* / run further .

𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗥𝗬𝗔𝗡𝗧 . twenty . closed roleplay blog for ogden college rp. penned by bee.

[hollandbryants]

{ KAYLEE BRYANT, 20, DEMI GIRL, SHE/THEY } Is that HOLLAND BRYANT? A FRESHMAN originally from KETTLE FALLS, WASHINGTON, they decided to come to Ogden College to study MUSIC on a FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIP. They’re THE RUNAWAY on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance.

CHARACTER INSPO — Macy Foster (Crave), Genya Safin (Shadow and Bone), Ava Gardener (Everything Leads to You), Kadou (A Taste of Gold and Iron), Chloe Green (I Kissed Shara Wheeler), 

CHARACTER STATS:

FULL NAME: Holland May Bryant 

NICKNAMES: Holly

GENDER: Demi Girl

PRONOUNS: She/They

MAJOR: Music

MINOR: English

SEXUALITY: *shrug emoji* 

BIRTHDAY: 10 June

ZODIAC: Gemini

THREE POSITIVE TRAITS: Quiet, Curious, Accepting, Youthful

THREE NEGATIVE TRAITS: Sarcastic, Guarded, Jaded, Sheltered

THREE SKILLS: Knows how to fix tapes (VHS, music), Can sew their own clothing (it's not couture), Knows the top 20 songs each week for the past five years

ADDITIONAL INFO:

RELATIONSHIP TO GREER: Picture this: a small town young teen enters New York City for the first time with her older sister and brother. They have no other family, no other friends, and no money. They enroll at a local school and they’re immediately ostracized for being unusual. It’s New York though—and Greer Morrison is the it girl. Though they don’t go to the same school, the popular students talk about her. Holland knows that Greer Morrison is absolutely the last person that Holland would have contact with. They wouldn't even be in the same social circle if they went to the same school, which they didn't. But she heard her name out of the mouths of her bullies far too many times. So Holland looks her up online, trying to figure out what the fuss is all about. She doesn’t get it. Greer seems like a normal teenage girl to her, richer than their family, more popular than they are, but Holland doesn’t get it; she follows her anyway. And slowly Holland understands what it is about her that so many people like and look up to. It was actually a coincidence that Holland met Greer in person when they toured Ogden in their junior year of high school. She had picked Ogden as one of the schools to tour due to it not being so far from home, yet far enough she could feel independent and having a decent music program, but it was on a long list of colleges they were planning to apply to. Holland ran into Greer when she was let loose to explore the school for the afternoon and the two had a short conversation. That's the extent of their interaction, as far as everyone knows about. 

PLEASE EXPAND ON HOW THEY EMBODY THEIR CHARACTER TROPE. (abuse mention) Some people come from broken homes, that’s just a fact of life. Some people can deal with what card they’re dealt and some can’t. The Holland and her siblings were people who couldn't deal with their parents. Holland was twelve when her sister woke her up in the middle of the night and the two snuck out of their house to the nearest town. Her parents claimed to work too much to let them run around town on their own. They were strict and didn't budge much on their rules and didn't want their children roaming around on their own. Cassidy was sixteen at the time and promised the second she turned eighteen that the three of them would leave this town. Two years later, the Bryant children packed their bags heading off to a new city, running as far away from their home as they could. More than just running away from home, Holland runs away from any tough situation, mostly acting like anything bad doesn't exist. They can't stand the idea of being trapped again, be it because of another person or a situation. The first person to ask her out? She dumped her soda out on their head. She quite literally would rather run away from something tough than face it head on because dealing with the trauma she's been through with her siblings was tough enough, she cannot imagine talking to anyone else about it. However, Holland is desperate to fit in and find a place they belong. Most people can see a young, enthusiastic, impressionable young adult in Holland—sure sometimes she acts flighty. 

EXTRACURRICULARS: Book Club, DJ for School Radio (music)—Track Record, Concert Band (percussion) 

IMPORTANT BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: 

trigger warnings — abuse 

Holland is the youngest child born to Daniel and Marilyn [REDACTED]. She has an older sister, Cassidy, and a brother, Henry, who are two and one year her senior. Close in age, they got along relatively well, though she was much closer with her sister then Henry. They’ve always been kind of a combination of Cassidy’s easy going personality and Henry’s quietness. 

