{ryan destiny, twenty-eight, nonbinary, they/them} || monique washington is a mutant with the ability of wolf physiology. theyâve been in new york for twelve years where they spend most of their time as a writer. when i think of them, i think of claw marks on wooden floors, wooden beads clanking together, and baseball caps that hide a dark secret. they are affiliated with the essex escapees.
connections . pinterest . tasks . the washington family .Â
Some are lucky when it comes to their mutations. Their mutations are invisible, no one can see it and they can blend in. Live normally as if theyâre not different. But thatâs not the same for everyone. Others have to suffer with mutations that change their entire bodies, showing the entire world that they are different from others. Causing them to go into hiding and unable to see others. Theyâre left miserable and alone, never to see the outside world.
Monique Washington is unlucky. Born into a well off family, the grandchild of a famous jazz singer and child of the incredible basketball player Jackson Lanchester. Life shouldâve been amazing and perfect, until it wasnât. Theyâre six when the mutation shows itself, Monique who was sleeping soundly and heard a loud sound outside. Thunder that spooked them greatly, sending the small child running out of their room screaming and crying for their parents. Footsteps turned to soft patter and scratches on the wooden floor. Cries shifted into howling. The world, which was always bigger than them, became even bigger. They didnât realize it at first until they burst into their parents room, scared. Instead of their beautiful child, they were met with a baby wolf with dark fur.
Out of fear, their father shouted and chased after the fury beast. Confused and terrified, Monique ran as fast as they could, out the front door and away from the sounds of a gun being fired. Even with how far they went, they could still hear their mother calling their name, the older woman crying and screaming. Hidden away underneath bushes just away from their mansion, Monique slept, whimpering to themselves as the sounds of a gunshot and their motherâs cries playing over and over again.
Monique was found the next morning, completely drenched, naked, wolf ears on top of their head, and a matted tail at the back. That was the start of their new life, a life filled with them being hidden from the public and their parents who refused to meet their eyes. A mutant, said their parents, our daughter is a mutant. They could smell the fear, the anger, the disgust that oozed from their parentsâ voices. They hated it, they hated it so much.
Unable to switch back to a regular person, Monique was kept hidden from the public's view. Always remaining within their gated home, only able to interact with their parents, workers, and tutors. A hat was given to them to wear at all times and their tail was hidden within their pants, skirts, and dresses. The tutors werenât aware of their mutation but the workers were. The way many of them gave Monique little glances before scurrying away, their whispers filling their ears as the maids were whispering it into their ears. How was it that they lived in such a sunny place but their mansion be filled with dread and despair? Oh how they hated their home.
But they instantly loved it when she walked in. Bernice Washington, who possessed such dazzle and glam, it left her only grandchild in awe. Bernice, older than anyone else there, accepted Moniqueâs mutation. How could she not? This was her grandchild, family was still family no matter what. Presents were given to Monique; new hats, baggy pants, sneakers, and books. Monique loved books. Adventure ones, action packed, romance, fantasy-- all of them. They were ten when they grew fond of writing, telling Bernice during her visit about this new love. And their grandmother supported them with the widest smile she could produce. Notebooks were filled with stories of their own, letters sent to Bernice about such creations, and a computer was bought for them. They felt at peace for once, as if life was good.
Until it wasnât. At the age of fourteen, their clothes were packed and a trip to New York was made. Tears filled their eyes, whimpers left their lips, and their tail tucked close to them. Always on their best behavior and keeping their full wolf side calm, their parents thought everything was going great. Until the cries of a maid hit their ears. Running into the dining room, their eyes were met with a large black wolf with its teeth sunk into the maidâs arm. It took at least three grown men to pry Monique from the bleeding maid, fear in many of their eyes. Anger in their parents. Sadness in Moniqueâs.
Essex House was the best place for Monique. In hopes to help their child, Monique was sent there to better pull in their mutation and have control over it. Because they were still a celebrity, they needed to be seen. Just without the ears and tail, Nathan Essex was the perfect man to help them. No hugs were given but there were tears, lots of them, from the three before the Lanchester couple left. That was the last time Monique ever saw them.
Of course Essex House was a trap, it wasnât a place to help children, it was a place to run tests on all of them. Experimentations, simulators, all sorts. Moniqueâs own test was to see how long they can stay in wolf form, what causes them to shift, and how to make Monique go fully human. Each test was more strenuous and difficult by the days, each test made the hair on their back raise and for Monique to remain in the corner of their room. Each test impacted them mentally, Monique never able to stay fully human for more than ten seconds. The one reason why they were sent to the school and it wasnât helping. A waste of their time.
For so long, Monique believed that theyâll never see their family or get a taste of freedom. Until it happened. Other mutants who were tired and done with the experiments, tired of the mistreatment who attacked. Turned on the scientists, turned on those who wronged them. It was a jailbreak and Monique was lucky enough to get away. Free, they were finally free and away from hell.
Going back to Florida was out of the question, their parents probably wouldnât want them anymore and who knows if those from Essex would look there first. But it was fine because NYC held someone who always had their back. Their grandmother. It was a risk to see the older woman but a risk they were willing to take. Late one night, Monique appeared before her, shaking and with tears streaming down their face. They spilled, everything they went through, the pain, the suffering, everything. And Bernice listened closely and believed every single word. If their parents wouldnât have their back, at least their grandmother would.
It was because of Bernice that Monique and their best friend Seven were able to get a nice apartment in New York. Just enough space for the two of them ( and a nice bathroom was required ). Bernice even helped Monique get a job as a writer but under the penname âQuincy L.W.â Theyâve mainly written short stories and poems but did have one full length novel that became popular with the masses.
