NAME: Zarina Sokolova
NICKNAMES: Hawk(e), Rina, Zarya, Zar.
NATIONALITY: Russian (Russo-Tatar)
D.O.B: July 27th, Leo
MBTI: ENTJ-A
OCCUPATION: History Teacher at Everglade Highschool
RO: Rainn or Andi. As of now, Rainn remains the main route.
“Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to become a senior associate?”
“I didn’t think you’d care.”
Zarina Sokolova (or some call her Hawke) is a woman who is not afraid to show who she is and be proud of it. Confident, laid-back, analytical and ambitious. She is someone who attracted people for her charming personality, scaring those who tried to go against her with how unbreakable she seemed. An intimidating figure to those who did not care what others thought of her while acting like everyone in the world wanted a piece of her.
A serial dater before Rainn Moreno appeared in her life, she was the most wanted lady in the dating pool and her being smitten with Moreno led to countless hearts broken. After giving Rainn her number, making him work for it, she was smitten for the first time in her life. The lack of commitment from the past didn’t stop her from becoming a devoted girlfriend, ensuring they both can rely on each other and trust… Alas, the long distance has been quite tough on the couple. Two intelligent people who value their independence. Two people who know what they want and have been on top of everything they put their mind to. They were perfect together, everyone said so. Attractive, confident, intelligent. They were the resident power couple.
And yet…
Maybe their ambitions, despite the love that was there, led them to this fateful evening where humiliation was the only bitterness that was left on Zarina’s tongue as she stood under the rain. She noticed the awkwardness, the eyes of his colleagues, the behavior of her ex-boyfriend to whom she was ready to devote her love and adoration to. Was it karma for being ambitious? Was it karma for breaking the hearts of others before? Was it karma for walking forward without looking back?
Apartment 502 became a saving grace for the future history teacher at Everglade High School. Who knew that instead of taking a step forward in a relationship, she’d be living with complete strangers? Ha, what a joke. And yet, she won’t let it break her down. She will find out the reason behind this ridiculous humiliating experience and make the loss of her a lawyer’s biggest fuck up. She says with such confidence, but she misses the calls, the jokes, the banter, the tenderness. She misses the love that was there. Is it really over?
Then, her phone rings and her best friend speaks up. Andi’s worried tone warms her soul in the moment where cold rain slaps her back into reality. Zarina’s lips curl into a smile, small and soft, as she says: I’ll be fine, we’ll talk when you’re here.
Additional trivia:
Known to be a prodigy from a young age, but decided to stick to the path of teaching as a history teacher. Had the opportunity to go into law school, but denied it.
Zarina and Levi hit it off with jokes that make Athena and Cal roll their eyes and make disgusted faces while those who high five each other.
Athena learned that Zarina sang in her college days and studied professionally to sing a month after they lived together where Cal got shown a video of Zarina singing.
Cal and Zarina often sit together while discussing their work, which brings them closer together.
Andi and Zarina have always been very close, which is shown by their constant banter and their comfort with each other.
Rainn gave Zarina an old pocket watch as a joke gift because of her being a history major/teacher based on Andi’s proposal, but Zarina keeps the watch with her even after their break up.
Zarina comes from a rich and established family in Russia, but has refused any monetary help from her family after leaving to America.
Always dresses up in style and is used to attention for her appearance. She is a tall woman who stands at proud 5’10 without her heels and usually at around 6-6’1 with her heels.
Known to take runs in the morning, but might have to change her routine in NYC.
Rarely shows her Russian accent, but it may come out when she’s particularly exhausted or frustrated/angry.
Has an incredible alcohol tolerance; smokes menthol cigarettes.
Prefers bars over nightclubs due to bars providing her with interesting discussions.
Zarina's been offered model work in America but she refused, stating it's not a stable job.
Known self-defense and frequents the gym to keep herself healthy.
Can't stand greasy food, prefers healthy snacks. Cooks all of her food whenever she can because of her cultural background.
A hundred percent turned on the slavic wife or mom friend mode with both Rainn and Andi to ensure they were eating normal food.
