damla anday was 21 when she followed her boyfriend to america and eloped there. she hadnât been in touch with her family since she took his last name. it didnât matter, though, because she was in love and was ready to start a family with him. his dreams were now hers.
damla is not very open about her emotions and rarely ever shows them. sheâs quiet and reserved and very stoic but those who know her would describe her as kind and generous and nurturing. they are not wrong.Â
she is now a retired elementary school teacher, still moonlighting as a music tutor every now and then. with her husbandâs recent passing, she needs all the distraction and time away from the house that she can get.Â
hasad keyder / father, 72. deceased.
born to a turkish-albanian family, hasad came to america when he was only 25 to, like most immigrants, pursue the american dream. hasad loved all things america: he watched all the movies, followed all the sports (his favorite was american football, which is probably the most american youâre ever going to get) in hopes that it would make it easier for him to acclimate to the culture.
he and his then-girlfriend turned future wife and future widow got married in cincinatti and had their first child there before moving to a small nearby town called pleasance. hasad put up a general store called âkeyderâsâ and was the main source of income for his family for several years before george alby would buy out the building and establish what is now known as the pleasance general store under new management and staff.Â
dismayed but never discouraged, hasad looked for other means to make a living. he turned to carpentry for a while but was mostly a truck driver who delivered produce from cincinatti to pleasance.Â
for those who knew him before a mysterious illness had him bed-ridden for a better part of a year, hasad was a very lively and optimistic man. he was friends with virtually everybody, liked to make people laugh, and never turned down a neighbor in need.
he passed away in january 2021.
wayne gĂŒrel keyder / eldest child, 40.
named after john wayne. wayne is an in-house electrician at the nouveau hotel and resort. he gets his workaholic tendencies from his father and his stoic demeanor from his mother. heâs definitely got the âbig brother tough loveâ thing down and is very protective of his siblings. he will openly express disappointment and anger towards his siblings but not so much affection. he will do anything for his family, though.
he is married and has three children: gamze, moses, and jason.
montana kivanç keyder / middle child, 30.
named after joe montana. a sad clown meme.
marilyn safiye keyder / youngest child, 25.
named after marilyn monroe. being the only girl and the youngest child are already special feats in themselves. needless to say, mari has always been spoiled. unlike montana, who received all of his brotherâs hand-me-downs, whether they be clothes or toys or school textbooks, everything that marilyn owned was brand new. she never let it get to her pretty little head, though. she was a very giving child, probably to a fault. while she loves both of her brothers dearly, sheâs admittedly much closer to montana than she is to wayne. they both shared similar interests and had the same attitudes and behaviors. being closer in age probably helped, too.
like montana, she had plans of leaving pleasance to pursue her studies. sheâs always dreamt of becoming a nurse. she received the full support of her family (and probably only about half form wayne, who was very much a Man of Pleasance), but those plans quickly became spoiled when she got pregnant at the mere age of 20. knowing that she would not be able to support a child on her own, her mother married her off to the father of the child, who happened to be a businessman from toledo. they got married in court and moved in together, found an apartment they could share in toledo. a few weeks later, she lost the baby.
mari remains married to her husband and is sending herself through nursing school as an occupational therapy aide. she often visits her family in pleasance and has plans of divorcing her vanilla ass husband soon.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch âą No registration required âą HD streaming
The Grandmother: Mahvash Malala Bakarat, often times referred to by Bez as Mama. She was twenty-one years old when she and her husband Najm moved to the UK in the seventies. She already had a son and a daughter, and when in London two more children were born. Her husband and her worked as much as they could to provide their family in the UK as well as their family at home in India. She has a strong sense of honour and moral. The happiness of her family comes after the status they have. She often uses money made by her family to send back to India or to give to other Muslims that need it more than them. She has a strong feeling of righteousness, and despite never having grown to like the UK, she wishes she could have enough money to help her whole family move there.Â
The Father: Hakim Najm Salman was the oldest son and child of Mahvash and Najm, a strong and respectful boy growing up, understanding what his family wanted from him and that he should deliver. When his father died young, Hakim had to leave school to become the main breadwinner, it was then that his bond with his mother grew stained. He left for the USA in his twenties, sending home money he earned there. He met and fell in love with a Pakistani woman named Parisa. They tried to get married but Hakimâs mother was strongly against the marriage, resulting in Hakim going behind her back. Behrooz was born not much later. Nobody knows exactly what happened to Parisa, in the year between returning to the UK and his death, Hakim never spoke about her. He died of liver failure in his late twenties, leaving behind a one year old child.Â
The Niblings: Mahvashâ oldest son went to the United States, Mahvashâ oldest daughter moved to France, her second daughter moved to Manchester with her husband. That left only the youngest daughter Leila in London. Leila, who is a bus driver, is in an arranged marriage, and constantly has to defend that it was her choice as well. She has two children, who Bez calls the niblings (which is an inside joke on account of other people thinking Mahyash is Behroozâ mother): theyâre about his age, one is one year younger, the other two. Darya, who goes by Arya, constantly gets into trouble because she loves parties and wants to go to university to study English literature. Her grandmother does not want this to happen, but it is still her fatherâs decision - luckily - because sheâs his little princess, even though he doesnât say a think when Mahvashâ scowls them. Hassan, two years younger than Behrooz, gets into all kinds of trouble. But he always manages to clean it up before anyone notices. He is an amazing writer, and can constantly be found either reading or smoking joints with friends.Â
