Please don't post unless your name is in the title :)

Plot:

In the modern world, the existence of supernatural beings is acknowledged, yet faces continuous waves of prejudice from mundane humans. Over the last few decades, the Department of Supernatural Affairs (DSA) has been overseeing supernatural integration into society as well as overseeing these entities in the forms of drafting relevant laws and investigating alleged supernatural crimes. Despite the DSA's efforts to soothe the general public's skepticism and negative bias, most positive efforts made were derailed three years ago when a coven of witches committed a devastating act of domestic terrorism, which further ignited unrest and division.

Six months ago, the head of the DSA, Porter Kline, suffered an abrupt health crisis and has been in a state of comatose since - though officially, it has only been publicly announced that the head is in private recovery. With Porter out of the picture, behind the scenes a power struggle for the head position has emerged between Porter's son, an intellectually charged politician, and Porter's nephew, an ambitious agent within the DSA itself. In bold desperation, the nephew seeks to leverage a deal with a witch that personally benefits them both.

Department of Supernatural Affairs Overview

Executive Board: Overseen by the Director of the DSA, the Executive Board is the highest authority within the organization. It is comprised of both top officials and representatives from various other government branches.

Legislative Division: The division creates laws that govern supernatural beings, addressing issues like their rights, responsibilities, and limitations. They are also responsible for frequently reviewing and updating policies to adhere to new developments both within the supernatural and mundane communities, but also to adapt to societal changes.

Investigative Unit: This unit strictly handles incidents and alleged supernatural crimes, composed of investigators on and off the field, forensic experts, and various supernatural phenomena experts.

Integration Services: This section within the DSA's sole mission is to properly integrate supernatural entities into society by offering educational programs, community outreach, and a multitude of other supportive services.

Public Relations Office: PR focuses on maintaining the DSA's image, is responsible for media relations, and addresses both public concerns and misinformation surrounding the supernatural.

Other notable sectors within the DSA that are connected to the core four departments include crisis management, research and development, monitoring, and enforcement.

~Haley Ritter-Kline~

“Define ‘immoral’.”

Full Name:

Haley Ilay Ritter-Kline

Nickname(s):

Hale (Seldomly used, most often as an insincere endearment by family)

Ilay {Same pronunciation as ‘Eli’} (Often used as a substitute to his first name, and something he uses as a common formality)

Ritter/Ritt (The most common way of referring to Haley)

Kline (When referencing his familial ties)

Psycho (A label he’s aware of earned by his ruthless reputation)

Haley (His first name is rarely used to address him directly or indirectly, only those legitimately close to him tend to use it, and one can consider themself an object of his intrigue if he introduces himself directly as ‘Haley’)

Gender:

Male

Age:

27

Birthday:

October 29th

Sexuality:

Dictated by impulsive desire and lust

Zodiac:

Scorpio

Personality Type:

ENTP

Enneagram:

8w7

Birthplace:

Munich, Germany

Language(s) Spoken:

Fluent English

Fluent German

Fluent French

Intermediate Spanish

Beginner Chinese Mandarin

Occupation Oversight:

Special Agent: Haley technically only has a solid year of field experience under his belt, having primarily focused on acquiring his law degree to be in a leveraged position of power within the DSA. While the Legislative Division is where he technically spends most of his time, he both works and is recognized as an official Special Agent in the Investigative Unit.

Attorney: Haley’s primary passion involves the legal aspects within the DSA, being a licensed attorney with focused specializations in Supernatural Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, and Human Rights Law. While still considered quite young in the world of law, it is evident the man is destined for success in the department with his calculated and merciless approach to handling the law. Haley frequently attends hearings and reviews older cases for better reference and to advance his own personal library of knowledge. He typically prefers to dabble in cases that revolve around criminal and administrative aspects. Haley also frequently contributes his legal expertise through case management and by offering legal oversight in field investigations when he does devote himself to his duties as a Special Agent.

“Vincere aut mori, it’s more than a saying or a source of inspiration, dear. It’s a lifestyle.”

