#limited ipa series

[auraeseer]

Looking for th 180 gram, quadrahopic release . . .

[sqarletsworldlesswandering]

Also on the topic, could starfolks make any other sounds besides sonar? Especially ones that are used for communication.

Not too many, but all of the song sounds I described can be used in regular communication, they just have less use outside of song.

Sonar is their main vehicle of communication, but sounds like clicks and hisses can function as a "shorthand" of sorts, same for short hums, whistles, and "oo"s. Mostly, these are expression sounds - no assigned meaning or words, but they convey emotion both through embedded feeling and simple pitch expression.

Some examples:

Rapid clicking might indicate excitement or worry.

Short spaced clicks are more of a nervous sound.

Pairs of clicks are an equivalent to "excuse me" to get someone's attention.

Short upward inflected whistles can indicate interest or curiosity.

Small hisses, based on context, can express frustration or confusion.

A low hum with a series of clicks under it translates roughly to a purr, expressing contentment, happiness, and a sense of comfort.

Now, there is a basic communication shorthand of "yes/no/maybe/I don't know, how/when/where/who/what," and a few basic words like "food," "water," "shelter," using clicks, hisses, and hums. This is mostly used by travelers and trade caravans for easy, rapid communication with strangers.

These sounds also circumvent the distance limitations of sonar - with sonar, you have to be in range to clearly understand what's being said, the "range" being within roughly 15 feet. Outside of that range, you can hear the ping, but you can't unpack the information in it. The shorthand, though, isn't a data package. It's just a sound with assigned meaning and thus works great for "yelling" communication.

Just for grins, here's a list of some sounds that'd be fun: (IPA chart with sound for reference; Sound description in the parenthesis, IPA where applicable)

click (!)

hiss (s)

trill (r)

hum (m)

"Oo" (u)

whistle

"P" (p) (just...the p sound, open ended. Officially called a "bi-labial plosive", ignoring the requirement for a mouth.)

The "popped" p sound (p')

rattle (a mix of a click and a hiss - not doable by humans, but imagine something close to a rattlesnake)

beep (a truncated sonar)

purr (combine low hum and click series)

siren (combine a long hum and whistle)

honk (combine hum and "oo," truncated)

[nwbeerguide]

Harpoon Brewery announces the latest in their Life if Good series, Summer Style. A hazy blonde ale, available through August!

Press Release

BOSTON ... Harpoon Brewery – the maker of New England's Original IPA – and Life is Good – the positive lifestyle and apparel brand – announced today the release of their new hazy blonde ale, Summer Style. The beer comes ahead of summer, widely available now and will be sold through August.

...

To further celebrate the people who make good times great all summer long, the two born-and-raised Boston brands are launching a line of exclusive merchandise to complete your summer style and a Good Vibes of Summer Sweepstakes, starting now, where consumers can win Good Vibes of Summer prize packs – loaded with iconic Life is Good and Harpoon summer items - and thousands of other prizes all summer long.

"We know that our customers look for the perfect sipping companion for their various summer activities – whether it be cracking a cold one on a warm Friday evening, a cookout with friends or a trip to the beach on a summer day. Summer Style is exactly what consumers want to be reaching for in warmer months – a refreshing, light blonde ale that is approachable for all," said Dan Kenary, CEO and Co-Founder of Mass. Bay Brewing Company. "Life is Good is another iconic Boston-based brand that shares our mission of making good times, even better, making them a great partner as we ramp up for summer."

Beyond the beer, Harpoon Brewery and Life is Good are launching the Good Vibes of Summer sweepstakes packed with prizes. The sweepstakes can be found at www.HarpoonSummerSweeps.com for consumers 21+ to enter now through August 1st. Customers can enter to win a variety of prizes, including a Harpoon branded Yeti cooler, Life is Good branded beach chairs, co-branded Harpoon and Life is Good merchandise and rebates or promo codes for both brands.

The co-branded Life is Good and Harpoon merchandise will start summer with good vibes offering a collection of new products. The unique merchandise puts a fun spin on the classic Life is Good and Harpoon Brewery favorites with t-shirts, hats, Sea Bag ® beverage buckets and more. The merchandise will range in price from $29.50 - $75. Consumers can find the merchandise shop starting now on the Life Is Good website at https://www.lifeisgood.com/collabs/harpoon/ and Harpoon Brewery website at https://shop.harpoonbrewery.com/collections/life-is-good-x-harpoon.

"The Harpoon Summer Style is the perfect complement to our laid-back, Life is Good vibes," said Life is Good president Tom Hassell. "We're proud to collaborate with Harpoon, another Boston-based company that prioritizes craftsmanship and quality. This beer is for people who love to be outdoors and embrace the best that summer has to offer, making it perfect for our community."

The Summer Style beer is a 5% ABV hazy blonde ale with a refreshing and approachable taste and a soft, light and crisp finish. Summer Style is offered in 12- and 6-pack 12oz bottles, a 12-pack of 12oz cans, and will be available on tap at select locations.

Harpoon's Summer Style is available now starting today. To find the brew near you, check out the Harpoon Beer Finder: https://www.harpoonbrewery.com/beer-finder/.

About the Harpoon Brewery The Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986 by beer lovers who wanted more and better beer options. When the Brewery was founded, Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first to brew commercially in Boston after a dormant period of about 25 years. Since then, it has expanded to a second brewery in Windsor, VT. Harpoon's line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and seasonal beers, along with special limited releases. In 2014, Harpoon became an employee-owned company.

About Life is Good Life is Good is the original positive lifestyle brand dedicated to spreading the power of optimism through art and message. The company donates 10 percent of annual net profits to The Life is Good Playmaker Project. Through this work, they are able to help over 1 million kids in need each year. Life is Good® is a registered trademark of The Life is Good Company. Visit LifeisGood.com for more details, and follow Life is Good on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

[automicbaseball]

Opening Day 2024

Last Thursday the 28th was the first game of the year for the Mariners up here in the Pacific Northwest. Up against the Boston Red Sox for a 4-game series, the excitement was on high!

We have bought the flex pass two years in a row now, pay into a bank, and you can then buy tickets with the credit, without paying the tickethamster fees and whatnot. I like this deal, we went to about 20 games last year. There are often great deals for cheap bleacher, 300, or even 200 level seats.

I have been waiting for the season to start for a while now. Kept putting the spring training games on the radio while doing work and whatnot. I always feel better knowing thousands of people are enjoying the live spectacle at the same time as me. It's autistically comforting.

We took the light rail for the first time in a while. I love Seattle's public transportation system. Go to a park and ride, hop on the light rail, and we're dropped off about a 5-minute walk from T-Mobile Park. Great way to get some hot dogs, off-market merch, or just to down a beer before you get in.

I almost always come in the center field entrance with my partner. We like to walk around the field, get some sights, maybe find our seats in a timely manner. Being autistic, we tend to follow a specific plan usually; get seated, cool down the overwhelmed heat, get beers and snacks, then be ready for first pitch! I also have a plan for the goddamn metal detection and clear plastic bags; we always have water and snacks and things to do. My collar almost always sets the detector off, but I just walk through. Shrug!

Today we saw Nelson Cruz throw the first pitch, followed by a 1-day contract, so he could retire as a Mariner. I enjoy these little vignettes. Last year we saw the King, Felix Hernandez' Hall of Fame induction and it brings you to tears (and incidentally, my partner found a pic of their kidlet at a game the King was pitching in almost 10 years ago). I wonder, what it's like to be a retiring baseball player (or any sportsball); what do you do next? What happens if you're not a coach or talking head? How do you go on when your body cannot? I'd love for everyone to find their Ichiro Suzuki role, but alas.

There are many ways to enjoy baseball; talk and pay no attention, drink 10 beers, take meticulous score, wander, it's all a lovely spectacle.

