MIDNIGHT SKY.

❝ Sometimes people can hunger for more than bread. ❞

Age: 25

Gender identification: Cis female, she/her

Residential area: Gastown

Occupation: Podcast creator & host of Tell Me a Story & Who Are You? / Amateur indie filmmaker

Two positive traits: Resilient & creative

Two negative traits: Reticent & stubborn

Length of time in Vancouver: 22 years

Faceclaim: Yara Shaidi

open: @vancitystarters​ location: any bar with darts or pool table

“Ten dollars says you can’t make it a clean shot to end the game…how about the money and another round of drinks? Add in whatever you want, it’ll never go straight.”

─────── · ·

“Since when were you such a gambler, girl?” A little snicker escaped Nima as the stakes kept going a little bit higher. “This is feeling like you’ve got some insider information—”

That wouldn’t necessarily stop her though. Nima did take a moment to consider before she agreed or added to it. 

Money wasn’t an issue and she wasn’t a big drinker but she’d definitely ordered an eyeful of snacks. “Ok, I’ll raise but loser has to pay the entire tab.”

CITY BREW PUB w/ @vancitystarters​

“Chocolate tequila? They really will make anything, won’t they?”

─────── · ·

“You’ve never had a chocolate martini or a mudslide?” In her opinion, which wasn’t much since she wasn’t much of a fan of alcohol in general, they were awful. She smirked anyway.

Nima leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the straw for her soda and took a sip. When she sat back she shook her head at Jace. “They really do. You know there’s garlic ice cream?”

starter for @nimaabbasi​ location: their apartment 

“Are we staying in or going out for food tonight?” She said, stepping into the living room where Nima was. “I am starving and in desperate need of anything that isn’t Roxy Burger,” she had been working double shifts all week and had been eating lunch and dinner at the small restaurant. “Have we even gone to the store? I feel that out of the loop lately.” 

─────── · ·

When Sadie came into the room, Nima’s attention was easily pulled from the television screen and redirected to her friend and roommate. She was in the process of taking a bite of a deluxe graham cookie and took that moment while she chewed to think back.

“Umm—” The fact that she couldn’t remember was a sign that the pantry was likely pretty bare. They were all so busy so it wasn’t really a surprise. “I’m thinking we should go out. Wanna do barbecue?”

Before she got up from the couch she exited out of the Netflix documentary she was watching and handed the box of cookies to Sadie. “I found these on the table,” Nima absently gestured toward it. Since they didn’t seem to be Sadie’s that meant they were likely Luciana’s.

“Wanna drive or I could call an Uber?” When she finally found her shoes Nima slipped her feet into them but then paused. “Maybe you should drive,” she didn’t have a car, “and we can hit up the store after we eat?”

Gabi was lucky to have all of these pieces in her home after a lot of hunting. It worked out well for her and was a good last minute costume to throw together. “I just happened to find all the pieces but thank you!” 

Waiting to see if Nima would take the pill, she decided to take it instead and wash it down with a sip of her drink because it seemed that maybe her friend wasn’t interested. As long as no one lectured her about what she did on her weekends off, she didn’t have trouble with people not joining in. 

Much to her surprise, the decision turned out to be different. “Are you sure?” She asked even though she was already reaching into the small bag and placing it on the palm of her hand. Watching her take it, she smiled. 

“Let’s move over there to dance!” Gabi had grown up dancing in her living room and that love had followed her through adulthood. “We can take our drinks with us, it doesn’t seem that busy.”

─────── · ·

Maybe it wasn’t the best choice considering her bloodline and what Nima remembers of her mother. The struggles the woman had with addiction.

It never seemed to catch on with her. She could sample and try, have experiences, but she never formed a habit with it. Maybe that was because it was a once in a while indulgence.

Gabi’s impatience made her smile, even bigger when she surprised her by taking one herself. After Nima washed the pill down with a swig of her drink, she let her hand fall into Gabi’s and led her out onto the makeshift dancing area. 

“Every now and then I let my hair down and remember to lose control and have fun for a bit.” The work would always be waiting for her the next day, so Nima never really worried when she decided to indulge. 

Sadie shrugged her shoulders at her roommate’s compliment about being crafty. “Maybe a little,” sure she could toss some pieces together to pull together a costume but she certainly couldn’t compare to the people sewing costumes that looked like they came right from the movie or show they were representing anyway. “I’m thinking Lara Croft, Tomb Raider,” she told her roommate with a smile. “simple but still a fun character to dress up as for a night or two.” Depending on what type of shenanigans she would get into. “You going to dress up this year?” Knowing it wasn’t something Nima typically did.

