𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨

winona berkeley - twenty-one - penned by bren

[mywincna]

hello friends !! my name is bren, i’m so excited to be here with you all ! this is my lovely winona berkeley, aka the dream. you can find her bio here but i’ll also try and summarize under the cut. she’s a lot of fun and i’m really happy to be able to bring her to you !!

miss winona lane berkeley is twenty-one, a junior anthropology major from right here in rhode island !

her mother was in her early twenties when she had her; her father has never been in the picture. winona’s mother is a supermodel who got pregnant at the height of her career but she pushed through and raised winona on her own. winona loves her mother but also bickers with her more than anyone

she’s studying anthropology ! she has such a deep appreciation for other cultures and she adores learning more about them. in general, she’s fascinated by other people.

she tends to dive head-first into her interests. she loves to roller blade, loves listening to people and learning things, very superstitious !! she reads palms, tarot cards, tbh she might be a witch i can’t confirm nor deny. she’s also very 4/20-friendly !

she’s a bit out there, so to speak, with her head very much in the clouds ! her mind is always racing with ideas and philosophies. will text you at 2am with a random thought, will indulge in deep conversations with sparkling eyes and open ears.

she feels for others very strongly— absolutely the type to cry with you if you start crying. she will also pull over on the side of the road and help an animal cross the street if she sees it.

at the same time, she’s flighty in that she tends to disappear and do her own thing; she’s a great friend but she can be pretty unreliable. a very decisive individual, she’s prone to acting on impulse with paying little mind to thinking through her actions

that being said, she can be pretty restless. she’s not good with sticking with one plan and doesn’t do well with being bored. winona was even thinking of transferring schools before she ultimately ended up staying, thanks to the society ! now she feels like she has more of a place and it’s safe to say she’s nothing short of intrigued by the whole thing.

winona can’t make solid decisions to save her life so it figures she never thought to put a label on her own sexuality. i imagine she loves someone that will engage in meaningful conversation with her !! but also she hates the idea of relationships and getting hurt so she swears off it for the most part

also would like to point out that the song kids again by sam smith just came out and gives me winona vibes

remember when i said this was going to be short and it’s: not ? that’s fun anyway i would love nothing more than to plot w all of you !!

[mywincna]

@morrisdriscoll​ !

     SHE ISN’T NECESSARILY a festive person. holidays have never quite been her thing, though winona does love giving people gifts. other than that, they’re a bit too show-y for her, a bit too stress-inducing. coming from a wealthy rhode island town where fourth of july parties were like the met gala of the year definitely left a sour taste in her mouth. but, of course, any time to spend with moe is an opportunity winona jumps at and thus, is why she has shown up with a box of tinsel, lights, even a tiny tree and some ornaments to decorate his room. after all, moe had the freedom to decorate his own space without the approval of a roommate. she sets the box and mini potted tree down next to the door and knocks a few times for him. once he opens it, she lifts the box again and immediately hands it over.

“i got you a tree. i’ve decided her name is jolene and you only have to remember to water her once a day. are string lights a fire hazard, technically? here...” she steps into his room without warning and gently sets the tree down on the ground. “i think we can be discrete about this.”

[mywincna]

@farrowea​ !

     "HI! SORRY, I’M almost ready. just– one second...” winona’s opening the door with one hand and tugging her doc marten boot on her foot with the other, grunting as she works her foot into the shoe. she opens the door wider for him and stands up straight, then darts back into her dorm. winona’s side is a bit of a mess, but an organized one: it’s apparent she’d been digging through her clothes for an outfit before she’d settled with the one she’s currently wearing. a pair of light denim jeans accompany a long sleeved mockneck bodysuit. she moves to her desk, where an electric teapot sits and she picks up a mason jar next to it. carefully, she picks it up and dips an index finger in the liquid to test the temperature before she shrugs and walks back to farrow. “what kind of vibe is this concert, by the way?” she asks while she brings the mason jar to her nose. she sniffs the liquid.

“these are shrooms brewed into a tea. i heard it’s nice. is that not the vibe? i probably should’ve asked before but... i didn’t, and i don’t want my roommate to see this sitting out.”

