thferrante

[thferrante]

HE SMILED AT HER RESPONSE, almost involuntarily—more gratitude than amusement. There was something comforting in the idea of her still showing up, even hypothetically. ❛ I’ll hold you to that, ❜ he said, ❛ And if you show up in scrubs, I’m putting you to work. No backing out once you’ve met Mrs. Leone’s Shih Tzu. ❜ A beat. ❛ She bites. ❜

But her words stayed with him. Not just the joke, but the way she said it—open to anything. It hadn’t always been like that. There was a time when her life was scheduled to the minute, booked out months in advance. That kind of certainty had never belonged to him, but he’d admired it and lived in its proximity for a short time. She was right, they were practically ancient.

❛ Wishful thinking. ❜ It was strange to feel both old and young. There was a dissonance that came from returning to the place where you started. The life he’d led while he was away, with his career, with her, they both felt lifetimes away, nearly as if those memories belonged to someone else.

They used to talk about animals like future kids—things they’d get after. After the late-night flights, after the next premiere. All to come back here, to a place that was none the wiser, where the passing of time only meant that there was a turnover of balcony ownership. His gaze drifted toward the water, the breeze tugging at the ends of his sweatshirt. And now here they were, orbiting the same stretch of sand with different kinds of quiet carved into their lives.

❛ Show off or slice my hand off? ❜ Of all the things he could be confident about, cooking was at the bottom of the list. Even having Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen probably wouldn’t count as cheating—not when he was starting from less than zero. But then there was the undeniable urge to impress. Her? Himself? That was less clear.

There was a flicker of something unspoken in the space between them—an echo of what used to be, softened now with time and salt air. He could’ve turned it down. Could’ve nodded politely and let her drift back into her new, still-being-defined life. But he didn’t. Instead, he reached down to scratch behind Douglas’s ear and said, ❛ Give me a week. ❜ His voice was easy, though his eyes didn’t leave hers. ❛ Worst case, you bring your mom’s spice stash and an escape plan. ❜

The idea of being a dog who got to lounge all day and watched the sea do its thing seemed rather peaceful. A part of her wished she could join Doug out there and forget the world but that wouldn’t be what people who took on life head-on did - and Leona was really trying to be this person. Although helping out at the vet clinic most likely wouldn’t end up being part of that plan, she still chuckled at his suggestion. “I won’t knock it till I try it. I am open to anything at this point, so don’t be surprised if I show up next week, willing and eager.” It was always funny how people in her life talked about her career as if it was something grand and valuable. Meanwhile, Theo took care of living, breathing creatures. People really considered her job better just because they were willing to throw more money at it. Getting out of it really put things into an odd perspective.

“A cat.” She repeated and nodded, and it dawned on her how much that statement meant between them. When they said ‘I do’, there were so many strings attached to their commitment, they got separated in a jungle of rope. There was no steady home life because she was never home, pets were wishful thinking given how much traveling they had to do just to be together. Now he had a dog, she wanted a cat. Haven’t they always talked about having their own home, right here on this beach? They got what they wanted, their own houses with a sandy view - only they ended up on the opposite sides of the shoreline. Back then, she knew it was her fault it didn’t work out. Everything got put on the line for her career and got lost in the process because it would be worth it, right? So, where was her career now? It felt like this should be the part where the credits start rolling, only it didn’t feel like a happy ending, more like a lesson learned the hardest way. And the consequences of her choices were sitting next to her, smiling. “I think we’ve been old for a while now.” She might have aged ten years in the past few months, actually.

At the mention of his escapades in the kitchen, Leona couldn’t hide the surprise on her face. She still remembered the night they had spent under three blankets due to all the windows being open to let out the smoke. Or the early mornings she had gotten up to scrub pots of charred leftovers so he wouldn’t feel bad about a failed ‘experiment’, more commonly known as recipe. It was endearing how he never gave up back then, but now? Now it put a smile on her face because it wasn’t her place to feel proud of him. “You’re really doing it, huh? I am honestly impressed; that’s something I didn’t see coming.” But life had a way of turning out differently than she had expected; this was a mild case of a plot twist. One she’d happily entertain.

“Yeah, I do think so. And I think I need to be present for it. Consider it a chance to show off your new skills.” Which she didn’t doubt he now had, she just genuinely was curious. “I’d even be willing to help unless that’s against the rules. At the very least, I could provide all the right spices. My mom sent me a whole stash when I moved in.” The most motherly thing she had done in years. “Unless that would be considered cheating? Unlawful advantage?” Or maybe he wouldn’t want to do anything with her, as was his right. Who would want to hang out with their ex-wife who ditched them so she could play pretend and dress up? Surely not a guy who had a house, dog, and a whole game plan in his kitchen. And yet she still didn't back out from her own offer.

