elsiebarnes

[elsiebarnes]

She couldn't help but flash him a smile, despite being a little less confident than when she'd first walked up to him, it still remained unwavering for the most part. It was only when she heard herself speak that she realized how weird it was to go with that sentence before even introducing herself. "Elsie— but I don't think you know me or maybe you have heard of me?" She paused to see if the name rang a bell but immediately continued in fear of making a bigger fool of herself.

"We know a mutual person or friend. Her name is Catherine." Elsie twisted to point her out in the crowd. "She heard that I was looking for a photographer and kind of brought you up."

Hopefully this would begin to put the pieces together but Elsie still rambled on in the hopes that he wouldn't immediately reject her offer because he was overworked or wasn't taking on any new projects. At this point, she was willing to get on her knees and grovel until he took pity on her job. She'd grown that desperate.

"So she's told me a lot about you and your skills and I'm here to convince you that you need to be the photographer for my next wedding. Notice how I didn't ask you but I'm telling you, that should indicate how desperate I am because I'd never do that." She grimaced slightly. "I'll pay well and like.... you won't even have to sit at the back. You can be with the guests of honor — I'll sit you between the married couple if you want. I'm that desperate."

Kit wasn't one to go to many parties anymore. It was a part of his past that was currently on hiatus. That wasn't to say that he was a party boy in his younger adult life, but he had spent literally most of his life attending different kinds of galas and record release parties, even just birthday parties for people that had attendances upwards of 150 people.

He wasn't reserved, necessarily, but he had moved to Briar Ridge for the smaller, slower pace of the town. So to find him at this house party was a surprise to himself, too.

He had a coke in his hand, mingling with some of the people around him who he'd never met before, having been introduced by people he did know. And then suddenly, an unfamiliar voice spoke his name.

He turned around to face the girl now standing in front of him, and he raised his eyebrow. "Um, it depends who's asking?" he spoke, trying to keep a straight face before he caved and he smiled at her.

"Mutual friends? Man, I told them they were going to have to start paying me everytime they tried to use my name for clout!" he laughed before he nodded his head. "I am, indeed, Kit. Congrats! You found me!"

[elsiebarnes]

"You've already gotten banned? I feel like it takes a lot for people to ban you at bars." She wasn't one to do much that would ever get her banned or removed from anywhere but she couldn't imagine what he would need to do to get banned from an establishment that dealt with drunken patrons on the regular. "Did you steal alcohol?"

"So no public disturbances then." She nodded her head while she thought about another plan but it seemed more and more that they would need to cut their losses. It looked like she was on a roll with doing that tonight.

"I appreciate that. I knew I shouldn't have gone out as much as I had with my outfit but I was trying to be optimistic."

Little did that do for her. Her gaze flicked to his empty glass, pausing mid-air. "Is that bad luck?" She knew they needed to look into each others eyes but she didn't know if there was something about doing a cheers with an empty glass. "But cheers to that." Elsie wouldn't keep him hanging regardless.

With a smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth, he leaned against the bar a little more, angling toward her with that signature Jordan Reyes casual magnetism.

“Tossing the glasses would make a statement,” he mused, eyes flicking to the bartender still ignoring them, “but I’ve already used up my ‘get banned from a bar’ quota this season.” Beat. “Not that it wasn’t worth it.”

He glanced at her again, his gaze deliberately lingering this time. “For what it’s worth, if you’re getting stood up, the guy clearly had no taste.”

He paused, then held out the nearest glass — empty, of course. “Here’s to being unimpressed by underwhelming men. And to pity parties with better company than whoever the hell he was.”

[elsiebarnes]

"It's working but I don't know that you've done enough just yet." Elsie teased, not serious about the whole blaming him over their loss. It was looking like it would happen given the sheer creativity people were using and the routes they were going down. All things she couldn't do because she'd prefer to lose than be called out for copying another group. "We're a team so if we lose, we can both go sulk with a deep fried corn dog. No one is taking the full blame and if we do lose, it's probably because of this cross-eyed bunny I drew." She said as she stepped back so he could take a look at it. It was truly a thing of nightmares. As she tried to make it better, it looked worst. "You'd do that? I mean, I would appreciate it if all things fail with the bat, or was it a golf club? I should maybe re-watch that movie."

"I was born here and basically high tailed it after high school. I couldn't leave fast enough. It wasn't as much about the town but I just knew there were bigger things and my parents are a little recluse. They have land, and don't leave often." They didn't need to, not with their set-up, the well, the food they grew. At least until.... "My mom got sick so I'm back to support her." Elsie said it casually, not wanting to bring a shift to the conversation. When he found the hot glue gun, she stepped aside for him to work his magic. "I'm thinking on the grass, and if we have more, we can start putting some on the handles. Should we put one on the bunny? Maybe near the eye but make it seem like it's behind its ear to hide the mess I did or just embrace the lazy eye?"

