Might get your friend to drive, but he can hardly see. We'll end up p a i n t e d on the road, Red and chrome All the broken glass s p a r k l i n g I guess we're partying. So let's let things come out of the woodwork, I'll give you my best side, tell you all my best l i e s...
“yeah, i do think.” he smiled slightly, “nothing wrong with being what you are. don’t have to blend in with the locals when we’re not, i suppose.”
“thank you,” she mumbled, feeling her cheeks grow hot with the compliment. “i suppose - i guess i have the whole ‘when in rome’ mantra in my head.” she hummed, admiring her reflection one last time, deciding she would buy it. “are you up to anything after this? i figure since i’m finally out of the hotel - i should do something.”
“the only ‘famous’ people i have ever met have been on this trip. a youtube star who rubs me the wrong way, beck danielson, and a tv star, aaron schaal. they both seem overly confident and like dramatic, beck especially. so i could see what you mean about being too demure. have you had the pleasure of talking to either of them yet?”
harper’s mouth dropped open, just the slightest, at the frankness of the girl before her. harper knew that people were blunt, and if she needed to be, she herself could be - but this was next level. composing herself, she sputtered “uh..no, i haven’t run across them - but i have been keeping to myself since this trip began...they sound...er...interesting.”
“i relate bucket hats to run dmc and that was like the 80s. are rappers still wearing them? i know nearly nothing about these things, honestly.” ty shrugged, “as far as looking like you can rap, i don’t think rappers have a look. they can probably look like anybody. unless you have some kind of stereotype in your head.”
“i honestly have no concept of hip hop music modern or back in the day - outside of childish gambino - and that’s only because i know him from community.” she mused, setting the hat back atop the mannequin. “i can assure you, there are no stereotypes, i simply meant i’m too demure to be a rapper, i would assume rappers - or any celebrity, are overwhelmingly comfortable in the spotlight, i’m not.”
“i didn’t say a word about rappers. in fact, i don’t give a damn what rappers are wearing; it seems to suit you is all i’m saying.”
“you think?” she asked, twirling in front of the mirror a bit, admiring her new appearance in the mirror. “i’m worried that the hat combined with my fanny pack i left in my room will scream ‘tourist’ a bit too much.”
“Are you serious?” they asked blankly, giving her a strange look. “After all this posturing you’re not gonna buy one? I mean, you call, but…Sure. I’m up for the sweet shop. I’ve not really had Greek sweets before.”
“Oh, I’m still going to buy it - just accepting the fact i’ll look like a total dork in it - and i’m one of those anyway, so it’s no matter.” she said, waiving off her own words. “You’ve never had baklava?? growing up, i had like one friend and her grandparents were greek and - ugh - they made the best baklava. I can only imagine what it’s going to taste like here.”
“Obviously,” they agreed astutely, as though such a thing mattered to them at all. It did not, though, they knew Harper would thoroughly disapprove of any other answer. They pursed their lips and tried to look in any way tough or imposing in the vibrant bucket hat that certainly suited her better. “You can call me that,” they concluded. “Better to get my name out there, you know? Advertisement. You’re already great for my image.”
“To be quite honest, i think we both look rather dull in the bucket hats.” Harper admitted, glancing around the store before deciding there was nothing else she wanted. “You’re so right - it’s all about name recognition these days - anywho, are you ready to leave? I think i saw a sweets shop on our way here and i’d like to stop in, perhaps they have some baklava, which, i am always in the mood for.”
Nicholas quirked a brow, waiting expectantly and with a strange, underlying excitement for the name. They peeked over her shoulder at her phone screen and hummed. Nodding once, they clicked their fingers. “Perfect. And my LP of the same name,” they confirmed. “A shame you took the bucket hat before I could make it an icon. At least you can make it a fashion statement.”
“Well, we can always share it, you know.” she said, taking the hat off of her head and placing it atop the head of Nicholas. “Perfect, your hip hop career is truly going to take off now. I think the only thing you need now is a large fur coat - we can find you one, faux fur though - none of that real stuff.” Harper mused, winking at the person before her. “Can i call you B-Loved Mercenary now, or is that going to blow your cover?”
adam smiled widely, “okay, fantastic. off we go then.” as they began their trip to the boatyard, “so where’s home for you?”
