a work in progress.

PANDORA MARLOWE. twenty five, bartender at iris & eve. if i see my old friends, we'll go out dancing. if we go out ｄａｎｃｉｎｇ, then we’ll go to the bar. if we go to the BAR, then there's gonna be drinking. if i drink, I wanna see 🅆🄷🄴🅁🄴 you are. so i don't see my old friends, i don’t go dancing. i don't do most things I used to do. actually, now that i'm ₜₕᵢₙₖᵢₙg about it and how i did most things to get to you.

[pandoramarlow]

phone call — pandora 📞 lourdes

[ Lourdes had been deep in her Instagram explore page, bookmarking outfit inspiration when her phone rang, with the only song she had ever associated with Pandora. Only to have her face, just ten years younger, flood her screen, and make her heart race. ]

Lourdes: hi, you've reached King Lourdes's voicemail. Unless your name is fruity cups Jesus tits, I won't call back!

[ She pauses for the longest moment, before her chuckle gives away her little joke ]

Lourdes: hey Pandy! I can't believe you still have my number! Also, don't ask who fruity cups is because I don't know them either, but I'm pretty sure they're someone I went to school with, I think? I'm not sure

Lourdes: anyways, isn't it kind of late? I mean, I love that you called, but still? No bother, right? I was just doing some casual internet snooping, as one does when they finish a shift and want to know if the other hostess is as shitty as you, you know? I mean, I know that Lily is pretty cool, but like....I don't trust someone who calls their boobs disco tits

Lourdes: that's reserved for a select few and she's not making the cut any time soon. Anyways...

[ Lourdes has to pause to catch her breath, because she has so much to say to her best friend, even though she wished it had been a call of a different sort. This she can deal with. ]

Lourdes: I missed you too, Pandy. You're like my best friend, I've missed talking to you! I just...there's so much to talk about and catch up on!

[ For a moment, Pandora feels defeated over the fact she hit Lourdes voicemail and she just went on a tangent of words to what she thought was an actual voice on the line. Perhaps, the day has gotten to her and sleep was much needed considering how her body effortlessly morphed into the plush comfort of her down pillows. A soft murmur falls off her lips. She supposed she was going to do it the old fashion way and leave a voicemail. ]

Pandora: Oh my god.

[ Is all she could say for a moment realizing it was simply a joke being played by Lourdes. Instantly afterwards, all she does is laugh in relief that she wasn't an idiot. Within the moment, her slender digits run through her tied up locks as a smile began to creep upon her mouth corners. Thank God her bedroom door was closed because if anyone passed right on by, it would've looked like she nearly experiences a breakdown. ]

Pandora: You really got me there. Of course, I still have your number. I don't think people change their numbers that often, right? I just automatically assumed so hopefully I didn't catch you at the wrong time though. I wasn't going to ask about fruity cups but I do find that insert into the phone call very interesting. Sometimes the best things are the ones that don't make any sense.

Pandora: It is rather late but I couldn't fall asleep. I figured why not give you a ring because it's been a while since... I guess we did this and properly spoke to each other so it's kind of nice to just sit back and talk? Casual internet snooping? Who were you... snooping on?

[ The curiosity got the best to her but she genuinely wanted to know now. Maybe it was Lourdes stalking someone that she was romantically interested in. Heaven knows it wouldn't have been the first, surely won't be the last time she endured the other be with another when it should be her. She fell into the silence was Lourdes effortlessly took over the conversation. This had always been a Lourdes thing. After a while, the energy of Pandora would wither down and she needed to rest for a moment or two. ]

Pandora: Yeah, best friends we are. [ she smiled to herself but felt as if the ping of a best friend always made her cringe ] This is why I called you... you know? Because of the fact, there's so much to talk about and there's no one else I really want to speak to so I knew I could call the one person that I always felt comfortable with. I sometimes wish it was like the old ways... you know. I don't really think there's any distance between us but we're just older... and grown-up, I guess we aren't fifteen anymore. [ she paused ] Anyway, how are you?

[pandoramarlow]

❛ LOURDES HOWARD.

Lourdes rolled her eyes at the other’s questions, “You’re supposed to be my friend here, Pandy, not be the bearer of sage advice and whatever smart ideas you have!” She shook her head, but the smile stretching on the corners of her mouth would have given up any jig she was trying to run. The brunette couldn’t help it; no matter what their connection would be from here on out, she was never not going to be in love with Pandora Marlowe. Maybe she searched for her Pandy in every face she met, or maybe not. “Here’s my thing though, listen to me once and listen to me closely. I absolutely hate repeating myself. I think this is a sign for me to never work customer service in my life, because clearly…I’m too good with people.” Which wasn’t a lie. Lourdes was an excellent liar, a good actress to boot, and she could fake anything if she put her mind to it. Living under Charity’s thumb for the last twenty something years of her life have given her the necessary survival skills to lie and cheat her way through life. Sometimes, this was all Lourdes Howard knew to do. Like right now, talking to the love of her life without letting it show. 

Maybe it was just straight up maturity, that Lourdes didn’t react with some sort of anger when Pandora talked about the male attention. Even if their feelings for each other were a toss up, the brunette would still get jealous at the mention of other lovers. Maybe that’s why it was hard to talk about people she had been with since Pandora; it was hard enough to talk about her ex without straight up bawling, even though it was going to be a year and some months since they last talked. But there is a sense of maturity in Lourdes, that she just rolls her shoulders in the moment of a shrug, letting go of her hair lest she ruin whatever she had done to it. She blushed at the compliment. You always do. Was Pandora flirting with her? Lourdes couldn’t tell, and it was confusing her. Maybe it was just the blonde being nice, or maybe Claire put her into some kind of politeness coaching classes. Maybe she was just overthinking it, and it didn’t even mean anything to Pandora. Maybe she was just pointing out how well dressed Lourdes always was; again, a by product of being Charity’s daughter was her head to toe branded look, no matter what the occasion. “Men are always out to terrify you. It doesn’t matter how they do it, they just do it. Either by being inappropriately flirtatious, or…” She looked in the direction of the manager’s “office”, “…whatever Miles is supposed to be. I would like to think Schwartzy is a different kind of person but…” Another shrug and just a look in the man’s general direction, where she shot him a throwaway smile before returning to their conversation. Lourdes shook her head, “Don’t worry about it.” But she regretted the nonchalance; it wasn’t normal for girls to fight with their mothers on the constant, was it? “She was going on about how my dresses are too short and my makeup looks like I’m going to go sell my body to the nearest rich man, and then I zoned out. Frankly, the slut shaming was what got to me. Also, sex work is still work, mother. God, her judgmental ass never stops.” 

The authenticity of her laughs flows into the hustle and bustle of Iris & Eve with ease considering who was on the opposite side of the conversation at the moment. “I am your friend, Lourdes.” A swift retort as the weight of her range was lighthearted and always adjusting the other female’s needs. Friend. Friend, God, how much she hated that thought. No, she wanted to be more than friends but it was a barrier she did not know if Lourdes felt reciprocated at all. All she had to do was wait for the ideal opening. Lifting her water glass to her lips, indulged in the sea of wonders if the other had a crush in return, she couldn’t quite remember how long it had been since she had a sip during her shift but the back of the throat was shrieking for any hydration, but it was a relief when it soothed her. A tender murmur of a sigh escaped off the prong before a soft demeanor shot toward the other. “The only time people ever really talk to me is when they need advice. I’m just used to it and programming myself to be the bearer of sage advice,” she commented whilst an inattentive shrug passed on by. Many of people referenced Pandora was a cement wall. The complexity of her often monotonous falsetto range and her resting bitch face caused people to wonder if she experienced any sort of emotion. She did but mostly around Lourdes. It was the multitude of firsts the females went through that made Pandora know their souls were wired and meant for each other. Even if it meant it would take them time to even inch toward what she wanted and that was a forever with the other. It was bold considering it often wasn’t something Pandora was. Tilting her head minimally to the left side, nowhere near the speaker blasting the restaurant tunes throughout the establishment, sea-green hues admiring her through the dim-light unaware of what the other would bring to the conversation. It was Lourdes after all. She had a range of thoughts that often baffled the other. Still, it exhilarated her to know what the other was thinking. Random or not. “You are too good with people.” Without any sort of hesitation, the other confirmed the words that emerged into the atmosphere. In comparison to Pandora, who often suffered and could deal without people, the opposite of her had the effortless ability to captive people like she was the disco ball. In her own hues, she is the only disco-ball worth fawning over. 