“Careful. You’re giving me ideas, you know.” There were many he’d likely pull that tactic on, though with the overt kindness the blonde displayed towards him, it hadn’t actually crossed his mind once. “I figured I’d be the reason if we lose anyway. You have free reign to blame me.” Her creative talent certainly would be what gave them the leg up against everyone else in the competition. “I was being honest, though. Your work is a big contribution to all the resort events.” He could easily appreciate someone’s talent and successes in the business realm. “Well, I could put in the preference of you over them with management. If that Tonya Harding method fails.” Levi mused, a brow raising. “And so, you said you recently came back..are you originally from here, then?” 

“Alright, keeping the candy as Plan B. See, we already have another strategy. Maybe you won’t be blaming me for the loss.” A smirk had been hinted more so in his tone rather than on his expression. Witnessing Elsie study their basket over carefully, his shoulders straightened, focusing on the task at hand once more. “Hot glue gun, Hot glue gun…” Levi thought aloud, finally reaching for the tool that ended up on one side of the tabletop amidst all the other materials. “Yeah, I can manage that.” He’d rather her not risk burning her fingertips anyway, considering she was painting her impressive drawings. “— Uh, you want the flowers glued on the grass, right?” 

[elsiebarnes]

"Your second or third choice out of the whole house?" Elsie shook her head as she peered around on the top floor. "I'd go for the laundry room or kitchen before I would think of the bathroom. It's kind of limiting outside of two places." A shower, sink counter— maybe against the wall perhaps? She didn't like it.

Another noise came from inside and she grimaced. "Then again, they seem not to mind it." A basement, bedroom, or even backyard sounded better than a bathroom but maybe she was missing something.

She arched her neck, rose on her toes until she could see the sign and she chewed on the inside of her cheek. "That's a deal. Cause what's the alternative? A garden bed? I can't face that version of me while I'm this sober." She flashed him a smile and then tilted her head to indicate they should go. The quicker, the better.

Sebastian winced at the sudden moan that echoed through the area, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. A few people further down the staircase glanced up and began discussing what they had just heard, confirming their reactions to one another. He nodded as the situation spoke for itself. "Yeah," he said, confirming her suspicions.

"Maybe I'm strange, but the bathroom doesn't seem like such an odd place to pick. It would be…" Sebastian glanced upward, mentally sorting through a list that had suddenly formed in his mind. "Like, my second or third choice at best."

Remembering why they were there in the first place, Sebastian then takes a few steps forward, immediately zoning in on the bathroom inside the master suite. "No idea, but I do know there's a bathroom in there." He nods over to the door down the hall, with a sign on it that says 'Do Not Enter'. "I'll watch your back if you watch mine," he offers, jutting his hand out for a shake.

[elsiebarnes]

for @kitcastellanos at a house party

Elsie wouldn't have been here under any other circumstances outside of being desperate. She knew no one at this house party outside of her friend who'd dragged her here after promising that the person she wanted to speak to would be present. The photographer she'd hired for a wedding had bailed last minute and she was now running around trying to find someone else who could fill the spot to no avail. It left her little options Evidently by the way she was reaching a new low and practically stalking someone in the hope they'd find pity on her and do her a solid.

When her friend pointed Kit out across the room, Elsie decided that waiting any longer wouldn't do her any good. Her nerves would get more frazzled and she'd start playing all the ways this could go wrong. "Sorry, are you Kit?" She asked with a smile, hoping to come across more friendly than creepy. "I've heard about you through a mutual friend of ours. All good, I swear."

[elsiebarnes]

for @cemcerkez in the middle of an intersection

Elsie knew better than to try and text while driving. She'd sat in class while studying for her driver's ed and watched the video of horrific scenes that showcased what could be the consequences of an accident while texting and driving. She knew better, but she was running late for an appointment, and the guilt of that outweighed the risk. At least until she heard, felt, even smelt the impact of her car rear ending the one in front of her. Not enough that her airbags deployed but she could already see the damage the front of her car took.

What was worse was that she still had her phone in hand when she watched the driver get out of his car. "I'm so sorry," Elsie said as she tore the door open and shakily exited. The dread of having to deal with her insurance company was as confronting as the guilt she felt. "Tell me your car didn't take an impact. Usually it's the one who hits that gets it worse, right?" Wishful thinking. "This is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me."

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie nodded her head in understanding, only pausing to peer at him a little longer because he looked familiar. He did but she couldn't place him. "Isn't that why people have public relations people, in case you do a stupid mistake?" She didn't know the ins and out of those sort of things but she'd planned parties for some public people and she'd heard some terminologies here and there. "Well maybe we need to get his attention so he can have a second look. He might not know what he's missing out on. Should we whistle or toss our glasses over the bar?"

