𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝖺 𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗁 𝗈𝖿 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝖿. while she's lived in mirabella all her life, there's no real guarantee that the new people she'll meet will be just as friendly as her. thankfully, this person was kind. "nice to meet you, jibril. by the way, your name? so cool," rhiannon muses before making herself comfortable on the bench, setting her lunch tote to the side. "rhiannon, but please, call me rhi." her arm is now outstretched for a handshake. eyes trailing over, she notices their sketchbook and raises an eyebrow in curiosity. "don't be afraid to tell me it's not my business, i'd totally get it, but what are you working on over there?"

𝖺𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌, 𝗋𝗁𝗂𝖺𝗇𝗇𝗈𝗇 𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖺 𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖾𝖺𝗋. she felt both honored and special to be let in early into their friendship, and she will always cherish that. there will never be a time where she won't do anything for her. "okay, this could go both ways..." she takes a bite from her fork before pointing it at the other, thoughts racing in various directions. "would you be open to trying new things? because not to brag or anything but, you're sitting next to a great cook. like, really great." the grin on her face was wide, unable to control the laughter that was waiting to spill. "we don't have to go all crazy from start— we could totally ease into it. like... a fluffernut sandwich. have you had one of those?" every time saffron mentions clove, rhiannon's heart sinks a little. she came from a family that had a completely different dynamic from the others, and she wanted nothing more for saffron to experience the same thing. fortunately enough, her parents love her friend so much so, that she's practically claimed as another moore. "i bet no one could tell us apart." at this point, the laughter erupted. her body leans in closer to the others, hoping the fact that she was snorting would be contagious. "see like, that's the thing. nothing seems that weird to me because i'm so adventurous, you know? i would love to get out of this little town one day and try something overseas though," she sighs. "a girl can dream, huh?"

"𝗈𝗎𝖼𝗁, 𝖽𝗂𝗏." he wasn't really hurt, in fact, he found it funny. there were times where julian didn't feel his age, yet, there were times where he did. he'd like to think he's pretty youthful— at least, that's what his team back at the firehouse would say. looking back on it now though, were they just saying that because he was their boss? wincing at the thought, he places his focus back on his fellow neighbor by meeting her gaze with a comfortable smile. "i can still be fun, y'know. sometimes i get excited over buying a vacuum that also has mopping abilities and so what? that's not lame at all, right?" he's mostly tying to save face at this point; it was pretty lame of him to care about something so... mundane. a lightbulb suddenly flickers in his head and he quickly scribbles the word. "...suck. huh." a soft chuckle escapes his lips. after placing the small workbook down once more, he stretches his legs out and watches the waves crash before them. with the cool breeze grazing his skin, he lets out a sigh of contentment. today, he's not thinking about work or life's problems at all. "so," he starts before turning his head to look at her. "what's one weird thought you had this week? could be anything. and as the kids say these days— we listen and we don't judge."

𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝖻𝗒𝗅𝗈𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗋𝗁𝗂𝖺𝗇𝗇𝗈𝗇 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝗊𝗎𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐. a few regulars used to be previous guests at the bed and breakfast her family ran, and since, even if she was alone, she would be at that bar when she could. as she was greeted by the other, she grins. "and even if you do get kicked out, the dragonfly is looking for a dj..." a chuckle leaves her lips at her own playful banter. setting her notebook to the side, she's now giving them her full attention. "i'm kidding. and if i do get a little messy, which i wont! but in case i do, then i owe you free breakfast for a week. let's play though⎯⎯ i'll start. i don't know how to swim, i had a crush on buzz lightyear as a kid, and i like to put soy sauce on my vanilla ice cream. what do you think?"

It took him a moment to feel the other's eyes on him; in all honesty, when he looked up and caught their eyes, he couldn't have been sure how long they had stood there, watching. "Regular occurrence, don't worry," he assured them, a small laugh that was half amusement, half embarrassment. "At least I can fix this one without it being super noticeable. And at least the weather is nice out."

𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝗇'𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗃𝗈𝖻 𝖼𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌. eighty percent of it was to put out fires. the remaining twenty? helping out the community in any way he could. not only was it gratifying to do so, but it came second nature to him. there was never a time where julian didn't want to step in and help. so when he spotted someone on the ground, attempting to patch their own shirt up, of course he needed to intervene. even if it's just to make sure that they were okay. taking out an airpod and shoving it into his pocket, goes ahead and sits beside them, propping his arms on his bent knees. "you know, that's very admirable," he flashes a soft smile. his eyes track the other's movements as they sewed. "and impressive, actually. i would offer to help you, but the last time i tried sewing something, i ended up accidentally sewing it into my pants while i worked. but uh... this doesn't happen to you like, every day right?"

