contractor, HE level // ANGELICA

You arrive to the sight of a towering building, where you're politely shown to an elevator that takes you ricocheting upwards as the City view flickers outside the glass walls. When you exit, it's to the vision of a lowly lit bar, lights casting molten gold across the counters and patrons. Classy music plays quietly in the background, interrupted by a faint call that beckons from the edge of the room with the sound of your name.

"Hands off ladies and gentlemen," Angelica says, neon from the outside catching iridescent in her hair like a halo. "That's my date. Rowan Cross, if I'm not mistaken?"

Matching her statement, she reclines alone at a table for two by the windows, a flute of champagne waiting beside her along with an empty chair. Plush red velvet, glittering with all the fashionable opulence expected of a luxury bar.

( back, and hopefully you don't mind angelica's teasingly flirting vibe? i can change it if you do. ^^ )

( ooh. junjie is such fun, i love them already haha. also, carmine. :eyes: )

[ FILE RECEIVED ]
[ loading data of: Junjie ]
[ sending: mission instructions - 001. ]

Your first mission with the City Contingency Service is the beginning of many things. Veterans say that when the ending comes, it will have defined the scenes you've seen, the things you've met, and the person you've become. They say that all of this will be what clings to the back of your eyes each time you die, that this will stick with you even if you get out of the service. Of course, this isn't your first anything, but they don't know that.

The notification arrives on your communicator, its holographic display rising from your wrist to display a private message.


IGOR. - FIXER, ranking: HE
Known Abilities: Manipulation of organic matters, limited to her own injuries and those she's caused.

A fixer well-known for both her violence and peculiarities, specializing in the extermination of horde or deceit-based demons and contractors operating in the slums. She takes commission for cash about as often as not, taking all sorts of trinkets as payment for the other half. Recently, the City Contingency Service has tagged her as a likely target, though further judgement has been reserved until an assessment can be made. Monitor her condition as her new assistant.

Note: It's suggested to bring a gift as a way to increase favorability with your target.


Alongside with the instructions is a location, set in the middle of the demonic frontier that is a crush of apartments within the slums where a small building has been marked out as Igor's office, though its noted that she likes to spend more time outside of it than not.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=108984&page=2#12 Author: Jie Time Posted: 8/18/2024 at 3:50 PM contractor, HE level // ANGELICA You arrive to the sight of a towering building, where you're politely shown to an elevator that takes you ricocheting upwards as the City view flickers outside the glass walls. When you exit, it's to the vision of a lowly lit bar, lights casting molten gold across the counters and patrons. Classy music plays quietly in the background, interrupted by a faint call that beckons from the edge of the room with the sound of your name. "Hands off ladies and gentlemen," Angelica says, neon from the outside catching iridescent in her hair like a halo. "That's my date. Rowan Cross, if I'm not mistaken?" Matching her statement, she reclines alone at a table for two by the windows, a flute of champagne waiting beside her along with an empty chair. Plush red velvet, glittering with all the fashionable opulence expected of a luxury bar. ( back, and hopefully you don't mind angelica's teasingly flirting vibe? i can change it if you do. ^^ )

Rowan steps out of the elevator, her gaze sweeping across the bar's lavish surroundings. The golden light catches onto the edges of her unfitted blazer, a stark contrast to the lush interior. Even a lifetime of work would never have brought her to these heights. Perhaps not even ten lifetimes. As her name is called, she stiffens, eyes narrowing as she locks onto Angelica's figure. The mention of a "date" brings a slight twitch to her lips, a reflexive smirk that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

Taking measured steps, Rowan approaches the table, her posture rigid yet composed. Shes acutely aware of the curious glances from other patrons, but her unfitted blazer and scuffed dress pants provide the finest armor she can muster tonight. Her gaze flicks around the room, noting the plush red velvet, the glint of gold accents, and the champagne flute waiting at the table. A quick mental tally flashes through her mind. The cost of that glass alone seems to be worth a year of rent.

Rowan doesn't sit immediately, preferring to be looking down at her new partner. At the very least, it gave her the illusion of control. "Rowan Cross," she confirms, her voice steady. "Though I don't recall this being that kind of meeting". The way the light dances on Angelica's hair, forming a halo, makes her seem almost angelic, garbed in finery and surrounded by riches. She reaches out to offer the contractor a handshake.