Relationships were the last thing to ever startle her. It was just a lack of consistency in her life. It was something she did not actively seek out though. More of waiting for the ideal opportunity rather than falling into something so meaningless ─ having no shame in that either but preferably at this point of her life, she just wanted someone to stay. It wasn’t that hard to ask, right? Seeing as her parents left by the misfortune of death. It seemed more as a curse had been cast over her rather than a blessing. It happens to be the partial reasoning why moving forward with Lourdes is something she wants more than anything. Yet, it petrifies her on the idea of losing her permanently if things go south and they do not mesh as a couple. Tonight wasn’t the ideal time to have these thoughts. Nor in the next couple of weeks considering at this particular moment, these two were just friends ─ again, she despised the word, but it was the truth. Surveying from the distance, attempting to keep busy by cleaning down the spotless bar countertop, a small smile crept upon her own features at the blush. At least the words had some effect even if it wasn’t anything verbal. Hues wandering toward the manager’s office, all she could do was roll her hues and snicker followed suit, “Manager. General Manager.” And it wasn’t like she knew anyone else capable of this position. Then again, she did question a vast array of patrons currently working at the establishment that shouldn’t have gotten hired in the first place. This was nowhere for Pandora to come. “Schwartzy is fucking useless,” she informed while disrespecting her fellow half of the bar. Anyone and their mother could witness all he could do was stand around and flirt while the blonde did the heavy lifting. Going on a tangent about Schwartzy would be savored for another day when he was irritating her to beyond compare. Leaning over the counter, the blonde let her hand rest over the others as her thumb gently grazed the skin, “Fuck your mother. It’s your body and you can do whatever you want with it. Anyone who makes you feel less than shouldn’t deserve you.” As if it was a slight confession from her tongue to put the positive energy into the atmosphere now. The twinkle in her sea-green hues indicated that Lourdes effect took over her heart even when she attempted to hide it. All she wants to do is build the other up. Like there’s no tomorrow. 

THE END.

[pandoramarlow]

phone call — pandora 📞 lourdes

[ The last time intimate conversation Pandy had with Lourdes was on the evening of the other complaining about the party of ten. The moments between the pairing had been fleeting since then. Small conversations ─ how she was doing, if she was having a good day, and again complimenting her appearance. It still seemed like her flirting attempts were going over the other's head and given their history of intimacy, it baffles her a bit but it didn't mean she'll stop. Hence how she ended up in this scenario, laying flat on her bed as her iPhone was glued to her ear, hearing the ringing for the other device, she patiently with the interlace of uneasy occupy the pit of her stomach. The worries went away when she heard Lourdes fruity phone on the end. ]

Pandora: Hi you. Sorry, I hope I'm not interrupting you or anything but I really just wanted to talk to you. It's been a while and... I kind of missed you. So, here I am.. calling and just wanting to hear your voice again.

[ The way she was coming off sounded odd.. right? Maybe those words would frighten Lourdes away. She could've taken the meaning of the phone in the wrong way. It wouldn't have been the first time this happened to Pandora ─ one example was her ex-boyfriend at Cal Tech. But, that was forbidden grounds to stomp about. She just hoped and prayed any sort of light coming to the surface tonight. ]

[pandoramarlow]

❛  REINA RHODES.

PANDORA MARLOWE.

The short locked female observed Reina from a distance whilst proceeding forward in her paid chores around the bar. The condition of the bar was pristine but having one of the owner’s nearby caused her to proceed forward and utilize any moment to keep everything up to par. Although, even if the other wouldn’t have shown face, she never took it upon herself to use the moment to slack off. If she wanted to slack off, mostly sleeping for a stretch period, the blonde would comfortably do it in the privacy of her bedroom. Still, the purpose of her informing was the other because, within a short period of working here, the young woman knew who truly did call the shots around the establishment. Elevating her chin upward, a nod shortly followed in suit, she completely understood the preach of words escaping from Reina’s lips. “I know. It’s common sense but who am I to tell my other boss? That’s why I’m telling you,” she harped monotonously for another second longer, not wanting to further discuss the travesty of her husband because digging her own grave. Pandora knew how to bite back her tongue on a multitude of occasions. This was one of them especially when Jason Rhodes was in reference. She came here for work and left. It was the paycheck that was a benefit to her ─ considering her lack of direction in her life was evident. At least work allowed her to get out of the household. Her obedience was swift at Reina’s next requests, simply nodding her head off before turning on her heel and grabbing all of the necessary ingredients ─  gin and olives. Preparing a dirty martini within a flick of the switch, three olives and a whole lot of gin were poured into the glasses before digits slide to greet Reina with the second drink round. Pausing for a fleeting moment, there was a minimal smile upon her mouth corners but nothing too extensive. “I hear stuff whether I like it or not. You have a right to know what’s happening,” she acknowledged effortlessly in her songbird range. She liked Reina. There weren’t many people that Pandora liked but it must’ve been the older woman’s enigma that attracted her. Luckily when she was cleaning up, it allowed her a moment to find a retort worthy to affirm the other. Heaving a suppressed breath, she felt valued to be trusted by the other but would not break those ties, even if she had to work for it. “Reina, I would rather get hit by a truck like Regina George did in Mean Girls then run my mouth around town about people’s escapades. Too much work for me. I just want to sleep.” Reina’s next words instantly caused her to straighten her posture and temper her oval hues slightly. A threat, she could smell it from a mile away. Nor did it cause her any trepidation. A calm and collected demeanor inched over her overlay as Pandora cleared her throat. “You offered me a job. You’re giving me this opportunity. I have no intention but to help you to know the truth about who did it. I’ll be ears and retort back to you.”

As soon as Pandora pushes the tall stemmed glass in front of her, Reina takes a long sip, letting the liquor warm her bloodstream and put her at ease if only for a moment. The drink is strong and just the way she likes it but she can’t help but cringe just slightly, knowing already that she’ll feel that tomorrow — even if she’s only had two drinks, the combination of wine and gin are sure to give her a pounding headache. Reina listens to the words Pandora’s saying, nodding along with her as she speaks. It’s true that bartenders usually hear everything that goes on in a restaurant, she’s owned enough of them to know that much, so it won’t hurt to have Pandora playing spy for her when necessary. Every business owner needs a rat and the blonde seems like the perfect choice for that. She seems generally uncaring toward her coworkers and eager to please, not to mention she has no intention of running her mouth to anyone else, which is a combination Reina’s willing to bet on. She’ll just have to see if she’s proven right. “Just keep your ears extra open then for me. You’ve got a personality people like to bitch to, use it to your advantage.” That’s not an insult, at least not coming from Reina. It’s rare to have the type of demeanor people are comfortable opening up to, Reina herself doesn’t really have that by nature but instead by choice when she wants to get information, and the older woman thoroughly believes in exploiting natural born talents. And if that exploitation works to get her what she wants, then that’s just as well. Pandora’s declaration of loyalty is music to Reina’s ears and while she’s still not totally convinced the younger woman isn’t just saying anything to get on her good side, she’s happy to take it for what it is — for now. “That’s what I like to hear,” she says, smiling slightly as she slips a fifty out of her wallet and onto the bar-top before she moves to get up and walk away to deal with this bullshit behind the scenes. After all, it’s only polite to tip and she’s hoping Pandora will put her money where her mouth is, literally. “Keep doing well and there’s more where that came from.”

