when she arrives at woodside college that morning, the weather is akin to a snow globe, and while she adores crisp, frosty air, she is glad for the reprieve from it inside the confines of her office today. However, there's just something about winter being spent on a college campus. it felt almost like a completely different world. it's partly why she went into teaching, escaping into academia was a nice little treat sometimes, as pretentious as it could occasionally be. She was planning her first lesson back, going over it inside her head, editing notes, and prepping herself for the day ahead, and it's then when the warm voice fills her office, Lorelai's eyes shifting up from where they were focused on the fossils in front of her to find Chloe standing there. two coffees are set on her desk, followed soon by Chloe perching herself on it, as well. "well, isn't this a nice surprise," she gathers herself, her cheeks turning ever so lightly pink. "you are a dream," she breaths, taking the offered cup into her own hands. "you really are a welcome surprise, and distraction," she comments after taking a sip and setting the cup down, reaching out to put her hand on Chloe's knee. "to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Chloe tilted her head, a knowing smirk dancing across her lips as she watched Lorelai's cheeks tinge with pink. It was always satisfying to draw out those subtle reactions, especially from someone who was otherwise so composed. "Oh, you know me," Chloe drawled, leaning back slightly on the desk as though it were a throne, "I couldn’t resist the allure of a woman hard at work... and the thought of you needing a caffeine fix." Her gaze flickered to the fossil fragments arranged meticulously in front of Lorelai. "Besides, someone has to remind you that you're allowed to take a break every now and then. Even professors need a moment to breathe."
She paused, her tone shifting from playful to sincere as Lorelai’s hand came to rest on her knee, the warmth seeping through the fabric of her tailored pants. Chloe reached for her own cup, cradling it as her gaze softened. "Honestly? I just wanted to see you." Her voice held a hint of vulnerability that she quickly masked with a wry smile. "And I figured if I brought coffee, it would give me an excuse to crash your little academic paradise. Seems like a fair trade, right?"
Chloe’s eyes sparkled mischievously again, her free hand brushing an invisible speck of dust from her coat. "Unless, of course, you'd prefer I leave you to your rocks and snow globe musings?" She raised a brow, the faintest challenge woven into her words, even as she knew full well she wasn't going anywhere.
At her sister's opening statement when handing off a steaming cup of hot chocolate Nicola wanted to remind the woman dripped in designer garb where she'd been born and raised. Not only that, Chloe had been living in Woodside the last four years. Surely she'd reacclimatized. "It's a little difficult to watch your kid on the ice, hear the feedback of the coaches, and all that," she'd scrunched her nose as she wiggled her hand at the rink, "from a luxury box." And it wasn't as though these kids played in professional arenas that were equipped with such a thing. The mere mention of it though sent Nicola sailing back through time, more than a decade prior, when she used to cheer for Teddy's father. Who was now also rinkside. "You know you could solve all of your current problems if you'd just dressed appropriately," Nicola restrained a laugh and had to purse her lips together and furrow her brow momentarily. Not that her older sister didn't look good, Chloe always did, but the woman should've known better by now. After her first sip from the steaming drink in her little hand she winced at the powdery taste. With her sister's tough schedule as a surgeon Nicola couldn't expect her to show up for all of Teddy's games, what struck her was the presence at a practice. "What brings you in?" She asked as casually as she could.
Chloe rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth quirking in amusement as she sipped her hot chocolate. "I’ve been living here long enough, I’ll admit, but reacclimatizing to arctic conditions isn’t on my to-do list," she replied, gesturing dramatically to her designer coat. "And, for the record, I’m not suggesting luxury boxes for peewee hockey. Just a little imagination—cozy blankets, maybe those heated benches they use in the NFL." She smirked and nudged Nicola’s arm, clearly joking but unwilling to give up the bit entirely.
Her gaze followed Nicola's gesture to the rink, landing on Teddy skating with a determination that made her chest swell with pride. "He’s good," she said simply, her voice softening. For all her complaints about the cold, it was hard to regret showing up when she saw how effortlessly her nephew moved on the ice.
