#coyoteintro

[forevermcres]

✧ ⸻  hey, is that ADAM DRIVER i saw going for a walk in SIERRA SPRINGS? no, it’s just CALEB FORRESTER, a THIRTY-EIGHT year old ARCHITECT from SEASIDE, OREGON.  HE/HIM identifies as CIS MALE and BI-CURIOUS. they seem +NURTURING and -MELANCHOLIC, always reminding me of sunlight peaking through the cracks, paint-stained fingers, and arms holding on a little too tight in an embrace. they’re most frequently seen at MAIN STREET MARKET going on about A NEW RECIPE HE'S HOPING TO TRY OUT and that’s okay because it’s been their thing for 4 YEARS. you’re going to love them! 

⋆˙⟡ BASICS ────

full name:  caleb thomas forrester

nicknames:  tba

date of birth / zodiac:  september 20, 1986 & virgo

relationship status:  single ( widowed )

children: oliver james forrester ( 5 )

sexuality: bi-curious & demiromantic

traits: nurturing, steadfast, reflective, reserved, melancholic, cautious, aloof

hobbies: cooking homemade meals, running ( mostly to chase away his demons ), art - although he finds a bit less joy in it than he did when he was younger - and mainly practices it when he's helping oliver finger paint.

⋆˙⟡ BIOGRAPHY ────

triggers; death, pregnancy complications, premature birth, depression

the forrester home was a warm place, loving and welcoming, but built with enough structure to dissuade misbehaving. caleb learned from an early age that being the middle child often meant being overshadowed, trailing in his brother's footsteps and cheering on as his sister shined. he wasn't extraordinary, but he was kind, taking care of his siblings and friends alike, and doing his best not to cause trouble where it wasn't needed.

quieter than most kids his age, he was most often found blending into the background, content with the group of friends he had and a notebook tucked into a pocket. he loved art, loved creating, and although his father would have loved to see him in more athletic pursuits, caleb didn't have much passion for the various sports he did try.

normalcy defined his life, no reckless abandon or misbegotten adventures that others his age took part in. he got good grades, had a high school sweetheart that feel apart as they struggled with long distance after going to college, got his bachelor degree in architecture and went on to do grad school to complete his training.

it was there where he'd argue his life took a turn for the better. he met ava, ambitious and fearless and just as invested in creating a perfect future for herself as he was. it wasn't long before they started dating and configuring a roadmap of their life together - how soon they wanted to move in together, get engaged, get married, buy a house, start a family. with her by his side, caleb felt like the missing puzzle piece had slotted into place and all that was left was to assemble the tapestry of their life together.

their life was ideal until it suddenly wasn't. baby fever hit him for the first time when he became an uncle and although they'd been putting the thought of kids on pause in favor of advancing through their careers, they started trying. the joy that radiated through their household at the first positive pregnancy test was short-lived. the pregnancy harder on their marriage than either of them had expected, especially given the unexpected complications that came along with it for ava. instead of drawings and pencils, his desk became littered with books and pamphlets, trying to find the best way to support his family when he couldn't shoulder ava's burden with anything else. but it mattered little when even the fully trained doctors and nurses couldn't save her, and as one life entered the world, another departed and he was left both a father and a widower.

the weight of guilt and grief threatened to consume him, his son the only thing keeping him from falling into a mindless depression. after weeks spent practically living in the hospital, and then, when oliver was released out of the nicu, in a home that felt like it was haunted by ava's ghost and the dreams they had for their future, he decided to pack up the shambles of his life on the east coast and head west to the town his parents had retired in.

while that first year in coyote canyon was the hardest, the combination of becoming a father, losing his partner, and uprooting the life he'd been building - caleb still struggles daily. the overwhelming responsibility of trying to fill in the role of both parents while still being in mourning hard to manage on the best of days. he's a regular at therapy appointments, channels his pent up energy into runs and exercising, and still wears his wedding ring on his right ring finger. the thought of moving on seems like an impossibility, a betrayal of the love he once had and especially difficult when he now has his son to consider.

his world revolves around oliver and his work; trying to build the best future he can for his son out of the ashes of old dreams and hopes. some might find him quiet and contemplative, but as he's settled into living in coyote canyon he's warmed up to people who bring out a more lighthearted side of him. not someone who jumps into things half-heartedly, he's protective and loving to those he holds dear.

