[cis woman and she/her] Welcome to Aurora Bay,[HOLLAND BRIGHT]! I couldn’t help but notice you look an awful lot like [ELLIE BAMBER]. You must be the[TWENTY-SEVEN] year old [ATTENDANT AT HIDDEN GEMS THRIFT SHOP]. Word is you’re [HONEST] but can also be a bit [GUARDED] and your favorite song is [PAIN IS COLD WATER BY NOAH KAHAN]. I also heard you’ll be staying in [OCEAN CREST APARTMENTS]. I’m sure you’ll love it!
FULL NAME: Holland May Bryant Bright
NICKNAME(S): Hols, Little Bird
AGE: Twenty-Seven
GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cis Woman & She/Her
SEXUAL & ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Bisexual & Biromantic
BIRTH PLACE: Atlanta, Georgia
BIRTHDAY: 15 June
ZODIAC: Gemini
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single
HEIGHT: 5'6"
OCCUPATION: Attendant at Hidden Gems Thrift Shop
EDUCATION: Homeschooled
NEIGHBORHOOD: Ocean Crest Apartments
ARRIVAL IN TOWN: Late September 2024
PARENTS: Daniel Bryant (Father) — Living, Morgan Bryant (Mother)
SIBLINGS: Cassidy Bryant (Older Sister) — Living, Daniel Junior Bryant (Older Brother) — Living
SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English
PETS: None
BIOGRAPHY !
There was nothing assuming about Daniel Bryant and Morgan Lee. From the outside they were nothing more than two young adults that met, fell in love, and decided to start a family. Sure, all their friends and people close to them said they had a good work ethic and it was no wonder the two fell in love. Everyone who knew them sang praises about them. But they were, for all intents and purposes, two people who no one would think twice about, who no one would expect cruelty from. Both of them landed jobs in their respective fields. When their first child, Cassidy was born, the two went right back to work, not even bothering to take the time to truly bond with their child, busy with their projects. Their son followed Cassidy three years later and was given the same cold and distant treatment. But it was Holland, the accident, that brought the changes.
While Holland's childhood was particularly boring and not very interesting, things changed when she turned five. The Bryant family did their best to shelter their children from everything that went on in the world. Although Holland was young enough not to know what was going on, her sister and brother were both fifteen and sixteen years older than her. Their parents began pulling away from society, moved from Atlanta to Trenton, Georgia. She and her siblings were forced to give up on the freedom they once had. Instead of going to school, their parents began homeschooling them. Their parents became wary of all their neighbors. So from a young age, the only constant in Holland's life was that her parents were always around and she was barely allowed to leave the house.
Most media was banned from their house, so she learned to draw, learned to entertain herself with whatever her parents did allow in the house. Holland grew up hearing arguments between her older brother and her parents about how they were prisoners in their own home, yet her older siblings had more freedom than Holland ever did. But it was the only thing she knew, so how could she complain? Her parents got more involved with the church and there were other kids her own age and suddenly everything got easier, no matter if she was forced to go to church multiple times a week. Her parents promised her that this was what was best for her. How could she complain. Even if her siblings weren't exactly enthused by the idea.
By the time Holland was ten, both her siblings had moved out. It was only her and her parents, who over the years only got worse. They controlled everything about their daughter's life, from what she wore to who she went out with. When a member left, there was always someone new to replace them, but people rarely left. Holland's brother eventually came back when she was seventeen. Holland remembers the shouting match between her brother and parents. He wanted to take her with him. They couldn't keep Holland locked up forever. She couldn't forget the way her mother screamed, "We're doing everything we can to protect her from everything." And her father who yelled, "So you're becoming a monster just like them." She was scared and would never forget the way her brother left, shaking his head and telling them they were going to ruin Holland, just like they'd ruined themselves.
At eighteen, Holland decided that she was not going to college, like her sister and brother. She had an active role in the church and she enjoyed small town life. Holland had a job at one of the restaurants in town. She didn't understand what her brother was on about. Life was simple for her and she didn't really mind it. At least until she met another woman who was from a big city and hated small town life. She started spending time with her and they became friends. And slowly, after years and years, Holland found herself falling in love. Feelings that she didn't think were right, according to her church. But she let them happen, thinking that if her church really loved her, they'd accept her. Yet when she felt brave enough to tell them, she just left instead. Holland packed a suitcase, took the money she'd been saving up as well as the money her parents had set aside for her future, and bought a train ticket out. She left a letter for her friend, then left. Years ago, when her brother came to visit, he'd given her a post card from Aurora Bay. She may have only been twenty two at the time, but that wasn't going to stop her.
