all the king's horses

there is a reason i'm still standing.

[dominicxwalsh]

amelialandon​:

Where: Catalina Marina Dock When: February 1st, morning @catalinastarter​

Amelia had a free morning that day so she had taken a walk along the coastline, ending at the Catalina Marina Dock for a short break before she would return home again. Her sight was on the large water in front of her, knowing that on the other side of it the rest of the state of California could be found. The ferry caught her attention, shaking her head for a moment as she remembered the article in the Catalina Times, knowing that all the ferry drivers had to take a course to update themselves. It made Amelia chuckle to herself. “Do you think that the rumour of the mayor’s son spilling hot sauce all over the panelling is true or not?” She asked the person standing close to her out of nowhere. She smiled at the person. “Sorry, that one is out of the blue. Were you on the ferry when it happened?”

.

“I wouldn’t put it past him. People being idiots knows no bounds,” he agreed. It had been a while since he’d allowed himself to take a walk this early in the morning, but he had forgotten how cleansing they could be. Not too cold, not too warm. Spring was in the air and while he normally loathed allergies, this time he would welcome it. “I was at someone else’s house.”

[dominicxwalsh]

[tearsflight]

[dominicxwalsh]

tearsflight​:

Charles Michael Davis

[dominicxwalsh]

closed starter for @felixwrigley​

First dates were never easy.

Dominic wasn’t someone who enjoyed them, at least. He preferred later on down the line, when the awkwardness was over with and a peace was achieved. Or the peace he used to have with her. It wasn’t lost on him that the interruption in it was his fault and his alone. The fact Felix was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt at all was a miracle in and of itself. 

It especially was a miracle that she agreed to let him take her to an old wooden barn on the island in the middle of nowhere. 

“Your patience and trust have not gone unnoticed,” he announced as he gripped the sides of the cooler to drag it towards the tailgate of the truck. “Inside, you will find everything we need for this excursion.” He popped open the lid and gestured with his head. “I’ve got dinner and snacks in there, blankets and a couple mats and pillows in the toolbox. Go nuts.”

[dominicxwalsh]

felixwrigley​:

who: closed | @dominicxwalsh​ when: nye  where aly’s party (on the island)

Felix had been mostly unsure about bringing Dominic to Aly’s house with her, not because it was New Years’ Eve, but because it wasn’t the same kind of vibe they normally had.  And while they were trying to stumble onto a new normal, the usual vibe was what she craved.  However, doubt had taken a backseat.  Now that they were at the party, it wasn’t the worst.  Aly always had a way to make an environment fun.  Felix had almost immediately kicked her shoes off, too, and now had no idea where they were.  She couldn’t even blame it on the alcohol, really, because she hadn’t had much.  And almost anything in life was more fun without shoes.

Sidled up next to Dominic, though, Felix still went onto her toes so she could talk in his ear.  It probably wasn’t strictly necessary, given her own height, but she didn’t strictly care.  

“Having fun?” She asked.  “I can always find something a little more private if you aren’t.” 

.

While Dominic normally shied away from parties populated with people he didn’t know, he owed it to Felix to put in some effort. He found it difficult to turn off the bodyguard and soldier in him, the one that kept track of everyone’s whereabouts. It took a beer to relax and not glare at anyone who crept too close. 

His fingers closed on her waist to draw her closer when she appeared nearby. “I’m fine if you are,” he assured. He turned his head to gently bump hers and his hand fell to her side. “Though I’m certain you remember privacy’s never been a problem. I want you to enjoy tonight.”

[dominicxwalsh]

gabbylivingston​:

Starter for: Everyone Where: Aly’s house - Around 2 AM

Gabby had helped her sister with preparing for the party she was giving that night before she had left for Aly’s place to spend her New Year’s Eve there. The night had been fun so far. Probably the judging of the twerking contest had been the most fun. It was around two in the morning when Gabby had finally found herself in the quiet peace near Aly’s pool with nearly everyone else inside. She had texted her sister to see if she had heard something from their parents but unfortunately nothing else than just a short text. She looked up when she heard someone coming outside, the sound of the people inside sounding a little harder and then again softer when the door closed again. “Hey, I was just about to come inside again. Have you been enjoying yourself so far?”

.

It was safe to say that Dominic wasn’t someone who was synonymous with partier, but a few drinks loosened him up. It didn’t mean that sensory overload wasn’t real and he found himself wanting the quiet outdoors to clear his head. Outside contained a few chattering people, but far less than inside. 

