⌜ lizeth selene , twenty four , genderfluid , they/she ⌟ ╱ is that FEMININOMENON by CHAPPELL ROAN, i hear playing? oh that has to mean ROWAN HERNÁNDEZ , is about to clock in. i hear they’re a SOPHOMORE who’s been away studying PERFORMANCE STUDIES at NYU TISCH. it sure is a shame they’ve grown up to be rather CAREFREE and INDEPENDENT. word on the strip is that they’re back home for the summer and working as a RECEPTIONIST at INKSPIRE, to earn some extra cash, in order to buy a new guitar but don’t tell them i told you that !
𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙄𝘾𝙎:
FULL NAME: Rowan Hernández
NICKNAMES: Ro, R
GENDER: Gender fluid
PRONOUNS: They/She
SEXUALITY: Pansexual
DATE OF BIRTH: May 5th
ZODIAC SIGN: Taurus
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Spanish (native), English (fluent)
NATIONALITY: Peruvian-American
WORKKING AT: Inkspire as a recepcionist.
PINTEREST: click here for rowan's board.
𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙀𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙀:
FACECLAIM: Lizeth Selene
VOICE CLAIM: Lizeth Selene
HEIGHT: 5'4"
BUILD: Slim & petite, kind of on the skinny side.
HAIR: Very thick & dark brown, natural mermaid waves, often messy.
EYES: Dark brown
PIERCINGS & TATTOOS: Multiple tattoos across their body. Nose piercings: septum and nostril. Ear piercings: multiple lobe piercings, helix, and tragus.
OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Scar above the right eyebrow, beauty mark below the left eye, slight calluses on their hands from playing the guitar.
LIKES: Music (playing and listening), writing lyrics, collecting vinyl records, coffee, late-night walks, vintage clothing, comic books.
DISLIKES: Dishonesty, superficiality, overly crowded places, hot weather, loud noises without rhythm.
AESTHETICS: The sound of an electric guitar riff blending with the distant hum of the city; the smell of rain on concrete; vintage band tees and worn-out jeans; a sketchbook filled with song lyrics and doodles; the taste of cold brew coffee on a warm day; vinyl records and cassette tapes; late-night jam sessions under dim lights.
PET PEEVES: People who interrupt while they're playing and have judgmental attitudes.
𝘽𝙄𝙊𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙋𝙃𝙔
Rowan Hernández was born in Arequipa, Peru, and moved to the United States at a very young age with their family in search of better opportunities. In the US, they first lived with a relative until they could afford their apartment, initially settling in Florida, as it had a solid Latin culture that they were already accustomed to in their native country. However, they later moved to Cypress Rhodes, Colorado due to a job offer for their father—though he was a workaholic, he still believed this would give his family a better life.
Rowan initially found it hard to make friends because they only spoke Spanish—the primary language in Peru—and most of their friends in Florida also spoke Spanish. Thus, the language barrier pushed them to learn English out of necessity.
Rowan discovered guitar when they were 12, and it became their outlet for the emotions they couldn't understand and a way to handle the pain of losing their mother when they were a teen. Their bad connection to their dad, who simply didn't know how to deal with him anymore, made music even more important to she. They started a band named Vortex with childhood / university friends in New York City. Even though the band is formed around raw, emotional performances and an eccentric sound, they have never made a hit, and nobody seems to notice.
Rowan ventured to New York to study Performance Studies at NYU TISCH, a move that offered both academic pursuit and a temporary escape from their father. Now back in Cypress Rhodes for the summer break, they've taken a role as a receptionist at Inkspire, aiming to reconnect with old friends while saving up for a new guitar. They have no plans to seek out their father, feeling he holds little interest in reconnecting with them.
𝙒𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙀𝘿 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙉𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎
Ride or Die/Bestie(s): Someone who has been their best friend since forever, the one that knows Rowan inside out, with whom they've gone through it all, always there to help each other out. This person is someone Rowan trusts implicitly and leans on during tough times. (1-2 characters)
Exes on Good Terms: A former romantic partner who remains a close friend. They ended their relationship amicably and continue to support each other in their respective endeavors. They might occasionally reminisce about their past but are firmly in the friend zone now. (1 character)
Confidant: This is someone whom Rowan can tell anything and everything, who will listen and give advice without judgment. This is Rowan's person they can open up to, sharing their deepest thoughts and secrets. (1-2 characters)
Bandmate: Another member of Vortex who shares Rowan's love for music. They write songs and perform together. What makes them close is the fact that they share experiences due to common interests. Bandmates could be childhood friends or individuals Rowan met in New York. (1-3 characters)
Unlikely Friend: Someone Rowan befriended despite seemingly having nothing in common. The personality differences complement each other, and they often seem to learn things from each other. (1 character)
❛ [ ☼ ] : ( sergio mayer mori , cis man , he/him ) omg … was that JEREMIAH FISHER i just saw clocking in?! no ?? oh, i guess it was just MAVERICK CASTILLO then. they’re THE PLAYBOY i was telling you about … you know, the 24 year old 1L STUDENT, who’s been away studying LAW at STANFORD LAW SCHOOL ? word around town is they’re back home for what’s apparently their THIRD summer working at sunset plaza — not counting the one where he threw someone a monumental going away party that went way too far . this time around, they’re working as a CREW MEMBER at STARLINE CINEMA while trying to save up some extra cash for HELPING HIS FIANCE ESCAPE THE CARDS THEY'VE BEEN DEALT , but you didn’t hear that from me … from their interview, you’d probably guess they’re GREGARIOUS and CHARISMATIC, but anyone who’s worked a closing shift with them knows just how SELF-CENTERED and IRRESPONSIBLE they can get after spending all day listening to ZOMBIE by THE CRANBERRIES looping through the sunset’s speakers. though, with the way employees have been disappearing lately, let’s just hope they survive the summer long enough to make it back to campus. ( kae , 32 , she/her , est . )
⠀ 𝑰𝑫𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑻𝒀 .
𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 . maverick alejandro castillo morales.
𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 . an unorthodox, independent-minded person who refuses to conform to the rules, policies, or customs of a group.
𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 . mav.
𝙖𝙜𝙚 . twenty four.
𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 . october 23.
𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝 . richmond, va.
𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 . chaotic good.
𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙨 . charming & hedonistic.
𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙨 . loyal & manipulative.
𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 . emotionally detached from his mother and ritualistically neglected by an overbearing father, maverick does not recognize a healthy parent-child relationship.
⠀ 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑰𝑭𝑰𝑪𝑺 .
𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 . cisgender male + he/him.
𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 . demiromantic.
𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 . pansexual.
𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 . polyamorous.
𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙨 . on occassion.
𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙨. to detriment.
𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙨 . on occassion.
𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙩 . mostly healthy.
𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨 . strawberries + mango.
𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 . able bodied ; fit.
𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 . depression + anxiety ; self-medicated.
⠀ 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑻𝒀 .
𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 . impulsive ; stoic ; cynical.
𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙡 . the play boy ; the flake.
𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 . a typically wealthy man who devotes his life to leisure, entertainment, and the pursuit of physical pleasures, especially casual romantic relationships, without seeking serious commitments or long-term attachments.
𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 . chocolate, wine, sleeping in, early morning.
𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 . sobriety, losing, running, responsibility.
𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡 . get remy out of this life, no matter what it means for him.
𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙡𝙨 . grantaire ( les miserables ) ; jeremiah fisher ( the summer i turned pretty ) ; eliot waugh ( the magicians ).
𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 . alcohol ; getting a new ridiculous tattoo ; studying up late researching productively or unproductively ; a blanket nearly as old as he is ; rings held on a chain around his neck.
𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 . drinking to excess ; meaningless flirting and beyond.
𝙝𝙤𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨 . painting ; boxing ; music.
𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 . physical affection ; words of affirmation.
❛ [ ☼ ] : ( halle bailey , cis woman , she/her/hers ) omg … was that BETTY COOPER i just saw clocking in?! no ?? oh, i guess it was just JOSEPHINE 'JOSIE' FRANKLIN then. they’re THE GOLDEN GIRL i was telling you about … you know, the TWENTY TWO year old JUNIOR, who’s been away studying COMMUNICATIONS at STANFORD ? word around town is they’re back home for what’s apparently their FOURTH summer working at sunset plaza — not counting the one where WHEN SHE GOT DRUNK FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THREW UP IN FRONT OF HER CRUSH. this time around, they’re working as a CASHIER at NEON VINYL while trying to save up some extra cash for HER OWN PLACE, but you didn’t hear that from me … from their interview, you’d probably guess they’re POLITE and SOCIABLE, but anyone who’s worked a closing shift with them knows just how GULLIBLE and ANXIOUS they can get after spending all day listening to SPICE UP YOUR LIFE by THE SPICE GIRLS looping through the sunset’s speakers. though, with the way employees have been disappearing lately, let’s just hope they survive the summer long enough to make it back to campus.
basics
full name: josephine aubrey franklin. nicknames: josie, jo. birthday: september 13. zodiac sign: virgo ( taurus moon, cancer rising ). gender: cis woman. pronouns: she/her/hers. orientation: pansexual.
father: michael franklin ( pastor ). mother: brenda franklin ( nee deville, homemaker ). languages spoken: english, french, asl. religion: baptist. ethnicity: black.
personality
positive traits: sociable, polite, reliable. negative traits: self-critical, gullible, anxious. myers briggs: esfj. enneagram: 9w1. moral alignment: lawful good. character parallels: betty cooper ( riverdale ), natalie goodman ( next to normal ), monica geller ( friends ), rory gilmore ( gilmore girls ), riley matthews ( girl meets world ).
favorites
season: spring. music genre: pop. musicians: the spice girls, abba, mariah carey, madonna. tv shows: the young and the restless, sabrina the teenage witch, full house, dawson's creek. films: clueless, sixteen candles, footloose. drink: chocolate milkshake. food: macaroni and cheese. hobbies: volunteering, playing piano, watching television, talking on the phone with friends. likes: pink, old movies, animals. dislikes: horror movies, confrontation.
biography (abridged).
josie was born to a pastor and a homemaker and throughout her life, she was taught that image was everything. this was done mostly implicitly by how she watched her family push everything under the rug and keep up appearances.
growing up, josie was (and still is) mostly concerned with how people saw her but she never felt like she was doing enough and strived for perfection.
personality wise, josie can be kind of confusing. because she had always been told she was mature for her age and incredibly poised but she was also always so doe eyed and naive. she might have her entire life mapped out on vision boards and binders but she really has no idea what she's doing.
