#fire-branded

The Rosaria Corporation's commendable efforts were many, according to the glossy and elegantly designed leaflet in Melissa's hands: humanitarian aid for those living in conflict-stricken zones; assistance with affordable housing for those within the country; support in relation to fees for litigation cases for those from low income households; a healthcare program originally developed for their own employees which also extended to those living in any city where Rosaria did business.

The brunette had to turn the piece of paper over to finish reading about everything - it was quite surprising that someone spearheading a corporation did so many charitable endeavors with so little publicity. To be perfectly honest, Melissa had been mingling with the powerful and successful for a while given her career (a specialist in providing extremely selective people with pleasant company - in other words, a very high-class worker of the oldest profession in the world) and yet it was the first time she had been hired to meet up with someone that Melissa didn't feel really needed her services.

There was a little picture of the man sitting at the very top of that corporate pyramid at the bottom of the last page: Elwin Rosfield. Rater than at the forefront and in a heavily edited portrait, the face of the current CEO occupied the equivalent of a footnote, with the emphasis of the materials being on the specific causes they had provided aid to, as well as offering anyone the chance to audit the details if they wished. Closing the leaflet and using it to gentley fan herself, Melissa navigated the busy crowd of that party to track and find her target.

The brunette thought that a man with his name attached to the board of the company footing the bill for that evening would be busy - but the information from Rodney Murdoch, the individual actually paying Melissa for her time, proved to be accurate. Elwin was indeed alone, seemingly distracted with the variety of appetizers offered at one of the most secluded tables of the room, and without his looks suggesting any frustration or annoyance at being supposedly ignored by the masses who readily flocked to the many pleasures offered at his expense.

Interesting - why would a man with so many qualities be so lonely? Melissa found herself questioning the underlying reason for that stint with his best friend (or so Rodney proclaimed), enough to have a sex worker hired to pose as an innocent guest with genuine interest in Elwin. Closer to the designated client of the night, the prostitute could see it was definitely not in the looks that her mark boasted - Elwin Rosfield had striking features, with beautiful dark hair, an elegant body posture and the organic, imposing aura of one used to power.

From Melissa's perspective, it wouldn't be a bad evening at all.

The woman who approached Elwin then was dressed in a way that had been thoughtfully planned in advance - the brunette was dressed in a beautiful mermaid gown that showcased a very classic and timeless silhouette, the strapless dress made of silk mikado and further highlighting the bare shoulders and the elegance of her neck. The color (a vibrant shade of red) and the flower appliqués over the fabric to the right side of her figure were the true homage - a not so subtle nod to the Rosaria Corporation's trademark, but which could be easily confused as a generic preference for crimson roses.

"What would you recommend from all these delightful options?" Melissa queried instead of approaching with a standard introduction, craning her head to look at Elwin and make sure he had realized he was the one she was directing the words to. A smile followed, pleasing but not overly eager - just the perfect opening to allow for further conversation, "I would imagine that as the one ultimately paying for the feast, you would have a favorite. Wouldn't you, Mr. Rosfield?"

Talking about Aerith.

⌨ What’s a situation you’ve always wanted to RP with Aerith?

LORD. MEMORIES CAME FLOODING BACK.

I know I have it somewhere on my blog, where Aerith had a 'sleeping beauty' kind of wishlist-AU. (Found it). It's amusing because I was wondering what in the world inspired it, but I can see the inspiration on by own blog, in 2021 I reblogged this statue which immediately gave me Thoughts. Which is exactly how my inspiration comes, suddenly and violently.

There is another situation, but it's way too obscure for a roleplay and more-so a situation that would have to be put into a short story. But I have been haunted by the thought that Gast could have survived. He was shot by Hojo, and as far as we know he was left for dead.

It's so dumb but I do occasionally think of a world where he has survived all this time and sought a way to reconnect with his family, not knowing the fate of his wife or daughter.

EXERTION TOUCHES THE LIPS as they draw to a stop, catching their breath under the timid moonlight. tucked behind the overgrowth, arthur signals - ‘ draw close and watch ’ - and crouches in the darkness to view the soldiers passing before them. keen, attentive eyes drag against glints of armor, taking mental note of symbols and formations. the other man slinks closer, slipping next to his pale form to join in viewing, and it is as their shoulders brush that arthur suddenly JERKS AWAY, side-stepping him with a soft hiss. brown eyes dip gold ( gilded, and the crown around his pupil gleams in recognition of something remarkably OTHER ). he touches his shoulder where cloth appears to SMOLDER and passes the man a weary look. he has never worked with him before - was this normal ??

“ ARE YOU OKAY ?? ” is his first question because, as with most things, he is too kind-natured not to ask. the man's HEATED AURA is concerning though, for it seems mildly untamed despite how otherwise put together his companion has been thus far. then again, there was a first time for everything. “ you - startled me. ” he whispers out before sighing and sliding back to his post. he could do with less surprises in his life, he muses, but that pesky little voice in the back of his head tells him it was better to ask about it now than to wait for the other to EXPLODE right out from under him.

[ TEXT -> The Phoenix ] Why did the rabbit go to the salon? [ TEXT -> The Phoenix ] It was having a bad hare day. [ TEXT -> The Phoenix ] You're welcome.

Oh man... Elwin might be perfect, when it comes to everything else, but jokes? She only chuckles because of how bad it is.

While it was a mild frustration to keep gathering the ingredients for his burn salve, it helped that they'd now been planted near the Lazarus District in a wild, secluded garden of sorts. Better that than rummaging all over forests and cliffsides in the hopes of finding what was needed. Still, even so close to their base, Tyler had pulled his hood up.

So when he heard a single pair of booted feet approach, the gait was similar enough for him to lightly scoff while he straightened. "Don't be a fusspot, Wade. I can handle some plants on...my..."

He was seeing things, surely. He had to be. Some memory of his last nightmare had to be masking a friend's or stranger's face. Why else would he think the other looked so hauntingly like the Archduke? Flowers and herbs fell from slackened fingers. His throat tightened around unsteady breaths. Grey eyes blinked hard, but the vision remained.

tell joshua happy birthday / @fire-branded