michellexyoon

[michellexyoon]

Michelle had thought that coming back home, somehow she would be able to land a role at least in this town. It was her town for crying out loud. Seth’s reach was strong in LA, but surely here, in Covington, Michelle would be able to use her ties to land herself something. Or so she thought. Her agent had suggested that she audition for a role that, if asked a few years back, the actress would have never even considered. Now, she was willing to try anything. Rebuild her way up. Yet she’d run into the very same man that she’d been hoping to avoid. As her foot continued to press the accelerator and her car picked up a dangerous speed, Michelle found her thoughts wandering and the rush of adrenaline from the speed sobering. Until the survival instinct kicked in and she immediately pulled her foot off the pedal. Stopping the car at the side of the road, giving it and herself time to cool off, her head rested against the wheel. But within a few seconds of trying to practice the breathing exercises she taught in her classes, she heard a rap on the window. Turning her head slightly towards the voice, she grimaced in return, not immediately making out the familiar face. “I’m fine, just trying to fall asleep at the wheel.” Tilting a little bit more, her brow furrowed because she finally recognized the stranger and she rolled the window down. “Devika?”

at the side of the road by Wickery Bridge.

There were days when Devika felt like everything she’d ever learned about cars and motor vehicles in general was against her will … despite the necessity of such knowledge when it came to her new job, her new career. It was just that she’d managed to plateau, somehow, when it came to driving — she was still scared every time she sat behind the wheel, too uncertain to gain any sort of ease. She came away from each session worn out and wondering why she was still bothering, and today was no exception. Which was why she was walking back into town, that, and the fact that it certainly didn’t hurt to keep moving. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t see the car until she was upon it, and even then, she approached with caution — either someone needed help, was lost, or … she was about to get murdered. When she reached the drivers’ side window, though, Devika had to assume it was the first one, and she lightly tapped the window. “Are you okay?” | @michellexyoon

[michellexyoon]

WITH: @cariakaratan LOCATION: remedy wellness

Seeing as work wasn’t exactly banging down her door, Michelle found that day drinking wasn’t really keeping her occupied much anymore. And it wasn’t all that healthy ( though Michelle cared little about her health at this point ). Which was why she’d opted instead to fall back onto the other line of work that paid her bills when acting couldn’t. It wasn’t like she needed the money now. But she needed a distraction. Finishing her Pilates classes for the day, she popped into the store that had become a regular stop on her way home. Both for the merchandise and because the woman behind the counter was easy on the eyes. “Hey,” she said when the door indicated her entry. She did say that she was looking for a distraction. “I’m looking to take the edge off. Have any recommendations?” Michelle against, approaching the counter.

[michellexyoon]

“As if I need actual ghosts chasing me,” Michelle deadpanned even though she turned to face them from where she was sprawled across the couch in her friend’s apartment. In the end, if the other two were on board, Michelle would end up going along with the supernatural scheme. But seeing as she’d already run into a ghost of her past in Seth, she wasn’t sure she needed more encounters with damned spirits. | @georgie-abhrams / @nessituran

location: nesli's apartment

featuring: @michellexyoon & @georgie-abhrams

"You know what we should do? We should have a Seance!" When's the last time, the three of them did something together that didn't end in one of them naked, hungover, or behind bars in a really ugly orange jumpsuit? Probably not since Mich's bachelorette party.

[michellexyoon]

MICHELLE: that depends. MICHELLE: is there something in it for me if i say i didnt??? (@leeabhrams)

TEXT | LEE & MICHELLE

Lee: I'm not sure how to ask this, so I'm just gonna ask, but a) are you in the pool house right now, and b) did you just hear that? ↳ @michellexyoon

[michellexyoon]

MAKE ME CHOOSE — anonymous asked: Jang Man Wol from Hotel del Luna or Ko Moon Young from It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

[michellexyoon]

