quite the certified sweet talker

diana brooks thirty-five. bartender. troublemaker. roleplay blog for tonopahvalley

[dianabrooks]

i’m a wanderess, i’m a one-night stand; don’t b e l o n g to no city, don’t belong to no man

Diana Brooks // 35 (DOB: June 11th, 1987) // Bartender at the Barcade

this is my new baby Diana and she is also the baby of the Brooks clan (minus Lily)

She’s 35, so she’s three years younger than Adam and 5 years younger than Joel

The siblings were all super close growing up because their dad died when Diana was only a year old and their mom mentally checked out of being a parent soon after, so Joel basically raised them

She was a good kid, but she was also desperate for her mother’s love and never got it, so eventually that came back to bite her in the butt when she began acting out in other ways to get that attention

The family lived in Las Vegas until she was 17 years old before they moved to Tonopah Falls

The main reason for the move was to give the family a fresh start, but especially Diana. She’d gotten involved with the wrong crowd in high school, getting herself involved in drugs and drinking and skipping school. It eventually led to her being arrested a few times and an abusive relationship with one of the guys in the group who was in his 20s while she was still a teenager.

I envision this relationship to have a similar dynamic to Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen: very toxic, influenced each other into doing awful things, etc. Because she was still young and wanting to be liked, she was the most easily influenced. They would argue constantly, and the fights would get pretty nasty verbally, but it wasn’t until much later that things became violent and landed her in the hospital.

After that, Joel and Adam decided it’d be best to move out of Vegas and so they moved to Tonopah (though Adam left soon after for the military)

She finished her final year of high school in Tonopah after a few months in rehab and she’s been living in the area off and on since

She used to travel a lot, but moved back home for good when Adam got hurt

She was also the one who was watching and taking care of Lily while Joel was in prison

She’d do basically anything for her family and 

So I’m looking for all kinds of connections for her like:

Friends!! - She’s very social so she’d love talking to people and getting to know them. She’s a bartender so that’s kind of her thing lmao she also used to travel a lot, so she could’ve met your muse in one of those various locations

Maybe some enemies? - She was in a pretty dark place when she first moved to the area, so if your character is a native and is the type to hold grudges, perhaps they crossed paths and did not hit it off

FWBs - she’s very much a one-night stand kind of person, so if your character is up for it, hmu (though I’m not big on writing out smut as much as fading to black so don’t get your hopes up lmao). This is open to people of all genders also.

I’m open to basically anything so let me know if you have any other ideaaaas

[dianabrooks]

WHO: @dahliaorlova LOCATION: Dahlia's office

"Knock, knock!" Diana announced her presence as she pushed the slightly ajar door open further, popping her head inside. The two had worked together on previous events and had become friends while doing so, which led itself to plenty of unexpected visits for Dahlia during office hours. "You busy or can I bug you with an idea I had for a possible event?"

[fenderbryne]

Where: Level Up Barcade When: June 16, 2023 Who: @dianabrooks

Sebastian needed to get out of the apartment. Being around Kathryn, in confined spaces, was making it harder for him. It should be easy, considering how long they have been doing this, but lately, he didn't want to take the risk.

Taking the opportunity to explore the town and get to know the locals, he went for a stroll. This was going to be their new playing field and there had to be a con somewhere, gaining them a little extra income.

He stepped into the Level Up Barcade, dressed in fitted suit pants and a white cotton shirt. Fingers combed through his blonde locks taking a seat on the bar stool. Azure hues scan around the room, falling on the brunette off to the side.

"What's good to drink here?" His voice smooth like velvet, the corners of his mouth turning into a charming smile.

[dianabrooks]

Diana was just clocking back in from taking her break when she heard the man's voice, pulling her attention over towards him. Her first thought was god, he's hot. The second? He seemed very out of place amongst the flashing lights of the arcade games. "Well, I may be a little biased because I came up with it, but I'd say you should start with the Galaga shooter and then work your way through the summer specials. Though you can't go wrong with a classic Old Fashioned or Manhattan." She leaned against the bar, smirking some. "So, what'll it be?"

