aishathevar

[aishathevar]

"Not that long! If you can believe it, this is one of the few times I've arrived early," she laughed, even if it was partially true. She was one of those people running on their own time. Though she figured if they wanted to get a head start on the trail, it was one of those times she had to show up on schedule. "I'm hoping you have a better sense of navigating than I do though, last time I hit the trails I nearly got lost."

Jordan had been thinking about what she wanted to do to for Earth Week, if she wanted to do something a bit different. But in the end, she just settled on what she usually did but this time she thought maybe she'd invited one of her coworkers. She was beyond happy when Aisha agreed. "Yep. More than ready," she replied, giving the other a grin as well as she approached. "You haven't been waiting long, I hope?"

#( threads. ) #ft. jordan fields

[aishathevar]

"Believe me, I get it. The last time my mom visited she cooked enough to feed a family of eight. I'm sure she had good intentions but I'm not sure what she expected," she laughed, taking one of the small sandwiches from the container he'd passed her with a smile. "Though my roommates did enjoy the leftovers for the next week so maybe she was onto something." she gave a slight shrug, taking a bite of the sandwich.

"Glad to hear the enthusiasm." He grinned, pushing the container with small cut sandwiches towards her. "She has this tendency to just...go a bit over the top when it comes to meals. I always tell her if she wanted to cook for four kids, she should have had four, but then she playfully hits me and calls me ungrateful." He laughed, plucking a piece of fruit from a bowl and eating it.

#( threads. ) #ft. chetan gupta

[aishathevar]

"Sometimes I regret moving to the Northeast during the cold months. Then the nicer weather rolls around and I convince myself it's only a few months of cold," she shook her head, a slight grin crossing her face. But luckily this had been her third winter in town, and she was used to the weather by now. She'd complain during the chillier months, but she was fond of places where they got the proper seasons and not some version of each. Which is why she got excited to plan her wardrobe out with each season. "I should know that it's never just a few things, right?" a hypothetical question since she knew the answer each time she stepped through the doors. "Not sure it's because people are spring cleaning their closets, but I did find more cute finds I'm excited to break out." she nodded, glancing over at Lena with a smile as she extended her arm. "Then I'd be glad to accompany you." she said, linking her arm with hers.

"I don't know about you, but this winter felt like it was never going to end. And it wasn't even that snowy!" And for Lena, that meant that it wasn't a winter worth suffering through; she wanted warm weather, sunshine, flowers and blooms -- at least, if it wasn't going to be a beautiful, snowy winter that sort of made up for it, anyway. Once it became clear that a blizzard wasn't going to turn their town into a winter wonderland, bring on the green, green grass. "You go in to pick out one thing, and leave with a whole bag?" she laughed, knowing far too well how it went. Her closet hated her for how many new things she brought home every single time she tried to go shopping. "I bet that you found some fab finds, though," Lena grinned, looking over at Aisha. In her opinion, the other woman could have worn a sack and still looked beautiful, so that was never a question. "If that company is you?" she asked, grinning, and extending her arm, "please, accompany me."

#( threads. ) #ft. elena vasquez

[aishathevar]

who: aisha & @jordanxfields

where: state park

when: earth week (april, 2024)

With a pair of hiking boots she'd bought specifically for the occasion, Aisha waited by the entrance of the state park for Jordan. She could admit she hadn't been that into hiking, but when the other suggested it, she figured it couldn't hurt to give it another try. And there hadn't been a better time to visit the State Park than Earth Week when everyone was getting out to the trails. As she glanced to see the other approach, she gave a wave. "Ready to get your hike on?" she asked, with a grin.

