<i><u>October 25th, 2018, 12:34pm<br/>
Chicago, Illinois</u></i><br/><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fvignette.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fdiabolik-lovers%2Fimages%2F7%2F70%2FSubaru_Sakamaki.png%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20130903234649&amp;hash=6e784f99794ffac35ad252850f41bc7b" href="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/diabolik-lovers/images/7/70/Subaru_Sakamaki.png/revision/latest?cb=20130903234649" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Andrew Pimms</a>would let out a sigh as he stepped out of his car, the crisp air of Chicago hinting at the coming winter, Andrew's favorite season of the year- Gone was the shy boy that hid in the corner of the classroom while everyone socialized and interacted, Andrew had gone through extensive development in his later years. Where once his figure was lithe, feminine, and small, he'd grown muscle, grown taller, and now had an edge to him. A calm mixture of yoga, self defense classes, and jogging helped immensely with that. Still, he retained some form of the boy he was- his skin, his dyed hair, and his lavender eyes. Officially, he was a light blond, but he dyed his hair white in college to change his appearance, a sign that he left his old life behind.<br/><br/>But, back to the beginning~<br/><br/>Now, you might be thinking Andrew was sighing because he didn't want to work- That was not true. Andrew loved his job, he loved the people he worked with, and he loved doing it. It was rare when you could turn your passion into a career, and straight out of college, Andrew did just that- the studio was called '<i>Hemsiel House Publishing</i>' and they were a small, but tightly knit group. Andrew couldn't help, but be drawn to the place, despite getting offers from higher paying studio's. The pay was enough that he could travel and sight-see, from Delhi to Sheffield, in search of inspiration and adventure. Andrew was a writer and artist- He aided the company in designing characters for web series, light novels, comics, and the works, as well as being one of the many story writers for them.<br/><br/>His most notable achievement was '<i>Sea of Stars'- </i>His own sci-fi manga, which the first volume had recently hit over a million sales. The latest issue was selling faster than they could print, or send codes for online copies, and in Andrew's opinion, it wasn't even that great! He had spent a whole two months trying to get the damn plot to make sense and finally had to kill off a long time character, earning a LOAD of cries of agony from the people who liked the character. Still, it wouldn't be the last time anyone saw him, he'd give the fandom closure on it.<br/><br/>It was for that reason he was sighing- The group was holding a small celebration in his name, as this was a big deal for a young up and comer in the artistic world. People knew his name now, though not many knew who he really was- Andrew went under the Pen-name '<b><i>Yaro Azar</i></b>', a name that held much more meaning than most would think, as it was his first ever original character he designed while in 8th grade. Andrew, though he loved a party as much as any other person, wasn't big on being in the spotlight. It was one of the things he never grew out of, it made him uncomfortable. Still, he owed the company this much, as he'd never be able to afford his lifestyle if it wasn't for them, so why not indulge a bit? His car, a<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fpictures.topspeed.com%2FIMG%2Fjpg%2F201603%2Fbmw-x6-m-mhx6-700-by-6.jpg&amp;hash=b6c1f4e7168ab86d48d7497028817d44" href="https://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/jpg/201603/bmw-x6-m-mhx6-700-by-6.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">BMW X6 M</a>, was clear indication of that.<br/><br/>As he stepped in, he was greeted by the twenty odd employees of Hemsiel House Publishing, two in particular-<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F3c%2F29%2F0f%2F3c290f708925ac530dbc288a38a920e7.jpg&amp;hash=df1be50158f06cc3759fee3b694be219" href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3c/29/0f/3c290f708925ac530dbc288a38a920e7.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Adriana Pennyworth</a>, his old roommate in college, and<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2F-0FunsQtifoY%2FVb0NKC9j-6I%2FAAAAAAAAAFg%2FGpjUYgmDVho%2Fw530-h867-n%2FOnyx.jpg&amp;hash=c46d93508481f8c918142acc9d46da6d" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0FunsQtifoY/Vb0NKC9j-6I/AAAAAAAAAFg/GpjUYgmDVho/w530-h867-n/Onyx.