her parents didn't exactly praise her growing up for getting good grades because they told her that was something to be expected. while her friends had art and report cards on their fridge, her family fridge lay empty because her parents simply thought it wasn't a triumph to get her 100th a.
in high school, josie became captain of the cheerleading squad. it was natural because not only was she good but she was the most liked. the only problem was that despite being made the captain, she was rarely invited to the fun parties people were having because everyone thought she would go and tattle to her pastor papa and maybe they were right.
she realized in high school though that the pushing she got from her parents didn't make her grow like they said and like she was brought up to believe. because she wasn't growing organically or in a way that she had a choice in which way she wanted to grow.
her senior year of high school was when things started to crack. the mask she wore all of the time started to show signs of coming off, despite everything she was doing to keep it on.
during her senior year, while applying for colleges, she realized that she wasn't sure what she wanted to do and that she had let everyone decide her life for her. she declined nearly all of her college acceptances except for one which she deferred and she kept all of this a secret from her family because she knew they would never understand.
and she was right because when they found out, it caused a huge rift between them and one of their biggest fights to date. they berated her to tears but also to a turning point where she realized she could not simply be the perfect daughter they wanted or the perfect student or the perfect anything that anyone else was expecting her to be.
taking a gap year in the 90s was basically unheard of but she knew that she had to do it and eventually she went to the college that she had originally deferred, stanford, where she chose a major of communications with a minor in early childhood development.
being a good student wasn't hard for josie. even at stanford where she wasn't at the top of her class anymore and was somewhat of a small fish in a big pond compared to clayton. she excelled in her classes but she struggled a bit to find what she truly wanted to do.
josie is the kind of person who tends to mold herself to other people's personalities, always trying to be what they want her to be and what they expect her to be, without giving much thought of who she wants herself to be. and while she's definitely grown since high school, old habits die hard.
links
pinterest / playlist / full biography
wanted connections
bad influence: it's such a cliche and simple wc but with josie it's really so needed! growing up as a pastor's kid, you don't really get the chance to rebel and certainly not in the way that most other kids do when you're josie. she needs someone to convince her to act out a bit more and be a little messy!
sibling: could be a half or full sibling if they're black or they could be adopted. i think it would be kind of neat if the franklins adopted a "troubled" kid for the appearance of looking altruistic and josie became attached to them because she doesn't really have ulterior motives unlike her parents.
ex friend: josie prides herself on being a great friend to everyone and really tries to show up for her friends. so a falling out would really bruise her ego and hurt her a lot. totally open ended as to why the falling out happened!
family feud: not the game show but an actual feud! for some reason or another, their families can't stand each other and josie and your muse were caught in the middle of it. maybe because josie was angry at her parents for letting her be so sheltered and confined by their expectations that she started warming up to them just to prove that she wasn't just her family.
ex: a very simple ex plot that is super open for interpretation. i also feel like i would reaaaally love a plot where it's josie's first wlw relationship and it's kind of like this scene from the incredibly true adventure of two girls in love with josie being evie of course!
secret sibling: it's very possible that josie's dad had an affair and that no one, including josie, knew about it. so they go about living their lives unaware of the fact that they share 25% of their dna.
annoyance: josie can seem a bit overbearing to people and is very extroverted meaning that she wants to be everyone's friend. and maybe your muse just isn't feeling her for whatever reason, views her as annoyingly naive and doesn't want to deal with the whole pastor's daughter thing.
first kiss: basically what it says on the tin. i think a first kiss plot could be so cute because josie was probably a late bloomer in the sense that because she was so restricted growing up that she didn't think romance was on the table for her like it was for her other friends in middle school and high school.
❛ [ ☼ ] : ( daniella taylor , cis woman , she/her ) omg … was that GRETCHEN WIENERS i just saw clocking in?! no ?? oh, i guess it was just DAPHNE HAYES then. they’re THE WANNABE i was telling you about … you know, the TWENTY THREE year old JUNIOR, who’s been away studying FASHION DESIGN at COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO ? word around town is they’re back home for what’s apparently their SECOND summer working at sunset plaza — not counting the one where she spent the entire summer telling people she was transferring to FIT “ any day now ”. this time around, they’re working as a SHIFT LEAD at CHERRY POP while trying to save up some extra cash TO PAY OFF HER MAXED OUT CREDIT CARDS BEFORE HER DAD FINDS OUT, but you didn’t hear that from me … from their interview, you’d probably guess they’re OUTGOING and ADAPTABLE, but anyone who’s worked a closing shift with them knows just how SHALLOW and DRAMATIC they can get after spending all day listening to ( YOU DRIVE ME ) CRAZY by BRITNEY SPEARS looping through the sunset’s speakers. though, with the way employees have been disappearing lately, let’s just hope they survive the summer long enough to make it back to campus.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗔𝗕𝗘 .
rehearsing one liners in bathroom mirrors ; desperate attempts to seem cooler than they are ; copying trends straight from music videos ; trying too hard to impress the rest of the group ; exaggerated stories that fall apart under pressure ; wanting badly to matter ; reinventing themselves every other week ; and the fear that nobody would notice if they disappeared
𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗦 .
birth name : daphne marie hayes
nickname(s) : daph
date of birth : august 9, 1975
age : 23
gender : cis woman
pronouns : she/her
sexuality : bisexual ( slight fem preference )
relationship status : single ( almost always crushing )
birthplace : clayton, indiana
currently : clayton, indiana / chicago, illinois
languages : english ( fluently ), spanish ( intermediate ), french ( conversational )
education : currently going into her junior year, studying fashion design at columbia collge chicago.
extracurriculars : freshman welcome committee ; student fashion association ; amateur styling club ; helped coordinate campus fashion showcases ; briefly joined student radio solely because she thought it sounded “very indie film protagonist” ; occasional contributor to the campus style zine
preferred hand : left
blood type : b+
allergies : pollen, tree nuts, and chocolate
physical : works out regularly but mostly for aesthetics over athleticism ; surprisingly strong legs from years of mall shifts, city walking, and carrying shopping bags that absolutely should’ve been two trips ; constantly smells faintly like vanilla perfume and department store makeup counters
mental : diagnosed acute ocd ; intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, and obsessive routines hidden underneath an overly polished personality ; copes through constant reinvention, overspending, and keeping herself perpetually distracted
social : outgoing to the point of being overwhelming ; knows almost everyone’s business and somehow remembers every detail ; naturally charismatic but deeply insecure underneath the performance ; desperate to be liked, admired, or at the very least remembered ; tends to exaggerate stories for dramatic effect ; floats easily between friend groups but secretly worries she never fully belongs in any of them
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 .
leo sun. enfp (campaigner), phlegmatic, patience, envy, gryffindor, chaotic good, 2w3 (the host)
habits : biting her nails when she’s nervous ; reapplying lip gloss constantly ; talking to herself in mirrors ; leaving half-finished journal entries everywhere
likes : likes : the color pink ; swimming ; shopping ; early morning walks ; trying new foods ; hot sauce ; energy drinks ; reality tv ; astrology ; fashion ; spicy food ; journaling ; slasher films ; glossy magazines ; mall pretzels ; cherry flavored lip gloss ; late night diner runs ; perfume counters ; celebrity gossip ; polaroid cameras ; platform shoes ; old hollywood glamour ; movie soundtracks ; gossiping in food courts ; dramatic love stories
dislikes : pineapple flavored candy ; wearing socks ; waking up before noon ; moths ; tight spaces ; hiking ; being ignored ; people who “don’t believe” in astrology ; unscented lotion ; awkward silences ; cheap knockoff makeup ; fluorescent dressing room lighting ; bitter coffee ; being underdressed ; small talk with authority figures ; anyone implying clayton is boring
fears : rodents of any kind ; premature death ; being forgotten ; ending up stuck in clayton forever
skeleton : the wannabe
tropes : social chameleon ; small town girl with big city dreams ; hidden depths ; the gossip girl
inspiration : gretchen wieners ( mean girls ) ; jenna rink ( 13 going on 30 ) ; sharpay evans ( high school musical ) ; carrie bradshaw ( sex and the city )
𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 .
faceclaim : daniella taylor
face : heart shaped with soft, defined cheekbones and almond shaped eyes that make every emotion painfully obvious ; naturally animated facial expressions that somehow turn even normal conversations into full performances
hair : dark shoulder length hair, usually styled differently depending on whatever aesthetic she’s obsessed with that month, occasionally pulled back into sleek ponytails or messy braids.
body : slender and petite, surprising perfect posture
style : whatever’s trending at the moment ; currently leaning toward light, carefree, hyper feminine looks inspired by late 90s teen magazines and music videos ; fitted crop tops paired with structured jeans, embroidered mini skirts, tiny handbags, tinted sunglasses, platform sandals, chunky jewelry, and enough accessories to make every outfit feel carefully curated with an overall vibe of “effortless” in the way that clearly took two hours to put together
misc : double lobe piercings on each ear, dainty tattoos randomly placed.
𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 .
picture perfect : before everything fell apart, the hayes family looked exactly like the kind of people small towns build stories around. high school sweethearts. football captain and head cheerleader. prom king and queen. the kind of couple people swore would stay together forever because they’d already survived growing up together. melinda hayes was beautiful, magnetic, impossible to ignore and tom hayes was dependable, well liked, and steady in the way small towns admired. for the first few years of daphne’s life, things looked perfect from the outside. family photos at county fairs. friday night football games. christmas cards taped to refrigerators all over clayton. daphne grew up believing her family was the kind people envied.
disappearing act : then, right after daphne turned five, her mother left. no dramatic goodbye, no long explanation anyone bothered giving a child. just promises about “following her dreams” and vague phone calls that slowly stopped coming altogether. melinda wanted broadway, wanted bigger cities, brighter lights, a life beyond clayton, indiana. and unfortunately, there wasn’t much room for a husband and daughter inside those dreams. after she disappeared, the entire family seemed to collapse inward. officer hayes buried himself in work, long shifts, and late nights that slowly turned into drinking habits nobody openly talked about. meanwhile, daphne grew up listening to whispers she wasn’t supposed to hear. poor sheriff hayes. poor weird little daphne. melinda really abandoned them and everyone knew the story before she was even old enough to understand it.
