astrid stood in line at the grind, her feet aching from what had to be the longest shift of her life. her original plan after work was to head straight home, but first, she desperately needed a caffeine boost. impatiently, she tapped her foot, glancing at her watch and then back at the menu, silently cursing people in front of her for taking so long. "come on, it's just coffee, not a life decision," she mumbled under her breath, thinking no one could hear, as she sighed and checked her phone for distractions.
Marcy had just entered the place and, seeing a familiar face, decided to approach. She was somewhat grateful not to have to spend the waiting time alone or, worse yet, have someone approach her for trivial small talk. She detested it, especially because she usually didn't know what to say."I don't understand why people don't come with what they want to order already decided," Watanabe murmured, shaking her head slightly. "I mean, by the time I'm at the door, I already know what I want." It was better than staring at the menus with the different types of drinks the place offered. She preferred to stick with her usual: a caramel macchiato with oat milk and sugar-free vanilla.
open starter, down on the first floor of the mall, in the middle of the day . this is clearly the hardest thing he's ever been through .
how long had he been at work at the book barn ? two hours. how many books has he actually put back into inventory ? two books. how bored is he ? well, he's really fucking bored. by no fault of his own! good thing he found the latest fantasy release. or, well, it's a re - packaging, that is: robert jordan's the wheel of time. is he supposed to be stocking shelves ? totally. instead, he's in the corner, reading. he's even got his reading glasses on. looks like james dean or something in the white shirt. ( not. ) "i'm not the cashier on duty. don't ask me." said to the person immediately within his vicinity. he can't get into any trouble, right ? "i got thirty thousand books to shelve."
Rowan had never really developed a taste for reading; music was the only outlet that attracted them from an early age. So, no, they had never been that person to be hidden behind books from the world. But there they were, in the book barn, looking for a book they had been assigned to read for the holidays. For their part, it was a full-blown crime to leave homework at times meant for enjoyment. "With that kind of customer service, I guess you won't last long," Rowan followed with a grin, seeing that Toni was least interested in offering the best attention. "Oh, that explains much about how you are going to catalog all these books by how long you spend reading each, right?"
⌜ serena motola , twenty four , cis woman , she/her ⌟ ╱ is that BALLAD OF A HOMESCHOOLED GIRL by OLIVIA RODRIGO, i hear playing? oh that has to mean MARCELLA “MARCY” WATANABE , is about to clock in. i hear they’re a SENIOR who’s been away studying GRAPHIC DESIGN at RMCAD. it sure is a shame they’ve grown up to be rather INSECURE and NAIVE. word on the strip is that they’re back home for the summer and working as a SALES ASSOCIATE at ENCHANTÉ, to earn some extra cash, in order to buy a new graphic design tablet but don’t tell them i told you that !
𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙄𝘾𝙎:
FULL NAME: Marcella Watanabe
NICKNAMES: Marcy
GENDER: Female
PRONOUNS: She/Her
SEXUALITY: Bisexual
DATE OF BIRTH: September 15
ZODIAC SIGN: Virgo
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English (Fluent), Japanese (Intermediate), Italian (Basic)
NATIONALITY: American
WORKING AT: Enchanté as a Sales Associate
PINTEREST: Click here for Marcy's board.
𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙀𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙀:
FACECLAIM: Serena Motola
VOICE CLAIM: Serena Motola
HEIGHT: 5'5" (165 cm)
BUILD: Slim, slightly petite frame with delicate features
HAIR: Black, straight, shoulder-length, often worn in a simple, neat style
EYES: Dark brown
PIERCINGS & TATTOOS: Double ear piercings on each ear; small tattoo of totoro in her ankle (x)
OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Soft, clear skin with a light natural blush, a small beauty mark near her left eye, freckles across her nose and cheeks
𝙋𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙔:
POSITIVE TRAITS: Creative, Loyal, Compassionate
NEGATIVE TRAITS: Insecure, Naive, Shy
LIKES: Manga, Drawing, Graphic Design, Quiet Cafes, Cozy Evenings at Home, Listening to Music, Collecting Art Supplies, Tea, Soft Toys
DISLIKES: Public Speaking, Large Crowds, Conflict, Loud Noises, Being Interrupted, Messy Spaces
AESTHETICS: The soft glow of a computer screen late at night; pastel colors and minimalist design; the smell of fresh-baked cookies; stacks of art books and magazines; a cozy corner in a quaint café; the rustle of leaves on a calm autumn day; a playlist of calming indie songs.
PET PEEVES: Loud Noises, Interruptions, Messy Spaces, People Being Late, Rudeness
𝘽𝙄𝙊𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙋𝙃𝙔:
Marcella Watanabe, popularly known by the name Marcy, was born in Cypress Rhodes in Colorado to high school sweethearts. Her dad is Japanese by origin, while her mom is of Italian descent. So Marcy is basically diverse in ancestry, culturally speaking. She was the lastborn of three children and was always the baby. Her early life was leaned towards being shy and clingy to her mother. At social gatherings, she often found solace hiding behind her mother's skirts. Though the nature of her personality was quiet, love and encouragement abounded in Marcy's home, so she was encouraged from a tender age in her creativity by her parents. Her father was very reserved and particular; he shared stories of Japan with quiet passion. Her mother was warm and effusive, filling the home with smells and flavors of Italian cuisine.
