‘CAUSE I’M AGORAPHOBIC | o

[TEDDY.]

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #000"]He would kill to make him smile.

That had always been the way with Theodore and his father. As if the years of neglect could simply be erased if Teddy were to try harder to please Papa, because maybe then Papa would have stayed. Maybe then he would have taken Teddy to the park to push him on the swings, or replaced that ragged pair of shorts that Teddy would have to wear even though he’d grown out of it. Maybe he would have bought Teddy a birthday cake — he had eighteen chances to get that right — to celebrate another year older, or told his youngest son just once in his life that he was proud of him. Instead, Teddy was always met with a man too distracted with his own small successes to ever look twice at the two children he failed to raise.

He should have been bitter — just like his brother — and he had every right to be, but he wasn’t. There was an ever-present longing of some sort of validation that he was the son that Giovanni had always wanted. Teddy had spent so many years peering up at his father, waiting on the words he yearned to hear, but never did he feel worthy enough to expect the words to truly pass Papa’s lips. Theodore Knope wanted to be an extraordinaire. He wanted to mean something, he wanted to be worthy and praised, but he was nothing more than a sorry sight.

The hurt still lingered since the day Teddy returned to find their home ransacked and barren. A letter would soon reveal to Teddy that Giovanni had stolen his belongings and left without a proper goodbye. It was all for work, and he claimed that he was sorry. Papa was never sorry; everything he did, he did with conviction. He was unapologetic and strong. He wasn’t sorry for leaving Teddy on his own; it would always somehow be Teddy’s own fault that Papa left again, Teddy would thoroughly convince himself. If he was any better a son, then Giovanni would want to stay. And then, the cycle would then incessantly repeat itself.

How many chances did Giovanni get to be a good father? It was often a thought that Micah would offer. But, Teddy would internally protest. Yeah, but how many chances did Teddy get to be a good son?

It never seemed like he did enough.

His most recent trip to New Orleans had been solely to catch up with the people who made this dream a reality, but he would be lying if he said Papa wasn’t constantly on his mind. With the desire to reconnect with Papa, divulge in all the details of his recent success working alongside Micah and hope that that would be enough to pique his interest, Teddy found himself back at the family home, but it remained as vacant as he had left it the last time. Disappointed, Teddy would return to The Badlands just in time for his birthday, unaware that Papa would hear through the grapevine of Teddy’s most recent visit back home in New Orleans.

In the peace of the late afternoon, Teddy was spending time with Matthew in the foyer, comfortably resting on a couch as he watched the toddler playing with a pile of toys when an NPC approached rather hurriedly, a mildly baffled expression on his face. ❝ Boss, there’s a man outside who’s tellin’ us he’s your father. What should we— ❞ His words trailed off into silence at the sight of Teddy’s face falling. Hesitation. And then, Teddy stood up, lifting Matthew up before striding right past the NPC to take a look for himself.

There, in the flesh, stood Giovanni Knope. An authoritarian with salt and pepper hair, eyes so intense that it was clear to see where the Knope brothers got their drive and determination from. Teddy’s breath hitched in his throat as he stood on the top of the stairs leading to the casino, Giovanni twisting his head away from the other NPC that was keeping watch over him to peer up towards his youngest son. ❝ Teddy. ❞ Eyes darted across his old man’s face, features twitching with a look so unrecognisable before he trotted down the steps to approach his father.

❝ How’d ya find us, Papa? ❞ He enquired, trying to ignore the way his heart slammed wildly against his chest, before he huffed and leaned in to give Papa a one-armed hug. Everything felt so tangled. He hated him, he loved him. Papa was a man so noble and imposing, yet so brutal and terrifying. So brave, but never brave enough to be the father that the Knope brothers needed after their Mama's death. ❝ That’s irrelevant now, ain’t it? ❞

Teddy ordered an NPC to look for Micah before leading Giovanni up into the casino foyer. ❝ So this is The Badlands. Micah and I run this place now. We got da business rollin’, a whole group of people to lead, and the best casino y’ever did lay your eyes on. ❞ He explained with a somewhat shaky voice, eager to exclaim his successes to his father. Looking over his shoulder, his smile wavered as he noticed Giovanni’s ever-so-stoic features as he took in the elegance of the foyer. ❝ Right, right. It’s a’right. Back home they said it was bigger than dis. ❞ Teddy huffed, spinning to face his father before he swiftly justified, ❝ No, no, there’s more than dis! You’ll see. ❞

❝ And who’s this? ❞ Papa soon nodded towards Matthew in Teddy’s arms, Teddy so carried away with shock that he barely considered what Micah would have wanted before he said, ❝ This is Matthew, Micah’s kid. He also got a twin called Milo. Matthew ‘n’ Milo. ❞ He didn’t even resist when Giovanni clicked his tongue with surprise and reached out to take Matthew, Teddy handing the toddler over before he said, ❝ They nearly a year old. ❞ Hands resting on his hips, he watched the way Papa cooed over Matthew before Micah’s masterful voice sounded throughout the foyer.

