the dj.

[xavierxromano]

he says less than he knows. and more than he lets on.

⚡AT A GLANCE:

34. charismatic. controlled. deliberate. quietly intense.

meet XAVIER ROMANO;

📍 BASICS

BIRTHDAY: march 24, 1992 CURRENT LOCATION: kismet harbor, oregon in cresthill meadows LOCAL STATUS: arrived in kismet harbor at 26 years old (november 2018) OCCUPATION: owner of vinyl fantasy VEHICLE: 1999 chevy s-10, faded navy blue EDUCATION: henry ford high school (2010).

❤️ FAMILY & RELATIONS

PARTNER / SPOUSE: single. SEXUALITY: heterosexual. CHILDREN: none. NOTABLE RELATIONS: childhood best-friend to calliope wallace.

🐾 PETS

none.

🌿 HOW THEY MOVE THROUGH KISMET HARBOR

INTERESTS: DJ-ing, producing music, sketching concept art for albums, fishing at sunrise, walking to work, cooking, collecting nostalgic items for the record shop, conversations about music history, going to local cafes & bars, layered playlists, humor & wit COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: bowling league, open mic, sandy spike volleyball league REGULAR SPOTS: vinyl record, cobblestone cafe, wingman's pub, access athletics, dough depot, frosty bliss, kismet harbor marina, kismet harbor pier, the tackle box

🪞 REPUTATION VS REALITY

FIRST IMPRESSION: laid-back, charismatic, and quietly cool. someone who seems effortlessly tuned in to the room around him. VIBE CHECK: observant. creatively driven. emotionally restrained. nostalgic at heart. restless beneath calm . deeply relational LIKES, HABITS, TINY TELLS: always has his headphones slung around his neck, even when he’s not using them. tends to tap out drum patterns on tabletops, counters, or his own thigh when he’s thinking. drinks diner coffee no matter how bad it tastes. keeps crates of vinyl organized in a way that only makes sense to him. has a habit of scribbling potential setlists in the margins of receipts. RUMORS & CONTRADICTIONS: “he can read a room better than most people read a book.” // “people think he left la because he failed, but he’s the one who walked away.” // “he’d give you the shirt off his back, but never tell you how much he’s hurting.” // “most don’t know he still calls his mom every sunday night, no matter what.” // “he’s the kind of guy who’ll slip a record into your bag if he thinks you need to hear it.”

🔗 POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS

music lovers, crate diggers, or locals who treat his shop as a second home

fellow creatives navigating burnout, reinvention, or quieter versions of success

people drawn to late-night conversations, shared playlists, or unspoken understanding

someone who remembers him from his DJ days or only knows the grounded version he is now

a connection formed through routine visits, early mornings, or after-hours listening sessions

someone who challenges his instinct to keep moving long after he’s found belonging

FULL BIOGRAPHY LINK & OTHER INFORMATION

[sloanemercer]

"I'm sure they all have." She agreed with him before nodding. "It'd definitely be gone by now." She said and followed him along the trail and in a few minutes, she spotted a picnic blanket with some faux candles, a record player, and a cooler. A smile came to Sloane's face as she took it all in and then she looked over at Xavier. "You did all this? For me?" She asked and her heart skipped a beat. @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

He watched Sloane take in the sights before them. He'd never witnessed someone as beautiful as her, especially in this moment. "Yeah, I did do all of this for you." Xavier nodded his head as his pulse quickened with the thought. "I didn't bid on you just to save you from an old man." The admittance fell from his lips. "I've always found you to be beautiful, Sloane." Xavier spoke softly, not letting his gaze draw away from her. @sloanemercer

[marincole]

✦ closed starter for @xavierxromano ✦ based on: 💲| where marin finds hidden treasure at her apartment.

"You won't believe what I found at home." she stated, a cardboard box placed on the counter top as she entered Vinyl Fantasy. This place had become her escape more recently than not and she'd made a promise the next time she found something she didn't enjoy she'd bring it in for him to go through. Her own personal thanks for all the albums he found for her. "I went through it and didn't recognize anything that I knew just by looking at it -" she paused, opening it up. "But If you find anything you think is valuable I may have to fight you for it." she smiled, lifting the first record out of the box, looking at it and then looking back at him. "What do you think?"