The Aunt: Leila had to be strong. She was the youngest and knew she would end up taking care of her mother. But she has done her best to mend the relationship with her mother, which has resulted in Leila being one of the only people able to make Mahvash laugh.Â
The Uncle: Leila married a good Muslim boy from the same Mosque, who treats her and their children with love. Navid is Leilaâs number one fan. He supported her need to get a job when the children were old enough to go to school by themselves, he doesnât mind having Mahvash or Behrooz around in the house, and has helped all the three youngsters getting jobs. He earns a lot of money, working in finances for a company in the city center. But like his father before him, the money goes to family.Â
in the US
The Mother: Parisa Naqvi was born in the United States to immigrant parents. The oldest of two daughters, she managed to convince her parents to go to college, where she studied Hospitality. Working in a casino in Los Angeles as floor manager she met Hakim. She was a happy woman, not easily distracted, always knowing exactly what she wanted. She had the respect of her employees and the eternal love of her family. Whatever she wanted to do, they supported her, because they knew she would give it her all. Her dream was to own a casino of her own, and then slowly turn it into a restaurant as business started to be good. She would sell her motherâs dishes on the side. But dreams are often more perfect than reality.Â
The Aunt: Padma Naqvi was five years younger than Parisa, just as beautiful, but less strong minded. She wanted children, she loved going to Mosque, whenever her parents went to visit family, Padma was the first in the car. All she dreamt of was having her own family. She became a teacher, married, had four children, she was the happiest she could ever be. But then her sister disappeared, all she had was vague messages. She became obsessed with finding her, which brought a stain on the relationship with her husband, who left her and her four children some years later. Padma managed to track down her sisterâs husband, but all she found was Parisaâs son. She needed to take him in, even if she knew nothing about her sister, she needed to protect him, he was family. He became they, and Bez was much like her sister, despite never having met her. She dotes on them, the proudest she can be, and happy for their sense of family as well. They send back money, she sends food. They write letters, she sends back pictures of her and her children. Theyâre more family to her than she ever expected.Â
The Cousins: Currently sixteen, twelve, and eight, Padmaâs four children are a force to be reckoned with. They know how to take care of themselves, they are curious and love to learn. They spend hours on Youtube learning new skills, and have taken up Bez as their project. Atfah and Eshaal are the oldest daughters, twins. Atfah wants to go into politics, Eshaal wants to be a History professor, both are interested in international politics and history. Hazeem is the oldest son, he is huge for his age, observant, and always looking for new challenges. He usually comes to breakfast telling any member of his family: Dare me to learn this. And the youngest Sharnaz, like his sister Atfah, wants to go into politics. He already has his inauguration speech figured out, and Barack Obama is his idol.
The small bell above the door chimes, announcing her entrance into town hall. The clerk behind the desk looks up, and Maggieâs quick to plaster on a smile. âHere for the museum,â she says, gesturing towards the small room that serves as a gallery. The clerk nods, saying nothing, and returns their attention to the book laid out on the desk in front of them. Maggie nods, pressing her mouth into a thin line, and marches into the gallery.Â
Sheâd spent a lot of time thinking about her next move. For awhile, sheâd seriously considered getting back into Albyâs mansion. The man in the attic called out to her, like a lighthouse beacon or a siren song, and she wanted so desperately to return. There was something else there, something she was supposed to see. It was as certain as the rest of Pleasance, a dark gravity that dressed her bones in lead. Sometimes, Maggie would stand on the sidewalk, eyes trained towards the trees that hid the estate. Sheâd gotten lucky once, escaping by the skin of her teeth. A part of her had gotten trapped in the attic that night, some sliver of her soul stuck on the scraps of canvas that made up her ghostâs face. If she was going to go back, sheâd need help --- and that was what stopped her. KJâs warnings over dinner - the alert staff, the cameras, Albyâs impermanent ignorance - had stayed her. Hannah knew, but Maggie would never ask her to put her life on the line. She could have tried to poke around the hotel and the resort, trying to find someone who knew more about Albyâs schedule, who could have shepherded her into the home. But word traveled fast in a town like this, and word was the last thing Maggie wanted to travel. Itâd make it back to George, no doubt, but also KJ. Maggie didnât want him to discover sheâd lied to him. Not like this.
Margaret never considered letting it go. The man in the painting had become her close companion. Sheâd seen his face in the water of the bath, the glass of Beau & Kayeâs sparkling windows, the moment between flipping the switch and the lights coming on. His shadow followed her home. He watched her as she slept. Someone in the Alby family intended him to stay a secret forever, melt into dust or ash or nothing. Maggie had found him. If a piece of her was trapped in the attic, a piece of him had clung to her, slipped down the staircase and into the world once more. If she was ever to be free of him, sheâd need to give him the gift of his name. The library had been a bust -- but the museum held some hope. She doubted anyone in the Alby family would have allowed anyone outside of Pleasance to paint their portraits. All she needed to do was find a matching signature, and the next part of her path would align.