He briefly recognized Gabby and his mouth opened to greet her as Miss Livingston, as his manners dictated, but he refrained. 

“I have, yes. Have you?”

[dominicxwalsh]

bobbicarm​:

–

Bobbi lets out a puff of air through her nose, lip twitching in a show of amusement. “Is there a difference in situation?” Bobbi was mostly talking about in general. If there was a general thing about there being too many flowers. But maybe that was just her. She’s been surrounded by these things for essentially her whole life. It’s hard to tell now.

.

“Well, isn’t it a language of some kind when it comes to these sorts of things?” Dominic couldn’t help but point out. Hell if he knew of any of them. Roses were universal, albeit tired. “I mean, the amount from one person sort of makes the difference in quantity, I’d say.” 

[dominicxwalsh]

amelialandon​:

– 🧁 –

Amelia wanted to turn around so she could see the man for herself, the one who had been trying to rob her. Or rather not trying… more eyeing to do so because the man next to her had stepped in right on time. A man of whom she didn’t even know his name. That was a question she would be able to ask him.

“Brand new as well? How long have you been in town for now?” She asked the other, motioning over the bartender before moving in Dominic’s direction as well. “At least let me buy you a drink as a thank you. Well, that and your name,” she said to the man with a smile.

.

Whomever this person was, he was gone now. Or at least hid himself from Dominic’s line of sight. He forced himself to tear his eyes from the hoodie-clad figure and to the woman beside him. 

“Yeah, I moved here a few months ago. Attempting to find some form of enjoyment in small town life,” he submitted with a shrug. He waved off the offer for the drink. “I don’t drink, actually, but thanks for the offer. I’m Dominic.”

[dominicxwalsh]

bobbicarm​:

@catalinastarter​

Location: Carmichael Roses co. Time: Late afternoon

Bobbi had run by to have lunch with her dad. Something she hadn’t really done in a long time. Too busy. Too much running around. And, quite frankly, Dad was a bit pushy trying to get her to work here. Now, that wasn’t so much of a bad thing. Maybe working for the family business wouldn’t be so bad. After a while of telling her dad to cool it and enjoy their lunch, she excuses herself to wander around the place. She hasn’t really taken it all in in years. Once she’s outside, hands buried in her pockets, her eyes narrow over the expansive collection of roses. “You ever wonder,” She starts, musing to another individual, “How many roses are too many? Like, at what point is it too much?”

Dominic hadn’t expected to enter the shop, but it had become necessary to find something to take to LA to see his mother. Considering it was the first time in possibly seven years he had allowed himself to have contact further than a cursory few-times-a-year phone call, something was needed as an apology. “Depends. Funeral or a proposal?”

[dominicxwalsh]

Text → Domilix

Fe: It's been a minute so I'll remind you. I don't have any of that.

Nic: You'll need to find some. I think you can get some from the gas station around the corner.

[dominicxwalsh]

arturamos​:

who: @catalinastarter​ – open where: catalina shopping center count: (0 of max 5)

Arturo has never decorated for the holidays before. But he’d also never had a whole condo to look out of place slammed between other condos whose owners had begun stringing lights across their balcony the weekend after Thanksgiving. His mom had decorated her house every year. Meaning she had him on the roof with a staple gun tacking lights up around the front porch. There was some amount of irony he always appreciated about a California Christmas. Fake trees flocked with fake snow in a city where most of its residents had never seen the stuff.

A burning palm tree with light up flamingos and flip flops would probably be more fitting. But Turo was ready to embrace a tradition. “You know any place that sells trees that aren’t 10 feet tall an $500? Or am I shit out of luck?”

.

Dominic was no interior designer. Ordinarily, he was in a barracks during Christmastime. Someone brought a Charlie Brown-esque tree with an ornament while someone watched White Christmas in the other room. Gifts were exchanged from whatever someone found last minute at the PX or one of the gas stations nearby in the form of shredded beef jerky that looked like chewing tobacco. This was his first actual Christmas in what was possibly ten or fifteen years. 

“I think the nursery’s around the corner. They might have what you’re looking for.” 

[dominicxwalsh]

gabbylivingston​:

– 🏎️ –

Gabby quickly shook the hand of the man standing in front of her. “Now that the introductions are out of the way… Please call me Gabby from now on and no Ms. Livingston. It makes me feel way too old. Is it okay if I call you Dominic instead of Mr. Walsh?” The brunette asked the man before she motioned over for him to follow her in the direction of the grounds so they could make their way in the direction of the banqueting halls.

