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#California Wine And Spirits
vintagehomecollection · 8 months
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Varying the chest-on-chest format, Tosh and Robert Beeman have separated a kitchen tansu to achieve a built-in look for their dining room. Their sprawling ranch in California's wine country shows strong architectural connections with Japan, Mrs. Beeman's ancestral home.
At Home With Japanese Design: Accents, Structure and Spirit, 1990
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mushroombo · 4 months
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So I called up the captain: "Please bring me my wine," And he said: "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969."
Hotel California - The Eagles
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close ups! my wrist hurts. I started this when I finished Turnabout Succession in the aj:aa trilogy, easily one of my most replayed cases after Farewell, My Turnabout. also, aj:aa is also the strongest main series ace attorney entry after aa1 and i wont be taking criticism. also rip quality, i refuse to use a smaller canvas sorry
in game screenshots used in the background belong to Capcom, modified by me :)
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beardedmrbean · 2 months
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A restaurant partially owned by California Governor Gavin Newsom is recruiting for a $16-per-hour role, despite a new state law guaranteeing a minimum wage of $20 per hour for fast-food workers. The restaurant appears not to meet the threshold for the new minimum wage, a law that Newsom himself signed to much fanfare in September.
The Context
On April 1, the new law guaranteeing a minimum wage of $20 per hour for fast-food workers employed in large chains took effect across California, up from the previous minimum of $16.
The law was passed by Democrats in the state legislature last year but has come under fire from some Republicans who claim it will cost jobs. A wage of $20 per hour for a full-time worker results in an annual salary of $41,600.
The new law applies to those restaurants that are part of a chain of 60 or more venues nationwide and which offer limited or no table service.
What We Know
PlumpJack Café in Olympic Valley, California, is seeking a part-time busser to "assist the food server in the restaurant to ensure guest satisfaction during all aspects of the dining experience."
The advert, placed on job posting website ZipRecruiter, says that the employee will be paid $16 per hour and their duties will include clearing dishes from tables, the preparation of caffeinated drinks and decorating tables prior to customer arrival.
The café is owned by the PlumpJack Group, a company founded by Newsom which specializes in wine and high-end dining. Its website says that PlumpJack Group operates four bars or restaurants, placing it well below the threshold for the $20 per hour minimum wage to take effect.
Newsom placed his ownership interests in the PlumpJack Group into a blind trust in 2018, and has had no day-to-day involvement in the running of the company since assuming office in January 2019.
Newsweek has contacted Newsom and the PlumpJack Group for comment outside of normal working hours.
The official PlumpJack Group website states: "In 1992, Gavin Newsom opened his first business, PlumpJack Wines, combining his passion for wine and his driving entrepreneurial spirit.
"Over the next decade, the PlumpJack Group began to grow under his leadership to include many of the restaurants, wineries, and retail establishments in the current portfolio."
Views
Republican State Assembly member Joe Patterson shared screenshots of the PlumpJack Café, PlumpJack Group website referring to Newsom as its founder and the rental cost of two properties in the area on X, formerly Twitter.
He added: "I wonder why @CAgovernor @GavinNewson's food businesses don't pay $20/hour? Live job posting at $16/hr in Olympic Valley. It's very, very expensive to live there... but he doesn't do as he tells others and doesn't pay a living wage."
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The increased minimum wage for fast-food workers more generally has been criticized by some Republicans who warn it will reduce the number of jobs.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Rep. Doug LaMalfa from California said: "As if prices in California aren't high enough. Fast food prices are already rising, and employees are being replaced by self-checkout kiosks and soon robot cooks.
"Nearly everyone will be worse off: higher prices, fewer jobs, fewer eating options as places close, and fewer small businesses. Ultimately this new $20 minimum wage will affect nearly every job, with similar results."
In an earnings call at the end of October, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said that "there is going to be a wage impact for our California franchisees," which he added would have to be partially "worked through with higher pricing."
In February, Newsom denied a report by Bloomberg News that he pushed for a separate exception to the new minimum wage law that benefits a campaign donor. The law exempts restaurants that have on-site bakeries and sell bread as a standalone menu item.
As a result, Greg Flynn, a billionaire and Newsom donor, could save hundreds of thousands of dollars at his Panera Bread outlets in California, according to Bloomberg.
A spokesman denied any connection, saying: "This story is absurd."
In January, a baseline minimum wage of $16 came into effect across California.
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tlouxobsessed · 1 year
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Abby Anderson oneshot —>
“High spirited”
You and your girlfriend Abby Anderson, have some fun after not seeing each other for a long weekend ;)
contains - daddy kink, switch behavior, smut, sex in general, BDSM, squirting and or creaming, tit play, ass play, vagina play (obvi) , shower sex, strapping, details of sexual behaviors.
I scrammed to take off my apron tossing it to the side, I was exhausted, I had been at the bakery all day, since five am. It was now '4:43' There was cake batter under my finger nails, frosting in my hair and crushed cake bites stuck in the creases of my converse.
"yuck"
I walked out to the front area shutting the glass door flipping the "WE'RE OPEN!" sign to the "closed :(" I swept, wiped windows, cleaned counters. I was done with this place for the weekend. It was Saturday night, holy fuck. Abby comes home today, once the realization hit me; I starting putting a little pep into my step with cleaning.
I've owned the bakery for well over two years now, the first time I met Abby was early Summer of 18' she was young, I was too. We played around a little, makeouts and sleepovers. Never sex. That was until my girlfriend of six years, Ellie Williams, left me to move to California. She was an amazing artist so I tried not to blame her until two weeks later, a post with her new GIRLFRIEND. I was devastated.
Abby hopped into my dms soon after that day, she asked to go get coffee. I explained I had a bakery so we agreed to meet here. She came here which one thing led to another and we fucked in the back room. It was one of the best days of my life...after that we smoked then ate an unhealthy amount of cupcakes, she ended up spending almost everyday with me at that bakery since. Or at least that was until last month....
“Baby…I’m so sorry but I got called down for some meetings next week back in Seattle ): I love you so much and once I get back I’ll take you on an amazing date.”
I wanted to die, genuinely. What if she leaves me like Ellie did? I wanted to vomit. I felt like I was going to when I had heard the news. But she texted me all day long; checking on me, sexting; I needed her so badly when she’d do that, and she knew I did. I had a plan for when she was coming back. I bought some lingerie, I was going to surprise her in the shower once she got home.
I arrived home, cleaning up, opening up a bottle of wine and plopping down on our sofa. I pulled out my phone checking messages….
Abby<3 - at the airport waiting…so bored and i’m missin’ you princess )):
y/n - ugh my baby, maybe i could help with that?
Abby<3 - oh god y/n…. don’t do this to me right now baby
y/n - I cannot wait to taste that pretty pussy of yours
Abby<3 - baby…..
y/n - making you feel good, rubbing my fingers down your slit. Rubbing your clit until you cum all over me.
I pulled down my pants and began rubbing my clit, videotaping it.
“fuck yeah- oh my god i’m gonna cum” I rubbed faster and faster until I felt my stomach churn, I released all over my hands licking them clean while recording. I pressed send and took a long sip of the wine. Tonight was going to be great.
Abby<3 - oh my god princess, I’m going to fuck the life out of you after. i’m getting in my taxi now, im fucking soaked. you have such a hold over me.
I smirked at the phone, I had to get everything ready now. She was forty minutes away, I had made some cookies and brownies; a charcoochie board and some pasta. I was beyond excited to fuck then eat.
I settled back down on the couch, it eating me up. I heard the door twisting to be unlocked, I quickly sipped my wine running to the door to welcome my girlfriend home.
“Y/N!!!” She screamed, I jumped up wrapping my arms tightly around her neck nuzzling. I began sucking on her neck, she pushed me away…
“y/n…” I leaned in kissing her not letting her finish that sentence, I could feel her face heating up. She needed me in her.
“baby- let me go shower first okay?” I nodded. All part of my plan. I pretended to go back and sit on the couch. Once I heard the water turn on, I made my way back into the bedroom. I took off all my clothes, the cold air made my nipples harden. I slipped on our pink strap-on, all eight inches, thick and girthy. God I couldn't wait.
~ Third person ~
Y/N slowly creppted into the bathroom, the glass door too fogged up to be seen through. You smirk as you slide the door open inviting yourself in. You wrap your arms around Abby kissing her neck, you taste her pine soap on her neck, the sweetness from it makes you even wetter.
"Fuck y/n" Abby let's out a choked moan while you rub the strap in between her folds. Pushing her over so she's holding onto the bench in the shower. You spit into your hand, she's already wet enough but you needed more.
You begin stroking the strap, slowly starting to push the tip into her.
"Holy fuck- oh my god..."
You smirk at her moans, she's so sexy when she's submissive. You begin grinding, reaching a hand up to cup one of her breasts. Your finger goes over her nipple immediately hardening it. You speed up, your stroking becomes faster as do her moans. The hot water hitting your back like shards of glass, the sweat pouring down your face. It was all so hot.
"babe...I'm gonna cum"
Abby let out her thick juices which proceeds to drip down the faux cock. You smile at her pleasure knowing you made her feel this way. "Princess...why don't you let mommy shower then I'll take care of you, okay?" You hurried out making your way into the bedroom, the strap falls from your waist. Drying yourself then slipping on your, sexy black and red lingerie.
Your feet smack against the ground, plopping onto the couch waiting for your lover to return. Abby walks out from the bathroom, steam spreading throughout the house, a fluffy white towel wrapped around her waist. Her black sports bra held her figure nicely. You were soaked just at her standing there.
Abby walks over to you flinging you over her shoulder like a rag-doll, you weigh nothing to her based on her muscular physique. She tosses you onto the bed, the comfortable material warming you.
"fuck you're so sexy y/n" Abby says staring you down like a hungry wolf. She begins to pull you up, motioning for you to lift your arms. Once the shirt is off, Abby stares at you, analyzing your body.
Each and every inch of you is perfect, she never fails to make you feel beautiful. "Let me have my way with you pretty girl" Abby says flipping you over and palming your ass cheeks.
You moan out when you felt the friction between the two. She slips her two thick fingers in between your slits from behind, your ass still facing up. Laying on your stomach, she rubs your clit in circular motions.
"Fuck Ab-"
"call me daddy" Abby demands cutting you off.
"Fuck daddy- oh my god" You moan out as Abby begins slipping her fingers inside touching the spongy part of your pussy. You feel yourself building up slowly, as she fastens her pace.
"you like that you little fucking slut" the muscular girl says going faster and faster. You can't even reply, suddenly she stops flipping you over once again.
"I'm going to tie you up like the little animal you are" Abby begins to take out the faux rope you guys had purchased from a sex shop. She ties your legs and hands up. Hands behind the backboard and feet down at the bottom of the bed.
You looked up at Abby with doe eyes, her towel drops. You lick your slips staring at her soaking wet slit. She pounces on you like a wild animal, smacking her tongue onto your pussy. Unable to contain yourself, your moans get louder and louder. Her slow circles around your clit releasing a smacking sound.
"holy fuck-"
"Take it" Abby says shoving her two fingers inside, your tight walls wrap around them. You feel yourself stretching, the pain is bearable but the feeling isn't. Your stomach begins to bubble, her pace quickens inside you.
