#interaction.verda

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz ver's house, claret park.

Part of her felt like she was guessing as she wandered up to the home she'd only been to once after the woman, who just so happened to now be her actual wife, wandering whether she'd be embarrased if she knocked on the door that belonged to a stranger or relieved that she didn't have to face the woman that all but ran from the decision they made. Sure, Verda did so under the guise of needing time to figure things out and at least she gave some kind of warning and didn't flee the state this time, but Emmy's track record when it came to the other agreeing to figure things out wasn't exactly a solid one. Taking a breath to give her some sense of encouragement, she reached forward and knocked on the door in front of her, the only one on the block that looked at least a little familiar. Her hand felt empty as they fell back to her side and she curled them together behind her back instead as she waited. Should she have brought something? Like flowers or pie? What was a person supposed to bring someone they'd just gotten married to but wasn't sure if they were actually going to stay married to?

Her breath fell out in a frustrated huff as the door open and behind the familiar door stood a familiar face, one that instantly stopped her heart in her chest, leaving her frozen on the porch for an entire minute before she found any sort of word again. "I, um..." Emmy was struggling, the backs of her ears burning and flushed as she realized she should have thought about what she was going to say. "I know you said you needed time and I want to give that to you, but it's been a week and honestly, I'm a little afraid you're going to flee the state and we're kind of legally tied together right now and I already had to chill Ty out once, I have no clue how I would explain that one, and honestly I let it happen once and didn't do shit about it, but I couldn't let it happen again without doing anything, so I decided to just show up and see what would happen. Which... I sort of feel was a stupid thing to do and I wouldn't even be mad if you just shut the door in my face and we called it a day." Emmy paused, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth for nothing else but to get her mouth to stop spitting out words. "I'm fucking this up, right?"

@verdadurmaz

[emelinecormier]

Thinking they could make it work and actually making it work were two different things. They could think all they want, but if if it wasn't working, Emmy couldn't help but wonder if it ever would. How much make could they actually put in before they threw up their hands and gave up? She wasn't sure. What she was sure of was they had a long way to go before that happened. Despite being married for almost a year at that point, she liked to think the trying hadn't even started until their official wedding at the end of October and before that, they were simply in their honeymoon phase of dating and fucking and relearning about each other again.

"We'll talk, I promise." That much she could actually promise. She was tired of pretending and from what she and Foster talked about, she wasn't going to be running any time soon either. Which meant she was in this for whatever it took. Verda's hint of a smile put her at ease, as though there could be nothing to worry about when you're looking at a smile like the one the woman had. It was familiar and it was home. "You commute from Claret to downtown, I think you're patient enough. I've done it a few times and I'm ready to rip my hair out." A soft chuckle fell from her lips, her worries washing away for the time being. "C'mon, let's go find a place for Rachel's insane salt and pepper shakers."

@verdadurmaz

No part of her would ever fit seamlessly into a community as put together as Claret Park, but she'd tried. Not only for herself, but for the four legged pet she'd deemed her worthy companion. He had deserved more than walks down paved ways and occasional free roams at the dog park. He deserved the backyard of freedom, safely coming and going as he pleased. Verda had enjoyed the peace too. There were no late night sirens sounding off or horns being tapped upon because someone didn't move fast enough from a light or turn right on red.

She followed Emmy's hand, gaze wandering down the street where rows of houses seemed to go on forever, each telling their own story. It was uniform, must more of a settled place than the life of Downtown. "It takes some getting used to, but as long as you're willing to give it a chance. I think we can make it work." With time, she believed that the house she'd bought could be a home for them both and if it couldn't? That was a messy bridge they'd stumble across later.

The warmth of Emmy's hands was welcomed, her own having grown cold due to the harsh bite of the chilly air outside. Not even wrapping them around her had done much to combat the breeze. "Just... I need you to promise me that if something changes, we talk about it. We don't just... pretend." She returned the squeeze to the brunette's hands, her dark hues beaming with hope. "I can do that. I've never been much of a patient person, but I guess I can learn," she half teased, a small smile snaking onto her mouth.

@emelinecormier

[coraxclark]

location: the sweet spot, downtown. status: closed for @verdadurmaz​

“This is super cute, what you have going here,” Cora mentioned offhand to the baker that happened to be standing near as she gazed at the pastries that lined the front case. She’d traveled well in her time with Gabriel and previous lovers, even in the short amount of time she’d been dating around, and it always amazed her how many amazing products found their way into Providence Peak. “Have you been open awhile? I can’t believe I’ve never noticed this here before. I’m sure you get this question a lot, but what would you recommend for someone with a sweet tooth?”