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Jason Visconti</a>, his boss. Adriana had been there for Andrew during a dark period of his life and Jason gave him a job when he had nowhere else to turn- He counted the two among his closest friends.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">Adriana would just look up and grin from her phone as he received the mixed congratulations from the Publishing House. "<b>Nice work, Andrew! Pretty soon, companies all over are going to want to hire the great 'Yaro Azar'. Just don't forget about us when you reach the big leagues."</b></span><br/><br/>"<b>Hey, who ever said I was leaving? You, me, and the publishing- We're going to the top, and we'll do it together, nothing will change that."</b><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">Jason would let out a chuckle. "<b>If that ever happened, I think I'd kiss ya."</b></span><br/><br/>"<b>Sorry Boss, Adri is the Gayest of them all around here, not me."<br/>
</b><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">Adriana would wack him in the shoulder. "<b>Ass. You still coming to Go Banana's for Stephanie's birthday?"</b></span><br/><br/>"<b>Wouldn't dream of missing it, she turns 3, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">Four, Andrew."</span></b><br/><br/>"<b>Hey, I was close, fuck you."</b><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00"><b>"Sometimes I wonder how you two can talk to each other and still be friends." </b></span><br/><br/>"<b>It's part of our charm." </b>Andrew said, before checking his watch. "<b>I'm going to check my emails and get some work on this character done. No rest for the wicked."<br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"Seriously, Andrew, you need a break- You've been slaving over that volume for two months, relax a little." </span></b><br/><br/>"<b>I will relax after work- Drinks are on me."</b><br/><br/>With that, Andrew got into his chair and checked on his computer. He rarely did art digitally, he preferred traditional, it was much easier to get the feeling for the characters this way, but he still needed to check his emails. He was scanning through the usual junk, before finding a message from someone he hadn't heard from in years- Jamie Whitman, his cousin. How long had it been since they last spoke? Five years ago, when she was heading out for the military? He didn't know, but he clicked on the email, thinking it was just his extended family trying to get back in touch with him. It'd been forever since he was last in Eastvale.<br/><br/>He didn't know how wrong he was.<br/><br/>He scanned the message at least five times, wondering if this was some sick prank or a practical joke, but to his despair, it wasn't- Sandra Linville, his adoptive mother, had passed away. Andrew placed his hands on his head, as he began hyperventilating- He was so busy the last two months, he hadn't called her at all. That thought started to immediately stab him repeatedly-<i>Why hadn't he called?!  He didn't even know anything was wrong! </i>This couldn't be happening. Sandra had taken him in when he was just a child, she was there for him when he had nothing else, he couldn't even REMEMBER his old family before her! The fact that she was gone...<br/><br/>Andrew heard the calls from Adriana and Jason as he ran into the bathroom and locked the door before he slid down to the ground and placed his face in his knees. "<b>Dammit....<i>damn. it...."<br/>
</i></b><br/>~~~Three Hours Later...~~~<br/><br/>Andrew was packing his clothes and such up in his car, standing at his house. It wasn't a mansion, but it fit Andrew, and that's all that mattered. He would then walk over towards the two that helped him pack: Jason and Adriana.<b>"Hey, thanks you two. I know I'm leaving you hanging, but I can't afford to miss this. Not after everything she's done for me. " </b>Andrew said, closing his car door.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">Adriana would just walk over, and hug Andrew. <b>"I'm sorry about your Mom.....Take all the time you need, and keep in touch, okay? I'll try to make it out there myself if I get the chance. I didn't know her, but you're my friend- It'd help to be there."</b></span><br/><br/>Andrew would nod, before handing her the key to his house, as she'd promised to look after it.<b>"Don't worry, I will be okay. Don't try to push yourself though- you don't have to go out of your way for my family."</b><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">His boss Jason walked up to him, and handed him a small list. It was usernames. <b>"Here's everybody's email and skype. Keep in touch, and fill us in on things, alright?"