seas of green

[catalina-g]

and it's in the sea of green I lose control

Name: Catalina Jade Gomez

Age: 29

Birthday/Zodiac: April 21st, 1995 — Taurus

Face Claim: Eva De Dominici

Occupation: Firefighter

Neighborhood: Downtown

Gender & Preferred Pronouns: Cis female & she/her

Brief Bio (tw parental death)

Catalina Jade Gomez is the middle child of three, and was born in Avellaneda, Argentina.

At age 4 she and her family moved to Briar Ridge, her father had found a better job here in construction while her mom was able to stay home with, at the time, only her and her older sibling.

Growing up was a bit rough for her, her older sibling was the prized possession of her mother and father, constantly she was compared to them as if whatever she did was never as good as what they did.

It affected Catalina by causing her to act out, though she was smart, she was always getting into trouble at school.

Catalina was known as a hot head among her classmates, and some tried to test her to see if she was really as crazy as they described—and she proved them right every time.

All throughout elementary and middle school she was able to get away with most things by using her sweet smile and soft, seas of green. It made most people believe she was just 'misunderstood', that she wasn't meaning to do the things she was doing.

That stopped in high school...but her behavior soon got worse with news of the arrival of another sibling she knew she'd be competing with.

From ninth grade up until her senior year Catalina had been suspended at minimum seven different times for fighting on school grounds. Other discrepancies that followed her was cutting class, cussing out one of the teachers, and a few other small things that had her sitting in ISS for most of her school days.

Regardless, she still graduated with a 3.8 GPA, her knowledge never wavering behind her terrible conduct.

Her little sister, Emalina, looked up to her and her oldest sibling, no matter how often her parents told her that Cat was no good.

After graduating she went off to college and lived the best life she could, never calling home, and just partying the weekends...hell even the weekdays away while working towards her degree.

She had chosen Criminal Justice, and despite the many classes and exams attended with a hangover, she managed to graduate with her bachelor's with honors.

The next two years flew by as she came back home, soon getting a simple job as a bartender while she was indecisive on if she wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement or not—she had a ton of time to grow up, right?

Wrong. Her parents had left Catalina in charge of her then 11-year-old sister so that they could go to celebrate their upcoming wedding anniversary—and asleep on the couch she was when she heard a knock at the door that would deliver the worst possible news she could have imagined.

Her parents had been killed in a drunk driving accident, and she was left with taking over guardianship of her sister while her older sibling was nowhere to be found.

Knowing she needed to leave a lot of her way behind; she decided to join the fire academy and worked her ass off to graduate and secure a job that would keep the two of them afloat.

Catalina hasn't moved out of the downtown home her parents had brought her up in, and unsure of if she wants to or not—and now she has a fifteen-year-old to keep from following mostly in her footsteps.

Which also means less bar fights, so she keeps her job...but she's always ready to throw down.

[catalina-g]

who: Catalina & anyone where: Dua Board & Wishes Wall 

Catalina didn't quite remember when she lost Ema in the crowd, though it seemed pointless to worry and run off after her with how things had been lately. So, instead, she wandered around the fair, looking over the booths that were all well thought out and put together, admiring the concepts behind each one and making a mental note to come back to each one to participate. Before she chose her first area to participate in, Cat had stopped at one of the food vendors who had cooked up some authentic Brazilian food—right up her alley.

With Pão de Queijo in one hand and a Cachorro Quente on her plate, Catalina moved towards the Dua Board and Wishes Well, thinking over how or what she would do or write. Chewing and swallowing, she thought over who she would write to first. Her parents came to mind, though she figured that might be silly, seeing as they weren't around to truly know what well wishes she was sending their way. Moving the plate to her right hand, Catalina moved closer to the table that held the cards on which they would be writing, glancing to her left at someone coming up next to her. "How do you even start off on one of these things?" she laughed a little to herself, her brain pinpointing the person she'd be writing to now. "I feel like the moment I write, they'll know it's me and it won't be anonymous anymore."

