Harlowe Travers

harlowe "ari" travers. 35. pharmacist & bar tender. evergreen docks. somerton, maine. new england queen and estranged daughter she was born with the storm in her soul and the sea in her eyes

[alizasimmons]

who open to all ! @somertonstarter​ when jan 2021 what for snowstorm sally //

aliza had been born a winter baby, and loved every moment of it since. snow was her favorite weather - even when it was a new englander like this, trapping them in their homes or at the high school for days on end. she couldn’t remember a time she didn’t love every moment of the snowfall. 

she had gone to bursted park herself, knew the ins and outs of the high school even with the changes it had gone through in the past seventeen years. which was why she knew the roof hatch in the back of the shop classes was always busted - they would never fix it, never even think of fixing it - and she climbed up the ladder with ease, wrapping her coat tighter around herself as she emerged on the rooftop. 

it was peaceful, quiet. the night air was crisp - below freezing, her ears turning pink and the tip of her nose chilled to the touch - but she had her mittens on, and she loved the view. she wasn’t surprised to hear someone had joined her - this wasn’t exactly a secret spot, especially to those who had attended the high school themselves - but aliza never minded commpany. 

“isn’t it beautiful?” she murmured, ensuring the snow was packed enough so she could sit on it without it crumbling beneath her. “i just wanted to come see it for a few minutes. enjoy it before it’s all slush.” 

[harlowetravers]

“Sorry,” Ari giggled quietly, running the risk of ruining such a prolific moment of snow with her laughter, “I followed you up here, I have to confess, I had zero clue about where you were going up the ladder.” Ari looked around though, following the girl’s mentioned. It was beautiful. Harlowe had grown up in cities where snow melted quickly with each passing car, become grey slush in a matter of minutes, where horns and police sirens sounded at every corner. There was never any respite, not like there was here. 

“I never imagined snow would be so deafening, like i’s nothing but you, the snow and your thoughts,” She reached out a gloved hand, watching as the flakes came down, settled and then melted in her hand, “It’s just so...quiet.” She finally breathed out, taking in a breath of fresh air and marveling in the beauty of her surroundings, “So, how exactly does one find out a place like this. I’m guessing it’s just a little off the beaten path.”

[taleofcrows-deactivated20211202]

Finding himself sitting in the corner of high school gym wasn’t exactly something Liam had expected for this evening. Just as he hadn’t expected the call from his father earlier this day. If he had known who it was, he hadn’t even picked up but when he recognized it, he somehow couldn’t immediately hang up as well. He had almost been paralyzed, just as he had been as a kid when his father had once again been drunk. And of course he had been today as well. When Liam had eventually managed to get off the phone, he had felt awful. Angry. Sad. Overwhelmed. It was somehow ironic that as he sat there, feeling like this, he was craving a drink. To somehow forget what had just happened. The weather outside was awful anyway. A little too awful apparently. While he was still thinking about walking to the nearest supermarket despite the heavy snowfall, the news of the state of emergence reached him. And now here he was. Completely sober, with just his guitar leaning against the wall beside him. There wasn’t really much more he needed anyway. Except for a drink. Lost in his own thoughts, he hadn’t even noticed that someone else had walked up to him until they were standing right next to him. “Hmm..?”, he only grumbled before turning his head. @somertonstarter​

[harlowetravers]

Ari stood above him, smiling softly down at the grumbling man in front of her, “Hey there,” She said quietly, sliding down the wall next to his guitar, knees pulled up to her chest, chin resting on them, looking more like a middle-schooler than a full-fledged adult. When was the last time she had sat like this? Her 35-year old knees were not thanking her. 

“Glad to see you made it in okay, and with a guitar, I see. Are you planning on serenading us all later? I think we could try and get a little talent show or something together.” She made note of his silence and sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the quiet, save for the wind against the side of the building.

She finally inhaled and stretched out her legs, “So, what’s up? Where were you when you got the notice?”

[bourbcnpoorchoices-deactivated2]

Event Two: Snowstorm Sally

Location: Somerton High School

Open to: All

“Ok but just stay inside, and meet back here around noon so we can eat something for lunch, got it?” Mel said to her teenage son, who grumbled a little but nodded. “Yes mom,” He managed to get out before a few of his friends dragged him down the hall to where they’d set up an Xbox system. Turning to her daughter, she flashed a smile. “And you, darlin’, can stay here with me if you want, or I heard they’re playing some of the Harry Potter films in Theatre Club’s room.” Mel could see the dilemma in Jessica’s eyes before she chuckled, pulling her into a hug. “Go on, I’ll see you in a bit for lunch. Alright?” The 10 year old beamed, nodding quickly before giving her mom another hug. “Thanks!”