[bonham-in-the-sky-with-gilmour]

[mywincna]

phoebe !

NOTHING LIKE A ball to kick off the fall spirit, and though Phoebe has already made her rounds around the space, she is hardly ready to leave the premises. There is still so much to see, so much to observe from her fellow society members. Take Winona — clad in a cloak and corset, she is in high spirits, lifting up her shirt to show off the piece of lace wrapped around her thigh to some other partygoer. Something Phoebe never would’ve done, but then again, she supposes she has done things that others would find unseemly.

And right as the scene ends, Phoebe rises from her spot, striding over to the wisp of a woman, arms wrapped tightly across her chest. Not nervous as much as she is just tightly wound, Phoebe takes a moment to let her presence be felt before she turns to Winona, a glint of scheming deviousness in her eye. “If they’re not going to take you up on your offer, I will,” she replies, nodding to the joint in her hands. “Although, if I were you, I’d put that back into your garter until you’re outside. Not too sure if the faculty will take too kindly to you smoking indoors.”

      IT’S A GOOD thing people like phoebe exist, especially when people like winona exist. winona, a girl who rarely thinks her decisions through, truly needs an occasional reality check such as this— phoebe politely informs her to, well, not wave a joint around at a public event. eyes a bit wide, winona presses her lips together and nods slowly in comprehension, her hand lowering to tuck the joint back under her garter.

“good call,” she murmurs. a beat passes before she glances around the room and extends a hand to phoebe. “a walk in the garden, perhaps?” she adopts a fake british accent with her proposition, a cheery smile on her face as her eyes beckon for the girl to tag along. “away from judgmental gazes, surrounded by fresh air and the gorgeous night sky? sounds enticing, no?”

[grayhqs]

david berman, “self portrait at 28″

[mywincna]

morris !

“they’re doing shots in there? should i go check on her?” moe said, his eyes immediately filling with worry. he knows that jay can handle herself, but there was always a bit of worry when they were at parties like this and she blended into the crowd so well until she started trouble. and wasn’t that his job? to keep an eye on his friends?

and yet, his eyes fall back onto winona. having her here next to him allowed him to relax, knowing that even if he was pulled back into the party, at least they had a few moments to themselves. “guess i’m not breaking the rules then, hmm?” he teased, a smile growing on his lips once more. “you look great tonight, though. not that you don’t always look great in big t-shirts. i just…i mean…” he trails off, knowing there’s not a good way to end this sentence. “it does seem a bit cruel, though. when all we had to wear was these stupid collars,” he said, pulling the ruffle at his neck a bit further from his skin. it was itchy as hell, but nothing like a corset. 

“win, i’m fine. i promise,” he said, glancing down at her as her hand rests on his shoulder. “i was just…overwhelmed. i know it’s supposed to be part of the fun of the society, but…” he trails off again, a small shrug rolling off his shoulders. 

     SHE PRETENDS TO zip her mouth shut at moe’s question, though her giggles seem to defy the laws of such a thing. anything to mask the way her heart absolutely melts at how selfless moe is. she’d be lying if she said she had very little faith in men sometimes, with a small voice at the back of her head, nagging gently at the notion that every man winona could ever come in contact with would ultimately need her for something and toss her to the side when they get what they want. irrational, absolutely, but present nonetheless.

and she hates how she acts different around him. of course, moe wouldn’t know better, as he’s never seen winona alone with another man before ( or anyone, for that matter— winona isn’t one to discriminate ). rarely does she seemingly melt around other people but his concern only evokes a puckered lower lip and arms sliding around his shoulders in an embrace once more. “no...” she insists. “you should enjoy yourself, moe. she’ll be fine.”

his compliment doesn’t go unnoticed, contrary to how winona brushes it off and acts like it’s nothing. no, instead she stores it in the back of her mind, like collecting thoughts to dwell over later in the evening as she so often does. she giggles as he tugs at his collar and she sighs in defeat. “the things we do for literature...” she trails off, leaning against the balcony and letting her head roll back. her eyes fall to a close and she takes in a deep inhale of the crisp evening air. “moe...” she speaks after a beat of silence. “i’ve never met someone more deserving of taking a fucking break.” winona’s voice is sweet and delicate as she speaks, gaze landing back on her friend. “what’s overwhelming you, then?”

