the room grows warmer. its the patrons who stick and stay rather than filter through, or it’s just the wine leaving her mark. rose won’t take off her coat, of course. “ claro, beautiful. as long as it’s not 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆. “
“that’s a shame,” stella laughed, “some might say that’s what i do best. it’s kind of my job, really - “ she held her hand out anyways, a smile on her face, “i’m stella. i promsie not to give you any unwarranted advice, though i do love listening to people’s problems and trying to fix them, if you need to let it out.”
“ is it bad that i know the shortest route to get there from this exact spot? “ they’re joined in laughter. sid, suddenly walking the same way the stranger is, has found today’s best friend. “ they do this fabulous single origin espresso. which—- whatever that means. but i sounded like i knew what i was talking about for a sec, right? “ oh, the amount of times they’ve sat the distracted woman down and explained it to her. in one ear out the other.
“ oh, stella!! i fucking knew you looked familiar, “ which doesn’t sound like a lie— and is. her memory with others can be shocking-– truly. she’s a fantastic liar though, which this all makes up for. “ so how do you entertain yourself now? “
💄 💋
stella isn’t sure if the other actually remembers her or not - it would be impressive if she did, but stella sometimes forgot the students she saw on a daily basis through the halls of the school she worked at. but she’s never been one to call out pleasantries - her mother would shame her, viscously, if she did. “i still dance,” she admitted, “but usually at clubs instead - i did some ballet and jazz when i was young before i did cheer in high school, and when i first moved out here, i needed something familiar,” she explained, bear happily trailing in front of them, sniffing anything that came in his path as they walked.
“but i’m also a teacher - well, a guidance counselor, really - and that tends to take up most of my time. i work crazy long hours and am working on my phd in what ‘free’ time i have,” she continued, her fingers making quotes around the word free - “it’s a lot, so some of my more structured activities had to be dropped for something i could do when i had the time. like taking bear for long walks around the parks here - though, this is definitely his favorite. what brings you out here this afternoon? i would think this is your busiest time for classes, the after school, pre-dinner rush.”
“You know what, I like that idea better.” The brunette countered, eyes immediately falling onto the bartender, who seemed to be otherwise distracted, no idea the two women were even discussing him. Let alone hoping that he was the subject of the stranger’s affection, eyes glued in their general vicinity. “I don’t think any man is going to just buy us drinks for the sake of it, without expecting anything in return.” Which was fucking stupid, and went to show most men’s misogynistic tendencies. As if women owed them something. “As fucking stupid as that is.” Andi went on to add, the feminist in her coming out rapidly. “Besides, he’s not worth it even for the free drinks. I’d rather shoot myself in the foot than deal with that tonight. Just pretend you’re my girlfriend or something, if it gets to that.” Not that she expected it to. If he hadn’t approached yet, she suspected he was too shy to.
💄 💋
“As if that won’t turn him on more,” Stella snickered, though she turned her body in Andi’s direction, her bare leg brushing slightly against the others. “But I’m not looking for a hookup tonight so why not,” she said, her voice lowering as she leaned in closer, finger circling the rim of her glass. “I like flirting, and spending the night hanging out with you definitely sounds better than fighting him off all night long.” She dipped her pinky into her glass, sucking the alcohol off her finger as she did, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I take it you’ve had enough shitty come ons lately if you’re thinking about that kind of violence to avoid it,” she said, “what’s the worst pick up line you’ve had? I bet I can top it.”
“This isn’t one game —” Once he spotted the cue ball he quickly picked it up and tossed it back and forth between each hand for a minute as he eyes her with amusement. “I’ve been playing for at least twenty years, and to be honest, I’d love to be hustled by you.” Or, more like surprised by her. Most women he came across either couldn’t play or didn’t play, so it’d be fun if she turned out to be some kind of pool shark. “So, which is it?” The cue ball was returned to the felt and he rolled it in her direction, giving her a second chance to make a better shot. In the very least, scatter the balls. “Is it an off night or are you loosening me up?”
