#WHAT DO YOU F UC K I N G MEAN SUMMER

[floopsboopdedoops]

That feeling when APPARENTLY even your FUCKING D R EA MS ARE SPOILER TERITORY

[hellstate--rp-blog]

↪ b a s i c s ;

N A M E: Rhiannon Cooper Nankova A G E: 25 P L A C E   O F   O R I G I N: Berkley, California G R O U P: None F C: Nina Dobrev

❝ There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable. ❞

↪ p e r s o n a l i t y ;

P O S I T I V E   T R A I T S: solicitous ; resolute N E G A T I V E   T R A I T S: insecure ; capricious

↪ b i o g r a p h y ;

L I F E   B E F O R E   T H E   O U T B R E A K:

“Rhiannon rings like bell through the night and wouldn’t you love to love her?”

Rhiannon Cooper Nankova was born to Ivan and Pamela Nankov on September 12th, 1991. Both professors at UC Berkeley ( Ivan in glaciology and Pamela in anthropology ), the two had waited longer than many of their peers to have a daughter and were in their early forties when she was born. Both having been active in the counterculture movement of the 1970s, they didn’t give Rhiannon the strict homes they’d been raised in. Named for the Fleetwood Mac song with the cool edge of Alice Cooper ( Ivan was by no means traditional, and did not even blink when Pamela rebuked the idea of adding a patronymic name for their daughter ), Rhiannon found herself the odd girl out in many settings. Her parents were older, hippie professors from UC Berkeley, her father from a country no one her age had even heard of and their parents often assumed was Russian instead of Bulgarian. Instead of allowing herself to feel as though she didn’t belong, Rhiannon made it clear early on that she didn’t need friends to find her own happiness, which could be made in public gardens with her dog Bogart, or in the simplicity of a good book, curled up in the hammock that hung off her back porch.

The bright-eyed child with a halo of chestnut locks grew into a charming, delightful girl. With a gregarious personality and a strong sense of self, she cruised through life well-liked and happy. After finishing high school, Rhiannon opted to live an ‘artist’s life’ ( as her mother so often called it ) in a loft in downtown Berkeley while working part-time at a trendy restaurant and helping her mother with her research. With her parents’ support, she spent little time forcing herself to create and though their connections got her gallery shows from time to time, she didn’t actively pursue a career–her dreams mercurial. With her passion distributed across so many different interests and genres, nothing she did seemed to ‘belong’ together and after several years of forcing herself to make something cohesive, Rhiannon accepted that she was never going to make it big in the art world. 

Frustrated and unsure of her future, but tired of working a dead-end waitressing job–even if the tips were enough to accommodate her lifestyle–Rhiannon started to take advantage of the free tuition at Berkeley. A couple terms in and she still didn’t know what she wanted. Rhiannon enjoyed the classes and learning, the environment and the social aspects, but wondered if it wasn’t a waste of her time. Nothing seemed to grab onto her and insist that it was meant for her and she for it.

When her mother took sabbatical to travel with her father to Antarctica, planning to stay for a year to write an ethnography on the scientists’ lives during the harsh winters after being inspired by a thousand and one stories Ivan brought back from his research trips, Rhiannon was eager to tag along. The experience was the most unique thing she could think of doing and she was eager for the adventure it promised; a stark contract when held up against her cool summer days off lounging on the balcony of her loft apartment.

The expedition went off without a hitch, aside from some terrifying weather on the plane ride in. Rhiannon felt EXHILARATED. The cold air stung her eyes, the silence deafening to her ears, but the harsh wintry landscape was unlike anything she’d ever seen. The first couple of months were grueling, but the novelty didn’t wear off. Not even when they ran out of “freshies” and were stuck eating non perishables. Not when a guy freaked out over not getting cheese on his burger and threw a tray at the cook after mumbling over an empty plate for half an hour. Nothing seemed to tarnish the invigorating landscape that had captured the hearts of the entire Nankov family. Rhiannon had found the right place to rekindle her interest and cure her of her prodigal boredom.

L I F E   D U R I N G   T H E   O U T B R E A K:

“All your life you’ve never seen woman taken by the wind”

The Nankov family was still in Antarctica when the outbreak occurred. When the internet was knocked out, neither were shocked or surprised. They had a supply ship coming from France to replenish their stores and with it would bring new blood onto the continent which meant stories from the outside, magazines, and the WORKS. But when the ship finally docked, it brought with it something worse than than a beat-up outdated copy of Italian Vogue or Rolling Stone. The crew were shaken up–they’d stopped in Argentina to pick some of the awaited scientists on their way to the continent and things had only gone south from there.

During the two-day trip, one of them had gotten feverish and sick.Twelve hours before docking, he “fucking snapped” and attacked the doctor in the ship’s infirmary. ‘A wounded animal will bite when cornered,’ one of the ship’s crew said bleakly. After a short scuffle, the scientist was killed when he was shoved back and slipped, striking the back of his head on a medical supply cart. No one was more shaken up than the physician who’d had her arm bitten in the attack. She was brought in immediately to see the physicians on base after she developed a fever and chills–signs, Rhiannon overheard, that might be indicative of sepsis.