This year we sat in section 328, just behind home plate off to the side of 1st base. I love the hanging sections where there are 3 rows just below the tunnel when you enter. I like sitting on the end of the rows and ideally where it's not hugely crowded, it's just a sensory thing. Last year we sat in 126 and it was crowded, plus the ceiling above us limited the view of the main jumbotron. Not my favorite.

Not to mention catching a meatball of a fucking man texting a picture of me to his friends, writing some horrible words to go along with it. I am a very high-sensory person; I'm always looking around, seeing things, evaluating my surroundings, and it felt weird to see a picture of me on someone else's phone. I kept very calm about it, took his picture, and get the box office to move us to much better seats.

As for the game itself, I don't remember a huge amount of it. We lost 4-6, and we left in the 8th inning to avoid the crowds (we had our kidlet with us tonight). Ate some garlic fries, drank a strawberry seltzer and a nice IPA of some sort. I also took some nice pictures here and there.

Anyways, thanks for reading, I hope to write a little more as I go through the season, about games we attend. I'm not a sportswriter, and really I'm not a writer either, but I have to get some words out. Just who I am.

[liquorkartaustralia]

A Taste of Australia in Every Sip: Exploring 4 Pines Brewing - Liquorkart Australia

Welcome to Liquorkart, where we take you on a journey through the world of craft beer. Today, we're diving into the heart of Australia's craft brewing scene with a spotlight on 4 Pines Brewing. As one of the nation's beloved and innovative craft breweries, 4 Pines has made a name for itself with its distinctive beers that capture the spirit of Australia. In this blog post, we'll explore their history, their unique brewing philosophy, and some of their standout beer offerings that you can find right here at Liquor Kart.

4 Pines Craft Beers: A Sampler of Aussie Flavors

Now, the highlight of our journey – the beers! We'll introduce you to some of 4 Pines' standout creations. From their iconic Pale Ale to unique limited-edition releases, we'll discuss the flavors, aromas, and the best occasions to enjoy each of these brews.

4 Pines Pale Ale: A flagship beer that balances malt and hops, delivering a refreshingly tropical experience.

4 Pines Hazy IPA: Dive into the world of haze with this juicy and aromatic IPA.

4 Pines Keller Door Series: Explore their limited edition, experimental releases, showcasing their creativity.

Buy 4 Pines Pale Ale Cans (375ml Pack of 24) at Liquorkart.

Explore 4 Pines Brewing with Liquorkart

Ready to taste Australia in every sip? Explore our selection of 4 Pines beers right here at Liquor Kart. Whether you're a craft beer aficionado or someone looking to try something uniquely Australian, 4 Pines Brewing has a brew for you.

4 Pines Brewing is more than just a brewery; it's an embodiment of the Australian spirit, culture, and innovation. Join us in celebrating their craft by exploring their history, their sustainable practices, and, most importantly, their exceptional range of beers. Visit Liquorkart AU to bring a piece of Australia to your glass, one sip at a time. 

Explore Beer collection from Liquorkart Australia, we offers you quality Beers at prices that won't disappoint.  Sip, savor, and save with us. Cheers! .

[victoriawholefoods]

Navigating Seamless Grocery Delivery in Toronto

Examine The Development of Alcohol-Free Beer

What alternatives do we have if we don't want the euphoria that comes from drinking craft beer, despite Toronto's robust craft beer market? Now there is beer without alcohol! These drinks used to be derided as inferior substitutes, but recently they underwent a revolution that improved their flavor and sophistication on a level with that of their alcoholic counterparts. The prevalence of non-alcoholic beer in Toronto, the kinds already available, and the best places to buy them will all be covered in this article. Come along as we explore Toronto's non-alcoholic beer culture if you're trying to limit your alcohol use or just want to try something different.

The Rise of Alcohol-Free Beer

Toronto has seen a sharp increase in the demand for non-alcoholic beer in recent years. This tendency can be ascribed to rising interest in alcohol-free and low-alcohol alternatives, as well as rising awareness of health and wellness.

Non-alcoholic beer is no longer seen as a tasteless and unpleasant beverage. Today's selections are from one of top craft breweries and the finest organic grocery store in Toronto, and they have distinctive flavor profiles that are on par with those of conventional beers.

Non-alcoholic beer has become a go-to option for people wishing to enjoy social gatherings without overindulging, especially among millennials. Athletes and fitness buffs who want to rehydrate after exercises without sacrificing their performance objectives find it appealing as well.

Furthermore, this expansion is not just confined to regional breweries; it also includes national ales being introduced to the market by major international companies like Heineken, Budweiser, and Guinness. We'll probably see much more growth in the future as more individuals become aware of these possibilities!

The Various Styles of Alcohol-Free Beer

Non-alcoholic beer has advanced significantly in recent years, and there are now a growing number of options available for individuals who want to enjoy beer's flavor without drinking any alcohol. In Toronto, you may purchase the following varieties of non-alcoholic beer:

1. Lager: The most popular non-alcoholic beer style is likely non-alcoholic lager. They are the ideal food for hot summer days because of their light, crisp flavor.

2. Wheat Beer: This non-alcoholic beer variety is frequently made with wheat rather than barley, giving it a somewhat sweeter flavor than conventional beers.

3. IPA: There are now a number of non-alcoholic IPAs on the market for folks who enjoy hoppy beers.

4. Stout: If you like darker brews, non-alcoholic stouts are also readily accessible and have all the complex flavors and aromas typical of this style of beer.

5. Fruit Beers: A few breweries have been experimenting with the addition of fruit tastes to their non-alcoholic beverages, resulting in interesting and energizing options like citrus-infused IPAs or berry-flavored lagers.

Whatever your preferences, there's definitely a beer alternative that perfectly matches them and doesn't contain any alcohol.

The Best Locations in Toronto to Buy Non-Alcoholic Beer

Due to the growing popularity of alcohol-free beer, Toronto has no shortage of establishments serving it.

The large selection of non-alcoholic beers from domestic and international breweries that The Beer Store carries makes it worthwhile to pay a visit. You can look at what's offered online before going to the store.

The LCBO is an additional choice that provides a huge selection of non-alcoholic beers. They have everything you're searching for, whether you prefer traditional lagers or bitter IPAs.

Craft non-alcoholic beers are available on tap at Bar Hop Brewco for individuals who prefer independent stores. Check out Wvrst's wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers paired with gourmet sausages if you're in the mood for food and your drink.

Try the "Ghost Orchid" series from Rorschach Brewing Co., which uses hops produced in Ontario, if you're looking for something truly distinctive and homegrown.

With so many options available, it's understandable why Toronto is at the forefront of the expanding non-alcoholic beer trend.

Conclusion

For those seeking to enjoy a cool drink without endangering their health or sobriety, Toronto's non-alcoholic beer revolution, organic vegetables and organic produce in Toronto have been wonderful developments. It is hardly surprising that non-alcoholic beer is more popular than ever given the rising demand for healthier and more ethical options.

