Gina's mother Lyudmila was charismatic, mysterious, attractive, and definitely a self-deluded fraudster and possibly a narcissist. Aka Mila, Milan, Lucy, Luna, Lucille, Dila, and countless other names, she was a romantic but selfish con-woman who enjoyed playing an exotic, wounded gazelle haunted by her "sensitivity" to the strange. She selflessly and bravely forged ahead to comfort the grieving, with the strength given to her by strong, understanding, occasionally grieving, and inevitably wealthy men who never thought to do a background check and find the endless string of divorces in her past.
Kalvin was one of the few slip-ups she made early in her career, signing a pre-nup that seemed generous until she found out what he was really worth.
Gina spent her summers with her con-artist mom and whatever new mark her mom had, and from an early age was already jaded by her mother's passionate, colorfully dramatic and rather tension-inducing lifestyle. Her mother was hardly an international criminal, but she certainly rubbed shoulders (and Gina refuses to think of what else) with the kind of criminal element who bought suits worth more than some people's rent.
Upon her mother's death, she inherited her mother's life insurance policy-- but also all her offshore accounts with the spoils of so very, very many divorce proceedings and gifts. Gina is likely set for life, though she uses the diner to launder that money as well as occasionally laundering for an affable acquaintance or two. She's not greedy or ambitious: she's really set, and the diner is something to help pass the time.
Gina wasn't born in Gray Harbor. She moved here when she was 6, as her mother Lyudmila married long-standing well-off local Kalvin Castro. Gina was the flower girl, and as a surprise he signed her adoption papers at the same time he signed the wedding certificate.
Her mother, for those who remember, was charming and mysterious, and everyone simply knew Kalvin was doing such a good thing to take care of the poor widow and her baby girl. Some sort of tragedy there, clearly. Of course, two years later they divorced after Kalvin caught her in the arms of another man, but the prenup was ironclad and he kept Gina, as the courts decided he could provide a 'stable home environment.' Gina, eight, emphatically agreed.
Other townies would know that Gina was a little bit creepy as a little girl, always off doing her own thing, gone every summer to visit her mother in weird locales. She was... different, in a town full of different, and it didn't help that by middle school her wardrobe was solidly all black, one of the gothy grunge kids whose hair was always in some unusual color or style and whose priorities never really matched anyone else's. She always seemed just a little more wordly: she read strange books, she listened to weird music, and seemed to change interests constantly, and knew things. Socially speaking, however, her small group of friends included people from a surprising diversity of cliques.
After public school, Gina went to university, getting her bachelor's in business. She helped Kalvin with his business right after. Later, however, she received word that Lyudmila Patel-Grigoryan (latest of a long line of names) was dead, and the modest life insurance payout was hers. She used that to buy the Grizzly Den Diner, and has run it for several years now with a blatant disregard for customer opinion. How she stays in business is anyone's guess, except the quasi-hipster vibe and the really, really delicious food is worth it.
Except the omelets. NEVER order the omelets.
Gina doesn't often go shirtless, but on occasion, when topless or wearing a small enough top, a tattoo is visible on her lower ribs, done as a detailed black and white drawing. It's an exquisitely ornate hexagonal music box, lid open and the box overflowing with jewels, stationery, pearls, flowers, a heart-shaped locket... and a half-decayed corvid of some kind, all of it surrounded by petals and black feathers. The sharp beak of the bird, resting on the lip of the music box like a treasure, holds a pearl from the necklace that wraps around it, half its face decayed, as are the ribs, and its organs peek from a hole in one side. The wing that overflows from the box is stubby, having largely rotted away from the skeletal end tip of the wing. The feathers that should be there have fallen, scattered at the base of the box, as have many petals from the flowers that half-hide the upturned, curled legs of the bird. Dark spots that could be blood lightly speckle the ribbons that weave through fowl and flowers, the stationery, and the half-folded letters. The details are intricate, lush - so detailed that only up close would a keen observer see that in the shadows of the lustrous pearls, in the raven feathers and the detailing on box and locket, there are occasionally wraith-like, dark figures, like something from Dante's Inferno, trying to claw their way free.
