by it as well. She no longer felt the need to keep running, not for the time being anyway. However, she may need to if Teddy was right, and the Badlands was in jeopardy.

"You'll handle it," she murmured, glancing back at him, unsure if he could even hear her. She wasn't even sure if she was saying this for Teddy or herself. "If anyone can keep the Badlands together, it's you."

VITALS

> overall status: 100%

> physical status: stable.
> physical health: 100%
> physical afflictions: none yet.
> minor injuries: none yet.
> major injuries: none yet.

> mental status: stable.
> current status: stable.
> mental health: 100%
> mental illnesses: None
> mental damage: None