Defying Gravity

Francine "Frankie" Walker. 29. Music Teacher. World Traveler.

[tatemedina-archived]

Realistically, Tate should have guessed that the likelihood of two old guys with too many opinions walking up to him back-to-back was unlikely. In his defense, it had felt like they had been coming at him nonstop lately, so hearing a woman's voice caught him off guard. He opened his mouth to respond before chuckling softly, giving her a small shrug. "Not much difference, for the record," he pointed out before turning to face her. "What was your thing? Cheerleader? Or dance team? Legs like those don't come naturally," he said, looking her legs over slowly before returning her smile. "I get it, football is everything in this town, but that's what they seem to forget. I get it. I lived it, day in and day out, for years. It's not like I'm some guy who just rolled in with high hopes, y'know? That jersey those guys wear? I wore that jersey, I was those guys. I'm still that guy, really, even if I'm not playing on the field anymore. That doesn't just go away."

[francine-walker]

Frankie raised an eyebrow as she sat down next to him. "Good to know." She looked over. "You make it a habit to just look at women's legs often?" She smirked. "I was in the band, you know, lots of marching around and all of that. But it's been a hot minute since I was in high school." She said and listened to him. "Maybe that's the problem, they are expecting you to come in and immediately turn the team around because of your talent you had when you played, assuming you were actually good. They assume you can come in and then get immediate change instead of letting you have the time needed to make changes."

[liv-lees-deactivated20230628]

"Tell that to the band teacher I had back in Dallas. I was in band for one week and had my guidance counselor put me in gym; our teacher said we all sucked," Liv said with a little laugh. Good ol' Mr. Perry was constantly yelling at the students -- especially, the drummers and the other students that doubled for marching band. By the time she made it to Whiskey Flats for senior year, Liv had been too scarred to even consider band in the small town. "I always wanted to learn cello just because violin seemed too cliché. Although, just like you, couldn't take that out to the field even if I ever gave band a shot. Can you still play the clarinet, or are you just a piano and guitar girl now?"

[francine-walker]

Frankie looked over and frowned slightly. "Well that's terrible. I mean we all start somewhere and honestly, it's high school band and half of these kids will be done after senior year, no need to be so cruel to them." She looked over towards Liv and offered her a smile. "You can still learn, it's never too late." She said and laughed. "I have forgotten everything about the clarinet that I once knew. I am strictly piano and guitar now."

[viviann-art]

Viv nodded not wanting to press the matter anymore. She smiled and shook her head, "I'm good at decorating for me. I don't know about what you would like. So we'll have to make it a group project." Her brows rose and she smirked at the mention of Frankie already having plans to meet up with Colt. "He's going to steal you away isn't he?" She teased knowing they would more than likely be three inseparable friends. "I'm sure he's just as excited to see you, honestly. If you weren't in the room when he called he always sounded so depressed, like he deflated on the phone if you weren't there with me."

[francine-walker]

"What are you talking about, you have the best decorating skills and I just put a poster on the wall." Frankie said with a laugh and a shrug. "Maybe but not really. There's enough of me to go around the both of you." She said and smiled softly. "Really?" She asked. "That's honestly really sweet...." She looked over towards Viv. She hadn't really heard that someone wanted her to be around much besides Viv and it made her smile.

[tatemedina-archived]

↦ open starter // @whiskeyflatsstarters ↦ location: choose your own adventure, fam.

Tate knew his job was going to come with a lot of unsolicited advice and opinions. He'd seen it as a teenager, adults coming up to him whenever he was out with his friends somewhere, telling him everything they thought he needed to do. Granted, nothing they said was ever actually helpful, but his dad made sure he let them share their piece.

Now, as head coach, it was entirely different. These days, people were less excited about his potential and more just concerned. Concerned that he was looking a little ragged, having too much fun or being too stressed out, or just flat out concerned that he couldn't actually coach football. It didn't matter that he'd been assisting for years now, just that last season was a dud.

