𝐋𝐂𝐍𝐋𝐄𝐘𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑 ; dependent blog for deervalleyhq, penned by tay.
╰ cemre yildiz : introduction, musings, image, interactions
╰ nico moretti : introduction, musings, image, interactions
cherry valley forever
Monterey Bay Aquarium
occasionally subtle

祝日 / Permanent Vacation
trying on a metaphor

PR's Tumblrdome

roma★
YOU ARE THE REASON
todays bird
Keni

ellievsbear
noise dept.
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
dirt enthusiast

Product Placement
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
Stranger Things
Game of Thrones Daily
will byers stan first human second
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
seen from France

seen from Indonesia
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States

seen from United States

seen from France

seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States

seen from Türkiye
seen from Brazil
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Bangladesh
@lcnleyhour
𝐋𝐂𝐍𝐋𝐄𝐘𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑 ; dependent blog for deervalleyhq, penned by tay.
╰ cemre yildiz : introduction, musings, image, interactions
╰ nico moretti : introduction, musings, image, interactions
nodding his head as nico speaks is almost pointless -- he's barely listening at all, can only concentrate on the bottle in the other's hand and the last time they'd been drinking together. "oh, right, right. makes sense. so, you're, um, not here long, then?" he can't muster a sigh of relief, his breath caught in his throat. he almost doesn't want to know the answer, but more than that, he almost wants it to be no. almost wants him to stay. "not that you shouldn't live here. deer valley has a lot to offer. this bar, for example. you know, where in la can you drink inside of an old barn?" he's sure there's a renovated barn bar somewhere in los angeles, but it isn't here. it isn't here and nico is and why didn't he spot him sooner?
he wishes he could go back in time and not down the previous shots so quickly, would have rather had a clearer head when face to face with dallas again. maybe then he wouldn't over-analyze how he asked if he wasn't here long - the relief he sees ( or imagines ) is a bit too much for him. " oh, uh - yeah. once the wedding shit is done i'll be out. " he almost adds a don't worry, but the other guy speaks before he can put his foot in his mouth. " drinking in a barn feels like LA, somehow, but it'd feel too fake. definitely nothing like this. " he may feel more comfortable there, though. he looks around or a bit before facing him again, trying to act less awkward than he feels. "deer valley has a lot of cool shit, then? i haven't had a full tour yet. "
maggie couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips at cemre's question. she knew fully well that between having two kids of her own and working with children all day at her job, she was sometimes blind to the fact that not everyone else spent the same amount of time being completely surrounded by children that she did. not that she didn't enjoy the job she had (she was grateful to be doing something she loved every day and she'd shout that from any rooftop in fact), but it was something that stuck out to her more and more as of late.
"usually they're five or six by that point. and you can hope that a five year old would know not to put paper in their mouth, but that's not always the reality," maggie shrugged, pausing to take another sip from the coffee mug that had been perched next to her laptop. "the older kids are taking part in the hike, but trying to wrangle twenty kids under 7 isn't worth the hassle. not unless they all become really self sufficient really fast!"
" oh right, " cemre said, nodding, realizing she wasn't sure why she even tried to clarify the ages of kindergarteners. besides the occasional extended family gathering or run in around town, she had close to zero experience with kids. for all she knew, a seven year old still tried to put paper in their mouth. still, with the information, it seemed like the craft that maggie found was a good idea as any. " well, seems like you've already figured out your plan. " the only thing she could offer is a place for the kids to hang up their art work, but the barn didn't really seem fitting for that.
she bit the end of her straw, thinking about the hike. it wasn't exactly her ideal version of a workout - but spending earth day in a stuffy pilates class wasn't exactly a celebration, either. " so you're working the hike, as well? line leader or whatever for the older kids? " maybe she'd be able to convince teddy to do something else outside that day, instead of dodging kids in the park. " or do you just handle the younger ones? "
his eyes follow the card as it turns between nico’s fingers before lifting back to him. “ the golden hind, ” he repeats, a slight raise of his brows following. “ that quick, huh? i thought i had you free for a bit. ” he'd figured nico would find something to keep himself occupied here, just not this soon. he’d assumed he would have a few days to show him around, or at least keep him to himself a while longer. then again, not much about being back here has gone the way he pictured it. he can see now how it’s thrown things a little off between them. in some quieter part of himself, he knew that bringing nico here would change something. nico isn’t just anyone. he’s the one person whose perception actually matters, which makes this harder to brush off. he expected a reaction, maybe questions. what he didn’t expect was the way nico looks at him now, like he’s someone else entirely. “ then let's talk, ” he offers, already decided he's not skirting it this time. he pushes himself up from the lounger, closing some of the space between them. “ i know it might feel like i dropped you in the middle of something you weren’t in on, but it’s not... it's not as much as it looks. none of this— ” his eyes move briefly over the house, the land, all of it, before settling back on him, “ has anything to do with who i am. ” or at least, that's how the youngest whitlock has come to see it. he almost leaves it there but it doesn’t quite sit right, so he exhales through his nose before adding, his voice dropping just a little, “ you've seen me, nico. that didn't change. ”
he tries - but most notably fails - at feeling nothing when benjamin comments on having him free for a bit. it's enough to quell some of his anger for a moment, fingers absentmindedly flicking the business card. " yeah, well, they didn't promise me that many shifts - picking up some here and there, mostly. " he had been interested and excited at the idea of following benjamin around his hometown, seeing how he interacted with everyone. seeing glimpses in how he grew up. he just didn't expect it to be so different from his own upbringing. didn't expect to feel lied to about it all. now he wonders how the other felt about it - he was bringing around his los angeles roommate, for what? to shove how he's living in their faces? to laugh about how the other side lives? he doesn't want to think that way about him, doesn't really believe his own aggravated thoughts. so he takes a breath, a nod, and watches as he stands. " okay. " it felt like he was dropped in something he wasn't in on because that's exactly what it was. still, he doesn't argue, and does his best to listen. he stands in the midst of all of this - the house, the land, the money - and it looks like it has everything to do with him. " that's - " he begins, but benjamin cuts him off. you've seen me, nico. he blinks, looking away from him before his eyes finally land back on him. " have i? i thought i - " he clears his throat, shaking his head. " i dunno, i thought i did. but why didn't you tell me any of this? feels like you've been lying to me. "
it feels like they're back in high school: teddy, sitting on cemre's bed, going through something on her phone while the curly-haired tries on clothes endlessly to look her best for a party. the resemblance is so uncanny that teddy has to keep herself from laughing in true mirth, but she fails to keep a rare grin from covering her features as cemre comes to her for the fifth time. "you're not even letting me see them. how is that a fair assessment? you'll always think you look poorly." generally, teddy thinks that the person should know what suit them best, but that opinion would always fall second to her own – especially when that is about dear ones. "you're not skipping on your own shift. you're nowhere as rich by yourself for that." the blonde says, putting her phone aside and getting to her feet; within a moment, she's inside cemre's massive closet and selecting clothes of her own. "can you remember what you wore last night?"
" because i know you, and i know you'll hate them. " the words are muffled against fabric, pulling the dress under her chin before trying to pull stubborn curls out of her lipgloss. there's something to be said about how quickly she reverts back to her younger self with teddy, but she can't pretend like age has made her less dramatic. " i've decided being rich on your own is overrated. " it's not - well, not when her parents have decided it isn't. she thinks she'd be doing just fine with their money, considering they had plenty to let her use. cemre tries to remind herself that she actually has somewhat enjoyed her time owning the barn - even if her family back home would balk at the idea of a square dance competition. at teddy's sudden entrance to the closet, her hand stops on the skirt she's contemplating trying on next. " hey, " a roll of her eyes follows at the question, unsure if it's genuine or a dig. " i do, and it's thrown with the rest of my dirty clothes. why? " she sighs, leaving the skirt and peaking at what teddy has in her hands. " find anything decent? "
starter for the besties @lcnleyhour
"god, i miss the beach..." the groan that left her lips in discontent really served to represent how upset she was. it was a sort of cycle that she'd fallen into; being fine one moment, then feeling like half her soul was ripped away because the ocean wasn't nearby. "it's like i've lost a limb, nico," she complained, turning her head to catch a glimpse of him, frowning as her brow furrowed. "too bad i blew up my entire life back home." a long suffering sigh signaled the disappointment she felt at herself and her past decisions. "please, distract me. tell me about your day or what you've been up to since we last saw each other."
" surely there's some sort of body of water around here, " he offers, though he knows colorado lakes won't offer the same feeling as being at the beach. unfortunately there's nothing like it. he's glad to see that stella is doing well away from california, but he really can't see her away from the ocean. " you didn't blow up your life. it's there, y'know - surely, whenever you're ready. " at the turn of him offering a distraction, nico laughs and shakes his head. " you know me, most of my shit stays the same. but, i mean, i followed my... " he blows out a puff of air, not sure the best way to describe him, " i followed benjamin all the way to a family wedding and found out i don't actually know him. thank god you're here, really. "
open starter! location: care for you
it was a rare occasion when maggie was ahead of schedule with her lesson plans as of late (translation: never). more often than not in the last few years, she would have the next day or week's projects planned out the night before, or in worse cases, the morning of right before first bell. but call it divine intervention or a child-free weekend, or most likely the third coffee that was running through her system, and she'd managed to get almost three weeks ahead on her lessons. thank you, holiday craft ideas. it may have taken her the last few hours at this table to get to this point, but a win's a win.
"do you think this is too much to ask of a kindergartener?" maggie asked, her brows furrowing as she looked up from her laptop, turning the screen towards the person nearby. the screen revealed a project she'd found online, a 'mosaic' project with paper glued down in the shape of earth. a glue disaster waiting to happen, but parents would appreciate it. "i'm thinking for earth day with the younger ones. usually i'd make my own kids be my guinea pigs, but they're with their dad and frankly too opinionated for their own good, so. thoughts?"
cemre hears the question, though assumes that maggie is surely talking to another parent somewhere in the cafe, and simply continues to scroll on her phone. it's only until she sees the computer turn to her out of the corner of her eye that she sits up in her chair slightly. " oh no, i am so not the girl to ask for that. " still, out of pure nosiness, cemre raises her sunglasses slightly so she can see the screen. the art project looks...cute, for lack of better word. surely kids would be occupied with anything like that, right? remembering that her sunglasses were hiding smudged mascara, she lets it drop back down as she grabs her iced latte. " how old are kindergarteners again? three? six? "
she takes a sip, swirling the cup around in her hand, leaning back down in her chair as she begs for the caffeine to kick in. it'll be a very long day if it doesnt. " they'd probably just drool all over it, right? or eat it? " gross. feels like a lot of work, but likely something maggie is very familiar with. " but they'd probably do that with anything, and i assume them joining the community hike is out of the question? so, yeah, i say go for it. "
"I suppose you're right. One never sees them without their shell - perhaps they're more introverted than we think." The comment was meant to be a joke, of course Koa wasn't some animal expert on their structure or habits and instincts. It was just something to break the ice with and pass the time. A distraction. "Hopefully that's not the most aimless question you have gotten while working. I can only imagine some of stuff you have heard or asked along the way." Chaotic came to mind but sometimes that could be what someone needed. But nonetheless, Koa felt relieved. People watching wasn't something he found himself doing much, especially at a bar - even if it could be entertaining depending on the crowd. However most people felt uncomfortable if they were to catch you and Koa never wanted any of that.
" i haven't either. but now that i'm thinking about it, they would look naked. " he's half tempted to get his phone out and google an image, but the one his mind is giving him is sad enough. " nah, not even close, don't worry about it. " he can't even remember half the shit people have asked him about. sometimes they talk to him like he's some sort of therapist, an open ear as they cry into their glass. a turtle question he can take. " now you've just got me wondering what my shell would be, y'know? if it wasn't their home and was just clothes. probably my old carhart jacket i thrifted, like, a decade ago. " the guy is probably done thinking about turtles but unfortunately for him, nico can be easily entertained and desperate for anything to make the shift go faster. " you have anything that you'd pick? "
closed for: @lcnleyhour
location: the whitlock home
featuring: benjamin & nico
he’s tried, at least a little, to pass the day like it hasn’t been quietly off. the past few days have been like this. they have not really spoken since they got here and he knows where that started. it’s irritating, more than anything, how noticeable the absence is when it shouldn’t be. waking up to an empty space, catching himself listening for movement that never comes, realizing a little too late he’s the one waiting now. so, he kept himself “ busy ”. went out for a run that lasted longer than usual, cut through the ranch after, stopping here and there with no real urgency to leave or stay. he picks up groceries on the way back and makes something simple for dinner. by evening he decides he’s done trying to fill the time and settles on the front veranda, stretched along one of the loungers with a book open in his lap, thumb holding a page he hasn’t read ( he’s not really reading ). when he sees nico coming up the drive, his attention lifts straight away, the book closing as he sits up. “ hey, where have you been? didn't catch you this morning. ” not the classic spouse question when the partner comes home too late. and he’s not exactly entitled to it either—but it’s nico, and that seems to count for something. “ feel like i keep missing you these days. is that just me, or…? ” he already knows the answer, or at least, he thinks he does. this isn’t really a question so much as a test, to see if nico will meet him halfway this time.
he isn't expecting benjamin to be waiting for him, figures that he has plenty of people to see and places to return to. had imagined, weeks ago when he got the invite, that he'd be awkwardly trailing him to every place. still, his heart rate spikes a bit as he addresses him, closing in on him in the front of he house. " oh, yeah - " he pulls out the business card from his pocket, flipping it around in his fingers. " talked to the manager at the golden hind, gonna pick up some shifts while i'm here. " maybe he's aching for some familiarity, but it mainly comes down to needing income while away on this vacation. something he thought benjamin would've understood. but as he looks at him, stretched out in the chair, the house serving as a perfect backdrop - there's no denying that he fits here. he just isn't sure how he didn't see it before. at the question, he licks his lips, looking off into the stretch of land that surrounds them. " i don't... " his voice trails off, running a hand through his hair as he tries to find words that don't feel as pathetic as he does, " i just don't know, " how to talk to you, who you are, what's been a lie. none of that comes out. " any of this, " his arms flail out, pointing to him and to everything around them. " i don't get it. " you've gone somewhere i can't follow, he thinks. it isn't a fair expectation of him. but what would've been fair is to have known about any of this. " having a hard time catching up to everything, obviously. "
dallas sees him too late, his mind unraveling into every worst case scenario possible. he needs to find the exit, like he's preparing for the ending of a horror movie, or rather like he's living in some nightmare he can't quite escape. his eyes spot the exit too late and the guy he left without a trace is before him. in colorado. in deer valley. "hey, nico, i . . ." voice trails off into the music as he struggles to find the words. hey, nico, i'm sorry i tried to kiss you and then disappeared. "live here. i've, um, well i thought i told you i was from colorado. guess deer valley doesn't really roll off the tongue as smooth, but. what about you? what could bring you here? from la to deer valley. doesn't really seem like you."
he realizes, far too late, that he had no plan of what else to say to dallas. didn't think it through that it'd lead to any actual conversation. and when dallas seems like he'd rather do anything else than talk to him, nico realizes his error. " oh shit, " he takes a swig of his beer, fingers gripping the neck of the bottle too tight. he remembers him mentioning colorado, now. " that's - that's crazy. " he hopes to god that now the comedian doesn't think he stalked him to his home - he hadn't even mustered up the courage to double text him. " no, definitely not like me. " none of this is familiar to him, and the acknowledgment from someone else that knows him only makes it feel more foreign. the places he'd go to for the youngest whitlock. " my roommate, benjamin? he's from here. i'm just visiting with him. his mom's getting married. "
STARTER: closed for cemre yildiz ( @lcnleyhour ) SETTING: either aeri's or cemre's place; late evening
MAYBE SHE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ONLY TEXTING CEMRE WHERE THERE WAS AN ITCH TO BE SCRATCHED, but then again, was it really a problem when it was consensual and mutual? And was there such a thing as a soulmate, but in the sexual sense? Because to Aeri, that was exactly who Cemre was. The two could be completely themselves in between the sheets, no shame nor regrets standing in their way. If only they had been able to make it work out of the sheets too. ❝ Long night? ❞ The brunette asked breathlessly as her lips sought comfort or penitence in Cemre's own. Her hands searched eagerly for any parts of skin that could possibly be exposed as the two sat in Aeri’s car. ❝ My place or yours? ❞ A sigh escaped Aeri's lips as she turned in bed, legs still shaky and mind still numb from what had just happened. Her arms rested gently against Cemre’s shoulder and Aeri leaned her chin on her hands. ❝ You never answered my question…❞ The leggy brunette smiled, before pressing a gentle kiss upon Cemre’s exposed skin. ❝ Long night? ❞
sometimes, when they're laying in bed ( or maybe only when they're laying in bed ) cemre wonders why they couldn't just make it work. but they both know. and besides, it's better this way. any attempts at a long-term relationship end poorly for her, with a track record to prove it. sometimes she thinks this is all she's fit for - but when aeri kisses a gentle kiss to her skin, she doesn't think it's all that bad. " mm, " she hums, looking at her for a moment longer before her head falls back to the pillow, curls splaying out all around them. " a long night. " her eyes trace where the walls meet the ceilings, not quite ready for work thoughts to enter her mind when it was just so deliciously free of them only moments before.
" just stuff with the barn, " she says finally, tilting her head towards the brunette with a light smile. " getting everything ready for the competition. making sure we have extra limes, disgusting cheap beer, going over the contract with the dj. " a small yawn leaves her lips and she groans, a small breath of laughter leaving her lips as her hand reaches out and lands on aeri's thigh. " see? i'm even boring myself. it's why i didn't answer before - definitely would've ruined the mood. " cemre can't help but wonder what led the other to text her this time. " long day for you? "
when : april 16th
where : the barn nightclub
with : dallas lyons @1ifeproof
the first time he spots him, nico blames the alcohol. shakes away the idea that he'd know somebody here and does his best to not look back. he does, of course. a few times. eyes adjusting to seeking out details in the dim lighting, trying to catch a familiar face in the sea of dancing bodies. his brain tries to catch up with what he sees - because he sure as hell isn't seeing the guy who ghosted him in the middle of no where colorado. but of course he decides to approach him, a glutton for punishment, apparently. he knows that the other guy didn't want to see him in los angeles, but maybe his odds were better out here. " dallas? " his voice barely carries over the music, " what the hell are you doing in deer valley? "
when : april 10th
where : cemre's apartment
with : theodora whitlock @witchdances
" and you know what? " with a dramatic huff, cemre pulls off the eleventh dress she's tried on this evening, and throws it back into her closet. her curls stick out in every direction but she can't even care about that now. " i don't even want to go, anyway, so it's no loss to me. " she has to go, she knows, it's her own event. but what kind of manager goes to her own party with an ugly outfit? it doesn't matter how many dresses she's called in, or designer tops she has hanging in her closet. " it's a sign from the universe, right? " she pulls off the next dress from a hanger, throwing it on before marching out and out to where teddy sits. it's probably a no, too. maybe it's about the outfit, maybe it's not. " maybe i'll just cancel it. "
the reaction she gets is delightful – it is enough to make her want to laugh out loud, but teddy doesn't want to give in and get out of her high horse right now, so she stays grimly looking, almost statuesque. "i came out of the door. it's on you for being distracted." if she was fair, she would ponder on how she can't blame him because this old house has pretty good bathrooms, an excellent water pressure for how long it's been running, but teddy is hardly fair. her eyebrow does raise as she gives him a look over – not maliciously, you see. not in the lascivious way, at least. she's having a bit too much fun, in all the between annoyance, to see this guy like that. "funny. considering it's not his home." the line of her lips tighten, but she tilts her head. "unfortunately. it seems benji is keeping us both in the dark about one another, is it?" at least, she knew nothing about this guy. "does benjamin's friend have a name? or will we have to ask the deputy sheriff about it?"
" didn't think i needed to have my guard up, " he offers back, weakly. with the way she's looking at him, it's enough to make him want to flee - dressed only in the towel and everything. he might as well be naked and wearing all of the family jewels with the way she stares at him. " oh, heard it was your mom's. is it yours? " for all nico knew, they each inherited a different house from mother. he's got no idea how any of this works. he thinks his family home could've fit in the living room. " guess so. " he doesn't exactly want to reveal all that he's been kept in the dark about. from the legacy of the family name, to the money they had, the enormous house simply waiting for him back in colorado. a bit pathetic, to not know any of that about him. considering everything. still, his eyes go big at the mention of a sheriff, letting out a huff of nervous laughter. " damn, no need to get the cops involved. he can vouch for me, promise. but, uh, i'm nico. " last names seem to matter here, but he knows his holds nothing of importance.
✦ STATUS: OPEN STARTER WITH ANYONE (CAPPING AT 3) ✦ SCENE: NELLIE JUST WONDERING AROUND TOWN LIKE A CRAZY LADY ✦ CONTEXT: NELLIE JUST NEEDS TO FEEL SOMETHING ✦ HOOK: "NOT ALL WHO WONDER ARE LOST."
NOT ALL WHO WONDER ARE LOST. Or that's at least the way that Eleanor 'Nellie' Calloway viewed people in the world these days. Sure it was mostly because the woman had a tendency to get lost in her own thoughts, literally wondering around town, getting herself involved often times in things she had no business being involved in, such as Mrs. Robinson who was very loudly making her presence known to anyone that was walking by. And much to the entire town's dismay, Eleanor ate that up. Smile widening as she looked from over her shoulder towards the direction she was walking. "You'll never believe what I just did heard." Eleanor spoke, hands clasped together as she leaned on the counter, eyes scanning the tables at Ember & Oak. "Mrs. Robinson is on her husband's case again. And it's juicy. I want to sit by the window; I have to know what's happening out there."
in nico's case, he was definitely lost. if the prices on the menu meant anything, he was way out of his element. " fifty bucks for a salad? what the hell is in it? " it was a comment he was making to himself, but clearly loud enough for those around him to hear. suddenly he felt like he couldn't even afford the tap water - and he hoped the bread on the table was free - closing the menu abruptly and pushing back his chair. it's then that the older woman speaks, and he looks out the window, watching as a frustrated woman ( mrs. robinson, apparently ) yells at a man. a typical sight for los angeles, but maybe it was rare in deer valley. " you can have my table. " he says, gesturing to the empty seat on the other side. " i was, uh - just leaving. forgot my wallet at home. "
› STATUS : open. › LOCATION : wine & cheese night @ the w › FEATURING : maxine & your muse.
⋆.° ᝰ.ᐟ a wine and cheese night is something that’s right up her alley. so when maxine first heard about it, she didn’t hesitate to register for the event immediately. she plops a small piece of gouda into her mouth, letting the flavor melt and dissipate on her tongue before she reaches over for the small glass of malbec. “ i quite like this one. the gouda has this almost nutty, caramelized flavor that goes with how fruity and bold the malbec is, ” maxine muses to [ your muse ]. “ do you have any favorites ? better yet, any that you don’t like ? ”
she's sipping on her third glass of wine - careful to nurse it instead of take the pace she would prefer - doing her best to "keep it classy" for teddy. cemre is fully aware that the blonde, and her mother, are making their rounds. " mm, " she nods, popping a small piece of gouda in her mouth. " it's one of my favorites. but i love a good malbec. " she's never too picky with most of her alcohol - besides insisting they're top shelf - but having spent so much time around the whitlocks, she can't help but come away with a fairly picky wine pallet. " i hate any wine that's too sweet, " she scrunches her nose, swirling her glass, glancing over to the dessert wines. " if i have white, i prefer a dry riesling. though nothing here compares to the chamlija riesling back home. you? "
open to: everyone! (capping at 3) location: the barn nightclub
twelve-hour shifts felt like forever for monroe, and she was just relieved that it was already over, given the amount of calls they had to respond to that day. not that she didn’t like what she does, of course, she loved it with her soul, it was the reason she is still up on her two feet, yet it could be a little bit tiring at times. she then decided to head to the barn nightclub, relax for a little before coming home. the firefighter's thoughts were immediately interrupted by someone close by has been staring at her. she simply couldn’t put her finger on what type of look the other has been giving her. “if being subtle is the game, you surely are failing at that.” she just simply said, as she takes a swig of her drink.
" please, " it's said with a scoff, head tilting as she looks at the other woman, " when have you ever known me to be subtle? " though she had been looking at monroe, trying to decide if the exhaustion on her face was from work or something deeper. she just didn't realize that she had seen her. the barn nightclub was always a place for people to come and get lost in - to dance and drink and fade into the crowd. and yet somehow, she's face to face with her ex. it's not that she's been avoiding her - okay, maybe she had, a little - but she can handle an easy conversation. besides, it looked like monroe's night was ending and hers was just getting started. " just wondering if you wanted another - or something stronger? "