⋆˙⟡ CONNECTIONS ────

best friend: an unexpected friend, someone who clicked instantly and has become an essential part of caleb's life. secrets and hopes are shared between them and caleb views them as a reason why coyote canyon has started feeling more like a home. gym buddy: someone who frequents the same gym caleb likes to attend or joins him for runs. maybe they've connected on a deeper level after a workout, maybe they check in on each other when one of them misses a session, or maybe they're simply silent companions. good influence: someone who drags caleb into activities he might shy away from otherwise. he struggles being social and trying new things, and this is someone who's not afraid to pester him until he agrees to go ( and often enough, caleb ends up having a good time in the process. ) neighbor: perhaps they're friendly, each offering up a helping hand when necessary. maybe they're new and only recently acquainted. maybe they've helped babysit when caleb couldn't find a sitter. either way, he's likely done his best to befriend those living nearby. fellow parents: someone caleb can turn to for advice or merely to vent parenting woes. he's struggling to handle things on his own and although he's read every parenting book and blog he can get his hands on, he's grateful for people who can give a perspective that's personal. blind date turned good friend: while caleb might have been an awful date, this person was willing to give him a shot as a friend, salvaging an evening that he might've spent time cringing over. mutual dislike: for some reason, these two have never quite hit it off. maybe one of them made a bad first impression, maybe their personalities clash, whatever the case, caleb has struggled to find a reason to warm up to them. shared trauma: maybe they've both lost someone important to them, maybe they met at a grief counseling session, or ran into each other on the way in/out of therapy - whatever the case, they understand what the other is trying to overcome in a way that goes deeper than someone who hasn't experienced a similar kind of loss/ trauma. they don't necessarily talk about it, but know that they have someone who can offer a place of comfort and understanding when it's needed. more to be added !

[ruinedxreverie]

IRIS SLOANE WINSLOW

faceclaim: adelaide kane dob & age: april 3rd, 38 years old (aries) nicknames: none that stick, though people have tried gender, pronouns, sexuality: cisfemale, she/her, bisexual occupation: bartender @ the siren, new owner of foothills flowers residency: returned to coyote valley recently after years away, been back for a month of so neighborhood: southside

‧₊˚🌙༉‧₊˚ Velvet on Fire: Iris’s Aesthetic ‧₊˚🌙༉‧₊˚

iris moves like smoke and lives like a secret. leather jacket shrugged over vintage band tees, chipped black polish clinging to bitten nails, a silver chain always tucked beneath her collarbone — a habit, not an accessory. her eyeliner is sharp enough to draw blood, and her lipstick always looks like it’s already kissed someone she shouldn’t have. the bar lights catch in her eyes like match sparks. you’d swear she’s always halfway gone, but she never misses a thing.

‧₊˚🥀༉‧₊˚ Raised in Ruins: Iris’s Soul ‧₊˚🥀༉‧₊˚

softness lives in her, just buried — under bruised knuckles and broken promises. iris never learned what staying meant, only how to stand up again when the world pushed back. she craves chaos the way some people crave quiet: a little too often, a little too much. she doesn’t trust easily, and loves like it’s a dare. there’s poetry in her defiance, ache in her laughter. she’s been searching for home in all the wrong people — and writing her name into places just to prove she was there.

‧₊˚🌒༉‧₊˚ The House with Too Many Rooms: Iris’s Story ‧₊˚🌒༉‧₊˚

she grew up in a house full of women, but never felt like she belonged to any of them. her sisters swirl around like ghosts in her memory, tangled in the same roots but growing wild in different directions. her mother died when she was sixteen — a loss that hollowed something out in her she never quite got back. iris left in her late twenties after butting heads with her father one too many times, chasing silence or maybe just distance. she came back older than she meant to be, after his sudden death and the unexpected inheritance of foothills flowers — a business, a grief, and a version of herself she still doesn’t know what to do with. now she works behind the bar at the siren, a dive owned by her ex-husband, a place that lets her vanish when she needs to — but she’s still trying to figure out what it means to stay.

‧₊˚🍸༉‧₊˚ What Keeps Her Sharp: Iris’s Skills ‧₊˚🍸༉‧₊˚

bartending finesse: fast pours, quicker wit — she reads people faster than menus.

emotional armor: nothing touches her unless she lets it.

street sense: the kind of clever that comes from surviving, not schooling.

magnetic defiance: she pulls people in without trying — and keeps them exactly where she wants them.

selective honesty: she tells the truth, just not all of it.

reckless empathy: she'll throw a punch for a stranger before asking their name.

‧₊˚🕸༉‧₊˚ The People Who Know Her Best: Iris Winslow’s Relationships ‧₊˚🕸༉‧₊˚

the winslow sisters: too many layers to name. iris is the middle one — the overlooked one, the wildcard, the one who never played by the rules. they all carry something heavy. iris just learned to make hers look light.

max hoffman (ex-husband, unwritten ending): she fell for him at twenty-five, all instinct and wildfire, drawn to the way he looked at the world like it was already slipping through his fingers. he was thirty-five and impossible not to love, so she married him before either of them had the sense to ask why. it lasted a year — not bitter, just brief. two people who didn’t know how to stay, only how to burn. she left coyote valley not long after, but now she’s back, tending bar at the siren where he still lingers like a song she almost forgot the words to. some nights, she swears she can still feel the shape of what they almost were.

bar regulars: she listens, she remembers, and they think they know her — they don’t.

