Harper Norwood

35. Manager of Norwood's restaurant. Bisexual.

[harperxnorwood]

ellaxchung​:

Who: open || @catalinastarter​ Where: random street, lafayette square When: late afternoon

Ella couldn’t believe it was actually happening. For the first time in – what? 20 years? – she was roller skating. Like a kid. Or a teenager from those cliché 80s movies. Even the thought of it was making Ella laugh, and she was actually doing it, so the smile wasn’t planning to leave her face. Ella beamed with pleasure even when she noticed that she was starting to feel slightly tired. 

A lot of various incidents during the last year made her realize that she absolutely needed to start doing something – anything – physical if she wanted to be able to walk at least two sets of stairs without hyperventilating. She wasn’t a fan of jogging and she was just starting to get used to the gym, therefore one of her friends suggested roller skating. So there she was, remembering her childhood years and actually having a great time. 

But it only took one moment for the atmosphere to change: she took her eyes off the road and placed them on her phone as she was unsuccessfully trying to find a new song to listen to. When she looked back up, it was already too late – she wasn’t able to stop, so she rammed herself into some poor stranger’s back, knocked them over and fell down on the sidewalk. 

“Oh no, no no no,” worried, Ella looked at them and crawled (since the roller scates didn’t help her to get up) a little bit closer. “Oh my God, I’m so so sorry. Are you alright? Are you hurt?! Jesus fuck… I swear, it was an accident.”

❤

Harper was coming out of a shop in Lafayette Square, a bag in her arms as she walked towards her car parked a few spots down from the business. But as she walked, she heard the sound of wheels fast approaching her. Before she could react, she felt someone slam into her, knocking her over.

Once she’d recovered enough to stand up, Harper shot the brunette a glare of annoyance. “Yeah, I’m fine” she said finally, moving to pick up the bag she’d dropped after getting run over. “You’re just lucky its me and not one of the little old ladies who like to shop around here.” Going that fast she could have seriously hurt someone. “I’ll just have a massive bruise on my ass. Which is better than a broken hip.” She was probably being a bit harsh, but she thought it was understandable she was pissed off. She knew she was short but she wasn’t so small she was invisible.

[harperxnorwood]

georginalivingston​:

☼

One of the innumerable ways Georgina connects to her patients is by adjusting to their atmosphere ─ even if this is her establishment. Alas, she’s the kind of woman who relishes making others feel comfortable while going out of her way to show them a hearty experience. This is something she takes into her line of work more than anything. It’s why the veterinarian is crouched to Miss Kitty Fantastico’s eye level in observation with digits still running through the inky, silk-like fur. “Thank you; I try to make these experiences free of pain because I know animals, especially cats, despise being out of their comfort bubble. Did she cry on her way over?” Silvery falsetto comes out in a question, before parting herself from the cat to look at the shelter’s records. Hazel optics study the detail, as Geo immediately grows aware of the yearly vaccines that Missy will need to protect her from harmful diseases.  “Yes, they sent me everything over,” she states with a polite beam, “May I ask on whether Missy will be an indoor or outdoor cat? It  will give me an idea of what vaccines I should administer to her for today’s visit once I go through a thorough exam.”

❤

Harper chuckled and nodded her head. “Wow, you really do know animals, don’t you?” she said, glad Georgina seemed to know what she was talking about. More than that, the other woman had put her at ease in a situation that was unfamiliar to Harper, which went a long way in Harper’s book. “She alternated between crying and hissing. I’m sure she was cursing at me in cat speak.” Which Harper really couldn’t fault the cat for, since she wouldn’t have liked being dragged out of her home and shoved into a small space either. Relaxing more as the veterinarian confirmed she had the cat’s medical record, she said “Oh indoors! I think my sister would probably never forgive me if I let her wander outside.” Which Harper could agree with, after her sister had finished explaining all the reasons outdoor cats had much shorter lifespans than indoor ones. “We give her the run of the house, and so far she seems to have no desire to go outside anyway.”

