katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

Scoffing on Parker's behalf, Kat gave a firm shake of her head. "How dare he. Well, lucky for you I'm single as hell and will absolutely keep the commitment to hang out with you today," she grinned back. Kat didn't have anywhere else that she had to be that day and she was more than willing to spend it hanging out with Parker for awhile on the slopes. "That works for me. Let's go get after it." Kat was always ready for anything physical and though she'd already been a few times down the slopes, she was ready for me. "Which slope are you thinking? Easier or harder? And, more importantly, what do I get when I win getting down there first?"

@parkerlcwis

Her adventurous nature had stemmed from her father's love of being outdoors. It had been a passion he shared with both of his children, her brother having picked up on it all the same. "Marcus was supposed to show up, but he's such a flake. He's dating this new girl and it's the only commitment he keeps." She hadn't been surprised by the text dismissing their plans, disappointed, but not surprised. Parker considered the switch up, a board much easier to handle than skis. "No need to rent anything else. I can stick to these," she assured with the shake of her head. There was always another time and besides, she had a perfectly good board sitting at home. "Shall we?"

@katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

"Always. I've never been one to stay in the box," Kat chuckled. It wasn't incorrect, she'd never been someone that was willing to stick to what was expected of her, always finding ways to push the envelope and take her life in directions that most people would never think to go. Life staying busy and staying exciting was what gave her a purpose. "I think he was just always pissed because I was maybe a little bit of a terror back then. Only back then, though." Kat in school had been about as it got when it came to listening and following rules, but only because she could never stay settled for long. Where some kids could sit and listen and learn, Kat had always just wanted to get up and do something. "What's the coolest thing you made at pottery class? Didn't get yourself a Swayze, but at least a good butter dish or something?" Kat had a teasing glint in her eyes, a warm laughter flowing from her lips. "Perfect, though, yes. Make it the first thing, really put my best foot forward."

@rachelhargrove

"Of course you're right, you're right. And see? That's what I'm trying to say! Always thinking outside the box!" Rachel hyped Kat up, laughing along with amusement as she was so happy to have a reason to laugh. "I mean yeah you were in first grade, what did he expect from you?! That's pretty unreasonable." She shared as she felt like some people took themselves to seriously and expected that from others even when the others were six and seven year olds. Rachel gave a little shrug and shake of her head. "I mean not often no. I have come here in the past, but I don't know. I definitely wouldn't think of myself as an artist. I just do stuff sometimes." It wasn't really all that exciting, but she also didn't think it was worth bragging over, because her art was not that good. "I used to take pottery classes sometimes. Thought I might meet a Patrick Swayze type...except not in the spirit realm ideally." Rachel shared with a small laugh at the thought of her finding anyone. "Ah yes it would definitely humanize you, maybe I should put it in my preface that feels like a good place to put it." She shared with a laugh though now she was already editing the preface in her mind again.

@katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

Kat didn't know if courage was the word for it, but she at least had ended things before she went down a path that she wouldn't have been happy with. She firmly believed that things eventually played out the way they were supposed to, sometimes with just a little more pain and heartbreak. "If she was willing to break it off like that, I'd bet on it being a mistake. But, I don't know that I'm the right person to ever be giving relationship advice either," she admitted with a warm laugh. Her own track record when it came to anything romantic was pretty abysmal, her lifestyle making it a consistently difficult thing to try and add to her life. Attempts had been made over the years, but it had always come back to the same issues that kept her from ever finding anything solid. "A beer tap in her kitchen? Max, you've done it, you've found her," she teased gently, shifting over to bump against his side with a playful smirk. Though, she had to admit, the concept of an in-house beer tap was one she would have to take into consideration for her outdoor bar. "You're the best, Max. She'll appreciate that. I will too."

@max-cortez

He let the woman's words sink into bones, her own experience nearly completing that of his own. Had Sydney thought the same of their would have been marriage? Had she ran rather than breaking the news to him personally? "At least you had the courage to turn it down." All he'd wanted were answers, but in life, no one was ever guaranteed a thing and he was no exception, regardless of the pain it had caused. "I don't know if we would have been a mistake or not, but I think I've found some kind of peace in it." It had taken years to move on from that loss, to not shoulder the blame to the point of believing he deserved nothing good in life and that love wasn't always going to evade him. A nervous hum of air ghosted off his tongue and his cheeks filled with warmth and color. "She does. I mean, the woman thought to put a beer tap in her kitchen," he half joked, half sighed in pleasure. It was one of the many things he'd found himself in awe over, but at the base of it all, Cheyenne was more of a woman than he probably deserved. "Well, she'll have company. I don't know many carols, but I'll make something work if I have to. I'll even bring a gift."

@katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

Kat was the type of person that once she put her mind to something, there was nothing that could get in her way. From her perspective, the only thing keeping anyone from what they wanted was themselves. "Do it. Find a new job, a new career. What's keeping you from doing it?" she asked, her words coming out with an animated passion, her enthusiasm obvious as she spoke. "There's plenty of jobs out there that could get you traveling way more than what you're able to do working with the local paper."

@derekxaranda

"Good to know," Derek chuckled with Kat's words, though he knew it wasn't her typical adventure. "I'd love to do more traveling," the man admitted to the woman, "I'd like to end up with a photography career that let's me travel more willingly, I'd run out of my vacation time pretty fast if I did all the traveling that I really wanted to do." Derek told Kat, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. @katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

Kat was more than happy to oblige and provide the company for Parker. It had been awhile since they'd hung out and with a week off traveling to be home it was the perfect time to catch up with everyone she hadn't seen in awhile. "Lucky for you, I think you just found the perfect company," Kat chirped back with a swivel of her hips. "I've been on my board today, that's what I brought with me. I'm game for anything, though, I can always rent extra equipment if we want to go with something totally different." Kat had experience with just about anything that could get them down a mountain, having lived and grown up there learning any winter related activity she could find.

@parkerlcwis

The winter wonderland was magical without the horror stories that typically followed in the mountains. Of course, rescues weren't limited to the snow covered time of the year, but it seemed a hell of a lot more prominent once snow fell all around. "I'm just looking for some company myself," she admitted with the twitch of a smile. She had shown up to make the most of the day and truth be told, a little friendly competition down the mountain with someone she knew would deliver was all too tempting. "I've gone down on skis, but I could switch things up. I'm not all that bad on a board either. What are you doing down on?"

@katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

"Excuse you. This is an artistic interpretation of a tree, obviously. Just a plain tree would have been too basic," Kat scoffed, protesting with a laugh as if there were even the smallest of chances that were true. "Oh, definitely. Major artistic differences. He was all about the details and I was...you know. There because I had to be." Were it up to Kat she'd have spent every last period of her day out in gym class, which had always been much more her style than anything requiring an artistic flair. "Do you ever do stuff like this? Big painter in your spare time?" Kat asked. She knew that Rachel had her version of art with her writing, but she could definitely see her friend taking part in other artistic endeavors too. "Oh, I don't care if you do. There's got to be something in there to remind everyone that I'm just as human as the rest of you."

@rachelhargrove

"I did not! I chose to write about you because you're forever adventuring and making life fun! Even if you may not know how to paint a tree." Rachel tried to suppress the laugh at the thought of failing art in first grade. "Okay well that just was rude of the teacher. Like really, come on now. I would say that you just had...artistic differences." She let the lame joke leave her lips with a giggle as she definitely felt better about her own painting. Not that she would let Kat know that she agreed, she certainly wasn't trying to make her feel bad. "Well it's really in the eye of the beholder." Rachel said instead with a reassuring grin, never having thought to be competitive with Kat before since they excelled at different things. "I promise I won't put this in the book though."

@katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

Though the slopes had been busy all through the day, Kat had managed to get a few good rides down the mountain on her board, a feat she was properly pleased with. Her helmet was dangling off her shoulder now as she came inside for a breather and, of course, more snacks to take the edge off. Since she was home for a week for the Christmas holiday, she was taking full advantage of the cold weather activities, snowboarding being the main one of the day. Once she'd gotten some snacks and a hot chocolate to warm up with, she was starting the hunt for a seat, relieved when it was a quick one and Parker made the offer. "I'd love that. What's up, Parks?" she asked, plopping down without wasting any more time so she could get to her snacks. "You going down on skis, sled, board? Other?"

@parkerlcwis

location — ski resort & lodge.

character — @katerinadelarosa

Parker had lost count of how many times she'd come down the mountain. It felt being a kid again every venture back up the chairlift she made more exciting than the last. She'd pushed until her legs begged for reprieve and only then did she find herself occupying a table with a warm cup of coffee placed before her. "You can join me," she offered, spotting a familiar face scanning for an empty space in the very busy lodge. Apparently everyone had shown up to enjoy the view. "And if you're down for it, you can join me down the mountain too."

