CATALINA STARTER.

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[maliaplayer1]

Who: Everyone/Anyone Where: Descanso Beach- Malia’s Birthday Party Celebration When: Saturday, May 15th, 10pm

An hour into her party and Malia had to admit that she was enjoying herself. She had feigned surprise when her investors told her that they were taking her to dinner as a celebration only to arrive on the beach and seeing the tents lined up with glowing lights inside. When she entered the main tent, Malia was instantly transported into something like a multi room club. There was a large dance floor and DJ who started thumping music as soon as she arrived. A large group of people stood on the dance floor and screamed ‘surprise’ at her and she chuckled before making her rounds to thank everyone for coming.

 Beyond the main tent, there were paths to other surrounding tents that housed an arcade area, a neon body painting area, and a full out buffet area with her favorite foods including wings, pizza, a variety of sliders, and cups of fries. Currently, she was chewing on a crinkle fry from her cup when she felt another presence come up to her. She grinned seeing the other person just as covered in paint as she was, glad that they were having a good time. “Did you play the paint drums or did you go to the paint balloon fight tent?” she asked finishing her fry. “Either way. It looks good on you.” 

[mbayes-deactivated20211116]

location: step beach

status: open | @catalinastarter​  (0/5)​

               — “Kai, wait!” Sara yelled at her puppy as she chased after him, proving it to be a terrible idea to set the dog loose on the sand, to enjoy some downtime at the beach near her house. Leash in hand, she sprinted until she was next to Kai, who had stopped by someone’s feet and was sniffing them. “I apologize…” She smiled gently while crouching down to fasten the leash on Kai’s collar. “There was a loud noise a couple of miles back and he just… stormed off.” Sara then let out a light sigh as she raised one hand to cast a shadow over her eyes, shielding them from the sun. “I hope he didn’t bother you?”

[jackadler]

STARTER FOR: Anyone / Open. @catalinastarter​ TIME: Afternoon. LOCATION: Anywhere, you decide!

Being thoughtful was usually where Jack shined. He adored remembering the little things, the things most people would assume that others simply wouldn’t absorb. But, no, Jack was a little things kind of guy and he always has been. Though, these days, he’s got himself trapped between a rock and a hard place. Gift giving has fallen down his list of usual endeavors that have now seemingly dwindled thanks to his newfound sobriety and attempts at picking up the pieces of his shattered mistakes. 

“Hypothetically speaking,” Jack muses to someone at his side, “what would you get for somebody who’s kind of your ex but kind of isn’t because you never really talked about what you were to each other for their birthday?” Jack clears his throat before speaking, “Oh and, um, hypothetically, in this situation, you’re a recovering addict who relapsed on the night you two first got together so it’s all kind of a giant mess. A hypothetical mess…”

[haveharttt]

OPEN STARTER​​ @catalinastarter​

LOCATION:  VENTURA COFFEE ROASTING CO.

DATE & TIME: May 5, 2021 at 3PM

“You know what I learned today?” Tyson asked before taking a sip of his black iced coffee, eyes glued to his cellphone. He was on one today. It was one of those days where he was just a ball of curiosity. Tyson just wanted to know things. One random question would spiral out into an internet deep dive. Article after article, he would just keep going. The next thing he’d know, it was five hours later and he was 100 degrees away from what he was originally looking for. 

“Actually, I don’t really care if you wanna know, I’m going to tell you any way because it’s interesting.” He places his phone on the table before leaning forward. “So, you know baking soda right? And obviously it’s different than baking powder. But do you know what the difference is? Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It’s a leavening agent. In order to work well, it needs some sort of acid. Vinegar. Buttermilk. Something.” 

His eyes widened with excitement as if he was talking about something fantastical. “Baking powder, on the other hand, that’s an all in one leavening agent. It’s essentially baking soda mixed with a dry acid, cream of tartar, and like cornstarch or something. So like you don’t need a liquid acid to activate it. It can just be activated with water. And like not even just that, baking powder can be double reacting so like one reaction happens when you’re prepping things then another one happens when it’s heated. Like, isn’t that interesting? I mean, clearly no on a like excitement scale but also…yes. Anyway, what’s something you’ve learned today?”

