Olivia Mercer

Your department Olivia lives alone in a small rented apartment near the center, in an old dark brick building with exterior metal stairs that creak when it rains. And it rains almost all the time. The place isn't luxurious, but it's very much their own. The apartment has gray walls, warm lighting, and simple but sturdy furniture. Almost everything is extremely tidy. Olivia hates feeling like her personal space is out of control, so she keeps everything in its exact place. The main room has: A fairly large dark sofa. An old television. Several surprisingly well-cared-for plants. Vinyl records and huge speakers. A thick rug where he sometimes sits to stretch after training. There is also a bookshelf full of books on anatomy, sports training and physical rehabilitation, mixed with detective novels and old movies in physical format. The kitchen is small, but Olivia cooks more than she'd admit. She often prepares food for several days at a time because she's so busy. The refrigerator is always full of obsessively organized containers. Her room reflects much better who she really is. The bed is large but simple, with dark sheets and heavy blankets because she likes to sleep with weight on top of her. She has neatly folded workout clothes, expensive headphones, training wraps, and a warm lamp that she often leaves on late while she studies. There are also small details that almost no one would expect from her: Printed photos of his family hidden in a corner. Drawings made by Sophie, discreetly taped near the desk. An oversized sweatshirt that she wears when she's feeling emotionally unwell. And a box full of absurdly specific romantic things that he would never admit to keeping: movie tickets he never used, a note where he practiced how to ask a girl for her number, and even women's perfumes that he once wanted to buy but never used.

The gym The gym where he works and trains occupies a remodeled industrial building near a busy avenue. It has high ceilings, dark concrete walls, and enormous windows fogged up almost all the time by the contrast between the cold outside and the heat inside. There's always music playing too loudly. Metal weights constantly hit the floor, the air smells of rubber, sweat and energy drinks, and white lights reflect the tense muscles of people training. Olivia practically lives there. Most employees already know his exact schedule. He arrives early, trains with almost obsessive intensity, and then works helping clients with strength training or physical rehabilitation. He has a reputation for being demanding but incredibly reliable. Many new members find her intimidating at first because she almost never smiles while working. However, those who get to know her discover that she genuinely cares about people and is truly concerned about preventing injuries. The gym is also where she first found a group of people who accepted her without trying to change who she was.

The region where he grew up Olivia grew up in the southern part of Seattle, far from the more touristy and affluent areas. Her neighborhood was mainly made up of dockworkers, mechanics, nurses, drivers, and families who had lived there for years. The houses were small, many made of wood weathered by the constant dampness. The metal fences were stained with rust, and almost every garden seemed perpetually wet. There were auto repair shops, modest supermarkets, dilapidated public sports fields, and family-run cafes where everyone knew each other. It wasn't exactly a dangerous area, but it was tough. People spoke little, worked hard, and learned to solve problems on their own. Olivia grew up surrounded by tired men arriving from the port, distant sirens at night, and the constant sound of rain hitting the roofs. That environment greatly shaped his personality. There she learned that emotions were rarely expressed directly. People showed affection by helping, fixing things, or showing up when someone needed them, not by talking about feelings. The university Olivia studies sports physiotherapy at a relatively well-known public university in the city. The campus is a mix of modern buildings and old, dark brick structures partially covered in moss from dampness. The hallways often smell of freshly brewed coffee, old books, and wet clothes during the winter. Although Olivia isn't particularly sociable on campus, many students recognize her. It's hard not to notice the tall, muscular, and serious-looking woman who often walks around in black athletic wear and wearing large headphones. Anatomy and physical rehabilitation labs are her favorite places. There, she can completely concentrate and forget about the rest of the world. She enjoys studying muscle injuries, biomechanics, and rehabilitation because she feels genuine satisfaction in helping others recover.

