STARTER FOR: diana battaglia ( @cherryblossompixie )
LOCATION: beach front
CAPE MAY held a wealth of pleasant memories, but it also served as a reminder of his past self, the person he used to be when he resided there. He longed to recall only the fond moments spent with his parents, yet each corner and certain familiar faces brought back the realization that he hadn't always been the kindest person.
Amidst this complex emotional backdrop, he found solace at the beach – one of the few places that could bring him calmness. As he gazed around, he spotted someone he recognized, a person who probably wouldn't welcome him with open arms, and he understood why. Nevertheless, he decided to approach her, attempting to mend their relationship.
"Diana Battaglia?" he inquired, though he was quite certain it was her. "Nice to see you here." He understood that the response might not be reciprocated, but he hoped to bridge the gap anyway.
WITH HIS CAREER ON PAUSE and a more stable schedule, his caffeine intake had reduced, though not enough to forego his daily morning cup. Despite attempting to sleep past 10 am, he couldn't escape waking up before sunrise—some habits die hard, and his circadian rhythm remained steadfast. Arriving at the coffee shop, he already knew his usual order and stood in line without paying much attention to his surroundings or the person ahead of him.
Only when he spoke did Hunter realize he knew the face before him, and a small smile instantly brightened his expression. "Abigail Peloso," he said, recognizing his sister's childhood friend. Being back in his hometown wasn't always delightful, but encountering familiar faces from his past was a pleasant surprise. "How have you been? It's been ages since you used to visit our house to play with my sister."
STARTER FOR: allegra ricci ( @allegraricci )
LOCATION: cape may point
CONNOR FOUND HIMSELF ILL-PREPARED for the responsibility of taking care of a house. Throughout his adult life, he had resided in low-maintenance apartments. However, circumstances led him to inherit a larger house than he needed. While he entertained the idea of selling it, his sister was reluctant to part with the property.
In the front yard, Connor attempted to tidy up the garden, struggling to completely remove the stubborn weeds from the soil. As he tugged on a particularly obstinate root, it suddenly gave way, causing him to fall on his back. "Shit," Connor exclaimed, dusting off the dirt from his jeans. He glanced around, only to realize that his neighbor had witnessed the embarrassing tumble. "You didn't happen to see that, right?" he asked, trying to save face.
Open Starter: @capemaystarters
Location: Atlantic Book Company
Deciding to take some time to himself before his shift, Jimmy drove on down to the local bookstore. Finding a spot out front, he parked his jeep and filled the meter for as long as it would allow. Not looking for anything in particular, Jimmy walked inside and walked over to the first aisle that was on his right. Standing in front of the shelf of books, he said scratched his hair, "hmm what am I looking for?" He thought he said it in his head but by judging the looks he was getting, he must have said it out loud.
SPORTING A CHEERFUL SMILE, Connor strolled up to his cousin, who was browsing the bookshelf. "Well, well, look who we have here, Jimmy," he quipped, giving him a friendly pat on the back while reaching for a self-help book nearby. After briefly examining the back cover, he carefully returned it to its spot. "I must admit, seeing you at a bookstore is quite a surprise. Who knew you were a reader?" he jested, fully aware of the playful banter. "If you need any book recommendations, I'm your guy!"
⤷ open to: f/m/nb - feel free to assume connections or come plot !
⤷ based on: there is a minor fire at the location they were at and end up being asked to evacuate the building/store/restaurant/etc. Bonus; it's raining.
⤷ tag: @capemaystarters
A short series of cursed rolled off the brit's tongue as himself and a couple others had been hastily booted out of the vacinity. Firetrucks were now blocking off the main street, Ishaan now thankful that he had opted to walk from his place to this very location, even through this rainy weather.
Looking off to his right, he noticed a familiar presence shaking like leaf. Hesitant at first, the professor pushed his spectacles further up the bridge of his nose before approaching them with careful steps.
"hey..it's probably not how you thought your evening would turn out but maybe we could grab a cup of tea and get you somewhere warm, at least? It's on me"
FROM A SHORT DISTANCE, Connor observed the chaotic scene unfolding before him. The relentless rain had made him grateful for choosing to walk from his place, sparing him from the traffic chaos now ensuing. Regrettably, he hadn't brought a jacket, and he was now suffering the consequences.
As he heard someone speaking to him, a smile tugged at the corners of Connor's lips upon hearing the offer. "That sounds like a better idea than risking catching pneumonia here," he chuckled. "I believe there's a coffee shop just a block away from here."
