avanguyen

[avanguyen]

It was a rather quiet morning at the library today. There had been a few patrons typing away on the computers, but they mostly kept to themselves with the exception of a quick question here or there. And there were only a few pre-teens browsing through the juvenile section. They were thankfully actually looking through the books and not wreaking havoc and making a mess like other kids around their age had done in the past. With not much else to do, the librarian used this time to print some coloring pages to refill in the youth area's coloring station. It was a simple yet fun way to pass away the time. She always liked to chat with some of the usual kids that made appearances during her weekly story times. They would yap her ear off about their favorite cartoon characters, super heroes, or even what they were currently reading. She tried to store away those little tidbits in her mind and search for coloring pages of those specific characters.

It wasn't until someone approached the desk that her attention was snapped away from her scrolling. "Hello," Ava greeted with a sweet smile. "You're not a bother at all! I'd be more than happy to get you set up with a library card." She minimized her coloring pages project while pulling up the window she needed to sign patrons up for cards. "Do you have your ID on you?" she asked as she set down a paper application and a pen in front of the man. "I'll just check the system really quick with the information on your ID and see if you're still in here or not. Cards do expire every five years, so if it's been five years or more, chance are the system booted you out. And if it did just that, I'll get you entered back in and all set up, okay?"

↦ closed starter  / ava nguyen @avanguyen ↦ location: national memorial library

Cat had never been much of a reader before lock up, but he'd picked up a book his cell mate loaned him and somehow transformed into one. It was one of the easiest ways to escape reality, and he'd fallen in love with it. He'd mostly been limited to what he could get his hands on from other prisoners and the very limited library, but now he was out and ready to expand his horizons a little more.

He'd meant to come by the library sooner, but things had taken so long to get situated. First there was moving in with his mom, then getting his license reinstated, followed by getting established with a job and parole officer. For the first time in over a decade, Cat Carter was having to learn how to make his own meals again. Today was the day: he'd driven himself to the library with every intention of leaving with not one but two books, if not a list of more to check out next time.

"Excuse me, miss," he said softly as he approached the librarian sitting behind the front desk. "I hate to bother you, but I need to get set up with a library card. I tried doing it online but it was giving me trouble... I guess I could already have an account from when I was a kid, but frankly, I don't remember ever actually using it."

[avanguyen]

Ava's face lit up into the brightest smile once she caught sight of one of her best friends bringing her her favorite drink. "Ahh, stop! You're the best," the brunette squealed as she pulled the drink closer to her. Once the strawberry lemonade deliciousness traveled through the straw and hit her tastebuds, everything was right in the world. Now that the weather was starting to warm up, there was nothing more refreshing than any kind of lemonade on this kind of day. "My day is good so far, just counting down the hours until I can go home to my cats," the said with a small giggle. "I mean unless you're down to read the kid's illustrated version of Dewey the Library Cat, then I'm down. It's an easy read."

Chesney knew how easy it was to slip into the ebb and flow of a workday and not even recognize your friends when they appeared right in front of you. In fact, she'd done it before plenty of times, having stared at someone at the nurses' station for a couple seconds before realizing they were actually there for her. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the counter, glancing at the list that Ava was scribbling while simultaneously sliding Ava's favorite beverage across the counter toward her. "No, I just needed to bring you this," she said with a wink. "How's your day, doll? Picking out our next book club read? Some of those are really great!"

[avanguyen]

Ava glanced down at the list of book titles she had scribbled down. "I have a Berenstain Bears book, a couple Dr. Suess books that are a possibility, but I probably won't go that route. The one I'm leaning towards the most is Dewey the Library Cat, which is actually a true story and it's pretty adorable." Ava could remember the first time she saw the picture book come into the library's collection. It was a true story of a kitten left behind in a library's book drop who went on to live at the library and inspired the kids to read. "Don't even get me started on The Neverending Story," the brunette said with a shake of her head, recalling all the trauma both the book and movie left her with.

"No proof needed, I believe you," the librarian said with a smile as she handed over the woman's beloved cardigan. "If you need a little remedy to get that coffee stain out, try a little bit of dish soap combined with white vinegar. It should come out looking good as new."

