( ana de armas, 35, cis woman, she/her ) ☼ i know it’s a small town, but i run into CARLOTA ALVAREZ every time i go to THE BEACH. it’s like they practically live there and not CINDERSAP FOREST for TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. it must be because they’re PRICKLY and ANXIETY-DRIVEN. come to think of it, that’s probably why they’re a FLOWER FARM OWNER too. but i did hear they want to SAVE THE FAMILY FARM, and sometimes they like to FISH. rumor has it they also like BOOKS, but dislike COFFEE. what do you think? + enci, 28, she/her, gmt+1
ABOUT
tw death
Carlota in her younger years grew up with her mother, moving from town to town, mostly hanging on every word her mother said, thinking her to be the most amazing person in the world, thinking they were two against the world.
When she turned ten, however, her mother had left her on the porch of Carlota's grandmother - the one grandmother who has been villainized in every story of her mother's previously - and told her she'd be back for her in a few hours and then never showed back up again.
It took Carlota some time to realize that her mother was more interested in chasing the next ploy (usually in tandem with a guy) to scam people out of money than she ever was in Carlota and used the girl for whatever scheme she could at the time, and once Carlota became a problem, it was easier to just leave her behind. The woman would periodically show up, though, but each time it usually ended up being her needing money rather than anything else.
But as much as it was hard for Carlota to realize and accept what happened and how her mother was, her mother leaving her on the front porch of her grandmother's place was the best thing that could have ever happened to her - it gave her a chance to get to know her abuelita, got to be raised by her and she couldn't have asked for anything better.
Her abuelita lived and worked on her own flower farm, working and providing flowers in the surrounding area and Carlota quickly started learning everything she could soak up around the farm while finding a new life for herself, something that was much more preferable to her than constantly being on the move.
And for long years, life was good and Carlota was happy. However, a few years ago, her abuelita had a heart-attack and didn't survive, leaving Carlota with the loss of the most important person in her life, the one whom she could always count on - and even worse, due to the sudden nature of events, with no will from her abuelita, which meant her mother was the one who inherited the farm. Her mother who immediately wanted to sell the farm right from under her and make a quick buck on it.
Carlota didn't have the funds to pay her mother out of pocket - which is what the woman expected -, and it took Carlota the longest time of convincing and begging to get her mother to agree to accept part payment for the farm, with the clause in the contract that the ownership doesn't exchange over to Carlota until she paid up the last bit of payment from what they agreed, so ever since that moment, Carlota has been working towards keeping the flower farm afloat, trying to meet her mother's money demands and being terrified that her abuelita's life's work would slip out of her hands due to her mother's greed and inability to show any kind of kindness and thoughtfulness.
The first taste of summer lingered in the air, in the chirp of the cicadas and the warm breeze through the air. Emery loved the way it tickled her skin when she stepped out of the saloon, and she decided to stop by the beach to watch the sunset before walking home. There was, surprisingly, someone she hadn't met yet on the shore, but Emery hovered a few yards off, so she didn't disturb them.
Then the not-so-stranger turned, and suddenly her chest was caught in a vise-like grip, squeezing and wringing and choking her until she quite literally couldn't breathe. Carlota's question was left to hang in the salty air while Emery doubled over, clutching her knee as she fought and gasped for air.
One, two, three seconds while Carlota just stared at the woman as she started heaving for air, doubled over, clearly in pain and in distress. She didn't say anything, she just wanted to not be too rude to the person near her and somehow it all backfired.
Even though it made absolutely no sense.
"Ahm... Are you o-- are you okay?" she asked, and then finally, finally it hit her that it was probably not what she said but something else, most likely something medical and that sent her into a panick. "Shit, are you having a heartattack? Asthma? Please don't die here, I'm really not good at CPR or anything like that. Shit, do you want me to call the doctor? Just nod a couple of times if yes."
Seline smiles as she watches Carlota's dog run around, one of her hands holding a pair of garden shears, the other grabbing a pile of dirt. The weeds were given her a lot of backtalk today, and though she mourned having to toss them out, she mourned even further the way they'd harm the beautiful flowers. A green thumb was something Seline didn't get in the genetic pool — or however that worked — but it didn't take a genius to pull a few weeds, so here she was.
At the sound of footsteps approaching her, Seline drops the shears and stands up, wiping her hands on her work overalls. "I hope you don't mind me stopping by today," Seline says to Carlota, giving her a grateful smile. "I have a lot to think about these days. The farm is looking beautiful." Seline turns to a flower and smiles fondly down at it. "I blossom in the spring, too," she says with a light laugh.
Berry sprinted out of the house which could only mean one thing - he realized there was somebody outside whom he adored and wanted to greet them. Carlota needed a bit more time because she wasn't prepared to put up with people today so she had to get her game face on - but figured Berry would distract and charm whoever was outside. She was sort of right.
It was Seline crouching in one of her flower fields with a shier in her hands before she got up when she saw Carlota. "I will never complain about extra help around here," she said with a small, relieved smile. The other one officially worked here years ago at this point but somehow she kept coming back. It brings Carlota pride, that the farm can be such an inviting, calming place for anyone.