[thferrante]

THEODORE WASN’T IN A RUSH. The early morning chaos had settled into that quiet, golden stretch where the world felt shiny and new, and, most importantly, there was nowhere to be. He’d finished his first appointment early, and his second had cancelled, which left an hour to go for a coffee run. And so he found himself at the Mug Shot, hands tucked into his scrubs, about to offer to wait to order when the woman ahead of him beat him to it. 

The familiar weight of recognition settled before he even had time to think about it. They were cousins, albeit not in the traditional way. They never spent holidays together or had family reunions. No, his father’s paranoia never would have allowed it — they were Ferrantes. But he had seen her once, at his grandparents’ house one summer. A passing encounter, barely a speck in the mind of a six year old, but enough for him to remember her face. The years saw them become casual acquaintances, her the new senior at WB High and he a sophomore with older friends on the soccer team. And when he learned that they were related, that she did have a reason to be at Grandpa Doug’s house. Well, where do you even start? And so, nearly twenty five years later, he still only knew her as Rebecca Hawthorne, high school transfer and —very— long lost cousin. 

 ❛ I’ll take a large cold brew and six muffins — surprise me. ❜ That should win him some points with the techs.  ❛ And whatever she'd like. ❜ While the barista darted off to collect his order, Theo turned to her.  ❛ Rebecca, right? How’ve you been? ❜ God. How embarrassing if didn't recognize him — even with his name scrawled across his shirt.

mug shot cafe / late morning / open starter

Another day's worth of errands were ahead of Becca and she was already dragging her feet. The bed was just too comfortable to leave when the alarm rang that morning, setting her schedule off enough to skip breakfast. The stop at Mug Shot was practically a requirement if she wanted anything done before dinner. Her attention is on the menu board, bouncing between the danish or a croissant, until she hears the barista speak to someone behind her. "Hm? Oh, sorry-" she has enough sense to laugh at herself as she steps to the side, "No, I'm not ready. You can go ahead of me." Not that it mattered; she always gets the same thing, anyway.

[thferrante]

THEO SNAPPED HIS FINGERS, nodding as if he’d known it all along. ❛ Waffles. Right. Should’ve guessed—he’s got that look about him. ❜  He glanced over at the two dogs, who were now thoroughly engaged in some kind of silent negotiation over a stick. ❛ Douglas is actually named after my grandfather, ❜  he admitted, lips quirking. ❛ Which, in hindsight, probably set him up for a lifetime of judgment. But hey, he carries it well. ❜ 

His gaze flicked back to her, amusement still lingering. ❛ Winston would’ve suited him too, though. And you dodged a nickname disaster for when you inevitably tried to shorten Winnie. ❜ He paused, considering. ❛ Or did you? Because if you landed on Waffs or Waffy, I hate to break it to you... ❜ 

"Is that the term for it? I don't even know if I've heard of that. I mean obviously I've heard of insanity." She laughed a bit, "I'm very familiar with insanity actually." She hald joked. "Well Douglas is cute as heck and I bet he's fun. That's such a funny name for a dog like so human like." She replied, "But I love it." She added, hoping that she wasn't being rude. "So close and honestly, I thought about naming him Winston and calling him Winnie because I love the show New Girl and Winston's character is so fun." She laughed. "But it's Waffles!" @thferrante

[thferrante]

❛ WHAT CAN I SAY? I have expensive taste. ❜ A blatant lie, really. He was happy in thrift store t-shirts and had a soft spot for rundown roadside diners. But when it came to houses and cars? Different story. He had a habit of dragging car salesmen around the lot for hours and leading real estate agents on full-blown odysseys, all in search of the perfect property with beach access. ❛ And you can’t knock a great ocean view. Even Doug thinks so—half the time, I come home to find him just sitting there, staring out at the gulls like some kind of shipwrecked philosopher. ❜

He hummed thoughtfully, brows furrowing in feigned solemnity. ❛ Clever, an aerial view. Much better for stalking. ❜ Just beyond their feet, a crab scurried up from its burrow, only for the sand to rush in behind it. It barely held his attention before his focus shifted back to Leona. The ease of their connection had never been lost on Theodore. He wasn’t the most communicative, and hardly the most outgoing when it came to frequenting bars and parties, yet that never impacted their relationship. Well, not until it did. They just clicked and, when he wasn’t standing in his own way, that was enough. ❛ We always offer shadowing shifts to the future animal healers of tomorrow. ❜ What a change of pace that would be. ❛ I can get you in next week, wiseness guaranteed by Wednesday. ❜

He lit up at the mention of the house, eyes widening slightly at the news. ❛ The Duquettes— that’s the only dog I’ve ever been convinced genuinely wanted to eat me. ❜ They’d spent entire summers sneaking past that house, comically silent, only to be foiled by that self-righteous ball of white fur. It wasn’t long before the image of her replacing said ball of fur came to mind, earning another laugh. ❛ Hey, at least you won’t have to take down their beware of dog sign. ❜

Only now did it really sink in – how much had changed. ❛ A cat, ❜ he had to repeat it to make it seem real. And even then, there was something so surreal about such a normal goal. It was attainable. It was her; and yet, somewhere along the line, she’d changed. She was at peace. With herself? He couldn’t tell, and didn’t dare go searching. This was what was next. Buy a house, get a cat, sit on a balcony. And he was genuinely happy for her, even if it meant watching from the sidelines.