Hello! It's been a while.. I got a long vacation last month and during that time I learned about everskies xD. I had fun playing it, and I made some of my mcs there. This one is my mc from the IF Apartment 502!
And if anyone also plays Everskies, the template I used is available on my Ko-fi shop.
Click here for the template
Speaking of my Ko-fi shop. As a Thank you for every one who is following me and supported my on kofi and here. I made a bundle of ALL of my templates I posted on my shop that you can buy for only a dollar. I'll make it available for only this month tho. So if you're one of the people who recently bought an item from my shop, you get everything on it for free!
I posted 2 more templates that you guys might be interested in. So yeah thank you again! <3
are you normal or are you like me who came up with a bingo card for rainn moreno's future route, wrote theories regarding the 6 months between the proposal to move in vs the present day that might've affected their mind, screamed about their possible state of mind based on the little info we go, and then just sat there and cried????
RAINN MORENO & ZARINA SOKOLOVA.
↳ the power couple, the intelligent, the intimidating, the imperfect ‘perfect’.
based on amazing @apt502-if interactive fiction & thank u for creating rainn moreno the mess of a lawyer we love and adore in this house.
It was perfect… as it could be. The long distance hurt, it was like knives digging into their hearts but there was an end to it, wasn’t it? There was. Just like there was (and is) undeniable love. They were the epitome of what others dreamt of. Two top graduates, two hard working people, two successful and determined workers. They had it all.
“I have to go… I love you.” I don't want to go.
“I love you too. Goodnight.” I miss you already.
Late night chats, video calls, travel back and forth, and then farewells that made them both come to an empty apartment where they once would spend their delightful time. The emptiness was heavy, heavy enough to make them stop and reminiscence with similarly heavy hearts. But they have to be strong, don't they? They have to be.
"Bossy likes me, I'm telling you."
"Because you share the 'bossy' trait."
"That's not what you called me yesterday."
"Zarina."
"Rainn."
"Don't start."
"You're smiling though. You like it."
Rainn missed coming back to his place to see Zarina making him dinner while his three cats would meow happily at his return.
Zarina missed making Rainn’s place feel more like home, smiling at the thought of him enjoying what she made.
At-home date was just a taste, a possibility, a wonder. A dream, even.
It was warm then, it was good. When things were good, they were excellent.
Perhaps, because it was that good, it hurt so much more to say goodbye.
"You're stressed."
"I'm fine."
"Rainn, talk to me. Please. What's been going on?"
When the end of this long distance was announced, a proposal to move in together, both were overjoyed. They were, weren’t they? They were. But six months changed a lot of things, strained a lot of things, and caused an end that was not seen from the horizon. It hurt, didn’t it? To lose the dream, the heart, the bond. To realize that something happened in those months and you were too occupied with everything to sit down and ask, talk, realize.
What would have been done better?
What could’ve been done differently?
Three years of love, longing, and yearning.
I’m jealous of those who spend their time with you.
I miss you. I miss you so fucking much.
I want to be with you.
I can’t wait to see you.
I want to learn how to love you better.
I… wanted to be with you for the rest of my life.
You are the best thing that ever happened to me. (So tell me what was wrong.)
Known Issues: Not understanding that not everyone feels as comfortable in their own skin/life; expecting others to be comfortable with exposing their own flaws to their loved ones/close friends; loses interest in people who she doesn’t choose to be close to but acts polite and friendly to them regardless for personal or work gain; can appear as pretentious based on her successful background when stating factual events from her experience.
What Close Friends Get: Hypes up her close friends who are in slumps about their skills, appearance, or style; provides helpful and honest feedback on friends/family work or their issues; offers patient and understanding outlook on friends/family lives; stands up for her friends but does not fear call her friends out on their own bullshit; caring and attentive to friends/family/lover in need.
Andi knows very well how Zarina appears to be to others: bossy, charming, unbothered, and dominant. She is the intimidation many don’t know how to handle because she doesn’t let anyone walk over her or allows her emotions to be used against her. Logical and specific, Sokolova is known to be a demanding woman because she works hard to get where she wants. They call her a genius, a prodigy, but maybe this is why there is such a dire wish to make her life more interesting. Her college life was rowdy despite coming out as a top student. They called her the epitome of perfection and she called them fucking idiots because perfection doesn't exist.