THE END.

[pandoramarlow]

❛  JASON RHODES.

With one last glance in the two bussers’ direction, Jason nods, trying to figure out what to do with their little rat asses. The two of them work for him on the underground side of the business so he can’t exactly fire them, not if he wants them to keep quiet about what really goes on there, but he can’t just let them off the hook after spreading some pretty detrimental rumors about him — even if they don’t know he’s the on who made the mess in the kitchen to begin with. He could kill them, he guesses, but that’d just piss his wife off and contrary to popular belief, Jason doesn’t actively try to make her mad. For now, he’ll just mull it over while shooting the two of them dirty looks to make them sweat. He appreciates Pandora’s willingness to rat the two idiots out, of course, but he doesn’t miss the way she takes a condescending tone when she speaks to him and it’s enough to piss him off more than he already is. He gets irritable when people don’t respond to his threats the way he wants them to, and Pandora’s monotonous tone makes it pretty clear to Jason that she doesn’t take him seriously. “Alright, I just thought I’d fuckin’ warn you. No need to get snippy.” He’s not pouting, per se, but Jason’s definitely got a scowl on his face as he leans back on his barstool and crosses his arms. “You know any other interesting information about this place that you wanna share with the class? Now’s the time to tell it if you do, so I can get all this shit under control.”

While she openly agreed to be a narc, if any other information entered in her ear waves, the pace of the bar had started to pick up once again. Not enough to overwhelm her because rarely did it happen, but influxes came and went toward the latter portion of the dining evening. In the peripheral vision of her sea-green hues, the servers were coming and going in a flash, thanking Pandora as she informed Jason on the side. Just like she was moving around and giving half of her attention to one of the owners of the establishment. All she could do is slow her pace when he mentioned that she was getting snippy. There was no denying it because she was especially since his authority was something the female tested and wondered how he got on this high and mighty position of bossing others in the first place. But, he did not need to know any of that. Falsing a smile from ear to ear, her hand rested upon the counter as a cavernous sigh fell from her lips and looked at him, “My apologizes if I did sound snippy when you have an incompetent bartender such as Schwartzy, things tend to get hectic within a second.” Lying straight through her teeth, the last thing she wants is to have this conversation with him. A shrug rolled off her shoulders attempting to make it apologetic but the latter part of her tone became monotonous just like any time she spoke with the other. Polishing a set of recently washed wine glasses, a vaulted brow shot towards his direction at his question. “No,” she blatantly informed. "The only thing I know and heard everyone talking about was the kitchen situation.” And she wasn’t lying this time around to please him. Heaving out a sigh, a moment to compose herself before further getting into work, she expressed to him, “Sorry, it’s getting hectic and I need to take care of these drinks. Mind if I focus on my work and then if you want to grill later, I’d be honored to help.” And she’ll make sure to leave Iris & Eve immediately after her shift was over before he could track her down. No fucking way would she spend another moment with this creep.  

THE END.

[pandoramarlow]

❛  PRESCOTT MELLON.

She was angry, he can tell, but Scotty literally gave no fucks about what Pandora Marlowe thought about him. He was on an island, for fuck’s sake, one where every day, the chances of him getting out from were becoming incredibly slim; two weeks and no call from his father, or his mother. His father, he understood; after all, he’d been the one to pull him out from the city jail with an expression as blank as a sheet of paper, but his mother? She was a silly woman who never knew how to deal with young children (the hiring of the nanny said it all), but still, she was the one blood relative that dared show Scotty any sort of loving emotion. Perhaps, she’d been instructed not to write or call.

The thought about his family was what propelled him to seek out Pandy’s companionship in the first place. He missed having someone around that showed emotion, and god knows he wasn’t getting that from one Ledger Mellon.

So seeing Pandy angry at him — it excited him. Finally, someone who reacted like a normal human being to him acting out, begging for attention. He shrugged, lifting himself upright on the couch as he yawned again, covering his ears. “You’re being loud, Pandy. Christ, I just woke up.” No mention of how he’d just blasted the playlist at full volume, but Scotty was the world’s biggest hypocrite. Pulling himself to the edge of the couch, he furrowed his brow. “Trampoline? Your parents still have that thing up?” He wasn’t opposed to the idea; like Pandy, he was sure he’d been twelve or thirteen since he was last jumping on one, and the thought of using it intrigued him. “Sure. Guess it’ll kill the time.” He yawned, again.

The way Pandora was currently speaking to him was how he rightfully deserved to be spoken to. All of the things presented to Prescott Mellon was handed to him on a silver platter. It was the same ordeal for her but the difference was she did not pull dense actions to receive attention to Matty, who did this often while he had everything and a career, and Scotty, the newfound irritation in her life, who was the grandest fuck up to grace Catalina Island. While she was far from judgment, the platinum blonde did not deny the accusations and reality of both of the boys acting like careless children in their aging selves. This was particularly why she had more of a preference of being in an intimate, romantic relationship with the same sex because it was uncomplicated to understand what’s bothering them or what’s on their mind. If she wanted to have a match, the girl would just go to Catalina’s Country Club and play a match with a racist housewife, Brandi, whilst attempting to fly balls at her recently remodeled face. Shooting the death glare toward’s the other’s direction, her overlay upon her demeanor were glacial and ‘did not give a flying fuck’ if she was being too loud in any sense. Sea-green hues rolling and snickering, “I can be however I want to be in my house,” she snapped in irritation. Aggressive was rarely how she was. Typically she minded her own business and went on. Yet, when it was happening underneath her own roof, all of the male’s antics were catching up and vexing her. “I don’t give a shit if you just woke up. You’re under my families rules and I’m the only one here so you’re listening to me.”  All she could think about is how no wonder why Ledger Mellon enforced rules on his incompetent nephew. It was sorrowful to have these thoughts in her own time of agony on the purpose of having a place in this world but she knew what was going with herself. The other six feet away was questionable. Just like the day she first met him when they were younger and families decided to use their connections to form a bond. “Legal guardians,” she stiffly corrected with a monotonous tone. “My parents are dead, you dipshit.” It was a rarity for her to mention her deceased parents but the point needed to be made. Claire and Topher were her legal guardians but often referenced as step-parents when the tongue let loose. Still, since Claire and Topher took her brother and herself under their possession, the moment she got a trampoline meant it would stay there until she insisted to get rid of it. All of these years, it eventually came to use because being inside was driving her stir crazy. Not even waiting to hear his last response, not like she cared to have his approval on whether he wanted to join on the trampoline fun, the petite girl opened the balcony door and made way. Now hoisting herself on the edge of the netted trampoline, the blonde pulled her short locks into a high ponytail which was questionable on where it fell on her head. “When I first got this thing, I would rush home to do my homework and spend the rest of the evening up until dinner out here.” Briefly explaining at the sentiments consumed her minimally. It probably fell over the other’s head but it was how she coped with the loss of her parents as well as her learning how to horseback ride. It was now more than ever that she missed Sandy and will have to make a bee-line visit to her after this quarantine was over. 

[pandoramarlow]

❛  ROWAN THANE.