“Oh, what’s the selection so far?” She was no expert on current children’s books, but maybe some of them would ring a bell. Being a kid who used to attend events which definitely were not intended to entertain children, her mother used to parade her around and then left her in a corner with a book to pass the time. To be fair, she didn’t monitor too closely what the girl was reading so sometimes those weren’t very age-appropriate stories. “It’s important stuff, I still remember ‘The Neverending Story’ keeping me awake at night.” Although she was certain the librarian would care more about not traumatizing children than her own mother ever did.

“That sounds promising.” Smiling, she followed her through the library, thoroughly enjoying the space. “Yeah, that’s right. If you need proof it’s actually mine, there should be a fresh coffee stain on the right sleeve 'cause not only did I spill mine, I promptly slapped my arm into it like a toddler.” Maybe someone should read her children’s books, too.

[avanguyen]

who: closed starter for @benitoxherrera

where: the spring fling festival

While Ava was reading up on all of the information about the festival, a lightbulb sparked over her head once she realized she could buy a table at the market to sell some items. After all, she had gathered quite a collection of books over the years and she might as well try to make a few bucks back if she had the opportunity. Besides anything that didn't sell at the end of the day would most likely be donated back to the library or the book store in town. The crafty woman also took this as an opportunity to sell some of the handmade crochet items she had been working on for the past few months. She had an array of little crocheted creatures such as cats, lions, unicorns, and even a few plants that she had been experimenting with. She greeted everyone that approached with a sweet smile, not wanting to drive anyone away. "If you have any questions, just let me know," she stated as she saw a man begin to approach her table.

[avanguyen]

Ava's head turned as she heard the woman next to her speak. Her eyes locked onto a white porcelain cat figure that bared a striking resemblance to her white cat at home, Ghost. "I'm definitely interested in the cat if you're not completely sold on it," she chimed in. "It looks a lot like my little guy at home." Her eyes widened as she saw the cat statue almost spill out of the woman's hands. The brunette jerked forward just in case it fell completely out of the other woman's grasp. "Girl, I'm definitely the wrong person to save you because I'm just as weak as you are. My desk at work is filled with all the little knick knacks that I can't pass up."

EVENT: SPRING FLING - OPEN TO ALL

"Oh my gooood, this is going to be excruciating!" Aoibhinn fussed, dramatically coddling a porcelain cat that was probably crafted in the 50s. "How am I supposed to leave this poor old dear behind? Oh, and look at those perfect frog salt and pepper shakers!" She gasped, almost dropping the cat. "God I don't need any of this stuff.. but like how does a person walk away from niche animal brick-a-brack? Im too weak-- save me!"

[avanguyen]

Ava's outfit for the Spring Fling Dance @windsorbaydaily

[avanguyen]

"And you brought us some great titles," she said as she showed off the cover of a great thriller she had read recently. "I'm right there with you. I practically lived here as a child, which is why it only made sense for me to work here." She had grown up within the four walls of this library and had gotten to know the many librarians that came before her, guiding her toward her love of books. "I have a few ideas. Earth Day is coming up, so I'm thinking of leaning into the Earth/recycling theme this week."

Luciana smiled as she handed over the bag that had all of the books in it. "I know." She laughed a bit. "But no, I love to give back to the library. I know I spent a lot of time here growing up and they are one of the places that don't get the most funding so anything I can do to help out. Ugh, at least you're keeping yourself busy though so it's not like you're sitting around and the day is dragging on. Any ideas you've come up with yet?" She asked as she leaned against the counter and looked at Ava. "Oh I'm good, super tired. I feel like I haven't been sleeping that well. I tend to sleep better when I can have the windows open and have the fresh air!" @avanguyen

[avanguyen]

Ava's face lit up further once she heard the younger girl was looking for books for a research project. "Ohh what kind of project are you doing?" the librarian curiously mused. She loved helping patrons find books they were excited about in general, but there was a sense of nostalgia that came along with research books for kids still in school. It reminded her of her middle school days when she scoured through as many books as she could, searching for the perfect subject to do a whole project about.