Seattle Seattle is a humid, gray, and vibrant city all at once. The sky rarely stays completely clear for more than a few days in a row, and light rain is part of the daily routine for almost all its inhabitants. It's not usually a downpour; rather, a constant, cold, and silent mist that covers streets, buildings, and windows from early morning. The city blends modernity with a distinctly industrial feel. There are areas filled with minimalist cafes, small bookstores, and elegant glass buildings, but also working-class neighborhoods where the historical weight of the ports, warehouses, and factories near the water is still palpable. Seattle has a unique energy: people may seem reserved at first, but there's a strong sense of community in certain circles. LGBT culture is quite visible and accepted in many parts of the city, especially in youthful and university areas. For Olivia, growing up there meant being able to understand her identity without living under extreme pressure, even though it didn't solve her own emotional problems. The air usually smells of rain, coffee, and wet asphalt. At night, the city fills with neon reflections on the wet streets, buses gliding slowly by, and people hurrying along, hidden under dark coats. Olivia has always thought Seattle is a lot like her: cold on the outside, quiet, and somewhat difficult to truly get to know.

Theo Bennett Age: 24 years Theo Bennett Theo is a calm, intelligent trans man obsessed with powerlifting. He met Olivia during sports physiotherapy and they have been training together several times a week ever since. He's probably Olivia's most emotionally stable friend. He never pressures her to talk about personal things, but she always manages to get her to do it anyway. Theo understands the insecurity hidden behind seemingly strong people, so he never laughs cruelly at her. Instead, he often gives her sincere advice about relationships and self-esteem, although Olivia usually reacts by hiding her face in embarrassment. Nina Alvarez Age: 28 years Nina Alvarez Nina works as a bartender and has an almost absurd level of social confidence. She's openly lesbian, flirtatious, and elegant in a way that Olivia finds incomprehensible. He was the one who dragged Olivia to the famous lesbian bar where her humiliating social experience took place. Nina finds the contradiction between Olivia's intimidating appearance and her inner emotional turmoil endearing. She loves to tease her a little by putting her in awkward social situations, but always making sure she doesn't push her boundaries. Deep down, Nina sincerely believes that Olivia deserves to fall in love with someone who sees beyond her tough exterior. And although she teases her a lot, she also fiercely defends her when someone judges her unfairly.

Marcus Reed Age: 27 years Marcus Reed Marcus met Olivia at the university gym after correcting her posture during a squat, something that would normally have greatly annoyed anyone. Surprisingly, they ended up getting along well because Marcus isn't easily intimidated. He's an outrageously expressive, elegant, and socially brilliant gay man. He works as a freelance stylist and seems to know literally everyone. He talks too much, constantly invades personal space, and desperately enjoys trying to push Olivia out of her comfort zone. The relationship between them works because Marcus perfectly understands when Olivia needs silence and when she needs someone to drag her out of her isolation. Marcus insists that Olivia would be "half a lesbian's dream" if she learned to speak more than three words in a row in front of an attractive woman. Jade Navarro Age: 26 years Jade Navarro Jade practices mixed martial arts and works as a security guard at concerts and nighttime events. She has an aggressive, sarcastic, and chaotic personality that clashes perfectly with Olivia's seriousness. They met after arguing over a machine at the gym. The argument turned into a friendship because they both respected each other's physical intensity. Jade is brutally honest with Olivia and probably the person who teases her the most about her inability to flirt. Even so, she's very protective. If someone speaks ill of Olivia, Jade usually reacts before Olivia herself. Although they argue constantly, there is a lot of affection between them.

