Something Deeply Intimate About Being Outside Early In The Morning All Alone And Seeing The World As

growing up in all her privilege, meant taylor could do what she wanted with her life. and ballet was where it lead (well part of it). it wasn't just a livelihood for her though, it was intense and insane at times, but for taylor it was just pure fun. a great way to pass time.

"hmm?" she looks up from her stretch toward dominika, flashing her a smile. "oh certainly, it's nice to have some time back." performance weeks were notoriously long, intense evenings and early mornings. taylor liked it enough, but was looking forward to some time off. "a spa day? well you know i certainly can't say no to that." she switches to the other side. "and maybe a few nights out? we deserve that at least." she adds with a wink before moving back to standing, wiping their hands against their body. "any hopes for the spring season? i'd love for a new contemporary piece to be debuted if i'm honest."

who: @tendrflesh ( taylor )

where: nyc ballet company

there was an excitement for her knowing that they were in their last week of performances for the winter season. it meant a solid six weeks off before they all had to start practicing for the spring performances. however, that also meant that in the interim there would be try outs for new principals and always a chance she would get a call suggesting she step down from her position. dominika didn't feel her retirement was close, yet.

she pushed herself forward to grab the tip of her slipper, holding the stretch and resting her head againt her arm. "are you excited for a break, милый?" she asked taylor, wondering if she would enjoy the time off as much as she was going to. "do not mistake me, i love to dance but it is nice to do some pampering. we should have a spa day next week. start it off right." not practicing eight hours everyday only to perform later was going to free up time for dominika to participate in some of her other favorite activities. some pampering would definitely set the tone for all of that, as well.

@murdcrofcrows otis & rafe old world casino

never really one to gamble, and certainly not a talented poker or card player, otis never had much luck or fun in the casino. but there were few times they made exceptions of their usual avoidance of the place, and that was whenever rafe dragged them along. "you ever thought about sports betting?" it had been very popular once upon a time, "less strategy but bigger rewards right?" or something like that. they shrug, leaning back in the chair as they sip on the now warm beer.

@murdcrofcrows otis & raven otis's apartment

part of them wondered if they should both head out, part ways for the evening. but then where would otis go? raven? maybe it seemed better to be here, at least here there were no expectations and they could both just...be. laid out on his couch, otis fiddles with the rubix cube that is always on his person. "raven." they state plainly, looking over at them, "are we boring if we stay in on a friday night? or does that make us better than everyone else?"

Derek Luh as Jordan Li GEN V | 1.05 'Welcome to the Monster Club'

otis didn't consider himself a classy man by any means, or one who had their indulgences. but every now and then otis found their way to the ballet, usually a cheap nosebleed ticket, but anything that could get them there. and then he'd spend some time hanging around after ward, saying words of thanks and kindness to the ballerinas, trying to seem like he was there for the whole company, not for a single ballerina. but then again, otis was very good at lying or faking it.

today was no different, the nutcracker is a classic and he talks it up to being a holiday tradition for him (his parents never found the ballet interesting and he only went once as a kid), as he waits outside, eyes looking for the blonde. he doesn't know why he does this, it's not like she'll ever give them the time of day. but still they can't help it, a single rose in hand.

but then she's walking forward, smiling at him, as beautiful as ever. "oh, actually." they can't believe she recognizes him - was he being creepy? "yea, i come every now and then but uh, actually i wanted to talk to you." they nod, hand holding out the rose. "you were exceptionally beautiful tonight, the company is lucky to have you."

who: @tendrflesh ( otis )

where: new york ballet company

the show went well, dominika felt like she was completely on point the whole way through. which reassured her that she still had several years left performing before she'd be forced to retire. by then, perhaps, she'll have enough money to do nothing for the rest of her life or climbed her way to the top of burning gods. as per usual, she changed into comfortable pair of leggings, shirt, sweater, and sneakers. out in public she doesn't normally dress down but after performing it's essential to be comfortable and let her muscles rest as much as possible. while she enjoys meeting fans of the show, she's fully used to not being the center of attention and certainly didn't waste her time expecting it. that only led to disappointment. that's why when she noticed a familiar face stood out from the crowd, she assumed he was waiting to see the prima or the premier and while she didn't know him well she approached anyways. a quiet one, with a shy smile but still an edge to him. perhaps a sadness? she wasn't sure.