Her parents were very strict growing up, so for the most part, she never really got a chance to be a kid. The only people her age that she knew were her siblings and a few other children around her age in her neighborhood that her parents vetted and deemed safe.

Holland was sixteen when Cassidy turned eighteen and got them away from their home, travelling cross country to New York City so they could blend in better. They were excited to get to be around a bunch more people their own age.

However, NYC was much different than their small town and Holland really struggled with bullies and making friends. They stuck to learning music and kind of existing with the other people her own age that also didn’t have a lot of friends.

Cassidy was stressed and worked several jobs to take care of the three of them. And when Henry graduated, he did the same thing. They both wanted to give their youngest sibling the time to be an actual kid that neither of them really got. 

They didn’t have the best grades after graduating from high school, but they were poor enough that they were able to snag a scholarship to Ogden. This is her first time really being on her own and seeing what the world is like and it’s... not easy, but she’s trying to make it work.

CONNECTION IDEAS:

tbd

ADDITIONAL CONNECTIONS:

Friends

Bullies

Someone that listens to their show 

her statement stuck out to him - her brother drinks a lot. he doesn’t want them to know. felt familiar. but leaky didn’t make note of that, not aloud anyway. not here. “yea, they really are a ton of people.” he echoed with a small laugh, knowing it all too well. “i’m sure you can, everyone can dance. and besides i’m sure we could have fun. without you know...” his hands waving around him as if they offered full explanation to what he meant. “new year brings new adventures.” 

[hollandbryants]

Holland doesn't mind if people do drink or don't drink. Everyone has their reasons. She personally doesn't care for it—and didn't really want to be caught doing anything illegal. "Yeah, I'm... actually feeling a bit... overwhelmed." Holland looked around. "It was nice talking to you, but I think I'm going to find a place around here that's a bit quieter for a bit." New year and all meant that they could remember that it was another year away from all the mess they'd been in a few years ago. "See you around!"

lola’s definitely not poised to give advise on this. it’s like second nature to her, and she has grown up in the confidence of knowing that no matter what room she found herself in, she’d be able to establish common ground with people. and so, all her advice feels like a pastiche of a pep talk from a noughties rom com. even she can recognise that, however faint the inkling might be. “well, maybe your sister has a point.”

“don’t worry, i didn’t think you were,” she tells them then, small smile playing on her lips. she wasn’t sure she’d ever been anyone’s first first. first girlfriend, sure. first other things, definitely. but first kiss? there was something inherently romantic about it. it was a moment that carried itself with a certain air. instead of answering, lola gently places two fingers under the other’s chin, tilting it up slightly. there’s a slight beat, a moment’s pause, before she lets their lips meet.

[hollandbryants]

They don't know how people do fit in with everyone they surround themselves with when they struggle with that and don't think that's going to change anytime soon. It's never bothered them before though. Some people fit in and others don't. Holland's aware that they're probably one of those people that will never fit in no matter how much they want to. "Yeah, maybe." Holland knows she's a freshman and she has a while to find her people.

"Okay," they smile back, kind of nervous, even if they're trying not to hide it. For Holland, their first kiss was not that big of a deal the way it was to some people. She knew one day it was going to happen and she had never been that nervous about it. Holland had never felt that way about any of the boys that had flirted with them before. This felt different. Holland watches Lola closely, their eyes closing when the kiss happens.

[montyrichler]

He shook his head as he listened to Holland, amazed that they owned a legit Walkman -- and that they actually used it, too. Who else did that these days? His parents had plenty of old CDs, tapes, and vinyl, but Monty'd never really gotten into collecting it for himself. He was a full digital native, favorite CDs ditched once he was beyond bus rides to school and had an upgraded phone. Maybe if he ever made a mixtape, he'd burn a CD (linking someone a Spotify playlist didn't exactly scream romance), but he wasn't going to put in that effort just for himself. "Do you have a turntable?" he asked, gaze straying to skim over the racks of records that sprawled out before them, neatly organized by genre. "Even if you don't, I still think you should get it, if it's your favorite, y'know." His shoulder jerked a little as Monty turned to face Holland, hip cocked against the shelving. "You could always display it. Hang it on your wall or something... And I also just think you should buy it so I can live vicariously through you." The hint of a smile playing at his lips cracked into a full-blown grin. Monty could always appreciate a moment of innocent peer pressure. "I don't really have the cash to burn right now, so I'm only browsing. Not looking for much of anything. What I should try to find, though, is one of those meditation CDs of whale noises and shit." His next Google search: New Age shops near me.