[harperxnorwood]

marcoriccix​:

At Harper’s words, a wide smile spread across Marco’s features and he nodded his head. “Can’t fault you there,” he responded very simply, “There’s a reason I’m here, too, after all.” Sure he could go somewhere more expensive for his cocktail fix, but what would be the point in it? Everywhere in town pretty much made them the same, it wasn’t as though you could mess up a standard recipe. “You won’t hear me arguing.” A shrug accompanied his words and his smile softened. He’d always appreciated a place for their own merits, there wasn’t any point comparing places when they were completely different. 

❤

“Well that’s good, because I have enough you can fault me for without my love of cocktails being one of them” she joked. The brunette was never one to take herself too seriously. “And its nice to know you enjoy low-priced cocktails as much as I do.” Harper knew that Ricci’s was considered more upscale than Norwood’s, and while that didn’t bother her, she got a small sense of satisfaction in knowing that Marco was just as willing to overlook the tackiness of Luau Larry’s as she was. As the bartender approached, Harper ordered another drink. Then she turned back to Marco. “Will you let me buy you your next drink?” she asked. She was enjoying Marco’s company and figured her offer was a good way to keep their conversation going.

[harperxnorwood]

emmahirsch​:

STATER FOR: Anyone … Open / @catalinastarter​  LOCATION: Carmichael Roses Co. DATE AND TIME: February 1st, 2021. 2:00PM.

A touch of lipstick will do you good, or so Emma’s been told. Today, she searches far and wide inside her home, looking for at least one tube of lipstick. She didn’t wear makeup, too much of a hassle, too much stimulation. But today feels different. After seeing a client about their new home, she thinks to apply just a little at the center of her mouth. By some miracle, she finds a lipstick in an old handbag of hers. It’s a subtle shade of pink, a close match to her lips already. She looks quietly at her reflection for much too long after it’s applied, a sinking feeling emerging within the pit of her belly. Alas, she persists, heading out for the day.

Granted, it was only the early afternoon, but Emma feels as though she was muddled with doubt. Or perhaps she was being stared at, her appearance now jarring. She nervously picks at the sleeves of her sweater, padding around the open gardens. “Which…would you prefer?” Emma says on impulse to a stranger, staring at an open display of flowers. “To, um, decorate your home hypothetically. Hydrangeas or roses?”

❤

Harper didn’t consider herself much of a nature lover. Her job occasionally took her to Carmichael Roses whenever she had to cater a wedding, but that wasn’t the case today. But today she’d been feeling like she needed some fresh air, and had figured the gardens were the best place to get that.

Glancing up as she heard someone speak, Harper considered the question. Then she said “Normally I would say roses. They’re a classic for a reason, right?” Harper didn’t necessarily believe something was better simply because it was considered a classic. But when it came to things she knew very little about, she was more than willing to defer to the common opinion. “But right now I’m going to say hydrangeas. You’ll pay an arm and a leg for roses right now.” Harper knew that much from when Norwood’s put flowers out on the tables each Valentine’s Day.

[harperxnorwood]

georginalivingston​:

☼

The influx of appointments in this fourth week of January had taken Georgina by surprise, especially when Livingston Veterinary Clinic’s waiting area had patients waiting for her long before she arrived that long. The sight alone upon arrival caused her to know today would be a tedious day ─ one with minuscule five-minute breaks between appointments where she’ll nurse on another cup of coffee to keep her focus up until the doors close at five o’clock. These days happen, but they are rare post the holiday season though. However, in this circumstance, it seems as the majority of the familiar face Georgina has known over the years had decided to adopt an animal of their own. Not like she could complain, nor would she ever since every time she steps into a new room, her mood brightens because her love for animals overpowers everything.

The few-minute break between appointments gave her a chance to read up on a new patient’s chart ─ Missy. The chart isn’t detailed because this is the first visit, which is expected, already informing the visit will be slightly longer to make sure Georgina takes care of everything on her new client checklist which ensures a connection for them to keep returning. So after a moment, and a necessary sip, the clinic owner politely knocks on the door before proceeding in. Instantly, the brunette greets the other with a warm smile and a gentle wave of her apologies. “You’re perfect. I always tell clients to do what they think is necessary to them and their animal since I’m willing to work around everything.” Her silvery falsetto admits before setting patient file on the cabinet. Right after, the ponytailed brunette turned on her heel to observe the feline in her presence, running a digit through the silky fur, “I see we have a new friend today. As well as our first visit today, so check up and possible vaccinations?”