ꕀ ᐝ 𖠳 chris evans, cis man, he & him 𖠳 ᐝ ꕀ ‷ heads up ; if you hear WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS by GREEN DAY blaring, it’s most likely CONNOR BEXLEY making their way down the shore ! they’re 39 years old and celebrate their birthday on 01/16 - i knew they were a/an CAPRICORN ! especially since they’re very CARING and CYNICAL. they are from CAPE MAY, NJ, staying in CAPE MAY POINT and are currently working as an AIRLINE PILOT, here at the cape. they always did remind me of the whimsical and surreal sensation of being above the clouds, the sound of his sister's voice, long walks with his dog.‷ { ana, 27, she/her, gmt+6, none }
o1. stats
NAME: connor alexander bexley
GENDER: cis man
PLACE OF BIRTH: boston, massachussetts
DATE OF BIRTH: january 16, 1984
AGE: thirty-nine
SEXUAL ORIENTATION: heterosexual
OCCUPATION: airline pilot
o2. biography
triggers: parental death, car crash
Cape May was a dream within a dream. Children born there could count themselves truly lucky, but to Connor Bexley, it felt like a cloister. So close to many exciting places yet so far away.
The Bexleys moved to Cape May when Connor was two; his father, a surgeon, had grown tired of living in a rowdy city like Boston, and moving to a coastal town felt like an early retirement for him and his wife.
Unfortunately for them, it happened that Connor was a restless sort and had no interest in living a serene and dull life. And so, he took every chance to leave town, whether it was spending the summer with his grandparents in Maine, joining the UN Model just for the yearly visit to the UN headquarters in New York, or becoming a volunteer for two months abroad.
His desire to run away grew so much that his parents began to wonder why their son wanted to be away from them so badly? Where had they gone wrong? It took them a few years to understand that they weren't the problem.
His passion for aviation was born when his grandfather gifted him a Pan Am model plane for his birthday. From that day on, the flight became his favorite part of the annual family vacation. Staring out the window, completely fascinated with the clouds and the movements of the plane. What else could he ask for? His future was set, and no one could make him change his mind.
For the next years, Connor readied himself to become a pilot. He read every possible book, watched every documentary. The theory wasn't a problem; all he needed was a plane to learn how to fly it, and then he'd be out of Cape May.
Just a few weeks after he graduated high school, Connor packed his bags and drove all the way to Indiana where he would major in aviation management. Purdue University was an absolutely idyllic place, a cluster of stone buildings that looked like they'd been there for centuries.
The next four years flew by, but not fast enough for Connor, who had been training and compiling flight hours in his free time. Months before his college graduation, he obtained his FAA license, and so he moved to New York City where he started working on the ramp at the JFK Airport. Eventually, he was accepted into a program with an airline that helped him become a commercial pilot.
While his professional life kept on thriving, Connor neglected his personal life. That all changed when he met a young woman at an airport bar, and just like most things in Connor's life, everything fell into place after that.
One date led to another, and in what seemed like a blink of an eye, two years had gone by, and they were exchanging vows in a private ceremony, just the two of them.
With his head up in the clouds, Connor was oblivious to many things happening in his marriage. Everything was perfect in his head, but the reality was much different. One evening he arrived home after a week away in Europe, only to find the house half empty. She'd taken all her stuff, and now she was nowhere to be found; the only clue she left behind was a note that read ‘Don't try to find me.’ A few weeks later, the divorce papers arrived, and that was the last time he heard of her.
Like in every tough situation, Connor found comfort in his job. He took more flight hours and tried to spend as much time as he could abroad. Random hookups became normal to him, and when he wasn't spending the night with a woman he'd met that same night, he was planning his next flight. That lifestyle carried on for a couple of years until one call changed it all.
His younger sister was on the other line, and even to this day, the call feels like a blur. It was a car accident, both of his parents had perished before the paramedics arrived. He called off his next flight and boarded the next plane to New Jersey.
The next few days were surreal; he wanted to feel angry, sad, upset, but all he felt was a big nothing which was far more unsettling.
After that, he took a leave from work and made the choice to stay in Cape May to be with his sister who just graduated from college. He still flies from time to time but only for private clients. Right now he doesn't know how long he will stay in town, but all he can do now is learn how to love the place where he grew up.
o4. plot ideas
Sister: Connor has a sister who is sixteen years younger than him. He is very overprotective of her, and they share a close bond. She just graduated from university.
Ex-wife: Connor was previously married, but she left him due to his excessive focus on work. They were together for a few years before parting ways.
Childhood friends: Growing up in Cape May, Connor developed lasting friendships with some of his classmates and childhood neighbors.
High school sweetheart: During his high school years, Connor had a significant relationship with someone special. However, they broke up when he left for college, as he believed he wouldn't return.
Enemies turned frenemies: Connor's behavior in high school wasn't the best, and he might have made some enemies. Over time, some of those enemies might have become more like frenemies, with complex feelings toward each other.
