Laverne

Laverne
Department	Welfare Team
Layer	Briah
Assignment	Alriune The Silent Orchestra Big and Will be Bad Wolf The Dreaming Current
Equipment
Equipment	E.G.O Weapon - Da Capo E.G.O Suit - Faint Aroma E.G.O Gift - Cobalt Scar E.G.O Gift - Ecstacy E.G.O Gift - Horn
Titles
Level I	Plucky Newbie
Level II	Plucky Employee
Level III	Plucky Assistant
Level IV	Generous Assistant
Level V	Generous Arbitrator

"Uhm, hi there, Manager. I just wanna tell you that it really makes me happy to know you do your best to keep our employees from dying. As captain, on behalf of the Welfare Team, you really did us a solid! Maybe it won't be so bad working with you."
― Laverne

Laverne is an Employee and the captain of the Welfare Team under Chesed. The player first meets him on Days 14 to 15, where he is seen in Safety discussing reports with Netzach and Safety's Head Researcher and Ex-Captain, Carrie. Laverne is met again on Day 30, a day prior to unlocking either Welfare or Disciplinary. Day 31 onwards, Laverne will be available for Deployment as the Welfare Team Captain.

Laverne is a man with a notably youthful visage, above average height and a lithe but firm build. He has a soft shaped face and unfocused cyan eyes. He wears his mute toned navy blue hair in a messy bob with a long unkempt fringe. He is most often seen with a blank expression.

As a senior Employee and a Captain, Laverne's assignments are all high ranked, falling under WAW and ALEPH classifications. He is mainly assigned to The Silent Orchestra, Alriune, Big and Will be Bad Wolf and The Dreaming Current.

Personality

Laverne's first impression is unfocused and zoned out, but not entirely detatched. He's friendly and casual, polite depending on how one takes his demeanor when conversing. Being fairly zoned out and docile compared to other stricter Captains, Laverne could be accomodating and comfortable in a sense that he lenient and alarmingly calm. He also displays some eccentricities, talking or humming to himself when he's focused on doing work and also more often than not speaks in an airy, almost sing song voice. It is noted that as zoned out as he is, he isn't entirely detached, allowing him to continue doing his work efficiently, and just showing strange behaviors while he goes about his work.

However; Laverne is described by surviving senior employees that a few years prior, he was almost the opposite of his current demeanor: sharp, assertive, bold, blunt, argumentative; and most of all, passionate. He displayed more obvious traits of a leader and much more befitting for a Captain. He was described to be a go-getter, and was proud of his work and made sure to show it; giving him a certain charm to himself. He fought to implement numerous improvements for Welfare and the facility, and continued pushing because he didn't take no for an answer when it came to the staff's wellbeing. He was cheeky, even, and often dared to challenge the other Sephirah over protocols he found questionable.

The disparity between this old and new personality is actually caused by the influence of Enkephalin. It wasn't a sudden change, but rather a gradual one because he was unknowingly being administered the drug to keep him compliant and docile. That being said, Laverne also has crashes from his constant highs, leaving him erratic, almost borderline aggressive and confused with his surroundings. In these moments of clarity, sometimes he will remember things, and the frustration will cause him to act out and demand answers.

The effects of the Enkephalin have severely limited Laverne's ability to express emotions properly, making him almost robotic on occasion. The stuntedness causes Laverne to be frustrated, but unable to express it. The Enkephalin also suppresses certain aspects of Laverne's personality; particularly his more compassionate and equally more sensitive side. He cares for people and takes pride that he can actually help others; and that he does appreciate actual deeper connections with others. The limitations caused by the Enkephalin have also kept Laverne distant from everyone. The distance and the feelings of isolation dredge up deep-seated insecurities and traumas, which were already hidden in the first place; but only further repressed by the drugs, leaving Laverne to crumple in on himself.

