t h e m i s

Fam bam settled up in Chicago when Sim was four years old - hailing from South America where her grandfather was a government official for most of his life.

Both he and his wife took up a solid place among city officials here and the family has followed that ever since - parents and brothers are all either lawyers/military/politicians and hold some sort of respectable standing with their peers 

If you think there's anything to compare between the two, you're wrong. Dom has the integrity of a wet lettuce and I wouldn’t blink if he was on fire. Theo, it’ll always Theo.

“Absolute scum of the city?” Dominik couldn’t help the hearty chuckle that escaped him in response. While the man had been called a number of things over the course of his life and career, there was an added level of malice when it seeped from the lips of his ex-fiancé. While he had seen his decision to escape his family name as a moment in time to reinvent his own wheel, she had seen it as a complete and utter betrayal. It was something the pair would never see eye to eye on, even years after their dance had concluded. “That’s no way to talk to your future Mayor, Ms District Attorney.” The politician quipped, though there was a hint of amusement laced into his tone which quickly faded at the mention of another woman’s name. “What Violet may or may not know, is none of your concern.” The Vronsky male remarked, though his words parted his lips as a silent warning. The artist hadn’t exactly been kept in the dark when it came to his last name, but had yet to make any connection to his family. And if he could dwell in the light of ignorance for a while longer, then he would. 

“There’s still a whole campaign to win before I need to consider any of that bullshit.” It’s unlike her. Though Simone has always been a figure of grace and etiquette - in the presence of good company, she had long since sharpened her teeth and accepted the fact that she’d have to play as dirty as those she fought against did. “Actually, that’s where you’re wrong.” She wasn’t about to tell him exactly how close she and Violet were, it didn’t matter one way or another. After the man before her promised her the world - a life that would undoubtedly rot from the inside out, she knew if she ever had the chance; she’d ruin his life. “Everything you and your family do is my concern. The last thing this city needs is a DA willing to let you continue to weave your god damn webs around everything good and innocent about this place.” And Violet? God, Violet was good. “Stay away from her, Dominik.”

“Always,” Violet replied matter of factly. In the small things like pulling her from an unwanted conversation to just about anything else Simone would be someone she’d be there for. Their friendship was one she’d found when she was feeling particularly lost and she’s been thankful for it ever since. “That all sounds good to me,” she nodded steering them in that direction. The champagne being moved about the room was nice but she could use something else as the countdown grew closer. At the mention of Simone’s date she couldn’t help but grin cheekily, “Oh I hope so! Or you could point him out,” she offered looking around the room for a face she didn’t recognize. “And maybe I’ll point out my date! I think you’d love him, he’s in politics.” she offered gaze now searching for Dominik.

“He’s around here somewhere, never all too far away from the bar at least.” She turned as they made it to the bar, searching the nearby crowd for even a hint of the man she was hoping to see. It began as something simple - easy, and truly, Simone didn’t really know where it became something that left her feeling a little on cloud nine whenever he was around. “Oh - he’s over there - dark suit, by the door.” The smile that graced her features didn’t remain as natural as it should have, the reminder of her ex fiance spilling from Violet without her even knowing. “Since we’re on the topic of your political beaux, do you..” And as if she’d summoned him, the familiar blonde man swept his way through a crowd not too far off, no doubt looking for someone else to sink his claws into.. “You know what, never mind. Shots?” 

Theo lifts the glass of champagne up towards his lips, taking a sip of it as his hues focus on her features. Truthfully, he’s not sure when things began to shift between them but she was the sole reason he wasn’t in his apartment drinking himself numb and into a haze. At her words, the male brings the flute down towards his side, holding it by the rim as his gaze drops down towards her lips. His top teeth scraping along his lower lip as a low chuckle breathlessly leaves his lips. “You always know the right things to say to work me up, Ortiz.” He teases as he turns his head to look over his shoulder then back towards her with a short but quick shake of the head. “There’s no tricks up these sleeves tonight, darlin’. At least not the kind of tricks I had the last time we went out together… I can’t promise about not havin’ some tricks up my sleeve to get you in my apartment later.” He mused with a devious smirk coming along his features. “It’s just us. If the rest of the world selflessly gives that to us.”

