i'm not all there myself . . .

CHELSEA KATZ // JOURNALIST, INVESTIGATOR, NUISANCE // THIRTY-NINE // SHE/HER

[chelsea-katz]

HAPPIESTPLACEHQ TASK 11 - INTRO & CONNECTIONS

chelsea katz ~ thirty-nine ~ journalist ~ she/her (cis woman, bisexual)

[ bio / muse / headcanons / pinterest / spotify ]

Character Information

If you’re trying to get a hold of her, you’d have better luck trying to catch a cloud with your hands. Chelsea left Redwood Hollow when she was a teenager, and ten years later she came back mostly the same, if not a little more jittery and with about five different new addictions.

Chelsea was a bright but restless kid back in the day, skipping school, wandering around the forest and hanging around with the wrong crowd, giving her parents more than a few headaches.

Those ten years she spent away from Redwood Hollow are a mystery to everyone but a very select few friends: she’s notoriously nosy and loves to get into other people’s business, but she doesn’t allow anyone to get into hers.

Despite her erratic tendencies, Chelsea takes her job at the Redwood Review very seriously, and would never refuse to lend a helping hand. What shape that helping hand ends up taking is always up for grabs.

Wanted Connections

Eyes And Ears: Does your muse need a few quick bucks? Do they have any sensitive information that, perhaps, a journalist could use? Then Chelsea’s the gal you need. If they have a position in which the intel is updated with some regularity, Miss Katz may even put them on a payroll.

High School Pals: It was the best of times, period, for Chelsea! Any old friends and troublemakers who used to associate with her are welcome for a reunion. Whether current rascals stuck to their old ways, or reformed model citizens who made the switch, she’s your lady for an afternoon of drinking and reminiscing.

Sing Me A Song: She’s not exactly a performer, per se, but if there’s something Chelsea loves is dancing, listening to live performances, and hang out with talented folks. If there’s a swinging music scene she can get into, she will.

Plot Ideas

Lil’ Gumshoe: Chelsea has a soft spot for the younger folk, especially those that remind her of herself when she was younger. If your muse is curious about the going-ons of the town, their best bet might just be to knock on Chelsea’s door (or hunt her down at some local dive bar, with any luck) and hope she’s in a sharing mood.

Archnemesis Mine: You don’t get to where Chelsea is without making a few enemies. From a small tiff caused by her erratic behaviour, to an actual case of libel, she’s likely the originator of all sort of grudges among the townsfolk.

Persuasion Tactics: A flirt and a scamp, this journalist is not exactly over mixing business with pleasure; it is a small town, after all, and news travel fast. Chelsea is also the type to love and leave if she doesn’t get what she secretely wanted, so potential partners be warned.

Taken Connections

Friends: @queencfharts

Exes: @ritasaysrelax​

Other

I'd like to see some other characters from Alice In Wonderland, especially the trio of Madison Harrigan, Harry March and Dorothy Wilt. If they ever complete the set, Redwood Hollow would be shaken to its core.

[chelsea-katz]

starter for @albalatelan

Being a journalist of Chelsea's level and reputation often meant knowing exactly when to face those she knew would have particularly interesting details to share. She couldn't confront them while they were busy, obviously, but also it wasn't the best idea to catch them while they were on holiday or resting too much --lest they might find her interrupting some well-deserved peace. Every interviewee was different, in any case. And some, while not having particularly essential intel, needed careful tending of their relationship.

Because, at the end of the day, networking was essential for Chelsea's job.

That brought her to the little café college students often frequented. Sure, the coffee wasn't the best in town, but it more than made up for its ability to make unexpected encounters look almost casual.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite law student!" Chelsea exclaimed as soon as she saw Alba, removing her sunglasses and waving her coffee cup around, almost spilling half its contents. "Morning, Alba. How's it going?"