─────── · ·

Her dear humble friend and roommate— downplaying her talents, and for what reason Nima couldn’t figure it out. Though, looking at the costumes being strut on the catwalk of the fashion show, she was pretty sure these were all ringers.

Made by professionals.

Of course the costume and makeup artists would have a field day with one like Halloween.

“Oooh, Lara Croft,” Nima turned to Sadie and let her eyes move over her friend, imagining the the look, “that’s actually perfect for you. If our Halloween turns out anything like that one Buffy episode where everyone became whatever they were dressed up as— well, you’d be prepared for anything.”

The place was crowded with all types of people from town. His eyes settled on a group of teenagers. Finn felt pathetic when he missed the days of being that young - something of a worry that he peeked in high school. Everything came to him easier back then. If his eyes lingered any longer he knew he’d think too much about the people he missed, his friend who was gone. He pushed away the feeling, as realize his hand tightening around hers.

“Thanks for protecting me, Pip Squeak.” He teased with a wink. He looked over eyeing the number of people in line ahead of them, before directing his attention back to Nima.

“So when we go in are you going first or do you want me to go first?” Finn asked mentally making a game plan. His thumb brushed the back of her hand softly. Sometimes he felt like he was better at communicating through touch than out loud. His words always came out wrong.

“You know I got you, right?” All jokes aside, if she didn’t want to go it was no big deal.

─────── · ·

It felt silly, walking along to the line where she and Finn would await their turn, thinking about how this was her first time experiencing anything like this. Nima had of course been to carnivals and festivals but it had taken her a long time to ease out of her frugal mindset. In the past she paid for admission but not tickets for rides or attractions. She’d grown up very poor and even though she was quite the opposite now, habits were hard to break.

She wondered if Finn could tell with the way she looked around at everything like it was new. 

“You think I would let anything happen to you?” Nima looked up at him with a soft smile and squeezed his hand. It was easy to feel safe and secure with him.

“Um, you go first.” Most likely she’d be clinging onto him in some way the entire time but she didn’t want to chicken out. There was nothing to prove but she liked having this experience with Finn. Nima liked feeling close to him.

this whole thing was weird, but only because it wasn’t.. if that made sense. 

“remains to be–” a very offended breath of air pushed out between his lips… “wh– what you doubt me, nims?” she did. that doubtful and semi-hurtful pretty finger of hers pointing out in his direction in order to tell him that she was the kind of girl that needed hardcore evidence before she simply just went ahead and believed someone on their ego alone. fair. “oh, you can put your little doubting finger away.. ‘cause i’m about to show you why they’ll engrave corn maze tour master on my headstone one day.” now, if he could just remember how he got out with his nephews earlier he’d be set. 

had he just poisoned her with sugar? “please tell me this isn’t the first time you’ve tasted cotton candy, right?” that was surely a childhood milestone in the food department. though he was willing to take credit where credit was definitely due if she hadn’t. 

“oh so, you like my new shade do you? a little late 80s, eh? you know, when everyone was obsessed with looking like they were from the future or that guy pinhead from Hellraiser. speaking of.. what’s your favorite 80s film?” please let it be something like, Out of Africa or Cocoon and not Sixteen-Cliche-Candles. or… y’know.. let it. ‘cause that could help with that whole getting over her thing, right? maybe. or maybe he’d just end up suggesting that they watch it together again or something stupid like that. yeah, probably that. sigh.

“i’ll tell you mine, but where’s the fun in that? you should guess.. a prize might even be given if you can get it in three– no five. i’ll be nice.” he smiled, but truthfully there was no chance in hell she was going to get it. he was no basic bitch in the film department. 

plus, when most people thought about 80s movies they thought Terminator, Alien, Star Wars, Full Metal Jacket, and ET.. what they didn’t think about was the Oscar Award Winning screenplay ‘Dead Poets Society.’ but, hey, maybe she would.. she had seen his collection of favorite screenplays and maybe the excessive fraying on the edges of that one in particular had managed to get her attention or something. 

“we need a photo first?” he wasn’t really the kind of guy that got into selfies, but there was a whole set up here and was it really a selfie when there was a semi-professional photographer telling you to pose it up with the possessed scarecrow? 

only maybe he should’ve passed on the opportunity, because now that he was being told to put his arm around his girlfriend (he couldn’t blame the photographer for thinking that), his heart was damn near bursting out of his chest. 

{ interior. exterior. galley. cornmaze. 

breathe deeply. kane screams. a small head the size of a small fist punches out through.. }

he shook his head. maybe she’d been right and there really was a good chance they were not going to make it out of this corn maze alive tonight.. 

there was only one way to find out. 