Pandora is a new friendship in Rowan’s life, the two having crossed paths at a pre-filming party only weeks prior, but between the fact that she and Claire are now on the same cast and Pandora’s brother and Andy play for the same hockey team… well, there is no shortage of excuses to get together. Pandora is one of few people this experience has brought into her life that Rowan genuinely enjoys spending time with, while she puts up with producers and some of her cast mates and the friends that often crash their dinners — Pandora is someone she never has to fake liking. She’s a sweet girl, if not just a little lost and Rowan does see some qualities that remind her of herself years ago when she was still trying to figure out who she was once she was out in the real world. She nods knowingly at Pandora’s words, understanding the politics that go on on the island far too well. “Because you’d miss me too much if you left,” she teases gently, as if their friendship spans back years and not only weeks. “It’s a small island and the social circle you’ve managed to find yourself in is even smaller — it makes things complicated when you just want a minute to yourself,” she begins with a small shrug, though it’s not dismissive of what Pandora is saying. It’s something Rowan knows all too well, especially now that she’s got a camera crew following her around seventy five percent of the time. A small frown tugs down on her lips when Pandora mentions feeling like no one is meant to stick around because she understands that all too well, too. Isn’t that her biggest fear in life? Her own parents hadn’t wanted her, and after years of being the only source of love in her life Reina had left her behind too. And despite years of therapy, a healthy marriage and a solid relationship with her sister… she’s still always got that voice in the back of her head telling her that everyone is temporary; that no one sticks around for long and she is always going to be replaceable. “Some people stay,” she starts with, subconsciously twisting the wedding ring that sits on her finger, an anxious habit she’s picked up over the last eleven years. “Even if it doesn’t always feel that way. I’m certainly not going anywhere — I’m on contract, remember?” her words hold a light teasing tone, but the implication is clear: she’s a permanent fixture if Pandora needs her. Lips tug up into a grin when she mentions Hallmark movies, shrugging again, “Guilty as charged. The second Thanksgiving is over I’ve got the placed decked out for Christmas and the TV stays on the Hallmark channel until New Years.” 

With how compact the island is, the connection of everyone with each other from all of their work relationships, the connection with Rowan was bound to happen sooner than later. The first moment she conversed with Rowan caused her to allow all of her walls to simply crumble down. Typically, it would have her a substantial amount of time to let anyone in to know the rattling sea of thoughts consuming her, but all of it was divergent with the older woman. It was a sense of comfort in having someone who heard her thoughts and concerns rather than dismisses her emotions ─ which unfortunately happened often. Sulking into the comfort of the lounge chair whilst sea-green optics focused upon Rowan diligently, the words of the other instantly coursed her features with illumination and joy for once in a long time. “You’re not wrong there. I’d be a fish in the sea simply struggling to keep alive, if I moved away, meanwhile you ground me and guide me,” she noted passionately through a small smile. Each one of those words were meant to even when Pandora was not the type to typically let such things known but again, all different because of Rowan’s presence. Nodding off at Rowan’s words, a muffled sigh escaped through as the actuality of her words hit right at home. “It’s like people shame you for wanting to just breathe here. It was different when I was growing up but now I’m older and understand things... it’s like people love to be suffocating.” The potency of the irritation at the people in reference effortlessly got underneath her skin in a flash. Not that she minded the camera’s wandering around but it was one of the most fascinating things to happen to the island in a long time. It was just other external factors ─ not knowing what to do, feeling as if society and the pressure of having accomplished at her age was taking a toll upon her. It was starting to eat her alive because she felt like a failure for taking longer to figure out what her worth is. No one assured it was okay to take the time to feel lost or worry about being left behind. Everyone was living their lives. Progressing and making memories ─ hell, even falling in love while Pandora was stuck on someone, Lourdes, who was her first everything but simply remained in the zone of friends since the summer of their sophomore year. It pressed against her heart and in the center of her chest all too often. All she dreamed of were these thoughts to leave her in peace and allow Pandora to live life without planning for the future. It was like Rowan knew how to lift her up and re-assure when she needed it the most. Just then, the beam of her smile engulfed during the quietude and the sadness still fluttering. “We’re stuck together then. Just like adhesive glue because we’re better together,” she rested for once in their conversation with ease. Those were all of the words she needed to hear. “Thank you for everything.” Finally, she choked up as she smiled again, her own hands intertwined with each other. How did she live without Rowan before? This was all Pandora could think about now. Feeling the lighthearted tone about Hallmark surfacing, she could match it effortlessly knowing the films were cheesy but they caused the holiday spirit to enhance. Beaming like a child from ear to ear, “No shame whatsoever though. Hallmark films are what get me in the Christmas spirit, on top of the classics of Home Alone and Love, Actually. I watched a few of those Valentine’s movies but they aren’t the same as Christmas.” 

[pandoramarlow]

❛ REINA RHODES.

Reina’s hand goes up to halt Pandora when she describes how gross the clean up of her husband’s little endeavor was, contorting her face in a display that shows this is the last thing she wants to her. “I don’t even want to think about it.” It’s not because it’s absolutely disgusting, but the jealous cunt inside of Reina is threatening to rear her ugly head and she can’t deal with that — at least not right now. She appreciates Pandora’s willingness to confide in her though, even if she won’t believe it until she sees it, and Reina flashes her a tense, close-lipped smile before taking a large gulp of her wine. The moment is short lived as her mind reels over what a customer could have possibly done to have made her husband react that way, and she knows they probably just looked at him wrong, if she’s being honest with herself. “Doesn’t matter what the customer doesn’t like, he can’t just go around assaulting people.” It’s bad enough that Jason had the audacity to have sex with some whore in their restaurant’s fucking kitchen, but to then assault a customer has Reina pushed over the edge with rage and she’s kicking herself for not keeping a closer eye on him. But in reality, she knows there’s nothing she could have done. Her husband is impossible to control and that’s something Reina’s struggled with for the entirety of their marriage — she wants to be in control, to call the shots and have the most say in what goes on in their business and usually she manages to do just that while giving Jason the illusion of controlling things himself, but then there are times when he completely rips that control away from her and it leaves her mortified, devastated, and most importantly, enraged. She picks up her wine again and downs the rest of it in one go, sliding the glass towards Pandora when she’s finished only stop her from pouring another. “I need a martini. You know how I like them.” Dirty, with three olives, and a whole lot of gin to get her nerves in check — not that alcohol will really even help at this point. Reina’s wound so fucking tightly over this whole situation that she feels ready to burst. “You were right to tell me about all of this,” she says, checking her phone with a tight grip to make sure she hasn’t been texted any other updates as she waits for her drink. “I don’t want there to be any secrets between us regarding this place. It doesn’t matter who tells you, you always tell me. I’m trusting you.” Which is a huge statement to make because Reina doesn’t trust anyone, but she figures telling Pandora as much will have her wanting to keep whatever trust Reina has decided to put in her. She’s mostly talking about Jason anyway, because she wouldn’t put it past him to try and get Pandora to hide all of the dumb shit he does or even try to sleep with her, and Reina wants the blonde’s loyalty to lie solely with her. “And I will find out if you know something and you don’t tell me, and then we’ll have an issue. I know you don’t want that.”

The short locked female observed Reina from a distance whilst proceeding forward in her paid chores around the bar. The condition of the bar was pristine but having one of the owner’s nearby caused her to proceed forward and utilize any moment to keep everything up to par. Although, even if the other wouldn’t have shown face, she never took it upon herself to use the moment to slack off. If she wanted to slack off, mostly sleeping for a stretch period, the blonde would comfortably do it in the privacy of her bedroom. Still, the purpose of her informing was the other because, within a short period of working here, the young woman knew who truly did call the shots around the establishment. Elevating her chin upward, a nod shortly followed in suit, she completely understood the preach of words escaping from Reina’s lips. “I know. It’s common sense but who am I to tell my other boss? That’s why I’m telling you,” she harped monotonously for another second longer, not wanting to further discuss the travesty of her husband because digging her own grave. Pandora knew how to bite back her tongue on a multitude of occasions. This was one of them especially when Jason Rhodes was in reference. She came here for work and left. It was the paycheck that was a benefit to her ─ considering her lack of direction in her life was evident. At least work allowed her to get out of the household. Her obedience was swift at Reina’s next requests, simply nodding her head off before turning on her heel and grabbing all of the necessary ingredients ─  gin and olives. Preparing a dirty martini within a flick of the switch, three olives and a whole lot of gin were poured into the glasses before digits slide to greet Reina with the second drink round. Pausing for a fleeting moment, there was a minimal smile upon her mouth corners but nothing too extensive. “I hear stuff whether I like it or not. You have a right to know what’s happening,” she acknowledged effortlessly in her songbird range. She liked Reina. There weren’t many people that Pandora liked but it must’ve been the older woman’s enigma that attracted her. Luckily when she was cleaning up, it allowed her a moment to find a retort worthy to affirm the other. Heaving a suppressed breath, she felt valued to be trusted by the other but would not break those ties, even if she had to work for it. “Reina, I would rather get hit by a truck like Regina George did in Mean Girls then run my mouth around town about people’s escapades. Too much work for me. I just want to sleep.” Reina’s next words instantly caused her to straighten her posture and temper her oval hues slightly. A threat, she could smell it from a mile away. Nor did it cause her any trepidation. A calm and collected demeanor inched over her overlay as Pandora cleared her throat. “You offered me a job. You’re giving me this opportunity. I have no intention but to help you to know the truth about who did it. I’ll be ears and retort back to you.”

