who: jo + open (@corneliastarters)
where: strikes fly (bowling alley)
kids birthday parties weren't exactly jo's idea of a fun way to spend her evening, but she didn't know this kid's parents, so she hadn't wanted to stray too far. jake and his friends were upstairs in the arcade, so jo decided to waste a couple of hours at the nearby bowling alley. unfortunately, it seemed like a lot of other people had the same idea. so, nursing a beer, she approached someone who looked to have a lane to themselves. "no fun playing alone, is it?" she raised a brow. this person was probably waiting for their friends or family to arrive, but until then...well, jo was an opportunist.
gianna wanted to do something fun by herself thinking it would be a way to do some SELF-LOVE. she vouched for heading to stay beautiful for a whole pampering session, maybe even getting a hair trim─ but she ended up at strikes fly instead. alone. she lined her ball up, racing down until she was in perfect form only to lead it into the gutter. an agonizing sigh escaped her lips, seeing a familiar face next to her. ❝ well maybe you should join me. as you can see, i am a professional at this. ❞ the tone of disappointment follows her as she sits down in her own little booth of the lane checking the scoreboard. ❝ what are you up to down here? do you and jake have your own lane somewhere? ❞
who: theo + open (@corneliastarters)
where: our song (record shop)
he didn't actually have a record player of his own, but he always liked to stop inside the record store thumbing through them when he was in this part of town. as he was making his way around the store, slurping on an iced coffee, he caught sight of another patron holding up his band's ep. "electric touch, huh?" theo asked, shaking his coffee cup to stir it a bit and taking another sip. "are they any good?"
gianna loved anything music related. it reminded her of her dads back home, especially with their whole vinyl collection. she was hoping to find something for them to mark off their wishlist, but she couldn’t seem to find any yet. her eyes did glance over a familiar title, grabbing and bringing it up to her as she looks over it until she hears a voice from behind. ❝ i mean, i guess they’re alright. ❞ she says in a sarcastic tone as she gives a slight shrug. ❝ the one on the keys gives me a weird vibe though, so i wouldn't pay attention to him much. ❞ gianna chuckles, joining the ep along with the other things that she was buying.
"Nice to meet you as well, Gianna," he said, nodding. "Steal me for as long as you need. Though I might have to step away to help another customer after too long. But I can come back and assist however and whenever." While the bookstore wasn't his normal speed of working in the coroporate world that he had left behind, it was nice getting to connect with people around Cornelia Street over something that he loved so much, even if he hadn't had much time for reading in recent years. After his abrupt departure from LA, he had found himself turning to books, old and new, as a means of escaping his reality. But didn't everyone?
"If you like classics, I can recommend a few for you," Sam said with a smile, "Those are some of my favorites .When I find something I like, I tend to stick with it. It's like coming home, but in a book, if that makes sense?" Sam chuckled. "But if something more contemporary is more your vibe, we've got a whole section up front here with some newer releases. I've not read much of them, but I'm trying. However, from other customer reviews that I've heard? They're all a great read."
❝ i promise i won’t keep you for too long, ❞ gianna mentions as her eyes wander at PAGES TURNED. it felt so comforting and inviting, a place that didn’t feel too fast-paced unlike the outside of those doors. ❝ classics sound good. definitely no shakespeare though. i’ve read too much of that back in high school. ❞ she was willing to explore once more again; she was so used to reading those cheesy romance books, especially seeing a whole culture online seeing people bond over novels.
❝ maybe i'll try a bit of both. a classic and a contemporary, ❞ gia's looks around, hoping that there was a story that might catch her eye. ❝ i used to go to the bookstore so often back in seattle, ever since i moved here i kinda forgot how much i missed it. ❞
who: ty + open (@corneliastarters)
where: tattoo kiss (but like...outside it?)
he wasn't sure what possessed him to get a(nother) tattoo, but he'd played a good game, was a little bit drunk, and they had an off day tomorrow, so when ty passed by the tattoo shop on his way home, he'd stopped in his tracks at a lit up sign for flash tattoos. he had a little extra money in his pocket from a bet with one of the guys and it was practically burning a hole in it, so an hour later, he left the shop with a freshly done rose on one forearm. "oops, sorry," he said, sidestepping someone on the sidewalk as soon as he exited the store and rubbing the back of his neck. "didn't see you there."
