with how evident it was that the other was attempting to not laugh, it made the feeling seem quite contagious, soggy finding himself stifling his own smile for the sake of conversation. “ yeah, no, stop, come on. maybe none of you are as strong or as good looking or charismatic, etcetera, as i am but even hercules had, uh. ” he stops, snapping his fingers as if he were trying to jog his own memory. “ shit, i forget their names because they weren’t all that important. ” a chuckle falls out in jest. “ but what i’m trying to say is that there’s still a place for you guys. ” he pauses, nodding his head. “ kinda like how jesus has his 12 disciples. can you turn water into wine ? no, but you can, i don’t know, follow me around and that’s important too. ”
“you mean the muses? i think there were 5 in the disney movie, but more in the actual myths.” he said, “and i think that if YOU’RE jesus, turning water into wine would be more of your thing. not the disciples’.” they shrugged. “then again, i’m not an expert on jesus lore.” he wondered if the guy was serious. if he was, seth could probably make a pretty funny documentary about him.
THIS WAS THE DARE. lie to a random person and see if they believe it. it was a stupid game he was playing with some online friends he barely talked to, and the proof of completion was merely hearsay. but he was fair. “ did you hear the talk ?” his voice nearly croaks out at the closest person to him, the poor, poor, victim he decided to play out the dare to. “ i’m just gonna come right out and say it - i just wanna nip it in the bud before it really gets around. ” a sigh before continuing. “ yeah, okay, i was caught bench pressing, like, 400 pounds the other day, so. everyone’s just freaking out about that. ” it’s staged as a SERIOUS MOMENT. his arms raised slightly, lips pressed into a thin line, his fib coming out very unbelievable. “ it’s stressful having to uphold the roswell reputation of being the BEST LOOKING GUY but, i mean, we all have a role we have to play. if not me then who, right ? you get it, i’m sure you get it. ” / @roswellstarters
seth wasn’t super familiar with exercise stuff. look, he’s perfectly fine being a lean-bodied pretty (demi-)boy. no need for weightlifting and all that. when they did the math in their head, though, he couldn’t help almost bursting out in laughter. the thought of the other in front of him somehow bench pressing the weight of like, a motorcycle was hilarious. he had to make a concerted effort not to laugh. “uh...,” they said, gruff voice shaky from the effort not to laugh, “400 pounds? WOW. that’s so amazing, dude. you’re sooo strong. how could any of us compare to your adonis...ness. you’re the modern-day hercules.”
Chiba laughed, enjoying Seth’s strange way of doing business. A dish based on his vibe, that was going to be interesting. He loved the place, however. His biological mother, born in Japan, raised in Brittain, and landed in the USA, had an obession with anything from Asia, whether it was food, culture, movies, etc. She had brought the four of them to Mangan Tayon several times. “Naimbag nga bigat,” he said, because his mom also wanted them all to learn greetings in EVERY single language. “It’s very cold, and yes, always, when can you not, Seth, you know I’m a sucker for your food.”
“Yes!” cheered Seth. “Okay, so you’re always eager to learn more about other languages and cultures. So I was thinking you should have the pakbet. It’s so colorful and eclectic, like you.” They lifted the lid off the vividly colorful pakbet.” Acting as though he were on a singing contest, Seth proceeded to dramatically sing, “Lingkamas ken tarong, palang ken mani, utong, parda, pulumingku...”
“i don’t know how to shop for a nerd,” sawyer muttered to herself, the words coming out in a huff. shopping for her brother was never easy, every year landing her at forbidden planet to stare blankly at comic books and trinkets, and she still had a hard time and kept it until the last minute. crossing her arms, the blonde puffed her cheeks out and glanced around, catching the firs tperson she saw with a gaze and a half-smile. “what about you? do you happen to know how to shop for a nerd?”
“depends on what your definition of nerd is,” replied seth. “but also! i once dated a girl who was really, REALLY into bojack horseman fanfiction. i commissioned a bojack horseman fanfic for her as a gift and she said, ‘bojack horseman fanfiction does not define me as a person,’ and she dumped me. so, you know, it’s hard. a nerd might appreciate you taking into account their favorite thing or they might think that you think it defines them as a person.” 100% serious, they concluded their story, “you’ve got to be careful. nerds are people too.”
there were very few activities that ellis found themselves engaging lately. when they weren’t at the bar, at the trailer or getting high at the trailer, of course they were going to go visit seth. ever since seth had arrived, they believed he had found someone who truly got him. the first in roswell, that is. they were a bit too tough-skinned sometimes to admit it, but seth meant a lot to them. it showed in their actions, like his visits. the closer they got, the more likely seth would realize that they were trying to sell food to him, an individual who ate from the restaurant at least three times a week. “what’s my vibe, seth? coolest motherfucker in the galaxy?” they teased, crossing his arms before winking. “you can always interest me in food… you already know i think it’s..” he kissed his fingers as they saw the chefs do in films. “chefs kiss.”