─────── · ·

Teeth softly pressed down into her bottom lip. Nima was doing her best to keep her smile somewhat restrained so that she didn’t look like a grinning fool as she watched Carter. It wasn’t just the feign of hurt and the charisma that poured out of him as he played it up, everything about him seemed to captivate her now. Simple movements and gestures. The way his mouth curved in a way when he was talking that almost made him look like he was smirking. His sandy blonde hair caught up in the cool Vancouver night breeze—

“Something far better is gonna be engraved on your headstone,” Nima countered, bottom lip released as she spoke and thus no longer able to hold back her grin. “Like Oscar winning screenwriter.” In challenge, daring him to fight her on that one, her brow rose. It wasn’t just her crush speaking, she’d read and seen his talent. The making were definitely there.

“But, I’m gonna hold you to that.” Her hands went into the pockets of her jacket. “You getting us outta there safe and sound. And defending my honor should some monster jump out and grab me.” That’s what got to her most, was that she knew there was bound to be jump scares hidden around the maze.

The cotton candy dissolved quickly but it took her a few more seconds to recover from it. “Okay, I won’t tell you.” Nima sucked the remnants of sugar from her thumb and forefinger she’s used to steal and then pocketed her hand again. It was then she realized that in the time they’d known each other now they hadn’t really done the deep talk of their past.

They’d had plenty of great conversations, which was without a doubt one of the more favorable things about Carter. But telling someone you never really had a home and that you knew what real hunger pains felt like? That was no easy or casual conversation. Plus, she was maybe worried he’d look down on her after that.

Nima had no father, her mother disappeared, she grew up in a car or the stairwell of a building. She didn’t have the usual experiences most kids had. A carnival? Impossible.

“I do,” she admitted, kind of happy to have an excuse to stare at his mouth. “You probably taste extra sweet right now,” Nima blurted out, only meaning to play around but immediately felt her blood run cold. Why had she said that? Out loud. Where he could hear. And know. Fuck. Acting quick, Nima poorly played it off and pulled her chapstick from her pocket (happy that she’d actually stuffed it in her pocket) and showed it to Carter. “Let me know if you needa borrow because you’re gonna make those things chapped licking them like crazy.” Her finger directed around her own mouth to indicate his.

If she could go crawl and hide under a rock then she would.

Now, flustered, she was supposed to think about 80′s films. Usually not a difficult topic for her given that she was a self professed film nerd, but right now with a dizzy head it felt impossible.

“How have we not talked about this before?” For a bit she was going to struggle to make eye contact. 80′s movies. Think! “Well, there’s Raising Arizona, An American Werewolf in London, Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Big, Top Gun, Stand By Me—” Rambling, Nima was literally just tossing out titles of any 80′s movie that came to her in that moment that she thought was good.

“But, ok— my favorites? I’d have to say A Fish Called Wanda, Dead Poet’s Society, and I think maybe Terms of Endearment.” The maybe was because she really loved the movie Big. 

“You want me to guess?” Nima dared to step a little closer and eliminate a bit of the space between them. “Because it’s not completely obvious?” There was a grin on her lips then but she didn’t speak right away because she got lost in his eyes. Clearing her throat softly, she clued back in, “it’s definitely The Land Before Time. Steel Magnolia’s a close runner up.” 

Of course she was teasing and giving him shit, but it didn’t last long because she and Carter were being wrangled for a photo before they set off into the maze. Nima felt her heart rate rise as a giddy nervousness took over her. They walked over and she stood next to him. They were told to get closer. Carter was instructed to put his arm around her.

His girlfriend.

Well, Nima could have died right on the spot.

Somehow she pushed through, moved into Carter’s side and wrapped her own arm around him. Then smiled at the camera.

closed: @nimaabbasi location: ghost tours

“Have you done one of these before?” Skyler asked as a laugh left her lips. “I’ve always seen signs for ghost tours posted but never convinced myself to go.” She explained softly as she looked around, wondering how on time the evening would start. “Guess there’s no better time than spooky season, the curiosity has finally gotten the better of me.”

─────── · ·

“Girl, nah. And I’m not even sure this was the wise choice now.”

With her Native American blood, she’d always felt some sort of unspoken sensitivity to the energy and spaces around her. And maybe it was just Nima in her own head but around Halloween her senses always seemed to be tingling.

who:@nimaabbasi​

when: october 26th

where: the oracle

“You may have to clarify it for me but, I know it starts with an N.” Her name, obviously. Though, he’s never met her - he didn’t need to. From the moment she sat down, a plethora of things started coming through for her. Daniel would need a moment to sort through them all and with her help, he suspected this could very well be one of his more memorable readings based on first impressions, alone.