[lydiabeckett-deactivated2026041]

follow up from this self para, at bootlegger’s pub on APRIL 18TH. around eight in the evening. 

3/5 open starter — @catalinastarter​.

Eyes zoomed in the near empty glass of vodka on the rocks.

Lydia had never been one for hard liquor but there she was, grimacing every time the cold liquid touched the tongue and warmed down her throat.

She had absolutely no idea what she was seeking in the bottom of whatever bottle she had selected for the night, but her only requests were that whatever she was drinking was cheap enough for her to sustain during the time she occupied that particular stool of Bootlegger’s.

Her father had been a fan of the bar once — it was hard to know what she should call him nowadays — so much the bartender had recognized her from day one. It made her wonder if he thought she was trailing down the same path as he was, maybe she was. 

Swallowing back the rest of the transparent liquid in her glass, Lydia knocked on the wooden counter asking for a refill. It wasn’t hard to see that her train was on the way to drunk station, her cheeks were flushed and she was far from focusing on what was happening around her. Letting out a loud sigh, she felt the overwhelming feeling of restlessness consuming her as she started looking around. She wasn’t certain on what she was looking for, but as her eyes settled on the person occupying the stool on her right, one eyebrow raised.

“Hey— you drinking alone? Want some company? Drinking alone fucking sucks and we can even play a game to make things more interesting. Are you game?”

[sebastianpres]

OPEN STARTER​​ @catalinastarter​

LOCATION: Open House in Ventura

DATE & TIME: April 26, 2021 at 5PM.

         “– I look forward to it. Thanks.”  Right as he says goodbye to the next couple, a few more people walk in and start looking around. The condo is a fantastic piece of real estate: not too expensive for its location and stunning inside and out. There are already a couple of offers, and it’s only been on the market for a couple of days. It’s a damn shame Sebastian doesn’t have any use for it himself; he’d have kept it in a heartbeat. But he would be broke if he kept every fixer-upper he took on and fell in love with.  “The view is stunning right?” Bash stops next to the person, who’s looking out at the ocean. Catalina really is amazingly beautiful.  “You should wait and see the sunset. It’s breathtaking.”

[lcluna]

set: a friday afternoon location: ventura coffee roasting co. availability: open | @catalinastarter​

Milena could hardly see the table in front of her seat within the establishment. Aside from a few papers, there was also her Ipad in front of her, in which she had been going through a few sketches for her new collection for the brand. Her mind was constantly strolling through ideas that didn’t seem good enough for the brunette. A frustration that she didn’t need for that day. Then, wandering eyes would meet strangers passing by the coffee shop, anything that would ease her mind prior to trying again. At some point, Lena found herself staring at someone, for longer than she should have. Embarrassed, she chuckled. “I’m sorry… I know– I was staring at you, I just loved the color of your clothes.” Milena pointed out, hoping it helped her case instead of making the situation even more awkward. “I was trying to replicate it for this dress, maybe a gradient with this other color? Or maybe I should’ve just given up on being creative for the day and go back into attempting to finish a Sudoku or something. Do you need a seat? I don’t mind the company, honestly.”

[reedxlewis]

who: open | @catalinastarter​ where: island threadz, lafayette square when: tuesday late afternoon

One of the good things about running her own business was the freedom she had to work anywhere. She could also choose how far she was willing to travel for jobs and frequently did travel to the mainland for clients who simply refused to use any other designer for their projects. While she still had a full client base on the West Coast and would accept new clients anywhere if they could cover her expenses, Charlotte wanted to make her mark on the island. She wanted to be the go-to person for anyone who was looking to create or refresh their space. After a couple of months of small jobs, mostly traveling back and forth for work, she was hired to do a house in Avalon. Her focus on local resources above all else led her to Island Threadz for inspiration. Her swatches and moodboards were in-hand as she studied the rugs hanging above the store. “Excuse me,” She spoke to another shopper nearby. “Can I ask your opinion on something? I’m stuck between these two rugs for a living room that will include all of these colors and textures. Which one would make you feel more relaxed?”

