Bernie: It was Sad Angela :( She called and said she is SAD today!
Bernie: AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bernie: Ok she did not say that. She is experiencing flu symptoms. Apparently.
Bernie: But my ass knows she is faking it. And sitting in bed with her depression.
Xaden: 💀💀💀
Xaden: sad angela strikes again
Xaden: i can be there in 20 aunt b
Xaden: but honestly, maybe let her have this one?
Xaden: you know she's not lying about her depression... girl's got season tickets to crying in bed
where : the beach
when : around sunset
featuring : open ( @aurorabaystarter )
the ocean glows amber and pink under the fading light , the sunset stretching wide across the horizon . xaden stands ankle - deep in the water , jeans rolled up just enough , the edges damp . there ’ s a lazy grin tugging at his lips as he watches as the other struggles to skip a stone across the surface . it arcs high and plunks into the waves with a dull splash, and his laughter , low and warm , breaks through the quiet hum of the evening .
" you ’ re kidding me , right ? " he teases , stepping closer , the water rippling around him . " that was , hands down , the worst throw i ’ ve ever seen . " without waiting for an answer , he brushes past them , his hand grazing theirs — light , like it didn ’ t mean anything . he picks up a smooth , flat stone , tilting it between his fingers , the warm hues of the sunset catching on the curve of his grin . " this one , " he says , holding it up like it ’ s some grand secret . " perfect shape . you ’ ve just been picking duds . " his toss is effortless , the stone skipping four times before vanishing into the glow of the water . xaden glances back , his smile softer now , green eyes catching the last light of the sun . " but hey , i ' m sure you ’ re way better at other things . "
absolutely — xaden ' s the kind of guy who knows he ' s a good kisser , but not in a cocky way . it ’ s in the confidence , the natural ease he carries himself with , and the way he knows how to read a moment . he ’ s intentional , never rushed , and somehow manages to strike that perfect balance between teasing and intense . every kiss feels like he ’ s paying attention , like he knows exactly what he ’ s doing and exactly how to leave someone thinking about it long after it ’ s over .
6 . what is your muse ' s earliest memory ?
xaden ' s earliest memory is sitting on his pappy ' s shoulders , the sun blazing down as they wade into the shallows of the ocean . he couldn ’ t have been more than three , clutching onto his grandfather ’ s sun - bleached hat to keep it from flying off in the salty breeze. the waves seemed massive to him back then , crashing against pappy ' s legs as if trying to pull them both in .
he remembers the smell of saltwater and sunscreen , the distant sound of seagulls , and the way his grandpa ' s laugh rumbled through his chest when xaden squealed as a wave splashed his tiny feet . " you see that , kid ? that's the ocean welcoming you , "
7 . describe how your muse greets others .
xaden ’ s greetings are casual but magnetic , like he ’ s barely trying and still somehow pulls you in . he ’ ll stroll over , slow and easy , shoulders loose , one hand probably in his pocket , the other lifting in a lazy wave . “ hey , stranger , ” he ’ ll say , that drawl of his carrying just enough weight to make you think he ’ s happy to see you , even if you know he says it to everyone .
his grin always comes a second late , like he ’ s testing the waters before letting it slip — crooked , teasing , but warm enough to catch you off guard . if he ’ s feeling playful , he might throw in a line like , “ you ’ re not causing trouble without me , right ? ” paired with a quick glance over the rim of his sunglasses or an exaggerated tilt of his head . it ’ s light , unassuming , but the way he holds your gaze for a beat longer than necessary makes it stick with you . there ’ s a quiet confidence in how he carries himself , like the world spins at his pace , and you ’ re just lucky to be in its orbit .
“ my grandpa . . . yeah , he ' s still around . . . old man ' s never been much of a talker , but , you know -- he doesn ’ t need to be . he ’ s the kind of guy who shows you how to be steady without saying a word . worked his whole life , never once complained . i didn ’ t really have a mom or a dad , in the traditional way , but he and my grandma stepped in , and without ever making a big deal out of it , he taught me everything i needed to know about how to hold your own . ”
There's something about Xaden - the confidence? the swagger? the jawline? - that makes Sasha definitively nervous. He can barely hear the jokes or the so-called expertly steady hands examples because there's blood rushing through his ears at the concept of someone so distinctly at ease with themselves being interested in working on a shitty little movie with Sasha of all people. Gulp! He tries to laugh, only it comes out squeaky and awkward, so Sasha takes a step back and pretends to think about it.