She starts at the beginning. Sheâs the only one in the gallery - a room barely big enough to garner such a title - and she plans on taking her time. One by one, Maggie stands in front of the paintings hanging along the walls. She studies the brushstrokes, the style, the details of the clothing. The first one has a signature with wild flourishes, the second holds no people, the third is a still life sheâs sure was done by a child. None of them match the small scribble in the corner of her shaky painting. She can feel her frustration growing. Itâs slow-going, this investigation, and sheâs growing hot and uncomfortable in all of her layers. But she canât give up. Heâs there, just out of sight. He needs her to find this, and she needs to find this. She has to find something. She has to.Â
By the time she reaches the last portrait in the gallery, her cheeks are flushed and her palms are sweaty. She gives it a cursory glance, expecting failure, when suddenly -- the details on a jacket match his. The brushstrokes of the background have the same sweeping motion. She takes a step back. This is similar. Itâs the closest sheâs gotten all day. Underneath the portrait, a small caption reads: âMayor Warren and Arthur Cornish-Alby cut the ribbon for the opening of the Town Hall. Cornish-Alby is with his wife and three children.â She looks back at the picture. There they are -- two young girls, seated primly in pinafores, and a young boy. His face looks out at Maggie. She swallows a scream. It might be him, it might not be. But itâs a start. Her eyes rove over the rest of the painting, searching, searching -- there. The signature in the corner looks exactly like the one sheâs been studying for weeks. She lifts her phone, just to be sure, and confirms. Leaning in, she gets as close as sheâs sure security will let her.Â
The Moores are fairly new to town, having arrived in Pleasance back in the 1960s. They brought with them the good faith of the World Hope Church, which the Moores founded in Columbus, Ohio. Eddieâs family separated from the main branch to spread the Word, and they have long since settled in Residential Area 1. Next to their picket fenced house is a church they also constructed where meetings and services are held up to this day by Eddieâs uncle. The previous family patriarch, Adrian Moore (Dennis Quaid fc, 68, declared legally dead) and Eddieâs father was listed in the Top 25 Most Influential Pastors list.
Generally well-received around Pleasance, most residents follow their church. The townspeople are aware of what happened to Eddieâs parents and would feel appropriately regretful, but wouldnât be privy to what went on behind the scenes. They would have zero knowledge of how controlling Adrian is with his family, and of how Eddie would internally suffer with trying to come into terms with what she wants in contrast to her fatherâs, whom she only wants to please. Lara Moore (Meg Ryan fc, 60, deceased) got diagnosed with Alzheimerâs disease resulting into dementia when Eddie was 18 years old, after Adrian disappeared from the world without a trace. Although the disease started manifesting in Lara when Eddie was 16, Adrian hid the truth from the world, prioritizing his reputation over his wifeâs health. In the World Hope Church, it is believed that any abnormalities to the brain are the result of the devilâs work, and while they also believed that theyâre not beyond saving, he simply cannot let his standing be tainted by even a speck of dirt.
Eddieâs Childhood
Having Adrian and Lara for parents was fairly alright. There wasnât a day that went by where Eddie felt starved. Her clothes were always clean and well-pressed. Her mother was always on top of the household keeping, but Eddie always felt like Lara was more of a ghost than a real person. Lara was a meek, beautiful woman who worships Eddieâs father., but Eddieâs no different, with her practically kissing the ground Adrian walks on. Itâs hard not to like Adrian â he was charming and smart. A magnetic personality, basically. Eddie was happy to gain his approval, no matter how difficult it was for her to keep up with his demands. One of which is to study the violin, and the guitar, and the piano. (She just isnât a music person, unfortunately.) Eddie used to think that if Lara didnât get sick as a result of encountering the Strange Man, theyâd still be intact. But she realized when she was much older that that would mean they would have kept on living a lie. Beautiful, but fake. There is only bliss in ignorance, and Eddie would be damned to live like that again.
Present sentiments
It is mentioned in Eddieâs intro and questionnaire that what happened to her parents (Lara with the Strange Man and Adrian with Gideonâs friend, although these are all just speculation on her part) is the main drive behind her actions. She is obsessed with finding out the truth behind Pleasance. Guild is also there, for not being a better child to Lara and for favoring Adrian as a parent (when heâs actually utter crap) because try as she might to erase it, the fact still remains that she couldâve done something to help her mother. As soon as she was able to, the first thing she does is to send Lara to a nursing home and leave her alone for many years, not even visiting once until her funeral ten years ago. As a teen, it was somewhat excusable, but as an adult, she couldâve tried. Her cowardice prevailed, and as a result, her mother died alone. She wonât ever forgive herself for that. She perhaps wouldnât even have organized Laraâs funeral if her journalism career in New York had taken off. It scared her, how callous she had become. As recompense for her guilt, she vows to never let the same thing happen again to another kid in Pleasance, not when sheâs still alive and able to do something.
