#elisabethstarters

[marley-callahan]

The water had been turned up so hot that it’d left Marley a pleasing tinge of pink. Not knowing when she’d get the luxury of more than an ice cold shower, she’d taken her time, letting the warmth melt away the chill she felt had permanently imbedded in her skin the last few days. She was no stranger to electricity outages, though the ones of her childhood had been inflicted at the negligent hand’s of her mother as opposed to the weather. She didn’t consider the way that she grew up to be lucky by any means, but she supposed Jerome had had it’s perks: lack of blizzards being the main one. No air conditioning in the middle of July, however...now that’d been a real issue.

Eventually, slick hands reached to turn off the shower handle, and Marley stepped out of the shower into the steam-filled bathroom and the comfort of a towel wrapped around her body. "That might’ve been the best shower that I’ve ever taken in my entire life.” Marley announced with a laugh as she opened the bathroom door, having left her clothes in the other room. “I seriously don’t even know how to thank you.”

@elisabethstarters​

[vic-hernandez]

It was a desperate move. Truly, it was. But Victor was losing Instagram followers by the day, and he told himself that he didn’t care. That it didn’t matter--because really, he didn’t. It didn’t. Except, he did. It kind of did. His last post had been in August, before news of the band’s breakup had hit mainstream media. If he looked at the comments on that last photo, he knew the top ones would all be the same questions: what happened? Why did you break up? Is this for real? But he also knew that if he looked at the comments on that last photo, those questions would have stopped rolling in months ago, too. 

So, desperate times called for desperate measures. His hair looked good...and so did his bare chest in the bathroom mirror, phone poised and ready in his hand. As if the situation were more nerve-racking than a shirtless selfie, Victor took a deep breath, thumb hovered over position of his phone--

--when the bathroom door opened. Shit, did I not lock the fucking door? Victor jolted in surprise, the phone clambering from his hand and to the tile floor below. He faced the intruder with wide eyes, an embarrassed flush already creeping along his neck as he tried to think of a suitable explanation. “I, uh...this isn’t what it looks like?”

@elisabethstarters​

[rebeccamayne]

@elisabethstarters​

“God, what a day. I’ll take a whiskey. On the rocks.” Rebecca attempted her best to hold back a sigh as she saddled up upon the bar-stool. Throughout work the whole day, her mind had been absent -- unable to focus on anything at all. And now? It was official -- the divorce papers freshly signed and yet the reality of it all hadn’t sunk in yet. Even now, she stared down at her hand, still unsure of why she was even still wearing the ring. Perhaps she’d been holding onto that last shred of hope that something would’ve changed but now that was all gone. “Consider it a tip. I mean -- that’s if you really want it.” She pulled the shimmering diamond off her finger although her voice sounded somewhat serious rather than joking. After all -- what the hell was she going to do with it now, anyway? 

[forrestholloway]

It was like time had passed in the blink of an eye. Where had the years gone? How was she suddenly almost sixteen years old when it felt like he’d just learned how to change her diaper, or rock her to sleep? Forrest couldn’t believe it. He was the father to a full fledged teenager. Sixteen years old in just four months. His baby girl, no longer a baby.

God, he needed a drink.

Though, the one in his hand was still more than half full. His fingers were making better work at picking at the beer bottle’s label than bringing it to his mouth, attention clearly elsewhere. “...how old were you, when you first started dating?” Furrowed eyebrows glanced at his companion, though they were quick to smooth, realizing how out of the blue, and personal, the question was. With an embarrassed smile, he shook his head, fidgeting hands dropping from the bottle into his lap. “Sorry, that’s...” But he couldn’t drop the subject. “Fifteen’s young, right?” Asked the man who’d had his daughter a month after turning eighteen, though it wasn’t as if his concern for what he’d accidentally witnessed that afternoon wasn’t unprecedented.

@elisabethstarters​

[timothe-ardouin]

Location: Vigil Time: around 8 pm @elisabethstarters​

Tim was able to hold out for about an hour. A hour of wading among the crowds, of listening to people making speeches, hearing their tears, and feeling uneasy with their grief for people who might still be alive. This was supposed to be a support, the lanterns would soon fly and maybe guide the sailors home. Tim saw people drinking, he watched people eat, he hoped to find people who he knew, but his eyes passed through the crowd too quickly. Too anxiously. 

His body was already pushing him towards the edge of the crowd before his mind realised he was having a panic attack. Reaching the beach he let out a forced laugh and let himself fall down to the rocks, breathing heavily. 

[jessica-g]

WHERE: whitview, QUBE. WHEN: 4:36 PM @elisabethstarters​

Having finished up her work for the day in Whitview, Jessica went on a little stroll. She didn’t want to head back to Port Elisabeth just yet, not having explored this part of the island much beyond the locations they’d looked at. Her fellow PA, Rebecca, headed back to their temporary home base almost immediately, citing a long awaited spa session at The Ivy. Jess however, decided to wander. And her wanderings brought her into an art gallery.

