Valinta Introduction and Character Quiz
/Valinta/
You are Sirina Peltonen, 28 years old, a quality control scientist, and six months out of an 8-year-relationship that could never offer you the commitment you wanted. You live with your three best friends, Krista, Aharon, and Lex, in Glendale and are learning to navigate single life in Los Angeles once again. Coming fresh out of such an exhausting relationship, you aren’t really looking for love, and you have plenty of your own baggage to sort through, navigating health issues and latent desires. Still, life waits for no woman, and there are three men- flawed and scarred they all might be themselves- waiting in the wings for Sirina. Will she go for Julian, her caring and brilliant childhood friend who always sees the best in her, but is also terrified of commitment and doesn’t believe in staying friends with exes? Or will it be Martin, a previous romantic interest, who lacks maturity and decisiveness, but whose energy is infectious and whose sensuality is intoxicating? Or, perhaps, it will be Arthur, a completely new man with culture, sophistication, and warmth in spades, but just as many secrets? Will things even work out with any of these men? Sirina’s fate is yours to decide. Please, choose well.
/Meet the Men/
Julian Sarafyan
Julian and Sirina have always had a thing, you know? Putting words to it would just cause it to wilt, but it’s always been there. An undeniable attraction to one-another and a deep emotional connection that can only come from nearly two decades of friendship. Whenever Sirina has needed Julian, whether it be for support, someone to go to a concert with, or a hiking partner, he’s always been there. However, Julian has certain desires that just don’t align with Sirina’s. He wants the wife and the kids and the white picket fence…when he’s 45…maybe. After seeing the messy divorce his parents went through, the last thing he wants to do is go through one, as well. As a young man, he’s going to enjoy a life free of romantic commitments for as long as he can, especially after going through a painful breakup himself. Julian is mercenary with breakups, by the way. Once the relationship is done, so are you- evicted from his confidence and his circle. Sirina has always known that he prefers a clean break, which is why she’s never pursued him before, even when he’s always shown clear interest. With both of them back in their childhood town, will that change? Perhaps both of them still have some growing up to do.
Hair: Chestnut, wavy, shoulder length; he sometimes wears it up.
Eyes: Pewter-green
Occupation: chemist
Height: 6’0”
Body type: Stocky- muscular and a bit chubby
Background: Mom is from England, dad is Armenian
Birthplace: Glendale, California
Age: 28
Miscellaneous: Julian’s best friend is his sister. He loves to cook. Julian has a secret geeky side and loves anime. Julian’s older brother died from complications of Lupus.
Your route: Pacific Crest Trail
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Martin Caballero
Martin is amazing, and you’d better believe he knows it. He has never lacked confidence, which should irritate the hell out of you, but somehow, he just makes it seem charming. Handsome, wealthy, and able to make friends with just about anyone, Martin has the world at his feet. He really is a nice guy beneath the bravado, too- sweet, doting, and friendly- but nobody could accuse him of being the most emotionally developed person out there. Martin loves love- he loves the idea of being in a romantic relationship with the perfect person. The problem is, nobody is perfect. At the first sign of a girl or guy struggling, Martin jumps ship. It’s just too dramatic, too messy, and Martin has already dealt with enough stress for one lifetime. Still, Martin is incredibly loyal to his friends and has always been kind to Sirina, even after their relationship together fizzled out almost a decade ago. Plus, as two ancient history nerds, he and Sirina always have plenty to talk about. Who says history belongs in the past? Is it time to give their empire another go?
Hair: Black, wavy, somewhat short
Occupation: Veterinarian
Eyes: Amber
Height: 5’6”
Body type: Slim, with lean muscle
Background: Half-French, half-Mexican
Birthplace: Santa Barbara, California
Age: 34
Miscellaneous: Martin, unsurprisingly, loves animals. He has two cats, a dog, and a bird. Martin has a cosplay Instagram with over a hundred-thousand followers.
Your route: Tropical conference
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Arthur Kowalski
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Arthur Kowalski is an enigma. Intelligent, handsome, debonair -the perfect picture of an English gentleman- Arthur’s quiet charisma could draw anyone in. It’s being *let* in to Arthur’s internal world that’s the struggle. This shy pharmacist is the piano accompanist for Sirina’s choir, and he loves to lose himself into music more so than in other people. Well, extroverted Sirina was never one to shy from a challenge. If Arthur wanted her to chase him, then she had a pair of New Balances for the occasion. But what secrets lie just past his guard? Is Arthur even to be trusted at all? Could his quiet guard be hiding something dangerous, or is he really just a sweetheart who is too afraid to fall in love?
Hair: Auburn, wavy, chin-length
Occupation: Pharmacist
Eyes: Light blue
Height: 5’9”
Body type: Average, with large thighs from cycling
Background: Half-Polish, half-English.
Birthplace: Falmer, Sussex, United Kingdom
Age: 31
Miscellaneous: Arthur has lots of freckles. He minored in Russian Literature at university. He has a soft spot for children and desperately wants a family someday.
Your route: Recitals
…
Your Protagonist
Hair: Strawberry-blonde, wavy, mid-back
Occupation: QC Specialist in a laboratory
Eyes: Light blue
Height: 5’9”
Body type: Curvy, athletic, with large hips
Background: Half-Finnish, half-Irish
Birthplace: Alta Dena, California
Age: 28
Miscellaneous: Sirina loves music that other people find “embarrassing”. Milli Vanilla and cheesy early hip-hop, UK Garage and Breakbeats, and Russian hardbass are among her favorites. Sirina has OCD, but she hates stereotypes regarding the condition.
