extremely flawed human

zoey kennedy twenty eight - cashier aes; coming soon iron river rp (invitation only)

[zoeykennedy]

NAME: Zoey Kennedy

AGE: 28

BIRTHDAY: October 31st, 1993

BIRTHPLACE: Iron River, Georgia

ETHNICITY: White

OCCUPATION: Cashier @ Five and Dime

NEIGHBORHOOD: The Mines

GENDER/PRONOUNS: Cis Female / Female Pronouns

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Heterosexual

TIME IN IRON RIVER: All her life

IMPORTANT LINKS: Current Connections (as of APRIL 2022)

Zoey Kennedy had always considered her life to be a scam— or a simulation, as one might call it. Being born under underwhelming circumstances when Iron Hill wasn’t so far away just seemed like a joke. Although Zoey couldn’t have been born with such a ‘glass half empty’ outlook on life, it was all the younger Kennedy could remember. She had never seen the brighter side and struggles to even believe there is one.

As the youngest Kennedy, Zoey had no choice but to look up to her siblings all her life. While her and her brother seemed to get by on the same wavelength, the powerhouse that is her older sister brought this immense cloud on her upbringing. The reality of the Kennedys was a given. Mom and dad didn’t care about anything or anyone, and seemed to thrive on just providing for themselves, leaving the scraps for their kids. That, Zoey could accept. However, when Maggie started making bigger strides in her life, it was something she just couldn’t bring herself to accept. The bigger the achievements, the bigger the hatred and jealousy that seeped into Zoey’s veins. And so, when Maggie went off to some big university, leaving her behind, it was all she could see. Maggie had left them, and that was all Zoey cared about.

At the very least, Zoey managed to get by just fine once her older sister was out of the picture. She continued to go against the grain, refusing to give into any and all opportunities that would help her out of her circumstances. Even when the youngest Kennedy started to have dreams of something more, the reality of her situation would bring her to convince her she’d never be able to get there. As a child, Zoey had dreamed of being a ballerina. It felt childish, looking back at it now, but if there was anything in the world Zoey wanted, it was to live in Vienna and live her life as a dancer. Dreams were dreams though, and if it weren’t for her lack of experience in life.. it were the ties she had held onto her family that kept her in The Mines. 

Although Zoey had resentment towards her parents for being incapable of being more than just financial providers, there was something about their negligence that kept her hanging on. In some strange way, she wanted to be there if they ever decided to do something different... anything, really. She supposed that’s why her older brother kept around like he did, or simply for the fact that Zoey wouldn’t end up the same way. In any case, the younger Kennedy remained steadfast in her position in life. Deep down, Zoey knew she wouldn’t be able to amount to anything in life. Her parents had been full of disappointments, and if she just continued to be as underwhelming as her birth was into, then that’s who she’d be. No promises, no expectations. 

POSITIVE TRAITS: humorous, witty, honest

NEGATIVE TRAITS: sarcastic, stubborn, envious

[zoeykennedy]

livsaeli​:

—

As Zoey laughed at her expense, Liv stuck out her tongue. She knew the humor wouldn’t be lost given how the met. Zoey’s deflated ball of yarn rolled closer as the window AC unit captured it in a gust. Liv lightly kicked at the the lump, purposely sending it further away from her former neighbor. “Rejoice – I am getting copies of my key made. I’m not leaving them all over, though. Then, I’d forget were they hid them and that’d be another disaster.” 

Liv took three darts out of her coverall pocket, holding them out to Zoey. “I might have you keep one for me, though. You’re usually home when I get off of work, as is. Although, I missed you the other day. What were you up to?”