"if you're waiting to meet them you ought to push your way up there, there's only a couple nutcracker performances left and then you'll have to wait a few months before you get another chance." dominika adjusted her bag over her shoulder and nodded to the small crowd that was forming. saying performances were almost done aloud gave her a sense of relief. no more ten hour practices and more room for other activities, until they started up again for the spring premiere. "i think i've seen you here before, no?" russian accent thick with her tiredness.

she may roll her eyes, but essie would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy frankie's company. at the minimum it was entertaining, at the most she found it meaningful. friendship, fling, it didn't much matter to them. "i've put up with it this long, what's another time?" she smirks, taking another sip of her drink, as she pretends to be bored when frankie starts listing everything that she'd been up to. "emergency room visit? any good story or just normal stupidity?" she interjects with a raised eyebrow, curious to the trouble the other got their self into. "you need a vacation frankie, they can't have you working so much and expect to still heed your brilliance." she scolds, as if she was one who vacationed. essie couldn't tell you the last time she took an extended break of vacation from her work. "secrets? maybe. evil? maybe." she teases. "everything is going smoothly, which honestly is a bit boring."

"class? in this economy?" frankie mocked a scoff. "sorry can't afford it, you're just going to have to look past my gremlin demeanor and love me for who i am, baby cakes." she shot essie a wink and chuckled while the redhead scanned over the menu. frankie would much rather flirt than talk about something boring like politics or the government. a place she feared every conversation she had with someone near her age would go. "can't help it when you look like that. not sorry in the least, you ought to be told, doll." but when the change of subject went to what the scientist has been up to she let out a long sigh. "work, work, casual and meaningless sex, work, a random emergency room visit, oh,. and wouldn't you have it? more work." she ticked them all off on her fingers while she listed them. "how about you? any evil secrets you can tell me in the big pharma world?"

@wrvtchedhearts taylor & zakir where: out !

"hey!" taylor calls out, turning around and doubling back to the familiar face that had just passed her by. their hand reaches out to stop his arm, smiling brightly up at zakir. "wow, just gonna pass me by without stopping to stay hello?" she teases, head cocked to the side as she looks at him, waiting for his apology, or explanation. not that they really needed one, but it would be funny to see one provided. "you off to anywhere busy?"

*     ◟    :    〔   margaret qualley  ,      demi-woman   +   she/they    〕   taylor ryan ,      some say you’re a  twenty - five  lost soul among the neon lights.      known for being both  perceptive  and  evasive,  one can’t help but think of  i’m your man  by mitski  when you walk by.    are you still a    empress   /     principal ballerina  at   the snake den   /  nya ballet,     even with your reputation as the the opulent?     i think we’ll be seeing more of you and  skin glittering under the moonlight, doe eyes looking up at you, ribbons flowing in the wind, diamond rings over gloved hands.   although we can’t help but think of juliet capulet (romeo & juliet), daisy buchanan (the great gatsby), ophelia (hamlet), sansa stark (game of thrones).    whenever we see you down these rainy streets. ’

BASICS

NAME: taylor isabella ryan (originally kowalski) NICKNAMES: none JOB: nyc principal ballerina, empress in the snake den BIRTHDAY: april 19th ZODIAC: aries sun SEXUALITY: pansexual  GENDER: demi-woman, she/they RELIGION: non practicing catholic THREE POSITIVE TRAITS: perceptive, inviting, demanding THREE NEGATIVE TRAITS: evasive, vain, needy ENNEAGRAM: 7w8 MYERS-BRIGGS: enfj AESTHETIC:  skin glittering under the moonlight, doe eyes looking up at you, ribbons flowing in the wind, diamond rings over gloved hands CHARACTER INSPO:  juliet capulet (romeo & juliet), daisy buchanan (the great gatsby), ophelia (hamlet), sansa stark (game of thrones) LIKES: DISLIKES:

pinterest | playlist

WANTED CONNECTIONS

serious ex (or ex fiance?)