[bruceglobetrotter]

'We’re so happy to announce the launch of BOOK, a project with @FaberBooks showcasing 5 min reads from the UK’s best writers. The first in the series is a 6.5% Strata IPA featuring extracts from @maxjohnporter’s new book SHY.  Limited cans available here: https://beakbrewery.com'

https://twitter.com/TheBeakBrewery/status/1648247725295632385?utm_source=Courier+Media&utm_campaign=1d86c54fa3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_04_25_12_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-1d86c54fa3-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%

[boozedancing]

Dogfish Head Nordic Spring IPA Review

The first 2023 release from the @dogfishbeer Off-Centered Art Series is out and about and we get to review it! #NordicSpring #IPA is its name. Click the link to hear all about it! #beer #bokeh #beerreview

Late in 2022, we received an email from the fine folks in Milton, Delaware, i.e. Dogfish Head, announcing all of the adult beverages that they would be releasing throughout 2023. The list was broken down into the following categories: Off-Centered Art Series Ales Every Day, Year-Round Beers Occasional & Limited-Release Beers & Variety Packs Culinary-Crafted Canned Cocktails Full-Proof Spirits &…

[lekker-water]

French Resource List

Hopefully even if you've been learning French for a while one of these resources may be of use to you

General

French dictionary

Best online French-English dictionary (which also has bilingual dictionaries for a number of languages) as it has example sentences in French with translations, forum, verb conjugations, idioms, and more

RFI listening and reading exercises for all levels incorporating the news into your learning

Grammar

Français Lingolia with exercises

Listening

Journal en Français Facile radio/ podcast with transcripts for each episode

News in Slow French podcast

Conversational French Mises à Jour with transcripts

If you live in Australia, SBS has a French news podcast

French dictation exercises write what you hear

Youtube comedy series Bref

Belgian LGBTQ+ Youtube series La théorie du Y

Youtube comedy series Le Département

French comedy series that has whole episodes for free on Youtube Fais pas ci fais pas ça

Skam France is a teen show so you can learn heaps of slang, it also has subtitles for each episode in French and English

Youtube

Home Language - vocab and grammar

Hugo Décrypte - daily news

MisterJDay - comedy

Le Monde - news but many of their videos have subtitles

Reading

Simple articles originally written for children, also has a Youtube playlist (1jour 1actu)

Le Petit Scribe reading comprehension and exercises level B1 but also has the same for all levels

Reading (or listening) comprehension - Le Petit Nicolas

Writing

À vos plumes - writing practice and grammar

Oui c'est ça writing practice

Proofreading checklist

Other

Thoughtco French articles on grammar, vocab, verbs, etc.

French slang dictionary

French vowel pronunciation part 1 and part 2 with audio

More useful French pronunciation tips with audio and IPA

EDIT: just remembered in case you feel like torturing yourself you can do Victorian year 12 level French exams 2001 to 2020 for free on the VCE website with the audio and answers available. It would probably be more helpful to not do it within the time limit and listen to the audio as much as you need to. You might also find the HSC exam papers useful from what I can see there's three different levels of French exams (beginners, continuers, and advanced) just find them in the list of subjects and you'll get to the exams.

[archipithecus]

alternate english orthographies and the post-alveolar problem

like many conlangers i've spent a lot of time fiddling around with alternate orthographies for english, not as a serious "this will be adopted" way, but as a fun puzzle to see if i can fit the latin alphabet to english's phonology. anyways, this post is gonna be a long ramble about silly new ways to write english, so here's a readmore

most of the consonants in english be written pretty unambiguously, intuitively, and aesthetically with the latin alphabet, but i have a problem with the way most people write the post-alveolars (ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ). in their own alternate english orthographies, David J. Peterson and jan Misali (and certainly others) use the most common system <sh, zh, ch, j>. this is intuitive and unambiguous, but i really dislike the affricates on an aesthetic level. i don't like how they're unrelated to each other or their matching fricatives. in search of a solution to this silly problem, i've come up with a series of silly solutions.

1) Logical Trigraphs

/ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/ → <sh, zh, tsh, dzh>

this solution is perfectly symmetrical and balanced, but introduces some clunky trigraphs that aren't really necessary. i do like how it would fit in a romanization of a language that also had alveolar affricates.

2) J-Trigger

/ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/ → <sj, zj, tj, dj>

this system might be my favorite. it's balanced and sticks to digraphs and has a consistent pattern with the alveolars! it's also 75% unintuitive to an english speaker looking at it for the first time. in this system, <j> essentially acts as a trigger to turn an alveolar into a post-alveolar. also this is a fun way to represent yod-coalescence, especially if you're also using <j> for /j/.

3) Faux-Italian 1.0

/k/ → <c> before non-front vowels, <ch> before front vowels /tʃ/ → <c> before front vowels, <ci> before non-front vowels /ʃ/ → <sc> before front vowels, <sci> before non-front vowels /g/ → <g> before non-front vowels, <gh> before front vowels /dʒ/ → <g> before front vowels, <gi> before non-front vowels /ʒ/ → <sg> before front vowels, <sgi> before non-front vowels or <zg> before front vowels, <zgi> before non-front vowels

this is definitely the silliest system so far, and would be easier to explain if tumblr had tables. it requires extra rules for the velar stops, uses <ch, gh> in very non-english ways, and has ambiguities about where an <i> after <c, g> is syllabic or not that would just need to be memorized. i also haven't fully decided if /ʒ/ should use <s> or <z>. what looks sillier, writing <genre> as <sgiaanra> or <zgiaanra>? (yes, i also have my own system for spelling vowels (as they appear in my form of general american) that i might explain later)

4) Faux-Italian 2.0: now with J's

/k/ → <c> /tʃ/ → <cj> /ʃ/ → <scj> /g/ → <g> /dʒ/ → <gj> /ʒ/ → <zgj> or <sgj>

here <c, g> are always "hard" by default, but become "soft" when followed by <j>, which solves the syllabic issue from Faux-Italian 1.0. i think this one is pretty fun on an aesthetic level (i especially like <scj>), but even though it's less complicated than Faux-Italian 1.0 it's not very useful. plus, i still haven't decided on how to write /ʒ/.

you could also have a mid-way point between this one and FI1.0 by having the velars be default soft before front vowels and hard before non-front vowels, then using <-h> to force hardness and <-j> to force softness.

5) Hačeks Galor

/ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/ → <š, ž, č, ǧ> this is the only system on this list to use diacritics, mainly because i find it more fun to work within the limitations of 26 letters of the ISO basic Latin alphabet. i do like typing diacritics, however, so it gets a spot on this list.

6) Hačeks Semi-Galor

/ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/ → <š, ž, tš, dž>

okay, i lied about the last one being the only system without diacritics. this is basically a one-to-one translation of the IPA system, nothing crazy going on here.

Examples

this is also using the rest of my alternate english orthography, which i may explain later if i feel like it.

Current English: Ship, join the genre choosing! IPA: /ʃɪp, dʒoɪ̯n ðə ʒɑnɹə tʃuziŋ/ Sensible System: Ship, join dha zhaanra chuuzing! Logical Trigraphs: Ship, dzhoin dha zhaanra tshuuzing! J-Trigger: Sjip, djoin dha zjaanra tjuuzing! Faux-Italian 1.0: Scip, gioin dha zgiaanra ciuuzing! Faux-Italian 1.5: Scip, gjoin dha zgjaanra cjuuzing! Faux-Italian 2.0: Scjip, gjoin dha zgjaanra cjuuzing! Hačeks Galor: Šip, ǧoin dha žaanra čuuzing! Hačeks Semi-Galor: Šip, džoin dha žaanra tšuuzing!

anyway, thanks for coming to my ted talk where i ramble about my personal aesthetic tastes for alternate english orthographies

[auraeseer]

When your tiny engine overheats . . .

[venolapi]

Facts between Cohen and Health Net

From 2000 to 2001, Long Beach IPA, a subsidiary of Allied, gave medicalcare to Health Net members to pursue the provider services settlement between Health Net and Allied. Health Net joined prover services agreement with Allied Physicians of California to serve as an IPA. Allied decides that in no event, involving, not limited to, pursuant by health net․ shall allied bill, charge, collect a deposit from, seek payment, income, or reimbursement from, or have any recourse against members other than for applicable copayments and non-covered services.

 Health Net itself does not provide medical care and Health Nethas misconducts and lawsuits. This insurance company urged different settle to close the controversies. Health Net Lawsuits' is a federally qualified HMO that provides health care service plans. However, there are complaints from its members that Health Net denied severe treatments, one of the reasons why members' conditions are critical.

