aaronjamesbaker

[aaronjamesbaker]

who: @celia-baker where: sharky’s monster mash

Aaron felt like a fool. Standing in the middle of a party, massive book in hand, bathrobe slung around his frame, hanging limply. He needed some weed or a shot, or maybe three.. something to pick up his courage and get him to actually speak to someone or at least make his mind stop fixating on the worst parts of himself. The music was blasting and he could feel his eyes getting more tired. It was then that he spotted his gregarious sister, Celia herself, life of the party, so it seemed. "Seashell! I'm way too sober and look like a shmuck so we have to get something in me before I start using the pajamas for what they're made for and finding a corner to sleep in."

[aaronjamesbaker]

“Much like Jay Z once said, New York is a state of mind. And I can’t speak too much for upstate… only ever went North for family vacations, but I can imagine that the energy is still certainly the same. At least in the way that we’re opinionated, vaguely annoyed and won’t take any shit. People here are far too… go with the flow. Too smiley. I mean… I like the sun and all, don’t get me wrong. But it doesn’t solve all of my problems and it certainly doesn’t take away the pain of existence.” He smirked, a sip of hiw own coffee. “The only holistic immunity anything I need is black coffee. It’s kept me going, thus far.”

The sunglasses came off and Aaron smiled, as he brought back his hand, setting it down by his side. “I’d never oust you from such a title, but maybe I could be your apprentice. I think I’m too much doom and gloom these days for the so-called shiny, happy people.” He chuckled, shrugging. “Unfortunately a fatal knee shattering stopped my dreams of professional tennis, but then I found the word of god, which in my case is William Shakespeare. From then on it was forcing graduate students to care about him, and all of the other authors I fell in love with. Only recently have I switched to the younger kids… but my wit and sarcasm charms them, I think. Or maybe it’s my floppy hair. They really seem to like floppy hair.” 

He looked at the man shifting his feet as he spoke, and he gestured to the chair opposite, with a smile. “Well, do sit down. If you have to have the misfortune of meeting me, you should at least be comfortable.” He paused, considering. “The worst heartbreak of my life, if I’m being honest. Absolutely lost myself. Truly past the point of pathetic, but my younger sister, saint that she is, escaped New York a few years ago, and all but forced me out here to get back to being a normal human being again. She’s failed in that endeavor so far, but there’s hope yet.”

though his time in new york only equaled to about a quarter of his life, it would always be cas' first home. sure, he was born in santa clara but all of his childhood memories lived in the adirondacks. "see, I'm an upstate-r, but I feel as if that spirit bleeds into that whole state. got to have some sort of moxie to survive out there." taking a small sip of his coffee, cas offered a soft nod of agreement. "it's because they want you to think california is perfect. that's the dream, right? shiny happy people and all that?" another low chuckle came from his outrage. "listen, don't give them any ideas. they'll label it as an holistic immunity booster."

"nice to meet you as well, aaron." cas replied, soon slipping off his inky black sunglasses. "careful now, I have been aurora bay's official curmudgeonly old man for some time now. don't need any competition." his tone making it obvious it was all in good fun. "I can see why you would be so upset though. I would be too if I willingly subjected myself to teaching teenagers about books they could not care less about."

he offered a genuine, heartfelt smile to the other. it had to be hard to start over somewhere. but there was a pang of jealousy at the prospect of starting with a clean slate. no memories etched into buildings. "like I said, my family mainly stayed upstate but I have a good amount of extended family who still live in the city. alternate holidays so I'm down there a few times of the year." he shifted slightly, wondering if it'd be inappropriate to take the chair opposite him. damn leg acting up. it's been over a fucking year. "what brings you to aurora bay?"

[aaronjamesbaker]

Aaron felt like Celia was playing a losing game. And he adored her; appreciated her for trying so hard and doting on him, the best younger sibling and friend that he could ever wish to have. But his melancholy was hovering, and though it was against his true nature to be this way, he didn’t know how to snap himself out of it. Which, of course, made him feel worse… he couldn’t even get it together for her, for someone who deserved so much more than the sad-sack act that he couldn’t kick. He wanted to try to be the older brother he once was, but everytime he felt like his feet were on stable ground, the sadness would creep in and he’d remember the pain.