[mywincna]

julian​ !

julian automatically shifts to the side when winona lifts her shirt, shielding her from any potential wandering eyes. it’s old fashioned of him, and it’s not even like winona asked for or needs his protection. plus, a little skin never hurt anyone. but the habits his parents ingrained in him are hard to shake, and that’s simply the reality he has to live with.

“or maybe they were happily married and the bride wanted their good fortune to pass onto someone else.” julian replies. “or,” his eyes widen. “maybe she dropped it off at the thrift store accidentally with some other clothes, and it’s your mission to find her and give it back to her.” the reality is probably closer to what winona theorized—julian’s fairly certain his sister and his brother’s wife kept their garters after their respective weddings—but a boy can dream, right?

julian eyes the joint in winona’s outstretched hand. “i shouldn’t.” he hesitates. he’s been trying to cut back on smoking, but this is a party after all, and it’s halloween. “fuck it. why not?” he nods in the direction of the balcony. a door is propped open, where snippets of conversation and tinkling laughter make their way out into the starry night. “let’s head to the balcony?”

     HER EYES LIGHT up at julian’s suggestion, lips curling into a smile instantaneously. see, these are the things that winona loves about other people. she loves a person that will match her absurdity, of wondering about things that perhaps aren’t truly worth such time. and yet, people like that are out there, and winona is eternally grateful to come across them. you know, even if perhaps such words come from lips of someone her best friend hates quite vehemently. “julian...” she gasps, a hand like a magnet when it rests on his shoulder. big eyes and a grin accompany a giggle before she speaks.

“julian, i think you’re onto something. and if that’s the case, well, i have no choice but to dedicate my life to taking care of her, right?” the her in reference, of course, is the garter, an inanimate object. winona laughs and looks back down at her thigh, still tugging at the hem of her shirt to expose the garter.

“i shouldn’t.”

“yeah, but you want to.” it’s an observation, the way he eyes up the neatly rolled joint in between her dainty fingers. she smiles as he gives in and her gaze follows his, towards the balcony. she clicks her tongue to the roof of her mouth and links arms with julian, excitedly leading the way towards the door. of course, she takes a few steps too far from him and her arm falls to her side. “oh, and it’d be such a shame if my romeo were waiting down below for me. i’ll have to tell them i’m too busy. what do you think that sounds like, in shakespearean?”

[mywincna]

jay !

open: @harcourtstart​.   where: the observatory.   when: midway through the night.

          any mix of espresso, the spirit of halloween, the three white claws she’d had so far, and the absolute power of being the shortest person in the room had put jayden into a very excellent mood, despite the fact that she thought it was DUMB that everyone was forced to dress up as a character from literature. what if she wanted to be buffy the vampire slayer, huh? what about THAT? but she digresses, approaching the nearest body and holding out a sucker ( THC included, dubiously legal in rhode island ) for the taking. “ today, i offer you an edible. tomorrow? who knows. ” 

     IT’S LIKE A choreographed dance, the way winona turns on her heels and is met with jay’s extended offer in the form of of a lollipop. presumably a special kind of lollipop, since it was jay after all, winona’s smile lights up her face and she simply leans forward, mouth open so her best friend can feed it to her. her eyebrows wiggle in the blonde’s direction and she laughs, holding onto the stick and wrapping an arm around jay’s shoulders. “just what i needed this evening, my love!” winona exclaims sweetly as she pulls the petit girl closer. “what would i do without my musketeer, hm? enjoy a sober party? sounds like hell.” her face turns sour at her own words and she pulls the lollipop out of her mouth to inspect it. “you know cherry is my favorite. you really know how to make a girl swoon.”