[magnificentmyra]

"I'm yet to find out," she replied with a wry chuckle, gesturing to the bartender to pour Chelsea another glass of whatever she was drinking. For herself, she risked a very dry white wine. The things she did for that dreadful man and his grand plans... Myra returned her attention to Chelsea and couldn't help noticing just how much she was noticing. Journalists. Even out of the office, she clearly never turned it off. Myra reminded herself that she was here to probe around, too. If she wanted Chelsea to relax around her, she couldn't be quite so closed off as usual.

"Nice and cozy... That is one way to put. I suppose I was looking for a change of scenery as I am often somewhere - how did you put it? - swankier. I'm sure this place has its charms and I'm willing to look out for them," she added with a very slight smile. Thankfully, at that point, both of their glasses were set down in front of them.

Myra tried not to eye the wine with such disdain and instead turned back Chelsea, glass in hand. "To new experiences?"

[chelsea-katz]

.

Chelsea laughed genuinely. "Yeah, swankier's just about right." She did pride herself in always choosing the right words. The benefits of being a well-read journalist, she supposed. "So, what charms have you found here so far?" she asked Myra. "Any new ones, or any you might recognize?" She was truly curious to know what life was like for someone like her interloper. Besides, she was looking forward getting a better feel of what Mra was like, beyond the cool mysterious façade she put on. As far as she woud let her Chelsea get a peek, of course.

Once the drink was set in front of her, Chelsea took a generous gulp, eyes firmly fixed on Myra, silently assessing just which questions the elegant woman would be more likely to answer truthfully.

"To trying everything once," she nodded, and raised her glass. "Chin-chin."

[chelsea-katz]

.

After coming back up from the basement, Chelsea had been getting increasingly antsy. Her more professional side insisted she needed to keep her eyes and ears open to any potential news and developments, since this was an extraordinary situation, and as such, it was her duty to properly report on it. Her more personal, human side just wanted to smash a window and get the hell out of that house. It felt like some catastrophe, or at the very least some awful accident was just waiting to happen. Chelsea could be very mellow and easy-going in a normal situation, but when panic was warranted, oh, the panic sank into her like a famished tiger's claws.

"Alice?" Chelsea called out with a frown, once she saw them in between the rest of worried partygoers. "Hey, Alice!" She had had no idea they were at this party, and it felt really unfortunate --this was just the type of situation when Alice would be better off at home, where they were able to ponder safely.

"Hey --come here." Chelsea elbowed her way through the crowd to an empty chair, and motioned Alice to sit down. They looked in absolute shock, eyes open wide, almost as if paralyzed. They looked as if they had seen the most terrifying apparition. "Are you okay?" she asked them, increasingly concerned. "Do you want some candy? A smoke? A drink?"

[xalicethewonderx]

Alice could not have moved if they tried. No amount of calling their name would grab their attention, and no imminent danger could jumpstart them to safety.

Chelsea pulling them inside and out of harm's way barely did a thing, except move them out of danger. Alice's eyes were fixed in place, shoulders tense, heart leaping out of their chest. Even when sitting, out of the way of the chaos now, Chelsea's words seemed to be spoken through a tank full of water. Alice was submerged.

It was a painfully long minute or so before Alice was able to speak again, able to process that something had been said. What is was, they couldn't say, but it was something…

"What?" Alice asked dumbly, blinking.

[chelsea-katz]

.

Chelsea couldn't think of anything else to do but wait for Alice to reply. They seemed perfectly lost, and as much as she wanted to, she knew it was not wise to overwhelm them with questions that who knew if they could even answer.

So she just chuckled quietly, a bit relieved, when all that came out of Alice was a little what? Even if it wasn't much of an answer, Chelsea sighed, telling herself that at the very least they weren't hurt --not physically, that is.

"I said, are you okay?" she repeated, though it was clear to her that Alice wasn't as well as they could be. "You seemed in shock right then, completely out of it... Was it just the storm? Or did anything else happen?" Chelsea hoped those were the right questions to ask.

