jaekyung arrives with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder and a grin wide enough to convince everyone he passes that he’s happy to be here. whether he’s trying to convince them or himself, he’s not entirely sure. he’s been hitting the gym 3 times a week— there’s no real reason for him to need the extra cardio. but a change of pace sounds good… at least, until he remembers one tiny little detail. he’s not a terrible swimmer, promise. well actually— let’s just say he does better on land.
the sharp scent of chlorine hits the moment he enters the pool area. “guess who’s back?” he announces to no one in particular. nevermind that he’s never actually been there before.
swimming was the only sport jaya actually liked doing, she always knew she wouldn't be bothered when she swam. but that obviously changed today, she was sitting at the edge of the pool, her toes dipped in the water, she was about to get in and do some laps. jaya looked up to see jaekyung entering, she didn't recognise his face, "uh --- hi stranger?"
aria glances up from the open catalogs sprawled across the counter, feigning shock like she just heard complete blasphemy. "girl, who cares if it has? go for it!" she says, her grin kicking up at the corner. "i think you'd look mad cute with little flowers on your nails."
before jaya can reply, aria's already flipping back through the pages, skimming the swatches with practiced eyes. "now, do i wanna cause chaos with electric purple," she muses, a playful glint in her eyes, "or go full power move with glossy black?" a beat later, she taps the black. "sharp. chic. very me, don't you think?"
"you're right, i'm not sure why i'm taking this so seriously" jaya muses, staring down at her options. she's quiet for a moment, thinking about things, "fuck it, i'm gonna go for the daisies".
"electric purple could be cute" now jaya had her phone out, looking at nail art that had daisies on it. she has a brainwave, "i agree, black is very chic but you could do a mix of both, add some purple glitter over the top?".
“daisies are a classic, definitely not overdone. i actually think they're adorable.” eyes follow jaya's, inching in a slight as she peers down at of colours displayed upon catalogue. just to get a better view of the selection. "this—" fingertips taps against the edge of a certain nude shade, careful not to move too much (else she'll end up being scolded by the nail tech working meticulously on the patterns on her other hand again). muted pink, not too dark, yet not too light that it could be mistaken for white. "—would be a cute base for the spring theme though." she muses, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. she understands jaya, really, choosing the colours is always the toughest part when it comes to getting your nails done. "oooor… something completely unique? jet black nails with little daisies?" a soft chuckle slips then, leaning back against her chair. “either way, whatever you go for, you'll make it work. as you always do.”
jaya pulls a "thinking face", she was still undecided, why was this decision always so difficult, "hm. true, they are such a classic design". her eyes dart back down to the pages, jaya needed to hurry up and choose something, her slot was soon, "oooh, good idea, you can't go wrong with a pink" jaya muses, "very spring-like". at her friend's next suggestion, jaya's face lights up, she always wanted her nails to be cute but unique, different, like no one else's, this could be it, a brilliant idea. "bestie, you're full of amazing ideas today, i think that'd be awesome" she grins back at her friend, "i can totally see the vision. maybe with a little bit of gold glitter in the centre, to make things pop". now jaya was feeling inspired, "thank you but, i think all the credit to this set is gonna go to you".
"which colour do you think i should go for?" jaya asks the other, looking down at her choices. she loved getting her nails painted, jaya always felt a little more confident whenever she left the shop, "i was thinkin' of maybe getting some cute flowers, like daisies on there too, for some spring vibes or has that been done to death?".
“oh—oh, no. i'm completely sober.” shiloh was well aware of the kind of people who usually found themselves at tim and jay’s at this hour: half-drunk regulars nursing the last dregs of their regret with cheap coffee. alcoholics, mostly. men with faces crumpled like discarded newspapers, women with smudged lipstick and last night’s mistakes still clinging to their skin.
but shiloh? he tooootally was above all that. he hadn't touched alcohol in weeks, not since he started taking soul cycling classes and decided he actually liked waking up in the morning without feeling like his brain had been wrung out like a dishcloth. “i don't drink alcohol anymore—that shit's nasty,” he said, as if he hadn't spent years indulging in the same vices he now turned his nose up at. “i usually wake up at four in the morning,” he added, like a fucking badge of honour, “have breakfast at around five.”
"oooh, get you, mr. sober" jaya replies, shoving another fry into her mouth. friday had arrived and jaya had spent her friday evening, dancing the night away with her friends. she'd stumbled into tim & jay's for some food, it was a bit of a tradition for her, a great way to finish off a fun night. when she was drunk, she was a bit of a chatterbox, which is how she'd got chatting with shiloh.