                  Zoey couldn’t help but scowl at her thread of yarn being kicked, raising her middle finger accordingly as she decided to forgo the yarn, especially since Liv was pretty much done. When she mentions actually following her advice, Zoey couldn’t help but grin, taking the darts presented to her. However, when Liv asked what she was up to, the brunette froze. She was about to praise her for her idea on lending Zoey an emergency key, but she was caught up in whether or not to tell her friend she was in the hospital was relevant or not. She took a long pause, rolling the dart between her fingers before looking up at one of the balloons. Taking a deep breath, Zoey raises her arm— “I was in the hospital,” she answers, throwing it. The dart grazes the side of a paint-filled balloon, shaking but not breaking it. 

[zoeykennedy]

augustusdixon​:

closed starter for @zoeykennedy at jaded spades

“How does this look?” Augustus showed Zoey the tattoo he’d been working on for the past few days ever since his friend told him she finally wanted her first tattoo. He just put the final touches on his drawing and wanted to make sure that it was everything that she wanted it to be. “If there’s anything you want me to change just tell me. I won’t be upset or anything.” He let out a soft smile, wiggling around in his chair. He was never upset with someone who wanted the drawing to go into a different direction. This was something that was going on their body for the rest of their life. It wasn’t going on his, so he wanted them to love it. 

             Nibbling on her bottom lip, leg shaking, Zoey stares off into space wondering if this was such a good idea. The younger Kennedy always loved tattoos ever since her first glimpse of her father’s. It was a fish, a kind that Zoey didn’t know, placed colorfully on his bicep. She always loved looking at it as a kid, but something about the thought felt too intimate. Her father was barely a man, never mind a father. Did she really want to get something that reminded her of him? When Jr spoke, Zoey looked up, knitted brows slowly softening. There had been a few times the younger Kennedy jokingly asked her friend to give her a tattoo. Zoey didn’t think he was taking her seriously, despite their many conversations about it, her enthusiastically saying ‘yes’ to his ideas. Still, as her eyes observed the discussed dragonfly that would be placed just below the back of her neck, Zoey found herself finding the image so beautiful... it would be a crime to deny it. “...It’s really good, Dixon,” she smiles, nodding. 

[zoeykennedy]

vivianzhang​:

Zoey’s excitement was almost infectious, grin staying on her lips. Maybe today didn’t have to be a total loss. “Mmmm - Miner.” She said after a pause, slipping her helmet over her head and flipping the visor up. Holding out the other helmet, she laughed slightly at the question. “Well, my options were sit and mope in the house or maybe go out and get drunk enough to sing karaoke, and one of those sounded much more enjoyable than the other.” She slung one leg over the bike, getting herself situated before tipping her head to the side, gesturing to Zoey. “Climb on. Just watch your feet when you get off, alright? You don’t want to hit the tail pipe.” She’d made that mistake a few times, and it wasn’t one she was eager for anyone to repeat. 

             Zoey grinned at her choice, nearly letting out an excited yelp at the sight of her own helmet. Well, it was Viv’s but for now, it was hers to wear and that was enough. As her raven haired friend continued, answering her question, Zoey’s brows rose. “Interesting...” she nods, pulling the helmet over her ears, surprised by how snug it felt around her head. “I wonder if any of that sitting and moping will come out later,” she teases. Then, at Viv’s instructions, Zoey carefully swings her leg over the bike, straddling it behind Vivian. “Oh shit,” she laughs, getting comfortable. “This is fucking terrifying,” she continues, her wide grin failing her. 

[zoeykennedy]

travisxstrickland​:

~

He could tell that she was amused by herself, and he shook his head slightly as he ran his card through the reader. Even before starting Hellscape he’d been set for life, so he knew she could have ordered the entire menu and he still wouldn’t have blinked before swiping his card. “Good choices. Though the strawberry cream cheese I question just a little bit.” He slid a $10 bill out of his wallet to drop in the tip jar like he did almost every day, a habit his mother had instilled in him since they were young. They had more wealth than they knew what to do with, so it was only right that they shared that. “But the honey bran muffins are the best in town, so.”