He listened, somewhat wistfully, to the way she described what the night would entail. Back in the day, back before his knee ached, when college was fun, hell, even in graduate school and living the life in Oxford… he would have loved the sound of all of it. The drinking and the people and dancing up a storm. Now it felt terrifying. Something he couldn’t live up to… people would find him boring or depressing or, god forbid, mean. It was a cycle of self-loathing, one that he couldn’t let go of.

He paused, purely watching the way her face twisted at the sound of his ex. He wasn’t even able to feel that hatred, it simply vacillated between sadness, and something almost worse. Something entirely numb. He remembered the numbness he felt when he caught James in the act, something brutal and gnarly could have burst out, but instead, it was like white noise, just a wash of calm, unnerving nothingness. Thinking about him now almost brought that back. 

She was really trying… holding his hand and using every argument and doing the work to make sure he felt included. He wanted nothing more than to make her proud, and he knew it would require him to accept his fate and let her win. He couldn’t stop himself from answering the question. “Lao Tzu. Chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching.” He pondered for a moment, before giving her a somewhat sad, but still dopey smile. He couldn’t stop himself from quoting one of their favorite films. “As you wish.” 

celia didn't expect her life to land her here. if someone had asked her at sixteen where she'd see herself in ten years, she would have confidently told them 'on broadway or touring with a professional theatre company'. but life had a funny way of looking at plans and completely disregarding them, didn't it? and if it did, celia couldn't understand just sitting there and waiting for it to get back on track. because that dream was done. a new dream had to take its place. though thinking on that fact for too long often gave way to a familiar pang of longing for things to have gone perfectly.

dark eyes rolled at her brother's question. "sharky's is like a dive bar, music venue kind of place where they hold a halloween monster mash every year. there are drinks and music...and new people" each 'and' longer than the next, obviously trying to conjure any activity that may entice him to say yes. "...and a costume contest! you could win up to like five-hundred bucks or something." her head cocked slightly to one side, examining the figure in front of her. he was a husk of the person she knew: the one who learned to braid hair just to be able to help her get ready faster in the morning. the one who'd read storybooks to her before bed (with differing voices for every character, of course). a passionate soul wrapped in a loving aura.

another grimace contorted her face as his name was brought up, this one filled with pure hate and disgust. if it was at all plausible (and she wouldn't get arrested for it), she'd love nothing more than to take a baseball bat to that man. "I know, and you know I understand that..." visions of her 'gap year' flooding back to her. "but the sooner you pull the bandaid off, the sooner you can start truly healing, right?" her hand grabbed his, giving it a light squeeze. "come on...there has to be a part of you that wants to go see all the ridiculous costumes people come up with, right? plus, you'll always 'not know people' if you stay shut in all day!" eyebrows knitted together as she thought for a moment. "who was it that said 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step?' because they mention it in the charlie and the chocolate factory musical but I am almost positive roald dahl did not come up with that. nor did the script writer of that show." she swat her hand as if to swat the intrusive thought away. "anyway, that applies to this very situation. so, come on. it's one night. you'll have fun. even if it's not with others, we'll have some good ol' fashioned 'Baker kid' fun."

[aaronjamesbaker]

He blushed a bit, a dusting of pink on his cheeks. He felt the gentle teasing in her voice, took a moment to take it in. “Born and bred myself, but I think you put in enough time to give yourself the title. An excellent taste? Good to keep in mind.” There was an ease to this, and maybe that wasn’t such a scary thing. Maybe it was easier letting someone into conversation than he thought. “Now you’re making me wonder why I ever left. But then, sometimes, even I have to keep an open mind. Maybe there are surprises in California yet.”