[kolkingston]

"I'm not really sure God exists anymore," he stated, clearly despondent, "life keeps proving to me that if all that religious bullshit is real then Satan won that war. Hell is earth, hell is this life." As Kol returned his tumbler to his mouth he sucked in a breath and released the heavy sigh into the glass before finishing off what remained inside. "But—doesn't stop me from wishing for a miracle. I'm giving that asshole a chance to prove me wrong." He'd gladly go to hell for his blasphemy and his doubt if it meant Gabby was returned.

Unfortunately Kol wouldn't be able to make the same claims. His alcohol intake blurred quite a lot thee last five years, to the point that even spots in his past were hazy. The drink served it's purpose. At least one thing was going right. "We might've crossed paths but you look quite a bit younger than me and I haven't really seriously looked at woman since I met my wife back in college," he cleared his throat a little, "ex-wife." Maybe the clarification wasn't necessary but knowing MJ was in town he didn't want to do her the disservice. Her questions were harmless until she got to the last one and then Kol stilled and his blue eyes fixed on her. Most people seemed to know by now, and he couldn't blame her, it wasn't her business to tread lightly around him on certain topics. "There's only one girl's disappearance that I care about right now and I won't apologize for being selfish about that."

[catalina-g]

Catalina sat silently when she spoke about religion and the like, she had always been taught one way by her parents and even if she didn't fully agree with it when she was younger—his take was one she hadn't yet let enter her mind. She laughed, though, thinking on it a few moments after he finished and seeing how, well, he could be right. "You know, life has had me feeling that way too. A lot of times it feels like a tennis match between the two, Satan wins every other set if not .... the match is almost over."

Her hand was placed against her chest, flattered in the smallest way when he mentioned how young she looked. "Oh, that's so great you think so. I'm turning the big three-oh in about a week or so. Feels like a whole new step into being considered....old." she faked a look of despair for a second before speaking again. "No offense." she laughed. The tone had changed when he began speaking again, her brow cocking in confusion. "I don't think they're the same two stories," she added, knowing that hers had always been a tale spun to keep kids out of certain areas, his obviously being one of truth. "Change of topic? Or do you want to dive into that?"

[sebolivar]

Sebastian laughed, unable to contain his volume as he didn't expect her to tease him about being from New York. It wasn’t the first time he had encountered light teasing about being from "The Big City"; in fact, it amused him. It was always an easy icebreaker, and her reaction definitely made it worthwhile. He rolled his eyes in response, a relaxed grin on his face, as he nodded at her follow-up question. "My stepsister actually owns a hair salon downtown," he said, gesturing with a nod in a random direction.

He hums in thought. "I don't know if it's better or worse," he says, tilting his head and chuckling. "Briar Ridge is a bit more evenly paced, and I think I needed something slower." There's a pause, as it’s not often that Sebastian reflects on his move like this. In fact, he usually prefers to avoid the topic and remain grumpy. "The hustle and bustle of New York is great, honestly. It has its perks, and you can really get a lot done in a place like that. I miss it, but... I don't know. You forget to stop and smell the roses." He shakes his head, slightly embarrassed by his own cheesiness. "And this place is full of them, you know... if you know where to look."

[catalina-g]

"Beauty and The Beach?" she questioned, unsure of if there was really any other hair salon in town—she had only ever thought about stepping into that one after all of the rave reviews and such. "My little sister has actually been trying to beg me to get her an appointment to add highlights or something to her hair, is your stepsister good?"

Catalina laughed at that, nodding along as he mentioned the slower pace. Everyone, and she meant everyone, had mentioned that when they had brought up why they came here, or that was their reason for leaving in the first place. They even enjoyed the thought of finding somewhere where more things happened, more stories, or big news items. Cat had thought about leaving once, but when everything happened, she just settled in. "No, I totally get it, this place has a lot of hidden gems," she nodded along, laughing at a memory. "It's not too hard to find them, just need the right person to help you lead the way."

[finneganparker]

Finn leaned his head back against the headrest, his hand instinctively reaching for Catalina's as she found it. There was something grounding about her touch, like a quiet promise that everything would be okay despite the tension that still lingered in the air. He could feel her need for reassurance, for stability, and he was more than willing to offer it.

"Anything sounds good," he replied with a soft grin, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "But BBQ does sound like a solid choice for tonight. Can't go wrong with that." His eyes flicked over to Emalina, who hadn't spoken much to him in the entire ride over. "Besides," Finn added, "It's the kind of meal you can just dig into and not worry about anything else. And we can all use that right now, right?"