After taking in several rooms full of art, she landed on a work that she zoned in and out of, focusing and unfocusing her eyes. Maybe it was fatigue of the day, the week, getting to her, but she really wasn’t sure what she was staring at, at all. 

“I think I’m missing the art gene required to appreciate this, because I just don’t get it,” she said to the first body she felt move into her periphery.  “I mean...I just don’t see it. Do you see it, whatever it could mean?”

[malakaicardel]

Place: Anywhere, really. 

Time: Around 4pm. 

For: Anyone @elisabethstarters​

Malakai stared at the magazine article for way too long. Apart of him, slightly numb to it, while the other half of him desired to throw up; as one always did when they were given more images of their own mother half naked and talking about her sex life, along with the production of her toy line for two pages. After all these years, one would think the man would be used to it, but truly -- it never came to full terms. Shutting the magazine -- why it having fell into his hands in the first place, a entirely other triggering story -- he looked up at the person across from him. “Okay, I need a lighter -- rather to burn this crap, or my eyes out, I haven’t decided.” He stated, in the back of his mind knowing if there was ever a reason to drink, it’d be this. “You wouldn’t happen to have a cigarette on you, huh? Or maybe, even my will to live?” 

[alicegrcy]

location: outside alibi

tagged: @elisabethstarters​

"Great." There were few things that screamed I peaked in High School more than sitting on top of your suitcase on the curb, phone battery down. Luckily, that was not the case, as she was pretty sure that if Billboard ranked you best indie newcomer that was definitely your peak — but it didn't mean that waiting for her father to pick her up wasn't giving her major throwback vibes to less successful times. "I honestly can't believe I've been forgotten on my first day back. And dad has the audacity to tell me I'm his favorite."

[marleyrcallahan]

There was nothing special about the place. Nothing unique, nothing memorable. It was just another diner, in just another town, serving just another cup of coffee to just another desperate customer. She’d worked in plenty of them, roadside truck stops and small town staples, and each and every one was exactly the same. For some odd reason though, Marley thought maybe that’s just why she liked them. Either that, or the tips were always good.

But that could just be because she was good with people. Knew how to lay on the charm just right--enough to be personal, but not like she was trying too hard. It was an act that’d taken years to perfect, so much so that she’d adopted it as a new personality entirely. Marley Callahan, 2.0. 

Currently, she was Marley Callahan with 2.0 hours to go. The breakfast shift had blown by, nearly right into their lunch rush, and the lull that occurred right before the dinner crowd left her with very few tables to care for. She’d just finished wiping down the countertop, dropping down to dispose of the rag in the sanitizer bucket, but when she rose, she just about jumped out of her skin.

“Oh.” One hand over her heart, the other clutched the dry towel on the table. “Nobody teach you that you can’t just sneak up on a girl like that?” The towel was whipped gently in their direction with a huff of laughter. “Nearly gave me a heart attack. You’re lucky I wasn’t holdin’ no pot of coffee, or we’d both be wearin’ it.”

@elisabethstarters​

[nicolettejude]

@elisabethstarters​

Location: Anywhere, honestly.

Time: Late in the Afternoon.

“Would you want a brother for sell?” Nicolette would come to blurt out, as she turned to the nearest person, her mind still racing over the conversation with Maximillion that morning. “Fuck-- I’ll give him to you for free. He’s of age, and you wouldn’t really have to do anything for him. Maybe clean up after him every once and awhile, and you know---” She’d proceed to shrug as if the next few words on the tip of her tongue was nothing more then early morning talk. “Keep up with a court hearing or two, with him.” He was young, he was still learning, that was normal, right? Maybe just for her family. “Over all, he’ll be your responsibility, and you’ll save me from doing hard time when I murder him. Deal.” 

[helenaknightttt]

“So, I had a customer come in today, and she wanted her boyfriend’s name tattooed over her heart.” She began, a roll of her eyes following the statement. “Okay, first off, live your life, girl, but honestly? Dumb.” Helena would never understand why anyone thought significant other tattoos were a good idea. In her book, they were an omen, and one that rarely failed. “Anyways, that wasn’t the best part. The best part was that her boyfriend accompanied her to this appointment, and --- he accompanied me about a week ago.” She added, “When I recognized him, I thought, hm, Helena, be a good person. So, I tried -- I was gonna talk this poor soul out of what would absolutely be a mistake. This was until she started to get nasty, and while, I could’ve turned her away. Gain a few points with the big man upstairs, I thought -- oh, okay, sweetheart, lets play.” Helena was nothing if not petty, and this little incident was too good to pass up. “So, I tattooed the asshole’s name on her. Nice, bold, pretty, and on her way out, I let her know that he wasn’t very good in bed to warrant a place on your body, sweetheart. And shut the door on her.” That was absolutely wrong of her, but damn, did it feel so right. “So, if I wasn’t going to hell before, I definitely am now. First class, baby.” She stated, with a simple shrug of her shoulders. “On another note, how was your day?” @elisabethstarters​