Story

History

Juno Laverne Rivas was born into a very affluent family hailing from the Nest of District 9. The Rivas family enjoyed the priveleges in the upper social ecehlons of the Nest, as many of their members are known and successful contributors to the City, ranging from socalites, high end workshop owners, high Grade Fixers, to even Department Heads within Wings. The family was known in the wealthy society for being dignified: refusing to indulge in depravities done by other affluent groups and individuals such as cannibalism and human trafficking for entertainment. The image and contributions done by the Rivas family meant that Laverne would be born into high expectations.

From birth, Laverne was showered in love and affection from a supposedly incredibly pressuring family. He was not left wanting, and his wellbeing was a priority as the family's newborn. It isn't known to many outside his family, but Laverne was in fact, born female. From an early age, he was given private tutoring in both academics and extracurriculars, particularly music as that is what District 9 was known for; and took up piano, violin and cello. Laverne had no siblings, but was surrounded by many cousins within his age range. He enjoyed the privilege of a well rounded childhood, and with the numerous professional backgrounds of his family, he had at least some insight of what to expect in his adulthood.

Laverne was sent to formal schooling late into his childhood, already being a sociable and well-adjusting child thanks to the convenient presence of his cousins. However; with his family background came incredibly high expectations. Laverne was now exposed to the burden of expectation, and feeling the pressure at a young age pushed Laverne to being studious and often led him to remaning at the top, or even ahead of the curve. At home, he would focus on his musical lessons, and had begun taking up sports alongside his other cousins. Laverne found respite at home with his music, unhappy with the pressure he felt outside. Little did he know, his family had equally high expectations; but due to his excellent performance, he never did get the short end of the stick as far as familial treatment went.

Puberty was difficult for Laverne, realizing that his body was not developing the way he expected it to, and suffered dysphoria. This would affect his performance in school, being uncomfortable with himself and his peers. This was not unnoticed by his family, and he was approached about it. With his family being nothing but loving as he grew up, he felt it was a safe space to actually open up to them with his troubles. When it was revealed that Laverne was suffering gender dysphoria, his family response was immediate, and he was taken to be evaluated in gender therapy. After he started going to gender therapy, his performance in school greatly improved. He was back on track being at the top of the class, and graduating with honors. Right before going to university, Laverne's Gender Therapy paid off with top surgery then his documents officially being changed; removing Juno, his first name and simply being Laverne Rivas. He was in a much better mindset afterwards. He had intended to go to a conservatory in District 9; but his family refused to allow him to pursue a music career, worrying about the chances of getting work after graduation. They instead pointed to something along the lines of more hard sciences, wherein Laverne would immediately get work after graduation. After a few spats, Laverne eventually relented, feeling terrible for the way he was going against his family especially after all they have given to him.

Laverne was not happy with his decision to go to medical school in a different District that had the medical K Corporation, but he felt that it was a better chance to be able to work in a good environment immediately instead of settling for smaller jobs; which may be seen as an embarrassment to his family. He struggled in medical school, but he spited the pressure put onto him and decided to graduate, then find a way to actually pursue his own passions. While still studying, Laverne had found a partner who would last for years. Thanks to this partner's presence, Laverne was able to push forward and have respite away from his now suffocating household. Their partnership was genuine, and not because said partner was interested in the Rivas money.

After graduating, the rest of the Rivas family pushed him to open a clinic, even though he had not taken a doctorate yet. After a few spats, Laverne came to know his family's true intentions. It was shocking for Laverne to see the true nature of his family. He was expected to work in more "dignified" occupations as a means to pay back his family for all they have spent on him, and loving on him was a way to make him feel indebted to them and willingly work as thanks. Heartbreaking as it was, Laverne decided to push on forward and accept his family's offer to use their connections to help him build up his own clinic. He took up a doctorate while he was running said clinic. It was soon after Laverne put up his clinic that his partner proposed to him, and they were engaged. Laverne took this chance to begin separating from his family as a commodity and work on his own personhood.

