hang on to yourself

Traveling so far to get there All just to be here again All just to see what they saw back then affiliated with Providence Peak

[jiarossi]

Name: Jia Rossi Pronouns: she/her Age: 28 Occupation: Chef at Amelie’s Neighborhood: Downtown

biography

tw: death of a family member

Jia was born to Yue and Francesco Rossi, the first girl of her generation, despite many cousins and two older siblings, and was doted on as you would expect someone with that particular title to be, toted around by her father and cooed over by her aunties. She was loved and she was happy. And when she wasn’t? Well, let’s just say the first boy to ever break her heart was certainly scared straight afterwards.

Growing up, she found that life was often centered around food. From small things such as the comfort of her mother’s homemade soups when she was sick to big Sunday affairs with her father’s extended family, food was a language and one she learned eagerly at her Nonna’s side. Joy, love, comfort, yearning, nostalgia and more could be communicated by her dishes and by the time she was fourteen, she was fluent. She worked part time at a pizza place all through high school, enjoying the way the staff became like a second family, before she moved on to become a line cook at a higher end restaurant. It was much less camaraderie and much more business oriented but Jia loved the opportunity to learn more as both a chef and a potential business woman. She busted her ass, picking up every extra shift and hour she could get her hands on, despite her family’s concern and gentle pleading to give herself a break, and rose through the ranks at an impressive rate, until she became sous chef.

Then came the day that Jia had always known was coming, but could never be prepared for: her Nonna passed away. She was understandably devastated, as were all her family, as Nonna had been the rock of their family, the one everyone came to for advice or just a listening ear, and she was struggling to function. She went to her boss for some time off, needing to center herself and be with her family during the difficult time, only to be told she could take the night off and would be expected back in the next day. All her hard work, all her loyalty to the business and for what? To be ignored in the face of her own pain. Jia quit on the spot, her grandmother’s last plea for her to take care of herself ringing in her ears as she walked out the door and never looked back.

It was insanity to give up an established career in the city to move somewhere that no one knew her name, she knew that, but it felt right, felt like she was finally making a decision for herself and herself alone as she packed up her apartment and went to the last place she could remember truly feeling at peace: Providence Peak. It had been the scene of plenty of family vacations over her younger years and one of the few places where she has only happy memories. Her credentials were enough to score her a job at one of the local eateries, Amelie’s, and though she’s not too familiar with Cajun cuisine, it brings her back to a time when she was just starting in the industry, where every day was something new and she was eager to learn. It’s with this that she hopes to start fresh and reclaim her passion for food.

[jiarossi]

miloxhughes​:

status: closed - @jiarossi​

location: le cirque

Milo glanced down at his phone to see a text notification from someone he had matched with on a hookup app. His usual hookups weren’t exactly in the mood to see Milo after being an utter wreck for the last month. He had managed to piss off just about everyone that liked him, which was already a small list to begin with. Milo was having to look outside his usual sources for a good time. Much to his disappointment, his date’s text revealed they wouldn’t be able to make it out tonight. He rested down his phone with a roll of his eyes and ordered another drink. Only moments later, a woman approached the empty barstool beside him, asking if it was taken. “Not anymore. Help yourself.”

~

Jia wasn’t always so bold as to put herself in someone else’s space, but the other open seat was next to a man who had been leering at her since she’d walked through the door so the dark haired man seemed like the safer option, though from his wording, she surmised she wasn’t the person he was wanting sitting next to him that night. On that, she could commiserate as calling her current social life complicated would be a massive understatement. “Night not going like you planned?” she questioned softly to the man beside her, offering a small smile to the bartender as he sat a cocktail napkin in front of her. “Dirty martini. And another of whatever he was having,” she requests, tilting her head towards Milo. In the spirit of misery and company and all that.

[jiarossi]

boyd-connors​:

**

Boyd was quick and unfussy when it came to getting dressed. The majority of his clothes fit in half the dresser he shared with Mattie, and he picked out the first pair of boxers, jeans, and a t-shirt he found at the top of their respective piles in the drawers. A well-worn flannel already stained with grease despite excessive washing completed the look, and he padded back into the kitchen with his work boots in hand.

“Just so we’re both on the same page,” he started, his lips quirking up in a shit-eating smirk, “you’re asking me to look at your car and be your taste tester guinea pig?” Not that he was complaining — he just liked to give her shit when she came over all nervous asking for critiques as though he had any clue what the fuck he was talking about. “I think I’m gonna need a favor here…” He sat at the counter, pulling on sock and then shoe, sock and then shoe.