[xavierxromano]

Xavier had just been sorting through some new records at the register when a box was placed atop the counter that stretched from it. His gaze lifted, looking up and landing on his new found friend, Marin. "Hello to you, too." He quipped with a warm smile tugging on the corners of his lips. As the box opened up on the counter, he looked at the first album record that she pulled out of the box. "I don't recognize that one off the top of my head, but I'm happy to go through the box and see what's of good use here. Though, I'm bettin' with your taste, even though you don't recognize some of them, you've got some winners in there." @marincole

[alfmorales]

"I appreciate that, genuinely. If I can make it work, I'll take you up on that offer," he promised, hand shifting to press against his heart as a visible show of gratefulness. Alf had long since learned that sometimes accepting help when it was offered was okay. He was the first to jump in and help others and every so often he had to make sure he stepped back and let others do the same for him. "It's probably a little idealistic to believe, but I'd love to just...build more cohesion in the community, you know? Have people really get involved with not just the theatre, but the town. Little trips to other businesses, really have a sense of something bigger." He of course wanted to grow his own business, but he wanted it to be about more than just that. He wanted to serve the community as a whole, help everyone grow to make the town a better place. "Any time you want to make that happen, let me know, I'll clear it with the parents in advance, have them come out that way for one of our usual lessons."

@xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

Xavier gave a head nod of acknowledgment as Alfonso pressed his hand over his heart. It was a simple enough gesture but one that he new was genuine from the other. "More cohesion in the community, yeah," his head gave way to nodding in agreement. The vision that Alfonso had was one that Xavier full heartedly supported. "I think that's important and the people value that here." His smile pulled the corners of his lips upward, "Great." It stretched even more with the word. "Now that's something to look forward to." @alfmorales

END.

[xavierxromano]

starter for @riverxjackson

location: outside vinyl record

Closing time had come and gone nearly twenty minutes ago. The lights inside the record store had long been dimmed and he just finished counting the register for the evening. Xavier was halfway through locking the door when his attention drifted to someone sitting outside. He swore he had seen them before he started closing up. At first, he hadn't thought much of it. It was a nice evening out, people sat outside all the time but there was something in the air now that he was outside that was telling him different. Xavier walked over to the other, "You alright, man?" He approached, his hands loosely in the pockets of his light jacket as the sun was setting. "You need a ride or something? You've been out here a while."

[sloanemercer]

She looked out at where they were. The water was just right there and she did see a small trail. Getting out of the car, she walked over towards him and she looked into his eyes. "You're taking me down a trail where no one else is around? Are you sure you're not a surreal killer?" She teased a little bit before laughing softly. "If this was LA, I would say that would be the case." She didn't know what Kismet Harbor teens were like, though. How different were they, anyway? She followed him closely on the trail, deciding that maybe the shoes she was wearing weren't the best ones for this, but she was excited to see where they were going nonetheless. "How far is it?" @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

Xavier let out a huff of laughter at Sloane's statement. "I promise you I'm not a serial killer, though I imagine that all of them have probably said that at one point." He held up his hands in a mock surrender. "If we were in Los Angeles, I also wouldn't have planned a date like that for this reason." Not that Kismet Harbor hadn't seen it's share of drama over the years in the news, it was nothing compared to Los Angeles. "Not far. Only about five minutes, actually." Far enough away from the parking lot but still close enough should they need to leave for any reason. "C'mon." Xavier gestured, leading the way. The five minute walk was just that. He was quiet, his nerves bubbling beneath the surface of everything. When they arrived at the spot, Xavier took a step to the side to reveal the faux candles lit up, a record player sitting next to a picnic blanket with a variety of records and a cooler that had remained untouched. @sloanemercer

[alfmorales]

And Alfonso knew what it felt like to be truly in it. Any time he was up on a stage he came to life even more than he already was in his day to day life. There was a spark there that he couldn't replicate anywhere else. "Nothing like it. I'm hoping I'll have the time to pull away and get involved in a show in the fall maybe. We'll see. Hard to take the time these days," he mused with a sad shrug. He was the one running most everything related to the theatre and even with the help of the employees he had, it was still small and he was still heavily involved in nearly every aspect of it. "A little better every day, it's what I like to teach in classes. Good words to live by, I think." He hoped that eventually the theatre would grow beyond just his own classes and become something truly special. "That's amazing, though. I bet that's a hell of a good time seeing the bands come in for studio time. I don't think I'm familiar with their music, I'll have to check them out. If you do a listening night for them, I'm there. If they're kid friendly, maybe I can get a field trip in order for one of our class nights. Do a live music night there, have the class learn something,." He loved teaching classes at the theatre, but wanted the program to encompass more. A chance to hear live music from a real band was right in line with what he hoped to make of it all.

@xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

"Yeah, I get that." Work could be all consuming, in ways that seemed impossible to escape. "But if anyone can find a way to manage that, it definitely would be you. I'd be happy to come lend a hand around the theater if it meant you got to participate." Xavier offered to him, sincerity threaded through his tone. "I'm in agreement there," his head gave way to the slightest of nods. "It's one that young kids especially should remember." Xavier continued, giving him a smile. "I don't think they're not kid friendly, but I can definitely make one that's geared toward more kids and what they might like." He told Alfonso, "That's a great idea, honestly." @alfmorales

[calxwallace]

"I know, I just.." Calliope sighed, rubbing her fingers against her eye, even if there were no tears to cry. She was tired from the entire ordeal, tired of her depressive nature, but it felt like a heavy slumber she couldn't wake up from. "I would've loved a little Josiah, is all." And that was perhaps the most heartbreaking part of it all. She had visioned a golden haired boy, striking eyes like that of his father, now just existing in her fantasies. She didn't want to linger in her feelings, so she was glad that Xavier eagerly jumped the chance to distract her, talking about his work experience which actually got her to burst out a broad smile. "No way, they hum it to you as if you're shazam?" Calliope mused, almost sad she hadn't thought of the prank herself, because it was a good one if someone had it out for Xavier that way. "Please tell me you have CCTV footage with sound because I really need to hear that and see your reaction." @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

"I think we all would. He's a pretty lovable guy." Xavier's tone was genuine. He wanted that for Cal too and if he could give it to her, he absolutely would. As her best friend, he would give her the world if he could manage. "Oh, yeah, absolutely." Xavier was laughing gently now, a smile curling against his lips. "Honestly, I do have video but the sound is lacking. They were humming and not singing so it didn't pick it up that well. It's definitely given me the idea to add a little microphone closer or something. I can't even repeat what they did but I was baffled." @calxwallace

[sloanemercer]

"Thank you." Sloane said as he opened the door for her and she got into the car. Once he was in, she looked over at him and nodded. "They can be, but I appreciate the reassurance." She didn't think Xavier would take them somewhere she would feel anxious about, but it really was nice to know that he would reassure her like that. "I do." She said, which was big for her, but because she knew him before, she really felt like she could trust him. "No. It's okay. I can't wait to see what we're doing." @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

"Okay," Xavier said with a nod of his head. He kept small talk with her, not wanting to give anything away while he drove to their destination. He had found the spot on accident a few weeks ago and knew it would be the perfect location. Xavier had gone and set it up before picking her up, trusting that the residents of Kismet Harbor wouldn't stumble across his set up all the same. He pulled into the parking lot, parking the car and turning off the engine. "Okay, it's a short walk, I promise." They were near the water and he exited his vehicle, he pointed to a trail. "It's just a few minutes down this trail." His lips curled upward in excitement. "I've got it all set up for us, unless some teenagers decided to come through and make a mess of it in the last twenty minutes." @sloanemercer

[rosadelavega]

"Holding!" Rosa spoke with delight, grasping her wrist tightly while also making sure she wasn't about to choke the life out of him. Instead she hummed at his question when she realised she had an intense craving for a milkshake and fries. "Off to the diner, noble steed!" She called out, when she then noticed movement from the top of the stairs, noticing that the people they had helped had finally realised their slaves had revolted. "Oh my God, go go go!" @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

"The diner it is." He said, careful not to nod his head too much so that he did not hit her in the head. That's all he needed, was to be responsible for giving her a nose bleed. At her words, he felt laughter bubbling over his lips as he picked up the pace. "Shit, shit," he laughed some more as he high tailed it away from the complex. His hands held onto Rosa tighter until they had successfully rounded the corner. Though in shape, he didn't regularly run with someone on his back. He came to a stop, though he didn't let go of her. "Do you think we are in the clear?" @rosadelavega

