Educate yourself!

"They don't," Gwen agreed with an exhausted sigh. She had learned all too well working for the federal government. Despite having access to all the best research telling them what they needed to do to save the planet, politicians were more worried about the bankroll of fossil fuel companies instead. It was maddening.

She found things were at least a little better at the local level. Still, it was a good question. One Gwen had not been able to successfully answer in the past. She tried to think of the grant application for the work she'd just done.

"Well I think definitely bringing up the college's image and promises. Being able to advertise ourselves as environmentally-friendly will bring on a whole slew of new Gen Z students who care about these issues far more than other generations," she suggested.

"Oh! And of course showing the ways it's more cost-effective in the long-run. Because while it may seem more expensive at first, the whole point is that it will bring down prices overall, as long as they take the time to actually get that far."

@honeymxren

#honeymaren

javi-jookiba

There was something warm and familiar about listening to her ramble on like this. It was hitting him now that he'd missed it. Missed her. But that much he'd already begun to realize, on the way there. Even the way she imitated the staff, he found it amusing. Javi didn't laugh at many things, mostly because he was so matter-of-fact a majority of the time, but he found himself chuckling as she continued her stories. Not at her, of course. She just had an aura about her that made him smile.

He was never good at talking about himself. Or for himself, at times. That was one of the things that he'd appreciated about Gwen. That she often took charge in social situations. "Things have been good. Lilo and Stephen are still causing some chaos here and there but nothing too irreversible. Nani and Paxton are still in a will they won't they phase, and... well," he paused. He didn't want to worry here about what had happened after the wedding. Not so soon. "No, I think that's pretty much it. Classes at the college have been good; at least everyone passed this time," he shrugged.

@gwen-pleakley

When they had first met, Javi had often brushed off her rambling. She was sure that he didn't even listen at all. So it was a pleasant surprise now to hear his chuckling and affirmative noises throughout her ramblings. It made her chest feel warm, similarly to how she felt when she was with Kevin.

But that was her boyfriend and this was her-- husband. Fake husband, she forced herself to internally emphasize. Nothing more.

Maybe nothing less, either.

She nodded along but at the news of Nani, her mouth dropped. "What?!" She exclaimed in total disbelief. "Two years and they're still not together?" Gwen was so sure they were right on the edge of a breakthrough by the time she had left. Clearly, the lack of her influence sent them tumbling back down the hill and she'd have a long way pushing that boulder back up.

It was enough of a shock that she didn't seem to notice that he pulled back on saying something else. Instead, she brightened at his last words. "Really? You managed not to fail everyone this time around? Do you think the students are actually getting better or are you just going soft?" She joked.

@javi-jookiba

#javi

honeymxren

Even though classes were over for the summer, that never stopped Honeymaren from working on her next environmental studies project. This time, she was looking into creating a compost garden at the college, but wanted a second opinion. That's where Gwen came in.

"Be honest... do you think it's a silly idea? I mean, would the board actually be willing to fund this?"

@gwen-pleakley

"Of course it's not a silly idea!" Gwen guffawed. "Composting is so important. If Redwood Hollow wants to advertise itself as being an environmentally-friendly campus, then it needs to put its money where its mouth is!" To be fair, it was mostly Gwen pushing for the environmentally-friendly advertising, but that was important too!

#honeymaren

themanagerisavampirex

Nani knew that Gwen was making her return to Redwood Hollow but her schedule hadn't allowed her to be home on time for that arrival, given it felt very sudden.

It had been strange, suddenly not having another woman around the house. While the house was never quiet, Gwen's presence was clearly missed amongst the vibrancy of the Pelekai family and Javi. Nani had tried not to read into Gwen's leaving too much, but the longer she was gone, and the longer Javi stayed… it was hard not to wonder what the hell was going on. They had always read as a bit of a peculiar couple, awkward and opposite in many ways, so she supposed this might just be one of those things she would have to accept. Besides, it was a big opportunity! How could she have said no?

Regardless, when Nani found out the Gwen was coming back, she almost didn't believe it. There was no time to get things in the proper order, so really she could only leave it to Javi to sort out. He was her husband, anyway!

The day arrived for Gwen's return, finally, after far too long.

Nani wasn't as mentally prepared for this as she would have liked to have been. For one, the smell wafting from the kitchen through the open window (hot, home cooked food, that smelled fresh and distinctly unburned) initially had her thinking Paxton had shown up unannounced (risking his life in the process). Two, the house was in total shambles. For three… she thought of some half-truths to hypothetical questions on her way home.

She was barely in the door when she was attacked by a shriek and a hug. "Gwen!" Nani squeaked out through the squeeze. "I can't believe you're back! And cooking already? You really don't have to, we're totally fine with take out." Nani dumped her back on the floor. "How was the journey?"