Expecting another opinion he hadn't asked for, Tate looked up at the person that had approached him. "If you're here to ask me if we're ready for the Spring Scrimmage next month, I can promise you, I'm doing everything I can to get us there." A beat later, Tate realized how it sounded, and he cleared his throat. "But if you'd rather talk about literally anything else, then by all means, take a seat. I'm all ears."

[francine-walker]

Frankie had been busy trying to get all of the music programs up and running, which was easier said then done when you had so many grades to work through. Granted, high school took way more work and time as the younger kids was simply going to their classrooms and having some fun with them. It did help with the extra income from the elementary school. She spent the majority of her time and work at the high school, trying to get the students going and give them a good music class to take.

This is how she found herself at the school after hours, working hard on a new song and marching pattern for the next home game when she found herself in need of a break and some fresh air. She wondered out towards the football field and sat herself out in the stands, letting the Texas sun hit her skin, the fresh air doing wonders. It took her a few moments to realize she wasn't alone on the field and she recognized the other as the football coach. She pushed herself up and walked over towards him.

"Well, we could talk about whatever a Spring Scrimmage is but I think it would be a pretty one sided conversation since I don't know what a scrimmage is versus a normal game." Frankie said with a laugh. "As much time as I spent on a football field down in Georgia, I learned nothing of how the game is actually played." She said and offered him a sympathetic smile. "People pressuring you for results huh?"

[coltonwrights]

"She might be but I don't know, I always kind of envisioned her being the one of us that got out of this place an' took on the world," he spoke after a beat, barely able to keep that to himself despite knowing how close Frankie and Viv were — he never wanted his sister to feel like nothing was impossible. He smiled. "Well, I for one am glad that it didn't take another year for you to show up here." Even if he didn't know the whole story, it was nice to know that Frankie was there for Viv after everything. "You know me so well already an' we've only just met. Should I be worried that you're gonna figure out everything that makes me tick so soon?"

[francine-walker]

"There's plenty of time for her to get out there and see the world if that's what she wants. She can and will do whatever she wants and sets her mind to." Frankie said as she looked at Colt. "The world isn't that great though..." She said in a quiet tone before straightening up in the booth. "Well thank you. Much appreciated. I haven't been here long but you and Viv bein' here already makes it feel like home." She said as she smiled, soft eyes looking towards him. Despite not knowing Colt outside of a phone screen, she already felt connected to him. Maybe that was a weird twin thing with Viv or they just both clicked the same way that she and Viv had, she didn't know nor care at this point. "You think I don't know what makes you tick Colt? I mean I am taking you to waffle house now."

[liv-lees-deactivated20230628]

"That's good. I thought they sounded good, but music is kind of like ballet. I think it all sounds and looks great, but then the experts say it's trash," Liv shrugged as if to ask 'what can you do?' The only time Liv ever ventured to a football game, prior to her adulthood, was back in Dallas. In those days, she used to manage a random sleepover at a friend's house and then they'd go together and end the night in some random field drinking out of water bottles. After moving to Whiskey Flats, Liv hadn't made enough friends prior to football season to find the joy in attending games and ending the night in a backwoods party. "What instrument did you play? I used to know someone who played triangle -- not in this town -- but it was apparently a lot more stressful than it seemed."

[francine-walker]

Frankie laughed as she looked over at Liv, shaking her head. "That's the best thing about music though. It's all opinion, well for the most part. Everyone's going to think different things sound great and all opinions are valid." She said and looked down at the group of students who all looked focused on the music in front of them. "I played the clarinet, because I couldn't play a piano or guitar in marching band." She said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Listen, triangle and symbols are a lot more stressful then people give them credit for being. You have to hit at the right time or the whole thing sounds off."

[xjwat]

starter for @francine-walker at the bronc recording label —

As they filtered their way past the radio booths, and back toward the office and recording booths, she moved to get Frankie something to drink. "Water? Sweet tea?" June looked in the fridge. "We don't have any Cokes or anything in here, unfortunately," she said with a frown before looking back toward her friend. She she dug out one of each, she turned to Frankie. "So, I don't know what you were thinking, but I think there could be a really cool opportunity to work with the music departments and the local FFA and kinda... make something happen that way, music is so lovely but I feel like people forget there's more than one way to make it work."

