INTERLUDE.

ISABELLA CHOI. twenty one. manhattan. art history and french studies. nepo baby.

[isabellafm]

GO MIN SI, 21, CIS WOMAN, SHE/HER. — Is that ISABELLA CHOI? A SOPHOMORE originally from MANHATTAN, NY, they decided to come to Ogden College to study ART HISTORY AND FRENCH STUDIES. They’re THE NEPO BABY on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance.

— PINTEREST. — SPOTIFY. 

HEADER PSD. INTRO PSD. 

— CHARACTER INSPIRATION.

Lux Lisbon (The Virgin Suicides), Margo Tenenbaum (The Royal Tenenbaums), Daria Morgendorffer (Daria), Estella Havisham (Great Expectations), Anya (The Midnight Club), Rebecca Doppelmeyer (Ghost World), Darcy Lewis (Thor), Rue (Princess Tutu).

— AESTHETICS.

lipstick stains on a Diet Coke can, brass brushed hand mirrors, the echo of an empty theater, baby pink leg warmers, little white lies, long museum dates, empty wine bottles, showing up late with a large coffee, the lingering scent of Chanel No. 5, Greek tragedies, stacked gold jewelry, vintage designer handbags, book pages worn from multiple reads.

— RECENTLY PLAYED.

Amy Winehouse, Me And Mr. Jones.

Mitski, Drunk Walk Home.

Videoclub, Amour plastique.

Joep Beving, Sleeping Lotus.

Fiona Apple, Left Alone.

Hozier, Shrike.

Delibes, Coppelia: Act I - Ballade.

Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66, No. 4h - La fée de lilas.

— RELATIONSHIP TO GREER.

The roommates seemed like a duo from hell, both legacy students from Manhattan, daughters showered in privelege and beauty and secrets. Their fathers brushed shoulders at Manahattan dinner parties, and their mothers gossiped over brunch. They appeared to be friends since childhood, to anyone on the outside, or within their social circles, but there was always an emotional wall built between the two. Maybe because of the way Greer could never hide from Bella, never fully, and never her secrets, not even behind a locked door. Isabella was too observant, too aware, and all too keen on judging whoever came and went through suite 208. There was an arragement between the pair: as long as the space was respectful, clean, quiet in the mornings and calm in the evenings, the secrets would die on their way into the hallway. Bella knew she needed Greer, whether or not she liked the fact, and Greer knew she needed Bella, all the same.

— SKELETON TROPE.

Isabella ached an escape from her family name since she could remember, desparate for fame and a ballet career all of her own. Her mother’s family is known across South Korea, generations of wealth sparked by the country’s industrial revolution, and her father is known around New York City as an accountant for the elites. Their business deal of a marriage created their only daughter, their prized possession. Bella can admit she had it easy, best ballet academies and tutors to help with the endless missed school days, but she never planned to apply to Ogden, the way her father had, until a knee injury ended her dreams. A large donation to the school’s cultural studies department, and wouldn’t you know it? Easy acceptance, and now, she’s on her way to whichever arts related job she could wish for, thanks to her family names. 

— GENERAL.

FULL NAME: Isabella Areum Choi.

NICKNAMES: Bella, Iz, Ari (family).

BIRTH DATE: July 11, 2001.

ZODIAC: Cancer sun, Capricorn moon, Pisces rising.

ETHNICITY: Korean.

NATIONALITY: American.

LANGUAGES: English, Korean, French, German, Japanese.

ORIENTATION: Heterosexual heteroromantic.

— PHYSICAL.

HEIGHT: 5′5 / 167 cm.

HAIR COLOR: naturally black, currently with brown highlights throughout. 

EYE COLOR: dark brown.

TATTOOS: 111 on her inner forearm; ballet slippers on her ribcage; simple heart on her inner, left pointer finger.

PIERCINGS: first earlobe piercing on each ear.

