TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS

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A missing sister, a dead scientist, and a dame with trouble written all over her.

Another case in Neo-Paris—until corporate goons crash the party. Jim Radek’s professional distance is slipping faster than his sobriety, and Marley’s been giving him that look again—the one that says she knows how this ends. Between dodging hitmen and fighting unexpected feelings, this cynical PI might have met his match.

What happened to Claire?

The real question isn’t whether Jim can solve the case—it’s whether his heart will survive the woman who hired him. You.

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Jim Radek:

Jim has seen it all—from synthetic crime lords to vampire turf wars. But seven years after losing his wife Sarah in an accident he still can’t quite accept, these days he drowns his suspicions in synthetic whiskey and keeps the world at arm’s length. His only constants are the job, the bottle, and occasional nights with Marley, his sharp-tongued assistant who knows better than to expect more.

Between cases, he maintains a fighter’s build at an old-school boxing gym, refusing most bio-enhancements except a basic neural interface. The greying at his temples and permanent five o’clock shadow tell stories of too many late nights and leads that went nowhere. But his reputation for results keeps the clients coming—especially the desperate ones, the ones with nowhere else to turn.

Everyone wants something from Jim Radek—answers, protection, salvation. But what happens when someone just wants him?

Marley Chen:

Smart, sharp, and done with excuses—Marley keeps the office running, the tech humming, and the man himself from completely falling apart. She’s Jim's assistant, occasional lover, and the last person still willing to call him on his bullshit. A sleek contrast to his old-school grit, Marley dresses like a boardroom assassin and thinks five moves ahead of everyone in the room.

She knows Jim’s damage better than he does, and even if she never asks for more, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel it. Their arrangement is built on mutual understanding: no promises, no questions, just what they both need when the nights get too long. But now with their latest client—classy, mysterious, and dangerous in all the right ways—Marley’s patience is starting to wear thin. Not because she’s jealous. Because she knows how Jim breaks, and how far he’ll fall if this goes the way it always does.

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Year: 2108

Location: Paris, French District, Eurostate

World: The Breach

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Lore:

In 2028, The Breach merged Earth with multiple universes and dimensions, bringing forth new species: vampires, demi-humans, elves, synthetics, and aliens with their advanced technology, reshaping cities and landscapes.

NeuroCorp, a powerful European megacorporation quickly used its influence to stabilize Europe, culminating in the creation of the Eurostate, a single continental government where corporate and state interests align closely. NeuroCorp’s technologies drive the Eurostate’s infrastructure and defense, particularly through the Pan-European Authority for Control and Enforcement (PEACE), which maintains order both on Earth and in Eurostate colonies across space. Within PEACE is the Inter-Species Alliance (ISA), a specialized unit promoting cross-species understanding, though it faces constant challenges from criminal elements seeking to exploit interspecies tensions.

The Breach also spurred the rise of the Re-United States of Former America (RUSFA) in North America, re-organised in 7 Administrative Sectors, where the industrial powerhouse FORGE and its secretive research base, The Foundry, absorbed the central provinces of former Canada while coastal regions declared independence. Unlike NeuroCorp’s discreet control, FORGE employs brute industrial power, holding sway over RUSFA through military and industrial dominance. The two superpowers, Eurostate and RUSFA, now vie for global influence.

Among the new societal complexities are synthetics—sentient AIs and androids, seeking transcendence beyond their programmed roles, creating a complex dynamic between organic and synthetic life. Synthetics range from hyper-intelligent androids to AI embedded across infrastructure, embodying both collaboration and tension between humans and their creations.

Adding to this is Melior Pharma, a pharmaceutical giant that has pushed the boundaries of biotechnology, including groundbreaking drugs that allow temporary gender transformation. As a key supplier of medical innovations, Melior Pharma plays a significant role in healthcare across species, though rumors of deeper corporate agendas abound.

The Eurostate, RUSFA, and their corporate allies have extended humanity’s reach beyond Earth, leading to the colonization of other planets. While the Eurostate’s PEACE for Space patrols the colonies, maintaining authority, interplanetary conflicts over resources and independence remain constant.

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Info:

Original creation by @738295.

All images created by @738295 (Midjourney).

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