"I know for a fact we have books on that subject. Let me just check the computer to see if they're here or checked out." Her fingers tapped and clicked away, verifying that the books in question were labeled as on the shelf and available. "Looks like you're in luck!" She stood from her chair and motioned for the pair to follow her into the stacks. Her eyes glazed over numbers, narrowing down the precise location of it. "Here we go. Weathering and Erosion," she showed off the cover of the book before handing it over to the older woman. "We also have this one called Cry Me a River, which is all about water erosion by rivers and streams." Her fingers tugged the second book from the shelves and offered it as another potential option.

the national memorial library loomed before marilou, a stone behemoth of hushed whispers and towering shelves. it was a place she associated with dusty research papers and serious academics, a far cry from her usual haunts. a place she never thought she'd have to step foot in. that notion, however, had been swiftly and irrevocably shattered the moment she became a parent, not by birth, but by circumstance, to her little sister, lily-mae. and being a parent to your little sister, as marilou quickly learned, meant picking up the pieces of forgotten homework assignments and rescuing half-baked projects from the edge of disaster.

and that's why mari found herself standing awkwardly in the library's entrance, the scent of old paper and floor cleaner filling her nostrils. lily-mae, all nervous energy and wide, pleading eyes, clung to her arm like a limpet.

" your good, babes. don't even worry about it, " mari waved a hand with nonchalant dismissal toward the young woman behind the desk, her own kind smile slipping on her lips before looking down at lily-mae. " take a breathe, lils. we'll find the books, ace this project, boom, done. you'll be eating pizza and watching netflix by dinner! "

lily-mae, however, wasn’t buying it and instead kept quiet, save for a harsh huff that pushes past her lips. mari felt a pang of sympathy. this wasn't just about a missed deadline; it was about lily-mae's fear of failure, a fear mari knew all too well. time to put on her " responsible adult " hat, even if it felt a size too big. the blonde gives a look with the woman, sharing a silent ' yikes! ' toward her sister's current emotional state. " ... do you mind helping us locate books on environmental erosion, but like, on a sixth grade level? " mari ends up asking, on lily-mae's behalf.

[avanguyen]

Who: closed starter for @claraxiong

Where: Ava's house in the suburbs

After a shopping spree at Crafty Hands, the two women and their armfuls of bags burst through the front door of Ava's home. They had planned a fun day in where they would throw on a movie, drink some wine, eat some snacks, and work on different types of crafts. "Make yourself at home," Ava spoke as she gestured toward the living room to set down her bags. Soon after her three curious cats came wandering out to explore the contents and the crinkly sounds of the plastic as the stepped and swatted at it. "What craft are you working on first?" she curiously asked her friend, still deciding on what she wanted to work on herself. There were far too many options between the dozens of half finished crochet projects scattered about and all of the new supplies she had just purchased. Things like embroidery, needle punching, and even beading were her most recent fascinations that she was itching to explore. "I think I may work on this little embroidery bookmark." She pulled out a pre-made kit with all the needed supplies, complete with all the thread colors and a pattern of the colorful florals she would soon be stitching.

[avanguyen]

A soft giggle left Ava's lips, imagining how focused she must have looked to anyone approaching her. "Yeah sorry, I'm in my own little world over here," she joked as she turned her full attention towards the woman by her desk. "I'm the youth librarian, so I'm just trying to plan out my next story time day. So many books, so little time." That last phrase had become the unofficial motto of her life. Even though Ava was the kind of person that devoured books and usually had multiple going at once. There were always new books coming out that gauged her interest, which resulted in her never ending to-be-read list. "Have any kids book recs by chance? Maybe something you used to read as a kid?"

Emilia had been wandering the aisles of the library, her fingers lightly grazing the spines of books as she searched for something to catch her eye. She hadn’t quite decided what she was in the mood for—fiction, nonfiction, maybe even a poetry collection. As she approached the desk, she noticed the young librarian completely engrossed in her work, scribbling titles onto a scrap of paper with intense focus. Emilia hesitated for a moment, not wanting to interrupt, but before she could decide whether to wait or speak up, the librarian looked up with a warm smile.