Gwen held on, maybe for a little too long, before pulling back. While she had a lot of reasons to be hesitant about coming back, this surely was not one of them. Nani's familiar face was such a relief in the anxiety storm that had been her thoughts of being friendless. Not that Nani had much of a choice with them living together, but Gwen chose to believe they would have been friends despite those circumstances.

"Oh I'm sure there's been plenty of takeout in the time I've been gone. But I wanted to! When's the last time I got to cook a meal for the whole family like this?" Had she been paying more attention, she might have caught on to the fact that she called of them a family. But she didn't seem to notice as she continued.

"Oh, it was fine--" And like with Javi, she went into a full rant about every single detail of both the flight and the train ride, especially her less-than-pleasant encounters with other people who did not meet her standards. In the end, she motioned Nani into the kitchen so she could at least continue cooking during her rambling.

"At least Javi was on time to bring me back. I was worried something was going to go wrong there as well!" She shook her head, and finally, after spending a good ten minutes talking about herself, asked, "And how have you been?"

@themanagerisavampirex

#nani

.

It all felt like a lot of information being given very quickly, but Sofia made her best to follow and learn something new. She didn't have much to add or even to comment on, so she simply listened and nodded. She chuckled when the woman mentioned she would be able to read more on the subject once the study was published: now she had become curious to know more about these velvet ants that weren't really ants. Besides, she wondered just how much professor Pleakley had managed to uncover and find out from her research.

"I've heard it's quite good for that, but I've always had the forest surrounding the Orchard House, and there's several birds living nearby already --by my estimates, about twelve types during the summer alone." Sofia would list them for professor Pleakley to know, but she guessed that she would either know of them already or might not care to know such specifics. In any case, it was true that she should have been to the reserve by now. "I do have to admit that I'm curious about learning more about what other types are there in the area... Do you have a favorite bird?"

She smiled once more, when the professor smiled. Sofia could imagine that, as much fun as California could be, Redwood Hollow had a coziness to it, a level of comfortable peace (or at least relative peace) that would easily make someone want to come back. "Are you planning on staying here for long?" Hopefully, if she stayed for a certain while, Sofia would be able to see her more often, maybe even become friends.

Right, professor Pleakley has a husband. But... She missed him? Sofia frowned. "Didn't your husband go with you to California?" Oh, she could imagine she would have missed him so much. Of course, Sofia had no experience with long-distance relationships, but she knew nonetheless that it must have been quite difficult.

Gwen positively beamed with pride. There was nothing that delighted her more than when young people got involved with their local wildlife and ecosystems. They were the future, after all, so it was important that they cared about this. Especially with the direction that the planet is headed.

"It's true, but there are even more in the reserve, especially during this time of year! Important to catch them now before they head south for the winter." In the end, it didn't really matter where Sofia looked, as long as her interest was alive and well.

"Oh, well, I must admit, I became quite a fan of the Greater Roadrunner during my time in California. The cartoons would lead you to believe them menaces but they are quite integral to the chaparral ecosystem! I'm hoping to one day meet their cousins, the Lesser Roadrunner, though they live much farther South." Gwen would love to travel more someday, but it was a dream for the future.

Her smile tightened a bit more. "I'll be here for awhile, I think." Until she could find payment in doing something better. This place was nice, but was being just a professor all that life had to offer her?

Ah, here it was. She was expecting shock and confusion at her and her husband's separation. It didn't do anything to ease her nerves though as she quickly and defensively responded, "No, but it's okay! He had plenty of work here, and we agreed it would be for the best. No ill will between us!"

@sofia-bach

javi-jookiba

"One who is seizing opportunities to better the lives of both," Javi quickly answered. He would not tolerate any slander toward Gwen for choosing to leave. Sure, it wasn't conventional, and there were definitely people who had asked why he didn't go with her, but the truth was, this was Gwen's journey to go on. He didn't want her to feel like she was trapped in Redwood Hollow because of his stupid mistakes of the past. While he regretted nothing as far as the experimentation went, he did regret forcing Gwen to uproot her entire livelihood. It wasn't fair to just expect her to stay and keep up this facade.

Javi tried to hide the small smile that was creeping onto his lips at the comment, merely shrugging. "Well, it's the least I can do." Javi was never the talker, between the two of them. He much preferred to listen to Gwen ramble on. Sure, there was a time that he found her constant chatter a bit asinine, but that was before they had gotten to know each other better. Properly. Not just as colleagues, but as friends, and, well... "partners". Now, if was as if he'd been waiting, anticipating the conversation, and it was very much so a welcome interaction.