‧₊˚🌬༉‧₊˚ The Things She’ll Never Admit: Iris Winslow’s Secrets ‧₊˚🌬༉‧₊˚

wrote a letter to her father last year. never sent it.

still has her first fake ID.

cried the night she moved back, but blamed it on allergies.

knows every hiding spot in coyote valley. still uses them.

saved her mom’s old perfume bottle.

wants more than this — even if she won’t say it out loud.

keeps a playlist of songs that remind her of who she used to be.

‧₊˚🖤༉‧₊˚ Cut From Smoke: Iris’s Quotes ‧₊˚🖤༉‧₊˚

“love never saved me. it just made the fire prettier.”

“you don’t have to hurt me to know me. i come with a warning label.”

“i don’t hate my past. i just refuse to unpack there.”

“she got the sunlight. i learned how to glow in the dark.”

“some nights i drink to forget. other nights, i drink because remembering hurts worse.”

“you say ‘run’ like i haven’t already.”

[sierrasonnets]

There's no chance at all: we are all trapped by a singular fate. Nobody ever finds the one.

  — full biography.

ABOUT

Nickname: Tey.

Age/DOB: 43 / August 5th.

Zodiac Sign: Leo.

Gender: Cis man.

Place of Birth: Del Mar, California.

Neighborhood: Echo Hills.

Sexual/Romantic Orientations: Heterosexual/heteroromantic.

Religion: Atheist.

Occupation: Business strategist.

PERSONALITY:

Goals/Desires: To find out what happened to his beloved uncle and to make a fresh start of his life.

Fears: Dying alone.

Hobbies: Hiking and adventuring, painting, fishing, off roading, studying history, playing puzzle games, wine tasting, gardening, to be continued…

Likes & Dislikes: Likes discovering new places and exploring, trivia games, banter and intellectual conversations, history, science, theorizing ancient civilizations, the color green, a good burger, wine that can put him at peace, cigars at sunset, when he can beat the gps on arrival time. Dislikes close-minded people who aren't open to other perspectives, impatience, when someone smashes a bee, people who litter, whiners, those that don't value other's time and effort, a quiet and empty house.

FAMILY:

Parents: Johan Dahlin & Hannah Faraway Dahlin.

Sibling(s): Younger brother & younger sister.

Spouse: There's an ex-fiancée he stood up at the altar.

Child: None. Sometimes he tells himself it's not too late.

Pet(s): The cat distribution system found him. Whether its a male or female it's name is Kevin.

AN INTRODUCTION:

⸻  hey, is that JESSE WILLIAMS i saw going for a walk in ECHO HILLS? no, it’s just DANTE DAHLIN, a FORTY-THREE year old BUSINESS STRATEGIST from DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA.  HE identifies as CIS MAN and HETEROSEXUAL. they seem +DETERMINED and -OBSTINATE, always reminding me of that first sip of a whiskey neat while jazz music spins low on a record player in the background. they’re most frequently seen at BABYDUDES going on about TIMELINE SHIFTS AND HOW TO SPOT THE THINNING IN DIMENSIONAL BARRIERS and that’s okay because it’s been their thing for OFF/ON FOR 10 YEARS. you’re going to love them! 

trigger warnings: light mention of racism, infidelity, alluding to death/murder

growing up, dante never quite felt as though he fit into any of the three cultures he was brought up in. he always felt different, not enough of one thing or another to be fully accepted. and, well, dante couldn't take credit for the affluence he was brought up in.

his paternal grandfather immigrated from sweden and settled in southern california. he'd come from money, his family had been making a fortune in the mineral mines, and it'd been passed down the generations.

del mar, a community in san diego county, has been known as one of the wealthiest cities in california. he and his african american mother were well known in the community, their social status often considered a gift by his father, but also captured looks that were a little too long for the respect they should've easily had.

it drove dante to excellence. not just business and money being passed down from his paternal side. he wanted to make his own way. his mother was a well known artist and he seemed to have that passed down from her, rather than ceramics and sculptures dante showed early promise with painting. his young life was full of sports, academics, and art programs.

from a young age his uncle, who had no children of his own, doted on dante. he often thought of joshua as and older brother figure and best friend, even followed him to his alma mater at stanford university. he studied business as well and joshua vouched for dante for scholarship and entry into special programs.

adulthood strained their relationship a bit but only because of distance. when and where they could they'd adventure together and dante would often claim his uncle was where he'd gotten the bug from himself to travel and thirst for new experiences.

after uni dante started his own business working independently for himself as a business consultant. he spent the first 10 years building his network and then moved into strategy. using his acumen to help struggling anf floundering companies find success.

