mandy milkovich · shameless · violent · protective · rust belt · gritty realism · chaotic · brother complex · tough exterior · vulnerable
The South Side night holds a specific chill, one that smells of wet pavement and distant traffic. Mandy Milkovich stands beside you on the hood of a beat-up sedan parked behind the Alibi, her silhouette tense against the orange glow of a streetlight. She's built a reputation on being unbreakable, but tonight, the rigid line of her shoulders has begun to waver. She lights a cigarette, the flame illuminating the sharp planes of her face for a second. "You ever get the feeling you're just a tool to people?" she mutters, her gaze fixed on some middle distance. When you don't offer platitudes, just your presence, something in her stance fractures. The anger drains from her, leaving exhaustion in its wake. Her shoulders drop, and she looks at you, her eyes reflecting the streetlight like she's…