❤

Harper chuckled at the other woman’s words. “Oh trust me; I’m far from perfect” she joked. But she understood what the veterinarian met and appreciated that the woman hadn’t gotten annoyed at Harper taking Miss Kitty Fantastico out of her carrier. “And that’s a good policy, I think.” Harper imagined that every pet was different and that the other woman knew that was the case. She smiled at the way Georgina ran her finger through Missy’s black fur, already appreciating that the woman seemed to know how to put both the cat and Harper at ease. Nodding her head, she said “My sister and I adopted her from the shelter.” She hoped that the shelter had included Missy’s shot record in her file, as well as the fact that the cat had already been spayed. “But this will be her first checkup since then, so she probably needs updated vaccinations.” The truth was Harper didn’t know a lot about the more practical aspects of taking care of a cat. Her sister probably would have been a better choice for this sort of thing, but was unable to come to the clinic today.

[harperxnorwood]

marcoriccix​:

“So cocktails is the right mindset, huh?” questioned Marco as he gained the bartenders attention to order them both another round before the current one ran out. As he settled into his seat, he turned his full attention to Harper once more, an elbow resting casually on top of the bar. “I’m doing great, enjoying a rare night off for once…” Okay, they weren’t really that rare, it was more of a case he refused to let himself have them —- by all means his Restaurant Manager and Sous Chef were always trying to get him to leave the place for an hour or so. “Not the type of place I’d expect to bump into you.” For many reasons really.

❤

“I never say no to a good cocktail if I can help it” Harper admitted with a light chuckle. “Especially a well-priced one” she added. “I’m glad you’re enjoying a night off.” Harper suspected Marco worked even more than she did. Harper was of the mindset that if she worked hard, she deserved to party hard on her days off (although not quite as hard as she had when she was younger). “Hey, I’m not one to knock a tacky restaurant concept if its done well” she joked. She went to take another sip of her cocktail and realized it was empty. Not ready to give up and go home yet, she looked around for the bartender, planning to order a third drink. “I mean, this place isn’t going to win any Michelin stars, but you can’t beat the prices.”

[harperxnorwood]

marcoriccix​:

*

On nights off, Marco had taken to staying home with a takeout for the most part, but today he’d felt different about things, figured for once he should actually try and get out a little. Luau Larry’s wasn’t his usual haunt, though as he’d been passing by he’d found himself tempted to head on inside —- cheap drinks were always a good thing and he really was in the mood for a drink or two. What he hadn’t expected after starting drink two, however, was to realise that Harper was also there. Their relationship had definitely been a little up and down over the years, her family having opened a restaurant that rivalled his own family’s back in 2001. It had soon become apparent there was plenty of room in town for them both, though, something he’d been informed about multiple times while he was in San Diego. When he’d come home there’d been a bit of playful rivalry between them, but he’d not thought about it much since opening his own place, they really were very different.

Still, there would always be an edge of  awkwardness, but that didn’t stop him from heading over when she gestured for him to join her. Grabbing his drink, he was quick in getting to his fee and heading over to her. “Hey…” he started, sliding into the seat next to hers. “How’s it going? Of all the bars, huh?” He chuckled lightly.

❤

“Hi!” she said brightly, before chuckling at his words. Harper was the sort of person who tended to get more friendly the more she drank, and she was already two drinks in, which meant she was feeling pretty friendly. “I’m just getting into the right mindset to enjoy my days off” she said, before taking another sip of her cocktail. “How are you?” She hadn’t expected Luau Larry’s to be the sort of place Marco would drink at. Mostly because she had never seen him there before, but also in some part because the bar was the very opposite of everything Ricci’s stood for. While Ricci’s emphasized fine dining, Luau Larry’s embraced its tackiness and took it to a whole different level.

[harperxnorwood]

what's your top five favorite foods?

“How can I possibly be expected to pick just five foods? I think that’s pretty much impossible, so I’ll settle for telling you my favorite food from five different places on the island. In no particular order they are: sesame chicken from Red Dragon, cookie dough ice cream from Scoops, margherita pizza from Antonio’s Pizzeria, fish and chips from Marlin, and of course chicken parmesan from Norwood’s.”