His brows rose, puzzled and a bit appalled by the story. Gwen's reaction was completely valid, if that was the case. "Yikes... I'm very sorry that you had to deal with that. I'm not sure how I would have handled that. But, at least you won't have to deal with any other weird interactions with strangers for a bit." He couldn't promise that, unfortunately, but the ride home would at least be better than the train. When they got to the car, Javi opened the door for her, then went around to put the luggage in the back. "So. Other than disgusting men on trains, how was the trip back?"

@gwen-pleakley

She was a bit taken aback by how quickly and decisively Javi responded. She expected he hadn't cared much, or would have leaned into the stereotypical "oh I'm happier without my ball-and-chain" masculine routine. That's certainly what would've been easiest. So the fact that he was showing her respect, as well as the ways that her decision had improved their situation--it was touching.

"Oh, I definitely said something, and he rebuffed me! I even told the train staff, but they said there was nothing they could do. "It's not illegal"," she said in her most obnoxious imitation of a poor worker. "Well, maybe it SHOULD be illegal!" She huffed.

Still, his comment had her sighing. "No, I suppose only weird interactions with you." She had meant it as a joke, but saying it out loud fell over them like a smothering blanket. Because this was, in fact, a very weird situation. One that was going to need to be addressed.

But maybe get to the car first at least.

He asked how her trip went and she spent the first half of the drive back recounting every excruciating detail of her flight, including the very rude TSA employee, the fact that they had "run out" of mixed nuts, the woman who was taking up an entire overhead rack to herself, the mix-up at baggage claim that nearly made her late for her train, and how she barely got any reading done.

By the end of it, she'd all but exhausted herself, giving a heavy sigh. It was only then, for the first time since their reuniting, that she turned the attention back on him. "And how have things been here? How are the Pelekais?"

@javi-jookiba

#javi

.

Sofia frowned slightly, but on second thought, it made sense. "Oh, right. Bumblebees are also a bit hairy --I asssume to help in pollination too, right?" Just for pollination alone, she respected most insects. For being an important part of the food chain, she respected the rest. While having her particular favorites, of course, Sofia did value all creatures' roles in the ecosystem, ever since she learned what an ecosystem first was. It was all part of a pretty delicate balance, and one that she understood might not always be pretty but was certainly necessary. Professor Pleakley's interest in highlighting that necessity was one of the things she liked about her. People who were passionate about their ideals and willing to defend their principles were among those she admired the most.

"Well, I wish you the best of luck with those grants. I bet that, with the success of your work on the velvet ants, they will definitely give it more consideration." Sofia knew that, knowing professor Pleakley's devotion to her work, it would only be a matter of time --anyone could see that she would give any subject she chose its due effort.

"Yes... I can't believe that, in all these years, I haven't been to the actual nature reserve yet." Since she had her beloved slice of forest for when she needed to be surrounded by greenery and wildlife, Sofia simply did not give much thought to the acres that were dedicated to the nature reserve. But she had always been curious about it, curious to know what it was all about and what else she might learn from it.

"May I ask, what brought you back to Redwood?" The local nature reserve was probably quite nice, but she had to assume there would be plenty of those in and near California. Then again, she wasn't a specialist, at all. "Is the local ecosystem that fascinating and unique? I can believe that." Of course, that was from someone who had never been, or rather did not quite remember, ever visiting any other natural spaces beyond the Redwood Hollow forest.

#sofia #me having to do actual research just to write a gwen reply #also experimenting with color just because

Gwen's eyes absolutely lit at the chance to talk science.

"Yes and no! Those little hairs that exist on both creatures are known as setae--but they're something that evolve on many different types of creatures for many different reasons. For bumblebees, the main purpose is pollination, yes, but for the velvet ant, especially the hairier females incapable of flight, it's much more likely a mechanoreceptor that allows them to feel pressure and vibration from outside forces, similar to the common housefly!"

She was animated as she spoke, throwing her hands every which way to emphasize her point. "Their roles as pollinators was actually something that we studied and the results were quite fascinating! I-- well, I'll let you read the results yourself when they come out," she said with a wink. She seemed fully confident that her student would be interested in that kind of thing.

She gave a thankful nod, only hoping that what Sofia said was the truth. There was only so much research she could do on her own without proper funding. She couldn't help but think how much easier everything was when she and Javi were just using government money. She really missed those sleek, high tech labs.

"Really?" She asked in surprise. "That surprises me! I would only imagine that would be a prime spot for birdwatching."

While the conversation was invigorating, Sofia's question caused a chill to run up her spine. She wanted to say yes, of course that's why she came back! She wanted to say that she loved Redwood Hollow and that she couldn't stay away. She wanted to say she missed her husband.