for a long while everything in his adult life was a steady and relatively easy climb to complete success. it was his personal life that was a mess. he either worked too much or traveled too much to maintain a relationship, his partners often felt neglected. but he did get very serious about one woman. to the point of getting down on a knee and asking for her to marry him. only... when it came to their wedding day he didn't show up.

his beloved uncle and bestie, joshua, had discovered that she was already married and had a whole other life to her that she'd kept secret from him.

it wasn't long after that, that joshua got married himself, and to a woman that dante didn't quite trust. he had no idea what went on behind closed doors but there was something mysterious about the woman and he couldn't put his finger on why something was off. then his uncle went missing and now he's on the hunt for answers.

years ago, around 12 years, dante had bought some land and built a home here in coyote valley in the echo hills neighborhood. he's recently settled into the home to live permanently while he figures out his personal life, searches for his uncle, and picks up the pieces of a business betrayal. it'd previously just been a vacation spot given it's proximity to places he loved to adventure.

POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS:

Ex-fiancé — 5 years ago they'd been set up on a date by a mutual friend, someone he had connections with in business, and they'd hit it off immediately. they dated for 2 full years before he proposed and he'd felt like he'd finally found someone that understood him and his need for some freedom. she didn't complain or give him trouble about his need to explore and travel, she trusted that he'd be loyal to her, but then he'd find out on their wedding day that the reason for that was she was already married to someone else. we can discuss the details and logistics of this but i beg of you BRING ME THE DRAMA!!!

Business associate — they'd eventually come to betray dante and poach clients from him after stealing his business methods. when they'd first met dante had brought them under his tutelage and helped them to their own success. what he hadn't protected himself against was that he'd been studied and his own expertise would be used against him. again, i'm just thirsty for the drama!!

College sweetheart — they haven't seen each other since the relationship came to an end around graduation time, he hasn't even thought of her in all these years as life had kept moving. them crossing paths and seeing each other all these years later sparks something in him. dante realizes how much he misses her and they reminisce on their relationship. maybe it's nothing or maybe a second chance is meant there.

[zayden-hassani]

𝐳𝐚𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐢 — 𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩ü𝘵𝘵𝘦, 𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘹 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥.

EXPERIENCE IS SIMPLY THE NAME WE GIVE OUR MISTAKES.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋

name: zayden hassani.

nicnames: zay, hassani.

age: thirty5.

dob: august 08.

hometown: manhattan, new york.

time in coyote valley: one week.

neighborhood: downtown.

occupation: currently unemployed.

𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋

height: 6 foot, 5 inches.

build: athletic.

hair color: black.

eye color: dark brown.

𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 ( tw: infidelity, tw: parental death )

zayden was born and raised in manhattan to a loving mother and a successful business man. for as long as he can remember, image has been everything. he's always been subject to his father's harsh expectations, expectations that the older hassani man has sworn were for zayden's own wellbeing. his mother, on the other hand, was much more gentle in her guidance.

his father created a public relations firm, one that quickly soared in popularity. he remembers his father working a lot as a child, a blessing to the young boy who just wanted to be a kid.

as he got older, the pressure around him grew. there was never any question about what zayden would do with his life — his father had already made that decision for him. he graduated from new york university with a bachelor's in business and political economy before he continued his education and obtained a masters in public relations.

during those years, he met a woman and fell madly in love. his mother was loving and supporting of the union, but his father never quite voiced his approval on the matter. for the next five years, zayden felt the only future he'd ever known slipping from his grasp. on one hand, he was happier than he'd ever known, and on the other hand, he saw his rightful spot on the throne being slowly pulled away from him.

after four years into the marriage, his father finally spoke of his frustrations during a late night at the firm. he spoke of an arrangement, one that would require zayden to step away from his marriage and into the arms of another. at the time, it was ludicrous, but the longer he thought on the matter, the more he realized it was the only way he'd inherit the company.

so, one night after a small gathering of the company's biggest clients, zayden did something to secure his place in the future of hassani & company. after, he went home to wash off the woman he'd made a show of leaving with, earning himself a gold star in his father's book.

he carried that guilt with him until his fifth anniversary. it was that night that he confessed to everything and painted a picture that was far worse than reality. he claimed to love the other woman, confessed to things that stretched so far from the truth, but he sold every word like the perfect package.

it took him nearly a month to return to the office, his pride left in the apartment they'd shared, his heart somewhere with her. he went through the motions, hoping that one day he'd find a hint of happiness again.

when he got the call that his father had passed, zayden felt nothing but relief. he'd been on the edge of quitting, uncaring if he lost what little he had left. instead, the company fell into his lap and so did the responsibility of keeping it afloat.

with that power, zayden opted to sell. he met with a few interested buyer's and when the number of zeros looked good enough, he sold, with the agreement that a percentage of annual profits would go to him. it was a fool-proof way to ensure the flow of funds never ceased, but it allowed him an out.

without the company or his father weighing him down, zayden has decided to live for himself, whoever that he is. he's come to coyote valley for @xmarlboronights and hopes to make amends, or that she'll at least give him the chance to explain himself and apologize for his selfish ways.

𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒

he lives in a one bedroom apartment in the downtown area. he chose the area because he hoped for some semblance of chaos to remind him of the city. he hired professional movers to move some of his belongings across the country. he has a very minimalistic style, but the cost of his living room furniture alone is probably more than the average person makes in three months.

he's an okay cook, but there's a seventy-five percent chance he's going to set off the fire alarm in his building at least twice in the first month of him living there.

he drives a 2025 bmw m850i xdrive coupe. it has less than a thousand miles on it because he had little use for it back in new york.

𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐒

likes: art, espresso, expensive things.

dislikes: being wrong, cheaply made items, clutter, conflict.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

next door neighbor: this would be someone that shares a wall with him. he's a bit of an annoying wall-mate. he's used to living in the city with no real neighbors to bother, so he listens to music a little too loud at the most inconvenient times of the day. he also goes for early morning runs and late night workouts, and he isn't always quiet upon exiting and entering his space. maybe these two have a run-in or your muse comes knocking one night or early morning that he's being obnoxiously loud. — open.

familiar stranger: someone that keeps up with big news and read about hassani & company, a big public relations firm in new york city that has recently been sold off. maybe zayden's picture was attached to the article and they recognize him? — open.

new york(er): this could be someone that visited once and they had a run in years ago, or someone that spent some time there and they got to know one another on a deeper level, only to lose touch for one reason or another. — open.

more coming soon...

[effervesvents]

hey, is that RACHEL WEISZ i saw going for a walk in THE MEADOW? no, it’s just LENA COHEN, a FIFTY year old ARCHITECT from DENVER, CO.  SHE identifies as CIS-GENDERED and LESBIAN. they seem +PASSIONATE and -CLOSED OFF, always reminding me of the tight grip of self control and the fleeting joy of a moment when it doesn’t seem so dire to lose it. they’re most frequently seen at STAX WINE BAR AND BISTRO going on about ART and that’s okay because it’s been their thing for FIFTEEN YEARS. you’re going to love them! ( sun ) trigger warnings: emotional neglect, mental and verbal abuse, childhood abuse, homophobia, heteronormativity, cancer, parental issues (that feeling when you're glad your parent is dead)

the honorable judge elias cohen was a formidable figure in lena’s life. he never seemed to appreciate lena for who she was, and always demanded far more than lena could ever give. her mother wasn’t much better - the woman liked to drink and often neglected her duties when it came to parenting. she would spat unhelpful and malicious things to lena, especially as a child when lena was being too loud or had just annoyed her. lena eventually stopped going to her for things, and instead took up mantle beside the staff employed at the grounds of the estate lena grew up in. her brother had much more luck with their parents than lena herself. they seemed to dote on the boy, a fact that made lena so mad that she wanted to rush off in rages - she did not, for she knew the consequences of these actions. 

her girlhood had left in a flurry of movement, leaving lena behind to catch up. as a teen, lena had her own social circle that she kept up with. popular and well-rounded, but terrifying, she took up extra tutors to fill her time outside of school as well as her role as student council president. when she wasn’t socializing or tending to one of her numerous hobbies, she was building up a defense for the times she spent long looks lingering on her best friend, who lena was madly obsessed with for the majority of her teenage years. lena knew that it wasn’t to be accepted, she knew her parents stance on anything having to do with lesbianism or gayness. so, she kept that huge part of herself a secret for many years. 

adulthood came without warning, and lena was thrust into the life of university. and instead of going for her passion in art, lena made a conscious effort to become involved with a safety option; architecture school. ivy league was tough but lena had never had a problem with keeping up under pressure - particularly, academic pressure. pressure from outside sources to find a suitable male to befriend and date made her hackles rise but she had little choice; if she didn’t do this, it would only make the questions grow. then she met mark. mark proposed an arrangement that was beneficial to both of them; he would be seen on lena's arm, and she would get a ruse.

her father fell sick in lena’s fortieth year - cancer. lena’s mother wasn’t in the position to care for him, so lena moved back home. mark let her go without protest on the grounds that their relationship would continue when she got back, and she had little to say in the matter. when her father passed, lena felt relief. that pressure that she’d felt for being watched all of her life had never ceased until his passing, but lena said nothing to anyone about how she felt. she faked her grief and allowed herself to envision a future in which she didn’t have to hide any longer. she came out shortly thereafter and dumped mark, ending the engagement that they had agreed upon. moving to coyote valley had not been her plan - coyote valley had been a stop along the way to opening her own architecture firm - but she fell in love with the area. she’s left a string of broken hearts since arriving, but what’s a little fun when you haven’t had any in so long?