[hollandbryants]

Holland was aware that liking music in cassette tape form was unusual. Vinyls had gotten popular these days for whatever reason—they didn't sound better, that was a lie. Still, listening to music had been the easy way to deal with what happened to them growing up. Their parents only ever played classical music and very little of it. Most media was banned from the house, including books. Thankfully now, she was able to do whatever she wanted as long as she didn't get hurt. Her siblings worried sometimes, but Holland figured they'd always be like that. "I do, actually. It's really old though and stays at my place back home. I think maybe I should get a newer one here." She nodded. "Yeah, I think that I will get it." Holland didn't have a lot of spare money, as much as she wanted to have more. Still, it wasn't often that they found their favorite record in the store. "I might still display it on the wall as long as it doesn't get direct sunlight. I can't remember which wall does." Records didn't need to be in full sun, they knew that. "Ah, I get that. Oh! I have a great playlist for that sort of thing. If you're looking for suggestions."

[ollieinoue]

Ollie smiled, something sardonic about it, as he nodded his head, but he didn't say much more about it. There was a reason he only showed up about half the time to classes when he was in High School. Then the less he showed up, the more ostracized he became among his peers because … it was him doing the ostracizing. Things for him had become better in his senior year for a long of reasons, but it was also - for a lot of reasons - too late by then to really salvage his high school career. Nobody there was going to remember him anyway, but at least it had given him the momentum when he got to college to … actually try. It helped that he was also now comfortable with himself. "Well, that's where I come in," He said almost completely repeating himself, giving another cheese wink and finger guns laughing a little bit. "I think we're gonna make a great team, Holland." He'd never really spoke to her much before, while they didn't seem like they had a ton in common, it had become pretty easy for Ollie to relate to most other people. There were a lot of students he worked for, but he did try to get to know them on some level. And hey, if Holland was in concert band then there was no reason he couldn't check it out. "Sweet!" He said with a bright smile. "So! Just text me your email and then I'll get in contact with you about all the info, payment plans, and whatever else. We'll work out something that works for you." He nudged them with his elbow and motioned down a different sidewalk, "but I should probably start heading to class. Don't stress out too much about things. I've got your back." Some thumbs ups and Ollie waved before turning his back and strolling off in another direction.

END!

[hollandbryants]

END !

it’s almost unthinkable to her - to have gone through their teenage years feeling as though you were on the fringes of something. she’d always been the sort of person who just tumbled into popular cliques, the sort of person who made friends without ever really trying, and she hadn’t really had any reason to process that for others, it might be different. that it may not feel as natural. “never too late to start,” she says, gentle smile still tugging at the corners of her lips. “college’s great for it. everyone is basically starting afresh. and people would be stupid not to want to hang out with you.”

she looks at them for a moment, trying to discern what is being said. trying to make sense of it, make sure she’s not accidentally falling into the trap of thinking the world revolved around her again. “no shame in waiting - i feel like it’s the sort of thing you should only do when you’re ready. and boys are the worst.” it’s a bit of an exaggeration, sure. but the point still stands. teenage boys was not a thing saw through rose tinted filters when imagining her own upbringing. a pause. “are ... are you saying you want to?”

[hollandbryants]

They didn't know how to feel about this conversation because the things that made them feel like they were an outcast were things they couldn't change. The girls in high school had been mean. Eventually she had her own group of friends that were probably better than fitting in with the mean girls. Still, there was a part of her that wanted to fit in with everyone. "I guess not, yeah," they replied with a small smile. "That sounds like something that my sister would say." College was a time to reinvent yourself and that's kind of what she was trying to do.

So many people her age were talking and thinking about being with other people. It wasn't like Holland had never thought about it before. They'd been asked before and had always said no for whatever reason. Thinking about dating was nerve-wracking. "I know. I'm not... trying to..." Holland trailed off, unsure of how to finish that sentence. She had never wanted to kiss a boy before anyway. "Yeah, I want to. I'm sure." Holland stepped closer to Lola. "Um, if you want to."