               His comment about the strawberry cream cheese earned him a look, Zoey peering at him briefly with a playful, squinting gaze. Her expression then drops the second a ten passes her, brows raising as she’s never seen a tip so heavy. The cashier did the same, smiling wide as she thanks him. “That’s very kind of you.” Zoey scoffed, mimicking her in a whisper as she stepped to the side. She wasn’t hating, or anything... it was just this mere act of chivalry and nobleness that baffled her. Admittingly, she was curious. What in the world could make a person so generous? The younger Kennedy then decides to wait for him to come to her side, looking up at him with curious look. “What do you do for a living? If you don’t mind me asking.”

[zoeykennedy]

livsaeli​:

closed starter for @zoeykennedy at Liv’s House

“So, I forgot to tell you – we’ve finally come full circle,” Liv drawled to her former neighbor. Former meaning that they used to live next door to each other, then Liv stopped renting and bought a house just a block away. The two of them kept in touch and still found themselves randomly appearing at the other’s doorstep like a pair of stray cats. Today, Zoey made herself at home in the backyard while Liv taped paint-filled water balloons to a canvas with the intention of throwing darts at them. She looked over her shoulder, then nodded towards the fence. “My neighbor called the cop’s on me a few nights back – they thought I was breaking in. It was a bit of deja vu, figured you’d get a kick out of it.”

                     Zoey wasn’t normally a friendly person— let alone, a friendly neighbor. So, it’s just as a surprise to her that she had befriended Liv, considering their meet cute. Who knew brawling on a freshly mowed lawn at midnight would grant such an unlikely friendship? “Oh yeah?” she perks, not looking up from playing with the yarn in her hands, successfully creating a ‘Cat’s Cradle’. Grinning to herself, Zoey then looks up at Liv who was busying herself preparing their Princess Diaries activity. “No fucking way,” she laughs out, knocking her head back as the cradle falls into a deflated yarn ball. “See, that’s what you get for not following my advice on making —at least— 15 copies of your keys and leaving them around treasure hunt style.”

[zoeykennedy]

                   starter for @benjimarkov​ at duffy’s

                        Pursing her lips, Zoey fiddles with her keys behind her back as she slowly makes her way through each aisle, not looking for anything in particular. In truth, the younger Kennedy wasn’t really into music. She didn’t really have a favorite artist or gravitated towards a certain genre. She was simple in that way, as she seemed to lean towards simple silence and the pure nature of sound. Such a truth occurred to her lately, as she had been finding it incredibly hard to just sit in silence like she used to. Everything, actually, has been hard. Zoey wasn’t sure if finding the right song, artist, or genre would work— but she was pretty desperate to escape silence. But whatever was playing right now? No, Zoey couldn’t be that desperate. “Okay, what the fuck is playing right now?” she says out loud, grimacing at the aggressive metalcore ringing through the speakers of the store. 

[zoeykennedy]

                starter for @sabyazici​ at riverside medical center

                         It was almost like a dream, standing in the middle of the lake while the sun was setting, fingers lightly tapping along the surface of the water. It wasn’t cold— in fact, Zoey couldn’t feel a thing other than being wet. It was sort of cold, but she didn’t really notice as her gaze was fixed on the stillness of the water, begging her to sink deep. It was tempting... it was more than tempting, actually. And she almost does, in fact, she can’t remember if she did due to the annoying buzzing sound being heard from a distance. Zoey turns her head, eyes squinting as the buzz was getting louder, unable to pin point why it sounded like something banging against wood. Turning her body, she starts moving towards the sound and then suddenly, it’s gone. 

For a brief moment, all Zoey can do is blink as her eyes struggle to register the florescent light bulbs glaring above her. The buzzing started again, causing the younger Kennedy to turn towards her phone lighting up beside her. “Hey,” she answers tiredly, her father immediately following with: I heard you got admitted to the ER. The brunette sighs, dropping her head against the pillow. “It’s nothing serious, I just... fainted.” The truth was far too complicated to explain to her father. How was she supposed to explain breaking into their city’s local pool, almost passing out in water due to intoxication, and being found by the custodian who conveniently forgot their phone? If Zoey had it her way, she wouldn’t want anyone to know. The staff at the hospital were already giving her looks, she assumed, discussing whether or not she needed mental help. Before she had the chance to reassure him she was fine, there was a knock on the door. “I gotta go,” she mutters, sitting up, eyes lifting to the door slowly opening. 