"Oh my god daddy- I'm gonna cum"
"Hold it princess" Abby says.
You try and try, as hard as you can until you release, Abby's hand quickly pushes on your lower stomach. You release all over the bed, a solid stream of liquid. Before you could relax Abby straps up, slipping on the leather harness. Once again pouncing on you, kissing on your neck and sucking on your ears.
"jesus-" Was all you could make out until she shoves her fingers in your mouth gagging you, scooping some spit to use as lube. She strokes the cock, then slowly rubbing it up and down against your hot cunt.
The tip, then the mid section went in. She went in and out ensuring not to hurt you. Once the cock was in, she began sucking on your tits, leaving small purple and red marks on them. You moan in pleasure as she gets closer to your right ear once again.
"You're so hot when you're vulnerable for mommy" The girl says looking into your eyes, leaning in for a kiss. Meanwhile her stroking was getting faster, and faster. "Abby- babe please I'm gonna-" You don't get to finish, she covers your mouth.
"Shut up slut and let me do as I please" she speeds up once again.
You feel yourself getting wetter and wetter, she lazily rubs your clit until finally pulling out. She plops next to you, staring deeply into your eyes.
"we're gonna have to shower again babe" Chuckling you look back at her, then down. Her pussy is dripping and red. You knew what you wanted to do.
You just had to figure out when.
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mur-art · 2 years
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*Spicy* Historical California Headcanons (Part 1)
I found a book at the used bookstore called “Hellacious California! Tales of RASCALITY! REVELRY! DISSIPATION! and DEPRAVITY! and the Birth of the Golden State” by Gary Noy. 
Needless to say, I had to buy it. 
It includes tons of primary sources and is like, a totally serious historical account of 19th century California. Anywaaaay...here are some silly headcanons about my favorite dumbass elbow macaroni, based on some of my favorite facts from said book. I’m sure there’ll be a Part 2 at some point. 
-California is extremely reckless and impulsive; it’s ingrained in his fundamental personality. As this book points out, hundreds of thousands of people traveled across the world on a reckless gamble: that they would find gold and get rich against all odds. That’s the kind of culture that California grew up immersed in, this “try everything, morality be damned” mindset. Yes, he likes to tell himself that he’s changed and is more rational now, but even today, every time he gets into an argument solely for the adrenaline rush or can’t stop himself from making an unnecessary comment, that’s the impulsiveness shining through. He still finds it really hard to turn down a dare or a decision he knows won’t end well. 
-Related to the first point, he has “died” so many times in really stupid ways. He’s pissed off the wrong people and gotten shot in the chest. He’s fallen off of cliffs while drunk, messed around with rattlesnakes, drowned at sea, and gotten trampled while racing horses. Of course, he gets right back up and recovers and ends up doing it all over again. Because what’s self-preservation when you’re immortal? 
-California taught Nevada how to gamble. California always enjoyed it, and played card games and other games of chance almost religiously. (In the 1850s, playing cards were even called “California Prayer Books,” and the first slot machines were invented in CA.) California gave Nevada his first deck of cards, and taught him all the table games. Nevada rolled with it (literally) and California tried to distance himself from it later during the Gilded Age/late 1800s, when he was trying and failing to be more “respectable” and “mature.” (Gambling was *officially* outlawed in CA in 1872, but that stopped exactly no one.)  
-When he was younger, California was incredibly awkward around girls, and was terrified to even talk to them. This is based on the fact that only 8% of people in Gold Rush California were female. People would literally pay money just to SEE  a woman. 
-Luckily, Cali loved the other 92% just as much as he loved women...
-There’s a section on wine history in this book which further solidifies my HC that California used to not-so-secretly steal communion wine from the padres (the Catholic dudes, not the baseball team, although he would steal wine from the baseball team if he could) and get super drunk to make it through Mass whenever he was forced to sit through it. 
-There’s a really hilarious story in the book about a bunch of California winemakers trolling a “Wine Expert” who was super snobby about European wine being better than California wine. They replaced all the labels on the European wine with California labels, and vice versa, and suddenly the “Wine Expert” was unknowingly complimenting everything about California wine. And THAT, my friends is Pure California-- California would absolutely pull a stunt like that. 
-California has literally always been an annoying little argumentative shithead. I love this quote:
“The Californian [spirit] involved [...] a certain daring,  a refusal to be fazed or be put off by bad luck or circumstances, an unwillingness to give up... But there is still more to the California spirit than a willingness to gamble and accept dares... The Californians promptly acquired rather large chips on their shoulders, and in addition to a certain [haughtiness], the California character becomes notably disputatious [argumentative] and competitive.” 
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skyward-floored · 5 months
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hotel california lyrics :3
On a dark desert highway Cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas Rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway I heard the mission bell And I was thinkin' to myself "This could be heaven or this could be hell" Then she lit up a candle And she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say
"Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (such a lovely place) Such a lovely face Plenty of room at the Hotel California Any time of year (any time of year) You can find it here"
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted She got the Mercedes-Benz, uh She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys That she calls friends How they dance in the courtyard Sweet summer sweat Some dance to remember Some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain "Please bring me my wine" He said, "We haven't had that spirit here Since 1969" And still, those voices are calling From far away Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say
"Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (such a lovely place) Such a lovely face They're livin' it up at the Hotel California What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise) Bring your alibis"
Mirrors on the ceiling The pink champagne on ice And she said, "We are all just prisoners here Of our own device" And in the master's chambers They gathered for the feast They stab it with their steely knives But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember I was running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before "Relax, " said the night man "We are programmed to receive You can check out any time you like But you can never leave!"
Ahhh gotcha, spooky song, hotel you can never leave 👍
huh... kinda like the roach motels
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goldenraeofsun · 2 years
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Day 23: Sleepless Nights
Dean 11:31 Hey sorry to text so soon But did you pick up an ID with my face on it after dinner?
Cas 11:39 No, but the restaurant called me a half hour ago. They found it while closing up, and they had my number on file from when I made the reservation.
Dean 11:42 Thank god
Cas 11:42 My apologies; I was going to leave you a message in the morning, as you mentioned needing to get up early. Also, what do you mean by “so soon”?
Dean 11:44 Dude Its been two hours since our date How soon do you consider too soon?
Cas 11:45 I’ve never given it much thought.
Dean 11:45 Seriously?
Cas 11:48 I text when it feels right. I don’t have a numerically-based system.
Dean 11:50 That’s insane.
Cas 11:51 Well, Dean, what’s your system, then?
Dean 11:52 24 hours minimum 1 week max unless they’re batshit Usually averages out to 3 days
Cas 11:57 What do you mean “batshit”?
Dean 11:57 You know Psychos Nut jobs One sandwich short of a picnic Dudes who say their spirit animal is Elon Musk
Cas 11:58 That’s an impressive array of synonyms, but it doesn’t actually give me much information.
Dean 11:58 Seriously??? Ok then Like, the guy who tried to pressure me into a threesome with his ex cause I’m bi Or the lady who practically drank a whole bottle of wine by herself and yelled at the waiter because he didn’t refill our bread basket
Cas 11:58 I see what you mean.
Dean 11:59 OR that guy who mentioned he was casually into cannibalism??? Who the hell drops that on a first date. Glenn Close wannabes, that’s who
Cas 12:00 I’m astounded you had that many bad first dates.
Dean 12:01 Those are only from this year!
Cas 12:01 That sounds horrendous.
Dean 12:02 Heh. Cannibal guy gave good head, so there’s that. Dude knew his way around some man meat, if you know what I mean
Cas 12:02 Unfortunately, I do. Excuse me while I wait a full week to text you ever again.
Dean 12:03 C’mon, I didn’t even tell you about my worst first date!
Dean 12:14 Cas?
Cas 12:18 Go on.
Dean 12:18 Thank fuck, I thought I actually scared you off
Cas 12:18 Despite appearances, I don’t scare easily.
Dean 12:19 For a nerdy dude in a trench coat, you’re made of pretty stern stuff, I’ll give you that
Cas 12:21 Thank you?
Dean 12:26 Don’t mention it ANYWAY worst first date in the history of first dates: The setting: Los Angeles, California, August 2017 Our hero, the dashingly handsome PA, Dean Winchester, has a date with a slightly less-attractive but still stunning guest star from episode 24 of Dr. Sexy, MD who will die three episodes later from a cerebrovascular infection of her spinal cord.
Cas 12:27 Technically, doctors should only use “Dr” or “MD”, not both. And that diagnosis makes absolutely no sense.
Dean 12:28 Shhh DSM had to let go their medical expert due to budget cuts in the 15th season
Cas 12:28 I cannot believe the abbreviation for that show is DSM.
Dean 12:28 Huh?
Cas 12:31 In the medical community, whenever you hear DSM, they’re almost always referring to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Dean 12:34 Hahahahaha Maybe I should buy a copy for the set Then they’ll get SOMETHING right
Cas 12:34 I hardly ever call any case hopeless, but in this case, I might make an exception.
Dean 12:36 Yeah that checks out But nobody watches DSM for the medicine The other stuffs the compelling bits
Cas 12:37 They'd better not be. It's a gross misrepresentation of the medical system. Firstly, their sterile fields leave much to be desired. I had to pause in the middle of the intubation scene.
Dean 12:42 Hold on You actually watched DSM??
Cas 12:44 Of course. You mentioned you worked on the show when we met. I'd be a poor date if I hadn't watched at least an episode. 
Dean 12:44 Oh my god you did homework for our date tonight??? You're such a nerd
Cas 12:45 Dr. Nerd, MD, actually.
Dean 12:46 Ha! You're still Dr Sexy to me
Dean 12:46 Shit that was the stupidest thing I've ever sent. Forget I wrote that. 
Cas 12:47 I think it's flattering :D
Dean 12:48 Thank fuck
Cas 12:52 It wasn't only to prepare for our date. You obviously care a lot about the show, so if I couldn't stand it, I figured it would be a good indicator of our compatibility. 
Dean 12:55 Holy shit. I never thought about it like that I used to tell people it was a guilty pleasure
Cas 12:56 What changed?
Dean 12:57 I got the job on set and everyone there doesn’t treat it like a dirty little secret Sure they know its stupid and shit, but it’s fun, stupid shit
Cas 1:00 I’m glad you like your job.
Dean 1:00 You don’t?
Cas 1:11 I like the mission of my job. But some days the death, pain, and petty workplace grievances make me question my choice. I chose emergency medicine because I was under the impression it required fewer people skills. I thought I would see more acute cases of broken bones, gunshots, burns, etc. But these days, half of my patients use ER doctors as their primary physicians because they can’t afford regular doctor visits for their chronic conditions. I even have a few “regulars”, which I never anticipated having.
Dean 1:12 Damn That sounds brutal
Cas 1:13 Not to mention my hundred thousand dollars of student loan debt.
Dean 1:13 Jesus Sammy’s in the same boat between undergrad and law school
Cas 1:14 But not you?
Dean 1:20 I never went to college
Cas 1:20 Good.
Dean 1:23 What?
Cas 1:25 It seems you didn’t waste your money or time, as you’re in a profession that makes you happy and supports a lifestyle you’re making work.