[ritasaysrelax]

Rita did her best to stifle her laughter, but between the whiskey and Chelsea's dramatics, it was pretty hard. She was aware that the power cutting out or the wind howling outside wasn't the best sign, but it wasn't the worst. "I think this is the universe giving us an out, there's just no beating you, Katz," she grinned, fishing out her phone and shining the torch onto the table. She grinned when she saw Chelsea cling tightly to her sweet winnings. "Boys, I think we'll have to call it a night here. All hail the candy queen."

[chelsea-katz]

.

"Sure thing. The universe is wise like that sometimes," Chelsea nodded, even though she guessed it wouldn't be easy for Rita to really see it. A few people were already using their phones to bring some needed light to the place, and since she still had more than half the battery of her phone charged, she guessed she could do the same. "All hail me."

Just in case, Chelsea quickly stuffed the pockets of her iridescent blue-and-green jacket with candy, taking care that none fell off. Once that was done with, she looked up at Rita, lit by the stray light of a bunch of different phones --the loveliest green fairy of Redwood Hollow. She smiled at her, and gave a little bow in thanks. "... I could share some of my riches, though. I'm a very generous ruler." Especially with Rita, to whom she still felt a certain degree of affection towards.

"So, what do you think happened?" she asked her, pointing her light to the stairs leading up and out the basement. "Some short circuit, some kid playing a trick on everyone up on the first floor?" It was Halloween, after all, and everyone was entitled to a good scare.

[colt-phillips]

Colt had never been that great at cards, so joining a poker game probably was not the best idea, but when he had ended up in the basement and the game had just been getting going, he really could not say no. Besides, they had only been betting candy, so he could not exactly lose a fortune. Which was a good thing, because Chelsea was sounding beating everyone else at the table.

When she had laid down yet another obviously winning hand, Colt had sighed and was getting ready to finally bow out of the game when suddenly the lights went out. While he did not appreciate the abrupt darkness, he was not quite as upset about it as Chelsea. "Huh, you jus' gettin' sore 'cause you were on such a hot streak? Maybe this is th' universe's way o' tellin' you not t' be so smug 'bout winnin'."

[chelsea-katz]

.

It took a moment for Chelsea to realize it wasn't that someone had turned off the lights --it was an actual blackout. She took out her phone and turned on the front light, and had a look around. Everyone seemed a bit confused, just like her, and nobody seemed very concerned with stealing her candy. Which, fair enough. A sudden blackout was a good reason to get distracted from the game.

"Well, I'd say I got a right to be smug when I'm absolutely demolishing it on the craps table," she replied, glancing to her sides to find the person who had just talked. She finally found him, and she had to look up and tilt her head back to actually get a good look at him. "I'm not always this lucky, after all. Pity that this is just candy, otherwise I'd be able to add a trip to the Bahamas to my retirement plan." As if Chelsea actually had a retirement plan.

[xalicethewonderx]

Alice had been hanging out in the back garden most of the night. It was the most relaxed at an event they had been for a long time, feeling that this was a much better place to spend time than town hall.

But then...

The chill of the wind, the rumbling through the ground all felt too familiar.

Alice looked to the trees and there it was.

The blue light.

Alice stood frozen in the garden, staring wide-eyed long after it had passed. Chaos descended around them, and before they could think, someone had pulled them inside and barred the door shut. And still, Alice stared.

[chelsea-katz]

.

After coming back up from the basement, Chelsea had been getting increasingly antsy. Her more professional side insisted she needed to keep her eyes and ears open to any potential news and developments, since this was an extraordinary situation, and as such, it was her duty to properly report on it. Her more personal, human side just wanted to smash a window and get the hell out of that house. It felt like some catastrophe, or at the very least some awful accident was just waiting to happen. Chelsea could be very mellow and easy-going in a normal situation, but when panic was warranted, oh, the panic sank into her like a famished tiger's claws.