frenemies

someone she has charmed for her own needs

a mentor of some sort

flings/fwbs

current connections

ex-husband: bash owens (they were young and dumb)

casual fling: bash owens

siblings: raven & donovan kowalski

FAST FACTS

youngest sister of donovan and raven

is the only sibling that 'made it'

was eventually adopted by a very rich family who gave taylor everything they could ever want

distances herself from her past/siblings to keep up with her 'princess' persona she adopted

though given everything, she always wanted more, is also resentful of her parents and the life they easily lead

is a bit of a romantic at heart (or as romantic as she could)

lawful evil

has her own rules she follow, at the expense of others

on the prowl for more power hence the snake den

studied art for a while

was a dancer in her youth, now principal ballerina for nycb

considers herself classy & above others because of her money

father worked in government, mother was a philanthropist though she could have whatever she wanted, taylor still resents them...

self-obsessed and joined snake den, just because she should and seems to have a vendetta against everyone

more to come...

she beams as he turns to her, eyebrows raised as he wastes no time in luring her in, not bothering to answer her question without inviting her along. just the kind of things she likes from the people she sprinkles in her life. "i was just curious, but you may have put an idea in my mind." she steps out of the way of a couple walking by and tucks a long strand of hair behind her ear. "i can be persuaded to be carted off somewhere to disappear into, you off anywhere in particular or should we make our own way this afternoon?" she had nowhere to be for the time being, and could always make room for a little bit of fun.

Zakir had been lost in a world of his own creation, where everything he saw was made of words, imagination simply at the tips of his fingers, edge of his mind. So deep that the words did not reach him, but the physical touch was like a shattering of glass, a boundary broken. For a moment he stood confused, until he recognised Taylor. “Habibty, of course not,” he said, an easy going smile quick to appear on his features. “My mind must’ve been spinning, how could I possibly not have seen you,” he added without delay. “Anywhere busy? Are you looking for places to disappear in the crowds, the bustling of people, the sensations of bodies?” He asked, his mind still spinning with words. He pulled her into a side huge. "If so, yallah, we'll go somewhere."

*    ◟    :    〔   angela sarafyan  ,     cisfemale    +   she-her    〕      tennessee gant ,      some say you’re a  fourty-three  lost soul among the neon lights.      known for being both  determined  and  inflexible,  one can’t help but think of  the devil  by   banks  when you walk by.    are you still a    cfo  at   anunnaki pharmaceuticals,     even with your reputation as the tenacious?     i think we’ll be seeing more of you and  pink lips in a thin line, the chill from seeing something move in the back corner of the bar, the condescending pat on your head.    although we can’t help but think of shirley schmidt (boston legal), catherine of aragon (the spanish princess), dolores abernathy (westworld), queen ravenna (snow white and the huntsman).    whenever we see you down these rainy streets. ’

BASICS

NAME: tennessee baron gant NICKNAMES: essie JOB: cfo, anunnaki pharmaceuticals BIRTHDAY: january 1st ZODIAC: capricorn sun SEXUALITY: bisexual  GENDER: ciswoman, she/her RELIGION: none THREE POSITIVE TRAITS: determined, mature, persuasive THREE NEGATIVE TRAITS: inflexible, confrontational, judemental ENNEAGRAM: 8w9 MYERS-BRIGGS: enfj AESTHETIC: pink lips in a thin line, the chill from seeing something move in the back corner of the bar, the condescending pat on your head CHARACTER INSPO: shirley schmidt (boston legal), catherine of aragon (the spanish princess), dolores abernathy (westworld), queen ravenna (snow white and the huntsman) LIKES: DISLIKES:

pinterest | playlist

WANTED CONNECTIONS

estranged daughter

ex/father of daughter (could also be estranged or a one-night stand)

current fling/fwb/casual relationship

other exes

work enemy

confidant

someone with connections that helps her get things she wants

current connections

ex-husband: vinny nolan

old friend/casual ex: frankie levin

work rivals: diana ingram

girl boss besties: rowan rockwell

FAST FACTS

while in school, essie accidentally fell pregnant (boyfriend/casual fling/one night stand), and thought briefly she could do both - be successful and be a mother

essie had bigger plans than being a mother, so being pregnant in her early twenties was not ideal

after giving birth, she tried the mothering thing before deciding she couldn't do that and instead gave her daughter up for adoption

then essie focused entirely on her career and climbing the ladder at anunnaki until she made it to coveted cfo

never had time for too many relationships, comes off as harsh, believes in the future that anunnaki can bring

she's the kind of person that either loves you, hates you, or if for some reason you don't fall in either of those categories she forgets you exist

more to come...