---0---
If you went to Teddy High, or were around town during then, or grew up in areas, there are and were a few rumors about Gina. Beyond the usual stuff about her age and business, anyone asking around might hear about how:
Raised Local - while not BORN in Gray Harbor, Gina grew up local, to an upper-middle-class father and with a mother who only ever appeared a handful of times in Gray Harbor proper, a mysterious, slight woman who fluttered and glittered. Her father Kalvin eventually moved to California to retire while Gina was in college.
School Outcast - Gina was an outcast by choice the older she was in school. She was always jaded, started wearing all black in middle school, and wasn't really much of a joiner. Her IDGAF attitude didn't win her any friends, but shockingly no bullies either. Plus, there was the seance thing...
Spooky *$itch - Okay so she's never called herself one, but everyone knows she knows about weird stuff. She wears all black. She painted her house black (dark purple-grey actually). She has a black cat. She carries around a pack of tarot cards when bored. And weird things happened at seances or ouija games when she was invited. But she always denies she's a witch, or Wiccan, of any flavor, and she seems to have left the supernatural behind her...mostly.
Bearly Tolerant - When she returned three years ago after college, she purchased the old Grizzly diner outright, and half-heartedly fixed it up. The food improved (except the omelets), but the customer service took a sharp nosedive. It's not uncommon for workers to read books at the register, the waitstaff wear whatever they want, and the music genre depends entirely on Gina's feelings that day, though for $5-20 bucks (depending on how much the staff likes you) they will change it to the genre of your choice...for the duration of your visit. Still, the food is really good waffle house/diner fare, it is open 24/7, and attitude aside the food is prompt and never spit in.
Glimmertime - She's one of those. In the know. She doesn't use it as much as she did in the past, now more depending on reputation and tricks learned from her mother to keep her aloof and odd reputation in place.
Mommy Dearest - Were you from somewhere else, and one of her mother's marks, or related to one?
Gray Life - And speaking of conwoman mother, her colorful upbringing means Gina has a LOT of moral flexibility. She doesn't do much illegal herself-- except of course for her "tips" and "business expenses" helping to launder her own inheritance, or the money of those she tolerates. Or give her a discreet cut.
While somewhat unusual, Gina wouldn't stand out somewhere like say, Seattle. Her hair is a deep violet color, near-black at the roots and lightened to a rich purple at the tips. She's rather ethnically ambiguous, with light toffee skin, a strong nose, arched brows, and an average form, somewhere between 'ruler' and 'inverted triangle.' She is almost always dressed in black, her style heavily grunge and somewhat goth influenced, with the occasional historic fashion nod, and her makeup definitely does not fall under the 'natural' look. She's not one for strong reactions, though open with her opinion.
Select a scene type tab to browse scenes.
2021-01-12 - Crates By The Ocean
Mysterious crates wash up on Gray Harbor's beaches. (An open, low-key event! Feel free to wander in and out as you like over the next 24 hours or so. 3PR.)
Seth, Diana, Aidan, Alexander, Gina, Bennie, Ruiz, Isolde, Itzhak, Finch, August, Eleanor, Grant, Devlin, Joseph, Vic, Ravn
2019-05-17 - Midnight on Friday, May 17th
Just a little glimpse, maybe.
KarmaBum, Emily, Logan, Violet, Alex, Hannah, Felicity, Elise, Graham, Aidan, Baylee, Alexander, Easton, Sutton, Byron, Gina, Carver, Lilith
2021-01-11 - Girl on a Cold Trailer Roof
Sometimes, purple-haired girls invite themselves in for a cup of coffee to warm up and harass your cat before walking on.
Gina, Ravn
2020-11-23 - Human Manure and Other Unflattering Allegories
Take two large, abrasive egos, mix them up, give it all a shake and -- actually, what comes out of that has yet to be decided, but at least they didn't kill each other. Yet.
Gina, Ravn
2020-11-05 - Temet Nosce
August gets a visitor in his theoretically private greenhouse.
Gina, August
2020-11-02 - Cats With Personal Drivers
One clear, brisk day of autumn in the marina -- getcher sunshine while it lasts. Or, why cats are cats regardless of whether they have two or four legs.