"Alice?" Chelsea called out with a frown, once she saw them in between the rest of worried partygoers. "Hey, Alice!" She had had no idea they were at this party, and it felt really unfortunate --this was just the type of situation when Alice would be better off at home, where they were able to ponder safely.

"Hey --come here." Chelsea elbowed her way through the crowd to an empty chair, and motioned Alice to sit down. They looked in absolute shock, eyes open wide, almost as if paralyzed. They looked as if they had seen the most terrifying apparition. "Are you okay?" she asked them, increasingly concerned. "Do you want some candy? A smoke? A drink?"

[chelsea-katz]

@happieststarters

"Read 'em and weep, boys," Chelsea grinned, showing off her winning hand. This had been a great night so far. She was killing it at the card table there down in the basement, nobody had even made a comment on the whisky bottle she had snuck in, and she was straight-up having a really fun time that Halloween. She was really making a small fortune in candy, and was hoping to get an even more sizable loot before the night was over.

She was about to ask her poker opponents to show their own cards, despite knowing there was no way in hell they could have anything better than what she had --when the lights suddenly went out. Chelsea groaned out loud, and immediately hogged all her candy in the dark, just to make sure nobody snatched any. "Okay, now that's cheating!" she cried, looking around herself, though she couldn't see anything in the pitch-black dark. "It's not funny...! It's not that funny!"

[fullthrottlego]

Gogo stood leaning casually against the wooden fence, the faint chill of the night brushing against her skin. She was dressed as Rumi from K-Pop Demon Hunters, every detail of the costume meticulous—the dark, sleek outfit hugging her curved, the plastic saingeom sword held loosely in one hand catching glints of light from the projected movie. In her other hand, she cradled a red Solo cup, condensation beading down its side.

Her eyes were fixed on the screen where Scream played against a white sheet fluttering slightly in the evening breeze. The flickering light cast shadows across her face, highlighting the sharp curve of her smirk. “This,” she said, her tone both confident and teasing as she took a sip from her cup, “is arguably the best slasher movie ever made.”

@happieststarters

[chelsea-katz]

.

"I have to agree, on the arguable part," Chelsea nodded, staring at the screen, as she gestured with her own cup. "It is a matter of debate, I'd say: of course Scream is an absolute masterpiece of horror, and singlehandedly revived the stagnant genre, but almost everything it succeeds in has been previously done in other less known flicks." She turned to the woman standing beside her, dressed in some costume referencing something Chelsea knew she would not really get. "Did you know, for example, that the famous babysitter-receives-a-sinister-phonecall scene is very much taken from When A Stranger Calls, from 1979?"

But Chelsea, all dressed up in a beetle costume, knew the other woman probably didn't care much about those details. "Anyway," she sighed, finishing her cup of extra-spiked punch. "Great party, isn't it?"

[jxmhawkins]

@happieststarters

Perhaps the pirate thing was getting too old---

--was something someone who wasn't Jim Hawkins would say. He could even argue that he was trying to keep up with some years long streak, but the truth was that he just really loved pirates.

It would surprise few people that before Bonnie, before the military (and hell, even in the military), Jim was quite the party frequenter. He had been cool, and he had always run with some of the biggest troublemakers in Redwood. Still did, for better or worse.

"Best candy to get trick or treating and worst candy to get-" Jim asked out loud, looking to start a conversation.

[chelsea-katz]

.

"Best, Sour Patch Kids," Chelsea quickly replied to the pirate who had asked the question. "Worst... Well, I'd say no candy is the worst candy, but I must admit I'm a bit disappointed when peppermints are the only thing available." Peppermints, as far as Chelsea knew, were a much more Christmasy candy; then again, it wasn't as if she was much of an expert.

She downed her third Jello shot of the night, and gave the man a once over. "What about you, captain? What are the best sweet treats one might find in the high seas?"