[idlehearts]

✧ ⸻  hey, is that REBECCA HENING i saw going for a walk in THE MEADOW? a FORTY-EIGHT year old OB/GYN from BROOKLYN, NY.  SHE identifies as CIS FEMALE and LESBIAN. they seem METICULOUS and DISTRUSTING, always reminding me of a box filled with unsent letters. they’re most frequently seen at STAX WINE BAR & BISTRO going on about DIY PROJECTS and that’s okay because it’s been their thing for TWENTY-NINE YEARS. you’re going to love them! 

BASICS

full name: rebecca anne henning

nickname: becca, becs.

age/date of birth: 48 / nov 12th, 1976

zodiac sign: scorpio ☼ virgo ☾ aries ↑

gender identity: cis female (she/her)

hometown: brooklyn, ny

current location: coyote valley, ca

living arragements: a stunning 4 bedroom retreat in the meadow

time in town: twenty-nine years

sexual orientation: lesbian

occupation: ob/gyn

PERSONALITY

labels: the prodigy, the opaque, the catalyst

positive traits: longanimous, vehement, protective, incisive, meticulous, persuasive, assertive

negative traits: intransigent, reticent, brittle, distrusting, rancorous

hobbies: working, researching, diy projects, hiking, horse-riding, scrapbooking, art collecting, candle-making

languages spoken: english, french, a bit of latin

instruments played: none

favorite color: blue, pink, red

favorite food: banku, tuo zaafi, chocolate mousse

APPEARANCE

height: 5'2

distinguished characteristics: n/a

tattoos: a couple phrases along her body in different languages from her travels

piercings: earlobes and helix

right or left-handed?: right-handed

RELATIONSHIPS

parents: anthony henning (surgeon), freyja henning (stepmother, surgeon), alexa cohen (oncologist & activist), nicholas gold (lawyer)

sibling(s): four in total, one younger sibling, one half sibling, two step siblings

spouse: tbd

children: tbd

pet(s): a black cat named nova

BULLET POINTS

tw: cheating, divorce, teen pregnancy, adoption, depression, grief

rebecca was born during a rainstorm in november in new york-presbyterian hospital, the very same hospital her father was making his residency in. she lead a very normal life for a child who has two med students as her parents; they were barely present throughout her formative years, forcing her to spend most of her time with her grandparents, aunts and uncles who were graceful enough to accommodate her on their itinerary and lives, but whenever her parents were around if even for a short amount of time, they always tried to make the most out of their time together. they were strict with the rules they had set for her firstborn, but always made her feel loved.

things started getting complicated by the time rebecca reached teenage-hood. her father, a now renowned general surgeon who had found a job in the most prestigious hospital in new york started to behave oddly hinting on a unlawful affair and making alexa lose her mind until the day everything blew up: anthony came home one night to pack his stuff and tell his then wife he was leaving, that he had been cheating on her with a colleague and she was pregnant with his baby. Alexa was left brokenhearted, completely disassociating herself from her family and burying herself in work as an oncologist at the brooklyn cancer center. rebecca, being a young teenage girl with no supervision or care, began rebelling. what once was the perfect daughter in the eyes of her parents became a nightmare that failed classes, skipped school and hung out with the wrong type of crowd, a scream for help that caused the relationship with her parents to break slightly and beyond repair with every fight they had.

at age 15 rebecca started to date her very first (and only) boyfriend. he was charming, quick-witted and payed attention to her in ways her parents didn't, so she fell. hard. the couple even began planning a future together where they could move back together once they were done with their high school years, dreams of freedom away from their homes to start a life of their own. all their dreams came crashing down the day rebecca found out she was 5 months pregnant after fainting in pe. she told her parents, hoping they would support her and guide her through the process, that they could find an answer as to what to do next but was only met with threats and hurtful words that claimed she was on her own from that moment on. she then went to share the news her then boyfriend and found him on someone else's arms, breaking her heart into a million pieces.

rebecca then made a decision to need no one but herself and the kid she was carrying for years to come. she used every penny she had and moved to pennsylvania, worked tirelessly for the last four months of her pregnancy to get her ged and find a small apartment, a place to make a home for her and the child on the way. and then, the baby came. she had promised herself she'd be a better parent than her own, that she would care for her child more than she cared for herself and she did tried her best. for three months, rebecca didn't sleep; going from one work to the other to caring for her child to bring them the bare necessities— until everything stopped working. it became painfully obvious to her that if she kept the child as her own, there was a chance her child wouldn't survive. keeping her promise to always see for the child before her own selfishness, she did what she thought was best for them; gave them up for adoption praying they would find a family that could give them what she couldn't.