[dianabrooks]

WHO: @cherrymcdermottLOCATION: Diana's apartment

"I swear there are gnomes or something living in my apartment that are hiding all of my shit," Diana huffed a breath of frustration as she settled down on the couch holding the two beers she'd grabbed out of the fridge. Using the edge of the coffee table, she cracked the bottle caps off and handed one over to Cherry. "I just saw my bottle opener the other day, but now that I actually needed to use it, it's nowhere to be found. It's either gnomes or an alternate dimension. I accept no other explanations."

[dianabrooks]

WHO: @colemonroe LOCATION: The Outpost

Diana rarely spent time outside of her own bar, but she figured it'd be a cold day in Hell before Cole Monroe stepped foot inside the barcade when The Outpost had been the MC's spot since it opened. After they'd commiserated over their shared feelings of grief and guilt towards the man's ex, Diana had made a concentrated effort at strengthening her friendship with the Son's president, which was why she found herself sliding onto the empty bench opposite him. "Hope you weren't waiting too long. Guy who was supposed to take over for me showed up late, so I chewed his ass out before heading over. Are those fries to share?"

[dianabrooks]

WHO: @kathrynharinger LOCATION: The Lost Word

Gift shopping had never been Diana's strong suit. Part of it was from lack of practice when growing up, but the other part was that she didn't value physical gifts so much as ones that involved experiences or making memories. Her older brother's birthday was coming up soon, and she knew Adam loved to read, so she found her way into the newest bookstore in town in an effort to find him something unique. Immediately, though, she felt overwhelmed with the rows upon rows of shelves filled to the brim. "This place is huge..."

[dianabrooks]

WHO: @azrasydin LOCATION: Level Up Barcade

"Heading out, Bran! Don't drown without me." Diana sent a wink in her coworker's direction as she finished sending her order to the kitchen and clocked out, stepping out from behind the bar. It was relatively empty at this point, like it usually was on a random Thursday, but there were a few people who had taken up residence around the various games lining the walls so there was some work left to be done. She settled down on a barstool and glanced over at the only other person who wasn't invested in the games. "If you haven't tried it yet, you should get the watermelon crush. The summer cocktails are my favorite."

[dianabrooks]

WHO: @lylasalazar LOCATION: Diana's apartment

Diana hadn't expected to hear a knock on the door this late in the evening, but when most of her friends worked weird shifts, it wasn't exactly that surprising either. She tucked her feet into a pair of duck slippers before making her way to the front door, pulling it open, and forgetting to hide the shocked look on her face at Lyla's appearance. "Oh, hey. Is this a booty call situation because if so I'm severely underdressed."

[dianabrooks]

WHO: @alara-kahya LOCATION: Community Pool

"There you go, bud. All lathered up and ready to take on those UV rays," Diana said with a grin as she finished rubbing the sunscreen into Kian's cheeks. She gave him a quick peck to the top of his head before ushering him off towards the splash park a few yards away. "They grow up so fast, huh? Makes me emotional just thinking about it." She wiped away a pretend tear before slipping her shirt over her head to reveal her bikini top. "You need me to get your back?"

[colemonroe]

Cole had spent most of the afternoon in the clubhouse going over routes and trying to plan out the gun shipments for the next month. All of it had been a hell of a lot easier before all of the chaos that had erupted in Tonopah over the last few months, but sooner or later, they’d figure out the best course of action for the club. For now though? He wanted a beer. Making his way into the kitchen, he reached into the fridge just in time to hear a familiar voice cut through the noise in his head. “Heya, D. Sure thing,” he called out, grabbing an extra beer for her. Sliding it across the countertop, he offered up a warm smile as he looked her over, “Look about as tired as I feel,” he commented, meaning it from a place from concern, of course, not as an insult. Popping his own beer open, he raised it to his lips and leaned forward, settling his elbows down against the bartop, “Ya doin’ alright?”

[dianabrooks]

Diana grabbed the drink, popping it open and taking a sip before nodding in confirmation to his comment. "Yeah, I've been working a lot lately, trying to stay out of my own head. Sure you can relate." Although they didn't see each other often, the one thing that connected them together more than anything in this moment was Cassie's departure -- how it affected them both, how she was sure he felt similarly responsible for not doing enough to help. "Uh... not really," she admitted, her hip pressing into the counter as she leaned against it herself, trying to piece her thoughts together. The nature of NA meant she shouldn't reveal the names or identities of anyone else within the group, so she had to tread carefully. "Someone I care about left recently, and I feel like I missed something... Like I didn't pay enough attention to see she was struggling." She glanced over to Cole with a meaningful look, hoping he caught onto what she meant without having to explicitly state it. "It's been tough trying not to blame myself or think I could've done more."