</b></span><br/><br/>Andrew would nod.<b>"Yeah. I got it."</b>Andrew said, taking the list, and shaking his hand. Running to his car, He'd hop into the front seat. The parts were all checked, the gas-tank was nearly full, everything was prepped. Andrew would then press a button on his music player. The song would be 'Me, Myself, and I' By G-Easy. Andrew would just chuckle.<b>"How fitting...God is so fucking cliche."</b>He said, pressing play as the song started. Andrew would then put on his shades, and take a deep breath.<b>"Time to return home, I guess...." </b>Andrew said. Andrew's car would then start down the road...<br/><br/><i><u>October 29th, 2018, 4:18pm<br/>
Eastvale, California</u></i><br/><br/><br/>Andrew would finally enter the city of his birth, the city of his life: Eastvale. Back growing up, this place was just farms and pastures. Now there were buildings, flashing lights, and traffic. Andrew would just feel his hand tap impatiently as he moved through the streets. He never realized until today how much he despised traffic. As he drove, however, Andrew took in the sights of his old home. It wasn't so small anymore, and it seemed livelier. Andrew then remembered the email he got: It was linked to other accounts, one's he didn't check. At the time, they hadn't mattered, though when he had this thought, Andrew would only think one thing. For the love of everything holy, He hoped he didn't see her there, but he knew deep down it was a false hope. She was Sandra's blood child, and he knew she'd be there without a doubt.<br/><br/><b>"Come on Andrew, It's been years....You're not the same anymore, and I doubt she is either."</b>He said to himself. He still remembered that big fight....He wasn't Innocent in it, by any means, there were lines you didn't cross and he did, but she didn't do any better! She was just as guilty of the mess as he was, he wouldn't be saddled with all the blame for that situation.<br/><br/>She was the one who supported him to follow his dreams. His entire life, he'd been behind her, she was as graceful as the greenly waving boughs in the summer wind. You wouldn't find anyone more passionate, anyone smarter, he knew she'd get far, and he supported he, hell, they had supported each-other for their own respective dreams, but when he finally came within grasping distance of his, when he won that scholarship, she felt she had a right to be angry. It wasn't like he had much options on paying for college! This was his one chance, how could he pass that up!? To this day, he wouldn't trade going to CAI for anything in the world....<br/><br/>At least, that's what he told himself...<br/><br/>He finally pulled up to the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.weaverbarns.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F07%2Ffinal-house.jpg&amp;hash=46bb8dee73354718bd560a0e9c1d08a1" href="https://www.weaverbarns.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/final-house.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">old house</a>, but he when he checked the door, it was still locked. He loved the place, Sandra had poured her heart into a place for him and her daughter. He didn't really remember Sandra's husband, but Sandra herself was amazing, an old time supermom. She was an EMT and Registered Nurse, always made sure the two were happy and healthy, and you couldn't ask for a better cook! This made Andrew slightly sick to his stomach- He should've been here. The notice said it was Congestive Heart Failure, she couldn't keep the old ticker going any longer. He should've been here to help, and he'd have to carry that the rest of his life, he knew it. This was the kind of thing he had been running from- Pain of Loss.<br/><br/>He'd likely have to wait for Jamie before he could enter the house, though even if he didn't, Andrew couldn't bring himself to walk in alone. Walking over towards the patio chairs, he sat himself down, letting out a shaky breath. Even now, he expected his mother to come walking out that door, scolding him for not visiting for so long and asking if he was eating right. Andrew had to distract himself, so he did what he always did whenever his mind was going to fast for him. Mimicking his old childhood habits, he pulled out a pad of paper and pencil, and began drawing, hoping to empty his mind and relax, drawing his attention away from the reason he was here.<br/><br/>Fate, however, never played fair.<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="2164" data-username="@MushroomTurtle" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/2164/">@MushroomTurtle</a>