shadoweds

[shadoweds]

❙❙ ❙ ❚❙ ❚ ❚❙❙ ❚ ❙❙  𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎 → 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚎 HDN8JND9 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 ⤿ 

elijah king, better known as the believer, is currently the division commander in the beta division. the file lists them as innovative and attentive, and originating from baton rouge, louisiana, and currently located in the northwestern sector. at the age of forty-five, they are currently a senior member and are neutral to the current mission. the file notes that they have the following associations: glasses on the bridge of your nose, stacked notepads and tidy manila folders, organs over a church solo, bourbon in a shallow glass, the warmth of a mother’s hug, perseverance through the storm, eyes to the horizon, clasped hands to the sky.  ✦ anthony mackie. cis male.  he/him.

> @societyrb

QUICK STATS —

full name: elijah quincy king. nickname(s): eli, used primarily by family members. occupation: licensed psychologist and division commander of beta division. age: forty-five. date of birth: january first. orientation: pansexual. gender & pronouns: cis male & he/his. hometown: baton rouge, louisiana. languages: english, can understand some basic louisiana french and creole. mostly common phrases as opposed to words, grammar, etc. mother: rebecca king. father: charles king. siblings: samuel king (older brother). danielle king (older sister). marcus king (younger brother). 

ABOUT — (religion tw, cancer tw)

kindness and compassion is woven into the fabric of elijah’s life.

his childhood was simple, but happy. even when his parents’ marriage dissolved into divorce and two colder homes, he was a boy who wanted for very little.

a major part of that was his grandmother, who was the one constant in his otherwise hectic family. any time he had the opportunity, he was near her, this larger than life matriarch with warmth that spilled into the community. and the example she set every time she brought a needy neighbor into her home turned into his foundation.

his mother only added to that, as elijah spent many days watching her find her place as a leader in the church congregation. at first, all he saw was presence; her voice heaven high in praise, her spirit soaring when the sermon hit a chord.

but as he grew older, elijah started to see his mother for what she did. the food banks, the counseling, the shoulder to cry on for struggling members of the church --- her worship was always backed up by her actions.

he’d soon find his mother was unique in that way.

the constant goodwill he saw from both his mother and grandmother took elijah down the path that would eventually lead him to psychology.

it was his unique way of helping people make strides in their life, whether it be for happiness or love, for success or just peace of mind. 

after both undergraduate and graduate study, elijah spent ten years dedicated to practice and knowledge; ten years to understand the ins and outs of human behavior with his clinical work and use the knowledge to make a broader impact in study.

he was proud of the work he did every day, but after some time, he longed for more. 

he longed to make a real difference.

then, arcanus came knocking. 

at thirty-six, he became a part of their beta division as a recruiter,  primarily focusing on mental assessment of candidates during testing. it was a new challenge, certainly, but one he dove into with earnest, garnering the favor of his peers early on and during the two years that followed.

but life always has a funny way of derailing you right as things get good and for elijah, that came in his mother’s cancer diagnosis. 

with his father out of her life, his mother was alone to care for herself at first - but elijah took full advantage of the means and connections arcanus gave him to move her to new york for better care. 

for two years, she was his focus, and his work at arcanus was him largely going through the motions to produce the results he always had. 

it was draining, and at times outright scary, but on a fateful day not long after his 40th birthday, elijah finds out his mother’s in remission. 

he prayed more that night than he ever had before. 

with his mother better, elijah was able to refocus on arcanus and, reinvigorated, began to think through ways to improve his division’s function.

his suggestions were small at first - but after poring over research (some of which he’d done himself), he took a chance on recommending a new program that would better design the recruitment tests to consider unique skills and backgrounds of the candidate and assess their potential for what it truly is, not where it falls against arcanus’ existing standard.

it was a drastic change for the organization, but one that arguably paid off - the success of the newer tests over the past few years have led to elijah recently being named the division commander. 

the promotion is exciting with lots and lots to learn ---- but it’s nothing he hasn’t done before, right?

EXTRA TIDBITS —

eli isn’t as in touch with religion as he used to be and at times feels a deep guilt because of it. church was a big part of his social life growing up and it feels odd to transition away from that. plus he knows deep down his grandmother would not approve.

elijah’s a major dog person and has had one all his life; he appreciates being in one of the tamer divisions because it lets him stay home more regularly and have pets. he has a bulldog named rex that’s his own, but also fosters semi-regularly.

while he loves his big family, elijah isn’t sure that he wants to have kids and is very content being the favorite uncle to his siblings’ many children.