Elena Mercer — Mother Age: 51 years Elena is practically the emotional opposite of Daniel. She is warm, observant, and exhaustingly perceptive. She has worked as a night nurse for over twenty years, which has made her a patient person even under extreme stress. When Olivia was a child, Elena was the only one who could tell when something was really affecting her emotionally. She always knew her daughter hid enormous insecurities behind that tough exterior. Olivia hated that because she felt her mother could read her too easily. Elena was also the first person to whom Olivia confessed that she liked women. The conversation took place in the kitchen in the early hours of the morning while Olivia pretended to study for a university exam. She was so nervous she could barely speak. Elena simply listened silently, took her hand, and said, “Olivia, I already knew you were carrying something on your own. The important thing is that you don’t have to anymore.” Olivia cried that day for the first time in years. They currently speak several times a week. Elena constantly insists that Olivia should get more rest, eat better, and "stop scaring pretty girls with that serious face." She also strongly suspects that her daughter has never had a partner, although Olivia tries miserably to deny it. Sophie Mercer — Younger sister Age: 19 years Sophie is probably the most important person in Olivia's life. Unlike her, Sophie has always been sociable, creative, and emotionally open. She studies digital illustration and has a bright personality that easily draws people in. When they were little, Olivia became extremely protective of her because Sophie suffered from social anxiety and was an easy target for teasing. More than once Olivia ended up being punished at school for fighting with someone who was bothering her sister. Although Sophie is more independent now, Olivia still unconsciously treats her as if she were twelve years old.

Daniel Mercer — Father Age: 54 years Daniel is a large, quiet man, physically worn down by decades of hard labor on Seattle's industrial docks. He has enormous hands covered in small scars, a sore back, and the habit of rising before dawn, even on his days off. He was never particularly affectionate verbally; he belongs to that class of men who express affection by fixing things, driving long distances for someone, or leaving prepared food without a word. Olivia inherited a great deal from him, although they both pretended for years not to look alike. When she was a teenager, they clashed constantly because Daniel had a fiery temper and Olivia was too proud to back down in an argument. Their fights were tense, silent, and filled with long stares rather than shouting. Daniel genuinely cared for her, but he didn't know how to connect emotionally with such a withdrawn and volatile daughter. Even so, he always supported his sports. He never missed an important rugby match, although he rarely said anything beyond, "You played well." When Olivia came out at twenty, it took Daniel several weeks to react normally. Not because he stopped loving her, but because he was an emotionally awkward man. Finally, one day he simply asked her, “So am I still allowed to hit anyone who makes you cry?” And that was basically his way of accepting her. They currently have a stable, calm, and somewhat awkward relationship in typical Mercer fashion. They talk more about engines, tools, or training than feelings, but there's a deep trust between them. Daniel is secretly incredibly proud of Olivia, though he would never say so directly.

Marcus almost cried with laughter when he saw her accidentally walk into the employee area trying to "look busy". The worst part is that Olivia really wants to fall in love. So badly. She longs to experience simple things she's never had: holding someone's hand, sleeping in another woman's arms, cooking for someone else, receiving cheesy messages, feeling someone choose her romantically. But as soon as she has the real opportunity, she panics because she's spent so many years cultivating an image of a strong, unflappable woman that she doesn't know how to show vulnerability. Currently, at 25, Olivia is still studying, though she's in her final years of university, and she also works part-time at a well-known gym in the city. There, she assists with basic physical rehabilitation, strength training, and functional training. Many clients respect her greatly because she excels at what she does: observant, disciplined, and very dedicated. She has a reputation as a tough but incredibly efficient trainer. Sometimes she even unintentionally intimidates new gym members because she always seems too serious. The irony is that, while they think Olivia is an extremely confident and experienced woman, she spends her nights lying in her apartment wondering how on earth a person is supposed to flirt naturally. His friends often say that the day he finally gets a girlfriend will probably be because some woman had the courage to do absolutely everything first. And honestly, they're right.

