hang your head low

Vivian Zhou. History Professor, Mom and long time Prose resident.

[sirxfran]

"That sounds like something my mother said. It's always a trick. Think wisely," he said with a laugh, nodding at the woman. "But no, you are a beautiful woman. She must be mad, to say otherwise. I mean, depends on the price of the cream. I would pretend to buy it."

[vivizhou]

"So you think i sound like your mother?" Vivian raised a brow, folding her arms with a playful smile. "I'll take mad. Oh you've never looked at skincare you get into the pro-collagen stuff we're talking $100 per one hundred mls. They do a version for gentleman if you're interested."

[alexxcomics]

"Maybe I want to be totally different and have bright orange. I do wonder why they limited the colours?" he said with a shrug. "Samuel L. Jackson had the right idea with his purple lightsaber. It is cool," he rambled on. "Mean older woman who dictates what is fashionable?"

[vivizhou]

"Orange actually exists, Rey uses a yellow one and it all depends on the kyber crystal inside." She paused. "Sorry, my dork is showing. I love star wars maybe a little too much. Guilty pleasure." She smiled, leaning forward. "Oh so you've met her?"

[lindenhq]

the woman was a little hesitant to learn in but once she did, emmeline found herself frowning. "eye cream?" there was a moment that passed before she shook her head. "god, no. you look like you're doing fine but i guess early prevention won't hurt." the woman shrugged gesturing to the dark circles and lines around her own eyes. "think i missed that boat."

[vivizhou]

"Early prevention" Vivian let out a dramatic sigh. "All i hear there is you gotta get moving girl." She smiled brightly, pouring wine out. "Oh shush you look fantastic. Not a day past your early thirties. I want a list of whatever you're using."

[vivizhou]

A town called Prose is home to || Vivian Zhou || who is a || Thirty-four|| year old, || Cis-Woman ||. They work as || Professor of History ||  and live in || The lakehouses ||. in Prose, they’re known as the || Phillipa Soo || lookalike. || She/her || They were confused and startled by the recent news .

Born in Prose, Vivian was always very serious. She was independent and as an only child, there was a lot of pressure on her. It was always assumed she'd become an academic like both of her parents who travelled the world with their books and presentations. Vivian was okay with this plan. It was the world she knew and the world she loved. She loved the vibrancy of theories, new ideas and the excitement of travel. She also loved coming back to Prose and spending weeks at home with her parents.

But when she started high school everything changed, her mother decided to take a career break so that Vivian could be more stable for high school. After all, she needed the best GPA she could get to get into college. Everything was going to plan... and then she met James. James and Vivian were together for four passionate years that resulted in their daughter: Maya. But once Maya was born the cracks began to show almost instantly. Vivian had spent nearly her whole childhood travelling and being pulled in and out of school. She wanted her daughter to have a settled childhood and to be near her grandparents. This was something James made very clear that he never wanted. Although Vivian knew that he had issues with his family, she had no idea how strong those feelings were. James told Vivian that she would have to return to Prose without him, if that was her decision. So she packed her bags, strapped her daughter into the car and never returned. Truth be told, she always thought James would give in and come running after them. Vivian and James have stayed in contact for the sake of their daughter, although the relationships have become and more strained as the years have gone on.

Returning to Prose, Vivian enrolled in grad school and completed her masters and her PhD. With her parents name, Vivian easily secured a job at Prose University and Maya has had a settled childhood in Prose. Vivian has a whole life, with friends and her parents nearby. It's something she would never compromise.

wanted connections

Colleagues

Students

Neighbours

Old friends (from school)

Parent friends (other parents)

[aquaxtofana]

@vivizhou

After knocking on the front door James waited not so patiently for someone to open it. He prayed that it would be Vivian herself. He had no real idea what to say to her, but the thought of having to face Maya instead - again - made him nauseous with this strange combination of fear and hope. And should a stranger open, a man, James did not know what he would do then, truly.

Someone up above seemed to have a merciful day though, for it was truly Vivian that opened. And James' first reaction of relief quickly turned sour. "Hey", he cleared his throat, "I should have called beforehand, hu? I was just... you know..." What James? Back in Prose? And now finally, after weeks, brave enough to face her, to face the kid he had abandoned? Surely she must have heard of his return already.

"Do you have a minute to talk?" Did he truly deserve her time? Probably not.

[vivizhou]

Viv was halfway through a paper, and she was starting to feel the pressure to get something written. Yet, as her fingers tapped the keys somehow she was ending up with fewer words than when she'd started. She huffed as the doorbell ring, throwing her laptop to the side and standing.

As she opened the door her stomach began to do flips, and then her heart. Every instinct in her wanted to slam the door shut, but the other part of her wanted to make him struggle for words as he stood on the doorstep. "A minute? A minute-" Vivian wanted to shout, scream but instead a laugh came out of her lips. "Do i have a minute? Do you have a minute? You've finally found a minute?" She began to rant taking a deep breath. She quickly looked around, nervous that her daughter could return home in any moment and she'd have to explain what her father was indeed doing on their doorstep.

"Get in here. Quickly. What the hell do you think you're doing?"

[sirxfran]

Cailan turned on his chair, raising a brow at the woman in front of him. "Okay, I'm here but something about this situation feels like it's a trick. It's a trap," he joked with a grin. "But no. You are a beautiful woman. Tell your mom to get new glasses."

[vivizhou]

Vivian was looking for an honest answer but she raised a brow as the man replied. "I'll give you a word of advice, it's always a trick." She smiled, leaning against the wall. "I'll take that. But i'm definitely not telling her that... i'm far too afraid. I obviously am going to buy the eye cream and do exactly as she tells me to. "

[lovesecretsandcoffee-deactivate]

"I wouldn't say it's that bad. I solid night's sleep would probably do the job." Val suggested, "You look fine."

[vivizhou]

"Oh fine. Fine says it all girlie." She shook her head with a smile. "Now i know I need to invest in a really heavy duty cream."

[alexxcomics]

"And people say being nice gets you nowhere. What colour lightsaber should I make my own?" he grinned back at her. He always enjoys when others also let out their inner nerds. "Oh, believe me. I have had my fair share of people... who forget social norms. You mom will be by no means the worst."

[vivizhou]

"The ultimate goal is purple, of course. I don't understand anyone who ever chooses anything but purple. " She shook her head, thinking back to the time she'd let Maya begin the trilogy when she'd been too young. "No... no she's pretty bad you haven't met her. Think Meryl Streep in the devil wears prada."

[alexxcomics]

Alex raised a brow, smiling as he walked towards her. "I am a very honest man. And I promise your skin is beautiful. As you are." He laughed lightly. "Your mom said that? I mean, I would never say such things to a woman."

[vivizhou]

"Oh i like you. We're gonna keep you around. You can stay. You are the chosen one, Padawan." She didn't hide her nerdiness and she smiled being playful with her words. "Oh most people wouldn't, but my mom forgets what social norms are. She specialises in making you feel crap about yourself."

[vivizhou]

"Ok come here." She gestured the person towards her. "I need you to tell me the truth." Viv took a deep breath. "Do you think I need to start using an eye cream? I went over my mom's and she told me i'm at the age where I need to start using an eye cream."