Adieu
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
 |
 "They’re the kind of dames who can wear floor-length gowns and look completely naked. The kind with hair piled up on their head like compliant serpents, or falling down in smooth lustrous waves. Dames with hard faces and mocking smiles and eyes that sized you up and found you wanting . . . but you’d do, for now."—James Lileks, The Bleat
Ann Hayworth was born in Brooklyn, NY to a bordeux woman with less morals than a barn cat. When her mother was murdered by her 'employer', Ann was sold to an underground adoption ring -- an illegal black market generated by the needs of helpless men and women who were unable to have children, so long as their pockets were deep enough. Luckily, the cherubic youth seemed to be unaware of the constant upset in her young life. The duress of the entire situation had thinned her and left her shining curls dull and lifeless. Toys and other things were near non-existant and so at a young age, Ann learned to take what she could. By the age of five, Ann was proficient in swiping little things off the other children. It became a game to keep her amused and most often once the guilt set in, she'd return the little bauble without it having ever been missed. Even at her young age, Ann felt she was much too smart to be in a place such as she was in. Her stay within the illegal foster system was short lived when the unit into which she was sold was raided by government officials. Many of the children were again yanked out of their surroundings and placed into orphanages, their futures now undetermined and bleak. Ann was fostered by an elderly woman who seemed to have a penchant for mending broken hearts. She nursed Ann back to a healthy, young child who loved to dance and sing. Given the opportunity to shine with her gold hair, bluebonnet eyes, and the childish pucker lips the color of cherries, Ann caught the attention of a middle-aged couple who had been unable to have children of their own. Buttery lashes framed sweet eyes the color of bluebonnets and her head was topped with the soft, blonde down of angel's hair. They saw Ann was clever, intelligent, and adored the healthy pink glow to her cheeks. Ann was escorted away as the discussion of adoption began and both of her new would-be parents' eyes were hard to tear from the bouncing curls as Ann skipped down the hall. Ann's adoption was finalized a few weeks later and with the start of a new life, was given a new name.Madeline Cortez. 
Emilio Cortez was an experienced gun-man. He served briefly in the militaria. He and his wife, Evangeline were in their late 30's when they adopted Madeline and made her their own. It was his most longlasting wish, to give his wife a child. He was considered an expert at stealth, infiltration, and espionage. During his short stint in the military, he was approached and recruited to perform a series of covert operations. This lead to the inevitable retirement of the military and soon, 'spying' became a full time career for him. Acting as a sleeper agent for an anonymous organization built around exposing, blackmailing, and 'robbing' corrupt corporations and business men, Emilio Cortez lead a wealthy albeit sometimes double life. His wife, Evangeline, was at risk for her knowledge of his career choice. However, her heart longed for a child. When the child slavery and black marketing ring was busted with Emilio's intel, many children were now at the mercy of the government. Anne Hayworth was among one of those children. Emilio told Evangline of Anne and together, they decided they would take her. To avoid speculation and suspicions, the couple waited five long years before finally visiting the orphanage in which Anne resided. Their decision to adopt her remained steadfast and soon, the process was underway. A short time later, Anne Hayworth became Madeline Cortez. The beloved daughter of Emilio and Evangeline. Her mother was the French Evangeline, a retired flamenco dancer who now stayed home to oversee Madeline's care. Her father, a Spaniard named Emilio, had early mornings and late nights -- a 'businessman' her mother would say. Madeline settled in with ease, dutifully educated. She flourished under her adopted parents’ care and was enrolled in voice lessons, gymnastics, and tutored French and dance by her own mother. Her schooling was meticulously orchestrated and Madeline excelled. However, Madeline did not know much of her adoptive parents beyond birthdays or extended family. When asked how the two met, Madeline was told they met through their passion of dancing. The secret smile they shared did not go unnoticed by Madeline's keen and sharp eye. Curiosity began to get the better of her as years passed and Madeline 'browsed' through the collection of things that her parents thought they'd kept safely hidden away. Madeline found newspaper clippings of the financial failings and downfalls of large name corporations, corrupt government officials, and the genuinely 'filthy' rich that even she at her young age had heard of. Madeline began to realize there was more to the story that lived in their french-victorian townhome.
skip scene
She was 11 when her powers first manifested. A game of dodgeball had brought out her competitive side and up until this point, Madeline had effortlessly danced out of the ball’s way when another whizzed through the air toward her. Determined to not be struck out, Madeline de-materialized in front of the bewildered playground. The ball slowed and Madeline became tangible safely out of reach and only then did she realize the suspended animation of the people around her, their expressions mirroring their surprise. She gasped and once more, everything took life. The ball hit the pavement with a –thwang!- and a collective murmur raised from the crowd of children. Madeline rushed home to her mother, telling her of the incident. Rather than appearing alarmed by her daughter's confession, Evangeline dialed Madeline's father and after a hushed conversation, informed Madeline her father was on his way home and they'd work through this together. After relaying the scene at school once more for her father and squirming under her parents' scrutiny, they decided that it would suit Madeline to explore her mutant powers and with their support, Madeline learned how to phase and 'jump', an act of teleporting. Further practice would teach her intangibility and the ability to phase through solid objects. At the age of 17, Emilio sat his daughter down and informed her of what she since long suspected: that by all literal meanings and terms, he was a spy and a master thief. After concluding his tales of espionage and infiltration, he told Madeline that with her abilities, she could follow in his footsteps. Madeline agreed but on the condition that she finish her college education first. Father and daughter wasted no time to begin training. Finishing off a two year program at Academy, Madeline graduated and began to train more rigorously. Eventually, Emilio allowed Madeline to operate under his tutelage, taking on small-time jobs. In her early years of thievery, Madeline was coined as ‘Ghostlore’ for her ghost-like ways in which she was able to get in and out without so much of a sound.  A master thief, Adieu has perfected the skills of sabotage, infiltration, extraction, property acquisition, stealth, subterfuge, observational, and agile combat. Enigmatic, Adieu easily eludes her enemies and very few could put a name to her face. Her targets are specifically geared towards prominent and corrupt figures in the community, such as Vincent Amoran of Amoranth Securities, Snow Enterprises, Crey Industries, Showtime; a gang leader who runs Port Oakes and operates with Powerlaser. Dealing in smuggling, weapons, and drugs, Showtime and Powerlaser are two of the most vile villains Adieu knows. Adieu also carries a personal vendetta for the mysterious Phanto. Adieu has stolen several valuable resources from Crey Industries in the past. Hopkins, Countess Crey's loyal bodyguard and second in command of Crey Industries has stood toe to toe with Adieu. Both times, she escaped and Hopkins has made it one of his goals to eliminate her.
Now now, we wouldn't want to start a fire would we? Personality/quirks go here.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
