roleplay: strange perfections, lyinglillies

"we lay here for years or for hours, your hand in my hand" ("in a week" hozier)

role
In a Week

name
Cassandra "Cassie" Claire Carrera

age
Twenty-two

gender
Female

sexuality
Pansexual

occupation
After finishing her final year at The New School in Manhattan, Cassie is continuing to work at a small flower shop called Lily's of the Valley. The owner, Lily Wayne, has pretty much given her free reign over the store and she absolutely loves it. She got the job in junior year and is now there pretty much full time.

faceclaim
Madison Bailey

personality
Cassie is full of life. She is almost always energetic, and it's not because of the coffee she occasionally drinks. She is just naturally excitable and curious. She always wants to discover more, about life and about herself. She constantly asks questions - which some may see as a bit nosy, but she will respect your privacy if you ask her to - and is on the search to learn as much as she can. Her mind works at a mile a minute, jumping between deep thoughts that she'll scribble in a notebook at one in the morning to something as simple as what flower arrangement she needs to make later that day. She has this big, unashamed, universe-loving nature that seems magnetic. She's naturally kind and creative, which makes her a good person to talk through ideas with. She is a bit judgmental, but she won't say anything purposefully hurtful unless she thinks you deserve it. Her stubborn nature can get her into trouble at times. She will constantly fight for what she wants, even if people think she's incorrect. Being doubted just makes her more eager to prove you wrong. She will argue until the ends of the earth for something she cares about and if you come for a person she cares for, she'll go even further (she denies it but she has a bit of a temper when it comes to the topics and people she is passionate about). Her love of life is what drives her and she refuses to let anyone damper her passions for the world and for others. It's impossible to extinguish her, no matter how hard you may try.

background
In the grand scheme of things, Cassie has definitely lucked out. Her parents met in California when they were in college and have been in love ever since. A year after they got married, they opened up a small record shop near the beach. A few months after their opening, her mother became pregnant with her older brother, Nick. A year and a half after that, Cassie was born. Her family lived in a nice apartment above their shop and they were happy. Cassie was always encouraged by her parents to speak her mind and stand up for what was right. It's part of what has made her the outspoken and opinionated person that she is today. Cassie and her brother would help out at the shop in their free time, and while there were some times where they hit financial trouble, her parents managed to tough it out without letting the kids know how bad it really was. Plus they always had family to fall back on if something really bad happened. Cassie managed to get into the New School in Manhattan and has lived in the city ever since. At first the cross country move was tough, but she loves New York (though she does miss California). In her junior year she got a job at a small flower shop. The owner, Lily, has become a good friend and her family like Cassie's own. As she figures out what her next steps are, she's more than happy to run the store while spending her time learning about the world and her place in it.

likes and dislikes
likes: The environment, flowers (especially baby's breath, lilies, and forget-me-nots), dancing, attending protests, dogs, fruit, movies (especially documentaries), old rock, her family and friends, vanilla, warm coffee, people who are creative, spring and summer, reading, the subway, rain, the beach, and drawing.
dislikes: When she was to do big floral arrangements for weddings (and weddings in general), big corporations, onions, the sight of blood, having to stay still, when people talk over her (especially if they're arguing and someone shouts over her), heights, winter, anything cliche, brownies, and clowns.

mini playlist
"In a Week" Hozier
"Crash Into Me" Dave Matthews Band
"Revolution" The Beatles
"Corduroy Dreams" Rex Orange County
"A Natural Disaster" Tommy Wallach

- - -

"a pillar i am of pride, scarcely can speak for my thinking what you'd do to me tonight" ("dinner and diatribes" hozier)

role
Dinner and Diatribes

name
Henry Ainsley Bautista

age
Twenty four

gender
Male

sexuality
Bisexual

occupation
Henry is a high school History teacher

faceclaim
Manny Jacinto

personality
Henry is incredibly fun-loving. Some may call him too optimistic for his own good, but he just sees it as having a zest for life. He wants to do whatever he thinks will be fun or rewarding which, granted, he knows is a bit bad for someone his age but he's more than willing to give into his childish side. He's goofy and charismatic. It's very unlikely that you will see him without a smile on his face and a joke on the tip of his tongue. Does he make these jokes at the wrong times? Occasionally, yes. But most of the time he's able to lighten the mood with a comment, which is a skill he takes great pride in. He's not a people pleaser but he does want people to be happy, even if he doesn't know them well. He's the most supportive and encouraging person that you will ever meet. If you ever need someone in your corner, he's the one you'll want. He will be there for anyone he cares about, no matter what time of day they need him or what they need him for, and is very good at connecting with people. That's part of what makes him a great teacher, after all. He'll do anything in his power to help someone, even if it means giving up something of his own. Henry doesn't like talking about himself, much less his emotions. He appears bright and open but he can be closed off. Once you become friends with him, you're friends for life. Unless, of course, you do something to break his trust, and good luck getting it back. Once that formerly opened door gets shut, there's no opening it back up again.

background
Henry's background isn't a sob story, in his opinion, but it also isn't the happiest one in the universe. His parents met in the Bronx when they were in their twenties, and he was born a few years after they got married. His mother was a teacher while his father was a writer. When Henry was three his father published his first book which turned out to be a big hit. Immediately after, his father's life became filled with press tours and signings and overnight trips, and a few months after all of that started he and Henry's mother separated. Henry's never tried to contact his dad after that. He knows his name and vaguely remembers what his face looks like, but nothing else beyond that. And though he's somewhat curious about what his father is up to now — last thing he heard he lived in England? — Henry isn't going to seek him out under any circumstances. Henry made his way through middle and high school with little trouble before getting into Columbia on a partial scholarship (he's much smarter than people think he is). After getting his bachelors, he went to grad school for education and philosophy. He eventually became a student teacher at his old high school then went on to become their permanent history teacher. He teaches multiple grades and in addition to teaching Global and Medieval history, he has a Philosophy elective he teaches for a small group of students and coteaches another class with the English teacher.

likes and dislikes
likes: Suits (he's got at least seven in his closet), history (especially medieval), chocolate, apples, junk food, whiskey, sleeping in, memoirs, movies, crosswords, his students, his friends, snow, traveling, the library (though he wouldn't be caught dead there), cinnamon, museums, baseball, and swimming.
dislikes: Cooking (he claims it's because it takes too much time but really it's just because he's terrible at it), admitting he's wrong, any sort of insect, waking up early, non-fiction books, scented soaps, itchy socks, when people know too much about him, taking the bus, and winter gloves.

mini playlist
"Dinner and Diatribes" Hozier
"Hey Jude" The Beatles
"Quarter Life Crisis" Harry Hudson
"Bad Dream Baby" Hippo Campus
"Little Red Corvette" Prince

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finally done! let me know if there's anything i need to add, change, fix, or clarify!