A thought briefly flits into her head and she almost smiles: the princess and the pauper.

^{Nope! I don't mind at all, it's fun :)}

fixer, HE level // IGOR

( AAH, I'm excited to see how well it matches up then, you'll have to tell me how it goes! And to make up for my absence [ not really, I just got a huge burst of inspiration haha ] have a long post. It's time for a meeting between hoarders. :D )

You arrive to the sight of a foul mixture of blood and dirt stained across the cracked pavement winding its way through the slums, serving as a semblance of both a road or a sidewalk, with no lines to divide walkers from the occasionally run down cars that come chugging down. Leaning apartments crush against each other in the slums, rooftops crowding out the skyline except for faint streaks of black that shine from above the skyline, noticeably absent of stars and blemished by the sight of the rusted brown of old, twisted metal runs along the buildings; rickety staircases that double as fire escapes and branch across as much as they do down.

Continuing forward, you locate the address of her office, set in the middle of the mess, though suspended several floors above the grime by the same sporadic stairs. Standing below the worn sign bearing her name is Igor, dressed in mixture of white and gold, her boots and garb already stained by either the streets or the previous hour's work.

In front of her stands a well-dressed man, well, as nicely dressed as one gets in this place. His dress shirt hangs a little loose around his frame, and the soles of his dark shoes carry several years worth of filth despite the strenuous effort that's gone into keeping the rest of them maintained.

A laugh rings through the street, matched to the rasped drag of the mace hanging lazy from Igor's hand as she steps forward, and the man stumbles backward. "What's this?" she coos, shaking the doll in her other hand. "You can't possibly think that I'd like to collect children's toys, can you?"

Another step brings the two face-to-face as the man raises his hands in surrender, protect cut off before he even gets the chance to begin. "Try again," Igor commands, dropping the toy before promptly crushing it under her heel with a faint snap. "Or," and she draws out the word, "I'll take one of your hands as payment." An easy tap, pressed against the offending appendage that'd offered the gift. "It'd make good bait; demons love this sort of thing."

Finally, she pulls back, though the man remains frozen, shuddering slightly at her easy words. "My daughter wanted me to give it you," he finally says, the words falling from his lips as if he's still stuck in his moment of struggle. His eyes flicker downward, toward the cracked gift, and he swallows back the remainder of his objection, gaze returning to the fixer's face before he flees the scene.

And yet, with those final words, Igor turns to gaze beneath her feet, face pensive as she bends down to extract the doll, detached legs and all. It's a figurine with blond hair and indentions signaling its moving joints, face lit up with a lipstick-rimmed smile despite the footprint on its face and flowing blue dress obscuring where its legs have shattered below. "Hm," she hums, turning the toy around in a quick inspection before its tucked away in her pockets. "Guess I'll have to call and tell him I'll accept it after all."

With a slight shrug, she turns to you, teeth shinning as her lips part wide and bright as she leans an elbow onto her weapon. "And what about you. Another customer?"

contractor, HE level // ANGELICA

( okay, that's good to hear! also, i wasn't expecting that last comment or the one about the glass, they're absolute gold haha. )

For a moment, Angelica regards the offer with amusement plain in her eyes, gaze flickering between your hand and your face in faint consideration. In that moment, she leans back in her seat, hands remaining still on the day as the passing seconds draws out longer and longer before she finally leans forward, conceding to your stance with a simple shake of hands.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Rowan," she says, shoulders carrying an easygoing confidence despite the strange tilt of her head caused by the difference in their positions. "I'm Angelica. Though," a slight tilt of her head as she seals the bargain that is the exchange of introductions, established by a millennia of reciprocated greetings, "I suppose we interpreted things a bit differently."

A baited pause lingers in the air as the contractor's lips curl, settling into something that matches the expression that'd crossed your face with her initial call. "I was under the impression that you were here for my heart, but no hard feelings." Her hand settles against her chest, tapping just left of her breastbone. When it falls away, her fingers open up to reveal a rose previously obscured by her palm and wrist during the movement, its petals, stem, and thorns all colored a pale, glistening white.