 The contract states that no circumstance of any member is liablefor any sums owed by Health Net. Health care providers render services under this agreement, including bills, charges, collect a deposit or other sum or seek compensation and remuneration. Other recourse against the member or other persons acting from a member's behalf may only bill HEALTH NET Members directly for applicable deductibles or co-insurance amounts and any non-covered services."

 Robert J. Cohen filed a lawsuit against Health Net of California, Inc. and Los Alamitos Medical Center, Inc.

 Through his employee benefit plan, Cohen, a member of Health Net's HMO, had paid the applicable copayments and premiums, so he was notresponsible for paying the bills. After Cohen filed this lawsuit, CA Em-1submitted the accounts to Health Net, which produced them. Cohen got a series of billing statements totaling $744 and dunning notices from CA Em-1 or its collection agent.

 Cohen made the applicable copayments, paid nothing else, and nolonger is a Health Net member.

Cohen sued CA Em-1 and its collection service; however, they arenot included in this appeal. 

 The trial court granted Health Net's and Los Alamitos's motionsfor summary judgment. Concluded Cohen's claims we staggered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 was subject to California Department of Managed Health Care's exclusive regulatory powers or had no merit under the undisputed facts.

 Cohen affirmed various causes of litigation and theories against

Health Net and Los Alamitos, specifically fraud, unfair business practicesunder the California unjust competition law (UCL), intentional infliction ofemotional discomfort, bad insurance faith, and delinquency.

 Under Proposition 64, Cohen lacks standing to prosecute his

California unfair competition lawsuit because he suffered no actual loss ofmoney or property due to the impaired conduct.

 Legal Aid Society of Orange County paid for health insurancebenefits for its ERISA plan through a commodity known as PacAdvantage, which demands benefits through Health Net and other HMOs and medical service providers.

 August 2002 when the time for lawsuits filed by Cohen against

Health Net. Cohen contacted CA En-1's collection Services about the bills he had been receiving foul on Aug 29, and Cohen received his net bill for $226. The accounts have fully paid, and collection efforts have ceased.

 In the Disposition, the order awarding discovery sanctions for

$2,050 against Cohen and his counsel. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed to respondents to recover costs incurred in this appeal.

 Cohen submitted a letter to Health Net from the DMHC levyingfines against Health Net for failure to pay claims from emergency careproviders within the statutory time frame. 

[nwbeerguide]

Releasing on their anniversary April 13th Bale Breaker Brewing mystifies your senses with "Crop Circles Hazy IPA".

Press Release Yakima, Wash … Bale Breaker Brewing Company, a brewery located on their family’s 4th generation hop farm in the beautiful Yakima Valley, is excited to announce their newest series of Hazy IPAs - the first in the 16oz series, Crop Circles Hazy IPA, is releasing on the brewery's 11th anniversary, April 13th.  "We wanted to have fun with this one," says brewery co-owner Meghann Quinn. "Our past 16oz series have been a little more serious and reflective of our family's legacy as 4th generation hop farmers, but this year, we just wanted to make a delicious beer with fun artwork and no deeper meaning." The brewery is leaning into the alien vibe on Saturday, April 13th at their 11th Anniversary Party in Yakima, turning "Field 41" into "Area 41". Customers can expect the release party to feature space vibes, live flash tattoos by Crave Ink, the season's first YOXI hard seltzer slushies, Seattle favorite Outsider BBQ serving up delicious food, and plenty of Crop Circles Hazy IPA flowing on tap. The beer will be available on Saturday, April 13 on draft and in cans at their Ballard taproom as well.  Crop Circles Hazy IPA will receive full distribution throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho the week of April 8th– find it using Bale Breaker’s online beer finder. Washington customers can also order their beer via their online store after launch. Crop Circles Hazy IPA 6.5% ABV Get ready to have your taste buds abducted with this new limited release beer, Crop Circles Hazy IPA. A bright, bold hazy featuring our homegrown Citra®, Mosaic®, and HBC 1019 hops, grown right here on Area 41 - er, we mean, Field 41. RELEASE DATE: SATURDAY 4/13 About Bale Breaker  Crafting fresh-off-the-farm brews from the middle of a hop field, Bale Breaker Brewing Company is a family-owned brewery located in the beautiful Yakima Valley. Backed by four generations of hop farming experience, Bale Breaker started in 2013, and has grown to become one of the largest independent craft breweries in Washington.  With a 30-barrel brewhouse at a 27,000 square foot facility, Bale Breaker crafts eight year-round canned beers, including the widely celebrated Topcutter IPA, and a diverse offering of seasonal beers in cans and on draft. They have two taprooms: one onsite at the Yakima brewery; and another in Seattle’s Ballard Brewing District. Bale Breaker beer can be found in retailers and bottleshops throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. For more information, visit www.balebreaker.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram. from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/49lX9Ic

[mopeytropey]

a beer buds series: chapter 4

Author’s note: my moodboard skills are not what they once were ... let’s just pretend that Lincoln’s head is shaved and that they aren’t sitting in front of a giant drop screen, shall we? The point is, this photo 100% encapsulates apu!Lincoln + Lexa energy. Cheers! 

Update available below or on AO3: here.

Timeline: the opening scene is a rewrite from Lexa's POV of a scene in chapter 4 of 'a pleasant undoing' as Clarke and Lexa discuss an upcoming day on Clarke's boat in a completely platonic, casual and cool manner, completely devoid of any sexual tension ...

Beer: Heady Topper DOUBLE IPA (DIPA)

The Alchemist IPA contains a proprietary blend of six different hops and has an International Bitterness Units (IBU) value over 120, but it doesn't have an excessive, overpowering bitterness. You'll smell or taste hints of spices, pine, grapefruit, orange and tropical fruits. Even though you'll notice a slight note of malt, hops are still the protagonists.

ABV 8%

Heady Topper: The Alchemist (Stowe, VT)

::: “So, we’re on for Saturday?”

Lexa slips her hands into the front pockets of her well-worn jeans as Clarke opens the front door at Dockside. She extends her arm, holding it open so that Lexa can walk through.

The scent of Clarke’s subtle perfume hits Lexa as she passes by, and she exhales in an anxious puff of air. “Yes. What time?”

There’s an unfortunately adorable twist to Clarke’s mouth as Lexa watches her contemplate. “Want to meet at the coffee shop at nine?”

The seaside port to which Lexa is still acclimating hosts several independent coffee shops. To Clarke, there is only one.

“Sure.”

“Okay, cool.” Lexa has potentially never felt more uncool in her entire life.

She returns Clarke’s smile, easing her nerves by squeezing her hands into fists within the confines of her pockets. She takes another breath while rising onto the balls of her feet and lowering back down. Lexa finds comfort in the sensation—a habit formed long ago to help calm her during overwhelming situations. She feels grounded by the crunching gravel beneath the soles of her sneakers.

“So, what should I wear?”

Clarke leans into the door at her back while they are still stood at Dockside’s front entrance under the soft glow of gas lamps above them. “I’ll double-check the weather, but it’s supposed to be warm. Cooler on the water by a few degrees, but you’ll be fine as long as you dress in layers.”

“Layers,” Lexa nods. “I can do that.”

There’s not much else to discuss. They’ve sat and ate, shared harmless barbs at the other’s expense, and told stories of their reckless youth. At this point, Lexa should be saying her brief goodbye and walking away. Except what should be a simple act, has begun to wind its way around her limbs, pinning her to this spot. Her desire to spend time with Clarke is unrelenting.

The notion of parting ways, of spending time away from her bright eyes and warm smile (and even, though Lexa would unequivocally deny it, her terrible jokes), swarms a heavy dread at the pit of her stomach.