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz deja brew, downtown.

She weaved her way through the crowd of college students looking for their hangover cure on a Sunday morning to the pick up station to grab her coffee, an iced latte with too much caffeine for her mind to worry about right now, as she held her laptop tightly in her hands, searching for a place to plop down so she could focus on the restaurant's numbers while her new chef took over for the morning at Amelie's. Book work was her least favorite thing to do, as she'd rather be in the kitchen, thriving over the breakfast rush, but it was something she had to make herself do if she wanted the restaurant to continue succeeding as it had. The overly sugared coffee was destined to help her get through the work... if she could find a seat available. Her eyes scanned the busy coffee shop until she landed on an empty chair in the corner, not recognizing the brunette in chair opposite it until Emmy approached the area and flopped down in the comfy armchair. A breath fell from her lips and she ignored the hammering in her heart as her gaze met with Ver's, remembering what she'd stumbled upon just a week earlier, subscribing without shame while slightly tipsy and fully single. "This was the only seat available for miles," Emmy stated, mumbling something about hating college kids, setting her laptop onto the coffee table in front of her and cracking it open before adding, "Honestly, just ignore me."

@verdadurmaz

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz ver's home, claret park.

She brushed at her shirt one last time, as though that would be enough to get rid of the scent the last cigarette she'd had after closing up the restaurant that night, completely sober. It was a fresh habit, one that she'd fallen into during her late night walks with Lainey, seeking a reprieve from the stress of a new marriage and a lost head chef. It didn't usually help, but Emmy found herself trying it again and again, just in case it started to the more she sought it out. It was better than alcohol, she justified, though she doubted it was anything more than that. A justification to find another unhealthy way to cope with life. Whether it did or not was a question for another day and Emmy finally gave up on getting the lingering scent off of her, hoping that Verda just wouldn't notice. Grabbing the grocery bags from the back of her car, she set them down only momentarily to lock it, before picking them back up again and making her way to the front door that she'd grown familiar with. Pressing a free pinky to the doorbell, she stepped back and waiting for the other to answer the door, and when she did, Emmy was quick to explain the amount of bags weighing down each arm. "I thought I could contribute a little. It's not like I buy groceries for my apartment." A shrug lifted her shoulders before she added, "Oh, and there's a toy in there for Zepp. I really wasn't what he'd like, but the cashier at the pet store said it's like, indestructible and stuff."

@verdadurmaz

[emelinecormier]

"It's only true if you want it to be true, if you'd rather live in blissful ignorance, then that's totally you call," Emmy pointed out, amused by the other's story about a toaster that was on an apparent sale. Retail wasn't something she'd ever worked, so whether or not what she told the other was true or if it was just some rumor that got around online because of a person's hatred for capitalism, well, she wasn't able to confirm or deny that in the slightest, but it was always one of the reasons why she thankfully skipped that shopping day entirely. "You know, I'm not originally from here and I never really thought I'd get used to it, you know, with the whole community vibe and the snow, but stuff like this... I don't know, doesn't seem so bad. I've been here for almost six years, so I guess it was only a matter of time." She offered a chuckle before giving the other a one shouldered shrug. "Please, we only impulsively got married a few weeks ago on a whim, so if anything, you're saving us from continuing to awkwardly figure out how we fit together now," Emmy deadpanned as she glanced the other's way before she cracked a smile. "Kidding. Sort of. C'mon."

Nodding in the direction that meant follow her, she led the way through the crowd, clutching the remaining beer in her hand as she searched for the spot that she and Verda had picked out earlier, wondering if the woman would still be there after the hour she'd taken to get them the two beers she'd set off to acquire. Thankfully, a dark head of hair sitting on a blanket came into view and her lips curved into a soft smile and she leaned down just enough to tousle the woman's dark wakes with her hand before pressing a kiss to the top of her head, something that still managed to amaze her as something she could actually do, in public, without thinking. "I found us a stray. Her name is... shit, I don't think we covered that. Anyway, this is my wife, Verda. I'm Emmy." After the botched introduction, she plopped down next to Ver, knocking into her side, but successfully keeping their remaining beer upright as she left enough room for the other woman to join and she turned to Ver to explain the situation, "I accidentally spilled one of our beers on her because this crowd has no manners, so I offered her one of our beers and our absolutely amazing company for the evening."

