looking for euphoria

- chaun 'shaun' xiang. 32. virgo. cook at golden house california raised, former new yorker father to mia . single mess all for roleplay purposes

[merrock]

CHARACTER INFORMATION

face claim: Manny Jacinto

full name: Chaun Xiang

nickname(s): Shaun

pronouns & gender: he/him, cis man

sexuality: bisexual

birth date: August 28, 1989

birth place:  San Francisco

time in town: Two years

housing: Suburbs

occupation: cook at Golden House

family: daughter, Mia Xiang (born in 2. 12. 20)

personality: A retired party animal that always itches for a night out. Shaun struggles with adapting to the ‘calm’ life now that he has full custody of his daughter.

BACKGROUND / BIO

Shaun has always been the life of the party. His mother swears that he could befriend a tree if he tried hard enough. It made his childhood easy and quickly made him the popular kid no matter where he was at. When he wasn’t befriending the entire neighborhood, he was at his parents restaurant, helping whenever he could. He learned how to bus tables, take orders, and eventually, cooked alongside to his father.

After high school, Shaun became an official cook at his parents restaurant and he vowed to, in the future, open his own business. Day after day, Shaun kept at his dream until he met her. It was the first woman that took Shaun’s breath away, and he quickly lost sight of goal.

Shaun moved out with his new girlfriend and moved to the East Coast to ‘start a new life’ together. All was perfect for the first couple of years until the arguing began. What was a beautiful relationship before turned into an ugly one. Still, they stayed together in hopes things would go back to how they used to be. That quickly came to a halt when she became pregnant. The couple decided to keep the child. Once again, thinking that things would patch over and they would be a happy family. Shaun noticed how miserable his girlfriend was and gave her the chance to leave it all behind. To give her a fresh start, and she took it.

Almost immediately, Shaun took his daughter and moved to Merrock. Give him and Mia, his daughter, a chance to start over.

[chaunxiang]

rafaelcb​:

They just tell you to prepare to lose sleep, but they don’t tell you how much sleep you end up losing, do they? Is she a good sleeper now that she’s a little bit older, at least, letting you get a solid few hours in a row? Oh, now there’s an idea. Until everyone ends up fighting with each other about who stole their food. Not something that you want to deal with on the regular, right? Save that for horror movies – I was just reading up on that case with ‘the watcher’ that scared a family out of living in the house they just purchased, in fact! Every realtor’s nightmare. That, I can understand. And then eventually you get sick of them and never want them again?

Sounds about right. And I honestly thought it would be an hour or two that I would lose, not you know, that I would get two hours of sleep. She’s gotten a little better. She’s a bit of a night owl, though? I’ve tried different things to get her to sleep earlier, but she loves the night. Considering all the things we could be stealing... food sounds pretty harmless. That has to count for something, right? Sounds terrifying. I can’t imagine getting so scared that you feel like you have to leave your house. Yup, then you regret eating it on the daily. Have you gotten hooked on any of the goodies in Creek Fest?

[chaunxiang]

sanayadharsx​:

Sanaya didn’t expect the male to have an answer for her. It was more of a spur of the moment question than anything else, anyway. “I’d take good luck any day. It’s better than having to deal with bad luck.” She smiled, still strolling along the beach slowly.

"I’m with you. Better to have good luck on your side instead of the bad. Somehow the days go by much longer if you have any bad luck,” he nodded to himself as he strolled along. “has anything good happened since you’ve found it? Or are you still waiting?”

[chaunxiang]

stellylee​:

Constantly! I think it’s one of the top nightmares people have. Maybe add in there about teeth falling out or just high school in general, and there you go. Also those dreams about being chased? I have those quite a bit, they’re scary. I think that’s why I’d be a bad comedian. If I told a joke and got silence back, I would be absolutely horrified. I get you, yeah – we just need to fid you a new role model, someone who gives good, powerful, motivational speeches without… you know. The drama that comes along with it.

I had the teeth falling out dream, too! My mom would always tell me it was because I had a big decision to make. Really? What are you being chased by? If you don’t mind me asking. That’s how I feel, too! I like the attention or making a few people laugh, but if I got silence as a comedian, then it’d be the shortest career I’d ever have. I’d quit the second I got off the stage. That or I should stop idolizing celebrities. It seems like a bunch of them get into scandals that it’s hard to catch up!  

[chaunxiang]

srevawashere​:

Sreva squinted at the table, seeing what Shaun meant about one half of the pair. “Aw, shoot, I think you’re right. Maybe it’s just nerves, and they haven’t broken the ice yet.” She tapped her fingers on the counter, itching to go over there and play the mediator, but she had to pretend she didn’t have an agenda and was already being less than subtle. “I’d like to be the optimist and hope it’s neither… but if I had to choose, leaving early is the better one. No misunderstandings later. But they would miss dessert, and we have an excellent tiramisu. You should try it.” 

