#vere calder — dialogue .

[pcril]

*     ◟    :    〔   t'nia miller  ,      cis woman    +   she/her    〕      vere calder,      some say you’re a  thirty-eight year old  lost soul among the neon lights.      known for being both  orderly  and  faithless,  one can’t help but think of  secret agent man by   johnny rivers when you walk by.    are you still a   fbi agent / associate (bookkeeper) at  government / jade tribe,     even with your reputation as the shrike?     i think we’ll be seeing more of you and  no past but an infinite present, the clarity of mind after fully perceiving the world around,  pearls from a ripped necklace spilling on marble floor  although we can’t help but think of spider-man noir (into the spider-verse), trent crimm (ted lasso), gaby (the man from u.n.c.l.e) whenever we see you down these rainy streets.     

ENTER THE SHRIKE.

You're up at the break of dawn and the first to turn in at night. Very much an early bird you're happy to chirp and chitter your way on the way to work. Make new friends, catch up with old ones, file every ounce of information away to organize later. The bright smile you adorn isn't fake by any means. You take everything into account, really listen to those that need to be heard. The reason for doing so is just.. a little misplaced.

PUBLICLY KNOWN FACTS:

Name: Vere Calder

Appearance: Big, bold, blocky colors galore. For someone that's hidden a significant part of herself, she certainly stands out most of the time. Always adorning some sort of statement piece, she accessorizes like a crow's trove. Her every movement is open and inviting. There's hardly a moment where she doesn't have time to lend another.

Life at home hadn't always been the best growing up. Her father tried, God knows he did, to make up for her mother's neglect. Drove his efforts twofold when Vere's mother upped and left their family halfway through middle school. Nothing was said to her directly. Not a note, text, or single word. Vere was simply left with a half baked explanation via her father. That they'd simply fallen out of love with each other. Had been for quite some time, and neither party wanted to drag it out any longer. With nothing else to grasp onto, she believed him. Continued to do so until high school graduation nearly hit.

It'd been a mistake, it always is. She just so happened to come by a paper trail leading up to the divorce. How distraught her father had truly been upon discovering her infidelity. How she'd kept an entirely separate family under wraps. Worse still, how vastly different they were treated compared to Vere's. Where Vere and her father was shown minimal time and attention, the others were given an abundance of love and care. They were well off and more, but not a single penny or shred of sympathy was cast their way. Whatever image Vere had left of her mother completely shattered. And from it grew an obsession to find her. Have all of these questions and accusations answered in person.

Her sights hadn't originally been set on becoming a federal agent, but became more invested with each morsel of knowledge gained. Eventually, she was presented with the opportunity to go undercover and acclimate into the Jade Tribe. Not a single complaint was given. If anything, she gladly went — always one to help out the team and all. Definitely had nothing to do with a possible lead of her mother having ties to that organization in particular.

[pcril]

status: closed — @ofcruelheart

Anticipation sits just at the fingers tips. Taps against the inner lining of her pockets, her phone, her rings.. anything she can get her hands on, really. Vere knows how evident the nervous tick can be to the trained eye, but she can’t help it.

Not when it comes to this.

The shuffle of files and glossy photos seem to echo twice as loud in her head. It hardly stirs the air around them, but her prickled senses stay hype focused regardless. “Um, before we start— I just want to thank you again for taking the time and effort for doing this.” Her features remain open and soft, but there’s a raw edge now. Genuine vulnerability sits just beneath the surface and she can’t bring herself to reel it in.

[pcril]

status: closed — @gildcdglory

“So two old pals just so happen to walk into a bar…” Loud footfalls stops short of the now open door. “You would’ve thought one of them ducked!” A shit-tastic joke for an equally shitty entrance. Yet there Vere stands with one arm close to her middle; two cups of their preferred drinks neatly balanced in a drink carrier.

Easy confidence keeps a brilliant grin on her face as she stands there like this wasn’t an unexpected visit. “So how’s it going? Missed me?”

[pcril]

status: closed — @murdcrofcrows

The distant knock at the front door rouses her without warning. Eyes snap open, jarring her back into reality just as fast as she tries to sit up. Vere doesn't make it all the way as the grogginess stunts the movement, but she did manage to catch herself before falling off the couch.

The couch?

She doesn't remember falling asleep here. Then again, she doesn't remember falling asleep in general. A short breath is drawn in through the nose and she grimaces from how stuffy it sounds.

Another knock comes, and it reminded her why she'd woken up. Slowly, Vere collects herself and makes her way to the door. She opens it but keeps the chain in place; only allowing a few inches of visibility. “It’s past three in the morning,” she sighs in lieu of a polite greeting.

[pcril]

status: closed — @godlessrot

It's an open mic night at the local watering hole, and she has to admit that it's one of her guilty pleasures. Most of the people that got up to sing were piss drunk, but there were a few gems that could actually sing.

“Oh, to be young again,” Vere says with a long, wistful sigh. “To actually find some enjoyment with the genre of songs that are way too popular nowadays.” The rim of her draft is put to red lips for a healthy pull before she continues to stare at the person on stage. The same person that has the voice of a dying crow. The liquid courage of the singer is almost admirable. Almost.

“Hey, you should get up there and sing something. Jazz up the audience a bit— how about it?” Her eyes turn towards the other, and her trademark smile slid into place. “If you get an applause by someone else other than me, then I’ll go up there and sing too.”

[pcril]

status: closed — @gh9ul

“Ah, ah, ah— don’t even think about running away. Come on, take this or open up, I went all that way to get us both some top tier drinks. And, sh, I don’t wanna hear a single complaint or no– you promised me you’d come here and have an actual good time.” All said in a flurry, Vere practically shimmies her way across the remaining distance. “Now bottoms up before I take back my promise to not bore you to death.”