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[noa-markam]

I'm going to switch to sipping then. Not gulping. I enjoy summer, definitely can't complain about the weather, but nothing beats the coziness of autumn. I'm planning to stick around for the summer, relax. Take a little vacation from the antique circuit and enjoy time with my boyfriend. How far is home?

I call that getting your money's worth. Summer's always my favorite time of year around there parts, so I'm not complaining. At this moment, just looking forward to all the happenings around town. Also, typically my time of year to do a little traveling and head home to visit family, so looking forward to that. You?

[noa-markam]

I'm not cheap with my tipping. My mom worked as a waitress in town for fifteen years. I used to live off of tip money. So, yeah, maybe the bartenders are a little sweet on me. Different type of crashing - like . . . well you know how everyone is invited to prom? My friends and I used to say we crashed it when we had a really good time.

Think it's a win-win when you get someone who strong pours, but I've also learned if you're someone that tips decently anytime you come in eventually they might slip and let a little more alcohol into your drink. No events I plan on crashing, since they're open to the public most of them anyway, but I am gearing up to spend as much time on the beach as humanly possible.

[noa-markam]

I don't think a Merrock party would be the same without you. And, I can cheers to that one. Does Stelly ever try out any drinks on you? Like late night concoctions that should never see the light of day? I'm thinking the gala later this summer. On a boat, with alcohol . . .not the brightest combo.

Always. What's a summer party (or any party) without some Mandy Chaos? That's trademarked, by the way. The best part of having a partner who is a bartender is lots of tequila shots and mixed drinks. First thing that comes to mind is the beach!!

[noa-markam]

I don't need something fancy with a pineapple garnish, this right here is simply to toast the summer, and I don't know anything better to start it off with than a tequila sunrise. Hold the OJ and the grenadine today, apparently. Damn, that sucks. I wouldn't worry too much though. The heat never sticks around too long and I know our repair team in Merrock's top notch. I'm looking forward to the carnival too, but I think I'm really excited for the gala later this summer. Twenty bucks says someone goes overboard in their chiffon gown.

I've learned that if I want a fun cocktail, I should hit up any other bar in town. Anchor's is purely for poor decisions, or if you want your money's worth, I suppose. But I'd say it's a solid way to kick off things, also my AC decided to kick it just as the heat rolled in, which means it's truly an eventful start to the season. But I'm looking forward to the Summer Carnival, always a pretty fun time, trying all the dessert options I can indulge in. Also, Eliana and I made it a goal to have some out-of-office beach days, which I think is quite the motivator.

[noa-markam]

And you should know that you are, by far, my favorite DD. And there's not a bartender in this town I wouldn't stare down until they gave you exactly what you ordered. I always did love drinking a Shirley Temple out of a martini glass when I was a kid, playing like I was my mom and all that. I don't have crazy plans. Maybe a trip later to New York City but otherwise I'll be on my best behavior for the carnival.

You should know by now that I only come with you to these bars to be your moral support and... also to see if I can get someone to buy me a drink only to tell them I don't feel like drinking tonight. Convincing them to make me a Shirley Temple without spiking it was an adventure, though! I might go to Los Angeles, I just don't know when yet... maybe August? What about you, anything exciting?

[noa-markam]

[noa-markam]

Who: Open Location: Anchors Away

Now that - that right there just tastes like straight up tequila. I'd say we're starting the summer off right, but damn if that bartender doesn't have a heavy pour. Are you excited for summer? Any fun plans or events you want to crash?

[noa-markam]

"You are talking to a girl that's hardly been further than a few hours from home. I'd say that's fun." She carefully dipped to one side as they moved out on the lake, running her fingers through the cool water. "That's good. The antique business doesn't depend on the weather, so I've always got pieces that need me. I think the hard part in all this is the stepping away. You kind of grow to love the work."

"Once, yeah," Bryan nodded with a grin. "I try. Does trying different combinations of fish sound like fun or am I just built differently?" he laughed a little. "I think you're right about that one," he said as he kept moving the oars. "But the good thing is that I've got a steady flow of customers as is, they always ask me for more raw fish. Not that I'm complaining though."

[noa-markam]

Noa looked to the DVD with a small smile. "Recommend? Sure. There's nothing like getting out of your head for a few hours. Mermaids can do that." She adored anything to do with the water, she thought it might just be in the DNA of any born Merrock local. With the water, pounding up against their shoreline you could hardly ignore it. She laughed when he mentioned not seeing a 'babe' either. "See, that's the thing about all those myths - better when they stay unexplained. I read somewhere that sailors were mistaking seals for mermaids."

Who: Open Where: The Vinyl Hub When: June It wasn't unusual to find himself at The Vinyl Hub the moment his phone lit up with the bank transfers of the paychecks and today was no exception though, now, he found himself nose deep in the old DVDs. Turning to someone near, he held out a selection — "Ever seen? Recommend? When I was a kid someone told me it was filmed here. Based off here, Mermaids. Merrock..." He laughed at the memory that stuck, "Still haven't seen it. Still haven't seen some babe with a tail either out on the beach. Think I was lied to. Just a little bit. Bummer."

[noa-markam]

"At least you had it once, right? I've never been good at remembering little details like that." Noa tilted her face toward the sunlight, humming as Bryan spoke. "Well make sure to pencil in a little fun around all the work. We've got such a short season. You've got it enjoy it while you can."

"I think I'm getting to the point where I can barely remember what I had for lunch the other day," Bryan chuckled and shrugged. "I don't have much to complain about either. Been busy with the truck. It's going to be a busy summer, I think."