Zarina Sokolova’s name is followed by admiration and envy. Some call her a bitch for her approach to her goals and how she works for them. Some call her a champion, but many see what they want to see: someone to aspire to be like or someone they wish to fall. Sokolova brushes those off as long as they don’t get in the way of her interests and her goals. Charming and charismatic, she is capable of turning heads. Perhaps, that’s why she was a serial dater before Rainn: she was bored, she could get away with it, and she never promised anyone commitment. Well, until Rainn, of course.
After meeting Rainn and finally committing to one person, the desirable serial dater found herself to be smitten and in love. A softer side appears in the group of truly close to her hearted people, which Rainn and Andi are both aware of. Just like her zodiac sign tells, Zarina is a lioness who becomes affectionate and teasing with her chosen people. Shameless and similarly free spirited like Andi, she is self-assured and confident in herself and aware of flaws. Her loyalty to her people is undoubted, which is something everyone who got to know the real her. They also know she's an avid seeker of knowledge, unable to stifle her interest in learning more (but is it because she wants to learn or is it because she is afraid of growing bored of her life?).
So this is how it is, isn’t it? Perfection is either a cage (Rainn) or a mask (Zarina). Regardless, Zarina knows that no one is perfect, believing in love thanks to her culture and her own family. If anything, perfection to others is a hard work of someone who is perceived as perfect, isn't it? And... To truly love someone is to love them AND their flaws, which is something she carried into her relationship with Rainn. She wanted to know him, to learn more about him, and to learn how to love him better. Love is a journey, and she was looking forward to the next level of that journey.
However, she was blinded by her own belief that it is something that Moreno felt in the same manner. After all, to her, it is so obvious, but that ‘it’s so obvious’ might have caused another issue of miscommunication. Not everyone thinks in the same way. Not everyone was raised the same way. This is why talking and sharing remains essential.
Name: Lullabies Under Oak Tree.
Fandom: Apartment 502 (created by amazing @apt502-if)
Characters: Rainn Moreno, Zarina Sokolova (MC), Andi Sharma (mentioned).
Synopsis: A simple memory. A glimpse into the past. A moment from three years. A single melody under an oak tree.
Commentary: I am obsessed with Apt502 and you all should go check out the Prologue and Chapter 1 that are out in demo! Incredible premise. I actually went through all Rainn's asks like an insane woman. Just fyi, I probably got characterizations wrong since it's just me basing some thoughts on asks and on the hints/what we saw in the first parts. But I wanted to write smth... So this. My humble short offering to the fandom.
“Are you asleep already?”
Rainn opens his eyes at the familiar voice. It’s been nice outside; he simply wanted to catch a short nap. It’s been so comfortable. Blue eyes meet an amber gaze, and Moreno smiles. His body remains relaxed as he remains lying down, not feeling an ounce of shame in this moment.
“I was resting my eyes,” he corrects, but the way the other person huffs makes him lift his hand up to caress her cheek. “Were you waiting for me to fall asleep, Zarina?”
His girlfriend, Zarina Sokolova, lets out a soft sigh as she takes his hand and presses it closer to her cheek, nuzzling into it. Her look at him remains soft but he notices the instances of worry, it makes his heart beat faster. Is it from similar worry or from delight? He cannot pinpoint. The lawyer notices how he loses his ability to speak when they are together, recognizing the presence of his girlfriend as a unique change in his life he hasn’t planned three years ahead.
But it’s warm.
Lying on her lap under a tree during a simple yet nice picnic is nice.
It feels peaceful. It feels safe.
The answer to Rainn’s question comes after she makes sure that he isn’t going to close his eyes again. Her lips part to answer, Moreno watches them with a half-lidded gaze. Plump, soft, and warm. He smiles again when they graze his palm, so warm.
“I hoped you would be asleep by now,” she admits, frowning ever so lightly. “You should rest. You’ve been up since morning.”
