It's Not the Same As It Was

Abby Mallard || Psychologist in the making

[callme-abby]

Task 11 —> Intro & Connections

Abby Mallard // Twenty Three // Psych Major // She/Her

Intelligent, Empathetic, Resilient

Upfront, Quirky, Defensive

Full Bio [ x ]

Facts/Headcanons

Abby identifies as queer

She is polyamorous

Considering pursuing a masters in Counseling

She is still dealing with insecurities from her childhood and being bullied, so she tries to surround herself with people she enjoys

Taken Connections 

Family: N/A

Friends: @notasweetnightingale , @thekitisback , @mistyxmorning , @mxmorganmorph , @adropofgoldenrachelx , @xalicethewonderx , @lostslightly

Romantic interest: @jxmhawkins

Enemies: N/A

Wanted Connections*

Enemies: Abby is a little too good at making friends; it would be interesting to have someone in her adult life that she could have "beef" with. She grew up in a very small town where everyone knew everything about one another. Except back home, she was ridiculed and bullied, and still gets worried about this. Maybe our characters dislike one another (not necessarily bullying) and it reminds her of those times.

College friends: Maybe they can bond over school! She loves making friends and helping others

Wanted Plots / Plot Ideas*

An Interview to Remember: Abby often interviews a lot of people for her psychology classes; maybe your character is really desperate for some psychological advice, or maybe they're just bored. Either way, it's one hell of an experience.

Wrong Number?: Your character is totally convinced they know who they're texting/calling, but instead of Abby saying "wrong number" she completely plays along, fully committing to the bit

Other

One character from the open tag you would like to see taken: Ariana Neptune

One Character you want to see a bio for in relation to this specific character: Foxy Loxy

[zachzerocasper]

zach was in no position to comment on a couples relationship or how cupid should be working their magic on them. "i don't know, abby. do you think they could work out?"

[callme-abby]

"Without a little outside assistance, I'd say the odds are stacked against them. Not impossible, though," she shrugged, looking back at Zach. "Have you ever been in love?"

[arthurrasa]

oh, nothing special.” Arthur smiled softly, a quiet kind of pride settling in his chest. His gaze drifted for a moment as he noticed one of the newly formed couples lean in, exchanging a shy kiss on the cheek. The sight warmed him—but there was a faint sting underneath it too, a reminder of something he’d never quite had. No first kiss, no lingering hugs, no shared closeness like that. He pushed the feeling aside, not wanting it to linger too long.

“Say, Abby… can it be I saw you in psychology class last week?” he asked, tilting his head slightly, curiosity lighting up his expression. “I was only there for a trial class, but—honestly—I loved it. Like, really loved it.” His voice picked up a bit, enthusiasm slipping through despite his usual calm demeanor. “It just… made sense, you know? The way people think, why they feel the way they do—it’s like solving little puzzles, but they actually matter.”

He let out a small, almost bashful laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t expect to feel that strongly about it, but now I can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe I’ll take more classes… maybe even make something out of it.” His eyes flickered with a quiet determination. “Who knows… maybe I could become a relationship therapist someday.”

There was a brief pause before he added, softer this time, “Help people understand each other better… so they don’t feel alone.”

[callme-abby]

"So you're keeping it a secret, then? Hmm... Smart choice. Someone could be listening and stealing your moves," Abby teased. She liked to think of herself as a people person, but even she wasn't so confident that she'd get the same results just then. Arthur may just have something that most people didn't, and that was okay.

When he brought up Psychology class, she smiled. "Depends, if you saw a cute blonde with her hair up, in a polkadot shirt, then yes, that was me, but if you saw a blonde dressed down in sweatpants, nope, definitely not me..." Obviously she was joking, but depending on the day he'd gone, he may have caught her on one of her more "down" days, where she didn't feel like dressing up.

His enthusiasm charmed her. Really she could see him right there in the classroom, learning to love it as much as she did. "I think you should! You seem like you have the right stuff to be successful in the field. And wanting to help one another learn more and understand each other better is a very emotionally intelligent thing to do."