[javi-jookiba]

Talking to strangers wasn't his favorite thing in the world. But talking about science, now that was his absolute favorite. "Well, I dabble in all areas, but my special interests are Bio-chem, Molecular biology, and genetics." He could go on and on, surely, but he had to be careful as to not reveal too much.

Javi's cheeks started to feel a bit warm, now. Was he sweating? He couldn't be sure, but he did his best to play it cool. "I dunno, I guess you'll just know it when you hear it again, hm?" He started to look at his list again, anything to divert attention from that little karaoke incident.

[chelsea-katz]

.

"Molecular biology... So researching viruses, curing diseases and saving lives, huh?" Chelsea said as she raised her eyebrows. "Now that's a really noble career choice. We all do what we can to make this world a little nicer, but people like you, they really make a difference." Of course, Chelsea had absolutely no idea if that was what this professor even taught or focused on. It was simply a fact, however, that most people liked to be complimented, even if that thing they were complimented on was true or not. And, if she was going to get some extra info on this guy, she supposed there was no harm in buttering him up.

"Well, whoever that person was at Mulligan's, they had the voice of an angel." She closed her eyes, and began mouthing lyrics. "As long as anyone with hot blood can... And now, she's looking for a downtown man..." Chelsea hummed to herself, gesturing with her fingers, as if trying to grasp the name of the song out of the air. "Hm..." She clicked her tongue, as if giving up.

"Anyway... Tell me, professor," she continued, pulling out a cigarette and her lighter. "What's the best part of your job? And what's the worst, the one you could definitely live without?"

[javi-jookiba]

Javi got a little skeptical at times about people knowing too much about him. Sure, he'd been in Redwood Hollow a few years now with no troubles, but he was technically still undercover. Living a double life. Well, now it felt a little less like a double life and more like he was reinventing himself, but in the eyes of the government that wouldn't matter if he was ever caught.

"Oh, well, Biology is my area of expertise. I started there a few years ago with basic Bio, but have worked my way up in the field, and teach most of those related classes now," he explained, rather proud of himself. When she started mentioning casual hobbies, he stiffened up a bit, suddenly fixated on adjusting his collar. How did she know that Billy Joel was a weakness of mine? "Erm— I think perhaps you have me mistaken for someone else."

[chelsea-katz]

.

"Biology!" Chelsea repeated, opening her eyes wide. "Fascinating. You know, I was pretty good at Chemistry, back in my day. Not to toot my own horn, of course." She had an inkling of a suspicion that it had to be some scientific subject. Having been right, she was obviously glad that her instincts were as sharp as ever. "What's your favorite area of study? Botany, Zoology, Biotechnology...?"

Chelsea squinted at him as soon as he made that little awkward sound, as soon as he began adjusting his collar. Along with being good at guessing, she was also pretty good at knowing the tells of when someone was likely lying. "Hm, perhaps," she grinned. "Man, I wish I knew what song that had been. I've been humming it ever since last week, just can't get it out of my head. A veritable earworm."

[mxmorganmorph]

The bell did, in fact, work properly. It drew their attention from where they had been cleaning some of their supplies.

"Chelsea!" They squealed, throwing their arms up in delight before going to meet her at the door and giving her a hug. It probably wasn't all that professional, but it was them, and there were some things they just weren't willing to change, whether or not it was bad for business.

"It's so good to see you!" They cooed as they pulled away. "What color are we looking at this time?"

@chelsea-katz

[chelsea-katz]

.

Chelsea gave a laugh and hugged Morgan back, happy to see them as well. "Morgan, my beautiful beautician!" she said as she gave them a little squeeze. "It's great to see you too. Was wondering where you'd gone!" She chuckled and, when she moved back, she tugged at one of her curls. "As you can see, my luscious locks have been missing you." An attempt had been made, at restoring the strawberry blonde color of her natural hair; a rather failed attempt, that is.

