Finally, I can stop being so ominous! Act II has kicked off, and we’re off the to the races. That being said, it’s time for a few updates! With all that has happened in the last two months, it’s time to add an Act II section to every Act I character. Don’t worry -- I’ll do the heavy lifting. All I need is three to five bullet points of what’s gone on with your character in the last two months, and I’ll comprise it into a formal Act II section for them. This does not include the newly posted characters (King, Ben, Arlo, Sheridan), as they already have this section completed. I’ll need an update from all of the following characters:
SEBASTIAN O’RILEY / @sebastianoriley
OPHELIA ATANAS / @oatanas
BISHOP KIRBEY / @ceokirbey
NATHALIE KIRBEY / @nathaliexkirbey
WREN ABERNATHY / @wrenabernathy
CHESSIE ABERNATHY / @chessieabernathy
QUINN ARCHIBALD / @quinnxarchibald
TATE RODRIGUEZ / @taterodriguez
MONTY SANTOS / @monty-santos
ROWAN TANDEL / @rowan-tandel
BUFFY SEYMOUR / @buffy-seymour
This does include our newest members, even those who have only been around for a short amount of time. Though a few characters haven’t had a chance to get quite has involved in the drama that’s happened, please still give us an update on what’s gone on in the last couple months for them. Please send your bullet points to the main page! Have a question? Feel free to send it my way.
In association with the Haus of FREYA, as a part of their REBIRTH event -- FREYA invites all of their guests to participate in their time capsule event. Tonight is all about new beginnings, and that begins with letting go of the past -- With none other than a time capsule, one that will be buried in Central Park for the next fifty years. Partnering up with the Parks foundation, FREYA invites all of their guests this evening to participate. The world is going to be a much different place in fifty years, don’t be afraid to leave your mark.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE CUT.
Welcome to the first writing challenge! This is MANDATORY . All characters should answer the following questions as if they were chat replies, like your character is being interviewed. Please answer truthfully, these will be buried in Central Park for the next fifty years!
Let’s start with your name – What is it? How did it come about? Does it have any special meaning?
Tell us about your family. What do they mean to you? Are you close to them?
Would you consider yourself introverted or extroverted? Optimistic or pessimistic?
What’s something you’re proud of? Why?
What is your biggest regret? Why?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
What advice would give your younger self? Any advice to your future self?
Let’s start with your name – What is it? How did it come about? Does it have any special meaning?
As if anyone here didn’t know her name, she thought, rolling her eyes. “My full name is Ophelia Elise Atanas. I was named after my great grandmother, Ophelia. I don’t know where my middle name came from ---- I don’t think it came from anywhere, I think my mom just liked it.” O shrugged in response. She felt uncomfortable delving into her personal life like this and her posture showed that. She was rigid and tense, posture impossibly straight with her chin tilted upward as she held her head high. “I have my mother’s last name.” Her jaw tensed for a second, pausing and weighing her options. “I don’t know my dads name. I never met him and whenever I asked, my mom told me not to worry about it. Maybe Elise comes from his side of the family. I don’t know. Next question.”
Tell us about your family. What do they mean to you? Are you close to them?
“My only family is dead.” Even if she had tried, O wouldn’t have been able to stop the words from spilling out. It wasn’t until she saw the surprised look on the interviewers face that she realized what she had said and cleared her throat, back pedalling. “I already told you guys about my dad --- he might be dead too, actually, as far as I know. But, anyway. My mom is the only family I’ve ever had. We were close, everyone knows that. You have to be when it’s just the two of you.” Her throat tightened, the hinge of her jaw tingling in a tell tale sign that she was beginning to lose the composure she had worked so hard to keep. Her index finger wiped under her eyes harshly, and she let out a shuddering breath. Don’t start crying now. “Anyway, my step dad is still kicking but I haven’t spoken to him or either of his kids since the funeral.” She didn’t even bother dropping their names because that’s just how little she considers them to be her family.
Would you consider yourself introverted or extroverted? Optimistic or pessimistic?
“Introverted. I like people and I like going out, but I need my space and my alone time afterward to unwind and recharge.” O knew that she could be rude and condescending even on the best of days, but when she’s been surrounded by people for hours on end with no chance to breathe? Look out. “I’m realistic. Things aren’t always going to be good or bad; you have to watch for the grey area.”
What’s something you’re proud of? Why?
Two hands lifted to gesture at the signs around them, as if it wasn’t obvious. “All of this.” O had poured her entire being into the company since Freya’s passing, and it was obvious to anyone who had spent any time working on the event. “We put a lot of work into this launch and rebuilding things. I wanted to make sure we kept some of my mom’s signature looks and pieces, while also giving it a newer spin to help with the rebirth. It was a lot, but I think we did well.”