[pandoramarlow]

❛  PRESCOTT MELLON.

A week in, and Scotty was already sick of the island — there was absolutely nothing to do aside from going to the beach and lounging around Uncle Ledger’s estate, which meant he immediately resorted to the next most exciting thing on his ever-growing list of procrastination: annoying one Pandora Marlowe. 

The Marlowes were a family friend of theirs, the way wealthy families seemed to know each other by default — oh yes, the Marlowes, we saw them at the fundraiser last weekend! — except, the Marlowe children’s biological parents had passed, tragically, more than a decade ago. Him and Pandy were never particularly close, but having been the only person he even remotely knew on the island aside from his wretched uncle, he’d immediately latched onto the blonde with a quick fervor. 

It was a lazy Monday morning, a twelve-plus hour sleep going on since Sunday afternoon, when he’d tucked himself into Pandy’s bed and refused to budge — and then, he’d woken himself up to an empty house (save Pandora, of course), and seeing the panic about COVID-19 start to rise (along with the various posts about the famed quarantine playlist, he’d plopped himself down on the couch, asking Alexa to blast it at full volume, before promptly passing out again. 

It couldn’t have been more than fifteen or twenty minutes before Pandora came stomping down, hollering at him with a scolding ready in her mouth that he jolted up, still half-asleep, squinting at the woman with a mildly annoyed expression. “Chill the fuck out, Pandy,” he replied, yawning. “I was just trying to sleep. God forbid I sleep.”

This was her house. Okay, not financially, but emotionally and physically, this was where Pandora called the shots ─ to an extent when she insisted everyone to be thoughtful about her phases of hibernation. It was the only time where she felt in solace with herself. Especially with how disorderly her life had been since working at Iris & Eve which had taken up a majority of her former free schedule. So when she desperately needed sleep and slept started to sleep like a humane individual, the last thing she wanted to do was a brawl with someone who occupied the other side of her bed in the wee hours. The disturbance of Scotty happened to be something she did not expect to endure in the first place but here she was, standing in the distance with tempered hues wondering how and why the universe was simply against her on every accord. Work, love life, friendship, and now supposedly, someone who has been interrupting her sleep schedule for the last week. Enough was enough. She needed to lay down even more ground rules. No one needed to be threatened or kicked out during a virus. 

It wasn’t that she despised Scotty. The truth was, she did not know him all of that well. Actually, nothing at all besides his childish behavior with getting high and drunk whilst driving it right into the side of a local high school. The information was spoken through the grapevine.. i.e. the chatty chats of bussers over at Iris & Eve. Far from the type to lurch assumptions upon someone without fully knowing them, even with their families past with each other, she did not grace him with a wide embrace but she was willing to be in his vicinity and give him a shot. Well, all promises kept but every moment with him around made her skin crawl. It was as if everyone decided to make a secret group chat and find ways to irritate Pandora. Nor did it help that he was inconsiderate considering he was a guest ─ regardless of the misfortunate circumstances rapidly increasing in the world. 

“Excuse me?” The motion of her neck moving toward the nearest clock could’ve nearly given her whiplash. Blinking a hue times. It was still mid-day. While naps were understandable, not to the extent to what Scotty was hoping to receive. “Oh, I’m sorry.. did I happen to ruin your sleep and your obnoxious sleep habits?” Placing a hand upon her clothed, oversized Cal-Tech pullover, near her heart as she pressed false care upon her overlay. “Because last time I checked, this isn’t your house, Scotty. You can’t just blast things on full gear without permission!” Hissing through clutched teeth, a singular hand shifting through the lavish space of the home knowing it was only them and a few of the help, but even then, they were lucky considering the basement was soundproof. “You interrupt my sleep. Now, you think I am going to be gentle with you?” A brief before laughing and shaking her tresses. Typically, she would be stiff as a rock but these circumstances said otherwise. “No way, get up, let’s do something outside. Heaven knows it’s been a few years since I’ve gone on the trampoline.” Witnessing as the backyard was full of activities and being inside was making her stir crazy. 

[pandoramarlow]

❛  CLAIRE WOODROW-MARLOWE.

“Don’t even remind me, Pandora. I can feel my liver working double time ever since filming began. They said that lawyers often drink themselves to death, but I’m pretty sure this wasn’t how.” Right now, Claire was more than happy to just reach for the infused water their housekeeper had made for them; refreshing notes of lime and cucumber, and the taste of water was heaven in it’s own right. “I don’t think I drank all that much when I was in college as much as I drink now. And how many weeks of filming has it even been?” Claire knew, but she liked acting like she didn’t give a fuck. With the album placed between the two of them, the older woman thumbed the pictures, almost tasting the nostalgia but that could also be the dust from the attic they were kept in. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, a sudden pang of emotion filling her chest for a life before all this. She was seeing herself, much younger than today, and she could see the light behind the younger one’s eyes. Looking up at Pandora, she could see that same youthfulness. The zest of being young. Even if Claire had never been quite big on affection, she loved Pandora like her own daughter. As her own daughter, because that’s what she was. Before she could give into her motherly instincts, the blonde chimed in and the moment was shattered as the former’s eyes travelled to the picture her pseudo-daughter was pointing to. “Uhh…” The little black dress that Claire had worn to a sorority party, the first time she had met Christopher actually, even though there wouldn’t be any picture evidence until two years, and a Thanksgiving dinner at The Woodrow Estate, of the two of them. “I’m sure it’s probably in….my parents’ house. I outgrew that dress…too quickly. But I’m sure I’ve got some other vintage outfits in storage that you could peruse. I just never thought I’d…” Damn sentimentality. Claire swallowed, “…that I’d be…passing things down to another generation.” 

