aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

"I already hid yours," she felt her lips twitch with his small joke. "I wouldn't wrap yours out in the open so you could walk in," Aarin teased him, finding a familiarity in it. "I won't," she shook her head, "I even made Sawyer promise she wouldn't peak for me either," the two of them having gone in cahoots together in the past. "Pinky promised, so you know she won't break that." @marcelvaughn

Marcel looked at her and smiled slightly as he decided to attempt at a joke, “And Marcel’s?” He questioned with a raised brow. He kind if knew he didn’t deserve a present with how he’d acted after finding out about his child. “Good. Finished up most of the shopping now. Please don’t peak. It’s a surprise.” @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

"I don't know about that," Aarin laughed softly, "She started the tradition of doing that, I'm just lucky that I've been able to meet her standards," though Stevie had always taught her well. "Oh," her lips thinned as they started to speak of Marcel, "honestly, I don't know. You know how it is when he's going through things. He doesn't open up. I've been trying to give him space but all I want is to be close to him." Aarin fidgeted with the engagement ring on her finger, "I'm not even sure what's going to happen." @sawyervaughn

"You're a saint." Sawyer smiled at her best friend. She was better with drawing and things on the computer, but making a wreath just didn't connect in her brain. "I'm sure. You and Stevie have that place decorated to the nines all the time." She laughed and shook her head. "And always will be." She said and looked over at Aarin. "How are things going right now? With you guys?" @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

"Thank you," she appreciated the thought of Marcel trying to be quiet in case she was resting but that was often the last thing she was doing anymore. If anything, Aarin was restless in many aspects of her life. "I was just wrapping some gifts, Sawyer's, Alli's, Owen's," she listed off just a few of the people that she was still wrapping for. "Ho- uh, how were your errands?" @marcelvaughn

Marcel had in true Marcel fashion been running around town for some last minute errands. This year, he’d had needed to get some extra presents for obvious reasons, and he wanted to make sure he got his child something he’d enjoy. His present for Aarin was already wrapped as he stepped into their home, hearing the familiar sound of the movie playing as he kicked off his shoes in the hallway. Making his way into the kitchen, he placed his bags down onto a chair, before pulling off his hat. “Sorry, I was trying to be quiet in case you were resting.” He told her. “What are you doing?” @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

"Of course, you know me too well," she teased Arlo with a smile. Aarin had always been someone that people could count on and truly, she prided herself on that. "Wow," her lips parted in a partial gasp as Arlo spoke of his time in Japan, "honestly, I may have to pitch that to Marcel as a place for our honeymoon," she half-joked, knowing they hadn't decided on a location yet. "I would love to see them in person," Aarin told Arlo, "they've always looked so beautiful and I'd absolutely trust your word that they made you cry in the middle of the street." @arlocontreras

END.

Arlo found it fascinating how easily he'd settled back into Kismet Harbor; it's as if he hadn't spent the entirety of his adult life traveling the world it had come so naturally to him. Even as he stood in Cobblestone - one of his favorite places to hang out when he'd been in high school - there was that sense of comfort and familiarity within the walls that made him feel as if he'd never left. Hearing the other admit she'd always been a little more independent, Arlo nodded. "I can relate to that for sure." he'd always been independent himself, though he was sure his unstable childhood and bouncing from home to home had been the biggest reason for that. "I trust that you will; though I don't feel like trust is even the appropriate word." he laughed. "I know you'll return the favor. Hopefully they don't mess up for you to need to do so though. At her comment that the town missed him he smiled again, taking a step forward as he began to help her unpack the box; maybe if he started helping her without asking again she wouldn't argue. "I certainly missed this place." he nodded, the twinkle in his eyes intensifying at her question. "Oh I have some stories." he laughed. "I think one of my favorite moments though was when I was touring Japan. I was there during cherry blossom season and if you thought the photos of the trees were a sight you haven't seen anything until you're there in person. I'm pretty sure I cried in the middle of the street because it was so beautiful." @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

greta onieogou & michael evans behling via instagram (vipersfilm)

[aarinxduskin]