"Both?" Iris offered with a playful grin. "Sort of anyway. I lived there for over a decade so I think I can safely call myself a New Yorker? And I do believe I have excellent taste in food, thank you very much." Iris kept on smiling as she stood by his table, raising a brow, "I will say the seafood is better here, but that's just cause we're right by the ocean? But otherwise, everything is better in New York. So...if your competitiveness is saying east coast wins, then I couldn't agree more."

[aaronjamesbaker]

He knew the complaining was irrational, but he couldn't stop himself. It flowed out of his lips, a harsh sound that felt jagged. "Perhaps festivities should exist outside of taste. Or maybe Pumpkin doesn't need to be added to everything under the living sun. Or maybe bagels are just supposed to be what they are and we don't have to try making them what they aren't because they have been perfect for all of these years and this lane-switching into something sweet is torture." He looked up, taking a glance at the woman who was no doubt laughing at his ridiculousness. "Or maybe I am a man who is resistant to change. Perhaps I should work on that."

Emira had been working outside of the office today (only for a little bit) and took herself and her emails to Driftwood Coffee. After ordering her coffee and making sure to order Axel a coffee as well and have it ready as she was leaving, she found a spot to sit and opened her laptop. Taking a sip of her coffee, she turned her head to hear the male's words and she couldn't help but chuckle. "What were you expecting? Of course it doesn't taste as it should be, it's pumpkin flavor...very festive for the holidays coming up," she told him with a small smirk before taking another sip of her coffee. "I get it though; especially with being from New York where the best bagels are made." @aaronjamesbaker

[aaronjamesbaker]

Aaron felt a small smile tug at the edges of his lips. He almost tried to fight it, but for a fellow New Yorker, he'd ever-so-slightly give in. "Look, at least New York doesn't begged to be loved. There are rats and there are way too many people and there are horrors that are unimaginable but, man... there's grit. Everything here stresses me out. I miss the edge." He groaned. "Lukewarm!? Why don't they just spit on it because it would have the same effect."

He listened, with an air of reverence. And when the hand was outstretched before him, he shook it, carefully. "Nice to meet you, Castillo. Aaron Baker. High School English Teacher, newly instated curmudgeon and East Coaster." He paused, the smile creeping back in. "God, it's nice to see someone who reminds me, even a little bit, of home."

a slight tight lipped smile was all the 'thanks' the barista got as cas picked up his order, grabbing the paper bag from the probable college student's hands. "it's california." he said bluntly. "you're supposed to be charmed by everything they do. because it's california." another soft chuckle followed his words. the younger man's theatrics charmed him. a lot like you were way back when, huh? "more like scalded with hot to lukewarm water and then blasted in an oven for a while, making you believe they were properly made."

a soft nod of agreement was given to his words. "left NY for aurora bay back in '89, so I understand your pain." it had been some time since the gregarious, life-of-the-party cas had been out in public. that side tended to get retired when your entire life was upended. but he couldn't stay hidden away forever. plus, he was a true introvert at heart. with a small mental push, cas outstreached a hand to offer the other. "castillo aargón. local DA. fellow new york transfer."

@aaronjamesbaker

[aaronjamesbaker]

He had been so trapped in his head as of late, thoughts swimming in an endless rotation. It was frustrating, with everything so downcast. And he wished he could shake the feeling, shake the sadness off like frost in the springtime, but it felt attached to him. Cloying and ever-present. It's why he moved out here, in the first place. To run away from everything he knew, and escape the pain of it. But the bad thoughts and grey skies, metaphorically, followed him to the West, and now he was sat, complaining, certainly too loudly.

One of the pushes for moving across the country, to a little town he had never known, was one Celia Baker. His firecracker of a little sister had made her life here, outrunning her own pain, and though he had always found it important to be the one she looked up to when they were growing up, he felt the roles had reversed. She persevered in the wake of disappointment, pivoting almost effortlessly. She was an inspiration. Before he could ponder it for too much longer, she appeared before him, curls bouncing and a kiss-mark on his cheek. He looked down at his clothes, a wool sweater he stole from his ex and some corduroy pants that seemed to swallow him whole. He certainly didn't feel like he was in the land of the living, but if Celia had any confidence in him, he had to be doing something right. Or maybe she was lying to be kind. He appreciated it, nonetheless.