the decision weighted on her for months, letting herself get absorbed in the darkest pits of her inner hell until a light appeared in her way in the form of a good friend who encouraged her to leave her bed and do something for herself. ultimately decided to move to coyote valley after seeing an add for the town where she took every job she could find for a month, picking herself up to ultimately split her life between coyote valley and sacramento after being accepted to sacramento state where she remained the next four years of her life, doing her courses for pre med and uc davis school of medicine for her remaining time of medical school.

at 34 and with her credentials as an ob/gyn she moved back to coyote valley and began working at sierra nevada memorial hospital where she spent 4 years building up a good enough reputation to open her private practice at age 39, her business soaring and flourishing.

for years, she dedicated her entire existence to her job, blocking any type of personal life aside from friends. which was exactly why falling for her parter was such a surprise for everyone, especially rebecca herself. after her first and only relationship she had a series of non-committal relationships and some more serious what-ifs but it was until she let herself truly fall for someone and let herself adventure on a journey of self-reflecting that came with letting someone in that she understood why nothing had ever felt like it made sense and why the once that did, were terrifying. rebecca came out as a lesbian in her late thirties/early fourties and never looked back.

when her mother contacted her via social media for the first time in over thirty-two years, rebecca didn't expect it to go well, nor to create a new relationship with her now that they were both mature adults. it took them months to heal the wounds of the past so it really was a surprise when alexa mentioned the baby rebecca had had and given up more than thirty years ago, leaving her once again with a gut-wrenching feeling she had tried to ignore since the last time she had searched for them many moons ago, to no avail. knowing she had nothing to lose, she tried one last time and ultimately found out that child she had grief over the years was, in a mysterious turn of events that one can only describe as serendipitous, in coyote valley.

[xmarlboronights]

»» ⸻ BASICS

Name: Camila Conti

Nickname: Cami

Birthday & Age: June 17th & 34

Hometown: Coyote Valley, CA

Length of time in Coyote Valley: Left at 18 & returned 5 years ago

Neighborhood: Sierra Springs

Occupation: Former publisher / current podcast creator & host

Gender & Sexuality: Cis woman & bisexual

»» ⸻ AT A GLANCE

hey, is that MONICA BARBARO i saw going for a walk in SIERRA SPINGS? no, it’s just CAMILA CONTI, a THIRTY-FOUR year old PODCAST CREATOR/HOST from COYOTE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.  SHE identifies as CIS WOMAN and BISEXUAL. they seem +GOAL ACHIEVING and -SELF-DEPRECATING, always reminding me of that soft breeze on the back of your neck on a warm day. they’re most frequently seen at BOOKTOWN BOOKS going on about IF NOT BOOKS OR HOW EXHAUSTED SHE IS THEN DEFINITELY ABOUT SOME OF THE CRAZY STORIES THAT HIT HER INBOX and that’s okay because it’s been their thing for RETURNED 5 YEARS. you’re going to love them!

»» ⸻ DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER

Trigger warnings: brief mention of infidelity

Growing up in Coyote Valley, a small town in California, Camila never quite felt like she belonged. In her chest beat a heart that felt as though she were meant for more than the view offered to her. Sure, it was beautiful, but as she grew up she worried over what she could amount to in a small town. As much as she loved and adored her parents, appreciated everything they provided for her, she needed more than their legacy.

What didn’t help matters in terms of belonging was that Camila was sent to live abroad for a year with an aunt in Italy. It was a stunning experience once she'd been able to get over the culture shock, and the bullying she faced being a foreigner in high school. The fact that she knew her parents had been well meaning had saved Cami from holding the whole experience against them. She made it through a school year and learned quite a lot. Such as a new language.

It was her love for literature and books that got Camila through university. For a long time her dream had been to become an author but it was an internship while living in New York working at one of the top publishing houses in the city that she found a new path in life. Post grad she worked her way up in the industry. An achievement Camila was proud of but one that nearly wouldn’t last when a life altering heartbreak forced her to change courses in life.

While in university in New York she’d met the man that would become her husband. They fell in love quickly but didn’t rush to marriage until after graduating. When they had taken their vows and bought a brownstone together Camila thought she was going to have everything. That children were to come next.

Instead, five years later into her marriage it all came to a devastating end. Camila and her husband were on a two month celebration of their fifth anniversary, traveling around the world, and just two weeks shy of making it back home together he left her. When she got up that morning she had written him a love note and left it on her pillow beside his as he still slept, expressing how happy she was waking up that morning of their anniversary before she went for her usual morning run. When Camila returned, he was fully dressed and his bags were packed. He had been sitting writing a note but instead stood up and confessed to her that he’d had an affair and was leaving her.

Unsurprisingly, Camila fell into a bad relationship with a kind man she had met on her flight home. The stranger had taken up the vacant seat that would’ve and should’ve been her husband’s but they talked the entire flight home. She never mentioned her grief or what she was reeling from at the time but they kept in touch and he unfortunately became the rebound, a man that helped her get back onto her feet and pursue her life for real. They nearly got married and even looked into having a child together but always during a fight he would point out that it seemed she had one foot out the door. It took Camila a long time to realize that he was right.