[ollieinoue]

"Kinda different experience, but I was pushed ahead a grade and went straight from seventh to High School, so I can relate to it being difficult -- at least in a different sort of way." It was supposed to help him focus. It was supposed to give him more of a challenge. All it had really done was put him in a place where he felt way younger than everyone, stood out like a sore thumb, and had absolutely zero friends. "Honestly, I hated school before coming here." Maybe he was just one of those people who fit into a college atmosphere more than his previous school experiences. Maybe he'd just gone to terrible school because he lived in the middle of New York and his parents couldn't afford to send him to private schools (granted he'd had the opportunity for that as well which he turned down). "I think it feels better to be able to study what you want to. Have more control over your social situation. Y'know all of that shit… Which is where I come in," he added, with a cheesy smile and some finger guns to go along with it, like he was trying to sell them, as if they hadn't just discussed setting up all this a second ago. He nodded his head with an 'aahhh' sound. "I love classical music. I know a lot of people go lofi when studying, but I like to listen to classical to focus. I couldn't really tell you anything about it, though, honestly. I love the vibes, but seems like a lot of history." Like centuries worth of history. "But if you ever have a concert or anything, let me know! I might show up."

[hollandbryants]

School had always been kind of a struggle for her, but Holland pushed because she didn't need anyone giving her a reason to feel different than anyone. They kind of liked that they had something to focus on since their social skills were not up to par with everyone else's. Holland tried her best to mimic the people around her, but she was not a good actor and people could tell that everything was fake. "I get that. I didn't have any friends. Everyone thought I was weird." If only they knew the truth, they'd really think that about her. She was not normal and pretending that she was felt wrong. "Yeah, I hope so. It'll be easier when I'm not in general education I think, but that's three whole semesters away unless I push myself and I don't want to do that." Holland hoped that being able to focus on classes she cared about was easier. They nodded at Ollie. "I hope so too." She had enjoyed all types of music, though she was never the type to start a band or sing. As much as she wanted to fit in, they hated being the center of attention. "That's funny because I listen to lofi when studying. I think I get too into listening to classical that I can't focus. Top 100 is also easy to study to for me. I like everything." Her entire childhood had mostly just been hymns. "I'm in concert band! I'll let you know when we preform next."

[court-mills]

Court glanced over when he heard the words, offering a small smile. "That's not a bad thing," he said with a shrug. In reality, Coco was the type to be calling people constantly, to be hovering (physically or conceptually) if he was worried. So they couldn't help but empathize with whomever Holland was complaining about. "Hard for people not to be worried with, uh...everything that's going on."

[hollandbryants]

There was something really weird about being back on campus after everything that happened over the break. Everyone had to act like everything was normal and it wasn't normal. People close to them kept going missing or dying. There was nothing normal about that. "That's true. It's not a bad thing. I don't like them hovering personally. I'm an adult, not a kid anymore. I'm really hoping that this semester is... I don't know easier." They knew it was probably not going to be that. The police were probably going to come interview everyone, so they had to be ready for the types of questions they'd ask. They didn't deal with stress that well.

[charfletchh]

"always good to be open minded," charlie smirked. "personally, i pride myself on it." innuendo aside, she did like to think she was fairly impartial- although this was probably less true open-mindedness and more that she found it very difficult to say no. "nah, i'm officially a semester from graduation." at least she hoped so, given that she'd skipped every single scheduled appointment with her academic advisor since she'd matriculated. "it would take me longer to pick somewhere to go than it would to just finish it out. nothing that bad can happen in the next six months, right?" she smirked, well aware that given the last six months, that wasn't a given. "did you? you've got plenty of time to run."

[hollandbryants]

"I think so too. When it comes to music, I will give anything a try. I listen to a lot of the top 100 just because I think it's cool to look at music trends. There's a lot of randomly popular music that you don't expect. I'm that person that's always looking at the top 100 billboards." Holland didn't just listen to popular music. "I play classical though, so I'm a bit boring in comparison to Taylor Swift. I'm not a singer songwriter or anything cool like that." They looked at Charlie and nodded. "Only a semester? That's got to be stressful. What are your plans after graduation? Or have you not given it that much thought?" Holland knew they hadn't really thought about after graduation. With everything that happened last semester, there were a lot of things up in the air. "No, I didn't. I'd have to explain things to my family and I don't wan to do that."

