"I flirt when I'm nervous, talk when I'm happy, and hug when I don't know what else to do. So… fair warning."
name: isla mei zhang
age: twenty-four
dob: april 17th
gender: cis female
sexuality: bisexual
hometown: windsor bay
neighborhood: downtown
occupation: aquatic cove front desk + community outreach/weekend helper at better soon
personality: sweet, outgoing, caring, impulsive, emotional, scattered
born into the founding zhang family, isla grew up in the quiet heartbeat of windsor bay, between pharmacy aisles, crowded family dinners, and ocean air that never quite leaves your lungs. her parents, yiren and huifen zhang, run better soon with steady hands and soft hearts, raising isla with equal parts discipline and affection. her grandmother, wenli, taught her that service doesn't have to be loud to matter.
isla has always been sunshine forward. she smiles easily, laughs loudly, and loves people without reservation. where others carry walls, isla carries warmth. she believes in showing up, in remembering birthdays, in bringing extra snacks just in case someone forgot to eat.
she tried leaving windsor bay after high school. she chased independence, bigger dreams, louder streets, but the ocean pulled her back. now she works at aquatic cove, greeting guests, coordinating tours, and charming nervous kids into touching starfish. on weekends she helps out at better soon, not because she has to anymore, but because she wants to.
isla flirts without realizing it. she falls too fast. she avoids confrontation until emotions overflow. she gives too much of herself, then shrugs it off with a smile.
downtown suits her: busy sidewalks, late night dessert runs, spontaneous hangouts, and friends who treat her apartment like a second home. she believes windsor bay is worth loving, even when it hurts.
loves sunset walks along coral coast even though she doesn’t live there
keeps string lights up year round
always carries lip gloss and snacks
names half the animals at aquatic cove
leaves handwritten notes for people she cares about
steals hoodies and never gives them back
cries at commercials when she's tired
has a dangerous habit of believing in people too much
playlist
wanted connections
the bestie she accidentally adopted
isla didn't choose this person, they just started hanging around and now they're family. they have a toothbrush at her apartment, she brings them leftovers, she knows their coffee order. this person sees isla at her most unfiltered and probably acts as her emotional sounding board.
the crush she swears is no big deal
she insists it's casual, it is not casual. ssla gets flustered around them, fixes her hair when they walk in, and replays their conversations later. they may not even realize she likes them… or they know and pretend not to.
the social glue
this person runs in the same circles as isla and somehow always ends up at the same gatherings. they plan beach days, group dinners, karaoke nights, spontaneous road trips. if isla is there, this person probably helped organize it.
the quiet comfort
someone who balances isla's energy. calm, grounding, steady. when isla spirals, this person listens instead of fixing. they don't mind silence. isla feels safe resting near them. this connection can be platonic, romantic, or slow burn.
the one who challenges her
someone who pushes isla to speak up, set boundaries, or take herself seriously. they don't raise their voice, they ask thoughtful questions and wait for honest answers.
the emotional mirror
they're similar in vulnerability or softness. they understand isla's tendency to love hard and hurt quietly. they see each other clearly, sometimes too clearly.