[marincole]

Marin had been scared moving back to Kismet Harbor. Not because the place itself scared her but because she'd held onto so many memories here he idea of coming back made her anxious. Yet she'd taken her move back here seriously, getting a job doing something she loved, navigating living in the same town with her ex again. It wasn't the most promising thing, but something she was learning that she cared more about this town than she'd thought. "Definitely haven't gotten soft but-" she paused. "I have learned that there are things that I don't care to waste my time on; music isn't one of those so if the only places I go are to work, here and back home then so be it." she laughed. "I can see why." she nodded, eyes shifting from the other to the building they were standing in. Marin could spend hours in here; music was one of her favorite ways to escape. "I'm for sure a full album type of person." she nodded. "Most of my favorite songs are actually not even songs that were the hits." @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

"Those are not bad places to go." He agreed with a lighthearted chuckle. There were some days that Xavier only went to work and home, he was just lucky that his work and this place were one in the same. He was constantly involved in one of his life's greatest passions. "Good." Xavier smiled as she mentioned that her preference was full albums. "That's really the only way you can get it, in my opinion." He nodded his head to her words. "Yeah, I get that." Xavier didn't mind the hits a lot of times, but there were so many unspoken gems out there. "The hits are for everyone to listen to, to bond over. But the other songs? If you're listening, that's when the artist is really saying what's on their mind."

[sloanemercer]

She laughed a little and smiled as she looked back at him when he commented about what little mess there was. Once the flowers were in the vase, they were on their way to the door and she grabbed her jacket. After he had stepped out, she had made sure the door was locked and closed it behind them. "So, what's the plan? Or is it a surprise?" She asked curiously while walking down the path towards where he was parked. @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

"It is a surprise," he said as they reached his vehicle. He opened up the door on her side, letting her in before he moved to the driver's side. Settling into the vehicle, the engine purred to a start as he turned the key. "I promise it's nothing that should make you anxious about it being a surprise. I know they can be unsettling." He smiled warmly at her. "Do you trust me?" His brow raised curiously with the question. "I'll spoil the surprise, though, if it helps put you more at ease." @sloanemercer

[calxwallace]

"There's plenty of ways to grow a family, right?" Though Calliope sounded uncertain. She always had a specific idea of how her family was going to look like, and carrying them full-term had always been the how. If anyone knew, it was Xavier. "Anyway, what's new with you?" She asked, knowing that she had been shit in checking in with those around her, but she was actually trying to do her best. "Got something funny that happened?" @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

"Yes, there are." Sure, he could understand that there would always be the pressure to grow a family in a traditional way. That was the pressure that society put on people. "I know it won't be in the way that you saw for yourself, but that doesn't mean you have to turn away from having a family. You should still take some time to grieve, this, you know?" Xavier spoke softly, resting his head against his hers as it rested on his shoulder. "With me? Well," he chuckled softly, lifting his head, "I swear more people have been coming in and asking me if I know a song and they just hum, but it's completely off-key." He held a faint smile on his lips. "Like I can just find the song based on vibes alone. It's been a real fun challenge for me. I'm starting to wonder if I'm being punked or something." @calxwallace

[alfmorales]

With how infrequently Alfonso managed to get on stage himself these days, he understood exactly what Xavier was saying. The rare times he did find the time for a production, he lived for every second of it and soaked it in more than he probably would have otherwise. "That's absolutely true. I do absolutely love what I do and I am very passionate about teaching, but...being up there myself? Nothing quite like it," he hummed, a thrum of energy in his chest even just talking about it. He loved owning the theatre and running classes for the kids, but being on stage himself was where he felt the most alive. "What am I not working on next feels like the simpler answer. Right now, focusing on just growing the business. The classes we do have are going well and every time we hold auditions for our big productions we have auditions like crazy, it's been so moving to see. Classes I'm looking at adding some older age groups, start branching out towards the teenagers, maybe look at adding a second schedule of shows. A lot to take on, but...can't stay stagnant right? Anything new coming up with the shop?"

@xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

Xavier let out a soft huff of laughter with Alfonso's words. "It is a different kind of alive feeling when you're in it." That was something that the man could relate to on a deeply personal level. It resonated deep within his soul. A smile grew against his lips as Alfonso continued to speak about the business. "You don't get that kind of turnout if you're not doing something right." He'd said with appreciation threaded in his own words. "Staying stagnant is not good for anyone, I'll agree with you there." It never sat well with him, either. "I'm looking to bring in more local artists. There's a new band that moved to town that I'm letting rent the studio every now and then as they need it. They're, uh, Scarlet Sirens I think is their band name. I've got a few vinyl records in the shop to help get the word out about them. With the summer coming up, I'm going to do some listening nights. I want to remind people that music is better when you're in the room with it." @alfmorales

[marincole]

"It's not, I agree." Marin nodded. "But I don't tend to live a typical life." she shrugged. Vague enough she hoped he wouldn't ask too many questions but informative enough to say she wasn't someone that put herself in the same category as most people. "I wasn't going to. she admitted. "But I can't not. All the money that I've put into the vet bills and the similar personalities I feel it's only fitting." she admitted with a shrug. "My life is a little more chaotic with the little devil in my life and I can't get too boring. People may start thinking I've softened through the years." she paused, letting herself look at the other. "I can imagine." she nodded. "I'd have to come in here to look around when I know I have no where else to be." she admitted. "Because not only would I spend hours searching through things I'd also spend hours getting distracted. Not that it takes much for me but." she paused, shrugging. "I like a lot of different types of music." she nodded. "I've been really into Motley Crue, Talking Heads, and Duran Duran recently though, just to name a few." @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

He let out a small huff of laughter. "Yeah, you didn't strike me as typical." There wasn't judgement threaded through his words, rather more of an observation. "And we can't have that." Xavier was prompted by her words, a curl of his lips as he finished his own statement. He didn't know her, not well enough to even begin to think that she had softened over the years. "But something tells me that no one is in danger of thinking you've softened." There was no hiding the amusement in his tone. He nodded his head to her words, an understanding. "It's easy to get lost in this place. It's why I love owning it." He smiled at her range, "That's an impressive rotation. But are you a full album listening or are you only in it for the hits?" @marincole

[calxwallace]

"W-- No." Calliope tried to protest in the sharing of his jacket, but once it was fully draped over her shoulders, she gave him a grateful smile, for it immediately took the cold from her aching bones. "Thank you." She told him, leaning to the side until she rested against his shoulder. Xavier was her oldest friend, and she was grateful to have him during this time of her life. She had to deal with her newfound infertility and still wasn't sure what to make of it. Mostly because it wasn't a complete infertility, but that becoming pregnant posed a larger risk, one Josiah didn't want her to take, and that meant she didn't either. It didn't mean she couldn't be sad over it. "Okay I guess." She mumbled, sniffing her nose. "Just a little sad over what could have been, you know?" @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

He knew she'd try to play off needing it, but he had also known her for far to long. "You're welcome." Xavier responded quietly as she rested her head against his shoulder. There was a quiet pull at his heartstrings as she answered his question. It carried the kind of weight that didn't leave, it just settled. "I know." He didn't, but he could feel her sadness as it were his own. "It's important to grieve the loss of what could have been." Xavier spoke softly, not wanting to overstep. @calxwallace

[rosadelavega]

"Please don't. For the sake of all the people in this town, they deserve for you to go to the gym. Pure specimen." Rosa was exaggerating now, but figured that buttering someone up was never a bad thing. When he turned and made it apparent that he had actually been serious about his offer, a quick Oh my God slipped past her lips. This was the best day of her adult life. "Really?! Oh you're the best." She eagerly tippy toed before she placed her hands on his, rather muscular, shoulders. "Okay, okay. She squealed before she then hopped on, her legs pressed to his sides and her arms around his neck. "Aah! I'm so tall, hah!" @xavierxromano

[xavierxromano]

Xavier knew he should have expected trouble with the likes of Rosa, yet it was that same trouble that had his lips curling with her words. Laughter came quicker that time, hearing the excitement threading through her words before she was placing her hands onto his shoulders. Within a quick second, she hopped onto his back and he was hold onto her as he straightened himself out to begin walking. There was something about the whole situation that felt effortless, all things considering. "Hold on tight." He teased, knowing that he would not let her fall. "Where to?" @rosadelavega