“well, in my experience,” lola begins, eyes briefly travelling up to the ceiling to indicate thinking, before finding holland’s again. there’s a veiled intensity in her gaze - the look of someone with a desperate need to be liked. but it’s faint - a flicker of it, the actual fire long since faded to embers. “the best parties are the ones you don’t really remember.” there are vague moments, poolside drinks, giggling behind hands, attempting to walk on broken stilettos. campfires, the smell of seasalt, time ceasing to exist. “it’s so cliché, but for me? i just like spending time with my friends, you know? doesn’t really matter what we do.”

it’s not like she’s never been told she’s pretty before, but still, as they pass off their compliment, a faint shade of peach paints itself across the bridge of her nose. “you’re sweet. but it doesn’t look like the cards were stacked in my favour tonight. other than this. speaking to you, it’s nice.”

[hollandbryants]

Holland was not popular in high school. They had always been jealous of the people that got invited to the parties in high school. She never got to go to many of them and the ones she did go to felt overwhelming and like she wasn't welcome. Their best friend growing up had been their siblings, as stupid as that sounded. Holland wanted to be liked by people and wanted to feel like she was normal. "You make it sound so magical. They were always overwhelming when I was in high school. But I didn't have many friends." They wondered if it would ever feel like that when they were older. "Yeah, I get that."

They've never been great at reading into conversations. Their own feelings muddied with too many insecurities. They always felt like there was a bright neon sign over their head that said "resident freak." It wasn't the case. Holland wasn't at fault for the card she'd been dealt. Her parents hadn't been good people. It was a good thing she wasn't around them anymore. "Part of the reason I've never kissed anyone is that people make me nervous. The boys at my school made me nervous." Holland still felt nervous now, but it felt different. "Talking to you is nice too," Holland admitted, a slight smile on her face. "I don't mean to be forward, but I think it'd be different being kissed by you."

[ollieinoue]

"That makes sense," Ollie said, nodding his head. He'd never had any siblings, so he didn't know what it was like, but he imagined the engagement in each other's business - even if their parents weren't in the picture - was not always that high of a level. If he had a sibling he wouldn't give a shit what was happening at their school as long as they weren't being hurt or something. Granted … a (potential) murder was a pretty fucking big deal and he thought he would like to know about that. But he was not Holland's siblings. So, who was he to judge. He strolled next to them, smiling a little bit. "It seems to be the case a lot, you're either good at the arts, or stem." Not always. There were people who were good at both. There were people who were good at neither. A lot of the time however, he got a lot of art students coming to him to deal with their required credits, so they could focus on art. Meanwhile he got a lot of stem students coming to him to deal with their literature classes (he couldn't do art for anybody but literature was okay). That was his limited experience in regards to the subject anyway. He stared at Holland for a moment, eyebrows raising at their comment about fixing tapes and wondering what that was even supposed to mean. But Ollie decided to just accept it as it was, and nodded his head, "cool. Well!" He pulled a phone out of his pocket, "I'll text you the number for my burner and you can just send me that and I'll get things set up." Then his eyes moved over them, nodding. They seemed like a pink type of person, but not like a bright pink, a little darker, a little classy. That's the vibe he got. "So, what types of music do you like to play? Or sing? Or whatever you prefer to do, I guess." Really it was such a broad topic it could be anything.

[hollandbryants]

Holland probably should have told her siblings what was going on at the school, but she didn't think that her sister needed to worry about her. It was easier for everyone to think that everything was okay than for them to spend every night worrying about her. If she told them, then Holland wasn't sure that things would stay the same. They were the baby of their family after all. Sometimes they didn't think their siblings trusted them to make the right decisions. But she wasn't over her head right now. "I was homeschooled until high school. So my education before that was... limited. I don't really know how I got through high school." They had worked hard and had a lot of catching up to do. While math was not their strong suit, Holland was very good at pretending to know things they didn't actually know anything about. Math was one of those subjects. "I like music. I worked very had in high school to get good grades to come here, but it was a struggle for me." Sometimes they felt like they didn't know half the things that other people did. "It was easy to focus on school when no one really talked to me at school." But now everything was much different. Holland had friends and she didn't feel as much of an outcast. "Okay, that sounds like a plan." They nodded. "Oh, classical music mostly. Piano and violin. I don't sing. I can, I just hate to. But classical music... it's nice."