wannabe : by the time high school started, daphne had already decided she was never going to be the pathetic girl people pitied. if her mother could reinvent herself, then so could she. freshman year became the beginning of an endless cycle of trial and error identities. one month she was copying magazine trends and pretending she belonged with the popular girls. the next, she was trying to become artsy, edgy, mysterious, anything that felt more interesting than herself. she floated between friend groups constantly, never fully settling anywhere, always trying to mirror whoever she thought people liked most. deep down, all daphne really wanted was somewhere to belong without having to audition for it first.
runaway dreams : after graduation, daphne became convinced that finding her mother would somehow explain everything. she spent her gap year chasing scraps of information across different cities, trying to reconnect with a woman who had practically erased herself from their lives. somewhere along the way, melinda had changed her name, built a new identity, and buried the existence of her old family so deeply that daphne started questioning if she’d imagined half of it. when she finally found her, the reunion lasted less than an afternoon. melinda made it painfully clear that her new life was easier, cleaner, and better without daphne attached to it. and just like that, the fantasy she’d spent years building collapsed completely.
spiraling : for a while, daphne completely unraveled. she stopped answering calls, barely left her room, and spent weeks feeling humiliated by how badly she’d wanted someone who never wanted her back. but daphne had spent most of her life surviving through reinvention, and eventually she did what she always did best : she rebuilt the story. by the end of the summer, everyone back home believed she’d spent the year interning for a major fashion magazine in new york city. daphne told the story so confidently that most people never questioned it. honestly, after enough time, even she almost started believing it.
proving herself : eventually, daphne enrolled at columbia college chicago for fashion design, determined to build the kind of glamorous, important life she’d always imagined for herself. college gave her another opportunity to reinvent herself, and she took it immediately. new clothes, new personality, new stories. she learned quickly how to look like someone who belonged in expensive apartments and backstage dressing rooms, even when she absolutely could not afford it. the spending problem started slowly before spiraling into maxed out credit cards, impulsive shopping trips, and designer pieces bought purely because she liked the person she became while wearing them.
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗡𝗦 .
photographic memory : daphne remembers everything. seriously. faces, conversations, outfits, embarrassing things people said three years ago … it’s honestly unsettling. she’ll recognize customers immediately even if they’ve only been inside cherry pop once, and she’s weirdly good at identifying people from blurry yearbook photos or terrible security camera footage. unfortunately, this also means she remembers every awkward interaction she’s ever had in painful detail.
sunset : if there’s drama within a ten mile radius, daph knows about it. not because she’s nosy ( even though she is ), but because people tell her things. strangers at bars, coworkers, uber drivers? everyone seems to confide in her like she’s a human diary. she doesn’t always mean to spread it, but when a story’s good, it’s practically a public service to share. she genuinely believes she’s one of the most important people inside sunset plaza. not in a mean way, just in a “people would definitely notice if i disappeared” way. she knows almost every employee by name, treats wandering through the mall like a public appearance, and somehow ends up involved in everyone’s business whether invited or not.
borrower’s curse ; if daph borrows your jacket, your eyeliner, your charger, odds are you’re never getting it back. not maliciously, she just forgets where it came from, and when you point it out, she goes, “ohhh right, i thought that was mine.” yet still never return it.
embellishment : daphne lies constantly, but rarely maliciously. she just genuinely prefers stories when they’re slightly more interesting than reality. a conversation with a cashier suddenly becomes “this super intense argument.” bumping into someone at a party turns into “basically being invited backstage.” sometimes she starts exaggerating before she even realizes she’s doing it. the weirdest part is that daphne tells these stories with so much confidence people usually believe her anyway. over the years, she’s become so good at rewriting reality that even she struggles to separate what actually happened from the version that sounds better.
astrology : daphne being a leo is, according to her, the single most important thing anyone needs to know about her. she genuinely believes astrology explains basically everything. bad mood ? mercury retrograde. relationship problems ? incompatible moon signs. weird vibes at sunset lately ? honestly, probably planetary. she owns at least four different astrology books, highlights daily horoscopes in magazines, and has absolutely ended friendships after learning someone was a scorpio man. whether it’s real or not doesn’t matter to her because she likes the idea that the universe already planned for her to become someone important.
beauty supply addiction : daphne cannot walk past a beauty store without going inside. it’s physically impossible. she’s constantly buying glitter body spray, lip glosses that all look identical, chunky butterfly clips, and products she saw once in a seventeen magazine. her bedroom looks like the backroom storage closet of a claire’s. every surface is covered in makeup, perfume, nail polish, or accessories she absolutely did not need but convinced herself would somehow transform her life.
terrible taste : despite claiming she has “very high standards,” daphne consistently develops crushes on the worst people imaginable. emotionally unavailable musicians, guys with frosted tips, older coworkers who still live with their parents, girls who were nice to her once ... absolutely nobody is surprised anymore. she falls in love easily, dramatically, and usually for less than two weeks at a time. every single crush somehow becomes “different” from the last one.
fake accents : daphne has an unfortunate habit of accidentally picking up other people’s speech patterns after spending too much time around them. one week in chicago and suddenly she’s talking faster and pretending she’s “literally always been a city person.” after binge watching british interviews for two days, she briefly developed a fake accent that disappeared the second someone pointed it out. she absolutely denies doing this, despite multiple people catching her unconsciously changing her personality depending on who she’s around. according to daphne, she’s “just adaptable.”
𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 .
best friend : the one person who’s seen every version of daphne and somehow stuck around anyway. they’ve survived personality phases, dramatic breakdowns, fake reinventions, and at least three separate identity crises without running for the hills. daphne trusts them more than almost anyone, even if she’d rather die than admit how badly she needs them. they’re probably the only person who can call her out when she’s lying without immediately starting a fight.
ex : the relationship itself was dramatic, messy, and probably lasted longer than it should’ve. maybe they dated in high school, maybe during her gap year, maybe they kept trying to “stay friends” long after the breakup. whatever happened, there’s still unresolved tension buried somewhere underneath the passive aggressive comments and fake indifference. daphne insists she’s completely over them. unfortunately, nobody believes her.
crush : daphne’s latest obsession and, according to her, “completely different” from every bad idea that came before them. she’s probably overanalyzed every interaction they’ve ever had, assigned meaning to random compliments, and convinced herself they’re secretly flirting even when they’re literally just being polite. whether they know she’s crushing on them or not honestly depends on how subtle daphne managed to be that week.
frenemy : nobody in clayton confuses these two for actual friends, but somehow they’re constantly orbiting each other anyway. there’s competition buried in every conversation, passive aggressive compliments, fake smiles, and years of unresolved jealousy simmering underneath the surface. half the time they’re arguing over something stupid and the other half they’re teaming up to gossip about everyone else in the mall. honestly, they probably understand each other better than they’d ever admit.
work spouse : daphne’s unofficial partner in surviving endless shifts at sunset plaza. they’ve mastered the art of silently communicating across the store, complaining about customers without getting caught, and covering for each other whenever one of them disappears into the backroom to avoid responsibility. everyone at work already treats them like a divorced couple that’s somehow still weirdly codependent. whether they actually like each other changes depending on the day.
movie buddy : someone who’s been dragged into daphne’s late night movie marathons at least once and never escaped afterward. she has strong opinions about casting, outfits, soundtracks, and which fictional couples should’ve ended up together, despite barely paying attention to the actual plot. half the experience is just daphne pausing scenes every twenty minutes to point out someone’s shoes or explain why she would’ve survived the movie herself.
confidant : the person daphne trusts with the ugly parts of herself she usually hides under layers of jokes, gossip, and dramatics. they’re one of the few people who know the truth about her mother, the failed gap year, and just how terrified she is of ending up forgotten. with them, she drops the performance a little. not completely, because daphne honestly doesn’t know how to, but enough to feel real.
❛ [ ☼ ] : ( josh heuston , cis man , he/him ) omg … was that PATRICK VERONA i just saw clocking in?! no ?? oh, i guess it was just ZAID DE SILVA then. they’re THE DIRTBAG i was telling you about … you know, the twenty three year old SUPER SENIOR, who’s been away studying CRIMINOLOGY at INDIANA UNIVERSITY ? word around town is they’re back home for what’s apparently their FOURTH summer working at sunset plaza — not counting the one where GOT CAUGHT SQUATTING AT STARLINE CINEMA AND HAD TO TALK THE MANAGER OUT OF NOT PRESSING CHARGES . this time around, they’re working as a SALES ASSOCIATE at NEON VINYL while trying to save up some extra cash to MOVE OUT WHILE HE COUCH HOPS IN THE MEANTIME , but you didn’t hear that from me … from their interview, you’d probably guess they’re INDEPENDENT and CREATIVE, but anyone who’s worked a closing shift with them knows just how IMPULSIVE and RESENTFUL they can get after spending all day listening to SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT by NIRVANA looping through the sunset’s speakers. though, with the way employees have been disappearing lately, let’s just hope they survive the summer long enough to make it back to campus.
BASICS
name: zaid david de silva.
age: twenty two.
gender: cis man.
birthday: october 30th.
sexual & romantic orientation: bisexual & biromantic.
faceclaim: josh heuston.
character inspo: patrick verona, john bender, jj maybank, lip gallagher, rodrick heffley, jess mariano.
QUICK FACTS:
zaid is the classic misunderstood broody type. there's more to him than what initially meets the eyes.
he survives on bad decisions, cigarettes, and just a little bit of luck.
he's a couch hopper even though he does have a permanent place to stay, he's trying to save up to move out. at the moment, t's just him and his dad and they clash hella. he always tells him that he doesn't apply himself, and well, zain, hates to hear it.
he skips a lot of his classes when he's at school, but what he lacks in attendance, he makes up in being able to wing it enough on exams to pass most of his classes, but he's still having to retake classes due to poor attendance.
he hates authority (obviously), and will mouth off to his profs and bosses.
can be charming when he wants to be, but would rather offer sarcastic comments instead.
WANTED CONNECTIONS:
classic good influence
old hs tutor: he didn't really need one, but his dad insisted.
partner in crime: someone similar to him. prob egg each other on lowkey.