#( threads. ) #ft. jordan fields #/ hope this is okay! <33

[aishathevar]

"It depends, I'd think it'd only count if the treasure was really cool," She laughed, switching her garbage bag from one hand to the other as they made their way further down the beach. "Is that a side project of yours? Or just something that just happens whenever you bring out your metal detector?" She asked curiously. She'd hardly ever worn jewelry to the beach herself, but she was sure whoever Darrius reunited with their belongings would be appreciative if they hadn't already forgotten about it. When asked if she found anything, she shrugged. "Not really, I found some old beach toys, but sadly most of them are cracked in half. Hoping that I'll find something unexpectedly cool though, but that may just be wishful thinking."

"I've got… bottles, mostly," Darrius laughed, shaking the garbage bag that he had slung over his shoulder as he walked along, carefully moving the metal detector over certain areas, places he hadn't already checked. "Do you think I get bonus points if I turn in a certain amount of trash plus treasure?" Something told him no, not so much, but it was still fun to think about. Bending down, he picked up a bottle cap, tossing it into the bag, and looking over at Aisha. "I mostly find jewelry, which… not going to complain! But I've reunited rings with their owners before, or like, sunglasses people thought were long gone," the sand could do funny things if the wind picked up, or something was left behind in the changing tides. "What about you, found any cool trash that could be treasure?"

#( threads. ) #ft. darrius powell

[aishathevar]

She'd been in the downtown area helping with the park cleanup earlier that week. But coming back a few days later, Aisha wasn't surprised to see that it looked better than before. The effort everyone had put in was worthwhile. As she walked through the park, she'd been heading to grab lunch she could have outdoors when she heard a familiar voice. Heading back over to where he set out a blanket, a basket by his side, she nodded. "Well, you don't have to ask me twice." she gave an amused grin, taking a seat to join him for his picnic.

Who: Chetan @ open When: April 23rd, Picnic Day

Che felt a bit like the kids running around the park, given that his mom had prepared his lunch for him that day. At least she offered and he didn't ask, that would have been beyond juvenile. Instead of eating, he took a few moments to lay back, soaking up the nature as he laid on the blanket he'd set out. Lost in thought for a moment, he caught sight of a familiar face, giving a wave. "My mom gave me way too much food, you have to come help me eat this."

#( threads. ) #ft. chetan gupta

[aishathevar]

who: aisha & @darpow

when: earth week (april, 2024)

where: the swim beach

"So, how are things going over there?" Aisha raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Darrius, from the spot where she'd designated herself to picking up. She may have been a bit slower than the others in picking things up on the beach, but she'd still been doing her part to clean things up, even if she'd been enjoying the weather and walking along the coast as well. It'd been a welcome addition to the day, as well as the company of her roommate who had joined her. "Think you'll find anything interesting with that thing?" she gave a sly grin, motioning to the metal detector.

#( threads. ) #ft. darrius powell #/ as promised <3

[aishathevar]

"There definitely is a difference between normal Reeses to the Egg shape they have, maybe it's the peanut butter to chocolate ratio?" She agreed with a nod, giving a slight hum at the thought. "But good choices all around, not that I'm a candy connoisseur or anything." A slight laugh left her lips, as she tapped her chin at the question. "For Easter, it's definitely peeps, the original kind specifically. But non-holiday related, candy peach rings or Twizzlers. But the Twizzlers hit differently if they're a beach snack, oddly enough."

"Well, if we're talking Easter, then it's 100% the Starburst Jellybeans and the egg shaped Reece's, because shape absolutely matters," he stated, putting more passion into his wording than the stranger was probably looking for. "Outside of the holiday, it's Nerds Gummy Clusters and Swedish Fish. What about you? What's your candy of choice?"

#( threads. ) #ft. derek mays

[aishathevar]

"Yeah? Well, it's a nice enough day to stop and smell the flowers, literally, so I wouldn't blame you," A small smile crossed her face as she glanced over at her, adjusting the tote bag on her shoulder with a nod. "I am, well- was! Went into the Treasure Chest to get a few things to refresh the wardrobe, but you know how that goes- went a bit overboard, if you could believe that," she couldn't help but laugh since that was typically how things went whenever she went in the thrift store to just browse and she was sure anyone knew that. "But now I'm just seeing where things take me now since it seems like that kind of day." she still found the town had new ways to surprise her, even after being her for a few years, so she never quite stuck to her set plans. "So, care for some company on your walk?"