At Nicola’s question, Chloe arched a brow, giving her sister a knowing look. "Can’t a busy aunt squeeze in a little time to watch her favorite nephew?" she teased before leaning back against the bench with a shrug. "My evening’s tied up with surgery, and honestly, the last thing I wanted was to go home to an empty house." Her tone dropped slightly, betraying a flicker of vulnerability before she smoothed it over with a bright smile. "Besides, who else is going to remind you that hockey moms should expect more out of life than mediocre hot chocolate and numb toes?"
closed starter for @sclaceway
setting: the grimm family home, sunday evening after dinner
with the dishes done and nicola and teddy having already gone home, stella had retired to her room to do her nighttime eight-step skincare routine. sasha calls her patrick bateman. she thinks that's the fella three houses over who keeps bringing her fresh eggs every saturday morning. now, why the fuck would i call you that? and no, that's peter boseman, ma.
anyway, he'd given her her meds and made sure she was all settled in before going down the stairs. he didn't have plans for the rest of the night, probably just watch tv in the living room until the david letterman reruns lull him to sleep on the couch. probably make himself a mug of hot chocolate nesquik with the little marshmallows. maybe have some leftover christmas cookies, too...
"jesus! fucking christ..."
he'd barely made it to the last step when he sees chloe hanging out by herself in the kitchen. he'd fully forgotten she was still around, thinking she'd probably left when nicola did. he releases his shirt from where he'd been clutching his chest, heaving a big sigh in relief that a crazy intruder hadn't just broken into their house to have a little snack. he eyes the cookie jar in his sister's hands and thinks about snatching it from her perfectly manicured fingers, but she might break a nail, and he might lose an eye for it. instead, he walks past her, "i was gonna finish those," and moves towards the cupboards to start on his hot chocolate. "i'm making neqsuik. want one?"
The last thing Chloe wanted to do was go home. There wasn’t anything waiting for her there that felt remotely worth the trouble. Leaning against the kitchen counter at her mother's, she cradled the cookie jar in one arm while casually swiping through Tinder with the other. The sound of her younger brother making his grand entrance, complete with exaggerated groans and footsteps like thunder, pulled her attention. Without looking up immediately, she raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow in his direction. “And they call me the dramatic one,” she quipped with a smirk before popping a perfectly baked snickerdoodle into her mouth. Her brother’s indignant expression made her chuckle as she savored the bite. “Too late,” she added smugly, shaking the near-empty jar for effect. “I’m older, which automatically makes me more entitled to these. But, fine, if you’re making it with milk to go with it, I suppose I’ll share.”
Climbing the metal steps of the bleachers at the local ice rink, Chloe’s heels echoed faintly against the concrete, a sound completely at odds with the sea of worn boots and sneakers around her. Balancing two steaming cups of hot chocolate, she spotted her sister sitting near center ice, bundled in the same warm clothes as everyone else. Chloe’s designer coat, sleek and tailored, did little to protect her from the frigid air. "Why anyone voluntarily sits in an icebox for fun is beyond me," she muttered as she reached Nicola, handing her one of the cups before perching delicately on the freezing metal bench beside her. Chloe’s breath puffed out in faint clouds as her sharp eyes quickly found Teddy, darting across the rink with ease as he practiced skating drills. Despite the discomfort, a proud smile tugged at her lips, and she blew lightly on her hot chocolate before taking a sip. "I’m all for support," she continued, tilting her head toward Nicola, "but couldn’t we do it somewhere cozier? Maybe a nice lounge with fireplaces, space heaters, and mimosas? I’m just saying, hockey moms deserve luxury." Chloe smirked. Though she was born and raised in Minnesota, the winters she once braved with ease now felt harsh after years of California living. She couldn’t help but silently lament how soft she'd become in the cold.