Dean 1:25 I guess so. I just never figured you’d be all aboard the high school drop out train
Cas 1:31 Usually no, not unless the person has a clear path ahead of what they would like to do instead. My brother transferred from a prestigious liberal arts college to a trade school for plumbers, and he has had no greater joy explaining to my uptight parents the latest thing he pulled out from a client’s septic tank.
Dean 1:32 He sounds like a riot
Cas 1:33
He also makes a killing. Apparently an equal number of people need doctors as plumbers, to my parents’ great chagrin.
Dean 1:33 I like him already
Cas 1:35 You’ll like him until he short sheets your bed and locks you in the wine cellar during dessert so he gets the whole Black Forest gateau to himself.
Dean 1:36 That’s HILARIOUS
Cas 1:38 I almost wet myself, Dean.
Dean 1:38 And you think that makes it less funny???
Cas 1:43 I should have known older brothers would take each others’ side.
Dean 1:44 Damn right It’s in the big brother handbook
Cas 1:49 Did you terrorize Sam too?
Dean 1:52 No And whatever he tells you about itching powder, a farting donkey, and superglue is totally a lie
Cas 1:53 Never mind. I don’t even want to know.
Dean 1:58 Yeah, nobody came out the winner that time Sammy always gave as good as he got though But you seem like the kind of goody two shoes who wouldn’t get your big brother back like he deserved
Cas 2:03 I was worse as a child. It didn’t help that Gabe had an almost preternatural ability to anticipate retaliation. My choices of pranks were never particularly inventive, so he saw them coming from a mile away.
Dean 2:04 So Gabe is a plumber with a sweet tooth?
Cas 2:05 Yes?
Dean 2:06 You got any other ammo on him?
Cas 2:07 He also has an extensive porn collection of vintage Casa Erotica VHS and goes to some annual pornography convention in Vegas. My parents didn’t cut him off for dropping out of college because they were well aware of his alternative and, in their mind, Gabe chose the lesser of two evils.
Dean 2:11 Holy shit, Cas That’s what you LEAD with
Cas 2:12 Excuse me?
Dean 2:19 Next time you’re at his place, you’re gonna swap out half those VHS for Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood or Nut Cracker or a Nova documentary Just total boner-killers. He won’t see it coming. Heh Literally
Cas 2:20 Truly?
Dean 2:22 I don’t see why he would
Cas 2:23 Thank you. I might actually take your suggestion.
Dean 2:25 Do it! And then tell me how it goes. Sammy’s all the way in Seattle, so we haven’t had a real prank war in too long.
Cas 2:27 Aren’t you a little old for such childish behavior?
Dean 2:30 You’re older than I am!
Cas 2:31 I’m making up for lost time.
Dean 2:32 You’re unbelievable. Alright, Marcia, if you want to play it that way See if I help you when Gabe hides your stethoscope or dyes your white coat pink in retaliation
Cas 2:35 … he dyed it bright yellow, actually.
Dean 2:36 HAHAHAHAH
Cas 2:37 I looked like a YIELD sign.
Dean: 2:39 Please tell me you have pictures
Cas 2:43 I do, actually. IMG_215
Dean 2:44 What’s with the black stripes?
Cas 2:45 I added the stripes for Halloween last year. I was a bumblebee.
Dean 2:46 Damn Not even a sexy bumblebee?
Cas 2:49 Ah, but you can’t see what’s under my doctor’s coat.
Dean 2:50 An even smaller bumblebee costume?
Cas 2:52 No…
Dean 2:53 Don’t do this to me Lingerie?
Cas 2:55 I wore SCRUBS, Dean, because I am a medical professional.
Dean 2:58 You’re such an ass What are you doing this year?
Cas 2:58 I was thinking of wearing my usual coat and scrubs.
Dean 3:01 Booooo
Cas 3:02 What are you going as, then?
Dean 3:05 A cowboy! Tenth year in a row, baby. If it ain’t broke, yadda yadda yadda
Cas 3:06 But, having recently seen a new medical show, I was thinking of adding cowboy boots to my standard getup.
Dean 3:08 No way
Cas 3:08 Do you by chance have a spare pair I could borrow for Halloween?
Dean 3:10 Hell yes I do! But Shit, I have a 5am call time tomorrow Today? Fuck. I think I have to cut his convo short
Cas 3:11 Oh dear My apologies for keeping you so late! :o
Dean 3:14 Not your fault at all dude
Cas 3:15 I never even heard the story of your worst first date!
Dean 3:18 How about I tell you over dinner Friday? 7PM work with you? You chose the place last time, so I’ll pick this one
Cas 3:18 It’s a date :D
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rabbitcruiser · 6 days
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Domaine Carneros, CA (No. 2)
"Those who know our sparkling wines speak of their balance, depth of flavor and wonderful finish; their great aroma, elegant style and little, tiny bubbles," says Founding Winemaker Eileen Crane. "Classic. Sophisticated. Timeless. Think Audrey Hepburn in a little black dress."
Domaine Carneros is a singular Napa Valley winery best known as a small grower-producer of méthode traditionelle sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, estate vineyards, and a breathtakingly beautiful Château.
Founded by the noble family behind Champagne Taittinger, Domaine Carneros was established in 1987 when Claude Taittinger selected a 138-acre parcel in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley, wisely choosing Eileen Crane-often referred to as America's doyenne of Sparkling Wine-to oversee the development of the Taittinger style in Carneros. In 2020, after 33 years, Crane passed the torch to a new CEO, Remi Cohen, whose role carries on the Taittinger tradition of visionary female leadership. Ushering in a new era of Domaine Carneros, Cohen brings two decades of experience in all facets of the wine industry to the Château.
The heart of Domaine Carneros has always been our méthode traditionelle sparkling wines, with distinctive styles ranging from the classic vintage-dated Brut cuvee to our luxury Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs. In 1992 we added rich, complex Pinot Noir to our portfolio and our passion for exceptional sparkling and still wines continues to grow.
All of our wines proudly hail from the Carneros appellation, and 100% of our fruit comes from our six estate vineyards comprising 400 acres. As anyone who has driven between Napa and Sonoma can tell you, the Domaine Carneros Château is a stunning regional landmark. Join us for tableside service on the terrace or in the salon and savor the spirit of the Northern California wine country.
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maria021015 · 12 days
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SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 41 AHEAD!
On a dark desert highway - cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas rising up through the air. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light. My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim. I had to stop for the night.
There she stood in the doorway. I heard the mission bell, and I was thinkin' to myself, ‘This could be heaven or this could be hell’. Then she lit up a candle, and she showed me the way. There were voices down the corridor. I thought I heard them say…
‘Welcome to the Hotel California! Such a lovely place - such a lovely face. Plenty of room at the Hotel California! Any time of year, you can find it here’
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted. She got the Mercedes-Benz. She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends. How they dance in the courtyard - sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget. So I called up the Captain, ‘Please bring me my wine. He said, ‘We haven't had that spirit here since 1969. And still, those voices are calling from far away. Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say…
‘Welcome to the Hotel California! Such a lovely place - such a lovely face. They're livin' it up at the Hotel California! What a nice surprise - bring your alibis.’
Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice, and she said, ‘We are all just prisoners here of our own device’. And in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast. They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast. Last thing I remember, I was running for the door. I had to find the passage back to the place I was before.
‘Relax’, said the night man, ‘We are programmed to receive. You can check out any time you like but you can never leave!’
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The breaks squealed eerily as the bus pulled into the front lot of an old motel. A brightly-lit, flickering neon sign notified them that this particular establishment was called ‘Motel Glen Capri’. Unfortunately, it seemed as though a more fitting name would have been ‘Motel California’, after the similarly-named song ‘Hotel California’. ‘Intertextuality’ - Zaida mused internally, remembering another one of her flashcards. As the brunette peered out the window to the almost completely empty parking lot, she felt ghostly fingers trail a path down her spine, sending goosebumps rippling over her skin. Out of all of the motels Finstock could have chosen to stay for the night, it had to be here. At least their luck of late had been consistent. Consistently awful , that was. She didn’t know why she had expected anything more when hearing that the meet was pushed back due to the extreme weather warning.
“There’s only one other car parked - and it’s probably the person who works here.” She mumbled to the werewolf beside her. There were multiple echoes of slightly-differing but equally strong emotions that knocked against those tightly shut doors in her mind. Something bad had happened here. She could feel the imprint of it, left behind like fossilised tracks. "Maybe there’s a reason."
“It’s not like we have a choice,” Isaac shrugged and rose from his seat to follow the stream of students fast-emptying the bus. “Come on princess, you can put up with it for one night.”
She rolled her eyes at his teasing but followed him regardless, slinging her duffel bag up and over her shoulder. The moment her sneaker-enclosed feet landed on the solid ground, that knocking grew louder.
“...I've seen worse.” Scott tried to be positive as he stood on the asphalt overlooking the dungy building.
“Where have you seen worse?” Stiles scoffed in exasperation, hating the look of the place almost as much as Zaida.
“Listen up! The meet's been pushed 'til tomorrow. This is the closest motel with the most vacancies and the least amount of good judgment when it comes to accepting a bunch of degenerates like yourselves!” Finstock announced in his booming voice as he addressed them all. Ah, so that was why they were here instead of the forest down the road - which would have been a better place to stay in comparison. Maybe the forest animals decided they didn’t have enough room. “You'll be pairing up - girls with girls and boys with boys - so choose wisely. And I'll have no sexual perversions perpetrated by you little deviants! Got that? Keep your dirty little hands to your dirty little selves!”
“Coach, there are an odd number of girls!” Zaida pointed out. The man narrowed his eyes, scanning over the group as if he was counting to make sure she was telling the truth.
“Right,” He nodded when he had finished. “You can pair up with Danny then, thanks for volunteering.”
“Making Danny pair up with a girl just because he’s gay is clear discrimination.” She pointed out mischievously for the sake of arguing with the man. Truth be told, she was grateful it was at least Danny and not Ethan.
“Don’t you start with me, missy.” He pointed a finger at her. “The last time somebody suggested such a thing - thanks McCall - I proved everybody wrong! I love the gays! The man I slept with to prove I wasn’t homophobic was gay - and he was a great guy, bought me dinner and everything.”
“Coach-” Stiles began with a snicker but Finatock blew his shrill whistle to shut him up once more.
“That’s enough!” The man glared at them all and held out the keys he had collected from the front desk for them to take. “Everybody take your keys and leave me alone! If somebody wakes me up from my court-mandated eight hours of NyQuil-induced sleep, there better be a fire. Except for you, Greenberg! Even if the sky was raining down army tanks filled with the living dead, I wouldn’t want you to wake me.”
The group quickly dispersed, undoubtedly discussing amongst themselves how they were going to sneak into each others’ rooms and whatnot. It left Zaida and Lydia standing beside each other, both girls unsure about approaching any closer.
“Lydia...?” Allison turned back to frown at them in questioning. “Zaida?”
“I don't like this place.” The redhead pursed her lips into a thin line with wary green eyes.
“I don't think the people who own this place like this place.” Allison chuckled, brushing off the girl’s concerns for a superficial dislike of a hotel that was anything less than five stars. Normally Zaida would make the same joke, but Lydia was right. The thick and palpable negative energy that shrouded the motel only seemed to grow stronger the closer she got. Maybe it was best if she didn’t admit to that aloud though, considering Lydia was already concerned and they’d have to stay here through the night either way. “It's just for a night.”