Gina, Devlin, Ravn
2020-10-24 - Love and Cats, Cats and Love
Do you have a laundry machine at home? No? Join us at the laundromat then. We're talking about love and about cats.
Gina, Hera, Devlin, Ravn
2020-10-19 - In the Gazebo
Various things are discussed and the joint is passed around in the park gazebo.
Gina, Itzhak, August, Joseph, Ravn
2020-10-09 - Arguments, Interrupted
There can be only one Goth queen of Gray Harbor. But the real challenge lies in getting to establish who it is, without being disturbed by random breakfast seekers.
Gina, Alisha, Ravn
2020-10-04 - What God Doesn't See
The cheese. The cheese in the burger is what God doesn't need to see.
Gina, Itzhak, Ravn
2020-10-02 - Designated Red Shirts
When manure hits air distribution devices, is it better to wear the red shirt or use the guy who does as a meatshield?
Geoff, Gina, Harper, Ravn
2020-09-26 - Catfight at the Diner
Don't try to outgoth a goth who doesn't think that she's a goth.%r%rDiner social scene.
Gina, Ruiz, Alison, Alisha, Ravn
2020-08-24 - A Latte to Process
//The fifth rule of Write Club is that you write better with coffee and hence, writing in a coffee shop must be perfection.//%rRavn just wanted coffee and a little writing time. Clifford looks absolutely fabulous. Gina makes sense of what others would call 52 card pick-up. Ruiz is nice enough to offer to get coffee. Abitha is reminded Incognito Mode isn't foolproof. August is reassured there was a plot to kill him.
Gina, Ruiz, Abitha, August, Clifford, Ravn
2020-08-18 - Leveling Shit Out
Seriously, who breaks into a criminal's place? Isn't it usually the other way around?
Gina, Joey
2020-03-23 - it's 3 am and nothing's fine ;)
If this was a paranormal YA novel, I'm sure this would be a very romantic scene, in which Gina visits James and gives him an adorable stuffed bear.
Gina, James
2020-03-22 - Sink, Swim, or Get Out of the Pool
Abitha asks Gina some questions. Gina is Gina, but this time almost helpful. Almost.
Gina, Abitha
2020-03-21 - 2 Federal, 14 state, and possibly 6 more laws...
Research at the library. Then someone checks their email.
Gina, Abitha, Kip, Jewellia
2020-03-18 - Misunderstood Serial Killers & Popcorn
Gina, Harper, and Geoff get together for a campy viewing of 'Neon Maniacs'.
Geoff, Gina, Harper
2020-03-11 - Someone Else's Paperwork
Leon tries to do some paperwork for the St. Patty's Day event. Gina has other ideas. Katherine almost makes some connections if the other two weren't so weird.
Gina, Katherine, Leon
2020-02-18 - Ignorance, Vice, and Dinner
Harper and Gina share dinner. It goes troublingly well. And Gina's cats don't have a taste for human flesh. That bodes well. Geoff's name is taken in vain. Repeatedly.
Gina, Harper
2020-02-11 - Do They Ever Stop Talking?
A new employee for the Grizzly shows up. She's both chatty and cheerful. Gina is herself.
Gina, Tara
2020-01-15 - Free Icee!
Gina pokes around the theater right before opening, icee is had, words are exchanged.
Gina, Thewlis
2019-12-23 - A Grizzly Dinner And Tarot Reading For A Paramedic
A tired Devlin in need of food gets more than expected at the Grizzly Diner
Gina, Devlin
2019-12-17 - Meetings and Interests
A few people meeting in the Art Gallery one fine cold evening
Gina, Zoiya, Dylan, James, Hera
2019-12-15 - VIP
Lalo goes to claim his super special auction item!
Gina, Lalo
2019-12-14 - Dismal Drinks
New in town Cecil meets some interesting town folks. Enzo earns a nickname.
Gina, Maggi, Joseph, Cecil, Enzo
2019-12-14 - Many Meetings
So many people at the Diner. Gina is getting rich from all these peeps yo.
Gina, Blake, Hera, Devlin, Jade, Thewlis, Joseph, Bean
2019-12-13 - Team Building Exercise
Gina and Alison head to the Pourhouse for drinks after work. Alison whines a lot and has a pina colada while Gina doesn't care.