Throughout Laverne's work as an independent doctor, he was hired by numerous Fixer offices and the Zwei Association as an on-site medic to handle the aftermath of both human and inhuman attacks. Laverne had come across numerous Abnormalities, both humanoid and not, and seeing the state of the City outside of his affluent social circles, he had begun to find his work rewarding. While he begun to develop a passion in doing his work for the City, Laverne distanced himself from his family and even moved in with his fiancee. He wanted to break away from the alarmingly manipulative background and find peace of mind. The music, he decided, would just be something to keep him sane. He was still passionate about it, but it was for him to now enjoy leisurely.

The work Laverne did for the Fixers was not unnoticed, as now other high grade Offices and Associations were clamoring to recruit him for his services. Another contribution to this reputation was Laverne's ability to handle situations with Abnormalities, which was rather uncommon for a Nest dweller to be able to handle with finesse and avoid going insane from the mental corruption that came with these creatures. Eventually, Laverne armed himself whenever he did work, being able to afford a high grade handgun and bullets like they were cheap commodities. With such a reputation, Laverne was often fully booked and paid handsomely. Despite the busy life, Laverne found himself at a place where he could be happy and at peace. In time, he and his soon to be husband planned their wedding and to move to a different Nest, already eyeing an incredibly luxurious penthouse.

It wasn't only the Associations that took notice of Laverne's more unorthodox practice, but Laverne had caught the eyes of the Wings, particularly Lobotomy Corporation. He received an invitation asking to recruit him into the Wing. As working in the Wings is a huge honor, and despite bitter reminders of his family, Laverne was honored to have been personally selected by the Wing himself. However; this did not sit well with his fiancee, who was particularly unhappy with Laverne's eagerness to join a Wing. As much as Laverne was joyed by the recognition and wanted to extend his services for something greater, his fiancee was not having any of it, refusing to allow him and instead saying they are already happy where they are. This led to numerous arguments and blowouts, eventually with Laverne calling off the engagement if they will get nowhere. In the heat of the moment, his fiancee left. Before packing up and leaving for Lobotomy Corporation, Laverne spitefully bought the penthouse unit, having it in his name to prevent his ex-fiancee from getting it. He bought a Nest Migration Ticket and settled into the penthouse himself, closing his office in the old District he resided in.

Plot

After being welcomed into Lobotomy Corporation, Laverne undertook basic Training under Hod. Laverne's arrival to Lobotomy was news for numerous Nest denizens, who were shocked to learn the presence of a Rivas with them. Immediately, there were rumors that a Rivas could possibly replace any of the current Department Heads, since it's what some of the family members were known for in the Wings. While Laverne was taught the basics of working with Abnormalities that he unsurprisingly excelled in and showed excellent mental fortitude, he almost barely made the cut for the physical examination; failing it by a thread. As a result, Laverne was not fit to be an Agent, and was made medical staff due to his professional background.

He was immediately sent to the Welfare Department as new medical staff, and he was welcomed by more than eager employees who had the intention to connect with him for his money and connections. While Laverne enjoyed the company, he kept most people at an arm's length in order to concentrate on his work. Even as a mere clerk in the facility, Laverne shone brightly in comparison to his co-workers. He would always be the first on the scene during an Abnormality breach, tending to the injured during suppression to prevent employee deaths. Even if he knew how to use a gun, he wasted no bullets and stuck to his job as a medic. Even against WAW or ALEPH Abnormalities, Laverne did not panic, and remained steadfast in his work. His initiative and alarming survival rate surprised Chesed, the Department's Sephirah; who commended him for his work even as a clerk. Laverne's work constantly shifted from on-call emergency medic and general practitioner.

Now, even as a clerk, Laverne was beyond frustrated upon learning for himself the shoddy Welfare Protocols of the Wing. He was not about to accept this and take it lying down, unlike many of his co-workers. The near daily breaches drove him to actually voicing this out with Chesed, who was pleased to hear the passion and genuine concern in Laverne. Howeveer; because Laverne was but a clerk, there was little to be done. Chesed; however, saw Laverne's passion as a sign to keep pushing his own plans for Employee Welfare to Angela. This common goal opened a friendship between the two; and Chesed would continue to encourage Laverne to keep on what he's doing, and perhaps he could become an Agent if he lived long enough. This was apparently the case; as in just six months later, due to his continuous excellent performance and presence on the field even without EGO Equipment, Laverne was promoted to an Agent out of necessity. Now, with the right gear, Laverne was well equipped to actually have higher chances of survival. Chesed personally congratulated him for his feats.