“A lot can happen in one night…” Lydia murmured and Zaida drew the girl’s hand into hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze before tugging her forward. Inwardly, she reinforced those doors in her head until the knocking quietened and faded.
“Come on, Lyds. I want to get to my room and freshen up before Danny claims the shower. I have a feeling he has a rigorous pampering routine.” Zaida grinned, attempting to make light of the situation for her friend’s sake.
“With skin as clear and hydrated as his?” She arched a delicate brow. “Definitely.”
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As it turned out, Zaida should have been more worried about Ethan and Danny claiming the room to ‘catch-up’. She had walked in, screamed an uncomfortable apology, and walked straight back out with her cheeks burning. Well, so much for claiming the bathroom. After what she witnessed she was sure she didn’t want to touch anything in that room.
Allison and Lydia had both expressed their desires to shower (though the latter may have changed her mind when she saw the state of the facilities), leaving Zaida with two options. She could seek out Isaac’s room and undoubtedly face many teasing jokes and be subjected to Boyd’s deadly mood, or she could swallow her pride and hope that Scott and Stiles would allow her to use their shower. She went with the latter. Her stomach twisted with dread as she knocked on their door and waited for one of them to answer. The blood in her ears beat to the thundering of her pulse, quickening as her thoughts ran rampant uncontrollably. She couldn’t shake the image of Stiles and Lydia sat beside each other with Scott and Allison behind them.
Zaida had never seen the sense in Lydia and Stiles as a match, but now that she knew her own feelings for the boy, perhaps it was always just a subconscious hope that they would never eventuate. One thing was for certain, she held a biased opinion. Coming from an outsider's perspective, she supposed it made sense. The boy had been pining over Lydia for years, and the girl was finally shedding her shallow and vapid self in favour of a new and improved version. In the movies, that kind of a redemption arc would guarantee the boy finally getting the girl. Hearing them work things out together on the bus made Zaida realise that maybe one of the best things about herself and Stiles - their investigative bond - wasn’t only unique to them. The feelings of betrayal, inadequacy and jealousy only rose to the surface once more. Looking on at all four of her friends together and knowing Lydia could easily replace her role in the quartet planted the worry that things wouldn’t have been all that different had Zaida never moved to Beacon Hills. Maybe one day they would realise that too. That they didn’t need her. That she didn’t matter anymore…and maybe she never had.
Her spiralling thoughts and churning guts were silenced by Stiles opening the door to the motel room. The sight of Stiles with wet hair and only a towel wrapped around him, hanging low on his hips, stirred a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. Her lips parted in surprise and she couldn’t stop her eyes from roving the planes of defined muscle of his torso.
“Zaida? Hey, what are you doing here?” The boy's brows furrowed slightly in questioning and her heart only thumped louder in her chest when he leaned against the door frame with his forearm, displaying the veins that webbed prominently beneath the skin.
“Oh, uh…I was just going to ask if you guys were using your shower - which, clearly you were, and are not currently.” She stumbled over her words at a far faster pace than usual in her flustered state.
“Scott already had one and I just finished. Why, did Danny hog all the hot water?” He jested, unaware of her current predicament.
“He never made it to the bathroom, actually. But from the looks of what he and Ethan were getting up to, he will definitely be needing one later.” She raised her brows and swallowed her rising disgust at the memory of what she’d walked in on.
“Oh God, my condolences.” Stiles wrinkled his nose in an expression mirroring how she felt. “You can use ours.”
He finally stepped aside, moving those distracting muscles away from her line of sight and allowing her to function normally again - or semi-normally, at least. When she stepped further into the room Scott shot her a knowing look and she glared at him. Damn those werewolf senses. Dragging her duffel bag with her into the bathroom, Zaida peeled off her musty bus clothes and stepped beneath the hot shower spray. The water pressure wasn’t great, and most of the tiles were edged in pink mold that climbed from the grouting, but at least she felt a bit cleaner when she stepped out. She hadn’t packed any pyjamas - having not planned on staying the night - but she had packed an extra outfit for after the cross country, anticipating how awful it would feel to endure the five hour bus ride back in her sweaty clothes.
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When she exited the bathroom Stiles and Scott were lying down on their twin single beds, staring up at the peeled and cracked ceiling. Stiles was fully dressed this time in dark-wash jeans, a grey T-shirt and a maroon jacket that clung to his biceps in a way that made Zaida flush.
“Hey, come here,” Stiles beckoned her over, patting on the thin mattress beneath him. She tentatively took a seat at the end of his bed. “We need your brain.”
“To hell with the rest of me, right?” She snorted sarcastically, though it was only partially a joke. A headache was beginning to play behind her eyes like a drumming in her brain.
“All right, so I have four.” Stiles returned to the conversation he had been previously having with Scott, leaving Zaida to guess at the subject matter. “Lydia and I think that the Darach and the alpha pack are preparing for war against each other. The alphas are expanding their pack, and the Darach is committing human sacrifices for power - however that works.”
“Four? You have four suspects?” Scott raised a brow towards his hairline. So that’s what they were talking about. Scott finally allowed his best friend to discuss the identity of the Darach.
“Yeah, it was originally ten. Well, nine, technically, I guess - I had Derek on there twice.” Stiles lifted his shoulders into a half-shrug.
“Well, I guess we can cross him off, now that he’s… you know.” Zaida muttered. She was still bitter about Stiles and Lydia working together without her.
“So, who's number one? Harris?” Scott brushed off her comment.
“Just because he's missing, doesn't mean he's dead.” Stiles nodded in confirmation.
“So, if he's not dead, our chemistry teacher is out secretly committing human sacrifices...?” Scott added skeptically.
“Yeah, I guess that just sounded way better in my head.” Stiles winced when he realised how far-fetched his theory sounded aloud.
“Harrris is definitely sketchy, but why would he write ‘Darach’ on his graded papers and leave them on his desk if it was him? That’s self-incrimination at the most , and giving us crucial information the Darach wouldn’t want people knowing at the least.” Zaida pointed out.
“Maybe he was trying to throw suspicion off, or maybe the alphas got to him before he could clean it up?” The Sheriff’s son suggested.
“I don’t think so. He was leaving a message - like he knew he was going to be taken. Maybe he knew who the Darach was.” Zaida offered.
“Well, what if it's someone else from school? Like, you remember Matt? We didn't know that he was killing people…” Scott interjected, trying to be helpful.
“Excuse me? I'm sorry, what? I-“ Stiles craned his neck, leaning up to look at his friend with an appalled expression. “Yes, we did! I called that from day one , actually.”
“Yeah, but we never really thought that it was Matt…” Scott chuckled lightly.
“I was serious! I was quite serious, actually! Deadly serious! No one listened to me!” Stiles scoffed and got to his feet in his outrage.
“I listened to you,” Zaida mumbled under her breath. Between his comment just then and how he had only validated her earlier theory of Scott’s injury-origins when Lydia had said it, she felt entirely overlooked.
“Who were the other three?” The werewolf pulled them back on track.
“Derek's sister, Cora - no one knows anything about her, and she's Derek's sister.” Stiles tucked down another finger as he demonstrated the list on his hand. “Next, your boss.”
“My boss?” Scott repeated in surprise, sitting up.
“Yeah, your boss. I don't really like the whole Obi-Wan thing he's got going on, you know? It freaks me out.” Stiles explained and at Scott’s confounded look his jaw dropped. “...Oh, my God! Have you still not seen Star Wars?!”
“I swear, if we make it back alive, I will watch the movie.” Scott sighed in defeat.
“That’s ‘movies’ plural, Scotty boy.” Zaida corrected.
“How many are there?” He questioned with a clueless frown.
“Three in the original trilogy, three in the prequels, three in the sequels, three non-canon Ewok spin offs, two standalone spin offs, then the Clone Wars film and tv show, and most recently, the Kenobi and Ashoka spin-off shows. Plus the holiday special, Star Wars Rebels, The Mandelorian, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, Lego Star Wars, the upcoming Droid Story film...” Zaida listed them as Scott’s eyes only grew wider and wider along with Stiles’ broad smile. “Do you want me to keep going?”
“No!” Scott shook his head definitively and changed the subject. “Stiles, you said you had four. Who was the last suspect?”
“...Lydia. She was totally controlled by Peter, and she had no idea, so…” The boy admitted with a grim expression.
“What? My best friend is not going around committing human sacrifices!” Zaida blurted in defence of the girl, in disbelief that he had even suggested such a thing.
“I’m not saying she’s doing it on purpose. When Peter controlled her, she had no clue what she was doing. He could be doing it again. Think about it, Lydia found one of the bodies and has no idea how she ended up there.” Stiles elaborated on his theory, and when he put it that way Zaida supposed it was an undeniable possibility. “Maybe she didn’t just find the body.”
“I need some food.” She rubbed at her temples, easing the tension there as she got to her feet.
“I’ll come with you. I saw a vending machine on our way in.” Stiles offered, though it was more of a demand than a question. He was up and leading the way out of the door in only a few moments.
“You coming, Scotty boy?” Zaida looked to the werewolf hopefully, not quite wanting to be alone with Stiles right now.
“No, you guys go.” Scott was too zoned-out to pick up on her silent plea for his company, leaving a disappointed Zaida to trail after Stiles.
“Maybe this isn’t the best idea - you and vending machines don’t exactly have a long-standing history of a good relationship.” The brunette pointed out in a sarcastic drawl as she followed after the boy outside, walking along the balcony that was lined with other room numbers.
“That was ages ago. I’m a changed man, Zaida.” He winked at her. Certainly he was a changed man. Compared to that hyperactive little boy and self-assured, strong-willed girl they were back then, both of them had changed. He was a bit calmer now - though still chaotic - and more confident. As for herself? Well she wasn’t so sure anymore. She’d thought that she’d found her place in Beacon Hills - that she meant something, and that she made a difference. She’d thought that now that she was in more control of her abilities, she was powerful. Last night at the mall only proved to her how wrong she had been. She was completely worthless, her ice shards discarded in a split second by a blind man. If it weren’t for Allison and her flash arrows, them being there would have been a disaster. There was nothing Zaida could do to help her friends, or her brother for that matter. In fact, all she had done was force Xander to paint a target on his back to protect her. The only difference she had made was that she’d somehow managed to make the situation entirely worse.
“You’re uncharacteristically quiet. What’s going on in that brilliant mind of yours?” Stiles wondered, his analytical amber eyes arrowing on her - able to see right through her to the turmoil within. ‘Brilliant’ - she snorted audibly. Not so brilliant that she could figure out the Darach and alphas were opposing sides in an upcoming battle. Not so brilliant that she could find a way to save her brother from the fate she bestowed upon him. Not so brilliant that Stiles would believe her theories before Lydia confirmed them.
“I’m fine, Stiles.” She spat back with more venom in her tone than she intended.
“Okay, now I definitely know something is wrong. When you say you’re fine, you’re not fine. Ever .” He shook his head. “Is it about Deucalion? About what happened last night? Everyone’s been fussing over if Scott’s okay because his mental anguish manifested in a physical injury, but no one’s asked if you’re okay, have they?”
“You did,” She answered in quiet realisation. He’d cared enough to question if she was up to this trip even before getting on the bus. That small gesture kept that tiny flame of hope burning in her chest, and it was enough to light up the consuming darkness.