❛ Y’know, I think we’re officially old. ❜ A laugh. ❛ Believe it or not, I’m finally learning how to cook. No smoke alarms involved this time. ❜ How many times had she walked into the shared kitchen of whichever apartment they were renting at the time to find him hopelessly fanning smoke out of the kitchen. Charred chicken and scalded heads of broccoli were a regular occurrence. ❛ The goal is to master one dish from every cuisine… which might take a while. ❜ He shook his head, reaching over to scratch behind Douglas’s ear. ❛ I can proudly say that I’ve mastered Italian. Not that I had a choice— family name was on the line. ❜

Looking over at her, he quirked a teasing brow, ❛ What do you think? Should I give Cuban a go next? ❜

A little smile tugged at her lips. Maybe it wasn't all true, or maybe it was wishful thinking, but even grasping at straws meant she had something to hold onto, and for now, that was good enough for her.  "I missed it, too." She didn’t dare to utter it confidently, but there it was, an admission directed toward the horizon as her gaze drifted away, following the curve of the ocean meeting the sky.

It’s funny how much had changed and how little did at the same time. She still remembered all the sunsets they had seen here years ago, and this one could’ve easily been added to their catalog. Just as she remembered his mother’s smile when she came over with open arms to discuss their engagement. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind how much Sofia loved her children. She saw it in all of their interactions, picking them apart like a watchful hawk and keeping pieces of them for herself because Leona had always been the kid who wanted the same thing from her own mother - she just never received it. So the mere idea of Sofia being overjoyed to have him back, well, it had her smiling too. “Fainted? It was that expensive, huh?”

Her chuckling turned into giggles as he poked fun at her, her eyes rolling to the side dramatically, but she couldn’t hide her amusement. "Oh, shut up." Kicking her heel into the sand, she watched little grains fly against his shins just as he sat down beside her. “She wasn’t in the bushes; she was in the tree.” Strange how quickly she could relax around him still. For the past months, she had been so worried about running into him and finding out that somewhere down the line, he had decided she was an awful person, that she never stopped long enough to consider how it would make her feel if he’d still treat her the same.

“Seems like we both got older and not a bit wiser then.” And older looked good on him, but if everything had gone according to plan, she never would’ve found out. When they got together, she truly believed this would be the end. All the misery would’ve been worth it because it meant she found him at the end of it. Only the end of it didn’t include them still together. And yet she convinced herself they were okay, he was her friend, they still cared and loved, and then she became this twisted thing at the hands of another man. After that, there was no more justification; he’d be better off without her in his life. Looking at him now, she wasn’t off. “Well, maybe one of us got wiser, but what do I know, I’m not the one healing animals on the daily.”

What now? What now indeed. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she pulled them toward her chest before nodding down the beach in the opposite direction Theo came from. "I bought a house. Remember the Duquettes? Their pomeranian always wanted to send himself flying off the balcony when someone walked too close. They retired to Portland, and I swooped in. It’s my balcony now; I’ll be the one barking from it.“ Chuckling under her breath, her fingers drummed against her knee cap. ”I want to get a cat.“ Shrugging once, she began brushing sand off her legs to avoid looking at him. ”And I guess that’s it, the shortest bucket list you’ll ever see. Please tell me yours is better.“

[thferrante]

THEO BARELY GLANCED UP FROM HIS PLATE, the scent of oregano and charred crust thick in the air. ❛ Of course she did.” His voice was even, familiar in its dry amusement. ❛ You know she only says half a pie to be polite, right? She wants the whole thing. ❜ 

He wiped his hands absently on a napkin, then shot Avi a look; sharp enough to see through, but softened by habit. ❛ She’s been making that same request for almost twenty years, and somehow, you still act surprised every time. ❜ 

Avi’s fondness for his mother didn’t go unnoticed, in fact it was quite the opposite; when he was away he was comforted by the knowledge that she wouldn’t be completely devoid of affection. As far as Theo was concerned, Avi was the third Ferrante child — which meant he was ample game for teasing. ❛ And you still try to sneak extra toppings on her half like she’s not gonna notice. ❜ 

The crackle of a commentator’s voice filled the quiet lulls between their conversation, though a rise of boos from across the room drew Theo’s attention. A slow shake of his head followed as the screen flashed to a replay— someone botching an easy play. ❛ Unbelievable, ❜  he muttered, taking a sip from his beer bottle. ❛ You’d think they’d never seen a ball before. ❜  His gaze flicked back to Avi, one brow raised. ❛ Go on, then. Defend them. I know you want to. ❜ 

for:  theodore  ferrante  |  @thferrante location:  crusty's  pizza note:  i  made  assumptions  ...  yell  at  me  privately  if  it  doesn't  work,  please!