“Okay, I’ll see you Saturday,” she forces herself to say after a rough swallow.

And Clarke smiles again, as if encouraging Lexa to do the right thing. Whatever the hell that is. “See you then.”

Lexa moves across the gravel lot quickly, putting distance between them at a clip. She heads onto the paved walking path that follows along the harbor, breathes in the sea air, and is swallowed up by a darkening sky.

:::

“Someone’s in a better mood than when I saw you last.”

Lexa ambles into the bar with a half smile. She’s only just left Clarke, and there’s a residual adrenaline still prickling her skin.

“I just ate dinner. Well-prepared food generally puts me in good spirits.” She finds Lincoln at the only pool table near the back. He has ordered for them both, and two pints of light golden beer sit on the table in front of him.

“Oh, okay,” Lincoln grins, eyeing her strangely.

Lexa practically hops onto one of the stools at Lincoln’s table and slides a pint closer to her. She’s in a good mood, a little buzzed from the beer she’s already had at dinner, but too proud to let Lincoln feel justified in his assessment of her demeanor. “I wasn’t in a bad mood this morning.”

Lincoln watches her sceptically, amused. “You looked like you were ready to drop kick someone off a very tall building.”

During a meeting with Lincoln and Indra at Trikru early that morning, before Lexa’s delivery shift officially started, she had perhaps been less than chipper. She has no interest in currently dissecting the reasons why and shrugs it off.

“I didn’t sleep very well,” she justifies vaguely. Lincoln looks as if he doesn’t entirely believe her, but she’s enjoyed too good an evening (and one too many beers) to linger on the sour way her day had started. Lexa lifts the pint to her lips before asking, “What are we drinking?”

“It’s a German pilsner. I wasn’t sure how lit you would be leaving Dockside so I ordered lightly.”

For reasons she is not yet ready to admit, Lexa feels entrapped by Lincoln’s assumption. “I’m not—how did you know I was—”

“Octavia told me you’ve been hanging out down there more often, grabbing food and whatnot.” Lincoln shrugs, draining at least a quarter of his own pint. “I made an educated guess.”

First Clarke had questioned her and now Octavia—who wasn’t even working—has noticed an uptick in her patronage as well. Lexa tries not to feel exposed.

“I hate cooking for myself.”

She can hear the vulnerability in her own voice, and she wishes Lincoln weren’t looking at her like that. It’s not pity. He wouldn’t dare pity her. It’s the look of someone who shares an intimate knowledge of Lexa’s life and how much of it she has spent feeling lonely. She wills him not ask any further, urging him to change topics with a kind of hopeful telepathy.

“Can’t argue with you there. The food down there is addictive,” he finally says. Lexa looks up at him to see his face much lighter, matching his easy tone of voice. She relaxes again and is grateful for Lincoln’s perceptive kindness. Then he winks, and she regrets any platitudes she’s ever bestowed on him. “Company’s not bad either.”

“Don’t start,” she warns, already feeling a jolt of panic at the insinuation.

Her cheeks flush, remembering the meal she’d shared with Clarke not an hour before—the easy conversation, sidelong glances, and soft smiles.

“I was talking about my girlfriend. Why?” he smirks, looking all of sixteen and full of mischievous charm. “Who did you think I was talking about?”  

Lexa groans into another sip of her pilsner and jumps off her stool in two quick motions. “Did we come here to play pool or so that you could interrogate me?”

“Who says we have to choose one or the other?”

Lexa ignores him and walks towards a rack along the wall where the pool cues are stored.

“I’ll tell you what,” he says, his voice following her across the small, mostly empty room. “If I win, you have to tell me why you were so angry this morning.”

When Lexa has selected a cue from

the wall, she spins to inspect it for bends and warps, arching an eyebrow challengingly. “How about I annailate you handily and tell you nothing?”

Lincoln laughs as he stands from his own seat and begins setting up the table by racking the balls.

“What exactly did they serve you down at Dockside? You’re feistier than normal.”

Lexa pauses, quietly debating whether or not to show her hand before conceding with a grin, “Clarke has that limited-released from The Alchemist on tap.”

“Oh boy,” Lincoln chuckles, his eyes widening. “That’s kind of a heavy hitter.”

“I know. I drank two.”

Lincoln braces himself against the pool table in another burst of laughter, and Lexa resumes her bright and cheerful mood.

:::

After Lincoln starts their first game and breaks the balls across the table with a loud crack, he misses his second shot and Lexa steps up. Brightly colored balls have scattered across the green tabletop, and she carefully examines her plan of attack. She clears half the table before narrowly missing a long corner, and Lincoln grimaces into the last dregs of his beer.

“I always forget how good you are at this game.”

Lexa grins at the reluctant compliment. “You can blame Anya for that.”

“Oh, I blame Anya for almost everything when it comes to you.”

Lincoln squares up to the table and Lexa leans against her stool without actually sitting down. Watching him hover over the cue ball, lining up his shot, gives Lexa an idea and she pulls her phone from the back pocket of her jeans.

“Did you just take a picture of me?” Lincoln asks after he’s sunk the four ball into a side pocket.

“Yes. Anya is convinced I have obliterated any chance of a social life by moving into the heart of Red Sox Nation. I’m proving her wrong.”

“You’ve known me since I was eleven. Does that even count?”

“Semantics,” Lexa responds, eyes trained on her phone and the scathing message she’s composing to her sister.

“Your social life is fine. Clearly Anya isn’t aware you recently hosted a wildly successful game night.”

As she waits for the photo to send, Lexa sips at her beer. “She would probably be horrified at the thought of so many new acquaintances in her personal space.”

“She is suspiciously private,” Lincoln contemplates. “Secret life in espionage?”

“Entirely possible.” Lexa’s phone buzzes and she looks down anticipating a snarky response from her sister, only to see a message from Clarke instead.

Clarke Griffin (9:00pm): just checked again, forecast for Saturday looks perfect

There are smiley faces and random nautical emojis and bursts of sunshine, and it’s more-or-less everything that Lexa hates about text messages. Except—

“That is not a smile I have ever associated with your sister.”

Lexa nearly drops her phone.

“Oh, it wasn’t—I was just—“

“I’m just kidding,” Lincoln grins, clapping a hand to Lexa’s upper arm. “You’re up.”

Lexa shakes her head, brushing off Lincoln’s curiosity as if her heart hadn’t violently knocked against her sternum. “No, it’s fine. Clarke is taking me fishing on Saturday—she was just texting about the weather.”

“Ooh, Clarke’s taking you on the boat?”

Lincoln looks practically giddy as Lexa finishes her beer and pushes away from her stool to examine the pool table. “Yeah.”

“She must really like you.”

Leaning into her shot, Lexa pretends her stomach doesn’t feel hollow. “We’re friends.” She keeps her focus and sinks her final ball seamlessly.

“Yeah, I know,” Lincoln shrugs with an easy smile. “That’s what I meant.”

“I’m about to end this game by placing the eight ball in that corner pocket. If that’s okay with you.”

“Perfect,” Lincoln laughs with a clap. “I’ll get us more beer.”

:::

“I’m walking with you.”

“You’re being absurd.”

“I’m walking with you,” Lincoln reiterates while signing for their tab.

“Lincoln, I can practically see my doorstep from here.”

“Do I think you’re going to get mugged on State Street at eleven pm? No. Do I think you’re entirely capable of walking 600 yards on your own? Absolutely. Do I worry for your safety anyway because I love you? Fuck yes I do.”

Lexa’s small chuckle is concession enough, and Lincoln slings an arm around her shoulders as they exit the bar. “You’re an imbecile.”

She thinks, by the adoring look on Lincoln’s face, that he understands she also means: I love you, too.

