“It’s how I wake up my brain cells,” he explained, amused grin on his face at her joke, “Y’know, like when people smack around cigarette packs before they open them up?” Blinking at the other, Teddy immediately flashed her a somewhat classic mega-watt smile, the sort of smile he reserved for people he decidedly liked, though his reasoning was usually fickle at best, “Really? Huh - maybe Californian’s do deserve rights?” he teased, sloshing his beer bottle around to see how much he had left, “What’re you drinking? Feel like getting something sorta spicy now, if you’re offering - beer starts getting bland after a bit, like I can taste the wheat they used to make it. It’s wheat, right? Like - that’s what beers made of?”
“only some californians, let’s not get ahead of ourselves — i’m pretty sure i, an outlier, should not be counted, but i’ll let you make your own judgements on it,” solstice said with a grin, finishing off her drink and eyeing the empty glass like she’d already forgotten what had been in it. “wheat sounds right, i’m sure it’s some sort of dull plant,” she shrugged. “beer is cool for like, house parties, or for being at the beach — indoors i like to pretend i’m classy and get like, manhattans,” she said, the lonely olive in her glass the only proof she had of that. “i’ll get you one of those and we can both act classy for the night, it always makes me feel better about everything to pretend i’m a fancy lady with no concerns, you just gotta lift your head and point your nose up a little, to really fit in. if you know how to do a british accent, now’s the right time for that, too.”
“Wine, perhaps? Everywhere has good wine.” Zeke hadn’t spent much time on the West Coast and already, he was grateful for the opportunity. He felt at home there, like the conditions were made for him. “Nah, I’m not. One of the rotten Rochester folk here to ruin your comfortable educational institution.”
“wine sounds perfect — there’s always cheap wine that can be wasted with no regrets,” solstice nodded. “you don’t seem so rotten just yet, i’m holding judgement on rochester folk as a whole for now, you’re a very — uh, diverse bunch,” she said with a smile. she wasn’t too sure she would’ve liked being thrown in the same category as the rest of her usual classmates, even if now that there were so many strangers the sense of familiarity was easy to mistake for a sense of belonging. “i’m solstice, by the way, born and bred, so if you need a local’s advice on anything, i’m your person,” she offered, holding a hand out as if she was in a commercial for something. “pretty easy to get around here though, just stick to the sunny areas, and don’t get into vehicles with strangers no matter how enticing they sound, they might be surfers and you don’t wanna get involved with that crowd, they’re disgustingly — tanned, they’re so tanned, it should be illegal.”
Glancing at the group in question, Teddy’s nose immediately wrinkled as he took in the sight of them. He knew those kinda people, the ones who felt entitled for a handful of reasons - their parents had money, they were on a sports team, they were in a long line of legacies. The options were entirely endless, and as much as Teddy sneered at them behind their backs, he’d still find himself laughing haughtily when he could to stay on their good side, “Blegh. Doubt it,” he grumbled, rubbing aggressively at the spot between his brows when he could feel a headache coming on. Maybe the boisterous laughter had something to do with it, “Those people can drink liquor like it’s water, it’s actually kinda impressive. One of their many privileged talents, I guess. Meanwhile us common folk had to learn how to do it off of pure instinct and hard life lessons.”
glancing away from the group of loud students to the new person that had responded, she frowned slightly with concern at him. “you doing okay there? feel like you’re gonna end up digging yourself a hole right through your skull, don’t think that’s what they mean with the whole get your brain juices flowing, you know,” she said, leaning her chin on her hand as she watched him. “hard life lessons and pure instinct, for sure, sounds straight out of a fast and furious movie but i can relate,” she shrugged, smiling slightly at him. “you need a drink, common folk? i’ve made up my mind to be nice and welcoming to one and only one rochester kid, so you’re in luck.”
Gianni was having a good time watching the Rochester students explore the various bars and pubs, piling inside Mystic Water in groups throughout the night, mostly because he was getting offered free drinks left and right. Currently, he was holding two shots of tequila in his hands, not the usual for a night here, but special occasions, he supposed. “I think so, I’m counting at least three that are gonna have to end the night here and head to the infirmary,” he says, passing a shot towards Soltice and taking his own. He scrunched his nose at the sharp burn of it down his throat, but set down the glass and leaned back against the bar. Most of the nightly patrons did seem irritated, but Gianni had always loved loud and chaotic events. He blamed the parties his parents would have with his extended family and their neighborhood every other weekend. “You mean you’re not enjoying the screams and hollers every time they do a shot?”
“god, nurses are gonna love this, nothing like a night of stupid college kids throwing up all over the ER,” solstice said, nose scrunched up in disgust until she saw him passing a shot, expression instantly turning into an easy smile. “ah, but they come with free shots — i see why you’re so cheerful now,” she added with a light chuckle, lifting the shot to eye level and examining it before taking it, making a face at the taste. “i hate tequila, but i can never say no to it,” she said with a shrug, eyes glancing back to the rowdy kids. “they’re not so bad — just makes me feel like i should be marking territory somehow, and i don’t quite feel like pissing in corners just yet, no matter how much i love boundaries being set.”
