“ i was always up for making changes. ” they’ve got the bass that they got from the thrift store so many years ago in their hands. achi had just finished playing the bassline of an original song for the other. “ i feel like it sounds off, you know ? ”
xx. @brandonoturie | old yellow bricks — arctic monkeys
the two were sitting at a table in the impossibly large library, achi flipping through pages of an electrical foundations textbook. there was some ruckus coming from a table near them, and achi looked over to one of the librarians that were working. to brandon, they said, “ she looks so miffed. ” it was spoken at level that was much lower than those near them. “ what could possibly be so exciting about what they are doing ? ” this, now, was about the table next to them.
they hadn’t been purposefully avoiding the other. they’d just happen to become really busy rather suddenly with no other explanation. whatever had happened between them felt like a distant memory, one that achi wouldn’t mind making even more distant. currently, their mind was occupied with how to study for an impending exam, not on where they were walking. clouded throughts resulted in literally crashing into the exact person that they needed to not see. “ shit. i’m sorry. ” maybe, just maybe, they would be able to just walk away, no questions asked.
“ it was never my intention to brag. ” it was an honest statement, and now they were flustered. the previous statement had just been a very slight mention to their youtube channel ( not that hard to find, just search achilles mckinnon and there it is ) and how they’d done a cover to the song that the other was listening to. “ uh, i also do bass. ” god, could they, ever shut the hell up. just once. please.
they’re crawling on their hands and knees under the table in the library. they’d had one job — one small fucking job — to keep the ring safe. a friend had given it to achi to hold on to, at least until said friend had gained enough courage to pop the question to his girlfriend. why them ? they didn’t know but hell if they weren’t going to follow through on their promise. peaking out from under the table, they looked at someone nearby. “ hey — you wouldn’t happen to see a ring anywhere, would you ? ”
xx. @cvstbellvs| seven nation army — the white stripes
“ everyone knows about it. ” achilles says to the girl next to them. “ from the queen of england to the hounds of hell. ” a couple in the small coffee shop was creating a huge commotion about their mess of a relationship. they exhaled, taking a sip of their coffee. “ i don’t understand why they feel the need to make it everyone’s business. ”
it goes in one ear and out the other, but not really. whatever she’s saying, they aren’t paying attention well enough to read her lips, considering that she’s on their deaf side. achi repositions themself, and pretends to carry the conversation as if they know what she just asked. “ yeah, this week is definitely going to be hell. i’ve got two papers to write that i haven’t even started. ” it was most probably not what she was looking for, but hopefully it would be a generic enough response.
“oh my god, did you see that video of beyonce bringing out destiny’s child for coachella? i’m so fucking pissed i didn’t get tickets this year. like what the fuck? i swear to god, all colleges should be closed for festival season. experiencing that shit is way more important than learning about microeconomics.”
“ uh. ” they tugged the earbud out of their right ear and turned to look at her. “ i didn’t happen to see the video, no. can’t you just see it live on youtube ? isn’t that a thing they’re doing now ? ”
━★ (keiynan lonsdale, twenty two, agender) meet senior achilles mckinnon, who studies biomedical engineering, i think? they used to be in gamma gamma before shit hit the fan. achi is from australia, and i heard they’re quite pragmatic and perceptive but if you don’t like stubborn and reticent people, then you’re not going to get along. the other day i heard them listening to junky by brockhampton on repeat and it’s basically their signature song right now.
ok hello im nico, a senior in hs, and currently trying to make it to the summer. like this post and i’ll hit u up in ur ims for some plots !! or you can contact me on discord ( adamparrish#3129 )
achilles “achi” mckinnon / 22 / gay?? / agender (they/them / deaf in left ear (explained below. no one knows this & they do their best to cover it up)
born and lived in sydney australia until they were six years old, they do have an accent. they moved to nevada with their family at 6 yrs old, where they lived until they were 18.
**ABUSE TW** achi’s family was very poor and they lived in a shitty double-wide trailer when they moved. before the move, achi’s dad was super abusive to their mom, emotionally and physically. around when achilles was 8, their dad moved on to them. mom was an enabler, never stopping dad because if they fought it, it would be worse. **END TW**
achilles started working jobs illegally by the time they were 12. dog walking, mowing lawns, etc. etc. when they got a bit older, they worked 3 jobs: mechanic, waiter, and a tutor.
not wanting to end up in a trailer for the rest of their life, achilles applied for a highschool that was for smart wealthy kids. however, it was very expensive & the scholarship they offered wasn’t a full ride, so they had to give most the money they made from their jobs to school, which dad wasn’t that happy about. they ended up graduating from that school at 17 as valedictorian. got partial/full scholarships to multiple ivy leagues & stanford.
**ABUSE TW** okay, so, when they were 16, their dad found a paystub that showed that they were earning almost $7k more than what they were telling dad. dad got angry (he never liked the idea of achi going to a fancy schmancy private school & assumed that all the money was going to that when it was really going towards college funds), also, their dad had recently heard a rumor of achi kissing a boy after school. he ended up hitting/pushing achi hard into a railing, where the left side of their head hit it. that’s how they ended up losing their hearing in that ear. they had to continue living with their parents until college started **END TW**
starting college at stanford was both heaven and hell. it was everything they couldn’t even have imagined, but also a catalyst for anxiety.
okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy now some personality, eh? they’re generally quiet. when they get angered, they get super angry, which scares them afterwords bc they dont wanna end up like their father (which is their #1 biggest fear). they flinch when someone raises their voice or their hand in any motion that even mildly resembles a hit. they also hide the fact that their half deaf really well, just because they havent really come to terms with it and may break down if they accidentally try to like talk to someone over the phone on their left side because it reminds them (again) of their father.
knows ASL
loves kids?
still works two jobs (waiter, tutoring)
closeted
wears really old clothes that are basically threadbare.
has a youtube channel where they post the occasional song cover. they sing and they also play bass.