robin is trying his best not to say shut up. that would be rude as fuck. but he is, well, he's trying so hard to lock in, and the girl's chattering is making it a little difficult. focusing on the vase he's making, he mutters, "if it happens, it happens. not a big deal." that's all he can really think to say right now. his vase is coming along nicely, and he's not gonna be able to take his own advice if it falls apart; he'd probably be upset.
aria pays no mind to his curt replyāshe knows how annoying it is to be disturbed when youāre hyper-focused. instead, she decides to shift her attention to the clay on his wheel, watching as it slowly takes the shape of a vase. āyours is looking good.ā she remarks before turning back to her own work. the lump of clay in front of her is supposed to become a bowl, but right now itās looking a bit lopsided. she takes a breath before putting the technique she observed into practice, steadying her hands and hoping it finally turns into the right shape.
swimming was the only sport jaya actually liked doing, she always knew she wouldn't be bothered when she swam. but that obviously changed today, she was sitting at the edge of the pool, her toes dipped in the water, she was about to get in and do some laps. jaya looked up to see jaekyung entering, she didn't recognise his face, "uh --- hi stranger?"
jaekyung huffs out a laugh, running a hand through his hair as he drops his duffle bag onto one of the free lounge chairs nearby. āstrangerās fair. iām new,ā he admits. "figured i'd try swimming again. you know, mix things up a bit." he's slipping his phone into the side pocket of his bag when his gaze flickers over, catching her as she adjusts her goggles. āyou about to go for a lap?ā
this was fine. straight people went to gay bars all the time. they talk about how fun it is, tell all their friends about it, too. just because sheās at radiant it doesnāt automatically mean sheās ā no one will know. itāll be okay. rosie has mostly calmed herself down by the end of her little pep talk, but the fear comes back full force when she turns around only to see a familiar face. ā oh !! hi, i was just ā iāve heard so much about this place, you know ?? i had no idea that, uh ā that gay bars could be so fun. is that problematic to say ?? i mean i am straight, so i just . . . i donāt want to offend. ā that was . . . convincing enough, surely ??
aria watches her for a second, amused. she's seen her beforeāthey both work at xoxo magazine after all. different departments, sure, but their work lets them cross paths just enough for aria to recognize rosie's face. she raises a brow, fighting back a grin as rosie stumbles through her explanation. cute, she looks like a lost baby chick. aria settles for an easy smile, a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "you don't have to explain why you're here, no one's keeping score." she tilts her head, giving rosie a once-over that's more playful than anything. "but since you're here... might as well enjoy yourself, right? order upāfirst drink's on me."
"which colour do you think i should go for?" jaya asks the other, looking down at her choices. she loved getting her nails painted, jaya always felt a little more confident whenever she left the shop, "i was thinkin' of maybe getting some cute flowers, like daisies on there too, for some spring vibes or has that been done to death?".
aria glances up from the open catalogs sprawled across the counter, feigning shock like she just heard complete blasphemy. "girl, who cares if it has? go for it!" she says, her grin kicking up at the corner. "i think you'd look mad cute with little flowers on your nails."
before jaya can reply, aria's already flipping back through the pages, skimming the swatches with practiced eyes. "now, do i wanna cause chaos with electric purple," she muses, a playful glint in her eyes, "or go full power move with glossy black?" a beat later, she taps the black. "sharp. chic. very me, don't you think?"
the idea came to her while she was lying down in bed, scrolling mindlessly through tiktok late on a wednesday night. the video was simpleāan insanely pretty girl dressed in black, molding clay like it was the easiest thing in the world. huh, looks interesting. and that was how she ended up registering for a pottery class that weekend.
now, seated in front of the wheel, sleeves pushed up and a streak of clay already on her cheek, she cracks her knuckles like sheās about to win something. āalright, letās see if iām a natural.ā she pauses, glancing over to the person next to her. āwhat are the odds this thing collapses in the next five minutes?ā
jaekyung arrives with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder and a grin wide enough to convince everyone he passes that heās happy to be here. whether heās trying to convince them or himself, heās not entirely sure. heās been hitting the gym 3 times a weekā thereās no real reason for him to need the extra cardio. but a change of pace sounds goodā¦ at least, until he remembers one tiny little detail. heās not a terrible swimmer, promise. well actuallyā letās just say he does better on land.
