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@dahliadumont
I actually don't! I did recognize some faces though from the college but I'm not familiar with any names. I'm really excited for every event that will happen here!
[where: mardi gras celebration, downtown]
Lara! Wow, hey! It's crazy out here, really quite the crowd. I feel incredibly underdressed, compared to some people. I was a little surprised when I got here to see that so many people went all out with their outfits, I didn't think it would be the majority of everyone.
"That's even better, something that you can put on the walls to really make the space your own, right?" It would make her space look like something lived in by someone who really liked to travel, who wanted to remember the plces that they had visited. "Oh, perfect!" he let out a loud laugh when she talked about trivia nights, knowing it would be good to keep in his back pocket. "I like to think that I'm pretty good at trivia night, myself, the two of us teaming up could really end up destroying the competition," and walking away with a trophy, which might be the most important thing. "Maybe you just want to keep those memories as just that… and make new memories in new places?" he suggested.
"Me," he let out a soft laugh. "I was actually adopted when I was a baby -- my adopted parents are locals here in town, have those deep roots that go back generations. My birth parents just weren't ready to be parents, that kind of deal, knew I'd be better off with someone else," and they had been right. As much as Josh loved his birth father dearly, he knew that he had been raised the best way possible by the best people possible. "Then when I was… oh, about twelve or so? My father came here, to find me. With permission of my parents, of course."
"Oh, we'd surely be champions together," Dahlia smirked, with a twinkle in her eye. "We should put that to the test some time. What's the spot for trivia night, anyways? I haven't been to one for ages, not since I've moved here. My team was undefeated back in Colorado, where I last lived." Her gaze drifted to the window's view of the sidewalk. She bit her lip and nodded slowly. "Maybe, yeah. It would be interesting to see how they've changed, though. But I think, like you said, new memories. I've never really been one to look back."
She returned her gaze back to Josh. "Mm, yeah, I think that's frequently the case, it seems. I can't imagine how hard it must be to make a decision like that. But you've got a pretty unique story, forming a relationship later on. That's really cool." Dahlia tilted her head and gave him a soft smile. "But your parents, then, they're the real deal here, honest to good Merrockites, -- is that what we're called?" Dahlia raised her eyebrows. "So you must have a lot of family here, I'm guessing."
"You're very welcome," Zoey grinned brightly, eyes scanning over the other woman's attire. Gold seemed to suit her well. "I honestly didn't realize how a barn could look like the inside of a palace, but I think think they really outdid themselves here." Though, if Zoey knew anything about Merrock and its events, it was that every detail was thought-out and executed perfectly. Zoey's ears perked up at the other's words, trying to make it out herself. Humming along to a few of the notes, Zoey pinned it down. "Are they playing Uptown Girl? I didn't realize that this song could be flipped into sounding classical."
Dahlia's eyes widened as she recognized Zoey was right, it was Uptown Girl. She laughed out loud and tossed her head back. "Oh my God, it really is, isn't it? Huh." She placed her free hand on her hip and twisted to face the band for a moment before turning back to Zoey. She raised her glass and smiled with amusement. "Well, I'll raise a glass to the band for this impressive surprise," she proclaimed before taking a sip of her cider.
"That makes sense," he nodded his head with understanding, and then leaned back in his seat, curious. "Do you have anything that you collect from places that you've lived? I know some people collect shot glasses or postcards or t-shirts, or are you more of a 'take only memories' sort of person?" Josh wasn't sure if he would be able to stay in any one place for any amount of time without having something to remember how his life had been. "I hope that you get to go back sometime, I think it's one of those places that you appreciate the older that you get? Especially if you're not only hitting the touristy areas," he himself had seen a lot of those, too, adn then some spots that his father had told him were special to him, too. "Kyoto. Although don't ask me anything about it, I was there until I was about… two days old?" he laughed. "But my father, he moved to Merrock about thirty years ago now, I was pretty young."
Dahlia tilted her head, running through the knickknacks she'd acquired over the years. "Well... Maybe not one type of thing, but if I'm somewhere international I love to get some form of artwork, like prints or carved pieces. I've had to keep in mind what I can and can't pack up easily, though. In the US, however, I've got a sizable collection of mugs. Some shot glasses, pint glasses, t-shirts, yeah. If you ever need a trivia night teammate, I'm pretty good at winning bar merchandise," she chuckled. "I get around to other places, but not so much the places I lived as a kid. It would definitely be interesting to go as an adult, I probably should; it just feels... I don't know, weird to me, for some reason." A slightly pensive expression glimmered across her face, unsure of what exactly made it strange to her.
