INNOMINATE.

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BASICS.

Muse #: 1

Full name: Zaina Avani Kaif (as far as she knows)

Age: 22

Gender & pronouns: cis-female, she/her

Date of birth: December 25th, 1998

Hometown: Norbury, CT

Undergraduate major: political science

Career goal(s): public relations

Sexual orientation: bisexual

Relationship status: single 

Religion: Sikhism, not religious though

Ethnicity: Indian

MOODBOARD AU: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

                                  Yeah, when you're famous it can be kinda fun

By day, she's your average girl out of the spotlight. By night she's India's latest Bollywood sensation. Meet Zaina Kaif, PR consultant extraordinaire. Or as you may know her better, Preity Binti. How does she do it? You think only witches can get glamoured jewelry to look completely different and lead a double life? 

 Preity Binti, Bollywood’s favorite princess. After her debut at the International Film Festival of India, she quickly became a household name in the same breath as Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, and Katrina Kaif. You can’t go past a billboard without seeing her face. Rumor has it she’s moved back to London for filming her latest project.

Zaina Kaif, hardly your girl next door. From juggling the intensity of her new job at larger company and the long hours for the latest movie, she’s here to prove she can have it all. It helps that she has a few witches in her pockets to help her have the best of both worlds.

AND SOMEONE CARED ENOUGH ABOUT ME IN THIS WORLD TO TAKE MY PICTURE

x

.

Stella didn’t look like the traditional picture of someone who was grieving, per se. When she opened the door, her eyes were clear rather than bloodshot, and when she smiled broadly at the sight of Zaina standing there, it didn’t look like it took a lot of effort. Mostly, Stella just looked tired. Her hair was messy, her under-eye circles dark, and since getting home she’d changed into an excessively baggy and questionably stained pair of sweatpants which she paired with just a neon green sports bra.

“Holy shit, that looks amazing. Thank you so much, seriously,” Stella greeted her earnestly. “Do you wanna come inside?”

.

Zaina could see that Stella didn’t look off like she had expected Stella to. She gave her a soft smile, not exactly sure how she should be acting. If there was one thing she knew, it was that everyone grieved in different ways, and sometimes moms could truly be the worst. She knew better than to truly pry. “Of course! And don’t worry, if you don’t like kulfi you don’t have to eat it.” She chuckles before nodding, eyes alight in what appeared to be excitement. It would be nice to shut her brain off and just listen to Stella, but she knew she needed some answers too. “I’d love to! I told the others I’d stay as long as you’d want me to.”

Stepping inside once Stella let her in, she set the brownies down as she looked over at Stella. “How was it at your sister’s?”

Zaina knew that despite how methodical she was, she felt truly awful for Stella. Despite her history, Zee truly couldn’t imagine losing her own mother and feeling fine, so this must’ve stung so much worse. The circumstances were even worse, and though Zaina knew she had to get some information out of this, she knew her first priority was to make Stella feel at least a little better.

The brownies were tucked neatly in some tupperwear, and despite Stella asking not to bring any food, Zee knew that the tub of kulfi she brought would taste even better after taking an edible. With her location turned on in the group chat, Zee knocked on the door. As soon as the door opened, Zee smiled softly at Stella. “Special delivery. It’s all fresh.”

when: june 14th, 2020  where: dive bar. you know the one. who: @zainakaif​ @bytheshore​

“so we should,” he began, nervously tapping his shot glass with his finger. it was a little unlike him, he knew, to be awkward. uncomfortable was the more accurate term here, mostly because he no longer knew if he could trust his own eyes. and though he normally wouldn’t have talked to anyone about this, zee was his one exception - someone who knew him better than he did, sometimes. “talk about this.”

finally, he took the shot, still trying to remember exactly what those strangers had looked like and why they’d ran away like that. isn’t this what happened in horror movies? (and if that was the case, he probably wouldn’t survive in the end - realistically speaking.) plus, with what everyone around town had been saying – 

“i ran into connor the other day,” he said, suddenly, “and first of all, fuck him, but he said something weird. like how nobody was here. the girl i met before said that, too. and i mean - no one’s here, right? like a couple years ago, i hooked up with this dude from paris because there’s always europeans coming here because they think it’s unique or whatever. but – but nothing. not this year.” he sighed, “tell me i’m being paranoid.” 

.

“Yeah.” Zaina nodded, taking her shot without a grimace. There were a million things on her mind, and somehow it all had to be connected, right? The strangers outside the beach house, Theo and Vin mentioning how empty it is, Bug and her strange librarian encounter. Not to mention, the strange man at the grocery store Kieran and the others mentioning. And then well, there was her. And she couldn’t help but feel responsible for this.

