long lashes flutter at the male working behind the counter of starbucks. alysa pushes over the napkin with a lipstick mark and phone number on and grabs her coffee and sandwich. “call me,” she whispers, blowing a kiss over as his cheeks blush bright red and he pockets the napkin. “and that,” alysa says as she walks away and turns to the other. “is how you successfully get yourself a free starbucks.” alysa didn’t know if they had actually been watching her manipulation or not, but the blonde was proud of her work. besides, she wasn’t going to go all the way back to her apartment and grab her purse when she knew she’d succeed.
starbucks was perhaps one of her favorite places, if only because it was essentially tuning into free entertainment without having to sit in downtown d.c. — any chain coffee shop, she’d learned, was a hub for people-watching. today was no exception, as she watched the blonde in front of her successfully ( and smoothly ) con her way into a free coffee, both of jackie’s eyebrows lifted out of sheer impression. “damn,” she muttered, a low whistle escaping her as the other woman turned around. “i mean, i like to think i’m good, but i’m not that good. seriously, teach me how you do that?”
“Kind of don’t want summer to be over, but another small part of me also can’t wait to see those little munchkins again.” The brunette beamed, referring to her young students. “I can’t believe my first year students are already starting the 5th grade, it feels like almost yesterday we were singing songs about safety and love.”
“honestly, you’re a saint,” jackie couldn’t help but to point out, letting out a strangled sigh. “they say teaching’s not for everyone, and it is most certainly not for me. kids are great, but being around them all day every day for however long school’s in session?” she shook her head at the thought, giving the brunette a thin-lipped smile. “like i said, it takes a saint. what grade do you teach??”
An unexpected giggle slipped out after Lina had accidentally helped herself to an array of sweets she hadn’t realized were potent causing her to act out of character. “ How much do you want to bet that duo over there is going to get freaky with it tonight?” she pointed out, making suggestive movements with her fingers as she had zero control over her inebriated self.
jackie could tell the woman in front of her was more than likely beginning to feel the effects of whatever she’d been snacking on; truthfully, she didn’t know what was more amusing —— her, or the couple she’d so conveniently pointed out across the room. “nothing,” she replied, smirk littered on her lips as she swirled around the remaining liquid in her glass. “hell, they may not even make it home in time before the clothes start coming off. i’m sure as far as they’re concerned, this is the exact place to get freaky; probably had whatever you ate earlier.”
Sore hips, knees and ankles were getting the better of her. This was only her sixth mile, she still had four to go and already she was thinking about giving up. This wasn’t new, in fact, she ran ten miles every other day though there were some that were better than others, some where old injuries were almost too much to handle and the morning ended in her limping home, wincing and practically diving into an ice bath. At some point between the seventh mile she stopped in her place, abruptly pulling her earbuds out and leaning over, hands on her knees as she attempted to steady her breath. “Jesus– I think m’ gonna fuckin’ puke.”
jackie wasn’t much of a runner, and that was certainly putting it lightly; usually, the only time she found herself moving faster than normal was if she was running late or something had caught on fire, two things that hadn’t happened as of late. but, someone in the office had told her gyms were no good (this much she could get behind, she loathed going to the local gym and working out) and that the best exercise she’d ever find would be to get out and run a few blocks, jog if she was feeling especially lazy. she’d taken their word, and every day over the last week, she’d gone for a run every morning before work, and while it usually required a shower after, it certainly woke her up and spared her from guzzling more than half a pot of coffee to keep awake. she was at the point in her run where she was now jogging halfheartedly, doing more of listening to her music than she was focusing on running, when she spotted the woman a few paces away, hunched over. taking one of her earbuds out, she strolled over cautiously, head craned out to see if everything was okay. “oh, god,” she exclaimed at the statement, eyes widening as she took a step backwards, giving her some space. “yeah, if you’re gonna do that, i’ll stand over here —— other than the obvious, you alright?”