She mentioned a party, and he felt like a deer in headlights. It was too soon. Everything felt like it was too soon, and the thought of dressing up, dancing, mingling... it felt like a panic attack percolating. "Who's Sharky?" That's all he could come up with, which felt like a struggle in itself. "I don't think I'm too fun at parties, Seashell." He sighed, running a hand through his somewhat disheveled curls. "I just get sad, you know? Thinking of James and who I used to be and how so much has changed. I don't know anyone here... 'cept you. Not really. I'll just drag you down. You deserve to have fun, not babysit your older brother."

finally, after hours of working, celia finally had gotten to a good stopping point on her current garment. it was good enough of a reason to get herself a little treat, right? she quickly turned off her machine and found herself walking down to driftwood.

a smirk came across her face as she noticed the folded figure alone at a table (and, of course, complaining about the truly shit quality of california bagels). brunette curls bounced as she ran over to him, leaving a red streak of lipstick on his cheek. "look at you! you're out in the land of the living! and wearing real people clothes!" she exclaimed, pulling over a stool for herself. her hands grabbed for the bagel, tearing off a bit for herself then popping it in her mouth.

cherry lips contorted into a grimace. "ugh. no." hands brushing away the crumbs left behind on her hands. "if you actually want to get into the fall spirit, you should get a pumpkin donut. hard to mess those up." dark eyes quickly darted towards him, the 'baby sister pleading' face soon finding its way into her features. "and you could come to sharky's halloween party with me. maybe you could meet some friends."

[aaronjamesbaker]

"It is sweet! Like a fucking donut. And don't get me wrong, I love a donut, from time to time... but... just because the two foods have the same structural integrity... hole in the middle and all that... does not mean they are meant for the same purpose! A donut is soft and pillowy and sugary and a bagel is for family brunches or feeling excessively hungover and absolutely not for cops on their snack breaks!" He paused, holding a beat. "So yes, to answer your question, it is sweet."

Nelson hadn’t expected a morning sonnet about the status of the coffee shops bagels but it had his attention. He rarely got any of the seasonal food most cause he tried not to fall for capitalist traps just cause he had money to spend. He paused though at hearing the comment and offered him a smirk. “ why do I get the feeling it’s like sweet or something? Is it sweet. “ cause then that would basically just be a donut instead " Cause that seems like it would ruin it" @aaronjamesbaker

[aaronjamesbaker]

He looked down at what she was drinking, and of course, as if fate itself was intervening, it was a pumpkin spice latte. He didn't want to be one of those men who simply hated on anything trendy or beloved, but it was too perfect, having this conversation with someone who truly found joy in what was festive. "Pumpkins are great! They're perfect decor, they're festive as all get out. They even taste really good, appropriately! But for all that is holy, why did they have to touch bagels? The schmear is meant to be savory!" He paused, sighing, embarrassed. "Sorry... bagels are... a touchy subject, apparently."

Mila had been inbetween shifts, taking on a double to avoid having to deal with the loneliness she experienced whenever she didn't have Emma. She could have made plans with her friends, but she supposed the sensible thing to do was earn a little extra money. After all, Christmas was only around the corner. Opting to attempt the queues at Driftwood, she'd finally secured a pumpkin spice latte after about twenty minutes.

She was about to leave, as she heard a voice and couldn't help but give her input.

"Yeah, but its festive! All part of the fun. People love this kind of stuff." She said, as she sipped her festive choice of coffee. "It's not Halloween without pumpkins."

@aaronjamesbaker

[aaronjamesbaker]

"It's not so much that I hate pumpkins... although I think the entire "pumpkin spice" craze has certainly gone too far. But I can mess with the idea of getting into the season. And growing pumpkins is really fun and there are some incredible pasta sauces with them, you know?" He sighed, almost dramatically in nature. "I mean, god, a baked good can certainly make the case... but a bagel? It's like those Rainbow bagels... all for the novelty. Is nothing sacred anymore?"

