The warm, buttery scent of popcorn hit Easton the moment he stepped into the theater. He could have melted. The calm, almost sacred quiet of a movie theater was perfect after a long day. He hadn't really planned what to see - didn't really matter. Anything would do as long as as he had a big tub of popcorn, a handful of candy, and a soda.
He picked a ticket for the next showing - a scary movie, and wandered over to the concession stand. He got the biggest bucket of popcorn figuring it would be a good snack for a couple of days, a couple different chocolate options, and a soda. When his hands were full, he headed into theater two, scanning the rows for the perfect spot.
Center, back row. Settling into the seat, he let out a satisfied sigh, and began to organize himself for the movie.
Easton checked his phone for what had to be the twelfth time in time minutes .The neon sign over the door flickered. He shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets. He had met Micah at the theater and there they had hatched a business plan. Was it insane? Yes, but even if the drive in didn’t produce much revenue… it would have been something that was their’s. West Banks… that was important.
He turned to look hearing footsteps and smiled softly when he saw him. “Hey…” he said in a soft voice, stepping toward the door and pulling it open. The bell jingling as he pulled it open. “Let’s start our business meeting…” he joked a bit, following Micah inside.
MALE, HE/HIM. Hey, is that Stephen Kalyn? No, that is just Ezra Lipe around Cypress Cove. I heard they are 22 years old, and their birthday is June 30th, 2004. They rest their head in the West Side, but they can mainly be found working at the Starlight Drive-In for the summer. Some say they are kind, perceptive, and dependable but can also be self-sacrificing, overprotective, and quietly anxious. If they had a theme song, it would be You're Gonna Go Far by Noah Kahan. I hear they are a native either way Cypress Cove is home and welcomes you!
hair color: Dirty Blonde (changes with the seasons, blonder in the summer)
eye color: Hazel
height: 6'1"
weight: 180 lbs
build: Athletic
tattoos: None
piercings: None
FAMILY:
mother: TBD
father: Easton Lipe
siblings: Olivia Lipe (16)
children: None
pet(s): None
BIOGRAPHY:
Growing up, Ezra never questioned why his dad couldn't always do the things other dads could. He just knew there had been a time when piggyback rides lasted longer, games of tag didn't end so quickly, and "maybe later" wasn't a phrase he heard quite as often. As he got older, he came to understand the shooting that nearly took Easton's life hadn't just changed his father. It had quietly shaped the rhythm of their entire family. Watching Easton refuse to let chronic pain define him taught Ezra more than any classroom ever could. He learned to notice the little things, to step in before someone asked for help, and that real strength often looked a lot quieter than people expected. Despite growing up around hardship, he never became cynical. If anything, it made him gentler.
Now entering his senior year of college, Ezra is studying Hospitality Management. Living on campus was never about getting away from home. He simply wanted the full college experience before life settled into whatever came next. Summers, however, always bring him back home, where he's happily working at the Starlight Drive-In, a place that means far more to him than just a summer job. Raised on family movie nights, Ezra can quote more films than is probably healthy and developed a love of cinema that borders on obsession. Whether it's recommending the perfect movie for someone's mood or passionately defending practical effects over CGI, he's happiest when sharing stories with other people. After all, some of his favorite childhood memories began the moment the lights went down and the movie started.
[ ⚓ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does “home” mean to them ? For Easton
Home is where the people he loves are. It's where he can be entirely himself without apology. It's a Saturday night movie marathon with just a bunch of junk food, hanging out on the couch together.
Where: Evan Henley's House
Whom: Evan Henley
@hcppilyneveraxter
By the time Easton reached Evan's place, the storm had worked its way deep into his bones. The cold was terrible against his back, pushing against old scar tissue and nerve damage. Every step ached and his legs felt like an old TV with a static screen. Numb-warming sensation. It was easy to find Evan's house though, even in the dark. The generator hummed softly and helped guide his way through the flurry. West Bank didn't have very many generators lurking around.
He made his way to the front door and knocked firmly. Butterflies were buzzing in his chest and it was stupid. He shouldn't have found Evan Henley as adorable as he did. He turned his back to the door, looking out at the snow. If they were more equipped, he might have found it pretty. But West Bank would be without power for probably a week. He worried for some of them. When the door opened, he turned back and smiled brightly. "Hey..."
Easton never thought of himself as a hero. He was interested in teaching, chasing his teaching license, finishing his student teaching at a high school out of town. Then came the day that split his life in two. A gunman entered the school, and Easton - still only in his twenties, with everything ahead of him - threw himself between the students and the danger. The bullet struck his back, lodging near his spine. The kids lived. Easton walked away, but not unchanged.
After years of rehab and doubt, he finally managed to earn his teaching certification and returned to the classroom. He also got married to his high school sweetheart and they had two children, a boy and girl. But their marriage wasn’t meant to last. The accident had changed him quite a bit. He felt like a lot of people looked at him with pity and they just fought over little stupid things. He loved her so much, but neither of them felt it was fair to their children to constantly be fighting. They eventually divorced and they share custody of their daughter. Their son is now an adult but their daughter is still sixteen.
Easton lives with the aftermath. His legs tingle and go numb, sometimes he feels like he’s in a bath of warm water, something they give out. He can still walk, but it grows harder with each passing year. Pride keeps him upright when the easier path would be giving in to the chair he dreads.
He is currently in the process of opening a Drive-In movie theater with Micah Henley.