~

She preferred to think of it as helping provide food for a busy single dad and giving him a chance to broaden his experience as a mechanic, but, hey, semantics. She’s fairly sure he’s only messing with her, but she’d already worried that she may wear out her welcome with Boyd’s hospitality and anxiety brain was a bitch. “Well, when you put it that way, I sound like an asshole.” But that didn’t make her stupid and there was no way she was throwing out a blank check favor while he had that mischievous look on his face, eyebrow raising in response. “Depends on what kind of favor you want, Connors.”

[jiarossi]

pennylind​:

status: closed - @jiarossi​

location: amelie’s

Penny hopped out of her red pickup truck, careful not to drop a sample box of new cheeses she had for Jia. The youngest Lind sibling was personally reaching out to the restaurants and bakeries that worked with the Dairy farm, marketing their seasonal cheeses for winter. So far, the new products were another success for the hardworking Lind family. Her next stop was at Amelie’s. They had purchased products from the farm in the past and Penny had formed a budding friendship with one of the chefs, Jia. She made her way towards the entrance to the kitchen, spotting the other woman coming out to greet her. “Hey! Just wait until you try what I have for you. It’s going to give you a cheesegasm.”

~

“I promise to try whatever you want me to as long as you promise never to use the word cheesegasm again.” Her grin hopefully gives away that she’s teasing, but she also doesn’t imagine cheesegasm would go over as Penny’s best sales pitch if she tried it with anyone else and she appreciated their budding friendship enough that she definitely wanted to see the Linds succeed. Free cheese samples were just a bonus. “You wanna grab a booth? You came at the perfect time, I’m just taking my break.”

[jiarossi]

leilabarak​:

“The absolute bestest,” she hummed back happily, not disagreeing in the least. Brock had become the single most important thing in her life and Leila would talk the good boy up any chance that she got. “Brock is my first dog I’ve ever had and I get that. It’s hard not to just get him everything I see that he might want.” The amount of money she’d spent on the dog was probably more than she’d care to admit. From custom collars to a full room decked out just for him, Leila had perhaps gone a little overboard in taking care of the pitbull that she loved so much. “What kind of dog is Nikita?”

~

“She was originally just supposed to be a foster, but that went south fast. I’ve always loved dogs, but we only ever had cats growing up. My dad said that me and my brothers were enough chaos, which was fair. And they were great, I love cats, but they were definitely my mom’s babies.” She didn’t want the other woman to think she was a stereotypical dog lover so she must not like cats. In fact, Jia hadn’t yet met an animal she hadn’t loved. “Honestly? I don’t really know. She’s mostly a mutt, but I think she must have some kind of shepherd in her. What about yours?”

[jiarossi]

TEXT || Dallas & Jia

Dallas: Hey, it was nice seeing you at the Christmas party.

Dallas: Speaking of Christmas party, did you have a good Christmas?

Jia: It was nice seeing you too. I had a really good night. We should do it again some times sans ugly sweaters.

Jia: It was kind of weird not being with my family but it was still good in its own way. I'm making my own little support system here finally. How was yours?

[jiarossi]

‘Ugly Sweater’ Inspo | Williams’ Ugly Sweater Party

[jiarossi]

percyashworth​:

» closed starter for jia rossi. ( @jiarossi​ ) › location — ice skating rink, holiday market.

“Is this the right time to mention I’ve not been ice skatin’ since I was quite small?” Percy’s voice was no less bright than normal but there was a twinge of nervousness in the tone that was slightly out of place for the ordinarily boisterous Brit. He glanced at Jia with a crooked, albeit sheepish smile as he stared down at his newly laced up skates and grimaced for a moment. “Unless you’ve got some sixth sense for these sorts of things and you were absolutely chuffed you’d get to see me fall on my arse about a million times,” He joked, his eyes wrinkling at the edges as he grinned. “If you promise not to laugh too hard, I promise I’ll be a good sport about all of it. I’m not sure I could be mad at’cha for more’n two seconds, mind, but that’s neither here nor there.”

~

“I promise not to laugh if you won’t,” Jia vows with a smile even as she wobbles getting to her feet after tying her skates. “I haven’t been since I was a teenager and I wasn’t exactly the most graceful back then either.” Though it was embarrassing at the time, she now rather fondly recalls the time she managed to bring both her brothers down to the ground with her as they valiantly tried to keep her up despite both of them having nearly a hundred pounds on her at the time. For both their sake, she hopes she’s at least grown out of that uber awkward stage by now as she offers out a hand to Percy. “Should we ask for some of those wooden animal things they let the kids hold onto and push or should we accept out defeats like adults?”