But those things weren't true. The truth was that she loved the life she had been building for herself in California. She had made a group of like-minded friends, her colleagues were fantastic, and she had a wonderful boyfriend. The ecosystem she was studying was quite unique, only to that area, where Redwood Hollow was much more common. She was living in a city with nightlife and things to do, only to move back to a small town where everything was much slower.

She came back because she had no other choice. She couldn't afford to live there without the work. This was the only place she could come back to.

"...Yes, of course that's why I came back!" She finally said, with a forced smile on her face. "I love Redwood Hollow! I could never stay away forever. And of course, I missed my husband."

@sofia-bach

June 2025 Memes 🌈

how often does your muse lie? Do they regret lying or do they feel their lies are justified?

Well, technically there's a bit of a lie in everything she does, as she's here under false pretenses with a previous identity that she's hiding. In that regard, she thinks her lies are fully justified. What is the other option--jail? Do you think she would survive jail? She certainly doesn't think so.

She's also known to tell little white lies and sugarcoat her statements to preserve other people's feelings. That, in her opinion, is also quite justified. Why ruin someone's day just because their outfit looks terrible and they clearly didn't wear deodorant? Granted, Gwen will absolutely talk shit behind their back but to their face? You look great, sweetie!

does your muse think some laws are fine to break?

This was unthinkable to Gwen over a decade ago. A younger version of herself would never even dare to J-walk, let alone anything more serious.

Then she met Javi and things changed. It didn't help that she had several years of disillusionment from the government under her belt, and many climate change policies rejected. Working in DC made it abundantly clear to her that laws were not always there to help people, and certainly not flora, fauna, or their planet at large. Matters had to be taken into their own hands for the greater good, laws be damned.

That being said, hypocritically, she is still very judgemental of other people who break the law, and still upholds a majority of the status quo. Very Blue Check Liberal (is that even still a relevant term anymore?)

how does your muse handle competition?

Not well! Gwen likes to think she's a team player and that who wins doesn't matter, but she's actually incredibly competitive and can get mean when things aren't going her way. She grew up always needing to be the best at everything and she has yet to realize that this neurosis has bleed into every facet of her life.

what is your muse's biggest regret?

Once upon a time, she definitely would have answered that it was meeting Javi. The time after they fled the capital was probably the most stressful in her life, which she fully believed was over. In those weeks that followed afterwards, she was certain Javi had ruined her life.

But now, she knows he saved it. If their misadventure had not happened, she never would have had the push to come out as Gwen and live as her true self. She's happier now than she's ever been and would never go back.

The only regret she really has living as Gwen is that she can no longer be in contact with her family. Although they had a very complicated dynamic with some strained relationships, she does love her family dearly and misses spending the holidays with them. So, she pours that excess energy into her new family, her housemates.

how does your muse handle losing control?

NOT WELL! Gwen is an absolute control freak in every sense of the word. If she doesn't feel like she's in control of a situation, she will spiral. And she has, many times, especially when she was first running away with Javi. Even though her life has improved and she's become a more confident person overall, her iron grip on control has not loosened. She's just less prone to freak out inwardly and instead projects it outwards. Healthy!

how does your muse express their passion?

In every which way she can! Gwen is an extremely passionate person overall and loves to throw herself into everything she does. Whether its academic and scientific pursuits, or simply decorating for a holiday, she will always go all out. She will also talk your ear off about anything and everything if you let her, so you probably shouldn't let her.

does your muse consider themselves petty? would others describe them that way?

Gwen would say absolutely not!

Those who know her, though? Would tell you a different story. As much as she likes to think otherwise, Gwen can be incredibly petty and passive aggressive, especially when things aren't going her way. She keeps track of every perceived slight and tries to pay it in turn. If she can't do that, then she certainly knows how to hold a grudge.

would your muse consider themselves entitled? would others describe them that way?

Gwen would say no way!

You don't even have to know her that well to know that isn't the case. Gwen grew up under the care of an incredibly entitled white Karen mom and despite her best efforts, she is her mother's daughter. Since she's always trying her hardest, she expects everyone to be doing so as well. So when someone seemingly isn't, especially at their place of work, she can get very uptight about it.

Quite a few managers have been called in her day.

In Gwen's eyes, this isn't being entitled, it's helping push someone else to be their best self. If she gets some refunds or discounts along the way? Well, that's just a reward for being a good citizen.

Thank you @ozborror-highroller and the anons that sent memes!

#headcanon #meme week

.