[mywincna]

moe !

the night air was cool, a welcome respite from the warm, sweaty bodies inside. though he had been attending the parties for years now, he had never quite gotten used to how loud and chaotic the room could get when the whole society was together. especially when there was an open bar. 

of course, he wasn’t surprised when he heard the door slide open and winona’s cheerful voice reached him. it was only a matter of time that she or jay pulled him back into the party, it seemed to happen every single time. “hey, win,” moe said, his voice soft. “we’re missing jayden too, you know. i couldn’t find either of you,” he said with a bit of a chuckle. 

he lets his arms settle gently around her neck for a brief moment, wishing for only a moment that the hug would linger. she pulls away so that he can see her grin, and gives her a quick shrug. “it’s quieter out here! though no one informed me it was against the rules.” there was something about her that always made him want to follow along, to play by her rules. tonight was no exception. “if you’re out here, though, i’m not alone. am i?”

     "OH, I LOST jayden about twenty minutes ago. something about either a dance-off or doing shots with someone. can’t remember which but they both sound probable,” winona notes with a grin. and it’s a bit strange, with moe— winona so desperately wants to deny that tiny feeling that blossoms at the bottom of her chest, tickles her lungs and begs to be listened to whenever she’s around moe. she’d liken it to a crush but she wouldn’t even want to go so far as to name it— after all, you’re not supposed to name a stray dog or you’ll grow more attached to it.

and yet, when they hug and it lingers just a little too long, it’s enough to make her feel almost sick to her stomach. winona is someone who very much likes to have her grip tight on the reigns of her life but when it comes to something like this, something so involuntary and emotional, it’s frustrating how little winona can do to suppress it. the most she can do is ignore, which is precisely what she does as she pulls away and eyes up the male with a small smile. his comment makes her mouth hang agape, and she gives her shoulder a shrug in response. “maybe so,” she notes. hands move to the railing of the balcony and fingertips drum along the surface. “i’m much more of a fan of a house party, personally. as much as i love our three musketeers outfits, i have to say—” brows furrow as she stands up straight, hands moving to the corset that hugs her torso. “how did colonial women wear these on a daily basis? i’d rather be swimming in a giant t-shirt.”

there’s a small pause and winona’s teeth sink into her cheek. a hand moves to rest on the back of moe’s shoulder and her head cocks to the side. “are you okay, though?”

[mywincna]

open @harcourtstart​ !

     HER WHOLE OUTFIT was thrifted, as winona has a fascination with thrifted clothing. there’s just so many stories behind secondhand clothing. like, where is the woman who owned the corset that’s wrapped around winona’s frame now? why did she own such a thing, and what did she wear it to? or the long button-down shirt underneath said corset, which is a few sizes too big and wears like a short dress on the blonde now— where could that individual be nowadays? with a blue cloak draped on her shoulders accompanied by a pair of combat boots, winona’s outfit as one of the three musketeers might not be the most obvious of costumes but it doesn’t mean it’s not fun.

“oh, i also found this garter, too.” perhaps unprovoked, she’s sudden in the way she bends down and gently lifts at one end of the shirt to reveal the lacy white garter daintily wrapped high around her thigh. she laughs to herself and gently tugs at the joint that’s secured underneath it. “i know it’s not really three musketeers but i realized i had no pockets, right? and... i mean...” she shrugs and places the joint in between her lips, then laughs. “it works. plus, don’t you want to know who is giving their wedding garter to a thrift store? i sure do. i’d like to think, like...” she takes the unlit joint from her lips and looks down at her leg. “like i wonder if they divorced. or maybe she got cold feet and never married him and had to get of anything that had memories connected to him? it’s so interesting to me. excellent purchase on my end.” she twirls the joint between her fingers and points it to the other person. “interested?”

[mywincna]

@morrisdriscoll​ !

     “OH MY GOSH, there you are.” winona’s quite accustomed to be the one to wander— an accidental master at irish goodbyes, there have been many times in which the people winona arrived to a party with will step back and wonder where she could’ve gone off to. this time, the tables have been turned, and it’s moe who has seemingly disappeared from the group. this doesn’t go unnoticed by winona— of course it doesn’t— and she embarks on her own adventure to find him. a spacious balcony surrounded by crisp fresh air is where moe has seemed to find himself and thus, winona, as she slides through the door and shuts it behind her. “what am i without my fellow musketeer?”

she grabs an end of her cloak and dramatically pushes it away from her, evoking a giggle from her lips as she trots up to him. arms slide around his torso and her cheek against his shoulder, winona shifts her weight to one foot, causing both of them to lean to one side. she grins again and pulls away. “why are you out here all alone? it’s not allowed. i’ve just decided this, and i know you’re not one to break rules so i’m honestly quite baffled.”