[jiarossi]

leilabarak​:

location; open range booth tagged; @jiarossi​

Most people would probably consider the amount of treats and toys and other goodies in her arms to be an excessive amount of things to buy for a dog. Leila, however, would beg to differ. There was no such thing as too much when it came to Brock and she would always buy him anything that would make his little heart happy. Spinning around to start lugging the armful of things to pay, Leila found herself coming face to face with a woman behind her. “Oh, sorry!” she chirped, eyes looking down at the pile of things in her arms for a beat before looking back up with a sheepish smile. “I have a really good boy…he needs all of this.”

~

Jia couldn’t help the amused grin that lights up her features as she takes in the bounty in the woman’s arms, giving a nod of agreement. “The bestest boy, from the looks of it.” Not that she could say a word on spoiling ones dog since she personally prepared each of her dog’s meals rather than just buying dog food, even the high end kind. Friends had joked about her setting a place at the table for the dog next, but Jia just thought her girl deserved the world. “I get it, though. Nikita, my dog, is my first and I spent almost a whole paycheck on things for her when I first brought her home.”

[jiarossi]

dallaswaylonedwards​:

Where: William’s House (Ugly Sweater Party)  Who: @jiarossi​

Dallas was three shots of tequila deep, and currently pounding back his first beer, he was leaning against the wall across from the bathroom ready to break the seal when none other than Jia Rossi walked over to presumably use the rest room.  “Woah – you do not want to go in there.” Dallas warned as he pushed himself off the wall, walking towards her “I’m pretty sure I just saw Santa Claus and one of his elves going in there, couldn’t keep their hands off themselves – not a pretty sight. I’m going to need another shot or at least something I can wash my eyes out with.”

~

Jia was actually fairly proud of her ‘ugly’ sweater for the party, having turned an older, somewhat cluttered sweater into a snow globe with some fake snow, a hot glue gun, and a plastic bowl, a printed picture of Santa’s workshop serving as the backdrop. She’d be planning to seek out the hosts of the party to show it off, but she needed to nip to the bathroom before she started her search, which of course meant running into Dallas. That was just sort of their thing now it seemed. Luckily, it wasn’t quite as nerve wracking anymore since they were tentatively working on their friendship once more. “Well, I guess it’s nice they’re so...full of holiday spirit.” It’s the most diplomatic thing she can find to say, her nose scrunching up in withheld distaste. A bathroom? Really?

Even when she and Dallas had been hot and heavy, they had always managed to make it somewhere more private. Woah, bad train of thought to go down when the man in question was standing right in front of her. Refocusing her mind, she offers her ex a small smile, trying her best to ignore her cheeks going pink as she moves in to offer him a proper greeting in the form of a brief hug. “Merry Christmas, Dally.”

[jiarossi]

carlavillanueva​:

Location: Screening of Home Alone, Cinematic 

Characters: Carla Villanueva & OPEN (  @providencepeakstarters​ )

OPEN STARTER

One of their family holiday traditions had always been to go to the cinema and watch whatever seasonal movie was being displayed that year. Carla hadn’t particularly kept up with that tradition when her family were all over the place over the previous holidays, but this year they were all together again and here she was, making an effort. She most definitely needed something to munch on though - eating her way through her nerves sounded like a very solid option. So she put in her order for a bucket of popcorn with a packet of M&Ms mixed with it. Head turning over to the person next in line to her, she simply shrugged her shoulders. “What? It’s a delicious combination. Don’t knock it before you try it.”

~

Oh, don’t worry, Jia was the last one who was ever going to discourage a little culinary exploration, even the most ill advised seeming ones, which this was not. Salty and sweet was a classic. “Actually I was wondering if you’d ever tried it with the peanut butter ones. That’s my favorite, personally. Pretty sure my brothers and I tried every popcorn and candy combination known to man when we were little, so no judgement here. My grandma was indulgent. Think she just liked sending us back to my dad all sugared up payback for his rambunctious youth.” Her Nonna had always liked the peanut butter ones best too so the combination always made Jia a little nostalgic. “Don’t recommend trying it with skittles though.”

[jiarossi]

dallaswaylonedwards​:

Where: Bar  Who: @jiarossi​

The place was a dive, and that suited Dallas needs just fine. After three shifts straight, he just wanted to get drunk and have fun. The beer was good and the atmosphere on a Friday night toed the line between chaotic and overcrowded. There was live music, some band he’d never heard of, and a full lineup of local and travelling suckers just waiting to lose the money they’d brought along to the bar with them. The firefighter stood a distance away from the dartboard and steadied his arm as he rolled the dart between his thumb and forefingers, beside him his arrogant friend that had been boasting for the last hour of how he was the best dart player Providence Peak had ever seen, but Dallas was ready to make him eat his words. With every dart Dallas threw his face only got redder, he was sure the man’s face was going to pop any moment. There was a smirk, and then he released a third bullseye in a row.  “That’s game.” Dallas declared. Turning on his heels laughing at his friend trying to explain to the guys how he just lost, bumping straight into someone “oh shi-t” he said realizing that once again the universe through Jia Rossi in his path. 