“How are you holding up with it all?” He asked with sympathy softening his molten-honey eyes.
“Well, the werewolf who murdered my parents is just waltzing around Beacon Hills, and Xander is next on his hit-list because of me. Yet I’m here on a Cross Country meet while he’s probably running - or fighting - for his life. If he even still has it. So I’d say I’m doing fabulously.” Her lips pulled into a tight and sarcastic smile.
“You know it’s not your fault, right? There was no way for you to have known any of that was going to happen.” Stiles attempted to reason with her, but guilt was far stronger than logic. It clawed at her insides, raking deep scrapes into her very bones.
“But it is my fault, whether I meant for it to happen or not. I’m the reason my brother might be dead right now.” She swallowed hard, her self-disgust and inadequacy rising thickly in her throat. It was sickening.
“You…you don’t know that. Xander could be safe.” The boy tried - the way she was speaking was entirely foreign. He’d never heard her talk like that before. Zaida always had a plan B, and then a plan C, or D, all the way through to Z. She always seemed to know what to do. Always appeared two steps ahead of the rest of them. Zaida Callis never gave up. But right now, she sounded entirely hopeless, and it struck fear into his gut. “Your brother knows what he’s doing - he’s police trained and he’s a Hunter trained by the Argents - the oldest Hunter family ever! He’ll be okay.”
“I hope so,” She muttered, not wanting to talk about this anymore. Not even with him. Talking about it only meant she had to think about it, and she was already thinking about it enough. Zaida was thankful when the two of them descended the noisy metal staircase and reached the vending machine beneath it, effectively cutting off their conversation. Boyd was standing and staring at the glass with another one of his famous deadpan expressions as he punched in the buttons on the keypad to select Peanut Butter Crackers.
“Hey! That was the same thing I was gonna get.” Stiles grinned in a friendly fashion as he peered nosily from next to the beta. The metal swirl holding the snacks rotated, but not enough to release the packet into the drop-chute. “Oh, hang on...You know what? I got a patented method for this, don't worry-”
“Stiles,” Zaida let out an exhausted sigh as the boy gripped the machine from its top, preparing to shake it. Boyd interrupted them both, punching straight through the glass with a closed fist, the rest of him not moving so much as an inch. He snatched his snack from the machine and turned on his heel, leaving without so much as a word. “Oh my God…” She frowned as her eyes followed the werewolf. What was it with people in Beacon Hills breaking vending machines?
Stiles, on the other hand, took the opportunity to grab as many items as he could hold, cautious eyes darting about for anyone who might see him committing vending machine theft. “How are you the son of the Sheriff?” Zaida tutted at his law-breaking tendencies.
“It’s because I'm the son of the Sheriff,” He assured her and ushered her away from the scene of the crime, back up the stairs and towards him and Scott’s room.
“Oh no, I’m not going to get caught for you pillaging the motel vending machine. You’re on your own, buddy.” She held up her hands and shook her head, splitting off in the opposite direction with a lazy salute.
“I thought you were hungry?” Stiles called out as she turned back.
“Not anymore. Crime makes me lose my appetite,” She jested dryly. In truth, she really couldn’t bear being around him right now - not when every time she looked at him, she only saw him sitting beside Lydia in that bus.
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Unfortunately Danny and Ethan were not yet ‘finished’ in her own room. Zaida discovered that the hard way, and was left with yet another dilemma - she could retreat to Stiles and Scott’s room with her proverbial tail between her legs, or she could seek out Lydia and Allison. She went with the lesser of the two evils and ventured a bit further down the upstairs walkway to where she knew the redhead and huntress were situated. When Lydia opened the door for her and ushered her inside, Zaida wasn’t expecting the vile and acrid taste of jealousy to bubble over and leave a bitter taste in her mouth - but it did. How did the girl still look so beautiful after five hours in a car - over two of those hours spent in a crowded bus? She hadn’t even had a shower or changed her clothes. She looked exactly as perfect as she had looked when she was seated next to Stiles, having him gaze at her with his amber-eyes.
“Come on in, you can sit anywhere you like, although I wouldn’t recommend it,” The redhead wrinkled her nose in disgust at the state of the accommodation they were put up in.
Even that somehow looked adorable on her small button nose. When Zaida did that, she always thought her straight-bridged European nose simply looked like a wrinkled beak. That feeling of inadequacy boiled once again within Zaida. In all of their friendship, she’d tried hard to not compare herself with Lydia, knowing it would never end well. But now she couldn’t help it. Zaida was suddenly very aware of the differences between her and her best friend. The redhead had captured Stiles Stilinski’s heart, for starters, without even trying to do so. She was much prettier as well. In fact, in more ways than not Zaida paled in comparison to the redhead’s beauty and other talents. She wasn’t musical enough, wasn’t artistic enough, wasn’t as intelligent. It was as if all of the things Zaida had prided herself for, Lydia could do better.
“Oh, hey Zaida,” Allison flashed her a bright smile from where she was kicked back on her bed, typing away at her phone.
With a jolt Zaida realised it was not just Lydia, but Allison as well who was better than her. Zaida had been utterly powerless the night before, but Allison had held her own, likely saving Scott and Isaac along with the other members of Derek’s pack with her flash-bomb arrows. Zaida wasn’t that skilful, or that calm in the face of danger. She wasn’t calculated enough, wasn’t knowledgeable enough. Zaida simply wasn’t enough. Not enough of anything.
“What are you guys up to?” Zaida took a seat on the end of Lydia’s untouched bed in what she hoped was a casual manner.
“Lydia was just filling me in.” Allison nodded towards the still-standing redhead.
“Stiles and I think that the Darach and the alpha pack are related, just not in the way we first believed. In ancient cultures, ritualistic sacrifices in preparation for battle were quite common. The Darach could be committing these sacrifices for the same reason the alphas are recruiting - they’re preparing for battle. Likely against each other.” Lydia’s lips drew into a tight line as revealed what she thought was new information. Little did she know that Zaida had heard it twice before - once on the bus and once from Stiles’ own mouth.
“Yeah, I heard,” She nodded, trying and failing to keep the bitterness from her tone. Thankfully, neither of the girls picked up on its true origins, attributing it to the stress of the challenges before them.
“Now that you mention it, I was going to ask about that,” Allison put her phone away and leaned forwards against her propped up knees.
“About what?” Lydia arched a perfectly shaped brow. Zaida could already tell she wouldn’t like where this was going at all. She’d pretty much reached boiling point already and was not prepared to hold herself back from the edge much longer.
“About you and Stiles,” The huntress prodded purposefully, waiting for a reaction to confirm her suspicions, yet not the ones Zaida immediately assumed they were. The huntress had noticed a change in the way Stiles interacted with Lydia - a change that she thought might mean the boy had moved on. “You two seemed like you were getting along pretty well on the bus. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you guys have a one-on-one conversation without him bumbling over his words or making a pass at you.”
“Yeah, well hopefully that means his pathetic little crush on me is a thing of the past,” The redhead rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. “Seriously, what did he think was going to happen? A girl says ‘no’ enough times and you’d think he’d catch the hint.”
“It isn’t some ‘pathetic little crush’,” Zaida snapped and Allison’s eyes shot towards her, widening slightly. Her friend’s dismissive attitude towards Stiles’ feelings only made Zaida’s growing frustration and agitation spike, tipping her over the edge.
“Following me around like a stray puppy-dog begging for scraps is pretty pathetic, if you ask me.” The redhead joked with an amused hum, so used to haughtily brushing off his affections that she did so mindlessly. It only propelled Zaida further down the emotional spiral she’d been descending all afternoon.
“Don’t you realise just how incredibly lucky you are?!” Zaida’s face flushed with anger and it was only then that Lydia recognised something was wrong. “That boy would do anything for you. He cares about you so much and you don’t even have to look twice at him. He’s never pushed you, he’s never asked for anything more than what you were willing to give him. He is so unbelievably loyal and devoted that he knew you were never interested and he still hasn’t moved on for the slim chance that one day you might want him back.”
“Zay, I didn’t mean-” The redhead swiftly tried to backtrack when she opened her eyes to how she’d offended the girl. “He’s just not my type…”
“He is hilarious, and selfless, and thoughtful, and a complete genius! I don’t know what else you could want from him. He’s perfect, Lydia, and I’m hopelessly falling for him when all he can see is you!” Zaida was yelling now, her chest heaving when she realised the reality of what she had just blurted. Her hands flew to cup her mouth and she let out a strangled sob of surprise, tears welling. For a brief period of silence everyone was frozen, not knowing what to do or say in reaction to her outburst.
“...I’m sorry. I…I don’t know where that came from.” Zaida cleared her throat with a quiet voice. Lydia took a step towards her, green eyes wide in shock and sympathy, but Zaida held an arm out to stop the girl in her tracks. She just needed some space for a moment to deal with the overwhelming wave of anxiety that washed over her. “Don’t…just…don’t.”
“Zaida…I had no idea.” Lydia slowly and tentatively took a seat on the bed beside the brunette. She inwardly scolded herself. Of course she’d had no idea - she was so self-absorbed that she’d neglected to notice how her best friend was feeling when now that she thought about it, it had been so obvious. Those lingering looks during training before summer break, and the way her eyes would light up when talking about something stupid he’d said or done. It had been in the way she’d gone silent when the three of them would hang out together and Stiles would make a flirty joke that Lydia would ignore. “How…how long?”
Zaida didn’t answer. Her head hung low, heavy from the weight of her shame. This was not how she’d intended to inform her friends of her feelings. In fact, she hadn't wanted to tell them at all, afraid of how things might change between her and Lydia. She’d never wanted the redhead to feel guilty - after all, it wasn’t her fault that Stiles had chosen her. It wasn’t her fault that Zaida wasn’t enough. She could see from the girl’s wide green eyes that it was too late to prevent that now. “I don’t know…” She finally ground out in a hoarse voice. “A while?”
Allison scooted over her bed to sit on the edge, coming closer to offer her support. “How long have you known ?” She reframed Lydia’s question, remembering how Zaida had brushed it off when she’d last suggested such a thing - the night that they’d hunted Cora and Boyd. The warmth and compassion behind her dark brown doe eyes softened the pounding in Zaida’s temples, like the steady rhythm of a song beating against the walls of her mind.
“The beginning of summer, when we went to the beach house.” She admitted, releasing some of the built-up tension within her with her confession.
“But that was months ago?” Lydia exclaimed. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“There was no point - Stiles has made his feelings for you pretty damn clear. There’s nothing you could have done. There’s still nothing that you can do.” The brunette shook her head. “Stiles likes you, Lydia. He knows that you might not ever like him back, but he can’t help how he feels - the same way that I can’t help how I feel. And I can’t blame him for not liking me, just like I can’t blame you for his feelings.” Now that everything was out in the open, that knocking in her mind had quietened, allowing her to calm her raging storm of emotions. Five things. “I’m honestly surprised that you didn’t notice - everyone else did.”
Lydia turned to Allison for confirmation and the huntress answered with a sad smile. “Even you?” The redhead raised her brows in surprise.
“I suspected it for a while, but when I teased Zaida about it she immediately turned the subject around onto me…” Allison trailed off as she recalled the moment she had known it to be true.