[zoeykennedy]

jacksonadler​:

Jackson stopped dead in his tracks for a moment, eyes flying skyward in protest of the notion, before he pushed on. He had to turn and walk almost on an angle to get closer to her as she went forward. She wasn’t walking in the opposite direction, but she also wasn’t getting any closer.

“Like hell there ain’t-” he blurted out. It received a few stares from the middle-aged housewives passing by and gaze upward from a child attached to the left one’s arm, but Jackson couldn’t care less. “You just left after…” he stopped, not willing to up his pace to a half-walk half-jog for a conversation he really thought should be done standing still. “You just left… and you’re still not texting me back.”

With the last bit he’d intended to lighten the mood, but it didn’t quite come out right.

                    Zoey had half a mind to turn her back on him and keep talking, but it was clear he was starting to truly get annoyed with her. It humored her, a bit— but she didn’t want to push him past his limits. She comes to a slow halt when he starts talking again, keeping a cars width of distance from him. She shrugs at his comment, shaking her head, exasperated. “—What, you want to date me now after kissing me?” she blurts, fists clenching under her long sleeves, momentarily regretting her choice of words. Nevertheless, it was true. Why would Jackson be interested in her now? What changed since they were kids? If it weren’t for being friends with Iron River’s longest running couple, Maverick and Junior, Zoey wouldn’t think love like that existed. But she did, and she can’t help but feel that if Junior could love Maverick since they were kids, why couldn’t that happen with Jackson? News flash, it didn’t, so Zoey truly didn’t think there was anything more to say. “C’mon, Jack. Be real— you don’t like me like that so what else is there to talk about? ”

[zoeykennedy]

jacksonadler​:

Jackson nearly scoffed at her response, but without sound it was simply a scrunched expression. She wasn’t wrong, but there was a bit more to say on that topic…

“Yeah, okay, but you,” he nodded in her direction. “You didn’t talk to me for…” He paused for a moment, trying to think of the number. He couldn’t, so he artfully dodged around it. “Years - and then you show up to my mother’s fune-er-ral.” Once he’d slurred his way through his last word, he motioned his hands to non-verbally communicate an less than eloquent what the fuck.

“We’re not friends,” he started up again before she could jump in. “Friends, they talk. Acquaintances,” he took the word slowly to make sure he got it right. “They also talk. We,” he motioned back and forth between them. “We don’t talk, so what the fuck are we.” It was technically a question, but he punctuated it like a fact.

                  When he mentions her not talking to him for... ‘years’, Zoey looks away, nibbling on her bottom lip. She did not like being called out, but she couldn’t help but stay and listen to him as he went on. At the mention of his mother’s funeral, Zoey opened her mouth to speak but was cut off, realizing Jackson was just as drunk— possibly even more than she was. Her brows furrowed when he asked what they were, eyes darting to everywhere but him as she realized she had no idea. It wasn’t like Zoey hated him anymore, she wasn’t even sure if she still carried the same feelings she had when she was a kid. All she knew was that it was too awkward to write her wrongs in front of him— but what else was she supposed to do?

Conveniently, a tray full of shots passed by her and Zoey reached over grabbing two glasses without hesitation. She downed them immediately, placing them back at the server who glared at her. “Sorry, put it on my tab—” she says behind her hand, wiping the back of it against her lips. She then looked up at Jackson, sighing. “How could I not go to your mom’s funeral?” she responds, tilting her head as though he would’ve done the same thing. All of their friends would’ve, regardless of the distance that might’ve grown between them. “I don’t know what we are, Jack. We’re... old friends,” she shrugs, unsure of what to say. “Childhood friends who grew apart.”