" Well, sure, if you can pour cocktails I'm sure you can hold an expensive piece of camera equipment without risk of dropping it and shattering it to bits. They're basically the same. "
Despite his sarcasm, Sasha reaches into his pocket and fishes out his phone. " Alright. You're in. I'll put your info down. Now we just need... everyone else. You don't happen to know any actors, do you? Or writers? Or... anyone? "
xaden watches sasha stumble over his words , the squeaky laugh barely contained , and feels a flicker of something close to amusement . it ’ s always kind of fascinating — how people unravel , just a little , around him . not that he tries , of course . he shifts his weight , leaning casually against the counter .
“ actors , writers , anyone ? ” he repeats , like he ’ s trying it on for size . his tone is light , teasing . “ sounds like a real well - oiled machine you ’ ve got going here . ”
his lips curve into that easy grin of his , the one that seems effortless and maybe a little bit unfair . “ but yeah , i might know a guy or two . ” he pauses , tapping a finger to his chin like he’s actually thinking about it . “ no promises they ’ re talented . or sober . but hey , beggars can ’ t be choosers , right? ”
he shifts forward, finally breaking the moment with a smooth flick of his wrist to snag sasha’s phone from him , punching in his number like it ’ s the most natural thing in the world . “ now you’ve got my info and a couple leads . not bad for a day ’ s work . ”
he hands the phone back , their fingers brushing just enough to spark a little tension “ so when do we start ? ”
where : coral view park
when : a bright , sunny day
featuring : violet tamblyn ( @vi-tamblyn )
the sun is a little too bright for xade’ s liking in his current state , which is : hungover . . . but the park has that quiet hum of life he doesn ’ t mind — birds chirping , leaves rustling , kids yelling somewhere in the distance . he leans back against the bench , one arm stretched out across the top , a paper bag balanced on his lap and his iced coffee sweating in the other hand .
he spots vi before she sees him , her pace casual but purposeful , and his grin comes easy , like clockwork . “ figured you ’ d stand me up for someone cooler , ” he calls out , lifting the coffee in a mock toast . “ but here you are . lucky me . ”
he tosses the paper bag onto the bench beside him and stands , brushing imaginary dust off his jeans . “ got you something . muffin or croissant — don’t say neither . that would hurt my feelings. ”
where : sea foam bar , aurora bay
when : a busy night
featuring : ziggy keon ( @ziggykyeons )
the last person he expects to see at seafoam tonight is ziggy keon — still too fucking beautiful , still too electric . the kind of presence that makes the air shift when he walks in , and yeah , it ’ s doing a number on xaden right now . the bottle in his hand wobbles on the edge of the counter , and for a split second , he almost lets it go , lets it crash , lets something break for real this time . instead , his hand darts out , steadying it with a flick of his wrist . practiced . seamless .
his grip settles , but his pulse doesn ’ t .
ziggy hasn ’ t seen him yet , but xaden ’ s already leaning into his best armor : cool , smooth , unbothered . it ’ s all surface-level charm and easy grins , like nothing ever happened . like things weren ' t yelled , and tears weren ' t shed , and doors weren ' t slammed . like he hadn ’ t ghosted ziggy after the kind of fight you don ’ t just walk away from .
when ziggy finally looks his way , xaden ’ s ready .
he leans against the bar , casual as anything , his grin as sharp as a flicked blade. “ well if it isn ' t ziggy keon --- it’s been a while , ” he says , voice pitched low , the words soft enough to feel deliberate . his green eyes rake over ziggy with a kind of calculated carelessness . “ didn ’ t think this place was still your scene . . . or did you come here hoping to see me ? ”
his smile stays loose , easy , like he isn ’ t already bracing for the heat of ziggy ’ s response . the silence hangs there for a beat : taut and electric , before xaden cuts it himself , like he ’ s the one in control .
“ so , ” he adds, leaning closer, just enough to close the space between them, enough for the faint scent of whiskey to mingle in the air. “ what ’ s the occasion ? nostalgia ? or just thirsty ? ”
"Do you have any advice for someone who's never set foot into a gym?" Sam hopes he isn't imposing on the person he catches near the front counter. His new gym tag hangs from his keys, a sign of the new commitment. "New year, new me, but I didn't put a whole lot of planning into it."
