#hmbevent

De Luca's annual dinner celebrating the ranch

@claytoncalhoun

They would find out eventually, she knew it would be impossible to hide. Especially now that Violet knew he was here, working for them forced into submission by her fathers ridiculous and very realistic threats. Violet couldn't live her life, or whatever their life together should be under the shadowy fear that her father would do something so terrible and cruel that would send Clay away from her again. It ate away at Violet, making a storm of her insides, her a thundering mess. She knew she had to tell them sooner rather than later. Get on with it before they found out on their own. No better place than a dinner full of old family friends, investors, and others her parents would want to impress. Her nerves were apparent as she picked at her nails, and stood awkwardly outside the large front door, the muffled sounds of the party inside less welcoming than the starry black sky at her back- she could turn away now, put it off, but that was not what he deserved, not what they deserved.

Violet ran her fingers through her hair and extended a hand for him to hold, "Once we go in it could change everything." She said more to herself than to Clay. She smiled fondly and rang the bell of her childhood home before kissing his jaw, the door swung open, and an old house employee Violet had known since childhood greeted her with a cautious smile, "Dorris." She greeted warmly, handing off her coat and leading in with Clay- the music swept through the grand entryway becoming towards the De Luca ballroom where they held larger parties. She could hear the laughter and conversation muddling into white noise. Violet was making purposeful strides, her eyes scanning the photographs on the wall, a portrait of the three De Luca children greeted her, only Violet was here tonight, "Remind me again that they're not that terrifying." She said with a humorless chuckle as the entryway of the ballroom yawned open into the next step into the next unknown.

It was thirty minutes until their set. Martian Haze's first performance if 2023. They'd been a band for years now with no real success to show for it. Even this gig was unpaid, but it was for a good cause and gave them publicity. Though, honestly, Jay just did it because he loved making music with his bandmates.

Martian Haze couldn't be called consistent in their production, but in tradition they never failed. Their warm up ritual was tried and true, starting with a bottle of something; strong and always shared. Jay was big on his mantras, too, and forced his friends to join in with him every time.

"We are Martian Haze. We are talented. We are amazing. We are not going to fuck this up."

In life, Alycia had a few guilty pleasures. One of them being junk food, something her husband didn't care to keep in the house. He was a health nut, but she was a sugar addict. The only thing Aly loved more than sweet treats was Taco Bell, and the brunette helped herself to some of the beautifully decorated Valentines cookies.

"I think the one you're eating is a dog treat."

For a charity event, it'd been a wild night. Things with the band actually went well. It was just his personal life that'd turned to shit after running into India, then corralling his mother and her drunk, bridge club friends. He drove them all home earlier in the night, nearly as drunk as they were, but Jay was the designated drunk driver.

Back at the community center, he didn't plan to stay long but noticed earlier in the night Kaden would probably need a ride, too. They were just friends, there'd never been a question in Jay's head about that, but he did more for her than most of his actual girlfriends. Jay didn't really know why, and of course didn't think too much about it.

"Yeah... I guess I see it... You and the dog do look a little alike. What's her name again, and are you sure I can't convince you to name her Jay?"

at the Wags & Whisker's adoption event.

Since moving out of his parent's house, Jay lived on a houseboat in the harbor. He loved his little home on water, but it didn't make owning a pet so easy. Still, he found himself at the adoption event, tempted by the sweet faces of shelter dogs. "This lovely lady's name is Darling. She's a three year old rottie-pit mix who loves to cuddle and eat treats. She doesn't like cats or the mail man. She's fully vetted and heart warm negative. " Jayesh let out a soft chuckle. "Me too, Darling, me too."

@harpcrkclly

At the edge of downtown, there was Alena Jeans, local florist where every year, the De Luca's purchased thousands of florals for the annual De Luca camping retreat that begun with a luxury dinner to kick up the weekend. Violet found herself placing the orders, she was unsure why she hadn't confronted her parents yet for what they had done to her and Clay all those years ago, or why she was still running around for them- but here she was holding up a tulip and peony, circling to extend one each towards a poor patron who didn't ask to be pulled into Violet's world and yet here she was, "Which flower says fuck you and your pretentious play pretend weekend, get wrecked." Violet questioned both flowers extended outward.

There was a single bright spot in the hellhole that was Half Moon Bay. A member of her family she didn't detest. "Mal." Words slurred from the lips of a woman, drunk on the bar's sorry excuse for top shelf liquor. "This place is horrid. How have you survived!?" The quaint, small town was her cousin's home, but Malai had traveled the world. She knew better existed. Yet, she chose to live here? Aly couldn't fathom it and existed here only as long as she had to. "Here, drink this. We have to do a photo for the press. The group--" Which was what Alycia affectionately called their family's company. "—had me cut a check for this—" Her hand waived at the charity event happening around them. "—thing."

It came as no surprise to Aly that she found Aysel outside, amongst some rescue horses that looked at her like she was the actual Snow White. Farm critters weren't really Aly's thing. She'd ridden a horse a few times at summer camp, but much preferred the company of humans. Though, there was a puppy inside that she sort of thought was cute. She wasn't the best nuturer though.

"Are you going to adopt this guy, Selli? I can never have enough shoes, and you..? Never enough horses..."