snapshot

peter ryan valentine 27 years old environmental scientist and junior professor at cooper university recovering from a broken heart

[peter-valentine]

astrid-valentine​:

“What she needs is an accountant.” Blue eyes stared at the scenery pass by as they drove. She loved the life she had in Los Angeles, but it was nice being able to see the beach without having to sit through traffic first. “Yeah, but you grew up here. It’s different.” Astrid wasn’t ready to admit that there were a lot of things about Fallbrook that pulled her to it too though. She looked at Peter to nod. She could use some real food. All she was living on were Bentley’s lunchables and muffins from Wildflower. “I see what this is about, you wanna hang out more.” Astrid smiled at him. “Admit it, I’m your favorite cousin.”

Everyone was allowed to complain about work and there was no point in arguing with Astrid about the cafe, but Peter still chuckled at how annoyed it made her. “You have a point, but you might as well make friends while you’re here. Other than me.” Peter nodded like she had and took a turn down a windy road towards one of the local restaurants. “Am I your favorite cousin? Don’t be shy.” He drove into the drive through line and rested his elbow on the rolled down window. “Do you know what you want?” He ordered a milkshake and burger for himself and waited for Astrid to make a decision. Peter kept a lot to himself around his cousins. He knew it wasn’t his place to bring it up, but he overheard his aunt talking about Jaz’s situation and couldn’t help but wonder how that was affecting Astrid.

[peter-valentine]

astrid-valentine​:

“That sounds rich coming from you a tree hugger.” Astrid raised an eyebrow at Peter (she wondered how he ever survived in a big city full of over consumerism when he was in college). She reached for the cigarettes in her bag, but let them go before he realized what she was doing and tossed them into oblivion. “It was good. Same as yesterday. Same as the day as before. I think we’re starting to have regulars, but Jaz needs to stop giving out free coffee or we’re going to go out of business.” Her older sister was too nice for her own good. The blonde followed him to the car and got in (she tried not to judge the electric vehicle). “Oh my god.” Astrid rolled her eyes like she had the last time they spoke about her going to college. “I already told you that it’s not for me. I did beauty school already and I never want to read another book in my life.”

“Yeah, okay.” Peter chuckled at the reminder. He turned the car on and back out of the spot to head towards Rosewood Hills where she stayed with family and he lived near family. “That’s why she has you, isn’t it? To keep things in line while she figures out the business thing.” He turned the radio on even though he was sure Astrid would change the station to something else. “It’s an option, Astrid. Don’t close any doors yet. Who knows. Maybe you’ll end up loving Fallbrook so much you’ll decide to make it your permanent home. I did.” He knew his situation was different than hers. It was weird to see Astrid all grown up. He always saw her as his little cousin, but they barely had three years between them. “Hungry?”

[peter-valentine]

at wildflower cafe with @astrid-valentine​

“I know Fallbrook is twenty by twenty blocks, but you really should consider getting a car.” Peter was happy to drive his family around, but he was well aware of how independent his little cousin was and something told him she would be in town longer than the few months she said when the three sisters first arrived. “How was your shift?” He pulled his car keys from his pocket and aimed them at his electric car parked across the street. His eyes roamed to Astrid. If she made friends he wasn’t aware of then she might stay for good. “Have you given any more thought to what we talked about last time?”

[peter-valentine]

[peter-valentine]

📞

Gwendolyn: Hi, honey. It's mom. How have you been?

Peter: Hey, ma. I'm good. Work has been great and I'm making connections with the other professors. How are you? Do you need anything?

[peter-valentine]

teodoraxperez​:

She grinned at him. “Happily.” She said before looking at their teacher and nodded as they talked about the recipe and she grabbed one of the mixing bowls. “I did. It’s not too hard, I promise.” She promised as she handed him the bowl. “So, first we’re mixing the dry ingredients together.” Teodora pointed to the instruction on the paper. “We did a cup of flour and then half cup sugar.” She said and grabbed the measuring cups. “You want to do the sugar?”

