Jade is a small woman (5'5") in a world of big violent men. So she does the best she can. Cicero can see through her tough exterior though. He knows she's not as tough as she tries to make herself out to be. Yeah, he's a smart guy under all that weirdness. He's not gonna fall for her crap. He's the last living original Dark Brotherhood member for a reason.

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Nevermind.

This is only chapter 2, so just know that all of the characters have layers like an onion. I don't present everything as it is. Not only do the characters have to figure each other out... you have to figure them out. That's why people are torn whether or not they like Jade. Depending on where you are in the story, you'll probably have a wildly different opinion of her. All of my characters are in a constant state of change as they interact with one another. Everyone is a liar. Everyone has something to hide. No one is who they seem to be. How they go about this and who can see through the facades- that's the interesting part that keeps my story going.

Thank you!! I'm so happy that you are enjoying it so far! Jade is quite a bit to take, but there's also a lot more to her. Cicero is learning that there's more than meets the eye. Luckly, he has integrity and doesn't fall for her power move like most men. Jade is a very old OC of mine (she's been around for a good 20 or so years) and I've used her in various stories of mine. I'm quite surprised to see that people like her so much (as a character)! She's mean but readers seem to have a soft spot for the anti-hero. She ranks top two on most of the polls I do on here. Even the valentine's day one where I asked watchers to "ship" any two characters from the story for me to draw. Cicero X Jade won by a LANDSLIDE and it still surprises me every time! Love/hate dynamic is exciting I guess. Well, it sure is fun to write!! XD

I'm pleased that you are liking it so far! I am an artist long before I am a writer, so my writing skills are pretty blah, but I feel I'm getting better as the chapters progress. I like to give my characters and even canon characters deep backstories for why they are the way they are. I do take liberties in expanding character personalities with own personal feelings that probably takes them in a different direction than most people see them. But that's what fanfiction is all about! I know a lot of people wouldn't agree with me with how I portray Cicero. But I drew my own conclusions from the same well of information they were given within the game and just applied my own sensitivities to it.

I've had the story brewing for the past six or seven years in my mind and have only started writing it in the last few months out of fear of rejection from pretty much anyone. I know that my love for the fool is strange and not very common. A lot of people have let me know that he is a character that they have enjoyed killing... but I finally decided to put my story into words and share it with others and I have been quite pleased by the kind feedback I have gotten. I enjoy drama and social conflict (in stories, not in real life! If anything, I fear confrontation.) I enjoy filtering my mental and emotional issues through my characters and living vicariously through their actions and reactions. Each character, even Cicero, represents a different part of what is broken about me so whatever I'm struggling with at the time, I will process through the representative character. So writing isn't so much hobby like drawing for me. It's more of a therapy. Hence, I've been scared to share this for so long.

-And about Jade's ridiculous bust, I never really gave a good explanation for it but I've definitely poked fun at it a lot within the story. I myself am a fan of big breasts, and having a pair of my own I know that they are quite ridiculous and get in the way a lot. I feel that they exaggerate her self-image and unnecessary over-sexualization. Whereas I do have another character that comes along in a few chapters that also is quite voluptuous but in her case, it is more to refer to her maternal instincts rather than sexual. (Still fun to draw/look at, though, lol)

Most of this kind of stuff is visual and I don't really draw attention to it very often in the story itself unless it's necessary. Call it fanservice, maybe. Maybe not since these characters have been around long before I have shared this story with anyone. Jade alone has been an OC of mine for close to 20 years. Perhaps the visual is just for me. I don't know. But all in all, there's a bit of a reason for just about everything in this story. I tend to be rather meticulous to make sure that tiny details are relevant. I adore foreshadowing, cliffhangers, and plot twists.

I hope all of that made sense. LOL I do overthink things quite a lot but explain things poorly to others. Another reason I am insecure about my writing. I'm visual. I draw what I want you to know, but describing it is a whole nother animal. I actually went back to edit this comment to clarify and reword some stuff cuz I'm always concerned about a misunderstanding. I'm legitimately paranoid about such things.
 

How Cicero basically defends himself with intelligence. So smart