[francine-walker]

Frankie couldn't believe that she knew June Watson, someone she genuinely enjoyed. "Sweet tea would actually be great, thank you." She said and laughed. "That's alright, I'm trying to cut back on the soda myself. I think I was a little too reliant on the caffeine." She laughed and grabbed the sweet tea from June. "I think that's a great idea. There are definitely some good opportunities there. They do, there's a lot of directions music can go but I think a lot of people think it's not a viable option for their kids futures and everything, which is unfortunate."

[liv-lees-deactivated20230628]

starter for @francine-walker at Whiskey Flats High School —

The thing about small towns was most people knew each other in some capacity -- especially, if their fields overlapped. The school nurse, Pam, up until 2020 used to work in the ICU. Naturally, when sporting events and other large after school events happened the school nurse was expected to be there, but Pam had her own kids. Liv did not. Liv also owed Pam a favor. So, Liv sat perched on the bleachers like a hawk as the high school's band marched into various formations. Football players ran through plays in the adjoining field. A few feet away the cheerleaders made pyramids and tossed their flyers up towards the clear blue skies. She looked away before her anxiety could spike, eyes meeting another adult in the area. "So, how are they doing?" Liv asked in reference to the student leading the rest of the band through a particular song. "Was that you back in the day?"

[francine-walker]

Frankie was honestly a little nervous for the football game, unsure of how it was going to go down. It was the first time she was on this side of the band at a high school game. She had been on the field herself in school but that was the last of it. She was watching the band perform and watching the student who was doing a good job in leading the band along when someone asked her a question. "Oh, they're doing great." She said as she turned to see Liv. "Yeah, all the way back in high school though. It's been a while."

[viviann-art]

Viv smirked, "surprise is right! You could have called me or something I would have come and helped you get everything in order." She did have other things to do but she would have stopped as much as she could for Frankie. Viv's brows raised but she nodded, a subject she clearly didn't want to touch on. "Well, I'm happy you're here. I'm sure Colt's just as excited too. Now you two can actually talk in person and not take over my phone calls."

[francine-walker]

"It's ok, I think it was good for me to get it all settled on my own." Frankie said with a shrug of her shoulders. "But you can help me decorate, you were always better at that then me." She laughed. "Oh trust me, Colt and I already have plans to meet up and stuff. We do have our own phone calls you know, not just taking over yours." She said and laughed. "I'm excited to see him in person though."

[coltonwrights]

"I can't believe you're here. I know that Viv talked a big game that you'd be here eventually, but I didn't actually believe it until I saw it," he commented with a bit of a laugh as they pulled apart and took their seats. "Then again, I always thought she'd stay gone once she got out of here an' look at that. Good thing I ain't a betting man 'cause I'd be oh for two by now." He grinned then, glancing at the menu before setting it aside again. "Yeah I'm sorry I'm a bit late. Anyone will tell you to get used to it 'cause if it ain't one thing then it's another and today it was just my luck that I hadn't looked at my phone while I was at work earlier." He had meant to be there on time if not early for once, so that he wouldn't keep her waiting but also meet his sister's best friend that was almost like a part of the family by now.

[francine-walker]

"I kinda surprised her too. I hadn't really planned on being here this early. It was supposed to be at least another year, but that's a whole different story." Frankie said and shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah, but I'm sure she is happy to be back close to you though." She added and looked over to Colt. "It's okay. You've been late to facetime before and that's literally on the phone you have in your pocket so I'm not surprised. I'm here now so there is all the time in the world."

[francine-walker]

What does your character want (their goal or challenge)?

Honestly, Frankie doesn’t really know what she wants her life to culminate to. In the end, she wants her life to mean something, to make a difference in the world, to impact at least one person. At one point, her goal was to make music and make a name for herself in the musical world but that’s all changed now. 

What are their external needs/desires?

She needs to find a way to make more money. She loves her job that she has now, despite being anxious about her ability to actually do it. She also wants to one day possibly get back into music and put out an album that she’s been working on for years.