the sharp scent of chlorine hits the moment he enters the pool area. āguess whoās back?ā he announces to no one in particular. nevermind that heās never actually been there before.
is that aria moon, the 27 year-old graphic designer at xoxo? theyāre pretty quick-witted, but people have told me they could be chaotic as well. they kinda remind me of baby by charli xcx, probably because of the whole mix of hyper-femininity and sporty, effortless confidence, and magnetic vibe theyāve got going for them. they live in westwood, but you can probably find them at bar volante if you wanted to chat. out of everyone i know, iād say theyāre the most likely to start an unexpected hobby and be good at it. say what you want about them, but theyāre an angeleno through and through.
the basics.
name aria moon
date of birth august 1st
place of birth los angeles
age 27
gender cis woman, she/her
sexuality pansexual
occupation graphic designer at xoxo
living arrangements apartment in westwood
face claim kim minjeong
height 5ā4ā
build slightly toned
tattoo a small butterfly below her ear
clothing style she tries all kinds of styles, but her favorite go-to is an oversized hoodie paired with a mini skirt
personality traits.
positive confident, witty, bold, innovative, spontaneous, effortlessly charismatic
negative perfectionist, stubborn, can be impulsive, doesnāt always ask for help, thrives on chaos
personality type enfp
likes doodling, fashion, statement designs, color theory
dislikes strict routines, predictability, early mornings
background.
upbringing.
aria moon was adopted by her dads, julian and nate mitchell, at the early age of 10 months. they kept her last name as a way to honor her korean heritageāsomething they made sure she embraced as she grew up. julian mitchell, a highly sought-after fashion designer, introduced her to the glitz and glamor of runways early on, while nate mitchell, a well-known creative director in the fashion industry, shaped her understanding of branding, aesthetics, and storytelling. their fast-paced careers made life loud, messy, and wonderfully chaotic, and they raised aria with that same energy. there was never a dull moment in their homeācreativity was highly praised, self-expression was non-negotiable, and confidence was simply a way of life.
significant life events.
high school was just another breeze for aria. she had that effortless charm that made people admire her, envy her, or want to be her. she walked through different social circles easily, blending with anyone she talks to while still holding her own presence. her dads never pressured her to do well in school, but she was a naturally smart kid, so she never had a problem with her studies. she delved into a lot of extracurricular activities insteadāphotography, painting, journaling, and even dipped into filmmaking for a bit. it wasnāt that she lacked direction, but rather she found too much excitement in everything. somewhere between designing event posters, revamping the school paperās outdated layouts, and customizing flyers for her friendās garage bands, aria realized somethingāshe liked seeing the results of her work immediately. the thrill of whipping up a design and seeing the finished product used within hours was addictive, and she thrived in it. by the time she graduated, she was sure: graphic design wasnāt just a passing interest. it was her thing.
current predicament.
now as a graphic designer at xoxo, aria is exactly where she wants to beāor at least thatās what she tells herself. sheās built a strong reputation over the years, debunking nepo baby allegations with designs that always deliver impact. her work speaks for itselfāturning heads, setting trends, and proving sheās more than just someone who got lucky with privilege. but the closer she gets to success, the more she feels the pull of something bigger, something more hers. her job is stable, but she still craves the itch for spontaneity every now and then. she still has that habit of picking up new obsessions on a whim, and lately, sheās been wondering if sheās meant to create something entirely her own. for now, she thrives in the chaos of deadlines and last-minute creative pivots, knowing that whatever comes next, sheāll figure it outājust like she always has.
step 1 : denial. only fools fall in love, life at dillon.
step 2 : anger. crash my car, coin.
step 3 : bargaining. i wish you would, taylor swift.
step 4 : depression. heirloom pain, niki.
step 5: acceptance relapse. more than friends, svmmerdose.