theodore  was  ten  years  avi's  senior  and  from  a  family  hershel  never  wanted  them  to  be  around.  maybe  theodore  had  been  avi's  greatest  (and  only)  rebellion,  because  avi  used  to  lurk  in  theodore's  shadow  as  often  as  they  could.  if  theodore  was  working  a  part-time  job,  avi  was  there.  theodore  came  home  from  college  –  avi  would  stop  by.  sofia  ferrante  (mrs.  ferrante  as  she  was  still  called)  was  avi's  favorite  teacher  and  the  only  one  who  made  them  feel  seen.  she  had  known  how  it  felt  when  avi  ran  from  his  father's  wedding  and  ended  up  in  the  backyard  of  the  ferrante  estate.

avi  still  wasn't  sure  if  theodore  liked  him  or  tolerated  him  because  sofia  had  a  soft  spot  for  him  but  …  this  was  the  only  rebellion  that  avi  had  left  in  them,  and  they  had  to  do  something  before  they  clawed  their  way  out  of  their  own  skin,  breaking  their  ribs  to  release  their  soul  to  whatever  oblivion  they  had  earned  as  their  final  destination. 

avi  always  thought  that  if  he  had  an  older  brother,  he'd  want  him  to  be  like  theodore. 

it  was  a  stupid,  dangerous  thought  because  if  theodore  was  his  older  brother,  hershel  would  have  broken  him  just  like  avi  had  been  broken,  and  he  wouldn't  wish  that  weight  of  unfulfilled  potential  and  endless  expectations  to  be  on  theodore's  shoulders. 

still,  they  had  a  monthly  pizza  night  with  theodore  standing  on  the  books.  it  was  something  started  after  eliana  died  -  started  by  sofia,  so  he  was  pretty  sure  that  sofia  had  guilted  theodore  into  doing  it  -  but  still…  after  seventeen  years,  now  that  theodore  was  back  in  town  –  it  still  stood. "mrs. ferrante said to bring her by half a pie, by the way."

[thferrante]

THEO GLANCED UP FROM HIS NOTES just as the door swung open, pen tapping absently against the edge of the clipboard. The sight that greeted him was familiar—Rafael Vidal, looking less than thrilled, and Basket, looking exactly as guilty as a dog was capable of looking.

Well, almost. For the time being, he looked both queasy and thrilled to be carried. ❛ Y'know I was kinda hoping I would make it through Easter without seeing you guys again. ❜ 

He knew Rafe the way he knew most people in town: from spending his childhood on the back of a bike sticking his nose where it shouldn’t be. At twelve, though, he had no business weaseling into Simple Pleasures to spy on its clientele with his friend — but that never stopped him. 

He visited him once while he was away, having heard about what had happened from Rafe’s mother. At eighteen, it was a harsh reality to face, yet he somehow felt closer to him then. He had been the same age when his reality changed.

They kept in touch through letters, though those tapered off during freshman year and stopped altogether by junior year. It was by pure coincidence that he was assigned to Basket on one of his last locum shifts, reuniting the two through an awkward greeting. Of course, the nerves had faded after Basket’s third visit for eating a Lego.

❛ Alright, let’s get this over with. ❜  Setting the clipboard aside, Theo gestured toward the exam table. ❛ What did he eat this time? ❜  

location: paw prints animal hospital

for: theodore | @thferrante

time: any week day during business hours

he  hadn't  wanted  the  dog.  in  fact,  he  specifically  told  the  nanny  that  he  didn't  want  the  dog.  he  told  renata  and  gideon,  he  told  every  dancer,  performer,  bartender,  waiter,  butler,  host  and  dishwasher  that  he  did  not  want  a  dog.  no  matter  what  santiago  said,  no  matter  how  cute  he  looked,  no  matter  that  it  was  his  birthday,  or  his  half-birthday,  or  that  he  got  a  shot  at  the  doctor's  office  …  there  was  not  going  to  be  a  dog  in  rafael  vidal's  house. 

and  through  all  that,  he  ended  up  with  basket,  the  one  year  old  flat-coated  retriever  who  was  all  looks,  driven  to  be  outdoors,  and  was  santiago's  best  friend.  so,  rafe  adapted,  and  he  determined  that  he  wasn't  going  to  deal  with  taking  care  of  the  dog. 

and  that  was  what  led  him  to  today,  sitting  at  the  vet  clinic  with  basket  looking  forlornly  up  at  him.  drool  pooled  from  his  mouth  and  onto  the  floor.  rafe  had  no  sympathy. 

he  had  a  little  sympathy. 