Rolling her shoulders, Zee looked at the drawing she quickly sketched up of the woman they saw. There didn’t seem to be a correlation, and she knew she wanted to look up more information, but she needed all the facts. What the hell was going on? “Fuck him.” She agrees, nodding yet her brows furrowed. She needed to tell him, and then the rest of the gang, what was going on. A small smile cracks at his story, but he was right. It was weird.

“I wish I could.” She sighs, waving the waiter down for another shot. “But I mean, I need to tell you something. I haven’t really told the full story to the rest of the group, and I’m gonna, but I mean... it has to be sort of connected, right?” She frowns, giving a quick thanks to the as her shot was brought. “You all know I was adopted, but I was eight. My parents found me outside of Nobury and I... had no memories at all of anything, still don’t. So I wanted to get answers after graduation hence why I suggested we come to Nobury. I’ve found some stuff out, not everything. And I don’t know if it’s all... tied together. I know it sounds crazy, but shit’s been weird, right?” Her matter of fact and clear tone suggested she was taking a more analytical approach to not feel as attached. After all, what was there to say?

.

Stella nodded with an awed expression, like she was still taking in everything that was now happening. “I don’t blame you. That’s some heavy shit for an eight-year-old to process. But maybe we can get you to remember the good stuff,” she replied, grinning at Zaina like an old friend.

“As kids? Oh god, we were little goblins, honestly. Thought we were so much cooler than all the other neighborhood kids. There was a lot of space at your house, so we’d run around a ton, come up with the wildest games and stuff. We were always at your place, not mine, since my mom isn’t exactly…” Stella paused, looking uncomfortable for a moment. “Well, let’s just say your parents were cooler. So I ended up staying around for dinner a lot. We used to fling peas at each other from across the table and get yelled at.” She laughed. “I could show you sometime, if you want. Our old street, the spot where you lived, the places we used to hang out. If you think it’ll help.”

.

“Heavy shit to unload on you too right away.” She laughs at the irony of it, though she feels lighter because of it. Guess this summer was meant for her carefully constructed heart to hearts, given the situation she was finding herself in. Her face brightens, nodding. Though she didn’t remember Stella, clearly she had trusted her before. She hopes she could now. “That sounds great.”

“Oh I mean, look at us now. Clearly we were right.” She grins softly, nodding to show she was listening. A sympathetic look crossed her face, thinking about how Theo would’ve liked Stella especially. “God it sounds like-” she pauses, averting her gaze for a moment for feeling too vulnerable. “Sounds like we had a blast. All of it.” She wished she could feel that connection, that attachment. Her birthparents burnt to a crisp and she couldn’t find the proper reaction, because what was it? There was no greeting card for this. “That would be awesome! Seriously, give me your number and maybe when you’re off duty we can stop by. When you can, of course!”

.

jai emerged out of an office door which a plaque labeled “head librarian,” whistling cheerfully to himself as he took a keyring from his pocket and locked the door shut. Once he was finished, he looked up and gave a bit of a start at the sight of Ingrid and Zaina, reaching back toward his office doorknob before changing course and approaching them, looking very much like someone caught in an interaction he didn’t want.

“cold brew with blueberry syrup,” he greeted ingrid with a smile, before turning toward zaina. “and you must be one of the friends she’s traveling with. i’m jai,” he reached out to shake zaina’s hand. “can i help you ladies find anything today?”

ZAINA has now reached LEVEL 1 with JAI VIRANI. she can request jai for future in-person threads.

♣

“We should at least be able to find their full names today,” Ingrid pointed out, partially surprised by the difficulties she had finding a digital trail for Zee’s parents. People didn’t disappear off the planet without leaving a trace. Though she wondered if this meant Norbury hadn’t digitized its archives yet. “Fingers crossed,” she assured her friend, always better at solving problems than providing comfort. “I mean he works here. He has to be able to help find the records right?” Ingrid explained before they entered the building.

“Middlemarch,” she greeted him with a half-smile, her eyes distant as she studied the sight in front of her. The same hesitation as she witnessed at the coffeehouse the other day. "This is my friend, Zaina. We’re hoping to see the archives today. Could you show us the way?”

.

“Exactly, maybe a report can follow after. How many houses burn to a crisp around here, you know?” She smiles slightly at Ingrid’s assurance, grateful for the more analytical approach. She loves her parents, deeply. She didn’t need that from her birth parents, but there was guilt. She should know who they are and how they shaped her, but all that was left was confusion. “That’s true, we can probably figure out how to use it and figure out the rest ourselves.” She nods, already strategizing for the next steps.

And then out came Jai, with what seems like an inside joke aimed at Ingrid already. Zaina raises an eyebrow at Ingrid, a knowing look on her face. So that’s why she’s so insistent. “Nice to meet you,” she shakes his hand with a warm smile.  “We’d appreciate any help. Guess the Internet can’t help with everything!” She couldn’t help wondering just what Bug had gotten herself into as well.