WANTED CONNECTIONS —

will they, won’t they: between research, his responsibilities at arcanus, and care for his mother, elijah hasn’t been in a place for serious dating in a long time. but that hasn’t stopped him from connecting with someone. for years, this person has been a confidant; and at times, that turns into falling into bed, seeking out a mutual release. but anyone who knows them knows that there is more to their dynamic than friendship and intermittent sex. if he were honest with himself, this would be the closest he’s been to a relationship --- they could even be in one for real if they ever get their shit together. (muse should be at least 35+).

best friend: this is someone elijah has known for a long time - who knows him beyond the facade that often comes in a place like the society. they were an integral part of helping him through his mother’s cancer journey and he is incredibly indebted to them because of it.

rival: this person was a shoo-in for the division commander role until elijah’s success with the revamped test shot him above them in the running. they seem to accept it now, but who knows how long that will last?

acquaintances: his psychology focus makes elijah something of a social butterfly, even when he doesn’t mean to be; he definitely has a lot of people throughout arcanus that he’s met once or twice and left good impressions on (and vice versa). so it’s very possible he’s met your muse somehow - perhaps even during their assessment to join the society!

ward: this is a younger member who elijah looks after one way or another. he picked up on a certain sadness or darkness during his initial assessment as their tester, and when they were approved for arcanus, he made it a point to check in and make sure they’re doing okay. 

more tba!

[shadoweds]

HE’S MORE EXCITED than he should be, he thinks. his wife has no idea he’s here --- some out-of-the-way bar in brooklyn --- and the guilt of that alone should’ve turned him around at the door. yet here he is, anticipation unfurling with a fervor as he scans the crowd for vidya.

their reunion, on paper, isn’t that different than the others he’s having with so many society members together for the first time in a long time. but, in reality, it’s almost impossible to quantify what it means to be able to see her again. to sit beside her, shoulder to shoulder, after countless texts, hours of calls, dozens of e-mails. 

the emotion that floods him when he finally finds her is unlike anything he’s ever felt. a nervous hand reaches for his collar, adjusts it some, before he steps further into the bar. one foot, then the other until he’s standing, smiling, over the table she’s picked. “room for one more?” // @reputctions​

[shadoweds]

HE SUPPOSES HE should have seen this coming. headquarters is sprawling, sometimes overwhelmingly so, but it isn’t limitless. there’s only so much running coen could do, regardless of how good he’s gotten at it over the years. 

still, lysandra’s presence sends chill through him; a rising dread that makes him turn sharply from the door they’d burst through to the papers spread out in front of him. ideally, he’d be back in his hotel room doing this, but his wife had gone on ahead, effectively staking her claim. and he couldn’t bare to sit there in that stifling silence - he’d had enough of it in their long flight. so here he is, nursing a beer over research drafts from his junior scientists, and now trying not to let his discomfort be as obvious to lysandra as it feels to him. 

every fiber in his being hopes they’ll keep up the facade - back out slowly like they hadn’t seen him, just as they’ve both done a dozen times before. but the eye contact proves itself to be fatal ---- they speak and he has to bite back a groan. now he has to say something civil back, doesn’t he? “no need,” he drawls finally, eyes flicking towards them out of habit. “big enough room for the two of us, yeah?” 

as long as they don’t sit too close, of course.

@shadoweds​ — closed with coen.

meticulously, they had managed to evade this exact situation; perhaps, given the nature of the society, the elaborate dance of evading ex-friends might even be more complex than the fallout with his wife. at least, when said ex-friend was lys emerson, there were always rather more … fireworks about it than your regular drama. thus far, they’d never exploded —

                  it seemed, their luck had finally ran short, as they were forced to face coen for the first time ( first proper time, anyway, that wasn’t quickly left in the dust by one of them hastily exiting the room ) in who knew how many years.

           ‘ i’m gonna… ’ their hand gestured back toward the doorway, ‘ fuck off. ’

[shadoweds]

SINCE THE ALL-CLEAR the week prior, adelina has been in good shape, walking anywhere she can because she can. but the bustle of headquarters is proving to be just a little too much for her freshly healed ankle. coming upon the bench, then, is a godsend --- she doesn’t need long to rest, just a beat or two, but even just sinking down to sit is a relief. her entire body unwinds, muscles slack from head to toe, and she’s nearly giddy from how good it feels to be still. 

it’s in that rested state that the other finds her; but rather than be bothered by the question, adelina is locked in --- she’s never been one to turn down an interesting conversation. perking up  in her seat, she’s already grinning, eyes over the crowd before they return to the girl beside her. “i absolutely wanna play that game  -- who should we start with?”

where: headqaurters lobby

“wanna play a game with me?” asks the red head to the person unlucky enough to sit next to her on the bench in the headquarters lobby. people are milling about, and she’s just waiting on her older sibling. “i like to try and guess the divisions people are in, it’s great at passing the time when you’re waiting on a prima donna older sister.” dessa was a beauty queen, she’d spend hours getting ready while lux just shucked on a leather jacket and walked downstairs.

[shadoweds]

ON MOST DAYS, adelina would completely share her friend’s sentiment. people intrigued her, but only in quantities and scenarios that piqued her interest. there was a lot about this --- the pomp, the formality , the occasional whiff of self-importance --- that would usually have her looking to entertain herself elsewhere. but today, she’s almost giddy to be there, nursing a drink with a semi-permanent smile. after a couple months effectively bedridden, she’s content with any kind of social interaction; even if it is a lot of weapons talk. “listen,” she chimes, rounded cheeks nearly glowing over the rim of her cocktail. “i’ll bore everyone in here to death with stories about my bedrest before i let any of them talk you into traffic, linda.” well, no one can say she’s not dedicated. 

location: arca grille

for who: anyone! ( @societyrb​ )

“there are too many people,” helena nearly grumbled, hands held up in an almost defensive stance. she was used to being tucked away in her lab, only talking to people when they came in to see her. of course she had a personal and social life, but being flown to new york and surrounding herself with people she was unfamiliar with was a whole different ball game. “and don’t get me wrong, most of them have been great. but i’m only conditioned to handle so much weapons talk or recruitment talk before i feel the need to walk my ass into traffic.” the brunette sighed, cheeks nearly puffing out while she counted to three and released the breath she’d been holding. 

[shadoweds]

❙❙ ❙ ❚❙ ❚ ❚❙❙ ❚ ❙❙  𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎 → 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚎 347B986N 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 ⤿

coen de haas, better known as the intellectual, is currently a scientist in the omega division. the file lists them as analytical and driven, and originating from groningen, netherlands and currently located in the european sector. at the age of forty, they are currently a full member and are neutral to the current mission. the file notes that they have the following associations: footsteps in an empty library, custom cuff links on a carefully pressed suit, voices echoing in lecture halls, fluorescent light through beakers, notes in textbook margins, untouched beds, late nights in a study, a stiff embrace. ��� michiel huisman.  cis male.  he/him.

> @societyrb​

QUICK STATS ---

full name: coen de haas. nickname(s): nothing he's called regularly. occupation: cytologist. age: forty. date of birth: october seventh. orientation: pansexual. gender & pronouns: cis male & he/his. hometown: groningen, netherlands. languages: english, dutch, french. mother: agatha de haas. father: karl de haas. siblings: felix de haas; older brother (deceased). 

ABOUT --- (death tw, neglectful parents tw)

between a historian father and researcher mother, coen’s childhood was brimming with academia. his earliest memories came in lecture halls and libraries, places that felt like wonderlands to a boy so small.

in some ways, his parents’ work and the world it created for him was incredible, exposing him to things he’d never know otherwise. in other ways, it was oppressive, setting their expectations for him sky high before he even knew how to read.

coen, thankfully, was both intelligent and diligent and took his parents’ approval --- or the potential lack thereof --- seriously. from an early age, he strove to exceed every expectation set in his way and for the most part, he succeeded.

top of his class, well-rounded between his skill with piano and on a soccer field, coen grew into a model child more and more every day.

but there was one hurdle he could never clear, not in any way that mattered, and that was his brother felix.

felix was only a few years older, but he’d always felt eons more away. more mature, more focused, more everything, felix was the blueprint of success by their parents’ standards and there was nothing coen could do to stand out, to step ahead. 

it made the boys’ relationship complicated, especially as coen grew older with more awareness of his parents’ preference. there was still love there, of course, but it was strained; pulled taut every time coen saw an achievement he was proud of slip to the wayside in favor of his brother’s. 

felix always did what he could to bridge the gap - encourage coen just a little bit extra, defend him when he could. but nothing ever drowned out their parents’ voices, not until it was too late.

not until felix was long gone.

the accident changed everything in the de haas household. having felix alive one day and gone the next fractured their already twisted dynamic, and no one felt it more than coen.

his parents were as distant as ever, wallowing in their grief, and coen somehow found himself living in felix’s shadow more now than he ever had when he was alive. 

he wasn’t convinced there was any coming back from that.

add to that the complicated mix of emotions he felt -- the loss, the guilt, and this niggling sense of relief -- and coen knew things would never be the same. would never get better.

and finally accepting his place in his parents’ heart, he left home for university the moment he could and never looked back. 

but old habits die hard. even if he wasn’t in the direct line of scrutiny from his parents, coen’s university years were spent as diligently as the ones that came before them. he worked excessively hard to prove himself to anyone that was looking and more and more, it seemed to take.

over the next twenty-something years, he went from being second best in his family to the one of the top authorities in disease research and sometimes, when he’s alone in his study taking in all he’s done, he hopes his parents are watching. 

EXTRA TIDBITS ---

coen is married, but not happily so. he and his wife, together since university, are on the brink of divorce due to his almost obsessive focus with his work and research and reluctance to start a family as a result. even if there’s a part of him that doesn’t want to lose her, coen has no idea where to start fixing this. and out of fear of failure, he doesn’t. 

though coen is effectively estranged from his parents, he does have family members he cares about deeply, namely a cousin mieke from his mother’s side who is more like a little sister to him.

when it comes to the current mission, coen is neutral because regardless of their motives, arcanus is making it possible for him to complete research that will have a profound impact on medicine and health and he is absolutely someone who believes that the ends always justify the means.

coen is a skilled piano player having taken lessons since he was a young child, but he doesn’t play often anymore. it doesn’t keep him from keep a nice grand piano in his home, though.

WANTED CONNECTIONS ---

wife: coen met his wife during his years at oxford and at the start, things were good -- happy. he felt truly seen and adored for the first time ever, and the feeling was so dizzying he proposed within the year. luckily, he never had reason to regret it - they waited until after graduation to marry and the initial years went without a hitch. but since their transition into arcanus and his focus on more advanced research, coen has given his all to work and their love’s fallen more and more to the backburner. the final straw came recently when his wife brought up children, a conversation he did not handle well, and they are now at odds, considering divorce. (i’ll likely put out a wanted connection ad for this as well, but if anyone already has a muse that could fit it without messing up their backstory, feel free to snag!)

rival: there’s a lot that coen is sensitive to when it comes to his work, and naysayers and competition is high on the list. this person, to him, is both - another scientist who doesn’t care for coen’s approach and methods and works hard to prove why. they may not even be doing the exact same type of research, but there’s something about each other’s attitudes that makes them want to triumph over the other. 

refuge: this is someone coen has gotten closer to in recent months, especially as things with his wife continue to strain. for all intents and purposes, the relationship is platonic, no lines crossed -- but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel an escape with them. when they’re together, he isn’t worrying about his marital issues or his research - he’s just himself.

friend of the family: this is someone that coen would’ve known growing up, another child of a high status family that was connected to his via their status as renown academics. they got along well enough as kids, but fell out of touch when coen went to university and effectively cut off his parents. reconnecting through arcanus is giving them a second chance at a more substantial friendship, but it’s hard for coen to commit fully knowing they’re not so far removed from his family. (should either be europe-born or spent significant time in europe during childhood and teen years).

assistant/protege: this would be a junior member who works closely with coen in the lab. while they have a respect for his work on disease and disease prevention, depending on their alliance with the current mission, they could be looking to further his research by any means the same way he is, or trying to stop or transition it until arcanus is run by more kosher means.

more tba!

[shadoweds]

❙❙ ❙ ❚❙ ❚ ❚❙❙ ❚ ❙❙  𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎 → 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚎 347D986K 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 ⤿ 

adelina calderin, better known as the maverick, is currently a photojournalist in the delta division. the file lists them as perceptive and talkative, and originating from santiago de cuba, cuba and currently located in the southwestern sector. at the age of thirty-two, they are currently a full member and are opposed to the current mission. the file notes that they have the following associations: computer light through the dark, the smell of freshly brewed tea, conversation in a busy room, boots over pavement, heartbeat in your ears, sunlight off a wide lens, laughter in the wind, a call to victory. ✦ ana de armas. cis female. she/her.