@verdadurmaz

Jeanie's eyes widened. “Is that true?!” She demanded. “Oh man, I totally fell for it this year. A lady nearly took my eye out going for the toaster I wanted...” Another loss for her wallet it seemed. She gave a wistful sigh.

“Drag brunches are the best.” After running into Thea, she could say she wholeheartedly agreed with the assessment on her. Anyone who took it upon themselves to organise an event as big as this had to be at least a little cool. She laughed as the woman hastened to clarify, not even having considered that she might be insulting anyone. “You should let the tourist board know, I bet they'd be thrilled.”

Examining the glass, she nodded and took a small sip. Yup, that was wine alright. “I gotta admit I don't know much about it. You probably could've handed me bottom shelf stuff and just lied, I would've believed you.” Meads and ales were her forte, not by choice but as a result of a long and winding history with live action roleplayers. “That sounds great actually, I've been battling with tall guys standing in the wrong spot all day. I can't see shit. Are you sure I won't be intruding though?”

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz & ty singh verda's home, claret park.

The steam rose out of the pan she had cooking on the stove a little too quickly, alerting the fire alarm in the kitchen before she even had a chance to do anything about it. The loud beeping of the alarm was enough to drive her insane — if the thought of dinner with two people who, for some reason, considered themselves mortal enemies hadn't already driven her to insanity. Groaning, she plucked the pan off of the stove and chucked it into the sink, giving up on the sauce she was prepping in favor of just serving everything that was already finished, which was already more than enough food for the three of them. Part of her wished she would have invited Jeanie along, if for nothing else than to get some type of amusement from what would inevitably be her downfall. Instead, she risked spending the night alone with her best friend and her wife, the stress of which already had her craving the brand new cigarette pack now residing in her jacket pocket hanging by the entryway. Fanning the space near the alarm with an oven mitt, Emmy was thankful when it shut off and she was able to hear her own thoughts again, offering Verda a grateful smile when she caught the other's presence in the kitchen. "Everything's finished. I think. It just needs..." She trailed off, the doorbell ringing catching her attention. "Speak of the devil." Her heart thrummed wildly against her chest as she pressed a soft kiss to Ver's cheek as she passed by. "I'll set the table if you can get the door? She might need permission to cross your doorway," Emmy couldn't help but joke nervously, her fingers giving the other's arm a gentle squeeze before she turned her attention back to loading her arms with as many dishes as she could carry and moving them to the dining table.

@verdadurmaz, @tysingh

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz ver's home, claret park.

Part of her wanted to grin as soon as Verda answered the door, start out her greeting with a honey, I'm home kind of joke — but the other ninety-five percent of her instincts said she should know better than that. She knew the woman wasn't happy with the audition news; not happy that she was doing it and definitely not happy that the news had been dropped on her just days before Emmy was set to fly out to Los Angeles for said audition, the near radio silence from the other while she was away definitely hinted at just how unhappy her wife was with her and she knew it was deserved. After their history, it was bold of the chef to even step foot in Los Angeles, let alone into another cooking show audition and even though, in her defense, the favor to her friend was agreed upon before they'd ever even said 'I do', she knew anything the other woman threw at her would be deserved. So instead of being excited to see the brunette on the other side of the door, her fist clenched one strap of her duffle, not even bothering to stop by her apartment after her flight landed, making sure her Uber beelined it for Claret Park instead. Nerves flooded her veins when she heard the rustling of a confused dog behind the door, followed by footsteps she knew all too well. The door opened and Emmy sucked in a deep breath, her gaze meeting Ver's the moment it could. "Hey," came her soft greeting, lamely, she might add, unable to find anything better to say instead. "I, uh, hope it's okay I just showed up like this... my flight landed and all I really wanted to do was see you."

@verdadurmaz

[emelinecormier]

— chaotic four dinner date the glass onion, summit lake.

Emmy didn't normally go out of her way to make friends with her employees. Be friendly, of course, but she could count on one finger how many employees she ended up friends with and that singular one apparently happened to be Albert Torres, who in the midst of divulging the man in the impulsive choice she had made recently, suggested that they should get together over dinner, with her newfound wife and the man's partner, which the restaurant owner noted was a new fact she'd learned about Albert. The effort she'd been attempting to put into her marriage, into proving to Verda that she'd changed and grown had her showing up to The Glass Onion, one of her nicest silk blouses unbuttoned to a dangerously low level (a small reward for roping Ver into yet another friendship) and a pair of slacks that she ran the palms of her hands nervously over as she walked into the restaurant beside Albert, following the host to their table after giving her name. "Looks like we're the first ones here. Should we be taking bets to see who shows up first?" A soft laugh trickled from her lips as she sat down next to the man at the round table, immediately ordering Ver's favorite wine. "Although I'm usually the one people are betting on to be late, so this is a new one."