What is your biggest regret? Why?
O hesitated at this question, obviously uncomfortable that they’ve delved back into deeper waters. “I wish I spent more time with my mom. We spent a lot of time together, especially when she was sick, but I wish there was more. There were times when I’d blow her off to go out partying or something and I wish…. That I hadn’t.” Her jaw was tense again, manicured fingers pressing into her palms and no doubt leaving marks. “I remember how disappointed she would look when I’d cancel plans and I hate that. I always thought we’d have more time. When she was healthy I thought she’d be around for ever, and when she was sick…” O cleared her throat, not wanting to cry again. “I was convinced that she was going to get better, right up until the week she took a turn for the worst. It was naive. I should have accepted that she wasn’t invincible and that there wasn’t always going to be more time.”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“Nothing. I like myself exactly as I am.” Short and sweet, if not a bit arrogant, at least it’s honest.
What advice would give your younger self? Any advice to your future self?
“To my younger self, pay more attention to those business meetings mom drags you to. They seem boring now, but they’re going to come in handy.” Her lips pursed together and she unclenched her fists, allowing herself to react just the smallest bit. “I don’t have any advice for my future self. I wish she’d come give me some though.”
What do you want to be remembered for?
Blunt teeth sunk into the inside of her cheek and chewed on the flesh for a minute, the question rolling through her. “The company, I guess. I want people to remember that I ran it and I ran it right. I’m actually pretty terrified of fucking it up. I wonder if my mom knew what she was doing when she left it to me… there are about a hundred other people I can think of who are better qualified to run this place but…. We’ll see.”
Let’s start with your name – What is it? How did it come about? Does it have any special meaning?
“Well, my full name is Tatiana Elena Rodriguez which is a... mouth full if you ask me,” they chuckled. “I prefer to go by Tate or Tati depending very much on who you are. I don’t believe that it has any... significant meaning other than my middle name which is my mother’s first name. I kind of wish it wasn’t, but not like I talk about it much to people anyway. I guess what I’m saying is that my middle name had significant meaning to my biological parents but not so much to me.”
Tell us about your family. What do they mean to you? Are you close to them?
“I haven’t spoken to my Rodriguez family in almost 10 years,” they say coldly. “It’s gotten to the point where I don’t even bother to consider them my family. Honestly, Lorraine has been more of a mother to me than my own has ever been. So,” their voice trails off. “I guess that goes to show that blood doesn’t always mean family. Oh Dios mío, let me get myself back on track...” they run their fingers through their hair. “The Archibald’s mean the world to me. I spend every holiday and... special occasion with them. I don’t know how close we are, but Quinn always tells me mom texts me more than she does him, so if that says anything about our relationship...”
Would you consider yourself introverted or extroverted? Optimistic or pessimistic?
“I consider myself more of an ambivert. I like being around people to an extent, but an excessive amount of social interaction drains me. I need time to recharge.” They chuckle as they run their fingers through their hair. “I am more of a realist, I guess. I just... choose to see things for what they are, if that makes sense.”
What’s something you’re proud of? Why?
“This is probably going to sound cocky, but... I am proud of the things that I have done for myself and I am not ashamed to say that nor should I ever be. It’s taken a lot to get me to where I am today and... some people may think I’ve had life handed to me on a silver platter because of the Rodriguez name, but I fought to get myself where I am right now and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
What is your biggest regret? Why?
“There’s a lot of things I regret,” they laugh. “Like the cheeseburger I ate twenty minutes ago or the extra glass of wine I had last night. But I think there will always be aspects of my life that I regret, but they’ve brought me to where I am now and regardless, I am still very successful. So, why dwell on that?”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“Pfft, if you asked me this when I was seventeen years old, I could give you a list the length of my arm of the things that I thought were wrong with my appearance but now, I honestly don’t care anymore. I like food and wine too much to care if it adds anything extra to my hips or thighs because Lord knows that’s where it all goes,” they chuckle. “If I could change one thing about me... it would be how I let such small things bother me. I’d like to be able to let things roll off my back a bit easier.”
What advice would give your younger self? Any advice to your future self?
“I would tell little Tatiana Rodriguez not to make themselves small for anyone. Not for any boy or girl, not for their friends, and certainly not for their parents.” They gnawed on the inside of their cheek for a second. “Just to enjoy everything life has to offer. Have those glasses of wine or the extra french fry... nobody knows how long we’re here for, so we might as well enjoy it.”
What do you want to be remembered for?
“For the work I’ve done in both my career and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. I’d like to think I’ve made a difference somehow.”