[filmgifs]

Arrival (2016) dir. Denis Villeneuve

[zoeykennedy]

travisxstrickland​:

~

“Nah, serves me right honestly for disobeying doctor’s orders, but I was beyond tired of watching TV. I think my brain has rotted permanently.” For someone who had just started to get used to having time on his hands, he had enjoyed filling his day with whatever caught his attention, and being stuck in the house for the last few days had been something he wasn’t very eager to repeat. “You sure?” He asked, sliding the card out of his wallet. “Feels like bad karma to at the very least get my hero some breakfast, because I think that trying to pick up that wallet would have done irreparable damage to my ego.” 

                  Zoey eyes the man carefully, unsure if he was actually this kind and desperate for some sort of connection after being confined to a bed— or some sort of creep. Nearly deciding the latter, Zoey realizes she had just been watching too many true crime videos, ultimately giving in. She smiles softly, convinced by his persuasion. “I guess it’d be silly of me to decline such a... generous offer,” she grins, turning to the cashier. “Yeah so... I’ll get a a bagel— toasted please with strawberry cream cheese. An OJ as well and... throw in some of those honey bran muffins while you’re at it.” As the cashier inputted her order, she turned to him, unable to hide how funny she thought she was, order more than he probably accounted for. 

[zoeykennedy]

vivianzhang​:

~

She grinned as Zoey walked towards her, nodding her head when she pointed to herself. “The one and only.” She marveled for a moment at how much she had changed as a person - there had been a point in time where she would have dealt with all of her grief and emotions alone, that she would have pushed everyone away and locked herself in her mind to deal with everything alone. But she had made friends in the time that she had lived here, and she had started to find that maybe she didn’t have to deal with everything alone. She let out a small laugh as Zoey held up the tin, nodding in excitement before letting out a real laugh at Zoey’s next words. “’Course you can catch a ride on it. But you’re wearing a helmet and I won’t take any arguments.” She knew that she could drive well, but she knew well enough by now that other people couldn’t be trusted when she was riding a bike. “You’re in luck, it’s the perfect weather for a ride.” 

                  Zoey grinned, allowing her giddiness over getting to ride a motorcycle take over her. She clapped excitingly, fisting the air with a small jump. “Sweet!” She follows Vivian to her bike, hooking her arm with hers as they walked. “What are we thinking?” she turns for a moment, eyes glistening at the sight of the bike soon after. She taps on the seat, eyes peering up at Vivian. “Miner? Dog bar? —Why are you keen on getting a drink this late?” she lifts her brow, in an almost teasing manner. “Not that I’m judging, of course.”

[zoeykennedy]

nathantate​:

-

This was something Nathan was used to. The constant break of his relationship with Maggie. It happened when they first started dating. The two breaking up after graduation for him to follow his dreams in the NFL and her to become the bad ass lawyer she was meant to be. But, it wasn’t like they stayed broken. They were always drawn to each other. They were always coming and going in each other’s lives. It wasn’t that they didn’t love each other. It was because they loved each other. Hearing Zoey’s comment, Nathan shook his head. “No thanks, my body is still a temple and drugs are not on the cards for me.” He let out a soft smile that didn’t fill his face like it normally did. He had done a few things here and there in high school but since he constantly got drug tested in college and the NFL, he’d stayed away since. “I guess I’ll just have to make my own club. Party of one.” 

                  Zoey sighs, placing her elbows on the counter after tossing a pen at him. “I’m talking about me, ya goof,” she corrects, pushing the bottle towards after being rung up. Eying him for a moment, the younger Kennedy couldn’t help but feel bad for him. Zoey had been so used to Maggie being gone and doing her own thing, she realizes that even though this was normal for her, it didn’t mean it was easy for Nate. He loved her, clearly. Zoey can’t help but wonder though if he’d ever have limits and start looking after himself rather than waiting for Maggie. “Sorry about Maggie,” she adds, her tone soft. “Have you heard from her since?” In truth, she was asking more for him than her own benefit. 