“Who else knew?” Lydia questioned. The fact that she was the last one to figure it out when Zaida was her best friend only added to her growing sense of guilt.
“I thought Scott was the first - he could smell it in my chemo-signals. But now that I think about it, Danny and Isaac were making comments from months before that…” Zaida thought back to all of Danny’s jokes that she’d brushed off, and that one time Isaac had pointed out to her that all of the qualities that had attracted her to him , Stiles also possessed. Four things.
“Oh my God, I’m the worst friend ever,” Lydia shook her head in disbelief. How could she have been so blind - so self-absorbed - that she hadn’t seen it?
“You are not the worst friend ever - in fact you’re far from it.” Zaida rushed to defend Lydia from her self-criticism, reaching to squeeze her hand supportively. Three things. “You were going through everything with Jackson, and on top of that you were helping me with training, and my parents’ murder, and finding out what I am. It’s not your fault that I didn’t tell you.”
“I just wish that you would have said something,” Lydia mumbled, tilting her head in an empathetic expression and gripping Zaida’s hand tightly.
“I knew that telling you about it would have only made you feel bad for something you couldn’t control.” Zaida sighed deeply. “I didn’t want you to feel like that, and I didn’t want to let it come between us.”
“It doesn’t have to,” Lydia promised determinedly. “We’re not going to let it.”
Zaida responded with the warmest smile she could muster despite the cold creeping further into her bones.
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After a while of hanging out in the girls’ motel room, thoroughly avoiding the subject of Stiles Stilinski and talking about anything and everything else, Allison decided to have a shower. The huntress looked up from where she was rifling through the bathroom cupboards, pulling out a stack of towels, carrying them over to where the other girls were laying side by side on Lydia’s bed.
“I don’t think these towels are clean…” The taller girl trailed off, looking at the items with an unsure expression while Zaida and Lydia drew their attention away from taking selfies on the redhead’s phone.
“No kidding,” Lydia took a short sniff and pulled back quickly. “That smells like a chronic smoker hid their cancerous lungs in it.”
“Maybe they forgot to change them,” Allison attempted to brush it off kindly, whereas Lydia looked pissed off.
“Or maybe, they just never change them. Maybe these bed sheets are years old. Maybe, they never clean anything.” The redhead prattled on with her hands crossed over her chest in a sassy pose.
“Ugh, I really need a shower though,” Allison pulled at her slightly-oily brown hair with an apprehensive expression.
“Don’t you even think about it,” Lydia snatched the towels from her so the brunette couldn’t use them and bounced to her feet. “I’m going to go down to the office and give these people a piece of my mind. This place is in violation of like a hundred health safety laws.”
“I’ll go with her to make sure she doesn’t cuss anyone out.” Zaida rolled her eyes fondly at the redhead and followed her out of the room.
There was no stopping Lydia when she was on a mission. The girl’s heeled boots clacked against the metal staircase as she strutted her way to the management office window, dropping the towels down on the bench and addressing the older lady there, who had her back to them. “Be nice,” Zaida whispered a reminder to the girl.
“Excuse me? The card on the dresser says we have a non-smoking room, but somehow…all our towels reek of nicotine.” The redhead muttered and the woman turned only for them to see a transparent rubber tube embedded in her throat. A tracheotomy tube, Zaida recognised with a shiver.
“Sorry about that, sweetheart.” The woman rasped in a hoarse voice, clearly damaged from years of heavy smoking. Zaida shot Lydia a stern look and the girl’s lips thinned guiltily for her attitude. As they waited for the lady to return with fresh towels, Lydia’s eyes were drawn to a number framed on the office’s wall.
“What's that? That number?” The redhead questioned, unable to help satiating her curiosity once the lady returned with clean towels.
“It's kind of an inside thing for the motel. My husband insists on keeping it up.” The woman chuckled darkly and the sound sent goosebumps rippling down Zaida’s spine.
“What do you mean?” Lydia prodded further.
“It's a little bit morbid, to be honest…” The owner admitted. “You sure you want to know?”
“Well, with a preface like that,” Zaida raised a brow.
“Tell me.” Lydia nodded impatiently.
“We're not gonna make the top of anyone's list when it comes to customer satisfaction…” The lady began.
“Obviously.” The redhead interjected with a rude scoff and Zaida sent her a reprimanding expression.
“But we are number one in California when it comes to one disturbing little detail. Since opening - more than any other motel in California - we have the most guest suicides.” The woman’s face twisted into a slight smile, a glint in her eyes that was almost disturbing.
“One hundred and ninety-eight?” Lydia confirmed with wide green eyes, double-checking the number as if she didn’t believe she’d seen it correctly now that she knew what it represented.
“And counting!” The woman cackled. If Zaida wasn’t creeped out before, she sure as hell was now.
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wineworshipped · 2 months
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The Laughing God
His name is Dionysus. Liber, Bromius, Bacchus too, yes, but always Dionysus first and foremost. God of wine, fertility, excess, ecstasy, theatre, release, rebirth, madness, and the wild joys of total liberation. The original uninhibited god, born of mortal Semele and immortal Zeus, aegis-bearer, twice-born and full of mirth. The dithyramb is beat in his honor; maneads and bacchants dance in the wild wood for his pleasures. Such is the glory of great Dionysus, madcap lord of the midnight revels.
—Well. Such was the glory of Dionysus, lord of the torches. It’s Dio nowdays. Dio Theoinos among the mortal crowds, hot-shot producer/director and King of the Great White Way. (Dɪᴏɴysᴜs is awfully stiff and old-timey, don’t you think? Something a little catchier was in order for the new age.) Unseated from Olympus like the rest of his family when the new deities came into power, he’s done pretty well for himself since; he has a big media following, a handful of accidental cults, a few modern maneads—nothing spectacular, but certainly enough to get by on. A bit of prayer here and there, a few starving artists looking for a bit of luck, and bam!, he’s back in business. Maybe not running at full capacity, but not exactly putzing around on empty.
Dio is about what you’d expect of him; formerly a blinding force of joy and freedom, he still upholds the right to artistic expression and creativity…it just comes a little more tempered at his advanced age and decreased popularity. He is often surly and unamused, feeling usurped, and while quick to offense, he is equally quick to forgive. Dionysus is a fickle god at best. Sassy, snarky, witty, and sharp-tongued, Dio spends much of his time among the mortal rabble, and has picked up a few of their habits; but being immortal, he tries not to get too attached.
name: Dio(nysus), Bacchus, Bromius, Liber, Cisseus
alias: Dio Theoinos (usually)
pronouns: he/him (usually)
pantheon: Greek, Roman
familial status: Youngest of the Olympians (two uncles, one father, the Bitch, two aunts, two sisters, a sister-aunt-why are you trying to dissect ancient myth here?, two brothers—it’s actually quite a lot.)
age: Immortal
residence: New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; Naxos, Greece; Olympus; wherever story demands
martial status: Widowed* Single
orientation: a bisexual disaster
face: Alan Cumming (Dio & most variants)
build: Svelt
height: 5’10” (sometimes up to 6′8″ For Dramatic Effect™️)
hair: Changes with the day. He prefers keeping dark hair or going “distinguished” grey.
eyes: Merlot. (It’s a wine thing.)
postive: philanthropic (…well, to a greater degree than the rest of his family), creative, artistic, loyal, individualistic, (relatively) open-minded, readily accepting, etc.
negative: arrogant, conceited, self-important, self-righteous, pompous, egotistical, narcissistic, fickle, non-committal…the list goes on.
*According to myth, Dionysus married the mortal woman Ariadne of Crete…but, unable to bear the grief of separation from her love, Theseus of Athens, she died. Or ascended to heaven. The story’s a little split on that one. Dio…doesn’t like thinking of himself as “widowed”.
myers-briggs
ENFP: The Campaigner.
extraverted, intuitive, feeling, prospecting, turbulent
Strengths: curious, observant, energetic & enthusiastic, excellent communicator, knows how to relax, very popular & friendly
Weaknesses: poor practical skills, difficulty focusing, overthinks things, gets stressed easily, highly emotional, independent to a fault
moral alignment
Chaotic Good: “The Rebel”
combines a good heart with a free spirit
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williamsmaddie · 3 months
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[ greta onieogou, female, she/her ] — whoa! MADDISON “MADDIE” WILLIAMS just stole my cab! not cool, but maybe they needed it more. they have lived in the city for TWO YEARS, working as a FASHION MAGAZINE ASSISTANT. that can’t be easy, especially at only 30 YEARS OLD. some people say they can be a little bit STUBBORN and DEFENSIVE , but i know them to be COMPASSIONATE and GENEROUS. whatever. i guess i’ll catch the next cab. hope they like the ride back to BROOKLYN!
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B A S I C   I N F O R M A T I O N
full name: maddison avery williams.
nickname(s): maddie
age: thirty (30)
date of birth: june 21st, 1994
hometown: san diego, california
current location: brooklyn, new york
ethnicity: half black, half white
nationality: american
gender: cis female
pronouns: she/her
religion: not religious
political affiliation: left wing
occupation: fashion magazine assistant
living arrangements: living with teagan wilds
language(s) spoken: english and spanish
F A M I L Y
parents: clayton williams, 68, psychologist and professor at ucsd. victoria avery-williams, 66, divorce lawyer.
siblings: ethan williams, 40, married. amber williams, 35, engaged.
P H Y S I C A L    A P P E A R A N C E
face claim: greta onieogou
hair color: black
eye color: brown
height: 5'8
tattoos: a dolphin on her right shin, carpe diem written on her ribs, under her left boob and a rose with thorns on the back of her right arm - all done in australia
piercings: three in left ear and two in right ear
clothing style: there's no such thing as overdressed and a minimal closet
usual expression: always with a smile on her lips
distinguishing characteristics: smile, soft brown eyes
H E A L T H
physical ailments: none
neurological conditions: none
allergies: nuts
sleeping habits: if she's stressed, she either sleeps for 5 hours or wakes up every hour
eating habits: there's more take-outs than she'd like to admit
exercise habits: reformer pilates twice a week and strength training with a PT another 2 days
emotional stability: a solid 7 unless it's fashion week, then it's down to a 2
sociability: due to her kind and bubbly personality, she is very sociable but has a hard time having tight relationships
body temperature: cold feet at all times
addictions: online shopping and tiktok (she blames her content creation side hustle for the endless hours she spends on the app)
drug use: never
alcohol use: she loves her end of the day red wine glass
P E R S O N A L I T Y
positive traits: compassionate, generous, empathetic
negative traits: stubborn, defensive,
fears: failing at her job and disappointing her family
F A V O U R I T E S
weather: blue sky, sunshine and a breeze, the perfect spring weather
colour: purple
music: pop and indie
movies: devil wears prada
sport: american football
beverage: mojito
food: taco tuesdays
animal: dolphins
H E A D C A N O N S
maddie is the youngest of three, born and raised in san diego. daughter of a psychologist with a phd and a divorce lawyer, emotions were always talked through. however maddie never truly thought hers were as valid as the rest of her family's.
with a 10 year gap between her and her older brother, ethan, maddie always looked up to him. he was always the golden son, straight a student and quarterback that got him a scholarship to ucla. after that, there was med school, a surgical residency and a family of four.
she worked really hard throughout her teenage years to get in her dream school and follow her brother's footsteps. in high school she was the cheer captain and the president of the fashion club that she founded herself. while academically she didn't have the same aspirations as her brother, as the youngest she was also allowed to dream out of the box.
fashion and arts had always been something maddie loved from a young age. it was normal to find her painting or sweing outfits for herself, sometimes for her sister.
amber and maddie never saw eye to eye and would spend days fighting. amber was always a free spirit in the family and very opinionated. maddie would often dime her light to let her sister shine.
by the time she graduated high school, maddie had gone through a bad break up that changed a lot of the way she thought. she ended up deferring from her first year in ucla and against all odds, she went backpacking across the globe.
from southest asia to australia where she stayed for longer than she anticipated and lived to the fullest, away from all the expectations of home. her last stop was south africa for a month before heading to south america where she volunteered teaching english at schools and learned spanish fluently.
by the time she returned to the us, she had found her own person and went to college to study fashion. it was during this time that she got closer to her sister and after she graduated, they both moved in together in a little apartment in santa monica.
the fashion job market was really hard to get in and maddie started working in social media, styling small influencers for exposure and doing content creation on the side herself. it didn't work out the way she thought it would and she ended up working for a social media agency for 2 years.
she was almost giving up when the dream opportunity found her and she moved to new york city to be an assistant at a fashion magazine known world wide.
living in the city for the last 2 years with a roommate that has become like a sister, teagan wilds, less than a hour away from her brother and her twin nieces, maddie can't complain about her life right now. she's waiting on a promotion to become a stylist at the magazine but she wants to keep herself grounded in case it doesn't happen as soon as she's expecting it.
