antoniasullivan

[antoniasullivan]

This woman had been a bit of an unexpected surprise. A welcomed one for sure and Toni appreciated how quickly the other put her on her toes. "Oh, I like secrets," she admitted, giving the other a once over of her own. "I mean... I'm not from here but I can certainly show you what's good about it." As a New Yorker with her lineage she could be just as forward without an ounce of shame. Toni took a couple of steps closer to the other woman and nodded, almost absently, as though she were hearing but not entirely listening, but then made eye contact. "Moths can't help but be drawn to a flame."

Saniata eyed the other woman, sizing her up and checking her out. "It's a secret," she said with a playful wink. It was true, but she could use it to be flirty. She was too pretty to not give some fun energy. "I'm starting to see that now... I think I might like what this little town has to offer, you know?" She laughed. If Saniata was anything, subtle was not it. There wasn't much else to do in this town besides work, so she may as well make the most of the hot people. "I don't mind bugs. I've had to swat away many annoying ugly things in my life..." She joked. "I'm sure you have to."

[antoniasullivan]

Despite picking up the accent, hard to miss really, she asked because she was hoping for a more definitive answer. "Where are you from? The only reprieve I got from the city was if we traveled somewhere on vacation, and my father is a workaholic obsessed with money so as you can imagine we didn't take off too often." When Toni had been old enough some of her travels had come with other people. School trips, going with her friend's families, and then with a boyfriend or girlfriend from there. The rosy memories with her father in some picturesque place were not there. "That's really good," she commended, "I'm sure it helps you a lot with business and returning patrons." Then she smiled at him and nodded, "don't worry I plan to be back. Who could resist a drink with the view you've got?"

As he responded Toni couldn't agree more with what he was saying and her head was practically bobbing along as he shared his thoughts. "For the most part I think people are just greedy. We'll take from earth and nature until there's nothing left." A little shrug and she added, "despite the good intentions of a few. I do wish it were different though. Because you're right... life is just pretty stressful and anxiety inducing most days. I only just started a few weeks ago but I feel like it helps. Maybe it's all in my head but I suppose that's where most things start, right?"

“I understand. Scenes like these were few in between where I am from as well,” Harry said with a nod. That he understood very well. Escaping to the countryside as a lad had been a reprieve, now being able to go to the beach whenever he wished was simply freedom. He found so much beauty here in Briar Ridge that it was easy to get struck by the beauty of it, so he felt similarly as she did. “Nah, not at all. In fact, I simply try to remember as many faces as I can, hard as it can be at times. And you are always welcome back to the establishment. The more company there I say, the merrier.”

“That actually sounds really pleasant. Why we don’t, as humans, go barefoot to be one with nature is a mystery. Well, maybe not all that much of a mystery, but it should be done more often. Perhaps we would be less inclined to harm the earth as humanity has if we connected with it more. Thank you, by the way, I will have to look into that when I get home. It sounds like something that would be good for a person to try and given how stressful our days can be, I could do with some of reducing that as well. Have you been doing this very long? I imagine the beach and the grass some of the more pleasant places to land your feet.”

[antoniasullivan]

Everything her newfound cousin was telling her so far was relatable. "I'm sorry that you lost her," Toni said softly. "Even if the relationship wasn't on solid ground that's still a tough loss to bear. Especially feeling so lost in the dark when it comes to her." Which, she felt as though she'd personally been mourning the loss of her own mother since the woman had vacated her life. Then Toni was suddenly included in the family dynamic and her heart felt heavy at the thought that people she never knew might have been missing her all along as much as she longed for them. "I think... I'm in the same boat as you. Not knowing you all were here all this time definitely stings but I never really even knew my mother so I'm not even sure what I feel towards her."

It should've been shocking or surprising on some level to hear the comments about her father, but Toni was well acquainted with how most people viewed the man. Something of which she'd been thinking a lot more about lately now that she'd connected with Cameron. Toni nodded slowly, indicating that she was taking the information in and digesting it. "I would love to hear from Tia. From everyone. And not just about my mother, either." This was her family and she wanted to know them. Wanted to be apart of them. Callum and the Flynn family had shone her what being apart of a family could be like and Toni was so starved for more. "No," she answered, eyes casting down, "I got a postcard years ago but I really have never heard from her or known where she's been. It's partially why I'm here."

Val shook her head with a rueful sigh. “I don’t know what it is with Flores women and taking their daughters and just leaving town.” She shook her head, trying not to live too much in the past because obviously there was nothing they could do to change it, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but regret the lack of connection she had had growing up. “No, mi madre passed away when I was in college. She and I had a umm- complicated relationship. I don’t know if I ever quite forgave her for not telling me about my family…” she paused, realizing that that word now encompassed the woman in front of her. “About you.” she added, her voice quieting with the weight of the emotions washing over her. 