seth scratched the back of their head. “ah, sorry. i wasn’t actually talking to you,” he said with a blank face. but he could only keep up the pretense for a few minutes before a laugh slipped through their lips. “yeah, you’re the coolest motherfucker in the galaxy!” he beckoned an employee — “manong!” he called out, an honorific meaning older brother in iloko — and respectfully asked him to take their place at the stall. they walked away from the entrance, ready to go inside with his friend. “we’re not gonna give away discounts just because you keep on flattering us,” they teased. “but anyway, how’s your day?”
it’s not that matty hates the current weather , but he surely doesn’t enjoy wearing winter clothes . heavy jackets just aren’t his style , and he embraces any and all opportunities to remove them . thus , going inside mangan tayon had been the plan all along , but he’d stand under the chilly weather for a few more minutes to humor the other . “ is that right ? ” a pause , gaze lowers to the pots between them . “ and what kind of vibe do i give off ? honestly - there’s no wrong answers here , i eat just about anything , but i’d like to know . ”
“you clearly give off the vibe of someone CONFIDENT and open to many things. you don’t play it safe; you want the full adventure.” seth removes the lid from the pot of pakbet. “this is pinakbet, or pakbet as we call it in iloko. it has an abundance of vegetables as well as meat. there’s bitter melon, but also crunchy pork, savory shrimp paste, and the sweetness of squash... among other flavors and textures.” they say, “plus, we cook our pakbet in special clay pots! what more could you ask for?”
so, he did know. it only added a little bit to zoey’s annoyance. she instantly moved her hands from under her head to the counter top, a warning glance being thrown their way. “ seth, are you actually serious, right now? stuff like that would’ve been good for me to know, so i wouldn’t have to feel like how i do at the moment! ” it wasn’t an annoyed look, it was one of sadness. “ what? did you think i couldn’t handle it? or did you just think i’d make amends with him out of the blue? ” it was official - the people in her life were truly something else. “ go ahead, you explain yourself to me. ”
“zoey...,” he said, his frustration seeping out. “zoey, you came to roswell without a warning EITHER. if i’m being honest, yeah, you didn’t seem like you could handle it at the time.” they said, “you moved all the way here, and then... if i’d told you that your ex that you hated so much lived here, what? it’d ruin your happiness. and maybe you’d move again, to someplace where you don’t have a support system.” he sighed. “i’m sorry. i’m really sorry. but i would’ve appreciated a warning too.” with a huff, they continued, “zoey, there’s nothing wrong with being vulnerable and heartbroken. you were both of those things.” he asked, “so... do you want something to eat before we resume this conversation?”
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DENYING that sulley simply adores this time of year. he’d never truly experienced the holidays until he’d grown, made it to roswell and discovered a family connected not by blood but by fate. anyone that knew him would argue that he was fluent in nearly all the love languages, but one of his favorites — gift giving — was a staple of this time of year, and there was no better way he could imagine to spend an afternoon than looking for gifts to surprise and celebrate his friends. the colder weather might not be kind to his joints and he’d likely suffer for the outing later, but bundled up in a sweater and arms bogged down by shopping bags as he and rhubarb wander the shops around town, he couldn’t be convinced he wasn’t having the time of his life. he’s paused a few feet away from a food stall when someone calls out to him and curiosity lures him closer almost at once. he’d be the first, after all, to attest to the importance of supporting smaller, local businesses. and the other is right, it is kind of chilly.
resituating rhubarh’s leash on his wrist, sulley approaches the stall and greets him with a kind grin that only grows at the offer he’s met with. ❝ well, your sales have t’be astronomical — how’s anyone s’posed to say no to a pitch like that ? you jus’ described everything i’m interested in. ❞ as if to prove his point, he’s already reaching for his wallet. ❝ d’you happen to have anything to accommodate more vegan vibes, by any chance ? ❞
“yeah, boss. can’t help being so charismatic,” replies seth to the astronomical sales comment. they’re joking, of course... mostly. “you’re in LUCK! even before knowing you were vegan, i saw you and thought you might like our dragon fruit.” he points to a pot full of saniata (as ilocanos called the fruit), its purplish pink slices visible through a transparent glass lid. “ours is very sweet. not bland, unlike some exported dragon fruit you may have tasted before. it’s sweet and vibrant, like you!”
sparrow wouldn’t claim to be a foodie by any means . they ate what they needed to in order to get by , which often meant pizza planet pies using coupons , instant noodles stolen from the grocery store or freezer food decades past its sell-by date . nice food , like the waft that caught their nose when passing by mangan tayon , was instantly marked in their brain as ‘ not for them ‘ , something they would love but would forever remain out of reach . they hadn’t expected the face behind the counter to beckon them forward . “ what’s the catch ?? “ sparrow questioned , hand on hip as they glanced over the dishes , attempting to maintain that pokerface of theirs , “ i can’t tip you , if that’s what you’re angling for . “
“does it look like i’m angling for anything?” replied seth, pretending to be affronted at the thought. “i’ve been told i have a very honest face.” they liked to think that people found his face trustworthy and charming, at least. he assured them, “all the samples are free.” they said, “you look TOUGH. i think you’d like bagnet.” they took the fogged-up, transparent lid off the pot containing bagnet. “it’s crunchy, savory pork. we use a family recipe.” he says, “but if you’re a vegan or something like that, we also have dragon fruit. dragon, perfect for someone badass like you. we don’t harvest ours prematurely for export, so it’s not like the dragon fruit you might find being sold in the usa. our dragon fruit, straight from the philippines, is properly ripened and very sweet. so what do you say? want to try?”