“i’m excited, i must admit. i’ve been wanting to see them, i just haven’t wanted to go alone and haven’t been ready to ask anyone.” she rambled, walking in step with adam. “seattle washington, though i am at yale law school right now...what about you?”
“‘96, so young–but really, I’m just the old guy on board.” He shook his head while offering a short chuckle, left brow rising up toward the idea. “I’m not good at dropping beats, so yeah freestyles most definitely out of the question. Are you excited to spend Christmas with strangers or are you gonna send something home to family? Friends?”
“Oh, come on, you’re not that old, silly.” she giggled, an ease over-taking her body she hadn’t felt since the trip began. “Shame - I would have loved to hear a beat dropped.” The next question hit Harper harder than she thought it would. “I...” gnawing at the inside of her lip, Harper struggled to find a way to answer. “I miss my family - a lot. I grew up at Olympic State Park - literally, in the park - my parents work for the NPS and...well, we would put up all these Christmas lights in the forest near our cabin and power them with solar energy..anyway, i’m rambling, i’ll be sending them something for sure, they’ve never left the Pacific North-West.”
Nicholas opened their mouth, genuinely contemplating going along with the joke until the last possible moment. They glanced around the little store, evaluating just how humorous these poor, unsuspecting Greek citizens would find his attempt at rapping. They grimaced openly and placed a finger over their lips. “You’ll have to buy my new LP to find out how good I am. My hip hop name is…still a work in progress. There’s probably a Facebook name generator I could consult for it.”
Harper watched the person in front of her intently, her eyes following every small move of the person before her. “Oh, will I? What’s the title, I think I can spare 99 cents on iTunes.” She chuckled, giving Nicholas a small smile. “You could do a Wu-Tang Clan name generator, that’s how Childish Gambino got his name - what about...” she took out her phone and did a quick google search, “B-Loved Mercenary?”
“Did that sales rep really say that?” Snow huffed with a shake of his head. He couldn’t help but shop for Christmas, even the day of. The energy from the bustling crowds, holiday scents in the air, were addicting. “Maybe back in the 90′s. They’re really trying to sell you on that–but I will say the color looks great on you. ‘guess you don’t seem like the type, have you ever tried?”
“Anything to sell to tourists, I guess.” A grin formed across her face at the compliment, a faint tint of blush highlighting her sharp features. “Back in the 90s? Wouldn’t know, I was born in 96..” a hum escaped her lips as her fingers brushed the rest of the hats in the store. “Granted, I haven’t tried, but I think I should save myself the embarrassment of even attempting.”
Burn With Me Tonight; A Harper Gall Playlist - a playlist for a nature girl with an explosive secret
001. Fire Meet Gasoline - Sia // 002. Homemade Dynamite - Lorde // 003. Feelings - Hayley Kiyoko // 004. Never Be Like You - Flume ft. Kai // 005. Dancing in the Moonlight (2001) - Toploader // 006. A Real Hero - Electric Youth & College // 007. Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash // 008. Holocene - Bon Iver // 009. Wide Open Space - Dixie Chicks // 010. I Wish I Was the Moon - Neko Case // 011. Woman - Kesha // 012. Rocky Mountain High - John Denver // 013. Fighter - Christina Aguilera // 014. Run the World (Girls) - Beyonce // 015. Soak Up The Sun - Sheryl Crow // 016. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac // 017. Take Me Home, Country Roads // 018. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys // 019. Birds - Poor Moon // 020. Depth of My Soul (ft. Shana Halligan) - Thievery Corporation // 021. Riverside - Agnes Obel // 022. Red Hands - Walk Off the Earth // 023. Let’s Kill Tonight - Panic! At the Disco // 024. The Judge - Twenty One Pilots // 025. Devil’s Whisper - Raury
Nicholas nodded in agreement. Their eyes scanned the bucket hat, nose wrinkling a little in disapproval, though they didn’t interrupt Harper’s intention to buy it. They smirked to themselves and folded their arms over their chest, quirking a brow at the question. “Are you joking? I’m on the verge of my big break into the hip hop industry.”