Appearance:

The energy associated with Haley’s mere presence is a testament to the man behind the suffocating, dominating aura he carries. An imposing figure, looming over most with his towering mesomorphic build of 6’3, Haley is rarely without keeping his head high to overlook everyone beneath him. There is an undeniable vision of discipline, athleticism, and grace that is synonymous with his toned physique. Being a man who effortlessly displays proper posture and smothering confidence, there is a complex and misleading delicacy to his lithe stature. With little contemplation, it’s more than evident that he is an individual capable of feats of great endurance and power. Possessing strikingly fair skin, akin to a porcelain tone, the skin he does show is smooth - albeit not entirely flawless with the presence of various scarring - and hints toward his fierce dedication to self-hygiene and personal maintenance. While Haley is otherwise shameless with himself and his body, he religiously wears various pairs of gloves to conceal his hands, claiming it to be a preference to avoid filth from accumulating on them.

An eye-catching centerpiece to his person belongs to both his hair, and eyes. In the shade of a dull platinum blond, it holds more of a shimmering silver tint in brighter environments or at the right angle when exposed to direct light. While only long enough to acquaint itself with the nape of his neck, Haley’s hair is both wispy and lacks traditional style, but the untamed manner in which it grows itself manages to create an illusion of a purposefully wild look. A sharp contrast to the color scheme of his hair though, a potent amber dominates the glow of his hooded eyes. Accompanied by flecks of darker browns and gold, there is an undeniable gleam of predation emitted from his calculated gazes and intense stares. Framing these tiger-like eyes are long, pointed lashes that are as fair in color as his collection of hair.

As per the structure of the young man’s visage, it is considerably well-defined and claiming the facial shape of a diamond. Most prominent is his sharp, angular chin that is offset in terms of the harshness of his features by high cheekbones which offer a faux presence of softness and delicacy. There is much that is entirely unassuming about the young man’s nose though, being nothing more than ordinary with its straight bridge and having a subtle point to it. Haley’s lips though have the power to wield much of what dictates how he should be read in any moment of engagement with others. While thin and characteristically lighter in pigment, Haley’s lips are most commonly held in a straight, thoughtful line if only to support the analytical staple of his persona. While smiles tend to be a more uncommon sight, from smirks to grins of mockery, there is a strange illusion of being a bit younger than he actually is that manages to grip his features when he does choose to smile.

In terms of voice, the sound itself is of a lower pitch, though not heavy or gruff in any form. It carries a ring of command, and even maturity that is far beyond his years and is generally delivered in a smooth and - dare be said - more soft-spoken manner, albeit with an undeniable undertone of colder intimidation. The tone itself is steadfastly assertive and unwavering, doing well to demonstrate how self-assured Haley is as well as not-so-subtle hints of condescension and superiority. When speaking, Haley’s manner of speech is effortlessly measured and deliberate, with each word he chooses to speak carefully chosen to deliver the most efficient impact. Despite the confidence he carries, there tend to be ripples of volatility and tension in his undertones that create a chilling sense of edge that could make what he may say or do next entirely, and scarily unpredictable. Most notably, Haley often speaks in a concerningly calm and indifferent manner when unsettling or sensitive topics are brought to him, and tends to alter the intensity of his speech’s delivery if he believes his sense of control or superiority is being challenged.

Haley’s wardrobe is considered simplistic, though fairing more towards attire that fits his confident and controlling demeanor, as well as the grueling athlete he is capable of being. More often than not, Haley is dressed in form-fitting attire - whether that be a tailored suit or casual yet elegant clothing. Regardless of what he may choose to wear, he usually strays toward a style that effortlessly combines sophistication and modernity.

“Nobody with a scrap of intelligence ever plays fair.”

Personality:

Psychopathic: This is a contested staple of everything Haley is known to be, considering it is one of the most associated terms that comes to mind in regards to his person. Undeniably, he harbors little to no empathy or remorse both in general and following the effects of his own actions. While it is a considerably cold and cruel manner of operating, Haley would argue that being unapologetic about committing necessary acts regardless of the outcome and damages that may follow does not make him an inhuman psychopath. After all, he does nothing without logical backing behind the decision.

Ruthless: Haley is an unyielding man in all aspects of his life, though most especially in his professional ventures. When it comes to achieving his goals, Haley is willing to make tough decisions and drastic measures with little consideration of morality or emotions if it means obtaining success. Mercy is not a word in his vocabulary either, nor is it a concept he practices due to his perception of it breeding the image of him being someone who can be appealed to and furthermore attempted to be taken advantage of.

Debating: Gifted in argumentation and debate, Haley excels in demonstrating his sharp intellect, wit, and expert grasp on logic to dominate both conversations and arguments alike. He thoroughly enjoys verbal sparring, especially with other individuals capable of keeping pace with his own intellect. More so than that though, he does find pleasure in establishing his superiority through debate.

Apathetic: Emotions are something that rarely - if ever - sway Haley if he takes the time to consider them at all. He has a tendency to come off as both indifferent and detached, and while that’s not a baseless observation, he simply sees less value in catering to emotion when logic is often the more pragmatic approach. This isn’t to say he doesn’t consider them when necessary, or for the select few whose feelings he may be more mindful of, but typically Haley only sees the value of emotions if they serve him and his interests better.

Calculated: Nearly every action, word, and breath Haley takes is carefully planned and executed with near-absolute precision. He’s naturally aligned to analyzing both situations and people alike thoroughly, preferring to distinguish the risks and benefits of whatever he may involve himself with, and keeping a variety of contingency plans in place in his back pocket. While he prefers to be several steps ahead of everyone around him, Haley also finds value and thrill to some degree of spontaneity and acting on impulse if need be to create an unpredictable illusion of his operations.

Obsessive: When Haley becomes fixated on goals, a vision, or even a person, he has the potential to become engrossed in a full-fledged obsession to an unhealthy degree. While having an obsessive drive serves his ambitions well, when it comes to personal matters and relations, it becomes a dangerous and relentless pursuit.

Honest: Despite the darker parts of himself, Haley treasures both honesty and integrity within both himself and others. He prefers to not deceive or manipulate with direct lies unless dire, but he does use his honesty strategically if it means disarming others and maneuvering through difficult situations without compromising his sense of integrity.

Controlling: Having a strong desire to control almost all aspects of his own life, surroundings, and those around him, he doesn’t necessarily come on too strong with this quality. Instead of micromanaging and being direct about his need for control, he is more subtle when it comes to manipulating people and circumstances to his advantage.

Vindictive: With such a strong opinion on honesty, needless to say, betrayal of Haley’s trust is a damning thing. There is a concerningly slim level of boundaries he wouldn’t cross in order to enact vengeance. He has a very long and capable memory when it comes to perceived injustice and slights as well, and even finds some enjoyment in planning and executing various schemes in order to get even.

Dark-humored: Haley has an undeniably sharp wit, but his penchant for both insensitive and macabre humor can often leave others deeply unsettled. His objects of humor can indifferently tread over taboo subjects, and make light of highly serious or sensitive matters, which only goes to reflect his more morbid fascination and alignment to the darker things in life.

Charismatic: Despite it all, Haley’s impressive well-spoken nature and ability to be a calm and persuading presence often gives him a strangely magnetic charm. He has the ability to be at least neutrally agreeable if a situation calls for it, and even tends to act far more tame in most engagements than his reputation would otherwise reflect.

Innovative: For someone who prides themself on their ability to think on a dime, Haley is a man who makes thinking outside of the box and taking realistic yet creative approaches to difficult situations look easy. Of course, he isn’t one to be hesitant in laying out bold ideas or approaches to things, regardless of the pushback. At the very least, his innovations come from a logical place, taking only relevant factors into his decisions and ideals.

“Bare your teeth at me, I dare you. I’ll rip them out one by one.”

Strengths:

Stamina: Haley is an individual who is capable of operating at maximum for an extended period of time, being very acutely aware of his boundaries and limitations both physically and mentally

Vigorous: Being a well-bodied young man who can utilize strength as an asset, he is also a very naturally self-disciplined person who prioritizes health and sustaining energy.

Quick Thinker: Intelligence alone is only a strength if one can properly utilize it, and Haley certainly can with both speed and efficiency. His rapid intellect makes him quick on his feet when it comes to analyzing everything around him, and compelling him to make well-informed decisions in a very short period of time. This also plays a hand in his quick-witted responses and the ability to adapt on a dime if need be.

Quick Reflexes: While not inhuman, Haley does possess the knack to react to external stimuli quicker than most. It serves him well in day-to-day life, as well as in any fight the male may find himself in.

Artillery/Combat: It’s standard for all Special Agents to have undergone a period of extensive training, so Haley has at the very least above average expertise in areas of artillery and combat that is relevant to the field.

Weaknesses:

Speed: While Haley couldn't be regarded as the slowest snail in the field by any margin, he is also not the quickest man in a race. While his reflexes are swift, this does not translate to being able to be as fast as other men have the potential to be.

Insensitive: Formalities and rehearsed behavior aside, Haley has no genuine care for most people's grievances and otherwise problems. He is not above making comments or wielding others' sensitivities and insecurities against them.

Argumentative: Shouting matches are something Haley has never, and will never participate in. Rather, he asserts his dominance in argument and confrontation by remaining calm and delivering a calculated and cold debate. He may not always initiate verbal spars, but he finds a sense of thrill in being the one to finish them.

Hedonistic: Haley lives in the pursuit of personal pleasure. Focused on his own sense of happiness and otherwise fulfillment, he doesn't understand why other people are not willing to view this lifestyle as one of the most natural ways for a human being to live, and furthermore embracing it.

Deceptive: It goes without saying that Haley is a man who excels in deception, and has an effortless manner of wielding such a thing.

“Exictus acta probat: the outcome justifies the deed.”

Family:

Porter Kline ~ Uncle ~ Alive (Currently in comatose)

Porter is an older, sophisticated gentleman - charming and silver-tongued. Most of how Haley learned how to conduct himself professionally was thanks to his uncle, who had taken in and raised Haley since he was six years of age. Under Porter, a sense of superiority was bred into Haley as well as encouraged ‘friendly’ competition between him and his cousin. In everything Haley has piqued an interest in, he has sought to be a master of. From things as mundane as piano, to studying foreign languages, and even things more complicated as memorization and practice of law - all along the way, Porter has always been Haley’s greatest encourager to strive for nothing less than being the best.

Byron Kline ~ Cousin ~ Alive

Three years older than Haley, Byron has always felt threatened by his younger cousin’s existence since he was taken in by his father. In many things, Haley respectfully excels at far more than Byron could dream of, although that has not evaporated his sense of pride and desire to kick his younger cousin down into his place. While Byron himself is a man of fair intellect and ability, being a respected politician and PR representative for the DSA, there is little question as to who is superior between him and Haley, which has only encouraged Byron to use his superiority in name as Porter’s son to keep Haley directly beneath him.

Joselyn Kline ~ Mother ~ Deceased

Laszlo Ritter ~ Father ~ Deceased

It’s strange, Haley mused to himself, to see a man he could almost verbally admit to respecting in such a state of frailty. Porter Kline was ordinarily a lively man - always on the move, perpetually at his peak. Now, he had the charisma and functionality of a lamp - a pull of the plug, and the light would go out. It was shamelessly tempting to just get it over with already and spare the growing bills, and eliminate Haley’s wasted time of visiting the vegetated silver fox of a man weekly. At the very least he could appreciate the half hour of quiet that permitted him uninterrupted time to read through the compiled documents he had regarding the Trinity Coven case, names associated on and off the record to the event three years prior, and the Agarvran family as a whole.

Aelrindel was the only name he had a face to put to. Porter had often hosted dinners on the property of the Kline family estate for Executives and other figures with enough authority to matter. While Haley only visited the estate for practical reasons only, he did recall being introduced to the wizard once while he was still attending law school. The wizard had left no lasting impression on Haley, being neither extraordinary nor unremarkable. Aelrindel had simply presented himself a sensible man, which was the highest praise Haley reserved for anyone, human or supernatural. The encounter had been before the terrorist attack that his daughter had been affiliated with of course. In some sense, he supposed that the terrorist attack was something worth being grateful for, only considering Haley’s thorough examination and mock case prep of the incident is what made him stand so far out in his final year of studying law before getting his JD. Of course, in his mock case, everybody was convicted. Including Ruina Agarvran. While that had failed to transpire in reality despite various backlash, she was easily enough an exploitable pawn to Haley now.

