as the world falls down

[jenniferwake]

Welcome to Aurora Bay, Jennifer Wake! I couldn't help but notice you look an awful lot like Hunter Schafer. You must be the twenty-five year old filmmaker / Hidden Gems Thrift Shop attendant. Word is you're positive but can also be a bit unsophisticated and your favorite song is As The World Falls Down by David Bowie. I also heard you'll be staying in Fisher's Cove. I'm sure you'll love it! @aurorabayaesthetic

Basics -

Full name: Jennifer Jasmine Wake

Nickname/s: Jenny, Jen

Preferred name/s: Jenny, Jennifer

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: She/her

Age: Twenty-five

Birthday: September 14th

Zodiac: Virgo

Sexuality: Queer (doesn't vibe with using more of a label)

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Filmmaker & Attendant at Hidden Gems Thrift Shop

Backstory -

Jenny grew up in Augusta, Kentucky, on a decently sized farm with her parents, her maternal grandparents, an aunt and an uncle, and a bunch of cousins, too.

Her father grew up in a small town not so dissimilar to Augusta, though for almost his entire adult life, he had frequently been travelling the states with his work as a set painter - there wasn't too much work in such small places.

While her mother was a psychiatrist who worked a stable job in Augusta, Jenny's father continued to travel with his job. Unless Jenny had school obligations, or even if her mother couldn't join them, Jenny would always accompany her father on such journeys.

Jenny loved seeing the world. While the entire family loved Augusta and their small farm, they all had the same travel bug; they often scheduled holidays around Jenny’s father’s work, and sometimes travelled outside of work obligations, too.

Her father got inspiration for his work through his travels, and as Jenny got older, so did she. It started with inspiration for drawings, then later comics, plays after that, and finally, films.

Jenny was always drawn to films; she had always been obsessed with media, but films in particular happened to be her favourite. It only made sense that she figured out her ambition to become a filmmaker so early in life.

Throughout her travels - though also at home, too - Jenny began creating her own films. Of course, their quality wasn’t the best in her early tests, but the charm was always there. Her passion only grew the more she created, as did her skill.

By the time Jenny graduated high school, she had one short film premiere at a film festival outside of Augusta, and by twenty-five, she had two more short films show in film festivals. It was still clear that she was still establishing herself and her work, but she had incredible promise.

At twenty-five, Jenny began to grow restless of the farm. Despite her many travels - both with her family and without them, once she got old enough - she had never moved out of home, but she was beginning to believe that she needed to spend time elsewhere, both for more inspiration, and better locations.

So without hesitation, Jenny packed her bags, and she made her way to Aurora Bay.

Personality & more -

While it may sound quite random to make the move from Augusta to Aurora Bay, Jenny had visited the beach town multiple times before, which was one reason that led to her decision; she actually moved in with a paternal uncle - a fisherman in Fisher’s Cove - though she plans on finding her own place soon!

Jenny is a bit of a nerd, to put it simply. Not only is she a major film buff, but she loves books, comics, table top rpgs, and honestly? She’s probably roleplayed on tumblr before.

She spent a lot of time on the internet growing up - she still does to a certain extent. The internet helped her find comfort in her own identity (as it was much easier to start going by Jennifer online with strangers than it was in person) though with that being said, she did transition socially and physically beginning as a tween!

She’s an incredibly bubbly person, though she can be awkward at times, and needs to recharge with alone / quiet time quite frequently.

[dancingdanvers]

Sloane wasn’t under the impression the beach belonged to her, it was a free country so people could walk around it as they wished, but the redhead didn’t recognise the blonde that was coming towards her. Hence her squinting reception didn’t change even after she could properly take in the figure, looking between her face and the view that was apparently something special. You could have fooled Sloane, to her it was just the strip of beach out the front of her home. “Blocked my view to catch a clip of the water? Like a video clip?” The confusion was obvious in her tone because surely a couple of meters to the left or right would still have the water looking just as … wet. 