@albietorreschef, @verdadurmaz, @lorelai-tseng.

[emelinecormier]

It was all starting to make click for Emmy, who vaguely remembered the woman beside her mentioning her chef being one arm down to press some buttons when they'd run into each other at the coffee shop (pre-impulse marriage of course). "To be honest, I definitely thought you guys were just sleeping together," She quickly admitted, though she couldn't help but be relieved that they weren't. The last thing she needed was to slight her favorite chef because she married the woman he'd been banging. The hand on her thigh felt like it was exactly where it was meant to be and she knew in that moment that she would have traded Albert in an instant for the woman that she'd married. Part of her was surprised when Verda admitted on asking about Albert's work partially because she was on a fishing expedition, but she knew that if the tables were turned and she'd known that the two knew each other sooner, she would have been asking sideways questions too.

"In his defense, we also weren't married until like... a month ago?" Emmy tapped on the screen of her watch, her brow scrunched just the slightest as she directed her question toward Ver. Honestly, she wouldn't have been able to decipher a month from ten when it felt like time was flying by with Ver regardless. She had barely gotten used to the extra weight on her left hand and they were already finding themselves on double dates with friends and coworkers, venturing into the domestic commitment that she'd run from for years. Her right hand fell from her watch to cover the one on her thigh, giving it a soft squeeze as the waiter generously poured the wine she'd ordered for them. "Maybe we'll have to see about re-evaluating the system this summer. We could always settle it with some sort of competition... for charity, of course. Who doesn't love a good challenge for a good cause." She teased in Lorelai's direction as the other woman made herself comfortable. "But I'm thankful to have Albert to run the ship when I'm not around, which I'll need a lot of when I'm out of town next week." Her gaze fell to her chef across the table, ignoring the look she knew she was going to get from the woman beside her. "I have an audition for a new cooking show in Los Angeles, a friend called in a favor. I was hoping you'd take charge while I'm gone, keep the place up and running?"

@albietorreschef, @verdadurmaz, @lorelai-tseng

Albert Gabriel Torres prided himself on one thing. Well, two things really, if you counted his talent in the kitchen. But he mainly prided himself on his ability to be certain he knew things. He knew what made the world turned around, he knew the ins and outs of his job, and he was a former Upper East Side snob who has the knowledge of social faux passes almost beaten into him growing up. And yet, watching his friend - his friend who owned a bakery and had an awesome dog who he had considered close to over the months - and his boss - the woman who gave him the chance to prove himself in her kitchen, a place that meant so much to him - not only know each other, but, know each other, absolutely stunned him.

How had he not connected the dots? He didn’t even think of it subconsciously, not even daring to make the assumption. But then he thought back to earlier months. How they would both ask him roundabout questions regarding the other woman in their relationship. He even suspected how similar Emmy’s tale about an impulsive marriage to her ex had sounded, not even making the connection to Verda.

“Yeah…I’m not sure if I ever told you this but it was Verda’s dog who knocked me over that one time?” He said to Emmy, trying to think back to all the times names were mentioned. He had mentioned Lorelai’s name, that was a fact, but apart from maybe vague acknowledgements of the others’ existence, did they ever confirm the names? Was he maybe being too polite never asking after such personal information. “So, all the times you’ve been asking me about work…you weren’t interested?” He then confirmed with Verda with a raised eyebrow. Finally, finally turning to Lorelai, he stood to give her a kiss in welcome. “I’m so…sorry. I uh, since I’ve been in town, neither of our lovely dinner guests have mentioned to me the names of their wives. And now I feel like a total fucking idiot who never put two and two together.”  At Emmy’s joking comment, he rolled his eyes playfully, “You should’ve mentioned you were married to the the owner of my favorite treat place, so I guess we’re even now.” 

@emelinecormier

@verdadurmaz

@lorelai-tseng

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz emmy's apartment, downtown.