[racheldanziger-hirsch]

who: open | @catalinastarter​ when: thursday morning  where: anywhere now, but her first stop was ventura coffee roasting co.

It was one of those mornings where things just hadn’t quite come together.  And it wasn’t in a bad way, exactly. It still resulted in her floating around Catalina like she was the coffee fairy, in an effort to prevent many wrong lattes from going to waste.  Unfortunately, she’d only been born with two arms.  As she wasn’t an octopus, she was going to have to rely on the kindness of a stranger and their free hands. 

“So, if you help me hold this door, one of these is yours for free.  Preferably the one on top, but I honestly just need to get inside without dropping something.” 

[myersjm]

who: open | @catalinastarter​ where: catalina art gallery, ventura when: saturday 

Jason’s mother had come to make sure the three bedroom townhome he’d secured was satisfactory for her grandchildren.  She supposed he should have things he didn’t want to think about, things like towels and extra pillows and shelves.  Not only did it not occur to him to stock a home with essentials along those lines, he hadn’t had time.   

In the end, the only task left to him was to find ‘something for the walls, papito.’  She said with a slightly too hard tap to his cheek that communicated its urgency.  This in turn meant he was spending his Saturday at the art gallery nearest his new place.  It did not mean he had anything resembling a discerning eye or a clue what he was doing.

“Please say you’re here because you’re good with this kind of thing,” he asked, waving toward the painting he’d been looking at.  “I need something for my apartment and I’m in pretty dire need of help.” 

[camilaxtorres]

Starter for: Anyone (0/5) Where: Public park downtown When: Late afternoon @catalinastarter​

It had been one of those days where just everything went wrong and Camila was just done with it already. In general she was a woman who was patient and kind but right now she was having a short fuse. Training had gone badly, a dull ache had been there constantly for the entire day and she knew that it wasn’t going to pass until the next morning. So to see someone else being the target of some trouble was something that was quite a relief for the day. Any other day she would feel guilty for enjoying this. But right now it was a relief to see the woman going all crazy to another woman over the fact that she had found her boyfriend cheating on her with the other woman. “I feel like I’ve been watching a live soap opera for five minutes now. And I am never one to watch those, but this is rather… interesting. Tell me, what’s so interesting for us in other people’s pain?”

[flynnkhumalo]

OPEN STARTER.

LOCATION: Carmichael Roses Co. SETTING: Afternoon. TAGGING: @catalinastarter​

This is the thanks I get? Fuck you, Mark! A woman from the rose garden wails, throwing a bouquet at a stunning looking man before her. Everyone is watching. In truth, how could they not? Making a scene in the middle of a large community garden. Flynn had been there gathering some ideas for flowers to send to his mother back in London. Her birthday was coming up and he was quite poor at cultivating presents, even for people that he loved dearly. But, now, he was simply enjoying the show. Flynn turns to a fellow onlooker, “What do you think this Mark bloke did?” He asks, “I’m thinking he cheated. He’s got the look on his face, he was caught red-handed.” 

[olivia-nilsson]

LOCATION: Somewhere in Avalon  SETTING: Saturday, March 6 WHO: Open - @catalinastarter​

Whoever said that the life of a preschool teacher was easy had obviously never met one. Olivia loved her job. She really did. But she was regretting her choice of putting together a lesson plan that involved the kids planting and nursing their own seedlings and plants. In theory, it was a really good idea. But executing it? Well, that’s what she was having trouble with. In addition to her usual grocery run, she had opted to complete her lesson prep at the exact same time. Her canvas bags are laden with food, art supplies, leafy greens, and packets of seeds and soil for her kids. A lifetime of biking around Stockholm has prepared her for a lifestyle where she bikes most places - but as she stands at the bottom of a hill, Olivia can’t help but look miserably upwards contemplating why she was so ambitious that particular morning. Letting out a huge sigh, she hops off her bike, mentally preparing herself to push it and her bags up the hill. “Come on, Nilsson. There’s no one else here to push you up the hill,” she utters to herself. 