[lylasalazar]

"Oh? Eighteen years? That's a lot of missed time. What made her dip? Or, I guess the bigger question is what made her come back?" Her own mom had dipped once, but Lyla didn't pay it that much attention. At that point, she had already assumed the responsibility that was her younger sister, and her mom had been in and out most of their lives anyways. "You should do it. I mean, I would if I wasn't tied to the town. Always wanted to see what the world had to offer other than this town. You know, at least make it to Vegas." She meant the last part as a joke. Lyla had left the town several times, a few vacation trips here and there - but she had never been gone for longer than a few weeks at a time. In all honesty, she never really had the desire to leave. This was home.

[dianabrooks]

"Well, it's a long story and not technically my business to be airing out there... but she was going through some shit, we'll put it that way. She's better now and I guess she wants a chance at getting to know Lily, which I'm all for if that's what Lily wants." Diana was a big fan of second chances, even if it could be difficult to navigate the aftermath, especially after having been given one herself. She raised a brow at Lyla's comment, laughing some. "You don't have to be tied to the town, though. You could leave whenever you wanted, just go somewhere for a while and get out of your routine. Sometimes being away even makes you appreciate this place more when you get back. At least that's been my experience. I just... I don't know. I've been itching to get back out there, to see more of the world and experience things out of this bar, but it feels like I'd just be running and avoiding whatever shit's going on here, y'know?"

[lovesspell]

"Every time I come here I think about the first year I went with you and we spent an hour trying to get cotton candy out of your hair." And it had been one of the most comical hours of Ella's life. When she spotted Diana, she felt herself finally at ease, a bit overstimulated from the lights and from the edible that was kicking in as they arrived. But a moment close to Diana, a kiss to her cheek and they were feeling pretty grounded. "You out here waiting for me to bring some fun to you or are you hanging out with other folks tonight? I was going to win you a big ol bear or something but if you're busy..." @dianabrooks

[dianabrooks]

"Oh god, I remember that. My hair felt like straw for a week after from how many times I had to wash it afterward," Diana remarked with a laugh, easing into the conversation easily and wrapping an arm around Ella to pull them in for an embrace. "Honestly, I'm just kind of vibing today. I was thinking of doing that Zipper right or the reverse bungee one, but other than that, I was gonna see where my feet led me. You're more than welcome to make me swoon by winning me something, though. I could maybe return the favor if there's a drinking contest at some point somewhere."

[dianabrooks]

813 commerce street, tonopah valley, nv • home of diana brooks

situated within the heart of downtown tonopah valley is keystone lofts, offering luxury studio to three-bedroom apartments inside a fully renovated former key factory building. apartments feature large arched windows, exposed brick, and other industrial elements alongside updated bathrooms and modern kitchen.

key facts

two story apartment

open concept

2 bedrooms

2 bathrooms

Diana wanted to be as close to the action as possible which is why she chose this apartment downtown, a short walk from many of the recreational and food establishments she's grown to love since she's been back in town. The exposed brick is one of her favorite features and what drew her to choose a loft apartment rather than something that was minimalist with clean lines. Her decor is a combination of mid-century modern and industrial because she loves the vintage feel of both styles.

While the common areas are fully decorated, her bedroom is sparsely furnished with a California King bed, two nightstands, and an accent chair. She says it's because she doesn't want to run the risk of becoming a packrat or feeling claustrophobic within her relaxation space, but really it's because she has absolutely no idea what to do with the space. She figures she'll be the only person to spend a ton of time in there anyway, so it doesn't matter too much to her.

[cowwgirl]

[lovesspell]

@dianabrooks

[christinericci-deactivated20230]

That voice... Immediately Christine glanced up and met the eyes that she never really forgot, even after all these years spent apart. A shot to the heart, the eye contact drew a sharp gasp of surprise echoing through her, her eyes widening and her mouth dropping open just slightly. Quickly she fought for composure, but it was obvious that the surprise had been there. Normally it was hard to get a read on her, her reserved attitude not allowing for momentary lapses in control. But she never, ever, thought that she'd see Diana again. She'd actually came to peace with that. And yet, here the woman was.