There's a great many things that Simone is required to consider when crossing the line between the physical and something more. Admittedly, it hasn’t even crossed her mind with Theo just yet, how could it? Lines blurred and before she knew it, they’d labelled this a date. Something that perhaps fell into place a little too easily and yet, there’s a distinct link between the pair and what might have once belonged to careless teenagers. “No, you just make it easy for me.” Playing into one another’s hands without second thought to what it meant. A sigh of gentle appreciation slips through her lips as she smiles, beyond even the small niggling that wants to ask if he’s being truthful with her. Old habits died hard, and trust was one thing Simone usually went without. “Is that right?” Her tongue slips out, capturing what remains on her lip of her champagne and though she’d been headed in an entirely different direction earlier, Simone entwines her fingers with his and tugs him towards the hallway, “Who said you’d need any kind of trick to get me there in the first place, hm?”

Theo walked along side her, effortlessly shifting through the sea of people. There was no set destination and he was sure that Simone would lead them to wherever she wanted to go tonight. These sort of things weren’t exactly his thing especially when he was on edge about his team being in the same space as the people had killed one of their own. He turned his head to look over at the woman holding his arm, nodding his head. “Plus I’m not good at sharin’.” He muttered with a smirk on his features as he raised his hand to grab one of the drinks from the same tray as his eyes drop down to look at her. “What am I goin’ to do with all of this attention?”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t expect you to,” nor did she particularly want to have toi divide her attention between him and anyone else. Perhaps it was foolish of her, to want a single night to do so - such a selfish desire was one that had landed her in a subsequent loss far too many times before. The fact that they were surrounded by those that would rather see them dead, was perhaps riddled in irony. “If you’re strapped for ideas, I can probably think of a few that you might like the sound of,” drawing him to a slow stop, her drink rises to her lips and her free hand shifts until gentle fingers curl around the slope of his neck, “That all depends on whether you’ve got something else brewing for tonight,” And, it’s the only question she’ll ask of it. Knowing that the last time they were together, he was waiting for his team to swoop in and arrest a number of people, “Is it just us tonight? No surprises waiting to happen?”

Violet wasn’t one to go out to party to ring in the New Year. She had become accustomed, and actually enjoyed, staying in instead. Using the night to reflect on the year that past and create goals for the one to come, she’d stay up for the countdown of course and listen in on the fireworks that sounded in the distance. Tonight was different than that in many ways. As she roamed the great hall Vi began being pulled into one conversation only to be sidelined into another. A lot of her colleagues had attended to since their art installations were being displayed. Stepping away to maybe get a drink and perhaps find her date she was being looped into the arms of another and before she could protest the pair were in step together. “Alright I understand the mission,” she said teasingly in a whisper only venturing a side glance to Simone. “Where to Miss DA? And might I say you look incredible!”

“I knew I could count on you,” as she always had. Violet Marino had forever be the kind of ray that Simone sought out as much as she possibly could. Some people simply lifted the weight without ever trying. “I’m thinking straight to the bar and then see if we can find some quiet little corner for a little while.” It wasn’t at all that Simone wasn’t fond of the theatrics of the New Year, but getting her head around everything that was playing out, both publicly and behind the scenes made it a little difficult sometimes, to keep her head straight. “Maybe we’ll spot Theo and I’ll introduce you.”

Dominik was no stranger to such events, having attending them from a young age and furthermore so throughout adulthood as he schmoozed his way through the political scene within New York city. And while that part of his life was now far behind him as he turned his attention to the mayoral electorate of Chicago, it seemed not all parts of his former life were avoidable. In the form of a certain ex-fiancé and the woman whom knew all too much about his family and what they stood for. “There was a time when you used to enjoy that, staying out all night, crawling home as the sun rose once more. How things change.” He mused, though his tone was low, annoyance riddled as he lead the woman through the crowd. 