"But Kyoto, nice! It's beautiful there." Being one of the few relatively close places to Australia, Dahlia had been able to explore Japan more frequently than other places as a side trip after the occasional Canberra visit. "That's so interesting though-- landing in such a small town like Merrock, of all places. What made him to decide to move here when he did?" Again, she hoped she wasn't being too nosy but also sensed that Josh would let her know if it was too much. She knew everyone had different experiences with being an adoptee so she wanted to be sensitive to that, but his story was quite intriguing and unique out of others she'd heard.
Josh's eyes widened a little bit at the mere mention of a kangaroo coming into anyone's house. It would be the equivalent of a moose marching right into someone's living room in Maine. Hadn't happened yet, but would it surprise him? Not necessarily! "I'm pretty sure I would move," he laughed, shaking his head. He liked animals as much as the next person, but maybe not so much when they were just wandering into someone's personal space. "I don't think that sounds lame at all," he reassured her with a smile. Maybe because to him, Melbourne still seemed very far away to think of, of course. "Sort of hard to say that you are from a place when it's one of the places you've spent the least amount of time, right?" he asked, small, understanding smile on his face. He had heard that from a number of patients who moved around. "I don't mind, but, no. My father has a few relatives, but he's not close to them. It's just the two of us, which kind of made it even more special."
"Exactly," Dahlia nodded, relaxing a little. "Everywhere I lived was temporary, and Canberra was no exception in my mind at the time." Her mindset had still never changed from that. Dahlia had many fond memories from all the places that she'd lived, varying in what aspects of her life they fulfilled, but like many children and teenagers, the social experience was a dominant factor in how she remembered those times. "I'd definitely love to go back to all the places I lived and visit as an adult. I've been back to Germany a few times, Japan as well. I lived in Tokyo when I was too young to actually remember, though, so the times I've gone were still very much tourist trips. But where in Japan are you from, then?" A soft smile formed on Dahlia's face as Josh shared about his relationship with his father. "That really is special," she agreed with a soft smile. "How old were you when you were able to reconnect?"
Thank you! It's good to see you too. It's been really fun. I've been told the band is really great, by the way. I love it! They've really outdone themselves this time.
They really are! I didn't really know what to do with myself when I got here so I was just over there watching a little while ago. Do you know anyone that's part of the band?
EVENT: the crystal gala LOCATION: the barn @ lake malory DATE: january 21st, 2023
The Gala was in full swing by the time Zoey had moved from the buffet over to an area that was less congested, some place where she could re-calibrate after all the socializing. It was easy to quickly get lost in the atmosphere of the music being played, alcohol flowing, and people letting loose. She steered clear of the alcohol, sticking to drinking a mocktail that tasted fruity. It was interesting to see how others celebrated the night - whether with a drink, a dance, or some sort of companion. Zoey came to the Gala alone, but knew she'd bump into some familiar faces, knowing she'd make the best of what the night had to offer. She was committed to having a good time and hoped to make good conversation.
Zoey was subtly dancing along to whatever pop song the band managed to cover with their strings when her attention moved elsewhere and over to the other woman she remembered meeting at the cafe. And in better terms, too. "Dahlia, hello! I'm doing pretty well, thank you for asking. What about you? Are you enjoying the event?" Zoey smiled in return, feeling confident. "And thank you for the compliment! I think you look great, as well."
“Why thank you,” Dahlia replied graciously, weaving her fingers between the pleats of her dress. “God, they did such a gorgeous job with decorating the barn! I didn’t expect it to be so extravagant. I sort of worried I’d be over-dressed but apparently not.” The blonde beamed and looked around the room. As she observed, the music playing caught her attention and she cocked her head. “Why do I feel like I know this song…?” It was something not classical, that was for sure.
How has your night been going? You look wonderful tonight, by the way. I'm really enjoying the vibe the party has going on.