"ran away from home." he simply said, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips like he was sneaking out past curfew instead ofāwell, everything else. he knew the truth was heavier, more tangled than he cared to admit, but he's never been the type to air his business in a dimly lit bar. "figured i'd see what the hype is about." he gestured vaguely, as if los angeles had been calling out to him instead of whatever had actually driven him here. a half-truth, but wasn't that always enough?
he smells the drink before he sees it, and itās all he can do not to hurlācephās on the wrong side of drunk now, senses heightened as if begging to draw a visceral reaction, and the stench is making his stomach turn. āi appreciate it, but i think iām gonna pass.ā he says, pointedly refusing to even look at the glass in the baristaās hand. heās queasy enough as it is. āyou know what? just give me the strongest drink you have. give me like three espresso shots, i donāt know, fucking anything. i just need to sober up.ā he adds, dropping the charadeāthe guy clearly has him clocked, anyway.
"you're gonna pass?" he repeats, raising a brow before his lips curve up slightly into an amused smirk. "wow, i didn't take you for a coward. it's just eggs. you've definitely put worse things in your body tonight."
ceph still looks like one wrong move might send him over the edge though, so he sighed before setting the glass aside with an exaggerated shake of his head. "alright, fine. no eggs. three shots of espresso, coming right up. but if you puke, i'm making you mop the floor." he says, his eyes lighting up with mischief and amusement.
as he moves behind the counter, he looks back over his shoulder and shoots one last grin. "you know what, i should actually charge you extraāthis is technically a crime scene."
bittersweet aftertaste lingering at the back of his throat, jude sets his empty glass down with a quiet 'clink'. the occasion? none, aside from the fact that work has been treating him like absolute shit in the past week, and the weather's simply too nice to waste it on rotting in his miserable apartment. "another, but make it stronger. surprise meā" only after words escape parted lips does he glance up at the approaching figure and... huh. it takes more than a few seconds for him to realize that the person that he had just confidently ordered a drink from was absolutely not the waiter nor a staff of the bar. beat of silence, then two. almost three before half a laugh, half an exasperated sigh cuts through.
"ah. my bad." a pause to consider, tone effortlessly lighthearted. "though, i wouldn't mind a recommendation or two, so long as it's good."
āoh, absolutely. i recommend you chug a glass of water before you embarrass yourself further.ā
jaekyung hadnāt thought much of the figure slouched at the bar when he first walked inājust another worn out soul chasing temporary relief in the taste of alcohol. but as he got closer, he recognized the familiar dark hair and the sharp cut of his featuresāstill the same, even under the dim bar lights, even after all this time. it had been a while since they last saw each other. has it been three years? four? he isn't sure. jaekyung and jude practically grew up togetherātheir parents are business partners, and being in the same school from elementary all the way to university means they're practically joint at the hip.
but when jaekyung decided to return to korea after graduation, life took over. busy schedules got in the way, and neither of them had ever been much of a texter anyway. running into him here was a pleasant surprise, but he should've known it was bound to happen one way or another. life has always worked that way for them.
jaekyung leans against the bar, crossing his arms as amusement flickers through the surprise, "what are you doing wasted here, man?"