💄 💋
“I guess you’ll just have to see,” she smirked, setting the balls into their formation before removing the triangle. She was definitely all talk and no game, but she also liked to prove herself a winner, even if it wasn’t something she normally excelled in. With her tongue between her teeth, she focused her attention on the cue, pulling back just far enough to start with a strong break. A wide grin broke on her face as a solid slipped inside the opposite pocket, a little wiggle in her hips as she bragged. “Not too shabby if I’m bad at this,” she sent his direction before lining up her shot once more, “maybe by the end of the night you’ll be asking for my advice on how to kick ass at this game.”
There’s nothing but free time in Ty’s hands, which feels different from anything else he’s ever experienced in his thirty-three years. It’s the first proper moment of peace, and if it wasn’t for his volunteer work at the fire station, he’d have gone crazy. Running with Jack helps him maintain his stability, both physically and mentally, and his dog, a seven-year-old black Belgian Malinois, keeps up with him easily. Leashed, no matter how much both handler and pet’d like otherwise. They’ve never got used to it, and Ty seizes any opportunity to let Jack free; not that the dog’d walk more than a few steps far from him.
The little furball running toward them has Tyler stop in his tracks, lowering his Stanton headphones around his glistening neck. He wouldn’t, usually, but he’s a weakness. Marines don’t do weakness though, and he’s tempted to restore the running after having that thought, but that small, yapping thing finally arriving to them steals all his attention.
“Seems to me he deserves it,” he says wholeheartedly, with a short laugh. Empty hands don’t put off the dog’s enthusiasm, and Ty, bending on his knees to lower at the dog’s height, lets him play with his fingers, moving them above him and then away before he can bite, giving another laugh masked in a huff when the dog runs in circles on the spot. Jack, always enjoying the company of another animal, especially when they look smaller and more fragile, takes subtle sniffs of the other and sits dutifully at his owner’s side. “You need to make him run some, if you wanna-”
When Ty raises his head, until that moment tilted down, his eyebrows lift quickly and he forgets what he’s saying. Clever eyes take in the woman’s figure, and a smile spreads over his lips as he says, “Hey, I know you. From back home”. He stands up again, the mischievous glint in his eyes telling he recognized her already. “Boston, ‘course,” Ty adds to clarify. Always been good with faces, he doesn’t have a doubt about the woman in front of him. Fifteen years might’ve passed since the last time they saw each other, but his memory’s never failed him.
💄 💋
Stella’s focused entirely on keeping Bear from biting anyone - dog or person - that she doesn’t even notice the familiar face in front of her when she first arrives; slightly out of breath, a stitch in her side - if she’d wanted to come running she’d have worn her sneakers and athleisure, not her jeans and flats. Put it to Bear to make her run in work clothes, as if she didn’t avoid working in elementary schools specifically so she wouldn’t have to do that.
“Oh my god,” Stella laughs, surprise etched on her face when she looks up to see a familiar face taking her in. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him - over a decade, at least, she’s sure, but there’s no doubt in her mind that it’s Tyler. “What are the chances?”
She reaches for a hug, her affectionate nature overtaking common sense - not everyone likes to be hugged, Stella - Bear quietly playing with the dog at Tyler’s feet as she does, glad to have an excuse to play with a new friend. “I don’t think I’ve seen you since, like, senior year of high school,” she exclaims, pulling back enough to take him in completely - enlisted, she remembers briefly, more than likely as an excuse to get away from a not so pleasant house ( she never had to know details to be able to read the signs, the ones she has to look out for on a regular basis in her current students ). “Are you just visiting the area, or are you living around here?”