"We're just looking at the classic, the old reliable," Chelsea admitted. "A nice bright red. What can I say --you know I stick to what I like." She would be lying if she said she never thought about dyeing her mane a different hue, something maybe a little bolder, more out of the box --but Chelsea felt like herself as a redhead, and changing it up so drastically felt like too big a risk.

[chelsea-katz]

starter for @mxmorganmorph

Scratching her wild curls, Chelsea faced the front of the salon and gave a relieved sigh. She had been wondering if it would ever be like it used to be, and now that she had gotten wind that one Morgan Morph was back in town, she was glad to know that she would be able to stop dyeing her own hair and get a professional to do it for the foreseeable future.

She swung the door wide open, to make sure the little bell worked properly. Most of all, she wanted to make sure Morgan knew she was back too, ready to say goodbye to her old blonde self.

[javi-jookiba]

Javi hadn't expected her to read the list, but he had to admit, the tip did catch his attention. When he caught up to her, he held his hand out for the paper and gave her a polite thank you. "Well, maybe I'll put the eggs off, then." He tucked the list away in his pocket, ensuring that it wouldn't get lost again.

When the woman before him began to ask questions about his profession, Javi rose a brow. "How did you know? Erm.. yes, I am. But, as one may know, school is mostly out for the summer time."

[chelsea-katz]

.

"Happy to promote local small businesses," Chelsea smiled. After all, nothing beat starting a nice summer morning with a strong cup of coffee, some good buttered toast and sunny side up eggs. That reminded her that she needed to buy some groceries of her own.

"Oh, just an uneducated guess." She had definitely seen this man before, though couldn't put her finger on where. "May I ask, what do you teach, when school's not out, but rather in?" Then she sucked on her teeth, knowing that, if she didn't find out where she knew him from, it would just keep bothering her for the rest of her day. "Also, have I ever seen you at Mulligan's, belting out to Billy Joel? Or maybe at Litwak's Arcade, beating some kid's ass at Galaga?"

[javi-jookiba]

Redwood Hollow in the summer time was never Javi's favorite, and this year, it was even more complicated now that his 'wife' had returned. The only good thing about it over the past few years had been that school was out, and he could focus on his research and experimentation full time. But now that Gwen was back, he had a feeling he would have to be far more lowkey, and not get as much time as he would like.

Oh well, he thought to himself. Instead of research, he was now being sent on a grocery trip for the Pelekai household. He had the list in his had as he stepped out of the car, but just as he closed the door, a gust of wind blew the paper out of his hand. "Wha- oh, for the love of... Excuse me! Can you help me stop that paper?" he cried out to the first person he saw.

@chelsea-katz

[chelsea-katz]

.

Chelsea gave the man a quick look, and then stomped her heel on the piece of paper just as it flew by her. She picked it up and read it: just a grocery list, and not a very interesting one at that.

"If you want actual good organic eggs, I'd say you try Hasagawa's store. She's got the real deal," she suggested, waving the list in the air for emphasis. Handing it back to him, she took off her sunglasses and gave him a once over. "... Are you a Redwood College professor, perchance? You got a certain professorial je ne se quoi to you... Though it might just be the glasses," she chuckled.

[chelsea-katz]

does your muse think of themselves as a good person?

What is a good person, really? Chelsea doesn't believe in good and bad people, necessarily, as much as people who do good things and people who do bad things. Their moral compass, self-imposed standards and all-around conscience are what keeps most in line and away from crossing the edge into cruelty, but the fact is that each person has these features in all types of varied configurations. Chelsea's configuration tells her that one should strive to do good, in whatever shape that good may come, despite whatever rules there might be making that good become possible. It also tells her that doing good includes doing good by herself, and at the end of the day, while she cares about others, her priority tends to be (though not always) her own happiness.

All this to say, Chelsea believes she does good, or at least tries her best to do good. Who's to say if her good is good enough.