Gina, Alison
2019-11-29 - Grabbing Grub At The Grizzly Diner
Tyrone stops by the Grizzly Diner and gets a bite to eat and runs in to Gina ... for better or for worse, he's not really sure.
Gina, Tyrone
2019-11-26 - Afternoon Coffee
Just another day people watching, and doing work while people get coffee.
Gina, Ignacio
2019-11-23 - Naked Bears
Alison comes in on her night off to get a burger and fries and chat with Gina a bit. Then Everett shows up and a whole lot of innuendo happens real quick. It's definitely his fault.%r%rIs not.
Gina, Everett, Alison
2019-11-20 - Close To Home
Lalo eats breakfast at his favorite place, and Gina gives him some stuff to think about.
Gina, Lalo
2019-11-13 - The LONG walk home
After retrieving her cat, Vice, Gina is walked, some way, home by Everett. Uncontrollable flirting ensues.
Gina, Everett
2019-11-12 - What the hell is up with Grizzlies
Matt and Thewlis meet... people start wandering in, and eventually Thewlis and Gina have a brief contest *and chat* of THE MIND. Well more she talks to him telepathically, he sets stuff on fire and they leave on Grizzly Den Diner terms.
MatthewHarriman, Gina, Everett, Kelsey, Jade, Thewlis
2019-11-11 - The Cat Concerto
Gina has to track down her cat, who has decided to hang out at Abby's. Everett misconstrues some things, but in the end is accepted as a Servant of Vice (the cat)
Gina, Everett, Abby
2019-11-08 - Aaaaaawkwaaaaaard!
Diana and James meet up at Memento Mori, Gina torments James, and Aidan falls on his behind. Good times.
Diana, Aidan, Gina, James
2019-11-07 - Storming in and Storming Out
Various people stop by Branch & Bole in the midst of a thunderstorm, with various agendas.
Gabriel, Gina, August, Juniper
2019-11-05 - Beary Busy Morning
Yes it's a terrible pun, shut up. But the diner was BEAR-y busy starting at five AM, the start of the morning rush apparently!
Nicole, Alexander, Gina, Joey, Hailey, Devlin, Jade, Thewlis
2019-11-04 - Tending the Garden
Gina meets Dr. November.
Gina, August
2019-10-30 - Food & Snark
Abitha can't seem to help herself, and Gina certainly won't.
Gina, Abitha
2019-10-29 - Coffee & Creepy Pronouncements
Really, even at 3-AM Gina still maintains great customer service. Anatoly maintains a perfect menu. James is better salted. And Julia and Rhys are totes coffee snobs.
Julia, Gina, Rhys, James
2019-10-25 - Pizza Guy Cameo
When washing machines break....Suds'n'Duds. And pizza.
Cassidy, Gina, Blake, Zoiya, Dylan
2019-10-21 - Late Night Food
Tyrone grabs a meal, Gina gives Blake a warning. Or trolls him, either or
Gina, Tyrone, Blake
2019-10-20 - Psychological Scarring, Free of Charge
James is back in town, Grace is curious, Frankie stops by, and Gina is, as always, her usual charming self.
Gina, Frankie, Everett, Grace, James
2019-10-20 - Midnight Snackage
Folks get hungry for waffles and/or drugs late at night.
Greg, Gina, Juniper
2019-10-18 - The Great Pumpkin
An innocent pumpkin patch becomes the site of FLAMING PUMPKIN CARNAGE.
Cassidy, Alexander, Gina, Cole, Harvey, Hailey, Rhys, Nasir, Noelle
2019-10-16 - A Plumbing Affair
A depressing congregation of individuals at the Diner makes for an interruption to Gina and Geoff's blatant flirting. Nasir comes in on the two of them with more than a plunger to take out the trash, but before any harm can be made Marion arrives to make the affair more trouble than its worth. Many waffles were harmed in the scene.
Geoff, Gina, Marion, Nasir
2019-10-15 - Midnight at the Grizzly
A group of disparate people grab a bite to eat at the Grizzly Den in the late night.