“From what Tia Isabella has told me, they- the sisters - didn’t really approve of your mother’s relationship with your dad. And that caused a riff between them.” She paused, hoping this wasn’t revealing too much information for the woman. “But the rest is hazy, it might be best if you hear the full story, at least her side, from Tia.” Val let out a sigh and shrugged her shoulders. “So you don’t know where tu madre is now?” 

[antoniasullivan]

"In my experience..." Toni glanced back and forth between the woman that seemed to be starting conversation with her and the situation she too had been eavesdropping on. "Yes, people are pretty oblivious. And men have always seemed to be less observant than women." Mostly that was because women had to be highly attuned to their surroundings, for a number of reasons. But there was something a little uncomfortable about the scene currently unfolding near them. The girl was clearly uncomfortable and the male was trying to push her into it. Toni had never been shy about intervening and stepping in for a woman and she was on the verge of it then, but the couple started walking away. "I didn't hear that last bit. Did he give up or did he wear her down?"

who  — open starter.

where  —  anywhere that makes sense.

when  —  whatever fits.

      'C'mon babe  —  what's the worst that could happen?'  ——  Had been overheard through unintentional eavesdropping. Internally, Fidan shuddered, memories of the horrors those loose comments could produce came to surface somewhere in the back of her mind. Over the last eight years she'd done quite a bit of healing yet her gaze still gravitated over to whom she assumed was a couple, the boyfriend attempting to convince the girlfriend of something she clearly wasn't quite comfortable with from the get-go. The growth was that Fidan wasn't triggered into some trauma response and instead smirked a little to herself. "Do those coaxing questions ever end well?" It was a quiet question to the person closest to her. "Are people that oblivious to body language?"

[antoniasullivan]

"You're right about that," Toni began to tease, still holding onto her little cousin, "I don't think I could handle my only shades being either pasty white or sunburnt." Her smoothed over the top of Avie's head as they parted and she took the girl's hand instead as they moved further into her place. The Mexican roots she'd been blessed with from her mother's side was something she was proud to display, and discover more of as she explored the other half of her genetic makeup. "Oh, you mean my little bestie here?" For a moment she bit her bottom lip as she grinned at Avie then headed into the kitchen to make some tea. "I mean, rumor has it that you had a date for ball anyway. Avie should've been my date." Toni slid over to her cousin and took her hands and pulled her into a bit of a dance. "We could've danced, overate all the hors d'oeuvres, and just been the belles of the ball together. My dress actually wasn't anything fancy." It was something she shrugged over. A last minute decision to go meant Toni had to go with an option already in her closet. "You would've loved looking at how pretty everyone was dressed up," she glanced at Avie, "so many pretty dresses."

Callum laughed and made his way inside as Avie jumped into Toni's arms. "My pristine white skin will never adapt to this sun. It was made for the grey clouds of Ireland," he joked back. "You're lucky you only have half of this curse," he quickly added with a grin. He smiled at the affection, his hand squeezing Toni's shoulder in return. "A cup of tea would be lovely," he commented, moving further inside. "And nothing really. A certain someone," he gestured with a flick of his head towards Avie, "Wouldn't shut up about her cousin Toni, so here we are." Callum found a seat and made himself at home, always comfortable around her. "I think she was annoyed at me for not bringing her to the ball as my date because she wanted to see your dress."

[antoniasullivan]

"That's some bad luck right there," Toni chimed, amusement in her smile as her dark eyes twinkled in the dimming light. "You've got a karmic debt or something? Do someone wrong recently?" That grin morphed into a smirk as she glanced down at the mess and then looked back up to take in how dejected the other was from the loss.

New York was known to get hot. The summers in the city could be brutal and air conditioning was hit or miss. Yet, somehow, this coastal southern town seemed warmer. Damper. Stickier. How was there only one ice cream shop in town?

"Wanna join me? I'm still in line. You can get another... what was that? Cherry... raspberry sorbet...?"

open starter at sugar rush scoops, just after 8PM

While Bea didn't often indulge in her love for ice cream, the particularly sweltering temperatures today left her yearning for something cool and sweet, and it seemed as though half the town had the same idea, because the line had been out the door. Still, she persisted, and 20 minutes later two scoops of strawberry (with no fruit chunks) were hers.

... Extra emphasis on were because a kid plowed into her right at knee-level with enough force to send not one but both scoops of her pink treat tumbling to the sidewalk with a decided splat!.