Closing the manilla folder in his gloved hands with a delicate snap, his amber eyes found themselves straying toward the clock in the room. It had been exactly half an hour of his time spent in this sterile hospital room, and the precise amount of courtesy he deemed appropriate for someone incapable of appreciating it. Locking the stack of files he had taken with him back in his briefcase, Haley spared no glance or sentiment to his uncle in comatose before leaving with the same brisk efficiency as he had arrived.

“Any word on the Director?” A gratingly high voice squeaked, briefly breaking his steady stride through the lobby.

“I’m filing harassment charges on you with the next available opening in my schedule,” Haley replied in cool detachment over the sound of heels struggling to keep pace with his gait.

“That’s harsh, Ilay, even for you,” the young woman grumbled in protest. “I wouldn’t have to stalk you for information if you would just make yourself a little more available to speak with on a casual basis. The media is beginning to orchestrate elaborate tales about a murder cover-up with Porter, and worse, can you believe that? You should see the field day social media platforms alone are having with this all.” Haley had already stepped through the hospital’s main doors, the woman’s incessant chatter continuing as he walked and continued to deliberately not pay any mind to the noise.

“Come on, throw me a bone, will you? I can’t maintain the DSA’s image as rigorously as you expect me and the rest of PR to if you don’t give me anything to curb the conspira-” As Haley approached his sleek silver vehicle, Haley raised a hand, silencing her, and glanced at his watch.

“You know how much I charge for a ten-minute consultation. I’ll be considering this one. I expect proper compensation for my time or the list of charges I’m filing against you will grow,” Haley stated flatly, lowering his hand and making a point to look down at her. “If you or no one else on the entirety of the PR staff is capable of handling these very basic duties of minimal intelligence, hire a team of intellectuals that can so I can rightfully replace you and your existing team with them.” He opened his driver’s side door, leaving the red-haired woman simmering with barely restrained frustration, and added, “Your allegiance to me is almost flattering if it weren’t so vexing. I suggest you think of ways to make yourself more appealing to me, and in return, I will set aside time to speak with you as an act of charity. I’m attracted to results, Olivia. Give me those, and I’ll give you my time.”

After a lack of further exchange, Haley had abandoned the hospital parking lot and the young woman who was less than subtle about cursing his existence. A rising urge to loosen his tie arose, though he denied the impulse and convinced his hands to remain steadfastly on the steering wheel as he drove. The address of Ruina Agarvran’s residence had been pre-set to his vehicle-installed GPS with his day having already been pre-planned the night before. There had been no remarkable notes in the file regarding her monitorization, which made it all the easier to make this an unofficial visit versus seeing the need to come officially as an Agent of the DSA.

In all reality, it would have been simpler to arrange meetings directly with Ruina’s father to leverage his position. Yet Haley’s instincts told him that a man like Aelrindel, having once held a high position within the DSA, wouldn’t easily endorse a twenty-seven-year-old for the role of Director. Not that his cousin at the age of thirty was any more superficially qualified, but there was a war brewing for the reins of power within the organization. It was barely simmering between Haley and Byron, but there were other contenders seeking to toss their hat in the ring or wait until both Haley and Byron erupted enough to be considered equally unfit. Of course, Haley anticipated the very likely possibility of not achieving the rank of Director anytime soon - though he had a contingency plan in place to strategically put someone who favored him in the rank while ensuring he was nominated as the Deputy Director. Really, as long as Byron never got a taste of real power within the DSA, Haley would be satisfied. And he was more than willing to pull as many strings and bend as many rules as possible to ensure his desire came to fruition.

The capital of the United States had clear skies and moderate weather during this time of year before the approaching snap of fall influenced a plunge in temperature. It was something Haley was able to take a brief moment to appreciate as he stepped outside of his vehicle parked outside of his intended destination. A habitual action of smoothing the notched lapel to his grey suit overcame his hands before they found solace in the pockets of his black slacks. Taking only a handful of seconds to casually survey the immediate vicinity Haley then took it upon himself to stride the short distance to Ruina’s door. After a couple of firm raps against the door, he created a small margin of distance between him and the barrier to her home.