“ start small , ” he says , leaning casually against the counter . “ nobody cares what you lift , but they ’ ll notice if you drop it . ” he nods toward the machines. “ and don ’ t be the guy hogging the machines to take gym selfies . trust me , people will remember . ”
he pauses , tone softening just a touch . “ you showed up — that ’ s half the battle . just keep doing that . ”
Bare bones isn't exactly high praise but Sasha wears a little self-satisfied smile anyway. 'Not trying too hard' is exactly the vibe he was going for. He had to let people know that he was serious but not too serious; cool, but not full of himself. That's how he was sure to hook the right kind of people for this project - ones that would stick around and not fall off at the first sign of difficulty.
" Have you ever held a camera before? A boom mic? " Sasha studies Xaden with a squint, judgment exuding from every pore. " Do you have steady hands? "
" i ’ ve held plenty of things , " xaden says with a grin : almost suggestive enough that it feels more like a wink . " surfboards , beer glasses … my fair share of questionable decisions . " the words come out so casually , it ’ s hard to tell if he ’ s joking , but the glint in his eye says he probably is .
he glances at the poster again , one hand rubbing the back of his neck like he ’ s trying to hide a laugh . " steady hands ? yeah , got those . years of pouring drinks without spilling a drop . well , unless you count that one time . . . but hey , everyone gets a pass for their twenty - first . "
" look , i ’ m no expert , " he continues , leaning a little closer . " but i don ’ t break things , and i ’ m decent under pressure . and hey , worst case ? i ’ m good for morale . "
The poster isn't much to look at: black text on white paper with just enough tasteful graphics that it doesn't look like one of those lawnmowing scams. CAST AND CREW CALL, it announces. FOR LOW-BUDGET MOVIE. It's a bit of an up-sell, considering it's really a no budget movie, but Sasha's looking to get bites, so if he has to lie a little bit, so be it. His contact information is at the bottom, too, and he'd gone so far as to make little rip-off-able tabs so people could take one and go. He tapes it up with a silent pride (even though he knows full well he won't get any meaningful interest) before stepping back to admire his work - and almost stepping into the person beside him in the process.
" Oh, " Sasha says. He looks at the person, then his sign, then back again. " Are you interested? "
xaden eyes the poster , a small grin tugging at his lips . it ’ s nothing special — just black text on white paper , simple and unpolished . there's a certain honesty to it though , and he can ' t help but admire that . it ' s like someone just threw it up there without overthinking it , and that ’ s kind of refreshing .
he leans against the wall , hands casually shoved in his pockets , watching sasha for a moment . he ’ s never been much of a performer — not the type to crave the spotlight or put himself out there . he likes the quiet , the understated . but there ' s something about this , something unrefined and real , that catches his attention . maybe it ’ s the feeling of possibility , the chance to try something new , even if it ’ s just for the hell of it .
“ yeah , the poster ’ s a bit … bare - bones , ” he says , his voice light , almost to himself . " but there’s something about it . doesn ’ t try too hard , and I can respect that . " he looks at sasha , still calm , relaxed , letting the words hang in the air . “ i ’ m not much of an actor , but if you need someone to help out or fill a spot , i ’ m in . could be fun . ”
⟣ ─ ˑ 〃 ۫ welcome to aurora bay , xaden senanayake ! i couldn’t help but notice you look an awful lot like josh heuston . you must be the twenty four year old bartender at seafoam . word is you’re charismatic but can also be a bit irresponsible and your favorite song is island in the sun - weezer . i also heard you’ll be staying in ocean crest . i’m sure you’ll love it !
