Frankie liked the peace and quiet the library maintained, he had grown tired and perhaps a little lazy and enjoyed having nothing really do to but organize books and help the townsfolk out with their inquiries. He wasn’t an tidy person by nature, or perhaps he had been at one point in his life but the years and worn him down and he found himself preoccupied by other things. Nonetheless, there were times when he found solace in tucking himself away in one of the aisles and dedicating a good amount of time into getting everything in order.
A small cough from the end of the aisle tore Frankie’s attention away from shelving the books and instead he turned to look at the person standing there. He heaved himself up off of the ground with a sigh and walked over.
send a ♡ and i’ll fill this out for our muses ! i’ll bold what i want for their relationship, italic what i could see and strike out what i don’t .
FRIENDS. childhood friends / work friends / family friends / recently friends / turning antagonistic / turning into something romantic / stable / falling apart / friendship of need / friendship of circumstance pen - pals or internet friends / coworkers / partners / other .
ROMANCE. childhood sweethearts / newly entered / soulmates / skinny love / unrequited from my muses side / unrequited from your muses side / friends with benefits / awkward / fading / turning toxic / toxic and destructive / other .
FAMILIAL BOND. sibling bond / older sibling figure to your muse / younger sibling figure to your muse / parental figure to your muse / parental figure to your muse / guardian figure / legal guardian / other .
ENEMIES. dangerous to themselves / dangerous to others / unpredictable / passionate / rivals / petty / developing into a sexual tension / developing into a romantic tension / based off family matters / based of circumstance / based of professional matters / based of misunderstandings or lies / other .
Did you know that FRANCISCO “FRANKIE” SAINZ has called Bluebell home for ONE YEAR? It’s hard to believe that the THIRTY EIGHT year old CIS MALE looks so much like OSCAR ISAAC. Word around town is that HE is RESENTFUL and DISORGANIZED but I think they are HUMBLE and INSIGHTFUL. Last I heard, they were working as a LIBRARIAN.
* ･. ∘ statistics . ◞
name › francisco everett sainz .
nickname › frankie .
age › thirty eight years old .
date of birth › september 13th , 1982 .
zodiac sign › virgo .
current residence › bluebell , alabama
hometown › manhattan , new york .
nationality › american .
occupation › librarian .
gender & pronouns › cis-male & he / him .
orientation › bisexual .
labels › the black sheep , the isolato , the reticent .
* ･. ∘ background . ◞ [ tw : suicide. ]
frankie was born as the son of a well-known folk singer, a man who crafted songs about forgotten days and loves from long ago. growing up, their house was always filled with the somber strumming of a guitar, often followed by a lot of banging and shouting when the song didn’t come out quite right. his mother had passed away when he was young, a freak accident no one could have foreseen and the pain had left his father broken and unable to write.
from a young age, frankie was thrown into the spotlight by his father. he was in various commercials and small theater productions, he too was musically talented and considering his dad was no longer able to make a living through his music, he was going to squeeze every last dollar he could out from his son.
for the most part, frankie didn’t mind the attention. it felt good to feel wanted and needed by his father, even if it all came with heaps of pressure and responsibility. however, the older he got and the more fame he got, the more his father resented him and wanted more of the money and more of the credit.
when he turned eighteen and was at the height of his popularity, frankie moved out from the apartment he’d lived in his whole life and left the city all together. he was tired of his father’s growing intolerance and greed, he didn’t want to be looked at like a cash machine anymore and frankly, he had never fancied being in the limelight.
he moved in with a few friends and for the first time in his life, frankie attempted an average life. he went to college, went to parties, got a job at the local bookstore. things felt like they were supposed to for the first time in his life, away from the weight his father had placed on his shoulders. however, it was only good for a few years before things inevitably crashed down.
around his twenty fourth birthday, after not seeing him for years, frankie got the news that his father had hung himself. despite not having many positive memories of him, the loss affected him deeply and would continue to do so throughout his life. the only thing his father wanted from him was to be successful and there he was, living an average life he would undoubtedly have nothing to show for when he was old.