Marcy entered her teen years still rather shy and, truth be told, really quite an introverted schoolgirl. She herself escaped into the world of reading manga since it saved her from the outer world; many times during lunch break, she would eat and read under the bleachers. These were the years she developed a passion for graphic design and the time she started drawing in a small notebook she carried everywhere. She was kind of low-key and really did not enjoy being popular, so she was happy being all in her own little world with frequent escapes into her art and stories. She saw herself only posting her art online, using a pseudonym, and over time began to build an internet following—becoming "internet famous." At high school, there was yet another quiet, creative period where she had improved her artistry, as often she would prefer staying at home to pursue the creative interests rather than going out to social events.
Today, Marcy is a 24-year-old junior at RMCAD, studying graphic design and continues to adhere to her passion dutifully. She still posts her work online, where she remains to have a dedicated fanbase. Marcy has returned to work as a sales associate at Enchanté, a small boutique located in the mall at Cypress Rhodes. She took this part-time job during her vacation since she wanted to spend time with family; it also means that her best friend worked there.
⌜ lizeth selene , twenty four , genderfluid , they/she ⌟ ╱ is that FEMININOMENON by CHAPPELL ROAN, i hear playing? oh that has to mean ROWAN HERNÁNDEZ , is about to clock in. i hear they’re a SOPHOMORE who’s been away studying PERFORMANCE STUDIES at NYU TISCH. it sure is a shame they’ve grown up to be rather CAREFREE and INDEPENDENT. word on the strip is that they’re back home for the summer and working as a RECEPTIONIST at INKSPIRE, to earn some extra cash, in order to buy a new guitar but don’t tell them i told you that !
𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙄𝘾𝙎:
FULL NAME: Rowan Hernández
NICKNAMES: Ro, R
GENDER: Gender fluid
PRONOUNS: They/She
SEXUALITY: Pansexual
DATE OF BIRTH: May 5th
ZODIAC SIGN: Taurus
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Spanish (native), English (fluent)
NATIONALITY: Peruvian-American
WORKKING AT: Inkspire as a recepcionist.
PINTEREST: click here for rowan's board.
𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙀𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙀:
FACECLAIM: Lizeth Selene
VOICE CLAIM: Lizeth Selene
HEIGHT: 5'4"
BUILD: Slim & petite, kind of on the skinny side.
HAIR: Very thick & dark brown, natural mermaid waves, often messy.
EYES: Dark brown
PIERCINGS & TATTOOS: Multiple tattoos across their body. Nose piercings: septum and nostril. Ear piercings: multiple lobe piercings, helix, and tragus.
OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Scar above the right eyebrow, beauty mark below the left eye, slight calluses on their hands from playing the guitar.
LIKES: Music (playing and listening), writing lyrics, collecting vinyl records, coffee, late-night walks, vintage clothing, comic books.
DISLIKES: Dishonesty, superficiality, overly crowded places, hot weather, loud noises without rhythm.
AESTHETICS: The sound of an electric guitar riff blending with the distant hum of the city; the smell of rain on concrete; vintage band tees and worn-out jeans; a sketchbook filled with song lyrics and doodles; the taste of cold brew coffee on a warm day; vinyl records and cassette tapes; late-night jam sessions under dim lights.
PET PEEVES: People who interrupt while they're playing and have judgmental attitudes.
𝘽𝙄𝙊𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙋𝙃𝙔
Rowan Hernández was born in Arequipa, Peru, and moved to the United States at a very young age with their family in search of better opportunities. In the US, they first lived with a relative until they could afford their apartment, initially settling in Florida, as it had a solid Latin culture that they were already accustomed to in their native country. However, they later moved to Cypress Rhodes, Colorado due to a job offer for their father—though he was a workaholic, he still believed this would give his family a better life.
Rowan initially found it hard to make friends because they only spoke Spanish—the primary language in Peru—and most of their friends in Florida also spoke Spanish. Thus, the language barrier pushed them to learn English out of necessity.
Rowan discovered guitar when they were 12, and it became their outlet for the emotions they couldn't understand and a way to handle the pain of losing their mother when they were a teen. Their bad connection to their dad, who simply didn't know how to deal with him anymore, made music even more important to she. They started a band named Vortex with childhood / university friends in New York City. Even though the band is formed around raw, emotional performances and an eccentric sound, they have never made a hit, and nobody seems to notice.
Rowan ventured to New York to study Performance Studies at NYU TISCH, a move that offered both academic pursuit and a temporary escape from their father. Now back in Cypress Rhodes for the summer break, they've taken a role as a receptionist at Inkspire, aiming to reconnect with old friends while saving up for a new guitar. They have no plans to seek out their father, feeling he holds little interest in reconnecting with them.
𝙒𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙀𝘿 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙉𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎
Ride or Die/Bestie(s): Someone who has been their best friend since forever, the one that knows Rowan inside out, with whom they've gone through it all, always there to help each other out. This person is someone Rowan trusts implicitly and leans on during tough times. (1-2 characters)
Exes on Good Terms: A former romantic partner who remains a close friend. They ended their relationship amicably and continue to support each other in their respective endeavors. They might occasionally reminisce about their past but are firmly in the friend zone now. (1 character)
Confidant: This is someone whom Rowan can tell anything and everything, who will listen and give advice without judgment. This is Rowan's person they can open up to, sharing their deepest thoughts and secrets. (1-2 characters)
Bandmate: Another member of Vortex who shares Rowan's love for music. They write songs and perform together. What makes them close is the fact that they share experiences due to common interests. Bandmates could be childhood friends or individuals Rowan met in New York. (1-3 characters)
Unlikely Friend: Someone Rowan befriended despite seemingly having nothing in common. The personality differences complement each other, and they often seem to learn things from each other. (1 character)