"Oh, come on," she groaned to no one in particular.

[antoniasullivan]

"Big fish, small pond," Toni commented teasingly, "ever heard of that?" Granted growing up in New York in the way that she had, filthy rich and a player on the high society scene, bowling wasn't really on the cards. Thankfully by the time university came around her life changed for the better and Toni had begun to find some freedom and room to breathe in her life. The friends she made loved bowling and she found that it was a lot of fun. She dipped a pair of fries in hot sauce and tossed them in her mouth, amusement in her expression as she did so because as she'd spent more time with Marcus and gotten to know him a bit Toni had fun. "I haven't even warmed up yet, junior bowling champ. But if you're scared and need to call it now..."

PINEWOOD SOCIAL HOUSE ➟ @antoniasullivan

The two had become friends over the last few weeks, bonding over a shared love for food. That and Marcus enjoyed participating in whatever new TikTok trend she wanted to try out. The most recent of their videos is the trend where two people play rock, paper, scissors; the winner eats takeout, and the loser does a lap. She was fun, and he needed that right now. Marcus walked back after a strike and smirked at her, "I think that's game, set, match." He slid into the seat next to her and grabbed some fries. "You don't challenge the Briar Ridge '01 junior bowling champ to a game."

[antoniasullivan]

[antoniasullivan]

"I'm a good babysitter," Toni replied quickly, "I've got references to back it up." As long as the child wasn't hers then apparently she was amazing with them. Sometimes she wondered if that motherly instinct and need to create minis would start coming about, especially being in her early thirties. Being an aunt was enough for her either way. "If you've been running around after her all day, I'm not surprised to hear that." At his 'thank you' Toni nodded graciously in acceptance.

Learning that he was from New York raised her brow. "I keep running into fellow New Yorkers down here. What's going on up there that's sending everyone here?" Her arms crossed her chest and she made as though she was pondering something deep. "Sounds like a conspiracy of some sort..." When it came to her own reasons they were mixed and only one of them she could share if he returned the interest. "Hmm tequila and sports doesn't it for you then. Being a Manhattanite myself, I can't argue with your choices there." Not to mention she'd always been a tequila girl through and through. Those university party years could back it up, too.

With another glance to the happy girl watching the sea life move about in the tank, a smile touched her lips as she thought of what her thing was. When her eyes turned back to the girl's father she had no shame in admitting — "Food does it for me. I'm a foodie through and through. Have my own TikTok famous foodie review even. That's what makes me giggle and giddy. My passion for that giant birria burrito in California will absolutely match you watching the Giants on Super Bowl Sunday with tequila coursing through your veins."

Proud dad that he was, Alex was beaming at the realization that someone saw just how special his Emmy was, too. He spent every moment worrying about whether or not she had enough, if she was happy, if he was doing a good enough job, and yet, a perfect stranger saw her happiness plain as day — so, for at least the next few minutes, he'd take a deep breath and worry just a little less.

"In love? You looking to be a babysitter? I could really use a nap right about now." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder and gave a half turn like he was about to depart, then turned back with a laugh. "No, really, thank you."

Hands shoving in his pockets, Alex nodded thoughtfully, but just as soon as he did, found himself laughing all over again. "Yeah, I am not from around here. Manhattan. Knicks, Giants, gotta stay true to my roots. I dunno, if you give me enough tequila, I do feel tempted to giggle and press my face up against the TV. We should all be more like that about at least one thing. What's your thing?"

[antoniasullivan]

"Good question," the heir to the Sullivan throne replied without missing a beat, "why did you come here?" Given that she'd grown with a silver spoon in her mouth and had the best of everything all her life Toni felt comfortable confronting these types of attitudes. Not that she was technically being confrontational. Briar Ridge had a special place in her heart learning that she had family ties here. "If you stay long enough... it might grow on you. The bugs are pretty big in summer though."

LOCATION OPEN ➟ OPEN (0/4)

It was hard to believe that just last week, Saniata was on a yacht cruising the Mediterranean, and now she was in a small town in the middle of nowhere with strangers and no yacht. She couldn't hide the disappointment on her face. "Oh God - why did I come here?" She moaned under her breath. This was all Carter's fault.

[antoniasullivan]

[antoniasullivan]

"Oh, you poor Irishman," Toni hollered out in a tease as she grabbed for her front door and swung it open to find two of her favorite people waiting on the other side. "Here I thought your pristine white flesh had gotten used to this thing we call the sun." Even though she'd yet to go to Ireland (it was something she really wanted to do with Callum and to meet the family there) she'd heard enough about it to know the sun and warm days were rare. Which was likely why it was so green. "There's my favoritest girl in the whole world," she called to Avie and opened up her arms for the girl to run into. After she wrapped them both around Avie and gave her a squeeze, Toni release one hand to very lightly graze a knuckle against the corner of Cal's cheek. "To what do I owe the pleasure, cousin? Come on in, let me put the tea on... I know how you are."