hello everyone ! i ' m ari , i 'm twenty - nine , and i use he & him pronouns . i ' m so excited to be here and to write with all of you -- under the cut you will be able to find info on xade ! / @aurorabayaesthetic
STATISTICS
identification
- full name: xaden senanayake
- nickname(s): xade (pronounced "zade"), sen
- age: 24
- pronouns: he/they
- sexuality: homosexual
- hometown: aurora bay
- occupation: bartender at seafoam
appearance
- height: 6’1” (185 cm)
- build: lean and athletic, with a swimmer’s physique
- hair: dark brown, wavy, often sun-bleached at the tips from surfing
- eyes: ocean blue
- skin: light brown with a golden undertone from constant sun exposure
- distinguishing features: a sharp jawline, easy grin, and a small crescent-shaped scar under his left eyebrow
personality
- strengths: charismatic, laid-back, empathetic
- weaknesses: non-committal, careless with responsibilities, avoids deep emotional connections
- alignment: chaotic good
- hobbies: surfing, longboarding, late-night drives along the coast, collecting vintage vinyl records
skills
- bartending: expert at mixing cocktails and reading a room
- surfing: pro-level skills, knows the best spots in and out of town
- people skills: excellent at defusing tension, making people feel welcome
- street smarts: quick to adapt, thrives in unpredictable situations
background
- mother: teenage runaway; her name is mara, though xaden only knows her through stories
- father: unknown, rumored to have been someone passing through town
- grandparents: devoted but struggling financially, raised xaden with love and practicality
- uncle jax: owner of seafoam, the closest thing xaden has to a father figure
favorites
- drink to make: a classic margarita—simple, fun, and crowd-pleasing
- drink to order: a cold beer, usually something local
- hangout spot: the beach at sunset, watching the tide roll in
- season: late summer, when the waves are perfect and the days stretch on forever
BIOGRAPHY
- xaden senanayake grew up in the quiet, sun-bleached streets of aurora bay, raised by his grandparents after his teenage mother skipped town without looking back. she left behind only questions and the faint memory of her face, but his grandparents made sure he never went without—despite the cracks in their old house and the empty fridge some weeks. they worked hard, and xaden learned early how to roll with life’s punches. the sea was always there for him, a constant in a life that never seemed to stay steady for long.
- he’s always had the kind of face people notice—sharp jaw, lazy grin, eyes like he’s got some inside joke you’ll never hear. in school, he was good at sports, good at making people laugh, good at blending in without really trying. but the spotlight? not his thing. he hung with the surfers, the stoners, the kids who spent more time chasing waves than chasing grades. xaden’s the kind of guy who can make a room feel easy, like the pressure’s suddenly gone, but he’s never stuck around long enough to let anyone get too close.
- after high school, college wasn’t even a thought. he slid into life behind the bar at seafoam, the local lgbtq hangout his aunt bodie has run for years. it’s a good gig—pouring drinks, trading stories, keeping the energy just right. when he’s not there, he’s chasing swells or letting the sun bake away whatever’s been weighing on him. xaden doesn’t have a big plan; he’s never been the type. but here, in this little corner of the world, he’s found a rhythm that works.
- tldr : bare minimum but it ' s okay because he ' s hot .
CONNECTIONS
ziggy keon ( @ziggykyeons ) : the stormy ex / ex boyfriend -- ziggy and xade dated officially for around 7 months . things ended --- not very great , but there ' s still sparks and unresolved history there . ( they dated from around 01/24 - 08/24 )
keo laga'aia ( @keolalagaaia ) : good friend / fellow beachrat -- also known as tweedle - dumb and tweedle - dumber , keo and xade go way back . whether chasing waves , or fucking off in keo ' s van to smoke , or on surf trips to god knows where , the two seem to be attached at the hip .
paxton brady ( @paxton-brady ) : childhood neighbor / the artist -- in xaden ' s mind , paxton is a presence that has been around forever : always a pencil ready , or a brush for when inspiration strikes -- xaden doesn ' t mind being paxton ' s muse , in fact , it ' s a bit of an ego boost ( not that he ' d ever admit it ) . and though the posing might be annoying , he always loves the end result . always revealing some part of himself he had never really thought of before .
lacey pierce ( @laceyxpierce ) : fellow beachrat -- being around the same age , lacey and xade bonded over a love for the ocean . while xade is more for the water -- lacey is more for the sand and the sun .
atticus cortes ( @atticuscortes ) : flirtationship / regular at seafoam -- there ' s something about atticus : be it his big brown eyes , or his lashes -- or something else . something magnetic . it ' s the banter , the flirty smiles and the late night conversations that has their dynamic toeing the line between casual , and perhaps something deeper .
violet tamblyn ( @vi-tamblyn ) : childhood friend -- a shared interest is a sure way to bond with someone . for vi and xade , it was being a little different in a town that isn ' t particularly diverse . and so , they ' ve been good friends since childhood -- he ' s really proud of how far she ' s come , and he will always have a soft spot for her .