Emmy plopped, belly-down, onto the bed in an angle that took up most of the available space that wasn't already being occupied by the woman she'd just handed a warm cup of tea to. Her hand gripped an iPad, already opened to a spreadsheet with more numbers than she cared to look at that early in the morning, sharing a split-screen with recent applications she'd received for the head chef position at Amelie's. From behind her ear, she plucked the tablet pencil and pressed it to her lips in thought as she glanced over the information in front of her, her mind everywhere except where it needed to be in that moment. With a hum, she turned her attention toward Verda, dark brown hues glancing at the other from her spot stewing over the tablet. "Do you want a honeymoon?" Emmy questioned with a matter-of-fact tone, as though she'd done enough thinking and pussyfooting around it in her mind that she'd decided to just say it aloud instead. "Hana mentioned you might. Said you deserve one. I guess we never talked about it..." Among a lot of other things they'd never talked about, she couldn't help but think. "But do you? Want one?"

@verdadurmaz

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz the grape escape booth, downtown. monday.

The silhouette of the woman at the winery's booth was one she would know anywhere, and though she remembered just where the same exact run in led two years prior, Emmy couldn't stop herself from approaching the booth, sidling in next to the brunette, and greeting her with a smile that was too confident for someone standing in front of an ex-girlfriend who she'd been craving like wildfire for the last few weeks. "What are we having today?" She questioned the other, eyebrow raised curiously as she looked at the sample cup in Verda's hands before her gaze fell to the woman's outfit. "It's good to know wearing exes hoodies to these things isn't some weird annual tradition of yours. Spring looks good on you, though."

@verdadurmaz

[emelinecormier]

— verda durmaz verda's house (pre-dinner with tyler).

A weight on her chest was something that Emeline Cormier had grown used to over the last few years of her life, but the one she felt now was nothing compared to the heavy weight that used to be there. Instead, this one felt soft, warm, almost as though it was the one that was meant to be there all along. The weight came with the feeling of Verda's head resting against a heartbeat she was sure the other could hear, but minding that the woman could hear how many beats she caused it to skip was the last thing on Emmy's mind as her fingers wandered through strands of dark waves over and over, memorizing every dip and curve from the top of Ver's head to the soft skin of her neck. The living room was dark and the tv droned on in front of them, but her attention was far from it. "What do you think about having a wedding?" She questioned offhand, chin bumping the top of the other's head just slightly as she spoke, voice barely above a whispered train of thought that she wasn't even sure would go anywhere.

@verdadurmaz

[emelinecormier]

location: snowdrop soirée, peak seasons. status: closed for @verdadurmaz​

Charity events weren’t out of the usual for Emmy. Even if she had never met the hosts of the evening and found herself only slightly uncomfortable in the outfit she had chosen, she’d never turn down supporting a good cause for the kids. She was lucky enough to have a pretty distraction on her arm for most of the night, only losing her when the other woman found someone she knew and her attention was caught up in casual conversation, leaving Emmy to wander the ballroom in search of a strong drink. Instead, she found a blur that almost rushed right past her wearing an expression that didn’t seem typical for what was supposed to be a night of dancing, drinks, and fun. “Hey,” She pointed out quickly, catching Verda’s arm to stop the woman in her tracks, a concerned look pulling on her own face. “You good?”

[emelinecormier]

location: the sweet spot, downtown. status: closed for @verdadurmaz​

The restaurant business was hit or miss during the few days between the two biggest corporate holidays, but for the most part, people tended to prefer eating out instead of spending even more time in their kitchens cooking yet another meal for their families and so, she found Amelie’s as busy and distracting as ever. A gentle nudge from one of her hosts who took the order that came through from the baker across the street turned her simple restaurant check in into a delivery run as she insisted on dropping the takeout across the street herself, the bells on the door announcing her arrival with a slight chime. One that dissipated with her breath as the dark-haired woman appeared from the back, her own steps faltered as she closed the distance between herself and the counter. “I was just checking in on Amelie’s when I noticed the order come through, thought I’d drop it by myself on my way out.”

[emelinecormier]

location: friendsgiving dinner, resort cabin. status: closed for @verdadurmaz​

Her eyes scanned the stream of people pouring in the front door, looking for one person in particular, but finding another altogether. “You made it,” Emmy grinned, her expression hopeful despite the man lingering a few feet behind the woman she’d just approached. She should have known better and kept her distance, but what was a holiday meal without a few questionable decisions. “And you brought a friend.” While she made a play on the fact that friends of friends were encouraged to be invited, she unfortunately knew the man was much more than a friend to Verda. “You look... good.”