What or who stands in their way and could stop them?

Music takes money, on both of her needs. She needs a budget to buy new instruments for the kids to learn on. If the kids see that the adults believe in them enough to put the money into the program, they are more likely to put more effort into it. She also would need money to finish the album and record it and put it out there.

What will they do about it?

She will need to be vocal and pushy about the need for more money to be pushed towards the arts. She needs to find the courage to raise her voice and let it be heard. She also needs to find the strength to put her truth out about what happened to bring her to Salt Flats.

What happens if they fail? 

If she fails, then she will feel like she failed the students and that she didn’t help them become the best they could be. She’s not worried about failing her own music career anymore, as she already feels like that is overwith.

What sacrifices might they have to make?

She is going to have to sacrifice her pride and possibly any sense of privacy that she had.

What motivates them inwardly and why?

Inwardly, she is motivated by her love of music and her belief in the healing that it could bring to herself and her students, and genuinely the world. She has a strong belief in the power that music holds to unite people.

What is their internal struggle?

She struggles with the belief in herself though. Her self confidence is at an all time low and that has a lot to do with her past and the reason that she’s in Salt Flats. 

What are their flaws? How do their flaws play into their internal struggle?

It’s not that she has walls, as she has allowed a couple people to get close, but she certainly has her secrets that even those closest to her don’t know. She allows has a hard time believing in herself and her ability to do things.

What fundamental changes do you want to see in your character?

I want to see her open up, believe in herself. I would also like to see her learn how to be more outspoken and stand up for what she believes in.

 What heroic qualities must emerge for them to succeed?

Courage, bravery, determination.

[xjwat]

“Francine makes you sound like you’re from some 50s film,” Silas said and scratched his beard. Francine. Ugh, sounded like one of his grandmother’s friends. Assuming she was alive, which she wasn’t. “Or straight out of my grandma’s parlor. We should think of a new moniker. Or go classic — Miss Walker.” He snorted a laugh, almost choking on it.

He glanced to her. “Only thing that gets funded here by the taxes is sports. Football, baseball in particular. The games make a ton of money. People live and die by it. We haven’t gone to State in three years though so there’s a lot of pressure.” Silas shifted. He was in high school rodeo. “Only reason the Ag department is funded is the Knife,” he nodded. “Donated horses earlier in the year.” He shifted. Football wasn’t going anywhere. “I think you can. It’ll be hard. Sports pay, the arts don’t. Least not in the minds of people. But I think you could probably turn them around,” he said with a nod.

[francine-walker]

"Okay listen, I didn't choose my name okay? There's a reason I go by Frankie." She said with a laugh, shaking her head. "Miss Walker? Lord I sound so old." Frankie said as she looked over towards Silas. "I swear to god himself Silas Dixon if you call me Francine....I'll..I'll...I don't know what I'll do but it won't be good." She said as she shook her head a bit.

Frankie couldn't help but roll her eyes and look around the room. "I'm well aware at how much small town southern schools care about football, a lot of the times more then the actual teaching or anything else." She sighed, shaking her head. "Well at least one of us has the confidence in my abilities because I sure have none." She shifted slightly in the chair, playing with the hem of her shirt. She felt so lost at this moment, like she was somewhere that she didn't belong. "I just don't get why football is everything, why we show some of the kids that they somehow matter less then those who can run across a field fast or whatever. How's that right?"

[larakaplcn]

closed starter for @francine-walker location: the shed

With some extra time on her hands, Lara had found herself perusing the aisles of unique clothing and cool antiques lining the walls of The Shed. She had always enjoyed the concept of thrifting, knowing that it was a great way to find one-of-a-kind items and rare treasures.

Her newest find was an egg chair, straight out of the '60s, though she knew that there was an awfully good chance Maya would kill her for bringing anything new into their apartment. In need of a second opinion, the brunette turned toward a customer who had been hovering nearby. "Be totally honest. Do you think my roommate would approve? It's such a cool piece, but it would take up a lot of space," Lara stated with a laugh.