“don't  look  at  me,  you're  the  one  that  decided  to eat the  container  of  cayenne  pepper  the  gardener  left  out.” 

the  tech  came  out,  and  rafe  stood.  he  had  asked  for  an  office  appointment  -  loyalty  extended  even  to  the  dog  that  he  didn't  want.  basket  didn't  stand  up.  rafe  was  used  to  the  antics,  and  he  crouched  down  and  picked  the  dog  up.  he  heard  the  hurp  and  he  warned  him  “don't  even  think  about  throwing  up.  these  are  called  consequences.” 

he  knew  the  vet  -  theodore  (renata  called  him  teodoro which  led  rafe  to  calling  him  dory  -  just  to  annoy  him)  -  and  he  knew  that  he  wouldn't  be  led  wrong. 

he  just  didn't  want  his  old  acquaintance  …  friend  ?  …  acquaintance  to  know  that  his  dog  was  an  idiot. "you embarrass me, bas." he grumbled as he brought the dog into the office.

[thferrante]

DOUG, FOR HIS PART, was simply happy to be included. ❛ Well, this place missed you. ❜ The rest died on his tongue, silenced by the crash of a wave against the shore. Douglas was brave enough to breach their silent truce, but the same couldn’t be said for his owner. 

❛ I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so excited. When I showed her the deed to my condo she almost fainted. ❜ The only thing that had ever gotten a similar reaction was the news of their engagement. That, of course, had been followed by hundreds of questions. But she accepted the move without question and set to work finding things from his childhood that he ‘might want for his new home’. He had her to thank for the signed baseball on his bookshelf. 

The confession drew a light chuckle past his lips, though it was less out of amusement and more from a place of relief. He wasn’t crazy. Still, he couldn’t deny the opportunity to poke some fun at her. ❛ Your cousin… y’know I thought I saw someone in my bushes. ❜ This time, his laughter filled his chest. He sat down beside her, folding his arms over his knees.

❛ Nah, I’d make fun of you but I can’t say I did much better. ❜ The number of times he did a double take in the magazine aisle of the grocery store had to be a record. Yet already, he knew more about her from this two minute conversation than any of the tabloids could hope to extrapolate from weeks of stakeouts. If only that was enough.

Now that she was there, he couldn’t resist the urge to ask about, well, everything, the last of the tension falling from his shoulders. 

There was never enough when it came to Leona.

❛ So what now? I can only imagine what your bucket list looks like. ❜ She was a dreamer, a go-getter, with a determination he equally admired and envied. She saw what she wanted and went for it, regardless of the odds stacked against her. He’d always held her back in that sense, and now he could only imagine what retirement would entail. Summiting Everest, probably. If he was lucky, he might get to hear about it when she got back. 

His statement came as unexpectedly as the laugh it caused to bubble out of her. “The ocean isn’t picky; it spits out all types of junk.” Continuing to pet the dog, Leona slightly leaned to her side to address him directly. “I bet you’d prefer driftwood though, wouldn’t you, Doug?”

It took all of her willpower not to let her laugh turn into a sob. You made it out in one piece. If that statement wasn’t the furthest from the truth. She felt as mangled as ever, although it was hard to tell when the last time was she felt whole. Maybe it was right here, on this beach, before she made decisions that led her away from here, away from Theo, and straight into arms that promised more of whatever she had been chasing at that time. Back then, it hadn’t felt quite right; that should’ve been her warning sign because in a world where people put the name Leona Cortez into a bright, shining spotlight, she had really liked being a Ferrante-Hawthrone.

But knowing better ultimately didn't undo whatever damage she had caused while learning her lesson. And now that she looked at Theodore, who just congratulated her on the one thing she gave up everything for, shattering into pieces and spitting her out on the other end, well, she knew it had been right to cut him loose. He was so good and sincere, he never deserved getting caught up in her messes.

"You heard, huh?" Who didn't? "Thank you. The change of pace feels good." The many times she wound up crying on the shower floor would beg to differ. "I heard you've been the vet around here for a while now. Your mom must be so happy she’s finally got you back. " Her smile grew more genuine, and as she blinked up at him, it dawned on her that this was Theo. There was no need to pretend. "Well, I didn't hear. I asked my cousin." Her gaze dropped away with her admission. "I was curious how you were doing but didn't have the guts to come say hi." Chuckling under her breath, she reached for Douglas again to rub his ear. "Your dog is braver than me."

[thferrante]

❛ I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL ETERNAL OPTIMISM – or insanity. ❜ He shook his head, laughing a bit. ❛ For both of our sakes, I hope it’s the former. ❜ The number of times the Northern Pacific weather had caught him by surprise was embarrassing. ❛ His name’s Douglas. ❜ Doug, meanwhile, was making his way over to her dog. ❛ And I want to say that’s… give me a minute, it’ll come to me. ❜ He squinted at the dog, mentally sifting through all the golden retrievers that came through the clinic. He did a fair job of remembering his own patients, but as for the other doctors’ — ❛ Winston... Wags? ❜ He winced. ❛ Am I close? ❜

"Yeah I know! It's crazy how every year I think it's going to be different when I've lived here my entire life. I don't know why I think things are going be different." Luci laughed as she looked at the other. "Oh I know, but something tells me that we are going to see a very rainy spring. I mean they say that April showers brings May flowers and I love to see all the flowers so I guess I can handle it." She said to him before laughing. "What's your dogs name?"

[thferrante]

HE MIGHT HAVE MISTAKEN HER FOR A MIRAGE, a figment of his imagination conjured by a mind that was hopelessly sleep-deprived after one too many nights on call. It was too familiar, the beach, the breeze, her. 

He’d heard about the retirement — who hadn’t — and the news came as a surprise. Her career had been everything. It was everything she worked for, all the long hours rehearsing lines, the numerous press engagements, early morning call times; her success was the culmination of years of work. He should have called, checked in to see how she felt about it all. He had known her before and during the peak of her career. And after? That was where things became murky. 

His mother had asked about her, what would she do instead? Was she excited to be retiring? Surely he would be, they had always been so busy, back and forth to the airport, maybe now– and that was where he stopped her. 

He never elaborated on the end of the marriage, and didn’t plan on it. As far as his family was concerned, it ended as swiftly as it began. They were better suited as friends. Case closed.

In the name of respecting her boundaries and both their sanity, he kept his distance. Until now, three years later, when his dog decided to close the distance for them, leaving him fumbling for a response. 

❛ Hey, stranger, ❜ he managed, releasing the dog in favor of scratching at the back of his neck. A nervous tick he’d never quite managed to beat. ❛ Doug has a habit of finding things washed up on the beach, didn’t think that applied to movie stars. ❜ The corners of his lips quirked up. That was better. More natural. ❛ Congrats, by the way. You made it out in one piece. ❜ Not many could say that. ❛ How’s it feel? ❜

The phone dangling between her fingertips was dangerously close to being tossed towards the horizon. Surely it would feel liberating to know it sank into the big deep blue, never to ring again. But that wasn’t the solution; that wouldn’t fix the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that her old PR executive, Kimmy, had just put there via phone call. Her last contract had just run its course; it was done. Leona was finally free-falling into the unknown. No more obligatory ads of her face plastered on a billboard, raving about a perfume she never wore. Starting tomorrow, the campaign was done, and a new, fresh-faced and starry-eyed young girl would cover her up. That’s how she wanted it - and yet it still felt like she had lost one final time. Waving a white flag of her own making shouldn’t feel this bittersweet. But there it was, regardless.

With squinted eyes, she buried her feet in the sand. It was nowhere near warm enough to parade barefoot on the beach, but it was the warmest day she had witnessed since moving to Windsor Bay. Plus, it was comforting, and comfort was all she wanted right now. And with the waves crashing against the shore, a dog barking in the distance, and the soft breeze getting past her cardigan, sending a gentle chill down her arms, it was the perfect moment to enjoy serene isolation. Other than the fact that the barking had suddenly gotten louder.

Glancing to her side, she shielded her eyes from the sun with the palm of her hand just in time to see four paws racing over and a silhouette hot on its literal tail, the target obvious - it was her. Chuckling at the scene, the dog seemed to approach with excitement rather than aggression, so Leona braced for impact just as hands took a hold of the collar. “Oh, it’s fine. He probably sensed that I -” Her words halted just as she glanced up and realized whose dog had just beelined for her. Theo. “- needed it.” Dropping her hand, she offered it to the dog as she continued staring up at the man, gently petting his companion as the gears in her head either went into overdrive or stopped working completely - she couldn't tell.

Idiot. She should’ve said hi weeks ago, invited him for coffee, and asked about his family. Instead, she snuck around like a child who took too many cookies from the cookie jar and was afraid of the consequences. Idiot. A strained, breathy laugh made her shake her head before she shifted in the sand. "Hey, you." Another beat passed before she looked at the dog as if he could help her. "And you."

[thferrante]

❛ GO LONG, ❜ THEO CALLED, winding his arm back and throwing the tennis ball across the park. His dog took off after it, reaching the far end of the grassy space just in time to catch it midair. ❛ Winters around here really make you grateful to finally see the sun, ❜ he agreed, watching her dog for a moment. ❛ I was starting to think the rain was never going to stop. ❜

Starter for: Luciana & Open @windsorbaystarters Location: The Bark Park

Luciana had her 6 month old golden retriever, Waffles on his leash and when the two of them approached the park, she let him off leash knowing that he had learned to listen to her when she asked him to. He was also very friendly with other animals so that wasn't something that she had to worry about on her end. Luciana hung up the leash while Waffles took off and she turned towards the other person who was there, "It is so nice out today, i've been waiting for some warmer weather."

[thferrante]

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑: @leonacortcz 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: coral cove beach

THE SEA SPRAY CAUGHT THE SIDE OF THEO'S FACE in familiar gusts. It was still early, the sun only just beginning its descent towards the horizon. Hands tucked into a faded old sweatshirt, he wandered the beach a few strides behind his dog.

They spent most evenings that way, although the early warmth of spring made the walk more pleasant. 

In the distance, waves broke against the rocks; the very same ones he used to dive from in the summer. Sometimes, when the light caught the rock face just right, it was as though no time had passed at all. Funny how he always ended up back where he started.

A bark up ahead drew his attention. 

Douglas had a habit of leading their walks, choosing a direction the moment he was let off the leash. Occasionally he would circle back to play a round of fetch or walk alongside his owner, but for the most part, they explored in mutual silence. 

Or, at least, they usually did. Something in the distance had drawn the dog’s attention, and he started towards it with a determination he usually reserved for the seagulls that dotted the beach during their morning walks. But this wasn’t a bird, and he wasn’t stopping.

❛ Goddamnit, ❜ Theo muttered, taking off after him. The closer they got, the clearer it became that it wasn’t something, but rather someone. A figure sitting in the sand—dangerously close to being bowled over. He reaching for Douglas’s collar just in time, stopping him mid-jump. ❛ Sorry about him, he doesn’t usually run off like that. ❜

[thferrante]

[chris evans — 42 — he/him] THEO FERRANTE-HAWTHORNE. veterinarian.

[ windsor bay ] x [ playlist ] x [ pinterest ] x [ interactions ]

&. BASICS

full name: theodore mícheál ferrante-hawthorne

nicknames: theo, ferrante, teddy

age / D.O.B.: 42 / 18.06.1982

sexuality: heterosexual

place of birth: windsor bay, oregon 

gender: cis male

occupation: veterinarian at paw prints animal hospital

current location: coral coast

&. MORE BASIC INFO

languages: english, some italian

education: bs in business administration from boston university, dvm from tuffs university, small animal surgery internship at washington state university, orthopedic surgery residency at colorado state

transportation: a matte black audi r8

tattoos: on his chest he has an eagle, a quote from eckhart tolle “when you lose touch with your inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself, when you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world,” and his dog’s name “douglas”, along with a variety of traditional style designs. on his stomach he has a tribute to his friend noah who didn’t make it out of the accident. on his left shoulder he has a taurus symbol for his mother and on his right shoulder he has the word “loyalty”. finally, on his right ankle he has ‘LH’ in honor of his father

drinks, smokes, & drugs: yes, occasionally, no

&. PERSONALITY

zodiac sign: gemini

mbti: enfj

likes: dogs, hiking, classic rock

dislikes: loud chewing, invasive questions

bad habits: chewing on pen caps, swearing

secret talent: playing the piano

hobbies: cooking, running, collecting old vinyls

fears: monotony, that his dad was right

five positive traits: charismatic, protective, humorous, adaptable, determined

five negative traits: impulsive, escapist, guarded, noncommittal, competitive

&. BACKGROUND

tw: death, family illness, mental illness

theodore grew up in a world tinged with paranoia and subterfuge. always saying just enough to be polite yet never so much as to draw attention. the eldest of two brothers, leonard hawthorne was a man who, over time, grew to fear his own shadow. his wife, sofia, balanced him. she took his worries in stride and supported him through them. when he suggested their children go by her name, she didn’t bat an eye. 

it wasn’t safe to be a hawthorne, the family that evaporated into thin air, plunged into obscurity, and doomed to exist as whispers across the town square. and so they became the ferrantes. an enigmatic family that lived on the outskirts of town in a towering old coastal home, but hardly one worthy of the stares the thirteenth founding family might have garnered.

theo knew his father to be a cautious man, always checking over his shoulder, yet his devotion to his family dissuaded any of the young boy’s doubts. the two would take nightly walks along the beach, always just after sunset when the rest of the neighborhood was tucked away in the homes. they would take family vacations to horse ranches and ski resorts — anything that drew them away from town. 

theo's mother was a potter and became an art teacher at theo’s school to subtly distract him from his father's decline. on the day leonard shuttered their windows, sofia taught a lesson on murals and encouraged theo to paint one that evening. when he muttered about voices in the bushes, sofia had the class make wind chimes. and when the principal called about theo intentionally breaking his in the lunchroom to earn a laugh, it was just as well. 

leonard was diagnosed with schizophrenia when theo was nine. naturally, sofia did all she could to compensate, taking the children to visit her family in boston for the remainder of the summer. when they returned, theo’s days took on a new rhythm. the outdoors became his refuge; the bluffs didn’t care that the other kids couldn’t visit after school, and the spout of a whale lazily drifting by the coast reminded him of how much existed beyond the seaside town. some days he drew in his sketchbook, others he spent beach combing; and one summer he met leona cortez.