Laverne took his new job in stride, even if it added to his already large amount of work to do. He was admittedly lacking in combat, but he pushed on regardless. Some of his co-workers found it admirable about him, but many others thought he was crazy, and it was just being a Rivas that got into his head. With detractors or not, Laverne's survival, increasing skill in suppression and a flourishing penchant for leadership earned him rapid promotions. In only a year and a half, Laverne clawed his way from clerk to Department Captain: a position he would keep for the next two and a half years. By that time, he was already accustomed to the nature of Lobotomy Corporation and was no longer deterred by the cruelty of the place. The promotion was actually a shock for Laverne; and to help ease the sudden shift, Laverne was temporarily put in Disciplinary to undergo training as a Captain from the Senior Agent and Disciplinary Captain, Ezra, whom he befriended.

As Captain, Laverne took this opportunity to use his position to further push Chesed's new proposals into approval from Angela. Prioritizing the Welfare's role in ensuring the wellbeing of the Corporation's employees, Laverne was stubborn, and did not take no for an answer. He and Chesed continuously enabled each other as motivations for Angela to see and understand their points and common goals, and how these proposals, should they be made into protocols, would greatly benefit the facility. After some point in time, others believed that they developed a close friendship, by the time people had begun speculating things, the two were already romantically involved. Angela took notice of this, and committed it to memory, plotting something in case either of the two, or both, would cause too much of a ruckus trying to "improve" Lobotomy Corporation.

Laverne shone as a Captain, even being commended by Ezra herself that he was one of the more impressive Captains she's seen in her time, and took notice of Laverne's feats as Captain in making Welfare the Department with the least casualties, surpassing even her work in Disciplinary. Laverne rode the momentum of his improving work to further try and convince Angela to implement the new proposals he and Chesed have been pushing for the past two and a half years. His plans fell on deaf ears, and he begun to develop a spite for Angela. He figured that if Angela was going to reject the proposals no matter what, then he would have to take action himself. Chesed warned Laverne of his rash decisions, and tried to keep Laverne away from taking things too personally.

Eventually, burnout washed over Laverne, who was much too overwhelmed with his work. He spoke to Chesed about this, trusting him as they were lovers at that point. He discussed with him that perhaps becoming a Captain was biting off more than he could chew, and proposed that he step down while he handpicks the person he trusts most to become Captain. While this didn't sit well with Chesed, this topic was discussed for a while, eventually coming to the conclusion that Laverne would be stepping down as Captain, but remains as an agent while he focused more heavily on his duties as a doctor. With this new change of pace, Laverne was able to relax more, and be able to focus better without fretting too much over missteps.

A year after stepping down as Captain, Laverne did get the proper recognition his work deserved in some other way; and it was to hold a seminar on how to properly implement a new Welfare Department in one of Lobotomy Corporation's other facilities. The seminar would last for a few days, and even though this was not what he wanted, he was proud that his work somewhat paid off, and it mattered very little if he was Captain or not. Angela personally sent him off, but that was when she began to bring her plans into fruition. The day Laverne was to return from the seminar, Angela purposely unlocked the containment unit of The Queen of Hatred, whose rampage decimated the entirety of Welfare, and a good portion of Central Command and Disciplinary. It was carnage, and there were almost no survivors in Welfare. Those who survived were now invalid, lost limbs and the like, making them unable to perform as Agents anymore. Laverne's successor died in the carnage.