The dark haired woman shook her head with another laugh as Jessica ran off, Mel moving to where the hot beverages were being served. Getting in line, she waited patiently, gaze moving around before landing on the person behind her. “So, how are you enjoying this fun stay in the high school?” She joked with a playful smirk. “I thought I’d only have to be here for my son and eventually daughter’s events, who knew it’d be because of a snowstorm?”

[harlowetravers]

“Ehh, could be worse, beats having to go into work today, I suppose. Just kind of worried about anyone who didn’t get the memo and is still stuck out there.” She rubbed her hands together, mimicking a feeble attempt to stay warm. the gym a mix of hot and cold, bodies and breath filing it up with warm air, but the draft unable to stay completely out of the large room 

“What about you though? I’d assume there’s enough activities to keep your kids entertained for weeks without blinking an eye. Plus, they don’t have to deal with the back pains that come with an adult sleeping on a lumpy cot.” Ari chuckled as they neared the front of the line. She was thankful for the community effort in keeping everyone well-stocked and supplied, it couldn’t have been an easy feat with all the snow and wind outside. 

[bobbiesparkles]

who: robin + open  @somertonstarter​

where: busted park high school 

when: during the snow storm

Make the best of a shit situation, that’s what her dad always said. Make the best of a shit situation. And snow-mageddon? That is some peak shit. So, Robin is determined to make the best of it. She figures she doesn’t have much to bring to the table. She can’t cook, her cleaning skills are sub-par at best, and the sight of blood (even superficially) makes her woozy. But she can perform and what to lift some spirits than an impromptu concert, right? Laughter may be the best medicine, but she’s pretty sure it comes in second. Even without the rest of Pickleback to join her. People loved a good sing along. 

It was easy to con her little step bro into into pup-sitting Timon and Pumba (he’s still young enough to think getting paid in chocolate dollars is a good deal), and she’d been prudent enough to grab her acoustic guitar on the way out the door, but the stupid string had snapped while she was tuning and she’s not really feeling acapella today. Just her luck! So she’d snuck out of the gymnasium, into the all too familiar halls of the school she used to call her own, taking the quickest path to her old music room. It’s a weird sort of nostalgia that one can only feel when they’ve had enough distance from something to see it for what it really was. High school had sucked, but now she has the clarity too see it for what is – a building. 

She’s rooting through a closet when she hears foot steps approach and immediately she’s hurled back into her youth, back when the worst consequence for sneaking into an empty classroom was a visit to the principal’s office. Crap! “I’m not stealing, I swear,” she calls out, popping out of the closet to meet the other’s gaze with wide guilt ridden eyes. 

[harlowetravers]

“Hey, not about to rat you out,” Ari chuckled, her hands raised defensively, “Besides, aren’t you just a little too old to be caught raiding the closet of a...music room?” She traced her finger over a podium clearly intended for sheet music. 

“I’ll be honest, I was just snooping around, all the schools I went to were tiny, so this feels absolutely massive compared to the shitholes I was at. What are you up to anyways?” God, Ari chastised herself, You really are chatty today. She smiled, more to herself than anything. She had grown tired of the boring gym conversations earlier and there wasn’t really anything she could do. She was a doctor, but not the kind they needed, unless people needed flu shots or Tylenol.

“More importantly, do you need help? I would hate to see anyone hurt.”

[charlottexhendricks]

Things seemed to be going as hectic as they can be; countless of people roaming the halls, noise everywhere, all sorts of folks hanging aimlessly in her classroom, her grandmother chatting her ear off and above all, a raging storm going on outside was enough to drive Charlotte out of her goddamn mind. She was definitely not an alcoholic, but she truly needed a drink. Wandering around the gym, she couldn’t help but to notice another woman enjoying a drink. Did someone… Bring alcohol? Where is this person and how to find it? 

“Hey, sorry-” Charlotte greeted, approaching the other woman, “You seem like someone who knows how to get a drink around here, can you help a girl out? I feel like I’m going insane.” She chuckled.