[francine-walker]

Frankie was still in need of a few things for her apartment and she kept finding herself going through the thrift store to find things so she could avoid driving elsewhere to the big box stores. She had found a few things and had turned to just browse for some fun things when she heard someone ask her a question. She raised an eyebrow and looked at the chair in question. "I mean, do you like it? Cause if you like it, you should go for it." She said with a smile and looked back to the chair. "If she wants you to get rid of it, I will gladly take it off your hands." She said and grinned. "Better to ask for forgiveness then permission right?"

[amelianlson]

Amelia walked into the high school and felt a sudden rush of nostalgia. It was crazy how nothing had changed and how everything came back to her but she was instantly reminded of who and what she was looking for. Smiling at the nearby individuals, she stopped when she saw someone who looked more like a teacher than an high school kid but it was hard with some of them being taller than her. "Hey! I'm not sure where to go but I'm picking up some art work that a class did for the local hospital. It's for the paediatric wing but I'm not sure where to go. Can you help?"

conversation at high school / @francine-walker

[francine-walker]

Frankie was finally getting into the swing of things with the music programs she had just taken over at the local schools and today was her day at the high school that she had set aside for the students to practice any piece of music they wanted while she was there if they needed help, figuring a break from the structured and planned songs was just what the students needed. She looked up when she heard someone ask her about art and she thought for a moment. "Sorry, I'm fairly new here but the art room is right next door, let me go take you over there."

[rainawells]

"Sorry, yeah everything's fine -- this place just used to be mine," Raina said with a faint smile. She took a step back, out of the way, and gave her old salon one last look. "It closed in November, so I just got lost in some memories is all," Raina explained, then took pause at the young woman across from her. Most people in town knew this place was hers up until a couple months ago. She fidgeted a little and nodded in the young woman's direction. "I don't think I've met you before. Are you from here, or did you move here recently?"

[francine-walker]

"Oh..." Frankie said as she looked at the other. "I'm sorry..." She said, unsure of what to say to comfort someone that she didn't know. She wasn't the best at comforting other people, but especially when it was someone that she didn't know. "Huh? Oh, I've only just moved here. I bet it's weird to have people that aren't from here though. I grew up in a small town in Georgia and it was always strange when I met people who weren't from there."

[viviann-art]

Viv smirked, "surprise is right! You could have called me or something I would have come and helped you get everything in order." She did have other things to do but she would have stopped as much as she could for Frankie. Viv's brows raised but she nodded, a subject she clearly didn't want to touch on. "Well, I'm happy you're here. I'm sure Colt's just as excited too. Now you two can actually talk in person and not take over my phone calls."

[francine-walker]

Frankie grinned to the other and shrugged. "There is still plenty to get into order so you still have best friend duties to take care of." She said and looked over at Viv, sighing a bit. She knew the other had picked up on something, grateful that she hadn't pushed the issue as she didn't really want to have that conversation in public. "Oh Colt and I had our own calls too, but we will definitely be getting together at some point."

[liv-li-deactivated20230327]

"I did -- not many options for high school if your parents can't afford to send you out of town one way or another," Liv said; she paused for a moment with a light laugh. "Well, there's juvie, but that's still out of town."

Growing up, Liv always knew Salt Flats was a pond. She dreamed of oceans and rivers and lakes, but things never lined up to take her far away. Now that she could get far away she didn't want to. The town wasn't ever really problem -- just some of the people. Just her parents. "Viv as in Vivian Wright? You're right to assume: she was one of my neighbors," she smiled. Viv and her family were not among the problem people. Small town, small world, Liv guessed. She peeled the wrapped back on her push-pop and took a moment to herself. "What places did you travel to? You have a favorite or a top five if you can't pick just one?"

[francine-walker]

Frankie shrugged her shoulders. "I get that. I'm from a very small town in Georgia and it was rare anyone went anywhere different for high school." She said and nodded. "In that case, I have so many questions!" She said with a grin. "I travelled all over the world. At one point it was my goal to see at least 5 different countries on each continent if they even had that many. My favorite though had to be Ireland. It's so gorgeous there! Plus the people there are some of the best people I had the chance to meet."