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Name: Milagros "Mila" Yang-Fortier (nรฉe Vasquez)
Age: 38
Occupation: Lawyer
Affiliation: Top Hand for Cowboy Mafia
Gender & Pronouns: Cis Woman (she/her)
Faceclaim: Francia Raisa
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tw: mention of death & affair, bribery, exploitation
Once upon a time, the Vasquez family had one of the largest ranches in Paxton. It reflected how big their family was when they all got together during the holidays. Itโs the glue that kept the immediate and extended family together. She looked forward to the times everyone got together. There are vague memories that Mila has to this day about riding on that ranch with their parents, and later cousins. The tragedy was a story that almost all ranchers know: rising costs and greed.
Mila was sixteen when the eminent domain case was brought against their family ranch. Deemed the smartest of the family, they worked alongside books in the local library to fight the case as much as she could. It was their wits and study that helped keep the power lines from dividing their ranch, and the power company backed off. The case bred a passion for law within Mila โ realizing the biggest threat to ranches was the law, not the people.
It was an added bonus that the family praised her; talking about how proud they were, when she helped and declared she wanted to be a lawyer. It was predictable, a tale as old as time, the expectation, and pressure of it weighed heavy on her shoulders. As the smartest, and oldest child, of the family she knew what was expected of her. Even though this was something she wanted, and still did, she felt like there was no room for her to change her mind. Individualism was frowned upon in her family as she was raised to put family first.
The expectation she puts on herself, and the guilt that creeps in, doesnโt help. Her family would never outright disown her, but they would comment about it. Theyโll have questions; influenced by their confusion while laced with passiveness. Theyโll claim itโs coming from a good place, them just trying to understand. Not doing their best to hide their disappointment. Never demanding, directly. You just have to read between the lines as they sometimes give suggestions. The non-spoken words linger in the air while they communicate more through their actions. How they move around the room.
Mila was in university when the first set of tragedies struck the family ranch again. They managed to skate by as well as they could โ until the money ran out and they were forced to sell a parcel off. That parcel became the Castle Rock Resort. From there, it was just bits and pieces more and more.
It was inevitable, that pieces of the land kept disappearing. Even though she was clinging on to the hope that it would be different. She was stubborn with how she wanted to go about this the โrightโ way. Almost self-righteous in the way she didnโt want to stoop low. But it didnโt get them far, watching as more land disappeared. Watching people get screwed over by the system, even though she did everything right. Desperate to keep what land their family had left; to level the playing field, and accepting theyโd have to play dirty to win, she gave in to the โmythโ of the cowboy mafia.ย
She didnโt know how to go about it, or who to look to. All she had were rumors that she wasnโt sure had any merit to it. Running into him at The Pink Lady Pastries & Bakeries for coffee wasnโt planned. She asked if he knew of an organization that could help her. A play on words, all meant as a joke. It was shared after playing catch-up, letting a laugh leave her lips. But he could read between the lines. Who would have thought he would be the one to help her. There she became a Finger. Until it came time for her to prove herself. With the information given, she blackmailed a police officer into planting evidence to help her win her case. For a client who had the system stacked against him, so she justified it. And she repeats it, as time goes by until the line gets blurred.
Selling a piece of her soul for the sake of protecting their family land. Was she taking it too far? Couldnโt she just accept what was happening? She wanted to. She did. But the calls from her family were daunting. The news of her fatherโs health declining due to the stress. Guilt seemed to be the prominent emotion for her, even in her marriage. Somewhere along the lines, the โfamily firstโ mantra became a bit too toxic. Mila was doing what she could to help but found herself drifting from family function - claiming work as the reason.
Becoming a Top Hand wasnโt necessarily a goal of hers. She just wanted to be in, in exchange for help. She was Lucas Tillman was doing, the way he helped others and she followed in his step. Using her charm, and a bribe here and there, to help not only the mafia but others in the community less fortunate and had the system stacked against them. It was a way for her to compensate for the part she plays in the mafia. For the bad that happens and gets brushed aside.ย
Mila used humor to cope with the stress of everything. She had to find the joy and laughter in the things she does and enjoys or sheโd go insane. But as time passes, this side of them dwindles, mainly being shown by those sheโs close to. Adapting a cold; stoic, front when it comes to what she has to do for the cowboy mafia. This is a side of her she is not too fond of, a side of her she doesnโt show her husband; Edgar. He has only ever seen her soft and playful side. She doesnโt want him to see what she has become. But sheโs not even sure if that matters in the end since the blow-up in their marriage. A unit that has been acting independently. Projection, on her part, for what she canโt share; including certain decisions. The guilt of it and she struggles, internally, with telling him all other than just non-spoken words. Even the one she could share but didnโt.ย
A bit hypocritical for her reaction to him making a decision without her. This one she tried to understand, which she does now, but thereโs something to be said about him wanting to figure out the Winery on his own rather than ask his wife; a lawyer for help. It brings up the question of when did they stop feeling comfortable around each other to share or ask for help. She wanted to look past this, logically, but emotionally she couldnโt. With whatโs going on, and the fact that the offer was from Obsidian Holdings, it was all too much. Her blow-up, which came later, was not pretty - to say the least. It dawned on her, the reality of the situation. His affiliation with Obsidian Holding and is their donor. And she on the other side, at war - as dramatic as it sounds - with them. A heavy thought, one that contributes to her blow-up, how likely is this to become unsafe for him?ย
They decide to temporarily separate, well she likes to see it that way. For both to process it all. For her to let her anxiety ease over. To reconvene at another time. She knows what she wants. What she hopes the outcome can be. But sheโs not sure how without him being in the crossfire. A concern that only heightened now with the news of Randall's affair and demise. The groups are blaming each other like it's Romeo and Juliet, sheโs hoping itโs neither. She needs it to be neither. Just some weird coincidence.ย
The fires that have plagued the town cost Her family everything. Milaโs immediate family was forced to sell the rest of their ranch to Obsidian Holdings, and they've been moved into Oceanview Apartments. Another stress added onto her plate. Knowing theyโll look to her to help figure out whatโs next.
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Mila never wanted to be in this fight They had resisted, if the rumors of the Cowboy Mafia were true, a good lawyer โ which they were โ was bound to be abused. They were right, when they finally were made a Hand. Under the former Boss, Charlie, they saw how bloody the fight was going to get. Back then their family had something... now, under Elias, their family has lost everything. Even her marriage is hanging by a thread. Sheโs willing to take more drastic measures, especially after years of curating the best of friendships (or bribes) with the local judicial system. They want to get to the bottom of what happened to Randall and why, for her selfish reasons, if it means helping push the Cowboys more toward war, so be it.






