CLOTHING: feminine and tacky; ballet and 90′s inspired, lots of florals; long skirts, frilly socks, mismatched patterns; tights and leg warmers; gold jewelry and a daily gold cross necklace (yes, insert religious trauma); doc martens, vintage handbags; whites, tans, browns, pinks. 

MAKE UP: a natural look; claw clips, messy pony tails, and pigtail braids; lip gloss and mascara; highlighter and cream blush for special occassions; also a fan of a lip tint or lipstick.

— PERSONALITY.

POSITIVES: passionate, devoted, intelligent, thoughtful, creative, trustworthy, insightful.

NEGATIVES: pessimistic, dramatic, pretentious, morbid, secretive, blunt, sarcastic.

SKILLS: crying on command, ballet, sewing/hemming. 

HOBBIES: practicing ballet, reading, yoga, listening to podcasts, jogging, watching films that make her cry, collecting vintage purses, currating oddly specific spotify playlists, daydreaming.

EXTRACURRICULARS: book club, art club.

EXTENDED: Bella has a soft heart underneath the staged exterior, though there’s very few to see the sensitive side of her. She can be patient, but stern with those close to her, caring for them in a way she craves to be cared for. She’s one for some tough love and blunt advice. Not the most cheerful person, she’s often quiet and reserved, preferring to speak with intention rather than to fill the silence. Her sarcasm can fly over people’s heads with her dry delivery, and she’s the type to give an answer as a joke before offering the truth. Hyperboles are common in her language, and frequently, she’ll enjoy drama for the sake of drama, confusion for the sake of confusion. She’s very closed off, even to people who have known her for years, yet those very close to her would know how lonely she is. She’s beginning to find comfort at Ogden, away from the constant purpose that was ballet, but at the end of the day, even if she won’t admit it to herself, she seeks acceptance amongst her peers.

— ABOUT.

Isabella comes from two lines of wealth, her mother’s family wealth spanning decades in South Korea and her father’s family wealth found working as a hedge fund manager. Anyone who’s anyone would know of the union of the Lee and Choi family and how it brought the Lee’s influence into America.

Her family’s the type to buy impeccible art pieces only to safely tuck them away in storage, own the building where they live in the penthouse suite, and slide through life on the zeros in their bank account. Their daughter never asked for anything, because it would be given before she asked. 

Since birth, a precious only child, Bella’s been sheltered away from the ugliness of the world. Sure, she was displayed at dinner parties and large gatherings, but her parents always kept her at arm’s length from many of her peers. Not that she’d have time in her schedule, anyway. Once her mom adored the idea of a ballerina daughter, her days began and ended with ballet lessons, tutoring and French lessons sprinkled into any spare moments.

She grew up with an intense adoration for the arts, and any kind she could get her hands on. Film, music, literature, theater, dance, opera — it consumed her, especially anything dreadful or emotional. As well as her dream of being a prima ballerina. There isn’t much of a story to tell, after all. She ate, slept, and breathed ballet, even regularly missing school and important social events doing so. Proms, dances, birthday parties, Christmas vacations; she wasn’t always allowed such luxuries, because she had to practice, of course.

Freshly 18, the dream she envisioned came falling down. Patellar tendonitis, or “jumper’s knee,” halted everything she’d been working towards, including her acceptance into Juilliard. Sure, she’d be able to dance, stretch, move, be active, with some physical therapy, but going up en pointe? Isabella had to tell her mother that she’ll never see her on stage ever again. Her last pair of pointe shoes are still hanging above her bed, in her dorm room.

Good thing daddy’s alma mater was easily swayed with some donation money, and Bella chose to study art history, maybe find a job at a museum or become a collector, like her mother. She’s still lost on her new dream, because her entire life revolved around the one thing she fully lost. With no more audience to impress, it was a fresh start, and it was frightening.

Things had begun to go well, a roommate that boosted her social status and a bunch of peers who fluttered at the thought of her family’s money. Until Greer went missing. Bella’s left confused, concerned. At first, she laughed; of course Greer took off. Sounds just like her. Now, the situation is no longer funny. She never thought she’d miss having a roommate, but her phone’s constantly on the news pages.