"wow, are you lookin' for an award or something?" she mumbles, picking up a napkin, "i could make you one" normally jaya didn't go crazy. but she'd been so busy with work recently, that she wanted to blow off some steam with some friends, she scrunched up the napkin, throwing it towards the other, "for you". jaya rolls her eyes at his words, eating another fry, "alright, i get it, you're perfect. stop rubbing it in...".
" isn't that insane ? " xochitl's mouth was left partly agape as she watched the muralist at work . the person seemed to be lost in their own world entirely . the small crowds of people coming together and dispersing behind them as they worked seemed to do nothing to distract them . they continued to carry on . the story she was chasing , intel she was trying to capture completely forgotten as she watched the color fill the otherwise blank wall . and in true xochitl fashion , she had to ruin an otherwise fine moment . " what do you think they'd do if someone just came behind them with the biggest water bucket you've ever seen ? "
"it's pretty fuckin' cool" jaya replies, not taking her eyes off the artist, "i wish i could do something like that. even my stick figures are rubbish". she'd tried drawing and sketching before, but it hadn't ended well, in the end, jaya decided to stick with writing instead. she could still appreciate though and what this person was creating, was amazing, a laugh fell past her lips at the other's words. "good question, i feel like they'd have to stand in front of their art and at least try to protect it right?".
INTRODUCING JAYANTIKA “JAYA” CHARI WRITTEN (AND LOVED!) BY CORRIE
( geraldine viswanathan, cis woman, she/her ) is that JAYANTIKA “JAYA” CHARI, the 29 year-old WRITER at XOXO MAGAZINE ? they’re pretty FEISTY, but people have told me they could be STUBBORN as well. they kinda remind me of ladylike / WHATTA BITCH by THE REGRETTES, probably because of the whole ARRIVING LATE TO WORK WITH AN ICE-COFFEE IN HAND, MESSY BEDROOMS, AND LOUD GIRLS ON A NIGHT OUT vibe they’ve got going for them. they live in VAN NUYS, but you can probably find them at HARE AND HORNET if you wanted to chat. out of everyone i know, i’d say they’re the most likely to BECOME A GIRL BOSS CEO. say what you want about them, but they’re an angeleno through and through.
THE BASICS:
full name: jayantika hazel chari
nicknames: jaya // j // jay
birthday: 20th june 1995 (29 years old)
gender: cis woman (she/her)
sexuality: pansexual
relationship status: very single!
job: writer @ xoxo magazine
PINTEREST
BASIC INTRO:
will be updated accordingly!
jaya is originally from ojai near los angeles, she's always had big dreams of moving to the city!!
she prefers to be called "jaya" or jay, literally, the only person who actually calls her by her full name, is her father when he's mad at her.
her parents met when they were both studying at college, they were introduced to each other by friends and they hit off, they've been together ever since.
jaya is the oldest of four children, she's got one younger sister and two younger brothers (who are twins!!)
she studied journalism at college and she secretly hoped to meet the love of her life, whilst studying but that never happened lol. instead, she just had a bunch of failed dates / hookups.
ANYWAY, she eventually moved to los angeles and after a bunch of internships & a stint of waiting tables, jaya has finally got her dream job, she's a writer at xoxo magazine.
she writes a bunch of lifestyle stuff for like yummy mummies etc but she loves it, it's the perfect job for her!!
jaya currently lives in a cute little apartment, in the van nuys neighbourhood with some roommates!!
the apartment she shares is super cute, cosy and lovely, it's always busy with friends coming in & out, they are always holding parties, having a good time etc, it's the best!!
she's fully assimilated into los angeles living now and she adores it, honestly, she's just living her best life. but she's still super close with her family and she sees them regularly, her siblings stay with her a lot & hang out at her place.
jaya is very loud, confident, fiesty, sometimes a little bossy, kinda like a bull in a china shop but she’s very loveable and she does mean well, i promise!!
WANTED CONNECTIONS:
friends (besties, close friends, friends etc)
roomates (3 roommates, 4 all together!!)
good / bad influence
exes (she’s lived in los angeles for a few years now)
fwbs
failed / awkward tinder dates
co-workers
if you'd like to plot with jaya, please feel free to like this post & i'll message you or feel free to drop me a message on discord @radcorrie!!
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