Having grown up along the coast, Lena used to dream of the day when she could own a home, walk along the quiet suburb streets, stop into the pizza shop, smell the flowers that her neighbors planted. Granted, she hadn't expected it to happen when her abuela passed down the modular home she had lived in for years to her as she took up residence in the retirement home, but… it did mean that she got to live out her dream and enjoy those long strolls down the sidewalk. Sometimes, she was even lucky enough to see people she knew, breaking into a grin as Aisha waved, and returning the gesture. "Hey! I am, I'm doing that literal stop and smell the flowers kind of thing, you know? How about you -- out shopping?"

#( threads. ) #ft. elena vasquez

[aishathevar]

"I do like the jelly belly jelly beans. They have some pretty interesting flavors this time of year," she gave a slight hum in thought. "Like who else would've thought of Krispy Kreme jellybeans?" she made it her goal this season to try as many of the odd flavors as she could from the brand. "Though I'm impartial to any as long as they have a variety, not just a specific flavor."

"It's just not for everyone, but the caramel." She made a very pleased face at the thought. "That's a good way of looking at it. Do you like the jelly belly jelly beans, then? Or something else?"

#( threads. ) #ft. iris xanthe

[aishathevar]

merrock task #18 – home sweet home

Aisha really hadn't had any permanent plans to settle in town, saying she was just visiting, staying in between Inns or short term rentals for a while. But as soon she began to put roots down to become a Merrockite, she began to look for somewhere a bit more stable to stay in. She wanted to live near the coast, drawn to being just a walk away from the water, and was lucky enough to find roommates who also wanted to put in for a beach home near the coast. Her style and personal aesthetic comes through in little ways in the house, whether through a funky lamp, flower coasters, or any art she picked up whether through local artists, or any small businesses. You can also find scattered books or things she thought she misplaced around the common areas of the house, promising she'll remember next time she passes by (she almost always forgets). She's very into the bohemian, earthy sort of vibe. And her bedroom is full of color. She has her own mini-library (as well as an endless stack of a TBR pile on her nightstand), as well as a desk for when she wants to work from home. She likes low maintenance house plants as well, but her and Darrius are attempting to garden outdoors during the upcoming spring season. She tries to collaborate on decorations in the house with the others, but she likes the funky mix of aesthetics all of her roommates bring to the table.

#merrocktask

[aishathevar]

who: aisha & @lenavaz

where: somewhere in the suburbs

when: april 2024

With a heavy tote bag from her haul at the Treasure Chest on her shoulder, Aisha had been glancing at the shop windows as she walked through the suburbs. While she hadn't had any specific plans that afternoon, she was fine to just see where the afternoon took her. She often enjoyed spring weekends, when the nice weather allowed her to meander without having to worry about escaping the cold. As she glanced over from a window, she noticed Elena near one of the stores. Giving a bright smile, she approached her. "Hey, Lena!" she gave a small wave. "Enjoying your day?"

#( threads. ) #ft. elena vasquez #/ as promised <3 #/ sorry this is late btw!!

[aishathevar]

"Oh! Guess I probably should've specified," she glanced over at the other, giving a sheepish grin. "I was talking about Easter candy," she motioned to her small basket of the themed goodies by her side. "So, do you have a specific favorite then? However, I am curious to know why those would be vastly different answers."

Although Derek had no reason to celebrate Easter, he still relished in the opportunity to participate in the festivities of the holiday. And by festivities, he meant eating egg shaped Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, the Starburst jellybeans, and whatever special flavor Cassidy's came up with for the holiday season. Today, he was at the candy shop specifically for his holiday sugar fix.