“Oh, no worries,” Emilia replied with a small laugh. “You looked pretty deep in thought there.” She glanced at the paper covered in book titles. “Planning something fun?” Then, realizing she was standing there without an actual reason, she added, “I wasn’t looking for anything specific, just browsing. But now I’m curious—what’s the book hunt for?”

[avanguyen]

"Oh no don't worry, you're not in all in my space," Ava assured with a friendly smile. "I'm just over here in my own little world trying to decide what to read to the kiddos at my next story time." Ava's face lit up at the mention of a cardigan. "Oh I did see my coworker pick up a stray cardigan a little bit ago!" The tiny brunette popped up from her chair and shuffled towards the lost and found bin. "What color is it? Is it like a beige, cremeish color?"

When Leona moved from Los Angeles to Windsor Bay, she abandoned a lot of things in the City of Angels. Of course, the items with the most sentimental value got packed up and driven up north, and whatever wasn’t sold, her dad either kept for himself or moved into his storage unit, he was the voice of reason when she announced she’d purge everything, and now she was rather grateful for it. She was a sentimental person, just a burnt and hurt one, and he knew that about her. He was the reason she still missed L.A. from time to time, but he promised to visit soon, and Leona immediately requested he bring some of her books with him because lately she found herself going to the Library more often than she expected herself. With her former busy lifestyle, there was rarely time to just sit down and read. Now, with a balcony overlooking the ocean, it was one of her favorite pastimes. It was exactly what she wanted to do when she realized her cardigan wasn’t in its usual spot, and that’s when it hit her - it was still trapped over a chair at the library. And that’s how she found herself bothering Ava. “No, sorry, I didn’t mean to get all up in your space.” Smiling, she glanced around, trying to spot the familiar creme color. “Well, kinda. Not a book but a piece of clothing. Any chance there was a cardigan here when you got here? I forgot it here earlier, and it's pretty much the thing I lived in this winter. I would hate to lose it like that.”

[avanguyen]

As the man pulled out his phone and began to scroll through apps and emails, Ava tried to place if she had seen him around before because there was something so familiar about him. It quickly dawned on her that he was a member of the Goldstein family, one of the other founding families of the illustrious Windsor Bay. "That doesn't exactly sound like my kind of reading. I most likely haven't heard of it unless it involves cheesy romance tropes, a fantasy world, or a good mystery thriller." Her attention turned back toward her computer as she opened a new tab and began to search. "It looks like we do actually have it. I can show you where it is if you want to follow me." The librarian stood from her chair and wound around the maze of various bookshelves until getting to the non-fiction section. Her eyes scanned the jumbles of numbers on each of the books spines until she found the one the computer catalog identified for her. "Here you go," she cheerfully said as she pulled the book from the shelf and handed it over to the man. "Is there anything else you're looking for?"

it's a mixed bag being back. as much as he missed his family — it feels like a weird kind of ghost town, where there's only a few remaining familiar faces from his childhood. apocalyptic in a sense he can't even explain. even so, the streets are still familiar enough that he's able to be comfortable. walking into a house you haven't been to but still your ensure way around even with your eyes closed. it's a weird feeling now that he's lingered longer than summers and school sanctioned holidays. the library is one place he isn't exactly familiar with. if anything, he probably should be moreso than actuality, but kiernan isn't exactly a bookworm. only study sessions in high school and used as the occasional parental drop off with friends. approaches the desk, he adjusts the bag on his shoulder. “kinda – i don't even know if you'll have it.” pulls the phone out of his pocket, flicking through the apps until he gets to email. “methods of dritical discourse analysis. heard of it?”

[avanguyen]

As Ava was pulled out of her own little world, she noticed the familiar face of a patron she had seen quite often. She paused for a moment as she read the words on his screen, taking in the request of what exactly he was looking for. She opened up the notes app of her own phone and began typing out a message in response. "The kid's section is right here," she typed out as she motioned over to the bookshelves overflowing with kids books for all different ages. She began walking, gesturing for the man to follow behind her. "Here we have a lot of our board books, perfect for little ones just starting to take an interest in books and reading," she typed on her notes app once more. She grabbed a couple of options off of the shelf and showed them off, hoping one would spark the interest of either the man or the baby strapped to his chest.