[mywincna]

edi​ !

open: @harcourtstart​ // the observatory // midway through the party

tw: alcohol 

she felt warm, and maybe almost content, in a way, as she dropped her empty glass on a table, adjusting her violet baudelaire costume as she was walking through the room. it felt off putting, to be a little intoxicated and at a party after all this time. maybe she should leave? the loudness and the crowd of mostly strangers, the ornate decorations, it felt like too much, and she wasn’t sure how to feel about it. edi paused, eyes fixated on the exit as she debating her options.

this wasn’t her ideal situation, but she had come here, had made it this far into the night and she had promised herself she’d stay at least another hour still. so she set her sights at the bar, another drink at least helping pass the time. she walked with purpose, eyes locked on the bar as she moved, paying little attention to her surroundings. halfway to her destination, she bumped into someone, frustration coating her voice as she quietly snapped, “watch your step,” at them. “it’s too crowded here,” she muttered under her breath.

     EDI AND WINONA’S friendship is unlikely, to say the least, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel particularly giddy when she sees edi out and about. and in all honesty, parties like these might not be winona’s cup of tea. she’s not a huge fan of the showiness or theatrics, but any excuse to get a little drunk and mingle with others is an opportunity she welcomes warmly. wandering once more, winona taps side side of her glass with her fingertips, lips pressed together as she observes from the bar.

this is one thing she loves to do— as much as winona often cannot resist speaking to anyone near her, she does love to people watch. and of course, she’s lost in her own reverie as she bumps into someone just as they do the same to her. she turns her head quickly to spot edi, brows raised in shock. “oh!” she chirps and takes a step back. “it is crowded, isn’t it?” lower lip puckers as winona glances around the room. “would you want to take a stroll with me, maybe? i suspect there’s a dreamy balcony somewhere around here, and i’m certain it’s calling out for us, edi.”

[mywincna]

farrow !

where: the stairs of the observatory

when: a little bit after the event has started

who: open to all @harcourtstart​

farrow leans over the railing of the spiral staircase, looking down at the ground with a frown on his face. squint as he may, he can’t even see the envelope that had flown out of his hand and down the stairs. he supposes it doesn’t matter now and truly, there was probably no need to even bring the invitation. he just hopes no one not in the society picks it up tomorrow and starts wondering about it. not that he cares, of course, but he just doesn’t want to be held accountable for anything later on. 

“is it even worth it to go down there and pick it up?” he wonders, mostly to himself as he still hangs half over the edge of the railing, using one hand to push the hair from this horrendous wig he’s sporting out of his face.

     ALWAYS CURIOUS, ALWAYS wandering. winona berkeley floats around parties like a bubble, like a feather lost in the wind. she weaves in and out of crowds, drink in her hand as she sips politely until the next thing catches her attention. this time, it’s someone leaning over the railing and of course, winona’s curiosity is piqued. with an extra pep in her step, she stands net to the stranger’s side, only for their voice to be entirely too familiar. brows raised, winona’s mouth hangs agape and curls into a smile as she turns to face him.

“farrow?” she laughs, then nudges his arm with the back of her hand that’s currently holding her drink. “i didn’t even know it was you! which, i mean, i guess is the whole point of halloween.” dainty fingers move to pluck some of the stray wig hairs from the side of his face and she grins. the thing with winona and farrow is that, well, they couldn’t be more opposites and yet, she can feel how his demeanor melts around her and she thrives off of it. with an offered grin, she rests her forearms on the railing and looks down at the staircase, a crease forming between her brows. “i think it’s only worth it if you slide down the railing. really make a spectacle out of it.” she lifts her cup to offer him some. “don’t ask what’s in this because i simply couldn’t tell you. i just mixed stuff until it tasted good and i think i did a pretty good job. try it.”

[sjdjfjvifieifigigirje-deactivat]

[midsommars-deactivated20201109]

[wnq-writers]

And she was truly a puzzle, but God forgive anyone who mistook her for a game.

Sophia Carey (via wordsnquotes)