ANTONIA'S PLACE

➟@antoniasullivan

It had been a few weeks since Callum last saw his cousin at the event, and his daughter Avie had been begging him to go visit. Now that the school term was finally over, he had some more free time to do so. Callum and Avie had stopped at Everything Goes first to say hello to Leyla and grab some treats; his mother had raised him to never turn up at someone's house without something to have over a cup of tea. "Knock knock..." he called out as he waited outside with an excitable daughter. He sometimes wondered if she ever felt that excited about seeing him, but the two rarely spent time apart, so he couldn't be too jealous. "If you don't hurry up, I might combust with the heat of this sun!"

[antoniasullivan]

It would take a few moments for it to click and then sink in that she had a cousin standing right in front of her. Head and heart were too caught up in the fact that Toni was actually in the right place. She'd made it a step closer to her mother and maybe this meant there was a chance that she'd actually find her or in the least find out what happened. Even if Toni didn't get to see her again then at least some of the mystery would be resolved. "Wow... that's..." A little smile broke through the stun and barely contained emotions. "Well, it says quite a bit about our family, huh?"

Maybe it was dramatic but it felt as though her heart were slowly being squeezed. Somehow in both good and awful ways. On the one hand it was like an embrace to be in the presence of family that had been a vacancy in her life for far too long, then on the other it was terrifying to be right there on the precipice of all she was on the verge of possibly finding out. Seeing the emotion on her cousin's face allowed Toni to release hers just a little and she pushed her smile beyond that welling in her eyes. "Is your mother... m-my aunt, here too?" For just a second Toni glanced over her cousin's shoulder then her eyes flickered back to Valentina. "So you all knew about me... I mean loosely, of course, but that means my mother had to have come through here to tell you all that much..." Toni had been too young when her mother had disappeared for her to have any real memories of the woman. "At least with you standing here there's that positivity that we all find our way to each other," she was hopeful with her words because here she was too. Maybe that meant her mother had a way back.

Val nodded emphatically at the woman's question. "Six years ago, I literally showed up on this doorstep, the same way you are, searching for my aunt who I'd never met before... at least, not when I was old enough to remember." Honestly, she couldn't believe the coincidences of it all. She'd always known she had a cousin out there, somewhere. But she never expected them to show up at her aunt's door the exact same way that she had. Her eyes began to tear up as she realized the reality of her new situation. She had a cousin.

Sniffing a little, she couldn't help but smile as Toni shook her hand. "Yes, she's very much alive and kicking. As you'll see in a second. I'm sure she'll kick the door down to get to you once I tell her who's here." chucking a little, she reached up to dab at the corner of her eye, catching the tear before it could spill over. "God, I can't believe it's actually you. I knew I had another aunt who had a daughter, but that's it. My mother refused to tell me anything more." Her voice was twisted with the grief and hurt her mother had caused her by trying to keep Valentina from her family. The years she had missed out on because of it.

[antoniasullivan]

"I grew up in a concrete jungle so sometimes I get easily mesmerized by scenes like this," Toni admitted, gesturing to the expanse in front of them. The south really was so beautiful, as were many other parts of the country and world that she'd traveled to over the years. Living here these past few months however had really brought her to soak in the luxury and tranquility of living in a place like this versus New York. "Thank you," she said before taking another fry, flashing another smile his direction. Clearly he wasn't from here but it seemed to bring out the hospitality regardless. "Ah, you remember me," Toni commented, "hopefully that doesn't mean I've made an ass of myself too many times." A joke formed behind a grin.

By his question alone Toni knew that he was in fact normal and she'd just said the odd thing. It was something new she'd recently learned about and had been curious about testing it out, hence the bare feet in the sand or maybe even a submergence in the ocean a little later. "Well," she chuckled softly, "it could kind of be considered chilling I think. It's about connecting with earth's energy and how it can be healing. Some people call it earthing. Essentially you walk barefoot on grass or dirt or sand. Or you submerge yourself in natural water sources. I think you can even just lay on grass or dirt or sand but I think some part of you has to be bare because it's all about contact with the earth. Like gardening with bare hands and such," she offered. "Apparently there's lots of benefits to it with improved mood being a big one, and reduced stress/anxiety."

@antoniasullivan: cont.