Sofia looked down and giggled rather bashfully. "Thank you." She didn't know how to accept compliments in any other way, ever since she was told to just smile and say thanks from when she was little and her father's friends would see his child, in her pretty dresses and carefully tied bows, and coo and praise her. It felt like it had been a long while since someone last complimented her --or at least, it felt like that since she didn't talk to many new people, and Guinevere was not the type to compliment generously.

"Sure, I will!" she nodded, already thinking up a few titles. "I've been reading a bit of everything this past month, mostly trying to expand my list a little. I've been reading the same four or five books for so long now, I thought I needed a change."

California, right! That was a long way from the town. And professor Pleakley had been away for a long while, which of course meant she had been plenty busy there. It was clearly doing work she loved, so Sofia kept smiling, glad to see the excitement and passion the woman had for her job.

While Gwen explained more in detail what she did, her former student listened and tried to think of everything she knew on wasps, which was, admittedly, not much, to add to the conversation. "Velvet ants --what a lovely name. Insects rarely are given such nice designations." Sofia didn't have much of a relationship with bugs in general, besides always being excited when she saw the butterflies and ladybirds that announced the arrival of spring, and of course being happy with the presence of worms, grasshoppers and caterpillars that were part of her favorite birds' diets. "I was stung by a wasp when I was little, and I remember how painful and scary I was. But then I was told that because of that wasp that stung me a whole nest was found nearby, and how it was removed and disposed of. It made me feel rather guilty." The wasp sting had been somewhere in the back of her leg, if she remembered correctly. She had thought it was just a bee, but she had been stung by bees before, and this was another sort of pain. Still, it didn't mean that the wasps just had to be killed.

"But congratulations on the success of the experiments! Are you planning on continuing your studies and research here in Redwood Hollow, too?"

"Of course! And thank you," she said in regards to the books. "I completely understand." She too, often went back to her favorites when she needed a good pick-me-up. She'd gone back to a particularly steamy series after her first date with Kevin, building anticipation for what was to come. And oh, it came.

But that was not appropriate to be thinking about when talking to a beloved student! She quickly shoved the thoughts away and turned back to the matter at hand.

"It's because of the hair on their back," Gwen explained excitedly. "Very soft to the touch. I wouldn't say it feels like velvet necessarily, but it is one of the most unique experiences to pet one." Her smile was pleasant as she recalled the memory. "Truthfully, I think all insects should have such joyful designations, more similar to birds, maybe. Although, the more passionate entomologists might disagree with me."

The story broke her heart and she nodded with a saddened expression. "Yes, many species have a hard time co-habitating with humans. People just don't understand how much good insects of all kinds do for their community and surroundings--wasps especially! They're important for population control of other species we might call "pests" and actually are pollinators too! Not many people know that."

At this point she was rambling, though she was certainly enjoying doing so. "But yes, thank you! I am hoping to apply for some grants through Redwood University," she explained. Though, she was nervous. She had applied for them during her first stay at Redwood Hollow, and all had been rejected. She could only hope once her studies were published, it would build confidence in the university to fund her. "Redwood Hollow has an ecosystem all its own and I'd love to explore it further. The fact we have our own nature reserve is an incredible opportunity that needs to be capitalized!"

@sofia-bach

beyondthebriars

Rose had just sprinted more than she probably had in her entire life. My lungs burned with every breath, side aching like it might tear open as I managed to stumble to a halt behind the only person in Redwood Hollow brave—or brilliant—or possibly even foolish enough to face down three territorial geese during gosling season like she was some kind of seasoned dinosaur wrangler. “Thanks,” I managed, voice catching somewhere between a croak and a wheeze.

I stayed behind the woman’s shoulder, eyes down, backing away as instructed. There was something mesmerizing in the way the professor moved—calm, grounded, all quiet command and steady hands. Slowly, the aggressive geese relented, hissing all 3 rows of teeth on display, tail feathers rustling as they walked back to their nests. Only when the danger had passed did I could take stock of myself. My curls were an absolute mess, streaked with leaf litter and twigs like the forest had tried to claim me, or fight me. My khakis were torn, uniform shirt stained with what I hoped was pond muck, and my legs stung from thorns and branches i hadn’t even seen while running crimson droplets barely the size of a pencil tip border the scratches. brushing myself off with as much dignity as I could gather, cheeks burning. “Sorry about that. I’m Rose—one of the rangers here,” I said, giving the woman a sheepish smile as I flicked a bit of bark from my sleeve.It was only then that I really looked at her. Dr. Pleakley, the new professor in Environmental Sciences. Her reputation had preceded her—but seeing her in action was something else entirely.

“Are you… enjoying the reserve?” I queried, breath still catching a little, trying to sound casual while looking like I’d just lost a fight with a small forest, which totally makes sense because I did.