“not even back on campus?” leaky looked over at holland with a bit of sympathy. it was hard to be at parties sometimes and remain sober (though he’d done so well), pretending like you belonged when you didn’t. it was probably easier to just stay in. “yea i get it.” he nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets, swaying a bit as he did. “well, i’m usually not drinking, if you ever wanna hang out at a party. one that’s not t’night.” leaky meant it, though he was unsure what kind of company he’d been tonight. “is there...anything you like to do that might make it easier?”

[hollandbryants]

"No, not even back on campus. My brother drinks a lot. He doesn't want us to know, but he does." They understood why, they could never turn a true blind eye to knowing how much pressure their parents had put on their brother. She couldn't blame him. Holland hated the lack of control personally. "I also don't go to a ton of parties back on campus either, but I'll find you at the next one I go to if you're at it! I like hanging out with people. Parties are just a lot, you know? Lots of people." One time had been invited to one, only for one of the popular girls to make fun of her. "Plus, I can't dance. And some people have horrible taste in music."

valentina. 

oddly enough, their words struck a chord valentina hadn’t been aware of for quite some time. growing up in her situation wasn’t common, at least not from what she’d gathered from her peers back when she was immersed in the public education system for a stint. she recognized how different she needed to be, for her parents, for their political prowess, for the persona they were trying to convey to the world and the part they wanted her to play in the mix. but she’d never considered how the skills she’d forced herself to learn were a product of them, and not the situation. she mused over the statement for a moment, unsure of how they had been brought up or how the constant state of vigilance came into play for them but nontheless, admiring the trait.  ❝ it takes practice , so i think it’s fine if you’re still feeling a little aprehensive. whatever it is, it’s kept you relatively safe to date, right? so it can’t be all too terrible of a skill.  ❞

[hollandbryants]

Growing up, Holland had thought her situation with her family was normal. After she found out the truth though? Holland knew that her parents were not good people. When she and her siblings left, she really found out that her situation wasn't normal. There were other people with parents who were just as bad as theirs—some to a degree that Holland felt like they hadn't been through anything. "I get it. I'm not very good at it, I think. I like the way I think." Holland shrugged. "Yeah, it's kept me alive so far." They didn't feel like this was living. Always looking over their shoulder in case something bad happened, never staying in one place for too long, wondering if someone would figure out their past. Holland couldn't let that happen when there was so much she wanted to be known for and her past wasn't it. "It's probably not a terrible skill at all, but um, I'll let you go. I'm okay now."

[gianninnaa]

it was hardly ever quiet in the music building. from students coming and playing music to the oldest parts of its structure creaking, something was always happening. while it could be annoying to some, it was a source of comfort for giannina. the sound of the piano instantly sparked gia's attention. though some would let the mystery player continue as they were, gia couldn't just let it be. curiosity or loneliness; regardless of the cause, she followed the sounds until she found holland.

❝            i didn't mean to startle you. ❞ which gia meant. ❝ i was just listening. ❞ she recognised holland from a few shared classes. enough to know that approaching the other wasn't a horrible idea. ❝ did you write that? ❞

[hollandbryants]

A part of the reason that the Bryant family had settled into New York City after years because it was noisy and crowded. There was never a night in their house when it was quiet, even when her brother was reading. There was always music or laughter, dance parties, and fun. Because that's what the three of them deserved after all the years of dealing with their parents. Holland hated quiet eve now. It's why music became something important to her; this was the reason they wanted a career as a musician.

Holland looked up at Gia. "It's okay. I wasn't..." startled. It was a lie and the truth at the same time. "Yes, I did. It isn't very good. I just... I like playing around sometimes."

[montyrichler]

"Hm?" Monty glanced over, head tilting towards his shoulder to check out the album cover that was being offered in his direction. There was a delay of a few seconds there, him just staring before his brain suddenly kicked on and caught up, allowing him to fully process the entirety of what Holland had just said. "Hold up," he started, head shaking with a half-amused huff, hand slipping from between the row of CDs he'd been idly flipping through to raise both of his palms in their direction. "What decade are you living in exactly? Did you just say that you already have it on tape -- like, cassette tape?" His gaze narrowed into a confused squint, wondering how Holland even had the means to play a tape these days. Sure, records were technically more vintage in the timeline of musical media, but they were the one format that had true staying power above the rest. He nodded emphatically, reaching out to take the vinyl from their hands, getting a closer look at it while telling them, "You should definitely buy this. Get with the times already." He cocked out an elbow to nudge their arm, trying to show that he was just fooling around before genuinely asking, "What is this, though? Like a really old audiobook?"