If he wasn't working or out being active, Elliot was often at the library. There was truly nothing more that he loved after a long day than curling up on the couch and getting lost in the pages of a good book. And while he was often at the library to find something for himself, this time it was for his daughter. Grinning as he glanced down at the baby strapped to his chest, her little fist shoved into her mouth, and legs kicking. He was determined to get her to love reading as much as he did and figured that five months wasn't too early to start at all. However, in all the times he had been the library, he had never ventured to the children's section and if he was being honest, wasn't exactly sure where it was. However as he saw Ava, he smiled, and made his way over to her. She was a friendly face he had seen quite often at the library, someone that he knew worked there. So he made his way over to the desk, patiently waiting until she looked up, and he gave her a warm smile before he was grabbing for his phone and sliding it over to his notes app to type. Sorry, didn't mean to bother you. I was just wondering where your kids section might be? Or even if you have books young enough for her? Turning his phone around to face Ava so she could read what he had typed, head tilted slightly in question.

[avanguyen]

When she popped her head up from the desk, it was nice to see such a familiar face. The two had bonded over their mutual love of books the first time they met and have gone on to start their own personal book club. The fellow book lover not only visited the library to check out books, but she also graciously donated whatever her store couldn’t use. Most of which would either be cataloged into the library system or set aside for their annual book sale. “Ugh you’re the best,” Ava smiled as she reached out to grab the bag of books. She shuffled through the contents as she spoke. “I’m good! Today has been a bit of a slow day, which is good for me because it gives me more time to plan my next story time.” The brunette looked up at her friend before continuing, “how are you doing today?”

Luciana was a frequent visitor to the local library. She always liked to donate money to them and any books that she was able to find that were in good enough shape for the library but weren't for her own store. As Luciana walked into the library, she had a bag of books that ranged from books for children to adults and she was doing her monthly drop off of books she managed to find. As she walked up to the counter, she noticed that Ava was deep in her own world going through the computer and scribbling things down on the piece of paper. She smiled as she heard the other. "It's okay, no need to worry about it. And not at all. I'm just here to donate some books like I normally do. How are you doing today?" She responded. @avanguyen

[avanguyen]

THE CHARACTER.

FULL NAME: Ava Nguyen

GENDER: Cis woman

PRONOUNS: She/her

AGE + BIRTHDAY: 27 + July 19th, 1997

LENGTH OF TIME IN WINDSOR BAY: Her entire life ( minus the time she spent away in college )

HOUSING: Suburbs

OCCUPATION: Youth Librarian at National Memorial Library

THE INTERVIEW.

What’s it like, living in Windsor Bay? Did you ever picture yourself settling down here or did you always know this would be your home?

"Windsor Bay is all I've really ever known. My family has a deep rooted history here in this town and I can't really imagine ever calling any other place home."

If you could recommend one hidden gem around town everyone should try, what is it? What makes it so special?

"Crafty Hands is my happy place. I'm an avid crocheter and am always making trips to stock up on yarn and other supplies. It's such a special place because the employees take the extra time to go above and beyond. They also offer classes, which is perfect if you're looking to get into a new craft and have no idea where to start."

What’s your family like? Are you still close, or have you blocked all their numbers?

"I'm extremely close with my family. I lived at home with my parents until I was done with my first four years of college. I moved out around the age of 23, but literally just a few streets over from my parent's house, if that tells you anything."

If you could have any three guests come to dinner, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

"William Shakespeare because I would want his opinion on all of the modern slang we use today. Emily Dickinson, who is my favorite poet. And last but not least, Jennifer Aniston because Friends is my comfort show."

Top five songs currently on your Spotify?

"The Prophecy by Taylor Swift, Foolish One by Taylor Swift, Margaret by Lana Del Rey, I Love You, I'm Sorry by Gracie Abrams, and Daylight by Harry Styles"

Would you say you’re easy to get along/work with? Why or why not?

"I like to think I'm pretty easy to get along with. I absolutely hate confrontation, so I'm not the type to make things difficult for others or anything."

Are you a leader or a follower?

"I'm probably more of a follower than a leader, though I think I do make a good leader when given the opportunity."

It’s the little things in life; tell me three things that bring you a great deal of joy or put a smile on your face.