[katerinadelarosa]

Kat loved to be good at things, so the times where she was boxed into doing something she simply had no hope at there was no stopping the pout that came out in her lower lip. What was meant to look like a Christmas tree was somehow now warped into what could only be called a furry, green blob. "I swear you only offered to write about me to try and find the one thing I'm terrible at. Art, no skills whatsoever. Any form of it. I almost failed art class in like first grade, it was embarrassing," she admitted with a chortle of laughter before snagging another cookie to bite from. "Yours looks way better than mine, though."

@rachelhargrove

character: Katerina De La Rosa @katerinadelarosa

location: Painting with FRIENDS; Refined Palette

She was grateful to be doing something with Kat that wasn't involved with writing her life story. Not because she didn't love helping share her friend's story and was excited to release it to the world, but because it had become her life every day now for the past couple of months and she liked taking a breath so they could actually be friends. Rachel had thought the idea for the Refined Palette night clever, though her artistic skills were not that great but when she looked over at Kat's she nearly choked on the gingerbread cookie she'd just taken the last bite of. "Oh my God, I think I finally found your one weakness."

[katerinadelarosa]

"See, here me out. Plenty of hats, don't doubt that, but the matching can't be beat. Plus, it's the holidays, you can't have enough holiday hats," she grinned, happily grabbing one to purchase, along with the larger one to be shoved on Asli's head at a later date for a future photo shoot. "It totally is cute. Mildly dorky and totally embarrassing for Rhia in the future, but that's fine. She'll get over it someday that her mother is a total dweeb." Kat pulled the cash out of her wallet to pay, tucking the hats nicely into her bag to gift wrap at some point in the next few days. "Have you guys figured out holiday plans for everything?"

@elifalvey

When Elijah always said that Rhia and Alex were going to be spoiled rotten this holiday season, he felt a little more vindicated in believing so with scenarios such as these, where Kat was pulling out a festive hat that the baby definitely didn't need but was going to end up owning anyway. It was sweet, how much their friends cared, and while he pretended to complain about the mountain of presents they'd receive, he secretly loved it. "You know, I was going to argue with you . . . Rhia's got enough hats to put on the heads of like, every baby in this town. But you know what? The matching's fucking adorable," he commented, eyes shifting between the two sizes. "I reckon it won't take much, to be honest. You can just tell her it's for a picture and she'll probably end up thinking its cute and won't want to take it off either."

( @katerinadelarosa )

[katerinadelarosa]

"I mean, a few more drinks tonight and I could be convinced to get up there at some point," she admitted with a laugh. Truthfully, she'd bounce up there and sing now if Derek wanted her to, she was never one to turn down a good time. "What else is on your bucket list? I can definitely cross that one off for you any time, but what else you got on there?" It was always something fun to learn about people, seeing what it was that drove them in life.

@derekxaranda

"Now that I have no doubt about," Derek flashed her one of his grins in agreement. His friendship with Kat had been one that he cherished greatly, both of them having such a grand sense of adventure. His lips parted with laughter as Kat applauded his choice of song for karaoke, "Okay, now I've got to be invited the next time you do karaoke, to see you sing these songs," he continued on, "consider it on my bucket list." @katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

"I can absolutely imagine, that's always the goal. Finding shiny old objects that have been lost for centuries," Kat laughed a bit, having been there more than a few times now in her career. It had been a minute since her last major find, but there had been smaller treasures that have popped up in her searches in the last few months that still were exciting. "It's actually not that difficult to get certified, I'm licensed to instruct if you want me to take you through the course. It takes about two days to get everything in and get you certified. And then we're free to go diving for lost sunken treasures any time you want."

@aspencartwright

"Okay. I am holding you to this. We are going volcano hiking and scuba diving as soon as humanly possible. Maybe we'll find long lost treasure. Could you imagine? I bet there is some cool shit still lost down there. Or up there. Or probably both." It wasn't hard to miss how much Kat loved what she did, and Aspen was happy for her. Especially when the excitement involved them getting to tag along. Even if they weren't on the same level of badassery. "I don't think I've ever been scuba diving. What does it take to get certified? Will you teach me so we can go find the long lost sunken treasure together?" | @katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

closed starter for @elifalvey at the holiday marketplace

"Okay, I'm going to have to buy this," Kat mused with a bright laugh, grabbing a tiny, hand knitted baby hat that looked like reindeer antlers. It was the perfect size for Rhia and though Kat had already bought more gifts that was necessary for the girls, one more for the sake of comedy couldn't hurt. "What are the odds we can get Asli to wear a matching one?" Kat shifted over to where there were some larger versions of them hanging up, pulling one down with a cackle to show Eli as another option.