[zoeykennedy]

ironliam​:

a calm cool kickback with liam + zoey + kaz 

It wasn’t a good time to have a fight with Zoey, not on Kaz’s front door step. “Let’s, let’s not get into it right now.” Liam said in a hushed tone, stomping the cigarette on the ground. The two had plenty of siblings to fight with, so bringing the same energy to the friendship weirded Liam out. Families, disgusting. Only a few moments ago, he had made an unfunny ‘joke’ about his lighter and the state fair incident. Luckily, Kaz wasn’t the type of rich person to have a camera doorbell so at least, hu coudn’t see the two hiss at each other on tape. “Kaz will put on some good music, have plenty of beers and joints.” Liam pretended to breath in and out loudly, trying to induce calm. Then, he added sarcastically. “A normal summer evening in our beautiful pride and joy of this town, Iron fucking Hill.” Looking up at the immense entrance, Liam tried to change the topic. “Don’t you think hu could just buy the whole of Five & Dime at this rate? Hu seems to have half the store stock in the house anyway.” @zoeykennedy​

                         Zoey rolled her eyes at Liam, dating her gaze towards the driveway from which they came, hands busy fixing her hair as they waited for Kaz to open the door. “Whatever,” she mutters. Despite her ability to let go of the casual roast being thrown amongst her friends, the younger Kennedy found it incredibly hard to do so this time around. It had been a month since the state fair, why couldn’t she get over it? There were many who seemed to have been recovering fine, but Zoey just couldn’t get out of her head. At the mention of beer and joints, she turns back with an unsure look, but nods either way. She needed something— anything to take the edge off. “And be out of a job?” she turns, folding her arms across her chest. “You think if I ask Kaz to be they’re maid they’ll let me move in for free?” @ironkazim​

[zoeykennedy]

theo-diggs​:

-

Looking over towards Zoey, Theo couldn’t help but frown slightly, noting a different aura around her but not wanting to bring it up if she didn’t want to talk about it. He did his best to push himself up in the bed, wincing at the movements because of his ribs. He sighed and shrugged. “I re-tore the ACL and broke the leg, plus I have a couple broken ribs and some pretty bad bruising on my abdomen that they don’t think is internal bleeding. Had surgery to fix the leg.” He sighed as he looked over. “What about you, are you okay?” He asked, hoping she had remained safe during the event.

                   As Theo began listing the updates she had asked for, Zoey found herself wincing, brows furrowing as she started pulling off strangling leaves from the bouquet. He was going through so much— the younger Kennedy could feel parts of herself suffocating as she briefly imagined herself in his shoes. He was confined to a bed, again. In what world was this fair? In what world... could she ever consider her own problems at the same level of his? Zoey could only offer him a sympathetic look as she makes her way back to him, the vase now holding the bouquet. “I’m okay,” she shrugs, not looking at him as she places them on the table beside him. “I did get trapped on the bumper cars though,” she scoffed, chuckling softly. “That wasn’t fun.”

[zoeykennedy]

theo-diggs​:

-

Theo laughed and shook his head. “You would think it would bring more options but it just becomes being turned down by more people.” He said and took a drink of water from a water bottle had had packed in his bag. He nearly spit it out when she mentioned her sister. “No, definitely not your sister but close.” He said, swallowing nervously as he looked down at his hands. He didn’t know why he was so nervous for her to know he used to have a crush on her. It wasn’t like  it was a bad thing or anything. “Very close actually.”

                    Zoey laughed, unable to help herself at his response. “I guess that’s true too.” As they were inching closer and closer to who Theo crushed on, Zoey found herself mentally going through anyone would be close to her sister. She had a ton of friends, but which one of them knew him? Then, like a freight train, it hit her. “....T, did you crush on me?” she eyed him, her mouth slowly growing into a huge grin. Then, in a split second, it falls. “Please say yes or I’ll be very embarrassed.”