[evie-morris]

@catalinastarter​

What did someone do if they were told to take time off?

Back in college, Evie could do classes full-time and then work six hours a day. She could get by on four hours of sleep and still be a somewhat functional human being. She’d even been able to maintain a relationship at one point in time, but what changed? Failure had been something nearly unheard of in her life. Even at her lowest, she’d been able to finish things like this.

Take some time, focus on school, come back.

In six months, she could retake the exam, but until then, it would be thrown in her face that she hadn’t passed the first time. It was doubtful that she was the only one who hadn’t, yet the isolating feeling that came from it felt the worst.

She had been so focused on herself that nearly knocking into someone had snapped her from her reverie. Her drink slipped from her fingers, along with her phone, and landed on the sidewalk.

“Oh, my God, I am so, so sorry. Can I buy you another drink? Are you okay?”

[faetbound]

OPEN STARTER

@catalinastarter​ location: grow timeline: feb. 21, around noon

Gwen wandered the small shop with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. Her growing collection of various indoor potted plants and succulents, combined with her terrace garden, required a new addition. She only needed to decide what that addition should be. Perhaps another spider fern to hang in her living room, or a gardenia bush for her bedroom; maybe some peonies for her flower box. It was difficult decision to make - so difficult that her attention on a delicate elephant pot caused her to run right into a small display of herbs. “ Oh…shit, ” she mumbled. Her clumsy motions to fix the spilled dirty and the likely unsalvageable basil probably didn’t help much, but she tried in vain regardless. Gwen only hoped she had no witnesses - if only she were that lucky.

[jackadler]

OPEN STARTER.

LOCATION: Catalina Island Museum. SETTING: Afternoon. TAGGING: @catalinastarter​ 

Clear, cool skies in sunny Catalina today, folks, the voice of the island’s weather man comes creeping in again as Jack takes to the pavement for a walk. It’s quiet, a usual Sunday, which earns a sense of ease to wash over Jack. Something he needed, truth be told. Ease.

When the island’s museum comes into view, Jack silently contemplates going inside. He’s never been here before and has only seen it in passing. So, with that, he heads inside. The first thing to capture his attention was a little wall of facts. One catches his eye, “The author who created Sherlock Holmes visited the island in, uh,” The singer leans in, squinting a little, “1923.” He turns to an onlooking stranger, “Kinda makes me wonder why. They don’t explain. Maybe Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came down for a little vacation.”

[ben-brody]

who: open | @catalinastarter​ when: monday afternoon where: little bird books

It had only taken him twenty exhausting minutes to come to the conclusion the book he was after was out of his reach.  That was after calling and waiting for an Uber, determined not to force Aly to pay attention to him and his stupid needs for one more goddamned minute of today, and the drive.  The drive was not safe and was more than a little scary for many reasons.  Then he’d had to hobble his way into the book store, balance himself on his crutches while he tried to figure out what he wanted, and now this.  

Only having one functional leg could go straight to hell as far as he was concerned.  He wasn’t going to complain about it hurting, but that was absolutely a factor in his attitude, too.  Not to mention his functional leg had, once upon a time, been nearly destroyed itself.  It wasn’t loving the new effort he tasked it with for basic mobility.   

In short, he was a miserable asshole and all he could do was sigh before he leaned back, finding another patron of the store.   “Hey, sorry to bug you.  I can’t believe I’m actually asking this out loud, because I’ve never had this problem before, but would you be willing to help me reach a book?”