And just as she’d hoped that this was some covert front for something far more nefarious, he dashed her dreams. Here she thought that she’d managed to find the perfect evidence that Harlow wasn’t all that sugary sweet like she projected herself to be. But clearly Michelle had been watching one too many action movies these days. Besides, everyone said that Devin was dangerous, but no one ever said why. And Michelle had her doubts. So of course she was bound to be let down and her shoulders slumped slightly. “Of course, too much paperwork,” Michelle played along as he explained the downsides to having a legitimate operation. “Much easier if everything is off the books, I’m sure.” And as he shared what actually brought him into the store, she couldn’t help the incredulous chuckle. “Seriously? Crime lord fetching his own coffee and croissants. How. . . unbecoming.” She teased with a playful shrug. | @dsutherland

"God, I wish it was." He hadn't noticed the familiar face when he spoke before, but he had a habit of being in autopilot in this town more than he wasn't. He hadn't gotten extremely close to anyone, and it was for the best. Better for him to be a ghost and keep others out of his whole mess, even if it never was a mess and was explicitly spotless. It was almost refreshing to see her, he didn't have to lie about everything. "I've never done front businesses. It's too much," he sighed with a pause, "you have to keep up with an actual business, and who has the time?" It definitely wasn't him. He was too busy playing Ocean's Eleven in his spare time. He couldn't do that if any part of him was legitimate. "Boringly enough, I just like a good croissant and they happen to have good coffee."

[michellexyoon]

Michelle nodded indifferently, surveying the colorful stones that Nesli ascribed meaning to. And while she was not someone who thought that a crystal could turn her luck around or change her life, she was not about to one, say that in front of her childhood friend or two, turn away any good energy. Regardless of whether it came from pretty rocks.

She’d all but sworn off men these days. There were very few that she was willing to entertain. While she’d gotten over Seth the second that he decided to serve her divorce papers, she also swore off the sex all together. Not one good thing had come from associating with them, which was why Michelle had very politely declined.

“I never said I’m rejecting everyone that asks me out. I just said I’ve sworn off men. I’ve decided to focus my energies and affections on members of the superior sex.” For now, Michelle was content having her fun with people who had absolutely no resemblance to her ex-husband in the slightest. So, she swung the exact opposite direction. Picking up a purple crystal, she offered it to Nesli. “What does this one do?” | @nessituran

location: spellbound society

closed: for @michellexyoon

"So let me get this straight ---- a hot guy asked you out and you said no?!" Everyone knew the age old adage that usually worked after a major break up.

In order to get over someone in your life, you must first get under someone else.

It's like saging or spring cleaning for the vagina. It makes room for newer, broader possibilities.

Hence why they were having this conversation at Spellbound, in the middle of the afternoon, right as Nesli was debating which new crystals and herbs to add to her growing collection.

"If Georgie were here, she'd agree with me." And actually, she'd probably be offended Michelle missed out on a golden opportunity.

Never mind the fact, Nesli had no room to talk. Or to lecture when she had her own secrets to spill regarding her love life, or lack thereof. But, she was still waiting for the right moment to spill them to her best friends.

[michellexyoon]

“Your staff might not but that lady over there,” Michelle said, pointing her chin in the direction of Betsy. “She does. Very loudly. Enough that not only me, but pretty much everyone within a 2 mile radius probably heard her.” Exaggerated, but she did not bat an eye at the question. Because while Betsy had not been that loud, she had been enough to draw some attention to herself. But instead of reprimanding her, as he should have for breaking the resort rules, he was rewarding her for being belligerent. What kind of management was this? “Well, she might be paying for services but she’s also siphoning quite a bit. Or so I hear,” Michelle continued to explain, her personal vendetta against the lady fueling her stories. Though they were all based on truth, with a few embellishments here and there. “And you wouldn’t want one well paying patron to end up chasing away many.” Another unsolicited piece of advice offered with a nonchalant shrug, as though she had no horse in the race. Which technically, Michelle didn’t. She could find a way to ensure that she always got the spa room and masseuse that she liked with the staff. But, she was feeling a little bit more vindictive than that. | @devanshxraina