Lara? Thank you, that’s very sweet. You look amazing as well, I adore your dress. It’s good to see you! I just got here not too long ago, but it’s quite incredible how all-out they went for this. And what about you?
"I should brush up on Australia knowledge," he admitted somewhat sheepishly. "I know the basics, like the fact that there are kangaroos that you don't want to make angry, and a lot of big critters that you want to stay away from," which was ine by Josh. He was alright with respecting nature from a distance, rather than worrying about seeing it up close, but. His thoughts drifted back to what she was saying about schooling, and he felt a smile touch his lips, "I can imagine." It might have been tough, traveling from place to place going to new schools, but at the same time, getting to learn diferent things under different teaching styles had to be educational in and of itself. "Did you have any one place that was your absolute favorite? Any place that felt the most like 'home' at all?" He wasn't sure how that would work having seen so many places, there had to be some that just felt right. "I have been! My father -- birth father, I should say -- is still in my life, and we've taken a couple of trips over the years."
Dahlia threw back her head, fully laughing this time. "It's true! Kangaroos are not to be messed with. They actually call Canberra the 'kangaroo capital', which is... I don't remember ever having kangaroos coming inside my house, but I definitely recall my gran making a fuss about them wreaking havoc in the neighborhood." She shook her head and let out a soft sigh of amusement. His question, however, left her smile falter; she was taken off-guard, and she didn't like to show it. Still, Josh portrayed the sort of genuineness that she liked, and it made it a little easier to recover the flow of the conversation. "This may be a bit lame but I liked Melbourne, I lived there when I was finishing up high school so it was a fun place being that age. As for 'home'... Honestly... Not really, no. I suppose Canberra was always 'home base', but... when traveling was the norm, it was just a bit odd since I was 'from' there but hadn't spent much time there. But... anyways-- That's really so lovely you've gotten to spend time there together and have him in your life. Do you have any other family there that you've gotten to know? If you don't mind me asking, of course."
where: the barn
when: the crystal gala
for: @zoeylcwrence
Dahlia escaped the traffic jam around the bar with a sigh of relief. Thankfully, her sparkling cider had been poured into a tall champagne glass, providing adequate protection against spillage. In every direction she looked, guests stood in lively clusters, the barn abuzz with laughter and vibrant conversation. It wasn't uncommon for Dahlia to find herself as an observer. Despite her ability to strike up conversation with strangers, she still needed an in, at least one person to open the dialogue. She'd come alone, though, so the best she could do was look for a familiar face. As Dahlia scanned the room, she caught a glimpse of the woman she'd met at the coffee shop, and she traced a path in that direction.
"Zoey?" Dahlia grinned, holding up her free hand in a small wave. "Hi, how are you? Your dress-- you look amazing."
Thinking back to geography class, he imagined Sydney, and then Canberra being nearby… and then realized he had no idea where either of those were, and instead found himself laughing, "got it, near the place with the giant opera house right next to the water, then." Admittedly, Josh might have been a little bit clueless when it came to Australia, but that didn't mean that he wasn't willing to learn. "That makes sense, though, the traveling. I bet that you saw some really fascinating things, especially with what they do for a living." Getting to see the world, watching her parents work, he could only think of it as an adventure, although he was also sure that there were some drawbacks, too. Never being in one place long enough to really settle, make a life for yourself, friends, relationships… he didn't envy that. "Were you homeschooled, then?" Maybe that would have been the toughest part for Josh, a huge nerd, was not having the traditional education. "Mostly. I was actually born in Japan, but only there for a few days before the adoption was finalized and my parents came home to Merrock."
"Yeah, the opera house, exactly," Dahlia chuckled. "And, um, yeah. It was all very fascinating, yes." Despite the fact that moving country to country was a regular routine in her childhood, she still fully appreciated the value of it. Every move brought mixed feelings, even dread at times, but there was always a big part of her that was curious and excited to explore their next temporary home. "Homeschooled? No, actually, not for the most part. My parents were big on... immersive experiences, so I was just moving schools every few years. It was... you know, not ideal being the new student all the time, but I think it was for the better." Dahlia leaned forward slightly as she listened to Josh explain. "Oh, that's cool. My sister was adopted too; Germany, though. Have you ever been to Japan to visit?" She realized that her question may have suggested nosy follow-ups, but she had no intention of pressing him for any information he didn't freely offer.