"Are we talking specifically easter, or any holiday, because those are vastly different answers?" he followed up to the person in line.

#( threads. ) #ft. derek mays

[aishathevar]

"It's pretty much a fact they taste better during this time of year," She agreed, with a nod. "I think it's because of the fun limited edition flavors they have around Easter that makes them better, the original flavors are sad in comparison." she laughed and then gave a slight tap of her chin in thought. "A bit of a tough choice to narrow it down to just one, but I'm impartial to anything caramel or the peanut butter eggs myself."

"Favorite holiday candy..." Vince said with a hum. He thought about it, having grown up in town, there were a lot of local choices he could pick from as well as the usual favorites. "I was always a kid who liked jelly beans. I don't know. They were always really good to me. I know that's a year round thing, but jelly beans tasted much better around this time of year. What about you?"

#( threads. ) #ft. vince matthews

[aishathevar]

"Exactly! The original flavors are great, but the sour or odd flavors are always better, it's a scientific fact." she nodded, then wrinkled her nose slightly at the note of this year's popular flavor. "Seriously? I didn't know the pickle flavor was even that big. Can't imagine going for something sweet and realizing you accidentally grabbed a bag of pickle-flavored jellybeans or something." the thought was slightly horrifying to her, though she supposed she could see the appeal if they liked that flavor. "Oh, I love the different flavored candy canes! They've come up with some good ones over the years. Though sad to say, they rarely ever see the lights of the tree," she laughed, with a slight shrug. As she eyed his basket, she grinned. "Ah, so you're going for the cool uncle status then?" she teased. "Well, I did come here to just get a few things for my friends baskets I'm assembling," she paused for dramatic effect. "But what kind of shopping trip would it be if I didn't get a treat for myself?"

"Aha, someone who likes adventurous foods," he grinned, tilting his head to the side. "I like when you get to try something different. Traditional is great, but who doesn't want sour jellybeans or ones that are flavored like their favorite candies or foods? Pickle everything seems popular this year, too, have you noticed that?" But it made sense, given that everyone seemed to love pickles so much. "Do you like the different flavored candy canes at Christmas time, too? I feel like that's sort of similar to jelly beans in that they branched out and made them really different flavors." But that made it all the more fun. And made theming your Christmas tree a little bit easier, too, if you were into that kind of thing. "A little of both. I got these bags here for my niece and nephew," he pointed, and then shifted the basket almost shyly to show the other side, "… and admittedly some stuff for me, too. And my desk at work. What about you, solo mission, or picking out for others?"

#( threads. ) #ft. jason browning

[aishathevar]

"Oh, those are the best! I don't like the cream ones either. The texture is just weird," she admitted, giving a soft laugh, as she glanced at the woman standing next to her. "For me, it's either Peeps or jellybeans, because with all the flavors they have, I probably would never get sick of them."

Iris had been out shopping for some goodies, because while she had never celebrated Easter, she did celebrate eating cute candy shaped like bunnies season. That was a non-secular holiday, after all. "Oh, I love the Cadbury eggs, but the caramel ones, not the regular cream eggs. They're so indulgent." She grinned at the woman beside her in line. "How about you?"

#( threads. ) #ft. iris xanthe

[aishathevar]

"It's very disappointing that Peeps aren't something you can freeze and enjoy all year," she gave a wistful sigh as if the thought was disappointing to her. "But I think it would be less special if I had an endless supply of them," she laughed, then nodded. "Do you buy the bark, or are you the adventurous type and try to make your own batch? I tried it last year, and although it was chaos in the kitchen, it turned out pretty well."

"I tend to stock up on peeps, but then they all get stale within the month." She'd had a hankering for them since they'd hit the shelves though. She shrugged. "Mores the pity though. It's the same with Christmas tree bark. Which is, hands down, the favorite. With a little sea salt, chocolate, and caramel. I could die happy with a constant supply of that."

#( threads. ) #ft. lucie newman