─────── · ·

There were a lot of things Nima didn’t like to mess with and this could technically be classified as one of them. However, she found herself sitting across from a medium because after a decade of searching and still nowhere close to an answer she’d become what she feared most.

Desperate.

Casual. Maybe he didn’t know what casual was exactly or where the lines were. What made this hanging out and not a date - he couldn’t tell, but maybe it was just how they labeled it that mattered. As they stood in line for the Haunted Hayride, his eyes glanced down at her clearly worried words. They brought a small smile to his face, wondering in the time he knew her if he’d seen her like this. Unsure. Nima was always sure, or at least she seemed to be. “Come on, Nim.” He said with a small chuckle, though his tone was reassuring. “I’ll hold your hand, okay?”  This kind of thing never scared him, but that was probably a testament to his size. People rarely tried to fuck with him. His hand slide into hers as they moved up in line.

─────── · ·

Would Nima have taken things a bit further between them if it weren’t for a few factors? Yes, most likely. Finn had made it clear that this was casual and had no future, and she had done the same. 

Somewhere in that agreement she was already fucking up.

Halloween, along with pretty much every other holiday, was a weird experience for her. Since she was a child she always had felt very far on the outside of things thanks to the way she was raised, but— growing into her own as an adult some of that had begun to fall away.

Either way, Nima didn’t fuck with spirits and willing going into a haunting made her very apprehensive. She kept trying to tell herself that this was all orchestrated, that it wasn’t really, it was only to give people a scare. 

Still, these were things you didn’t want to invite in.

“I mean, if that’s what you need—” She shrugged her petite shoulders a little, trying to sound solid. “I got you.”

─── starter for @nimaabbasi

HAUNTED CORN MAZE, HALLOWEEN ─── “Who is Wanda?” Fuck. [ you see, this is what you get when you decide to do something stupid; like look up a Relationship Advice forum in front of your mom ]. “wait, is this that girl you’ve been working with???” he could’ve said no and he wouldn’t be lying, but call him a momma’s boy all you like, he just didn’t like lying to her. “no, it’s–” this was embarrassing.. mortifying.. one of those events that kept your eyes from closing at 2 am ten years from now, kind of things, “she’s– i needed some advice about her and Wanda’s–” “a therapist?” that would’ve probably been better. “an advice columnist.” he should’ve gone to Reddit. his mother never would’ve had a chance at deciphering her way through all of those acronyms. “oh, honey.. you know you could’ve come to me for advice, right?” oh he knew. he just didn’t want to have that kind of conversation with her. the one that started with, ‘i got really drunk, kissed my boss, and now i can’t stop thinking about her it.’ boundaries. “i just think this is one of those things we need to draw a line, mom.” which speaking of. it was time to break apart. he’d find her and his dad’s brother’s little rugrats again later. there was somewhere else he needed to be. 

it had been a bit risky on his end to text her to meet him here tonight. they hadn’t talked since the incident. the one, where he’d got real drunk, read her some story he’d been working on, and ended up kissing her because she had said something insane, like she thought it was really good or whatever… and yet, he felt if he didn’t do that soon there was a real good chance he might actually lose her over this whole thing. he didn’t want that. he might’ve done something stupid. like, locking lips with a girl so far out of his league, it was miracle she hadn’t pushed him into another dimension or something when he’d done it.. but, fuck.. please at least let it be one of those easy to forgive kind of mistakes. y’know, the ones children seem to make all the time and continue to get away with.. just give him one of those. 

he’d organised to meet her out the front of the maze. “i’ll have you know.. i’m a boss at hedge mazes.” and sure this one was made out of corn but semantics, right? sliding up beside her, the blonde did his best to pretend nothing had changed, absolutely nothing! and that he hadn’t glanced down at her lips or anything the moment he’d first slipped in beside her ‘cause that would’ve been weird. “want some cotton candy?” had it turned his lips blue? and was that going to be his excuse if she took a bite and she caught him looking at her mouth again? maybe. 

─────── · ·

Since that night Carter had shared his story with her, giving her an insight into his talent and creativity, Nima hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. Despite having meant every word in regards to how great she thought the story was, that wasn’t why she couldn’t get that night out of her mind.

From the moment she had met Carter she’d been attracted to him and had a little crush, something that only grew the more they worked together and she got to know him. The problem wasn’t shyness when it came to acting on any feelings she’d developed all on her own. It was the fact that she was technically his boss and also that she was working on her issues when it came to attachments and abandonment.