Devansh had just sorted things out with his staff when he ended up on one of the pool loungers, eager to just relax and let the worries of the day leave him. But as soon as he’d gotten into a somewhat comfortable position, he’d heard a comment that was clearly directed at him and glanced over at the guest who’d decided to speak up. An amused grin was on his face as he nodded along with her statement before sitting up properly and glancing over at her. He’d seen her before on the hotel property, mostly in this section of the spa but he’d never really interacted with her before. “And how do you know what the situation is? My staff doesn’t speak that loudly for their words to carry over to you,” he mused before thinking back on the woman they’d been referring to and agreeing personally with her reaction even if he couldn’t come out and say it. “And while I might agree with you in regards to rewarding shitty behaviour, the truth of the matter is that she still pays quite well for her services and that’s pretty much what I’m meant to be interested in at the end of the day.” He didn’t come out and say that he was the owner, not when that wasn’t exactly a huge matter of pride with Devansh since he was looking to sell the place soon enough. “Besides ensuring people go home happy is something the staff prides itself with.” He told her before narrowing his eyes once more in her direction, “but…back to the topic at hand, how do you even know what the situation is?” | @michellexyoon

[michellexyoon]

In the familiar comfort of Georgie’s house, Michelle felt safe. There was no paparazzi following her. She was a celebrity, but not a big enough one that her every movement would be tracked outside of the star-studded streets that she’d left. Nonetheless, having just signed the papers that officially ended her six year marriage, she sought refuge in the first place that she could think of. Though it was a long time coming, though she had a year to prepare and there was not a single part of her that thought they would salvage their relationship after the last explosive fight they had, it still marked the end of something. The end of what she’d once naively thought to be forever.

And though the house itself had served as a much needed haven, Michelle couldn’t deny that seeing Georgie walk through the door, the same sarcastic humor she loved so much, it made her feel ten times better. She’d worn a brave front the entire time she’d sat across from Seth. As she got on the plane back, she convinced herself that she was fine. Here, she could actually allow herself to admit that maybe she wasn’t fine. But today was not a day to mope.

“So there was dick,” Michelle deduced with a deadpan expression. “Do I know the owner? Or will I ever have the displeasure of meeting them?” After all, in her eyes, no one would ever be good enough for her best friend. But that was a universal truth.

As Georgie practically flung herself across the room, falling upon Michelle, she barely had the opportunity to push the food in her hand far enough away to avoid getting it all over the couch. But Michelle smiled at the greeting, expecting that her surprise would be welcome with a reaction such as this. “It was your birthday. And mine, two days ago. Did you really think I was going to miss it?” And though she was currently pinned to the couch, she wrapped her free arm around one of her closest friends, basking in the familiar comfort of a person who was truly going to be with her forever. “But seriously, who were you with last night?” | @georgie-abhrams

There wasn't a lot Georgie had ever really liked about her birthday. Growing up, it'd never been something celebrated within her own family- instead, the Yoon's had taken her in and bought the presents her own parents had neglected. Included her in parties thrown for Michelle, added her name to cakes, invitations, and banners. And while it'd all made the youngest Abhrams' heart happy, lessening a hurt a child should never have had to endure, it still didn't completely heal her. Which was why, as an adult, Georgie never quite looked forward to her own birthday.

However, in the past few years her birthday had shifted from her least favorite day of the year- something she wished to sleep through- to just another day. And that was all because of Drew Parrish.

This year, he'd taken her on an overnight trip to Atlanta. Showering the blonde with breakfast in bed, a shopping trip, a beautiful birthday dinner, and the most luxurious hotel stay. He'd spoiled her in a way she'd been missing from her life and it was getting harder and harder for the blonde to ignore the way her heart fluttered in her chest whenever he was around or his name was spoken in her presence.

But that was a problem for another day. Today, she'd planned on settling into her couch and giddily reliving the last 24 hours. Except, when she walked into the pool house a very familiar voice had her dropping the overnight bag she'd had in her hand and a grin coloring her tired features.