still with no desire to be the one in the spotlight, frankie started to write songs and screenplays, selling them to local theaters or musicians. he was able to escape his father’s name however, often was he brought up into conversation or frankie’s past childhood fame be reminded.
eventually, he once again grew tired of city life and the slow inclining of fame he was receiving and frankie decided he needed to hit the road for a while, find out what it was he really wanted from his life. he settled in bluebell a few months after setting out on his impromptu road trip and hasn’t left since, enjoying the peace and chance to be someone new.
obv i was inspired a lot by oscar’s character in the film “inside llewyn davis” (which is a personal favourite of mine, please go watch it) so i had to work out a way to include the cat. also inspired by a book i read as a kid but there’s a lil stray ginger kitty that the few librarians look after and put food out for but no one technically owns it; she’s taken a particular liking to frankie and often jumps up onto his lap if he’s sat reading at his desk .
disaster bisexual ........ he’s fancied more women in his life but he v easily admires men . sometimes it feels more so because they have what he is lacking and he yearns for that confidence and charisma , but also cause he wants to be on top of them dafsgdhf
his house is a fucking wreck , it’s a total mess with junk and clutter just thrown about everywhere cause his brain is too hectic to actually settle and sort things out . it’s a mess that sometimes makes sense to him but to anyone else ? it’s wild .
will just walk away from you if you ask him to sing you a song , just cause the man owns a guitar and has a nice voice doesn’t mean he wants to be put on show like a dancing monkey . in fact , he doesn’t even do it as a hobby anymore . his guitar lays unused among the mess , along with songs he had previously scribbled down on paper .
the only memory he has of his mother is her laying on the floor of their apartment beside him , pulling funny faces while some song played on the record player in the background . her face has blurred with age but he still recalls her dark curls splayed out around her face and her rounded cheeks , he has no photos of her but part of him thinks that is for the best .
* ･. ∘ wanted connections . ◞
maybe someone who was a fan of his dad’s music & recognizes him?? that could be pretty angsty cause frankie does not like talking bout his dad or his past in general .
one night stand .
someone who frequents the library often and whom frankie has warmed to .
friends from home .
maybe an ex who he got too close to too fast and ended up cutting things off .
“So that’s your thing, Sainz? Losing everything. First your keys, now your wallet. What’s next, your head?” Sofia taunted the man as he approached, clearly annoyed– not with him per say but with the fact she had to reunited with something else she held dear as a child. “You don’t know what to do with them?!” The female repeated in disbelief– alright, now she was annoyed. “You could bake a pie, make a cherry brandy, a smoothie… Literally anything,” she stared at him for a moment longer before looking away. “Do you have a basket I can use?”
“Yeah, sure. Everyone’s got to have a thing, right?” Frankie shrugged. He knew his disorganization was a trait he’d gotten from his father, the man had never been tidy a day in his life and while he wasn’t quite as bad, it was a habit he couldn’t quite kick. "I’m surprised you think I can bake.” The annoyance was written across her face, as so often it seemed to be when he was around but there was little Frankie could do about that. He scratched his scruffy cheek as he thought for a moment before nodding in response to her final question and dipping back inside his home to search for the basket he’d been left upon arrival.
The cherry tasted sweet on her lips and for a brief moment it captured all of Sofia’s attention before the male voice made her snap out of it, “No, I was not. I’m here because I’m doing you a favor, yet again.” A smirk. “You left this last night,” Sofia slowly turned to face the voice and tossed the wallet at him, expecting him to catch it. “Did you do it on purpose, Sainz? Leave it in my car so you’d get another chance to see me. You could’ve just dropped by the Rammer Jammer,” His second question, however, didn’t sound half bad, not like she would admit it. “Well, someone has to pick it. You have a beautiful orchard here, back in the day kids loved to play in it, all day long. So on their behalf I say: You should take better care of it,”
“Damn, you caught me out.” Relief was tangible in Frankie’s voice as he caught his wallet from the air, thankful he hadn’t lost it forever like he seemed to have done with his car keys. While not intentional, he was thankful to see Sofia since she’d now managed to rid him of the anxiety his forgetfulness seemed to thrive in.