Zeke sat at a bar stool, waiting for someone he knew to arrive so he could latch onto their side. He’d been uncharacteristically sociall awkward recently so when Solstice spoke to him, he had to think for a moment before he began to speak. “I — I think every bartender should get a free pass to just champagne shower whoever pisses them off most that night,” he muttered. “The shit you see them deal with. Unbelievable.”
“maybe not champagne, that shit’s expensive, but the plan sounds good other than that,” solstice considered, eyeing the bartender who seemed like he’d be instantly on board with the idea. “i know it doesn’t look like it, but it’s usually pretty chill most nights — you’re not from here, right, because i’d look really dumb if you are, i’m terrible with faces.”
mystic water was one of solstice’s favorite places in the city, mostly because of how colorful the walls were, the amount of art everywhere, and also a little because every now and then there was an open mic night that very few people went to where she actually felt comfortable enough to get up on stage. tonight was very clearly not one of those nights, with the rochester kids exploring every corner of the city, but solstice was still perched on a stool at the bar there, because she could not let go of either habits or grudges. “think they’re gonna pass out soon? they’ve been so loud all night i think the waiter might’ve just given them extra shots for free just so they’ll end up at the hospital faster, bit savage of him but i can understand it,” she said to the person sitting next to her with a glance over her shoulder in the direction of a group of college kids that had been yelling since they’d arrived.
KIM TAEYEON / CISFEMALE — don’t look now, but is that solstice turner i see? the 23 year old music student is in their senior year and she is a huntington alum. i hear they can be fun, carefree, reserved and selfish, so maybe keep that in mind. i bet she will make a name for themselves living off campus. ( ani. 27. gmt-3. she/her. )
hi it’s me ani again with my newborn hell daughter...... hmu for plots.... here or on discord ani #0509 thank u very much....... bio under the cut!! and here’s her pinterest
implied homophobia tw-
in the very small town of avalon, in santa catalina island, a small baby was abandoned at the medical center. solstice was a whole nine months when she was found, and though it wasn’t policy — mostly because there was no policy for this, being it the first case ever — one of the nurses took her home. nicole turner had never thought of having kids, but upon seeing solstice, it felt like fate. this was her kid, she felt it in her heart.
they were a happy family, though nicole worked very long hours at the hospital and sometimes they still struggled to pay the bills. solstice was loved and free, and she couldn’t have asked for me.
since she was little, her passions were art, all sorts, music, painting, books, and overall, skating. she had roller skates and a skateboard and she used them more than she used her own feet.
she was never a rebel, mostly because nicole was never too against her ideas, except one of her hobbies which got her into trouble quite often. solstice loved painting on any surface, and sometimes there just wasn’t enough paper, and walls were such a lovely canvas. as she got older, she was always out, especially at night, skates hanging over her shoulder, cans of spray in her bag, and one or two of her wildest friends trailing behind her. the town was their stage, their whole world, and solstice couldn’t imagine ever leaving it.
love slipped into her quietly, slowly, when she wasn’t paying attention, and it came in the shape of a girl with broad shoulders and a perfect laugh named nina. nina loved sneaking out at night with her, loved talking about everything with her, loved her. probably.
they were sixteen when solstice finally kissed the girl of her dreams, and she was kissed back, and everything seemed to have fallen into place. it was perfect. but the town was small, and nina didn’t want to get into trouble, and her parents would’ve forgiven the graffitis and the sneaking out, but the girl that she sneaked into her room at night? they wouldn’t have. it was hard, because if she wouldn’t come out, neither could sol, and it broke her heart very slowly.
at eighteen, nina wanted to go to college. solstice wasn’t too interested, but the idea of getting out of town, going somewhere where they might be free to live as they were, it sounded perfect. so nina applied to ucla, and solstice went right behind her. she did great on her freshman year, but nina still didn’t want to come out, and over their second year, solstice came to terms with the fact that she wouldn’t ever want to do it.
she took a gap year in between dropping out and coming to lockwood, travelling across the states, changing her spray paint for an inkgun and leaving her art over people’s skin instead. but her mom missed her terribly, and maybe some part of her thought if she came back, closer to home, she’d find nina again, and things would be different (spoiler alert: it didn’t happen).
she’s studying music because she always liked singing but never got too into it, and it felt like one thing she could allow other people to school her on, painting feeling too personal already. she’s closed off, though she’s outgoing and likes to make friends and have fun, but there’s a lot she won’t talk about and she can be prickly if she gets annoyed. she has a nose ring and more tattoos than she can count, most of them made by herself or by the one friend she let touch her skin, the one who taught her and helped her get a license.
give her childhood friends from huntington because they crossed over all the time, an online friend she told all her secrets to, an unrequited crush that she can’t admit to herself because she’s sworn off love, a hook up that won’t try to get more out of her, some boy with unrequited puppy love that won’t ever succeed because she a lesbian, someone who knew nina? a boy who dated nina at some point would be fun and horrible, would have to be a huntington guy. a gang of girls with tattoos that never sleep and stare at the moon until they can’t see it anymore.