"Like I'd spoil my birthday with mediocre dick." She countered, biting down on her lower lip in an attempt to contain her excitement as she sprinted towards her friend and jumped on top of her, essentially pinning poor Michelle to the couch, as an excited squeal left her lips. "What the hell are you doin' here, Meems?!" ( @michellexyoon )

[michellexyoon]

WITH: @sethelmasry LOCATION: coffee shop, atlanta

Michelle had never been arrogant or prideful. In the past, if she turned down a role, it was only when it felt like a step back in her career. Pursuing her dreams came at a cost. She’d seen what it was like living with very little after having grown up well to do, even if she was not the richest in her hometown. In New York, there wasn’t a role that she wouldn’t have accepted. The same was true when she first stepped foot in Los Angeles. Doors were opened for her and she was grateful for every single opportunity that fell into her lap. Undiscerning and utterly naïve, she counted her lucky stars for the change to actually appear on the big screens, no matter the nature of the role.

It was only as she saw some fame, saw the praise that her performances earned that Michelle became selective. Not because roles were beneath her. But because, if she were to command respect in an industry that already was willing to sideline female actors, especially those that were not yet ‘lead role material’ as she’d been told, she needed to advocate for the types of roles she wanted. Not accept anything that people thought she could fit.

Ironically, now, when she was being offered even fewer roles courtesy of her darling ex-husband and his family, she found herself back in the same position as she’d been a decade earlier. 22 and unknown. Now, she was 32 and close to being forgotten. Which was the reason that she found herself in Atlanta, having finished a shoot for an advertisement. Her shoot was fairly quick, and they let her pack up after a few takes. She walked by a few trailers for another shoot that was happening close by. Though curious, Michelle didn’t bother to stop and investigate further. Instead, she stood in line at a café around the corner, tapping her foot absentmindedly as she texted her agent.

[michellexyoon]

I’m not a firecracker! I’m a bomb! SEO YE JI as Ko Moon Young in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020, TVN)

[michellexyoon]

All the signs were there. The drinking to forget. The tears that the older blonde tried to hide. The way she immediately responded to Michelle’s guesswork. Maybe it came from studying emotions in order to convey them on the screen. Maybe it came from having experienced the very same thing only a year earlier. Michelle would much rather think that this was courtesy of her professional dedication rather than her personal failures. Her brow raised incredulously when the stranger informed her that the breakup was not certain. “You wouldn’t be reacting like this if that were the case.” Fights were one thing. “Unless you always cry and get drunk over every small thing.” The actress wouldn’t know. Maybe the blonde did, in which case it was possible that her excessive drinking ( and crying ) were overreactions to a trivial tiff. As she apologized for her state, Michelle shrugged. “As long as you keep your tears a safe distance from me, you don’t need to apologize. But that doesn’t answer my question.” Not that she’d explicitly asked on. Which was why she did now. “If not a bad breakup, then a bad . . .” she trailed, allowing the other to fill in the blank. | @chefgretamorrison

When Greta heard the woman next to her speak, she wasn't sure the woman meant it as a question or affirmation but something about the work breakup triggered something inside her. Greta felt her nose reddening and her eyes watering, her lips quivered a bit and she had to look away for a moment. "Uh, not—not sure yet." The idea of her and Lake not being together anymore, not being able to solve their problems, of never holding her in her arms or being held by her, of not hearing her laugh. It all boiled over too fast and too hard inside Greta. Maybe because she'd already have some drinks before the recent order or because a part of her felt dead without her fiancee, but she felt the tears streaming down. She reached the sleeve of the sweater and wiped away the water on her cheeks. "I'm sorry."