They cross over State Street and turn onto a smaller, darker street with less foot traffic. Not entirely residential but quieter than the city square. Ducking into the alcove of Lexa’s building, she reaches into her pocket for her keys.

“Tell Costia I said hey … and sorry for getting you drunk,” Lincoln tacks on a second later, and not looking entirely apologetic.

Lexa screws up her face and lightly shoves his broad shoulder. “You didn’t.” She exhales and jingles the small ring of keys in her hand. “Costia is staying in Boston tonight anyway.”

“Oh.”

“When she works late and has early classes, her friends from the program let her crash at their apartment in the city. The train can be exhausting.”

Lincoln massages the back of his neck, and Lexa wonders why her pulse has started to thrum. “That’s tough. Are you … okay with that?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Lex—“

“Her friends are impossibly nice people, and Costia is doing what she loves. I’m happy for her.”

The sentiment is not disingenuous; it just says nothing of Lexa or her role in Costia’s new life.

“Okay,” Lincoln shrugs, his hands deep in his jeans pockets as he gives Lexa an easy smile. “If you ever need to talk about any of it, though.”

“I know. Thanks, Linc.”

“All right, get in here.”

Lexa is wrapped up in a smothering hug, bound by Lincoln’s hulking arms before she can react. She exhales against his chest, relaxing into the embrace a moment later. She’s still a bit tipsy, feeling vulnerable from talk of her relationship, and savors the warmth of Lincoln’s arms holding tight.

“Do you want me to come up? Stay the night for a sleepover?”

“No,” Lexa laughs as they gradually release from the hug. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to crash the second I hit the sheets.”

“Okay good, because Octavia is meeting me at my apartment.”

Lexa frowns, landing a soft punch to Lincoln’s abdomen. “Get out of here, jackass.”

Lincoln feigns injury and falls backwards off the steps with a laugh. “Hey, you’re gonna have the best time on the boat on Saturday—send me pictures if you catch anything, okay?”

“My expectations are relatively low.”

“It’s not really about the fish anyway. It’ll be great either way. You’re gonna love it. Trust me.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Lexa says, channeling casual indifference instead of the anxious uncertainty she has felt since agreeing to Clarke’s offer.

As she keys into her building and jogs up the narrow staircase, she lets herself imagine, even briefly, what it might be like if Clarke were there on the couch in soft clothing, waiting for her to come home.

:::

[cloverhighfivewritestoo]

Pineapple and Pizza

In which Cas meets Dean at the office’s happy hour and they fall in love right off the bat. Now they’re trying to take this to the next (sexy) step… Trying being the operative word here. Start at the beginning Chapter 3 of 8 - Dinner at Dean’s  👉 Read it on Ao3 w/c - 1.5k

Dean was being more anxious in the kitchen than he should be. There was a knock on the door. Dean ran (almost tripped on the carpet) and opened. A smile lit up his face. “Hi, Cas.” Castiel, who seemed unsure the second before, smiled the moment he saw Dean. “Hello, Dean. Seems I got the right place.” Dean stepped aside, smiling wide. “If not, I’m keeping you anyway. Come in!” Castiel stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He looked at Dean, so handsome in his red plaid shirt. He’d tucked it in his jeans, and wore a belt. It was… very flattering.

Castiel lifted the six-pack he had in his hand. “I brought some beer.” Dean took them. “Whoa. Thanks! What are those? They look fancy.” “Some microbrewery limited edition thing. They’re all different.” Dean walked to the kitchen, Castiel following. “Hm. There’s one here that says Apple and Lavender. That’s just weird.” Castiel sat on a stool by the counter. “Maybe it works.” “At least they’re already cold. Wanna try it right now?” “You try it. You like beer more than me.” Dean poured the beer in a very thin glass he’d fetched from the freezer. “You keep glasses in the freezer?” “It’s a hack. Makes sexy beer glasses.” The glass frosted over and water quickly beaded. As Dean held it up, it made for an ad-worthy picture. Castiel pointed out, “It is sexy indeed.” Dean smirked. “The beer or me?” Castiel just smiled. “Hmmm.” Dean licked his lips – it seemed to be a reflex, and Castiel was not complaining – and took a sip, under Castiel’s very focused gaze. He put the glass down. Castiel was still very focused on Dean, waiting. Dean cocked his head. Castiel burst out, “And? How is it?” “It’s subtle. I think it works. Want a taste?” He pushed the glass towards Castiel. Castiel took a sip. His face immediately scrunched. “That’s not good.” He smacked his tongue. “Bleargh! You like that?” Dean was laughing. “I don’t! It’s horrible!�� Castiel was still trying to smack the taste out of his mouth. “Fuck. That was really bad.” “Hehe. But do you want a beer though?” He turned the pack so Castiel could see the selection. “I’ll take the IPA.” “Here.” Dean gave Castiel the IPA in a frozen glass. He looked at the pack. “I’ll have… this one. Dreamy Night. Hints of chocolate and blueberry.” He looked over to Castiel, making a point of looking at his hair and into his eyes. “Seems fitting.” Castiel blushed a little. Dean raised his glass. “Here’s to our first date.” Castiel smiled and clinked his glass on Dean’s. They drank, looking at each other, smiling in their beer. Castiel needed to distract himself from the fire catching inside just looking at Dean’s beautiful green eyes. “So, what are we having?” “I hope you like steak.” “I do.” “Great. Cause these steaks marinated all afternoon – my recipe – and we have jacket potatoes with all the fixings – the potatoes will be ready in 20 minutes – and a side of salad, because I thought you might like veggies.” “That sounds great. Jacket potatoes… that’s baked in the oven, right?” “Yeah. Put them in a bit before you arrived.” Castiel nodded towards the oven, eyebrows raised. “What?” Dean turned to look at the oven. “FUCK.” He turned on the oven. “In an hour. They’ll be ready in an hour. Shit.” “So we have a whole hour to kill.” Dean went around the counter and stood before Castiel. He put a hand on his knee. “Whatcha wanna do?” Castiel hummed. He wanted to devour Dean here and now, but he wanted to play it cool too. He hooked a finger in Dean’s pants and brought him closer. He kissed him. “Hm, I don’t know… Why did you invite me over again?” “Mmm… If we go all the way, we might get distracted and the potatoes will burn.” “Just put a timer.” “We could be in the middle of it, I will not stop for potatoes.” Castiel knew if Dean went down on him right now, he’d be done way too fast for his pride. He was a bit sad Dean was not as wired up as him. “Jeez, Dean, it’s a whole hour. How much foreplay do you need?” “I didn’t say we’d be in the middle of our first time.” Castiel felt heat rise and spread across his face. Dean smiled. “The blue of your eyes make a beautiful contrast to the red of your face. You’re absolutely adorable.” He kissed him. Castiel felt his pants tighten a little. “Actually, I can show you around the place. I got distracted by the beers.” “Oh, only the beers?” Dean showed the apartment to Castiel. There wasn’t much to show, only two bedrooms and a bathroom. “You have a big bath.” “Yeah. Came with the place, and I found out I like to stew a little sometimes. I put on some music and relax. Just, don’t tell my brother. I wouldn’t hear the end of it.” “So you have a brother.” Dean’s eyes lit up. “Yeah. Sam. He’s my little brother, but he’s actually a giant. My mom passed when I was four, and my father traveled a lot when we were kids, so I practically raised him. He’s a lawyer now. I think I did a good job.” Castiel loved the look in Dean’s eyes. Clearly, his brother was the world to him. “I’m sure you did. And fed him right, too, if I judge by the dinner that awaits us.” “I sure did. He’s freakishly tall. But back then I was the master of mac and cheese.” Dean couldn’t stop smiling. Castiel was intrigued. “Master of mac and cheese. I feel like there’s more to this.” “Actually, some of the recipes were disgusting. But hey, we were kids, we loved it.” “Are you gonna make me disgusting mac and cheese some day?” Dean had a twinkle in his eye. “Do you like marshmallow fluff?” “OH EWWW!” Dean laughed and took Castiel in a hug. “I’d never do that to you.” “Thanks. That was scary.” Castiel held on to the hug a bit longer, getting lost in how good Dean smelled. Dean stepped back and patted Castiel on the shoulder. “Let’s move this to the living room.” The ambiance was a bit strange. They were at ease with each other, but they were not drunk and this setting was different. Even with the kisses and hugs they exchanged, there was still this shyness in the air. It was as if they were trying to go through the normal dating steps when in fact they just wanted to jump each other’s bones. Castiel sat on his stool by the counter. Dean opened two new beers and got two new glasses. “OK, the potatoes are almost done. Let’s get this dinner moving.” He got things out of the fridge and put them on the counter. Castiel looked at the myriad of containers. “So those are the fixings for the potatoes.” “Yep.” “And what is the pineapple for?” “I don’t know. I know you like pineapple, so I got a fresh one and cut it this afternoon.“ “You can put little pieces in the salad, it’s nice.” “What? No.” Castiel chuckled. “You can use it to marinate the meat, I’ve seen that somewhere.” “I will not marinate meat in pineapples. Stop it.” Castiel chuckled again. Dean smiled fondly. “Maybe we can melt some chocolate and eat it as a fondue.” “That’s a nice idea.” Dean looked Castiel in the eyes. “And, you know, pineapple and chocolate is even sweeter than just pineapple.” Castiel smirked. “I think I know where this is going.” “I sure hope so. I planned for this.” “You’re not very subtle.” Dean went around the counter and took Castiel in his arms around the shoulders. “I don’t need to.” He pulled Castiel close and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “I don’t want to.” Castiel came in for another kiss but Dean let Castiel go and went back to the other side. “You fucking tease.” Dean chuckled. “You know, this is the best. We can do the date thing, and I don’t have to tiptoe, wondering where your head’s at. We can do all of this and then when we’re ready, we just… jump into it. It’s really cool.” Castiel smiled softly. “Yeah. It’s nice not to worry.” He got lost in Dean’s eyes a moment, then he slapped his hands on the counter. “So, um, anything I can do to help?” “Yep.” Dean put the forks, steak knives and napkins on the counter. “Help me set the table, please?” Castiel took the cutlery and napkins. “With pleasure.” He swiveled around to get up but he disappeared from view with a thud, the stool following on the ground. “FUCK! AHHHHH! DEAN!” Dean ran around the counter. “Cas! You OK?” Castiel was on the ground, cutlery flown everywhere, blood staining Castiel’s jeans around where he was pressing his hand… next to a knife planted in his thigh. Dean kneeled down. “What happened?” “The knife in my thigh! Dean! I’m gonna die! There’s that… that blood vessel there, the big one! I’m gonna die!” “I’m gonna call 911. Put pressure.” “Dean, I’m gonna die!” “No no no!”                »911 What’s your emergency?