Currently, she’s trying to get through the semester, same as everyone else: spends her mornings in her daily routine, practicing ballet at the private ballet barre in her bedroom, attends her seminars and lectures, and secretly enjoying all the parties and events the school throws. 

[wedarkacademia]

[ahneunjin]

GO MIN SHI as Lee Da Won episode 2 | Jirisan (2021)

[moondongeun]

Little Women (2022) 🥀 Gillian Flynn 🥀 Chen Chen

[isabellafm]

WHO: @ollieinoue. WHEN: A Monday night. WHERE: Allcott Dorm, suite 208.

Bella’s eyes skimmed the pages of her Sculptures of Southeast Asia assigned reading, though her attention wasn’t truly on the coursework. She peaked over the top of the book at the door to 208A, and she felt it staring back. The door resembled Greer more and more as the semester continued, stubborn, mysterious, hidden. The school finally decided to keep it locked, thanks to the police, but Bella wish she could keep it open, if only to know her roommate wasn’t hiding in her room. She knew it was insane, how the room felt filled with ghosts. Maybe it was the haunting of Greer, herself, exacting her revenge on the students. Or maybe there was a ghost who predated even the college, and maybe that’s who got Greer, The Conjuring style. 

Despite avoiding the suite this past month, she wanted to find comfort in it again. She was trying, in her own way, but as Ollie talked, she couldn’t focus on any of his words. How could she? “I got a letter from Greer,” she interjected, face still mostly covered by her book. She paused, then sat up straight on the couch, picking up her half empty bottle of wine off the floor. Maybe it was the wine that was opening her up, or maybe it was Ollie’s genuine demeanor. He had a beautiful heart, she reflected, while swallowing a mouthful of dark wine. “I thought it was a prank, at first. But I know, unquestionably, there were more. I don’t know. I...” She paused to collect herself. The honest moment of vulnerability was not something she was used to. “I thought it might be the final piece of her I ever receive, so I didn’t wanna share it. I just feel like I’m gonna go crazy, bottling it all up, I guess.”

[isabellafm]

And then, on the morning of September 18th, what should’ve been a quiet Sunday morning….four people woke up to a surprise. Slipped under their doors at some point in the night were four letters, the distinctive curly handwriting of none other than Greer Morrison scrawled across the front of the envelopes. 

Please deliver on August 29th - 

Isabella - 

Enjoy the room to yourself for the year.  Hope they don’t try to replace me, though…after all, we both know no one could replace me, right? Not the school, not Kit. Not Diego. 

x,

G

[isabellafm]

WHO: @mari-zuko. WHEN: In between classes. WHERE: A quad walkway.

“Hey, sorority girl. What’cha listening to? Girl in Red? Hayley Kiyoko?” Bella chimed, in a cheery, bright tone unlike herself. She spotted Mari taking off her headphones in the quad, and she couldn’t resist. Mari was someone who continued to fly under the radar, Bella felt, with the entire Greer disappearance. Sure, people could point the finger at Kit and Jesse and Diego all they wanted, but why was she able to hide her secret relations while everyone else got theirs dug up? Bella didn’t dislike her, particularly, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t pick at the KKG president. “Ohhh, maybe some Tegan and Sara? They’re really popular in the sapphic community, did you know?”

[sylvanianfamilieslove]

[isabellafm]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TASK 001: FAMILIES.

INTRODUCING . . . The Lee-Choi family.

James Choi and Lee Sun Hee were set up on a blind date by some mutual New York City friends, while Sun Hee was still in her senior year of college at Columbia Univerty. James was still laying the foundations to becoming a successful hedge fund manager, but the sparks with the chaebol daughter were instant. The rest is history, as they say, and Isabella Areum Choi was born just over a year into their marriage. But not all glitters is gold.

JAMES CHOI, 47, HEDGE FUND MANAGER, UHM KI JOO.

James’s beginnings were much more humble than his current situation; his parents came to America just before he was born, to grant him citizenship and a promising, bright future. He delivered ten-fold, excelling in school, college, and eventually his career. He started his path shadowing a connection he met through his time at Ogden College, and created his own successful stock portfolio along the way. Desparation was his fuel, desparate to live the life he felt he deserved, provide for his future and current family, and create a legacy to be continued for years and years. 

In the public eye, James is an honest, humble, hardworking man. Not to say he truly isn’t, but it’s a public secret among his social circle that he can go to great stakes to protect his family and his assets. This side is kept out of the public eye, and mostly the eye of his only daughter, and to most, they meet a sweet, well-deserving husband and father. Isabella could never forget, though, the smashed televisions and vases, the busted golf clubs, the ripped designer clothing. It was fine, he’d always say, because everything is replacable. She’d overhear phone calls, with threats or bribes or shady deals, sneak out of her room to find him coming home screaming drunk, see the way her mother tiptoed around him. She’ll always carry a fear of her father, but she’ll also always love him, choosing to cite his virtues over his vices to anyone who ever asked. It surprises most to hear that she’s closing to her father than her mother, daily phone calls and constant check-ins.

LEE SUN HEE, 44, ART COLLECTOR, KIM EUGENE.

Sun Hee was the wildcard of the Lee family, even as a young girl, interested in arts and traveling and America while her siblings were crafted to take on the family businesses. Money had always been promised to her, so she was never interested in work, knowing her father was there to fall back on. Her grandfather headed the Lee family group, a conglomerate controlling several Korean and international businesses, all which carried weight politically and socially. In fewer terms, they were untouchable. As was their money. Her dream was to have a picture perfect family portrait over the mantle in their warm home, surrounded by love and children.

After having her sweet, beloved Areum, the name Bella’s parents use, Sun Hee realized having kids was difficult. Babies were fun, sweet, cute, but as the tantrums and learning began, she found any excuse to escape. She began working for museums and art collections, traveling to invest in art around the world, while Isabella found comfort in a nanny. Sun Hee forced a dream on Bella and James both, of family life and of ballet. If Bella wasn’t perfect, or her husband wasn’t perfect, or life wasn’t perfect, she’d have meltdowns and run away. This would lead to dramatic fallings out when she returned, but Bella was always just grateful for her mom to return home. Even now, the mother is still one of the most successful art collectors in New York, building notoriaty off her family name, her husband’s name, and even her own name. The relationship between mother and daughter is again blossoming, almost too open and friendly, but Bella constantly shows love and forgiveness, even in times where she shouldn’t.

[isabellafm]

ISABELLA CHOI, #2020WRAPPED.

TOP ARTISTS. 

1. Mitski. 2. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. 3. The Smiths. 4. Amy Winehouse. 5. Andrew Lloyd Webber.

TOP SONGS.

1. Let You Break My Heart Again, Laufey. 2. Pink in the Night, Mitski. 3. You Must Love Me, Andrew Lloyd Webber & Original Evita Cast. 4. La Vie en rose, Edith Piaf. 5. Sleep Walk, Deftones.

MINUTES LISTENED.

86, 559.

TOP GENRE.

Indie.

psd credit.

[librarycard]

sometimes girls dont answer texts ever and thats ok

[isabellafm]

WHO: @ironlvngs​. WHEN: A Thursday afternoon. WHERE: The sidewalk leading out to the campus beach.

On days where the weather cooled and the leaves changed, the beach was a perfect spot. It wasn’t completely empty, no, but it was peaceful. There’d be art students galore, canvases and cameras out, or students studying in between their classes, or couples sneaking off together. It was a way for Bella to seek out community, to be reminded that she can speak and hear and experience. Public opinion would say the legacy enjoyed her alone time, but it became a condition, a habit formed from the life of a busy, only child. Ballet studio, then class, then tutoring, then studio to end the night. Now, even in her sophomore year, and especially without Greer to offer guidance, she was lost.

