"Yeah, Simple Switch For That One," She Said. Being Self-taught In The Most Of The Ways Of Mixology In

Everyone was having a good time, and that's what was important. She just wasn't sure she wanted to be in the middle of chaos. It made it hard to keep a distance from people, made even harder by the approaching roommate who appeared to have a look to make her do something. Still, she smiled back and waved her hand over her book, drink, and beach chair, "is this not a beach activity? I like this one."

who: aisha & @leyla-tehrani

where: the beach bash ( august 26 )

Even though Aisha wasn't participating in the volleyball game, she still wanted to experience everything else the beach bash had to offer. Including spending an unhealthy amount of time in the water. She'd only gotten out to get a drink, and maybe chat with a few friends when she noticed her roommate in a beach chair. She wandered over to her, drying herself off with a towel as she eyed the book she had in her hands. "Hey, Leyla!" she gave a bright smile. "Not a fan of any of the beach activities?"

"Fair," she admitted, though she couldn't imagine being terrified of these gorgeous creatures herself, everyone had something. "I may judge the people who don't have taste a little bit," she joked with a laugh. Horses had been so much apart of her healing journey that her original love for them had only deepened in that experience. "A little, not as much as I would like, but I've been volunteering at Harmony Healers so I've at least been near them. When I saw they were doing the rides here, I had to selfishly get over here to enjoy some riding time. I'm not at all surprised Livvy has been inspiring you. I've never met someone so passionate about them. Do you two ride together a lot?"

"Well, I think some people are scared of horses." She stroked down the face of the horse she'd chosen. "And some people just...don't have taste." Elise had written competitively for a long while as a teen, but she was glad to be reconnecting with this side of herself. "Have you been riding at all recently? Livvy has inspired me in these past few months."

There was a peace in a small town life, but Leyla wasn't sure that meant she had to be out in the crowd. It let people too close to her, and while it was important for her business that people like her, she wasn't sure she wanted people close enough to see her. She saved herself in the end, and she didn't need anyone trying to help anymore: she didn't need friends, she didn't need saviors, she didn't need anyone.

A book kept some away and others to nothing more than a brief exchange of pleasantries, so she kept it on her like a shield. Maybe that's why she immediately held it to her chest when she heard that voice. It sounded so casual--like the first she'd heard it--she thought she might hurl right here. "No, for you, I don't," she finally managed, feeling that old familiar rage she was sure she'd already worked through rise again like a phoenix from ashes. "You have no business in a small town, Vitus." Hasn't he broken enough people?

@leyla-tehrani Beach Bash: August 26, 2023

A life powered by caffeinated beverages and nightlife meant Vitus had no trouble staying up late into the evening, which was exactly what he'd done after setting up his tent last night. The downside, however, was that he often stirred around 11 or noon, and missed most of the morning's festivities. He popped out to discover the sun already blazed high overhead. It bathed the whole beach in dazzling yellow-white, the sand glowing like small embers beneath his feet. The water reflected the light, too, shimmering and sharp against his unadjusted eyes. The circumstances were enough to disorient him, leaving him standing there like a sleepy, stranded sailor.

Luckily, though, there was someone sitting only a few feet off from his tent, her nose buried in a book. "Hey, sorry to bug you, but do you have the time?" Yawning, Vitus rubbed his eyes free of sea salt and blinked, trying to clear his vision.

CINNAMON ROLL DAY! -- @aishathevar @emelineviolette @leyla-tehrani

Because you guys are the best adopted dog parents that Walter and Gale could ask for, and also because you deal with me being a man... and that makes you cinnamon rolls in my eyes.

xx Dare

She liked talking to customers, despite the wall she put up to keep people from getting too close, she liked feeling like she maybe made someone's day a bit brighter. There was something quaint about the idea of a candy shop in a small town, reminded her of old-timey movies. "I'll trust you completely then," she teased. "Oh, of course, they'll be so happy to hear someone's dared to take the job." Laughing a little, she said, "so you'll have your angel wings and then run to the other shoulder and throw your horns on?"

She had grown liking working at Cassidy’s. She had taken the job because it was available when she came back to Merrock, and also because she needed money after spending several weeks across South America. But truth be told, she didn’t expect to enjoy it. Now it was making her happy. Tasting candy before anyone else was fun, and as busy as the shop could be, serving kids and teenagers was refreshing – they always had a lot of stories to tell, most of the time without even realizing that it was embarrassing for the adults being with them. “I’ll be your best guide,” she promised. “I’m so happy the last one retired. Tell them I say hello, and that I promise to do a good job.” She chuckled. “I can be both, though.”