“So I have invited you over to see if you could take up security on an event we are planning. It will be held in the banqueting hall over there.” Gabby looked over to Dominic and smiled at him. “The reviews I’ve gotten about you are promising.”

Being raised in the South, the idea of calling an employer as anything other than “miss” or “mister” made his spine crawl. Yet every time he was corrected on it, he swallowed it back. Manners always seemed to take hold, whether he wanted to focus or not. “Of course,” he responded with a small smile. 

He followed her lead rather easily, making notes of the doors and any windows he came across. “I can easily do that. I could probably get a guy or two to run interference with me.” The mention of his resume had a small chuckle leaving him. “It’s good to know I have satisfied customers. It’s a good thing to have in this business.” 

[dominicxwalsh]

jaxonhunter​:

*

     Small talk, the bane of Jaxon’s life. He didn’t care how he was and the feeling was vice versa, “My answer is the same every time—” He mumbled, mid swig from his beer. “What do you want?” Jaxon asked, turning a little to face Dominic. “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you shit.” It was a biological thing, he wasn’t a snitch. “And even if I didn’t, anyone putting their hands near my pockets would be in the emergency room.” Fortunately all they would find was a condom and five bucks. It wasn’t worth it, not for a broken wrist. “If security here was more effective, there wouldn’t be a pick pocket.” Jaxon smiled, giving him a nod. 

“Listen, man, if you want your wallet to get picked, that’s on you,” Dominic responded. To him, it wasn’t a matter of personal possession, it was the idea of someone taking something that didn’t belong to them. In some countries, it was cause for hand removal and he’d seen it more times than he would care to admit. “I’m not security. Trust me. I have no motive other than making sure people don’t get robbed. If you know the guy, tell him he’s liable to get his ass handed to him by any able-bodied patron in the bar.”

[dominicxwalsh]

dilanayden​:

-

Dilan looked back at the male who walked around like he owned the place and if the other hadn’t approached her about it, she wouldn’t have been the wiser. It was a good wake up call to be more aware of her surroundings while around so many people. 

“What if we lure him?” She asked as she raised her brow at the male at her side. “Maybe I become the victim and you can swoop him to stop him and save the day.” She didn’t mind and she’d probably put her wallet in her bra or something but keep her purse open and at his disposal.

.

“Guy like that, he won’t stop even if he’s caught. He’s gotta make himself move on,” Dominic responded. He’d seen men like the pickpocket all over the world. Even if caught, he could simply lie his way out of it. Eyewitness accounts were unreliable. Even victim accounts were unreliable. “Even if he got tossed out, he’ll just keep doing it.” 

[dominicxwalsh]

amelialandon​:

– 🧁 –

A night out was something that had been a very long time ago for Amelia, often not able to do so since her daughter would be left alone in that case and that was the last thing she wanted. But with Seth currently being okay with babysitting for the night as she tried to figure out the daily life on the island, she was grateful for him working along with her move so much, if her ex-husband hadn’t been so supportive then she wouldn’t have been able to do this.

Amelia had made her way to the Bootlegger’s Pub that night and she had been seated at the bar for the night, looking at the people in the bar. Watching people was always fun to do, it showed that there were so many different people on one island. It was interesting to see.

Suddenly her focus on other people disappeared when a man suddenly came closer to her and pretended as if he knew her. Amelia was startled for a moment before he explained to her that there was a pickpocketer coming up to her before he had approached her. “Oh no, I don’t know anyone here. Just came to town so if I knew someone, then it would be a strange situation. Thank you for that.”

.

Dominic didn’t love the way they were still being eyeballed by the pickpocket, almost as if the guy braced for him to leave her alone. He hated the idea of anyone getting robbed and he leaned against the bar, hoping to communicate some form of conversation. If he got the hint, even better.

“We’ve got that in common. I’m brand-new myself,” he responded once he tore his eyes off the thief and back on the woman before him. “No problem. I can’t stand watching people get ripped off like that.” 

[dominicxwalsh]

Text → Domilix

Fe: Yes.

Nic: Patience, grasshopper.

[dominicxwalsh]

johnnie-tanaka​:

__

“Sure, why not?” Johnnie wouldn’t typically accept an offer, but his friend’s ghosting made him feel like shit. In any case, he had no reason to distrust the man. He’d still like to get to know the guy first. “So, do you spend a lot of time watching out for pickpockets?”

.

“Not particularly. If I see them, I don’t let it slide, if that’s what you mean,” he responded. Dominic’s eyes never left the figure skulking around the room. “I just really hate thieves.”