On to chapter 4! 

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Back to the Masterpost of this series

Back to the Masterlist

[imtryingmyfuckingbe]

And If This Is It

Second chapter in a short series.

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Mentions: Jess, Sam, Charlie, Cas, Gabriel, Jo, Jules (OC)

Trigger warnings: Slight mention of smut

I am the sole author and reserve the rights to my work. However, I am not the owner of Supernatural as a franchise, or the characters including, but not limited to: Dean, Sam, Castiel, Gabriel, Jo, Jess, or Charlie.

CHAPTER TWO:

She cradles her phone between her cheek and shoulder, picking through ripe peppers. Charlie drones endlessly about some new video game or console or— Y/N honestly doesn’t know. Of all the shared personality traits between the pair, Y/N fails to see the wonder of Red Dead Redemption or Overwatch. Even still, she listens and hums agreement in Charlie’s pauses.

Placing a trio of red, yellow, and orange peppers in her cart, Y/N continues towards the avocados. Grocery shopping calms her. The comforting monotony allows her to move thoughtlessly on the familiar path from produce to deli and down aisles she could navigate in her sleep. It gives her a sense of control, and offers time to herself.

Y/N switches the phone to her other ear, rubbing the kink in her neck. Charlie finishes raving, in turn changing the topic to work. Some shitty guests left a lengthy poor review on both Yelp and Google, and now she has a meeting with Jason, their boss. “I’m going to quit that place, I swear it!” she emptily declares. She threatens leaving at least twice a week, but never seems to commit. Yes, the customers suck, and the managers have a canyon sized room for improvement, but the worthwhile money keeps her hooked like a dirty mistress. How else could afford tuition?

“I’m sure you will. Once you get your big girl job looking at computers all day.”

“That is an insulting minimization of what I’m actually going to do, and you know it!” Charlie scolds.

“I jest, I jest,” Y/N laughs. Getting a rise out of Charlie is her favorite past time. “But, for real, I have to check out. I have errands to run today. Dean is going to service my car.”

Y/N imagines Charlie’s eye roll and upturned smile. Not many people know of her affections towards Dean, but one drunken night led to confessions she can’t stuff back inside. Charlie has yet to let her live it down.

“Ah, yes. Our dear friend,” she stresses. “That leads us to another conversation, but I’m thinking I should get some tequila in you first.”

“Not going to happen. I’m fine, okay?” Even she doesn’t believe herself.

“Yeah, I’m calling bullshit. But, go, be merry. Tell the man I said hi.”

Y/N ends the call quickly, glad to finish the uncomfortable conversation. Her tense shoulders and the knots on both sides of her neck make her regret accepting Charlie’s call in the first place. She knows Charlie means no ill will but she can’t help the frustration building on her brow.

The checkout line moves quickly, not many people shopping at noon on a Wednesday. With her groceries tucked in her trunk, she makes her way to Dean’s house. He lives in a corner townhouse on the intersection of Sutler and Harrison, affording him a small side yard to work on his car— and sometimes Y/N’s. Despite his mechanic job, Dean enjoys spending his free time working on cars. He said it feels like a break from the world, blackened hands in his engine.

Y/N understands needing to take a step back. Life, in all of its intricacies, is only the withdrawing waters of the ocean, before rearing its ugly, tsunami head. She found her saving grace in writing: lyrics, poems, stories. Transporting herself into a new world saved her from this one when her bones grew heavy and her eyes tired.

She pulls into his driveway, parking next to his Impala. Its propped up hood hides a bent over Dean busying himself with tightening one thing or another. Grabbing the six pack in her passenger seat, Y/N emerges from her car.

“Howdy, partner,” she jokes.

Dean pokes his head around the side of his car, teeth bared in a wide smile. Black smudges decorate his nose and cheeks. His short hair received the brunt of frustration, pushed backwards with flyaways dancing in the wind. Y/N snickers, raking her eyes across his denim clad legs and up to the black t-shirt stretched across his chest, ending on his stained skin.

“What? Got something on my face?”

She shakes her head, amused. “Yeah, only here, here, and here,” she points to his nose and chin and cheeks.

He grabs her extended hand and pulls her inward, dipping his head down to her white shirt. Rubbing his face on her shoulder, he leaves behind the blackness in his wake. Y/N struggles against him and the bubbling laughter in her chest.

“This is white, asshole!”

Dean steps back, hands still holding her upper arms, and admires his work. She gently pushes against his chest, feigning anger and trying to ignore the muscles beneath her palm. She got this shirt for ninety-five cents at a yard sale; three similar garments hang in her closet. This isn’t a real loss.

“I think it looks good! Makes it seem like you know your way around a car.”

“Yes, because when fixing cars I use my shoulder. It’s super effective, you should try it.”