❛ [ ☼ ] : ( josie totah, trans woman, she/her ) omg … was that ALISON DILAURENTIS i just saw clocking in?! no ?? oh, i guess it was just AISHA MANSOUR then. they’re THE SPOILED BRAT i was telling you about … you know, the 21 year old FOURTH YEAR, who’s been away studying ART HISTORY at INDIANA UNIVERSITY ? word around town is they’re back home for what’s apparently their FIRST summer working at sunset plaza. this time around, they’re working as a CASHIER at GOLDLEAF JEWELERS while trying to save up some extra cash for PRANKS AND PETTY ENTERTAINMENT, but you didn’t hear that from me … from their interview, you’d probably guess they’re OBSERVANT and CUNNING, but anyone who’s worked a closing shift with them knows just how UNSERIOUS and MANIPULATIVE they can get after spending all day listening to BARBIE GIRL by AQUA looping through the sunset’s speakers. though, with the way employees have been disappearing lately, let’s just hope they survive the summer long enough to make it back to campus. ( m, 30, she/her, est . )
hi hi, i'm meagan & aisha is a bit of a remix of a character that i wrote for five minutes in another group, meaning i am still fleshing her out a bit so please bear with me a bit! sooooo excited to bring her to life though in this amazing universe <3 feel free to dm me on discord to plot @ phenomeniall! <3
history
grew up in the clayton in a huge, loving family! has five older sisters. she is the baby, and it shows.
used to getting everything that she wants, though not always without effort. with so many sisters all competing for the bathroom, for toys, to control the music, over whether they got to open the blinds or not, etc., she learned how to fight and scheme and manipulate to get what she wants.
she was likely this way in school as well, very head bitch in charge energy, but clever enough to know that charisma is the true way to people's hearts, not tearing them down, and acts accordingly.
think annoying little prankster and silly girl that doesn't know how to mind her own business more than mean girl cheerleader!
she has been studying at indiana university with a degree for a degree in art history and moves back home every summer to hang out with her sisters and feel like town royalty again
all her peers are doing summer internships or thinking about the future, but aisha isn't too concerned about that. her family loves having her home, she loves not having to do chores, feed herself, or do anything really if she doesn’t want to.
all her friends from back home are always working at the mall, so she got a job at goldleaf jewelers, which is owned by a family friend, mostly to hang out and people watch. she can commonly be found sneaking away from shifts or shoving work onto her co-workers with her hundred-watt smile.
as for the disappearances, like everything else, she is not really concerned with them. they'll surely work themselves out, which is what she is used to happening to all her problems, because she doesn't pay attention to the fact that someone is usually behind the scenes taking care of them for her.
personality
very observant and cunning, but always very chatty and fun-loving. she’s literally everyone’s annoying little sister, and above all else she’s just trying to have a good time
extremely immature, does not know how to take anything seriously. this irritates people sometimes, and she doesn’t have the emotional range to understand that maybe she is in the wrong when that happens. it's just a joke!
everyone’s friend, but truly loyal to few
very creative and artistic. studying art history, loves looking at art, learning about it, dissecting it. much like people around her.
so book smart
loves sleek, clean, and neat but rich and historical vibes. think dark academia. which is an interesting contrast to her chaotic and upbeat personality. but perhaps that is a look into who she is when no one is watching...
lying liar who lies, but just for fun. just for the hell of it. just to laugh. so subtle you usually don’t even notice.
headcanons
fungrrl78 is her im handle can you believe she was born in 1978
more to come!
wanted connections
childhood besties and enemies
friction with people who care a lot about the disappearances when she doesn't quite care yet.
**she sabotages your muse's investigations by pretending to care about it then giving misinformation or something as a "prank"
friends from college, i may be able to request a university change for this! maybe they were not friendly at all in high school and grew close at college and maybe they're a little random or something.
current bestie or enemy
party friends
**she met your muse one time and lied to them about her identity or something, and she’s just keeping that going (for people new to clayton)
someone who likes to pull pranks with her
someone who does NOT like her pranks
on again off again relationship where she is evil stringing them along or only going to them when she needs them
or alternatively someone she actually likes and is a little pathetic about
**someone she used to tease or prank while they were growing up, and it went too far, but she thinks they should be over it by now
cousin who she pranks with at family gatherings or they're super close and love hanging out
**someone she loves to gossip with, but it's likely she often gives them very little information and she takes more than she gives
a little minion who does everything she wants for one reason or another
❛ [ ☼ ] : ( kim yerim , nonbinary , they/she ) omg … was that ALLISON REYNOLDS i just saw clocking in?! no ?? oh, i guess it was just REMY CHO then. they’re THE ICE QUEEN i was telling you about … you know, the TWENTY FIVE year old SENIOR, who’s been away studying HISTORY at MARY BALDWIN COLLEGE ? word around town is they’re back home for what’s apparently their THIRD summer working at sunset plaza — not counting the one where they publicly rejected a man who’d been following them in the middle of the food court, airing all of his dirty laundry. this time around, they’re working as a SALES ASSOCIATE at SUGAR & SILK while trying to save up some extra cash for GETTING AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS, but you didn’t hear that from me … from their interview, you’d probably guess they’re LOYAL and PERCEPTIVE, but anyone who’s worked a closing shift with them knows just how CALCULATING and DISTANT they can get after spending all day listening to JUST A GIRL by NO DOUBT looping through the sunset’s speakers. though, with the way employees have been disappearing lately, let’s just hope they survive the summer long enough to make it back to campus.
𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚(𝙨) . english , french , korean
𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 . eun-woo "eugene" cho.
𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 . mi hye-jin.
𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜(𝙨) . n/a.
𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 . mi jin-ho ( maternal grandmother ) ; allison cho nee harrison ( step-mother ).
𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧(𝙨) . maverick castillo by appearance at least.
𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧(𝙨) . tba.
𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 . tba.
𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 . n/a.
𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚(𝙨) . tba.
𝙥𝙚𝙩(𝙨) . andromeda ( tuxedo maine coon cat ).
⠀ 𝑰𝑵𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑵𝑪𝑬 .
𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 . chaotic good.
𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙨 . pragmatic & vindictive.
𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙨 . haughty & authoritarian.
𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 . remy is securely under their father & step-mother's thumbs. as much as they'd love to be free, they are a means to an end for the couple.
𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 . impulsive ; stoic ; cynical.
𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙡 . the ice queen ; the broken bird.
𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 . someone who appears cold and unfeeling to others, using it as a facade to hide their own pain & fear of betrayal.
𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 . lemonade, flowers, freshly made biscuits, sweets.
𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 . confined spaces, pitch black darkness, wine, being unable to do things on their own.
𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡 . find some sort of meaning for themself & escape their parents' grasp.
𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙡𝙨 . allison reynolds ( all for the game ) ; spencer hastings ( pretty little liars ).
𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 . a worn fox stuffed animal, missing its left eye ; stolen t-shirts that are worn thin ; chai in a cracked mug held together by glue.
𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 . smoking ; benzos ; pushing past their limits.
𝙝𝙤𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨 . drawing ; cooking ; crocheting.
𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 . physical affection ; words of affirmation.
𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚 . i will endure.
❛ [ ☼ ] : ( finn bennett , cis man , he / him ) omg … was that TRUMAN BURBANK i just saw clocking in ?! no ?? oh, i guess it was just OLIVER THORNE then. they’re THE NICE GUY i was telling you about … you know, the 26 year old SECOND YEAR, who’s been away studying LAW at THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ? word around town is they’re back home for what’s apparently their SECOND summer working at sunset plaza — not counting the one where HE WAS ALMOST FIRED FOR SPENDING HOURS PLAYING ‘ TIME CRISIS II ’ WHEN HE SHOULD’VE BEEN ON THE CLOCK. this time around, they’re working as a MACHINE ATTENDANT AT PIXEL PALACE while trying to save up some extra cash for HIS BOOKS AND EXTORTIONATE STUDY FEES, but you didn’t hear that from me … from their interview, you’d probably guess they’re SELFLESS and RESILIENT, but anyone who’s worked a closing shift with them knows just how UNLUCKY and SELF - DEPRECATING they can get after spending all day listening to BLINDED ( WHEN I SEE YOU ) by THIRD EYE BLIND looping through the sunset’s speakers. though, with the way employees have been disappearing lately, let’s just hope they survive the summer long enough to make it back to campus.
CHAPTER ONE : STATS.
name : oliver sylvester thorne.
age : twenty6.
gender + pronouns : cis man + he / him.
sexuality : bisexual .
faceclaim : finn bennett.
CHAPTER TWO : SOUNDTRACK.
01. breakfast at tiffany's — deep blue something.
02. blinded ( when i see you ) — third eye blind.
03. every you every me — placebo.
04. disarm — the smashing pumpkins.
05. come out and play — the offspring.
CHAPTER THREE : STORY.
covering shifts for people who never return the favor ; free pretzel bites handed out at closing ; awkward smiles that make people trust them instantly ; trying to keep the group from falling apart ; lingering too long in uncomfortable silences ; kindness stretched dangerously thin ; wanting everyone to get along even when they clearly won’t ; and the fear that being “ good ” won’t actually matter in the end .
it was not always law that oliver wanted to pursue. his interests lay elsewhere entirely — music, video games, films — anything more exciting than the inner workings of the american judicial system. that never did much to deter his father, though. sylvester thorne had always wanted more for his only son : to watch him grow, thrive, bloom into something respectable. after all, who had ever heard of a professional mortal kombat player ? so, from a young age, oliver found himself weighing up more lucrative paths. medicine was too complicated, with lives quite literally in his hands. he lacked the mind for rocket science and, while he liked computers well enough, he wasn’t convinced there was any real future in that little thing called the world wide web. left on his list of options was law and so, from that point onwards, his life was set.
but his father had never expected that such a path would mean seeing his sun every summer. books were extortionate and, alongside food and travel and that pesky little thing called living expenses, it was near impossible for oliver to keep himself afloat without a separate stream of income. in term time, he works nightshifts as a morgue security guard for the nearby medical school. off - season, he returns home to clayton ; there is always a place waiting for him behind arcade machines or dishing out claw prizes, and between jobs it allows him extra time to catch up on much needed reading. in some way, it's why he's always the first to put himself forward to cover a shift of stay late — within the confines of the arcade, with the florescent lights and pings of pinball machines, he is granted a wedge of peace otherwise unknown.
ollie is a sweetheart. his crooked, toothy smile melts anyone that looks upon it and, since he is at the mall more often than not, it shines upon most who walk past the endless shop fronts. despite his charm, he is not the lucky sort ; he has run out of fingers to count how many times he has ended up stuck in a machine he was fixing, on how many occasions his winnings got caught on the way out. and yet his energy is always focused on those around him who need a little positivity. on off days you will find him staring wistfully at action figures or video games that are far out of his price range, or making a dollar hot dog last as his single meal of the day. the thornes may have been wealthy, but none of that trickled down. maybe once he is in court, with a gavel and a silly wig, he will earn the overdue respect of the one man that is reluctant to give it.