> @societyrb​

QUICK STATS ---

full name: adelina moreno calderin. nickname(s): lina, primarily used by her family. occupation: photojournalist associated with magnum photos. age: thirty-two. date of birth: april twentieth. orientation: pansexual. gender & pronouns: cis female & she/her. hometown: santiago de cuba, cuba. languages: spanish, english, portuguese. some conversational skills in a number of other languages as well.  mother: pilar moreno. father: santiago calderin (status unknown). siblings: none.

ABOUT ---

adelina, in a word, is a troublemaker.

always has been, if you hear her mother tell it. she came into the world the loudest baby in the ward and from that day forward, made a ruckus anywhere she went.

growing up in a home shared between her, her mother, her aunt, and all her cousins was a dream then - she had playmates every day, adventures whenever she wanted, and not once did she feel like the only child she was. 

as she grew older, the busy house meant that it was easy to slip away without people noticing, and slip away she did. adelina was independent and curious, a dangerous combination even on a good day, and she got a knack for ending up in places she had no business being. 

this landed her in trouble pretty frequently, but it never fazed her. she believed wholeheartedly in truth - in getting to see the world as it is by any means necessary - and no amount of rules was going to stop her from getting there.

from learning, or from living.

it’s what drew her to photography in the first place. people can lie, words can twist, but an image is as real as it gets (assuming it’s in the right hands), and she loved the way she could capture moments that mattered forever with just a click of a button.

though she never received any formal training for photojournalism (sitting in a classroom was never her forte), a childhood hobby became a passion and career off the combination of her tenacity and an eye for moments that count.

adelina didn’t just know how to take good photos --- she was willing to do anything to get them. breaking and entering, dangling herself over cliffs, you name it, she’s done it and with major returns. her work drew attention and that came with the opportunity to travel more, capture more. 

a dream, as far as she was concerned.

adelina’s been going more or less nonstop since, that is until a recently  fractured ankle put her out of commission for a few months. 

she’s healed up just in time for the massive arcanus meeting, but she can’t say that that’s something she’s particularly excited about.

not when there’s so much new in the world, waiting to be seen.

EXTRA TIDBITS ---

adelina is incredibly close with both her mother and her aunt and calls them on a near daily basis to check in.

adelina is easy to underestimate in some ways; she isn’t bubbly persay, but talking to her comes easy and she’s always interested in getting to know new people. so, it can be hard to reconcile that with the hungry, almost aggressive person you get when it comes to work - she’s reckless in ways that don’t align with her overall personality and it always manages to catch someone working with her for the first time off guard. 

adelina picks up languages easily and has some basic conversational skills in a lot of languages, particularly those from countries she stayed in for more than a couple weeks. she’s serious about immersing herself when it comes to long haul jobs.

adelina is opposed to the current mission; her initial willingness to join arcanus was out of curiosity and an overall agreement with the things they try to do. but the more she works for them and the more she sees of the world because of it, the more she thinks their goals could be better met with better means. 

WANTED CONNECTIONS --- 

best friend / confidant: while adelina is personable, there’s a clear difference to her between an acquaintance and a true friend, and the latter, she doesn’t have many of. this person would be top of the list,  likely someone she’s known for as long as she’s been involved with arcanus. her recent injury has brought them even closer than before as they helped look after her for most of it, but there is some rising strain as they are in favor of (or neutral to) the current mission, and she isn’t. 

ex: with her eyes always set towards what’s next, adelina hasn’t had many serious relationships, but this one, she can’t seem to shake. they broke up amicably when it was clear that they wanted vastly different things out of the relationship, but that doesn’t mean that the feelings are completely gone. in fact, there’s a clear attachment there that’s kept them relatively close, even if it is against their better judgment.

key collaborator: adelina prefers to work alone, but there is one journalist within the delta division that she collaborates with on a regular basis. they both share a passion for storytelling and when they pair their articles with her photography, it always makes an impact. this person may have been with adelina when her accident occurred, as they have traveled together during jobs before. 

more tba! 

[shadoweds]

private multimuse associated with societyfms featuring ---

coen de haas, cytologist (omega division) / intro, stats. adelina calderin, photojournalist (delta division) / intro, stats. elijah king, division commander (beta division) / intro, stats.

[shadoweds]

Michiel Huisman in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)