His tone was light, but there was a hint of care behind it. He could feel the unspoken weight of everything they were all dealing with, but for now, he would focus on getting them through the moment and onto something that could give them a bit of peace, even if just for a while. "We could always grab something for dessert too, if you're feeling up to it."

[catalina-g]

Catalina began walking forward towards the store as she listened to him and his suggestions, her smile never leaving as ideas rolled into her head. "Hmm, pulled chicken or pork?" she asked, eyeing her sister behind them who was still avoiding eye contact. "Let's add in some mac n cheese, some BBQ baked beans, and collard greens," she noted, already having a mental list of what ingredients she needed for all. "Is there any way specific you like yours done? Any childhood meals we can try and model?" she questioned, thumb rubbing in circles as the breeze from the sliding doors of the store whipped by them.

"Mmm, dessert," she hadn't even gotten to that portion yet in her mind, but now it moved to the forefront and if she had a choice in not having to make it—she was going to take it. "What's your favorite? We can grab that for tonight, no matter what it is."

[lia-lozano]

"Yep, still am.." It was a slightly awkward dynamic between the two girls that Lia was really starting to feel. They had known each other and had been around each other a fair amount as teenagers, but neither had ever seemed to feel a friendship and Lia was starting to feel the familiar itch that she fought hard to keep at bay. For someone who just wanted everyone to like her, she was trying not to be too much now.

"Well that's good, I'm glad you guys kept in touch." There was nothing like keeping your best friends close, it was similar really to her own friendship with Sahra that had existed since they were born. "It's prospered just fine, really." Nodding, Lia tried to shake off the awkwardness. "Just going to write here for a while before I have to record the next album, just wanted to be home, you know?"

[catalina-g]

Catalina nodded her head surprisingly, not remembering seeing much of Lia's work out or hearing it...so in her mind 9t was odd for her to say it had prospered. However, it wasn't her job to go tit for tat with Lia on that—maybe teenage Cat would have tried it, but adult Cat knew that there was no need for there to be an issue between them...today.

"Home is where the heart is they say," she smiled awkwardly as Emalina sidled up next to her, workout smoothies in hand. "Lia, this is Emalina, my younger sister." she introduced them, watching as her sister looked the other girl over before offering a smile. She was the nicer of the two to strangers, and something about that made her smile—feel accomplished.

[sebolivar]

Sebastian laughed and nodded in agreement. "That's true," he said with a chuckle. When she declared that she was stubborn, he grinned and tilted his head. "I can believe that," he replied. It was hard to tell if it was her demeanor or the number of shots she had taken while still maintaining her composure, but Sebastian suspected it might be a combination of both.

"Yeah," he nodded, readjusting himself in his seat. "A few months." Time was muddled for him at this point; it was difficult to determine exactly how long he had been in Briar Ridge. He thought he might have been there for three or four months, but he couldn’t be sure. "I'm from New York," he added. "I've got family here, though, so I'm familiar with Briar Ridge. Not that familiar, but we're acquaintances."

[catalina-g]

"Ooh, big city guy here," she teased, thinking back to how often as a child she spoke about wanting to visit there, and how she never got around to doing so. She had gotten close, had the trip planned actually, and then her parents died, and she was thrown into parenthood herself. "You have family here? Who?" she questioned, wondering if she was familiar with them and could piece together a puzzle that now became present in her mind.

"How do you like it here so far? Is it better or worse than the hustle and bustle of the city?" she questioned, genuinely curious.

[kolkingston]

"Isn't it the belief that the water is blessed that makes the difference?" It wasn't necessarily a challenge. Kol absolutely knew what he was going on about was absurd but what he'd muttered to his drink had been truth. Actually desperate likely didn't quite cut it for what he was. He was unmoved by her laughter, neither joining in on the ridiculousness of it all nor finding any upset over it.

"What lore?" Slightly intrigued, the blue eyes that had cut over to her were fully taken her in as Kol turned his head to her. "I may have only lived here the last five years..." Fuck, had it really been that long? "But I've been coming around since I was a boy." Was there some mystique to this small town he'd missed out on?