Taking a step back to look between his father and brother, Teddy faltered at the sudden tension in the air. Micah wasn’t impressed to see Papa at all, let alone see him babying a grandson he didn’t even know he had; if he wasn’t so flighty as a father figure, then maybe he could have had the chance to get to know Milo and Matthew better. And before Teddy could step in, Micah had turned his anger towards Teddy. Teddy’s brows bunched together sharply and bottom lip slowly jutting out before he retorted, ❝ Jesus, Micah! What do ya take me for?! ❞ He recoiled his head, attempting to swat his older brother’s pointed finger aside as he stubbornly kept his gaze on him whilst he spoke the truth that Teddy wasn’t willing to accept. Maybe Giovanni never did want to be their dad, but Teddy wasn’t prepared to accept that.

And, as soon as Micah announced that he wanted Giovanni to leave, Teddy’s eyes widened before he reacted with little inhibition. ❝ Nah, no way! What makes ya think you got da final say in this? ❞ Teddy neared his brother and, if it weren’t for the fact that Micah was currently holding young Matthew, Teddy likely would have lashed out. But, with the exasperation in his voice, it was clear that he was teetering on the edge. ❝ He’s still our Papa whether ya like it or not. Besides! He’s different now, but you was too busy runnin' away from ya problems to ever find out for yourself! It's a two-way street, Micah! Mais! ❞ How could Teddy defend a man who had never done anything for him in his life?

Teddy wasn't too sure himself, but Giovanni reuniting with his boys must have been a sign that this could be Teddy's chance to prove himself once and for all, even if that was unwittingly at the expense of his seemingly unbreakable bond with his brother.

[Shiloh !]

text

SALEM

ENTRY #01

8.15.16

BL ENFORCER

[div style="borderwidth=0px; width: 333px; min-height: 347px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia; font-size: 7pt; color: #000000; line-height: 99%;"]Ah. So this was Papa.
When Teddy had returned home from New Orleans, the alcohol flowed freely in celebration. Teddy had drank plenty that night, as had Salem. This coupled with the fact that Teddy was most likely tired from traveling led to Teddy telling Salem a lot of his history. Salem was surprised to find out that he, too had grown up without a father figure. This common thread of issues with parents bonded them together, and while Salem knew for a fact that it would be trouble to let Giovanni stay, she knew better than to intervene and speak up. She thought about how she felt when her mother had shown up, how she would have felt if her father had ever tried to reconcile with her. Upon imagining these scenarios, she was instantly filled with resentment. They were never there for her, so why should she have been there for them? She didn't understand Teddy's rationale in the slightest, what he was trying to prove to his Papa. However, she was done picking fights with The Administration--for now, anyways. Instead, she just sat straddling a slot machine chair, staring at the face-off she could just barely hear.

VITALS

> overall status: 100%

> physical status: stable.
> physical health: 100%
> physical afflictions: none yet.
> minor injuries: none yet.
> major injuries: none yet.

> mental status: stable.
> current status: stable.
> mental health: 100%
> mental illnesses: None
> mental damage: None

TAGS

━ ━xGENERAL
> Elisa Barone | "Salem"
> Female
> 23
━ ━xAPPEARANCE
>Human
> Dark brown hair that varies in shade, pale, blue green eyes.
> Carries at least 2 cigars at a time, a small handgun, and a small switchblade.
> tall, lanky and a bit awkward physically.
>
━ ━xABILITIES
> N/A
> N/A
━ ━xCONFRONTATION
> medium physically | easy/medium mentally
> non-violent power-play allowed
> no kill | request maim/capture
> ask to attack in bolded, underlined and italicized black
━ ━xRELATIONSHIPS
> Lionel King x Melissa Barone 
> Half brother Rafe
> Half niece Gigi
> Cat Chrisanthymum "Chrissy"
>Bisexual | no crush
>
━ ━xOTHER
> this text + this color = this meaning

I'VE COME TOO FAR TO SEE THE END NOW

━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ even if my way is wrong

a small everyone. | beware hidden scrolling

[MICAH K.]