"You are interrupting my pity party but I'm over it now." At least she was faking it until she believed she was over it. "I got stood up by a guy and he wasn't even that impressive. I wasn't sure I wanted to go out with him so I'm extra offended now."

Initially, Jordan was startled by the poke to his chest, but he laughed it off just as easily; eyes crinkling in the corners with the effort. "I think if I resorted to crime, my publicist would absolutely murder me," he mumbled half-heartedly. Another laugh eased past his lips, then he continued. "I mean, he didn't even take a chance to see if I was his type. And during pride month? I'm feeling a little extra offended, I've gotta say." He put a hand over his chest, feigning insult as he leaned against the bar.

He took another moment to give his new friend a once-over, took a beat, and then: "Okay, so, you look like someone spit in your coffee. What's happening over here? Please don't tell me I'm interrupting a pity party," he practically groaned, really amping up the drama, as was his propensity.

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie had been looking at the water for a little too long. "I was going to let you go in first and then see how you did before I came in after you." There were lifeguards in place and she was more worried by making a fool of herself if she went too deep in the water. Despite loving to swim, she'd had a scare when she was a child that made her uneasy to go past a certain point. "Is it cold?" She asked as she slid a little closer, allowing her toes to dip into the edge of the shoreline. It was hard to tell if it was cold or not with the sun warming her up. After a few deep breaths, she threw caution to the wind and stepped forward with determination until she was hip depth. "You have to hold onto me if I go under 'cause I can't have my first introduction with the hot lifeguard be him giving me chest compressions."

WHO — open starter (0/4) WHERE — the beach WHEN — one afternoon

Leyla kicked off her slides and let them land wherever, already peeling off her tank top without breaking stride. The sand was hot beneath her feet, the water looked decent, and she hadn't had a good, dramatic swim in way too long. She paused long enough to side-eye whoever was closest, squinting against the sun like she was weighing whether or not to drag them in with her. "This is either healing or self-sabotage. We'll know in about ten minutes." She marched toward the water like it owed her money, pausing only to glance over her shoulder with raised brows, curious. "You gonna continue standing there looking pretty, or are you coming in?" Then she turned and walked straight into the water like she belonged there — hips swaying, zero hesitation, already half-smiling at whatever chaos she planned to start next.

[elsiebarnes]

👐 do you have any regrets?

"I regret being so adamant about not coming back to town until my father had to call me with the news of my mother's diagnosis. Now I can't stop thinking about the memories I could have been doing if I'd chosen to visit and spend time with her. I think that will haunt me for a long time."

[elsiebarnes]

FMK Cameron Alex Benny

"Fuck Alex because I accidentally pictured him without a shirt on when we spoke at the grocery store about strippers and I can't get that image out of my head. Marry Cameron because I'm sure we played house as kids so it's a manifestation and he's a great guy. So that leaves— Kiss Benny."

@camercnbishop / @alex-caldwell / @bellstrom

[elsiebarnes]

👐 do you hold any grudges?

"I'd like to say no but I do have trouble fully moving on. I feel like I put on a strong face but deep down, there's some little ball of resentment. Maybe my next check on my to-do list is to find a therapist."

[elsiebarnes]

👐 snog, marry, pie: alex, civan, benny

"i'm going to snog civan because his surgical uniform can be an added bonus in bed, I will marry benny because I know I would be well fed throughout my marriage, and pie alex but it's only because it's my only choice left."

@alex-caldwell / @civanguneri / @bellstrom

[elsiebarnes]

Does anyone in Briar Ridge have your eye?

"Have you seen majority of the people in town? At this point I'd be happy to have a good date with anyone. I'm not even that picky, I just want them to be nice, genuine, and not trying to race to a bed and then the door."

[elsiebarnes]

Do you ever fantasize about "what-ifs"? If so, what are your favorite "what-ifs"?

"I fantasize about getting married, having children, being with someone multiple time. That just comes from standing on the sidelines and witnessing so many marriages and other unions. It's always a feat to not end the night drunk texting all my exes."

[elsiebarnes]

Name 3 people you are interested in getting to know better

"I'm excited to work with Benny if he chooses to take me up on my offer to help out with some upcoming events. Since he's made such delicious baked goods for events in the past, I wouldn't mind speaking to the owner a bit more to see if there's any interest in longterm catering. I had a great conversation with Wes and I'd like to pick his brain a bit more in general, but for work related opportunities as well. I have a few upcoming bachelorettes and the idea of auctioning off a night with a few eligible cowboys could be fun."

@bellstrom / @leylayilmz / @wesparkcr

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie walked up the stairs in search for a bathroom in the busy house. It felt a bit nolstagia to be at some random person's house party but when her friend had mentioned it, she decided that she would go just for the potential of a good story. It felt like she'd returned to her teenage years and she didn't know whether it made her feel like she could still keep up with the kids or like she was old.