[callme-abby]

Abby adjusted, rolling her shoulders back as she set her drink down, eyes glancing to the side. "The two over there, in the booth by the trash can." They were a cute couple, but she didn't know how to answer Arthur's question. "Well that's the thing, isn't it? I am willing to bet that one has feelings for the other and makes it painfully obvious, and the other is either absolutely oblivious or isn't interested. But my gut tells me it's the former."

She acted natural, as if she wasn't totally waiting to see if they acted any sort of way. But really she was keeping a watchful eye. "You know... now that I think about it, there's a third option. The feelings could be mutual, but only one is brave enough to admit them."

[arthurrasa]

“Maybe we could, uhm… lend Faith a hand?” he murmured, the words tumbling out softer than he intended. His gaze flickered toward Abby, as if asking for silent permission, before he swallowed down his nerves and took a hesitant step toward the couple.

Arthur had never been particularly good at this sort of thing—feelings were messy, unpredictable, and far easier to observe from a distance than to step into. Still, there was something about the way the two of them stood near each other, close but not quite close enough, that made his chest tighten with a quiet sort of determination.

He edged closer, clearing his throat under his breath before leaning in toward the one he had already decided was the more oblivious of the pair. His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible, as he carefully—perhaps a little clumsily—put into words what neither of them seemed able to say aloud.

It took only a moment.

The reaction was immediate.

The one he’d spoken to froze, eyes widening as the meaning settled in, a flush rising so quickly it seemed to bloom across their cheeks like spilled ink. They turned, almost mechanically, to the other, their expression a mixture of disbelief and dawning realization—are you serious? written plainly across their face.

The other hesitated for only a heartbeat before giving a small, almost shy nod.

That was all it took.

The first one turned even redder, if that was somehow possible, their composure unraveling in the quietest, most endearing way. Arthur, witnessing the entire exchange, felt a strange sense of accomplishment settle in his chest. Not pride exactly—something gentler, warmer.

That was his cue.

He slipped away as quietly as he had approached, retreating back to Abby’s side like nothing had happened, though the faint, satisfied smile tugging at his lips gave him away.

Really, who needed Cupid when you had Arthur? Awkward, soft-spoken Arthur, who couldn’t quite meet your eyes but would spell out your heart for you when it mattered most.

“Well,” he said, voice still low but steadier now, glancing at Abby with a small, knowing tilt of his head, “from what I gathered… the feelings are mutual.”

@callme-abby

[callme-abby]

Abby hadn't expected that, but she had to admit she was downright curious as to what the other had in mind. So, with a playful grin, she nodded in the direction of the table and sat back to watch, sipping her drink nonchalantly. The whole thing felt like she was watching some sort of rom com right before her eyes.

She couldn't lie, it was cute, watching the whole interaction. But now she was dying to know what exactly Arthur had said. When he came back and gave the verdict, Abby laughed. "What on earth did you say to them?"

[adropofgoldenrachelx]

Rachel gave Abby what could only be described as a 'smimace' - an attempt at a smile, clouded by an awkward grimace. Her hands tightened around her hair. "For… fun?" she repeated bashfully. "Protection? Like… a shield? Gloves?"

Abby thankfully continued to explain. Rachel listened much like a kid learning about space in school for the first time. She seriously considered getting out her notebook and taking notes. As soon as she would get home she decided to write down everything that was still in her brain.

"Um… I-I think it makes sense," she replied. "Although that sounds like a lot of logistics and not an awful lot of fun…"

[callme-abby]

"Yes, for fun. A lot of people find that it feels good, and it's a nice way to feel closer to your partner." Okay, maybe she should have been more upfront about the term protection. Abby took a long, slow breath as she looked up at Rachel. She wasn't judging, by any means. She just hadn't been aware how little her friend knew about this subject, given that she and Toulouse had been together for about four years now.