It was tough to figure out. From the looks of it, one of them wanted out, but maybe, Shaun was assuming the worst. “Hopefully. Sounds like they could really hit it off. Who doesn’t like a good love story? Maybe we’ll be attending their wedding by this time next year,” he offered a shrug. “That’d be a shame. Should we have someone go over there and bring up the tiramisu? I know I would stay a little longer for the dessert. Even if the date isn’t going too well.” Shaun tilted his head at the suggestion and thought about it for a couple of seconds before he found himself nodding. “I’d be happy to.”

[chaunxiang]

rafaelcb​:

I’d imagine your brain was in absolute ‘dad mode,’ only thinking about her and her needs, and not so much where the leftovers were or the fact that you were sitting on the couch at three in the morning eating them, right? It turns out that the food thief was you all along! Although I guess that would be somewhat of a relief, wouldn’t it? That’s how I feel about a lot of food! You go so long not having it that when you finally do you remember why you loved it so much and then you want it… all the time. You’re very welcome!

No one tells you how little sleep you get when kids come around. Well, they do, but they never list off the amount of hours you sleep. Makes me sound much better than me sleepwalking and eating food at night. Guess I should start a support group for us food thieves! I do prefer it being me than a stranger breaking in. I’ve seen too many YouTube videos of squatters living in attics and in the walls that it wouldn’t be too far-fetched that someone was doing it to me. Yup! Then you get hooked on it and want it every day. I rarely eat subs, but whenever I do, I want them every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  

[chaunxiang]

stellylee​:

Right?! It’s the sort of thing that you end up having nightmares about, except most of the time you’re naked when you’re standing up there, too, but that’s besides the point. Exactly, no one likes those awkward silences, so this will at least give me something to talk about with them, that should count for something. Mm, yeah… I feel like his reputation took a pretty big bump when that happened, but if it’s something that resonates with you, then the words are still important and meaningful, right? Maybe that’s what matters the most! At least it’s just a short time down until you’re on the ground again.

Ah, you’ve had those nightmares, too? Seems as if it might be universal because almost everyone has had the naked nightmare. That one and the falling one are pretty common. But yeah, dealing with absolute silence when you have the floor is terrifying. Who knows, maybe you’d make a new friend just with the story. Pretty much. It’s a little upsetting to think about when a lot of his speeches motivated me to get off my ass, but after everything that happened, I might have to find someone else to fill that role. 

[chaunxiang]

maverickharris​:

She groaned. “I definitely don’t want to learn new drinks.” She was an avid tea drinker. She couldn’t stand the thought of having to sit there another orientation and learn a whole list of new drinks. “I wouldn’t let that happen. I don’t want to be surrounded by those type of individuals.” 

"Pretty sure it’d take a full week to learn to the recipes, too.” Bringing in coffee would add a list of new drinks, not to mention all of the fall flavors that would be coming up. “Coffee drinkers get a little cranky before they get their caffeine in the morning. You don’t want to deal with that,” he added. 

[chaunxiang]

ione-lovett​:

Where: The Color Wine (or anywhere with art really? On the street? Wherever you want lbr we’ll make it work) Who: @merrock

“Okay, okay, two things. One: Honest, how much would you buy this for? Two: Your new friends getting married, you’re invited and when you get there you see their future partner is yours or someone you’re close to recent, multiple-night stand. What do you do?” 

Shaun blew air through his teeth as he stared at the painting. “I’m terrible when it comes to pricing. I’m still living back in the early 2000s when everything was cheap. Like, my mind wants to say $20, but I know that it should be around $50... maybe more?” He tilted his head, glancing at the wall as if thought of the other question. “Hmm, might be a little awkward, but I like to think that I’d play it cool. What’d you do?”

[chaunxiang]

sanayadharsx​:

OPEN STARTER​

“There!” Sanaya pointed towards the location she found the sea dollar, “it just floated onto my foot. Do you think that has any significance, or maybe even a sign?” Not that she believed in signs, but maybe some things happened for a reason, right? 

@merrock​

"Hmm, I’m not too sure. Maybe?” While he wasn’t a believer in signs, he knew that his parents would find some significance. “Was it just the one or more than that? Maybe luck is coming your way?” he added. 

[chaunxiang]

srevawashere​:

where: sandcastles restaurant on the coast

who: anyone! @merrock​

“See those two in the corner?” In a conspiratorial tone, Sreva gestured to a two-person table by the window with the best view of the sprawling coastline. “One of them was stood up, poor thing, just sat there ordering drinks for half an hour. The second arrived alone so I had the idea. I said all the tables are booked up - they aren’t, but don’t mind that - and so I simply had to put the two singles together. Want to place bets on how it goes?”

Glancing over his shoulder, Shaun took a peek at the table where he was directed, “Hmm, place a bet?” Shaun glanced at his watch and figured he still had a good half hour before he had to head back home. “I get the feeling that the one on the left isn’t enjoying it as much. Something tells me that they might make an excuse to leave early or they’ll give them their wrong contact number. Not sure which is worse... getting the wrong number or them leaving a date early. What do you think?” He turned to Sreva. 

