damned if I do give a damn

Madeline Clarington. thirty-four. lawyer. New York City → Ashford Valley, PA. Honestly, I don't even know anymore. If I like you, I might let you call me Maddie.

[madsclarington]

So with all of this talk about vacations & getting out of Ashford Valley...is there actually going to be anyone left here in a few weeks?

[jasminexsuttons]

"Why are you like this," she questioned the small goat she was currently trying to wrangle back into the long trailer that they'd transported the animals in. "We changed the locks, bought taller corral fences, and yet you still manage the impossible," she remarked with a small shake of her head. "You're not allowed in the corral anymore," she added before laughing as the kid paused and promptly stuck his tongue out at her before bleating quietly. Okay, so he didn't really stick his tongue out at her so much as stuck it out a few moments before he started bleating, but it was still a move that she couldn't help but laugh at. "Look, you have the whole trailer to run around in, but I'm not doing a repeat of last year, you little menace," she said before placing a brief kiss on the top of the goat's head and closing the trailer door, locking it tightly and relaxing against the door. At least he wouldn't be able to get that lock open since there was no way to reach it from the inside of the trailer; she was just thankful that she had looked over just in time to see Billy the Kid pulling the damn pin out of the gate to the corral. Looking up as she heard a familiar voice nearby, she smiled before pushing off the trailer and heading in their direction.

"Hey! How's it been out there so far?"

[madsclarington]

Madeline had arrived to Founder's Day just a few minutes ago, slightly intimidated to be there on her own. It was the first one she had attended & she couldn't help but feel like there were already traditions made, things set in stone about the event that she didn't know about. Not that anyone would expect her to, but still. The atmosphere was cute though & thankfully the rain had held off at least so far, so she took a few steps forward with her hands in her vest pockets.

Nearby bleating caught her attention, certainly not something she was used to hearing on a regular basis. & the figure closest to the animals looked familiar, taking a moment to recognize it as Jasmine. Mads had heard more about the woman that she had actually spoken to her so she figured now was the time to remedy it. "Hey, yourself," she grinned, eyeing up the animals closest to the edge of the trailer. "Just got here myself, so wouldn't know. Looks like you have plenty of company though."

[madsclarington]

→ INSTAGRAM: @madsclarington uploaded a photo.

birthday breakfast of champions. not pictured: the many mimosas that were consumed throughout the morning #34

[owenchang]

TEXT || OPEN

Owen: please remind me to breathe over this next week even if it's just a quick text. it will be much appreciated since i will be drowning in founder's day prep for the shelter's usual booth. Owen: honestly, i don't consider myself an overachiever at all, but founder's day every year never fails to bring it out of me, i swear. so though you'd THINK i, as a functioning adult, can remind myself to breathe, those who know me best will back me up that i actually cannot. 😅

[madsclarington]

Madeline: the shelter? are you planning on bringing actual animals? Madeline: ...I can see where the stress would come in

[mackfabray]

Oh? I mean... Is that a bad thing? Fair enough.

[madsclarington]

No, just a realization. It really is nice to be back.

What about you, how've you been?

[lottiexevans]

text message 📲 open

LOTTIE: I FOUND AN AI VERSION OF THE DUEL ON MUSTAFAR BUT AS A MUSICAL AND SURPRISINGLY IT SLAPS SO FUCKING HARD. LOTTIE: Normally, I'm not really a big fan of AI, but my god this was really good. The AI is jacked but like...the song itself was amazing.

[madsclarington]

MADELINE: I'm sorry, but this is 1000% a wrong number

[stevie-evans]

That's a win. May I ask what about the slow pace overwhelmed you? All I know is Ashford Valley pace.

[madsclarington]

Honestly I think it was more the idea of everyone knowing everyone's business, y'know? You get that with family in New York, but it's also just as easy to walk around the city without running into anyone you recognize. No such possibility here.

[nick-duval]

I wasn't aware that Category 5 Tornado was an organizational system, but you do you.

If you want it to be, we'll figure something out. Contrary to popular belief, I'm actually very capable of listening to reason.

[madsclarington]

Yeah yeah, just because we don't all have your anal tendencies doesn't mean we're disorganized hoarders.

Just tell me when & where.

[stellaschue]

Mimosas are clearly serious business and deserve to be treated as such.

Okay, but have you SEEN my big sad Bambi eyes? They're pretty lethal, if I do say so myself. It might take a LOT of mimosas. That said, I will never, ever say no to a welcome back party, and might even be persuaded to bring a bottle of wine or two, to contribute to the cause. You should know by now that any parade Matt throws is likely to be both loud and in questionable taste, though.

[madsclarington]

Then how about we make it mimosa Monday & I can also buy 'sorry I left so abruptly' mimosas so we're basically even?

Ooh, can we make it a birthday thing, as well? Or are we too old to be celebrating our own birthdays anymore? To be honest, I still don't understand why people say it's their 29th birthday over & over again when yours 30s are arguably just as great. All after Founder's Day, since that's all I've been hearing about. Kind of sums him up in one statement, yeah?

[thatschuesterguy]

After staring at his phone for a few days, not knowing how to respond....

Chris: Hi

[madsclarington]

Madeline: oh, so you do still have my number Madeline: even if you do seem like the kind of guy that would answer texts politely from numbers he doesn't know

[kurtxhummels]

Welcome back! What made you leave in the first place? How'd you spend your time away? Having fun, I would hope.

[madsclarington]

Nothing made me leave, I left on my own for family & work related stuff. So pretty much the opposite of fun.

[jasminexsuttons]

I'm not going to lie, I didn't realize you had left town! In my defense, though, I don't think I've really been off the ranch more than a handful of times in the last few months. Regardless, I'm sorry I didn't notice! What drove you out? And how's it been being back?

[madsclarington]

Damn, in a town this small? Must not have made as much of an impression as I thought. Is being on the ranch that much a good thing or a bad thing?

[dariarutherford]

Yeah, it's not a thing, I made it up. I was just trying to joke about you needing to stop in for some coffee or something. Kudos on the unpacking a la solo, though! Where'd you go, by the way? What's brought you back? My irresistible lattes and baked goods?

[madsclarington]

Please, it was only a matter of time before I needed my excessive doses of caffeine but we definitely need a catch up date, please & thank you. Work stuff in New York, nothing too thrilling. & of course, you see right through me.

[matt-schue]

It's the Professor Plum suit. I need to get more milage on this fucker since I paid for it. Don't have a whole lot happening tonight besides meal prepping. Want to hang out or something??

[madsclarington]

Ah, I should have known. You're the only person I know who would purchase something like that instead of renting it. Jealous of your discipline to meal plan, but we should definitely do something way more fun.

[stevie-evans]

Hey! It's great to see you're back. How has the return treated you so far?

[madsclarington]

Thank you very much. It's been good, this time the slow pace of a small town feels more comfortable than overwhelming, in some way.

[matt-schue]

Confetti and extra champagne!? Well fuck, I better wear my best outfit for this.

How do you feel about a purple 3 piece suit?

[madsclarington]

Depends on what shade of purple we're talking about, exactly. Do you have plans tonight?

[stellaschue]

Well shit, does that mean I have to pay up for that round of mimosas I still owe you? WEAK, Mads, forcing me to be a woman of my word.

(Welcome back, or whatever. Still gonna sad-puppy guilt trip you for leaving in the first place, but mimosas.)

[madsclarington]

If there's one thing in this world you can always trust me to be serious about, it's mimosas.

Which will also make it easier to handle the attempted guilt trip, so bring it on. Ooh, or should we make this like a welcome back party type of thing? Show off my new digs? Make everyone forget that I left in the first place by drowning them in alcohol? Matt did offer to throw a parade.