Rita Kozlow / STORYLINES.
THE IPOD. Rita is completely enamoured of this new entrant to her life, almost to the point where she can't function independently without them. Yet for all that her relationship with THE IPOD isn't necessarily a romantic one. She just lives in constant fear of losing them--but like most technological trends, this, too, may pass. (m/f, doesn't exist yet)
THE HEADPHONES. It wasn't her choice to start spending her time with THE HEADPHONES, but s/he is always there. Whether it's because they're at the same school or people just thought they'd get along due to age or situational similarities, she's grown very accustomed to their interactions and input. In fact, if she goes too long without them, she tears things up looking. (f, 15-18)
THE FAMILY PICTURES. Yeah, okay, you caught her. Rita's a bleeding heart. She's certanly not fond of THE FAMILY PICTURES all the time (and they occupy a position of honor... shoved between a textbook and THE PAIR OF CHUCKS), but they're the tales closest to her heart. Like clogged arteries.
RITA, WITH MOTHER, 2003. The pair sit in the kitchen, working with dough; Rita looks into the camera, imploring rescue. It's interesting but perhaps not surprising that the Oldest Billy Goat falls into a maternal role. Rita certainly needs it; she's reckless and none too conservative with her own safety. Though she squirms against his having any control over her and is keen to do her own thing, on some level she appreciates being looked after. She will still give him hell sometimes. (eldest_goat)
HORACE AND CARL, 1999. The two brothers engage in a "wholesome wrestling match" (brutal fistfight) in a pile of leaves. The photo was snapped before blood was drawn, so everything is charming and sweet! Yeah, really. Rita and the Middle Goat are constantly trying to screw each other over. That's actually her role in the tale: offering him as troll food. When she uses her power to dodge blame, this tale-brother is her most frequent victim. (kid_skin)
THE PAIR OF CHUCKS. It may not be a terribly noble position, THE PAIR OF CHUCKS is a good precautionary buffer between Rita and the harder parts of the real world. That's not to say that Rita doesn't pick at them, go at them with a black pen, or generally abuse them, but she doesn't want to lose them entirely and would be in a predicament if they fell apart. The babysitting money is pretty sweet too. (bramblesgaveway)
THE CIGARETTES. Rita doesn't smoke, but she likes having a pack around as a sort of useful prop. She knows them well but isn't particularly inclined to get all mouthy with them. She feels that way about THE CIGARETTES a lot--whether by hanging out or just name-dropping over journals, s/he makes Rita feel closer to the type of person she wants to seem. (m/f)
THE FAKE ID. The bad influence and enabler, a go-to guy for any number of vices. Not that Rita's a bad kid, but she has needs, and given a lack of close friends a bottle is more likely to mean her entrance to a party than an invitation is. THE FAKE ID is fun, even if things don't always work out... but she'll have to pay for it eventually. (bonesandbottles)
THE SPIN MAGAZINE. A collection of mythically intriguing people. Artists, musicians, bad boys, indie dreamboats--it's really a catch-all for those she idolizes. (antibyron, d_carabas, sleeproot, several slots open)
THE DECK OF CARDS. It's always a game of risk talking to people over compendium... but when you're Rita, there's a good chance you'll make an unfavourable impression. These are the people with whom she regularly corresponds, but doesn't know, and has given a very positive or very negative impression. (m/f, several slots open)
THE BAND SHIRT. Rita is very comfortable with THE BAND SHIRT, but if she continues treating him/her like she treats most of what she's accumulated, they probably won't be around too long. She cherishes them, but takes them for granted. (m/f)
THE WIFE-BEATER. It's no mystery that Rita's enamoured of indie movers and shakers, but she feels a special need to show off for THE WIFE-BEATER, to show that she's edgy and interesting. Neither of them are bound to forget that she just has skinny girl-shouders, but "thin and clingy" is a new and interesting way to feel. Maybe a little attractive. (m)
THE SKINNY JEANS. Perhaps best described as "the constant chafing around her ass", Rita has to put up with THE SKINNY JEANS on a daily basis if she wants to keep doing what she's doing. Many people can cope with a foreign roommate using grace and dignity--Rita must be physically restrained from talking her into a rented lobster suit and putting her in a cab to the barrio. So not so much grace or dignity. (madewithclove)*
THE RAZOR. A word on dark body hair: it's evil incarnate, and when you're the goat, the emphasis is on "incarnate". Rita is usually so irritated that she doesn't notice that there's the real possibility of danger. Besides, she got fine in her narrative, right? She's yet to learn that life does not perfectly imitate a tale. Rita can't be guaranteed to always dodge THE RAZOR'S clutches. (getoffmybridge)*
* Rita isn't actually moved into the Pen yet.