The last thing she wanted was to continually make the same mistakes. And Nima had smothered her one and only relationship out of fear. Even though she knew that no one else was her mother, it was hard to plant that deep into her psyche and not feel as though everyone was going to abandon her.

Her history had left her with many psychological and emotional scars, and knowing that, Nima couldn’t really pursue someone while she still felt she was emotionally stunted.

The last thing she wanted to do was cause another person pain.

Yet— Nima couldn’t let go of the warmth of his lips on hers and the way he tasted when he’d kissed her. 

It was a simple kiss yet she tossed at night thinking about it.

When she’d received a text from Carter she was equally relieved and surprised. She hadn’t heard from him since that night nor seen him and had become a little worried. So, Nima might have replied a little too quickly to his text and agreed to meet him at the corn maze at the carnival. She was eager to see him, curious if he’d be dressed for Halloween, and wondered what was in store.

Her aversion to spooky things wasn’t something she really shared openly, mostly because of the way she’d been bullied in her youth, but Nima also didn’t really allow people to see a vulnerable side of her.

“I guess that remains to be seen,” Nima chimed, grinning as she approached Carter. That blond hair and tanned skin— he was so wild and handsome. She felt bubbly all over already. “If you get us lost in there—” A playful warning finger was pointed at him, leaving him to imagine the trouble he’d be in.

At that point she would think nothing of how casual and friendly and how much he was like he’d always been with her, because she too wanted to get past the awkwardness so they could have fun again in each other’s company. 

Though, she’d likely still think about that kiss.

Nima plucked some blue spun sugar when it was offered and put it in her mouth, wincing at just how sweet it was. “Oh my god,” she laughed, covering her mouth. She hadn’t been expecting that, unable to recall the last time she’d actually had cotton candy. Maybe it was last year’s festival.

“At least now I don’t have to offer you my jacket,” Nima teased Carter, eyes lingering on his blue lips. “But let me know if you get chilly,” she winked.

starter for @nimaabbasi​ at sully’s tanvern for the fall harvest carnival

Gabriella handed over the drinks that she’d gotten the both of them and flashed her a smile. “You look beautiful. Here are the drunks and I also went out of my way to get us something else for a bit more fun but tell me if you don’t want to do it because I don’t want to force you.” And she didn’t want her to have an adverse reaction and end up having a bad time. “I won’t take any if you don’t want to.” Which she felt stupid for promising the second she said it because she really did want to do it. Regardless, she pulled up a small baggy with pills. “It’s Molly.”

─────── · ·

“Thank you, gorgeous,” Nima chimed while moving to the music and taking the offered drink from her friend’s hand. “You look amazing in that costume,” she added, looking Gabriela over once more.

While she took a sip of the drink, Nima kept her ear open to what was coming from Gabriela next. Curiosity, surprise, intrigue, and maybe a bit of shock registered on her face as she turned to look at the woman next to her.

“Please, girl— don’t let me stop you,” Nima said, waving it off nonchalantly. When the drug was passed over and she was informed of what it was though, a few things ran through her mind.

One, she knew she shouldn’t get fucked up. Two, they were in Sully’s, which was technically Finn’s pub and she was sure he was in attendance and Molly might make her do something stupid. And third, again, she might do something stupid if another particular male was in attendance tonight.

Regardless, Nima held out her hand and then quickly popped it into her mouth. For once not wanting to overthink something. “Let’s have some fun, sugar,” she said, clinking her drink with Gabriela’s.

starter for @nimaabbasi​ location: costume fashion show 

“What do you think has been the best one so far?” She said, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth, holding the bag out for Nima as well. “I really thought the classic witch was good, but I mean, it’s a Halloween staple,” she shrugged her shoulders, trying to peer down the way of people to see who was coming out next. “These people are so talented, I mean making their own costumes?” She shook her head, “I’ll DIY it, but like, with Amazon’s help.” 

─────── · ·

Halloween had always seemed like a fun holiday growing up. Nima had always wanted to participate but her childhood had always been far from anything normal.

In public school, when she actually attended, Nima was the kid with dirty clothes and unwashed hair. Costumes and a night out trick-or-treating were far from anything she’d get a chance at participating in.

There was no money. No home. No candy to give out.

Most of the time she had been bullied or simply shied away from the activities all the other kids were able to do, which was why to this day she still never really went all out for Halloween. She liked events like this but dressing up? Nah.

“You’re pretty crafty,” Nima nudged her friend and roommate, “don’t be selling yourself short now.”

Turning her head to the side to view Sadie, her curiosity came about, “what did you decide on for this year?”