It doesn’t inescapably astound Pandora on the information about the housewives and their excessive consumption of liquor often caused emotions to be enhanced. Spoken from her own experiences, the flight and fight insistently was only reflecting on how each encounter was indifferent. Just imagining all six of those women in the same room together, it was a blood bath with the camera’s perched around every corner of the room capturing it all. No wonder why people were so absorbed with this lifestyle and watching these women ripe each other throats out. Her step-mothers words beguiled her overlay and seafoam glaze, “You’re supposedly dealing with hot bargains, Claire. It would be boring if they were caught seen drinking water. I’m all about promoting water and the consumption of it but this is Bravo.” Lifting her own infused water to her petals, the necessary taste of the fruits swiftly informed her of its whereabouts. This was life, she had thought to herself. All she could do was heave a cavernous sigh from the pit of her stomach. Returning back to the topic the housewives once again. “It doesn’t take a mastermind to know alcohol can do more damage than the said drama going around town,” she truthfully acknowledged through a sly shrug. Straying far away from the drama, camera and real-life related, the platinum tressed female had no desire to be involved in people’s travesty and a body to keep their secrets airtight. This was something she did not have the energy for. Especially considering, her biggest concern happened to be focusing upon knowing a path for her future ─ which will come sooner than later. Instantly swiping her neck toward Claire, nearly causing herself whiplash from how rapid the movement was, it followed suit with her usual plummy range, “Three weeks into filming.” Not like she was counting secretly. Nonetheless, those few weeks have been substantial. Luckily, the Marlowe’s did not have to fret about the cameras entering into their safe space and capture any optical footage. Perhaps, it was the advantage of Claire’s trust issues coming into play because Pandora could sleep in till wee hours and not be bothered. Then again, she would’ve found a way to make the camera crew lives boring on purpose in her space. Seafoam hues flickering upon the aged artifact from Claire’s past, feeling a minimal ping of pride on being here and being able to have the other to share the past with her. It made her feel sentimental even though Pandora had no reason to be. This was from Claire’s past and she was nowhere to be seen in them. Still, her attention was undivided upon the pictures as she carefully examined from a distance as two digits toyed on the photo albums corner. Yet, just when her hues found something worthy of breaking the quietude, it was a dress and she wanted it. It was an instant fixation. Whilst she fawned over the dress in the picture, something in her step-mother’s tone took a swift change, only causing her domed brows in her direction and shiver of discomfort to occupy her translucent complexion. “Claire,” stiffly entering into the former quietude as an excruciating motion of clearing her throat wanted nothing to deal with any emotions. “Don’t even worry about the dress. It’s beautiful. You looked beautiful but I’ll just find my own dress,” she inserted through clenched, stiff jawline as her mouth minimally gaped as a false comforting smile entered into the atmosphere.

[beth-cassidy]

How’s your shoulder?

requested by anonymous

[lourdeshoward]

ft. @pandoramarlow

[pandoramarlow]

special delivery to ; @prescottmellon​

location ; the marlowe’s residency

date & time ; march 16th at 2:30pm

The quintessential routine of Pandora’s day to day consisted of sleeping in till noon, briefly scan over her e-mails which was always an influx of young girls attempting to get with Matthieu through her, and then scrolling shamelessly social media sights before her cerebrum grew numb. All of this happened before her shift at Iris & Eve. Unfortunately, the next two weeks would be a fortunate hit to her income. Other kids would’ve asked their parents to loan them money to pay for their finances, the platinum locked blonde took measures into her own grips. All of the evenings of her shift were jammed packed and the enormous tips were benefits. Then again, what mattered more? Your own personal health or your finances? Both, but technically the first option. It’s how she ended up in this circumstance. It may seem like butterflies and sunshines flower just by the glance of it. Prescott Mellon had decided to make himself snug in the Marlowe Residency in Ventura as self-quarantine became a reality. Plus, swearing on her mother’s grave, the other male did not want to go home and spend it with his uncle. Now, it just meant she had to share her bed with him. Platonic and all. From her bedroom, the young girl could hear a COVID-19 Quarantine Party playlist blasting through the surround-sound downstairs. The only reason how she knew it was this particular playlist because Pandora was guilty, herself, on taking a listen to it. Of course, it appeared on her Spotify activity and a majority of Matty’s fans entered into Instagram DMs asking her about her favorite song. This was their generation. It was a reality but yet, comical to the majority of them. If she could remember correctly, she had sworn the kid's neighbors down the street were shrieking in relief at the lack of school for the upcoming weeks. Or, it could’ve been Evelyn because that woman was a tyrant and misfortune happened to be her middle name. Then again, who had the time to investigate the noise down the block? Not her. Social-distancing was in full effect. We’ll just see how well it turned out to be considering Scotty was here and plenty of liquor to last them for fourteen days, hell, even longer if they wanted to pull extreme measures.

After folding the last of her items, the petite female made her grand way down the sizable stairs that ate up the majority of space in the house, only to wander into the family room. All she could do was put her hands upon her petite hips, watching Scotty in the distance making himself right at home. The break between the current song ending and the next one beginning was the perfect moment for her to intrude on his festivities. Howling on top of her lungs, something that may have been unexpected from how rarely Pandora's voice rarely rose from the shelter of its angelic range. “Hey!” Seafoam hues staring down at him before throwing her hands up in the air. Within an instant, the platinum blonde told Alexa to lower in volume which oddly enough, the device decided to abide by her request for once. “Are you fucking deaf? Do you realize there are other people in this house going through quarantine as well?” Knowing and doing the most to bite her tongue about how his quarantine should be at home with his uncle. All of the yattering which caused her eardrums to ache in agony, this was the last territory she’ll dip her toe into.

[pandoramarlow]

❛  SAFIYA TORRES.

Safiya had patiently waited her turn for that mojito and she would be damned if some older men wanted to ogle her friend’s tits while getting drunk, and she had huffed and puffed loud enough till they moved along. “You’re a lifesaver, my love! Thank you!” She was quick to pick up the glass, raising the glass to Pandora before she downed the alcoholic beverage, letting all the flavours swirl and leave that cool feeling down her throat. “I swear, your cocktails might be infused with actual magic, because this is good. Like, magic good.” She was going to savour this drink and the bubble of a moment in which nothing bad could touch her, till Pandora hit her with the hard questions and she shook her head. “I didn’t fuck anyone at that table! Or their male partners, I swear! It’s not my fault a guy doesn’t tell me that he has no plans on leaving his wife anytime soon, and then makes me all gooey on the inside…” She was biting her lip at the thought of Jason, but she was quick to snap out of it. “It’s one of the Halliwells, I think. Their friends are stupid intolerant and I’ve have about ye much till I throw someone to the ground.” 

Shooting a bayonet emotion of her seafoam hues towards the older men in reference, fully aware that her known ‘resting bitch’ face often made it complex for them to read over whether she was interested or not. The majority of the time was the latter ─ she was not simply because all she wanted to do was crawl into her bed after these treacherous shifts. It didn’t help that the secondary bartender, Schwartz, had no desire to make the drinks but flirt his angelic, baby blue hues away to all of the girls across from him now. This was what was precisely happening at the moment. The sight in her peripheral vision was swift but tucking into a roll at how sleazy he was. “I’m glad I can be a life savior every once in a while,” she noted through a chuckle. Adjusting her posture and tucking a loose platinum lock, all she could do was observe the other’s indulgence of her mojito ─ which was the one drink that gave her terrific biceps without the need for hitting the gym. Accepting compliments still happened to be a suit Pandora struggled with but when it came to her work, it started to be a religious set of information for others that caused Pandora to endure a simper whilst letting a hand rest against the marble. A brief state of illumination made her glow underneath the establishment’s dim lights. “While I did have a brief knowledge of mixology before I got this job, I did pick up instantly on a lot of the specialty drinks. It’s like I have Pandy-sense when I poured enough liquor in.” Afterward, a shrug rolled off, having nothing more extensive to say. Rarely did she boost herself up on the pedestal but in comparison to Schwartz, the blonde did all of the heavy liftings for the bar staff. Yet, even if she wanted to imagine that she was falsing the words that just rolled off the tip of Safiya’s tongue, the blonde was caught dead in her tracks and still. “Why the fuck would you listen to a man who’s married as well claimed that he’s going to leave his wife?” Minimally questioning, even if the other didn’t retort, regardless there was going to be a lecture from Pandora afterward. Truthfully, the other woman in reference needed a reality check. “99.8% of the time he will never leave his wife. It just doesn’t work.” And those were her final words. Any sort of drama, gossip, for that matter had no insert. All she could do was shoot it down when it came flying in her direction. Arms crossing over her petite frame as a chuckled entered into the atmosphere ─ only minimally intrigued. “Which Halliwell did you piss off?” 

[pandoramarlow]

❛  REINA RHODES.