Harrison liked to think that he’d made a name for himself and had gotten accepted in his place here in Briar Ridge. He wasn’t a local, but he felt like he might as well be. He’d been here five years and had met so many friendly people that it made him wonder why he hadn’t met so many kind faces back in London. Then again, his family life had been surrounded by drama, so that hadn’t helped matters either.

“That’s alright, and honestly, can’t say I blame you. The beach is beautiful this time of the day.” Anytime really, but there was just something about the calm of the ocean during this time of the day that made him want to relax. “Perfect! Please help yourself, Toni.” He knew her from the bar, in fact, he tried his best to remember the frequenters that went there because they brought in good business. “Grounding?” Harry tilted his head, curiously interested. “Not sure I’ve heard of that, but I’m all ears. Is it something to do with chilling, because that sounds like something I could get in to.”

[antoniasullivan]

It was really sweet to see father and child so happy. Furthermore to see that happiness radiate even more the more he talked about his little one. It tugged at heartstrings that Toni hadn't been aware of even existing before that moment. Though, of course, that happened anytime it was a father/daughter thing. With never really knowing her mother and her father being all she'd had and that relationship mostly about how to please and make her father happy, to gain his approval, she realized time and time again that these moments made her feel something foreign for a reason.

"Sounds like you've got an extra special little girl right there." And immediate Antonia hoped that the girl never lost that light and wonder. It happened to most girls in their journey to growing into women but maybe one could be spared just once. "For real, it is, she's got me smiling like that and we just met. I might be in love," Toni teased, meaning the words in probably the most wholesome way she'd spoken since she was likely a child. There should've been something else that caught her attention first, but... "whoa, buddy, you're a Knicks fan?" That wasn't something Toni expected to find down here in the South. "But hey if you glow and shine like that with that big grin and press yourself to the tv each time they're playing then I'll for sure take my words back." Toni chuckled a little at the idea and imagery of it.

"Truly, she's the most joyful kid I know. She could be excited watching paint dry," Alex laughed then, though unfazed by his own admission. "But it's infectious, that little laugh of hers." He couldn't keep from smiling, thinking about what a marvelous miracle his little girl was shaping up to be. She'd already injected so much joy in his life. And, he'd learned, often made it easier to strike up conversations with strangers and make friends.

When Emmy turned around from her position pressed up against the nearby fish tank glass to wave, Alex returned the gesture, his smile matching hers as she spun back around to press her face right back where it was. Choosing not to fret over that this very instant, he instead looked over at his conversation partner and was struck by what she'd said. "Whoa, that's a little presumptuous of you, ma'am. Who's to say I don't get that way when the Knicks are on?" His words were laced with faux offense that he was sure his counterpart would notice, but just in case they didn't, he cracked a smile for good measure.

[antoniasullivan]

lindsey morgan

[antoniasullivan]

When she'd arrived at the beach Toni had slipped her shoes off with the desire to sink her toes into the sand. She'd heard a lot lately about grounding and had been giving it a try. Usually she rolled her eyes at that type of crap but it had been having an effect on her — which could've all been in her head since earthing caused her to slow down and release the stress and tension she'd been holding. Maybe that was the reason she tried to give into it whenever the opportunity presented itself. Like now.

Not having meant to pause and disturb someone's peace, with squinting eyes Toni looked down to the person she'd stopped near when they spoke up. As a New Yorker she'd assumed they'd be telling her to get lost, instead she saw the owner of the bar she frequented and smiled at his accent. "Hey, there... didn't mean to intrude, had to stop and take in that sight," Toni replied, gesturing to the sparkling blue ahead of them. "I mean, I don't really pass up fries so..." With a grin the brunette took a seat near him on the blanket and plucked a fry before he could change his mind. "Are you grounding too or are you normal?"

LOCATION: the beach, near the pier WHEN: around lunch time STARTER: open

Harrison was at the bar so much that he didn't often have time to just chill. Not that the bar wasn't chill, because he tried to make it that and a fun place all at once. His employees were also amazing at helping out with that. And he was often convincing them to take time to themselves, so it was time for him to to the same as well. Harry grabbed himself a lunch at Luther's and brought it bagged up to the beach with him. After plopping down on a blanket, he started eating, enjoying the sea breeze and the sun. This sort of weather hadn't been common in London, so it was nice to be somewhere where it was.

Hearing footsteps approach, Harry lifted his head and raised a hand over his eyes, avoiding the sun in his gaze. Smiling, he waved with the other hand and said, "Oh, hey! Nice to see you here. You want to want to join me? Luther's gave me a load of fries, if you want some."