An airy giggle escaped Harper’s mouth at his statement before she rolled her eyes at the person before her. “Is that so? What’s your hip hop name then? I’m curious to hear some of your stuff, perhaps you want to give me a taste?”
“You could be,” they offered with a shrug of their shoulders. “Stranger things have happened. No doubt you have all kinds of hidden talents. Hip hop could be one of them.”
“that is fair, i suppose less strange things have happened.” she mused, shrugging her shoulders at her reflection. “i guess i’ll buy it, it’ll keep the sun away.” harper mused, before returning her attention to nicholas. “oh, i can assure you i have hidden talents, but fortunately for both of us, hip hop is not one of them..what about you, though? do you have any?”
“look, i’m just saying..” she huffed, adjusting the bucket hat onto her (newly) blonde fringed locks. “this really cannot be in fashion - sure you say rappers are wearing them, but do i seem like the kind of person who can rap?”
how lucky is harper gall to be chosen to go on this trip! the twenty-one year old yale law student is known for being solicitous, but also being reserved. maybe that’s why they are known as the demure. they requested to be in a room with 1 other person. hope nobody finds out that they were part of an eco-terrorist group responsible for embassy bombings.
below the cut is all you need to know about my girl harper! also about me, momo!
BACKGROUND: Harper muir gall was born on April 22, 1996 to Sunshine Peterson (her grandparents were major hippies) and Richard Gall in Seattle Washington. Her mother is a geoscientist at Olympic National Park and her father is Head Park Ranger. For her whole life, Harper grew up around nature and in the Olympic National Park - that’s where her family actually lived - in a beautiful two-story secluded cabin away from any public paths. Due to her living situation, Harper’s one true passion in life became about the environment, and subsequently because of her living situation, she grew up secluded from other people, often finding friends in the books she read and her parents.
While Harper is shy, she found her footing in the Earth Liberation Front (E.L.F) at a young age - much to the approval of her parents. In 2007, at just 11 year old, she was a part of a mass burning of houses in Washington. The thrill of the flames was unimaginable for her (and now, she’s a bit of a pyromaniac) - and Harper began to take on leadership roles when she made it into her teens. In her late teens, on a “family” trip to Kenya, Harper and her E.L.F compatriots were responsible for bombing the Chinese embassy in Nairobi (for which harper built the explosives) - for using non-green building practices in the country. E.L.F, now considered a terrorist organization internationally, never publicly took credit for the bombing, and it’s now something that sits heavily upon her conscious.
PERSONALITY: Harper is driven, and most of the time, extremely selfless. She is currently enrolled at Yale law school, hoping to become an environmental lawyer - though her status as a “terrorist” could ruin that forever if it ever came out. Harper is reserved, also. While she’ll tell you she’s not up for adventure - that’s an absolute lie. Harper loves exploring new places, though usually by herself. That’s what she used too. She’s a bit shy, but if people really make an effort to coax her out of her shell, she’ll usually pop right out. Additionally, it’s better if you ease Harper into things, she likes to know everything that’s going on and have a full understanding of her surroundings.
Harper has also never dated anyone - she hasn’t really had the opportunity. There were a few of her fellow E.L.F members that she was flirtatious with, but outside of that, it’s really just been her and her parents, which she doesn’t mind.
Despite being shy and a bit sensitive, Harper won’t hesitate to put someone in their place if they’re not respecting her or someone else. She’s a staunch social justice warrior, and won’t stand for any type of unfairness.
POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS: a person she’s flirty with and has a crush on, an absolute best friend (she’s never had one other than her parents), the frenemy, her roommate, someone who thinks she looks familiar (they’ve seen her blurry face in a picture on a wanted list or something), a fellow book nerd whom she can bond with, or anything else you can think of!
ABOUT MUN: Hi everyone! My name is Morgan but everyone in the rp world just calls me Momo. My rp/fandom account is wheelerwrites and if you can’t tell by the url/my fc i looooove stranger things. I currently am in my last semester of undergraduate education and am applying to grad schools to be a social worker! i live on the east coast of the us and have been rping for close to 7 years now. every year i think i’m done and im back again lol. my favorite animals are whales and im obsessed with almost everything so be sure to hit me up! i also love plotting so feel free to shoot me a message bc im a little shy lol.