When Reina notices the already poured glass of wine waiting for her as she approaches the bar, she can’t help the smile that graces her features. “Look at you — so prepared. I knew there was a reason I hired you.” A reason aside from the fact that Pandora is Claire’s niece and, at this point, practically her daughter, but that’s neither here nor there. The younger woman has made quite the impression as a bartender since they opened, she’s easily the best one they have, and that’s enough to gain Reina’s respect. Not to mention, she picked up pretty quickly that she should always have a heavily poured glass of Pinot Noir waiting when Reina arrives. The gesture has her in good spirits, and she moves to take her glass of wine to a vacant table to do some work when Pandora’s request stops her, and she looks at the blonde with a lifted brow. What she hears next is far from what she’d expected, and the bomb Pandora’s just dropped has her nearly choking on her wine, although she manages to pull herself together after a few short coughs. “Excuse me?” The first thought that comes to her mind is who in their right mind would do such a thing, but it vanishes as soon as it enters her brain and Reina answers her own question instantly. Of course she knows exactly who would have the audacity to fuck someone in their restaurant’s kitchen, and it’s the same man who apparently couldn’t give a damn that people are now gossiping about it all over the restaurant. Soon enough it’ll come out who the culprits in the kitchen were, and then Reina will really be fucked. Narrowing her eyes, Reina leans in close to the bar, doing her best not to make it obvious how severely pissed off she is about this and, ultimately, failing miserably. “If you hear anything more about this, I want you to come straight to me, alright? I mean it, if those two weasels say anything else, or if anyone comes to you with more information, I want to know first.” Maybe she can nip this in the bud before the rumor mill spreads so wide that her dirty laundry is aired for all of her employees to hear about, but at this point, Reina doesn’t have much hope. She almost misses the word brawl pass Pandora’s lips, but even in her rage she manages to catch it, and she narrows her eyes even further at the girl, if that was even possible. “Who the fuck did he get into a fight with?”

All the platinum locked female could do was simply relish in the compliment and her institution to Reina’s whereabouts in providing a hefty consumption of Pinot Noir. Rarely did she open her mouth unless it was necessary, all she could do was observe from a distance. Always watching, always keeping track. A singular upturn from her left side indented into Pandora’s fair cheek as a rare sight of a dimple presented itself. “It’s best to be prepared rather than panicking at the last minute.” Admitting in a collected songbird range of hers, a shrug rolled off her black-clothed shoulders due to the restaurant's attire. Whilst she took the compliment instantly, it did not etch upon her features but she valued the words. Even if they were a rarity, if she received any compliment from the owner of the restaurant, it was a job well done. As well, getting this position considering her own struggle on her future, it was her utmost responsibility to prove this position was something she valued rather than taking for granted and letting the business slack off. If only she could fully devote herself to her computer science degree. It would’ve given her the opportunity to invent and allow her creativity to flourish. It was one of the many reasons why she went to school to gather this degree ─  not be a bartender. Yet, it was just a stepping stone to eventual future... whatever that was. Right now, the short-locked female was far too invested in earning tips and providing the quality pour of Iris & Eve’s signatures drink after informing of the other about the travesty behind the scenes. Dead in her own tracks, both of her hands rested upon her hips as the scorn overlay indicated it was true and far from a joke. The young female was far from the type to play tricks, especially in her workplace. “Yeah, unfortunately, the aftermath clean up was disgusting.” Parched tone shivered in disdain, hues keeping eye contact with Reina as if her stare was blank and cold at how the gossip was far from her favorite small talk subject. Despising all of the information that rested in the palm, no one was brave enough to address the information to Reina so here was Pandora having to be the bearer of horrid news. In comparison to Jason’s reaction, which meant the younger female had to speak to him like a child, each one of Reina’s words drilled into her conscience. People confided into her with ease. Rarely did she respond but surely, she’ll hear things in the next couple of hours. A nod indicated she was aware of what she needed to do, inching closer towards the bar so no other ears were eavesdropping to gather the information about the scenario, “You got it. I’ll probably know more in a couple of hours considering everyone likes to confide in me. Probably because I rarely say anything in return.” A confession, but it would remind Reina that Pandora’s reason for being here was to work and not deal with this nonsense for another evening more. Only to throw her hands up in defense, the sight of her hues widened to the size of ping pong balls before a shrug pulled up to her ear lobes as a state of startle occupied. “Hell if I would know. I’m assuming it was a customer from the way the conversation went.” A pause, only to drop her hands and clear her throat in a baffled state. The most expression she gave others in a public vicinity. “The customer didn’t like how things were being handled hence how it got physical. That’s all I know and how much I listened.” Almost wanting to inform Reina that her husband was halfwit and a waste of space. Then it meant her job was on the line. All she could do was adjust her blouse and attempt to allow the state of startle to wither down.

[pandoramarlow]

❛  LOURDES HOWARD.

Lourdes had a messy track record with romantic partners, given how warped her own views on love and intimacy were. She definitely used her sexuality like a token, and her terrible habit of using and then discarding partners was…disappointing, to say the least. But it was different with Pandora; they had never dated officially, but Lourdes is weak at the heart and the knees for the blonde woman. The bartender had been her first female lover, two girls just exploring each other and what it meant to be attracted to beauty like that. Sure, they drifted apart as all friendships do, and with their mothers’ volatile relationship, even there’s went through the highs and lows, but Lourdes could never stay away from Pandora, even if she tried. Coming back home, finding her here at her part time job, it felt like destiny to the loud brunette, and she’s afraid to fuck it up. Afraid that she’s going to admit something she can’t take back. “Like seriously! Have you not been here before, idiot?” Rolling her eyes and adjusting her hair, that had been tied up into a high ponytail, a tell tale sign that Lourdes was bothered….and nervous. Suddenly, the former felt a little conscious; even though she was wearing her favourite LBD, she hadn’t put much effort into her face, and now she wondered if Pandora could see that. And if she thought Lourdes didn’t care about looking pretty for her. Her nails tapped against the bar’s surface, as the girl huffed and puffed, and listened to her friend (the word just feels like a stab through the heart) talk about tips and working behind the bar. She’s genuinely happy for Pandora, because she’s doing something that she can rave about. Unlike Lourdes, and that general feeling of being stuck. “Girl. you gotta fucking dish! I stand over there for like four hours maybe, and the lunch crowds are so boring, like please, I’d rather drown myself in some mimosa instead. The night really brings all the freaks out, huh?” The tapping paused, as Lourdes paused to think. Fascinating stuff. Unless that one trip she took with Lizzie and the LSD on their couch was fascinating, the brunette hostess had nothing going on in her life. If it were anyone else, she would make up a party at Simi Valley, talking about going on a weekday bender. But this was Pandora, “….nothing, if I’m being honest. Unless you count having a screaming match with Charity. The cameras ate that shit up like no tomorrow.” 