who: lorelai maxwell (@invsblstrngs)
where: woodside college
Strolling through the familiar halls, Chloe made her way to Lorelai's cozy office at Woodside College, balancing a tray with two steaming cups of coffee and wearing a mischievous grin. The soft scent of aged books and lingering chalk filled the air, a stark contrast to Chloe's polished designer attire. It was one of those rare mornings when she didn't have to be in the hospital until much later, with only a single elective surgery scheduled for the evening. Seizing the opportunity, she decided to surprise the woman currently holding her affection. Stepping inside, Chloe found Lorelai completely absorbed in her work, arranging fossil fragments on her desk. The sight made Chloe’s grin soften into an appreciative smile. "Hey, Professor," she greeted, her voice warm as she set the coffees down and perched on the edge of the desk with effortless ease. "Thought this might help me earn some extra credit," she teased, holding out Lorelai's preferred brew.
FULL NAME: chloe grimm harrington
NICKNAMES: chlo, grimmy, princess, chlostar
AGE: 38
GENDER IDENTIFICATION: she / her
SEXUAL ORIENTATION: pansexual
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: married single
NEIGHBORHOOD: beachwood
OCCUPATION: plastic surgeon at woodside medical center
POSITIVE TRAITS: ambitious, resilient, compassionate
NEGATIVE TRAITS: detached, workaholic, stubborn
PLACE OF BIRTH: rochester, minnesota
LENGTH OF TIME IN WOODSIDE: on and off for four years
TL;DR: Chloe Grimm, the ambitious eldest child of a renowned surgeon and a hospital administrator, grew up in a close-knit family in Rochester, Minnesota. After high school, she attended USC, joined the Alpha Phi sorority, and went on to medical school at Stanford, eventually discovering her passion for plastic surgery during residency. She married a wealthy man and became a trophy wife but struggled with her career ambitions. After her father’s death and her mother’s stroke, Chloe moved to Woodside, Michigan, to care for her, balancing her demanding job as a plastic surgeon with her family duties. Her life is a constant balancing act between her professional success and her responsibility to her family, especially as her marriage grows distant.
AESTHETIC:
pom poms, crowns, scalpels, diamonds, mirrors, spotlight, operating lights, velvet ropes, lipstick stains, scrub caps, sand, long days, messy buns, unlistened voicemails, never taking no for an answer, confidence that could kill, the smell of mom’s homemade chicken noodle soup, needing everything to be perfect, not caring what others think, leaving a trail of broken hearts, sunscreen, stilettos on marble floors, framed diplomas, daddy's girl, tangled silk bedsheets, sterile white rooms, untouched wedding albums, sunkissed cheeks
PERSONALITY:
Chloe is driven, ambitious, and incredibly focused on her career and achieving success. From a young age, she has sought to be the best in everything she does, often pushing herself to excel and standing out in both social and professional settings. Her high level of ambition is tempered with a sense of perfectionism, which sometimes leads her to struggle with work-life balance. Though outwardly confident and polished, Chloe often grapples with deeper emotional complexities, particularly in her personal relationships. Despite her outward confidence, she is deeply loyal to those she loves, particularly her family, and is willing to make sacrifices for them. At her core, Chloe is a mix of fierce determination and a growing understanding of what truly matters, struggling with the pull between her professional aspirations and the need for genuine emotional connection.
HEADCANNONS:
character inspo: addison montgomery (private practive),
Even in casual settings, Chloe's competitiveness shows. Whether it’s a family game night or a hospital trivia contest, she refuses to lose.
Chloe wears a simple necklace every day, gifted by her late father when she graduated medical school, as a small reminder of her roots.
She loves luxury travel, always flying first class or staying in upscale hotels. Her go-to travel activity is visiting renowned art galleries or exploring Michelin-starred restaurants.
Chloe is committed to fitness, balancing yoga for mindfulness with intense spin classes to stay in shape and maintain her sharp mental focus.
Chloe’s drive for perfection stems from a deep-seated fear of failure, rooted in her desire to meet her father’s lofty expectations—even after his passing.
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