🍒 nessa
NESSA GATES. 24. CIS WOMAN. SHE/HER is here! They’ve lived in Cascade for 24 YEARS and currently reside in SHASTA HEIGHTS. NESS is a DANCE INSTRUCTOR AT STUDIO JUPITER + CASHIER AT PINK ELEPHANT + BURLESQUE DANCER and frequently hears that they look a lot like SABRINA CARPENTER. Funny, huh? If ever caught by Letterboxd, they’d say MEAN GIRLS (2004) is in their Top 4 and the theme song to their life’s soundtrack would be BRITTANY MURPHY by SLAYYYTER. /
Vanessa Jean Gates was born on the 7th day of the honey-hazed month of July as the sky was rearranging itself into the auspicious sign of the crab, a Cancerian baby born a week past her mom's due date. Late to the party (literally, as people were still picking up firework remnants off the ground) but nonetheless very much loved, the first two years of her life were relatively idyllic. Strolls in the park, Sundays at Sutter’s Market with her mama, and playtime with her six year old brother who was curious about the baby alien interloper. The idyll didn’t last long as the house soon became an amphitheater for her parents’ shouting matches, weekly and constantly. By the time Nessa was ten, she was witnessing her mom packing her bags, a traumatic experience to this day unrivaled for her, her brother apathetic about it the way only teenagers can be. Left Care Of their unpredictable, alcoholic dad, life quickly went south before Aunt Jen thankfully stepped in to pick up the pieces. Things were never the same though, Nessa and Caleb both bearing the scars of their upbringing for years to come.
Nessa’s anxieties about her home life manifested as perfectionism: excelling in ballet, dance, gymnastics. She began in gymnastics competitions, so good at it that coaches contemplated putting her on the Elite track — the path forward to the U.S. national team and even the Olympics. But something else caught her eye before that could pan out: the glint of bedazzled scrunchies and the swish of colorful pom poms. Cheer became the focal point of her life after gymnastics, starting in junior high and continuing on through high school. Participating in both competitive and game day cheers, her life was like a 2010’s edition of Bring It On. Taking on other extracurriculars as well as occasionally helping tutor kids for extra money, Nessa did not have a minute spare in her teens. She hit 5’0 at fourteen and never grew taller, much to her great irritation. But it came in handy in the sport of her choice and she became a skilled flyer, always front and center in home games, twirling through the air. Thanks to cheer, she felt truly free for the first time, and shined at it. It was a no brainer for the University of Cascade to accept her.
If Nessa was a love-her-or-hate-her personality in high school, in college she became a certified sweetheart and her star began to rise. Documenting her life on Cas U’s cheer squad, at home and away games with the Cryptids, Nessa became a minor local celebrity and collegiate sports fixture on tiktok and instagram. She even found ways to monetize this, taking on sponsorships that would come her way. For a brief while, you could see a billboard downtown with Nessa’s beaming face on it, advertising an electrolyte drink in four neon colors. Sports blogs were doing write-ups about her and a life in the limelight seemed very well within reach (think Livvy Dunne lol). Nessa enjoyed all of the fame, but a harassment incident at an away game in San Jose quickly put on a damper on that: she learned that fame came with a steep, bitter price.
Stepping back from social media and even cheer for a time, Nessa found college hard going. The academic side of things no longer interested her, but dropping out felt like admitting the ultimate failure. She took an academic break, which translated to mornings with her latte from Bigfoot Beans, notebook out, attempting to chart a new path forward. The money from her sponsorships and brand deals had dried up, once they realized Nessa would not return to posting. She got some designer rags out of it at least, paid off her car (a much beloved pink Thunderbird convertible named Rizzo), and the rest went to her dad’s debts or her brother’s medical school bills. She was back to working jobs in hospitality, a far cry from her life just six months ago. Sometimes, she can’t help but feel like something that slipped through the cracks; the family failure who let everybody down.
Never a quitter, Nessa felt determined to find some kind of joy in her life again, the same joy she felt when on the competition mat, her body cutting through the air before snapping into a perfect double full. She found it by accident one booze-soaked night at a speakeasy with friends. A burlesque dancer eerily reminiscent of Rita Hayworth put her under a spell, and she began to see herself up on the stage before the woman's number was done. The art combined so many things she loved: dance, sparkly outfits, a bygone era escapism, fun and a little touch of ingenuity. Before long she was reading the Art of the Teese, collecting fabric scraps at the Sunday market, and plotting out her own little routine.
Today, Nessa does her burlesque act on the side as her burlesque alter ego, May Cherry. It does not pay very much, so you’ll find her teaching kids ballet at Studio Jupiter, and behind the counter at Pink Elephant, advising customers which Tiffany lamp would look best in their living room. A far cry from that little girl who was once drowning in helplessness, she has taken her life into her own hands. And most days, it is pretty good. Could it be better? Sure. But she always hopes the future has something brighter in store.
headcanons
mentally a little old lady, 24 going on 60: loves to be in bed by ten with a book, tucked in. crochets scarves for friends in her spare time, never misses a wordle.
has never tried a banana. the texture and smell repulse her too much.
her and miss maple are like this 🤞
spent a day on the set of the original Saw when she was little thanks to her mom's job at the time. has a photo of herself cheesing next to blood covered Leigh Whannell and Tobin Bell and it's one of her favorite possessions ever.
when she absolutely can't resist, she'll be found stalking her mom on facebook, admiring her glamorous life married to a wealthy man in arizona on a sprawling ranch.
has a separate instagram and personality for her burlesque, performing as May Cherry. she has a small following here, not even 10k. that's how she likes it though, since her past experience has taught her too much fame comes with a price.
patriotic to the point it's embarrassing. loves her country, thanks vets for their service, and genuinely thinks it is the best place on earth. well, maybe except for Paris, but she's never been there yet.
Betty Boop irl. do not ask her to do simple math, she will cry.
obsessed with vintage cars and has some experience restoring them, just about the one thing her deadbeat dad ever taught her. when the car expo is in town, nessa always makes sure to attend.
new tattoo idea every week, but she's never been able to commit to one yet. belly button pierced since she was 14.
has a Bad Bunny votive candle she consults sometimes in times of need.
potential connections
feel free to establish one of these connections without asking me, unless marked otherwise! *=message to iron out details.
clients. Maybe your character or their child has a dance class with her.
high school friends. her fellow class of 2019's, or maybe they're a year younger or older. nessa had friends of all ages in HS.
university of cascade alums. she dropped out in her sophomore year, but she could have run into your character.
exes, hookups, other.* another serial monogamist perpetual romantic at heart, nessa has had a few of these.
burlesque fan. this would be an interesting connection to explore! perhaps they know her from seeing her perform and nothing else.
i knew you in another life. maybe they followed collegiate sports and remember her brief run as a Cas U cheerleader.
other. i'm open to more ideas!!! sky's the limit!