[noa-markam]

Well maybe it doesn't get quite that hot. We're not Arizona after all. Though the humidity is enough to kill you somedays. The kids don't feel it the same. I can attest to that. Didn't care one whit about the humidity when I ran around in the summer. But these days, I can hardly fathom walking my dog in it. There are not many kids that are into antique repair. Not that I chose the career based off that. It's just what I'm good at. I can see kids doing that though. Bringing in the strays. I used to be the kind of kid that would rescue inured bugs on the road.

That'll be the day. If you see me outside, frying my bacon and eggs on a flat rock in the blazing sun, you'll know we've made it. Or stir-frying noodles. Either way, that would take outdoor cooking to a whole new level. That's very true, that's what I was thinking; it's nice to have them locked up and not have to listen. I won't tell that that's our opinions on the matter. Ahhh, you get to escape them. I get to escape most of them, except when their parents bring them along to the clinic with the stray cat or litter of kittens they rescued. The animal distribution system senses the kids, I think, and starts chucking out animals left and right, knowing they'll get homes.

[noa-markam]

An apology made on air by said makeup artists would be actually hilarious. Nah, I'm not very connected with the group I mostly keep to my circle on Lupine. I think I'm mostly going to be winging it. Hit up the events at the park, if I have the energy and Dare wants to maybe go to Vibrations.

Oh, they are. Maybe there will be a news report about it? You know anyone there behind the scenes? Not being excited for a little Pride celebration is a red flag to me, really. What are your plans?

[noa-markam]

I think someone in that makeup room is getting fired. Either that or he's got really bad friends that thought it'd be something they could all laugh about. I think we're all excited for a little Pride celebration.

LOCATION: Anywhere WHOMST: Anyone (open, no cap!) WHEN: Anytime

"You think Richard Starr knew that his toupée was on backwards this morning or d'you think was it a stylistic choice? At least he seems excited for Pride this weekend."

[noa-markam]

"One would hope." Noa sat back as Bryan pushed them out onto the pond. It was a gorgeous day. The promise of summer on the tip on everyone's tongue. "I don't have any complaints really. Which is more than I can say for this time last year. What about you?"

“I don’t think they’d let us out on here on our own volition otherwise,” Bryan said with a shake of his head. “Aighty,” he said with a click of his tongue, pushing the boat carefully. “So… how’s life?”

[noa-markam]

"Forgive me for this babe," she peaked up at him, "but I don't know if you could take Lucie. I think we just back away slowly, celebrate you coming out in one piece and remind ourselves not to distract each other when we're climbing, or holding hot objects, or power drills, etc." She drank in the information that Darrius presented her, eyes still on the fire but her focus on him. "I'm not as nervous about your siblings. In fact, I plan to wheedle some of the childhood secrets from them. Figure out if you've always been a snorer." Which was mostly teasing. She'd heard a few suspicious noises some late nights, but never anything distracting. "Alright, so I think I can swing dad pretty easily then. Plenty of practice listening and talking about history." She gave him a crooked smile. By this point, she probably knew his syllabus better than some of his actual students. "Mom, I'll work on. Break out some of my grams old recipes maybe. Does she like any certain type of music? Or books that I can not so secretly read?

Relaxing almost instantly under Noa's touch, Darrius smiled to himself, leaning gently against her side where they were nestled under the blanket together. "Maybe I should offer to protect you, if that's the case?" But he could understand being a little wary. People took those competitions very seriously, and that meant that sometimes things got heated, sometimes people said or did the things that they weren't supposed to say or do… or just did everything in their power to make sure everyone else was terrified of them. Either or. "We're going to do this," he nodded his head decisively. "I think they're going to be staying at the bed and breakfast, and it's just them -- no siblings, unless one of them tags along as a surprise, and honestly, it would not actually be a surprise, but I only have knowledge of mom and dad coming in," he said with a laugh, looking over at Noa to gauge her level of nervousness, to see how well this was going to go over. "I can make little flash cards so you can study, but… dad likes sports, fishing, a good beer, and loves him some carnivore food. Steaks, burgers, pork chops. He's also big on history, but recent history, America in the 1900s, stuff like that." His dad was pretty easy, he might not come across as the most friendly guy outwardly, but. "And mom loves to cook. The easiest way to win her over is cooking with her, trust me. But she hates talking about the news and politics. Dad, you can debate endlessly. Mom… no."

[noa-markam]

"One can only hope." She'd been privy to more than one 'well-maintained' pond in her time. The camp her mother dropped her off at for summer never took much care of their own. She threw a hand up to shade her eyes, gazing out at the water and nodding. "Lift anchor captain."

Bryan watched her with a grin. "I mean... I don't think so?" he pursed his lips together. "It's a park, so most likely it's been well maintained. So I think we'll be okay," he said, taking the oars in his hands. "You ready?"

[noa-markam]

We'll get there. We're last to summer and first to fall this far north. Come July and August there will days aplenty where you feel like you could fry an egg on the asphalt. I'm not sure I'm fully ready to deal with all those school kids running about again. It's kind of nice having them locked away five days a week. But luckily, I don't have to care or work with any of them.

Not that I'm complaining, and not that I'm one to talk about the weather, but how is it still so cool in June? Where's the humidity, the heat, the perils of summer? I almost feel like we've done something to deserve this, but whether it's good or bad, I have no idea. Are you ready for school to be out? I have a feeling the programme at Harmony is going to be swamped. @merrock .