With regards to Eddieâs religious beliefs, although she doesnât anymore follow her familyâs church (not since adolescence), sheâs a non-practicing Christian.
Weâve had a great first few days open and Iâm super excited to release our first task! Itâs time to do a deep dive into your new character and help everyone get to know the true muse behind the blog. Under the cut is a compilation of all sorts of questions about your character that donât always come up in conversation and will help everyone get to know them better. You can answer as many or as few as youâd like and can respond in or out of character. Enjoy!
What were their best subject(s) in school?
Do they have any allergies?
What is their opinion on Mystiques and Supernaturals?
How they react to being flirted with? How do they flirt?
Do they prefer white, milk, or dark chocolate?
How are they with children?
Whatâs one thing theyâre really bad at?
Are they religious?
Which of the seven deadly sins do they most embody? Which virtue?
Whatâs their sense of humor like?
How do you know when youâve upset them?
What does their room look like?
Do they have a favorite color?
What do they usually eat for breakfast?
At what time of the day are they most productive/have the most energy?
How do they handle money?
When a craving kicks in whatâs the first thing they go for in the kitchen?
Are they patient?
Whatâs their favorite kind of weather?
If they were to attend Hogwarts which house would they be placed in?
What is their voice like?
Do they feel like their astrological sign is accurate?
Which of the four elements do they feel the most connected to?
How do they believe they are perceived by others?
Whatâs the easiest way to annoy them?
Can they dance?
Whatâs their personal style? What do they most often wear?
Are they affiliated with any political groups?
What is their favorite hobby?
Where were they born?
Do they express their thoughts or gratitude through words or actions?
What is one question theyâve always wanted an answer to?
How do they sleep?
Whatâs their favorite game?
Are they a very private person or, for the most part, an open book?
Have they ever had or currently have any pets?
Do they have any reoccurring nightmares and/or dreams?
Is there a music genre they prefer over all others? How about one they canât stand?
Have they ever played any sports?
What things make them feel the most comfortable/relaxed?
How intuitive are they? Can they read people easily or are they oblivious?
What are their eating habits/typical diet?
Do they have a favorite season? What about a favorite holiday?
Are they ruled by logic, emotion, or some combination thereof?
What is their best quality? What about their greatest flaw?
How do they feel in regards to their sexuality and/or gender?
Whatâs their most distinguishable/noticeable feature?
Do they have any particular speech patterns or mannerisms?
Can they speak more than one language? Do they have an accent?
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch âą No registration required âą HD streaming
Task 001 : Getting to Know You â§ïœ„ïŸ: *â§ïœ„ïŸ:*
What were their best subject(s) in school?
Literature, History, and Geometry.
Do they have any allergies?
Sheâs not allergic to anything specific, but her allergies every spring and summer can be fairly intense.
What is their opinion on Mystiques and Supernaturals?
Elsa regards them cautiously. She canât control her own powers as a Mage and doesnât understand how others not only have full control, but also show off their abilities without any fear. She actually might be a little jealous. When it comes to Mystiques like Fae and Merfolk, Elsa finds them fascinating and beautiful. Supernaturals are darker and often dangerous, but she sees many of them as just misunderstood. After all, is she not dangerous as well?
How they react to being flirted with? How do they flirt?
While she is very intelligent in most all areas of life, Elsa is completely dense when someone is flirting with her. She doesnât understand the concept of someone being romantically or sexually interested in her and will almost never read someoneâs actions towards her as flirtatious. For that same reason, she herself never flirts.
Do they prefer white, milk, or dark chocolate?
Intensely dark chocolate is the only kind she doesnât like. She thoroughly enjoys both milk and white and struggles to pick between the two.
How are they with children?
Around children she tends to be rather distance/awkward at first, but if the child is sweet then she all but melts.
Are they religious?
Elsa considers herself to be Agnostic.
Which of the seven deadly sins do they most embody? Which virtue?
None of the sins really align with Elsaâs personality, but if I had to pick one I would probably say Envy? Not that sheâs a jealous person, she just constantly wishes for something she does not have (control over herself). As for her heavenly virtue, I think she best aligns with temperance. Her whole life has revolved around self-restraint - though it isnât exactly a good thing.
Whatâs their sense of humor like?
Elsa isnât the type to crack jokes, but she can be heard making little sarcastic comments under her breath every now and then.Â
How do you know when youâve upset them?
Concealing her emotions is something sheâs become very good at, so if she looks/acts upset then you know you really hurt her. She often has to remove herself from situations where she knows she is becoming upset.
What does their room look like?
Back home in Norway she has a nice size room that she moved into after the accident - she used to share a large room with Anna. The walls are covered in a lilac colored wallpaper on all sides of the room. On the opposite wall from the door thereâs a large, triangular window with a widow seat. The color scheme is blue, purple, and white. On the left wall is her bed, a nightstand, and her desk. The right wall is covered in bookshelves with dozens upon dozens books from her childhood into her teenage years.Â
Here in Porthaven, her apartment is very sleek and minimalist. Itâs modern, but has a slightly rustic feel to it.