[catalina-g]

"Sure, yeah," she nodded, the jingle for the commercial played in her mind. "Are you deep enough in your own religious beliefs to allow yourself to drink something you haven't watched be 'blessed' per se?" Catalina cocked a brow at him, knowing she damn sure would have been smacked a few times if she had gone and bought said water and acted like it would be perfectly fine to take a long sip. Her mother had been too superstitious for that.

"The last five years and I've never seen you?" she kicked herself for that, she was normally good at scoping out people or at least remembering a face she had passed by before. "As a native that's a shame on my part, we never really forget faces." she shrugged, fingers tapping against the bar top. "You haven't ever been curious while being here? Never gone and discovered our little springs and such out in the hills? Never heard the story of the girl who disappeared out there?"

[kolkingston]

"Why not?" Kol's face had relaxed after his brow creased at her laughing at the idea. "What's the harm in it aside from some wasted money?" The thoughts that rattled in his head, if he spoke them aloud, would make him sound something like the hawking preacher on the late night tv screen. So, Kol kept them to himself. "Some of us are that desperate for a miracle," he muttered, almost into his glass before he sipped back the whiskey.

The thing was, what if it was something that silly and ridiculous that worked? Hope was a dangerous thing, Kol was acutely aware of that, but when it came to Gabby he wasn't sure he could ever let that die down.

[catalina-g]

"Well, I mean if you just have disposable income to throw at water that's the same as the water that comes from your kitchen sink—I'm all for it." she nodded along, laughing shortly after at the idea of anyone actually spending the money on it. Cat caught just a hint of what he muttered, and her jesting almost seemed.... mean to her now.

"Besides, there's plenty of other things here in Briar Ridge that might work a little better, just have to learn the lore." she smiled again, thinking back to all of the stories told to her growing up.

[sebolivar]

Sebastian hums in response, nodding as he relates to her experience all too well. He had his own struggles with feeling like a lost cause. It was a rough time, one he hadn't completely healed from. The wounds of his teenage years had only been buried so deeply that he forgot they even existed. Now in his thirties, he couldn't believe how long he had been carrying this burden.

"You have a high tolerance," he pointed out, gesturing to her next drink, which was already being served. Sebastian chuckled, clearly impressed. "I would have blacked out by now, for sure," he added. After a moment, he sighed and tilted his drink in her direction. "If she has you as a sister, I'm sure she'll be fine. She's just in that phase where she thinks she knows everything." Sebastian chuckled again, leaning against the counter. "At that age, I was both right and wrong all at the same time. I mean, I can only say that now."

[catalina-g]

Catalina counted out how many shots she had just consumed in her head, laughing at his comment as she told herself to slow it down. She definitely had a high tolerance but the way she was going was only going to test those waters once again—and she didn't need that to happen tonight. "Being a bad role model in high school teaches your body to accommodate for all the bad decisions," she jested back, hands now tapping the bar top.

"I appreciate that," she nodded, agreeing with his sentiment. "I don't think I stopped being in that phase, it's hard to tell me I'm wrong." she smiled before a bit of a laugh escaped her. "You new around here?"

[lia-lozano]

Her relationship with Colton hadn't seemed to go down particularly well with his best friend and even though Lia had never had anything against the girl personally, she had always found it tough to be around her, given that Catalina hadn't agreed with her high school relationship. She was sure that her leaving town and Colton hadn't gone down particularly well, but at least that had been over a decade ago.

"Nashville was always the dream, home of country music and all. Once I got my record deal, I could be anywhere my label was and my ex needed to be in LA, so that's where I ended up for a while." She didn't mention his name, but she couldn't help the little scrunch of her nose at the distaste of even mentioning him. "Yes actually, a while back. My cat decided to be an escape artist and I bumped into Colton as I was chasing her, in a towel." Shaking her head, she couldn't help but chuckle. "At least it couldn't get more awkward from the start, so it broke the ice. Are you two still as close?"

[catalina-g]

"Ahhh, that's right, you were a singer," she nodded, the memory surfacing into her brain that Lia had enjoyed singing....and was pretty good at it though she never needed to admit that to her then. The story of her running into Colton made her laugh, actually. It would be the way they come back to one another, however if this was teen Catalina it would have sent her into a spiral.