It had never been noted that she was particularly hostile or otherwise a direct threat, but nonetheless an entity worth monitoring for the foreseeable future. He imagined it must be suffocating for her to know she was on an invisible leash, and he had every intention of unclasping that leash and rewarding her with freedom if she performed the way he desired. Though if she chose to resist and bark at the hand offering to free her, he also had little issue in ensuring that leash was tightened. Haley very much preferred to utilize what Ruina was capable of doing for him, and he was willing to put effort into achieving that because it was one of the easiest and most beneficial routes he could take in his mission, but he was also not averse to abandoning the effort and crippling her in the process if it came down to it.

Perhaps Haley stood incorrectly about his prior rumination on Ruina’s hostility level. At least, if the temper on display and further captured by the storm brewing in her grey eyes was any indication of the fact. While he silently stared in baseline neutrality as she seemed to reel back the explosion intended for her brother, whom he recalled very deeply investigating for his own purposes, Haley’s amber eyes casually surveyed the witch’s general appearance. Sweat-slicked skin and clothes suitable for rigorous activity made it very indicative that she was exercising to a considerable degree. She didn’t seem particularly agitated that he had interrupted whatever workout session she had been indulged in, but her mood did not seem exactly pleasant either. Not that Haley’s general indifference for people would be swayed by her mood, of course.

“I’m glad you asked,” delivering a fluid reply, he vaguely gestured to himself, “you can refer to me as Ilay, and while I am employed by the DSA, I assure you I’m not here in any official capacity.” Haley allowed a deliberate pause, his eyes meeting hers with an unspoken request as he glanced toward the interior of her home, silently signaling his expectation for an invitation inside. Once he was permitted into her home, Haley took a few seconds to thoughtfully consider Ruina’s living space. It was simple enough, which was satisfactory to him and his distaste for unnecessarily decorated and obnoxious living quarters.

“To be direct with you, Ruina, my interest in engaging with you stems solely from what you can offer me.” Getting to the point of his visit, Haley’s attention zeroed in on Ruina versus what he could see of her home. He didn’t care much for any potential acts of hospitality on her part either. Haley was here for a conversation, after all.

“Your name and reputation’s general connotation is highly negative, which is problematic, but also to my advantage right now. Your father was a highly respected figure within the DSA, and one whose public opinion is still likely to be highly valued by both mundane and supernatural communities alike. It was unfortunate how your affiliation to convicted terrorists smeared not only your own image, but your family’s image as a whole, and by more relevant consideration, your father’s.” There was nothing particularly derogatory or judgmental in Haley’s deliverance, though there was little warmth or sensitivity either.

Giving a pause for measure rather than to allow Ruina an invitation to speak yet, he advanced his monologue. “In theory, your father’s nomination for the next Director of the DSA - in the unfortunate event the current does not recover - is vital. Or at least it will be once I fix the controversy plaguing his opinion’s worth: you.” The next part of his speech was the trickier part. Not that he had any issue in delivering what he wanted to say, but it was the part most relevant to Ruina. While Haley himself had been still and retained a disciplined posture, his gaze was relentless with keenly observing every bodily display he could from the witch. Although how she received his next string of words will be more of a fixation.

“I want to help you restore your image, your and your family’s name, and your freedom. In return, I expect to receive your family’s - most specifically your father’s - full endorsement as a candidate for the next Director of the DSA.” Finally making an effort to move from his statue stance, Haley loosely crossed his arms across his chest and nodded to Ruina. “This is an opportunity to a magnitude I will ensure you do not receive again, so take your freedom into careful consideration before you ask any questions that I may find agitating or offer thoughts that will be both a waste of breath and my consideration.”

Haley kept a level stare with Ruina’s inquiry about his intentions. “I wouldn’t bother with a euphemism for my intentions,” he replied forwardly, “your skepticism is understandable, but I’m only so fond of being questioned more than once.” It was a warning he did not make the effort to guise. If she needed any more affirmations that he was not dropping by to turn her home upside down, then he would not mind discarding the patience he was currently practicing and operating in a different manner.