Morning coffee and a journal full of possible displays ideas for the season is how Belly decided to start her morning. Her shift wasn't until later and being the early bird she was, didn't know how else to kill her time — hardly knowing anywhere around this town yet without a map app open.

Dark eyes are focused on the open page in front of her, pen gliding across the paper as she writes the names of flowers to suggest to the others when he speaks: instantly pulling her attention away.

"As a pumpkin hater, I think I'm gonna have to agree with you," nose turning up at orange tinted bread within his grasp. "I hate the taste. Pumpkin flavored anythin' is a crime against all food and drinks." Sorry to the pumpkin spice lovers.

@aaronjamesbaker

[aaronjamesbaker]

Immediately Aaron caught an edge and feared that maybe he said something he shouldn't have. He felt stupid, somewhat. He didn't like to cause problems, but he was impulsive, at least lately. Just speaking out whatever came to mind. "There's nothing wrong with it... inherently! But it's... well it's so sweet. Like a dessert, you know? And I know I ordered it, so really this is a problem of my own creation, but it just... well it doesn't feel right, and all... eating a sweet bagel. It's like a savory ice cream. I'm sure some people like it, but it feels wrong to me."

It wasn't often that Damian found himself actually wandering around the town. But it had been two weeks of him switching between fishing and his house, and it was about time that he started to venture out into the real world. That was what he was supposed to do, that was the right way to go about things.

So Damian started slow, first by visiting one of the places he used to stop by years ago. Coffee tasted the same, food tasted the same, and it was somewhat comforting; at least, until someone next to him spoke up, catching his attention. "The fuck?" He mumbled, finishing his bite of what appeared to be the exact same bagel that the other was eating. "There ain't anything wrong with this."

[aaronjamesbaker]

He almost chuckled, looking at the fall spread that sat before the woman in front of him. He hadn't meant to complain out loud, per say, but seeing as he did, he now was about to find a conversation out of it. "Unfortunately, you're a bit too on the nose with that interpretation of events. I'm a cruel man, but only cruel to myself. Perhaps its the masochism of it all, or maybe I was simply born to kvetch and so I put myself in that path." He shrugged, but a smile was on his lips. "Fatal flaw, and all that."

Emily was sitting at the table next to his when she heard his complaints about the bagel. She glanced up from her book when he spoke. His frustration over something as simple as a bagel made her lips twitch into a small, amused smile. She personally loved everything autumn flavored, which she proved by indulging in an apple cider donut and a cinnamon latte. But she could understand that wasn't the case for everyone. "If you hate it that much, why not just stick to the classics? Seems like you’re torturing yourself on purpose." She asked, slightly raising her eyebrows at him.

@aaronjamesbaker

[aaronjamesbaker]

The woman who responded looked like she had a much better handle on what to order. The coffee was good, thankfully. But the bagel simply made Aaron yearn for home, which sent him on another mental spiral... and he felt trapped in his own thoughts, until he was brought back by the word "pizza". "Are you a New Yorker too? Or do you simply have the correct taste in food, because... well it's dreadful, isn't it? I lived in the UK for years and god, and the New York food attempts weren't very good, but it somehow felt better than this. Maybe it's my competitive nature... East versus West, and all that."

With the flower shop being within walking distance to Driftwood, Iris often found herself there like she was now, an order of a dirty chai latte and a cranberry scone in hand as she looked around for a place to sit. She was just about to take it to-go when she heard the comment and she snorted softly, unable to help the laugh that came out of her. "If you think the excuse for a bagel in this state is bad, just wait til you have to endure the pizza."