Summers used to be where their souls explored for each other. Roaming hands, their tongues in a fighting match against the others, as it was a hidden message of assert dominance underneath one of the girl's sheets. It had been ten years to the upcoming date of the beginning of the summer when Pandora began to realize women were indeed better lovers than males. Pansexual was her proper title for her sexuality. Still, it didn’t mean that she didn’t date the opposite sex because she did. It was wrong for her to compare a relationship to a fleeting lover, who was standing on the opposite side of the bar, as no one else could compare to how Lourdes made her feel in moments when they were naive and innocent to their feelings. It was simply all fun and games. At least, not for her behalf, but those were spoken words that she never allowed herself to express because they would swiftly change the dynamic between the pairing. If there was one thing Pandora learned, it was often allowing your emotions to be buried and to suffer in the confines of her heart ever imagining not having Lourdes Howard in her life. Considering it was strenuous and how much she would’ve reached out to the brunette to fall into her bed like good ole times, it was never boundary she crossed since that summer when they were teenagers. It was enough considering her parental figure and Lourdes's mother were no-longer friends for whichever reason that happened to be. It was never something she asked about. The truth was Pandora hated drama and being involved in it. It was comical considering she worked in the food industry and it was the number one job where gossip formed effortlessly. Grabbing a glass in the nearby vicinity, the bartender began to clean down the object because any sight of water stains drove her sanity through the roof, “Did you forget sometimes that this island caters to tourists?” A saccharine tone questioned Lourdes but the lighthearted bounce and the wink shot toward the other indicated the teasing was meant with good intentions. As well, hoping the other would catch the hidden meaning of flirting which she was rusty on. Or, at least she hoped. Still, seafoam hues may have been multitasking behind the bar, the eyesight was prominently upon Lourdes picking up on the quirks over the other. The things she learned when the doors were closed. Just the sight of the other fixing their hair caused severe pain in the center of her chest to alert her about the feelings that were still there. Tossing off those thoughts, a couple that were seated toward Schwartzy’s section of the bar walked by and caught Pandora’s attention as it instantly caused her to force a beam to make them feel welcome. It was awful. The blonde hated falsing any emotion. Then again, it was better than her known resting bitch face which frightened many. Smiling for a fleeting moment, it was because Lourdes brought this side out of her ─ euphoric sensation submerged in cloud nine. “You look pretty today. You always do.” Leaning forward against the bar, it was a subtle but necessary comment considering it was meaningful and full of a saccharine as lashes batted toward the other. Part of her knowing it could’ve been stepping boundaries but from the angle and how much she was watching with admiration, the other always looked breathtaking. If she didn’t snap out of it, her whole energy would swiftly change and potentially further make the other feel awkward. Little things, she reminded herself. Returning back the polished glasses on the shelf, all she could do was stifle a chuckle before shrugging, “I don’t really know if it’s exciting, Lolo. Men think they can get with me because I am a bartender, a woman, and flinging money my way would catch my fancy,” she grumbled in disgust. Those words allow caused her hues to roll back into her head in disdain. Absolutely not! Off with another shrug, the collected yet resting demeanor glazed over at the other after a shiver about old creepy men hitting on her withered down her spine, “It does but that’s when the best clients come in.” It may have looked monstrous with like little Pandora cared about men attempting to swoon her. There was no interest on her behalf. All she wanted to do was come to work and make money. Yet, her eyes never peered from the other even if she felt a ping of worries and jealously coursing through her. She can’t expect to have everything handed to her on a silver platter in terms of knowing what Lourdes was doing. “Screaming match with Charity?” Responding as the blonde rested a hand upon the clean bartop, tilting her head as concern started to inch over her facial. “Is everything okay?” 

[pandoramarlow]

❛  JASON RHODES.

“Yeah, I thought so too,” he says as he leans back into his barstool, smirking around another gulp of whiskey. If it weren’t for her looking him directly in the eye he probably would’ve missed her next statement, but he doesn’t and the recant of the consequences of his own mishap in the kitchen has him choking on his whiskey. Shit. “Oh, yeah? Which one of those little fucks told you that?” Either way, both Alex and Jordan are going to get an earful from him about learning to keep their stupid fucking mouths shut, and not spreading rumors before coming to their boss. Not that the ‘rumor’ isn’t completely true, because it absolutely is, but still. “Listen, do me a favor and keep that shit to yourself for now, would you?” Pandora seems like a smart girl, or at least smart enough that she’d know not to go blabbing about shit that doesn’t concern her when he asks her not to, but just in case he’s not above throwing a little threat to her job in there to be sure the point is driven home. “We don’t want that getting around to customers and shit. Nobody’ll come here anymore and you’ll be fucked for a job.”

At his unnecessary words, all the blonde bartender could do was peek at him whilst catching sight of the smirk. Luckily, all she could do was turn on her heel and allow the seafoam circular eyes to wonder who dropped the male on his head when he was a baby hence due to his peculiar actions of satisfaction. Putting back polished glasses on the shelf, it was only when Jason’s words caused Pandora to return back to him ─ unfortunately. One eye slightly tampered, jaw protruding forward presenting the older male with a controlled but common facial expression that inched upon her overlay commonly. While she would’ve much rather have no informed the other, barely caring for the workplace antics unfolding whilst she only came to make money and go home, owners needed to know what was being spread. “Both of them. At different times of the evening but Alex was first.” Spoken through a thin, songbird of falsetto as if it was clear through her interlaced words on how little she cared to know any more details. The two bussers were known to eavesdrop into a conversation. Yet, cleaning up the kitchen was a rarity considering their jobs were strictly to be on the restaurant floor. Whoever decided to be a fucking pig and not clean up after themselves would endure some sort of wrath. Popping her left hip out, a slight hilarity illuminated upon her minimally layered of makeup, probably the first time in a while when Jason’s words caused a reaction other than disdain, “Of course. I think we know by now I can tackle and be the narc if necessary.” Not that it would ever beat on her conscience but the word would eventually come around over who was the patrons involved in the kitchen escaped. Even if Jason was one of the owners, the truth was the female was far from threatened by his remarks. If it was coming from Reina, then she would take them gravelly. “Jason,” she breathed before pinching the bridge of my nose. Nodding in his direction, “I know all of the unfortunate circumstances for all of our behalves. I just think those two brats need to get under control because they get amused by everything. I know how to keep my mouth shut for the sake of others.” It was like reassuring a child. Sometimes, it was like that.

[pandoramarlow]

❛  ROWAN THANE.

@pandoramarlow​  “… not many people really talk to me …”

Pandora Marlow is maybe the most unexpected thing to come out of the show so far. Rowan hadn’t anticipated meeting the blonde at a pre-shooting event, all cast members and their families getting acquainted with each other, but she is glad that she did. Pandora is, simply put, kind of a mess — it’s obvious that she’s going through a rough time right now and Rowan sympathizes. She remembers what it was like to feel completely out of your depth, like you’ve got no idea where to go to keep yourself above water. “That isn’t always a bad thing,” she points out with a shrug and a raise of her eyebrows. It goes without saying that with the money and notoriety in their social circles, not everyone always has good intentions. “They say quality over quantity, right? It’s better to have a small, close circle of people than a big one you barely know. Besides, it’s their loss, right?” And she really does mean that, even if she has managed to hit every fucking cliche in the book in one go. “Not to sound like a complete Hallmark rip off.”

The best individuals in Pandora’s life often happened to be the ones that came in unexpectedly if she was quite honest. At this particular moment, it was Rowan Thane whom the younger blonde was grateful for and their immediate dynamic. Typically she was seen but never heard. Or if she was heard, often ignored as the vicious cycle always depended upon the day. It was the bond with Rowan ─ who in the way was someone Pandora began to idolize when they met all of those weeks ago, something about being in the other’s company did not make her second guess anything. As if she was being irrational or too dramatic with the words she just disclosed into the atmosphere as the blonde fluttered into a quietude once again. Only to adjust her posture and turning her body to Rowan at her words to provide her undivided attention. Often what she did was adjust her frame in the opposite direction if she had no desire to listen but this was something she never did to the other. The youngest Marlowe had an immense amount of respect toward Rowan. Mostly because it was her advice and in a way just willing to deal with the plethora of worries constantly lingering over the younger girl. Surely, the other had things to worry about rather than needing to constantly console. “That’s probably the best thing anyone has said to me,” she wholeheartedly confessed. It may be generic but gripping onto those words. “I think it’s the mentality of this island that throws me off and makes me wonder why I still live here.” It was Pandora talking to just talk at the moment even if it did not make sense. After all, she lived here because the complications of her future were still unclear. “People expect you to be involved with others even if you have no shit in common with them. I always felt like people were never meant to stay in my life even long before my parents proved to me that they could leave too.” It was a desolating set of words as the gloomy words were laced heavily through her songbird range. The state of her demeanor was deceiving as it hides behind the ache in the center of her chest. Her parents left. Who else could leave her? Anyone. Even Rowan. Shaking off the erupting thoughts, all she could do was weakly smile towards Rowan, comical tone dripping minimally, “Are you telling me that you like Hallmark, Rowan Thane?”