“well, It’s Okay To Worry,” She Reassures, A Gentle Smile On Her Lips. “it’s Normal To Be Worried,

Upgraded (2024) dir. Carlson Young

the sudden nudge on her ankle makes rachel jump in her seat. if this was some other time she would have been upset that vanni almost gave her a heart attack (well, he still did though) on purpose, but once she manages to process what he just said, rachel shakes her head gently at him. “sorry about that,” she sighs. must be the lack of sleep i’m getting these days; somehow the words get stuck in her throat ⸻ it’s not her turn to tell him about her life updates yet, so she takes a small sip of her tea, hoping it would keep her stay focused this time. “what were you saying just now? i’m sorry i wasn’t listening- i mean, i did, but then i don't know what's gotten into me.” she offers him an apologetic smile. “can you tell me about it again? you said it’s an important life update.”

who: vanni && rachel ! [@detruines] where: little leaves

little leaves meant a lot to vanni for more reasons than them being blooms & coffee's competitor (if you see him sitting in little leaves, no you didn't). it was the place that vanni associated with being productive and work on whatever project he was working on and he had the person he was sitting across to thank that for. amongst all the places they had gone for him to be tutored, little leaves was his favorite. "¡che!" he nudges her ankle with his foot, a habit that he didn't seem to grow out of in all his years of knowing rachel. "the fuck are you looking at? you've been spacing out this whole time i've been trying to tell you about an important life update." he turns around in his seat and looks behind him to see if he can make out who or what rachel was looking at that was more important than him catching her up on his life.

“oh,” comes out her response, followed by a nod. jackie takes a glance at their surrounding for a bit before her attention is back on salem. “you’re absolutely right, babes. there are so many cats in here anyways, i'm sure they wouldn't even notice they're missing one of these." reaching out to pet another cat lingering nearby, jackie couldn't help but grin at the thought. it never crossed her mind to steal a cat out of here ⸻ only because jackie doesn't want one, but she's also not opposed to helping someone who actually wants it. "i don't mind it, really. it's an honor to be your stealing accomplice," she teases back. "you sure you just want one? why not get two while you're at it? i could help smuggle the other one."

"well paying for it wasn't really apart of the plan. i just figured i could like...subtly walk out with one you know?" it was technically stealing but salem saw it as rescuing a stray animal. "i'm gonna be honest but i don't even know where the owner is. you notice how empty it is in here? they probably wouldn't even realize if i took one." salem teased while rubbing the chin of a grey tabby that jumped into her lap. "let me buy you a coffee first and we can discuss theft afterwards. its the least i could do for dragging you along."

is that DUA LIPA? oh, no, that’s JACQUELINE “JACKIE” GRIMALDI, a TWENTY-NINE year old ASPIRING F1 DRIVER who uses SHE/HER pronouns. they currently live in PROVIDENCIA B&B IN CASABLANCA, and the character they identify with most is SHANK FROM RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET. hopefully they find their own little paradise here in el país de los poetas!

statistics

full name: jacqueline rose grimaldi nickname(s): jackie, kiki date of birth: august 22nd, 1994 age: 29 years old hometown: cambridge, england commune: providencia b&b, casablanca sexuality: bisexual occupation: aspiring f1 driver

tldr

the only kid in the family. she's spoiled rotten since day one, although most of her parents' affection come in the form of material things. grew up with nannies and while her parents were usually busy working, they went on family vacations during summer/winter so she has good relationship with them for most part. she's got the freedom to do whatever she wants and was never pressured to do well in school or things like that, but she did go into all kinds of classes growing up. it was her cousin charlie that made her get into racing ⸻ they both shared an interest in cars, so the idea wasn't all that impulsive. her parents thought it would just be a phase at first, as all things were with her, but this is the one thing that she could see herself doing for the rest of her life. they agreed to fund her races if she went to college and get a degree, and so she did. it's been 5 years since she actively races and she recently got her fia super license so that's exciting! she's definitely passionate about her career, but knows when to take some time for herself when she needs it. a self care queen indeed! personality wise she's very chill. a free spirit through and through. a little bit of a troublemaker but wouldn't do something illegal unless you're up for it??? loves to be around people, but also enjoys her own company just as much. doesn't usually flaunt her wealth, but is always "let me buy you something" or "it's okay that's on me". her love language is physical touch and quality time.

biography

born and raised in cambridge. as the only child in the family, jackie was spoiled rotten since day one, although most of her parents' affection came in the form of material things. she grew up with nannies for the most part, but the grimaldis would go on family vacations during summer and winter, which was the only time jackie got to see her parents and bond with them. they were not super affectionate or anything ⸻ she learned early on that it was just the way it was, the grimaldis were always busy with their own things. with little to no interest in academics, jackie was enrolled into all sorts of classes so she could find her own thing.