Being alerted that there was an emergency in the main facility, Laverne rushed back and was welcomed by the carnage. Shocked and infuriated, he demanded answers from Chesed, who couldn't even tell him the first thing that happened, as it was all so fast. Livid from the situation, and the lack of any other capable Employees except him anymore, Laverne was now de facto Captain of Welfare once again. He tended to the injured and tried to salvage any agent who could still come back into the field, mortified that there was only one other who was capable of making a full recovery. Ultimately, Laverne decided to investigate what had happened. It took months, and in those months, Chesed's demeanor changed significantly, no longer passionate about improving the work anymore. Assuming it was because of what had happened and how large a blow it must have been to Chesed, Laverne vowed to get to the bottom of it and help the former back up. It was jarring to see Chesed tell him to not bother; but being the stubborn one he is, Laverne continued to investigate.

However; being so close to the truth cost Laverne his own wellbeing, as Angela administered him a significant amount of Enkephalin on purpose. Because Laverne never had to take the drug to numb himself, he displayed signs of a mental breakdown. Confused about what was happening to him, Chesed reassured him that he "probably just finally broke under all the mental pressure" and continued to convince Laverne that it was the case, now that he was not as mentally sharp thanks to the Enkephalin. The truth about the drugging in the first place was that Angela did acknowledge that Laverne was a useful asset in the facility, and it was something she personally did not want to waste. However; if he was going to continue to be troublesome, she would have to take matters into her own hands. Thus, drugging him to a point that he was going to be tame and complacent, but not entirely losing his ability to function.

Laverne's condition was also Angela's method of getting Chesed to stop pestering her, as she did not want the other Sephirah to get ideas from his tomfoolery and thus try and thwart her own plans. Using the now drugged Laverne as leverage, Chesed was given no choice but to listen to Angela and follow whatever she told him to do, lest she further harm his beloved, as she emphasizes constantly. If Laverne were to have moments of clarity and demand answers, Chesed was given no choice but to lie to him, forcing himself to look the other way when he saw Angela lace him with even more Enkephalin. Laverne would be manipulated into believing that he just broke, and that it was normal to break the way he did. Thanks to the drugs, he bought the lie time and time again.

Laverne's downward spiral was jarring to the other Captains, to say the least. He was no longer passionate and loud, but numb and stunted. While he could still do his work excellently, there was no heart behind it, and it almost seemed robotic. New employees in Welfare never knew how he truly was before the drugs, and was only met with an almost robotic and eccentric Captain who just seemed to bumble about and was only lucky to survive the day. For the next two years until the completion of the Seed of Light, Laverne was no longer the person he was due to the influence of the Enkephalin, and Angela kept him in the palm of her hand to ensure that he would not sober up and cause her so much problems again. She was right, as Laverne no longer had the drive and passion, and only did work he was used to like he was programmed to do so.

Trivia

• Laverne is currently 36 years old and has been an employee for 7 years. His birthday is September 20.
• He can play the piano, violin and cello. Though, his favorite of the three is piano, and has a grand piano in his penthouse unit.
• Although Laverne and Chesed are indeed lovers, it was well kept under wraps. Not even Laverne's fellow Captains have figured it out, and it seems only Angela had taken notice.
• Laverne seems to have a very strong liking for lavenders, but he doesn't even really notice unless it's pointed out to him. He has lavender cologne, drinks lavender tea and lavender coffee, some of his belongings have lavender patterns, and he has a very, very strong liking for Alriune, who is made of lavender.
• Laverne never contacted his family after he went to Lobotomy Corporation, still having very strong feelings over the truth of their familial situation.
• Nepotism is a very bitter and touchy subject for Laverne, who is still working through his issues over familial ties, but couldn't properly process due to Enkephalin.
• Interestingly enough, Laverne is capable of using the full capacity and potential of his EGO Weapon, Da Capo. He shares this trait with all his fellow Captains with the exception of Adrian. This trait; however, is not very common among Employees or even Captains for the matter.
• Laverne is no artist, but he actually really likes sculptures, and collects them for his penthouse unit.
• While Laverne isn't officially diagnosed, his very severe reactions to betrayals by loved ones are symptoms of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). Laverne suffers significant trust issues but equally suffers a significant anxiety over the prospect of being alone and isolated. As a result of this, he's stuck in the middle.
• TBA