[luceehq]

It was a night out on the town and Lucy hasn't done this type of thing since her college days in the city that never sleeps. Sure that's when she was younger and would call going to the bars and clubs an event with her friends. However this event felt bigger than the ones she had been to in New York, including a lot fancier and Lucy decided she was going to relax and have fun tonight. With the type of week she had last week, the blonde realized she needed to take a chill pill. The event was semi formal, and even though Lucy hated getting dressed up the blonde decided to do it anyway. Putting on a purple long dress, her back was open & it was tied in a bow the Chicago native kept her hair down and threw on her heels. Little make up and her favorite necklace, the thirty-two year old grabbed her clutch and checked herself in the mirror one more time. Taking a breath, she did a shot of whiskey before leaving. 

 Once arriving, the blonde took a deep breath. She hated crowds, always have and always will. For some reason they just bothered her but the blonde kept her promise and decided she was going to have fun. The cold wind hit her skin and she instantly felt chills, heading into Alibi. She walked around for a few minutes and then pushed her hair back behind her ears before finally moving towards the bar. Standing at the bar now, Lucy turned around to the person standing next to her "Please tell me what your choice of alcohol is.. I need some options." @elisabethstarters​

[vic-hernandez]

What kind of sick bastard steals the front tire off of somebody’s bike? He thought to himself. Just the front tire. Victor could hardly believe it when he’d walked out of the music store that afternoon to find his bike, previously stood upright and locked securely (or so he’d thought) to the rack, laid in a heap on the sidewalk, missing only it’s front tire. What does somebody even do with just one tire? He didn’t know. But he knew what he’d have to do without one: walk home. Luckily, his moms’ home wasn’t too far of a walk–but then again, was anything on the island? With a defeated sigh, he hefted the now useless bike up and over his shoulder and turned to head in the direction of home. As he did so, he felt a pair of eyes on him, lifting his own to meet his spectators, suddenly aware of how this looked.

“...I swear this is my bike.” He glanced at the missing front tire. “Well...most of it.”

@elisabethstarters​

[marley-callahan]

There was something about dancing that just made Marley feel alive. She wasn’t particularly good at it--not trained in anything more than throwing her arms above her head, closing her eyes, moving her hips relatively to whatever beat was blasting overhead, but she loved it, all the same. The thump of the bass in her chest, getting lost in a sea of bodies...even if she was dancing alone, she never really was. Though this particular night, she craved a little more than just the default company her fellow dance floor occupants offered. As her eyes scanned the bar for potential prospects, a smirk formed on her lips upon finding the perfect one, body snaking through the crowd until she was stood right before them, hand already outstretched. “You should dance with me.” She declared, loud enough to be heard over the music. 

@elisabethstarters​

[timothe-ardouin]

Location: Fremont Dockside Late afternoon, day 5 of the search

It seemed beyond his capabilities to sleep now. Having grown up in a large city, Tim had never understood the complications of being part of a small community. Fremont had been the most affordable. Had he stayed anywhere else, he would’ve faced bankruptcy for his little company two weeks in. But he had gotten used to the little community by now, knew most of the people at least by face, thought he was part of it as well. And now worry and anxiety drove him back to his desk at all odd hours as he drew both his commercial work and faced his feelings and demons through personal work. 

He had dragged himself to the dockside after finishing the sixth personal painting and finding his hand and wrist and back muscles all screaming against his efforts. He stood so near to the edge that just a gust of wind against his back might send him over, staring into the water, shivering in his light jacket. Where could they have gone? Where could that tiny boat be? Why hadn’t anyone found them yet?

@elisabethstarters​

[jasmine-mousavi]

@elisabethstarters​ Location: Sugar & Spice Bakery

Usually, Jasmine’s day was spent upstairs in the office, going over the accounts, figures, menus, orders, anything and everything that needed doing, but today, her shop assistant had called in sick. It had been a while since Jasmine had worked the counter, the till, the coffee machine and everything else that came with being an assistant at Sugar & Spice and she wasn’t exactly dressed for it, but it Khloe Kardashian could get through a cheating scandal, she could get through a counter shift in heels. 

Trying to ignore the pain in the balls of her feet, Jasmine flitted around the bakery, wiping down the few tables they had inside and out of the building for people to dine in and generally making sure the bakery was as perfect looking as the day it had opened. Taking her place back behind the counter as the doorbell tinkled throughout the room, Jasmine looked up, a bright, welcoming smile on her face. “Hi, welcome to Sugar & Spice, can I help you with anything?”