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Unsure of which path you want to pick for Sirina? Here’s a quiz to help you decide:
- What is your ideal third date?
A. A hike in the mountains with a picnic at the summit. Giving each other massages and watching a movie at home afterwards.
B. Please let there be sex please let there be sex. But also, dinner and a movie, with a walk in the park and making out on a bench.
C. An orchestral concert or a trip to the museum, followed by cocktails and talking into the late hours.
- How would your friends describe you?
A. Easygoing, funny, intelligent
B. Hilarious, charming, rich, handsome, cultured, caring, kind, empathetic, wise, amaz-
C. They don’t….but if they did, quiet. Contemplative. Curious about the world.
- Any kinks?
A. I like things passionate, but mostly vanilla. I guess you could tie me up?
B. Duh, let’s get freaky!
C. (Please step on me, mistress)
- What’s your favorite TV show?
A. Excel Saga
B. Doctor Who
C. Mozart in the Jungle
- Where do you want to travel?
A. Along the ancient Silk Road- Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Mongolia, etc.
B. Somewhere tropical, with fruity drinks and people wearing very little clothing. Need some help rubbing in that sunscreen?
C. Different national parks in America- Yellowstone, Sequoia, Yosemite, Acadia, Badlands...
- Who is your favorite historical figure?
A. Cyrus the Great, or Artemisia of Caria, the warrior queen.
B. Can I say myself? I’m kidding! Caesar Augustus.
C. Queen Elizabeth I. England’s Renaissance flourished under her.
- How do you seduce someone?
A. I’d take her for a walk on the pier, kiss her in the moonlight, and we’d watch a drama and cuddle on the couch back at my place. I’d hug her and tel her just how much she means to me.
B. I shower them with compliments, we share a glass of wine, some cuddling, and then I take off my shirt…How could anyone resist after that?
C. Seduction is all about a slow burn. We’d go out for sushi, and I would make her feel like a queen- opening the door for her, pulling out her chair, carrying her bag. It’s all about her feeling special to me. Then, we’d go back to my condo and I’d play her a song on my guitar…
- Speaking of which, how do you like your sex?
A. Slow, romantic, sensual. It’s all about feeling good together. Lots of cuddling and laughing together is the cherry on top.
B. You have to have fun with it! Let loose and go crazy. I want things to be completely uninhibited.
C. Passionate, romantic, and tender. I want our minds and souls to be as connected as our bodies are. Ideally, I’d like for her to be in control.
- What is your favorite genre of music?
A. Trance music, and also some EDM.
B. Independent rock and singer-songwriter
C. Postmodern instrumental and romantic classical. (Drum N Bass is my guilty pleasure)
- Lastly, how do you dress yourself?
A. Athletic wear, or anything equally sporty and comfortable.
B. A band T-shirt and skinny jeans. It’s more important that my hair looks good.
C. Anything that looks polished without seeming like I’m trying to hard. A clean, soft button-down under a sweater when it’s cold, and a short-sleeved linen when it’s hot. I’m most particular about my shoes.
How did you score?
Mostly As- Julian! You want Sirina to date a sweet, sensitive teddy-bear of a man. Get ready to hike the Pacific Crest Trail together.
Mostly B’s- Martin! You want Sirina to date this seductive, goofy, fun-loving doctor. Get ready to set off for tropical seas and fruity drinks!
Mostly C’s- Arthur! You read a lot of Victorian romance, don’t you? This sensitive, brooding Englishman is just your type. Get ready for a slow, passionate burn in-between concert recitals.
///
Meet the friends!
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Krista Sanchez
…
Krista is your best friend in the world, and you would die for her because she’s a soft-goth goddess and queen. Hilarious, caring, and the most amazing friend anyone could ask for, Krista is simply the best. This busy nurse keeps a full schedule, as she acts and models in-between shifts at the hospital. The practical lesbian friend that any straight woman would be lucky to have, Krista tells Sirina when the men in her life ain’t shit, but delivers her straight-talking with lots of love and support.
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Lex Donovan
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Lex is Sirina’s first best friend, and he’s just as outrageously funny and impassioned as he is caring. A trans man, Lex has had to rely on friends rather than family for support, and he has built his life from the ashes. This IT consultant and Sirina both get very riled up about global and American politics, often shouting at the TV together whenever something terrible happens. Lex and Sirina went to Catholic school with Julian, and all three are good friends. Lex has a /very/ loud laugh.
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Aharon Spivak
…
Aharon is the gang’s long-suffering “normie” friend. This engineer just wants to drink coffee, draw, and be left alone, but his friends won’t afford him such a luxury. They often “kidnap” Aharon on weekends to get him out of his dark room and into the real world, even if just for a walk down the street to a coffee shop. Grumpy and possessing a cutting sense of sardonicism, Aharon really does care deeply for his friends…though he would never admit it! Aharon’s family lives back in Israel, as he became friends with Sirina while studying abroad in college.
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Riitta “Rija” Peltonen
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Rija is Sirina’s older sister and one of her closest friends. Though this busy neurosurgeon and triathlete doesn’t live with her younger sister, she comes over to her apartment at late hours to unwind from shifts with wine and reality TV. She and Sirina are both obsessed with “Persian Bachelor” and “America’s Next Top Med-Student”. Rija is married to Novak, a writer and bass-player in a punk band. They have two cats.
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