location: mangan tayo (a currently seth-ran restaurant)
walking into the building, the smell of food hit her instantly. food was a good bonus, but she was mainly here to talk to someone about withholding certain information from her, information that could’ve saved her pain and heartache a few days ago. there was no better place than ‘mangan tayo‘, their friends family-owned restaurant, than to find seth agpangan, someone who was friends with both her and thou-that-shall-not -be-named. she approached the counter with a smile, knowing to move out of the way if someone came up behind her to order something. “ hi, seth! ” she leaned her elbows against the counter, resting her head on the palms of her hands. “ did you, uh, forget to tell me something? you know, something important? ” @sethtm
seth couldn’t help gawking at zoey. well, that wasn’t exactly an uncommon occurrence, but this time it wasn’t because he was pining, but rather because they had a feeling this wasn’t going to be the most pleasant of talks. their instinct is to pretend that they don’t know what she means. but zoey deserves better than that. “fuck, you bumped into brook, didn’t you?” he sighs. “zoey, i’m sorry. let me explain.”
location: outside mangan tayon (a restaurant located near greystone complex)
open to: anyone
seth is hard at work at the food stall. although it requires them to stand outside in the chilly weather, they believe it’s a great idea for the holiday season: offering fresh, hot food to passersby. his family doesn’t find it so brilliant, but psh, they just don’t appreciate his business acumen. when he finishes telling a patron in iloko about their NAIMAS TI MAKAN (delicious food), they spot their next potential customer. switching to english this time, he says, “hey! hi. it’s pretty cold out here, right?” pots of ilocano dishes emit coils of pale steam in front of them. he gestures towards them. “can i interest you in some 100% authentic, affordable, lovingly cooked food?” they say, “i’ll pick a dish for you based on your vibe!”
daniel padilla & he/they / demi-man ‷ watch out , seth agpangan has crash-landed into roswell !! they look 24 years old and celebrate their birthday on january 11. they are from baguio, philippines, reside in greystone complex and are currently working as a restaurateur. one thing you should know about them is he’s taking control of his family’s restaurant after his older sibling abandoned it.‷
heyyy hi it’s me, thia, again! ( tw: brief mentions of transphobia )
full name: seth jhonel araya agpangan
birth date: january 11, 1997
gender: demi-man
ethnicity: mostly filipino (ilocano, waray, and bicolano); 1/4 white
languages spoken: ilocano (native), waray (fluent), english (fluent), tagalog (fluent)
occupations: restaurateur, indie director
sexual orientation: straight (as in attracted to women or fem people)
hair color: black (natural)
height: 6′1″
siblings: 4 (names tbd)
seth grew up in baguio, one of the philippines’ coldest places. as such, it’s also one of the few places in the country where you can grow strawberries. seth enjoyed joining the strawberry farmers at a very young age.
when their parents split up, their father decided to relocate to america. seth’s dad is half-white american, so he had relatives in america. it wasn’t a difficult transition. seth was left behind, though, because they were too young at the time. but seth did kind of feel like they had simply been abandoned.
although seth’s mother was a waray person, from eastern visayas, she stayed in baguio for seth.
seth seems to be a very happy-go-lucky person. he’s cheerful and doesn’t appear to be concerned about stuff. but he can be committed whenever he wants to be.
in 2015, when seth was only 18 years old and a freshman, he moved to america too and won a few awards at a local indie festival.
a few years later, he moved to los angeles and met some people. but he moved back to roswell in 2020 because his older sibling ditched the family business: mangan tayon (meaning “let’s eat” in ilocano) restaurant.
if there’s one thing seth hates, it’s abandonment lmao. so even though they were only 23, he took up the role of manager at mangan tayon.
it hasn’t been easy for him. what upsets them especially is how many people, including ones in his own family, fail to see beyond his super cheerful exterior. they accuse seth of being immature or lazy; they say he never takes anything seriously, even though they try harder than anyone else.
they alway feel like people only see an incomplete picture of him as a person. they’re so frustrated by how others don’t see how skilled, hard-working, and kindhearted they are.
also! seth is a demi-man. it wasn’t until they came to the usa when they realized it, tbh. i’m filipino so i know that in the philippines, they tend to conflate gender with sexuality. (like, if you’re amab and attracted only to women and fem people, you’re cis AND het.) seth isn’t attracted to men or masculine non-binary people, so he never realized that he didn’t need to be cishet. but his relationship with gender is complicated and they feel like a demi-man. they’re romantically and sexually attracted only to women and fem people, though!