ALBERTO ROSENDE / CISMALE. — nicolás rojas is really making a name for themselves as a tier 5 shepherd. i think that he is studying biology in their junior year at lockwood, living in fidelis. originally from chicago, nico is known to be gregarious & humble, but can also be gullible & nervous. — ani / 27 / gmt-3 / she/her.
nico was the product of a one night stand between some man and his mom, but that part of his story wasn’t important to him for the longest time because he was only a year and a half when his mom married her on-and-off girlfriend, and it took him many, many years to find out there’d been someone else involved.
his childhood was pretty chill — he was a quiet kid, mostly interested in hanging out in his backyard naming all the worms he could find, and playing with his dog lucy. his moms worked a lot, but they lived with his grandma and that was enough company for him.
since he was a baby he knew he wanted to be a veterinarian, except for that short phase where he considered being an astronaut, but then he found out you had to train physically for it and he switched back to animals quickly.
her moms were adamant on him not being a couch potato forever, so they had him try out every sport until he concluded he hated basketball the less. it isn’t his favorite thing and he’s not the best at it, but it helps him get his mind off things when he needs it.
bullying tw // he got bullied in high school pretty often by a jock that had him as his favorite target, and nico had a bad habit of trying to stand up to him despite being half his height. he still flinches sometimes if someone sneaks up on him.
when he was seventeen, life changed drastically in a heartbeat. by chance, his mom had run into his dad — it had been years, but it was hard to forget a face that had turned her life upside down. things were tense for a while, because nico hadn’t known he had a father, and his father didn’t know he had him either, so everyone was temporarily mad at his mom, but eventually, they moved past it. his dad was pretty great, and wanted to get to know him, and for a while, it was a perfect addition to nico’s life.
thing was though, his dad was married and had a daughter of his own — older than nico, part of why nico’s mom hadn’t wanted to tell him about his son, not wanting to break up a family. after hanging out with him a few times, nico’s dad took him to meet his family, during the summer, when his sister was home, and nico was a little starstruck by her. she was in college at lockwood already, and was the coolest human being he’d ever met. she was a little mean perhaps, her humor a bit more cynical than he was used to, but it only made her cooler in his eyes. he took to her like a lost puppy, and she appreciated the attention.
nico spent all his summer around his half sister, and slowly, she started letting him in, sharing books and watching films together, having him come visit her at her dorm when she went back, walking him around campus. nico felt dizzy through it all, ditched his dreams to go to the university of chicago because suddenly lockwood was all he’d ever wanted, even though he’d never thought he’d want to be that far from his moms.
during one of his visits, he noticed his sister was acting strangely. she was being secretive, constantly on edge, and seemed to have no time for him at all, which was strange because she’d asked him to come over. eventually, she told him the truth — nico had always known she was great with computers, and not very fond of her classmates, but hearing about the app she’d been helping develop gave him goosebumps. it didn’t sound all that dangerous, but she clearly thought it could be, and she was pretty sure there were plans to use it for bad stuff, things she didn’t want to be associated with. she’d been trying to get off the app, but they’d asked for someone to take her place instead, and she wouldn’t ask if there was anyone else but there wasn’t anyone she trusted that wasn’t already in the app — except for nico, who hadn’t even started college yet.
thanks to his sister, nico started out at a higher tier than usual, which wasn’t something he would have ever wanted. straight off the bat, things got shady and bad, and it didn’t take him long to realize his sister was still on there — not because the trade hadn’t worked out, but because there’d never been a trade at all. once she realized he suspected she’d been manipulating him to get on the app, she started treating him more coldly, putting a distance between them, like all of the time they’d spent together had just been her working him, building a bond so he’d accept.
nico was always a bit of an introvert, but being on the app and having to do things for it has made him more cautious, more reserved. he tries to keep it casual, make friends, have a life, but he’s fidgety, barely ever sleeps. he was just a kid when he first joined, sure he was doing it to keep his sister out of trouble, and so he did some things the app asked without thinking twice, starting chains of events that he couldn’t have ever predicted. now he can’t get out, because whoever is on the top has that on him, and is instead focusing on trying to climb tiers, sure if he gets closer to those in charge he’ll have more control over what he’s asked to do.
CONNECTIONS; friends who have no idea he’s on the app and think he’s just quiet, a fellow animal lover, a crush, someone who’s crushing on him, fellow high-tiered shepherds who don’t think too highly of him, anything!!!