Before she really began her travels, Holland changed her surname from Bryant to Bright so that her parents couldn't be able to find her. While she travelled, she found herself visiting cities all over the country before actually settling down in Aurora Bay. Holland travelled with the intention that she was going to find her brother, but it's been more difficult than she expected. After all, she didn't look the way she did when she was ten and she imagined her brother was the same way. She got a job in town and has started making friends with the intention of maybe making Aurora Bay home.
HEADCANONS !
After leaving home, Holland briefly considered dying her hair a different color, but she really likes her red hair and decided to keep it natural.
"I'd just advise that you choose your company wisely," he points out, "my dad's a musician and we spent a lot of time on the road. It's not for everybody." @hollandbrights
"Well, yeah." She wasn't a musician though, so she didn't have any big worries or anything. "I don't know that I have to worry about something a musician would have to worry about. It'll just be me for the most part."
Emerson smiled easily at her, nodding in response, "Well I hope you've read some good things! Nothing's worse than being left let down by a novel." Especially when it then left her in a reading slump. "Legends and Lattes...I might have to check that out. I do quite like softer books. Maybe after I read it I'll let you know how it was- and vice versa, I'll be sure to try and find a recommendation for you!"
"Always. I wish I had more time to read. I swear the number of books I want to read never decreases." Everything was being published so quickly these days. She loved getting to see new books on the shelves at the store. "Yes, please do! I love a good recommendation." Personally, she felt like she didn't get enough of them. "I'll pick up mostly anything. Bonus points if it's got a good amount of queer characters in it."
"It is," she says warmly. "I know it gets a bad rep for the dreary weather but honestly Washington in general is... so green and pretty. And I never minded the rain... Just used it as an excuse to buy the cutest boots and pea coats." Her eyes stay with the other woman, Zoe nodding. "Oh, that's really cool. Hm... Alright..." She sits up slightly, trying to focus. "Without knowing anything about you, I'd probably recommend Capitol Hill area just because it has some fun little shops and it's pretty close to downtown. Melrose Market is right there. And there are sculptures and murals and little artsy type places to check out. Just a cool vibe with a lot to see. Plus, some great restaurants. And coffee places, obviously. It wouldn't be Seattle without coffee at this point..."
@hollandbrights
"It wouldn't be so green without the rain. Plus, I like green. I look really good in the color green." In comparison to other colors. She smiled and nodded. "Sometimes I wish my brother had picked somewhere in Washington to go." Nevermind that Holland didn't know where he was regardless. "That's okay. I don't mind any place. Somewhere cool. I tend to like do a lot of research and find cooler underground places. I've always liked walking around cities, finding places that are... you know off the beaten path." Holland nodded. "Coffee does sound like it's something you have to do in Seattle. Maybe I'll ask the people who still follow my blog if they've got coffee shop recommendations."
Daisy: What does your muse think when it comes to sex and sexuality in regards to themselves?
“That it’s complicated and I still don’t know how I feel about everything, but I know I'm not straight. I know I like women. I'm not sure how I feel about men though. Like sometimes I do.... but it's so rare.”
"You can do a whole ride along the 1 and the 101 and stop as much or as little as you want, if you've never seen any of it." It was the usual route that he took when he went to visit San Francisco or coming back down to Aurora Bay when he was doing the drive between the two cities, so Luca had probably seen much of it by now. "I think the ride is a little nicer coming back south, since you can be in the lane closest to the ocean but that might just be me being a little biased," he admitted lightly. "Any types of things you're partial to visiting?"
“See now that sounds like a good plan. I have zero ideas, I’m really just itching to see something new.” Holland hadn’t planned on staying put in Aurora Bay, but she liked it here. Enough to settle down for a while. Now she was getting antsy though. “Not really. I had a travel blog before moving here. Made my was through the north, midwest, and then went south before coming here. So anything in Northern California I’ve never seen before.”