She stopped for a moment and really took a look around. Sometimes it was easy to get lost in all the work and the worries and forget why she loved this place - and then her heart clenched because it only reminded of her mother and the reason she was constantly stressed these days and the smile froze onto her face. She shook it away, focusing on Seline instead. "What kind of stuff has you thinking so much? Wanna talk about it?"
it seemed that most people's stories here were them trying to keep afloat, elias knew it all too well trying to preserve the legacy that his abuelo built with the general store. they often felt like they were in over their head -- that no matter how hard elias tried it would never be good enough but they were trying anyway. he still sniffs seeing the little time sheet that still had his brother's name on the list. by the time he makes it over to carlota's ranch he's tired but he's brought her favourite drink and he's been nursing the same coffee since this morning but hey it's the thought that counts. he knows she doesn't like it, just like he knows many things about her. when they had both left and still kept in touch it had been a blessing; it was nice having someone else here to keep him grounded when he thought about going back to the big city where all of the friends he made still lived. but then again, they didn't call as much, and his job had evolved so drastically he supposed that it didn't matter. "open up, it's me!" he says to the door with a smile, "just kidding, take your time i'm going to smell your flowers. hopefully none of them are poisonous."
Sometimes Carlota wondered what it would be like to just drown herself and her stress in alcohol - she's seen so many people do it, tv shows and movies rave about it and from time to time it crosses her mind, that what if. But then she remembers the last time she was hungover, she was out for several days and she could not afford that. Not today, not tomorrow, and not a week from now. She couldn't afford to keep help around, she had to do everything herself, she couldn't not get up at the crack of dawn and tend to her chores.
Her life probably sounded like a bore to some people, but if the threat of losing the farm wasn't hanging above her, she wouldn't have anything to complain about.
One day. One day her mother would stop being the bane of her existence and the ruiner of everything and then maybe she could breathe again. But until then, she'd try her best. And enjoy the time she had with her friends, since that was one of the few times she actually could let lose (even if half the time she just ended up complaining, really).
"Just don't step on any of them!" she called out when she heard Elias' voice got some snacks from the kitchen (it was a two-day-old half bag of chips, it was sad, really) as she headed out, letting Berry out in the process. "Please tell me one of those is for me?" she asked as she stepped next to Elias, plucking a flower and tucking it behind his ears. "There, the most poisonous of them all is making you even prettier," she said jokingly.
“Of course, let me grab those for you,” Rosalyn said with a bright smile. Before she left, she listened, curious before she said, “Y’know, I have thought of some shrubbery, but some flowers would do one better. You’re still at the flower farm, right? What kinds of things are growing in season right now? I’m afraid I’m not as caught up in that knowledge as I ought to be.”
She bustled in the back really quickly, grabbing the best of her eggs, cheese and milk. Rose rang them up back at the counter and bagged them all, giving her the discounted price. “Is there a time when you don’t mind me stopping by to see what you’ve got at the farm? I would love to see what you’re growing right now.”
"Thanks. And yeah, I'm still there." Her mother did not forcibly sold it out from under her, not that Carlota said it out loud. She barely ever talked about it, it always felt like a personal failiure of her, even though she couldn't even explain why. It's not like it was her fault her mother cared more about money than anything else on the entire world.
"Oh, you don't need to be all caught up, I'm happy to help with that. I can provide any kind of color palette, really, but my favorites that are starting to bloom now that we're heading into June are the balloon flowers and the magnolias."
There was a relief in Carlota that Rosalyn so easily went with her suggestion and seemed open to the idea. She counted out the cash Rose requested as she took a few seconds thinking over the other woman's question. "Honestly? Most of the day when I am at the farm, I am working so it's not like there is one specific time that would work best. But that also means most of the time I am eager to take a break if anyone shows up, so come whenever you feel like it and I can show you around. I'm assuming either before opening or after closing time would be better for you, yeah?"
Upon hearing the door open, Rosalyn called out, "Just a moment!" She scrambled to gather her morning egg sandwich, taking it with her to the front. Was it improper to bring food out where a customer was? Maybe, but most she'd come across didn't have a problem with it. Besides, if she didn't, she might not even have time in the day to grab a bite to eat. "Sorry, we just opened. I'm glad you're here though." She smiled, setting her sandwich down and making sure the register was on.
Her abuelita would have told her to try to get some horseback riding lessons, to live a little - she always kept telling Carlota to try it out, she'd love it, but she's always been afraid the fall off of a horse's back would be too bad and never dared trying it. And this wasn't going to be the time to try either. Just as usual.
"Hey there. Just here for my usual pick up for eggs and milk and cheese, if you have them," she gave Rosalyn a small smile as she headed up to the counter. "Rosalyn, hey, I've been looking at the entrance of your ranch, have you ever considered getting any kind of flower arrangements or arches around the entrance?" not subtle, not even any small talk, but she's been thinking about what other business she could bring in and her abuelita would have told her to go for it, and this was an advice she could follow, even if she didn't feel too comfortable with these kinds of situations usually.