Dean rolls his eyes, finally releasing Y/N. She steps back, filling her lungs with much needed air. Any time spent closely to him required extra oxygen. Her heart runs rampage around her chest, and she knows if she looks down it may just shine through her shirt. Steeling herself, she returns to the task at hand.

Speaking of, the weight of the beer in her hand gives her something to do. Setting the pack on the hood of her car, she retrieves two bottles and cracks them open. The crisp coolness holds her to the ground, even as Dean’s fingers brush against hers when he accepts the offer. In silence, they sip the citrus IPA.

“All righty then, what’s going on with your gal?”

“Just need an oil change, I think. It doesn’t hurt to have it looked at, though.”

He nods, brows drawn together and lips pursed. Everything in Y/N, her lungs and head and skin, wants to take the rag from Dean’s back pocket and wipe his face, removing both the crease in his forehead and the gunk. Instead, she kisses her beer, watching as he pops her hood and checks the oil.

The betrayal of her body lingers in her movements when she walks to the front of her car, leaning next to a working Dean. His skin radiates warmth. Tendrils of his cologne overwhelm her. She breathes in, basking in him while trying to clear her foggy head. Fresh air is good, she fruitlessly tells herself. Fresh air is good; when it’s not mixed with the man she adores.

Dean moves his car to the grass, allowing more space for him to work on the Mustang. Y/N sits on the ground in front of the garage as he jacks her car up to empty the oil pan. From this vantage point, she can see Dean in all of his glory. His shirt rides up, reveling a thin line of hair and toned muscles. She clenches her jaw, then takes another drink.

Her head knocks against the garage door, focusing on the baby blue sky, not a cloud in sight. Dean grunts quietly as he works, and Y/N’s mind supplies a different activity for his sounds. His hands would wander across the expanse of her body; across her hips, up to her breasts, down to her pussy. His lips would cover wherever his hands could not, sucking on her neck, leaving a hickey.

Now, Y/N once failed to see the appeal of someone marking up her body. But, fuck, if Dean Winchester said he wanted to cover her skin in bruising kisses, she wouldn’t be able to deny him. She wouldn’t want to.

Fingers snap in front of face. Shaking her head, she realizes Dean finished with her Mustang and hovered over her. “Hey, back to the living?”

Heat rushes to her cheeks. She ducks her head to look at her very interesting, noteworthy knees. “Yeah. Just thinking.” Not a full lie, but not the full truth, either. What could she say? I was daydreaming about making love? Not just fucking; making love.

He retrieves a beer from the pack before settling next to Y/N on the ground, back against the door and thighs touching. “Yeah? What about?” his playful tone forces her further into reality.

She doesn’t answer for a moment, instead focusing on the sharp, stinging pebbles digging into her thighs and ass. “Work.”

“Ah, it’s always work. Something wrong?”

Another sip.

“Not exactly. I talked to Charlie today, and she said she wanted to quit.”

“Doesn’t she always?”

“That’s what I said! But it got me thinking. Am I too comfortable there? I mean, I’ve worked there for, what? Three years?” Y/N surprises herself with her own excuse. She hadn’t actually put much stock in leaving, her own or Charlie’s. But now that it’s out in the open, the weight on her shoulders flutters away. He nods, encouraging her to continue. “I dunno,” she tosses her hands in indignation, spilling a little beer on the concrete, “I don’t want to stay in some dead end job that I don’t really love. Feels like a waste of time,” her voice starts strong but trails off into a whisper.

Dean sets his hand on her thigh, caressing it in an attempt to comfort her.

Another sip, another sigh.

This is the last thing she needs, but the first thing she wants. She once more lets her head fall backwards while Dean studies her in silence, head tilted. “What do you think you’d do?”

“That’s the thing: I don’t know. I don’t have a degree and the only jobs I’ve ever had were serving, or something in that world. Who the hell is going to hire me?”

“I don’t have a degree, either, ya’know.”

“Yes, but you have a career, and you’re good at it. I mean, look at you! You’re ahead of the rest, already. Basically running your own shop; got a whole-ass home. And I’m proud of you, I am. I just feel like I’m headed nowhere. Like, what have I got going for me?”

She closes her eyes to avoid his gaze, but he stays silent. His fingers continue to trace shapes into her thigh. Dean knows Y/N well enough to stop talking; it won’t ease the tension in her breast or pinging pain on her temple. Now that she said the words aloud, however, her mind races wild with the possibilities and risks of leaving the security of Zest.

She could pursue something in writing, a pipe dream of hers. She could get a few gigs in bars and play for a few hours for some cash. She could also quit and not find another job, falling into destitution and then forced to return to waiting tables. Flashes of grabby hands and entitled guests flit through her mind.

Goddamn, she hates customer service.

Mindlessly, she tilts her beer back, only droplets gracing her tongue. Without a word, Dean passes her the bottle he grabbed for himself. She nods in thanks, taking a sip.

He pats her thigh. “Well, it’s no use dwelling on what you can’t do. What can you do?”

Y/N shrugs.

“C’mon, I know you can do more than balance glasses and pretend to care about lobster. You write. What about that?”

“It’s recreational. I don’t have anything published. I don’t—”

“— All right, piss baby. If you’re going to keep complaining, I’m going to smack you.” He rolls his eyes, not really annoyed.

“Fine, fine. I could do freelance, I guess.”

“Yeah, you could. You could work as a receptionist and work your way up somewhere, too. Like, the newspaper. Start there, prove you can write, and they’ll have no choice but to hire you. Maybe pitch a few ideas. Don’t need a degree to be smart; I’m living proof of that,” he gestures to himself.

Y/N laughs, shoving her shoulder against his. “Yeah, yeah. You’re the next Einstein of car mechanics.”

“I could be.”

Another silence, no longer pregnant with her frustration. The sun beats down with a vengeance, however, making the beer in her hand lukewarm. Beads of sweat pool on her brows. Still, she doesn’t want to move. The hand on her leg, pressed thigh to Dean’s, shoulder to shoulder; she wants to savor this moment.

Even still, she can’t sit for much longer. The comfort of the man beside her refuses to extend to the unforgiving concrete beneath her or the heat in the air. With a sigh, she pushes herself up, stretching her sore legs and wiping off spare gravel clinging to her skin. Dean stands too, utilizing Y/N’s extended hand. Truthfully, it doesn’t help much but she would do almost anything to hold his hand, even for a second.

When the pair straighten, Dean’s fingers remain clasped in hers, his thumb rubbing circles on her knuckles. She revels in the gentle caress, wishing she didn’t have to leave. The groceries in her trunk call to her; she needs to put them away before they spoil.

“I have to go,” she whispers. The tightness in her chest returns at breaking the silence and ruining to moment. She refuses to look Dean in the eyes, not wanting to see whatever is there. Instead, she trains her gaze onto his stomach.

“Yeah, I figured. Use and abuse me for your car then skip out,” he jokes.

Finally looking upwards, she takes in his smile and kind eyes. If she had any guts, she would grab his cheeks and pull him down to kiss him. But she doesn’t have the courage to leave her dead-end job, let alone kiss the breathtaking man before her. Instead, she settles for wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him close.

She can do this for the rest of her life, she tries to convince herself. If she can’t have Dean in her bed or on her arm or loving her the way she desires, she can handle these moments. This is okay, this is okay, this is okay.

A kiss to her head and a final squeeze, Dean pulls back. “I’ll see ya soon, kid. Enjoy your ride.”

The two part, Y/N longing to return to his embrace. Her skin prickles from her desire, her feet refuse to move. And then a car honks from somewhere up the road and her wondering mind snaps back to reality. A final goodbye, she clambers into her car. Dean waves as she reverses from his driveway and starts back to her apartment across town. The wind whips her cheeks through the rolled-down windows.

She only looks back once.