"I know that it's a lot of information, so it's okay if it seems confusing. Let me ask you a question: do you enjoy being kissed? Physical contact?" Abby assumed the answers to those were yes, but then again, some people could make relationships work without all of that. "Have you ever felt... particularly good about anything when doing so? Like... different than usual? Maybe tingly?"

[temilyrights]

Aimee Lou Wood in Film Club (2025)

[callme-abby]

Abby had set everything up perfectly. She'd coordinated with Kronk to schedule Deziree to work on Valentine's day. Meanwhile, she was in the back ready to make sure this night went beautifully. She'd brought an outfit change for her, as well as stuff to do hair and makeup if needed. She wasn't sure what Deziree's go-to was as far as makeup for work, but she wanted to plan for everything. She was supposed to be there any minute now, and Abby was bouncing on her heels with excitement.

She was talking to a few of the employees working that night casually to pass the time when she turned to see her friend walking in. "HEY! Surprise!"

@notasweetnightingale

[but-theylovehim]

Text: Oooooooh Text: Is this your way of confessing your long suffering love for me? 😜 Text: I'll be there 😇

[callme-abby]

Text: unfortunately I jumped ship on that a while ago my friend Text: don't worry, I don't think you'll be disappointed

[callme-abby]

Text: You have dinner reservations at Evangeline’s

Text: Valentine’s day. 7 o’clock. Don’t be late :)

@but-theylovehim

[callme-abby]

Text: If you loving that man is slander, then slander it is, I guess Text: Nah, I jumped ship a while ago on that, but I can turn it round and give you a lift, if needed

[notasweetnightingale]

Text: ew absolutely not! I will not be getting any ship

[callme-abby]

Text: so you don’t deny it then, you love him

Text: i can let you borrow a pair of jet skis if that suits your fancy more

[callme-abby]

Abby sat, sipping her drink casually as her eyes glanced around. "Cupid really needs to work their magic on those two," she said, rather bluntly, with a slight shake of her head.

@happieststarters

[jxmhawkins]

Jim took a sip from his own drink and tried to follow where Abby's eyes had led. Unfortunately he had much less of an eye for such matters between people. He loved gossip, but sometimes failed to pick up on some social cues others seemed far more attuned to.

"Who are we talking about?"

[callme-abby]

Abby looked at him sweetly, and set her glass down. "Don't make it obvious," she whispered, with a mischievous grin. "But look to the right. The couple over there; the one wearing a red shirt, and their partner has been looking at their phone the whole time they've been here. It's a one sided conversation. Poor thing..."

[callme-abby]

Any hot takes on Redwood's couples?

"OOH I absolutely love this question! Okay, let's start out with my favorite: I think Toulouse and Rachel have the sweetest relationship, and they've gone through a lot together over the past few years, but they have always been a huge support system for one another. Then there's Tina and James- lovely wedding, adored it. However, I do have to say that I'm surprised by the pairing. Not to say I don't wish them well, I just wonder if they have what it takes to defy the odds stacked against them. Oh— and there has been significant talk around campus about several of the professors. Like Javi and Gwen... doctor Pleakley left for a research project, and a lot of people are starting to question things, now that she's back. I can't say for certain, but I think something happened, there..."

"Let's see... there's definitely a lot of cute couples in Redwood. Charolette and Hans, for example, they are very cute together. And there are a few budding romances that I would love to see take off... Looking at you, Misty. But don't get me started on who's so wrong for one another, we'd be here all day. And of course, like most people, I'm obviously waiting for the Deziree and Travis ship to set sail, but I'm working my magic on that one, don't you worry. It really is a shame, though, about Jane and Ray... they were couple goals for a lot of people, and I just hope that she is doing alright, after everything."