“No that’s fine I guess. Why do you need this specific ‘clip’? Is it for like....showing your family when you get home or something like a 2024 version of the holiday snap slideshow?”  @jenniferwake

[jenniferwake]

For some reason unknown to Jenny, she began to feel slightly self conscious at the other woman’s response; perhaps she shouldn’t have been so brave as to wander over for the perfect shot, perhaps she should have kept the image in her mind instead. It wasn’t the first time that Jenny’s insecurities tried to get the best of her, but despite the intense flash of doubt that plagued her mind, Jenny kept her smile stretched across her face, and she tried to power through it.

“Yeah, a video clip,” she confirmed with a nod. “It’s likely that I’ll send it through to my folks at some point, but it’s actually because I make films.” Despite her moments of doubt, Jenny was always happy to volunteer the fact about herself. “It’s obviously not gonna be any final shot for anything, but it just really… inspired me, this whole scene. The way the last of the light is dancing with the waves,” she moved her hand methodically along with the movements of the glistening tide. “It made me think of some sort of sea creature missing home - a mermaid, perhaps. I like to capture the moments that inspire me, like this, especially as a good test to see whether or not they’re as inspiring in their recorded form.”

[caseydundrich]

“I’m good,” Casey answered automatically and it was true though he would’ve answered that way regardless of how he was feeling. He knew how conversations like this were meant to operate. Besides Casey wasn’t really one who made small talk with strangers. Even though he wrote dialogue for a living didn’t mean he was an amazing conversationalist.

“Yeah, I did actually. I hadn’t planned to really shop today I was just in the neighborhood,” he explained with a little bit of a chuckle as he looked at the pile he’d managed to find. Hopefully he’d sell some books this week to help offset the damage done today. While he’d found some absolute scores in his book everything was mainly a flannel or a graphic tee. Casey’d never really considered himself fashionable and dressed for comfort above all else.

@jenniferwake

[jenniferwake]

“Honestly? I think that’s when you find the best stuff, when you weren’t originally planning on looking for anything,” Jenny suggested. “I see it all the time, it’s like a little reward for being spontaneous or allowing some sort of force to guide you to your next destination.” Jenny couldn’t truthfully say that she really believed in any specific forces that led people different places in their lives, but she had always had an open enough mind to suggest such a thing. “I found my absolute favourite skirt a few years back purely because I took a wrong turn and thought there was no harm in checking out the thrift store I found myself at. I wear it all the time, it’s gorgeous,” she told him as she continued to ring up all of his items, nearing the end of the pile already as she worked as quickly as she spoke.

[keremms]

Kerem watched Jenny with a smile as she approached, her energy contagious. “You seem to be having quite the adventure today,” he said, amused by the enthusiasm. He crouched down beside her, extending a hand towards the dog, who sniffed curiously before giving it a tentative lick.

“Can’t say I’ve seen this guy around before,” Kerem admitted, looking at the dog thoughtfully. “But I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You seem like the kind of person who always gets things done, no matter what.”

He admired how determined she was, despite the chaos of her day. “If you need any help, just let me know. I’ve got some time, and it looks like you’ve already made a new friend.” He nodded towards the dog, who was now wagging his tail happily, clearly enjoying the attention from both of them

@jenniferwake

[jenniferwake]

“Today and everyday, just about,” Jenny confirmed with a quiet laugh. While the truth was that she spent many days getting up to little to nothing, a majority of the time, she kept her schedule and mind open to real adventure; she found inspiration and muse in seeking out new places, things, and experiences, even still, despite occasionally finding herself in less than ideal circumstances. While today might have been unexpected, and slightly challenging, thankfully Jenny wouldn’t yet categorise it as less than ideal.

“That’s a real shame,” she wrinkled her nose as her company denied having ever seen the dog before, only breaking the expression as Kerem made her laugh with his next words. “I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment, or if you’re saying that I seem terribly pushy, and the type to always get my way - no matter what,” she spoke that last three words dramatically, as if she was threatening others with grave fates if they did not assist in her getting her way.