@harlowetravers​

[harlowetravers]

‘Shhhh,” Ari whispered before procuring a yellow and black duffle bag filled with several clinking bottles, “I might have not-so-accidently cleared out On the Rocks before we were summoned here, take your pick. I’m sure we can rouse up a couple of mixers if that’s more your speed.” She had spent most of the night, nursing a drink, trying to wonder when she had left her house this morning. Did she remember to feed the cat, did she turn off all the lights, was her home prepared to whether such a storm?

She looked around the busy room, watching the different stations set up for people. There was certainly quite a few people here, most she recognized and a few faces she did not, “I don’t think I’ve seen you around much, care to tell your name?” 

[laylaferguson]

AURORA VISTA ⇢ BURSTED PARK HIGH SCHOOL            ft. harlowe travers @harlowetravers​

“And here was me thinking my high school days were far behind me.” Layla rolled her eyes as she spoke, sitting herself down on one of the many camping beds that had been laid out in the gym for them all. She got it - she lived in the Dock, they were likely going to be the worst hit by the snowstorm and the town was just doing what it had to in order to keep it’s residents safe. But that didn’t mean she actually had to like being there, right? She was still able to complain.

The blonde leaned back, carefully placing her hands as not to completely collapse what she assumed was a cheap and unstable bed. “I can’t believe we’ve been evacuated. Surely I could take care of myself? I mean granted, all I have in my apartment are gummy worms and gin, but…” Her gaze dropped down to the bag beside her. “But really all I packed here were gummy worms and gin.” She laughed.

[harlowetravers]

Harlow chuckled, leaning back on her own cot during the day, “You clearly have never stayed in a Catholic boarding school with a bunch of hormonal teenage girls then, have you?” She was doing her best to remain calm, but the fear of evacuation had pushed her over the edge. She wasn’t even at home when the evacuation orders were called and the most she had with her was a change of clothes from the pharmacy and her work clothes and several handles she had swiped from the bar with the good intent to pay later. 

She unscrewed the cap off a beaten metal flask, “We learn to make due with the things we’ve got, if all you have are gummy worms and gin, cheers,” She took a large drink of some clear, and artificially fruity vodka, trying to calm her frazzled nerves before hanging it to Layla, “It’s not gin, but it’ll do in a pinch.”

[harlowetravers]

a coffee, a presentation, and a conversation. | closed.

who: @drsimonecooper​ where: kane-russell memorial cafeteria when: 2pm, january 19

She stood quietly in line, watching the nurses, doctors, and visitors filter in and out of the quiet, brightly lit cafeteria. She clutched a cup of coffee in her hands that she knew would be stale, but she needed a pick-me-up anyway. 

She could have passed for a doctor here, if she really tried, in her nice white coat, black skirt, and blue button up if not for the bright red badge that denoted her as a visitor at the hospital. She had just finished giving a presentation to the labs department on a new drug that had just been approved by the FDA that could potentially mess up drug results in lab. She wasn’t used to giving presentations, but it was a welcome reprieve from the pharmacy during some of it’s busier hours.

“I’d like to pay for the person behind me,” She spoke to cashier next to her and turned around, waiting for the next person to come along. Dr. Simone Cooper, whom she had gotten to know fairly well during infrequent meetings between the hospital and pharmacy. 

“Hey, hope you don’t mind, my treat today...a random, not-so-anonymous act of kindness,” She chuckled, waiting for her to finish up with the cashier before Harlowe used her card to pay. 

“Didn’t even see you back there when I got in line, how are you doing? Are you also getting a bit of caffeine before your next appointment?” 

[harlowetravers]

wesleycarver​:

—

The promise of an early start to the weekend was dashed for Wesley before it even had a chance of occurring. The afternoon dragged on, blurring into the evening while his team pulled together all the information they needed for a court case right around the corner. Thankfully his mom had offered to pick his daughters up from school, saving Wes from dividing his time between finishing his work and texting every possible babysitter in his contact list in hopes that someone was free or it was going to become bring your kids to work evening.

By the time his team had reached a point where they could step back and head home from the weekend, the girls were at grandma and grandpa’s house for a sleepover. Without his mother explaining why she’d done it, Wesley knew it was to give him a bit of a break after a long week full of late nights. Not having to rush home that night gave him a chance to get food, get a drink to blow off some steam, and then decide if he wanted to stay out or spend the rest of his evening in front of the TV.