"I would absolutely make you one," she grinned at Sawyer, knowing that she'd do anything for her best friend. "I've had lots of practice, always helping decorate Cobblestone," she told her, "you start to get an eye for this stuff. "He should know better by now," she teased, her smile faulting only a little as Sawyer brought up Marcel. Things hadn't really turned around for the both of them, yet. She was trying to give him space when she could but at the same time, she desperately wanted to be close to him. "This is why you're my favorite, Vaughn." @sawyervaughn

Looking over at the wreath Aarin was making, she was in awe. While Sawyer was better at drawing and painting, her best friend definitely amazing at this. "God, you're good at that. I should have you make me one for my door." She laughed before turning back to the ornament she was painting. "I don't understand how I don't have a vision for wreaths, but for ornaments I do. Expect to get a few of these for Christmas." She laughed a bit. "And if Marcel can't handle the decorations, he better suck it up. It's part of you and I'll kick his ass if he says anything." She playfully threatened. @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

OLIVIA & LAYLA All American 1.12 Back in the Day

[aarinxduskin]

starter for @marcelvaughn

location: their home

With Christmas quickly approaching, Aarin was feeling the stress of the holidays. In addition, there was also the added stress that her and Marcel were mostly like ships passing in the night even living under the same roof. Aarin had the day off from the cafe and was in their living room, the Grinch movie playing in the background as she laid out rolls of wrapping paper, ribbon for bows and gifts needed to be wrapped. She had made sure to hide Marcel's already, just in case he came home early and she was in the middle of her gift wrapping. Aarin was lost in the rhythm, her scissors gliding across the paper before carefully folding the wrapping paper and taping the edges along the gift. Aarin had looked up, getting ready to watch the movie for a moment when she saw Marcel, "Hi," she gave him a small smile, "I didn't hear you get home."

[aarinxduskin]

JORDAN BAKER & LAYLA KEATING ALL AMERICAN | 6.09 "100%"

[aarinxduskin]

Marcel figured they had been with the amount of time Aarin had spent away from home recently, which also made sense due to Stevie’s current situation with her pregnancy. When he heard Aarin cut herself off and instead move over to the sink to grab some water, he reminded in his spot. The heaviness that was already weighing around them was thickening, causing Marcel to shift a little in hus stay uncomfortably. “I um—“ He cleared his throat. “I might go downstairs to the gym for a bit.” He told her. “Unless you wanted to order something?” @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

"Okay," the single word fell from her lips as he said he might go down to the gym for a little while. "I'll be fine," she told him, lifting the glass of water to her lips. "I need to get some, uh, laundry put away." Aarin didn't actually know if she needed to do that, but it was the first excuse that came to her mind. "We can order when you're done," she told him, stepping forward to set the glass in the sink. "I'll be upstairs." Aarin told him before moving away and heading towards their bedroom where she hoped that she had laundry to put away. @marcelvaughn

Marcel figured they had been with the amount of time Aarin had spent away from home recently, which also made sense due to Stevie’s current situation with her pregnancy. When he heard Aarin cut herself off and instead move over to the sink to grab some water, he reminded in his spot. The heaviness that was already weighing around them was thickening, causing Marcel to shift a little in hus stay uncomfortably. “I um—“ He cleared his throat. “I might go downstairs to the gym for a bit.” He told her. “Unless you wanted to order something?” @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

one everwood gifset per episode → 4x22

[aarinxduskin]

starter for @sawyervaughn

kismet harbor's 100th annual winter festival - ornament and wreath making

"Ugh, this is going to turn out so beautiful," Aarin looked at the wreath that she was working on, "honestly, Marcel is going to regret proposing to me after I'm done decorating his place. I can't believe how few decorations he had." Aarin exaggerated, having always been a sucker for decorating for the holidays. She arguably spent far too much time dressing up Cobblestone Cafe as the holidays changed. "But this is going to look absolutely perfect on the front door of our home."