Cassidy, Alexander, Gina, Vivian, Daisy, Nasir
2019-10-12 - Meeting by the Sea
Gina likes storms. And spreading (mis)information about the Town Committee.
Gina, Itzhak, Rick, Grace
2019-10-10 - Omelette
Banter while Cassidy orders the omelette.
Cassidy, Gina
2019-10-09 - Coffee and Quiet Places
Monica leaves the Grizzly in a much different mood than when she arrived. Spoiler: Gina is highly amused.
Gina, Monica
2019-10-09 - When is Weird Too Weird?
With breakfast ruined back at the apartment, Frankie and Greg drop into the diner to find Gina. Things get weird fast.
Greg, Gina, Frankie
2019-06-30 - Grizzly Dining
People gather in the Grizzly Den to gossip, eat and read palms? Well the first two make sense.
Gina, Ruiz, Genevieve, Dahlia
2019-06-27 - Rain on the Beach
Aster and Kiyomi run across Gina. They discuss the beach. Everyone is gregarious and chatty with no mysteries (not really)
Gina
2019-06-26 - Insomnia, Chocolate, And Witch Burnings
Insomnia leads people to the Grizzly Diner. Conversations are had. There are milkshakes and witch burnings and literary crushes.
Alexander, Gina, Harper
2019-06-19 - Grizzly and Gummies
Genevieve makes her way out to get breakfast and meets Gina and her crew.
Gina, Genevieve
2019-06-08 - A Grizzly Festival Proposal
Byron drops by the Grizzly Den to give Gina the gist of the upcoming festival that he's planning. Alexander is there. Of course, he is.
Alexander, Byron, Gina
2019-05-26 - Cricket Cookies
Aidan drops by the diner for dinner, and Gina provides chili, cricket cookies, icelandic chanting, and an introduction to Bennie.
Aidan, Gina, Bennie
2019-05-25 - The Ferris wheel still doesn't break.
Emily, Gina, and Logan take a ride on the Ferris wheel. Then May comes along, and there's talk about being a crazy cat-lady.
Emily, Logan, Gina, May
2019-05-23 - Breakfast Bitches
In which the fire department is mean to Nicholas, and the Three *itches of Lunch get together and decide to have drinks at some point.
Gina, Lilith, Frankie, Nicholas
2019-05-22 - Grilling
Gina and Geoff meet up at the grocery store. They discuss nosy people and glimmers.
Geoff, Gina
2019-05-21 - An Evening In The Pourhouse
Folks gather in the Pourhouse, and there's talk of readings and tarot cards.
Geoff, Felicity, Gina, Frankie, Elias
2019-05-19 - Coffee, Conversation, Collusion
Carver wakes up in the Diner, Gina gets to know him a little better, Frankie is the most helpful of trolls.
Gina, Carver, Frankie
2019-05-18 - Second Thoughts
Late lunch or early dinner, three types of conversation, and absolutely no nude photos.
Geoff, Aidan, Baylee, Easton, Gina
2019-05-17 - Wine Smoothies and Bear Fashion
Aidan finds his way into his the Grizzly Den, discovers he was almost a legend. Disco ball sleeves and Doo Wop are a thing.
Aidan, Gina
2019-05-16 - Brunch. Kind of.
Eggs and toast and bears oh my.
Geoff, Easton, Sutton, Gina, Carver
2021-01-02 - Just Gonna Keep On Walking
//You forgot to lock the door, babe//%r//You didn't give me no food//%r//If you wanna kill a flower//%r//You got to grab it by the root//%r%r[Gotta get away from you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOObPHILl5U)
Gina, Itzhak, August, Ravn
2020-10-15 - Teenaged Wasteland V: Meddling Kids
It's no secret that Teddy S. Addington Memorial High is...weird. Everyone knows that. You can't be here more than a couple of days without figuring that out. That, or you disappear, and weirdly no one wonders about it.%r%rBut something weirder than usual is going on. George Rollins, one of the math teachers--the only tolerable one--has had a substitute for over a week. Rumor is his car has been sitting in the parking lot, but is always moving spots. His substitutes give evasive answers about why he's not in or why his car is there when he's not. So...where is he? And why are the staff not doing anything about it?%r%rA group of his students isn't taking this lying down. They're going to get to the bottom of his disappearance. ...they need good grades to get into a decent college, after all.