“Oh my God. Please don’t. You don’t ever need to apologize for this monster.” Abby had knelt and began showcasing some affection toward the pup the moment that he breeched her personal space, which trust, was more than welcome. She’d always been an animal lover, but the household she grew up in didn’t exactly give off the vibe of family friendly, nor did the jet-setting lifestyle that she opted to live. In fact, as much as she adored them, Abby wasn’t so sure why she didn’t finally adopt one when her and Ben were living out that fantasy lifestyle together. Hmm. Lips pressed together, the photographer chuckled when the furry creature opted that ear scratches weren’t enough and wanted more belly rubs, flopping onto his side while all four limbs outstretched. Of course, Abby obligated and glided a hand up and down that belly, enjoying it while she can. “No, no, he didn’t. He’s basically a gentle giant.” She peered up at the woman. “What’s his name?”
💄 💋
“I don’t think I’d call him a giant,” Stella laughed, but she couldn’t help but beam at how happy Bear looked - the woman was lavishing him with attention, and he was truly spoiled. The perks of being cute and tiny, she knew, were unlimited. “His name is Bear - my brother named him when I first got him back in Boston, he thought it was funny to scream it across a park.” Admittedly, it did get some harried looks when she cried out for him - though there was much more of a chance of a bear wandering into the middle of Boston than there was Phoenix. “And he is going to want to go home with you at this rate,” she chuckled, Bear rolling over to stare in Stella’s direction. “He’s a sucker for a cute girl - he loves chasing after them. He’s a little heartbreaker, really.”
nora walks the gardens with a companion of her own: a mixed terrier with a bearded snout that would rival fictional wizards. little ravioli didn’t have such a magical name, but nora thought he was pretty neat, all the same. he was new in her home: the third addition to her current roster of foster dogs. since he was still acclimatising, she thought he had earned a long walk and some alone time. nora could use the fresh air, herself.
she spots the barreling ball of white, tensing the grip on her own leash in automatic response. the panic drains from her features when she realises the maltese comes in peace. ravioli doesnt seem to mind, either. nora crouches down, making all the noises one usually makes at little fluffy white dogs. “hi handsome!” she cooed, making sure her terrier was playing as nicely as she was. he’s a gentleman, don’t worry. “nope! he’s u-um, very… polite.” she assures, holding him in place as the woman regains her grip on him. she straightens up, maintaining the firm hold on her own leash. “he, uh – he might be in love with ravioli. i wouldn’t blame him.”
💄 💋
“well who would, with a cute name like ravioli?” stella cooed, leaning over to pet the other dog even as bear danced happy circles around all of them - he was nothing if not energetic, and loved other pets. sometimes she wondered if it was mean, keeping him cooped up with just herself. but the idea of having two dogs was a lot - more responsibility, more time and she couldn’t always guarantee it.
“i usually let him off his leash when we come here,” stella admitted, “he doesn’t stray far - in fact, he rarely leaves my side. the call of true love must have been too strong for him to resist from ravioli here. this is bear, by the way - “ she offered a slight grimace - “i let my brother name him and he thought it was hilarious to yell out ‘bear’ and have this tiny dude come running.”
“ some douche bag keeps buying me drinks. this message you’re gonna help me send is way overdue. “ rose slides the drink to them, careful not to spill more than condensation. “ from him, to me, to you. de nada. “
💄 💋
“who am i to turn down a free drink,” stella grinned, accepting the drink gladly - she would cut herself off after this one, she decided, the room a pleasant buzz from the liquor she’d been sipping at throughout the evening. “gracias. can i offer you something in return?”
Any other night and he would have had his own dog accompanying him by his side, though tonight he left Hades at home to rest. The dog was his loyal companion, his trusty sidekick– he deserved rest as well. Though, that made for a lonely stroll through the garden, hands stuffed into his pockets and his gaze downcast to watch his feet. Making sure he stepped on nothing, but hardly paying attention to what could be in front.
It was only when Matias spotted the little thing running up to his feet, jumping slightly at his side to what he assumed were the left-over treats hiding with his hands in his jacket pockets. Bending down, the male stuck a hand out for the dog to sniff as he bent to a crouch position, eyes only looking up when he heard her voice from the distance.
“It’s all good– I think he just wants one of the goodies in my pocket.” Arching a brow, a smirk tugged at the corner of Mati’s lip, “He allowed one?”