Given the time, plenty of restaurants in town were already closed or so close to shutting down for the night they weren’t taking any more orders. So he made his way towards On The Rocks to kill two birds with one stone and get both a drink and something to eat. 

As approached the door he caught the end of Harlowe’s efforts to put out the cigarette. It was clear she was trying to hide it, which was enough for Wesley to avoid bring it up. He let out a heavy sigh, a cloud of breath hanging in the cold air before wisping away. “Tired, hungry, ready for a break. So normal.” He joked, adding a smile so his complaints weren’t just whining. “But you’re right, it’s Friday so that means I’m good. How are you? Things so bad in there you needed to escape outside?”   

.

The sweater dress Ari was wearing provided nothing from the chill January weather and she was cursing herself for not bringing her coat, mentally and physically, muttering expletives under her breath before Wesley approached her. 

She was thankful when he chose not to bring up her little bad habit and instead offered him a friendly smile, “I can agree with hungry and ready for a break, but yes, Fridays are good.” She sighed, hiding her hands behind her back as the fidgeted slightly, whether from the sudden lack of nicotine that stood prettily between her fingers or from the nerves of nearly being caught. 

“Bartender bad, day worse,” She finally concluded, “Just needed some...ehmm...fresh air, thought I would venture out, see what the night air brought me. What about you though, still in your work clothes, I see? Working super late on a Friday seems a little...I don’t know overworked. Nobody should be working this late on a Friday.” 

[harlowetravers]

nellmiller​:

               Eleanor felt nearly blissful as her hand wrapped around the pack and she took one out for herself. She hadn’t had one of those in maybe a year? She remembered the last time being due to a particularly loved patient, he passed away unexpectedly after two years of intense treatment. One set back was all it took before he was gone. Eleanor had smoked half a pack and drank some before going back home to a worried and angry daughter. She had promised Emma she wouldn’t do it anymore, but she felt anxious just to have her away with her father for the weekend.

               “Well, I’ll take your pharmacist and raise you a nurse,” Eleanor pointed to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. So what they both dealt with other people’s health? As long as they were not jeopardizing that or their careers, they should be fine. “Everyone has their way of coping right? I’m the first one to say that as long as you’re not killing someone or committing any crime against the humanity, you’re ok, besides,” she took a long drag out of the cigarette before blowing the smoke up, “the feeling… it never goes away, does it?”

.

“No major crimes or murders...here.” She struggled to laugh but the gesture fell flat. Her frozen fingers tossed the lighter to Eleanor, a ring of smoke encircling Ari’s head as she took a drag from her’s and smiled, the release of pent up anger, frustration and pure adrenaline melt away from her, a release from her worries a moment before.

“We’re in the same ballpark, aren’t we. Just trying to get through the day, do you know how many patients couldn’t pay for their insulin today? Four. Four people that I just wanted to hug tightly and pay their bills and tell them that they won’t die because our government is so fucked up.” She shook her head.

“But no, I don’t think it ever goes away. And anyone who says it does is a fucking liar.”

[harlowetravers]

laylaferguson​:

HARLOWE TRAVERS   ⤵​

Layla’s eyebrows raised as she heard the other, the corners of her mouth pulling into a smirk. “Oh really? I wouldn’t spend too much time trying to explore the depths of my mind, there’s plenty in there you won’t want to see.” She teased, adjusting herself in her seat for a moment.

“Oh well if you insist I will so drink every champagne concoction you put before me.” Layla laughed, her hands gesturing dramatically towards the bar in front of her. It sounded like a good deal in her mind, she got some company and some champagne, and the other got to test out her wares. “What’s up first? Give me something spectacular and I’ll spread the word to make others drink it too.”

“Ehh,” Ari teased back, “I already know too much about you to care about the depths of your mind Besides, you’ve probably already told me about it over one of our late night pizza binges,” She chuckled before sliding a pink drink across the bar.

“Okay, champagne, pink whitney, raspberries, and edible luster dust, sparkly, like you. I feel like it’s missing something though.” She took a sip from her own glass, pondering it for a few minutes before writing a tiny note about the flavor in her notebook. 

“So tell me, what’s new with you? What have you been up to post-holiday, post-resolution?”