"Ha ha, very funny." Juliana snapped back as the woman started to tease her about a secret spot to get decent signal. As if she would be gullible enough to believe that. In Juliana's defensive perspective and reluctancy to give anyone from here the benefit of the doubt, it seemed as though everyone was out to get her. How ironic that she was here to learn some manners and how to 'grow up' and yet the people here were taunting her just like this.
"You think you're being cute? Because trust me, I already know that this town doesn't have anything to offer and I'm not holding my breath for some secret oasis with decent food, decent people and internet. If I'm battling it out, it's to make sure I can get the hell out of here before the year ends."
Yes, starting out teasing might have not been the best idea, Carlota would normally fully acknowledge that. But the leap of the woman felt so sudden and fast and so far from what Carlota would have deemed deserved.
Not to mention that she was absolutely biased towards the valley and the people here too, the place that gave her a home when the only one she had cast her out, so hearing such immediate dismissal and criticism just kicked her fight mode right in.
"Hold your horses, missy. Yeah, we might not have service most places, but the food here is insanely good, you clearly haven't tried anything if you say otherwise, the people are nice and who even needs the internet? Just because you are tied to whatever device you have, doesn't mean anyone else here wants to and maybe if you'd put it away for more than five minutes, you could find the beauty in this place."
"Carlota," Maude replied with a quarter of the excitement. Maybe even a tenth. But at least they could start to get this over with. Subtly ignoring Carlota's invitation, she instead thrust the casserole dish at her, rather jerkily and unceremoniously. "My mom wanted me to bring this to you. It's green bean."
Maude's mom had gone on and on about how hard Carlota was working on the farm, and that it was such a shame she had to do it on her own, but Maude didn't elaborate. Then she might let it slip that, personally, she thought Carlota's life sounded a dream.
Maude and Carlota weren't besties by any means, and Carlota wasn't the best of picking up social cues, if she was being honest with herself, but even she could pick up on something being off. Not that she understood why, but hey, two could play this game.
Carlota just stood there for a moment, looking at Maude, and then down at the food, and then back up at Maude. "Yeah, thank you, sure. And I'm sure your mom also wanted you to give some attitude with it too," she couldn't help but point out before shaking her head.
And because she wanted to see just how much she could push the buttons, she shoved the dish back into Maude's hands and nodded towards the inside. "Could you put it down onto the kitchen counter? I have some stuff of your mom's that I've been meaning to return for a while, I just need to go get them real quick."
Carlota's days and nights were nothing but making sure the flower farm could not slip out of her hands these days - and to say it was exhausting was an understatement. Most nights she just fell into bed and either passed out immediately, or on unfortunate nights she spent hours thinking about what could go wrong, what she needed to do.
Tonight, however, she forced herself to push through and walked out to the beach to watch the sunset. There was just something about the last lights of the sun reflecting back from the water that could always calm her down.
She didn't even realize somebody else joined her, she was so lost in her own thoughts, but when she realized, she gave a small smile over, "It's really gorgeous, isn't it?"
( @dewcarlota ) With a couple dull thuds, Maude proved that even a knock could sound sullen. Then she stood hunched on the porch with her mom's casserole in her oven-mitted hands and waited for her downfall (Carlota answering the door). She pointedly kept her gaze on a chip in the door's paint and not on the gorgeous spring sea that bloomed around them, lest the big green monster inside her grow so large it leapt out her mouth and gobbled Carlotta up when she answered.
The knock came when, Carlota was heading upstairs to get changed - she felt like she was covered in dirt from head to toe, probably looked it too, with only a flower in her hair giving away what she's been doing up until recently (not that most people who knew her would ever have a question, really.)
"One second," she yelled out and then looked at herself, wishing more than anything to be able to run up and actually change, but it would also require a shower, and she did not have enough time for that, so instead she quickly headed down, finding Maude in her door.
"Maude!" she exclaimed completely missing the expression on the young girl's face, "long time no see around here, come in, come in. What can I help you with?"
Status: open to all !
Location: The Beach
Time: Midday
One hand held a cigarette, dangling at her side while the other held one of the latest cell phones on the market. The phone was held up as high up as her arm could reach, desperately trying to find any kind of signal to no avail. After taking so many pictures on such a nice day out by the water and having absolutely no way of sharing them online, it was one of the most tragic things about being sent here and it was getting more and more frustrating as the days passed.
"This is ridiculous!" Juliana groaned as her extended arm dropped down back to her side in defeat. "Seriously, how does anyone survive out here like this?"
It wasn't an unseen sign, really. Even those who wanted to come out here to have a social media detox or wanted to get away from the fast life of the city usually got to a point where they just wanted some kind of signal or connection but couldn't find it so Carlota wasn't that surprised by the sight of the woman.
She couldn't quite tell what made her decide to say what she did, but her voice was teasing at least. Hopefully. "We've got a secret, hidden way to access signal. Gotta battle it out for it and prove your worth, show the town you deserve it. Only selected few gets the chance to, though."