Rest isn’t something Rainn Moreno understands. But he keeps up his appearances, because he doesn’t want to be seen as weak. There is nothing weak about him and that is why his smile remains on his face. A nap did sound great, but maybe he should wait until they’re back to their place. They don’t spend much time together like this; it seems a waste to actually take a nap now. Yes, that’s how it is. It is exactly because of that. Not anything else.
“I’m fine,” he responds and lightly pinches her cheek. The expression on Zarina’s face doesn’t change and her eyes study him. She always had a look that makes people feel they are seen through, exposed for every virtue and vice they possess in their body. Andi said that her look can make a man and a woman both blush and break in cold sweat.
Where is Andi, actually? He was just hanging around before Moreno decided to lay down.
“Andi said he’ll go take pictures of the lake,” Sokolova answers as if reading his mind, seeing the way his eyes looked away in search. She lets go of his hand, watching Rainn lower it and once again meeting his gaze. The eye contact continues for a moment as she tilts her head to the side. “We both want you to rest.”
It’s useless.
“I am comfortable like this,” Moreno shifts a bit, making himself more comfortable without moving away. He sighs and closes his eyes, not looking in the eyes of amber for this one moment. He’s not a child. He no longer is. He’ll take care of this.
Zarina, on the other hand, remains staring at him with a growing frown before she soundlessly breathes out and straightens out to look to the side. She decides not to push the topic, instead letting his fingers run through her boyfriend’s hair. The pleasant sensation eases the tension out of his body, lulling him - once again - into a beautiful sense of euphoric sleep. The blonde does so absent-mindedly, looking at the greenery around them. It is idyllic, a beauty of nature they won’t be enjoying much after they leave today.
“Zarina?”
The woman blinks her thoughts away as she hears her name called. Immediately, her attention is on Moreno.
“What is it?”
There is a moment of silence before her boyfriend speaks up. His voice is her favorite sound, she notices. It’s a voice she doesn’t want to stop hearing, especially when it says her name.
“Can you sing that song you always do? Andi’s not here to interrupt it now,” he chuckles the last part out, lips curled upwards. Sokolova laughs softly, gaze warming up immediately at the request. “What?” His blue eyes open again, a certain gleam makes them almost ethereal to her. He’s always so pristine and proper, but she enjoys this side of him so much more. “Am I wrong?”
She rolls her eyes playfully and shakes her head.
“Andi would be upset hearing that.”
“He’ll live.”
Another shared laugh, another exchange of smiles, another moment of tender eye contact before Zarina answers.
“Of course,” she agrees easily as her fingers continue to stroke his hair. “Listen then…”
And just when Rainn closes his eyes…
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
He wakes up.
The sound of his alarm made him blink away from his sleep. The annoying sound works its “charm” as he immediately turns it off. It’s early, but he cannot waste a second. But wait, that dream…
He couldn’t hear Zarina’s singing in his dream. Moreno groans quietly, running his hands against his face. He heard the same melody yesterday. Is it because of that? The lullaby she sang back then under that oak tree made the whole experience magical.
An oak tree that was ancient, he remembers. Andi said it was centuries old with how large it was. The scenery was beautiful back then. It felt almost magical and the pictures are still on Andi's social media. He caught himself on noting how similar an oak tree and Zarina were back then: unchanged, stable, and withstanding.
However, he is now alone in his bed. He is alone in his bed and too far away from his girlfriend.
She is across the ocean now. And he wakes up alone after such a tender dream.
He is alone.
He has to work.
He has his career waiting.
And this type of career doesn’t allow for tardies.
I've remixed the Instagram template on perchance to make IG pages for them.. I love this because you can add more photos later ❤️ so far I've only done coding in -> Perry's Profile <- click the link to see more. *pls enable desktop mode if you're on mobile* You can click on the photos and see some of the ROs' comments (That I headcanoned 😂, I just made up their IG usernames so if our dear author have thought about usernames pls let me know 🥺). Perry can be really petty with the captions lol.
The Apartment 502 brain rot is getting me so hard that I even spent the time to code a nav page for my mcs 😂
