hey, is that MINKA KELLY i saw going for a walk in ECHO HILLS? no, it’s just BRIANNA DELANEY, a FORTY-SIX year old OWNER OF DAWN RANCH from PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. SHE identifies as FEMALE and HETEROSEXUAL. they seem IDEALISTIC and GUARDED, always reminding me of burnt sugar and cinnamon, owls calling out from the woods, and flowers drying in the sun. they’re most frequently seen at FOOLS GOLD going on about HISTORICAL COSTUMING and that’s okay because it’s been their thing for TWENTY-TWO YEARS. you’re going to love them! ( nova )
STORY ( miscarriage tw, abuse mention )
her childhood was typical, with parents that worked hard to provide a safe and comfortable home for their children. they were encouraged to find passions and explore their interests; her brother found his talent in golf and brianna had dreams of costuming for movies. from an early age, she started learning to sew and pursue other arts for hobbies. by the time she had reached high school, bri had planned to attend a fashion institute, but she never started.
a single moment- a positive test and his boot in her gut- clouded her hopes for the future and left her drifting in uncertainty. she started working in easy jobs, keeping her mind busy with the daily goals of dinner and gas. eventually, the numbers in her bank account looked right for a road trip and without much notice, she headed north. her little honda only made it as far as sacramento before a gasket blew and the cheap replacement got her just far enough to be towed into coyote valley.
in the twenty years since arriving, she has learned the ins and outs of the community, attempted relationships, and revived the b&b at dawn ranch when the previous owners sold for their 'second retirement'. it's been slow, but brianna has restored most of the home (and her heart) and plans for more in the future.
CONNECTIONS
failed dates -
bri has been in town for a while and has tried dating through the years. some could have gone terrible and they have an awkward avoidance for each other, while some could just be better as friends.
only one (1) was very serious and going well a few years ago, but a surprise miscarriage at ended their relationship. she stopped dating afterward and they have a delicate friendship now.
flirtationship -
maybe they've known each other for a while or maybe it's all been in passing, but the feelings are mutual and they recently started flirting publicly. they can be just starting to talk, about to start dating, or have had their first already, etc.
dawn ranch is hiring! -
the twenty-two acre property could always use extra hands to keep the place functional; innkeeper management, chef/s, housekeeping, maintenance, landscaping, etc. the location also hosts events or small gatherings for local businesses and residents. however, no weddings.
"The eighties..." Eliana repeated, the timeframe not only making her feel her age but also reminding the redhead that the Dawn Ranch house had likely undergone plenty of updates throughout it's long history. "I guess they're pretty old then," Ellie laughed. "Nothing lasts forever, does it?" The rhetorical question came with a lighthearted shake of her head. Things worn down over time, that was what time did. "I think it's awesome," she admitted, complete admiration, "I wish I had that kind of knack and ability. What all are you looking to update?"
When they entered the store she was mildly distracted but followed Bri as she ventured to which aisle had what she needed. "I hope that's true," she commented as she reached for an item that intrigued her. Though, Eliana wasn't sure her life had ever had much peace. In a sad way, she was used to this drama. "Yeah... family isn't the best subject for me. What about you? How's things going with family?" It wasn't a deflection, the redhead would say more in confidence to Bri, she just didn't want to do so in the store's capacity.
"i just assume everything's from then or older." the owners before her had done the majority of the hard work in adding rooms to make the bed and breakfast what it was today. a lot of it was still perfectly good, but no, nothing lasts forever. she sighs, sorting through the different styles of knobs and bars, "honestly, i'd like to try to recreate the original style entirely, but it would be insanely expensive." and the bank had already talked her out of it when she finished her last loan. her poor financial agent would have a heart attack if bri asked to budget for a full restoration plan. "everyone's telling me a new build would be the most profitable for now, so that might be on the table."
the window of vulnerability closes again when ellie shifts topics, but bri doesn't chase; her friend needs time. "they're doing alright. i was able to chat with some of the extended family a little bit recently," she offers, knowing there isn't much going on her end either, "it was over a video call, but still, nice to see them. and my brother is... around. he's been doing his own thing, lately." it wasn't unusual for them to lose sight of each other when buried in their own schedules. brianna tried to think of when she actually saw him last, but it must have been a few weeks ago, because she groans in dread of their next conversation, "and he's going to laugh at me about these drawers too, i just know it."
"are you a regular?" she was teasing, mostly, but curious all the same. she hated that she wanted to know what it was like to be a regular in a town she'd barely settled into yet. what she hated more was that she wondered if x was a regular. "so, we're going, right?" she looked to the other, a smile on her mouth, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. thankfully, the coiled tension in her chest did little to snuff out the hunger that churned deep in her stomach. "best thing on the menu?"
like many things, the daily lunches out in town had to stop when she bought dawn ranch. "i used to be a real one. up to three times a week for years," her voice trails, unable to truly verbalize the amount of time and money she had spent in the restaurant, "yes, we are so going." even if brianna had planned to take pru somewhere else, she would have happily gone wherever the other seemed most excited about. "anything with a mole sauce is a good bet and then my favorite, the al pastor. they also do great seafood, if you're into that."
It could be claimed as a hobby of his to get under people's skin. There was something oh so satisfying about it for a man that wasn't governed by his emotions. ❝ ⸻ Sure, cuts costs and saves the hassle. Unless it becomes more expensive in the long run because a professional should've done it in the first place. ❞ Xavier also loved to play devil's advocate. ❝ Do you manage all the land care as well? That's a lot of acreage to keep up with. ❞ There were already ideas of what he'd do with it if Brianna gave him a price to buy her out.
❝ Why not a habit? I think you enjoy my company, you're just to afraid to admit it. ❞ Despite knowing it wasn't likely and completely unaffected whichever way she went Xavier knew he was more likely to wear her down the more time she spent in his company. His phone was pulled from his pocket, little did she know he'd done his research and knew what she often had for her meals. ❝ Alright, ❞ X nodded and watched her head for the door, his thumb ready to hit call on his phone, ❝ I'll add a bottle to the meal. ❞ It was off his lips before she entered the door and late enough that she'd have to backtrack to deny him.
she barely hears the mention of wine, shooting a narrowed glare over her shoulder before he's out of sight. of course, he would add more- poke, poke, poke. bri could tolerate his persistence with a humorous angle, sometimes even likening him to an overeager freshman trying to chat up a senior girl if he was behaving particularly charming, but it was still a nuisance. and the worst of it all? he wasn't wrong. predatory tactics aside, xavier was a natural businessman with sound instincts; it was a large space to care for, costs were rising overall, the work was exhausting. even as she sped through the aisles, her eyes caught items that reminded her of more tasks that needed to be finished and it almost hurt to leave with the one tube of epoxy glue. but not as much as it would for her to ever let him win.
brianna's outside again in a matter of minutes, securing her purchase into her bag, looking around expectantly. it wouldn't have been too surprising to find a car waiting by the time she'd returned, given how calculated he had been thus far. "finished setting your trap- or i mean, the reservation?"
❝ well hi... , ❞ jordyn greeted calmly while she gathered herself . ❝ we can run some errands. I do need to get some stuff at the hardware stuff to build a bookcase..❞ she replied with a smile in her voice . ❝ we can grab something to eat. what were you thinking ? ❞ jordyn laughs as she looks up at the young woman.
"great! i love when new furniture needs to be fixed before it can be used," she answers, half sarcastic and completely joking, "i'm sure we'll remember everything between the two of us." brianna could always complain about the frustrations of flat-packed shelves, but would never deny the satisfaction of completing the project. "it feels like a sandwich kind of day for me- salty goat or babydudes?"
marisol blinked, looking over at bri like she’d just dramatically announced a death in the family. the gasp, the full-body clutch-the-pearls routine—honestly.
“relax, i’m not dying,” she said dryly, though her hand did rest lightly on her stomach like it had personally betrayed her. she grinned, but there was a hint of warning behind it.
marisol stepped ahead, already pulling out her phone to check which places were still open nearby. “as for what it wants—something greasy. cheesy. a little unhinged." then, a pause, like she was pretending to think deeply. “and yeah, a dessert to share wouldn’t hurt. but only if it’s something with chocolate. or strawberry maybe?"
maybe she was being a little extra, but shame was for the young. she laughs at herself even if marisol doesn't find it as funny, "yeah, yeah, i know," waving away her friend's mild look of disapproval. though, with the way she was describing her cravings, things would be smoothed over easily. brianna hums an approval, "it sounds like we might find all we need over at fool's gold. they even have a chocolate-covered strawberry pie."
A flash of amusement crossed the redhead's face. Eliana had pictured the drawer and the handle coming right off and while she could easily say it was such a small issue, she understood the tiny frustration throwing everything off. Too many times it had been the smallest, most insignificant thing that would do it for her. "Are they original, or I suppose... how old is the cabinetry? With the history of the ranch I can only imagine just how everything comes up one after the other in needing fixing, updating, replacing..." Her home was new but before then she'd lived in a ranchette in the foothills and had easy memories of that very thing.
"Take your time," the redhead said easily as they approached the hardware store. "I'll entertain myself with browsing." In a way it was always such a fun little invite into Nic's world. The mention of his name drew her attention for a brief moment and she couldn't help the easy smile that formed softly on her lips. "I wish I had learned to be more handy like you," Ellie said a moment later, knowing she could manage basic things, "but Nic always takes care of everything." A sigh left her and she was about to brush it off, but for once she just... answered. "Kind of... just dealing with a lot of family drama and it's just driving me to drink. Work is work but I guess we can't expect times of peace to last forever." When had there ever really been times of peace, though?
at one point, she had joked that the big house had become a theseus paradox; would it still be considered the same building after it's all been replaced? "i doubt it. they look like they're from the 80s." it would have been a real treasure to have the solid wood pieces, but someone else had traded them for the laminate of her childhood. "well, the internet helped a lot," she readily admitted, taking pride in her friend's compliment, "but i've always been arts-and-crafty, so the shift to construction wasn't a hard stretch. a skill of necessity, really."
even though brianna had asked, she was almost expecting a non-answer in response. "hm, family..." the store is busy when they enter, forcing a pause while they navigate to the aisle she needs. bri had noticed there was a fatigue to ellie lately and knew her well enough not to pry unnecessarily, but the context didn't usually come this quickly. "you haven't mentioned much about them before, but it must be pretty bad if it's tipping the bottle for you," she glances over, with mild concern, "it'll come back- peace can return just as quickly as it left."
Safiye hadn't tried many places in town because she preferred to go grocery shopping and to make new recipes. But that had been halted now that her kitchen, and entire home, was being remodelled for the most part. "Let's try Stax. I've never been before. I haven't really tried or been to many places since moving into town now that I think about it." It was a shame given the amount of time she'd been here but figured since she was planning on moving anytime soon, she had the time. "Unless you think there's somewhere better? I'd like to have some drinks as well."
whenever bri gave suggestions to those visiting town, the wine bar was a popular choice. "stax it is, then. they usually have a brunch menu with a couple of cocktails available; bloody marys, mimosas, sangria, things like that," she explains, pausing briefly to check the time, "but if we happen to not make it today, they do have the full bar open with lunch." new restaurants opened and closed often as the trends changed, leaving them with quality over quantity. "i know it sounds ridiculous to say, but everywhere is good. is there somewhere you're curious about?"
While he knew a thing or two about to-do lists Xavier was certain his were far different from what Brianna was referring to. He had staff, that he paid above their means, that knew their duties and kept the resort running in top form. In seeing the brunette do all of this herself he only further wondered why she wouldn't sell and unload the burden of it onto him.
❝ ⸻ I'll take your word for it, ❞ X flashed her a quick and convincing smirk. Rarely did the expressions he showed when among company match what was actually beneath the mask. ❝ Wouldn't it be nice to run a staff that could do all this for you, ❞ he inquired and gestured somewhat openly, again laying some seeds.
❝ Generally, no. ❞ This display was amusement. Perhaps some part of it was genuine given that he appreciated the compliment despite Bri using it as a tease. X was thoughtful. There usually wasn't a detail the man missed. ❝ Take your time. Would you like me to order for you, or would you prefer to look over a menu when we arrive and decide for yourself? ❞ The businessman had an uncanny knack for choosing the perfect meal pairing for someone.
god, he's such an ass. she rolls her eyes and feigns insult, scoffing a laugh in response to his digs. "i have staff! just not as much, that's all." one good manager and a pair of speedy housekeepers were all she really needed to keep the b&b together, but bri wouldn't exactly say no to a couple more people around to pick up the slack. "anyway, i like doing things myself; it adds a personal touch to the place." plus, she saves quite a bit of money not having to call a professional every time.
brianna knew very well how quickly xavier could pivot through conversations, eventually leading back to where he wants it. as long as the endgoal remained the same, she didn't mind the detours. "you sound confident, so i'll let you pick for me," she concedes, more curious about what he thinks she might like and less concerned about his motives, "let's not make it a habit, though." the hardware store comes up fast and she reaches to open the door, offering "i'll be right back," before heading inside.
"late fees are the worst." reality had crashed into her like a tidal wave after her ex-husband's stunt. she'd gone from never knowing the true value of a dollar, to being stuck wishing that she'd saved a little more, splurged a little less. "if you're sure, i won't complain about skipping to lunch."
pru hated the relief she felt when the other claimed it as her treat. she had enough to get by on, even a little to play with from time to time, but she priced herself to cheap takeout and budget finds at the grocery. "i heard a couple of guys at work talking about sergio’s? have you ate there before?"
there's a groan, an exasperated "right?", and a small chuckle that follows. brianna had gotten better with remembering deadlines as the years went by, though subscription services had helped immensely. blockbuster would have been a menace on her bank account. "sergio's is great! they've been around forever, they're very nice- like, on it with service and they remember the regulars," she starts, thinking back to when she first ate there, too. she almost cried over the tacos al pastor. "and i swear, they have actual abuelitas in the kitchen making fresh tortillas all day."
"are you sure? i'm not exactly in any rush." she was grateful for the friendly offer made by the other woman. three weeks wasn't a long time to settle into a new place, but she'd managed and working at the casino had made that a bit easier with all the meaningless conversations with locals and tourists alike. "we can go for lunch if you're sure about the hardware store," she offered, as if giving the other a chance to change her mind on the delay.
the tiles had been cracked this long already; what was another couple of days? "yeah, it's alright. the last two had to be done today so i don't get docked with late fees," she explained, shrugging her shoulders, "it's no problem." after all, brianna had said that she would 'host' prue around town for a few hours and it wouldn't be fair to dictate their activities. "is there anywhere you haven't tried yet? my treat."
marisol wasn’t one to complain—unless, of course, you were one of her unfortunate close friends. then you were basically signing up for a front-row seat to her daily commentary on life’s many inconveniences. but today? today she was on her best behavior, happily tagging along while bri knocked out a list of errands like some kind of overachiever. her stomach had started making unholy noises back at the library. like full exorcism-level growling but she kept it to herself. she had to stop by the post office anyway to send out the ugly mug times, a chaotic monthly masterpiece of deals, open mic announcements, and passive-aggressive haikus from that one guy who always brought his ukulele. so technically, she was being productive too.
“what if i told you my stomach’s been staging a full-blown revolution since we met up?” she said, one eyebrow raised like a challenge. “would that speed up this whole feeding-me situation, or…?”
"mari, no!" with the gasp coming from bri, she may as well have been told marisol had been hiding a broken foot all day. "oh my god, you should have said sooner- we passed by so many places!" her own hunger was conditioned to run on crumbs when she was distracted and it wasn't until someone else made the suggestion to stop. she probably could have gone another hour or two before her own stomach joined the protest. then, it's feed me seymour! "so what does it want? would a dessert to share at the end help?"
Safiye enjoyed doing her own errands but with a need to fill her week with activities that wasn't drinking a bottle of sangria by herself by her pool, she was keen to join Brianne on one of her errands. "I don't need to go anywhere in particular. I'm happy to go to lunch right now and then we can look around if you'd like." It was often when she window shopped that she found the best items but she understood that not everyone had time. "I could use a drink, preferably with some alcohol in it."
"alright, we could do that," she agrees, accepting the chance for a break when it comes. even though she was the one to set her schedule, brianna often needed to be reminded to stop. "so, i think stax or fool's gold? they have great lunch specials- but really, anywhere is good." coyote valley was lucky to have a number of stellar restaurants with each one as good as the last. "or if there's somewhere you haven't been, we could try it today."
The most prominent thing that Jasper and Brianna had in common was that their ‘easy’ days weren’t exactly easy. There was always something that needed doing, so when there was a free few hours in his schedule Jasper would do his best to complete the task. But with his errands and Brianna’s it made sense that they did them together. Two heads were better than one, two pairs of hands were better than one, and so on.
“Have you got some kind of DIY project going on?” He asked. “If so, I’m more than happy to help. I got used to all the handyman stuff when I was renovated the pub, so I have some experience.”
Some, but not much. Even though he tried his best to muck in, Jasper left the majority of the project to the experts. He feared making a grave error that could result in safety concerns, so he mainly reserved his skills and time for the finishing touches. Nevertheless, he was always willing to learn and give someone else a helping hand.
“Everything else on your list and mine can wait for now,” he then answered. “I’m absolutely starving. What do you fancy for lunch?”
whenever her spare time needed to be functional rather than fun, jasper was great for the company. more often than not, the conversation ended up being more productive than the tasks themselves.
"i have too many projects, actually," brianna begins, pretending to complain, as if she weren't the one leaving them unfinished before adding another, "they're starting to clutter my garage." each piece was started with an idea of what she wanted to do, but too often she would hit a snag and become discouraged for a while. "oh, i'm well-versed in diy renovation, too. it's the furniture that gives me trouble."
but the wood stains would have to wait, because bri's stomach was agreeing with his. "i haven't been to sergio's in a while," she offers, thinking of what's nearby, "or babydude's? i think i saw they're running a lunch promo right now."
Since buying the Sundown Inn Resort & Spa e'd made a point of getting to know the owner of Dawn Ranch. They ran similar businesses in many aspects, the woman move aside of him had simply been doing so longer in the area. She also had a nice big portion of land, and some of his interest was in finding out if she had a price. Was she tired and wanting to move on? How much would it take Brianna to sign it all over to him?
❝ ⸻ Ah, for the never ending fix-it list? ❞ Brow lifted, X had an amiable smile sitting mildly on his lips. A casual expression as they were just walking along. ❝ If you'd like to save from making another trip we could make that stop now and I could call ahead to the restaurant at the resort to have lunch ready for us, if you'd like a little detour before heading back to yours, ❞ he offered, fully hoping she'd take him up on that. It was a free lunch and something she didn't have to lift a finger at.
sometimes, when brianna knows she'll be spending an hour or two around xavier, she'll try to guess how long before he starts laying the bait; he was so close to making it inside somewhere. she chuckles to herself before answering, "oh yes, for the list. it never ends." it made her wonder if he kept one for sundown himself or if someone else in his staff was responsible for that. she couldn't exactly see him going through rooms and changing light bulbs.
it doesn't take much to convince her after mention of the restaurant. she'd never be able to tell him, but they were probably the closest chance coyote valley had to receiving a michelin star or two. "you're so thoughtful, xavier. there's no wasting time with you, is there?" she replies with a knowing smirk and quirked brow, agreeing nonetheless, "alright, go ahead and call. i'll be quick about it inside and we'll go."
There was something special and important about being apart of the little things in another person's life. A something that hardly ever got recognition or consideration. But didn't mean something to just be the company in someone's mundane? To be a comfortable part of the atmosphere?
"What do you need at the hardware store?" The redhead was curious, thanks to Nic she'd been in there and well versed with most items whereabouts more times than she could count. "Fixing something?" Eliana shook her head then. "I don't mind stopping in. We can discuss where to grab lunch if you'd prefer to check that off your to-do list."
Walking and the distraction company brought had been so needed against the chaos currently ruling her life. "As much as I'd like a spicy margarita... I'm in no hurry. How's things at the ranch?"
"there's always something," she starts, with a tired chuckle following after. given the chance, bri could find a use for nearly everything in the store, but she would have to narrow it down to just a few for today. "the drawer pulls are loose. i've been having to tighten them every so often, and this morning, one finally just popped off. the little screw on the back was completely stripped." it was such a small thing to take priority of her day, leaving her somewhere between annoyed and amused about the task as a whole.
"but that does sound good. we won't stay long, then; i'll just grab a few to try." even when they're both busy with their own things, brianna was always appreciative of the time they could afford to waste on the mundane. it was nice to know that the years hadn't changed their friendship. "it's doing well, despite showing it's age now. it's nothing i can't fix myself or ask nic to do, so i'm lucky there. what've you been up to? same old, same old?"
downtown / early afternoon, running errands
open / ( @coyotestarters )
even when it was meant to be an 'easy' day, it wasn't unusual for brianna to try and cross something off her chore list. after a quick drop-off at the library and a pick-up from the post office, she was almost satisfied. "my last thing is at the hardware store, but that can later, or tomorrow, whenever." and she wasn't going to be rude about it; she appreciated the company and was still intending to hangout too, even if it was done a little differently today. "was there anything you wanted to do before we eat lunch? or should we just go there now?"