Given, there were very few things she’d chose to avoid in order to spend any certain minute around her ex fiancé, it certainly said a lot for previous company as she tried to relax at his side now. Not the wisest of choices, and one that weighed heavily in her chest before she’d done so - but it got her closer to the balcony and undoubtedly forced others to shy away from drawing her attention. The district attorney and future mayor looked far too busy to be interrupted. “I still do, I just happen to be a little more conscious of whether or not I’m spending that time with the absolute scum of the city or not.” A tight smile pressed her lips as she looked around at given company, “Speaking of... -- Does Violet know who you are?”

where: nye event | main ballroom

who: @simcneortiz​

Zekai wasn’t much, or at all, well versed in reconnaissance. The one name at the forefront of his mind for the past week had been none other than the woman that stood across the room now. Google did little to give him that much information but seeing pictures did help her spot out Simone Ortiz. She looked harmless enough, but being in the Bratva taught him that appearances of just about everyone could were deceiving. He had to be smart about this, the last thing he needed was his father to know what he was up to. Zekai grabbed a glass from one of the passing trays and began his approach a lie of his intentions already building with each passing step. “Miss Ortiz,” he interrupted with an award winning smile indicating nothing but joy.

Theo held a glass of whiskey in his hand, holding it between his index finger and thumb. All he had to do was be a guest tonight even though the deal happening downstairs was on his mind. Things were heating up and this was almost like a repeat of the night they sent Kate on her deal. He cleared his throat at the thought, bringing the glass up to his lips and taking a sip of it. He turned his head to look over at his date when her arm slipped through his. “Isn’t that the point of tonight, Si? Aren’t we supposed to be mingling and getting stuck in conversations we don’t want to have all night?”

Although the events of the Halloween fiasco had put something of a strain on their professional relationship, Simone couldn’t help but find humor in the fact that the new years ball would now forever be labelled, the night of their first date. An odd concept, to someone who avoided personal relationships at seemingly any cost. “The first few hours, sure.” Her other hand crossed her body to curl fingers gently around his bicep as they walk, “But it’s the one night of the year that I can excuse myself without the obligatory guilt. It might help just a little,” she started, a hand falling away as she picked up another drink from the passing tray, “that I have a good reason to skip out on it all too.”

location: idk somewhere okay

Simone had easily accepted her fate, upon becoming district attorney, she was well aware that the whole ordeal would come with soiree’s and getting caught up in some of the most boring conversations, with the most bland people one could cross paths with. Save the city, campaign for the betterment of the youth - all in a days work. Tonight, however, that was the last thing she wanted to get pulled into, and though she wasn’t entirely against pulling in a random bystander to save her from a metaphorically death defying talk with a minister, she didn’t need to. The familiar face peaked her interest and almost immediately, she excused herself. Quickly stepping away to sling an arm through the crook of recognitions shoulder, “Whatever you do, do not make eye contact and do not turn around, we’ll be stuck there all night otherwise.”

Simone Ortiz | New Years Eve 2021

Nothing gold can stay

What: the first time the ivory and vittori Bratva truly breached Savannah’s Simone’s life When: Winter of 2002 Triggers: Violence, a given. Murder. Maybe creepy vibes? idk its a trigger ok Notes: For the sake of visual, I’ve always imagined her ex, Nick, to have looked like Alex O’Loughlin if he’d not died, so you know, him as a eighteen/nineteen year old kid.

To most, it would have looked the picture of innocence. Barely seventeen years old, young lovers caught bewildered in the snow lined street as if perhaps they’d never quite seen anything so precariously special as each other in the cold chapped wind. The senseless sound of laughter that could carry for miles and break apart the darkest cloud in the sky as the pavement before simply opened up a horizon that couldn’t be found on the city skyline. But darker days had never seen a more fruitful opportunity to lay to waste the silver platter that beckoned itself towards the love sick dalliance that would serve as a warning for a family too caught up in getting in the way of things that they might have considered to never be their business in the first place. 

It caught a whistle in the treetops, a rustling that drew coat and company closer. Golden hair caught in the icy breeze beneath the hat intended to keep her ears warm, despite never feeling an ounce of the cold whenever she was with him. The unbearable feeling that she’d never let go of as it swelled like sunshine within the concave of her chest, lips pressed gently against her temple as they barely meandered beyond the frozen lake. To be alone with him was to open up the heavens and drown yourself. Like an open car window as it drove much too quickly, the mouthful of air that fleetingly over filled lungs with a moment of panic before the joy that there could truly be too much of a good thing subsided and paved the way for the greatest surge of contentment. There could truly never be anything like being with him.