A single eyebrow quirked in response and her cheeks turned a pinkish hue at the statement. "Not happy to see me then?" Without giving Diana a chance to reply, Christine moved on. "Then this establishment is doing its job as I'm busy hiding from my life." That last part was more tacked on in an explanation as to why she was here and why she'd never been here before. Theo loved arcades; loved the animations and the brilliant colors that exploded forth from the screens. She'd taken him once and he'd been enamored with the screens; she could still remember the face he'd made when she'd picked him up to look at the animations. But she hadn't been a fan of them when she was younger simply because she'd never been allowed to play games in an arcade. Her days were spent in lessons and trying, failing, to meet her parents' expectations; it was perfectly understandable why Diana never thought to see her here.

[dianabrooks]

"I didn't say that," Diana replied quickly. The last thing she wanted Christine to think was that Diana didn't want her there, though she was sure that the last few months of... whatever it was that they'd shared would have made her think otherwise. Diana had fallen into what would become her M.O., putting distance between herself and the object of her affection the moment she recognized her feelings extended beyond the bedroom. It hadn't been the other woman's fault that Diana pushed her away.

She nodded in response to the explanation, glancing around to take in the other patrons around the room. It was a good place to get away, especially when it was the last place someone would look. "Well, I guess if you don't mind me being here, you're welcome to stay as long as you like. Want me to open a tab for you or it's not one of those kinds of nights?"

[christinericci-deactivated20230]

Stumbling into the establishment, she was nowhere someone would be able to find her. This new place was an escape from the questions and the expectations that Ella had for her, a way to have a drink without the introspection, even without the flirting. She'd had a bad day; had a lot of them in recent months. But this one was particularly bad as she'd argued her point for several grueling hours with the men on the board of directors of her hotel chain. Days spent like this she often missed the downtime she'd gotten when she'd been pregnant or had Theo around to spend time with. She'd taken a lot of time off when he was alive but now the idea of spending time to herself sounded daunting. So, she had thrown herself back into working full time, with increased hours; she hardly even saw Giovanni these days.

Thinking of Giovanni put a damper on her mood as well and she frowned, deep and grieving, taking a seat at the bar and immediately ordering a drink. "Whiskey sour, please," digging into her purse, she immediately pulled out a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill and slid it over the table without looking up. Glancing around, she could spot several of the crowd looked far younger and less sophisticated than herself; perfect. She'd barely been able to stomach coming into the arcade portion downstairs as it reminded her too much of her son and his affinity for games, but she was glad she'd came now. @dianabrooks

[dianabrooks]

The evening crowd was rolling in steadily as it usually did around this time, and Diana had finally fallen into the groove of her shift. Having worked at the Barcade for so long, the cacophony of the children having the time of their lives downstairs carrying up to mix with the sound of the arcade games hardly phased her at this point. She made her way around the bar, fulfilling drink orders for those who approached, and she was about to greet the woman who'd situated herself at the bar when she stopped dead in her tracks.

Christine. She hadn't seen the other woman in years, but there was little doubt in her mind that it was her. Diana recalled reading that Christine had gotten married years ago to a businessman from Vegas, but that didn't explain how she'd ended up here in Tonopah or sitting at the very bar Diana worked, of all places. Hearing her order, Diana shook herself from her reverie and went to fulfill it, setting the glass down in front of her. "Here you are," she said when she'd finally found her voice again. "I've gotta admit, this is the last place I would've expected to see you."

[maevemacnally]

@dianabrooks

Location: Clubhouse

"You smoke?" Maeve asked as she reached out to offer her cigarette pack over to the brunette. Lighting up her own, she took a puff before blowing the smoke in the opposite direction. "Fucking dessert weather. Hot as shit during the day, and at night I'm left freezing my ass off." A small chuckle escaped her lips as she turned her attention back over to Diana. "Feel like the barcade keeps you locked away."

[dianabrooks]

"Sometimes. Could use one, actually. I'm working most of the time these days, so they may as well be holding me hostage." Diana replied with a soft chuckle, reaching over to pull a cigarette from the pack and sticking it between her lips. "You missing me, Maeve? I'm flattered. I've missed your pretty face, too." She grinned. "What have you been up to? My brother working you too hard over at the restaurant?"