Gina, Itzhak, August, Kailey, Leon, Ravn
2020-10-10 - Blowing More Than The Joint
What are the odds of two people meeting in Gray Harbor in 2020 only to realise that they knew each other in 2007? They were both miserable as teenagers, so as far as the Veil is concerned, the odds are actually pretty damned good.
Gina, Ravn
2019-11-02 - Clean-Up, Aisle 4
Sometimes, the Dreams sneak up on you. Especially at 5-AM in Safeway. Mason, James, and Corey just have to deal. But the Funyuns were saved!
Gina, Corey, James
2019-05-22 - Dancing Bears
What happens when you mix Russian poetry, the Grizzly Den Diner, old scars and a late shift? Sometimes, something slips.
Gina
2020-11-14 - Hey. :taco: :star:
Gina just wanted delivery. Has no one informed her about grubhub?
KarmaBum, Alexander, Gina, Ravn
2020-03-13 - Change is Bad
Gina and August discuss the recent changes in Glimmer.
Gina, August
2020-10-15 - Nosey New Neighbors
An unexpectedly busy moment after the lunch rush.
Gina, Ruiz, Itzhak, Ravn, Ifra
2020-09-29 - Girl Meets World (Again), Possibly Escapes on a Greyhound to Portland
How do people in Gray Harbor do the things they do, and since when was this //normal//?
Seth, Gina, Ravn, Zoey
2020-09-28 - Girl Meets World
What are dreams, why do we have them, and is there more maple syrup?%r%rZoey learns about the hard knocks of Gray Harbor life from Ravn, Vic, Seth, and Gina. The Nazario's take the practical lesson a bit far for the redhead.
Seth, Gina, Rekani, Nova, Vic, Ravn, Zoey
2020-09-09 - Meet the Natives: Gina Edition
The omelette was the very first thing anyone in Gray Harbor warned Ravn Abildgaard about.%r%rTurns out they were right.
Gina, Ravn
2020-08-29 - Do You Wanna Solve a Murder?
C’mon I’ve got a case,%rThere is no point in sitting here,%rLet’s get over there,%rThere is no time to waste!%r%r[Slow/Work RPs]
Alexander, Gina, Esme, Leon, Ravn
2020-02-11 - Beneath a Sullen Winter Moon (Open Vignette)
Around two in the morning 11th of February, something changed in Gray Harbor. What was your character's first realization of this shift? Or when did they first experiment with their abilities and find something was different?%r%r**Open vignette.**
KarmaBum, Stephanie, Thomas, Elise, Graham, Aidan, Alexander, Easton, Byron, Gina, Vyv, Abitha, Finch, August, Isabella, Joey, Everett, Eleanor, Rhys, Grant, Esme, Anne, Patrick, Thewlis, Leon, Meredith, Rekani, Kip
2019-11-28 - Thankful for...
**Open vignette scene.** Feel free to share a snippet of your character's Turkey Day. Could be anything - something that happens/ed off-camera, a character you didn't get a chance to play, a misty water-colored memory, whatever's clever. Note that this isn't a "live" scene in the traditional sense; just a collection of vignettes around a common theme. I'll be leaving it open until Friday the 16th at around 4:30 PM Pacific / 7:30 PM Eastern.
KarmaBum, Nicole, Cassidy, Erin, Greg, Elise, Graham, Eli, Tobin, Aidan, Alexander, Easton, Sutton, Byron, Gina, Clarissa, Carver, Lilith, Elias, Cole, Lex, Vyv, Andi, Ruiz, Abitha, Mark, Lucinda, Genevieve, Lyric, Ignacio, Justin, Itzhak, Finch, August, Isabella, Rebecca, Hyacinth, Minerva, Jaime, Joey, Everett, Eleanor, Maddie, Love, Duncan, Tyrone, Abby, Sparrow, Zoiya, Tillie, Nathan, Harvey, Hailey, Carter, Andy, Roxy, Viktor, Shauna, Kailey, Rhys, Daisy, Grant, Jacob, Noelle, Martel, Yule, Anne, Patrick, Reese, Libby