Do they have a favorite color?
Blue. More specifically: icy blue or teal. Though she really likes purple as well.
What do they usually eat for breakfast?
Since taking over the company sheâs found herself increasingly more busy in the mornings and often skips breakfast. She often picks up a cup of coffee and a muffin or danish on her way to work. On the weekends when she actually makes an effort to have something substantial for breakfast she enjoys a small fruit and cheese platter with some sort of bread and a soothing cup of tea. Or crepes!
At what time of the day are they most productive/have the most energy?
Elsa doesnât have much of an issue with being productive except for in the evenings when her energy begins to drain.
How do they handle money?
Elsa is very careful with her money and prefers saving to spending. Outside of necessities she doesnât often shop for herself. The only time she âindulgesâ herself is when she occasionally buys herself an expensive clothing item for a formal event. Annaâs spending habits are more difficult to control, but Elsa doesnât often reprimand her sister about it.
When a craving kicks in whatâs the first thing they go for in the kitchen?
Macarons! As a child she used to sneak into the kitchen late at night and bring some back for her and Anna during their midnight adventures. In her current apartment she keeps a small container of them in a cabinet for whenever she needs a sweet pick-me-up.
Are they patient?
Incredibly so, though she does have her limits.
Whatâs their favorite kind of weather?
Elsa may not like that she has magic, but she truly does love the snow. Itâs the weather she feels most comfortable in and she finds it absolutely beautiful.
If they were to attend Hogwarts which house would they be placed in?
Ravenclaw! Once Elsa begins questioning something, she develops an intense need to understand and learn more about it. She also loves learning for the sake of learning and loves to read classic literature. Elsa has incredible creativity, but she puts restraints on herself that limit her expressiveness and individuality.
What is their voice like?
That depends on who sheâs talking to. Those closest to her are see a side of her that is gentle and soft-spoken. She sounds lighter and more genuine. At work, around people she finds gruesome, or when she is feeling cautious her voice becomes cold and formal. She can take on a very authoritative tone. For Anna, itâs often a mix of both. Elsa tries to be as gentle and warm as she can to her sister, but often has to become more firm if Anna begins acting out or starts getting too close.
Do they feel like their astrological sign is accurate?
Certainly not. Elsa doesnât know a whole lot about astrology, but from what sheâs heard about Sagittarians remains entirely confused as to how she could be classified as one. She feels much more connected to the star sign that comes the day after her birthday: Capricorn.
Which of the four elements do they feel the most connected to?
Water, of course. Though she does sometimes feel an odd pull towards the other elements. Like sheâs drawn to them somehow. Sheâs not sure if itâs just her mind playing tricks on her or something to do with her being a Mage.
Whatâs the easiest way to annoy them?
Push her beyond what sheâs comfortable with or is willing to permit. People who repeatedly questions her gloves also tend to irritate her.
Can they dance?
She can, but wonât.
Whatâs their personal style? What do they most often wear?
Multiple layers. Lots of turtlenecks and long sleeves. Color palette consists of blue, teal, dark purple, white, and black. Hair in a neat bun whenever she leaves the house. Minor gold or silver accents. Always gloves.
Are they affiliated with any political groups?
Elsa tries her best to stay out of politics, both for the sake of her company and because she just finds them exhausting.
What is their favorite hobby?
Reading! Itâs what she spends a great majority of her free time doing.
Where were they born?
Arendelle, Norway (fictional city located along one of Norwayâs many fjords)
What is one question theyâve always wanted an answer to?
âWhy was I born with magic?â Her parents never found any trace of Mages in their family tree, nor any other reason as to why Elsa was born with magic.
How do they sleep?
Sheâs a very light sleeper and is prone to waking up to any noise outside her room. Often has trouble sleeping as well and takes melatonin on the nights sheâs most restless. Usually wakes up in the same position she fell asleep in.
Whatâs their favorite game?
Chess, and sheâs very good at it.
Are they a very private person or, for the most part, an open book?
She is incredibly private. The only person whoâs really seen a deeper side of Elsa is Anna. If she shares something personal with you without feeling obligated to, then you are a special person. It takes a while for that to happen though. She tends to keep to herself and doesnât like discussing private matters with anyone outside of her sister.
Have they ever had or currently have any pets?
Anna and Elsa always wanted a pet when they were little, but their parents didnât think it was a good idea. She currently believes herself to be too busy for a pet of any kind.
Do they have any reoccurring nightmares and/or dreams?
Itâs rare that Elsa dreams. Or if she does, she never wakes up with an idea of what it could have been about. On various occasions she does have a reoccurring nightmare - the night when she almost killed Anna. As sheâs gotten older the nightmare hasnât occurred as frequently, but it still makes occasional appearances. On days when she isnât feeling good she often goes to sleep with her gloves on in case her negative emotions follow her into her dreams as well. As a child she would sometimes wake up from a bad dream to her room covered in ice. It seems like even when she drifts into her subconscious she still canât control her powers.
Is there a music genre they prefer over all others? How about one they canât stand?
She adores classical music and often has it playing quietly in the background whenever sheâs home. Doesnât care for most other music genres, as she prefers instrumental songs over those with lyrics.
Have they ever played any sports?
Never on a team or competitively, but she does have a talent for ice skating.
What things make them feel the most comfortable/relaxed?
Being alone (oddly enough), reading, a mug of hot chocolate, and being somewhere high above the ground.
How intuitive are they? Can they read people easily or are they oblivious?
Elsa is pretty intuitive. Sheâs very wary of people so she looks into everything way too much. She isnât oblivious to other peopleâs feelings either, but often feels like she has to ignore them for the sake of keeping her formal composure.Â
What are their eating habits/typical diet?
Elsa doesnât eat much. She doesnât intentionally avoid meals of course, she just often forgets to eat. Sheâll get absorbed by work or a book that itâs not until a while later that she feels any hunger. Most days she just has a cup of coffee and a muffin or some other pastry. Lunch is usually whatever she can get ordered to her office. If sheâs home then she tends to just lightly snack throughout the day rather than sit down to have a proper meal. She used to be a picky eater, but boarding school helped force her to expand her diet.Â
Do they have a favorite season? What about a favorite holiday?
Winter! Nothing matches the excitement she felt as a child when she would wake up to the first snowfall of the season. She and Anna would rush outside and spend all day making snowmen and sledding, then cozy up by the fireplace in the evening with their parents drinking hot cocoa. Even after those days were over, she still enjoyed watching other children play in the snow outside. She considers the icy patterns on her window during the winter to be one of the most beautiful things in nature. Her favorite holiday, Christmas, also happens to fall within the winter season.
Are they ruled by logic, emotion, or some combination thereof?
Elsa considers herself to be a very logical person. She thinks with her head before her heart and tries not to let her emotions get in the way of her life. However - whether sheâs aware of it or not - many of the important decisions she makes are driven by fear. Fear keeps her from letting people in and being open to new possibilities.Â
How do they feel in regards to their sexuality and/or gender?
Elsa has always felt comfortable being a woman, but her sexuality is something sheâs uncertain of. She tries to never actively think about or question it, but as a teenager it was something that sometimes took up the residence in the back of her mind.Â
Whatâs their most distinguishable/noticeable feature?
Definitely her hair. Itâs incredibly light - almost unnaturally so - and she keeps it very well taken care of. Unfortunately she usually keeps it up in a bun, so no one really knows itâs true length or volume except for Elsa herself and probably Anna. She also has piercingly blue eyes and very fair skin that help people instantly pick her out from a crowd.
Do they have any particular speech patterns or mannerisms?
She tends to fiddle with her gloves whenever sheâs uncomfortable and is prone to keeping her arms crossed at all times. When a stray lock of hair slips out from her bun she is often seen repeatedly tucking it back behind her ear rather than trying to place it back in her updo.Â
Can they speak more than one language? Do they have an accent?
Elsa is fluent in Norwegian, Danish, French, and English. Since she is from Norway she has a Norwegian accent, but it is slight since sheâs been practicing her English since she was a child.
Whatâs their opinion on Porthaven, Maine?
Her opinion on Porthaven is not yet conclusive, as sheâs trying to give herself more time to warm up to the city. However, she does miss Norway and prefers the old cities and fjords of her home to the rocky beaches and modern buildings in Porthaven. She isnât a fan of how warm it gets in Maine compared to Norway and seeing so many Mystiques and Supernaturals living openly is quite a culture shock.
Behrooz was raised in a Muslim household ruled over - yes that words fits here - by their grandmother. Their grandmother who had four children, three girls, and one boy, and who lived together with her youngest daughter. Behrooz was the only son of her only son, and while that shouldâve made their relationship all the better, given the circumstances of their birth, and the loss of her only son, it wasnât. It really wasnât.Â
Behrooz was scowled just as much as their two cousins. They were supposed to set a good example, but they were the same age, and had a mouth on them - according to their grandmother.Â
Her children - and grandchildren - should do everything to not bring shame to the family anymore. Behrooz was very certain that their grandmother and the family had been the source of great gossip since their arrival, though they rarely heard of it. And since they felt bad for her - her husband had died young, her oldest daughter had moved away to France - they did everything she asked.Â
She was a strong woman however, just, kind in her own way. She only wanted what was best for her family, and that included the family she had long since left back home in Indian, and to whom they often sent money.Â
Behrooz never had many things of their own. Aside from birthday gifts, anything they got they had to beg their grandmother for. And they would, because Bez was not very intent on giving up. They had their own laptop, a cd player, and a few free cdâs they managed to gain from the library.
Bez didnât have many friends growing up, their nickname is one their grandmother gave them. They in return called her Mama, which was a shorter version of the name young Bez associated with her: Malala. Kids at school, upon hearing the endearing tone, used to think Bezâ mother was incredibly old.