"As close as ever, we end up crossing paths at work a lot too." she nodded, reminding herself now that she needed to bring this up since he hadn't yet. "So, what does this mean for your music career? Going to try and have it prosper here in good ole Briar Ridge?"

[finneganparker]

Finn knew that Catalina was worried about the kid in the backseat, eyes in the read view mirror for most of the drive over because he would have been lying to himself to say that he wasn't worried at all either. Whatever had happened, most of it was explained between Cat and the school which left him as the self declared driver for the moment and concerned person who didn't know what to do or say other than offer them both a lift home.

So when he saw Catalina appear beside the truck, he knew that the concern he'd felt through the texts was only the tip of the iceberg as he leaned over to help open the door at the same time that Cat was opening it from the outside. He offered a supportive look and smile, feeling the way his heart skipped a beat when she left the gentlest of kisses before he leaned back against the headrest of his seat. "You know all you have to do is ask and I'll be there," he spoke up after a beat. "I'm just glad I could help."

There was nothing but honesty in his words, giving a small nod about the mention of dinner and them all going to get some things as he glanced back in the mirror once more. Another reassuring smile towards Emalina and he put the truck into reverse to get them out of the parking lot and head towards the closest grocery store. "I could eat. I think we all could eat."

[catalina-g]

"To Chapman's we go," she smiled softly at him before she turned in her seat to look back at her sister, who was still avoiding eye contact. "We can talk about everything later," she kept the same smile on her face, knowing something must have pushed her to her limits....and the topic of discussion more than likely being their parents. "I'm not mad Ema." she finished speaking before turning back and looking towards the roads that would lead them where they needed to go.

Her hand, as he drove, slid over to touch him on his thigh, moving in circular motions as a way to soothe her own nerves over the situation. Finn knew her, more than most people did, but this was huge to her, the willingness to drop everything to help her only pushing those feelings she had for him higher and higher to the surface.

Once they got to Chapman's, Catalina unbuckled and slid out of the seat, dropping to the pavement before Emalina followed. They both rounded the truck to meet him. Cat's hand finds his yet again before speaking. "So, what're we thinking tonight? Italian? Greek? Good ole down south BBQ?"

[kolkingston]

open starter: 2 of 3 location: firefly brewery

It wasn't the best habit to have but Kol had been better about his drinking in the last few years. The job made it so, not the lessening of the sorrow. He'd lost track of how long he'd been sat there at the bar and how many drinks he'd slung back. The tell was there being no woozy feeling and he couldn't quite feel the persistent ache of absence and guilt, so that meant he'd hit the sweet spot. "You've seen it, right?" Kol spoke to the person next to him without really looking their way. "That thing on the tv late at night. That Miracle Spring Water stuff." Most nights he did sleep when alone in that big empty house. "You think it works?"

[catalina-g]

Catalina had, for once, come into the brewery not to drink away a bad shift but to just enjoy herself around some of her coworkers. Her stress had lessened with Finn around, though something felt...off. It wasn't enough for her to come in and start throwing drinks back like normal, and with her head clear and eyes steady—she could see the man who sat next to her on their own downward spiral.

"Absolutely not," she immediately spoke back, laughing even at the idea. The commercial had run a few times as she lay in bed, having woken up by the feeling of warmth missing next to her. "You're telling me that you've actually considered it to be a real and true product?"

[finneganparker]

Finn’s phone buzzed, and he glanced down at the screen, seeing Catalina’s name. A quick glance at the text and his heart skipped a beat. A fight? His brow furrowed as he read through the messages. He didn’t hesitate for long before typing out his response.

Finn: Of course, I got you. Don’t worry about it. Finn: Is she okay? Anything I need to know?

He quickly hit send, his mind already shifting into "help mode." He could feel the weight of her words and the pressure of the situation in her texts that pushed him to his feet. He grabbed his jacket, heading toward the door as he typed another quick message.

Finn: You don't need to apologize. I’ll take care of it.

After that, he slipped the phone in his pocket and walked briskly to his truck, ready to head to the school. It was a lot, but he could tell this was important, and Catalina was relying on him. That was all that mattered as he made it there in record time, managed to get a quick enough rundown from the school administrators before Emalina and himself were back in his truck and headed straight for the station.