As she stepped up on the last step, she almost sighed in relief when she saw that one person was in line. She approached slowly and the polite smile soon begun to fade at the mere sight of his facial expression which seemed apologetic in nature.

"What do you—" she paused and then gasped, hand clasped against her mouth when she heard the longest and loudest moan she'd ever heard in her life. Despite knowing these sort of things happened at house parties, she was mortified since they were all older. In their thirties or late twenties.

"In the bathroom of all places?" She'd expected people to leave to go to their own cars at least. "Is there not another bathroom or somewhere else around here?" It sounded like they wouldn't be in there long but Elsie couldn't be sure and didn't know if she was willing to risk it.

"What —do you know who they are?"

WHERE: Random NPC House Party... at night!

OPEN STARTER

Drunk and with a full bladder, Sebastian climbed the crowded staircase, hoping to use the upstairs bathroom. In a big house like this, it was rumored that there were two bathrooms up here, but one was in the master suite, which was off-limits to party guests. He wasn't too bothered by it, but when he saw someone rush into the bathroom just before someone else closed the door, he began to consider breaking the rules just this once. It could have been a trick of the light, and he was drunk, so perhaps he was imagining things. Regardless, Sebastian waited, taking gentle sips from his red cup as he leaned against the railing.

As the ten-minute mark passed, Sebastian's patience began to wear thin. He glared at the door, wondering if the guy in front of him was taking a massive shit or if there was actually someone else who had gone in with him. Hesitant to eavesdrop, he noticed that everyone else on the staircase was distracted. He quickly pressed his ear to the door. His brows furrowed, and he pulled back; first, he heard the quiet sound of clothes rustling, followed by a soft gasp.

It didn't take more than a couple of seconds of muffled noises for Sebastian to confirm that there were definitely two people behind this door, and he realized he wouldn't be using the restroom anytime soon. He sighed and turned just in time to see someone else climbing up the stairs, their face reflecting a similar sense of urgency. Or maybe Sebastian was just projecting his own need to pee.

"Hi," he greeted them innocently, gesturing lazily toward the door. “This one’s—” A loud moan echoed from behind the door. “—Occupied,” he finished, unable to suppress a laugh.

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie had been in her own head, unaware that the bartender's focus remained at the far end of the bar. Frankly, she was more focused on the fact that she'd been stood up by the person she matched with on tinder and spent the last week speaking to. The drink in hand was half finished, sweat pooled around the bottom. Perhaps she wasn't cut out for dating after all.

"Sorry?" She asked when a voice broke into her silent pity party, squinting when the sun hit her directly in the face. A hand shot up, brushing the sunglasses that rested on the top of her head, which she slowly lowered to cover her eyes. "Very visible and real." She rose her hand to poke his chest. As she was ready to ask why he asked, she noted the bartender at the very end when a group of girls laughed. "Ah, I'm guessing he's got blinders on. What do you think they're saying?"

"Have you tried just taking a bottle or something? He might notice then when his alcohol is disappearing." Obviously they were understaffed and the bartender was more keen on making sure he got a number than tips from the other patrons.

"I'm pretty sure there's a bottle of tequila and there's always the beer on the tap and some glasses there." Just out of her reach but if he leaned over more, she was certain that he could reach them without trouble.

OPEN starter at Golden Hour, sunset.

He’d been standing there long enough to memorize the chalkboard menu twice.Golden Hour lived up to its name — sun sinking low over the water, casting everything in that soft, amber glow that made strangers look like movie stars. The salt air curled lazily through the open windows, carrying the scent of coconut sunscreen and lime. The kind of place where time slowed down, drinks went heavy on the ice, and shirts were optional if your abs were loud enough.

Jordan, unfortunately, was fully clothed and still completely drinkless. He raised a hand. Again. Nothing. The bartender, an attractive, sun-kissed guy with a man bun and a name that was probably something like River or Sky, slid two daiquiris down the bar in the opposite direction, laughing at something a girl said as if Jordan hadn’t been standing there the past six minutes. Maybe seven. He didn’t want to be dramatic, but it was getting to that point.

He leaned forward slightly, elbows on the smooth wood, and tried the universal sign of mild desperation: the soft "excuse me" accompanied by a polite little wave. Still, no dice. Man Bun was already pouring tequila for someone who definitely arrived after Jordan. A couple to his right laughed, clinking glasses. The world moved. Time passed. Jordan’s throat got drier. Was he radiating invisibility?

He exhaled and leaned back from the counter, glancing left, then right. And then he turned to the person closest to him — a stranger, catching the tail end of the sunlight, looking like they belonged here a little more than he did. "Be honest," Jordan said, deadpan, "Can you actually see me, or have I finally transcended into a ghost?"