[katerinadelarosa]

closed starter for @dessaxcart at spruce mountain ski lodge

In between all the work trips and extra activities she had to contend with for the month, Kat had been putting her focus into spending time with the people she hadn't seen in awhile. With all the winter activities taking off, it had felt like the perfect time to get together with Odessa for a day at the ski lodge. "What are you thinking, sledding, snowtube, or start with the snacks and hot cocoa?" Kat asked as they pulled in and parked. The place was already bustling with activity, kids and adults alike having a blast as they went down the slopes and enjoyed the winter weather.

[katerinadelarosa]

Given all of their backgrounds, it was no big leap of logic to assume that Austin was, in fact, just fucking with all of them. "That bitch, how dare she," Kat grinned, a playful disbelief in her words.

"She's come close to breaking me with these hockey pucks," Kat mused, reaching over to tap one of the cookies against the plate. "Or, at least breaking a tooth."

Kat tossed the cookie back down, not willing to take any more chances with her health by risking another nibble.

"Have you thought about what you're getting her yet?" Kat asked, glad that she'd already taken care of all her shopping throughout the year for everyone. Actually getting them wrapped and ready to give was a different story, but it wouldn't be the first time if she simply handed people an unwrapped gift when she inevitably ran out of time.

"Off the coast of Micronesia. I've got a dive planned to do some initial scouting for what hopefully will turn into a big future project." Most of what she was doing in December was for her own work outside of the show she filmed for the network, which was much more fun for Kat.

@selincakar

There was a beat of pause, and then— “I’m actually almost certain that’s exactly what she’s doing.”

Sey’s mouth cracked wider with a grin. “In fact, if I hadn’t seen her in action for myself I’d almost suspect she’s not hopeless in the kitchen at all, and just trying to see how far she can go before we break.”

For all their differences they each had more than enough of a mischief streak to back up the suspicion. 

“I can’t foot that kind of bill, though, so maybe I’ll rethink my present choices this year.” While it was true she had enough money from her parents to probably never work again and remain comfy, the Çakar kids were raised to work hard and earn for themselves. 

She still hasn’t found a worthy enough reason to dip into her so-called inheritance and, no offense to Kat or Austin, covering renovations and repairs didn’t feel like it. 

Happy enough with that answer - Sey was a firm believer that the best plans were the ones you didn’t actually plan that much  at all - she tilted her head to the side. “Yeah? Where are you off to this time?” (@katerinadelarosa)

[katerinadelarosa]

Any of the usual playfulness that Kat had shifted back a few notches, giving a serious attention as Max spoke. Kat knew he wasn't one to open up easily and wanted to give it the proper weight that it was due. Her own teeth bit down on her lower lip as he spoke, head nodding softly. "I...turned down an engagement once. Back in my early twenties. We'd been dating for years and I'm sure he probably hated me and swore off anything to do with love like you did. Would have been a mistake, though. I think I just got lucky and knew before we got that far down the metaphorical aisle that it wasn't going to work." Kat was glad she'd at least never said yes to someone that she knew it wasn't going to work with and her heart went out to Max for having been on the receiving end of that. Heartbreak was always hard to recover from, especially at that young of an age. "I'm glad you're letting yourself give people a chance again. You deserve someone that makes you happy and it sounds very much that she's doing just that." For Kat, that was really what mattered. If they were happy, that was ultimately the most important thing. Anything else, they could figure out the details along the way. "She is, yeah. She still lives in the house I grew up in. She'd love that, though, she's a fiend when it comes to Christmas. She's never met a Christmas carol that she won't belt out with her whole chest."

@max-cortez

The complications of his emotions were all self-made. Fear circled within him like a hawk, daring to keep him contained while every other part of him screamed for the reprieve of honesty. "I was engaged once," he admitted, bottom lip immediately tugged between his teeth after the fact. Only a few people knew that about him, but it rolled off his tongue smoothly. "I was nineteen and it was definitely a mistake. One day, everything was fine, the next, I never heard from her again. After that, I decided I wasn't going to ever do that again." Feelings, he'd meant, but he'd sworn off marriage too. He glanced down at the woman, brow raised before he turned his gaze back towards the path before them. "I wasn't sure I'd ever do this... I've gotten close, you know?" It seemed like each time he'd gotten close to something, the world had reminded him of why he'd avoided it all in the first place. A grin pulled on his mouth in response to her teasing suggestion. "I think you'll find that she's the one too good for me." She was fiercely educated, artistically talented, charismatic, and everything else someone wished they could be. "Is your mom local? If you need the extra company, let me know. I've been told I can do a mean caroling of Santa's Coming to Town."

@katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

"Exactly! Silence is just the worst," Kat agreed. Out in nature was the only time she could appreciate it and even then she could only do it for so long. When she was at home hanging around, even alone there was something on in the background or music playing to drown out the lingering silence. "I'm lucky that I have so many people that lack boundaries and just show up or else I'd be suffering." It was a big part of why Kat stayed on the road so much with work, finding extra reasons to plan trips so she wasn't spending too many days cooped up in a quiet house. "Totally that loud though. Absolutely that loud." It had been the best part of her childhood, growing up with the Cartwrights next door. They'd always made it feel like she was part of something bigger than just her small little family. Tugging on her fishing rod, Kat was already bouncing eagerly, ready to get it pulled in. The patience side of fishing was anything but her strong suit, but listening to Hudson's advice, Kat let the fish work itself into being reeled in. With the line coming back up to the shore, Kat gave a withering look to the thing when she reeled in what had to be the tiniest fish she'd seen. "Oh, come the fuck on, it felt way bigger."

@hudscart

"I've practically lived with seven other people for the majority of my life. With Odessa around, I've never really known what it's like to be truly alone," Hudson teased with a lighthearted tone. "Even before Delilah moved in, it felt like Aspen and Lucas were perpetual guests, just popping in and crashing. As much as I appreciate moments of quiet, complete silence indoors feels like nails on a chalkboard." Giving her a playful sideways glance, Hudson shook his head in mock disapproval. "Okay, maybe we weren't that loud!" he quipped, fully aware it was a blatant lie. Their household was anything but serene, especially during their frequent squabbles. The Cartwright residence was always bustling with some sort of activity or commotion. Spotting Kat's fishing line starting to move, Hudson sprang up, heading over to offer assistance. "You've got this! Keep your focus and don't reel it in too fast. Let the fish tire itself out before bringing it in," he advised with a supportive tone. @katerinadelarosa

[katerinadelarosa]

"Totally doable. You've got the time for it, right?" Kat chuckled back with a warm shake of her head. With the amount of people in Asli and Eli's lives that would be willing to step in and help, it was absolutely possible, though a completely insane idea in any circumstance. "Eleven might be pushing it, but maybe a good like five or six. Enough to fill up a mini van, but not so many that you and Eli would have to both be driving them to football practice." At that point they'd have to invest in a whole school bus just to get the family anywhere. The idea of a big family was one that Kat had always loved, especially coming from her own background as an only child. As much of a risk taker as Kat was, this was one case where she was glad to take the safer path of not having Asli pregnant again. She'd never been there herself, so she couldn't fully understand and sympathize with how it felt, but at least from her side she'd much rather see her friend safe. "I can't imagine that's an easy decision to make, but...I think everyone in your life will appreciate that. I know I will." Stressing about the people she cared about was something Kat could never help, but one less thing to worry about was never a bad thing. Leaning back in her chair with a thoughtful expression, Kat had to ponder it for a moment before a slight smirk lifted at her lips. "Well, whichever one takes your lessons on the ethical side of things as more of a suggestion than a requirement, obviously."

@draslihanxfahri-bailey

The Egyptologist burst out into laughter. Imagining Alex, Rhia, and a bunch of other mini Elis and Aslis running around. "Hmmm... Eleven kids is absolutely doable, right?" she teased, snickering. Already imagining her partner's face if she were to suggest them having nine more. "Either we'd have to extensively renovate our house to fit that many children or move to Summit Lake to afford that much room. Though hey, with a surrogate and maybe adopting some kids as well, why not? I think a big family would be wonderful." At the end of the day, she just wanted a family to adore and a life with the man she loves. No matter what lengths they'd have to go through for it. She chuckled slightly. Yet, her face softened. "I mean... I'd love to be pregnant again," she admitted. "But with all the risks the last three had, I don't think I could put my body through that again. Nor the girls, Eli, and Atlas." Her partner nearly made himself sick with how worried he'd been. And Atlas had been racked with guilt learning about what happened with Alex and how she had faced it again with Rhia. Even though she knew that both her daughters would be okay with their dads if anything happened, she couldn't risk that. She couldn't put her family through that again at all. Moving past the topic of the other's father, she imagined Kat teaching the next generation of treasure hunters. A thought that made her both proud but worried over all the unethical ways they'd learn to go about it. "Alright, full confession: who do you think could be the next you once all is said and done? I need to know so that I can start teaching them the ethical side of things, Miss De La Rosa." She nudged her slightly as she teased. ||📜@katerinadelarosa