[harlowetravers]

stellagarcia​:

“I think it’d be a shame if we forgot whatever we needed to completely,” Stella sighed, wrapping her jacket tighter around herself. High heeled boots and a short leather skirt were not conductive to warmth in January in Maine, but the cigarette was at least helping a little. “There’s obviously some fucked up shit we always want to forget, but if we did - who would we be?” 

“Take me for instance,” Stella confided - she didn’t often let people know what she left behind in Boston, but Ari was a bartender and a pharmacist - there was no way she hadn’t heard all of it by now. And while they might not have had the bar between them right now, she figured her story would still be kept between just the two of them. “I have more money in the bank than half this town combined, and I tried to walk away from it all. But if I forgot about it entirely, I couldn’t use it to help others - to give it away to charities, or spend my time volunteering around town. It’s definitely not as dark and twisted as a lot of people are, but it’s what I’d want to leave behind the most. Except it would change everything, you know? I don’t know who I’d be if I completely forgot who I was before Somerton.”

“Welcome to the pretty little rich girl club,” Ari stuck out her hand, laughing dryly as she kicked her boot off the side of the wall, “Like you, I left a lot of shit back in Boston, back in Rhode Island, back to a life that as far as I’m concerned, no longer exists.” 

She drug her toe across the ground, looking aimlessly, trying to push down thoughts and feelings that she just knew would make her cry. And crying in public was certainly not on her list of things to do tonight, “You’re right, you’re right, I’m not sure who I would be if not for my past, but then again, I probably wouldn’t be standing here, hiding the fact that I’m smoking without it. But who am I to say? What if we hadn’t moved here, what if we didn’t forgo our lives back home? I’d be married by now...with kids.” She bit her lip before laughing, marriage, kids, and a golden retriever didn’t sound much like Ari’s vibe. But, she knew if she had stuck around for a few years, had stayed with her parents, her life would have been drastically different.

[harlowetravers]

felicityreddy​:

HARLOWE TRAVERS   ⤵

Felicity’s eyebrows raised a little as the other seemed more caught off guard to see her than anything else, but the brunette just assumed she must have looked more like a stranger from further away and Ari hadn’t realised exactly who it was when she’d started speaking to her. “You sure you’re doing okay?” She asked, a hand coming up to touch the others arm as a soft gesture of concern.

The brunette gave a small laugh and shook her head - as much as a drink inside might be tempting, there was far more temptation in a big fuzzy blanket and a movie. What movie she didn’t know, it was Harvey’s turn to pick and she didn’t mind, she’d probably fall asleep before it was over anyway. “No no, Harvey’s at home. On a late night hunt for the ice cream we both like, the good kind. We could have come out, but I’m tired after a busy week at work, it makes sense for us to have a night in. Is it busy?”

“Yeah, totally fine,” She murmered, “Just ya know, dealing with the weight of the unfair world,” She chuckled dryly, “But I promise I’m okay, just a shitty, shitty day.” 

There was a lull in the silence and for a fraction of a second, she longed to run into her parents arms. They would donate money to charity or pay off a patient’s hospital bills and everything would be perfect and white-picket fence and nothing else would matter. She swallowed hard, pushing the thought back down, “The good kind of ice cream? You’ll have to forgive me, I buy generic brand crap at the dollar store. And no, not terribly so, I’m not sure who the new bartender is, but they absolutely suck.” She chuckled. 

[harlowetravers]

What is your biggest insecurity?

“Whooo, what a loaded question. Physically? I’m going to say physically, I hate how angular my chin is, my side profile, forget it, I wonder if people notice that when I’m driving and they see me from my car.”

[harlowetravers]

What's the strangest dream you've ever had?

“i once had a dream that everyone i knew, including meme, were talking vegetables at a farm. i think i was a tomato or a head of lettuce. i really can’t remember now, but i know we were definitely talking farm vegetation.”

[harlowetravers]

Who is your celebrity crush?

“depends on my mood! some days i am dying for oscar isaac and some days i’m madly, madly in love with margot robbie, but then again, who isn’t in love with margot robbie?”

[harlowetravers]

what makes you angry? do you feel like you are different when you are angry, or just amplified?

“who’s to say i’m not always angry? no no, i’m definitely not the same person i am when i’m angry, but that’s for something you need to find out.” 

[harlowetravers]

if you could talk to your younger self, what would you say?

“don’t be afraid to make mistakes, fuck up more, do what you want to. you have spent so much time doing what others want and it’ll be too late by the time you realize that later.”