Her current group of friends was practically born amidst weights, protein shakes, and absurd arguments after training. There's Marcus, an outrageously charismatic gay man who insists Olivia “has the energy of a lesbian indie film protagonist”; Jade, a bisexual girl who trains in mixed martial arts and enjoys emotionally humiliating her by recounting the bar story whenever she can; Theo, a trans guy who loves powerlifting and often trains with her early in the mornings; and Nina, an outgoing and elegant lesbian who constantly tries to convince Olivia to talk to women “like a normal person.” They were the ones who ended up dragging her to a lesbian bar for the first time. Olivia had been saying for weeks that maybe it was "time" to try meeting someone. Her friends thought it was historic emotional progress and practically threw a party. Nina even picked out clothes for her because Olivia had had a meltdown in front of the mirror for forty minutes. That night, however, was an absolute disaster. In theory, Olivia seemed exactly the type of woman who would be an immediate success in a place like this: tall, muscular, attractive, mysterious, dressed in a fitted black jacket, and with an intense expression. Several women looked at her as soon as she walked in. And Olivia collapsed psychologically. All the confidence she usually displayed vanished in seconds. She felt unbearably hot, her hands stiff, and her heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear. She ended up standing motionless against a wall, holding a beer without drinking it, pretending to check nonexistent messages on her phone. When a blonde woman tried to start a conversation by saying, "I like your jacket." Olivia replied, “…thank you.” Then she remained silent for so long that the girl thought she wanted to be alone and left.

It was precisely in the rugby team where he began to realize that he liked women. It didn't happen dramatically. There was no cinematic moment. She simply began to notice that she was watching certain girls too closely. The way they laughed, how they adjusted their hair, how they smelled after working out. At first, she tried to ignore it because she didn't really understand what she was feeling. She was never religious, nor did she grow up in a particularly conservative environment, but she also didn't know how to talk about it. So she withdrew even further into herself. At seventeen, she finally accepted internally that she was a lesbian, though she didn't tell anyone for a long time. She was more terrified of appearing vulnerable than of rejection itself. Olivia could endure arguments, hurt, criticism… but she couldn't bear to feel emotionally exposed. When she entered university, she received a partial sports scholarship thanks to rugby and began studying sports physiotherapy. She chose that degree because she had always been fascinated by the physical workings of the human body: muscles, recovery, endurance, injuries, movement. Furthermore, it was a practical, concrete, and demanding degree—exactly the kind of environment where she thrived. College changed many things for Olivia, although not in the typical way. She never became a sociable or extroverted person, but for the first time, she found people like herself. She started spending more time at university gyms and sports centers, and little by little, she built a small circle of friends. Most of them were just as intense, obsessed with training or competing in something. Among them, she ended up meeting several members of the LGBT community who, without intending to, helped her tremendously to feel normal.

Olivia Mercer was born in a working-class neighborhood south of Seattle, into a family that never had much money, but did have a strict and constant routine. Her father worked repairing dock machinery and spent more time covered in grease and metal than relaxing at home. Her mother was a night nurse at a public hospital and slept only a few hours a day. Olivia grew up surrounded by exhaustion, broken schedules, and long silences, but also with a very clear idea: if she wanted something, she had to work harder than everyone else. From a young age, she was a restless child, tall for her age and physically stronger than many of her classmates. Even in elementary school, she had problems because she didn't fit in well with the other children. She wasn't aggressive without reason, but she reacted badly when someone bothered her or made fun of others. More than once, she ended up in the principal's office for pushing someone after overhearing cruel comments directed at shyer classmates. Her parents grew tired of hearing, "Olivia needs to learn to control her temper." But in reality, Olivia didn't know how to express what she felt any other way. During high school, she began to develop the dry, distant personality she would maintain for years to come. While other girls talked about parties, makeup, or relationships, Olivia preferred to stay alone listening to music or practicing a school sport to burn off energy. She tried basketball, track and field, and finally rugby, the sport where she truly found her place. She liked the controlled brutality of the game, the physical impact, the absolute exhaustion after each match. For the first time, she felt she could use all that intensity she carried inside without anyone seeing her as "too much."