[aarinxduskin]

Aarin could understand what Gabriel meant. Marcel had been part of a past life, though they were starting their new life together. She also knew, from hearing plenty of stories as people made their return to Kismet Harbor, that returning felt like a past life. "Of course, are you surprised by this?" She tipped her head only slightly to the side as she matched his smile. Aarin had always maintained an ease of taking up conversation with customers of Cobblestone Cafe, but there were ones that had a more special place in her heart. "The holidays do mean an influx in customers, not that I mind," she continued to smile. "Honestly, as long as she needs me and she will probably try to come back much earlier than she needs to. She certainly tried with the other kids." @gabrielxpierce

"No, it's not that, it's.." Gabriel wasn't sure how he could explain without giving away the clue so he just shrugged, offering her a smile. "It was just strange, like a past life. You know?" She would probably relate, but not in the way that he had experienced it. There was nothing more uncomfortable by being in a room of people who all seemed to know you and had the wildest of stories, but they were complete strangers, spinning stories for you. "Are you calling me invigorating, Aarin?" Gabriel's smile returned, obviously feeling the same way about her. Their talks were always positively stimulating. "Especially with the holidays approaching, I bet?" Gabriel uttered, letting out an 'ahw' sound at the mention of twin boys. "Tell her congrats, that's amazing. How long will you be running the show for while she's on leave?" @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

Aarin nodded her head to his question. "Yeah, we have been busy," she told him. Even if they weren't, sometimes Aarin had been dragging out her shift at Cobblestone Cafe just to avoid the distance between the two of them. In turn, it only made the distance grow but she thought she was protecting herself with her decision. "W-" Aarin stopped, thinning her lips to stop her from saying anything else for a moment. She didn't know what to say to him to make things better, almost knowing that she couldn't. It was Marcel's life that had been turned upside and she knew that she could not fix that for him. Aarin silently moved towards the sink, reaching up to grab a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water, an excuse to do something with her hands and to keep her from saying something stupid. @marcelvaughn

Marcel looked over at her when she turned back around to face him, heart sinking in his chest as he eyes in fiance and the sad expression on her face. "Right, the paninis--" He said, trying the word on his lips to see if it would awake some kind of hunger in him, knowing fully well how good they were, but to no avail. "I take it it was busy again then, or?" @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

"I did," she told Marcel, though it had been a while ago, her appetite was quick to disappear with the energy between the two of them. This felt a lot like them in high school, not long before things ended. She turned around, facing Marcel now that he was leaning against the counter. "I was able to get a panini before they all sold out." She told Marcel, trying to keep conversation. "They've been popular this week." @marcelvaughn

Marcel exhaled a small sigh when she said she wasn’t hungry. Neither was he. Frankly, he couldn’t remember the last time he ate. Closing the door to the fridge he realised he’d been starring into for a moment longer than necessary, he noticed that Aarin had her back turned to him. “Did you have lunch at work?” He asked before walking a little closer towards her again, but stopped to lean himself up against the counter. Marcel was aching to hold her on his arms, but a part of him prevented him from reaching out to touch her. @aarinxduskin

[aarinxduskin]

"I one-hundred percent agree," Aarin laughed softly, shaking her head, "honestly, I feel that way about a lot of things in my life." The brunette had rarely been good at accepting help from others. From a young age, it had always been her and her dad. The grief consumed him for many years until he met the woman that would become his second wife. "I've always been more independent than the average child," she thought she was helping her dad out by doing that. "If we ever get one of yours," she smiled at him, "I will personally make sure to return the favor," Aarin laughed with Arlo, "A smart man," her lips curled into a grin, "Kismet has really missed you," though she was referring mainly to herself, she knew that overall Kismet Harbor had been missing something with Arlo gone. "Have any favorite stories to share from your time gone?" @arlocontreras

"Oh definitely." Arlo nodded in agreement. He was the one that typically dealt with all of that honestly, it was not only part of the job but he also enjoyed it. "Yeah, honestly between you and I, I'd rather do the inventory myself. Tends to be easier to keep up with when there are less hands going through boxes." he admitted. He was sure Aarin wasn't the only one here that went through the boxes, but, if he had to guess it was probably less people that tried then at the vet's office. "I hope so, but just know as long as you guys are getting your packages delivered to us, it'll always come back to you." he laughed, nodding when she questioned if he was serious about helping. "Of course. And you're secrets safe with me. If anyone asks I'll tell them you kicked me out before I could even ask." @aarinxduskin