Josh let out a quiet laugh as she agreed about her sister thinking that she would have moved on, knowing that she didn't respond to the second part of the question, and knowing well enough to let it go; people talked about what they wanted to talk about. And when they didn't want to talk about something, then there was no point in pressing. There was always a reason for it. "Have you lived in very many places, then?" he asked, figuring that talking about the wheres, rather than the whos, might be a better tactic for casual conversation. And that was okay, Josh could talk about places. "I always feel a bit envious when peopel tell me that they've lived all over the world, I'll admit. Even though I really do love it here, obviously," he gestured around the room. "Oh, very nice! I live right on the lake in the countryside, so a walk to anywhere is… well, it's a hike."
Dahlia was grateful he didn't ask anymore questions about the people she'd left behind. Talking about the places themselves was a lot easier to answer, even if some of them were associated with people. Most of the time, the people were just a part of the locations in her memory, so it was easier to detach from the personal connections. "Yeah," she said with a soft laugh. "You could say that. I'm from Canberra originally-- it's soft of near Sydney, if that helps." Australian geography was a little less well-known to most Americans, she'd realized. "I bounced around Asia and Europe, too. My parents are anthropologists so we were wherever their research took them. I've stayed in the States for the last twenty or so years, though." She considered Josh's comment on hearing people talking about living around the world. Despite her memory of her upbringing being somewhat difficult, she couldn't fathom a stationary life. "I mean, I definitely always felt like I missed out on a lot of things growing up, but I am appreciative of the way it impacted my... world perspective. What about you? Merrock born and raised?"
"I haven't been to the Mirage lately, but it sounds like I'm due for the visit. I'm more in the dive bar vibe, usually, but I know a lot of my clients go there for drinks." He took a sip of his coffee. Greyson didn't want to seem like the type who went to bars that often, but he did enjoy it. "That's definitely the vibe a lot of us like to give off. I think we're prepared to be listeners more often than talkers."
"Yes! You should definitely stop by." Dahlia gave Greyson a wide smile. "It's definitely a bit quieter of a spot until later in the evening. It's under the hookah bar so it's kind of an 'after-hours' place. So before then, I mostly get a lot of talkers," she said. "People... drinking alone or getting off work. But anyways, maybe I'll think about a new tattoo. What's your style like?"
Merry Christmas everyone!
@cagenewman, @alejaalverez, @xespietamayo, @rafaelcb, @joshlane, @ycseniarivera, @dahliadumont
"Okay, that's fair," he laughed in agreement to what she was saying about the one-bedroom bungalow. No one wanted to share a space that tight with their family membes when it came down to it. Everyone needed to breathe and be able to live on their own at least a little bit. "I take it as she expected you to get back on the road? Did most people in your life expect you to get back on the road, actually?" From the sounds of it, she didn't seem like the kind of person who settled down very easily, but that was okay. Everyone was different. "I think that's one of the best things about Merrock, to be honest. It has something for everyone. Might not be quite like the city areas of Boston, or Manhattan itself when you're downtown, but… close enough. And you absolutely should talk her into some beach yoga, if she got you into it!"
Dahlia and her sister had lived together in the past, just the two of them, but since then, she'd developed the need for complete alone time. "Oh, she definitely thought I'd have moved on by now." Dahlia looked down at her coffee with a brief pause when Josh mentioned "most people in her life"; she tended to cut ties with most people, fading out her communication and taking longer to text back. Then, she'd left Colorado with no idea where she'd end up next, so most people didn't even know where she was going. Her ex... She'd kept in slightly better contact with Shay than most people, but it fizzled out by the time a year or so had passed. Her parents knew, but Dahlia would bet they didn't put much thought into it. Plus, their visits or stays had always been wherever her sister was, where Dahlia would drive or fly in to join them. So, she ignored that part of his question and looked up again with a small smile, attempting to move on. "I'll definitely be taking her out for beach yoga. I'm out on the coast, so it's just a short walk away. I love it."
As many of you know, I'm now a weird plant guy, but more like...plucking them for art purposes. So I've started doing some cyanotypes in my meantime. I've made some pieces for lovely friends this year.
@dahliadumont @lincolnandrewscott @rafaelcb @verachadha