"After all," she says, setting it on the table before your seat. "We're here to negotiate the details, aren't we?"

With that, the air surrounding Angelica seems to change, nonchalance settling into a something other, gaze carrying the intensity of a thousand eyes. "About that, how do you feel about a wolf hunt?"

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=108984&page=2#17 Author: Jie Time Posted: 8/31/2024 at 6:06 PM contractor, HE level // ANGELICA ( okay, that's good to hear! also, i wasn't expecting that last comment or the one about the glass, they're absolute gold haha. ) For a moment, Angelica regards the offer with amusement plain in her eyes, gaze flickering between your hand and your face in faint consideration. In that moment, she leans back in her seat, hands remaining still on the day as the passing seconds draws out longer and longer before she finally leans forward, conceding to your stance with a simple shake of hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Rowan," she says, shoulders carrying an easygoing confidence despite the strange tilt of her head caused by the difference in their positions. "I'm Angelica. Though," a slight tilt of her head as she seals the bargain that is the exchange of introductions, established by a millennia of reciprocated greetings, "I suppose we interpreted things a bit differently." A baited pause lingers in the air as the contractor's lips curl, settling into something that matches the expression that'd crossed your face with her initial call. "I was under the impression that you were here for my heart, but no hard feelings." Her hand settles against her chest, tapping just left of her breastbone. When it falls away, her fingers open up to reveal a rose previously obscured by her palm and wrist during the movement, its petals, stem, and thorns all colored a pale, glistening white. "After all," she says, setting it on the table before your seat. "We're here to negotiate the details, aren't we?" With that, the air surrounding Angelica seems to change, nonchalance settling into a something other, gaze carrying the intensity of a thousand eyes. "About that, how do you feel about a wolf hunt?"

Rowan's eyes narrow slightly as she takes in the rose, the glint of its pale petals catching in the bars golden light. She'd almost forgotten that she was dealing with a contractor instead of a pretty little heiress. Her lips tug into a faint, sardonic smile as she reaches out, her fingers brushing the edge of the delicate flower before she leaves it untouched on the table.

"A wolf hunt," she repeats, her tone carrying a note of dry amusement, though her gaze remains sharp. "Sounds like something I should've brought silver for. Though, I suppose it's a little soon to be gifting jewelry on the first date."

She lets the words hang for just a moment, moving her gaze up directly at Angelica. "But I've learned to be wary of anything that comes with thorns." And after a brief second of contemplation, she finally takes her seat on the plush velvet.

Rowan leans forward slightly. If I'm hunting, I want to know the prey, and the territory that comes with it. And when you're done, you can tell me about my partner-in-crime as well. To me, you're the most important player here."


^{(Thank you! I wanted to do more of a simpler character since it's my first time, but I have fun when they're always in lack of money. Also I completely apologize for my lack of punctuation in the last post, I wrote it in another word editor and I guess my commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks didn't transfer over haha.)}

contractor, HE level // ANGELICA

( no worries, i have problems with that too haha. Sylestia eating smart quotations is a pain. qwq )


Hearing Rowan's refusal, Angelica laughs, eyes curving in faint amusement even as she settles into the deal. "No," she says, "There won't be any need for silver. Quite the opposite, really. After all," She raises a finger, tracing it in a jagged path down her arm, where a scar would be if a shapeshifter could scar. Instead, there's smooth, unblemished skin. "This one's got lightning."

Angelica turns, eyes flickering to look at the window at the clear skies and bright streets below before she turns back. "It doesn't look like a good night for a storm, but it always manages to pull power from the nearby buildings when it needs it. Otherwise, it has three heads and telephone poles sprouting from its back."

She pauses, picking up her flute and holding it up to the light, considering the way her fingers wrap around the thin glass of the stem. "As for me, I can change any part of my body as long as no one's watching. Something like duplication, too, but I'll be keeping the details to myself." Her mouth curls into a teasing smile. "Got to keep some secrets to myself or your handler might pull the trigger early, no?"

"We can start tonight, since I've gotten a tip on our demon's location. But, first," She turns back to the table, an easy gesture calling for service "Would you like anything to eat, while we're here? I don't mind leaving if it'd make you comfortable."