“Yeah.” Peter looked at the ingredients on the table and grabbed the sugar. He took one of the measuring cups from her and started pouring. He was always relaxed, content with life as it was. Peter saw no point in doing things if he couldn’t enjoy them, hobbies and chores alike. Teodora was nice and good to be around so he was seeing everything as a win win, with dessert at the end as the cherry on top. “Did you get any other basket dates?” He asked curiously. 

[peter-valentine]

teodoraxperez​:

Out of the two dates she got out of this, the one at the bakery was definitely the one that didn’t make her feel anxious. While she was kinda looking forward tot he trip with Jordan, baking was definitely her second favorite thing to do in a kitchen and it made her feel calm. She showed up maybe a little earlier to get started and was in the apron and ready to go by the time Peter got there. She greeted him and nodded happily. “I am, thank you.” She said and shook her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll help out.” She promised him. “We’re doing this together, right?”

As a pacifist, Peter wasn’t much for competition because he didn’t want people finding out that he secretly loved to win more than anything else. Pretending like he wasn’t a sore loser was the only thing he wasn’t true to himself and others about so it was better to avoid competition when he could. “Together would be better, you can help me with all of your skills.” He chuckled and looked at the person who taught them how to use everything in the kitchen. Peter leaned into Teodora. “I hope you caught all of that, because I got distracted after he pointed out the recipe.” 

[peter-valentine]

brooke--tyler​:

 “I’m doing okay, just came out to get away from town for a bit. How about you?” The firefighter asked curiously. She paused for a moment before adding a second thought. “Do you want to be alone? I can find another spot to hang out, luckily there’s a lot of wilderness real estate to go around.” Brooke offered with a smile, figuring it was the polite thing to do. Not that she would mind having some company, especially not from someone who she considered to be a fairly calming presence. 

“Thought I would do a bit of the same.” He wasn’t overwhelmed with life or trying to escape, but it was harder to find time and a place to do his research when others were around. He wanted to ask why she needed to get away, but he always tried to consider people’s feelings and didn’t want to overstep with Brooke. They weren’t close friends or anything of the sort and he didn’t feel like he should inquire any further unless she told him more about it on her own. Peter chuckled at what she offered and shook his head. “That’s alright, you’re fine. It would me nice having someone to talk to instead of myself, people might start to think I’m crazy.” He pointed at a burrow by a rock on the lake’s edge. “Want to take a look?” A river snack shed its skin recently.

[peter-valentine]

at Sweet Tooth with @teodoraxperez​

Peter liked the kind of stuff they were gifted with the private baking lesson. He liked learning new things and when he wasn’t out doing research, he was a homebody. What felt rather loopy about their date was that he was in the kitchen with someone who already knew her way around the place. He knew that Teodora was a chef. “I hope you’re enjoying the basket.” He also knew that her skills were going to be amazing right off the bat. “I’m just going to apologize in advance for my lack of talent before we begin.” He liked being in the kitchen and cooking, but he knew that anything he could make wouldn’t compare to a professional like her or the person teaching them.

[peter-valentine]

quinncohen​:

Quinn let her eyes drift over to Peter as she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “Do you have any idea what it would be? People still amaze me when they are able to tell the sex of the baby by the way the bump is shaped.” She chuckled as she turned on her heel to start walking so the both of them could walk through the fair instead of standing in one spot for too long. Usually whenever she stood in one spot for too long she was stuck looking at the judgmental looks of those who were around her. “He likes music, movies. He’s outdoorsy and a complete goof for this girl.” She chuckled. “Um… I’m thinking two hundred. He’s… He deserves something a little more this year.”

“Unfortunately not, no idea.” Peter shook his head, but he wished he could be one of those people so he could get started on gifts for Logan’s baby shower. Peter followed after her without having to be told, because he was enjoying the conversation with Quinn and because he was a Valentine and had to be polite. “If I had to bet I would say a boy because we outweigh the women in the family.” They passed a couple of people he knew and he waved at them. “You can never go wrong with a gift card, but if you want something more meaningful then you could get him an album to his favorite band. The music store is pretty close by. Or we can head to Lloyd’s and check out their outdoors section?”