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oliviaemiley444 · 3 months
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Unveiling the Beauty and Allure of Oregon: The Beaver State
Oregon, a state nestled in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, is famous for its stunning natural landscapes, from towering evergreen forests to dramatic coastlines. But Oregon's charm goes beyond scenery. Let's dive into what makes this state special!
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Is Oregon a Good Place to Live?
Oregon consistently ranks high in livability surveys. It offers a good balance between outdoor activities, a strong job market (especially in tech!), and a laid-back lifestyle.
Cities in Oregon:
Portland: Oregon's largest city, known for its coffee scene, microbreweries, and quirky vibe.
Salem: Oregon's capital city, with a rich history and beautiful state capitol building.
3 Facts About Oregon:
Nature Lover's Paradise: Hike through ancient forests, explore volcanic wonders like Crater Lake, or marvel at the mighty Columbia River.
Foodie Destination: From fresh seafood to delicious wines produced in the Willamette Valley, Oregon offers a vibrant culinary scene.
Progressive Spirit: Oregon is known for its progressive policies and focus on environmental protection.
Why People Love Oregon:
Outdoor Activities: Hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking - Oregon caters to all your adventurous desires.
Unique Culture: From quirky festivals to a thriving craft beer scene, Oregon offers a taste of something different.
Beautiful Scenery: Breathtaking mountains, stunning coastline, and lush forests make Oregon a visual treat.
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Best Things About Oregon:
Natural Beauty: Oregon boasts some of the most stunning landscapes in the US.
Pleasant Climate: With mild temperatures and wet winters, Oregon offers a comfortable climate.
Cost of Living in Oregon:
Oregon's cost of living is slightly above the national average, with Portland being the most expensive city.
Oregon's Biggest Cities:
Portland
Salem
Why is Oregon Called Oregon?
The exact origin is debated, but it likely comes from a French term for "river" or a Native American word.
How Many Cities Does Oregon Have?
Oregon has numerous cities and towns, each offering its own unique charm.
Safety and Peacefulness:
Oregon is generally considered a safe state with a peaceful atmosphere.
Oregon's Fastest Growing City:
Bend, known for its outdoor recreation opportunities, is experiencing rapid growth.
Where do People Move to Oregon From?
People move to Oregon from all over the US, particularly California and Washington.
Is Oregon Welcoming to Immigrants?
Oregon has a welcoming reputation for immigrants, with many resources and support programs available.
Universities in Oregon:
The University of Oregon (Eugene)
Oregon State University (Corvallis)
Beauty and History:
Oregon's beauty and rich history make it a captivating place to explore and call home.
So, is Oregon for you? With its stunning scenery, exciting cities, and focus on a good life, Oregon offers something special for everyone.
Final Thoughts about Oregon state:
Oregon truly offers a unique blend of experiences. Here's a summary to help you form your final thoughts:
For nature lovers: Oregon is a wonderland. From majestic mountains to dramatic coastlines, there's endless adventure for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
For city dwellers: Portland provides a vibrant, quirky urban experience with a thriving food and beer scene. Salem offers a taste of history with its beautiful capitol building.
For those seeking a good life: Oregon boasts a strong job market, a focus on environmental protection, and a generally peaceful atmosphere.
The trade-off: The cost of living might be slightly higher than the national average, especially in Portland.
Ultimately, Oregon's charm depends on your priorities. If stunning scenery, outdoor activities, and a progressive spirit resonate with you, Oregon could be a perfect fit.
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relaxhq · 3 months
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╭──╯ . . . . . let’s get to know the citizens of briar glen, california !
For TASK 001 we'll be doing something easy but character-filled! Copy and paste the entire sheet under the read more and simply bold what applies to your character! This will be a great, simple way for us all to start getting to know each other’s characters! As always, I do suggest doing this for each of your characters, however, all tasks are always optional to participate in!
BOLD WHAT APPLIES TO YOUR MUSE ITALIC WHAT APPLIES SOMETIMES
PLACE IS SOCIETY
financial: upper class / middle class / working class / in poverty.
medical: fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged.
education: qualified / unqualified / studying.
criminal record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no.
living situation: lives alone / with parents/guardian / with significant other / with a friend / drifter / homeless / other
FAMILY
married - happily / married - unhappily / engaged or betrothed / partnered / single / divorced / separated.
has a child or children / has no children / wants children.  
close with sibling(s) / not close with sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) is deceased.
orphaned / adopted / disowned / raised by birth parent(s).
CHARACTER
i have a(n): learning disorder / personality disorder / mental disorder / anxiety disorder / eating disorder / substance-related disorder
TRAITS + TENDENCIES
extroverted / introverted / in between.
disorganized / organized / in between.
close minded / open-minded  / in between.
calm / anxious / in between.
disagreeable / agreeable / in between.
cautious / reckless / in between.
patient / impatient / in between.
outspoken / reserved / in between.
leader / follower / in between.
empathetic / unemphatic / in between.
optimistic / pessimistic / in between.
traditional / modern / in between.
hard-working / lazy / in between.
loyal / disloyal / in between.
faithful / unfaithful / unknown.
BELIEFS:
belief in ghosts or spirits: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care.
belief in an afterlife: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care.
belief in reincarnation: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care.
belief in aliens: yes  / no / don’t know / don’t care.
SEXUALITY + ROMANTIC INCLINATION
heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual.
sex repulsed / sex neutral / sex favourable.
romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favourable.
sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious.
potential sexual partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all.
potential romantic partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all.
ABILITIES
combat skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none.
literacy skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none
artistic skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none
technical skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none.
HABITS
drinking alcohol: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.
smoking: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.
other narcotics: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.
medicinal drugs: never / sometimes  / frequently / to excess.
indulgent food: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.
splurge spending: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.
gambling: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.
PREFERENCES
summer / winter / spring / fall
rain / snow / sun
lace / silk / cotton / velvet / denim
water / soda / liquor / beer / wine / coffee
breakfast / lunch / dinner
meat / sweets / fruits and vegetables
pop / rock / country / rap / other
staying up late / going to bed early
early rising / sleeping in
tv / movies / books / theater
extravagance / traditionalism / minimalism
love / money / power
having company / being alone / a healthy balance
dogs / cats
black / white / gold
for tattoos / against tattoos
white chocolate / dark chocolate / milk chocolate / none
city / nature / suburbs
religious / non religious
outer space / ocean
lots of friends / handful of friends / loner
meat eater / vegetarian / vegan
text message / phone calls / facetime
conservative / liberal / somewhere in the middle
belief in supernatural / no belief in supernatural
bright colors / pastel colors / neutral colors
christmas / halloween / thanksgiving / new years / none
email / hand writing letters
STEREOTYPICAL MASCULINE SIDE
you love hoodies | you love shorts | dogs are better than cats | it’s hilarious when people get hurt | shopping is torture | sad movies suck | you own a car racing game | you played with hot wheels cars as a kid | at some point in time you wanted to be a firefighter | you owned a ds, ps2, n64, or sega | you used to be obsessed with power rangers | you have watched sports on tv | gory movies are cool | you go to your dad for advice | you own like a trillion baseball caps | you used to collect hockey or baseball cards | baggy sweats are cool to wear | it’s kinda weird to have sleepovers with a bunch of people | green, black, red, blue, or silver are one of your favorite colors | you love to go crazy and not care what people think | sports are fun | you talk with food in your mouth | you sleep with your socks on at night | you have fished at least once.
STEREOTYPICAL FEMININE SIDE
you love to shop | you wear eyeliner | you wear the color pink | you go to your mom to talk | you consider cheerleading a sport | you hate wearing the color black | you like going to the mall | you like getting manicures and/or pedicures | you like wearing jewelry | you cried watching the notebook | dresses are a big part of your wardrobe | shopping is one of your favorite hobbies | you don’t like the movie star wars | you are/were in gymnastics | it takes you around one hour to shower, get dressed, and make-up | you smile a lot more than you should | you have more than 10 pairs of shoes | you care about what you look like | you like wearing dresses when you can | you like wearing high heel shoes | you used to play with dolls as little kid | you like putting make-up on others | you like being the star of everything.
EXPERIENCES
i’ve gotten lost in my city | i’ve seen a shooting star | i’ve wished on a shooting star | i’ve seen a meteor shower | i’ve gone out in public in my pajamas | i’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator | i’ve kicked a guy where it hurts | i’ve been to a casino | i’ve been skydiving | i’ve gone skinny-dipping | i’ve drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour | i’ve crashed a car | i’ve been skiing | i’ve been in a musical | i’ve caught a snowflake or snow on my tongue | i’ve seen the northern lights | i’ve sat on a rooftop at night | i’ve played a prank on someone | i’ve ridden in a taxi | i’ve seen the rocky horror picture show | i’ve eaten sushi | i’ve been snowboarding.
HONESTY / CRIME
i’ve done something i promised someone else i wouldn’t | i’ve done something i promised myself i wouldn’t | i’ve snuck out | i’ve lied to my parents about where i am | i’ve cheated while playing a game | i’ve ran a red light | i’ve witnessed a crime | i’ve been in a fist fight | i’ve been arrested.
RANDOM
i can sing well | stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant | i open up to others easily | i watch the news | i don’t kill bugs | i sing in the shower | i am a morning person | i paid for a cell phone ring tone | i am a sports fanatic | i twirl my hair | i care about grammar | i have “?”’s in my screen name | i’ve copied more than 30 cds in a day | i bake well | my favorite color is either white, yellow, pink, red, blue, black, purple, or orange | i would wear pajamas to school | i like martha stewart | i know how to shoot a gun | i laugh at my own jokes | i eat fast food weekly | i’ve not turned anything in and still got an a in a certain class | i can’t sleep if there is a spider/cockroach in the room | i am ticklish | i love white chocolate | i bite my nails | i’m good at remembering faces | i’m good at remembering names | i’m good at remembering dates | i honestly have no idea what i want to do for the rest of my life.