Pamela had always been a compassionate woman. When she’d heard about the sickness the physician faced, she confessed to Rhiannon that it was hard for her not to see herself in the same professional woman’s shoes. With no family accompanying her, Rhiannon suggested her mother visit the woman, if not for her own peace of mind, then at least to give the sick woman a comforting hand. If nothing else, she could give the medical crew their much needed break to get some rest for themselves after a long day.

Pamela brought the woman clean clothes, a cool rag, and a book–hoping to ease her woes–but the physician was much sicker than she had allowed herself to hear. Resolved to be strong, Pamela spent the woman’s final moments with her–wiping sweat from her feverish forehead with a cool rag, humming softly to her the tunes of her favorite songs fromRumours. Halfway through Landslide the woman began to arrest and Pamela called for help, holding her hand in tears. If someone heard her cries, no one came. The physician passed away, delicate hands cooling quickly in Pamela’s clammy, shaking grip.

When the medical team members returned after filling their bellies and resting their weary eyes, they were horrified by the amount of blood in the room. Their terror was short lived, as their attending physician and the woman who’d come to give her compassion tore through their necks with expert finesse for a couple of monsters so fresh and inexperienced of maiming. The group made it through the corridors and into the cafeteria before they were gunned down by a toastie who’d been heading through the caf on his way to repaint his own quarters with his brains after spending six hours crying for no reason he could figure out. After that he dug his heels in and clung to living harder than he’d ever clung to anything in his life.

The outbreak in antarctica was FRIGHTENING but quickly contained. Those left on the base were clever enough to connect their recent loss of contact with the outside world with the disease brought with supplies. They chose–unanimously, but with heavy grief–to stay on base as long as they could before leaving on the ship that brought the virus to them in the first place. Ivan had never felt the pressure to be so strong as he did now, a grieving daughter held tightly in his arms as they watched the love of his life burn alongside the bodies of the other infected. The two learned to be strong for each other, but in the process never allowed themselves the shelter in grieving with one another. ‘We’ll keep living.’ Ivan would say, blue eyes fixed ahead on the distant glaciers he’d once loved that broke through the ocean in white sheets, so cold at their core they were blue–like the hottest part of a flame.

L I F E   A F T E R   T H E   O U T B R E A K: 

“She rules her life like a fine skylark and when the sky is starless”

After another year, supplies had run so low that they had no hope of surviving without leaving their barren, but LIVING wasteland. Rhiannon kissed the snow goodbye from the hull of the boat as flakes landed on her lips and eyelashes. Her favorite place in the world might only have her again in her dreams and she was terrified of the world that she was returning to. After docking in Ushuaia, Argentina the Americans left alive made their way home–uncertain of what else they could do aside from looking for their loved ones and hoping for the best. 

Ivan and Rhiannon had little hope to returning to Berkeley, both of them shared the unspoken feeling that returning home to a California with no sun ( no Pamela ) was as comforting as volunteering to live in a crypt. Cobwebs clung to their memories, suffocating and binding. There was nothing left for them there. The two heard of Cheyenne from some traders who’d helped them out with an extra map ( not all human kindness had been sucked from the world, it would seem ). 

The pair made their way to the city, which her father was convinced shined in the Wyoming wasteland like glittering ice. Those cold, distant eyes held smiles once again and the man who’d held her hand and walked her to school everyday seemed to return. One morning he left to catch some breakfast near the Colorado River. She waited five days for him before she let him go. Even a lark knows when its song is done. As far as Rhiannon knows, out of all those she left the frozen south with, she’s the only one who survived. 

The prodigal, childish girl she once was became replaced with a stronger, faster girl–still frightened of the world around her and the DEATH, but rising to the challenge of survival. It seems any courageous part of her, despite her determination to keep it, wavers with the overwhelming loneliness of being without her family. Since she’s arrived in Cheyenne after finding nothing worth living for in California, she’s been trying to rebuild herself and figuring out a skillset she can actually use. Still, the weight of survival buckles her knees some days and she cannot help but break down–in private moments, in desperate hope–regretting every small thing she might have redone if given half a chance.

[lovemesomesurveys]

A Art: When was the last time you painted something? It’s been a long time since I’ve painted something. Adventure: When was the last time you really felt alive, and what were you doing? Wow... I don’t know. It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt that. Allergies: What is one thing that you are allergic to? Tangerines. How random. Answers: What is one question you would like an answer to? Why am I like this? Age: What has been your favorite age so far? Childhood ages. Take me backkk.

B What month is your birthday? July. Have you ever played house inside a big box? I don’t think so. Are you boisterous? No, I’m the opposite. Have you ever dated a bad boy? No. Name one thing you like that is blue: The ocean. Not being in it, but being near it at the beach. C Cinnamon--yay or nay? Yay. 