she was never pressured to do well in school or things like that, which prompted her to be very laid back as a person. for some time jackie struggled with finding her own thing, but she was always eager to try something new. her parents were never strict with her, so she had the total freedom to do what she wanted to, and most often than not they were supportive of her interests.

a jack(ie) of all trades, if you will! her interests were usually short-lived, for that she's quick to jump from one thing to another once she got bored of doing a certain thing. jackie played different sports growing up, but the one that stuck with her for the longest time was tennis. there was a time where she believed she would turn it into a career, but alas, she ended up getting bored of it eventually and decided to try something new. that was how her interest shifted towards car racing when she was in high school.

it was her cousin charlie who helped spark that interest. they bonded over their love for cars, so the idea wasn't something that came to her out of the blue. her parents thought it was just a phase at first, as all things were with her, and yet it was the only thing she could see herself doing for the rest of her life. it's a dangerous sport, sure, but that's what jackie liked about racing. it made her enjoy living on the edge and god, how she loved the thrill!

her parents agreed to fund her races if she went to college and so she did. initially she didn't even want to go to college, but it wasn't because she was bad with studies or anything. in fact, jackie was actually smart. she's just not interested in school, as she would very much rather play sports or engage in social clubs than have to sit through long hours lecture, which she found to be very tedious.

still, jackie went to university of pennsylvania and got a degree in business administration before she started racing professionally, just like her parents suggested. it had been 5 years since then and she just recently got her fia super license, which was something she had been working hard for! her next goal is to race in the grand pix, obviously. jackie didn't get that much luck in securing a seat for this season, but there's always hope that she would make it next year. as much as she's passionate about her career, she's not in a rush to reach her goal. well, sin prisa pero sin pausa, right?

“that’s right! you really shouldn’t miss breakfast. it’s the most important meal of the day,” rachel chirps, although she couldn’t say the same about the others. it’s easy to miss lunch or dinner when she gets too caught up with work sometimes, but she often makes it up with midnight snacks; that’s if she ever remembers to eat them. there is a bashful smile on her face when she heard rania, head shaking softly in response to her words. “oh come on, you said it just fine! at least you know what it means and how to use it. i gotta give you props for that,” she teases, listening attentively when rania talks about her kid. “thanks for the tip, mama. i think i’m good with french braids. might need to work on the fishtail and learn the others though.” it’s not like rachel is getting married nor getting kids anytime soon, but it’s nice to be prepared, right? a laugh escapes from her mouth. “sounds about right. anything else i need to know about having kids?”

"of course, have to be fueled up to take on the day." she takes a sip of her own coffee, grinning at the younger woman, "so good? wow. incredible, we're off to a great start." she reaches out and gives rachel's shoulder a friendly squeeze, "see? 'manifesting' sounds so much more normal coming out of your mouth." oh to be young and hip. rania agrees then, nodding, "you're right. self-care is important!" and something she neglects and is bad at, but that is not important right now, "mmm, i'm fine. sonia threw a fit over her hair this morning, but nothing a french braid couldn't fix." she snorts, teasing, "if you ever had kids? add different types of braiding to the list of things to know. a little french or fishtail can remedy almost anything. it's like me and a cup of coffee. healing, even."

is that MOON GAYOUNG? oh, no, that’s KANG “RACHEL” DOHEE, a TWENTY-SEVEN year old RESIDENT DOCTOR AT CENTRO MÉDICO who uses SHE/HER pronouns. they currently live in LAS VILLAS DORADAS IN QUILPUÉ, and the character they identify with most is ENID SINCLAIR FROM WEDNESDAY. hopefully they find their own little paradise here in el país de los poetas!

statistics

full name: rachel kang / kang dohee nickname(s): usually just goes by rachel date of birth: june 10th, 1997 age: 27 years old hometown: valparaíso, chile commune: las villas doradas, quilpué sexuality: heterosexual occupation: resident doctor at centro médico

tldr

youngest of three kids so she’s just a Baby fr. grew up with high expectations from her strict parents and the need to keep up with the oldest sibling, which kinda made her a perfectionist that would freak out at any minor inconvenience, but also has the mentality of fake it till you make it so she hides all that emotional instability behind her bubbly personality! the kind that goes “oh no worries this is fine!” with tears in her eyes bc while it is in fact Not Fine she’d hate to be of inconvenience. that being said, she might come off as a little pretentious at times, but she does mean well and is easy to get along with. tends to care about what people think of her, hence the people pleasing tendency. once she gets comfortable around someone she could become a tad bit clingy, which can be both good and bad. the kind to reach out to friends first and check on them. definitely the Mom Friend™. very book smart with good social skills! girlie went to harvard med school and now she's doing her first year residency in valpo bc she wants to be closer to family. aka she's also using it as an excuse to make peace with her brother felix, whom she had a huge fight with 5 years ago. she’s a very emotional person, tends to take things personally sometimes and make everything about her (re: the fight with felix). her love language is words of affirmation and acts of service.