hi my guys ! name’s honey, i’m 19 and i’m actively doing everything in my power to keep from going back to campus to get my books because that means classes are about to start and...yep, no thanx. anyways, i’ve been eyeing this bad boy and when i saw lizzie the loml got reopened i’d figure hell yeah, let’s do this thing, so here i am and honestly just accept that you’re never getting rid of me. beneath the cut is more on jackie, ofc, so feel free to hmu or just like this and i’ll come to you !! #buyrainbowonitunes
——— woah! wait, was that ELIZABETH OLSEN i just saw walking down mainstreet? no, of course not. that was just JACQUELYN VANCE. they’re TWENTY-SEVEN years old and identify as CISFEMALE. they have been in Alder Heights for TEN YEARS and work as a MAGAZINE EDITOR. i’ve heard they can be OBSTINATE and PEDANTIC on their bad days. but don’t be put off, because JACKIE can also be FERVENT and DISCERNING. no wonder people around here call them the AMARANTH.
born in los angeles, california, jackie grew up very comfortably; both parents are lawyers and during the clinton administration, jackie’s father served as the us ambassador of france. she was nine when they first moved, and was seventeen when her father’s run overseas was finished, and being back home was an interesting transition for her, since she felt like the odd man out considering she’d fallen in love with the french way of life, i guess? she didn’t really want to leave when the time came, but it wasn’t entirely up to her (her least favorite president is w. bush, 3 guesses why lmao)
instead of going back to la, they moved to alder heights, since her father wanted to continue pursuing a career in government/politics, and it was much closer to dc than la was. her two younger sisters adjusted to life back home a lot easier than jackie did; she wound up completing the last little bit of high school online, since she’d had an accelerated course schedule overseas (she loved school) and would’ve rather been eaten by wolves than go back to public school tbh. she started classes at georgetown uni (rich parents lmao) at seventeen and for awhile, her major was in political science since she had every intention to follow in her father’s footsteps, he was her hero after all
and then somewhere along the line, she realized she didn’t really like political science, she liked having an opinion on and discussing politics, so she moved over into mass communications and her parents weren’t thrilled at all, they totally thought they were going to have a vance legacy and be able to start some family dream team thing and being the oldest, they expected her to be the one to fulfill this, and it definitely started a few fights but they eventually shut up about it just because arguing with her is arguing w a brick wall tbh — they are still slowly coming around, they’re not crazy about it but they still support her, things are Tense, fun times
so she graduated, went on and got her masters, blah blah, fast forward to where jackie finds the job of her dreams at an unnamed, v popular magazine (it’s unnamed bc i want it to be lmao, givE ME TIME but if you need a comparison, think cosmo) and she chased after it hard, like all she wanted to do was be a writer and after spending roughly two years as an assistant, she got promoted to a writer and she loved it, absolutely loved it. got to write about the things she was passionate about, loved the people she worked with, she was living the Dream
and after a few years of just really, really enjoying her job her higher-ups were like “hey, we’re gonna promote you if you want” and in jackie’s mind she was like, hell yeah, more responsibility, more control, all the things she loves tbh and she took the job as the lifestyle department editor since it was broad and encompassed a lot of the stuff she’d enjoyed writing for and of course, Loved it...to a point
jackie is married to her job, and it’s highkey unhealthy tbh, she’s very very hard on herself and now that she’s moved up in the hierarchy of things she’s beginning to see what they ask of their employees and it’s not always stuff she agrees with? it’s a lot of pressure and she’s beginning to fall out of love with all of it in general, the writing, being responsible for stuff, etc and part of her is like fuck this, i’m over it but at the same time, she’s forcing herself to stick w it because she wants to prove to her parents she can too see their successes in the career path she chose
basically, she’s currently conflicted as hell when it comes to work and is currently a don’t ask, don’t tell type of situation
has begun doing freelance writing on the side?? she doesn’t post or share any of it since most of it is just her rambling and she’s not got that much time to dedicate to it as it is but it’s kinda keeping her sane in the moment and reminding her as to why she loves what she does
her label is the amaranth, one of my faves, which p much means that they’re hard to forget and leave an impression and that’s certainly jackie lmao, she’s got a very strong personality that makes it hard for you to confuse her w anyone else