[align=center][div style="width: 400px; text-align: justify; font-size: 11px; Font-family: calibri; letter-spacing: .6px; color: #494949;"]ever since teddy told him he’d be visiting home for a bit, micah hasn’t been able to shake the suspicion. all throughout their childhood, both boys were most definitely mama’s boys, but they differ on their relationship with their dad. while micah’s growing and growing involvement in gang activity, he managed to pick out the piece of their father that he was always trying to hide. the time away from the family, the new “friends,” unexplainable injuries, his new and nice clothing while micah has been wearing the same shoes for three years; even though they’ve ripped in multiple places and were pretty snug. almost twenty years, and micah is nowhere near being able to forgive his father.

teddy on the other hand... he still has the rose colored glasses. he just craves and aches for any amount of validation from the man; seems like he forgets his older brother essentially raised him. micah knows it just has to be a way to cope, but that doesn’t help the betrayal he felt whenever he glued himself to giovanni’s side. it’s one of the reasons micah left new orleans to begin with, anything to avoid the pangs of anger at just the sight of teddy and giovanni. luckily, since the brothers have taken badlands, their dad is fading into some fuzzy memory; at least, for micah.

he huffs, eyebrows furrowed at the npc, ” it ain’t funny, i should have ya’ on a jail shift for dat, “ he says with teeth gritted. [color=#000000]” sir... this isn’t a joke; a man claiming to be your dad is in the casino. “ micah shakes his head, holding him a hand to usher the npc away, jaw clenched. a hand rests on the back of his head as he starts towards the foyer of the casino, mind turning at what he plans to do to the ‘pranksters’ who pulled this stunt.

[color=#000000]” i can’t believe i almost missed my first grandson, “

he’s stopped dead in his tracks by the voice of his dad; and what he said. slowly, micah’s eyes raise from the ground to the man before him, toddler on his hip; his toddler. face scrunches, grip tightening against his brass knuckles, [color=#000000]” put ‘im down, “ he commands, teeth gritted, [color=#000000]” oh, common, milo loves it, “ giovanni says, a smirk looking from the boy to micah; he’d know that voice anywhere, he’s still tries to cover up that accent, but it still peaks through. he shakes his head and grimaces, reaching for matthew, not even the right twin. micah tightly holds the kid to his chest, his other hand out against gio, glancing around to see who else is here. [color=#000000]” why da fuck are you here? “ he hisses, taking some steps back. micah’s head whips around, still holding his son tightly, finally spitting his brother, [color=#000000]” yous brought him here!? “ he accuses, finger in teddy’s face, [color=#000000]” he ain’t wanna be our dad, he ain’t get ta be a grandpa now, “ micah stares at his brother, shaking his head, [color=#000000]” i want hims gone, “


// he’s here!
basically, micah & teddy’s das has reappeared to cause problems on purpose for the drama! feel free to throw your babes in here wherever.


[spoiler= tags, updated 03/29/2021]◜BASICS ┊ [color=#000000]NOW SHUT YOUR DIRTY MOUTH◞
&. ❝ micah alexander knope ❞ | male [ he/him ] .
&. 30 years old . | june third ; gemini
&. 1/3  of the administration of badlands .

◜PERSONALITY ┊ IF I COULD BURN THIS TOWN◞
&. ruthless . silent type . rough exterior . heartless . every man for themselves . controlling . a planner . brooding . apathetic . determined . cold . short tempered . impatient . serious . stoic .

◜ APPEARANCE ┊ I WOULDN'T HESITATE ◞
&.  six foot four & one hundred and eighty-nine pounds ; reference ; stephen james .
↳ keeps the sides of his heads shaved, exposing some tattoos on his head with his hair slicked back in a clean fashion.
↳ nearly his whole body is covered in tattoos.
↳ has ice grey eyes and an oval face. his chin is wide and jawline sharp.
↳ almost entirely muscle.

◜ INTERACTIONS ┊ TO SMILE WHILE YOU SUFFOCATE AND DIE ◞
&.  [ 10/10 ] physically  |  [ 9/10 ] psychologically .
↳ difficulty w/ guns [ hard ] | difficulty w/ melees [ hard ] | difficulty w/ hand-to-hand [ hard ]
↳ combat information .
&. attack in bold #000000 | [member=570]scully[/member] | PM for any major plots .
&. friendly or nonviolent actions may be powerplayed .

◜INVENTORY ┊ AND THAT WOULD BE JUST FINE◞
&. [ 3 ] weapons | [ 0 ] armor pieces | [ 0 ] consumables | [ 3 ] aid items | [ 2 ] misc .
↳ one shotgun
↳ one rifle
↳ one set of brass knuckles
↳ three low quality explosives
↳ one pitbull puppy named leia
↳ one munchkin cat named ozzy

◜ RELATIONSHIPS ┊ AND WHAT A LOVELY TIME◞
&. npc x npc | eldest child to a crime family .
↳ theodore knope, 28, badlands .
&. heterosexual, heteroromantic ; mongamous  . | never had a good model for relationships growing up, is learning how to be a good significant other .
↳ in a serious relationship with juliette rousseau .
↳ father to matthew knope & milo knope, 9 months .[/spoiler]