At his offer to help, if needed, Jenny took a moment to think about it. “I’d love your help,” she accepted, before going on, “but I wouldn’t a clue where to start. You got any ideas?” She asked, already enlisting his help. “I haven’t seen anyone distressed around, someone looking like they’re looking for a dog, so I think it’ll take a little effort to find his place.”

[jenniferwake]

💋  —  never been kissed?     a headcanon about my muses first kiss, who it was with and how they felt about it.

Jenny was seventeen years old when she had her first kiss, and to this day she remains nothing but grateful that her first experience sharing that sort of intimacy with another was such a good one. She had met a core group of friends online - on Twitter - in a group chat based around some films, and it turned out one friend that she had grown particularly fond of and close to was set to attend the same Fall Out Boy concert as her. The two met in line for the show, and they shared their kiss in the middle of their shared favourite song.

Unfortunately, nothing more came from the kiss. The two never found themselves able to be in the same place at the same time again, and while they kept up communication online for some time after, it slowly and naturally fizzled and faded to nothing. Jenny often thinks about this person, and occasionally of the moment that they shared, but she’s completely at peace with the fact that it was indeed only a moment between them, and nothing more.

[dancingdanvers]

Where: Aurora Bay Beach Who: Open ( @aurorabaystarter )

It was early evening and the sun was beginning to go down which was why Sloane had brought a throw blanket out to the beach with her, wrapping it around her shoulders as she listened to the soft lapping of the ocean not far away. The last few days had ben a lot and it left her feeling like she needed to do something other than just be a stay at home mom - as much as she loved her daughter it was starting to make her feel like a sort of…appendix in their household. Especially since they had multiple nannies. The only issue was the redhead didn’t know if she’d be accepted back into any kind of ballet company even though it had been nearly two years since the scandal broke back in New York, not to mention she’d been putting the work in to regain the flexibility she’d kist over the last few years. 

Seeing a shadow move across the sand in front of her she looked up, squinting slightly into the low light of the sun. “Sorry…I was a million miles away.” Sloane murmured, not able to make out the face of the person so she lifted her hand to shade her eyes incase that helped. 

[jenniferwake]

Jenny wasn’t intending on bothering the woman, in fact, when she first spotted Sloane there on the beach she had almost decided to walk away and find entertainment elsewhere - but the shot was too good to miss. Jenny wasn’t even intending on having a beach scene in any of her upcoming films or projects, but there was just something so ethereal about the way the setting sun shone upon the waves, and she had to capture it for future reference. Her phone camera would do for now, and perhaps she could come back with a different camera if she intended on using such a shot in the future. Hopefully the woman wouldn’t mind a small interruption.

“No need to apologise,” Jenny responded brightly. “In fact, I was about to apologise to you,” she told her with a laugh. “I almost didn’t come over here - didn’t wanna be a bother, ya know? But I hoped you wouldn’t mind if I blocked your view for just a sec to catch a clip of the water,” she explained. “I’ll be out of your hair in just a tick, if it’s okay, and I know there’s plenty of beach out there but I feel like the shot is just right from here - guess you’ve got good taste.”

[keremms]

Who: @aurorabaystarter Where: The radio station

"Alright, welcome back! This is the last song for me so I hope you're ready to dance, dance, dance, and let all your energy out! Goodnight from Kerem at Kids Corner, don't forget to brush your teeth!" He spoke so confidently into the mic, and for a moment he was really vibing with the song, nodding at the person asking him to move on. He pulled the headset off and hung it up on the mic, ready to relax after a long day.

He picked up his gear and made his way out of the building, waiting by his car for a few moments, sending a few texts, and thinking about picking up some food for he and Tori to eat instead of worrying about making something. He let out a soft sigh, looking down and seeing a dog running toward him with a ball in its mouth. "Uh oh, looks like someone wants me to throw a ball." He looked around for a moment, "Hey! Looking for your dog?"

[jenniferwake]

While Jenny's schedule had had nothing officially on it when she woke bright and early, her day certainly filled itself with more than enough - even by early morning. It wasn't uncommon for the girl to have such chaos so suddenly thrust upon her, and in all honesty, Jenny invited it. While she could respect the idea of a quiet life, it simply wasn’t the life that she was meant to live, and that was something that she had learned very early on.