@gwen-pleakley

It was truly an image to behold. In social situations, where humans faced off against each other in verbal spars of wits and cues, Gwen was a mess. But out here, in the wild, facing down the local wildlife--this was her element. It was her calling. And having spent the last two years working in the field, she felt more confident than ever before. To think she had wasted so much time behind a desk.

Granted, she was going back behind a desk once more, but it was for the passing of knowledge! A much more worthy pursuit.

In the end, though, Gwen was not actually an animal whisperer. The goose did not calm down, holding its ground with its wings up and its sharpened beak at the ready. But at the very least, the pursue did not continue. As she and the young woman got further down the path, the goose finally gave them a final hiss before turning to head back to its nest.

Gwen gave a deep sigh and turned to the girl--who was quite the mess! "Oh, no, no, don't apologize. Are you alright? You're bleeding. We should probably get you back to the nearest station," she fussed, going to pick some leaves and twigs off of her.

"I'm Dr. Gwendolyn Pleakley, but please, call me Gwen," she introduced herself. "It's nice to meet you Rose. I am quite enjoying the reserve! It's one of the best places in Redwood Hollow to be. Very excited to be back."

@beyondthebriars

#rose

javi-jookiba

It was true, Javi had never been an overly affectionate person, even as a child. He much preferred to be left to his own devices. That didn't entirely mean he was anti social, just... anti touch. But there were exceptions. He would absolutely make one for her. The gesture said more than words could, at the moment, which saved him from choosing the wrong ones.

"Of course I did. I wouldn't want you to have to figure that out. Besides, what sort of husband would I be if I let my wife take a cab home?" he tried to joke, though he hoped it came across correctly. While he knew that realistically, they were not husband and wife, and hadn't exactly discussed their label with her coming back just yet, but he had decided it would be better to pick back up where they left off until they could talk about it. But they were still friends, and that was something a friend would do.

Right?

For a moment there was a pause, as if he was trying to figure out what to say, after all this time. They'd kept in contact over the phone, but it was another thing to see each other face to face, with so much uncertainty between them still. "Well, the car is just over that way, here, I can carry this." He gestured toward her luggage, wanting to be helpful. Maybe even gentlemanly.

@gwen-pleakley

Gwen wasn't sure what Javi was saying with the gesture, but as he pulled back and her eyes flickered away, she wondered for a moment if it was something more than just a strategic move.

And then the thought left her. A silly habit from their early days, when she would read into every word he said and every gesture he made to desperately glean signs for feelings that weren't there. She knew better now, of course. Still, the fact that she was looking at all might be a worrying sign.

One she chose not to focus on for now. His words brought a smile to her face. "Well, what kind of wife leaves her husband?" She joked in return, a small nod to the things that other people might say, which was a bit of a worry for her. Not "spiral out of control" worry, but a worry nonetheless.

It was something they were going to need to discuss. But for now, she was more than happy to let him take the luggage. "Oh, what a gentleman," she joked, since that seemed to be the tone that Javi set. She followed along behind him, though the silence between them made her skin itch. She started to fill the air with noise.

"Ugh, you would not believe the man who was sitting across from me. He had the gall to take off his shoes and his socks? I swear, the smell alone was enough to make me gag but to see his gnarled hairy feet was just--!" She shuddered. "The gall of people these days! Who even does that?"

@javi-jookiba

#javi

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"Professor Pleakley! Hi!" she beamed. "Yes... It's been so long." Admittedly, Sofia should have made some effort to keep in touch with her. They had only talked a few times, but she liked the professor, and how easy it was to talk to her. Though maybe that was particularly because she associated the professor with a nice chat that helped her after a not particularly memorable, but still plenty unpleasant anxiety attack.

"I'm quite alright, thankfully. Spring and summer are kind to me," Sofia added. "I've been having some free time lately, which is good because now I can get back into reading and birdwatching, and I got high grades in my last exams, so that's really great too..."

Also, she was in love. Sofia always had crushes, of course, but none had gone as far as this one, having had two conversations with him already... She was aware, though, that maybe her giddiness and excitement were coloring her perspective of things. Still, she couldn't help it if she was so happy...

"... How have you been?" she asked Gwen, bringing her attention back to the woman in front of her. "How did your research go?"

Gwen was absolutely delighted to see the young woman, who seemed more grown in the years since she last saw her. While she knew it was a possibility she'd see some students, the actual moment arriving was almost enough to bring a tear to her eye. The students that she was helping shepherd along their paths to greatness were well on their way.

"I would say so, you look fantastic, dear!" She complimented, genuinely. Sofia was always a pretty girl, and maybe it was just the way the sun lit her, but in Gwen's eyes, she was glowing.