💄 💋
Stella let out a small laugh; “he can smell them a mile away,” she joked good naturedly, catching her breathe briefly as she offered him a smile. Bear had a way of finding people he shouldn’t even know she knew - like Mat, who’s niece regularly came to talk to Stella in her office, leaving Stella to relay important things to her uncle. “But he’s been relatively well behaved, so I don’t think it’ll hurt him to have a couple.”
She was surprised to see him sans niece in question - an eyebrow raised, Stella wondered briefly if he even recognized her outside the realm of her cozy office. “All alone out here today? I’m surprised you don’t have the whole gang with you. Then again, I’m sure she’s busy prepping for that big math test next week.”
who / stella garcia & lia barnes
what / quiet night of gossip & wine at stella’s
@magnoliaxbarnes
the work week could be long, made even longer by the fact that stella had spent an unnecessary amount of time calming down the parent of one of her students because said student had gotten a b. she liked her job, for the most part, and tried to help the kids as best she could - she knew how tough it was to have the world at your feet, expectations laid upon you that seemed impossible to live up to, that money didn’t solve every problem - but some nights, it felt like she had given up her life of privilage for a different life of privilage.
she’d texted lia on her way home; normally, she’d cook something easy for them both, but she was feeling lethargic and picked up a pizza instead - popping open a bottle of wine for the two to share when her friend arrived. “out here,” she called when she heard familiar footsteps - her doors had always been unlocked, and she was lighting the citronella candles to keep the bugs at bay so they could relax in the early evening warmth. “i’ve got pizza, i’ve got wine, and i’ve got a lot to complain about, so i hope you’re ready to get good and tipsy tonight.”
stella resides in a home big enough for herself & those closest to her if they ever need a place to stay. bright colors on all her walls, you can find blankets thrown everywhere and pictures and art strewn on all the walls. she loves velvet fabrics, tile flooring and nooks and crannies for all her books and magazines. sweaters on the backs of chairs, notebooks half full of shopping lists left on shelves, and open windows to let the scent of her garden flowing through the home.
more details under the cut ___________________ ↷
basics ;
four bedrooms -:-
one master bedroom - stella’s
one bedroom - roommate ( open )
one bedroom - godchild ( parent open )
one office - stella’s to work from home in, doubles as a library for all of her books she’s never been able to get rid of
three bathrooms -:-
one master bathroom - stella’s, complete with a claw tub and shower stall
one full bathroom - between two of the bedrooms, used primarily by the roommate and occasionally the godchild when they’re spending the night
one half bath - located off the living room primarily for guests
other rooms -:-
open concept kitchen / dining / living room -
the kitchen is painted a vibrant yellow with teal cabinets, a large island counter where dinners and quick meals are usually eaten, and usually filled with sounds and fresh baked foods of some capacity in it.
it segues into a dining room, complete with an eight person dining table with mismatching luxurious chairs, a small chandelier above it and the sliding doors to the backyard are accessible by the dining table.
the living room is connected to the main hallway and dining room through an open doorway - there’s a wall between the two rooms, but the doorway is big enough to take up nearly half the wall and you can easily see into the kitchen from the living room.
the living room has a cushiony velvet couch, a scattering of stools and ottoman’s, and a deep loveseat. a fireplace is located on one side of the room, the television affixed to a wall, and magazines litter the coffee table as well as baskets of blankets tucked into corners. the walls are all mismatched wallpaper, covered in art and photos of stella’s life. this is the main room people occupy when visiting stella’s if they’re not in the backyard.
a main entrance leads you either into the living portion of the house, or to the bedrooms - stella’s office is the first bedroom, followed by her roommates and her god childs, with hers taking up the back portion of the house. there’s another entrance to the backyard through stella’s master bedroom, as well as her bathroom.
backyard -
stella’s prime pride and joy is her backyard - the reason she decided to buy a house instead of renting an apartment. though not a large size, it holds a modest sized pool, a porch with chairs and a dining table, some grass and a tasteful garden around the edge.
