promises oceans deep

dependent roleplay account for mirabellafm.

[ofalchcmy]

˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ ofalchcmy - a dependent roleplay blog for MIRABELLAFM penned by anna

TESSA MARIN ݁˖· ─ she/her, 33, event planner bio ⋆ threads ⋆ visage ⋆ musings ⋆ pinterest

[comprosing]

"Nope, never heard of that before..." Collin chuckled, shaking his head. "Sounds like a made up story." Living on a literal island and steps away from a beautiful beach, Collin didn't even know where he'd go if he were to take a vacation. Sure, there were places in the world that he'd like to visit, but he wasn't in any hurry to. He always imagined that he'd become a world traveler once he retired. Spend the last years of his life seeing everything this planet had to offer. "Some people, I swear..." He shook his head again, knowing full well that a petting zoo wasn't even the craziest request Tessa had received, most likely. At her question, Collin shrugged. He didn't spend a lot of time behind the bar usually, but he did hear some crazy things from his staff. "Just the typically," He replied. "People getting too drunk and stupid to remember that they are in public and not their own homes." Collin rolled his eyes. "Just the other day some guy sent back his appetizer three separate times saying something was wrong with it..." Collin had eventually had to come out of his office himself and see what the issue was. "The last time he tried the plate was empty..." Rolling his eyes, he ran a hand down his face. "Crazy people in every profession, it seems."

[ofalchcmy]

"a very likely excuse. what about a weekend getaway, a relaxing stroll on the beach, some meditation? are those made up too?" she teases, eyes sparking with mischief as she rattles off some of her own attempts at finding a moment of peace within even the busiest of seasons. while events and managing a restaurant might not be entirely similar - there was enough overlap there to know the type of people that collin was talking about, those who walked into a space thinking they owned it, loud and obnoxious and difficult. "i wish i could say there was just something in the air this summer - but i'm afraid some people just don't know how to behave." often it was enough to flag it in her clients and let them hire someone different, but there was always that odd guest or two who needed to be handled as if they were a child. she could imagine it was more difficult when running a business where people could enter at will. "the audacity. i hope you didn't let him get away with that." even though tessa knew that sometimes the easiest solution was doing exactly that, the headache of trying to reason with someone who wasn't adhering to common decency not worth it. "you ever get tired of it?" why the question comes, she's not entirely sure. maybe because collin is someone she's trusted from the beginning.

[ofalchcmy]

♪⋆.˚ tessa marin ── a playlist.⠀⠀⠀⠀

listen here.

SIDE A: a reflection of both the version of herself tessa wants to portray to the world and what she hopes to find in and for herself.

SIDE B: a look at the internal musings, fears, and confessions of a woman trying to portray herself as more put together than she truly feels.

[blccdhurts]

"just don't pour water on me to confirm your mermaid theory, alright?" its a joke, an obvious attempt at humor that has saffron quirking up her lips into a small smile. a single blonde brow arches in response to the question and she shrugs, a little sore that she's so easily seen through. but she supposes, turnabout is fair play. "when i was younger, i had a problem making friends. people didn't always seem to like me, and i struggled - a lot. my..." something curdles in her expression, not quite bitter but definitely hurt. "my twin sister, clove, she was always better at it than me. she could charm anyone, could manipulate anyone too..." including me, she didn't say, but she left the suggestion there. biting her lip, she didn't know why she was talking, why she brought up clove at all, but she couldn't seem to stop now that she had begun. she supposed, idly, that she could get up and walk out. but then, she'd see tessa eventually... "maybe you're onto something about that theory of me wanting to buy loyalty." rolling her eyes at the idea, it does sound closer to the truth than she wants to admit. pink tongue swiping out to wet dry lips, her eyes stay carefully away from tessa for the moment. she's too preoccupied with not wanting to see pity there that she can't look at the other. "what about you?" she asks idly, voice turning to humor again to get them out of the uncomfortable stickiness of her own past. "any awful siblings or, dare i even suggest, a twin, that you've been hiding?" huffs of laughter, she shakes her head, finally her hazel orbs find the woman again. "no, usually just a few things that i take with me a day."

[ofalchcmy]

"i guess i'll just have to keep a look out for starfish earrings that whisper compliments in your ears." it's easy to joke back, a smile brimming on her lips, and she almost doesn't spot the moment something shifts, like a page has been turned and they're onto a different chapter with a tone that's nowhere near casual laughter. because there's more to saffron's response than tessa had been expecting, an honesty brought forth when she'd merely been trying to ward off any questions that might ricochet back onto her. it leaves her momentarily stunned, eyes flickering over the other woman as she takes in this new version of her that's being uncovered. it's confessional and earnest, and resonates more than tessa would like to admit. the memory of a lonely girl, stuck between trying to fit in and trying to find herself, and while it doesn't all line up - there wasn't a sister in her home, just the constant need to walk on eggshells, trying to keep a fragile peace between two people who seemed ill-equipped to hold a marriage steady, much less raise a child - there's enough there to sting. for once, she doesn't know what to say, silence settling over her, not bothering to temper her expression into something less. "i suppose we're all trying to win loyalty from others, just in different ways." it's not quite as honest as saffron had been, but the attempt is there - even in spite of the temptation to fall back into the more curated version of herself. "i'm sorry about your sister, that must've been..." her voice trails off, brow furrowing because painful doesn't quite seem like enough. there's an opening that is left open, for her to laugh and move past the truth - and perhaps that's what changes her mind, the choice. "no... there was just one of me. although that was... sometimes it's own burden." she could remember, late nights spent wishing she had someone to share the weight, who could burrow with her under the covers and help drown out the fights with midnight laughter. but maybe that would have brought it's own wounds, especially if it had come with a betrayal like saffron had suffered.

[theiressence]

“i could never be an artist, but something tells me i could be good at being an event planner. maybe not as good as you, but close enough.” the line of work that divya pursued was far more analytical. while it may not seem that way, considering her job often draped her in designer wear, interviewing one glamorous celebrity or another under flashing lights; sometimes even purposely flirting with a few at the behest of her bosses to direct traffic to their channels, it was all thought-out. nothing happened by chance. those viral moments of hers that go viral? all carefully planned and crafted to sheer perfection. under a lens, she had to be precise and methodical, and maybe only a little bit creative.

this medium however had her at a complete standstill. her confidence had her believing she could do it, which is why she was here to begin with — but her minimal ability was proving to be her downfall. divya cast her brown eyes downward, worrying the ridge between her brows before her head lifts, and she laughs. “you need to explicitly mention there will be alcohol in your invitation or i’m ticking ‘no’ on my rsvp,” she reconciles, dropping the brush and letting it scatter unceremoniously against the wooden easel. legs press together, and she leans forward, wiping the drip of watercolour against the studio provided apron, eyeing the very faint outline of the beach she had started with, then whips her head in tessa’s direction, “can you tell what i was trying to paint? i mean. is it obvious?”

[ofalchcmy]

"never say never - who knows, maybe you haven't found your medium of choice yet. i think i might have to sign us up for some crocheting classes. oh, have you given pottery a chance?" there's not an ounce of seriousness in her tone. mirth flickering in her gaze as she can't help teasing divya, amused how her never seems to be highlighted when tessa doesn't know if she's ever seen her give up on anything. "maybe this is exactly what we need - something less structured, with no correct way of doing it." although truly, tessa thrives in the ordered creativity of event planning - where there are definitely wrong choices, and results are built on knowing the people she's working for and reading what they might enjoy, rather than having to come up with everything from scratch. "well, if being a renowned reporter doesn't work out, you know you'll have a job secured as back up. although i'm afraid we might see protests of people clamoring to have you back on their screens." it seemed clear to her that they've both found their respective places in the world - equally driven in what they want to achieve, a quality that tessa sought out in the people around her. especially when it meant that seeing someone as polished as divya seemed to be only pushed her to improve upon her own work. "noted, if i want to count on your attendance, i'll be sure to bribe you with an open bar. maybe throw in a couple of appetizers and good music." perhaps something more lively than whatever watercolors on the boardwalk was attempting to be would be more their speed. and yet, despite how much of a disaster their respective experiences painting had turned out to be, it was still interesting experimenting with different hobbies, learning what fit and what might not and as she glances at divya's painting - she didn't even think it was as dismal as the other woman was making it seem. "is it... our view?" it looks faintly like it, the sandy stretch meeting the waves crashing to shore. an impression that's barely visible but holds more potential than tessa can see in her own. "it's not half bad - even with a few... drips. i bet you could blend those in and make them work."

[starsaile]

𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖾𝗄𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗆 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖺𝗋𝗋𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗈-𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖺𝗋𝗍. was it even art? surely toddlers could create something more recognizable than this. and not even with a paintbrush, with their fingers. still, he sheepishly laughs when he could clearly tell she was trying her best to conceal hers. "alright, alright— go ahead, i give you permission." shaking his head, julian tries blowing on the sheet of paper to speed up the drying process. "thanks for being nice about it though. maybe if i hang it up in my fridge like a proud parent i won't feel so bad?" he's internally cringing at his own comment. eyes trailing to his painting once more, he analyzes the piece with her. his eyebrows furrow in the process, trying to really figure out what she was seeing, because all he could clearly see was... blob. perhaps if he squinted his eyes hard enough, a picture could form. though, he'd need to use a lot of his imagination. "i mean, do i even have any dignity left?" a chuckle escapes his lips. "if you really want to know, i was trying to draw a palm tree. i was trying to get into the summer theme," a pause. "i tried to mix some colors together to make the brown, then it bled into the green part, and i was too stubborn to accept my fate." looking over at her once more, the corner of his lip rises. "i'll sell it to you for twenty bucks. who knows, this could be in the louvre by next week."

[ofalchcmy]

her teeth sink into the corner of her cheek, holding back her laughter even with permission given to release it. she doesn't quite want to leave him feeling offended - even if both of them had just joined this event on a whim, she knows how critical she'd been of her own work and how frustrated she'd felt at the result. all in all, it's not a thought she'd want to perpetuate in anyone else. "truly, it's not that bad for a first go. you should have seen me at a calligraphy event a couple months back, my hands were ink-stained for about a week after. not a good look on anyone." still, a small chuckle escapes at the comment that follows, the image of either of their paintings tacked to the fridge truly a funny one to behold. "all it needs is a gold star and it should fit right in. but there might be something to that, you've got to be your own biggest fan and all that." and while a part of her knows it's a cheesy sentiment, tessa can't argue with the way it's helped her own self-confidence, even if there are days when she still struggles to be as positive as she puts forth to others. "believe me, if you're out of dignity, so am i. maybe we should transform it into a coconut instead - that way it's still kind of what you intended. although definitely not as cute as a bear." eyes crinkle in amusement, and this time she doesn't try to hold back her laughter. "are you trying to pawn it off? because you might be joking, but i will hold full believe that this might become a true masterpiece of avant-garde art - people will flock to come see..." her lips purse in thought before quirking up in a smile, "deconstruction of a palm tree. it'll be the new hit of the louvre - watch out mona lisa. i just need to know who's becoming the next leonardo da vinci..." her words trail off in a question, hoping to sneak in an introduction when it feels like they're past that - or perhaps skipped it altogether.

[lcfthook]

“those exactly,” taylor agrees, mirth alight in the grin that stretches his lips and withstanding the forlorn sigh he gives his own work. “it was supposed to be a representation of my feelings; total, all-consuming rage, and, uh, the all-consuming ache for a snack.” sometimes taylor likes to talk and talk, just to see how long he can keep someone listening. he appreciates tessa meeting him halfway; like they’ve both passed an impromptu screening of his own design. “jellyfish is a twenty-five point word - i’ll take it.” so he goes about refashioning what was originally meant to be floral too. brush dripping purple watercolor, he looks the picture of focus as he doubles over the spindly legs of his blobs. but he’s still tuned into tessa, brow furrow mawkish as he suggests, “i sure hope so. otherwise we’ll have to take up knitting, and i’ve heard that’s a dangerous game. you planning to gift this to somebody? or is it to be discovered and appreciated posthumously, a la van gogh?” 

[ofalchcmy]

"a good snack would certainly help the situation, maybe a drink too. something to refresh our creative instincts." it's hard not to be entertained, even if tessa gets the feeling that perhaps she's stumbled upon someone who likes to fill silence as much as she does. even though she doubts that taylor does it for the same reason as her. "...that's oddly specific. are you a scrabble connoisseur? or is it just a part of the songwriting?" likely it's a dumb question and the two aren't connected in the slightest, but she can't help the curiosity that springs to the surface. "god, can you imagine? all-consuming rage combined with knitting needles? they'd have to have an ambulance on deck." her amusement is tangible, even as her eyebrows knit together as her attention turns back to her own canvas - debating if more paint is the answer she's looking for. "oh, it'll have to be discovered posthumously for anyone to appreciate this. i think if i gave it to someone as a present they'd suspect i had it out for them."

[ofmercies]

while coffee came naturally to lavinia, baking had presented a steep learning curve. but she was persistent, stubborn, some might argue, and had read her way through half of the library’s cookbook section within a month of arriving on the island. now, two years on, she was confident and kept a seasonal menu of pastries with weekly specials. this week was cinnamon rolls dusted with lemon zest.

“i would, actually,” she smiled, already reaching for a cinnamon roll. “have you ever had a red eye? i can make it a bit more tolerable.” she liked to add a twist, adding a splash of vanilla and oat milk to cut the acidity of the drip coffee and espresso. “twice the caffeine, and hopefully enough to keep you going until tonight.” she moved to reach for a cup, stopping before she marked it. “hot or iced?”

[ofalchcmy]

while the scent of citrus seemed to linger continuously around mirabella, it was made even more prominent by the lemon clinging to the cinnamon roll - an unexpected combination that tessa wasn't sure she'd seen before and likely exactly what she'd have picked to try if left to her own devices. the appeal of something new hard to resist, especially when she was so often helping couples or birthday kids veer away from the basic vanilla or chocolate flavors and try something unexpected instead. "is that a new creation of yours? it smells heavenly." a red-eye would typically be too strong, even for her, but the thought of combining it with something to make it a bit more appealing was more than tempting - especially with the promise that it would keep her fueled until the evening came. "it's like you've read my mind. that sounds exactly like what i need. iced please." watching lavinia mark her cup, she considered the place. tessa could remember being two years into the start of her own life in mirabella, how slow things had been for her to find her footing and the fear that had come with wondering if this could be a home. "i really love what you've done with the place - has it been hard settling in?"

[comprosing]

"You wouldn't dare," Collin chuckled. He laughed again when Tessa mentioned a vacation, and shook his head. "What even is a vacation?" He wasn't much of a traveler, Collin liked being home. And if he was home then he wouldn't be able to stay away from the restaurant. The summer rush was only just beginning, so he couldn't even think about what the end of it would bring. He listened as Tessa explained how busy she also was, nodding along because he got it. "A petting zoo?" Collin's nose scrunched in disbelief. What was wrong with people? The smell alone would make him want to leave. "What ever happened to simple drinks and hors d'oeuvres?" He supposed he could understands someone's desire to be different but bringing in innocent animals just for the fun of it? He didn't get it. "If you do it, charge like 10x the normal amount, Tess, that's a crazy ask." He snorted out a breath that was somewhere between a laugh and a grunt of disapproval.

[ofalchcmy]

"mhm - typically it's a break you take to refresh your mind and reset. haven't you heard of it?" there's a teasing lilt to her tone, although truthfully, she never took more than a week or two off in a year either - and those big dreams of planning a vacation abroad typically fell by the wayside. besides, with the beach only a short walk away and the citrus-tinge constantly in the air, it was hard to picture a place that could offer more relaxation than mirabella itself. "just don't work yourself to the bone, alright?" a burst of laughter comes at the confusion ( or was it revulsion? ) crossing over collin's features and she can only hope her face hadn't been as transparent when the couple had mentioned it to her. "trust me - some of these events have become more about ego than anything else." still, there were those couples who really seemed to be in love and believe that it might last a lifetime for them, and while tessa was doubtful about the whole institution itself, she did love bringing their visions to life. "oh, they're definitely not getting that add on for free. i'm still trying to convince them to ditch the idea altogether. i don't think it'll be a fun time for anyone. how about you, any crazy behind-the-bar stories? or has it been relatively sane?"

[ofalchcmy]

featuring: eliza wells @starrycyed location: summer solstice at practical magick

one would think that she'd be better at taking pictures at this point. while she might be lacking in a lifetime of experience, she'd had to have taken enough group selfies and photos for instagram reels to at least partly make up for it. still, tessa couldn't quite seem to figure out how to capture how beautiful the floral arrangement laid out for the summer solstice had turned out - a gorgeous wreath of wildflowers that probably had a whole hidden meaning behind it. lips pressed together in concentration as she tries to take a shot that fully showcases the beauty of the bouquet on display, she's momentarily distracted as she spots eliza - a bright smile taking over as she waves the other woman over. "i think my angles are all wrong. you make it look so easy." not that it really matters, she'd at least managed to capture the essence of the arrangement - enough so that it'll likely be usable for inspiration if she ever wants to show it to potential clients. "it's good to see you! are you here professionally or just having fun?"

[theiressence]

guess who had some cockamamie idea that they were going to paint a masterpiece of the sunset over valencia cove?       well, who, none other than the idiot holding the paint brush, bristles working overtime on a canvas of a watercolour that looked nothing like the image she had envisioned in her head? there’s an exasperated sound that tumbles from parted lips — some weird hybrid crossover between a sigh and a groan. there’s a squint of her eyes, the paint brush hovering over her artwork a little too long that an undisturbed blob of blue begins to gather. then tremble. then drip rather perfunctorily down the painting.

she never said she was an artist. in fact, she had made it a point to avoid all visual art after it was no longer a mandatory school subject. which begs the question: why the fuck was she even here? she knew better, and yet, she was convinced she’d create her magnum opus. in the middle of a watercolour lesson. on a random wednesday. on the boardwalk.       yeah, she was an idiot. her usual rigid posture slips, and her shoulders sag, head shaking vigorously. “this would be a lot more fun if there was drinking involved. you know, watercolours and wine on the boardwalk would have been so much better.”

[ofalchcmy]

it strikes tessa that she's never seen the other woman look as defeated as she does now. undone by the simple task of putting paint on paper - but then again, she's not fairing too well either - confidence eradicated each time her paintbrush ended up making blobs instead of beautiful waves. so maybe the conclusion has to be that the arts are not working in their favor. divya's remark brings a smile to her lips, head nodding in agreement, "now that is an inspired idea - i would definitely consider coming again if some good wine was included! who knows, it might even add a boost to our artistic talents - even if the shine wears off in a couple hours." god knows her painting might look a tad better if viewed under wine-soaked glasses, or at the very least she might be giggling over it rather than fretting about if her brushstrokes looked too messy to be able to distinguish what exactly she'd created. "are you sure you've never thought about event planning?" she teases, grin sweeping over her features as she considers divya, grateful for the easy friendship that had been fostered between the two. "i'll definitely have to vet an event first before sending you the invite next time." still, it's better to have a friend by her side than to be struggling though this lesson herself, and she's grateful that the other woman chose to make an appearance despite her no-doubt busy schedule.

[ofmercies]

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑: open (0/3) | @mirabellastarts 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: clementine café

the morning rush had come to an end in a flash of splattered glasses, flurried hands, and too many pitchers of steamed milk. the last of the early customers sipped their drinks idly in the sand, not quite as rushed as the commuters. an indie pop playlist played softly from the speakers, drifting out onto the beach.

lavinia hummed under her breath while she cleaned, just finishing wiping down the espresso machine when she noticed someone waiting at the counter. tossing the cloth over her shoulder, she approached them. “thanks for waiting, darlin’. what can i get started for you?”

[ofalchcmy]

it wasn't often that tessa was late, multiple alarms set and outfits picked out for the next day. but somewhere in between trying to finish up answering emails and finalizing a seating chart, she'd fallen asleep. she'd woken up disoriented, leaving the house in a rush to make an early meeting with a client in valencia cove, no time for her usual morning coffee or even a bite to eat. and while the meeting had gone well, she was left her feeling sluggish and drained before the day had even started. truly, tessa wasn't even sure if she'd make it back to peach tree lane ( alright, maybe that was an exaggeration ) but the wafts of sweet treats and caffeine drifting from clementine's had been irresistible. while her typical staple for coffee in mirabella had been salt & sip since the time she'd ventured onto the island, both for it's proximity and later out of habit, the small shop had it's own appeal, especially under it's new ownership. and tessa wondered if maybe she should consider spending some mornings here - with it's tables overlooking the ocean and the salt breeze for company. tugged out of her thoughts by lavinia's greeting, she turns her attention to the other woman with a sheepish grin, "you wouldn't happen to have something for someone who's extremely caffeine deprived? and starving... i'm afraid i missed breakfast and am now paying for it."

[lcfthook]

it was all going so horrendously bad — he couldn’t have been more grateful for tessa offering him a temporary out. paintbrush clattering to the front of the easel, he leaned over to have a good, long look at what she had created. “a representation of your feelings seems a little too on the nose,” he mused, mirth drawing the corners of his lips into a sympathetic smile, “it’s cool! really. i like the colors you chose.” hardly the person to go to for art critique, at least not in this medium. he picked up the corner of his piece and held it up, showing it off for what it was; misshapen blobs with long tails of color that have warped into an even more misshapen blob at the bottom. he dropped his voice to a loud whisper, laughter shaking his voice as he added, “they really just let anyone come to these things, don’t they?” steadying his canvas and picking his brush back up, he nodded to her work-in-progress appreciatively. “i do like yours. reminds me of, like, a funky meadow.” 

[ofalchcmy]

a snort of laughter falls from her lips, not entirely dignified - but tessa supposes it's a lost cause in between her paint-stained hands and her sad attempt at watercolor. "my feelings of crushing disappointment and frustration you mean?" she's teasing, it hasn't been that bad - at least now that she's managed to push aside the idea of her artwork resembling anything worth putting on a wall. it's a first step, even if it's a relatively bad one by her own standards, but it's comforting to know she's not the only one struggling. "is yours... a colorful jellyfish?" she ventures, lips quirking up in amusement as she contemplates taylor's creation and the many trails of colors that span across it. "or maybe an octopus - for some reason i'm getting oceanic vibes." for all she knows she's way off course, but it still looks nice - the blend of colors maybe not intentional, but pretty all the same. "clearly they weren't being discerning - do you think we'll be invited back? because i doubt we'd make the cut if the level is anything beyond novice the next time around." an amused laugh falls from her lips, tilting her painting slightly as she picks up a fresh coat of paint - wondering if adding anything further will bring her more success, "i was going for something floral, so i guess a funky meadow is at least... kind of in the right ballpark."

[caprievans]

"Oh." Capri paused, removing a headphone from her ear that she'd put in when she'd arrived earlier. She had never been one to consider herself an artist, despite how much others had told her she had a knack for things creative. If it wasn't photography, though, Capri often found whatever it was to be subpar. "I mean, I'm not sure I'd say it's better, but -" she paused, turning her canvas towards the other. And truthfully, she hadn't even followed the full assignment. She couldn't even tell you what they were supposed to be making because Capri had used a brush that had clearly been damaged and had made some colorful looking paint spots around the canvas. Which she were turning into fireworks over what one would guess would be a body of water. "I went a little more festive with mine." she shrugged. "Your's looks good." she nodded. "Though, I do think I have to unfortunately agree that it's very abstract."

[ofalchcmy]

she hadn't meant to disturb the other woman's attention, only realizing belatedly that she'd been listening to music and maybe didn't want to participate in small-talk. but the temptation to apologize and get back to her own work is broken as she's shown a beautiful canvas - perhaps not as polished as a professional would be able to create, but clearly capturing the spark of fireworks in the sky. "wow! look at that, that was clearly the way to go. it looks amazing!" curiosity glimmers in her gaze as she glances at her neighbor and her choice of materials. "do you need a brush like that to get that effect? i feel like if i tried to splatter paint with mine it'd come out as giant blobs." she gestures briefly to her own brush. it's smoother, having none of the bristles of the blonde's - and while it had been decent at creating sweeping ocean waves and the blending of a sunset ( and likely would have been more effective had tessa known how to use it ) - tessa wouldn't know where to start to get the effect of fireworks flying high over the water. but maybe that was because more practice was in order - although if her attention would span long enough to give watercolors another go after this event was over, she wasn't sure. "are you having a good time so far?"

[comprosing]

"You know I can't play favorites," Collin replied, his tone dry but still clearly teasing. Truthfully, it hadn't even registered that it was Tessa taking a seat at the bar or else he would have remembered what she liked to drink. They'd worked together quite a few times over the years, and she was the reason the opening of the bar & grill had gone off with a hitch a few years back. Collin got to work making her drink, a short laugh escaping him at her next comment. "That obvious?" He glanced up, raising a brow. "I've been here since opening... my new bartender called in sick, so..." He didn't like calling his other employees on their days off if he didn't have to, and Collin could work behind the bar for a few hours no problem. But he was exhausted. He finished making the mojito and slid it across the bar towards Tessa. "Long day for you?" He asked, leaning his side against the bar and crossing his arms over his chest. "Planning anything cool?"

[ofalchcmy]

"mhm, maybe i'll have to reconsider my favorite hang-outs." there's no serious threat in her voice, light - with a teasing smile to match collin's own tone. with eight years under her belt in mirabella, her habits are fairly set - especially when it comes to friends. her head is quick to shake, hoping to ward off the worry that he looks drained. "probably only to anyone who's known you long enough. are you due for a vacation when the summer rush dies down?" it's not surprising he'd taken over in his employee's stead, while tessa ran her business on her own, there were times when she had to hire on help for bigger events - and she'd taken the way collin always made sure his staff was well-cared for as an example of how she treated her own. a grateful hum leaves her lips as she takes a sip of her drink, the bright tang of flavors exactly what her day had been needing. "unfortunately yes, although i really shouldn't be complaining." starting her own business from the ground up had been difficult, only made easier by people like collin being willing to put their faith in her. it'd been a slow start at first, but with a couple of events under her wing and word of mouth spreading, it hadn't taken long for her to see the fruits of her labor. "there are a bunch of pride events happening this month - i'm helping the city organize some of them, obviously weddings, a couple birthday parties. one couple wants a petting zoo during their cocktail hour, can you imagine?"

[starsaile]

𝗂𝗍'𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗅𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗍 𝖻𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗁. he never really considered himself the artistic type — his awful track record in pictionary was proof of that. still, he always liked trying new things, even the activity in question isn't his strong suit. "god," he mumbles to himself with a small laugh, shaking his head in disbelief at the hodgepodge of colors mixing onto his sheet into an unattractive shade of brown. the more he tried adding and swirling colors together, it only got worse. as he's trying to salvage his artwork, his head turns upon hearing his neighbor's question. and when he glances at hers, his eyes slightly widen at how good it looked compared to his own mess. "okay, that definitely looks like a sunset to me. it's a little abstract-y, sure, but it just seems like you put your own twist to it. like, when i see it, i still see sunset, you know?" if only he shared that skill too. with her next question, he can't help but chuckle softly. "i wish i could say i was having any luck at all, but..." he proceeds to present his own work, grinning sheepishly. "it's just all brown at this point. and i'm pretty sure if i add more colors, it'll rip the paper. do you think if i add some eyes and a nose i could pass it off as like a bear, or something?"

[ofalchcmy]

a smile tugs over her features at his compliment, even if she still holds doubts about the artistic merit of her work. but it's a relief that someone is at least able to picture what her vision was - even if it hadn't translated exactly how she'd meant it to. "alright - so maybe mine isn't a complete failure. i'm glad it's at least recognizable." she's about to dispute his statement, certain that it can't be that bad and wanting to offer up her own compliment, before her eyes widen as he holds up his own painting. it's hard to conceal the laughter brimming on her lips, especially when it's clear that the attempts to fix whatever he'd been trying to create have only left the paper stained further. while the painting looks a little worse for wear - she's glad it doesn't seem to have left her neighbor too discouraged. it takes a bit of her own stress away, with the reminder that even if this event isn't bringing out the natural artist in either of them, it's supposed to be fun, a lighthearted activity for the weekend rather than something to add stress. "i think i can see the semblance of a face in there. i bet it would make a very cute bear or maybe a hedgehog? i think i see some spikes in there. add a little nose and some ears and maybe it'll end up being a keeper after all." her hand reaches out, gesturing to a little splotch of paint that could potentially be salvaged into a face, trying to imagine what a little black outline would do to bring something out of the mess of colors. "although i'd maybe wait for the paint to dry before adding anything else to it. may i ask what you were attempting to paint? i feel like i narrowly escaped disaster by going in a slightly safer direction with my sunset."

[blccdhurts]

"maybe. depends on your answer." a small grin takes over her normally stoic face, and she shrugs off the polite thank you. taking a seat, she reaches up to remove the earbud from her ear, slipping it into the case she pulls from her pocket. a sheepish laugh, a bite of her lip, saffron nods to the tiny little gift. "that's right; i have an entire collection of pearls hidden in my pockets like some sort of pearl-thief." rolling her eyes, not unkindly but jokingly, she shakes her head. "i found it earlier in a shell down by the shore; just a coincidence. or a stroke of luck, really, because now i can give it to you." saffron's attention is held by the way she can make out the emotion on tessa's face. its subtle, really, the expressions that play out there; saffron finds that she wants to dissect them each. she wonders if tessa is a naturally secretive person or if its something built over time. saffron is secretive because she knows no other way than to be this way. she's spent the majority of her life hiding; to shed that skin feels dangerous, like it goes against something fundamental inside of herself. finally, the intensity of her gaze breaks when she realizes she's stared for too long. a blush highlights her cheeks for the moment, subtly pink in the lighting of the restaurant. she hopes its not too noticeable. "it's purely for my benefit, you see. i like to leave little things behind." because, often enough, it meant she wasn't forgotten when the next day came. "you should see my home; little trinkets scattered everywhere just waiting for a new home." she's speaking but she wonders if tessa is really listening. if she's dissecting saffron's words like saffron is doing with her facial expressions. probably not. saffron is... intense, sometimes. especially when she finds something - or someone - interesting.

[ofalchcmy]

her lip quirks in amusement, the entire encounter already more absurd than she'd expected her evening to go. maybe she should be grateful for the distraction - her mind thoroughly occupied by pearls and trinkets rather than lingering on work as it so often tends to do when she's stuck eating dinner alone. "see i was thinking more like a mermaid caught on shore. but i guess pearl-thief works too." she's struck by how saffron's responses leave only more questions lingering in the back of her mind, although tessa suspects that they might not be entirely welcomed - at least not by someone who is an acquaintance and happen-chance table mate at best. "i would definitely classify that as more of a stroke of luck - or maybe just a keen sense of vision. i don't think i've heard of someone stumbling across a lone pearl. but maybe i just haven't been talking to the right people. nevertheless, thank you." it's earnest, although even as she plucks the pearl out of saffron's palm, she's not quite sure what she's going to do with it. maybe string it onto a necklace or place it in her jewelry box for safe-keeping? glue it to a magnet to put on her fridge? she's weighing her options before the feeling of being watched sneaks over her, or maybe it's more akin to being studied. it's enough to send a prickle of unease down her spine, as much as she likes making friends - being seen comes with it's own hurdles. tessa has made it a habit to curate exactly the image she wants to present to others, which works well when people aren't looking more intently. "is it a little like befriending crows? give them shiny things to inspire loyalty?" she's not normally one to speak without thinking, but the questions slip out before tessa has the chance to evaluate if they're rude or not. "maybe that wasn't an apt comparison. it's a nice way to leave a lasting impression." she's quick to add on, noting the slight flush on saffron's features and hoping it's not because of her own comment. she hadn't meant it to sound judgmental, it's a novelty that tessa can understand, even if she hasn't made it a habit to collect trinkets. but she likes to think that she touches people's lives all the same - helping to curate a memory with each event she throws that will stay with the people attending for a lifetime, even if they don't necessarily think of her when the memory crops up. "sounds almost like a treasure trove, do you take a collection with you each day?"