It felt like she had lived just about a thousand lives by the time that she had landed herself in that parking lot, where Kerem stood at his car, but her spirit hadn’t been broken yet; much enthusiasm still showed on her face, as it so often did. “Yes!” She called enthusiastically at his words, rushing over to the pair and immediately squatting down next to the dog, using pats as a bribe to get them to stay in one place. “Well, it’s not actually my dog, but I found him wandering around town and I’m on a mission to return him to his family. Don’t suppose you recognise him?” She supposed that he didn’t, given the earlier question, but there was no harm in asking. “He’s got no collar or anything, so I’ve no clue yet, but I’ll find out somehow.”

[caseydundrich]

Closed starter for Jenny Wake ( @jenniferwake ) Location: Hidden Gems

Casey had meant to just stop in Hidden Gems for a second. He’d done some thrifting not too long ago with Robbie that hadn’t been very fruitful and the only reason Casey was stopping in was because he was in that neck of the woods and you never know what you might find.

Fast forward one hour later and Casey had to get a basket to hold all the stuff that he’d found. He had some insane finds today and he was glad he’d stopped in. As he waited in the queue to be checked out he took off all the hangers from his clothes and after what felt like every little old lady in Aurora Bay had been checked out it was finally Casey’s turn. “Hi,” he greeted the girl behind the register with a smile as he presented her with the stack of hangers he’d taken off. “I already took off the hangers. There’s a lot of flannels in there and I know those are a pain.” Casey set his basket on the counter so he could be rung up and see the damage he’d done today.

[jenniferwake]

While stock of course changed in other retail stores over the course of the year, and particularly to cater to each next season, what Jenny loved about working at Hidden Gems was that it was ever changing. She literally never knew what might come into their possession, and while she did play a part in stocking racks and shelves, there was usually too much for her to go through every item that other employees had. So when customers came up to her register, she absolutely loved to see what they found. Despite the purchases not being for Jenny herself, it was often as exciting as it might have been if she was the one to buy such good finds.

While other retail workers might have silently sighed at the sight of such a big haul, Jenny’s face shined with bright excitement. She could usually tell when a customer’s vibe would likely be of interest to her, and that’s exactly how she felt first laying eyes on Casey. “Hey there! How’re you doing today?” She greeted her customer, immediately taking the pile of hangers to put in their allocated tub under the counter. “Thank you so much - I never expect it, but I always appreciate it,” she grinned as she got started on the aforementioned collection of flannels. “You find some good stuff?” She asked, this time out of genuine curiosity rather than an obligation as a customer facing employee at the establishment.

[jenniferwake]

verbal or non - verbal communication.

Jenny isn’t always the best at understanding non-verbal communication, particularly not certain social cues that are not verbal, so in personal interactions she’d rather verbal communication. It’s much easier for her to understand others when they’re frank; even while there is a lot of non-verbal communication that she does understand, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Despite all of this, though, in her filmmaking, Jenny includes a lot of non-verbal communication to tell her stories. She could never rely on just one or the other, especially not when she loves to utilise contradictions between non-verbal and verbal communication when a character has a hidden agenda or isn’t being completely truthful.

[jenniferwake]

01: Do you have a good relationship with your parents?

Jenny is fortunate enough to have always had an extremely close relationship with her parents. She loves them so dearly; while they’re definitely authority figures who appropriately parented her, they’re also some of her best friends. She’s never been afraid to speak to them about anything, which was extremely vital in her younger years. Even still, Jenny makes near daily phone calls back home to catch up on their lives on the farm or away with their work, and she visits them as much as possible.

[jenniferwake]

23: Do you have piercings? How many?

Jenny currently has three piercings in both of her earlobes, as well as her right industrial. She frequently considers adding many new piercings to her rather short list, but she can be so indecisive and even more impatient during the healing process - so she's never sure if it's the best idea. Thankfully she has an extremely large collection of faux piercings that do the job for her just fine when she's wanting to accessorise her body a little more on any given day.