Haley watched her warily eye him, her focus zeroing in on the topic of her magical abilities. “I’m fully aware of the limitations on your magic, and I’ll be honest with the fact that giving you some room to wiggle with such abilities is something I have yet to entirely disregard.” It was a risk to intervene with the parameters already set on what Ruina was allowed to do, let alone giving her access to more magic. However, he was at war with an adversary who would also use every means they could acquire to get to the top of the food chain. Byron could be unbearably tunnel-visioned, but he was not worth underestimating, either. Neither was Haley though.

Ruina’s frustration about her innocence and the constant scrutiny from the DSA and its agents was more than palpable. However, he abhorred the flaring proclamation she was making to him. “It’s a charming thing then, isn’t it? I’m sure the world will get over your name attached to the case any day now, considering how well everyone takes 'innocence' at face value.” Giving a weighted pause, Haley subtly tipped his head to the side. “Unfortunately for you though, public opinion doesn’t come with a retraction clause, regardless of the ruling on your guilt or lack thereof.” The ruling of her innocence meant little to the opinions that had already been formed about her, but that’s also something he could toy with for his benefit if done right.

As she commented on the worth of her father’s word, Haley looked at her as if she might have been as dense as she had sounded to him. Perhaps it was because she herself had never been directly involved with the inner circle at the DSA, but the word of men and women who bridged policies and maintained order among the internal branches and beyond were considered holy. Aelrindel’s service to the organization was something both respected and renown by anybody with a handful of knowledge about the intricacies that took place behind the scenes. With a measured sigh, Haley replied, “At this moment in time, your father’s reputation and opinion are admittedly a double-edged sword. It holds undeniable influence, but it also comes with a legacy both respected for his prior work and resented for the alleged doings of his daughter. I suggest you leave the reality of your father’s worth to the organization to me though, considering how acutely unaware you seem of it.”

The moment of shock and awe that had translated onto Ruina’s face was something almost worth basking in. Haley enjoyed being the entity responsible for looks that disarmed others, even if only momentarily. It gave him an immediate rise on the playing field, not that Ruina had much of a stand to begin with, but it was nonetheless a feeling Haley appreciated. After she managed to gather the words necessary to respond to him, Haley addressed her in a swift reply. “Undoing the damage done to your reputation will be complex. It won’t be easy, and it won’t be immediate,” he said transparently, “but if you’ve cared to watch the news at all over the past month, you would know about the exoneration of Lietta Paride. There are already enough parallels to her case and yours for even the media to have drawn - and enough to make you relevant again.”

Tapping his foot in a brief moment of personal thought, he elaborated. “The accusations of her contributions to the DOD being sold and used by underground groups led to widespread condemnation, social ostracism, and a similar legal battle you endured. Of course, even with her innocence proven, the views on the case are divided. If you want the short answer, fixing your reputation starts by making you a media spectacle again, but this time, as a champion for justice and reforms to policies in place that failed both Lietta and you.”

The case was something Haley had been following particularly closely, even holding council with Lietta’s legal team for his own gain of creating the parallels to Ruina’s case. In fact, Haley himself had been the one to prompt one of his PR lackeys to leak information that gave the media no choice but to acknowledge Ruina’s case. Of course, their cases held different weights in terms of alleged terrorism, but they were similar enough to be to his advantage. With his cousin as an official representative in PR, it’s hard enough pushing his own agenda through them without word getting to Byron, but it also worked vice versa. He speculated Byron was out to manipulate those already on the Executive Board, but Haley decided that was too easy of an approach when going for the seat of Director, which is the only thing that has spurred him to become so creative. And if he played this right, he could also ensure some policies of his own that he’s drafted are put into law by using Ruina as a face for change.

“Appealing to both the supernatural and the mundane is next to impossible, and I don’t expect you to win over either side completely. But if you cooperate, you’ll win enough to be seen as more than what happened three years ago. I have a plethora of things I would love to begin executing with you in the spotlight as soon as possible, and I’ll defer the details as they become relevant to you.” Moving from his stance to take a step forward, Haley kept the intensity of his amber eyes on the woman before him. “All you need is to say yes.” There was little option he was offering in his statement because he was willing to put in an absurd amount of work into changing her life for the better of his own. And this was him approaching the situation nicely.