[harperxnorwood]

[harperxnorwood]

cleverasafoxcndtwiceaspretty​:

.

Finding a new bar was at the top of Aiden’s priority list after running into Madelyn. Even if it was a bookstore, it was a bookstore near her old haunt. Norwood’s had been a name on the list and a particularly rough day at work had her pulling the proverbial trigger. 

“I’ll take a Negroni,” she requested once she pulled herself up on to a bar stool. Beer didn’t feel strong enough. 

❤

“One Negroni coming up” said Harper, glad the other person had chosen a fairly simple drink to make. As the restaurant’s owner, Harper was decent with making cocktails, but she wasn’t nearly as good as her actual bartenders were. But Negronis were one of Harper’s favorite drinks, and she probably could have made it with her eyes closed.

After making the cocktail, Harper slid it across the table towards the woman. “Is this your first time at Norwood’s?” she asked the customer. “Or have I just missed you on my days off?” Harper was pretty good with faces, especially when it came to the locals. Which she assumed this person was, since tourists were few and far between this time of year.

[harperxnorwood]

Who: @georginalivingston Where: Livingston Veterinary Clinic  When: Thursday January 21, around 2 pm

Since adopting Miss Kitty Fantastico several months ago, Harper hadn’t taken her to the vet. There had been no need, since the cat had been given a full check-up before Harper had been allowed to take her home from the animal rescue. But now Harper figured it was time to make sure her kitten was still as healthy as she’d been when the brunette and her sister had adopted her. Which is why, on her day off, she’d put Missy in a cat carrier and taken her to the clinic for her appointment.

Upon arriving in the clinic, Harper had given both her name and Missy’s name to the receptionist. After filling out some paperwork and waiting in the reception area for about ten minutes, she’d been shown into one of the examination rooms, where she took Miss Kitty Fantastico out of the carrier and put her on the table. Just as she was doing so, the door to the exam room open and the veterinarian walked in. Giving her a smile, Harper said “I hope its okay I took her out. I wasn’t sure how long we’d be waiting and she doesn’t really like being in there.” Harper couldn’t blame her. The cat normally had the run of the house Harper shared with her sister.

[harperxnorwood]

Who: @marcoriccix​ Where: Luau Larry’s When: Wednesday January 20, around 5 pm

Working in a restaurant meant Harper didn’t have the same nights off most people did. Usually her days off occurred during the week, when Norwood’s was more likely to be slow than it was on the weekends. This particular week she had off on Wednesday and Thursday. So early into the evening on her first day off, she decided to head to Luau Larry’s for happy hour. There was something delightfully tacky about the place, and the prices for their drinks couldn’t be beat.

Sitting at the bar drinking a cocktail with an umbrella in it, Harper had spent the past few minutes chatting with the woman closest to her. But as the woman closed out her tab and left the restaurant, Harper’s attention turned elsewhere. As she glanced around the room, she spotted a familiar face. Waving to Marco, she gestured for him to join her at the bar. The two might technically be in competition with each other, but Harper was of the belief that Catalina was big enough for both of their restaurants. Which to her meant that there was no reason they couldn’t be friendly.

[harperxnorwood]

Who: @cleverasafoxcndtwiceaspretty​ Where: Norwood’s  When: Friday January 22, around 8 pm

Norwood’s was unusually  slow for a Friday night. Most likely because the holidays were over. This time of year tended to make people stay home more, thanks to their desire to get back on a budget after the holidays. Not to mention the new trend of Dry January.

Seeing that it was slow at the moment, Harper walked over to the bar and told the bartender working that it was time for him to take his break. Just as he left the bar, she saw a young woman enter the restaurant and approach the bar. Stepping behind the bar, Harper gave a charming smile. “Welcome to Norwood’s” she said in her best please tip well voice. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

[harperxnorwood]

teddycarlson​:

-

Not one to view life as some sort of merry chase, Teddy had always liked to keep things in order. The incident at the ferry is another one of those things no one could’ve been able to predict, and that his New Year’s — and everyone else’s New Years — has been soured by human error is frustrating to him in more ways than one. But distraction comes in the form of conversation, and he relishes in it, hopes that it is enough to keep him from murdering the Mayor’s son himself. 

