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@rafaelcb
RAFAEL BARDALES. rafael, raf. he/him, cis man, November 15, 1970; born on the Amafli Coast, attended college in New York City, set up home in Merrock, Maine. only child, single, childless, prefers it that way; ex-husband. owner of Bardales Inc., a combined law firm and real estate agency. lives downtown and could survive on tiramisu.
bio. stats. timeline. connections. wanted. muse. writing ideas.
"That's what I'm hoping." Candice smiled with a nod. She knew there was no such thing as perfect children. She hadn't been perfect as a child and neither had her siblings, but that didn't mean her parents loved any of them any less. They had always wanted the same out of her and her brother and sister. Try your best and reach your potential. It was a bit of a motto in their household. "Oh wow, yep, you went much farther than me. It looks like that decision worked out for you, but I'm sure it wasn't an easy one. Do you think you could've made it in the pros?"
She nodded softly and looked down a bit. All the things that Rafael said were all the things that went through her head. What if her biological family wasn't interested in her? What if they didn't know about her or had forgotten about her? She had been raised by a wonderful family and had even built a great family of her own. She wasn't sure she wanted to disrupt the peace in her life or her children's lives. "That's exactly it. You never know what you'll find out and I have Ayden and Cat to think of." she said with a small shrug. She shook her head and smiled. "Something more for me to think of at another time."
"I don't think you have anything to worry about," he assured her with a small, warm smile. People who cared about others normally helped those people get to where they needed to go, achieve a lot, succeed at life. And Candice would be no different when it came to her kids. "I think I'm where I'm supposed to be," Rafael confirmed with a nod. "As for going pro… no, I don't think so -- I might have been able to ride the bench?" he suggested with a hearty laugh, "but I know the talent levels it takes to go professional, and I don't think that I would have been able to be one of those guys you see on cereal boxes, or anything of the sort."
"And I've been in law long enough to know that sometimes, it gets messy," suddenly you were aware of things you couldn't be unaware of, you had to fight to know more, or fight to fix issues that had existed for such a long time. Rafael didn't want to say that it was better to leave well enough alone, but… that was the truth of it sometimes, he supposed. If you were happy and healthy… sometimes that was far more important than anything papers or tests could tell you. "That seems like one of those three AM, can't sleep kind of conversations to have with yourself," he said with a soft laugh, "or in the shower, washing your hair for the third time without realizing it."
"Very best boss. Got it," he repeated with a laugh. "Should I paint that on your cheek then?" he teased. He could just imagine people's reactions to that. "Yeah. I don't think I want to be against you if that ever happen. I guess I just have to keep it nice and neutral then," he let out a dramatic sigh, acting as if he didn't have any other choice. "Just saying though, there's a very fine print on the side there that said you are not allowed to sue me if you don't like the end result," he said with a grin. There most definitely wasn't any and Sam was lucky enough so far that everyone seemed to like the end result. With an idea in mind, he started painting, opting to draw simple ocean wave around Rafael's left eye. "Okay. Done," he said once he finished drawing and moved back a little. "Remember, no suing. It's for a good cause."
"I thought about it," he said with a laugh, knowing that no one could really argue with him if it said directly on his face what the rest of the world felt about him. Whether or not the world actually felt that way was still up for debate, but… Rafael figured he was a pretty good boss. No one had told him otherwise, anyway. "If anyone can handle nice and neutral… I've got faith in you, Sam," he said, a lightly teasing tone to his voice as he let himself relax, trying not to bust out laughing when he brought up the fine print, "lucky for me, then, I only pretended to sign the paperwork!" Although it would be kind of funny if people had to sign a waiver to get their faces painted at a community event. There might suddenly be less kids in line if that was what they were up against. "Does that mean I can open my eyes?" he asked, before cracking one open and looking around, "do you have a mirror, or am I going to have to trust you on this one?"
Everything had been going pretty well. The town seemed to be receiving her and the company well although there were a few people that stared and moved past her tent or gave her a bit of an unhappy eye. Mariah just put on a brave face and smiled at them anyway. Besides that, people were really getting into the rock painting. There were many much more talented people in town than she, Mariah found out as she stacked the painted rocks together. Her rock of stars with the moon was at the bottom well hidden for no one to see.
She was moving down the line of people when she stopped looking at Rafael with a smile. "I've had a good number of people show up and paint rocks." she nodded. "Hopefully, we'll get to add yours to the pile. How are you doing? Is the Bardales tent getting a lot of action today?"
"Admittedly, I'm not much of an artist," he said with a laugh, unable to help himself "but I'll still swing by before the weekend is up and give it the old college try, as the kids say." It was always important to support your fellow business owners in a small town, especially at an event like Spring Fling, where people were raising money for such a good cause. He was sure that he could try to paint something... even if it was just his initials on a background that looked somewhat distinguished. If all else failed, a stick figure.
"So far," he nodded his head, "I've always found with these events, the best way to draw people in has been good prizes, otherwise they have a tendency to walk by the booth for a law firm and real estate agency," he laughed, shrugging both shoulders. "But we've had a lot of people spin the wheel, the till's gotten full a few times, which is good."
But when you find the needle it's so...almost worth it. It's not actually worth it at all, but I have to try to say something positive. My therapist says I need to think more positively these days. Are you giving away wads of your own money at the event to make people think you're kind and lovable?
Almost being the key word? I'm not going to argue that one. I do appreciate that you're trying to be an optimist, though! Very glass is half full of you, Aleja, very appreciated. I thought about it, but I've already made a couple of sizeable donations in my own name, so... I held off this time around.
“Mmm, I’ve heard that line many times growing up. Then there’s ’here’s Uncle Qin when he was in college, had a 4.0 gpa and was captain of the chess club. Just don’t ask why Auntie Eleanor why she doesn’t wear the necklace he gave her for their wedding anymore. And then it turns into a whole soap opera,” Alice said, running a hand through her hair. Family was complicated. So she understood why things were also complicated when it came to the town. People said some things but would mean something else. Instead of just telling the truth. “That’s why I know whatever it comes to, it won’t be that easy and no one will back down that quickly. We’ve got some brilliant minds here working all the way up.” She knew the whole resort issue would make for a big story and keep her quite busy for a long while. But it meant learning more about the town as they figured things out.
Rafael couldn't help but to let out a laugh, wondering how much truth there was to what Alice was saying, if that was something that had actually happened in her family. But it wouldn't really be that surprising, would it? That was how families went sometimes. "So much of that stuff comes out after the funeral, too. Right about the time that you're having a big meal." Suddenly, when they weren't with you anymore, every single secret spilled out and became free game for everyone else. "We absolutely do. I don't think that the Benefactor realizes what they've started, how quickly this will go from an idea to something that snowballs out of control. And the only way that it's going to stop… is people in this town getting their way." For better or for worse, with that one. Rafael could only hope, for all of their sake, it was the better option. "I will say, I think people learning more, educating themselves about the town in general… that might bring along some positive changes, too."
"Why not? You are a good boss, aren't you?" Sam teased. Rafael letting anyone win would probably sound as weird as him volunteering to get his face painted. So maybe he should take it easy on him. In a little while. "Ouch. It's bad enough already if I ever find myself in any of those situation not even a year back in town and you're going to leave me to fight alone? I thought we're friends," he said with a chuckle. He looked around the table to find the piece of paper that had design choices for anyone that came in without any idea. "Well, I suppose you'll find out soon enough if I'm a good artist or not," he grinned. "And it seems that the paper I have that has design choices for people to choose from is hiding somewhere so it's really going to be my choice then."
"The very best boss that anyone has ever had," he confirmed with a laugh and a nod of his head. Maybe not the best, he was sure there were people who were more... friendly, maybe, a little more open and warm. But Rafael liked to think that he did a pretty good job of keeping people happy. "Oh, we're friends until we enter into a court of law. Or a real estate deal," but he was laughing as he said it, knowing that a situation in which he ended up disliking Sam seemed pretty hard to come by. He was just one of those people who was likeable, no matter how you diced it. "Then I'm at your mercy, friend," he put a little emphasis on that last word, as though friendship would prevent him from being tortured right then and there as he got comfortable in the chair and waited for Sam to do his thing.
Have you ever been insecure in your life? Honest answers only, because you're helping me grow into a mature and confident man. Because I'm still young and not in my 40s, after all. Threaten them more? Because that might be...maybe a bit extreme. Do you have recommendations for being scarier?
Actually, yes. There was a period of my life... early high school, I had acne and went through one of those awkward periods where I didn't feel good in my skin. Then my mother got me some treatment and my face cleared up and I was never insecure again. Except for when I moved here, since I was starting over. So there you go, insecurity can be overcome. I do. You have to growl when you talk, overenunciate your words, point a lot, and furrow your brow.
"That's what I remind my kids of everyday. I always want them to try their best and reach their potential." Candice wanted them doing the best they could at all times. Sometimes, it came off as strict, but she equally showered them with love and softness. The balance was key. Her parents had treated her the same and she had turned out well...for the most part at least. "For some reason, none of that surprises me. How far did you get in soccer? I played as a kid for a few years."
Candice hummed and nodded agreeing with him on his thoughts of winter. "I see. So you grew up in a multi-lingual household as well. We really should start a club." she teased. She laughed out loud at the thought of a room full of people speaking different languages in response to one question. "It would wild and yet really cool. I've always been interested in other languages and other cultures. I've always wanted to do those DNA test things to see what different cultures I have, but I'm too nervous at the same time." she shrugged softly.
"And as long as they do that, they're going to go far in life," Rafael was sure of it. One didn't have to be perfect, have everything in order. But they did have to try, and as long as they did that, then they eventually did get to where they were supposed to go, find their way and their path. He didn't doubt that her kids were good kids and would make good lives for themselves when the time came, too. "I played all through high school and two years of college, and then I gave it up when I transferred here to the States, I wanted to throw all of my focus into law." Which, looking back, had been a good decision, but a tough one, none the less.
"I did, very much," he nodded his head. He had picked up pieces of other languages along the way, too, but nothing that he could speak fluently, at least not to the same extent that he did Spanish and Italian and English, of course. "I can kind of understand that," he said as she admitted to being nervous about the testing. "I feel like you sometimes hear horror stories about people finding out their entire life is a lie, or that they've been lead astray, and then that's the kind of thing that you can't really un-know, right?"
Sam couldn't help the amused chuckle that escaped when he saw that his next client would be Rafael. "You could just say that you let them win, being a good boss and all," he said with a grin. "So…it's my choice? How about a bright neon lobster on your cheek?" he said with a bigger grin and showed a light green color paint to Rafael. "Or I can do dolphins or seals, if we want to go in theme to remind someone about what's at stake. I haven't seen dolphins here yet but it counts," he gave a small shrug, still grinning. "If those are still too much, I guess simple swirly lines will be the choice."
"Me, letting anyone win?" he let out a scoffing laugh at Sam's idea, knowing that it would never happen -- and honestly, when the competition was getting people to spend money that would go to a good cause... it was hard to see it as a loss. Except for his poor face. "It's your choice, but I want you to remember that I can make your life really, really hard if you ever need a lawyer or come up against me in court... or need to buy a house." He would never do that to Sam, found that he quite liked the guy, but it was still fun to tease him a little bit. "I'm going to just... let you take your pick, close my eyes, and marvel at your artistic magic. You... are artistic, yes? A good artist?"
WHO: rafael & @samuelxkwon
WHERE: spring fling, downtown
WHEN: may, 2026
"I cannot believe I am doing this," Rafael half-grumbled as he got to the front of the line for face painting, heaving a dramatic sigh when he was ushered in a little further. "I ... lost a bet, admittedly, with one of my employees on how many people we could get to do the prize wheel in an hour. Apparently, they're a little better at hustling than I thought." And honestly, there were worse things than having people dedicated to the cause, who were going to do everything that they could to raise some money. "But... they didn't say what I needed to get painted, so go easy on me, is all I ask."
WHO: rafael & @mariah-h-kenmore
WHERE: spring fling, downtown
WHEN: may, 2026
Living and working downtown, Rafael found himself curious about everything going on around him, and that had included the renovations happening on Mariah's building, what he understood to be her up and coming business. And as a business owner himself, he figured it was about time that he popped by to see what it was all about, more so than just watching curiously on his evening walks, or stopping the crew on the street to ask questions (perks of working with Mr. Newman himself, he supposed).
Thankfully, the Spring Fling provided a good opportunity to do just that, noting that Celestial Foundations had their own tent at the event. He found himself looking over the rocks that had been painting so far when he looked up to see Mariah approaching and smiled, lifting his hand in greeting. "Getting a lot of people stopping by?"
SPRING FLING, 2026 BARDALES INC. PRIZE WHEEL
Step right up to the Bardales Inc. tent and try y our hand at the prize wheel! There are a number of really fun prizes, ranging from gift baskets donated by various businesses around Merrock, gift certificates from different restaurants and shops and experiences around town for you and your loved ones.
One spin costs $5, and all of the proceeds will go directly to the fund to buy the land that we're trying to protect. At the end of the weekend, funds will be matched by Mr. Bardales himself.
"Well, this is my home now and I'm not going anywhere." Chandler never thought he'd say that, but Merrock was really the first place he had ever lived where he could imagine a future for himself. "But you can't really guarantee anything, whether or not there's a resort. Everyone's situation is different. Maybe someone who is struggling to find work now doesn't have to move away for a new job, because they can work at the resort. Or maybe someone comes for the resort, but decides to see what exists outside of it - some travelers don't want to stay in their fancy hotel the whole trip - and ends up falling in love with the town and moving here."
He pulled a face at the idea of new fishermen coming in; ones that didn't have history with this ocean. That would be bad, for sure. Less respect for the location they were fishing in. "Definitely don't need randos coming into our ocean here." Chandler agreed. "I'd rather not go back on the frozen stuff, but when it's all you knew for the first eighteen years of your life...There's definitely food things I'm way more snobby about than that."
As Rafael shared his last criticism of the benefactor, Chandler nodded. "That's the hang up for me. Like, I don't love or hate the idea of the resort. I just think it's good to debate both sides 'cause there's good and bad about it. And, like, arguing for it against you just now I got a lot of insight into different things that could be really bad about it." He really wasn't just trying to argue for arguments sake, but because it could be educational in a context like this. "But so many people don't want it, that it really feels like it's the town against one faceless billionaire. And I know, blah blah blah late stage capitalism, but I really don't think one person should have so much power just because they're rich. Especially while not showing their face or telling anyone their name."
"That's true, it could create job growth," there were always small silver linings, even in the toughest of situations, where people might really struggle to find them. "But is the trade-off of jobs in big name, chain businesses worth it when you could lose smaller businesses in the process?" He leaned back a little bit in his seat at the bar, reaching for his coffee, and swirling the cooling liquid before taking a sip, "like if a Starbucks moves to town. New business, new jobs. Great, in theory. Except for it taking customers from Cobblestone, which ends up being bad for business… and then what? Like you said, it's such a situation where no one really knows, no one can guarantee, and so I understand where the council and committee are coming from in a very big way -- can they afford to take that chance?"
Nodding with understanding, Rafael let out a breath with a shake of his head, "there's a lot that people are going to need to learn and understand as we go through this process, but for as much as I don't want to see this town go through that kind of upset, I also think that the Benefactor picked the wrong town full of people to try to upset. They're very stubborn." And that wasn't a bad thing -- it would do them well in this kind of battle. "I feel like if you're going to try to have that sort of power play, you need to be transparent." Rafael had struggled with it, moving into a small town, opening his own firm, growing his real estate business, feeling like a big fish in a small pond, but he had never hidden who he was, or what his intentions were. Had always been honest. "Suddenly all of the fun mystery that's always surrounded this person has become scary and intimidating, and much less fun."
“It’s like when you’re a kid and there’s that random uncle who always sends the best gifts. Never met him in person or seen a picture. Just going off of what your parents tell you,” Alice said with a hum. “It’s a huge back and forth. I’m thinking people are realizing what’s happening and that maybe that anonymous doesn’t necessarily mean harmless. People usually drift towards generosity, they like things that are free and convenient. It’s much easier to digest. “A town built on hard work thrives on hard work,” she added. If somehow the benefactor was found out and if something happened over a long stretch of time where the money ran out? People would not know what to do, she was sure of it. “What makes Merrock what it is… are the families. The sense of community, not just money. The resort may break that feeling over time.” She looked at her notebook. “I feel like in the upcoming months we’ll be seeing everything sort of trickle down. I haven’t known Merrock to be shy about what it wants. Whether that is a big party or cleaning up the beach,” she smiled, lifting up her glass. “Wouldn’t expect it to start now.”
"And then when you're an adult, you find out some interesting family lore about the uncle, and learn why you've never actually met him, never saw a picture? You're not wrong," everyone had that one family member, and then Merrock had the Benefactor -- apparently that was just the way that things went. He had hoped that they wouldn't get to that point with the Benefactor, wished that they only had the best of intentions in mind, but… given the circumstances, it was kind of hard to see them as anything but dubious at best, now. "You're absolutely right. And I think that's what lets me know that the town will be okay, regardless of his position on things," because the town would continue to work hard at making sure that they thrived, even with this bump in the road. Big bump or not. "No, that's true… we don't exactly beat around the bush. And you know the locals as well as I do, these people have big hearts -- big mouths, too. They're not going to go down without a fight."
A handful in a city that big isn't really saying much, though, is it? Though there's also maybe only a handful of truly awful people. You're doing great with what you do, even if you're a bit busy for a man your age with the...fifty jobs or however many you have.
No, sort of like a needle in a haystack, you're going to find it, but it's going to be very hard, and you're going to be looking for a while. And likely prick yourself, too. Also true. There's a lot of gray area when you're comparing awful and good. People fall into both categories pretty easily. I wish it was only fifty! No, I'm just kidding. Feels like it sometimes, though.
That sounds about right, but you should probably lead that statement with a bit more confidence there, Raf, because...you're not convincing anyone that you're a wise person to listen to. You're not joking and that's alright. That's about right, yeah, just to confirm that my siblings didn't need their asses kicked when I got home, until they realized I'm not actually good at kicking asses.
All they would have to do is take one look at me and they would change their mind and realize that I am incapable of being anything but confident and serious. I just have to keep them guessing until that point. You have to keep them guessing, Kellan -- threaten them a little more. Or are you saying that at this point, your siblings aren't scared of you? Because if so, it sounds like you need to be scarier.