[chaunxiang]

rafaelcb​:

Who hasn’t had that happen…? I’ve put leftovers in the fridge only to go back and get them later, and then remember that I already ate them. It’s the worst. She’s very into egg rolls, apparently, I never knew that until she gushed about how great they were, so I’ll have to remember that when we get food next time. No, no, your secret is safe with me, if you get fired, she might not ever end up with extra food again! I’ll vouch for you to be sure that you can keep your job, though. That place wouldn’t be the same without you!

It happened a lot more when Mia was a newborn. Think I was sleepwalking or my memory was crap during those few months because leftovers would go missing. I was convinced that someone was breaking in and I had a food thief in my hands. Egg rolls are delicious. People seem to forget how good they are until they take a bite. See? That’s the reason they need to keep me around. If I’m not around, then she might not get more food. But thank you! I appreciate it. 

[chaunxiang]

stellylee​:

It really, really does, gives you all the confidence in the world, as opposed to going up there with no one to cheer you on. And that’s true, it’s something that I can brag about for the rest of my life, like when I’m old and gray and in a retirement home and no one cares, but I’m still talking about it. I did! Oh, see, there’s a thought. But then would you just be screaming the whole way down? I guess you might do that, anyway. That’s sort of how I feel about it, too. Beautiful. Terrifying, but beautiful.

That’d be terrifying to imagine. Hearing no cheers or no clapping from the crowd would have me running in the opposite direction. It’d still strike a conversation! Not sure how interesting it’d be to the customer or stranger, but it’s better than sitting around awkwardly. Either screaming all the way down or frozen in place. Will Smith’s speech about fear always makes me want to book my skydiving lesson. Not sure if that’s changed since what happened with him recently. Maybe all I have to think about is the view and focus on that. You know, until I regret it all once I’m in the air. 

[chaunxiang]

maverickharris​:

She put her head on the table, her hands underneath her as she groaned. “You’re right.” Her head popping up, “I can’t let them win. I dont’ want to have to learn what’s in a mochachino or whatever they’re calling coffee nowadays.” She paused, “Would you stop coming if we served coffee? I feel like I’d lose all of my regulars.”

“Yeah, that’s going to be tough. And I imagine that they’d give you a good ten drinks to remember if they bring in coffee,” He didn’t want to add fuel to the fire but he wanted her to be ready. Learning new items was always a hassle. He couldn’t imagine how it’d feel to learn a list of new drinks. “Nah, I wouldn’t stop coming. I depend on my iced tea every day. Can’t go a day without it. You’ll just see me pouting while being surrounded by coffee lovers.” 

[chaunxiang]

rafaelcb​:

I meant to tell you the other day when I stopped in for pick-up, you might be my mother’s new favorite human being. She ordered dinner the other night and received two pork egg rolls instead of one, which pretty much made her day. And she told me that the next time I see you, I’m to tell you that the food was fantastic, as usual @chaunxiang​​

Ah, so that’s where the egg roll went to! I thought for a brief moment that I ate it and forgot. What a relief! I’m kidding. It’s a nice surprise to find more food than you asked for. Plus, who doesn’t love an extra egg roll? Thank you, though! Glad to hear that she enjoyed it. At least I can sleep easily knowing that I’m someone’s favorite out there. Just be sure not to mention it to my boss. Don’t want to get in trouble for throwing a little extra when they’re not looking. I guess they frown upon it? Whatever that means. 

[chaunxiang]

maverickharris​:

She was on her break, and honestly, sitting down felt great. She enjoyed being able to sit down and relax. Even if it was only for a half hour. She gave him a pointed look, and rolled her eyes. She knew Shaun knew that they only sold tea here. “Maybe I should just give up and ask the owner to start selling coffee.” She shrugged. She hated coffee. The smell of it, the taste, the way it made her feel.

The shop was a stop before he returned home. He figured he would finish his drink, and go home to release the babysitter. Shaun tilted his head slightly at the suggestion and took another sip of his drink. “Don’t do that. The menu would get much bigger. Plus, you don’t want those coffee lovers to win,” It wasn’t that he had a problem with coffee, but he much preferred tea. “They always win,” he joked. 

[chaunxiang]

stellylee​:

Kinda sorta! Just hearing the crowd and seeing so many supportive faces that I knew definitely helped a little bit, you know? It was nice, but definitely not something I could do all the time the way that some people do. I needed a nap pronto once I was done, I swear. Hmm… so yeah, that might not be the best idea, unless you can overcome that fear of heights, first! Do you think that it would be worth it, despite being afraid?

I bet! It helps whenever you have a good support system regardless of what you’re doing. But hey, now you know what it takes to perform onstage. Not a lot of people know that feeling. I hope you got a full eight hours of sleep, though! That or they shove me off the plane quick enough that I don’t have time to react. Hmm, it’s tough to say. I’ve seen plenty of videos skydivers and the view they get while falling. It seems terrifying but beautiful at the same time.