she keeps a smaller garden underneath the kitchen windows with herbs and plants - primarily, she’s attempted to grow tomatoes and cucumbers - but she likes to try one new vegetable a year.
there’s a grill and picnic table in the grass for cookouts in the summer months, and the backyard has lights strung along the side of the house and the pergola attached to the home.
her flowers tend to be marigolds, poppies, and others that grow best in a desert heat, but she also has a few cacti along the edge of the home as well.
her backyard is her favorite place to be - she usually spends her morning on the porch with a cup of coffee, watching the sunrise over her pool before starting her day.
general notes -:-
the house is a splash of color in every room - her bedroom is dark jewel tones, but the rest of the house is vibrant and bright.
there are candles all over the place. despite the heat, she loves the aromas and lights them fairly regularly.
there is a fireplace in both the living room and her bedroom, though the one in her bedoom holds a candle display instead of firewood.
stella regularly hosts people at her home - she wants it to be a place people enjoy coming to, whether it’s just to drop in or spend hours in.
she has a wine cabinet in the dining room with a variety of wines to choose from - some expensive, but mostly run of the mill wines.
growing up as a hotel heiress, she was able to buy the house outright - her plan is to give it to someone ( her own children, or her god child ) one day when the time comes. because of this, she doesn’t really worry about rent from her roommate, and primarily just has them split the cost of utilities instead.
bear, her dog, has a doggie door so he can roam in the backyard when she’s not home - the backyard is fenced in, so they don’t need to worry about him getting out. he likes to spend his afternoons lounging on the warm brick of the porch but follows stella around whenever she’s home.
stella’s home is in a wealthier neighborhood, but she doesn’t try to showcase her financial status - her home is about comfort and warmth more than anything, and she wants it to feel that way for everyone.
↬ her long time best friend ♔ ________________________________
stella and [ your muse ] found each other in college at umass in amherst their freshman year in the laundry room - away from home for the first time, the two bonded over trying to figure out how to navigate the 'real world' even while in the protective bubble of college.
the two became thick as thieves almost immediately - even when [ your muse ] almost left entirely due to a surprise pregnancy and sudden child. but with stella's help ( as well as the support from [ your muse ]’s family ) they managed to graduate only a semester later than she did, with a new baby on their hip and the world at their fingertip.
[ your muse ] was offered a job in phoenix, causing them to leave stella - and their family - behind, though in the years since their absence, stella had visited at least once a year, and was given the title of godmother to the child.
when stella was figuring out where to go, she chose phoenix specifically because [ your muse ] & her godchild were there - in the two years since she's arrived, they've solidified their bond and are closer than ever.
long time best friend is open for connections - any gender / faceclaim around the age of 33.
[ your muse ] and their relationship that resulted into the baby ( as well as everything about the baby & their life ) is really up to you! i just kind of wanted an opportunity for ‘old friends who are basically family’, and for stella to have a child to dote on endlessly.
stella & her godchild are extremely close, and she often lets them spend the night in her home - they even have a room as their own with her.
she takes her role as godmother seriously, and while she was a practicing catholic growing up and doesn’t often attend services as much anymore, she does ensure that she holds up the spiritual aspect of the godmother title as well.
when stella was looking at running away from boston - and her engagement - [ your muse ] was the first one she called, and the one who picked her up from the airport when she arrived. when she first got to arizona, she stayed with them for a few weeks until she found herself a dream home, ensuring there was enough space for not just herself and her own future family, but her godchild as well.
this is primarily meant to be a platonic connection, however, it could be used as a jumping off point for a slow burn romantic relationship with male muses if interested.
if interested in this connection, please send a tumblr im to discuss further.
love hides in questions, you cannot ask a thing without giving yourself away. how was your day? (i hope it was good) when can i see you again? (i pray it's soon) do you feel safe with me? (i feel safe with you) what is your favorite color? (i wish to enrobe you in all that makes you smile)
ever the slut for a midday stroll, sid’s all booty shorts &. tank ( that hilarious twilight one that slackens kai’s jaw ). skin is smothered in kisses, warm glow settling around her cheeks even BEFORE she is chosen! you know what beats the free drinks you get in a bar for being hot? dogs running across a whole ass park to see you.