Stella shifted her stance, looking at Zaina with a sorry sort of expression, brows furrowing in thought. “Their names… I don’t remember their first names, actually, I just knew them as Mr. and Mrs. Das. As far as what happened– there was a fire, I’m not sure what caused it. But it burned your whole house down. I didn’t see it happen, I was visiting my dad that weekend, but I remember coming back on Sunday and there was just, like, nothing left. Just burned-up debris.”

She paused, peering at Zaina as though this would suddenly jog her memory. “I always wondered what happened to you– I didn’t see you since before it happened, and then you weren’t at the funeral or anything. I was scared maybe you hadn’t gotten out of the house in time and they just told us kids that you were okay so we wouldn’t be, like, traumatized. It’s so crazy that you don’t remember… do you know what happened there? Is it one of those amnesia situations?”

.

Zaina listened intently, completely focused and tense. It was a lot to go off from, but she knew she needed to dig deeper. Now the question was what had started the fire and why was she left on the side of the road? Why didn’t she remember it? “Jesus,” she sighs, running a hand through her hair. “That sounds awful. But, really, thank you for helping. you have no idea, I’ve been trying to figure this all out for years. I wonder if there’s some report somewhere...”

Why weren’t her memories flooding back? That’s how it worked, no? No doctors could even figure it out, telling her there was nothing wrong neurologically. So what gives? “God it must be like seeing a ghost then,” she offers a wry smile with a shake of her head. “I have no idea. Maybe my little kid brain decided to repress it all for like, you know. Trauma.” She shrugged, sighing deeply. “But maybe while I’m here and exploring everything some stuff can come back, you know?” She paused, lips pursed before smiling slightly. “What were we like as kids? Before I... moved, I guess.”

matcha: favourite book?

Em u know I don’t read... But the below are all unironic ok:

Gone Girl

Dark Places

The Great Gatsby 

Crank

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Titan’s Curse

Twilight

I used to say Stargirl but I’m an adult and I’m realizing she was manic pixie dream girl’d and :/

honey: type out the last text you sent

Hdfshf

to my capricorn friend!

teapot: music preference?

I used to say I listen to a bit of everything and that’s true but lately it’s been female led pop punk bands so you can say I’m in my emo phase again 

sea: what is your birthstone?

Aquamarine! She’s a cute one, but I think opals would’ve been cuter for me... but get me some aquamarines anyways :) 

Oh also bloodstones apparently but she’s not a gem she’s a Stone u know? Fun fact my stage name will be Misha Stone

coast: do you like staying in hotels?

Yes!! Hotels mean vacation and that is Fun ok but now in this day and age... maybe not anytime soon...

jellyfish: favorite designers?

I have two like categories. How cool the editorial pieces are and how chic the Ready To Wear stuff is. I like Hester Sunshine a lot from Project Runway and I don’t think she’s made it that far where she’s established and stuff, but I’m excited to see her rise to fame because she deserves it. 

But, and this may be unexpected, I really love Vera Wang. Especially that picture, it’s stunning that dress. And just look at this, this, and this. Queen of wedding dresses but also, I love her fashion.

ray: do you believe in ghosts? 

I’m a firm ghost unbeliever actually, I’m sure there’s aliens out there and probably other oceanic creatures like... mermaids, but ghosts just feel silly to me. No offense if you believe but like grow up ;)

ocean: do you have a favorite painting?

Yes! I love this and this!

sugar: tell me about your first crush

Her name was Melanie, I didn’t realize it was a crush ofc but she was my best friend in 1st grade and we did everything together she was so nice to me and had nice hair and a cute smile and whenever we played prince and princesses she liked being the prince (v important, I was never allowed to be the princess with the other girls) and she gave me a cute lil kid kiss and I think I blacked out but yes I thought and talked about her ALL the time. She liked strawberry roll on gloss and her favorite Disney princess was Jasmine.

I don’t remember much else but that’s what I do remember!

oolong: ideal romantic partner?

God I dunno... someone I can laugh and be crack with but also someone who’s devoted u know, someone who’s romantic like me. But they’d also need to give me my space and understand that sometimes I just don’t want to be On/talk to people all the time. It’s a time.

white tea: occupation/career aspirations

One day I’m going to be like miss Fenty, I want a makeup/skincare line but in the meantime I’d love to be product development manager for a brand!

atlantic: answered! 

tide: what is your favorite drink?

I’ll do my favorite alcoholic drink and it’s 100% peach sangria!

lagoon: favorite mythical creature?

Mermaids! The Little Mermaid RAISED me and I absolutely love it, mermaids and sirens and all that. H20 was my favorite show for a while too. I love mermaids, but I love most mythical creatures tbh (blowing a kiss to whoever’s the vampire in Nobury)

sail: do you have a favorite poem?

I love poetry, I have so many that come to mind but I think about this like everyday: