Celine let out a snort at the idea of taking their daughter out of sports. Rosie had developed into quite the little athlete, but no sport sung to her the same way soccer did. Her parents being who they were, of course, had signed her up for dance classes and theater, but while she enjoyed those as hobbies, Celine could see the true spark in her whenever she talked about her sport. "Sure, you try to pull her out of soccer and let me know how that conversation goes," she smirked. Jack invited her in and she hesitated for the briefest of moments. She stared after the space where Rosie had just vanished and then turned her gaze back to Jack. His features still familiar to her, and she was still able to read him so easily. It was a miracle he'd been able to keep anything from her in the years they were together. Celine exhaled and nodded, stepping inside, her eyes flicking to the snack on the counter. She smiled to herself—it was just further proof that Jack was still trying his damnedest to be the kind of dad Rosie deserved. She respected him more than she could ever say aloud. Jack had always been good, just not hers. Not fully. Not in the way she thought she'd signed up for. And so, a year later, they were still trying to find their way through parenting together, but separately. "I think she's just testing the waters. That's what I'm hoping at least. I know she'll want to be called Rose some day for real, but I'm praying we've got a few years left." There was affection clear in her tone, and a thinly veiled pride for the little girl with opinions too big for her eight-year-old frame. She studied Jack for a moment, catching the way he rubbed at his face. He always wore his guilt like a second skin. "I think...she's just trying to figure out who she is and where she fits now that the dust's settled." She stepped further into the kitchen. "Schedules have never been your strong suit," she said, dropping her bag on the counter. Celine turned to look at him, her eyes lingering on his face longer than she meant them to. Still handsome. Still kind. Still someone she loved—just not in the way she'd thought she would for the rest of her life. "All right. Let me see what you've got, I'll see if I can't make something work."
Jack would be lying if he said he hadn’t been glancing at the clock all morning waiting for his daughter to arrive. Every minute closer to drop off made his chest lighter. He'd just finished putting a snack on the counter when there was a familiar knock at the door. The second he opened the door, Rosie launched past him with only the chaotic grace she managed to pull off. "Well, hello to you too!" he called after her, laughing as her bedroom door shut in the distance. He turned back just in time to catch Celine’s blink, her arms still full of the overnight bag. Jack took it from her wordlessly, his fingers brushing hers as he did. Even now, even with everything that had changed, their rhythms stayed in sync. That was what made it harder, sometimes. He still felt pangs of guilt in his chest. They'd been so good together, a true unit, that it felt odd for them to take on parenting separately, yet still somehow together.
"She’s getting too fast," he said, flashing a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes, holding a heaviness that never seemed to fully lighten between them. "We might need to rethink the sports. One more growth spurt and I’m done for." He paused, then let the smile fade into something softer. At her words 'It’s not bad', something in his chest twisted. A reflex. The kind you build when you’ve had to break news to someone who loved you. He tilted his head slightly, leaning towards the whisper, years of working around sound equipment not doing him any justice.
"Rose?" he echoed, eyebrows rising. "What, is she turning eighty?" He smirked, then sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face, "This whole.." Jack waved his hands around for emphasis, "personality thing... I thought we had a few good years left before puberty snuck in." He looked back briefly, toward the hallway where Rosie, 'Rose?', had disappeared to. Part of him hoped her door would creak back open and she’d be four again, asking him to retie her shoelaces or make up a bedtime story. But instead he looked back at Celine, eyes a little glassier than he meant them to be. "Would you like to come in?" he asked, voice quieter, a step to his side as an open invitation. "If you’re not in a rush. I’ve been trying to figure out her soccer schedule, but it overlaps with the college showcase and.." he exhaled. "I’m still not great at the calendar stuff." The silence that lingered was soft but familiar, like everything between them now, as complicated as it was, was still whole in its own way.
Signe had come up behind her mother, recognizing the woman was in the middle of a painting session and waited to be acknowledged. When her mother spoke, Signe chuckled. “You say rusty as if that’s not one of the most stunning paintings I’ve ever seen,” she teased, tilting her head to observe the landscape that she had been working on. “It’s really good, Mamma.” And it was good to see her mother allowing herself the small pleasures of being creative. While Sigrid Holmström was extremely analytical, she was also an intensely creative soul and Signe had credited her mother more than once for her own artistic streak.
who: sigrid & open @palmviewstarters where: the painting station
when sigrid had heard that there would be a painting station , she'd been very excited. it wasn't that often that she brought out her paints these days but it was a freeing activity that always helped calm her busy mind. she'd been sitting in front of her canvas for little over an hour and the landscape she'd been creating had slowly been taking shape. "this was such a nice event ," sigrid said. "i feel a little rusty , but it's getting somewhere."
Signe smiled gently, the gesture growing even softer as she registered the one of the many pet names her father had for her. Her gaze lingered on the painting for a second before turning towards her father and shaking her head. “It’s fine. The moment’s passed,” she shrugged, her eyes warm even as her heart felt heavy with a feeling she couldn’t quite name. “Fika fixes most things, anyway.” She never forgot how lucky she was. As a teenager, she’d been absolutely terrified of deviating from the path she was so certain was expected of her. But her parents had never scoffed or rolled their eyes at her passion, never sat her down to steer her back toward something ‘more practical.’ Signe knew that was not the case for everyone. That not everyone had parents who would let them want different things–to let them just try. The chestnut-haired girl wrapped an arm around her father’s waist, already leading him away from the painting and back out towards the street. “There’s a cute little coffee shop a few blocks over that I was wanting to check out, if you’re up for a bit of walking.” Signe glanced up at him, a measured easy smile on her lips. But behind her eyes lay a quiet resolve. She would make every sacrifice her parents had ever made for her matter. She had to. For herself—and for them.
pappa. it never got old, hearing her refer to him in the same way that she had since she was able to talk. he remembered those first syllables so vividly — after signe had mastered ‘mamma’ he sat, stared, and watched her for hours on end, tuned into her young babbling like radio static. just when he had almost lost hope, she had mustered the first p, and then the rest of the syllables. in that moment, søren had vowed never to underestimate his only child again. and he never had. it would have been easy for the two parents to turn their nose up at signe’s desire to pursue something creative. a doctor and a professor, with enough credits after their names to make up an entire new alphabet … it didn’t matter, so long as signe was happy. the holmströms had money — søren had worked in order to be a provider for their family — and there had never been any doubt that helping their daughter chase her dreams was where that wealth belonged. he didn’t always understand it, but that didn’t mean he didn’t support it. “oh, sötnos, i didn’t mean to ruin your focus.” søren straightened his back and followed signe’s gaze the the painting she had been admiring. he still couldn’t quite believe that their daughter had ended up with his pale gaze. “can i help you get it back? there’s nothing fika can’t fix.” one arm draped around her shoulders and squeezed lightly. “is there anywhere you had in mind ? ”
@evigh3t
I don’t know what I can do to save you.
The way Charlie was looking at her–like she was the only thing that mattered–made it impossible for Signe to think straight. The kiss he pressed to the back of her hand sent a shiver up her spine and even though she tried to hide it, her breath hitched just enough to betray her. Her heart was slamming against her ribs so loudly, she was certain he could hear it. She opened her mouth once. Closed it. Tried again, but all that came out was a breathy little laugh that sounded way too much like a gasp. “I–you–” she stammered, feeling the heat crawl up her neck all the way to the tips of her ears. “You’re not–you can’t just say things like that and expect me to function, Charlie Hughes,” she reprimanded although there was no heat in her words, only her face. Then he started talking about her wearing her own designs and Signe thought she might actually melt into the floor. Without ever seeing her designs, he made he feel like her work–like she– was something worth admiring like that. Signe let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, a smile tugging at her lips. “I guess it’s only fair,” she said, her voice still breathless, threaded with something that matched the softness he offered. “You’ll stare, and I’ll be quietly losing my mind every time you look at me like that.” It was meant to be a joke but even that revealed too much. She laughed, light and awkward, and ducked to hide her face in his shoulder for a moment because it was either that or actually lose her mind. She took a moment to steady herself before pulling back just enough to look up at him again, her eyes shining and cheeks burning, and gave him a helpless little smile. “You’re already ruining me... Take some responsibility will you?”
“Just wanted to hear ya say it.” Charlie’s body swayed a little where he sat, clearly pleased with her answer, delight dancing in his expression as he looked over at her without even a flicker of hesitation. “Lucky for you, love,” he added smoothly, “I’ve got no plans to deny ya anything you want.” His voice dipped just enough to make the words feel like more than teasing. Without letting go of her hand, he lifted it between them, pressing a soft, deliberate kiss to the back of her fingers, slow, deliberate, like the moment deserved more than a joke.
When she brought up the contract, his grin kicked back into place, easy and wide. He leaned closer, their hands still laced, and gave the smallest tilt of his head, that boyish glint in his eyes returning. “Think we could make it a verbal agreement then, yeah? I’m afraid my hand’s a bit occupied at the moment... super important business.” Charlie glanced up at her through his lashes, smile soft but playful, clearly enjoying the game she was playing, and happy to meet her there.
But when she spoke about wearing her own designs, his expression shifted, that teasing smile softening into something gentler. The way she answered, hesitating and thoughtful, had him leaning in just a touch, genuinely curious now. “I’d actually really like that,” he admitted, his voice quieter now, earnest, even as the corners of his mouth still tugged upward. “If you’re comfortable, of course. I mean… sketches are one thing.. but you? Wearin’ something you made with your own hands?” His smile broke a little wider, a quiet laugh huffing out of him like he couldn’t quite believe how sincere he sounded. “That’s what I’d call art, yeah?”
He gave a small shrug, but the admiration was written all over his face as his gaze stayed locked on hers, softer than before, the flirtation not gone, but folded now into something sweeter, something real. “Fair warning though,” he added, leaning in just enough to close the space between them again, looking both ways like this was top secret information, “I’ve got a terrible habit of starin’ when I’m impressed. And somethin’ tells me I’d be absolutely ruined watchin’ you in one of your own designs.” His lips curved, eyes gleaming, but the look he gave her wasn’t just about charm, it was full of that growing ache he couldn’t quite hide anymore. Like he already knew he was in trouble with her. And maybe he liked it that way.
Signe hesitated for a moment, trying to decide if her request was had crossed a line when the girl reached across and made quick work of the tangled mess that she’d been struggling with for the past ten minutes. She raised an eyebrow at the other, giving a very pointed stare to the flash of fingers working through the knots. “Uh … yes? You look like someone who could take on every knot-related crisis in the tri-county area.” She took the bracelet back gently, her smile leaning towards sheepish. “I sew like…actual clothes. I thought I could handle a couple of pieces of string.” Signe laughed quietly as she studied the now pristine and untangled beginnings of a bracelet. “Apparently not, but you’ve got my full endorsement if you need testimonials for business,” she quipped.
serena takes one look at the knot , “ do i look like i know how to untangle these things ? ” it wasn't supposed to come off any way , but her relaxed tone said otherwise . taking the bracelet without second thought , serena gets to work . “ i used to be obsessed with making these . that might've been my first business actually . ” memories flood back to a little serena , setting up shop in elementary school , her stash of friendship bracelets sitting in her pencil box for her peers to peruse . within seconds , serena hands the bracelet back , shrugging . “ you're making me want to pick this up again . ”
She smiled softly, glancing towards him. “Well, there’s still beauty in that too, isn’t there?” she tilted her head, playfully. “Your mum might not be arranging bouquets, but being surrounded by all that life and color still leaves an impact.” At his question about her muse, her gaze focused back onto the canvas before them. “Fashion stuff, mostly,” she began, her tone casual and slightly downplaying just how much all that ‘fashion stuff’ meant to her. “Fabric, textiles – I sketch and make my own designs – not for anyone else yet, but…” Signe shrugged, leaving her sentence unfinished. The girl watched as he stepped forward to study the painting a little more closely, and she allowed the silence to stretch comfortably as he made his own assessments of the piece. When he turned back to her, all honesty and charm, it made her smile without meaning to. “That’s the thing about art,” she said, tucking a strand of her unruly hair behind her ear. “It’s not about knowing what you’re looking at, it’s about how it makes you feel.” Signe shifted slightly, turning to face him more directly. “And for the record, food absolutely counts. There’s so much emotion in taste.” He introduced himself, and a playful smile curved her lips as she reached out to shake his hand. “Signe. Sing-neh. But you can call me whatever sounds right,” she joked. Still holding his hand, she leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiring whisper. “So, Charlie the Culinary Artist, what kind of food are we talking? Tiny towers and edible flowers, or greasy comfort food?”
Charlie held a gentle smile as the girl explained the piece wasn't painted by her, "That's lovely. What a cool way to pass on an interest. My mum works at this garden center, but more like 'the soil's over here' and less of the beauty of flowers, I guess." He lets out a soft laugh as he glances between her and the painting, "What's your medium then? If this isn't it, what's your style?"
The way that she'd spoken about the painting had Charlie's eyes immediately focusing more, his feet taking a small step forward to get a better look at the colors. "I would've never even thought about somethin' like that. Don't always know what I'm supposed to be lookin' at when I look at a paintin'." He turned on his heel, attention back on the girl as his head shook, "Honestly? I know nothin' about art. Never grew up really interested, but livin' here it's impossible not to stare. Now I'm definitely someone who appreciates it, really. I can't-.. Genuinely, can't draw for shit, let alone do anythin' close to this." A shrug lifts on his shoulders, "Unless you consider food art. You could say that's my medium." He jokes, holding his hand out towards the girl, "I'm Charlie."
[ … ] ❀ you’re not from around here , are you? i figured because you totally just missed { CELINE ANH DONNELLY } walking by. don’t tell me you don’t know who { SHE } is ? they kind of look like { MAGGIE Q } and i could be wrong but i think that they might be { 45 } years old right now. they’ve been living in palmview for the last { 8 YEARS }. and i don’t know if anyone has ever told them this before but they kind of remind me of { TBA } from { TBA }. if you stick around the town long enough you might catch them in action working at { SEAGLASS HOSPITAL } as a { HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR }. you see this town isn’t really that big of a place, some folks like to call them the { THE JADED FLAME } of palmview! they took a liking to the name too after a while, go figure. oh crap, they must have heard me yapping. they’re coming this way. i got to warn you though, rumor has it they can pretty { GUARDED } at times. i wouldn’t take it too seriously though, from the times i’ve spoken to them they seemed pretty { RESILIENT } to me. we see each other all the time since they live in that { 3 BEDROOM } apartment beside me over in { OCEAN’S LANDING }. i better leave you to it. it was nice meeting you! { KRYS. 32. SHE/HER. EST. }
name: celine anh donnelly (formerly waller) nickname(s): cel, cece, lina, b (only by jack) age: forty5 birthday: 12 august 1979 gender/pronouns: cis woman + she/her sexuality: undefined occupation: hospital administrator at seaglass hospital residence: ocean's edge ( 420 ocean dr ) time in palmview: 8 years
celine was born to a vietnamese immigrant mother and an irish american father. she grew up in los angeles and always had a flare for the dramatic. she grew up with three brothers and very quickly learned how to stand up for herself. she moved to new york to pursue a dream of acting on broadway and it was in the city that she met jack wallen. the two had an unusual courting and romance but soon found themselves pregnant and quickly married. celine retired from acting and focused on getting more steady work so as to better provide for their daughter. jack found a job at the local university and moved them to palmview, florida. they built a lovely life together or so celine thought. a little over a year ago, jack came out to her and the two divorced. it was a painful, but necessary process. the two still co-parent their daughter together, sharing custody. now, at forty five, celine is left wondering what comes next.
full bio here.
✨ brothers ✨ old friends from los angeles & nyc ✨ neighbors ✨ current crushes ✨ new flame ✨ work friends/coworkers ✨ parent friends ✨ i'm up for anything!! just DM me!
Lia's boots scuffed against the boardwalk, wind undoing what little effort she'd put into her bun. She caught sight of Dax with that ever-present smirk and couldn't help the eye roll that came with it. "Well, well, well," she said, stopping in front of him, "if it isn't the human embodiment of a moody mixtape." The dark haired girl sank down on the bench beside him, one leg tucked underneath her and smirked at him. "Trouble's such a dramatic word, y'know? I prefer to think of it as light chaos," she shrugged. "Simple things like oversharing with a barista and spending 80 bucks on vintage strings that I absolutely didn't need." Lia tilted her head toward him, giving him a once-over. "What about you? Deeply judging tourists to pass the time, again?"
location : sunset villa beach. status : open . ( @palmviewstarters )
he leaned back against the peeling wooden bench, the salty breeze of palmview ruffling his hair as he glanced around the bustling boardwalk. his tattooed fingers idly drummed against the edge of the bench, rhythm in sync with the distant crash of waves. the sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the surf shops and beachside vendors, their neon signs flickering to life as dusk settled in. he pulled a blunt from his pocket, tapping it thoughtfully against his palm before lighting it up, the tip flaring bright in the growing twilight. inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes, letting the familiar burn settle in his chest. he hadn’t relaxed in a minute — time had a funny way of slipping past in this town, days bleeding into each other with the rhythm of tides.
he exhaled, smoke curling up toward the sky as footsteps approached, scattering seagulls nearby. he cracked one eye open, a smirk curling his lips. " well, look what the tide dragged in. " he drawled, flicking ash to the pavement. his gaze lingered, curiosity sparking in his eyes as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. " so, what kinda trouble you get yourself into today? "
resoluxe \ˈre-zə-ˌluks\ 1. the quality of resolving a challenge or decision with sophistication, elegance, and luxury.
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