Chocolate: do you love it? I’m not a chocoholic, but I like it. Name one favorite type of candy. White chocolate. Children: Name one favorite thing to do with kids while babysitting. I haven’t babysat since my younger brother and a couple of my cousins were little, which was a little over a decade ago now. I remember playing like hide and seek and house with them and just watching cartoons or a movie. Carefree: Are you carefree? Um, most definitely not. D When was the last time you danced like no one was watching? *shrug* Do you daydream? Yes. Dreams: What is one of your dreams? I just want to get better. What is one thing you are currently dreading? My next doctor appointment. Name something delicious. Milkshakes. E Would you ride an elephant if given the opportunity? No. I’d be way too scared. Do you live life on the edge? No. Name something you like to eat: Ramen. Do you believe in everlasting life? I do. Name something that comes easy to you. These days crying seems to. F Name a fragrance you like. Ones with patchouli in it. Are you a free spirit? No. Are you fickle? No. Are you hiding your feelings from someone? No. Name one flavor you like. Strawberry. G Are you gentle? I would say that over being rough. Are you generous? I feel like I’m too wrapped up in myself and my own shit and not doing much for others. Name something green. Guacamole. Name a famous giant. My mom was watching something recently about a wrestler named Andre the Giant. He really was. Are you a girl? I am. H Are you generally a happy person? No.  Do you honor the holiness of the day? I attend church on Sundays. Do you believe in Heaven? I do. Name one thing you are hoping for. Beach trips soon. Name one thing you hate. My current situation. I Imagination: Write the name of one of your imaginary friends from when you. were younger. I didn’t have one. Issues: Name one magazine you subscribe to, if there is any. None. Internet: Name one website you visit often. Tumblr. Itinerary: List one place you would like to visit. Hawaii. Interest: Name one thing that interests you. Psychology. J Are you joyful? I’m a sad, sleepy, sensitive soul. When was the last time you were filled with joy? I was happy for my brother when he graduated UC recently. Can you jump high? I can’t jump at all. Name one girl's name that starts with a J that you like. Jessica. Name one boy's name that starts with a J that you like. Joseph. K Have you ever been kissed? Yes. Have you ever feared that you would be killed? Not an active fear, but I mean that is something scary to say the least. Are you kind? This survey is making me feel shitty, ha. It’s like are you generous and kind and joyful and I’m like uhhh. Like, I’m not an evil or mean person, but I don’t know when I think of generous and kind people I don’t feel I’m quite up to par. 

Who is your kindred spirit? *shrug*

Name one thing you liked as a kid. I was obsessed with playing with Barbies. L Do you love someone? My family. Do you live out loud? What does that mean? Do you read food labels? Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes I check the protein amount in something or to see if there’s something spicy in the ingredients. Other times it’s just out of curiosity. Name something local that you like. One of the pizza places I go to. List one thing you like to do at the lake. I don’t go to the lake. M Do you like... monkeys music musicals mansions miracles N Do you want something.... new nice neat never-before-seen nature-inspired O How old are you? 31. What is the last great opportunity you missed? I don’t know. Name one thing you like that's orange (besides oranges). I don’t even like oranges. I’m looking at a bag of nacho cheese Doritos, which to me look orange so let’s go with that. Are you open? In surveys I definitely am. Name something odd. Me. P Are you... patient perky pale <<< Funny story, my uncle put me on blast about that at my brother’s grad party the other day lol. He was like, “It’s good to see you out and about” and I was like, “yeah, it’s been like over a year” and he’s like, “Yeah... I can tell. You’re looking just a little pale there” and I go, “Yeah, just a little, heh...” and he says, “Well, more like a lot” and laughs. lol well damn. I need several beach trips this summer. peaceful passionate Q Do you own a... quilt quail queen-size bed quill pen book of questions R Do you like to... run rave riddle rhyme rap S Are you ever... shy sensitive secretive sure stable T Are you... ticklish trouble tall thankful tactful U Have you ever... ridden a unicyle used an umbrella visited an uncle been undecided played a ukelele V Do you own a... violin vehicle violet dress vampire cape veil for a wedding dress W What is something you wish for? Better health. Wonder: When was the last time you opened your eyes in wonder? Uhhh. Name five words you like. Nah. What is something you wonder? Will I ever do something with my life or is this it for me? Name someone who thinks you are worthless. Myself. X Have you ever... played a xylophone had an x-ray enjoyed exercise had excision surgery been excluded Y Are you young? I guess 31 is still young. I feel old. Are you youthful? You could say that. Did you have a big yard growing up? No. What did you do yesterday? Slept, mostly. Do you like yams? I don’t think I’ve ever had yams, but I have no desire to try them. Z Zeal: What are you passionate about? I haven’t felt passionate in a long time. Zing: Do you like raspberry lemonade? I don’t think I’ve ever had it. What's your favorite zoo animal? Giraffes. Do you own anything from Zales? No. List a name that starts with a Z. Zack.