~

The bar was crowded enough that Dallas hadn’t noticed Jia when he’d come in, but she’d clocked him immediately. She’d been keeping half on eye on the door as she was supposed to be meeting someone, but after half an hour two drinks, she was fairly sure they weren’t coming, so she’d contented herself with watching her ex play darts with his friends from afar and crush some egos, a faint ache in her chest as she realizes that more than anything, she just misses her friend. It’s partly that and partly liquid courage that has her approaching the blonde, clearly surprising him with her presence as she offers up a smile. “You might be a dart master, but I’d bet the next round of drinks you still can’t beat me at pool.”

[jiarossi]

atlaswilliams​:

It could have been anyone in the world and he still wouldn’t have wanted to meet them. It was as petty as one could get and there was nothing that he could do to change that now. “I was a total dick back then. I was probably just pissed at Dally and I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he’d picked someone good for him.” The only person to blame was himself and he wasn’t going to deny that. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her, the booze making it hard to focus on anything other than the harsh heartbeat that pounded against his chest. “Shit, Jia. I’m sorry.” It was all he could say and whether she believed it or not, he meant it, perhaps more than he had in a long time when saying those words.

~

As much as she was tempted to make him sweat a little more, it really wasn’t in her nature and he had already apologized more than once. “I forgive you. This time. But next time someone asks you to meet their significant other, just do it, okay?” Anyone who knew Jia knew that she was never very good at holding a grudge, which was definitely due entirely to her mother’s influence. She was always quick to remind her daughter that life was too short. “We could have been friends this whole time,” she goads, giving his shoulder a soft push. “Big jerk.”

[jiarossi]

( sms → Ash 🧸): so there’s this guy who’s been around for the last couple of hours. and now it’s time for me to lock up and i was gonna go to my car but he’s still there in the parking lot ( sms → Ash 🧸): so i need you professional opinion: am i being paranoid? ( sms → Ash 🧸): i’m being paranoid right, i should just go

[jiarossi]

kennydavis​:

…

“You need to use this numbing spray and it sounds a lot scarier than it is but it makes it so much easier for you to be in heels for a long time. Either that or you buy your shoes a little too big and then you can avoid getting blisters. It’s a god sent.” She’d learnt the tricks the hard way but since she spent hours in court rooms, they were tested and full proof. “Nothing works as good as the wine though so I feel you. It goes down pretty good after a few glasses.” She smiled and then looked her over to make sure she was fine. “I don’t see any harm, so no foul, I guess.”

~

“I’m gonna look that up on Amazon as soon as I get home. And a foot bath.” Right, because shopping on Amazon after a few glasses of wine never led to any bad decisions. Maybe Ash would take her credit card away for her. “Hey,” Jia starts, as if realizing who she was talking to for the first time. “You’re Atlas’ girlfriend, right? Wait, sorry, he’s your boyfriend, right?” Let him be the one defined by the title. It was too often the woman. But, see, Atlas, she had made an effort to know his significant other! Big, tall jerk. “You picked a good one. Even though I’m mad at him right now.”

[wildcmbcrsupdates]

Natasha Liu Bordizzo via Instagram stories, 08/29/2022.

[jiarossi]

dallaswaylonedwards​:

“Cheesy or charming?” He said looking at her with a smile on his face. Exactly what Dallas wanted to happen, happened. He wanted to show her his charming ways, and see if she still fell for it. Not because he wanted to see with what he could get away with, but because he knew if she asked for anything, or said anything in that sweet sultry voice he loved so much he’d be putty in her hands. Shaking his head, “you have to be joking” he said remembering how distant the two got before broke up. She always had work, and he was in college, drinking and partying away the fact that she never really had time anymore. And then it got worse once the break up actually happened. “No that’s not what I want to talk about, but I don’t think you want to do what I want to do” he said shrugging his shoulders. 

~

“You should know better than anyone that sometimes it’s the same thing.” One of the things she’d always loved about Dallas is how he had never taken himself too seriously when they were together and from the way he approached her, she imagines that hasn’t changed much. She shakes her head at his exclamation, really not having believed they ended that badly. Sure, it had hurt, but she thought it had at least been amicable, even if they had fallen out of touch. “I mean, we didn’t have giant screaming matches or anything. We were just...in different places in our lives.” She draws her lower lip between her teeth, an anxious habit, and looks over his shoulder again for her wayward date. “And what is it you want to do?”