"You should totally come up to Palm Springs. I know it's not a million miles away, but it's like a totally different planet to here. At least to me." Madison smiled. "You could stay at my house, well, my parents house, so you could save money on hotels or whatever you're planning on doing. Don't worry, they're never there."
"It doesn't have to be a million miles away. I just want it to be somewhere that I've not been before." Holland hadn't ever been to Palm Springs. She did take a short trip to LA once, but that was only because she needed to say that she'd been there. "Where are they if they're never there? You'd have to give me the good places go to. Not the touristy spots."
"I haven't been up to those cities outside of touring, so it's been a minute -- plus, you don't get too much time to explore when you're working. But I could probably recommend one or two restaurants if you needed stuff like that. If you want a good weekend mini-road trip, my husband and I love Big Sur -- it's really beautiful." @hollandbrights
"I figured you wouldn't get a ton of time to yourself when you're touring. Seems like something that passes by quickly and on to the next place." Holland figured it was one of those things that happened in a blur, one town to the next. "Oh, yes, for sure places to eat. I haven't gotten to do Big Sur. I wasn't in this state for very long before I came here. I was all travelled out." Going from one city to the next staying for a few months at a time made it difficult.
"Well, that all depends on your idea of fun." Liam said with a slight shrug. "The last time I went to Portland, I visited the Japanese Garden. It's really something else. And of course, you have to go to Powell's City of Books. Even if you're not an avid reader, it's an experience. When I go to Seattle and Portland is mostly business related, but I try to do some tourist-y things when I'm there if I can."
"I don't know that I have a definition of fun. I'm one of those people that tends to find calmer things to do than big parties." But also Holland really enjoyed getting to see the things the locals did. "Powell's sounds like fun. I am an avid reader, so that'll for sure make my list." Holland beamed. "Do you go to Seattle and Portland often?" she questioned with a tilt to her head. "Have you been anywhere else fun?"
“ I have and I would have to say both of them are a big change from being around here. I mean if that is what you’re looking for to do? “ Juno replied glancing back over to them. “ you should just go up the coast and see as many things as possible.it could be fun “
"That's fair. I like this town, but after traveling so much after I left home, I kind of need a bit of a break from this place." Holland was grateful that she was so easily able to settle down here, but she did miss traveling. "I've been to LA. I was there for a couple of months, but I never went up further than that."
"I can't say I've been to either place," Rhys admits, "usually I'm going east." The furthest north he's been is San Francisco and he's not sure that's helpful. "If you have the means, though, I'd say go for it? California is a nice drive. Are you planning to go by yourself?"
"I've been east. It's alright." Holland shrugged. "I'm from Atlanta." She really didn't want to go back. California was her home now and even if she didn't know where her brother was now she didn't think leaving this town was going to find him. "I don't have a car though that's the problem. I'd love to go on a road trip with people. Get a small group and someone with a car or rent a van or something."
"Alright, we have a few hours until sunset, at which point I'm determined to get on the ferris wheel and take a killer summer profile pic." One she hoped maybe a certain someone would look at and realize what he was fumbling. "Do we wanna waste the time trying to beat out tweens trying to win giant stuffed animals? Or just go right to the drinking and snacking."
"Can't we just buy them?" Holland asked, knowing that wasn't really in the spirit of things. She looked to the ferris wheel and nodded. "Do you want the town or the sunset as the background?" That was essential in making sure that the picture was from the right angle not to mention she got on the correct side. "I think drinking and snacking seems better. I'd probably throw something at someone on accident."
"You can do a whole ride along the 1 and the 101 and stop as much or as little as you want, if you've never seen any of it." It was the usual route that he took when he went to visit San Francisco or coming back down to Aurora Bay when he was doing the drive between the two cities, so Luca had probably seen much of it by now. "I think the ride is a little nicer coming back south, since you can be in the lane closest to the ocean but that might just be me being a little biased," he admitted lightly. "Any types of things you're partial to visiting?"
"I don't exactly like to drive though, that's the problem." She had her license and could drive if she wanted to, but Holland did prefer to be driven places. "i think I'd probably get a bit freaked on those roads myself. I much prefer places I can walk to. And I don't own a car." She could absolutely rent one though that wasn't a problem. "Maybe I can convince one of my friends that has a car to go with me." Holland bit the inside of her lip. "No, not really. I've been to a lot of the major cities on the east coast, but I settled here pretty early on my trip to here."