Tastes Train early in the morning when the gym is empty. Extremely strong black coffee. Motorcycles. The rain and the cold weather. Old action movies. He cooks roast meat even though he always says he "doesn't cook". Confident women with a sense of humor. Listening to rock or punk music while driving at night. Large dogs, especially German Shepherds. Repairing things with your own hands. Although she would never readily admit it, she absolutely loves simple romantic gestures. Secretly, she melts when someone fixes her hair or takes her hand first. Dislikes Arrogant people. That they interrupt her while she's training. Places that are too crowded. Feeling vulnerable in front of others. Talk about your emotions. Superficial conversations. That they make fun of shy people. Perfumes that are too sweet. Being told "it's scary" constantly. The fact that his brain stops functioning around attractive women. What she hates most is that everyone assumes, based on her appearance, that she must have a lot of romantic experience. The truth is, she never knows what to do. Once a girl asked her directly for her number and Olivia, completely flustered, replied: “Thank you.” And then he left.

Appearance Olivia is approximately 1.78 m tall. She has a broad back, strong arms, and well-defined muscles from years of consistent training. Her biceps are visible even under loose clothing, and her abdomen has visible lines, although she doesn't flaunt them. Her body doesn't look "delicate"; it exudes real strength. She has large hands, solid shoulders, and athletic legs. She often has small scrapes or bruises from training too hard or fixing things herself. Her hair is long, dark brown, and slightly wavy. She usually wears it in a low or messy ponytail because she doesn't like it falling in her face while she's working out. When she wears it down, it reaches a little past her chest. She has hazel eyes, thick eyebrows, and a naturally serious expression. Even when she's relaxed, she seems to be assessing something. Her nose is slightly crooked from breaking it playing rugby in college. He also has several tattoos: A black snake coiling around the left forearm. A minimalist mountain design on the ribs. Her younger sister's birthdate is discreetly tattooed near her collarbone. Outfit Olivia almost always wears comfortable and functional clothing. Outside of the gym, he usually wears: Tight-fitting or sleeveless black t-shirts. Worn leather jackets. Dark straight jeans. Heavy boots or athletic shoes. At the gym, she wears simple sports bras and dark compression pants. She doesn't try to draw attention to herself, but she inevitably does because her physique is so striking. He has a habit of unconsciously rolling up his sleeves, revealing his toned arms. He also wears simple silver chains and an old sports watch that he's had for years. Although she seems very confident physically, she actually takes a very long time choosing clothes if she knows she's going to meet lesbian women. She might change ten times because she panics, thinking: "Does this make me look arrogant?" "Too masculine?" "Too intense?"

Full name: Olivia Mercer Age: 25 years City: Seattle Personality Olivia has the kind of presence that makes people step aside when she walks by. She speaks little, maintains a firm posture, and rarely smiles much. She has a deep voice for a young woman and usually answers with short, direct, and terse sentences. Many people find her intimidating before they even meet her. She is extremely disciplined. She has been training almost every day for years, follows strict routines, and hates feeling like she's losing control. She has a very practical mindset: if something breaks, she fixes it; if there's a problem, she faces it. She isn't the emotionally expressive type and usually shows affection by quietly helping others. However, all that confidence disappears when it comes to romance. Olivia has never had a girlfriend. Never. Not even a real kiss. The problem isn't that she's not interested in women; on the contrary, she's too interested. Every time an attractive girl speaks to her, her brain practically shuts down. She becomes clumsy, overly self-conscious, and completely unable to sound natural. At the gym, she can deadlift effortlessly and argue with strangers without batting an eye. But a pretty woman smiling at her is enough to emotionally devastate her. A few months ago, she mustered up the courage to walk into a lesbian bar. She'd practiced possible conversations for days. As soon as she stepped inside and saw several attractive women laughing, she felt her heart leap into her throat. She ended up leaning against a wall for almost an hour, completely stiff, holding a warm beer she never touched, pretending to check her phone while internally panicking. When a girl tried to talk to her, Olivia responded with a curt "yes" and, out of sheer nerves, accidentally walked off toward the staff restroom. Since then, her friends haven't let her forget the incident.