ANOTHER DAY of closing up shop as she turns the key, waiting to here that lock sound that somehow brought a sense of satisfaction to her ears. gianna decided to spend an extra hour or two to deep clean sweet nothing blasting a bit of music to hype up her motivation. she adjusts her tote bag resting upon her shoulder, walking down the street a flew blocks down until she reached her apartment. gianna turns her head to her back, SHUFFLING through to find her keys ahead of time, all until she almost bumps into a figure exiting out. eyebrows raise up in surprise, her mouth opening slightly, ❝ just my luck seeing you here, stranger. ❞ she teases the other, looking up at the flashing sign to see where he was coming from. ❝ what did you end up getting, ty? and please don't tell me you got someone's name on your butt or i'm walking away. ❞
he let out a hum, eyes skimming over the morning paper as he tuned out the hustle and bustle of the restaurant around him. as with most things these days, he wasn't exactly doing what would be his norm. it wasn't terrible, though. since he was a kid, his parents had been after him about how he needed to get out more and do things in public. until now, he'd been able to get away with the fact that his job was quite literally a public affair. his social battery died quickly, but he supposed he didn't have to use it if he just pretended no one else existed.
this was significantly harder to do, however, if damien was clumsy. it wasn't typically, but he supposed he could chalk it up to the plethora of changes in his life. after all, losing your parents was supposed to rattle you. so at least he would have that to point to when he agonized over this moment later. as he reached for his coffee, his made the critical mistake of not looking away from the headlines as he hand knocked into the salt and sugar shakers that sat on the bar in front of him. both tumbled over. one breaking open and spilling it's contents all over the bar he was sat at.
❝ i am so sorry, ❞ he muttered to the diner on his right, whose own place setting was now covered in white. ❝ i should've looked at what i was doing. ❞
the diner wasn’t the ideal place for her to catch up on business, especially since she could’ve easily stayed in her brownstone apartment or gone to holy grounds around the corner. she was starving, and she was in the mood for some comfort food— at least something to cure her cravings. a simple smile returns to the waiter as her iced coffee sets infront of alongside a simple breakfast wrap followed by potatoes.
the tip of the pen moves back and forth between sheets, while she shoves each bite as eyes are still glued to her papers. that’s when she hears the thump against the bar, moving her documents away from her face to see a tiny mountain of white particles that have now spread across.
❝ oh don’t worry, i got it, ❞ gianna’s hands cup over the mess, brushing it into one pile in hopes the staff wouldn’t be upset. ❝ it’s just some sugar and salt, no harm in that. ❞ she reassures the other, grabbing her empty plate to move underneath the booth in order catch the remaining mess. ❝ if anyone should be apologizing it should be me. i didn’t mean for me to scatter my random papers everywhere. ❞
Sam heard the tinkle of the bell over the door as someone walked into the bookstore. He waved, setting his book down upside down to save his page. "Welcome in! Feel free to take your time browsing the books. This old place has been known to suck people in for hours though, so I will warn you, if you're short on time, you might want to be mindful of the clock." Sam chuckled and pointed to a few that were strategically placed among the overcrowded bookshelves full of used books. "Or if there's a time that you need to be out of here by, just let me know. I'll do my best to come find you and remind you."
"Or, if there's something you're looking for in particular, I can point you in the direction of the right section. When it comes down to certain titles though, that might be a bit of a challenge. Even for as organized as everything is, there's still a treasure trove of newer and old, old, old books around here, and with thousands of titles, I don't quite know where everything is. Just an estimation of where it should be." He smiled at them. "I'm Sam, if you need anything."
gianna was hoping to get started on reading again, especially when it came to down time on her days off. or even when she’d take a stroll down centennial park to just sit and take in nature a bit. a hand turns the brassy doorknob, being greeted by the gentle chime of a bell. her eyes dart up at the worker, chuckling softly at his comment. ❝ good thing i don’t have anything planned today, huh? i’m suddenly in the mood to get lost within the stories. ❞
that was the thing: gianna had no idea what she was looking for as she gently rubs the back of her neck of unsureness. ❝ nice to meet you, sam. i’m gianna. actually i could steal you for a second; do you have any recommendations for me? or maybe a favorite book? ❞
location: outside sweet nothings
status: open to all
Audreys eyes flickered from dessert to dessert from behind the outside window. Her head tilting slightly as she examined each piece from a far, feeling like she might get flustered if she got too close to the art in food form. She wanted to badly to be able to create something like the pieces inside the bakery, something that would make her daughter proud of her. It wasn't that she wasn't already, but Audrey could see the pity in her childs eyes each time the burnt cookies came out of the oven.
So lost in her own head, her own world, it took far too long for her to notice how long she had been blocking half the doorway to enter. The feeling of eyes on her the only thing to snap her back to reality. "Oh my gosh." Her hand leaping to her chest as she inched out of the way. "Were you trying to get inside? I'm so oblivious, I swear. Next time you should really just give me a shove."