biography

born and raised in valparaíso so she’s a native! as the youngest of three siblings, rachel looked up to the oldest a lot because they were the picture perfect child and well, she wanted to be the same thing. she wanted to be the picture perfect daughter. at first rachel thought it would be easy, and sure, while there was no doubt her parents adored her, she had come to realize that it took more than just being the baby of the family to get their affection ⸻ she would have to live up to their high expectations, first of all.

it wasn’t like she was pit against her siblings growing up. it just sort of happened naturally, especially with the oldest, considering that they seemed to have it the easiest, although rachel wasn't that different. everyone knew she was the top student in her class, that there was nothing she couldn’t do if she put her mind to it, and yet when it came to her oldest sibling, she always felt like she could never measure up to them. this put a strain on their relationship, which made her turn to felix for comfort and reassurance. at least she kenw they were both struggling to keep up with their parents' high expectations, or at least that’s what rachel thought.

that’s why she had become comfortable to whine around felix when things didn’t go her ways, although most often than not they did. sometimes rachel did it out of habit, unaware of the fact that her emotional dumping could come off as inconsiderate. to her, felix had been a safe place for her to be vulnerable. someone that she didn’t have to impress. despite being polar opposites of each other, with rachel being sunshine incarnate and felix the grumpy brother, they got along just fine. of course they did bicker from time to time, just like siblings did, but nothing was ever taken seriously.

rachel was in her final year in college when the fight happened. she was just venting to felix as she usually did ⸻ something about her not getting the honorary student award and how she felt like a failure because of it, and all of a sudden they were at each other’s throats. rachel wasn’t usually prone to lashing out at somebody, much less her brother, but somehow she did. she remembered feeling so upset that she couldn’t even recall what she said to felix, but she knew it was bad enough that he had to leave valpo.

it would be a lie to say she didn’t feel guilty about it, but she had better things to focus on for now. eventually she got accepted into harvard medical school, which felt like a dream came true, and so she too left valpo in the end. things had only gotten harder since then, but rachel wasn’t raised to be a quitter. now that her brother wasn’t around anymore, she often called her aunt to check on her while she was away, counting days until she could return home.

four years went by and rachel finally graduated from med school. she applied to do her residency in valpo, wanted to stay close to her family. after all valpo had always been home, and although felix hadn’t returned yet by the time she did, she knew that he would sooner or later ⸻ how could he not if the news of their dying aunt reach him? until then she could only look forward to the day they would make peace and become close again. hopefully.

DAISY JONES & THE SIX (2023) Track 9: Feels Like the First Time

music has always been a huge part of jackie’s life. it’s an easy way to connect with people, which is how she finds herself with leon right now as they anticipate for the next set. a laugh manages to escape from her mouth when she sees his reaction. “it’s the good kind of nervous, right? like you know shit’s about to get real good kinda nervous?” it’s not often for jackie to get nervous, but she kinda gets it. it’s all exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. “oh come on, you’re gonna do just fine. we’re just here to vibe and have the best fuckin’ time of our life.”

"i'm kinda nervous, to be honest," leon says to jackie as they sit on the grass. the stage is on the other side and joe vasconcellos just finished his set. people scatter the venue and the blond feels his body jittery. but he can't get high now, can he? it's 3 pm and his set is in an hour. roadies as setting up the instruments for the next act, diego lorenzini. "this guy is gonna be great and i'm shitting it, jackie. i'm shitting it."

@detruines

#that’s me right now

closed starter for abril, @citrine444

location: las villas doradas, quilpué

it’s not uncommon for rachel to share her baked goods with her neighbors; she often makes way too many for just one person to consume, but that just means she has an excuse to show up at someone’s door with some treats. this time she decides to drop by aivryn’s place, eyes focused on the box of cupcakes in her hands as she walks through the hallway. rachel looks up for a moment and almost trips over herself when she sees another familiar face ⸻ of course abril would be here too, she should’ve seen it coming and yet her presence still catches rachel off guard. “oh hey,” she says, forcing out a smile at abril. “are you here for aivryn?” then a nervous laugh. “i mean, right, sure you are. it’s her place after all. do you know if she’s home by any chance? i just made cupcakes and i thought she might love some.” she shows abril the box, only to realize that she should’ve brought some for abril too. “oh i- um, do you want some?”