She was elated to hear how well she was doing. Even though Sofia was already deep in her journey, Gwen's chest swelled with pride that she had been a part of it, as if the girl's success was her own.

"That's so great. You'll have to let me know if you find anything good, I've been looking for some new reading material," she admitted. There was only so far her trashy romance novels could take her, and she'd need some more respectable fair if she wanted to read in public.

Gwen was more than happy to have the attention on her, practically preening herself as she said, "Oh, it was just fantastic! Definitely some of the most interesting research I've done in a long time. California's chapparal are some of the most unique ecosystems I've ever been lucky enough to study, and our experiments with the local velvet ants are set to have their findings published in a renowned scientific journal! Did you know--they're not actually ants at all but wasps! The females are flightless and their resemblance to a common ant denotes the misnomer. It's truly fascinating."

@sofia-bach

#about #look at her shes so beautiful

happiestplacehq

DR. GWENDOLYN PLEAKLEY is thirty-four years old. She is an ecology professor at Redwood College. She is the incarnation of Pleakley from the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch.

+ Intelligent, Driven, Helpful - Paranoid, Obsessive, Self-Righteous

ABOUT GWEN

Gwendolyn Pleakley was originally born as Wendell Plummer, the youngest of her siblings. Shortly after she was born, it was revealed that their father was cheating on their mother. A divorce soon followed and their mother took full custody of the kids. She was extremely overbearing throughout their childhood, constantly pushing them to do their best and to outshine their peers. Each of the siblings had their own response to this treatment and Gwen’s was to lean into it entirely. She was always striving for the best grades, the most extracurriculars, and whatever it took to please others. She found that she was very good at sciences--particularly Earth Science. Working her way through years of different educational levels, she graduated with a Ph.D in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her work was well received and eventually she was recruited by the US government to act as a consultant in climate change policy, particularly surrounding endangered species. Gwen was honored and took her job very seriously, but soon found herself disillusioned. Despite her expertise and clearly laid out plans, she found that politicians very rarely followed what she had to say. In her opinion, not enough was being done. Then she met Mateo Jiménez. The two’s personalities clashed right away but Gwen found herself intrigued by the other’s intelligence, which seemingly rivaled her own. He confided in her on secret experiments he was doing under the table in genetic modification and cloning, asking for her help in covering his tracks and getting him information he needed. While normally she would never dream of such underhanded deeds, she realized this might be the only way she could actually do something to help endangered species. It worked for awhile, until it didn’t. Eventually they were discovered and--facing potential jail time--they high tailed it out of DC as quickly as possible. They donned new identities and travelled the country in search of somewhere to hide. Gwen, who until this point had been living her life as Wendell Plummer, became Dr. Gwendolyn Pleakley, professor of ecology and “wife” of Javi Jookiba (previously known as Mateo). They eventually found a place to rent out of in Redwood Hollow and each got jobs at the local college (which weirdly doesn’t seem to do background checks). She lived for two years in the Pelekai household and slowly began developing a crush on her "husband"--one that was seemingly not reciprocated. However, she was given an opportunity to teach and research at a much more prestigious university across the country. It was an opportunity she couldn't afford to lose. Packing her bags, she left Redwood Hollow for a time and began building a new life from her new-old life. Unfortunately, it could not last. While she published a terrific paper that made waves amongst the scientific community, her team was not granted additional funds and the project came to an end. With nowhere else to go, she returns to Redwood Hollow to her old-new life.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Gwen is and has always been a trans woman. Terrified of disappointing her mother and rocking the boat, she stayed in the closet for an extremely long time. She played the role that was expected of her, even going so far as to get engaged to another woman, whom she would later abandon. While she insists that her identity as Gwen is just a disguise, she is really thriving in this opportunity to transition and live as her true self. She cannot imagine ever going back to living as Wendell

Her marriage to Javi is fake. It was constructed as a ruse to strengthen their cover story and keep people from getting suspicious. Neither could agree on a shared fake surname, so they went with separate ones (Dr. Pleakley is proud to have kept her last name, thank you very much). They got a forged marriage certificate and shoddy wedding rings from an old pawn shop. Gwen was a very dedicated wife...at first, but after two years of unreciprocated feelings, she became frustrated. When she left Redwood, she and Javi agreed to an "open relationship" and Gwen has since dated others. She's not sure where they stand now that she returns.