[aaronjamesbaker]

Halloween 2024: Sharky's Monster Mash

Aaron Baker as Arthur Dent from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

@aurorabayaesthetic

[aaronjamesbaker]

Aaron heard the laugh first, and his eyes soon followed, the man with sunglasses, seemingly smirking before him. "Apple Cinnamon? What, are you about to tell me that California dunks their bagels in sugar fairy dust and we're supposed to be charmed by that?" He put a hand to his heart and his jaw dropped, a gasp escaping his lips as his eyes reflected a bit of mischief and mirth. It was a show of all but clutching his proverbial pearls. "If they're not boiled, what are they? Grilled? Torched? Flambéed? What is even the point any longer?" He nodded his head, almost reverently. "God knows I needed to leave New York, but at what cost? Clearly the cost of food from the homeland. But I'll survive on the black coffee and my privilege to complain, I suppose."

the one thing that could coax him out of the cave of cases he created in his office? his midday coffee. that's how cas found himself standing in line, a shadow of a figure, waiting to pick up his order as quickly as possible and then get back to work. being out in public these days was a chore in itself, the pitying never-ending. he knew it was out of care, out of the basic human need to be kind. but he couldn't stand it. the title of widower followed him around as much (if not more) than the black cloud of grief.

some soft indie rock filled the air as he mindlessly scrolled through emails. though soon, a voice lifted above the usual hum of his coffee run. the words caused a soft chuckle to escape his lips. he knew the pain all too well. there was nothing like a genuine new york bagel, and the sac religious nature of all other attempts was frightening. "wait until you have the apple cinnamon one." eyes still obscured by inky black sunglasses and focused down at his phone. "a horror show. more like a doughnut. swear it's not even boiled." head finally facing the other. "coffee's to die for, though."

[aaronjamesbaker]

He noted the laugh, noted the curiosity in the woman's voice. So she was throwing his words back at him, but he more than likely deserved that... deserved questions for being less than polite. "Well, savory, for one thing. I know there are the types that really go for the cinnamon-raisin thing.. and I don't want to yuck anyone's yum, I really don't. But it's a vehicle for schmear, a bagel is, and sweet cream cheese is... well it feels sac-relige." His New York was streaming out, sliding out in a slight accent on certain words. "Wanted to get in the season, but I was just lying to myself."

Aylin's eyes scanned across the words of her novel, but they weren't necessarily committing anything to memory. She'd been sat in Driftwood all morning, after a cancellation with a client. Working was a welcome distraction from the call she was expecting later in the afternoon, but now all she could do was constantly check her phone. Despite knowing that it had definitely not vibrated in the last five seconds since she checked it, it did not stop the impulse.

Hearing a voice, she couldn't help but turn her head to spy who was complaining about the bagel. Aylin hadn't known anyone to be so opinionated about baked goods before and it was amusing to witness. She let out a small laugh to herself before replying. "What is the very nature of a bagel supposed to be?" Aylin asks curiously. "Other than being delicious, I mean."

( @aaronjamesbaker )

[aaronjamesbaker]

He took a moment, looking at the plate of food in front of the woman. The candycane hot chocolate was particularly striking, the red and white stripes cruelly mocking his words, all but haunting him. This was someone who cared for aesthetics, clearly, if the picture snapping wasn't an immediate indication. Aaron all but slapped his own forehead, inwardly groaning.

"Do you ever have the intense feeling of wanting so desperately to be something- someone that you aren't?" Though the question was posed entirely earnestly, the minute it left his lips, he wished he could take it back. But instead, he soldiered on. "I want to be the type of person who eats festive foods with a smile on my face! But unfortunately I am nothing if not stubborn and those two selves are constantly at war with each other. The impulse won the battle but stubborness won the war." He sounded insane, he knew that he did. But maybe he had far too few cares left to give.

He was already talking to the wrong person when it came to holiday flavored food. Ela had been sitting there taking photos of her gingerbread brownie and her candycane hot chocolate for her instagram story for about half an hour. A bite had been taken out of the brownie but the photos were absolutely more important than her appetite and she wanted to make sure she had the perfect one. "What made you choose it then?" It came out a bit sassier than she'd intended, but she didn't correct her tone. "You say that like there were no other options and all you had to choose was the last pumpkin bagel." @aaronjamesbaker