Mentioned: @beaumont-ague | @adropofgoldenrachelx | @xaspiringbeamoflightx | @happiestjameshook | @javi-jookiba | @gwen-pleakley | @charlxttelabouff | @hans-omedevil | @mistyxmorning | @notasweetnightingale | @but-theylovehim | @jane-pxrter

[callme-abby]

Okay, ask me.(Lady)

"Okay. How do you think the environment you were raised in affects you as an adult?"

[callme-abby]

❝ do you like it here? ❞ Phillipa

"Here as in, Redwood? I do, I really do. Originally, I was only supposed to be here for a summer, but... well, here we are, a few years later."

@princessphillipamontague

[arthurrasa]

Arthur looked at Abby with a slight tilt of his head, confusion softening his expression. Surely he didn’t have secrets—at least none that he was aware of. And if he did, he wouldn’t even know which kind of secret she could possibly mean.

Was it something to do with love? Or perhaps the quiet shame he carried about his poor financial state? Maybe even the memory of the cramped, miserable place he had been living in not so long ago.

Things had improved, at least a little. Lady Tina Bell had been kind enough to call her husband, and through that small mercy Arthur had been granted a temporary stay at the hotel. James, generous beyond what Arthur felt he deserved, hadn’t charged him anything—not yet, not until he found a job. And if Terence truly meant what he’d said about helping… then perhaps that job would come sooner rather than later.

Still, none of those felt like secrets in the way Abby’s voice suggested. They were simply facts of his life, worn openly, impossible to hide.

“I… I’m not sure what you mean,” he admitted at last, the words leaving him slowly, tinged with guilt. It was the kind of guilt that came from the uneasy feeling that she might have seen something in him he hadn’t yet managed to see in himself.

For a brief moment, he couldn’t quite meet her eyes.

@callme-abby

[callme-abby]

Abby wasn't sure where to begin. This kid was like trauma personified. She didn't mean it in a rude way, but she could sense that there was something wrong. Many somethings, maybe. Likely due to her psychological background, she presumed. "I don't know where to begin... I can just sense so much coming off of you."

She pulled his hand gently to sit him down. "What's going on? You've got a lot to say, I can tell."

[adropofgoldenrachelx]

"I mean, I guess having a baby is one way to build deeper connections…" Rachel replied, as if… she had no concept of having sex to not make babies. That's what the books said. Intercourse equals baby. Suddenly, she was tugging at her hair like crazy and her life flashed before her eyes.

"Abby, I don't think I'm ready for a baby… I've got my whole life ahead of me! There's so much to do before babies! I-I… Toulouse sorta…" Ground, please open up and swallow her! "He… asked me to marry him and I dodged the question and I don't think a baby is going to help that either, at all!"

[callme-abby]

"Wait... what?" Abby wasn't sure how having a baby mixed into all of this. It was becoming increasingly obvious just how much she was lacking in this sort of knowledge. "Oh... oh, Rach... no..." She covered her face with her hand, and tried her best not to look stressed.

Her eyes only widened now with the unexpected marriage proposal. "Okay, there's... a lot to unpack here. Gosh... Okay, lets start here: sex does not always make a baby. Plenty of people have sex just for fun, and not for reproductive purposes. You just need to use protection." Knowing now that Rachel clearly had no idea what sex entailed, she had to assume that she should explain everything.

"There's a lot of different ways to have sex, but we're just going to talk about men and women, at the moment, okay? There's a few things you can use for protection, like condoms, and birth control. I take a pill for it, but using condoms is still highly recommended regardless, as extra precaution. But that's more on him, since he'd be using them. Birth control is something that women take. Make sense so far?"

[jessiejanepride]

"it is" she agreed with a nod of her head "they're saying it was a sudden storm, a squall that spiralled into a full on storm. not much more information than that right now. it's not uncommon for us to see some rough weather around here but that one has been the worst one in a long while."

[callme-abby]

"Storms don't normally start out of nowhere like that, though. I mean... it was so... unnatural. I was at a halloween party that night, and one minute everything is fine, we're having a blast. Then the next, it was mass hysteria and everyone crowding inside. And to knock the power out... does the town not have generators?"