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can we get a continuation of the continuation and see how their dinner with abe went? 😊
Dinner is, in all honesty...
Fun.
Lenny can't remember that last time he did something enjoyable that didn't involve elicit substances.
But Abe breaks out some good wine, and for whatever reason, instead of the usual chatter about politics or religion or whatever the hell, Abe is telling stories about Midge.
"She came home from college with completely bleached hair, and her mother literally fainted," Abe chuckles as Lenny laughs softly. "And once she came to, Rose howled, she said 'who is this blonde hussy and where is my daughter!?'"
Lenny let's out a short, lord laugh, and Midge laughs too, shaking her head.
"It took a little while for Mama to get used to the ice blonde look," she admits.
Lenny smirks at her mischievously, lifting an eyebrow in question, and Midge catches on, giving him a short nod. He nods back, impressed. It takes guts to bleach everything after all.
"Miriam was always very spirited," Abe goes on. "When she was very young, during the summers at the Catskills she would jump out of the tallest tree she could find into the lake."
He's about to comment that no one had ever accused Midge of cowardice, but that's not true.
He had.
Because she'd been cowardly.
"Well, I try to be brave where I can," Midge shrugs. "And it was fun."
"Lenny, how have you been?" Abe asks. "Where have you been keeping yourself?"
He takes a breath. "I...have spent a few weeks out in California, visiting my daughter, and working a little, too. I got back last week, and I've been working on booking gigs."
Midge grins at him, passing him the platter of brisket, which he finds himself taking more of, even though he knows it's a little rude to eat so much.
"Well, that sounds wonderful," Abe nods. "I didn't know you had a daughter."
"Just the one," Lenny shrugs. "She's a good kid. She's five now. Cute. Funny in the way five-year-olds are."
"Are five-year-olds funny?" Abe questions. "I find my grandson to just be irritating."
"Papa," Midge scolds, but laughs, too, turning to Lenny. "My father doesn't like children under the age of ten. He didn't even like me until I was that age."
"No, you were twelve when I started to like you," Abe informs her, and they all laugh at that.
They chat a while longer, and eat dessert before Abe has to leave for the Voice, and Midge gets up to start cleaning.
Lenny follows her, helping to bring dishes into the kitchen. He sheds his suit jacket and rolls his sleeves up to help with the dishes, and Midge stops dead when she sees him.
"What's wrong?" he asks, and then remembers himself. "Shit."
Midge takes a breath and reaches out, a thumb running over the scar on the inside of his arm.
"It's old," he promises. "It is. I haven't - I'm trying to-"
She squeezes his arm gently, comfortingly. "I'll wash, you dry."
And that's what they do. She washes the dishes, wearing a pair of yellow dish gloves and he dries them with a soft towel.
"Dinner was delicious," he tells her quietly, trying for conversation.
"I told you I'm a good cook," she says with a grin. "I'm glad you stayed. It was fun, even if some of Papa's stories were a little embarassing."
"I particularly enjoyed the one about you wearing your mother's bra as a hat because you'd had too much Manischewitz."
Midge laughs softly. "Talk about something I'll neve live down."
He grins and glances at her. "Maybe...I don't know. I mean I know your mother's not my biggest fan, but- maybe we could do this again?"
She smiles at him warmly, her hip bumping his gently. "Whenever you like."
And there it is. That smile, and the offer of dinner whenever, because of course, and she's just standing there in her fucking apron and her dish gloves, because even though she gets on stage and says terribly funny, dirty things, when she's at home, she does this. Because she can. Because she wants to. Because it's her life, and Lenny wonders what it would be like to just...do this. With her. Forever.
But he's not sure he has that long.
Which is a big factor in why he kisses her. Slow and soft, pulling her in by the waist to get closer, though her hands stay in the air, not touching him.
He grins a little, amused. "What-"
"Dish gloves," she tells him. "I don't want to get my dirty dish gloves on you."
Lenny has to laugh a little, leaning in and kissing her again, deeply this time, and she works awkward to get the gloves off so she can thread her fingers into his hair, kissing him back eagerly, and suddenly he's got her pressed against the kitchen counter, his knee between her legs.
"Lenny, what are we doing?" she asks, panting softly, clinging to him.
"The apple tart was really very good," he replies in a low voice. "So I thought I would show you how much I appreciated it."
Midge huffs out a laugh and kisses him again before pulling away, gazing up at him. "Is this how it is with us now? We occasionally have sex and other than that it's see you when I see you?"
He stops, taking a breath. "I uhm...I hadn't thought that far ahead...I suppose you have."
She nods. "I have," she admits. "Maybe...maybe before we get carried away like this, we could talk?"
"You don't want to talk after, maybe?" he offers, leaning in to kiss her neck, taking his time, nipping the skin gently.
She moans softly. "Oh, as long as-" she's cut off as his knee presses against her a little more firmly. "As long as you don't run away before we can."
"I promise," he says, gazing into her eyes. "First this...then talking."
Midge nods, taking a shaky breath, and kissing him again.
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39 - The Eagles - Hotel California (1976)
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Ugh. No. I refuse. You can't fuckin' make me. Give me the screaming German chainsaw techno. Please!
I KNEW that Jeffrey Lebowski was My Guy as soon as he said the immortal line: "Come on, man. I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!"
Don't ask me why i hate the eagles. I know they're technically competent and all that, like they're good at what they do. I also have an irrational hatred of Josh Groban and he's technically competent as well.
I think it's a mix of being dramatically overplayed throughout my life and my just being wholly uninterested in any their work, or just a general dislike of most of the people who are vocal fans of the band.
Fuck it. Buy the hellticket, take the hellride.
•Hotel California-
Aww, fuck me, "she got the Mercedes bends" is actually a good turn of phrase. I never once caught it until I actually read it, though.
The line about "we haven't had that spirit here since 1969" only gets dumber and funnier the older this song gets. The dude orders "a wine" and it just blows this guy away!
So, uhh, the food? scares the shit out of the guy? They're all killer robots? But they just can't kill the beast? What the fuck is the end of this stupid fucking song even saying?
Fuck, i hate the Eagles and i hate this goddamn song.
•New Kid In Town-
This feels like 1976. Different singer? Feels a bit more folksy.
Oh boy i really hate this.
•Life In The Fast Lane-
One of the only Eagles songs that doesn't make me wish i was born deaf... might be because i honestly thought this was a Dire Straits song for like 20 years.
But, after reading all the creepy horny lyrics in the verses that i generally can tune out, i almost wish i was born deaf AND blind.
Might be because I've never been all that fond of cars, but why are there so many songs about wanting to fuck in cars?
•Wasted Time-
Breakup song. It's okay. I've heard better ones today, let alone throughout this project.
•Wasted Time-
(Me reviewing this album)
Yeah let's reprise the song we literally just finished, why not? And also give it the same title!
•Victim of Love-
"Clearly, everything is the woman's fault." 🙄
•Pretty Maids All in a Row-
Title sounds like the name of a porno. Interminably slow, with "I'm stoned and this feels deep" lyrics.
After listening to Leonard Cohen talk about similar themes this just feels even more trite.
•Try and Love Again-
It looks from the lyrics that he had a good thing going and went for something else and now he laments what he "lost" (walked away from). 🙄🙄
•The Last Resort-
Worthless hippies and their native cultural appropriation and inability to actually DO anything. Fucking Christian cults and their megachurches actively destroying this country in the name of God, then packaging and selling hope back to the dipshit faithful.
I honestly like what this song is saying, but i think I'd vastly prefer it packaged in a 2 ½ minute long aggressive punk song than some 8 minute grandiose soft rock epic.
Well, it's over, and i still hate the fuckin' Eagles. Next!
Favorite Track: i was initially thinking life in the fast lane but now i am going to say "the peaceful silence after the album was finished".
Least Favorite Track: E. All of the above.
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nwbeerguide · 7 months
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Their 27th edition Firestone Walker Brewing releases Anniversary Ale XXVII.
image courtesy Firestone Walker Brewing Company Press Release Paso Robles, CA: Firestone Walker today unveiled “XXVII”—the latest edition of its storied Anniversary Ale, blended once again with the help of local winemakers.   “This beer was created with experience, passion and collaboration, sparing no expense to celebrate our brewery’s 27thanniversary,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “This may be our most eclectic Anniversary Ale to date—a testament to the blending skills of our winemaker friends.”  The result is XXVII—a masterwork of flavor and complexity, blended from five distinct ales aged in bourbon barrels. XXVII (single boxed 12-oz bottles) is rolling out now in limited quantities to all Firestone Walker markets. It is also available at each brewery location and online at FirestoneBeer.com for a limited time.  Blended to Perfection Firestone Walker resides in the Paso Robles wine country, home to some of California’s most decorated winemakers—many of whom Brynildson has befriended over the years. Ever since making the brewery’s inaugural Anniversary Ale in 2006, Brynildson has leaned on his winemaker friends to help create a complex and harmonious beer from a variety of distinct barrel-aged components. This year’s blending session took place on the afternoon of June 28.  “These winemakers are practicing experts in the art of blending, and it’s always amazing how they help us create a beer that is greater than the sum of its parts,” he said. “It’s a fun, competitive and spirited experience whenever we get together.”   This year’s blending session marked the 18th occasion of this annual summer rite. As always, the winemakers broke into teams to create their own candidate blends from a variety of barrel-aged components. Next, the winemakers and brewers blind tasted all of the candidate blends, then voted as a group to crown the winner that would become XXVII. XXVII: The Final Blend Brewmaster’s Tasting Notes: “The finished blend is deep dark mahogany in color and expresses decadent up-front barrel aromas with notes of toffee and cocoa powder close behind. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky with rich caramel flavors complemented by toasted nut, vanilla and coconut accents. There is a beautiful balance between a rich malt character, a top-shelf bourbon spirit and chocolate truffles. An absolutely stunning barrel-aged beer and a true testament to the winemakers’ skill in blending not only for aroma and flavor, but also for texture.” DDBA Batch 10k - Aged in Wheated Bourbon Barrels (33%) Imperial Special Bitter Dividing Time - Aged in Wheated and Rye Bourbon Barrels (29%) Munich Wine Made in Collaboration with Private Press Bravo - Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) Imperial Brown Ale Rip This Joint - Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) Imperial Stout Made in Collaboration with Side Project Velvet Merkin - Aged in Bourbon Barrels (12%) Milk Stout The Winemakers Molly Lonborg – Alta Colina Kevin Sass – Halter Ranch Along with Beer Club Member Ezekial Palmer This team created the winning blend that became “XXVII” Sherman Thacher - Thacher Winery Janelle Dusi – J Dusi Wines Billy Grant – McPrice Myers Russell From - Herman Story Wines Jesse Juarez – Desparada Wines Steve Martell – Kaleidos Bastien Leduc - Seven Oxen Estate Wines Pete Turrone and Kyle Jury - Booker Wines Pete and Alex Slosberg – Pete’s Wicked Ale Cassi & Nigel King – Beer Club Members Mark Smolyar – Hopped.com from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3QJhlOv
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