y’all see the traits up there in that app....that’s Her. she’s the kinda person you want in your corner, not the person you want opposing you bc she will end you and show no mercy
is a sagittarius
can sometimes let her emotions get the better of her??? she’s stubborn and gets conflicted very easily and that basically just leads to disaster, she’s great at making problems in her life that aren’t a big deal a Big Deal and what she wants, she’ll get it even if she’s got to step on toes or scream really, really loudly for someone to hear her; her parents taught her to never settle and settle she does not
also bilingual, speaks fluent english and french. usually only slips into french when she’s pissed so...beware
connections i’d love to see for jackie (but aren’t limited to, i just know it’ll be a hot second before i get a page up and running!):
best friend — self explanatory, obviously, but just give me someone who jackie can sit on the couch and drink wine with in her pajamas, someone who’s got her back if they go out to a bar, her go-to if she’s ever got a company thing and she needs a date last minute, someone who’s gonna butt heads with her when there’s a conflict in either of their lives but they still love one another no matter what *cue true friend by hannah montana in the distance*
sibling like relationship — another self explanatory one but jackie’s got a mad mom side to her, she’s v protective of the people she loves so give me someone that might as well be a long lost vance, they do dumb shit together, have each other’s backs, try (and fail) at matchmaking for the other, having a toothbrush with their name on it at their apartment, the works
summer flings!!!!! someone jackie met while she was on vacation or even off on a business thing and they like hooked up and she never in a million years would’ve expected to bump into them back in alder heights......except, she did
tbh just give me a friends-esque group of people for jackie where they all hang out and eat and act like their lives aren’t constantly falling apart, that’d be N*ce too
exesssss!!! the good, the bad, the inescapable, the ones with lingering feelings, the ones that swear they’re over but have a problem every time the other even looks like they’re about to go on a date w someone else, this is free range
college friend — basically someone that she met back when she was in college and was the first bit of american companionship that she’d had since she was like, nine?? like i said, she started classes at seventeen, and hadn’t really interacted with anyone since she did online schooling for her senior year; this could’ve been a roommate, someone she had a class with, someone that she met on campus and got coffee with, we can talk this one out obviously but you get the gist!
angst — idk what, idk how, i just live for it and i want it thanks
someone who lives near jackie and whether it’s really weird stuff like coming over to ask for some milk to put in their coffee since they’re out and forgot to buy some or they like hang out and have dinner together a few nights a week, switching off and stuff, i think this could be Fun
family friend — jackie’s parents are both lawyers and her dad’s been involved in politics for awhile so i can imagine jackie’s gone to her fair share of parties and whatnot, meeting clients and coworkers and all kinds of people so this would ideally be someone she met because their parents were acquaintances/friends; they could’ve met as kids, stayed in touch while jackie was overseas and resumed their friendship years later when the both of them found themselves back in dc, they could’ve met on the more recent end of things, they could totally understand the other’s pain and get along gr8 because someone finally gets it, they could lowkey hate each other bc their parents are rivals/ they’re trying to work through it...the possibilities are endless
and while i’m on the topic of past connections: jackie occasionally had to come back to the us and visit dc while her dad was serving as ambassador (aged 9-17) so if you’re interested, we can totally work something with that
a plot where they’re acquaintances at best, they’ve maybe got mutual friends and therefore they hang out a bit but they’re always arguing w one another for whatever fucking reason, they both probably annoy each other but they’ve got mad sexual tension going on?? maybe they act on it, maybe they don’t, but either way, they lowkey enjoy the bantering and being at one another’s throats even if they act otherwise
Perfectionism is very addictive because it is very seductive. It’s so great to think ‘There’s a way I can do things where I can never be held in judgment by other people, that I can totally escape criticism.’ But it doesn’t work.
Brené Brown, The Power of Vulnerability (via fyp-psychology)
“What keeps you confident in a healthy way is knowing that everyone else around you is going to support you and teach you and you’re going to learn from them. I just feel open to learning from people.”