HEELS click along the pavement, with her hands shoved into the pockets of her blazer. she was hoping to explore more of the city yet here she was still at CORNELIA STREET. she passed by her bakery, grinning at the person that was focused at the pastries that were at the other side of the glass wall. gianna had wondered if her workers had made a new display today on her day off.
❝ oh no, i was just looking at the pastries too! you were never in my way, i can assure you. ❞ the young woman reassures her in response. ❝ they do look delicious, don’t they? ❞ eyes peer over the amount of baked goods that showcased through.
𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐋. twenty six, she/her, august muse b.
❝ august slipped away into a moment in time. ❞
☆ –– (lana condor, she/her, ciswoman) who is GIANNA BURRELL anyways? ew. you don’t know about HER, we’ll bet you want to. they’re feeling TWENTY SIX and STARGAZING AT MIDNIGHT feels like a perfect night to them. rumor has it they’re RESENTFUL and IMPULSIVE because they care, but they’re also OPTIMISTIC and CORDIAL in the best way. SHE work(s) to make a little money as a(n) OWNER OF THE SWEET NOTHING BAKERY. they’ve rented a place on cornelia street in the form of BROWNSTONE 12. AUGUST (B) is the song they could dance to the beat of forevermore.
˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 .
full name: gianna linh burrell .
pronouns: she/her .
nicknames: gia, gigi .
hometown: seattle, washington .
birthday & age: july 15th, twenty-six .
relationship status: single .
sexuality: bisexual .
occupation: owner/baker of sweet nothing .
living in: brownstone apartment 12 .
˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ 𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘 / 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒 .
gianna was born and raised in the city of seattle, adopted by her two loving dads, finn & aaron. her days were spent with rain 24/7, trying to enjoy all the simple things in life. it was hard though, with having that constant reminder on her biological mother and father are doing somewhere in the world.
young gia grew up in her middle class family, alongside with her older sibling. her parents signed her up for all different kinds of classes to explore her hobbies: from dancing/ballet, painting/art, piano, cooking, singing, sports… it was the whole package deal. although it was fun while it lasted, it was hard finding something to stick to.
in the heart of her hometown, her dad had his own bakery/coffee shop that was given down from future generations— a place gia had called her second home. there was something so warm and inviting to be in a room that was incased with the scent of brewed coffee and delectable cookies. throughout her high school years, she had spent her days working that gave her experience for the real world.
after graduation, gia went to stay in-state for college, majoring in business management. she was originally lost on what she truly wanted to do; but after growing up along their family business and seeing how it made people happy… she wanted to share that joy too.
when finishing her studies, gianna went on a summer vacation to where she wasn’t expecting to have that much fun. or let alone fall head over heels in love with muse a. it was a simple three months that went by too quick, only for her heart to get broken just right after. although it seemed like just a summer love, she had hope that maybe it would’ve been something more.
it wasn’t that long until gianna had an amazing opportunity to finally chase her own dreams and run her own business. it was a gift from her childhood friend with the help of her parents: her own shop. that’s when gianna packs her bags and leaves off, finding her own place down in cornelia street.
˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ 𝐅𝐔𝐍 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 .
gianna is very kind-hearted and generous when it comes to anything. each night when sweet nothing closes, she gives any leftover baked goods to the homeless or even a shelter. if she can do one good act, maybe it can inspire others to do the same.
her whole aesthetic revolves around summer and spring! flowy mini pastel dresses, cute wedges, tote bags, flowers in her hair, dainty rose gold/gold jewelry, picnics in centennial park, the whole package! she likes to take advantage of the sunny weather knowing she grew up under the rain.
she hates confrontation. especially with her years of experience with customer service; she tries to own up to her faults. but when it gets a bit too personal, gia could easily snap. and that’s something you don’t want to cross.
her favorite bakery item has to be a pain au chocolat. speaking of, she’d also love to go to paris one day!
she can’t help but wonder what august muse a has been up to. part of her still wants to look for love yet she wants to relive that summer all over again.
gianna is a hopeless romantic. she loves anything about love. she loves hearing stories about love. after seeing how beautiful her own dads story came to be, all she wants is to find a kind of love like that. but she can’t help but be terrified at the same time, knowing that at any moment her heart could just break.
even though she’s focused on her bakery, on the down time she loves making youtube/tiktok vlogs that she decided to start ever since she realized she would be moving down in cornelia street. as silly as it sounds, she has a series called ‘gia in cornelia’.
˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 .
give me all the connections pls and ily forever!
best friend / ride or die
mentor / tutor ( could be with music, dance, baking etc. )
theartofmadeline
ellievsbear
izzy806
kaledo-art
romaincrisis
2087
dailybridgerton
tangentwithtanner