CONNECTIONS

Javi Jookiba - Gwen’s fake husband and partner in crime, whether she likes it or not. She hates that she allowed herself to get roped into his schemes and is often annoyed and frustrated by him. Despite this, she’s trying to make the best out of a bad situation Nani Pelekai - Her landlord. Gwen and Javi are renting a room out of her home, and she’s doing everything she can to be a good tenant Lilo and Stephen Pelekai - Her housemates. Gwen is honestly trying to stay out of their way, but is both intrigued and frightened of the pair

Gwen is currently unavailable. Her faceclaim is Patti Harrison.

beyondthebriars

Rose had been working at the nature reserve for a couple of weeks now, while making her way to do some pond maintenance she picks up trash and making sure there’s no hazards on the path. Routine maintenance should be an easy morning, clean the drains, check for snail eggs, test the water quality then I can go to lunch. Finding several clutches of invasive Apple snail eggs, spending almost an hour meticulously smashing the eggs. In her focus she failed to notice the nest of geese to her right until the adult geese started trying to bite and chase her.

Leaving caution to the wind she runs trying to get anyone’s attention so they can move, only the words her brain could muster were “goose stampede watch out”. Shouting to try and get your attention before she bumps into you. “Run, you have to run”

@happieststarters

#rose #yes she's doing the chris pratt velociraptors move

Gwen was eager to see the nature reserve once more. She had worked with plenty in her time away, but there was just something special about Redwood Hollow's. The ecosystem there was just so unique. She was eager to check in with the local mosquito population and see how they were doing after a particularly hot summer. Oooh, there was so much to do!

She heard the sounds of twigs cracking but before she could react, someone rounded the corner of the trail, bumping into her. She gasped and nearly stumbled back. "What on Earth--"

She was interrupted by ominous honking from the geese that were on the chase. Her eyes widened and she grabbed the young girl by the arms, pushing her away. "Stay behind me! I know what to do!" She declared before stepping forward, digging her boots in the mud and putting her hands out. The geese slowed to a halt, hissing with their cursed barbed tongues hanging out. Despite this, Gwen stood her ground, staring them head on.

"Now, back away slowly..."

@beyondthebriars

closed start for @themanagerisavampirex

Gwen was so excited to be back in the Pelekai household.

Javi had talked about moving out in the time she was gone, but Gwen had been insistent that he stay. Unless he was planning on buying his own house, then their rent money would just be going to some other skeezy landlord. At least with Nani, they knew their money was going somewhere good and to someone who needed it.

Plus, Gwen didn't like the idea of Lilo and Stephen being left to their own devices. Nani worked so hard, there needed to be someone around to keep an eye on them and break up any wayward parties (because that had been so successful the first time).

And, if she was being honest, it was a bit selfish. She didn't want to come back to Redwood Hollow to something new. She wanted to return to their old room that they'd set up together, in a place that was familiar. To faces that were familiar.

So, she was probably more excited than she should be coming back to everything just the way it was. The walls still had chips in them, the carpets still had the exact same stains--and even some new ones--and there was still that vague smell of a house well lived in. Of course she would do a deep cleaning, because of who she was as a person, but that was part of its charm!

Nani wasn't home when Gwen arrived, so she took the time to unpack, to pick up around the house, and to cook a lovely dinner. Of course the fridge was bare, but she made due with what little they had to make a fried rice dish. There was definitely going to need to be a talk about getting vegetables back in the mix--but that's what Gwen was for!

When she heard the door open, she spun around from the table she already had set. "Nani!!" She shrieked, running over to pull her into a hug. "It's so good to see you again!"

#nani

starter for @gwen-pleakley

While she would get some emergency groceries at the store when absolutely urgent, Sofia tried her best to make all her food purchases at the local farmer's market. She knew Guinevere was careful about what she ate, and particularly favored having organic produce, which to Sofia made complete sense.

Besides that, she simply really enjoyed browsing the stands of the market, seeing what was available, sometimes even daring to add something to her list. That day, as she examined different varieties of tomatoes, Sofia kept thinking about taro root, and whether she would manage to find some there.

But she had to focus on getting the items on her list. The oval ones were her favorites, and perfect for sauces, but it wasn't something she made much of during summer. Just as she picked a nice large round one, thinking of what salads she could make with it, Sofia turned around to search for the salesperson --and saw a familiar face.

Ah, the Farmer's Market!

This was one of the things she had missed most about Redwood. While California was a very "green" state as it were, she had been living in a city, and the produce just wasn't as fresh as you could get in a small town like this, where it was provided by local farmers. She was so excited to make her first dish with the freshest ingredients possible!

However, her focus was not exclusively on the hunt. She was enjoying herself out in a crowd of faces, some familiar and some not. It was always a joy to see and reconnect with someone she'd longed missed. Thus was the case with one Sofia Bach, who Gwen absolutely lit up upon making eye contact with.

"Oh, Sofia, hello! It's been so long, how have you been?" She asked, putting her recycled weave bag in the crook of her arm as she approached.

@sofia-bach