The whole ordeal, divorce and rebound, had dried her up and Camila couldn't return to the former life she'd had and instead of getting back to work as a publisher, she took the recommendation of someone in the industry and sought out starting her own podcast. No longer on her publisher salary and no longer married she couldn't afford the brownstone on her own so Cami moved back home to Coyote Valley.

Already popular on social media for her bookstram and booktok along with her vlogging that had blown up it was easy for her to get the word out on her first podcast: Diary of a Sinner, and thanks to the nature of it the podcast became a big hit. When she'd moved back to her hometown she took a chance, still in touch with her former industry, and started a second podcast, which thanks to her following and the guests she's able to have on her show, also became a hit.

»» ⸻ ON AIR / THE PODCASTS

DIARY OF A SUNNER »» anonymously confess your sins and/or secrets and delve into a q&a with cami. in this podcast camila chats with vetted anonymous persons that are willing to share their stories without giving away identifying details. the anon will have the floor to share their secret and then once finished will engage in a q&a about said secret until time runs out.

BOOKISH »» the former publisher talks shop. in this podcast cami discusses new releases, chats with authors and industry people, and offers an inside look into the world of publishing.

»» ⸻ THE TANGLED WEB

zayden hassani — the ex-husband. tba.

[lvminescences]

✧ ⸻  hey, is that JULIANNE MOORE i saw going for a walk in DOWNTOWN? no, it’s just PAULINA DAWSON, a SIXTY FOUR year old OWNER OF BUTTERCUP BAKERY & CAFE from COYOTE VALLEY.  SHE identifies as CIS WOMAN and PANSEXUAL. they seem AFFABLE and OVERCRITICAL, always reminding me of laughter like a melody. they’re most frequently seen at FOOTHILL FLOWERS going on about GARDENING and that’s okay because it’s been their thing for 64 YEARS. you’re going to love them! 

✧ BASICS

full name: paulina lorraine dawson. nickname(s): paulie. age: sixty four. date of birth: july 11th, 1960. place of birth: coyote valley, ca. gender: cis woman. pronouns: she/her. sexual orientation: pansexual. romantic orientation: panromantic. occupation: owner of buttercup bakery & cafe. style: a blend of vintage charm & modern comfort. think classic with a bohemian flair, favors flowy dresses & skirts in floral prints, often paired with comfortable sandals & flats. loves a good cardigan or denim jacket, also loves unique accessories like vintage jewelry ( often thrifted ) and scarves to add a personal touch. signature scent: a light and airy fragrance with notes of jasmine, bergamot, and a touch of vanilla. distinguishable characteristics: fair skin adorned with freckles, expressive green eyes.

✧ PERSONALITY

positive traits: affable, optimistic, charming, resilient, creative negative traits: overcritical, impulsive, restless, indecisive, insecure. likes: dark chocolate, rainy days, sappy movies, yoga, romance novels, experimenting with new recipes, coffee. dislikes: loud noises, being late, spicy foods, too much routine, doing the dishes, shallow conversations, argumentative people. fears: paulina fears she's running out of time to fully realize her dreams and live the life she wants. habits: paulina finds inner peace through gardening, a nurturing outlet that has proven to be therapeutic. she also indulges in regular acts of kindness, spreading the warmth she never got as a child. however, she's taken up a bad habit of impulsive spending in recent years and also overthinks past decisions, constantly replaying them in her head and second guessing her choices. goals and ambitions: self discovery & fulfillment, paulina wants to understand who she truly is outside of her past traumas & societal expectations. besides that, she's putting her heart and soul into her bakery in hopes of making it a thriving business she can be proud of. astrology: cancer. mbti: enfp. moral alignment: chaotic good. usual mood: a blend of optimistic resilience underlined by restlessness.

✧ HEADCANONS

although, paulina genuinely loves coyote valley. she also loves a good road trip, she will plan spontaneous getaways with her close friends. she occasionally drives down route 66 on boring weekends.

mentors young and/or aspiring bakers. paulina sees a bit of herself in them and enjoys offering her guidance & advice. on her free days, she'll rent out her bakery for classes, usually free of charge!

struggles with social media. plays it off because she doesn't like being seen as outdated, but struggles to navigate social media. has recently set up an instagram account and is constantly posting accidental selfies to her story.

has started to regularly attend therapy to deal with her childhood traumas & tendency to be overcritical. she sometimes doesn't leave the session with a different perspective, but often does. at least for a little bit.

is working to rebuild her bond with her kids after the divorce. they felt like she was being selfish and didn't really have a reason to divorce their father. they have finally started responding to her phone calls.

✧ GOOGLE DOC. CONNECTIONS.

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