the night he found the words etched into the mantle in his father’s study, she was the first person he told. ‘nos adiuva populum’ – we help people. who did they help? were they doctors? the sea-spray-eroded pages of the journal he found tucked away in the attic begged to differ. old herbal remedies and rudimentary field guides signed with the initials ‘eh'. did doctors care about what plants they could scavenge from the cliffside? philanthropists, they assumed. that would account for the family’s wealth, but then, where did it come from? their speculations were cut short by the pizza delivery driver. 

those questions went unanswered, however, as leonard was lost to the voices shortly after theo’s seventeenth birthday. the kid who laughed too loud, pulled pranks with his friends, and rode dirt bikes on the dunes fell silent that day. he became more serious and spent all his time volunteering at the animal shelter, intent on helping someone. the ocean was still there, but it had lost its luster. 

the day he went to apply to college was the day his reality cracked: the name on his birth certificate didn’t match his transcript. the journals, the mantle, his father’s habit of locking the doors twice… and so, theodore ferrante became theodore hawthorne, and later theodore ferrante-hawthorne once he reached veterinary school and discovered the world of bureaucracy and change of name forms.

over the years, he moved across the country to further his training,  reserving summers to work as a locum veterinarian in windsor bay. the older locals paused when they read the name on his coat, but for the most part, no one gave him a second thought. the beach gradually worked its way back into his life. and with time, he learned to ignore the prickle at the back of his neck that came with being seen. if he had learned sooner, it might have prevented the empty spot on his ring finger. 

the move back to windsor bay came shortly after he completed his two thousandth specialist surgery. the clinic needed a full-time doctor and his mother had been hinting at wanting her children nearby for years. so, during his weekly call home, when his mother asked how long, he replied: “next month.” true to his word, he packed up his apartment, drove for seventeen hours to the sound of his dog’s snoring, and moved into a condo by the coast. 

now, he wakes each morning to the sound of gulls outside his window and finally sees what his life could have been like without the need to hide. but a small part of him can’t help but wonder… what if his father was right?

bold which habits your muse has

nail biting | throat clearing | lying | interrupting | chewing the ends of pens | smoking | swearing | knuckle cracking | thumb sucking | muttering under their breath | talking to themselves | nose picking | binge drinking | oversleeping | snacking between meals | skipping meals | picking at skin | impulse buying | talking with their mouth full | humming/singing to themselves | chewing gum | leg jiggling | foot tapping | hair twirling | whistling | eye rolling | licking lips | sniffing | squinting | rubbing hands together | jaw clenching | gesturing while talking | putting feet up on tables | tucking hair behind ears | chewing lips | crossing arms over chest | putting hands on hips | rubbing the back of their neck | being late | procrastinating | doodling | shredding paper | peeling off bottle labels | forgetfulness | running hands through hair | overreacting | teeth grinding | nostril flaring | slouching | pacing | drumming fingers | fist clenching | pinching bridge of nose | rubbing temples | rolling shoulders

&. HEADCANNONS

due to his father’s paranoia, he rarely had friends over— anyone who questioned the family’s strangely large house on the far end of the coast might dig a little too deep, finding an empty branch where a second brother should be.

he has a five year old dog named douglas who occupies most of his time, making regular appearances at the clinic and sitting in his office. theo regularly uses dougie to get out of plans he regrets making.

while often the type to laugh things off and take life as it comes, he can be painfully serious at times. he feels things deeply and, when he falls into one of his moods, he quietly isolated for a while before returning as though nothing happened at all.

being on call at the local veterinary clinic has fueled his already severe caffeine addiction – he’s often found at the cafe at least twice a day.

&. CONNECTIONS

ALMA MATER x this doesn’t have to be his best friend, or it could be, but theo formed a lot of core memories with this person. shared experience is a hell of a thing. whether they hang out still or have drifted, this is someone who will always be part of his memories of home. 

VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE x it’s not all rainbows and butterflies returning to your hometown. theo is a straight shooter and this is someone he just can’t seem to help butting heads with.

ALL MY HEROES x this is someone he admires – be it in work or attitude. whenever they speak he comes away with a new perspective.

[thferrante]

“You sometimes think you want to disappear, but all you really want is to be found.”

— Kid Cudi

[thferrante]

CHRIS EVANS as COLE TURNER in GHOSTED (2023) dir. Dexter Fletcher

[thferrante]

“…will I ever even know it when I become my demons... I was a shadow and one to follow  straight to the meadows of sleepy hollow. ”

–– rainbow kitten surprise, ghoul

[thferrante]

“I guess by now I should know enough about loss to realize that you never really stop missing someone-you just learn to live around the huge gaping hole of their absence.”

— Alyson Noel, Evermore (The Immortals, #1)

[thferrante]

someone: watch your language

me: oh, fuck, sorry