"My cats, new books, and a cozy night staying at home."

THE PERSONALITY.

— + sweet, loyal, thrifty — -know-it-all, shy, perfectionist

AVA IS PORTRAYED BY LANA CONDOR, AND WRITTEN BY LIV.

[avanguyen]

Where: National Memorial Library

Who: Open for everyone @windsorbaystarters

A symphony of taps and clicks echoed from Ava's desk as she searched the library catalog, trying to find a book to read to her story time group the following week. Of course when she asked them for some suggestions at the end of their last session, the kids all erupted into a chorus of shouting different titles simultaneously. She racked her brain, trying to think of a few titles that stood out throughout the shouts. The brunette was so focused between scrolling through the computer and scribbling book titles down on a scrap piece of paper, that she almost didn't notice the person approaching the side of her desk. "Sorry, I almost didn't see you there," Ava apologized as a sweet smile started to spread across her face. "Can I help you with anything? Do you need help finding a book?"

[avanguyen]

BASIC INFO

Full name: Ava Nguyen

Nickname(s): Av, A

Age: 27

Birthday: July 19, 1997

Hometown: Windsor Bay, Oregon

Zodiac big three: Cancer Sun, Virgo Moon, Virgo Rising

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Residence: Suburbs

Occupation: Youth Librarian at National Memorial Library

PERSONALITY

An old soul with a sunshiny personality is Ava in a nutshell. She's an introvert who would much rather spend a Friday night at home with her cats and a good book, rather than heading into the nightlife of bars and clubs.

BIOGRAPHY

As the oldest of three children, Ava began feeling the responsibilities that came along with being a member of one of the founding families early on in life. With her family being responsible for the first school within Windsor Bay, her parents Châu ( father ) and Liên ( mother ) made sure she took her education seriously from a very early age. Around the age of six, Ava could usually be found with her nose in a book. Her parents began taking her to the local library and she quickly felt like she was at home amongst the thousands of books. She loved partaking in the weekly story times and making friends who were into the same book series as her. By the time she was a teenager, Ava put in long, hard hours of volunteer work at the library. Not only was it an excuse to log some community service hours for her college applications, but a reason to spend more time within the building that had come to feel like home to her. It wasn't a hard decision to take her love of the library and turn it into her job as she became an adult. After graduating high school, Ava packed her bags and moved across the country to attend college in Syracuse, New York. The university there was one of the best in the country when it came to library science. While she was there, Ava quickly adjusted to life away from Windsor Bay, though she still felt homesick whenever she'd video chat with her parents or siblings and they caught her up on all of the latest Windsor bay gossip. As soon as she earned her degree, Ava made the move right back to Windsor Bay and applied for the open position of Youth Librarian. It wasn't a hard role to land considering everyone within the library system had watched Ava grow up and knew she would be the perfect fit for the position. She also wasn't going to complain about using her family name and their legacy to get ahead when it counted.

HEADCANONS

It's no secret that she loves to read. But Ava is the kind of person that always has to be reading multiple books at a time. She'll be in the middle of a romance, then start a thriller, while listening to a completely different book on audio. She is a fast reader, so a lot of times she will finish a book within just a day or two. She's a hopeless romantic who eats up a cute and spicy romance book. She is always willing to give out book recs to anyone that asks.

She has three cats named Ghost, Raven, and Milo. Ghost and raven are females, while Milo is the only male.

Within the past couple of years, she's picked up crocheting as a hobby. With a lot of practice, she's gotten better at it and usually always has a few projects within the works.

Even though she may not do it as often as she wishes, Ava loves to bake. Her specialty is peanut butter fudge brownies.

She loves playing cozy video games. Especially Sims, Animal Crossing, Dreamlight Valley, and anything of that sort. She does have a Twitch channel and occasionally goes live.

Ava runs a book club that meets once a month at the library to discuss the current book they're reading.

Ava has never really been in a long term/serious relationship. As a teenager she always put her school work first, which left little to no time for dating. In college she had a few short lived relationships, but nothing ever stuck for very long. Even though she doesn't always put herself out there when it comes to dating, she believes her prince charming is out there somewhere and will show up when she least expects it.