#tartarus.start

asa   tucks   her   free   hand   into   her   pocket   as   she   stands   on   the   sidewalk,   a   sandwich   held   in   the   other.   across   the   street,   police   &   ambulance   lights   flicker   in   the   darkness   outside   of   a   rundown   apartment   building.   the   chaos   inside   isn’t   her   work,   for   once,   &   she   isn’t   entirely   certain   if   she’s   paused   to   watch   because   she’s   curious   or   bored.   she   glances   over   when   someone   else   stops   to   observe,   swallowing   her   bite.   “i’ve   heard   that   the   building   is   haunted,”   she   says   dryly,   lips   twisting   with   a   hint   of   a   smile   as   she   glances   briefly   over   at   them.   “maybe   there   was   a   ghost   attack.”

mila wasn’t the type of woman to feel out of place. she knew that her presence at the wake was not welcomed, but she didn’t care. save newer members of other syndicates, she knew almost everyone here, growing up in this world had its.... well, knowing a lot of people was both good and bad, in her mind. the glares didn’t bother her, the whispers, the side eyes trying to see just  how much skin the assassin had on display — hint, it was a lot. she enjoyed it, but the blonde wasn’t the most social either. that’s how she ended up outside, a bit away from the crowds, with a cigarette in her hand. a nasty habit she’d picked up from her mother, but one she had no intentions on giving up either. at the sound of footsteps, she didn’t even turn to spare a glance at her newfound company. “it’s interesting, isn’t it? watching where all the chess pieces will land now that a king has fallen. though a common misconception is thinking the king the most powerful of all.” while lania had no connections with sara, she had no doubts the titan queen would prove capable. queens were the most powerful on a chess board, after all.

it’s the kind of place that feels straight out of a fifties gangster movie, smoke wafts across the room from a man’s imported cuban cigar and glasses clink musically over the smooth sounds of the singer in the lounge. swathed in red silk amphai sits alone nursing a neat glass of whiskey and watching the singer with rapt attention. she’s an old friend and lover whose voice still enchants her to this day, though they long ago stopped having time for one another she still likes to make her way out to see the woman’s shows if only to hear her sonorous voice for a little bit. “what do you think?” she says leaning towards the small, round table adjacent to her. “she’s amazing right? i saw her sing bing crosby at the sky lounge once and it was life-changing.”

“does it make me look bad to say i wasn’t expecting this?” not that she cared, fet often struggled with the whole ‘don’t associate with other syndicates’ thing, but she’d thought the titan family would spring for better security after the funeral was crashed. apparently she’d been thinking too wishfully, though deep down the chaos inside of her was pleased to see how this night would play out now. “or rather, i was expecting better security.” she amended, eyes finally moving from the whole of people to the person nearest her at the bar. 

“this is the best song!” she’s a bit tipsy, a bit goofy, and a bit cold in the chilled night air because she chose to wear a swim suit and had no cover up. but lux is a chaotic force of nature, and she buries all that with another drink in her hand. “come dance with me? i can’t be the only one out here who is letting loose.” plenty of people were looking, but lux didn’t care. maybe she lived for attention, maybe she did things for it, or maybe she really just didn’t care what people thought. the world may never know.