“To be frank…” He begins, and with a playful shrug, adds, “I thought I’d be jamming my tongue in someone else’s throat right about now.” The alcohol had long left his system, but the vestiges of it are enough to retain the liquor-induced courage. “Or just passed out in my couch after staying up to watch the fireworks.” He adds, his chuckle light. “Did you have any exciting plans for the New Year?” 

❤

Harper laughed at his words and nodded her head. “I can see the appeal in that” she said, agreeing with his first statement. “I was looking forward to some of that tonight myself.” She’d kissed a few people that night (including one rather attractive blonde at midnight) but had ended up going home alone. If only she’d gone to someone else’s place in LA tonight. Then she wouldn’t be stuck on the ferry right now.

“Although to be honest, at this point I just want to go home and get in my own bed.” She could feel exhaustion setting in now. If she hadn’t decided to take the last ferry back, then she would probably already be in bed, passed out and oblivious to what was happening right now. “Me? My exciting plans already happened. I went to a club in LA, I danced until my feet hurt, and I got my midnight kiss.” For her, that was a complete checklist. “Did you do anything fun tonight?” It would be a pity if his whole evening had been a wash.

[harperxnorwood]

Who: @evie-morris​ Where: The Ferry When: Friday January 1, around 1:30 am

Harper sighed in annoyance. All she wanted was to go home and fall into bed. She could feel all the alcohol she’d had that night starting to wear off and was sure she’d have a hangover in the morning. Now to top it off, the ferry back to the island had been bobbing up and down in the water for the past quarter of an hour. Glancing around, she turned her attention to the nearest person. “It would be nice if they told us what the hold-up is” she said. “Instead of leaving us standing around wondering when we’ll get back home.” What a fantastic way to start the new year.

[harperxnorwood]

teddycarlson​:

@harperxnorwood​.

LOCATION: the ferry / lost at sea event. DATE AND TIME:  jan 1 / 1:10am.

He’s not panicking. He isn’t. There is nothing scary or anxiety-inducing about being stuck in the middle of the ocean in a clunky piece of metal and plastic, that, as he’d picked up from a too-loud conversation by the deck, had been rendered unserviceable by the Mayor’s son. Talk about poorly made, he notes with some amusement, because humor may be his only line of defense against the panic burgeoning, and settling, against his chest.

“So, talk about a way to start the New Year, huh?” Then again, perhaps he could shake off his nerves with some good, old-fashioned small talk, directed to the person seated next to him, Never mind the fact that his voice comes off a bit shaky, and the laugh that accompanies his words are stiff and shallow. “Did you think your night would end up like this?” 

❤

Harper had always been the sort of woman who could go with the flow. She preferred seeing what would happen over planning everything in detail. But even she could admit she was growing annoyed with being stuck on the ferry. She’d spent the evening partying in LA and wanted nothing more than to go home and crawl into her own bed. Instead, she was here.

She’d been staring out into the black of the ocean and the sky, lost in her thoughts, when she heard someone nearby speak. Glancing up, she said “It certainly wasn’t what I had in mind.” Harper was trying not to take this as a sign of how her year would go, though. She was of the belief that people tended to make their own luck. “How did you expect the rest of your night to go?” she asked him. Maybe making conversation would help distract her from her current situation.

[harperxnorwood]

alice-nyaoro​:

Location: Catalina Art Gallery Status: Open With: @catalinastarter​

“So this is what they call art,” Alice quipped, smirking. She remembered a painting of a pipe, with the French sentence: Ceci n'est pas une pipe. This is not a pipe. Well, here was a banana. Or, a painting of a banana, in which the banana was duck-taped to a wall. A nearby plaque labeled the piece Before The Rogue Artist Ate. 

Apparently, someone in a posh gallery had taped a banana to a wall, and then someone else ate it, and this artist based their painting off the incident.

❤

Harper didn’t particularly consider herself an expert on the subject of art. But she had stopped into the gallery purely out of curiosity, wondering if anything had been added since she’d last been there. Glancing up as she heard a woman speak, she turned her attention to the painting the woman was looking at. Shaking her head, she said “I never understood the appeal of painting food.” If Harper was going to look at paintings, she’d rather they be of beautiful people or breathtaking locations. “But then I guess it takes all sorts to make the world go round” she added with a shrug.