And so, her rollerblading time was a way for her to reach out. It was cool, right? At least she hoped so, craving someone to stop her on the path despite her cold, unapproachable reputation. But of course, the first lone person she encountered had to be an antagonistic one.

“Can’t you like, drop out, or transfer? Or maybe die?” she flat-lined towards Link Crawford, an opponent of a man if she ever met one. She realized how intimidating she looked on her pale pink rollerskates, with matching knee and elbow pads. “Take your pick, Lincoln, or perhaps, we can draw out of a hat.”

[isabellafm]

IN CHARACTER TASK 001: THE INITIAL SIT DOWNS.

The police knocking on Bella’s door, searching through the suite, calling her in for an interview. The reality set in: Greer was missing. The student body of Ogden College were about to be picked through with a fine tooth comb, and surely, to the public eye, Greer would be the perfect missing white woman. Blonde hair, a bright future, a life of the elites; Isabella suddenly realized she wouldn’t be able to hide anything, not anymore.

Her father’s first concern was his daughter’s well-being, that the campus security was on high alert and that it could’ve been his precious Areum missing instead. Pessimism and anxiety must’ve ran in the family, and as soon as the lawyer he sent arrived and she sat down across from the police, her heart beat throughout her body. The chair was stiff, uncomfortable, light shining directly in her eyes, but isn’t that the way? To make her squirm, stumble over her words, blurt out some big secret along the way. She couldn’t run from her problems, not today.

Some cop wearing a JC Penney’s suit entered, clipboard in hand. Bella noticed a wedding ring, dirty and scuffed and old. How sweet. The cop thanked her for coming in, showed some type of concern. All fake, Bella assumed, because why not butter up the missing girl’s roommate to uncover some secrets? Finally, the questioning began, her lawyer giving her a nod of approval, to let her know she wasn’t alone.

“When did you last speak to Greer?” the cop seemed to ask almost robotically, as if she were the fiftieth witness in a row. Maybe she was. Maybe they interviewed the entire student body, but no, she couldn’t let her mind wander. She had to focus.

“May. End of school year. I left earlier than her, so she called me as she left,” she answered, matter-of-factly, looking to the cop for approval. A second one entered the room, wearing a white button up, younger, offering a styrofoam cup of water. DNA collection. She watched enough Law and Order: SVU growing up to ignore the kind action. 

“Okay, good. When did you actually last see Greer? In person?”

“A couple days before then, when I left for New York for a week. She had another final to finish up and packing, some miscellaneous Greer Morrison things. We said our in person goodbyes for the summer, then I left.”

“How well did you know Greer?”

Bella eyed her lawyer, for any signs, to know if she was doing good, bad, if they were about to cuff her to the table for 72 hours of questioning. There was a simple nod, once again, so she answered the question. “I would say fairly well. I’ve known her since childhood. Different schools, but same circles. Being roommates I did try to keep some privacy between us, but we were friends.” Short and sweet. But there was a window. 

“We didn’t spend a lot of time together, particularly. She could get quite overwhelming. We had a lot of the same friends, but she hung out more with other people. Kit Kallberg, Henrietta Astor, Alethea Pierce, Jesse Hart, Mari Zuko. They’re all people I saw her with often.” She noticed them writing down the names, and she shrugged. She wasn’t exactly lying, after all.

“What was your relationship with Greer like?”

“I would say it was respectful, quiet, kind. We were never the type of roommate to argue or fight, really. I think we had a good balance of being friends but keeping things separate. We weren’t, like, staying up, giggling and braiding each other’s hair. Never like that. She was always good at that. Keeping some distance.” The cops eyebrow raised at the question, scribbling down some notes, and Bella picked at her nails underneath the metal table.

“Okay, good. Have you heard or seen anything about where she was this summer?”