It didnât help that they went to school with their cousins, who were so done with the mess that they started calling Bez their uncle. It was taken so far that even the teachers thought Bezâs grandmother was their mother. Worst was: Bez didnât care to correct them. It was a much better story to tell than speaking of their dead parents - one presumed dead.Â
The few friends they had were all Muslims, they got to hang out the most during weddings, mosque time, and other celebrations. Especially during Ramadan Bez appreciated their friendship. They would lounge around together while their mothers cooked. Little was done during Ramadan, though the older Bez got, the more adjusted they were to the fasting. Even though Bez didnât have too much love for their family, they loved the familial aspect of Ramadan. They hated the attention at school however. None of their friends were at the same school, and Bez often ate alone. Although during Ramadan they didnât eat, they were subjected to teasing from classmates who thought it was funny to shove food in their face, or try to accidentally make them drink some water. Bez retalitated by going into un-asked for explanations about Islam. Until they went away. They were called to the office several times on account of âpromoting their religion in a catholic school. Which was the only time ever that their grandmother had placed a hand on their shoulder later in the car and had a good laugh. âAllah is kind,â she said, and Bez wholeheartedly agreed.
Leaving the UK was anything but hard. Though they felt they would miss British life a little, it wasnât enough to make them reconsider. They had dreamt of leaving for years now, the pull to move away was strong.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OHIO
Upon arrival - a journey that was filled with a lot of anxiety, especially at arrival at an American airport - Bez set out to find their aunt right away, trying every single American thing along the way.Â
Their aunt picked them up from a bus station that really wasnât anything like a bus station in Britain.Â
She was a beautiful lady, dressed in a colourful sari, and she exclaimed her happiness when she saw them.
Her four kids helped Bez get adjusted. They were all way younger than them, the youngest being only four. And Bez, eager to hear more of their mother, instead became a temporary guardian to their nieces and nephews, who clung to them like duct tape.Â
They got almost constant information about America while they did chores around the house and brought the kids everywhere. From politics to sports to food to television. Their education in the United States was led by two twelve years old, an eight year old, and a four year old. Quizzes took place on Sunday mornings. They rarely saw their aunt, but whenever she was home she would tell them everything about their mother. The more they learned, the more relaxed they felt. To at least know something of her.Â
Becoming a cop, while British, wasnât one of their dreams - they had none really aside from finding their mom - and no, it had nothing to do with finding their mom either. Their only contacts were other Muslims, and those all raised an eyebrow at their suggested education. The Iman suggested that maybe Bez could change something, they should be supported. And so they were.
Once out of training, Bez remained living with their aunt, they strengthen the bonds with the mosque and the police office, they became the first non-binary cop, openly out, and even managed to get some other cops along with Ramadan. Resulting in about nine officers half asleep on duty during the holy month. There was still stigma, expectations, they had to work a lot harder to get the same praise, but it was decent work, and they were okay at it.
But like in the UK, Bez never really felt like they belonged, like the fit in. They just were. And maybe that was enough.
âCAUSE YOUâRE THE ONE IâVE GOT / YOUâRE THE ONE I GOT
thereâs one photo album of the bakers. itâs slim, a brown so warm itâs nearly orange, that soft fake leather that stands the test of time. thereâs not a ton of photos left, but when maggieâs feeling particularly nostalgic -- once in a blue moon -- sheâll pull it out, run her hands over all the faces that left her behind.
first page is her parents. two photos. both black and white. first oneâs of them after tying the knot. karissaâs wedding dress is as she was: prim, traditional, an air of class. jonathanâs suit doesnât reach his wrists, but the joy on his face distracts from the ill fit of the suit. karissa is smiling straight at the camera. jonathan is staring at his wife, arm around her shoulder, cradling her as gentle as the sun kissing the horizon. theyâre happy. at least in this moment. maggie knows the truth behind it: the courthouse was a split second decision. her mom had wanted a storybook wedding: ceremony in a nice church, their families intermingling at the reception, tin cans rattling down the road as everyone waved them off. but karissaâs family was traditional, and jonathanâs family was racist. theyâd rarely talked about either of their extended families. weâve got all that we need right here, jonathan would say, pulling his wife in for a kiss, much to the chagrin of his children.Â
second photoâs jonathan and karissa standing in front of the house they rented in pleasance. jonathanâs got karissa cradled in his arms. you canât see either of their faces really well -- theyâre turned towards each other. the shadows are blurry. you can hardly tell where one of them begins and the other one ends. theyâd driven hours through the night and stopped in pleasance. it was meant to only be an overnight stay, but karissa was so charmed by the small town that they decided to plant roots. jonathan got a job teaching english at the middle school and karissa kept the house neat and tidy. i always told your mom sheâd get to keep her hands as pretty as the day i met her. he didnât get to keep that promise. whenever maggie started to falter, started to believe the things people said about her father, sheâd come back to this photo. there was no way the man who held his wife like she was the world would ever leave her without warning. there was no way.