heās not entirely sure how he ended up in a cafe down in westwood of all places, but that was the thing about getting blackout drunkāhe lost track of anything that wasnāt sitting in the bottom of a bottle. itās quiet here, most of the seats empty save for a few, and the guy working the counter looks like heād rather be anywhere but here. almost closing, then, ceph figures; but he was too fucked up to even think about going home, and did it even really matter if he added another person to the long list of people heād ticked off? ācan i get aāā he squints up at the menu then, but the lights are too bright and the letters wonāt stay still and ceph is way too fucking drunk for this. āsorry, i just. i left my glasses at home.ā he adds, the lie flowing all too easily with overuse. āgot anything you could recommend?ā
jaekyung raised an eyebrow at the obviously drunk guest that just came in, slightly shaking his head at his attempt to lie through it. āyou look like youāve had a long day.ā he says instead, āiād usually recommend a caffe latte, but i have just the right thing for you.ā jaekyung disappears to the kitchen only to return with a glass of what looks like a mix of raw egg, worcestershire sauce, and some spices. it looks disgusting. he offers the glass, feigning innocence with his usual customer service smile, ādrink up, itās on the house.ā
is that jaekyung ājasonā jung, the 26 year-old barista at crown coffee? theyāre pretty easy going, but people have told me they could be emotionally unavailable as well. they kinda remind me of only fools fall in love by life of dillon, probably because of the whole a squeeze of your hand in a crowded place, a lazy āyou know iād choose you, right?ā before he slips away, and a text that reads āwish you were hereā but goes unsent vibe theyāve got going for them. they live in van nuys, but you can probably find them at rudyās if you wanted to chat. out of everyone i know, iād say theyāre the most likely to send you a playlist full of love songs that he swears donāt mean anything. say what you want about them, but theyāre an angeleno through and through.
the basics.
name jaekyung "jason" jung
date of birth june 13th
place of birth seoul, south korea
age 26
gender cis man, he/him
sexuality bisexual
occupation part-time barista, full-time mba student
living arrangements studio apartment at van nuys
face claim jung sungchan
height 6ā1ā
build toned from hitting the gym 3 times a week
clothing style on off days, he opts for basic or sleeveless shirts, occasionally an outer of choice, and washed jeansāanything to get out of the stuffy business casual look
personality traits.
positive playful, charming, sociable, loyal, hard working (when motivated)
negative emotionally unavailable, cynical, sarcastic, indecisive
personality type esfp
quirks always has a drink in hand (coffee, matcha, milk tea, anything relatively sweet really). uses "girl" (gender neutral) or "dude" (gender neutral) without thinking. avoids eye contact when vulnerable but holds it when teasing
likes matcha, music playlists, playful teasing, spontaneous plans
dislikes overly formal settings, people prying too much on his personal life, being called out on his emotional unavailability
relationships.
father jung taekyun ā strict and pragmatic
mother kang minjeong ā respectable, warm but firm
siblings jung jaein (younger sister) ā poised and ambitious
background.
upbringing.
jaekyung jung was born into privilege in south korea. as the first born of a second generation korean business empire, his life was meticulously planned from the start: prestigious schools, elite social circles, and the unspoken expectation that he'll one day inherit the family business. despite all the expectations on him, jaekyung excelled, not out of passion but out of habit.
significant life events.
his first taste of freedom came in the form of pursuing a business undergraduate degree in los angeles. the coastal air and laid-back energy were a stark contrast to seoulās rigid expectationsāa breath of fresh air he didnāt know he craved.
adulthood.
after graduating, he returned to korea to work as a management consultantāan experience to help him "prepare for leadership." on paper, he thrived: high-profile clients, daily strategy meetings, and a fast-track to executive status. the embodiment of every other asian parents' dream. but beneath all that, he felt hollow.
for a while, he filled that emptiness with fleeting thingsānights out that stretched until dawn, friends whose names blurred together, flings that began and ended with little fanfare. he wore his easygoing smile like armor, leaned into moments that required nothing more from him than a charming grin and a drink in hand. but no matter how many people surrounded him, the emptiness lingered. eventually, he quit his job and found himself back in los angeles, using an mba program as a convenient excuse rather than a clear direction. his parents still wire him money in hopes he'd come around eventually, but jaekyung refuses to make use of it, opting to find another way to provide for himself.
current predicament.
he picked up a part-time job at crown coffee to pass time. what started as a filler became grounding, and he finds comfort in the simplicity of the moment. ask him about the future, and heāll laugh, offering a nonchalant, āiāll figure it out when i get there.ā his parents might not understand why he trades luxury for late-night study sessions and early shifts at a coffee shop, but for jaekyung, thereās value in finding his own wayāeven if it means getting lost for a while.
titsay
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
blakekathryn
annaxmalina
areudirty
2087