That question stumped Bella. Her eyes look off for a second, searching for an answer. “Actually, no.” There’s a pause. “I assumed she’d be vacationing in the Hamptons, like every year. Maybe finding a boy toy, or girl toy... Who am I to judge? Love is love. But I didn’t see anything on socials. I couldn’t place her this summer even if I wanted to.” 

“You wouldn’t have wanted Greer to disappear, would you?”

“Wouldn’t you?” She paused, realizing what she said. “I mean, if you had a roommate who was the most popular girl in school? I don’t know anything about where Greer is, scout’s honor. Though, god, I’m not gonna lie when I say the suite’s been so peaceful. I hope she’s fine, but I’m not gonna rush her to come back, y’know?” 

[isabellafm]

WHO: @aceofportsmouth​. WHEN: A block of time in between her classes. WHERE: Commons cafe.

“The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Bella interjected, approaching the freshman as he was alone. The plan was to grab her lunchtime matcha latte — with oat milk and a splash of lavender, of course — but her ears tingled at the sound of Ace’s voice. She never liked that nickname, not when Booker was such a lovely monicker, but he was just Ace now, right? No more, no less. The school year was spent trying to stay under the radar, really putting the effort to stay out of drama and out of people’s mouths. Old habits must truly die hard.

“I don’t remember you returning my copy to me.” It was frayed, and bent, the spine beginning to fall apart, but Bella loved the novel and her annotations enough to cling on. Underlined passages, color-coded post it notes, doodles between the margins — it was her favorite. She craved so badly that Booker would love it the same. Though, the time for that was cut short. After a sip of her tea, she stared directly up at him.

[isabellafm]

quinneths·:

          ———      ⁂      Quinn blinked at being called Sandra Dee. She’d heard it before. Her jaw clenched, wanting to react but knowing it wasn’t worth it with Bella. ❝ Oh, ❞ she held back. The pencil case had been sitting by Bella in the library but must’ve been left before she arrived. Quinn pulled her arm in and held the item close to her chest, pulling a frown at the fellow legacy. ❝ I think not. ❞

Bella couldn’t hold back another roll of her eyes, if only because of course, Quinn had to stay on brand. But slowly, she thought of a way to mess with her, if only for old time’s sake. "Oohhh, I see.” Tapping her chin with her finger, she shook her head disapprovingly. “You just wanna steal it all for yourself. I’m on to your tricks. The goody-two-shoes is a secret klepto? How cliche.” 

[sunotes]

[isabellafm]

Libiancagraham​:

open / closed starter location: late night at linden housing / bianca’s dorm

the loud knocking on her door nearly made her jump out of her skin. she scrunched her eyebrows together as she hurried to finish moisturizing her face before leaving the bathroom. bianca didn’t want whoever to get the chance to pound on her door again. besides, it was late and she wasn’t expecting anyone, or was she? if she did, she forgot about their plans. bianca opened the door and plastered a smile on her face before speaking, confusion still written on her face. ❝it’s nearly midnight and you knocking on the door like you’re the police,❞ she shook her head. the pace her heart was beating would’ve given an old man a heart attack. ❝you needed something?❞

Bella needed a break, from the s’il vous plait’s and the aujourd'hui’s, from staring at blank sheets of paper, hoping if her perfect attendance wasn’t enough, her years of French would make up for it. No wonder her childhood was filled with tutors and workbooks; she sucked. Distraction, distraction, distraction... And out the door she was, big headphones squishing her ears into her head, through the chilly campus air. Her Ugg boots carried her to Linden Housing, and well, wouldn’t you know it? She knew just the lady.

“Nearly midnight,” Iz accuentuated, raising her eyebrows while sliding her headphones down around her neck. Her hand found the dorm door, if only to keep Bianca from shutting it in her cold, blushing face. “The night is young, and by the grace of magic, so are we.” 

There was a pause, for dramatic effect, before she continued. “I know it’s midterms, but c’mon. Let’s go. It’s an emergency.”