@mirabellastarts

𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝗎𝖼𝗄𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈. the crazy part is⎯⎯ julian doesn't seem to understand why sweet little old lady edith was someone to avoid. sure, she could talk his ear off. but he could talk right back. his personality never ceased to charm the elderly. "you know that's just her way of seeking company, right? she invited me over last week to watch jeopardy and try some of her watergate salad. have you ever had it? it was a cathartic experience i'll tell you that." placing a few oranges into his reusable tote, he notices her uneasiness growing, and he felt the need to make her feel comfortable. so naturally, he does what he's told. taking off the cap on his head, he immediately puts it on her head. "for added protection, because you'll never know," his shoulders shrug, a smile appearing on his lips. at his next words, his tone is hushed to avoid getting caught. "by the way, i'd appreciate a cucumber a lot more. i'm in charge of drinks for a work potluck at the firehouse, and i make a killer agua fresca."

"𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖼𝗈𝗅..." rhiannon rests both arms on the table as she clasps her fingers, putting on a playful expression that meant, what am i going to do with you? all in good fun, though. it wouldn't be them if a joke isn't cracked every five minutes. "how are we supposed to be business partners in crime and give gordon ramsay a run for his money if we don't put the fried pickles on the menu? work with me here," slowly but surely, she cracks a wide grin. if anything, she trusted his decision on everything. it's one of the many reasons why she looked up to him. "it's all about being adventurous when it comes to different cuisines. what would you do if one day a bunch of brits come in to the grill asking if you have a jacket potato with beans and cheese? you're visiting me at the bnb tomorrow and we're having a proper bri-ish experience."

a smile tugs over her features at his compliment, even if she still holds doubts about the artistic merit of her work. but it's a relief that someone is at least able to picture what her vision was - even if it hadn't translated exactly how she'd meant it to. "alright - so maybe mine isn't a complete failure. i'm glad it's at least recognizable." she's about to dispute his statement, certain that it can't be that bad and wanting to offer up her own compliment, before her eyes widen as he holds up his own painting. it's hard to conceal the laughter brimming on her lips, especially when it's clear that the attempts to fix whatever he'd been trying to create have only left the paper stained further. while the painting looks a little worse for wear - she's glad it doesn't seem to have left her neighbor too discouraged. it takes a bit of her own stress away, with the reminder that even if this event isn't bringing out the natural artist in either of them, it's supposed to be fun, a lighthearted activity for the weekend rather than something to add stress. "i think i can see the semblance of a face in there. i bet it would make a very cute bear or maybe a hedgehog? i think i see some spikes in there. add a little nose and some ears and maybe it'll end up being a keeper after all." her hand reaches out, gesturing to a little splotch of paint that could potentially be salvaged into a face, trying to imagine what a little black outline would do to bring something out of the mess of colors. "although i'd maybe wait for the paint to dry before adding anything else to it. may i ask what you were attempting to paint? i feel like i narrowly escaped disaster by going in a slightly safer direction with my sunset."

𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖾𝗄𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗆 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖺𝗋𝗋𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗈-𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖺𝗋𝗍. was it even art? surely toddlers could create something more recognizable than this. and not even with a paintbrush, with their fingers. still, he sheepishly laughs when he could clearly tell she was trying her best to conceal hers. "alright, alright— go ahead, i give you permission." shaking his head, julian tries blowing on the sheet of paper to speed up the drying process. "thanks for being nice about it though. maybe if i hang it up in my fridge like a proud parent i won't feel so bad?" he's internally cringing at his own comment. eyes trailing to his painting once more, he analyzes the piece with her. his eyebrows furrow in the process, trying to really figure out what she was seeing, because all he could clearly see was... blob. perhaps if he squinted his eyes hard enough, a picture could form. though, he'd need to use a lot of his imagination. "i mean, do i even have any dignity left?" a chuckle escapes his lips. "if you really want to know, i was trying to draw a palm tree. i was trying to get into the summer theme," a pause. "i tried to mix some colors together to make the brown, then it bled into the green part, and i was too stubborn to accept my fate." looking over at her once more, the corner of his lip rises. "i'll sell it to you for twenty bucks. who knows, this could be in the louvre by next week."

𝗂𝗍'𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗅𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗍 𝖻𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗁. he never really considered himself the artistic type — his awful track record in pictionary was proof of that. still, he always liked trying new things, even the activity in question isn't his strong suit. "god," he mumbles to himself with a small laugh, shaking his head in disbelief at the hodgepodge of colors mixing onto his sheet into an unattractive shade of brown. the more he tried adding and swirling colors together, it only got worse. as he's trying to salvage his artwork, his head turns upon hearing his neighbor's question. and when he glances at hers, his eyes slightly widen at how good it looked compared to his own mess. "okay, that definitely looks like a sunset to me. it's a little abstract-y, sure, but it just seems like you put your own twist to it. like, when i see it, i still see sunset, you know?" if only he shared that skill too. with her next question, he can't help but chuckle softly. "i wish i could say i was having any luck at all, but..." he proceeds to present his own work, grinning sheepishly. "it's just all brown at this point. and i'm pretty sure if i add more colors, it'll rip the paper. do you think if i add some eyes and a nose i could pass it off as like a bear, or something?"