[peter-valentine]

audreyhill​:

“Don’t tell me the students are calling you by your first name?!” Audrey responded with a faux shock before chuckling. She took the steps down and took in the view from the front of the class and couldn’t help the swell of pride for her best friend having accomplished what he set out to do. “Yea it’s about what kind of effect paper products can have on our carbon footprint,” she turned towards him with a grin trying to throw what she thought she’d overheard someone say when coming in. “Always hungry,” she nodded quickly, “Are there any good eats on this campus?” she asked stepping in line with him.

“No.” Peter’s immediate response was followed by the truth, because he found lying about trivial things useless and he wasn’t going to do it with Audrey. “Not all of them.” He shrugged and grabbed his satchel, sliding his laptop and some notebooks into it. Peter turned and paused in surprise for a moment, arching both of his eyebrow at her. “I see you were sitting in on class.” As her best friend, Peter liked to think he knew Audrey a little better than that so he decided to tease her a little. “At an individual or mass production level?” He threw the bag over his shoulder and grabbed round brown glasses off of his desk. He used them when looking over research and student papers, neither of which they were doing so he slid them into the front pocket of his shirt. “A couple. Are you feeling Indian, Mexican, Southern cuisine?” He looked over to her and opened the door as he walked to the other side of the room so they could head out. “Where have you been lately? I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.”

[auddie00]

Close to the Horizon/Dem Horizont so Nah (2019) dir. Tim Trachte

[peter-valentine]

birthdays with the Valentine’s

[peter-valentine]

brooke--tyler​:

@peter-valentine​

Location: Loveland Lake

Although Brooke wasn’t the world’s greatest outdoorswoman she did enjoy spending time outside, especially alone. It was one of the few times her mind didn’t move a million miles a minute because there was actually space to stop and sit for a while. No one needed anything and there weren’t a ton of distractions. She’d tried actual meditation but it really only ever made her fall asleep. So this was her version: sitting by the reservoir, skipping a couple rocks, and watching the water move in and out as the rocks plopped in. 

As an environmentalist, Peter spent the majority of his time either in nature or in an office evaluating his findings before he taught a classroom full of fresh university students about them. Loveland Lake was one of his favorites places to visit and it was close to home relatively speaking. He was looking at some pebbles by the shore when he heard someone approach. He turned and smiled when he recognized the firefighter. “Hey Brooke. How are you?” He was there because mountain lakes were a great place for past and present environmental changes due to their lack of human activity.

[peter-valentine]

chelseamreynolds​:

And just like that Peter was off and chatting with the rest of his ginormous family. He’d made a gesture indicating he would return but she wasn’t holding her breath. It was pretty easy to get caught up in conversations with one Valentine or another. Chelsea managed to give off enough vibes to avoid–sometimes. But Valentine’s were a persistent bunch. Peter did in fact return though, with a quip about her being a part of their family. She’d never felt like a Valentine, more so just swallowed up by them than being an equal part of it. But she did her best to show up for Logan, her niece, and nephews. “Well I never said I wasn’t a part of it, just don’t know how I’ll ever get used to it. Not like I always grew up with all of–this.” She gestured to the chaos around them, but was also referring to the bubbly, sunshiny love that filled up every corner of their perfect family home. “Pretty different.” Already she was feeling so awkward being there, “Anything new with you Peter?”