“ loves attention, eh? me too, buddy. “ sid’s grinning, pushing sunnies to rest atop her head. she sees her properly now, and one thought dominates all.
she’s a hottie.
since sid isn’t deranged, it’s an observation better tucked away. hands on her hips. “ he didn’t—- but i’d still be obsessed with him if he did. holy shit, if you really wanna spoil him, have you been to azukar? they fuck with PUPPACCINOS…. “
💄 💋
“i haven’t, but we may have to go there now,” stella laughed, glad the other woman was more excited about seeing bear than horrified a dog was off his leash. she’d been chided more than enough for allowing him his freedom - as if he ever wanted anything more than positive attention and adoration. “he does love a good puppaccino, though he only gets them when he doesn’t run off on me.”
she’d run into the other often enough - at least, she was sure this was the same woman whom she’d gone to a few of her dance classes when she first arrived in the city. she’d been looking to branch out and find some semblance of community - but she hadn’t ever managed to hold a one on one conversation with sid directly before. “i’m stella, by the way - you own the dance studio, right? i took some ballet classes with you a couple years ago, when i first moved out here. i needed something to entertain myself with,” she chuckled; sid had been talented, but stella preferred free movement over the structure of ballet.
who / stella garcia ; 33 year old guidance counselor and absolute disaster of a human being
what / evening at the desert botanical garden, stella’s dog bear ( a maltese ) has gotten off his leash and come to say hi
open / @phxstarters
taking bear with her for a walk through the gardens was a fairly regular occurrence - sure, she could run with him around their neighborhood, but sometimes she liked to stretch her legs a little further, treat herself to some froyo and let bear run himself ragged. he was always quieter at night when she did, a little more settled and with the weather refusing to change from summer to fall ( her two years in the city told her there was no seasonal change for her, not anymore ) he’d been more restless than normal.
he was a well behaved dog, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still just that - a dog who got excited, and though he was good about staying close when he was off leash, he took off without warning, stella almost tripping over herself to catch up to where he’d gone, licking another’s hand and spinning around for them, clearly lavishing in the attention.
“you’re going to spoil him,” she teased lightly, kneeling down to clip his leash back to his collar. “he loves attention - as if i don’t lavish him in it enough. sorry about this - he didn’t accidentally nip you, did he? he can do that when he’s overly excited.”
“So, was that all talk before then?” A chuckle sounded from Charlie, his dark eyes venturing to find where the cue ball had flown off the table and rolled to. “Why’d you bother challenging me?” With a shake of his head, he turned away from the table with his arms crossed in front of him, eyes still searching. Ok, maybe they hadn’t exactly challenged, but they’d gone from a drink or two to talking about playing once a table opened up. Charlie wasn’t some pool shark, he did know his way around a billiard table and enjoyed playing when the opportunity arose. Mostly for the company and that chat, even if every now and again he won some decent scores of cash. Especially now though, it was a good distraction from all that was going on in his head. It also kept him from sitting and slinging back drink after drink at the bar. “I’m feeling kind today, once we find the cue ball, you wanna try again?”
location: anywhere they can play pool!
with: @phxstarters
💄 💋
she’d never said she was an expert, just that she could play - in truth, she could barely figure out the rules, and usually just used it as an excuse to get to know someone, to get them to come closer to her, but she wasn’t on top of her game that night. new school year stress, she assumed, even as she took a hearty swig from her glass. “maybe i’m just having an off night,” she shrugged, though she scanned her eyes before locating the ball, tucked in a corner behind a few other tables. “or maybe i’m loosening you up - hustling you. watch, next game i can come out of nowhere and absolutely destroy you. never get too cocky after just one game, buddy.”
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