[catalina-g]

His texts helped ease the rush of adrenaline still kicking in her system—her face even flashing a quick smile at him agreeing without argument. She'd have to reward him for that later, in whatever way he'd want. Catalina slid her phone into her pocket after sending about five thank you texts to him before she made her way to her Captain's office to explain why she needed to leave early.

After about ten minutes of back and forth, negotiating other shifts she'd need to take and the like, Catalina was able to clock out, change clothes, and make her way outside where she could see the two of them rolling up into the parking lot. Her chest thumped loudly, face shifting into one of concern as she walked over to the backseat window that held Ema.

"¿Qué estabas pensando?" she quickly spoke out, green eyes inspecting her sister's face for any cuts or bruises. She found only a small cut next to her lip but for the most part, she was clean, and then her eyes fell on Finn. "Thank you so much for getting her," her tone softer, sweeter as she spoke to him. The brunette moved now to the passenger door, pulling on the handle to open it and slide herself into the seat. Her bag hitting the floorboard as she leaned across the seat so that she could lay a sweet, soft kiss on his lips as a brief thank you. She could feel the eye roll behind her, but as she pulled away from him another idea popped into her head. "You deserve dinner for your troubles, what do you say we all go and grab some things for later."

[adaptationsdaily]

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY (2023) Episode 1: Little Miss Hastings

[finneganparker]

@catalina-g

[sebolivar]

As he listens, Sebastian can't help but find himself relating to their situation. Even though his missing brother didn't make headlines, it was a moment that was remembered by the community he grew up in. Kids would make comments at school, and Sebastian found himself always fighting or locking himself away. There was a small part of him that could relate to her sister. A soft smile appears on his lips as she goes on to explain what she wants, her older sister trait not lost on him. It made Sebastian remember how cool his older brother was. "Did anyone ever tell you that?" he asks. "You said she's just like you. Did anyone tell you to ignore the people who said those things to you?"

[catalina-g]

Catalina stared at him while he spoke, thinking over the question. No, no one had ever told her to ignore what others had said. Hell, she probably wouldn’t have listened if they had. She has became too hard to handle, hard-headed and “ignorant”. Her parents just left her to own devices after awhile, left all the praise and understanding to her siblings.

“No, actually,” she huffed out a bit of laughter. “They saw me as a lost cause by that point, wasn’t worth the effort.” She smiled sadly at him, shaking it off before she tapped the bar top again, asking for another. “Wouldn’t have changed much I think, but I can’t let her follow the same path I did.”

[nataliedcluca]

Natalie nodded, picking up on the heaviness in Catalina's tone. "Yeah, it sounds like a lot." She paused, searching for the right words. "It’s hard when you’re stuck holding everything together, especially when others... well, don’t show up the way you expect them to." She gave a small, sympathetic smile. Natalie could only pull from her own childhood, remembering all the way that she didn't appreciate a fraction of what she had. Or the people that she had in her life. "It’s good that you’re there for her, though, even if it doesn’t always feel like it’s appreciated." It would be felt eventually, or so she hoped.

She took another sip of her drink, considering her own experience once more with a rueful smile. "I can only imagine what that's like." She'd been the youngest herself, and the only girl, which meant that she was out of her comfort zone even trying to put herself in the other's shoes. All her life there was had been someone to take care of her instead of it being the other way around. Her eyes softened a bit. "Does it feel like you’re on your own with all of it?"

[catalina-g]

Oh, always," she nodded immediately, thinking back to how often she thought she wasn't going to be able to make it for the two of them. She cried endlessly when she first had to take Ema in, and struggled to change her lifestyle to now fit in her younger sister and all of her needs. "I sometimes sit and wonder if this is like, some sick joke placed on me, maybe my parents made a wager with the big man upstairs to really test me or something."

Catalina laughed a little after that, thinking about how tasteless it might have sounded out loud and towards a stranger who she wasn't even sure felt a strong connection to religion or not. Cat tapped the bar, green eyes looking over the dents and scratches. "Enough about me though," she huffed. "What brings you here tonight?"