“It’s easier if you just accept it.” The way he gave the small piece of advice sounded like he had been through the denial phase before. Peter was a vegetarian so his plate had half of the things the rest of his family’s had, but he always came prepared by arriving pre-fed. His parents were supportive, but that didn’t mean that the plant based meat they cooked for him every Sunday was appetizing. Not eating meat didn’t mean that he didn’t want his food to be flavorful. Southerners never understood that, it was why he had to leave to find who he was among people he had more similarities with for several years. “Nothing my mom or Emmi haven’t told you, I’m sure.” He knew how much those two blondies liked to talk everyone’s ears off. “What about you? Are you still working at...” He tried to remember some basic things about everyone to make them feel heard. “Sweet Tooth?”

[peter-valentine]

[peter-valentine]

j-scarlet​:

“Thanks.” Scarlet wasn’t surprised to see a Valentine there ready to help. There were a lot of them and they were scattered everywhere, always showing up when people needed help. Scarlet grew up going to school with a couple of them. Emmi and her were in the same grade growing up and everyone knew that family, but she caught on to a couple of things over the years. 1. Valentine’s are all smiles and unavoidable, and 2. Even if you want to hate a Valentine they make it really hard to. Scarlet grew up knowing that despite their kindness towards her, she was never anything more than their cousin’s best friend and a prop in their lives. For the family who seemingly ran Fallbrook, Scarlet was a side character in their lives. She thought that some people drew the short stick by happenstance. Her fingers moved around the cables, fiddling with the lights until she got rid of a knot and moved on to the next. She only looked at Peter when he said something, but she wasn’t surprised that he was trying to make conversation. “No, have you?” She pulled her hat off and handed it to him. “Let’s see if it suits you?” She knew it would. As ridiculous as dressing up as an elf looked, she knew it would suit him. 

Peter focused on the web of Christmas lights in his hand. The task required patience and he was full of it from a young age. It took a certain kind of personality to grow up in a home of rambunctious boys unscathed. He multitasked as Scarlet talked with him and he looked up when a triangle shaped green hue came into his vision. He took the elf hat and made no comment about the tousled hair it left behind on Scarlet, but it suited her. He knew about Scarlet’s life, but never from first hand experience hearing it. Everything he knew about Scarlet was from listening in on someone else’s discussion of her. The things they said never fit with the way she portrayed herself with him. He heard she was fragile and broken, but looking at her right then she seemed self assured. She had an aura about her that made it seem like she knew what she was doing all the time and he wished he could have a fraction of her confidence in decision making. “How do I look?” Peter accessorized the costume with a smile. “Here.” He passed the untangled string to her and took up another. 

[peter-valentine]

quinncohen​:

If there was one thing the blonde was aware of it was the fact that there were people in this town with big mouths. It was more than obvious by the way most would drop into a whisper when she past by and the constant pity looks she got from others was enough to make her want to stay inside all the time but she knew she had be strong for Wyatt. After everything she put him through, it was the least she could do. Be better so he didn’t have to worry about her anymore. She let her eyes rest on the male in front of her, pressing her lips together. A part of her wondered how her life would have turned out had her mother been alive. “I hear you’re having another niece or nephew.” News of Logan’s pregnancy had spread through Fallbrook, adding to the fact that Quinn truly believed everyone in this town couldn’t mind their own business. “Yeah, um… If you got some spare time. I’m the worst with Christmas gifts and I just want this year to be a good one.”

Peter never preoccupied himself with town gossip. He heard of it just as anyone else with two ears living in a small town would, but believing it was another topic. His own family was at the center of speculation and criticism at times and his mother always taught them that actions spoke louder than words. Gwen shaped a large portion of who Peter grew up to be by example, in her patience, kindness, and thoughtfulness towards others. It was why he could see someone like the blonde and not think of her as Quinn from Eris but Quinn Cohen, surprisingly good singer and bartender at Starbeam. “That’s right. Adam and Logan are expecting another little bundle of joy.” He stated in the same way his grandmother would. Without a doubt, all of the women in Peter’s life had greatly influenced him. “It’ll be their fourth kid, we’re all trying to guess what it’ll be already. And sure, we’ll make the gif good but I’m sure your brother would be happy with anything you get. Is he a fan of music? Movies? Experiences? What’s our budget looking like?”