Leyla knew she wasn't the only one who ever had bad life circumstances or a far from dream relationship with parents or family, so it was sort of an innate learning one had to do: find the good. It just wasn't always so innate. "Exactly, like riding a bike, I guess," she mused. As she suspected, he could go when he wanted. "Do you think you'd ever go back and live there or are you here to stay?" It was a question she asked herself a lot, especially with the idea of being known in such a small town. It made her want to run. "That's the dream, though, to have something that large that you can call your own. I used to watch Shark Tank all the time when I was younger, just wishing I could be in one of those seats someday."

Rafael's smile was lopsided, but sincere. He knew what she was talking about; if you could take one good thing out of a bad situation, it hadn't been for nothing. And sometimes even those bad situations had their reasoning for happening, whether or not you realized it at the time. But that was neither here nor there, and his thoughts shifted seamlessly to the idea of languages, nodding his head, "I can understand that, sort of all comes back to you." Listening to his mother talk to herself in Italian, or his father speaking Spanish on the phone, sometimes shifted things in his brain, as well. "Sometimes," he nodded. "But I'm lucky enough that I can take the trip when I like to, and there is the beach here, even if it's not quite the same," he grinned, at that thought. Different worlds, really. "By now, I'm used to it. But about the time that I got into real estate and realized that I had really, actually created something quite… large, it absolutely felt surreal."

Leyla had decided to set up a booth at Creek Fest to let the town sample some Fall flavors she'd created. It was a great way to get some good publicity and feedback for her drinks. Stopping into the Supply Sack to grab a few things for the signs she needed for the booth, she tried to be in and out but she was a bit dazzled by all the options in here. It was truly a hobby paradise. A voice she recognized caused her to pause, but this time the familarity didn't make her what to take a running leap into the ocean. "Mills?!" She exclaimed as she turned around.

who: cemile & open (1/3) [ @merrock ]

where: the supply shack

Cemile wasn't artistic in any way. But she'd begrudgingly go to the craft store to pick up some paints for her students. They'd been excited about their upcoming performance and wanted to make posters, and she had a bit of a soft spot for them, so she found herself here. Unfortunately, she didn't know what kind of paint to buy. After all, if she brought something that stained, she'd be hearing from their parents, and that was the last thing she wanted. So she stood in the aisle, glancing at her options, when she noticed someone nearby. "Excuse me?" she spoke up, hoping to catch their attention. "Do you think puffy paint would work for posters, or is there a better option?"

"Good, I don't have to worry," she joked, but shrugging, "uh, maybe, if you're watching me." Her intent was fully to get something small and super plain, but she wouldn't tell the other woman that. She seemed like the female Willy Wonka by the sounds of her so far. "I don't know that I've had a cupcake in...a very long time. I don't think I can even remember what those taste like." Trying new things sounded equally bad to her. Aside from a business perspective, Leyla didn't really like to venture out from her safety net of the known much. "There's cotton candy, that might also give you a sugar high for a solid week. Add chocolate chips and you're all set," she said, probably proving her point about not being a sweets person.

"Vanilla's a classic for a reason, so no judgment here," She nodded. "I at least hope you'll get sprinkles or something, makes it more fun." she laughed, then raised an eyebrow at her comment. She realized other people may not have shared the same love for sweets she did, but hearing it out loud made her question her company for a moment. "Everyone has their own preferences, mine just happens to be every and any type of dessert. I would've made cupcakes, but this was just on a whim," and what kind of reward would it be if she had to make it herself? "Yeah, it is a bit overwhelming. That's why I stuck to my one favorite flavor, but I suppose life should be about trying new things." she commented, even as she stared longingly at the empty spot where the cookie dough should've been.

Leyla only thought she was going to leave her employees in charge of the booth for a little while to take a quick break, but here she was still on the phone as she browsed through various pumpkins to maybe add something with a design to the booth. As she hung up, her phone was knocked from her hand. "That's what I get for not putting work away," she joked, waving her hand to assure him he didn't need to apologize as she bent down to pick her phone up. "I've lived in New York, I've been whacked with stranger things." Well, maybe not, but still... "And maybe I walked into your pumpkin."

Who: Vince & open!! @merrock

What: Creek Fest

Capping at 6 (0/6)

Vince was walking through the lines of pumpkins. Every year they seemed to just be getting bigger and bigger, strange as that was. He picked up a rather large one and held the thing in his arms, and before realizing there was someone next to him, he turned his body. "Oh my god, I'm sorry!" he gasped. "I can't believe I just whacked you with a pumpkin!"