MISGUIDED GHOSTS.

𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒.

name: cruz hayden vidal nicknames/alias: none, and don't you fucking dare!

faceclaim: roberta colindrez

age: thirty-eight gender: nonbinary ( they/she ) sexuality: homosexual date/place of birth: april 15th | the bronx, new york currently: brooklyn, new york

occupation: drug dealer, security at la madrugada alliance: the mob ( dealer )

positive traits: adaptable, resilient, self-assured, loyal negative traits: impulsive, machiavellian, overconfident, tactless astrological sign: aries

𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘.

TRIGGER WARNING: homelessness, homophobia, transphobia, religion, child abandonment

you may as well have been born a demon from hell, the way you were screaming when you first came into the world -- made very clear that you are far from the child that your parents ever expected to have. your father, a devout catholic pastor who very well may have been the patron saint of your close-knit neighborhood and your mother, ever the typical pastor's wife -- wanted a godly family. to raise their child in his love ( even if they were quick to close the door of your childhood home in your face the moment your belief system became even somewhat different ).

in your youth, you always wondered if you were the test-child. the decoy, the one they could practice on before they brought their true family into the world. your questions soon found their answers when your sister was brought into the world -- ten fingers and ten toes and every one of your parent's dreams brought to life. and in a way, despite being incredibly protective of her in your youth, you resented her for it.

you've known you liked girls since you were eight years old. and yet, what are you supposed to do when the love you feel is spoken about as an abomination at your dinner table? in between your aunts and uncles asking you when you're going to find a nice man -- you create a group of friends, having accepted that all your ever be in the eyes of your family is trouble.

at sixteen, you get your first girlfriend -- and the time comes when you realize something, you're not ready to spend the rest of your life hiding behind secrets. the closet is cramped after all, dusty and cold. all you want is to see the sun, and speak out loud not just that you've never been happier -- but you've never felt like a girl anyway. but, when you're caught by one of your father's loyal followers merely holding her hand, you come home to your stuff on the street, and your sister -- hiding behind them. wordless.

that was what probably what hurt more than not having a home anymore.

things soon fall apart with the girlfriend -- and you find yourself couch-surfing when you're not filling a vacency in a youth shelter. you finish your ged and get your bartender's license, before packing up the little you have to your name and move to manhattan. a burough that your parents aren't haunting every corner of. you live on ramen and whatever you can get your hands on from the line cooks you work with for a while, and try your fucking best.

that is, until you cross paths with the mob -- and you see your chance. a ticket to protection, a surefire way to keep a roof over your head. perhaps there's just a hint of pride in the thought that you, a former pastor's child -- has found a home in the underbelly of the beast.

[ REDACTED ]

you've since offered the mob fifteen years of undying loyalty. you do whatever the fuck they ask of you, and act like a fool everywhere else. you switch from bartending to security because it offers more money than you've seen at any of your gigs -- and it allows you to sneak away to speak with clients or make deals when the occassion calls for it.

you've found a family now. even if it's the kind where crossing them comes with a cost.

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒.

character inspirations: harvey dent ( batman/dc ), mazikeen ( lucifer ), damon salvatore ( the vampire diaries ), nicky nichols (orange is the new black ), lip gallagher ( shameless )

they swear, there is a brain behind their eyes. and yet, they will always be the first to suggest a crazy night out or some other crap that may have then feeling incredibly shitty in the morning.

most of their wardrobe consists of mens pieces picked up at vintage markets and thrift stores. dresses in more muted tones, and is no stranger to a piece of silver jewelry. their hands are more often than not covered in rings, and they have plenty of visable tattoos.

their sister and maybe the ex-girlfriend will both be wanted connections when i get my shit together. for cruz's sister -- she has also broken away from their family at this point, but cruz has some leftover animosity because after all they did to protect her, she didn't fight for her.

𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒.

name: roxanne delphine steele nicknames/alias: roxy ( stage name at the club ), rox, annie.

faceclaim: vanessa morgan

age: thirty-two gender: cisfemale ( she/her ) sexuality: bisexual date/place of birth: august 2nd | chicago, illinois currently: manhattan, new york

occupation: dancer at crimson velvet alliance: the cavalry ( hitwoman )

positive traits: magnetic, observant, charming, intelligent negative traits: self-serving, manipulative, cocky ( but she'll call it confidence ), rebellious astrological sign: leo

𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘.

TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of guns, arranged marriage, blood, violence

very little is known about your childhood, and you intend to keep it that way. in fact, you keep most of your cards close to your chest like an expert dealer. and last time you checked, you've never lost.

but what you do remember is your father teaching you how to shoot a handgun with precision that sharpshooters only dream of by the age of eleven. by the age of thirteen, you're able to take down men double your size. from the pieces you allow yourself to remember, he always told you that you were born to be superior. thus, who are you to deny your father, [ 𝚁𝙴𝙳𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝙳 ] the weapon he always wanted?

another memory? financially, you're home never knew struggle. if you even were a family, considering your mother vanished from the picture by the time you were two years old and your father spent more time nurturing his business partners than you. and yet, as you grew older -- you didn't mind. it taught you that in this world, even if you're richer than god, the only one that you can truly depend on is yourself.

shortly after school becomes a distant memory -- your father begins to discuss marrying you off like you're a member of nobility in the eighteenth century. the son of another family in his circle -- who's just as hesitant at first, but he promises all the right things. a stable life. power. and yet, he should have known better thinking he could ever tame you.

[ REDACTED ]

isn't everything in life always too good to be true?

you ditch the man, like dead weight.

you're a new woman when the lights of new york city first caress your face, beckoning you forward. calling your name. you start dancing at twenty-three believing it's easy money ( when lord have mercy -- is there so much more that goes into it than that ), soon blossoming from desperate rookie to a fucking star -- incredibly sought after and adored in the way one can be in a place like crimson velvet.

and then comes the time when her past catches up to her.

violence is never too far away, and the cavalry? they seem to see it in your eyes that you're no stranger to getting blood on your hands. even if they're right, you push them away at first. is it because you intended to close that chapter of your life? perhaps, but there's always been that dangerous part of your ego that lives for the chance. the back and forth. and yet, the knowledge that you could have one of the most powerful legions in new york city at your back was far too delicious to pass up.

you've made quite the name for yourself now, despite having wanted to fly under the radar since you arrived in the city nearly ten years ago. you're established at the club, and there's practically a line out the door just for you. just how you like it. you live in an apartment that is just slightly below what you can afford just in case the feds are watching. besides, you really don't need much to come home to when you're busy entertaining the hungry eyes of new york's eligible bachelors every night.

you may have new york salivating over you. but will that ever feel like enough?

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒.

character inspirations: maddy perez ( euphoria ), barbara kane ( gotham ), maxine minx ( the x trilogy ), olivia pope ( scandal ).

a lover of luxury goods, especially purses, fragrances and shoes. each are very well displayed in the walk-in closet of her apartment. some things are far too important to cheap out on!

as non-committal as they come. rarely ever does an individual who graces her expensive sheets find themselves getting an invitation back.

roxanne is used as a tool to dispose of more higher-profile hits. people in the spotlight, those who are more than happy to toss their money at a beautiful woman -- with no idea that it's soon to be their downfall. not only does she conduct hits, but she also feeds intel to leadership when her clients are feeling particularly loose-lipped.

she keeps her circle incredibly small, and incredibly close. and yet, if you find a friend in her -- you have a friend for life. she'll be there for you in a heartbeat.