He slipped his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans and finished coming down the porch steps, making his way towards Sofia, with his eyes up at the tree. “You’re right, I should.” There was no sarcasm or snark behind his tone, Frankie knew he was being neglectful, that he should appreciate what he had more considering he lived in apartments his whole life with not even an an ounce of greenery. “You can take some more, if you want. I don’t really know what to do with them.”
Alright, let’s get this over with– went through Sofia’s head as she hopped up the porch steps with a leather wallet in hand– the one Frank’d left in her car the night before. “Come on, Francisco Everett Sainz, open up!“ The actress banged on the front door impatiently but no response came so she huffed out. “Unbelievable…” The female muttered under breath and her gaze drifted away to the old cherry three. And in the next moment, she found herself under the crown of the tree, sweet scent of the ripe fruit ready to be picked surrounding her. “Of course he doesn’t take good care of you, the man has zero interests.” Sofia remarked bitterly– and to herself, before the little thief in her made her reach up to pluck a delicious-looking cherry.
Frankie never had visitors, he hadn’t intended that to be his life but he had an tendency to not be the most forthcoming of people. He wasn’t rude, not dismissive even but he lacked a sort of passion that made people want to spend more than their required time with him. He’d been sat upstairs, rummaging through his desk in a wild attempt to find his wallet. While he knew fully well that it was not there, that he’d had it the night before and had probably lost it along with his car keys, the attempt of searching made him feel a little better. However, the banging at his front door and the distance calling out of his name did the exact opposite, he froze, immediately thinking back to the night before and what he could have said to bring Sofia all the way back to his house.
“So... you were just in the neighborhood?” He said slowly once he’d made his way downstairs and opened the front door, letting it hang open behind him as he stepped out onto the porch. “Or did you just want to do some fruit picking?”
All it took was one glance at his phone to know where his place was and Sofia hated it, knowing the small town like the back of her hand. Every street, every corner, every farm and every yard she had associated with a memory, good or bad. “As if letting you know would’ve made any difference,” she remarked casually, pulling into his driveway. “There you go,” her gaze met his. “Good night, don’t let an alligator eat you, I suppose– wait, isn’t this…? Yes, it is. Where are Mitchell and Peach? Don’t they live here, the elderly couple? I used to steal cherries from them all the time.”
Frankie stared blankly at Sofia and allowed her to go on her tirade, he was actually enjoying it a little for whatever masochistic reason. Once she was finished, he merely narrowed his eyes at her. “I can’t tell if you’re making a joke right now or not.” He shook his head as he picked up his bag from between his feet. “So, good night, thanks for the ride.” Were the last words he uttered with a hint of a smile before he was climbing out of her car.
It’s not all that bad. Oh, how she wanted to smack him for the lack of energy in his answer alone. “You’re right, it’s not that bad, it’s– Worse, it’s nothing. But sure, you keep telling yourself this is all you’ve wanted,” Yes, for some reason it was hard for Sofia to accept someone, anyone would choose to make Bluebell home but what bugged her in goddamn Sainz’s case was his obvious indifference towards… Life, in general. He wasn’t happy in Bluebell (honestly, who was?). “Clearly you’re not. Your goal is to fall off the radar altogether, isn’t it. Ugh, you should’ve just sung for me.“ The inevitable silence followed but it did help the female realize she had no idea where she was heading. “Where do you live, anyway? –Please go ahead and describe it in the most tedious way possible, I couldn’t possibly handle any more excitement from you.”
Frankie turned to look at Sofia, the street lamps passing by illuminating her profile. To say he was happy in Bluebell would be an overstatement but would he be happy anywhere? If he returned back home? In the variety of options, this was the lesser of the evils and he didn’t feel as though that needed more of an explanation than what he’d already gave. The tension didn’t bother him, in fact, he almost liked how easy it was to push her buttons with so little effort, with quite only being himself. “Well, gosh, you should have let me known earlier it was excitement you were looking for.” He replied dryly, turning his gaze back outside the window before giving her his address.
His response earned him an eye-roll. “Everyone fears to be original and creative nowadays and let their imagination run wild… Cowards, all of you!” Sofia spat, accusing the man, unjustly so, as she was clearly projecting but oh well, she didn’t seem to care much as she tore her gaze away to focus on the road ahead. “I suppose you don’t mind slumming, not in the slightest. In fact, you seem to be content with it.” Sofia clearly referred to his attitude in general. The two of them were practically strangers but she’d seen the man around the town once or twice and each time he reminded her of a ghost– no joy on his face, no anger, nothing. “Yes, my reputation is what we’re worried about, I’m glad we’re on the same page here.” The actress gave him a look but there was a ghost of a smirk on her lips, the kind that quickly vanished in the dark.
“It’s not all that bad.” Frankie gave a half-hearted shrug of his shoulders, it was a mild attempt at defending himself but he couldn’t really deny the reality of Sofia’s accusation. He did live his life with a lack of vigor but that was exactly why he’d chosen to linger in Bluebell, he wanted peace and solitude and for the most part he got exactly that. Feeling strong things had only let him down, he liked a softer kind of everything now and he doubted any sort of explanation of that would do him justice. “I mean, I’m not worrying about my reputation― don’t have to.” He wasn’t fond of the possibility of getting kicked out of the car, so he limited what he said; his point still stood.
“I may be full of surprises.” Sofia gave the man a meaningful glance. The truth was, she wasn’t. Or, if she was full of surprises, one of them wasn’t her being a secret fan of folk music. “Maybe I’m just bored? Open to new experiences? Maybe I want something different in return? Gas money is so basic. Maybe I fear the awkward silence– the inevitable result of you and me in a car together.” Maybe it was all of the above, especially the last one since Sofia was well aware of many differences between Mr. Sainz and herself. Nonetheless, she even opened the passenger door for him before walking around the shiny car to the driver’s seat. “The press would have a field day if they found out I left someone for dead and we don’t want that, so.” Sofia remarked with the tiniest of smirks, barely visible in the dark as she slipped into the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, sure but unfortunately for us...” Frankie gestured to the empty space around him before pulling a face of mock disappointment before continuing on, “I haven’t got my guitar, so we might have to slum it with some silence.” He knew full well that Sofia was doing him a favour, one she technically didn’t have to do even despite his claims about the cold but all he really wanted at that moment was the solitude of his apartment. “Ah, yes. The press, that’s who we’re worried about in that scenario.” Frankie couldn’t help but smile as he climbed into her car, clearly much nicer than his own.
Having locked up, Sofia took one final look at Rammer Jammer and damn, if it wasn’t strange, seeing the usually vibrant, loved and popular among locals bar calm. Snapping out of it, after such a long and exhausting day, the brunette had no other choice. really. but to slip out of her high heels and go barefoot– old habits died hard. Fearless by nature, she didn’t flinch when a shadow approached her. Instead, she heard Frankie out, arching an eyebrow. “You know, I’m actually tempted to say no, misery looks very good on you.” Sofia commented with a ghost of smirk on her lips. “If I said yes but only in exchange for a Papa Sainz song, would you serenade me?” All her teasing aside, she made her way to her luxurious car, the one most would envy her for, expecting the man to follow.
“Never would have took you for much of a folk lover.” Frankie replied dryly as he followed after her, shrugging his bag back onto his shoulder. Truthfully, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d sang for someone, yet alone one of his father’s songs and while he knew (hoped, at least) that Sofia was merely toying with him, he would much rather walk than dive down that troublesome path. “You can say no if you want, maybe you’ll catch me on the news tomorrow when I inevitably freeze to death.”
I have this strange feeling that I’m not myself anymore. It’s hard to put into words, but I guess it’s like I was fast asleep, and someone came, disassembled me, and hurriedly put me back together again. That sort of feeling.