[michellexyoon]

Betsy Calhoun. She’d run into the woman a few times in the past and every single time, they butted heads. It started with the fact that Calhoun had taken Michelle’s favorite masseuse. It was no accident either. She knew that when the older woman walked into her massage room with a smuggest expression she’d seen since Connor served her divorce papers. From that point forward, despite having only been back for a few weeks, Michelle had tried to find ways to get back at her. Today presented the perfect opportunity. There were a few rules that were very closely observed in this fine establishment. Rules that Michelle knew could be bent for the right fine. She was vindictive by nature. Which was why, with the help of a few Benjamin Franklins, she caused a little commotion for dear old Betsy. One that would potentially ( hopefully ) get her blacklisted from the parlors.

The only issue was the fact that she knew how to throw a fit. Which was precisely what she did. And the attendants, who clearly did not wish to jeopardize their job, sought the help of their superior. Michelle watched from her spot by the pool, listening to the conversation. The outcome, however, was not as she wished. “You’re rewarding her bad behavior,” Michelle piped up. “She’s like a toddler. You give her what she wants and she’ll do it again.” | @devanshxraina

location: southern elegance resort & spa closed for @michellexyoon

One of the perks in Devansh's opinion of owning the resort and spa--was getting to use the facilities. Especially since he could just say he was utilizing them to make sure of the quality of their services. At least that's how he reassured himself as he made his way from the steam room to the pool area. In the mean time he caught sight of some commotion coming from one of the areas near him and while every responsible hotel owner would go and investigate, irrespective of the clothing they were in--Devansh remained right where he was, choosing instead to continue the short walk to the pool area. "Sir--we need your help," one of his staff members had unfortunately spotted him and began telling him about the issue at hand. It went without saying that Devansh was not really listening and choosing instead to give them a quick solution just so they'd leave him alone.

"Comp the thing for them," whatever it happened to be. Because he could not recall whether it was a meal issue or a spa service--but it didn't matter anyways. Most people who kicked up a fuss did it for attention and in the few months of taking charge here at the hotel, he'd realized that. "Oh and give them one of those certificates for a free meal. And listen--don't bother me again today. Take it to the manager in charge, thanks."

[michellexyoon]

As much as Michelle would have loved to be the stoic and detached person that she projected, curiosity always got the best of her. It was also what compelled her to stick her nose where it did not belong and given people unsolicited advice. Strutting into the bar, she surveyed the crowd. It was packed, as usual. Which was why it was a wonder that there was even a single seat at the bar. And as she settled into the last remaining stool, gesturing to try and catch the attention of the bartender, the blonde woman beside her hijacked her order, announcing one of her own. It was hard to miss the redness in her eyes and the slight tear stains across her cheeks. Even under the dim lighting of the bar, her sadness was apparent. Here was when that pesky nosiness of hers reared its ugly head again. Resting her cheek against her hand, she angled her body towards the woman. Studying her state, Michelle had a handful of predictions in her back pocket. The easiest one. “Bad breakup.” More of a diagnosis than a question. The other option was someone had died. But why lead the with morbid possibility? | @chefgretamorrison

WHERE → Heavy Hitters Bar WHO → Open (0/4)

Greta was crushed and hammered. She hadn't drank like that in ages—not when she was this upset at least. She'd drank her ass off with friends before, and with Lake. All in good fun and in a very controlled sort of drinking. This was something she'd never done—go a bar with the sole propose of drinking her sorrow, not even when she was living in Paris and switching from lover to lover. This was what real heartbreak felt like—and she hated it. She hated herself for allowing it to happen in the first place, for being so stupid as to fall in love. She wiped the tear falling down her cheek on the sleeve of her sweatshirt (which was in fact not hers but Lake's instead, that Kat had accidentally brought over when she got some of Greta's clothes from the apartment—she knew it wasn't accidental at all of Kat's, and it was all Greta had been wearing for the past 48-hours because it smelled like her fiancee. Or ex-fiancee?).

The whirlwind of thoughts made another tear fall down her cheek and Greta took the shot in front of her in a single sip, before she motioned to the bartender. "Another, please." She waved her whiskey cup. "Cowboy, double shot."