[noah-atwood]

OPEN STARTER @aurorabaystarter at blue lagoon pool

"Hey, I'm sorry. There's a weather alert, so we can't let anyone into the pool until it clears. But I'd give it maybe another thirty minutes, and we'll be open for business."

California doesn't often have to deal with rainfall, but monsoon season brings on the threat of the occasional thunderstorm. The downpour has reduced to a drizzle, and thunder looms far in the distance. Noah looks out to the pool deck where there is a small scatter of rental towels and a stray pair of flip flops that were left out in the hurried evacuation.

"Did you lose something? We tried to clean up as much as we could before the rain started, so I can check the lost and found."

[jenniferwake]

"Thanks," Jenny started, wanting the employee to first know that she appreciated him doing his job and keeping her safe. Having worked in customer facing roles for years now, it wouldn't have surprised Jenny if he had have had some unpleasant customers in the past who were outraged over needing to prioritise their safety, and she certainly didn't want to be one of those customers.

"I haven't lost anything," in fact, Jenny hadn't even been at the pool previously that day. "I actually heard some people talkin' about the weather alert, so I thought it would be the perfect time to pop in and see if I could take a couple of pictures? It wouldn't feel right if there were people in the pool while I took 'em, and I had this idea for this shot - in this film I'm kinda working on - where it's raining on a pool and, well, here is literally perfect for it," if Jenny was allowed, she would also love to be able to get at least a couple of seconds of footage of the scene, just to test it out on camera.

"Of course, if that's something I'm not allowed to do even without people around, I won't mind one bit; just thought I'd shoot my shot before I head home. I also wouldn't use any of this actual footage for any film or anything - I know I'd have to get proper permission for that, and I'm barely even in the screen test phase," she rambled.

[auggievillanueva]

open: @aurorabaystarter

location: sea foam bar

Auggie had been stood up, but outside of the unavoidable embarrassment, he found that he wasn't really all that upset about it. His vacation had left him feeling refreshed, and on a foolish whim he decided maybe it was time to get back out there when he got home. He had no idea what he was looking for — maybe just confirmation that he was actually still capable of dating — but he wasn't going to figure it out tonight.

He checked his phone for what he decided would be the last time, wondering if his date was even going to offer an explanation. No dice. With a sigh, he got up from his place at a two-top and headed back toward the bar with the cocktail he'd been nursing while he waited. Rosie was in the care of a sitter for a few more hours still, so he might as well try to have a little fun while he was out, right? Nights to himself were rare.

As he waited to get the bartender's attention, he tapped his fingers idly on the bar top. "Do you think they give out free shots for people who've been stood up?" he asked the person nearest him. "I would absolutely take a pity shot right now. I think I've gotten well past the point of feeling too ashamed to ask for something like that."

[jenniferwake]

While it wasn't like Jenny to go out drinking, it certainly was like Jenny to find herself somewhere outside of her comfort zone for her work. She had climbed the highest towers, stuck it out through the harshest weather conditions, and she had frequently had conversations with people she otherwise wouldn't have, all for the sake of her films; despite not being a drinker, being in a bar really wasn't the wildest thing you could find Jenny doing.

She had been passively storyboarding a first draft at the bar - the story set somewhere an awful lot like the very bar they were in - but she happened to look up just in time for the other person to speak to her. "Honestly, I think that would be the right thing to do," she replied, her accent easily exposing her hometown as being in Kentucky. "I think you've at least earned the right to ask 'em, if you've been waiting for very long," if Jenny had been behind the bar herself, she'd have certainly poured him a consolation shot.

"I'm sorry you got stood up," she finally said. While Jenny didn't date an awful lot, she still understood that it would have sucked to be treated that way - unless an emergency had taken them away from their previous plans, but even then, Jenny knew that the pain and disappointment would likely still be there for the person who had showed up. "I tell ya what, if they're not into the idea of giving you a pity shot, it's on me."

[stressed-b]