Luca Batista | He/Him | Closeted Homosexual
Hot-Headed | Loner | Practical
Not Good For Much
This remote, dodgy campsite has seen more of Zehra and Luca than it would probably truly like to. A year ago, Zehra was attacked by a wild animal while have a romantic vacation with her then boyfriend, Seth, who turned out to be a total loser. It was her ex boyfriend Luca that came to pick her up after the incident, following a call from her mom. The two hadn’t seen one another since their breakup six months prior. They didn’t expect to see one another much after, either, but Zehra was... unwell.
She was losing time, particularly around the changing moons. Her once vegetarian diet became almost completely carnivorous. Zehra was changing.
A year later, the two have returned searching for answers. Of course, flat-out explaining that they’re back hunting for a werewolf might make them look a little less than reliable, so arriving to find a pair of bachelors hosting their challenge at the same site will be a perfect alibi. Until the full moon, that is.
Luca:
He’s dated many women over the years and been unsuccessful at actually maintaining a relationship with any of them. He and Zehra’s mom were always close, considering he was raised without his, and it’s one of the relationships he holds dearest. Luca isn’t sure why he broke things off with Zehra, she seemed like the only one that might be able to put up with him for good, but it just wasn’t right. Maybe getting to know a strapping young lad will reveal some truths about himself?
Ultimately, Luca is a simple young man with simple aspirations. Namely, to get a good job, to move out of the shitty trailer park he’s been stuck in all his life, and most importantly to Not Be A Waste Of Skin. For once.
Very much remembered as a school bully, most of the folks that knew him when he was younger don’t have much good to say about him. Luca wouldn’t even be able to defend himself; he was a hurt young man, and hurt people hurt people. That doesn’t absolve him of guilt, however, and he’s issued many apologies over the years.
Luca’s love languages are gifts and acts of service. He doesn’t talk very well, usually fairly quiet unless it’s to say something sarcastic or be grumpy about something. He’s more likely to quietly present someone he likes with a thing he overheard them mentioning they needed or wanted offhandedly a month ago, or drive them to that appointment he knows is important to them, than he is to actually speak words of love. Word hard, present easy.
He owns one pair of shoes. Why does anyone need more than one? Until his toes are sticking out the bottom, he won’t get another pair, either.
Secretly really into art and painting. He used to draw comics when he was a kid and loved it a lot. He’s a talented artist, but according to his father, art isn’t a valid career, so one is more likely to see his work in the margins of library books than any galleries. For now.
His truck is his pride and joy, and his truck sucks. It’s falling apart, held together by duct tape, dreams, gum and paperclips, but he loves it. For him, his truck is a an escape, the way drawing is an escape. He can get out of his life and go somewhere else, visit a new town and say his name is Steven and have nobody know who he really is. And he dreams, often, of being Steven. Or Jason, or Trent, or Marcus - anyone but Luca.
Luca doesn’t genuinely laugh often. He snorts, or chuckles. In part it’s because he’s a crabby lil guy, but in other part it’s because he has the goofiest laugh in the world and would be ASHAMED if anyone found out. But when he really gets going, he’s been known to snort, often.
He’s terrified of moths. Spiders? Cool. Scorpions? Great. Snakes? Neato! Moths? He’s shitting and screaming and crying. The bigger and hairier they are, the scarier they are, and he will not argue that point for any reason.
Luca is extremely allergic to kiwi. He doesn’t know that yet because he’s never eaten kiwi.
Zehra:
Zehra does actually have a very small amount of internet fame! Miniscule, actually - actually, she doesn’t have any fame, except for being known as the girl whose brother is that one heavyweight wrestler hell bent on being the first wrestler in his weight class to win a championship on a diet of shawarma. It hasn’t happened yet.
She spends most of her time in her own head, and can be a little hard to get the attention of when she’s drifted off in some fantasy world. Her favourite genres to read and write about are primarily fantasy and mystery. Now, of course, she doesn’t love those werewolf harlequin romance novels so much, but they used to be a favourite of hers.
Everything about her is Aquarius. She’s generally very go-with-the-flow, Zehra can stand up for herself but if it’s not hurting someone else or directly impeding her ability to live her life, she lets a lot of stuff just roll off her back for the most part.
She really, truly thought she would marry Luca once upon a time. Her mom still asks if they’ll get back together.
Zehra and her family are generally very close. She does most of the publicity for her big brother(the wrestler) and handles his social media, working as a receptionist for a local newspaper the rest of the time. Unfortunately reading about handsome cryptids and taking pictures of her brother eating his tenth meal of the day don’t actually pay the bills.
And speaking of meals, she will whip up the meanest shawarma of your life. The Balik family are all foodies, and she primarily only ever worked out to counteract her love of pita and falafel.
She’s a chronic goldfish murderer. She doesn’t mean to! Zehra takes the best care she can of her little fishy friends, gets them the biggest tank she can afford, the cleanest water, the yummiest food; and they still kick the bucket. She’s begun to take it personally.
Zehra is the queen of creative dates. She loves a nice coffee date, or a movie, but consider driving two towns over to check out that drive-in theater where you watch Jaws in the pool? Or donning some medieval garb to take part in Ren Faire? Wouldn’t it be romantic to pick out groceries blindfolded and have to cook a meal for one another with the ingredients selected?
The prospect of turning into a werewolf is... understandably nervewracking. It feels like time is ticking and this stupid campsite is the only lead they have on anything even close to answers. While getting distracted might keep them from finding a solution, it might also be the last hurrah she gets before, you know, wolfing out. Might as well enjoy it, maybe?
She broke her arm falling out of one of those little red and yellow push cars as a child and, since then, has refused to drive herself. She’ll run, walk, bike, bus, hitchhike, anything and everything BUT get a car and drive it. It’s the only real childhood trauma she has.