SO IâLL KEEP TURNING DOWN THE HANDS / THAT BECKON ME TO COME
next pageâs photos of jonathan and karissa and their little sun. maggie doesnât dwell on these pages often. the years before she was born were blessed. jonathan and karissa had settled into the town. karissa knew all the grocers by name. jonathan was watching his first class graduate high school. they decided it was time to expand the family tree. maggieâs sibling was born at high noon during a hot summer. for awhile, the three of them are happy. and then karissa misses another period.
next page is a picture of the four of them at the hospital. maggieâs barely bigger than a bean in her mommaâs arms, and karissa looks exhausted as all hell, but jonathan is beaming. their firstborn is snuggled up against karissa, face away from the camera, staring at maggie. sheâd been born on the darkest night in october, just a few weeks before halloween, earning the nickname our moon from her father. maggie wasnât an easy baby. not a point of pride for her, but sheâd kept karissa busy, wailing like sheâd seen a ghost anytime she was left alone. once she was old enough to walk, sheâd toddle after her older sibling, fingers always grasping at the air just behind them. sheâs never really shaken that habit -- reaching out for something she swears is there, only for her hands to move through smoke.Â
THOUGH IâM A GEYSER / FEEL IT BUBBLING FROM BELOW
next page has a photo of maggie and her older sibling. in the background, karissaâs on the phone, turned away from the camera. maggieâs mid-sentence, her young face round with bereavement, and her sibling is staring directly at the lens. sometimes, maggie swears itâs like theyâre trying to communicate something to her. maybe an apology. an explanation. maybe a goodbye. maggie knows exactly when this photo was taken. twenty-four hours after running into the man in the khaki suit. his voice sounded foreign to her, funny almost. heâd asked jonathan for help. maggie, cold and hungry, had tugged on her fatherâs hand. impatient from the start. jonathan had just smiled. sorry, sir, canât help you. gotta get my little moon home. heâd always been that way: chipper, cheerful, patient to the end. next day, he never made it home from work. no one had seen him leave, but his car wasnât in the school parking lot, and he never came home. maggie knew it was her fault. sheâd pulled him away from gideonâs friend. sheâd cursed him. her sibling had told her to keep that to herself. her mother didnât say much. all three of them, left behind to swim in the starless sea of grief alone.Â
karissa had to get a job at albyâs, selling perfume to no one, and the two were latchkey kids. them against the world. maggie would follow her sibling around, silent as winter, and it was there that she started to learn about the whole world that existed within pleasance. maggie could never be sure if her siblingâs moments of cruelty were purposeful -- some sort of retribution for maggieâs part in their fatherâs disappearance. theyâd dare maggie to touch all five sycamores and wouldnât turn around til sheâd done so, no matter how much she cried. theyâd send her into lourdesâs lawn and run for the hills when the woman came out to chase maggie out of her lawn. still, maggie accepted her punishments. if she was a curse on the family, sheâd make friends with all the curses in town.Â
HEAR IT CALL HEAR IT CALL HEAR IT CALL TO ME / CONSTANTLY
the next photo is of her sibling, triumphantly tossing their graduation cap in the air. theyâd pushed and fought their way through school. if maggie was busy looking for proof that the stories were real, her sibling was busy proving that the world didnât know what it was talking about. they were well-liked. charming. not afraid to throw a punch if a punch was necessary. they were as quick to shoot down maggieâs beliefs as they were to squash any rumor about their father running away. itâs not good for us to believe in those things, theyâd say, dragging maggie away from jenny again. shit like that makes everyone in this town feel self-important, like theyâre in on something. theyâre not in on anything, magpie, except a load of shit.
next photoâs of maggieâs graduation. sheâs got her arm around her mom, smiling shyly, while karissa beams. sheâd made her mom proud. everything she did, she did for her mom. part of it felt like contrition -- if she could be a golden girl she could lift a burden off her momâs shoulders. still, straight aâs and a spotless track record couldnât relieve karissa of her great loss. occasionally, sheâd catch her mom moving in the kitchen, talking with a man who was no longer there. sometimes theyâd dance, her mom slowly swaying alone, to a symphony only playing for her.Â
two days after this photo was taken, her sibling had burst into her room. theyâd fought. maggie doesnât remember it well. fierce words were exchanged -- her sibling was leaving, no warning, and asked maggie to come with them. maggie refused. all she could think of was her mother, spinning forever alone in a house that held only ghosts. we canât go, sheâd said, furious tears burning her eyes. we canât stay, theyâd replied, weâll never get out.Â
AND HEAR THE HARMONY ONLY WHEN ITâS HARMING MEÂ
the next photo is the two of them in all black, standing in front of the coffin, backs to the camera. the flowers on either side were all handpicked by maggie. itâd been five years since theyâd whispered in maggieâs room. the funeral was tense. private. small. with her mother gone, maggie had no real reason to stay in pleasance -- but pride had overcome her. everyone left. everyone dreamed of leaving. not her. she wouldnât. the baker siblings hadnât said goodbye the first night. they didnât say goodbye this time, either.
the rest of the pages of the photo album are blank. translucent expectations. held breaths. a hello never to come.Â
ITâS NOT REAL / ITâS NOT REAL / ITâS NOT REAL ENOUGH