[michellexyoon]

WITH: @saraiayutthaya LOCATION: sarai's house

“I told you I have nothing to wear,” her clothes were still in her suitcase at Georgie’s place. Eventually, she would either have to look into getting her own place or shifting back with her parents. Seeing as they were not fully appraised of her “situation” with Connor. . . you know, their divorce. . . she preferred to couch surf with her various friends in town. She’d thus far given them a bullshit excuse and eventually she would break it to them. Granted, they’d seen the tabloids and asked her questions. She’d brushed them aside as baseless rumors. Her and Connor were still very much in love. They were still very much together. All empty words. Boldfaced lies.

Scanning her friend’s closet, she tried to find something suitable for herself. What was Sarai’s was Michelle’s, after all. Vice versa of course. Though her closet was not nearly as nicely organized now because she did not have one. Pulling out a dress that seemed nice enough, she evaluated it. Was it excessive considering they were just going to brunch in Covington? It wasn’t like there would be paparazzi. Michelle was not famous enough to generate that much press, but this was Covington, not L.A. People knew her here. She might have a touch of fame in Hollywood, but surely in her hometown, she was considered a star, right? Michelle could only hope. Otherwise, her entire decade of work would be for naught. “What about this,” she asked, holding up an option that might have been suitable for brunch in another city. Not their tiny hometown.

[michellexyoon]

WITH: @hanchangmin LOCATION: ajax boxing gym

Michelle was not one to be in a gym. Not only because her exercise of choice had always been Pilates ever since it helped her pay the bills during her time in New York. She never liked the ambiance either. Was she being rude? Probably. It was inappropriate to be staring in a gym the way that she was. Though, to her credit, Michelle did her best to be subtle. Not a courtesy she afforded to all. But, with a few weak punches thrown at the sandbag in front of her, she continued to mirror the movements of the man who moved with a controlled grace that she never imagined befitting to boxing. There had never been a particular reason that Michelle found herself in boxing gyms.

But this was not her first time either. There was a point in which she’d nearly played a boxer. The role fell through in the last minute and was offered to someone else ( undoubtedly courtesy of her reputed ex ), but she’d tried to learn the basics then. Out of practice though, she forgot what she’d been taught. And it was because they were the only two in the gym at this hour that Michelle felt emboldened to approach. Not that she would have hesitated were it crowded. But perhaps if it were, she would have found an actual instructor. “Care for some company?” Though it wasn’t really company that she was offering. “Or rather, mind sharing a few of your moves with a newbie?” And because there was no reason for him to interrupt his workout to teach her, she added. “I can compensate you for the time.” After all, if there was one thing Michelle had a lot of now, it was money.

[michellexyoon]

WITH: @dior-carter LOCATION: the fillmoir

Michelle was neither a musician, nor a poet. She was but an actress. One who learned that while her voice could not carry a note, it could impart emotion. Where she had spend her childhood on stage, she had also taken to interpretive reading. These days, that was called poetry. She did not have a way with words. She could not string together sentences to evoke emotion. What she could do was perform. Breathing life into the words on a page had been her passion since she had first auditioned in middle school. The one thing that she had a natural talent for. Musicians, they did the same. She saw it with Nesli. The way she artfully strung lyrics together while strumming just the right chords to resonate with her audience. Tonight, sitting on the stage and reading aloud a few works that had touched Michelle, she wondered how powerful it must be to have the ability to move with words.

As she continued her delivery, she reflected on her return. It had only been a few weeks, but the past year had been marked by failure after failure. She’d lost touch with what it meant to fall over the past decade. Forgotten what it was like before Connor. Which was precisely what he wanted her to feel. She shuffled off stage and to the bar in the back once she’d finished reciting a poem that was not hers in name. While she was no longer featured on the big screen, this evening allowed her to stay connected to the part of her that was an artist in her own respect. Seated beside her in the back was Dior. Someone that she’d seen on occasion when she visited Covington in the past and swung by this very venue to reminisce about her high school years when Michelle had performed poetry at open mics. “Hey,” she began with a tentative smile. “Are you performing tonight?”