[hollandbryants]

Sometimes Holland forgot that most people didn’t even own CDs anymore. Everything was digital these days. However sometimes playing a cassette was so much better in her opinion. Plus if one broke, they could fix it easily. A skill cultivated after they’d broken one of their favorites from playing it too much. She liked the sound, like people who preferred vinyl. “Yeah, on cassette tape,” they repeated. “I have a walkman that still works and an old stereo. It was cheaper than shelling out a ton of money for a newer stereo.” Holland kinda liked the idea of listening to music the old school way. “Plus I can fix them if they go bad. Unlike a CD or a vinyl.” She has a lot in her collection and is always looking to buy something new. Holland let out a laugh at Monty’s statement. “Vinyl is cool, but it’s not portable.” They liked portable. Twirling it around in their hands, they thought for a second. “Kinda? It’s a narrated musical piece. Each animal gets their own instrument….” they wondered how well they were doing at explaining it. “It’s hard to describe, but it’s more of an orchestral piece than an audiobook. This version is also on youtube if you ever wanted to listen to it! I’d recommend it.” She shifted between her feet nervously. “What are you looking for?”

[idaclarke]

@hollandbryants​ when: jan 19th  where: on the way to the women’s basketball game 

while not being an athlete herself, ida never missed a chance to see other women shine. it wasn’t out of school spirit so to speak, but who wanted to miss a chance to see hot girls sweat and get aggressive? not ida. so bundled up in her coat, she was crossing campus to the gym, already figuring out who she’d try to meet after the game when she passed into the path of holland who seemed…distant. “holland, right? hey.” ida smiled as she paused, facing the girl. “are you goin’ to the game?” she nodded as a piece of hair flew into her mouth. her gloved hand reached to brush it away. “cause if not, i sure would love the company.” 

[hollandbryants]

Athletics were one thing that Holland had never herself gotten interested in. Other than running, she didn't do anything sporty and had never done well at anything athletic. However, it was good to support everyone at their college. Ogden athletes were all really talented too and if she went to their games, then maybe they'd go to orchestral concerts in return. These days they thought they walked around like a zombie, going through motions rather than thinking about what they were doing. They hated feeling like this. Being at Ogden felt like a trap. One of these days, she'd fall right through the ground. "Oh, um, yeah. That's me. I was planning on it, yeah." She nodded. "I'll keep you company sure!"

holland offers up a valid point. the white flakes whirling outside the windows at breakneck speed didn’t exactly bode well for the rest of twenty twenty-three. and if the first customers set the shift for the rest of the shift, what did that say about the first day and the rest of the year? of course, it wasn’t like it’d be all snowstorms every day for the next three hundred and sixty five days. but something felt amiss regardless. even with that in mind, she just offers up a little shrug and a smile. “it might turn around, you know.” ever the optimist.

“oh, uhm, well. i guess, i guess it’s different depending on the party.” is it rude to assume they’re alluding to not having actually been to one? is lola reading things into this conversation that is not actually there? mudlarking for subtext on the shores of their conversational rivers at low tide? “but there’s usually not a storm. or a power cut. but the kiss thing, it is a little bit exaggerated. i just thought i’d be nice to start the year off right.”

[hollandbryants]

They couldn't be an optimist anymore when their life had proven again and again that they weren't in control. Nothing about their life had ever been in their control and that wouldn't change just with a new year, as much as they wanted it to. Holland thought that maybe with the new year, something about her could change, but it wouldn't, couldn't. Apparently, wanting to be pessimistic didn't help anything. Maybe the storm was a bad thing right now, but maybe it would become a good thing. Maybe it was dumb to think that everything was a bad omen. Holland wasn't her parents after all, she didn't see omens everywhere she turned; instead they were just cautious about everything.

"Yeah? But they've all got to have an overall theme," she prodded. Sometimes she wanted to know what she was missing out on. She tilted her head to the side. "I mean you could right? People as pretty as you have to have others lining up just to kiss you at midnight." Holland didn't know how to feel right now.